#Three-language policy

[journosatyam]

south-speaks-out-why-maharashtra-hindi-protests-resonate-differently

हिंदी पर महाराष्ट्र में रार, विपक्ष को ऐतराज, NEP पर हंगामे की कहानी

महाराष्ट्र सरकार ने तीन-भाषा नीति को मंजूरी दी है. अब कक्षा 1 से 5 तक के छात्रों के लिए हिंदी को तीसरी अनिवार्य भाषा के तौर पर चुना गया है. दक्षिण भारतीय राज्य, केंद्र की नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार की न�� शिक्षा नीति के खिलाफ मोर्चा खोल बैठे हैं, ऐसे में नए फैसले से महाराष्ट्र में भी सियासी हंगामा बरपा है. इस फैसले की वजह से विपक्षी दलों को एक नया मुद्दा मिल गया है. भाषा और मराठा मानुष की सबसे उग्र राजनीति करने वाले महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना के मुखिया राज ठाकरे ने इस पर बेहद कड़ा रुख अख्तियार किया है.

सिर्फ राज ठाकरे ही नहीं, उनके चचेरे भाई और बाल ठाकरे के बेटे उद्धव ठाकरे भी इस नई नीति से बेहद नाराज हैं. उनके पिता भी मराठी भाषा और स्थानीयता की राजनीति करते थे, अब ठाकरे बंधु भी इस नीति के खिलाफ मुखर हो गए हैं. महा विकास अघाड़ी की एक और सहयोगी पार्टी कांग्रेस ने भी तीन भाषा नीति का विरोध किया है. मनसे, शिवसेना (UBT) और कांग्रेस का कहना है कि स्कूलों में हिंदी को अनिवार्य बनाना गलत है.

पूरा आर्टिकल यहां पढ़ें👇

हिंदी पर महाराष्ट्र में रार, विपक्ष को ऐतराज, NEP पर हंगामे की कहानी

[economicsinaction]

How is the `three-language policy’ useful in India’s school education?

Tamil Nadu is opposing the three-language policy. The national government and politicians of the BJP are also contributing to the politicalisation of the policy. They should make it clear that this policy will not be used to impose Hindi on any state. The adoption of this policy should not be used as a condition to provide funding for education. Instead there should be a lot more discussion and…

[poliphoon]

Narendra Modi and India’s south are facing off over language

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi loves to spar with the south. However noble are his intentions, India’s south sees his provocations as products of his partisan ideology. The southern states cannot be blamed for their perception. Since being voted to power in 2014, the Modi administration has been promoting pet ideas of his parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, aka RSS. Mr Modi’s current…

[rightnewshindi]

काशी-मथुरा पर RSS का बड़ा ऐलान: स्वयंसेवकों को हरी झंडी, तीन भाषा नीति को भी समर्थन!

RSS Announcement: राष्ट्रीय स्वयं सेवक संघ (RSS) ने काशी और मथुरा के मंदिर मुद्दों पर अपनी स्थिति स���फ कर दी है। संगठन के सरकार्यवाह दत्तात्रेय होसबाले ने स्वयंसेवकों को इन मामलों में सक्रिय भूमिका निभाने की छूट दी है। इसके साथ ही उन्होंने तीन भाषा नीति को समर्थन देते हुए भारतीय भाषाओं के संरक्षण पर जोर दिया है। यह घोषणा ऐसे समय में आई है, जब RSS अपनी स्थापना के 100 साल पूरे होने की ओर बढ़ रहा है।…

[grison-in-space]

No you guys you have to read to the part where they reveal one of the most common reasons the companies are bringing them back:

Toothacre also notes some irony in one of the common reasons companies are bringing back DEI policies. “Thirty-three percent said it was harder to hire diverse talent. What did they think was going to happen when they eliminated all of their DEI initiatives? And so they inadvertently created an environment that said, ‘Hey, we don’t care if you are comfortable here or not,’” she said.

Note that about 75% of all the responding companies say that their policy on DEI initiatives is ultimately driven by the bottom line. Do not ever expect a company to behave like a human person; at their cores, corporations are creatures of pure profit. Exceptions to the norm are typically privately owned rather than publicly traded and even then you're basically at the mercy of the collective judgment of a super rich guy or, worse, family with varying levels of generational insulation from any perspective held by someone who has to work for a living.

Anyway. Back to the article. A solid third of companies that rolled back their DEI initiatives are already bringing them back (33%). 21% of that total are doing it "quietly" by sneaking back the submission forms, changing the language, and hoping no one notices they caved, and 12% are openly admitting they made a mistake (like companies normally do when they alter policy). Of the rest? Only 40% of all companies that destroyed DEI initiatives aren't currently discussing or considering any new DEI investment. The remaining 27% of companies that cut back DEI are in various stages of internal discussion about restoring DEI initiatives.

Y'all, people are pushing back. One third of these DEI coward companies reported collective pushback from employees strong enough that they had to take notice. Two thirds of the total companies experienced noticeable consequences of rolling back DEI investment—and for the most part, these consequences weren't coming from boycotts. (These were least likely to be cited as consequences at 9% of companies reporting, but certainly capable of nailing a company in the profits — ask Target.) but from people doing the hard, uncomfortable, risky feeling work of speaking up at their workplaces, turning down job offers or quitting and saying why, changing jobs or organizing unions or agitating for these roles to come back. Workers, who collectively have much more power within a company than customers, are leading the charge here. Thank you, worker-organizers!

[insightfultake]

Balancing Autonomy and Uniformity: The NEP Dilemma in India

India’s education system operates under a complex federal structure where both the Centre and states share responsibilities. However, recent debates surrounding the National Education Policy (NEP) highlight a deeper struggle—one between central oversight and state autonomy. The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to halt the implementation of NEP 2020 has reignited discussions on whether a one-size-fits-all policy is viable for a country as diverse as India.

[youthchronical]

Will implement three-language policy upon coming to power in 2026, says Annamalai

The BJP would implement the three-language policy in Tamil Nadu once it comes to power in 2026, the party’s State unit president K. Annamalai said here on Friday. He claimed that the BJP’s signature campaign for the policy gained public backing, with government school students extending their support. He told mediapersons that a decision pertaining to the BJP’s allies in the State would be made…

[maxbegone]

The election doesn’t start tomorrow, it ends tomorrow.

If you haven’t already, please make sure you are registered to vote and know where your polling place is (vote.org is a great and easy way to get that information). Additionally, please make sure you have a way to get to your polling place. Uber and Lyft often give free or discounted rides to the polls, and this year the car rental company, Hertz, is allowing free one-day rentals to get to the polls. More information on that here.

EDIT: NAACP has a discount code to use for Lyft, valid for two rides up to $20 ($40 total). Use code: NAACPVOTE24

The following states allow same day registration for general elections, ie: the presidential election:

California

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Note: North Dakota does not require formal voter registration, and upon presenting valid identification at a polling place, eligible citizens receive their ballot to vote.

all info here

The following states are required by law to give you time off to vote (between one and three hours):

Alabama

Alaska

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Utah

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*Most states requiring employers to permit voting leave also require that this time is paid. Among the above, the following do not: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Dakota. (info here)

Again, it is your right to vote. If you are in line when the polls close, stay in line. It is your legal right to vote.

If you are turned away at the polls, say the following verbatim: “Give me a provisional ballot with a receipt as required by law.”

If you make a mistake on your ballot, you have the right to ask for a new ballot. Don’t cross anything out, simply ask for a new one.

