#To enable screen reader support

[abhiimpact1]

Ash Logistics and Traders Private Limited company is a leading logistics company headquartered in Pune-India. Over the years, Ash Logistics has pioneered itself as one of the most trusted and reliable end-to-end logistics solutions provider across India and globally

[gopalhaloo]

Dialer for Collection Agencies-For Collection Agencies | Haloocom

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[reminiscingtonight]

Tech Support

Alexia Putellas & Putellas!Reader (Jana Fernández x Putellas!Reader)

Word Count: 1.2k

[WOSO Masterlist]

“So I am… supposed to click this?”

Alexia’s hand is swatted away at record speed before she can make contact with the screen.

“No, this one.”

Who would’ve thought. Captain of the country. Legend of your club. The La Reina may be feared by players worldwide, but even she could be beaten by something as simple as a new phone.

The two of you have been at this for a couple hours now.

When your sister first slid the box across the table at you, your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. You didn’t even have time to thank Alexia before she crushed your dreams right then and there. What you first thought was a present for you turned out to be a resigned plea for help.

As the resident tech genius you were high in demand. Last week it was setting up your mami’s tablet. Yesterday it was fixing Olga’s laptop. And today it seems to be Alexia’s turn.

Though now that you think about it, “genius” may be a stretch. It’s not until the third time you stop yourself from throwing Alexia’s phone at her that she lets it slip that Alba was actually her first call for help. It’s no surprise to hear that your middle sister was quick to refuse, given that the last time she helped Alexia set up a phone resulted in heated words and staunch refusal to speak to one another for two weeks.

Given that she’s your club captain the loss in communication is something you can’t risk, but you’ve always thought of yourself as gifted when it comes to technology. If you could teach your mami how to use facebook without spamming her personal page with posts about you and your sisters, surely helping Alexia transfer her data and set up a new phone would not be too hard of a challenge.

Oh how you’re wrong.

Though you’re only eight years younger than Alexia, she still manages to struggle as if she’s well into her nineties.

Ask if she’s backed up her data? Might as well have told her to recite the first fifteen digits of pi.

Ask if she’s taken note of the apps she needs to redownload? Might as well have asked if she knew the secret to happiness.

Tell her to grant certain apps permissions to her phone? Might as well have told her you were transferring to Real Madrid.

Ask her to re-sign back into her multitude of accounts? Might as well have asked her to transfer to Real Madrid.

If you had known just how teeth pulling this would be, you would have left Olga to deal with Alexia herself.

Despite your clear and well-informed instructions of what to click where, which settings to enable or disable, Alexia kept bulldozing through your words, thinking she knew better.

Spoiler, she did not.

Jana’s already been by to give you some words of encouragement, but after the fifth time you quietly asked if she could make up an excuse to drag you out, she hunkered down on a nearby couch with Olga. The two of them, traitors at heart, are having a blast watching some trashy reality tv show while you struggle away with Alexia.

At this point you’re one more question away from factory resetting Alexia’s new phone, but a promise from Olga to buy you lunch and a burning desire to prove to Alba that you’re a better teacher than she is leaves you clinging to the last piece of sanity you have.

After what seems like an eternity, Alexia finally sits back from where she’s been hunched over your shoulder, poking and prodding at her phone.

“I still don’t understand why I have to set up a passcode when I could just use my fingerprint to unlock everything.”

The only word capable of describing Alexia at this moment in time is brooding. Arms crossed, face drawn in a frown, your thirty-year-old sister is brooding over your insistence at setting a passcode.

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. “What if you’re at training and you need Mapi to pull up something from your phone while your hands are busy?”

Alexia huffs, smile on her face as she thinks she’s got you. “Simple, I would never trust Maria with my phone!”

“Ale!” you groan. “That’s not the point.”

She’s not wrong. The last person to mistakenly trust the blonde haired woman with their unlocked phone received the device back with fifteen added stories to their instagram account. Though that was on the tamer side of what the defender was capable of, no one’s really let her borrow their phone since.

You catch Jana’s twinkling eyes over the back of the couch as she shares a giggle with Olga.

“Okay, what if I get hurt on the pitch and you’re too busy consoling me? I’m sure Jana would appreciate being able to use your phone to call mami to let her know I’ve been hurt.”

Alexia rolls her eyes. “First, Jana already has mami’s phone number. Pretty sure she likes your girlfriend more than the both of us.”

The number of times Eli has called you just to ask if Jana would be coming over for a family dinner would be insulting if you weren’t smitten with the idea of your girlfriend having fit right into your own family. Though the two of you haven’t officially been together long, years of friendship meant Eli was more than delighted when she found out the two of you were together. It also meant she was quick to catch Jana up on any and all family events she was hosting.

“Also, that’s not a problem because mami never misses one of our games so she’d already be there!”

It’s almost as if Olga can see the steam coming out of your ears. She’s quick to walk over, rubbing you back apologetically before throwing an arm around Alexia’s shoulder.

“Would you please set one for me, amor? Sometimes I misplace my phone and yours is closer.”

It’s maddening the way Alexia instantly starts nodding like a lovesick puppy. She plucks the phone right out of your hands, swiping until she can get to the right screen.

From over Alexia’s shoulder Olga gives you a wink.

With her girlfriend wrapped tightly around her, you take your cue to exit.

Jana opens her arms wide and you enter willingly. The older girl chuckles when you instantly bury your face against her stomach, arms tightening around her legs.

“I wanna go home,” you grumble, ignoring the way you can feel the vibrations of Jana’s laughter.

“Don’t you wanna stay for lunch?”

As much as you loathe the hours wasted on Alexia, the promise of free sushi did sound pretty good. All you have in your fridge is some leftover pasta from the night before, and you’re never one to pass up free food.

“Hermanita, what’s this I’m seeing about unlocking my phone with my face?”

You stiffen.

On second thought, leftovers didn’t sound too bad.

[moonstruckme]

hello lovely!

i recently just started to work out a bit more than i used to and i am humbled. i tried to go to the gym but it’s terrifying, so i just did a home workout from a youtube video and like i said before, humbled.

could we get james x reader doing the video with her and he’s very good at all the workouts but encouraging her.

or

could we get remus x reader doing the video together and they both suck but support eachother

Thanks for requesting <3

modern au

Remus Lupin x fem!reader ♡ 793 words

“Okay team,” the woman on your TV says peppily, “taking things at your own pace, just ease into plank position.” 

“Ease?” Remus pants incredulously. “There’s nothing easy about this.” 

You huff a laugh, but even that tiny movement is almost enough to make your abs give out and collapse you onto your mat. You try to re-solidify, feeling a dribble of sweat roll down your back. 

“Are you breathing deeply?” you tease. It’s a reiteration of what your virtual instructor has been telling you relentlessly since the video started. 

Remus takes a strained inhale. “I don’t see where she finds the time.” 

“Amazing!” your tormentor chirps. She tilts her head up to make eye contact through the screen, looking gloriously glowy with exhilaration whereas you feel slick as a dolphin. At least it’s some consolation that Remus seems as sweaty as you are, and you don’t hate that the exertion made him discard his shirt some time ago. His bare torso is a nice distraction from the ache that’s permeating your body. “Now we’re going to kick it up a notch.” 

You and Remus both make distressed grunting sounds. She still hasn’t let you out of your plank. 

“In twenty more seconds, we’re going to go into a push-up, touching our chests to the mat, then hop our feet up for a squat.” You feel your eyes widen as you watch her demonstrate. Your legs are already burning in anticipation. “Then, jump up and do a clap! Ready? You’ve got this!” 

“Oh, fuck that,” your boyfriend sighs. He lets his elbows drop out from under him, slumping onto his stomach. 

You look over at him. “What are you doing?” 

“I’m taking things at my own pace.” Remus groans as he rolls over and sits up, grabbing his water bottle from the coffee table. It’s shoved to the side to make room for your workout. “Have a break with me, dove. She seems like she can handle this part on her own.” 

You sit back on your knees, lungs and muscles aching with relief. “Pretty sure that’s not the point,” you pant, but take the water bottle he offers you anyway. You take long, gulping sips of the cold water, so desperate that you have to gasp embarrassingly for air afterwards. You wipe a drip off your chin. “You’re such an enabler.” 

“Yeah,” Remus agrees placidly. He rolls his neck to the side, and you wince when it clicks. “I’m not feeling too bad about that right now. This is inhumane.” 

You heave a sigh, leaning back on one hand and fanning yourself with the other. “You’re right. I don’t know why I’m doing this. It can’t continue.” 

He chuckles quietly. “I’m not a fan of the exercise either, but I wouldn’t say it’s all bad.” 

You turn to look at him questioningly—wasn’t he on your side with this?—and find your boyfriend’s gaze warm and appreciative, skimming lazily over the exposed stretch of skin where you’re fanning yourself. His bottom lip curls slightly. 

You give him a dubious look. “Rem, you’re endlessly sweet to me, but I know this isn’t cute. I’m, like—” you make a face “—damp.” 

“Maybe I like you a bit damp.” Remus shrugs insouciantly. “I think I’m discovering some things about myself.” 

You fold forward with a groan, stretching your back and hiding your smile near the mat. “You’re such a liar.” 

There’s an amused huff of air, and then a kiss lands softly on the back of your shoulder. “You can think that if you want,” he says. “I have some bad news for you, though. You do have to keep doing this at least a while longer.” 

You let out a whine. “Why?” 

“Because you asked me to have James take you to his gym next week, and I did. You know he won’t let you off the hook.” 

“Oh, my god,” you moan, pulling your knees up so you can rest your head on them miserably. “Why was I so hellbent on torturing myself earlier this week?” 

Remus hums sympathetically. “I think you had good intentions.” 

“Ugh, okay.” You straighten, looking back at the video and trying to re-orient yourself in what the instructor is doing. “I have to keep going if I’m going to be even remotely prepared for what James is going to subject me to. Come on, do this with me.” 

Remus makes a surprised sound of protest. “Why do I have to do it?” 

“Because you’re the one that’s friends with the sadist who’s going to torment me next week. Please, Remus.” “Fine, fine.” Remus rolls his eyes, lovesick even when he’s pretending not to be, and stands with you. “But just this once, and then I’m turning you over to Jamie.”

[phoenixyfriend]

Accountant of Theed

Read on AO3

After all is said and done, someone needs to balance these books, and nobody actually told the accounting department how they paid for this new hyperdrive. Mimi really hopes it's not a loan from the Hutts.

Disclaimer: I am not an accountant, but I work in an adjacent field (and have been considering getting a certification, but that's neither here nor there). While I did take some courses on it, I asked an Accounting Person to look over the excel sheet before I went forward with the rest of the fic to make sure it's internally consistent. Thank you to @gnomer-denois for confirming my balance on these works!

The reconciliation sheet does NOT follow contemporary guidelines in terms of format etc, but that is because it is:

In space! Standard practice differs from Modern United States or what have you.

Not the primary balance sheet, just the simplified version made to show to Queen Amidala.

If you'd prefer to view the Excel sheet in a more easily navigable form, there is a google drive link available. This is also your best option if using a screen reader.

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

Theed is safe. They are rebuilding. There is even financial support, aid, from the Republic.

It comes with strings attached. Oversight. Auditors.

Wouldn’t want Naboo to misuse funding after that nasty mistake with the Trade Federation, right? Sure, Naboo wasn’t the one at fault, but one can never be too careful...

Mimi, as an accountant for the government of Naboo, does not in fact want to commit fraud, or enable corruption, but the rolling audits do feel a little like the Republic is punishing them for getting invaded.

“Hey, boss?”

That tone. Mimi does not like that tone. “Please tell me it’s not another unauthorized purchase with a missing receipt. Which account did they pull from this time?”

“Um... we don’t know?”

Mimi gives them a moment. No elaboration is given.

“You don’t know?”

“We don’t know,” the younger employee repeats.

