#my partner is having trouble keeping up financially with our needs & it's not fair to them for it to all be on their shoulders

[higheverlost]

my brain is still pretty sticky today. i’m taking a little bit of a caffeine break to try & force reset my sleeping schedule, but i’m going to try & write today. i’ve got some im’s to respond to after i shower & then i am going to try & chip away at my drafts!

[asset35-maya]

Prompt no. 18 from this list

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”

“Sorry, just give me a minute, babe. I need to recalibrate the interface I’m using…”

Gavin’s voice trailed off. The only sound in the room was from the clacking of his keyboard, his fingers flying across the keys.

Nines tried his best to take his mind off his situation. Immobile in bed… with the very real possibility that it could be permanent.

It was a just a software update… just another afternoon nap… but now he had no idea whether he’d ever move again.

Noticing his stress levels spiking, he focused on Gavin. The crease of his brows… the old scar across his nose… the determined set of his jaw as he scrubbed through lines and lines of code to find the root of the problem.

Gavin.

Lover. Friend. Saviour.

The man he depended on for everything, including his continued existence.

Nines silently thanked whichever force of nature had brought him into the safety and sanctity of Gavin’s embrace. RA9 or God or the laws of physics that dictated where atoms would end up from the beginning of time.

Not all androids were as lucky as he was.

After the Revolution, the digital giant known as Cyberlife had been dissolved under political pressure from New Jericho and its vehement supporters. Android production ceased, Cyberlife’s assets were stripped and its R&D departments were spun off into smaller, more benign companies.

People were elated in the beginning… and then they realised there was no one around to maintain and service the androids that now comprised 30% of American citizenry. Private technicians had booming business, but they were eventually overwhelmed.

The worst of it was the software.

The patches, the bug fixes, the security.

No single company was able to do it by themselves and individuals realised they were pretty much on their own. Human husbands and wives and girlfriends and brothers and pretty much everyone scrambled to learn how to take care of beloved androids on their own.

Gavin was one of the most capable ones. He knew how to do most of the mechanical work and quickly taught himself the software and systems elements. When Nines asked him how he was so proficient… whether he learnt any of it in college… he wouldn’t respond directly. The closest Nines had gotten to an answer was a grumbled “s what happens when you share a room for fifteen years with the nerdy prick that started all this trouble in the first place”

It was initially tough on the both of them… and expensive… as they figured out how to do things by trial… but Gavin was confident and adamant that he wouldn’t let Nines down. He quickly reached a steady state, even managing to get a maintenance routine in place.

But he couldn’t be perfect.

And there were things he couldn’t control.

Androids were the most complicated cyberphysical systems on the planet. Anything and everything could go wrong at any time…

And it had… during a major OS update.

“Babe, can you hear me?”

Nines’ LED cycled yellow once and went back to red.

Gavin held one of the limp hands in his own.

“Can you feel this?”

The LED spun again.

“Great. And I’m pretty sure you can see me, I know that look in your eyes, babydoll. Hmm… okay, that means all the sensors and IOT device connections are fineee…”

The musing continued as Gavin set aside the laptop and scooted closer to Nines. A gentle hand came up to tilt the android’s face from side to side.

“But you can’t talk…”

“AAAAAAAAAA”

“Wow. Never make that noise in the bedroom again. Hmm… Okay, this means your vocal chords are fine but you can’t move your mouth. Huh.. well… you can’t seem to move anything… not that different from your usual participation levels in bed then. Not to worry.”

The only thing Nines could do was glare and Gavin seemed relieved that even that was possible. He patted the android’s cheek.

“I’ll check your motor actuation and control. Simple modules. I should be able to see anything strange right away.”

Gavin resumed scrolling through the chunks of code and running searches for common errors. But minutes passed… and turned into an hour… and the hour, doubled, tripled.

But Gavin was undeterred. He had to be. Giving up was not an option. Plus, years of being a dedicated police officer had wiped out any fears of hard work and failure… he would scroll all night if it came to that.

A notification popped up on the screen.

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87: Sweetheart, you’ve been trying for hours. Take a break.

Gavin turned to his side. Nines could detect the worry and agitation behind the facade of lighthearted calm.

“I know right. It’s not fair. You’ve been chilling this whole time I’ve been working. Tsk tsk.”

