#10 Reasons Why Most Don’t Become Wealthy

[qqueenofhades]

May not by your wheelhouse, but regarding ever-increasing college tuition, where does the money go? Why is college so much more expensive than it was a few decades ago?

I have indeed written several posts about the college affordability crisis, which are probably to be found in my "ronald reagan burn in hell" tag. This is because, as with most of the batfuckery of the American economy since the 1980s, it is indeed Ronald Reagan's fault. The overall causes of college skyrocketing in cost include, but are not limited to:

1) Huge tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, gutting the funding that public education systems/public universities previously received from the government;

2) This in turn increased the costs at private universities, which had always been more expensive than public universities anyway, and besides, they were now free to put up their prices as far as they wanted;

3) The "unregulated free market trickle-down capitalism for everyone!!" Reagan-era mentality led to the explosion of costs in healthcare, housing, education, etc etc., and drastically widened the level of income inequality between rich and poor;

4) The replacement of grants (which you don't have to pay back) with loans (which you do), which incentivized unscrupulous loan companies to increase the burden of debt on students and for colleges to charge more and more tuition in the form of loans;

5) A bachelor's degree was once supposed to guarantee you a job, and now does nothing of the sort, and because the market has become so crowded and oversaturated with generally unsatisfactory and unstable job options, you are expected to pay for multiple degrees and go even DEEPER into debt;

6) Obviously, because of this total rejiggering of the economic landscape, everything costs a fuckton more than it used to 40 years ago, so colleges can't return to their 1970s-era fee structure;

7) As an academic, I can promise you that very little of this money is actually going to faculty salaries or the development/sustainment of new programs. Yes, obviously it costs money to run a quality educational institution, and I also obviously want all universities to be funded properly and for academics to be paid what they deserve. But the actual distribution of this money is... less clear.

8) Schools with giant well-known Division I sports programs tend to get all or most of the money that comes into their institutions, leaving relatively little for academic or faculty development;

9) For example: I work at a large, fairly prestigious, private university with very high research activity/classification, and we don’t even have a football team sucking up the money. But still, every single quarter, my department has to go through the budget with a magnifying glass, cut low-enrolled courses, argue constantly with the dean about which courses we do get to teach, etc. Our adjuncts also get paid literal peanuts for taking on a lot of work, and because we're so low on core faculty and just had to cancel another faculty search because of budget reasons, probably 50% of our schedule in the upcoming quarter is being taught by adjuncts. This is... not ideal.

10) Student debt is now such a lucrative part of the American commodities market, is so embedded in the financial system, and constitutes (at last glance) up to $1.8 trillion of outstanding debt, that when Biden tried to cancel even some of it, the Republicans immediately lost their minds and sued him to stop it. As of now, that case is still pending before SCOTUS, and because they're the literal worst, nobody hold your breath for a good outcome.

In short: college is one of the areas that has suffered the most from unregulated Reagonomics over the last 40 years, has been repeatedly incentivized to become and to stay extremely expensive and to represent a long-term burden of debt, and while you would hope that the money was being responsibly reinvested into actual faculty hiring/retention/academic program development etc, that is... not usually the case. The big Division I universities that serve as farm team training programs for the NFL, with a little academics on the side, also tend to have tons of investment in sports and not nearly as much in the classroom. But I'm sure this is fine!

[swiftcry]

Thrift Shops aren't the problem, convienance is.

Woke up last night remembering some post bitching about how thrift shops suck now because they are all full of crappy shein fast fashion garbage and for some reason placing the blame on the shop and saying it has something to do with them being for profit. Which is both illogical and blatantly dosen't understand how thrift shops work. I worked for Savers years ago; I wasn't a sorter but a floor associate. But they made sure we knew how the process worked because people would ask us questions. So lets say you donate a shirt; it gets checked over by the sorters to see if its good enough to go on the sales floor- that is if it has any tears, stains, etc. If it is good enough, it gets a price tag and goes out onto the floor. If it isn't good enough, it either goes in the trash or into the send out bin. Basically items that are not good enough for americans to buy but are still technically wearable get sent off to 3rd world countries as donations. Because in some places a pair of shoes, even a worn pair, is still a pair of shoes. High value items are tagged and at least at savers placed in a special area near the registers. I know that goodwill has like an auction site for their high value items- so they definately send theirs out. But like one time a bridal shop closed and we had like 30 wedding dress samples all in that spot. In order to have enough merchandise, because sometimes donations are slow, savers ships the sorters unsorted pallets of donations from elsewhere to go through. Admittedly I don't remember where those come from. Items usually took a couple days to a week to get from the donation bin to the sales floor.

What does this tell us? Well the obvious actually, everything in the store is donated for the most part by the local population. They aren't picking out the namebrand items and sending them who knows where- in order to make money savers needs to sell those just the same. What this means is that people are donating more fast fashion items then they are donating name brand items. Why? Convienance. Who buys fast fashion items? 2 types of people generally. 1. Poor people who cannot afford name brand clothing who will likely wear the items until they fall apart. 2. Moderately wealthy people who want to be fashionable in the short term or even only want to wear an item once and want the items fast and cheap. They cannot afford the real garments the clothing is based on or cannot be bothered to look for them since SHEIN seemingly has it all and for cheap the number two person is our problem. They buy an excess of cheap clothing bc it is so cheap and after wearing it once or twice donate it all.

in the past this type of person would have purchased long term use clothing from brick and mortar stores or name brand websites; they owned fewer outfits and what they donated was well made and either didn’t fit them or despite being used was well enough made it didn’t matter.

Which is where we get to the other ugly part of a shirts lifespan. So let’s say you buy a shirt on Amazon. You realize you don’t like it- so you return it. In the old days that might have required proving why you don’t want it or going through some hoops. Now it’s easy as a click of a button and you just have to go to your local kohls or staples who deal with everything for you. It’s become wildly convenient- so that where in the past it might have been so inconvenient that you donate the shirt instead. See I work at staples now. I see so many consumerist returns I want to go and live in the woods. Yesterday I had a woman return 10 nearly identical yellow skirts because she wants one of a particular shade. Those 10 skirts go back to the Amazon warehouse where they will be place in a palette and sold and auction; entirely skipping the thrift store level. That shirt you returned will never make it to the thrift shop.

and the name brand stores in order to compete with Amazon follow suit with easy returns- the parent company that owns old navy/banana republic/gap/fabletics literally made its own type of returns service called express returns in order to compete. Staples processes these too so I see them. So much perfectly good clothing gets returned with it. One woman told me she bought it just for a baby shower photo shoot thing and because it’s so easy to return it’s no big deal.

and I’m sure you’ve noticed that name brand items are also being cheaper and less good quality. In some cases that’s because they realized that people will buy crap so they can make crap. In other cases it’s in order to compete. Depends on the brand. fast fashion items notably usually can’t be returned or it’s a hassle but bc they are so cheap, a lot of people don’t care leading to them being in thrift shops.

The presense of fast fashion items in thrift shops is a symptom of a suffering economy that has been pushed to the edge by a “now now now” mindset. And it sucks ass.

[mcx7demonbros]

My thought on Obey Me characters ranking

N.B.

This is my personal opinion, based on what I’ve seen, heard and read. And because it’s subjective to what I experienced, it may not be entirely correct.

For the new trio, I only compare them in their group (i.e. Mephisto with Thirteen and Raphael only) since I have not much info on these three.

1st Rank - Mammon

Honestly, no surprise here. I have seen some polls on “Who’s your fav among OM boys?”, or “Your favorite brother”. The results always had Mammon as number one choice. So when the devs announced the contest, I was already quite sure Mammon would rank first.

2nd / Runner-up - Lucifer

Also no surprise here. Same reason with Mammon, I have seen polls with Lucifer being ranked second, closely behind Mammon.

3rd - Diavolo

Another no surprise. I know that there are a lot of Diavolo simps out there. C’mon, he’s a prince, he gives daddy vibe, he’s wealthy, he’s attractive, he’s charming,…and big tits. I didn’t encountered many polls on Diavolo but I estimated the number of his simps must be only behind Lucifer and Mammon. So when he came out 3rd, I only nodded in agreement.

4th - Solomon

Now this is my first surprise, but not big. I did read posts and blogs with Solomon being a favorite, but I estimated that he would be a few ranks lower, like 5th or 6th or lower to the middle, behind another one or two brothers.

5th - Asmodeus

This is my really first big surprise. As far as I know, Asmo is one of the most, if not the most, underappreciated brother, and totally did not expect him to be in the upper half of the ranking. Though I know that Asmo has become more appreciated recently, I still expected him to be behind Beel and Belphie and totally didn’t expect a huge leap in rank, becoming 5th overall and 3rd favorite among the brothers.

6th - Mephistopheles

First, I didn’t expect them to include the new characters. Second, though it surprised me that Mephisto ranks among the upper half, I did expect him to be the most favorite in the new trio. I mean, I saw a lot of posts and memes on him, compared to Thirteen and Raphael.

7th - Satan

Satan is around the rank I estimated him to be, though I expected him to be lower ranked than the twins, probably because I favor the brothers overall and always give them higher rank than the side crew.

8th - Barbatos

I expected Barbatos to be at the rank where Mephisto got in the ranking, so the royal butler ranked a little lower than I had expected, placing precisely in the middle of the competition.

9th - Leviathan

Tbh, Levi’s rank wasn’t a surprise. He ranked in the middle, leaning to the lower half of the competition and behind characters I expected to rank higher than him, namely everyone who ranked higher than him in this race, except Asmo and Mephisto.

10th - Luke

Little Luke is no. 10 in numbering of the original 12 boys, and he got 10th in ranking. 10 is a good number. Perfect.

11th - Thirteen

Not surprised that she’s the second fav among the new trio, after Mephisto.

12th - Beelzebub

Very surprised that he’s this low T^T. Among the brothers, I expected him to be lower than Belphie and higher than Asmo, the reverse happened.

13th - Belphegor

Expected the murderer cow to be 4th in place or something and thought he would be higher than all of his brothers, except Lucifer and Mammon. Turned out he’s the lowest ranked among the Seven Avatars. It looks like Belphie needs to do more to atone for his sin.

14th - Raphael

Expected him to be last among the trio. But his smile is so precious (〃ω〃)

15th - Simeon

Now, Simeon. I did expect him to be lower half, but not the last rank. Though I may know why he got the last rank. The time when I harshly scolded Levi and that time he chided Mammon, calling him “useless” must have upset a lot of people. Also, some people may associate Simeon with cold piety, which came from fan-made content (though most of them are either memes or created so to fit specific context that writers/artists made up) and many don’t really like piety. Like, combining with Simeon’s hidden anger, he looks and sounds like a hypocrite.

Usually, I will tag characters according to their official order (Lucifer - 1, Mammon - 2, Levi - 3,…, Diavolo - 8, Barbatos - 9, Luke - 10,…) but for this post, the tag will follow the ranking.

[maidayevergreen]

The Sims 4 Disney Legacy Challenge

Sims 4 Disney Legacy This was inspired by the sims 3 version I found here, this the line to it, go check it out. There will be 11 gens.

Rules and Guidelines • No cheats, unless bb.moveobjects, or money cheat at the beginning • Aging must be set to normal • Mods are allowed unless it messes with the current generation • Do not bring back your sim from the dead, unless specified • Do not bake or eat cake unless it’s one of your sims birthday • Your sims do not need to look like its generations theme, though it’s up to you, traits are also up to yoi

The Generations Some of these will have packs involved, so I will try and give options that you can use so you can still play this challenge.

Gen 1 - Light Year Buzz lightyear is a space ranger who was stuck on his own with nothing, not knowing where is family was just by himself working on becoming the best Astronaut there has ever been.

• Complete the astronaut career • Level 10 in fitness, logic and rocket science • Start with nothing and no money • Marry a co-worker • Have two children, one being evil and younger one being the heir • Have a completed space ship • Have 4 good friends • Complete the body builder aspiration • Have a brother or sister that you don’t really know/ speak to

Gen 2 - Lion King You grew up surrounded by getting everything you ever wanted, but your older sibling was always jealous of you for some reason, and when you needed your father the most he was not around and you ran away from your problems until it is your time to return home.

• Father dies when sim is a child • Older sibling had something to do with the death (do what you want with that) • Runaway and move in with nature crazy uncle’s or aunt’s (Pumba and Timon, they can be married, do whatever you want) • Complete Fabulously wealthy aspiration • Complete the politician career - president • Max the fitness, singing and charisma skill • Have a childhood best friend • Return home when a young adult and get revenge at your sibling in anyway you want • Marry childhood friend • Have one child

Gen 3 - Soul You grew up surround by music, and you have loved learning instruments. But you didn't think you would be good enough be for going into the music industry, so you went into business until something gave you a passion to do something you want to do with your life.

