#text is too small you need to click on the image to see it probably :|

[titanfortuna]

Obligatory 'I'm literally a biology student this is just things I've picked up from making various coats and other textile stuff' disclaimer, but looking at the various in game coat designs:

[sparta369]

I bought slay the princess but haven’t started it ‘cause it kinda intimidates me, can you convince me to play it?

Ok now I know you just asked me to convince you to play it but hear me out

Don't play it yet

There's a huge, Free Content expansion coming out on the 24th of this month, in just 8 days called The Pristine Cut, which is going to expand the game by about 35%. The Devs themselves have said to wait for the expansion release if you haven't played it already lol

That being said, I'd never pass up an opportunity to gush about one of my favorite games ever created

I realized far too late that I'd accidentally written far more than either of us probably wanted. So I'll try to sparknotes it, and leave the full thing below the cut.

The less you know going in, the better. However, it is still a horror game. You can find a list of content warnings here. It's just a list, so it doesn't really reveal very much.

A single playthrough lasts about 3-4 hours on average, though I can guarantee you'll want to do more than one. The game is positively dense with choices. It's impossible to see everything in one playthrough, and one would be hard-pressed to have the exact same playthrough twice.

Words cannot really capture how much I love this game. It's story masterfully crafted with a vast ocean of choices for the player to make, all of which make a true and profound impact on the narrative. If you enjoyed Disco Elysium or The Stanley Parable, You'll like Slay the Princess. The game was lovingly hand-drawn, pencil on paper, and the music was beautifully composed. The voice acting, featuring the talents of Nichole Goodnight and Jonathan Sims, are also, in my opinion, phenomenal.

I truly cannot express the emotional impact this game has left me with. It's a game I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Whether you intend to stop here or read on, I'll leave you with this one screenshot. It's only text, and it's literally the second thing you see upon booting up the game, so don't worry about spoilers lmao

"Whatever horrors you may find in these dark spaces, have heart and see them through."

"There are no premature endings. There are no wrong decisions."

"There are only fresh perspectives and new beginnings."

"This is a love story."

Oh boy you clicked the "keep reading" button :o) I wrote this over the course of most of my day today before I realized exactly how long it was. Besides a small change to the end, I'm going to leave most of it un-touched, just for the sake of preserving whatever the hell was going on in my head at the time :o)

Slay the Princess is one of those games where, the less you know going in, the better, So I'll do my best to convince you without revealing anything.

Still, though, It is a horror game. If you would like to look through it just in case, you can find a list of content warnings on their website here. It gives a list of many things you may encounter, but there is a 0% chance that you will encounter all, or likely even half, of the things described in there. In addition, they present these things in a way that reveals as little as possible. Still, I would personally recommend against reading through them, but there's no shame or judgement if you go dig through it. You know yourself better than anybody, if you think ya need it that's fine.

There's also some flickering image effects & a parallax effect that has caused motion sickness for some players, but both of these can be disabled in the settings.

With all that out of the way...

Words truly cannot explain how much I love this game.

It is an absolute masterwork of interactive narrative storytelling. No other game I've played or heard of in my life gives as much weight to every single choice you make, every little thing you do. There are so many choices and possibilities, and not once does the game ever make you feel like you've chosen "wrong." It's impossible to see everything in one playthrough, and you would be hard-pressed to get the exact same playthrough twice. Quite literally, every time I've watched somebody else play the game, they happened upon something I'd never seen before, despite me having 100% of the achievements.

One playthrough usually takes around 3-4 hours, but you will almost certainly want to do more than one.

There are also a number of places where you can safely and logically pause and come back later, should you need to.

The narrative itself is expertly woven. The storytelling is phenomenal, interweaving paralyzing fear with heart-aching beauty, while also carrying a healthy amount of comedy at carefully chosen places. The themes carry through beautifully. I've cried actual tears on more than one occasion, and it's not easy to get that out of me. Slay The Princess is a story that will be a part of my heart for as long as I live.

If you've played and enjoyed Disco Elysium, you'll enjoy Slay The Princess.

If you've played and enjoyed The Stanley parable, you'll enjoy Slay The Princess.

I know that I often struggle with games that require a lot of reading, and that includes a lot of visual novel type games.

Thankfully, the game is, for the most part, fully voice-acted :) The very few bits that aren't voiced are that way for narrative reasons hee hoo

The voice acting itself is, in my opinion, phenomenal. Both actors put their heart and souls into their roles, and their care shows in their performances. The Princess is voiced by Nichole Goodnight & the Narrator is voiced by Jonathan Sims (Who you may recognize from The Magnus Archives, if you were ever into that).

The art of the game is beautiful. It is all lovingly hand-drawn, pencil on paper. Thousands of images, and even a few animations, all coming together to form a wonderfully unique visual style that lends itself well to the game itself.

The soundtrack of this game, composed by Brandon Boone & with vocal performances by Amelia Jones, is absolutely breathtaking. It does a phenomenal job setting and supporting the tone of the game, whether it be tension, fear, hope, joy, or anything between and beyond. I can't put it's beauty into words.

Brandon Boone actually just recently won the "Game Music Award" at the World Soundtrack Awards for his work on Slay The Princess, and I deeply believe that it was 100% deserved.

This is... probably far more than you ever asked for. But I mean it when I say that Slay the Princess is one of my favorite games of all time. I mean it when I say that Slay The Princess is a story that will be a part of my heart for as long as I live. I'll take any opportunity to make more people play it, in hopes that it might impact them even a fraction as much as it has impacted me. I've bought a total of 11 copies of this game (1 for myself, 9 which were distributed to friends, and one that's coming with the Collector's Edition)

As my final word, I'll once again remind you:

"Whatever horrors you may find in these dark spaces, have heart and see them through."

"There are no premature endings. There are no wrong decisions."

"There are only fresh perspectives and new beginnings."

"This is a love story."

[cal-kestis]

HOW TO: Make an iPhone Layout + Downloadable Template

Hi! I've gotten a few messages asking for a tutorial on my iPhone gifsets — but instead of only doing a tutorial (that would probably be triple the length this one already is), I decided to turn my layout into a template with all the bits and bobs! In the "tutorial" under the cut, I'll share everything you'll need, a free template download, and quickly go over how to use this template. :)

Disclaimer: This template uses Video Timeline and this tutorial assumes you have a basic to intermediate understanding of Photoshop.

PHASE 1: THE ASSETS

1.1 – Download fonts. These are the fonts used for all assets I've included in my template: – SF Pro or SF Pro Display (Regular, Medium, Bold): Either version works, they look nearly identical. You can download directly from https://developer.apple.com/fonts/ or easily find it via Google – Bebas Neue: Free on Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, and dafont – Times New Roman (Bold): Should be a default font in Photoshop

Make sure to download and install any of the fonts you don't already have before opening my template. That way, once you open the template file, all the settings (font size, weight, spacing, color, opacity, etc.) are as intended.

1.2 – Download my template. Before you use my template, all I ask is that you don't claim or redistribute it as your own and that you give me proper credit in the caption of your post. Making these iPhone gifsets takes me a longgg time and turning this layout into a template took several hours too.

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE VIA KO-FI ← This template is completely free to download (just enter $0), but if you feel inclined to tip me, I appreciate you! 💖

BTW this template also includes some of my frequently used icons!

NOTE: If, for some reason, you open the template and see the pop-up shown below, click "NO" — otherwise, the fonts will be all messed up:

And if you see this triangle with an exclamation point by a text layer, don't double-click it — it'll mess up the font as well:

PHASE 2: THE GIFS

I'm just going to briefly go over gif sizes and my recommendations. Also, keep in mind when grabbing your scenes, you'll want all of these gifs to be the same amount of frames.

2.1 – Background Gif: 540 x 540 px. I recommend this size so you have a good amount of visibility for the gif behind the iPhone wallpaper. I also recommend making this black and white (or in my case, black and white with a slight blue tint — idk I just like the way it looks) so the wallpaper coloring can stand out.

2.2 – Wallpaper Gif: 230 (w) x 500 (h) px. Keep in mind the very narrow dimensions of the wallpaper! And also keep in mind that you'll have a bunch of apps and widgets covering the image. I try to use wide shots (or layer my clips into looking like wide shots). Also, keep in mind your color scheme for your set and your character's aesthetic! I tend to focus on one or two colors for the wallpaper.

I usually position the wallpaper to the side with 20px bumpers, so there's lots of space to see the background:

2.3 – Large Photo Widget Gif: 201 (w) x 96 (h) px.

2.4 – Small Photo Widget Gif: 94 x 94 px.

PHASE 3: THE TEMPLATE – "IPHONE" FOLDER

In this section, I'll try to quickly walk you through how to use this template and some bits that may require extra instructions. I'll be going through each folder from top to bottom.

3.1 – Status Bar. Time, Service, and WiFi are pretty self-explanatory. In the Battery folder, you can use the shape tool to adjust the shape layers labeled "Fill (Adjustable Shape!)" to customize the battery level.

3.2 – Message Notification. Again, these are pretty self-explanatory. I've already masked the circle for the contact photo, so you can simply import any photo and use the transform tool to shrink it down. The circle is 24x24 px. If you don't want to use a photo, there's another folder called Default Initials.

If your message text can't fit the text box, the message should end with ellipses which is how iOS caps off long texts.

3.3 – Blurred Banner (IMPORTANT) This folder is easy to miss because there's only one placeholder layer in there. On iPhones, the area behind a banner notification and the dock get blurred (including the wallpaper and any apps).

What to do: Make a duplicate of the apps in Row 1 and/or widgets that intersect the message banner, convert them all into one smart object, apply a Gaussian Blur filter (Radius: 3.0 pixels) on the smart object, and move the smart object into this masked folder!

(There's another masked folder in the Wallpaper folder for the dock which I'll go over in that section.)

3.4 – Apps Turn off the yellow guide if you don't need it to keep things aligned and turn off layers you don't need by clicking the eye icon. Replace the "App" placeholder text with your app name, change the color or gradient of the square to compliment your color scheme, and add your custom app icon overlay!

If you can't find an app icon you need from the ones I provided, flaticon.com is a great resource. Also, if you can only find the filled version of an icon, check out this tutorial for how to make any text or shape into an outline.

Also, each app folder has 4 notification bubble options (1-4 digits). Again, you can toggle these on and off as you need!

3.5 – Big Widgets I like using these when my wallpaper has A LOT of negative space to fill. I included the Photos and Books widgets in my template, but there are lots of widgets available on iPhones. You can check some of the other ones I've done here, or if you have an iPhone, simply try adding some widgets to your phone!

There are also widgets bigger than these, but they would take up half of the phone screen which is why I don't use them for these edits.

3.6 – Small Widgets The only thing I'll say about these — because they're pretty straight forward — is there are a lot more weather themes than I included in my template. Also, if you set your character's phone to evening, the weather widget will show a dark background (sometimes with stars), so keep that in mind.

Speaking of, I've included Light Modes and Dark Modes for, I think, every applicable widget.

3.7 – Page Dots These barely perceptible dots indicate that your character has more pages of apps than shown in your gifset (so if an anon tries to come at you, you can just say "it's on the next page of apps" /j /lh)

3.8 – Dock Again, the dock has notification bubble options and I've included the default app designs, custom filled designs, and custom outlined designs for iMessage, Phone, Email, and Safari (there's also a FaceTime alternative if that's how your character rolls). These are usually the apps people keep in their Dock, but this is fully customizable too. So, if your character is, like, super obsessed with Candy Crush or something and needs it in thumb's reach — you can put it in the dock.

3.9 – Wallpaper This whole folder is masked already to a 230x500 px rounded rectangle.

Inside, you'll find another "Blurred Portion" folder for the area behind the message banner notification and the dock.

