#Payroll Function

[hms-software-timecontrol]

The challenge of choosing a timesheet system

You would think it would be easy.  After all, timesheets mostly look all the same don’t they? Well, that’s often true but the front end of the timesheet isn’t the challenge.  Mostly timesheets look like a grid and you enter hours or some value in columns and rows.  It’s once that data has arrived into the timesheet that it becomes more challenging.  A timesheet might be used by an end user for 5…

[tanoraqui]

advice from a friend of a friend + some common sense: as Musk attempts to take over the US government’s payroll system and who knows what (illegal) Executive Order Trump will try next, key federal websites might start to go down, if only because all the competent people have been furloughed. If you have a federal student loan or other loan, or Medicare, social security income, food stamps, or some other regular and important relationship with the federal government, NOW is a good time to download & back-up your records.

Not necessarily because the service as a whole is going to disappear! But people in power are actively trying to hamstring the federal bureaucracy right now (you know, the one that exists to serve the people), and likely will continue to try for the next four years. So it’s a bad time to assume that the systems will remain fully functional and accessible.

[rhsofttech2023]

A Guide to SAP HCM Online Training in India

[mossangelll]

yandere!silco x reader hcs

honestly i’m convinced silco is a FREAK and i need to unleash my thoughts…anyways toxic silco does NOT have a hr department and it shows 👁️👁️

tw: suggestive content, drug use, dubcon - mdni

yandere!silco who hires you to work the bar at the last drop part time

yandere!silco who doesn’t see anything special about you at first - you’re just another person on his payroll

yandere!silco who slowly becomes intrigued by how witty and engaging you are with the customers

yandere!silco who appreciates your loyalty when sevika tells him that enforcers met with you to offer money, lots of it, in exchange for information on the chembaron operations - you declined and spit in their faces

yandere!silco who finds you crying in the back alley one night over the large debt you gathered from trying to help a sick family member

yandere!silco who sees an opening and gives you a full-time position at the bar - little do you know you’re slowly getting caught up in his trap

yandere!silco who can’t bear to be around you without acting on his base desires. he can’t stop thinking about your pretty face and how the uniform hugs your body just right

yandere!silco who gets painfully jealous when he sees you flirting with customers and takes his frustrations out by ordering his henchmen to beat up the people that dared flirt with you

yandere!silco who offers a sympathetic ear and gains your trust

yandere!silco who blurs the line between appropriate employee-boss behaviour by constantly inviting you to his office after-hours in the hope of making you feel special. after all, who else gets his undivided attention like this?

yandere!silco who gets you to inject his eye one evening to fully consolidate your bond to him

yandere!silco who pressures you try shimmer for the first time even though you’re hesitant - “what, you don’t trust your boss, hm? you know i would never dream of hurting you.”

yandere!silco who smiles when you give into his silky voice and caresses your cheek

yandere!silco who starts to call you his “pet” but you shrug it off as just friendly nickname

yandere!silco who gives you more and more shimmer as time passes until you can’t function without it

yandere!silco who can’t help but pleasure himself in his office whilst you work below him, knowing that he was the one to corrupt you

yandere!silco who knows you can’t afford the shimmer and leaves you high and dry

yandere!silco who tuts whenever he sees you at the bar, barely able to do your job, and secretly delights in the shame that crosses your face

yandere!silco who calls you into the office under the guise of discussing your poor work performance

yandere!silco who offers you a deal: you quit your job and become his pet in exchange for all the shimmer you could ask for

yandere!silco who holds a vial in his outstretched hand but snatches it away just before your shaky hands could reach it - “ah ah, naughty pet. i deserve something first, don’t you think?”

yandere!silco who reaches into his drawer and pulls out a wine-red collar with gold studs and tells you to kneel before him

yandere!silco who can’t contain his wolffish grin as you scramble over to kneel by his feet, looking up at him with wide, begging eyes and such a…tempting pout

yandere!silco who takes a swig of the shimmer and grabs you into a bruising kiss, tongue melding with yours as you drink the shimmer straight from him

yandere!silco who digs his fingers into the flesh of your waist when you start to whimper, forcing himself to take it slow

yandere!silco who pulls back to look at the blooming swell of your spit-slick lips and the drugged out look on your face with satisfaction - you will always be his

masterlist

[tricitymonsters]

Do you think there's anything that can be done on a larger scale?

I was there for the Strikethrough days on LJ and I'm sickened to see this happening again, but this time cutting into people's actual livelihoods. Surely there has to be a way to counter-protest, to do what the TERFs and fundies are doing and convince these payment processors that this is actually going to lose them money in the long run?

I 100% do.

If you check out the archived VICE article I linked, you'll see that all these fundie groups did to get the ball rolling was send a letter to the presidents of Mastercard, Visa, and a few others outlining their outrage that "Deviant Porno" exists and the usual spiel about how gay people prey on children. Granted, some of these groups have been operating in some form or another for a long time but when you look at their numbers, they're really not that impressive (Collective Shout only has 2 payrolled employees and about 700 volunteers. I have posts with more notes).

The problem is that it's hard to organize our side and the work is unglorious. I was also around for the Strikethrough days and I'm very upset to see the cycle in full swing yet again. However, I think there are a number of things we can do:

Firstly, I do believe in the ACLU petition. Mostly because that is a necessary step in pursuing legal recourse on such a huge scale. The ACLU needs quantifiable data and hard numbers to compile with any lawsuit regarding how badly this is hurting queer artists.

Second, individually, I think we should all email Mastercard and Visa board of directors + CEOs. You can google their addresses very easily. I think we should take a strategy out of these Conservative Outrage Groups' own playbook. Write a letter and physically mail it to their offices. If they have a customer service line, leave a message. Send an email to their customer service department. Be polite but firm. Be factual.

I think we should also send a lot of upset emails to Gabe Newell, Steam, and their customer support. I know their hands are functionally tied in this situation but I think they need to know how much this is hurting people.

I think we need to email Itch.io and let them know how much we value their clear guidelines and how much we need them to hold strong.

I think, where possible, we should cancel our Mastercards and then we should cancel our Visas. There are other credit companies.

I think we need to reach across the board and work together as a united front. We need to talk to each other. We need to understand that this ultimately transcends gaming censorship and is an attack on adults making adult content in a way that doesn't please a tiny, hateful, incredibly judgmental contingent of bigots. I think that- beyond game devs- we need to partner with sex workers (disproportionately poc and trans) (gee I wonder why) who got pressured off Patreon and OnlyFans, Furries who were told they were promoting bestiality and banned from Fansly (wtf)... Like, this is well past "what content you engage in" and now squarely in the arena of "they're trying to silence the queers" and it's my hope that we can recognize the real danger that's putting us all in.

