#Bottled Water Processing Market
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
alexthomas01 · 10 days ago
Text
Bottled Water Processing Market Size, Share & Analysis 2034
Tumblr media
Bottled water processing involves a series of steps to purify, filter, and package water for bottling and consumption. The process begins with sourcing water from natural springs, wells, or municipal supplies. It is then treated through methods like filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, or ozone treatment to eliminate impurities, bacteria, and contaminants. In some cases, minerals are reintroduced to enhance taste and nutritional value. Once processed, the water is bottled, sealed, and labeled for distribution. This ensures the water meets safety and quality standards before reaching consumers.
According to SPER market research, ‘Global Bottled Water Processing Market Size- By Type, By Packaging, By Technology - Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2033’ state that the Global Bottled Water Processing Market is predicted to reach 13.92 Billion by 2034 with a CAGR 5.78%.
Drivers:
Advancements in bottled water processing, particularly in dispensing technologies, are transforming the market by offering enhanced convenience, customization, and improved user experience, while ensuring sustainability. For example, Amcor introduced an innovative No-Label PET Bottle for Danone in Argentina, made entirely from recycled PET. This eco-friendly packaging reduces the carbon footprint compared to previous versions and eliminates traditional labels, which helps minimize contaminants in recycled resin. As environmental awareness grows, bottled water companies are adopting sustainable practices like eco-friendly packaging, recycling programs, and efforts to reduce carbon footprints. Consumer demand for environmentally responsible products is driving the shift toward sustainable practices in the industry.
Request a Free Sample Report: https://www.sperresearch.com/report-store/bottled-water-processing-market?sample=1
Restraints:
The presence of ultrashort-chain PFAS in bottled water poses significant challenges for the industry. These chemicals, used since the mid-20th century, have raised concerns due to contamination and potential health risks. Although common PFAS such as PFOS and PFOA have been phased out, substances like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and perfluoro-propionic acid (PFPrA) are still found in bottled water. Research indicates that "purified" waters tend to contain fewer PFAS than "spring" water. This issue may erode consumer confidence, leading to a shift toward alternative beverages or water sources. Furthermore, the absence of standardized PFAS testing exposes bottled water companies to reputational and regulatory risks. The Asia Pacific region leads the Bottled Water Processing Market and is anticipated to see significant growth in the coming years. Consumers in this region are progressively opting for eco-friendly products and supporting brands dedicated to sustainability. Some significant market players are Danone, Hongtek Filtration Co., Ltd., Lenntech B.V., Nestlé, PepsiCo, Suzhou Tongda Machinery Co., Ltd., The Coca-Cola Company, and others.
For More Information, refer to below link: –
Bottled Water Processing Market Outlook
Related Reports:
Vacation Rental Market Growth, Trends, Size, Analysis, Key Players, Demand and Future Outlook
THC Seltzers Market Size, Growth Drivers, Trends, Analysis, Revenue and Future Outlook
Follow Us – 
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Contact Us: 
Sara Lopes, Business Consultant — USA 
SPER Market Research 
+1–347–460–2899
0 notes
foodagriculturenews · 1 year ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Bottled Water Processing Market by Product Type (Still Water and Sparkling Water), Packaging Material, Technology (Ion Exchange & Demineralization, Disinfection, Filtration, and Packaging), Equipment and Region - Global Forecast to 2028
0 notes
rupalic · 10 months ago
Text
Bottled Water Processing Market: Size, Share, Industry Growth, and Trends Report
0 notes
gaylienz · 7 months ago
Photo
Tumblr media
The 7 R’s of Sustainability:
Did you know that ‘recycling’ is step 6 of the 7 Rs of sustainability? The other R’s are just as important even if they are often forgotten.
Rethink- Do I really need to buy this? The point of this step is to stop and think.
Refuse- Does this product damage the environment? If so, refuse to spend your money on it. i.e. single use plastics, harsh chemicals
Reduce- How much of this do I really need? Buy less! Buy in bulk when you can as it often equals less packaging to throw out.
Reuse- Can I use this product again? Can I fix what I have so that I don’t need to buy something new? Reuse that plastic water bottle a few times. And instead of buying new, try thrift shopping, flea markets, yard sales etc.
Repurpose- Unlimited creativity! Does this item have another use? i.e. old torn clothes can be rags or plastic cups can be planters.
Recycle- Can I recycle this? Not everything can be. There are also some important steps to making sure your recycling is done properly. If unsure, look up local recycling regulations.
Rot- Can I compost this? Food waste, yard clippings, newspapers and many other items can be composted instead of being tossed in the trash. Composting is surprisingly simple and helps reduce harmful greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere.
What is the point of the R’s? The number one benefit of the 7 R’s are the reduction of the amount of waste sent to incinerators and landfills. The EPA website provides a lot of useful information. Other benefits that we can reap from implementing these concepts in our life are (as listed on the EPA website): • Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials • Saves energy from not making a new product • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change • Helps sustain the environment and natural resources for future generations • Saves money from processing our waste • Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials • Helps create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States
https://www.northglenn.org/government/departments/public_works/trash/recycling.php https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101 https://www.epa.gov/recycle https://www.northglenn.org/Recycling%20Article.pdf
6K notes · View notes
foodandbeverages · 2 years ago
Text
Bottled Water Processing Equipment Market 2020 Key Methods, Historical Analysis, Application, Technology, Trends And Opportunities
The Bottled Water Processing Equipment Market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for packaged drinking water worldwide. Bottled water has become a preferred choice for consumers seeking convenience, purity, and portability. The rise in health consciousness, coupled with growing concerns over water quality, has further fueled the market’s expansion.
Rising issues related to water pollution as a result of hazardous waste disposal in water bodies coupled with the technological advances in bottled water processing equipment will drive the market.
Extensive restrictive measures set up by governments around the world to combat the global coronavirus outbreak are creating logistical challenges for the bottled water processing sector. While this is creating new bottlenecks in the sector, consumers continue to prefer stockpiling of essential commodities. This remains the key factor sustaining demand for bottled water even during the global COVID-19 crisis.
Stay ahead of the curve with our in-depth sample report on the Bottled Water Processing Equipment Market. Access key market insights and stay informed about emerging trends! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11433
The global bottled water processing market has been projected to reach a valuation of over US$ 392 Bn between 2019 and 2029, as indicated by a new Future Market Insights (FMI) report. Bottled water processing activities will remain strong amid the pandemic, as a lack of adequate clean drinking water continues to be a critical problem across several economies.
Key Takeaways of Bottled Water Processing Market Study
Sales of still water will continue to hold the lead for drinking water applications, while demand for sparkling water is witnessing a higher growth rate.
Demand for PET bottle packaging is set to remain significant owing to lower costs and durability.
Reverse osmosis applications will hold pole position, while ultrafiltration will gain ground as a lucrative application area during the forecast period.
Asia Pacific will hold a major share of the global bottled water processing market, driven by rapid population growth and extensive contamination of drinking water resources in the region.
“A key factor driving growth of the global bottled water processing market is the rising demand for high-quality water from consumers with health concerns during the pandemic. Further, attractive packaging and product launches offered by leading players are likely to aid growth in the market,” says the FMI analyst.
Bottled Water Processing Market – Key Growth Factors
High consumption of bottled water and tech advances in processing equipment are the primary factors sustaining growth through the forecast period.
Changes in government policies towards water resources drive the market growth through the forecast period.
Rising awareness among consumers on water and wastewater treatment procedures and the importance of essential resources support demand.
New flavored product launches for millennial consumer demographics will support the market growth through 2029.
Explore the full bottled water processing market report with 112 illustrative figures, 128 data tables, and table of contents.
Bottled Water Processing Market – Key Restraints
High capital requirements for the development of new production facilities hinder market growth.
Environmental concerns of associated with the production of bottled water, and pollution from plastic bottle waste is having a negative impact on the market.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Bottled Water Processing Market
While the COVID-19 virus continues to spread rapidly, the global demand for bottled water is anticipated to stay high. In addition, the growth in demand is also supported by government initiatives to provide populations in remote locations with essential commodities under the lockdown period. The outbreak is expected to generate bottlenecks owing to supply chain disruptions.
The demand for bottled water is unlikely to go down during the pandemic, sustaining sales in the market. Stockpiling activities by consumers would create temporary shortages of bottled water but creating lucrative opportunities in the near future.
Competitive Landscape of Bottled Water Processing Market
Some of the major companies profiled in this FMI report include but are not limited to, Axeon Water Technologies, Pall Corporation, NorlandInternational Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Seychelles Environmental Technologies Inc., Velocity Equipment Solutions Inc., General Electric, and Liquid Packaging Solutions Inc. Players in bottled water processing market are leveraging consumer concerns about chemical pollutants, and the lack of legislation for the protection of safe drinking water around the world.
BOTTLED WATER PROCESSING EQUIPMENT MARKET TAXONOMY
The global Bottled Water Processing market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present complete market intelligence to readers.
Equipment
Filter
Bottle washer
Filler & capper
Blow molder
Shrink wrapper
Technology
RO
UF
MF
Chlorination
Washing
Filling
Application
Flavored water
Mineral water
Still water
Spring water
Information Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/bottled-water-processing-market
0 notes
magic-shop-stories · 3 months ago
Note
Hiii!!! Could I request Namjoon x f!reader boyfriend head-canons like how you did the Yoongi ones?? Also, preferably with a reader who’s American? But you can totally do whatever!!! Ty!!!
💌 Reply:
I really wanted to write this for all the members, so thank you for requesting it... I hope it's what you wanted, tho I struggled a lot this time, I didnt want it to be too much like Yoongis but I think they wouldn't be THAT different in some points so idk... hope you'll enjoy reading xo - c -
BOYFRIEND HEADCANONS
↳ NAMJOON (RM) × FEM!READER
~ CONTENT WARNING FOR SECOND PART OF THE POST ~ MATURE THEMES | (extra warning in the post)
Possessive behavior
Suggestive themes
Mild NSFW references (kissing, intimacy)
Jealousy Proceed mindfully!
Tumblr media
DAILY RHYTHM
Mornings
Early Riser
Slow Starter
awake by 6:30 AM
not by choice
his brain won’t shut off
you find him sprawled on the couch
hair mussed
he's scribbling poetry in a moleskine
glasses slide down his nose
he mutters
“Do you think Thoreau would’ve liked Spotify playlists?”
Coffee Catastrophe
brews matcha lattes
spills half the whisked foam trying to carry it to you
“It’s… abstract art,” 
wiping green splatters off the counter
leaves a sticky note: 
“Compensation latte en route. Don’t judge me.”
Breakfast Buffet
creates a fusion spread:
avocado toast with gochujang drizzle strawberry Pop-Tarts, sliced persimmons
“It’s a metaphor,”  “Sweet, spicy, existential.”
Post-Wakeup Rituals
Study Sessions
his “studio” is a sunlit corner cluttered with art books, bonsai clippings, and a half-built LEGO Guggenheim
you perch on the arm of his chair
he pulls you into his lap without looking up from his sketchpad
“Your elbow’s on my Hegel annotations,”
grumbles, but lets you stay
Tug-of-War
if you try to leave, he hooks a finger in your belt loop
“Wait; listen to this haiku about cicadas.” 
recites it solemnly
“…It’s about us. Maybe.”
Clumsy Affection
reaches for a high-five
misses, and accidentally knocks over his succulent
“This is why we can’t have nice things,” 
you sigh
he repots it with dirt-smudged hands
“Imperfection is art. Like us.”
Midday Moments
Park Philosopher
drags you to Han River
rambling about “the duality of ducks” 
tossing breadcrumbs grain kernels
you nap under a tree
he sketches you with a pocket watercolor set
“You’re my Starry Night...” 
later showing you a blotchy but earnest portrait
Language Exchange
you teach him your slang
“Yeet is a verb, noun, and lifestyle”
he corrects your Korean tones
"Saranghae isn’t a whisper, it’s a promise...” 
voice low enough to make you drop your iced coffee
Nighttime Nuances
Pre-Bed Brain Dump
reads Walden aloud until 1 AM
pausing to rant about capitalism
“Thoreau was a hypocrite but right... wait, did you just snore?”
Sleeping Style
starfishes across 75% of the bed
one arm slung over your waist
“You’re my… multiverse…” 
snores lightly
you kick his shin = he rolls over
taking the sheets hostage
Tumblr media
KEY DIALOGUE
when you nag him to hydrate:
“You’re worse than my ARMY Bomb manual.” 
sighs
handing you a reusable water bottle
catch him nodding off mid-lecture about climate change:
“I’m not… tired. I’m processing.”
mumbles, glasses askew
then faceplanting into his copy of Braiding Sweetgrass
his version of “I miss you”:
“Your absence disrupts my entropy.” 
translates to: “Come cuddle before I combust.”
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
COMMUNICATION
TEXTING STYLE
7 AM: screenshot of the sunrise
“Thoreau was right. Also, buy almond milk.”
3 PM: voice note of him beatboxing over a Langston Hughes poem
caption: “New mixtape: Existential Crisis & Chill.”
Midnight: 
“The moon’s waxing gibbous. Come stargaze. P.S. I made hot chocolate...”
Notes
scribbles Whitman quotes on museum tickets
leaves one in your coat: 
“We were together. I forget the rest... Or I won’t.”
finds your grocery list
adds “Admiration (1 lifetime supply)” at the bottom
PET NAMES
Public:
“Professor” 
when you out-debate him
“Okay, Professor, explain TikTok to me again.”
“Sunflower” at the farmer’s market
“Because you’re tall, bright, and… rooted.” 
blushes at his own metaphor
Private:
“내 작은 폭풍” (My little storm) 
when you’re angry
“Your rage is… awe-inspiring. Also, please stop throwing socks.” “Moonchild” 
whispered during late-night drives
“You glow even when the world’s dark.”
CURSING
Worried Curses
you come home late?
he’s pacing
wearing mismatched socks
“씨발… I Googled ‘American urban crime rates’ and now you’re here?!” 
crushes you in a hug
“Never do that again. Unless… it’s for tacos.”
sees you struggling with IKEA instructions
“젠장, capitalism wins again.” 
builds the shelf upside-down but insists it’s “postmodern.”
Flustered Curses
wear that dress
he knocks over his bonsai
“…God.” 
avoids eye contact
“It’s not fair. You’re a distraction.”
MUTTERINGS (UNFILTERED & UNBOTTLED)
Annoyed Affection
“Why are you so… effortlessly disruptive?” 
when you reorganize his bookshelves by color
“This is chaos. Beautiful chaos.”
steal his fries
he gasps
“This is why empires fall.” 
slides the plate closer to you
Sleep-Soft Confessions
half-asleep, nuzzling your neck
“Your thoughts taste like honey.” 
next morning: 
“Did I say that out loud? Pretend I didn’t.”
after nightmares: 
“Stay. Please. You’re my… sine qua non.”
doesn’t explain it
doesn’t need to
Tumblr media
HIDDEN POETRY (FOR YOUR EARS ONLY)
Lyric Leaks
overhear him humming a melody while washing dishes
later, find a note: 
“Your voice in the morning... key of G, tempo adagio.”
Satoori Slips
stress unlocks rural roots
after a long day, he sighs:
“나 죽겠다… (I’m dying…) But your smile is CPR.”
Artistic Vulnerability
leaves a watercolor of your hands in his studio
caption: “These built my universe.”
Tumblr media Tumblr media
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER
Overprotective Tendencies
mention a creepy DM?
next day, he gifts you a leather-bound journal titled “Digital Detox: A Poet’s Guide to Privacy.” 
inside, he’s handwritten firewall tips in calligraphy
“Knowledge is armor. Also, I enabled two-factor authentication.”
Passive-Aggressive Love
complain about slow Wi-Fi?
builds a DIY bookshelf router
cites its design in a TED Talk
“It’s a metaphor… for connection.”
Services
you’re sick?
attempts chicken noodle soup but confuses cumin with cinnamon
“It’s… experimental fusion cuisine.” 
orders pho instead and blames the app
“The algorithm chose this. Don’t hate me.”
Jetlag Rescue
after your flight from the U.S., he stocks the fridge with Dr Pepper and kale smoothies
“Balanced electrolytes… or something.”
VULNERABLE MOMENTS (PHILOSOPHER’S EDITION)
When You’re Hurt
sees you crying over homesickness
recites Mary Oliver until you’re laughing through tears
“You don’t have to be good… but you do have to let me hug you.”
Post-Fight Peace Offering
leaves a dog-eared copy of “The Alchemist” on your pillow
highlighted line: 
“Wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”  sticky note: “You’re my treasure. Even when you’re mad.”
Drunk Truths
tipsy on soju
traces the outline of your face
“Your smile… it’s like a haiku. Simple. Perfect. Destroys me.”
ask him to explain
"Just… let me live here.”
