#i went digging in the html code

[tetrapaec]

ok rude, i don't want to sign up for that...

[thedeviljudges]

Tell us about your tagging system on here. What's the x for? What's the rationale behind your top 5 tags? Which tags do you browse through on your own blog, if you do?

oooo this is an interesting one!!!

first question: so way back in tumblr olden days, lmao, before they changed the layout to where it didn't look like you were clicking on a blog; you'd actually go to someone's page and see their HTML theme, and people found a way to hide their posts in case others went directly to their page (ie. lurkers), and they didn't want them to see them all.

so say when i go to clawbehavior.tumblr.com - i can see everything you post, but with a code, i can hide posts from people who visit that url so ppl who aren't following me don't have to see the personal posts if i don't want them to. the posts that show up on my homepage are tagged with an x. (this does NOT work if you're on your dashboard, and you click someone's name now; all posts will show up).

tumblr kinda/sorta ruined it a bit. now you don't have to be following someone to click their page via the dash (on desktop or mobile) to be able to see every single posts - even those of mine that aren't tagged with x.

but still, if someone randomly wanders onto my page by typing it in or stumbling across a posts via google and then they click on my home theme, they can't see personal posts.

however, there is a way to see all posts aside from clicking on my blog through the dash and/or tags. the code used to direct you to NAME.tumblr.com/tagged/x, and you'd see that link in the search bar. now it doesn't do that anymore, and you just see NAME.tumblr.com, but!! the code still works. if you go directly to my link, you'll only see posts that are tagged x.

there's a special little something you add to the end of NAME.tumblr.com for someone directly on my page to be able to see all posts that aren't tagged with an x.

so long story short, posts not tagged with x cannot be seen by those who visit my page directly; they can still see them if they come across my blog while being a tumblr using desktop/mobile and clicking the name.

second question: i don't feel i use my tagging system as much as i used to. i used to be much more rigorous with it. i like using the name (theme) stuff to describe things, so 'funny stuff' or 'writing stuff' as a catch all for posts of that category. i also try to use tags that i'll remember now esp bc i haven't kept track of many old ones. so i also keep it simple with easy descriptors such as 'text,'

third question: hands down 'the devil judge' or 'the devil judge meta' lol. i'll remember i wrote/saved something, and i gotta go dig for it bc i know it's in one of the two. i don't often go back through tags unless i'm looking for something specific.

[musclegoth]

eugh I had meant to progress in web development ever since I graduated college and I'm only just now getting to it 🥴 better late than never

[hyperthinks]

15 questions for 15 mutuals ^_^ i was tagged by @socialbunny!

1. are you named after anyone?

nope to both my birth name and chosen name! my motivation behind picking the name miles was that it 1. had the same first initial as my birth name and 2. PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY SPELL IT LMAOOO

2. when was the last time you cried?

i graduated college last weekend and i dont know if id consider it a Full Cry because all i did was tear up but when i gave my favorite professor a hug after i went onstage i was screaming and crying and throwing up on the inside

3. do you have kids?

nope!

4. do you use sarcasm a lot?

yeah but in a lighthearted way! im a goofy guy but i dont ever want my jokes to come off as too mean spirited

5. what sports do you play/have you played?

HELP im so shit at sports 😭 my hand eye coordination and depth perception are both awful so im not good at any of them… when i was in the 3rd grade my mom put me in cheerleading and i had such bad social anxiety as a kid that when it was my turn to cheer i would just CRY. it makes for a funny story though

6. what’s the first thing you notice about other people?

ooh this ones tough. uhhh it depends on the situation i first meet them in but generally their voice and speech patterns? when i was a kid i didnt inflect a lot (autism.) so i had to “study” other people… i think that’s kind of a holdover from that ?

7. eye color?

brown! ^_^

8. scary movies or happy endings?

hmmm. depends on what mood i’m in and also how well its written!

9. any special talents?

well i just graduated magna cum laude (CUM? 🤨) with a BFA in graphic design so i HOPE i’m good at that LMAOOOO

outside of that? im decently good at digging through code and messing with hex editing for someone who has no formal coding experience outside of HTML and CSS

10. where were you born?

the united states! i was born in missouri but i’ve lived in georgia most of my life

11. what are your hobbies?

ooh lets see. i like researching unused content and the effects of glitches in video games (lifelong special interest. teehee) in addition to, well. actually playing the games. i used to draw a lot more (if you’re reading this and you followed me from my furry twitter: I’m Sorry) but i’ve shifted a lot of my creative energy towards writing (check out my tycutio fanfiction) and graphic design (i need to post some of my stuff here… my senior project was sims 2 themed even)

12. do you have any pets?

i do! we got my dog daisy (lab mix) when i was really little, and she’s 15 now!

we also have a tortoise named tortimer (after the guy from animal crossing) but we just call him torti

13. how tall are you?

5’8” but i used to be 5’9” before scoliosis nerfed me (<- coping and seething)

14. fave subject in school?

in high school it was probably literature, but in college i’d say typography? i like letters. teehee

15. dream job?

please for the love of god i want a job making promotional materials for a game company SO BAD.

i tag… YOU!!! >:D nahhh jk but i AM gently tapping my mutuals on the shoulder if they want to do this . ^_^

[panjunli]

Malice and greed make a bad combination

Here’s another article for this quarter.

Source:

https://www.hrxfw.com/fjgs/yggs/353586.html

TRANSLATION STARTS

An evil woman harms her mother-in-law and ultimately causes her own demise

Once upon a time, there lived a Brahman with a young and beautiful wife who was lascivious and adulterous (For further reading on the Brahman caste in India - https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahman-caste). Whenever the Brahman traveled to make a living, his wife would seek out lovers for a good time. However, she had a mother-in-law who was mindful of the code of conduct for women, and this limited the extent of her adultery. To make merry to her heart’s content, the Brahman’s wife sought ways to get rid of her mother-in-law. One day, after much pondering, she finally came up with an evil plan.

To make her husband let down his guard, she pretended to be a dutiful daughter-in-law, tending to the Brahman’s mother’s every need from morning to night, from providing delicious food and fine clothing, performing every chore in the household, to flattering her with terms of endearment and praise. This made her mother-in-law very happy and proud to have such a filial daughter-in-law.

One day, upon returning from a trip, the Brahman was pleased to witness the meticulous care which was given to his mother by his wife and said, “You’re truly a filial daughter-in-law to treat my mother with such care. I am truly blessed to have married such a fine woman as you.”

His wife replied, ”As much as I would like to provide the best for your mother, I can only give her the things which are obtainable on this earth, and this is a mere pittance. If we could provide her with the wonderful delights which are only found in Heaven, that would be true filial piety. Tell me, is there a way for us to send her to Heaven?”

The Brahman was impressed with his wife’s display of “filial piety” which went beyond the provision of earthly pleasures by attempting to provide heavenly enjoyment. Pausing to think, the Brahman suggested, “According to Brahman teachings, if one desires to ascend to the heavens, one can jump down from a rocky mountain, or jump into a bonfire. A person who jumps down from a rocky mountain can float in the air and ascend to the heavens; a person who jumps into a bonfire can make use of the rising flames to support his soul’s ascent to the heavens.”

His wife replied, “I wish I had known that it was so easy to ascend to the heavens. Why don’t we try these methods on your mother? This would allow her to enjoy eternal bliss in Heaven. It would be unfilial of us to keep her here on the human realm to dine on unworthy viands.”

The Brahman agreed with his wife’s suggestions and the two of them made preparations for his mother’s ascent.

A few days later, the Brahman made a deep and large pit in the wilderness, filled it with dried twigs and grass, and set the pit ablaze. To keep the fire going, he added firewood and chaff to the pit. Next, he brought his mother to the pit, and invited his relatives and friends to a ceremony held at the site. Everyone feasted, drank, sang and danced at a banquet which lasted for a day.

When night fell, the crowd dispersed, leaving the Brahman, his wife and his mother at the site. The couple brought the Brahman’s mother to the pit, and said, “Mother, we will now send you to Heaven.” Without waiting for an answer, they pushed the old woman into the pit and returned home.

By a stroke of luck, the men who were hired by the Brahman to dig the pit made a trough by the side of the pit as a makeshift terrace to climb back up, and the Brahman’s mother fell into this trough, thus avoiding a fiery end in the bonfire. Climbing her way to safety, the Brahman’s mother escaped from the pit.  

By the time she made it out of the pit, it was already pitch dark in the wilderness, so the old woman had to rely on her memory of the route taken during the day to find her way back. As she passed by a sinister-looking forest, animal calls echoed in her vicinity, making her tremble with trepidation. Fearing wolves, tigers, Rakshasas and venomous snakes, she decided against venturing further, opting instead to climb up a huge tree and wait for dawn before continuing her journey home (For further reading on Rakshasas - https://www.britannica.com/topic/rakshasa).

After some time, a gang of robbers who had completed a heist made their way into the forest to split the loot and gathered under the tree from which the Brahman’s mother watched. She was too afraid to move, fearing for her life lest the robbers discovered her, but anxiety made it hard for her to avoid making a sound, and finally she coughed heavily from the branches above. Already jumpy from their criminal misdeeds, the robbers were shocked by her cough and thought an evil forest spirit had detected their presence. Scattering from their hiding spot and running away for their lives, they left their ill-gotten gains at the base of the tree.

At the crack of dawn, the old woman climbed down from the tree and discovered a cache of riches. It was much more than she could possibly carry, so she selected small items such as ivory, pearls, gold bracelets and earrings before returning home.

Pushing the door open, the old woman’s disheveled appearance terrified the Brahman and his wife, who backed away thinking that the old woman’s ghost had returned for vengeance. The Brahman’s mother said, “Do not be afraid. I was in Heaven last night and I have decided to return this morning. While I was in Heaven, our relatives who had also ascended presented me with many precious gifts which I have brought down to show you. Take a look at these fine treasures!” Opening a bundle and pointing to the jewelry which lay within, she said to her daughter-in-law, “Look at the ivory, pearls, gold bracelets and earrings! They are gifts from your parents and aunts. They wanted to give me many more gifts, but how much more can an old woman like me possibly carry? When I left Heaven this morning, they bade me farewell and expressed their desire to give you many more gifts if you ascended to Heaven too.”

The old woman’s words made the Brahman’s wife’s eyes lit up with amazement. Seizing the opportunity to make a huge windfall, she pestered her husband all day to conduct the ascension ceremony for her as well. The Brahman acceded to her request and threw another banquet at the pit, reviving the bonfire and happily pushing his wife into the flames. But this time, the Brahman’s wife was not as lucky as her mother-in-law. She missed the trough and instead fell into the deep recesses of the pit where she was quickly engulfed by the bonfire.  

The Brahman waited many days at home for his wife’s return from Heaven but she never came back. Sighing continuously, he complained to his mother, assuming that his wife must have been enjoying herself too much in Heaven to remember him.  

-- Excerpt from the Sutra of Miscellaneous Jewels

TRANSLATION ENDS

[mooniefics]

Moonie baby am I late to say that your theme is... so pretty, so splendid, so soothing to the eyes? HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? Did you customize your own code or...? I'M AMAZED. ( ͡❛ ₒ ͡❛)

jinnieee aaa (/▽＼*)｡○♡  definitely not too late !! i’m so glad to hear that u like it, i know absolutely nothing abt coding so i just went digging on some blogs that provide the html codes for blog templates like mine (o^ ^o)  i def had to watch a few tutorials (for the custom cursor and the music player) but it was so worth it !! i haven’t felt a deep satisfaction like the one i felt after i finished customizing everything ever in my life, it took all day but i would so do it again <33

[thearkhound]

Ganbare Goemon Production Material Museum Part 6: Goemon 2 on the Famicom

Original article:http://web.archive.org/web/20150423195718/http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/goegoe/library/library_06.html

The sixth entry of the Goemon Production Material Museum covers the Famicom version of Ganbare Goemon 2, which added 2-players co-op to the series and thus, served as the introduction of Goemon’s sidekick Ebisumaru (although a prototype version of the character named Nezumi Gozo first appeared in the MSX2 version of the first Ganbare Goemon).

Production Tidbits

Yamauchi: This time we’ll talk about the Famicom version of Ganbare Goemon 2, which was the first appearance of Ebisumaru.

Ebisu: I don’t remember much about it, which is we brought over the production materials.

Yamauchi: Please tell me something, because I don’t want to dig around these materials. Looking at them, it seems Ebisumaru was originally planned to be a girl. This idea comes up at the end of the game, wasn’t it?

Ebisu: That’s right, it went according to planned. The idea [of Ebisumaru being a girl] was always in the plan. the twist it never came up again in the later games. At the time we weren’t planning on doing 2-players again.

Yamauchi: Well, the alien beings from Planet Impact never came up again either. It seems the Goemon series has been doing random things since the old days. What a dreadful thought!

Ebisu: Not really. It’s glue that holds the Goemon series together. You could say it’s well thought-out randomness.

Yamauchi: I found a schedule table in the documents, but it seems that the actual development only lasted three months. That’s amazing!

Ebisu: Games were developed like that back then. If you think about it, our current development model of one or two years is way more abnormal.

Yamauchi: Are there any other inside stories you want to share?

Ebisu: Not really! Well there is one. I was in charge of the game’s programming. There’s a piece of data that I forgot to put into the game’s code.

Yamauchi: What is it?

Ebisu: It’s a secret!

Concept Art Gallery

Concept Image of the Enemy’s Castle - Selected from various concept images. An image of the castle’s exterior. The top castle is a fake version of the Karakuri Castle located at Edo consisting of three floors. The bottom castle is the real Karakuri Castle located at Hokkaido, consisting of six floors, a basement and an attic. The goal is to get to the treasure room at the top floor.

