#tv ads paid for “free” tv

[elfwreck]

Micropayments have been tried, several times, and the end result is: It's really hard to have payments less than a dollar at a time.

There are costs in moving money around, because, if nothing else, someone has to move the data around - has to deduct a dollar from your bank account and throw it in someone else's account, and that action requires

The site of sale to register the sale

Your bank to deduct money from your account

The recipient's bank to add money to their account

(We'll pretend that's all, but some transactions involve more steps than this.)

EVERYONE HAS TAXES that need to account for all this money-movement.

And sure, that's only a few seconds for each person involved in each transaction, only a few cents to pay them, but... that adds up. A few cents times three people, call it 10 cents taken out of that dollar.

("They can automate those transactions!" They can, and they do, but there are still people involved in checking the statements, making sure the numbers add up correctly at the end of the month, setting up the systems that can do the transfers at all, and so on.)

Hhheeeyyy, you wanted those banks to have good data security, right? To be very difficult to hack? That cost just went up.

So it's really really hard to just give someone 5 cents or a quarter online.

So instead you get a zillion sites with separate funding accounts, like Steam - you put in your $5 one time, and then you can use it to buy 3¢ digital trading cards, little bits at a time. But that's still "have an account at each site where you might want to buy a thing."

(aaaand we're back to, "and how good is their data security?")

News orgs are scrambling so hard, trying to figure out how to make money from an activity that has never been profitable.

(News was the loss-leader that got people to stay on the channel for the prime-time shows with the expensive ads. Newspapers got their operating money from ads, not subscribers; subscriptions paid for printing & distribution costs.)

Okay, how about this: in stead a subscription model, news websites just initiate a feature whereby reading any article costs you some small, token fee like five or ten cents. You press the button, you pay a one-time fee of 10 cents, and can read it without issue.

I can't stress enough how much I hate have to subscribe to everything.

[sweetbunpura]

Cruise of a Lifetime Ch.3

Kalim would like to treat NRC to a cruise for summer break... he may have forgotten to tell everyone WHO else was sharing the ship with them...

Tie into: Rescue from RSA

Ch.1 - Ch.2

WC: 748

The lobby exploded into cries of complaints and various name calling from both sides. Kalim and Jahzi stood and watched them from the podium, neither moving a muscle as the cries ramped up.

“Hey!” A voice called out through the chaos and gained everyone’s attention.

A tall and slightly bulky man stood next to Jahzi, his long black hair was tied up in a high ponytail and he was sporting a thin black beard. The man wore a pair of golden bangles on his wrists, a short sleeved white button up shirt, a red sash like item around his waist, and a pair of blue pants followed by a pair of golden sandals.

“I know you’re all upset.” He began. “But both of the Asim’s worked hard to cater this to both schools. Everything is paid for, anything you use or buy on the ship goes to their bill, so it’s free. The rooms are also catered to each student here, same goes with the food.” He crosses his arms and his muscles bulge out slightly. “They did all of this and you get onto them by keeping the fact that you’d be sharing with another school hidden?”

They looked down, shame radiating off of them as they let the man’s words sink in.

“Forgive me for asking.” Riddle spoke up. “But who are you, exactly?”

“Oh!” The man laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry about that! I’m Gene, Gene Nights. I’m the chaperone for RSA.”

“Chaperone?”

“Yes. Does NRC not have one?”

The dorm leaders looked among one another before shaking their heads.

“Not that we know of.”

“Odd. I could’ve sworn I saw him earlier.” Gene looked around. “Then again he said he wanted a moment to breathe before you came aboard.”

Yuu muttered. “I know it ain’t gonna be Crowley, so he probably pawned it off to someone else.”

Fellow added in. “Wouldn’t it fall onto you, Beastmaster?”

“...Shit. Who is it then?”

“Ah! There he is!” Gene waved his hand to someone behind them. “Chestnut!”

The NRC student body froze as they watched the school’s physician walk into the room and join Gene on the podium. He stared out at the students with a half lidded gaze as he crossed his arms.

“Behave. For your sake and mine.”

“The best AND worst option.” Yuu nudged Fellow. “Your boyfriend is here.”

“...And he didn’t tell me.” The fox beastman scoffed and crossed his arms. “Betrayal.”

Chestnut adjudged his glasses. “The schedule for the day has been provided for you as they were handed out before you boarded. Please head to your rooms and unpack. You’re free to explode the ship afterwards as we leave the dock and we’ll be having lunch according to the schedule.”

“Oh!” Kalim added as Chestnut finished. “Please dress nicely for dinner as we’ll be having a show included with it!” He smiles.”You’re dismissed!”

Slowly the students filtered out of the lobby, each heading in the directions the signs were pointing for the room numbers. Rollo pulled out his ticket and looked at the number.

“Are we in the same room?”

Yuu pulled out hers. “Yeah.”

Skully raises his slip up. “I have the same number.”

“We’re all in the same room, I’m assuming.” Rollo frowned. “Wonderful.”

“Let’s at least see what it is before we start complaining.” Yuu picked up her bags and waited as Grim climbed his way onto her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

It didn’t take long to reach the room and Yuu paused as she stared at the double dark wood doors in front of them. The Ramshackle residents shared a look before the young woman used the keycard to open the door. Stepping inside, they froze and took in the room. The whole room was bathed in colors of white, blue, gold, and marble. There were two doors on the first floor and a spiral staircase leading to the top floor which no doubt held the third room. A bar was down on the first floor along with a few seating areas and a large table. A massive flat screen TV was up against the wall, the sunlight coming from the windows reflected off of it.

One of the tables was a personalized gift basket for each member and a note from Kalim.

“Thank you for everything, Yuu! Please enjoy this gift!”

She took in the note, looking around the suite before addressing the other members. 

“This is gonna be a good month.”

[ashleyisartsy]

Problems (objective and personal) I'm not seeing discussed a lot w this new WatcherTV thing, in no particular order:

-Alienates people internationally who literally CANNOT GET the streaming service!

-Alienates casual fans who don't watch or want to watch all of their shows. Putting down 60 bucks a year to watch just one or two shows is kind of insane, at least for me.

-The volume of content Watcher has produced historically hasn't been enough to justify a separate streamer. I understand there's no way a small team could compete with something like Netflix, obviously, but that's what you're trying to do by putting yourself in the streamer market.

-Will this streamer be secure? What steps are in place to protect your viewers info? ESPECIALLY payment info.

-Will it be easily watchable on multiple devices? I watch YouTube videos on my phone at work 90% of the time, or at home on my TV thru my switch. Is this a browser only deal?

-What are the internet requirements for this? Believe it or not most streaming services won't run on my internet personally. I don't have any for that reason. I can watch YouTube on 360p, or on my 2-bar-reception phone data. Not everywhere has stable reliable internet.

-The suddenness and totality of the move was going to be jarring no matter what, if the idea had been introduced gradually or started as a hybrid model to test audience interest there wouldn't be nearly this amount of pushback.

-I understand the people saying "pay artists!!" Bc I am one, and I get that their quality is expensive and they have a whole company's worth of people to support. I do actually think their work is worth paying for! Everyone's is! But convincing anyone to pay for something they previously got for free is going to be a hard sell. They were still getting paid before, they're now just asking us to pay instead of the advertisers. Idk about you, but that's a way bigger hit to my pocketbook than a multimillion dollar company's bank account.

