#Socket Programming

[learn-python-programming-online]

Python Networking: Socket Programming for Students

In simple terms, Python networking involves the ability of Python programs to communicate over a network, be it through the internet, local area network (LAN), or any other network configuration. It enables applications to exchange data, share resources, and collaborate across different devices.

Getting Started with Sockets

At the heart of Python networking lies the concept of sockets. Think of a socket as a communication endpoint that allows two nodes on a network to communicate with each other. Just like plugging in a socket to power up a device, socket programming in Python involves creating these communication channels to send and receive data.

Error Handling

Like any programming task, Python networking isn't immune to errors. From connection issues to data transmission errors, various exceptions can occur during network communication. Proper error handling ensures that your program gracefully handles these unexpected situations, enhancing its reliability.

Real-World Applications

The applications of Python networking are virtually endless. From building chat applications and file sharing systems to implementing networked games and distributed computing platforms, the possibilities are vast. With the right skills, you can turn your networking ideas into reality.

Advanced Topics: Threading and Multiprocessing

To take your Python networking skills to the next level, delve into advanced topics like threading and multiprocessing. These techniques allow you to optimize performance, utilize multiple CPU cores efficiently, and design robust, scalable network applications.

Security Considerations

In an interconnected world, security is paramount. When developing network applications with Python, pay close attention to security considerations such as data encryption, authentication, and secure protocols. By implementing robust security measures, you can safeguard your applications against potential threats.

Best Practices

To become proficient in Python networking, adhere to best practices such as code modularization, documentation, and version control. Following industry standards and community guidelines ensures that your code is readable, maintainable, and easy to collaborate on with other developers.

Resources for Further Learning

Ready to embark on your Python networking journey? Explore online tutorials, documentation, and books dedicated to Python networking and socket programming. Join online communities, participate in forums, and leverage open-source projects to accelerate your learning and stay updated on the latest developments.

Conclusion

Python networking opens doors to endless possibilities in the realm of computer networking. By mastering socket programming and understanding the intricacies of network communication, you can develop powerful, scalable applications that leverage the power of interconnected systems.

Ready to master Python networking through socket programming? Enroll now in the LearNowx Python Training Course and unleash your potential in building robust network applications! Join us today and start your journey towards becoming a proficient Python developer.

[venezart]

APPLE’S REJECTION OF META AI TOOLS: A STANCE ON PRIVACY AND SECURITY

[sock-to-the-third]

RIP ai artist, they don’t stand a chance.

he actually said this in canon guys i was there

[equiptest]

How to Choose the Right Manual Fixture for Your Testing Needs: A Step-by-Step Guide

In the world of electronics testing and precision manufacturing, the right tools can make the difference between flawless performance and costly rework. Among those tools, the manual fixture plays a pivotal yet often underrated role in ensuring quality, consistency, and efficiency. Whether you're testing PCBs, wiring harnesses, or microelectronic components, selecting the ideal manual fixture is crucial for optimizing test results and minimizing downtime.

But with countless configurations, materials, and functions available, how do you determine which fixture is best suited for your testing environment?

In this guide, we’ll break down the key steps and considerations to help you choose the perfect manual fixture for your specific needs—whether you’re a test engineer, production manager, or quality control specialist.

Step 1: Define Your Testing Objectives Clearly

Before exploring fixture options, clarify what you want the fixture to accomplish. Are you focused on functional testing, continuity testing, or high-voltage isolation? Will it be used in a high-volume production environment or for prototype verification?

Understanding your goals will help narrow down the required features, such as:

Contact type (spring-loaded pins, pogo pins, etc.)

Force requirements

Number of test points

Load/unload speed

At Equip-Test, manual fixture solutions are available for everything from standard bed-of-nails setups to fully customized designs tailored to specific PCB layouts and test flows.

Step 2: Assess the Component or Board Geometry

Next, evaluate the physical characteristics of the unit under test (UUT):

What are the dimensions of the board or component?

Are there connectors or edge contacts?

Does the test require double-sided probing?

These factors will influence the fixture’s platform size, the arrangement of test probes, and whether a top-side pressure plate or vacuum hold-down is necessary.

Equip-Test offers both standard and modular manual fixture systems, making it easier to accommodate complex board geometries without reinventing the wheel every time.

Step 3: Choose the Right Probing Technology

One of the most critical aspects of a manual fixture is the selection of test probes. Depending on the signal integrity, current rating, and pitch requirements, you might need:

Standard spring-loaded probes for through-hole or SMT pads

High-frequency probes for RF circuits

Kelvin probes for low-resistance measurements

Special probes for surface wear or sensitive contacts

Don’t overlook the importance of probe life cycle and accessibility, especially in high-throughput environments.

Equip-Test's vast test probe catalog is engineered to support virtually every test scenario imaginable, ensuring precision and durability.

Step 4: Factor in Ergonomics and Operator Safety

Manual fixtures should not only be functional but also comfortable and safe to use. Consider:

Lever mechanisms or pneumatic assist for high-contact-count boards

Clear visibility and easy access to the DUT

Built-in ESD protection

Shielding for high-voltage applications

A poorly designed manual fixture can increase operator fatigue and error rates. Ergonomic enhancements also reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries during continuous operation.

Step 5: Plan for Scalability and Maintenance

If your test needs might change in the near future, it’s wise to invest in a modular or upgradable fixture. Look for designs that allow:

Easy probe replacement

Interchangeable probe plates

Quick fixture swaps for different board versions

This is where modular fixture platforms from Equip-Test really shine. These fixtures can be easily reconfigured or upgraded, providing flexibility without excessive downtime or new tooling costs.

Step 6: Work with a Trusted Fixture Manufacturer

Even with a clear checklist, designing the perfect fixture isn’t always DIY-friendly. Partnering with a company that specializes in test fixture development ensures:

Optimal layout and mechanical design

High-quality materials and build

Fast turnaround and support for modifications

Integration with test equipment (ICT, functional testers, etc.)

Equip-Test has been at the forefront of manual fixture solutions for years, supporting global electronics manufacturers with robust, reliable test platforms. Whether you're outfitting a new production line or upgrading legacy systems, their engineering team brings unmatched expertise to every custom fixture build.

Final Thoughts: Precision Starts at the Fixture

Your test equipment is only as good as the connection it makes with the unit under test—and that connection starts with a well-chosen manual fixture. By carefully considering your application requirements, board design, probe technology, ergonomics, and future needs, you can ensure accurate, repeatable test results while keeping costs under control.

Ready to explore your options or need expert advice? Visit Equip-Test to discover high-performance manual fixtures designed to elevate your testing process from the ground up.

[fine4une]

I told one of the leeches I have that I ve been carrying their workload in front of their faces, she said shes very gratefull and she thinks this is enough. The ungrounded passive aggressiveness they show amazes me. Yes you will be a parasyte for the rest of your life because you dont have other options, your fried brain wont allow otherwise. I will take pleasure watching you drown in the stress of it.

+ I exclusively form my project teams all women to not to let a male get credit from our labor. Just because I dont remove your name from the project like i do to males doesnt mean you get to take full advantage of it

[emblogicsblog]

Project and Training in Network Programming

Master Network Programming with Emblogic's Linux Socket Programming Course in Noida. project and training in Network Programming - Emblogic offers hands-on training in Linux Networking Socket Programming in Noida, providing a strong foundation for building projects and preparing students for placements in multinational companies. This program is ideal for those aspiring to master network communication and build cutting-edge software solutions.