Player Character Settings -  Originally Ebisumaru’s face was a mask and the person behind it was in fact a girl. As for Goemon, his image was quite different for what it later became.

Event Demo - A storyboard for a demo (cutscene). The foolish feudal lord is acting all cute. The player can choose between forgiving the feudal lord (revealing a secret exit in his room) or not.

Planning Document Cover Art - Goemon and Ebisumaru each have their own unique aura to them. Ebisumaru’s scarf has the kanji characters for Ebisu ( 蛭子) written on it

Townsfolk - Ah. there’s Omicchan! This Goemon 2 was her first appearance [TL’s note: actually, she was also in Karakuri Dōchū as a bonus point character.]

Manga - A Goemon manga where only one player character appears. This one covers the beginning of the story [where he decides to seek the treasure of Karakuri Castle.]

[softforcal]

Incipient : Gang!Michael

Summary: in the wake of a big rival gang altercation, The Aces are merging with The Raiders gang and Michael is put in charge of the merger, which is where he meets the rival gangs right hand woman

Word Count: 12.4k

Warnings: a few smutty scenes

Full Gang Universe Masterpost Here

Incipient meaning: in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

Harry and Michael friendship masterpost

--------

“Look, I know none of you are happy with this, god knows I’m not either, but if we want our gang to survive, this shit needs to happen.” Harry said, looking at the bar full of burley men, “this merger is final, and if you have a fucking issue,” his voice rose, “you can take it up with me.” he cracked his knuckles loudly, “this is Michael, he’s the rep from The Aces, he’ll be around a lot, helping us figure this shit out. Now, if I hear that any of you have so much as looked at him the wrong way, I’ll have to teach you a god damned lesson, is that clear?”

The room was completely silent.

After the whole… debacle, (the one where Harry kidnapped the Birdie, the girlfriend of rival gang key player Luke Hemmings) Michael was shocked Harry had managed to keep his hold on gang leader for The Raiders. Luke had beaten Harry up pretty bad, and it had taken a full month for Harry to heal completely.

After a long talk amongst the Ace leaders and the charming brit, an agreement had been met. A Merger. Harry’s gang coming under the wing of The Aces. A mutual coalition. The Aces had things that the Raiders needed and vice versa.

Luke could hate Harry all he wanted, but it was a fact that Harry was more valuable alive than dead. His command over the room in that moment just went to prove that fact to Michael as he stood and addressed the gang, “well, as Harry said, I’m here for the merger. I’ll mainly be working with the higher level members but it should be fun!”

The room was quiet.

Michael sighed, nodding to Harry who pushed off from where he had been leaning against the wall, “well, that's it, clear out.”

Everyone dispersed but three people, who stayed and approached Michael and Harry who were standing at the bar. “Michael, this is Josh and Farley, and that’s Blades.” Harry motioned to the only woman standing there.

Michael had noticed her earlier, briefly taking in the blonde who had been sat atop the pool table during Harry’s speech. Her arms had been folded over her chest and her eyes had been watchful, almost judgemental. With a beautiful resting bitch face, she was exactly Michael’s type, but he was a glutton for punishment.

“One of those names is not like the others.” Michael teased, looking the leather clad girl who narrowed her eyes at him.

“Blades earned the name.” Harry assured him, he moved out of the way as the men went behind the bar, busying themselves with work. Michael realized that although the guys were bartenders, the woman obviously had another reason for approaching.

“So what’s up?” Michael asked, looking between the charismatic brit and the broody blonde.

“Blades is my right hand, she’s a down right menace, much like Luke actually.” Harry explained, “you’ll be seeing a lot of her, so I thought I would introduce the two of you, like a peace offering, start on good terms, trust me, you don’t want to be on her bad side.”

“I don’t know how seriously I’ll be able to take this if I have to call you Blades.” Michael admitted with a smirk.

“Oh and you have something else in mind?” the woman snapped.

Michael grinned. She’d fallen right into his perfectly planned trap. Truth be told, he did have a name already chosen, one that was inspired by Harry’s words and  fit the theme Michael was so obsessed with: “Dove.”

“Dove?” the woman scoffed.

“Call her whatever you want mate.” Harry said with a shrug, “just know she’ll probably cut yer’ balls off if you piss er’ off too much.”

-----

The blonde picked at her long nails absentmindedly, feet up on a table as she leaned back in her chair. Michael’s eyes flickered up at her, “how are you not amused by this?” he asked, looking back down at the computer that he and one of the Raiders were working on.

“I’m not a tech runt.” Dove stated, reaching into her boot to pull out a knife that she began to twirl nonchalantly, eyes fixed on Michael.

She’d been making small jabs at him all week but being called a tech runt? She was coming after his soul now, and he couldn’t let that go.

“Sounds like someone doesn’t know what html is.” Michael said.

Dove turned in her chair to look at Michael, and the guy helping him out began to fidget, knowing full well how dangerous the woman in the room was, especially with the blade that was in her hand in that moment.

Her pine green eyes narrowed at Michael, sizing him up, then she stood.

The man next to Michael pushed away from the computer, “I need to get water.” he said as he scurried from the room.

Dove approached Michael who remained standing where he was, not showing any signs of fear at the deadly woman who was now within centimeters of him. She turned her gaze to the screen, leaning down, her fingernails made small tapping sounds as she typed something in, then hit enter.

The screen flickered and suddenly a live recording was playing. “Wait, what did you just do.” Michael pushed her with his hip but she didn’t budge and he groaned, moving around her to look at the screen.

“You’ve been trying to hack this camera for ages. This computer is a little weird. We had a hacker a year back who updated some of the coding to make it easier for him, little short cuts work wonders.” Dove explained.

“Well where are the shortcuts written down?” Michael asked in exasperation, “and why didn’t you mention this an hour ago?”

“And make your job easier? As if.” Dove scoffed, returning to her seat, “also they aren’t written down.”

“So how do you know them?” Michael asked.

“Good memory.”

“Well how did you even learn them in the first place?”

Dove looked up at him but didn’t answer.

Michael laughed, “oh… you were fucking a tech runt.”

“Fuck off.”

“No, I’m just surprised that guys like me are your type.”

“Guys like you aren’t my type, trust me.”

“Sure they’re not Dove.” Michael smirked. Dove opened her mouth but Michael’s phone buzzed and he answered it immediately, “Calum?”

“You with the Blades chick right now?” Calum asked immediately.

“Yeah, I’m with Dove-”

“Can you two come to the club? We have someone who needs to be interrogated and it’s Luke and Birdie’s date night.”

“Uh… there’s no one else who could come?” Michael asked.

“I mean there is, but it would be good to have a Raider get some blood on their hands for us. A show of good faith. Besides, I hear this Blades girl is an artist or some shit.”

“Some shit.” Michael echoed, “fine, we’ll be there soon.”

“More dumb bullshit errands to run tech boy?” Dove asked as Michael hung up.

“Think you’ll like this one.” Michael sighed, “got a guy for you to torture.”

That caused her to perk up and Michael laughed, already feeling an odd fondness for the angsty looking murderess. “Do you have any thing you need to grab to make this experience, uh, more fun for you?”

“Got my toys right here.” Dove said, grabbing her dual knives from her boots, she proceeded to toss them up and down in a juggling motion that made Michael nervous. She was an expert, and seeing the deadly weapons in her hands made Michael rethink his nickname for her.

He was also really digging the sexual innuendos, Michael being the type of guy who dropped them with some frequency, but most people didn’t play along like Dove just had. He enjoyed it. He enjoyed her.

The other tech guy showed up again, and after a few instructions, and Dove tapping her foot by the door impatiently, Michael finally grabbed his keys and the two of them went down to the parking garage.

Michael went one way and Dove went the other, “the fuck are you going?” she asked.

“To my car.” Michael answered.

“I’m driving.”

“Not a chance.”

“We’re going to that shit club that you took Harry to a few weeks ago yeah?”

“Shit club-?” Michael began.

“Race you there.” and then Dove was running and Michael wasn’t about to just lose to the girl and give her and Harry something to tease him about, so Michael jogged over to his car. He got inside, realizing how out of shape he was by the racing of his heart as he put his car in reverse.

The sound of screeching tires filled the parking lot.

----

“You’re fucking lucky we have all the cops in this city on our payroll.” Calum said, voice low and angry as Michael and Dove entered the club.

“We didn’t kill anyone.” Michael pointed out.

“Not yet, where’s my guy?” Dove asked.

Calum looked the blonde up and down then sighed, “in the back, Michael, you know the drill on this one.”

As Dove and Michael walked past the bar, Michael waved at Puppy who smiled, but Dove completely ignored the other woman. Not that Puppy minded, she was definitely not a fan of the whole merger idea. In fact, the bartender glared at Dove, earning a hand on the small of her back from Calum, “this is a good idea.” he stated.

“It’s not.” Puppy stated, “Harry threatened Birdie-”

“I know.”

“That’s his right hand woman-”

“I get it babe. Be as angry as you want. Something tells me it won't matter much to that chick anyways.”

Michael had finished explaining the usual gang protocol. The guy Dove would be torturing had information they wanted, but they didn’t need it, which meant that Dove had full range to do whatever she wanted.

Dove could feel her skin prickling as Michael uttered the words “do what you want with the guy.”

The giddy feeling of joy and expectation filled her soul and Michael laughed, “calm down killer.”

“I am calm.” she assured him.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever seen you.” he pointed out.

“So keep the bodies coming.”

“I would but you have to share-”

“Oh yeah?” she scoffed, “with that blonde douchebag-”

“Luke-”

“Yeah, that guy.” Dove grinned, taking off her leather jacket to roll up the sleeves of her tight black v-neck and remove her knives from her boots, “I don’t share.”

“Well you have to learn.”

“Not today.” Dove said, flicking her knives around, “okay, let’s do this.”

“You are way too excited.” Michael chuckled.

He noticed the way her skin was flushed with anticipation and he knew that if he was to press a soft kiss to her neck, he’d be greeted with a racing pulse. Michael wiped his sweaty palms against his pants, startled by the sudden dirty thoughts that had just entered his mind.

Michael went to the keypad and punched in the numbers, opening the door for the blonde who all but bounded past him into the room.

“Aw, you guys even wrapped him up all nice and pretty for me.” she smiled, “usually Harry just tosses the guy into the room with me like fresh meat.”

Michael couldn’t help the laugh that erupted from his chest as he closed the door behind him, locking himself in the room with the deadly woman and her prey.

As she began to work, Michael couldn’t help but notice the differences between her technique and Luke’s. Dove moved in fluid, graceful motions, her blades an extension of her body, gliding along skin. In contrast, Luke was all awkwardness and lumber, relying solely on physical strength and determination to make an impact.

Michael enjoyed not feeling like he had to jump in at any moment. Dove had complete control, she was enraptured with the process, that much was obvious, but she also remained oddly professional.

Luke always made a mess, but each splatter of blood caused by Dove’s blades was like the flick of red paint from an artists brush. Michael had to admit, there was something so endearingly sexy about watching Dove kill a man.

His skin was tingling even being in the same room as her.

The man began talking, blabbering anything Dove wanted to know, putty in her hands. At that point, she allowed Michael to take over, gaining all the information needed while she stood behind the man with her hands on his shoulders.

When everything had been answered, Michael’s eyes flickered to Dove and she pulled out both of her blades again, the sharp metal gracefully slicing through flesh to finish the job.

Grabbing at her shirt, Dove cleaned her knives of blood against the black fabric, “where can I change?” she asked.

“Follow me.” Michael said, opening the door for her. He took her to the locker area, “you good with one of my shirts?” he asked.

“Whatever.” she answered, instead of taking the black muscle shirt in his hands, her fingers went to the hem of her v-neck, swiftly lifting the fabric up and off of her head. Michael’s breath caught in his throat at her newly exposed skin and the sexy, lacy bra. In that moment, Michael could have sworn he’d regressed to a teenager, his eyes fixed on the word ringing through his head: boobs.

His gaze flickered to her gang tattoo, prominent and pretty over her left breast. There was something so seductive about it, Michael had never seen a gang tattoo so similar to his own on a female form.

“Perv.” Dove stated but her tone was teasing, telling Michael that the woman in front of him didn’t entirely disapprove of his wandering eyes.

He decided to just roll with it, his heart already hammering in his chest, “you love it.”

Dove laughed, grabbing the muscle shirt from Michael, “something about murder gets me going-”

Michael chuckled, “I get that.”

Dove studied the grinning guy in front of her. He had the sweetest smile she’d ever seen, but he’d just watched her torture a man for a solid thirty minutes, and she appreciated a man who didn’t get in the way of her work. Her heart was still racing in her chest and she considered what it would be like to scratch the itch working its way up her spine.

Michael’s gaze flickered across Dove’s face, “you have blood on your cheek.” he said.

“Why don’t you wipe it off for me?” she suggested.

Michael met her steady gaze, stepping forward, his hand rose, thumb brushing against Dove’s bottom lip. Michael watched his digit slip into her mouth, almost groaning at the feeling of her tongue swirling around him. It took all of his willpower to remove his finger from her mouth, cupping her face as he brushed the pad of his thumb across the blood splatter.

Dove’s eyes bore into Michaels, “is there a private bathroom somewhere.”

Michael hummed in response, still to enraptured in watching the place their skin met.

“Show me.” Dove stated.

Michael removed his hand from her face, brushing past her towards the private bathroom. He opened the door for her and Dove walked through, going and sitting on the sink counter as Michael locked them in.

He turned to look at her, eyes once more landing on the gang tattoo that beckoned him forward.

“You just gonna stand there? Or are you going to come fuck me?” she asked.

Michael laughed, walking over to stand between her legs. His palms made contact with her thighs, rubbing at the black denim and moving up to her waist, roughly pulling her as close as he could. Her eyes bore into his, a challenge, waiting to see if he’d make the first move.