-I get that YouTube can be a really shitty place to be a creator sometimes, and that being beholden to advertisers is something they don't want to be. It's why they left Buzzfeed! They already have a patreon and merch and it's clearly not been enough for their ambitions. But shooting yourself in the foot because your running shoes are wearing out isn't going to make you a better marathon runner. They had to know that there was going to be a not small portion of their audience unwilling to make this move with them (and again, lots literally aren't able to!)

-If they had a free w/ ads option, or even did a hybrid model with whole shows behind the pay wall, or even just ran a fucking crowd funding campaign to help cover costs of new seasons of shows, any of those things could have worked. They don't even have YouTube memberships turned on, which I've personally seen many many channels do even when they already have a patreon. It really doesn't seem like they've exhausted other options, at least from an outside perspective, which is all we have as viewers!

-I get that this has been in the works for a long time, and that there probably isn't a way for them to back out now. But I hope they can find a way to make this more accessible if they want it to work at all. I truly am not wishing for their downfall, but the whole situation is an awful mess.

Idk, rant over. As a lot of you are I'm feeling very disappointed and upset with this one, and I'm not paying for it either. Hope the boys can salvage this one for their and their crew's sake. Would really hate for this to be the end.

[dancingindreamlight]

People can complain all they want but tubi is free so as far as im concerned they can do almost anything they want. They're a good free service too. Huge selection. Lots of good stuff.

As long as they don't start charging. You don't get to do that. Hulu was free once upon a time. I should boycotted them forever. They should have at least kept a free option

Went to the wild west and back to get you these Tubi recos. You’re welcome.

[w0rmss]

Can you do Bruce Wayne x young adult reader eho kinda took up a job for him as a maid but ended up getting closer and well… yk.. it’s smut so go wild (female)

Thank you so much for the request sorry it took me so damn long. Feel free to request more

Tw smut power imbalance age gap rough use of baby girl and good girl oral (m) also i do not condone these kinds of relationships in real life if you are not safe in one of these situations please get out or report if safe to do so. But as this is fiction, please carry on with that in mind. Thank you for coming to my ted talk

Enjoy

Everything started of perfectly. You just needed a job to pay for college and when you seen an ad for a live in maid you jumped at the opportunity. A place to stay and get paid it was perfect.

When you found out that your boss was the Bruce Wayne only added to that perfectness. So you spent your days cleaning the manor and going to school it was perfect. Your bedroom was bigger than an apartment with a couch tv and bathroom nearly as big. You had free access to the library and living room. Alfred, the butler, would let you use the kitchen too if you cleaned up altered yourself. It was perfect and pretty easy, just some light dusting and vacuuming, which Alfred often helped with. The one thing you didn't have to clean was the big grandfather clock in the hall, which you found strange until Bruce explained it was he's parents and Alfred took it upon himself to keep it perfect.

You can't remember when your relationship with Bruce had become more than boss and employee. Was it the day you were oggling him at the pool or the day he was oggling you. The time he walked in on you changing by accident or possibly the time you accidently caught him masturbing in his study one morning. You have no idea.

But now here you were bent over his desk with his cock buried deep inside you and he slammed into you like a mad man. This was not the first time Bruce had fucked you and you hope it's not the last. You let out a moan, and he hits the perfect spot just right with the tip of his throbbing member.

"Oh fuck Bruce I'm.. shit.. I'm so close." You mange to pant out causing the older man being you to grunt and speed up. Before you know it, you're a shaking moaning mess coming on his dick like a faucet. Gently Bruce pulls out helping you to your knees in front of him as he leans back in his desk chair. "You did so well baby girl." He hum his voice slightly raspy as he brushes hair from your face. "But you're not done yet." He takes your chin between his fingers and guides you to his still hard cock. Without a second thought, you open your mouth.

Bruce lets out a groan as you finally manage to take his whole member into your mouth. His hand grasps your hair, shoving you down a tiny bit further. "Good girl. Doing so well. Fuck your mouth feels so good." The man groans and before long and without much movement his coming down your throat. You come up gaging and coughing as Bruce tries to come down from his high. Once you've regained the ability to breathe, you turn back to him. "Look at the mess you've made." He gestures to the spit and cum on his dick and tights. "I expect that cleaned up, you know. It is your job." You cheeks fulls and you move closer to him once again. "Yes, sir." His hand falls to your hair once again. "Good girl."

Hope you enjoyed

Dont know what came over me writing this opps anyway

Feel free to like repost reply and request everything is so appreciated

Stay safe

Have a wonderful day night afternoon etc

[aerie-art]

hi hello . do U want a minecraft skin?

Well lucky for you :] i make those!

I take commissions in batches of 2! How many slots are open will be updated and accurate in my pinned. If all of my commission slots are full, you can ask to be added to the waiting list and I’ll get back to you as soon as a slot is open.

$20 (USD) per skin, +$5 for alterations, +$10 for a new outfit. (For friends and mutuals: I also accept art trades :D)

Payment via Ko-fi! Please DM me and confirm the commission before making your payment!! - Payment is required before i send you the final skin. You can dm me here or on discord! (discord username is "aeriedwelling" - display name is 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟)

I reserve the right to refuse Any Commission, even if you already paid me. (If you pay me and i refuse your commission, or am unable to complete it, I will refund you.)

I will attempt anything as long as I'm given a fully colored ref, but more specifics about what i will and wont do + information about my process under the cut!

Can Do: - Your OCs - Your Sona - Animals, Mobs, Hybrids - Characters in their underwear / a swimsuit - Scars (including top surgery scars!) and light injuries / blood

Can't Do: - Mechs / Robots (i Will if u ask. i just. gotta practice so it might turn out bad sorry) - Full Nudity - Heavy Gore - Characters from tv shows, movies, games, books, podcasts, etc. (no blorbos from your shows 😔 unless we’re friends or mutuals)

I prefer working from fully colored refs, but I am willing to work from a picrew or even a general description and a handful of hex codes.

I don't currently have a time estimate on how long a skin can take, (currently anywhere from two days to six months), but I'm going to try to keep the deadline for commissions at no longer than two weeks!

Once the commission is confirmed, I will do a basic flat-color mark up of the skin. Once you approve of the draft, I’ll get to work on the final version, and check-ins will be made upon request, or if I have questions for you about the skin. While I am working on the final skin, I’ll direct you to my Ko-Fi for payment. I will not send you the final skin until it has been paid for.

If you request multiple skins- multiple characters, alterations, or outfits- I will make them one at a time. You may hold off on payment until all of the skins are complete, but I will not send them to you until all of the skins have been paid for.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out here in dms or asks, or on discord!

[mediamime]

Supernatural and the Concept of Grace

Hi! It's your friendly neighborhood Media Mime and I'm here with a wall of text about my insane thoughts on how Angels work.

From the TV show Supernatural.

I don't know what I'm doing with my life.

---

These are headcanons, mind you, so they aren’t supported by the show. I just think way too much about stuff like this.

This all stems from how beings from a different plane of existence would be borderline incomprehensible to humans. The whole, true form and voice not being viewable/hearable led to me thinking about them in more abstract forms.