• Get to level 5 in the business career than quit • After quitting the business career, adopt a daughter • The adopted daughter is the next heir • Live in the city • Have a near death experience • Complete the musical genius career • Complete the Entertainer (musician) career • Max three different instruments • Marry when an adult and have a child with them

Gen 4 - Lady and the Tramp You grew up and was a little spoil't and you had all of your parents attention, until you had gotten a surprise sibling, you got lost after having an argument with you parents and ran into a person that has offered you a place with them, how will this story go?

• Start to get ignored after new baby is born • Love your sibling but can’t help feel hurt by parents • Runaway after an argument and join a household with a sim that you just met • Start to fall in love with the other sim - eventually marry • Complete the Big happy family aspiration • Max the parenting, cooking and gourmet cooking skill • Have at least 4 children • Favourite 3 of them • Partner is in the criminal career until adulthood after being arrested • Don't have a job • Reconnect with parents after baby number 4 • Second youngest is heir

Gen 5 - Encanto Your family was very close knit, except why weren’t you included. All your life you where last choice, ignored by your mother, bullied by your older siblings with only the younger to rely on.

• Your family is ‘amazing’ and popular • Father dies when a toddler • If able try and make the family full of occults • Be distance and not close to family until a teen • House is destroyed when there a teen • Marry a co-worker in style-influencer career • Complete the Style-influencer career • Complete the friend of the world aspiration • Max writing, painting, photography and charisma skills • Reconnect with family after house is repaired and be best friends with one of the older siblings • Have one child

Gen 6 - Turning Red You was the perfect child, the one everyone wanted there child to be like, but you knew that you where different, but how?

• Have an A as a child • Complete as many toddler traits • Be best friends with mother until there a teen • When a teen become a were-wolf • Parents try to convince you to hide it until they can find a cure • You get angry at them for trying to cure you • Have 3 best friends • Max the violin, Entrepreneur and painting skill • Complete the freelance painter career • Marry one of best friends • Mother become distant and angry • You stay a were-wolf • Complete the Lone Wolf Aspiration • Only have two children

Gen 7 - Onward One of your parents died at a young age, and you don’t really remember them all that well, you had your other parent and older sibling growing up, but you wish to hug them once, but what if you can?

• One parent must die when toddler • Older sibling helped raise you and close to them • You bring back your father for a little bit to hug them as a teen • Have a step parent that is in the police force, don’t get on well until later on • Max the scientist career • Max the logic, wellness and video gaming • Only have one child • Have a nice garden that you leave behind for your child

Gen 8 - Strange World It’s a strange world out there and you want to find it all, but at the risk of your family, you don’t truly know.

• When a teen father disappears • Master the gardener career • Max the gardening, logic and handiness skill • Have only one child • Complete the freelance botanist aspiration • Partner must either be a scientist or astronaut career wise • Only have one child, preferably a boy • Travel to the alien world with family

Gen 9 - Lilo And Stitch When you where a child your watched your family go into the alien world and it made you want to meet and alien but is that what you really wanted when you get abducted?

• Have a alien baby • Be close to parents • Marry a alien • Complete the detective career • Max mischief, guitar and painting skill • Complete the chief of mischief aspiration • Drive away a neighbours on both sides whenever possible • Have 2 to 3 children • Alien child is heir

Gen 10 - Luca You always felt like an outcast in your family but also in the world. Your parents always let you be yourself but you always feel the need to hide yourself when your outside. You meet another alien and you both make the choice of running away.

• A blue alien with a human form • Must run away with new friend as a teen • Meet a human and become best friends • Never truly went to school due to fear until teen • Have a human that hates you and is your rival • They bully you due to them finding out they are an alien • You love water and live close to it • Complete the painter extortioner • Max the painting, photography and cooking skill • Have one child • Have a five star business • Marry a human

Gen 11 - Aladdin After your whole family perish to unknown causes they have to survive on there own, and start a family in there life.

• Master the criminal career • Fall in love with a rich sim • Pretend to be rich when poor • Max the fitness, rock climbing and baking • Make friends with a plant sim or genie type inspired sim • Have one child • Get rid of the rich partners weird uncle • After the criminal career leave it and live happily ever after

If you decide to do this challenge please tag me @maidayevergreen , and put the #TS4disney_challenge

[as8bakwthesage]

TOP 10 FAVOURITE FILMS

tagged by @codotafterdark the beloved

I’m going to expand on this and briefly talk about why I love these movies too, don’t worry. Also, I like a lot of movies and I probably didn’t remember all of them so forgive me. For those who I tag, you don’t have to do the whole “explaining why you like the films” but that’s up to you!

Minor spoilers for some of these movies!

10. It’s a Wonderful Life

I love this movie because a) it’s got incredibly endearing characters and b) it aged so well. The movie is about a man literally stopping a wealthy capitalist scumbag who wants to turn his lovely town into an awful casino-ridden cesspit and slum. Which, uh *looks around at the capitalist hellscape we are in* is pretty poignant.

His speech where he yells at the pig is beautiful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q This scene is amazing. The entire movie is genuinely so good and for the people who haven’t seen it, watch it. I know it’s in black and white but that in no way detracts from the movie at all.

9.  Star Wars Episode III: “Revenge of the Sith”

People clown on the Prequel trilogy but you know what, fuck em. I grew up with those movies and as an adult I see genuine value in their stories. Anakin’s descent into the dark side is both tragic but ultimately entirely his own fault. Sure, the system failed him, but he still made the choice to kill children and to betray his friends and loved ones.

And it’s a very good lesson about the fact that no matter what, you are responsible for your actions. But it doesn’t make Anakin’s fall any less tragic. George Lucas wanted to emulate Greek tragedies with the prequels and I’d say he vigorously succeeded.

8. The Book Thief

One of the few movies about WWII surrounding a story that takes place in Nazi Germany that is actually pretty good. “The Book Thief” is about a girl who gets taken in by foster parents who are hiding a Jewish man. Through him, she learns how to read and write and she becomes really invested in books. In the story itself, she saves a few books from being burned, and even steals some as well.

I seem to be a fan of history repeating itself as we have literal book burnings and bans occurring in the USA as we speak so the story about saving works of literature and the power of words is incredibly important. Especially in the light of a lot of southern states literally trying to kill LGBT+ people and removing stories about us.

7. Rise of The Guardians

I haven’t really talked about the Found Family aspects of the previous movies on this list but in all of the movies so far, there is at least an element of found family and a theme about hope and fighting back against one’s oppressors.

And while “Rise of the Guardians” has excellent themes about hope, loss, belief, found family, and personal growth, I love this movie for other reasons.

It’s just such a brilliantly cool movie! The entire movie is a visual delight with the most expressive and fun characters. It’s a movie that just screams “THE RULE OF COOL” and it’s awesome for it. Of course I love the characters and the story but the animation and visuals are also a stellar plus for me.

6. Monsters vs Aliens

This movie is... it’s so rich with character and themes about loss and finding a new identity and dealing with ostracization that it’s very applicable to LGBT+ experiences. I wouldn’t say it’s a metaphor because the creators probably didn’t intend it that way and to make LGBT+ people represented in the form of monsters isn’t exactly cool. It’s definitely more applicable as an LGBT+ person myself whose struggled with a lot of feelings of being alone, of being unwanted, of being seen as “other” just as the monsters do in the movie.

Susan’s arc especially is so so good and please, if you watch this movie for anything (which I recommend that you do), watch it for Susan as a character. Her dealing with the loss of her life and identity is so powerful.

This movie’s comedic moments are also very good. And it hits all the harder when the emotional moments happen.

5. The Man Who Knew Too Little

It’s a funny movie. It’s a very funny movie about a guy who thinks he is acting but he’s actually in the middle of a covert international government operation that is very real.

“No, it’s real! It’s so real!” has been burned into my brain.

The best kind of comedy that is universal and will never age is comedy of misunderstanding. Where a bunch of shit happens because of a misunderstanding and shenanigans ensue.

This movie also has so many great lines and Bill Murray is at his best as an actor in this movie because he has to be a bad actor in the story because his character wants to be an actor but is bad at acting. It’s just bloody brilliant. I also grew up with this movie and watched it a lot as a kid. It’s one of my dad’s favourite movies, which is one of the only things we agree on.

Movie’s fucking hilarious, go watch it.

4. Persepolis

Ooh boy. This movie is gorgeous. As is the graphic novel its based off of. The story of “Persepolis” follows the true story of Marjane Satrapi as she grows up during the Iranian revolution. It’s a very impactful story about life and death and the horrors of war. Marjane’s story is incredible but also very heavy emotionally.

The art of the movie is also just brilliant and gorgeous. It’s incredible and beautifully animated.

I really need to rewatch it again to better absorb all of what happens because I saw it when I was 13 and I’m 22 now so I’d definitely be able to understand it all better. But it stuck with me throughout all of these years regardless.

The power of storytelling, I tell ya.

Go watch it. A lot of Americans don’t know shit about what happens outside of their own country and this story about the Iranian revolution is one that a lot of Americans don’t know shit about.

Go watch it.

3. Encanto

Much like “Persepolis”, this movie is about, to some degree, actual historical events. But where it deviates is that its definitely moreso a movie that children can better absorb, which is not an insult.

“Encanto” is about the Madrigals, a Colombian family who have powers granted to them by a magical house. But the protagonist is Mirabel, who has no powers whatsoever and her journey to basically help undo all of the unhealthy coping mechanisms imposed on the family thanks to Alma, Mirabel’s grandmother.

Now, a lot of people dislike Alma and call her a villain, which is just not true. She is a victim of horrible atrocities and has bottled up her emotions for the longest time for the sake of helping the community she lives in. Alma’s mistreatment of her family was completely unintentional and when Mirabel tells her so, Alma opens up and apologises to her family.

The reason why Alma isn’t abusive is because she owns up to her mistakes immediately and vows to do better. My own grandmother and father can’t do that, they always try to gaslight me, berate me, and straight up lie to me. These people continue their behaviour and refuse to change, which makes them abusers.

The themes about generational trauma and how you need to rock the boat to start undoing it hits so close to home. I’m not Colombian but my father’s side of the family are war refugees from former Yugoslavia and my mom’s side of the family have been through some horrendous abuse. The bottling up of emotions and projecting unhealthy coping mechanisms on your descendants is something that happens in my family a lot.

And that’s why “Encanto” is so high up on this list. Because I felt validated by this movie and my own experiences.

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Another kick in the teeth in terms of emotions.

I saw “Wakanda Forever” not too long after my adopted brother died in a car crash. So Shuri’s pain and her grief felt so real and personal that I couldn’t help but love the movie for what it was talking about.

Shuri goes through the stages of grief and her pain is never minimised or seen as a negative. All the things she does, it’s perfectly understandable. Obviously eventually she manages to overcome her own demons and makes an ally with Namour, who is also a fantastic antagonist.

I don’t use the term “villain” to describe him because while he does some decidedly villainous things like attack Wakanda and kill a bunch of people, including Shuri’s mother, his reasonings are absolutely understandable. Much like Erik, he seeks retribution for the genocide and enslavement of his people and, yeah, as a Native person myself, I completely fucking relate to his pain.

Ultimately, “Wakanda Forever” hit me so hard because, again, I felt validated in my grief and I felt seen by the movie. Namour’s anger and hatred towards those who colonised and destroyed his home and people is one that I imagine many fellow Natives feel. But what he does to fellow people of colour is unacceptable and horrid. He did not need to attack Wakanda, he did not need to murder one inventor because, let’s face it, the government probably has her blueprints in some form or another.

And the conflict of the movie is not one easily solved and its not one that is completely resolved either as even though Shuri and Namour are allies now, it will separate Wakanda from the rest of the world if the countries of the world try to attack Namour’s people, as Wakanda to come to his aid. I personally believe this is a good thing but again, it’s a complicated situation. And it’s so good.

Before we get to my favourite film of all time, here are the honourable mentions:

Deadpool, Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, Onward, The Sound of Music, Wall-E, Watchmen, Batman and Robin, Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Golden Compass, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Back to The Future 1-2-3

And finally...

1. When Marnie Was There

I discovered this relatively unknown film when I was about 15 years old. The story in “When Marnie Was There” is about a girl named Anna who goes to stay in the country-side of Japan with her aunt and uncle to help with her asthma. In this small village, she meets a girl named Marnie with whom she has almost fantasy-esc encounters with.

She and Marnie become the best of friends and start to spend a lot of time together. However, as time goes on, Anna starts to notice things that are off about Marnie until eventually she learns about what truly happened to Marnie and who this blonde-haired girl actually is.

It’s a story about love, loss, friendship, depression, and self-worth. Marnie teaches Anna how to open up and by the end of the movie, Anna becomes more confident in herself.

I was a similar age as me at the time when I first watched this movie. I had/have brown short hair, I was/am an artist, and didn’t have any friends, much like Anna. Our names were even similar - her name and my deadname, I mean.