His gaze dipped down, landing on the tattoo that be brought a finger up to trace, “we match.”

“Show me.” she answered, breath faltering slightly to betray any inner turmoil she was feeling.

Michael went to grab the hem of his shirt, lifting it over his head to toss somewhere on the ground. Dove’s eyes took in the gang tattoo over his heart, and her legs wrapped tighter around his waist, pulling him closer. Her hands grabbed his, interlocking his fidgety fingers to keep them at his sides as she leaned forward, dragging her tongue across the mark.

Michael’s head lolled back, enjoying the feeling of her mouth on his skin, “enough teasing, kitten.” he groaned.

“Don’t call me kitten.” she said, breath hot against his skin as she released his hands, allowing him to finally grab her face and pull her mouth to his. They’d already wasted so much time with build up that Michael didn’t even bother testing the waters, his tongue slid against hers and she received him eagerly.

Dove’s hands tangled in his hair, pulling to earn a groan as Michael went to unclasp her bra. He slid the straps down next, finally getting the dangerous girl bare for him as he went to grasp her breast which made Dove moan, a sound that Michael ate up like his last supper.

She immediately grabbed at his belt, expertly getting it open so she could unbutton his jeans and shove them down, “get inside me.” she growled against his lips, still feeling the post murder tingle across her skin that she wanted to chase to a high.

Michael tore off Dove’s pants and she lifted herself enough to get the jeans and her panties down and to the floor, “condoms-” Michael began.

“Pill.” Dove said, grabbing the back of Michael neck to drag his lips down to hers again.

As soon as his mouth was where she wanted it, her hands went to his hips, dragging him forward so he could finally slide into her. They panted into each others mouths, foreheads pressed together as their eyes opened to hold a steady gaze as he thrust in and out.

She nipped at his lower lip in an effort to make him kiss her again but he refused, hand grabbing her hair and pulling, exposing her throat to his greedy mouth and teeth that endeavored to mark the pretty skin.

Dove’s hand clawed at his chest, scratching at the tattoo that revealed the kindred aspects of their lives. His teeth sunk down into her neck and Dove clenched around him, moaning louder. Michael’s hand slipped down between their bodies to find her clit, rubbing harshly. Dove’s legs spasmed around Michael’s waist, “gonna cum for me soon kitten?”

Dove grabbed at Michael’s jaw, forcing him to look at her, “quit it with the animal names asshole.”

Michael grinned, pressing his mouth to hers again as he rubbed quicker, the pace of his hips matching the motions of his fingers. Dove’s whines got louder and Michael groaned, his other hand tangling in her hair again to keep her face close as both of their eyes clenched shut and they chased their impending orgasms.

One last drag of Dove’s nails against Michael’s chest had him cumming, Dove following in suit, spurred on by the erratic motions of Michael’s hips. They gripped each other fiercely, using each other, breathing each other.

As they both came down from their highs, breath hot and fanning across skin with each pant, Michael pulled out and Dove ran a hand through her blonde hair, “get out of here, gotta change.” she said, just like that, reverting back to the resting bitch face murderess.

Michael didn’t question it, pulling on his pants then his shirt, he left the bathroom, heart still racing in his chest. Michael took a few breaths to steady himself as he waited, a minute or two passing before Dove slipped from the bathroom. She looked put together, even in his oversized muscle shirt,  no sign showing on her perfect features that they’d just fucked in the gang’s club bathroom.

“Harry texted.” Dove stated, “gotta get out of here.”

Michael didn’t say anything, humour lost as the two walked back to the main bar, as soon as they entered, five pairs of eyes landed on them.

“It’s the man of the fucking hour!” the tall blonde bellowed, voice dripping with anger, “thought you could just replace me?!”

Michael’s eyes darted between Luke and Calum in confusion, “Cal made the call-”

“But you brought the Raider-” Luke took a step forward but his tiny girlfriend, Birdie, rested a hand on his forearm, stopping his motions.

“And I got all the information, heard my record is a hell of a lot better than yours.” Dove’s voice interrupted.

Luke’s eyes narrowed and Michael’s heart lurched, knowing what would happen if the two murderous blondes were allowed to act on their impulses.

“Luke you had date night,  we didn’t want to bother you-” Michael began.

“So you replaced me?!” Luke was yelling again and Ashton stepped forward, grabbing Luke’s other side as he cast a glance at Birdie, “and since when do you stand up for a fucking Raider?!”

They all knew that Michael was close with Harry, but he’d never tried to stand up for any Raiders to Luke’s face. This was a new low and it was obviously hurting Luke, pain evident in the blonde’s eyes beneath the anger.

“He doesn't need to stand up for me.” Dove pushed past Michael, “not against the asshole who murdered some of my friends-”

“I may have murdered your buddies but your fucking boss tried to fucking kill my girlfriend!” Luke screamed.

“As far as I heard, she let herself be tied to the chair.” Dove seathed.

Luke took another step forward and Birdie got in front of him, “Baby, please, it’s okay, you’ll have more people to murder another day-”

Luke’s eyes flickered down to his girlfriend and he visibly softened, knowing how hard it must have been for her to just be alright with him being addicted to killing, which he most definitely was.

“Luke has a right to be angry.” Puppy said, voicing her opinion for the first time, “this is Harry’s right hand woman-”

“Exactly!” Luke said, motioning to Puppy, “we’ve always said this whole thing was a fucking shit idea-”

“Luke you have to calm down.” Michael said, stepping forward yet again.

Dove’s eyes flickered to him then narrowed, “I’ve got places to fucking be.” she stated, moving towards the door.

“Don’t you dare fucking go after her, we are not finished-” Luke began but Michael was already following.

He caught up to her outside her car and before he could even say anything, Dove had turned to look at him, anger written all over her face, “what the fuck was that?!”

“What-”

“You didn’t need to fucking stand up for me! We fucked but you’re not my fucking boyfriend, hell, you’re not even my friend! You think that just because I’m a girl, I need your help? News flash, I’m a gang member, just like you, and I don’t need your fucking help.”

Michael’s blood was boiling, hating the fact that other peoples beef had gotten him dragged into this mess, “jesus fuck, have you ever stopped to think that maybe I stood up for you because it’s my goddamn job?! I’m in charge of the merger, it’s my responsibility to make sure things go smoothly. I can’t just have you and Luke fighting in the middle of the bar! This has nothing to do with the two of us fucking, I’m not a child, I know it didn’t mean anything to you! Look, I know you’re strong enough to defend yourself, it’s one of the things I kind of love about you, but you don’t always have to be the one fighting. You’re in the Aces now, and we stick together, which means I am here whether you fucking like it or not.”

-----

“And then she just got in the car?” Harry laughed.

“Yeah, what the fuck right?” Michael couldn’t help but chuckle.

“She’s an interesting one.” Harry mused, swirling the liquor in his glass, “I’m kind of shocked that the two of you fucked though, she usually keeps to herself, not a fan of guys thinking they need to protect her, explains why she got so pissed though.”

“Thought she was dating a tech guy?” Michael asked.

Harry’s brows furrowed, “hmm?”

“The guy who taught her html.” Michael clarified.

“Are you…” Harry set down his glass, “I think you mean Noah, he was her friend.”

Michael thought back to the conversation, he’d assumed she meant a special guy as in a boyfriend, but she’d never clarified it for him… in fact, she had said specifically that tech runts weren’t her type. “What happened to him?”

“He died a year or two back.” Harry explained.

“Was it-”

“Aces, yeah, but not one of your guys.”

“And they were just friends?” Michael prodded.

“Always suspected they coulda been more, but as far as I know, nothing ever happened. They spent a lot of time together. Noah’s the one who actually suggested she join the gang, knew her from a few jobs or summat. Yeah, they were close, when he died...” Harry shrugged, “well, she got more closed off after that.”

“I can imagine.” Michael frowned.

“Do you actually like her?” Harry asked.

“I mean she’s interesting.” Michael could feel his skin flushing, “not used to being around girls like her-”

“Yeah, your gang has no women, you all sexist or some shit?” Harry asked.

“Well, no-” Michael laughed.

“Hey mate,” Harry cut him off, “mind if I ask, how’s… uh, how’s Birdie doing?”

Michael looked at Harry, “she’s fine.”

“Hmm…” Harry looked deep in thought, and Michael wondered what was going through his head, “if you were interested in Dove, Birdie would be important. She’d be open to Dove, Puppy wouldn’t be.”

Michael chuckled, “you think ahead.”

“That’s why I’m at the top and you’re not.”

“You’re at the top because we let you be.”

“Hey, take that back!” Harry glared, pulling Michael into a headlock.

Michael managed to escape with a laugh, “fuck off.”

Harry grinned, “look, whether you wanna fuck Dove or not, you need to ease the tension between her and your friends, do it through Birdie.”

“And when am I going to start forcing you to hang out with them so Luke doesn’t murder you?” Michael asked.

“Hmm…” Harry laughed, “hopefully not any time soon yeah?”

----

Dove’s chopsticks picked at her leftover Chinese food, her eyes watching the thick noodles move amongst the vegetables.

She’d been on edge when she’d seen the notorious ‘Angel Face’ and she had to admit that she’d snapped when it came to Michael afterwards.

In the moment, all of her rage had been justified, but after his retort, she’d realized maybe there were things she hadn’t been considering.

Dove was used to the alpha male types who let that mindset lead to assertion of dominance but Michael wasn’t like that. He really had been stepping up from a place of partnership, and Dove had simply not been used to it. Someone supporting her without an ulterior motive? Wild.

And, she realized, without Michael or the others stepping in… it would have definitely led to a fight which was not the best idea in the world.

Dove was confused about everything Michael related.

She didn’t date, let alone date gang members.

After Noah had died, things had been tough. She’d spent over a year wondering what could have been if she’d let loose and allowed them to be something more, if they’d both been able to look past their differences and give it a try. Although her heart didn’t ache as it had before, her brain remembered, and she reminded herself to try to be more open when it came to Michael.

She had slept with the guy, which was a big step.

But she hadn’t been able to help herself. Murder always had that sort of effect on her and the adorable way Michael smiled had enraptured her already racing heart. Maybe Michael was a good idea.

The dinging of her phone distracted Dove from her food, she cussed, “you have got to be fucking kidding me.” she mumbled, scanning the text, she typed ‘is this mandatory?’

The response was immediate: ‘yes’

-----

“Why are we here?” Luke groaned, head lolling back as he stared at the ceiling of the restaurant.

“Michael thinks you and Dove need to get to know each other-” Birdie explained for probably the hundredth time.

“Yes, but why did I come?” Luke asked, looking at his girlfriend.

“Because I asked you to.”

Luke sighed, “true.”

Her hand went to his thigh under the table, offering a small squeeze as Dove and Michael entered the restaurant. Dove looked stiff, arms crossed over her chest as she sat into the booth next to Michael who was smiling, “how are you to doing?” he asked.

“Good, you?” Birdie smiled sweetly.

“Fantastic.” Michael picked up the drink menu and a waitress approached.

“Can I get you guys started with anything?” she asked.

“Shots.” Michael stated, “let’s start with twelve shots, three each, I’ll do whiskey, Vodka for the blonde guy, tequila and lime for his girlfriend and-”

“Whiskey for me too.” Dove interjected.

The waitress nodded and scurried away as Birdie grinned at Michael, “three shots each?!”

“Don’t worry babe, I’ll drink two of yours.” Luke said, arm tightening around her shoulders reassuringly, “wouldn’t want you blacking out and ending up robbing a store for lollipops.”

Dove studied the blonde, noticing how soft he looked as he addressed the girl tucked under his arm. He had yet to say hello to Dove, address her, or even so much as look at her, but it was a step above screaming.

“I’m Birdie by the way,” the brunette girl said, holding out her hand to Dove, “we met briefly at The Luxury but, well... anyways, I’m Birdie.”

Dove looked at Birdie’s extended hand, as did Luke and Michael. Everyone waited for a moment then Dove reached forward, shaking it, “I’m Blades.”

Birdie’s eye brows furrowed, “I thought-”

“Call her Dove, she hates it.” Michael interrupted.

“Oh Michael, you didn’t.” Birdie giggled.

“Does he give nicknames a lot?” Dove asked.

“No but he has an obsession with animal nicknames.”

“Why?”

“Well, I’m Birdie, and the bartender you met, she’s Puppy-” Birdie began.

Dove sighed, turning to look at Michael, “you have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Michael held his hands up in defense, “hey! The nickname fit! You’re an olive branch, a symbol of peace-”

Both Luke and Dove scoffed, only to narrow their eyes at each other, Michael quickly jumped in again, “I mean I could always call you Kitten-”

“I’d have to kill you.” Dove stated.

“So I guess we’re sticking with Dove then.” Michael shrugged.

The waitress appeared with all of the shots, setting them down on the table, “can I grab you anything else?”

Birdie nudged Luke who looked down at her then to the waitress, “yeah, do you guys have uh, whats it called, the fries with gravy and shit”

“Poutine.” Birdie whispered into his ear.

“Poutine.” Luke stated loudly.

“Yeah, I can grab you a poutine.” the waitress smiled, turning to go.

“Oh, and some wings.” Luke called.

“Salt and pepper.” Birdie whispered.

“Salt and pepper.” Luke said, just as loudly as the first time.

“With ranch dip.”

“With ranch dip.” Luke reiterated. The waitress nodded again and scurried away.

Michael was used to this type of shit from the couple. Birdie got a little anxious when it came to ordering things, and Luke was always more than happy to step up and do it for her. Michael hated to admit it, but he thought it was cute.

Luke grabbed his shot and everyone else followed suit, Birdie reached for the salt shaker and Luke brought her hand to his lips, kissing it before he licked it, startling Birdie who immediately tore her wrist from his grasp, giggling loudly.

