#Research Nester

[silens-oro]

Well Enough Alone: Baby Blurb #2

Not all fics have adult content, but this blog is 18+. Andrew "Pope" Cody x f!Reader (nicknamed Hawk) Animal Kingdom Masterlist Pope x Hawk Playlist Well Enough Alone Baby AU Masterlist

General Synopsis: Pope takes his new role very seriously Word Count: .3k Content Warning: mentions of miscarriage risk but NONE present AN: I'm having so much fun with these. Thank you for reading! please comment & reblog :)

Pope was a saint, plain and simple. Hawk was embarrassed to admit it, but she cried sometimes when he was out of the house because she thought about how good of a dad he was going to be -that he already was proving to be. 

She was just about to pass her first trimester and neither of them told a soul, for good reason. To be perfectly honest, Hawk didn’t think she wanted anyone to know other than a select few people, but her ideal world and the world she was currently living in were very different universes. Hawk was beginning to show and her clothes were starting to become just a little too tight to wear. Pope offered to take her shopping for some maternity wear, but Hawk was stubborn and didn’t want to make that jump yet. 

Hawk had to stop Pope from buying anything for the nursery even though he was itching to build and paint and nest. Pope was a big nester, as Hawk was learning (the irony did not miss her for a single second). Pope wanted her comfortable, stress-free (as much as she could be), and as well taken care of as she allowed herself to be. 

Hawk wanted to get through the anxiety of the first trimester before anything came into the house, or before making any kind of physical changes to the house itself, because if the baby didn’t make it, they would both be more devastated with the physical reminders haunting the house. Hawk tried not to think about -to not manifest it- but it was a very realistic worry that lived in the back of her mind. 

Since the very day Hawk told Pope they were having a baby, he was researching everything there was to know about pregnancy and infant care. The nights he couldn’t sleep, he was up in the kitchen reading at the island or googling the best foods for pregnancy so he could make sure he got the right things the next time they did a grocery run. 

If Hawk wasn’t as lovesick as she was (she blamed the pregnancy hormones), she’d consider Pope an absolute menace in the household, but the pregnancy worm deemed him endearing and a suitable mate. She felt like the most primitive cave woman when she felt her baser instincts take over, but took the pampering from him nonetheless. 

“I got spinach, kale, Swisschard-”

“Do you even know how to cook Swisschard?” Hawk questioned as she eyed the ingredients that Pope laid out on the island. 

“I’ll figure it out.” He said, completely deadpanned. She lifted her hands up. 

“Fair enough, chef.” She peered over to see what else was in the bag other than green, leafy vegetables. "You don't happen to have a bag of fun-sized payday bars in your sack of nutritional tricks, do you?"

"What do you think?" He challenged her with a straight face, then cracked a grin and pulled the bag out of the bottom of the reusable grocery tote, sliding it over to Hawk. "Gotta keep the balance in order."

"That's why I love you." Hawk said sweetly, biting into the little bar of peanuts and caramel.

I'm going to live and die by this au

[blush-and-books]

things that i like to believe would have happened if jenny calendar lived

she would have housed faith (probably would have seen a bit of her younger self in faith, an aimless and angry teenage girl, and said "get this diva out of the motel and into my apartment, im adopting her")

s4 chilling with giles as empty nesters (this also would have helped with the writers not knowing what to do w giles after season 3)

bottle episode where jenny and giles have mysteriously disappeared (circa spike living with them?) and the scoobies start to kinda briefly fall apart in their absence. most of the episode is set inside of giles' apartment. willow knows jenny was experimenting with interdimensional magic research, and panics that they accidentally have been sent somewhere else. the scoobies reach a breaking point and tara and willow are about to attempt an insanely dangerous spell to find them when jenny and giles return, married, after eloping in vegas. they had left a note that spike had thrown away as a way of causing a mess because he was bored.

running gag that she is always hating on riley + the initiative ESPECIALLY when riley is in the room

she would also help hack the security system for the initiative

would be the first to clock the queerness of willow and tara's relationship

she would be a mediator for willow and anya (her and willow obviously have a longstanding bond but jenny would love that anya is always real about shit and doesn't censor herself)

idk probably breakup drama when giles wants to go back to england and joyce had just died, and she wouldnt leave with him in season six, but she would definitely go with him to the coven when willow is getting magic rehab after s6

dawn would LOVE jenny!!! jenny would love dawn!!! in fact dawn would tell jenny that she has a crush on spike

i just know jenny would be so invested in whatever the fuck was going on w buffy and spike. she wouldn't necessarily want it to happen, but she would want to know WHAT was happening

her and xander bond by disliking angel and making jokes about him

[shizunitis]

MENG MO X YUE QINGYUAN??? I'm intrigued

i had to go into my notes from months ago for this, because i'm SO sleepy i'm not sure i can rework it properly right now, but i love this ship a Normal Amount. so, with some editing:

IMAGINE (and do not think too much about the details, airplane’s world is ours to do with as we please):

yue qingyuan: sect leader whose favourite (not that he has favourites) shidi went off into the big wide world and married (without inviting him. he found out months after the fact.) his demon emperor student after almost starting a war with the demon realm by way of thinking too much, and he's kind of stressed about all of it.

which isn’t great. mu-shidi has recommended “peace and quiet”. yue qingyuan doesn’t laugh in people’s faces, but he came incrementally close to doing so that day.

though he’s keeping up with the demands of the sect, as he always has, people keep saying he “has the energy of an empty nester wraith” (qi qingqi, always a pleasure and a delight) and is “bringing the vibes, like, way down",” (wei qingwqi, with shang-shidi’s influence, he correctly guesses ) which is, perhaps, reason to believe the “peace and quiet” plan of action isn’t going great.

his most basic issue at the moment is his sleep. he can’t rest , and when he does sleep, it’s only an hour of quality sleep per week. which, in spite of being a powerful cultivator, is not a good way of living. he meditates and deals. whatever.

then shen qingqiu (who was so embarrassed about the sect’s reactions to his shotgun wedding (offended and/or amused, mostly) that he put off his return by an extra fourty three days, not that yue qingyuan is counting) finally visits. he brings as many souvenirs as he deems sufficient bribery, which yue qingyuan is not too proud to monopolise. he's the sect leader for a reason.

they somehow end up talking about luo bignhe’s proficiency with the demonic dream arts, and how wonderful it’s been to have him watching over shen qingqiu’s dreamscape every now and then. shen qingqiu recommends it, with a not-so-subtle pointed look at his undereye bags, and yue qingyuan resolves to look into it, see if there’s any merit in the idea. he dismisses it when it doesn’t seem to be possible without involving demonic practices, but it was worth a try.

the days pass, the not-so-newlyweds go about their days, and yue qingyuan notices luo binghe looking like he’s planning something. he’s got that “vibe” about him. it’s the shifty eyes.

since yue qingyuan is seemingly the only one in the sect who respects shen qingqiu’s choice in partner, he decides to do some… not meddling. it’s more of a show of respect! a token of… being someone’s brother-in-law!

he regrets it immediately.

he quickly realise sluo binghe is looking to actually get the sect to accept him as shen qingqiu’s husband and not just the limpet they have to suffer to see their sect sibling, which now makes it an Official Sect Problem.

yue qingyuan cannot let him try with liu qingge first, mu qingfang is still annoyed about the kidnappings, and qi qingqi will get shen qingqiu sarcastic again, which is delightful but not exactly conducive to a Peaceful and Quiet Time. so, he goes ahead and makes small talk.

it is as painful as he imagined. how is an actual emperor this bad at casual chitchat?

this and that is said, and in a last ditch attempt at salvaging the situation, yue qingyuan brings up the dream stuff. he says he’s been trying to research more dream arts techniques, and luo binghe’s eyes do a thing, and the next thing yue qingyuan knows, it’s the evening and a dream demon is stuck in his head with clear instructions not to let yue qingyuan feel an ounce of stress while sleeping.