What to do: Duplicate your gif layer and place it in this folder, remove any sharpening filters, and apply a Gaussian Blur filter (Radius: 3.0 px). Be sure to add any coloring/adjustment layers ABOVE this folder and your original sharpened gif layer.

PHASE 4: EXPORT

We made it!

I hope this template makes it super easy for you to recreate this layout! If you decide to try it out, feel free to tag me with #usernik.

If you notice anything wonky about the template, kindly let me know so I can fix it! And if you have any questions about how to use this template, please don't hesitate to send me a message! I just ask that you try to be specific in your question so I'm able to answer you the best I can!

[newtkive]

pixels [ newt x reader - modern text au ]

ch. 3 - infamous minecraft night

summary: the usual minecraft night ensues, and newt comes to a realization.

warnings: strong language, mutual pining, none really.

➥ m.list

__

note: the first meme is minho i swear. anyways first written chapter yaaaay !!

__

The only sounds coming from Newt’s apartment were the whirring of his pc and the shuffle of his friend situating himself on the living room couch. Newt was stationed in the corner of the small apartment, typing away at his computer, head down and floppy blond hair over his forehead.

“Dude, chill. You’re going to give yourself carpal tunnel from typing that fast.” Minho said from his spot on the sofa. His hands were behind his head, feet on the coffee table and shooting a judgmental look Newt’s way.

The older looked over his shoulder, running a hand through his hair. “I thought I told you to stop putting your nasty feet on my table.” He retorted.

Minho rolled his eyes, dramatically stomping his feet back on the ground. Another look was shot his way, curtesy of Newt before he turned back around, focusing again on his screen. “We getting on Minecraft or what, man?” Minho sighed, putting his laptop on his lap.

“Uh, yeah, go ahead and get on. I just finished my work and I’m gonna join the call.” Newt mumbled, taking hold of his mouse to click off of the library website he was editing, and switch to the Discord app. It took a second for him to find ‘The Glade’ group, noticing three active members in the voice chat to the left side of the main chat. He suddenly saw the chat moving as an alert popped up, showing that a familiar name was typing.

y/n: yooo newt get on!!

y/n: i see you online. get on call! we need a voice of reason

Newt’s dark eyes flew across the screen, a small smile gracing his lips as he read what you said. Behind him, Newt could hear Minho scoffing. The sound must have sobered the blond up, since his smile fell and he coughed to snap himself out of it.

“Dude, how come she asked you to join? I’m online too!” Minho grumbled like a spoiled kid.

Newt smirked, sending him a look again from over his shoulder. “Because she needs a voice of reason, or so she says. You’d only serve to make things worse in whatever is going on in that call.” The older snickered, and a harsh glare came from his friend. Newt swore he heard Minho mutter a few curses under his breath as he turned back around, but he let it go.

Clearing his throat, Newt clicked on the voice chat and prepared himself. An onslaught of voices immediately filled his ears, a mix of halfhearted arguing and giggles from Alby, Gally, and yourself. As usual, dark eyes instantly found the small square that housed the image of you and Newt couldn’t control the smile that lit up his face.

“Newt!” You beamed right back at him, waving through the screen.

“Y/n!” The blond reciprocated the wave and felt his cheeks heat up as you giggled a bit.

A few groans lit up the call belonging to Alby and Gally. The two had a similar set up going on; sitting in front of their fancy gaming computers while adorning a headset, a bit distracted as they played Minecraft.

“You could say hey to us too, Newt.” Alby sassed, with a broad grin and raised brows.

“Yeah, but you guys probably caused whatever problem is going on." Newt chuckled. This elicited a furious nod from you in the corner, and Alby immediately began wagging his finger in the camera with a series of 'no, no, no's.

"Sure, go see what Y/n did to my house." Gally remarked the bottom left corner of the screen and rolled his eyes.

"I only blew half of it up because you destroyed my shed!" You gasped at Gally. Newt's smile grew at their antics.

"You mean my shed that you've been squatting in!" Gally shouted back at her. There was a hint of an amused smile on his face despite the obvious irritation about the TNT blowing his hard work up. Newt figured it would have been a bigger deal if it was anyone else's property, but Gally was an absolute beast at Minecraft; he could fix any damage within mere minutes.

Before you could retort, the sound of another person joining the call cut you off. A vertical screen stretched to fit the layout, and a blurry image of a familiar brunette was shown.

"Heyyyy, guys!" Thomas sing-songed out, holding his phone up in the air like a stereotypical dad. He was clearly walking along the snow covered streets, wired headphones in as he adjusted his beanie. The crew let out a chorus of 'hey man's and 'hey Tommy's'.

"Where the hell are you?" Newt asked, laughter laced in his voice, head tilted to the side to decipher where his friend was going.

"Uhhh, I'm on my way home," Thomas started, looking around as snow began to fall a bit, almost seeming unsure of his own words, "I think, at least."

"You think?" Newt echoed, amused.

"You're like one of those kids who need a leash on their backpacks." You said, grinning at your best friend as he trudged along the almost barren stone street of New York.

Thomas shrugged, a little laugh bubbling out. "I guess. I kinda got lost, I thought this old lady was following me so I faked her out and went a weird direction. Now I'm in a fancy neighborhood." He explained.

Alby, Newt, yourself, and even Minho from behind Newt let out a loud laugh.

"Dumbass." Gally snickered, grinning for once on the call.

"Tommy, you're nuts." You mumbled, hand moving rapidly along with your mouse as you tried to fix your shed, eyes glancing back and forth between the screens.

"Who was that? Is Min there?" Alby questioned, squinting at Newt's image on the screen.

Newt scooted his rolling chair to the side to reveal Minho's slouched over form on the couch. The man's smile comically fell as he was revealed, almost like he had an upset image to keep up (he did). "Wow, you know my laugh anywhere. You're obsessed with me." It was Minho's turn to sass out, as usual.

Alby rolled his eyes and Tommy grinned at the sight of their friend. "Minho! Hey, buddy!" The latter waved enthusiastically as he trudged the quickly darkening streets. Minho simply flashed a middle finger, making him pout.

"Join the call, Min. You should get on Minecraft too." You piped up, eyes looking away from your phone camera and glued to your laptop.

"No, fuck you guys. I'm mad at you." Minho all but shouted, arms crossed and leaning back on the couch.

Newt scooted more into the frame again, shaking his head. "He's pissed still, as you can tell."

"You're the one who removed him." Alby said, clearly annoyed.

"But you guys are the ones who didn't add me back!" Minho shouted again, glaring at the screen from his spot.

"I added you back!" Alby corrected him.

"Oh, please." Minho didn't know how to reply, so he just scoffed at the man. He was right after all, and Min didn't like being wrong.

Newt shook his head, leaning back in his chair. He shrunk the screen a bit to pull up Minecraft, eager to see what kind of damage was done to everyone's homes.

They had build up a cute little town: dark oak houses, each unique to every person who built them, all leading up to a giant cherry blossom mansion that Gally resided in. The shed beside the mansion housed any stray horses found—each horse assigned to a different person—and your own little blue bed. You refused to live in your own home after everyone made fun of the dirt house you and Tommy built together. Unlike you, Tommy stood his ground and stayed inside of it. You chose to spite everyone who made fun of you and move into the public stables, inconveniencing them.

Newt crossed his arms and patiently waited for his game to load as he tuned back into the conversation. You had convinced Minho to play with all of you if you gave him your hard earned diamond—emphasis on the singularity of the use of diamond. You often had a hard time mining without dying, so you took pride in your jewel.

"Oh, c'mon. That just means you'll steal more of my shit." Newt said, pretending to sound exasperated.

At the sound of his British accent rolling through your speakers like honey, your eyes immediately darted back to the screen to see Newt's smirk. A blush emerged on your cheeks and you bashfully smiled. "No, I won't! I swear." You said, a bit embarrassed.

Newt didn't mind you borrowing his things, and he had an inkling that you knew that. "Sure, I bet that'll last for an hour." He chuckled.

Internally, Newt was giddy at your interaction like a school girl. Now he was internally embarrassed. At the perfect time, his game screen loaded and he began playing the game to distract himself.

"Guys, promise me you'll tell me if there's someone behind me." Thomas piped up while trekking through the streets. Everyone monotonously agreed, not fully paying attention.

"Guys, c'mon!" Thomas whined incessantly, sounding like a little kid. You giggled and assured him you'd keep an eye out, and he seemed to calm down at those words.

With that, the group gaming really started up. It was weird without Thomas being online and his little character not moving around, but his constant talking filled the void.

On the other side of the screen you were reeling at the sight of Newt. He was focused on the game, lip between his teeth, brows taut, and messy, thick, blond hair splayed over his forehead like a golden crown. Brown eyes constantly flickering around the screen but somehow finding their home on you in the end—or at least you hoped.

Newt was thinking similar things about you. Eyes catching your form every time you moved your hair to the other shoulder, or ran your hand through it. He tried not to be obvious and strayed away from glancing over at every movement, but it was hard. If he caught your gaze, he would waggle his brows a bit, and you would dissolve into that cute little smile that lit up his stomach in butterflies. Thankfully, no one noticed your interactions—or at least that's what both of you told yourselves.

By the time Thomas got to his own apartment, and those affected rebuilt their in-game homes, things were slowing down and tiredness overcame most of you. Even Minho's shit talk from behind Newt had almost came to a halt. The first one out was Gally, claiming he had work tomorrow. Next was you.

“G’night, you guys. I have a 9 am Zoom class tomorrow, I gotta be up early.” You grumbled. A hand came up to lazily rub at your eyes as you carried your phone to your room, and Newt resisted the urge to say something along the lines of 'goodnight sweetheart' (which he didn't know why that popped up in his brain).

The group of guys chorused a goodnight to you, all waving. Newt stared at your image, your sweet smile that would stick in his mind long after you hung up. The sound of you leaving echoed in his brain as he stared at the spot where you once were. That is, until Alby's video replaced where yours once was and he scowled.

"What's with the stink face?" Thomas gawked at his friend from where he laid on his bed, phone sat up next to him on the pillow. His friends sudden smile turning into a stoic expression startled him.

"His girlfriend left, that's what." Minho said, walking up behind Newt. Min placed his hands on Newt's shoulders, and the blond shot him a dirty look, shaking his hands off.

"Shut up. The fuck does that mean?" Newt grumbled. Everyone seemed to notice how bothered Newt sounded, which only made smirks grow wider. Everyone but Tommy, who was just about half asleep by now.

"Ahhh," Minho started and tapped Newt's bicep, "just as we all thought." Minho left it at that and stood up straighter, hands on his hips. Newt looked up at him entirely confused.

"Do you guys talk outside of the groupchat?" Alby asked.

"We talkin' about Y/n?" Thomas slurred out.

"Yes, dumbass." Minho leaned down so Thomas could see his annoyed face, but his eyes were closed.

"Uhhhh, not too much, no." Newt shrugged. "Why does it matter?"

Minho gave him an 'are you actually stupid?' type of look, arms crossing as he gazed down at his best friend. "'Why does it matta?'" He mocked his accent, "It matters cause it'll show her you like her!" Arms flew up in the air, as if the answer was obvious.

All Newt could manage to do was look to the side, tongue to his cheek as he ignored the blossoming blush thanks to the topic.

"Min is right, dude! You should talk to her more." Alby's words seemed more encouraging than Minho's. Maybe it was due to the fact that all Minho ever expressed was sarcasm and disdain, but Newt just didn't find him as earnest as Alby at the moment.

"They're right," Thomas piped up, lazy smile on his face. "She's super easy to talk to."

"What?" They all bellowed out in unison.

"You talk to her?" Newt was flabbergasted at this new revelation.

