#youre an adult why do our parents keep giving you allowance money.

[echo-s-land]

I love my sister I really do but every time she victimizes herself I-

[angellesword]

BAGGAGE | JJK (06)

Summary: Drowning in debt and blood, Jeon Jungkook knows he's better off alone, lest he brings people down with him.

But one drunken night changes everything.

In a blink of an eye, Jungkook found himself drowning not only in debt and blood, but also in dirty diapers and judgmental stares from you, a.k.a his long-lost love and the guardian of the son he didn't even know existed.

Genre and warnings: best friends to lovers, co-parenting, idiots in love, mutual pining, angst, fluff, implied smut, kissing, minor character death, slight getting back together, drama, OC cusses excessively so watch out

Pairing: dad! Jungkook x adoptive mom!Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

← Previous Chapter (05) | Next Chapter (07) →

****

Six Years Ago, 2017

As much as Jungkook hated to admit it, you were right. This venture with Jimin was doomed.

"Jungkook, what should we do?" Jimin paced back and forth, a rare image of anxiety painted on his face. Jimin always gave Jungkook the perfect picture of a calm adult who knew exactly what he was doing. As such, Jungkook naturally looked up to him. Jungkook was also an adult, but his reliance on Jimin was of another level, allowing him to see that there was something to look forward to in life.

"We have to kill him, Jimin-hyung~." But darkness still loomed over the younger man, only that it was masked by his starry eyes, giving people the wrong impression that he couldn't and wouldn't harm even a fly.

Truth be told, Jimin sighed, but he cast an affectionate look at Jungkook as if Jungkook were his mischievous younger brother who did not propose murder but simply a joke of putting salt in someone's food instead of sugar.

"Jungkook-ah, I'm serious, okay? This can potentially harm our employees. I need you to think of something."

"Who said I was joking?" Jungkook deadpanned and crossed his arms lazily. "You said it yourself. This will harm our people. Why not get rid of the root cause first?"

"Jungkook," Jimin warned, his voice turning serious.

The brunet pursed his lips into a thin line, petulant. He wished to kill Francis Fitzgerald, one of Port Mafia's board members and their certified public accountant. Naturally, Francis dealt with the company's financial statements.

Unbeknownst to Jungkook and the others, Francis used the company's money for his own gain and concealed that the Port Mafia was incurring debt.

"This is all my fault." Jimin blamed himself. He was dating Francis and blindly trusted him, but Jungkook did not want to blame Jimin.

"That son of a bitch is cunning. He'd find another way to hide this from us even if we didn't give him freedom."

Admittedly, the only reason why Jungkook and Jimin found out about Francis' scheme was because Jisoo sent a formal request to inspect Port Mafia's book. Jisoo had been wanting to increase her investment, but she didn't want to jump into the fire immediately. She wanted some sort of proof that Port Mafia was doing well. She couldn’t buy this whole unicorn company thing. Something must be up.

"Maybe we should report this to the authorities. Does anyone else know?"

"Only the two of us, Jisoo and her independent auditor," Jungkook answered. It was all thanks to your sister's painstaking effort that the anomalies were discovered. "You don't have to worry about Jisoo-noona. She'll keep her mouth shut."

"We're really going to hide this?" Jimin was uncomfortable, but what other choice did they have?

"It appears that's the only thing we could do. Unless you change your mind about murder." Jungkook shrugged off. They would just discreetly force Francis to 'resign' and slowly correct his wrongdoings. Jisoo said she knew many reliable accountants and auditors who could handle issues like this silently. Jisoo also said she was willing to buy Francis' shares, though she had no interest in being a board member.

Jungkook was a cunning man, but he had to admit he couldn't exactly figure out why Jisoo was willing to help Port Mafia clean its mess up. Thankfully, Jimin gave Jungkook the go signal to work with Jisoo while he continued to manage their business operation. It gave Jungkook the time to scrutinize Jisoo. He had done the same thing with others before, dining and sweet-talking them until they willingly opened up to him.

"Why the long face, Jisoo-noona? Did you change your mind about helping us~? Or maybe you're just looking for a little extra persuasion~?" The corner of Jungkook's lip ticked up. They were at Jisoo’s house because Jungkook proposed to cook for Jisoo to thank her for helping Port Mafia. He slowly poured wine on Jisoo's glass while maintaining eye contact with her.

Light teasing and flirting usually worked, but Jungkook didn't see the blush on Jisoo's cheeks. She indolently picked up her wine glass and swirled it to release its aroma.

Jisoo did not drink her wine. She furrowed a brow at the younger boy, "Jungkook-ah, tell me. How much do you love my sister?"

Her question stunned Jungkook, causing his throat to get dry. For a moment, Jungkook didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to speak but pursed his lips at the last minute.

It took a while before Jungkook settled with an answer.

"It's complicated." While it was indisputable that you were his best friend, Jungkook also knew that his bond with you transcended all superficial feelings, such as love. Yes. Love, among other things, was superficial compared to what you were to him.

People often wondered how you and Jungkook remained friends for many years, considering that all you did was fight, but none of those people saw you two’s desperate glances and how soft they actually were. No one understood that while it was easy to buy crab spring rolls, you would rather make them at home and add some pureed vegetables so Jungkook could eat healthier.

Or how no one understood Jungkook's intention of cutting you some slack after all the hurtful words you had said because he knew he'd be damned to take an angry woman’s words at face value.

Love was there—it was easy to say and feel that, but it was a different story, knowing that you might hurt each other. However, at the end of the day, you and Jungkook were each other's constants. You would return to each other's embrace no matter how fucked up the situation was.

People like Jisoo would not understand that, so Jungkook could only settle with a simple "it's complicated" response.

As expected, Jisoo shook her head. She didn't look enthusiastic to hear Jungkook's answer, as her question was merely rhetoric or a preamble.

Jisoo's intention was to tell Jungkook how much you meant to her.

Jungkook smiled. "I know, Jisoo-noona. Everybody loves your sister."

"No, Jungkook." Jisoo stopped swirling her glass. She caught Jungkook's eyes, voice serious. "You don't understand. I love that kid with my life."

You and Jisoo had absent parents, so Jisoo basically raised you.

Jungkook remained silent, sensing that there was more to Jisoo's admission of her feelings for you.

And he was right.

Jisoo stopped swirling the glass; she looked at the crimson liquid intensely, a bitter smile blooming on her face. "This wine seems quite tasty."

"You would know." Jungkook took a sip of his wine. "That's your fourth cup, right—"

Jungkook was abruptly cut off when Jisoo poured the wine on the floor. Its splattering reverberated through Jisoo's dining room.

Then she confessed:

"I'm dying, Jungkook."

The wine glass shattered, broken pieces falling on the floor.

"Jisoo-noona." Jungkook was by Jisoo's side in a flash. He enveloped her in an embrace to get her to stop shaking. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Jungkook sat Jisoo on her couch, bringing a towel to wipe at her hand. He didn't know when their playful banter turned into something this gloomy, but that should be his least concern.

"Are you with me, Jisoo-noona? Come on, breathe." Jungkook usually did this with you. You had quite some temper. Jisoo was the relaxed one, almost always gracious. Her smile was reserved for big occasions only.

It was an...experience to see her like this.

"You're okay, Jisoo-noona. Jisoo." Jungkook learned it was effective to utter someone's name when they were in distress. Fortunately, it worked on Jisoo. She released a deep breath before swallowing thickly.

"You good?"

Jisoo nodded. "Thank you, Jungkook-ah."

"Not a problem," he hummed. "Care to explain to me what you meant earlier?"

Perhaps Jungkook's tone was gentle, so it made it easier for Jisoo to open up. It was part of her plan, anyway. She knew Jimin and Jungkook must have been curious why she still invested in Port Mafia. The truth was, it was all for you.

Cancer.

Jisoo recently found out that she had cancer, and her days in this world were numbered. Jisoo didn't want to leave you alone, so she could only place her bet on Jungkook.

She knew that Jungkook would be in trouble if the authorities found out about Port Mafia's anomalies, and who would care for you if she died and Jungkook ended up locked up in prison?

"I've researched about your company. It would have been good if Francis did not mess up. I see the potential in Port Mafia; that's why I'm risking with you."

As long as Jungkook and Jimin stayed vigilant and not let scums like Francis come back, then Port Mafia would continue to prosper. By the time Jisoo was gone, all her investment would be passed down to you. That was her goal. She wanted you to enjoy a financially stable life with Jungkook.

"Are you going to tell her about your health situation?" That was all Jungkook could say.

Jisoo puffed a breath, kind of like a snicker. "Are you going to tell her  about your business situation?"

There was a pause in the air.

And then they both laughed. They both knew the answer to their question.

"Did you know why exposing Fitzgerald's crime to the authorities is not an option?"

Jisoo shook her head at that. She had meant to ask that; luckily, Jungkook made it easier.

Francis Fitzgerald was not the only one who had something to hide. Jungkook and Jimin weren't exactly clean.

Port Mafia was a business process outsourcing company. Everyone around Jungkook thought that he chose to venture into this kind of business for money, and while that was true, it was not his primary goal.

Park Jimin opened Jungkook's mind to what was happening to the world—how unfair it was and what they could do to make it slightly better.

Their solution was to make Port Mafia a catalyst for changing immigrants' lives. Not just immigrants but illegal immigrants. These people had built a life in Incheon and would never choose to go back to their own country that couldn't provide them with a proper lifestyle because of war and corruption.

Jungkook and Jimin hired these people to give them a chance at a better living. If they were to expose Fitzgerald's crime, there was no doubt that the government would also pry about how they conduct their operation. Everything would be exposed, and their employees would be at risk of deportation.

It was a band-aid solution, and Jungkook and Jimin were aware of that, but how cruel could one be to just sit and watch those people suffer?

"It's a different feeling, Jisoo-noona. I know their lives shouldn't be reduced to my feelings because Jimin-hyung often tells me it's not about us, but you're not there. No one else saw how happy those kids are..."

Jungkook never liked kids, but he would never forget when one of the kids ran to him, hugging his leg and telling him how happy he was. He didn't have to eat the bitter chocolate anymore—the bitter chocolate being dirt.

"This world is cruelly unfair." Jisoo felt defeated. One thing about sick people was how easy it was for them to be covered in a mist of bluishness. Jisoo did not see the point of living anymore. These days, all that prevailed was regret of how she lived her life and hope of how she could make someone else's life worth it.

"How much time do you have left?"

Jisoo shrugged noncommittally. "Depends. Longer with chemotherapy, shorter without chemotherapy."

"And what do you plan on choosing?" Jungkook just couldn't shut up with his damn questions.

"Are you kidding me?" Jisoo scoffed, feeling a bubble of anger rise in her. She furiously wiped at her mouth, the trace of lipstick gone. This was the only time Jungkook had seen her lose her cool. "I don't want to die with no hair. Fate is cruel enough to me. This."

She pointed at her lips and continued to wipe them with her bare hand, "Is of no use to me anymore. I can apply makeup and all those expensive skincare, and it will all be for nothing. Can't I die with my hair? Can't I die looking like me?"

She did not want to be remembered as someone sick. She wished to die simply as Jisoo, the girl with a reserved and pretty smile.

"Jisoo-noona," Jungkook called when he noticed Jisoo was shaking again.

She shook her head aggressively. "I'm so fucked up, Jungkook."

Jungkook held her hands, squeezing them. "You're not alone."

Tears trickled down her cheeks.

"We're so fucked up."

"We're so fucked up." Jungkook agreed.

They were inches away from each other.

"My sister can't know about this."

Their noses touched.

