#Inflation Bulb

[medicalequipmentabimed]

Blood Pressure Monitor

A blood pressure monitor is a medical device used to measure the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. It's an essential tool in assessing cardiovascular health and diagnosing conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure).Irregular heartbeat detection allows accurate readings

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Bossware is unfair (in the legal sense, too)

You can get into a lot of trouble by assuming that rich people know what they're doing. For example, might assume that ad-tech works – bypassing peoples' critical faculties, reaching inside their minds and brainwashing them with Big Data insights, because if that's not what's happening, then why would rich people pour billions into those ads?

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/06/surveillance-tulip-bulbs/#adtech-bubble

You might assume that private equity looters make their investors rich, because otherwise, why would rich people hand over trillions for them to play with?

https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/private-equity-vampire-capital/

The truth is, rich people are suckers like the rest of us. If anything, succeeding once or twice makes you an even bigger mark, with a sense of your own infallibility that inflates to fill the bubble your yes-men seal you inside of.

Rich people fall for scams just like you and me. Anyone can be a mark. I was:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/#swiss-cheese-security

But though rich people can fall for scams the same way you and I do, the way those scams play out is very different when the marks are wealthy. As Keynes had it, "The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." When the marks are rich (or worse, super-rich), they can be played for much longer before they go bust, creating the appearance of solidity.

Noted Keynesian John Kenneth Galbraith had his own thoughts on this. Galbraith coined the term "bezzle" to describe "the magic interval when a confidence trickster knows he has the money he has appropriated but the victim does not yet understand that he has lost it." In that magic interval, everyone feels better off: the mark thinks he's up, and the con artist knows he's up.

Rich marks have looong bezzles. Empirically incorrect ideas grounded in the most outrageous superstition and junk science can take over whole sections of your life, simply because a rich person – or rich people – are convinced that they're good for you.

Take "scientific management." In the early 20th century, the con artist Frederick Taylor convinced rich industrialists that he could increase their workers' productivity through a kind of caliper-and-stopwatch driven choreographry:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/21/great-taylors-ghost/#solidarity-or-bust

Taylor and his army of labcoated sadists perched at the elbows of factory workers (whom Taylor referred to as "stupid," "mentally sluggish," and as "an ox") and scripted their motions to a fare-the-well, transforming their work into a kind of kabuki of obedience. They weren't more efficient, but they looked smart, like obedient robots, and this made their bosses happy. The bosses shelled out fortunes for Taylor's services, even though the workers who followed his prescriptions were less efficient and generated fewer profits. Bosses were so dazzled by the spectacle of a factory floor of crisply moving people interfacing with crisply working machines that they failed to understand that they were losing money on the whole business.

To the extent they noticed that their revenues were declining after implementing Taylorism, they assumed that this was because they needed more scientific management. Taylor had a sweet con: the worse his advice performed, the more reasons their were to pay him for more advice.

Taylorism is a perfect con to run on the wealthy and powerful. It feeds into their prejudice and mistrust of their workers, and into their misplaced confidence in their own ability to understand their workers' jobs better than their workers do. There's always a long dollar to be made playing the "scientific management" con.

Today, there's an app for that. "Bossware" is a class of technology that monitors and disciplines workers, and it was supercharged by the pandemic and the rise of work-from-home. Combine bossware with work-from-home and your boss gets to control your life even when in your own place – "work from home" becomes "live at work":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

Gig workers are at the white-hot center of bossware. Gig work promises "be your own boss," but bossware puts a Taylorist caliper wielder into your phone, monitoring and disciplining you as you drive your wn car around delivering parcels or picking up passengers.

In automation terms, a worker hitched to an app this way is a "reverse centaur." Automation theorists call a human augmented by a machine a "centaur" – a human head supported by a machine's tireless and strong body. A "reverse centaur" is a machine augmented by a human – like the Amazon delivery driver whose app goads them to make inhuman delivery quotas while punishing them for looking in the "wrong" direction or even singing along with the radio:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/02/despotism-on-demand/#virtual-whips

Bossware pre-dates the current AI bubble, but AI mania has supercharged it. AI pumpers insist that AI can do things it positively cannot do – rolling out an "autonomous robot" that turns out to be a guy in a robot suit, say – and rich people are groomed to buy the services of "AI-powered" bossware:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

For an AI scammer like Elon Musk or Sam Altman, the fact that an AI can't do your job is irrelevant. From a business perspective, the only thing that matters is whether a salesperson can convince your boss that an AI can do your job – whether or not that's true:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/25/accountability-sinks/#work-harder-not-smarter

The fact that AI can't do your job, but that your boss can be convinced to fire you and replace you with the AI that can't do your job, is the central fact of the 21st century labor market. AI has created a world of "algorithmic management" where humans are demoted to reverse centaurs, monitored and bossed about by an app.

The techbro's overwhelming conceit is that nothing is a crime, so long as you do it with an app. Just as fintech is designed to be a bank that's exempt from banking regulations, the gig economy is meant to be a workplace that's exempt from labor law. But this wheeze is transparent, and easily pierced by enforcers, so long as those enforcers want to do their jobs. One such enforcer is Alvaro Bedoya, an FTC commissioner with a keen interest in antitrust's relationship to labor protection.

Bedoya understands that antitrust has a checkered history when it comes to labor. As he's written, the history of antitrust is a series of incidents in which Congress revised the law to make it clear that forming a union was not the same thing as forming a cartel, only to be ignored by boss-friendly judges:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

Bedoya is no mere historian. He's an FTC Commissioner, one of the most powerful regulators in the world, and he's profoundly interested in using that power to help workers, especially gig workers, whose misery starts with systemic, wide-scale misclassification as contractors:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/02/upward-redistribution/

In a new speech to NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, Bedoya argues that the FTC's existing authority allows it to crack down on algorithmic management – that is, algorithmic management is illegal, even if you break the law with an app:

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/bedoya-remarks-unfairness-in-workplace-surveillance-and-automated-management.pdf

Bedoya starts with a delightful analogy to The Hawtch-Hawtch, a mythical town from a Dr Seuss poem. The Hawtch-Hawtch economy is based on beekeeping, and the Hawtchers develop an overwhelming obsession with their bee's laziness, and determine to wring more work (and more honey) out of him. So they appoint a "bee-watcher." But the bee doesn't produce any more honey, which leads the Hawtchers to suspect their bee-watcher might be sleeping on the job, so they hire a bee-watcher-watcher. When that doesn't work, they hire a bee-watcher-watcher-watcher, and so on and on.

For gig workers, it's bee-watchers all the way down. Call center workers are subjected to "AI" video monitoring, and "AI" voice monitoring that purports to measure their empathy. Another AI times their calls. Two more AIs analyze the "sentiment" of the calls and the success of workers in meeting arbitrary metrics. On average, a call-center worker is subjected to five forms of bossware, which stand at their shoulders, marking them down and brooking no debate.

For example, when an experienced call center operator fielded a call from a customer with a flooded house who wanted to know why no one from her boss's repair plan system had come out to address the flooding, the operator was punished by the AI for failing to try to sell the customer a repair plan. There was no way for the operator to protest that the customer had a repair plan already, and had called to complain about it.