"Uh, duh. She's my best friend. So what?" Thomas scrunched up his brows, eyes cracking open.

Newt just scoffed and shook his head. He wasn't jealous, just.. at a loss for words. "Alright, on that note, goodnight." Newt punctuated his goodbye with a press to the 'end call' button.

The black screen faced both boys, and Newt quickly stood, beelining for his kitchen to make some tea.

"Dude, you call me dramatic." Minho grumbled. Newt just gave him the umpteenth pointed look of the night from his spot next to the sink. As soon as the blond turned around to put the kettle on, filling it up for two, Minho let his knowing smile show.

"You stayin' the night?" The older one called from the kitchen. He decided to ignore whatever that humiliating topic was prior.

Minho plopped down on the couch, head in the pillow, and fishing for the television remote. "You know it." He said. It wasn't odd for Minho to spend the night, as the couch was honestly dedicated to man at this point. Newt liked the company anyways.

The best friends fell into a rhythm of one finding a Netflix show and the other preparing two mugs of tea (Minho usually detested it, claiming it was too British for him, but he surprisingly learned to like it. He would never admit it, but he actually found himself making some tea when he was at home).

Newt had the previous short conversation replaying in his mind over and over as he zoned out while waiting for the water to boil. Did he really like Y/n like that? Yeah, she was gorgeous, and he always found himself looking for her approval and reactions, but he didn't want to be that guy who liked the only girl in the friend group. Although, he knew the situation wasn't really like that.

As Newt brought over the steaming hot mugs and sat on the opposite couch from his friend, waiting for whatever action movie was pulled up to play, he decided talking to Y/n more wasn't such a bad idea.

[ash5monster01]

Learning to Love Part 8

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x FemReader!PlusSize

Warnings: 18+, smut, oral, p in v, language, angst, fluff, mentions of bullying, body image issues, fat shaming, mdni!!

Summary: It's not uncommon for you to be shamed for your size, it is however uncommon to be told that no one would ever date you because of it. Rafe on the other hand is used to being called a jerk, that is until he is accused of seeing people for only what's on the surface. It's purely coicidental you two meet right after these accusations are thrown your way. So even though you two don't know each other, and probably never would've looked the others way before this, now you're both going to prove a point. It's simple really, prove others wrong and don't fall in love. Easier said than done.

word count: 4.6k

Part 7 ←→ Part 9

Masterlist

Rafe has no clue why he agreed to date other people and end this agreement with you, especially when you open your front door to reveal you in the sexiest black dress he’s ever seen. His mouth waters at the deep neckline of the dress, revealing cleavage to him he hadn’t seen in a while. The fabric hangs off your shoulders and goes all the way down to just below your knees. The black wedges you wear pair perfectly and your hair is styled half up and half down, with a black bow holding it together. Definitely Mila’s touch. It takes a moment for words to reach his brain and quickly is saved by the flash of a camera in the doorway that has both of you breaking eye contact and looking to the girl.

“What? I’m capturing memories!” Mila defends which has you giggling and Rafe shaking his head.

“I opened the door, you could have at least made us pose” you tell her and she shakes her head as she clicks a few buttons on the camera.

“Posing doesn’t capture the look he was just giving you. If I hadn’t made my presence known he would’ve ravished you right here!” Mila tells you and the back of your neck burns in embarrassment as you turn to Rafe who is also flushed red due to Mila’s words.

“Stop talking about me like I’m not right here” Rafe says as he enters the home, trying to divert the conversation. Yet the topic doesn’t go dismissed because Mila has now handed you the camera and in it is Rafe looking at you like he loved you for real. You wished it was.

“It’s great Mila” you tell her with a smile that you hope is hiding the heartbroken look in your eyes because pretty soon he won’t be around to look at you like that anymore.

“Gonna need that to go next to the one on my desk” Rafe says and your heart flutters for a moment.

“I’ll make sure to get you both a copy” Mila says with a grin as she tucks the camera back into her arms. You smile at her before turning to Rafe who looks so handsome in the black suit he wears.

“You ready to go?” you ask, trying not to let the sadness creep in. Rafe smiles as his hand laces with your own and his free one brushes some hair behind your ear.

“As I’ll ever be” he tells you and you smile as you both start for the door.

“Have fun, don’t stay up too late, and if we decide to have spontaneous sleepovers what do we do?” Mila calls out after you both and you grin.

“We text Mila!” you and Rafe both yell back simultaneously and you hear her satisfied ‘hmph’ as you both exit the small home. Rafe laughs as he leads you to his truck, helping you inside, and doing everything in his power to keep his eyes off of your ass.

“She’s something else” you say as he joins you in the car and Rafe laughs as he puts the truck in gear and reaches over for your hand.

“At least she cares” he tells you with a smile and you nod as you both set off down the road and in the direction of another fancy work party that could more than likely be your last.

When you arrive you can’t help but notice all the pretty women that strut into the event floor, wearing the prettiest dresses, and wearing their makeup done to perfection. Not only are they girls you can now compare yourself too but they are girls Rafe could meet tonight and quite possibly fall in love with. The idea of that was heartbreaking to you. You needed a drink.

“Hey, I’ve got to talk some shop quick do you want to wait for me, maybe find a place to sit?” Rafe quietly asked, his hand squeezing your own and sending butterflies through your stomach.

“Sure, I’m gonna make a pit stop at the bar” you tell him and he grins before swiftly kissing your cheek and rushing off to handle some business. You hate the way your heart clenches as his hand leaves your own but you choose to ignore it anyway and find yourself at the bar.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks, hands already busy working on another customers drink. A professional and you admired it. It took you years to perfect the working on autopilot.

“Whatever’s strongest, surprise me” you tell him and he nods as if he gets this response every day.

“Rough day?” a voice fills your ears beside you and you turn to see a shaggy haired brunette. His eyes are as green as emeralds and the freckles that scatter his nose tell you it isn’t often he finds himself in a suit. He’s handsome, gorgeous even, and someone you would’ve yearned to be with before Rafe.

“Try rough summer” you tell him and you’re surprised by the laugh that fills your ears. You’re even more surprised when he sits upon the barstool beside you.

“You remember when summer was carefree and just about fun? I miss that” he says, swirling his glass as the ice clinks inside. You smile as he takes a long sip.

“Do you remember just being carefree in general. Nothing mattered but having fun. I miss that” you tell him with a point as the bartender slides his concoction in front of you. You smile kindly as you grab the glass and take a long sip. The bartender waits for your approval which you grant after the strong liquid glides down your throat.

“That was impressive” the boy beside you says and you draw your eyebrows together in confusion as you look at him.

“How so?” you ask and he chuckles lightly.

“That’s Benny’s speciality drink. Strongest thing in here. I’ve seen guys bigger than me choke on that drink” he tells you and you can’t help the proud grin that crosses your face as he says this.

“Well I wish I could tell you it was just pure talent but I own a bar. Comes with the territory” you tell him and now he’s the one raising his eyebrows at you.

“Owns a bar? Then what the hell are you doing at a company party like this?” he asks you and you laugh, surprised how comfortable you’ve become with this boy in a matter of seconds.

“I’m with my-“ your eyes glance the the other side of the event center to see Rafe laughing with a pretty red head, her fingers curling around his wrist. “Rafe Cameron, I came as his date”

“The CEO, so you only run with the big dogs?” he asks as his eyes follow where yours are. He sees Rafe with the same girl and tries not to chuckle to himself knowing he was wasting his time with a girl like that when someone as pretty as you was over here.

“Something like that, we’ve been friends for a while. I figured I’d help him out” there isn’t any dishonesty to your words. Yes you aren’t telling him he was your boyfriend but for once you didn’t want to lie to every person in your life. For all you know Rafe had already chosen this red head over you. So you were allowed to have a light hearted conversation with an attractive man at the bar. Allowed to just feel normal for once.

“That’s nice of you, and at least the drinks are free” he tells you and you smile wide at him.

“Now I’ll drink to that” you say, lifting your drink which he easily clinks his own against before taking a drink.

“I’m Tanner, I’m in marketing and would rather be on a beach than here” he tells you, large hand reaching across the bar. You gladly put your own in it and give him a firm shake.

“I’m Y/N, I’m a bartender that’s looking forward to being the drunk one for once” you tell him which earns you another laugh, his hand leaving yours and instantly making you cold.

“The more we talk the more I have no idea why Cameron is over there instead of here with you” he says and you can’t stop the way your heart doubles in speed at his statement.

“Why’s that?” you ask, trying to hide the shake in your voice as one of the most gorgeous guys you’ve ever seen sits beside you and does his best attempt at flirting. You didn’t have to look to know washboard abs were hiding under that suit of his, you could already tell the way his biceps flexed beneath his suit jacket.

“Well, so far you’re the prettiest and funniest girl in this whole room and I have a feeling he knows that too” you weren’t entirely sure the last time an attractive man had actually called you pretty, butterflies erupted in your stomach but all at the same time your heart clenched because there was an underlying meaning to his words. Rafe already knew who you were and he still wasn’t willing to choose you.

“Then I guess it’s your lucky day” you say and he smiles wide at you, in awe of the confidence that you were mostly faking because if Rafe got to flirt with pretty girls you were allowed to flirt with the first good looking guy to show interest in you in a while.

“Not to be too forward but I’d really like to ask for your number now” he says and you giggle lightly before holding your hand out. He doesn’t hesitate to set his phone in it and you spot the golden retriever in his background. This guy is your dream guy so why the hell could you not stop thinking about Rafe as you type your number into his phone.

“If I don’t text back right away don’t take it to heart. I normally sleep till ten and work till 4am” you tell him, knowing your schedule was insane for most normal people.

“Noted” he tells you with a nod and before you can ask more about him an arm is wrapping around your shoulders and free hand waving down the bartender in front of you.

“Causing some trouble already?” Rafe’s familiar voice fills your senses and you chuckle nervously as the bartender hands Rafe his usual without even asking.

“You say that like it’s surprising” you say which causes Tanner to laugh beside you. “I’m also making friends, Rafe this is Tanner”

“Hey Tanner, nice to meet you” Rafe says, arm leaving your shoulders to shake the boys hand. If Rafe was being honest he wanted to crush it but he knew to be nice and not upset you.

“I was just getting to know your date here, been a long time since I’ve actually held decent conversation with a woman around here” Tanner says fondly and you hope Rafe doesn’t pick up on his underlying meaning to this comment.

“Exactly why I bring her around” Rafe says squeezing you to his side and you smile softly at Tanner, a bit embarrassed at the situation you were currently in.

“You’re lucky” Tanner says, eyes glancing to you because he wished he could stay with you the rest of night. “I better find some of my coworkers, you two have a good night”

“Yeah, it was so nice meeting you Tanner” you try to make your voice feign how much talking to him had meant to you. He smiles fondly at you, wearing a disappointed look to be leaving you behind.

“Have a good night” Rafe tells him and he smiles with a nod before turning away. “Look at you making friends”

“Would you believe me if I said I wasn’t even trying” you tell him and he just smiles, reaching to tuck some hair behind your ears.

“I would, considering that’s how you ended up with me” this has you snorting a laugh which only makes him chuckle until he catches your eyes searching in the direction of where Tanner went. He realizes quickly you liked this boy. You were doing exactly what the both of you agreed to, finding someone else.

“Want to find a table?” you ask turning back just to see Rafe’s jaw clenched. It’s the first time you had ever really seen him angry, at least towards you.

“Was he flirting with you?” Rafe asks, trying to keep his voice calm. He had no right to be jealous, he knew that. Doesn’t mean it was going to stop how he felt though.

“Uh, yeah I guess” you mutter, confused and nervous about this reaction.

“You guess?” his voice is sharp and now you’re more confused then before.