Jungkook hummed, cupping Jisoo's face, "Your sister will not know about this."

The first touch of their lips was like fire, hot enough to burn all evidence of their messed up life. They seemed to agree on one thing:

Grief.

They grieved about their imperfect lives, which they so badly wanted to share with the person they loved the most (you ) but couldn't.

You couldn't know about this because your life was perfect. You had everything, a good educational degree, friends and family who loved you, and a life where you wouldn't be scared to wake up thinking it was your last day as a free man or a living man.

With every touch and thrust, Jisoo and Jungkook grieved a life you had, but they could never have.

In each other’s wretched body was where they found the solace the world took away from them.

And come morning, when they were both sober, all that was left were sadness and fear.

← Previous Chapter (05) | Next Chapter (07) →

***

A/N: This is a short chapter and I might regret posting this immediately, but it's here and I'm going crazy. Anon people in my inbox, thank you for reading this fic, but I noticed most of you are so stressed. Please hhuhuh not to be that person, but...the fictional characters are not in the room with us right now. It's okay. I love you all.

Not gonna lie, I am thinking it's a mistake to turn this into a JJK fic, because as a soukoku fic, the characters' actions just make sense, you know? But here...things are just different, I guess. But anyway, enough rambling. It's going to work out in the end. When is the end? I don't know. hahahaha

I recently posted a light JJK oneshot, read this if you want to calm down. This is pretty much fluff and crack 😆 click here

Good night. <333

[puppetwoman17]

@ace-is-undead It’s nice to meet a new fan! I hope you make lots of friendships on here❤️

For anyone who’s curious, this person asked me:

as someone taking interest in Captain Marvel because of the movies (never heard of him before :/), I'd love to know why you think the movies ruined Billy's image! Bear in mind, I recently started reading some comics about Shazam

I knew I’d be making a hella long comment, so I thought, hell, let’s make a post!

Now, as a preface, I worded what I said a little too strong. The 2019 movie isn’t the worst piece of Shazam/CM media ever. There are definitely parts of it that I liked. The humor was 10/10 for me, and I did like the costumes. There are things about the story I don’t like, but for the purpose of all of us not sitting here for the next two hours, I will stick with just Billy’s personality.

This post will probably have stated everything more eloquently than me lol:

Many Golden Age heroes were created/used to combat war trauma. To the kids who read those comics, it made them feel safe. To read about these people with fantastical abilities, who regularly fought Nazis, supervillains, and entire armies.

Captain Marvel was a little different, though. It wasn’t an adult who was doing the protecting. Or, it wasn’t JUST an adult. It was also Billy Batson. A kid, like all of the other kids reading these comics. And it was different from kid heroes like Robin because he was the hero. The main hero.

Before the New52 reboot, basically from the 40s-2000s, but I could be wrong, Billy was a homeless kid. His uncle Ebenezer threw him out after his parents died and stole his inheritance. He got a job at Whiz Radio and became a reporter, giving him enough money to get his own apartment.

In one continuity, his friend Dudley becomes his guardian. In the most famous interpretation, the Power of Shazam series from the 90s, he is, after some time, adopted by his twin sister Mary’s adoptive family the Bromfields, and Nora Bromfield happens to be their mother’s cousin.

The important thing to grasp from this is that Billy was independent. Responsible. And when he got his powers, he was also responsible with them. He has a few fumbles, but he was always able to keep them and do good with them.

His Captain Marvel persona was also like that. He led the Squadron of Justice, a team of Fawcett heroes. There are also instances of heroes like Batman and Superman praising him as a trustworthy hero, even knowing about his identity.

It’s also important to note that, while in some times the Captain character is childish, he is never stupid. He makes mistakes, is a little goofy, but he never does anything outright cringe worthy.

A prime example of a good interpretation is the JLU episode Clash. The whole JL really likes him. For some reason my tumblr is acting up today so I can’t put any videos without it not allowing me to type afterwords. But the series is on Netflix. Like holy heck, Bruce says they all like him because he’s sunny. Bruce!

There’s also comic examples, like Action comics #768, which is in the POV of Superman. I’m just gonna put everything Clark thinks as text.

“And then it happens.”

“Armed with the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Atlas, and the focus of Achilles, a teenage boy in the body of a man defends human kind to a frog goddess.”

“I can’t imagine anything more ludicrous. I can’t imagine anything more moving.”

“With unmatched eloquence, he explains humanity’s needs, our weaknesses, and our relationships with nature to a being as old as time.”

“She retorts. It’s not the act itself that enrages her, but the fact that her people are taken for granted.”

“Bred, butchered, wasted. Without appreciation for the contribution to the lifecycle.”

“He emphasizes. It is a horrible thing to be underestimated, unappreciated, forgotten.”

“His sincerity is a living thing. They speak for an eternity until Heqt has been heard and appeased.”

“Then, the war is over. Diplomacy and reason succeeds, where force…where I… simply would have failed.”

This is another example:

I mean the whole Captain Marvel-focused panel is Clark and Bruce arguing with Diana that Cap will be a great asset to the League, and how Bruce wants him on because he’s just GOOD. They all knew he was a kid, and they didn’t care because they trusted him that much!

Many 80s and 90s comic showed Cap as this beacon of hope, very akin to his Fawcett era, which is why so many of us liked it. He was still goofy at times, but it never overshadowed how much of a hero he was. Hell, the Fawcett heroes never gave a damn about him being a kid. All they saw was a person doing good, and they automatically began working with him.

He would get into friendly tussles with Superman, and him and Diana hugged one time, and she confided in him about how she might die. I can’t find the issue, but it’s drawn by Alex Ross, so that may narrow it for you.

Cap was genuinely respected. There are even some comics where Billy’s is interacting with the League as himself and they treat him like any other friend!

And Billy was chosen not because he was a last resort, but because the Wizard saw so much good and purity in him. He still made mistakes, but he was never not worthy.

Compare that with, not just the Shazam movies, but the DCAMU movies(JL War & Throne of Atlantis), and you get a whole other monster. I mean, he is just dumb, awful. He’s good when he’s Billy, a little snarky while also being a good person and comforting Cyborg(before taking his jersey, lol). But when he’s Shazam(his name in the DCAMU) every single thing that came out of his mouth was just… not it. If gets even worse in Throne of Atlantis. Literally almost everyone on the team hates him. The only reason Cyborg doesn’t is because he knows his identity.

In the 2019 Shazam movies, hes very similar. They made him a lot more jaded, which just ruined his character for me because Billy is the type of person who would rather die than talk down to other kids going through what he did. I’m cool with the rebelliousness, it’s just that that I’m worried about. It’s even worse in the 2013 shazam comic series because he’s actually way meaner there. Like jeez, why do you want me to hate this boy so much DC??

And as his Shazam self, he’s like ten times more goofy and irresponsible, which is such a backwards take it’s insane.

The character of Captain Marvel was beloved by so many children because it showed that they could be just like those other heroes. They could fight the monsters and get the job done, and no one would look down on them. They would be taken seriously. Seeing this kid bond with and interact with and be trusted by these seasoned adult heroes was EVERYTHING.

I may not have a grown up in the 40s/50s, but I did get introduced to him in JLU, and then Young Justice, and then obscure media, and then comics. And through that journey, the take I loved infinitely more was of Captain Marvel being this guy who made mistakes, but always tried to do the right thing.

Making him out to be this…immature dude who never knew what he was doing just stomped on all of us. It also really irks me because that is how some people will be introduced to him. As opposed to who he really is. And they won’t be interested because the face value is all they’ll see.

Heck, some people think he’s one of the weakest DC characters when he ranks in the top ten. He’s the Champion of Magic and guardian of the Rock of Eternity for Pete’s sake! He’s fought and almost won against the Specter himself! (Day of Vengeance comic series, it’s so good!)

It’s unclear why his character has been so diminished. Some people, including me, think DC is trying to lower his…everything in general so he can never measure up to the Man of Steel, which is so petty it’s ridiculous.

Hopefully he’ll get something in James Gunn’s new DCU, a movie or a show. Because I feel like there’s a chance to reintroduce the true Captain/Shazam to people.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my petty-fueled rant😅. Sorry for the angry spews. Anyway, there are some good reading lists for Shazam/Cap on tumblr. I really advise you to check those out. Though there are also a few articles on google listing all of his appearances, so if you wanna get detailed then those are where you should go.

We also have a Captain Marvel fan club! Go over to @im-not-buying-it-ether and ask for an invite for more content.

I hope you have a fulfilling journey!

[horce-divorce]

something something about the power imbalance inherent to being an unhoused person, how similar it is to the dependency that abusers intentionally foster in their relationships to keep victims from leaving. but if you're homeless and someone is putting you up, especially if it's for free/some kind of exchange other than rent, you're basically expected to put up with whatever indignity they can imagine for you and still just be grateful. And if you set a boundary or speak up for yourself in any kind of way, that's Taking Advantage of this poor kind person who's doing SO much for you already, how could you?

sorry its 2am and I'm trying to write a better draft about this for later too but its like. being homeless is a huge, huge vulnerability. ppl people will look to exploit that, intentionally or not. and doubly so if you're homeless because you're disabled.

also something the ableism involved... about how I know so many fellow disabled people who have struggled with homelessness, and we all have similar stories about people we trusted, friends or loved ones who seemed all too happy to help and take us in, and how we repeatedly impressed upon them the nature of our health and the situation, and they swore up and down that they understood and that we were on the same page about boundaries and expectations... only to have them blow up and kick us out at the absolute first sign of conflict or miscommunication, or because we didn't get jobs fast enough, or because we didn't contribute financially even after being told that wasn't expected, and so on.

and how, I know so many housed people who have never been through this, who all have very similar stories about how they tried to help a friend in need once, and they were SO lazy and horrible and took SO long to get their shit together that they clearly were just a freeloader taking advantage who should've never been trusted, just like all homeless people, and that's why we give them socks and canned beans instead of money.

I was never allowed to complain about ableist expectations or abled people ignoring my boundaries in my parents' home. Especially not after I became a disabled adult who still needed help with housing. And that's been true of most of the couch-hopping I've done since then, too.

Currently we have a fairly nice situation... we live with a trusted and pleasant friend. It's a whole house, not an apartment. Not even in the city. We have our own entire room. We don't have to pay rent or anything. It's temporary even aside from our discomfort, it's just been a nice place to land for the cold months.

However. Friends parents are not so chill. Their dad is the most disgusting man alive and has repeatedly gotten us sick bc he's always got something, bleeds all over and never cleans it up, never washes his hands, leaves his dentures on countertops and tables with food still stuck on them, coughs all over our stuff and never masks, is actively making the mouse infestation worse with all the food he leaves out, and puts our health at risk in SO many ways.

he used to work in Healthcare btw. His wife still does. They know we're here bc we're homeless; they know we're both disabled and immunocompromised; neither of them will wear a mask. Both of them are constantly coughing everywhere and not even covering their mouths. We've tried to politely bring this to their attention multiple times and nothing changes. They just ignore us.

We could literally die from this. We could get lifelong health complications even worse than what we have now. Bel lost his sense of taste today and now we're terrified that it's gonna be long covid or something else that sucks what little joy is left from our daily lives.

You lose everything, and then you're supposed to just say nothing and accept your lot, no matter how much danger you're in, because beggars can't be choosers. If you're disabled and poor you'd better just be fine with people abusing you and putting your health and safety at risk indefinitely, because you're lucky they're even helping you at all instead of JUST abusing you.