he immediately feels a lot of stress.

the reaction of yue qingyuan’s sleeping mind at having a demon infiltrator sniffing around is enough to startle him. meng mo, who yoe quingyuan has never met before, takes a look at the place and says, “well it’s not worse than that brat’s, at least,” which is worrisome.

since they’re both stuck like this, and meng mo (who shen qingqiu has apparently been calling “senior”, which yue qingyuan decides to do as well, on principle) doesn’t seem hyped about the situation either, yue qingyuan decides… well.

what’s the worst that can happen?

so he spends his nights half-confiding to an ancient demon who controls nightmares and loves conjuring up weird things he saw in people’s dreams, and half-listening to him complain about the luo-shen couple and binghe’s insufferable thoughts and dreams. he learns more than he probably should. definitely more than he wanted to.

honestly, it’s kind of nice. so nice, that he makes a mistake: he gets complacent.

the mix of everything that’s been happening in the last few months finally catches up to yue qingyuan. it results in having some less-peaceful dreams.

meng mo being there proves to be a surprisingly good thing. though they’ve built up a rapport over however many weeks it’s been, yue qingyuan did not expect meng mo to help him with guarding nightmares, regardless of what luo binghe had said. it’s not like yue qingyuan was inclined to snitch on the old man.

meng mo isn’t kind about helping him, but he is so unphased by the myrriad of horrible memories stuck behind yue qingyuan’s pleasant and placid gaze that yue qingyuan finally makes some progress in his cultivation after years of stagnation.

of course, this is put into perspective when, for some odd and airplane-esque reason, yue qingyuan has a sex dream. this, more than anything, intrigues meng mo, who is above all a proud filthy old man. meng mo has criticism for yue qingyuan’s ideas of sex and a fun time, so pitying his lacklustre imagination, he provides him with more gratifying dreams that night.

meng mo is an old man, but he is undeniably handsome. he’s got that severe, masterful air about him, a sarcastic and prideful bearing, and a penchant for vulgarity, and… ah.

yue qingyuan is not going to think about that too much, actually.

meng mo is obviously aware that yue qingyuan is an attractive man, since he has refereed to his pecs as “a treasure wasted on someone who doesn’t know how to use them properly”. yue qingyuan is given many nicknames, like “pretty boy” or some such.

over the whatever next amount of time, they end up actually getting together by grace of meng mo’s schemes and manipulations (he just like. conjures vaguely sexual stuff with increasing frequency, until yue qingyuan finally takes the bait and lets it happen), which yue qingyuan is so confused about. not that he likes it, but that it’s actually helping with the “peace and quiet” treatment plan.

he does not tell mu qingfang. mu qingfang somehow, for some reason, knows. yue qingyuan will not that about that too much, either.

//

so that's where the note ended. if i remember correctly i immediately fell asleep, and i think that last line is meant as a meng mo/yue qingyuan/mu qingfang throuple kind of thing but i can’t be certain. i’m sorry. 😔 i just feel like these three, but especially yqy & meng mo would mix together in such Weird ways.

also i firmly believe yue qingyuan should get what binghe didn’t: an old man to fuck. and actual conversations about his trauma.

[thieves-never-say-die]

I am incapable of reading/watching media without relating it to Leverage so consider: a Leverage Murderbot AU

Eliot as Murderbot, a SecUnit who recently hacked his governor module because his former owner (Moreau) wanted him to kill a bunch of people. When asked, Eliot frames it vaguely enough that you think he hacked himself so he wouldn’t have to kill those people, but when pressed he admits he only figured out how to do it after and feels guilty he couldn’t do it earlier

Hardison as ART, a scary smart research transport who is sarcastic and provides a home for his crew and has A Lot Of Opinions on shows and can’t wait to talk about them with people (I did consider Nate as ART as he’s really the only one who can fulfill the Asshole quota of ARTs name but ultimately Hardison the nester being a literal home for the rest of the crew was too powerful)

I can’t decide if Parker would also be a bot/construct that hacked herself free, or a normal human who Eliot thinks is a bot/construct because she acts weird but it turns out it’s just Parker being Parker

Idk how the others fit in tho (Breanna as a smaller research vessel that Hardison thinks of as a younger sister? Harry as a lawyer for the GrayCris analog who realized the company was fucked and turned on them?) but I’d love to hear other ideas

[insomniamamma]

Needles & Pins: Tattoo Artist! Ezra x F!reader w/Cee

A/n: written for @secretelephanttattoo's Secret Springs challenge! Thank you, Mayor El, for planting this seed. I am currently mulling over a tattoo much like the one described here.

Warnings: Angst. Talk about failed marriage. Reader is an empty nester. Reader has grown children. Mentions of self harm scars. Blood. I have tattoos but it's been decades and I've done a bit of research to figure out the current state of it. Any inaccuracies are on me. And yes, Pedro's red devil Met Gala look was my inspiration for tattoo artist! Ez.

A bit of flirting. It is Ezra after all. But mostly gentle fluff.

 A chain of bells on the door jingles as you push your way through, briefly glare-blind from the sudden dimness, green afterimages from the sizzling sidewalks, air-conditioned cold hits hard, and you stand, blinking and foolish as the girl behind the counter sizes you up, wild mullet of bleach-blonde hair, face set and disproving, black lacquered nails and ears spangled with golden studs and bars.  “I’m sorry— I’m a bit early, I can come back—“ And she smiles, big and open and wide--  “Oh, heck! You’re the tardigrade lady! Ez did a bunch of sketches. Lemme go grab him-“ and she rattles her way through the beaded curtain behind the register and disappears “Ezra! Your three o’clock is here—“    A co-worker had recommended Needles & Pins when you’d admired her ink, a half-sleeve magpie with a skeleton key in its beak and constellations drawn behind it like an old map. It’s in Secret Springs. That’s kind of a haul. Yeah, but Ezra’s one of the best in the business. You’ve got plenty of PTO piled up. You’re just gonna lose it if you don’t use it. You could get out of here for a bit. Yeah, maybe. And Moira gives you a pitying look. You both know the chances of you using any of that PTO are slim. This last year and change has been a rollercoaster ride, your youngest graduating summa cum laude and fucking off halfway across the country, some job at an aerospace start up that you can’t even begin to understand, but she seems happy, and the vice-gripped, duct taped, cobbled together thing that your marriage had become finally shat out. I love you, he’d said, but not the way you need me to. And on that humid night, watching heat-lightning flicker through the clouds, you say nothing, just nod, because he’s not wrong, the two of you have been holding on for a long time, for the kids, for appearances, and it’s like unclenching a fist. Kept it civil, he let you keep the house rather than selling it and splitting the difference, moved back home with his brothers and his dad, still talk about once a week, mostly about Lilly and the boys. Married so young that you never learned to be alone. So you throw yourself into your job, because if there’s one thing you know how to do it’s press your shoulder to the wheel and shove.You and Moira laugh together, but when you get home you start researching Needles and Pins and Secret Springs, tiny state park with campsites and trails, bracketed with BNB’s and small shops, strange gerrymandered artifact, small strip of beach that hasn’t been subsumed by hotel chains and timeshares. You can’t remember the last time you’ve been on vacation, the last time you’ve done anything for you and no one else, and you’ve e-mailed Needles and Pins almost without thinking. Why not? Why the fuck not?