“Well yeah, I gave him my number. It’s no big deal” but he’s removing his arm from around you and a searing pain flows through your chest.

“Fuck, look I know we agreed to this whole seeing other people thing but at my work? Are you trying to make me look like a fool?” his eyes are ablaze and his words are seething out past his lips, you’ve never seen him so worked up before and you instantly feel guilty. Tears burning at the back of your eyes.

“Well I’m sorry Rafe but it’s normally a one in a billion chance a guy like that is interested in a girl like me so forgive me for jumping at the opportunity!” you seethe right back and Rafe’s eyes instantly soften as he sees the tears rimming your own.

“It is not one in a billion” he whispers and you scoff, turning to brush away the tears in your eyes.

“Don’t fucking lie to me Rafe, I’d hope the guy dating me to prove a point would be at least decent enough to do that” you say chugging the rest of your drink, more desperate and in need of a buzz now.

“I’ve always thought you were attractive Y/N” he hisses in defense and you roll your eyes, waving your hand for another drink which the bartender quickly provides.

“Then the next time you want to prove to your friends you can date an ugly fat girl, pick a different one” you say grabbing the fresh drink and starting towards an open table without him. This night had its entirety of ups and downs and you were ready for it to be over. Rafe groaned and tugged at his hair before flagging for a fresh drink himself.

Once the drink was in his hands he was rushing over to where you sat, arms crossed and straw dancing across your lips. No way you weren’t at least buzzed right now but he deserved this cold behavior for being a jealous asshole. He knew that but he had always struggled with controlling his anger. You were no exception considering he never planned on breaking the very rule you set. Falling in love with you. So he knew it was best to just sit next to you calmly and quietly while he waited for you to like him again. You didn’t speak until your drink was empty again.

“Can you get me a new one?” you ask setting the empty glass in front of him and he nodded, standing to go back to the bar that he figured he’d be visiting a lot tonight.

Rafe was correct oh how much he’d be visiting the bar because he could barely see straight and the only thing he could hear was your soft giggles. He knew you were still mad but you were definitely just as drunk as him and you always giggled when you were drunk. He knew you’d rather die then stay the night with him but there was no other way he could get you home safely which is why he checks you both into a room at the hotel and shoots Mila a text letting her know.

“I’m calling an uber” you pout as he guides you towards the elevator, you stumbling slightly.

“Yeah that’s not happening, you get alone in a car with some creep” he tells you, pressing a button to close the elevator doors.

“I’m alone in an elevator with some creep right now” you tell him, arms crossing over your chest and he gulps at the way your breasts push together and spill out of your dress a little more.

“At least I’m a creep you trust” he says taking a step towards you, hands gripping softly at the doughy flesh of your hips. You let out a small squeak as you realize even as drunk as you are that Rafe is checking you out.

“You were mean to me tonight” you pout and he finally lifts his eyes from your chest and pulls you flush against him, hands snaking around your waist. Either you’re crazy or he’s half hard and pressing against your stomach.

“Fuck baby, I know. I just got so jealous” the small gasp that leaves your throat doesn’t go unnoticed and finally you see the darkness of lust in his eyes as he roams your body again. “Just want you all to myself”

“Yeah?” you whisper, barely able to be heard and your heart stops as his hands slide down and squeeze your ass through your dress.

“Yeah doll, you’re all mine” and you don’t even have a moment to comprehend a thought let alone remember you’re mad at him as his mouth meets your own. You react quickly, arms wrapping around his neck and pulling his mouth impossibly closer towards your own. His tongue grazes your own and you can’t help the moan you let out that he muffles with his own mouth. If he wasn’t hard before he definitely was now.

The elevator doors ding open and Rafe pulls away, hand locking on your own as he drags you down the hallway and to your room. You’re giggling again as he shuts you both inside, none of the lights on, but a glow from the city below you shining through the windows. Your giggles stop when Rafe presses against your body again, hands grabbing the zipper of your dress and slowly pulling it down. You know you should be freaking out right now, knowing Rafe let alone anyone had never seen you truly naked. Yet with the alcohol, the look in his eyes, and how badly you want this, you make no movement to stop him. The dress falls and pools around your ankles, leaving you in the bra and thong Mila had picked out for you. You’re nervous for only a split second until Rafe is groaning out loud.

“Baby, please tell me you wore this for me and not that asshole from the bar” you’re not responsible for the way his words make heat pool at your core. You actually don’t think you’ve ever been this aroused due to fear of rejection but you’re drunk mind and the praise from Rafe has taken that fear away. You never thought there’d be a day.

“For you, with encouragement from Mila” and this answer has his lips back on yours in an instant. You whimper as his hand reaches and gropes your breast over your bra. It’s not long until you’re whining in his mouth and reaching for the clasp. Rafe realizes and moves your hand away, reaching for it himself and removing it with ease.

“Can’t tell you how long I’ve been wanting to get my hands on these” Rafe says and you whine as he lets the bra fall to the floor between you both. You watch as he takes in the sight of your bare chest before his hands reach out and give them a squeeze. It’s as if one touch turned him into a mad man and he’s got a mouth around your nipple in a second, his hand pinching the other.

“Rafe, of my God” your fingers curl into his hair as he sucks on each breast, relishing in the soft feeling of them. You’re dripping everywhere and Rafe’s eagerness only excites you more.

Rafe moves to sit on the edge of the bed, keeping your breast in his mouth as he pulls you along. You gasp as his fingers curl into the sides of your thong and starts to lower it. You shimmy along, speeding up the process until they also meet the floor. Once they’re off Rafe pulls back to take a quick look at you. “Wow”

“Rafe?” you’re not sure what you’re even asking for, you just know he needs to do something.

“You’re so perfect, gonna show you that you’re mine and only mine” he says standing, groaning at the way your breast rub across the front of his shirt as he drops his suit jacket from his shoulders.

Once it’s off he’s turning you around and easing you onto the bed. You sit pretty and quiet for him as his hands work slowly at the buttons of his shirt and he drinks your naked form in. You never once thought you’d be comfortable naked in front of someone, especially a fully clothed man. Yet here you were, waiting impatiently for him to remove his clothes so you could gawk at him like he was you. He’s taking to long for your liking though which causes you to reach out and grab the button of his slacks.

“Damnit, Y/N” he hisses as you smile at him innocently, acting as if you accidentally brushing against the bulge in his pants wasn’t on purpose.

You finally get them unbuttoned and the zipper pulled down, your fingers curl into the hem, tugging them desperately. Rafe is trying to calm down, not wanting to cum in his pants before he at least gets to taste you. Once his shirt is fully removed he helps you remove his pants and boxers all at once. You’re shocked at his fully hard member standing proudly and you realize it’s just for you. You exactly as you are, big stomach, wide thighs, stretch marks, and all. He was still just as aroused for you. Which explains why you have your hand wrapped around him without a thought which is something you’ve never done before.

“Okay, okay, you’re tryna kill me” Rafe chuckles as he eases you away and lays you down on the mattress.

“I have no idea what you mean” you tell him and he just shakes his head at you before dropping down to his knees. He slowly eases your legs open and he can tell you’re shy. Yet when he sees how wet you are he has no problem forcing you as wide open for him as possible. Your body shudders as his fingers slowly glides through your folds, collecting slick on his finger. You watch as he reaches it to his mouth and sucks his finger clean. If you weren’t wet before you definitely were now.

“Damn baby, you taste so good” and you don’t realize it until his mouth is on you, sucking your clit into his mouth and teasing your entrance with a finger. Your thighs instantly clench around his head which makes him moan against you. The sensation is enough to have you gripping the sheets, clenching as his tongue laps through your pussy and eats you for all you were worth. You were sure you were crushing his head but Rafe didn’t care, he would gladly be suffocated by you.

He knows you’re close by the way your legs start to tremble so he slowly pushes a finger inside, shocked by how easily you sucked his fingers in. Which is why he doesn’t hesitate to add a second or third, curling them inside. In seconds you’re clamping down on them, twitching from the orgasm he gave you. He slowly pumps his fingers into you, easing you through your finish before removing his mouth and grinning up at you. He’s so hard it hurts but he doesn’t have time to care because this is all he has wanted the entire time of knowing you. Your full trust.

“Rafe, please. I need you inside of me” you tell him when you spot his grinning face and he smiles, removing his fingers which has you hissing. He slowly climbs up your form and helps you readjust on the bed. He reaches for the condom in his wallet, struggling to get his hands to work because yours are on him again, thumb brushing across the precum on his tip.

“You’re so perfect, just the way you are” your heart soars over his words and you quickly pull him down and into a kiss as he pulls on the condom. You continue to kiss him, tongue searching his mouth desperately as he lines up at your entrance. You whimper against his lips as his tip runs through your folds and bumps against your sensitive clit.

“You ready?” he asks pulling away from your mouth and you eagerly nod as he starts to push himself in, head tipping back at how tight you are. It takes only a few moments until he’s flush against you and reaching spots you or anyone else never has before.

“Please do something Rafe” you whine and he takes this as permission to pull out just slightly before pushing back into you. The encouraging moan you let out causes him to find a fast pace. Pretty soon he’s pumping in and out of you, watching as you writhe beneath him and cry out. He’s not going to last long so he reaches for your clit and begins to rub it as fast as he can. His hips begin to stutter when you clench around him, so he moves his hand fast and soon enough you’re squeezing him for all he’s worth and trembling into the mattress. He watches as your eyes roll back into your head and it only takes a few more pumps before he’s finishing and collapsing down on top of you. Neither of you make any effort to move, his dick still nestled tightly inside of you.

“Holy shit” he mutters into your neck, relishing in the feeling of your bare chest pressed against his own and how you breathe unevenly against him from how worn out you were. He had pulled two orgasm from you. He was eager to see if he could get anymore.

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking” you say and he chuckles as he sits up, slowly pulling out of you that has you both hissing through your teeth. You wonder how you’re still wet but based on the attractive man in front of you with pecs you want to take a bite out of and the biggest dick you’ve seen in person, you have an idea why.

“Just wanted to remind you who exactly you belong too” he says, drunkness seeping back in. He hopes to remember this tomorrow and block Tanner from your phone.

“I think I like jealous Rafe” you voice slurs, hands running down his chest and abs.

“Good because he’s sticking around, until the only name you know how to say is mine” he says as his hand runs down your side and squeezes at your bare ass. You giggle as he leans and kisses you again, his dick still semi hard and pressed against you. The noise he makes when you wrap your hand around him is one you plan to memorize.

“My turn”

a/n: you’re welcome, I know it’s been a while but I’ve also given you the longest chapter yet and it also included our characters finally reliving some of that sexual tension so Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, I missed you all ❤️

Taglist: @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @fishingirl12 @houseofperfecttaste @abbybarnesstuff @carma-fanficaddict @jjmaybankisbae @exhaustedbutelated @diagnosedpsychosis @daivny @drewstarkeygf @vinniehackersbaee @emsgoodthinkin @apollo3475 @https-urwife @willowalexissss @kisstaya @hcneyedsstuff @lexiereblogs @drewsuncrustables @mveggieburger @marvel4life3000 @bibliophilewednesday @humungouspatrolwolf @ijustwanttoreadlols @jaijustreads @sleepjam @dilvcv @aaronhotchswife @sunshine1218 @lavenderhazeq @theultimatefrenchfangirl @kravitzwhore @chalahyung01 @jenniferpendragon @kitty-marie725

Comment if you want to be added to the taglist :))

[shiukongisaprettyboy]

19 - Phone Sex

________

He gives me butterflies omg- Sorry if the ‘doll’ is repetitive, it just fits him, yk?(I also dislike the use of the Y/N so…)

WARNINGS: Phone sex, pet names(doll, baby), slight hair pulling, lowkey voice kink. Also a bit of a whimpery Shiu bc GOOD LORD IS THAT HOT.

