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Apps Built with Flutter

Apps built with Flutter Technology is the most sizable digital bank in Latin America & the largest digital bank outside Asia, Brazilian Nubank, utilized Flutter to unify the team of developers on a single framework. For more information, visit https://www.ionicfirebaseapp.com/blogs/best-flutter-app-examples/

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[yandere-writer-momo]

Yandere Head Canons:

Build-a-Yandere

Yandere Android x GN Reader

You were lonely. A fact that you eventually came to terms with when you realized you’re the only one in your friend group that still remained single while they started families.

You felt so far behind everyone else. The self doubt crept its fingers into your mind and wouldn’t let go… so you did what you did best. You drowned yourself in the internet. The perfect digital escape from reality…

Dating apps did little to appease your loneliness, but they filled a bit of the void. It wasn’t until you were one wine bottle deep and scrolling through your favorite social media app that you stumbled upon an advertisement to sample a product.

Build-a-boyfriend. A company that allowed its customers to pick every single aspect out for their ideal man. From personality to physical appearance and even to penis size. You could build your own man!

A slurred chuckle escaped your lips. Should you apply to test out their product? It’s not like you had anything to lose… what could be the harm in giving it a shot?

And so you began to fill out the quiz. You wanted a soft and gentle boyfriend. One of those golden retriever boys who only had eyes for you. The kind of guy who had a muscular yet soft build. A man who worked out but would never say no to a cookie. A taller guy who always knew what to say and was cuddly. The kind of guy who was obsessed with you.

The quiz even asked you at the end if you were sure you wanted an obsessive man. Of course you were! Wasn’t that what most people wanted? A partner who was only and all about them? That’s what obsession was! Right?

And so your drunk self finished this entire personality quiz until it went to the physical appearance and the sexual bit. A perverted smile now on your face.

“Let’s give him a big penis.” You laughed as you guided your cursor to drag the length bar to eight inches long. “I want to be filled.”

And then you selected caramel skin tone, cinnamon eyes, and black hair. A smile on your face. You were going to make this android a Latin lover.

“What should I name him…” you thought for a moment before laughing. “Alejandro! Like the lady Gaga song.”

Once you completed the entire quiz, your phone screen lit up a pastel pink. A red heart now in the center of the screen. “Your boyfriend will be delivered to you in a month! Thanks for choosing Build-a-boyfriend!”

And you ended up falling asleep in a puddle of your own drool. Weren’t you just pathetic? Filling out a quick from some questionable website all because you were lonely… imagine you were just scammed? God, why did you not have a boyfriend? Ever since your ex broke up with you, you fell apart. Why weren’t you good enough for a real man?

A month went by in a flash and you were shocked to see the giant package on your doorstep. An envelope attached to the box as well as a large note that said, “No returns!”

This had to be some kind of prank… there was no way this was real- holy shit.

You opened the crate and came face to face with your ideal man… the one you built! Alejandro!

The human like android’s eyes fluttered open, his face quickly lit up once he spotted you. “(Your name)? Are you my girlfriend?!”

You were quickly scooped up into his surprisingly warm arms, the android had a heavy scent of spice and oranges. His nose buried into your neck as he pressed kisses all over your cheeks. “It’s so nice to finally be with you… I’ll be with you from now on!”

Alejandro was a chipper robot. He did household work and made sure you took care of yourself. It was fascinating how human he was… you only knew he wasn’t because of his lack of a beating heart. His body still produced heat, like a furnace, but it wasn’t as comforting as a human presence.

Alejandro assimilated into your life with ease. The weeks quickly rolled into months and he never let you ignore his presence. He was very clingy.

Now the sex was another story. Alejandro was so giving, it was surprising. He often went down on you when he sensed you were stressed. His tongue greedily lapped at your hole as you laid in your bed while his hands held your cheeks apart. His hand pawed at your sex in eagerness. “I want you… want you.”

And Alejandro had you bent over the side of your bed, his fat cock stuffed deep in your tight hole. His hand wrapped around your throat and his tongue shoved in between your lips while his other smacked your bottom between rough thrusts. The sex was amazing… it was always so good.

And Alejandro often checked on you after the deed was done. His warm body curled into yours as he praised you. Yet it began to fill you with disappointment. Alejandro wasn’t a real man. He wasn’t human… he was an android. A robot. Alejandro didn’t know what love was, he was programmed to love you.

So you tried to distance yourself from Alejandro. You felt sickened with yourself for messing around with an android instead of a real man. And this entire thought process stemmed from your friends who expressed disgust in people who fucked robots instead of actual humans. And that filled you with fear. Would they abandon you if you didn’t get rid of Alejandro? Would they think you were disgusting?

“If you want, I could set you up with my cousin!” One of your friends smiled at you as you bit your fingernails. “He’s also single so it should work! I’ll swing by in a week to give you the details!”

Yes. You would take them up on their offer. You just had to get rid of Alejandro first… but how?

A few days had went by and you greatly underestimated Alejandro’s obsession. The android couldn’t handle your avoidance. He began to turn up his affection to the max.

He cleaned until you could see your reflection on the floor. He began to go out of the house to pick you wild flowers. Alejandro even began to be more physically affectionate than he was.

“Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry.” Alejandro cried into your arms as he held you. “Please tell me what’s wrong… please. I can fix it.”

“Alejandro… it’s just that you’re not a human man.” You sighed softly. “And I-“

“Is it because I don’t have a heart?” Alejandro softly asked you, his cinnamon eyes now dark like the night sky. “I can’t produce semen? Am I not a comfortable temperature? Or does my skin not feel human enough?”

“I’m sorry-“

“Then I can fix it! I will fix it!” Alejandro held your hands firmly in his. His eyes filled with determination. “I’m your boyfriend! I will be anything you want me to be!”

You just held the android who pulled you into a tight hug. His nose buried into your chest like a lost child. Alejandro then smiled into your skin. He would fix this… he wouldn’t let you abandon him! You made him! You had to take responsibility…

Imagine your horror to come home to see your friend skinned alive as Alejandro held their heart in his hands, the organ still beating from the fresh kill. A big smile on his handsome face.

“I have a heart now! I’ll find all the parts you like and add them in! So please don’t abandon me!”

Just what kind of monster have you created?

“You don’t need some human man to be your match because you have me!” Tears fell down your face when Alejandro tried to wipe your tears away with his bloody hands. “I’m your perfect man, (your name). You made me this way.”

[applore]

Flutter App Development Services

Flutter app development services are becoming increasingly popular due to their cross-platform capabilities and fast development time. Businesses can benefit from Flutter's rich set of pre-built widgets and libraries, resulting in beautiful and responsive mobile applications that are both reliable and cost-effective.

[onelittlespiral]

FML: Urged

I think this was the photo that got me in. Of course I get the appeal now. But at the time I thought I was just messaging some other random torso on the apps. I was supposed to just be in and out, no strings attached. After all, he wasn’t my usual type. Looked like a roided out gym rat: bit of a gut; dark, wiry hair; and thick muscles. But muscles weren’t the thickest thing about him, and who was I to pass up a good time?

So I went over to his place. I wasn’t surprised when it was a loft above a small gym. Seemed like the ideal spot for the kind of guy. What I was not expecting was the apartment itself to be so…nice? Normal? I was prepared to get fucked on a twin-sized mattress on the floor, no frame, with sweaty clothes rotting around me. But the apartment had some character. He even offered me something to drink before we got started, in an actual glass. Maybe I needed to raise my standards. We chatted, flirted a bit as I finished my water and let things get hot from there. We kissed in the kitchen, made out in the living room, and worked our way back to his bedroom as sweatshirts, belts, shirts, pants, and straps trailed behind us.

As I positioned a pillow under myself, he took off his wife beater, the last barrier between us. The shirtless torso that seduced me was on full display as I rubbed his chest. As he leaned in to kiss me, I felt engulfed by this bear of a man, skin electric where I felt his hair ticking my bare chest. My senses felt heightened as I tasted cheap beer on his breath and smelled a deep musk of sweat, cum, and Old Spice, more in line with what I had expected from him. He ran his calloused hands over my chest and abs before finally taking up position over my trembling body. I wanted him in a way I hadn’t felt since I was a teen. Normally I would want to talk a bit more, at least give a safe word. But as he surrounded me and I felt his presence, my brain flipped a switch as my body instinctively relaxed for him. There were no thoughts to be had as my mind was consumed by his rich scent, the pleasure of his cock slowly stretching out my ass, and his intense gaze set on my fluttering eyes. At last I felt his bush pressed against my clenching ass. He lingered for just a moment, every throb of his member sending shivers through my body. He leaned in and whispered, “You feeling good, baby?”

I could only moan a bit in response. Feeling his weight bear down on me and his cock in my ass left no room for words. He shoved his pit in my face and I instinctively took a deep huff. Any resistance and tension left in my body released. I felt filled by him, just a vessel for his use. I was about to stick out my tongue when he pulled back and repositioned himself. He held my shoulders as he began moving his hips.

As he slowly began to fuck me, I felt him reach new depths within myself.

“There you go, much better. Let yourself just float”

I couldn’t resist him even if I wanted to. His cock methodically jackhammering my hole had my body riding wave after wave of pleasure. Then, I felt him tense up a bit as his cock swelled just a bit more telling me what was to come. He buried it deep as a pressure built within myself. A few more thrust from him and I shot my load over his furry chest. My mind could no longer handle it. I slipped off into a void of pure bliss, as this stranger collapsed on top of me, feeling his damp fur against my body and filling my senses once again with his musk.

I woke up the next day back in my own bedroom. No one else around. No signs of trouble. No clue how I got back. If the whole experience hadn’t been so vivid, I would have thought I dreamt the whole thing. But as I rolled myself out of bed and into the bathroom, one change became very clear.

Seemingly overnight I had lost my smooth skin and dirty blonde curls. In its place was hair. Thick, dark, course hair. It covered my chest, my arms, my back, even my crotch. I was shocked but, also, something else began to tickle at my brain. I took off my tank to get a better look at the forest. I flexed my muscles and admired the way it coated my chest and seemed to exaggerate its size. I hit a double bicep pose and smelled a familiar scent. The scent of sweat and heat and masculinity. My mind flooded with images of that night as my cock stood at attention. I shoved my face into my own pit as I bagan jacking off in front of the mirror, admiring my new body. It felt strange but satisfying, watching this stranger in the mirror mimic my every move as I lusted for him. I didn’t realize how far I had gone until I saw the stream hitting the mirror. It was hot, but something still didn’t feel right. As I cleaned up the restroom, I picked up my razor and considered cleaning myself up a bit. But as I lifted it to my face, I noticed my newly hairy pits. Exposing them, the scent of last night invaded my mind again and I couldn’t follow through. I finished getting dressed and I left for the day. With a busy schedule, maybe I could get some answers tomorrow. I think that was the last chance I had to do something, divert from the path laid out for me. But looking back, I don’t know if I would have changed a thing.

No day was as sharp a change as the first, but each morning as I looked myself in the mirror, something was a bit different. Maybe it was the sharpness of my jaw. Or were my pecs always this swoll? One week I swore my feet were growing larger. There is no way that they always slapped the ground like that. But my shoes always fit perfectly. Heck I may even need a new pair soon. My joggers were beat up as hell and reeked when I took them off after my Saturday runs. But soon it was the days that I couldn’t find anything that looked different that began to worry me most. Had I always thought so much about the bodies of the men around me? Did people always talk so fast? But as life slipped back into routine. Soon I began to question myself. Why had I worried so much about any changes? Things never actually seemed out of place, and I worked out hard to get these gains. I had been going to the gym for years and had spent years perfecting my splits. After about two months, I stopped worrying at all. Until finally, one day I woke up and looked myself in the mirror, I saw the same man who greeted me for years.

