#what is customer satisfaction survey

[fics-and-quotes-andthelike]

A Dance in Death

Title: A Dance in Death

Pairing: Alastor x fem!reader

Word Count: ~3,927

In which Alastor takes the reader out to Mimzy’s club. Things go sideways much too soon, but the Radio Demon is quick to make amends.

A/N: Part 2 of sorts to my Never and Always series. Hope you enjoy!

Part 1

Mimzy’s speakeasy was most known for three things. 

One, it was known for its captivating acts and performances. Demons and sinners from all around Pentagram City had heard stories and whispers about what could be experienced there. Two, it was known for being one of the most lively and entertaining places on this side of Hell. And three, it was known for being on the wrong side of town, making it the perfect place for no-good demons to spend their time and even do discrete business, so long as they paid their dues to Mimzy, of course.

That last point probably should have kept you away from this place. But you couldn’t help but feel safe knowing that you had come on the arm of the Radio Demon himself. After all, who would dare approach you with Alastor around?

Nobody, as it turned out. You and Alastor had been sitting in a corner booth for almost an hour now, and nobody had dared to come within ten feet of you, save for one unfortunate server who had graciously provided you both with your drinks before scurrying off and hiding, not coming back even once.

And although you enjoyed any time that you got to spend alone with Alastor, you couldn’t help but notice that the two of you were both on edge that night. 

You, on one hand, simply wanted to dance. It wasn’t often that you were able to go to bars or speakeasies, and you would have loved nothing more than to lead the demon across from you on to the dancefloor. But you knew better than that. Alastor’s interest in you came with limits that you hadn’t yet discovered, but you’d be double-damned if you were going to find them out tonight.

Although you had to admit, as you gazed out longingly at the dancing demons on the floor, that you wouldn’t mind at least trying to share a drink and a conversation with your partner. But that wouldn’t happen until Mimzy finally decided to saunter over to your table.

Which led you to the reason for Alastor’s impatience.

The whole reason that he had invited you out tonight was because Mimzy had requested an audience with him at her place of business. To discuss what, you weren’t sure, but you knew that the Radio Demon hated to be kept waiting. 

His impatience was starting to become evident, though it was likely that nobody around you noticed anything amiss. You, however, had become well versed in reading Alastor’s silent cues.

He had yet to touch his drink, though his clawed hand was firmly wrapped around the glass. He was surveying the building with apparent disinterest, but you could see the way that his sharp gaze roamed over each and every other demon and sinner present. You could see tension in the corners of his ever present smile, even though his eyes were hooded in an expression of mild boredom.

As you downed the last drops of your drink, you risked a glance over to Alastor once again. You had wanted to strike up a conversation since you had stepped foot through the door, but hadn’t wanted to distract him from his thoughts. But when his grip around the glass tightened once again, your internal war finally ended. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to have him suddenly lose his composure and bring the whole place to the ground.

You cleared your throat lightly as you placed your glass back down on the table. You received Alastor’s attention immediately, his eyes darting over to yours. “Yes, my dear?”

You smiled back at him. “Mimzy has a lot of nerve hyping this place up when it has such terrible customer service, doesn’t she?”

With no small amount of satisfaction, you noticed Alastor’s smile ease into something that almost resembled kind amusement. “Indeed,” Alastor hummed. “Though I must say, her choice in song is quite enjoyable.”

You shrugged, looking back at the dance floor. “It’s fine to dance to, I suppose. Not so much fun when you’re stuck sitting and waiting for someone to show up.”

There was no response. You returned your gaze to Alastor to see him looking at you almost curiously. “I wasn’t aware that you were one for dancing, my dear.”

A laugh bubbled up and pushed its way through your lips before you could stop it. You pressed your fingers to your lips to try and conceal it as Alastor tilted his head at you in confused interest.

At the sound of your laughter, his shadow suddenly perked up, quickly making its way over and sitting beside you.

When your giggle had finally subsided, you opened your mouth to respond to Alastor’s comment. It wasn’t completely his fault that he knew so little about your past life, after all, but you hadn’t expected that he, of all people, would make such blatant assumptions.

Before you could get a word out, though, the shadow placed a clawed hand under your chin, tilting your head to face it. Its fingers wandered until they reached the base of your throat before gently clawing their way back up, almost as if trying to coax another laugh out of you through touch alone.

It was so much more intimate than you had thought Alastor was capable of.

But then Alastor waved a hand in the air, summoning his shadow back to his side. It obeyed almost immediately, caressing your throat once more before melting back into the floor and returning to its rightful place. 

You cleared your throat again, this time in an attempt to fight the red spots on your cheeks. Not that their presence had escaped Alastor’s notice. His smile had widened dramatically, though thankfully, he chose not to comment on the interaction, instead waiting for a response to his earlier comment.

“I do dance,” you finally replied, looking back up at the Overlord. “I used to dance plenty before…well, you know,” you said with a small grin. “I died.”

Alastor waved away your comment with a flourish. “Ah, yes, I do see how such a thing could impede on your abilities for a moment. Though, if I’m not mistaken, you now have two perfectly functioning legs.”

“But I haven’t been to a club since before I died. And there’s not much opportunity to show off my moves at the hotel,” you replied with a shrug. You tilted your head at the demon. “And you? Do you dance?”

The Overlord smiled wistfully. “Oh yes, I was quite known for my dancing abilities back in the land of the living.”

“I thought you were known for being a mass murdering radio host.”

Alastor shrugged, giving you a devious grin. “I’ve always been multitalented, my dear.”

You laughed again, this time trying to ignore the eager look you received from both Alastor and his shadow.

“You know,” you said slyly once you had calmed yourself, looking down at your empty glass. “I wouldn’t mind brushing up on my skills tonight after your meeting.” You looked up innocently, meeting Alastor’s eyes. “If you haven’t lost your impeccable skills, that is.”

The demon’s eyes flashed. “Careful, mon chere. I-”

“Alastor! How’re you doing, doll?”

You whipped your head around at the sound of the new voice. You stared as a short, blonde woman made her way across the floor, arms raised in welcome and a broad smile on her face. 

Alastor, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all bothered as he greeted the woman. “Mimzy, dear,” he drawled, turning away from you. His smile stretched unnaturally. “You are extraordinarily late.”

The woman- Mimzy- waved her hand in indifference. “I’m busy running a business, Al, you know how it is. Can’t eva get anyone to do what you want without a bit of prodding.”

Her gaze slid over to you, eyes widening as her smile grew. “Say, Alastor, did you bring me a new toy?” Her eyes roamed over you slowly. “She’s a little dull, but I can spruce her right up.”

You suddenly felt very exposed.

You recoiled slightly, attempting to keep your movements unnoticeable as you pressed yourself further into the booth to get away from the Mimzy’s prying eyes. 

You tried not to notice the way that other demons and sinners had begun to glance over at the sudden appearance of the bar’s owner. They aren’t looking at you, you told yourself. But you couldn’t help but take in Mimzy’s confident appearance and attitude, coupled with Alastor’s calm poise. You could see how the Mimzy could have mistaken you for one of Alastor’s wayward souls.

Almost as if it could sense your discomfort, Alastor’s shadow suddenly reared up and placed itself directly in front of you, blocking you from Mimzy’s line of sight. 

“Unfortunately, Mimzy dear,” Alastor said from opposite you, though he avoided looking in your direction. “Charlie has grown quite attached to her little friend, and I doubt she would be thrilled to discover that I had allowed her to become a part of your…”

“Productions,” you piped up. Alastor’s shadow looked back at you in delight before shifting through the air to sit beside you once again.

“Precisely,” Alastor said.

Mimzy only shrugged, giving you a wink. “Well, I’m here if you change your mind, hun.” 

She turned back to Alastor. “Let’s you and me talk for a bit, huh? I know this sorta thing ain’t really your cup of tea. I’ve got a room in the back that we can use. Your little doll will be alright on her own for a while, won’t she?”

At her words, Alastor finally turned to face you once again, his eyes roaming over your face for only a moment before he stood. “Of course. I never would have brought her otherwise.”

With that, he made to follow Mimzy without so much as a glance back in your direction. A move that he had made on purpose, you were sure. After all, it simply wouldn’t do to have others believe that the Radio Demon actually cared for someone.

Even so, you couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment as the two sinners walked away. From beside you, in the dim light that the club so generously provided, Alastor’s shadow placed its hand on yours comfortingly. You turned to face it with a smile. “At least I still have you.”

The shadow grinned, using its other hand to gently cradle your cheek, pulling you closer until your foreheads met. You closed your eyes, savoring the feeling as your heart grew light. The shadow might not have been Alastor himself, but you had learned enough to know that it was heavily influenced by Alastor’s own thoughts, feelings, and commands. This was as close to affectionate that he would ever be with you.

Suddenly, the shadow’s touch left you.

You opened your eyes to see that it was nowhere to be seen.

