#DWM request

[ink-and-dagger]

Hiii! I want to start by saying that I love your writing and I have re-read Drink With Me roughly 3 times now and it never gets old. However, with me rereading I can’t help but wonder about some silly hypotheticals regarding the story. So…if you don’t mind me asking, could you enlighten me😩🙏🏾😩🙏🏾😩:

1.) How would Silco and Reader (Astrid’s) mother interact? Do you think she would be scared of him? Or would she have him by the hypothetical balls?

1.5) Also branching off of the previous question: what would be the Readers, mother’s reaction to them getting back together?

2.) Could you see Silco and Reader (Astrid) getting married?

3.) Has Reader (Astrid) moved in with Silco by this point or does she just stay with him off and on?

4.) Since the Marcus fiasco, what would the interactions between Silco, Marcus, and Reader (Astrid) be like? Would there be tension or would Silco and Astrid rub it in his face? Perhaps some threats from Silco?🤔🤔🤔

5.) What would Reader (Astrid) and Silco’s relationship look like to an outsider? This question, I’m asking because two of my favorite chapters post Drink with Me are VIP Booth and Shag Rug. And both are instances where there are other people around or nearby when Astrid is dragged off by Silco😅😂. So I just wonder what the average bystanders would think, considering their relationship is private.

I hope this wasn’t too much. I just finally noticed that the link on AO3 was to your tumblr and I wanted to show some love.

P.S. if this is too much, feel free to disregard!

Thank you so much sweet anon! I'm so glad you enjoyed it enough to reread 3 times sob sob <3 <3 <3 Apologies for taking a hot minute, but here are some answers for you...

1.) How would Silco and Astrid’s mother interact? And what would be her mother’s reaction to them getting back together?

This is probably the number 1 top question/request I always get in my askbox lmfao. Silco has little to no interest in ever meeting Astrid's mother, and Astrid is cool with that too. However, if they ever did meet, mother dearest would certainly not have Silco by the balls. Her initial reaction to meeting him would be fear. After that, it would go either one of 2 ways depending on what mood Silco was in that day. He'd either stoke that fear. Or he'd charm her, and have her referring to him as the son she never had within roughly 10 minutes. I'd say the former is most likely, the latter would only be in order to lure her into a false sense of security before petrifying her with a benignly worded threat at a later date.

As to how she'd react to them getting back together post DWM - she'd disapprove (naturally), and would give Astrid a lovely long lecture about how stupid she is to make the same mistake twice and how Astrid's selfish decision is going to impact her [mother's] life.

2.) Could you see Silco and Astrid getting married?

Yes and no.

My headcanon is that marriage isn't hugely common in Zaunite culture because there's no pressure to prove the legitimacy of relationships (familial, romantic or otherwise). In Piltover, families are tied through blood and matrimony. In the Undercity, they're forged in fire. Genetics are inconsequential in Zaun - if you're kin, you're kin, regardless of the blood in your veins, and that's something that Topsiders by nature will never be able to comprehend. In Piltover, a couple who have been together for 2 years and married for 1 would be taken far more seriously and given more rights than a couple who have been living together for 10 years but aren't married. It's all about societal appearances and expectations up there. But in Zaun, none of that matters. Siblings born in hardship are no less than siblings born in blood. Love and loyalty down in the depths isn't defined by anything so tangible.

I'm not saying that people don't get married in Zaun - I'm certain they do - I'm just saying that it isn't such a thing as it is in Piltover or other similarly built societies. There's no expectation for a couple to get married after being together for a certain amount of time, and there's no judgement if they don't.

The reason Astrid's mother is so caught up with the idea is hard for me to put into a few words. She's resentful of her lot in life; a part of her feels she deserves to be wallowing in the Undercity, and another part of her is envious of those who aren't. She places Piltover on this weird pedestal of admiration. She's the type of working class woman who moans about how shitty her life is at the same time as having a framed picture of the monarch on her living room wall.

3.) Has Astrid moved in with Silco by this point?

Soz babe, I'm sitting on this answer a while longer :)

4.) Since the Marcus fiasco, what would the interactions between Silco, Marcus, and Astrid be like?

Tense.

Pretty much immediately after the epilogue in DWM, Astrid and Silco would have spent the morning in bed talking a lot of things out. Including Marcus. Silco no longer holds the past against Astrid, and they are both committed to moving forward together. Despite this, Marcus does remain somewhat of a sore spot in their relationship. Not actively per se, but Astrid avoids mentioning him at all costs, and tends to stay well out of the way whenever the Sheriff comes for a meeting. At the start of their relationship, she also made sure to stay away the night after any meeting too, to give Silco space as his mood post-Marcus meetings tended to be a little unpredictable. But as time passed and her relationship with Silco became more solid, the intensity of this 'sore spot' became less and less. Astrid still avoids mentioning Marcus, and stays well clear of him whenever he visits, but it isn't so awkward as it was at the start of her relationship with Silco now. That being said - the three of them haven't occupied the same room since that one fateful meeting in Chapter 14...

5.) What does Astrid and Silco’s relationship look like to an outsider?

That depends. By this point pretty much the entirety of Silco's staff knows about them in an unofficial capacity. They just pretend not to know. Let's face it - Silco and Astrid aren't as subtle as they think, and their chemistry is evident to anyone with eyes and half a brain. The only people who know about them 'officially' are Jinx, Sevika, Jasper, Max, Astrid's Mum, and Ran (Ran was an unfortunate accident - they walked in whilst S&A were sharing an intimate moment. They swore to secrecy and it's never been mentioned again).

There may be a few regulars in The Last Drop that suspect something is going on between Silco and the cute bartender - but most would likely assume it's a purely physical arrangement. Those who don't frequent the Drop as often and happen to see Silco pulling Astrid off somewhere private would most likely avert their eyes and think poor girl...

[prnanayarquah]

UK-Based Ghanaian Musician Benji Boy Unveils Uplifting Single "Happy Birthday" Featuring DWM

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/uk-based-ghanaian-musician-benji-boy-unveils-uplifting-single-happy-birthday-featuring-dwm/

UK-Based Ghanaian Musician Benji Boy Unveils Uplifting Single "Happy Birthday" Featuring DWM

Benji Boy, the talented Ghanaian musician based in the UK, has released his latest single titled “Happy Birthday,” featuring DWM. This soulful and celebratory song is specifically dedicated to individuals and their loved ones commemorating special occasions.

Formerly known as Quabena Benji, Benji Boy has been at the forefront of promoting Highlife music for over a decade. With his rebranding, he continues to showcase his unique vocal talent that captivates and soothes listeners.

“Happy Birthday” is just a taste of what Benji Boy has in store for his fans, as he diligently works on a series of upcoming musical releases. With his commitment to delivering enriching experiences, music enthusiasts can look forward to a journey of musical delights.

Speaking about the inspiration behind “Happy Birthday,” Benji Boy said, “I wanted to create a song that brings joy and celebrates those special moments in people’s lives. Birthdays are a time of happiness and love, and I hope this song becomes an anthem for everyone who wants to celebrate.”

Releasing on 16th October,2023, “Happy Birthday” promises to deliver a heart-warming listening experience and is available on all major music platforms.

Stream here – https://songwhip.com/benjiboy/happy-birthday

For media inquiries, interviews, or booking requests, please contact: benjiboymuzik@gmail.com

[mizgnomer]

David Tennant / The Fourteenth Doctor at Comic Relief Red Nose Day March 2023

Excerpt from Doctor Who Magazine #589:

Doctor Who executive producer Phil Collinson tells DWM: "A lot of people have thanked us for contributing to Comic Relief when, in fact, we had nothing to do with it! Though we're delighted to be associated with such a good cause. David's always had a long association with them, so the first we knew of it was when a request came through from Comic Relief, asking if we'd be happy with a scene of Sir Lenny Henry regenerating into David. We said, 'Oh yes, fire away, help yourself.' To be honest, I was pleased that they'd even asked, it was very considerate of them! "I think the initial plans were very elaborate, to create a full re-staging of Jodie's regeneration into David. But a message came through a few weeks later - because of schedules and deadlines, they asked if they could simplify it. Again, of course, no worries - we were honoured simply to be mentioned in the same breath!