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87: I’m serious, Gavin. Stop. Take a break for today. Call someone. You can try again tomorrow morning.

“Nines, you’re not a work assignment. I can’t take a break from you. You can get up and close this laptop for me.”

A few more hours passed. Frowning, Gavin climbed under the covers with Nines and began troubleshooting and testing all other modules too. It was a massive undertaking, but he’d be damned if he didn’t do it.

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87: Know when to give up on a lost cause.

It was nearly two in the morning when that message popped up. Gavin’s eyes were red from all the screen time, but his fighting spirit had not flagged. If anything, he felt close to the finish line. Having gone through nearly the entirety of his lover’s system architecture, there were only a few stones left unturned. He’d identify the problem, win half the battle and then the solution would flow from there. It always did. They’d be fine.

He turned to tell Nines precisely that and balked at the tears staining the android’s perfect face.

“Hey…”

Gavin leaned over his partner and wiped the tears away.

“Hey… shhh… don’t… don’t worry, I’ll take care of you…”

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87: I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I’m putting you through all this. Things can’t go on like this. I’m such a liability. Emotionally, physically, financially! You can’t keep doing this for me, Gavin.

Gavin placed the laptop on the bedside table and slipped deeper under the covers, wrapping himself around Nines’ still form.

“It’s a good thing you can’t speak right now, cause you’re talking some major bullshit, baby. You are going to be FINE. I will take care of you, like always, like I promised.

You are not a liability. You are my man. I signed up for this. If you were human and sick and I dunno, needed a kidney or something, I’d simply give it to you. You and I are bound like that. For life.

So quit bitching, let me do my thing, and when you’re back… you know how to thank me.”

He smiled genuinely as he said that, stroking the android’s skin and trying to calm him down. When the speed of the LED cycles came down and the colour stabilised at a warm amber, Gavin kissed the frozen lips and gave Nines one last cuddle before returning to his computer.

Sunrise began to streak across the dark sky by the time the critical error was identified. Gavin sighed deeply as he pulled up the faulty synchronisation that had jammed the hundreds of motors and drives throughout Nines’ body.

There was actually nothing much to be said for the root cause of the failed execution loop. Just improper methods written for some of the new hardware they had installed the previous week.

That’s what they got for using uncertified biocomponents and unlicensed third party software bought off the seedier parts of the internet. Some incompatibility somewhere would inevitably trip them up. Gavin was usually able to see such trouble before it found them… but even he couldn’t be perfect.

He stretched and cracked his spine and wiggled his fingers before plunging into rewriting the problematic section. He would sleep like a log after this… but first, he had to sprint to the finish line.

And he did.

At 7AM, Gavin finally copied the clean code into the compiler and hit execute. After a brief reinitialisation, Nines blinked awake. He raised his hands tentatively. As soon as he realised full functionality had been restored, he sat up and threw himself at Gavin, smothering the exhausted human in a giant hug.

Gavin hugged back, fighting to keep his emotions at bay.

“All… all good?”

“You saved my life. Again.”

“I’ll do it a thousand times more if I need to.”

“I thought I was done for.”

“Don’t be dramatic. It was just some bad code.”

“I could have been stuck like that forever. Never moving, never talking. Just lying there till my charge drains out. That could have been the end for us, and frankly, I was prepared for that eventuality. You should be too.”

“Never.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities, sweetheart, but we are painfully limited by our resources. There’s things in this world that only Cyberlife can do and they’re never coming back. We have to make our peace with that. Pulling all-nighters just to keep me alive… it’s not sustainable.”

“Hey it’s not like this happens all the time, Nines. I get that this was really scary, but it’s not always like this… so please don’t tell me whether things are sustainable. I will always fight for you. End of discussion.”

Nines didn’t respond and just rested his head on Gavin’s shoulder. His steel blue eyes were fixed on the pair of birds fluttering outside their bedroom window. They sat intertwined like that on the bed for a while. Now that he could, Nines didn’t seem to want to stop holding his partner. The birds landed on the window sill, chirping away and enjoying the morning breeze.

“They’re really quite sweet, aren’t they? The two of them are always here in the morning. I should build them a little bath in our garden.”

“They’re mates.”

“Huh. Just like us.”

