#internal working model in the gutter

[bueris]

do you guys think kaiser ever conflated violence as closeness on some level

[bittenfawn]

Velvet Angels

chapter three

previous chapter

fashion industry matz au

‼️: explicit dialogue and enemies to lovers

authors note: i’m keeping y’all fed! this might be the last chapter for a while since I’m trying to focus on school

Café Aurelia didn’t just serve brunch.

It served the affluent

Nestled above a unique bookstore in Tribeca, the entrance was understated, marked only by a modest copper plaque. The hostess resembled a Celine model, radiating effortless elegance. Inside, the ambiance blended brutalist chic with raw concrete walls and muted tones. Smoked glass tables reflected the dim lighting, while the oddly designed chairs complemented the overall aesthetic, each piece uniquely contributing to the striking atmosphere.

Hongjoong was meeting his best friend, Kang Yeosang, whom he also worked with, for brunch since Yeosang was going to be in New York for fashion week. Yeosang is currently the creative director for the Japanese fashion house Comme des Garçons and runs a critically acclaimed fashion blog.

Yeosang, of course, had made the reservation two weeks in advance. He was always very meticulous when planning, especially during fashion week. Being in the fashion world and doing anything around fashion week is stressful for everybody involved: the models, creative directors, and designers. You’ll be lucky if you have at least 15 minutes to breathe. Luckily for Yeosang he was always going to make time for himself no matter what.

The smell of espresso wafted through the café as Hongjoong stirred his oat milk latte with more aggression than necessary. The rings on his fingers clicked against the ceramic like a housewife being slowly pushed to her breaking point.

Yeosang watched him from across the table, his Saint Laurent sunglasses perched low on his nose and a perfectly tailored cream-colored trench coat draped over his seat.

“You gonna keep abusing that latte, or will you tell me what happened last night?” Yeosang said as he added pomegranate seeds to his açaí bowl.

Hongjoong paused his aggressive stirring, sipping his latte, eyes glittering over the rim of the glass.

“Park Seongwha happened.” Hongjoong said with a slight smirk.

Yeosang smirked slightly

“Before your mind goes to the gutter. I didn’t sleep with him, but we exchanged words.”

“He got in my face like he was trying to intimidate me, but something was off. It was almost like he was staring at me in a way that didn’t feel like he was gonna murder me. It felt different, like he had something else in mind but couldn’t admit it to himself. It was almost like he was checking me out, which is a crazy thing to say”. Hongjoong admitted as he slowly started to cut his pancakes.

“But what did you say exactly? Because if we’re being honest, Seongwha wouldn’t touch you with a 10-foot pole, even if he was the last man on earth.” Yeosang said, knowing damn well Hongjoong was pushing Seongwha’s buttons last night.

Before Hongjoong could speak, his mind replayed the phrase that had stuck with him after Seongwha had spoken to him.

“Let me know when your talent catches up to your ego.”

“I told you he got on my face, but when he did, he hesitated, like I said. When he finally came to a sense, he told me to let me know when your talent caught up to your ego, so I told him he wasn’t as composed as he thought he was.”

“There it is. You tripped him up, which is why he stormed out. Some Vogue intern said that Seongwha left because he wasn’t feeling well, but what I think it was is that you got so under his skin he either left because he knew if he kissed you, it would ruin his reputation, or he was actually pissed and went home. Still, I doubt he would ever miss a party like that with all those connections there. So it could be a toss-up.” Yeosang admitted as he bit into his granola.

“Well, I can’t confirm or deny any of these things or at least see what he’s doing because he has blocked me on everything LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, even fucking Pinterest; who the fuck blocks people on Pinterest? I didn’t even think that was possible. I’ve been blocked since the Paris 2019 internship.” Hongjoong rolled his eyes in slight annoyance.

Yeosang blinked. “Who blocks people on Pinterest?”

“Someone petty.” Hongjoong said sipping his coffee

“Someone hurt.” Yeosang snickers

“We were both interns under the same director in Paris. He was the golden boy, natural born talent, who went to one of the most affluent fashion schools in New York and had multiple international internships in Milan, Korea, and Japan.”

“I was a self-made designer. I didn’t attend a fashion school; I went to college for Journalism. They preferred my stylistic choices compared to him. It was obvious he was jealous. He thought I was too cocky.”

“Then we got invited to a Paris party, and I flirted with his boyfriend, who wasn’t that loyal anyway. He told me he wasn’t dating anybody and Just blocked me across every platform like I committed a felony.”

Hongjoong explains as he looks back down at his half eaten pancakes then back at Yeosang trying to collect this thoughts.

“You did. You flirted with the guy's boyfriend. You are just like Ariana Grande and not beating the homewrecker allegations.” Yeosang mentioned, slowly sipping his matcha, giving Hongjoong a slightly judging look.

Hongjoong groaned, tipping back his latte like it was a shot.

“I can get his number,” Yeosang offered casually.

Hongjoong ears perked up slightly looking at Yeosang

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. You know the Margiela fashion show that’s happening today. A little birdie told me Seonghwa would be sitting in front of the front door with fashion influencer and best friend Jeong Yunho, who coincidentally is Song Mingi’s boyfriend, one of the highest-paid male models.

“I have connections everywhere, and I know one person on his PR team who owes me a favor. I got him and his boyfriend into the Dior show last year. That’s how she started working for him. I practically gave him a job. He desperately needed one.”

Hongjoong looked at Yeosang afraid but also weirdly impressed.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I should be scared or impressed, so I’m just going to take your word for it.”

Yeosang giggled before reaching out to hold Hongjoong’s hand

“It's called the fashion industry, honey.”

TIME SKIP - MASON MARGIELA PRE SHOW

Seongwha sat in the front row, dressed like a ghost who haunts a beautiful abandoned castle on the outskirts of a European country. He was dressed in custom Maison Margiela: an oversized ivory sweater, pure white shorts, and two white garter belts with pearl embellishments. He also wore thigh-high boots with a pointy stiletto heel.

Every detail was calculated, even his makeup, which was perfect. His lips were a nice pinky hue with a slight shimmer, and his skin was like porcelain. He smelled like vanilla and sandalwood, and honestly, he was the best-dressed person in the room. 

He sat like he was on trial, back straight, legs crossed, one perfectly manicured hand resting delicately over his knee.

To anyone he would look composed like he couldn’t be touched, but on the inside, he was nervous, nauseous wreck praying to God that nothing went bad today because mentally after what happened last night, he couldn’t take seeing anything pertaining to Hongjoong

He was here to help support Mingi. Yunho invited him along, saying it would be fun, and since the fashion show landed on one of his off days, how could he say no? All he knew was that he would be sitting in the front row with them since they were huge topics in the fashion world. They deserve a front seat. He saw his colleagues around, but no Hongjoong, and in his personal opinion, that was a good thing this day was all about supporting Mingi, but he couldn’t help but feel something was off.

Yunho was doomscrolling on his phone when he noticed how quiet Seongwha was as he sipped his champagne. He noticed Seongwha’s eyes were glued to the entrance of the show like he was waiting for something

“Earth to Seongwha…yoohooooo…” Yunho said tapping his friends thigh.

Seongwha flinched as he was snapped out of his disassociation. He looked at Yunho, flashing a small smile to try to cover up his uneasy feelings.

“You good?” Yunho asked, staring at Seongwha. He knew something was bothering him because, by now, Seongwha would be gossiping to him about some of the attendees' outfits

Seonghwa looked over at Yunho with a fake reassurance

“Yeah why wouldn’t I be”

“I only ask because we’ve been here for 20 minutes, and you haven’t commented on any of these attendee's outfits. Two days ago at the Isabel Marant show, we weren’t even there for 10 minutes, and you whispered in my ear that the guy who was letting people needed to be executed by firing squad because his outfit was so visually horrifying. It could make Victorian orphans cry, and they had to deal with the plague.”

Yunho said, looking at Seongwha's eyebrows slightly raised

“First of all, that outfit was so hideous that it caused me emotional distress. I had to get a facial afterward and push back so many meetings because I had to take an hour for my mental health. Secondly, what if I’m trying to change and turn over a new leaf, and maybe I’m just trying to be a better person and not judge people who can’t properly dress themselves.”

Seongwha exclaimed, looking back over at his dark haired friend, who is giving him the nastiest side eye

“Right….. so you just decided not to be turnover a new leaf and stop being a judgmental cunt… right what did I tell you about gaslighting me? What is this about? Is this about Hongjoong?”

Yunho’s voice was dipped in honey-coded sarcasm as his dark eyes stared into Seongwha’s soul like some creepy doll you would only see out of a Goosebumps novel

“I’m going to tell you something, and you have to promise not to freak out or make any visceral reaction because if you do, I will kill you then myself…. Got it?”

Seongwha said his voice lower than a whisper.

Yunho looked at him with a perplexed expression but was ultimately agreeing as he takes a sip of his champagne.

Seongwha took a deep breath in. He could feel his stomach doing cartwheels. He was gonna take this to the grave, but he knew he couldn’t lie to Yunho; even if he did lie, Yunho was gonna find out eventually and bitch at him for not telling him

“so…I may or may not have jacked off to the thought of Hongjoong after I left the Off-white party last night.”

Seongwha quickly whispered before sipping his champagne with quickness feeling the embarrassment from his activities last night rush over him like a tidal wave

Yunho chokes slightly on his champagne looking wide eyed at Seongwha

“Excuse me?! You what?!”

Yunho stared at his friend with slight disgust and pure shock. He didn’t think Seongwha could be that desperate, but I guess you learn something new daily. 

Seonghwa shifted in his seat, staring into the ether. He could feel Yunho’s disgust and curiosity brewing off of him.

“Let me get this straight, and please correct me if I’m wrong. This is a new low for you. I didn’t even think you were capable of doing this. So you went home, threw your coat on the floor, and jerked off to Kim fucking Hongjoong?”

Yunho said with pure shock, trembling in his voice, but deep down, this was more ammo for him to see Seongwha about.

“This was something I was gonna take to the grave. I didn’t say it was romantic!”

Seonghwa snapped, cheeks tinged pink. As threw back the rest of his champagne like a shot of expensive vodka

“It was deranged. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he looked at me, like he wanted to fuck me or kill me.

“Unfortunately, as this was the quickest orgasm I ever had. Three minutes of pure embarrassment that now is probably going to haunt me until I die.”

Yunho’s mouth was wide open in utter disbelief. The words coming out of Seongwha’s mouth were short, circuiting his brain. But on the one hand, he wasn’t surprised, but on the other hand, he was surprised. His friend did something out of desperation and thought with his dick instead of the different emotions in his body.

“Oh my God. For some reason, I’m very proud of you because, at that moment, you didn’t think about your clean-cut image; all you saw was how good Hongjoong would feel touching your skin. On the other hand, I was very disgusted, but I knew this was gonna happen eventually. If I’m honest, I was making bets. I owe him $10 now.”

Yunho admitted looking at Seongwha patting his shoulder

“Wait? Did you make bets with Mingi about Hongjoong and me?

Yunho nodded slowly looking at Seongwha with a slightly innocent smile

Seongwha rolled his eyes before continuing his statement

“You know what? I will unpack that later… I’m just hoping he doesn’t show up at this event. Because if he does, I’m either going to vomit or avoid him more than I already do.”

Yunho whistled. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I still hate him, though. He’s still a cocky bastard who thinks he’s better than everybody else. This was a one-time thing—a fluke at best.”

Seongwha says pulling out a compact from his purse fixing his lipgloss and hair

“You need therapy.” Yunho said playfully rolling his eyes

“Yunho darling… you’re my therapist and my best friend. Why would I talk to some stranger about my problems when I have you?”