Poll workers are required to make reasonable accommodations for voters who need, including ballots in other languages or translators.

Canvassing is not allowed at polling places, and no one is allowed to threaten or intimidate voters. You have the right to report anything of the like.

All info taken from here

Some tips:

Don’t wear political merch to the polls.

Don’t engage with anyone about your politics at the polls.

Don’t take phone calls inside your polling place — it can wait, please be respectful.

Research who is running locally and see what their policies are. Additionally, research any local propositions that may be on the ballot. The language on ballots is made to be purposefully confusing, so make sure you read everything carefully in addition to your research.

If you’re able to get up early on Election Day, go right when your polling place opens to beat the line.

REMEMBER: IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!

Here are a list of state-by-state voter protection hotlines, as well as hotlines in various other languages:

Please vote tomorrow if you have not already. It’s so important, and choosing not to vote or voting for a third party is a vote for extremist measures. Vote down the ballot, and do not let anyone bully you into voting one certain way.

What we are seeing throughout this election cycle (and the last two election cycles) is entirely abnormal. The bullying we see from a certain side and its supporters is childish and dangerous. They spew false information, make racist remarks, and sexualize and discriminate fellow candidates. No single presidential candidate is completely and wholly good, so criticize accordingly.

Vote with those you love in mind, vote with your safety in mind, and vote for those who will be affected for decades to come. Vote for someone who speaks coherently, not for someone who is, let’s be honest, not cognitively alright — and that is the bare minimum of the issue.

If you have anything to add to this post, please do. If anything is incorrect, please let me know and I will gladly change it.

Vote. Vote. Vote.

[meowdei]

part two

Starting an internship at the company Satoru’s father owns but you don’t know who he is just yet.

He’s annoying. He always comes back from lunch late, lets his phone ring at his desk (that’s conveniently placed next to yours) past the three ring policy, writes emails with silly and immature sign-offs, cracks jokes during meetings, and somehow, despite always finishing his paperwork late, he never manages to lose his damn job.

You try to mind your own business. But you can’t help but feel him slowly grate at your nerves as he acts so unprofessional and for some weird reason, not one person seems to care.

He seems pretty intrigued with you, too, if matters couldn’t get worse.

“Hey,” he grins. You try to ignore the tilt of his lips in amusement as you just barely fight off rolling your eyes.

“Can I help you with something?” You sigh, “I’m currently in the middle of something that requires my full attention, but maybe we could—”

“You really love your office jargon,” he hums, cutting you off with a wider grin, “so dedicated.”

“Oh, my apologies,” you smile tightly. He seems to straighten a little, some sick, twisted form of excitement rushing through his system at the way he seems to get under your skin. “Allow me to use simpler language for you to understand: go away, I’m busy.”

Someone has to stand up to this prick, you think. He puts in half the effort, and somehow, you’re pretty sure your boss has a soft spot for him. You don’t understand it, and quite frankly, you’ll be damned if a lazy, lackluster man snags a promotion before your hardworking self.

“Oh wow,” he snorts, “breaking your strictly professional streak, are you? You must be really occupied. I guess I’ll borrow your stapler later.”

Gritting your teeth, you give him yet another tight lipped smile before grabbing the stapler off your desk and handing it to him. (A small part of you resists the urge to throw it square at his face. Maybe the image of him on the floor with a bloodied nose would make your day a little easier, but then you’re sure you’d be jobless).

“Here you go,” you say with as much kindness as you can muster. (It’s not a lot). “Please do bring it back when you’re done. Some of us actually complete paper work, so the stapler is a necessity.”

“Oh yeah?” He tilts his head, eyes sparkling with mischief, “don’t worry, I won’t hold your stapler hostage for too long. I wouldn’t want to disrupt the flow of your productivity.”

You watch with wary eyes as he walks back to his desk, stapling some small, tiny note of sorts before walking right back, handing the paper and the stapler to you.

“What’s this?” You raise a brow.

“Some paper work for you to fill out,” he grins, the vagueness of his answer making a vein all but pop in your forehead.

Before you even have a chance to tell him that you most certainly will not be entertaining whatever silly prank he’s playing, he walks right off, sagging into his chair as he does an obnoxious little spin and goes back to typing at his computer. Probably yet another email with a ridiculous ending, you think to yourself.

Against your better judgement, you stare at the note, eyeing the small flap he’s stapled over an index card. You lift it up, quickly scanning over his scribbled writing.

Want to grab coffee during lunch? Check your answer:

▢ yes! ▢ absolutely! ▢ most definitely!

Your eye twitches.

Grabbing a pen, you quickly add a box underneath his (very confident) options, checking it off and writing in neat, pristine handwriting:

▣ not a chance!

You stand, walking over to his desk and ignoring his perked up, excited little smile as you drop the note back on the table and head back to your own desk. A tiny wave of satisfaction weaves through your body when you notice him read over your response and deflate, a small pout forming over his lips.

Regretfully, a small part of you can’t help but acknowledge that he’s actually…kind of cute when his lips are curled like that. But a larger part of you shakes that thought away and cringes internally. It’s a shame his personality ruins the genetic blessings he seems to have been bestowed with.

And you think that’s the end of it—but of course, with someone like Satoru in the office, there’s never the end of anything.

You watch as an email pops up on your screen, opening it only to stare blankly at his name and roll your eyes at the subject line:

────────────────────────

Follow-Up on Submitted Paperwork

Greetings office neighbor,

Thank you for submitting the paperwork. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help but notice that it does not fully align with the outlined guidelines. Could you please provide clarification or revise the submission accordingly?

Thanks a million,

Gojo Satoru :)

────────────────────────

And there he goes again with those obnoxious sign-offs, you think bitterly. Instantly, you’re clicking away at your keyboard as you type back an agitated response. Of course, you really shouldn’t entertain his ridiculous schemes, but something about him gets under your skin enough that you simply can’t help yourself.

You huff in approval at your response as you read it over before hitting send.

Instantly, as if he was waiting, you see his hand reach for his mouse and click on his screen to open your email as his eyes scan over your reply:

────────────────────────

Thank you for reaching out,

Unfortunately, I was unable to fully adhere to the outlined guidelines, as they are not viable in this situation. To address this, I adjusted the submission to align more effectively with a more practical outcome.

Hope that helps!

Your office neighbor :)

────────────────────────

Just when you think he’s given up, he rolls his chair over to your desk, causing a couple of annoyed heads to tilt up and glare at him for the noise before turning their attention back to their work. You pinch your nose as his chair rolls to a stop in front of your desk.

“Yes?” You grit through your teeth.

“Hey, office neighbor,” he hums, “just wanted to clarify your most recent email with you. I’m a bit confused.”

“Which part confused you?” You bat your lashes in faux charm, sarcastically smiling at him as he hums, grabbing a piece of candy from your little bowl of sweets at your desk and helping himself.

Your eye twitches a little at the gesture. Those are for you to enjoy throughout a miserable work day.

“Um…” he trails off as he pretends to think, “I’d say all of it.”

“I see,” you nod slowly, fighting every bone in your body not to snap at him with a colorful choice of words. “Essentially, the options in your original document did not highlight a plausible set of deliverables, so I corrected them for you with a more realistic one. Make sense?”

“Not really,” he sighs dramatically, pretending to scratch his head in confusion. You want nothing more than to grab those snowy locks and slam his face into your paper shredder. “Could you go over it one more time? I’m still lost.”