You dont get to have a home. You dont get to collect things, or keep sentimental things, or have a whole, adequate wardrobe. You get what you can carry with you and what won't get stolen or destroyed by others, or by the nature of moving so much. You dont get to have safety and stability and roots and community. You dont get the dignity of boundaries or your own space. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. And be happy and say "thank you" if people are merely ignoring you instead of actively silencing you. And if the people "helping" you actually give you the thing that kills you, at least you didn't die of exposure, I guess? Or something?

Its just. Every single thing you do as both a homeless & disabled person reminds you how utterly worthless you are to the """normal""" people around you. Every day. It's so demoralizing.

[teentoospoiled]

How & Why Celibacy Works

Ussy Costs Funds, Ick is Free

Level Up Lecture: Xesual Economics 101

Disclaimer: I am an adult cisgender woman targeting a teen audience. I encourage all teens to share and/or include their parents in the conversation of our posts for the sake of transparency on my adult end. Thank you for your engagement.

The Walmarts keep the Targets in business. The Family Dollars / Dollar Generals fill in the gaps where the Walmarts fall flat

Target: Celibate

Walmart: Xesually Active Singles

Family Dollar / DG: Xes Workers or Misc.

I’m not saying if you’re a xesually active single, you’re cheap as a person. I am highlighting how celibacy is the premium product that’s preferred by customers in the market.

There are people who would drive to another Target if their local one is out of something versus heading to the Walmart or Family Dollar within their location.

POV: You’re selling ussy (p or b in front ;)

Everybody sells ussy even if they are poor businessmen. I’m gonna teach you how to market and leverage your coochie correctly.

Men (masculines) marry for the main incentive: in-house ussy.

Pick Up This Gem: This is why you do not move in with them until you’ve at least received an engagement ring.

You are aware of the fact that all masculines want access to your ussy…eventually. Now that you know this, you are going to dangle it over their heads until they give you the things (or lifestyle) you want.

Marriage

Gifts

Business or personal investments, etc.

Choose which ussy you have:

Target Ussy - higher prices, Starbucks, target customer is not on a tight budget seeking steals, strong brand loyalty (driving to another Target versus visiting competitors)

Walmart Ussy - mid range prices, hit or miss with consumers and their affordability thus the wide range of products

Family Dollar / DG -lowest prices, accessible for low income buyers (girls with cheap bfs or baby daddy’s, not SWers) accessible for buyers seeking instant gratification which is affordability.

Answer Now!: Who is your target customer?

MY TARGET CUSTOMER

Disposable income

Regular shopper

Money management, but generous spending

Most likely you listed something that aligns with Target’s target audience, right? It’s ok if you feel like it’s a Target / Walmart (hit or miss remember?).

This is how the Walmarts (xesually active singles) keep the Targets (abstinence and celibates) in business; Target has a competitor to leverage their premium product against.

If you don’t like it, go to our competitors (Walmart / DG). Why?

Because the fact that you can’t afford / don’t prefer Target (no xes until marriage) is the reason why our regular customers shop here, and many of them spend a lot each Target trip.

Customers= Masculines

There are plenty of high spending, high quality, high earning people who shop exclusively at Walmart or rotate stores for the best prices. This is how Walmart balances the market, allowing Target to market as the premium place to shop.

If you chose NO:

Quick Breakdown

This is the best time to remain abstinent or practice celibacy because the market is saturated with free / easy access opportunities for xes. It’s a marketing strategy to reserve your body for exclusive access, especially if you’ve never had xes b4.

Exclusive access has the leverage to insist on getting what they want before entry is allowed.

This leverage is lacked or lessened when you allow xesual access prior to securing your goal(s) at hand-marriage, gifts, investment, etc.

You’re not reserved, which means access to you is not exclusive even if you are rarely used. This is where the leverage of abstinence and celibacy comes in.

Bluntly: the (high quality) masculines who can offer the most fun and funds usually prefer exclusive access. Most people prefer exclusivity to feel special. Dare to tell me I’m wrong

This leverage allows you to make a luxury sale, similar to fashion houses or upscale lounges.

POV: You are a nightclub

You require patrons to book a table and a bottle of champagne before being allowed into the club.

Your “table” and “champagne” is equivalent to requiring a masculine to marry you before gaining entry into your body.

If they don’t like it, point the person to the BYOB or the club that’s more of their style.

Exclusive Access = The premium, preferred product by a higher class/ quality / spending group of consumers.

Now, I hope that made sense.

TIP 2 TEEN SELF: Learn about proper hypergamy early on. Not the SB/ SW stuff even amongst hypergamy content. Take the time out to learn how to date up and build yourself into becoming the woman who thrives in high quality environments instead of shying away or fumbling.

Homework: Listen to this Science of Birds podcast. Take notes on how the “choosy” female bird chooses which male to make babies with

BuyMeACoffee, but I prefer wine ;)

[animal-lover-forever]

I just watch a YouTube video about insane and abusive parents. Parents only allowing 2 showers per week; parents freaking out and threatening to call the cops if their grown adult child doesn't want to share their location with them, (tracking apps) or if they've moved out of the house and they want them to "come home"; Parents who literally destroyed phones because their child didn't give then there phone's password; and even parents who tried to sell things that their child bought with their own money, or just getting angry when their kid eats/uses something that they bought for themselves with their own money, and don't share it with the rest of the family or the parents themselves; some parents even going as far as to lock their minor child outside for a night!

My mom is awesome! She not neglectful, nor is she abusive. She allows me to do my own thing, and if I buy something with my own money, she does not expect me to give her something. (All though I do know that she knows, that what's mine is hers. I love her a lot, and when I have money to spend, I will often get her something as a kind gift/gesture.) She respects my privacy, and trust me. She does not expect anything out of me, other then doing my fair share of the chores, and helper her if she needs it. She is the kind of woman to keep a roof over her kids heads, when they need it most, even if they disrespect her. (I always hated how my oldest brother treated our mom so horribly, and she didn't stand up for herself very much. Sure she used her voice to tell him that she didn't like what she was doing, but it often didn't matter because he kept doing it anyway. Because he failed to understand that this was her house, not his; and he doesn't make the rules, she does. Because it does not matter that he is 28, he is in her house, a house that she was kind enough to offer a room in; She did not have to do that.) She is hard working, and always does her part and then some; even if she's always hurting. She is just over all a great person, and I love her for that!

My dad on the other hand, is a rude narcissus. He likes to play these "games" like, "what's wrong with the car?" Where he will repeatedly press the gas and breaks over and over again, making the car continuesly jerk; or he will swerve the car left to right over and over again; in both situations, he will repeatedly say "What’s wrong with the car!?". But will then go on to tell me that I'm "to immature", and he won't let me "get behind the wheel of a killing machine", all just because I didn't want to do the dishes right then and there; or that, "if I can't follow directions around the house, then I won't be following directions on the road." Here's the thing, following the laws of the road, is more important than getting you a coke zero out of the fridge, and in your hands as fast as possible! He also tells me that I'm "to immature" and "inexperienced" to get a job; but he won't allow me ways "to gain maturity" or "experience". But oh my gosh! When I told him I was moving back to Oklahoma, with my mom, I was suddenly "experienced" and "mature enough" to get a job. (He lives in Utah. And my parents are divorced.)

When telling him I made the decision to move back in with my mom. (Because the household was toxic. My dad, and stepmom where having at least three fights a day, my stepbrother was also joining into these fights a lot; he also kept threatening my dad, and even told his mom that she should shoot him herself. On top of that my dad didn't even pay much attention to me, unless it was for his own benefit.) He kept asking why I wanted to move back in with my mom, and every time I gave the same answer. "Because, 1. I'm tired of living in a toxic and harmful household. 2. I will have an easier time getting a job. (Since you deny me that option.) And 3. I'll be able to get my driver's license." So he in return replied with, "So your only leaving because I won't let you behind the wheel of a killing machine! Because I won't let you have your way, but your mamma will!" I of course, deny this, because my main reason for leaving was the toxic household, the other two reasons where just added bonuses.

When guilt tripping didn't work, he tried to manipulate me. I am fully aware that my parents have shared custody of me, but when I threw that fact at him, he told me that was no longer the case, and that he now had full custody over me. This of course was not true, but a lie to try and keep me with him. When I had confronted my mom about this confused, she did tell me this was not the case, and that they still have shared custody. When telling my dad this, he told me that she was lying. (He says that a lot; my mom is just some kind of lying monster, that just doesn't know how to tell the truth. But don't worry! Because he won't "sugarcoat that shit.")

Eventually he just straight up told me he wasn't going to allow me to move back in with my mom. So in return, I told him that, "I would interact with him for as long as I had to, but as soon as I turn 18 I would leave and never return. So he better 'enjoy mcompany's, because my 18th birthday would be the last time he would ever see or hear from me again." (I was 16 at the time) (And, I may be lazy, but when I set my mind to something, I'm stubborn as HELL!) And the next thing I knew, I was on the next flight to Oklahoma.

My point is, for all of those people who have one or more abusive parents/step-parents; just know you're not alone. For all of you who are over the age of 18, I wish you the best of luck getting them to respect you as a human being, or just trying to get them out of your life completely. And for those who are under the age of 18, I wish moments of happiness until you're 18th birthday, then I wish you all the happiness and peace you could ever hold.

[6ad6ro]

advertisement drives me mad. money makes me sick. the idea that i have to work to survive makes me wanna give up. if i see another corporation mistreating it's customers, i'll burn a corporate building down. why did we as people let it get this bad? why are the worst kinds of people always the ones in charge? this whole hatred of minorities is so obviously braindead, so why is it so prevalent in society?

why are trans kids dying, when who gives a shit what people choose to do with their bodies or how they choose to identify? why does sexuality matter to someone who isn't involved? why is housing not a human right? why do i have to struggle just to eat, when so much goddamn food is produced daily? why on earth are we destroying the planet when we know how to prevent it? why does your imaginary god or your heaven take precedence over our current reality?

i don't understand why we don't automatically try to keep every person healthy. i don't understand why drug addicts are viewed as evil instead of people who are addicted and need help. i can't fathom why the type of people who fight back against evil corporations in order to save the world are labeled "eco terrorists" when the corporations themselves are so clearly the bad guys. i don't get why "hippies" are mocked when they're just promoting peace and love. i don't get why education is so hard to get and so expensive, when GOD this goes against everyone's interests!

why are disabled people ignored. why are homeless people ignored. why is it "embarrassing" when adults live with their parents, when obviously the economy and housing is so fucked right now. why are rich losers allowed to buy up all the houses to begin with?? why are landlords allowed to exist!? why is an art or music degree viewed as "worthless" when so many of us, even the shitty ones in charge, really only wake up every day because of art. why the fuck is so much plastic produced and thrown away every day?

why can companies sell food that's barely edible. why are social networks allowed to monetize human conflict. why are governments allowed to be in the prison and war business? why on fuckin earth can army recruitment target young kids and poor neighborhoods?? why when covid happened were people still being forced to work when it was literally killing us!? why are pharmaceutical companies allowed to use their customers as guinea pigs? why is nudity in media so bad but violence is just fine? will someone finally admit that we as a society are addicted to tv and videogames to the point of complete social dysfunction??

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS LIFE? WHY ARE WE ALL SUFFERING SO NEEDLESSLY?!?! we all know what's wrong. a toddler could look at this world and know it's all broken. we lie to our kids and tell them things are fine. we treat the concept of "becoming an adult" in the same way we tell them about santa claus. try to keep em as innocent as possible for as long as we can. and none of us grow up. don't lie to yourself. you're a child inside. santa claus, jesus, democracy. capitalism. it's all fairy stories. none of it is real. you know we're giving birth in hell.

so why can't we do something about it? why the FUCK am i not doing something about it?? every day of your life, every fucking moment, make sure you try to change this fucking shithole world. make sure you fight. for yourself and everyone else. be the world's immune system. cure this sickness, this "society". don't you EVER back down. don't you ever fuckin yield.