Be gayer, be louder. If they kick me off Steam, if they kill my game, I'm still gonna make gay art. I just have to find some other way to do it. But don't give in to doomerism before the fight's over. Don't bend the knee. Don't go gentle into that good night. As they say.

[read-marx-and-lenin]

alright.

I'll start with Lenin first, then move to Marx. Lenin was an autocrat and a dictator. There's no way around it. He was unelected and created a one-party state. This was due to the fact that the revolution was led by a vanguard, which the members of, once they succeeded in overthrowing the old government, could easily set up a self-serving dictatorship. He's not a Marxist, and he's not a Socialist.

Since Lenin obviously did not in any way uphold the vision of Marx, I'll tackle him separately. A (stateless) communist society does eliminate many hierarchies, but leaves the most coercive systems untouched. Those being: the hierarchy of the collective over the individual and that coercion required of industrialism. In a commune, one's individual vote is negligible, since the outcome is only affected by one person's vote in very rare circumstances. Once the votes are tallied, the individual is expected to conform to the decisions of the majority, and to accept the commune's laws and customs. This leads to the individual becoming feeling helpless and weak.

Secondly, Marxism fails to address the coercion required to make an industrial society function. In order to have products, you must have a payroll of workers to stand where they are told to stand and do what they are told to do and go home and show up to work when they are told to do it. Instead of working towards goals that are immediate, which directly affect one's condition (such as building a house to live in), one must do a task or set of tasks that ultimately has little to do directly with one's own material well-being. Instead, the hyperspecialized work required in an industrial society is made livable indirectly via trade. This leads to a dependence on the industrial system as a whole, which requires a massive amount of cohesion to function.

Humans are no longer permitted to act autonomously since doing so would be a hindrance to the system. Behaviors which are not conducive to the system are disallowed, but all unimportant facets of our life which do not interfere with the functioning of the system are permitted to grow within said limits.

Lenin was elected as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars by the Congress of Soviets a total of nine times before his death. His position was not one elected by the people directly, but rather he was elected by the congressional representatives of the soviets who were themselves elected by the people. You can argue that his position should have been directly elected if you want, but you cannot say he was unelected. Regardless, while the Chairman of the CPC was the head of government of the RSFSR, and later the Soviet Union, the CPC was not a one-person council and the council as a whole was subordinate to the Central Executive Committee, which was in turn subordinate to the Congress of Soviets. Lenin was not an autocrat or a dictator; he did not hold sole legal authority and the Soviet government had numerous checks and balances.

I see no reason to believe a vanguard party or a one-party state is undemocratic. The USSR was a dictatorship, but not a dictatorship of one person. It was a dictatorship of the proletariat, as the bourgeoisie were stripped of the right to vote and to be elected. You can object to this if you like, but I personally don't think that was a bad decision.

You seem to be arguing that Lenin was neither Marxist nor socialist because the nascent Soviet Union was not yet classless or stateless. Yet why should it have been expected to be? Communism is not something that can be achieved overnight, or even in one generation. In the meantime, there must be some mechanism for suppressing and overthrowing the bourgeoisie. No matter how democratic, how horizontal, and how people-oriented that mechanism is, it still constitutes a state insofar as it constitutes an organ for the oppression of one class by another. Unless you are arguing that the rights of the bourgeoisie should be maintained and protected, you cannot escape this fact.

At the point of achieving a stateless, classless communist society, I don't see why decision-making would necessarily be performed through simple majority vote. While it's rather pointless in my mind to be speculating about how a hypothetical communist society of the future might function, I think it's safe to say they'd be far more capable of exploring alternative forms of decision-making than we are now. In any case, the question of how a future communist society might function is entirely separate from questions of past and present systems of government.

You are right to point out that the industrial mode of production requires collective and specialized activity in order to function, but I fail to see what the alternative is. Humans are a social animal, our production has always been collective and we have always benefited from specialization in labor. The advancement in industry has made possible a reduction in socially necessary labor time, not an increase. It is capitalism and the profit motive that has mandated long hours and low autonomy in the workplace, not industry itself.

People are not inherently stupid or self-centered. They can understand very well the relationship between one sector of industry and another. You do not need to be building a house to understand how, for instance, the nails you are manufacturing will be used to build houses and other goods. You do not need to be manufacturing nails to understand how the iron you are mining will be used to make nails and other goods. The idea that it is alienating to be engaged in a task that is socially beneficial rather than merely individually beneficial is absurd.

You talk about social cohesion as if it is impossible or undesirable. But again, what is the alternative? An incoherent, fragmented society? No society at all, and people just fend for themselves as individuals? I fail to see how anything less than social cohesion is desirable.

You say that industrial society is coercive and prevents people from acting autonomously. I say, what does it mean to act autonomously? Humans must satisfy our basic needs before we can think about engaging in autonomous activity. If you are starving, you are compelled to seek food. If you are freezing, you are compelled to seek shelter. Individual freedom is subordinate to our material conditions, and only through improving our material conditions can we satisfy our basic needs and guarantee individual freedom.

If we are to have a society where the individual freedoms of everyone are maximized, then we must have a society which guarantees everyone their basic needs. Food, shelter, clothing, medicine, education, transportation, communication, etc. All of these must be secured before a person has full freedom to act autonomously. Improving the quality of these things and the efficiency of their production improves the standard of living and reduces socially necessary labor time, which allows for greater degrees of freedom.

You say behaviors which are not conducive to the system are disallowed. I do not necessarily disagree, but I feel you are intentionally obscuring the nature of such behaviors. What is “the system” here? The system is society. So a behavior not conducive to society is an anti-social behavior, a behavior that impedes or harms other members of society. Why should these behaviors be allowed? Is it maximizing autonomy and freedom to allow someone to steal or rape or murder with impunity? No, it is merely trading someone else's freedom and autonomy for your own.

You can certainly maximize your own freedom and autonomy at the expense of others, but if we are to live in a society where the freedom and autonomy of everyone is to be maximized, then there must be certain limits to individual behavior for the sake of others. Maybe someday humanity will evolve to a state where one can live in their own private world with maximum freedom to do as they please without worrying about impacting others, but until that day we will have to live in a society with other people and the social restrictions that come with that. Personally, I don't think it's such a burden to have to care about other people.