Seongwha mentioned as he finished primping in his compact, looking over at Yunho

“Well, as your therapist, I would say talk out your feelings and try to accept that you might like him or, if this was a one-time thing, just let it go. Things happen, but as your best friend, I would say hit on him and see what happens. I mean, you’re young. You’re hot. You’re one of the most influential people in the world right now, and you’re fresh off of a new relationship. You need something just as hot and someone willing to challenge you mentally and physically. Maybe you should unblock him. You have had him blocked since 2019.”

Yunho mentioned this as he looked at Seongwha with a knowing look before drinking his champagne slowly.

Seongwha sighed, looking over at Yunho, trying to collect his thoughts to figure out what to say. Because his mind was racing a mile a minute, he didn’t know how to respond, let alone what the next steps would be for him. Before he could answer, his eyes shifted back to the front door, and he saw the flash of the paparazzi camera taking a picture of someone.

“Hongjoong and Yeosang over here!” a photographer shouted, snapping a photo of the pair

“you gotta be fucking kidding me,” Seongwha snarled

“You both are the hottest things out right now, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he got invited here. Plus, you both work in a competitive industry. You guys are tied together with a red invisible string just because you work in this industry.”

Yunho said looking at Seongwha who was practically sweating and fuming all at once

“I need more champagne. If I get drunk, maybe I can flush out any emotions I have currently. And also, by the way, I’m not unblocking him. I don’t care how badly you think I need to get fucked.”

Seongwha said bitterly before flagging down a server to top off his champagne

“It’s going to be a long day..” Yunho mumbles under his breath.

MEANWHILE: BACKSTAGE OF THE FASHION SHOW

Yeosang never rushed. He didn’t need to. When you were truly known in the right corners of fashion, people answered your emails and whispered your name with reverence. He knew casting directors, assistant editors, photographers who owed him favors, and PR managers who still flirted with him over email.

one of them happened to work for Park Seonghwa’s brand.

He slipped past the clothing racks, weaving through the crowd of stylists and beautifully dressed models with practiced ease. He spotted his contact, Wooyoung. Seonghwa’s digital content liaison tapping through photos on a tablet.

“Wooyoung” Yeosang greeted, voice buttery smooth

“You’re everywhere these days.”

Wooyoung looked up and lit up. “Yeosang? I didn’t know you were going to be at this show. How are you, my love.”

“I came with Hongjoong. Do you know how much I love Margiela? They’re like one of my closet staples. I couldn’t miss this for the world.”

“I was coming back here to talk to you about Seongwha. I assume he’s somewhere around the venue since you're back here. Could you give me his phone number? I got a new phone, and I lost all my contacts. I’m slowly trying to get them back, you know.”

Yeosang smiled softly looking at Wooyoung innocently

Wooyoung didn’t even question it. He quickly scrolled through his phone, finding Seongwha’s number and scribbling it down on the back of a blank tag, handing it to Yeosang

“So that you know, he’s not the best Texter. He takes about 12 business days to respond. If you need to contact him, try calling, but I should get back to work. The show is about to start. If you’re going to be in the audience, make sure to grab your seat.”

Wooyoung smiled before turning away to focus on wrangling the models and getting backstage photos.

“It's like taking candy from a baby,” Yeosang said, pocketing the number and making his way to Hongjoong.

As Yeosang made it back to the main room, he opened Hongjoong’s hand, slipping the number into his hands and clasping them tightly.

“don’t say I didn’t do anything for you. Let’s go find our seats.”

Yeosang slithered away, finding their seats. Hongjoong slowly followed behind, looking at Seongwha’s number in his hand as if it were some rare artifact that had come into his possession. He quickly pocketed it in his inner coat pocket, where he kept his cigarettes.

Hongjoong found his seat, which was on the opposite side of the front row but still front row. He had a clear view of the runway and also one of the perfect views in the house of Seongwha.

The lights dimmed beautifully, and certain shadows cascaded off the walls, while others were enhanced by the bright light that flashed on after the leading lights dimmed at that moment. Everything felt still. Everyone in this room was about to witness art being made and showcased

Seongwha looked up from his lap to get ready to watch the runway. But he felt deep inside that he wouldn’t focus on that tonight. When he looked up, he saw someone staring back at him like they were looking through a mirror.

Kim Hongjoong….

“God save me…” Seongwha prayed internally before quickly facing his attention to the runway and the sounds of expensive heels clomping down the marble

[domocleaning1]

The Best Cleaning Services in Sydney

When you’re busy juggling work and family commitments, best cleaning services Sydney your home can take a back seat. Fortunately, there are professional house cleaners available to help with your responsibilities.

Maid2foryou offers flexible cleaning services that cater to the unique needs of your home. They also provide a transparent pricing model and an online booking system that lets you book a service with confidence.

Absolute Domestics

Absolute Domestics is Australia’s largest agency for home cleaners and has a rigorous vetting process to ensure their clients receive the highest quality service. They are available throughout the country and provide a flexible service to meet your needs. Their services include a deep clean, spring cleaning, and laundry.

I was very happy with my cleaner, she did a fantastic job and had a lovely nature. She even came around before her first cleaning to have a chat and get acquainted with my home.

I would definitely recommend her! I also loved how easy it was to book with AD. They made quick contact and always follow up after a clean to make sure you are happy.

Urban Company

Urban Company is an online platform that connects customers with service professionals to book reliable home services. Its platform allows customers to find and hire premium service professionals, from beauticians to masseurs to sofa cleaners. Its technology, powered by predictive engines, matches customers with qualified professionals for scheduled services.

The company also uses technology to improve internal operations, including scheduling and inventory management. Its systems track everything from cosmetics to spare parts to ensure that service professionals have the supplies they need for each job.

In addition, the company offers a subscription model for service professionals to increase visibility and access new opportunities. This helps them maintain steady revenue in different market conditions.

Fantastic Cleaners

Fantastic Cleaners are an established name in Sydney’s cleaning industry, renowned for holistic services and a top-tier experience. Their extensive offerings range from standard carpet steaming to intricate tile & grout cleaning, and even specialised flood restoration.

Customer testimonials consistently laud the professionalism of the team and their impressive cleaning skills. For example, one client highlighted Ray’s punctuality and communication prowess, while another commended his transformational cleaning of their cream couch.

Other highlights include the thoroughness of their gutter cleaning service, and a dedication to transparency that ensures transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Their clients can choose from weekly, fortnightly or one-off cleaning services.

Simply Maid

Rated #1 by customers, Simply Maid is one of the most trustworthy cleaning services in Sydney. They are known for their attention to detail and work hard to leave your house looking brand new after every clean.

They also perform thorough background checks on all of their employees, ensuring your safety and privacy. This, combined with their 200% happiness guarantee, makes them a top choice for home cleaning services in Sydney.

The company also uses eco-friendly cleaning products, which appeals to a growing segment of environmentally conscious clients. They offer a variety of services, including regular house cleaning and move-in/move-out cleanings. They can even tackle the dirt and grime left by construction or renovations.

Maid2Go

Maid2Go is a premier cleaning service in Sydney, praised for its exceptional attention to detail and customer satisfaction. Its clients are often amazed at the transformative effects of its services, describing how they return home to immaculate, stress-free living spaces. The company also prioritises pet safety by using eco-friendly, animal-safe cleaning products.

The company’s streamlined instant quote and booking process allows homeowners to make their cleaning service bookings easily and quickly. Moreover, the company’s transparent pricing ensures customers are aware of what they’re paying for. The company offers a range of services including regular one off cleans, recurring cleans, deep spring cleans, move in/out, and end of lease cleaning.

Maid2Match

Maid2Match is a Brisbane-based online cleaning service that connects customers with local certified cleaners. Its user-friendly platform makes booking a cleaning easy and convenient, allowing customers to book services on-demand or on a regular basis with just two clicks. It offers a range of options, including hourly rate cleaning (ideal for specific areas) and flat rate cleaning (where your cleaner works through a detailed checklist). Additional services can be added at the time of booking, such as interior windows, oven clean, a load of laundry, and even a full refrigerator clean. All cleaners are thoroughly vetted and background checked, and use environmentally friendly products.

[safewash-tech]

Tips To Select The Best Pressure Washers in Stamford, Queens, White Plains, And Nassau

Cleaning is a task that cannot be avoided. Scrubbing away at stubborn stains, greases, and powerfully rooted weeds can result in too much time consumption along with labor. Again, one must keep the self-owned vehicles cleaned and sanitized at all times. All of these and more can be done quickly by purchasing one of the top-quality pressure washers in Stamford, Queens, White Plains, and Nassau.

It helps to check the related facts and be aware of what such a washer can do for the user. Moreover, understanding the subtle differences between a power and a pressure washer is imperative, too. Apart from being the proud possession of a resident, the washer can become invaluable for contractors working on construction sites, too. Industrial settings often require thorough cleaning, with the last remnants of chemicals and hard substances eliminated without tiling too hard.

A homeowner is sure to question the versatility of the pressure washer before spending money. It is pleasing to know that the jets of water can enable one to have the following clean within minutes:-

· Paths And Driveways

· Terraces, Garages And Flooring Installed Outdoors

· Removal Of Mold, Weeds, Moss From Internal Walls, Garden Area, and Floors

· External Walls and/or Windows

· All Vehicles Including Cars, Motorcycles, Trailers, Scooters, Boats and Bicycles

· Garden Furniture, as well as Lampposts, Fencing, and Railings

· Gardening Tools And Other Equipment

· Unclogging Gutters And Downspouts That May Be Obstructed with various contaminants

Finding the right pressure washer suited to one’s purposes is not a challenge, though. The best way to buy the right product is to consider the following:-

· Hot or cold water operation- It is preferable to opt for hot water operations when one needs a heavy-duty washer to remove stubborn dirt, including grease and oil, from the surface. There is no requirement to use a separate heater to heat the water. Instead, the washers come with a heating element that brings the water to the requisite temperature. On the contrary, the cold water pressure washers may be washed in residential areas. It is interesting to note that one may also operate them with heated water

· Load Capacity

· Pressure- the pressure washer is available in a wide variety with its PSI ratings ranging from 1300 PSI to 4200 PSI. The user must choose according to the necessity

· Fuel supply- One may use either gasoline or diesel to power the pressure washer. The latter is used for heavy-duty cleaning with suitable pressure washers

· Comfort- It is best to check and inquire about the basics of using the device before buying it. One must be able to operate it comfortably without feeling tired. The tips & tricks of operating it without stress may be discussed with the technician before turning it on for the first time

· Available accessories-There are several accessories available for pressure washer models to ensure quick and effective operations. One may thus buy guns, lances, and diverse nozzles to clean thoroughly

The intended user may look at different models when trying to find the best pressure washers in Stamford, Queens, White Plains, and Nassau. Selecting a Karcher product is recommended by most cleaning experts.

[infjtarot]

Wheel of Change. Weiser Waite Smith Tarot

The Wheel of Fortune depicts just that: a large, spinning wheel. Some cards show the wheel with figures being tossed off as it turns; others show no people on the card at all, to depict our lack of control over it. Some cards show four figures in the corners, representing the four authors of the Gospels. The Wheel of Fortune is about fate, about the things we cannot control, and about luck—both good and bad. It is where our free will ends. It reminds us that while we might be on top of the world now, things can change, and we can always end up in the gutter. And if we are in the gutter, it reminds us that it is possible for things to improve. It is the number ten. We have absolutely zero control over so much of our lives and our careers, and that is indicated by the Wheel of Fortune. Herman Melville and Vincent van Gogh were geniuses, but no one recognized that until after they were long dead; others are mediocre at best, but they seem to get all of the good jobs and attention because they knew the right people or were born into the right family. We can call it fate, luck, coincidence, but whatever the mechanism is, it’s beyond our control. And so the Wheel of Fortune asks us to contemplate the divide between our sense of free will and our “fate”—and fate here just means everything that is immune to our will, that we can’t force. There are demands on your time, there are circumstances such as your financial situation and your home life, and much of that is nonnegotiable. How you respond to those circumstances, though, has to do with your sense of free will. All you have today is fifty-eight cents, an orange, and some pencils: What can you do with that? Today you have forty minutes between coming home from work and the moment your children return from school: What can you do with that? The rest of it you have to get over. You can build up a lot of bitterness about the unfairness of life. Yes, life is unfair. No, we do not live in a meritocracy. You can be brilliant and never see the rewards of that. You read these stories all the time about models who are discovered at the grocery store by agents and are whisked off to become international superstars.