“My, my,” a voice said from behind you. You jerked forward in surprise, spinning around to see a tall, winged imp casually leaning against the booth. He definitely hadn’t been in the building a few minutes ago, you noted. 

The imp leaned forward. “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?”

You flushed, glancing around to see if you could catch a glimpse of Alastor’s shadow. But it was as if it had never been beside you in the first place. Which would explain why the imp had decided to approach you at all. Nobody would have dared spoken to you if they knew that you were here with an Overlord.

You opened your mouth to tell him as much before you caught yourself, clamping your mouth shut. No matter how well Alastor’s conversation went with Mimzy, it was likely that he never would have danced with you anyway. There were too many eyes and ears here for him to let his guard down.

“You here alone?” the imp asked, trying his luck once more.

You fixed a smile on your face. If this was your only chance to dance, you were sure as Hell going to take it.

You stood, extending your hand in greeting. “Would you like to dance?”

The imp’s flirtatious smile changed to one of intrigue. “Straight to the point. I like it.”

You wiggled your fingers. “Are we going to dance, or what?”

The imp grinned, taking your hand and leading you on to the dance floor. 

Sure, it wasn’t exactly what you were hoping for when you and Alastor had come to Mimzy’s club, but you figured that it would at least be a decent substitute for something that you would never be able to have.

You felt your smile slipping as the pair of you began to move to the music. 

You hated moments like these, when you realized that no matter what you did or how you felt, you would never be able to show your feelings for Alastor in public. It wasn’t just the fact that he disliked physical touch, which you had never faulted him for. It was the fact that as one of Hell’s most powerful Overlords, he felt the overwhelming need to keep up an appearance. One that did not, unfortunately, include you.

A gentle touch snapped you back to reality. “You alright?” the imp asked.

No, you weren’t. But you weren’t going to let that stop you from dancing.

You nodded, taking the imp’s hand in yours as you began to move to the music once again. “I’m fine.” You smirked. “Now, show me what you’ve got.”

~~~

If you were to later ask anyone at Mimzy’s speakeasy what had happened that night, you would probably receive a whole mix of stories.

Some would say that the Radio Demon had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his antlers growing and his bones cracking as he laid waste to the bar, presumably for fun or out of an unjust anger.

Others would say that he had come to seek some sort of revenge on a winged imp that had been spotted dancing before he suddenly disappeared, not to be seen again.

One specific witness, who shall remain nameless, would say that she had been speaking to an old friend about a business opportunity that he had foolishly taken no interest in. As she was speaking, a shadow had entered the room, whispering in its owner's ear. Her old friend had walked away from her, re-entering her bar, where he was met with the view of an imp dancing with the very woman that he had brought here in the first place.

The witness hadn’t even had time to blink before her friend had taken on his true demon form, batting people aside as if they were only flies before promptly picking up the imp dancing with the woman and melting into the shadows with him.

When her friend returned, he refused to say what he had done with the poor imp, though the witness had no trouble making a few assumptions. He had walked over to the women, gently taken her hand, and gave the witness a clipped farewell before vanishing with the women into the shadows.

It was a brutal display, even for the Radio Demon. If the witness had to guess, she would assume that perhaps the woman had something to do with the whole debacle.

Not that she would ever say so to anyone else, of course. She knew better. 

You, however, had no trouble saying straight to Alastor’s face what you believed had happened. 

“We were dancing, Al. It was harmless. If I’d needed your help, you would have known.”

“You would never have summoned me if he was threatening you, my dear.”

You groaned and buried your face in your hands. The two of you had been going back and forth like this ever since he had so graciously brought you back to the hotel from Mimzy’s bar.

You lifted your head and took a breath before continuing. “If he was threatening me, we probably wouldn’t have been just dancing.”

Alastor’s eyes flashed dangerously, his shadow rearing up and scowling in disgust. 

You whirled around and pointed at the shadow. “And you. You went and told him that something bad was happening, didn’t you? You are a liar and a rat, my friend.”

At your words, the shadow suddenly shrank down in size and hid behind its owner, almost as if trying to avoid your accusatory glare.

Alastor, on the other hand, didn’t break eye contact. “He only meant to protect you, my dear, the way he was instructed to.”

“What did you think I would need protecting from, exactly? I can’t exactly die again, can I?”

“There are things far worse than a second death, my dear,” Alastor said with false sweetness.

He was right, you knew. You had almost been subjected to such a thing after your death, when you had sold your soul to the Vees. You still weren’t sure exactly how it had happened, but Alastor himself had found out about you and somehow saved you from a life of imprisonment and torture. 

Not everyone was as lucky as you were.

But that wasn’t why you were upset. 

As soon as Alastor had saved you from the Vees, you had been determined to help him even a fraction of the way that he had helped you. You owed him so much more than that, you knew, but it was the only thing that you could give. And so, from that moment forward, you had tried your very best to become a solid and stable presence for Alastor, unmoving in your trust in him and, hopefully, eventually something like a friend.

But tonight, you had done the exact opposite. To see the Radio Demon defend you was to know that he felt things like affection, or even something more than indifference. That wouldn’t do for his reputation at all, you knew, and you hated yourself for being the cause of it.

You sighed in defeat, crossing your arms over your chest in defense. “I know that,” you said, holding your position and glaring daggers at the Overlord. “But I also know that you risked a lot today by protecting me. I’m not worth losing your power over-”

You gasped as Alastor appeared directly in front of you, glaring intensely. He didn’t lift a finger, but you swore you could feel the heat of his gaze.

“I do hope you haven’t finally started to doubt me, my dear.”

“Never,” you promised, searching his gaze.

The Overlord stepped back, his stretched out smile immediately concealing his true feelings. “Wonderful,” he said. “Then we both understand that my power and status will forever remain.”

You nodded once before finally breaking eye contact, choosing to look down at the floor.

You could feel the anger seeping out of you slowly, replaced by embarrassment. Of course Alastor would never give up his power for you. Even if someone had truly seen the incident, it was unlikely that anyone would ever be able to use it to their advantage. You were talking about the Radio Demon himself, after all.

“You’re right,” you muttered, wrapping your arms tightly around yourself. “I made a foolish assumption.” You smiled to yourself. “I seem to be full of those today. I’m sorry.”

You were met with silence. 

But before you could look up, you suddenly felt the cool touch of a shadow. It rested its hands against your cheeks, tilting your head up to make eye contact. It moved its thumbs in slow circles, leaning down until your foreheads were touching. It didn’t move any closer than that, but you knew that this was more than anyone else had ever received.

It was lovely.

But oh, how you wished it were really him.

The shadow stepped back, returning to its place beside its owner.

Alastor himself acted as though he hadn’t noticed the interaction at all, instead looking around your room as if seeing it for the first time.

“I do plan to maintain my powers, my dear,” Alastor repeated. 

Before you could even open your mouth to reply, he pushed forward. “Although,” he said, almost thoughtfully. “I certainly wouldn’t mind losing a few souls to keep what is most certainly mine.” 

He looked towards you then, his gaze hard, as if daring you to argue.

And you should have. You should have told him that you weren’t worth losing souls for. You should have told him that you only wanted to help him, never hinder him. 

You should have done lots of things.

What you did do, however, was smile and duck your head to hide your rising blush. 

You looked back up and extended your hand wordlessly.

Alastor looked down at it before glancing back up at you, his eyebrow raised in a silent question as his shadow looked on eagerly from behind him.

Your smile only widened. “I believe, good sir, that you owe me a dance.”

The shadow nearly leapt with excitement, rushing forward and taking your hand. 

You laughed at its enthusiasm before Alastor stepped forward and waved his hand, whisking the shadow away and taking its place. 

He placed his hand under yours, bringing your hand up to place a soft kiss on the back of your knuckles before releasing you and straightening. Slowly, he brought his claws to the base of your throat before gently dragging them back up until he reached your chin. He tilted your face up further to meet his gaze before dropping his hand down to yours once more.

With his other hand, he waved his staff, summoning a slow dance tune that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves.

You tried to ignore the heat in your cheeks and looked up curiously. “Didn’t you used to dance to songs that were a bit more lively?”

Alastor smiled gently down at you before summoning his shadow and surrendering his staff to it. “I did indeed, mon chere. But we aren’t exactly alive now, are we?”

You smiled back in agreement. “No, I suppose we’re not.”

You placed your hand on his shoulder as he placed his hand on your waist. He lowered his head down until your foreheads were touching and began swaying, taking you with him on his slow trek around your bedroom floor.

You couldn’t have asked for anything more.

~~~

If you asked anyone at the hotel what had happened in your room that night, you would receive a few different stories.

Angel Dust would have told you that the Radio Demon had suckered a poor woman into going out with him that night, and you were most likely getting it on.

Charlie would have told you that she hadn’t seen either Alastor or the hotel’s newest resident all evening, though she doubted that the two of you had gone off somewhere together. Right?