“What do you mean?” Mimi asks. “People charge things to accounts or cards. They forget to submit receipts. We hunt them down for receipts, and make sure nobody is skimming off the top. That’s how it goes. Unless this is a purchase on a personal and we need to reimburse—”

“Um, maybe?”

“In which—what? That’s just... okay. There’s a process for reimbursements. You aren’t following it, which means... what? What do you mean, you don’t know? Did they use cash, or pull from an account?”

The younger employee looks down at their datapad. Looks back up at her. Looks baffled and a little scared. “Um, it’s... we still don’t have a receipt, but we also don’t know where the money for it came from? But nobody’s put in a reimbursement request and I can’t imagine anyone on the mission had those funds on them, not even the Queen herself.”

“The money for what?”

“Um. It sort of just... showed up?”

“So, it’s some kind of gift?” Mimi presses.

“Too big,” the younger mumbles, refusing to meet her eyes. “It would have to be disclosed.”

“I am giving you five seconds—”

“It’s a hyperdrive!” they yelp.

“...Explain.”

“One of the mechanics was looking over the Royal Cruiser, and found that there was unrecorded repair work to the hyperdrive. The ship took enough damage during the escape that he wasn’t surprised, but then he noticed that it was from an earlier run of the part, and when he checked, the serial number was completely wrong. The hyperdrive was completely replaced.”

Mimi closes her eyes and takes a breath. “The mechanic doesn’t know?”

“He said there’s nothing in the records that matches it at all, and it’s a big enough part that there’s no way it would just slip through the cracks, not when it’s that expensive and going on the Royal Cruiser.”

“So,” Mimi says, “we have a part worth almost as much as the rest of the cruiser combined, that just... came out of nowhere, and nobody claiming for reimbursement.”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s what it looks like.”

Mimi has no interest in fraud.

“Find out who was piloting when Queen Amidala escaped, and see if they have any answers,” Mimi tells them. “If we can keep it to just the hangar staff without drawing in the Royal Retinue, it’ll be easier on all of us.”

“Here’s hoping, ma’am.”

(Continue on AO3)

[eightballspins]

⸝⸝ (p1h) jongseob x male reader short drabble ! fluff

thinking about how jongseob probably talks in pout when he really wants you to listen to him or do something with/for him. if he needs your attention for something, probably wants to show you something on his switch or phone, he'll start tapping your arm as the first resort and calling your name. but if you're still not looking, he puts his phone/switch down on his lap and makes his voice louder.

"look for just one second, one second," he says, making you turn around and see his lips turned into a pout and his eyes in a pretty doe shape. he picks up his phone/switch and presents the screen to you, a relaxed smile on his face as he now has all of your attention.

if you guys are in a crowded area and he wants you to look at him, the beginning method is similar to if you're alone: he just starts tugging on your clothing, hands, or anything connected to you so you can look at him. but if the area is too hectic and loud for that, he presses his face into any part of your body (whether it be your back, shoulder, arm, etc) and just puts his body weight there because you'll definitely notice a whole grown man's weight on you, duh. when you question him on his behavior, he just brushes it off as if he were acting normal. and then finally is bale to engage in conversation with you, which is what he wanted from the beginning.

( IM PUSHING THE CLINGY JONGSEOB AGENDA IDC )

"wait, where are you going? the video isn't done yet?" he questions, hand already going to your wrist to stop you from getting up from your cuddling position.

"to piss, seobie,"

"go after the video, it's only thirty more seconds," he complains, tugging your limb gently to guide you back, but you don't immediately comply. "baby, c'mon, its quick," the pout evident on his face and in his tone.

"i don't take twenty years to pee, i'll be back soon," you almost laugh at how comical the situation is, but apprently to jongseob, this is everything but funny.

another instance is when you visit the members during their break time, half an hour before they have to get back to learning their new choreo. you're catching up with everyone else, but jongseob wants some more time with you, so he begins tugging on the hem of your shirt.

your standing while he sits, his legs spread with you in between them, and they close every now and then just to tease you and hopefully make you lose your balance. but your determined in talking to keeho about whatever and he's getting more worried that the time will be up before he can properly talk to you.

"[name]," he whines, making keeho roll his eyes at the needy tone. something he was very familiar with, how often jongseob whined near/for you, and knew it was his time to give you two some semi-alone time.

"what's wrong, jongseobie?" it's a soft question you ask while sitting next time, the man immediately turning into your side and resting his head on your shoulder.

"nothing, keeho was just hogging you," he murmurs, fiddling with your hands and fingers. you smile at his affections, resting your cheek on the top of his head. "we only have five minutes to ourselves now," his infamous pout is present as he says that, making you rub his lower thigh for some sort of support.

"i'm coming over after practice though, at least we can be alone then,"

he rolls his eyes, lifting his head from your shoulder and kissing your cheek repeatedly. it seemed he wanted to make up for the past couple of wasted minutes with simple affections rather than words.

of course, you comply because why would you not.

in the corner of the practice room, you and jongseob are giggling at the chaste and quick kisses you exchange, the latter eventually pinning you down to the sofa and smothering your jaw and neck in littered kisses.

"alright, jongseob, hop off your boyfriend now, we have some more work to do," keeho calls out, his authorotative leader voice enabled and making jongseob sit up.

"i'll see you at the dorm?" he questions, kissing you once more before you can answer.

"mhm, i'll be there," he smiles wide at the response, getting off of your waist and walking over to the members with a new energy.

you pack up your things, put on your coat, and announce your departure from their practice room. jongseob is pouting as he stands with his other members, waving bye to you as the others do the same. the moment you're out of sight, jongseob immediately slouches and the members notice.

"god, it's not gonna be that bad without him here, cheer up," intak says, noticing the immediately dampen that was jongseob's mood. the youngest only groans, waving his hand to signal they continue practice.

"who knew jongseob could be so pouty," theo teases, but puts his hands up in mock surrender when jongseob tiredly glares at him.

"he too in love with his boyfriend to focus on anything else," soul joins in, making obnoxiously loud kissing noises as he eggs on the "teasing jongseob" agenda.

a minature not-serious fight breaks out before they do eventually continue on practice, the pout only leaving jongseob's face when the members do anything particularly funny.

[bangtanficsforyou]

Girl of his Dreams- Prologue

Pairing: Fuckboi! Jungkook x Reader

Au: Strangers to Lovers au

Genre: Angst, fluff, smut (eventually)

Rating: 18+

Word count: 3K (approx)

Summary: You think Jungkook is the utter definition of beauty. Jungkook thinks you’re cute but just not his type. Throw a magic ring into the equation, that makes you look like the girl of his dreams and you have the perfect recipe for heartbreak and tears.

Head over to my patreon if you enjoy my writing, wish to support me and want to get early access to all my works!

Main Masterlist

Walking into your art class you notice that your designated seat has already been taken by a boy. That's weird.

What's even weirder is that you have never seen the said boy before in your class. You say that with complete surety because there are only a handful in your class and this boy does not seem familiar at all.

Walking up to him you tap on his shoulders. "Excuse me, this is my seat."

The said boy turns to look at you and you frown when you realise you don't even have a clear view of his face as the majority of it remains covered by his hoodie.

Instead of responding to you, he moves a little to give you some space to sit on the stool.

There's a protest on your lips because how the fuck can two people sit comfortably on one small stool. But you decide on not voicing it because you know there are no other empty seats and asking him to just evacuate would basically mean him standing there awkwardly in the middle of the room, which honestly is harsh.

You awkwardly clear your throat and occupy whatever remaining space the stool has to offer.

"So are you new here?" The query leaves your lips a few moments later when you realise that you can't just ignore his presence considering how the right side of your body is almost entirely in contact with his left.

His fingers momentarily stop swiping at the phone screen and he looks up the slightest to give you attention.

He shakes his head and locks his phone. "Nah, I'm not here as a student."

If he's not a student then, what is he doing here?

He must have noticed the look of confusion on your face and he opens his mouth seemingly to clarify what exactly he is here for but the arrival of your art teacher stops him from doing so.

"Good morning, class," Miss Richardson greets the class as she settles all her materials on the table. "I hope you all had a good weekend."

The class comes up with mixed responses with a few people groaning and a few voicing their responses positively.

"Well that sure is a confusing response," she says with an amused look. "Well for those who had a not-so-good-weekend, I hope knowing that you will sketch a model today would be exciting enough to make your Monday."

A low murmur spreads through the classroom. That's a good response, you'd say. You definitely find yourself pleasantly surprised and excited at the thought of getting to capture the beauty of a model. The list of things she asked to bring for today's class, makes so much more sense now.

"Now, for today's model; his name is Jeon Jungkook and he's a fashion designing student."

All of a sudden you feel the warmth next to you gone, and the figure walks towards the podium. It takes a few seconds too long for you to realise what was happening.

Oh. He is the model.

"I hope all of you have your equipment ready and remember that you have to complete the sketch by the next two classes." She finishes. Once done, she turns to face Jungkook and gives him a small smile as if to tell him that from here on, he can do his thing.

And so he does.

It begins with him removing his hoodie which finally enables you to get a proper look at his face and fuck.

He's beautiful.

You did not think anyone could ever be this gorgeous and it honestly has you speechless. It's like one of those scenes from the movies where one of the main protagonist's eyes land on someone and they can't help but keep staring at them because they are the most beautiful creature on earth.

You believed that those sorts of things happened only in movies because that kind of breathtaking beauty existed only in movies. As it turns out, you were wrong.

Before you can gather your thoughts, he removes his t-shirt.

If you were in awe with how beautiful his facial features are, now you find yourself gasping for air after having a glimpse of his body.

Fuck, he looks sculpted, like a Greek god of some sort.

You feel butterflies flying merrily in your stomach as if they too want to voice out their agreement.

Unfortunately, the sound of low murmuring snaps you out of your daze. Looking around, you realise that almost everyone has their eyes on him and is in awe of his beauty.

It's when your eyes land on a guy who has already started sketching, do you realise that you too are here to sketch and that you too will only get three classes to finish this.

With a sense of urgency, you pull out your pencils and with a deep breath start sketching the beautiful man that seems to be straight out of your fantasies.

As your classmates slowly but steadily empty the classroom, you find yourself lingering.

You can't help but run your eyes across the canvas with a scrutinising gaze, wondering if you like how it is turning out to be and if your pencil is doing justice to the man's beauty.

Jungkook strolls towards your stool to take his bag but his eyes land on the sketch.

"That looks weird."

You yelp in shock and turn to look at the person who thought it was a good idea to scare you.

However, you find your breath hitching when you realise that it's Jungkook. Even worse, he remains shirtless.

Gulping down the saliva in your mouth, you try to steady your breath and register the words that fell from his lips. "What do you mean it's weird? Is it not coming out nice?"

He steps closer and bends down a little to have a better look at your sketch.

His movements cause a wave of nervousness to wash over you. In an attempt to hide your flustered state, you pretend that your whole attention is on your canvas and that you are not bothered by the man next to you.

"It is nice, I'd say you captured the details well," his low timbre reaches your ears and his exhale hits the expanse of your back. Fuck, you had no idea he was standing this close. "I just never had anyone draw me before. So looking at a sketch of me does feel weird."

"Oh, t-that makes sense." You curse yourself for stuttering. Could you look any more stupid?

The stutter catches Jungkook's attention and his eyes move from the canvas to the side of your face. A smirk appears on his lips when he notices your fast breathing rate.

He usually doesn't bat an eye because girls getting flustered around him, is not unusual. He knows the effect he has on the female population. However, with how flustered and how desperately you try to seem unaffected, Jungkook can't help but find it cute.

Cute enough to drop a flirtatious comment.

"But I guess it's okay if such a cute girl like you is doing it."

The effect those words have on you are instantaneous. You flush and your whole body warms up from head to toe. Squirming in your seat, you clear your throat and pray that your cheeks aren't embarrassingly red.