The singer Tim Booth was discovered not for his singing but because of the way he was dancing at a club. As a result, he came to front the British pop band James, which became wildly successful in the 1990s. These little coincidences and accidents of fate can drive you mad if you are not the beneficiary of them. It’s not like you can troll grocery stores forever, sucking in your cheeks and posing nonchalantly, hoping an agent will pass by. Eventually you’re going to have to buy something or they’ll ask you to leave. The only thing you can really do is concentrate on what is within your control. You can push the boundaries of that by doing all of the things you are supposed to do, such as learning to network and joining up with peers to share stories and tips. You can also help out others in need. Are you a writer with a lot of brilliant friends who can’t seem to get published? Pool your resources and start a small publishing company. Want to use your artistic skills, but no one will ask? There are public art projects, there are nonprofits for disadvantaged children that would probably love an art instructor, and so on. There is an element of karma at play with this card. Not in the sense that if you are super good you will be rewarded for it. (See above regarding the bad news of not living in a meritocracy.) It’s how you choose to respond to circumstances and limitations that will define you as a person. So you can grumble softly to yourself all day long about how you are an undiscovered genius, why can’t anyone see that, and you can yell at your television when someone less talented than you is being given some big prize. Or you can use that energy for something creative rather than something destructive. RECOMMENDED MATERIALS Moby-Dick, book by Herman Melville Sunflowers, painting by Vincent van Gogh “Sit Down,” recording by James Jessa Crispin

[dirty-jammies]

Coffee (Viktor x Chubby!GN!Reader)

(Heyo! I'm back with a fluffy and smutty Viktor fic~ I hope you all enjoy! I'm also looking for ideas so if you have any prompts, imagines, or scenarios, send em over!)

~❤️☕️❤️~

“You didn’t have to walk me back.”

“It’s no trouble, I should stretch my legs from time to time.”

You and Viktor walked down the dark, empty halls of the Academy dormitories, the sun having long since set.

As you turned down your dorms’ hallway, you wished you could spend more time with Viktor. Since your time apprenticing under the two founding fathers of Hextech, you’ve grown very close with the lanky scientist. Colleague turned to friend, turned to close friend, turned into inevitable crush. You couldn’t help glancing up at him out of the corner of your eye. Illuminated by the moonlight through the large windows, his handsome face looked stalwartly ahead, angular and statuesque. Oh, how you hoped he would someday look at you with the same affection and awe. You looked away before he could turn those warm, honey-brown eyes towards you.

“I really must commend you,” Viktor’s gentle, accented voice drifted to your ears, “you have made truly remarkable progress these past weeks.”

You flushed lightly at the praise and held your notebook tighter to your chest, “Thank you, sir.”

“No need to thank me,” Viktor’s warm chuckle made affection swell in your chest, “You are a model student. I’m glad I could have you apprentice under me.”

The last two words, spoken in that ridiculously attractive accent, sent your mind straight into the gutter, and you internally struggled to clean up your dirty thoughts.

As you finally came up to your dorm room door, you frowned. You knew that Viktor would be heading back to the lab, always prioritizing work over rest. You could see his eyes were tired, but they still retained that spark of curiosity. They regarded you gently, and your heart ached for him. You had to keep him a while longer.

“Would,” your voice caught in your throat and you tried again, stronger, “would you like to… come in for a bit, sir?” You rubbed your notebook with your thumb nervously, “I can make you some coffee.”

“Coffee?” Viktor hummed, “That… sounds nice. I could certainly use a cup.” He smiled, fatigue mixed with happiness clear on his face.

You smiled in return and unlocked your dorm, turning on the main room’s lights. Your dormitory was Academy standard, with a main room with two sofas, some bookshelves, and a coffee table (several potted plants and flowers you added for colour grew wildly near your large bay window overlooking Piltover). Off to the side was a doorway leading to a small kitchen and dining area, and near the back of the room was the closed doorway leading to your bedroom and ensuite bathroom.

You removed your uniform jacket and hung it up on a hook next to the front door, “Please, make yourself at home!” you chirped and gestured to the couches. You set your notebook down on the small coffee table between the two sofas and made your way to the kitchen.

You took a steadying breath once you were out of sight. Viktor was in your dorm. Repeat: Viktor was in your dorm! You were completely alone with him, with no fear of Jayce or anyone else disturbing you. You congratulated yourself for getting this far without fainting. You procured the kettle from the cabinet, filled it with water, and set it on the stovetop to boil. You didn’t drink much coffee yourself, but you always kept a tin of instant coffee powder for guests. You just hoped it would suit Viktor’s palate.

You peeked out from the kitchen to see Viktor was flipping through a book, cane set neatly beside the couch. One of his large hands lifted to his chest and your heart skipped a beat as you watched his lovely, long fingers deftly loosen his tie with one hand. You tried not to let your nerves get the best of you and forced your voice to be steady.

“What do you take in your coffee, sir?” You already knew.

Viktor turned to look over his shoulder at you, and your heart fluttered at his teasing smile, “You know already, right?”

Your smile was shy, and half-hidden around the wall, “Dunpor cream and five sugars?”

“Ah, whatever shall I do?” Viktor sighed in mock-tragedy, “my apprentice knows my weakness: my insatiable sweet tooth!”

You rolled your eyes a bit and giggled, withdrawing into the kitchen as the kettle began bubbling. Carefully, you poured the boiling water into two mugs, each with a spoonful of instant coffee and frankly, far too much sugar. Stirring the aromatic liquid, you added in a fair amount of cream, turning the near-black abyss into a soft beige cloud.

You carefully carried both mugs into the sitting room, setting one in front of Viktor, who was still engrossed in his book.

“Thank you.” his eyes flicked up to meet yours as you took the seat opposite him, a new type of glimmer you’ve never seen before. Curious, but ignoring it, you sipped your drink, sighing dreamily at the light flavour. Viktor followed suit and it was then you realized what he was reading: your notebook.

Your heart nearly stopped. Your notebook is where you logged everything. Everything. Not only notes about you latest lessons and projects. Interspersed between your scientific observations were… other observations. Such as the speculated texture of Viktor’s hair, the callouses you felt on his fingers as you handed him a screwdriver, or how his smile made you feel as though you were floating.

Not to mention the doodles.

Oh, gods, the horribly horny doodles…

Your humiliation must have been clear on your face, because the corners of Viktor’s (perfect, cute, stupid) lips turned upwards and those amber eyes sparkled with mischief as he regarded you.

“I must admit, I had my suspicions about your… feelings towards me,” he spoke softly, but his words held a teasing lilt that made you want to curl up in a little ball and die, “However, I never knew they were THIS profound.”

You were startled as he set his coffee cup down and grabbed his cane in one deft movement. He stood up, using his cane for support, and he came around to your side of the coffee table. You hid your face in your hands, prepared for rejection.

Viktor spoke your name softly, so gentle it nearly brought you to tears, “Y/N, look at me?” When you didn’t, you felt the couch sink in next to you as Viktor took a seat, “Y/N, please look at me?” he repeated, and you felt those hands, the hands you’ve fantasized about more times than you could count, take a gentle hold onto yours and bring them down from your face; they were warm from holding the coffee. You couldn’t bear to open your eyes.

“Please… open your eyes?”

His voice was your breaking point. Heat burned behind your eyes and you felt hot tears begin dripping down your cheeks. You couldn’t hold back a choked sob, made worse when Viktor’s hands brushed the tears away, holding your soft cheeks in his palms.

“Oh, my dear petal, do not cry,” his own voice had a slight break in it, and you opened your teary eyes to see that he was crying as well, “please, Y/N, do not cry anymore.”

“Are- aren’t you…” you choked out, not able to finish your question. Blessedly, Viktor finished it for you, however far differently than you would have.

“Completely enthralled by your gorgeous self? Yes, I am.” He wiped his own tears aside as he laughed a bit, “Y/N, I could only ever hope that you felt the same way about me as I feel about you!”

You looked into his dazzling amber eyes, completely taken by him, “Even after seeing…” your eyes flicked to the notebook that was discarded on the other couch.

Viktor wiped a remaining tear from your cheek with his thumb, feather-soft, “You think you are the only one who’s mind wanders during work?” Viktor’s smile turned playful once more, “At times, all I can possibly think about is how wonderful you would feel in my arms,” he admitted, pulling you closer to him, nearly in his lap, “I think of how warm you are whenever you brush past me, how soft your lips look when you are pouting over a hard problem…” His eyes glanced down obviously at your pillowy lips, and he took a breath, “All I want to do is hold you, love you, adore you… kiss you.” he gently raised your face closer to his, giving you ample chance to run away.

You did not take it.

Instead, your lips met his in a sweet, soft kiss. His lips were chapped, but cushioned so perfectly against you own, and he tasted of overly-sweet coffee. One of your hands came up to caress his sharp jaw, the other tangling in his impossibly fluffy hair. It was even softer than you speculated. You hummed blissfully into the kiss as his free hand rested on your soft waist, sinking into your plush body. Viktor pulled back a tiny amount, and your eyes met, noses pressed flush together.

“You feel even better than I ever hoped. So sweet and warm…” he breathed against your lips, thumb rubbing circles into your waist, “and so, so soft. Ah, I don’t think I can bear to let you go, my dear.”

Your head was swimming, all full of love and happiness molecules that you knew had names like dopamine and endorphins, but the scientific part of your mind had left you for the moment. All you could sense was Viktor, touching you, kissing you and adoring you just as he said. You pulled him even closer, desperate to show him just how much you loved him.

“I’ve wanted you for so long,” you murmured against his lips, addicted to his sweet kisses, “Viktor.”

He hummed happily, sighing in contentment, “Oh, my petal, my name sounds so lovely coming from your lips.” He kissed you once more, this time deeper than before. He pressed you back into the couch cushions gently as his warm tongue brushed teasingly against your pouty lower lip, begging for entrance.

You let him in with a light moan, tasting him fully. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders as he climbed over you, nearly straddling your lap. He matched your lustful moans as you kissed. Heat was quickly building between you. He smiled against your mouth and you felt his clever teeth nip your bottom lip, making you let out a little gasp.

"You are simply intoxicating, my petal," he whispered, leaning his forehead against yours, "Would you allow me to go further with you?"

You realized what he was asking and your face became hot. You nodded instantly, having wanted him ever since you began your apprenticeship. You pulled on his loosened tie and kissed him briefly once more, "Yes," you whispered, desperate, "My room, please?"

Viktor nodded and carefully got up, grabbing his cane. You rose to your feet and guided him, hand in hand, to your bedroom. You opened the door, happy that you had recently tidied up. Your bed, piled high with pillows and blankets, looked all too inviting.

Viktor's dexterous fingers found the buttons on your uniform shirt, but paused and looked into your eyes, his own gleaming amber ones asking silent permission. You smiled, heart fluttering at his thoughtfulness. Even when you could easily see the tent in his dress pants, he needed to know you were still wanting this.

"Please, Viktor," you murmured into the quiet room, "don't make me wait any longer?"

He visibly shuddered at your pleading voice, and quickly set to undo your uniform, "Do you have any idea what you do to me? Your voice, your actions, everything about you makes me want you so badly." He confessed, marvelling as your skin became visible to him, "Gorgeous..."