Workers report being sickened by this kind of surveillance, literally – stressed to the point of nausea and insomnia. Ironically, one of the most pervasive sources of automation-driven sickness are the "AI wellness" apps that bosses are sold by AI hucksters:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/15/wellness-taylorism/#sick-of-spying

The FTC has broad authority to block "unfair trade practices," and Bedoya builds the case that this is an unfair trade practice. Proving an unfair trade practice is a three-part test: a practice is unfair if it causes "substantial injury," can't be "reasonably avoided," and isn't outweighed by a "countervailing benefit." In his speech, Bedoya makes the case that algorithmic management satisfies all three steps and is thus illegal.

On the question of "substantial injury," Bedoya describes the workday of warehouse workers working for ecommerce sites. He describes one worker who is monitored by an AI that requires him to pick and drop an object off a moving belt every 10 seconds, for ten hours per day. The worker's performance is tracked by a leaderboard, and supervisors punish and scold workers who don't make quota, and the algorithm auto-fires if you fail to meet it.

Under those conditions, it was only a matter of time until the worker experienced injuries to two of his discs and was permanently disabled, with the company being found 100% responsible for this injury. OSHA found a "direct connection" between the algorithm and the injury. No wonder warehouses sport vending machines that sell painkillers rather than sodas. It's clear that algorithmic management leads to "substantial injury."

What about "reasonably avoidable?" Can workers avoid the harms of algorithmic management? Bedoya describes the experience of NYC rideshare drivers who attended a round-table with him. The drivers describe logging tens of thousands of successful rides for the apps they work for, on promise of "being their own boss." But then the apps start randomly suspending them, telling them they aren't eligible to book a ride for hours at a time, sending them across town to serve an underserved area and still suspending them. Drivers who stop for coffee or a pee are locked out of the apps for hours as punishment, and so drive 12-hour shifts without a single break, in hopes of pleasing the inscrutable, high-handed app.

All this, as drivers' pay is falling and their credit card debts are mounting. No one will explain to drivers how their pay is determined, though the legal scholar Veena Dubal's work on "algorithmic wage discrimination" reveals that rideshare apps temporarily increase the pay of drivers who refuse rides, only to lower it again once they're back behind the wheel:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

This is like the pit boss who gives a losing gambler some freebies to lure them back to the table, over and over, until they're broke. No wonder they call this a "casino mechanic." There's only two major rideshare apps, and they both use the same high-handed tactics. For Bedoya, this satisfies the second test for an "unfair practice" – it can't be reasonably avoided. If you drive rideshare, you're trapped by the harmful conduct.

The final prong of the "unfair practice" test is whether the conduct has "countervailing value" that makes up for this harm.

To address this, Bedoya goes back to the call center, where operators' performance is assessed by "Speech Emotion Recognition" algorithms, a psuedoscientific hoax that purports to be able to determine your emotions from your voice. These SERs don't work – for example, they might interpret a customer's laughter as anger. But they fail differently for different kinds of workers: workers with accents – from the American south, or the Philippines – attract more disapprobation from the AI. Half of all call center workers are monitored by SERs, and a quarter of workers have SERs scoring them "constantly."

Bossware AIs also produce transcripts of these workers' calls, but workers with accents find them "riddled with errors." These are consequential errors, since their bosses assess their performance based on the transcripts, and yet another AI produces automated work scores based on them.

In other words, algorithmic management is a procession of bee-watchers, bee-watcher-watchers, and bee-watcher-watcher-watchers, stretching to infinity. It's junk science. It's not producing better call center workers. It's producing arbitrary punishments, often against the best workers in the call center.

There is no "countervailing benefit" to offset the unavoidable substantial injury of life under algorithmic management. In other words, algorithmic management fails all three prongs of the "unfair practice" test, and it's illegal.

What should we do about it? Bedoya builds the case for the FTC acting on workers' behalf under its "unfair practice" authority, but he also points out that the lack of worker privacy is at the root of this hellscape of algorithmic management.

He's right. The last major update Congress made to US privacy law was in 1988, when they banned video-store clerks from telling the newspapers which VHS cassettes you rented. The US is long overdue for a new privacy regime, and workers under algorithmic management are part of a broad coalition that's closer than ever to making that happen:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/06/privacy-first/#but-not-just-privacy

Workers should have the right to know which of their data is being collected, who it's being shared by, and how it's being used. We all should have that right. That's what the actors' strike was partly motivated by: actors who were being ordered to wear mocap suits to produce data that could be used to produce a digital double of them, "training their replacement," but the replacement was a deepfake.

With a Trump administration on the horizon, the future of the FTC is in doubt. But the coalition for a new privacy law includes many of Trumpland's most powerful blocs – like Jan 6 rioters whose location was swept up by Google and handed over to the FBI. A strong privacy law would protect their Fourth Amendment rights – but also the rights of BLM protesters who experienced this far more often, and with far worse consequences, than the insurrectionists.

The "we do it with an app, so it's not illegal" ruse is wearing thinner by the day. When you have a boss for an app, your real boss gets an accountability sink, a convenient scapegoat that can be blamed for your misery.

The fact that this makes you worse at your job, that it loses your boss money, is no guarantee that you will be spared. Rich people make great marks, and they can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. Markets won't solve this one – but worker power can.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[caelivir]

Um um.....Miya atsumu Long way 2 go -- Casie

And and trope- enemies to lovers??

Also I love your writing👾👾

now playing: long way 2 go by casie

atsumu? this song? enemies to lovers? i think you just sent me to heaven. i don't think you understand how hard i'm geeking right now. i keep whisper screaming "YOU'RE A GENIUS". and thank you!

content. rich boy!miya atsumu x fem!reader, atsumu’s lowkey a downbad loser, tension (at least i hope it is) | wc. 905

atsumu thinks he's hot shit. you know of plenty of guys his type. how could you not? your school is full of them. they think their good looks and endless pockets let them get away with anything. there’s so many of them, but out of all of them, the one you despise the most is atsumu.

you’ve never met someone with an ego so inflated that it rivaled the size of earth. there’s no one who makes you want to tear out your own nerves out more than him.

atsumu is well-aware that you loathe him. he hates you just as much, but instead of ignoring you like a normal person does, he discovers new ways to tick you off. he's like a bacteria who's always finding a way to invade your system.

and now you’re stuck with this damn vermin in a tight, janitorial closet, and it’s his fault.

“be honest. are you an imbecile? like were you dropped as a baby? how do you miss the sign that said, ‘lock broken. leave door open if inside.’?” you fume in the dark.

“do ya ever shut yer mouth?” you don’t need to see atsumu to visualize the harsh glare he has. you can hear his hands fumbling around, searching for any kind of light switch.

you scoff. “oh that’s loaded coming for you. thanks to you, we’re missing class right now!”

at that moment, you hear a click, and a warm light fills the room. you never realized how close atsumu actually was. his body is nearly pressed against yours, his arm hanging above from when he pulled the cord of the light bulb down.

atsumu’s eyes are just as wide as yours, and he backs up, even if it’s only a mere step before his back crashes into a shelf of cleaning supplies that clatter upon contact.

you wince. “do i repulse you that much?”

atsumu doesn’t give you the grace of responding, narrowing his eyes at you as straightens his back, rolling back his shoulders in the limited space he has. when he loosens the tie of his school uniform, you stare at the hand tugging it down, veins prominent on his skin.

the action was… hot… to say the least. your hand twitches like it wants to slap you for ever thinking that.