UNEXPECTED SOFTNESS
Period Protocol
tracks your cycle via moon phases
“Lunar energy affects us all.” 
leaves dark chocolate and a hot water bottle shaped like Totoro
“Science and Studio Ghibli. Optimal healing.”
Bad Day Rituals
finds you crying over burnt cookies
bakes a “deconstructed s’more” (graham crackers, Hershey’s, lighter)
“It’s abstract. Like Rothko.”
Cultural Comforts
wears your college hoodie for a week (way too small)
“It smells like you. And… ranch dressing?” 
secretly buys a duplicate to avoid giving it back
FIERCE LOVE
Defending Your Honor
Karen mocks your Korean accent?
steps in, voice calm but firm
“Language is a living art. Hers is a masterpiece.” 
later, he rage-paints a canvas
titled “Ignorance in Primary Colors.”
Sacrifices
attends a crowded frat party to meet your friends
smiles through “Beer Pong 101” 
quoting Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify… but this is hell.”
UNEXPECTED VULNERABILITY
Period Protocol
leaves a care package:
organic tea, a heated blanket, and a handwritten “Period Playlist” (featuring Mitski and BTS’s “Zero O’Clock”)
“Pain is temporary. My love? Thermodynamically infinite.”
Bad Day Rituals
finds you crying over a failed work project?
recites “Still I Rise” while kneading your shoulders
“You’re Maya Angelou in Prada. Now let’s rise… to order takeout.”
COLD FRONT
Silent Treatment
hurt?
he buries himself in Nietzsche
texts: “When you stare into the abyss… it’s just me waiting for you to apologize.”
Playful Insults Gone Wrong
jokes about his “dad sneakers.” 
buys neon Yeezys and wears them to a museum
“Aesthetic rebellion. Now suffer with me.”
NEGLECTED NIGHTS
Overwork Blinders
disappears for days writing his mixtape
returns with a bonsai tree 
“It’s a metaphor. Needs patience… like us.”
Breaking Point:
unplug his laptop mid-session
he fumes: “Art isn’t a hobby...it’s my lungs!” 
returns at dawn with a handwritten poem: 
“Apologies in iambic pentameter. Forgive me?”
Tumblr media
GIFTS
Philosophical Pampering
gifts you a first-edition copy of "Leaves of Grass" with annotations in the margins
“Page 32; Whitman’s wrong. You’re the answer to the universe.”
Eco-Warrior Love
buys noise-canceling headphones made from recycled ocean plastic
“Now you can ignore the world and save it.”
PRETENDS TO HATE SHOPPING (BUT LOVES BOOKSTORES)
Reluctant Mule
drag him to a flea market
complains about “consumerist dystopias” 
but buys a vintage globe to “track our future travels”
carries your tote bag like a badge of honor
“This is not a metaphor. My arms hurt.”
Secret Splurges
catches you eyeing a $500 art print of Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Black Iris”
returns with a bootleg version he painted himself
“Mine’s better. It has… soul.”
Fashion Critic (Liar)
try on a prairie dress
“You look like a Laura Ingalls Wilder reboot.” 
later orders it
Tumblr media
HATES WHEN YOU GET DRUNK
(BUT LOVES YOUR HONESTY)
Philosophical Guardian
finds you tipsy at a party
debating “the existential merit of TikTok” with Jungkook
sweeps you over his shoulder
quoting Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify… starting with your liquor intake.”
Morning-After Mercies
wakes you with avocado toast and a "matcha IV drip"
“Electrolytes and antioxidants. Also, I Googled hangover cures in MLA format.”
Secret Worry
texts your college bestie and Jungkook: 
“Keep her at 2 margaritas. Third one turns her into a teen.”
MARRIAGE (POETIC AMBUSH)
Fight
he skips a wedding expo
call him a “commitment-phobe”
snaps: “Marriage is a capitalist construct!” 
you retaliate: “Then why’d you bookmark eco-friendly ring blogs?!”
Ring
minimalist band
engraved with coordinates to the Han River bench where he first said “I love you”
hides it in his Walden copy
find it mid-rant about “transcendentalist proposals”
Proposal
after a fight about his workaholism
projects a poem onto your apartment wall: 
“Forever is a fractal. Let’s get lost in the pattern.” 
“Marry me. Or let’s debate it over kombucha.”
Tumblr media Tumblr media
FATHERHOOD
(THE GREAT PHILOSOPHICAL CRISIS)
Panic
mention kids?
he freezes, spilling matcha on his “I Heart NY” shirt
“…We killed a cactus. A cactus.” 
buys a fern named “Baby Freud”
it thrives
he's trying extra hard (bc he secretly really really really wants to)
Test Run
volunteers at an orphanage to read “The Little Prince”
returns with a kid’s crayon drawing
titled “Namjoon Hyung is Weird”
frames it
“Art is truth.”
Revelation
catches you watching a video of him teaching ARMYs to recycle
a toddler comments: “He’s pretty… for a teacher.” 
he mutes it, cheeks pink
“…She’s not wrong.”
ARGUMENTS & FEARS
Fight
you suggest naming your son “Thoreau”
chokes on his kimchi
“We’re not naming a human after a guy who hated people!” 
compromises with “Jun”
“It means truth. And I picked it.”
Fear
finds him researching “How to Raise a Feminist Son” at 3 AM
slams the laptop
“…But what if I’m worse? What if I lecture him about Hegel?”
THE ARRIVAL
Pregnancy
reads “The Giving Tree” to your belly every night
records the kicks as a lo-fi beat titled “Kicks of Hope”.
Birth Day
holds your hand while reciting Rumi
passes out when the doctor says “push”
wakes up sobbing
“You’re my supernova.”
First Night Home
swaddles your daughter in a BTS-themed blanket
texts the group chat:
“She has her eyes. And my inability to shut up.” 
sends a voice memo of her coos over a Miles Davis sample
~ CONTENT WARNING ~
MINORS DNI | NSFW | SPICY INTIMACY/PHYSICALITY AHEAD
contains: possessive themes, sensual language, suggestive scenarios, jealousy, explicit intimacy/kissing,suggestive content, kink mentions (marking, power dynamics), body worship
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
PHYSICALITY & ARTISTIC AFFECTION
Protective Poise
Public Gestures
his hands are gentle but intentional
but they linger
thumb brushing the nape of your neck 
palm resting on the small of your back at gallery openings
fingers brushing yours as he passes you a book
palm sliding possessively down your spine
whisper: “That Picasso? Overrated. You’re the masterpiece.”
he’s less restrained at home
pulls you into impromptu slow dances in the kitchen
humming off-key to “Trivia: Love” while swaying
pins you against his bookshelf, philosophy tomes digging into your back
“Tell me I’m wrong."
lips grazing your earlobe: "Tell me Rothko’s red isn’t the same shade as your mouth.”
Clumsy Cuddles
tries to lift you for a spin
trips over the rug, and lands you both on the couch/bed
“Gravity’s a social construct anyway.” 
cheeks pink
instead of apologizing, he hovers above you
glasses askew
“Fate intervened. Now...”
Intellectual Rivalry (Jealousy, Joon-Style)
overhears a philosophy major flirting with you at a café
interrupts with a “casual” debate on Kant’s ethics
later, buys you first-edition Thoreau
“Just thought you’d appreciate… deeper conversations.”
Subtle Flex
shows up to your work event in a tailored suit
glasses perched low
“Oh, this old thing? Just felt like… elevating the dress code.”
Tumblr media
CONTEMPLATIVE GAZES
Staring (But Make It Deep)
watches you sketch in the park
eyes tracking the way your brow furrows
“Your creativity… it’s like watching a storm form.”  “That’s your third metaphor today.”  he grins “I’m just getting started.”
Staring (But Make It Dangerous)
watches you slip into his oversized Harvard hoodie
eyes darkening as the fabric drapes off one shoulder
rasps: “You’re… violating the dress code.” then closes his laptop: “And I’m failing to care.”
Late-Night Honesty
post-museum date, he traces the curve of your collarbone with a pen cap 
“Your body’s a gallery. Every scar, every freckle... curated perfection.” 
kisses your shoulder
loosens his tie
voice a velvet rumble
“That dress should be illegal. You should be illegal.” traces the strap of your lingerie: "Sylvia Plath wrote about this, didn’t she? I am, I am, I am… yours.”
SECRETLY LOVES YOUR CONFIDENCE (BUT WILL WRITE A SONNET ABOUT IT)
Artful Admiration
Backhanded Praise
wear a bold, avant-garde outfit?
“You’re… a walking Dadaist exhibit.” 
later sketches you in charcoal
captioning it “Chaos Theory: Personified.”
wear a leather trench coat to his speech?
“You’re deconstructing the male gaze. Literally.”
sketches you, nude
Possessive Glances
spots a stranger eyeing you at a poetry slam
slides his arm around your waist
loudly debating “the hegemony of Western canon” until they flee
Possessive Academia
grad student flirts with you at a library?
he accidentally knocks over a stack of Derrida books
pulls you into a secluded aisle
“Let me… re-shelve your priorities.”
Tumblr media Tumblr media
BEDROOM PHILOSOPHY
Foreplay (But Make It Existential)
reads Foucault aloud
voice dipping lower with every page
“Power is knowledge… and I know what you’re thinking.” 
slides his glasses off, eyes locked on yours
“Prove me wrong.”
prefers lights dim
Miles Davis on vinyl
whisper-reads Rilke as you straddle his lap
“Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.” 
hands grip your hips
“Still… focus, okay?”
Aftercare
braids your hair while dissecting the symbolism in “The Great Gatsby.” 
“Daisy’s voice is full of money… but yours? Full of… everything.”
TOUCH
Electric Prelude
hands speak in sonnets
calloused fingertips skimming your jawline
like a quill drafting verses
thumb brushing your bottom lip as if memorizing its shape for a poem
maps your skin like a cartographer charting undiscovered terrain
lingering at pulse points (wrist, throat, inner thigh) to sync his heartbeat with yours
“Your body’s a library,” “Let me… read you.”
Possessive Anchors
palm splayed against your lower back
pressing you closer until his chest meets yours
fingers tangled in your hair
tugging just enough to tilt your head for a kiss that starts as a whisper and ends as a manifesto
“You’re my magnum opus...”
breathes heavy, lips grazing your earlobe
“And I’m… revising.”
Aftercare Rituals
post-passion, he traces constellations on your hip with a philosopher’s precision
touch lingers on scars, birthmarks, the curve of your waist
pulls you into his chest
reciting Whitman into your hair
“We were together… I forget the rest.”
Tumblr media
KISSES
Slow Ignition
starts with closed-mouth presses to your temple, knuckles, the corner of your lips
testing, teasing
when you gasp, he smirks
nipping your lower lip
“Impatient. Inelegant. Perfect.”
he's deep but controlled
Hidden Softness
after fights, his kisses are apologetic
chaste pecks to your eyelids, nose, scars on your knee/elbows
“Sorry… sorry…” - breathed like a prayer
leaves a haiku on your pillow: 
“Pride is a shadow / Your warmth is the sun / Forgive me.”
PACE
Deliberate Crescendo
prefers slow, maddening build-up
undresses you like unwrapping a first-edition novel
mouth exploring every chapter
= collarbones, ribs, the dip of your hips
taking forever before letting you fall apart
“You’ll take what I give you.” 
warns you at every whimper
eyes dark
“And I’ll give you… everything.”
Feral Surges
when jealousy strikes, he’s relentless
pins you against his studio wall
biting your shoulder as his hands roam
“Mine. Say it.” 
you whimper? he gentens
forehead pressed to yours
“Say it… please.”
POSITIONS
Scholar’s Missionary
your legs hooked over his shoulders
hands gripping the headboard for leverage
“Don’t hide,” he orders
he's watching your face unravel
“Let me… study you.”
Cowgirl Command (aka you're his "pro rider")
lets you take control
hands squeezing your hips
“Show me what you need.” 
the moment you falter, he flips you
"Thought so"
PREFERENCES
Lighting
pitch dark or very dim lights
pages of his journal scattered like rose petals
claims he “hates getting interrupted”
Soundtrack
your whimpers = his name gasped like a curse
demands “Louder,” 
then covers your mouth or lightly choked you
“Too loud. Save it for the encore.”
Kinks
Marking
leaves metaphorical bruises
"ink stains" on your inner thigh
“So you remember… I’m your muse.”
Power Play
lets you “bind” him with his own tie
then breaks free
"You really think you can handle me?"
ROUNDS
Quality > Quantity tho if you beg him for more he won't ever stop until you beg fot the opposite
Dawn Encores wakes you with his mouth between your thighs
voice sleep-rough
"You moan in your sleep baby..."
FAVORITE SPOTS
Neck-to-Shoulder Junction bites here to hear you yelp
soothes it with his lips and gentle kisses
“You taste like… victory.”
Behind Your Ear whispers filth in Korean
grinning when you shiver and even wider when you don't understand
Inner Wrists kisses your veins like they’re holy
“Every heartbeat’s… because of me.”
Tumblr media Tumblr media
TRIGGERS
Begging
“Please, Joon...” 
he cuts you off with a snarl
“Not yet. Earn it.”
Competence
take charge!
ride him ruthlessly
he lets you
until he can't hold himelf back anymore
“Fuck… okay.” 
flips you mid-stride
then tales you from behind
Vulnerability
tears during aftercare?
crushes you to his chest
voice breaking
“I’ve got you. Always. I'm sorry - tell me what you need honey.”
295 notes · View notes
swivi · 7 months ago
Text
Kinich with a sick S/o
●Kinich is the type to find out your sick before you do.
● Kinich is the type to head out to get medications for you before you wake up and prepare a meal for you.
●Ajaw mocked him for overreacting over you having a small cold, only to get put in time outfor the 10000+ time.
●Ajaw complained the entire time Kinich went out early looking for medicine and herbs to give you.
●If you refuse to take the medicine or complain, he would try to bribe you.
●If you still refuse he would sigh, pinching your nose before forcing the spoonful of medicine into your mouth. Ignoring your whines of protest.
●Ajaw mocked you the entire time, calling you a oversized baby.
●New nickname unlocked: Kinich's dramatic baby. Loved the look of annoyance on Kinich's face when he called you that.
●Forced you to stay into bed especially if you like overworking yourself.
●Kinich would take time off his commissions to make sure you don't sneak out sick or do something stupid.
●Kinich is the type to carry back books and small gifts in hopes of it making you feel better.
The morning had came by quickly in your shared bedroom as you squirmed in the bed, reaching out to Kinich for comfort from the cold feeling that seemed to wrap around you. It was like a cold bucket of water was dunked over you as you felt around the bed for Kinich. Only to find the spot empty, your eyes slowly cracked open, adjusting to being open and as you thought..the side of his bed was empty.
You felt cold as chills ran down your body, yet before you could get up. The door opened, the lights of your bedroom turning on, almost blinding you in the process. Your eyes had opened again, fighting to adjust to the light in your room. There Kinich stood, Ajaw was no where to be found. You couldn't help but smile, knowing me probably put him in time out again. Your eyes trailed down seeing the tray in his hand as Kinich stood infront of you. He slowly placed the tray down on the table, that consisting of a bowl of porridge and a glass of water before moving to check your temperature. Placing his hand on your forehead. As expected, you had a fever as he sighed, sitting beside you.
After some convincing he had gotten the oppurtunity to feed you as he silently spoon fed you the porridge. You felt like a child at that point and as if your embarassment wasn't enough, Ajaw had gotten out of time out. The sound of him appearing reached your ears. Kinich had ignored him, focused on feeding you but Ajaw, the moment he saw what was happening, all hell broke loose.
"Oh, look at you..feeding them like their some two year old toddler...pathetic and over a small cold too?" Ajaw went on, amused by the sigh of weakness as he mocked you both. You could feel your face heat up even more from embarassment and the fever as Kinich fed you the last bit of porridge. Handing you the glass of water with a small sigh, as he turned to Ajaw.
"Will you shut it?" Kinich seemed unamused at his mocking words as took out a small bottle of cold medicine he had bought from the market and just like that...your guard was up yet again. Kinich studying your expression sighed as he filled a clean spoon with the medicine, holding it out to you. As expected, you turned away. Dodging it like it was a bullet as you closed your mouth stubbornly. Kinich sighed, trying to feed you again as Ajaw watched with a scoff.
"Aww..look at Kinich's dramatic baby, can't even handle drinking medicine. Can you be anymore pathetic?" Ajaw's voiced reached your ears again and Kinich frowned. He had turned to Ajaw tired of him and in a bold move, he forced the spoonful of medicine into the pixel dragons mouth. Ajaw choked, not expecting it as the bitter taste reached him. His body turning red and orange as he glitched around yelling insults at Kinich.
"WWKERSJ, HOW DARE YOU FEED THE ALMIGHTY K'UHUL AJAW THAT ATROCITY!" His voice rang out, disgust present on his face as he went to complain more, only to be flicked away into time out by a calm Kinich.