Society as it stands today is indeed imperfect and often oppressive. Socialist states in the past and present have yet to achieve the classlessness and statelessness that marks higher-stage socialism, i.e. communism. They too are imperfect and have restricted people's behavior in various ways, some I would argue are necessary, and some I would argue are unnecessary. However, I believe that socialism offers us the greatest opportunity to improve society as a whole and liberate humanity from oppressive structures. I believe that capitalism remains the central impediment to the advancement of society and the pursuit of human freedom. I believe that a vanguard party and a dictatorship of the proletariat have been the most effective means of combating the bourgeoisie so far. And I believe that the advancement of science and industry has been the most effective means of securing and improving the basic needs of the people as a whole.

My question to you remains: what is the alternative? You can criticize all you want, and thoughtful and rational critique of all things is both important and beneficial, but unless you have an alternative to socialist revolution and industrial society, then you're just throwing the baby out with the bathwater. How are we to combat the bourgeoisie without a vanguard or a state? How are we to provide people with their basic needs without industrial production?

[blogborsa]

CREVH - GOLD

QuickBooks is a renowned accounting software that offers a seamless solution for small businesses to manage their financial tasks efficiently. With features designed to streamline accounting processes, QuickBooks simplifies tasks such as tracking receipts, income, bank transactions, and more. This software is available in both online and desktop versions, catering to the diverse needs of businesses of all sizes. QuickBooks Online, for instance, allows users to easily track mileage, expenses, payroll, send invoices, and receive payments online, making it a comprehensive tool for financial management. Moreover, QuickBooks Desktop provides accountants with exclusive features to save time and enhance productivity. Whether it's managing income and expenses, staying tax-ready, invoicing, paying bills, managing inventory, or running reports, QuickBooks offers a range of functionalities to support businesses in their accounting needs.

Utilizing qb accounting software purposes comes with a myriad of benefits that can significantly enhance business operations. Some key advantages of using QuickBooks include:

- Efficient tracking of income and expenses

- Simplified tax preparation and compliance

- Streamlined invoicing and payment processes

- Effective management of inventory

- Generation of insightful financial reports

- Integration with payroll and HR functions

These benefits not only save time and effort but also contribute to better financial decision-making and overall business growth. QuickBooks is designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses, offering tailored solutions for various industries and sizes.

When considering accounting qb software options, QuickBooks stands out as a versatile and comprehensive choice. To provide a holistic view, let's compare QuickBooks with two other popular accounting software options - Xero and FreshBooks. quick book accounting package and offers robust features for small businesses, including advanced accounting capabilities, invoicing, payment processing, and payroll management. Xero, on the other hand, is known for its user-friendly interface and strong collaboration features, making it a popular choice among startups and small businesses. FreshBooks excels in invoicing and time tracking functionalities, catering to freelancers and service-based businesses. By evaluating the features, pricing, and user experience of these accounting software options, businesses can make an informed decision based on their specific needs and preferences.

[meli-writes]

clipped wings

cashing out with his mech's ammo bins full of stolen empire payroll. running through a series of prearranged drop-offs and paid-off contacts, lightening the load as he puts as much as distance as he can with his former masters. at last, near empty-handed, he reaches the surgeon.

everything's getting changed anyway, but can the piloting implants go first? doesn't matter what they look like, they'll be recognised instantly with those. every damn component is itemised.

no, the surgeon tells them. it has to start with the chest, with the tits fucked up from binding to hide the effects of smuggled hormones.

can't the wrist docklets be removed? they're quick. no, the surgeon tells them. vitals are being monitored through them, and the neovagina comes next, and it needs time to boot and have it connections checked.

not even the kill count on their neck? that's not an implant, it's a mark of-- no, the surgeon says. it's superficial, and the anaesthetic is kicking in with half a jawline to carve off now.

the anaesthetic has to be local, because when at last the accursed neural link is removed and filled in, you need to keep tabs on if the patient still has a functioning brain. so when it's finally time for her to ask about that, she can't open her mouth to do it.

nor to scream when the armed killsquad walks in.

the surgeon just sits patiently as the squad's lead sits in a chair and rolls it up. the metal in her face -- and lack of an imperial bullet in the pilot's skull -- spell out 'extremist militia' before her lips can semantically specify 'liberation front'.

her hand reaches between the pilot's thighs and traces over her freshly synthesised cunt lips.

it is definitely fucking connected.

she twitches in the surgical seat, and feels the sting of the diagnostic tool the surgeon has perched in her skull. she wishes the anaesthetic would make it easier to stay till, but all it does is ruin her ability to control herself.

"not clipping those pretty wings, are you honey?" the rebel asks.

the pilot's face is red and swollen and numb and she only feels the tears when they slip into the stitches, wet as the rebel's fingers.

"hush hush," she continues, pushing inside, testing how many fingers blood money has bought the pilot capacity for. "i'll let you keep your toys, they suit you. but you've got a lot more things to pay off first if you don't want daddy imperium finding out about this new face of yours."

her other hand presses into the pilot's collar. their masks make a poor showing of hiding the way the other rebels shift uneasily.

but they don't bother to interrupt.

"now doctor, about her unpaid tab? happy to cover it, just need to cancel those removals and schedule a few... upgrades."

[chaifootsteps]

Am I the only one who’s terrified of having a dynamic like Fizz and Ozzie’s? Seriously, it’s scary when you really think about it.

When you strip their relationship down of any external factors, their relationship is really sweet. Maybe a bit too saccharine, but still sweet nonetheless. But then you add in the fact that Ozzie’s a prince, and Fizz is on the lowest rung of the hierarchal ladder. Okay, Royals falling in love with commoners is a classic trope, that’s fine.

And now that prince boyfriend is Fizz’s current employer, so he can control how much he gets paid or if he has a job at all. Fizz blew up his deal with Mammon, rightfully so, but it’s something he probably wouldn’t be able to do without Ozzie backing him, and it doesn’t look like he has anything else going on outside of that, so his gigs at Ozzie’s restaurant is probably the only source of income he has. Little bit more unnerving, but hey, there’s other jobs out there, maybe he could get one that isn’t run by his lover.

Now add on the fact that Fizz currently lives with his prince employer boyfriend in his palace. It’s not implied for the time being that Fizz has his own place, so it’s safe to assume that he lives with Ozzie full time. So that means that Ozzie, on top of being so much higher up in status, on top of having Fizz on his payroll, has him living in his vast castle and could kick him out at any time if he so chooses, and what would Fizz be able to do about it? Starting to sound a little more scary, but it’s not like—

Fizz is a quadruple amputee. And the one supplying the robotic limbs that give him the ability to move around is Ozzie. So Ozzie not only has power, status, money, and housing over Fizz, he has the ability to provide and withhold his basic ability to care for himself and move. We saw what happened in Season 2 Episode 6, he was practically helpless when they stopped functioning! This is scary! This is horrifying!!