You blushed under his gaze and reached out to start undoing the buttons on his vest. He chuckled, turning a light pink himself, "Ah, my turn? As you wish." He helped you get him out of his vest and shirt, and he looked away as you eyed his chest. You could see dozens of little freckles all over the pale expanse. Your own personal sky of constellations. You noticed his frown, self-conscious about the metallic back brace wrapped around his middle, and you gently ran your fingertips down his chest, making him shiver.

"You're beautiful, Viktor," you whispered, reverent, "Absolutely beautiful."

His eyes glimmered as they met yours again, and you leaned up to kiss him once more, your hands coming around to hold his back, tracing the rivets on his brace lovingly. His own hands held you close to him, rubbing your shoulders and back. You both pulled away, the mood shifting from ravenous hunger into gentle, vulnerable tenderness.

You led him over to your bed to lay down next to each other. One of his hands gently wove into your hair and you felt so small under Viktor's loving gaze. Your lips pressed together, soft and sweet and chaste. But there was still want, quietly bubbling beneath the surface. For right now, though, for this first time together, you both needed the soft and sweet.

Viktor's hands ran over your sides gently, almost ticklishly, "So lovely," he sighed, almost to himself, "I could touch you for hours, my petal."

You couldn't hold back a smile, "Please do, as long as I can touch you as well." Your own hands began to wander, trailing over his shoulder and chest, mapping out designs in his freckles.

Viktor leaned in close and kissed your lips, then the corner of your mouth, then your jaw, slowly, so slowly, trailing warm kisses down to your neck. You sighed dreamily as he kept pressing kisses to your sensitive neck, feeling the quick, wet swipe of his tongue over your pulse point.

"I wish I could mark you here," his thumb brushed over the area he just licked, "I want all of Piltover to know that you are mine."

You squirmed eagerly at the thought. His. Being his and no one else's. And him belonging to you in return.

"You can," you panted, "You can leave marks, if you want." You felt him chuckle against your skin.

"Well, as long as you're offering..." Viktor's voice became low and breathy, making you even more excited as he lowered his mouth to your neck once more. He kissed it before circling the area with his tongue, and you felt the softest pressure of teeth before he began sucking. You moaned into the room, Viktor's hands holding you close as he left his mark. The hunger from before was back again, you wanted more from him.

Viktor seemed to sense your need, and as he set to work on a second hickey, his hands trailed down your soft stomach to rest just above your uniform pants. Your breath hitched as he kept sucking and nibbling your sensitive neck, and you quickly took initiative and unfastened the front of your pants, making Viktor chuckle lustfully into your neck.

You whimpered as Viktor's warm hand snuck into your underwear, and you could hear his breathing hitch as he felt your obvious arousal.

"All of this for me?" He cooed and began stroking his deft fingers over you, finally touching you, "How sweet..."

You tried to hold back your moans, but it was difficult, and your desperate noises kept coming out. The man of your dreams was finally touching you, and you could feel his own hardness pressing against your thigh.

As Viktor pulled away from your neck, pleased with his two beautiful marks he left on you, his hand withdrew from your underwear and both hands took hold of your dress pants' waistband.

"Would you like these off, petal?" He asked quietly and you nodded in reply, lifting your hips. He rolled your pants and underwear down in one slow movement and you actually heard him curse under his breath, "Fuck," you nearly whimpered at his rough voice, "You are stunning."

With the last pieces of your clothes discarded, you were on full display for Viktor. His lower lip was taken between his teeth as he trailed his eyes up and down your plush body. His hands followed wherever his eyes went, and your face grew hot as he spread your thighs wide, his hands sinking into the softness there. He smiled as he finally saw how aroused you were. Viktor leaned down and for a moment, your mind went blank. Was he really going to-?

A warm, wet tongue on your most sensitive area answered your question. You moaned his name, hands tangling in the pillows above you as an anchor, as his mouth set to work on you. You gasped and whined, making sounds that only added to Viktor's own lust. He groaned against your arousal, bringing a hand up to his mouth. You could see him wet two fingers before you felt the press of one against your needy hole. You keened as he pressed one long digit into you. Your back arched as it began moving inside you, seeking all your most sensitive spots.

"So hot inside," he remarked, breath puffing against your arousal, slick with saliva and your own fluids, "and you're clenching so tightly around me."

"Viktor," you whined as he zeroed in on your sweet spot, "please!"

He hummed, adding a second finger to continually prod that spot, and once more dragging his tongue over you, swirling around and driving you crazy. "What do you need, my lovely petal? Say the word and it's yours."

Your hips thrust down, almost riding his fingers, and you gasped into the heat of the room, "Make me cum? Please, make me cum, sir?"

He groaned at your use of the word 'sir' and doubled his efforts. Your head rolled back into the pillows, one hand coming down to fist in Viktor's hair, making him moan needily into you. It was all too much, too much... his fingers spreading you and punishing that sensitive bundle of nerves inside your walls, and his deft tongue and suckling lips pulling you closer and closer to the edge.

You spasmed in his hold as you came, eyes rolling back as you thrust down onto his hand and mouth. You cried out his name, over and over. You released his hair from your iron grip and flopped back onto the bed, trying to catch your breath.

Viktor crawled over you, looking completely fucked-out himself. His perfect hair was a mess of sweaty waves. His honeyed eyes were hazy, looking at you adoringly, his lips were puffy and tinted from overuse, and the slick evidence of your orgasm was dripping down his chin lewdly. He licked his lips, making fire flare in your stomach once more.

"Simply delicious," he wiped his chin with the back of his hand, "I've wanted to do that for a while now, but now..." he sighed in fake disappointment, "How will ordinary food ever satisfy me now? Now that I have tasted ambrosia?"

You giggled breathlessly and pulled him on top of you, kissing his own laughing lips. You could taste yourself on his tongue, making your arousal grow anew. You could also feel his erection poking your stomach.

"How would you like me to...?" You looked up into his eyes for permission as your hands teased his dress pants' waistband.

"You do not have to," Viktor stated, gentle caressing your soft cheek, "If you are too tired."

You smiled and leaned up to kiss him once more, "I want to. I always have." You undid the buttons and flipped your positions so Viktor was under you. He blushed, but gave you a shy smile as he copied your earlier movements, lifting his hips so you could remove his pants and underwear. You were mindful of his leg brace, but your gaze was quickly drawn to the sizeable erection in front of you.

It was hard, resting against Viktor's flat belly, and you could see wetness already glistening at the tip. You licked your lips and took hold of his cock, Viktor gasping at the sensation of your hand around him, and you could feel it twitch in your grasp. You smiled to yourself as your tongue lapped at the head, licking up his precum and making him groan, trying to muffle his sounds in your pillows.

"Let me hear you, sir," you whispered before dragging your tongue up the entirety of his length, "Please?"

Turning his head out of the pillows, your eyes met his, and you squirmed as you saw the ravenous hunger blazing in his amber eyes. You pooled the saliva in your mouth and began bobbing your head up and down his shaft, getting him slick for you to add your hand. Up and down, you relished in the feeling of him filling out your hand and tasting more of his precum dribble onto your tongue. He moaned loudly, whining your name.

"Y/N... oh, please, please..." his begging was so pretty, it almost hurt as you pulled off of his cock. You giggled at his stunned expression, "Wh-what? Petal, please, I was-" his complaint died in his throat as you moved your body up to straddle him, sliding his slick cock over your hole.

"Will this position be okay?" You asked, smiling down at his blissful expression, "For your leg and back, I mean."

Viktor nodded and he gave you a lusty smile, his hands finding purchase on your soft waist, "Yes, my love, this will be perfect."

You shared a kiss before lining yourself up, prepared hole flexing over his cock head. You gasped as you started to sink down, and you saw Viktor's mouth open with his groan, and his eyes rolled back into his head upon feeling your tight heat surround him. Both of you let out a gasping moan as you took him all in, his hips pressing tightly against your thighs. You lifted yourself off halfway before gently setting down again, mindful of Viktor's hips.

"I'm not too heavy?" You whispered, and gasped as Viktor's hands guided you up and down, faster and rougher, over and over, and you let out a gasping moan as his cock hit your sweet spot dead-on. He groaned loudly, in ecstasy, at the feeling of your full weight coming down onto him. You looked down into his eyes, finding them trained on your bouncing body, and he finally locked gazes with you, and grunted out a single word,

"More."

You cried out as his hands moved to hold your ass and you started lifting and dropping yourself to his rhythm, fast and rough, up and down. Viktor looked like he was in heaven, head rolled back and groaning loudly on every downstroke. The sight was one thing, but the words coming from his mouth elevated you to a new plane of pleasure.

"Oh, my sweet petal, yes. Gods, how I've- Ah! I've thought of this, thought of you riding me like this... so perfect, so soft and warm... so good for me. When we're alone in the lab, I just want to bend you over the- the desk and j-just..." his words were overtaken by rapid breathing and rough, primal grunts. You could feel him flexing inside of you. You were both close, dangerously close.

One of his hands came around to play with your arousal, and combined with his cock messing up your insides, that was that. You came hard around him, crying out loud, and you heard him cry out your name gruffly before feeling his scorching cum burst inside you. You stilled, both you and Viktor panting from exertion, then you carefully pulled off of him, both letting out a quick, oversensitive moan, before flopping over to lay next to him.

"Wow." he breathed with a tired laugh. You couldn't help but laugh along, your hands finding his and interlacing your fingers.

"That was incredible, Viktor." You sighed dreamily, exhaustion finally catching up with you, "Stay the night?" You asked before your brain could catch up with your mouth.

Viktor chuckled and brushed some hair out of your face tenderly, "Of course, my petal. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now."

"Not even the lab?" You teased, giggling as his hand pinched one of your cheeks.

"Not even the lab, you cheeky thing." He pulled you in for a quick kiss, "your bathroom is through there?" He nodded to the door on the far wall, to which you nodded back, "Stay here, love." He groaned as he sat up, fumbling for his cane before hobbling over to the bathroom.

You nearly dozed off before he came back, and you stirred when you felt a large hand rest on your thigh. At your movement, you heard Viktor chuckle.

"Shh, don't wake up. Settle, my petal." You allowed him to spread your thighs and you sighed at the press of a warm, wet washcloth. Viktor cleaned you carefully, pressing loving kisses to your soft tummy as he did. He dried you off with another cloth before sitting on the bed once more. You blinked your tired eyes open to see him taking off his leg brace, settling in for the night. Briefly you thought of the running joke you had with Jayce that Viktor never actually slept, and you giggled.

Viktor smiled down at you and brushed a hand through your hair, "And what is so funny, my darling?"

You shook your head and brought his hand to your mouth so you could kiss his palm, "Nothing, Viktor. Just thinking how lucky I am."

Viktor's face softened and, after setting the parts of his brace aside, laid next to you and pulled you in for a proper kiss, "I adore you, Y/N. No one else in this world could compare."

At his romantic words, you kissed him again, feeling drowsiness overtake you. There you fell asleep, in Viktor's arms, all worries of the world forgotten, much like the cold coffee on the table outside.

-~-

When you awoke, it was to morning sunlight peering in through your bedroom window. You scrunched up your face at the light, and heard quiet laughter come from above you. A gentle hand soothed down your back.

"Good morning, my dear."

You hummed happily and nuzzled into his embrace, "Mornin'..." you mumbled, closing your eyes once more.

Viktor clicked his tongue and poked your soft cheeks, "Now, now, Y/N. We should get ready for the day. It wouldn't be good if we're late to work."

You sighed and sat up, stretching. As the blanket fell around your body, you felt Viktor's eyes on you once more. You looked to see him openly staring at your bare chest. He was pitching quite a distinct tent under the blanket as well. You covered up once more with the blanket and gave him a teasing look, "I thought you said we should get ready for the day, sir."