I saw myself in Anna as a character a lot. I saw what she was going through and I related incredibly to it. I felt so seen by this movie as if Anna was me and I was Anna in that moment. I was dealing with depression and suicidal idealization and I had no friends and felt incredibly alone. Discovering “When Marnie Was There” when I did was honestly the closest thing I’ll ever see as destiny. This movie made me bawl and sob my eyes out when I first saw it and subsequent rewatchings of it have also lent a lot of tears.

I always look back with fondness for this movie as I honestly believe it helped in some way to save my life. I’ve never felt so incredibly seen in a film as I did with this one and that’s why I hold it in such high regard.

I do recommend it though regardless of my own experiences with it. It’s got really relatable and interesting characters, a mystery, a story about friendship and loss and ultimately, self-love.

Please watch it.

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I tag @skull-scrimmage @icy-roulette @noodle--nerd @creaturedeityendless @lexyr-kyro @little-bullheaded-shit @lolotheparagon @dreamydraig @dreamy-memey @asunnycoffee @gritsandbrits and @inkdrawndreamer​

[mayanchild]

How To Get Emma Johnson Grant

Grant is an 11-year-old boy who lives with his single mother Emma in a small town in Illinois. Grant has always been a bright and energetic child, but he's had to deal with some tough obstacles in his life. When Emma johnson grant was just 3 years old, his parents died in a car accident. Grant was barely able to cope with the loss and struggled through his elementary school years. In high school, Kickass single mom grant found himself struggling with grades and struggles with identity. He felt like he didn't fit in anywhere and was constantly feeling left out.

One day, while browsing the internet, Emma came across a blog post about a widower who was looking for someone to take care of his two children for a few months while he worked on restoring his home. Emma saw that the children were around Grant's age and thought it would be a fun opportunity for him to get involved with other kids and make some new friends. After talking it over with Grant, Emma decided to apply for the job and was thrilled when she got accepted!

Since moving into the widower's home, Grant has finally found a place where he feels comfortable and connected. He now participates in after-school programs and sports leagues to connect with his new friends. Grant is also looking forward to starting middle school and getting back to his normal routine. Emma johnson single mother grant is grateful for the opportunities her son has been given and believes that everything happens for a reason.

Emma Johnson is a Single Mother Grant

Emma Johnson is a single mother who has faced many challenges in her life, but nothing has been tougher than raising her daughter on her own. Emma was born and raised in a household with six siblings, but when she became a single mother, she had to learn how to provide for her daughter on her own. Emma's story is an inspiration to all mothers who are struggling to raise children on their own.

Emma has had to sacrifice a lot in order to provide for her daughter. She has had to work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet, and she has had to take on extra responsibilities at home in order to ensure that her daughter is taken care of. Emma's determination and perseverance have paid off, as her daughter is now a thriving young woman. Emma is proof that wealthy single mom grant can do anything, and her story is an inspiration to all mothers who are facing challenges in their lives.

Emma Johnson’s Story

Single mother emma johnson grant has been through a lot in her short life. She was born into a family of six kids and when she was only 10 years old, her parents divorced. This led to Emma being raised by her mom and stepfather. Emma attended several different schools before finally settling down in high school. Unfortunately, her stepfather passed away just as she was starting to get used to having someone around who cared for her. After graduating from high school, Emma decided to go back to school and get her degree in psychology. Emma is currently a graduate student at the University of Utah and she recently gave birth to her first child, a son. Emma is currently working on getting her second degree so that she can become a therapist.

Emma's journey as a single mother has not been easy, but it has definitely been rewarding. She has learned how to be independent and she has also developed a strong bond with her son. Emma is currently looking for someone who can share in the responsibility of raising her son and hopefully help him develop into a healthy individual.

Reasons Why Emma Johnson Chose to be a Single Mother

Single mothers have a lot of advantages that most other parents don’t.

Emma johnson single mother grant

is a perfect example of this. Here are just a few reasons why she decided to become a single mother:

-Single mothers usually have more flexibility when it comes to work and family life.-They can dedicate more time to their children, which can result in better relationships between them and their children.-They often get more support from their families and friends, who are more likely to be understanding and helpful.

The Benefits of Being a Single Mother

When Emma Johnson became a single mother, she was faced with many challenges. But she found that the benefits of being a single mother outweighed the disadvantages. Emma provides some key reasons why being a single mother is beneficial:

1. A single mother has more time to devote to her child than a married parent. This means that the child receives more love and attention than if they were in a two-parent household.

2. A single mother can provide better care for her child than an average married couple. This is because the single mother has more flexibility in her hours and can work around her child's schedule.

3. It is easier for a single mother to connect with other parents who are also raising children alone. This allows her to find support and resources for parenting.

4. A single mother can establish closer relationships with other parents who have children of similar ages. This helps her to develop trust and communication skills when it comes to parenting.

The Challenges of Being a Single Mother

Being a single mother is hard. Emma johnson grant knows this all too well. Emma is a mother of two, and she has been through a lot in the past few years. Emma's kids are both young, and she doesn't have a lot of time to herself. Emma has to work full-time, and she also has to take care of her kids. Emma's situation is not unique, and it is definitely not easy. There are a lot of challenges that Emma faces as a single mother.

One of the biggest challenges that Emma faces is helping her kids develop a sense of independence. Emma wants her kids to be able to do things on their own, but she also wants to be there for them when they need her. It is hard for Emma to balance being a wealthy single mom grant and working full-time. However, she does it because she knows that it is important for her children.

Another big challenge that Emma faces is maintaining her relationship with her ex-husband. Emma divorced her husband several years ago, and they have since gone their separate ways. While they still see each other occasionally, their relationship isn't as close as it used to be. It is hard for Emma to maintain her relationship with her ex-husband when she is busy trying to take care of her kids. However, Emma knows that it is important for her to keep the relationship intact.

Overall, being a single mother is hard. There are a lot of challenges that Emma must face on a daily basis. However, she does it because she believes that it is the right thing to do. Emma is grateful for all the support that she has received from family and friends. She knows that they are there for her when she needs them, and she thanks them for their help every day.

Emma Johnson’s Advice for Future Moms

Emma Johnson single mother grant of three who has been through it all. In this blog post, Emma shares her advice for future mothers on the ups and downs of being a single mom.

Single parenting can be a challenging, but rewarding experience. Here are seven pieces of advice from emma johnson grant, a single mother of three:

1. Find support groups or online communities that will offer you support. There’s nothing like talking to other parents who have gone through what you are going through to give you hope and confidence.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. They may be hesitant at first, but once they understand your situation, they will be more than happy to lend a hand – and maybe even take on some of the childcare responsibilities!

3. Make time for yourself. As a wealthy single mom grant, you may feel like your time is constantly occupied by taking care of your children. But make sure to set aside some time each week to do something that you enjoy – whether that’s spending time with friends or going out for dinner with your partner. It can be really helpful to have some ‘time to recharge and focus on your own happiness.

4. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different parenting styles. There is no one ‘right’ way to parent, so experiment until you find a style that works best for you and your children.

5. Be prepared for the occasional meltdown – it happens to all parents at some point! Try not to take things too personally, and instead channel your frustration into productive activities such as taking a timeout or disciplining your child in a calm, rational manner.

6. Remember that parenting is a journey, not a destination. It will never be perfect, but with patience and perseverance, you can make it a great experience for both you and your children.

7. Above all else, remember that you are doing the best that you can – no one is perfect!

Conclusion

Emma Johnson single mother grant winner. Emma's story is about the importance of education and the power that comes with having knowledge. She has overcome many challenges in her life, including being homeless for two years as a teenager and raising her son on her own. Emma tells her story in hopes that others will learn from her journey and realize the importance of obtaining an education.

[ts-wicked-wonders]

10 Ways to Upgrade Your Social Circle with High Value People

If you’re uncomfortable in a social circle you used to enjoy. Congrats, you might be leveling up. It sucks to leave people behind. But everyone can’t join you on this journey to the next level.

Losing friends can be a sign of growth. And growth may cost you some relationships.

But don’t beat yourself up. It’s all a part of adulthood.

If you’re outgrowing friends and want to expand your social circle with high-value people follow these 10 steps.

Why do you lose friends when you become successful?

As your dreams get bigger, your circle may get smaller.

Here are some reasons why you lose friends when you become successful.

1. You’re not relatable anymore

Success will expose you to new environments. Your social circle may have a hard time relating to this new lifestyle. And your elevated lifestyle will make you seem ‘out of touch’ at times.

2. Your success reminds people of what they lack

Your achievements could make people feel some type of way — especially those who started in the same place as you like family and old classmates.

Sadly, success breeds jealousy. And everyone won’t be proud of your success.

3. Following your dreams will keep you busy

Building a successful life will keep your plate full. You may hurt some feelings when you’re no longer available like you used to be.

How to Expand Your Social Circle with High-Value People

1. Go Out Alone

The next time you’re thinking about skipping an event because no one will join you. Don’t. Being alone can make you more approachable to new people.

Plus, if your current circle doesn’t consist of high-value people, you don’t want them hurting your chances of attracting an elevated crowd.

Remember you will be judged by the company you keep. Overall, the key to moving solo is to maintain open and inviting body language.

That means, smiling often and avoiding stand-offish mannerisms like folding your arms.

2. Catch flights

If you want to expand your social circle, get out there and see the world.

High-value people know the world doesn’t revolve around their community. They love to travel and learn about different cultures.

Traveling is also a great way to relate to the wealthy, as they value experiences and lifelong learning.

3. Say yes to the invite

Leveling up your social network means you have to be open-minded. It means saying yes to activities outside of your comfort zone.

If you’re not the outdoors type, give it a try. If you’re uncomfortable at networking events, change your mindset.

4. Go to live events

Live events like conferences, workshops, and seminars are a great way to meet other ambitious people. You can also attend events virtually.

Always have your business cards handy. And follow up with people you meet.

5. Get educated

If there’s one thing that high-value people value — it’s education. Getting educated will help you connect with other like-minded people. There are many ways to be educated with or without a degree. You can earn a professional license or certification. Or learn a high-income skill online for free. Don’t feel pressured to break the bank just yet.

Additionally, you can check out museums, art galleries, or seminars. Most importantly, find topics that genuinely interest you and invest in learning.

6. Learn a new language

High-value people come from all different backgrounds. So learning a new language can be a great way to widen your social circle. You can start by learning to say hello in a new language. This will make you come across as well-rounded and will be much appreciated in elevated communities.

Not to mention there are many other benefits to bilingual education.

7. Join a book club

Do you like to read? If not, you better learn to like it if you’re serious about attracting high-value people into your life.

As mentioned earlier, elite people don’t mess around when it comes to learning. And neither should you.

Book clubs and book signing events are a great way to meet other motivated people. They tend to attract high-income crowds.

Look for topics you want to learn and join book clubs around them.

8. Get fit

Driven people take their health very seriously because health is wealth. They live healthy lifestyles and value their overall wellness.

Here are some ways to attract high-value people through fitness:

Join a gym or fitness class

Attend wellness events

Shop at healthy food stores vs your regular supermarkets.

9. Be a plus one

If you follow the steps mentioned earlier, you’ll eventually begin to build a high net-worth social circle.

And that’s where the fun begins! Once you meet high-quality people, ask to be their plus one for future events.

It will help you widen your social network with even more high vibe people.

10. Join online communities

Today so much of the world is going virtual. There are many online communities like you can join to upgrade your friendship circle. Find communities that match your values and brand.

Joining an online community can be especially helpful if you live in a small town with limited resources.

It can certainly help you expand your reach. Remember an online community should be in addition to a real-life community.

The best way to attract high-value people into your life is to become one yourself.

Which of these steps will you take to upgrade your social circle?

http://www.Tswickedwonders.com

[juwelisrealestate]

Northern Cyprus

Dec 1

There were two types of overseas property buyers in Northern Cyprus: investors and relocation ex-pats. Over the past few years, the main reason for purchasing property in north Cyprus was the great sunshine, low cost of living, inexpensive properties with excellent building quality, low crime, and wonderful Mediterranean foods. In the beginning, many middle-class ex-pats chose to retire in Northern Cyprus followed by younger families looking for low crime, cheaper and better international schools for their children. These factors have made Northern Cyprus more popular than ever to invest in real estate!

Thanks to the internet, the power of YouTube, and social media, more people discover Northern Cyprus and compare property prices worldwide. This new age has increased the interest of overseas investors in the Northern Cyprus property market. Northern Cyprus property is not only promising to make a smart financial decision for investors but also becomes a popular destination to relocate to. Unlike some other places like in the Middle East or some European countries where citizenship is being offered or promising certain unrealistic figures to invest in property, Northern Cyprus has so many things working for it that make Northern Cyprus very attractive and continually growing.