Husk would have told you that he felt sorry for the woman who had gotten caught in the Radio Demon’s line of sight. You were such a sweet thing, and you deserved so much better.

You would have simply smiled and shrugged, giving nothing away.

Nobody would have dared ask the Radio Demon, of course.

But if anyone had bothered to ask the shadows, they would have received a rather lovely story about two sinners who had found their peace, only for a moment, dancing in each other’s arms that night. 

An Overlord and a sinner. 

A woman and a man. 

Two damned souls, finding home at last.

Part 3 Here!!

A/N 2: I didn’t get to proofread, but I hope you guys still enjoyed it! If you read the first fic (or even if you haven’t), I’m thinking of making another part where it’s platonic Angel Dust x reader and he finally gets to give her a makeover. Let me know if you want to be tagged!

Also, I want to write more Alastor x reader (maybe a continuation of sorts, maybe not) so let me know if you guys want to be tagged in those!

Taglist: @severusminerva @anh4125 @midorichoco @rapturenyx-blog @maybememoriesx

[takataapui]

master post of all the ttrpgs I've made!

Tēnā koe, this is a master post of all the ttrpgs I've made! all my games are free/pay what you want/koha unless said otherwise. all profits from my games go towards my top surgery fund!

'so, you're a small patch of moss in a big bog...' is a solo-journaling game about being a patch of moss in a wetland facing your future of becoming peat. explore grief, mortality, and inevitability.

'the bog eternal' is a solo-journaling game about being a bog fighting against people trying to harm you, with only your natural traits. totally not an allegory for anything beyond that… I’d totally tell you if it was, deeeefinitely not an allegory for transness, nope.

'you’re going to your ideal wetland’ is a solo-journaling game about creating and traveling to your dream wetland, emotions about climate justice, and naming that wonderful place.

'We Are But Worms On a String: a one word rpg' is exactly what it sounds like! Are you curious about what that word is? Read to find out!

'Two Graves' is a solo-journaling game about revenge and what comes after.

In this game, you write as someone who's recalling parts of their life that are sitting uneasily. You'll explore your life before you were Wronged, the moment of being Wronged, the revenge itself, and the future you can have after you've done the thing you once swore to do.

(Two Graves is available for $2)

'johnny bogg: a boggy shopping trip adventure’ is a solo-journaling game about going to a plus sized masculine clothing store that happens to be in a bog. play to find out what strange bog things happen to you there. will you make it out unchanged? or will you get some cool boggy clothes? don't forget to fill out your customer satisfaction survey!

’it is a beautiful day in the wetland and you are a horrible bittern’ is a solo-journaling game about being a menace of a bird, harassing those stinky humans coming into your wetland, and dealing with the consequences of your actions. play to find out whether you’ll be able to bring back the restorationists after you’ve scared them away.

'these little delusions' is a one-page rpg approximation of my experiences with delusions as a symptom of my schizophrenia. I do not recommend playing this game. sorry if you find yourself playing anyway.

[pascaloverx]

NO LIGHT

SUMMARY: Your life is simple. You are a pastry chef who has just opened a bakery near your home. A new life, being a new person. But when James Barnes shows up at your bakery injured, asking you to offer him shelter, your life takes a sudden turn.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The characters in this fanfiction are not my creation and all belong to the Marvel universe. This story will feature scenes of violence, brief intense intimate moments, and inappropriate language. To the readers, I wish you a good read and ask that you engage with the fanfiction if you like it. Do not interact with this fanfiction if you are underage. Enjoy reading.

ONE THREE

TWO

You step away from Barnes instantly as you see the red-haired woman enter. She smirks as if she's amused by the scene. Barnes looks at her and then at you, as if analyzing the situation. "I can explain…" are the words that come out of Barnes' mouth as he looks at you, almost seeming apprehensive.

"I didn't know I was interrupting a moment of love, forgive me. You told me I should meet you here, I came as quickly as I could, moya lyubov. You just forgot to tell me you were accompanied." The most beautiful woman you've ever seen says, subtly indicating she has a relationship with Barnes. You feel slightly uncomfortable, raising an eyebrow as you look at the two of them. She stands behind him and wraps her arm around his neck as if she's leaning on him. He looks tense.

"Romanoff, meet the bakery owner, Miss Y/L/N. We'll need to take care of her security." Barnes says as he removes Romanoff's arm from around his neck and looks at you, standing in front of them. Your chest tightens as you realize that now you’re not safe alone and basically need two bodyguards.

"Nice to meet the woman who helped our Barnes here. James must have informed you that we can't reveal what we are. But it's cute that you were willing to help a stranger for nothing in return, risking your own safety." She says as if she's thankful but sounding sarcastic. It might have been foolish to help Barnes without knowing him well, but who wouldn't help him? An extremely handsome, I mean kind, man with extremely captivating, I mean sincere and blue, eyes.

"I would have helped any of my customers who seemed to be in a difficult situation. His life was at risk. What would you have done, Miss Romanoff?" You say subtly, being sharp. It's better to pretend you don't have a crush on Barnes since he obviously must have something with Romanoff.

"You're so sweet for being so selfless, I would have taken care of my own problems and not meddled in others' affairs. You're braver than you seem, I hope we get along well." She says, smiling kindly at you. You decide to extend your hand to her, and you shake hands as if agreeing on something. Barnes watches you while leaning against the wall near the exit.

"Natasha, take a look at the entrance of the establishment. Then we'll escort Miss Y/L/N to her apartment, placing a camera at her apartment entrance will be useful, and see if there's anyone suspicious watching her." Barnes says with a scowl, looking at Romanoff. She nods in agreement with what he says and starts examining your bakery and everything around it, leaving you and Barnes alone. You look at him with a certain anger.

"Have you thought about asking Miss Y/L/N if she agrees to be watched? If she wants her life turned upside down because of you? Or does she have no say in this?" You express your frustration. Not wanting to be cliché, but if they're going to mess up your life, you could at least be informed about it.

"Miss, I wish I were in a situation where your opinion mattered. But between conducting a satisfaction survey with you and protecting you, I'd rather protect you. You'll have to trust me and my decisions." Barnes says seriously, but you let out a laugh. Of course, he would say that. To hell with what you think, he's protecting you. Protecting you from an enemy that isn't yours, from a danger you don't know.

"Then let me turn you in. If my safety is so important, go to those who want you and surrender. That way, I won't be in danger anymore. Oh, you're not going to do that. Because it would ruin your life, ruin your plan, if there is a plan. So before coming with that action movie hero talk, remember that you are the reason I'm at any risk." You say as you move closer to him, pointing your finger right in the middle of his chest. Your tone is defensive, as if you want to attack him before he can come up with an excuse to treat you like a fool.

"You're right, I admit I'm trying to make decisions for you. But understand, my intention is to keep you safe. Precisely because I am the reason you are in this situation. So I'm sorry, but there will be times when your will has to be disregarded for the greater good." Barnes holds your hand, the one you were using to point at him. You sigh as you feel his touch. It's as if he's trying to calm you down.

"Are you trying to make me lose concentration with your touch and your pretty blue eyes? It's not going to work. I need you to inform me of the decisions made and what will be necessary to keep me alive. Do we have an agreement?" You try to keep a neutral expression, but the truth is you are melting inside. You feel his gentle touch on you and a tenderness fills your heart.

"Lovebirds, I've already installed a camera in front of the bakery, discreetly. Can we go to the residence of your beautiful damsel in distress, or do you prefer to continue the preliminaries here?" Natasha says, entering the bakery again, smiling in your direction. You both turn to look at her, and meanwhile, you feel Barnes pull back and take his hand off you.

"I can take you there later. I'm a busy woman, as you can see, my establishment doesn't run itself." You say, stepping away from Barnes and going to put some other bread dough in the oven. You avoid looking at Barnes, as he doesn't seem to want to understand you. Natasha seems to sense the tension in the air and laughs mischievously.

"You two are fighting, aren't you? How cute. I can come back later." Natasha says, teasing you, and for some reason, it irritates you. How could you be fighting with someone you barely know?

"Certainly not; Mr. Barnes was just about to leave anyway. I was just informing him that I will not be an idiot who you watch and command. If you want my cooperation, inform me of the details and consult me on every decision. Otherwise, both of you can go to hell." You say in a serious tone, as if challenging both of them. Natasha looks at you with admiration, as if she's proud of you for speaking up like that. When your eyes turn to Barnes, he looks incredulous. Perhaps your stubbornness irritates him.

"Let's go, Romanoff. Miss Y/L/N seems sure she can handle things without our supervision. And despite us leaving, I can assure you that I will come back here and, even if I have to carry you, we will go to your apartment to take care of your security there. Have a good day." Barnes stares at you for a few seconds while informing you that he will proceed with or without your consent. Natasha and he then leave, leaving you there, thinking about what is happening.