[ambrossart]

Bad Omens

summary: after experiencing the most unlucky morning of his life, eddie is convinced that doom is on the horizon. all his friends think he's just being paranoid, but then jeff receives an unexpected request from you, eddie's little harbinger of misfortune.

pairing: eddie munson x dwm!reader word count: 4,633 warnings: middle school, young!eddie, insecure!eddie, language, bullying, teasing, secret crushes, the unnamed freak is named grant in this series

series masterpost | series playlist | fanfiction masterlist

It was a dull, dreary, rainy morning for all the students hanging out in the Hawkins Middle School cafeteria. They sat in small, quiet clusters around the room, eating, talking, scrambling to finish last night’s homework. Jeff was part of the latter group, and like everyone else, he was having a hard time staying awake. 

While the rain pattered softly against the window, he sat slumped over the table with his chin on his wrist, struggling to resist sleep’s sweet siren song. His social studies book lay in front of him, open to his current reading assignment: something about the Incas or the Mayans (Jeff couldn’t keep them straight and, this late in the school year, he didn’t have the motivation to care). He kept reading the same sentence over and over, but the words always got lost in the fog of his thoughts. His eyes, listless and heavy-lidded, blurred with tears every time he—

Another yawn snuck up on him, threatening to split his mouth wide open. Jeff raised his head and surrendered to it, let it wash over him and then drift away, leaving little pools of moisture in the corners of his tired eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve, put his chin down, and went back to reading.

“Dude, you gotta stop yawning,” Grant said. Then he let out a big yawn of his own.

He was slicing through the school’s frozen waffles with a fork. Inside the other compartments of his tray were two greasy sausage links, a cup of assorted fruit, and two cartons of milk. Grant always bought an extra milk because one was never enough. 

“They’re too small,” he would say. “You finish one before you’re even halfway done with your food.” 

“Boy, this is riveting stuff,” Scottie would answer. “Now, Grant, how ‘bout you share with us your thoughts on the basic four food groups? For instance, should fruits and vegetables really be grouped together?”

Then someone, usually Eddie, would tell Scottie to shut up, and that would be the end of it. 

“God, these are awful,” Grant was saying now, while he stuffed a waffle square into his mouth and forced himself to chew. “Just look at ‘em. Pale, lifeless, cold in the middle. It’s like they have no pride in their product.” 

“And yet you keep eating it,” Scottie said while he doodled in his notebook. “See, Grant? You’re part of the problem.” 

“I have to,” Grant answered with a shrug. “You know I can’t go to class on an empty stomach. When I get hungry, my stomach growls really, really loud, and I’ve got a test coming up. Can you imagine what it’ll sound like in a room that quiet? Everyone will hear it and they’ll know it came from me. I can’t handle that kinda stress.”

Scottie’s doodling hand slowed. He stared at Grant with bored, blinking eyes. 

Then he said, “I keep going back to the tombs. I feel like the tombs are crucial.” 

Jeff lifted his chin off his wrist. “What?” 

“He’s talking about his campaign.” 

“Oh.” 

Shocker. Scottie was always talking about his campaign. 

“I still haven’t come up with a name for it,” Scottie said. “So far, I’ve got Into the Delves, The Delves of Dunmar, The Delves of Dunland, Digging in the Delves, Digging in the Dark Delves…” 

“Why are you so stuck on ‘delves’?” Jeff asked. 

“I dunno, I just like the way it sounds.” 

“Yeah, but I thought it was about a tomb.”

“Well, what’s a delve?” 

“It’s not a tomb! A delve is like a cave or something.”

“A hollow,” said Grant, “or a pit… a grotto.” 

“It’s also a verb, which means ‘to dig,’ which would make half those titles kinda redundant.”

Scottie’s shoulder sank. “Well, shit,” he said. “Now I’m back to square one.”

He tore out the page and crumpled it up. 

“Hey, where’s Munson? He usually comes in hot with all kinds of weird ideas. They’re usually shit, but sometimes there’s a little diamond hiding in there, and I pluck it out and shine it up real pretty until it glows into a sparkling, wonderful idea.” 

Jeff cracked a smirk. “You’re like Rumpelstiltskin spinning straw into gold.” 

Scottie squinted at him. “Rumple who?” 

“Rumpelstiltskin. It’s a German fairytale. Sorry, my lab partner got her hands on a book of Grimm fairytales and now she’s like Mother Goose. She brings them to class and reads me her favorite ones. Except these aren’t nice, happy fairytales. These are like weird and creepy. Like in one, this girl gets kidnapped by a rabbit or something and is forced to marry him.” 

“Oh, ‘The Hare’s Bride,’” said Grant. “That’s a good one.” 

“You know it?” 

“I know a lot of things I shouldn’t.” 

Scottie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Grant, you’re just a well of knowledge. A giant, giant well.”  

Grant ignored him and went on talking: “I thought she was into Lovecraft.”

“No, that was last month, thank God. I’m so glad that phase is over. Those stories are the stuff of nightmares.”

“Speaking of nightmares,” Scottie said. “Did anyone else get a weird call from Gareth last night?” 

Jeff and Grant shook their heads. 

“Well, he called me at like eleven o’clock ranting about the Antichrist and the end of the world. It took me a while to decipher what he was actually saying, but I guess he was watching The Omen last night, and a bird flew into his window and broke its neck, so naturally he started freaking out, like Gareth always does, and the whole time I was thinking, Dude, this why your mommy doesn’t let you watch horror movies. The kid just can’t handle ‘em.” 

“Weird,” Grant said. Then he perked up and said, “Hey, here comes Eddie!” 

Their friend had come gusting in from the rain and was now trudging through the cafeteria, stomping muddy shoeprints all over the tile. He had yet to draw back the hood of his black sweatshirt, which to the rest of the students, gave him a striking (and amusing) resemblance to the Grim Reaper. Some of them snickered as he passed. One girl cupped her hand over her mouth and said to her friend, “Go back to the graveyard, Eddie Munster,” and the girls tittered hysterically while clinging to each other. Eddie pretended like he couldn’t hear them, but he could. He always could. 

He threw his backpack to the floor, ripped off his hood, and slammed both his hands onto the table. 

“Guys, something horrible’s about to happen.” 

“Yes!” Scottie said, pumping his fists excitedly. “Let’s fucking go! You’re all worked up. You’ve got that crazy intensity in your eyes. This is gonna be just what I need. Hold on, lemme get a new page ready. Make sure my pen has plenty of ink.” He scribbled with his pen, gave a satisfied nod, and settled back into his seat. “All right, gimme some straw, Rumpleskillskin.” 

A deep crease formed between Eddie’s brows. “What’s he talking about?” 

“Just ignore him,” Jeff said. He closed his social studies book and gave Eddie his full attention. “What happened, man?”

Eddie pulled out a chair, sat down, and dragged his fingers through his damp hair. “Okay, so last night I woke up with this horrible and just uneasy feeling, y’know? It was like this massive weight was just sitting on top of my chest. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. It was fucking terrifying.” 

“What, you mean like sleep paralysis?” Scottie said. “Was a demon sitting on your chest, like in that…? Wait, what’s that painting again?” 

“The Nightmare,” Grant said. 

Scottie snapped his fingers at him. “Yes, thank you! ‘The Nightmare.’ Is that what you had, Munson? Did you have a little nighttime visitor? Did it whisper to you in the dark? Did it tell you secrets about the afterlife? Or maybe, you know, give you ideas for my campaign?” 

“Oh, would you stop?” Jeff said to him, and Scottie threw up his hands, as if to say, What? I’m desperate! 

“Keep going, Eddie. You woke up with a really bad feeling. What happened after that?”