You’re just about to lose your patience with him when suddenly, the entire office seems to collectively take in a sharp breath, everyone scrambling to look as productive as possible while a tall, older looking man with suspiciously familiar white hair and blue eyes walks through the office. Something in your brain sets off alarm bells, but you can’t quite completely piece it together what it is about him seems so….recognizable.

“Who’s that?” You frown, scrunching your nose in confusion as everyone straightens up.

“That would be the final boss,” he snorts. You roll your eyes at his word choice before blinking and straightening up yourself.

“Oh my god,” you gasp, voice a panicked whisper as you ask, “you mean the owner of this company?”

“Yeah,” he drawls, raising a brow at you in amusement. “Never seen him before?”

“No,” you hiss, “I’m just the intern! Now go back to your desk before he thinks we’re goofing off, I’d like to keep my job, please.”

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” he hums.

You send him a nasty glare, just about at your wits end as you whisper-yell, “I am going to throw my stapler right at your—”

“Satoru, I need you in my office,” comes a stern, deep voice, interrupting you as you quickly shut your mouth.

“You got it, old man,” he salutes in mock seriousness. Suddenly, your spine goes rigid and your eyes widen. The man walks off with a firm nod as Satoru stands, giving you an innocent smile.

Suddenly, it dawns on you just why he looked so strikingly familiar.

“Did you just call him old man?” You blink, mouth agape.

“Yup,” he winks, walking backwards as his eyes stay trained on you while he heads for the elevator. “I’ll put in a good word for you when he’s in a better mood at home tonight. I think we can discuss the specifics over coffee during our lunch hour, yeah?”

[journosatyam]

maharashtra-cm-devendra-fadnavis-nep-hindi-vs-marathi

'हिंदी नहीं थोपी जाएगी, मराठी...', भाषा विवाद पर क्या बोले CM फडणवीस?

महाराष्ट्र के मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस ने हिंदी भाषा के विरोध के बीच बड़ा बयान दिया है. उन्होंने महाराष्ट्र में हिंदी थोपे जाने की चिंताओं को खारिज करते हुए कहा मराठी अनिवार्य बनी रहेगी.

फडणवीस का यह बयान ऐसे वक्त आया है, जब विपक्षी पार्टियां खासकर शिवसेना (यूबीटी) और मनसे सरकार पर नेशनल एजुकेशन पॉलिसी (NEP) के तहत महाराष्ट्र पर हिंदी थोपने का आरोप लगा रही है. इस पर फडणवीस ने कहा, 'यह कहना गलत है कि हिंदी भाषा थोपने की कोशिश की जा रही है. महाराष्ट्र में मराठी अनिवार्य बनी रहेगी.'

पूरा आर्टिकल यहां पढ़ें👇

'हिंदी नहीं थोपी जाएगी, मराठी...', भाषा विवाद पर क्या बोले CM फडणवीस?

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

A Man with a Mission in Two or Three Editions

Bob Floyd x Reader

1.9k words

Warnings: None. Fluff, Bob being a shy cutie, Rooster being a cocky wingman, a tiny bit of language

A/N: Trying something a little different after rewatching Top Gun: Maverick! I hope y'all like it ❤️

Bob was a bookworm. To probably no one’s surprise, he’d been a voracious reader from the time he was still learning his ABC’s on Sesame Street. He was always the kid reading under the covers with a flashlight past his bedtime, annoying his teachers by finishing novels weeks ahead of the class schedule, crashing into light posts and trees because he just couldn’t take his nose out of his book. Hell, sometimes Phoenix had to grab a book out of his hand and stuff it in her purse in the middle of the Hard Deck bar because he’d missed his turn at pool. The man simply loved to read.

But somehow, that wasn’t the reason he spent so much time at the bookshop he was standing in on this drizzly Saturday morning. No, that would be the pretty pair of eyes that followed him from the cash register, the ones that always seemed to sparkle a bit brighter when the little ringing bell announced his arrival.

Normally, Bob liked to come in by himself, so he could quietly gaze at you while you shelved books or helped other customers, customers who weren’t rendered speechless by simply standing too close to you. It was a smidge ridiculous, he admitted to himself. He was in the Navy, a TOPGUN graduate, someone who, despite his bashful appearance, didn’t shy away from danger. But oh, he definitely shied away from the cute bookstore owner who smiled despite his fumbled one-word answers to the questions you asked about the books he bought. Those embarrassingly one-sided conversations were the highlight of his day. His week, really. Just the two of you in the quiet of your cozy little shop.

But no, not today. Today, Bradshaw just had to tag along. “Nothin' better to do,” his buddy had mumbled with a nonchalant shrug when Bob asked if he was sure he wanted to come to the bookstore.

Now, Rooster snuck up behind Bob, who was craning his neck around a bookshelf to get a glimpse of you, still managing to look cute despite the bored look on your face as you counted change in the register.

“Guess now we know why you’re in here all the damn time,” he teased, loud enough to make Bob’s cheeks burn red as he prayed you didn’t hear. “Reading three books a week, my ass.”

Bob let out a little huff as he turned towards Rooster, gritting his teeth. “Lower your voice,” he hissed.

“Why?” Rooster continued, his smirk growing when he saw how he was getting under his friend’s increasingly blushing skin. His eyes flickered to you before he called out, “Hey, honey? This ain’t a library, is it? Do I have to watch my volume?”

Your playful eyes flickered to Bob before settling on Rooster’s smug face. “Normally I’d say no need,” you started slowly. “But if you’re bugging my favorite customer there, I might just need to adopt a noise level policy.”

Favorite customer. The two little words danced in Bob’s ears, which were currently a deep shade of red. Despite the fact that he was here every Saturday morning like clockwork- and sometimes more than that if he could manage- and the fact that you always tried to engage him in conversation at the register, Bob hadn’t quite been sure you knew he existed until this moment. He’d been so sure he was just another customer, someone who blended in with every other person who walked through your door. Surely, you had plenty of customers who flirted with you; how was he, with his monosyllabic responses, supposed to stand out?

Still, there you were, smiling at him as Rooster clapped a hand on his shoulder and gave him a little shove. Bob stumbled forward, clutching the book he’d been carrying around, and approached your little counter.

He adjusted his glasses as he laid the book down in front of you. “Just this one today,” he murmured, barely loud enough for you to hear.

But you were used to his quietness. You liked it. “That’s one of my favorites,” you mused as you took your time finding the bar code that you could’ve found in your sleep. “You’ll have to tell me what you think.”

He nodded absently, his hands fidgeting on the countertop while he watched you scan the book. “Sure.” With a glance over his shoulder, he met Rooster’s eyes; his friend held his hands up, urging Bob to say something, anything, else. “Am I really your favorite customer?” he blurted out.

The small chuckle you breathed out made his heart skip a beat. “Well, one of my favorites,” you corrected, teasing dripping from your voice. “There’s also this dog that comes in with his elderly owner all the time, and this little toddler whose mom had brought her in since she was just a few months old.” Something sparkled in your eyes as you leaned forward on the counter and slid the book towards him. “But you’re definitely in the top three.”

“What’s he have to do to take first place?” Bob didn’t notice Rooster slink over to the register, but now one of those heavy arms slung over his shoulders. “Help a guy out,” he added with a wink.

Was Rooster flirting with you for him? Bob wondered with a wince. This was certainly a new low.