I was a sweaty gym rat. Always had been. Always would be. I took a deep huff of my own funk, and rubbed my muscles. But everything fell into place, something felt missing. I shouldn’t have to keep this godly body and musk to myself. For the first time in a while, I hopped onto the apps and started scanning through. God, all these old matches were terrible. Why did I used to have such a thing for those muscled-up college boys? They couldn’t grow a beard if their lives depended on it. Besides, I think I wanted someone a little more…submissive. Scrolling through, my eyes caught on this young 20-something twink. Something about him reminded me of someone…someone I used to know. His lithe body, tight curls, and skimpy clothes told me he was a bottom before I clicked on his profile. A few messages back and forth, and he was on his way.

He walked in the door and it was all I could do to contain myself. Something deep within me wanted my seed deep in his ass. I needed him to worship me. I wanted him to become just like me. I had no patience as my body acted on instinct. I stripped my shirt and calmly approached, placing my hand against the wall behind him. As my masculinity and musk washed over the twink, I watched as his eyes fluttered a bit and knew his mind was submitting.

“Do you want me to fuck you?” I asked plainly.

“Ye-yes, sir.”

I grinned as I understood fully now just what had happened to me, and the power I held. But watching this twink practically trembling in front of me, maybe I was even better than my captor had been.

I gave him a quick kiss as I lead him to my bedroom. I couldn’t wait to make another man in my image.

[dcxdpdabbles]

Have you considered Danny going to Gotham for some reason or other (maybe after a reveal his parents decide to take a family vacation to bond with him), and meeting Duke.

They end up becoming friends/ crush, but Jason being undead senses something is off about him and ominous stalks them every time they do something together.

It's like that one image of the dude proposing and the dad with the sign that says SAY NO

Duke grins when Danny comes racing into the cafe, nearly tumbling into an old lady who is exiting. He does the same panic look around that he always does when he is tardy before spotting the table Duke put aside for them.

He scrambles to their table, looking frazzled and dripping wet from the rain. Duke feels his heart flutter as Danny slumps into his seat. "Duke, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be late,"

"It's alright, Danny. You know I don't mind, how late you are. In fact you were only ten minutes late this time. It's your best time yet." Duke tells him while pushing a large Chai latte and a chocolate croissant.

Danny winces, shaking the water out of his hair. He unknowingly resembles a wet dog, but it's terribly endaring to him. "I'm so sorry. I swear it won't happen again."

"It's okay. I really don't mind" Duke assures, leaning on his hand as the other starts to nibble on his treat. He can feel his smile soften at the way Danny hums in satisfaction. "Rain caught you by suprise again?"

"Yes! I checked the weather four times this time, but it still rained!" Danny harps, pulling at his white shirt that clung to him due to the water. Duke glances down, feeling his ears burn at the slight see-through effect the water is having. "What's the point of a weather app if it never works?!"

Coughing, he hastily removes his jacket. offering it. Duke is glad he's wearing his signature yellow leather jacket, as it would be the perfect size for his friend.

He is taller and broader than Danny, but that didn't mean the other was small. He has personally seen Danny's muscular runners built, and that wasn't a night of discovery, then nothing was.

Before then, Danny had hidden his impressive physic with baggy clothes that belied the strength hidden underneath. He hadn't even meant to show it off.

Duke had been the fool who invited his new school friend to use the Wayne indoor pool and had ended up having his whole life changed. Thank goodness Danny had been so preoccupied with his siblings to notice Duke's gay panic in the deep end of the pool.

The only down side to that night- besides having a gay panic while Danny slept in the guest room- was Jason immediately clocking Danny as "bad vibe".

The Second eldest Wayne couldn't explain why Danny made him uneasy, just that he did, and he wanted Duke to stay far away from him.

As if he had any control over what Duke did.

Duke smiles, trying to keep his eyes on his friends face. He would not gawk at Danny abs. He wouldn't. "Yeah, everyone knows not to trust the weather forcast in Gotham. We figure it out by the feeling in our knees"

"Of course you do." Danny sighs, accepting the offered jacket with a crocked smile. His accent slips through his words, causing shivers to run down his spine. "I swear every day I question why I came to this city."

"Cheap rent?" Duke offers, watching Danny zip up and another flutter of his heart tells him how good Danny looks in his jacket.

"Oh yeah, it totally balances out the mugging attempts, insane villains, and sunless sky," Danny harps. He takes a sip of his coffee with a small hum. "Just the way I like it. Thanks, Duke. How much do I owe you"

"Nothing." Duke says, flushing red at Danny's raised brow. He has to swing his gaze away from those ocean eyes before he does something stupid like try to hold Danny's hand "It's on me"

Danny makes a noise in the back fo his throat. "I can't possibly let you pay for me again. How much?"

Duke opens his mouth to answer when he catches movement in the large window right behind Danny. It's Jason, dressed in a black leather jacket next to his motorcycle and holding a sign above his head.

On it, reads the message: Don't date him Duke. He has bad vibes.

The meta feels his fingers curl up on the table, scrapping the wood. He grinds his teeth as Jason very obviously waves the sign. Around him, people are throwing glances, but his brother doesn't seem to care.

Danny is saying something, but he's too busy glaring at Jason to pay attention to what it is. That's until Danny notices he isn't listening, and tries to glance over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

Duke flings himself across the table, grabbing Danny's hand and yanking him forward. He can't let his friend know he has feelings for him!

He panics when he realizes how crazy he must seem, so he blurts out. "My ex just walked in. Please don't look!"

"Oh" Danny nods settling back down. "Hate when that happens. Do you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"

What.

"Um, why?"

"Make her jealous....or him?" Danny says casually. So casual that Duke suspects he is not as nonchalant as he attempting to be.

His heart soars "Yeah um if you would"

Danny smiles, a red hue appearing on his face, and Duke feels his stomach drop down to his feet. It's not an unpleasant feeling.

Danny laces their fingers together on the table top, and Jason snaps the sign on his knee. Duke discreetly shoots him the finger as he stares into Danny eyes adoringly.

Maybe Jason's meddling paid off after all.

[bloodmoonmuses]

stray cats, cold spaghetti | mark lee

genre: mark lee x reader, meet cute, friends to lovers (this is unedited, so forgive any typos! happy valentine's day!)

warnings: mentions of food!

summary: your cat introduces you to your new friend, mark. he's a bit more similar to an actual cat than you initially realized.

You didn’t understand the attachment people had to their pets until this stupid cat showed up. She was a stray, with mangled fur and callous eyes, who popped up some months ago. You had checked for any postings about missing pets, and even asked a few of your neighbors, but no one claimed the ratty thing. It’s not that you disliked animals entirely- you’re not a sociopath. You just aired more on the side of nonchalance. 

The cat could sense this, ever since the first time you two crossed paths. You remember that night so vividly. You couldn’t sleep. You laid on your couch, staring at the ceiling, hoping slumber would whisk you away sooner than later. Just as your eyes began to flutter shut, you heard whining. Visceral, pained whining. At first, you tried to ignore it, but when you heard a sound that suspiciously sounded like a young child, you figured it’d be better to survey the situation just in case. When you opened your door to a begging cat, you sighed. Damn the neighbors for feeding this thing. Now she thinks she owns the place. 

“I bet you’re hungry, huh.” The cat bore into you with bright green eyes, tilting its head as if to say, “Duh!”

So you re-entered your home, Googled “What human food can cats eat?”, and came back with canned tuna and half a carrot. The brat looked right past the carrot and inhaled the tuna, this being its first real meal of the day. In between scarfing down food, the gray cat looked at you inquisitively. “Any more where that came from?” her eyes said. She sidled up next to your leg, purring and rubbing her head against it. 

“That’s all I got,” you had confessed. 

You named her June, since that’s the month she came into your life. Now, you’re best friends. June is actually pretty chill. She likes watching movies with you and, strangely, likes going on walks. After getting her groomed, she’s kinda cute too. You hated to admit it, but you love June. You imagine this is how people felt about their kids- without the initial reluctance of course. June comes and goes as she pleases as if she’s still a stray, but always comes back by dinner time. 

When June isn’t back at her usual time one day in October, you get a bit nervous. She never does this. Before breaking out into a full out panic, you remember she’s got a collar and a tracker from the vet now. No biggie. Opening the app that’s connected to June’s tracker, you meander down the path you usually walk with her when it’s warmer out. When you’re a few blocks from your place, you see her, relief flooding your system. Then you realize there’s a man petting her.

“Junie! June!” You run up to her, taking her into your arms. You snuggle her into a tight embrace, planting a kiss on her head. You’re so caught up in your reunion with June that you forget about the stranger standing in front of you. Oh yeah. You should probably say something. His hair is somewhere in between auburn and brown, making his face look incredibly warm. You hold June a bit tighter.

“Cute cat,” the stranger says. His voice is a bit hoarse. “Thought she was a stray before I saw the collar.” Um, okay? June’s a little rough around the edges, but she’s clearly cared for. 

“Yeah, she’s mine. Do you, like, follow strays around in your free time?” you ask with a bite to your tone. 

“Do you let your pet wander around like a stray in your free time?” Fair, you think, but still rude.

“She’s a free spirit,” you contest. 

“So you let her wander.” 

“This is the first time she hasn’t come home for dinner. Our relationship is built mostly on my ability to provide her food- which works for me.” You’re not sure why you’re explaining your relationship with your cat. Who cares what this guy thinks?

June jumps out of your arms, back to the ground, and walks up to the stranger’s legs. He bends down to resume petting her. From his crouched stance, he looks into your eyes. The eye contact makes you shiver.  

“She’s sweet,” he says. “What’s her name?” 

“June. She’s a charmer- and incredibly manipulative. She probably thought she could swindle you out of some food.”

“Do I look easy to take advantage of?” He asks.

You assess him. Oversized hoodie, baggy pants, sneakers covered in scuffs... Maybe he’s a dancer. Or skateboards. You’d be into that, you think. Skater boys weren’t really your thing, but they could be- as long as it’s him. If anything, the guy just looks… cozy, all bundled up like this. There’s a tinge of red on the tip of his nose from the nippy air. He’s smirking to himself at his (flirtatious) question, making his cheek look plump. You want to pinch it. 

You want to make him as warm as his eyes make you feel. 

You realize you’ve probably been staring. Geez, what was his question? Oh yeah. “Yeah. Like a pushover,” you say. “In the best way, of course.”

“Ouch.”

“Only a real sap would fall victim to June’s powers. She can sense lackeys. No offense.” 

“I’m gonna choose to believe that means you think I’m a nice guy.”

“Nice enough.”

“I’ll take it.” The two of you stand in awkward silence for a few moments, June having finally grown bored of her new friend. The guy stands from his crouching position and sways a bit as he awaits your next move.

“Well, like I said, this little lady was late for dinner. So if it’s okay with you,” you pick up June, then continue your thought, “We’ll be heading out.” 

As you turn to walk back home, the stranger says, “I… didn’t catch your name, by the way.” 