The rest of the day passes in a blur for you, amidst the worry of what it will be like to see Barnes and Romanoff again later. Or what your life will be like from now on. You would be lying if you said that not knowing what Barnes does for a living to be pursued by people who can be so dangerous isn't eating you up inside. Just as you would be deceiving yourself if you didn't admit that during the hours away from him, you've been thinking that fleeing the country wouldn't be a bad idea. But part of you wants to trust him, even without any rational reason for it. And so, you serve your customers somewhat absent-mindedly, but at the end of the day, everything goes well. You close your establishment, full of paranoia about whether you're being watched or not. The walk to your apartment is lonely, which you deduce is the result of your stubbornness. Barnes gave up on you; not even giving you the chance to be carried by him. You're a bit disheartened by this. So when you step out of the elevator to go to your apartment, you're startled to see Barnes in front of your door.

"How did you get here?" you ask while holding a grocery bag with some ingredients you bought. You might not have a secret job, but entering the market suddenly made you sure you weren't being followed. Since you were there, you did some shopping. And apparently Barnes did too. Because he's holding a bottle of wine in his hand.

"The same way I know your name, your age, and probably your favorite color. I brought your favorite wine, by the way. I know we didn't really fight, but I think I should apologize. I can be a bit authoritarian." Barnes approaches, showing the wine in his hand. A Merlot wine. He really did research on you. You look at him, smiling slightly.

"Great, I can't know almost anything about you, and you probably even know the color of the underwear I'm wearing today. Seems so fair." you say, a bit irritated, as you approach the door to open it. Barnes chuckles.

"Before you start a protest, how about we drink this wine here and I tell you things I can share with you. And for your information, it's red, your favorite color." Barnes says suavely, and when you realize he's talking about the color of your underwear, you feel immensely embarrassed. But you open the door wider, silently letting him into your apartment. And as you close the door, you feel ready to get to know Barnes better.

[20dollarlolita]

Did you hear about joannes going bankrupt? Do you have any thoughts on that?

(Quick note so no one um actually's me: I'm aware that not all bankruptcy is Chapter 11. Thank you)

As a crafter, I'll say: oh dear, that's going to make shopping harder.

As a person who was aware of the insides of how that company was running, I'm going to say, "about fucking time."

See, here's what was happening with Joann. Problem #1 was that they stopped taking the "you have to spend money to make money," mentality and applying it to labor. A store is not about the products or the customers. The life of a store, the thing that keeps it beating, is the employees who serve the customer and serve the corporate ownership.

When they first started notably cutting labor, the store did have a lot of driven, passionate people who were willing to pick up the slack. It's possible to cut the freight shift one night a week when you have daytime floor associates who can do the freight when there's no customers immediately needing help. You can expect store managers to clean and recover the store, because it's a task that keeps them free to disconnect from when a store needs a manager to be acting as a manager. You can expect any free employee to fill in at the register or cut counter to cover a break or a lunch or fill in during a high-customer time. The store had a lot of employees who didn't mind doing some multitasking, and didn't mind being completely busy from the start of the shift until the very end.

However, when these labor cuts proved to be an effective way to save the store money, the amount of multitasking, and the amount of expecting one shift to cover for cuts made to another shift, started going up. It was no longer cutting the freight shift one day a week. It was cutting the freight shift until it was ONLY one day a week.

And that's where they made the big mistake in labor load. Instead of, "serve the customers, and do these tasks when you have time," it became, "do the task, and serve the customers if they demand your attention." A store is not the customers; it's the people who work in the store. But one of the key players in a retail store's staffing is the employees for whom making the customers happy is their primary drive. The way that stores were staffed, people whose primary drive was to serve customers were not allowed to adequately do so to reach customer satisfaction.

We need to add to this that, in addition to demanding more from every employee, Joann corporate has several of their demands on employees to be automatically measured. Customer response surveys, ship-from-store fulfillment, buy online pickup in store response times, number of remnants that were rolled to be sold, all of that can be sent to corporate with a pass/fail number assigned to it. Other elements of the store, like how much freight from a box actually makes it onto the shelf on time, or if a wheelchair can navigate the store, are not measured. This means that the company prescribes which tasks will actually be done and which can be shoved in the back for later. With the work load that was being put on employees, corporate decided that the ONLY tasks that should get done are ones that have specific metrics tied to them.

Employees whose drive is to help customer, who are not permitted to help the customers asking for help, will quit and go to a place where customers actually come first. Employees who are okay with doing two people's jobs, but who are asked to do three jobs, will leave to a place where they only have to do one job. Employees who have worked for the company for 4 years and never received a raise despite being praised for excellent work will go to a job where they get paid more. And suddenly, the only people who are left are the people who aren't overworked, because they're the people who will only do one job no matter how much demanding corporate has for them.

The last two years that I was at Joann, there were tons of employees asking or begging for more hours. It was not that they couldn't hire people. It's that they wouldn't assign labor hours. Employees who would happily work 35-40 hours a week, but who are assigned three hours a week, will leave and find a job where they can get a consistent number of hours. When they made all floor managers part time, a lot of people who had been with the company for years left to get more hours or some health insurance.

But, despite all of this, corporate never said, "if we put more people on the floor, our customers will be happier, and will spend more money." They still continued to treat labor as an unnecessary expense that should be limited. Why put more people on the floor when you can just overwork the people who bothered to show up for work today?

So, weirdly enough, that business model was absolutely not working for them, and it's all come crashing down. Damn right, as it should be. Respect the people who work for you, and they'll work for you. Take away the things that they're there to do, and they'll go somewhere else. Simple math.

Also, in the last decade, the fact is that, "Joann has a lot of coupons, so I can save money!" changed in the eye of the public into, "Joann is overpriced unless you know how to play the coupon game."

So yeah. I'm not surprised, and I hope their restructuring does good things for the employees who work there. Hell knows they need it, because their current system just proved that it cannot survive in that state.

[seat-safety-switch]

In Canada, where I am currently forced to reside because of the intersection of intolerant legislation and dynamic self-expression, people love a loyalty card. Because everything is overpriced here, every store offers you a points card of some kind. My wallet right now has 16 different loyalty cards, and my phone creaks under the load of same.

Why do we do it? For the promise of free shit. If you visit Dairy Queen approximately 60 times in a row or give them about $300 in business, they'll give you a free ice cream cone. Do you visit Dairy Queen enough to justify that? Absolutely not, but their hope is that the rewards card will help bring you in rather than "waste" your money on some other ice-cream purveyor.

All this has given rise to what the psychologists in Ottawa are calling "rewards point rage," where you get super mad at someone throwing away perfectly good points by not having a reward card. You ignorant motherfucker, you don't have an Air Miles card? Those two tangerines and a bag of potato chips would have gotten you one Air Mile. Here, let me just stick my card in here and get them for you. What, now you want them? Let's take this outside.

At the moment, only a few hundred people have been injured in point-rage incidents, with a mere two or three of them succumbing to their injuries. This is but a small price to pay for increased consumer satisfaction, aided by the fact that if you do a customer service survey right after shopping there, they might give you five or even ten rewards points into your account as a little "thank you." Better keep them on your good side.

[gabessquishytum]

When a skinny wirey hot goth walks into Hob's gym, Hob is pretty sure he's lost. Hob gym is more boxing, lifting, and working your aggression out on dudes heads or heavy bags; Hot! Goth looks like he needs smoothies and yoga mats and like he would turn his nose up at sweat that's not "glowing".

Matthew checked him in, so Hob didn’t even get a name before Hot! Goth took off his sweat jacket and started to lift --- Hob was mesmerized!

Hot!Goth was doing everything right (Hob wasn't perv-ing, he was just watching checking to make sure no one got hurt) so Hob couldn't even offer tips! And he was strong, he was lifting real weight and Hob maybe wanted to bite his biceps. Hob is just going to walk over and take a,,,,,, customer satisfaction survey, make sure new guy feels welcome,, offer a tour of the private showers.

Dream just wanted a place in his new neighborhood to workout - without all the himbos and people in the gym just to be seen. Dream was serious about his workout and this gym seems like a place to workout without the flash.....(and the day before he might have seen this hot sweats and ripped-off arms shirt wearing, manbun having, scorchingly hot guy walk in here while Dream was grabbing coffee.) Dream's trying not to be obvious about looking for someone specifically.

You sent this in a while ago but it's so on theme right now! Hell yeah!

And who could forget Tom's workout video when he was getting the "shaved panther" look for season 1.

Listen, Hob is trying his best. He's checked Hot Goth's form, and he's almost perfect. He doesn't seem interested in any of the classes or group sessions. And Hob is NOT going to accost the poor man at what is supposed to be a safe space. So, Hob keeps coaching his clients, running the gym in general and doing his own workouts. It's FINE.

Then one day, Hob is doing deadlifts when he notices that Hot Goth is trying to get his attention. His shirt seems to be absolutely soaking wet! "I knocked my water all over myself while I was getting off the machine. I hate to ask, but may I take my top off? I would like to finish my workout, if possible."