“Okay, so while I was laying there, I thought back to what Gareth said earlier. Did you guys know a bird flew into his window last night?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Scottie threw down his pen in frustration. “That’s what this is about? The fucking Omen? Eddie, relax, the Antichrist isn’t coming, okay? You and Gareth just have overactive imaginations and like to drive each other crazy with your paranoia. You guys need to go outside and get some fresh air every once in a while.” 

“What?” Eddie said. “I’m not talking about the Antichrist! Look, something bad’s gonna happen, you guys. I can feel it. And right now I’m having the worst day of my life. My alarm didn’t go off this morning, so I was running really fucking late. The roof started leaking from all the rain, and everything on my desk got drenched. My books. My homework. Everything. It’s all just ruined, so I dunno what I’m gonna do about that. Then the chain came off my bike while I was riding to school, and I crashed face-first into a puddle of muddy water. It was disgusting and I think I swallowed some of it. I had to walk my bike the rest of the way, and who did I see as soon as I got to school? Her. Because, of course, I would see her on the worst morning of my life. I see her every other morning, why would today be any different? She was just sitting on the steps with a book on her lap. I swear, it was like she was waiting for me or something. She smiled that smile and giggled that giggle, and she said, ‘Rough day, huh, Mudson?’” 

Scottie stifled a laugh. “She called you ‘Mudson’? Okay, that’s actually kinda clever.”

“It’s not clever,” Eddie said. “It’s not funny. It’s not cute. Y’know Gareth’s all worried about the Antichrist, but… as far as I’m concerned, the Antichrist is already here, and her name is—” 

“She��s not the Antichrist,” Jeff said. “Now you’re just being overdramatic.”

“Yeah, well, her giggle signals doom, so…” 

Scottie said, “What, is she like a banshee or something?” and his eyes lit up. “Oh, a banshee, I like that. A banshee wailing in the dark. Shrieking… shrieking… Yes, I’m starting to feel it now. There’s definitely something there.” 

He put his pen to the paper and tuned everyone else out. Meanwhile, Jeff leaned back in his chair and gave a solemn nod.

“Okay, Eddie, you had a bad morning, I’ll give you that, but that’s all it was, man. A bad morning. It doesn’t mean something horrible’s about to happen to you.” 

“Yeah,” Grant said. “I mean, there’s a logical explanation for most of that stuff. Like your alarm not going off? You probably lost power at some point last night. The leak in your roof? Well, dude, you live in an old trailer and it was raining pretty hard last night. Leaks like that are bound to happen. It sucks, but it’s really not that weird. And chains come off bikes all the time. Same thing happened to me last month. As for your little doom-giggler, well… that girl’s always giggling at you.” 

“Exactly,” Scottie said as he put down his pen. “She’s just your little heckler, Munson. Just a sweet little sixth-grader that likes to watch you squirm. God, I’d love to meet this girl. I wanna go up to her and shake her hand and thank her for giving me so much entertainment this year. I’m really gonna miss her.” 

“Shut up,” Eddie said. He leaned onto his forearms and went quiet, simmering in his thoughts. 

“Feel better?” Grant asked after a minute. 

“No.” 

“Well, have a fruit cup.” 

Grant plucked his cup off his tray and set it down in front of him. 

“Thanks,” Eddie said, and Jeff clapped him on the shoulder. 

“Hey, relax, man. Try to look on the bright side. School’s almost out, summer vacation’s coming up, and we’ve got three months of D&D to look forward to. Scottie says this campaign’s gonna be the best one yet.” 

“Yeah, I bet,” Eddie muttered. He stuck his fingers into the cup and felt something wet slap the top of his hand. 

It was an orange wedge.

“What the fuck?” 

He drew back just as a second wedge came skipping across the table. It landed beside Grant’s breakfast tray. Then a third bounced off the side of Jeff’s head—“Ow!”—and plopped onto Scottie’s notebook.

“What, is it raining oranges now?” Scottie made a sickened face and flicked it away. “Is this part of your apocalypse, Eddie?” 

“No, I dunno what this is.” Eddie turned his head and—“God dammit!” 

Andy Hauffman and Clay Howard were sitting a few tables over and throwing orange wedges at them. Andy said, “Thought you could use some vitamin C, Munster!” and fired another one. It clipped Eddie on the shoulder and left a wet mark on his sweater. 

Jeff ducked down and said, “Wait, why do they think Eddie needs vitamin C?”

Scottie shrugged. “Because they wanna boost his immune system?” 

Grant sighed. An orange landed on his thigh. “They mean vitamin D.” 

“Oh,” Scottie said. “See, that makes more sense, because Eddie’s so pale and hates the sun.”

“I don’t hate the sun!” Eddie said, and winced as the next wedge gave him a big kiss on the cheek. He wiped the wetness away with his hand while Clay gave Andy a high five and said, “Nice one, dude!”

Eddie turned around and glared at them. Clay just laughed and chucked another one. Eddie swung his hand at it, missed, and got hit anyway. After that, he finally gave up and put his head down on the table. “I fucking hate this school.” 

“Dude, just ignore them,” Scottie said. “They’re idiots, man. They can’t even insult you properly. Besides, you should consider yourself lucky they only throw fruit at you. Last week, they depantsed me and shoved me into the girls’ locker room. I’ve never heard so many girls laugh in my life. They’d never do that to you, though, ‘cause they’re too scared you might bring a knife to school and stab them.” 

A stunned silence consumed the table. Jeff had his hand pressed to his forehead. Grant froze in mid-drink. An orange wedge struck his cheek and made it jiggle. 

“Hey—” Jeff began in a low voice. 

Eddie pushed himself to his feet, yanked his backpack off the floor, and stormed out of the cafeteria. 

“Oh, come on, Munson,” Scottie said as he went by. “It’s funny ‘cause your dad’s in prison! Everyone thinks you’re gonna shank someone. Oh god, there he goes again… off to find a dark corner to brood in… Poor, Eddie, nobody understands you, waah, waah, waah.”

“Dude,” Jeff said. “Enough.” 

“What?” Scottie said. “I’m just trying to toughen the guy up a little. If he thinks middle school’s bad, high school’s gonna be a nightmare for him. What, does he think people are suddenly gonna stop thinking he’s trailer trash? I had a stutter when I was six and they still call me ‘Suh-Suh-Sloman.’ Kids suck. They’re always gonna suck. He needs to accept that and move on.”

Scottie picked up his pen, put it back to the paper, and sighed. 

“I went too far, didn’t I? Oh shit… I’ll make it up to him later.” 

Grant finished his breakfast in silence. Jeff opened his textbook and returned to his reading assignment. 

“You know what, though,” Scottie said after a while, “I kinda know what he’s talking about. There’s something in the air today. I dunno how to describe it. It’s like electric or something. I can feel it pulsing through my veins. Yeah, I think something really exciting’s about to happen, you guys.” 

Jeff hadn’t given much thought to what Scottie had said, not until he sat down in his fourth-period science class. 

It was the strangest thing. As soon as his back pressed against the cold metal chair, a tingle ran up his spine and made all the little hairs on his arm stand on end. Electric, he thought, and immediately shoved the thought away. Come on, get ahold of yourself, Jeff. He wasn’t about to get all worked up over some silly superstition. 

At eleven-o-one, the door swung open and you walked into the science lab, your nose wrinkling instantly from the sharp lemon scent of disinfectant. 

Oh good, Jeff thought. A weird, whimsical story from you was sure to mend his frayed nerves. All right, Mother Goose, what creepy tale do you have for me today?

You slid into the chair beside him, laid all your materials on the table, and said… nothing, absolutely nothing. This morning, you were oddly quiet. Disturbingly quiet. Instead of gushing about your latest obsession, you were staring at the empty chalkboard and tugging at your sweater sleeve. This made Jeff a little anxious. 

“No stories for me today?” 

You raised your eyebrows at him. “Hm? Oh, uhh, no… not today.” 

The book of Grimm fairytales lay on top of your notebook, its cover lightly speckled from the rain. How long did you sit out there waiting for him? Jeff wondered. Ten minutes? Twenty? He could almost picture it: you sitting out in the cold, barely sheltered from the rain, huddled over your book, frowning miserably, trying to stay warm, trying to read, stopping every other sentence to look up and see if Eddie had arrived yet. Man, say what you want about her, but you gotta admire the girl’s commitment.