What is Socket Programming?

Socket programming is a fundamental technology for enabling communication between software applications over networks like TCP/IP. A socket acts as an endpoint for sending and receiving data, allowing two systems—whether on a local area network (LAN) or the Internet—to exchange information. Sockets also enable communication between processes on the same machine.

How Does Socket Communication Work?

The client creates a local TCP socket by specifying the server's IP address and port number.

The client's TCP establishes a connection with the server's TCP.

The server creates a new socket to handle communication with the client.

The client sends requests to the server, which responds with the required data or service.

Data exchange happens over the TCP/IP protocol, ensuring reliable and secure communication.

Why Choose Emblogic?

Emblogic’s course is project-based, emphasizing practical applications of socket programming. You’ll learn to:

Build client-server applications.

Create custom network protocols using a socket stack.

Implement inter-process communication.

Our training ensures you gain in-depth knowledge and real-world experience, making you job-ready for opportunities in leading tech companies.

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional looking to upgrade your skills, Emblogic provides the perfect platform to excel in Linux Networking Socket Programming. Join us to build your expertise and take the next step in your career!

Linux Networking socket Programming Noida, Project based Linux Networking socket Programming, Linux Socket Programming Noida, Networking Socket Programming Course, Client-Server Application Development, TCP/IP Communication Training, Linux Networking Projects, Socket Programming Certification, Inter-Process Communication Training, Network Protocol Development.

[221berkeleysquare]

sorry I just gotta let y'all see the previous tags

Do you have improper cooling?

Are your fans not spinning fast enough?

Was your heatsink not installed right?

Did you forget thermal paste?

Cuz baby, you are HOT!

[itgetsbetter]

Brands still supporting LGBTQ+ youth??

So as a nonprofit we know corporate Pride and rainbow-washing isn't everything - that's why we do tons of community-sourced fundraising like Digital Pride. But with quite a few brands pulling back their support for DEI programs, Pride month, and nonprofit donations this year, we've been seeing a lot of you ask which brands and companies are still out there supporting our community?

We make a list of our major Brand Partners every year so you can see which brands chose to invest support in LGBTQ+ youth specifically - and that's out now! This year's list of major partners includes long time allies and some new ones, too:

American Eagle

MAC Cosmetics VIVA GLAM

Converse

Elf Cosmetics

Bungie Foundation

Banter

Zenni Optical

Sam Edelman

Humble Bundle

Juliette Has A Gun

Nature's Path Organic

Puttshack

Second Pride

Renfrew Pro

Nahvalur

Ardell

Hampton Water

The Good Patch

Pop Sockets

VooDoo Doughnuts

[witherby]

(same anon) mouse!!! sorgy!!

Okay! Strange influx of mutilation-based hypotheticals I've been receiving lately, but okay!

This is not canon to the main Flittermouse series!

What would your family + Kon do if you lost an eye?

⚠️ vague description of injury, loss of an eyeball ⚠️

Masterlist is Here!

Bruce:

Get you a doctor and try to keep you as chill as possible. This man has trained himself not to panic in terrible situations and he is going to stay so very calm and cool and collected, so that you feel like he's got this under control.

"Hi, honey. I can see we've got a bit of a problem on our hands. Don't freak out — I'm gonna figure this out for you, alright? Keep that eye — the socket — keep the eyelids closed. Yes, great. Press this towel gently to your face and hold it there. I'm taking you to the hospital. Are you — okay, and the shock has set in. It's alright. I'm right here. It's okay."

Hal:

Try not to pass out. There's just a socket where your eyeball should be. That's insane. He's calling Bruce for help and not looking at you. He's actually quite frightened that you ended up this way and the guilt at his initial, improper reaction is gonna tear him apart later.

"Oh my god?? What happened!! No don't tell me, we have to get you help first. Holy shit. How did you lose a whole — gag — eye? NO don't tell me!! It's okay, Mousey, it's fine! Deep breaths, don't pass out. You look like you're gonna pass out. Me?? I'm not gonna pass — hrk — I'm good I'm good. How is the whole thing gone like that!? NO DON'T TELL ME. BRUCE ANSWER THE FUCKING PHONE —"

Alfred:

Following a similar procedure as Bruce. Keeping himself calm so that you'll try to be calm, while he's getting you help.

"I've actually seen something similar to this happen before. I'm former British Intelligence, there is very little that's new to me, my darling Flittermouse. Come, let me administer a pain killer and then escort you to my car. I'm sure that smarts quite a bit. Watch your step — forgive the poor choice of words. I have you, dear. Let's get you to the emergency room and get that taken care of. All you have to do is stay awake."

Dick:

Almost passed out, not gonna lie. There's a hole in your head that isn't supposed to be there. It's fucking horrifying. Only his years and years of training help him keep his cool enough to get you to the emergency room, but after that he's breaking down and crying.

Jason:

Takes you to the ER but he's asking you as many questions as possible before you succumb to shock.

"What happened? Who did this? What do you remember? Are you hurt anywhere else?"

After you're in the doctors' hands, he's chasing leads so he can kill the bastard that cost you an eye.

Tim:

He's freaked. Worse than Hal even. I think he deserves a big character flaw so he'd actually be incredibly squeamish. Can't do the gorey shit at all. Like, can't breathe, can't look at you, can't-do-anything-except-have-a-panic-attack kind of freaked. His panic feeds into your panic until you're both uselessly crying into a phone calling 9-1-1. It works, and help comes, but boy he does not have control of the situation.

Damian:

At this point, you're old enough that Damian is in the middle of his doctorate program and residency, if not already done with it. He's doing a fantastic job treating the wound and making sure you don't get hurt worse or it gets infected, before he can't do anything more without surgery and takes you to the hospital.

Medical jargon flies out of his mouth when he talks to coworkers and seamlessly guides you through the corridors to the correct area, communicating what you need and having them prep a surgical team.

In-between it all, he's not giving you meaningless platitudes but he is telling you that everything is going to be fine. You'll likely have some bad depth perception for a long time, but this isn't the end of anything. You can go to culinary school. You can apply for a business license. You can keep dating the alien half-breed idiot. You'll just do all of that with one less eyeball. And the person who did it will die, but you don't need to bother yourself with that. It's fine.

+ Conner:

You'll be flown to the hospital in 0.2 seconds. He's not asking questions, he's not making any phone calls, he's just taking action. He gets you help, he tells you he'll be right back, and then he goes and alerts your family as to what happened.

Now that the most important bits are done, he's using his powers to get a lil freaky. He knows what you smell like, so he's tracing back your blood to try and find your missing eyeball so he can kill whoever took it. No questions asked. Sorry, you don't get to hurt his mate and also survive the next 24 hours. It's just not happening. Don't blubber, don't bargain, don't try to explain yourself. Just die.

After his errands are done, he isn't leaving your side again.