[moonjxsung]

hii pookie, I hope you’re feeling better 🫶🏻

I want to vent about something if that’s okayy

I don’t understand why some fic writers put age caps on their followers. and I don’t mean ‘no minors/18+’ because that makes total sense. I mean the people who put ‘dni if you’re 30+/40+’. I mean, everyone is entitled to their comfort levels but I don’t see the reasoning. 

I hate when I find a good fic writer and they have something like that in their rules, because it just gives me the icks and makes me not follow them. I’m in my early twenties btw, so it doesn’t personally affect me but like… I don’t like it? why are you excluding a certain age group? also, I understand not necessarily wanting to be friends with someone who is older than you, but you don’t even want them to read your fics/interact with you? at all? like, them liking or commenting doesn’t mean you have to be friends? it just feels mean ☹️

and I would get it if it’s someone who is like weird about skz and sexualized them when they were minors, but a majority of the 30+ stays I’ve met see skz as their babies anyway. and if they do express attraction to them make it clear that they are attracted to the now adult versions of them and not when they were babies. so to make a generalization based on one uncomfy group of people doesn’t make sense to me either. like I know maybe it’s not bullying, but it feels weirdly exclusionary when it’s not necessary?

also, in the same vein, kpop fans are way too comfy insulting someone on their age when they’re mad at them for another reason. or, using that person’s age as a reason to why they are the way they are. like, I remember when there were vids circulating of someone who won a fancall with skz and was disrespectful to most of the members and pissed off the other ones. and this lady was in her 30s, and a lot of the comments were like ‘ugh look how old she is, skz wouldn’t want to talk to her anyway’ or ‘she’s so ugly, no wonder she’s alone at her age’ and I was like oh my god. like, I don’t like her either because her attitude sucks, but why is everyone being so nasty? they don’t think or care about how other, perfectly nice and respectful, stays in their 30s or older are gonna think reading that??? it’s not nice!

idkk, I just want good vibes ☹️ and I want people to be more aware of how they talk about age in kpop circles. maybe they don’t want friends a decade older than them, and that’s fine, but those people should still be allowed to enjoy kpop?

-⛈️ / Bae

POOKIE HI I missed you !!!

Also THIS….. I completely agree!!!! Candidly I’ve never seen somebody put an age cap of dni for 30/40+ and that’s insane to me… like a lot of my followers fall into that age range and they are some of the most interactive on this app, not to mention the overwhelming support I get from them that’s literally one of the main reasons I haven’t given up writing as a hobby. It also gives me the ick to see people exclude so openly like that ☹️

Also SO much agreed about the insulting ages thing!! The thing that I never quite understand is like…. You guys are literally going to be that age one day? How is calling somebody their age an insult, yeah that person is 30 or 40? And??? Would you also insult your parents for their ages? Anybody in your real life who’s older than you???? It makes no sense to me and it’s mad disrespectful. I’m turning 25 in march and I’m on the cusp of feeling too “old” to be a kpop fan but at the same time people around our ages are the ones who keep kpop in business 🥲 you think it’s the teenagers who are buying tickets to fly across the country to see skz? Or buying albums to win fancalls??? We should be thanking older fans for their support- they have adult money and they’re helping us support the people we share a mutual love for. There’s nothing wrong with that.

There’s also this aspect of shaming women, specifically, for just liking things past the age of 20. Newsflash- you don’t just stop liking things when you’re an adult. It’s still ingrained in you to be a fangirl when you’re 30, 40… and there’s absolutely no shame in liking boy bands or fanfiction. Excluding older people from being in fandoms is such toxic behavior and it’s such a shame especially when it’s targeting their looks. Idgaf if you’re 90 years old, if you support skz I’m not going to judge you for it and I think it’s rad that we share a mutual love for something. I’m also grateful that you see the value in supporting the boys the same way I do, and I’m grateful if you’re on this app interacting with my content or boosting other authors. Personally my work has so much less to do with just skz, and more about plots and self-discovery and themes and I think any adult is allowed to appreciate that.

Sorry this is such a long response, but I completely agree and you worded this so well 😭🫶 I love you I hope you’re having an amazing week !! 💓🩷⭐️

[lutawolf]

Hi Luta,

It's me the anon who asked you that ask.

First of all, thank you for answering my ask. Thank you very much. Since I am anonymous it's actually ok.

Yes, I do follow you heavily and I have read most of the posts on your blog, that's why I decided to ask you. I was nervously waiting for your answer.

My dad is aware of my mother's illness. He and I were the scapegoats. She tried to file a police report against me and my father but it was stopped by my grandparents.

Currently my father is away at work . He can't be contacted very easily. He will come home in another 6 /7 months.

My mother has actually isolated us from almost everyone we know. She has bad blood with everyone she knows.

My little sibling isn't allowed to leave the house unless it's with her. I am allowed to leave because I have a job and university.

She has tried to get violent with me but I'm much stronger than her.

The mental health institutions in our country are terrible.They are mostly used for 'conversion therapy'.

My mother's rages are extremely uncontrollable. My siblings know that there's something wrong with her and are scared of her.

I have informed some of my closest friends about this issue. I will start documenting everything. She has these weird delusions all the time.

1. She hears sounds that we cannot.

2. She sees things which we can't see. (Eg: A person following her)

3. She talks [like whispers] to herself like she's talking to another person.

4. Has insane rages.[tantrums]

5. Takes revenge if she gets angry at us.

6.Makes food that we can't eat or gives us very little food if we do something to set her off . [Indirect starving, Has tried to poison us.]

7. Won't give us medicine if we get sick. Witholds medication if we make her angry so that we will learn through suffering. Confiscates medicine if she sees them.

7. Won't give us money. (Not a problem for me,but an issue for my siblings)

8.She does stuff by herself and accuses me of doing it.(Eg: Closes the door by herself and then comes to me and accuses me of closing the door.) ( It's like she does it unconsciously and then blames others)

9. Interrogates us in everything we do . I have to go through her interrogation everyday before I leave the house.

10. Sabotaged me from doing a job many times before and prevented me from having relationships.

She is an extremely beautiful woman but has a terrible personality. She is smart and charismatic and very good at manipulating people. In the beginning none of the adults believed me and my brother. Throughout my childhood she hid everything she did tome and my siblings. But from recently,she has started behaving the same way towards my father and her own family. She has this magnetic personality where everyone is attracted to her. (I don't understand how she does that. )She waits until you are fully deep in her web to start acting out.

I was so isolated throughout my childhood, my friends weren't allowed to contact me when I went home. I had a strict schedule and if I got low marks I would be punished severely. I understood everything after I entered university and started to do a job.

She specifically hates me because I'm her daughter ( She sees me as her competition, I think) and my dad is a very quiet man so it's easy for her to scold him.

Hey Anon,

Everything you've mentioned is pretty common in an adult that hasn't ever been treated. I wish I knew which country you lived in, so I could help find you resources because hun, you and your siblings need help.

Make sure you and your siblings follow all the advice I gave to treat someone in an episode. Keep as much physical distance as possible. Too many voices, loud noises, and general discord can trigger. This is not you or your sibling's fault. This has to be your mantra for yourself and them. This is your parents' problem, not yours or your siblings.

I know that you are thinking about how your dad needs to make a living for you and your siblings. That someone has to work. But you need to find away to let him know how bad it is. It's his responsibility to care and protect you and your siblings. That is not your job, despite the level of responsibility that you feel.

If she is at the point of extreme paranoia, then her delusions have her thinking other people are conspiring to hurt her. At the best of times, she thinks you are people that she has to protect from the intruders. This usually results in being moved around and being isolated to stay safe. At the worst of times, she doesn't know it's you and thinks you're the enemy.

Document, document, and document. I don't know of a country where it's legal to withhold food from your kids or hit them. Email your grandparents and let them know that it's getting physical. In most countries, there are grandparent rights. If you can't call, then email. Have friends get in touch with family members for you and local resources. Have friends get you food that you can stash for you and your siblings.

Make an escape plan with friends. This is going to be iffy because your mom can be charismatic and have the police thinking you're kidnapping your siblings. That's where documenting is going to be important, but do not let her find it. She is too paranoid. Hide it on the cloud, one drive, drop box, just something you can access from anywhere.

Be safe and if you ever need to talk. I'm here. 💜💜💜

[theletmeliveproject]

The Positives of Parenthood That I Won't Miss, Part 1: Vicariously Feeding My Inner Child

There is a lot of content out there about the negatives of parenthood and things that put people off of parenthood. I think this gives people outside the community the wrong idea that all of our aversion is circumstantial. In reality for people who are inherently childfree by choice, it's not just about not wanting the negatives but also having no interest in the positives.

This is a series of positive aspects of parenthood that are of no interest to me as an inherently childfree person.

One aspect of parenthood that parents seem to find enjoyable as the ability to live vicariously through their children and doing things that they miss from their own childhood such as buying/playing with toys, watching cartoons and putting effort into celebrating national holidays such as Halloween or Christmas.

Whilst I don't doubt that watching someone go through life stages that you have left behind can bring back nostalgia, I don't personally believe that becoming an adult means having to give up all the colour from life.

As a society we expect that adults will give up everything that has previously made them happy in favour of work and new age-appropriate hobbies. Spending hundreds on a Lego set is seen as a waste whereas at one point in time spending your wages every night at the pub after work instead was seen as a regular adult activity. I believe this mindset comes from the circumstances in which many of our predecessors came into adulthood: war, economic depression, political unrest and poverty, and for many people these issues are still a reality in our modern day. In circumstances like this it's hard to justify "frivolity" or "happiness for happiness' sake". Why would you spend your money collecting merchandise from your favourite film series when your family doesn't have enough to eat? How could you waste hours rewatching old cartoons when you have to work eight or more hours a day to keep your dependents alive? There is also the question as well of evolving taste, the possibility that many adults simply and truly don't enjoy their childhood hobbies anymore, and when someone has been through trauma this too can dramatically shift someone's personality and perception of the world. In a way, many people may find that having children allows them to shamelessly revisit their inner child who was lost and potentially even heal them.

However, as a childfree by choice person who lives in relatively comfortable circumstances, I don't feel I will miss out on this because I am not actively denying myself or my inner child the chance to enjoy things and heal. I watch shows that I enjoy regardless of age rating, I have more disposable income to spend on things that make me happy, regardless of if they have a functional purpose in my life and doing the work to heal my inner child before having children has allowed me to see that having children just to be able to give them everything I never had, is not a healthy reason to be a parent. Nor is doing those things so you can inadvertently give yourself those things too.

Instead of using a child as a means for your own healing and happiness, I think we should all first try and undo this societal conditioning that tells us that being an adult is inherently about seriousness and suffering. It is possible to find a balance between the responsibilities that come with age and fulfilling the mental and emotional needs we have as human beings.

Use the link to check out our Instagram page!!

https://www.instagram.com/theletmeliveproject/

[raisedbythetv89]

Do teen girls especially - but also just kids in general - steal because they lack empathy and it’s a way to rebel or are they never taught what a sense of ownership over something feels like because we’re conditioned at such a young age that our bodies aren’t ours to do what we want with and nothing we “own” is really ours?