I’m going to give you some weird background stuff below, but feel free to skip to the end if you’re just here for the Grace mechanics and things.

*Edit: Making the lil click more bar because I realized I never did this and the Post Is Too Long.

---

My day job is as a Math Adjunct, so you can imagine I have a bit of a fixation on recurring principles, formulas, geometry, and so on.

It’s my jam. 

Specifically, I have a focus on Mathematics in Nature. It's fascinating to me that we see the same shapes and patterns recurring over and over again in all natural formations.

I want to stress that to get into this kind of thing, you don’t actually need a background in Math. There are several resources online that provide examples and visual guides to this field of study. I’ve provided a visual guide below of some of my favorite phenomena as well as a basic (very basic) explanation of the principle. 

I ain’t getting paid for this right now, so you get what you get!

---

Now is also a time to mention that I took some psychedelics in my 20s that made me See Some Shit. This is not meant to be inspirational. I just think I should mention it because you see a lot of Stuff on them, not always Stuff you want to see. You can look up information about psychedelic geometry and skip the hassle of ingesting things you probably shouldn’t.

Don’t do drugs kids, or whatever.

---

The Fibonacci Sequence is where numbers ascend by adding the two previous numbers to itself. This plays a key role in something known as the Golden Spiral. For a very basic explanation, you take a square and draw an arc from one corner to the next and repeat with bigger and bigger squares.

1,

1 + 1 = 2,

1 + 2 = 3,

2 + 3 = 5,

3 + 5 = 8,

5 + 8 = 13,

and so on.

The curve itself is seen in the way plants grow, shells form, and weather formations to name a few. 

(The following are not my images, but they are readily available online. )

---

Tessellations are repetitive polygons (shapes with 3 or more connecting lines, think triangles, squares, hexagons) that form together, without gaps.

In nature, the real world, there are examples of malformations, but Math is an explanation of the ideal principle.

We can see these structures in scales, honeycombs, and so on.

---

Fractals are where we see the same pattern repeat at smaller and smaller forms of itself.

There is a lot of overlap of this with the Fibonacci Sequence (these patterns often appear INSIDE of the spiral), but it is its own concept.

Fun fact, fractals play a significant role in Chaos Theory, which I will not get into here because we would be here all day.

---

Anyway!

Sorry!

Carried away there.

Back to Supernatural (what an insane transition) and how this wraps into my concept of Grace.

---

Angels are filled with this kind of naturally occurring phenomena, a sort of endless collection of patterns. They are essentially manifestations of this idea or at least they process the physical world in this way.

Castiel mentioned eating molecules ONE TIME and well, I ran with it.

---

A couple of examples I feel strongly about, using Castiel as an easier point of entry than say, Lucifer or Gabriel:

Angels think in a series of sensations, like a form of Synesthesia.  Synesthesia is a concept explored in both psychology and cognitive neuroscience where people express the feeling of multiple senses activating at once. So for instance, the words might leave you with an impression of color or sounds may give you a physical sensation. I think Angels can, and do, adopt a more human perspective the longer they interact in the physical world. This is especially relevant during the time they are essentially made human, but I think the way they interpret information remains abstract. Just a fun fact, if you have Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (which is usually shortened to ASMR), you have a higher chance, according to some studies, of having a form of Synesthesia. 

---

Angels also think in patterns. For Castiel, in the beginning: His thoughts are very vibrant. Primary colors denote curiosity. The structure of those thoughts are very rigid. He thinks more in straight lines rather than curves. The movement of the thoughts is calculated and repetitive. Learning something for the first time is difficult, so splitting it into individual pieces is easier to comprehend. This is where we get The Face from, you know the one. He perceives things in his own way which makes him socially awkward in human form. As he gets more familiar with the physical world, and the boys in general, his perspective shifts. He has more robust colors dedicated to the people or objects he interacts with and they shift around easier. His thoughts are less linear and more curved and organic. He has less set structure because he isn’t learning as much anymore, he has an understanding he can build off of and make more defined to himself.  Learning to love humanity requires flexibility that doesn’t come naturally to Angels, so he actively works at it.

Seeing souls is easier than interpreting the actual look of people. This is a doozy, but we will take Dean as an example because I’m Destiel/Deancas pilled. To Castiel, Dean looks the way he looks, smells the way he smells, sounds the way he sounds, and so on in physical form. Castiel learns to interpret him in that way as the series goes on, but his soul, the essence of him, has its own set of sensations. The following are not literal, although I’m sure some would translate that way. He sounds like a crackle of fire and a low drum. His colors are darker oranges and blues and greens. He feels like a soft rain and sun on a warm day. He tastes of barrel aged liquor and smoke. He smells like a hearth and earth after it rains. He feels like every aspect of the impala, from the cold metal to the supple warm leather.  Obviously some of these senses shift and change from time to time, but that forms the basis of what Castiel recognizes as Dean.

---

Grace is at least partially visible to other angels and partially felt by humans. Other angels can see each other in their vessels. So they have a concept of what they look like in their true forms, despite being hidden inside of something.  This implies they can experience similar sensations as the other angels they look at, although I don’t like the idea that they can see their “thoughts” necessarily. I would imagine they can “feel” a sudden intense set of emotions/sensations from another angel however, in the way that humans can tell someone’s emotions through facial expression or tone of voice.

---

Humans can learn to experience angels, albeit in a form that is easier for them to comprehend.  Dean doesn’t experience anything special about Castiel when they first meet, outside of the generic information we get about Angels and the obvious senses he can use: seeing, hearing, smelling, (gods I wish tasting was on this list but! Alas!) As Dean gets closer with him, he can start to “hear” him. I like to think he sounds like a pleasant hum or a slight ringing, similar to a wind chime, depending on his mood. Dean, specifically, makes him hum lower than usual. If he were to hum out-loud, it would harmonize with the way his grace sounds. It takes longer to perceive colors, but I think Dean would see the little flashes of blue, similar to the way Castiel’s eyes get when he’s using his powers. This is why I typically put a little blue squiggle between them when I draw them together. Plus other senses, sorry but this is long enough as it is. You likely get the point by now!

---

Anyway, I’m very happy that literally anyone has even a passing interest in my interpretation of these things.

Formatting this was a nightmare and I feel particularly insane today.

[silk-stocking-soil]

First Year Group Headcanon #1

Most absolutely inspired by that one Twst art by @cheekinpermission (Sorry dude didnt knnow if you wanted me to tag you-) of Adeuce, Grim and her Yuusona, as well as me bullying my friends in PE (Im not active for shit)

As the school year goes on, so should sports events. Game events like Bean fest, and other mentioned sports, like basketball, spell drive, track and field, and horse-riding. According to the wiki and game, majority of first years are in a sports club (excluding Yuu, Grim and Ortho. )

In the 🗣️HONOUR🗣️ of 🗣️FIRST🗣️YEAR🗣️GANG🗣️, why don't they attend each other's sports games?

Starting off with Ace and basketball.

Then Deuce and Jack and their track and field club.

Epel and Spelldrive

finally Sebek the equestrian.

Club Practice not letting them hang out? The group watch the victims players huff and puff while enjoying cold water and rest, with shitty encouragement and added commentary.