Safety

The island of Cyprus was ranked fifth in the list of safest countries in the world in 2013 and Northern Cyprus was rated third in the same year. Many people did not lock their car or house doors. Even today, it’s still a safe place to live and our staff never had a negative incident or uncomfortable feeling during the past year. Don’t be surprised when you see the many bolts on home doors. I’s actually not needed but standard because locals don’t know it any other way,

Reasonable Prices

TRNC’s local currency is Turkish lira, but real estate and cars are sold in foreign currency (British Pounds). Food and daily essentials’ prices are in Turkish lira and the higher the foreign currency, the higher the buying power. That’s why tourists love life and investments in TRNC. Even people living in Southern Cyprus travel to Northern Cyprus for shopping and gas. This fact makes it ideal to invest in real estate and for retirees from wealthy countries like Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Skandinavia or the United States of America.

.

Ready to explore

If you love nature and the outdoors, then Northern Cyprus is for you! There are so many options for exploring. You can discover brand-new places to visit every weekend!

Peaceful

The safe country TRNK is also the address of Peace. The inhabitants of the Island generally live a calm and stress-less life. This is reflected at every stage of life. TRNC offers a peaceful life with its nature, scenery, and climate.

10% increasing investment (annually)

Property prices in Northern Cyprus are rising by up to ten percent per annum in key investment zones. Elsewhere, prices have remained very steady. This is in sharp contradiction to falling prices in other European countries. The reason why Northern Cyprus property prices have remained so stable is that properties have been constructed with private capital and not with loans from the international financial system and because the Northern Cyprus property market was insulated from the global banking crisis.

The most lucrative resale strategy is buying an object at the zero phases of construction when the builder sells it at the lowest possible price. After the construction is complete (usually within one to two years), the object is sold at the market price of completed projects. Property value increases an average by thirty percent during the building process. Buying a property in Northern Cyprus and make a safe long-term investment.

[pale-silver-comb]

So I know absolutely nothing about Leverage except what I've been seeing you post lately and I have to admit you're making it look tempting to watch! Can I ask what are some of your favorite things about the show/reasons you would suggest people watch it? And is there really a poly relationship that is canon?

Okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I am going to do my best not to just “asdfghkjl” at you and answer coherently.

In a nutshell, Leverage is about 5 people. 4 are criminals (Parker, Hardison, Eliot and Sophie) with different and unique skill-sets and 1 is an ex-insurance investigator (Nate) who, at one point or another in his career, has tracked down (or at least attempted to) the other 4. The whole show is essentially: man reluctantly reforms 4 criminals to use their criminal powers for good and 4 criminals move into man’s life and stubbornly refuse to leave because, goddammit, now they have morals. 

I’ve got a lot of favourite things about the show but the main ones are as follows:

1. Found family. And I’m not talking about loners who come together to fight crime and happen to co-exist to the point where they realise they happen to have found themselves a family. I mean, Nate and Sophie are the Drunk Uncle and Wine Aunt who somehow become Mom and Dad to 3 beautiful criminal children. Mom and Dad love their criminal babies and the kids love them (as well as each other, but we’ll come to that in a moment). You get amazing family moments such as: Mom and Dad packing the kids lunch before sending them out to kick corporate greed’s ass; Mom and Dad giving the kids ridiculously expensive and personal Christmas presents causing their most Grumpy Kid to go very very quiet and soft as he runs off to gleefully play with his new murder toy; the kids interrupting Mom and Dad’s big Movie Style Kiss to ask if they can please keep their new underground layer and huffing and puffing when Dad tells them no.

2. Found family: the OT3 edition. To answer your question, the OT3 is indeed canon, confirmed by the creator. Now, usually, “confirmed by the creator” infuriates me because most of the time it’s a way for a creator to be seen as “progressive” without doing anything to actually be progressive. That isn’t the case here. The OT3 are built up carefully and while it is obvious the creators didn’t originally intend for all 3 of them to become a relationship in the romantic sense, by mid-season 5 we are given a very clear picture of where Parker, Hardison and Eliot are heading in their relationship. There aren’t any kisses at the end to signal this but there are solid marriage vows in not only one but two episodes. (And by marriage vows I mean literal equivalents of marriage vows: “for better or worse” and “’til death do us part”. I’m not even exaggerating). The OT3 also doesn’t need explicit romantic narratives to convey how much they love each other. Their love is laced through the whole show, from the way they teach each other things to the way they respond to each other and work as a unit. The way they fiercely protect and admire each other. Like someone once said, if you need characters to kiss or say I love you to let the audience know they love each other, you are writing them wrong. 

Aside from that, each of the parings in the OT3 are just. Gah. They are so well done, with friendship being the solid basis for them all. The creators never expect the audience to assume anything about them or fill in the gaps. They give us their relationships on screen and reference many things off-screen to show us how these relationships continue to build in between episodes.

Hardison and Parker are a canon couple and date in the show: it’s approached slowly and they are so goddamned sweet. They are basically every fluffy slow-burn trope with a healthy dash of mutual pining in the mix. They are basically that quote “love is patient, love is kind”. (I would like to add their romance never becomes the focus of the show or overrides the importance of any other relationship they have with the other characters, especially Eliot.)

Hardison and Eliot are the Old Married Couple and from day one are already bickering and looking at each other/making comments that are found in every UST fic ever (not to mention Hardison has a very good knack for making Eliot grin like a little kid, when usually he’s basically an Angry Little Chef Man). They argue, they play, and love each other plain as day. 

Parker and Eliot are more subtle but every bit as wonderful. They have an unspoken connection and understand each other on a level no-one else can. Parker and Eliot are not good with giving themselves over to affection for different reasons (and Hardison plays a central role in helping them realise it’s okay to want it and have it- that boy has endless patience) but there is something so beautiful in the way the two of them come together on their own and develop their own special bond that works for them. Parker and Eliot are that trope where the characters don’t need to speak to understand each other perfectly. They just do. Their love language is a lot of the time non-verbal but speaks volumes. (Parker also likes to annoy the hell out of Eliot and Eliot....just.....lets...her. Because he’s soft. The softest, grumpiest boy.) 

I could go into so much depth for each pairing and their dynamics as a 3 but that's for another post.

3. Subverting stereotypes. There is the occasional hiccup in the show regarding stereotypes but ultimately, Leverage gets an A+ when it comes to writing characters and making them 3 dimensional people who are not defined by certain characteristics or events. Nate could so easily fall into the White Man Pain trope where he uses the trauma of losing his kid as a reason as to why he is entitled to act like a dick. Nate is a dick but he doesn’t use his pain to excuse it and I appreciate that. Hardison is a black man who is soft and nurturing. Easily the most empathetic and patient of the group. He’s nerdy, an actual genius, and has the biggest heart of all the characters. Nate is maybe the glue but Hardison is definitely the heart. Media’s usual aggressive, amongst other, racist stereotypes can fuck right off. Parker is canonically autistic (I am sure this was confirmed by one of the creators) and she is not defined by it. It’s not written as some kind of singular personality trait. It’s part of what makes up Parker but it’s only one facet of who she is and not once is her actions, thoughts or feelings treated like a joke. Sometimes people don’t understand why she does and says the things she does but it’s met with patience and fondness over the course of the show. Equally, it’s not met with over-caution. Parker is just Parker. No-one tries to change her. The other nice thing is Hardison, who always makes sure Parker knows she’s amazing because of who she is and not in spite of it. Finally, Sophie is in her 40s. She’s not treated like she’s past her prime. Ever. She’s sexy, smart and never is she pitted against or compared to Parker (who is younger) for anything. Sophie is amazing and there’s never even a conversation of “I may be older but I am still *insert adjective typically associated with younger women here*”. Sophie is possibly the first female character I’ve ever seen who isn’t just unapologetic about her age but has never had to apologise for her age. It’s a non-issue and that’s that. The women on the show are written so well, right down to secondary characters and it’s beyond refreshing.  

4.) It’s just fun. The show has a “monster of the week” type format. Except instead of a ghoul or a ghost, the monster is some corrupt wealthy and powerful individual or organisation. The show draws on real-life individuals to do this and therefore closely parallels real-life people and events. It addresses important political, economical, social and environmental issues while at the same time remaining fun and light-hearted. The characters constantly get the chance to play dress up and by GOD do they have fun with it. You get to watch Eliot beat up bad guys in the most delightful of ways, usually after a witty non-sequitur and with a weapon you’d never think could be a weapon. The dialogue and back and forth between the characters is everything. And finally - my favourite thing- the team can never resist striking a dramatic pose after they’ve taken down the bad guy, making sure the bad guy sees them. I mean, they COULD just walk away, satisfied they’ve taken the person down, but nope. They gotta be dramatic bitches 24/7 and pose like they are models for every single month of this year’s Criminal Calendar.  

5.) Competence Porn. So. Much. Competence Porn.  

Honestly, I could list a thousand reasons for why Leverage is amazing but to list them would to be spoiling so many amazing moments you’d get to discover for the first time on your own if you do choose to watch it. It’s the kind of show you can watch with an eagle-eye and sink your teeth into. But it’s also the kind of show if, you would prefer, put on in the background for something entertaining while you do something else. Each episode is about the job at hand but it’s made up of so many moments between the characters that show how much the creators and writers care about them. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll do whatever it is you do when something Soft and Wonderful happens that makes your heart melt. I am so beyond grateful for Leverage. It’s everything I always wanted in a show. Nearly every show I’ve watched in the past 10 years has disappointed me in some way, usually either because the writers run out of steam or characters who I love are treated poorly or given some kind of unnecessary “shock value” arc. Leverage doesn’t do that. Leverage is what it says on the bottle. Fandom isn’t something I joined because I needed canon fix-its. Fandom only enhances and celebrates an already excellent canon. 

[softprincesso]

✨HOW TO BECOME A WEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED MAN✨

PT.2: Overview to understanding different saving/retirement methods, investments, and forms of income

2.1 Savings and Retirement

Welcome lovelies to (what I hope will be) a helpful series on gaining wealth and becoming financially literate and independent!

*disclaimer: while this advice can generally apply to many it will not apply to all. Everyone is in a different situation and should do their own research before they take what ANYONE says as fact or law. This is also coming from the perspective of a young, biracial, first generation female business student following a hypergamous lifestyle and who does sw so some advice may be specific to my like-minded ladies, but for the most part I just love money and want to help others find joy in their wallets as well. I am also operating in the US so things regarding accounts, stocks, and certain laws will vary by your country. Also, this is just a fun thing I wanted to do because talking about leveling up and learning and growing and money are my favorite past times. None of these pictures are mine, however I am using some links which may compensate me in some way, but I only used links which were mutually beneficial and would help you gain something as well, they are still just actual sources I use for myself.

✨THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND✨

Financial independence is different than financial confidence.

Financial Independence: “The most common sense of the term is that someone has enough wealth to live as they wish for the rest of their life without having to work.” -Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0611/declare-your-own-financial-independence-day.aspx

Financial Confidence: “We define financial confidence as having three aspects,” says Miler. “The first is awareness of how money can be a tool for helping you reach your goals and dreams. The second is financial literacy and understanding economic factors. The third is trust and knowing where to turn for financial advice.” -Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2018/06/16/women-money-8-steps-for-growing-your-financial-confidence/?sh=2175b65e2468

While the ultimate goal is financial independence, financial confidence should be the main focus. I’ll give an example why. Imagine there are two people: Rhonda and Jill. Both of them like nice things, love to shop, and participate in the occasional splurge. Rhonda works a regular 9-5 and has a decent salary. She doesn’t have much financial knowledge (translation: financial confidence), but she has a savings account at her local bank and puts a couple hundred into retirement each year and she thinks that's enough. Suddenly, Rhonda wins the lottery. Overnight she has become a millionaire, so she quits her job, moves to LA, and goes on to live life to the fullest. She would now be considered financially independent. However, Rhonda has no idea how to manage all that money. She puts a small amount into that bank savings account and takes the rest to do what she will. One day she tries her luck at a casino, in less than five hours she has lost all of her money and has to start back at square one with no job, only a few thousand to get her through, and no-good way to explain to employers that she just wasted the last 5 years spending money on handbags she now has to sell at a depreciated value. (BTW you would not last not working with only a million dollars in LA for that long)

Now, let’s look at Jill. Jill is an independent contractor and has a relatively steady income. She knows very little about finances, but she actively learns how to manage what she has and keeps up to date on the latest money news. The day that Rhonda won the lottery was just another Thursday for Jill, the only unique point for her was that she opened a savings accounts with a high APY (we’ll say 1%) and put in $5000.00. A little later she also opened a Roth IRA and puts in the maximum yearly allowance of $6000.00. Along the way she opened a brokerage account of her own and started trading in the stock market along with investing in real estate which has given her some extra income to play with each year. Unfortunately, another housing crash occurs, and all of the money Jill invested into real estate is gone. However, since Jill learned the skills behind her choices early on, she is knowledgeable and understands the ups and downs of the market and how to invest her money in other places in the meantime. And, that High yield savings account accrued around $50 more without her doing anything and she has that to fall back on, or worst case she can take out part of her principal Roth IRA contribution. 10 years from now Jill should start to see a steady increase in her Roth IRA that by retirement will be a little over 1 million and she should be comfortable and invested enough into stocks that she gains around $200-1000 extra each month.