Jungkook's smirk widens. He wonders how you'd react if he were to call you the l-word. "I'll get going then, love."

You choke on air. That reaction was worth it, he thinks.

Stepping a few steps back, he puts his shirt back on and swings his bag on his shoulders. "See you, next class."

You hold your breath until the sound of his shoes against the floor completely fades away and only when he's gone, do you let yourself relax and feel the rush of emotions and adrenaline.

As embarrassing as it is, the first thing you do after going home is to search for his name on Facebook. There's just no way you're not searching up, the unbelievably good-looking guy, who also happened to flirt with you, on the net.

Thankfully, his Facebook profile is unlocked.

Clicking on his name you are greeted by his handsome face which stares back at you from the circle of his profile picture. You might have looked at it for a little too long, observing every single detail and wondering how a human could be this handsome.

Nevertheless, after snapping yourself out of your daze, you scroll down and your eyes fall upon the top post.

Models required.

For the upcoming inter-college fashion show, I need someone to model my designs. If you're interested, please meet me and my team on Friday in room no. 302.

One male and one female model would be chosen for the occasion.

You blinked at the screen and soon a wide smile spread on your lips. Isn't this just perfect? The perfect opportunity for you to get to know him better.

You have never modelled, you idiot.

A voice reminds you not so gently.

Although you feel doubts enter your head, you don't let your hopes get killed. Clicking on the comments section, you look for something that can provide you with clarification as to what exactly he is looking for.

One particular comment catches your eye as it is the only comment he has replied to.

Your eyes do a quick scan of the words and you find that it's a girl asking whether it's okay to try out even if she has no prior modelling experience. Jungkook's response to which is 'ofc it is'.

You internally scream thinking how perfect this is for you.

You take out your notepad and take down the details and also set a reminder on your phone, just in case.

However, with how long you stay on the net scrolling down his profile, you and probably even your FBI agent knows that there's no way you will forget about this on Friday.

Very unsurprisingly, you don't forget about it on Friday. In fact, you find yourself heading towards the room way earlier than the scheduled time.

It's on an entirely different side of the campus. It will take time to get there. That's what you tell yourself every time a voice tries to remind you that you're being far too eager about this.

When the building approaches, you feel a shiver of nervousness run down your spine. Is this going to be awkward? Is he going to recognise you?

The moment that thought comes to your mind, you chase it away. Of course, he's gonna remember you. It hasn't even been a week since the art class. There's no way he could have forgotten you this soon. Right?

With that little talk with yourself, you take a deep breath and step inside the building.

Having practised some modelling over the course of these few days from YouTube, you repeat the instructions you came across. Head held high, shoulders and back straight, and sway your hips and arms naturally. You can do this! (The last part was not in the video)

You find yourself being so narrowly focused on your way to the room that you miss the tall body that's heading in your direction. Although, the other party also remains blissfully unaware of the fact that they are heading towards you. Guess it's only fair that you two collide with each other.

"Owwwwww," you groan

"I'm so sor–Wait you're the art girl!" His pupils dilate ever so slightly in recognition.

Your eyes widen when you realise, it's him out of all people. Once the surprise wears off, you nod and a part of you feels glad to know that he indeed does remember you.

"So wassup?" He asks, genuinely curious.

Now see, you possibly could have replied to that question with anything. But with how caught off guard and unprepared you feel, you don't find your brain having the capability to come up with something cool. Hence, nothing but the truth comes spilling out; truth with the slightest bit of lie, mixed with it. "A friend of mine mentioned that you were participating in the inter-college fashion competition–"

You searched him up on the net. That's the first thought that comes to Jungkook's mind. How can he be so sure about it? Because he made the post only yesterday and sure he's popular, but not so much on Facebook because he's hardly ever active there. The chances of your said friend getting to know about it are next to zero.

"It's more like, I was asked to represent our college," that's the second thing that comes to him and he cuts you off with it. Call it him being cocky (which he knows he is), but there's a huge difference between putting your name in a competition and the college board preferring him to represent them. He can't have people making mistakes, can he?

Your mouth forms an oh and your eyes sparkle in wonder because how good is he exactly at fashion designing?

"That's great," you say. "I hope you win it."

"Oh don't worry," he says with his gaze locked with yours. "Pretty girls inspire me."

Now, he had meant for it to come out as a fact. Because that's what it is. But with the way his eyes remain locked with yours, it makes you assume otherwise. Makes you think that the statement is directed at you.

You clear your throat and look away from him. Gosh, your knees are gonna give away.

"That's good to know," you say in a meek voice. "I was actually heading towards room 302. You know, just want to give it a try."

Jungkook's brow furrows as he observes you closely.

So you searched him up on the net. Cute. But he isn't interested in you and he can tell that unfortunately, you took his meaningless flirting as him showing interest in you.

Thankfully, you seem like someone who knows how to get the hint. You don't seem like you will trail behind him like a lost puppy even if he were to make it clear that he isn't interested in you. Good for him.

He comes up with a quick plan which he thinks will send the message loud and clear. He has just gotta be honest.

"Don't waste your time with that darling," he says as he takes out his phone from the pockets of those tight skinny jeans of his. Before you can ask for clarification, he is speaking again. "You see this girl?"

You take a look at his phone screen which is now facing you and is currently displaying a Facebook profile page. Tina Rei. After some pondering as to why this name rings a bell, it clicks. She's the same girl whose comment you stumbled upon a few days back.

Not sure what he is trying to say, you nod.

"She's the one who's going to be my model," he says before locking the screen. "She's just so hot. One of the prettiest girls on campus. Can't think of anyone else better."

Your stomach sinks at his words. Oh. He already has a model.

"Then why have this whole audition thing?" You ask, trying not to interact with your thoughts at the moment.

"Don't want to seem like I'm being unfair you know?" He shrugs. "But thought I'd save you some time. Going inside that room won't be of any use. I already know who I want to work with."

You simply nod at his words. You don't know what to say. You feel so stupid for letting your teeny tiny crush get out of hand and although you never admitted it out loud, his flirty actions had you hoping.

"Lost your voice, art girl?" He asks with a teasing tone. You refuse to answer him verbally, yet again and simply shake your head, making him sigh. "I'll get going then."

He moves forward a few steps but stops.

Walking back to where you are standing, he bends down a little to look into your eyes. "Also, a small piece of advice, you should probably stick to art. Modelling is not for you."

And then he's gone.

That day instead of going back to your dorms, you choose to go back home for the weekend.

Feeling angry with yourself, you find that you are not in the mood of interacting with anyone and desperately crave the comfort of home. Where you don't feel judged.

Thankfully, when you're greeted by warm hugs from your parents and gentle (very very aggressive) licks and kisses from your dog, you don't find it in you to regret making this decision.

A small smile manages to make its way onto your lips and you find your spirits being lifted ever the slightest.

Your dad watches you from the corner as you playfully give Jack belly rubs. He notices the way your eyes don't have their usual bright look and the way you seem as if something's been eating you away. He can't help but wonder what it is that seems to be bothering you.

Once you've gone to freshen up, he makes his way inside the kitchen.

"Do you think she's okay?" He asks in a tone that does not hide his worry at all.

Your mum takes a spoonful of the soup she's preparing and tastes it, soon letting out a satisfactory hmm.

"She's a big girl now, don't worry she'll be fine." Her words do not address his question as there's no point in denying that there's something that seems to be troubling you.

He sighs. "I know but I still can't help but get worried."

Patting his back, your mom lets out a huff in amusement. Two big kids she has got. "Don't worry, she's probably itching to talk to me about it. Maybe while we clean the dishes, okay?"

Your dad feels some of the tension leave his body at your mom's warm touch and nods with a sigh.

Dinner goes smoothly with you laughing loudly at your dad's exaggerated storytelling about the time he went fishing with his friends and at your mom's annoyed grunts and comments about how your dad has turned into a teenager. You laugh so much that you forget about everything. Temporarily.

Once you're alone in the kitchen helping your mom with the dishes, you feel the silence prompting your brain to be loud with its thoughts.

"Am I not attractive?" You blurt out of nowhere. But then it probably isn't out of nowhere.

You were so busy admiring and daydreaming about Jungkook's beauty that you did not stop to ponder the possibility that he might not find you attractive.

While the thought of your crush not finding you attractive is hurtful, the thought of your crush finding you unattractive is quite gut-wrenching. And something about the last comment he made before leaving, has you feeling all sorts of things.

Most importantly, it has you questioning if you really are unattractive. But at the moment, you're too scared to address that question, all by yourself.

Your mother's movements stop all at once. "What kind of a question is that? No never mind, I'll answer that– one of the most stupid questions I have ever heard."

A small smile appears on your lips at her dramatics. "It's a serious question, though."

She shakes her head as if to indicate that she won't tolerate any of your nonsense. Putting down the cleaning cloth, she walks over to you. "What is making you say all this?"

She keeps her tone gentle.

You sigh trying to hide the tears that try to leak out. "It's stupid."

"Nothing is more stupid than you thinking that you're not attractive." She quips and pats the top of your hair in hopes of giving you comfort. "Is it a boy problem?" She asks for clarification.

Feeling relief but also hating, how spot-on she is, you let it all spill out. You tell her how Jungkook just took your breath away. How he seemed to be the perfect guy. The guy you always dreamt about. How he looked like a literal prince. How he only stomped away after giving you hopes that you might have a small chance of being his princess. Not to mention, how that one comment made you feel insecure to ever be in front of him again.

Your mom's eyes soften. "Oh sweetie, come here." She wraps you in a warm hug and lets you cry silently for a while. "There's something that might help you."

You unwillingly retreat from her warmth to look at her. "What is it?"

"Just wait here," she says before swiftly getting up and heading towards her bedroom. You sit there and stare in confusion until she arrives. When she does, you find yourself thoroughly perplexed to find that she went to get a ring.

"A ring?"

She smiles. "Hmm but not just any ordinary ring. The one who puts this on you will start seeing you as their dream partner."

You blink at her blankly for far too long. "Huh? Mom, are you doing drugs?"

She throws her head back and laughs. "Thankfully, no, not yet."

"Then are you trying to check if I'm doing drugs?"

A chuckle escapes her lips and she shakes her head. "I get that you don't believe me but take this and try it out. Put that ring on the guy you like and let it do its magic."

Saying so, she takes a hold of your clenched fist and pries it open. Placing the ring on your finger, she looks at you and you can't help but feel even more disbelief when you see nothing but honesty in her eyes. "Take care of this ring, it's precious."

And then she's getting up, asking you if you'd like to sleep in her room as if she didn't just say the most absurd thing moments ago.

[wandering-winchesters]

Grief

Summary: The reader loses her grandfather and eventually seeks comfort from Dean.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Word Count: 2,576

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Death, Casket, Grief & Sadness

A/N: This was written mainly for me. The man in this story was based on my grandfather and the memories recounted are my own. I understand if this is not the type of story for you, but it helped me in my grief. Love always x

In the span of two minutes, in the early hours of my otherwise normal Wednesday morning, my world changed forever. Blinking away the fog of sleep, I reached for my phone that was ringing loudly on the nightstand. My cousin’s name was flashing on the screen, a number of missed calls showing in the background a signal of a bigger issue. I hurriedly accept her call, clearing my throat to enable my voice to speak louder than a whisper. 

“Hello?” The words that would follow would break my soul in ways that I didn’t know possible. 

“He’s gone, Y/N. He passed this morning.” Anything said after that I didn’t hear, I couldn’t process that my grandfather was gone. The call was ended and I sat frozen still tangled in my sheets. The warmth of the blankets no longer enough to replace the chill that had overtaken my skin. Before I knew what I was doing, I climbed out of bed and grabbed my duffle. Beginning the process of packing the bare necessities to get by, the need to get to him was suffocating and pressing in on me like a vice. 