Big Game or Playoffs coming up? Yelling like those football coaches on TV, Signs and facepaint for the shits and giggles. Everyone stares, secondhand embarrassment for the yellers, the player and the audience, but its also the famous first years of NRC what are you gonna do about it? Pick a fight with overblot survivors and see how it works out.

(has anyone seen the irish 'lizzie in a box' chant. please god do you see the vision with RSA and NRC)

As the first year group grows, so does the sports events they attend, and in turn more supporters for the participant. Ofc, Sports support = Aggressive insulting Cheering, and Betting.

They can deal with pissed dormheads after the game, rn its encouragement time. The trouble makers need enrichment and tecnhically its teamwork so staff and the headmage cant get angry.

another plus, Ortho and Yuu get a life outside of tending to others and studies, instead they can participate in NRC school culture of being a prick. Grim already succeeds in it.

Also Epel force feeds the First year gang apples during the game and the player apples before and after the game. they dont get a choice, no free will in this friendship.

No criticism taken unless im paid (jkjk, unless 🤨)

add onto it pretty please i look forward to the brainrot i need smth to get me through physics 11

[cat-clawz]

As far as walkback/apology videos go, I think that this one was really solid in terms of how it handled everything! Here's why I think that:

1. They were straight to the point, no beating around the bush. It was a 4 minute video, and they started addressing stuff right out of the gate.

2. They actually apologized. Not an "ohhh I'm sorry you all didn't understand our vision" but an actual "we messed up" and "we're sorry for the way we handled this as well as the way we communicated it" (those last two are actual quotes)

3. They addressed many of the specific concerns we've been having (although not all of them; I'm sure some need a little more planning) which shows that they were actively listening to us. They addressed:

-Us feeling like our current support was not appreciated by them/that they were shunning their youtube audience

-The poor delivery of the original video (I think they probably could have said a little more about this one but I digress, they still addressed it)

-their statement about how anyone could afford 5.99 a month

-how they kinda screwed over their Patreon when they did this

-Exactly why they decided to do this, clarifying more than just saying "we wanted higher/more tv-quality content"

4. They gave a plan of DIRECT ACTION as to how to fix the problems:

-they gave their patrons free access to watcher TV

-they changed the model of watcher TV so that videos are placed on YouTube, with ads, 1 month after they're released on watcher TV without ads

-they've offered refunds for anyone who already paid for watcher TV who isn't down with the new model.

Overall, while I'm still a little wary of them given their initial release of this, this is a really big and honestly well-done step in setting it to rights.

[funkin-news]

ninjamuffin newgrounds post!

tl;dr

fuck ads!! use adblocker whenever you can!!

the crew tries to make fnf as ad-free as possible, not just the game but where you download it- it's why it's on itch/newgrounds and not anywhere that offers ad revenue

that being said, fnf mobile will likely have a free version which... will have ads. they will try not to make the ads too obnoxious

(there will be an ad-free paid version too!)

extra note from me, not the post: if you're an android user you totally shouldn't use youtube revanced and purpletv or anything for mobile youtube and twitch adblockers. it would be such a hindrance to the advertisers. ha ha

full post copied below ⬇️

greetings and merry xmas newgrounds

on my brain for a very long time has been advertisements. Something about ads that stick in my brain ever since I came across this little thing from Lichess.

In due time, unfortunately this post will become a bit hypocritical, as we will eventually publish FNF onto mobile, and that will very likely have a free ad supported version. Hopefully that doesn't undermine my thoughts too much, however FNF is more than just me and my brain! Not everything I say goes in terms of FNF decisions! So with all that being said, let me begin shouting about everything I hate about ads.

I use adblocker on everything, and you should too. UBlock Origin has been my reliable go to. Online ads are especially an insidious breed. I'll try not to be some tinfoil hat, but I do often wonder what the internet would look like if the online ad model *wasn't* fruitful back in the early days of the internet. Would Facebook, Google, etc. have an arms race to the bottom to get infinite amounts of data on every single person ever? Would social media algorithms optimize for a different experience other than *spend as much time as possible on our site*? Ads have existed before Youtube, Google, internet though. They exist on TV, on subways and buses, on radio, in newspapers. I think for the most part my deep hatred of ads is for online kind, I do think there can be "irl" ads that I find very unpleasant. Going on a subway or sitting at a bus stop, I think people deserve more dignity from their city public transit than to have something sold to them! I don't think an ad free life should be only reserved for those who can pay for spotify premium, youtube red, etc. I think everyone should be entitled to that DIGNITY.

X (the everything app, formerly Twitter ) has a Premium subscription that costs 10$/month (CAD), and they will only give you *half* the ads in your feed. How generous of them. I will be dramatic, and say that I look at ads with disgust. I hope to think I'm somewhat justified, as most ads look like dogshit, and are pretty worthless.

For a very long time (and currently, as of writing/posting) FNF has been entirely ad free. We did stand up to putting it on other web portals that offer ads and ad payments/rev share, because we do somewhat want to be part of the change we'd like to see in the world. We want to believe in a world where someone can put out a free game on itch/newgrounds, and have the development be supported purely off donations (which FNF was supported by that in the early days / first 6 months of development!). We definitely could have made much MUCH more money if we put FNF on websites that offer ad rev share, but we didn't, and I hope that doesn't fall on deaf ears.

However we do promote our own things from within the game, Kickstarter, merch, etc. I suppose I'm less upset or even thinking about that, I think there's a big difference if we had a lil Kickstarter trailer in-game that played, opposed to having an in-game advertisement for some fuckass mobile game or some cosmetics or somethin. We specifically are still curating what we are putting in the game with our lil links to merch, kickstarter, etc.

We also provide the soundtrack on Spotify / streaming services, which do indeed get money from ads. I think I'm so detatched from Spotify ads and being angry at them, since I've been spotify premium user even at the brokest poorest in my life... i need them album downloads!!! I do think that's an aspect where there is an adfree alternative, which is Bandcmap, where you can listen to the FNF OST as much as you want, and if you pay some coin, you can download it in high quality!

My thoughts on FNF mobile with ads is that they will make me very unhappy and deeply sad. I do sincerely apologize to those of you who would be unable to play FNF on anything other than a mobile device, and aren't able to get the full mobile version, so you become punished with ads. We do hope to not be obnoxious with mobile ads. If you have a computer, even a shitty busted one that runs slow, I personally hope you end up compiling the mobile version yourself to get past ads. The thought of that lets me rest easier just a little bit. The FNF will be proudly open source forever.

There will also be a paid version of FNF mobile, that will have no ads. Pay for that one if you please.

[rederiswrites]

Look, I think if you're a US citizen you should go on Youtube and watch the debate, or at least some of the chunks of it where the topic matters most to you. You can't counter the arguments if you don't know what arguments they're making. And no, I don't mean arguing with your aunt that drank the conspiracy koolaid. I mean that there are genuinely a lot of people out there hearing what Trump is saying and thinking, "I don't know. That sounds really scary."

So know what he said, and know not just THAT he lied, but HOW he lied.