With this in mind, Jeff decided to shift to a different tactic. He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. 

“So… Mudson, huh?” 

And just like that, your eyes sparked with life, like two little lightning bolts.

(Electric)

You placed your hand over your mouth and giggled. It was impish yet innocent, and it brought a much-needed smile to Jeff’s face. 

“So he mentioned it, huh?” you said, delighted by the thought. 

“Yeah,” Jeff said. “Yeah, he definitely did…” 

“It just kinda slipped out, you know? He showed up all wet and muddy, and my brain naturally mashed the two words together.” To illustrate this, you smashed your fist into your palm. Then you broke up into giggles again. “Oh my god, you should have seen his face, Jeff. He was so pissed!”

“Yeah, well… Eddie’s not having a very good day.” 

Your chest rose with a sharp breath. “Why? What happened?” 

“Don’t worry about it,” Jeff said, but he knew you would anyway. 

You fell back against your chair, dejected, and dropped your gaze to the floor. In a small, guilty voice, you said, “It really did slip out.” 

“Yeah, I know,” Jeff said. “Like I said, don’t worry about it, okay? It’s not because of you.” 

The rest of the students came trickling in and class finally began. 

Afterwards, while everyone was packing up and getting ready to go to lunch, you turned to Jeff and said, “Hey… uhh, you know that fantasy game you’re always playing?” 

“You mean D&D?” 

“Yeah, that one,” you said, and suddenly that strange, tingly feeling had returned. It had jumped off the chair and was now crawling up Jeff’s back like a big, hairy spider. He looked at you and wondered if you felt it, too. 

(Or maybe he was just losing his mind. Or having a stroke.) 

Jeff rolled his shoulders a few times, trying to rid himself of the feeling. Then he snatched his books and quickly headed for the door. You followed him out. 

“So, umm, hypothetically speaking, how would one go about joining? Like, is there an interview or an application process? Do you have to sacrifice your firstborn child? What’s the procedure here?” 

“Uhh, I dunno,” Jeff said. “Nobody’s ever really wanted to join before. Why? You interested?” 

“Kind of… I mean, it may have crossed my mind. You know, you just make it sound so interesting when you talk about it.”  

“Oh,” Jeff replied with a sly smile, “so I’ve piqued your interest, huh?” 

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” 

Jeff nodded, still smiling. “And this has nothing to do with your massive crush on Eddie?” 

“No…” You paused, fell a few steps behind, and ran to catch up with him. “Is it that obvious?” 

“Well, not to Eddie. He thinks you hate him.” 

You cringed. “Yeah, we kinda got off on the wrong foot…” 

“Yeah, you got off on the wrong foot and just kept on walking, didn’t you?” 

“Hey, it’s not my fault! School really brings out the worst in me, you know? I can’t relax. I feel like I always have to be on the defensive. Middle school is basically hell on earth, and I’ve had to develop some really sharp edges in order to survive this place. Sometimes I cut people without meaning to. And he’s just so sensitive, Jeff. Every little comment sets him off.” 

“Yeah, well, that’s Eddie for you…” 

“A tragedy is what it is. He has all this potential, but he’s just wasting it! Right now he’s Bruce Banner, but he could be the Incredible Hulk if he wanted to.” 

Bruce Banner? The Incredible Hulk? Boy, Jeff was really starting to regret lending you his old comic books. 

“Look, Eddie doesn’t wanna be the Incredible Hulk, okay? He wants to be Bruce Banner. He just wants to blend in and be left alone.” 

“Well… too bad! I want him to be the Incredible Hulk. And don’t pretend like you don’t agree with me, Jeff. Eddie would be so much happier if he would just stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. He can do it when he’s playing guitar on stage. Why can’t he do it at school?”

“Because Eddie’s a very complicated person.” 

“I know. He’s fascinating.” You hugged your books close to your chest and let out a dreamy sigh. “I just don’t understand why he tries so hard to pretend he’s boring and normal. His crazy side’s way more entertaining. I’ve seen glimpses of it when he thinks nobody’s paying attention. Oh my god, Jeff, he’s such a little weirdo! He gets all dorky and hyper, but then he notices me watching him and, you know, runs away. It’s such a bummer. Like, stop teasing me with the trailers, Munson, just gimme the full show! It’s like he’s got a little monster hiding inside him, and I just wanna rip it out and unleash it on the whole town!” 

Jeff put his hand up to stop you. “Okay, don’t ever say that to him. Ever. Trust me, the last thing Eddie wants to hear is that you think he’s got a monster inside him.” 

You both turned at the end of the hallway. Jeff’s shoulder accidentally bumped against yours and he drew back suddenly, with a jerk. There it was again, that spine-tingling, unnerving feeling. Except this time it wasn’t in the air. It wasn’t clinging to his chair. This time it was radiating off you like some invisible force field. When Jeff touched your shoulder, he felt it surge through his whole body like a shock of static electricity.

“Oh my god,” he said, “you’re Eddie’s bad feeling!” 

You scrunched up your face. “What?” 

Jeff gave his back to you and broke into a near-jog. You chased after him, calling his name. 

“Look, I’m sorry, but I can’t help you, okay?” Jeff ripped open his locker and dumped everything inside. When he closed the door, you were standing on the other side, staring at him with confusion. “I mean, what do you think’s gonna happen, anyway? You think Eddie’s gonna wanna date you or something? Because I can tell you right now that’s never gonna happen.” 

A silent gasp escaped Jeff’s lips. You stared at him with a startled, wounded expression.

“Oh, damn it,” he said, and knocked his head against his locker door. “Hey, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

“Whatever.” You sniffed loudly and wiped your runny nose on the back of your hand. “I mean, you’re probably right, anyway. It’s not like I’m blind or stupid, Jeff. I know I’m not exactly the prettiest girl in school.” 

“Oh, come on, that’s not what I meant.” 

“Yeah, I know what you meant,” you said, and wiped your nose again. “Eddie’s fourteen and next year he’s going to high school. He’s not gonna be interested in dating some twelve-year-old, not even if she was a lot prettier than me. I know that. I’m not delusional or anything. I’ve already accepted that my parents had sex two years too late, okay? I’m not quite tall enough to ride that rollercoaster. That’s why I need some time to… well, you know…”

“Get taller?” Jeff said, cracking a smile. 

“Exactly,” you said, and giggled. “Look, I know Eddie doesn’t think very highly of me right now. I bet he thinks I’m really annoying, right?”

“Yeah… he called you the Antichrist this morning.” 

“See, that’s… Wait, he called me the Antichrist? Seriously? That’s what he thinks of me? I’m the spawn of Satan?” 

“Pretty sure he was just exaggerating.” 

“Yeah, that better be some crazy hyperbole ‘cause I dunno how I’m supposed to recover from that.”

You both laughed at that for a minute. Then you squeezed your hands into fists and gave him a pleading look.

“I just need time, Jeff, and right now I don’t have enough. School’s almost over and next year Eddie’s going to high school. He’s gonna be gone for two years while I’m trapped in this purgatory that is middle school. This summer’s my last chance to spend time with him. To make a good impression on him. Show him that I’m not the Antichrist. Holy shit, I still can’t believe he called me the Antichrist! Like, I know he doesn’t think much of me, but that seems a little harsh, doesn’t it?” You gave your head a shake and refocused. “But, hey, that’s okay. I can dig myself out of that hole. It might take me a while, but I’ll get there eventually. And then maybe, like in a few years or so, he’ll start to like me, too… maybe… but I’m not expecting anything. I mean, don’t get me wrong, that’s definitely the ideal scenario, but I’ll settle for whatever I can get at this point. Shit, anything’s better than the Antichrist, right?”

You gave a helpless but hopeful shrug. Jeff rubbed the back of his neck, mulling it over. 

“You know you’re putting me in a tough spot here.” 