“you don’t.”

“what?”

atsumu looks annoyed at the fact that he has to repeat himself but he does anyway. “you don’t… repulse me.”

“not true. you actively try to make my life hell every single day. no sane person does that unless they absolutely despise someone.” you correct, chuckling without humor.

“i…” the sentence crumbles in his throat. you see a blush creep up on his neck. the rosy pink reaches the tips of his ears. he turns his head away as if he were ashamed.

you laugh. now this is a sight, miya atsumu actually being embarrassed. you want to push this, see how far you can go.

“what is it, miya?” you tease, taking a step closer to invade his space. “cat got your tongue?”

atsumu backs up even further into the shelves. you’re sure it’s digging into his back. he gulps at the sight of you.

“do i make you nervous?” you trail your finger on his tie. atsumu follows the motion until it leads his back up to your eyes.

he burns a brighter red. “like hell i do.”

it hits you then.

oh.

oh.

“you hate me.” you breathe out in a whisper. “and you like me.”

atsumu tenses like you just caught him in an act, like you just announced it to the entire freaking world. you wrap your hand around his loose tie. once. twice.

“you’re so pathetic.”

it’s the last thing you utter before you’re tugging him by his tie, pressing your lips to his. atsumu’s reaction is immediate, resting his hands on your hips, bunching up the skirt of your uniform.

he wants more. you can sense it by the way his hands are slipping down to your thighs, and because of it, you pull away. atsumu chases after your lips, but you slightly pull your head back. you see the annoyance in his eyes.

you pull him again by his tie again, this time bringing his ear by your mouth. “don’t get it twisted, miya. you still piss me off, but i’m a firm believer of thinking that things can change. you want me? work for it. earn it. ‘cause the way you are now you’re still a long way from having me.”

the door to the closet swings open suddenly, flooding the room with a light brighter than the one shining over your heads.

“damn kids,” the janitor grumbles. “what the hell are you doing in here? you’re here at best school in the country and don’t know how to read, even skipping class. unbelievable.”

you smile, unraveling your hand from atsumu’s tie. “sorry for the inconvenience, sir. my friend here will pay you for the trouble we caused. consider it a token of appreciation for keeping our prestigious school so clean and beautiful, if you know what i mean.”

the janitor is practically bubbling with joy the moment he comprehends the meaning behind your words. atsumu glares at you like you’re unbelievable. you only wink, waving goodbye and blowing a kiss as you saunter down the hall, the fire of atsumu’s lips still lingering on yours.

[muldermuse]

exboyfriend!butcher picking you up from your shitty work Christmas party

he lets you choose all the music, he can’t help but laugh when you try and copy Mariah’s whistle tone in ‘all i want for christmas’

“s’this definitely the best Christmas song ever” you nearly slur. “darlin’, you’ve said that about every fuckin’ song you’ve put on”

you grab his hand when he’s not holding the wheel and use his fist as a microphone, singing as loud as you can

takes you to a burger drive thru without you asking, orders you favourite tipsy meal like its second nature to him (or course it is) and happily takes the fries you force into his mouth when he’s shouting at the car in front for not merging correctly

he takes a huge detour, driving you through downtown where all the houses have Christmas lights up. he smiles watching you as you look in drunken awe at all the twinkling bulbs and inflatables

“can we go back to yours?” you ask as you rub your hand against his thigh, he takes your hand in his “no worries darl’”

he lets you undress, noting that you put on his t shirt and boxers to sleep in before you clamber into his bed. you flip the duvet open so there’s room for him to get in next to you

he strips down to his boxers and climbs in next to you, holding his arm up so you can cuddle into his chest and breathe in his scent. you tell idly about all the drama for the Christmas party, not at all surprise dthat he remembers the names of nearly everyone you work with

butcher kisses you before you sleep, he’s not surprised when you kiss him back. he spoons you, pressing soft kisses to your shoulder blades

“i miss you so much” he mumbles, half hoping you’re fast asleep

“we can’t butcher” you slur, tiredness and intoxication lulling you to sleep

“I know darlin’…it’s just nice to imagine”

[a-d-nox]

economic advice and timely buying tips: 2025 transits

as of late, social media has many discussions about what to buy - or avoid buying - over the next few years, largely in response to the political climate in the united states. across europe, many regions are actively preparing their populations for potential crises (sweden's seems to be the most popularly discussed - link). due to the urgency and pressure to act, as if the world might change tomorrow (and it could though i believe we still have time in many places), i’ve decided to analyze the astrological transits for 2025. in this post i provide practical economic advice and guidance on how much time astrology suggests you have to make these purchases everyone is urging you to prioritize. if it seems to intrigue people i’ll explore future years as well.

things the world needs to prepare for in 2025 in my opinion and why my advice is what it is: the rise of ai / automation of jobs, job loss, geopolitical tensions, war, extreme weather, inflation, tariffs - a potential trade war, a movement of using digital currency, the outbreak of another illness, etc.

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

enjoy my work? help me continue creating by tipping on ko-fi or paypal. your support keeps the magic alive!

uranus goes direct in taurus (jan 30, 2025)

advice

diversify investments: avoid putting all your money in one asset type. mix stocks, bonds, index funds, and, if you feel comfortable, look into sustainable investments or new technologies.

digital finance: familiarize yourself with digital currencies/platforms or blockchain technology.

build an emergency fund: extra savings can shield you from sudden economic instability. aim for 3-6 months’ worth of expenses.

reevaluate subscriptions and spending: find creative ways to reduce spending or repurpose what you have. cancel subscriptions that don't align with needs/beliefs, cook at home, or diy where possible.

invest in skills / side hustles: take a course/invest in tools that can help you create multiple income streams.

by this date stock up on

non-perishable food items like canned goods, grains, and dried beans. household essentials like soap, toothpaste, and cleaning supplies. basic medical supplies. multi-tools. durable, high-quality items over disposable ones (the economy is changing, buy something that will last because prices will go up). LED bulbs, solar-powered chargers, or energy-efficient appliances. stock up on sustainable products, like reusable bags and water bottles. blankets. teas. quality skincare.

jupiter goes direct in gemini (feb 4, 2025)

advice

invest in knowledge: take courses, buy books (potential bans?), and/or attend workshops to expand your skill set. focus on topics like communication, writing, marketing, and/or technology. online certifications could boost your career prospects during this time.

leverage your network: attending professional events, joining forums, and/or expanding your LinkedIn presence.

diversify income streams: explore side hustles, freelance gigs, and/or monetize hobbies.

beware of overspending on small pleasures: overspending on gadgets, books, or entertainment will not be good at this point in time (tariffs already heavy hitting?).

by this date stock up on

books / journals. subscriptions to learning platforms like Skillshare, MasterClass, or Coursera. good-quality laptop, smartphone, and/or noise-canceling headphones. travel bags - get your bug out bag in order. portable chargers. language-learning apps. professional attire. teas. aromatherapy.

neptune enters aries (march 30, 2025)

advice

invest: look into industries poised for breakthrough developments, such as renewable energy, space exploration, and/or tech.

save for risks: build a financial cushion to balance your adventurous pursuits with practical security.

diversify your income: consider side hustles or freelancing in fields aligned with your passions and talents.

