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[ageingfangirl2]

Ran's Little Waitress (Tokyo Revengers - Bonten)

RAN HAITANI X FEMALE READER

CHAPTER EIGHT: A LITTLE BOOST TO YOUR CONFIDENCE

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE

The morning sunlight filtered softly through your curtains, casting warm stripes across the floor and your small kitchen table. You sat there in your pyjama shorts and oversized hoodie, one hand wrapped around a steaming mug of tea, the other typing quickly on your phone.

You’d just checked your bank account. The moment you saw the backpay deposit, your eyes widened. You double-checked the numbers—yep, all there, down to the last yen. Your heart gave a little leap of relief, and your shoulders slumped like you’d been holding tension without realising.

To: Ran HaitaniThank you so much for sorting out the pay issue. I really appreciate it, especially with rent coming up. I owe you one. Maybe a whole batch of cookies?

You hesitate a second, rereading the message, then hit send.

Setting your phone down, you pull out your worn planner and a stack of colour-coded pens. It was budgeting time.

With quiet focus, you broke down your expenses—rent, utilities, groceries, transit, and a little set aside for emergencies. You even budgeted for baking supplies, scribbling in ‘chocolate chips or bust’ in the margin.

By the time you were finished, your notes were tidy, your math checked twice, and everything lined up. Koko would’ve been proud—hell, he might even shed a tear if he saw how you’d stretched every yen.

You sit back with a contented sigh, satisfied that you could stay on top of everything. Even so, a tiny smile tugged at your lips as you reach for her phone again.

To: Ran HaitaniAlso… I was serious about the cookies.

Club Office – Late Morning

Ran sat reclined in the sleek leather chair in his office, one leg crossed over the other as he skimmed through a stack of club reports with the kind of interest reserved for watching paint dry. The distant thump of bass from the main floor pulsed faintly through the walls.

His phone buzzed on the desk.

He glanced over lazily, expecting some nonsense from Rindou or a security update, but paused when he saw your name light up the screen.

First message:

Thank you so much for sorting out the pay issue. I really appreciate it, especially with rent coming up. I owe you one. Maybe a whole batch of cookies?

He arched a brow.

The second message came in just as he was unlocking his phone:

Also… I was serious about the cookies.

A slow smirk pulled at his lips. The kind that only ever showed when something amused him more than he’d like to admit. He tilted his head back against the chair and tapped out a reply.

To: Y/NYou’re welcome. Don’t mention it.Cookies are a dangerous bribe, you know. It could convince a man to do stupid things.

He hovered a second, then added:

You’re cleared to come back next week. Take it easy until then. That’s an order.

He set the phone down and stared out the tinted window overlooking the VIP level. For a brief second, the usual cold edges of his expression softened.

Then his phone buzzed again.

Rindou:She sent you cookies yet, lover boy?

Ran rolled his eyes and tossed the phone onto the desk, muttering to himself.

‘She’s just a good employee.’

But the small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth refused to fade.

Y/N’s Apartment

With the official green light from Ran, you tuck your phone into your hoodie pocket and stand in the middle of your apartment, letting out a slow breath. Your eyes sweep over the small space that had become your safe haven these past few days, then down to your now-fading bruises. Time to pull yourself back together.

Day One: Self-Care Mode On

You start with your hands—your tools, your charm, your secret weapon when it came to trays of drinks and folding napkins into perfect shapes. You book a quiet appointment at a local salon and requested something simple and classy.

You leave with a fresh set of French tips, clean and neat, the perfect blend of professional and pretty. You flex your fingers with a small grin, pleased.

Day Two: Hair and Healing

The next day, you sit in a salon chair while a stylist gently worked through your hair, touching up your colour and trimming away the damage. You watch yourself slowly return in the mirror—not just polished, but poised. There was still a faint shadow under your eye, but makeup could handle that.

More importantly, you saw someone who had survived something and was choosing to keep going.

Day Three: A Little Retail Therapy

You didn’t need anything fancy, but a stop by the drugstore for new makeup and a swipe of lip gloss made you feel fresh. A subtle shade of red, a bit of shimmer—nothing too bold, but enough to give yoy that quiet fire when you looked in the mirror.

You even picked out a new pair of earrings. Just little stars.

When you got home, you prepped your uniform, steamed the wrinkles out, cleaned your work shoes until they shone, and laid everything out like armour for a battle you were finally ready to face again.

Night Before Your Shift

You curl up on the couch with a blanket, your favourite anime playing softly in the background, a batch of taiyaki cooling on the counter—this batch with sweet custard inside. One would be set aside for Mikey, of course. The rest? Maybe a bribe. Maybe a peace offering. Or maybe you just wanted to share something warm. With a soft smile, you whisper to yourself, ‘I’m ready.’

[deliciousangelfestival]

Nothing Has Changed - 19

Summary: Returning home for peace, you're faced with your tormentor, Bucky Barnes, who is now involved in your family's business.

Character: Bucky Barnes

Warning: Dark, Mystery, Betrayal.

Nothing Has Changed - Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

By the way, I publish my book Arrogant Ex-Husband and Dad, I Can't Let You Go by Alina C. Bing on Kindle.

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 💖💖💖

“Don’t you dare take the medicine they gave you!”

Your voice came out sharp, panic twisting every syllable. Your hands gripped the hospital bed's railing so tightly your knuckles turned white.

Ransom frowned. “What the fuck is going on? You’re freaking me out.”

“This will be the third time.”

His brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

You swallowed hard, your chest tightening. “Ransom… My dad was diagnosed with cancer here by Dr. Stark. Almost a year of chemotherapy and medication. But I kept noticing something—cancer patients always seek second opinions. So I took him to see Alan.”

Ransom’s jaw clenched. He knew that name. Alan was a top-tier specialist, the kind people flew across the world to see.

You took a shaky breath and continued, “And my friend—misdiagnosed, too. The first doctor told him he wouldn’t be able to use his hand for six months. Then the second doctor checked and said it was bullshit—his injury wasn’t even that severe.”

Ransom’s stomach twisted. His back was already screaming in pain, but now a new fear crept in—was he even injured as badly as they claimed? Were they experimenting on him?

“That’s terrifying,” he muttered. His voice dropped lower. “I don’t want to fucking die because of this.”

You grabbed his wrist, your fingers pressing into his skin. “I’m afraid too. I don’t want you to become their test subject.”

Ransom exhaled sharply, then nodded. He squeezed your hand, his grip firm, steady. “Get me the fuck out of here.”

You didn’t hesitate. “I will.”

His gaze flickered with something unreadable before he added, “You should come with me.”

You shook your head. “I can’t.”

“Are you nuts?” His voice was sharper now, laced with frustration.

You exhaled. “Ransom, I have something to deal with.”

He was about to argue, but then you said it.

“The audit is incomplete. Needs an extra review.”

Ransom froze. His expression hardened. He wasn’t stupid—he knew exactly what that meant.

It was a code. A system you both had built working in finance, a way to alert each other when things got dangerous. Because let’s be real—most people with obscene amounts of money were crooked, and sometimes, that meant walking into situations that could get you killed.

This was Code One: "I’ve got an investigation going on. I’ll call you when I need help."

His jaw tightened, his blue eyes searching yours. “You sure?”

You nodded. “Yes.”

Without another word, you turned and made a call. Right now, you were grateful you’d left this town and built connections that could make things happen with a single request.

Exactly one hour later, the sound of whirring blades filled the sky. A medical helicopter descended onto the hospital’s landing pad.

Ransom smirked as he sat up, wincing at the pain but pushing through it. “I’m only one call away.”

You met his gaze, your lips pressing together. “I knew I could count on you.”

As the helicopter doors slid shut, you stepped back, watching as the aircraft lifted off the ground and disappeared into the sky.

“Why did he leave so suddenly? He still needs treatment,” Bucky’s voice came from behind you.

You didn’t turn around. “His mother sent the helicopter for him.”

“Oh.” There was a pause, then Bucky asked, “You’re not going with him?”

You finally turned, shaking your head. “I can’t.”

His eyes studied you carefully.

“I’ll be staying to continue the deal.”

A small, satisfied smirk curled at the corner of Bucky’s lips. “Good. I assure you, your bank won’t regret investing in this town. Especially with the new hospital—it’ll help a lot of people.”

“And your dad could come back and get treated here.”

You froze mid-step at the mention of your father. Your fingers curled slightly at your sides. “Yeah.”

Bucky hummed, watching you. “Are you heading home?”

“Yup.”

There was a pause. He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… so, actually—”

You narrowed your eyes. “What?”

“I was planning a surprise.”

Your stomach dropped. “What did you do, Bucky?”

His smirk deepened. “Well… I decided to renovate your house.”

Your jaw nearly hit the floor. “What the fuck?!”

Bucky lifted his hands in defense. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. But don’t worry—it's all on me.”

“What gave you the right to renovate my home without my permission? Or my dad’s?”