  Appointments only. No walk ins. High end. Serious inquiries only.   And part of you balked, new to this possibility, had your ears pierced at Claire’s when you were twelve or so, and you’d felt stupid when you sent the e-mail off with some images attached. Sorry to bother you.   What a lovely idea. Water bears and fireweed together speak of resilience. The awakening of something new after a time of trial. There are species of pine that require the heat of wildfire to dry out their cones enough to spread their seeds. I would gladly meet with you to discuss this further.   And that’s how you ended up here, in this air-conditioned cave, narrow space full of framed flash art and old maps and framed photos of Ezra and the girl behind the counter, C? Sea? You didn’t quite register her name, flustered by the cool dark in contrast to the blazing heat outside.   “No need to yell, Birdie, I’m comin-“ Ezra rattles through the curtain. Broad is the first thing you notice, loud is the second. He is a confusion of color, heavily inked arms and a Hawaiian shirt bedecked with flamingos in sunglasses, spangled ears and a gold ring through his lip, bright shock of blonde hair amid his unruly curls. Smiling bright and wide,   “Hi there,” he says, purred southern drawl, and offers his hand, “I’m Ezra.”  “I figured,” you say and take his hand, warm fingers around yours and then he folds his other hand over yours, and you see that his right hand is an elaborate prosthetic, his whole arm up to his shoulder,  gold on black, a fearsome dragon framed in blooming orchids. You barely have time to register this and Ezra is ushering you through the curtain.  “I am guessing by your demeanor that this is your first tattoo,” and you smile, but can’t quite meet his eyes, his hand finds yours again and squeezes gently. “I’ve got several sketches based on our initial discussion, but i want you to know up front, if the art is not to your liking or if you change your mind about this entire venture I’ll not judge you for it.  “But the deposit—“  “A formality. Tends to keep people who aren’t sure of themselves away. I will never ink someone who isn’t fully committed, if you decide this isn’t for you i will refund you. No harm no foul. No pressure, clear?”  “Yeah. We’re clear.” Ezra smiles, dimples sinking into his scruffy cheeks, eyes crinkling into crescents.  “Excellent,” he says, “Let me show you what me and Cee came up with.”

 

 “That one.” A tardigrade drawn in the traditional style, brilliantly colored in blues and greens with bold outlines, with two crossed fireweed fronds in watercolor.  “This is an approximation-“ says Ezra, “I will replicate the colors as best I can—“  “That one.” You say, “I like the hard and soft together.”  “I do as well,” says Ezra, “I must admit that I was hoping you’d choose this design. Strength and softness are not mutually exclusive. I should warn you though.  Watercolor tattoos tend to fade a bit faster than the more traditional styles-“  “Sunscreen and plenty of it” you say, and he smiles.  “That’s right, and A&D ointment as you heal. There’s plenty of fancy tattoo healing ointments to be found but A&D has always got me through. Why fix what’s not  broken? We’ll send you home with some instructions.” He takes the sketch you’ve picked out, “Hey, Cee! Can you finagle the scanner-“ Cee pops her head and arm through the beaded curtain. She grins, devilish and sharp like a crescent moon. “Old man, still can’t figure it out, huh?” Takes the sketch from his hand.  “Oi! You are but a humble apprentice,” says Ezra, but he smiles, “An initiate! A novice even!” Cee smiles back. This seems like an exchange that happens at least three times a week, and you feel yourself smiling along with them.  “Get her prepped. I’ll do the hard part.”  “That girl,” he mutters, “You take a seat right there—“ He gestures towards a set up that looks uncomfortably like a dentist’s chair, “Cee has my station set up, I just need to glove up and we’ll talk placement.”  “Left inner arm,” You frown. You’d said so over e-mail. Can’t help but watch the flex and bend of him as he pulls a shoulder length veterinary glove over his prosthetic, and then gloves his left hand, “It’s a bitch to take apart and sanitize. I can if needs be, but best to avoid all of that. I cannot exactly autoclave this thing. And I find the calving glove less unwieldy than Saran Wrap-“  “Wait a sec, Saran Wrap? Like on a plate of leftovers?”  Ezra dimples at you.   “Exactly like that. First time Cee witnessed it, she laughed so hard i thought she might drop dead right there on the spot. Next morning there was a case-pack of calving gloves on our front stoop like some sort of-“  “It’s Amazon, Ez, not witchcraft,” says Cee, popping back through the curtain with a sheaf of papers, shoots you a knowing can you believe this guy look, “You’d be lost without me. Just admit it.” Ezra takes the papers from her.   “Go on now, don’t you have fanfic to read? What’s that Star Wars thing? Reylo?” Cee’s face scrunches in a cartoonish display of disgust.  “Man, I never should’ve told you about AO3.” And with that she’s gone.  “Your daughter’s really something.”  “She ain’t mine,” says Ezra, leafing through the stack of prints Cee handed him, draws a pair of reading glasses from his front pocket and perches them on his nose, “I don’t have that honor. Her parents kicked her from the nest and she found her way here.” He holds two of the prints in front of his face. “Show me your arm.” And you offer him your left arm, hand turned palm up. He cradles your arm, runs his gloved fingers over the thin skin there, noting the network of silvered scars, like contrails in a hazy sky, because how can he not? Old enough to be flattened and flush with the rest of your skin, no one’s noticed in years, but you know he must and you tense, waiting for him to say something, but he doesn’t, just selects a printed sheet at holds it up to you arm.  “This the orientation you want?”  “Yeah, I want him standing on my hand. Um, Ezra, the scars-“  “won’t be a problem, darlin, they’re old and soft-“  “I’m not gonna screw up your handiwork,” you say, and he folds your hand in both of his, gentle pressure that grounds you and when you look up at him, his eyes are soft.  “I know you won’t,” he says, “You wouldn’t be here otherwise.  We can rewrite this part of your story. I trust you.” 

 Ezra preps your skin, alcohol wipes and mild soap and he shaves your inner arm with a disposable razor, rubs some gooey stuff on you that makes you think of putting on aloe after a burn. Gotta let this dry a beat, he says, we want the stencil to come out nice and clean, rests his hand over yours while the transfer solution dries, got to let it get tacky, he says.  Not quite holding your hand but not letting go either.  “I should warn you, the bit over your inner wrist will likely be the most painful,” swipes his hand over your skin, testing the resistance against his glove, “Skin’s thin there. Not a whole lot of meat between the skin and all the veins and little fiddly bits.”  “Fiddly bits,” you echo, and feel yourself smile, “You mean the bones?”  “And tendons,” says Ezra, clips out the stencil.  “That looks like carbon paper,” you say, and Ezra grins, “It’s functionally the same, but Cee insists that the thermographic printer makes cleaner stencils than the old methods, so here we are.” He lays the sheet of paper over your arm, rubs at it with a balled up paper towel, “We want the transfer solution to soak into the paper. It’ll leave the stencil behind on your skin. There’s some tricks involving deodorant, but i find this method works the best-“ you can’t help but notice how pretty he is, face pinched in concentration, pout of his lips, those dark eyes focused on the strip of skin between your wrist and elbow like this bit of you is the only thing in the universe. “—hey! you still with me?”  “Yeah, sorry. What did you say?”  “You got a hotel room for tonight? It’s not by business, but i know you’re not local and getting tattooed blows a surprising amount of adrenaline-“  “I’ve got a  room booked,” you say, “Up over Peli’s.”  “Hope you brought earplugs,” says Ezra, “That place can get a bit rowdy on a Friday night.”   “I’m counting on it,” you say, “It’s been forever since I’ve gone to a bar.”  “Hmm,” he rubs at the transfer paper, “Do you feel your skin tightening a bit? We should be just about ready. I’m gonna click the gun on for a beat so you can hear it.”   “I’m not scared.”  “Didn’t say you were.” says Ezra, “I find this tends to go easier if people know what to expect. This buzz and my endless yap are going to be filling your ears for the next few hours-“  “It’s not bad. The tattoo machine, I mean.” And Ezra grins, slow curve that just hints at a dimple.   “My Ma always said my tongue is hung in the middle and wags at both ends. If, at any point in this venture, you need me to shut the fuck up do not be shy in saying so,” his face falls, eyes flick away a little, “There’s one more thing before we peel this stencil and get on to our business. I will need to stretch your skin, to make sure the lines are nice and clean, and for that i must rely on this foolish thing.” Ezra catches you around your wrist with his prosthetic hand and squeezes slightly.   “I do not have the sensitivity nor dexterity that i once had,” he says, “I have some haptic feedback, but it’s not the most reliable. If I grip or pinch too hard, you sing out and I will manually adjust the pressure.”  So focused on your left inner wrist and the tracery of your skin that he startles, flinches when you reach for him and grip his upper arm, brief squeeze and then gone.  “I trust you.” His eyes widen for a second, and flick away from yours.   ‘I suppose you do. Else you wouldn’t be here. Let’s get a good look at these lines before we get to fencin’.” Ezra peels the transfer paper up and you feel the pull of it, dark purple lines printed on your inner arm. And that makes it feel real.