The room went silent as you stared over the side where Ajaw was. His disgusted face at tasting the medicine making you laugh before wincing at your sore throat. Kinich seeing that sighed as he turned back to you.
"See? It's safe, now take the medicine..your gonna get worse if you don't." He seemed calm, acting as if he didn't just shove a spoonful of cold medicine down the pixel dragons mouth. You didn't even think that was possible. Thinking of it made you shudder as you agreed. Reluctantly waiting as Kinich grabbed another spoon, pouring more of the medicine in it. You took it this time, not wanting to face his wrath and as expected it was bitter as you held back the urge to spit it out.
A few hours had passed after and you had started feeling better or so you told yourself. Wanting to go out to work, only to get denied as Kinich ignored your protests and whined of being side and wanting to go out...yep today was gonna be a long day.
Along the way seeing how bored and annoyed you were at staying home, Kinich had went out to get some gifts and books for you when you were sleeping. Placing them beside you, so that when you woke up, you would have something more to entertain you.
Side note~
strangely, a certain pixelated dragon hadn't came out of time out even after he was given freedom...Guess the medicine traumatized him, even if he didn't wanna admit it.
(Be warned I'm still sick, yes I've been sick since October and after like 2 weeks of recovering from my last cold, I got slapped in the face with a flu. So sorry if there is any mistakes or wrong writing. I did this while waiting at the hospital..well I still am here.)
263 notes · View notes
sjsmith56 · 1 year ago
Text
Tumblr media
Cold Hearted
Summary: AU one shot. A marriage of convenience between the son and daughter of two CEOS to benefit their companies leads to a friendship between the couple, then more.
Length: 6.7 K
Characters: Bucky Barnes, unnamed and undescribed female character. She is occasionally referred to as “Sweetheart” or “Pretty girl.”
Warnings: unresolved emotional trauma, Bucky is a bit of a party boy at first, loneliness, unrequited love, feelings of worthlessness and betrayal.
Author notes: There’s some angst in this but it’s part of the growth process for the couple as they learn to trust and rely on each other.
🥂 🏥 🐚
It was just a business deal according to my father. I marry the son of his biggest competitor and they signed an agreement to split the market between them. It sounded like something a mob boss would ask of their daughter, but my father wasn't in the mob, at least not so far as I knew. He was the CEO of a billion-dollar company, just like the competitor was and both of them had spent almost two years fighting to corner the market for a stupid product that would be outdated in a year, two at the most. Then someone, a VP or maybe my father's mistress (same person) suggested a marriage of convenience. After all, you wouldn't screw over family. So, here I was, standing in a church next to a total stranger, both of us facing the minister as he droned on and on about the sanctity of marriage.
We each said I do, when it was asked of us, then put a ring on each other's left hand, while not once making eye contact. When it was time to kiss, he looked at me then and kissed me hurriedly on my cheek; his blue eyes looking quickly away as if I was something unexpected. We signed the register, were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. James Barnes, then he offered me his arm and we stepped down the aisle towards the open doors at the end of the church. All I had to do was pull away from him, sprint through the doors, hail a cab and I could run away. But I didn't. I took the long walk, stood in the receiving line, shook hands with my father and my new father-in-law's business colleagues then was told it was time to leave. My husband offered me his hand, led me out the doors, past the people throwing rose petals at us and into the limousine. Our wedding party piled into the second vehicle. At least it was quiet in there and as it pulled away; he looked behind us then let out a breath of air, seemingly glad that was over with.
"You thirsty?" he asked. "I think there's water in the mini fridge."
Without waiting for an answer, he opened it, took out two bottles and uncapped one, offering it to me before he opened his, draining half of it almost immediately. I sipped mine several times, then placed the cap back on.
"What did you father offer you to do this?" he asked.
I looked at him. "Nothing, just said I better do it if I wanted to still be part of the family and get my inheritance."
He frowned. "That's cold. My dad offered me $10 million. I talked him up to 25."
I looked out the window. Swell. My husband had to be paid to marry me.
"Sorry," he murmured. "I guess that sounds crass. You seem nice but I'm not the faithful type. I like my freedom."
I looked at him. He was a handsome man and in real life would never look at someone like me. He was all nightclubs, parties, exotic vacations and I was a quiet, shy wallflower, who had only ever had a handful of boyfriends. At least he was honest, if telling me he wasn't the faithful type meant he was probably going to cheat on me.
"James, you know the contract stipulates grandchildren, at least two."
"I know. I thought we could use IVF. I wouldn't expect you to sleep with me." He was quiet for a moment. "Call me Bucky. It's my nickname. James is what my father calls me when he's about to chew me out about my lifestyle."
"Okay. So, we'll have separate bedrooms?" He nodded.
"If you want but I won't bring anyone home," he said. "I wouldn't embarrass you like that and I'll be as discreet as I can." He frowned. "Your dad say anything about the divorce agreement in two years?"
I looked at him. "No, what divorce agreement?"
"You get $100 million as a settlement plus a house and a car, child support. I saw the papers and you signed it."
My mind went blank for a moment. There were so many documents that I signed when this was proposed, and I just put my signature where the lawyer said. Why wouldn't they make it known I had a divorce agreement?
"I can ask my lawyer, if you wish," he said. "I mean, you are my wife now, and your wellbeing is my concern. I'm not a complete cold-hearted asshole."
I smiled at him, and he squeezed my hand then he drank some more of his water. We pulled up to the reception venue and waited for the driver to open the door. Bucky got out, then offered me his hand to get out. There were several flashes from the paparazzi, as Bucky was well known in certain social circles, then we hurried inside and made our way to a private lounge for our formal wedding pictures. As the pictures of me and my attendants were being taken, I noticed Bucky talking animatedly with a man. He seemed bothered at what the man was explaining then when he was called for our pictures he turned to him.
"Get it done," he said. "It's not fair and I'll expose the whole thing right now if it isn't fixed."
He smiled at me as he approached, then stood where the photographer told him, right behind me. As the photographer directed the others into position he leaned towards my ear and spoke in a low voice.
"My lawyer said you signed over the proceeds of the divorce agreement to your father. I told him that was false, as you didn't even know about the agreement. If they don't fix it, we'll get an annulment and he'll get nothing. Since I already got paid by my dad, I'll give you half. It's only fair." My mouth was open, and he placed his hand under my chin, closing it, as he grinned. "I told you, I'm not an asshole, well, at least not to those who are my friends."
My smile during the photographs was genuine. It had been a long time since I had anyone that stood up for me; certainly not my parents or any of my siblings. My grandmother, before she died, was the last person who ever advocated for me, and I had forgotten how good it felt to have someone in my corner. When the pictures were done, Bucky went over to a table filled with liquor bottles and poured out shots for everyone. I looked at him dubiously, as I wasn't much of a drinker.
"Come on, it's your wedding day," he smiled. "Open your mouth, pour it in and swallow."
I did as he said, feeling it burn down my throat. He laughed then did his own shot, before pouring another. With his encouragement I drank that one, then another before the wedding planner came in to say we had to make our entrance. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me out the door and waited for the rest of the wedding party to go in as they were introduced. Then it was our turn and he looked at me, then smiled.
"You ready, Mrs. Barnes?"
I nodded and we danced our way into the reception room, as the guests clapped in time to the music. As we passed my family's table, I noticed my father was glaring at me. Bucky noticed too and leaned in close to me.
"Kiss me," he said. "Let your dad know that we're fucking with him."
"He'll be angry," I answered.
"So? Let him. He's arranged this so that only he benefits from this marriage. You deserve a piece of the action."
He twirled me around until our lips were just inches apart, then with an almost evil grin, he kissed me, and I kissed him back. As the guests hooted and hollered, we gave them a good show, then he stood up and pumped his fist in time to the bass beat in the song. I looked at my dad again and he was livid. Before the wedding, I would have been terrified of my dad being like this but maybe the three shots, the kiss, and the encouragement of my fake husband changed something because I suddenly didn't care what my father thought. Pumping my fist and jumping in time to the music I joined Bucky as we continued our entry dance around the room, before finally collapsing into our seats at the head table. He pushed my water glass to me, while he drank his then leaned close to me again.
"The trick to partying is to stay hydrated," he said. "Always drink water when you drink alcohol. It takes care of the hangover as well."
The evening went way too fast as we ate, drank, danced our first dance (Perfect by Ed Sheeran), then cut the cake, threw the garter and the bouquet. Every time my father tried to come over to me, Bucky whisked me away to dance or to meet some of his friends. When it was time for us to make our getaway, he picked me up, threw me over his shoulder and carried me out to the limousine, making me laugh. As soon as we got inside, he told the driver where to take us, then took my hand and kissed it. If I hadn't known better, I would swear that this was a man that really loved me. By the time we got to the hotel, I was quiet again, realizing that everything that Bucky did that night was a lie. It was fun but it was still a lie.
We checked in, went up to the hotel room, where our bags had already been dropped off, and Bucky tipped the bell boy before locking the door. Then he sat on a couch and patted the seat beside him. I didn't come over right away and he looked at me with puppy dog eyes, so I sat next to him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Are you always this good of an actor? You had me believing for a moment that you ... that we were real."
"We are legally married," he answered. "I wasn't acting. I had a good time tonight. At first, I thought you were kind of a stick in the mud, but I realized that you just haven't really lived. You've been kept on a pretty short leash by your family, haven't you?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" I sighed. "I don't like confrontation and I tend to let people have their way."
He nodded his head. "Like me. I'm sorry. I was just trying to get you to have a good time. You did have a good time, right?" Bucky was right about that as I did have a good time. I nodded. "Look, if there is anything good to come out of this arrangement one of them will be you allowing yourself to have fun. No matter what happens, I kind of like you, so if we become friends from this, I'll be very happy. Finally, getting you what is due to you is the top priority. I'm not going to let your father cheat you out of what was negotiated."
I smiled at him, then bent over and undid my shoes, slipping them off. Bucky gestured to his lap, and I changed positions, so my feet lay on top of his legs. Gently, he took one foot in his hands and began to massage it. I groaned and made a face as he hit every spot that was sore, making it feel so much better. When he was finished with that, he did the other foot. When I withdrew my feet from his hands, he got up and went to the bathroom, coming out drying his hands on a towel.
"I've drawn you a bath," he said. "Take your time, play your favourite playlist and I'll get set up out here."
"I thought ...." I looked at him, puzzled.
"What kind of husband would I be if I abandoned you on our wedding night? We won't have sex, but we can sleep in the same bed. I'm tired and it's been a long day."
Opening my bag, I took out my toiletries and pyjamas. He grinned at the pink elephants on them, then showed me his pyjama bottoms, with cookies on them. I chuckled, then went to the bathroom and closed the door. When I came out half an hour later, Bucky was changed into his bottoms and a plain white T-shirt, there was soft music playing and a bottle of champagne was open. On top of the bed was a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. Patting the space next to him, he offered me a hand as I crawled on, then poured me a glass of champagne. Holding our glasses up he made a toast.
"Here's to having a good time together, not a long time," he said. "Hopefully, we come out of this as friends because good friends are rare, and you can never have enough good friends."
We sipped the champagne, then he held a strawberry for me as I bit into it, before popping the rest of it in his mouth with a cheeky grin. For an hour we talked about ourselves, growing up in families that were focused on business more than anything else. I learned that Bucky lost his mother at a young age when she died of cancer. He went to boarding school, which he admitted could have made him bitter, but he formed some deep friendships and found some adults to have a meaningful substitute parent relationship with. His college years were spent mostly partying, but he did enough work to get his degree in finance and understood enough about business to agree that this marriage arrangement would keep both of our father's companies from inflicting fatal blows on each other. As I told him about being the quiet child in the family who seemed to always be ignored and forgotten when decisions were made, he frowned and held my hand, kissing it from time to time.
It was easy to talk to him and I cried a little that night. But he comforted me and when my yawns started coming more, he insisted I get under the covers. We curled up and faced each other in the dark. Before I closed my eyes he whispered.
"Sleep tight, pretty girl."
No one had ever called me pretty before.
For the next month, Bucky was pretty attentive. My father finally succeeded in cornering me to ask what the hell I was trying to do by bringing up the divorce agreement. Maybe being so much in Bucky's presence had rubbed off on me because I asked him why the lawyer thought I signed the money over to him. He grabbed my wrist and began to twist it when my husband walked in and quickly grabbed my father's wrist, surprising him with the strength of his grip.
"You don't ever touch my wife like that again," said Bucky, gritting his teeth a little. "I brought up the divorce agreement and was shocked that a father would be so cold-hearted to his daughter to literally try to pick her pocket before she even had any money in it. You want this deal to go through? Then you restore the agreement to what I signed; the money belongs to her. Otherwise, we get an annulment, and you get nothing."
"You can't annul the marriage," huffed my father. "You were together on the wedding night."
"We were but we didn't consummate the marriage," replied Bucky, throwing daggers at my father with his bright blue eyes. "Make sure you amend that divorce agreement and I want to be there when my wife signs it. You got that?"
He released my father, put his arm around me and led me away. We signed the amended agreement two days later that stipulated the money, house, car and child support, when we divorced, would go to me and only me.
Once a week, Bucky went out with his friends, partying. He always wore his wedding ring when the paparazzi took photographs of him and for quite a while he was careful, as there were no pictures of him going off with another woman. I knew he was seeing them, because he would come home smelling of their perfume, before he showered, put on his funky pyjama bottoms and slipped into bed, usually spooning behind me, something that he said he liked even though we had separate bedrooms.
Since the marriage agreement called for two children, Bucky arranged for us to visit the IVF clinic and we both underwent testing. He must have paid the doctor and staff there a lot of money to keep their questions to themselves because none of them ever said anything about why two healthy individuals who just got married didn't make a baby the old-fashioned way. I had to undergo shots to stimulate my ovaries so they could harvest multiple eggs. Then Bucky provided them with semen to fertilize the eggs in preparation for insertion into my uterus. Over the next few months, none of them implanted and I began to develop anxiety about it. He was great, never once blaming me. There were even a couple of occasions when he didn't go out with his friends and stayed home to comfort me when my period started, dashing our hopes once again.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, I realized something, about how I felt about him. It wasn't something I expected, falling in love with a man who made it clear from the start that friendship would be the most he could offer me. For as long as I could, I kept it to myself, not wanting to appear needy to Bucky. He had been wonderful and so kind to me. But after that realization, every time I saw him get ready to go out and knew that he would return smelling of someone else, it was inevitable that I finally said something.
"Don't go out," I whispered, one night, just as he came out of his bedroom, dressed in one of his Armani suits. "Please."
He looked at me as if I was joking then saw the pain in my eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting next to me.
"Stay home," I answered. "Don't go out with your friends tonight."
"I have to," he said. "We're on the VIP list at a new club opening. I'll be back before morning. After a little sleep-in we can spend the day together, maybe take a drive out to the coast." He smoothed my hair, then kissed my forehead. "Sleep tight, pretty girl."
He left without a backwards glance, and I cried. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last, especially when the paparazzi succeeded in acquiring a picture of Bucky and a starlet kissing each other. He apologized but the crack between us was there, and it would only get worse. The night it was the worst was the night I almost died.
We were supposed to be at a charity event together, but he texted to say he was running late, and he would meet me there. Of course, when I showed up without him, I was swarmed by photographers, all of them asking where Bucky was and who he was with. Ignoring them as best as I could I entered the venue and was shown to my table, seated with several other wives of prominent individuals. Even though I had improved my social skills and learned to have more fun, these women weren't inclined to be friendly and after enduring their whispered comments with no word from Bucky I decided to go home. A car service had dropped me off but expecting Bucky to arrive in his car we didn't book a return trip. There were no taxis available, so I began to walk, trying to hail one as I walked. Somewhere, along the way, I began to cry like the pathetic little individual I always knew I was. Funny how quickly I crumbled, when I figured that even Bucky had enough of me.
I woke up in the emergency room, with a bright light glaring down on me, a collar around my neck, a tube down my throat and IVs in my arms. A doctor leaned over me until I looked at him then began asking me questions, but I couldn't speak, not with the tube blocking my voice. He told me I walked out into traffic without looking and was hit by a car. My heart stopped twice but they brought me back. Was there anyone they should call? I tried to point at my wedding ring as Bucky was the only person I wanted to see, but my arms were splinted as apparently, I thrashed around too much when I was out. He figured it out and held up my phone. Painfully, I signalled the code numbers with my fingers, and he unlocked it then phoned Bucky. Returning a moment later he bent over me again.
"He's on his way. Hang in there, okay? Nothing's broken but you do have internal injuries."
I moaned since there was really no other way to communicate. I must have fallen asleep or passed out because when I woke up again, I was in an ICU hospital room, there were the sounds of several monitors, and Bucky was sitting on a chair, with his head in his hands. He looked up at a sound I must have made and immediately came to my side, placing his hand on mine. All I saw in his eyes were guilt and sorrow.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he said. "This is all my fault. I was supposed to be there with you, but I let others distract me and before I even realized that I had missed the whole event I got the call from the doctor."