“You know… it’s just a myth, what they say… that birds die when their mates do.”

“What?”

“Most species will go through a grieving period, but after that they will begin courtship again.”

“What the phck are you on about? No one’s dying and no one’s beginning courtship again. Nines, I’d move heaven and earth before anything like that happens.

Besides, if I really, really couldn’t get your body to work, worst case scenario, I’d just transfer you to a mobile device. Carry you around like a voice in my head… like my conscience… I promise you that nothing can keep us apart.”

It wasn’t all that easy to convince Nines, and Gavin wasn’t about to try. It had been an ordeal for the both of them. It wasn’t the first time, and it might not be the last. But for the time being, they had emerged, and they had each other, and that was all that mattered.

Yawning, Gavin lay back among the mussed sheets and pulled Nines with him. Birdsong and the muted whir of thirium pump compressions lulled him into a dreamless sleep.

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Weird, “My human.”

You guys requested some more LFIL stuff, so I have brought it. Lots of Fluff, I hope. So please enjoy. Also based on a couple ideas given to me by the Discord server :)

“Where are we going.”

“You’ll see.”

“I feel like this is becoming our thing.”

“What?”

“Dragging the other to some sort of event and not saying literally anything about it beforehand.” Sunny hummed deep in her chest and Adam just rolled his eyes, looking around at the dark city awash with eternal night.

“Why Noctopolis of all the places. I mean we have a week off and you want to spend your vacation days in the literal dump of the galaxy?”

She huffed and rolled her eyes, “Please, you love it here. It's like any tradeworld from any sci-fi movie ever.”

That shut him up, and she could see the slow grin pass over his face.

Finally she shrugged, “Look, I just thought it would be nice to… go somewhere where we could relax, not have to worry about hiding.”

“I think there are a few nice beachfront planets we could have done that on.”

“Not with the tourism.” She shot back 

A gust of sour wind kicked up through the bustling night streets tugging at Adam’s jacket and rippling the blue of his shirt like ripples across a pond. He adjusted his eyepatch as she led him through a maze of back alleys and tall buildings.

They took a rickety lift down into the gorge where the ever-present red mist billowed and glowed below them in patterns that undulated and wired.

They stepped off into another shallow rift, and followed a narrow street down into another side alley, where Sunny stopped.

Trash and little bits of paper blew around them where they stood in front of a peeling red door.

Adam raised an eyebrow at Sunny, “Ah, beautiful. A lovely vacation spot, I would like to move here and retire.”

“Smartass.” She mumbled at him before knocking on the red door.

There was a long pause while they waited, Adam tapping his foot against concrete below before the door opened a crack and a single human eye peered out at them. The distant echo of music thudded up through the room echoing off the walls.

“What do you want?”

“I’m A friend of Adam.”

Adam frowned and raised an eyebrow as the door shut suddenly and there was a rattling on the other side as if a chain was being released.

He glanced at Sunny but she only shook her head.

The door opened, and a woman with short buzzed black hair stepped into the doorway, invisible tattoos glowing under the blacklight.

As her eyes fell on him, he watched as her eyebrows raised, single eyebrow stud glittering in the light, “You weren’t kidding. Then her stern face broke into a smile, “Come on in. Any ‘friend of Adam’s is a friend of mine’.”

Adam followed along behind Sunny as the music grew louder, “Is that a code for something…. Is this a code? I am very confused.”

He was a lot less confused a minute later when they stepped out into the main room, a large spacious area with multiple stories. A room off to one side had bright flashing lights, and emanated with the sound of drums. Then there was a bar and couches and pool tables and TVs.

It was less of a club or a bar and more like some sort of clubhouse. The bar seemed to be serving food. On the second floor there were more couches, and some rooms that led off into other rooms.

But what really gave it away was the people.

Aliens and humans.

Aliens and humans holding hands and often cuddled up together on the couches.

He shot Sunny a look.

She just shook her head at him, and together they walked over to the bar.

Just off to their side a human was busily and delicately helping a Finnari to put on some sort of dark shaded glasses.

“That better, hun?’

“Yeah…. Yeah, that's better.” the Finnari hugged the woman, “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for>”

“I know you can change how warm you are, and I’m sorry I have to wear the glasses….”

She just laughed and kissed the top of his head.