He didn’t flinch, staying perfectly calm. “Did you forget your dad agreed to give me the funeral home when he retired?”

Your eyes narrowed. “Yeah? But he’s not retired yet.”

“I bought it.”

The words hit you like a punch. Your mouth went dry. “So all this time… my dad’s just been living there for free?”

Bucky exhaled, his expression unreadable. “It’s… yeah. And I have no problem with that. I would never force Tom or you to leave.”

You swallowed hard, heart pounding as you turned on your heel and headed toward your house.

He wasn’t joking.

The second you arrived, your stomach twisted. Construction workers were everywhere. The house had been completely renovated—even your room. Fresh paint, new furniture, everything different from what you remembered. It was like walking into someone else’s home.

You rubbed your temples. “Where the hell am I supposed to live now?”

Bucky stood beside you, unfazed. “You can stay at the hotel again.”

A deep sigh left your lips. “Fine.”

His smirk returned. “This one’s on me too. I’ll give you the best suite in the hotel.”

You shot him a pointed look. “You better.”

As you made your way downstairs, something caught your eye—a dusty old photo frame sitting on a table. You stepped closer, your breath hitching.

It was a picture of your mother.

The first time you’d ever seen one.

Other kids were in the photo, kids who were obviously older now. Your gaze traveled over their faces—there was a boy who looked like Bucky, which had to be Alex, then Tony, the mayor, and Mr. Rogers. And then, at the very back of the group, barely fitting into the frame, was your father.

Like an outcast.

Your mother, on the other hand, stood at the center like a queen, beautiful and radiant. It made you wonder—why did she choose your dad?

She could have had anyone.

“Don’t worry about Tony.” Bucky’s voice cut through your thoughts. He must have assumed you were staring at Tony in the photo. “I’ll make sure he gets what he deserves.”

You glanced at him, nodding. “Thanks.”

That night, your new hotel suite was undeniably luxurious. Soft sheets, the perfect temperature, the best accommodations money could buy.

And yet, you would have preferred your old home.

What made it worse?

Bucky leaned casually against the doorway and smirked. “If you need anything, just knock. My room’s right next door.”

Your stomach sank.

Shit.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

A sharp knock echoed through the room.

You sighed, glancing at the door. If it was Bucky, you’d pretend you didn’t hear it. But when you peeked through the spy hole, relief washed over you—it was Jake Jensen.

You quickly unlocked the door and pulled him inside before he could even finish saying, “Hi—”

“Oh…” He blinked, adjusting his glasses. “I heard what happened to your friend. I’m sorry.”

“He’s fine.” You shut the door behind him. “Please tell me you’ve got something.”

Jake hesitated. He had the information you needed—you could see it in his eyes. But something was off.

“Yes.” His tone was uncertain.

Your stomach tightened. “But…?”

“I think it’s better if you meet my mother instead.”

Your brows furrowed. “Why?”

Jake scratched the back of his neck. “She wants to meet you.”

You exhaled sharply. Of course. Miss Gossip herself.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

Sloane sat in her worn armchair, knitting with steady, practiced hands. The dim lighting of the small parlor cast long shadows, giving the place an eerie, timeless feel. She barely glanced up as you and Jake entered, but you could tell—she already knew you were there.

With a quiet sigh, she adjusted her glasses and let her sharp gaze travel from your head to your toes.

“No matter what she did, you still look like her.”

You raised an eyebrow, cautiously taking a seat on the couch nearest to her. “You mean my mother?”

“Yes.” Her voice was calm but laced with something deeper—something knowing.

You exchanged a glance with Jake before turning back to her. “I heard from Jake that you have information about Stark and the mayor.”

Sloane gave a small nod, her fingers still working the yarn as if the conversation meant nothing. “It all comes back to your mother. Luna.”

Your stomach twisted at the name. “What did my mother do that made everyone in this town hate my dad and me?”

Sloane chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “It’s not hate, child. It’s fear. Guilt has a way of turning into fear.”

You swallowed. “What do you mean?”

She sighed, setting her knitting down for the first time. “It all started the moment she arrived in this town.”

“Arrived?” You frowned.

“You probably don’t know this, but your mother was adopted.”

Your breath caught in your throat. A cold chill ran down your spine, and for a moment, you thought you misheard her. The room suddenly felt smaller, like the walls were closing in.

Sloane watched your reaction carefully. “Judging by your face, I was right. You didn’t know.”

You could only shake your head.

She leaned forward slightly. “Your mother was adopted by the previous mortician—your step-grandparents.”

Jake shifted uncomfortably beside you, clearly as shocked as you were.

“It happened fifty years ago,” Sloane continued. “A car accident on the outskirts of town. A young couple died on impact, but their child—Luna—survived. She was only three years old.”

Your pulse pounded in your ears.

“The ones who took her in were your grandparents. They saw her as a blessing, a miracle, because they couldn’t have children of their own. And in a town like this, adoption was difficult—there were hardly any orphaned children. Even when there were, no child wanted to live in a funeral home.”

Sloane smirked slightly. “It scared them.”

You swallowed hard, your hands clenching into fists on your lap.

“But Luna… she was different. Your grandparents gave her everything—beautiful clothes, the best toys. They finally have a daughter so they spoiled her to death. And everyone noticed. Every child was jealous of her. And when she grew up, she became the most beautiful girl in town.”

Your voice came out quieter than you expected. “This is when she met Alex, right?”

Sloane nodded. “Not just him. Everyone. Everyone wanted to be her friend, to be near her. But they were jealous, too.”

She exhaled, eyes distant, as if recalling an old memory. “She was beautiful, just like her name. Like a goddess of the moon. People couldn’t look away. Men were drawn to her—sometimes against their better judgment.”

You shifted uncomfortably. “Did they…?”

A grim expression crossed Sloane’s face. “Sadly, yes. More than one man tried. And their eyes… they never hid their lust when they looked at her.”

Your stomach churned.

“Alex,” Sloane said after a beat, “Bucky’s father… I remember him and Luna being a power couple. But he was possessive. He had to be—his closest friends wanted her, too.”

Your lips parted slightly. “You mean the other three? Including Mr. Rogers?”

Sloane scoffed. “That man? Please. He could only admire her from afar.”

She sighed, setting her knitting aside completely. “One day, Luna broke up with Alex. And she chose Tom instead.”

“Why?” you asked, almost breathless.

Sloane’s next words made your entire world tilt.

“Because she found out the truth.”

Your body tensed. “The truth?”

Sloane’s gaze locked onto yours, unflinching. “About the car accident that killed her parents.”

You felt the blood drain from your face. “Alex was involved?”

“No. But his father was.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. “Along with the other fathers in their little gang.”

Your breath hitched, your hands gripping the armrests of the couch. Your heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst.

Sloane’s voice was quiet but razor-sharp. “Bucky is just like his father. And Alex? Just like his father. Like father like son. They were reckless. Popular. Untouchable. They drove like they owned the roads, ignoring every warning. The sheriff tried to stop them, told them not to drive under the influence.” She scoffed. “They didn’t listen.”

Your mind reeled. It all made sense now—why your mother left Alex, why your family was treated like outsiders.

Your mother’s real parents were killed by Alex’s father and his friends.

No wonder she couldn’t stay with him.

No wonder they feared you and your father.

You exhaled shakily. “And my dad?”

Sloane smiled faintly. “Ah, Tom. The quiet one. He was a runaway, just a lost boy. Your grandfather took him in, trained him to be a mortician. Nobody noticed him.”

Your chest tightened. “And when he got close to Luna?”

“He became their favorite punching bag.”

A deep, aching anger twisted inside you. Your nails dug into your palm.

Sloane studied you carefully. “Do you want to know why she truly chose him?”

You shook your head, but she told you anyway.

“Because he was the only man in town who didn’t look at her with lust. He respected her. Gave her space.”

She also chose Tom so her future children wouldn’t inherit her beauty. Luna saw her beauty as a curse. She doesn't want her child to suffer like her. But if she were still alive, she would be disappointed that her plan had failed. Look at your daughter now, Luna, Sloane thought as she watched you step into her house. She’s not as beautiful as you, but she carries the same confidence—the kind that draws everyone in, just like you did.

You inhaled sharply.

“That’s why they fear you,” Sloane continued. “Every time they see you or Tom, they remember what they did to her. And to him.”

Your jaw clenched. Every piece of the puzzle fit perfectly now, and it only made you hate this town more.

Sloane leaned back. “Now, about Stark. You should know—he was obsessed with your mother.”

You barely had time to process that before she dropped another bombshell.

“And the mayor?” She smirked. “Everyone knows he’s corrupt. But what people don’t talk about is the fact that he’s Thor’s real father.”

Your mouth fell open. “What?”

Jake finally spoke, his voice low. “Wait… how do you know all this?”

Sloane chuckled, picking up her knitting again. “Honey, I own a hair salon. My mother owned it before me. Do you know what that means?” She raised an eyebrow. “I hear everything. And let me tell you something—rumors? They’re always based on truth.”