"scam likely": avoid “get-rich-quick” schemes or ventures that seem too good to be true.

adopt sustainable habits: focus on sustainability in your spending, like buying high-quality, long-lasting items instead of cheap, disposable ones.

by this date stock up on

emergency kits with essentials like water, food, and first-aid supplies. multi-tools, solar chargers, or portable power banks. art supplies. tarot or astrology books (bans?). workout gear, resistance bands, or weights. nutritional supplements. high-quality clothing or shoes.

saturn conjunct nn in pisces (april 14, 2025)

advice

save for the long term: create a savings plan or revisit your budget to ensure stability.

avoid escapism spending: avoid unnecessary debt.

watch for financial scams: be cautious with contracts, investments, or loans. research thoroughly and avoid “too good to be true” offers.

focus on debt management: saturn demands accountability. work toward paying down debts to free yourself from unnecessary burdens.

build a career plan: seek roles / opportunities that balance financial security with fulfillment, such as careers in wellness, education, creative arts, or nonprofits.

by this date stock up on

invest in durable, sustainable items for your home or wardrobe that offer long-term value. vitamins or supplements. herbal teas or whole grains. blankets. candles. non-perishable food. first-aid kits. water. energy-efficient devices.

pluto rx in aquarius (may 4, 2025 - oct 13, 2025)

advice

preform an audit: reflect on how your money habits and your long-term goals.

make sustainable investments: support industries tied to innovation, like renewable energy, ethical tech, or sustainable goods.

expect changes: could disrupt collective systems, so build an emergency fund. plan for potential shifts in tech-based industries or automation. AI is going to take over the workforce...

reevaluate subscriptions and digital spending: cut unnecessary costs and ensure your money supports productivity. netflix is not necessary, your groceries are.

diversify income streams: brainstorm side hustles or entrepreneurial ideas.

by this date stock up on

external hard drives. cybersecurity software. portable chargers. solar panels. energy-efficient gadgets. non-perishable food. clean water supplies. basic first-aid kits and medications. portable generators. books on technology and coding. reusable items like water bottles, bags, and food storage. gardening supplies to grow your own food. VPN subscriptions or identity theft protection.

saturn enters aries (may 24, 2025)

advice

prioritize self-reliance: build financial independence. create a budget, eliminate debt, and establish a safety net to support personal ambitions. avoid over-reliance on others for financial stability/decision-making.

entrepreneurship: consider starting a side hustle / investing in yourself.

save for big goals: plan for major life changes, such as buying property, starting a business, etc. make a high yield saving account for these long-term goals.

by this date stock up on

ergonomic office equipment. home gym equipment. non-perishable foods and water supplies for potential unexpected disruptions. self-protection; consider basic tools or training for safety. high-protein snacks, energy bars, or hydration supplies. supplements like magnesium, B-complex vitamins, etc. stock up on materials for DIY projects, hobbies, or entrepreneurial ventures.

jupiter enters cancer (june 9, 2025)

advice

invest in your home: renovating what needs renovating. saving for a down payment on a house.

focus on security: start or increase your emergency savings. consider life insurance or estate planning to ensure long-term security for your family/loved ones.

embrace conservative financial growth: cancer prefers security over risk. opt for conservative investments, like bonds, real estate, and/or mutual funds with steady returns.

focus on food and comfort: spend wisely on food, cooking tools, or skills that promote a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle (maybe this an RFK thing for my fellow american readers or this could be about the fast food industry suffering from inflation).

by this date stock up on

furniture upgrades if you need them. high-quality cookware or tools. stockpile your pantry staples. first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and home security systems. water and canned goods for emergencies. paint, tools, or materials for DIY projects. energy-efficient appliances or upgrades to reduce utility costs.

neptune rx in aries/pisces (july 4, 2025 - dec 10, 2025)

advice

avoid financial conflicts: be mindful of shared finances or joint ventures during this time.

avoid escapist spending: stick to a budget.

by this date stock up on

first-aid kits, tools, and essentials for unforeseen events. water filter / waterproof containers. non-perishables and emergency water supplies.

uranus rx in gemini/taurus (july 7, 2025 - feb 3, 2026)

advice

evaluate technology investments: make sure you’re spending money wisely on tech tools, gadgets, or subscriptions. avoid impulsively purchasing the latest gadgets; instead, upgrade only what’s necessary.

diversify streams of income: explore side hustles or gig work to expand your income sources. focus on digital platforms or innovative fields for additional opportunities.

reassess contracts and agreements: take time to revisit financial contracts or business partnerships. ensure all terms are clear and aligned with your goals.

prioritize financial stability: uranus often brings surprises, so focus on strengthening your savings and emergency fund.

avoid major financial risks: uranus retrograde can disrupt markets. avoid speculative ventures and focus on stable, low-risk options.

by this date stock up on

lightweight travel gear or items for local trips. radios, power banks, or portable hotspots in case of disruptions in digital connectivity. stockpile food, water, and household goods to maintain stability during potential disruptions. invest in high-quality, long-lasting items like tools, clothing, or cookware.

saturn rx in aries/pisces (july 13, 2025 - nov 27, 2025)

advice

review career: assess whether your current job or entrepreneurial efforts align with your long-term aspirations (especially considering the state of the world). adjust plans if needed.

strengthen emergency funds: aries energy thrives on readiness. use this time to build/bolster a financial safety net for unforeseen events.

prepare for uncertainty: build a cushion for unexpected financial changes, especially if you work in creative, spiritual, or service-oriented fields.

by this date stock up on

health products that support long-term well-being. essential supplies like first-aid kits, multi-tools, or non-perishables. bath products. teas. art supplies. drinking water or water filtration tools.

jupiter rx in cancer (nov 11, 2025 - march 10, 2026)

advice

strengthen financial foundations: building an emergency fund or reassessing your savings strategy. ensure everything is well-organized and sustainable.

by this date stock up on

quality kitchenware, tools, or cleaning supplies. pantry staples and emergency food supplies.

have ideas for new content? please use my “suggest a post topic” button!

return to nox's guide to metaphysics

return to the masterlist of transits

© a-d-nox 2024 all rights reserved

[timkontheunsure]

Helluva Boss summer merch pics of the mugs are adorable

I love Blitz pointing out a UFO to steal Stolas' ice-cream.

Blitz has a little light bulb with the pokie for Stolas ice cream. 😆 Go for it Blitz, Stolas will definitely think it's romantic.

And that Blitz is so in love with Stolas just chilling, reading a book on Blitz's unicorn float.

It's also adorable that Stolas brought one of his pet plants to the beach to enjoy the sunshine.

Ozzie definitely made the killer Sunday for them.

Aww Fizz is a cute sailor suit top.

Bwhahah Ozzie starfish paisties 😆😆

Ozzie made them tinny food thems. Going to guess they both did the sand sculptures.

Aww M&M went to the aquarium as a date.

Moxxie looks like he spent the day taking pictures of Millie, the cuttie.

The little heart tails 😃.

