#(it was the right frame of reference for them)

[focsle]

I'll bite, what actually is the different between a bodega and a normal corner shop then? What different niches do they serve in your eyes?

Frame of reference: I grew up in New Hampshire (which has the population of manhattan), where there was a family owned corner store near me, and I’ve thus far lived in NYC for 16 years. I haven’t lived in another major city in the US SO, I can only speak to NY as far as the function of bodegas here.

They are, effectively, a small corner store yes. If you ask different NYers, they will have different criteria for what actually constitutes as a bodega. Historically, bodegas as we know them started popping up in NYC when Puerto Ricans started moving to the city in larger numbers beginning in the 1930s. They were established partly for the practicality of a convenience/grocery store where few existed, but also for their use as a community hubs.

Bodegas mostly started in neighborhoods that didn’t have big box grocery stores, largely working class neighborhoods that were food deserts because major grocery chains abandoned or never catered to them. And when NY was nearly bankrupt in the 1970s and facing extreme disinvestment, when the city largely abandoned these neighborhoods too and had austerity measures put in place had a massive impact on quality of life issues for residents, the bodega was a community beacon. For affordability, for safety, for people you knew and were connected to who also knew the neighborhood and their neighbors. And that’s the same today.

First, there’s the practicality of them in the absence of large grocery stores. Unlike where I grew up, and the car-centric way the majority of the US is designed, for most people living in NYC, driving a car is not a thing. It isn’t part of your daily reality. You’re not going to be able to drive to a grocery store, and you’re also not going to shop at a grocery store as if you have a car to then transport your food back home. It’s going to be more of a daily shopping need—it’s right on the corner, you’re gonna pick up a quarter gallon of milk or a single roll of toilet paper because they sell those there, it’s easier to carry back home. But that’s just the convenience aspect, true to convenience stores too. The bigger thing is the community function.

Bodegas serve the microcommunities of their neighborhoods, and the people who own and work in them know their neighborhood. They’re not an impersonal chain run by a corporation. They know what people in the neighborhood can afford and often fix their prices more accordingly than the standardized ones at a chain. They’re going to have different and specific foods and products for sale based on who owns them, who’s shopping at them, who lives there, that maybe you’re not going to be able to get at a box grocery store or convenience chain. They’re open 24/7. The guys at the bodega know everyone and everything happening on their corner because they’re there all the time. They know who is a regular, they know when something’s weird or off, and they usually look out for their neighbors. Before everyone had phones, bodegas had a phone if you needed one. They’re sometimes the only place open when you’re coming home at 2am—and yeah, that’s convenient if you want something to eat or drink, but it also feels safe. I always choose the street with the 24/7 bodega when coming home late at night because I know it’s a place that would be safe to duck into if anything was up. The people at the bodega know your order and start making it as soon as you walk in. Maybe they’ll accept packages for you if you’re not home because you live right above and can’t buzz in the mailman. Maybe they’ll give you some things for free if you come up short. There are people who are always just hanging out there—it’s a living room. When the internet wasn’t a constant presence, they might be your point of contact for finding an apartment or a job.

The place at NH was a family owned convenience store too. I would go there to get candy sometimes. Maybe the guy there knew me. But the structure of NY—a place where you’re not driving to get what you need or going from your house to your car and back again, where we all live on top of each other so it becomes more necessary to really get to know and observe the people and neighborhood around you through good and through bad, bodegas are an organically occurring community anchor where you can also get an iced tea and a bacon egg and cheese.

Also…more of them have cats than 7-11s do.

[druidwolf21]

Out of action.

Leman Russ / reader

Tw: mild reference to having kids, fluffy.

A/N I just needed some fluff in my life. As always, not proofread.

"Come with me"

Glancing up from your book, you frowned at Leman standing in the door, filling the frame with his mass of fur clad muscle. Bright blue eyes locked onto you as you sat curled beneath a nest of pelts on the chair.

"Right now?"

Leman nodded, blonde braids bouncing about his shoulders. He leant against the doorframe and continued to stare at you. Unnerved by his unusual silence, you dropped your book and began to unwrap yourself.

"Is everything ok?"