Ozzie has way too much power in his and Fizz’s relationship, to the point where if they had a nasty argument or potential breakup, Fizz would be screwed on all fronts! Best case scenario, he’d have to go back to the abusive employ of Mammon with no avenue of escape, worst case scenario, he’d be homeless, unable to provide for himself or even do anything!! Good thing Ozzie’s like, the sweetest boyfriend ever, because if he wasn’t, this would be a horror story!!!

It's scary as hell and absolutely the stuff horror movies are made of! Basically, their entire relationship hinges on Ozzie being the sweetest boyfriend ever and staying that way, because if he's ever anything but that, Fizz is absolutely fucked. Hell, Ozzie could go nuts, decide he loves Fizz too much to risk losing him again, and take his arms and legs.

The worst part is, it's unlikely they'll ever so much as address it in a respectful, mutual adult way where Fizz and Ozzie talk about this as a valid concern and find a solution. In Viv's world, good relationships don't need communication and characters talking about heavy things opens the door to criticism from the audience and that's not something she can handle.

[stylesonfilms]

ink & innocence - 1

word count: 2.3k

"Alright, just keep that wrapped for two days, come back if anything happens."

The rolling of the wheels from the artist's stool echoed through the tattoo shop, blending with the buzz of tattoo guns that hummed like restless bees. The air smelled of antiseptic, ink, and faint traces of burnt coffee from the pot someone had forgotten to turn off hours ago. Overhead, the muted bass of a playlist filtered through the JBL speakers mounted in each corner, punctuated occasionally by laughter and chatter between clients and artists. The ambiance was a chaotic symphony that Harry had long since learned to tune out.

Harry peeled the black nitrile gloves from his large hands with practiced precision, the snap of the material barely audible over the noise. He rolled them into a ball and tossed them into the trash, landing the shot effortlessly. His gaze flicked toward the apprentice, a wiry kid with a head full of bleached hair, leaning against the counter scrolling his phone.

"Ni, clean the station f'me. I'll be back soon." His deep voice cut through the din without needing to rise above it.

The apprentice straightened up, muttering something about being a glorified janitor as Harry gave the chair he'd been working on a nudge with his boot, spinning it back into place. Without another word, Harry strode toward the sink, his boots hitting the tile floor in a deliberate rhythm. He let the water run cold before scrubbing his hands, chasing away the slick latex residue.

His reflection in the mirror above the sink was familiar but worn—sharp jawline framed by the untamed curls that hung loosely around his face, the strands darkened slightly with sweat from the hours spent leaning over intricate linework. He rubbed at his temples briefly before shaking it off.

Making his way to the back office, Harry pushed open the door, the hinges creaking softly in protest. The heavy oak door clicked shut behind him, muffling the noise of the shop to a dull roar. The office was modest, functional, and distinctly his. The centerpiece was a battered brown leather sofa that sagged in the middle, where he now sank down with a groan. Papers, receipts, and appointment schedules spilled across the coffee table in organized chaos, the remnants of his latest battle with the bureaucracy of running a business.

Reaching into his pocket, he fished out a dark green bandana, shaking it out before tying it around his head with a double knot. It was one of many he kept stashed in his bag, a small but vital part of his routine to keep his unruly curls out of his face. His hands fell into his lap for a moment, and a long, tired sigh slipped past his lips, echoing softly in the quiet room.

It had been one hell of a week. Four nights in a row staying late to fix problems that shouldn't have existed in the first place. Lease renewals that felt endless, payroll corrections that had him cursing under his breath, and a scheduling disaster courtesy of Zayn.

Zayn, with his smooth charm and infuriating nonchalance, had somehow managed to book clients on top of each other during the week Harry had taken off to recover from a nasty head cold. Zayn claimed innocence, of course, insisting it was a system error or that Niall had gotten confused while updating the calendar. Harry wasn't buying it. Now the mess had landed squarely on his shoulders—because that's what being the owner of Black Rose Studios meant.

His green eyes scanned the pile of paperwork on the table, mentally categorizing it into priorities. At least this was the last stack for now. The rest could wait until Monday morning. Out in the shop, the low hum of voices filtered through the walls. He could hear Zayn's distinctive laugh cutting through the chatter, no doubt schmoozing some poor client or persuading Niall to cover for him again.

Harry had told them to finish up with the last three appointments for the night. Naturally, they'd whined about it, angling for an early out to make it to Zayn's party. A party Zayn had been hyping all week, complete with endless mentions of Isobel's new roommate—someone Zayn seemed convinced Harry needed to meet.

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, pen in hand as he began scrawling his signature on a stack of lease agreements. The repetitive motion of signing his initials—HS, HS, HS—offered a small reprieve from the chaos.

Knock, knock.

The sharp raps at the door didn't slow him. He flipped a page and continued signing, barely glancing up. "Yeah?"

The sound of a chip bag crinkling made his jaw tighten. A second later, the telltale pop of the bag opening reached his ears, followed by the unmistakable cascade of crumbs hitting the floor.

"You should really come tonight, man." Zayn's voice was muffled as he spoke around a mouthful of chips. The door creaked open, and without waiting for an invitation, Zayn sauntered in and flopped down beside Harry on the sagging sofa.

"Didn't I leave you with clients?" Harry muttered, his pen not pausing for a second.

Zayn shrugged nonchalantly, the rustle of his leather jacket loud in the small space. "Niall's got it. They're fine." He waved a hand as if to dismiss the idea of responsibility entirely, reaching into the chip bag for another handful.

Harry finally looked up, shooting him a withering glare. "You're supposed to be working, not shoving crisps down your throat in my office."

Zayn smirked, unfazed. "Come on, you've been cooped up in here all week. You need to get out. Isobel's bringing her new roommate tonight— she's—"

"No," Harry cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Zayn sighed dramatically but pressed on, his brown eyes gleaming with mischief. "Her name's Aspen, and she's not stuck up. She's just... quiet. But in a cute way, y'know? Like, mysterious."

Harry scoffed, setting his pen down with a snap. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm not interested in some preppy girl with rich parents and a superiority complex."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "You don't even know her. And for the record, she's not preppy. She's cool. Just... Come out, man. When's the last time you let loose?"

Harry didn't respond immediately, his mind flicking back to the last party he attended—Louis' place, over the summer. That felt like a lifetime ago now. The thought of alcohol and music made him feel... tired. Still, Zayn's relentless nagging was wearing him down.

"Fine," he said at last, stuffing the paperwork into a folder and slapping a sticky note on top. "But if she's annoying, I'm leaving."

Zayn grinned triumphantly, crumbs scattering onto the couch as he stood up. "You won't regret it."