Sometimes, it's easy. There are no "abortions" after a baby is born. That would be uhhh let's see MURDER and it's already pretty illegal everywhere and absolutely no one is trying to change that. The comment Trump attributed to former VA governor Ralph Northam is completely misrepresented. Northam (whom I am not defending as a person, by the way) was commenting on the subject of *non-viable* pregnancies that represented a health risk to the mother. Nobody was talking about killing babies. Nobody. Not even Mr. Blackface.

Sometimes it's so addled that I'll leave someone else to unpack, for example, what the FUCK he was on about with the giving illegal aliens in prison forced "trangender surgery". Personally I'm assuming he just used the random word generator in his head to say something that sounded scary to him.

There is NO credible evidence that anyone, much less Haitian immigrants, is eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Both government officials and the police say there's nothing to it. Springfield has had a huge influx of Haitian immigrants, and this is causing infrastructure strain and racial tensions. But again, people who would rather believe that a) legal immigrants are okay with *stealing your pets and eating them* and b) the entire police and gov't infrastructure of a town and the surrounding county want to cover this up, are not worth our energy. It's the people who don't know the truth and are worried that we want to reach.

And my guy, my man, Cheeto Benito, that is not how tariffs work. Tariffs are not magical free money that other countries just HAVE to give you. They're...they're not that at all. Look, I'm lazy so I'm just gonna quote CNN:

Here’s how tariffs work: When the US puts a tariff on an imported good, the cost of the tariff usually comes directly out of the bank account of an American buyer. “It’s fair to call a tariff a tax because that’s exactly what it is,” said Erica York, a senior economist at the right-leaning Tax Foundation. “There’s no way around it. It is a tax on people who buy things from foreign businesses,” she added. Trump has said that if elected, he would impose tariffs of up to 20% on every foreign import coming into the US, as well as another tariff upward of 60% on all Chinese imports. He also said he would impose a “100% tariff” on countries that shift away from using the US dollar. These duties would add to the tariffs he put on foreign steel and aluminum, washing machines, and many Chinese-made goods including baseball hats, luggage, bicycles, TVs and sneakers. President Joe Biden has left many of the Trump-era tariffs in place. It’s possible that a foreign company chooses to pay the tariff or to lower its prices to stay competitive with US-made goods that aren’t impacted by the duty. But study after study, including one from the federal government’s bipartisan US International Trade Commission, have found that Americans have borne almost the entire cost of Trump’s tariffs on Chinese products. To date, Americans have paid more than $242 billion to the US Treasury for tariffs that Trump imposed on imported solar panels, steel and aluminum, and Chinese-made goods, according to US Customs and Border Protection. [link]

Also though you should watch the debate because Harris was an absolute savage and it was genuinely HUGELY entertaining to watch her mercilessly bait Trump in every answer she gave, and watch him take the bait every. fucking. time.

[thesims4blogger]

Plumfruit is Back! Arnie, a modder for The Sims 4, released his Plumfruit mod. The mod was a revamp of the existing cell phone in the game and had some new features as well. The original mod was already quite impressive but he’s revamped it, adding more functional objects, more apps, and more ways to enjoy a high-tech lifestyle in The Sims 4.

Introducing Plumfruit Essentials!

Hey friends,

Yesterday I announced The Plumfruit Collection and two new mod kits, Retrofruit and Plumfruit Essentials. You can watch the trailer here on my YouTube channel, and read the full post announcement here!

Today is my brithday and my gift to you is the release of Plumfruit Essentials!! 🥳 This is the first mod kit from the Plumfruit Collection, which will expand in the future with new releases!

Say hello to Plumfruit Essentials, a brand new mod kit featuring some of your favourite Plumfruit device types: phone, tablets, computers, and more! This mod kit is kind of a reimagining of Plumfruit Lite, a mod kit with more simple items I released just before I stepped away from Sims modding three years ago. But everything here is brand new: simpler code, better stability, and better design than ever before!

What’s included?

📱 PlumPhone Air – A stylish new phone replacement with a custom animated screen and PlumfruitOS visuals. For now, it’s available in one swatch: Titanium, and this is just the first of a new generation of Plumfruit phones.

There are also new app icons I designed for your UI Phone, that match the interactions and categories! Now please be careful: the PlumPhone Air and the new app icons are overriding some of the game's items, interactions and categories! Any other mod overriding the phone will conflict!

💻 PlumPad Air & PlumPad Mini – These elegant tablets come with a completely overhauled interaction menu, now sorted into apps with all-new icons for easier accessibility, similar to what I’ve done with CheatsMaster and Luminova. These icons will be shared across all Plumfruit devices (and the next Luminova update too!)

🖥️ iPlum Air & PlumBook Air – A futuristic all-in-one desktop and a sleek laptop companion. Both come with 15 beautiful wallpapers, a minimalist black-screen swatch, and new apps like Mail, Web Explorer, Notes, and more.

🔊 PlumPod Max & PlumPod Mini – These are for all the music lovers out there! Great sound quality, colourful swatches, animated screens, smart home features (compatible with Luminova), and access to Plumfruit’s virtual assistant, Neo.

If you have my Luminova Mod Kit installed, there are already some features that are cross-comptaible, and there will be soon another update expanding the features!

🎧 PlumBuds – A stylish replacement for the EarBuds from the Fitness Stuff Pack – required for them to show up and work! With an overhauled menu and custom icons for a smoother, more modern feel. (This is also an override and it will conflict with any other mod replacing the EarBuds!)

📸 PlumCam Future – A high-end camera with three lenses and a massive touchscreen at the back. It works just like the in-game HD cameras, but with an updated futuristic design (perfect to take pictures to store on Retrofruit storage units when it comes out!)

📺 PlumTV – Running PlumfruitOS (just like the Luminova Smart TV), this new TV features rounded corners, a selection of new screensavers, and sleek modern lines.

You can also use the animated TV Backlight from Luminova with this new TV!

----------------------------

Plumfruit Essentials is now available to download on the new ✦ Early Access ✦ Page!

Plumfruit Essentials is available as early access for Patreon paid Members, but it will be available publicly and free for all in just one week! I didn’t want to do a full 2–3 week early access with this one, since it’s kind of reviving a mod I’ve created before, even though every item is completely new. But I still wanted to thank and reward my Patreon supporters, so I thought this was a fair way to do it.  

[huhmiya]

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST | nick sturniolo

pairing: bsf!nick x f!reader

summary: where you and nick have been spending the whole day together and tried to find a film but at the end, the two of you decided to listen to the playlist that you both created.

warning: fluff (??), use of y/n, swearing.

a/n: not my photos, on pinterest. this is short and simple but I wanted to make a nick one.

WORDS: 0.9k

huhmiya on wattpad

you - pink | nick - purple

-

You and Nick spent the whole day shopping because he needed to find a new shirt after Chris spilled a drink on him since he would find it funny.

Now though you were in Nick's room, he was eating the pizza he picked up on the way home so the two of you could share, while you were going through the items you had purchased.

You didn't buy much because you didn't find many things you liked, which may have been because you had money with you. It always seems that whenever you don't have money, you come across the best shops.

"Do you want another slice?" Nick asked, as he was on his second slice while you had only eaten one. You nodded, folded the clothes you had bought, and put them in the bag.

"Yeah," you smiled before taking a slice. You were pleased with the toppings he chose since you enjoyed them, and so did he.