I closed my eyes, feeling the tears streaming down from them. His apology, though sincere, really meant nothing. He promised to be my friend and instead, he did what my family had done my whole life, ignored me. To me, it was proof that I was truly meaningless in this world, that I was insignificant. I felt a cloth on my face and opened my eyes to see Bucky wiping my tears away with a washcloth. Painfully, I turned my head away from him.
"Please, don't," he begged. "Don't be angry with me. I fucked up. I know I did. I thought we could get through the two years and be friends, but I haven't been a good friend to you."
I still didn't look at him. I wasn't angry but I was disappointed. He tried to take my hand in his, but I pulled it away, bringing a distressed sound out of him. It must have affected me because a nurse came in to check the monitors and suggested that Bucky go home and come back in the morning. He put up an argument, but she convinced him that I needed to rest. Reluctantly, he agreed and bent over me, kissing me on the forehead.
"I'll do all I can to make it up to you," he whispered. "You were the last person I ever wanted to hurt."
He left then and I eventually fell asleep. Those first few days he was there from early in the morning until late at night. His father visited the second day, and I was aware of a fairly emotional whispered conversation between him and Bucky. None of my family visited. Three days in they took the tube out of my throat, confident that my bruised lungs and ribs were strong enough for me to breathe on my own. It still hurt to speak, almost as much as I was hurting emotionally. Bucky watched me with glassy eyes after the doctor and nurse left, seeming almost afraid to say anything. I looked at him, and the tears began to fall again, in earnest this time. Even though my body hurt I sobbed, and he was right there, his chair pulled up to the edge of the bed, kissing my hand.
"How can I make it better?" he asked. "Please, tell me."
"You won't," I answered, my voice raspy. "You made it clear from our wedding day that you weren't the faithful type. We can't be friends anymore."
"No, please, don't say that," he pleaded. "I need you. Don't you know that?"
I shook my head. "I don't know anything anymore; except every time you walk out the door to be with someone else it hurts so much. Loving you wasn't supposed to happen, but it did."
"You love me?" he asked, not quite believing what I was saying.
I looked away, then nodded my head. "You were nicer to me than anyone I ever met. Then suddenly you were gone more and then you didn't show up last night."
I covered my face with my hands and wept. The edge of the bed dipped slightly as he sat there, then he was carefully lifting me up in his arms to hold me.
"I'm sorry." He stroked my hair. "You know there are times I wake up at night and you're talking in your sleep. Strange, weird stuff, about kangaroos and jungle roads, and stuffing your face with hot dogs at a ball game. One night, I spoke to you, and we carried on a weird conversation. When I finally said you should go back to sleep, you said okay. Then you said good night and that you loved me. Just the way you said it I knew you were telling the truth. It frightened me because I'm not a good person. I party and sleep around too much, I spend money like it will never end, and I never once told anyone other than my mother that I loved them. She died, and it got into my head that if I loved someone, I would lose them someday." He touched my wedding ring, running his fingertip on it. "Then I almost lost you and I never once told you that I was falling in love with you, a love that I was scared to feel."
"You don't love me," I scoffed.
"I love that you listen to me and follow my lead, even when you really don't want to at first. I love your goofy pyjamas and how cuddly they make you feel when you're sleeping in my arms. I love that I would rather ... be here in the hospital begging for your forgiveness and love, than partying with people who only want to ignore the real world. With you, I have real fun, where I laugh and feel good about helping you and being there for you, because that makes me feel good about myself."
"That's not love," I murmured.
"Maybe not but I know that I don't want to be anywhere but near you."
I looked at him, truly looked at him and saw a man with bags under his bloodshot eyes, his hair was sticking out at odd angles because he had fallen asleep in the armchair of the hospital room, and he had several days of beard stubble on his face because he hadn't shaved. This from a man who took pride in how he looked. He wasn't dressed well, like he normally was when he appeared in public. He looked like a mess, and it was because he loved me, and thought he had lost me.
"Do you think we could start over?" he asked, those puppy dog eyes suddenly prominent, even in their bloodshot state. "After you get better, we can go away and just be ourselves, without any family or the business bothering us. I don't care where and it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. I just want to be with you."
"No more partying with your friends at nightclubs?" I asked. "No more sleeping with other women? Just you and me?"
"Just you and me," he repeated. "The only person I want to sleep with is you, when you're ready."
I couldn't help it. I sobbed again and began to cry. Immediately, Bucky began to kiss my face. Then he looked in my eyes, placed his hand on my cheek and kissed me for real, a soft and sweet kiss that said I was the most important person in his world.
He was as good as his word. Once I was released, he leased a guest house on the coast. It was quiet, far enough away from the other houses on that stretch of windswept beach that we could pretend we were alone. We visited farmer's markets, picking up fresh food for meals that Bucky cooked for me, trying but not always succeeding in his attempts. It didn't matter because we were together and that was the real reason we were there. We walked; short distances at first as I got my strength back, then longer where we would take our time and pick up interesting shells and rocks on the beach. Sometimes we kept them, sometimes we tossed them back into the ocean. Not once did he look at his cellphone. In fact, the charge ran out and he left it on the kitchen counter as a reminder that he wanted all of his attention on me. At night, we curled up in front of the fireplace until I fell asleep, and he would carry me in his arms to bed, helping me into my comfy pyjamas, before changing into his own and spooning behind me.
One night we had a storm, with pounding waves, thunder and lightning, and a wind that rattled every window in the house. He held me until I fell asleep. When I woke up, I looked at his sleeping face, admiring his straight nose, defined cheekbones, and the cleft in his chin. He must have sensed I was looking at him because he opened his eyes, those blue grey eyes that seemed to change colour like the ocean did whenever it was peaceful or angry. There must have been something in my eyes that morning because Bucky kissed me differently, then looked at me in a way he never had before. As his hands moved under my top, and caressed my skin, he shifted so that he was looking over me. I nodded yes, and he smiled softly, before kissing me again and pressing his body against mine.
As pieces of clothing were discarded, we explored each other's bodies, responding with soft sounds as we awakened our sensuous side. It was lovemaking that started out slowly, then built in intensity as Bucky showed me physically how much I meant to him. I had never been that intimate with anyone before, even though I thought I had with the few boyfriends of my limited experience. None of the others made me feel what he did and any last doubts I may have had about his devotion to me were erased. I was in love, truly in love for the first time and so was Bucky.
For six weeks we lived in this bubble where only we existed. Then Bucky plugged his phone in, and all the notifications sounded, one after another for almost an hour. He deleted the ones from his partying friends. They were part of his past now. There were a couple from my father, demanding to know where we were. Then there were the others from his father and lawyers. As he read them, he sighed then looked at me and sat in an armchair, pulling me onto his lap.
"When you were in the ICU, I asked my father for a favour," he said. "I asked him how we could take over your father's company."
"Why?" I asked. "Our marriage was the agreement to keep the competition equal with him, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was but when I demanded that your father amend that divorce agreement, he did something stupid and frankly, unethical. He entered into a secret agreement with an overseas company and contracted with them to provide him with the same product at a fraction of the cost. They aren't the same quality, but he is selling them for a bit less than ours, and he makes more profit on them. It's cut into our profits. We'll be alright because Dad's R&D division are already testing the update that would have been brought out at the end of the two years when we were originally going to get divorced. Of course, now, we're not getting divorced."
"We're not?" I asked, my heart racing a little.
"Nope. You've got me for life." He shrugged. "But it means you don't get your 100 million, although you do get a house and car. They were my late wedding presents to you." He cleared his throat. "Do you know how your father has his company structured?"
"No, I assumed he owns and runs it himself," I said.
"Well, he is CEO, but he doesn't exactly own it, at least not all of it," said Bucky. "It's actually shared between your dad, your siblings and yourself. He's never paid you dividends or anything from the company, has he?"
"No, I didn't know any of it," I said. "I feel stupid now, but I always assumed he had total control."
"I think you were kept in deliberate ignorance of it, and he used some shady tax loopholes to keep the money that was yours out of your hands. It doesn't appear he did the same thing to your siblings which led me to wonder why he has always seemed to be so cold-hearted to you."
It was true, my dad never really liked me. I was aware of that from my earliest memories. Bucky's hand on my mine drew my attention back to him.
"He's not your dad." I opened my mouth then closed it. "He was married to your mother when you were born but your father was someone else. The company was her's and he had no choice but to declare you as his daughter at your birth. When she died, she left the company divided up between all of you."
"My mother's not dead," I said.
"She's not your mother, she's your stepmother," he replied. "Originally, she was your dad's mistress. He married her a month after your mother died, when you were two years old. Since then, your father has cheated you out of everything that should have been yours."
"What do I do?" I asked.
"You could launch takeover plans of your own, but I think it would expose you to investigation and possibly prosecution if the full story of how your father operates becomes public." That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing considering how he cheated me. Bucky smiled a little. "I think you should turn him in. Report him to the FBI, the IRS, and any other regulatory agency that oversees corporations. They'll freeze all the assets of the company while they investigate and once they confirm what my dad found out; you won't be a subject of investigation. You'll be recognized as a victim of a long-term plan to swindle you out of your inheritance. You can even bring a private civil suit against him. At the least it will expose your father and your family to some pretty intense public scrutiny. There might be some criticism about you, but I'll be with you while this happens, and I won't let anyone associate you with them."
I considered his words. For someone who said he barely passed his university courses he sounded pretty sure of himself and of what we should do. Just at that moment I felt like I had to throw up and I ran from him to the bathroom, emptying my stomach. His hands were on my hair, gently pulling it back so it didn't get soiled. Then he gave me a glass of water as I sat on the floor. A strange but satisfied smile was on his face.
"You haven't had a period since we first got here," he said.
I stopped drinking the water and looked up at him. "Do you think I'm pregnant?"
He shrugged then kneeled down to play with the ends of my hair. "Maybe. We can pick up a pregnancy test on the trip back to the city."
Something occurred to me. "The grandchildren clause ... who asked for that?"
He smiled. "My dad. I'm an only child so he wanted to make sure that I had heirs before I died because of my partying ways. If you are pregnant, I'll be happy and so will he. I'm going to be more involved in the company but not to the extent that you feel left out. In fact, my dad thinks you might be a good fit for the Board of Directors. We can work together and take over managing it when he retires."
"I don't know anything about business," I protested.
"I'll teach you," he smiled. "Say yes, to staying as my wife, the mother of my child, and partner in business. There's no one else I want to have it all with."
I agreed and his smile lit me up inside. When we returned to the city, the lawyers that his dad retained helped me turn my father and siblings in for the irregularities of how they ran my mother's business. Like Bucky said, several agencies became interested, and they confirmed that I had been cheated out of tens of millions of dollars worth of income and compensation. There were many shady deals they engaged in, and even the ones that weren't shady, like the marriage arrangement between Bucky and me, weren't always honoured. It took a long time for the whole thing to wind its way through the legal system but when it did, it was my company, and mine alone, as the Board of Directors fired my father and siblings after they were forced to divest their holdings in order to pay years of back taxes on the income they didn't declare. When Bucky's father, George Barnes, proposed a merger I accepted, being offered the position of Chief Ethics Officer in the combined companies.
There was something else that happened. On the way home from the coast, we stopped and picked up a home pregnancy test. The next morning, we waited as the stick processed the urine sample. The word Pregnant appeared and we accepted that our life was going to change. Bucky left behind the party lifestyle completely, becoming the partner in life I had always dreamed of. When our son was born, he was hands on as a father and stayed that way with each child we had, four in all. Some people said we lived a charmed life, but it wasn't always that way.
I never felt truly loved until I survived my accident and confessed my love to my husband. Bucky, who had dealt with his own trauma of his mother's death and being sent to boarding school at a young age, had lived a life of shallowness, afraid to truly be intimate with anyone, until he almost lost me. Our sham marriage ultimately brought him and his father closer together, healing the rift that had kept them apart. With the trust we built between us we formed a new family, made richer by the birth of our children. Although my biological father was dead, he did have children, born after his affair with my mother. We got along well, and they became my new siblings. Whatever cold-hearted life I suffered before I agreed to marry a man I didn't know didn't matter, as Bucky and I showered our own family with all the love we could muster. Above all else, we were happy.
One shots masterlist
Please support the author by reblogging.
166 notes · View notes
mariacallous · 3 months ago
Text
Americans are taking to the streets and showing up in US cities by the thousands to protest a plethora of President Donald Trump’s second-term policies, and to challenge the power that Trump has bestowed upon Elon Musk to disrupt the federal government. Public outcry and acts of civil disobedience have become more commonplace over the past several years, as citizens have challenged Trump’s threats to women' s rights, travel bans from foreign nations and deportation policies, police brutality against Black Americans, and the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Now the protests, which include the Tesla Takedown movement and a nationwide mass-action called Hands Off, are targeting a hostile takeover of the government and broader threats to American freedom. (Trump has also seriously threatened longstanding free-trade agreements and single handedly taken down the US stock market in the process.)
This WIRED guide to safe protesting was originally written in 2020 during the nationwide outcry over police brutality, which overwhelmingly targets Black people like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. We’ve now updated this guide to include advice specific to mass action, your rights and protections as a US citizen, protesting in or around government property, and laws around defacing property (like, say, a Tesla).
If you're thinking about joining a protest near you, there are some crucial factors to consider: The US government is now allowing federal immigration agents to conduct sweeping raids, and ICE is reportedly detaining and deporting people in the US who are here on legal visas, including many students. And, while police brutality is an abstract concept for some, it’s a stark reality for others. There are other ways you can contribute if you don't feel safe protesting or are otherwise unable to physically do so. You can also donate time to community groups, drop off supplies for protests, or contact local legislators. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to put pressure on our legislators.
That being said, protesting is a right of all Americans under the First Amendment (more on that below). Before you head out, you should know that police across the country have acted with unnecessary force, including driving vehicles through crowds, partially blinding a photojournalist, and macing children. The list goes on and on.
If you still want to join in, we've gathered some advice, as well as a list of items you may want to bring with you. Be careful, and stay safe.
What to Bring (and Not Bring) to a Protest
It's smart to have supplies on hand for a day of protesting. We recommend the following. You probably have everything you need around the house, and if not, these items will likely be accessible at your local stores. We've included some links to online retailers for your reference.
A bag and/or backpack: You'll need something small and durable. I, Louryn, use a cheap daypack from Walgreens for most supplies, and I also strap on a belt bag, which I use to hold the essential items I'd need if I were to lose my backpack. Use whatever you own that lets you keep your hands free. If you don't have anything, we have a list of our favorite fanny packs. And while your bag should be big enough to hold all the supplies you need, be sure to avoid anything too bulky.
Water: There's a good chance that your protest will include a march, so you need to pay attention to proper hydration. Carry drinking water. Bring the biggest bottle that you can fit in your bag. Water can also be used to clean wounds and flush the eyes of anyone who's been hit with chemical gas or pepper spray.
A face mask or bandana: When we first wrote this guide in 2020, we advised wearing masks because of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s less of a concern for many people now, but you still may want to take precautions and cover your face with a mask or bandana. Face coverings also have the benefit of shielding your identity from cameras and police surveillance. (We have a separate guide about digital privacy during protests.). Bring an extra mask if you have one.
A hat and/or sunglasses: Aside from shielding you from the sun during a long day of marching, hats and sunglasses can obscure your face from surveillance and protect your privacy. If you wear a hat, and you're interested in further protecting your identity, keep the brim low.
Snacks: You are likely in for a long day. Pack lightweight, nutritious, protein-rich snacks. Jerky, energy bars, and nuts are all good picks.
Protest signs: If you want to carry a sign, there are some things to consider. Ensure that your slogan is in big, bold letters that can be easily read from far away. Short and punchy sayings are arguably better than a block of script. Poster board is flexible, but stiffer foam-core board is more durable. You can affix paint-stir sticks or other flat, wooden sticks to the sign using strong tape to create a handle. You might want to make extras to hand out to fellow protesters. Don't litter—when you're done with your sign, dispose of it properly, or donate it to another protester.
Suitable clothing: It's a good idea to wear all black, both because that's what the organizers of most solidarity protests suggest and because it helps you blend in with a crowd. Privacy experts also recommend that you cover any tattoos, if you can, and that you hide your hair if it's dyed a distinctive color.
A change of clothes: If you're protesting on a particularly hot day, you may want to have extra clothes. These can also come in handy if you're exposed to substances that can hurt your skin or if you're splashed with paint, gross road water, or other people's sweat. I usually carry a pair of shorts, a tank top, and an extra pair of socks in my backpack.
Hand sanitizer: You might find yourself holding hands with a stranger, grabbing onto gunky street signs, or tripping and falling into a puddle. All these scenarios coupled with Covid-19 make hand sanitizer an essential thing to carry.
Good walking shoes: This is nonnegotiable. Wear closed-toe shoes that are broken in and good for walking long distances.