Jake sighed, rubbing his temples. “Mom…”

“What about Natasha?” you asked.

Sloane’s mood soured instantly. “That snobby brat. She insulted my salon. I never liked her.”

You exhaled, shaking your head. “Thank you for telling me all this. But why now? Why are you helping me?”

Sloane grinned. “Because I heard you’re rich.”

Jake groaned. “Mom!”

You blinked, caught off guard.

Sloane shrugged. “I also saw your car.”

You couldn’t help but smirk. At least this made things easier. “What do you want, Mrs. Jensen?”

Sloane’s eyes gleamed. “A cruise. Around the world.”

Jake buried his face in his hands. “Mom, stop. You’re embarrassing me.”

You chuckled, standing up and extending your hand. “You got it, Sloane. I’ll book you the best cruise money can buy. You won’t ever want to leave the ship.”

Sloane smirked, holding up the business card between her fingers. “This is what I’m talking about.”

You reached into your wallet, pulled out another card, and handed it to her. “Call this number. Give them my name. Then tell them exactly what you want.”

Sloane took the card, flipping it over with mild curiosity. When she read the title, her eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Vice President of Drysdale Co."

“Awesome.” She grinned, tucking the card into her apron pocket before standing up. Without another word, she headed toward the stairs, disappearing onto the second floor.

Jake let out a long breath beside you, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh… I’m sorry about my mom. She can be a bit much.”

You leaned back on the couch, stretching your arms over the backrest. “I don’t mind. Actually, I got everything I needed.”

Jake blinked at you, clearly surprised. “You did?”

You nodded. “More than I expected, actually.”

He exhaled, shaking his head. “Yeah… that was a lot.”

You tilted your head slightly, watching him. “Could you get someone to meet me?”

Jake’s posture straightened. “Of course. Who?”

You leaned forward, resting your elbows on your knees. “Natasha.”

At the Arcade

The neon lights flickered against the scuffed tile floor, casting an eerie glow over the buzzing machines. The scent of buttered popcorn and cheap soda lingered in the air, mixing with the faint metallic tang of coins and the distant beeps of arcade games.

You leaned against a pinball machine, arms crossed, watching the entrance. People came and went, laughter and shouts filling the space, but you weren’t here for fun.

Then, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“I heard you wanted to see me?”

You turned your head, meeting Natasha’s sharp gaze. She stood near the entrance, arms crossed, exuding her usual air of arrogance.

“I am,” you replied smoothly, straightening up.

Natasha stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor. “Well, here I am. So, what do you want?”

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[dreamdolldeveloper]

back to basics

mostly free resources to help you learn the basics that i've gathered for myself so far that i think are cool

everyday

gcfglobal - about the internet, online safety and for kids, life skills like applying for jobs, career planning, resume writing, online learning, today's skills like 3d printing, photoshop, smartphone basics, microsoft office apps, and mac friendly. they have core skills like reading, math, science, language learning - some topics are sparse so hopefully they keep adding things on. great site to start off on learning.

handsonbanking - learn about finances. after highschool, credit, banking, investing, money management, debt, goal setting, loans, cars, small businesses, military, insurance, retirement, etc.

bbc - learning for all ages. primary to adult. arts, history, science, math, reading, english, french, all the way to functional and vocational skills for adults as well, great site!

education.ket - workplace essential skills

general education

mathsgenie - GCSE revision, grade 1-9, math stages 1-14, provides more resources! completely free.

khan academy - pre-k to college, life skills, test prep (sats, mcat, etc), get ready courses, AP, partner courses like NASA, etc. so much more!

aleks - k-12 + higher ed learning program. adapts to each student.

biology4kids - learn biology

cosmos4kids - learn astronomy basics

chem4kids - learn chemistry

physics4kids - learn physics

numbernut - math basics (arithmetic, fractions and decimals, roots and exponents, prealgebra)

education.ket - primary to adult. includes highschool equivalent test prep, the core skills. they have a free resource library and they sell workbooks. they have one on work-life essentials (high demand career sectors + soft skills)

youtube channels

the organic chemistry tutor

khanacademy

crashcourse

tabletclassmath

2minmaths

kevinmathscience

professor leonard

greenemath

mathantics

3blue1brown

literacy

readworks - reading comprehension, build background knowledge, grow your vocabulary, strengthen strategic reading

chompchomp - grammar knowledge

tutors

not the "free resource" part of this post but sometimes we forget we can be tutored especially as an adult. just because we don't have formal education does not mean we can't get 1:1 teaching! please do you research and don't be afraid to try out different tutors. and remember you're not dumb just because someone's teaching style doesn't match up with your learning style.

cambridge coaching - medical school, mba and business, law school, graduate, college academics, high school and college process, middle school and high school admissions

preply - language tutoring. affordable!

revolutionprep - math, science, english, history, computer science (ap, html/css, java, python c++), foreign languages (german, korean, french, italian, spanish, japanese, chinese, esl)

varsity tutors - k-5 subjects, ap, test prep, languages, math, science & engineering, coding, homeschool, college essays, essay editing, etc

chegg - biology, business, engineering/computer science, math, homework help, textbook support, rent and buying books

learn to be - k-12 subjects

for languages

lingq - app. created by steve kaufmann, a polygot (fluent in 20+ languages) an amazing language learning platform that compiles content in 20+ languages like podcasts, graded readers, story times, vlogs, radio, books, the feature to put in your own books! immersion, comprehensible input.

flexiclasses - option to study abroad, resources to learn, mandarin, cantonese, japanese, vietnamese, korean, italian, russian, taiwanese hokkien, shanghainese.

fluentin3months - bootcamp, consultation available, languages: spanish, french, korean, german, chinese, japanese, russian, italian.

fluenz - spanish immersion both online and in person - intensive.

pimsleur - not tutoring** online learning using apps and their method. up to 50 languages, free trial available.

incase time has passed since i last posted this, check on the original post (not the reblogs) to see if i updated link or added new resources. i think i want to add laguage resources at some point too but until then, happy learning!!

[thirstkanaphan]

Tinytown Digest - May 2025 Week 4 (Updated)

Hello! These recaps come out at the end of the week and new entries will be pinned to my blog and reposted to the Ateez Community.

What Did I Miss?

Over the weekend, mysterious posters began appearing in cities around the world. Scanning the QR code sends users to Ateez's official youtube channel and website.

On 5/25, Ateez posted a link to their website, revealing an image of a vending machine and the words OUT OF ORDER...

Hongjoong was a guest on Anyang FC's youtube channel. ENG Subs have now been added to the interview!

Hongjoong, Yeosang and Mingi on EPIK HIGH 'epikase'

Jongho and EXO Baekhyun performed ‘Until I Found You’ by Stephen Sanchez on Secret Duet.

Hongjoong, Sohyang, Maddox, and xikers' Minjae performed and spoke at The King's Birthday Party held at the British Embassy in Seoul.

ATEEZ is on the lineup for Music Bank in Lisbon to be held on Sep 27 (Sat) at the MEO Arena!

Wooyoung for Arena Homme+ Digital Cover

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A post shared by Arena Homme+ Korea (@arenakorea)

This Week

Keep checking Ateezofficial.net for more information about the upcoming Ateez comeback!

5/26 Ateez is nominated for Favorite K-Pop Artist Award at the AMAs, who will hold their award ceremony on Monday May 26 at 5 PM PT. Good luck Ateez!

5/27 Seonghwa and Yunho will appear on 'Xiumin's Ramyeon Store' to be released next week May 27 (Tue) 8pm KST

Coming Soon

5/31 Ateez is on the lineup for 'K-POP Masterz 2025 in Kuala Lumpur' to be held on May 31 (Sat). CRAVITY will also feature.

TBD San will appear on ‘Naraesik (나래식)’. The episode will be released this month.

6/1 Wooyoung will be a Special Guest for Gallant at the 17th Seoul Jazz Festival to be held on Jun 1 (Sun)

6/9 Ateez will feature on "Immortal Songs - 2025 Gyeongju APEC Special"

6/11 Ateez will perform at the 2025 BOF BIG&BAND CONCERT

6/18 Ateez is on the artist lineup for 'Mrs. GREEN APPLE presents CEREMONY' to be held on Jun 18 (Wed) at K-Arena Yokohama

Voting and Streaming

“Say My Name” has exceeded 100 million streams on Spotify! Wave (98M) and Crazy Form (94M) are the next closest to hit this amazing milestone!

With a comeback on the horizon, I encourage anyone who is interested in streaming to follow the guidelines shared by our fanbases. Unity in chaos!

Extras

Some great news about the latest Aniteez Pop-Up Store!

Song of the Week

This weekend marked the 2,000 day-anniversary of Ateez's Japanese debut! To celebrate, let's enjoy Limitless!

That's it for this week!

If you would like to be tagged for weekly updates reply below!