—————

You laid on your back, scrolling through whatever media had become your current distraction. Shiu was away for work, probably sitting in a hotel somewhere or eating dinner with a client. Probably bored. You sighed, letting your phone drop beside you. You were tired, and bored. And really tired. Just tired in general to be honest.

Your phone gave a light ping from beside you. You were so, so close to sleep. ‘damn whoever has the nerve to text me so late-’ You stopped, a small, sleepy smile growing in your face.

Shiu Baby 💕: Hey Doll, busy?

You: Nope, what’s up?

Shiu Baby💕: Just feeling a little..

You: A little.. what?

Shiu Baby💕 Has Sent A Photo.

Your eyes widened slightly. You clicked the photo and smiled widely. Shiu was hard, and leaking. He was in the hotel room, laying on the bed. Shiu was gripping his cock in one hand, thumb playing with the tip. You chuckled. While you had a not so high sex drive, Shiu often did when he was away. So. you’d worked out a routine to help him out a bit when he was away.

You: Hotel room that bad?

Shiu Baby💕: Without you? Absolutely.

You pulled up the locked album, carefully selecting a picture to leave him with.

You Sent An Image

Shiu Baby💕: What would I do without you 💕💕

You smiled, tapping out a quick message.

You: Wanna call?? I need to hear that voice pretty boy

You smirked as Shiu’s contact name popped onto the screen 5 seconds later, “Someone’s eager..” You teased as you picked up. “Always for you, doll.” Shiu’s voice was heavy, and a little out of breath.

“Wish you were here doll, so bad. I miss you so bad..” Shiu murmured. You could hear the faint sounds his hand was making. “Miss you too, Shiu. Miss you and miss your cock baby, so bad.” You said back, hand slipping down to fiddle with yourself as you imagined his hands and his face- god he made the best ones. Sometimes with his mouth open, groaning your name with such longing and love. Others times his jaw clenched, huffing out praise and a perfect mix of dirty, yet loving words. Your finger rubbed your clit mindlessly.

“You feel good doll? For me? Getting off to my voice?” Shiu knew how to talk dirty to you, knew how you liked it. “Yes baby, always. I love your voice so much. Sounds so good, especially when you're talking in my ear.” Shiu groaned at that, and you could see him, head thrown back, fucking hard into his hand, the other pulling his hair, ever so slightly.

You moaned as you let your finger circle your clit faster, feeling your edge coming. “Gonna cum, gonna cum..” Shiu groaned out, his low, beautiful voice sending you. You moaned as you came, voice breaking at the sheer pitch of it. Shiu wasn’t done, and so you whipped out your phone as fast as your pleasure fogged mind would

allow you, and snapped a few pictures of your cunt. “Check your phone baby, left you a little treat” You said, hitting send.

You Sent An Image

You got the reaction you wanted. A whimper. So soft, and mixed in with his hot pants and groans that the untrained ear would not have heard it. But you did. Oh, yes, you did. You guessed that had helped throw him over the edge, and you heard a particular loud groan as confirmation. “Damn..” Shiu murmured. You smiled, and rolled onto your back. You’d clean up once he hung up. That was always how you two did it.

“So how was your day?” Shiu began, and you smiled. “Boring without you. Just did the dishes and vacuumed a bit. Work was just phone call after phone call.” You were a receptionist. Something easy so you wouldn’t get too bored, and as some extra saving in case something happens to Shiu, god forbid. You didn’t know what you’d do without him.

The two of you talked for a bit, speaking about the mundane and normal day you had, and then the fast paced and dramatic day he had. He told you he wanted to take to this restaurant, maybe make a weekend get away out of it. You both talked and talked until you felt your eyes begin to close.

“I’ll be home soon, client was chatty, I could barely get a word in. Closing the deal tomorrow.” Shiu said, and you rolled over, opening your phone to check the time. “About time you went to bed then. You need a level head on your shoulders, baby.” Shiu chuckled. “Right. Thanks doll. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you, sleep well.” You felt your heart flip as you said, “I love you too,” And hung up. Even after all these years, he never failed to make you feel loved and special. You hoped you made him feel the same.

—————

Kinda forgot about today's writing tbh, been busy with work lately!! SOOO i had to write this in one sitting.. still pretty good for the 3rd time i’ve ever written smut!

NEXT UP IS DAY 29 - Threesome 🚬💵

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[perfectlovevn]

Perfect Love Devlog #28

For some reason, I feel like I didn't actually do this much this week, but I did have to set up all of the layered images, so I should probably give myself a bit of slack. I'm realizing that most of these dev logs will pretty much be the same of just drawing sprite stuff, showing part of the extra story, maybe show something else on the third week. Is that kind of boring? I have no idea. Maybe I could spice it up by doing some music and sfx for some parts, I'm not sure yet, haha.

Anyways, I realized I was going to do some smaller differences with each of the extra stories, with Emil having little emotes like sparkles (and one other thing) and Iya and Desmond having more split up sentences so I can add more changes in sprites (as if I don't do that enough lol). Like with Emil's story, I had to transpose some of the pieces of other sprites onto Iya's sprite because I was too lazy tm to redraw them and transport them into the game. I also did some very basic sprite editing with Iya's sprite, changing the line width of her sprite as well as added the line I forgot to add into Desmond's sprite as well. I'm realizing Desmond's old sprites are still being limited so I might have to draw some more expressions for him as well. I also need to give Iya her own nametag design as well.

As you can see above, the text is kind of... glitching? A bit when clicking through, which is weird because previous devlogs I recorded doesn't do that and I have no idea what's causing that. I think I might try replacing the font around now because it has been causing problems in the past and glitching out, and I've been kind of putting it off.

I drew some small things for Emil's route but I haven't put it in yet, so I'll do that after posting this devlog. I think I might need to change one of the sprites/wordings for it to work.

[pencil-peach]

G Witch Onscreen Text: Episode 2

This is part 3 in an ongoing series where I try and document and discuss all of the text that appears on screens and monitors throughout the show! Just because I can!

<<Click here to go back to Episode 1!

(Once I have a masterpost set up I will link it here!) Let us Begin! Below the Cut!

TEXT: (Lefthand side) Registered Name: AERIAL PMET CODE: 5011-0083 MANUFACTUR(ER): SHIN-SEI DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION STATUS: IN SERVICE REGISTERED PILOT: SULETTA MERCURY

At the beginning of the episode, Rouji has Haro run a program that compares Aerial's permet code and registered statistics against other registered Mobile Suits to try and find a match, and measures the probability of the two being the same type of MS. There is no direct match to any other MS by Permet Code, but the system states there's an 85% probability that it's a match for a Mobile Suit with permet code 0025-0082.

We never see the specific name of this MS, but considering that Shaddiq names "Ochs Earth" as the company that made it and proceeds to call Aerial, "...the Witch's Mobile Suit," I think it's reasonable to assume that 0025-0082 was the Permet Code for Lfrith-03.

TEXT: ALERT ACCESS CONTROL [???] [----OF ENTRY A---]

Unfortunately due to the small text of the Alert message, the fact that it scrolls, and it's brief time onscreen, its hard to make out specifically what it says. My best assumption from what we have is that it's a warning currently barring anyone from entry into the 13th Tactical Testing Sector.

TEXT: (Suletta's Asticassia ID) PILOTING DEPARTMENT ID No: LP-041 SULETTA MERCURY BIRTHPLACE: MERCURY HOUSE: NO DATA PC-CRIMINAL RECORD: NO DATA PC-BIOMETRIC SYSTEM: REGISTERED

(Below) WE ARE RESPONSIBLE UNDER COMPANY REGULATIONS FOR THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

UNDER THESE REGULATIONS, WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DATA HANDLING SUCH AS TRANSMISSION TO RECIPIENTS AND THIRD PARTIES.

PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS FOR DETAILS.

As Suletta is being questioned, we get a brief glimpse at the investigation report the interrogator was looking at before the screen cuts to black when it hits the table. Nothing super interesting here, but Suletta doesn't have a registered criminal record! Yippeeee!

TEXT: CAM: 05 MONITORING CAMERA FACILITY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Not much to say here, this camera lets us know where Suletta is currently being held. (The Facility Management Company)

TEXT: (Lefthand Side) AERIAL XVX - 016 SIZE: 18.0m 48.9t

No point discussing the info on the right, we've already seen it, but this gives us a look at Aerial's height and weight.

TEXT: (Top Right) COM DELLING REMBRAN BENERIT GROUP

I only included this to point out that wow the display system devs made some poor choices with the UI here. Dark Blue text on Dark Backgrounds? You'd think the text would automatically lighten but I guess we'll have to wait for Ver 6.0 for that update.

TEXT (Top half) MOBILE CRAFT FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

ADVANCED MOBILE CRAFT TECHNOLOGY WITH PERMET MEASUREMENT EXPERTISE NEW POWER SYSTEM FOR MOBILE CRAFT AND HYBRID CONSTRUCTION MACHINE INSTALLATION HIGH ACCURACY DRIVE SYSTEM AND CONTROL SYSTEM IN MICROGRAVITY LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND EASE OF MAINTENNANCE

No need to discuss the bottom half, its just the height and weight of the MC which we already know. I think it's funny how many classes this school seems to have on the new and improved Mobile Craft from Future Technology. I should probably buy one too. I love you Mobile Craft.

TEXT: (Left Image) The Shin Sei Development Corporation was established in A.S. 89. Our business began with the development of integrated operating systems for mobile suits and medical devices. We have been involved in MS development and have supported welfare engineering throughout our company history.

(Right Image) Ranking: D Sales Ranking (within group companies): 151th (out of) Total 157 companies [Mobile Suit Development] Number of clients: Over 300 companies Yearly patents: Over 200

We get a lot of information about Shin Sei in this scene where Martin looks at the Company History tab on their official website. The most interesting thing being that they were founded in A.S. 89. The Vanadis Incident occured in A.S. 101, and the show proper takes place in A.S. 122, so at some point between 101 and 122, Prospera worked her way up through Shin Sei, eventually becoming its CEO.

Given that Suletta had to have been born around A.S. 105, and that in Cradle Planet, we learn that Prospera had been working within Shin Sei when Suletta was around 6, that places A.S. 111 as the earliest she was involved.

We also learn in Cradle Planet, that when Suletta is around 11, Prospera has recently been promoted within the company, and now has many people working under her. That would be around A.S. 116. When Suletta is 16, that's when Prospera tells her that she's going to school, which would be around A.S. 121, and I think it's safe to assume that she had already become president by then.

SO!! TL;DR!! It's most likely that Prospera became the president of Shin Sei at SOME point between A.S 116 and A.S 121. I'd put it somewhere in the middle, around A.S 119. (Can't wait to find out that they probably just outright state this somewhere and I did all this for nothing....)

ADDENDUM

GOD DAMNIT. I WATCHED ALL OF CRADLE PLANET TO MATH THAT SHIT OUT. WHATEVER. I CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION SO I WIN.

The text is too small to make out, but we DO get a small glimpse at the letter Delling sent to Miorine about unenrolling her from the school. It probably just literally says what the body guard reads out.

I think it says something that Delling doesn't even like, text his daughter. He sends an email through the official Benerit Group email account to her bodyguard who reads it for her. What a cowardly man.

TEXT: (Left) FLUSH (Right) EMERGENCY CALL UNLOCK LOCK

YES the toilet text is important to document stop fucking looking at me like that.

TEXT: NEXT STAGE TOUCH SCREEN TO CONTINUE

I'll leave the explanation of the symbolism of this scene as an exercise for the reader. [Sultry Wink]

TEXT (Above) THIS ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IS PROOF THAT IT WAS SIGNED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BENERIT GROUP.