Your ID (maybe): If you're detained, not having your ID on you might keep you stuck for longer. However, in some states, you might not have to show the police your ID if they ask for one. Use your best judgment, and consider looking up the laws for your state for more specific guidance.
Your phone (maybe): To protect your privacy and prevent surveillance, the best thing you can do is leave your phone at home. Consider using a secondary or burner phone instead. If you want to bring your phone, avoid using traditional phone calls and texts if at all possible. Signal is a secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging app that offers the option to delete messages after they're sent. You should also disable biometric unlocking, like FaceID or fingerprint features, and use a six-digit passcode instead. If you do need to carry your primary phone, keep it turned off until you absolutely need to use it. This will make it harder for law enforcement to track your movements, since law enforcement officials can collect or purchase data that can tell them which devices were at a protest they’re monitoring, and who those devices belong to.
Cash: Just like your phone can leave digital breadcrumbs indicating your whereabouts, using your debit or credit card will make it easier for the authorities to track your movements. Instead, bring cash. Separate your bills; stash some in your bag, and keep some on your person, either in your shoe, your bra, your pants pockets, or somewhere else secure.
A power bank: If you or members of your group will have a phone, you need to make sure that you have a way to charge devices. Other protesters may need to charge their gear as well. If you don't have one already, I really like this option from Anker. The company also makes another good power bank that's a bit smaller.
Other things you may want: A cooling towel. Duct tape or gaffer's tape. A flashlight or a headlamp. Ibuprofen. Goggles. Blister-prevention patches. Extra hair ties. A pen and paper. A Sharpie. A laser pointer. Bandages or other first aid supplies. Ear plugs. Saline solution. Extra face masks. A copy of emergency phone numbers and a card declaring necessary medical information that someone may need to know if you're unable to tell them yourself (for example, if you have asthma or if you're hard of hearing). Medications that need to be taken on a schedule (in a labeled prescription bottle if possible) with the understanding that you may be away from home much longer than anticipated.
Before You Leave
We asked some organizers and civil action experts about key things to understand about protesting. Here's their advice.
Educate Yourself
Do not go to a protest without knowing what it is you're fighting for. Don't show up and ask someone there to educate you. If you're an ally, do the work yourself and study as much as possible—not only about the actions you're protesting but the context around them. You might know that reproductive rights are threatened, but do you know about the historical fight for access to abortion in America? There are several books you can read right now to gain more knowledge about this topic. If you’re pissed at Elon Musk, it helps to have a good grasp of all the ways the administration is dismantling federal agencies in this country.
Get in the Right Mindset
Mental preparation is important. Protesting can be physically grueling and emotional taxing. You may experience sheer joy. You might cry. You might get angry. You might get scared. Most likely, you'll experience all of the above. Take the time to prepare yourself before heading out. Make sure to drink some water, apply sunscreen, and eat a meal.
Realize It’s Not About You
One of the primary reasons to attend a protest is not just to stick it to the man and to take a selfie while doing it, but to be present for others. Show up ready to listen. Be prepared to amplify what people are saying. If you aren't comfortable with potentially physically intervening, shielding vulnerable protesters from police violence, and listening more than you speak, your efforts to be an ally are likely better spent elsewhere.
Tony Williams, a member of MPD150, a Minneapolis-based coalition that has studied the history of police activity and seeks police-free alternatives to community safety, shared crucial advice for anyone who is not personally impacted by current events, but who wants to attend a protest. (Of course, the dismantling of democracy in the US is something that affects all of us.)
“The most important thing to realize,” Williams says, “is that you’re showing up in solidarity with other people. It’s not your job to decide how things should go. It’s your job to show up and listen and be in support. Deprioritizing yourself is an incredibly important part of the experience.”
Know Your Rights
In the US, it’s entirely within your rights to peacefully demonstrate in public. The basic act of assembling and protesting the government’s actions is unquestionably protected, according to the First Amendment Coalition, a California nonprofit that’s committed to protecting freedom of speech. Also, as a general matter, “people have the right to film or otherwise document things that are happening in the public space,” says David Snyder, director of the FAC. “If police demand that you turn over your notes, I would say that you can assume they don’t have the right to seize that.”
That said, if it comes down to a matter of force and you are physically outmatched, you may have to weigh the risks to your immediate personal safety, potentially have your notes or phone stripped from you, and pursue legal action later on. Also, Snyder notes, the First Amendment to the Constitution does not protect protesters who engage in unlawful activity, which includes destroying property or assaulting other people.
According to the ACLU, you are able to protest at government buildings with a few caveats. Your free speech rights are the strongest when you protest in “traditional public forums” like public streets and parks or on sidewalks outside government buildings. Also, you cannot block access to government buildings or otherwise get in the way of what activities are being performed at the building. (Other than being very noisy, of course.)
Form a Group
If you can avoid it, don't protest alone. It's important that you go with at least one other person so you can have each other's backs. There is strength in numbers. Know your "roles" within the group before you go so you can be prepared for anything. For example, maybe one of you is prepared to drive the group home if the situation gets dicey, maybe one of you has first-aid training, or maybe one of you is hyper-observant and prepared to monitor your surroundings to keep tabs on the vibe. Stay close to your group. Meet up beforehand, stick together the entire time, and leave the protest together. If you don't have a group, check social media sites—there are probably discussions where you can find people to meet up with locally.
Make a Plan
There will be a lot of people and a lot of emotions. You need to have a plan for what to do if the situation escalates. Pick a spot to meet if your group gets separated for a certain amount of time. (For example, if you get separated for more than 30 minutes, you meet back at a designated street corner.) It might be smart to have a few spots to meet at in case one is inaccessible. You should also have multiple routes planned for if you need to leave and streets are blocked off. Is there a curfew where you live? Have previous protests in your city escalated to violence? Will there be portable bathrooms stationed along the route, or should you map out places to relieve yourself after chugging water all day? Prep a plan.
Take Out Your Contact Lenses
If you're exposed to tear gas or pepper spray, contacts will make the experience much worse. Wear glasses if you have them. If you wear contacts, protect your eyes with sunglasses at the minimum, though ideally you'll be wearing goggles or keeping them handy. For the same reason, avoid wearing makeup or oil-based products like lotions, as the irritants in dispersion measures deployed by police can stick to them.
Write Down Emergency Numbers
Write down your emergency contacts' information. Write down the number of emergency legal counsel—several law firms offer pro bono representation for arrested protesters. Research the firms in your area. You may also want to write down the number of a local bond fund. You should have two copies of these phone numbers on your person—write them in the notepad stashed in your bag, on the hem of your shirt, or on a notecard that you keep in your pocket. As a redundancy, you can also write them somewhere on your body (like your forearms), preferably in permanent marker.
While You’re at the Protest
Once you arrive and join in with your fellow protesters, follow this advice on how to behave and how to stay safe.
Study Your Surroundings
You can designate a certain person in your group to make this a top priority, but regardless of who you're with, you should maintain awareness of what's going on around you. This is important for numerous reasons. Is someone wearing steel-toed boots, a colored armband, and a hearing device, and also showing the outline of handcuffs in their pocket? That person might be an undercover cop. Is someone carrying a bag of supplies emblazoned with a big red cross? They might be a street medic. Did a protester fall down and get hurt while marching? Open eyes and ears will help you react more quickly when needed.
Help Those Around You
If you're marching, you're probably going to be in close proximity to a few dozen other protesters. These are the people you'll be chanting with, walking with, and closest to if the situation escalates. Be friendly with them. Offer them water if you've got extra, or hold their stuff while they tie their shoes. Solidarity can start small. Remember that you're in a massive crowd; assume your actions are being watched and that your words are being listened to.
Don’t Vandalize a Tesla
So you want to vandalize a Tesla. Well, let's start with the warning that WIRED officially encourages you not to do that. Even if you feel Teslas are extremely punchable these days because of their association with Elon Musk, vandalizing or breaking somebody else's property is, yes, against the law and you may face fines or legal action for doing so.
It's also important to keep in mind what happens in the aftermath of a Cybertruck windshield smash or sprayed-painted F-you to Elon. First off, you might get spotted by Tesla’s built in cameras. Getting caught carries more risk than normal, as the FBI has investigated attacks on Teslas as “domestic terrorism.” You could also draw the ire of extremists out there simping for Elon. Also, if you damage a Tesla, the owner will likely take the vehicle to a Tesla facility to get it fixed. That means more money going back to Tesla and to Elon.
That said, stigmatizing Teslas seems to be working as a form of protest against the richest man in the world. Tesla sales have slumped since Musk started DOGE’s raids of federal agencies. It also helps that lots of Teslas have been recalled for multiple very dumb reasons. If you want to actively protest Tesla dealerships, Action Network has been organizing peaceful protests of dealerships around the world.
Consider the Ethics of Taking Photos
It is your right to take photos at any protest in the streets or on public property. However, a protest is not a social media photo op. You should avoid taking photos of protesters that clearly show identifying information like their faces or their tattoos, since those photos could make them vulnerable to abuse or retaliation. Law enforcement may also respond with force if you point your camera at them, even though it is well within your rights to film their actions.
A Note on Engaging With the Police
If you're white, you can use your privilege to your advantage. Your presence in the crowd can prevent more police brutality against people of color and Black people in particular. You can shield people of color with your body if necessary and if you're comfortable doing it. You can also film arrests and police activity in general—it's your right to do so. But we can't prepare you for every situation you'll encounter. Study up on the effects of the nonlethal weapons that could be used against you. Do what makes you comfortable and what makes sense at the time.
What to Avoid
When you're protesting, the actions you don't take can be just as important as the actions you do. Here's some advice about what not to do while demonstrating.
Don’t Run
Humans, just like other animals, can be profoundly influenced by this tricky thing called collective behavior. When you're in a group, your brain takes cues from said group, and you'll react to things based on how the group reacts. This is why, if someone starts running while you're in a crowd, you automatically get the urge to run as well. You might not even know why they're running, but a message in your brain says, "OK, it's time to go." Running also draws attention to yourself and those around you, which isn't ideal at a demonstration where protesters are being targeted for violence.
For these reasons, it's important that you refrain from running while protesting—you might incite a panic, hurt someone, or hurt yourself. If you need to move quickly, that's OK, but try to avoid running if you can help it. If you need to leave the larger group, move quickly and calmly to the edge of the crowd, out of the throng of people. When returning home, try to find a side street or a route that's out of the way, and stay with your smaller group.
Don’t Police Other People’s Behavior
You are going to see a lot of folks behaving in a lot of different ways. If somebody's behavior makes you uncomfortable to the point that you're considering asking a fellow protester to stop doing something, it's time to leave. This includes emotional public speaking, tagging, looting, vandalism, or provoking the police. If you aren't comfortable with what's happening, take that as your cue to head home.
What to Do If …
We can't prepare you for every possible scenario. In unknown situations, your common sense and your best judgment should guide you. But for the circumstances listed below, these tips may help you form a plan.
… You’re Exposed to Tear Gas
Tear gas is a thick, powdery fog that sticks to moisture like saliva, sweat, tears, and mucous membranes and causes an intense burning sensation. If gas is used, it's important to stay calm, because panicking will worsen the effects. Follow airplane rules: Help yourself before helping others. If a tear gas canister is deployed, move away from the cloud, quickly and calmly. Try to keep your breathing slow and even. If you're able, try to help those around you move away from the cloud. Tear gas is heavier than air and eventually falls, so move to higher ground if you're able.
You'll need to flush out your eyes. The best thing to use for this is water. Protesters and street medics have used what's called a LAW solution, which is a mixture of 50 percent unflavored liquid antacid and 50 percent water.
Protesters and street medics have also used a baking soda solution consisting of a teaspoon of baking soda for every 8.5 ounces of water. These solutions are fully effective only if they are thoroughly mixed. Blinking rapidly encourages natural tear production and can help flush the eyes. Do not use milk; it's less effective, can spoil quickly, and can cause infections, especially in eyes. You should also blow your nose and spit—and avoid sniffing or swallowing, as this may worsen symptoms. Change your clothing as soon as possible. Take a shower as soon as possible too, but use cold water, as hot water can make the burning sensation worse.
… You’re Exposed to Pepper Spray
Some of the same advice applies here. Move away quickly and try to remain as calm as you can. Change your clothes as soon as you can. Avoid touching your face or any other area that was exposed. Pepper spray is oil-based, so it can be trickier to remove, and it spreads over the skin easily. Water will help with symptoms, but it won't remove the irritating oils. LAW solution, baking soda solution, or diluted "no tears" shampoo are more effective.
… You Encounter a Violent Police Officer
Say as little as possible. You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police. In most states, you need to give an officer your name and address if they ask for it. This is why it's important to look up the specific laws for your location before the protest. Stay calm, keep your hands where officers can see them, and consider filming the interaction as unobtrusively as possible as a safeguard. You may be able to make a plan with the members of your group where those not involved in a police encounter can film it as a bystander. Try to write down or remember the officer's badge number and any defining characteristics (like height, eye color, or tattoos) if the badge number isn't visible.
… You Encounter the National Guard
Listen to and follow the orders being dictated by the National Guard. If you are planning to engage in civil disobedience, be prepared for the very realistic scenario of encountering crowd-dispersal measures like tear gas or less-lethal rifle rounds, and getting detained or arrested. Understand the consequences that may pertain to you specifically; if you're undocumented, a person of color, or belong to any marginalized group, your course of action here may be different from that of a white protester. Use common sense, take cues from the protest organizers, and keep your safety and the safety of others around you in mind.
… You’re Arrested or Detained
Since you did your research before you left, and you know your rights, you're prepared for this. According to the ACLU, you should say you wish to remain silent, and immediately ask for a lawyer. Do not resist arrest, even if you think what's happening is unfair. Write down the badge number of your arresting officer, if possible. Ask for a phone call. Note that arrests during protests don't always follow the typical pattern of arrests that might ensue from something like a traffic stop. You might be left waiting for hours without access to a phone. You might not have any information about what's going to happen next, or when. Try to stay as calm as possible, and follow instructions given to you. If needed, you can pursue legal action once you're home and safe.
If you are an immigrant to the US with a valid visa, First Amendment rights to free speech and protest apply to you too. While those rights may apply, they only really matter if they are not violated, which feels more and more uncertain in an administration that has demonstrated increasing eagerness to sweep up and deport people who were not born in this country.
The ACLU has a helpful list of what your rights are as an immigrant in the US. If law enforcement stops you or detains you, you can remain silent and ask to talk to an attorney. If an officer wants to search you or your belongings, you have the right to say no. If an immigration agent asks for your papers, you have to present them, but you don’t have to say much else. Some states require you to tell an officer your name when being detained, but other than that you don’t have to provide any more information until you meet with an attorney.
In general, be mindful of what’s happening around you. If the cops demand people to disperse, if you hold a visa you’re probably better off leaving. If you’re arrested for ignoring instructions or inciting violence, your immigration status could be revoked.
… You See Someone Getting Arrested
If you witness an arrest or police brutality happening in public, you have a right to film it. Do not intervene physically, and do not try to hide the fact that you are recording. If you're white, your presence alone may deter additional police brutality, and filming interactions may further bolster that deterrence.
After the Protest
If you were motivated by a specific cause or call to action, don’t just go home after you’ve marched and consider it done. Follow up with the organizers and ask if there’s more action to take or how you might continue to push local leaders toward policies you consider more just.
Even if you weren’t able to show up in person, there’s still a lot you can do from home, says Lila Eltawely, who sits on the board of the Minneapolis-based advocacy group Reviving Sisterhood.
“Buying supplies and food for people who are on the ground works too. It’s all a chain,” she says. “Protesting is on a spectrum. Some of us have the ability to go outside and hold up a sign, and some of us are not able to. So whatever helps the overall goal of the current situation helps.”
36 notes · View notes
justa-fanfic-writer · 6 months ago
Text
- Jin's Desires
Bottom male reader, top male character, porn without plot, NSFW (duh), 18+ warning, creampie...?, aphrodisiac or something idk?, probably out of character jin?, and I suck shit with warnings, so yeah...
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Jin bubaigawara x Male Reader
Summary: I have no fucking clue. I didn't think this far. And this was rushed as fuck so this would maybe be confusing at the start of reading? Hopefully, that would be fixed with the smut. Honestly...
---------------------------------------
"...The first time I came here, we fucked on this couch," Jin mentioned suddenly, and You choked on your lop-sided sushi. During their heated make out, Jin tousled the sushis as much as he did his hair. It still tasted good, even if it was choking him out.
A large hand had to roughly slap you on the back, and the pits of pain made you realize that he wasn't dreaming and this was actually happening.
"I..." Your face flooded in color, trying to process the information, and Jin rubbed his back.
"You good?" he asked, handing you some water.
As you took it, took a swing, and then realized that it wasn't his green water bottle.