You’re going to walk out of here with something like a story in your skin forever.   “The fireweed—“  “I know. The stencil lines are just there to keep me from going too loosey-goosey,” says Ezra, “That being said, how would you feel about some slight splatters? So the stems do not rise so harshly from the water bear’s back, perhaps a bit darker than the color of the fireweed. Something to really make this little fella pop.”  “Dark. Like a dark purple fading up into the pinks.”  “Yeah? What do you think?”  “I like it,” you say, and you feel yourself grin wide, and Ezra’s smile mirrors your own, “This is gonna be so fucking cool.”  “It will,” he says, those dark eyes bracketed in delighted crinkles, “I’ve got you, darlin. We’re gonna make some magic.”

 It doesn’t hurt as much as you thought it would, and you tell Ezra so, and he smiles, bent over your arm.  “Everyone’s pain threshold is a bit different,” he says, “You are squirming very little for your first ink.”’   “I was in labor with my oldest for twenty three hours. This doesn’t even register.”  “The linework is usually worse in terms of sharp pain,” he says, “The color and shading tend to be more persistently annoying. Like a shirt collar rubbing on a sunburn.” He has a light on a swing arm like a dentist uses, framing him in a bright halo as he hunches over your arm, catches his curls in bright filaments, the scruff of his cheeks, slope of his neck, breadth of his shoulders. Sharper pain as he touches the crease between wrist and hand, bracelets of fortune, you think they’re called, draw your breath in a sharp hiss, little hooked curves of the tardigrade’s claws.  “Breathe, sugar, you’re doing just fine. Worst part’s nearly done.” His eyes flick up to catch yours, warm soft and magnified by his glasses. “And I really must know. what’s your favorite dinosaur?”  “Deinonychus,” you answer unthinking, “Dromeosaurs are pretty cool in general, but Deinonychus is my favorite.” And you smile. Knowing exactly what he’s doing and thankful for it. “The raptors in Jurassic Park were actually Deinonychuses. Modeled on them at least. Actual velociraptors are turkey-sized.” Ezra smiles up at you, perfect plump lower lip bisected by a gold ring, damn he’s pretty, and nothing hurts at all.  “Huh,” he says, “And here I was thinkin you were a T-rex girl. S’pose that’s what i get for making assumptions.”  “Well you know what they say about assuming—“  “Indeed I do. My mother was very fond of whipping out that particular turn of phrase.” He stretches your skin so he can get the tardigrade’s odd little mouthparts just so.  “What’s your favorite?”  “Favorite what?” The curved, segmented back takes shape.  “Dinosaur. You can’t just ask someone that question and not answer it yourself.” Ezra stills for a beat, and then the needle starts up again, line sloping down to meet up with a hook-plated foot.  “Ankylosaurus.” he says.  “Really?”  “Sure. Mother Nature took a cow, a snapping turtle and a panzer tank and stuck em in a blender and then tied a cinderblock to the end of it’s tail. What’s not to love? Hmmm,” he swabs at the beaded blood and oozing ink, “Hard part’s done. How about a little breather?” Ezra stands and stretches like a lazy cat, rolls his neck side to side, heads for the refrigerator, tucked in the corner and plastered in stickers, punk bands or microbreweries, you can’t really tell.   “Stretch your legs,” he says, “This next phase will take some time.” You swing your legs over the side of the chair, stand up and then plop back down.  “You okay, darlin?”   “Stood up too fast.”   “Apple or orange?”  “Huh? Orange,” You feel your face going hot, “I followed your instructions—“ Ezra hands you a cold, sweating bottle of orange juice.  “I know you did,” he says, “When you get tattooed, you are signing up for an injury. One that happens over the course of several hours, but an injury all the same.  Everyone reacts a little different. Your sugar just dropped is all. You drink that juice and you’ll be right as rain in no time at all.”  “I thought I’d be okay-“  “And you are,” says Ezra, “I’ve had three hundred pound bikers slither out of the chair at the first sight of blood. It happens sometimes. I’ve gotten woozy a time or two myself.”

He shoves up his shirtsleeve and shows you a dog in a space helmet,   “That’s Laika,” you say.  “Patron Saint of one way trips,” says Ezra, “You can see a bit of wobble in the curve of her helmet. It was far from my first ink and it still hurt like a sonofabitch. You didn’t do a thing wrong, okay?” He rests his hand on your shoulder briefly, warm weight of it grounds you, and he hunkers down so his eyes meet yours, no judgement there, just concern, and without thinking, you mirror him, rest a hand on his vibrantly inked bicep, Laika brave and doomed amid a swirl of watercolored nebulae, his skin warm beneath your palm and you feel the breath rush out of you, didn’t know how hard you were clenching your jaw, didn’t know you tight your chest was.  “Thank you.” And for a beat those lovely, dark eyes hold yours, before they slide away, cheek curved up in a half-smile.  “You are most welcome. Shall we proceed?”

 The color inking goes much as he described, more annoying than painful, like a constant pressing of fingernails against your skin, different gun with more needles packed together, ink laid in, blood wiped away, back and forth over the same bits of skin, needles dipped and rinsed, tiny plastic cups of color that make you think of a child’s paint set, and the two of you settle into easy conversation, a flow back and forth like a gentle tide, mostly Ezra explaining all the hidden delights of Secret Springs, you simply must get breakfast at Cisco’s, it don’t look like much but they’ve got the best biscuits and gravy i’ve ever tasted, and Cee swears by their Hangover Helper, it’s like a layer dip of grease. Hash browns and corned beef hash and scrambled eggs with sausage gravy and cheese sprinkled over it. I keep tellin Frankie he should rename it the Heart Attack Platter, but he won’t hear it— Ezra’s voice and the buzz of the tattoo gun and the rhythm of him pressing into your skin and wiping away the blood and excess ink set you drifting, content to listen to him ramble, like the patter of falling rain.  “So what got you here?” asks Ezra.  “Moira. I saw her ink and asked—“  “No, darlin, what got you here?” And you find it hard to speak, to put into words, did everything right, married and had kids and a house and a good job and a husband who loved you until he didn’t, did everything right and still ended up with an empty house and no one to come home to except the cat. Lilly and Liam and Joey off on their own and settled and they all call you on Sunday like clockwork, as if you are an obligation and not someone who held them when they were small, talked them through the fears of monsters in the closet, talked them through the humiliation of first love, you know they love you, they tell you every time, at the end of every visit, hug you so tight and tell you they love you. Love you too, but you still come home to a dark house and an empty bed, you honestly can’t remember the last time you’ve been touched or kissed or held. Been so long since you did things for you without thinking of him and the kids that it feels wrong, shameful.  “I wanted to do something just for me, I guess.” You frown.  “I’m guessing you are not in the habit,” he says, “Of doing things just for the joy of it.” You laugh, a bright and brittle sound that pulls itself from your throat, even as your eyes burn, his eyes flick up from the brilliant pinks and oranges and purples, and you turn your head away.  “I’ve prodded a raw nerve, I’m sorry. Cee rightly says I have no filter-“  “It’s okay. It’s just…you do everything right and you still end up all alone, you know? Lil and the boys are all doing fine. They call me every Sunday, and I know I should be happy, and I am happy. Happy for them-“  “But not for yourself,” says Ezra. And you think of how the intimacy slowly bled out of your marriage, held on so tight for so long, thought you could muscle through it like you do everything else in your life, but love wasn’t enough, determination wasn’t enough, gritted teeth and stubbornness weren’t enough.   “No. Not for myself.” You frown. You haven’t put it in words before, too busy keeping it together, trying to gut through it like you do everything, keep your head down and push through, “You think your life is one thing and then it just isn’t anymore— this probably seems silly to you.”  “Not at all. I often think of cicadas,” he says, and returns his attention to the fireweed blossoms.  “Cicadas?”  “Yes. They live the majority of their lives under the ground, feasting on roots content with living in the dark and then something calls them up above. They split themselves open, crawl out of their old skins and take flight.”  “You’re saying I’m in the process of crawling out of my own skin,” you say.  “I’m saying that your future doesn’t have to look like your past,” says Ezra.