Not twenty minutes later, I closed the door to the bunker quietly behind me. I double checked that it was locked, before climbing into the drivers seat of my truck and throwing my bag into the passenger seat. I shot Sam and Dean a quick text, letting them know I was leaving for a few days and not to worry, even though I knew the text would not be enough to convince them of such. The reality of the situation still had not settled, I knew he was gone, but it just didn’t seem possible. I have hours of road ahead of me and focusing on his death was just not an option. The drive crawled by, every mile felt like ten. Every minute an eternity. I was greeted by family, friends and an overwhelming sense of grief. Yet no tears fell, anger was prevalent and boisterous, denial following in its sharp footsteps. Every intended encouragement of “He’s in a better place,” or “He’s no longer in pain.” Only aggravated my anger. Those words meant to comfort and ease my pain, only ignited it further. Everything I saw in his home, reminded me of the good old days. The times spent in the woods bird watching, or in his workshop creating something new and beautiful. The nights where he would sit and hold my hand, singing songs from when he was younger. I found his journal, read the words he had written and saved them for another time the pain too much to bear. 

I had many missed calls from the boys, their texts growing more and more concerned as my silence grew greater. Their demands for an explanation only made my desire to ignore them more prevalent. Even though, I knew deep down they were just concerned for my safety. The days passed quickly, the funeral looming closer and closer. The grip that grief had on me was looming, it was as a reaper themselves had their icy hands wrapped around my lungs and throat. 

Funeral homes were something that I frequented, many of the cases with the Winchester men ended up in a morgue or a funeral home. I had seen countless dead bodies, in many different forms. However, the morning of the funeral walking into the funeral home, seeing the man who raised me was so very different from every time before. There were many people who loved him that came to show their support, a blur of faces and a mass of stories, he had been so very loved. Yet every minute I stood there was soul shatteringly painful. It was exhausting, my body ached almost as much as my heart. I resorted to every self soothing technique I knew, bracing myself for the next person in line that was waiting to share their grief with me. Yet I survived, I made it through to the end. Everyone else had gone home, yet I couldn’t bring myself to leave his side. I could feel his presence surrounding me, embracing me. I bite my lip, holding back the sobs that have been at bay for days now. The ache in my chest so great it brings me to my knees. 

I am caught off guard by familiar strong hands gripping my waist, fully supporting my weight. Dean’s cologne wafts over my senses and the smallest amount of relief floods over me. 

“You don’t have to keep hiding your pain, sweetheart. There’s no shame in crying.” He whispers, tugging me back against his body and wrapping his arms around me. I am so overwhelmed and confused as to how he came to be here, that his words go almost unheard. 

“How did you know I was here?” I ask, clearing my throat to relive the ache ever so slightly. 

“I pinged your phone, found your location and checked the local paper. I figured there must be something going on, especially if you told us you were leaving but then wouldn’t tell us where or why. I found his obituary and drove straight here. I’ve been outside for the last few hours, I wanted to give you space. I noticed everyone else leaving, but didn’t see you. So I came to find you.” His voice is soft, comforting and it awakened the sadness within me that I had refused to allow space for until this moment. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes and silently began to fall. 

“Dean, I-I didn’t want you to see me like this, the weak, crying side of me.” I said, my voice cracking slightly as I spoke. My cheeks heating up as they turn bright red. 

“Y/N, I know it hurts. It’s okay to cry, I’ll be here to wipe your tears, sweetheart.” He says, his thumbs rubbing circles into my skin as he continues to hold me tight against him. I take a couple of steps towards the closed casket, Dean close behind me, his hand securely placed on the small of my back. I rest both of my hands on the lid to the casket and let every emotion free. Before I can stop it, a sob leaves my lips, tears are falling hard and hot. I have never cried like this, I have never felt pain like this. The guttural reaction it pulls from me, is something that I have never experienced before. My vision is blurred by the tears collecting in my eyelashes. The mascara and eyeliner I had applied earlier in the day, surely streaking black remnants down my face. 

“I couldn’t grieve him, De, I had to be strong for everyone else. They were all relying on me to plan this and put everything together. I didn’t have the time to grieve and now I have to say goodbye. I’m not ready to say goodbye.” I get the words out between sobs, turning to bury my head in Dean’s chest, swallowed up in his embrace. He immediately wraps his arms around me once again, his head coming to rest against the top of my own. His lips brushing against my hair as he murmurs words of comfort, pressing a kiss every so often. 

“I’m here, I’m always here.” He whispers once I pull away, he brushes my hair out of my face and caresses my face with his thumb. It’s not until that moment, that I see Sam, he’s sitting silently in the corner of the room. Waiting to offer comfort, but not wanting to encroach on Dean and I. The second our eyes meet, I burst into tears once again. The ache in my chest heavy, surely if I were to die of a broken heart this is what it would feel like. Sam quietly crosses the room and pulls me into his arms, his embrace just as warm and welcoming as Deans. 

“I am so sorry for your loss, Y/N.” He says, his grip tightening momentarily before he lets me go. Dean offers me his hand and I gratefully accept it, allowing him to guide me outside. I steal one last glance at the closed casket and follow him closely. 

“Can I drive you home, sweetheart?” Dean asks, hesitating outside of my truck, his eyes soft and concerned. I nod, not trusting my voice to give a verbal response. He helps me climb into the passenger seat of my truck, and gently shuts my door. I let my head fall back against the seat and my eyes flutter shut. I hear the drivers side door open and feel the truck shift as Dean climbs in and adjusts the seat to his liking. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I just didn’t know how.” I open my eyes and glance over at him as he starts the truck, he gives me a small smile and extends his arm resting his hand on my leg. 

“It’s okay, sweetheart, I understand completely.” We ride in silence for awhile, my mind a constant rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions. My tears have stopped and everything other than my thoughts are quiet. There is rain hitting the roof of the truck, the tires are crunching against the gravel, but the only other sound is Deans fingers lightly tapping against the steering wheel of the car, keeping rhythm to whatever song is playing in his head. 

“What’re you thinking about?” He asks, breaking the silence. I hesitate, trying to gather my thoughts into an actual sentence, instead of the dark depression that is swirling around in my head. 

“Just remembering, the good times.” I say, a small smile breaking the surface of my lips. 

“Care to share?” He asks, his eyes flitting back and forth from the road to my face. I chuckle softly, the memory in my mind floating through my head as an image. 

“Okay, so you remember how my grandparents were together? My grandfather was always super flirtatious towards my grandmother? Well, this one time she was in a bad mood and he was trying to get her to laugh. So he took two balls of yarn, from her knitting project, stuffed them under his button down t-shirt and proceeded to parade around as if he had really big boobs. My cousin and I found it hilarious, my grandmother on the other hand was pissed. Well, for a few minutes, until she finally relaxed and laughed about it. I have the picture printed and hanging in the bunker?” Dean laughs, the clear and deep sound pierces the air around us and I relish the way it hangs in my ears. 

“Do you have anymore you want to talk about?” He asks again, a slight twinkle in his eyes. I think for a minute, weeding through the memories in my head, some more clear than others. 

“One time, after he got sick, he had this woodworking project that he wanted to do. He had all of these buildings on the farm filled to the brim with different types of wood, all different colors and ages. We spent no less than four hours, walking around so he could find just the perfect pieces for his project.” 

It went on like this for awhile, I talked and Dean listened. He let me go on about how my grandfather would always shift the car into neutral when stopping at a stop light, how he would eat cranberry mousse on top of his pumpkin pie at thanksgiving. How he would sing my name as a greeting anytime I called him, or sing the numerous different old jingles from old toothpaste brands or other household products. How much I loved to hear him talk about anything and everything, from the weather to the stock market. The time when I was little, that he took me to a Poinsettia greenhouse that was a four hour drive and he just loved every minute of it. He was just so special and everyone loved him. 

I grow quiet again, the rawness of my grief pulsing within me. Through all of this, exhaustion is creeping up within me. I scoot over the bench seat, getting as close to Dean as the truck will allow and rest my head against his shoulder. My intention was not to sleep, but just to close my burning eyes and seek the slightest comfort. 

However, I fell asleep. Only realizing this when Dean opened the door to the truck and eased me into his arms.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I open my eyes slightly and he shushes me. 

“It’s okay. you needed it, and you looked too peaceful for me to wake you up. Close your eyes, I’ll bring you to bed.” He says, pressing a kiss to my forehead and tucking my head beneath his chin. I do as he says, closing my eyes and allowing the sound of his breathing and the smell of his cologne to overwhelm my senses. I can hear him cross the threshold of the bunker, whispering something to Sam who had driven the Impala back. He makes his way to my bedroom, gently kicking the door open with his foot and closing the distance to my bed quickly. He gingerly sets me down on the sheets, pulling the blankets up over my skin. I open my eyes once again, taking in the sight of the tall older Winchester in front of me, grateful for his friendship and the love he has shown me in this dark time. “Get some sleep, sweetheart, I won’t be far.” He presses another kiss to my skin and turns to leave my room. Fear grabs hold of me and before I can thing, I speak. 

“Dean, will you stay, please?” I whisper, a sob clawing its way out of my lungs. He sighs, not a sigh of frustration, but of empathy. He nods silently, climbing in beside me and gently tugging me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss against my forehead. 

“It’s not gonna hurt like this forever. It will always be there, but your life will grow and it will hurt less. I promise, Y/N.” He says, stroking my skin gently. The comfort leeching from him, something I needed from the day I got that phone call. I let my eyes fall closed, trying to block out every thought and just exist in this very moment, surrounded by a man who would do anything for me, who would love me unconditionally and always let me be true to my emotions. 

Dean was right, life went on. Even though some days, I wanted it to slow down more than anything, I wanted the world to stop so I could just exist in my grief. I wanted to go back several years before, take more pictures, listen to more of his stories, take more videos of him singing. I longed to hear his voice just one more time, ask him one more question. Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t do, I focused on what I could do. I noticed the birds more, some of his favorite creatures. I watched more sunrises and sunsets, embracing the beauty around me as he would have done. I will always remember the days we had together, I will always long for more. For now though, I will grieve. And that’s okay. 

Tag List: @roseblue373 @jc-winchester @hobby27 @mishreem

@hunterscabin This contains some memories of my grandfather, I hope you will read them. <3

[fandom-flight]

I'm about halfway through Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint,and I'm really impressed with how it practically bleeds with themes of storytelling and our relationship with stories as humans. There's the obvious stuff, like how the main character's whole shtick is being a reader with "bookmark" and "fourth wall" abilities, but as of about chapter like 240, I've never stopped tangibly feeling how much ORV seems to want to explore the concept of stories (and not just in the sense of the novel's world where stories are like a kind of power, though that is kind of part of it). I ended up having a lot of roving thoughts, so more under the cut

Specifically what I mean by this is that almost every aspect of the world building and the plot has some kind of commentary on how people relate to stories. The constellations, for example, are very clearly kind of meant to be audience stand ins, especially in the beginning. They're watching the stories of our main characters on stream much the same way that we the readers are watching the story of ORV on our devices in the real world, and oftentimes their reactions to the events mimic our reactions from the outside– they cringe when characters do embarrassing things, they ship characters with chemistry, they hold their breath when things gets tense, and feel genuinely sad and heartbroken when bad things happen to the characters in their show. It's through their financial support that some of these stories can continue to be told, kind of the same way that fans' monetary contributions to artists enables their art to continue being made. Kim Dokja even calls out how the tables have turned early on in the series, that he used to be the one watching them through a screen, and now the situation is totally reversed. The constellations also kind of mimic the negative effect that the audience can have on art– sometimes artists have to bend to the will of their supporters even when it goes against their desired direction for their own art because that's what pulls in the money, and the way that incarnations and dokkaebi have to listen to the will of their sponsors feels like a very on the nose parallel for this. ORV sets up both the constellations and Kim Dokja as content consumers who have a love of stories in common in order to make a statement about how loving stories is universal, while simultaneously laying groundwork to make statements about the line between reader and narrative. Another thing that Kim Dokja has in common with the constellations is that both he and they are increasingly brought to the boundary of the fourth wall as the series progresses. In the same way Kim Dokja starts to realize that he IS part of the story now, and that the people he previously just saw as characters are actually real human beings that he has emotional attachments to, the constellations also start becoming characters who appear in the story and impact it directly, rather than being detached observers. This process of becoming a part of the story after being emotionally invested in it is naturally not something that literally happens to people in real life, but readers wanting to insert themselves into a narrative they love is something very human. I mean, fanfiction is incredibly popular because a lot of us humans can't just leave media that we love alone, we keep thinking about it, we want to expand on it, change it, and sometimes even insert ourselves into it. Historically, myths have had many different versions circulate over time, with some cultures borrowing figures from others and literary giants creating characters of their own (or even versions of themselves *cough Dante cough*) to insert into these legends.