He remained mute with his arms crossed over his chest, watching as you slipped from your seat and hurried towards him. As you approached him, he turned on his heels and strode away, pacing down the cold stony halls of the fang. Icy wind blew about you and you gripped your cloak, pulling it tightly around you as you jogged after him.

"Leman, what's happening? You're making me nervous"

"Just come with me"

Astartes stepped to the side rumbling low fenrisian greetings as you passed, their Steely blue ceremite flashing in the flickering torchlight emanating from frosted sconces. The Primarch paid them little heed, sweeping down the hallway with his gaze locked ahead.

"Leman seriously, just wait a minute! I-OOF"

The wind left your lungs and you barreled straight into his back as he halted suddenly. You felt yourself wobble, your body threatening to topple over until a large firm hand gripped your arm keeping you upright. Russ lifted you slightly, your toes skimming the floor for a second before he placed you softly back down. Patting yourself down, you scowled up at him.

"Where are we going in such a HEY"

After giving you a once over, Leman was off again like he hadn't even heard you. With a roll and a huff you took off after him again, tugging the fur lining of your cloak closer around your shoulders. The faint sound of clashing steel and raucous laughter drifted towards you, growing louder as you followed the great wolf towards the end of the corridor. A massive wrought iron door engraved with a snarling wolf loomed ahead of you. Slightly ajar, a soft mound of snow had accumulated across the stoney floor and the ringing of power swords and bolter rounds echoed.

With a grunt, Leman shoved the door open. The winds of Fenris howled as they lashed at you, stinging your eyes and biting any exposed skin. Blinking away the whipping flakes of snow you trailed reluctantly into the sparring ground, gripping the back of Leman's heavy cape. He looked down at you, smirking slightly as you shuffled behind him, using his size to shelter from the blizzard.

"I thought you'd be used to fenris' chill by now"

"oh, now You're feeling talkative" your spat through chattering teeth and blueing lips.

Russ shrugged, brushing stray hairs from his face.

"We are nearly there"

"Where exactly is there?"

Moving around the edge of the area, you watched the newest blood claws tear into each other, a wizened wolf guard stood watching over nodding as the young marines grappled on the ice.

"Will they be joining the vanguard soon? They look like they have energy to burn"

You hear Leman snort, pausing to look across the grounds.

"They will, they were strong this year. I expect many will quickly rise to grey hunter. But focus, we are here"

Stopping before a large portcullis, Leman waved his hand. A helmed marine responded, smashing ceramite against plasteel in a salute before kicking a lever and raising the barred gate. You stepped through, relieved at the instant respite from the biting wind, only to wrinkle your nose l, assaulted by the smell of iron, heated steel and beneath it all-damp dog.

"Come, quickly"

"Leman I've already seen the forges and no matter how many times you try to explain it, I will never understand how a frost axe works"

He hushed you and pushed you down the dark passage, fanged grin flashing. He motioned past the first side passage, steering you past the smithy and deeper into the gloom.

"Leman I can't see"

You reached out, groping in the shadows as you staggered forward and Jumping slightly when his hand found your shoulder.

"Stop here"

Breathing a sigh of relief as Russ ignited a light, you found yourself facing a wooden door. Behind it, you could hear a faint scratching and scuffing, something moving around. You looked up at Leman concerned. He grinned and jerked his chin.

"Go on."

Hands trembling you turned the rusted knob, wincing as it creaked. Warm air hits you hard, carrying the scent of damp straw and something comforting as you stepped inside.

You gasped.

Before you, curled in a nest of hay and blankets lay a fenrisian wolf; A gigantic black mass of fur with burning amber eyes and glistening fangs.

And pressed against her stomach, mewling and squirming, lay 4 cubs.

"No way" your voice a whisper as you dropped to your knees.

"I thought you'd like to see them"

Leman had followed you in, squatting beside you as you gasped. He reached out and placed a calloused hand against the wolf's head, tousling her fur .

"They're so small"

"I should think so, they were born in the night. But they're already strong! They will make fine battle brothers"

One of the cubs staggered to its feet, stomach round and milk splattered across its muzzle. Its fur was shock white, grey hair bristling around it's shoulders and paws.