[puhpandas]

very interesting. I think this says a lot about how to see the tragicness of the mimic. it's less that it's tragic because its misunderstood and responding to programming but because it was created to be apart of a family but because of mistreatment decided it'd turn to violence. it WANTS to stay in it's current mind and stay violent and keep hurting people. that data diver Arnold uses in the game must be the only one fazent has, because of how dispatch insists that you can NOT lose it. the mimic must know that it has the power to reboot it because it heard M1/F10N4s pleas to Edwin. it doesn't WANT to and took the data diver so nobody had it to reset it and ripped out the socket it had to ensure that further

[morbidology]

Howard Dully’s story is one of resilience in the face of horrific medical malpractice and the complexities of mental health care in the mid-20th century. He had born in 1948 and was just 12-years-old when he was subjected to a transorbital lobotomy by the notorious Dr. Walter Freeman.

Dr. Freeman was a neurologist known for popularizing this invasive procedure in the United States. He had managed to convince Howard's stepmother, Lou, that the procedure would “cure” her stepson of what she perceived as troubling behavior. Without Howard’s father fully understanding the severity of the operation, Freeman performed the lobotomy by inserting an ice pick-like instrument into Howard’s brain through his eye sockets. As a result, Howard suffered lifelong physical and psychological scars from an operation performed without just cause.

For years after the procedure, he struggled with behavioral issues, homelessness, and challenges in maintaining relationships, all likely exacerbated by his lobotomy. His behavior, which Freeman had diagnosed as rebellious and defiant, was no more than typical for a boy his age, yet it was labeled as a psychiatric disorder. The lobotomy left him emotionally numb and unable to engage in life fully. Howard's life became a series of hardships, as he was institutionalized and shifted from place to place, largely without a stable or supportive environment to help him manage the trauma inflicted by the operation.

Decades later, Howard embarked on a journey to understand the details of his past and confront the trauma of his youth. In 2005, he documented this journey in the radio program My Lobotomy, which aired on NPR and captivated listeners worldwide. The program detailed his search for his medical records, his interviews with family members, and conversations with psychiatric experts to piece together what happened.

This process of discovery allowed Howard to finally understand the profound impact of Freeman’s actions and find a sense of closure. He went on to write a book about his ordeal, titled My Lobotomy.

[mist-see]

Background check.

Cw: harassment within military, fist fighting (?) mean reader, mention of sa, older reader between the age of 35-40, female aligned reader, lioness program. Kinda serious- fluff plot line.

The 141 squad who watches the usually calm and collected captain of the lioness program in shock as she sprints over to the line-up of recruits, cream colored boots stomping the cement as she heads to a specific man who stared straight ahead, completely unaware of who was coming towards him.

Price immediately walked forward, not knowing what was about to happen but he knows it couldn’t be good, not when you looked like that, so angry and clearly on a mission to do something that could cause trouble within the community. “Whoa whoa- slow down Captain!” He says shouts out, immediately stepping in front of your path- but you kept going, your eyes going straight through him. Your target was locked.

“Um- Lt-“ Soap glanced over to Ghost- who was already making his way over to his captain in wide strides. “On it.” He said gruffly as he tried to assess the situation. What they didn’t expect was for you to keep running, your arm immediately hooking around John’s neck- clotheslining him. It happened so damn fast he didn’t know what had happened until he hit the concrete gasping for air and clutching his throat as he choked to breathe.

“Oh my god…” Gaz had to cover his mouth in shock, soap eyes almost popping out of its sockets as he watched you mumble a “fuck outta my way,” and stomped up to the recruiter who was obviously now looking at you with his peers. “You!” You shouted, your voice loud and authoritative. “Ma’am? I mean- Capt-oof!” You didn’t even give him a chance to correct himself, your fist balling up and landing straight to his gut.

Price- who was now coming up from the ground with the help of ghost and soap, gaz staring at the scene with confusion. You- you just punched one of the newbies in the fucking gut! This could cause your career- this could demote you and you could get in serious trouble- you literally clotheslined one of the highest ranked person in this compound!- and why isnt he doing anything?

Gaz glanced away from you over to his boss who rubbed at his throat, John’s eyes basically glaring at the back of your head as he watched you drag the recruiter by the back of his neck as if he was a dog- and throw him to the floor. “Should we stop-“ Kyle wanted to ask, but Simon quickly cut him off. “Naahhh…” he muttered through the mask, his lids squinted as he watched the scene.

The recruiter grunted in pain as you kicked him in his ribs. “You gonna tell me to stop, bitch!?” You didn’t let him answer, sending another heavy kick to his stomach, causing him to cough and hold himself, hoping to shield his abdomen from your foot. That shit didn’t matter to you, kicking him onto his back, a broken grunt leaving him as you straddled his waist. “Yes- stop! Please- stop!”

“Ask nicer and I just might!” You taunted as you landed another punch to his sternum, then another one to his to his nose once he lowered his guard. Simon gave his captain a look, silently asking him if they should intervene. The man below you trashed around in pain as he reached up to clutch his nose- but you punched him again, his knuckles digging into his already broken nose causing him to grunt out and sob. “Mind telling me what the hell is going on?!” Price finally spoke up as soon as you landed another punch to the man’s hands, knuckles clashing but it was hurting him more than you.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry! Captain Price please get her off of me! Please stop!” He didn’t want to put his hands on you, and you knew this- and even if he did he still wouldn’t win. You scoffed at his weak apology- the apology that wasn’t meant for you, but for one of your young recruits. “You’re not sorry you did it jackass- you’re sorry you were caught!” He knows exactly what he did- that’s why he was spewing out apologies over and over. He knows what he did was wrong yet he still did it.

Price didn’t know exactly what was going on. But he’d known you for a long time now, and this wasn’t the first time he’s seen you like this. So yes, he wasn’t exactly pleased about you clotheslining him or disturbing basic training- or punching one of his recruits and humiliating the boy… but maybe he should hear you out before he pops a blood vessel. “Get ‘er off…” he pushes Jonny forward, the mohawked male stuttering and looking back to his boss as if he was crazy. But he just gets a stern look from his Lt and captain, making him groan and stomp his way over to you.

“Okay- cmon missus Captain- up ‘n out!” After dodging your elbows and their hard hits towards his face as you landed your bloodied knuckles to the poor lads face and arms, he hooks his arms underneath your armpits and picks you up- surprisingly you didn’t fight back too much- staying almost unnaturally stiff like a mannequin as your nails dug into the roughened skin of the man’s arms. You knew you’d be in trouble for this- you already did enough damage and as much as you’d love to keep going- to give the boy as much pain and hurt as he caused your cub- you knew you had to stop and chill out.

“Okay- okay let me go! I’m calmed!” You shoved your elbow back- to which Johnny groaned and released you, you heavy boots hitting the cold ground as you watched as the young recruiter ball up and sob. Crocodile tears.

“What was tha… hm?… what the hell was that Captain!? You trynna get urself dismissed and sent back to Virginia?” Price dug his finger into your chest, gently pushing you further away from the disgusting man who cried on the ground. The 141 looked at you cautiously, especially Gaz- being newer and not exactly knowing you well. Simon-although quiet, had never saw you this angry before. He’s known you- known of you for going on 15 years and you’ve probably been the most level headed leader he’s known.

He watches intensely as you slapped prices hand away from your chest, that same hand you slapped him with now pointing directly at his captains face. “You! You’re a problem. Are you not doing proper background checks on the people you allow on your team? Hm?!” Prices fists balled up on the side of his body after they fell down, the creases on his forehead deepening even more as he glances back to the lad on the ground who clenched at his leaking nose.