No way to tell what Delling is signing here, but we do get a brief look at his handwriting. It turns out his cursive is really bad, actually!

At the Shin Sei inquiry, Shaddiq shares this graph titled "PMET RETENTION THRESHOLD VALUE", stating that during the duel, Aerial's Permet Influx Values exceeded the standards set by Cathedra.

This graph can be tough to parse, so let me explain it as best I can. The blue line represents Aerial's Permet Retention during the duel. The solid dark line represents the permet retention limit imposed by cathedra on mobile suits. (At around 500) As we can see, while Aerial began the duel underneath that limit, it exceeded it for a moment (presumably when Suletta took over for Miorine and the GUND bits were activated.)

The red line above that is labelled DATA STORM INCIDENT, which is representative of the minimum Permet Retention a Gundam expresses when it is interfacing with a Data Storm. The text on the bottom reads, THIS DATA IS VERY SIMILAR TO GUND FORMAT INCIDENT DATA.

But the key thing to take note of here is that Aerial's chart just BARELY doesn't exceed the DATA STORM INCIDENT graph, meaning that, despite it exceeding Cathedra's standards, it CANNOT be directly proven that Aerial was interfacing with a Data Storm. This is actually what Prospera brings up as her main counterpoint to the accusation.

So the graph is entirely consistent with Prospera's main argument. While she can't prove that Aerial isn't a gundam, nobody else can prove that it is.

Huaaaahh!! Alright!! This one was very DENSE. If you made it all the way through, thank you very much!! As a reward, have some little gay people

[I sprinkle these stills on the ground like bird seed.]

There was definitely a lot of really interesting info in this episode, and while not a lot of it was particularly new, I think it's really a testament to the dedication of keeping things wholly consistent in this world, even for the smallest of things that no normal person watching would even bother noticing.

Also, on the Shin Sei Website, did you notice that they accidentally put 151th instead of 151st?

You can't win em all!

Click here to go to Episode 3! >>

Click here to go to the Masterpost!

[playawner]

Oh yeah, since I got a few more mutuals and followers in the past two weeks, I decided to do a proper introduction

My name is Zash. He/She ONLY. I am a neurodivergent latino artist who sometimes draws and sometimes reblogs, but both things are cringe and free 💝

Small tag guidance:

Zash's stuff = All the things I post. Can be art... or just me yapping lmao

Zash's reblogs = When I reblog stuff in general.

Zash's ask box = When I reply to anyone who goes in my ask box. Currently, they're open, so you are always free to ask questions ANYTIME! (Unless if you're a hate anon, I will probably ignore you anyway lol)

Not my art! = When I reblog other people's art! Can be crafts, paintings (digital AND traditional), writing, etc.

See later = Posts where I think I need to see it sometimes. Can be something funny or something important.

Small notes here, too:

All my images ID's are in the alt text of my posts, but if you want, you can add them in your reblogs! Any constructive criticism about writing alt text is fine, as I'm still new to it ^_^

I have separate tags for each au I have, if you want, you can look out for them (example, if you want to see my gd infection au, you can see the tag "Darkness Rot AU"), I will soon do a master-post about each au I have or may do in the future.

I do also have a carrd! It can be found here, is optional to check it but feel free to if you want, as it contains more information about what I like or what am I.

Oh and don't forget your daily clicks, btw, before you leave this post! Is important, and if you have money, consider donating embedded sims, it may be a little but it means a lot for the people's lives, family and home ❤️

[timaeusterrored]

(A Sweet Disaster)

((Tw: mentions of the Suicide ending))

Vex and Vax haven’t been brother and sister since they were 16, but that didn’t make Vax’s death any less painful at 28. When she heard the news, she had been glad Victoria was staying with her friend that night because she was inconsolable. And the same friend’s mother offered to watch her so Vex could attend his funeral.

Vik had approached her first, the man was clearly heartbroken and had been crying earlier. He was more of a father to Vax than he ever was Vex, but that was mostly her fault. And he was still here when she needed him.

“I’m… I’m so sorry, Vex… I tried so hard to save him-“ Vex hugged Vik close, feeling his arms come around her eventually. No matter what, he’d be the only father she ever knew.

When she pulled back, felt more tears coming on and cleared her throat. She couldn’t breathe. She had heard losing a twin was like losing an arm, but she hadn’t thought that was a serious thing. But she believed losing her arm would feel better.

She stepped outside to calm herself, wiping her eyes and fixing her dress in an attempt to look like she wasn’t falling apart with guilt. She was so caught up in her thoughts and emotions that she had failed to realize who was standing against the wall, smoking a cigarette with a bottle in his hand.

“Holy shit-“ Vex startled when she turned, hand over her heart. “You stare at women- Kerry Eurodyne?” The fuck was he doing here? Looking worse than she did?

His hair was messed up, like he had ran his fingers through it too many times, dark circles under his eyes, and his face completely blank. Like seeing Vex had completely unphased him.

He just offered her a cigarette instead, which she gladly took. She could use a cigarette.

“Didn’t know he had a sister until today.” Vex didn’t know he knew Kerry at all. What the fuck had he been up too?

“Didn’t know he knew you.” Kerry huffed a laugh when she said it, putting the bottle down. “Seriously, though we haven’t talked in a while so I’m not shocked you don’t know me.” She’d be surprised anyone knew of her from Vax.

“Not like we got a lot of time to get into the nitty gritty anyway. He was my… he was my input.”

Vex choked on her smoke, making Kerry let out a small laugh and watched her cough.

“MY brother was your input? How- Why- What?” Vex sputtered out finally, Kerry taking a long swig from the bottle as if thinking about it hurt, maybe it did.

“Broke into my house actually. Esated from there… apparently I was his last phone call.” Vex could hear the anger and guilt rising in his voice, how angry he was at Vax but at the same time, she could tell he missed him.

The two sat in silence, Vex with her cigarette and Kerry with the bottle. Vik came to get them when it was time for speeches, in which neither had said a word, Vex didn’t know Vax well enough now and Kerry… well Kerry was getting drunk and probably wanted to keep his image around here clean.

The night came to a close around midnight, and the only ones left were Vex, Vik, Misty, and Mama Welles. Vik and Guadeloupe said if Vex needed anything, they were both just a phone call away. Misty hugged her like they had known each other forever, and she realized this was the family her and Victoria could have had if she hadn’t run.

Vex was texting on her way out, making sure Victoria was okay before she went home. God she didn’t want to be along tonight… but Victoria couldn’t see her like this.

She put her phone away with a huff and rubbed her eyes, not caring about makeup in that moment, and found Kerry sitting on the curb still, head in his hands. He wasn’t moving, no shake of his shoulders, no nothing. For a moment she thought he was dead, but he looked over when he heard her heels clicking.

“Your brother was a real piece of work…” in Kerry’s hand was a handwritten not… Vax’s note. Tears stained the rocker’s cheeks, and he looked like he was ready for another round. “A serious asshole sometimes…” he looked down at the note, then looked away from Vex.

“…can I have your number?” Vex blurted before she could take it back. Kerry looked back at her in confusion.

“I just… I don’t want you to be alone. And I know these people about as well as you do. Figured we could help each other out.”

“…you’re not like, some psycho fan are you?” Kerry’s words slurred together a bit, but Vex got the gist.

“No… you’d be in my trunk by now if I was.”

Now that got a laugh out of Kerry, it was quiet but she heard it.

“Fair enough.” His eyes glowed, and he sent her his deets. “Call me if you need anything okay? Heard you got a little girl at home too, you don’t need to be doing all that alone right now.” Kerry stood, then stumbled a bit, Vex reached forward to steady him.

“Yeah… you too, Kerry.”

They bid each other good night as a Del came by for Kerry, and Vex walked to her car alone.

[doyouknowthisdccharacter]

News!

Poll Options

Given the feedback (thank you to those who voted and commented), we're going to do a very slight change to the format of our polls.

From here on out, options for characters that don't specify a version will have "I know them from comics" and "I know them from other media".

Some caveats with this.

There were a good chunk of people who voted to keep detailed breakdowns. I personally prefer that too, but I think it's worth giving the other a shot to see how it is. As a small compensation I put some wording in the new posts prompting people to say where they first saw the character in the tags. Maybe that'll be fun, and hopefully it encourages more reblogs. I know that's not quite the same, but hey at least it's something.

There will be some characters that only appear in comics, but "other media" is still present as an option. This is because the submitter didn't specify a version, and because I really can't require people to know all media well enough to say if the character has or hasn't shown up outside of comics. So if you spot one where the option doesn't apply, just ignore it. Should be pretty simple.

Submission Form

Along with the simplified poll options, I've also simplified the google form. I think it's a lot more user friendly now. Give it a look if you're interested.

And while we're talking about the form, I want to give a reminder to NOT include other text that isn't asked for in a field. I know you might feel like you want to say something about the image or the character's name, but please only put what's asked for. Extra text means the poll takes longer for me to put together because I can't just click and paste.

So instead, I've added a new field that is totally optional where you can say something extra. This is just a note for me, the mod, in order to create the post smoothly and without issue. The vast majority of submissions will not need to fill out this field.

Posting Times

So far we've been posting two polls a day, but now that we're over half way through the current list and entries are slowing down, we're shifting to once a day at noon Eastern. Just wanted to call that out, so if you feel like you aren't seeing our posts very often, that's why.

That said, it really lowers the chance that people will see these cross their dash. It means reblogs are even more important. Don't feel pressured to share every single one, but if there's a character you see that's interesting, consider passing the post along!

--

Thanks again for bearing with me. This is probably way more thought going into this than any "do you know" account really warrants. But I want to make sure it's going well and is a nice blog to follow. I want everyone to have a fun time.

[celestial-alignment]

Hi! I hope it’s okay to hop into your ask box to talk about tagging. I feel like we’ve been on tumble for a similar amount of time, and I just wanted your thoughts or opinions on what I feel like is incorrect tagging. The 2 main sides I’ve seen have been on people that are tagging their content but they are tagging it as “s*x” or “p*wp*w” or something with a cutesy name that makes it more g rated. But they do not tag it as sex or gun violence as well. Which in turn mean that people are not able to filter this content or make an informed choice on weather they want to engage with that content. And then the second is where people are tagging with specific tags, such as character a x character b with the goal of getting as many people to read or engage with their content, but it has nothing to do with this character. I’ve been comparing it to false advertising. And I understand that tagging on Tumblr has never been great (it’s not AO3), but I really feel like with the fall of other sites Reddit and Twitter being the main that come to mind and this resurgence of Tumblr that the issue has become more pronounced. I feel like the 1st is a safety concern and the second is just rude/inconvenience especially when creators are called out multiple time by different blogs and refuse to except that the way they are tagging is not the way that tagging works on Tumblr or otherwise. I guess I was just wonder if others were seeing the issues or if I was just becoming the grouchy old man screaming at the neighbor kids to get off the lawn. And if it’s not just me, if you or your followers have come up with a way to filter these out. I’ve just resorted to blocking accounts that refuse to tag in a safe or appropriate manner.

Hiya!

It’s always okay to hop in my ask box!

I’ve definitely seen other discussions about the problems of tagging, or lack thereof.

If I’m totally honest, I need to preface my response with saying that I’m perhaps one of the lucky ones in that it is very rare for words or content to trigger me in some debilitating way (I might be too numb to the world, which is concerning in its own right but a topic for another day), but I have loved ones who have had genuine traumas and have been subjected to unexpected triggers. Having not experienced the extreme of it first hand (for me I usually feel strong annoyance at the worst), I have seen how damaging it can be to other people and that makes me very aware of it online, especially Tumblr.