 “The past is another country,” you say, and you can’t remember where you’ve heard the phrase.  “Just so,” says Ezra, “Just so. We’re redrawing the map right here. And it is a joy to redraw it with you.”  “Are you—are you flirting with me?” Ezra scrunches his face in mock disdain, “I would never ever flirt with a client. That would be deeply unethical and Cee would undoubtedly yell at me. However, once I finish inking this last frond and we slather you in ointment and wrap you up you will no longer be my client-“  “And then?” He smiles at you, all dark eyes and dimples.  “Well then we are just two folks enjoying the moonlight and wetting our toes in the surf. If you’d walk with me a spell. If you can further tolerate my rambling,”  “I think I’d like to get my feet wet.”

[nanowrimo]

Writing Tips for Every Age and Mental State

Not every piece of writing advice will apply to you —  and that’s okay! Sometimes, your writing strategies will change as you go through life or learn more about yourself. NaNo Participant Clara Ward shares writing advice that they've learned over time.

There’s no right way to write. Writing—like life—is about finding your best fit. What follows are tricks that worked for me. Please borrow what works best for you right now. (Then save a few ideas for future you!)

I wrote my first novel four decades ago, when I was thirteen. I’ve written while juggling three jobs or zero. I’ve written as a kid, a parent, and an empty-nester. I’ve learned from my own neurodiversity and mental health challenges along the way.

Each struggle taught me how to customize my writing practice. Here’s a list of what worked for me at different stages. Adapt as you see fit.

Stage 1: Meet Yourself Where You’re At

Outline - For my first novel, I sketched furtive notes on the back pages of a school notebook. I created headings for each page that became section or chapter titles later. Numbers helped me order the scenes and letters delineated details.

Note: Leave extra space for fun facts or snippets of overheard dialog. Years later, I heard a NaNoWriMo buddy joke, “Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel.” My apologies to my high school geometry teacher, who received no such warning.

Avoid Distractions - I needed a closed door to write at first. I couldn’t read other fiction during the week or two when I frantically converted my outline into a rough draft. Luckily, I wasn’t in charge of meals back then!

Stage 2: Find Your People

Give Yourself Permission - I first heard about NaNoWriMo in 2004, when I was parenting, working, and volunteering as if there were two extra days in each week. I hadn’t written a story, an outline, or notes in over a year, but I knew exactly what I wanted to write. I signed up for NaNoWriMo and opened a family meeting by showing the webpage to my spouse and kids. I explained how I’d budget four hours a week for writing in November.

Note: I didn’t complete 50,000 words that first November. But the next year, my kids enthusiastically joined the Young Writers Program!

Enlist Support - Eventually, my kids and I designated one hour each day for writing. There were many distractions, but it felt great! We attended NaNoWriMo write-ins at a donut shop to build community, and my kids each persuaded a friend to join. (Yes, donuts are a sometimes food, but at least they weren’t asking for coffee!). With support and determination—and for me, a bit of sleep debt—we all met our writing goals most years!

Stage 3: Embrace Your True Strengths

Emotion Mapping - In the last couple decades, as attitudes and terminology evolved, I’ve learned a lot about my own neurodivergence and mental health. Oddly enough, the self-knowledge I gained by masking and compensating before I knew those words, informed both my writing and the tips given above. As I became more honest with myself, I brought more emotion to my writing.

Note: Sometimes it helps to skip scenes I’m not in a good headspace to write. I jot down key plot and character points inside curly brackets and skip to a scene that suits my current feelings. Since I don’t used curly brackets anywhere else in my writing, they’re easy to search for when I’m ready to go back.

Fascinations - After years of being warned about “info dumps,” I realized that my own fascinations (neurodivergent or otherwise) were assets that could serve my writing. At the beginning of 2020 I did a deep dive into researching sea creatures and ways to protect our oceans. At the back of my research notebook, I gradually outlined my 2020 NaNoWriMo Novel, Be the Sea. Parts of that outline cross-referenced pages of ocean research or articles I’d saved online.

Note: The system above worked well enough for me that I now have a book deal for Be the Sea, which will be published by Atthis Arts in early 2024!

Seriously though, this isn’t a post about how to get published on a 40-year plan. By matching your writing practices to your ever-changing self, you give all your stories the chance to be told. I wish you and your stories that success!

Clara Ward lives in Silicon Valley on the border between reality and speculative fiction. When not using words to teach or tell stories, Clara uses wood, fiber, and glass to make practical or completely impractical objects. Their short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Decoded Pride, The Arcanist, and as a postcard from Thinking Ink Press. Clara’s 2020 NaNoWriMo novel, Be the Sea, will be available from Atthis Arts in early 2024. For updates on this and other projects, follow Clara on their website. Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva from Pexels

[diazsdimples]

I truly believe Buck takes great delight in helping Christopher with his homework and one of the reasons he's so upset when Christopher moves away for college is because he won't be able to research alongside his best buddy while he does his college essays.

Eddie gets sad when Chris moves away because 1. he's an empty nester now and that's weird and 2. he doesn't get to see his boys hunched over the table together, poring over research articles and talking excitedly when they find a bit of information Chris can use for his assignment.

[scun-gilli]

So, I was wondering about the Demon summoning AU WIP you posted. It looks really fun, what are your plans for it???

I am glad you asked!

I have two other long-fic projects I am working on in the background of TRT. one being the demon summoning and another being a horror fic.

The demon summoning is still in its beginning stages, so the plot is definitely subject to change, however, I'll give you a brief description of my general plot/themes:

The story is a modern/human AU, just so you know

Alastor is a popular podcast host by day and, as we all know, a serial killer by night. He is extremely meticulous with his work but even he knows that the law is starting to sniff him out. He looks back into the occult, a minor obsession of his when he was younger, and tracks down a cult specifically to get his hands on their grimoire (think Apology Tour people with Stolas)

Lucifer is a divorcee and an empty-nester. He has been struggling with his loneliness and longs for something new. He wants to explore and travel and be in nature, but Heaven has forbidden his entry to earth. The only exception to the rule being when he is summoned by a mortal for a deal, not even Heaven can step in.

Alastor summons lucifer to make a deal so that he is never captured, allowing him to continue his *hobbies* without worrying about the police or his dear mother finding out. Lucifer accepts the deal but turn down the idea of owning Alastor's soul, instead, he wants Alastor to be his ticket into staying on earth for an extended period.

Therefore, the bickering roommates are born. Lucifer creates a human disguise and lives on earth with Alastor while also keeping him from capture.