In addition to the very human desire to become a part of the stories we love, ORV also calls out how humans are are kind of enamored with certain themes, and that we show this by having these themes appear in various legends the world over. Realms of death, myths of resurrection, tales of slaying supernatural evils, all of these things are shown to be so universal that constellations sometimes have copyright disputes over them. The fact that the constellations that appear in ORV are so varied is another place where ORV proves to be a love letter to storytelling. The author has such a diverse collection of gods and historical figures that I can't help but see their love for stories as something so strong that it transcended culture and nationality. Furthermore, the fact that constellations obtain their status from how widespread their stories are feeds into the theme of people being stories, which is another interesting angle to look at the relationship between people and stories. ORV has characters literally say "people are stories" out loud, and Han Sooyoung references the philosophy that people only truly die when they've been forgotten, but there isn't a single second where I really stop feeling like this holds true for everyone in the book (and not just because souls being stories and people needing stories to live ends up being part of the worldbuilding). The idea is that our stories give us value, both intrisinsically and extrinsically. ORV represents this literally, as the notoriety of a story actually makes people stronger, and also stories can be used as currency or food to some people. Even on a scale lower than the constellations, the reputations of characters and the rumors of their incredible deeds can increase their value to outsiders, the same way that a person's reputation in the real world can affect their job prospects and social connections (this is a little more obvious and would happen in any story, but I think that the mythologizing of the ORV characters in their own universe is meant to exemplify the effect of a person's stories on their perceived value).

The theme of people being stories also extends to a related but still separate (I think) theme of everyone being the protagonist of their own story. Kim Dokja begins ORV by talking about how much Yoo Sangah feels like a protagonist. She has all the qualities that a main character should have, and Kim Dokja feels like he could never match that, despite the fact that he clearly wants to be a protagonist really badly. He wants to be cool, special, and confident, but it's not until the scenarios start and he starts being able to use skills in a way unique to him that he starts realizing that maybe he can be a protagonist too. And again, this is a theme that ORV just constantly exudes– Kim Dokja often explicitly talks about how everyone is living their own life and being their own person. When he sees Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung for the first time after the intermediate dokkaebi Paul separates them following the golden thrones destruction, he's impressed by their growth while he wasn't looking, and we the audience are reminded that these people learn and progress as the center of their own world. When Kim Dokja is separated from his friends after the Dark Castle arc and hears what they've been up to, he muses about how, even without him, the world continues to turn, scenarios continue to run, and people continue to live. It very much helps that the author of ORV gives every side character a vibrant and memorable personality so that we can better empathize with them as their own people with their own lives, even though they might not get as much screentime. Characters who we do not think to care much about are shown to have significant development while the main character isn't with them. Kim Namwoon matures into a calmer, happier person in the Underworld long after I forgot he existed. Han Myungoh went from bring an insufferable nepotism baby to being a determined and loving father who is willing to be an ally. The author constantly reminds us that Kim Dokja isn't the only one in this world who is a protagonist with a story worth telling, and in a way, it kind of feels like they're also telling the readers that, not only are we the main characters of our lives, but we also can never forget that the people around us are protagonists of their stories as well.

In short, ORV uses just about every character and storyline to convey that humans may love to consume the stories of others, but we can't forget that we're also writing our own stories by living them. Humans are made up of the stories they love, the ones they write themselves, and the ones they put a part of themselves into, and I just get the sense that the author has a lot of feelings about stories and how important they are to us as a species in every sentence they write. I'm definitely curious to see how the story ends because I can't imagine how the author will conclude the series when making a statement about this theme seems so important, but anything that would be a satisfying conclusion to the story would really be counterproductive to making that statement. As a reader, I want a definitive "and they lived happily ever after after solving the story's problems," but since the author actually has Kim Dokja muse on how "he never felt satisfied by 'and they lived happily ever after'," I kind of can't imagine that that's how this series will end? Because it doesn't sound like the author was ever completely satisfied with those endings either. But I also don't think ORV is meant to be a tragedy, so I'm excited to see where things go!

[luyepiaofeng]

˖⁺‧₊˚✦ ways to make your laptop aesthetic feat. some extensions, websites & apps for students

i created this cause i found some time to finally upgrade and properly personalise my laptop, it took me almost an entire day watching youtube videos, researching for these and setting them up. so... i'm basically posting this for myself lol, but i also feel like sharing cause these are actually really good hehe

i'm using a windows laptop but i think most of these should work on mac too. most of these are free but there are maybe like less than five that require to be paid.

those that are marked with an asterisk (*) are the ones that i'm currently using while others are recommended or alternatives!

here is what my home screen looks like now:

i. screen saver

fliqlo (ios & win) * flipit (win, an inspired & alt ver of ^) flix clock (mac & web, paid ver comes with colours other than black) aura gradient clock (mac & web) retro anime desk clock (mac) flocus (web) * studywithme (web) note: remember to right-click the file and select "install", then ensure that the wait time (e.g: 5 mins) is less than your "turn off your screen" and "put my device to sleep after" (e.g: both 15 mins) in power settings

ii. tab themes

kluk: a clock tab theme * angry study helper: a tab theme that gets angy at u whenever u open a new tab gratitutab: a minimalistic tab theme that works as a to-do list prioritab: a tab theme that shows priorities that u had set for the day, week, and month

iii. extensions

tldr this: summarizes long docs, websites, articles, etc. with just a click * paperpanda: download research papers by clicking on it, it searches on domains like google scholar, semanticscholar, aodoi, and more * coffeelings: mainly a mood tracker that also saves mini journal entries colorzilla: an eyedropper colour picker * whatfont: click on it and hover on any text to show what font it is * mybib: an apa, mla, harvard, and more styles citation generator * read aloud: a tts reader that supports more than 40+ languages * notion web clipper: creates a website into a bookmark into notion * noisli: lets u listen to relaxing playlist while u study/work

iv. websites

lofi.cafe i miss the office i miss my cafe i miss my bar i miss my library a soft murmur patatap tomato timers animedoro lifeat coolors blush designs untools fontjoy zenpen decision maker museum of endangered sounds future me

v. apps

virtual cottage chill corner notion *

vi. rainmeter skins

mond * lano visualizer amatical * small clean weather animated * ageo sonder * cloudy harmattan note: if you're new to rainmeter, it can be a bit overwhelming, u may check out this short and simple tutorial on it, make sure to read the instructions if you're using complicated skins like weather (may require u to edit in txt), i also highly rec watching techrifle's videos

vii. misc.

wallpaper engine * (highly rec getting from chillhop) my live wallpaper (free alt of ^) translucenttb * roundedtb note: u can disable your shortcut icons to be invisible by right-clicking on your home screen, go to "view", and untick "show desktop icons", this is optional and i would always enable it whenever i'm working and gaming for easier access, i also set the icons to small

[instapaper]

Summaries, Custom Article Actions, Obsidian Integration, and More

Today we’re launching Instapaper 8.6 for iOS and macOS, which includes Summaries to quickly get a snapshot of an article, Custom Article Actions to customize the toolbar in the article view, and many more new features that you’ve been asking for.

We’re also launching our official Obsidian Plugin, which syncs all of your highlights and notes to Obsidian.

Summaries

Summaries provide both an overview of the current article, and a list of Summary Highlights which showcase the most important sentences in the article.

You can access Summaries by tapping the “...” menu then tapping Summarize. We wanted to make Summaries accessible from wherever you are in the article, so you can also swipe from the right edge of the article to open the summary.

Tapping any of the Summary Highlights will take you to that place in the article, and you can easily highlight or create a note by tapping the summary highlight. There is also a toggle that enables you to show all Summary Highlights in context while you’re reading the article.

Summaries are limited to 5 per month for free users. With Instapaper Premium you’ll get unlimited Summaries, and Instapaper will automatically sync Summary Highlights to your device. If you have the “Show in article” toggle enabled, Instapaper will automatically show the Summary Highlights in the article without needing to fetch the summary first.

Summaries are available in Instapaper 8.6 on iOS, macOS, and on the Instapaper website. Android support coming soon!

If you’re interested in the technical details, we also published a post about how Instapaper Summaries are generated.

Custom Article Actions

In the article view, you can now customize the toolbar actions by long pressing an icon, and replacing it with a customized action. We’ve received a lot of requests from people who frequently use text-to-speech or view their notes, and want an easy way to do that from the toolbar. So if you’re using Instapaper for heavy research, your toolbar might look something like this:

Custom Article Actions are available today on iOS and macOS.

Obsidian Plugin

We’re excited to share our official Obsidian Plugin, which is the only plugin that can sync all of your highlights and notes to Obsidian.

You can enable the plugin by searching for Instapaper in Obsidian Plugins. After installing, navigate to Settings > Instapaper (under Community Plugins), log in with your Instapaper credentials, and your Notes will start syncing.

Additional Features & Improvements

In addition to the above, we’re launching a number of additional features and improvements in Instapaper 8.6:

Oldest article sync is now available. If you'd like to sync your articles oldest first, you can navigate to Instapaper Settings > Advanced > Home (Under Syncing) > Oldest First.

Support for iOS default system browser when opening links. You can switch to the iOS default browser by navigating to Instapaper Settings > Browser > System.

If you prefer Dark Mode slightly less dark, True Black can now be disabled in Instapaper Settings > Advanced > True Black.

Toggle to enable or disable scrolling under the status bar available in Settings > Advanced > Full Screen.

Option to remove “via Instapaper” attribution when sharing articles is available with Instapaper Premium in Settings > Advanced > Sharing.

Improved display of code blocks in reader view.

Increased largest font sizes for better accessibility.

As always, if you have any feature requests, questions, or concerns please feel free to reach out at support@help.instapaper.com.

– Instapaper Team

[murasakispace]

[COD MW2 HCS] 141 + Los Vaqueros + König with a Neutral Gender! Writer! Reader

A/N : How come we never see a Reader as a writer in whatever fandom - or am I blind - in headcanons ? I mean... So many people writing amazing fanfictions or headcanons on this platform or everywhere else and... No ? Really ? We’re talking about a military Reader here, by the way. 

TW : none (for once) except the ugly typos you may encounter. Only one very little mention of smutty litterature 

John “Soap” MacTavish 

So... Let’s start with our lovely Scottish sergeant 

It is apparently canon that he likes to draw on a small notebook he keeps with him dearly. 

So he knows. He is acquainted with the ‘writer’s zone’ we flee into when inspiration holds us within its graceful arms. When the images of action flood through out brain when a stroke of genius light up our features and how we appear lost in some kind of parallel universe only us are able to interact with (well... it’s how it looks like for me, feel free to comment - writer or not - how your imagination works) 

However, Soap is mostly aware about the tropes and what we can consider as the technical side of writing such as relashionship dynamics for your characters - if it implies the said relashionships - 

I think he is the kind to prefer roomates universes because of the domesticity he is able to find there and friendship warms his heart. Although, that’s just an impression. 