“Luke!” she tutted.

“It’s for the salt babe.” he assured her, taking the shaker so he could put some on the recently licked skin, then he handed her the lime.

Luke clinked his glass with his girlfriends, completely ignoring Michael and Dove as he shot his while Birdie reached out to clink her shot with Michael’s, then offering it to Dove, who reciprocated after a moment.

Unlike the three gang members who all took their liquor with graceful expressions, Birdie’s face scrunched up as she shoved the lime in her mouth and Luke smiled, watching her with eyes full of adoration.

“Feeling better?” Michael asked, finally getting Luke to look at him.

“Again.” Luke stated, ignoring the question and grabbing his next shot. Birdie groaned but reached forward only to have her drink pulled away by Luke, “you don’t want another one.” he stated.

Which was true.

“If she wants to take another shot, you should let her.” Dove said.

“Oh, so you know my girlfriend better than me huh?” Luke turned his glare to her, “guess you got to know her when your asshole boss kidnapped her hmm?”

Michael sighed, “Luke, you and Birdie are kind of weird, it looks a little weird-”

“Stay out of this Michael.” Luke said.

“Just looks like you’re controlling your girlfriend.” Dove said, “wouldn’t be the first guy in a gang to be an abusive asshole.”

Michael’s skin prickled, palms sweaty as he looked between the blondes who were both squaring up. His gaze met Birdie’s and she looked panicked, “okay, I can see how it would look that way-” Birdie began.

“Are you seriously accusing me of being abusive?” Luke’s voice was low, a growl that had everyone at the table, but Dove, on edge.

“If the wife beater fits.” Dove sneared.

There was a moment of complete silence and panic. Michael burst out in awkward laughter first, “what a saying! Is that even a saying!? I’ve never heard that one before!” he said loudly as Birdie wrapped her arms around Luke’s shoulders, grabbing at his face to make him look at her, “hey pretty boy, hey, she just doesn’t know, it’s okay, it’s okay.” she cooed.

While Birdie distracted Luke, Michael turned to Dove, “why are you pissing him off?” he hissed.

“I just pointed out a particular behavior that could have suggested abuse, more people should be calling attention to this sort of shit.” Dove glared.

“Okay, yes, but trust me, Luke would never hurt Birdie-” Michael began.

“Excuse me, but is this the same guy that crashed his car into Harry’s and almost got everyone killed?” Dove asked.

“It was a misunderstanding, we didn’t think Harry would have Birdie in the car with him-” Michael began to explain.

“So you’re all just stupid.”

Michael sighed, hand reaching out for his shot, “you know what? Maybe.”

Dove grabbed her glass and Luke followed suit, not about to be out done by the other blonde. As they all downed their shots, a sigh of relief settled over the table, Birdie having successfully reassured her boyfriend that Dove just didn’t know what she was talking about, and that if Luke just played nice, Dove would realize soon enough that he would never hurt her.

As soon as the glasses hit the table, Dove reached for a third and Luke once again mirrored her, their eyes locking as they drank again. Michael groaned, following suit.

Then Luke moved one of Birdie’s extra shots forward, the clear liquid almost sloshing over the rim as it slid towards Dove who accepted it. The blondes once again locked eyes, downing the tequila without salt or lime which made Birdie cringe just watching.

“More.” Luke stated.

“You might want to slow down mate-” Michael began.

“Do you want us to get along or not?” Luke snapped.

“Well yeah-”

“Then let us get drunk.” Dove said, finally finding something she and Luke agreed on.

Birdie perked up, nudging Luke who immediately saw what she was looking at: the waitress walking towards the table with their appetizers.

As the food was set down, Dove leaned forward, “we’ll have some more shots-”

“Four more shots-” Luke butted in.

“Make it five.” Dove stated.

“Make it six.”

“Seven.”

“Eight.”

“Wow, you can both count, great.” Michael stepped in, “eight shots should be enough.”

“Of vodka, wouldn’t want the ‘pretty boy’ forcing down a big boy shot.” Dove stated.

Luke glared, “make it whiskey.”

“You sure?” Dove said, voice sickly sweet, “wouldn’t want you to choke on an actual drink.”

“Whiskey.” Luke stated again, “make it nine.”

“Eight will be fine.” Michael assured the waitress.

As soon as the waitress was gone again, Luke turned to Dove, “how many people have you killed?”

“Luke!” Birdie gasped in shock.

“You can’t just ask people how many people they’ve murdered.” Michael groaned.

“Too many to count.” Dove stated, “you?”

“So fucking many.”

Birdie had pulled the plate of poutine forward, grabbing a fry, she held it up to Luke who finally tore his gaze from Dove so he could let Birdie feed him, nipping at her fingers to make her giggle.

He was starting to feel the effects of the liquor, a happy buzzing erupting over his skin. His entire attention was focused on the love her his life as she popped a fry into her mouth before grabbing another to feed to him again. She was weary of his teasing bites, pulling her fingers away quickly before he could take another nip at her skin. The giggles that erupted from her made him laugh, and Michael let out a sigh of relief, Luke’s walls were coming down.

Beside him, Dove also seemed to be relaxing, her shoulders not as stiff underneath the black leather that hid her body from Michael’s would be wandering eyes.

He tried to come up with something the pair had in common, something they could bond over but the only thing he could think of was murder. Finally he sighed, seeing no other way around it, “so Dove, what’s your favourite kill?”

Dove sighed, leaning forward on the table, head on her palm, “that’s tough. There have been so many good ones.”

Luke rolled his eyes.

“You have one at the top of your head?” Dove asked.

“This one torture sesh I did a year or two back, huge guy, lasted a long time. That shit went on for hours-” Luke began.

“Love it when they last longer.” Dove mused, smirking at Luke who returned the sinister look. Michael and Birdie were once again watching the two cold blooded murderers, and although Birdie wasn’t thinking too hard about it, Michael was sensing the sexual undertones, and his heart was racing, thinking about what had happened between him and Dove.

“And when they beg?” Luke laughed.

“Fucking love it when they beg.” Dove agreed.

Birdie’s eyes widened, finally catching on to what they were saying.

“The way your skin feels-” Dove began.

“Splattered in blood.” Luke finished.

Birdie’s nails clicked along the table for a moment then she said, “I have to go to the bathroom.” and Michael nearly wanted to join her if just to get away from the conversation that was making all of the killers at the table so hot and bothered.

“I’ll come with.” Luke stated, turning to look at his girlfriend, eyes full of hunger.

“Uh, no, I was actually thinking… maybe, maybe Dove would want to come with me?” Birdie asked hopefully.

Dove looked her up and down for a moment. She’d never been the type to have girl friends. Never the type to go to the bathroom just for the sake of talking about her feelings. But fuck it, this was as good a time as any she supposed.

Birdie even grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers as the small brunette pulled her through the restaurant. It was a pretty high class place but that wasn’t a surprise to Dove, most of the gang members in the city liked to flaunt their money.

The bathroom was large, with a fireplace and two couches - it was that kind of restaurant. Birdie went to the sink, opening her purse. Calum, Ashton and Puppy had convinced her earlier that she needed to interrogate Dove, and Birdie supposed she did want to know a bit more about the blonde, but that just couldn’t happen in front of Luke.

“So Michael seems to like you.” Birdie stated, finding her lipstick in her bag.

Dove leaned against the counter. She was feeling a pleasant buzz and she had to admit that it was lowering her inhibitions. Plus, the girl in front of her seemed so nice and friendly. She couldn’t see any reason not to talk to Birdie, to not open up. Besides, Dove knew getting along with the Aces was important, she had to be making more of an effort to merge, like everyone else had.

“Does he?” Dove asked, wishing that boy talk wasn't going to be the conversation that helped her bond with the pretty brunette.

“Yeah, is there anything there?”

Birdie wasn’t even looking at her, which Dove appreciated, it was less pressure, but for some reason it made her want to be a little less guarded, “I mean we slept together-”

“You did not!” Birdie squealed, turning to look at Dove with a huge smile on her face. She was practically bouncing with excitement.

“It’s not a big deal-”

“Oh so you’re like Puppy, the whole ‘I slept with a gang member and it doesn’t matter because we all just sleep around like it’s no big deal.’ thing.” Birdie teased.

“I mean, sort of.” Dove couldn’t help but smile, then she groaned, realizing she was actually enjoying the boy talk, “fuck, Harry mentioned you were gangster kryptonite-”

“Stop it!” Birdie giggled, “but seriously, you and Michael? Wow, I can totally see it!”

“You can?”

“Oh yeah.” Birdie smiled, “you’re all gorgeous and dangerous and you have a cool nickname-”

“Dove?”

“Okay, Dove is nice but Blades is pretty cool. You know, if you don’t like Dove, I can call you Blades-”

“I actually don’t mind Dove.” she sighed, turning to look at herself in the mirror, “Blades sounded kind of pretentious anyways.”

“I want to apologize for Luke by the way,” Birdie said, once again picking up her lipstick, “he’s really protective. He’s a great guy. I know he can be kind of weird but… well, I love him you know? And he’s really good for me-”

“Don’t worry, I know he’s not abusive.” Dove sighed, “you two actually look pretty good together.”

“So…” Birdie’s eyes flickered from her lips to Dove, “Luke killed your friends.”

“I’ve killed his too.” Dove sighed.

Birdie put her lipstick down, “sometimes I wonder why you guys stay in the gang.”

“It’s what we’re good at, it can be hard to leave, and… at the end of the day, it’s family.”

“I guess you’re right about that.” Birdie mused, “anyways, so you slept with Michael-”

Dove hid her face in her hands which is when she realized how far gone she was from the shots she’d taken, and, how much she actually liked Michael, “fuck, I’ve only known the guy like a week.”

“Michael’s a teddy bear.” Birdie smiled.

Dove groaned, “I know, it’s so annoying.”

“So… I have to ask, and don’t hate me for this, but, okay, so the others are kind of suspicious of you, and I guess I’m just- there’s been some talk about your gang still trying to sabotage The Aces or something and, well, Michael’s a pretty integral part of the Aces-”

“I’m not going to seduce him then break his heart.” Dove said, “not my style.”

“Okay. good. Cuz if you did, well, I would be very upset with you.” Birdie narrowed her eyes but she could only pretend to be menacing for so long before she broke into a grin again, “so are you two going to date?”

“I wouldn’t go that far-”

“What? How come?” Birdie turned to look at her with wide eyes.

Dove almost laughed, “life doesn’t work that way-”

“Yes it does.” Birdie insisted, “you like someone so you date them.”

“We can’t just-”

“Why not?”

“Well…” Dove thought about it, “his friends don’t like me.”

“I will make them like you.” Birdie insisted.

“But… who knows if he even likes me.” Birdie’s eyes widened and Dove groaned loudly, “see, this is why I don’t date, men are so fucking confusing and you’re looking at me like I’m some dumb teenage girl who's never dated before-”

“I’m just shocked because you’re so gorgeous and confident-”

“Please don’t.” Dove sighed again.

“But you are!” Birdie insisted.

“I’m good at killing people, that doesn't mean I have good people skills.”

“If Michael asks you out, would you say yes?” Birdie asked.

“If you talk to him about this-” Dove began to warn but she stopped herself, not about to threaten the soft girl in front of her, “please don’t.”

“What if I just give it a little push? Just a little one?” Birdie asked.

Dove was conflicted. Maybe it was the booze, or the threat of actually feeling something for someone, but she was worried. Torn. she’d been in this situation before and chosen to ignore the blossoming feelings, only to lose any chance she’d ever have with the guy when he was shot dead in front of her apartment. And now here she was again, with an opportunity to grab what she’d missed with Noah or possibly feel the same regret all over again.

Dove sighed, “gangster kryptonite and certified matchmaker hmm? Let me guess, you also like to bake and regularly hold gang game night?”

“I tried that but Ashton, Puppy and Calum are too competitive.” Birdie frowned for a moment, “but yes, certified matchmaker.”

“If this goes bad I’ll have to change my name and dip out of town-”

“It won’t go bad!” Birdie insisted.

Was Dove really about to place all her trust in Birdie? The girl who hand fed her boyfriend, was wearing a pink sweater dress with matching fuzzy flip flops and bubblegum nails, and cringed at the taste of tequila?

Dove made a mental note not to get drunk around Birdie again.

-----

The shots had arrived while the girls were in the bathroom and Luke had helped himself to four of them already, all but collapsing on the table as he held his face up with his hands, “so…” Michael grinned, watching his friend pick at the poutine, “Dove’s not that bad huh?”

Luke looked up at him then laughed loudly, “did you sleep with her Michael?”

“How… how did you get that from what I just said?”

Luke shrugged, “you like blondes, that's why none of us worry about you with our girlfriends.”

“So it’s not because I’m just a stand up guy?” Michael laughed.

“No.” Luke’s hand reached out for another drink that Michael moved away from him, earning a groan and pout from the blonde, “give me.”

“No.”

“When Dove comes back, she’ll drink with me.” Luke stated.

“You sure about that?”

“Yeah, she’s nice.” Luke said, shoving fries into his mouth.

“So you want to hang out with her again?”

“Yeah.” Luke groaned, resting his head on the table, “where’s my baby?”

As if on queue, the girls returned. Luke’s arms widened and Birdie entered them, running her fingers through his hair, “hey you.”

“Hey princess.” he smiled against her neck.

Her gaze went to Michael and the new shots on the table, specifically the empty ones, Michael shrugged at her and she sighed, knowing there’s nothing he could have done to stop her boyfriend from drinking. “You tired?” she asked.

“Hmm.” Luke hummed, lips pressing against her skin in delicate butterfly kisses.

“We should probably get going soon yeah?” she asked.