While eating, Nick scrolled through some movies on his laptop, as neither of you knew where the TV remote was. "These movies are so fucking boring. I swear on my life I've seen them all," he complained.

You chuckled and playfully rolled your eyes slightly before meeting his gaze, then shifting your attention back to the laptop he was using.

"Not all of these are boring, you know?" you remarked upon coming across some films you'd seen before but found amazing. He simply shook his head and glanced at you.

"If you don't find these boring, you're boring," he teased before switching to a different app for movies, yet they seemed to be more of the same, with a few extra films that were rather lackluster.

As rain began to patter against the window, you were so engrossed in the food and his movie choices that you hadn't even noticed.

"You've skipped over some really good films," you noted, to which he chuckled, acknowledging that he had, but expressing a desire to find something new and promising.

"Well, y/n, I'm trying to find a great movie we haven't seen yet," he declared, grabbing another slice of pizza from the box and munching on it while using his free hand to browse through the movie options on his laptop.

You had a feeling you would be staying here for years, so you tried to come up with some ideas before sitting up suddenly, which prompted him to look at you in confusion at your swift movement.

"Why don’t we create a Spotify playlist?" you suggested to your friend. He simply looked at you, then closed his laptop to avoid looking through films.

He smiled and nodded, then sat up from his bed, not as quickly as you did, and opened Spotify.

You both shared some similar music tastes, but also had some differences. There were songs you both enjoyed and others that only one of you liked.

"Okay, but what should we name it and which songs should we include?" he inquired, while you both took a moment to think and decide.

As the minutes passed and turned into hours, the rain continued to fall, steadily increasing in intensity, providing a comforting backdrop for your collaboration.

You added a mix of both your favorite songs, as well some that were more to your liking than his but he did the same, reflecting your diverse music preferences.

The playlist was over three hours long, but neither of you really paid much attention as you both just kept adding more and more songs you both liked.

As you both finished, the sky had turned dark blue, signaling that night was approaching. You leaned back on the pillows and glanced at the empty pizza box, reflecting on how much you had both eaten, until he broke the silence.

“That’s all I can think of, how about you?” he asked. You just looked at the playlist, scrolling through the songs before speaking. “Yeah.. can’t think of anything else”

He seemed pleased too. You used to have a playlist, but it was filled with songs that now seemed cringeworthy or overplayed. Creating a new one, one that he could enjoy listening to now, made him happy, and it did the same for you.

You rested your head on Nick's shoulder once he lay down on his bed and he wrapped his arm around you, then reached into his drawer to grab his AirPods instead of headphones.

“Should we give it a listen?” he asked with a grin, handing you an AirPod. You chuckled and nodded before taking it just in time for him to start playing the playlist you had spent hours creating together.

masterlist! guidelines & information! wattpad! socials!

[chmieldog]

I know you have already gotten asks like this, but as someone who has loved you since 2023 I would love to know your creative process? What motivates you, are you self taught, are there any art YouTubers you take advice from, etc

don't worry i actually love when people ask about anything related to my art

so 1) my motivation is quite random and i struggle with it the most. i was used to sitting down in front of my tablet everyday until i came up with SOMETHING. sometimes staring for 4 hours at a blank screen in cases of bad burnout. it's an awful method please do NOT follow. nowadays i take breaks from drawing, sometimes 1 day or few days long. i consume other media - catch up on tv shows, documentaries, read a book, scroll through photos and art on pinterest (do not do this one too long you can go into a crisis), go for a walk or something. i even did a fucking diamond painting during my depressive episode. if you don't force anything on yourself and you add some variety into your time (even just watching something else than your current interest) the motivation should come naturally. a good art motivation booster for me is music and movies, but it really just comes down to adding some enrichment to your artistic enclosure or whatever

2) i am self taught although i did want to go to art school. that option wasn't available to me due to my location and health. i went for graphic design instead so i'm qualified in that field i guess... i grew tired of it and i don't plan to do it as a job whatsoever unless someone forces me at gunpoint

3) i don't really watch art youtubers nowadays, but ethan becker, sinix design and mckay & gray are worth checking out. learned a lot from them few years ago

some tips from me learned through my creative process:

as a digital artist, finding the right brush saves my life. it doesn't have to be paid for or the one your favorite artist uses. it just has to feel RIGHT. right now for me it's the artemus pencil from the csp store for sketch and a default calligraphy csp brush for lineart

the second rule of survival is to use references. sometimes i'm too lazy and risk it all. sometimes i get away with it and sometimes i ruin the whole drawing. pose references are the most important from all of them Btw. rawdogging that shit is Not Worth It if you aren't just doodling. i like to draw the gesture line over the actual photo for an easier start at drawing the pose. in 2021-2022 i used to trace over csp models for almost every drawing and learned so much anatomy through it it's actually insane. DON'T RAWDOG THAT SHIT!!!!

if you struggle with colors, limit your color palette. pick colors from only certain areas of the color wheel. you can use color theory for picking Which Areas or you can be creative for this one to come up with something crazy. but the whole wheel will always overwhelm you. you can also take a photo or drawing you like the colors of and color pick the bits and pieces of it to see in what areas of the color wheel the colors stay in

that's everything i can think of rn. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANYTHING ELSE!!! i've been drawing for quite a bit ok i have some shit to say

[olderthannetfic]

https://olderthannetfic.tumblr.com/post/755884216959516672/someone-whose-fanfic-i-left-a-comment-on-is-angry

I'm just throwing out a slight assumption based on another fic that got added to TV tropes: The author mentioned getting a lot more hate and negativity after their fic was added to the TVT in the comment, like noticeably.

They explained in one of the comments to another why they had to mod lock the comments and the fic, and it was in an author's note in a new chapter they later removed. People who didn't like some of the side ships, and people who didn't like the main ships dynamic, started complaining and demanding random shit of the author. I think the AN explicitly mentioned threats and other explicitly threatening comments. It's not really a new that people coming from third parties to look at a fanfic seem to act like they're entitled to demand the author write exactly what they want or change parts of the fic, while they're consuming a story written for free.

Like, sure, you are publishing your story for any readers. But you can't deny that most fics never reach the popularity to become known outside their tag range, so most people aren't prepared nor do they expect to suddenly have to deal with people with absolutely zero interest in their writing, who're just there to insult you and your work coming in through third parties. It's kinda the same deal like with the Goodreads, you're writing for the fandom and for free, not to be put next to original works with much bigger audiences behind them and who're actually getting paid for their writing. And then recieving criticism as if the person had actually paid you.

As a fic writer the expectation is you write for fellow fans, your audience is a small part of fandom people who have interests at least partially aligning with your own. If you write original works, you write for anyone interested in what you have to offer and try to get a wider audience to get more sales and attention.