“I know.” 

“And Eddie’s really not gonna like this.” 

“I know.” 

Jeff sighed. “Okay,” he said, and your face lit up like the sky on the Fourth of July. “But listen to me: if I do this for you, if I stick my neck out for you, you have to promise to be on your best behavior, okay? You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into here. This isn’t just a game for us, especially not for Eddie. He takes his D&D very seriously. It’s like sacred to him. He’s not gonna like you goofing around.”

“I won’t goof around. I won’t, I won’t.” 

You did. 

A lot. 

Sorry, Eddie, Jeff thought, looks like your nightmare’s about to come true.

He walked into the cafeteria with his tray, found his friends sitting at their usual table, and sat down.

“Guys, I’m calling an emergency party meeting.”

Eddie’s whole body tensed with dread. “Why? What’s going on?”

SERIES MASTERPOST

FANFICTION MASTERLIST

[neptunefairytales]

Thasmin Watching P.1 (DW Magazine stuff)

Ok so I’m posting the “Thasmin Watching” from the DWM (only for series 11 today, sorry. The rest will follow in a few days ). Most of them are just quotes from the show but their is some goodies! ^.^

I put a “read under” because it’s quite long with the pics!

"The Doctor: "Come on, Yaz. I'm calling you Yaz cos we're friends now"."

"It's very early days for the Doctor and Yaz here - yet, in hintsight, there's a sense that the Doctor is treating Yaz as more of an equal than she does the others. They're clearly taking delight in each other's company - abeit quietly at this stage."

"When Yaz worries about sitting in the 'white' bus seats, across the aisle from the Doctor and Graham, the Doctor fonds it hard to meet her eyes, then share an unhappy glance."

"Najia: "Are you two seeing each other?". Doctor: "I don' think so. Are we?" Yaz: "We're friends." Then Later... Yaz: "I want more. More of the universe. More time with you. You're like the best person I've ever met"."

"Yaz's attempts to share the Doctor's enthusiasm for the ship's antimatter drive, which she freely admits she doesn't understand at all, are very sweet."

"Thasmaniacs may divine their own reasons why Yaz can't talk to Nani about her own taboo-busting romantic life. The Doctor's sudden impassioned outburst - "We can't have a universe with no Yaz" - also provides food for thought."

Ok but "Thasmaniacs"? Is this how we call it now? XD It genuinely make me laugh to read it with my own eyes in an official book!

""Doctor can I make a request?" says Yaz. "Always," the Doctor replies. (Though not all requests will necessarily be granted, of course)."

"Yaz was bullies at school by one Izzy Flint, who "turned the whole class against me". Is it possible that prejudice against Yaz's sexual orienation played a role in Izzy's animus against her?"

"Yaz's suggestion that the Doctor could maybe try to "reverse the polarity" is a nice moment, unwittingly harking back to a trick that always served the Doctor well, particularly in his third incarnation. "Tasmin Khan, you speak my language!"."

"The Doctor wants Yaz to go to Paltraki's ship. "No," Yaz telle her. "I'm with you. Whatever happens."."

"Yasmin doesn't like it when the Doctor goes quiet and doesn't want her to face the Dalek alone. They had fun together on New Year's Day 1801, discovering the dawrf planet, Ceres, with Guiseppe Piazzi. The Doctor introduces Yaz as one of her best friends."

That’s it for today! I’ll try to post series 12 and 13 maybe not tomorrow but very soon :) Please don't repost my pics, and don't forget to reblog, it’s what keeps fandoms alive. ^^

[goldensunflowe-r]

Dad Harry part 2

Part1 Part3

Masterlist

Good morning Indeed

[pretendingboyfriends]

good news besties, dwm is finished and ready for editing which meanssss i'm gonna be working on prof harry and then blurb requests!!

[katieamazeballs]

Maks and Papa C founded Rising Stars c. 1997. They added Jahna Volynets as a partner - at HER request and a great business decision - a few years later and RSDA evolved/grew into DWM. When Maks BROUGHT IN Tony (ie invited his bff to share in his business as a partner!) in 2012 DWM was already FIFTEEN YEARS old. Check out the Fred Astaire website. Tony is one of about fifty other peeps on their admin board. It isn't "his" business and he isn't making the big bucks if he's still doing cruises lol.

- I realize most of your followers were still in diapers when Tony joined DWM but to educate them (and you), Tony became a partner in DWM before Val or Eugene did. He did the majority of the work while Maks ran around Ukraine collecting a scammed paycheck to be the Bachelor.  And yes it was scammed because he got caught vacationing in the Caribbean with his LA-based girlfriend during the show's Christmas break. 

I’ll let y’all duke this out between yourselves since I don’t know when Tony joined DWM (although it looks like possibly 2010).  I do know, however, that Maks was approached to be Ukranian Bachelor in 2009 and it probably filmed in 2010 because it aired in 2011.  So........

Also of note, since you’re so bitter about Maks’ Bachelor “scam”....from Val’s book, Maks was HIGHLY recruited to be on the show.  And the relationship lasted 2 days.

[its-ashley-95baybe]

Funny how they had an appearance together for teaching yet she couldn't for the opening of another DWM studio that the family owns? I feel like it was a request by him to take some time off & visit her sister or by someone that didn't want to deal with her. I just get those vibes. Because we all know she would be at DWM if they really wanted her there. I can't see JJ passing up a chance to not go on her own accord. Girl talks so much about missing her 🍯 when he's away for less than 24 hours.

It’s so embarrassing. This man is really her word and it’s sickening

[ink-and-dagger]

I was finally able to read DWM and I love it (I haven't finished it entirely yet) but I'm on the part where Astrid or we get drunk and there is a mention of strip poker and I was wondering if like in alternative universe, we do it.

You dont have to do the request but I still just wanna say THANK YOU FOR WRITING DRINK WITH ME AND IVE BEEN TRYING TO READ IT FOR A WHILE BUT I DIDNT HAVE A ARCHIVE ACC YET and it is so amazing and I don't regret it one bit.

LOVE YOU

Meep moop you’re too sweet 🥺 Thank you so much for your kind words, and I’m glad it was worth the wait! I hope the rest lives up to your expectations 💜

FUNNILY ENOUGH, my dear one, I have had a draft of this exact AU just sitting in my phone notes for well over a year. Another anon sent in the request not long after that chapter was first published. It’s unlikely that I’ll ever work on it any more than I already have, so… here you go. It’s unfinished, unedited, copied straight from my phone notes and rougher than an alligator’s asshole. But I hope it at least gives you some idea of how things might have gone down.

A/N I don’t understand how to play poker and refuse to learn so don’t come for me on accuracy

DRINK WITH ME - STRIP POKER AU ♠️♦️

SFW just lots of flirting || MDNI || Unedited

You’re surprised you didn’t think of it first.

You’re even more surprised that he actually suggests it.

“How do you feel about upping the stakes?” The sly curl of Silco’s lips doesn’t match the blasé cadence of his question.

“You don’t have enough money already? You want to swindle a lowly bartender out of her meagre savings?”

“At the rate I’m paying you? You’re the one swindling me,” he counters breezily, “But no. I was thinking of a different sort of collateral.”

Your eyebrow arches, “And what collateral might that be?”

“Clothing.”

That smirk widens. His eyes are fixed on you, and not on the cards he shuffles; precise, dexterous fingers making quick work of the deck. Honestly, is there anything the man can’t make look seductive? You’ve never been more jealous of an inanimate object in your life.

Your laugh comes out a little louder than intended, thanks to the alcohol which clouds your head, “You want to play strip poker?”

“I do.”

“It’s a little unfair don’t you think? Considering you’re wearing more clothes than a prudish piltie gentlewoman while I only have my top and trousers?”

“Seems perfectly fair to me.”

You scoff, “How so?”

“You forced me to play your ridiculous game,” he answers smoothly, “I think it only fair you play mine.”

You suck your teeth, and his smirk widens as he sends the cards flying between his two palms in a cheap, ostentatious trick that does nothing to actually shuffle them.