I think you understand why you want to be Jill.

✨HAVING ADEQUATE SAVINGS = BEING YOUR OWN LIFEGUARD✨

As discussed in Pt.1 the first goal you should achieve is securing an emergency fund that could sustain you for a couple of months if things were to ever hit the fan, and starting a retirement fund should be in your top 5 goals to complete. The saying, “the rich get richer” is popular for a reason. Wealthy people know how to make their money work for them instead of them having to work for money. An easy way anyone can do the same is by opening the right accounts for your savings and retirement.

Savings: 

All of your savings should be in a high yield saving account or split between different high yield accounts. This is an account which will reward you some interest every period for having money in your account with them. This is incredibly easy to do. You can either research/ask your bank about their high yield accounts or do some googling to find some other bank. Then transfer your money and there you go! When looking at banks understand that the highest Annual Percent Yields (APY), or the interest they will reward you, are going to be from online banks because they have less operational costs than a brick and mortar, but they will also come with their own disadvantages, like less ATMs to access or the inability to use when outside of your country so make sure to look into that. IMPORTANT: Make sure that whatever bank you choose is FDIC-insured so if the bank were to ever collapse or lose your money you have insurance up to $250,000.This won't generate a lot of extra cash, but an extra $20 every year is better than $0.

Retirement:

These accounts usually go by your current situation and what you see for your future.

401K: Probably the most known (I believe it’s only in the States but there might be something close to it in other countries) and that’s just because this is what employers usually offer if they offer anything. It is a retirement fund that your employer will set up and you can predefine how much of your paycheck you want to automatically go into it every time. Sometimes, the employers will also have a match program, and if they do you better max out the money they will contribute because that is FREE money! Most advice that I have seen has said to really only focus on this fund if your employer has that match program, otherwise I would focus on one of the accounts below. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/08/401k-info.asp

IRA: An IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. There are three kinds…

                         Traditional: This IRA lets you put in pre-tax money and lets it grow tax-free until you make a withdrawal. Once you make the withdrawal that money is taxed at the current rate of your income at the time. Your contributions are tax deductible so you can write them off of your taxable income of that year. There are limits to how much you can contribute depending on your income, status, and whether you have another retirement fund as well.

                          Roth: With this IRA your contributions are taxed, but when you withdrawal money later on it is tax free. For those of you in a lower tax bracket than you believe you will be in the future, this IRA makes the most sense as you will pay less taxes now than you will when you are 59 ½ (The official age of retirement in the States). There are limits to how much you can contribute depending on your income, status, and whether you have another retirement fund as well.

                           SEP: Simplified Employee Pension. This is also an employer-based plan and may also work better for my self-employed gals out there. I don’t really know a lot on this one so I’ll just leave a link you can look into if it interests you: https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/102714/how-does-simplified-employee-pension-sep-ira-work.asp

You can have both a traditional and Roth IRA as long as you are eligible for both. Anyone with earned income (with a job or can prove a steady income) can contribute to a Traditional IRA, however with a Roth IRA, as a single you can earn up to $139,000 and contribute. Personally, if you are just getting started with all of this just set up one IRA and as you learn more you can take steps to get another or switch accounts.

https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/roth-vs-traditional-ira-which-is-right-for-you/

There are a plethora of other accounts, but they are more specialized and the top four should get you started on the right path to saving for retirement. I’m guessing that the majority of the audience reading these are women between the ages of 20-30. Trust me when I say that I love to spend money as much as the next girl, but I also would like to be completely comfortable should anything happen in my older years that screws up my marriage or job, and no one is going to secure that for you.

Also, I’m sorry this is so US-based, but once again it is all I know. I believe IRAs are more widespread than a 401K, but all that takes to find out is a Google search on your part.

Either way, make sure you have a plan going into 2021 for your savings and retirement because this economic whirlwind is far from over and there is always a chance for another recession, depression, or disaster. (Wow O, way to keep the mood light)

This was getting way too long with the investments added so look out for Pt.2.2 on the overview for investments (where the actual fun begins and I can stop being such a stick in the mud)…

VOCAB TO KNOW/RESEARCH:

Financial independence

Financial Confidence

APY

Roth IRA

brokerage account

High yield savings account

principal

401K

Traditional IRA

Once again… if in these posts I ever give bad advice, F- something up, or am just generally ignorant PLEASE call me out! Remember that just like you I am a young woman figuring everything out and while I am confident when talking about money, I am by no means a genius (only in spurts) so any chance to learn I appreciate. I hope you all learned something new today and as always…

With Love,

O

[misseffie]

Is Gendry illiterate?

Short answer: Probably not. 

Long answer: 

I’ve noticed a lot of fanfiction trying to address Gendry’s illiteracy once he becomes a noble. Most fics depict him as being completely illiterate. Some depict him as having some level of literacy, but not enough for his new position. So let’s try to figure it out, shall we?

Part 1: Literacy

We have this assumption that in medieval times no one could read or write unless they were part of the nobility. That is not quite true. Firstly, we have to understand what it meant to be literate by medieval standards: 

“In Medieval times, “Literate” actually meant able to read and write in Latin, which was considered to be the language of learning. Being able to read and write in the vernacular wasn’t considered real learning at all. Most peasants prior to the Black Death (which really shook up society) had little chance to learn - hard labouring work all of the hours of daylight does’t leave a lot of energy for reading or writing.

It’s worth noting, however the panic amongst the ruling classes when translations of The Bible started to appear written in English. This really started in the late 14th Century (about 30 years after the Black Death). The level of panic suggests that the Ruling Classes knew that the numbers of people who could read and write English was far greater than the numbers who could read Latin.”

However, there is no language quite like Latin in Westeros. The closest we come to something similar is High Valyrian. Which noble children seem to have a basic understanding of. We can safely assume that Gendry doesn’t have extensive knowledge of High Valyrian - so he is illiterate in that regard. But I don’t think High Valyrian is as widely used as Latin was in the Middle Ages. It’s also not a language with religious significance. As the Faith of the Seven doesn’t use High Valyrian the way that the Catholic Church used Latin.

So… taking that into account. What I assume that is meant by “literate” in Westeros is being able to read and write in the Common Tongue. 

I will say that even by those parameters I don’t think most of the commoners would have been literate. However, Gendry was not in the same situation as most of the commoners.

Which leads me to... 

Part 2: Socio-economic class in Medieval Times

The level of literacy among the commonfolk has to be examined on a case by case basis.

Literacy among “peasants” varied a lot depending on circumstance. So, for example, it’s not strange that Davos, who was a smuggler prior to meeting Stannis, was illiterate. Or Gilly, who was completely isolated from the world and in terrible conditions.

But Gendry is in a different situation.

As @arsenicandfinelace pointed out in this cool meta:

Gendry was definitely born low-class, as an unrecognised bastard whose mother was a tavern girl (read: one step away from prostitute). But the whole point of apprenticing with Tobho Mott is that that was a major leap forward for him, socially.

As Davos put it in 3x10, “The Street of Steel? You lived in the fancy part of town.” Yes, a tradesman of any kind is leagues below the nobility, and could never ever be worthy of marrying a highborn girl like Arya. But Tobho Mott is a master craftsman, the best armourer in the capital city of a heavily martial country. As far as tradesman go, he’s the best of the best, and charges accordingly.

There’s a reason Varys had to pay out the ass to get Gendry apprenticed there. If he had stayed, completed his apprenticeship, and eventually taken over the workshop, he would have been very wealthy (by commoner standards) and respectable (again, by commomner standards), despite his low birth.

Tobho Mott is a tradesman and a craftsman. He is part of the merchant class. * Merchants are often referred to as a different class from the rest of the population. The merchant class in Medieval Times was closer to the middle class of contemporary times.

“By the 15th century, merchants were the elite class of many towns and their guilds controlled the town government. Guilds were all-powerful and if a merchant was kicked out of one, he would likely not be able to earn a living again.”

Mott would be considered to be part of the merchant class - and not even a common kind of merchant either. He was the best Blacksmith in all of King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. So we can assume that Tobho Mott was a very wealthy and powerful craftsman and merchant.  

“That many 'middle class' people (tradesmen, merchants and the like) could read and write in the late middle ages cannot be disputed.”

I’m not saying that all tradesmen/merchants/craftsmen were literate back then. It was still a smaller percentage than the nobility. Only the richer and more influential of tradesmen would learn Latin. But I think most of them would be literate enough in the vernacular to run a business. Considering Mott’s reputation and his clientele I’m certain that Mott is part of that literate percentage.

In season 2, Arya accidentally reveals to Tywin that she can read. Realizing her mistake she covers up by saying that her father, a ’stonemason', taught her. Of course, I don’t think that completely fooled Tywin but why did Arya say her father was Stonemason. Why did his profession matter at all? Surely it wouldn’t have mattered if he was a fisherman or a farmer... a peasant is a peasant, right?

Wrong.

“The Medieval Stonemason asserts that they were not monks but highly skilled craftsmen who combined the roles of architect, builder, craftsman, designer, and engineer. Many, if not all masons of the Middle Ages learnt their craft through an informal apprentice system”

“Children from merchants and craftsmen were able to study longer and continuous, so they were able to learn Latin at a later age. This way, everyone learned to read and write (some better than others) sufficiently for their trade.”

Stonemasons were the architects of the time and no doubt the top tier was literate.

Many trades (by the 15th C) required reading and writing, so it was taught to apprentices by the masters. We know from apprenticeship agreements that many masters were expected to continue the apprentice's literacy or start it, which makes sense for the wider viability of the trade.

The War of the Roses took place in the late 15th Century. So I’m guessing that that’s the time period that ASOIAF is mostly based on.

Part 3: Level of literacy

I think it’s safe to say that Gendry has some level of literacy. However, his “level” is pretty much up for debate. If he’d finished his apprenticeship it’s likely he’d have a decent level of reading/writing comprehension. However, near the end of his apprenticeship he was kicked out.

I’m not sure how much Gendry could read/write by the time that he was kicked out by Tobho Mott. But he’d already been his apprentice for 10 years (in show canon). More than enough time to get some basic reading/writing/basic math lessons. 

It seems that show!Gendry is more likely to have a higher level of literacy than book!Gendry. In the show, he leaves Tobho Mott at 16, while in the book he is 14. This is just my own impression, but I think his education would be more complete by age 16 than age 14.

Not to mention that book!Gendry is still in the Riverlands and working for outlaws. But in the show we can assume that Gendry has been smithing in King’s Landing for years and it is insinuated that he owns a shop. Meaning he might have reached “Master” status and can take on apprentices of his own. It might seem like Gendry is too young for that. But it’s actually not that strange. 

“Apprentices stayed with their masters for seven to nine years before they were able to claim journeyman status. Journeyman blacksmiths possessed the basic skills necessary to work alongside their master, seek work with other shops, or even open their own businesses.”

Considering that Gendry has been with Mott for 10 years in show!canon, it’s possible that Gendry was a “journeyman” and not an “apprentice” by the time that Ned meets him in season 1. But he might be nearing the end of his apprenticeship in the books.

Guilds also required journeymen to submit work for examination each year in each area of expertise. So, a journeyman who perhaps crafted swords, locks, and keys would need to submit each item to his guild annually for inspection. If the guild approved the craftsmanship of the products, the journeyman could eventually move up to master status.

The process of becoming a master could take from 2 to 5 years. Considering that Gendry is regarded as talented, it’s likely that he achieved this in a shorter period of time. As a journeyman he also needed to work alongside a master for 3 to 4 years before he could obtain master status. Which would still explain why he was so upset at being kicked out by Mott - it’s like someone getting kicked out while they’re trying to obtain a PHD. 

By the time we meet him in season 7 it’s very possible that Gendry is now considered a master of his trade.

He also seems to be making armour and weapons for “Lannisters” which means he has a mostly noble clientele. He probably has plenty of fancy clients asking for custom-made products. With sketches and measurements and all that shit. Which is not surprising since he probably has a de facto reputation simply by merit of being Tobho Mott’s apprentice (lets ignore how dumb it is that no one discovered that Gendry was in King’s Landing since he made no effort to hide who he was or try to hide from the nobility lol).

Conclusion: 

It’s safe to say that Gendry had some access to higher education. He can probably read and write enough for his line of work. It’s likely that his level would still leave much to be desired once he became a noble though. For comparison, imagine if someone left school at age 11 and was then required to write a college-level thesis. So he’d definitely need some “lordly” writing lessons and further education.

Gendry is still wildly uneducated for what he needs to do. So...

This meme is still gold 10/10

* Correction: Though Mott would be considered part of the same socio-economic class as merchants he is primarily a tradesman/craftsman, and would be referred to as such. Since merchants didn’t produce the goods they sold. However they could belong to the same guild, along with artisans and craftsmen. 