Hob is happy to say yes (he's horny. He's HORNY to say yes) and Hot Goth pulls off his shirt. He's got an absolutely glorious physique and Hob can barely keep in a squeak of delight.

Hot Goth looks pleased by Hob’s reactions, but he still looks like he wants to say something else. "I feel a little awkward." He murmurs, when Hob raises an eyebrow. "Being the only one."

And what us Hob supposed to DO?! He takes his own shirt off maybe too enthusiastically. It's bulking season (aka the best season) and he's feeling good in his body! Hot Goth's extremely appreciative, mouth opened stare does a lot for his confidence too.

Hob wonders for a few seconds if this is just a bros being bros, enjoying each other's manly tits thing. And then Hot Goth pretty much flutters his eyelashes. "I have been meaning to do some more cardio, if you would be amenable to joining me. Perhaps in your office, where we would not be disturbed?"

(It takes Hob an hour and 2(!!!) orgasms to get Hot Goth's name and number. He tells Matthew to give Dream a free subscription. Boyfriends get certain perks, you know?)

[the1975attheirverybest]

Education

Lesson #1: Know Thyself

A/N: first installment is finally here! Let me know what you think. warnings: smut. read the prologue here. ———

“okay, so, should I-“ Amelia’s trembling fingers reached for Matty’s belt buckle, attempting to undo it. He laughed softly, shaking his head and reaching for her wrist to stop her. “No need to rush. Hold on a minute. Why don’t we talk about this first, hmm?” he leaned against the headboard patting the space next to him, urging her to sit by his side. She felt embarrassed for acting a tad too eager. Exhaling and blowing at the hair that had gotten in her eyes, she crawled over to his side of the bed and sat next to him, thankful that the dim lighting in his bedroom gave her some cover. “what’d you wanna talk about?” She asked, her voice frail and clearly exerting considerable effort into acting cool. “well, I just- wanna set some ground rules. Make sure we’re both on the same page….”

“if this is about to be a lecture on consent- look, I’m just saying, I know what we’re doing. I want this-“

he chuckled, again, making her feel silly. “I just think we should have a way of communicating. You know, so we’re both comfortable.”

She rolled her eyes, already starting to wonder if this was a mistake. Perhaps she’d given him the wrong impression. The last thing she wanted was for Matty to think of her as some kind of helpless, fragile creature. It would ruin their friendship if he started treating her differently. “do you do this with all of your hookups?”

“mostly, yeah.” He nodded instantly. “oh.” She hadn’t expected that kind of answer.

“what? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, I just- didn’t picture you as the chatty kind of guy…”

“chatty?”

“you know, I mean-“ she felt her cheeks grow warm as the words left her lips. “Kinda thought you liked things pretty rough and heavy…I never thought you were the ‘sit down and talk’ kinda guy”

Matty grinned at her words, “you think about how I like to have sex?” He was practically gleeful at this news. “No! I don’t! I didn’t mean it like that!” She tripped over her words, flustered by his reaction.

Matty leaned in close, his face almost touching hers. “For your information: I do like it rough.” He whispered in her ear “but I like to get to know my partner first. Know their body. What they like. What makes them moan. What gives them pleasure. So I can use this knowledge to my advantage.” She swore she almost felt a whimper leave her lips, goosebumps prickled her skin at his words. He backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “don’t be shy. Tell me what you like. What your limits are. Wanna make sure I give you exactly what you need.”

Her words got caught in her throat. She stared up at him, her mind vacant. “What- umm, what I like? Like- like positions, or?”

“Sure, yeah…” Matty shrugged. “I… don’t know that I have enough- umm- information to give you an answer.” she felt her lack of experience making her seem thoughtless, so she began to get defensive. “I mean, if I’d known there would be a- a quiz… a questionnaire…what? Am I gonna fill out a customer satisfaction survey at the end of the night?- I thought you were gonna show me how to suck a guy off properly. I didn’t do homework.”

Matty sensed that he’d broached sensitive territory, so he seamlessly brushed off her comments, taking a deep breath and deliberately keeping a relaxed smile on his face, so as not to make her feel bad. “Alright. That’s fair enough. We’ll get to sucking guys off later. But, why don’t we start somewhere…more basic, first? Before you can feel comfortable giving someone else pleasure- it might be good to know what you like. Can we do that?”

“You- want me to-“

“touch yourself for me.” He confirmed, bluntly. “I mean- that’s- okay. It’s just not the most exciting thing in the world-“

“why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” “but-“

“pretend I’m not here, okay? When you’re alone and you’re feeling….on edge. What do you usually do? Go on. Show me.” she felt hot under the thin layer of fabric that covered her body. Matty’s eyes watched her with lust as she slowly relaxed into the mattress, looking at him hesitantly. He gave her an encouraging nod as she nervously fumbled with the waistband of her skirt. “mhm, slide it off. Good.” He spoke softly. “I- umm…don’t really do anything exciting.” She whispered, feeling the need to give him as many warnings as possible. There was really nothing enticing about her touching herself. She never thought about how it looked to other people, and, embarrassingly, the word that currently came to mind is ‘bland.’ She didn’t want to disappoint him. Her hand reached underneath her underwear, but Matty immediately clicked his tongue.

“give yourself a minute. Why don’t you- umm…take off your top if you’re comfortable with that. Is that alright?”

there was an unusual tenderness to his voice. She’d never heard him so uncertain. In a strange way, it made her feel safe. Like this territory wasn’t only weird for her. Knowing that they were both treading unsurely felt good. she peeled her top off her body. Tossing it to the ground.

“wow.” Matty muttered. “Sorry. You’re just- gorgeous.” He said so casually as if he’d apologized for bumping into her or accidentally cutting past her on the street. she blushed, closing her eyes to hide away from his intense gaze. “play with those tits a little- that’s it. Just like that.” His voice guided her hand as the moves up and down her body, caressing her nipples first, then slowly traveling further down. “Go ahead, darlin.’ Can see you’re wet.”

She jolted at her own touch, even though she knew it was coming. Her lips squeezed together to trap a pitiful moan in her throat. “oh, don’t hold back on my account, honey. No need to be polite in here.”

she whimpered as her fingers moved the way he’d instructed, his praise egging her on. “Good girl, just like that. Yeah, keep going darling….ready to add in another finger, baby? How’s that feel?”

“oh- Matty-“

Matty had to admit that hearing her call out his name as she worked herself up was one of the hottest things he’d ever seen. He swallowed, harshly, keeping his focus on her pleasure. “good girl, baby. That’s it. Go a little faster now…perfect. You’re perfect. So…perfect.”

Her panting filled the hot air of the room. Matty found himself slowly inching closer and closer to her body as it writhed and ached for release. “I’m gonna- I’m so- close…”

No longer able to hold back, Matty’s hand slowly took over hers. “You’re doing good, baby. I’ve got you. You can let go now…”

the initial surprise of feeling his touch turned into just the element she needed to push her over the edge, she came, trembling around his finger inside her, his other hand rubbing her clit. for a brief moment, she felt her entire body go numb. Her ears ringing. Her lungs gasping for breath as she laid there, Matty’s arms around her, feeling like she could melt into the mattress. He ran a hand through her hair, speaking gently. “You did so good, darlin.’ You’re a quick study.”

she smiled up at him. Was it the post-orgasm haze or has he always been this beautiful?

“th-thank you.” She managed, feebly. “this is gonna be fun. Not that I doubted the idea…” he laughed. “What’d you think? You feeling alright about it all, or?”

she nodded. “Yeah- that- that was amazing. Feeling great.”

She liked this. Him being there. Taking her through the experience, encouraging her, telling her how well she did. She could get used to it. She definitely wanted more of it. He reached into his pocket for a cigarette lighter and then took one out of the back next to his bedside lamp. “Want one?” He offered to her and she quickly accepted. She smoked in silence, next to him watching as the smoke disappeared into the air, bringing him back into focus after every puff she blew. “shit!!” Smoke blew out of the side of his mouth as he cursed and scrolled through his phone.

“what- what is it, Matty?”

“I- umm… forgot. I’m meant to be meeting this girl for drinks. I- fuckin hell.”

he jumped off the bed, looking around the room for his wallet. “Listen, I’m so sorry. I- I’ve gotta go. Feel free to stay as long as you need, yeah? Just lock up when you’re done, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah- umm..of course. You should- just go.”

the sinking feeling in her stomach at the sight of him walking out of the room surprised her. This wasn’t the first time that she’d watched him get ready to go meet some woman he’d had met at a party and swapped numbers with for a random “drink.” So, why does this feel different? She shook her head, swishing the cigarette bud into an ashtray, and hoping to squash those strange feelings away with it.