Girls are conditioned from such a young age that our bodies only exist for the enjoyment of men and to have children and we have no autonomy over our own bodies (don’t cut your hair short, don’t get too bulky, cover up, don’t be a slut, don’t make other people feel bad even if they hurt you, no you can’t have a hysterectomy you’re too young and you’re not married, men don’t like a lot of tattoos or piercings, you have to be “healthy” aka fit the beauty standards to be valued and taken seriously, men don’t like smart women, men don’t like women who make more money than them, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON) and that we need to be mature and nurturing so we HAVE to share everything with everyone no matter what (toys, treats you bring with you to school, your clothes - dress code literally says you don’t get a say in what you wear and what’s comfortable for you, WE DO and it’s for the sake of boys) you didn’t buy that your parents did so it’s not yours they can take it away from you at any time. As a kid everything that is “ours” is treated as communal property including ourselves. I had a teacher take my cell phone AND READ MY TEXTS in 2009.

Don’t want to hug a relative? Go to that kids birthday party or really anywhere for that matter? Give your bully a valentine? Too bad you HAVE TO and you get no say. Children are treated by society at large as communal property of the patriarchy and everything you have in your possession is a gift and a privilege so why the fuck would kids see anything else as anything other than communal property? Like you want it? TAKE IT that is what everyone else does with you so why would you not model that example set for you? (Thinking of people who get angry with you if you don’t want to share your water, gum, or chapstick if you have it in a shared space it’s OURS.)

It does seem like some parents are thankfully breaking this pattern now and empowering their children’s sense of autonomy - this post is me painting with a large brush as to what it was like being raised in the 90’s and earlier and patterns I’m noticing as I reflect on my childhood and my difficulties with boundaries as an adult and how much work it’s taking to feel ownership over my own body.

I don’t understand how we expect kids to understand ANYTHING about ownership when adults basically ensure they never get to experience that until you get a job and start making your own money basically saying you’re not allowed to own anything in our society until you participate in exploitive capitalism which is basically what is behind colonization of land and resources away from indigenous people so ya know maybe not the best system to keep upholding and raising future generations in.

[forebodingprophet]

Moirai || Clotho C2P2

               “Here’s my proposed solution for the current problem.”  Anastasios’ grandfather took the pages handed to him, raised his glasses, and started to slowly read them over.  Balia’s visit and Hikaze’s sudden addition to the event had made getting to meet with his grandfather over the issue close to impossible.  He’d even had to wake up early the morning of Hikaze’s departure to write out his solution, leaving him running on very little sleep.  His proposal was far from simple, but it would be effective and help those who’d chosen to leave keep most of their autonomy.  It would help eliminate the need for daily check-ins, and Anastasios himself planned to manage the logistics. 

               “You want everyone to move?” his grandfather asked, peering over his glasses.

               “Yes.  I know it’s not ideal, but it will allow those who left the house voluntarily to keep their autonomy.  Of course, anyone who wants to is welcome to move back home.  I’ve already ordered Théo to talk to the others servicing the house about finding rooms.  But for anyone who genuinely refuses to return to the house, this will make it so that they needn’t have to check in with us daily.  House Ofthalmós will finance their move while they work on selling their old place upon which point we can be reimbursed and they can receive any extra money afterwards.

               “And you want to manage all of this?”

               “Yes.  I can handle the aníschyros better than anyone else in the house because I actually treat them like people,” Anastasios hissed.  “Even if one of them won’t listen to me, Théodore or Cosmo will back me up.” 

His grandfather sighed.

“Anastasios, if this is about you trying to prove yourself as the next patriarch, trust me: no one in the house doubts your abilities.  I overhear the aníschyros weekly talking about how they can’t wait for me to step down, but this is a lot to take on.  You know that, right?”

“I do.  This isn’t about proving myself.  This is about finding my missing family and wanting to make sure it’s done in the most efficient manner possible.”

“Why don’t we ask Lady Aria for some assistance?  That might-”

“Absolutely not.  While Lady Aria would surely lend us her full support if asked, we as a house need to become more independent of our gods.  We already cower behind Celia at the mere threat of invasion when we have the power to incite rebellion and topple kings off their thrones.”  Of course, Anastasios would never let the house go that far, but, unbeknownst to Celia, he had Seen through her dilemma, and he agreed that they were too reliant on her for their continued autonomy.  “I’ll prove to you that we don’t need the help of our gods for every threat.”

While Anastasios made his preparations, Hikaze was making his own.  The first thing he figured out that he needed was money.  The current him didn’t even get an allowance.  His parents used to give him a little when they lived in the capital, but, since they’d moved, they’d kept saying that they didn’t have the money for that right now.  And even if they were still giving him allowance, it wouldn’t have been anywhere near enough.  If his parents did indeed plan on using him, they’d never support him going out on his own either.  He hadn’t questioned his allowance being cut off after they moved, but it may not have been to preserve the family finances but to keep him nearby.  He may need to just bolt.  He didn’t really have any issues with it.  He’d leave a note, and he was sure they’d take him back when he showed back up just relieved that he was fine.  He could send them letters too.  The more he worked through it in his head, the more he felt like he could work it out.  After returning from his trip to House Ofthalmós, Hikaze had started spending most of his days running around town asking everyone for odd jobs.  He knew he wasn’t going to be paid like an adult, but he could at least start squirrelling some money away for when he left.  He’d go around with Itsu and they’d bus tables at the inn, run small errands, or help wrangle Pokémon who were going around causing trouble.  At the end of a week, he’d managed to save up a little.  He dangled the pouch of clinking coins in front of his face and frowned.  Although there were plenty of coins in the pouch, they were mostly all iron, bar a small handful of copper that he could count using his hands.  They weren’t going to get him much more than a couple days of food or maybe a night at an inn.  He had to find actual work.  He glanced over at the egg sitting on his bedside.  It was supposed to be Itsu’s sibling, another Charcadet.  They weren’t exactly common, so while Hikaze didn’t like the idea, he could probably get a decent chunk of change selling them.  His eyes wandered back to Itsu who was looking up at him with a cocked head.  Hikaze grimaced.  There was no way.  He definitely couldn’t sell that egg unless things got really bad.  It wouldn’t be fair to Itsu who’s been waiting so patiently to see his little sibling.  Hikaze groaned into his blanket.  Was this how Esaias had felt about money growing up? 

“… I’ll ask Anastasios if there’s anything I can do for his family…”

“I’m going to be gone for a bit.”

“… What?”  Their first meeting in two weeks, and this is the first thing the Ofthalmós heir says to him. Not ‘hello’, not ‘how are things’, just a block statement that leaves no room for argument.

“Are you deaf now, in addition to being stupid?” Anastasios asked with the same casualness someone else might ask for the weather with.

“No, I heard you,” Hikaze replied, brushing off his irritation.  “It’s just sudden.”

“It’s not sudden, at least not for me. I’ve been planning it for two weeks now.”

“Is it because of that thing with your cousin?”

“Yes.  I have a duty as the next patriarch to ensure my family’s safety, so I plan on personally overseeing the plans I’m putting in place.”  Although he was a child still, the eyes that looked back at Hikaze were as stalwart and determined as any adult, just like Esaias’ when he’d draw his line in the sand.  The man was a coward, but even he had things that he refused to compromise on.

“… I see.  So when are you leaving?”

“As soon as I can find a suitable partner to bring with me,” Anastasios replied.  “I can’t rely entirely on Celia- rather, I refuse to.  My grandfather refused to budge on this, so I have to find a Pokemon partner that I can take along for protecttion.  It’ll probably take a week-…  Why are you looking at me like that?”

Hikaze rarely had moments of brilliance, but right now, in his opinion, was one of them.

“Are you going to tame anything specific?”

“I mean, no, but we don’t make a habit of keeping a ton of spare Pokémon around at home outside of the ones we use for agriculture, so I’ll have to take the time to tame something wild, and I’m not allowed to carry them around in one of those.  It’d stand out too much.”

“What would you say if I said I might have a Pokémon for you?”

“And why would I want it?  Isn’t it yours?” Anastasios asked, confused.  “And what do you mean ‘might’?”

“So, I have an egg, but I haven’t been able to get it to hatch for me.  It’s supposed to be Itsu’s sibling, but even though I gave them the same attention, only Itsu hatched, and it’s been that way for years.  I’m not sure what it is, but it’ll never hatch for me, I’ve accepted that.  I’ve been reluctant to part with them because they’re Itsu’s sibling, and they deserve to meet at least once.  If it’s you, then I know you’ll treat them well, and you know you’ll have their loyalty.  Then I can spend the next week helping you train them up.”  Anastasios stared at him dubiously.

“Just what do you get out of this?” Anastasios replied.  “Pokémon eggs aren’t exactly cheap.  I’m honestly dubious as to how a commoner like you came into possession of one, let alone two.”

“Dad said he got them through a work friend,” Hikaze replied.  “But, if you want to compensate me, I’d like if you paid me for the work.”

“Money?”  Anastasios wrinkled his nose.  He was used to Kazuya asking for bizarre favors, not money.

“I need money for my trip.  I’ve been taking on odd jobs, but no one pays a kid adult wages.  Your family has money, you can pay me enough to get off the ground.”  Anastasios stared at him warily for several moments before sighing. 

“I can’t believe I’m saying this…  Arceus, I must be crazy, but I have a better proposition: come with me.”  Anastasios clicked his tongue, irritated with himself, and started tapping his toe.  Hikaze replied with a huge, almost taunting, grin.

“Awwwww, you missed me?”

“No such thing!” Anastasios hissed.  Welllllll…  his face looked angry, but Hikaze was pretty sure he saw a blush on those cheeks.  How very Esaias-like.  The bristly reply didn’t deter him at all.  Hikaze wrapped an arm around his best friend’s shoulders, which earned him a glare that looked fit for a pissed off Meowth, and completely ignored it.

“We’re going to have so much fun!”

“I regret this already…”

[mumma3]

Kids Bank - Keep your child's finances organized and safe!

Keep your child's finances organized and safe! This is an important task for any family. When it comes to their bank account, you want to make sure everything is in order. You don’t want your child to have to worry about money mistakes or getting into trouble with the bank. That’s why Kids Bank is so important. We provide kids with an easy-to-use financial system that makes banking fun and easy. Our app helps keep track of all your child’s finances, so they can stay safe and sound.

Keep your child's finances organized and safe.

A child’s financial future is important and making sure that their finances are kept organized and safe can help them stay safe and sound in the long run. By keeping their finances together, you can avoid potential money issues down the road and keep track of what they have, where they have it, and when they might need to update it.

One benefit of keeping your child’s finances organized and safe is that you can more easily track their progress. This will allow you to make informed decisions about how much money to give them at any given time, as well as provide some peace of mind knowing that everything is under control.

How to Keep Your Child's Financial Affairs Organized and Safe.

There are a few ways to keep your child’s financial affairs organized and safe:

- Create a budget: Every child needs an okay budget so that they know where their money goes (and don’t spend too much). Keep a copy of your budget for easy access should something arise that requires cash flow adjustment.

- Make use of online tools: Online tools like Paypal or Square can help you keep track of your child’s spending without having to print out receipts or deal with lost paperwork.

- Set up a safety net: A safety net could include things like automatic paychecks or a savings account set up specifically for children in case of income loss.

- Have communication protocols in place: If one part of your household doesn’t have access to money, it may be difficult for them to cope with other aspects of their life (such as school). Having communication protocols in place will help ensure smooth sailing during these tough times.

How to Keep Your Child's Financial Affairs Safe.

The best way to keep your child's finances safe is by following these tips:

- Be aware of possible consequences if funds go missing: Thinking about potential consequences such as lost sleep or missed opportunities can help mitigate any fears or uncertainty around financial dealings with minors.