Side note: It often feels like people give writers a lot less breathing room when it comes to harassment, or having their works plastered into spaces they didn't agree to. Like, any writer complaining is told it's their own fault, and to shut up, and if they didn't want random people with no connection to the fandom or even ship to read it they shouldn't ever dare publish a fanfic ever. A writer mentioning being uncomfortable having their fanfiction plastered into spaces for professional works and with a high rate of unwanted criticism and some times really entitled trolls are expected to just "Suck it up, you knew the risk when you published your work." When they really didn't. How are you supposed to expect that amongst millions of fanfics, your little passion project is going to be shoved onto Goodreads as if it was some kinda professional publication? It also doesn't give the fanfic writers any benefits, AO3 is an archive, stats mean nothing, they're a bit of a vanity boost, but at large you don't get anything from having your work put into professional spaces, no recognition, no money, and you're forcibly held up to the standards or original fiction by entitled people. 🤷‍♀️ -Btw I know I'm a bit dramatic, and all that, but I still think it's weird how fanfic writers are some times held to standards of published original authors.

--

TV tropes is full of clowns from parts of fandom where a lot more so-called concrit of the "U suck" variety is the norm on top of the overall pattern of more eyeballs meaning more wankers.

[amnevitahwritesstuff]

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Chapter Three

Always Sunny In The Rich Man’s World

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The Pretty Woman AU no one asked for.

Fandom: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Pairing: Feyre/Rhysand

Rating: Explicit

Triggers: Age Gap, Daddy Kink, Older Man/Younger Woman, Prostitution

Chapters: 1, 2, 4, 5 (WIP)

Length: 2,636 words

Read on AO3 or below the cut

Her night was…surprisingly nice. 

Which felt like a strange thing to say about spending time with a man who had paid twenty thousand fucking dollars for…what had he called it? The pleasure of her company? It seemed absurd and yet, that’s exactly what happened. 

Upon her return, he had welcomed her back into his suite to the smell of something delicious and the sight of half a dozen covered platters laid out on the dining room table. 

He was ever the gentleman, pulling out a chair for her before sitting down himself. Serving her before adding anything to his own plate. Asking her how her day had gone. He acted like…like this were something they had always done. 

As if this were a real relationship. 

Afterwards, he tucked her into bed with the kind of care and attentiveness that Feyre hadn’t experienced since childhood. 

“But…” she whispered, as he pulled the coverlet up to her chin. “Aren’t you going to…” 

“Not tonight,” Rhys said gently as he kissed her forehead. “You’ve had a long day. Just sleep.” 

She blinked up at him curiously. Confused. 

“But…what about you?”

He smiled softly. He looked at her the way she would a puppy. Or a baby rabbit. 

“I have some work to finish up. I tend to stay up late anyway.”

And then he had just…left. 

She was so confused that she honestly wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed by this outcome. 

Did I do something wrong? She thought, staring after him long after he’d closed the door. 

Feyre didn’t understand him. 

She didn’t understand him at all. 

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Feyre awoke to the image of Rhys clasping on his wristwatch by the bedside table. Behind him, she spied the the still dark sky through the window and wondered what time it was. 

“I have an early meeting,” he explained to her softly. She blinked blearily up at him as he smoothed a warm hand over her hair. “Feel free to sleep in. Order some room service. Relax. I’ll be back in the afternoon. I have a gala I’d like you to attend with me this evening.”

“Okay,” she said, still half asleep. 

“Good girl. Now go back to sleep.”

And who was Feyre to argue?

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She felt immensely out of place. 

While Feyre had seen galas on tv before, the reality of one was something else entirely. Never before had she been surrounded by so much wealth. Everyone around her looked as if they had stepped straight off of a red carpet. They had the kind of bodies and faces that spoke of the best surgeons, the best dermatologists, and the best personal trainers money could buy. 

It was enough to make Feyre, even dressed in a designer gown (and crowned with more diamonds than she’d ever seen in her life) feel like a bit of a fraud. A toddler playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes. It felt so very obvious that she didn’t belong here. She lacked the confidence so many of these people seemed to have. A kind of arrogance and self-assuredness that came from a lifetime of financial security and rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. 

“You look ready to bolt,” Rhys commented amusedly. 

“Don’t you have a work friend or something you could’ve brought to this?” Feyre sniped through her teeth as she smiled nervously at yet another celebrity glancing their way. 

“Afraid not,” he said unapologetically. “Besides, I don’t think they would’ve worn that dress quite as well as you.” 

Quite against her will, Feyre felt her face flush hot and red. 

Thank God she was wearing a pound of makeup. 

Luckily, she was saved from coming up with a reply when a couple of men appeared to greet them. 

“Rhys!” The first man exclaimed congenially. He was solidly middle aged unlike his companion who looked like he’d just stepped out of a haircare commercial. “So good to see you!” 

“Gareth” Rhys replied with the same smooth charm before nodding to the younger man. “Tamlin. How is business?”

While the three made small talk about stock prices Feyre couldn’t help but stare at the second man curiously. 

Tamlin. 

Why was that name so familiar?

It took her a moment but eventually an image came to mind, of an overly serious teen boy leading ten year-old Feyre around after her father had kicked them out of his office while he entertained a client. 

Oh. 

Oh no. 

The man stared back. 

Feyre looked back at him with slowly dawning horror. 

“Ah, forgive me,” Rhys’s voice cut through her internal crisis as she felt him gesture towards her. “This is my friend Vivian.” 

“Vivian?” Tamlin said with a frown. 

He knew. 

She knew he knew. 

Fuck, how was she supposed to wiggle her way out of this one?

“Yes,” she said cheerily, plastering a wide, fake smile onto her face. “Vivian.” 

It couldn’t have been more clear she was lying through her teeth. Thankfully, Tamlin seemed to understand that now was not the time to press the issue and backed down immediately. However, she felt his eyes boring into her skull for the rest of the conversation. 

She should’ve known he was just biding his time until he found a way to corner her. 

Alone. 

Well, she thought bitterly when she spied him loitering outside the women’s restroom a half hour later. That didn’t take long. 

“Oh hi Tamlin. Are you looking for the men’s room? I think it’s actually further down the hall-”

“Why are you here?” He interrupted her, green eyes daring her to lie to him. 

“At the moment? Going to the bathroom-”

He made a frustrated noise. “Not in this building, I mean with him. With Rhysand.”

“He asked me to come.” In more ways than one…

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. 

“But why?” Okay, now he was just insulting her. 

(Even if, not so deep down, she agreed with him.)

“The pleasure of my company?” She bit out. It wasn’t even a lie. Those were Rhys’s words exactly when they’d made this strange bargain. 

“Listen,” Tamlin said placatingly, seeming to realize that he was upsetting her. “I know your name’s not Vivian.”

Here we go, she thought. 

“You’re Feyre right? Feyre Archeron? Our fathers used to work together?” 

Fuck. He did remember. 

Feyre felt like a whole hive of bees was skittering across her skin. Would it be too rude to just start running? No, no, she couldn’t do that. She could barely walk in heels, let alone run in them. Maybe she could throw them at him as a distraction? 

Unaware of her current escape plans, Tamlin moved closer and touched her arm. 

She jolted. 

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. 

Feyre wondered if this was what cornered animals felt like. 

“I just,” he said, softer. “You’re not in trouble are you?” 

She stared at him. 

What?

“Because I know your father lost everything back then. I just worry that someone might be taking advantage of you.” 

In an instant, Feyre felt her face heat with embarrassment. 

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just…he’s not paying you to be here is he?”

Cold, humiliating horror settled deep in her gut. The answer must’ve been written all over her face because she suddenly felt Tamlin grab ahold of her hands and try to catch her eye. 