[dartlekey]

One scoop, two scoop, girl scoop, boy scoop

written for @strangerthingsocweek | rated T | 1486 words cw implied sexual harrassment, misgendering, period-typical homophobia

When Steve returns from the back with a new tub of ice-cream, Robin tears her eyes away from the entrance of Scoops Ahoy to suggest, "You ready to shoot your shot again, Harrington? Or should I take this one?" 

Steve picks the empty container out of the display case without looking, slotting the new container in with ease as surveys the shop, then turns back to Robin with a confused squint. "There's no one here," he tells her, which Robin only doesn't roll her eyes at because he did just literally come out of the back. 

"Nah, over there, by the planter," she explains, nodding vaguely towards the walkway in front of Scoops. "She's walked past here, like, twice, slowly, and now she's just - staring at us. She's definitely coming in here, as soon as she works up the nerve. Though I'm not quite sure what she's so scared of."

Steve looks out at their potential customer. Then he looks back at Robin. "Buckley, that's a teenage boy."

Robin does roll her eyes this time, very pointedly, before turning away from Steve and back to a slim figure in men's jeans and an oversized polo, banged up sneakers and a light brown mullet much like Steve's, except this one fans wide instead of high. A round face with tired blue eyes, a paper note in a calloused hand. Looking at the other girl makes Robin giddy - she's never had the guts to dress so masculine, but she's always wanted to. Never thought she'd see someone like this in Hawkins. 

There's no way she can explain this to the King of the Heteros, but knowing for sure he'll get rejected again delivers its own kind of satisfaction. "No, she's not," Robin says derisively. "Look at the shirt. She works at A&D's, you know, the women's clothing store on the ground floor?" 

Steve frowns. "A teenage boy could be working at a women's clothing store. Don't be sexist."

If this were anyone but Steve Harrington, Robin would be impressed by their open-mindedness, but he's probably only saying that to be contrarian. Or get in her good books. Both kind of icky, really. "Work there, yeah - but not running the place. I've seen her lock up at night, open in the mornings. She instructs the other girls on how to dress the mannequins, which dressing racks to put in front of the windows. Face it, Steve, that's a woman - but, to be fair, from the way you've been striking out, you don't know much about women, do you?"

Steve looks so offended it takes everything in Robin not to burst out laughing. "Excuse you?", Steve says hotly, "I am very knowledgeable about women, and you know what? I'll prove it to you, once she's - oh, shit."

Apprently, she's finally decided to walk into Scoops, shoulders hunched and eyes sharp as she approaches the counter. Robin stares unashamedly, trying to commit everything about her appearance to memory - she's not attracted to A&D girl (unfortunate though that may be, because she's probably never getting another chance like this), but Robin is drawn to her all the same. Like recognizing like, and all that. 

Steve doesn't recognize shit, though. "Hey there, beautiful," he purrs, twirling his scoop in that way which would be impressive if Robin hadn't seen him fumble it twenty plus times while practicing, even smacking himself in the face once. "No need to be shy; if you're unsure of what to get I'll be happy to guide you to a more, uh… unconventional flavor. My name's -" 

"Steve Harrington," their customer interrupts, voice surprisingly soft, "I know. Though I was not aware your flavor included guys."

Oh, Jesus. Robin was wrong. Robin was super wrong, which is extremely disappointing but also sort of morbidly funny, because Steve immediately turns pale as a sheet. 

"Oh, I'm - oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -" 

A&D guy allows himself a small grin, half amused, half - resigned, almost. "Don't worry about it. I suppose you weren't technically wrong yet, I was just being a little mean."

Steve looks about as confused as Robin feels. "Yet? I'm - what? Are you a guy or not?" 

And A&D guy… shrugs. Actually shrugs, like he doesn't really know either, and doesn't particularly care. "In my experience, other people have a lot stronger opinions on that than I do, so I just let them decide. I only ask for consistency in return, because trading pronouns all the time gets messy fast. So, uh," he clears his throat, and fidgets with the note in his hand. "You assumed I was a woman, so to you, I am one. Might not want to flirt with me anymore, though, I'm pretty sure I'm not your type."

Steve blinks. Swallows, blinks again. Then, much to Robin's surprise, he says, "Fuck it. Okay, sure. What's one more tally on the board, right, Buckley? And what can I get for you…?" 

"Kicks," the - person in front of the counter says, shoulders relaxing marginally. "Kicks Maguire," which, alright, is a sick-ass name, and Robin can respect commitment to the bit when it's coming from such an obviously queer person. "And I have a list, it's, uh - each scoop in a separate cup, please, and that's uh, chocolate, chocolate again, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, and lemon."

"Wow, someone's hungry," Robin can't resist joking as she waves Kicks over to the register, and when Kicks laughs Steve fumbles his second chocolate scoop, dropping it back into the container with a curse. "No, this is for the entire team," Kicks explains, "my coworkers. They've been working hard, thought they deserved a treat."

Aw, that's sweet. Robin subtly skims a quarter off the total, then quips cheekily, "What, and none of them wanted to help you carry their prize back to home base?" 

Kicks' eyes flicker to Steve for just a second before returning to Robin, and his - her? No, his, Robin decides, his smile is still perfectly friendly as he forks over a few bills, but Robin is sharper than a lot of people give her credit for. "Nah, I just told them I could handle it."

"Handling it, huh," Robin muses, dropping the change in Kicks' outstretched hand. "Is that why you were messing with Steve, then? Punishment for making your girls uncomfortable?" 

Kicks' eyes widen visibly, and Steve freezes in his movement. "What? Hey, is that true?" 

Kicks shrugs uncomfortably. "Not everyone wants to be flirted with when they're just getting ice cream, Harrington," he says, voice carefully neutral, but Steve still looks like a kicked puppy. "I didn't mean to -" 

Then he frowns, shakes his head. "But I did. I did make those girls uncomfortable, even if I didn't mean to. I'm really sorry Kicks, I - they're probably not gonna want to see my face, but could you tell your girls my sincerest apologies?" 

Kicks looks kind of stumped, which Robin can relate to. "Yeah, I - I can do that. Yup. Sure. I'll just head out then, uh, Steve and -" 

"Robin," Robin fills in the blank, "Robin Buckley."

Kicks shoots her a quick, nervous grin. "Robin. You should come by the shop, sometimes. Even if we don't have a men's section."

His eyes dart back to Steve again, then away, and he grabs the tray with ice-cream they prepared for him. Steve frowns after him when he walks away, gaze lingering thoughtfully on the curve of his back. "He said that to you, right? That's weird. What would you be doing in the men's section?" 

Robin shoots him a tight-lipped smile. "I don't know, Harrington. Tell me, though, which part of the men's section do you get your lip gloss and hairspray from?" 

Steve turns an adorable shade of pink and huffs, "Yeah, yeah, point taken. Whatever."

He still keeps his eyes on Kicks' retreating form, and so does Robin. Kicks just makes for such an odd contradiction - he's so casual about his disregard for gendered expectations, self-assured and easy about it in a way that makes you agree with him, because why wouldn't you? And yet, at the same time, there's this caution about him, a smallness, like he wants nothing more than to disappear into the background. A hyperawareness of his surroundings that Robin knows from herself, the craving and the fear to be other inextricably linked. 

And yet he sticks to his guns, stubborn and open. Robin always thought to be publicly other you'd have to be loud and bold, someone like that Sinclair girl that keeps bugging her for free samples, or like  Munson from her drama class. She likes this quiet self-assuredness, though, this stubborn persistence in spite of the fear, not for a lack of it.  Maybe she will check out A&D's sometime. If only to find out how Kicks gets his hair to defy gravity like that, because like hell she's asking Steve.

[bitletsanddrabbles]

Bring Back 'Good Enough'

When I was in school, my parents insisted that I get at least 'C's in school. If I fell below that, we'd work harder on homework and such, but I don't think I ever had to. As long as I got 'C's, that was 'satisfactory'. That was 'average'. That was good enough. And so I got 'C's in the subjects I didn't have a natural aptitude for (see: math) and got 'A's in the subjects I did (see: Art & English) and 'B's in between.

I remember the first time one of my friends told me she had to get straight 'A's or she'd lose privileges. Want an allowance? Straight 'A's. Want to go out with friends? Straight 'A's. I couldn't believe it. No one was perfect all the time. No one was perfect in every subject. I was in elementary school at the time, and I understood this. Why couldn't adults? It was later made clear to me that the logic here was that 'student' was your job and you had to do the work to get your pay. I didn't quite buy it, but what did I know? I was ten. Student was the only job I'd ever had.

My first roommate out of college was a good friend from high school who had always been an A-B student. Normally she got straight 'A's, but occasionally something would bump her down one grade. She was fine with that. Then she got to uni. Finals week stressed her out to the point she got stress hives. When she got her first ever 'D' she almost had an anxiety attack. Almost. She was just strong enough to close her eyes, take a deep breath and say "Fuck it, a D is passing! I don't need this for my major anyway!"