- Use proper terminology when discussing finance with minors: euphemisms like “saving for college” are often not considered Appropriate Language by parents when discussing young adult financial plans with their children. Instead use language that is age appropriate (e.g., “saving for bills until payday”), while still being accurate and understandable.

How to Store and Use Your child Money.

There are a few different ways you can store and use your child's money. One way is to put it in an envelope and send it to them. Another way is to put it in a safe place like an attic or basement. You can also use a bank account or online wallet for your child's money.

How to Store and Use Your Child Money.

When you store your child's money, make sure you do the following:

1) Put the money into an envelope or carry it in a safe place

2) Make sure the money is saved in an easily accessible place

3) Label each compartment of the bank account with your child's name and date of birth

4) Write down the amount of money in each account

5) Keep a copy of your child's bank statement in case something happens to their original document

Tips for Saving Your Child Money.

One of the best ways to save money for your future is by keeping your child's finances organized and safe. By following these tips, you can help keep your child's money healthy and safe:

- Keep track of what they are spending and how much money they have saved so that you can manage their budget better.

- Make a list of their goals and plan for each one, including savings account numbers, bonuses, and other rewards.

- Create a budget for each month and make sure to include all necessary expenses in it. This will help you stay on track with your child's finances.

- Teach them about personal finance and how to save money using different methods like saving in an account or drawing from a checking or savings account.

- Ensure that everything in the child's house is kept in order so that no funds are left unaccounted for (for example, all medications should be brought to a chemist instead of left at home).

Conclusion

Keeping your child's finances organized and safe can be a great way to keep them safe and help them save money. There are many ways to store and use your child's money, so it's important to find the ones that work best for you and your family. along with tips for saving your child's money, this article provides helpful advice on how to save money for a future goal.

[missmentelle]

What makes a codependent relationship? Is it healthy for someone to rely on you as a constant source for support, talking all the time? Getting seperation anxiety and experiencing extreme stress when they are without you? Is it selfish to not necessarily reciprocate that stress?

Let's start by defining what a codependent relationship is.

In a codependent relationship, one person (the codependent) consistently enables the dysfunction of another person, often assuming a "caretaker" or "protector" role. The dysfunctional person usually struggles with a serious issue that may make it difficult for them to function on their own - often addiction, mental illness, or serious underachievement/irresponsibility - and the codependent partner will make extreme personal sacrifices to take care of this person and shield them from the consequences of their actions.

Codependent relationships aren't always romantic relationships - they can be found between friends, parents/children, coworkers, other family members, or any other type of relationship. Wherever they exist, are very unhealthy for both of the people involved in them. The codependent person focuses so heavily on the dependent person's needs that they entirely neglect their own, while the dysfunctional person is enabled to continue being dysfunctional and is often prevented from making any kind of progress toward recovery.

Common traits of codependent people include:

a fear of being alone. They often seek out relationships with people who will depend on them and encourage that dependency to ensure that the other person will not leave them.

extreme fixation on the feelings and needs of others. They often view their own needs as unimportant or secondary and prioritize the needs of others, even when this has not been asked of them.

a compulsive need to "fix" the problems of others. when they see a person who is struggling, they feel the overwhelming need to step in and start "fixing" the situation, even if doing so is not their responsibility.

low self-esteem. They often have chronic issues with self-esteem, and don't feel that they "deserve" to have their own needs prioritized. Their self-esteem is often tied to their ability to maintain their caretaking role at all costs, even when it is incredibly harmful to them.

controlling and perfectionist tendencies. Codependent people often struggle to cope when they don't have high amounts of control in their relationships, or when things aren't done "just so". They gravitate towards caretaking roles where they have high amounts of control, and struggle to let go.

external locus of control. They often feel powerless in their lives, and feel that they simply have to accept their circumstances and the way that others treat them.

high capacity for denial. They often cannot or will not see problems that are right in front of them, and refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of a situation - the house will be burning down around them and they'll refuse to even admit that it's getting a little warm.

a history of interpersonal trauma or abuse. Codependency is often a learned behaviour - many people who fall into these patterns experienced codependency from their parents, or witnessed their parents' codependent relationship at a young age. Many have also experienced extreme emotional abuse, from their parents or a past partner.

a strong need for approval. Codependents need to be liked. They need approval. Doing things for others and letting others walk on them is the best way they know how to gain that.

boundary issues. They often cannot and do not set personal boundaries - they take a "Giving Tree" approach to helping others, endlessly giving even when it seriously hurts them. At the same time, they may overstep boundaries to try to fix others' issues, even when it is not their responsibility to get involved.

a lack of personal identity. The codependent relationship often becomes the focus of their whole life. They invest so much time and energy into it that without it, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves.

a tendency to be drawn to close relationships with substance addicts, alcoholics, people with personality disorders, or other codependents. Codependent relationships are usually not a one-off thing - they tend to be a recurring pattern in a person's life. In particular, people with untreated BPD often seek out relationships with codependent people, as they tend to prefer relationships with people who don't set personal boundaries and are willing to provide the extreme amounts of reassurance and caretaking that they need. People with BPD also tend to be codependent themselves, further complicating things.

an appearance of being "addicted to chaos". Codependent people often appear to gravitate toward drama, dysfunction and chaos. Having relationships with people who have healthy boundaries, autonomy and stable personal lives often holds little interest for them - they prefer relationships where they feel needed and depended upon.

Codependent people often have a "martyr" or "victim" complex - they often feel that it is their lot in life to suffer for others, that self-sacrifice is a key part of their identity, or that suffering is simply a part of loving someone. The idea that they should set expectations in a relationship, leave a relationship where they aren't treated well or have an identity of their own outside a relationship is something they struggle with. They often hop from codependent relationship to codependent relationship, becoming steadily more beaten down and burnt out in the process - breaking free from codependent tendencies can be a long process, and often requires professional help.

There is a lot of variety in what codependent relationships look like. Some examples of codependency in action would include:

A mother allows her chronically unemployed and irresponsible 38-year-old son to live with her, and does everything for him. She never confronts her son about the fact that he doesn't contribute financially or help out around the house, even though it's placing a great financial and personal strain on her. When other family members ask why her adult son isn't taking steps to get his life together, the mother becomes highly defensive, and may make up lies about the progress he's made, or insist that he's still young and that this is normal for his age.

A woman assumes the role of "caregiver" for her unstable and very mentally ill partner. She bends over backwards to keep her partner happy, and doesn't seem to notice or mind that her partner never does the same thing in return. Her partner constantly burns bridges with their own family or friends with their explosive anger, and she rushes in to make excuses and try to fix the situation. When friends raise concerns about the relationship, she brushes them off, insisting that she's happy and everything is fine.

The parent of an autistic teenager infantilizes their autistic child, and insists that the child needs much more care than they actually do. Being an "autism parent" is a huge part of their identity. The child has never been allowed to attend an overnight camp, go for sleepovers or stay at home with a babysitter, as the parent is highly fearful and believes that other people will not look after their child properly. The parent strongly resists all of their child's attempts to gain more independence, insisting that it's too dangerous or that the child cannot handle it.

The US version of the television show Shameless is almost entirely centered around codependent relationships. The main characters are all in codependent relationships with their alcoholic and dysfunctional father, Frank. Although the main characters are often angry with their father, they constantly allow him back into their lives no matter how horribly he treats them - at times, they give him money, provide him with alcohol, let him move back into their house, visit him in the hospital and cover him with a blanket when he passes out on the floor. The boundaries they set with him never last long, and they always resume having a relationship with him, even after he does things that most people would find unforgivable.

So with that said: is it healthy for someone to rely on you as a constant source of support?

It sort of depends.

Relationships are supposed to be a reliable source of support for both of the people in them. That's sort of what they're for. I worry sometimes that the internet is making us too transactional in our relationships, and too quick to think that someone is taking advantage of us if they constantly turn to us for support. It's normal to find comfort in your relationships, and to turn to your loved ones whenever you need someone to talk to. I talk to my partner, my parents and my closest friends every day - that often means mentioning things that we’re stressed or anxious about, or venting about problems in our lives. Sometimes people are going through something and need extra support for a while - that’s just a normal part of close relationships. 

With that said, there are times when someone leans on you too hard. If helping someone is starting to take a serious toll on your own life, that’s a problem. Every relationship needs boundaries; if your boundaries are consistently pushed or broken in the name of supporting that person, it may be time for a serious talk. Staying up until 4am to talk someone through a crisis is fine if this is a rare occurrence. Staying up until 4am to talk someone through a crisis multiple times per week, every single week, is an issue - that’s you sacrificing your own need for sleep, and something needs to change. Are you willing to set boundaries and balance your own needs with your friends’ needs? Is the other person willing to respect boundaries, or do they lash out with anger, guilt-trips, accusations of not caring for them or threats to harm themselves? 

If you and a friend are both willing to communicate and work on establishing boundaries, I think it’s fine for one person to need a lot of support. If the relationship is damaging for you and one or both of you just isn’t able or willing to discuss boundaries, that’s a sign there could be some codependence going on. 

A person experiencing separation anxiety and extreme stress when you aren’t around could be an issue - but again, it depends on how it’s being handled. Is your friend able to cope with this anxiety on their own, or are they constantly putting this anxiety on you? Are they blowing up your phone and getting anxious if you’re 10 minutes late answering a text? Do they ever try to guilt-trip you or blame you for triggering their separation anxiety? Do they accuse you of not caring about them if you try to take time for yourself? Are they jealous of your other relationships? Is their extreme stress taking a toll on your life and preventing you from having other relationships or having personal boundaries and space? If your friend is willing to work on boundaries and find healthy coping mechanisms for their stress, this might be something you can overcome. If your friend is burning you out and one or both of you is unable to set boundaries, this might be a very unhealthy situation. 

Not feeling the same stress and anxiety, however, is definitely not selfish. It’s not healthy for someone to feel that level of extreme stress and separation anxiety - it’s not your friend’s fault that they experience that, but it’s still very unhealthy. The fact that someone feels an unhealthy attachment to you does not mean that you should feel an unhealthy attachment right back. No one benefits from that. In any healthy relationship, both people have a life and identity outside the relationship. This is, fundamentally, the issue at the core of many different unhealthy relationships - whether they are codependent, enmeshed, or abusive.

 Being so attached to someone that you can’t handle them needing friends, hobbies, space and independence isn’t a compliment or something to aspire to - it’s just unhealthy.

Hope this answers your question! MM

[miraculous-trinity-leo]

Whacky Gotham, Goofy New York, and Chaotic Paris.

(part 1) (part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7)

Chapter 1: Genius Little Ladybug

★—–—–†–—–—★

It all started when Sabine Cheng and her parents moved from China to America, where she met a rich boy named Tony, they weren't the best of friends at first, but they would always get into crazy shenanigans because of Tony. Sabine always finding a way to get them out of it. After a while they were practically inseparable, they had each others backs, both in the good times, and the bad.

So when Tony lost both his mother and father in a tragic car accident, and had to take over his parents company, she was there to try and ease the pain. It helped a little, but the boy changed and blocked out many people, only keeping a select few close to him. His personality changed, and he started to act differently, it saddened Sabine, but she knew it was his way of coping with his lose.

She would oftentimes find him crying silently in his office. When Tony opened a branch in Paris France, he was paranoid something would go wrong when he wasn't there, so he had Sabine become a sort of co-CEO for the Paris branch. Over the many years of her being a sibling-in-everything-but-blood to Tony, her intelligence was much higher than everyone in the company, other than said boy.