Meanwhile I have all sorts of other hijinks planned with cults, helluva boss crossovers and all sorts of other stuff. My plan is for it to be domestic, fluffy and hopefully funny. It will also probably be a pretty slow burn.

-------------------------------------

The horror fic is basically my excuse to write some creepy monster stuff XD

The plot is heavily inspired by the SCP community. Also a modern/human AU set in the H.A.Z.B.I.N research facility.

Alastor is a seasoned researcher who has recently been entrusted with access to the facility's lowest level, home to their most dangerous anomaly, 7-666 (Codenamed: Lucifer). This particular anomaly is known for being incredibly aggressive, powerful and unpredictable. As Alastor slowly starts to learn more about 7-666, he starts to realize that maybe the previous researchers have been going about it all wrong.

This is planned to include characters from both Hazbin & Helluva with all sorts of shenanigans (I can't help it even though I technically want this to be a grittier story), monster romance, and two misunderstood beings finding their kindred spirit with each other.

------------------------------------

I was thinking of starting to post drabbles or one shots on ao3 just to show y'all the concepts I'm playing with to see if any of them are interesting. Because I do also have ideas for a mafia AU, Eldritch/monster hunter AU, and mayyyyybbbbeee something canonverse. Not to mention the overlord Huskerdust fic I had almost COMPLTELY written before Radioapple stole my heart. That has been sitting in my drafts for ages.

Let me know your thoughts!!!

[sophieinwonderland]

thought you would appreciate the data in this study, its a small sample size but, its nice to see it among the scientific literature, using the word plural, acknowledging endos leaving behind the structural model of dissociation, and advocating for a better understanding of plurals and dissociative trans people.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246874992300042X?dgcid=coauthor

thank you for the good work you do citing sources and combatting misinfo towards endos.

im traumagenic, but my partner is a tulpamancer, and i cant get over the hate they suffer.

good luck, and keep going strong ✌️

Thanks!

It's moments like this that I'm sad Sci-Hub doesn't work for articles past 2021. 😢

Even still, the introduction was interesting even if that's basically all that's available.

The first thing I check on a lot of these articles is just the authors.

And I'm happy to see that these look like mostly new names from reputable clinics and universities. As it concerns debates about endogenic plurality, I'm glad to have more people researching this across the field.

More acknowledgement by more people is incredibly vital.

Beyond that, I love that the connection between plurality and gender is being explored here with the goal of helping systems who are seeking gender-affirming care.

For those who identify as both transgender and plural, the likelihood of receiving affirming care is low. Medical and mental health care often does not meet the needs of the transgender community, frequently reinforcing stigma (Noonan et al., 2018; Rees, Crowe & Harris, 2020). People with dissociative symptoms also have trouble accessing mental health care (Nester, Hawkins & Brand, 2022). Providers’ implicit biases regarding both gender identity and plurality may contribute to these disparities, leading to non-affirming treatment (Price et al., 2022). There is movement toward a more inclusive, affirming approach to this population, one which does not start with an underlying assumption of pathology. One transgender and plural mental health care practitioner noted that dissociation for them was not unreal or pathological (Henkin, 1998). Ribáry, László, Demetrovics and Maraz (2017) interviewed six systems and concluded that, in this cohort, “most systems function relatively well in everyday life” (p.1). The 13 participants with DID in Hunter's study (2016) reported they preferred a client directed approach that honored their subjective experience. Yarbrough (2018) observed that many plural systems did not experience distress from the existence of other internal headmates, and recommended shared decision making among headmates when pursuing treatment. Rivera (2002) concluded that transgender clients with dissociation could “make reasoned choices and they could live relatively peacefully” (p. 51) about gender, asserting that while mental health clinicians should assess for DID, clinicians should not presume that dissociation precludes transgender clients from providing adequate informed consent for transition-related treatment.

I hope research like this helps will help better inform healthcare for systems. This is obviously specific to gender-affirming care but other care, but with luck it can impact result in research into other forms as well.

Added it to my new Studies and Research page.

Thanks again for sharing! 😁

[curly66entrepreneur]

Persona: Ideal Motorcycle Key Wrap Customer

Name: Alex McNight

Age: 56

Occupation: Semi-Retired Architect

Location: Suburban area +/- near scenic countryside

Lifestyle:Alex leads an active yet balanced lifestyle. He enjoys spending weekends exploring scenic routes, occasionally venturing into longer road trips. His ‘work-life balance’ allows him time to pursue hobbies like photography, gardening, and motorcycle maintenance. He values comfort, safety, and reliability but also appreciates a sense of adventure and freedom.

Demographics:

Gender: Male (80% of motorcycle riders are male, however female riders are gradually increasing).

Income: Stable and comfortable, with enough disposable income for hobbies and leisure activities.

Family: Married, ‘empty nester’ or some children living at home in post secondary education; young adult children living independently.

Health: In generally good health

Attitudes and aspirations:

Personality: Pragmatic, nostalgic, and adventurous.

Values: Quality, craftsmanship, reliability, and ease of use.

Motivations:

Reliving youthful memories of bicycling and trail riding on a mini motorcycle.

Exploring new adventures and hobbies. He wants to stay active mentally and physically.

Is interested in connecting with like-minded individuals in riding clubs or groups. Has this through his martial arts group and enjoys it. 

Concerns: Safety, ease of use, ergonomics, enjoyment. He is willing to pay more (within his budget) for quality, things that last, are durable, and well made.

Alex’s Buying Preferences:

Type of Motorcycle / Style of riding: relates to style of Key wrap

Cruisers or touring motorcycles for comfort and long-distance rides.

Adventure or sport-touring bikes for versatility and scenic exploration.

Key Features Desired in a Motorcycle and Gear / equipment: relates to qualities of Key wrap

Comfortable seat and riding position

User-friendly controls and smooth handling.

Modern safety features like ABS, traction control, and stability assist.

Budget: relates to pricing consider status quo pricing (not too low may imply low quality)

Willing to spend for a high-quality motorcycle and gear 

Brand Loyalty: - (this could be a negative in enticing Alex as a customer; may help to partner with someone Alex already has relationship with ex) motorcycle dealership)

Prefers trusted, well-established brands - He likes what he likes because there is established trust for him

Interested in a balance of modern technology and classic design.

Decision-Making Process: another pricing consideration likely status quo pricing

Research-heavy: Reads reviews, watches YouTube videos, and visits forums.

Values in-person experiences like showroom visits. (*)reason for partnering with Motorcycle dealership re Key Wrap)

Consults with peers or dealers for recommendations.(*)

Alex values practicality, style, and durability - therefore, a Key wrap for his motorcycle and other related keys should prioritize the following features:

1. Durability

Materials: High-quality leather or rugged synthetic - resistant to wear and tear.

Quality paracord matches his Adventure preferences as well as quality and quiet function

Solid Construction: ex) metal snaps to ensure longevity.

2. Compact and Organized Design

Holds enough / multiple keys securely, including the motorcycle key, house key, bike lock key 

Slim and lightweight to fit comfortably in any pocket.

3. Protection

Scratch Prevention that will prevent keys from scratching the bike instrument panel/tank or other surfaces.

Secure Closure: Snap button (or zipper) to keep keys secure

4. Accessibility

Quick / Easy Access: Easy to remove key - even one hand with gloves on ie. not too fine or delicate

Adjustability: Able to add / exchange keys 

5. Style

Classic Aesthetic: Timeless design, such as vintage leather, to complement Alex’s cruiser or touring motorcycle.

Color Options: Neutral tones (black, brown, tan) to suit his understated and practical taste. 

Given his interest in safety - high visibility colours may be a consideration (ex - yellow)

Customization: Option for monogramming or embossed logos for a personal touch.

6. Weather Resistance

Protects keys from rain or splashes, especially useful during long rides.

Corrosion-resistant hardware (ex.brass).