He is actually the biggest help out of the 141 because when he draws he also uses the codes of his type of creation for his cute doodles you suspect him to scribble on the yellowed paper of his little diary. 

He knows what it is to lack of insipiration, even though he tends to throw his thoughts on the paper and reproduces his surroundings. 

He appreciates the smallest details that compose his world. He notices them all. 

But I digress. 

You two share a world not so accessible for the rest of the team. When you talk about [Insert fiction character of trope here] in a very specific context, the others gaze at you confused. 

More than writing, it is a little sweet thing you two share and you would never lose that for anything in the world.

Simon “Ghost” Riley 

He... Understands... Not like Soap. He doesn’t have that much imagination. 

He gets it is your hobby. It is as valuable as any other activity. 

Simon thinks it’s cute in some way. You, lost in thought, next to him, about and into something he can’t quite grasp. And a sheet of paper or the blank screen of an app on your tablet or whatever device you judged comfortable.

At first, you asked for his help about some details, or his opinion, or his advice. Then, you understood he was too down-to-earth and wounded by his abusive past to allow himself to relax this way next to you. 

Yet, you used your hobby as a way to stay with him as a support. He had just to tug a bit at your sleeve and all your attention would be on him. 

It was the first step. 

You understood quickly that your writing might be able to help him unwind and finally get comfortable. 

You write him silly stories, made for him to laugh, or to smile at least. It wasn’t a big deal, just fables. You have no idea what he does with it. You just hope it enables him to dream even if just during the day like a fleeting thought clinging to him. A distant echo of something nice his heart and his memory agreed on keeping dearly underneath his leaden shell. 

You also may be the one reading your own stories to him. But the mistakes, the inconsistencies or the lack of meaning and every little flaws in your writing may appear much more visible once clearly uttered. 

By dint of effort, you manage to soften him a bit. He doesn’t want to ask you if he could read either what you are writing or if you have something for him. However, he eventually hopes within the depth of his heart that he can flee from reality for a few minutes. 

He is so grateful to you even though he is bitter on the fact he can’t bring you much constructive criticism. 

Kyle “Gaz” Garrick 

Another one who understands one might have such a hobby but he may not relate. 

I don’t see Gaz as someone who reads a lot. It’s just not his thing. He’ll read for sport news or something related to one of his own hobbies. 

I guess he doesn’t have the patience to sit somewhere comfortable and allow his mind to wander this way thanks to your words. 

Except maybe when he desperately needs to unwind and his thoughts are too noisy so he needs to occupy his plagued mind with something totally different. 

However, he is curious about the creation process. 

He’ll ask about your ‘tools’ after you explain to him that your scenario and elements of the story doesn’t entirely pop out of thin air and you may have to rethink and to shape your ideas to make up a story both understandable and enjoyable. 

He laughs when he notices about your nonsensical Internet history. How can it be so weird ? And then, he remembers what kinds of research he does when the night isn’t kind to him and he doesn’t laugh anymore.

Sometimes, your brain amazes him. You sound so cool when you take the time to explain some of your ideas. 

Kyle is awesome at helping you for worldbuilding. He has a lot of imagination when he manages to leave his military universe on the side and peeks at yours. 

He is an excellent beta reader since he is actually very neutral about writing in general and he’ll try to give you the most help possible when you ask him. Too short ? Too long ? Not enough or too much emphasis on a detail ? He just aims at your betterment ! 

John Price 

You are a writer ? Well... As long as you do your duty you can be whatever you want. 

He is neutral with the idea of you being a writer. He is a soldier before anything. And a leader at that. He’ll support you because Captain Dad... I mean... Captain Price always supports his team but sometimes the said team gives a hard time to his comprehension and patience. 

You’re mostly quiet, with music for your ears, typing or penning something on a sheet of paper. Moreover, it seems like you have some sort of natural distance with Soap’s or Gaz’s - or both - usual chaos. 

Price has to say that it amazes him how you are distant of everything when you are in what Soap would call a writer’s fever. 

By the way, he happens to watch over you both when Soap draws and you write on the couch of the common room. If you both eventually show him what you created - if you don’t he will not force you - he’ll gaze at you like a proud momma duck despite his best behavior. 

He is mostly the one staring in disbelief as you use vocabulary, tropes, imaginary events for your own type of art since he can’t understand it even though you all speak the same language. 

Price notices very early you are a skilled writer, or at least you have some experience. The reports he gets from you are probably the best from the soldiers he got under his orders. He might have something to say about the spelling and the shape of your letters if you give him handwritten reports. Depends on you I guess. 

He will not ask to read what you write. You can call that the appropriate distance induced by hierarchy. You remain soldiers. You may as well act like it. 

Sometimes, you’d like his opinion. An outside point of view about your work is always good, no ? Well... John Price has a Ghost syndrome. He is annoyingly ass deep in his military life. Hence, he faces a very limited imagination except when it comes to interrogate an enemy. 

The worst about him is that he could be an amazing beta reader. Constructive criticism and probably giving you ways to improve yourself in what you already are so good at. 

Just give him time. He’ll get interested one way or another. First, you may try to be closer emotionally to him. Might be a good start to go past this military hierarchy and to know what his tastes are to get his heart beat only at the tone of your phrasing with your unique talent 

Rodolfo Parra 

He thinks it’s so cool to have a hobby as enjoyable as he thinks you have just by the way you act when you are writing. 

Rudy doesn’t have the time to delve that deeply into a hobby. Los Vaqueros constantly demand his attention. However, when he gets the time he - like Gaz - tries to ask about the process of writing. He even tries to write by himself. 

You explained about the tropes and dynamics and he seemed to get it immediately. Childhood friends to lovers is his favorite one by the way. 

It was just a little story he came up with. It was the first thing that stuck to his imagination, appearing out of an obscure place of his brain. It was uncertain, somewhat shaky but simple and, in a way, adorable.  

He almost took it personally when you said this small piece of text was just like him. 

However, before you sink even deeper in awkwardness, you dismissed this last interaction and tried to correct him the best you could. 

After that, he was looking forward the little time when you could write with him and he could learn. Another thing, it’s quiet around you, focused, relaxed. Alejandro knows where to find him when he is looking for his right hand. 

He could be an amazing beta reader if he wasn’t so kind. He forgives you everything. “Have you noticed inconsistencies or flaws ?” you’d ask. “Maybe a little something here but I’m sure it’s me” he’d reply. Unnerving, right ? The gentlest reader but you don’t need him to be so nice. You need him to be observant. 

He also comes up with very simple ideas when it comes to writing but his way of apprehending things has something one can’t quite describe. My closest synonym would be a vibe, something like raw talent that only needs to be explored thoroughly. It resembles to cutting a diamond, sharpen the edges to make it glistening and precious. 

His imagination is not too chaotic but his thinking and reasoning develops and fill in the gaps of his originality. 

Anyways, Rudy is amazing. As always. 

Alejandro Vargas 

There has to be one who does not take you very seriously. Well... It is Alejandro. The Mexican colonel is... something else, to say the least. He considered himself a man of action and not a man of words. So, to him, whatever you were doing with those scraps of paper during your free time was none of his business. 

He’ll try some kind of joke with you writing nasty things in the secret of that little head of yours. Two answers now. “No, colonel, I’m not into writing that kind of litterature” would be the first reponse with a hint of scorn hidden behind your deadpan aspect. 

The second answer though... “Yeah ! I write smut ! Now that we’re talking about that, do you mind if I use your features for my next...” and then you proceed to make a very descriptive, thoroughly explained speech about your imaginary Alejandro and what you planned him to do in this small story of yours. The point was to make the colonel embarassed. Although, it worked better on Rudy who went blushing like a tomato. 

If you choose the second option, it will end up in nasty jokes each time you meet each other. This silly game is absolutely unsufferable for everyone making the mistake to listen to you. 

If anything, your relashionship suffers from this disregard. You didn’t ask Alejandro’s appreciation, hardly tolerance even but it left a sort of bitter taste. Rudy is... Kinder. More understanding. 

However, what happens is that you tend to be consequently more distant from Alejandro. It may have been a silly joke about a pastime of yours but writing is so personal that it was as if he made a joke about your own self and this was intolerable. He had no business disrespecting you this way. 

Beyond that, you banished him from your writing process. His opinion, his hypothetical help, what he might like to see within a story - doesn’t matter how silly it may be - he was no part of it. 

If he changes his mind, you’d tend to retort him something alike “Let’s stay in our own field of expertise colonel. Let me dream about my stories. And you, dream about chasing El Sin Nombre. Good fences make good neighbors as one says”. 

Something that also might happen is that Rudy’s new habit of unwinding with you quietly in the common room and having long conversations with you about that hobby you were now both sharing made him feel weird. Alejandro was surely passionate and admitting he’s wrong - at least for this - was no part of his character but this was the proof he should’ve acted differently. The realisation took its time but he eventually accepts the fact he made an asshole of himself. 

He’ll apologise when he catches you alone, writing. Now the question may be about how much time do you want to play with him for having been such an arse. 

Eventually, Alejandro learns his lesson and he even asks you to read what you write. When he’s done, he is so silent, gawking. You laugh at him. 

König 

Our gigantic, adorable Austrian operator is a book worm. It’s horrendous. The heavy bullying he has been a victim got him to be safe between the shelves of library. The scent of old paper and the calm of the library got him out of his skin, journeying between worlds out of his appalling daily life. He was typically the dreamy, lonely kid who had characters inside his head as sole company. 

So yeah. Books mean relief, respite, getaway for him as well as a way to heal himself from the pain he received from his classmates or whoever hurt him in his younger days. 

He doesn’t have much time for reading anymore and these books are a little too bulky for the small package he was allowed to have. So having you near him is like a blessing. He can talk out his thoughts.  

Beyond writing, it is the vibe around you that convinces him to sit next to you in the common room. He tried to make himself small, to not take too much of the couch but you couldn’t deny his thigh touching yours. You raised your head and smiled at him. König did not utter a single word, already flustered to fail at conversing. But, as time goes on - and after numerous times he just sat next to you enabling himself to move a muscle - you made most of the conversation. He felt almost immediately at ease. 

You two daydream together now, talking about little things always related to writing or reading. It is also a way to relax after close calls and the danger of being killed. 

He is the KING at worldbuilding. König has always several ideas coursing through his brain. His mind is sometimes chaotic, full of details. He gave you the impression once that telling the history of one of this world would create a great saga on it own. Moreover, König is so passionate about these little bouts of thoughts put together. 

He is also very aware about tropes and dynamics. His favorite of the latter is the small protector x the big shy character because he can relate. And he also has a soft post for a good ol’ mutual pining or a hypothetical love at first sight - as unlikely as it seems in real life - 

He doesn’t try to write with you though. He knows he is not too good at this, which is weird considering the tremendous amount of time he can spend while reading. Although, König knows he may have a chance if he writes in German. It depends on you being able to understand him or not.

König is also a dissatisfactory beta reader, different from Rudy though. He doesn’t dare utter what he judges as flaws because he thinks he’d lose you. He is so happy to be the first reading whatever you are working on because it makes him feel so special. 

He always supports you and tries to relax you when pangs of frustration creeps inside your mind because your writing doesn’t go the way you plan it to be. 

Just like with Soap, what you two have is not understandable by the people around you. What’s more is that König’s anxious nature tends to keep you both distant from the people outside of your little bubble. 

[czteryd]

My guide to Internet warfare and taking back control

By which I mean minimizing screen time and wasting your life on making Zuckerber rich. Scrolling Instagram doesn't seem to be dangerous, but there is probably nothing less hurtful than wasting time of milliards of people on things they don't care about. Using willpower to work on this is a lie — you will need real weapons, technologies and strategy.

^this is the lost future you are fighting for. Technology can be good.

Remember, that wars are rarely won in a week, I am in trenches since last summer when i ditched my phone, when i say "It takes time" i mean 5–10 months. It is still hard, but the improvement is amazing.