[estellesdoll]

「🏷️」 Christmas Masterlist ┈ ⋅ ୧

notes: This is going to be a bit longer, but please take the time to read it!

Created: 11/21/24

Last Update: 12/31/24

。

＇Hello, everyone! I’m planning to create a special masterlist for the holiday and winter season—a Winter/Christmas Masterlist. It will include all sorts of posts, such as:

1. Fics

2. Headcanons

3. Blurbs

4. Instagram posts

5. Snapchats

6. Texts

＇

╰╮I’ll be posting daily from December 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

𓋜 Primarily, my posts will focus on the Sturniolo Triplets, but I’m also considering trying something new by writing about certain characters from Outer Banks.．．⋆

⋆｡˚

𓋜 As the days go by, I’ll update the list with titles, summaries, and the characters the stories will revolve around.

・ ୨୧ 1st week:

12/1/24 : Falling for you (in the snow) | Matt S. x doll!reader | blurb

12/2/24 : Flushed and Wrapped in love | Matt S. x doll!reader | blurb

12/3/24 : Snowy cabin | Matt S. | Instagram post

12/4/24 : Matching pajamas | Chris S. | Snaps

12/5/24 : Decorating disaster | Sarah Cameron | blurb

12/6/24 : Bf!Matt headcanons | winter themed

12/7/24 : bsf!chris conversations | texts

┄ 2nd week:

12/8/24 : Midnight Snowfall | Soft!chris x bunny!reader | fic

12/9/24 : Pictures of Chris that Y/N has on her phone ( background info) | bf!chris x gf!reader

12/10/24 : Bsf!Chris x Bunny!Reader Headcanons

12/11/24 : Familiar Strangers | Ex!Chris S. X Influencer!Reader | Fic

12/12/24 : Our Love, All Lit Up | matt x reader | Instagram post

12/13/24 : Snowed in Together | Chris S. X Reader | blurb

12/14/24 : The Hoodie Tease | Flirty!Chris S. X Fem!reader | Fic

・ ୨୧ 3rd week:

12/15/24 : Knocking on Christmas morning | Ex!Rafe C. X Reader | blurb

12/16/24 : Bf!Matt conversations | texts

12/17/24 : The perfect imperfections | bf!chris sturniolo x f!reader | fic

12/18/24 : Fresh Love, Stolen Glances | bf!chris x model!reader | fic

12/19/24 : the starry side of christmas | bf!rafe cameron x reader | blurb

12/20/24 : your camera roll if you were dating matt sturniolo (Christmas edition)

12/21/24 : Secret Santa | bf!rafe cameron x f!reader | blurb

┄ 4th week:

12/22/24 : code language of love | childhood bsf!matt sturniolo x f!reader | blurb

12/23/24 : lucky to have you | dad!matt x pregnant!reader | blurb

12/24/24 : bsf!nick sturniolo headcanons (platonic)

12/25/24 : Holiday hearts and Heated words | dad!rafe x pregnant!reader | fic

12/26/24 : in your arms, despite it all | husband!rafe x reader | blurb

12/27/24 : holiday baking chaos | bf!matt sturniolo x f!reader | blurb

12/28/24 : The Night we Found Ourselves | sarah cameron x f!reader | fic

・ ୨୧ 5th week:

12/29/24 : Velvet Heat | husband!matt x wife!reader | blurb

12/30/24 : ex!chris sturniolo headcanons

12/31/24 : Nick's new title | chris sturniolo x pregnant!reader | fic

ೀ You can also access all the posts by using the tag 'estellesdoll: 31 days of winter 2024', where you can simply scroll to find the next entries. All the posts included in this masterlist will have this tag.

￤Even though this is the winter holiday season, you can send me requests of any kind—it doesn’t matter if they match the theme or not.

𓋜 And not just requests—if you simply want to chat, I’m open to that as well. :)

￤If you want to send me requests and stay anonymous, don’t forget you can choose an emoji, and I’ll add it to the list of taken emojis.

taken anon. emjs ⁺ 　 . *

￤If you want to be added to the taglist, don’t forget to check out this post:

taglist ⁺ 　 . *

@estellesdoll

[thesiltverses]

Hello! Have you heard black sheep by poor man’s poison? It’s so carpenter and Faulkner coded I could swear you had that song in mind when you wrote it. It was the first song I added to my silt verses playlist when I made it

I have not heard either of the songs you recommended (or the bands!) but I just checked them both out this morning after spending a month glued to sound design, and I enjoyed them a lot, so thank you!

Poor Man's Poison reminded me a lot of The Devil Makes Three, this sort of straight-faced Weird West music, but I really liked Rabbitology's Bog Bodies, which took me back to Seamus Heaney's bog poems, which were very much an influence on the show as a whole.

Quick, let's have a bog poem:

BOG QUEEN I lay waiting between turf-face and demesne wall, between heathery levels and glass-toothed stone.

My body was braille for the creeping influences: dawn suns groped over my head and cooled at my feet,

through my fabrics and skins the seeps of winter digested me, the illiterate roots

pondered and died in the cavings of stomach and socket. I lay waiting

on the gravel bottom, my brain darkening, a jar of spawn fermenting underground

dreams of Baltic amber. Bruised berries under my nails, the vital hoard reducing in the crock of the pelvis.

My diadem grew carious, gemstones dropped in the peat floe like the bearings of history.

My sash was a black glacier wrinkling, dyed weaves and phoenician stitchwork retted on my breasts’

soft moraines. I knew winter cold like the nuzzle of fjords at my thighs—

the soaked fledge, the heavy swaddle of hides. My skull hibernated in the wet nest of my hair.

Which they robbed. I was barbered and stripped by a turfcutter’s spade

who veiled me again and packed coomb softly between the stone jambs at my head and my feet.

Till a peer’s wife bribed him. The plait of my hair, a slimy birth-cord of bog, had been cut

and I rose from the dark, hacked bone, skull-ware, frayed stitches, tufts, small gleams on the bank.

[trainsinanime]

Tram de Liège

After a lot of delays, the new tram line of Liège, Belgium finally opened today, bringing this mode of transport back to the “glowing city” after 58 years. So obviously I left work early and travelled through two countries to check it out.

The line had been planned since the late 2000s, and just about everything about it had been controversial, from its existence to its PPP financing model (which got ruled illegal by the EU not once but twice until they finally got it right) to its construction and delays.

As it stands, the line is almost 12 kilometers, almost all of it at the western bank of the river Meuse, with a single short branch over the river to Bressoux, serving the Expo Centre and also the depot. Three sections are wireless, and trains travel through them on battery power. Personally I think that’s at least two too many; wires would not have massively disturbed the view of the Pont Atlas or the new station quarter at Liège Guillemins, the city's striking main railway station.

As usual for these types of projects, a lot of city spaces got extensive renewals as part oft eh tram project, and between you and me, they were urgently needed. Liège has not always been a very nice city. In places, these improvements have meant reducing space for individual motor traffic and adding bike lanes. However, a number of new bike lanes are just the dreaded “share arrow” on four lane roads; this could be better.

Extensions at either end to Seraing and Herstal (yes, the one from the guns) are possible and some construction started back in 2023, but they got cancelled in 2024 due to high costs.

Costs are a major issue here. The line was very expensive, with a final bill of 530 million euro. In comparison, the line T9 in Paris, probably not a city with low construction costs, has a similar length and only came to 480 million euro (both figures include rolling stock and a dedicated depot and workshop, and come with the caveat that my French is atrocious and I may have misunderstood French Wikipedia here). So the Liège Tram is not quite crazy expensive, but definitely expensive.

The trains seem and feel very French, but are actually from Spanish CAF, part of the Urbos family. They are 45 meters long, 2.65 meters wide, fully low floor, with wide open spaces for standing passengers and persons with reduced mobility, but relatively few seats (though the seats all have USB charging ports).

Today, operations were fairly rough, I’m not going to lie, with lots of breakdowns and issues. I travelled the entire network, and ended up in two trams that just randomly stopped for ten minutes, presumably while the driver was trying to fix some issue. As a result, while headways are supposed to be good, actual headways were essentially random. On a more regular level, I would say signal priority is not yet handled perfectly, there are a number of places where trams had to stop due to red traffic lights.

Ticketing also left me baffled. I think I had a valid ticket, but I’m not actually sure. The Dutch-Belgian-German border region has a special day pass, the Euregioticket, valid in all trains and buses in the regions of Aachen (Germany), where I live, Maastricht (Netherlands) and Liège. But all documentation for it predates the tram, so there’s no point that actually says it’s valid on trams. The ticket validators on the trams certainly couldn’t tell me. Half of them were out of service anyway. And for the others, I have no idea how to get them to read a QR code on my phone, if they even have a camera for that. They’re supposed to, according to an employee of the operator I spoke with at a station, but I certainly didn’t see it. What the validators do is magically open the wallet app on my phone, which would probably have scared the shit out of me if this hadn’t been something I’d seen before. Some types of chip card readers for public transit just do that, apparently, regardless of my phone's settings. It was probably fine, I guess?