If you thought Rooster’s intervention was lame, you didn’t show it. In fact, your gaze remained firmly on Bob, although your words were in response to Rooster’s question. “How can he take first place,” you repeated with a small hum. “Maybe by asking for my number?” The smile you flashed Bob would have been enough to bring a man back from the brink of death. “Himself, though. No help from the peanut gallery.”

The air caught in Bob’s throat mid-breath. Sure, sometimes women flirted with him- but really, they were flirting with the uniform, not Bob. You, on the other hand, were smiling at the man in glasses who bumbled around your shop a couple times a week and trembled whenever you not-so-accidentally brushed your fingers against his while handing him his purchases. Just Bob.

He shrugged off Rooster’s arm and stood up straight as he could, the way he did whenever an admiral or captain walked by. Deep breath, he reminded himself as he clenched and unclenched his fists. She wants you to ask.

“Do you think I could get your number?” he asked, his voice sounding unfamiliar to his own ears.

That lovely smile widened as you leaned your cheek on your hand. “Depends what you plan to do with it,” you said. Challenged, really. After months of trying to get this guy to respond to your flirting, you were making him work for this. Just a little.

His throat went dry. Oh damn. “I…” He blinked, hoping he didn’t suddenly look as small as he felt. “I could use to… call you?” Your raised eyebrows urged him on. He kind of liked it, the way you emboldened him. He wanted more of it. “I would call you,” he repeated, a little more sure now. “And… I’d ask you out. For coffee.” Oh heck, it was so cute the way you wrinkled your nose. “Dinner,” he tried again; you rewarded him with the return of that dazzling smile. “And-and we’d talk all about the books we’ve read and the books you think I should read, and I’d ask you about your store and I’d even talk about my job, if you wanted me to. And I’d take you home after and walk you to your door and-” He swallowed hard, the flush on your cheeks giving him the courage to go full-speed ahead, fast as the fighter jet he’d just been flying the day before. “And before you go inside, I’d ask to see you again and if I could kiss you goodnight.”

After what felt like an eternity of you staring at Bob, studying him, you finally let out an amused little hum. “That’s the most I’ve ever heard you say,” you mused, drumming your fingernails on the book that still sat between the two of you. “Promise you’ll talk that much at dinner?”

Relief flooded his chest as he nodded. “Yes ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll talk as much as you want me to.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Still holding his gaze, you reached over for a flyer advertising a book and wine night you were hosting the following week- an event Bob had already decided he’d be going to, of course- and used a glittery blue pen to scribble down your name and number. “I’m free tonight, by the way.”

Dazed was the only word to describe Bob as he took the flyer from you. “Tonight,” he echoed, a smile finally stretching across his face. “I’ll, uh, see you tonight.” He looked down at the flyer, admiring your looping letters, the way the glittery ink caught the light, your name- oh. “I’m Robert, by the way,” he blurted out. “Or Bob. Everyone calls me Bob. It’s my callsign.”

It looked like now that you had him talking, he didn’t know how to stop. And it was pretty damn cute, if you were being totally honest. “Nice to finally meet you, Bob.”

“Nice to meet you too.” His shoulders finally relaxed as he just stared at you, the ghost of a smile on his face. “Really nice.”

He probably would have stayed there all day, just taking in the sight of your pretty smile and basking in the pride of finally successfully speaking more than two words to you. But Bradshaw clapped a hand on his shoulder, breaking his gaze from yours.

“Why don’t we let this lady get back to work,” he suggested with a shit-eating grin, “and I help you figure out where you’re taking her for dinner tonight?”

Bob nodded, quickly turning his eyes back to you; oh, thank God, you were still smiling at him. “I’ll see you later,” he promised, raising his hand in a half wave as Rooster finally started dragging him away. “And- and I’ll call you.”

 “You better,” you teased, casually tossing his forgotten book to him; he barely caught it. “Because I’m looking forward to answering your question.”

He paused in the doorway, brows furrowed. “My question?”

You nodded, eyes flittering up and down his figure. “Whether or not you can kiss me.”

“Oh.” He looked down, all of his bashfulness returning with a vengeance. When he looked back at you, you were still grinning. “I hope you say yes,” he admitted, barely loud enough for you to hear.

“Guess you’ll find out tonight.” You offered him a little wave as Rooster yanked him out the door. “Bye, Bob.”

“Goodbye-” But the door had already closed behind him. Bob allowed Rooster to drag him down the block a ways before finally regaining control of his steps. When he looked at his friend, he found the smuggest grin waiting for him.

Rooster chuckled and ruffled Bob’s hair. “You don’t gotta thank me,” he razzed. “Just promise me I’ll be the best man at your wedding.”

Bob grinned and shoved his friend off him. “I think Phoenix’ll fight you on that one. She’s already called dibs.” He glanced down at the flyer and book in his hands, reminders that your conversation really just happened. That you actually wanted to go out with him- and might even let him kiss you.

He’d barely settled into the passenger seat of the car when he pulled out his phone and began typing, ignoring Rooster’s knowing smirk. Sure, maybe it was a little sooner than you expected. But Bob couldn’t help himself; while he didn’t usually read love stories, he knew that he wanted this one to begin as soon as possible.

[mangiomochi]

LM’s Social Media

I made this long post to list all the social media accounts and profiles of Luigi Mangione. As many of you already know, a lot of his profiles have been taken down. The platforms where we could see the more personal side of Luigi and his experiences, like Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, have been deleted. However, fortunately, some of his profiles on other platforms remain active to this day.

I’ll try to list each of these sites. If you see anything that needs to be corrected or know of another LM profile that isn’t listed here, I’d appreciate it if you shared it. My goal is to keep this post as updated as possible.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language, so if you notice anything odd in the writing, I apologize.

Facebook: luigi.mangione.2

Status: Taken Down First post: Jan 17, 2010 Last post: Aug 24, 2019

LM has had a Facebook account for quite some time—likely his first social media platform. His earliest posts date back to 2010. His last post was in 2019, which was also the year he was most active on the platform. That year, he posted several photos from a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with his fraternity and the three months he spent as a head counselor at Stanford in Palo Alto, CA.

Instagram: @luigi.from.fiji

Status: Taken Down First post: Aug 13, 2018 Last post: Aug 27, 2021

LM’s first Instagram post was in the summer of 2018. In that post, he explicitly mentioned that he created the account just to give one more follower to his sister’s blog. (LM has two sisters.) He also tagged his sister @lifewithlu__—or whatever handle she had at the time. If you've come across accounts currently using that handle on Instagram or Twitter, they are fake. LM’s sister apparently changed her username a while ago and later deactivated her account after LM’s arrest.

As for LM’s Instagram activity, his last posts were from the summer of 2021. He shared photos from a trip to Puerto Rico, where he was working remotely for some time, and from a trip to Hawaii with his other sister. LM also posted pictures with a friend he met at Stanford in 2019.

Additionally, LM had a highlight section featuring his predictions for 2027, which he uploaded in Jan 2021.

LM became inactive in 2022, despite appearing in a few posts made by his roommates in Hawaii. However, many of these posts were later deleted, or the accounts were set to private—likely to completely disassociate from LM and the allegations against him, or to avoid harassment from either his supporters or detractors.

In 2022, despite not posting anything himself, he was tagged in various posts and stories by his roommates and friends in Hawaii.

Instagram 2: @luiginmangione (probably fake)

Status: Taken Down

This account is probably fake, but we can’t be entirely sure. Unlike the confirmed account, this one was private and also has been deactivated. It had zero posts and 404 followers—an interesting detail, as "404" in some areas of computing means "not found," which is notable given that LM was reported missing in 2024.