“The hell are you talkin’ about…” his voice was a little lower now that he was beginning to put two and two together. As soon as you mentioned ‘background checks’ it was starting to click. “That motherfucking sicko thought it was a good idea to touch on one of my cubs… and before you say anything- I have proof.” Your jaw was tight, your toes clenching hard on the inside of your shoes as it took everything in you not to push past this man and stump that bitch out.

Gaz immediately caught on as well, his brows shooting up as he looked away from you and his boss to the man on the floor. He can’t believe he almost felt bad for the waste man.

The words coming out of your mouth was hard to hear, but one thing about Price- even though you choked the shit out of him and he wasn’t going to let that go- he immediately believed you. The older man swallowed thickly at this realization, a hand coming up to scratch at his beard- the one he knew damn well he couldn’t have. He gave you one more look- more like a glare before turning around to face the whining boy. “Get ‘em up…” he weakly motioned the boy to Simon.

“I don’t need proof… I believe you… take boy to my office, we’ll chat. Rest of ya, dismissed! You will be called upon at 16:00!” He shoos away the sweaty men, and they quickly disbanded.

Simon yanked up the significantly smaller male, his grip on his arm bruising as he pulled the chap back into the base. Johnny and Gaz of course followed, leaving you and John outside in the cold outside. “You know I’ll have to report this.”

“Do what you have to do.” You shrugged, no hesitation.

Your nonchalantness causes the male to release a sigh. Discipline was the most important thing to have in the military.. if you had no dissapline then you’re useless. The lack of discipline could get you hurt or worse killed. That boys lack of discipline will get him hurt. And trust me, it’ll hurt worse than your kicks and punches.

“You could get let go.” He tries to reason with you, tries to explain that incident could cause you your career, but your eyes were glued to the blood droplets that led back to the base. “I’ll walk away with pride knowing he gets locked away for a very long time.” Your stubbornness almost made him grin, but instead he shook his head in disbelief. His eyes went down to your sides, your fists so tight that the melanin on your knuckles paled. “She’ll be okay.”

“She will.” You spoke matter of factly. This wasn’t your first rodeo. You’ve seen this countless of times, you’ve been through this yourself. The military was filled with nasty men who lack self respect and dignity. But you’ll be dammed if the girls you trained and took care of had to fall victim to one of them.

Your sight from the blood gets covered from the jacket that belonged to John, his eyes still on your knuckles, his hand hesitating as they hovered just near yours. It wasn’t until you placed your hand into his where he comfortably brushed his thumb against the bruied skin. “You should clean up…” this time you didn’t respond monotonously, you didn’t respond at all as your eyes go from his hand on yours to his blue orbs. He was already staring back.

Instantly you swallowed thickly and cleared your throat, your hand pulling back. This was entirely too intimate for your comfort. “Do your damn background checks.” And with that, you shoved past him and headed off to your compound, his blue eyes watching you until you were nothing but a dot to his eyes.

[cy-cyborg]

Tips for Writing and Drawing Amputees: Bandaged Stumps

When writing and drawing amputee characters, unless your character only just lost their limb, they don't need to wear a bandage over their stumps.

to be clear, eda's depiction in the show was fine, since she'd only just lost her arm and went (presumably) without any medical attention, but because the show didn't have much time to show her afterwards, I've noticed a tendency of the fandom to draw her wearing the bandage permanently, so that's why I'm picking on her for my example lol.

It's a bit of a trope at this point, and I think it comes from one of a few different places:

Amputees do wear bandages on their stumps, but usually only for the first 6-12 weeks post-amputation, sometimes longer if the amputation was a result of a burn. It's possible people saw this though and assumed it was permanent.

Most amputees wear a sock made of either cotton or silicone under their prosthetics to provide them with some extra padding. These socks, called liners, often stick out from the top of the prosthetic socket and could possibly be mistaken for a bandage from a distance.

Some amputees will wear compression garments for a few months to a few years after their amputations which could also be mistaken for a bandage from a distance. These garments are designed to stop swelling and reduce phantom pain, but they aren't bandages.

Stumps get cold easier because their circulation typically isn't as good as the rest of the body, so some amputees will wear socks over them even if they aren't wearing a prosthetic to keep warm, which again could be mistaken for a bandage from a distance.

This one is funny, but in my experience unfortunately, it's the most common: people think the end of an amputee's stump is just a perpetual open wound that never heals. Meaning to avoid "gore" it needs to be covered. I've met fully grown adults who believed this until I showed up to work/uni without my prosthetics or socks on.

People are uncomfortable with seeing an uncovered stump and so put bandages over it to avoid confronting their biases.

Some combination of these points.

But yeah, unless your amputee has only just lost their limb in the last few weeks, they don't need a bandage.

The ironic thing too, is that for most amputees, bandaging a stump is nearly impossible. I've been in and out of hospital since I was 1 year old and only ever met 3 nurses and no doctors/surgeons who could successfully bandage my stump in a way that the bandage would even stay on. This is because stumps are usually tapered in shape (meaning they are wider at the top, closer to the body, and thinner at the bottom), so gravity will pull the bandage off 9 times out of 10.

On a final note: it's ok to show your amputee's stump, it's not gore, there's no blood, it just looks like a regular limb that just stops early. In fact, if you are writing/creating anything for kids or that is likely to be seen by kids, I encourage you to show your amputee's stumps at least once. I used to work on a disability awareness program for kids, and I lost count of the amount of times kids were terrified of me, because they all expected my leg to be bloody and gory. For a lot of kids, I was their first real-life exposure to an amputee, meaning they'd never even heard of people like me, or they had seen an amputee on TV, but because the show went out of its way to avoid showing the person's stump, they assumed it must have been because there was "something scary at the end" that they weren't supposed to see (kids are surprisingly perceptive, they will pick up on stuff like that without you realising). And scared kids aren't good at articulating why they're scared, and would often say really mean or hurtful things to me. I knew not to take it personally and learned how to handle those situations, but not everyone is used to dealing with kids. For a new amputee (or anyone who's less confident in their disability), the kinds of things those kids would say could be absolutely confidence destroying. I never blame the kids, it's not their fault, but the whole situation could have been avoided if they had seen people like us before they had the chance to hear the wrong info. Good representation like this can be the difference between a kid crying, making throw-up sounds and calling an amputee "disgusting monsters" (all things I've had kids do/say) and them just being like "oh ok, cool."

[equiptest]

5 Reasons Why Test Sockets Matter in Precision Field

Test sockets may look small in size, but they are essential tools in industries that require precision testing. To make everything work perfectly before the final assembly, Test Sockets temporarily link electronic parts, such as ICs, for testing. 

From IT to Medical, Test Socket has a profound impact. Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why test sockets matter across multiple fields.��

Ensuring Precise Electrical Connections

In the precision area, where even a minute of signal error can disrupt the entire results, test sockets guarantee an accurate electrical connection. Pylon blocks from Equip-Test offer clean signal routes and safe, reproducible connections between testing platforms and fixtures. 

This is essential for testing intricate components, such as integrated circuits (ICs), identifying flaws early, and saving time. 