It whined, opening its mouth the reveal tint needle teeth and staggered in a circle on wobbly legs. Its eyes still shut it released a warbling howl before shuffling forward and flopping onto your lap with a contented huff.

The mother stares at you with a bright curious gaze, watching as you gently run your hand along the cubs back.

"They're gorgeous"

You sat feeling the gentle rise and fall of the pup beneath your hand, your fingers running through its soft fur and after a moment you reluctantly gathered it in your arms and returned it to the mother.

Holding your hand out tentatively towards the wolf, you dragged your hand across her head, scratching her ears.

"Good job mama" you hushed as the mother nuzzles her head against your palm.

"She must like you, she took the hand off a neophyte last night"

Rising to your feet you turned and walked towards Russ. Still squatting, he grinned as you wrapped your arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.

"Happy?"

You smiled back

"SO happy"

He huffed, wrapping one arm around your waist and kissing your forehead.

"Good"

You stayed wrapped in his embrace, nuzzling into his neck and listening to the soft grunts of the sleeping pups. Leman's chest rumbled as he broke the silence.

"Do you ever think about this?"

"Baby wolves? All the time. Cuddling you? Also all the time"

You jostled against him as he laughed before he pulled you away slightly, his eyes reflective in the dusk.

"No, about us and-" he gestured at the sleeping family bundles in the hay.

"Our own? Yeh sometimes. Do you?"

Russ mused for a moment, almost chewing the words before he replied.

"I didn't. Before it was glory and crusading. I thought only of bringing worlds to heel. And when I met you, I thought there was too much blood on my hands to hold anything softly"

His grip slipped from your waist, cupping your chin gently and tugging your jaw up until you faced him fully.

"But the crusade is almost done. The warmaster will take over and maybe I can rest" he chuckled low in his throat.

"It might be nice to see our own sons running around the Aett"

"Or daughters"

He nodded. "Aye, or daughters"

You squealed as he suddenly stood, lifting you into the air and spinning you as he clutched you to his chest.

"Besides, making kids is half the fun anyway"

"Leman!"

🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒

Tags: @beckyninja @moodymisty @jaghatai-khock @echo-of-damnation @laura-naruto-fan1998 @lemon-russ @astrohymn @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan @incrediblethirst @kit-williams @iluminatka16 @cosmic-cryptid-from-beyond @bookandyarndragon @thisuserislilsilly @absynthe-mind @saintsylestine

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list please let me know!

[xandezsims]

L&D Trans Sim Tagging: EA Made an Oopsie

Xan here. Remember how I never got into Fullbody outfits, in the original Trans Sim tutorial? Well, I am honor-bound to get into it a little. Why? Because I made a discovery, and it's...not great.

TL;DR: The Part Flags for most of Life & Death are messed up. Trans Sims are wearing the wrong meshes and it cannot be avoided; EA has to fix it.

If this concerns you, please upvote the report, and spread the word. They have ignored the Sims community about gender-related glitches in the past. Help us make them fix this, so we don't have to.

In-depth explanation about the problem below.

I was stoked to see we got clothes for both frames in the newer packs. Finally, Sims can wear whatever gender clothing they want! That's the goal, right? But, recent testing made me wonder how they handle opposite-frames. I thought I could learn something to help with inclusive tagging. So, I stuck Carmen in a dress from L&D, and:

It passes from the front, but...her chest. That's the opposite gender distortion. The one caused by putting a AM (masc frame) mesh on any AF (female) Sim, trans or not. I've definitely talked about this.

I went and cloned both meshes to check the tags, and sure enough:

Quick tagging lesson: toggling Restrict Opposite Frame means Carmen can't wear the AF one. She has to wear the AM frame dress, because as a trans Sim, her frame is AM. (Literally, the Opposite Frame of her gender.) But because she has breasts, she inherits the chest distortion all female Sims get wearing a man's top. The same applies for Erik, her counterpart (AM w/AF frame).

With a sinking feeling, I went back to the game and tried...everything.

I ran out of space, there are more. Trans-men are the same. I got halfway through the AM catalog and ran out of willpower. I'm betting almost every item made for both frames in this pack is tagged wrong. It's locked by frame, instead of gender. With pants, that's not a problem--but tops, dresses and suits will all be swapped.