Oh Millie got to shark teddy as a souvenir, oh dear. Hope Moxxie has better luck with the plushie kind. 🤭

Heh while her dad was being silly, and taking ages, Loona tuck a photo of herself.

Moxxie's being grumpy about the photo, and Millie's giving the 'oh you' look. So guessing Blitz is joking about a 3 way again. 🤦

😆 Blitz is saying cheese, and giving people with horns bunny ears.

They've made an IMP sand castle together, and Blitz has drawn them all in it, and made a little flag. 😃

Stolas on Blitz unicorn inflatable, and Fizz and Ozzie on their rubber ring are in the background. 🙂

Wait a minute there really was a UFO 😆😆😆

And Loona missed getting a photo of it.

[hey-august]

I’ve been wondering, we’ve talked about Buggy and his maybe sort of but maybe not lack of experience and it depends on what one likes I know…. But how good would Buggy be at cherry popping himself? How would that poor son of a bitch react when someone stammers and tells him they haven’t done this before?

I can imagine him being suave and cool when it’s a one night stand or in the heat of the moment, but being completely out of his element when someone he likes confesses this to him in a not yet sexual setting and saying they want HIM to be their first, just turning into a mixed of deeply touched, incredulous (“Wait. With no one? You?! But you’re *gestures with both his hands and then makes a noise that sounds like something blowing up, roughly translating into “A fucking hot smoke show.”*) and inadequate, because his brain already jumps to you recounting your first time with “A dirty, scummy clown.” To someone who could offer you waaaay better. The difference between “I am going to give you the best experience and blow your socks off.” One night stands and “Wait. You want… me? ME? That can’t be right.”

Oh, anon, I love this TOO MUCH. Confident and insecure Buggy in one? Yes please. I think these are scenarios we need to be visiting and revisiting often........

WC: ~550 Warnings: NSFW but not really smutty, Buggy x GN!reader, mentions of sex and alcohol

Oh this poor guy. His ego is inflating as quickly as the self-imposed pressure is crushing him.

That awkward red-faced confession - which had to be repeated because Buggy almost missed it the first time - was not one of the things Buggy expected to come out of your mouth. A mouth that he had already been imagining su-

No no no, he couldn’t think about that now. Not when you just admitted to being a virgin. Buggy was still coming to terms with the idea that you liked him. (In his mind, you barely tolerated him.) Now you’re saying you want him to be your first?

Fuuuuuuck. Fuck yes and fuck no.

Buggy was willing to let you live with the bad decision to “date” a clown (again, tolerate). But this was a way worse decision. One night stands and quick fucks went hand in hand with bad decisions. If anything, poor choices made those fleeting sessions better. That wouldn’t apply here.

Then again, he could do it. Buggy knew how to make someone see stars. How to make their legs shake and tremble worse than being at sea in a maelstrom. How to tease and taunt out tears of frustration and bliss. How to make people doubt their path in life - maybe they should run away and join the circus after all.

But…

You deserved better. You deserved someone who meets your standards. Someone who isn’t wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Who didn’t drink flat beer for breakfast. Who washed their hands more than once a week.

Despite all that, you wanted him. You were insistent and, fuck, that determination in your eyes was sexy.

Okay. Buggy was going to make it happen. And it was going to be amazing. The best performance he ever put on.

His bed sheets were dirty though. Stained and crusty. Embarrassing. Your bed…was a hammock. It’d be possible, but not what Buggy wanted to give you. Maybe he could rent a room on the next island. Whenever that would be.

It took the guy a few days to figure it out. And to give himself a few extra pep talks. Eventually, everything was in place. An out of the way room on the ship was off-limits to everyone but you two. And it was perfect. For five minutes.

There was a mouse in the nest of blankets and pillows. He broke the cork in the wine bottle. Then spilled the wine. The string lights fell and some of the bulbs shattered.

It would have been awful, absolutely terrible, and proof of his failure, if it wasn’t for your laughter. If it wasn’t for how you were so careful catching the scared critter. How you cheered when Buggy finally pushed the cork far enough into the bottle to actually pour a drink. How you told him to just pour the wine in your mouth if he was going to spill it everywhere anyways. How you tried to return the favor, but you were too cautious and the wine dribbled along the bottle and none of it made into Buggy’s mouth.

When Buggy scooped you in his arms and carried you over the glass shards and back to his room (which did have clean sheets, just in case) he knew that tonight would be special, no matter when or how it happened.

[drurrito]

lol forgot I had this...

------------ Natasha can hear your keys jingling behind her. Tony’s holiday party has died down to a small crowd, so you and Natasha take that as your cue to leave. 

“Ready?” You’re standing there with a warm smile and Natasha’s coat draped over your arm. She moves to take it from you but you shake your head. You hold it open to help her into it. 

“Where are we going?” She asks, shrugging on the coat. 

“For a drive,” you spin the keys around your finger and that’s when Natasha realizes that you haven’t looked at Christmas lights all month. Not for lack of trying, though. You both spent more than half of December on recon missions on opposite sides of the world. You’ve both been back for less than 24 hours and you are determined to squeeze in all your favorite Christmas activities before New Year’s.

You hold out your hand and Natasha takes it without another thought. You excitedly drag her down to the garage and towards the car. You hold the door open for her. Her cheeks already feel sore from smiling by the time you slip behind the wheel. 

When you reach the first neighborhood, the whole street is brightly lit by extravagant light displays. There’s couples and families walking up and down the block to take in the sights. You pull over to join them. Natasha watches your eyes light up brighter than any of the houses on the block. She never liked Christmas until she met you. Really, she just likes seeing you happy more than anything. Even if that means being dragged out in the cold to be blinded by so many lights for one night out of the year. 

The rest of the night consists of you driving to different neighborhoods on your itinerary. At one point, you stop to buy some hot chocolate from a kid and his sister selling it in front of another elaborately decorated house. Natasha feels a warmth bloom in her chest. She could get used to a sight like this. 

The last stop is just one house in a cul-de-sac. It’s the least lavish looking display compared to the previous homes from earlier. There are colorful bulbs dancing along the trim of the house. There’s twinkling white and blue lights covering shrubs and the trunk of a tree sitting in the front yard. There’s also an inflatable Santa and Christmas tree next to the driveway. It’s uncoordinated and humble, but the way you look at it could trick anyone into thinking it was the best Christmas lights display ever. 

“This is what my childhood house looked like—every Christmas,” your breath hangs in the cold air. Natasha really listens every time you talk about your early life because it rarely happens. She knows you struggle to remember—and talk about—what’s left of your memory.

You’re the first one to step out, Natasha’s muscles barely have time to twitch into action before you’re already opening the door for her. Her hand slips in yours. You both walk to where the sidewalk meets the driveway. Natasha watches the lights dance across your face and decides that Christmas is her favorite holiday.

[fear-is-truth]

Which of the Evans would be into tacky Christmas (bright colours, mismatched decor, nostalgic and warm, etc), and which would prefer the more tidy Christmas (beige 🤢)?