Just as fast, a chill ran down your spine. It wasn't his, he told himself. It wasn't his green water bottle. It was an awful item taken from... cough somewhere from the black market, but it wasn't his. Something heavy settled over your head, but when you saw Jin's expression, you felt your heart softened.
"I'm okay," you said, "Just... wrong pipe."
Jin nodded, sagely, "Oh yeah, I get that. I do that all the time."
His hands came up to his shoulders, rubbing them a little before he took a seat next to you again. He pulled the seat close enough that the chairs knocked against each other, and their legs were right against each other. You, who never had anyone sit so close to anyone but him before like this, you felt your face had heat up, but when you looked at Jin, all you could see was the small blush dusting his cheeks and he lost all semblance of speech. He wondered if jin was just affected as you just as much, and that's why he felt like this. Being so close and intimate together.
"Yeah," Jin cleared his throat, "And uh... well, you wanna do it again here?"
You tilted his head, "Do what?"
"I wanna..." Jin's cheeks darkened as he rubbed the back of his neck, "You're going to make me say it? Geez, you know, I'm too old to be teased like this."
He dragged his hands up the back of his head, and then down the front of your face. They stopped at his mouth, and he looked back at you.
"I didn't want to stop back there," he said. "But I uh... I really wanna hold you. You know? Embrace you? Make love?"
You blinked twice before your face burned. Slowly, he nodded his head.
"I-I'd like that too."
Jin's adam apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly. His hands dropped to the side, one arm on the back of your chair and the other one coming on the table. Slowly, he leaned in and watched how your eyelids fluttered closed before their lips aligned.
He ran his tongue along his lips, and felt his heart pound in his chest when he was immediately granted entrance. Plunging into your mouth, he loved how before your tongue used to be so tentative and now met his so much more boldly. He could feel himself leaking inside of his pants. The sensation of being wanted instead of just wanting was a powerful one.
"(Y/N)," he tried to say it in a way that wouldn't sound whiny, but it caught in his throat and came out all wrought once he caught the dazed look on your face. "Fuck," he swept in with another kiss, greedier this time
He pulled back suddenly, standing up so that his chair slid behind him, and he pushed all the plates to one side of the table.
"You're so hot," Jin said, grabbing you and lifting you up.
Surprised from being suddenly lifted up like he didn't weigh a thing, you gasped gasped. Your hands came around Jin's neck, and his legs wrapped around his waist.
"Ooh," the older man cooed, "You wanna do it like this instead?" he asked. "That's hot. That's really," he took a second to suddenly thrust up, grinding himself against you as he moaned. His eyes dilated a little, taking his expression in as though to commit it to memory. "Really hot."
He placed you down to sit on the kitchen table where they were just eating. The older man pulled his shirt over his head, giving you a show of rippling abs and hard muscle lines. There were a few faded scars, but nothing new.
"Like the view?" Jin flashed him a grin, "I don't look like an old man, right?" As Jin had flexed his muscles a bit trying to impress you... as if he wasn't impressive enough.
"You..." As you licked your lips, "You don't." As you then lifted your hand up, Jin held it up to his face. Pushing his cheek against the skin of your rough yet soft palm, he hummed back.
"Really?" Jin asked quietly.
Understanding quickly, you ran your thumb across Jin's cheekbones.
"I like you how you are," You said quietly, "just Jin. Just the way you are."
The blond's breathing stuttered as he stepped closer. "Yeah? What else do you like about me?"
You blinked a bit, trying to find the right words, and tried to figure it out quickly. His pants were tented, and it took everything Jin had not to rut against you like some beast in heat.
"And I like the way you," your face darkened, "kiss me." You cringed from that's the only thing blurted our from your mind
Lips came right against his, as though to reward you as you jolted a bit, feeling Jin's hands run along your thighs and leave burning trails wherever he touched. You gave a gasp when Jin pulled back just as suddenly, his breath raspy as a trail of saliva connected their two mouths until Jin licked his lips.
"What-What else?" he asked, eyes bright as he looked over your body. Your beautiful, beautiful Body. His voice came out rough and low, like it was being pulled out from the deepest corners of his heart. "What else do you like about me?"
"I-I..." You hesitated, and your hands running over Jin's shoulders and down his muscular pecs. "I like how you feel."
"Yeah?" Jin rasped back. He dropped his head so that his lips were lined up against your ear, "And?" he prompted again, his hot breath running against your ears before he nibbled on it.
You shivered against him. "I-Inside." As you felt your face getting even more heated from what you had blurted out once again.
"Huh?"
Burying your face against Jin's neck, you had then whispered again, "I like it when you're inside of me. When..." your voice dropped quieter, just barely audible over Jin's thundering heartbeat, "When you fill me up."
Jin kissed your neck, "I can do that," he murmured.
He took a step back to wrestle with his belt, and as you tried to get his equally numb fingers to fumble with your own pants.
"(Y/N)," Jin said, his pants dropping to the ground. The sound of his belt-buckle clattering to the ground seemed to echo in the kitchen, his briefs were pushed down enough to free himself, you watched, almost hypnotized, by how the pre-cum dribbled from the tip of his dick. "I've been waiting for this. I actually," he hesitated, a soft laugh on his lips, "I haven't jerked off in a few days. Because I really, really wanted to blow my load in you." As Jin looked so bashful as if he didn't say the most dirtiest thing from his mouth.
He helped you pull your pants apart and underwear off. Pulling the younger man's legs apart, he stepped closer. His eyes dropped to your cute little cock, jaw slackening as he licked his lips. Enchanted, he looked like a starving man in front of a meal, first checking if it was real before he dug in.
He stepped in closer. Their erections laid against each other, Jin's dwarfing you in size. As both of you and his breathing grew more labored as he rutted his cock against you. As you had then placed one hand over your mouth to muffle your own soft whimpers.
"Fuck, but I wanna paint you in it," he said. "Cum on you and smear it all over you."
"We can," as your hips jerked forward, pulling a deep groan out of both of you, "We can do both." Jin gasped a bit, "I-I want you, too." His hand came to grab them both, but when he realized that he couldn't get a good grip on both of them, leaned forward to sit better.
Jin's eyes brightened as both hands came to jerk them off. Your hands, decorated with deep scars and rough callouses, rubbed them together. The movement of something rough on his sensitive skin was painful and, at once, delightful.
"Fuck-"
"Jin~," You said, kissing his cheek, "Feels good, right?"
Jin's hand came up to cup the back of your head, and kissed you hard as the two came in a mess over each other.
Foreheads touching, their labored breathing mixed together before Jin groaned. He dropped his head against your shoulder.
"You're so hot," he muttered, "I haven't cum like that since I was a teenager."
You , the younger man, laughed when you then reached your hand up to run through Jin's hair, realized that his hands were coated in both of your guys spunk. Getting a napkin would mean getting up, but you liked how warm Jin was against you. Inside of you more precisely as you then brought your hand up to your lips and licked it off instead.
"It's thick," you noted, until Jin's hand grabbed your wrist.
"You..." He muttered darkly, "You're too hot for your own fuckin good."
You just chuckled a bit, and you both had then started having one more passionate kiss... maybe it's time for round 2?
---------------------------------------
Honestly, I have no excuses for disappearing, so abruptly until I posted till now... so... sorry? I was pretty much in the authors block hell or something...
100 notes · View notes
foodagriculturenews · 1 year ago
Text
Bottled Water Processing Market Size, Share, Trends and Insights
The bottled water processing market comprises both the bottled water market and the bottled water equipment market. According to a research report titled "Bottled Water Processing Market" by MarketsandMarkets, the bottled water market is projected to grow from USD 311.1 billion in 2023 to USD 457.1 billion by 2028, representing a CAGR of 8.0%. Concurrently, the bottled water equipment market is expected to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2028 from USD 7.2 billion in 2023, with a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period.
Download PDF Brochure
Plastic packaging material is estimated to dominate the bottled water market, particularly PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles. PET offers lightweight, durable, and cost-effective packaging solutions, enhancing the convenience and portability of bottled water. Sparkling water is projected to experience the highest growth rate among product types, driven by its convenience and integration into various consumption occasions, including fitness routines and social gatherings.
In the bottled water equipment market, the filtration segment is expected to witness significant growth, fueled by increasing consumer demand for purified and filtered water. Advanced filtration systems address concerns about water quality and safety, particularly in regions with unreliable tap water.
The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to contribute the largest share to the global bottled water processing market. Rising concerns about tap water quality have led consumers to perceive bottled water as a safer alternative. Additionally, the tourism and hospitality industry in the Asia Pacific region plays a significant role in driving the demand for bottled water, particularly in hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations.
Make an Inquiry
Key market players in the bottled water equipment market include DuPont, GEA Group, Alfa Laval, and 3M, while key players in the bottled water market comprise Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Danone. These companies focus on expanding their presence through expansion and collaboration, with strong footholds in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.
0 notes
elwenyere · 3 months ago
Text
I saw a post the other day calling criticism of generative AI a moral panic, and while I do think many proprietary AI technologies are being used in deeply unethical ways, I think there is a substantial body of reporting and research on the real-world impacts of the AI boom that would trouble the comparison to a moral panic: while there *are* older cultural fears tied to negative reactions to the perceived newness of AI, many of those warnings are Luddite with a capital L - that is, they're part of a tradition of materialist critique focused on the way the technology is being deployed in the political economy. So (1) starting with the acknowledgement that a variety of machine-learning technologies were being used by researchers before the current "AI" hype cycle, and that there's evidence for the benefit of targeted use of AI techs in settings where they can be used by trained readers - say, spotting patterns in radiology scans - and (2) setting aside the fact that current proprietary LLMs in particular are largely bullshit machines, in that they confidently generate errors, incorrect citations, and falsehoods in ways humans may be less likely to detect than conventional disinformation, and (3) setting aside as well the potential impact of frequent offloading on human cognition and of widespread AI slop on our understanding of human creativity...
What are some of the material effects of the "AI" boom?
Guzzling water and electricity
The data centers needed to support AI technologies require large quantities of water to cool the processors. A to-be-released paper from the University of California Riverside and the University of Texas Arlington finds, for example, that "ChatGPT needs to 'drink' [the equivalent of] a 500 ml bottle of water for a simple conversation of roughly 20-50 questions and answers." Many of these data centers pull water from already water-stressed areas, and the processing needs of big tech companies are expanding rapidly. Microsoft alone increased its water consumption from 4,196,461 cubic meters in 2020 to 7,843,744 cubic meters in 2023. AI applications are also 100 to 1,000 times more computationally intensive than regular search functions, and as a result the electricity needs of data centers are overwhelming local power grids, and many tech giants are abandoning or delaying their plans to become carbon neutral. Google’s greenhouse gas emissions alone have increased at least 48% since 2019. And a recent analysis from The Guardian suggests the actual AI-related increase in resource use by big tech companies may be up to 662%, or 7.62 times, higher than they've officially reported.
Exploiting labor to create its datasets
Like so many other forms of "automation," generative AI technologies actually require loads of human labor to do things like tag millions of images to train computer vision for ImageNet and to filter the texts used to train LLMs to make them less racist, sexist, and homophobic. This work is deeply casualized, underpaid, and often psychologically harmful. It profits from and re-entrenches a stratified global labor market: many of the data workers used to maintain training sets are from the Global South, and one of the platforms used to buy their work is literally called the Mechanical Turk, owned by Amazon.
From an open letter written by content moderators and AI workers in Kenya to Biden: "US Big Tech companies are systemically abusing and exploiting African workers. In Kenya, these US companies are undermining the local labor laws, the country’s justice system and violating international labor standards. Our working conditions amount to modern day slavery."
Deskilling labor and demoralizing workers
The companies, hospitals, production studios, and academic institutions that have signed contracts with providers of proprietary AI have used those technologies to erode labor protections and worsen working conditions for their employees. Even when AI is not used directly to replace human workers, it is deployed as a tool for disciplining labor by deskilling the work humans perform: in other words, employers use AI tech to reduce the value of human labor (labor like grading student papers, providing customer service, consulting with patients, etc.) in order to enable the automation of previously skilled tasks. Deskilling makes it easier for companies and institutions to casualize and gigify what were previously more secure positions. It reduces pay and bargaining power for workers, forcing them into new gigs as adjuncts for its own technologies.
I can't say anything better than Tressie McMillan Cottom, so let me quote her recent piece at length: "A.I. may be a mid technology with limited use cases to justify its financial and environmental costs. But it is a stellar tool for demoralizing workers who can, in the blink of a digital eye, be categorized as waste. Whatever A.I. has the potential to become, in this political environment it is most powerful when it is aimed at demoralizing workers. This sort of mid tech would, in a perfect world, go the way of classroom TVs and MOOCs. It would find its niche, mildly reshape the way white-collar workers work and Americans would mostly forget about its promise to transform our lives. But we now live in a world where political might makes right. DOGE’s monthslong infomercial for A.I. reveals the difference that power can make to a mid technology. It does not have to be transformative to change how we live and work. In the wrong hands, mid tech is an antilabor hammer."
Enclosing knowledge production and destroying open access
OpenAI started as a non-profit, but it has now become one of the most aggressive for-profit companies in Silicon Valley. Alongside the new proprietary AIs developed by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, X, etc., OpenAI is extracting personal data and scraping copyrighted works to amass the data it needs to train their bots - even offering one-time payouts to authors to buy the rights to frack their work for AI grist - and then (or so they tell investors) they plan to sell the products back at a profit. As many critics have pointed out, proprietary AI thus works on a model of political economy similar to the 15th-19th-century capitalist project of enclosing what was formerly "the commons," or public land, to turn it into private property for the bourgeois class, who then owned the means of agricultural and industrial production. "Open"AI is built on and requires access to collective knowledge and public archives to run, but its promise to investors (the one they use to attract capital) is that it will enclose the profits generated from that knowledge for private gain.
AI companies hungry for good data to train their Large Language Models (LLMs) have also unleashed a new wave of bots that are stretching the digital infrastructure of open-access sites like Wikipedia, Project Gutenberg, and Internet Archive past capacity. As Eric Hellman writes in a recent blog post, these bots "use as many connections as you have room for. If you add capacity, they just ramp up their requests." In the process of scraping the intellectual commons, they're also trampling and trashing its benefits for truly public use.
Enriching tech oligarchs and fueling military imperialism
The names of many of the people and groups who get richer by generating speculative buzz for generative AI - Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Larry Ellison - are familiar to the public because those people are currently using their wealth to purchase political influence and to win access to public resources. And it's looking increasingly likely that this political interference is motivated by the probability that the AI hype is a bubble - that the tech can never be made profitable or useful - and that tech oligarchs are hoping to keep it afloat as a speculation scheme through an infusion of public money - a.k.a. an AIG-style bailout.
In the meantime, these companies have found a growing interest from military buyers for their tech, as AI becomes a new front for "national security" imperialist growth wars. From an email written by Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad, who interrupted Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman at a live event to call him a war profiteer: "When I moved to AI Platform, I was excited to contribute to cutting-edge AI technology and its applications for the good of humanity: accessibility products, translation services, and tools to 'empower every human and organization to achieve more.' I was not informed that Microsoft would sell my work to the Israeli military and government, with the purpose of spying on and murdering journalists, doctors, aid workers, and entire civilian families. If I knew my work on transcription scenarios would help spy on and transcribe phone calls to better target Palestinians, I would not have joined this organization and contributed to genocide. I did not sign up to write code that violates human rights."
So there's a brief, non-exhaustive digest of some vectors for a critique of proprietary AI's role in the political economy. tl;dr: the first questions of material analysis are "who labors?" and "who profits/to whom does the value of that labor accrue?"
For further (and longer) reading, check out Justin Joque's Revolutionary Mathematics: Artificial Intelligence, Statistics and the Logic of Capitalism and Karen Hao's forthcoming Empire of AI.
25 notes · View notes
sirfrogsworth · 9 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
[A reply on this product photography post.]
So... is this subjective criticism or is this mean and hurtful?
I mean, I don't think everyone has to like every style of photography. But some of the photos on the post were mine and this just felt sucky inside my brain when I read it.
I am also frustrated with how many people get mad when artists try to make a living with their art. I love taking product photos. It is a way I can do something I love and maybe pay my mortgage bill. Would I rather be photographing something of my choosing? Perhaps. But I enjoy the challenge and the process more than anything, so I feel artistically fulfilled.
And all products need images. I wish our disgust for advertising could be separated from the art that helps artists keep the lights on. Some makeup bottles getting water splashed on them has to be the least offensive kind of advertising image there is. No one is lying to you. No one is making deceptive claims. It's just bottles of makeup with splashes. Personally if all advertising was that innocent I'd feel a lot better about the marketing industry.