But don’t let the negativity fool you. The line is on track to be a huge success. Many of the trains I was in were rather full. Not quite packed, but definitely well used. A lot of that is probably people just trying it out (I noticed several people who did the same end-to-end-and-back runs as me), and a lot of it is that people are forced to use it, since the bus network was changed do that many bus lines now end at tram stops. But still, this clearly will be the backbone of the city for many years to come.

Now let’s hope my own city of Aachen manages to do the same before too long. We need more trams in this world.

[eat-tea]

How to buy Chinese Audio Dramas and Translate Subtitles

Payment method

The easiest payment method is by connecting Alipay as the exchange rate will be based on the bank you use. Apple users can use Apple Pay. Google users can use Google Pay. However, some people said their exchange rate there were high.

Common platform:

Maoer, Manbo, Ximalaya.

You MUST have the APP to login and use the full features.

Update: 15 Mar 2025

************************************************

Maoer FM

1. System

Maoer only uses buy out system. You have to buy the whole season to listen. There are a few free AD but they are mostly for practice and not completed.

You can win an entire season of AD by entering a giveaway in the search section. You will enter a live broadcast and participate by following the host and clicking the join button.

2. Currency

Currency used to buy dramas: diamonds.

10 diamond = 1 RMB.

Common price for 1 season: 200-250 diamonds (>20 RMB).

You can get 1-10 free diamonds everyday from:

Watching 15 minutes of live streaming (you can also do this while waiting for the giveaway result).

Advice: LS Lurkers might be blocked. Either send the cheapest gift (1💎) next to the chat box, send messages, or go to different streamer each time.

Logging in to Baidu maps through Maoer

3. Dried Fish

You get dried fish when you log in everyday. You can give it to AD episodes or songs to increase its popularity.

4. Translation

Open Maoer website on a browser with web translation tool (e.g. Edge, Chrome).

Activate the translation tool.

Login.

Open the audio drama and play it (the play button s at the bottom).

Check if the change of subtitles is translated correctly according to the dialogs.

************************************************

Manbo FM

1. System

Manbo has buy out (per season) and VIP membership system. There are also some free ADs.

Audiobooks can be bought per episode.

2. Currency

Currency used: red beans.

100 red beans = 1 RMB.

Common price for 1 season: 2000-3000 red beans (>20 RMB)

You can get 10 red beans every day from entering the top live broadcast and snatching red envelopes.

3. VIP membership

The VIP dramas can only be watched by buying VIP.

VIP membership plans:

Monthly with 1st month discount (15 RMB/month).

3 monthly (39 RMB).

3 months not continuous (49 RMB).

1 year not continuous (168 RMB).

1 month not continuous (18 RMB).

VIP benefit:

Obtain stars, double claws, and 50 red beans after logging in everyday.

Every month you also get 1 VIP ticket.

VIP ticket:

When you have VIP, you can also use tickets to buy VIP dramas so that you can listen to it when your VIP ends.

Common price: 4 VIP tickets/season

1 ticket = 100 claws.

You get 1 claw every day when you log in without VIP.

You can also get 1-30 (usually 1) free claws by obtaining EXP until the second achievement in the 快速升级 tab is achieved.

You can get EXP by watching ADs, Live Streams, or Short Videos.

Advice: LS Lurkers might be blocked. Either send the cheapest gift (10🫘) next to the chat box, send messages, or go to different streamer each time.

4. Translation

Open Manbo website on a browser with web translation tool (e.g. Edge, Chrome). You can also easily do this by sharing the link from the app to yourself.

Activate the translation tool.

Login using the QR code.

Open the audio drama and play it.

Check if the change of subtitles is translated correctly according to the dialogs.

More info:

[the-starry-lycan]

inspired by a little post that @keferon made recently.

He wasn't.

And then, he was.

Stepping forth, shaky on his legs, he stood on the stark white floor like a cyberfawn standing for the very first time. He looked up and saw the light, a blinding brightness. His first instinct was to shutter his optics, and he did, opening them just a little bit more.

Those simple lines of code ran for the very first time, the cybernetics in his optics narrowing until the light grew more dim, and objects came into view. Some moving, some not.

Cybetronian.

Table.

Chair.

Medical Bay.

He looked down at himself.

Servos.

Armor plating.

Protoform.

Stabilizers.

This place, he understood, was the Medical Bay, recognizable with those particular symbols. His olfactory sensors detected the scent of solvent and medical-grade energon, both of which were now being added to his chemi-index. He already knew this. Of course he did. Just as well as he knew himself, and what he was, he knew the facts of his existence.

He felt hot inside.

Like something was burning, trapped within.

He was a cybertronian. He was made of living metal. Searching his mind, there were protocols and procedures, much knowledge about things and lacking knowledge about others.

What am I called?

Before the answer could be found, though, he was spotted by an orange-and-white mech, hurriedly pushed back down on the medical berth. Other cybertronians swarmed around him, checking him. He did not like this. Too many other cybertronians.

I am too warm still.

I cannot let it out.

Another line of code within his processor. It felt oddly familiar. He approved it, and his fans began to activate at a low hum. The uncomfortable heat began to dissipate.

"Wakey, wakey." The orange-and-white mech spoke. His voice sounded a little rough, like his vocalizer had been damaged, once. "Can you see?"

"Yes." His own voice was smooth, new, but it took force to speak, just the same way it took some force to move his joints. He was new.

"Better... listen here. Your fans didn't activate right away, but we've fixed that up for you." His fans? He was alive before? Perhaps he had been. Perhaps he wasn’t. Or, he may not have remembered. This was important. He stored the information away in his logic processor for later use.

"Relax. Wiped your memory banks so you wouldn’t make a fuss." The mech in front of him began to poke and prod again. Another light in his optics. A flush of cold solvent into his audials. Each joint, checked, by these medics.

"His fans are fully functional."

"Internals all look like they're in order."

"Give him a little energon and he'll be good to go."

"Good." The orange-and-white mech turned to him. "Your designation is 060112. Remember. That. Designation, Prowl. But you can change that later if you want." The mech began to leave. He seemed to recall something, turning to face hi- Prowl, once again.

"Oh, one more thing. You'd better head up to Magnus soon. He doesn’t take it well when someone is late."

[homiesondaweb]

Anybody order some Jefferson and Aaron angst😁😁😁 CUS I AM DELIVERING IT HOT AND FRESH 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Also give me Aaron and Jefferson background or give me death!

_______________________________

Aaron sat on his motorcycle in the private alley behind his and Jefferson’s new studio apartment since they've moved operations from Harlem to Brooklyn. Snowflakes whisk around in the swift chilly breeze, its just start to stick to the ground as sleet. Aaron's Prowler gear is hidden under his bomber jacket as he checked his messages, refreshing over and over again but the top one still remained that same.

JD: 210, grabbin beer rn. Game should be on channel 12.

Code for: Urgent, meet me at 9pm at the base.

Aaron glances at the glaring 8:57 at the top of his blackberry. Sighing as he fully parks and cloaks his bike before using the fire escape to make his way up. There he finds his older brother pacing nervously, four black and milds burned to the plastic nub, he anxiously shakes a blue can of spary-paint and some jagged design that Aaron can only describe as panic personified is on the far wall that conceals some gear.

"JD! What the hell man? Had me buggin', Cottonmouth give you some BS or something?" Aaron asks, coming over and clapping a hand on his brother's shoulder. Jefferson blows his current cloud of tobacco high out of Aaron's face before squashing the tip out and adding some flawless circles to the piece.

"I…Ri…we gotta get outta this shit bro." Jefferson bumbles for a moment and Aaron frowns a look of confusion.

"What? Fuck is you talking bout ? What about Rio?" Aaron asks and Jefferson groans and flops to the floor, letting the can roll away. He gives no care to his white hoodie as he sags against the wall of wet paint. Aaron feels creeped out by how young and dumb his brother looks at the moment. Like he's 15 and not 25. He doesn't like it at all.

Aaron squats down next to him and tries to pat out the glassy look in Jeff's eyes. His brother starts to breathe heavily, panic bubbling.

"Rio is pregnant! Like with my baby and I…."

"Damn." Aaron slides to fully sit and Jeff slumps forward and rests his head in his hands, forcing his own head between his knees and thring to steady his breathing. One of those recenter-ing tactics that Rio showed him probably.

"Jeff, if y'all need money fo-"

"She's pregnant wit my kid and Cottonmouth just had us stalk out and scare that one lady who was pregnant and what if that was Rio and-and that fucked her up. We've busted houses and collected in places with kids before what-wh- STOP!" Aaron shakes Jefferson's shoulder hard and the broader of the two of them sits up ramroad straight.