As for the profile picture and bio, there was nothing we hadn’t seen before, making it highly unlikely that this account actually belonged to him.

Instagram 3 or Another Social Media Account

In messages between LM and one of his friends, his friend mentioned that he was wondering who the person trying to follow him was. It seems that in February 2024, LM created an account where it was impossible to recognize that it was him.

YouTube

First active: Unknown Last active: May 2024

You've probably already seen his supposed channel—the one with a single uploaded video and another that was never released. What was in that second video? Most likely some form of self-promotion from whoever was behind that account. Fortunately, the channel was taken down before that could happen.

However, we do know that LM had not just one but three YouTube channels, all of which were unfortunately removed due to YouTube’s absurd policies. According to the CNN article where this was mentioned, LM hadn't uploaded anything in seven months, meaning his last content would have been from May 2024. It's a complete mystery what he had posted—most likely something related to his trip to Asia. Sadly, we may never know. YouTube acted so quickly against LM’s channels that the internet didn’t have time to archive the deleted content.

Another possible type of content LM might have uploaded to these channels includes drone footage from Hawaii and Asia, projects from his time at Penn (2016–2020), or even school projects.

GitHub: lnmangione

Status: Still Up First active: Feb 27, 2015 Last active: May 8, 2021

In case you’re not familiar, GitHub is a platform where users can store and update code—directly related to LM’s career and essential for anyone studying or working in a field that involves coding.

LM was active on GitHub from 2015 to 2021, contributing to personal projects, FTC (Robotics), and university assignments. In 2020, after graduating, he used it to prepare for coding interviews. By 2021, he was mainly working on private projects, likely related to his remote job. Apparently, Luigi stopped being active on GitHub in 2021.

Twitter: @PepMangione

Status: Again, Still Up First tweet: Apr 14, 2016 Last active: Jun 10, 2024

This was probably the social media platform where LM was most active before his arrest. His most active year was 2024, and he had been using this account since 2016, although he didn’t post anything after 2016 and only became active again in 2021

His earliest tweets appear to be automated posts with random numbers, possibly tests for some kind of Twitter-connected application.

Aside from that, his Twitter provides insight into his ideology, which seems somewhat ambiguous. Politically, he didn’t appear to have strong affiliations.

After his arrest, LM’s account was taken down but later reinstated. And it was recently taken down again on March 19, 2025, for a few hours and then reinstated. He followed only 71 people—later 70, after a Japanese poker player he met in Tokyo in February removed him as a follower. Currently, LM’s account has over half a million followers. Before his arrest, several accounts followed LM during the time he was missing—most of them were likely bot accounts, though not all, as some belonged to friends trying to contact him through public tweets you’ve probably already seen.

LM didn’t follow any of his friends on Twitter. Some of his friends did follow him, which means either he never followed them back or he unfollowed them at some point.

Regarding his banner, it consists of three images:

Breloom from Pokémon – This is directly linked to Theory 286, which you may have heard about. It connects Breloom’s Pokédex number (286) with LM’s total number of Twitter posts, which was also 286 (now 285), as well as with certain health insurance denial codes. Personally, I think this is just a coincidence. Breloom was likely there because LM liked the Pokémon—it’s a Fighting type, which can be linked to physical activity, and is a Mushroom, which could relate to his interest in psychedelics.

X-ray from his surgery – This was from a procedure that took place on July 21, 2023 (though I’m not sure if that’s the exact date). This means his header was updated at least after that date.

A shirtless photo of him on a mountain in Hawaii – We know that one of LM’s favorite activities was hiking.

The last known activity of LM on Twitter was on June 10, 2024. That day, he retweeted a post and sent a DM to Gurwinder in response to a tweet, asking him to show him how to curate his feed to display more valuable and educational content.

After LM disappeared, during July, October and November, his friends tried to reach out through tweets and probably also through private messages.

Twitter alt: (Fake)

I don’t remember the name of the account, but it was something related to mushrooms, it was initially linked to LM due to its similarities with his interests. However, it was later clarified that this profile does not belong to LM, and the shared interests were purely coincidental.

Linktree: lnmangione

State: Still up

Linktree is a platform that allows users to compile multiple links into a single page, making it easier to share various profiles, websites, or projects. Many content creators and professionals use it to organize their online presence.

LM did have a Linktree, but instead of links, it only contained a series of emojis. No actual links to his profiles or projects were listed, making it unclear what the purpose of his account was.

Here’s a possible interpretation of LM’s emojis based on what we know about his interests:

💻🤓 – Likely represents his tech side.

🥷🏃‍♂️🧘‍♂️🏋️ – Suggests his active lifestyle, including exercise, meditation, and discipline. The ninja could represent martial arts.

📚🤓 – Reflects his love for books and self-education.

🦍🧠 – Likely represents LM’s interest in gorillas, as seen on his Goodreads, Reddit and Twitter.

🍄🧠 – Likely a nod to his interest in psychedelics.

🐄👨‍⚖️ – Might reference ethical concerns about the meat industry or food regulations. It could also be a nod to Moo’s Law, a book exploring the rise of lab-grown meat, its potential to revolutionize food production, and the ethical, environmental, and economic implications of this technology.

☯️ – Represents balance, Eastern philosophy, or mindfulness practices.

Snapchat: luigimangione

State: Taken down

LM’s Snapchat was listed in his yearbook alongside his Facebook, suggesting he was quite active on the platform. After his arrest, his account remained up for a few days. Someone posted screenshots of his profile on TikTok before it was taken down, but I haven’t been able to find them. Perhaps that profile was also taken down due to TikTok’s constant censorship. His avatar was surprisingly well-made. If anyone has those screenshots and can share them, I would be grateful and will, of course, give credit.

Substack: @anotherdayanotherplay

Status: Still Up

Substack was where LM followed many of the writers he engaged with on Twitter. One of them was Gurwinder, a British blogger whose work LM seemed to appreciate deeply. He liked it enough to purchase a premium subscription to Gurwinder’s Substack blog, The Prism, which costs $200. This subscription granted LM perks like a video call with the writer.

Gurwinder’s articles cover topics such as gamification, short-form video platforms and their negative effects, and NPC behavior.

You can read more about this meeting in the article Gurwinder wrote about LM.

TikTok: @lnmangione (Fake)

Not Owned by LM

If you’ve seen some of LM’s tweets, you’ll know he was against short-form video platforms, making it unlikely that he ever had a TikTok account. The account mentioned here does not appear to belong to LM. Most of its reposted content is in German and English, Additionally, the type of content shared on this account doesn’t align with LM’s known interests.

TikTok started gaining popularity between 2018 and 2020, so we can’t completely rule out the possibility that LM once had an account.

LinkedIn: Luigi Mangione

Status: Still Up Joined: Feb, 2015 Last active: 2023

LinkedIn is the go-to social media platform for job searching, and LM’s profile provides detailed insight into his education and work history. His last known job was at TrueCar, where he had been working remotely for some time. He left this job at some point in 2023, but he never updated his LinkedIn to reflect this change.

The exact reason LM left TrueCar remains unknown. One theory suggests he resigned to take time off for traveling and recovering from his surgery. Another theory points to company-wide layoffs at TrueCar. However, we can’t confirm anything for sure, as TrueCar declined to provide detailed statements, citing employee privacy—specifically in LM’s case.