Viktor chuckled and caressed your face, kissing you sweetly, "However am I meant to work alongside you when you call me that so sweetly? I won't be able to keep my hands off of you."

You kissed him again, arms coming around to play with his hair, "Maybe if I take care of this first?" Your hand found his morning wood and he gasped into your mouth. He gave you a challenging look.

"That... might work." He smiled and relaxed back into the pillows as your head lowered down between his legs.

-~-

Jayce leaned over the blueprints of the latest Hextech device, humming thoughtfully. His pondering was interrupted by the sound of the lab door opening. He looked over his shoulder to see Y/N and Viktor coming in at the same time.

"Morning, you two," he greeted, looking at the clock on the wall, "Jeez, I never thought I'd see the day Viktor would come into work late!" He laughed.

The older man cleared his throat and laughed as well, "Ah, apologies. Y/N and I were just..." him and his apprentice shared a look, "having coffee."

Y/N smiled brightly and went off to their desk in the corner, and Jayce had to do a double take. Why were there welts on their neck!?

[agentofscifi]

Success is the Best Kind of Revenge Ch. 3

Heels click onto the floor of my office as Chloe pushes open my doors. My hands were currently holding up the train of a dress hung on Juleka. Alix follows after Chloe, tinkering with some kind of camera in her hand. Over the years, as we all graduated from University and done pretty well for ourselves.  

Juleka ended up changing her major in school after three semesters. Instead of going into performing arts for instruments, she went and got a composition degree. Juleka wrote music for a variety of artists and was one of the most sought-after songwriters. When she wasn’t doing all of that, she was modeling for my company. Juleka did a variety of photoshoots for several companies, mine included throughout her University Years. After I opened up my first few stores, we signed a formal contract. She’d been working for me for almost a decade. She split her time between Paris and Nashville in America. 

Alix decides to focus on a degree in art history. She worked at an Auction House company in Paris, moving between the various countries of Europe to authenticate pieces of art and then handle their sales. She was rather successful at her work, earning many bonuses for rather extremely successful sales. Alix’s unique style and comfortable professionalism made her easily approachable to buyings. She was rather blunt, and it did her well in her job. On her off-hours, Alix did some minor modeling and promoting much of my athletic pieces. Alix’s popularity grew as she competed in several X-Games in and after university. She won several titles in skateboarding, BMX freestyling, rollerskating, and snowboarding before retiring after a slip-up when snowboarding. She shattered her kneecap, broke a leg, her collarbone, and dislocated her arm in two places. She still did BMX biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, and snowboarding, just not in a professional capacity. That being said, little kids still asked for her autographs all the time.  

Chloe graduated from the London Business School with Honors and then proceeded to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York to get a Graduate Degree in Global Fashion Management. She modeled some of my designs, worked connections, handled all my brand’s social media accounts, and finalized contracts. Now, she had several people working underneath her, to handle the day-to-day operations. Either way, Chloe handled all of the Brand’s business dealings and flourishes.  

As for me, I attend the London College of Fashion. I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design and Development with honors. After those years, I went to Milan to attend Istituto Marangoni International for a Master’s Degree in Luxury Accessories Design & Management. After that, I relocated back to Paris. My first boutique opened up quickly after that along with a small factory with a loan from a bank. I ended up having to open a second factory within three months due to demands. More boutiques opened up worldwide as the Brand became a household name.  

“Hello Chloe, how is everything?”  

“We got invitations to a reunion for Lycée. Alya sent them, as she was the class representative when we all graduated. Personally, I think she wants to get her hands on you or Juleka for an interview. You know her journalism career is in the gutter.”  

Alix snorts. “And who’s fault is that?” 

Chloe rolls her eyes. “Her’s. The idiot ruined her blog when she was a teenager and she never changed. She still does idiotic and frankly dangerous things to get a scoop. Sure, she does some basic research now, but the girl’s been detained several times for endangering people and disrupting the peace. No University would touch her, and no place will hire her.”  

Alix looks up from the camera. “So, you didn’t inform everyone in the fashion journalism world about her history, knowing it would spread to all major news and journalism networks.  

Chloe raises an eyebrow. “Look, this company’s image is important. I was not going to let Miss Blogger ruin it for 15 minutes of fame. She dug her own grave.”  

I sigh. “This is great and all, but are you all going?”  

There’s a snort right behind me. “Not on any of our lives. We will not be sinking that low.”  

“Chloe!” Juleka’s face is red and slightly scandalized.  

“What? Why would we go to this reunion? To see how everyone is doing? It’s rather simple. Alya’s a tabloid writer. Nino is a barely successful DJ who works at a music store to help pay his bills. Max is an IT guy at a company. That fake research paper haunts him to this day. Kim works at a gym. The drugs screwed his athletic chances over and he never planned for anything beyond going to the Olympics. Nathaniel works at an art store and does nighttime classes. He’s unsuccessfully worked with 7 different writers for his comics after leaving Marc.   

Now, Myléne and Ivan are happy, at least. Myléne works as a secretary and Ivan as a grocery store manager. Both are part-time so one of them can stay home with their kids at a time. They have millions of photos of their family on their Instagram accounts. Neither one can do much with charities. The fraud they committed was spread around the charity communities fast.  

Rose, Adrien, and Sabrina are the only ones who did what they wanted to do. Rose had a few years of fame with her music before getting married and settling down as a youth music teacher. Adrien moved to America and works for a University. However, I know for a fact that he will not be returning to Paris for anything less than a funeral or a wedding. As for Sabrina, after some therapy, ended up as a Detective in Marseille.”  

“Didn’t you pay for her therapy?” I tie off my last stitch and let the train fall to the platform.  

Chloe purses her lips. “I owed her that much. I screwed her childhood up, majorly.”  

“Did you stalk everyone to find out all of this?” Alix has a mischievous look.  

Another eye roll from Chloe. “I didn’t need to. In this day and age, all you need to do is type their name into the internet and all of their social media pops up.”  

I hum. “What about Lila?”  

“She’s still in prison. Tried another appeal a little while ago, to no avail. Her long list of offenses and the “assisting a terrorist” change isn’t something any judge would want to touch, even with a 10 ft pole.”  

Juleka simply shrugs. “Back to the point at hand. I’m not going to this reunion. Rose is the only one I wanted to keep in contact with, and she’s not going. It’s her five-year anniversary with her husband. She’s going to Spain that week.”  

Alix shugs. “I’m not going either. Kim has tried to contact me so many times to help him get back into the sports world. I am not giving him another chance. Besides, there’s this huge auction going on in Russia for that week. I am not missing that for a few hours with our childhood classmates.”  

I look at Chloe. She raises a perfect eyebrow. “Not a chance and you are not going either. Heavens forbid Alya posts something on that new blog of hers.”  

I set my needle and thread down on a work table and gesture to Juleka to get changed. “I’m not going if none of you are. Besides, there’s this fashion show in Milan that weekend. It’s for freshly graduated designers to show off their talents to possible employers. I was planning to go to find some who would specialize in Fashion Contour. I’ve been doing quite a bit of work in that field and want to get a fresh pair of eyes that will eventually take over that area of our brand. I was also hoping to look for someone to start a Make-up department. One of your people mentioned the idea at a meeting.”  

Chloe nods and starts to type into her phone. “I’ll tell my assistant to look through the applications we have to see if anyone fulfills the requirements for that job. Just find that new department head.”  

I give Chloe a nod as Juleka hands me the dress from before. A custom-made wedding dress for a woman who happened to be Juleka’s exact size. One of the many I had made of the years since I’d started my fashion business.   

Some part of me wanted to thank Lila. If I was honest with myself, I wouldn’t be where I was if she hadn’t arrived at my class and taken everyone’s loyalty. They weren’t bad people, but thanks to Ms. Bustier, they were a drain on my energy and abilities. Now, however, I was one of the most well-known and successful fashion designers with over two dozen people for me in Design. I could not be happier. 

Ch. 1 ~~~~~ Ch. 2

[thattimdrakeguy]

I’m writing this fic about the Batfamily and I’m afraid of writing them as OOC. If you are able to, could you please give some tips on each of the Batfam’s personalities and characteristics? To specify, Dick, Jason, Tim, Steph, Cass, Babs, Damian, and Duke are the characters I’m using. It would be really helpful! Thank you!!

This is a tricky question, because I don’t know the story of your fic to help you in any specific way. So if after this you wanna DM me for more specific help on how to work things out, I’ll be there to help you right away unless I’m doing something, but I have no plans.

I’m going to go from easiest for me to do to least easiest, because I obviously know Tim the best, but even then, it’s hard, because going off the character’s you are choosing, it’s set during the part of the timeline were he went OOC, but I’ll do my best just to say his general character so you can use that as a base for things. Like how he was developed in his origin and all that, and notable characteristics he’s had as he grew while still in character. With some that even if they weren’t around with some of those characters, would apply to them.

His is also going to be the longest, like way too long, because he’s a way more nuanced and complex character than anyone ever gives him credit for. So he takes a lot longer to explains by a freaking large margin. Like sorry if it’s too big, I just kept saying more as more came to mind because I feel like his nuances are what makes him interesting and easy to right. Once you get a hang of his nuances, and you get used to it, it makes it easier to put yourself into his mindset to how he works, which makes him easier to write as well.

(THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY LONG POST, AND I APOLOGIZE. I just really wanted to be thorough and give contexts to stuff. It’s less of tips and more of an overly long description of what I know about each character and what’s in-character and what’s not going off of how the character’s were developed to be, and not counting the out of character writing. So really sorry about this being so freaking long)

Tim:

Tim’s origin right off the back is having met Dick at a very very young age, I don’t think he could even strongly walk yet, so I’mma say three. He was instantly attached to Dick, he just admired him instantly just for giving him affection. He was his hero. But he was also there the day Dick’s parents died, which traumatized Tim and gave him nightmares for years. But being able to remember that night so thoroughly, he remembered a specific move that Dick could do that very few could, and that’s how he found out Dick was Batman, and logically, Bruce Wayne was Batman.

There’s a large misconception that as a little kid, Tim followed Batman and Robin around, but that was not the case. At least not physically and literally followed them around. Closest being when I believe he happened to come across Batman in his origin story, and purposely did his best detective work to figure out where Dick would be.

As shown several times but most strongly in his origin, but wasn’t as strong the more he went on, he’s sort of socially oblivious to what’s considered normal or not, or what other people are thinking of him.

For instance he just knocked on Starfire’s and Dick’s apartment, asked Kori (Starfire) if Dick was home because he needed his help, and when she said no, just bolted even when Kori asked his name. Just concerning the crap out of her. Even when he first met Dick, he just wouldn’t say his name because “NO TIME”, he just squirmed around place to place on his bike being completely oblivious of himself. In his first miniseries he searches up information on Clyde (a former government agent he saved and befriends) that he shouldn’t have, unaware that that’d obviously be crossing a line for some people. Even taking his girlfriend to a car show, where there was a lot of bikini models around, and it didn’t even occur to him what it’d look like he was there for. He was just genuinely bubbly to see the cars.

He doesn’t do any of those sorts of things out of malice, he’s always just presented as being incredibly oblivious of himself quite a bit. Most likely from not having his parents around that much as his childhood progressed, and typically just living in boarding schools, or with a nanny. So he didn’t really developed right as one interpretation, and another being (that was actually almost confirmed if it wasn’t for Tim getting a writer before another could say it) is that he’s on the Autism spectrum. Which is technically verified, as he has many symptoms of Asperger’s. But that isn’t technically canon, as it never got to be officially said. But it’s valid enough.

Tim’s main strength is his detective work, he also knows how to use a computer to his advantage. Many modern comics act as if Tim is a master hacker who could hack into anything. But he actually mostly used them for detective work, and small hack jobs, some of which he failed. He seemed to have learned more about hacking from Barbara, or at least some what implied, as Babs let him help her build a big computer, or something of that sort.