"Calm down nigga, you doin' that spiraling shit that Rio was talking about JD!" Aaron tells him loudly. He gets up and digs around in one of the drawers at the kitchen counter before pulling out a blunt then grabbing a forty of Olde English. He dumps the self medication in his brother's lap and Jeff just huffs and looks at it.

"So, Rio is pregnant. Is she too far out or something for the clinic? You know all we gotta do is call Bunky and she'd find a hanger lady for her."

"Fuck no! I'd never endanger Rio like that, fuck you nigga!" Jefferson curses as he pops the bottle and swings back the first quarter of it. Aaron holds his hands up to disengage him.

"Don't shoot the messenger for the truth bru. With the way you've been sloppy with Cottonmouth's and that new dude King's menace missions lately. I'd hate to have a vulnerability like that. We're getting to a new level in the game bro, that ain't just jacking bank trucks and doing snow drops anymore. A baby will fuck it up. And Rio will not be for this shit. Hell, she might even snitch you out when she finds out that your money from "Security" work ain't so clean."

"Rio would never snitch on me." Jeff glares and Aaron laugh around a puff of the blunt then passes it over.

"Yo girl not mine. All my pussy know what kinda life we live. Live the life we live. Work how we work. You the one who went over to the Heights and got a PR princess that's smarter than you in two languages. Rio's gonna learn the truth if y'all go through with a baby." Aaron tells him and Jeff continues a hard stare to the floor.

"... and just what should I tell her, Master Splinter, since you're so damn wise." Jefferson chuckles darkly with another deep drink. Aaron rolls his eyes.

"She's 23 and just graduated nursing school. She shouldn't fuck her life up with a baby and a bum nigga."

"I'm notta fucking bum!"

"Pretend Jefferson! Either give her the cash to get rid of it and y'all continue on. Or drive her off. She doesn't know the shit we do and we both know what it's like to be raised in the game. Hell, Cottonmouth knowing we brothers is already a slippery slope. You havin' too many folks you care about, known about? Will end up with them dead, we know this. It's why sissy stays down in Jacksonville and mind her own business. Prowler and Lurk have nothing to do with Lady Blue. Shit like that, keeps all of us alive." Aaron reminds him. Jeff growls out in frustration and drives a fist into the plaster of the wall. The blue target he painted earlier crushed within it.

"Fuck!"

"Jeff, what th-"

"What if I don't wanna do this no more."

Both brothers go quiet at the slurred confession. Jefferson gets up and finishes the bottle, Aaron sighs as Jeff rolls the wide bottle between his hands.

"JD le-"

"I don't wanna do this no more. It isn't helping anyone. It's not good for us. I-I keep seeing… keep seeing the eyes of those kids scared outta they minds because I have they daddy or mama's head bashed into the kitchen title. I'd never hurt a kid but… do they know that? What if, they saw me just on the street taking Rio out somewhere or just in the Bodega.."

"That's why we wear a mask, Jeff. Calm the fuck down."

Jeff let's the bottle roll to the floor. He goes to his closet and throws his black and red costume to the floor. The mask isn't much really. A dark red base with three horizontal black lines over his brows, nose, and mouth. Red circle lens adjusted to his prescription over the eyes.

This mask is the face of Lurk. Where Prowler dragged claws behind him to make up for his lean from. Lurk's knuckles were studded, they would beat and beat and beat fear into whoever was his assignment.

He hasn't killed anyone yet. Just destroyed lives. Scarred people. All for money.

Jeff didn't want Lurk's face over his anymore. Not when he saw the most beautiful thing in the world in the form of a gray blob on a sonogram.

"I feel like the baby is a boy, mi vida! I know we have to wait a few more months to know but…I just know!" Rio teases as Jeff snuggles her belly while they rest in her bedroom. Her belly barely has a pudge past her usual shape. She's only a month and half along in the pregnancy at this point.

A person that is half of him and half of the angel who landed in his life three years ago. Who already had a big head for 9 weeks and Jeff's heart in their hand.

"He's going to be a smart baby! I used to like reading, you know, if I had the time, then maybe. But lately, I can't seem to keep a book out of my hands, I crave them like Maduros! Isn't that funny Jeff?"

His son. Does Jeff really want to be part of a world that is already so cruel? A world made scary because of guys like him and Aaron? Is Jeff even a real man to have Rio bring his son into a life like that, just like his father had done for Jeff and his siblings.

"You're too pussy to wear this mask JD. Too weak to be Prowler. Look at your baby brother, Aaron does what needs to be done for real success. He's a real man, he can pick up the claws but you? A waste of muscle, you're gonna be a goonie all your life. At least your sister is a business woman. What the fuck are you?"

"She's 4 months along." Jeff whispers and Aaron shoots up at that.

"What! Why did you wait so long to tell me?"

"You were on a long mission. I didn't want to mess you up when you were on such a touchy mission."

"Jefferson! Be fucking forreal bro!"

"I am! Gotdamit, I am! I'm….I'm done Aaron. Rio had an appointment today and I was staring at that grainy ass black and white picture and… my son, he's beautiful already. Not even here yet I… I can't have him in this life… Miles deserve better. I deserve better… even you and Brynn. Dad was so fucking wrong for putting us into this shit. We deserve better! We need to j-"

Jeff is cut off from his ramble by Aaron punching him in the face. Jeff quickly takes him down right back, the two physically fight. Knocking into the walls, into the coffee table then to the floor. Jefferson pins Aaron under him, one of his knees painfully drives one of Aaron's shoulders to the floor while Jeff struggles to peel Aaron hand from around his throat.

"Why you always gotta prove dad right! You're fuckin weak, you ain't no damn man. You ain't logical!"

"At least I ain't playing dress up in my daddy's damn clothes! I'm tired of this goon shit!" Jeff yells before wrenching Aaron's hand off and twisting it away. He jolts when Aaron cries out as a sickening pop echoes through the room. He scrambles back at that, hands shaking, whatever highs they had somehow chased crashed in an instant.

He just hurt his brother. His damn baby brother.

"Aaron… Ronnie baby… I-"

Aaron lets it go with a strong exhale. He breathes in again and holds his wince as Jefferson carefully brings him to a sit, then leans him against the wall. Its plaster crumbles even further around them, probably asbestos.

"Just shut up Jeff. Just shut the fuck up!" Aaron yells out as he tries to breath through the pain of a shoulder twisted out of socket. He breathed deep, real deep, pulling at the sense of numbness their father had taught him how to do on his first kill missin. To stop him from shaking with pity for a human being (sympathy, empathy, he didn't want to fucking do it but his dad had never shown so much pride). Pity halts a clean kill and a big payday.

Jeff takes Aaron's swift punch to the chest, right above his heart. It winds him up a little. He lets Aaron do it again.

And again.

And-

"Dad gave us this. We're legends to the crime world."

"We are their favorite goons and that's it."

"Fuck you, Jefferson. Put my shit back in place and get out then."

"..."

Jefferson does as such. With a swift and practiced tenderness he puts Aaron's shoulder back into place. Slips it into a brace and hands his baby brother painkillers and anti-inflammatories custom from Doc Ock. Aaron drinks it down with half of the last forty in the fridge.

As Aaron simmers on the couch, Jefferson rolls up Lurk's costume and studded knuckle dusters in a bulky bundle. He sets the keys to his motorcycle on the kitchen counter along with his business only burner phone. He gets to the door and looks back at Aaron who stares coldly ahead at the 10 o'clock Breaking News broadcast. Some big name witness that would have broken a cartel case has been found dead. Thoats gouged out, nearly decapitated with clawed slashes.

"Your cut is in the trunk." Aaron says, his voice all soft, deep, and robotic. Jeff closes the door, he numbly makes it down stairs. He floats as he gets into his Cadillac and drives across Brooklyn to Jamaica Bay.

He burns Lurk to ash, the mask and embers impression in the fire before he buries it in the sand. Jeff lumbers back to the car and opens the trunk. Sure enough, there in a black duffle bag is Jeff's cut of, 75,000$. A one-third of the mission price him and Aaron did a joint job on. That was always the deal with the Davis siblings. Everyone gets one-third. Even Brynn taps a PO box twice a month with profit from her blow and information business. They send her their one-third back to her laundered through jewelry.

Jefferson throws up behind the car. Flashes of blood, crushed in faces, broken limbs, slurred pleas through broken teeth, a screaming child crying for the parent Jeff was crushing in his hands, dance through his mind at each retch.

He leans against it after a few minutes of that then rests his forehead to the cold metal of his car. Praying it cures his fever of alcohol and emotions. He can't believe how warm and flushed he feels. The snowflakes melted instantly and join the sweat on his forehead and neck.

"¡Ay bendito! Jeff! You've got to learn how to regulate yourself better, papá!" Rio would chide him for being so worked up this late at night. Or this early in the morning. It was nearly 1 am.

He closes the trunk on the money. He knows he'll need it. He got an apartment to buy, a home to stock and a nursery to make now.