You cross your arms and sniff haughtily, “I’ll need a show of good faith.”

Silco takes his time; loosening the knot of his tie, pulling the silken fabric from beneath his collar, and hanging it neatly over the back of the sofa. Your own lips curl slowly upwards as you enjoy the show. And you’re suddenly warm enough that the idea of losing a few items of clothing doesn’t sound so bad.

“Will that suffice?”

“Let’s play,” you purr.

You keep your face as blank as possible as you look at the flush in your hand.

All your jewellery sits in a neat golden pile on the table, and is the only reason you’re not stark naked by now.

You’d expected Silco to complain when you’d lost the first hand and had pointedly removed a single hoop earring. But he hadn’t. He’d sat perfectly serenely while his gaze darted over you; cataloguing how many pieces of jewellery you were wearing, and calculating how many hands he’d need to win to get to the good stuff.

The fact that he hadn’t looked fazed in the least should have been your first clue. The bastard is good at poker. Or very, very lucky.

Along with your jewellery, you’re also missing both shoes and socks. Leaving you only with main items of clothing left. But you’ve been granted a reprieve in the form of a winning streak. The last few rounds have gifted you with Silco’s boots and both his socks. And, unless he’s hiding something you can’t see, you’re about to win an exquisitely tailored waistcoat.

He places down his cards and you whoop loudly, fanning your superior hand out next to his.

“Take it off,” you grin, reclining expectantly back against the sofa arm.

Again, he looks suspiciously calm as his begins unfastening the golden clasps on his vest.

You sway your head from side-to-side and begin singing under your breath; the corny kind of background music you find in low-budget pornos played in the dodgy, back-alley picture houses that litter the Lanes.

“Bow-chicka-wha—“

“Stop that.”

You watch his fingers work open the two straps that cinch his waist so nicely.

“I’ve always wondered how you get out of that thing.”

The words slip out before you’ve fully considered the connotation of them. The tips of your ears burn when Silco pauses, and raises his gaze to yours.

He takes a moment before answering, “It’s easier than it looks.”

“That so?”

“Mhm.”

“Good to know.”

His dual-eyes remain locked with yours as he shrugs out of the vest and hangs it off the back of the sofa along with his tie.

Silco deals again.

The round ends quickly. Along with your winning streak.

You stare at your shitty hand and suck your teeth. When you look up from the cards, you’re greeted with an understated expression of pure evil.

You weigh your options.

Although currently tucked into your waistband; the shirt you’re wearing today is fairly long.

So you opt for trousers.

You untuck your shirt so that it protects at least a little of your modesty, and carefully wiggle out of your trousers whilst remaining seated. Silco’s eyes glint like the edge of a blade, and you can feel their razor point trace a line from your feet, all the way up to your thighs.

“Never seen a bit of leg before?”

“Never a pair quite so fine.”

You snort a laugh, and make a show of crossing one over the other, “Quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

He doesn’t respond, merely smirks while he shuffles, before dealing with just a touch too much enthusiasm.

You’re once again left with a shitty hand. And sigh to yourself when Silco fans out four of a kind.

He looks positively gleeful.

Well. At least you wore a bra today. One of your nicer ones that matches your underwear too, thank the Eternals. And if you’re going down, might as well make a show of it. You loosen your shirt fastenings — relishing the thrum of Silco’s impatience with how slow you do so, despite his outward appearance being the picture of composed grace.

The material parts and slinks off your shoulders. And you take entirely too much satisfaction in the swell of Silco’s pupils.

You shrug out of it entirely, dropping it next to your trousers on the floor, and arrange yourself into a more flattering pose on the sofa facing him; legs tucked to the side, and your elbow upon the back of the sofa, enabling you to lean casually in a way that lengthens your body.

He absently shuffles the deck as he rakes his gaze over every inch of you.

You tut and hold out your hand, “If you’re too distracted to deal, then let me. I’m convinced you’re cheating anyway.”

“I’m not cheating,” he replies smoothly, but places the deck in your waiting hand regardless, “You have the worst poker face I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”

You smirk as you shuffle the cards; lacking Silco’s finesse.

“In that case, I might actually stand a chance of winning now. Seeing as you can’t keep your eyes off my tits.”

His gaze flicks up to meet yours, and his smirk widens at the same time yours does.

You deal.

And keep your triumph to yourself up until the moment Silco shows his hand.

“Full House babyyy,” you jeer, laying your cards down atop his.

You reach for your drink, taking a smug sip at the subtle tightening of Silco’s jaw. To his credit, he dutifully untucks his shirt from his trousers and begins a slow descent down the front with his fingers.

Your heart beats faster, spurred by anticipation and booze.

He parts the material.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!!”

Silco merely smiles at your outrage – small and banal – as he shrugs out of the maroon fabric, leaving him in a fitted black undervest.

“No fair. I demand compensation. You owe me nipples.”

“I owe you nothing.”

“Just one then.”

“No.”

“Come on. Quick flash.”

“How about I allow you to deal again? That’s more than fair.”

You grumble under your breath, snatching and shuffling the cards with a touch too much force.

And of course you lose the hand.

You glare at Silco.

“Deck’s rigged.”

“No it isn’t.”

“Is.”

“Sweetheart,” Silco croons emphatically, all at once managing to sound sincere, patronising, and suggestive, “Even a man such as myself has his morals. I don’t cheat at cards, and I always keep my word.” His eyes sharpen, “Question is, do you always keep yours? You agreed to play, after all.”

You’re certain that the fire beneath your skin is flickering openly in your gaze.

He reclines comfortably back and waits.

You’re certain he must be able to see the way your pulse races beneath your jawline. Perhaps even the urgent drum of your heart against your exposed ribcage. Excitement? Embarrassment? You don’t know, and you’d rather not cross examine yourself for the answer.

Crossing one arm over your chest, you reach your other behind your back and unfasten your bra. You slip it out from beneath your forearm and discard it to the floor, before crossing the other arm across your chest to cover as much as you can from him.

Silco’s ruined eye glows like stoked coal, sinful mouth curled in shameless victory.

“Would you like to shuffle, or shall I?”

Your hands may be otherwise occupied, but you still manage to poke your middle finger up over your crossed forearms well enough.

His chuckle reverberates in your bones, and you pray he doesn’t spot the goosebumps the sound raises across your thighs.

He shuffles and deals; leaving your cards stacked on the sofa just out of reach, and watches with no small amount of vulpine amusement as you glare at him, adjust your breasts to remain concealed behind a singular arm, and reach forward for your cards.

Straight Flush. Victory blooms fizzy and electric inside your chest, but you’re careful to keep it from travelling to your face.

You look up at Silco and find him utterly emotionless. You’ll give him that. His poker face is immaculate. You wonder if it will crack once he sees your nearly unbeatable hand.

You lay down the cards with a smirk.

He meets your gaze.

And lays his own down.

You feel the blood drain from your face.

Royal Flush.

The smile that cuts his face is pure evil.

Silco’s eyes flick briefly down to your one remaining item of clothing. He extends his hand, silently, and waits patiently for his prize.

[dailytechnologynews]

Using multiple GPUs for multiple monitors, a case study

Hi everyone

I wanted to share the results of a bit of an experiment I ran in the last few weeks, which had some interesting and even unexpected results.

The problem(s) I tried to solve

I have a tripple monitor setup. My center monitor is a 1080p 21:9 144Hz monitor, and is as you would expect my main gaming monitor. Next to that monitor I have 2 plain 1080p 16:9 60Hz monitors, one on each side. I use them for having Skype, Discord, monitoring tools, etc open while I game.

Problem 1: I noticed is that when I was gaming and for example someone sent me a chat on Discord or Skype, it didn't update, or the Discord window went black. When I tabbed out of my game, the window would update correctly.

Problem 2: when I have a browser with YouTube open on a secondary monitor, at best my FPS takes a hit because Firefox seems to use the 3D part of the GPU to render Youtube content, and at worst my game FPS gets locked at 60 because it's running 60Hz content.