Reddit: u/mister_cactus

Status: Taken Down Joined: Feb 23, 2016 Last active: May 25, 2024

Reddit was one of the platforms where LM was quite active, and he remained so until May 2024, sharing details about his travel through Asia. LM created his Reddit account in 2016, the same year as his Twitter.

In the beginning, his activity was mostly related to university projects, garage sales, and Pokémon Go. Over the years, he also engaged with posts discussing brain fog, spondylolisthesis (spondy), and other topics. From his comments, we know that at some point, his health insurance provider was Blue Cross Blue Shield. He also shared details about his struggles with spondylolisthesis and how a surfing accident in 2022 worsened his condition.

In 2023, LM posted about his decision to undergo spinal fusion surgery, sharing research on successful cases. His most recent Reddit activity in 2024 included reposting videos of the mass street livestreams that have become common. LM seemed highly aware of how technology was creating these dystopian scenes.

His final Reddit post detailed what he packed for his trip to Asia—notable items included:

Backpacks

An iPhone 13 Mini

A drone - DJI Mini 2 Drone

A physical book (LM preferred them over digital ones)

Other personal essentials

Unfortunately, his account was taken down shortly after being discovered. It's unclear whether this was due to Reddit’s questionable policies or possibly mass reports against the account.

Goodreads: luigimangione

Status: Set to Private

LM’s Goodreads account gained attention after his arrest, offering a detailed look into his reading preferences. His library included a mix of genres, with notable categories such as:

Self-help books

Back pain management

Psychedelics

Agronomics

Moo’s Law

Exercise books

Books about Hawaiian islands

Fantasy and science fiction, including A Brave New World and Harry Potter

LM was quite active on the platform, frequently writing detailed reviews and sometimes even adding handwritten notes to his books.

Steam: Pep

Status: Still Up Joined: Oct 20, 2013 Last active: Jul 7, 2024

Steam is the most popular platform for purchasing games, and LM had been active on it for a long time. His last recorded activity was on July 7, 2024—exactly six months and 2 days before his arrest. The last game he played was PUBG.

Looking at his library, you can see the wide variety of games he played over 11 years since Oct 2013. One touching detail is that many of his friends still have him added, and one of them even changed their username to "FreeLuigi"—a clear sign of loyalty and support. That’s definitely a good friend.

LM also had an alt account added, but nothing noteworthy has been mentioned about this account.

The last games LM played are:

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS – last played on July 7, 2024 Orwell – last played on June 28, 2024 Spelunky 2 – last played on June 2, 2024

Tinder

Joined: Nov 27, 2021 Last active: Dec 18, 2022

Apparently, Luigi was only active on Tinder for a short time in December 2022, though his profile dates back to November 27, 2021. His love life is also a complete mystery, so it’s interesting that he even had a Tinder account. Shoutout to the person who spent 15 bucks to unlock the unique photos Luigi had here 🫶

Trello: @luigimangione

Status: Still Up Joined: Unknown Last active: Unknown

Trello is a platform designed to help teams organize their work. There isn’t much to see on LM’s account, but his profile picture is the protagonist of Spelunky—one of the games he has logged the most hours on in Steam.

Pinterest: luigimangione

Status: Still Up Joined: Unknown Last active: Unknown

There isn’t much to see here. LM only saved a hoodie, likely as a show of support for Tim Urban and his blog Wait But Why—one of the writers he was most enthusiastic about.

Spotify (Fake)

These Spotify profiles began circulating just hours after Luigi Mangione’s name became widely known. However, these profiles are fake and seem to be an attempt to link Luigi to various musical tastes—such as artists like Clairo, Charlie XCX, or Blackpink. If you’ve tried to research Luigi’s musical preferences, you’ll know that there’s very little information available. The only two songs we know Luigi listened to are from his SoundCloud account.

SoundCloud

Status: Still Up Joined: Unknown Last active: Unknown

This is where Luigi liked two EDM tracks that are not very well known. These are currently the only reference we have to LM’s musical tastes.

Chess: sexytwerker69

Status: Still Up Joined: Sep 19, 2017 Last active: Dec 22, 2023

This is one of my favorites. The nickname is quite original and gives us a glimpse into Luigi’s sense of humor. This profile was created in 2017, and the profile picture is a unique selfie of Luigi biting an apple—one of the few selfies he had taken. This confirms that the account is indeed his.

Other noteworthy details include that his last activity on the account was in 2023. Additionally, he had the Italian flag on his profile instead of the American flag, showcasing his pride in his Italian heritage—just in case that wasn’t clear enough.

Venmo

Status: Still Up

Venmo is a personal payment platform commonly used in the United States.

Activity on LM’s account is mostly from 2017, the year when Luigi was selling Christmas lights at his university. While we’re not entirely sure what he was raising money for, many of the payments made to and from him included some of the silly comments that showcased Luigi’s sense of humor.

DISQUS: @luigimangione

State: Still up Joined: Jun 20, 2017 Last active: Jun 20, 2017

LM's only activity here was commenting on a post from Wait But Why. The blog post was Neuralink and the Brain’s Magical Future. This was the only community he followed and his only interaction on the platform.

Sporcle: lnmangione

State: Still up Joined: Jan 23, 2024 Last active: Feb 4, 2024

Sporcle is a trivia and quiz platform where users can test their knowledge on various topics. LM had an account here, among the quizzes he completed were Most Visited Websites, Countries in Europe, SpongeBob Characters, Most Populous Countries, US States, Computer Hardware Parts, Programming Language Popularity, Genetics Vocabulary, Super Secure Bunker and Erase the Periodic Table.

Devpost: luigimangione

State: Still up

This is a platform where developers showcase and submit projects for hackathons. LM was active here during his university years, submitting a project for PennApps competition. Not much to see, but it gives a glimpse into his early coding days.

Other sites that seem to belong to Luigi are:

Apple Profile State: Still up A default profile linked to Apple services, not much to see here.

DockerHub State: Still up A platform for sharing and managing Docker containers, LM had no repositories here.

HackerRank State: Still up A coding challenge site; LM had no public activity or submissions here.

Medium State: Still up A blogging platform; no known posts from LM, but the account exists.

And that would be all the profiles I know of so far. As a small reward for making it to the end of this post, here’s a low-quality picture of Luigi showing off his perfect side profile 🙌

[reasonsforhope]

Paywall-Free Version

"Massachusetts’ so-called “millionaires tax” appears primed to actually deliver billions.

State officials said Monday that the voter-approved surtax on high earners has generated more than $1.8 billion in revenue this fiscal year... meaning state officials could have hundreds of millions of surplus dollars to spend on transportation and education initiatives.

The estimated haul is already $800 million more than what Governor Maura Healey and state lawmakers planned to spend from its revenue in fiscal year 2024, the first full year of its implementation. Most of the additional money raised beyond the $1 billion already budgeted would flow to a reserve account, from which state policymakers can pluck money for one-time investments into projects or programs.

The Department of Revenue won’t certify the official amount raised until later this year. But the estimates immediately buoyed supporters’ claims that the surtax would deliver much-needed revenue for the state despite fears it could drive out some of the state’s wealthiest residents.

“Opponents of the Fair Share Amendment claimed that multi-millionaires would flee Massachusetts rather than pay the new tax, and they are being proven wrong every day,” said Andrew Farnitano, a spokesperson for Raise Up Massachusetts, the union-backed group which pushed the 2022 ballot initiative.

"With this money from the ultra-rich, we can do even more to improve our public schools and colleges, invest in roads, bridges, and public transit, and start building an economy that works for everyone,” Farnitano said.