As he left, Harry glanced at the discarded chip bag on the table. With a muttered curse, he crumpled it and tossed it into the trash, shouting after Zayn, "Clean up after yourself next time!"

The muffled sound of Zayn's laughter was his only reply.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Aspen tugged the brush through her hair, wincing as it snagged on a stubborn curl. The faint scent of lavender conditioner lingered, a remnant from her earlier shower, mixing with the vanilla candle Isobel had lit hours ago in their small on-campus apartment. The gentle flicker of the candlelight reflected in the bathroom mirror, softening the sharp angles of Aspen's face as she worked her way through the tangled strands.

Her class had let out early that afternoon, an unexpected reprieve that she'd intended to spend buried in a book or curled up in bed with her favorite playlist humming through her headphones. But Isobel had other plans. Aspen's roommate had appeared in the doorway of her room with a pleading expression, hands clasped dramatically in front of her.

"You have to come with me tonight, Asp. Please. Zayn's throwing a party— it's lowkey, I swear!"

The term had finally come to an end-- her final exams all submitted and completed and she hated to sound cocky but she new she passed for sure. Her current GPA of a perfect 4.0 remained untouched for as long as she could remember. It was never a bribing point for her, though. Her grades were only so good because she had nothing to distract herself with. Parties never excited her and the boys she found interest in, she would never do anything about. And she surely was never approached by any of them either. Although she was sure that if she had been, she would be too shy to do anything anyways.

Aspen had protested at first, of course. She always did. Parties were foreign territory, a world she'd deliberately avoided ever since starting college. Growing up, she had made a silent pact with herself— and her parents— that she would stay focused. No distractions. No wild nights that might lead to messy mornings. It wasn't like she judged people who partied; it just wasn't her scene. 

But Isobel's persistence was as predictable as it was relentless. And now here she was, smoothing down her freshly brushed curls, her reflection in the mirror staring back at her with a mixture of resignation and anxiety.

"It's just a get-together, right?" Aspen asked, her voice tentative as she glanced at Isobel's reflection beside her.

Isobel's silence was answer enough.

"Iz..." Aspen turned slowly, setting the brush down with an exasperated sigh.

"Yes! Yes, okay, it's just a small get-together," Isobel said quickly, her words tumbling over one another in her rush to reassure. "It's just Zayn, a few of his friends from the shop, and maybe a couple others. Nothing crazy. No keg stands, no beer pong, nothing like that." She paused, gauging Aspen's reaction before adding, "And you don't have to drink! I already told Zayn to have soda and juice out."

Aspen wrinkled her nose. "Juice? Seriously? Iz, I'm not five."

Isobel snorted, pointing at her with the end of her eyeshadow brush. "Okay, but the mere mention of alcohol makes you do that weird cringy thing with your face, so maybe juice is a good option."

As if on cue, Aspen cringed again, her nose scrunching involuntarily. She turned back to the mirror, muttering under her breath as she picked up her blush brush.

Makeup had never been a big part of Aspen's routine, but she couldn't deny the satisfaction of it. There was something oddly soothing about the soft swirls of powder on her cheeks or the precise swipe of mascara on her lashes. Tonight, however, she was feeling daring—or as daring as Aspen could feel. She picked up a black liquid liner, carefully dragging the felt tip along the edge of her eyelid.

The result wasn't perfect, but it wasn't terrible either. She stepped back to admire her handiwork just as Isobel appeared behind her, clapping her hands in delight.

"Oh my God! Aspen, you look amazing! That wing is perfect— I mean, it's practically professional."

Aspen blushed under the praise, ducking her head slightly. "It's not that great," she murmured, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Her mood, however, soured slightly as her mind wandered about who would be there, the thought of someone new being at the party. Aspen had met Zayn before— he was charming in that effortless, slightly intimidating way—but the idea of meeting more of his friends made her stomach churn. She had heard bits and pieces about them: Niall, who apparently had the sense of humor of a stand-up comedian; Louis, a former coworker of Zayn's with a penchant for mischief. And then there was Harry.

The mere thought of Harry sent a jolt of nervous energy through her. Tattoos. Piercings. Owner of a tattoo shop. She could already feel the intimidating aura he would inevitably exude. Aspen had never been good at talking to guys, especially not ones like that.

She would be doomed if she even tried to squeak a word to him. Isobel of course played into the playful banter earlier when she was begging for Aspen to come. 

"I'm not talking to him," she said firmly, more to herself than to Isobel.

Isobel, rummaging through her closet in search of the perfect outfit, barely glanced over her shoulder. "What was that?"

"I said I'm not talking to him," Aspen repeated, louder this time. "I'll go to the party, but I'm not—no way. Not happening."

Isobel smirked, tossing a shirt over her shoulder. "Who said you have to talk to him? Maybe he'll think you're hot and talk to you."

Aspen gasped, her face heating up. "God, no! Shut up!"

Isobel only laughed, her amusement growing when one of her discarded shirts landed squarely on Aspen's face. Aspen pulled it off with a huff, shaking her head as she returned to the bathroom.

By the time she finished her makeup and spritzed herself with her favorite cherry vanilla perfume, the nervous knot in her stomach had only grown tighter. She stepped back to examine her outfit in the mirror: a deep red ribbed long-sleeve top with a square neckline that hugged her frame, paired with a justtt long enough denim skirt and sheer black tights. Her boots added a bit of edge to the otherwise sweet ensemble, and the white satin bow in her hair tied it all together in it's half up-half down style. On her neck, a beautiful 'A' necklace that Isobel got her after their first year of living together and her ears had small silver hoops in them. 

She tugged at the hem of her skirt nervously, turning to Isobel. "Is it too much?"

Isobel turned to look, her eyes widening in mock awe. "You look incredible, Aspen. Seriously. If you don't get at least ten compliments tonight, I'll be shocked."

Aspen laughed despite herself, grabbing a leather jacket from Isobel's closet. The coat was heavier than she needed, but it gave her a sense of security. She slung it into the crook of her arm as they headed out the door. Zayn didn't live too far from them, but Isobel insisted on taking an Uber because she wanted to dress up and it certainly didn't fit the weather outside.

The Uber ride was short but felt interminable. Aspen stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past, her hands fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket. Her nerves buzzed like static, but she told herself this was for Isobel. Just one night. She could survive one night.

And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be as bad as she feared.

[azspot]

You know, in the reality-based world, even if you are worried about government waste, even if you want to make the government smaller, you have to acknowledge the empirical fact that payroll accounts for 4% of the federal budget. If Elon Musk manages to cut 50% of the federal workforce, a move that would leave us without functional roads or aviation or any of these other things that you kind of need if you’re going to make money out of the economy, he would cut 2% of the federal budget. You know, you can find a couple trillion dollars in government waste. All you have to do is look for Beltway bandits who are marking up their services to the U.S. government by triple-digit margins. Unfortunately, those aren’t the people that they’re pursuing.