Aaron wakes up sore, and aching. The TV watching him and the world is white and bright through the window. The weather lady drones about last night's blizzard. He goes through the motions of resting up, thanking God Jeff pulled all that foolishness during his down period after the mission of the night before last. He pads into the bathroom and takes the hottest shower possible, careful to clean his face and hands of dried blood.

He cringes in the mirror but applies a bandage to the cut over his cheek and rubs cooling salave over the bruises. He pauses at the grainy black and white photo of something with a big ass head tucked in the corner of the bathroom mirror.

In Rio's loopy handwriting with a white maker she's made a text bubble in the empty space next to the baby's head.

"Hey Tio' Aaron :D! I'm Miles!"

Aaron huffs, lips twitching up before he washes his face and head back to the couch to have the rest of his beer for breakfast. As he dips his head back he ponders that grainy photo, ponders a childhood of being raised to follow their fathers footstep into the legacy of mercenary work. Jeff is too fucking soft, their father handed them the skills of success on a freaking platter and he's letting a Spanish Mamí and a baby stop that?

When nephew' gets here, I'm just gonna drop some stuff off to Jeff for congratulations and then I'm bouncing to Philly for a bit. Yeah, forget New York for a while. Forget Jefferson and what he swears I deserve.

[starfirexuchiha]

Do you by chance know how to receive P5R themes and avatars on playstation? I heard that you're supposed to get them after beating certain palaces.

Oh you mean themes like this?

There are actually 2 ways to get these themes, and I did both of these methods.

1st method: PSN Email notifs

You must do this BEFORE you start a new game in P5R.

Step 1: Login to your Playstation Network Account (PSN).

Step 2: Go to your Account Settings and go to the "Notifications" tab

Step 3: Check the checkbox for "Receive via Email" and click "Save"

Now you'll be able to receive emails that will let you redeem P5R themes for free! These emails will give you redeem codes for the themes that you'll use in the Playstation store.

Here is how you'll obtain these emails:

Morgana, Ryuji and Ann themes -> After you finish Kamoshida's palace

(I actually didn't get this email because I signed up for the Email notifs AFTER I finished Kamoshida's palace 💀)

Yusuke, Makoto, and Futaba themes -> After you finish Futaba's palace

Haru, Akechi, and Kasumi themes -> After you finish Maruki's palace

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how you can obtain the Joker and Maruki themes so that's where the 2nd method comes in!

2nd Method: Japanese PlayStation store

This method is more complicated. This involves paying for these themes in the Japanese Playstation store. This is the method I used to purchase the Joker, Akechi, Maruki, and Kasumi themes.

Notice how their themes are in Japanese. It's proof that I bought them there.

So here are the steps:

Step 1: Create a new Japanese account on your PS4. Here's a video tutorial on how to do that:

Step 2: After you create a Japanese PS4 account, you're probably wondering, "How can I buy things in the Japanese Playstation store if I don't have Yen or a Japanese bank account?" 😥

Simple, just purchase a Japanese PSN Gift card! The themes are really cheap, so you can just buy the cheapest Japanese PSN gift card. I usually buy these gift cards in Play-Asia! Just go to play-asia.com and search for this!

Step 3: After you purchase the gift card and got the redeem code, enter the redeem code in the Japanese PSN store. Make sure you're in the Japanese store when you do this!

If you don't know how to read Japanese, you'll need some translation tools. If I recall correctly, the word "Redeem" was in katakana (レディーム)

Step 4: After you redeemed the gift card and got your Yen, this is the tricky part. You'll need to search for the P5R themes. Try going to the search bar in the store and type "P5".

If you know how to type in Japanese, trying adding a Japanese keyboard for your PS4 and type in "ペルソナ5" (perusona 5) or "テーマ" (teema) in the search bar.

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

And that's how you get the P5R themes! Hope this helps!

[beautozhomes]

10 Budget-Friendly Renovation Tips to Transform Your Home Without Breaking the Bank

Renovating your home doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Whether you’re refreshing a tired kitchen, revamping a dull bathroom, or updating your entire living space, there are smart and affordable ways to make your home feel brand new. The secret lies in planning, creativity, and knowing where to invest.

Here’s a handpicked list of 10 budget-friendly renovation tips that will help you maximize impact while minimizing cost.

1. Start With a Clear Plan & Budget

Before picking up a hammer or browsing tiles, set a clear goal and a realistic budget. Understand which rooms you want to renovate, what must be changed vs. what can be refreshed, and allocate a budget accordingly. This helps avoid unnecessary expenses down the line.

Pro Tip: Leave a 10–15% buffer in your budget for unexpected expenses, as home renovations often have them.

2. Focus on High-Impact, Low-Cost Areas

Some spaces offer a high return with minimal investment. Focus on:

Painting the walls

Updating fixtures (tapware, handles, lighting)

Refinishing rather than replacing cabinets

Swapping out old curtains for modern blinds

These changes instantly uplift your home without needing structural work.

3. DIY Where Possible

You don’t need to be a tradie to handle basic tasks. Painting walls, changing cabinet handles, or installing peel-and-stick splashbacks are all easy DIY wins.

Doing it yourself saves on labor costs—just make sure you're confident and safe before starting.

4. Repurpose and Reuse Existing Materials

Before throwing things out, ask yourself: Can I reuse this? For example:

Sand and repaint old doors

Reface kitchen cabinets instead of replacing

Reuse bricks or timber for garden edging or decking

Upcycling is not only cost-effective, it’s eco-friendly too.

5. Use Paint as a Powerful Makeover Tool

Never underestimate the power of fresh paint. Whether it’s a white coat to brighten a room or a bold color to add character, paint is cheap and transformative.

Try feature walls or even painted furniture for added charm.

6. Shop Smart: Sales, Recycled & Factory Seconds

You can save hundreds of dollars by shopping smart:

Check out clearance sections in Bunnings or IKEA

Browse the local Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree

Visit reuse centers or building recyclers

Buy floor stock or display models from showrooms

You’ll be surprised at the quality you can find at a fraction of the cost.

7. Upgrade Lighting for Instant Luxury

Switching to modern LED lighting can completely change the vibe of your home. Warm white lights add a cozy feel, while pendant lights or under-cabinet strips offer a modern touch.

Lighting is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make.

8. Update Flooring Without Replacing It

Flooring can be expensive to replace, but there are budget options:

Use vinyl planks or hybrid flooring

Paint or stain timber floors

Add large rugs to hide worn areas

These are smart ways to refresh the space without full demolition.

9. Tackle One Room at a Time

If the whole house needs work, don’t do it all at once. Prioritize and renovate the room by room based on functionality and usage. The kitchen and bathroom usually offer the best ROI, while bedrooms can be done more affordably.

Breaking it down this way keeps stress and costs manageable.

10. Know When to Hire Professionals

While DIY is great, know your limits. Electrical, plumbing, and structural work should always be handled by qualified professionals. You’ll avoid costly mistakes, and your work will be up to code (especially important for resale).

Spending on the right trade now can save you more in the long run.

Final Thoughts: Renovate Smarter, Not Harder

You don’t need a massive budget to make a massive impact. With smart planning, a little elbow grease, and creative choices, you can breathe new life into your home on a budget.

Start with simple upgrades, prioritize function and style, and don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves. Whether you're getting ready to sell or planning to stay for years, budget-friendly renovation tips like these can increase your home's appeal and value, without leaving your savings account empty.

Suggested FAQ (with Schema Markup Potential)

Q: What is the most affordable way to renovate a home?

The most affordable way is to focus on cosmetic changes like painting, replacing fixtures, and updating finishes without altering the structure.

Q: Is it cheaper to renovate or rebuild?

Generally, renovating is cheaper unless the home is in poor structural condition. Minor to moderate renovations cost less than new builds.

Q: How do I budget for a home renovation?

Set clear priorities, research material and labor costs, and allocate a buffer of 10–15% for unexpected expenses.

Q: Can I renovate my home myself?

Yes, for tasks like painting, minor carpentry, or installing fixtures. For electrical or plumbing work, always hire licensed professionals.

[it-begins-with-rain]

A Warning to Share::

I got a call from my bank's fraud detection service saying there was a suspicious charge and I need to call them back immediately and use a reference number.

It has happened before, banks are really great these days about handling it so quickly that you don't lose your money (at least, mine is. I love my bank).

But just to see, I open my banking app. PURELY because the app was slow to open, I started wondering if their services were down. If their services are down, why are they calling me about a fraud alert?

So I checked the phone number against their member service line, only half the numbers matched.

I decided just to be safe, I will go in in person. If my card has been used suspiciously, they'll have me go in to get a new card and pin anyways, so it's efficient.

By going in in person, I was able to verify that the call was a fraud. My account had no flags, and that is a common scam. They get you to call and "verify" your account information, have you give them a code the bank will send you, and the scammers use that to login to your account, change all verification information, and drain the account.