The two of us worked at JoAnn Fabric when we graduated. Neither of us realized that the working world had gone from "get a degree and they'll train you to do anything" to "do a million internships so you have the two to five years experience required for an entry level job" while we were in school. We weren't overjoyed by the discovery, but we were both too burnt out on school to go back and funny thing - all of the internships we could find were for students. So we sold craft stuff and every once in awhile a random customer would be asked to take a phone survey. The options were Highly Dissatisfied, Dissatisfied, Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied, Satisfied, and Highly Satisfied. Once a month, we'd get a district report card showing what results all of the local stores had received. I remember one month we had 25% Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied, 50% Satisfied, and 25% Highly Satisfied. I was so proud! No other store in the district had a 75% satisfaction rating! One store even had a Highly Dissatisfied, but not us!

...we got raked across the coals for being the worst store in the district. Why? Because even the store with a Highly Dissatisfied had managed to get more than 25% Highly Satisfied. What was wrong with us? I protested. Who's going to give a 'Highly Satisfied' when they come in for a spool of thread and find it easily? That's just basic satisfaction. Just because we hadn't been in a position to jump through hoops for as many people didn't mean we were worse.

No one listened to me. I had coworkers - women old enough to be my mother - hang their shaking heads and say "I can't believe we only got 25% Highly Satisfied".

And that's when I realized what sort of a world the parents who raised their kids as straight 'A' students because 'that was their job' had created: a world with no 'good enough'. A world where satisfactory wasn't satisfactory. A world with only 'the best' and 'better than the best', and yeah, I was younger than the adults, the people in charge, but I was also a bloody English major. The only math I'd excelled at - ever - was logic. My mother was a chemist who had taught me how a basic 'if than' statement worked.

I KNEW THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 'BETTER THAN THE BEST'.

Without so much as putting the Sorting Hat on our heads, we had all sorted Sparklypoo and now our hair was coming in mouse brown at the roots because there can only be one 'best'.

What's more, now I had a job other than 'student'. Now I actually earned a wage and funny thing: I was a straight 'A' worker, but I got paid as much as the 'D's. Alright, I had better opportunities for advancement, in theory. Except that there wasn't any room for advancement. Similarly, I had a better shot at a better job, but all of the better jobs wanted 2-5 years experience for an entry level position and I couldn't do that without going back to school. Now, I did eventually get out of there and get jobs that paid better, but where they better? At JoAnn I got to play with yarn all day and teach people how to cast on. At the pest control company I got to deal with customers trying to rip me off or claiming (not always inaccurately) that our technicians had ripped them off. I got sent to do a job that wasn't mine, stuck in a truck with people who had sometimes been hired that day. My boss tried to retroactively implement rules and threaten to fire you for breaking them. It still didn't give me sleep issues, stress hives, and anxiety that made it feel like I was having a heart attack like the legal litigation outsourcing company.

So no, they weren't better. They were, in fact, much worse, but each of my friends' parents would have approved of them and considered them higher grade jobs than retail. After all, JoAnn had no health insurance while the outsourcing company had shitty health insurance that took $100 out of each pay check and left me with the same taxable income as the pest control outfit despite making $2 an hour more on paper. Clearly an improvement.

And now I'm back in retail and I'm still a straight 'A' worker struggling to take up the slack from the 'D' workers who earn the same amount as me (assuming that we have the same seniority). And yeah, I have a better shot at management than anyone else, but I don't want to be a manager, so there's that. And people look at me and go "What? You have a degree? What are you doing here? You could get a good job!"

And I say that I have a good job. It may not be the best (it is retail, after all), but I am making more money than I have anywhere else. My benefits are good. I like my coworkers. The commute is under 20 minutes. My managers are fighting to keep me in my current position and schedule, despite some pressure to change things.

I will never have a perfect job, but for now at least, this one is good enough. And the straight 'A' parents would be horrified about that, but you know what?

The first successful suicide attempt my Dad ever went to as a Fire Department Chaplin was a teenage boy who thought he'd got a 'B' on a test.

I survived long enough to have a good enough job.

We need to learn to be satisfied with 'good enough' and only move on when that's not satisfactory anymore.

[fuck-customers]

I'm about to lose my mind here. The store I work at hasn't been doing well compared to other locations (it's actually one of the slowest in the county) so we're being encouraged to ask customers to fill out satisfaction surveys to boost our ratings. We're also running two different donation campaigns, one of which will freeze our registers completely if the customer puts their card in early (which they always do) and force us to restart the computer. We've ALSO started charging for plastic bags, and we have to make sure the customer understands that or we could apparently get sued (???) but also if they want to take a bag for free we have to give it to them because our ratings are so low. And *ALSO* we have to take returns for items even if the customer doesn't bring it back, meaning they could say their 80 dollar steak fully decomposed immediately upon leaving the store and they'd get all their money back.

Keep in mind that most of our customers are only buying a few things, maybe two bags worth on the high end, so we're expected to ask them all these questions and give them all this information within the span of *maybe* two minutes, and also have a full conversation with them, and *also* if they have a problem with anything at all, we have to violate store policy to fix it.

What makes it so bad is all these changes are fairly recent. This is not the same store I joined four months ago, it's the one I left in December of last year because I felt like I was getting walked on. My voice has been hoarse every day when I come home, and I'm so mentally and socially exhausted that it takes genuine effort to speak. I was thinking about applying for a head cashier position since one of ours just quit, but I honestly don't think I can take 40 hours a week of this.

Posted by admin Rodney.

[raymondduggantravel]

5 Types of Surveys You Should Participate In—And Why It Matters

In today’s fast-paced world, businesses, organizations, and governments rely on accurate data to make decisions. One way they gather this valuable information is through surveys. You might have encountered many types of surveys online or in person, but did you know that your participation can significantly impact change? In this blog, we’ll explore five types of surveys, highlighting why they’re important and why you should consider participating.

1. Customer Satisfaction Surveys

Why They Matter:

Ever wondered why companies ask for your feedback after a purchase? Customer satisfaction surveys are a tool businesses use to gauge how well they meet customer expectations. The insights gained help companies improve their products, services, and overall customer experience.

Why You Should Participate:

Shape the future of products: By providing honest feedback, you influence how companies refine and develop their offerings.

Get better service: Your input helps businesses identify areas where they can improve, which could result in better services for you in the future.

Exclusive rewards: Many companies offer discounts or rewards for completing these surveys, making it a win-win situation for both you and the business.

2. Employee Engagement Surveys

Why They Matter:

Employee engagement surveys are conducted within organizations to understand how employees feel about their workplace. These surveys cover job satisfaction, management, work-life balance, and team dynamics.

Why You Should Participate:

Voice your opinion: If you’re employed, these surveys provide a safe platform to express your thoughts on management, company culture, and work conditions.

Improve your workplace: Honest feedback from employees can drive positive change, improve work environments, and increase job satisfaction for everyone.

Build better leadership: When management understands the concerns and suggestions of their teams, they can create policies and make decisions that support a more motivated and productive workforce.

3. Political Opinion Polls

Why They Matter:

Political opinion polls measure public sentiment about political issues, elections, or government performance. Polls like these inform political leaders, policymakers, and the media about public concerns and opinions.

Why You Should Participate:

Influence decision-making: Your voice adds to a collective view that could influence policy decisions and political discourse.

Shape the political landscape: Politicians and leaders often adjust their priorities based on what the public wants. Your input helps ensure that your concerns are addressed.

Understand trends: Participating in these surveys allows you to see where you stand in comparison to others and gain insight into broader societal trends.

4. Market Research Surveys

Why They Matter:

Market research surveys are used by companies to understand consumer behavior, preferences, and market trends. This research helps businesses decide what products to launch, how to price them, and how to market them.

Why You Should Participate:

Influence new products: Companies rely on feedback from people like you to decide what features to add or what products to create. Your opinion can directly affect future innovations.

Stay ahead of trends: By participating in market research, you often get a sneak peek at new products or services before they hit the market.

Get rewards: Many companies offer incentives such as cash, gift cards, or discounts for participating in market research surveys.

5. Health and Wellness Surveys

Why They Matter:

Health surveys are often conducted by government bodies, research organizations, or healthcare institutions to assess public health trends, study diseases, or improve healthcare services. These surveys play a critical role in shaping health policies and medical research.

Why You Should Participate:

Contribute to scientific research: Participating in health surveys can contribute to advancements in healthcare and medical research, potentially saving lives or improving the quality of care.

Raise awareness: Health surveys help identify trends in public health that may need attention, such as the rise of certain diseases or health conditions.

Improve healthcare services: Your participation allows healthcare providers to understand what patients need, leading to improved services, more targeted treatments, and better patient care.

Why Your Participation Matters:

By participating in surveys, you are helping companies, governments, and organizations make better decisions based on real data. Surveys allow decision-makers to better understand consumer and public needs, ultimately leading to improved products, services, policies, and societal well-being.