He also took karate as a kid, and is implied to have also taken gymnastics. It’s stated that he’s actually really good at gymnastics by Alfred in Tim’s origin, but his fighting skills, despite the karate lessons he had previously taken, isn’t as good as the others. Hence his staff, and having to be clever in how he goes about a fight.

How Tim operates as far as emotionally or mentally depends too. Sometimes he’ll go straight from the heart and get himself in trouble, but other times he’ll take his time to really plan something out for himself on the spot. It depends on how his emotions are at the time. If he was just picked on or beat up, he’ll be more agitated, and if something really really bad that happened, he just go so far in he just beats the crap out of everyone as bad as he can. As shown by trying to apprehend someone that shot someone he knew at school, or Batman betraying his trust (in an honestly out of character story). If he’s calmer though, or at least doing his best to be, he’ll use his brain more before he starts. I think his talents in planning have been overstated for ages, because while he’s good at it, he’s not exactly the greatest or overall good. Just enough to work fine enough to get the job done.

One of his biggest mental weakness’s, is his constant insecurity. Somethings that’s so constantly on his mind is letting someone down, rather it be Batman or his dad Jack, or even Nightwing, or his team. The reason why Tim acted so different and more of a seriously brooding personality in Young Justice, was because he was so insecure about not having powers that he thought he had to push himself to his limits. So he used some Batman leadership tactics, and fought harder than he ever fought before just to seem like he was even worth having around. When by himself though, it’s more of a sadness, an upset feeling in his gut. Tim has anxiety about things, rather or not he’s good enough. He’s not a super confident person when it comes to himself. He doesn’t think much of him.

One editorial person answering fan questions in the back of comics as they used to, even described Tim as meek. He doesn’t brag or think much of himself as super according to it.

He’s also stated and shown to be internally scared quite a bit, even shaking when he first got his own Robin suit. Another occasion saying the cold water might excuse his shivering. Which goes along with his anxiety.

Another thing about him that is more low-key and not as noticed, is how Tim, even though he clearly thinks of himself as a kid, heck even the letter column above says so, he has also said since being Robin he’s never had time to be a kid. But he is also still a kid.

As they specified his voice a bit more, he tended to use heck, Holy crud, dang, fudge, weenie, and even Pus Bucket (a reference to Ghost Busters) as his choice of cussing (if that even remotely counts).

And even if it’s not noticeable at first, is shown as having a secret teddy bear that he kept hidden under his mattress so I assume no one would see it.

He’s also a pretty innocent kid despite what all he sees. His mind doesn’t go to the gutter. He trusts people far faster than he should, even trusting Lady Shiva, the world’s most dangerous woman and know criminal right away.

Even Tim’s step-mother saying so out-loud. Showing that this is also the case in his personal life as well.

It also goes along with his social obliviousness. This stuff being rounded into not having any street smarts, which was a main theme for Tim directly in his first miniseries. As well as being naive.

Of course as life went on that wasn’t the case as much, but in the above screenshot, Dana (his step-mom) is saying that as Tim is already 16.

Tim in-general also being a super hero fanboy. As a kid he watched the news, clipped out the papers on them, collected, and even drew his own Batman art (and potentially) others to put on his wall.

Tim’s general behavior while socializing also depends on his emotions at the time. He’s normally very nice and friendly, when not super depressed or down on himself he’s bubbly. But he’s also still a kid, he can pout when he’s hurt, and passive aggressive to people he doesn’t like. Examples being, literally not listening to a jock that picks on his friends, an over-arrogant jerk he met in France, and even Steph because she kept being reckless and flirting with him when he didn’t like it.

Nothing straight up insults, but just generally passive aggressive, give them a clue he doesn’t like them very much even if it never worked. He just wants them to go away, unless they’re a straight up bully. Tim, if it’s no one he specifically knows that will invade his personal life, will beat up bullies. He really can’t stand a bully.

Another thing about Tim is that even though he’s an introvert typically, he’s also not very shy. A shy kid wouldn’t travel miles on a bike (and I freaking hope busses) to meet someone he barely knows because he believes in Batman needing a Robin. He also stands up to bullies, and unless he’s really uncomfortable could talk to about anyone. He even slept in only his briefs and undershirt in the house of someone he doesn’t know, with two people he also barely knows. With that example also probably adding up to the socially oblivious part of his personality.

As far as his relationships go, he canonically thinks of the Bat-Family as his family. Dick calls Tim his little brother, Babs treats Tim as her baby brother as well as acting like his/ Aunt/ Mom depending on the situation (I think Tim fell asleep on her couch after eating pizza while using his cape as a blanket and drooling. So Mom’s a stretch but still), Bruce is his distant but still father figure, Alfred is his grandpa (who he actually plays video games with), even Cass to an extent treating Tim as a baby brother as well.

He is very much the baby of the family. And Tim talks to them about personal stuff (bar Cass cause he was scared of her in the beginning), most of them from Alfred and Dick, to the mute hunchback in the Batcave Harold (who is a real character and I love him). He was always collecting advice from where ever he could get it.

He’s also intensely morally operated. He hates killing. He said he took an oath to let himself be killed before ever killing, getting PTSD from feeling responsible for a death, and even crying when he had genuinely thought Bruce killed someone.

As far as how he tries to present himself, he is constantly doing his best to take everything as seriously as he can, even shunning himself when he starts to stop taking things as serious, he wants to be seen as serious, trustworthy, and reliable desperately so he doesn’t let anyone down. He is constantly hard of himself, and is always trying to be what he thinks Batman wants him to be. Which is were a lot of his anxieties from. Even trying to think of what Batman or Dick would do because he regards them so highly. Even calling Bruce the great man he’s ever known I believe during one of his post-origin pre-Robin appearances.

He’s naive and oblivious of himself, as well as childish in some areas (I think his nanny yelled at him once for it), but overall what he tries to hardest at is taking everything seriously as possible, and using his brain as much as he can. He may not be the most mature, often actually handling situations very immaturely, but he does his best to at least seem like he’s mature, and to an extent he actually can be genuinely very mature, or at least as much as a naive oblivious child can be.

Dick:

This ones a lot shorter probably, because I don’t read him as much, but still have a good handle on him.

I think he’s a character very few always write correctly, because they ride too much into the friendly, compassionate guy. Which, compassion being his main motivator in how he goes about as much as he can, and he’s incredibly friendly, he’s also a very angsty and angry person deep down.

He’s a perfectionist, a trait fics tend to give to Tim more, but actually belongs to Dick. He gets really hard on himself when he thinks he messed something up badly, having nightmares over it, he doesn’t like himself when he messes up something badly. And even if he’s not a naturally angry person, when he is angry, he can be VERY VERY angry.

And until Batman writers in the early 00s started it, I wouldn’t even had considered him all that chatty. He had some jokes in him, was very light hearted when not in distress or mad, but as he was developed by Marv Wolfman, who basically created the Dick that has remained the base for him ever since, he was relatively a generally calm guy when he wasn’t emotional.

He was polite, a charming guy, the type of person you want to bring home to your parents basically. He dressed well. Did his best to keep people accommodated. 

He wasn’t a goofy, constant jokester that’d talk your ear off or keep begging for hugs. 

He’s not that kind of guy. He’s just a gentlemen.

He’s also not that much of a thot. He’s a “wait till it’s right” sort of guy when it comes to sex.

He’d do anything in the world he could to make sure his friends felt right too, and that they were okay.

But all this doesn’t mean he’s not just a one note personality. Depending on how bad he feels like he messed up, he’ll distance himself from people, stop caring as much about his appearance, get more violent and mean. He also doesn’t take well to Batman’s nonsense, he’s probably the person he got specifically mad at the most. He didn’t like the way Batman went about stuff after a while. He had complicated feelings towards him.

Despite people nowadays just thinking of Dick being Batman’s son officially, adopted, end of. That wasn’t exactly their relationship. Dick had a complicated relationship with Bruce. Part of him looked at Bruce as a big brother, and another half a dad, and he wasn’t even adopted, just a ward. Something that Dick was actually quite insecure about, till apparently he got adopted as a grown adult man (which I dunno is true or an edit, but I’ve seen it somewhere).

Dick’s relationship with Tim is pure big bro baby bro. He was very protective of Tim, calling him the closest thing to a brother he ever had, and little brother, before they were ever even officially brothers. He’d push Tim out of the way in times of big trouble, make him stand back, ruffled his hair all the time, and loved teasing him. But when they started off, Dick just sort of thought Tim was a weird annoying kid, given that Tim was acting so screwy during his origin, Dick really didn’t know what to make of him, but the closer they got, they got very very close. Dick cared a lot about Tim a ton once they got accommodated. Tim would even call Dick on the phone just to talk to him about anything from his day to his problems. Tim could count on Dick to help when ever he could. Tim was Dick’s dweebie baby brother who he took care of when needed. Even teaching Tim how to wash clothes personally since Tim didn’t have a clue. 

I don’t think him and Jason really had a relationship. He gave him a number to talk about stuff like Robin angst, and a few pics show they hanged out at least once or twice, but nothing suggests they were close. It seems like Dick was hard on himself, because Jason died before they could get close. After the Red Hood, Dick’s just kind of a-- dick to Jason, and Tim was too, but I don’t consider that in-character. Neither Tim nor Dick would be even remotely okay about the killing, but I can’t picture them treating him like he’s a joke and less than trash. Too much emotional baggage there. Tim would be distant to Jason, and Dick would be uncomfortable and conflicted. That’s my guesses on a more accurate relationship.

Dick’s always had a really big crush on Babs ever since he was a kid to the point they were stuck in a small area together and Dick lost dignity over-- I dunno, puberty effecting him. There’s no way I can put that that’s comfortable. But Dick has a crush on Babs, that got put into a romantic relationship both ways when they aged down Babs, but for some people the relationship is relatively gross because of the age gap, and feeling the need to age down a character like Babs, who just looked at Dick like a kid, to just date him. It’s complicated, and I dunno enough about them besides that exactly. I’m not the guy to ask on that.

He doesn’t have a proper relationship with either Duke or Steph, but it doesn’t seem like Dick’s ever been the fondest of Steph. And Duke’s new, and they only ever been around each other in fan service moments. So I don’t think he has a real actual relationship with Duke.

Dick and Cass despite I don’t think ever being shown much together, also had a sweet relationship. With Dick doing his best to make sure his sister (before she was adopted, but Dick treated her as one nevertheless much like Tim as Dick’s baby brother) was comfortable, acting goofy, and to  me coming across as if he’s always really wanted a sister. But they weren’t super close, but there’s enough there to say that they easily could become close.

Dick and Damian was mentor mentoree, and to a large extent Dick was Damian’s father figure as Bruce was dead. As written by Damian’s creator, Dick didn’t seem to like Damian at all in the beginning, but as Dick could realize and understand his responsibilities more, they did gain a closer bond. Dick would put Damian in line (besides when bad writers were too afraid to make Damian seem like he’s in the wrong fully), sometimes even the hard way, and could be very proud of him. They aren’t big bro little bro like how some current writers act for pandering purposes. But they did grow to be close, even if Damian’s naturally really emotionally distant. Dick always wanted the best for Damian, even if he couldn’t always handle it the right way or knew what to do. He was a guy in his early to mid 20s with the responsibilities of reraising a 10 year old kid that was raised and abused by a cult, who can blame him.

Damian

I’m kind of just getting Damian out of the way, because to be frank, he’s been a really crappily written character since his origin, because he personality just absolutely switches between every writer, and he’s just so badly written that way.

But I’ll go off of what I believe to be what his writer wanted, since that’s the most accurate you can get.

Damian was raised and abused in a cult. That dictates a lot of how he thinks.