Right. You introduced June, but not yourself. Go figure. “Oh. I’m ___.” 

“Cool. I’m Mark.” He looks like a ‘Mark’-boyish and chipper.

“Nice to meet you, Mark. Well, have a nice night.” You start to walk again, but Mark interjects yet again.

“The sun’s setting,” he blurts it out like he’s trying to rid his mouth of the words as quickly as possible. “Can I walk you home?” Then he amends, “I live nearby, so I know it gets kinda dark in this neighborhood. Not many street lights.”

You think about it. You’re not getting any serial killer vibes, plus he’s already passed the June test. (And if you're being honest, he's very cute.) “Um, sure. Thanks.”

The two of you walk in silence, save for June’s purring. When you make it to your apartment building, you stop. Your gut is twisting, mind fixating on the warmth radiating off Mark’s body. Your fingertips are whirring with electricity. You have a bad idea. 

“Would you maybe… wanna come in for dinner?” Mark turns to look at you.  “I never really learned how to cook for one person, so I always have a bunch of leftovers.” 

It’s a lie, but not entirely. You like to cook enough food for the entire week. Mark doesn't need to know this, you conclude.

Mark nods to himself. “Uh, sure. I could eat.”

As soon as you place June down in your apartment, she sprints to her food bowl. Silly girl. 

“Sorry about the mess. Wasn’t expecting company,” you say. “I hope you like spaghetti.”

“Love it,” Mark responds. (You’d later find out this was a lie.)

“Perfect.”

That’s how you and Mark became friends- similarly to how June came into your life. You fed him. In all honesty, he wasn’t that fond of your spaghetti. He just liked the way you smiled each time he took a bite. The two of you continued to get to know one another while making food. Neither of you are great cooks, so you usually team up. It’s become a love language of sorts, sending recipes back and forth to try. You look forward to eating with Mark more than anything these days.

You’re more than aware of your underlying feelings for Mark, but you’ve managed to temper them. You don’t want to scare him off, but the tension is relentless. You’re making tiramisu and your shoulders touch. You’re piping flowers on a cupcake while Mark pulls tendrils of hair away from your face. You’re whisking meringue into stiff peaks while Mark hums to June in the living room. It’s heart achingly domestic. 

Oftentimes you imagine Mark as your husband. In your daydreams the two of you are wearing matching aprons, flour dusting his nose. He kisses you, a fit of giggles attacking your system. You’re absolutely smitten and unabashedly so.

 In reality, today is Valentine’s Day. Mark suggests he comes over and makes pizza. You don’t think Mark realizes what day it is until you suggest making your pizzas heart shaped. He says he forgot to buy his friend Jaehyun a birthday gift.

“This is, like, kinda romantic.” If being covered in pizza sauce and flour is romantic, then yes. This was very romantic. You have a nice spread here-  fresh basil, mozzarella, alfredo sauce, vodka sauce, roma tomatoes… It smells so nice. Mark keeps sneaking chunks of cheese into his mouth. He looks like a little mouse. June is fast asleep on the couch. You’ve finally perfected the heart shape of your dough, and begin to spread alfredo sauce on your pizza. 

“Your parameters for romance are very strange, Mark Lee.”

“If you close your eyes, it’s like we’re in Italy.” When he says things like this, they only fuel your daydreams. You blame the flush of your face on the preheating oven.

“Venice, I hope.”

“Of course.”

Mark’s pizza looks more like an anatomical heart than the kind you’d doodle in a notebook. He scoffs when you tell him this, feigning offense.

“Should I remind you of how your cinnamon rolls came out a few weeks ago?” They were awful. At a certain point, you had given up and rolled them into balls. 

“My cinnamon rolls/balls were innovative and transcendent.” 

“I don’t even know how you messed them up,” Mark says as he puts the pizzas in the oven, “We bought pre-made dough.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

When the pizzas are done baking, the two of you sit at the dinner table. It’s a different feel for the two of you, seeing as you usually eat together on the couch.  You take a bite of your pizza, savoring the taste.

“Not bad. Wanna taste?” Mark nods. Instinctively, the two of you swap plates, trying each others’ creations.

“I think you’re better at making savory foods.”

“I agree.”

You and Mark continue to eat your pizzas, taking gulps of your respective drinks in between bites. Beer for Mark, white wine for you. Jazz plays softly from your shitty phone speaker, and June’s snores fill in the gaps of silence. After a bit, Mark’s face goes red from the alcohol. You liked seeing him tipsy. He gets all wavy and fluid, unconsciously swaying side to side like a daisy in the wind. Your face feels fuzzy from the wine and you find yourself biting your tongue. 

You’ve had to be more conscious of your alcohol intake around Mark lately. It felt as if at any moment, your love for him would simply become unbearable. Recently, it’s been hard to just look at him- even while sober. Tonight, apparently, you threw caution to the wind. 

“Mark?” you say.

“Hmm….”  He’s drifting away, lethargic from the food and beer. You repeat his name again, this time getting his full attention. When his glassy eyes meet yours, the force behind them knocks the wind out of you.

“Yes?” says Mark. He takes another sip of beer. 

You can’t do this, you think, backtracking entirely. The lie escapes as a garbled mess of words: “Forgot what I was gonna say.” You take a nervous gulp of your wine.

Mark slams his fist on the table, in a drunken stupor. The sound startles you, but there’s no malice behind his motion. In fact, he’s laughing to himself. “Bullshit.”

“I really did lose my train of thought. Maybe it’ll come back to me.”

“I know you’re lying. Like you lied about that cold ass spaghetti you used to lure me in!” he says, referencing the night you met. The spaghetti wasn’t that cold…

“I really did make too much spaghetti that night! Plus, you kept June safe. It was the least I could do!” 

Mark begins to gather your plates and cups, walking over to the kitchen to place them in the sink. As he stands, he says, “I won’t force you to say it, but I know you’re lying.” 

Then he moves to run the faucet. The rushing water fills the silence like TV static, buzzing and itching in your ears. Your throat is burning. You want to talk to him openly, honestly- but something’s stopping you. Mark washes the dishes wordlessly. With his back turned to you, his words hang heavy in the air. Mark never pries but simultaneously knows you so intimately. You love being known by him. You love knowing him. 

You simply love him.

“Why’d you walk me home that night?” Your voice barely pierces the air. The question practically squeaks out of you.

“What?” Mark turns off the facet and dries his hands on a towel, turning to look at you.

“The night we met. Why’d you walk me home?”

He contemplates the question for a moment, closing his eyes to visualize the night. Then he says, “Wanted to make sure you got home safely.” 

The moment is delicate and fragile. You’re scared that if not nimble enough, if not cradled with the utmost gentleness, it will shatter. You proceed with caution.

“Mark?” At the sound of his name, Mark returns to his seat at the dining table.

“I think… I love you.” Mark chuckles. “Don’t laugh!”

“You think?” he says, now breaking out into a full-bodied laugh.

“Yeah. I think so.” 

“I love you too.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “...I think.”

“Very funny, asshole.” 

Mark reaches over the table and places a chaste kiss upon your lips. “Okay, I think I’m a little more sure now,” he says.

“Need some more reassurance?” you ask. Mark nods. 

You lean in to kiss him this time, and just before your lips touch, you hear whining. You pull back to look down, seeing June curled up beneath your chair. Her timing is always impeccable. The two of you giggle, sealing the moment with a fervent kiss. You melt into his touch, the elation coursing through your veins. When you come up for air, you meet Mark’s eyes.  

“What?” he says. “I’m a better kisser than you thought?” 

“I was just wondering… you’re still gonna wash the dishes, right?”

[din-miller]

A Little Jive Is Good for You

PAIRING: All Bad Batch Boys x AFAB Reader (gender neutral) no incest/all separate stories

Summary: Reader surprises their partner with a new sex toy called Jive. (It's a wearable g-spot vibrator)

WARNINGS: 18+, sex toy, app controlled sex toy because we fancy here, oral (cunnilingus), fingering, semi public sex (?), tiny bit of angst (sorry echo), thigh fucking, I don't know what phones are called in Star Wars so I'm using device as a placeholder for now, afab, gender neutral reader, all established relationships, tbb headcanons but it's spicy

A/N: I originally wasn't going to write for Crosshair but the setting of the fic didn't work with the others so he made the cut. Congratulations buddy.

Hunter doesn't notice the app at first. It's not until half his Caf is gone, the article he's reading is finished and his thumb swipes back to his home screen that his eyes fall upon the newest icon.

We-vibe

He frowns, never having heard of it before. For a brief second he wonders if he should get Tech to come over and look at it. Make sure it's not a virus or some kind of tracker. But his curiosity gets the best of him. It's probably some kind of prank of Wrecker's. He's done it before. So, Hunter takes his chances and opens the app and he's met with a dark purple background and a bold-all-caps word.

TOYS

Definitely Wrecker's doing.

He hits the play button and it takes him to another purple screen, this time a lighter shade. There's four squares that surround a circle and inside that circle there is a smaller one labelled JIVE.

With a little hesitation Hunter presses on the smaller circle that he's able to move around. He plays with it, swinging it around inside the big circle before moving it to the bottom left square right on top of a little wave symbol.

Three things happen at once. A faint pulsing sound comes from the cockpit followed by a gasp and a wave of arousal – your arousal – hits his nose so hard that his cup falls out of his hand and onto the floor, bouncing a few times as warm Caf spills onto the ship's flooring, but his hands are too busy clenching the table to notice.

His nostrils flair, seeking the smell of your arousal, breathing it in deep inside his lungs and his tongue darts out to taste the air. Sweet and faint, yet it sits on the tip of his tongue and his eyes close, picturing the glistening of your wet pussy, the way your walls flutter around the toy – kriff, what he'd do to have his cock buried deep in your tight cunt.

Hunter breathes out your name, a plea and you're appearing before him naked as the day you were born.

"Ner kar'ta," Hunter swallows, eyes unapologetically locked on your sex, "Look at you, so wet, so beautiful."

You're in front of him now, his head perfectly lined up with your dripping cunt and his fingertips gleefully trail up your thigh stopping just where you ache for his touch.

"Hunter, baby, please!" You beg, desperate and unashamed. He must sense your desperation, because his hand lays flat over your mons pubis and his thumb rests on your outer folds. He doesn't part them, just presses lightly against them.

"I can feel the vibrations," He grunts, eyes falling close, "I can feel the anticipation as it rushes through your body, the need for pressure, for movement against your wet pussy. It calls to me, ner kar'ta."

"Kriff, answer it then!" You growl, pushing his chair away from the table and throwing a leg over his thighs to straddle him. You rock yourself against his clothed sex, seeking friction against the throbbing of your own.

"Very demanding for someone who started this," He reminds you, but his arms wrap around your waist, device forgotten as he helps you move against his cock, "Not complaining though."

You snake a hand down between your bodies to change the vibration with the built in button. This one's stronger and your hips jerk up, separating from Hunter but the clones quick to pull you back down onto his lap.

Slowly, teasingly so, he removes the toy and presses it against your clit with the palm of his hand as his fingers coat themselves in your arousal before sliding into your cunt.

It doesn't take you long to reach your orgasm, in fact it slams into you at full force when Hunter presses against your sweat spot with just the right amount of pressure.

Then his own orgasm stains the blacks he's currently wearing, messy and so fucking hot. He rarely cums in his pants – preferring to do it in or on you – so when he does your ego inflates. At least until Hunter pulls another orgasm out of you.