She moved to Paris not long after, always keeping an eye on both the Paris branch and Tony ( because god knows what would happen if she didn't do so). She even met a baker named Tom Dupain. Eventually dating, and marrying him. Tony wasn't the most eager when he heard of Tom, but he accepted him as family (not because if he didn't Sabine would knock some sense into him). He practically exploded with excitement when he heard we would be an uncle a few years after Sabine's wedding.

Tony was there in the waiting room with Tom, when Sabine was having the child ( Tony denies not having a mini heart attack when the nurse came in). Both men looked at the beautiful child through the glass. Tony was put to tears when he read her name "Maria Dupain-Cheng" and was comforted by a teary Tom.

When Maria was 9 months old, her Uncle Tony came to spend time with her, and talk business with Sabine. None of them expected Maria to crawl her way into their conversation and say "Uncle Tony" in the sweetest most adorable laugh both adults had ever heard. Tony had a massive grin on his face, and gave Maria a big hug and lots of kisses saying " I knew i was your favorite hahaha, and you're only 9 months old. Sabine I think we got a little genius on our hands." Sabine was just as happy and told Tom to hurry and grab the camera.

"Come on say it one more time my dear Maria, show your papa who your favorite adult is" Tony said with a very wide grin.

Maria giggled at her uncle's happiness, clapping her hands. "Uncle Tony, Uncle Tony" Tom just smiled giving his baby girl a kiss and handing Tony 10 Euros.

Tony continued to visit his little genius niece over the years. Maria ended up getting the best education a kid could get, becuase his logic was " If she is a genius (which she is) then she is going to have the best education money can buy, for nothing is to much for my Little Genius Maria!" and with that she could officially be called the smartest kid in all of Paris... heck probably in all of Europe even! So when she gained a passion for fashion at 4, Tony didn't hesitate to get her, her very first (kid friendly) sewing set. By the time Maria was 5 she already knew how to speak and write in French, English, Spanish, Russian, and is learning Mandarin.

Maria had met Chloé when they were both 6, although they weren't really friends, they were polite to each other, which surprised a lot of the other kids their age. She had met Alix a few months later. She spent a lot of the time she wasn't studying with her friends, Alix would get in trouble with another kid on the playground, Chloé would criticise the other kid, and Maria would talk to Alix and then apologize to the other kid. Overall, they had a good dynamic going on, and they (as 7 year olds) promised to always have each others backs to the very end.

When Maria was 3½ months away from her 9th birthday, Tony was kidnapped. Maria just broke down, she wanted to help her Uncle, but she didn't know where he was or how she could help if she did. For three months Maria would only speak to Chloé and Alix (they were kinda shocked to find out she was related to THE Tony Stark). A few days before her birthday, Tony came to their home, with rolls of fabric, flowers, and 'I'm sorry cards'. Maria jumped into his arms crying asking what happened, and "If you're the smartest man on the Earth, why the Heck did it take you so long? How did you get out? Are any of your vital organs hurts? Do you need to go to the Hospital? An-"

"Hey slow down My Little Genius Maria, I'm ok. 1, They didn't really give me much to work with at first, and there is only so much a genius like myself can do with so little resources, and time before your Birthday. 2, I made an anime mecha suit and flew out guns a blazing. 3, Nothing I can't live without. and 4, No because I'm spending the week with you lot before a conference I have in about 10 days." He said while holding his small little genius  in his arms.

Wiping away the tears she looked her Uncle in the eyes "Wait, you 'made an anime mecha suit and flew out guns a blazing?' How does it work? what's its power source? And why do you have a weird glowing device in your chest?!" He had a lot of explaining to do.

That week, in her words was 'The best week of her life.' She was really happy for the first time since the Tony-napping happened, although she was sad he had to go, she knew  he was safe, and that she didn't have to worry (as much) now.

When Maria was 13, both Tony and Sabine decided to have her go to public school with her friends. After hearing this Maria called for a meeting, her two commanders (Alix and Chloé) came for the meeting, and had a talk on how she should go about her first day of public school, asking questions like 'How do non-homeschooled kids act? What are their personalities like? What interests do they have? Are some barbaric like Alix is sometimes? Will they like me? Am I allowed to talk to Chloé in or only out of class? What are the seating arrangements? Who do I sit next to?' the list goes on. They were all excited to finally all be in the same study environment, now all they had to do was wait for their first day.

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

The night before her first day Maria may or may not have slept well due to her excitement, she woke up a little later than she ever would have preferred, getting breakfast, her clothes, the 'greeting sweets' (as Alix called them) and heading out in a slight panic.

On her way out she noticed an elderly man with a cain crossing the street, and a car coming a little faster than what was allowed, she pulled the man out of the cars way without losing any of the sweets, after making sure the man was ok, she gave him a sweet before saying good day and heading over to school. She never noticed the man walking away without the use of his cain.

She still got to class on time, when her teacher walked in she greeted everyone in the class "Bonjour, je m'appelle Maria Dupain-Cheng, c'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer! (Hello, my name in Maria Dupain-Cheng, it is a pleasure to meet you!)" after the introductions she sat down in the empty seat next to Alix, both giving a fist bump, and a smile to Chloé, who looked away as if she didn't care (the girl had an image to keep after all). When class was over she handed out the sweets and went with her friends to lunch. During lunch, one of the other students from a different class was mocking one of their classmates that Maria remembered as Ivan, for having a crush on Mylène and not saying how he really feels to her. Ivan ran off into one of the locker rooms, and Maria decided to go and comfort him, she explained that she overheard what happened and that he should try and tell Mylène about his feelings, listing many different things he could do or say, and that he should stay positive.

Ivan thanked Maria afterwards and went off to write a song for Mylène. Ivan later showed Mylène the song he wrote for her, but was teased by other students near them, Ivan ran away not wanting to be embarrassed more.

Back in the classroom Alix and Maria are sitting and talking when everyone hears crashing and screams outside, the class looked out to see a giant rock thing destroying everything  on its way to the school. The teachers sent the kids home in an attempt to keep them safe.

When Maria got home she noticed a small box with writing she didn't recognize, she carefully opened it, instantly releasing a glow of bright red-ish pink light.

"Greetings Maria Dupain-Cheng, I am Tikki, the Ladybug Kwami of creation and good Luck, it is a pleasure to meet you." Maria couldn't believe her eyes "Mon dieu..." was all she could say, before going full interrogation mode "You're a Kwami? What is that? How are you floating like that? How am I able to understand you? Do you have some sort of ability to communicate in any language?How did you fit in this box? w-"

"There is no time, Paris needs you! I can only explain the powers I grant and how to use them, so please listen carefully."

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

Soon Maria was running in a red suit with black spots and amor. She ended up facing the 'akuma' as Tikki called it in a stadium, meeting her partner (a blonde furry she decided) for the first time.

"Bonjour m'lady, so what's the plan to take this thing down?"

Without hesitation she explained her plan " The plan is for you to have your Cataclysm ready, I'll give you a signal when it's your-"

"Cataclysm!"  The boy proceeded to use his ONE attack on a GOAL POST!

"I said to wait for a SIGNAL! Now you only have five minutes before you power-off."

"Oops" The blonde was really wasting her more useful braincells. After the boy was thrown out of the stadium, Maria was left to fend for herself, and she did really well, considering this was her first non(but sort of) official villain fight, up until she lost her footing and was knocked into the side of the stadium. The akuma was gone before she could get back, more and more people were turned to stone, but it showed just where Stoneheart was heading.

She arrived at the Eiffel Tower, where blonde was fighting stone people, he just managed to get away and actually listened to the plan this time.

They defeated Stoneheart, Maria gave her speech to the villain, and did a fist bump (though at this point Maria just wanted to get some sleep), when a reporter came to interview them.

"What are your names, and where did you come from?"

"My name's Chat Noir an-"

"Ladybug, and we're hear to protect Paris from Moth-Man, as much as we would love to give you a bit more details, we don't have much time at the moment" right on que their Miraculous' beeped signalling they had 2 minutes left " Stay safe, and positive, Bug-Out. "

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

"Well done Maria!"

"Thanks Tikki." and with that Maria went downstairs to get something to eat, when she saw her parents watching the news.

"Earlier today Paris gained a villain and two heroes: Ladybug, and Chat Noir. Many of our viewers submitted pictures and videos, but only one of Ladybug came out clear."

"Thank you Ladybug and Chat Noir for protecting us, bonne journée à Paris."

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

"Maria you're taking self-defense classes starting tomorrow" Sabine spoke, though Maria didn't have any complaints, plus it'll help when fighting akumas so it's a win win.

"Yes maman."

•~~~~~later in Maria's room~~~~~•

"Ok, so you're basically goddess of creation personified into a cute little Ladybug creature?"

"Kwami, but yes."

"And you've existed since basically the Big Bang?"

"Correct."

"... how are you able to float like that? How are we able to talk without any ancient god language in the way? And what other kinds of um kwamis are there?"

"I float with magic. Yes their is a language only for the Kwami, but we've learned every other language in existence, so there would never be an issue with communication. And to your last question, there are many different kinds of Miraculi all over the world, some even across the universe, so I am unable to list every single one in existence, but there are just as many Miraculi out there as there are starts in the sky."

"Impressive... does that mean I could learn magic?"

"As a human you are limited to what you can do with magic, but you have a strong creation soul. So yes it is possible for you to learn basic magic, I can teach you some life magic to help you heal quicker if you get hurt outside the suit. You can also learn other types of basic magic based on what Miraculous you are most aligned to. Surprisingly you have a close affinity to most of my brothers and sisters that are here in Paris."

"Are they in the hands of other Miraculous users?"

"... aside from Chat Noir, only two: one belongs to the Guardian, and the other to Hawkmoth."

"What are their names?"

"...Wayzz is Kwami of Protection, and is the partner of the Guardian. The other is Nooroo Kwami of Transmission, Hawkmoths Kwami.

"Ok, so then I assume the 'Guardian' is who you were with until now, right?"

"That is correct."

"And how was I chosen exactly?"

"The Guardian chose you because he saw your kindness in action, and sensed your strong Creation Soul, he has only ever been wrong once, but I can tell you will be a great Ladybug, maybe even one of the few who achieved a higher sence of life."

"... I feel like you kind of described a Sage, also how would he have seen an act of kindness, I mean, I got my things, went out helped an older man with a cain, wait."Maria squinted her eyes at Tikki as if looking for something.

"The elderly man's the Guardian isn't he?"

"..."

"I get it, you don't have to tell me, it's all apart of the 'plot' like some show, I get it. Welp, good night Tikki, have to get up early tomorrow."

"Good night Maria." Tikki never messed up so badly before, then again she never had a user with such a strong Creation Soul before either... Maria is something special.

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

And Tikki was right, she excelled at Life Magic, learning a fair bit of healing, luck and slight plant manipulation and communication magic. Tikki wasn't sure if she should be proud of her Bug, or scared at her fast learning skills.

A few weeks passed and Maria was thankful for the self-defense classes, she even started doing her own training routine with Tikki guiding her. She didn't like that her partner was a flirt, it got distracting and almost got Chat killed a few times. She often wondered 'what the hell did I do in my past life to get a partner like this?'

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

Tony Stark was called by Sabine to meet her earlier than they had planned, she informed him that Paris now has a villain and two heroes.

"Ok, so what's the problem? We agreed to put Maria in self-defense classes so she would be safe... is it a boy?! Don't tell me it's a boy, she's to young to be dating!"

"It's not about a boy."

"Then what is this about?"