⋆𐙚 ₊ the evans + x-mas decor preference .ᐟ

a/n: yo why you gotta diss on tidy & beige 💔 …

“tacky” decor : tate, kit, kyle, jimmy, warren, peter, colin, luke, stan

“tidy” decor : james, kai, austin, gallant

⟢ 𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐃𝐎𝐍.

tate wouldn’t give a fuck about christmas decor on his own, but if constance insisted on a beige, elegant aesthetic, he’d absolutely go out of his way to sabotage it because he’s a spiteful little shit.

when his mom told him to set up the tree, he’d rummage through the basement for the dusty, mismatched string lights and garlands she’s refused to use for years.

would take silent satisfaction with the clashing colour, obnoxiously flashing lights, and haphazardly placed ornaments… mostly because his mother is pissed off.

tate would prefer the nostalgic, warm vibes in private, though.

⟢ 𝐊𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐑.

definitely a big fan of mismatched lights, diy decor. he’d help the kids make paper chains, paint ornaments, string popcorn garland.

he’d also love doing little things like baking cookies, hanging stockings, and maybe even putting up a silly inflatable santa on the lawn.

he’d smile fondly at every decoration, especially ones with sentimental value—his favourite is a family photo ornament framed with painter popsicle sticks that your kid made in school.

⟢ pre death .ᐟ 𝐊𝐘𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑.

he’d love the sight of multicolored string lights and as many ornaments as you could fit on the tree.

you go out to pick a tree together and then buy way more lights and ornaments than you’d ever need. “we can always find room for more, right?”

he’d insist on stringing the lights together and would make sure every bulb worked.

kyle would gasp excitedly when he let you plug in the lights and see the tree glow.

⟢ 𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆.

you’d have loads of mismatched ornaments, many of them handmade or found in secondhand stores.

he’d have a soft spot for stringing up multicolored lights, especially red and yellow ones.

the blinking lights hold bittersweet nostalgia for him. they remind jimmy of the freak show days—the camaraderie, the makeshift family—but also the pain and loss he’s endured. even so, he’d smile softly while putting them up, his focus on creating happy memories with you.

⟢ 𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇.

would insist on a meticulously planned, elegant christmas. the tree would be tall and symmetrical, the lights would never blink, and the ornaments would all match.

that said, if you really wanted a messy, colorful christmas, he’d indulge you because at the end of the day, james would want you to be happy.

⟢ cult leader .ᐟ 𝐊𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍.

would absolutely favour a clean aesthetic, because it’s orderly.

he’d hate colourful, mismatched lights, blaming them for being “distracting,” and his use of adderall would heighten his aversion to anything that felt visually cluttered. you’d hear kai mutter something like, “who can think with this circus lighting? it’s like a fucking rave in here.” (he’s a blue grinch lol)

you’re having beige/white decorations or no decorations at all. despite his outward annoyance, if kai saw you enjoying yourself while decorating, it might mellow him slightly. maybe.

⟢ 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒.

would prefer tidy decor to match the sleek, minimalist aesthetic of his vacation home.

the tree would be artificial, tall, and perfectly symmetrical, adorned with white lights and monochrome ornaments.

beige, white, and grey would dominate his decor.

⟢ 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋.

he’d hum along to cheesy christmas music, snack on gingerbread cookies, wear ugly sweaters and blush at the mention of mistletoe.

would have a soft spot for sentimental decorations. if you had old ornaments from childhood, he’d make sure they were front and centre on the tree.

 fear-is-truth 2024 — all rights reserved. do not modify, repost, translate, or plagiarise my content.

[evilvillain123456789]

Man I"m so fucking rich off this indie game kickstarter shit I just be gett8ng surgerys when the fuck ever I got a reverse nose job I got an eyelash job I got lip de-fillers and they put the lip meat underneat my eyebrow skin I dont even care I got an inflatable penis erection bulb installed at the tip of my now-humongous nose covered by skin grafts from my real freshly phalloplastied penis and when I squeeze my ears it inflates and when I squeeze the bulb it deflates back into my ears & squeaks like a rubber ducky. I'm fucking loaded. I got vein extensions- they just dangle off my arms when I wanna shoot up I just melt the heroin and hold the tip up to the spoon and itll suck it all up like an elephants truck I can smoke a blunt through them I can eat soup and saline through them all i want. I'm a success. I can no longer access the computer I was coding my, 2d platformer/fighting game with cottagecore elements and sapphic-achilean subplots, on, because I got eye replacement surgery and now it doesnt accept my biometric scan cause it thinks I'm albert einstein. You gotta get on this shit man these bitches will just give you money and theyre chill af and dont even care that youre a pedophile

[thescarletnargacuga]

Regular digital circus showtime fic thats just

Caine (in a doctors outfit): Worry not pomni! As soon as i figure out what horrible illness is plaguing you i will not rest until you are cured!

Pomni: Caine for the 17th time it is litterally a minor cold.

Caine: I WILL CURE THIS ILLNESS FOR MY AMAZING WIFE OR DIE TRYING!