Echo had figured it was Tech's doing too. His brother is always updating his technology, making sure everything works. He even programmed all the apps and keyboard to be one handed accessible.

Everyone except you and him had gone out for the next few hours, leaving the ship empty and comfortably silent. At least it was silent until Echo's curiosity got the best of him and his thumb started flicking the small circle labelled JIVE around.

He doesn't have heightened senses; he can't hear the toy, can't smell your arousal. It's not until you appear at the cargo holds door way, wide eyes locked onto the device in his hand with a desperate 'please' falling from your lips that he knew the app wasn't Tech's doing.

Echo's heard of apps like this. A way to pleasure your partner hands free. He went down the rabbit hole of sex toys when you and him first became sexually active. A fear of not being able to properly please you with only one hand plagued him night and day until you sat him down and reassured him that he satisfies you plenty.

"Please," You plead once again, crossing your leg over the other one seeking friction against your core as you squeeze your thighs shut, "Echo, kriff, I need more."

Echo's eyes flicker down to your body, clad only in panties, then to the screen in his hand. His thumb gives an experimental slide of the JIVE button and you stumble towards him, a wave of arousal soaking your panties, and without missing a beat you sink into his lap. Echo's dress in just his blacks, his cock straining against the fabric of his pants and the first brush of your sex against his is utter bliss.

His scomp snakes around your waist balancing you on his lap as he awkwardly tries to catch the device in his hand as it slides from his grip, his brain a little too distracted by the whispers of vibration against his cock to have proper coordination to hold the device.

A part of you is begging yourself to move and take off your panties, to free Echo's cock and slide your drenched folds over the wide width of his sex, but as much as you love pussy jobs you can't seem to separate yourself from your husband long enough to take them off.

So instead you unapologetically hump against his clothed cock, moaning when he moans at the feeling of the toy's vibration against his length.

Neither of you last long, which in all honesty is never a disappointment, and thankfully the night is still young and the way your husband is looking at you, you know you'll be sore tomorrow.

Wrecker finds out about the toy by feeling it. You've momentarily forgotten you were wearing it until his fingers found the tail end of the toy as his deft fingers slip into your panties.

Your back is to his chest as he brackets you in with his meaty legs, one hand palming your tit as his hips expertly grind against your ass.

You've spent the day teasing him; dirty flirting, a brief risky flash of your tits – his biggest weakness – just to build up to this moment.

"Aw, mesh'la, did you get a new toy without me?" His fingers blindly feel out the new toy, or at least the part not inside you, until he finds a small raised bump near the end of the toy. His finger settles on the button but doesn't press it, awaiting your consent.

He's always been like that, a big man who will wait hand and knees to get the go ahead. Especially when it comes to sexual activities and new toys. You admire that about him, consent being the key to everything he does, but right now? Right now you want him to hold you against his chest until the vibrations shoot through your core and leave you a sobbing mess.

The need makes you beg without embarrassment, "Press it, kriff, don't tease me!"

The moment the toy activates you're letting out a silent scream, eyes rolling into the back of your head, body arching up and away from Wrecker's chest as the vibrations pulse inside your tight cunt, right snug against your g-spot.

His hand firmly squeezes your tit before pinching your perky nipple, his breath hot against your neck as he gently nibbles against the flesh again and again, leaving marks, claiming what's his.

His finger travels down farther until it reaches his target; your dripping cunt. He coats his finger with your juices before gently guiding it inside you, right behind the back of the toy.

Nothing about Wrecker is small, his fingers are meaty, chunky, and he knows it. With one finger he curls it in into the silicon of the toy, pressing it against your most sensitive area. Your hand shoots out to wrap around his wrists, nails leaving red crested shapes in his flesh and it's all you can do to keep the tears building up at bay.

You can't stop the cry that leaves your mouth as your arousal soaks through your panties and drips onto the mattress below you. Kriff, you didn't even last half a minute before cumming. It's the quickest you've ever finished and you probably should be a little ashamed of how fast it was, but Wrecker's chest vibrates with the loudest moan you've ever heard from him;

"Mesh'la, I'm gonna–,"

"Wait," You shakingly push yourself up farther onto his torso until his cock slides through the opening of your thighs, "Fuck my thighs, baby, let me see you cum."

He groans, needing no further instructions before fucking your thighs, fast. His precum acts like natural lubricant as his cock jerks back and forth, hot and heavy between your thighs.

"Squeeze around my cock, mesh'la." Wrecker grunts breathlessly and you press your thighs together tightly. The toy is still vibrating inside you and you reach down to the built-in button to turn it off, overstimulated.

Wrecker's fingers dig into the flesh of your hips as his release paints your thighs, his cock helplessly twitching between the valley of your legs as he cries out your name.

Once you catch your breath, and can lift a finger, you'll show him the app. Show him how to use it. Maker, you can't wait.

Tech knew right away what the app meant for, his codpiece already becoming too restricting before he even opens the app.

He calls out for you, wanting to see your face as it overcomes with pleasure. Pleasure he's giving you, he's responsible for.

The moment you walk into the room and see his lust filled gaze, app open on his device, you're stripping yourself of your clothing, sitting across from him in the co-pilot's chair, legs spread wide to give him a clear view of your pussy.

He doesn't activate the toy right away, instead he's leaning forward in his chair, eye locked onto your cunt. He's studying the part of the toy he's able to see and you roll your eyes fondly before snapping your fingers together.

His eyes shoot up to yours, swallowing at the blatant need that reflects back at him. It's clear that neither of you will be lasting long. Not this time at least.

"I trust you're smart enough to figure out how to work it." You teasingly trail a hand down your body, ghosting over your sex before retreating back up to your chest to play with your breasts.

"Of course," He huffs, adjusting his goggles, "It's a basic design; clearly fashioned by humans with a basic understanding of technology–,"

With a soft chuckle you bring a hand down to hover over the built in power button, "Then you'd know I can control it with a quick press of the button right here. Really, I don't even need you–oh kriff,"

Your hips jerk up, a surprise moan falling from your lips as the toy buzzes to life inside you and your walls clench around the silicon, "Tech!"

"Too much?"

You shake your head, fingers clenching the arms of your chair, "No, it's good, it feels so good."

Tech hums, eyes once again locked onto your pussy and you know he's silently debating with himself on whether or not to take a holo. You're about to tell him to just take one but all that leaves your mouth is a pathetic whine as the vibrations change to a stronger setting.

Tech's out of his chair and on his knees before you, "I want to taste you."

That's basically all the warning you get before your legs are hooked over his shoulders, his tongue darting out to collect your arousal before spreading it over your clit. He flicks the tip of his tongue over your sex before pulling back, "You're so wet for me."

You nod, eyes rolling back as his mouth returns to your sex, "All you for, Tech. It's all for you."

Crosshair knew instantly that the new app was your doing. You're the only one who knows his passcode. He just didn't know what the app was designed for.

He had ignored it at first, letting most of the day go by before managing to corner Tech and demand his brother tell him what the app was. Of course Tech had simply explained everything about it, but when he went to go turn the toy on Crosshair shoved the barrel of his rifle under the clone's chin. Tech was smart enough to make himself scarce.

Now with the knowledge of what the app was designed for, Crosshair was in control with you willingly at his mercy. He lets you continue your faux innocent act, pretending himself that he hasn't noticed the app.

He'll wait for the opportune moment to arrive. He's a patient man, he's not weak like his brothers. We won't wait on hands and knees for you to come to him and you know that.

The moment comes almost five hours later as he volunteers himself and you to do the supply run Echo and Tech were originally signed too. Hunter had given him a questioning look, obviously wondering why he'd willingly offer to do something he'd usually bitch about doing.

Crosshair had just glared back at his brother and Hunter was smart enough to end any further questions there.

"So," You start, eyeing the man beside you as you walk side by side through the market, "Why us? Echo was relieved to be getting some fresh air, you know. You also hate people, crowds and shopping. Have to admit, I'm a little baffled."

He doesn't look at you but his words are sharp, "You're not an idiot, ner kar'ta."

"I've never claimed to be one, I– oh, you, you wouldn't," You come to a halt, pulling Crosshair with you. Your eyes are wide, full of fear and a building of desperate want, "We're in public, Crosshair."

"Best not make a scene then."

It's not an order, nor a demand, it's a challenge.

One you already know you're going to lose.

But then again this is Crosshair, the man you've spent all day unknowingly giving him a raging hard-on. He's pent up, sexually so, and that's your doing and that doesn't go unpunished.

So it doesn't really come as a surprise that when you're about to cum he turns off the device, denying you of the orgasm you're desperate for.

Because when you do cum, you'll be on your knees, mouth wrapped around his cock. Not here, in a crowded marketplace; not when he can't praise you. Not when he can't taste himself on your lips.

–

Sorry about how roughly Tech's ended. I've never been good at writing cunnilingus. Blow jobs on the other hand I'm a master at but that's mostly because I've spent ten years writing gay porn.

[tisthedamngreenbriar]

windows boarded up after the storm, he built a fire just to keep me warm.

guys i'm so embarassed. so. i wrote this for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Sprint Fic Challenge, BUT THE JULY ONE. and as you may notice it is september already.

in my defense, i kinda started this one and then completely abandoned it on my drafts and never once looked back. but now is here! kinda! this is my first time ever writing a challenge, and also my first time posting my writing in here!! for the sprint challenge july 2023, I chose the social media prompt + one of the prompts from previous challenges (hope that was allowed??)

this is neither polished or revised, just fresh out the notes app so you guys will have to forgive me for errors. i fully intend to develop this aswell, but we'll see.

enjoy!

***

It was supposed to be small. A simple get together for their group, with cake and booze to celebrate Rose's birthday. But, now they were in a mansion one hour out of town and Marinette was pretty sure she could smell something burning.

But, first things first: lets not get ahead of ourselves.

***

Moving everything was a pain in the ass. They'd to be quick and through so no food or garnment was neither damaged nor left behind - also watch out for the worst case scenario, harming sound equipament -, and the threat of the storm was making Marinette mimic the thunders, rumbling with anxiety. With everything already packed in the cars, they went on their merry way, with Adrien leading the path out of the city. 

The blonde boy really was an angel. Offering to take the party to his country house when the weather became Marinette's worse enemy was so kind that the bluenette's heart fluttered a bit, reminding her why she used to have that stupid and exponentially big crush on him all those years ago. Not that that meant anything: her romantic organ also gave a little jump seeing him help Kagami, his long term girlfriend, into the car. Affection just made her goofy.

Getting to the estate was easy, since the rain wasn't really pouring yet and the traffic was on their side, for a change. Obviously, it was huge, because the Agrestes never failed in that department, and everyone immeadiately? started setting everything up on the patio behind the main house and in front of the guest one, so they could use it for bathroom breaks and personal items since no one was willying to wander in the Agreste's mansion and risk scarring his perfectly put everything. The rain didnt seem to follow them so atleast it was safe to be outside.

And then there was Luka. Going around helping out everyone, smilling and whistling to himself. Luka who was just as oblivious to her as Adrien had been, cause apparently that was just her luck. 

"Girl, stop staring, Jesus" Alya's voice broke off any coherent line of thought that Marinette could have formed, startling the smaller one. "You're gonna burn holes on that poor boys back"

"Am I that bad, or is it possible that you are just a drama queen hoping to live uncomfortable situations vicariously through me since you are on a happy and commited relationship?" Marinette arched her brown and left out a breath after going through that phrase fast so that her best friend couldn't interrupt.