“He is isn’t he? Jesus, I’m sorry, I can’t believe you’re being forced to do this.”

Wait…forced?

“No,” she tried to argue, lips still numb with shame. “It’s not like that-”

“If I’d known you’d needed money I would’ve given it to you. I’m sorry we lost touch after the market crash. But I’m here now! I could help you!” 

Feyre felt like she was watching this entire interaction from afar. A curious bystander watching this strange, horrifying moment in her life play out while she could do nothing to stop it. 

The worst part about this whole thing was that this should’ve been ideal. Rhys was a stranger. She didn’t know him. She had no guarantee he would continue to treat her well whereas Tamlin was a known quantity. She had known him since childhood. She would’ve been safer taking his money over Rhys’s. 

And yet…

Rhys had been nothing but kind to her since the start of their arrangement. Really he’d…he’d taken care of her. 

Like she mattered. 

And maybe, selfishly, she wanted to drag that feeling out a little longer. Before the week was up and she was forced to go back to her life of abusive bosses and neglectful sisters.

“How much is he giving you?”

The words slipped out of her mouth faster than she could catch them. “Twenty thousand dollars.”

Tamlin startled. 

“Twenty thousand?” He repeated, as if he had heard incorrectly. 

Feyre shrugged. 

“Jesus, what are you doing for him?” He said it in such a way that implied that whatever it was she was doing…it was dirty. Shameful. 

Feyre tore her hands away from his. 

What the fuck, she thought. What the fuck. 

“That’s none of your business,” she said frostily. Am I so unlovable? She wondered. So poor and pitiful that all Tamlin could imagine Rhys would want from her was something horrible and sordid? 

“Feyre-”

“Thanks for your offer, but I really must decline. Excuse me.” 

Fuck him, she thought angrily as she walked away. I’ll show him. 

I’ll fucking show him. 

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Her anger followed her all the way back to Rhys. 

“Are you alright?” He had asked her, real concern laced through his words. 

And Feyre had replied, not fine at all, “I’m fine.”

She fought hard to be as pleasant and accommodating as possible for the rest of the night, but it truly felt like she had a roiling little stormcloud hanging over her head the entire time. She just couldn’t stop thinking about Tamlin’s words. 

What are you doing for him?

Nothing. 

She was doing…nothing. 

Had been doing nothing for the last three fucking days. 

It made her feel…bad. Antsy. Like she wasn’t earning her keep. 

The feeling followed her all the way into the car when they finally decided to leave. And it was that very same feeling, those same words, that compelled her to slip down onto the floor of the car. 

Between Rhys’s legs. 

She struggled a bit to situate herself, seeing as how the space wasn’t exactly made with blowjobs in mind, but Feyre was nothing if not stubborn and determined. 

Rhys, however, seemed wholly confused by her sudden awkward positioning. 

“What are you doing?” He asked, brows furrowed. 

“Earning my keep,” she chirped before putting her fingers to the front of his pants, looking for his zipper. 

Rhys sucked in a sharp breath before quickly halting her hands with his own. 

“You don’t need to do that.”

She pursed her lips. 

“Don’t I?” Her words were harsh but inside she was reeling. If he didn’t want to fuck her then how was she supposed to earn her money? Why even keep her around then? Had Tamlin been right? 

“You really don’t,” he insisted, pulling her up off the floor and back onto the seat beside him. 

“What’s the point of this then?” Feyre asked, staring at her shoes, unable to look him in the eye. “If I’m not here for that then why am I here at all?” 

Rhys was quiet then. For a few excruciating moments she was sure then that this was where he finally kicked her out of the car and put an end to their arrangement. 

Instead, she felt him move. 

Onto the floor. 

He was kneeling in nearly the same spot she had been just moments before. Even on his knees, he still towered over her. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly bone dry. 

“Have I not been taking care of you enough?” He murmured quietly. 

Feyre stared at him, dazed by their sudden role reversal. 

“Does my sweet girl need tending to?” 

“What?” Now Feyre was sure her brain was short-circuiting. 

Rhys chuckled and slid his hands up under her dress and along her thighs. 

“Don’t worry, I know what you need.” 

She sucked in air through her nose as her panties were quickly pulled down her legs and tucked away into Rhys’s pocket. He looked down upon her bare cunt with a pleased expression and then carefully, gently, she felt the lips of it pulled apart with his thumbs to reveal the dusty pink flesh underneath. 

“You’re so pretty here,” he said conversationally. And then she watched as he bowed his head, as if in prayer, before she spied a flash of a pink tongue and then—

Oh, she thought, in shock. Oh. 

In her admittedly short sexual career, no one had ever gone down on her. Feyre had always been led to believe that it was just something men didn’t enjoy. 

It was quickly apparent that Rhys was not one of those men. 

The noises he made as he licked her cunt could only be described as enthusiastic. He sounded like a starving man devouring a steak dinner, not a man swirling his tongue around her clitoris because she had the audacity to try to give him a blowjob. 

He’d barely been at it for sixty seconds before she was ready to squirm out of her skin. Her skin felt hot and tight. Her pulse kicked hard in her veins. Her nipples had hardened to stiff little points that rubbed against the silk of her dress. She felt…overwhelmed. Like she simultaneously wanted to wiggle away and pull him closer. 

“Fuck,” she said deliriously. “Fuck.” 

Her hips writhed in her seat but Rhys just placed a large, muscular arm over them, locking her in place. He glanced up at her like a scolding parent. 

“None of that. Be a good girl and take what you’re given.” 

There were those magic words again. Good girl. They rang through her ears and into her brain like a siren song. Like a sedative. 

Her muscles went lax. 

Rhys smiled. 

And then he peeled back the little hood of her clitoris and blew gently on it. 

Feyre gasped. 

His laugh was almost mean. Carnivorous. And the vibrations and heat from his breath against her cunt made her shiver. 

“Oh yes. I think I’ve been quite remiss in my duties towards you.” He didn’t direct his words at her, but towards the shiny swollen clitoris he now rubbed softly with his thumb. 

She felt like a fish caught on a line. Desperately jerking and wiggling but unable to escape the man who had caught her. 

“Oh God,” she gasped. “On my God!” 

“Just Rhys is fine,” he said cheekily. And then her eyes crossed as the velvety feel of lips and tongue latching back onto her clitoris had her spine bending back at an angle that was sure to give her back problems later. 

Liquid heat pounded in her cunt. She was sure, at this point, that all the blood in her body had fled there because she could barely form a single coherent thought outside of…

“Oh! Oh! Oh!”

“That’s it. Let go pretty girl.” 

Feyre wasn’t sure what finally pushed her over the edge, his sugary sweet words or the fluttering of his tongue against the underside of her clit but regardless she felt her whole body seize and shake into a mind-numbing orgasm. 

She felt herself pulled into strong, warm arms as Rhys settled back beside her as she came down. 

“Shhhhh,” he murmured sweetly into her hair. “You should’ve told me you needed this. Next time you’ll tell me when you’re worked up hmm?”

Feyre nodded into his neck, still sleepy and drugged from the endorphins flooding through her brain. 

Yes, she thought. 

That sounded good to her. 

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