SNIFFLES

A SHOWTIME ONESHOT

WARNING: none

~~~

Pomni wasn't feeling one hundred percent. Still well enough to stand with the others and listen to Caine prattle on about the day's adventure, but she wanted to go back to bed. Her eyelids felt heavy and, despite not having a nose, felt the need to sniff mucus back every few minutes. She took a long sniff, loudly announcing to the room that she wasn't feeling her best.

Caine stopped talking almost immediately. "Pomni? What was that?"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Keep talking. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Oh my goodness gracious gravy. You're sick!" He zips to her and sweeps her off her feet. "Not to worry, my dear, I'll have you feeling better in a jiffy!"

"Wha- Caine!" She holds onto him for balance as he zooms off.

The other circus members watch Caine fly away. "So...we adventuring today or not?" Jax asks, looking at Bubble.

"How should I know? I'm a bubble." Bubble spun around in the air without a care in the world.

~

Pomni plopped down on an examination table. Bright florescent lights illuminated a doctor's office space. With a flourish, Caine's tux turned into a white doctor's coat and his cane turned into a clipboard.

"Caine, I'm fine. It's just a cold."

"It is most definitely not fine!" Caine rests his fist against his hip. "You are my wife. As your husband, it is my solemn duty to help you in any way I can."

"I appreciate that, but-"

"I will find a cure for this illness OR DIE TRYING!" Caine clicked his feet together at attention.

"Caine, please-"

"Now, now, just relax." Caine pushed her back to have her lay down on the examination table. "Leave everything to me. First, I should check your blood pressure. Since you have no blood in the digital realm, I'll have to improvise."

He strapped a bottle of ketchup to her arm and then wrapped the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around both. He squeezed the bulb to inflate the cuff until the bottle of ketchup burst. "Hmm, seems a little low." He tapped the ketchup covered gauge.

Pomni wiped ketchup off her face. "It's just a cold, Caine." She deadpanned.

"Now, to check your ears- wait, I forgot you don't have any. Uh, I suppose I could check your reflexes." A giant cartoon mallet appeared in his hand.

"Ah!" Pomni rolled off the table before the mallet came down. "It's just a cold!"

"Pomni, I need your full cooperation if you want to get better." He tossed the mallet away, a cartoon crash along with a cat's yowl sounded. "Oh! How could I forget, I need to check your throat! Say ah!"

"What? Mmph!!" Pomni nearly gagged when Caine shoved one of his eyes into her mouth.

Caine held his hand over her mouth for a few seconds before letting her spit out his eye. It bounced off the floor, to the wall and back in place through the back of his mouth. "I didn't see any fuzzy purple spots. This is most troubling. You're supposed to have at least three per corner."

"Caine, STOP! It's JUST a COLD!!"

Caine flinched at her shouting. He shrank down to the ground, tapping his fingers together nervously. "I'm...doing too much again, aren't I?"

Pomni sighed. "No, you're not doing too much. You're working yourself into a tizzy and not listening to me. Your anxiety deafens you to the point that I have to shout. I don't like doing that." She rubs her arm, looking away.

"I just-....I worry."

"I know you do, but even when you worry about someone, please listen to what they have to say."

Caine hung his head. "I'm sorry..."

Pomni put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. You're okay. I'm not mad. I'm glad you care so much in your own unique way. If it helps, I'll let you play doctor a little longer, but I assure you, it's just a cold. I'll be fine in a few days."

"Okay." Caine held up his stethoscope. "Can I listen to your heartbeat?"

Pomni hopped up on the table. "Of course." She sat still for him as he gently pressed the chestpiece against her.

Caine heard only a quiet buzz of static. Normal for a digital avatar. He went to pull away when Pomni held his hand to her chest.

"Ba-bum...ba-bum..." Pomni repeated rhythmically.

"What are you doing?" Caine arched his top teeth quizzically.

"It's what a human heart sounds like. I'm just playing along." Pomni smiled.

Caine smiled back, holding the chestpiece in place a little longer to hear Pomni mimic the steady beat of a real human heart. "Sounds healthy."

"It is. It gets a lot of exercise when I see the most handsome AI in the whole world."

Caine blushed and giggled. "Stahp, I bet you say that to every AI."

"Nah, just the one I married." Pomni leaned towards him with come-hither eyes.

Caine smirked, leaning in with her. "Lucky fella."

"I'm the lucky one." Pomni softly kissed his bottom teeth.

[transense]

using the bulb of an inflatable plug as a packer and going out clubbing. dancing with strangers and letting them squeeze my bulge as they grind against me. moving on to the next, same again. filled up more and more with each person, until my eyes are rolling back into my head

[transformers-spike]

Dumb question but can I get an explanation on what a knot is? Or how it functions? I see the visual but I guess I want more details about its function and all that.

Oh man - first you need to know about the history of it. Basically, it's a sort of bulb at the base of the penis that swells up during orgasm, locking the two partners together for a while until the knot eventually shrinks and they can pull away It's typically seen in stuff like the Omegaverse where it's based on wolf anatomy (do not recommend googling it). It's supposed to ensure a higher chance of fertilization - but with bots I just added it because it's a fun anatomy quirk. Dreadwing/Skyquake for example have a more traditional knotting mechanism - while for Starscream, @glacialenvy had a cool idea where the ridges on his spike inflate. Not quite a knot, but close enough. Them swelling up during/after overload means it's harder to pull away, but not impossible. While with Dreadwing and his twin it's going to damage your insides if you try it Altho I like to believe that if the bot in question is extremely stressed, the knot shrinks back really quickly

[fluentmoviequoter]

The Little Things

hot cocoa bar celebration🧤❄️🎄

requested here by @bradleybeachbabe!

Pairing: David 'Deacon' Kay x fem!reader

Summary: You and Deacon drive around the neighborhood to look at all of the Christmas lights. 0.7k+ words of fluff!

A/N: Hondo isn't in this, Deac just looks good in this gif.

The smells of cinnamon, clove, and warming hot chocolate surround you as you sit beside the Christmas tree. You took advantage of your day off and went Christmas shopping, and as you prepare to wrap the perfect gift for Deacon, you can’t help but smile. Deacon makes every day special. You try to do the same for him, but Christmas is the perfect excuse to buy him things he wouldn’t get and go out of the way to make him feel loved and appreciated. Your Christmas playlist moves to the next song, and you hum along while you tape the wrapping paper closed around the gift. Sliding it forward to rest on the skirt surrounding the tree's base, you look up when you hear the front door unlock. Deacon smiles as he steps inside, and you push the small bag of stocking stuffers behind you.

“How was your day?” you ask.

“It’s better now,” Deacon replies. He usually sets his stuff down when he comes in, and his smile grows when he notices your eyes drop to his keys. “Are you busy?”

“I think that depends on why you’re asking.”

“Let’s go,” he murmurs, offering his hand.

You place your palm on his and laugh as he pulls you up and against him.

“Where are we going?” you inquire.

“For a drive.”

You nod, then ask for a moment and fill two travel mugs with hot chocolate for the drive. You’d go anywhere and do anything with Deacon, which makes him smile as you move around your Christmas-y home. In his car, you buckle your seatbelt and sit back, content to look at Deacon’s profile.

“I noticed something on my way in,” Deacon explains as he begins driving. “Nearly every house in the neighborhood has Christmas lights up.”

You turn away from Deacon and watch the houses on your side of the street. There are different colors, different shapes of lights, different lawn ornaments, and inflatables. Still, they all seem to go together because they’re shining bright and making nights merry together.

Deacon takes your hand over the console after he turns the radio on. Low Christmas music fills the car, and your heart feels full.

You see an inflatable looming tall above the others at the end of a cul-de-sac, and Deacon turns toward it before you can even ask. The red and gray lights are different, but you laugh in delight when you see the array of wooden cutouts, laser-style lights, and inflatables on the lawn.

“That is amazing!” you cheer, looking over your shoulder to see Deacon.

He stops the car and agrees, but his eyes are on you.

“Where did they get that?” you wonder. “I need one. No, five! One for each member of your team.”

Deacon leans closer to you to look at the twenty-foot-tall Santa. He knows its size isn’t why you want one – or five – but its outfit. The gray uniform with red accents and jingle bells hanging from the scenes isn’t tactically safe. SWAT Santa is undoubtedly the best decoration in the neighborhood. Standing below him, Darth Vader wears an elf hat as he wages an intense snowball war with Charlie Brown and his friends.

Deacon begins driving again, going slowly and stopping as you point out more houses with interesting lights and décor. You consider asking him to keep going when you reach the other side of the neighborhood. You know he would without complaint, but you don’t get a chance to ask before he says, “I have one more thing to show you.”

“Do you want this hot chocolate?” you ask, pointing to his mug.