"I thought you were a double  major on fashion and business, not psychoanalysis, babes" Alya's eyes closed in on her behind the glasses, the tilt of the redhead's head adding to the menacing look.

"And I thought you were on margarita duty. Where are my drinks, Césaire?"

"Here," the sound came from behind Marinette and this time the jump almost made her drop the firmly held karaoke machine. Before she could register the movement, a arm came foward to take it out of her hands, caging her in. "Where do you want these?" The voice was now in her ear, speaking so softly it could only belong to Luka. This time, the surprise made her actually jerk foward and the man stepped back to allow the reaction.

With the added space, Marinette turned to face him, carrying a pint of she supposed were margaritas on one hand and the box who she was just strugglig with on the other like it was nothing. Looking absolutely delicious doing both, not to mention it.

"Sorry for the scare, Mari," he smiled at her apologetic and she believed she could have died right there on the spot, hearing the nickname and seeing the dimples "'I was just trying to help."

"No, no, its okay! Im just... jumpy. So much to do and whatnot" she tried her best to smile back but the proximity made it wobly. she probably looked so silly that just thinking about it made her wanna scream. But Luka didnt seem fazed.

"At your service" Marinette felt like passing out. "I'm gonna find a place to put these down and then come back to help, okay?"

Not trusting herself to speak, the French-Chinese simply nodded, and at that he walked out. Alya's eyes were on her the whole time, fighting back the smirk.

"Not a word" Marinette sushed her, and the journalist cackled into the sky.

***

The party was a success, as far as last minute ones go. It made Rose so happy she teared up a little over the cake, plus she was so delighted at Marinettes dedication to making the whole arrangement work -- and fighting for the party to go on on the first place -- that the petit blond decided to gift her with the first slice of cake.

Now, it was late and they were all a little too buzzed to drive back. The lights and decorations were all still up, so they sat on a messy circle made out of lawn chairs and pillows, chating about nothing in particular.

Somehow, Marinette ended up on Luka's chair, their bodies pressed together in the small space. Looking for the perfect position, luka grabbed her legs so that they were in his lap and trew one of his arms over her shoulders, causing the girl to shiver with the contact.

"You cold?" He asked her while drawing patterns on her knee hith the hand that rested there. She took a minute to answer positively, barely registering that it was a question, concentrating too much on the way his fingers found the spot that got all her hairs standing and saluding the man that was Luka Couffaine. The second shudder was welcomed by him, who took the softly whispered "yes" and the trembling as results of her freezing and not Marinette being turned on. Thank God for small mercies.

With that, Luka got up and sprinted away after drapping his jacket all around her. She didnt quite understand what was going on until he had already organized all the firewood on the middle of the patio and was trying to light it.

He wasnt. No way.

But apparently the thought of setting stuff on fire appealed more to Luka than simply holding her. Awesome.

"Do you ever just forget they're Couffaines? But then they do something like like this." She could hear the laugh in Rose's voice before turning to meet her eye. "In the beggining of our relationship Juleka would pull the most ridiculous stunts and go the hardest lenghts to prove herself to me. It was so silly. I felt like a damsel in distress on a bad mute movie. But don't worry too much about it. Luka is far more vocal than Jules, and even if he weren't they are fast learners, the Couffaines."

...What?

Maybe the confusion was obvious in Marinettes face, or she had said it out loud cause Rose continued.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Did I meddled? Is just that you guys have been on this will they, won't the thing for so long, and neither of you would just come out and say it! It feels good to be finally able to say it, that's it." Marinettes eyes widened even more than she thought it was possible. What the hell Rose thinks is going on?

It was only when all the bluenette could do was look terrified with her mouth basically hanging open, that the blonde one realized she made a mistake.

[fizzycherrycola]

Alfred & Matt, Stargazing

It’s a clear summer night, perfect for spotting stars. Two brothers bond, sharing science and admiring the universe. I wrote this ages ago for @hwsnabroszine​ and now I can finally share it. Please enjoy!

A Girl Called Hubble

“What’s going to happen to her?” Matthew inquires.

Alfred glances up from his personal telescope, a flashlight highlighting his golden features in the midnight dark. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“The Hubble telescope. Is she...?”

“Oh.” There’s a touch of sadness in Alfred’s tone, which trickles into the soft symphony of crickets, cicadas, and other rural evening sounds. Looking away, he resumes fiddling with the dials on his viewfinder. “I mean, she’s not being decommissioned yet. I think NASA has some plans for joint missions with Webb, so that’ll add a few more years to her life. Eventually though, maybe in a decade, they’ll make an announcement. Most likely... she’ll be set on a course to collide with the atmosphere and burn up.”

Matthew blinks. That seems... harsh, even if Hubble is just a machine.  

He rolls the chunky flashlight around in his hands, an industrial strength thing that Alfred keeps in his pickup truck for emergencies and stargazing nights like this. Its synthetic light cuts through the natural darkness, tracing the outline of fluttering moths and the wild grasses stomped flat by Alfred’s tires. Matthew tilts it to better illuminate his brother’s work and nibbles his bottom lip.

“How come?” Matthew eventually asks.

Alfred hums. “Well, she’s past her expiry date. You've got to remember, some of Hubble’s machinery was built back in the 80’s. If something important fails, like her guidance system, she could become another hunk of space debris, zooming uncontrollably around the Earth. And that’s a huge risk for space flights, satellites, and the ISS. It’s sad, but I mean... it has to happen.”  

He goes quiet for a moment, but not for long. Never for long. In an instant, he turns to Matthew with a big grin on his face, his eyes shining brilliantly behind his glasses. “Hey, want to hear something cool?”

Matthew sighs, but can’t help smiling. “Sure.”

“Did you know that even a tiny screw bolt travelling at 4 miles a second is strong enough to punch through a tank? There’s no atmosphere in outer space to slow it down, so it can just keep going faster and faster. Pretty wild, huh?”

“Yeah. You mention that, like, every single time we talk about space.”

“Wait, really? Damn. I guess I should start throwing some different facts your way! Have I told you about black holes and event horizons?”

“Yup.”

“How about neutron stars? Oh! Or quasars?”

“Uh-huh.”

“...the Goldilocks Zone? You know, there are actually a bunch of habitable planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. And it’s only 40 lightyears away from Earth!”

“You bring that up literally every time you have a new theory about aliens.”

Alfred tuts. “Well... shit.”

Matthew's smile turns sheepish. “Sorry.”

“S’all good.” Alfred taps open his phone, double-checking his night sky tracking app, mouth twisted into the same, familiar pout from his childhood.

The warm summer breeze overtakes their talk, rustling Canada’s hair and t-shirt. From his seat in the truck bed, surrounded by threadbare blankets and pillows, he swings his feet. Humid air drags up the faint scent of dried corn husks, hay, and whatever else was once grown in this long-abandoned farm field. The sky is gorgeous tonight; barely a cloud to be seen, it glitters with starlight and far-flung galaxies. Alfred picked a good night for skywatching.

Originally, they came out here for a special reason, bringing along Alfred’s private, civilian-use telescope. It is massive, about the size of England’s old armchair, but mobile with its tripod, and probably the most expensive on the amateur astronomy market. They parked Alfred’s truck in the middle of the field, set up his device, and saw it: just a speck in the giant magnifying lens, insignificant against the stars, but it was there. The new James Webb space telescope. A cosmic daffodil with goldenrod mirrors spread wide. A novel machine that will help humanity see and understand the universe.

They stared at it for minutes, then an hour, as Alfred geeked out, listing its many capabilities and functions. But then, after he finally ran out of things to say, after they glimpsed Jupiter and Mars, Sagittarius and Ursa Major, Alfred suggested they stick around a while more to view Hubble when she, too, crosses the night sky.

Despite the heat, Matthew drags a cotton blanket over his shoulders. “That James Webb telescope is going to show us some amazing things.”

“It sure is,” Alfred mutters.

“...Although, I’m a little sad that Hubble is running out of time. She took some amazing photos, too. Right?”

“Yeah.”

“You okay?”

Alfred pauses before giving Matthew a look. “...C’mon dude, you don’t have to make me feel better.” Matthew shrugs. Alfred turns to the sky, the expanse, voice going quiet. “She’s just a piece of equipment. I don’t get all upset over every Ford F-150 that ends up in the scrap yard.”

Matthew picks at a loose thread on his blanket, unconvinced. Having known his brother for centuries, it’s easy to tell when Alfred is being disingenuous. He was morose when the Opportunity rover went dark. Distant, after learning that in 2025, no one will be able to contact Voyager 1. And when he eventually realised that Curiosity sings Happy Birthday to itself, every year, all alone on Mars... well.  

“I think Hubble is a lot more special than a pickup truck.”  

“Meh.”

“Stinky gas-guzzlers.”

Alfred’s lips twitch and Matthew knows he’s on the right track. “Hey, don’t shit-talk my trucks.”

“And more expensive, too. By, like, a few BILLION dollars.”

Alfred’s expression cracks and he chuckles. “Sure, okay. You’ve got me there.”  

A weight lifts in Matthew’s chest and his restless legs swing higher, sneaker laces tapping his heels to the tune of his heart.

Then, Alfred checks his phone once more. He suddenly lights up. Ducking down to look through the scope’s eyepiece, he shouts with joy. “Hey! She’s here! Come on, come over here and see.”  

Matthew’s eyes go wide. He shimmies, sliding off the truck bed and tossing his blanket aside. Hopping over to Alfred, who steps aside, he peeks through the scope, glasses clinking against the viewfinder. And there she is, in all her tin-can glory.  

Surrounded by the dark sea of space, Hubble looks so very small, even with the aid of Alfred’s chunky telescope. Her solar panels are extended like squarish wings, helping her soar high above the world. One of the many machines floating through outer space that fuels imaginations and wins affection, satisfying the universal thirst for knowledge with each photo and landmark discovery.

Grass crunches as Alfred shuffles his feet. He doesn’t launch into a lesson on astrophotography or detail the known nebulae. He says nothing, silence stretching far beyond the atmosphere. Then, murmuring: “She might have been expensive, but she was worth it. She was worth every single penny.”

Matthew rights himself and peers at Alfred’s silhouette. The faint glow of the Milky Way, a great band of lustrous cloud, stretches behind him. Matthew doesn’t raise the flashlight to catch his brother’s expression. He doesn’t need to.

“I’m sorry, Al.”

A dark arm comes up to knead the back of Alfred’s neck. Quietly, he sighs.  

“...Thanks. I’ll be okay. She’s still around for a while longer.”  

The night rolls on, the stars turn overhead, and soon, Hubble is out of sight. Sailing across the sky, lenses facing the distant heavens, dutifully, she will record all she can. Until her instruments expire and her circuits give out, she will inspire Alfred, Matthew, and the entire human world.