That being said, I wholly agree with you that censoring words in the tags defeats the whole purpose of tagging. You can censor all you like in the post itself or text images, whatever, but the tag blockers simply won’t work if the word in its proper spelling isn’t there. So when people are using asterisks in place of vowels (like s*x) with the intention of being careful and protecting someone? It’s doing the exact opposite.

I agree with the second thing too, about characters and their ships being tacked on to a buttload of other tags for the sake of exposure, even though it isn’t relevant. It’s definitely false advertising! It’s basically click bait. I’m sure there are cases where it was not intentional, perhaps the characters and their ship have a small role in a longer fic, so the author or op thought it was important to include them, but if they aren’t the focus, and if they aren’t important enough to the rest of the story if it’s a fic, I think it’s probably best to leave it out of the tags. Worst case scenario for not tagging it is the people who like it will be pleasantly surprised. The people who don’t like it can keep scrolling or for fics will just have to tolerate it for the small part that it’s included in the story.

Tagging on Tumblr is very much a unique animal. I never see it translate well onto other platforms, so a lot of newbies on this site probably go the Tik Tok or Instagram route where the more tags the better, even if they’re just barely relevant. I once put my own comments in hashtags on Instagram, and someone called me out on it not understanding why I was writing long tags that don’t even exist in the algorithm. LMAO oops

Block tags when you can, block accounts when you have to. I’ve done it here and there, because in a place like Tumblr, the more comfortable you can make it for yourself the better. It’s not always worth the fight or the argument in this wild west site.

Also, I know I am not always the best at tagging things. Usually I get lazy when it comes to tagging specific fandoms, but I do try because I know some of the things I like may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay!

I am also always open to anyone who needs to kick me in the ass to tag better or something. Scrolling Tumblr half awake most of the time does not make for a conscientious reblogger…

Thank you for the ask! I don’t always voice my opinions on things here, but I don’t want you to be the only old man screaming at those kids on your lawn. I’m right there next to you shaking a fist at them. You’re not alone in this, Anon, I agree all the way around and I know there are others who agree as well.

I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts on this too!

[developerwith1]

The Ultimate Freelance Solution: SEO, WordPress, and Ads That Deliver Real Results

Let’s face it: building a digital business today is like building a house. You need a solid foundation (SEO), smart design (WordPress), and curb appeal (ads). If one piece is off, the whole structure wobbles. That’s why freelancers like Rehan Hasan are becoming the go-to experts for entrepreneurs who want real, measurable online growth.

Whether you're starting from scratch or trying to scale, this guide walks you through why hiring a pro like Rehan Hasan might just be the smartest move you make for your business.

Why One Expert Beats a Dozen Average Freelancers

You’ve probably thought, “Why not just hire separate people for SEO, design, and ads?” It sounds logical—until you're juggling timelines, miscommunications, and inconsistent branding. Hiring someone like Rehan Hasan, who understands all three areas, ensures harmony across your entire digital presence.

Who Is Rehan Hasan?

Rehan Hasan is a full-stack digital marketing and WordPress expert. With years of experience helping clients boost traffic, improve conversions, and build sleek websites, he’s built a reputation for delivering results. No fluff. Just smart strategy and execution.

What Makes SEO So Powerful Today

SEO isn’t about stuffing keywords anymore. It’s about understanding what your audience wants and serving it up in a way Google loves. Rehan Hasan stays on top of search engine changes to make sure your site climbs the ranks the right way.

Keyword Magic: More Than Just Guesswork

Picking the right keywords is like choosing the right fishing spot—you want traffic, not just water. Rehan uses keyword tools and competition research to find high-ROI opportunities that attract ready-to-buy visitors to your site.

Technical SEO That Actually Works

Broken links, bad page structure, missing alt text—technical issues like these tank your site’s visibility. Rehan doesn’t just optimize what users see. He fixes what Google sees behind the scenes, too.

Beautiful, Functional WordPress Sites

Imagine landing on a site that loads quickly, looks amazing, and is so easy to navigate you barely think about it. That’s what Rehan builds—WordPress sites that are as beautiful as they are functional.

Custom Themes vs. Cookie-Cutter Templates

Free templates might seem like a shortcut, but they’re often bloated, slow, and bad for SEO. Rehan creates lean, clean custom WordPress themes that reflect your brand and perform on every level.

Why Mobile Optimization Isn’t Optional

Today, most visitors come from mobile devices. If your site isn’t built for phones, you’re losing traffic and trust. Rehan ensures your website adjusts beautifully to every screen—without sacrificing performance.

Fast Sites Win Clients

People don’t wait. If your site takes more than three seconds to load, you’re losing business. Rehan speeds things up with image optimization, clean code, and smart plugins that keep everything running fast.

Google Ads, Meta Ads, and What Really Converts

Running ads is easy. Running profitable ads? That’s the trick. Rehan knows how to set up ad campaigns that aren’t just flashy—they’re laser-focused on results. Whether it’s Google Search, Meta Ads, or remarketing, every click counts.

Smart Budgeting for Small Businesses

Think only big brands can afford digital marketing? Think again. Rehan tailors campaigns to your budget, making sure you get maximum impact for every dollar spent. No wasted spend, just smart investment.

Analytics: Tracking What Matters

It’s easy to drown in data. Rehan sets up dashboards that track what actually matters: clicks, conversions, bounce rates, and ROI. That way, you always know what’s working—and what needs tweaking.

Real Support, Not Just a One-Off Gig

What happens after your site launches or ads go live? Most freelancers disappear. Rehan offers ongoing support so your digital strategy keeps growing with you. Think of him as your long-term partner, not a one-time fix.

Avoiding Rookie Mistakes That Kill Growth

The wrong plugin, the wrong setting, or the wrong ad audience—small missteps can cause big problems. Rehan has already made (and learned from) those mistakes, so you don’t have to.

Final Thoughts: Rehan Hasan, Your All-in-One Digital Partner

There’s no shortage of freelancers out there. But few combine smart SEO, clean design, and ad expertise in one person. Rehan Hasan brings all of that—and more—to the table.

[cruelstardemon]

Snap, Click, Share: Press Releases Get a Dynamic Edge

Section 1: A New Chapter for Press Releases Multimedia Steals the Show

I’ve always found press releases kind of dull, if I’m being honest. You know, those long, dry pages of text — endless paragraphs of corporate jargon, dates, and quotes that felt like a chore to wade through. I’d skim one and think, “Okay, I get it, but do I care?” Probably not. But lately, I’ve been noticing a big change. Multimedia embeds — photos, videos, snappy infographics — are popping up all over, and now we’ve got interactive stuff, too, like clickable timelines or charts you can mess with. Are these here to stay? I’m leaning hard toward yes, and I’m actually kind of thrilled about it, to tell you the truth.

Back in the day, press releases were so basic — just text, maybe a bolded headline if you were lucky. They did the job, I guess, spitting out facts for journalists to pick up. But today? We’re scrolling X, flipping through news apps, and a wall of words just doesn’t grab me anymore. Then you see a release with a bright photo or a quick video clip, and it’s like, whoa, this feels different. I stumbled across one last week — a company unveiled a new eco-friendly bottle, and there was this 30-second video of it being made, all sleek and shiny. I could feel the excitement, not just read about it. That’s the magic, I think — multimedia pulls you in.

Journalists must feel it, too. They’re buried in pitches — hundreds a day, I’d bet. A 2017 Cision survey said 57% of them want multimedia — photos, videos, graphics — something to make the story pop. It’s practical, right? If I’m a reporter, a good visual saves me time, gives me something to work with for online or print.

I’ve been poking around PR Agency Review lately — honestly, a very good site for comparative reports on the best PR agencies globally — and it’s fascinating. Take W2O vs Spectrum Science, for instance. In W2O vs Spectrum Science, you see some firms diving deep into videos and slick visuals, while others play it safer. It’s cool to see the difference, and PR Agency Review lays it out so clearly.

But here’s a thought — does every release need this? I’m not sure. A quick note about a new hire or a basic earnings report might be fine without the bells and whistles. Still, we’re wired for visuals — half our brain’s built for it, or so I’ve heard somewhere. And with everyone’s attention spans shrinking — mine included! — multimedia’s a lifeline. It’s not just flash; it’s storytelling. Companies aren’t just dropping news; they’re painting a picture.

The catch, though, is it’s not cheap. Videos take cash, talent, time. I’ve seen small businesses try, and, well, sometimes it’s clunky — bad lighting, shaky footage. But when it works? More eyes, more buzz. I’m sold, even if I wonder how it scales. This is a new chapter, and I’m curious to see it unfold.

Section 2: Why Multimedia Embeds Are Capturing Everyone’s Attention

So, what’s driving this multimedia craze? I’ve been mulling it over, and I think it’s a combo of necessity and, well, just seizing the moment. We’re living in this fast, digital world — scrolling X, flipping through news sites, dodging ads — and plain text feels like a whisper in a storm. But a press release with a crisp video or a bold infographic? It’s like a shout — sudden, alive, hard to ignore.

I saw one recently for a new fitness app — text explained the features, sure, but a 20-second clip of someone using it, sweating and smiling? I got it instantly, and I cared.

Journalists are eating this up, and I can see why. That Business Wire survey from 2020 stuck with me — 57% of reporters said multimedia — logos, photos, videos — is a top ask. If I’m a journalist, I’m not just crafting a headline; I’m picturing the whole package — something for the website, maybe a print edition. A ready-to-go image or clip saves me effort, makes my story sing. And it’s not just them. We, the readers, love it, too. We’re drowning in content daily — posts, tweets, videos — and multimedia cuts through.

A release about a green initiative with a chart of carbon cuts or a video of a forest saved? I’m hooked, and I might even share it.

Social media’s a huge nudge here. I’ve noticed — maybe you have, too — posts with visuals fly: more likes, retweets, comments. A press release with a snappy video spreads fast; it’s shareable, alive. And it’s not just eye candy. I think it builds trust, too.

A plain text blurb can feel like a sales pitch — corporate, cold. But a video of real people, a graph with hard data? That’s real to me. I’ve been checking PR Agency Review — seriously, a very good site for comparative reports on the best PR agencies globally — and you see agencies leaning in. Some nail it with slick, emotional videos; others keep it simple but smart.

Okay, but let’s be honest — it’s not all perfect. Good multimedia costs money — cameras, editors, designers. I’ve clicked on some where the video’s grainy or the graphic’s a mess, and I’m like, “Oof, really?” It backfires then. File sizes bug me, too — ever wait for a video to load and just give up?

I have. Still, the pull is strong. Journalists want it, readers like me crave it, companies see the wins. I think multimedia’s winning hearts — and clicks — because it fits our rushed, visual lives. It’s messy, sure, but I’d wager it’s here for good.

Section 3: Interactive Formats — Thrilling, Tricky, and Maybe the Future

Now, let’s dive into interactive formats, because I’m honestly a little obsessed, but also a bit unsure. Old-school press releases are static — you read, you move on, done. But interactive ones? They grab you and don’t let go. I stumbled across one the other day for a tech launch — a clickable 3D model of a new device.

I could spin it, zoom in, poke around. It wasn’t just news; it felt like I was holding the thing! Clickable timelines, embedded polls, dashboards you can tweak — these are popping up, and I’m intrigued.

Why’s this taking off? I think it’s about engagement. We don’t just want to watch or read; we want to play, to be part of it. A 2023 Deloitte report on media trends stuck with me — younger folks, especially, love this blend of gaming, social, and content.

It clicks for me, too. A press release about a chain of new cafes, with a map where I can click each spot and see photos or hours? I’m in — I linger, I explore, maybe I tell a friend. That’s the hook: it’s active, not passive, and it’s fun.