“I’ve got my love to keep me warm,” he replies as Sinatra sings over the radio.

“Thank you, Deac, for all of this.”

“Thanks for coming with me.”

“Are you kidding? I’d do anything to spend time with you. I’d test every individual light bulb in this neighborhood.”

“Maybe we could just find a different neighborhood to enjoy tomorrow,” Deacon suggests.

You smile as he parks and then hold his hand as he leads you inside. With the lights turned off, only the Christmas lights in your house and across the street lighting the room, you lie beside Deacon and envision year after year of looking at lights together. It might not seem like much, but being by Deacon’s side, slowing down for Christmas, and knowing that Deacon is as in love with you in the middle of July as in windy December nights makes the little things that much brighter.

[kowbelll]

With the Deer 🎄

Word count: 827

“It’s so cold.”

“Yeah, that’s what happens during Winter.”

“Winter doesn’t start until next week.”

Stiles whipped his head in his girlfriend’s direction, narrowing his eyes at her in both disapproval of her correction and admiration of her knowledge. "Whatever. It’s December. It still counts.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand, leaning closer towards him as they strolled through his neighborhood with Stiles insistently staying on the side of the gray pavement by the street. He knew the boyfriend code like the back of his perfect hand. That’s also why she was sporting his lacrosse hoodie, not him.

It was getting late, but tomorrow was the weekend, so without school haunting them, they didn’t have a care in the world. Their focuses were on each other and the Christmas lights that were strung across the houses, trees, balconies, and bushes.

The pair marveled at the vibrant, dazzling bulbs and the occasional character figures on the lawns or in the windows. There were lots of Santas, big and small; a few penguins; some snowmen; a handful of sleighs being pulled by reindeer; and a big, inflatable yeti (Stiles’ favorite).

Since this was their first Christmas as an official couple, he was adamant about honoring as many traditions with her as possible. He impatiently demanded that his father hang up their lights on the first of December; he got up early that morning to check all the bulbs so that the house would be completed right when his dad got home from work, which Noah wasn’t exactly excited to do after a long day. After that, he waited until at least 80% of his neighbors had put up their lights too. It was a painful wait, but definitely worth it due to the look on his girlfriend’s face.

Suddenly, his lips mischievously curved upwards as he spotted something at an upcoming house. Stiles leaned closer to her, his lips brushing against her ear as he softly spoke, “Hey. Go stand over there.”

She turned her head to look at him but his eyes stayed fixated on his target. “Where?”

Still smiling, he pointed at the arrangement of three large deer of different heights, depicting a family, with his free hand. His other hand released hers and reached into his pants pocket, retrieving his phone.

She glanced at the deer, made up of plastic, wire, and bright white lights, then at his phone in his hand, and her eyes met his face again. Her hand was already feeling close to frozen without his, and they stopped in front of the unfamiliar house.

“You want me to pose for a picture with the deer?” she inquired hesitantly, considering that it was a random person’s lawn.

“Yeah,” Stiles said simply, and he opened the camera app, still smiling. He looked up at her when she didn’t move right away. “Get your ass over there.”

“Ok, ok, I’m going...” She shuffled her way over to the deer and stood in front of them, facing her boyfriend and smiling.

The boy, so incredibly whipped, couldn’t pull his eyes away from the beauty before him. His hand holding his phone was still resting in the air by his belly button.

When she realized, her face filled with self-aware warmth. “Are you going to take the picture or not?”

His eyes widened and he tore them away. He fumbled with his phone, trying to lift it in a timely manner. “Yep! Yeah, I’m, um, I’m doing that right now.”

He did his best to pull himself together and focus, taking about forty pictures in the short span of ten seconds, even getting a few different angles. When he was finally done, he inspected a few of the pictures, and his big smile returned. He was completely entranced by the flow of the lights behind her, making her seem even more angelic than usual, and therefore not noticing that his girlfriend was by his side again, peeking over his shoulder to see the pictures too.

Eventually, Stiles realized this, and his gaze met her face. He tilted his phone in her direction, speaking affectionately, “Look at how pretty you are.”

All she could do was smile at him – she was far too consumed with love to even begin brainstorming a response. “I love you, Stiles,” she finally said.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and faced her once more. A big kiss was pressed from his lips to hers. “I love you too. So much. Like, so incredibly much.”

At some point, they made it back to his house and buried themselves underneath multiple layers of fuzzy blankets on his bed, desperate to warm up their chilly bones. It wasn’t until later that she noticed that Stiles had changed his wallpaper to one of the pictures he had taken of her with the deer. Her heart nearly melted. It was obvious how much he loved it, and it was obvious how much he loved her.

Note: Thank you for all the support on my last imagine! I appreciate you all 💜

[thefallenangelsgang]

Fuck it, I'm throwing my hat on the ring about the Emil announcing Nate from Fallout 4 is the bystander Soldier in the Fallout 1 opener.

First and foremost, it was a stupid thing to say. As he backtracks to later, the conceit of Fallout's protags is they are supposed to be anyone (and that issue is precisely why some people hate the extensive prewar character background given to you in Fallout 4). For the lead writer to pull a JK Rowling (why would you do that? None of those went over well) is such a major marketing misstep that it wouldn't surprise me if Emil gets reprimanded for it before we even get into the implication of what he said.

Emil your voice is as good as God when it comes to the canon. You can't just say shit like that and expect it to go well. Especially considering the implications.

Speaking of the implications, I'm not mad about Nate being a war criminal. It's a coloring I actually would welcome if the games discussed concepts like Capitalism, Racism, and War in any meaningful way anymore. And if Emil also didn't say this.

Fallout's canon is rooted in reality. That is part of its whole thing. It's fun to do goofy shit like becoming the Silver Shroud and having a make believe superhero fight with the Mechanist or write a woman obsessed with Nuka Cola so much she traverses two games to basically kidnap the CEO's cryogenically preserved head so she can talk to him for all eternity, but the setting is very much rooted in reality.

You aren't dealing with fictional countries, you aren't dealing with fictional races, you aren't dealing with fictional hypotheticals. That is The Elder Scrolls job. You are dealing with actual countries, actual racism, actual history, and actual fucking politics. You have to be mindful of what you are doing and saying. You can't just do things because it's an interesting plot device without first thinking about the implications.

Fallout's world is a heightened version of our own, a path we seem to stumble towards with ever passing year unless we do something about it. It fucking sucks. I'm sure writing it feels like prophesizing the future and eats your soul a bit. It would mine. But that doesn't mean Fallout can just take a sharp left in terms of story and reality and get away with it.

To have Nate be the bystander Soldier and then meet him when he has a very good thing going for him (an expensive house during an inflation crisis, a robot butler, he gets into a vault for free for fucks sake) very much speaks to life rewarding him for his crimes. There is no hatred in his words when he looks at the flag of the country that made him kill innocents. His speech is speaks of remorse for leaving his family and the cycle of war, it does not speak of the horrors. Of watching you comrades bleed out in the Anchorage snow. Of the scream of shells overhead. Of the fear in civilians eyes as your buddy puts a bullet between them.

You all have to see how it looks like the man is fine with what he had to do during the war, right?

Not interacting with these concepts enough paints a picture of apathy and acceptance. In this day and age where being keeping the government honest and responsible for their actions is so important, that isn't going to slide without it being EXTREMELY purposeful, which it is not. It's tone deaf and lazy.

I respect a lot of what Emil has done in the past, but I am not above keeping him culpable when he has something so delicate in his hands. I hope this situation is what he needed to get his head on straight, or is the light bulb moment where he realizes he needs to pass the torch onwards. There is no shame in subject matter becoming too much as time goes on. There is shame in letting a previously critical series become the very thing it was criticizing.

He is going to keep getting dragged until he realizes that or he manages to convince the fans to be complicit in the degradation of setting. In doing so he is going to lose Bethesda most of its biggest fans who well and truly love the series and what it stands for.

But that's just my take, and I'm just a kid who studies polisci and history and can't shield myself from the inherent horror of nuclear war no matter how much I try.

War really never changes