"She's Ladybug, *sigh* I swear she gets it from you Tony. She learned it from your dumb@ss, and it didn't help the need to protect people she loves when you got kidnapped. I need you to teach her how to be a good hero, good combat strategist, and to give her your support. She already has a tactical mind, I'm proud in a way that she shares your bravery."

"Ffffffffudge... ok, where is she?"

"Upstairs."

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

After a slightly awkward conversation Maria started to get even more training, and became a pretty much badass on the field, she incorporated the known fighting styles of: Black Widow (her favorite hero), Captain America, Deadpool (favorite hero to some degree), Daredevil, Wolverine, and some moves from famous villains like, Kraven The Hunter, Red Skull, Doctor Doom, Scorpion, Shocker, and Taskmaster ( her favorite villain). And she used ALL of those skills in battle, it was damn impressive to watch, and then Sabine had a talk with Tony.

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜Bonus〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

"Ok Tony wtf? I asked you to teach her how to fight for protection when she's out there, But you turned her into a complete badass, I mean none of the akumas have lasted more than 10 minutes with her! I want to hug you and kick your @ss at the same time."

" Sorry not sorry Sabine, but she is our Genius Little Ladybug after all."

•—–—–†–—–—•

First fic, wahoo (mario stile), hope you're all having an Absolutely wonderful day, stay safe, and stay positive, BUG-OUT!🐞💮🐞

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜 Tag List 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

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@lupagrimm

[tomtenadia]

Families - part 2

This is the following part to the fic I wrote for the prompt Single parents.

PART 1

It will likely have one or two more parts.

-----

A few months had passed and the season shifted and winter had eventually fallen on Orynth, bringing snow and its usual cold temperatures. The arrival of winter meant as well winter festival and if there was something Orynth excelled at was to celebrate that season and the solstice. The usual winter fair was sprawling in the central area of town, with food vendors, stalls and the major attraction; the ice rink.

The fair was the reason why now Rowan was in his car with his daughter, driving to Aelin’s place to pick up her and Aisling. 

They had kept their promise and the four of them had become quite close. The girls would have sleepovers and Aelin had been more than happy to look after Astrid when Rowan was on a night shift at the hospital. On a handful of occasions, on his day off he had reciprocated and Aisling spent the day with them.

Once the fair had started, Rowan had asked Aelin and her daughter to go out skating. He loved skating, and ice and everything connected with winter. Astrid instead had become obsessed with skating after her dad took her to a hockey game. At eight she was now totally hooked and had also asked to join a club, so Rowan had signed up to a junior ice hockey team and now his daughter was looking forward to show off her skills on the ice.

They arrived at the house not long after and Aelin and Aisling were on the pavement waiting for them.

“Hello stranger,” said Aelin getting in the car seat behind him and with her hand brushed his shoulder. Although nothing official had happened between them he had not missed the sneaky glances, the shy touches that both of them had been exchanging.

“Hi Astrid,” she added brushing the girl’s head “looking forward to show off? Your dad tells me that you are really good on the skates.”

The girl beamed proudly “I have been teaching dad. He is clumsy.”

Rowan chuckled “I am just rusty. I used to play hockey, but I haven’t been much on the ice in a long time, young lady.” He replied saving his dignity. He listened to Aelin engage with his daughter and a part of him was jealous of her easiness. He loved his daughter and did his best to keep her happy, but sometimes he felt like he did not have the same connection that Astrid had with Aelin. He blamed it on him being a man, he just hoped he was not letting her down.

Once all parked up they got off the car and started walking to the ice rink.

“Dad, can we have hot chocolate later?”

“If you behave.” 

Astrid grabbed her own skates from the trunk and hugged her dad “I always do.”

They let the girl walk in front of them and Aelin hooked her arms with Rowan’s as they reached the rink “I have a confession.” She said quietly, searching for his green eyes.

Rowan lifted an eyebrow in a question.

“I don’t know how to skate.”

Rowan chuckled and patted her hand “it’s fine, I’ve got you.”

Aelin’s heart raced at those words. Maybe she was imagining more than what he actually meant but for an instant she felt as if there was a deeper meaning in that statement.

At the ticket booth Rowan paid for all of them and they grabbed their gear. Astrid and Aisling already at the rink side and ready to go.

“Dad, can we go?” Shouted an impatient Astrid.

Rowan exchanged a glance with Aelin and she shrugged.

“Go, but be careful and keep an eye on Aisling. She is not as good a skater as you.”

Astrid grinned and the two girls disappeared on the ice.

In the meantime Aelin had sat down and was donning her ice skates. Rowan crouched down and helped her. Then he sat next to her and donned his pair. Once ready he helped her stand. Gently he fixed her scarf around her neck “it’s cold.” He told her while his finger lingered a bit longer than needed. 

“Let’s go,” he told her while offering her a gloved hand. Aelin took it and together they entered the rink. Aelin felt unstable the second she set foot on the ice and crashed against him. Rowan pulled her closer to him “steady.” He looked at her and huffed a laugh.

“Are you making fun of me?” She asked outraged at his reaction.

“No,” he shook his head and fixed her wooly hat “your hat was askew and it made you look cute.”

“Rowan Whitethorn,” her hand on his chest “are you flirting with me?”

Rowan winked and moved a bit away and left her but Aelin shouted that she needed help, so Rowan came back, grabbed her hands and turned around so that he was skating backwards and pulling her with him.

“Show off.”

“I told you I played hockey.”

“Were you good?”

 He made her pirouette slowly and laughed “I almost went professional but during one game I injured my knee pretty badly and I had to give up.”

“That sucks.”

Rowan shrugged “I went into med school instead. I ended up finding another path I loved.”

She crashed again against his chest and loved the feeling of her cheek against his hard muscles. And his scent. Rowan smelled of pine and snow. She inhaled deeply and a moment later she felt his strong arms around her “You and I should go on a date.” He said quietly while he kept dragging her around the rink. She looked up at him and saw tenderness in his green eyes. She hadn’t imagined it. The feelings, whatever was blossoming between was there had not been her imagination.

“If I survive this ice skating outing, you can take me out.”

“Good,” in that instant their daughters whizzed past them and Aelin laughed “they are having fun.”

“Astrid has been counting the days for this evening. She really likes it when you two are around.”

“She is not the only one…” and she hugged him tighter and Rowan squeezed her shoulders.

“I have a very good babysitter, She has been doing it for years. She can be trusted.” He explained to her “I can’t use my neighbour at night. She is elderly and she only helps me during the day.”

Aelin nodded “if you trust her I am happy, but we will have to pay her double and I want to cover my share.”

Rowan was about to protest but Aelin stopped him with a finger on his lips “No buts. She is looking after my daughter as well, so it’s on me too. Don’t fight me on this.”

Rowan’s hand rose in a yielding motion “you win.”

The evening ended without incidents and they all made it out of the rink alive. They had dinner at one of the vendors, the four of them sitting at the picnic tables in the warm area. Aelin even convinced him to eat a chocolate covered pretzel.

Eventually the evening came to an end with Rowan claiming that it was getting close to bed time for the girls and when they tried to protest Aelin joined him in saying that they had school the following day and promising another evening out not on a school night.

Rowan drove Aelin and Aisling back home and on the door they agreed on a day for their fate and Aelin sealed the deal with a kiss on his cheek.

—

It was the Saturday and Aelin was in front of Rowan’s door with Aisling at her side “Will you promise you will be nice? The young lady is here to look after you and Astrid.” 

Yes, mum.” 

Aelin rang the bell and Rowan opened the door and she gasped. He had worn a pair of jeans, a black shirt and he was now donning his coat. Her heart raced madly in her chest. The man was even more stunning than usual.

“Sorry we are a bit late, there was traffic.”

Rowan shook his head and motioned to come inside.

Astrid came running down the stairs and the two girls disappeared upstairs once again. The two adults had a few words with the babysitter and eventually left.

“Do you think Evangeline will be okay with two of them?”

Rowan laughed “I imparted upon Astrid the need to behave or I will reduce her book money allowance.”

“That is cruel,” commented Aelin who loved the idea that he gave his daughter an allowance to buy books.

“But it works. Since she had started reading she always needs to have a book with her. She loves it. I used the no hockey threat two days ago so I have to change from time to time.”

Aelin joined his hand on the gear “I am glad we are doing this.”

“Me too,” he replied, squeezing her hand back while at the traffic lights “I have been meaning to ask for a while but I never knew if it was just me or you reciprocated as well. Then the ice rink evening I had my answer so I gathered my courage and asked.”

Aelin laughed “I had the same debate. I kept thinking that it was just me.”

They arrived at the restaurant ten minutes later and as he helped her to get out of the car Rowan could not look away from her. Aelin was wearing a lovely blue dress that matched her eyes, her hair was tied up in a lovely French braid. She looked amazing. Once inside the restaurants, they sat, and Aelin could not believe where she was. He had taken her to a very high end restaurant, one she had read about but always thought was far out of her league. She was glad she had dressed nicely.

“How did you pull this off? Even a uni lecturer like me knows that this place has a crazy waiting list.”

Rowan laughed “The wife of one my colleagues, she is the head chef here. I just asked a favour.”

“This place is classy.” Aelin added “I hope that it’s not one of those places where the price is bigger than the portions.”

Rowan chuckled and filled her glass with wine “Definitely not, I promise. The food is really superb.”

They ordered and their food came very quickly and Aelin was impressed by the plates in front of her. The food looked amazing and the portions definitely generous.

She took a few bites then a sip of wine and braced herself for the conversation she wanted to have with him and hoped it did not ruin the atmosphere.

“Rowan, where are we going with this?” She asked, looking at him “We have daughters. Two girls who like each other very much and connect because they both have something in common.” She paused to gather her thoughts “I know it’s just the first date, but our situation is different. I have to think about Aisling. Allowing you in means letting you in her life as well. I can’t do flings, Rowan.” She finished quietly.

Rowan sighed and took a bite of his food, then placed his fork down and took her hand “I had the same speech ready in my head. Our daughters have the priority and I agree, we need to be careful. All I can say is that you are the first woman since my wife died that I ever felt any interest in.” He brought their twinned hands to his mouth “You are incredible and I want this to work out and not just for our daughters. I think we need some happiness.”

Aelin almost burst into tears “I want this too. You have no idea how much. But I am so rusty.”

“Hey,” he reached out with his hand and stroked her cheek “I am rusty too, but there is no rush. One step at a time.”

Aelin nodded and they went back to eating for a moment.

“Do you think we should tell the girls?” Rowan’s question was cautious.

“Let’s have a few more dates than we can just tell them.”

Rowan nodded.

The meal finished, the bill came and now they were walking in the park while snowflakes fell from the sky.

Rowan took her hand in his “it’s snowing.”

Aelin freed it and walked a few step away from him and started circling under the snow, her mouth wide open. Rowan stared at her and laughed at the scene and at the joy emanating from Aelin. And while he stared at her, dancing in the snow he realised that his feelings for her were far deeper that he thought. In the few months they had gotten closer he realised that she made him happy. Aelin made him feel again the array of emotions that he thought he had lost a long time ago. She made him feel alive and in that instant he realised he wanted her in his life. With him and Astrid. The four of them.

He took a step toward her and wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her closer. She looked up at him and the smile she gave him was pure sunlight. He kissed her. Deeply while his hand brushed her face. She opened for him and Rowan put all his love into the kiss.

“I love you.” He said softly against her lips, not letting her go. Never letting her go. They were each other light out of the pit that their lives had been for almost eight years.

A second chance at being a family.

At a dream broken too early.

“I love you, Rowan.”