Cory Doctorow

[sweetfirebird]

I cannot stress enough how bad at this these people are. I mean, they are in power and they are evil and they have successfully done a lot of evil things. But a lot of the things they've done have also been stupid, and they've been done stupidly. Their bulldozing was meant to take three months but I don't think they planned on any resistance at all. Which is amazingly stupid. They should have planned for *some* at least.

They also made other mistakes. And I think these were from a combination of factors: They are playing to MAGA but most of America is not actually MAGA. There were Republicans and stupid people and hateful people... but nonetheless, a lot of those people are not MAGA. Furthermore... most MAGA are not wealthy or even financially comfortable. That should have been factored in. They hired incredibly incompetent people with no idea of how a functional government works. Yeah they want smaller federal government and they want to keep all the money etc but you still... need people to do payroll and stuff in those positions. To do the IT. To be *good* lawyers. And all of those people quit or these idiots pushed them out.

They started believing their own hype, high on their own supply. They followed the Heritage Foundation and ignored all the actual economists' advice, and how bad economies turn people against their leaders. They made PR mistakes constantly--thinking they can spin it to MAGA (because they can) but the rest of the country--and the world--is not MAGA and they made themselves look worse. They have zero bargaining positions on anything, and Hegseth's dumbass got tricked into admitting that they have (probably) made plans about trying to take Greenland. In public he did this! The leaky idiot! They admitted Kilmar Garcia was a mistake and *could have* quietly returned him and made a whole fake show about how they are doing due process!!! but instead turned it into an issue that turned even more people against them. (Because fascists hate backing down but also because they are only trying to appeal to MAGA, which is a shrinking audience.) They wouldn't back off on tariffs and companies left the US, and the China "trade deal in the works" is on terrible terms for the US (womp womp). And I get why in a fascist's brain using obscene levels of force in LA makes sense... but historically, Americans HATE this and it also ALWAYS turns more people against their government. Trump's approval ratings are now underwater on every single issue, including immigration, which means even some of the racists are like, wait a minute.

Not to mention morale in the military is low and allegedly... allegedly... the Marines are slowwalking everything because they really do not want to be involved.

This government could have done a lot of their immoral shit fully legally, or in such a way that most Americans would be on their side or indifferent. They genuinely could have. Sorry, America, but it's true. (I am American shush. It's true.) But they have bullied and antagonized the entire world, alienated a large chunk of their citizens, slowly but surely tanked the economy unless someone steps in real quick (no one is buying our bonds uh oh). Bankrupted the federal government. And created a situation where citizens feel more loyalty to their individual states than to their federal government.

It's like when they brought Zelenskyy to the Oval Office to try to bully and humiliate him, and all it actually did was a) make more of the rest of the world turn away from the US and b) give Americans another symbol of protest--Ukraine's flag.

MAGA people don't understand how these were errors because they are told daily that the US is number one and the greatest force in the world and blah blah blah, but the rest of the world gets it. You can't threaten people as if you are a superpower when you have destroyed your country's ability to be a superpower. (womp womp)

And yes, the people in some of these think tanks and groups are starting to realize some of this. They are shocked to discover that these economic policies are terrible. They couldn't even be smart enough to follow a basic-ass "bread and circuses." They couldn't even do that! They are truly stupid!

Oh and for all the terror. For all that Stephen Miller is salivating over quotas of arrests. For all the money spent with troops in LA. For putting the soldiers and Marines in this position (and not providing food or shelter for them. Amazing incompetence.) their actual arrests are very, very low and a lot of the people they rounded up are... US citizens.

It's theater and it's not particularly good theater. The correct response is (sad to say) Newsom's. Standing up to them and responding to their posturing and mockery with more mockery.

And also showing in numbers across the country so that even one No Kings rally has more people than Orangina's parade that no, is absolutely not about honoring the Army. Please.

AND--staying on your Senators and Reps about the BBB and everything else.

[rainbowsky]

Hey RBS.. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Do you think Globalfever fansite is being managed directly by someone from GG/DD’s team. Many a times I wonder how that site able to get tickets to all of our boys events and capture such close up candid shots of GGDD unless she is part of their inner circle?

Example today - https://weibo.com/7320958826/OydEkDN0w

not sure if it’s original or edited.. from that video it looks like XZ acknowledged her words of Jiayou and bye bye

Hi Natashayishan, thanks! I hope you're well, and that you have a wonderful week too! 😊

Here's the video for those who don't have access to Weibo.

To answer this question I'm going to start by explaining a bit of background about fansites and how they function (I'm by no means an expert, but here's my understanding of how it all works).

Part 1 - Fansites in General

There has been a lot of talk about fansites over the years, and some have faced accusations, criticisms, confusion, suspicions, theories both positive and negative for a very long time. I think they're largely misunderstood by a lot of fans.

For example, it's not uncommon for people to believe fansites are stalkers, or that they shamelessly profit from the unauthorized use of a star's image or footage, or that they're organizations that exist for the purpose of exploiting stars.

This isn't really how it works at all. In general, a fansite is just one fan who follows a star's career and enjoys sharing photos and videos they take of that star. Plain and simple. Some fansites involve more than one person, but most are just made up of individuals.

Yes, they sometimes make money selling photo books and other merch, but that money tends to go back into supporting the star -buying endorsement products, arranging events and giveaways, buying or upgrading equipment needed to create fansite content (cameras, computer equipment, software), paying for tickets (many of which are overpriced reseller tickets) and travel/accommodations to attend events, etc.

It might seem glamorous - and there's undeniably a glamorous aspect to it - but to me it looks very stressful, like a huge headache. These fans generally have their own lives and careers outside of fandom, so coordinating everything, waiting in lines, standing in the rain outside appearances and events, not to mention the pressure to attend events and post regular updates, and all the haters and antis they are constantly dealing with, the amount of stress and frustration they deal with must be immense.

It's a lot of work, and for this reason, fansites don't always stay fansites. Some retire as their real life interests and obligations shift. One of my favorite GGDD fansites - Midnight Dream - retired a few years ago. 😢

Fansites are an important part of any celebrity's support system. While no - they aren't part of a celebrity's team or on their payroll, they do play a huge part in helping to bring attention to a star and build buzz around them, their projects, their appearances, events and other activities.