Voters approved the measure in 2022 to levy an additional 4 percent tax on annual earnings over $1 million. At the time, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank, projected it could generate at least $2 billion a year.

State officials last year put their estimates slightly lower at up to $1.7 billion, and lawmakers embraced calls from economists to cap what it initially spends from the surtax, given it may be too volatile to rely upon in its first year.

So far, it’s vastly exceeded those expectations, generating nearly $1.4 billion alone last quarter [aka January to March, 2024 - just three months!], which coincided with a better-than-expected April for tax collections overall...

State Senator Michael Rodrigues, the state’s budget chief, said on the Senate floor Monday that excess revenue from the tax could ultimately come close to $1 billion for this fiscal year. Under language lawmakers passed last year, 85 percent of any “excess” revenue is transferred to an account reserved for one-time projects or spending, such as road maintenance, school building projects, or major public transportation work.

“We will not have any problems identifying those,” Rodrigues said. “As we all know, [transportation and education] are two areas of immense need.”"

-via Boston Globe, May 20, 2024

[thunderbolt-ing]

"I Can't Do It Alone."

PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR Pairing: Congressman Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader Summary: Who would've thought that you tearing panelists apart with merely your sharp words would land you a job? Or, better yet, here's how you became Congressman Barnes' legislative aide. Warnings: no warnings (or maybe use of Y/N?), just you being a political baddie and Bucky lowkey being down bad. A/N: lol this is my first fic on here and I'm so sorry in advance. this wasn't supposed to be an x reader fanfic because i had an original character in mind but idk if yall vibe with that. anyways, I'm in my bucky brainrot era I fear. no beta readers we die like taskmaster. Word count: 1703 words. She's short and sweet.

Brooklyn Veterans Policy Forum — Community Hall

“—Our proposal for enhanced persons is voluntary oversight programs, supplemented with community mental health partners, pending federal clearance…”

The panelist’s voice droned on, measured, thoroughly rehearsed, and bureaucratic.  Amongst the seated crowd, you stood abruptly, the screech of your chair cutting through the hushed murmurs of the audience. Your brows were furrowed, your expression tinged in irritation as your eyes flickered from your notes to the table of panelists onstage. 

“Which basically translates to a surveillance leash dressed up with a nicer PR team,” you said, voice steady but edged with frustration. “Is that about right?” The room stilled. The moderator blinked at you, seemingly at a loss for words as they were thrown off-script and unsure of how to respond. You didn’t care, nor did you wait. “Tell me, how many of you up there have actually sat across someone who’s reliving battlefield trauma every time they close their eyes?” you asked, voice rising slightly. “Because I have. Dozens of times. And they’re not worried about policy language. They’re worried about making it through the night.” Silence filled the room, and you swore you could hear a pin drop. Finally, the moderator found their voice and cleared their throat. “Thank you for your input, Miss…?” “Y/N L/N,” you replied crisply as you offered a tight-lipped smile, then continued with a practiced calm that came from too many ignored voices. 

“I work in veteran reintegration,” you continued. “So unlike most people,” you cast a pointed glance at the panelist who had spoken, “I actually talk to the people your bills affect.” 

Murmurs rose from the audience, a few heads nodded while others looked away. 

From a seat near the back wall, Congressman James Buchanan Barnes leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. His eyes, sharp and steady, were fixed directly on you. There was no judgment in his expression, just deep, quiet intrigue. He watched as you, armed with nothing but a voice and unabashed conviction, dismantled a room full of sanitized policy with surgical precision. You didn’t know it yet, but you had just made an impression on a man who rarely let anyone in and seldom let anyone surprise him. Not until now.  Later That Evening Outside the Community Hall's brick steps. You tugged your coat tighter around yourself as you emerged into the cool evening air. The sky was painted in muted hues of blue and pink as the sun slowly sank into the horizon. The last remnants of adrenaline from the forum still buzzed in your blood like static, and though the subway beckoned you home, your feet had something different in mind. You needed air and time to let your thoughts breathe. You hadn't expected a familiar voice behind you. "You've got a sharp mouth, L/N." You turned instinctively, your guard up, but it dropped quickly when you recognized him. James Buchanan Barnes, or rather, Congressman Barnes. The former Winter Soldier turned unlikely lawmaker. What a pipeline, you thought with a sarcastic internal chuckle. He looked nothing like the suited representatives who spoke from podiums inside. He had no tie, sleeves rolled up beneath a plain navy coat, the two buttons of his white shirt undone like he hadn't bothered to play the part today. Still, there was no mistaking him. It was the way people moved around him without realizing it, the way silence followed him like a second shadow. "So I've been told," you replied, your brow arching as you gave him the same look you'd served to the panelists earlier. "Didn't think I'd get feedback from someone sitting in the cheap seats." He smirked at that, just barely, "I wasn't cheap. I just didn't want to be seen." A beat passed as you let the tension simmer in the air. It wasn't hostile, it was electric. Curious even. "You meant what you said back there?" He asked, his voice quiet and almost unreadable, "About talking to people the bills affect?"

A breeze rustled past, and you reached up to tuck a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. You studied him, your eyes sharp and unreadable. "I don't grandstand. I sit across from them every week." He nodded slowly as if each of your words carried weight, "I don't trust most policy people," he admitted. "They talk like they've never bled for anything." "And you're assuming I have?" You asked, not defensively but curious as to where he was going. "I think you've seen enough to stop pretending things are neat." You were quiet for a second, his words lingering like smoke. "You always vet people like this?" "Only the ones I'm considering hiring." You blinked at him for a few moments, unable to process his words as quickly as you wanted. "Excuse me?" He gestured toward the street with a tilt of his head. "Come walk with me. I want to talk about something." "Very subtle," you muttered, your tone dipped in sarcasm, yet your feet moved on their own accord, falling into step beside him. He let out a laugh, low and dry, more of a huff than anything. "Just trying a new thing called being direct." For the first time that day, you laughed. Not the polite kind that you often gave to people. The genuine one. It caught you off guard. "So... James Barnes—" "—Bucky." He interrupted gently. "Right, Bucky," You corrected yourself, testing the name on your tongue as you walked with him, your expression thoughtful. "What are you trying to hire me for exactly...?" "I want you to rewrite the rules with me," he said plainly, "From the inside." "You're serious." "Deadly." You fell into contemplative silence. You wanted to say yes immediately. Who wouldn't? But you had a life. A job. People who relied on you on a daily basis. Change wasn't something you embraced easily, and he could tell. He didn't try to push or pitch, instead, he simply reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small business card. It was plain, black text on white cardstock. No logo. No frills. Just his name and phone number. It looked like something someone made in a rush, probably on Microsoft Word. He handed you the card, his blue eyes piercing into yours, tired and almost pleading. "Why me?" You asked, unsure whether it was skepticism or hope in your voice. "Because this city, this country, needs someone who gives a damn." He paused, his gaze unflinching. "And because I can't do it alone." A Few Days Later Brooklyn — Your apartment.

After a long, tiring, yet undeniably fulfilling day at work, you trudged up the steps of your apartment building with the kind of exhaustion that settled deep within your bones. Your bag slipped down your shoulder, and your eyes blinked against the hallway's dim lighting as you shuffled toward your door. All you could think about was kicking off your shoes and collapsing onto your couch for five minutes of stillness.

But then you stopped.

There, lying at the foot of your door, was a bouquet.