Luke nodded, rubbing his face against her neck, “smell so good.”

“I’m gonna get this one home.” Birdie told the other two before pressing a kiss to the crown of Luke’s head.

He smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet, he tossed a bunch of money on the table, “on me.” he stated.

Birdie got out of the booth and Luke followed suit, arms around his girlfriend who somehow managed to support him, “you going to say goodbye babe?” she asked.

“Bye Michael, bye Dove.” Luke smiled.

“Be safe.” Michael stated.

“You be safe.” Luke retorted.

Michael chuckled, watching Birdie help Luke from the restaurant.

“So we gonna finish these or what?” Dove asked, motioning to the five shots still on the table.

“All of them?” Michael laughed.

Dove shrugged.

“Guess those four shots weren’t enough for you?” he teased, accepting the shot from Dove.

“I’m hardcore.”

“I know.” Michael smiled, earning a small shove from Dove. they clinked their glasses and drank, slamming them back down onto the table.

He was also feeling the tingly, boozy sensations running through his body and god, she was beautiful.

Dove caught him looking at her lips and felt her skin heat up as she grabbed another shot.

“You should slow down.” Michael advised, “don’t wanna be carrying you home tonight.”

“You don’t?”

Michael chuckled, not expecting her answer, he rested his chin on the palm of his hand, looking at her, “I mean, I’d be down to, but something tells me you’re not into that sort of thing.”

“You’re right.” Dove laughed, “you already know me so well.”

Michael was shocked at how open she was being, how teasing, how… sweet. He wondered if she could always be like this, if he managed to get past her barbed wire riddled walls.

There were three shots left and Michael really wasn’t in the mood for getting pukey drunk. Dove’s hand reached forward for another shot and Michael put his hand over hers, stopping her, “you sure you want that shot Dove?”

Her eyes were focused on their hands and after a moment, Michael looked down too, watching as she fully interlocked their fingers.

Michael’s phone buzzed and Dove quickly tore her hand away, with a groan, Michael answered his phone, “yeah?”

“Where the fuck are you mate?” came Harry’s angry british drawl.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s taco and thrones night asshole!”

Michael thought hard for a moment then he cussed, “shit, fuck, really? We were serious about that?”

“Well, I was! Did you seriously forget about this?”

“Kind of?”

“What a fucking fake fan you are.”

“Look, I can be there soon-”

“Bring snacks.” Harry hung up.

“Are you seriously choosing Harry over me?” Dove asked.

Michael sighed, “I promised him like a month ago that I’d watch Game of Thrones with him when it came back on.”

“Why would you do that?” Dove laughed, “he’s just going to get super drunk and yell at the tv.”

Michael shrugged, “sounds fun, I think you’re just pissed that you’re not invited.”

Dove glared at him, “then invite me.”

“Wanna come watch game of thrones get super high and drunk and yell about the Lannisters?”

Dove shrugged, “got nothing better to do, so I guess.”

-----

Harry opened the door in nothing but boxers and a black silk robe, a bottle of scotch in his hand, “You made it!” he hugged Michael, “and you brought Katherine with you.”

“Katherine?!” Michael squeaked, turning to look at the blonde, “your name is fucking Katherine!?”

Dove shoved past Harry into his apartment, “asshole.”

“No wonder you hate it when I call you kitten!” Michael screamed, “that’s literally your name!”

“It’s not.”

“Katherine, katy, kit, cat, kit kat, kitten-”

“Michael shut up!” Dove groaned, collapsing onto Harry’s couch.

“Where the fuck were you two?” Harry asked as Michael entered the apartment, walking into the kitchen where an entire taco station was set up.

“Drinks with Birdie and Luke.”

“How’s my favourite gang couple doing?” Harry asked, following Michael to the kitchen to begin making himself a taco.

“Cute as ever.” Michael said absentmindedly, “and I thought you were more of a Cashy fan?”

“What the fuck is a Cashy?” Dove called.

“Calum, Ashton, Puppy, those three scare me.” Harry admitted.

“Same.” Michael agreed.

They made tacos and went to join Dove who was sitting on the sofa. Harry took one edge, splaying his legs open with one arm going behind the couch, leaving the middle for Michael.

The show began and Harry leaned forward, focusing completely on the tv for a solid five minutes before he let out a long sigh, “not high enough for this shit, anyone wanna smoke?”

“I’m good.” Dove sighed while Michael held up a hand.

“Your loss.” Harry said, opening a box on the coffee table to remove a blunt which he then put between his lips, grabbing a lighter before going out to the terrace. He shut the door behind him.

Dove stretched out on the couch, putting her legs over Michael’s lap, “you doing alright Kitten?” he teased.

“Fuck you.” she said but she was smiling, arms stretching over her head as she let out a soft moan, “feeling great.”

“How drunk are you?” Michael asked.

“Just a little buzzed, why?” she pulled her legs back and for a second Michael was glad about the disappearing pressure on his lap, but then she got up on her knees, swinging a leg over Michael so she was straddling him, “worried you’ll take advantage?”

Michael swallowed thickly, looking up at the blonde, “think you’re the one taking advantage.”

“Hmmm” her voice was low, sexy, and it made Michael’s heart thump faster, “think you’re letting me though.” His hands moved to her hips while her fingers came to dance along his chin, exploring the stubble, “want you to mark me up with this.”

A groan left Michael’s lips before he could stop it, fingers moving on their own accord, digging harshly into Dove’s hips as he pushed down, helping her grind against him.

“Such pretty lips.” Dove mused, finger dancing along his bottom lip.

She leaned down, breath ghosting over his face teasingly as he waited for her to kiss him, tilting his head up eagerly. Her eyes searched his and she grinned, finally closing the distance.

One of his hands came up to tangle in her hair, keeping her lips on his in case she felt like being a tease again and pulling away before Michael had had his fix. Their tongues clashed desperately as Dove grabbed at Michael’s hair, pulling it harshly, Michael gave in, letting her gain access to his neck.

Her lips teased the skin, tongue running over his adams apple as it bobbed while he swallowed thickly, groaning. His eyes opened and he turned his head a little to look towards the terrace. Harry was standing at the glass sliding door, grinning ear to ear with a bunt between his lips, he wiggled his fingers at Michael before making a few thrusting motions and Michael groaned, turning his head so his lips could meet Dove’s again.

“Harry’s coming back.” he said, wanting nothing more in the world than for the situation to continue, but he just couldn’t. He couldn’t fuck her on Harry Styles’ couch with Harry watching while high as fuck on the terrace. Hell, even if they’d gone to a bathroom or the spare room Michael had crashed in before, it still wouldn’t have felt right.

Michael had never had an issue with sex outside the bedroom before, so the fact that he was helping Dove get off of being on top of him was a shock.

Dove looked at Harry who had by that point turned to look at the sky line again, “do you think he’ll make us watch the whole episode?”

“Probably.” Michael said, picking at his pants that had since gotten far too tight.

“Are you even into this show?”

Michael shrugged, “Harry likes to laugh about the cringey sex scenes and he lets me be on my phone for most of it anyways, so it doesn’t matter much to me.”

Dove groaned, taking a deep breath, “I need water.”

“Good idea.” Michael watched her go to the kitchen and grab a glass.

A soft cool gust of air signified that Harry had come back inside, he looked ecstatic, bounding to the couch to sit down, “let’s watch this fucking show.”

----

They’d both walked with their hands tucked into their jackets, an obvious distance between them as Michael escorted Dove to her apartment which was just a few blocks from Harry’s.

The tension was prickling Michael’s skin, the silence uncomfortable and deafening.

They’d both sobered up and both of them were confused about the whole situation.

Both of them assumed the other only wanted sex but neither was willing to clarify that notion, which meant, when they stopped in front of Dove’s apartment, neither had any clue what to do.

Michael opened his mouth when his phone dinged and he looked down, narrowing his eyes at the new chat that had popped up on his phone. He knew the two contacts but it was a bit of a shock to see them in the same place.

Birdie and Harry’s icons were clear as day, as were the words ‘Green light! Green light!’ and ‘its a go cliffo!’

Michael quickly typed: ‘how do you two even have each others numbers?’

While it sent, a humping gif flashed on his screen from Harry and a few moments later Birdie said: ‘that dont matter mike, dove likes you!’

Michael frowned, ‘wut?’

‘SHE. LIKES. YOU.’

‘GET IT!’

“Who is it?” Dove asked.

Michael shoved his phone in his pocket, looking up at the blonde. He took a deep breath, feeling more anxiety than he had in ages. He itched to have a gun in his hand, that would make life easier.

“No one, uh, you gonna invite me up?” he asked, heart thumping in his chest again.

Dove studied him for a second, pulse racing. She took a deep breath and a leap of faith, “yeah, come on.”

Michael followed Dove into the building to the elevator, taking it to the top floor. They stayed quiet and Michael wondered what he was even going to say to her. She opened her apartment and Michael followed her inside, not wasting a moment to take everything in before he grabbed her hips and pulled her back to his chest, lips close to the shell of her ear, “still want marks?” he asked, hoping, praying, he sounded seductive instead of awkward as fuck.

Dove turned in his hands, throwing her arms over his shoulders as she pressed her lips to his. He had no clue where anything in her apartment was so when he pushed forward with his hips, making her walk backwards, he hoped they’d hit something eventually.

Dove bumped into something and mumbled “couch” (or maybe it was ouch? Michael wasn’t sure) against his lips. Michael opened his eyes briefly so when he shoved her down, he’d be sure she landed somewhere, then he got on his knees at the edge of the sofa, “take off your shirt.” he stated, already grabbing at her boots to remove them. First he slid out the twin blades, placing them delicately under the couch where they couldn’t harm anyone.

He tore her jeans off fluidly, along with her panties, leaving her exposed for him for the second time in two days. Michael lifted her foot gingerly, pressing a kiss to her calf before he continued up her leg. He rubbed his cheek against her skin and Dove shivered, fingers shaking as she unclasped her bra and let it slide away.

Her hands immediately went to his hair, tugging at the bleach blond locks to urge him forward as he got closer and closer to where she needed him.

His lips made contact with her inner thigh and a soft moan left her lips as he rubbed over the recently kissed skin with his cheek, the scruff making a slight burning sensation that was driving her wild already.

Michael finally took a teasing lick, flicking her clit and earning another whining sound, Dove’s fingers pulling lightly at his hair. Her hips thrust forward in an effort to get him to continue and Michael obliged, wrapping his lips around her sensitive bud so he could suck it into his mouth, tongue lapping at her.

He maneuvered himself so he could slip two digits inside of her, groaning at how wet she was for him. He curled his fingers up, thrusting them slowly as more of an afterthought to what he was doing with his mouth. His teeth grazed the soft bundle of nerves and Dove’s body jerked under him, the loudest moan yet ringing through the room.

“Fuck!”

He smirked, sucking harder and quickening the pace of his fingers. As she fluttered around him and more curse words left her lips, hips spasming to the point that he had to physically hold her down with his free hand, he knew she was about to come undone for him and he revelled in it.

She clenched around him, a loud whine like angels singing as her fingers tugged harshly at his hair and Michael continued his motions, prolonging the experience to the best of his ability until she was a shaking mess, only when he was one hundred percent sure she was done did he pull away.

He licked his fingers greedily, looking up at the beautiful woman as he stood. In a post orgasm haze, she struggled to catch her breath and Michael took the time to look around the apartment.

His eyes landed on the tv, and the gaming console underneath it.

“Holy shit!” he screamed, making Dove’s eyes snap open with concern before she realized he was just excited as he ran over to look at her games, “I didn’t know you were a gamer?!”

Dove pushed herself up, “yeah.”

He picked up the Call of Duty, “this makes so much sense to me.”

“Are you… are you going to come back here?” Dove asked.

“Uh…” Michael looked over his shoulder at her.

Dove sighed, “your loss.”

“But we can play video games?” Michael asked.

“Yeah.” she grabbed at her jeans, pulling them on, then found her bra, sliding it back on next, “online, multiplayer, zombies-”

“online.” Michael stated, grabbing two controllers he came to sit next to Dove on the couch, handing one to her. As the game turned on they both tried to set it up which led to a bit of a fumble and finally Michael sighed, allowing her to pick everything.

The game loaded, “if I get more kills than you, you have to fuck me.” Dove stated.

“And if I get more kills?”

“Then you’re allowed to fuck me.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Michael laughed.

Dove stood up and Michael was about to question it when she got in front of him, he moved his arms so she could sit down on his lap, getting comfortable and earning a groan from him, “what are you doing?” he asked.

“Sitting.” she answered as his arms wrapped around her, resting the controller and his hands on her lap. He could still see the tv over her shoulder, and he moved her hair to one side, exposing her neck so each breath sent tingles across her skin.

He pressed a soft kiss to the skin, only stopping when the game begun.

Michael tried to focus but Dove kept moving slightly, her ass pressing against his aching cock and earning deep, gruttal moans from Michael. “Fuck, stop moving.” he cussed when a particular motion made his leg jolt, watching himself get shot by someone that he would have easily been able to kill on a regular day.

“Im not moving.” Dove said innocently.

Michael groaned, using one hand to grab her waist and force her to be still but as soon as he went back to the controler she moved again.

He was almost panting against her throat now and Dove smirked.

His forearms pressed into her sides in an effort to hold her still, using his chest to lock her in against him. She loved how big he felt behind her and in a way Dove even enjoyed the constriction.

Breathing was getting difficult for her, the feeling of his boner pressing against her ass was too much of a distraction and finally Dove snapped, “move your arms.”

“No.”

“Move them!” Dove growled.

Michael groaned and followed her instructions, eyes flickering between her and the tv in confusion as she got onto the floor, “what are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” she asked, tossing her controler away as she immediately began to unbuckle his jeans. Her fingers slid under the waistband and one hard tug had them down enough for her to access his throbbing cock.