He was not close to his mother (which is out of character for Talia, and they later switched that after the reboot, but to be frank if Talia was always in-character Damian wouldn’t exist as we know him. He’d be a total different person and character). And he seemed to despise the way his dad goes about things. He seemed very indifferent and had his mood set to angry in general when he first met.

Which made it all the weirder when an issue later Damian seems to want his parents to be together, despite making it clear he doesn’t even like or think much of either one of them at all.

He was also very entitled, because despite being treated as an experiment some of the time, he was also treated as a prince the other half of the time. He thought the world was his, and he deserved everything.

He nearly killed Tim because he thought he deserved being Robin, as Tim was just adopted and not a “real” son. Seemingly he thought that was what he had to do to have his dad accept him and treat him as he thought he should.

He also seems to think he’s above Jason as well.

He’s also shown as sexist and homophobic.

He was brash and reckless about everything. Had a talented in just about everything just because of how he was raised, and goes off on his own to do stuff, because I assume he thinks everyone else holds him back.

After Dick though, Damian learned to not be a murderer (which I also think he might’ve learned before cause he wants to live with Bruce, It’s a little weird and not given enough time to actually be developed fully in an easy to digest way. Which is another reason why I think he’s such a poorly written character), also more reserved, and reckless.

As he was originally intended, he was very tall and not cute. His height being around 5′2 to 5′4 at age 10. Meaning he was an inch taller than Tim was at 13 when Damian was 10 off of that first one, and only an inch shorter than Tim at the age he  met him, where Tim was 17 going on 18. It may not be drawn that way, but you also have to remember this is 00s and beyond era DC Comics were Tim despite being described as looking 12 got drawn as big as Dick sometimes. Don’t always use the art to go off of certain information. I say he wasn’t intended to be cute, because there’s a scene were he was at a gala, where a woman clearly wanting to gold-dig Gotham City’s most eligible Bachelor Bruce Wayne by getting close to her son, but she immediately backed away when she saw him.

Which sounds harsh, but Damian’s also basically the “anti-Robin”, he was everything a Robin wasn’t meant to be and he was intended to just die and that’s it. Hence why he was with Dick to keep the Batman and Robin dynamic intact, just in reverse. As you can see, they completely forgot what made Damian interesting when his character gained some consistency with his creator.

Damian’s development was that he grew a actual caring heart even if he still carried the generally same personality. He was dismissive of people, sexually harassed Steph, was generally anti-social-esque. 

And honestly because every writer after (even the one everyone seems to think is his best writer, which I massively agree times a billion and infinite more) just kept reverting him, again and again, even when they wrote stories with character development, it was gone again. And applied a whole bunch of traits that aren’t like Damian in the slightest, so if you pay attention. Ya can tell Damian’s not Damian, he’s literally not even a shell of his self. They just painted another one to look kind of like him, and even then they don’t do that because he freaking looks completely different some of the time. They botched him so much.

But that was the main thing about Damian. 

I think one reason he got close to Dick and no one else was because Damian from his origin (no matter how poorly written they showed it), always wanted to have a proper parent. Which it seemed he could never have. And Dick grew to serve that purpose, as Dick was the one teaching him lessons, and making sure he was actually safe.

But of course later on DC Comics literally forgot everything that was letting him slowly become a better character. So that sucks.

I partially came into this fandom because of Damian. So when I actually got to read him, I was so freaking miserable after. I genuinely wanted to like him so bad, even voicing that to people I was chatting too as I read the comics, but I literally just couldn’t see why anyone cared for his comics. I don’t think any of them are fully well-written.

But it did help me grasp what Damian’s suppose to be like as I could tell what he’s suppose to be and not suppose to be, much like how I learned about Tim’s actual personality vs the one writers that don’t care about him write.

Steph

Just doing this one to get a more negatively centered one out of the way, because I struggle to find any personality traits I deem actually likable when put under context.

Because she’s full of her self, reckless, cynical, more or less sexually harassed Tim, kissing him against his wishes (and before ya say Tim did that first. it’s a little less offensive when Tim didn’t do it sexually or romantically. That was just for a dumb trope. A reward kiss. It’s still gross, but it’s a different context that’s less directly offensive), goes behind people’s backs sometimes, can be emotionally abusive, and shows signs of physically abusive.

So I don’t exactly find her super likable. And her spot in the Bat-Family was so contrived, that often nowadays I just don’t pay attention her anymore, but in fairness a lot of that’s just cause she has crazy stans that start fights that were barely there, be hypocritical, and group bully folks. So it’s relatively hard for me to wanna look at her these days.

But to be more specific before she seems like an actual freaking demon woman or what ever. Some of that doesn’t come across as bad compared to what it could be. Besides the emotional abuse, that was just a thing and the comics and people just elected to ignore it even though that was written by her creator.

She’s reckless in a way where she clearly doesn’t have proper training to make sure no one or herself gets hurt. She’s been shown causing herself to get hurt or underestimate stuff. She also doesn’t listen to people that know more about what they do, and she usually relies on luck to get by.

She’s full of herself, because she more or less says she’s an adrenaline junkie, and might just be beating up bad guys because she finds it really fun and exciting. She likes the thrill. And tries to put a title of super hero on herself sometimes, because she tries to seem heroric as she does it. She also does it to make up for her dad, which is more admirable, but behavior wise and focus wise it’s more pinned on her just being an adrenaline junkie.

She also just constantly just flirt with Tim even when he didn’t want it. Which is what sexual harassment is. She also kissed him for her own satisfaction twice, once nearly getting them both killed cause people were shooting at them, and another as them and other people were close to freezing to death because they were stuck under snow. That kind of behavior able to be under sexual assault given the context for her kisses was just for herself. Even the time she tried to say it was to make up for Tim’s reward kiss, she quickly makes it obvious it was just because she’s very sexually attracted to him.

She also just nearly lets criminals die a lot because “What’s one more life”, and seems to not care much for the lesson of not killing, specifically her dad. Like she still has the moral standard not to kill, but compared to the others it’s not one she takes as serious. She learned her lesson on being cynical, but it’s still ingrained in her personality.

I also have a whole very long post on why her relationship with Tim doesn’t work, and how she was abusive. I don’t feel like going over that again but that’s a thing.

Besides Tim she has no real relationship with the others besides Cass, which is another relationship I don’t fully understand, because Steph borderline insults her, and Cass thinks she gets in the way so much she just fractures Steph’s jaw to knock her out. They gave them some admittedly cute moments, but it’s never felt right to me. Always felt forced and pandery, but it’s a thing. They’ve played tag each other, and talked about how both of their parents are abusive.

She also had one with in Batgirl, but the best I can describe that is, she helps Steph so she doesn’t hurt herself, and she can be pretty gruff sometimes, but is also caring. it’s just kind of a been there done that sort of thing.

A lot of Batgirl is sort of forced. Bat-Family has reasonable criticisms of her, writer does something to make them more unlikable so readers still like Steph, Steph proves them wrong, they respect her. It’s a formula for a few stories in her Batgirl run.

People have also said her and Damian have a sibling relationship, but I don’t agree with that. Damian sexually harassed her and kept looking at her boobs. Damian had a crush on her, but he was also a stubborn entitled jerk to her. Steph just got back at Damian by making him dress as a normal kid to embarrass him, and when she saw Damian never played before got him to jump on a bouncy castle. Besides generic banter that’s about it. And given Damian’s personality, they never did anything like that bouncy castle thing again. It’s a really big stretch to call that sibling-like. And even the stuff you could stretch is still doesn’t pay attention to the Damian talking about her boobs constantly thing. Parts of it was just pandery, as a lot of that Batgirl run was.

So I don’t overall have a good opinion of her. She’s perseverance and doesn’t give up, and won’t take no for an answer, but given the context it’s not in a good way besides saving Tim’s and others lifes a few times.

Babs

Despite having read her a lot I don’t know her a lot, because she’s typically always the other character in things. The lady that gets the information.

So I only know a few things about her.

She has the perseverance and won’t take no traits, but in a more positive context. She has no use of her legs but that doesn’t stop her from fighting crime and helping people.

She’s a serious, and mature personality. Every case is very seriously to her, besides a few Tim got into because they were just very goofy.

She can also joke a lot. She has a very teasing personality in her as well. Especially with Tim, she seemed to find Tim really cute and loved teasing him.

I pretty much only have panels of her and Tim besides a rare few maybe, cause as I said she’s mostly a side character helping out.

I have read Birds of Prey but that was possible a year or two ago, and I didn’t really pay attention so I’m not as sure.

She’s very leaderly, and will direct the traffic so to say. She’s a magnificent detective and hacker. Stands up for herself. Inquisitive. Her mind always seems to be thinking of the next thing to think about.

She’s a character I can’t talk about as well without it being one dimensional.

Cass

Cass is another character I don’t have the best grasp on but been trying to learn because she’s probably my second favorite Batkid even if I don’t understand her as strongly. But I do get a lot of her basic personality, and a bit of the nuances, even if I’m not ultra confident on it yet.

She’s quirky, she knows how to tease, but she can also be a bit objective based unless she’s bored it seems, like she does watch TV, but when she has a goal she will not stop until the goal is done. She’s a fully compassionate person as well, she sees little kid needing help, she helps little kid.

Also given her upraising she can be more socially oblivious than anyone else, even Tim. She’s walked around an apartment she was sharing with others butt naked. I think she accidentally flirted with Babs (not a shippy thing, it’s a, Cass said a thing she didn’t understand thing), because she couldn’t tell the difference between a platonic thing and cheesy romantic thing as she watched TV. 

She doesn’t always listen. She will just beat by her own drum unless she believes in something someone else said more.

Given her mind wasn’t raised to be socializing, a lot of this stuff makes sense and is kind of obvious when you think about it.

Cass can also be very stubborn when she has a goal, even when it’s against someone else’s wishes.

She’s mostly been a loner by herself, but she has grown to seem to genuinely like having company around to bond with.

She’s been shown being protective of Tim. Literally carrying him out of a fight zone.

Babs’s is more or less her mom.

Dick and Steph’s I’ve described before.

Distant with Alfred, but Alfred will occasionally drop by to help out. They’re still carrying if they aren’t as connected as others.

Not gonna lie I can’t remember her relationship with Bruce.

But that’s some of the basics and slight nuances of Batgirl. I’m still in the early part of learning about her. So I’ll probably understand her more later on. I genuinely really like her though. I like how she isn’t a one dimensional character like some writers make her out to be. She’s genuinely really fun to read.

Jason

I actually know Jason quite a bit because I made a big long post about his time as Robin (post-crisis only, not counting the scripts written before the 80s reboot, or anything inconsistent).

He’s anti-authority, angry, cusses, smokes, violent, murderous tendencies, aggressive, but also has a genuine heroic spirit, is appreciative of the opportunities he was able to have, loved being able to learn especially, had insecurities, and a lot of his violence was in the name of being a more aggressive way of justice. He’d never hurt an innocent.

A lot of this is explain by the fact he was raised on the streets more or less.

When ever he got especially violent was because of a bad guy hurting or killing an innocent or committing abusive acts of any sort. He probably seen a lot of bad stuff on the streets and doesn’t handle it.

He’s pretty decently cynical because of thinking that’s the best way to deal with it.

He was also moody, but after his upbringing that’s to be expected, and unlike what some thinks, Batman was actually understanding and did his best to help Jason back even if he didn’t get it as first.

Jason isn’t a villain, he is a pure anti-hero, he wants to help, he loves to help, when he feels like he should help he does. He just has his own way of doing it that lots don’t agree with.

When he became the Red Hood, all of this stuff just became amplified because of the traumatic event he went through and the feeling of not being avenged and abandoned again.

Where as before he’d nearly kill people, he outright does now with even left empathy. He had a sack of decapitated head once just so other criminals knew he wasn’t playing around. 

However his moodiness came out in different ways. He was actually a very calm, chill personality as the Red Hood, until his traumas got poked at, where he’d go back into his angry bitter ways, but to a more unstoppable way. He’d be more violent, more angry, more inconsolable, more unstable.