Note that Problem 2 was less of an issue when I used Edge, as Edge used the Video Decode part of the GPU, which didn't compete for resources with the 3D part. It did use a tiny bit of 3D to actually render the browser window, but nothing heavy.

The theory

If I would buy a simple GPU as secondary GPU, and hook up my 2 AUX monitors to it, leaving my primary monitor hooked up to my main GPU (a Vega 64), then all the rendering of Discord and Firefox would be done on the secondary GPU, leaving my primary GPU to be able to render games dedicated. Whatever happens on the secondary GPU, wouldn't affect the primary.

The experiment

I bought an AMD RX550 2GB, cheapass thing, but for the purpose of this test it should suffice as the load of my AUX monitors would be very light anyway. I plugged it into my mainboard into an available PCIe x16 slot. Now note, I run a Threadripper system, so I have PCIe lanes up the wazoo, so there was no fear of suddenly having my main GPU running at x8 instead of x16 because of this.

Sure enough after booting up I had the following show up in Task Manager.

GPU 0 : Radeon RX Vega 64

GPU 1 : Radeon 550 series

So far, so good. Note I will be using Task Manager as a reference here, as from Windows 10 1809 it shows the GPU load and what GPU something is running on. For detailed HW load I did crossreference with HWInfo, but it was always consistent with what Task Manager said.

I fired up Firefox and dragged the window to one of the AUX monitors, then started playing a Youtube clip. I saw quite some load on the 3D part of the RX550 so I thought "yay, this is working". Alas, no, not in the slightest. I looked into the details, and what I saw was really surprising: the load on GPU 1 was not Firefox, it was Desktop Window Manager (DWM), Firefox was using GPU 0.

What was happening here was that Firefox was still using GPU 0 to decode and render the Youtube vid, but because the monitor it was on was attached to GPU 1, not GPU 0, the DWM rendered Firefox as a remote window on GPU 1. This is the 3D load on GPU 1 I was seeing. I tested with Edge and yep, same thing was happening, only now with Video Decode on GPU 0 and 3D on GPU 1. I was baffled.

I fired up some other applications to see if there were issues assigning load to a specific GPU. I tried MPC-HC first to render a H.265 encoded movie. No issues there, MPC-HC dynamically changed the GPU it was decoding on to match the monitor its window was in. If I dragged it from my main to one of the AUX monitors, Video Decode on GPU 0 dropped to 0 and Video Decode on GPU 1 sprung up. Next I fired up the Netflix app. Same there: it just went with whatever GPU the window was on and adjusted on the fly. So there was nothing wrong there, only of course the loads I chose were Video Decode loads. Still, Edge used Video Decode, and it had that wierdness going on.

Skype and Discord were also not quite responsive, and when I checked task manager I could see that they too were still assigned to GPU 0, even though they were on a monitor attached to GPU 1.

I tried firing up a game and seeing what the effect would be if I tried to watch Youtube on one of the AUX monitors. The result: the clip stopped playing, or played audio but video at like one frame per 10 seconds. The GPU load on GPU 1 also dropped to almost 0, it seemed it wasn't getting any data to render. Both Firefox and Edge had this behavior. Again, stumped.

Then, a sudden realization: I was playing my game in fullscreen windowed. This meant that it was being rendered as part of the entire desktop with the DWM as intermediate layer. What if... I played fullscreen?

Swicthed my game to fullscreen and YUP, suddenly my Youtube clips played smoothly again. Still the same "remote rendering" wierdness, and a FPS hit in my game when using Firefox, as Firefox was using 3D to render the clip, but at least it was working! Same for Discord and Skype, they updated nicely when I received a chat.

My analysis

So, there's a few things going on here. The main thing here is some very wierd quirks of the DWM.

First, when multiple applications request 3D workloads, the DWM seems to limit the refresh rate to the lowest refresh rate of the entire desktop, probably to keep things consistent while it renders all the 3D surfaces. This reflects in games being capped at 60 fps on a high refresh rate monitor, when you do 3D stuff on a second monitor. If you run your game fullscreen though, the DWM is not involved in your game's screen and only renders the other surfaces of your desktop, so you no longer have a conflict there, and any resource allocation for multiple 3D demand gets handled by your video driver, not the DWM.

Second, applications seem to always default to GPU 0 unless they have internal logic to dynamically change GPUs. When displaying on displays not attached to GPU 0, some "remote rendering" technology of Windows and the DWM kicks in to make this transparent to the user, at the cost of additional GPU load on the nonprimary GPU(s). Unfortunately, Windows doesn't seem to have an option to force an application onto a specific GPU unlike with CPU cores. The GPU driver might be able to help with this, but the options I've seen (for example in nVidia's driver) seem to then force an application to always run on a specific GPU, so nothing dynamic.

Further analysis

Now, my work laptop is a Dell Precision, which has 2 GPUs: an Intel integrated one and an nVidia Quadro one. The internal monitor of my laptop is hooked up to the Intel GPU, while the external monitors via USB-C are hooked up to the nVidia Quadro GPU.

I re-tested what I tested above and... applications DID move to the other GPU. My main test was Edge here, when moving it from my laptop monitor to my external monitor it jumped from GPU 0 to GPU 1 with the entire workload.

This baffled me a bit, until I realized: Windows DOES have a built-in system for dynamically moving loads between GPUs, but it is designed to move loads between an iGPU and a dGPU. It sees the iGPU as a "Low Power GPU" and the dGPU as a "High Power GPU", and uses both dynamically as appropriate. However with 2 dGPUs, this doesn't work as GPU 0 will always be the "High Power" and "Low Power" GPU, with no options of changing it.

Conclusions

My experiment was a bit of a failure, but not really through a fault of my own, rather it's very specific Windows behavior that kept it from succeeding. If Windows would have more intelligent dynamic GPU assignment, I am convinced it would have worked and I would have seen the benefits.

That being said, I did manage to find out a few things that settle arguments that often come up

1) "Will my secondary monitors limit the performance of my high refresh rate primary monitor".

This comes up so often with an equal amount of people saying "yes, definitely, I have encountered this" and "no, I have such issues".

In this case, both are right, but there is one paramater that is never mentioned: borderless windowed. If you play your games fullscreen you will not encounter issues, but if you play your games borderless windowed you will encounter this issue, as the DWM will then be inbetween the game and your monitor.

2) Will attaching my secondary monitors to a secondary GPU improve my performance

My results are: if the second GPU is a dGPU, then no. However, if the secondary GPU is an iGPU (like an Intel Integrated or an Ryzen APU's integrated GPU) then it will, as the limiting factor is Windows' dynamic GPU assignment logic. Note: this is true for Windows 10 19H2 (which I am running), hopefully MS imroves this in future Windows 10 versions.

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of Fear Her - Part One

Excerpt from Jason Arnopp’s behind-the-scenes article from DWM #372

When DWM arrives on this chilly January morn, that lazybones David Tennant has already completed his one-and-only scheduled scene. The rest of today’s filming all features Rose Tyler.

Preparations are made for the scene in which Rose attacks Chloe’s bedroom door with a pickaxe.  It’s Fear Her’s homage to Stanley Kubrick’s classic 1980 fright-fest The Shining.

“How many doors do we have?” asks Billie, naturally nervous about the prospect of messing up this scene. Two, comes the answer. “Oh, I reckon we’ll be done in two,” she breezes, suddenly more confident.

Billie takes the pickaxe and steels herself.

“Just enjoy it,” winks Nina Sosanya, playing Trish in this scene. “I’ll cover you!”

“Yeah,” grins Billie, “Then you can do a drop-roll!”

Billie’s first take earns applause. She’s even more accurate on take two.

“How exciting was that?” says Nina.

“Very!” laughs Billie. “I loved it. I’m not going to play it down: it was great!”