When her digits wrapped around it, Michael jerked, muttering “fuck.” as he once more struggled to look between her and the tv.

“Play your game.” Dove stated.

Michael growled when her lips wrapped around the head of his cock, tongue teasing in a swirling motion before she slid down more, cheeks hollowing around him.

His hips twitched and Dove rested her hands on his thighs, nails digging in as she began to bob up and down, eyes closed, revelling in the small, deep moans leaving Michael’s lips.

She focused on the tip a little more, realizing that when she did this, Michael’s noises got louder.

When Dove pulled away Michael was about to protest when she began removing her clothes again. When she had gotten off her pants, Michael briefly let go of his controller to allow Dove to straddle him, his hands reconnecting behind her back as she sank down on his cock, making both of them moan.

“What’s you kill score babe?” she asked, kissing at his neck as he tried to focus on the tv over her shoulder.

Dove’s hands settled on his shoulders as she began to move up and down, finding a pace that worked for her, something not too slow but not too fast either.

“Bout sixty.” Michael answered, voice shaky.

“Make it a hundred and I’ll let you cum.” Dove stated.

Michael groaned loudly, narrowing his eyes at the tv as a sudden determination to find enemies to kill surged through him. It didn’t help that Dove had sped up her motions and the feeling of euphoria was pulsing through Michael’s body.

He tried to focus on the tv, tried to ignore the feeling of the woman sliding up and down on his throbbing cock.

Dove reached behind herself, unclasping her bra so she could throw it across the room. Her breasts pressed against his front and she pulled away a little so with each movement they bounced against him.

Part of Michael wanted to whimper at the feeling, but he pushed it away, focusing as he racked in more kills like a machine.

“Ten.” he stated.

“What?” Dove moaned, nipping at his ear with her teeth as her nails dragged over his gang tattoo.

“Nine.” two moments passed, “eight.”

He was counting down how many more kills he had before reaching one hundred.

With each new number, Dove sped up, using his countdown as a timer to reach their highs. As he got to four, Michael had began thrusting up a little, trying to meet Dove’s movements as more low moans tumbled from his lips.

“Two.”

Dove let out a high whine, pulsing around him in anticipation.

Michael didn’t even say one, he simply threw the controler across the room, hands grabbing Dove’s hips as he lifted her up, getting her onto her back on the couch as he entered her again, jack hammering inside like his life depended on it.

Dove’s fingers tangled in Michael’s hair as their lips smashed together, teeth and tongues clashing. She came almost immediately, moaning into Michael’s mouth as his hips spasmed, her orgasm bringing him to the edge as well.

“Fuck.” he panted after a few seconds, hips finally slowing, then stopping as they panted against each other, Dove running her fingers through Michael’s hair as they both came down from their highs.

“Will you go out with me?” Michael asked, voice half mumbled against Dove’s neck.

“Yeah.”

“Thank fuck.” Michael fully buried his face against her skin, making her laugh as his scruff tickled the sensitive flesh of her neck.

“Was this whole night to get Luke to like me so you could ask me out?” Dove asked.

Michael thought about it for a second, “that sounds so fucking weird when you say it like that.”

Dove laughed, “it’s nice.”

“Yeah?” Michael pulled away so he could look at her face.

“Yeah. You’re not like a lot of the guys I know. Which is a good thing.” she assured him, fingers brushing over his cheek bone and pretty lips.

“You’re not like the gang girls I know.”

“You don’t know any gang girls, Harry says The Aces are sexist.”

“We’re not sexist!” Michael insisted.

“Sure you’re not.”

Michael groaned, “what I mean, is, fuck- here’s an example: Puppy. When she started seeing Ashton and Calum it was just sex because that’s what people in gangs are used to. It took her getting kidnapped for them to pull their heads out of their asses and just fucking commit.”

“Are you commiting?” Dove furrowed her eyebrows at him.

“No, I mean, uh, well,” Michael groaned, “I’m saying this isn’t just sex for me, in case that was something you were worried about.”

“I was worried about it, but I’m not anymore.” she assured him, “I want this. I want to try this. Whatever this is.”

Michael beamed at her, then his attention was taken by the tv, “hey! Our team won!”

------

As soon as Luke’s eyes landed on Dove, he began running, “dibs!” he screamed, trying to get to the back torture room before she could, but Calum and Ashton blocked him at the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting there first.” Luke tried to move past Calum who wouldn’t budge.

“You two will be interrogating together.” Calum stated.

“What?”

“It will be fun.” Michael said, clapping Luke on the back.

“No it won’t.”

“Hate to tell you this Luke, but you admitted to me at the bar the other night that you were kind of interested to see what the hype about Dove was.” Michael sighed.

Luke groaned loudly, “fuck.” he leaned forward, eyes flickering to where Dove was standing with Birdie, voice a whisper, “you didn’t tell her that did you?”

“I did. Also told her you said she’s nice and want to hang out again, so here you go, hang out, torture someone together, should be fun.”

Luke narrowed his eyes at Michael, “you’re dating officially now aren’t you?”

“Again, how the fuck did you get that from what I just said?!” Michael laughed.

“Fucking knew it.” Luke groaned, “so I guess I have to be her friend now huh?”

“I mean, it would be nice-” Michael said.

Calum cleared his throat, “have you told Puppy?”

“No, but she should be fine with it right?” Michael asked, “I mean, if Luke can get over it-”

“Puppy holds grudges.” Ashton stated, “she never forgets anything.”

“Why doesn’t she like Dove?” Michael asked in confusion.

“Something about a huge ploy to undermine this entire gang through seducing you-” Calum began.

“Birdie insists that it’s not true-” Ashton cut in.

“Birdie says what?” Michael looked between the three men.

“We may have asked Birdie to interrogate Dove once she was drunk while you four were at the restaurant the other night.” Ashton said, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

“You what?!”

“Don’t worry, she checked out, Birdie couldn’t stop raving about her for hours, it was shit for my hangover.” Luke stated.

“I can’t believe Birdie was a spy for you assholes-” Michael said in shock.

“She wasn’t a spy.” Luke interrupted, “we could only convince her by saying it was her looking out for you.”

Michael sighed, “fine. You guys go ahead, I’ll talk to Puppy.”

“Good luck.” Ashton said, immediately turning to go to the back room, not interested in being around for the Michael and Puppy interaction.

Michael waved over Dove, grabbing her hand which he gave a small squeeze, “have fun.”

“We will.” she assured him, offering a smile before she went to follow Luke.

The sound of them discussing murder technique got quieter as they disappeared and Michael turned to the bar where Birdie was with Puppy.

He took a deep breath and walked over, feeling more judgement from the dark haired bartender than he had ever felt in his life, “so me and Dove-”

“It’s a bad idea.” Puppy stated.

“Look, she’s a nice girl-”

“She literally murders people with dual blades she keeps in her boots.”

“And you’re dating not one but two gangsters, one of which is a leader so, I dunno, seems pretty even to me.” Michael pointed out, “I know you think the merger was a bad idea but it was a decision that was made by Ace leaders. Don’t you trust us? Don’t you trust Cal?”

“I have trust issues.” Puppy stated as a matter of fact.

“Well that sounds like something you should work on.” Michael said, only realizing once the words left his lips that he sounded like a douchebag, “shit, I’m sorry, I just, I really like her. And it’s new, but I want it to have a chance and that can’t happen if you’re mean to her.”

Puppy looked him up and down and Birdie fidgeted with her nails awkwardly.

“Luke’s warmed up to her.” Michael said.

“Because Birdie made him.”

“I don’t make Luke do anything.” Birdie quipped in for the first time.

“Puppy, please.” Michael said, reaching out a hand to her, “for me?”

Puppy groaned, grabbing Michael’s hand finally so he could squeeze it, “fine. But it’s not going to last.”

“Then it doesn’t last.” Michael shrugged.

Puppy searched his face, “I’ll be nice but I won’t be happy about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.” Michael smiled.

Puppy shrugged, “it’s not going to last.” she said again with complete certainty.

She was wrong.

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

(so this is just the start of their relationship. Dove and Michael will be back in the Harry fic that will also be dropping this week, its like 23+ K and features everyone from this AU so yeah :) )

[capybar]

Codeland: My First Conference

Let me tell you: it was an adventure. We need to start at the very beginning.

Arriving in NYC

I (last minute) bought tickets via Grayhound and booked a hotel to the New World Hotel. The Grayhound bus driver didn't accept my e-ticket so I had to dig around my phone for a printable receipt. I landed in Port Authority around 9.30pm on Sunday. But I didn't know how to use the subway and was too anxious to ask for help so I walked from there all the way to the hotel. Of course, my phone ran out of battery so I had to drop by a Duane Reid to purchase an emergency batter pack. The hotel wasn't obscenely far but I am poor with direction, thus I arrived at 11.30pm. The hotel reeked of cigarettes and there was an unkempt mattress propped against a wall along with hand towels strewn in random places. I checked in, got my keys and went to my (very small) room. The bed sheet was disgusting and there was a loud TV blasting the benefits of Chinese healing cream that could make you look significantly younger. I tried to go to sleep but couldn't because I felt super itchy. By 4.45am I gave up, checked out of the hotel and wandered around Bower St. looking for a place to shower. At 6am I stumbled into a YMCA. They were generous and because it was my first time there, let me shower for free. I almost passed out in the shower from sleep deprivation.

At the Conference

Finally after an hours' respite (thanks YMCA!), it was off to the conference! The line to the NYC Skirball was decently sized. Getting inside was easy. The conference was super well organized. I got a small pink tote bag that was filled with goodies (hey Flatiron, thanks for the battery pack). The breakfast was much needed. I was beyond thankful for Flatiron's lattes.

The beginning. talks had dancing-which made me really nervous (I didn't want people to see how visibly sleepy drunk I was).

Luna Malbroux's talk was hilarious. It reminded me of Starbucks' #racetogether movement (one question the Bux posed was: how many people did you eat with who wasn't the same race as you? And how often? Well my brother is a different race and I, a Chinese person, am surrounded by white people so this is often. However, this absolutely doesn't make me more #woke). I loved the fake app and everything about the talk.

Pedro Cruz's speech was inspiring. A lot of the programming hype is around the fat paychech or making beaufitulf design or having a snazzy "programmer" lifestyle, but I love how he talked about an existing problem and how he tried to solve it using existing technology. He's truly made a difference in Puerto Rico, moreso I can easily see his solution being used globally (it probly is). His DronAid tackled many problems, from recieving "Help" messages from people in need, to seeing what they actually needed, to making sure non profits weren't getting redundent information to creating a form of communicatlion between various groups.

I chose Raymond Camden's Real Person's Guide to Vue.js. I'm new to learning JavaScript (I only know HTML and CSS) but I've always wanted to know: why do people always talk about Vue, React and Angular? What's the big deal? Although this talk was aimed towards more advanced web developers (aka not COMPLETE noobies), I gained so much from this workshop (plus cats!! A lot of them!!). I learned how useful Vue could be for acquiring data and also allowing interactions between the user and the site. I've been able to go over his github and Codepen at a (much) slower pace to fully peice together the workshop.

The closing talks were very fun and entertaining. I loved Ali Spittal's talk about blogging (I'm going to try to put real effort). It is necessary for me to explain what I'm learning to someone so I can sort of figure out what I'm learning. It is also a good way to keep myself organized. Building a Gendered Dictionary and An Immigrant's Journey into Tech hit home with me as I think we should consider what we are doing and how they impact society.

Coding is a tool. It's what we do with it that matters.

I didn't go to the afterparty but next year, now that I know better how to plan my trip, I will!

[delightedcrow-deactivated]

Apptober Day 12

I have finally finished implementing my design in HTML and CSS! It’s been a long time since I’ve written CSS and I’m pretty pleased with how it went. Here’s a screenshot of my static code running from Wallberry (not in fullscreen mode obvs):

And here’s a fun IRL photo of Wallberry that’s kinda crap because my phone is very cranky about lighting:  

I’m digging it so far.

Done Being Basic

Now that I’ve finished teaching myself CSS+SASS basics with a static prototype I’m ready to start integrating it into MagicMirror2. I’ve been thinking for a while about how I want to do this because my designs are going to require some pretty extensive code changes and I want to be careful how I go about it. 

Here are the three main constraints I’m setting for myself:

Make it Easy to Update MM2 - I want it to be really easy to update MagicMirror from the original master branch anytime they publish fixes, so ideally most (if not all) of my theming will happen as an MM2 module that can be dropped in without modifying core MM2 code.

Easy to install theme from scratch - I also want it to be trivial to get a fresh install of MM2 + Wallberry Theme running in case anyone besides me (or let’s face it me three days from now) decides to download my theme and try it out. Gotta be careful not to code something irritatingly fiddly 😔

Still Plays nice with other MM2 Modules - Obviously I can’t guarantee this one with so many style changes, but I’m going to try and respect MM2 conventions as much as possible so that hypothetically other MM2 modules will still work and look good with my Wallberry theme.

Ok that sums up this post, join me next time and we’ll finally dive into some NodeJS goodness!

[pinkfairygsocdailylogs]

GSoC logs (June 5 –July 11)

July 5

DS Exam - 9:30AM.

Alternatives - If build not fixed by 8:30AM.

Reclone and commit all changes to new branch.

Get preview component done

Send the demo to mentors and then touch proto file.

Recloned. In the new clone, I made new changes. Everything works.

Turns out any write operation in the proto file is wrecking stuff. I navigated to the proto file in vscode and simply saved. This causes all the errors again.

Some import errors even though proto syntax are perfectly fine. Hmmm. protoc-gen-go: program not found or is not executable

I tried making the proto file executable with chmod +x. Still same issue. Hmmm.