Adam cleared his throat awkwardly and tugged at the collar of his shirt.

They made it to the bar before anyone recognized them.

“Admiral!” He winced and turned around running into a familiar face at the bar, a familiar green mohawk and a small blue finnari.

Adam frowned, “I thought you were living on the Tesraki homeworld now.”

“We lease an apartment there for business, but we prefer it here…. So tell me, what are you guys doing here.”

He glanced at Sunny, “That’s what I’d like to know.”

She took a seat, “Just relaxing. It is our vacation after all.

Mohawk eyed them a little as Adam sat down reluctantly.

“Drinks on the house then.”

Beside him, the little Finnari waddled over handing up a cup of cucumber juice for Sunny.

The man looked at Adam,”Pick your poison.”

Adam shrugged, “Something girly and brightly colored that tastes good. If I’m going to get drunk it better be worth it.”

Mohawk grinned and got to work.

Another couple wandered over to the bar talking and laughing sliding into seats next to Adam and Sunny.

The human recognized him instantly and grabbed his hand to shake, “Admiral, Vir. I can’t believe you’re here! I can’t believe I get to meet you…. I…. well me and Hasan.” He turned to look over his shoulder at the large, silver Drev sitting next to him, “We owe you so much, the entire community owes you so much.”

Adam blinked, “I…. Well I mean…. I only did what anyone would….”

The man shook his head and waved a hand at him, no no, only you could do what you did and only you DID what you could.”

Adam shrugged not entirely sure what to say before…. “May I…. ask you a question.”

“Anything.”

“Friend of Adam. What does that mean?”

The man waved his hand, “Oh, it’s just a little coad we have for someone who is LFIL, you know so that we don’t have to say it out loud to someone we aren’t sure about.”

“Oh, I see.” he glanced back at the silver Drev listening quietly from behind, “And i’m assuming you are some sort of Kung Fu master…. Dating a Drev and all.”

“Official battle partners , actually.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, “You mean you’ve challenged-”

“Challenged him to the right of unarmed combat. Yes I did. You sure know a lot about Drev culture.”

“You forget, I am Sentinel of a Drev clan, and I spent a couple months training with one of the clans on Anin.:

The man grinned, “But yes to answer your question. I am a…. Sort of well known here on Noctropolis…. MMA fighter, though I also dabble in the use of medieval weapons.”

“Adam only had a little trouble believing that this overly talkative man could probably kick him six ways to sunday, but it seemed strange with his strong but silent type Drev partner who seemed just happy to listen and sip at his juice.

The Bar tender came back with a pink smoothie that Adam was sure had so much rum in it he wasn’t going to be able to feel his legs tomorrow, but it tasted pretty good and it included a crazy straw, so he was happy enough.

The man he had just been speaking to grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to his feet, “Come on, you need to come meet the others, they will be so excited to see you.”

He was tugged to his feet and went only a little hesitantly.

Sunny fell back and began talking with the silver Drev rapid fire.

He was dragged across the open floor to where a group of them was sitting around a low table.

A woman in a nicely recessed suit was sitting with her chin on her hands staring intently at the board.

A few rolls of the dice, and the little black-furred Tesraki stood feet on the table and pointed at her, “HA I win, eat your heart out sweetheart.”

“Not fair, if you hadn’t put hotels on the boardwalk, i would OWN your furry ass.”

The Tesraki waggled his ears at her 

Adam couldn't help but bark out a laugh, “Are you playing monopoly…. Isn’t that dangerous to play if you want your relationship in tact?”

The Tesraki turned to look at him, walked across the table and then fell back into the arms of the wall dressed woman, looking rather smug as she wrapped her arms around him, “Not likely, human.” He patted the woman’s cheek, “my muse is one of the shrewdest business minds this side of the galaxy, and nothing is more attractive than pitting one financial mind against another.”

She stroked the fur on the top of his head.

Adam smiled but shook his head, looking around the room to where the others were staring at him.

He  leared his throat, “uh….hi…. Sorry to intrude we just….”

That is when the cheers started up and he was pulled into the group with the others. He shook a bunch of hands before things settled back down. 

A finnari and a human were curled up across the circle. 

Silver drev and his battle partner were holding hands just to their right, and Adam was feeling a little more than awkward sitting, back straight hands clasped politely before him like he was sitting at church.