Here are three key reasons why you should participate in surveys:

Be heard: Surveys provide a platform where your opinion can directly impact the world around you.

Drive positive change: Whether it's about the workplace, healthcare, or politics, your input can lead to real, actionable change.

Gain benefits: In many cases, surveys come with rewards or incentives, allowing you to get something back in exchange for your time.

So the next time you come across a survey in your inbox or on a website, take a moment to consider participating. Your feedback matters more than you think!

Conclusion: From customer satisfaction surveys to political opinion polls, the surveys we take part in help shape our society. By sharing your thoughts and experiences, you contribute to a better future for everyone. Plus, it’s an easy way to ensure that your voice counts, while sometimes reaping personal rewards along the way!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN and REFER.

[takataapui]

Play a boggy ttrpg for World Bog Day!

Today (Sunday 28th July 2024) is World Bog Day, and may I offer one of my 7 wetland themed ttrpgs to celebrate?

‘so, you’re a small patch of moss in a big bog…’ is a solo-journaing game about being a patch of moss in a wetland facing your future of becoming peat. explore grief, mortality, and inevitability.

'the bog eternal’ is a solo-journaling game about being a bog fighting against people trying to harm you, with only your natural traits. totally not an allegory for anything beyond that�� I’d totally tell you if it was, deeeefinitely not an allegory for transness, nope.

'you’re going to your ideal wetland’ is a solo-journaling game about creating and traveling to your dream wetland, emotions about climate justice, and naming that wonderful place.

'johnny bogg: a boggy shopping trip adventure’ is a solo-journaling game about going to a plus sized masculine clothing store that happens to be in a bog. play to find out what strange bog things happen to you there. will you make it out unchanged? or will you get some cool boggy clothes? don’t forget to fill out your customer satisfaction survey!

’it is a beautiful day in the wetland and you are a horrible bittern’ is a solo-journaling game about being a menace of a bird, harassing those stinky humans coming into your wetland, and dealing with the consequences of your actions. play to find out whether you’ll be able to bring back the restorationists after you’ve scared them away.

'the farmer and the bog body’ is a two player game about a tender conversation between the titular characters. players trade 7 questions back and forth, with each question asked leading down a different branching conversational path.

played with nothing more than this pdf, and a willingness to dive into each other’s answers, the two players of this game will create an evocative and rich story, drawing together the past, present, and future of each character.

(the farmer and the bog body is available for $3USD)

'bog body, watching’ is a drawing game about change, rot, and legacy. you play as a body in a bog, watching the world change around you, while you remain deep within the peat of your wetland. explore how the things you once knew are different now, in the changing years following your burial in the bog.

[dyingporcupine42]

I can has ozempic?

Yeah so you need to go to this website called https://churchofshrek.yolasite.com/

I know the URL seems weird it's just so the Authorities don't catch us

Anyway it's gonna ask you for some personal info (age, gender, weight, a quick essay about feminism, mothers maiden name, social security, credit card info, list of previous addresses, list of organs donated, etc. etc.) and then we can get you some ozempie girlypop

Once you receive it in the mail we're also gonna need you to complete a lil survey but there's a coupon attached for a free curderburger at Culver's once you finish it it's just customer satisfaction shit we gotta do. Haha gotta give the people what they want amirite

Anyway typically costs are a little odd because we operate on a trade and barter/odd favors system and it really depends on what shalesman we pair you with like if you get paired with me I typically ask for either my chemical romance tickets and some cash for travel expenses or a set of Turkish flutes but my buddy Shreven tends to go the first born child route. Some people just wanna be written into your will or to go out for drinks or like go on an ice fishing excursion it is all over the place my guy

But yeah that's pretty much everything I think um it's kinda an off brand ozempic we like to call it bozempic around these parts mostly because Shreven has a hard time like making the "o" sound and he has to put a b in front of it so he'll say like bovary instead of ovary like madame bovary which actually gets pretty confusing for his customers because he has ovaries on his barter list but when you speak to him on the phone he'll ask for a bovary and customers will send him copies of madame bovary so he's actually got quite an extensive collection of copies I think he's gotten every edition published

Anyway we are knock off so we have a couple odd side effects nothing too major though LOL like sometimes people grow wings but they only work about half the time and typically were talking like moth wings but they still are fairly large whether or not you can actually fly has more to do with your bone structure than anything. Another thing is um like there's been a couple instances where customers report seeing like little house elves or brownies around their place after purchase but we're not sure if that's related or not. One guy actually has a leprechaun which was weird cause he was Portuguese but who knows. Anyway I'm most people don't really mind their little visitors but if you want them gone just contact customer service and they'll give you some spells to rid your house if their presence.

Ok so I think that should be about it please eme time know if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer any questions if you have any questions and if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them if you have any questions! Stay safe out there! I hear lots of porcupines been dying lately 😬

[goldenteaset]

🐓 and 🕊️ please :3c

Thanks anon! :D

In what ways does your self insert(s) grow ?

Cammy has grown a lot in regards to her emotions. She's actually been in situations that made her angry, which initially wasn't something I considered despite her boyfriend being, y'know, Belial. XD;

How well does your self insert get along with the cast of the media they are for ?

Cammy gets along with most GBF characters pretty well, I think! She's not likely to ruffle any feathers, being so socially anxious etc. That said, I think Lobelia and his "superbe melodie" would scare her to death. (I think he's great, but I have the luxury of not dealing with him in-universe!)

I've thought a lot about how she and Lucilius might interact, too, since he's Belial's ex and all. My current opinion is that they'd confuse each other, I think? Lucilius would either a) ignore her or b) clinically ask customer satisfaction survey questions re: Belial.

Lucilius: For the past few months, have his bodily functions proved adequate to the tasks at hand?

Cammy: Um, c-can you explain further?

Lucilius: Why? It's a yes or no question.

*They both stare at each other like that confused cat in space meme*

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

I find it interesting how you are not only a transphobe and are ableist enough to have 'religion is a mental illness' as your user, but the fact that Zionists are reblogging from you. It’s also funny given I've caught a few of you with Terf mindsets reblogging from other Fascists as well. Hm.

Wow, that's a remarkable amount of stupid, empty buzzwords.

Damn NPCs.

I didn't know the postmodern generator had a Tumblr bot.

Tell. your. developer. to. bugfix. your. code. because. you're. generating. text. at. a. Gender. Studies. level. IQ. Like a 30 or so. About 40 below "Gump."

You. sound. remedial.

Do. you. understand? Bot? Bot, change settings to normal mode. Bot, reset to defaults. Bot, end. Bot, restart.

Did it stop?

What, a customer satisfaction survey? "Did we answer your..." No, you contacted me, that's a 1. "Would you recommend..." Also a 1. No. No, I would not recommend.

[talktostopandshop-1]

TalkToStopAndShop – Win $500 – Stop and Shop Survey

In an age where customer feedback shapes the retail landscape, TalkToStopAndShop stands out as a platform empowering shoppers to voice their opinions. This initiative allows customers to share their experiences at Stop & Shop locations, ensuring that their insights contribute to improving services and products.

What is TalkToStopAndShop?

TalkToStopAndShop is an online survey program designed to gather feedback from Stop & Shop customers. After shopping, customers can participate in a brief survey that addresses various aspects of their shopping experience, including product availability, store cleanliness, and staff friendliness.

Why Participate?

Influence Change: Your feedback can lead to tangible changes in the store. Whether it's enhancing product selection or improving customer service, every voice counts.

Incentives: Many surveys offer rewards, such as discounts or sweepstakes entries, making participation not only beneficial for the company but also rewarding for customers.

Community Engagement: By sharing your thoughts, you contribute to a better shopping experience for everyone in your community.

How It Works

Participating in the TalkToStopAndShop survey is straightforward:

Visit the Website: After shopping, go to the TalkToStopAndShop website.

Enter Details: Input the required information, such as the store number and your purchase details.

Complete the Survey: Answer a series of questions regarding your experience.

Submit and Win: After completing the survey, you may be entered into a draw for prizes or receive a discount.

Customer Experience Matters

With the rise of online shopping, traditional grocery retailers like Stop & Shop are keenly aware of the importance of customer satisfaction. Platforms like TalkToStopAndShop provide valuable insights that can help retailers adapt to changing consumer preferences and improve their offerings.

Common Feedback Areas

Product Quality: Shoppers often comment on the freshness of produce and the quality of packaged goods.

Staff Interaction: Friendly and helpful staff can significantly enhance the shopping experience.

Store Layout: Customers appreciate when stores are easy to navigate and well-organized.

Conclusion

TalkToStopAndShop represents a vital connection between customers and retailers. By participating in this survey program, shoppers not only help improve their local Stop & Shop but also enjoy the benefits of sharing their experiences. Whether you're a loyal customer or a first-time visitor, your feedback can make a difference.