So, now we know Fullbody meshes work similarly to tops. They need to be locked by Gender. And it's really just that tag. To test, I went back to my cloned dresses, and fixed it with two clicks:

This means all women regardless of frame can use the AF, and all men can use the AM. And here's the result: AF dress on AF Sim, AM dress on AM Sim. They literally swapped dresses.

So, easily fixed! That's 2 files out of...all of them. (sigh) I filed a Bug Report, linked above. Hopefully the amount of evidence I provided will get an actual response. That, or they'll think I'm an arrogant prat for telling them how their game works. But, I didn't break it.

Moral of the Story: this is a great example of what not to do if you make cc, or if you retag what you download. Remember, if you want to limit who can wear a mesh:

"Restrict Opposite Gender" for Tops and Fullbody; this makes sure all AF and AM Sims wear their meshes, and don't end up with chest lumps.

"Restrict Opposite Gender" for AF Bottoms; Trans-AM Sims break in half. Don't Restrict AM Bottoms at all. They fit everyone.

Or, Don't Restrict Anything, if you want all options. Note: distortions will happen. Mark your gender filters. They help a lot.

Earrings, Hats, Makeup, Gloves, Socks, Tights work for everyone

Necklaces and Nails are "Restrict Opposite Frame"; Trans Sims can't wear these from their own gender. They don't fit.

If you got this far, thank you for sticking it out. My innocent question turned into a tagging lesson (again). But, if it helps anyone in the future, I'll be glad. At least now we know there's a problem.

Please boost the Bug Report, share if you found it useful, and thanks for reading. I'm on the soap box again re: trans inclusion, but it's still Pride and I can't not stand up for my people. The more we know, the better we can do on our side.

Finally, tagging some folks who might want to know, if they don't already (feel free to ignore): @sejianismodding @the-crypt-o-club @yooniesim @whyhellosims @thefoxburyinstitute @sims4tutorials @mmfinds @gncc

[muse-legion]

Santi's eyes searched hers for a brief moment, reading the playful smirk on her lips as she talked about chemistry not being something that could simply be conjured from nothing. He couldn't argue with that; it was true that the most potent connections often grew from natural sparks. The way her gaze flickered to his mouth made his heart skip a beat or two. Never would he have imagined she’d see him that way but when she mentioned knowing what was worth her time, his mind raced with the possibility that she might be referring to him in a more than casual sense. Santi felt his heart stumble in his chest as she spoke of making time for the right person, and the brief touch of their hands as he handed her back the wine glass was almost too much to bear. He didn't know what was happening, but he knew that he didn't want it to stop, consequences be damned.

… And then, she kissed him.

It was as if the universe had tilted on its axis, everything else around them fading away as Gisèle's soft, warm lips met his. The kiss was electric and he couldn’t deny the tingling sensations in his stomach; the things she made him feel that moment made it impossible to ignore what he’d been trying to hide and deny for so long. Giséle was more than just a friend to him. His arms instinctively wrapped around her petite frame, pulling her closer as his own lips responded with equal passion whilst deepening the kiss.

“Please tell me that wasn’t just the wine…” Santi breathed against her lips, without pulling away fully; his arms still holding her tight against himself.

"Well, chemistry is very important in more than just romance books," Gisèle replied, "It's not something you can create our of thin air. I suppose you can build it together but..." she trailed off for a moment, sipping on her wine and letting her gaze flick to his lips for a moment with a smirk, "It's better when it comes naturally, don't you think?" Could she blame the wine? Maybe but she also couldn't deny that despite always saying it wasn't true, she felt the connection and the chemistry, as he put it.

Gisèle was sure his heart stopped when he leaned closer, even though it was to fill her wine. He didn't move far and she smiled once more as her glass was handed back to her, hands touching briefly, "I know what's worth my time and attention. My businesses are worth it but I know that if I had the right person, I would make time. People just don't believe it when they first meet me," she explained. Her eyes widened slightly as he mentioned not seeing what was right in front of them. She didn't hesitate for long though, finally crossing the line and doing what she wasn't sure she should do but knew she absolutely wanted to. She closed the gap between them, hand reaching up to carress his cheek and kissing him deeply.