45 notes · View notes
howdoesagrapewrites · 2 years ago
Note
what wld lovesick pav and gaya be like w a s/o who tries to be like, healthy in their relationship? like they're not the "i wanna get away bc this is unhealthy" type, but the "i will actively tie you both down and make you communicate your feelings and wants in a healthy way until we can all reach a mutual agreement" way
like the two reach the stage where they don't want their love to leave the house at all- but they kinda quickly shut that down and are like "nuh uh. i have a life, so either we talk it out and find something that works for me and you two or i stay out five minutes past the curfew you set just to make you squirm"
𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩
Tumblr media
Cw: poly!reader x lovesick! Pavitr Prabhakar x lovesick!Gayatri Singh, explicit talk about mental health
Notes: all I can think about is the reader spraying then with a water bottle like a poorly behaved cat
>You went out of the apartment to get the grocery shopping done, your partners had been behaving oddly, they were always very affectionate and loved being around you, but lately you feel like they have been neglecting their personal life in order to be together
>You left the house when they were taking a nap, you didn't feel like you were sneaking out, just that you were doing chores while they slept
>You think about this as you examine the red apples deciding if you should buy them or not
>Your phone vibrates and you answer to a preoccupied Pavitr, you apologize for not telling them, but you didn't want to disturb them, when you're about to hang up, he hits you with "just wait, we're on our way"
>You're a little confused and annoyed by having to wait for them at the market without being able to continue the list of home necessities, but you tried to be understanding, and thought that maybe when you got home, you could start a conversation about what you've been thinking the whole afternoon
>When they arrived, the outing went smoothly, and happily, like you're used to
>After you finished organizing everything on the shelves and pantry, you started the conversation in a pretty straight forward manner, you didn't want to dance around the subject and talk about issues like they're anything aside a from a completely normal part of every relationship
>You said you wanted to talk, and they were visibly nervous, however, complied
>"So I've been noticing that you don't want to leave the house, and that you get really upset when I do leave, and it concerns me, I won't force you, but I'm your partner too, I'm here for both of you."
>I think these two would be one of the easiest characters to pull into therapy and get them to work through their issues, something that's surprising considering they would never accept this if you were dating individually
>The challenge here is definitely Pavitr, because like I've said a million times already, he's extremely delusional
>So it'll be hard to even make him realize there's an issue with his obsession, also you'll need to reassure him that you're not rejecting his feelings, but rather just want to work through a more positive and healthy way of expressing and processing those feelings
>"But I love you, why don't you love me too?"
>"Of course I do, Pav, but love isn't supposed to hurt"
>Gayatri has a more clear vision of where these issues stem from and will be more cooperative with communication with time
>At first she's closed to the idea, but when she sees how much you care and that you genuinely want to help her, she lets her guard down
>If you respond positively and don't show signs of fear or disgust when she tells you about her feelings, you get to hear, the most gruesome parts, but far from scared, you're proud she feels safe to verbalize and recognize toxic behavior
>I think Pavitr would use mindfulness as a coping strategy for the yandere tendencies, and Gayatri would turn to writing
>Some of Gayatri's pieces are morbid, sure, but it's better than having her do it, you praise the effort
>Sometimes they still relapse and snap at you or get too possessive, but you're having none of it
>You set clear boundaries and as hard as that is, they understand that they'll lose your trust and love if they are unwilling to be better
>I think there's a solid 8/10 chance of fixing them
246 notes · View notes
crystalsnow95z · 10 months ago
Text
This was a request for Jimin to have a sneezy allergic reaction that turned into a cold that he tried to cover up, but the original question post won't let me save any edits 😔
I’m so sorry it took so long..I kept rewriting it because it just seemed awful to me and it got to the point where I pulled out my laptop so I could freely move paragraphs and delete scenes more easily. I'm sorry if in the process it got messed up, I'm going to edit it after posting because if i don't, it'll never leave my drafts.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Taehyung asks Jimin for the fourth time since they started their journey to their next filming location.
"Yes Taehyung-Ah, I'll be fine. I spoke to a doctor about it and got a special medication and air filtering mask to use when we aren't filming. I can handle a few cats.." Jimin speaks confidently, reaching over to take Taehyung's hand. "Will you be okay with how humid it's going to be?"
"I'll be uncomfortable, but I'll be okay. I'll just be sure to drink a lot of water." Taehyung squeezes Jimin's hand. "Don't worry about me. Just worry about yourself."
"Alright, as long as you're sure. Oh! Jimin-ah the place we're staying has a pool so we can cool off after shooting, and staff say we'll be free to do whatever we want at night." Taehyung switches subject to a brighter one.
"A nice night swim sounds amazing.." Jungkook joins in with a yawn, lifting his head from Jimin's shoulder. "What time is it?"
"Ah youre awake Gukkie. Did you sleep well?" Jimin asks, trying to re-fluff Jungkook's hair from where he was lying on it, smiling fondly. "It looks like it.."
"Yeah...I was listening to that audiobook Namjoonie-hyung recommended but I ended up falling asleep." Jungkook says rubbing his eyes, checking the time on his phone. "Oh we're gonna be landing soon..our arrival time is 9:15, it's already nine! Did you take the medicine already Jimin-sii?"
"Aish..I almost forgot.. thanks Jungkook-ah.." Jimin digs in his carry-on bag, eyes widening when he realizes he had the wrong bottle in his hands. Sh*t.. I grabbed my usual allergy medicine out of habit instead of the new one I went to the doctor for..
"What's wrong Jimin-ah?" Taehyung asks, concerned when he sees Jimin's face fall into a frown. "Do you not have it?"
"No, no I have medicine..I just noticed I forgot something at home, but it's fine." Jimin takes one of the pills, swallowing it down with a grimace.
"Here, have some water Jiminie." Taehyung offers his water to Jimin a bottle of water. Who takes a drink.
"Thanks, Tete.." Jimin washed the pill down, passing it to Jungkook who was reaching with eager hands. I hope it'll be enough.. I don't want to be the one to ruin the music video. Maybe there won't be as many cats around...
"Oh wow..this place really does have as any many cats as it people here!" Jungkook exclaims, watching the cats wandering the market.
"There's actually more cats than people here.." Yoongi corrects him, stepping closer to Jimin. "I'm worried about it."
"Will you be okay Jiminie?" Hoseok asks sharing Yoongi's concern, looking at Jimin with uncertainty. "I didn't think wild cats would be this close to people."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I took medicine earlier, I just have to be cautious and take breaks between filming with them…" Jimin says, trying to sound confident. One cat was okay, especially because cats normally stay for a few minutes and then leave, but he counted eight cats watching them with curiosity or fleeing out of sight as they went to the filming location.
"We'll try to film as quickly as possible." Namjoon felt uneasy filming here, feeling the same concern for Jimin. Still, the song was a collaboration with another artist to fundraise to help the animal population that plagued the small country, giving them more animals than they could take care of and the members couldn't turn it down.
"I can do this. I feel fine." Jimin promises to reassure his team, ensuring his mask completely covers his face, silently apologizing to the makeup artist who recently finished it for the shoot. "It's just a few days of being uncomfortable to help save hundreds of little lives."
"Just keep your hands clean as much as you can. We brought hand sanitizer." Yoongi tells Jimin, afraid that he might accidentally make his eyes red and puffy if he touched them after touching the felines.
"I know, I know. I'll be careful." Jimin felt a cat rub against his leg, looking down at the calico by his feet, resisting his urge to stroke her, bending down to take a closer look with his hands firmly in his pockets. "Oh wow.. you look a lot like the cat I filmed with in Serendipity.. but you have more orange patches.."
"We have work to do. Ignore the kitty, you can play with him later." Jin gently scolds him, not wanting him to take extra risks when they haven't even started filming.
"Calicos are usually female.." Jimin states with a small pout when the cat meows for attention, Yoongi bending down to pet the calico instead.
"Yoongi-yah don't encourage him.." Jin sighs, watching Yoongi scratch behind the calico's ear on Jimin's behalf, getting a smile out of the other members.
" Come on, Yoongi-hyung, you gotta leave the kitty too." He pulls Yoongi back to his feet, fighting off the urge to rub at his eyes. There's cat fur in the wind, I can feel my eyes watering every time a breeze rolls through
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Yoongi leaves his new furry friend, following them to a park they set up for the music video. "Maybe I'll adopt a cat from here one day.."
"Oh wow.. there are several cats here, too.. are they all tame?" Jin asks when he heard a hissing cat from near the fountain where they were going to be working.
"[Do they bite or scratch or are they like.. all friendly?Or is just certain ones?]" Namjoon asks for Jin, watching two cats fighting underneath the fountain.
"[They aren't all friendly because of some bad people making them lose trust, but none of them will attack you unless you corner them or if they are protecting their young. Just let them come to you instead of you approaching them, and you'll have no issues.]" The man explains to Namjoon in English. "[Those two won't hurt you. it's just mating time, and they have their eyes on the same female..]" The man shoos off the cats, the two males darting towards the treelines.
"They aren't really aggressive, some just don't trust people..if we let them come to us he says we'll be fine. It doesn't sound any different than normal neighborhood cats, just larger numbers." Namjoon explains to his members. "Still be careful.. Don't try to come to them let them come to you."
"[Is everyone ready then? No more questions? We need to film before the sun sets behind the mountains, and we lose the natural light.]" The director asks.
"[We're ready..]" Namjoon answers in English, gathering his team close together."we need to do our best. We're racing against time and we only have three days here.."
Jimin removes his face mask to start filming, giving it to a staff member to hold while they start the opening scene, the seven of them making a wish at the fountain on by one, surrounding it in a half circle. The shot was nearly perfect until it got to Jungkook, who threw the coin too hard, landing outside of the camera shot with a sploosh.
"Aish I'm sorry!" Jungkook apologizes, ears reddening in embarrassment to be the first member to make a mistake, his heart pounding in his ears. "[I'm sorry..]"
"It's okay, it could've happened to any of us. I'm surprised i did it correctly." Namjoon puts an arm around Jungkook. "We'll just film it again. No big deal, we have plenty of spare coins."
"I'll get it in the center frame this time." Jungkook pouts at the realization they don't speak Korean. "[Sorry..please..try again?]"
"[Its okay, you got this. Its just a bit of nerves Jungkook just be gentle. Just toss it in front of you so it falls nicely, don't throw it..]" The director tells him calmly, Jungkook nodding. "[Good.. let's start over.]"
The director wanted the scene to be a one shot, panning through each member so the members started from the top, Jimin fighting off the urge to sneeze until the director called cut, failing miserably.
"heh' hejish'Heh'vchi!" Jimin covers his face the sneeze escaping right when it was Jin's turn to drop his coin, making Jin jump. "Aish'm sorry hyung.."
"It's okay. Are you okay?" Jin didn't care about jumpscare, only about his little brother. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, something just tickled my nose. I can do this.." Jimin answers with a sniffle, staff quickly bringing him a tissue. "Let's try it once more. They do say third time is a charm right?" Jimin tries to keep a cheery attitude, despite the uncomfortable nasal pressure building up. He tries to blow his nose to ease it away, but it did nothing but ruin his make up, staff needing to touch it up once more.
"If you need a break, please don't hesistate to ask okay?" The woman fixing his make up tells him with concern, noticing how red his nose as already gotten in such a short time.
"We only just started. I'm okay, really." Jimin says with a gentle smile.
The members get through the first scene without any issues for the third take, Jimin sighing with relief when the looked over the footage, being sure his eyes weren't red on camera.. I look fine for now, but how long will it be before we have to stop filming because of me?
"Jimin-ah.." Yoongi gently nudges him when he notices Jimin wasn't paying attention. "He's talking to you..he wants you to do your up close shot first."
"['m sorry. Please say again.]"Jimin bows, blushing in embarrassment. How unprofessional.. spacing out like that in the middle of a shoot. I need to focus.. The longer we have to perform, the worse I'll feel... we just need to get through this.
Jimin was given a cat to be his filming partner for the shoot, gently stroking her glossy patch work coat to try to earn hers trust for the shot, smiling brightly when she headbutts his cheek. "[She's so soft and pretty.]"
"[Her name is maple. This is your cat in the storyline. She actually belongs to someone.. We specifically found a hypoallergenic cat for you just as requested.]" The animal handler tells him.
"[Thank you..I'm sorry for being trouble..]" Jimin bows gratefully, giving a sweet apologetic smile. They found me a special cat for close up shots?I didn't request that..I thought it was strange i didn't feel worse when Maple brushed my cheek. They're so kind..I can't back out over some sniffles..
"[Alright..put Maple into position in the light square and get into your position, you made a wish and a cat appeared. Act surprised and pick her up. They'll click the clicker to give Maple the sign to touch your face. We might have to do it a few times if her paw isn't in a good position.]"
A translator repeats it in Korean when she notices that he didn't process anything, explaining that they planned for Jimin to do his solo shots first.
"[I understand..]" Jimin places Maple down on the fountain ledge, taking a deep breath before walking out of frame, walking towards the calico. I can do this.. it's just three days..
Jimin tried to hold back a sneeze while the director gave them their directions for the second day, rubbing the tip of his nose to try to ease the itch building up. We did all the close up acting scenes yesterday, now we just have to do the chero and film the scenes with our guest. I can do this.. "Hehtichih!" Jimin tries to muffle his sneeze, only Taehyung hearing it.
"You okay?" Taehyung whispers with concern when he sees Jimin trying to wipe his nose without ruining his makeup. He removes his bandanna, using it to gently dab the mucus from Jimin's face.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine..It's a manageable inconvenience.." Jimin sniffles, giving him a smile. "Thanks Tete.."
"If this is too much for you, just say something okay?" Taehyung frets over him gently removing a white cat hair from Jimin's shoulder. "Your eyes are getting starting to get red and you're sneezing much more.."
"What? my eyes are red?" Jimin frowns, turning to the fountain to see his reflection. He saw the red lines spiking from his irises."It looks worse than it feels, im fine.. I have eye drops in my bag." Jimin lies. Why do I feel worse than yesterday? I even took as strong as a dosage as possible, and Taehyungie and Jungkook came here early to scare off some cats..
"I'll get them for you." Taehyung leaves, briskly walking to get to Jimin's bag, digging through it.
"What's the rush? Is Jimin okay?" Namjoon asks, pulling on his shirt for the second wardrobe change.
"I don't know..his eyes are so red right now and he seems to be getting out of breath quicker than usual.. do you think we should ask for a break? I tried to make it have less cats with Jungkookie, but they came back.."
"I'll ask, but we're racing a storm right now..the weather was supposed to be clear this week. We just need to do the choreography, and we'll be finished today.." Namjoon quickly finished changing to check on Jimin.
"Heh'itcgi!" Jimin sneezes into a tissue, blowing his nose and sanitizing his hands for the umpteenth time that day.
Taehyung trails behind him, his heart clenching when he hears another wet sneeze come from his soulmate. Jiminie will only keep feeling worse as the day continues.."Jimin-ah, I brought the eye drops. Here. Tilt your head. I'll help you put them in.."
"Thanks, Tete that'd be great.." Jimin let's Taehyung gently place his hand on the back of his head, trusting him to support him as he leans back. Another sneeze was building, but with Taehyung so close to him, he forced the sneeze back."heh..heh.."
"Do you need a second?" Taehyung asks when he hears Jimin's breath hitching, pulling his hands away. "It's okay if you need to sneeze."
"No..no I'm okay.." Jimin lies, not wanting to worry Taehyung more than he already is.
"Okay..one..two and.. one-two…" Taehyung squeezes the drops into Jimin's eyes. "There.. all done.. slowly.." he guides Jimin to sit up again, hugging him close. "I wish I could do more to help.. Namjoon is going to see if we can do a break for you.."
"No, no I just want to get it over with..we can have a break when it rains. We're on a time limit and I won't be able to rest stressing about it." Jimin holds back a sneeze, the pressure building up making his eyes water.
They get through the chorus, before the wind started to pick up, carrying cat fur with it, irritating Jimin's sinuses further. Jimin pushes through the itch building in his nostrils,making it difficult to not ruin the shot by changing his facial expression. The director calls cut, releasing the members to monitor the shot.
"Aish, I messed up the shot.." Jimin frowns when he sees his facial expression in the back when him, Jungkook and Hoseok were center. "[Please can we redo?]"
"I saw that too. We'll need another cut.." Namjoon says apologetically.
"Are you okay to do it again Jimin-ah?" Hoseok whispers when he hears Jimin's breath hitching, no longer interested in the choreography.
"I'm fine..I just..heh..Heh'hehitchi!" Jimin sneezes into his hands to avoid sneezing on Hoseok, another sneeze following right after. "Hehtichih! Heyitcyh! Heh..heh..uiyxheu!" He sniffles, not moving his hands from his face.
"Here Jimin-ah.." Taehyung holds a tissue box out to him"I think you need to sit away from the cats for a bit.."
Jimin pulls a couple out gratefully, trying to clean up his face. "Ugh.. this is so annoying.. I should be able to handle this better.. no.. "
"It's okay, Jiminie. we all have our strengths and weaknesses." Yoongi reassures Jimin, pushing his hair behind his ear. "Are you crying?" He asks with concern when he sees the tears in his eyes, grabbing a tissue to lightly dab them away, not wanting the chance of his hands making his allergies worse.