That was stupid. Proto files aren’t supposed to be executable! -_- Where do I get these stupid ideas.

The error is actually referring to protoc-gen-go file. Saying that protoc-gen-go is not found or not executable. Not the proto file

I’m moving on to completing the preview component to send the demo before 7pm.

Preview component

Ipynb html. Axios get and render the htmlstring from response data in the iframe. Nop, v-html.

Serve html file from the http server for now.Wait, that's not possible.

Okay, maybe I should just use hello api for now. Since both request and response objects have string type properties.

This is embarrassing.

Okay, whatever.

Just fix this and look into it,

Okay, so I can’t represent an html string just like that as in python. With `` ..

Okay `` will do.

I’m starting to like golang. It looks ridiculous but also easy to understand? What’s going on?

July 6

Leads & Tries.

Try Samuel’s suggestion -

“Do you have protoc on your path?

sometimes VScode installs its own version of some tools on a custom $PATH - it could as well be that some extension is not properly initialized “

Interesting - I tried git diff on the proto file and this happens just by vscode saving it.

old mode 100644 new mode 100755

https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/450488

Changed back to 0644 and still the same issue in vscode.

Stupid girl, you just made the protofile executable yesterday and forgot to change it back. -_-

Read about makefile. Do as said. Annotations.proto forward slash path. ?? wtf?

Set gopath right! Permanently. !!! Okay, done. No need to set it everytime now. Hopefully.

Desperate attempts -

Edit proto file in atom. (Prepare to reclone ;_;)

Trying the same in vim ()

Text editor.

Okay, so nothing editor or ide specific.

Trying to change paths

Gopath was /home/anaswaratrajan/go .. changed it to /usr/local/go/bin

New error.

GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/golang/protobuf/protoc-gen-go github.com/golang/protobuf (download) package github.com/golang/protobuf/protoc-gen-go: mkdir /usr/local/go/bin/src: permission denied make: *** [Makefile:164: /usr/local/go/bin/bin/protoc-gen-go] Error 1

https://github.com/golang/go/issues/27187

sudo chown -R $USER: $HOME

Doesn’t feel right. But I just want this to get done. ;_;

The problem could be that I have multiple go distributions. After this is done, I need to clean this shit this weekend.

Okay, done chown. I own this shit!!! AAAa

Still permission denied! Shit. /usr/local/go not /usr/local/go/bin

Okay, changed it, but go env GOPATH echoing giving warning that GOROOT and GOPATH are same.

So from what I’ve read, gopath is the workspace, and goroot is the place where go is installed. Our makefile is trying to install and use the modules in GOPATH. Ie go dir in home. Okay, so my GOPATH was right before.

Final tries

* Follow the error trails. * Find out what exactly is happening when I save this file. 1. Okay, incase they don’t work out. Try to send the html string instead of “Hello ” string without changing proto file. 2. Since all ipynb files can have same css, try and send only the html elements. And do the css separately in frontend. 3. Stop Ctrl+Saving for no reason! Great, now I have to reclone ;_; and start over. 4. Okay, I was able to send a sample html string with the response. Without changin the proto file. 5. Here’s what I’m gonna do. 6. Send sample html string from hello service and render in the preview component. Pass the json string as name. Hahaha. Please, explain why you had to do the same. 7. I did exactly as above. I feel like an imposter now. Screw it. 8. Alright, I have my bigbang hyungs to support me. 9. I’m gonna embed python scripts by tonight. Update: that was overoptimistic. 10. So I have the nbconvert python script to generate basic html strings. 11. I should also remove those comments in the html. 12. So we’re using the less performance option since we don’t need much memory in the first place. Using python c api.

July 7

Learned one or 2 things about embedding python. https://github.com/ardanlabs/python-go/tree/master/py-in-mem

So I need python3.7. Bc go-python3 only supports python3.7. But there’s a workaround given. So I should try that

Tries

Go-python3 , python 3.8, workaround go get github.com/christian-korneck/go-python3 But a bunch of errors occurred.

Python 3.7 install

C-like usage from golang - low level stuff

https://blog.filippo.io/building-python-modules-with-go-1-5/ goodread. But that’s not what I need.

Let’s look at Ardan’s lab way.

https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog/2020/09/using-python-memory.html

This is a bit more challenging but more understandable.

This is the way.

I should start with this right after fixing the make issue.

Back to build fixing

Do as samuel suggested. - no luck.

What I know so far. The issue is rooted with golang or protobuf or sth related. Since the issue is there for all the text editors including vim.

I found sth weird -Which go => /usr/local/go/bin/goWhen it gives /usr/local/bin/go to this dude https://stackoverflow.com/a/67419012/13580063

Okay, not so weird.

The interview went okay. They use photogenometry to generate those 3d maps out of their drone imagery. Their products sound interesting. They need frontend engineers to work on their platform. The interface currently looks almost like google maps. But 3d. Cool. I actually used the phrase.. “..I’m still in my 20s.. Don’t wanna die.. So can’t move to Bengalore anytime soon”

Not photogenometry. Photogrammetry. Also used by some old mars rovers. Wait, no it was sth else. I remember Shreyansh mentioning it. I wonder what all they’re planning for the dragonfly.

Focus. It’s been some days with this issue, you should get help.

Asked around a bunch of people on discord. No luck.

July 8

Let’s dig in.

Tries

1. Reinstall golang#2. https://stackoverflow.com/a/67419012/13580063 ? Nop.#3. See protoc installation details. Read more about protoc, protobugs

https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/reference/go-generated#4. Read more about golang ecosystem - 30m and see if **which go **path is weird. 3. Also found this https://github.com/owncloud/ocis-hello/issues/62 Nop. 4. Let’s go with the error trails. 5. Wait, did I just graduate today. Oh no. Just like that. 6. Okay, grind.

Make generate is giving this.

GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/golang/protobuf/protoc-gen-go GO111MODULE=on go get -v github.com/micro/protoc-gen-micro/v2 GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/webhippie/protoc-gen-microweb GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2 protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --go_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc-gen-go: program not found or is not executable Please specify a program using absolute path or make sure the program is available in your PATH system variable --go_out: protoc-gen-go: Plugin failed with status code 1. make: *** [Makefile:176: pkg/proto/v0/hello.pb.go] Error 1

Then I try echo $GOPATH and It’s empty. go env GOPATH is right

So I set the GOPATH

export GOROOT=/usr/local/go export GOPATH=$HOME/go export GOBIN=$GOPATH/bin export PATH=$PATH:$GOROOT:$GOPATH:$GOBIN

Now, I get this

GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2 protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --go_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc-gen-go: invalid Go import path "proto" for "hello.proto" The import path must contain at least one forward slash ('/') character. See https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/reference/go-generated#package for more information. --go_out: protoc-gen-go: Plugin failed with status code 1. make: *** [Makefile:176: pkg/proto/v0/hello.pb.go] Error 1

Did this https://github.com/techschool/pcbook-go/issues/3#issuecomment-821860413 and the one below and started getting this```

GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2 protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --go_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --micro_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --microweb_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --swagger_out=logtostderr=true:pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc-gen-swagger: program not found or is not executable Please specify a program using absolute path or make sure the program is available in your PATH system variable --swagger_out: protoc-gen-swagger: Plugin failed with status code 1. make: *** [Makefile:194: pkg/proto/v0/hello.swagger.json] Error 1

July 9

Now trying to read this from the error https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/reference/go-generated#package

option go_package = "github.com/anaswaratrajan/ocis-jupyter/pkg/proto/v0;proto";

Tried this, new issue

GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2 protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --go_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --micro_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --microweb_out=pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc \ -I=third_party/ \ -I=pkg/proto/v0/ \ --swagger_out=logtostderr=true:pkg/proto/v0 hello.proto protoc-gen-swagger: program not found or is not executable Please specify a program using absolute path or make sure the program is available in your PATH system variable --swagger_out: protoc-gen-swagger: Plugin failed with status code 1. make: *** [Makefile:194: pkg/proto/v0/hello.swagger.json] Error 1

Okay, so proto-gen-swagger is not in gopath as expected. So this isn’t working.

$(GOPATH)/bin/protoc-gen-swagger: GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2

Instead of protoc-gen-swagger, there’s protoc-gen-openapiv2. So I replace protoc-gen-swagger from last line in the makefile to the executable in the path.https://grpc-ecosystem.github.io/grpc-gateway/docs/development/grpc-gateway_v2_migration_guide/

Turns out they rename protoc-gen-swagger to protoc-gen-openapiv2

Oooo.. I just found out, option go_package = "github.com/anaswaratrajan/ocis-jupyter/pkg/proto/v0;proto";

This just made things weird. New directory github.com/anaswa... inside proto/v0/

So go_package path is messed up.

Just replacing swagger binary names in makefile lets you generate the proto files at github.com/anas… dir

Let’s try fixing the go_package path and then try to generate the annotations.proto and the openapiv2 files (the grpc gateway files)

Wait, you don't generate them.

option go_package = "./;proto";

This is the right way.

So yea, I’m able to generate the go-code now. But make is still failing and I should sleep now.

July 11

Ownclouders already tried to work on it. But for some reason, they didn’t make the changes. Why?

Look into this. Why they didn’t continue doing this.

https://github.com/owncloud/ocis-hello/issues/91

So what exactly is micro-web service? This protoc-gen-microweb is a protoc generator for micro web services. And it's generating this hello.pb.web.go

What just happened? New error/ Make generate gives

`GO111MODULE=off go get -v github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/protoc-gen-openapiv2 go generate github.com/anaswaratrajan/ocis-jupyter/pkg/assets panic: No files found goroutine 1 [running]: main.main() /home/anaswaratrajan/go/pkg/mod/github.com/!unno!ted/fileb0x[@v1](https://tmblr.co/mkYynE1Axr-EFCSIQIAtheA).1.4/main.go:101 +0x2765 exit status 2 pkg/assets/assets.go:12: running "go": exit status 1 make: *** [Makefile:83: generate] Error 1

Read more about the protoc generators used here.

[black-and-white-macro]

The Black and White Macro Group

This post (which serves as the group homepage) is mirrored on Blogger, more or less, with some slight variation in wording being present for reasons of context. If you want to read all of this over there for some reason, you can do so.

This should all be reasonably self-explanatory, but history has taught me that it won’t be, so now I must waste the time of maybe 90% of my visitors in order to spare them the antics of the remaining 10% or something like that.

Yes, the group already exists. You can see the latest photos to be uploaded to it in the sidebar for this blog. I’m not even its founder, much less some fellow who is trying to get it going by adding it to a few rings. I inherited it while I was offline due to a move, with my computer boxed up. I unboxed my computer, logged in, read my system messages, went to what was now my group, and found that it had been buried in spam. That brings us to the following mini-rant.

“Black and White Photography” means “black and white and gray” … strict, pure grayscale … not “black and white and gray and a splash of some color the photographer felt like throwing in just to prove that nobody is the boss of him.” Having so much as a speck of non-gray in a photo submitted to the group, even in a personal watermark, is grounds for instant banning from the group. No, I’m not going to give warnings. We’re all adults, and adults shouldn’t need to be told to follow the rules that they have agreed to abide by.

A macro photo is a photo of something very (or at least fairly) small. The image is larger than the object seen, generally speaking much larger. These images take the viewer into a semi-hidden world that has long existed right in front of him, but which he has been too large to see. Zoom in shots of insects, the stamens of flowers, the fibers in a cloth … all of these are suitable subjects. Human beings, landscapes, the moon (and other celestial objects) are not, and so again, if somebody submits a photo of any of these to the group, he’ll be banned. If somebody then whines about that person’s banning, that person will be banned as well.

My, don’t I sound awful? But the fact is that I had to stay up late and lose a beautiful (and precious) summer day in Chicago because adults felt like acting like spoiled little children, and left behind a mess for me to clean up. It is now cleaned up and it will stay cleaned up. Photos must be approved before they appear in the pool, and applications to join the group must be approved as well.

Don’t worry too much about applying. I’m not really looking for reasons to exclude people. An empty photostream (or a nearly empty one) will probably get me to reject an application, but only temporarily, because I have to wonder if the account in question belongs to somebody who has already be banned. “Is this a troll’s or a spammer’s sock puppet?”, I’ll have to ask. But let the applicant come back later with this deficiency remedied, and I’ll probably let him in. I bear no ill will against the rejected applicant, I’m just trying to keep a pre-existing problem under control, and I hope most people understand that.

Aside from that, what is there to say? Yes. as you will see when you arrive in the group, there is a clear path back to the ring there, as there is on the microblogs on Tumblr and Blogger on which one can follow the group. I had to set up a homepage for the group because Flickr doesn’t let us use javascript and SSNB is javascript. The homepage for the group is a blog and not a conventional HTML site because the free homepage providers tend to be run by people who flake out on their users and delete sites without reason, and with ring memberships I’ve found that the constant relocations made necessary by that flaking out gets to be a nuisance for both the users and the ring managers alike. Yes, Webring offers webspace in theory, but the system failed to create webspace for my account when I set it up, and the bug in question is an old one which Webring has refused to fix, so that’s life. A regular homepage wasn’t an option, because system administrators were determined to be difficult and there’s nothing I can do about that.

Not that there isn’t a positive side to all of this. Blogs are great for people who snap photos. My camera is finally out of storage, Tumblr offers unlimited space (for all practical and non-abusive purposes), and the reverse sequential ordering of a blog means that visitors won’t have to do a lot of digging in order to find my latest work. The look and feel of the template is an attractive one, and I spend a lot less time coding this way. I won’t say that I’m completely satisfied with the situation as I have lost some creative freedom, but I’m not going to spend a lot of time sulking about this, either.