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[gotta-winwin]

watching him fade away | yjh

⭐ starring: jeonghan

💌 genre: angst, a sprinkle of fluff

💬 preview: It’s been 497 days since Jeonghan had awoken, only to realize he was completely alone.

tw/cw: post apocalyptic, conscious AI!jeonghan, abstract character death, fluff, angst, wounds, based on the song: watching him fade away by mac deMarco

🪽fic rating: pg 🪽word count: 1.8k

☁️ masterlist & a/n: writing this has been quite the journey- and there is no better time to drop this than for the angst olympics! i gift this to @diamonddaze01 as a tentative (+loving) beginning to what i'm sure will be many angst fics to come. don't sue me for emotional damage xoxo

this is a part of the angst olympics -- support other authors here!

SYSTEMS LOADING ….

“How might you need my assistance?” His perfectly crafted eyes blinked open. “My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs!” 

The bird blinked back at him, ruffling its feathers and slowly waddling away.

“Do you need assistance?” 

Silence. 

Jeonghan didn’t really know what to make of it. Had someone purchased him from his creators? Where were they? Why was he sitting, legs spread and back leaning against the wall, in the middle of a giant warehouse? 

“No assistance then.” The monotonous whirr of his system began clicking as he shut himself off once again. 

SYSTEMS REBOOTING …. 

It took Jeonghan approximately 4 days, 6 hours and 47 minutes to realize no one was coming for him. 

Taking his first steps outside, he allowed his scanning mechanisms to take in his surroundings: the splintering hole in the roof, the overgrown walls, the barren landscape. It took him another 6 minutes to realize he was utterly alone. 

And what was an assistant robot supposed to do with no one to assist? The question burned in his mind as his programming worked to figure it out. Who was he supposed to help? 

Cheep. 

Jeonghan looked down. A spotted brown bird had bumped into his foot, its beak lightly chipping away at the metal. He bent down to scoop it up, scanning its features. 

“Baby Wood Thrush.” He identified. “Do you need assistance?” 

And so it began, the unlikely bond between robot and nature. Jeonghan found his purpose in assisting the only living things around him, building shelter for the antelope, finding fresh water for the birds, fixing the warehouse roof for the owls to nest in. 

But Jeonghan quickly learned that the animals couldn’t speak, not in any language his programming could understand. It made Jeonghan feel incredibly lonely. 

SYSTEMS ON ….

Jeonghan had discovered his great affinity for the ocean in his second week as a newly repurposed robot. He couldn’t get too close – the first time he had run in head first, damaging his systems and taking days to repair – but he could sit by the many rocks along the shoreline, moving the crabs and turtles away from the tide. 

It made his chest ache as he trained his eyes on the horizon, wondering if there were people to help on the other side of the water. But maybe he was truly the only thing left of mankind, Jeonghan didn’t know. 

But he did know he was different now. Water had fallen from his eye sockets last night, when he had turned on to find that a windstorm from last night had knocked over the bird nests, taking with it countless eggs he had been nursing. He couldn’t understand how it had happened, but it had. Jeonghan felt weirdly alive. 

The multiple gadgets and cords that made up his physical state felt more like organs and veins, pumping blood through the vessel the creators had called JEONGHAN. Your friendly assistant robot for your everyday needs. But he was much more than that now. 

SYSTEMS IN CHAOS ….

A girl. 

Jeonghan’s mind short circuited as he walked back into the warehouse, arms ladened with fresh fruit and variously shaped sticks. 

“Who-” 

The girl turned to face him, and Jeonghan’s true purpose had never seemed so clear to him as it did now. He was meant to assist her. 

“Do you need assistance?” He asked like he was programmed to, his keen eyes scanning her body for injury. “You’re hungry.” He commented, spilling his armful of things onto the table and picking out the ripest apple, handing it to her. “Eat.”

She looked at him warily. 

“My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs.” 

She took the apple. 

“My name is Y/N.” She introduced herself, and Jeonghan slotted her name into his database. “Have you seen other people pass through here?”

Jeonghan shook his head, instinctively passing her a second apple once she had finished the first. “It’s been 497 days since I became conscious. You’re the first human to pass through.” 

Her lips parted. “497 days.” She repeated. “It feels like it’s been decades.” 

Jeonghan opened his mouth to reply and promptly closed it. He had a million questions to ask her but he knew none of it was his place. It wasn’t his job to question — his job was to assist, to accompany, to take care of his employer. 

“You’re hurt.” He observed once more, noticing the large gash on her right leg. “Let me help you.”

Maybe it was the calming nature of his voice or his pretty face, but she sat down without protest and extended her leg towards him. 

His heart (or lack of one) warmed at the sudden show of trust — that despite the broken world they had found themselves in, there were still pockets of humanity waiting to be found. 

SYSTEMS UP ….

In the next couple days, Jeonghan learned what the word banter truly meant. 

The girl was fast with her wit, cheeky with her words and unforgiving with his heart. He was sure he had a heart now, for it beat thunderously and quickly for her. 

Love was the one thing never programmed into him but he sure knew it now.

“Careful.” He reached a hand out instinctively to steady her, holding her as she regained her balance. “The sunset isn’t going anywhere.” 

He followed behind her as they jumped across the lake, using the rocks as a step bridge. 

“Quickly, Hannie.” She called, waving at him to quicken his pace. “I want to catch it when it’s still pink and purple.” 

“Sunset is 9:00pm tonight.” He informed her, collecting the information from his database. “We have 8 minutes.” 

“Still.” Her smile lit up their surroundings better than any ball of fire could. 

Fuck the sun, he found himself thinking. She was the brightest thing in this barren land and he felt honored to bask in her rays of light. 

“Hannie, look.” She pointed a finger up at the sky once they reached the cliffside. “It’s beautiful.” 

Beautiful. Jeonghan hummed in agreement, silently scrolling through his system’s database to log in a new definition. 

Note: beautiful directly translates to love, the look on a person’s face during the last legs of daylight. Her hair, blowing gently in the wind. 

“How did you end up here?” She asked him, reaching out her hands to intertwine her fingers with his. 

His lips curved into a smile, a natural reaction he couldn’t suppress each time she looked at him with her brightly lit eyes. His nonexistent heart beat - badum, badum, badum - in tandem with the swings of their connected arms. 

Love was a defect, a sickness for a robot, but with her Jeonghan didn’t mind. He would override his code in order to love her as many times as he needed to.

SYSTEMS DOWN…

He could hear the sound of his depleting battery beeping over the gentle rise and fall of her breath. 

Beep. Beep. Beebeebee- 

He flips the warning sign off with a reluctant hand. Oh, how he longed to trade in his expensive metal wares for real flesh and blood. His superpowered technology was utterly useless when it came to obtaining the one thing Jeonghan found himself truly wanting – time. Time with her, with the sky, with the world he had found himself falling in love with. Falling in love with her. 

“Do you love me?” She had asked him one night, as he held her in the rocking chair he had made out of a wilted tree. 

“Of course.” He had replied, because the answer was as clear to him as a math question was. 

“But you’re a robot.” She moved slightly away from him to cup her hands around his face. “A very real looking, very handsome robot, but a robot all the same.” A gentle knock against his chest showed that it was hollow. Empty. Void of anything that could ever produce love. 