If you want an analogy that might help it make more sense to you, just look at some of the sports fans across the globe who will follow all the matches, follow team developments, team picks, managers and training, and share all that info on blogs, podcasts or dedicated sports fan sites.

This is very similar. They're just really dedicated fans who build a following by being where we can't be, and sharing their experiences so that we can feel like we were there, too.

And they provide the fans and the stars an immense, immeasurable service IMHO, despite what we might agree or disagree with about the way fandom culture works. The content they capture and share is almost always far more intimate (generally without being invasive), and of a far higher quality than that of the professionals hired to cover these events on behalf of media agencies and management.

Fansites do get some official support from time to time. For example, there are events where fansites can get approval - almost like a press pass or a security pass - to attend and be in certain locations within or near facilities to take photographs, video, etc., but they are not hired or compensated by the star or their team.

A lot of it is also largely unknown/unknowable, so it's hard to be sure of the details. There are always going to be rumors and claims. For example, there have been claims that during SDOC Yibo was allowed to invite 4 fansites to come to the finale, and of the 4, he chose 3 BXG fansites and only one solo site. I haven't seen proof of that, but the claim was making the rounds a lot at the time.

One thing we do know - he chose a fansite photo to give to Yangkai when he was courting him to join his team in season 4. (Of course, solos made a huge stink and Youku ended up editing the footage to remove the photo, but we saw what we saw).

There are other examples of GG and DD interacting with or showing acceptance of their BXG fansites. I started looking for some references and then realized it was not something I have time for or interest in. I'm not here to give a comprehensive analysis anyway, I'm just here to give a simple-ish answer to your question. If others want to discuss that in the notes, that's fine.

So, hopefully some of that background info will have answered parts of your question, and gives you more tools to evaluate things on your own moving forward.

Part 2 - Global Fever

As for Global Fever specifically, well... Global Fever is one of the most treasured BXG in the entire fandom. This dedicated fan has been following GG and DD BOTH, since they debuted. She is more than just a CP fan, she's been a supporter of their individual careers since day 1.

Yes, since back when Yibo was still the White Peony.

She became a CP fan in the natural way - by seeing her faves work together on The Untamed, by watching them interact and by following them and their careers. No, she doesn't work for their teams (they both have dedicated teams of their own, and they don't need to pay fansites who - after all - will do this stuff for free). It's just that she's recognizable to GG and DD because she's been a fixture in their lives for so many years.

And this is something solos need to get their heads around: BXG are fans too. I think there's this conceit among solos that THEY'RE GG and DD's fans and BXG are something else, but in reality (and, no doubt, in the eyes of GG and DD) BXG are their fans too.

Never could that be more apparent than when a dedicated fan like Global Fever jiejie is calling 'Zhanzhan, jiayou!' and 'byebye!' as he's boarding an elevator on the way to the stage. Of course GG recognized her and smiled at her. Of course.

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

One of the more interesting aspects of Stayed Gone is the implication that, prior to his disappearance, Alastor must have been producing some quality programming.

Despite it's obvious importance in the modern world, TV apparently only started outcompeting radio in Hell after Alastor vanished. Seven whole years ago. And when Al returns, Vox's first response is to freak the fuck out about whether he's gonna keep his audience.

That's fucking crazy.

And we can be pretty sure that people weren't just listening in out of fear, either. Or because Alastor was making any major effort to crush all other forms of media.

If this was purely about which Overlord was the most powerful, then Vox's verses would surely have focused on emphasising his own strength. Instead, they're all about calling radio outdated. Vox is genuinely worried— apparently based on experience— that Alastor is going to outdo him in terms of sheer entertainment value.

Which raises the obvious question: what were Al's shows actually like? (Aside from those early broadcasts guest-starting the screams of the damned, obviously.)

We get kind of a taster in the song:

“Salutations! Good to be back on the air. Yes, I know it's been a while, since someone with style treated Hell to a broadcast— Sinners, rejoice!— instead of a clout-chasing mediocre video podcast. Is Vox insecure, pursuing allure? Fitting between this fad and that, is nothing working? Every day, he's got a new format! Is Vox as strong as he purports? Or is it based on his support? He'd be powerless without the other Vees! And here's the sugar on the cream: he asked me to join his team! I said no, and now he's pissy, that's the tea!”

Obviously he's doing it to music, so there's going to be some difference in the cadence of his voice from that, but still, he's talking noticeably quicker than he does in person. And he gets right to the point.

Compare it to his commercial in episode 1. There's a big difference in terms of both how much respect he's showing his audience (“well hello there, you wayward sinner!” vs “good to be back on the air”), and how much relevant information he delivers.

Alastor is a great character to watch, but most people who interact with him directly seem to find the experience either annoying, awkward, terrifying or all three.

Mainly because Al seems to go out of his way to put people off even when he's actively trying to get them to trust him, by making condescending asides or constantly dropping references to his own power. On air, however, he greets everyone politely and even drops what is almost an apology for being gone so long (“I know it's been a while”), then immediately gets to the information that he knows they're really listening for.

Alastor may not respect Charlie, Adam or Lucifer, but he does respect his audience.

And the content he's producing makes it clear why people are still tuning in. Al has the gossip. Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench may not be unbiased exactly, but they're clearly trying to provide sources for their claims and maintain some veneer of professional news reporting.

Al, meanwhile, is quite happy to provide strong opinions and baseless speculation about public figures, content that is less fitting with the professional image that Vox seems so desperate to keep up, but that is likely to attract a bigger audience.

What gets me curious now, however, is wondering what else he used to provide.

Again, radio was apparently the medium for news and entertainment in Hell until Alastor left. Implying that a) radio was at the time fulfilling many of the function that TV now provides, and b) Alastor was involved enough in this that it collapsed/got overthrown the moment he left town.

Did Alastor have an empire similar to the Vees? Did he run a bunch of channels? Did he have DJs and sports commentators and presenters on his payroll?

Given that radio seems to have collapsed completely after he left— did they all go running to Vox when he was presumed dead? Was the Vees new empire in part built on the ruins of Alastor's old one?

Or did he do the whole thing solo and just run like, a bunch of different shows. (In which case, since radio's bread and butter has always been music, Helluva Boss fans can now have fun imagining him interviewing Verosika Mayday about ‘Vacay to Bonetown’.)

[feyrearchearon]

Unpopular opinion but Cassian should’ve defended Nesta when Rhys was yelling at her. Regardless of personal opinion, Cassian should’ve had Nesta’s back in public and shut down Rhys when Rhys was yelling. Because everyone knows if the roles were reversed, Rhys would never ever allow anyone to shout at feyre the way he shouted at nesta (even if he himself disagreed with feyre). He might argue with Feyre in private, but in public they are united.