You blinked again, slower this time, as if you weren't entirely sure that what you were seeing was real. The flowers sat neatly against the well-worn doormat, delicate, beautiful, and completely unexpected. You examined the bouquet further; it was a soft arrangement of baby's breath, pink tulips, pink roses, and subtle touches of eucalyptus leaves wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. It was elegant, but understated, like whoever sent them wanted to make a point without fussing too much.

You crouched down carefully, the weight of your day momentarily forgotten as you picked them up. As you shifted the bouquet in your hands, a small folded piece of paper slipped free and fluttered softly to the floor.

Frowning in confusion, you bent to retrieve it while carefully cradling the bouquet in the crook of one arm.

It was a simple note, no envelope, no dramatics. Just a few lines written in unfamiliar handwriting.

Policy means nothing without people who stand behind it unflinchingly. You speak the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, and I couldn't look away. I don't believe in perfect timing, only in showing up. So, this is me, showing up. Let me know if you'll meet me halfway. —Bucky Barnes

You stared at the words, your thumb brushing over the dried ink as if it might somehow help you make sense of them. The edges of your mouth curled up as if caught somewhere between disbelief and something that felt dangerously like hope and possibility. How he'd found your address, you weren't sure. You suppose you shouldn't be surprised, given his history. If Bucky Barnes wanted to find you, he would. Not in a threatening way, but in that quiet, purposeful way he did everything, like he wasn't going to wait for the world to make sense before acting. You leaned against your front door, flowers still in hand, as you reread the note several times.

He wasn't trying to charm you. He was offering a seat at the table. A voice in the room where things actually changed. Not just to be near the fire, but to help decide how and where it burned. You stuck the note carefully inside your pocket, the corners of your lips tugging into a soft, unguarded smile. The bouquet was still cradled in your arm, but your thoughts were already sprinting ahead of you. You stood there for a moment in the quiet hallway, his words still ringing in your head. Then, taking a small breath out, you shifted the flowers to one side and rummaged through your bag, fingers searching until they closed around your phone. With a steady hand, you tapped his number on the screen, the same one that was printed in that boring business card he'd given you. You brought the phone to your ear. It only rang twice. "Hello?" His voice was low, familiar, and uncharacteristically careful, like he didn't want to hope too much. "Hey," you said softly, "It's me." There was a moment suspended between you. "About time." He replied, and you could almost envision his smile through the phone.

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End Note: AAAA IM SORRY ITS SHORT BUT I CAN MAKE A PART TWO IF YOU GUYS LIKE IT ENOUGH!!!!!

Also, the flowers I chose were just random ones i thought in my head but then i remembered that language of flowers thing and so I looked it up and..... guys..... Baby's breath: everlasting love, new beginnings. Pink tulips: Affection, good wishes, and love. Pink roses: admiration, respect for someone close. Eucalyptus: strength and protection. brb I'm gonna sob <3

[oaksgrove]

Omg wait while reading your passenger princess blurbs, Kyle always opening the door for you no matter what reminded me of that one old tiktok trend where the guy would do some CRAZY shit like backflip over the car hood to make sure he opened the door for the girl.

So random lmao but I hope your day/night is going well!!!

-Cherry 🍒

Open Door Policy

Pairing: Kyle “Gaz” Garrick x Reader

Synopsis: Three years into marriage, Kyle Garrick is still treating you like royalty—especially when it comes to the sacred ritual of opening your car door. What started as a sweet early-dating habit has now evolved into full-blown, stuntman-level theatrics. On your anniversary, Kyle goes above and beyond (literally) to prove that chivalry is alive, well, and occasionally includes parkour.

Warnings: Pure fluff, married couple antics, dramatic husband behavior, brief language, excessive charm, one (1) backflip

Word Count: 732

Kyle Garrick had many talents—excellent marksmanship, lightning reflexes, a charming smile that could disarm international criminals—but his greatest talent, according to you, was his ability to be absolutely extra when it came to being your husband.

Especially when it came to car doors.

And it had started out so innocently.

At the beginning of your relationship, Kyle made a point of always opening the car door for you. A sweet gesture. Classic. Endearing. You thought it would fade after a few months, like most early dating rituals do, especially after long missions and exhausting days.

It didn’t.

Instead, it evolved.

Now, three years into marriage and on the morning of your anniversary, you were brushing your hair in the mirror when you heard the familiar hum of your car engine starting in the driveway.

He was out there. Prepping the car. Probably fluffing the passenger seat like it was a five-star hotel pillow.

You threw on your shoes and stepped outside, the breeze catching your dress just slightly. The early evening was warm, with a soft breeze and golden light spilling over the houses of your sleepy street.

Kyle was leaning against the car, arms folded, looking like a damn Calvin Klein ad with the sleeves of his navy button-up rolled up to his elbows and his sunglasses pushed up into his curls. You swear the man knew how to pose.

“You’re such a poser,” you called playfully, walking down the steps.

“Posing for you, babe,” he fired back with a grin that should be illegal. “You look unreal, by the way.”

You smiled, cheeks warming. “So where are you taking me?”

“Surprise,” he said smoothly. “But I made reservations. I even shaved.”

You blinked. “You hate shaving.”

“Yeah, but I love you.”

Goddamn it, Kyle.

As you reached the car, you smiled and reached for the handle—

And made the mistake.

Because the second your fingertips grazed the handle, there was a dramatic “OI—!” from the other side of the car.

And then—God help you—the man vaulted over the hood.

A blur of black pants and navy shirt, Kyle did an unnecessarily clean backflip over the car, landing on your side like some kind of action movie stuntman. His boots hit the pavement with a clean thud, arms out like he’d just stuck a gymnastics dismount.

You stared at him, frozen mid-reach. “What the hell, Kyle?”

He grinned, proud. “You almost touched the door.”

“I can open a car door.”

“I open your doors.”

“You jumped over the car hood!”

“Parkour,” he said smugly.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“I lost my mind the day I saw you in that bookstore, remember?” he said, stepping closer. “And then I found it again when you said yes to marrying me.”

You groaned, but he was already bowing—bowing!—and opening the door with a dramatic flourish.

“Your chariot awaits, madam.”

You sighed and got in, adjusting your dress and sliding into the passenger seat.

Kyle leaned in, carefully fixing the hem of your dress so it didn’t get caught, gently fastening your seatbelt, and then pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Best girl in the world,” he murmured.

The drive was smooth and sweet. Kyle had created an anniversary playlist (with both your favorites and a few hilarious deep cuts), and he kept sneaking glances at you when he thought you weren’t looking.

“You’re staring,” you said, smirking at him.

“I paid for that view,” he replied, keeping his hand on your thigh, thumb rubbing gentle circles into your skin.

You arrived at a little hidden gem of a restaurant outside of town—cozy lights, tucked into a quiet grove, romantic without being pretentious. You loved it immediately.

As he parked, Kyle sprinted out of the car like he was on a mission. By the time you reached for the handle, the door swung open.

He stood there, panting slightly, and bowed again.

“Ma’am,” he said seriously.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“But you love me.”

You stepped out, letting him twirl you before tucking your hand into the crook of his arm.

“I do, you idiot,” you whispered. “Happy anniversary.”

“Happy anniversary,” he whispered back, leaning down to kiss you. “Now come on—let’s go celebrate the fact that I get to annoy you for the rest of our lives.”

And when you laughed, he beamed, knowing he’d open every door for you until the end of time.

taglist: @honestlymassivetrash @pythonmoth @kittygonap @rainyjellybear @anonymouse1807 @twoandahalfdimes