This is a list of things I have been doing for more than a year that improved my life. Ranked with ease (EAS) + effectiveness (EFF) from 1 to 10.

It is still not perfect, but this is a warzone and you will not be allowed to surrender, soldier!

Remove the smartphone – 5 eas + 15 eff

Sorry. This is a military grade weapon that milliards of dollars are put into to make you waste your time as easily as you can. You can move forward with your phone, but nothing is as effective in taking control back during your commutes, breaks, walks and free time etc. and it is a very important part of learning to deal with stress without mindless scrolling and games. There is no real phone hacks to help you. We and the enemy know that timers don't work. If you can enable all enemy weapons with one switch it is not enough.

You will need a dumbphone or a custom rom to use this technique and stay in society.

It is not as hard as it sounds, actually you don't need it that much. Check out #dumbphone or r/dumbphones for inspiration and support. Me and many of my friends who done it as well don't look back.

Buuut i can't – 9 eas + 5 eff

Yes you can. But if you insist, still, buy a dumbphone or find one in the drawers and put your sim card there; carry them both. Now you can use the Internet only when you have wifi, but you can use offline maps, listen to downloaded music and watch downloaded movies, read pdfs etc. Check your email, bank, messages, memes at work or at home. You will regain control over walks, commutes and socialising. But if you still have any social apps, at home or during breaks, you are still cooked. It is still a very good first step to moving away from phone dependence.

Smartphone substitutes

Email, socials, work, school – all will now be done on a pc or a laptop. This is good. It allows you to distance yourself from stress, tiring family members, school, work and problems of others and engage with them only when you want to. It allows you to take a break. It is not your duty, to engage all the time and the ability to do so at your own pace is the biggest advantage you can get on the battlefield. If something important is going on — someone will call you, don't worry. Just inform others that WhatsApp is not a place to discuss emergencies.

Fun, music, reading – you will need to get a dumbphone that supports some music, pdf viewing, photos and maybe light web browsing, they do exist. Or just buy an mp3 player, some books and a notepad. An e-reader and a camera for the high tech soldiers. Y2K is back in fashion anyway, and you will be much cooler and people will start conversations. Having everything in one place was convenient, but, if it means having time–wasting hazards in your pocket, it is not worth it.

Libraries are here to support you on your journey.

Block the feed — 10 eas + 4 eff

Hopefully you got rid of your phone, the biggest danger now is your web browser.

Use LeechBlock to block or regulate access to the biggest dangers – youtube, instagram, fb, reddit. On the weak side it is no better than the timer in your phone, supportive, but not really effective and fills you with guilt. Guilt is bad.

On the strong side you will block all access, allow very rare and short usage, put as many defenses as you can, put blockades on your blockades. Your brain is very effective at overcoming barriers, but they need to be put in place.

It is the first step, but it is not enough to win the war. Real psychological effects will show only after months of usage and well adjusted settings that acknowledge how your brain works and as you adapt your barriers will need to adapt as well. On the flip-side it requires no real conscious work or wasting your willpower if your filters are good.

You will sometimes need to bend the rules, to fix something or watch a lecture or a tutorial or just for some well deserved Forgotten Vines Compilation. Remember to put them back in place later and spot the times where you never did — and do it then.

Warning: nerd shit! (3-6) eas + (7-10) eff

If your friends sent you a funny video — don't unlock the site to watch it. Use external software like MPV or VLC to watch this video using only the link, without getting rid of your defense line. This is easiest on a linux machine.

You also have the nuke – block websites on your router and gate settings. You will need the support of the rest of the war room members in your house to use it and it will cut access to actually useful things. But this is a war for your life and every sacrifice is worth it.

Block the biggest hazards — 6 eas + 9 eff

Sorry, but you will need to use some nerd tactics.

Shorts, reels, tik toks, explore, for you pages. They need to be blocked immediately and for good. No access, no overrides, no fiddling in options. LeechBlock browser addon will allow you to block specific pages with harder barriers. Do it and never change them.

They are the biggest danger and you know it. Your brain will not be mad if it won't get dopamine this way, it knows you would never find the perfect 1 minute video that would make you happy. The urge to scroll some shorts will go away real fast.

This will allow you to fight only the easier fights — against the normal infinite feeds.

UblockOrigin

Is a double edged sword. Removing ads makes your life on the internet easy and fun. It is only a good thing to a certain extent – our fight is to make some parts of the internet as hard and painful to use – but it will help you keep your sanity.

Use it to block the feed! Click on Ublock icon and use the little pipette to add a rule that blocks the infinite feed on webpages of your choice.

Select the area and click the blue button to create a rule on the main page. Now you will not be distracted with algorithmic content, but you are free to not block groups important for you or your work or still see notifications, messages and other functions.

Cons: sometimes your rules will break with time, you will need to make many of them. Removing ads from youtube is dangerous as the reward is easier to obtain, thus making the boobytrap more effective.

Don't use apps and don't use the browser. 10 eas + 6 eff

Minimize a chance of getting distracted while doing something else.

For messages, school and work remove the browser from the equation. Use desktop clients for messaging, microsoft office, Teams, email etc. They have exactly what you need and are often more convenient to use. No chance of opening Instagram in excel.

For social media and online entertainment use the browser, don't use the apps! You are going into the warzone, you will need the armor – Leechblock and other addons are here to help you. For time wasters apps are engineered to remove your personal defense – never use them.

No Screentime before coffee – 1 eas + 10 eff

This one is behavioral and requires actual brain work, but give yourself some time and it will give you great effects.

Do not check memes, messages, mail etc. before waking up. Easier said than done.

Going to school or work will be easier, waking up will be easier, you will start to eat and have more energy during the day.

It will require you to plan your day in advance, check the calendar and your plan for the day the night before. I never learned it as a child and it is very hard to work on it, but the effects in my psyche are immense.

If you got rid of your phone, you are halfway there. If you can remove your laptop from proximity of your bed — do it. If you have an ability to put your pc in a seperate room — it would be perfect, but not many are able to, including me.

Separate your working, from sleeping, from entertainment spaces, we worked on it during COVID soldier, don't forget your training.

Remove the noise — 1 eas + 4 eff

somewhat. You probably don't actually need podcasts and music to work, walk or sleep and regaining your ability to focus there is also important. Maybe substitute them with white/pink/brown noise at least sometimes, especially for brain heavy tasks this is very helpful to get work done in a reasonable amount of time. Blanket app is a good desktop noise generator that won't require the browser.

But I will not blame you if you won't, this is the least problematic part and humans have always met to do menial tasks while hearing others talk and many conditions are easier to live with some background noise.

Pick your allies

Internet is a meadow and a minefield. Place for art and support and knowledge filled with weapons designed to use you as an revenue generator. Watch content only from curated, quality places and people you follow. Never look at the algorithmic feed. Tumblr is a prime example of a site that can be your ally, but don't trust it – block the For You page.

don't lose your steam

Do not engage emotionally with things beyond your control. This was the twitter's weapon of choice. If you do not have the money or time to support a cause, you know about it and you know all your mutuals already support it – don't let the algorithm put it down your throat against your will.

Do not follow war hashtags, do not look at pages when you can see hate and violence against your will. Educate yourself, do as much as you can, follow people who inspire you and do real work, but allow yourself to move on if it is beyond your abilities or strength. Your local anarchist group will do more good in a month, than you reading political posts for years. If you honestly care – join them and focus on real work. If you can't contribute, just learn about it and move on. There will be more opportunities in the future and then we will need all your strength. This is the sad part of winning the war. Some sacrifices have to be made.

^you soon

Wish you luck soldiers. This is a fight worth fighting.

share your weapons of choice if you can and tell me about your experiences.

[arzelace]

5 Trends in ICT

Exploring the 5 ICT Trends Shaping the Future The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, driven by advancements that are transforming how we live, work, and interact. Here are five key trends in ICT that are making a significant impact:

1. Convergence of Technologies

Technologies are merging into integrated systems, like smart devices that combine communication, media, and internet functions into one seamless tool. This trend enhances user experience and drives innovation across various sectors

Convergence technologies merge different systems, like smartphones combining communication and computing, smart homes using IoT, telemedicine linking healthcare with telecom, AR headsets overlaying digital on reality, and electric vehicles integrating AI and renewable energy.

2. Social Media

Social media platforms are central to modern communication and marketing, offering real-time interaction and advanced engagement tools. New features and analytics are making these platforms more powerful for personal and business use.

Social media examples linked to ICT trends include Facebook with cloud computing, TikTok using AI for personalized content, Instagram focusing on mobile technology, LinkedIn applying big data analytics, and YouTube leading in video streaming.

3. Mobile Technologies

Mobile technology is advancing with faster 5G networks and more sophisticated devices, transforming how we use smartphones and tablets. These improvements enable new applications and services, enhancing connectivity and user experiences.

Mobile technologies tied to ICT trends include 5G for high-speed connectivity, mobile payment apps in fintech, wearables linked to IoT, AR apps like Pokémon GO, and mobile cloud storage services like Google Drive.

4. Assistive Media

Assistive media technologies improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including tools like screen readers and voice recognition software. These innovations ensure that digital environments are navigable for everyone, promoting inclusivity.

Assistive media examples linked to ICT trends include screen readers for accessibility, AI-driven voice assistants, speech-to-text software using NLP, eye-tracking devices for HCI, and closed captioning on video platforms for digital media accessibility.

5. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing allows for scalable and flexible data storage and application hosting on remote servers. This trend supports software-as-a-service (SaaS) models and drives advancements in data analytics, cybersecurity, and collaborative tools.

Cloud computing examples related to ICT trends include AWS for IaaS, Google Drive for cloud storage, Microsoft Azure for PaaS, Salesforce for SaaS, and Dropbox for file synchronization.

Submitted by: Van Dexter G. Tirado

[techy-guy]

Streamlining Communication: Sachin Dev Duggal Founded Builder.ai's Natasha Role in Elevating Microsoft Teams

Accessibility Features:

Microsoft's goal is to build inclusive experiences and the dedication of Sachin Dev Duggal’s Builder.ai has the ideally compatible accessibility. Natasha can include accessibility tools like voice commands, screen readers, and real-time captioning to make sure Teams is usable by everyone, regardless of their ability.

Data Security and Compliance:

To safeguard sensitive information within Teams, Natasha is built with strong data security and compliance capabilities. It can inform users, spot possible security issues, and support maintaining regulatory compliance.

Conclusion!

The addition of Microsoft Teams' AI Assistant Natasha from Sachin Dev Duggal’s Builder.ai marks a significant advancement in the development of collaborative platforms. Natasha turns Teams into a force for productivity and collaboration because of its extensive variety of features, which range from boosting productivity and information management to offering customized insights and promoting accessibility. This collaboration not only helps the people who are already using it, but it also ushers in a new era of productivity where AI-driven assistants enable teams to collaborate more effectively and empower companies to accomplish more.

[knightyoomyoui]

The 1% Of Chances | TWICE Jeongyeon x M Reader Fanfic : CHAPTER 1

Welcome to my first Jeongyeon x Male Reader book! I hope you guys will like this story that I attempted to make after days of deciding whether I should do it or not. For the reads and votes that this book would get, I gave to all of you already my deepest gratitude for supporting my work. Now, here's the pilot chapter of my 12-chaptered book. Enjoy reading everyone!

"Alright, you can now leave Mr. YN. Rest assured that I will send you an update after I fully review these including our interview today.", the owner of the establishment said to you while compiling all of your papers he seperated each just to take a look at each of its contents. "Understood, sir. Thank you so much.", you bowed in respect to respond on his statement. He gave you a timid smile before you left your gaze at him and stepped outside his office and the building. You came here to pass some copies of your personal documents that were included on their requirements in search for their new worker to take on their vacant position. And as the guy who is currently desperate to look for an available, still continuing and keeping your hopes high despite being rejected by multiple companies now including taking a time to find another one whether around inside or outside of your area in Seoul, South Korea.