Jeonghan knew it didn’t make sense. “I don’t need a heart to know I love you.” He whispered, pressing her hand against his chest, on the area where his heart would’ve been if he were real. “I love you with my whole being, my whole existence. Not just my heart.” 

She smiled, and Jeonghan silently thanked the universe for destroying humanity because it allowed him to meet her. 

SYSTEMS STALLING…

“I’ll go out once the sun rises.” She was lacing up her boot, a defiant look on her face. “I’ll find a battery, a charging port– something. We’ve still got time.”

Jeonghan could only weakly nod from his spot on the wooden chair, his powerless legs limp and useless. 

He could feel himself rotting from within, his nonexistent lungs rattling with each airless breath he took. 

“My love.” He whispered, and she turned back around to face him, halfway out of the garage door. 

“Don’t worry, Hannie.” A brave smile formed across her face, and god, did he love her for that. “I’ll find a way to keep you here with me.”

He nodded and watched her leave. 

Yet Jeonghan could feel it in his systems, the way parts of him were slowly shutting down as all the energy went to conserve his database. His brain. Everything that made him him. 

He was rotting. 

He was fading away.

SYSTEMS FAILING…

Jeonghan knew that the end was near. Sitting propped up against the brick wall of the warehouse, he clutched her hand in his limp ones, eyes roaming her face, lips parted in an attempt to comfort her. 

He was weakening and both of them knew it. 

“We can find the battery you need.” She brought up the idea again, something he had already told her was impossible. “You can’t leave me.” 

He wanted to tell her he didn’t want to leave her. Not like this. Not ever. He had a hundred thousand things to tell her. 

Yet Jeonghan couldn’t speak. 

“You can’t leave me.” She repeated, her eyes plainly showing the hurt she felt at his silence. “You can’t.” Tears tracked down her pretty face. 

Jeonghan closed his eyes. 

“No.” She protested, a warm hand reaching up to touch his cold cheek. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

Jeonghan kept his eyes shut. 

“Look at me, goddamnit!” She yelled, shaking him. Her voice raised and broke. “Jeonghan, please.” 

He couldn’t. Jeonghan didn’t know when he had learned the art of selfishness, but somewhere along the way of loving her, he had become entirely selfish. He couldn’t bear the idea of her crying face being the last thing his database would ever recall seeing. 

God, he was selfish. For he wanted the happy version of her all to himself. 

“Please.” She begged again, her voice weaker this time around. “Look at me. Don’t leave me.”

His lips parted silently, releasing a breath that wasn’t his to breathe. 

“Please.” 

Beep. Beep. Bee-

. . .

SYSTEMS REBOOTING…

“How might you need my assistance?” His perfectly crafted eyes blinked open. “My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs!” 

“Jeonghan?”

A girl stepped into his line of vision, her eyes rubbed raw from crying. 

“Do you need assistance?” 

Silence. 

“Jeonghan? It’s me.” The girl’s voice broke, and he couldn’t figure out why. 

“I’m sorry,” He stood up, scanning her face and entering her into his database. “What is your name?”

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 | Christmas

Feelings become warmer as the weather outside gets colder.

Tags/Warnings: Aged up!Jungkook, Younger!Reader, Age Gap (9 years, JK is mentioned to be 34/35), Angst, Mature romance, Jungkook's ex wife, fluff, flirty Jungkook, fluff!!, smut, Mutual masturbation, my heart is so full

Length: 4k words (oops)

There is no taglist for this fic.

-> Masterlist

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If you ask Jungkook what he’d like for Christmas, won’t the surprise be ruined?

Then again, what if he genuinely doesn’t want anything from you for such an intimate occasion? You’re not really the textbook definition of a couple after all, the dreaded ‘L’ word having never been spoken, so maybe that’s moving too quickly too soon.

Maybe just some sweets? But he seems rather conscious about his physique, maybe he won’t eat it because it doesn’t fit his diet or something. Wait, does he even diet? How come you never thought about that?

You whine loudly in your apartment, letting your head fall into your arms on the table as your laptop offers you no advice on what to do these days. Every question that’s similar to you always includes the mention of a sugar daddy situation or whatnot, or their partners are more than twenty years apart in age, and that’s just not your problem. Jungkook isn’t.. really your sugar daddy or anything. Sure he's been paying your rent, but he’s been doing that because he wants to- you’re offering him nothing in return, and neither does he ask for something.

What are you two, really?

Is he getting you something for Christmas? He seems awfully busy these days after having returned to work from his accident, despite doctor's advice to rest a few days longer. You’re not sure why he was so eager, but you guess that that’s just who he is.

You could ask Taehyung, but that guy could never keep a secret even if held at gunpoint. One stern look from his friend and he’d spill your plan, you’re sure of it- so who else could you ask?

You wonder if Evelyn ever got him anything for Christmas. You’d love to know just to have at least some sort of measurement to go for- but then again, maybe that’s not the best idea to get inspiration from his ex wife.

Something’s heard from your bathroom. You frown.

The moment you open it, water greets you- old washing machine having given up for real now this time, as it’s got just about half an hour left of the current program running, water seeping out from the side of the door. You quickly shut it off, ripping the plug out from the socket on the wall to at least not make an even worse mess, socks soaking up the soapy smelling water.

Great.

At least your mind’s been taken off of your earlier predicament by that.

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Jungkook sighs as he leans back in his office chair, reading over the schedules and meetings again and again. He needs to make sure everything’s alright before he announces his plans to the rest of the company, not wanting to cause trouble for the new year just because of his own selfish reasons.

His secretary brings in a few signed documents, smiling kindly. “everyone’s on board with the dates.” She offers, and Jungkook nods, taking the documents to check the signatures.

“Thank you. Could you file them for me?” he asks, and she nods as always, taking them back.

“and, your uhm.. Miss Evelyn is in the lobby again, asking for you.” She cringes out a smile, making Jungkook groan in dramatized pain as he throws his head back, flinching a bit from the sudden move.

“What the hell does she want?” He whines, making his secretary send him a shrug.

“she refused to tell, as always.” She sighs. “demanded to see you.”

“And I’m about to demand a restraining order..” he mumbles to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose. “send her up. We both know she’s not going to leave on her own accord.” He waves off, and his secretary bows politely before she disappears out of his office.

The second Evelyn enters, he’s feeling odd again. Like he’s just even more agitated to see her than normal.

“Why did you change the pass code on our apartment?” she demands to know, and Jungkook frowns harshly at that.

“Because you no longer live there, nor have any right to enter.” He explains. “what were you doing there in the first place?”

“You said I could have my Christmas party there?” she huffs, crossing her arms.

“I said that last year, because I was not in the country anyways. “ He sighs.

“so?” she wonders, caught off guard.

“so?” He parrots. “this year I’m spending Christmas home. And I no longer need the apartment- its been up for sale since June.”

“But I need it? And you shouldn’t be alone on Christmas anyways, you could’ve attended the party.” She says, walking closer now. “I know we no longer-“

“Who said I’m spending it alone?” He asks, arms crossed to block her off, leaving back in his office chair. “Evelyn, I’ve moved on. You should do the same.”

“You can’t be serious with that kid.” She scoffs. “Jungkook do you know how ridiculous you look? They’re talking about you, you know?” she complains.

“who? Your friends?” He asks. “as if they didn’t talk about me before.”