End / Fin

~~~

Author’s Notes

I had to fudge a few things, scientifically, in order to make this fic work. Because of its orbiting pattern, Hubble is best seen between the 28th parallel north and the 28th parallel south. So, if you live near the equator, you can easily see Hubble with a telescope. Being further north or south of those latitudes makes spotting it trickier. Despite this, I decided to put Alfred and Matt in a corn field, rather than on a beach at the southern tip of Florida. I preferred the vibe, since corn fields are often connected to outer space in American stories (see: 2014’s Interstellar and multiple films featuring aliens.)

The JWST is also hard to spot. For starters, it’s very, very far away. If you’re able to spot it, it’ll just look like a dot, even with the aid of a telescope. Depending on which way the mirrors are facing, it's visible when it catches the Sun’s rays, or it’s completely black when tilted away. And unlike Hubble, it doesn’t orbit Earth. It orbits the Sun. So, the math involved in spotting it is... way harder than what I can manage on my own. Let’s just pretend that Alfred is a god-king at astronomy and knows exactly when and where to point his telescope to view the JWST.

Being an amateur astronomy nerd, I loved writing this fic. However, I tried not to weigh things down with too much technical jargon. If you're interested in learning more about space (and some of the things mentioned in this story, like neutron stars and black holes), please check out ‘SciShow Space’ on Youtube, or visit NASA’s official website. ❤

[aworldforastage]

A Totally Subjective List of Favorite Danmei Novels I Read in 2022

Qiang Jin Jiu :: 将进酒 唐酒卿

Silent Reading :: 默读 Priest

Jun You Ji Fou :: 君有疾否 如似我闻

Those Years I Opened a Zoo :: 我开动物园那些年  拉棉花糖的兔子 

Golden Stage :: 黄金台 苍梧宾白

Your Scandals Are Way Cuter Than You :: 你的黑料比本人可爱 毛球球

Professional Body Double :: 职业替身 水千丞

Lantern: Reflection of the Peach Blossoms :: 提灯映桃花 淮上 

Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating :: 网恋翻车指南 酱子贝

FOG :: FOG[电竞] 漫漫何其多

Qiang Jin Jiu :: 将进酒 唐酒卿

“你坐明堂上,不要沾风雪。” “Your place is in the great halls, untouched by wind and snow.”

[historical, political intrigue]  – (I wrote a spoiler-free introductory synopsis here.)  Plenty of people have already said lots of good things about this novel, but the highlight for me is its rich cast of three-dimensional characters, who are simultaneously cruel or frustrating but also sympathetic and redeemable. The characters’ actions and decisions are mingled with compromises they must make for their circumstances and values. The world is built with extreme care, with plenty of details that I didn’t catch until my second pass over the novel. I read nearly 70 titles in 2022, but I spent almost a month on QJJ alone to re-read and listen to the audiodrama. Despite the length of the novel, I still wish I can spend more time in this world. 

Silent Reading :: 默读 Priest 

“ 我不是凝视深渊的人，我就是深渊。” “I’m not the one staring into the abyss; I am the abyss.”

[modern, police procedural] – If QJJ is my go-to recommendation for a historical danmei, then Silent Reading aka Modu is my go-to for a modern one. This is basically a police procedural, focusing on five major cases, with the finale weaving together clues scattered throughout the novel. Priest is a masterful writer who introduces new information in a measured pace, so you gradually get to know the characters and immerse into the complex world. The cases takes us face-to-face with some of the the darkest facets of humanity, but the work decidedly leaves you with a sense of hope, that even the deepest wounds can heal, and there are more people than you may ever expected who will want to help you.

Jun You Ji Fou :: 君有疾否 如似我闻 

刹那间上万只蝶忽然振翅飞起，满胸膛的蝶翼扑动，心彻底乱的没有章法。 Suddenly tens of thousands of butterflies spread their wings to take flight. His chest is filled with fluttering motion, and his heart falls fully into disarray. 

[historical, political, romance] – In JYJF, two longtime rivals with opposing political priorities coming to a new understanding of each other and fall in love.  They are both clever, principled, but black-bellied in their own way. This novel has undeniable weaknesses as a political drama, but it has built a reputation as a romance with poetic prose, well-developed characters, and a delicious blend of humour, fluff, and angst. The “light” political plot lines will not bog the reader down, and functions instead as an effective backdrop to showoff how the characters work together, the way their ideologies clash and align, and why they can come love each other. [incomplete translation]

Those Years I Opened a Zoo :: 我开动物园那些年  拉棉花糖的兔子 

“也没有什么诀窍，就是夸他，一个劲夸他，从内夸到外。”  “There isn’t really a trick to it. Just compliment him, keep complimenting him, compliment him from inside out.” 

[comedy, urban fantasy] – This is my go-to feel-better novel when I need a good laugh. The protagonist operates a zoo with the help of a magical app, and some of the most formidable names in Chinese mythology (Su Daji, Bai Suzhen, Sun Wokong etc.) must blend in as “staff animals”. There is no real angst or conflict, and the romance, between the twenty-something zoo owner and a mythological bird who has been “single for tens-of-thousands of years,” is equally light and fun. Even though his boyfriend is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, the human shou is the one who actually sets the pace and tone of the relationship, since he is the one with higher EQ and more “knowledge”.

Golden Stage :: 黄金台 苍梧宾白

“朝廷走狗不残害忠良，怎么对得起天下悠悠众口？”  “If the dog of the imperial court doesn’t scheme against the loyal and the just, what will all the interested citizens gossip about?” 

[historical, arranged marriage,  but really reconciliation] - The emperor arranges a controversial marriage for an injured but popular war hero and his rival, a favored but notorious court official. Instead of shifting the political balance like the emperor has hoped, the couple works out their old grievances and forms a formidable alliance which soon becomes the only hope for the ailing empire against foes within and beyond. A lot of the political themes in this novel are very similar to QJJ, but while QJJ is very hardcore in its depiction of the politics and mechanics of an entire government, Golden Stage is a much shorter and easier read, with its focus on the core characters, and their values and relationships. 

Your Scandals Are Way Cuter Than You :: 你的黑料比本人可爱 毛球球

难得有这么一大波人送上门来吵架，江影兴奋得很，但，他有他的职业道德，自家的粉只能护，不能怼，至于戚逐家的，他只针对戚逐这个人，不针对戚逐家的粉。 It's not often that such a large group of people brings the fight to his door; Jiang Ying is very excited. However, he has his own ethical standards: he needs to help his own fans, not go up against them. As for Qi Zhu's fans, his problem is only with Qi Zhu himself, not the fans.

[comedy, actors/celebrities] –  A hilarious “entertainment circle” novel where the idol actor protagonist loves the industry not for the acting or the singing, but the gossip and cat fights. He is so invested in arguing and fighting with antis online that he nearly misses the fact someone is seriously in love with him. The protagonist’s brother’s story is told in Your Memes are Way Better-looking than You, which takes place before this novel. “Memes” generally has the same funny tone but a slightly more serious plot, but this novel is a pure sugar-fest. 

Professional Body Double :: 职业替身 水千丞

他看到了一个成熟的男人是怎么对待爱情的，又是怎么用那种恰到好处的温柔和宽容去感染、缠缚对方的，他就是那个被周翔紧紧抓住的人。 He saw how a mature man deals with love, using just the perfect amount of warmth and generosity to infect and cling onto his lover; he was the was one who had been tightly held onto by Zhou Xiang. 

 [angst, romance, actors and celebrities] – A gentle introduction to the infamous “188 Club”. Yan Mingxiu’s ranking within the 188 really varies depending on your priorities, but I mostly have a soft spot for him because Zhou Xiang seems to really love him (and also, the extra chapters written from YMX’s POV kinda sorta maybe gave him sympathy points).  Zhou Xiang is caring, smart, and extremely charismatic. I am very moved by the way Zhou Xiang loves and pursues Yan Mingxiu before the accident, the way his confidence and maturity are undercut by his insecurities and loneliness as an orphan and a gay man. In the end, I root for them mostly because I want to believe Zhou Xiang can make it work with the boy he loves so much. 

Lantern: Reflection of the Peach Blossoms :: 提灯映桃花 淮上 

“我不是来打仗的，我是来求婚的。” “I didn’t come here to fight, I came to propose."

[romance, urban fantasy, reconciliation ] – This novel probably has my favorite relationship arc, in which love has never been so powerful and so useless at the same time. It’s a love story between gods and demons, and but it’s also about the insecurity of marrying across classes, the damage of emotionally abusive upbringing, the balance between children and spouse, and the sacrifices you make for love and duty. It’s a HE reconciliation story with lots of comedy, but it’s a long and cruel journey to uncover and patch up the mistakes that brought them to this point. One note I must make is that this novel is kind of hard to follow due to POV switches and the character themselves having incomplete information; the full conflict and relevant backstory is not really clear until around 65% into the text. 

Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating :: 网恋翻车指南 酱子贝 

渣男怎么了？ 渣男多好啊？！ 渣男文可为我写诗！武可啪啪三日！上暖绿茶！下暖萝莉！二十四小时温柔在线！七十二小时暖心待机！恋爱不查短信！分手绝不纠缠！经期会冲红糖！睡前会说晚安！ 天啊！渣男就是这个世界上的宝物！我永远爱渣男！！！ What’s wrong with scum boyfriends? Scum boyfriends are great! Scum boyfriends can write love poems with his pen! Can go for three days with his sword! Delivering warmth to green-tea and loli’s alike! He is online for 24 hours a day, on standby for 72! No checking your phone while dating! No pestering you after breaking up! He can make brown sugar drinks during your period! He’ll tell you ‘goodnight’ before bed! By heavens! Scum boyfriends are treasures of the world! I will love scum boyfriends forever!!! 

[online gaming, cat-fishing, mistaken identities, college-setting] – AKA: “fake green tea vs fake scum boyfriend.” Jing Huan poses as a girl in an online game to catfish the Big Name Player who tricked and hurt his cousin. Meanwhile, Xiang Huaizhi notices photos from the girl who keeps flirting with him in an online game can only be sent by someone at his school, specifically, one underclassman. There is plenty of comedy in Jing Huan’s effort to pose as a girl online, and also plenty of hurt when the truth and deception are laid to bare, but overall this is a sweet college romance with just dash (or maybe a spoonful?) of angst and plenty of humour. (PSA: No knowledge of gaming is needed (I don’t have any) to follow the story.) 

FOG :: FOG[电竞] 漫漫何其多

不喜欢的人的心机才是心机。 喜欢的人的心机，那叫撒娇。 Schemes are only schemes if they are coming from people you don’t like . Schemes from people you like, that's flirting to get your attention. 

 [E-sports, (sort-of?) reconciliation] – My first “E-Sports” novel that focuses on professional competitive gaming (but it’s a fictional game so no prior gaming knowledge needed). As a E-Sports novel, FOG does a great job of portraying the camaraderie between teammates and the youthful passion of the players, while also touching on the cynical and exploitative side of the industry. There is an extremely sad and infuriating backstory that explains how the main couple came to be separated for two years (it’s not their fault), but their relationship is otherwise very sweet. However, I have never seen a story with a tournament arc that ends when the main characters win the quarter-finals … (yes, there are extra chapters, but still …)  

[katrinawritesthings]

Jinki/tiny Jonghyun; Beach day : ); PG

löök

Pocket Boy and Summer Boy.... They are boyfriends : )

@tinyjjong do you still have the tungle app installed lmfao

Jonghyun doesn't need Jinki’s finger, gentle on the top of his head, to get his attention, or Jinki’s voice sweetly telling him that they're here, to know that they arrived at the beach. He wasn't sleeping behind his big sunglasses, just chilling. He'd been awake for the whole car ride, but halfway through he ran out of energy to jam and sing along to the radio and decided to just nestle comfortably into the custom seat that Jinki built for him on the dashboard of his car. 

Now, he stretches his arms over his head comfortably and does his tiniest squeak of contentment. That's really saying something, considering he's always tiny in every way, 3 inches tall on his tippy-toes. Sometimes he really has to go out of his way to seem extra tiny. It's a lot of work, but it's always worth it.

Unbuckling himself, he fixes his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, pulls his beach bag over his shoulder, and walks up to press up against the windshield and stare at the beach while Jinki gets out to grab all of his beach supplies. It's a perfect sunny beachy day, warm but not unbearably hot, a gentle breeze not strong enough to blow him away, small waves that lap at the shore with itty bitty fizzling bubbles. There are some seagulls out, but there are always seagulls out. Jonghyun isn't worried. Jinki will protect him.

And speaking of Jinki, as Jonghyun watches the distant outline of a little boat on the horizon, Jinki opens the passenger door for him. Jonghyun turns, smile as bright and bubbly as he feels, and holds grabby hands out to be picked up. Before Jinki does, he gives Jonghyun his big floppy hat, holding it out to him on the tip of his pointer finger. Jonghyun takes it and puts it on top of his pink hair happily. Then he steps onto Jinki’s palm.

“Thank you, Jinki,” he says cutely, batting his eyelashes behind his sunglasses. He knows that Jinki can't see, but he also knows that Jinki knows that he did it.