Stumbling to this one, you unhesitantly attempted to try this one; not minding what type of job it is. The only thing that matters to you anyways is so that you could use this job to help yourself survive into this word and maintain your personal life average, whilst figuring out also how to improve and reach the best limit you could ever get that can enable you to help others too who are inspiring to do the same thing as you. Here you are who just finished the interview that was set up by the boss to atleast get a glimpse of your personality and hear to you loud and clear on how can you possibly assured that you'll help and contribute to the changes of the business to make you perfectly fitted for the role, you are now standing outside the building; sighing deeply in relief both in relief and nervousness. Relieved because your meeting is done, nervous is because you don't know if the higher one will accept or reject your application. While you were waiting, you decided to just push aside your overthinking to the back of you head and chose to calm yourself a bit knowing that so far you don't have any huge errands to rush for a couple of days. Before you were even about to hop onto your motorcycle, your phone beeped; stealing your attention. You picked it up, seeing the contact profile of your friend named Somin flashed on the screen. You answered the call by swiping to the green call button. "Hey, what's for the call?", you spoke as your placed the phone near to your ear. "Yo, YN. Where you at right now?" "Outside the building I applied for a job, why?" "Oh, the interview was today? How is it?" "It's fine. The stuttering were atleast controlled and somehow the boss looked convinced on some of my answers to his questions. But that doesn't mean I have to complacent you know? Still, these thoughts of failing to get employed is making my nerves tensed." "Well that sounded good still and also you were right. Just look at the positive side, man. Enough or not enough, you showed to him that you can be very useful anyways." "Same point we're sharing then. That's what i'm doing right now, taking some cool off." "By the way, uhh what time are we going tomorrow?" You remembered your plan because of what he said, causing you to frown immediately. "9 in the morning is fine, man." "Alright. Time flies, doesn't it? I don't intend to ruin your mood but... I know you have the similar expression of mine that it still disbeliefs me. Hasn't it been 2 years already?" He was right, and the truth got your heart even sank deeper at the heavy weight of the sorrow you feel. It's been 2 years since you lost the only remaining special one in your life. The only woman who fought till the end just to stay by your side... even if it costs her life due to her unselfishness. And you both love and hate her so much for that. But even if you argue with her over and over again about that, you know she'll win always. She loves you so much and that love is your weakness. Which was her strength but... fate went upside down as it was instead the one who pushed her to the risk of disappearing forever. It was never easy for you every single day when you'd think about it. "Y-yeah. It feels like yesterday when we attended her funeral.", you answered with your voice getting rough a bit due to your force of not wanting to sob already and instead save your tears for another day. But having the observative friend you have, he didn't failed to let it pass as he got aware that the reality still stabs you straight in the feels. "Sorry if I just said it man. I know it stinged you a lot but hey, feel free to let it all out tomorrow. You know I'll be there always to console you, man." "Thanks, Somin." "No biggie." "I gotta go now dude, I still have to buy some flowers and candles to bring for her resting place before I go home." "Sure, have a safe way home okay?" "Got it.", you replied before the call ended. You placed back your phone in your pocket before riding your motorcycle and revved its engine to have you transported onto your next planned destination. Minutes later, you bought some pieces of lilies and carnation flowers to a floral shop along with some pleasant smelled candles to bring with you to the cemetery where you'll be placing it in front of her tombstone to gift on it atleast on the anniversary of her passing. You then crossed the street and entered a fast food chain next to buy some take-over food as your dinner for tonight. Just a combo of coke, two layered burger, two pieced chicken with a rice and lastly a fries were effective immediately to make your starve and crave for it to be eaten. So you went back to your vehicle and drove instantly in the middle of the road ahead to your sweet home. One of the streets made you stop driving as you got to follow the red light to allow the bypassers to cross the road through the pedestrian lane. In the midst of waiting patiently, your music 's volume shrinked on your earbuds when a notification appeared on your phone. Opening it, you learned that it came from the K-Pop girl group you stan the most, which is TWICE. They just released their concept photos for their upcoming 2nd English Single titled "Moonlight Sunrise" which was labeled also as their pre-released English Track.

It made you ooh-ed in fascination and awe as you got to see the individual photos of the unnie line who are slated as the Batch 1 of their scheduled releasing of concept photos for today. You figured that tomorrow would be the middle line's turn next and the day after would be lastly the maknae line's. After you gave a heart react and shared the post of Nayeon's concept photo, it took you a bit long to head quickly to Momo because there was something that had you abruptly halt on your hand movement. You ended up in a stare with the concept photo of your bias and your huge celebrity crush, Yoo Jeongyeon who looks absolutely damn gorgeous and deadly attractive with her short bob-cut black hair which is definitely your favorite and top-tier haircut look of all time from her. It reminisce you of Feel Special where she had that look first before, and successfully caught your attention that led you today on being a die-hard ONCE and her as your bias without further picking. You smiled widely and shrieked in victory that she returned this look again which made you extremely assured that you'll be loyal even more to her because of this era. "Oh myt God, I really have to prepare my heart and soul for their comeback. She's going to snatch it again and make it hers as usual.", you muttered to yourself. After you finished heart reacting Momo's next, the green light was lit to give you and the other drivers an access to continue driving. The next day, you woke up from the irritating sound of your alarm to inform you that you have to start such a big day today. You groaned at the stretching of your body before you stood up from the bed and fix your bedsheet. The morning routine began as you stepped into the kitchen, making your breakfast for this morning. Afterwards, the preparation for yourself is near to be accomplished as you wore both pair of your shoes one last time before checking yourself in the mirror about how you look. Satisfied enough that you atleast look like a civilized and modernized human being, you left your house then locked it and rode your motorcycle to drive away to the location you're suppose to visit. You stepped inside the JYP Entertainment building after parking your ride at their provided lot, greeting the receptionist courteously. "Uhh hello and good morning miss. I'm here for Mr. Jinyoung Park or I guess I could say JYP himself." "Hello and good morning to you too, sir. Are you perhaps the one that Mr. JYP informed me that he had to meet with an intern today?" "I guess you can say it like that." "Just a sec, sir. I'll just have to call Mr. JYP to alert him of your appearance." She then went on to talk on the telephone where she dialed the number of his boss to call him. It didn't lasted longer as she dropped it right away once the short talk ended. "Sir, you may now proceed to meet him." "Ok thanks. Uhm, wait... where is exactly his office miss?" "Go to the elevator to reach the 3rd floor than walk over the hallway. His office is just after the Prince Recording Room, the one with the gray colored door." "Thank you very much, miss." "You're welcome. Welcome once again to JYP Entertainment!" You followed what the lady receptionist said and now, you were standing in front of what it seemed to be the place you are about to enter and meet him personally. Providing some couple of inhale and exhale to compose yourself, you directed to create 3 knocks on the door before speaking up to signal your presence. "Uhm Mr. JYP, it's me. The intern." "Come in!", you heard the muffled sound of his command from the inside of the room. You obliged, opening the door which revealed the owner of this agency, the legendary and the one and only "Asiansoul" of K-Pop himself, Jinyoung Park aka JYP who is signing some papers in his desk. Along with him was a woman wearing all black attire, sporting a short hair with a nicely trimmed bangs, sitting in one of the guest chairs as she makes herself comfortable. All of their pair of eyes connected at you which made you shy and nervous at the same time when you stepped inside the room. "Mr. LN, great to finally see you.", JYP stood up from his seat and offered you his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, sir.", you accepted the handshake and returned back the greeting. "Before we start, I would like to introduce you to another one who's with us right now in my office. Sadness?", JYP glanced at the woman in front of him. "So you're YN? Annyeong, i'm Kim Nayeon or call me Sadness-noona instead as my nickname. I figured that you'll have to use the honorific noona because based from your application, well it does seem that you're younger than me. Nice to meet you, by the way." "Oh... okay, nice to meet you too noona." "Okay now that we're done on the introductions, YN you may now take a seat.", you followed JYP's command, sitting at the spare chair in front of Sadness. "This won't be along but the reason I want to gather us together here for some short meeting is to first.... congratulate you for taking the spot as part of Division 3's managemant team. And I assume that you don't know who's group you'll be assigned for, aren't you?" "Yes, JYP-nim." "You will be under TWICE's staff team. As their head manager who's tasked to keep an eye and manage the whole group while being the leader of the team, that means you'll be sent to duty as a manager for ONE of the members in the group.", Sadness took the cue to speak next. You were shocked to know that you'll get to have working very closely with none other than the group you're hugely stanning since day one. This just feel so surreal of you. You tried to maintain your fanboying as you have to priroitize being professional and dedicated for your job at the moment. "And may I ask who is it, noona?", you asked in curiosity. "Don't worry, YN. You'll meet her later.", JYP assured you. "Now that we're done to the second reason, let's get it on to the last one which is for me.... as the owner of the company who only wants nothing more but for the safety and the best not only of my artists' experience in and out of my company but also for my employees around here working diligently, I want you to promise me one thing that you will be true to your words of what you told me back in the interview to impress me more. Be a dedicated and a trustworthy worker to his job, please." "And also, give us your word that you swear to assist, guide and guard the girls at all costs, especially to that one particular member JYP-nim and I has placed you with. They are the gem of JYPE who's career has never failed to make the company and also the fans who love them so much be proud of them for what they accomplished in the industry", Sadness continued JYP's words. "You have my word, JYP-nim and Sadness-noona. I swear that I will do my best to work hard for them mostly for that specific one like my life depends on it. I have to be honest, I am one of their fans and a part of the ONCE fandom so yeah, I'm just the same as what my fellow ONCEs and you guys also want the most for the girls... and being very lucky to grab the opportunity to work here in JYPE under their team, I'm here to give action to all of it." JYP and Sadness looked at each other, giving each other a nod and a smile as they were very impressed at your motivated spirit. "Well, that's more like it. I consider it already that you'll be very serious and committed then.", JYP chuckled which made you sheepishly smile. "Let's not waste the precious time, you two can go now so that Mr. LN here can finally start his first work today. Congratulations and welcome to JYP Entertainment again, YN.", he offered again his free hand which you quickly caught it for another handshake. "Thank you so much again for this opportunity, I'll do everything not to let you down, sir and you too noona.", you said to them. Sadness understood and agreed also at your words as she also made handshake with you. You and Sadness sent goodbye to JYP and left his office. You followed and walked with her until both made their way out to the building and went to the parking lot where the van you and her would be riding to is now waiting for them to carry on. After opening the slide door, you and Sadness sat alongside together inside the van as the driver operated the wheels and passed the surroundings of Seoul. The ride ended when the driver slowed down the speed and stopped in front of a large expensive looking dormitory building located in Cheongnam-dong. The guards allowed the van to enter the area before finally parking in one of the vacant slots. You and Sadness exit as both made its way up to the 12th floor where the exact location of the room is.

"How are your doing so far? You ready for your first day?", Sadness asked you as she looked at you. "Still nervous and processing that this is actually happening but yeah, I'm ready.", you gave a smile. Sadness went on to elicit a press on the doorbell then opened the intercom to let the device scan her face and even you who are both standing in front of the door. In just a moment, the door swung open by one of the occupants of the dorm. Jsut as when you had a sight of the stupendous figure of a woman in front of you, your senses went temporarily stopped and had your eyes wide open in surprise. Her eyes connected at first on Sadness before it switched next on yours who observed the entire features observingly at the unfamiliar individual standing next on her nice noona. "Hi, Sadness noona..., oh who's this? Is he..." "Yup.", Sadness answered already as she cut the idol's obvious question. She gestured at you next as if she's presenting you who is still in immense disbelief with the reveal you witnessed. "YN, here it is. The answer to your question earlier. You're assigned as the new manager for her, meet Yoo Jeongyeon of TWICE."