“Forgive me for asking, Admiral. I know it might be a sensitive subject, but everyone here in the clubhouse know each other, and we…. Well we have been wondering for a while. Well, we know you are supportive of us, of course, but we wonder if maybe you have other…. Reasons.” They glanced at Sunny

He felt his neck turn red, and tried to cover it by pulling his jacket up.

He glanced at Sunny and she leaned in to speak to him, “I think you should tell them.”

HE frowned at her.

“Just hear me out before you shoot it down. “I know you're stressed trying to keep it secret, and these people have a code of conduct. They won’t tell anyone. I just think it would be good to get it off our chests for once to people who will finally understand.”

He could see her point of course, but still. He wasn’t sure. Just thinking about saying it oud-loud was causing his chest to tighten up a bit. He had been fighting to hide this for a while now, and it was sort of just habit.

The group stared at him.

Hopeful expressions almost. 

They were waiting for him.

But how was it that despite being with Sunny, he didn’t feel like one of them. The guilt was enough to galvanise him into action. He cleared his throat and sat up “well, not when I made the speech to the GA, no….”

They seemed to wilt.

“But,”

They all lifted their heads in anticipation, “I….. Sunny and I are….. Dating.”

The word fell from his lips like a led weight. His head felt suddenly light, and the room around them burst into sound and color as the group of them rose to their feet cheering. Someone slapped him on the back. 

He could barely hear.

“Feels good doesn’t it, to finally say something to people who understand. DRINKS FOR EVERYONE!”

The group was smiling and laughing, “Come on, you don’t have to hide here.:

“Hold her hand!”

“Yeah.”

He caved, even though his hand was shaky and slick with sweat.

More cheering 

He felt as if he was drunk, or drugged. As if he had stepped out of himself. Inside his stomach churned and swarmed with insects.

“Kiss her.” Someone else urged.

The group laughed, but took up the call. Blushing like red as a cherry he leaned up and gave her a quick kiss on the bheek before sitting back down.

Thanks for them, they sensed his nervousness and backed off.

Sunny hummed with pleasure.

He still felt lightheaded.

He could hear them talking but wasn’t sure what about.

Eventually Sunny got up with one of the other drev, and the two of them stepped over to a circle on the floor to have a friendly contest with spears.

Adam was left alone.

The partner of the Drev Sunny was fighting came to sit next to him looking over at the circle, “Pretty amazing aren't they….. Beautiful.”

He nodded lethargically before, “Can I…. make a confession?”

The group was interested and leaned in, he felt their eyes on him. He rubbed the back of his neck, “I… I really do…. Thank you all for… the encouragement but…. well . I have to admit that I….I’ve never really…. Felt like one of you.”

They seemed surprised but were interested to listen.

“What do you mean?”

“I…. well…. This is going to sound strange, but I’m not….. Actually…. Attracted to aliens.”

They stared at him confused.

He sighed and shook his head, “It's… complicated.”

“We’re listening.”

“I…. it's not the fact that she’s a Drev….. I would love Sunny if she were a Tesraki, or a Finnari, or a human. I’m not attracted to Drev as a hole, but Sunny….just Sunny. That’s it she’s the only one.”

There was silence for a moment, and for a second he thought he had offended them, but then.

“Aww, that’s so sweet.”

“I understand.”

“Yeah I can see that, but either way you are more than welcome here.”

He was surprised, and after that little exchange, he relaxed a little and smiled, taking a sip of his pink smoothie using his crazy straw.

Sunny was right, it did feel a little better to get off his chest.

And for Sunny, things felt better as well. Finally she had someone she could share with about humans. At one point the aliens and humans split off into groups, the humans living on nostalgic childhood games meant to cause pain.

Sunny sat with the others.

“And the mood swings with humans.” Someone was saying.

“Tell me about it. They go from angry to cuddly to horny in about two seconds flat.”

Sunny snorted, “Can’t say I’ve seen the last one, but the first two, yeah it's a bit of a roller coaster. No wonder they’re always exhausted.”

“Really, you’ve never seen the third one.”

“Adam is a bit…. Shy I think, It’ll probably take him a while.”

“Well you are in for a surprise when he does. Humans are a bit insane.”

One of the Drev huffed, “That’s a good thing I’d say.”