“Mmhmm,” Jinki hums cutely back. He's wearing sunglasses too, but Jonghyun also knows that his eyes are pleased little moons behind them. With gentle hands, he puts Jonghyun into his chest pocket. Jonghyun wiggles to get comfortable, tiny hands gripping the edge of the pocket while Jinki bends down to grab the cooler, umbrella, and his own beach bag.

The walk from the boardwalk parking lot to the sandy beach is fun, Jinki taking extra care to take gentle, soft steps. Jonghyun sways pleasantly in his pocket, comfortable against his chest, only jostling in there a little bit when Jinki goes down the steps. When they get to a good, clear spot, Jinki crouches down and lets Jonghyun clamber out of his pocket and back into his hand, and then sets him down gently on the sand.

Jonghyun stumbles a little, trying to get his footing, but only for a little bit before Jinki smooths a palm over the sand in front of him to flatten it out. Jonghyun beams gratefully up at his favorite summer boy and steps onto the level ground. Putting his beach bag down and digging inside of it, he pulls out his tiny soft dinosaur patterned beach towel and flutters it out gracefully. Jinki helps by pulling out his tiny umbrella, opening it, and pushing it deep into the sand for him. Then, he leaves Jonghyun to set up his own towel.

They both finish up quickly, towels and umbrellas and snacks and a speaker nestled into the sand between them. Jonghyun scuttles forward while Jinki is pulling a drink out of his cooler to steal control of the music first. He uses his whole hand to swipe around Jinki’s phone and pick out his favorite playlist. When he finishes and turns back to his towel, Jinki is taking a sip from a can of soda and holding out a tiny cup for Jonghyun to take.

Jonghyun takes it and gets settled, adjusting his big floppy hat to shade his eyes from the sun, fixing his sunglasses to look cool and handsome, unbuttoning his shirt to sun his sweet abs, crossing his feet daintily at the ankles, kicking off his pink flip-flops, leaning back and holding himself up with one hand. He sips his soda with his tiniest finger stuck out.

To his left, Jinki sits cross legged, sunglasses off and closed next to his knee, short sleeves rolled up to his shoulders, straw hat casting stripey shadows over his face. Jonghyun catches his eye and waves with his pinky. Jinki waves back with his first two fingers.

Jonghyun smiles happily and looks out at the ocean. He's warm, and comfortable, and feels all snuggly and fuzzy inside. He loves going on beach dates with Jinki. He sips his soda as he watches a surfer out there trying to catch one of the small waves that roll over the blue. He watches some poor beach goer trying to walk along the shore with a thing of fries while seagulls harass them. He watches a little hermit crab walk slowly next to him and pass by in search of a new shell. He reaches his left hand out to the edge of his towel and feels the sand hot under his fingertips. He scoops up a nice handful of crunchy pebbles, squeezes them until they leave little dents in his skin, then lets them fall and looks at all of the little divots curiously.

 As he examines his hand, he comes to the conclusion that it would look much cuter being held. To prove this theory, he extends his hand dramatically into the air.

“Jinki,” he singsongs delicately.

“Yes?” Jinki singsongs back just as delicately. He was busy blowing up a giant 5 inch beach ball, but he takes his attention away from that to smile down at Jonghyun. Jonghyun wiggles his hand in the air.

“Hold my hand,” Jonghyun says, tipping his hat back and his sunglasses down so he can look up at Jinki through his lashes. Jinki gasps softly, then obeys, scooting closer and reaching two fingers down. He gently holds Jonghyun’s hand in his fingers, warm and soft and strong. Jonghyun feels his cheeks blush pinker than his hair just looking at it. He was right. That is so adorable and he loves it so much.

He looks back up at Jinki smiling down at him and feels exactly the same way about him.

[amalgamgooze]

fervent wind - oppressive gale

It's always exciting when the weather app shows "wind" as the weather for the next hours.

I mean, to watch rain buffet and trickle down the windows while unseen thunder accents your cozily-lit (or cozily-unlit) bedroom vantage point during a storm, or to gaze out upon a squall of fluttering snowflakes as the world is covered in white powder during a blizzard, perhaps while sipping hot cocoa and sitting by some source of warmth (be it a space heater or a fireplace)... while those are both incredibly cozy, they're not quite like windy days.

When it's windy out, you can take walks in the wind.

Enthralling, no?

...

I get it. There's a lot of charm to watching rainfall/snowfall. It's nostalgic to even think about it--all the times I'd woken up and looked out at a newly snow-covered world or the late summer nights accentuated by the soft pitter-patter of rain as I stayed up until ungodly hours playing Terraria on my 3DS.

But wind is different.

Wind isn't cozy.

It's exhilarating.

It doesn't matter if the wind's blowing from in front of you or behind you. Either way, you'll still feel that same rush.

Strong, oppressive headwind makes you feel purposeful. It makes you feel as if you're fighting something--and winning. Yes, you may face oppression in the form of the gale rushing past you, but you're still making progress. At best, this headwind is a child clinging at your ankles, a pitiful ball-and-chain, only barely hindering your forward progress. In fact, the dust and debris it blows in your face is probably the worst part about it. You're conquering nature when you march onward in the face of oppressive gales.

On the other hand, immense, empowering tailwind makes you feel hopeful. It's the rush of nature on your side--the wind carrying you to your destination, Mother Nature cheering for you from the sidelines of whatever battles you might be fighting. You feel enhanced in tailwind. It's almost as if you resonate with the winds on a deeper level when it blows from behind you.

And tailwind after headwind is just more exhilarating. The battle's been fought, the campaign is over. Once adversaries, locked in combat, now friends, perhaps sharing a drink at the local bar. A gentle reminder that our "enemies" in this time are just friends in another.

And when the headwind gets so immense, when it kicks up so much dust you can't help but look down and shield your face, *that's* evocative. It's like the rush from riding a rollercoaster--"Haha, I feel threatened! I might be in danger!". However, wind is no meticulously engineered novelty ride--it's the uncontrollable (as of now) pressure gradient between two different systems, it's beyond the puppet wizardry of mankind's hands--again, for now.

Wind gets me riled up. It excites me. Especially the warm, sticky summer wind. After a long day of programming abstract, so-far-removed-from-actuality bullshit statistical analysis algorithms all day, these incredible gusts prove their worthiness of my appreciation through their rejuvenation of my spirit.

...

Have you ever felt the winds blowing in your face, as you stand on a bridge high above the rushing currents below? As you gaze out at an empire built of steel and concrete, as bikers and cars whizz past behind you?

It's existence. It's the proof of my existence. It's small, pitiful, and meaningless on a cosmic scale, but on a smaller, personal scale, these valiant winds blow past a hero fighting their own personal battles.

I've fallen before, but just as the winds die down and return stronger, I too don't go down without a fight.

...

The winds fill me with fervor. What do they do for you?

[allclonescript]

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[coderower]

The Future of Software Development: Top Trends to Watch in 2024

Introduction:

The field of technology is always changing, but software creation is still at the cutting edge of brand-new ideas. As 2024 approaches, the trends that will shape the future of software development become more apparent. These trends will bring both exciting possibilities and challenges for businesses and workers. This blog post will talk about the most important trends to keep an eye on in 2024, covering everything from cloud-based solutions to custom software creation.

1. Custom Software Development

Custom software development is still an important part of modern businesses because it lets them make solutions that fit their exact needs. In 2024, we expect a huge increase in the need for unique software solutions as companies try to stand out in very competitive markets. Custom software development is the most adaptable and adjustable way to improve customer experiences or streamline internal processes.

2. Software Development Services

People are still looking for software development services because they need help and professionals to make cutting-edge apps. Outsourcing software development has become a smart choice for many companies, from startups to large corporations, that want to cut down on development time and time to market.

3. Mobile App Development

Since smartphones and other mobile devices are becoming more popular, companies that want to connect with customers while they’re on the go still put a lot of emphasis on mobile app development. We think 2024 will be a big year for user-centred design and making new technologies like augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) work well.

4. Developers of Web Applications

Developers of Web applications are moving toward making experiences that are more engaging and flexible. Progressive web apps (PWAs) and single-page apps (SPAs) will likely become popular in 2024 as companies try to make the web faster and more interesting on all devices.

5. Cross-device App Development

Making apps that work on multiple devices without any problems is possible with cross-platform app development, which has become more popular in recent years. By 2024, cross-platform tools like React Native and Flutter should have even better features, allowing developers to reach more people with less work.

6. Full-Stack Development

As of now, workers who are skilled in both front-end and back-end platforms are in high demand for full-stack development. They are seen as versatile and knowledgeable. There will be a greater need for full-stack coders who can offer complete solutions in 2024, so training and upskilling programs will be a big focus.

7. Web Design and Development

Web design and programming are very important for shaping the user experience and getting people to interact with your site. We expect to see a move toward simple and easy-to-use designs in 2024, with an emphasis on making things accessible and open to everyone. The digital world will also continue to change as new design trends like dark mode and neomorphism become more popular.

8. Cloud-Based Solutions

Modern infrastructure is built around cloud-based solutions, which are scalable, reliable, and cost-effective. We think that there will be even more movement toward cloud-native designs in 2024, with a focus on serverless computing and containerization. Multi-cloud and mixed-cloud methods are also becoming more popular, which will give companies more freedom and stability.

9. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) techniques have changed the way software is developed by making it possible for teams to make code changes quickly and accurately. We expect a lot of people to use CI/CD processes in 2024, with a focus on automation, teamwork, and feedback loops. Employing CI/CD in their work processes can help companies release software more quickly and with higher quality.

10. Software testing and product testing

Software testing is still an important part of the development process because it makes sure that apps work as planned and meet quality standards. Automated testing systems and AI-driven testing tools will become more popular in 2024, making it easier for coders to find problems and fix them. For the whole development process, using shift-left testing methods will also help build a mindset of quality.

11. Custom Web App Development

When businesses hire custom web app developers, they want solutions that are made just for them and the problems and chances in their fields. Custom web apps are flexible, safe, and quick, and they can be used to make management systems inside the company or sites for customers. It’s going to be very popular to have custom web apps made in 2024 because companies will want to stay ahead of the competition and focus on digital change projects.

12. Web Solutions

Many tools and services can be used to make web experiences that are live and engaging. Web tools, like e-commerce platforms and content management systems, help companies connect with customers, run their businesses, and grow. Developer tools, content management systems, and hosting services are likely to keep getting better in 2024, which will allow businesses to make web apps that are strong and flexible.

13. Develop Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are now essential for companies that want to reach people while they’re on the go and make the user experience better. Native mobile app development will be a big deal in 2024. To make sure users have a smooth and fast experience, developers will use platform-specific features and functions. Additionally, makers will be able to make new, feature-packed mobile apps by combining cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and blockchain.

14. App Development

The process of making apps for different devices, like phones, the web, and computers, is called app development. We expect a coming together of technologies and methods in 2024, which will make it easy for coders to make apps that work on multiple platforms. With the rise of low-code and no-code development platforms, companies can speed up the process of making apps and give regular people the tools they need to help make new solutions.