Other parts of this photoset: [two] [three] [four] [five] [ All of my Doctor Who Behind the Scenes photosets ]

[ambrossart]

Writing Update (6/4/2023)

Paper Men

I've got about half of the initial draft done for 29

Like I said before, I'm gonna try to have it up before the 12th

If I can't get it finished in time, it'll just have to wait until the end of the month

Added a few more songs to the playlist

I know there was a request to add Taylor Swift's "You're Losing Me" and as soon as it's officially released on streaming platforms, I'll add it

DWM

I don't have time to write a full-length fic right now, but I did pull out a "Post Prom" deleted scene from my scrap folder, and I'm in the process of expanding that

It'll almost be like a part 3

That should be finished either tonight or tomorrow night

Like Part 2, it'll be a little suggestive, but that's about it

I'm still not confident enough to write smut

baby steps

I also added some new songs to the playlist and created a Youtube version for people that don't use Spotify

It should be on the masterpost

[andromedaa-starss]

art masterlist

les mis

then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free banner

chinese!enj

courfeyrac and grantaire baking (dwm exchange 2021)

hanahaki eponine

eposette at pride

combeferre in a skirt

enj + r death scene

enj, marius, eponine, and cosette

take my hand big bang #1

take my hand big bang #2

enjolras

combeferre

enjolras as heather chandler

jehan and joly

dandy courf

ot3 requests

courf and marshmellows

eposette + courfius

phantom of the opera/love never dies

pride raoul

masquerade raoulstine

star trek

vulcan/bajoran thoughts

damar's my bitch and he does what i tell him to

data "i do not feel emotion"

spirk and daforge fluff + cats

amogus time

star wars

nseri ajith

anakin skywalker sketch

luke skywalker sketch/ref

rebels minibang 2022 piece

other

woman with a match

leo and annabeth

mamma mia cover sketch

[dafyworldmedia]

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has scheduled a meeting for March 17, 2021 to deliberate on petrol subsidy and take a position on the current challenge of supply or retailing across the country. A statement by the NGF’s Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the virtual meeting, scheduled to commence by 2pm, would “be briefed by the Governor Nasir El Rufai committee on subsidy on PMS before any decisions on the supply and or retailing of the product is taken.” Bello-Barkindo said the meeting also planned to discuss the various issues revolving around the COVID-19 vaccines roll out. He said Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who leads the NGF’s committee that interfaces with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID -19, will brief members on the situation with the vaccines roll out and the challenges encountered since the roll out. He added the forum’s Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi will update members on the outcome of his meeting with the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of states’ universities. “The educationists met the forum’s Chairman last week and presented a number of requests which they believed would improve education at the sub-national level. “The Governors will also listen to the activities of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to hear how their wives fared last week when they engaged the country attending several activities that marked the International Women’s Day on March 8th. “The meeting will also play host to three external presentations top of which will be made by the newly minted National Drug Law Enforcement boss, General Buba Marwa, whose presentation is entitled “Managing the drug crisis”. “The Department for International Development (DFID) will be making a presentation on the NNPC Audit reports and what the states should know. “The last presentation will be on trade facilitation in Nigeria through e-customs and a public private partnership (PPP) structure in partnership with the British High Commission,” he said. . Visit www.dafyworld.com.ng for more stories #DafyTV #DafyWorldEntertainment #DafyWorldNews #DafyWorldMedia #DWM https://www.instagram.com/p/CMgtoDhnq0f/?igshid=1805nuokk5i5s

[enterinit]

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18965 released

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18965 released. Control over restarting apps at sign-in As some of you already know, apps have the ability to register for restart, which helps in a few situations, including enabling you to get back to what you were doing if you need to restart your PC. Previously this option was tied to the “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device” option under Sign-in options in accounts settings. We’ve heard feedback that some of you would prefer more explicit control over when Windows automatically restarts apps that were open when you restart your PC, and with 20H1 we’re bringing that option to you. Windows now puts you in control with a new app restart setting. When turned on, Windows automatically saves your restartable apps when signing out, restarting, or shutting down Windows, and restarts them next time you sign in. This setting is off by default and you can change it any time in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, and can find it by searching for “restart apps” in Start or the search box.

Other updates for Insiders Feedback Hub updates The Feedback Hub team has been hard at work lately to bring you some app updates based on your feature requests, and we have a few changes and improvements to share about the latest version that’s currently rolling out to Insiders in the Fast ring. Feedback Search UI updates On the Feedback section of the app, you will now be able to more clearly see the differentiation between Problems and Suggestions, with each showing an icon, color, and labels Problem or Suggestion displayed above each feedback entry. We also have updated iconography and displays for Adding similar feedback to problems, upvoting suggestions, and adding comments to feedback. Adding similar feedback In the past, Feedback Hub allowed two kinds of participation on feedback: upvoting and adding more details. The notion of voting on Suggestions makes a lot of sense – engineers at Microsoft want to know which features the community wants us to build next, and voting on feature suggestions is a great way to see where your interest lies. However, voting on Problems was trickier – problems are not a matter of popularity, and what helps engineers here resolve problems is having clear descriptions of how the issue arose. Feedback is especially helpful if it includes a reproduction of the problem, diagnostics that help our teams pinpoint what went wrong so they can fix issues faster. Voting on the search page often did not provide enough detail as to what was happening, and we saw that few people went into existing feedback to add their personal reproductions of the issues. With the new Add similar feedback feature, selecting a problem with symptoms that match your own will take you to the feedback form, with the title pre-filled. You edit the title or add your own description to let us know exactly what was happening when you encountered the problem. We’ll already have your category selected to ensure the right feature team sees your feedback, and in our new Similar Feedback section, the feedback you selected will already be selected. As usual, the last step involves optionally adding your own reproduction of the issue or any attachments you like. Windows Insiders Achievements  We are excited to announce a refresh of the Windows Insider Achievements page. We’ve made achievements more discoverable by moving them from your profile page to their own landing page, and we added additional features that allow you to categorize and track your progress. Be sure to check it out today and begin unlocking badges. We would love to hear your feedback on social media by using the hashtag #Builds4Badges.

The information previously found in your profile (Device ID and User ID) is now located in the settings section of Feedback Hub. As always, we appreciate your feedback – if you have any suggestions or problems to report, you can share them in the Feedback Hub under Apps > Feedback Hub. General changes, improvements, and fixes We fixed an issue resulting in the screens shown while updating Windows unexpectedly saying “managed by your organization” for some Insiders.We fixed an issue resulting in the taskbar unexpectedly hiding sometimes when launching the touch keyboard.We fixed an issue where some of the colors weren’t correct in Language Settings if using High Contrast White.We fixed an issue that could result in background tasks not working in certain apps.We fixed an issue where if you set focus to the notification area of the taskbar via WIN+B, then opened a flyout and pressed Esc to close it, then the focus rectangle would no longer show up correctly anymore.We fixed an issue where on the Bluetooth & Other Settings page, the device type wasn’t read out loud when using a screen reader.We fixed an issue resulting in help links not being accessible when adding a new wireless display device on the Bluetooth & Other Settings page if the text scaling was set to 200%. Known issues Insiders may notice a new “Cloud download” option in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) under “Reset this PC.” This feature is not working quite yet. We’ll let you know once it is, so you can try it out!There has been an issue with older versions of anti-cheat software used with games where after updating to the latest 19H1 Insider Preview builds may cause PCs to experience crashes. We are working with partners on getting their software updated with a fix, and most games have released patches to prevent PCs from experiencing this issue. To minimize the chance of running into this issue, please make sure you are running the latest version of your games before attempting to update the operating system. We are also working with anti-cheat and game developers to resolve similar issues that may arise with the 20H1 Insider Preview builds and will work to minimize the likelihood of these issues in the future.Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.We’re working on a fix for an issue resulting in the minimize, maximize, and close title bar buttons not working for certain apps. If you’re using an impacted app, Alt+F4 should work as expected to close the app if needed.Some WSL distros will not load.We’re investigating reports that DWM is using unexpectedly high system resources for some Insiders.There’s an issue impacting a small number of Insiders which started on the previous flight, involving a lsass.exe crash and resulting in a message saying, “Windows ran into a problem and needs to restart.” We’re working on a fix and appreciate your patience. Read the full article