[sakura-83]

Things from Anne with an e that I feel like writing down

Season 1 Episode 6: Remorse Is the Poison of Life

1. Diana having to run through the dark with nothing but a lantern and quite reasonably tripping. I never really thought about how dark it would actually be out because there’s always light.., somewhere in a modern city. It’s dark but you can usually still see

2. Every time Anne and Diana are separated they end up reunited during some great tragedy and are like “I missed you so much!!” Like yeah that’s great but. Please focus

3. It’s terrifying how easily children could die before modern medicine. They still can die very easily and that’s still terrifying but back then there was no quick fixes or easily accessible help

4. “It’s an old wives tale.” “I might be one but not the other. Evidently one doesn’t have to be either thing to know it.”

5. Anne knowing how to treat croup because all of Mrs. Hammond’s sets of twins had it

6. “I was supposed to be a boy but when I wasn’t, they decided to keep and raise me.” “How extraordinary!”

7. Minnie May almost choking to death on her own phlegm and Anne ultimately saving her because there’s no way the doctor would’ve made it all the way from Soencervale in time

8. “I believe I need a brandy.”

9. It’s really interesting how much of the script comes straight from the book

10. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are white frosts, aren’t you?”

11. John Blythe’s love for adventure and how Gilbert undoubtedly sees it in Anne

12. Eliza apologizing for how she misjudged Anne

13. “My darling Diana”

14. “I can’t tie myself down to anything so unromantic as dishes at this thrilling moment!”

15. “Even aunt Josephine said she’d like to see you again, and she doesn’t like anyone.”

16. “Shes disinclined to stay home alone since her companion passed away.” “Her companion?” “Her best friend forever and ever.”

17. “Aunt Josephine never married. Neither of them did, they lived with each other their whole lives.” “I’d live with you forever if I could. But I know you’ll leave me the date you get married to some wealthy and handsome gentleman. I hate him already.” “How’s Gilbert?”

18. “It’s very likely Gilbert’s father isn’t going to get well, so it’s more than possible that when Gilbert finally comes back to school… he’ll be an orphan.”

19. The cut from that conversation to John Blythe’s funeral

20. Matthew grabbing Marilla’s arm because he knows how much john meant to her

21. Gilbert watching the snowflakes melt in his hand

22. Marilla’s flashback

23. Young Marilla teasing john

24. Him giving her the same hair ribbon she later gifts to Anne

25. Anne and Gilbert being just like their parents, mirroring their romance and yet achieving the love Marilla and John could never have

26. Anne trying to make Gilbert feel better but making it seem like it’s about her. I often find it hard to articulate my relation to others in a way that does sound like I’m relating and not like I’m making it about me

27. Aunt Josephine on a stroll in the woods

28. Anne’s ranting about her “extensive knowledge of being an orphan”

29. Her calling Gilbert a dumb boy and refusing to think about him

30. “Romance is a pesky business. No sense to be made of it.”

31. “May I enter your humble abode.” About Anne’s run down little shed

32. “I couldn’t be less interested in Gil- that boy!”

33. “Let your ambitions and your aspirations be your guide.” “But I have so many!”

34. “I’ve always wanted to be a bride, but I don’t really expect to be a wife.” “Interesting!” “So you see the conundrum.” “I do. I have the following thoughts to offer. First, you can get married any time in your life, if you choose to do so.” “That’s true-“ “And two, if you choose a career, you can buy a white dress yourself, have it made to order and wear it whenever you want.” “Why didn’t I think of that!? I love that idea! I’m going to be my own woman!” “I’m a proponent for making ones own way in the world.”

35. “If you become a doctor, perhaps you can discover a cure for old age.”

36. Anne calling aunt Josephine her new role model, as well as Marilla and Matthew

37. “I’m going to be the heroine of my own story.”

38. Marilla finding an old letter from John

39. The theme Unrequited Love playing during this scene

40. It’s fascinating when you come to recognize the instrumentals by name, the names actually have a lot of double meanings in relation to the show. Fire in The Town not only plays when there’s an actual fire, but also when Anne’s rumors about prissy set the town ablaze

41. “If the key to a mans heart is through his stomach-“ “Which it is!” “Then, we have to make sure that this is the best shepherds pie that Gilbert has ever had.”

42. Anne wanting a boy to loved for her brain and personality rather than her abilities to keep a home

43. “Don’t you think Gilbert looks even more handsome now that he’s sad?” “I didn’t notice.”

44. I just noticed aunt Josephines mourning clothes, I know she was grieving but I didn’t put two and two together

45. “Take the boy the godforsaken pie before I suffer a mental collapse.”

46. Anne rambling excitedly about Jane Eyre.

47. Anne almost spoiling the book, just like Gertrude used to do

48. Anne suddenly breaking down over death. I’ve done that before, far more frequently in middle school when I realized that we all die someday

49. “It must be awful beyond measure to lose someone that you love deeply. In a split second, a heartbeat, they’re gone forever… and there is nothing you can do to change it or bring them back…”

50. “Anne? You’re crying on the potatoes.”

51. “There’s nothing wrong with saying ‘I’m sorry for your loss’, Ruby. And I’m going to say it because I am.” “You’re just going to make it worse if you say that. His father!! Just died!!!” “That’s what people say when someone dies.” “I don’t want you to upset him.” “He’s already upset because his father just died!”

52. “We hope you like shepherds pie.” “Everyone LIKES shepherds pie 😡. We hope it’s a comfort to you, Gilbert.🥰”

53. Anne telling “but I would make a terrible wife!” And running out.

54. Matthew offering to help Gilbert get his farm back in order

55. Gilbert not wanting to be a farmer but having an entire farm shoved off on him when his only family does, despite being… 14 at most? 15 maybe?

56. Matthew losing all his crops when the Dal Marie sank

57. Billy wanting Gilbert back to control the “ugly orphan” and Gilbert defending Anne

58. “She’s smart, deal with it.”

59. Gilbert telling billy to read a book for once

60. “I’ll give you a tip, okay? I’m not your bud. And if you ever hassle Anne again, you’ll regret it.”

61. “What’s your problem?” “Ask me that again. No, seriously. Go ahead.” “Why you gotta be like that?” “Ask me!” “…what’s your problem?”

62. Gilbert throwing his stuff at billy to preoccupy his hands and THEN punching him straight in his stupid face

63. The boys are fighting!!!! And rolling around in the snow too that’s kind of funny looking

64. Gilbert beating billy in that fight

65. Marilla telling Gilbert about his father

66. All of Gilbert’s siblings died

67. Gilbert’s father taking him to Alberta before he died, where Gilbert was born

68. “You resemble him in many ways.”

69. “He asked you to go?” I’ll always be grateful to him for thinking I’d be brave enough. Obligation… can be a prison.”

70. Anne trying to write a letter to Gilbert apologizing for what she said

71. Anne visiting aunt Josephine for advice and accidentally interrupting her grieving

72. “Emotion is rarely convenient and often intolerable, but I find at the moment that I don’t mind it.”

73. “Grief is the price you pay for live, you see. So it’s alright.”

74. “You and I are not the marrying kind.” “Ah, but I was, in my way. And we had a full and wonderful life together, and I gave no regrets. That’s all you really have to decide Anne, to live a life without regrets.”

75. Anne kissing aunt Josephine on the cheek and running off to live said life

76. No Matthew don’t make that loan deal!!!

77. Anne sprinting to Gilbert’s house bit for the first time of many to come, being too late to reach him.

[racheloveyunho]

Till Death do us part - 1

Y/N grew up in a wealthy family, she always was seen as a beautiful and smart kid and was most likely to take her father’s place as the CEO of one of the most important companies in South Korea. However, after the death of her mother, Y/N’s family slowly started to break apart. Her father was always working to forget his uncalled pain while his kids were left alone at home.

She was 17 years old when her life took a sudden turn when she met him in a dark alley. He was a bloody mess, bruises everywhere but behind blood and dirt, she could see his beautiful features and his addictive gaze. Maybe she should have walked away, maybe she shouldn’t have helped him, but the moment his gaze locked with hers, she was already his.

Choi San was his name.

Genre: Mafia AU, angst, fluff, stranger to lovers

Words: 2486

 TW: Y/N is described as an OC. Please be aware that this story will contain a lot of triggering content such as smut, blood, death, murder, drug, kidnapping, etc. Do not read if you are under a legal age!

Chapter 1

 I still wonder what would have happened if I didn’t meet him during this gloomy night? We were young and I was way too brave for my own good. Maybe it was my faith or maybe it was a sheer coincidence but now, I know that I will love him till death do us part.

---------

 5 years ago.

 "Hey Y/N, wake up sleepyhead! It’s time to go to school and I will surely not wait for the princess to wake up" my brother yelled loudly from the first floor, waking me up in the process.

I groaned and shifted uncomfortably in my bed; it was too much noise at such an early time of the day. My long-browned hair was messy from the last night, as always. I was the type of girl to move a lot during my sleep and my morning head was always a funny one, swollen, with small eyes and with some of my lightly curled hair stuck in my mouth. After five minutes of rethinking my life decisions, I found enough motivation to get out of my bed and walked down the stairs.

"Why the hell did I agree to help other students during holidays, huh?” I asked my brother as I lazily rubbed my tummy.

“Maybe because you are too dumb to say no to your teachers?” he answered, his mouth full of food.

“Do you mind keeping your mouth shut while you are eating? It’s disgusting.” I shook my head disapprovingly.

I headed toward the kitchen to get a cup of fresh milk. Jin, my brother, childishly opened his mouth wide to show me the content of it. I let out a long “Ew!” before smashing his arm playfully.

“No, but seriously Y/N. There’s no use to be brilliant at school if that means you have to help your classmates with their studies during holidays” Jin said after taking a sip of his coffee.

“Yeah, but the teacher who asked me this favor told me that he will write a recommendation for me if I agreed to help him” I answered.

“You don’t even need a recommendation, we’re from a rich family” Jin mumbled to himself but it was loud enough for me to hear it.

 He wasn’t totally wrong and I knew it. We were born with a silver spoon in our mouth. We were “cake eater” as the other kids used to call us when we were younger, we never knew what it felt like to run out of money and everyone at school was jealous of me because of that.

But they didn’t know. No one knew how hard it actually was for me and my brother.

My mother passed away 2 years ago, and since then, my father didn’t stay at home with us longer than a week straight. He was always working, working, and working again, his job had literally become his life. He was one of the richest men in Korea and still, he was always eager for more and worked every day and night for it.

He wasn’t a good father for me and Jin. He never made any compliments to us, all he was able to do was to pressure us to be as perfect as possible or at least perfect enough to not ashamed him and his reputation. Unlike my brother, I wanted to hear my father say that he was proud of me, just for once. That’s why I was trying hard to be the perfect daughter, with good grades, good manners, and good appearance but even if I tried my best, it wasn’t enough for him.

 “Do you know why I’m working so hard, Jin?” I asked him, voice as soft as a whisper, almost not daring to tell the truth.

“Why?” Jin put a hand on the top of mine, a sign of comfort since he already knew my upcoming answer.

“I don’t want to follow his rules forever. I’m still a minor so I had to stick at them but when I’ll turn 20, I will leave this house and will never come back” I sadly stated, “I want to marry a man I’m in love with, I want to do a job I like and most of all, I don’t want our father to commend my life.”

 Jin tightened his grip on my hand. He understood me, he understood me too well. We were indeed rich but we were far from being happy. Jin was 6 years older than me which means he was already an adult. He wanted to leave this house as much as me but couldn’t bring himself to do so and leave me behind.

Unlike me, Jin has never been a good student, he always has been considered a failure to our father, and even if he finally was able to run away from here, he stayed there for me. I was really lucky to have a brother like him and I was well aware of that.

 I took my breakfast and came back to my room to take a quick shower and get ready for this day I knew would be exhausting.

My brother was already waiting in his car. Jin took me to school as often as he could. He was working on a supermarket he owned and even if he was pretty busy, he wanted to spend his mornings with his “sweet baby sister” as he liked to call me.

I am indeed lucky to have a brother like him.

 8 pm, it was already late when I heard the bell ring for the last time today. I was the last one to leave the class as I helped my teacher with the preparation of some material for the next day. It didn’t bother me too much, I wasn’t in a hurry to get home since I knew my dad was finally coming back home from his work.

In all honesty, I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t miss him at all, even after all this time. I wandered here and there even though the street was already pitch black.

 “Oh! It’s been a while since I last went to the haunted alley!” I happily exclaimed to myself.

I knew every nook and cranny of Seoul, I grew up there after all. My favorite place was the haunted alley. As its name suggests and according to some beliefs, that path would be haunted.

It was an old story I heard with my friends when I was less than 10 years old. A grandma from our neighborhood scolded us and told us not to stay there because there was a woman who had been murdered in the walkway and that since then, one could hear her cry every night.