“That’s different.” She shakes her head. “You’re in your late thirties, Jungkook. She’s what, twenty? Is she even legal?” she laughs, but Jungkook doesn’t bite the bait.

She’s got no business with you.

“I can assure you that our relationship is that of two consenting adults.” He makes sure to pronounce. “and what I do or who I’m doing what with, is none of your business, and it hasn’t been since we divorced. A choice that you happily agreed to, might I add.” He says, hitting a sore spot for her. “I ask you to leave me alone one last time, Evelyn.”

“or what.” She sneers, leaning on his table now.

“the next time you overstep a boundary, no matter which, I will be speaking to you through legal means.” He simply answers. “if I can’t get through you, maybe my lawyer can.” He shrugs off.

“Jungkook I know we ended on not so great terms, but this is stupid.” She begs. “I told you we could try again-“

“Evelyn I’m in a relationship with this woman because I want to, not because I’m in some strange crisis over the loss of you.” He hisses. “not everything is always about you, get it through your head.” He shakes his head, before he gets up to open the door of his office. “and now leave. Or I will have someone help you with that.”

It's quiet, even some of the staff outside looking anxiously as to what’s about to happen, when Evelyn walks into the doorframe.

“I hope you come to your senses soon.” She sighs, disappointed. “before you hurt another woman.” She says, before she leaves, heels loud on the floor as they disappear along with her, leaving him to close his office, and sit back down.

He's not hurting you. He’d never.

He knows he’s been very lenient with Evelyn even long after they divorced, but that was because he truly didn’t care anymore. It didn’t matter, but these days, it does. He doesn’t want her in his life anymore, because that spot she was taking up is now filled with you-

And you fit it so much better than her.

He takes his phone out to call you- a strange urgency inside of him to hear your voice right now as the call is sent out, waiting to be picked up by you. When you do, you sound out of breath. “Hey.” You say, and he chuckles.

“You sound busy.” He greets. “is it a bad time?” He asks, and you don’t answer for a second.

“A little? Not really.” You sigh. “honestly I could use the distraction.” You laugh.

“What’s wrong?” He wonders, signing out of his work laptop.

“my washing machine broke. There’s soap everywhere!” You whine. “my apartment smells like a laundry service.” You complain.

“Is it bad?” He asks, shutting the lid of his laptop. “I can come over in like, half an hour and help you clean up. Did you turn it off?” He worries, getting up to walk over and turn off the AC.

“Yeah I.. pulled the plug in a panic.” You answer. “and no, it’s not… that bad, just my bathroom flooded, it’s already draining.” You sigh. “don’t worry.”

“Hm, too late.” He teases. “I’ll come over as soon as I get out of here, okay?” He asks.

“Alright, but I’m not letting you do much anyways.” You say. “I’m still upset you went to work already.”

“I know.” He agrees, looking out the tall windows for a moment. “thank you for worrying about me.”

It’s quiet for a moment, and he’s wondering if you hung up- when you answer, softly.

“of course.” You say. “that’s what.. you know.. people like us do.” You say.

“people like us?” He wonders.

“Yeah. People who.. like each other.” You tell him.

“I think our feelings extend that of.. liking a little, don’t you think?” He chuckles.

“Maybe?” You ask. “I’m not sure. Like, I feel.. a lot more than just like I like you, but, you know..”

“I’ve not been very clear, haven’t I.” He sighs. “I’m sorry. I’m.. a bit out of practice you could say.” He apologizes.

“No, no its fine.” You wave him off. “just… we’ll figure it out, I’m sure.” You encourage- both of you, in a way.

“I’m sure of that too.” He agrees. “text me what you’d like to eat later. I’ll pick up some food on the way over to you.” He offers.

“Will you stay over?” You wonder.

“Do you want me to?” He asks.

“…yes.” You answer, for the first time actually requesting something from him. “I want you to stay.” You say, and he can feel his heart beat faster, louder.

“Then I’ll stay.” He answers.

Unaware that after you end the call, you’re squealing into your hands like a teenage girl, while he hides his face behind his own hand, a little overwhelmed by it all.

This truly feels like love.

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“The sealing around the door has become loose.” Jungkook mentions as he inspects the old machine for what might’ve caused the soapy disaster, sleeves of his white button up rolled up to his elbows as he finds the issue. “You can just buy a new one, but to be honest, I’d rather you have an entirely new machine.” He shakes his head, leaning back on his heels where he sits on the bathroom floor. “this thing is over ten years old.”

“But they’re expensive..” you huff. “and it’s still working though?” You wonder.

“Sure, but it’s not efficient. It’s too costly to run it.” He shrugs. “what you’re saving in not getting a new one, you basically throw out every time you use it.” He explains. “I’ll buy you a new one, it’s really no big deal.” Jungkook offers as he gets up, moving to dry his hands with a towel. “For now you can wash your stuff at my house. I don’t mind at all.”

You wonder. Does he really not mind?

You’ve only spent a little less than a week at his house, but it felt a little strange. Like he was a guest in his own home the entire time. He didn’t know where certain things were, other stuff like cooking utensils seemed way too new to be used.

“What’re you thinking about?” He wonders, walking up to you to move your hands, lifting them onto his shoulders in a request to have you hug him. His own palms find their resting place on your waist, swaying you a little to the slow beat of the TV playing a Christmas commercial.

“Nothing.” You deny, hands moving to play with the short hairs on his neck.

“liar.” He accuses. “What’s on your mind?”

“Christmas?” You burst out, before you shake your head, Jungkook looking at you a bit confused. “I- I mean, do you want to.. maybe spend, you know, a day of Christmas with me?” You ask, meekly so, averting eye contact. “we could I don’t know.. bake something or..” fuck, you think. Baking?! How childish is that-

“I’d love to.” He answers, an oddly shy grin on his face as he looks at you with eyes sparkling. “I’ve never done that before.” He admits.

“never?” You ask, and he shakes his head. “what do you.. how do you usually spend Christmas?” You ask, and he shrugs.

“I don’t.”

What?

“Evelyn held her Christmas parties, but I’m not a very social guy. So I usually worked during the holidays to escape the whole trouble.” He chuckles.

“Oh.” You simply say, unsure now. You didn’t really think about the possibility of him not wanting to celebrate Christmas at all.

“But, I’d like to have a.. quiet Christmas.” He says suddenly, stepping closer to you. “with you.”

“Oh?” You wonder, finding his gaze again.

“If you’ll have me, that is.” He shrugs. “I’m not upset if you say it’s.. too fast too soon.”

Your lips part-

Before you laugh, tearfully, hiding in his chest as you begin to cry a little. He’s not sure what’s wrong, all he can offer a hand in your back as he lets you calm down.

“I’m sorry- I don’t know why I’m crying.” You laugh, wiping your eyes. “its just- I was.. I was thinking the same. The whole week.” You confess, tired of keeping it all in. “I was stressing- I want to, I want to do so many things now because I feel like I finally have a person to do them with, but I’m worried I might be doing too much now and-“

“Hey.” He says, helping you breathe for a second as he holds your face, cheeks in his palms. “Thank you so much.” He answers.

“..what?” You wonder, sniffling.

“For telling me. For.. trusting me.” He simply answers, wiping your tears. “I thought christmas presents are meant to be given on the 24th?” He chuckles, and you laugh along.