[spookythesillyfella]

a remake of my "God-ish" drawing from like. 6ish monthz ago

★ alt verzionz under cut :

[itspileofgoodthings]

unfortunately (fortunately) I met Coach Taylor (fictionally speaking) and he found many former favorites of mine dead.

[tombware]

astarion's arc mentioning redemption doesn't make as much sense as it seemed it was going to in EA. like Ulma mentioning he might achieve redemption doesn't make much sense now since she's talking about victims he got while being almost literally puppeteered.

Originally it seemed pretty clear we were going to find out some heinous shit he did to the Gur as a magistrate out of his own free volition.

[sskk-manifesto]

\\

[babybucks]

okay what if eddie and marisol broke up with marisol screaming, “you’re fucking gay and in love with a man who won’t ever love you back the way you want him to” and this whole tommy thing is just eddie processing it by trying to prove that buck isn’t the actual love and light of his life, his co-parent, his person, his partner, the most important person in his life after his son

[pinktinselmonstrosity]

this might be very niche but i love when you start watching a new youtube channel and you can immediately tell that the person is very smart and know what they're talking about and can formulate an argument!! there are so many dumb people on youtube pretending to be smart and god does it really show in contrast to people who are actually smart

[hauntingblue]

Weird that helaena didn't foresee this btw she has predicted nearly every tragedy that happens to the greens

[void-botanist]

Wrapped Scenelets No. 21: cufflinks

I'm writing scenelets for (most of) my Spotify Wrapped top 100 songs. Here's number 21, That's What I Like by Bruno Mars.

━━━━━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━━━━━

Nestled in the midnight velvet of the box were two white gold cufflinks, cut in the shape of the compass-rose stars of his favorite suit. Spinder’s heart sank.

“They’re gorgeous,” he said. That much was true.

Fabian was doing that little smile he did when he didn’t want to look too pleased with himself, but was nevertheless very pleased. “I figured you could wear them to dinner on Monday.”

Ah. This was a gift for dinner with the Avelas, not because Fabian had just wanted to do something nice. “I don’t have any shirts with split cuffs, though.”

“Oh, right.” Fabian bounced his fingertips off the side of his own head. “I forgot about that. You don’t fit in my shirts, do you?”

“No,” Spinder said, his eyebrows raised just enough to point out that Fabian was still not using his brain.

“Right, of course. Never mind.” Spinder expected him to say some other nonsense, but instead he paused, blinked, and held his hand back out. “Let me take those back and get you something you can actually wear.”

“You don’t have to get me anything,” Spinder said as he dropped the box in Fabian’s hand. Fabian took them across the room, and to his back Spinder continued, “I don’t think cufflinks or no cufflinks is gonna make the difference to your parents.”

“I didn’t get them just so you could impress my parents,” Fabian said, putting the box down on his desk and turning to lean back against the desktop. “I wanted to get something nice for you. I just apparently lose my head when I open the DeRos catalog.”

Spinder couldn’t help smiling a little at that. “It happens to the best of us.”

Fabian gave him half a smile in return, then pulled something out of his desk drawer before coming back to the sofa. When he held it out Spinder saw that it was in fact a DeRos catalog.

“How about you tell me what you want. Doesn’t have to be from DeRos.”

Spinder accepted the hefty catalog and started his search with Fabian half-snuggled against him.

━━━━━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━━━━━

Nicea taglist: @kahvilahuhut @kk7-rbs @outpost51 @writernopal @athenswrites

Scenelets wrapped taglist: @kk7-rbs

[stinkrascal]

idk if you guys have seen those pov skits on tiktok about the unbearable lesbian with no rizz, the ones by ellawillstv i think. but if you have, those skits are exactly how i imagine yuki behr

[asvidema]

went to bed at 2:15 am but god i am so alive. kcd1 feels nostalgic to play deapite me having played the sequel first. and i had so much fun already

[itspileofgoodthings]

almost every time I’ve spoken on Taylor publicly I haven’t said what I really want to.

[frecht]

HOW am i supposed to ever finish this essay if the stupid trinity college website never loads for me to look at the book of kells pdf. HOW.