That being said, Rhys wasn’t wrong in yelling at Nesta and being angry. Nesta put his entire court, including his infant son and postpartum wife, in jeopardy after they literally just died. Yeah, Nesta believed she was doing the right thing and Bryce is trying to save her own world - but let’s not forget Nesta handed over a weapon of mass destruction to a virtual stranger she just met. Of course Rhys was going to be upset - and of course Cassian was going to be upset as well.

Rhys was doing his job as high lord - he was reacting as a high lord and as a new father/husband. But Cassian being silent - was not acting as a husband, but as a commander. He always puts the ic/night court first while Rhys is more than willing to sacrifice everything for feyre.

I think this is the biggest reason why people ship Nesta and Rhys. They know that Rhys loves Feyre more than anything and anyone. They know if push comes to shove, Rhys would always choose feyre. He loves her so much that he would give up his power, his throne, and his family for her. With Rhys, it’s not even a choice - it’s automatically going to be feyre every time. Cassian is a lot more conflicted.

They hate Feysand. They think their relationship is toxic but they want nesta to be loved the way Rhys loves feyre. They want nesta to have everything feyre has - power, a family, and a husband who will put her first. And they can’t stand that feyre, a character they absolutely loath, gets everything they think Nesta deserves. It’s Feyre who’s high lady. Feyre who still has her power. Feyre who’s loved throughout prythian. Feyre who has a husband who’s willing to do anything to keep her safe and happy.

so, i haven't seen this scene in hofas that has everybody up in arms about cassian not being a good mate, but i heard that it made nesta stans upset, and that immediately puts a smile on my face 😄 (i'm half-joking).

i don't know what rhysand said to her, but just the fact that he yelled at her, for that alone, in theory, cassian should have stepped in, yes. rhysand would never allow anyone to do that to feyre, even if she had done something wrong. but i'm still willing to give cassian the benefit of the doubt because i really don't think he fucks with nesta like that, i'm sorry lol mating bonds ARE rare, we have proof of this with nessian and with elucien and with rhysand's parents, and so on and so forth. just because the cauldron mates people, it does not mean that these people will be unconditional soulmates, even if they accept the bond, chances of them being real lovers are rare. cassian has said so himself about feysand, how he admires what they have because it's the stuff of fairytales and how RARE it is to have a mating bond like theirs. it is not rare to have a mate, it is rare to have a FUNCTIONING mating bond. cassian feels shackled to nesta. he does not like her as a person, he wishes she was someone else, so he could have with her what rhysand has with feyre. and who can blame him? he literally hated her in acomaf, and were it not for the mating bond, he wouldn’t have looked twice her way.

and yes, nesta stans hate that. they hate that nesta's mate does not like her for who she is, they hate that he does not coddle her and he does not support her wrongs and he does not stand up for her the way rhysand does for feyre. they hate that cassian is not a high lord like rhysand, they hate that he is not powerful like rhysand, they hate that nesta and cassian are under rhysand and feyre's payroll and that they answer to them. just like nesta was always jealous of feyre, so are her stans lol and this is why they want nesta with eris, so she can have her own version of feysand but in the autumn court. the one who deserves better in this relationship is cassian, not nesta.

[stabbyfoxandrew]

hiyaaa how are you doing? i hope clarisse resumes normal & proper functioning soon! as a small, semi-related funfact, i named my laptop scully (yes, like the x files)

could i request dealer's choice between mafia front and arson neil for this week's wipw? idk how but i totally missed last week's mafia front parts until today and i'm so here for both of themmmm

i hope you have a lovely week :D 🫶💖

WIP Wednesday (6/25) | Arsonist Neil / Firefighter Andrew AU (Part 317)

"You never told me what had you riled up this afternoon," Andrew says towards the end of the meal. Abram stills, his knife halfway through a piece of meat. He sets it down and leans back in his booth.

"Something... bad happened on a few January 19s ago"

"How bad?"

"There was a bloody birthday message and dead animals involved. And, uh, this," Abram's eyes get a bit distant as he puts his fingers to the mottled, circular scars on his cheek. Andrew is so taken aback by that confession, the first bit of the sentence nearly escapes his notice.

"It's your birthday." He says, receiving a little nod.

"Sort of."

"Someone did that to you on your birthday."

"Yeah. Told you my father was a fucked up individual, he kept several of them on his payroll." Abram's fingers are still resting against his cheek.

"They're all dead now. Right?"

A terrible smile stretches Abram's lips. "Yeah."

"Good." Andrew says sincerely. He adds January 19th to his list of facts about Abram. It's a short one, and every new entry is like a piece to a puzzle he'll never solve. He'll collect them anyway.

NEIL

When their empty plates— sans the hideous shrimp Neil wishes he hadn't ordered by accident since he hates wasting food— are whisked away, Andrew asks the waiter for a dessert menu and orders an obscenely large slice of strawberry cake. When it arrives though, he pushes it in front of Neil.

"Wha-"

"Gimme a match," Andrew commands. Neil straightens a bit.

"I don't have..."

"Save it and give me one." Andrew tells him, holding out a couple fingers. Neil slips his hand into his jeans and fishes out his matchbook, relinquishing it to Andrew. The fireman turns his head to make sure no one is watching, then strikes a match and sticks it into the cake, flame side up. The image of Andrew holding a lit match burns into Neil's memory and Andrew gestures at the cake.

"What?"

"It's your birthday, Abram. Make a wish and blow it out." Andrew says. Neil stares at him for a second, then at the flame eating it way down towards their dessert. "C'mon now, before this turns into work for me."

Neil closes his eyes and makes an impossible wish, then blows enough air to smother the tiny fire Andrew lit for him. It doesn't put out the one behind his ribs though. It burns ever brighter as they split the massive slab of cake, turns out seeing Andrew with whipped cream on his mouth does something funny to Neil's insides that he hopes they'll revisit sometime.

When they leave the restaurant, it's no warmer than when they arrived. In fact it's worse than it was, a terrible shame. Neil waits for Andrew to tell him what they're doing next, but the fireman just puts an arm around Neil's waist and pulls him along towards Neil's car. Once they get there Andrew spins him around so his back's against the door.

"It'll be cold in the barn." He says, finger hooked in Neil's belt loop.

"Yeah."

"So?" It's dark, except for the streetlights. Somehow they illuminate Andrew's eyes perfectly. Neil can't look away.

"Can we go?" He asks breathlessly. Andrew blinks, hazel disappearing for a split second. 

"We can," he says near Neil's ear. A shiver rocks Neil's spine when Andrew's lips brush his jaw. "Meet me there. And don't get arrested for speeding, firebug."