As the Red Hood, he is a very far ahead planner and tactition. People always call Tim the planner, but to me Jason is the planner and tactition of the group. He had a large plan that took a while to do, but caused him to accomplish a lot in a short time. Tim does it in the moment or moments before and does a fine enough job, but he isn’t a good leader. Dick is a good planner tactition and leader, but it can also just be shortly before he does something. Jason thinks very far ahead and how people will react and think, how to get under their skin, what will piss them off, what will give him what he once etc.

When he’s not unstable, he’s calm and collected, and is always trying to get under people’s skin. Not in a large over the top way, but just a bit. In an almost charming sort of way. A sly way. He pokes buttons when he’s calm and collected.

As to be expected his relationship with the Bat-Family is complicated. He’s mostly just in the Bat-Family almost purely because of his past in it, more than what he is currently. He’s more of a loner type that will get help when needed, but until the New 52 said otherwise, he’s not much of a team player as he mostly works by himself.

Bat-Family wants him to get better, but at the same time I think they recognize it’s gonna take a lot for Jason to get better, and since Jason is dangerous it creates a lot of overwhelming feelings. Bruce is upset at himself and is almost grieving Jason all over again, Dick has regrets he never had a chance to know him till then, and Tim’s relationship has been so varied and never really felt right, I’d say  most likely Tim would be scared of Jason, and upset at him. Jason was a Robin that killed. Going off of how Tim reacted to thinking Batman killed, he’d probably be genuinely miserable at the thought of what Jason became, and be distant from him.

Jason is sly and hard to read unless he’s emotional.

Duke

Duke is the hardest to say anything for, because he’s the newest, most obscure (even tho he is gaining quick prominence), and so therefore has less to go off of. Not helped by a lot of writers making him very two dimensional at best a lot of the time.

He is a natural leader, a dare-devil, very willing to put his life on the line at any time, and passionate and almost stubborn about helping people. He wants to save people, and he’s always wanting to help, because he wants to make his neighborhood a better place.

And that’s almost all I can say, because having read his mini-series he doesn’t have many character traits, and WE ARE ROBIN, where he was introduced and I got that from was short lived.

He’s only with the other Batkids when they really wanna pander, so I can’t even accurately say anything, and the few times you could make a guess it’s not in-character for the other. So he’s just hard to tell. Besides Cass.

I think he’d naturally get along with Bruce, Dick, and Tim, and he’s shown being closest to Cass in the Outsiders series. Considering Cass a sister I believe. They console in each other, care about each other, worry about each other, and look after each other. That’s the closest relationship he has.

But it’s hard to say a lot for him.

AGES:

To be blunt I can’t say with full accuracy because there’s so many inconsistencies plus reboots.

But I’ll go into oldest to youngest, because some don’t realize some ages.

Dick, was 21 when Tim was 13

Jason was 18 when Tim was 15

Cass is the same age if not older than Jason

Steph is two years older than Tim

I believe Duke is around the same age as Steph

and Tim and Damian’s ages off of that is pretty obvious.

--

Sorry this is so freaking long, but like I said, just DM me. I’m about to watch a movie, but I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. I at least hope this helped some, and if it’s too long, just message me because it’ll probably be less overwhelming then.

[marckburg-blog]

Werner Ladders Combine Safety, Durability, And Practicality

If it is time to change your old wood ladder, think about an aluminum or fiberglass ladder from Werner. Werner is among the market's most credible producers and suppliers of ladders. Werner ladders are utilized for domestic and industrial functions and are relied on by expert specialists along with DIY property owners throughout the nation. Werner ladders are cost hardware shops like Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware; costs differ according to size, product, and function.

 A variety of merchants offers the Werner 22-foot Telescoping Multi-purpose Ladder; it can be utilized as an extension ladder, fixed ladder, or scaffolding. Security is a crucial function in this flexible ladder, which is cost lowes.com for $198.00. It is product number 78463. It is likewise readily available in a 17-foot design for $179.00.

 Specialists in requirement of a long-lasting Werner Fiberglass Extension Ladder, offered by a range of merchants, consisting of acehardwareoutlet.com, where it is readily available for $259.99. This ladder is built with orange electrically non-conductive side rails and does not utilize a sheave system or rope. A safe, reputable commercial ladder, this item is product number 17794.

An excellent action ladder for each day is the Werner 6-foot Fiberglass Step Ladder at homedepot.com for $49.00. It's cost-effective, safe, and dependable. This ladder has a 225-pound capability, making it perfect for domestic usage, for jobs like cleaning up rain gutters, hanging vacation, lights, and cutting hedges. This item is product number 100658406.

 The Werner 16-foot Aluminum Multi-Purpose Ladder is cost $157.89 at abovethefloor.net/ has 18 various prospective positions and applications. It can be utilized inside and outdoors, and functions consist of slip-resistant feet, tie-downs to produce a work platform, and locking joints to create numerous shapes and developments. It costs $157.89 and is model number M1-8-16.

 Another flexible alternative is the Werner 17-foot Telescoping Ladder that reaches 20 various working heights and positions. It is perfect for painting beyond the home or finding books on the leading racks at a library. It has a 300-pound capability, however, is light-weight, itself, making it simple to utilize. This ladder is product number TOOLS00094 and costs $321.50 at factory-express. com.

 For those times, when you require to reach something in your cooking area or your on an upper rack, there is the Werner 300-Pound Duty Aluminum Step Stool. This is a long-lasting, folding mini ladder, that stands 2 feet high, that shops quickly. A terrific tool to keep in your garage, in your kitchen area, on your boat, or anywhere else where you can often utilize a little lift, this item is cost buy.com, where it has cost $42.05.

 The Werner Fiberglass Stepladder is a safe, resilient action ladder for a broad range of commercial jobs. This ladder stands 12 feet high, is built of orange electrically non-conductive side rails with internal steel spreaders, double-riveted aluminum actions, and aluminum braces on the top step. This ladder is cost acehardwaresuperstore.com, where it is model number 1096262, and it cost $336.59. It is likewise offered in Ace Hardware shops.

[runephoenix6769]

Bolin, Stár Athlete turned International Movie Star, turned Ambassador turned unwitting Accomplice in a Nazi regime due to his genuine dimwitttedness.

He's our little cutie.

When we first meet him one of his main motivations is being a ladies man and affairs of the heart, which nothing seems to go right for him.

But then he gets on a roll and boy does he.

Eska..

Water Tribe Princess. Crazy goth chick.

Ginger

International Actress, Pin Up model and all around Glamour Puss, manipulator and user.

Opal

Daughter of and belongs to a long running political dynasty, Dignitary, one the first Airbenders, Ambassador of the Air Nomads. Doesn't put up with his shit but treats him right.

Opal and Bolin's relationship is portrayed as one that is earned. She does put up with his crap, she realises he isn't the smartest but his heart is in the right place. It must have been hard for her to watch her brother and technical 'sister' turn into tyrannical despots. Opal is the first girl we see treat Bolin with the care as respect he deserves. They have their ups and downs n work through it.

Not bad for a kid raised in the gutters.

[creativeprojectandrewrobertson]

Some early development work

Experimenting with painting over photographs I had previously printed.

These self portraits are about issues with addiction and self control.

Sigmund Freud proposed, we have 3 personalities

"The id is the animal part of the personality, an unconscious drive to have lots of sex, survive, and thrive. It urges you to push in and eat your weight in cake. The ego is where the conscious mind lives. It's lumbered with the tricky job of satisfying the id's wild desires in a realistic and socially acceptable way. But the ego also has to deal with the superego, an internalized parent figure that's always punishing it for being naughty with feelings of guilt and shame."

source: Encolpidia Britanica https://www.britannica.com/video/186442/human-psyche-model-ego-Sigmund-Freud-id#:~:text=The%20id%20is%20the%20animal,realistic%20and%20socially%20acceptable%20way.

I think for me its is more black and white with a spectrum of grey in between.

Im my case I think I have 2, a sort of good cop and bad cop if you will, the bad cops knows how he behaves badly yet uses his persuasive skills (which are top notch, he knows me well and which buttons to push) . Whereas the good cop doesn't get much of a look in.... on the surface of things, but I guess it's him that's kept me out of jail and never let me lay in the gutter to long.

[knoxvilleplumbing1]

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Looking for ways to cut energy costs? New, more energy-efficient water heaters are flooding the modern marketplace. High on the list are water pump water heaters.

This article series starts an exploration of heat pump water heaters.

What is a heat pump water heater?

A heat pump water heater, or HPWH, uses surrounding air to heat water. It takes in air, heats it to a higher temperature and then channels that air into a water tank to heat the water. The HPWH can be a stand-alone unit, or it can be retrofitted on a water tank.

The Geothermal Heat Pump

The most common type of HPWH is a geothermal heat pump. The geothermal heat pump uses heat from the ground during the winter months. During the spring and summer months it uses heat from the surrounding air.

  Controls

Most units come with control panels displaying multiple operating options. Below is a list of possible modes listed on the control:

Efficiency/Economy mode: will only use the heat pump to heat water when hot water is needed

Electric/Heater mode: Least efficient option, this will only use the electric element to heat water

Vacation/Timer mode: typically referred to as “sleep” mode, this is not on all HPWH models,

Auto/Hybrid mode: this is a default setting for everyday use of sustained heat

How the HPWH Works

The HPWH is a far more efficient way to heat household water because it using air already present in the environment.  A common analogy to explain how a HPWH works is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is designed to expel heat and create a cold place. In a similar way, the HPWH pulls in heated air, internalizes it, heats it to a desired temperature and uses that air to heat water for the household’s benefit.

Common HPWH Problems and Solutions

Winter Issues

One of the most common problems with a HPWH is icing up, especially in the winter time. The outside unit will often be covered with frost or maybe even a thin layer of ice. This is completely normal. When everything is working properly, the device has a built-in defrosting system that will help to take care of this problem. However, say the unit is covered in a thick layer of ice, or maybe the coils are surrounded by ice, and in a worst case scenario, the entire unit is completely covered in thick ice and heavy snow. All those problems could obstruct the transfer of heat from inside to the outside refrigerant which would continue to delay the HPWH functions. If this is left untreated, this could severely damage the unit beyond repair.

Here are a few ways to troubleshoot this problem before having to call in an expert:

See if your unit is activating its defrosting system

Make sure the outside fan is working properly

Check that the refrigerant level is where it is supposed to be

Inspect the outdoor unit for obstructions,  like ice or snow

Make sure there is no water leaking onto the unit from gutters or other places

Never chip away at the ice.

This could damage the fan coils in the device. Instead, use water to melt the ice. Try removing what may be blocking the air flow– like snow or ice. If the HPWH still won’t function, then it is time to call in the professionals to help sort it out.

Summer Issues

We explained above what to do when your HPWH starts icing up in the winter. You may find, however, that your HPWH is icing up in the summer months. If this happens, do not waste any time and call a professional right away. If the HPWH is icing up in the summer, there is a problem with the device itself and it should be looked at immediately.

Another common problem is when the HPWH is constantly running in the summer months. During winter, it may appear to be running all the time, however this is how the device was designed. The HPWH is not designed to consistently run during the warmer months, when the temperature is above thirty degrees. This could mean there is a serious service problem, such as:

leaky refrigerant

icing issues

a problem with the compressor

pump is too small for the household needs

improper insulation of exterior HP

unit is dirty and needs a good cleaning

Whichever the case, in a situation like this, it is best to call in an HVAC professional to help sort all this out.

HPWH: a great choice

Whatever other measures you take to help with energy efficiency, purchasing a HPWH is an excellent choice. Give us a call today to find out how we can help!

The post Heat Pump Water Heaters appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee.

source https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/heat-pump-water-heaters/