“I was actually wondering what to get you.. if you even want anything..” you shrug, looking down now.

“it really doesn’t matter.” He confesses. “You can simply.. spend that day with me, and I’m happy.”

“But, can I give you a present?” you ask, and he nods.

“if you want to, of course.” He accepts. “I.. actually have a bit of a confession of my own.” He laughs a bit shy now, sitting down on the couch with you. “I’ve worked a bit overtime. To.. do something special, not just for us, but the company as well.” He shrugs. “and you’re the main reason for it.

“Huh?” You wonder, as he opens his phone, showing some of his emails coming in.

All of them are replies to a Company schedule he’s sent out- and all of the preview texts are a variation of gratitude towards it.

“I’ve given most of the company the option to take the holidays off.” He says. “it’s not much- just the last two weeks of December, but.. it felt right.”

“How am I the reason for that?” You wonder.

“You made me realize that there’s.. things more important than work sometimes.” He shrugs, locking his phone to put it on the small coffee table. “I have so many fathers and mothers in my company. Just because I didn’t have children, or a family or just a single person to spend those days with, I never thought about them potentially needing those days off.” He shakes his head. "and if I take those days off to be with.. my own family, why not give them the option as well?” He offers. “it’s only Fair.”

“Do you never visit your parents?” You ask, unsure.

“not really. I didn’t want them to.. ask questions.” He chuckles. “when are the grandkids coming, why is your wife never here, all that.” He laughs. “Eve.. never visited my family much.”

“That sounds like she never really cared much about the holidays.” You mumble.

“She did.” Jungkook denies. “she just didn’t care about me.”

For a moment, you’re quiet- before you jump over your shadow, boldly leaning over to peck his lips, making him almost chase after you a little.

“Well, I care about you.” You confess-

And at that, he truly can’t help but lean over to kiss you properly, eagerly, to make up for the lack of words he’s able to find.

Whatever this is, he no longer cares. He just wants to keep it close, never lose it, bind you to him and have you sheltered in his own home to never have to face any bad things the world seems to throw your way ever again.

“I care about you too.” He breathes against your lips, keeping you close, hands on your waist happily welcoming you onto his lap. It’s the first time he’s seemingly demanding now- taking the upper hand as he encourages the movements of your hips grinding on him with a bit of hesitance.

He'd love to take you, right now, right here- but he also doesn’t have any protection with him.

Maybe he should always have one on hand when meeting you. His hunger is starting to grow with each time he has you, after all. “we don’t.. “ you breathlessly try and argue, as he leans hisnhead into the crook of your neck, kissing the skin. “I have no-“

“Figured.” He chuckles. “Do you want to stop?” He asks, leaning back to look at you.

“I mean.. we have to..” you shrug, and he can see the slight disappointment in your face as you try and adjust yourself.

“Not really.” He shrugs. “There’s more to sex than.. just that, after all.” He suggests, and you look at him, before your eyes can’t help but travel a bit, unsure. Of course he’d be more experienced than you- he’s got a lot more time to have been fooling around after all, and you’re not at all upset at that-

You’re just a bit.. pressured now. What if he thinks you’re boring if he realizes that your past sexual experiences have been.. standard at best?

“don’t feel like you have to.” He makes sure to tell you, and you nod.

“I do want to.” You confess, and even thought you can’t look at him, he still thinks it’s a huge step for you to even reveal this. “I just.. it’s like the Christmas situation, you know?” You shrug. “I want to do so much but, I also worry I might be overwhelming, or that I screw things up and then you got excited for nothing-“

“Hey.” He chuckles, holding your face in his hands again, pecking your lips. “let’s agree that we will probably not get everything right all the time.” He tells you. “we’ll both screw up. I’ll do something that going to make you upset, you’ll do something that’ll make me upset. That’s called living together.” He laughs. “But I’m convinced that we’ll figure it out.”

“Why?” You ask, looking at him- surprised to see his eyes swimming with emotions, not used to seeing him so vulnerable.

“Because I want to believe.” He answers, voice barely anything above a whisper.

And it makes you realize that it’s not just you who got attached. He’s obviously just as invested in you as you are in him, and maybe, just maybe, you’ve never really thought about that. About his worries, what he might fear, what he struggles with. For you, he’s always been that person who has full control over everything.

But can you control who you fall in love with?

“Then..” you adjust your position a little, before you start to play with the buttons of his shirt. “I’ll believe in it, too.”

The kiss you’re offering is gentle, it’s a promise given, and also something more than that. You’re giving yourself to him with this, trusting him to both care for you- but also accepting his trust to handle him with just as much care. You feel sorry for not understanding his situation sooner, but you do now- and it makes a lot of things look a lot less scary.

Living together means making mistakes. And loving each other means working through those mistakes.

You’re moved by his hands to sit on his thigh instead, hips moving over the muscles beneath his pants, while your hands have undone his shirt by now, causing him to shiver a bit, both from the cool touch of your fingers, but also from the gentle manner in which you treat him.

He feels valued. Cherished.

Loved.

The moment your hand undoes his belt to gain access to what’s beneath, his kisses grow more heated, needy almost, his own hands guiding your hips over his leg. But he needs more, moves your legs again to straddle him once more, one of his hands easily slipping into your underwear to find you more than just a little affected.

There’s frustration in him. A need.

He really needs to start carrying a condom around for situations like this.

And it’s obvious this stress is shared by you, if the expression you have and the way you shamelessly run into his fingers are anything to go by. But it’ll have to do, he doesn’t want to risk things, and considering that he’ll spend Christmas with you anyways, it’s not like this is the last time he’ll ever see you.

And he can’t deny that your hands make him feel good enough already.

Mostly because it’s yours that touch him- the emotional connection you both have established at this point making him feel even more sensitive to every form of affection you offer. He feels comfortable and frankly safe enough to let himself fall into your arms freely- trusting you enough that you’ll catch him, just as much as he’d always catch you.

Your hands aren’t even on him- his underwear still between your fingers and his very obvious election, and yet he’s sure he could cum from this alone. You’re clearly chasing your own high as well by now, head leaned on his shoulder, soft whines beneath your heavy breaths causing him to twitch in your hands.

It's when two fingers slip inside you that you become restless, hands on him moving with more urgency as he plays your body like an instrument he’s been professionally trained in. Thumb flicking over your sensitive bud, slick making an almost obscene sound, but it oddly adds to the intimacy of it all.

This is your moment. No one can take this from you.

Your hands stutter a bit in their movements as you reach your peak, but you push though nonetheless to push him over the edge as well- a very particular movement as your fingers trace his outline making him spill, seed staining the fabric of his underwear a darker shade of its grey color.

It's quiet as you catch your breaths, his hand lazily wiping itself on your cotton shorts.

“You want to come to my place for tonight?” He whispers, slowly calming down again.

“Cause you need to change?” You tease, and he chuckles.

“That too.” He admits. “but mostly because I don’t want to sleep without you tonight.” He tells you, leaning over to kiss your cheek. “we could.. uhm. You know, the stores are still open.” He mumbles a bit more hesitant now, as you open your eyes to look at him. “if you.. want to help decorate the house with me.” He tells you almost incoherently.

Just for you to grin brightly, giggling happily into the crook of his neck.

“I’d love to.”