A simple way to scare naïve kids you may think, and you are more than right. However, this story is known by everyone, not just by kids. That’s the reason why I love this place, thanks to all of these rumors, no one uses this path except me. It was like my secret place.

 I walked around the alley with heavy steps, thinking about my father and his upcoming lecture about how to be a good girl. My thoughts were suddenly stopped by the voice of two men who seemed to be fighting each other. I stayed still for a moment, trying to figure out where the noises were coming from.

“You piece of shit! And you claim yourself as the Boss” son?” One voice laughed.

I hid in the dark and saw what could have been mistaken with a scene from a horror movie. Between two old houses, a tall man was beating up a boy who seemed to be around my age.

I felt shivers down my spine but before I could even think straight, my body started to move with its own will.

“Hey! Let him go!” I shouted, my voice betraying me by showing how scared I really was.

 I moved closer to the two men, I could now see them more clearly.

The young boy was sitting on the ground, badly bleeding, whereas the tall man was standing in front of him, blood on his hand and his nose broken.

They were watching me. The silence was heavy, the only thing I could hear was the beating of my racing heart and the shake of my knees that were begging me to run away from this place. The silence was soon replaced by an ominous laugh.

“Wow. What a beauty! Is she your girlfriend? Huh?” The tall man laughed and hit the youngest on his stomach before coming closer to me.

He came closer, until he was in front of me. I had a better view of his poor state. He wasn’t less bleeding than the other man, his blood was actually covering his whole face.

I don’t know what had taken into me at this exact moment, the adrenaline was rushing in my veins and even though my feet were stuck on the ground, unable to move, my hand reached the pepper spray I always carried in my bag. Before the man could react, I used my weapon against him.

When the chemical product had reached his eyes, he screamed and placed his hands on his face, trying desperately to soothe the pain. I took advantage of the situation and kicked him as hard as I could on his crotch before he fell loudly on the ground.

I quickly grabbed the boy by his arm and helped him stand up. He was badly injured but followed me without any complaint.

 I was panting when I reached a lighted street. We stopped there, trying to catch our breath.  I turned around to face the man I was still holding and my breath hitched in my throat, not from the run I previously had but because of how beautiful this man looked.

“Are you okay? What is your name?” I asked him but he simply stayed silent, staring at me with his piercing eyes.

I took a better look at his features, he was really handsome with a well-defined face. He wasn't older than me but he hadn't the body of a teenager either. His broad shoulders and his arms muscles could be seen without any effort from him. His dark hair was harmonizing with the dark of his eyes and his dimples were visible as the border of his lips turned upright in an inviting smirk.

How can someone like him be involved in such a fight?

“The sight is at your taste?” he giggled, his smile spreading wider.

I finally took notice of my staring when I heard him laugh. I must say it was the most beautiful laugh I ever heard, slightly high-pitched but almost bewitching.

“I wasn’t staring!” I shouted from embarrassment. Fortunately, the darkness of the night was covering the redness on my cheeks.

“Sure, you weren’t” He added, amused by my reaction “I’m San. Choi San. I didn’t need your help earlier but thank you, I’m glad you rescued me”

He came closer to me and gave me a sincere smile, showing even more his dimples.

My heart was going crazy in my chest. This boy seemed small earlier compared to the other man but he was way taller than me, maybe 7 inches taller.

“You’re welcome”

I was a bit intimidated by him but I dared not to look away. He had something special, an aura that seemed as dangerous as comforting. His gaze was intense and deep, it was like he was looking through me, memorizing every detail of my face.

He didn’t move and didn’t talk for at least 2 minutes and even if I was feeling uncomfortable, I did my best not to let him know.

“Where is your house?” he finally asked after what felt like an eternity.

He startled me with his sudden question, I didn’t expect him to talk this soon. Why did he want to know where I lived? He probably wanted to walk me home and I would have gladly let this handsome guy walk me home if I hadn’t met him in an odd situation.

‘But he is really handsome…’  I thought, sighing softly, making San arch an eyebrow.

“It’s okay, I live near here, no need to walk me home. You can go ahead…” I said “Go ahead to…the hospital, your house or…go murdering someone…whichever comes first” I added, lowering my voice at the end of my sentence.

His face changed into a surprised expression “I wasn’t going to walk you home, don’t worry”

I sighed in relief even if I felt a bit disappointed, maybe he wasn't that bad after all.

“I want to stalk you” he stared at me with his beautiful smile as if it was the most natural thing to say.

‘What the fuck?’

“Sure, stalking me haha, it was obvious, silly me!” I gently hit my head and laughed awkwardly, taking a step back from him.

He laughed sweetly and took my chin between his thumb and his index to lift my face up. His mouth came closer to my ear and he whispered a small “Just joking” before turning his heels back and leaving me, alone, in the dark street.

  I was finally back home. Fortunately for me, my dad hadn’t noticed me since he was already sleeping on the couch.

I quickly went upstairs to my room and collapsed on my bed, my mind still processing what had happened earlier. It was scary to say the least but fascinating at the same time. I was still confused even after showering. This San had a deep effect on me, not only mentally but physically too.

“Choi San…” I muttered before closing my eyes and drifting into a deep sleep.

---------

---------

This is my first story, it’s bad but I’ll try to improve myself!

This series will be uploaded slowly since I don't have a lot of time.

Thank you for reading!

[peachscribe]

peach’s summer book list

i had a lot of fun compiling the list of books i read during the 20-21 winter, so i decided i would do a summer one as well! i still have a lot of books i own but haven’t read, so im definitely not lacking in material

if you didn’t see my winter list, how my book list works is basically like this: i read a book that i own but have not previously read, write a short summary immediately after finishing the book, write down my thoughts on the book, and then provide a rating for the book. i also might include background info on why i read this particular book/feelings about the author, but that depends on the book. that’s how each entry works

without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

okay so i absolutely adore another book by andrew smith (written after grasshopper jungle) called the alex crow. it’s one of my favorite books of all time, so naturally i wanted to see if grasshopper jungle would make me feel similarly. just like the alex crow, grasshopper jungle’s plot is. so fucking weird. it stars austin szerba, a teenage polish kid who lives in ealing, iowa, and is often sexually confused regarding his girlfriend shann and his best friend robby. and in ealing, iowa, austin and robby accidentally and unknowingly unleash an unstoppable army of huge six-foot-tall praying mantis bugs that only want to do two things: fuck and eat. and i just have to say: andrew smith’s got an absolutely dynamo writing style. alex crow is similar, where it’s a book about kind of everything all at once, framed in a moment centering around teenage boys. it’s fantastic, and it’s more than a little gross, and i love it. this book made me feel so many things, and i thought austin was such an amazing narrator and main character to identify with. this book has it all: shitty teenage boy humor, fucked up science experiments, and poetic imagery that will make you want to cry. and explicit lgbt characters.

412/10 andrew smith what do you put in your water i just want to know

2. Burn by Patrick Ness

patrick ness has written a plethora of some of my favorite books (such as a monster calls, the chaos walking trilogy, and the rest of us just live here) so when i saw this one in the store i knew it would be a great one. burn is an alternate history fantasy that takes place in 1957 frome, washington, during the height of the cold war, and it begins with a girl named sarah and her father hiring a dragon to help out on their farm. but there’s not just dragons, farm living, and cold war tensions; there’s also a really shitty small town cop, a cult of dragon worshippers and their deadly teenage assassin, a pair of fbi agents, and a prophecy that sarah’s newly hired dragon claims she’s a part of. i think eoin colfer’s highfire was on my winter list, which also featured a story that included dragons and shitty cops, so when i first began burn i thought it was funny to have two books that had both things. you know, if you had a nickel etc etc. but that’s really where the similarities end because burn is entirely it’s own monster (dragon). burn is entirely invested in its world, and its fascinating. not only that, i had no clue where the book would take me next. there were so many surprises and amazing twists that honestly just blew me away. this book also includes beautifully written complicated discussions on family, race, and love - it features interracial and queer romances as the two most prominent romance plots which was such a nice surprise from a book i wasn’t expecting to have that kind of representation. this book is witty, fast-paced, and a very heartening read - i absolutely adored it.

9/10 dragons and becoming motivated by the power of love and friendship are so fucking cool

3. As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann

i hate this book! as meat loves salt is a historical fiction novel which takes place in seventeenth century england, which is going through a grisly civil war. the protagonist, jacob cullen, is a servant for a wealthy household and is engaged to another servant in the house. but due to certain events that are almost entirely jacob’s fault, he flees the house and is separated from his wife. from there, he joins the royal army and meets a kind soldier, ferris, and the two become fast friends. jacob and ferris’s relationship begins to bridge past friendly, and jacob struggles with his homoerotic feelings as well as the growing obsession and violence inside him. also, they try to start a colony. listen, i don’t know how to describe the book because so much happens, but it basically just follows jacob and all the terrible decisions he makes because he is, truly, a terrible person. ferris is kind and good, and jacob is scum of the earth. he sucks so bad. the entire time i was reading this book (which took absolutely so long), all i wanted was for jacob to just get his ass handed to him. i wanted to see him suffer. and it’s not like i just personally don’t like him - i believe the book purposefully depicts him as unsympathetic even though he is the narrator. i did enjoy the very in depth and accurate portrayal of what life would’ve been like in seventeenth century england, and i think it was interesting to read a character that is just the absolute worst person you’ve ever encountered and see him try and justify his actions, so if you enjoy that kind of thorough writing, then this book would be perfect for you. however, i did not see that bitch ass motherfucker jacob cullen suffer enough. i’d kill him with my bare hands.

2/10 diversity win! the worst man on earth is mlm!

4. This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

i know ive had a friend tell me how great one of schwab’s other book series is, but truthfully i bought this book because the cover is sick as hell and it was on a table in the store that advertised for buy two get one free, i think. something like that. anyway, this savage song takes place in a future in which monsters, for whatever reason, suddenly became real and out for blood in a mysterious event nicknamed the phenomenon. august flynn is one of these monsters, but he takes no pride in that fact and only wants to feel human. kate harker is the daughter of a ruthless man and is trying her hardest to be ruthless, too, but deep down she knows it’s just an act. their city, verity, stands divided, and kate and august stand on either side - but when august is sent on a mission to befriend kate in the hopes of stopping an all out war, the lines begin to blur. this book rules. august and kate are such interesting and dynamic characters, and the narrative is familiar while still being capable of twisting the story around and taking the feet out from under you in really compelling ways. this savage song is part of the monsters of verity duology, and i can’t wait to dive into how the story continues and finishes.

11/10 sometimes you can judge a book by it’s cover

4a. Our Dark Duet by Victorian Schwab

this is the sequel and finale for this savage song and i’d figure i’d update everyone: fantastic ending, beautiful, showstopping, painful.

12/10 loved it and will definitely be keeping an eye out for schwab’s other books

5. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

oh boy. okay. white is for witching is about a house, and it is about the women who have lived inside of it. when her mother dies abroad, miranda silver begins to act strangely, and there’s nothing her father or her twin brother seem to be able to do about it. she develops an eating disorder and begins to hear voices in the silver family house, converted to a bed and breakfast by miranda’s dad; and she begins to lose herself in the house and the persistent presence of her family legacy. white is for witching switches perspective dizzingly and disorientingly between miranda, her twin eliot, miranda’s friend from school named ore, and the house itself. this story is a horror story as much as it as a tragedy as much as it is a romance as much as it is a bunch of other things. oyeyemi brings race, sexuality, nationality, and family into this story and forces you not to look away. this book is poetry.

(like i mentioned briefly, this book heavily deals with topics of race and closely follows miranda’s eating disorder. read responsibly, and take care of yourselves)

15/10 this book consumed me and i think i’ll have to read it another 10 more times to feel it properly

6. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

okay. okay. strap in for a ride. these violent delights is a romeo and juliet style story, taking place in glittering 1920’s shanghai. the city stands divided - not only between the foreign powers encroaching on chinese land, but also between the scarlet gang and the white flowers, who are at the height of a generations-long blood feud. juliette cai, heir to the scarlets, has recently returned from four years abroad and is determined to prove herself ruthless enough to lead. roma montagov, heir to the white flowers, is standing strenuously on his place as next in line due to a slip up four years prior and is desperate to keep hold of his title. and in the midst of juliette and roma’s burning history with each other threatening to combust, an unnatural monster lurks in the waters of shanghai, loosing a madness on scarlets and white flowers alike. this book has it all - scorned ex lovers, political intrigue, deadly monsters, and all set on a glamorous backdrop of the roaring twenties. i absolutely was enraptured by this book and the way it plays around the story of romeo and juliet so well that it easily became it’s own monster, but with the punches and embraces of something classically shakespearan. gong does just an absolutely breathtaking job of fitting this fantastical story amid the larger world of shanghai and the real life historical events that had shaken the city to its core. completely immersive and outstandingly heart racing.