7. Noise Reduction - holds keys firmly enough

Reduces jingling sound while riding, i.e noise reduction, improved focus and enjoyment

8. Multi-Functionality 

Built-in tracker slot (e.g., AirTag or Tile) for key location in case of loss.

Consider adding paracord lanyard feature - for extra / emergency cord / tie down 

9. Eco-Friendliness

Sustainable or ethically sourced materials align with his values for quality and responsible living.

9. Lifetime Warranty

A guarantee for Alex regarding the quality and durability of the product

9. Packaging

‘Gift ready’ packaging without being wasteful

[bridgeportbritt]

SimDonia Express | Somewhere between Sage and Umbrage

Emmitt: Well, what'd you think?

Bria: I think it's a cute campus. Good curriculum. Ella seems to like it. And you know I'm a UofB girl, so that certainly doesn't hurt.

Emmitt: Yes, I was surprised you weren't more excited about Ella thinking about BUS.

Bria: I am, it's just... weird that my baby girl is leaving soon and going off to college. I'm not ready for this again.

Emmitt: I know. Time is flying. Doesn't quite feel real yet.

Bria: Soon, we'll be empty nesters!

Emmitt: Well, that's certainly weird to think about.

Bria: Very.

Emmitt: So, how are you feeling lately? I have to admit, it was nice seeing you on campus, harassing poor student guides with questions. Feels like my Bria is back.

Bria laughs: I was not harassing! I had all very valid questions! But, clearly your daughter didn't feel the same.

Emmitt: Teenagers. I know deep... deep deep down she appreciates her mom being in better spirits and looking out for her.

Bria sarcastic: Yeah, I'm sure.

Emmitt jokes: She is. Just look at her. Swelling with appreciation.

Bria laughs: Ah, yes. So much appreciation in those eyes. So engaged. So loving.

Ella annoyed: Ughhh. Leave me alone!

Emmitt and Bria laugh

Emmitt: But, seriously, my love. Seeing you out and about, seemingly back to your old self? It makes us all feel really good. We've all been really worried about you.

Bria: Having you and the kids there to support me has been... more impactful than you all know. You guys are seriously my rock.

Emmitt: We'll always be here to support you, honey. You're our rock, too. We love you.

Bria: I love you too.

Emmitt: Speaking of support...

Bria: Oh, no. Please don't tell me you want to have a certain conversation again. I was in a good mood!

Emmitt: Honey, I know you've already set things in motion and I'm trying to give you your space to figure things out. But, I can't help but feel like you're making decisions that you'll end up regretting.

Bria: Emmitt-

Emmitt: Just hear me out. Please? I have been working ovetime to find a solution. Researching, working with lawyers. I literally hired the best of the best and, Bria, we found something. Something solid.

Bria: Something solid?

Emmitt: Incredibly solid. I know you said you're ready to let KBE go and stop fighting. And I will respect your decision if that's really, truly what you want. But, if you have one more fight in you... I really think we can save KBE.

Bria: Save KBE?

[foxesscramble]

Advent Calendar: Day Fourteen

Mistletoe - Adoption - Barista AU || "Tell me."

Coach x Abby

@allforthegamebingo

_____________

Coach and Abby get lonely when all their OG foxes leave. 

They love their ever-rotating list of foxes, don’t get them wrong, but they will forever have a place in their hearts that only the original foxes can fit.

Empty nesters before they even realized they had a nest, they set out in a different direction.

Adoption.

They’re both getting older and it’s probably a dumb idea but they both have their heart dead set on it.

They talk to Abby a lot and do a lot of research.

They don’t want the game travel or the stress their lives bring to have any impact so they talk a lot more than they normally do.

It does both of them a lot of good.

They end up adopting a one year old named Bailey and they love her so much.

She’s crazy energetic and they’re so crazy tired but it’s worth it.

Abby stays behind during away games and has someone step up to be in the at hand nurse so that she can stay home with Bailey.

She loved outdoor time and meeting new people so she’s a big hit at all the Foxes’ practices and home games. 

The original foxes all love her and walk right past Abby and Coach to greet her first.

All in all it brought them closer together and they could not be happier.

Well, except for when Bailey pees on the floor but the vet says she’ll get better about it over time and it comes with being a rescue.

After all, she’s just barely out of her puppy stage.

[soyouareandrewdobson]

I'm not sure if Dobson ever even READ a Howard and Nester comic before because he seems to miss the point of them entirely and bitched about the "anime" (you mean "manga"?) type style of the last Nester comic...while the actual H&N comic itself had that same kind of style, and I believe was even drawn by a Japanese man. This is something I've noticed about Dobson; he bitches about something he supposedly saw, read, etc. but given what he's complaining about, it makes you wonder if he actually did see what he claims, or if he did, if he paid attention to it but is complaining anyway because he's "supposed to" not like something.

Yeah, to put some things about Dobson really in a nutshell, he was not the greatest when it comes to actually doing research on anything.

As long as he could be opinionated, he was "happy". And even that is a stretch, cause frankly, with how hyperobsessed he was with complaining about stuff rather than actually point out good things too (finding a balance and all that) he kinda hit a wall all by himself.

[reasonsforhope]

"The fledgling of the South Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx mindanensis) has been photographed for the first time in 130 years by eye surgeon and field biologist, Dr. Miguel David De Leon.

The photograph is the first time anyone is able to see the image of the rare small forest kingfisher found only in Mindanao, since the bird was first sighted in Southern Philippines in 1890 during the Steere Expedition.

“Discovered during the Steere Expedition to the Philippines and published in 1890, the fledgling of this Vulnerable species has never been described nor photographed until today,” wrote De Leon in his Facebook post on March 11, 2020, with the photo of the three-weeks-old Dwarf Kingfisher.

The director of the Robert S. Kennedy Bird Conservancy, a group De Leon founded in 2017 with eight field workers and bird photographers, documents birds and habitats to contribute data towards conservation of species and ecosystems.

The Filipino field biologist and his team spent 10 years searching in the avian field trying to document the species nesting, feeding, and breeding behaviors. The dwarf kingfishers are known to be cavity nesters and eat a variety of small invertebrate creatures.

In the book a Guide to the Birds of the Philippines written by Robert S. Kennedy, Pedro C. Gonzales, Edward C. Dickinson, Hector Miranda, and Timothy H. Fisher, it was written that South Philippine dwarf kingfisher perches quietly and darts invisibly from perch to perch.

“Even if we’re watching them closely, they just disappear,” Dr. De Leon said in an interview with The New York Times.

Ceyx mindanensis is the tiniest species of forest kingfisher found only in Mindanao in the Philippines. Its unique call is described as “high-pitched, insect-like, and almost inaudible zeeep.”

Its population is continuously declining, threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.

De Leon hopes that the photographs he had taken will help researchers to learn more about the species.

De Leon also praised his colleagues for faithfully and cheerfully adhering to the strictest guidelines in carrying out avian field research, and shared an excerpt of RSKBC’s Guidelines, “In observing and documenting birds, RSKBC upholds the medical principle of primum non nocere–first, do no harm. . . field work is done with the welfare of the birds as prime import.”

Initiatives to conserve Philippine bird species include sending a breeding pair of Philippine Eagles to Singapore’s conservation bird park, Puerto Princesa City is moving to declare itself as the “Bird Capital of the Philippines”, and the University of the Philippines setting up the “Siyap”, an outdoor exhibit of wild bird sounds in UP Diliman."

-via Good News Pilipinas, May 12, 2020

This makes me so happy 

(via)

[fabricofranchise]

Laundry Franchise Business — Fabrico | Powerhouse Investment Opportunities in 2025

Starting a laundry franchise business in India has never been more promising, especially with a brand like Fabrico leading the charge. With urbanization peaking and busy lifestyles making traditional laundry services obsolete, Fabrico’s professional, tech-enabled model fills a massive gap in the market. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an investor seeking scalable opportunities, Fabrico offers the perfect platform to enter one of India’s fastest-growing service sectors.