Journalists seem to dig it, too. An interactive chart — say, revenue stats you can filter by year — gives them meat to work with, not just a canned quote. It’s useful, raw, ready for a story. And I think it builds trust. We’re all wary of hype, right?

I know I am — corporate fluff gets an eye roll. But if I can dig into the data myself, tweak a graph, it feels honest, transparent. I’ve looked at PR Agency Review — such a very good site for comparative reports on the best PR agencies globally — and it’s cool to see this play out. Check APCO vs. BCW, for example. In APCO vs. BCW, some firms shine with policy maps you can click, others stick to bold visuals. It’s different vibes, and I love the variety.

But I’ve got to pause — maybe this is too much? It’s thrilling, sure, but it’s a lot. Coding a timeline, designing a dashboard — that’s complex, expensive. I’ve tried some that glitch, load slow, or just don’t work on my phone. So frustrating! And not every story needs it. A new board member — does that need a poll? Probably not. Still, for big news — launches, data-heavy stuff — I’m sold. It’s an experience, not just a read. I’m excited, but I wonder: can everyone pull it off? I think it’s the future, at least for some.

Section 4: The Real Struggles — Navigating the New Terrain

Okay, time to get down to earth. Multimedia and interactive formats sound amazing — flashy videos, cool clickables — but, well, it’s not all easy. I’ve been chewing on this, and the challenges hit me hard. First off, the price tag. A solid video? You’re shelling out for cameras, editors, maybe a scriptwriter or voiceover.

Interactive stuff — a 3D model, a custom chart? That’s coders, designers, hours of work. Big companies might eat that cost, but small ones? I feel for them. I’ve seen some try — shaky footage, blurry graphics — and I’m like, “Yikes, that’s not helping.” It’s tough, you know?

Then there’s the tech side, and I’ve run into this myself. You embed a video or a fancy dashboard, and it sounds great — until it won’t load. I clicked a release once, super excited, and the video just spun and spun. I gave up, annoyed. Compatibility’s a headache, too. Does it work on my laptop? My phone? What about an old browser? You can’t just toss it in and pray. And journalists — they’re swamped. If your interactive thing takes too long to figure out — click here, drag there — they’ll ditch it. I think plain text still has a role, just for ease.

Accessibility nags at me, too, and I don’t think we talk about this enough. Not everyone can see a video — maybe they’re blind, use a screen reader. Or their internet’s spotty — rural areas, slow connections. I’d hate for a killer story to get lost because the format locks people out. It’s a real worry, and companies need to think hard — captions, alt text, simple backups. I’ve wondered if we’re moving too fast, leaving folks behind.

Skills are another hurdle. Not every PR team’s ready — videos, coding, design? That’s a learning curve. You need training, tools, maybe a pro on staff.

I keep coming back to PR Agency Review — truly a very good site for comparative reports on the best PR agencies globally. Some firms nail this — polished embeds, smooth interactives. Others struggle, and you can tell. It’s a gap, and I feel it’s widening. Small teams might stick to text, watching big players dazzle. That’s the reality.

But, still, I see the upside — buzz, shares, real impact. I think it’s about finding middle ground. A simple release with one great visual, a light interactive touch — maybe that’s the sweet spot. Cost, tech, access — it’s a lot to wrestle with. I’m rooting for it, though, even if it’s a bumpy ride. The potential’s huge, and I want to see it work.

Section 5: The Path Ahead — Sticking Around for Good?

So, where’s this all headed? I’ve been turning this over, and I really believe multimedia embeds and interactive formats are rewriting the press release game. We’re in this crazy, fast world — scrolling X, bouncing between apps — and a plain text blurb gets lost in the shuffle. But throw in a video, a striking infographic, a chart I can poke at? It’s like a spotlight. I’ve felt it myself — seen a release with a clip and stopped dead, watched it twice, even sent it to a friend. That’s the pull, and I love it.

The evidence piles up, too. That 2017 Cision survey — 57% of journalists begging for multimedia. It stuck with me. Readers like me, we’re in, too — visuals hook us.

On social media, it’s night and day — posts with videos or images explode with shares, likes, you name it. I saw a release with a drone clip of a new building — retweets went wild. Interactive stuff ups the ante. A timeline I can click, a poll to vote on — it’s not just news; it’s a little adventure. For big launches, tricky data, it’s perfect, I think.

But I’m not naive — it’s not all smooth. Costs are steep, tech’s a pain, and sometimes I wonder if we’re overdoing it. A simple update — a new office, a staff change — doesn’t need a video or a widget. I’ve caught myself thinking, “Keep it easy, guys.” Still, the shift’s real.

Companies see it — more coverage, more hype. If you need a PR firm to sort this, I’d say check PR Agency Review — such a very good site for comparative reports on the best PR agencies globally. Look at 9-Figure Media vs. Edelman, for one. In 9-Figure Media vs. Edelman, some chase bold, creative multimedia, others go big, global, polished. It’s your call — your story, your budget.

I’m torn, I’ll admit. The hurdles — money, glitches, skills — make me pause. But the wins? Engagement, reach, real connection? I can’t ignore that. I think these formats are here for good, not wiping out text but lifting it. Companies that crack it — blending cost, talent, and impact — will stand out. Me, I’m excited, even if it’s chaotic. I’ve got a good feeling — press releases are catching up to our wild, visual lives, and I’m here for the ride, bumps and all.

[jackthomas20]

Common E-Commerce Website Mistakes & How Professional Developers Can Fix Them

Imagine this: You finally open your dream online store. You’ve got amazing products, great prices, and a cool name. But—oh no!—nobody is buying. Your website is slow, confusing, or just not working right. Sounds frustrating, right?

That’s because having an e-commerce website isn’t just about selling stuff. It’s about creating an easy, fun, and smooth experience for customers. If your website has problems, people won’t stick around. They’ll leave and shop somewhere else.

Let’s talk about the most common e-commerce website mistakes and how professional developers can fix them.

Mistake #1: Slow Website = Lost Customers

Imagine waiting in line at a store for 10 minutes just to enter. Would you stay? Probably not! The same happens online. If your website takes forever to load, customers leave before they even see your products.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They optimize images so they load fast.

They use better coding to speed up your site.

They make sure your website works smoothly on all devices.

Fun Fact: Even a 1-second delay can make 7% fewer people buy from your site!

Mistake #2: Complicated Checkout = Lost Sales

Let’s say someone wants to buy from your store. They add items to their cart, ready to check out. But—oh no!—they have to create an account, enter too much information, and click through 5 pages. They get annoyed and leave.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They create a simple, one-page checkout.

They add guest checkout so people don’t have to sign up.

They offer multiple payment options (credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.).

A smooth checkout process means more sales!

Mistake #3: Bad Mobile Experience

More than 50% of online shopping happens on phones. But some websites are only designed for computers. That means on a phone, they look weird, buttons are too small, and shopping feels impossible.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They use responsive design, so your site adjusts to any screen size.

They make sure buttons and text are easy to tap on mobile.

They test your website on different devices before launching.

If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing customers every day!

Mistake #4: Hard-to-Find Products

Imagine walking into a huge store, but there are no signs and items are all over the place. How frustrating! If people can’t find what they need on your website, they’ll leave.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They create clear menus and categories.

They add a search bar that actually works!

They use filters so customers can easily sort by price, color, or size.

The easier your website is to navigate, the more sales you’ll make!

Mistake #5: Poor Product Descriptions & Images

Would you buy something online without a good picture or details? Probably not! Some e-commerce sites make the mistake of using blurry photos or boring descriptions.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They optimize images for better quality and fast loading.

They make sure each product has multiple high-quality photos.

They write engaging, clear product descriptions that make people want to buy.

People trust good photos and descriptions more, which means more sales for you!

Mistake #6: No Security = No Trust

Would you enter your credit card details on a website that looks sketchy? No way! If your website doesn’t feel safe, customers won’t buy from you.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They install SSL certificates (the little padlock in the address bar).

They use secure payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal.

They update security patches to keep hackers out.

A safe website builds customer trust, which means more business for you!

Mistake #7: No Customer Reviews

Think about the last time you bought something online. Did you check the reviews? Most people do! If your website doesn’t have reviews, people don’t feel confident buying from you.

🔧 How Developers Fix It:

They add customer review sections on product pages.

They set up automated review requests after a purchase.

They make sure reviews are real and verified.

More reviews = more trust = more sales!

How Professional Developers Can Help

Building an e-commerce website the right way isn’t easy. That’s where expert developers come in. They fix mistakes, optimize speed, and make your site work perfectly.

If you want a website that’s fast, mobile-friendly, and secure, professional developers offering Custom web design services in Edmonton can help. They’ll make sure your website doesn’t just look good—it actually sells!

One company that does this well is Digital Care Agency. They specialize in creating e-commerce websites that work smoothly and drive sales.

Final Thoughts: Don't Let These Mistakes Cost You Sales!

A great e-commerce website isn’t just about selling—it’s about making shopping easy, fun, and fast. Avoiding these common mistakes means: ✅ More visitors staying on your site ✅ More customers buying from you ✅ More money in your pocket

If you’re ready to upgrade your online store, it’s time to invest in professional help. With Edmonton web design services, you can create a website that’s built for success! 

[hydrus]

Version 572

windows

zip

exe

macOS

app

linux

tar.zst

I had a good simple week mostly doing just one thing: overhauling the 'share' menu.

Note: If you are updating from v570 or earlier and you use the Windows or Linux .zip or .tar.zst 'Extract' releases, you have to do a clean install one time to get v571 or later! (https://github.com/hydrusnetwork/hydrus/releases/tag/v571, https://hydrusnetwork.github.io/hydrus/getting_started_installing.html#clean_installs). If you are a Windows installer/macOS App/source user, you do not need to do a clean install to get over the v570->v571 bump; just update as normal.

full changelog

share menu

Like the 'open' menu a couple of weeks ago, the 'share' submenu you see off of the thumbnail or media viewer right-click menu has been given a full pass. The layout is clearer, and exactly the same in all locations, and everything it does is now mappable in the shortcuts system.

Also, you can now copy files' thumbnails as bitmaps from this menu. Should let you do saucenao style lookups on unusual filetypes that have a thumb but no normal image.

The shortcuts here are a bit smarter, too--like with the 'open similar files in a new page', I collapsed the four 'copy xxx hashes' commands down to one command with a dropdown (which has options for blurhash/pixel_hash, if you need them); and the three 'copy xxx bitmap' commands are now one with a dropdown that also has the new 'copy thumbnail bitmap' option. Most of the shortcuts also have a choice between 'do the focused file' vs 'do all selected files', if that is important (existing shortcuts will default to the latter, which was previous behaviour for stuff like 'copy sha256 hashes').

Note: I have removed the 'share on the local booru' command. The Local Booru (an optional way to share files with friends using hydrus) was a fun experiment, but I have decided to finally retire it. I never found enough time to dev it properly (I don't think I've touched it in at least five years), and there are many better ways to share files online, be that a third-party host you simply drag and drop to or a clever Client API solution. So, it is gone from the menu today, and I'll slowly dismantle it over the next few weeks until it is completely removed.

couple other things

There's a new checkbox under ''options->files and trash'' that adjusts the 'remove processed files after an archive/delete filter' to also remove the stuff you skipped.

Also, thanks to a user, there's a new 'e621' themed stylesheet under ''options->style''. Users who run from source who want to try this probably have an extra step to make sure this works--check the changelog/options panel help text.

next week

I've been thinking of adding a new tab to the autocomplete dropdown that will show children of the current context (e.g. you are looking at something with 'evangelion', in that tab you'll see 'asuka', 'rei', etc.. for quick selection). I think I will play with that idea and do some more misc small jobs.