17/10 i was chewing on my fingernails for the last thirty pages and will continue to do so until the sequel is released (our violent ends, 16 nov 21)

7. The Antiques by Kris D’Agostino

you ever heard of the american dysfunctional family story? this is most definitely that. at the same time george westfall’s cancer takes a turn for the worse, a hurricane hits the east coast, and suddenly all at once the issues of his health, the hurricane, and all three of his children’s achingly dysfunctional adult lives are crashing into each other. reunited by george’s death, the westfall siblings have to face their grief, each other, and the problems in their own lives they attempted to put on hold while planning their father’s memorial. this is a nice story about grief and loss and love and somehow finding the humor amidst it all.

(this book does include a depiction of an autistic child who does experience several pretty bad meltdowns due to ignorant people around him not understanding how to cater to his needs. im not an authority on what depictions are or are not harmful, but i do believe this depiction is ultimately loving and well-intended.)

7/10 it made me laugh and cry and was generally one of those books that somehow hit you close to home

8. Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill

fierce fairytales is a poetry anthology that reimagines classic fairytales from a modern, feminist viewpoint, acknowledging that the line between hero and villain, monster and damsel, are not as clear cut as the classics try to make you believe. this book also includes illustrations done by the author herself, which i think is really cool. my personal favorite story reimagining was the story of peter pan and captain hook, called ‘boy lost’ which looked at how peter and hook’s relationship began and rotted. all in all, i think this collection of stories had a lot of important things to say and said them in frank, easy to understand poetry and prose.

7/10 beautiful message and pretty prose, but at times a little cliche

and that’s all from the summer! my fall semester starts tomorrow, and overall i feel very good about all the reading i did this summer. i even read four other books not on this list for work! so i definitely feel like i made the most out of my time, and im really glad i was able to read so many stories that made me feel a variety of different things

thanks so much for reading this list, and let me know if you read or have read any of these books and tell me what you think of them!

happy reading<3

[yaomomvs]

Hellow! Love your drabbles 😳 I saw your reqs were open for Shouto-kun: so can I ask a Drabble in which the reader is crushing on Shoto but feels completely unworthy of him, notably because she's from a very lower condition, something people often remind her while telling how Momo and him would make the perfect couple, because they're both from higher condition.. While reader is admittedly a hard-working person but has always been bullied for her modest origins? If you feel inspired ;o thanks :3

if i was a rich girl, yeah gwen stefani said that too

pairing: shoto todoroki x reader

little bit of angst? fluff!

warnings: self issues?? curse words??? not a warning but bakugou is reader’s best friend. also memories are in italics

plot: you couldn’t help comparing yourself to yaomomo, and clearly, your classmates comments didn’t help at all

notes: aaaa tysm i can’t believe this is my first request hopefully i did justice you your amazing idea! sorry for the delay i was in my last week b4 holiday vacation, hope you enjoy!

“i’m just sayin, todoroki and momo would definitely would look as an amazing couple wouldn’t they?”

it was kaminari’s words that were the final drop that broke the glass.

no, don’t misunderstand the situation, yaoyorozu was one of the sweetest, loveliest and most intelligent girls you’ve ever met.

but also one of the richest.

see, the thing is that you were not born in a “i have it all” family type of environment. you lived well, yes. but it’s for sure that your family did struggle way too many times in their way of spending money.

that’s why when you got into UA tears couldn’t stop falling through your face, you were finally able to do something about that. you always wanted to become the greatest hero, you thought that being able to rescue people from danger was the most selfless thing to do, you were familiar with that, so ever since you were little that was your goal. and besides that, you wanted to help you family so they wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.

also because of that your friendship with uraraka was a great one. you understood what was like to face little things that the others didn’t, and you suddenly became close that you almost considered her a sister.

she was the most important friend to you, well, along with other person.

your eyes started itching, currently at the common room table where you and your friends were having dinner.

kaminari was on the sofa among with bakugou and mina, but it was easy to hear them. so that comment took everyone’s attention, even shouto’s.

“i mean you are not wrong” asido agreed, excited they finally were talking about romance in that boring school. “can you imagine how rich the todomomo’s family would be?”

“todomomo?” todoroki asked visibly confused.

“a ship name! for you and yaoyorozu!” she answered

your eyes were a little bit red now, and the knot on your throat was growing more everytime you looked over to see shouto’s expression.

uraraka noticed this, so she gently placed her hand over yours. how could she handle the situation?

“she’s so fancy!” you overheared some girls in the cafeteria drooling over the way that momo seated.

“i can’t believe this is her whole house” jirou exclaimed cheerfully when you visited her to study form an exam.

“an intelligent girl is always a classy girl” you listened kirishima while he looked stunned the way yaoyorozu handled, not only professional but also gracefully, a mistaken order at the cafeteria.

you always admired the way she was because of her origin, not in a bad way but you were obviously impressed, and if you were honest with yourself, sometimes it made you feel small.

but until now you never thought about this new insecurity, one that came up with the fact that todoroki and momo would actually look great together.

you tried to take those thoughts away, but your dear classmates were not helping at all.

the rambling of momo being a super match to shouto was getting louder and louder every second to you.

“think about it!”

“so when is the first date happening uh todoroki” kaminari still teased.

“but” midoriya interrupted “you know uhm wouldn’t it matter the way todoroki-kun actually feels about momo”

you stared at him.

but you finally had it when you spotted a slight red tint on todoroki’s face.

he was blushing.

“uh..” todoroki’s face was absolutely fuzzy. what could he say?

“i have to go” you announced way more loud than you expected, with a broken voice only two people were able to decipher.

bakugou took over a glance to you, knowing well what was going to happen next, with a tired groan he yelled. “well done idiots”

you ran out of the common room and took the elevator to go you your room.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

“be careful” a voice said over your shoulder while grabbing your back before you touched the ground.

you looked above just to find a pair of beautiful heterochromatic eyes. and also a half red and half white hair type of thing. you were embarrassed that being your first day at school you were already tripping with everything. but fortunately he catched you right before something disastrous happened.

“come on, on the first day? if you have something to tell me god do it right now!” you remembered saying yo the sky. “that was weird, i’m sorry, (l/n) (y/n), sorry for bothering you but thanks for saving me” you laughed.

“do you think god would take my complaints along with yours?” he asked serious, was that his way of making a joke? “todoroki shouto” you smiled.

-

“DON’T GIVE UP!” you remembered yelling from the bleachers at the sports festival “YOU OWE US!”

todorki heard you from above during his fight with bakugou. he saw you there, almost crying and although he did not understand why were you so invested on it, that gave him the extra strength to stand up to bakugou at least for a little more minutes.

-

“did you know that seahorses once they find their mate they keep it for life?” you randomly said one day while eating lunch with him. currently doing some extra work so you could be ar least on top 10 of your class “how romantic is that, right todoroki-kun?”

he glanced at you, confused but still admiring. you knew so many things that it was actually impressive to him. he didn’t know why but that day, his heart skipped a bit.

-

if i was a rich girl, na na na na na na na na na na na, see i’d have all the money in the world if i was a wealthy girl.

“if i was a rich girl”, yeah gwen stefani said that too you thought.

the song may seem stupid but your current mood made you put in on speaker.

if i was a rich girl i’d sure have a chance you thought too

“so i guess i do have a crush on him huh” you admitted to yourself.

“about time you made it, idiot” you heard bakugou say “was it hard playing dumb all this time? i mean it’s in your blood”

he was standing at your door arms crossed with that awfully big brother look on his face. you rolled your eyes.

“is it hard messing around being a dickhead? i mean it’s in your blood”

“well you shouldn’t be using that language in front of your lover boy” he said.

“what the fuck are you talking about-”

your body stopped working when he pulled out todoroki out of the wall letting him come out at sight.

the icyhot boy had his hands in his pockets giving that gorgeous look. you blushed, how could he do nothing and still look good?

“why are you feeling this way?” he abruptly asked.

“todoroki-kun?...”

“i’m not dumb, whenever she’s around you act so self conscious” he began “what’s worse is that i see you working so hard everyday but you are so blind that you don’t see what i see”

if anybody could hear the conversation, they would actually say that he was being rude, but you knew him he was just expressing his feelings, weird way tho.

“is it about the money? believe me, yaoyorozu is an incredible girl but you don’t have to compare yourself because how different she is to you in terms of money” your eyes were widened.

why was he talking so much all of a sudden?

“you don’t understand todo...”

“i know what it feels to mad, and seeing you this way it just does it to me over and over again. because everyone has their own opinion on perfect, but to me, you are that definition”

your heart froze at that last thing, his expression was so serious that if you weren’t listening carefully you would have thought that he was mad at you for any other reason. but that’s why you liked him so miches, deep down you understood shouto more than anyone else”

so you didn’t know any other answer that hug him in gratitude.

he was shocked, he never received some kind of display of pure love affection before.

but something in the way you did made him feel better. almost as if your hugs were some magical potion to the answer of everything he needed.

he felt so warm with you between his arms that he didn’t mind staying like this for a couple more minutes.

“wanna go out sometime?” your typical you started coming back again.

the confident and smart girl he learned to care about.

a soft smile crossed his face.

“anytime you want”

and so you thought, you did not have anything to worry about anymore.

[mollrat101]

To expand a bit more when I talked about Marty and his partners in part 1 of the Romantic Parallels series. 

What is up with showing that Marty only dates and marries women in their 20s? 

No, seriously. Like, Marty is the freaking worst and there is NO WAY he and Deborah are endgame. I will feel a hate crime has been committed if that happens. There is too much wrong with their relationship to ever make it right. In every possible way Marty could be wrong for Deb, he is. He’s not trustworthy, she can’t be emotionally vulnerable with him, he doesn’t want to be in an actual relationship with her and honestly neither does she, he harasses her, he uses her, he doesn’t please her in bed and I’m pretty sure she’s not even sexually attracted to him (she’s gay). 

Marty is not a romantic lead in a Nancy Meyers film. Like I don’t think the point of is to say that Marty is going to overcome his rakish ways and settle down with Deb. Marty will keep cycling through 20-something women to the day he dies as long as he has the cash to keep luring them in. 

He may be more sexually attracted to Deborah in private, but he’s not going to change. He’s not Jack Nicholson or Alec Baldwin falling in love with an older woman and “overcoming” their internalized ageism and repenting for the terrible ways they’ve treated the women in their lives. Yeah that’s never going to happen. Marty’s relationships with his younger partners fit the stereotype perfectly of the “trophy partner/wife” and the wealthy older man and, while he’s a little bored, he doesn’t at all seem discontent with these relationships. Nor does he show any remorse for literally any of the shitty things he’s ever done. 

Marty isn’t an important enough character for him to evolve. We don’t care about his development which is likely never going to happen. If Marty hasn’t figured out in the 30 years he’s known Deborah that she’s the one, it’s because she’s not. 

In these sorts of films, Ivy (or any of Marty’s partners) would be portrayed as Deborah’s romantic rival or her obstacle to romantic happiness. But because her and Marty are never going to happen then that’s not what’s going on.

So why then? 

Even if seeing an older man with a younger women on screen is relatively common, real-life age gap relationships (10 or more year age difference) only account for about 4% of all female-male relationships. And while we rarely see it on screen, same sex age gap relationships are actually more common than heterosexual ones. They account for about 18% of all female same-sex relationships.

Considering these kinds of relationships are rare and surprising for many viewers to see, there has to be a reason for its inclusion. 

Since everything in this show is ultimately about Ava and Deborah, then this has to be about them. 

We’re still meant to be a little surprised to see a 26 year old woman with a 60-something man. People in the Las Vegas community do judge Marty for his superficial relationships, but him and his partners clearly aren’t ostracized or treated that badly for their age gap. I’m sure Marty’s wealth and power has a lot to do with that. 

As I’ve said in the post about Marty’s relationships, we’re meant to make a connection even if it’s only a superficial one. Ava is a little similar to Ivy. 3 letters with the letter ‘V’ in the middle. She’s around the same age, 26. She’s a creative young woman. Marty is like Deborah in that he’s in his 60s, wealthy and a powerful person in the Las Vegas community. 

So the only possible reason to show this is to get us accustomed to a relationship with that kind of large age gap because that’s the most likely perceived obstacle in people imagining Deborah and Ava becoming a couple. (Okay, so homophobia and sexism definitely play a part, but to me this is the biggest reason people think they won’t become canon.)

TL;DR: Marty’s relationships with women in their 20s isn’t telling us anything about Marty as a character because he’s not a main focus nor does is it serve as an obstacle to Deborah and Marty getting together. Due to the superficial parallels to Deborah and Ava, it’s meant to get the audience accustomed to seeing relationships with such a large age gap portrayed, so as to make it for Deborah and Ava as a couple to seem possible. And also to show how Deborah and Ava subvert the stereotype that age gap relationships are superficial or can’t last in the long-term.