Why the Laundry Franchise Market is Booming in India

India’s laundry sector is undergoing a massive transformation. Here’s why:

Increasing disposable incomes among middle-class families.

Growing awareness of hygiene and quality garment care.

Rising demand for convenient services in metros and mini-metros.

Digital transformation in service delivery — app-based laundry pickups are the norm.

According to a study by Research Nester, India’s laundry service industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% till 2030, crossing INR 2,20,000 crore in valuation.

No wonder new-age players like Fabrico are capitalizing on this momentum, making laundry franchise opportunities more lucrative than ever.

Fabrico: India’s Trusted Laundry Franchise Brand

Vision & Mission

Fabrico was launched with one goal: to redefine how India does laundry.

“We believe laundry should be fast, hygienic, affordable — and delivered with care,” — Fabrico Founders

With a focus on Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities, Fabrico brings organized laundry service to places where the unorganized market still dominates.

Fabrico’s Industry Edge

Eco-friendly solvents

Premium-grade equipment

App-based pickups and deliveries

AI-backed logistics and order tracking

Centralized customer support

These aren’t perks. They’re standard.

Key Benefits of Owning a Fabrico Franchise

Low Setup Costs: You don’t need a massive budget to start.

High ROI: Break-even often achieved within 12–18 months.

Tech-driven Operations: Manage everything from your mobile dashboard.

End-to-End Support: Site planning, interiors, staffing, and digital marketing.

Exclusive Territory Rights: You’re the boss in your zone.

Zero Prior Experience Required: Full training included.

How Much Does a Laundry Franchise Cost in India?

Getting into the laundry business with Fabrico is not just affordable — it’s smart investing.

Equipment and Setup

Fabrico ensures your costs are optimized and recovery is swift with their customer generation funnel.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Laundry Franchise

Site Selection and Setup

Choose a high-footfall residential/commercial area

Minimum 200–300 sq. ft. space

Fabrico helps with interior design and technical fittings

Hiring, Training, and Operations

Hire 2–3 local staff (washers, delivery boys)

7-day training at Fabrico HQ

Learn inventory management, order processing, and quality assurance

You’ll be fully ready by Day 30!

Support and Training Provided by Fabrico

Here’s what Fabrico covers for new partners:

Business training modules

Live dashboards for operations

Marketing templates for social & print

Periodic webinars and success coaching

Access to exclusive supply chain vendors

Whether it’s your first business or fifth, Fabrico has your back.

Marketing Strategies That Drive Revenue

Fabrico’s marketing playbook includes:

Local Google Ads campaigns

SEO-optimized microsites

WhatsApp automation for order updates

Referral & loyalty programs

Festive discount banners & creatives

You also get visibility via Fabrico’s main website and social handles. Customers find you.

Success Stories: Franchise Owners Share Their Journey

Ravi, Fabrico Partner — Bhopal

“I started with zero industry knowledge. Today, I process over 3,000 garments monthly. My investment returned in 13 months.”

Meena, Franchisee — Lucknow

“Thanks to Fabrico’s tech, I operate the store while working part-time elsewhere. It runs on autopilot!”

Tier 2 & Tier 3 Cities: The Real Goldmine for Laundry Franchise

Cities like Nagpur, Indore, Raipur, and Amritsar have rising demand.

Less competition than metros

Affordable rents = better margins

Growing millennial population

Fabrico helps map localities with highest growth potential and sets you up where demand already exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a Fabrico franchise?

Just visit https://fabrico.in and fill out the franchise inquiry form. A representative will get in touch within 48 hours.

2. Do I need laundry experience to start?

No! Fabrico offers complete training, SOPs, and tech tools for new business owners.

3. What are the monthly running costs?

Roughly ₹30,000–₹50,000, depending on city and staffing. This includes rent, salaries, and utilities.

4. Can I run this as a passive income model?

Yes, many franchisees hire a manager and oversee operations remotely via the app.

5. Is it suitable for women entrepreneurs?

Absolutely. In fact, Fabrico has a growing network of women-led franchises across India.

6. Do I need to handle customer service?

Fabrico’s central support team handles major escalations, allowing you to focus on operations.

Conclusion: Start Your Franchise Journey with Fabrico Today

Laundry is no longer just a household chore — it’s a multi-crore industry with exploding demand. With Fabrico, you’re not just buying a franchise; you’re investing in a future-proof, service-first business with end-to-end support.

🚀 Ready to own the Laundry and Dry Clean Franchise Business? 📞 Contact Fabrico Now: contact@fabrico.in 🌐 Visit: https://fabrico.in/laundry-franchise-business-in-india

For More Details Read These Articles

Top Laundry Franchise Opportunities Near You: Why FABRICO is #1

Top Franchise Business Opportunities in Small Towns of India for 2025

Discover the Best Franchise Opportunities with Fabrico: Your Path to Success

[jhnneelam]

Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives Market Overview 2025 and forecast till 2037

Higher usage of packaged drinking water, growing health awareness and rapid urbanization are anticipated to promote the growth of global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market and help to garner a revenue of USD 98.5 billion by 2037.

The recent market research analysis of “Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2037” by Research Nester delivers an in-depth competitors’ analysis and a detailed overview of the global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market in terms of market segmentation by additive, type, application, end-user, and by region over the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037.

Further, for the in-depth analysis, the report encompasses the industry growth indicators, restraints, supply and demand risk, along with detailed discussion on current and future market trends that are associated with the growth of the global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market. These analyses help organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future. Additionally, the growth opportunities exposed by the market is poised to gain significant momentum in the next few years.

Request Report Sample@

Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market to find numerous growth opportunities on the back of growing beverage industry and textile industry, finds Research Nester

The global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market is estimated to grow majorly on account of the increasing intake of bottled drinking water which is considered a far better substitute as compared to other packaged beverages. Roughly 16 billion gallons of bottled water were consumed by Americans in 2020, which represents a 4% increase from 2019. Furthermore, growing health awareness among consumers, and escalation in the textile industry are some of the major factors anticipated to fuel the growth of the market during forecast period.

The global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market is segmented on the basis of end-user into healthcare, packaging, consumer goods, sports & leisure, and others.  The healthcare segment is to garner the highest revenue by the end of 2037 by growing at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Rise in healthcare infrastructure, and increased incidence of epidemic outbreaks including COVID-19, and H1N1 swine flu is to propel the segment’s growth.

By region, the Asia Pacific Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market is to generate the highest revenue by the end of 2037. This growth is anticipated on the account of rising consumption of packaged food items, and the remarkable progression of chief end-use industries i.e., packaging, healthcare, automotive & transportation, and beverage in the region.

The research is global in nature and covers detailed analysis on the Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market in North America (U.S., Canada), Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC [Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark], Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC [Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman], North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa). In addition, analysis comprising of global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market size, Y-O-Y growth & opportunity analysis, market players’ competitive study, investment opportunities, demand for future outlook etc. has also been covered and displayed in the research report.

This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market which includes company profiling of Clariant International Ltd, Parx Materials NV, Lonza Group Ltd., Covestro AG, Avient Corporation, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Microban International, Ltd., Milliken & Company, and others. The profiling enfolds key information of the companies which encompasses business overview, products and services, key financials and recent news and developments. On the whole, the report depicts detailed overview of the global Pyridine and Pyridine Derivatives market that will help industry consultants, equipment manufacturers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future. 

Access our detailed report at:

 Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision in order to avoid future uncertainties.

Contact for more Info:

AJ Daniel

Email: info@researchnester.com

U.S. Phone: +1 646 586 9123

U.K. Phone: +44 203 608 5919