What else will be on this blog, other than this little bout of venting group homepage? I should put it to some real use, shouldn’t I? I’ll upload some black and white photos of my own. At first, they won’t be macro shots, because I’m still saving up for a macro lens and will be doing so for a while (being stuck below the poverty line), much as I once had to save up for that camera, but eventually I’ll have my lens. And a new camera, as I’m shooting digital at the moment on a camera to which I can’t attach lenses - or maybe I’ll find somebody who can fix my beloved semi-manual pentax, which has a not so beloved problem with the automatic rewind.

Aside from my own personal work, what will be seen? Comments about decisions I’ve made as a moderator, I suppose might be seen on this blog(if I feel they need to be made). If I come across articles, books or websites that I think might be of interest to the membership, I might post about them here. As for what else will be seen, that can be decided later. What won’t be seen on this blog are posted from the other members (except when I’m retumbling).

As much as I’d like to be able to use Tumblr as the home of the group blog, the developers would seem to have made a decision that (as far as I’m concerned) rules this site out as the home of our group blog. Look at the foot of this post, and you’ll see the problem - the system doesn’t sign our posts. There’s no way of seeing, just by looking at a post, who its author is, so while the Tumblr company staff might insist that Tumblr is a great place for group blogs, at this time I would have to disagree. To post to a group blog on Tumblr is to be given no credit for one’s work, and that is simply unacceptable. For that reason, I’ve put the group blog on Blogger, where this problem does not exist.

Ring managers should note that the ring code for this site is present on the group blog, as well, and is also present on the update notification microblog, with clear paths back, not just to the ring but to the entry page for the ring being present in all locations. Now that we’ve addressed every boring subject I can think of, let’s go to the group, where you soon should be able to shake off the experience of having read this.

[sleepingwithinkink2-0]

Sanctuary of paper and ink

It l is here your heart ,

lays outside your chest

To be admired by strangers

That don't understand the rhythm

Tearing off pieces of your skin

Digging the pen into your flesh

Writing

All the emotions you can't control,

In hopes if you lock them into the fibers,

You would better understand them.

Your dreams

Lay dissected,

In pictures,

In the silence

Codes and html

Hidden in plan sight..

Love that you wish ,

You had in the relationships,

That map out your life..

Quotes that define you,

Songs that you relate to.

Who you wish you were,

If your brain wasnt scattered

Stumbling into a hell,

You can't seem to escape,

An

angel,

With her wings clipped

By those that longed to keep you as a trophy

Like a hunter slaughtering an animal,

A number

Stuffed and add,

To share with his peers..

It is here your honest to yourself,

Subconsciously,

You created a treasure box

A time capsule

full pieces of you,

Who you were,

Who you become,

And

What you aspire to be.

To remember your journey,

What you went through..

It is here I pick up your pieces,

Like flowers

To save for you,

So one day you will see what I see,

You see a mess,

Of Carnage,

Scars

But I only see beauty..

-danny sheehan

07.11.20 3:35pm

[shinelumiere]

Went digging through my old Web 101 files trying to remind myself how to do .css and HTML in general and found the basic files the teacher used to help illustrate how you could change things in a web design.

I think he had fun sometimes though, using shocking color combinations, like the bright yellow highlighting over the bright red font, like in the last one, after I visibly flinched the first time he did it(I tend to sit as close to the front as possible in classes, even with my  prescription up to date my distance vision is garbage)

Unfortunately, being an ever changing language, some of the code doesn’t quite do what it once did.

[fictionalabyss]

Hey love, question for you. How do I make a master list? I've figured most of Tumblr out, but not that. I'm almost finished posting a 14 part piece, so I fell like I should start compiling stuff into a master list. Any help would be greatly appreciated! 😘

Okay, so I went beginning to end with this. It’s gonna be long, so it’s under a read more. I went from Series masterlist, all the way to main list. Hope you don’t mind.

STEP ONE

Okay, this is my series masterlist. Pretty simple. But, it’s how I do all my masterlists.

It’s nothing more than a text post.

I slap in the title, then choose a header / gif (cuz I dig those, you don’t have to.) And then I list the parts.

Once the parts are listed, I highlight them (excluding the punctuation, because I hate when the link carries to the next line when I add a new part) and I click the link button and add in the url to that particular part.

Once all is done, and I’m happy, I post. You can add tags to the bottom if you want, like you would for the series. I do on some, others I don’t, I really don’t know why. There’s no logic behind it what I do.

POST WHEN DONE.

STEP TWO

Same thing as above really, only now the links are to the masterlists you created for the series.

I separate mine based on how long they are. You don’t have to do that.

My one shots are separated by Word count (Drabble -100words. Flashfiction - 100-500. Short- 500-1000. Oneshot - 1000+.) Then Series all together.

If you just want to put all your stuff on one masterlist, and not separate everything by Character like I did, you can skip this step.

Pretends it’s not here. It won’t mind.

I just have over 100 Oneshots & Series that if I kept them all in one place, things would be hard to find.

POST WHEN DONE.

STEP THREE

THE MAIN MASTERLIST!

Again, this is a simple text post with a title, header (or gif or picture if you want) and a list of all the previous masterlists made.

As you can see, mine links to the character masterlists I made in step 2.

If you skipped step two, your masterlists from step one will be linked here.

It’s super easy once you get the hang of it, right?

POST WHEN DONE.

STEP FOUR.

Step four is getting your masterlist set up on your page. There will be a few pictures for this one.

Start by going to your edit appearance, then click Edit Theme.

If you want your link to appear in your description when mobile, then you need to add the link to your main masterlist here. You will need the HTML code for this.

< a href=“Url to masterlist here” > Masterlist < /a >

Just delete the spaces between the < and ‘a’ and then < and ‘/a’ and > . Add your URL.

Once you save, it should show up in your  description. If you are having trouble, just IM me. I’ll help you out.

If you want it to just be a page on your blog, with a link, This is where you go. Scroll on down and get to your pages.

Click on Add a page.

When you create the page, since you made it as posts like me :D, you want a redirect page.

That first link, is whatever you want to call that page when you add the link later on. I just went with /supernatural for my supernatural masterlist.

The second link, is the Redirect link. That’s where you put the URL to your main masterlist. Whenever someone types in that first url to their search bar, it will automatically re-direct to your masterlist post.

 Now save that. Don’t be alarmed if when you click “preview” it shows the screen like shown above. It does that. You can test it out in a new window to see if it works. It should.

If you have links available on your theme, this is how you get them on there.

Remember that first url you wrote on your redirect page you made? It goes in the blue arrow.

The purple arrow, the title, should be called whatever you want the link to be called on your page.  As you can see, mine is simply ‘Supernatural Masterlist’ and that’s what appeared in my links on the page.

When you hit preview, you should be able to see the changes. Again, if you need help, I can try and talk you through it if you message me.

Once you have it working, hit save, and you are done!

IF YOU DON’T HAVE LINKS AVILABLE ON YOUR THEME, OR YOU WANT IT IN YOUR DECRIPTION ON YOUR PAGE… You’re going to need that HTML code again.

Click that. Then go on the hunt for where your description code is. Oof, this can be annoying.

This is a picture of what mine looks like. As you can see, I added a bunch of stuff.

You’re might look different, Mine shows as a leftbar, because that is where mine is on my theme. Please Save your theme’s code to a note pad before you go rummaging in there JUST IN CASE.

I don’t really recommend doing this route if you’re new to all this.

NOTE!

if you don’t want to do the whole post thing, like I did, which I honestly find much easier. You can also make a page directly on blog itself.

I prefer the posts, because I can reblog either the individual masterlists, or the main one as a whole. You can’t if it’s a page on the blog, since it isn’t a post. BUT You can always still link it. So you’d be able to share it either way. I just like to reblog the list XD.

But if you want to do it that way, here’s a quick picture.

Create a page like I showed before, only this time, it’s a standard layout. Not a redirect page. Then it’s a simple matter of putting in the URL (just add on to the end, I only added the word supernatural in the image) Select a title for the page, then link away.

Preview will show you how it turns out, and when you’re happy, click save.

Then you go and add the page to the links section as shown before. Exactly like with the redirect post.

I hope this helped, and I hope my explanation wasn’t a total clusterfuck lol.

It’s easy for me, because I’ve been at this over a year now. If you need help, just shoot me an message and I’ll try and help you out :).I also hope these screenshots come out a decent size…

GOOD LUCK!

[suzanneshannon]

Digging Into the Preview Loading Animation in WordPress

WordPress shipped the Block Editor (aka Gutenberg) back in version 5.0 and with it came a snazzy new post preview screen that shows the WordPress logo drawing itself while the preview loads.

That's what you get when saving a post draft and clicking the "Preview" button in the editor. How'd they make it? I had a tough time viewing source for the page because the preview loads up pretty quickly, but I did see that SVG is being used for the WordPress logo. That's all I really needed because my mind instantly went back to something Chris wrote in 2014 that uses uses the stroke-dasharray and stroke-dashoffset properties to create the same effect.

This is the example Chris shared in that post:

See the Pen bGyoz by Chris Coyier (@chriscoyier) on CodePen.

I've since been able to get my hands on the CSS to confirm that the WordPress drawing is indeed using the same technique, but I'll share how my mind broke things out while I was trying to reverse-engineer it.

We're working with a straight-up inlined SVG

The neat thing about the WordPress version is that we're working with two SVG paths instead of one. That means we have two parts that appear to be drawing at the same time. Here's the SVG which is inlined in the HTML. We've got that "Generating preview" text as well, which can live outside the SVG.

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 96 96" role="img" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path d="M48 12c19.9 0 36 16.1 36 36S67.9 84 48 84 12 67.9 12 48s16.1-36 36-36" fill="none"></path> <path d="M69.5 46.4c0-3.9-1.4-6.7-2.6-8.8-1.6-2.6-3.1-4.9-3.1-7.5 0-2.9 2.2-5.7 5.4-5.7h.4C63.9 19.2 56.4 16 48 16c-11.2 0-21 5.7-26.7 14.4h2.1c3.3 0 8.5-.4 8.5-.4 1.7-.1 1.9 2.4.2 2.6 0 0-1.7.2-3.7.3L40 67.5l7-20.9L42 33c-1.7-.1-3.3-.3-3.3-.3-1.7-.1-1.5-2.7.2-2.6 0 0 5.3.4 8.4.4 3.3 0 8.5-.4 8.5-.4 1.7-.1 1.9 2.4.2 2.6 0 0-1.7.2-3.7.3l11.5 34.3 3.3-10.4c1.6-4.5 2.4-7.8 2.4-10.5zM16.1 48c0 12.6 7.3 23.5 18 28.7L18.8 35c-1.7 4-2.7 8.4-2.7 13zm32.5 2.8L39 78.6c2.9.8 5.9 1.3 9 1.3 3.7 0 7.3-.6 10.6-1.8-.1-.1-.2-.3-.2-.4l-9.8-26.9zM76.2 36c0 3.2-.6 6.9-2.4 11.4L64 75.6c9.5-5.5 15.9-15.8 15.9-27.6 0-5.5-1.4-10.8-3.9-15.3.1 1 .2 2.1.2 3.3z" fill="none"></path> </svg> <p>Generating preview...</p>

The first path is an ellipse that acts as a border around the second path, which is the shape of the WordPress logo. It's probably a good idea to give each path a class — especially if this isn't the only element on the page — but I decided to leave things class-less since this is the only element in the demo. We can select both paths together in CSS or use pseudo-selectors (e.g. path:nth-child(2)) to select them individually in this instance.

There are a few other housekeeping things happening in there. For example, the SVG gets attributes to make it more accessible, such as identifying it as an image, hiding it from screen readers, and preventing it from being focused.

We need to lightly style the SVG

Very, very light styling. We need a stroke since there is no fill color on the paths. Otherwise we'll be looking at a whole lot of nothing. Well, an invisible shape, but essentially a nothing burger.

svg { stroke: #555; stroke-width: 0.5; width: 250px; }

That gives us the outline for both paths. The nice thing about the stroke-width property is that it accepts decimal values, so we get to make the lines a little thinner. The drawing sorta looks like it's drawn in pencil that way.

The width is pretty arbitrary here, but it's important because the stroke-dasharray and stroke-dashoffset properties we'll be working with rely on it. If those property values are smaller than the size of the SVG, then the drawing will stop short of completing. If it's too large, then the speed of the drawing becomes too fast.

Now that we know our width and can see the path strokes, we can set stroke-dasharray and stroke-dashoffset accordingly.

svg path { stroke-dasharray: 300; stroke-dashoffset: 300; }

A little larger than the SVG and lots of space between the dashes, which should be just about right. Those values can be adjusted to tailor the animation to your liking.

The rest is merely using Chris' technique

The drawing is a CSS animation using one keyframe. If we start the stroke-dashoffset at zero, then the paths will be invisible on initial load and grow to the 300 value we set earlier when the animation reaches 100%. Again, we set the offset at 300 so that the stroke dashes and the spaces between them will extend beyond the SVG to cover the entire thing.

All the magic is a mere five lines of code:

@keyframes draw { 0% { stroke-dashoffset: 0; } }

Name the animation whatever you'd like. We can get away with only defining the animation at 0% since 100% is implicit.

Oh! And we've gotta attach the animation to the paths, so:

svg path { animation: draw 2s ease-out infinite alternate; stroke-dasharray: 300; stroke-dashoffset: 300; }

You can definitely tweak those values as well to speed thing up or down. Easing gives the animation that slight pulsing effect where it starts and ends a little slower than the middle of the movement.

All together now!

See the Pen WordPress Preview Loading State by Geoff Graham (@geoffgraham) on CodePen.

I mentioned it earlier, but I was eventually able to snatch the source code from the actual implementation and it's pretty darn close, using the same principles.

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