My bank helped me add layers of protection to my account, and added a feature that will fully lock my account any time there is so much as an incorrect password attempt.

So it is always good to be paranoid about security. Especially when it is your bank account.

[aaditnayyar]

What exactly is Blockchain

A Comprehensive Guide for All: What is Blockchain?

Try to picture yourself with a notebook in which you record every purchase or sale. Each time you do a transaction, you note it in the notebook. Now, what if you distributed this notebook amongst your friends and everyone had one? All of your buddies would scrutinize your entry before adding it to their notes. This way, nobody could fake an old entry, since everyone else would spot it.

Something known as blockchain is built upon this basic concept — sharing a record of transactions open for everyone to verify. Though it may sound intimidating, it is a technology gaining traction in the financial and computer sector. We will clarify it in this blog in simple words, so anybody may follow it.

What Exactly Does Blockchain Mean?

Fundamentally, blockchain is simply a unique form of digital record-keeping. Think of it as a series of blocks (hence the name “blockchain”), each block including transaction information. These blocks are related in a way that makes them quite stable and difficult to change.

Step by step, this is how it works:

A Transaction Occurs: Suppose Alice wants to give Bob $10. This is an interaction.

The transaction is registered: the information of this transaction is passed to a network of computer nodes instead of being written in one notebook.

Everyone Checks the Transaction: The computers in the network check to make sure Alice has $10 to transmit. By examining her past deals kept in earlier blocks, they do this.

The transaction is added to a block: Once everyone concurs it is legitimate, it gets formed with other transactions into a block.

The Block Is Sealed, attached: The block is assigned an individual code (known as a hash) and then included in the chain of already existing blocks. This makes a fixed, permanent record of the deal. There it is! It is like one huge, common ledger keeping track of all system events.

What Makes Blockchain Different?

Now, one might be wondering, “Why not simply use a normal database or spreadsheet?” Fantastic issue! Blockchain distinguishes itself by several distinct qualities.

It is distributed across.

Most models today have one main custodian — be it a bank, company, or government — that manages the records. The entire system can crumble if something goes wrong with that central authority — say, hacking or corruption.

Blockchain relies on many, but not one authority. It rather distributes the blame amongst several computers (nodes). Every node has a full blockchain copy, therefore no individual or group may manage it. This all but prevents evil actors from using the data.

It is transparent.

Given that each transaction is visible to all people in the network, and recorded on the blockchain, it is clear. You can observe when and where money or assets traveled from one location to another. Since no one can hide anything, this openness fosters confidence.

Consider how a nonprofit uses blockchain to monitor contributions, for instance. Donors might observe very clearly how their funds are used, therefore guaranteeing that they reach the intended beneficiaries without middlemen siphoning off funds.

Safe.

Adding a transaction to the blockchain makes it virtually irrevocable.

Therefore: Every block has its distinct code (hash), including the one from the preceding block. Trying to change a block would also require one to re-compute the hashes for every subsequent block, hardly a small job.

Since the blockchain is decentralized, hackers would have to simultaneously compromise more than half of the computers in the network to fiddle with the data. Considering how vast these networks can usually be, this is virtually impossible.

Such a level of security makes blockchain perfect for sensitive uses including medical records, banking, and voting systems

It cuts out intermediaries.

Usually, when you want to buy anything online or move funds, you go via middlemen including banks, payment processors, or even legal practitioners. These intermediaries increase both costs and time for the project.

Blockchains free you from the need for intermediaries. Transactions take place between parties on their own, therefore saving both time and financial means. Sending funds abroad the old way can take days and incur large charges, for example. Using blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the same transaction can take minutes for a small percentage of the cost.

Examples of blockchain in the real world:

To know more about how blockchain operates in practice, let us look at some instances:

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have the most well-known applications of blockchain. People can transfer money and accept it without a bank using these digital currencies. Each time somebody sends Bitcoin to another, the blockchain notes the transaction.

Supply Chain Management Tracking

As goods traverse the supply chain, enterprises including IBM and Walmart use blockchain to monitor them. If you buy a mango, you can scan a QR code, for instance, and find exactly where it came from, who touched it, and when it reached the store. This ensures product quality and reduces fraud.

Election processes

Some nations are trying voting systems based on blockchain. Blockchain might help to lower voter fraud and raise public faith in election results since it is open and safe.

Health information

Ways hospitals and clinics could leverage blockchain for patient records storage are under investigation. This would let doctors quickly access precise and current data while permitting patients complete control of their information.

Some popular misunderstandings surrounding blockchain

Though blockchain is growing in popularity, some questions remain about its nature and usage. Those should be cleared away:

“Blockchain Is Just for Cryptocurrencies.”

Though cryptocurrencies were the first significant application of blockchain, the technology itself has great applications beyond finance. Industries including logistics, healthcare, and government are discovering creative applications of blockchain.

Blockchain is anonymous.

Though blockchain provides privacy, it is not entirely anonymous. Since transactions are listed publicly, anyone can see them. Users’ identities are typically expressed by codes — rather than actual names — thus granting some level of pseudonymity.

“Blockchain is flawless.”

Though very secure, blockchain is not free from dangers. Thankfully, such attacks are really rare because of the complexity and size of the majority of blockchain networks — for instance, if someone gains control of more than 50% of the computing power of the network, they could theoretically manipulate the blockchain in what is known as a “51% assault.”

The Future of Blockchains

Though blockchain is still fairly new, its possibilities are vast. Improvements in general efficiency, openness, and security across the board will probably follow the more widespread acceptance of it. Some professionals think that blockchain could transform everything from our personal data management to our voting.

Still, popular usage will need time. Scalability (managing vast transaction numbers), regulation (governments determining how to deal with blockchain), and education (assisting people in understanding and embracing the technology) are obstacles to be tackled.

Wraps up.

So, at its most basic, blockchain is a decentralized, clear, and secured means of documentation. Whether it is assisting farmers in obtaining fair prices for their products, accelerating international payments, or safeguarding sensitive medical information, blockchain has the capacity to change our lives and employment fundamentally.

Next time you learn about blockchain, recall the notebook analogy: It’s a shared, tamper-proof book everyone can view but no one can edit. And who knows? Maybe someday soon, blockchain will become as common as smartphones or the internet!

Even a small tip goes a long way!

ETH: 0x788571C4c836ec733a72ff84c626BF7F20736d76

Thanks for reading Aadit’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

[fakephonepeapk525]

Fake PhonePe APK: Latest November 2024 {100% Working}

Imagine the look on your friend's face when they see a seemingly real transaction with their name on it. Introducing the Fake PhonePe APK – a spoof app that lets you prank your friends by showing mock transactions, fake balances, and transaction history that looks incredibly realistic.

👉Download Now

What is the Fake PhonePe APK?

The Fake PhonePe APK is a prank app that replicates the popular digital payment platform, PhonePe, with a twist – it's entirely for fun.

While it doesn’t link to a real bank account, it mimics the appearance of PhonePe so closely that even seasoned users might struggle to tell the difference at first glance.

This app allows you to stage imaginary transactions for fun, displaying amounts as high as one crore rupees, all without touching a single penny in your real account. Perfect for harmless jokes, this APK creates shockingly realistic payment screenshots and transaction records.

Key Features of the Fake PhonePe APK

QR Code Scanning Simulation: Just like the genuine app, this fake version allows you to “scan” QR codes. After scanning, it shows the correct registered name or business associated with that QR code, making it feel like a genuine transaction.

Mock Bank Balance: The app displays a fake bank balance, typically around ₹12,624, to make the prank look more authentic. Simply tap “Check Bank Balance” and enter any six-digit UPI PIN to reveal the faux balance.

Original-Looking Interface: For anyone familiar with the real PhonePe app, the Fake PhonePe APK might be hard to distinguish at a glance. With all the icons, ads, and menus in the same spots, it perfectly replicates the original app’s look.

Unlimited Fake Funds: Even though the fake balance shows a modest ₹12,624, you can “send” any amount, including staggering sums like one crore rupees. Each transaction, however, is purely fictional, so your real bank account stays untouched.

Detailed Transaction History: Any “transaction” you make can also generate a realistic transaction history, complete with time, date, recipient’s name, transaction ID, and a UTR number. This extra detail can make your pranks feel more believable.

How to Download the Fake PhonePe APK

Downloading the Fake PhonePe APK requires a few steps, as it’s only available from its official website:

Enable Unknown Sources: First, go to your device settings, find “Install Unknown Apps” or “Install from Unknown Sources,” and enable it for your browser.

Download the APK: Head to the official website and click on the download button. After the file downloads, open it and install the APK.

Start the Fun: Once installed, open the Fake PhonePe APK and start pranking your friends with fake transactions and balances.

Disclaimer

This Fake PhonePe APK is intended strictly for entertainment purposes and harmless pranks. It is not endorsed, affiliated with, or authorized by the official PhonePe app or any financial institution. Using fake apps for fraudulent activities is illegal and punishable by law.