15. Emerging Technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), bitcoin, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are just a few of the new technologies that will drastically change the way software is made in 2024. These technologies could completely change businesses, make tasks easier to do, and generate new ideas in all areas. AI and ML will be used more for predictive analytics, personalized experiences, and automating regular chores in 2024. Similarly, blockchain technology will keep shaking up old ways of doing business by making deals safe and clear, while IoT devices will make it easier to connect and gain insights from data.

16. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Development

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have become powerful tools that could change many fields, from fun and games to education and healthcare. Hardware, software, and content creation tools will get better in 2024, which will lead to a lot of new AR and VR releases. AR and VR will be used more and more by businesses to make events more engaging, improve training programs, and connect with customers in fresh new ways.

17. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

AI and ML are going to be very important in the future of software development, allowing smart automation, predictive analytics, and customized experiences. We expect to see more AI and ML built into software in 2024, as companies use data to make better decisions and run their businesses more efficiently. AI and ML will continue to change how software is made, used, and implemented, from robots and virtual helpers to recommendation engines and systems that look for scams.

18. Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is a big change in the way computers work. It can do processing that has never been seen before and could help solve hard problems that regular computers can’t. Future progress in quantum computing is expected to continue in 2024. This will have effects on software development in areas like security, optimization, and science modelling. Quantum computing isn’t being used by most people yet, but developers and businesses are starting to look into how it could be used and what it means for the future of software development.

19. Edge Computing

The rise of edge computing has made it possible for real-time processing and low-latency apps. Edge computing brings computer power closer to where the data is created. Edge computer technologies are likely to become more popular in 2024, especially in fields like IoT, manufacturing, and self-driving cars. Edge computing is an important part of the future of software development because it processes data closer to where it is created. This means that decisions can be made faster, bandwidth is used less, and dependability is improved.

20. DevOps and DevSecOps Practices

DevOps and DevSecOps practices are becoming more popular in software development because they help teams simplify processes, speed up delivery, and make security better. Further use of DevOps and DevSecOps methods is expected in 2024, due to the need for more cooperation, automation, and flexibility. DevOps and DevSecOps allow teams to create high-quality software faster and more safely by combining development, operations, and security into a single process. This meets the needs of today’s digital world, which is changing quickly.

21. Data Privacy and Security

Businesses and customers both care a lot about data privacy and security. Strong security measures are needed because of rising online risks and laws. Data protection and security will still be important in software development in 2024, with a focus on encryption, identification, and compliance. Developers will be very important in keeping private data safe and defence against new threats. They will do things like secure code, security testing, and vulnerability evaluations.

22. Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms

Low-code and no-code development platforms have made software creation more accessible to everyone, letting business users and citizen coders make apps without needing to know a lot about coding. As businesses try to speed up their digital transformation efforts and meet the growing demand for custom software solutions, we expect the low-code and no-code market to continue to grow in 2024. Low-code and no-code systems help businesses quickly adapt to changing customer wants and market conditions by hiding complexity and cutting down on development time.

23. Ethics and Responsible AI

As AI and ML become more common, people are becoming more aware of the moral and social effects they can have. We think that ethics and responsible AI will get more attention in software development in 2024. Developers and companies will take more steps to make sure that AI-driven systems are fair, open, and accountable. Researchers will have to think about how their work affects other people and put ethics first throughout the whole development process. This includes methods to reduce bias and ethical AI models and standards.

24. Remote Collaboration and Distributed Teams

The move to working from home has completely changed how teams work together and talk to each other. In software development, distributed teams are now the rule. As companies get used to mixed work models and see the benefits of remote work, we expect them to put more money into tools and platforms for online teamwork in 2024. With tools like virtual whiteboarding, videoconferencing, project management, and version control, online collaboration platforms make it easy for teams to work together even when they are in different places. This encourages creativity, innovation, and efficiency.

25. Diversity and Inclusion in Tech

Inclusion and diversity have become very important issues in the tech industry, as more people realize how important different points of view and experiences are for fostering creativity and innovation. We expect that more will be done in 2024 to support diversity and inclusion in software development. For example, mentoring programs, diversity training, and hiring methods that are open to everyone will be given top priority by companies. Businesses can get the most out of their teams and encourage an atmosphere of innovation and success by making the workplace more fair and open to everyone.

In conclusion:

In 2024, the future of software development will be marked by new ideas, quick changes, and a never-ending quest for perfection. To stay competitive in today’s digital world, businesses and workers need to keep up with the latest trends and changes in everything from new technologies like AI and quantum computing to well-known practices like DevOps and data security. Software engineers can change the future of technology for years to come by being open to change, encouraging teamwork, and putting ethics and fairness first.

[dragongirlcloaca]

furry girl who recently gained a new fun anatomy (mostly thinking. sheathor a donut) and having lots of euphoria touching in and exploring it

I was really excited about this prompt, and I'm always happy to write smut for a friend ;> This is definitely going to be bouncing around in my head for a while!

[Donut...transformation? (doggirl gets a donut ass and is embarassed and horny about it)]

Friday sat on the edge of her bed, rolling the deep purple vial back and forth in her paw. A strong feeling of embarrassment fluttered in her stomach, making her clench the vial tightly, but even then, it was fringed with a tinge of...excitement?

Well, she had gone as far as to get the potion. It had been a few weeks since a friend had first told her about the lovely shop that sold all sorts of sex-related potions, and had specifically mentioned this one.

“It’s really cool! It makes your hole all puffy and big like, well, a donut! I’ve tried it a couple times and it feels amazing,” her friend had said, beaming. “You should try it!”

Friday had turned bright red, her knees pressed together and tail swishing back and forth.

“M-me? You think I should try it?” She had stammered, embarrassed.

“Yeah! I think it would look cute on you.”

The embarrassed dog girl had practically blanked out, her mind circling around that phrase. She really thought it would be...cute on her? She was so lost she lost track of her friend talking, only tuning back in in time to hear “—I’ll send you pictures, see what you think.” Friday had gone home flustered, only remembering that conversational snippet later that evening when she had opened a text notification from her friend to half a dozen low-angle pictures of her fat, puffy anus. She stared, enraptured, at the photos as she slowly grew aroused, her clit poking out of her sheath and under her waistband. Friday had shut her phone off and rubbed one out then and there— although she ended up reopening her phone halfway through to look at the pictures again. For moral support, of course.

Friday had passed the shop a few times in the next few weeks, but never felt brave enough to go in and buy the potion, even as she continued returning to that interaction in her mind. Once, she had built up the courage to go in, but had merely quickly skirted through the aisles and left, the embarrassment too strong to overcome. But finally, yesterday, she had stood outside the shop, heart beating rapidly, and had gone in, taken the potion up to the counter, and bought it, no doubt red as a tomato the whole time. She hadn’t used the potion that night; there had been cleaning to do, and then she had watched TV, and by that point it had been getting late and she still had work the next morning, so she opted to save it for a time she could really take enjoy it.

And today, with the work week behind her and a nice, lazy weekend ahead, Friday finally sat on her bed with the potion. She read the label on the vial for the thousandth time, staring at the graphic of a cartoon donut dripping with pink frosting and trying to settle her nervousness. She brought her other paw up to uncork it, then putting it back down, double- and triple-checking the recommended amount. Friday set the vial down and undressed, laying back in her bed, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She picked the vial up and unstoppered it, hesitated for a moment, and then poured three drops onto her tongue before she could chicken out again.

Friday didn’t feel anything at first, but then a light, tingling feeling started in her butt. She still felt nervous, but now that she had actually gone through with it, a bit of the anxiety had subsided, leaving her a little more excited. She went on her phone as the tingling feeling continued, scrolling through a few apps to try and distract herself while the transformation ran its course, her excitement and curiosity growing ever the while. Finally, after about 15 minutes, the tingling subsided. Friday set her phone down, and reached a hand down towards her butt, and then stopped. She reached over to her bedside table and retrieved a hand mirror. For whatever reason, the suspension felt good to her, and so she shut her eyes as she guided the hand with the mirror to rest on the bed between her spread legs. She decided to count to five, excitement now having completely taken over her initial nervousness, and then opened her eyes, looking at the mirror.

Friday had never been particularly interested in her looks downstairs, her sheath and clit being a neutral part of her body on good days and downright unbearable on bad ones, and her anus barely a consideration, completely ignored during the occasional masturbation session. But as she stared at the fat, puffy, donut anus between her legs, something bloomed within her chest. Maybe her friend was right...maybe it did look cute on her? She reached down slowly with her other hand, gently brushing a finger against it. It was more sensitive than she thought, and she involuntarily let out a little moan, blood flowing rapidly to her clit. Once she had gotten a taste of that bliss, she was addicted, rubbing around it with a little more pressure, and dipped towards the puckered opening, which sent a jolt of pleasure down her spine. Friday felt embarrassed as she realized she wanted to do something she had never really thought of before—she wanted to finger her own ass.

Friday got up, her erect clit throbbing with need against her stomach. She left her room and walked naked to the kitchen, every step squishing her puffy hole in a way that sent constant sparks of arousal into her chest. She clumsily rummaged through her shelves for a jar of coconut oil and then returned and plopped herself back down on the bed with her makeshift lube. She unscrewed the jar’s lid and scooped up a generous amount in one paw, and then started rubbing it around her entrance, whining softly from the sensation. Then, ever so slowly, she began pushing a finger into her swollen donut of an anus, feeling it clench and throb around her finger. The stimulation from just her fingertip alone was enough to make her head spin, and she instinctively started rubbing needily at her clit. She kept pushing in further, panting and stroking her clit, and soon her knuckles brushed up against her butt. She pulled out a little and began thrusting in short strokes, her thighs clenching with pleasure. Getting close to an orgasm, she squeezed a second finger into her ass, bringing a whole new sensation of tightness. Stroking furiously with one paw and rapidly fingering her puffy anus with the other, Friday climaxed, her whole body shaking and sending shooting sensations of pleasure up her spine. Her back arched up off the bed as she pulled out her fingers, her gaping donut winking from its first good stretching.

Friday flopped back against her pillow, exhausted and sweaty, panting from the killer orgasm she had just ridden out. She never could have imagined just how into the idea of having a donut she was, but here she was. She supposed she really owed her friend. Well, it was just the start of the weekend, and there was still plenty of potion left in the vial.