"No, no. I'm not, it's just from the sneezing. I'm okay hyung.." Jimin smiles, surprised to see Yoongi be the one to dry his eyes when Hoseok and Taehyung were right there. "Thank you.. I think..I'm okay now.."
"Are you sure?" Hoseok asks, hugging Jimin from behind. "You're still breathing heavy.."
"It's just because of my nose being stuffed up. I'll have enough of a break when they fix my makeup." Jimin sniffles, letting the make up noona redo his make up around his eyes and nose. "I'm sorry..but i.. ah..aeh'tichi!" Jimin sneezes. "Heh'heh..itsth! Heh' x'shiugh.." Jimin sneezes a few more times, closing his eyes tightly.
"It's okay. It's not your fault. I used something more waterproof this time. Come back to me so i can help you get it off okay?" She speaks kindly.
"Thank you." Jimin sniffles, returning to the group, taking a deep breath. "I'm okay now, let's go back to filming.. Maybe we should do the group acting scenes first.."
The seven go back to acting out their scenes taking a break from the chreography, Jimin grateful that he did all his close ups first. I have to get it right this time, the longer i stay out here the harder it'll be to control my sneezes and on top of it the clouds are getting darker..
Stress knotted Jimin's stomach, only adding another layer of discomfort to his list. He ignored the pain, going back into his position, holding his breath every time he was near the front, making him feel lightheaded as he switched positions.
"Cut!" The cameraman yells, the members relaxing. Jimin falls to his knees, trying to catch his breath,gasping for air.
Jungkook and Taehyung rush to his side, the two looking at him with matching concerned expressions. Taehyung gently rubs Jimin's back, trying to do something to ease his suffering. "You okay Jiminie? Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want some water? A tissue?"
Jimin wants to answer Taehyung. Wants to tell him he just needs to sit away from the island's feline friends for a bit, but the loathed feeling of needing to sneeze returned, unable to get any words out, sniffling to try to ease the pressure, only triggering more sneezes. "Heh'thchi! Hey'Heh'heyhvhi!"
"Jimin you're done for today, this is too much for you to handle. We need to stop for today.." Namjoon speaks sternly, Jimin shaking his head.
"No, please.. Namjoon-sii we're almost finished… I can do this." Jimin begs, clasping Namjoon's hands. "It's only going..to be another hour.. of filming. I'll rest after."
"Jimin, you're pushing youself too hard, you're shaky on your feet and you're struggling to breathe. You need to listen to your body. We can extend our trip if needed. You need rest.."
"Then just give me ten minutes to recover..Please?" Jimin begs, ignoring the urge to sneeze. "I don't want to..be the reason we don't finish on time.."
"Alright, but if you feel even an ounce worse, you have to tell me." Namjoon frowns, knowing full well Jimin would end up crying in the rental house. He's going to get worse either way, the storm will force him to stop soon enough..
The seven boys went through the cherography three times before they got a shot Jimin and the others were happy with. Relief washed over Jimin when the director praised them, him falling to his knees, struggling to catch his breath.
"I did it..We just need to do one wardorbe change and we'll be finished.." Jimin coughs, trying to catch his breath.
"I don't think we can do that Jiminie, the clouds are getting so dark.." Taehyung says looking up at the clouds, trying to hide his relieved smile that the weather was going to force Jimin to take a break. "We need to find-"
The clouds that threatened rain finally burst drowning out the rest of Taehyung's words, a heavy rainfall drenching the members as Jungkook quickly scoops up Jimin, running towards the safety of the rental car, the others following.
"Jungkook-ah… I..I can walk on eh..heh..heudhichi!" Jimin sneezes into Jungkook chest, not able to let go of Jungkook's neck to sneeze into his hands fast enough. "Heh'itchii!" Another one follows right after.
"My poor hyungie.." Jungkook coos, putting Jimin in the car, sliding in right after. "You okay Jiminie?"
Jimin tried to answer, but another few sneezes stopped him, sniffling miserbly. "Heh'thih..hEH'ITCHI.."
"I don't think we'll be able to film tomorrow, with it raining this hard the ground is going to turn to mud.." Namjoon says when he gets in, drying his face with a towel he left in the car earlier, and passing it to the member next to him.
"I think we got enough usable footage to make the music video still." The staff tells them, the boys visibly relaxing.
"What about filming for Samatha's verse?" Namjoon frets about their guest artist that was coming tomorrow. "Will she not be able to perform her verse with us?"
"We'll film it in an inside location, we'll see what type of set we can make. Don't worry, we'll handle it." Their manager tells them. "Just focus on resting for the rest of the day."
"Jimin you'll shower first when we get to the house okay?" Jin orders, trying to get Jimin's wet hair out of his eyes.
"You're the oldest, you should get the first shower." Jimin sniffles, trying to fight off another sneeze.
"No, Jimin-ah, you need it more than me. You'll feel better once you get washed up." Jin declined. "I'll shower after you. It's no big deal. Just shower and rest up. Okay?"
Jimin wakes up to the sound of Jungkook accidently rolling out of bed, his head pounding with a sinus headache. It hurt to open his eyes to find the source, calling to Jungkook softly. "Are you okay Kook-ah?" Jimin's eyes widen when he hears how hoarse his voice became overnight, coughing right after.
"Yeah, I'm okay..my pillow fell with me. Are you okay hyung? You sound awful."
"I need some water." Jimin ignores his question, sitting up, resisting the urge to sneeze. I haven't been outside and all the windows have been shut since we arrived, why do I feel so awful?
"I'll go get you some. Wait here." Jungkook stretches, getting off the floor and leaving to the kitchen.
Jimin reaches for a tissue, noticing the mucus coming from his nose was no longer clear and runny. It became thick yellow mucus, indicating it wasn't just allergies anymore. Jimin swears underneath his breath when he feels another sneeze coming,
"Jimin-sii I brought you-"
"Heh'heh itchisg!" Jimin sneezes into his hands.
"Bless you Jiminie hyung.." Jungkook hands him a tissue.
Jimin blows his nose again, crumbling up the tissue and taking the water from Jungkook. "Thanks Jaykay.. my nose is driving me crazy..I can't wait to get off this island."
"It's the last day of filming, will you be okay?" Jungkook asks. "You're breathing heavy.."
"My nose is just stuffy, I'm okay. We're filming inside today so it won't be too hard." Jimin down plays how he feels, leaving out the sore throat and pounding headache.
"I'll make you some tea. Maybe that can help you feel a bit better. Don't forget to take your medicine before we go out." Jungkook tells Jimin leaving the room.
Jimin waits until he feels Jungkook is out of earshot to cough into his arm, trying to muffle the sound.
We're filming with Samantha today.. I can't let a cold ruin this..
Jimin takes another allergy pill and a painkiller for his headache before joining the others, Jungkook handing him a tea cup.
"Here jimin-sil, drink up. I added a tiny bit of ice so you won't burn your tongue." Jungkook says, taking a sip just to be sure it was at a drinkable temperature.
"Thanks Jaykay.." Jimin smiles, taking a big gulp from the cup. Please, work to soothe my throat and stomach.. I have too much to do today..
"1,2,3..hello.. we are..BTS." Namjoon starts their greeting, the members echoing 'bts right after him.
"[Im Samantha. It's so nice to meet everyone in person. Thank you so much for agreeing to help my passion project, it means so much to me.]" Samatha bows.
Jimin tries to hold back another sneeze while the translator speaks, translating Samantha's heart felt wish to help the animals she loves so much, holding his breath with his eyes squeezes shut, the pressure becoming more uncomfortable as the members introduced themselves.
"Are you okay Jimin?" Taehyung whispers.
Jimin nods, not wanting to worry him. Before Taehyung could question him further, he hears Samantha say his name.
"[Is it okay if I call you Tae hyung and not V?]" Samatha asks shyly. "[Im not a fan of using stage names while working. It feels distancing..]
"[Ah. No problem... it's nice to meet you.]" Taehyung takes her out reached hands to shake them.
Samatha turns to Jimin giving him a cheery smile. "[Hi, it's really nice to-]"
Jimin opened his eyes to greet her, but as soon as he stopped concentrating on keeping his sneeze back, a wet sneeze escaped him. "Heh'hehitfchi!"
He tried to turn on his heels to avoid sneezing in Samantha's direction,but his body gave him no time to react.
"[Oh it's you that was allergic to cats. I'm so sorry about all this. I really wanted to feature the animals we were trying to save and didn't think to look up if any of you were allergic..]" Samatha bows the whole time she's talking, Jimin matching her bow for bow despite how it made his head pound.
"[No, no big deal..I'm okay.. I love cat..no bow, no worry.. no sorry needed.]" Jimin tries to speak English to her, relaxing when she stops apologizing.
"[We only have this natural light for so long so I'd like to film right away..]" the director pulls the artists back into work
"[Right. I'm sorry.. I just wanted us to be a bit more comfortable working together. I got the choreography for the chorus down, but I want to run through it with the boys once before filming..]"
Jimin only felt worse as the time passed, the medicine doing nothing to ease his pain. Jimin was happy that they were doing a quick photo shoot with the set staff made.
"Jiminie looks exhausted.." Hoseok frowns, watching Jimin pose for the camera, laying on his back. Hoseok rushes over to help him to as soon as the photographer was pleased with his work, feeling the back of Jimin's neck. "You're warm Jiminie."
"It's just hot with those ring lights. I'm okay.." jimin trying to convince both Hoseok and himself.
"I'll go get you some water then.." Hoseok goes to get a water bottle, his worry increasing when he hears another sneeze come from the oldest of the mankae line.
"[Bless you.]" Samatha says sincerely, bringing over a bottle. "[I thought this might help you. It's a tea that helps my boyfriend when he's super congested. It's a bit spicy..]"
Jimins mind blanked on processing most of what she said, only understanding the drink she passed to him was to help him feel better.
At this point, he was willing to try anything, almost spitting out the tea when the spice hits him, swallowing it down.
"[I know, the thyme and ginger makes it have a strong taste, but it's really good for you." Samatha stifled a laugh seeing Jimins reaction.
"[It's okay, thank you for making for me..]" jimin takes another drink, surprised to feel the mucus loosen, causing a wet sneeze. "Heh'hehi'Itchi!"
"Here, blow your nose Jiminie.. Jungkook just finished the last photo so we're going to film soon." Namjoon bows his head to Samatha. "[Sorry to interrupt..]"
"[No, no. You guys take your work seriously and i really admire that about him Many artists would straight up refuse to film if they don't feel well]" Samatha says looking at Jimin sympathetically as he goes away from everyone to try to clear his nose.
"[I'll tell him that for you. It'll make him happy.]" Namjoons smiles, calling the members back to work.
I can't breathe.. my lungs are burning...
Jimin stumbled into Jungkook, ruining the shot for the third time. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry. I'll get it right this time...i..I just stepped to..far.."
"Are you okay Hyung? You're panting.." jungkook puts his arms around Jimin, holding his weight.
"I..I just got a bit dizzy..I just need..need..Heh'hehitfchi!" Jimin sneezes without giving him time to cover, sneezing on Jungkook.
"Ah, jimin-sii.." Jungkookie frowns, using a towel to wash off the snot from his shirt the best he could. "I think you caught a cold.. i think we should take a break."
"No..no we're almost finished filming I'll rest after. Everyone is tired..the sooner we finish the sooner we can go home..." Jimin sniffles, taking the tissue staff offered him.
"[If you aren't feeling well you should rest. Don't push yourself. I'm really tired too. I'm not used to heavy choreography like this..]" Samatha takes a seat on the ground dramatically. "[I was afraid to ask for a break when you boys were so focused..]"
Jimin looks to the translator, who explains it to him. "She's only saying that for my sake.." he says with a smile. The seven boys join her on the floor, Jimin leaning on Jungkook.
"You're so heavy.." jungkook teases, his smile dropping when he hears Jimin coughing into his fist. "Hyung. Hyung do you need some water?" He asks with panic, taking the waterbottle that Jin pushes towards them.
"No..no.. I'll..I'll throw up if..if I do.." Jimin pushed the water Jungkook offered away, trying to talk through the fit of coughs.
Jungkook frowns, trying to ease Jimin's suffering by rubbing his back. "Poor hyung..you really aren't well.."
"[I think we're done shooting for today..we'll just use the footage we have. I don't care if I look good in the shots. Let's use the first take.]" Samatha says putting up a finger when the boys go to argue. "[No, no compromising. I don't care about how i look, as long as it helps the cats. Everyone else looked good. I can live with my face looking too serious.]"
"She says she doesn't want to do anymore takes.. she wants to use the first take.." Namjoon translates for his members. "We're finished filming.."
Jimin's stomach knots with guilt, knowing how disappointed she was with the first take, but if she refused to film another take, he was in no condition to argue. "[I'm sorry..]" Jimin bows his head, forcing himself not to cough so he could properly apologize. "[We can work together again.. and I'll be sure everyone looks perfect...]"
25 notes · View notes
scotianostra · 5 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
On February 3rd 1700, a fire broke out on the north side of Cowgate in Edinburgh's Old Town.
From there the flames spread and burnt down the close and its close surroundings, including the merchant’s Exchange building, where the Three Sister bar now is.
The fire extended rapidly up hill to involve the tall tenements on the south and east sides of Parliament Square. One, fifteen storeys high, the tallest building in Edinburgh, was reduced to a heap of ashes and ‘made a prodigious blaze"
The buildings were densely occupied and about three or four hundred families lost their homes, including many notables such as the President of Parliament, the President of the Court of Session and other Lords, lawyers, clerks and poorer families. Several lives were lost and a great number seriously injured.
Offices of businesses were destroyed including the recently opened Bank of Scotland – the only bank in Scotland at that time. Mercifully the Parliament Hall and St Giles escaped major damage. The Advocates, who lost their library in the fire, were given space in the Laigh Hall below Parliament House.
Although it escaped major damage the fire allowed the council to rebuild the Parliament “in a uniform style of architecture” regulating the buildings appearance to prevent fire. The rest of the close was given a grand entry and the courtyard was rebuilt uniformly with a continuous arcade along the front.
Cassells Old & New wrote this short account bout the Parliament building:
This magnificent hall and the buildings connected with it had a narrow escape in the “Great Fire” of 1700. It broke out in Lord Crossrig’s lodging, at Mr. John Buchan’s, near the meal-market, on a night in February; and Duncan Forbes of Culloden asserts in a letter to his brother the colonel, that he never beheld a more vehement fire; that 400 families were burned out, and that from the Cowgate upwards to the High Street scarcely one stone was left upon another.
A broadsheet entitled Fire! Fire! stated that the fire had been started by someone throwing a bottle of whisky into an open hearth.. The fire engines were of little or no use, water being scarce and the old closes so narrow that they could not gain access. As mentoned in Cassells. Duncan Forbes wrote to his brother that it was the greatest fire he ever saw ‘notwithstanding I saw London burne’, It reads;
All the pryde of Edenr. is sunk; from the Cowgate to the High Street all is burnt, and hardly one stone left upon another…the Parliament House very hardly escapt; all Registers confounded; Clerks Chambers, and processes, in such confusion, that the Lords and Officers of State are just now mett at Rosse’s Taverne, in order to adjourneing the Sessione by reason of the disorder…twenty thousand hands flitting ther trash they know not wher…These babells, of ten and fourteen story high, are down to the Ground, and their fall’s very terrible….This Epitome of dissolution I send you, without saying any more, but that the Lord is angry with us, and I see no intercessor.
Of course the clergy couldn't let this go without blaming someone, preaching sermons in which they attributed the fire to God’s punishment for the wickedness of the populace. The Town Council also took to preaching and on 4th December 1702 introduced an ‘Act anent suppressing Immoralities,’ which contained the following:-
…considering the great growth of immoralities within the City and Suburbs, and the fearful rebukes of God, by a dreadful Fire in Parliament Close….which happened about midnight upon 3rd February 1700….also, remembering the terrible Fire….on the north side of the Lawn market….28 October 1701 with several lives lost. Likewise reflecting upon other Tokens of God’s wrath lately come upon us… We…being moved with the zeal of God….do in the Lord’s strength resolve to be more watchful over our hearts and ways than formerly; And each of us in our several capacities, to reprove vice with due zeal and prudence as we shall have occasion…. under penalty of Twenty Merks Scots.
The height of the new tenements was restricted to eleven storeys rather than the fifteen storeys of their predecessors but even so Tobias Smollett writing in 1770 observed that ‘I cannot view it without horror; that is, the dreadful situation of all the families above, in case the common stair-case should be rendered impassable by a fire in the lower stories’.
The council's supposed "fireproofing" of the Parliament meant little as 124 years later a large section of the High Street went up in flames in "The Great Fire"
7 notes · View notes