The group laughed and then, “Ok but does anyone else’s human get angry when they are hungry?”

A chorus of yesses.

Sunny sighed, “Oh yes, when your human is 6,2 and 210 lbs and often forgets to eat because he’s so busy. It is a common occurrence. Then he will try to argue with me when I go to feed him that he doesn't have time and he's stressed, and I tell him that he will feel better when he eats, but NO I’m the crazy one.”

One of the Tesraki smiled, “I find there are a few ways to remedy this. Number one, is that I have stashed snacks in all the vehicles and locations that we own. Barring that, I make it a habit to hide currency in her pockets so when she randomly finds a credit it makes her day. She doesn’t know I do this.”

Sunny smiled, “I have a friend who is a doctor, and he once made me read a paper about a human scientist Pavlov, who talked about conditioning, that if you associate certain stimuli with others you can cause a specific reaction. So I make sure to play this one very specific song when we spend time together or cuddle or something, so when he’s stressed  I discreetly turn it on,and either he relaxes or he comes to me for comfort.”

The group ohed at her genius and she felt rather smug.

That was until loud laughter rang out across the room, and the group of them turned to see humans standing on the bar… or specifically one human standing on the bar dancing stupidly.

She sighed, “yep, that one is mine.”

It was good to see him loosen up at little though and he was more than happy to be dragged around by her. She even forced him to come dance with her, and some of the others joined in. Flashing lights and bodies pressed tight together in a semi darkness. Aliens and humans.

All that while the humans were slowly getting drunker.

Thought that all lead to an impromptu karaoke session with most of the humans singing horrible off tune in their drunken state.

Interesting how humans could suddenly become so bad at speaking when drunk.

Adam did pretty well though for someone who got dared to sing Burning Love, which he did pretty well despite sounding absolutely nothing like Elvis -- though to be honest, Sunny wasn’t a big fan of Elvis anyway and preferred Adam’s version. But that might also have been for the eye contact he held with her on occasion, allowing her to think maybe the song was for her.

A fact that made her secretly very happy.

Adam got more socially confident when he was drunk.

It seemed odd to her that he could be such an extroverted person who was very charismatic some times, but in other situations he could barely string two words together.

Either way, looking around at other people’s humans she couldn't help but be a bit smug. Yeah sure their humans were fit, but her human was the best. In her opinion, he had the brightest UV stripes, the prettiest eyes, and the nicest smile. Not to mention that she would bet money he could win in a fight against the other humans . 

Unbeknownst to her, a similar conversation was happening across the room with the humans, accept it was out loud.

“I mean she’s fine, my boy is the best.”

Adam snorted, “Please, gold eyes and carapace the color of blue lightning. You can’t compete.”

“Mine is taller..”

“Mine is more huggable. The perfect height ratio, but have fun bringing a step stool around with you.”

“Don’t need one when he can pick me up.”

“She can pick me up too, so your point is irrelevant.”

He leaned back against the table, his voice slightly slurred as he stared across the room at her, where she was standing, demonstrating some sort of spear move to one of the other Drev.

His voice grew serious, “No woman, no Drev, no alien can compete with the sheer power, and grace. She is a phenomenal warrior, loyal…. Everything that is perfect.”

There was a pause, and then they all burst into a fit of drunken giggling.

By the end of the night most of the humans were passed out, or close to it. And the sober aliens walked over to collect their fallen human from the scattered bodies.

Someone ave Sunny a key, “Rooms upstairs.”

She nodded and thanked the bartender as she reached down and hoisted Adam up with her lower arms under his. He was probably going to have an intense hangover tomorrow, but now he looked rather peaceful in his sleep.

She waved at the other Drev doing the same thing to their humans. Occasionally helping one of the FInnari or Tesraki with a human that was too heavy.

She went upstairs and flopped him down on a bed. He didn’t wake up, but smiled in his sleep. She crawled up to lay next to him. She was glad that he had been able to relax. She had hoped finally admitting it to someone would help.

To be fair, she needed it too.

More than most could know.

[muwur]

hii :-) ur writing is so cute!!! could i uhh get some super fluffy mayb a lil suggestive one shot or scenario about being quarantined with oikawa post-time skip? 🥺

quarantining

✩ oneshot ✩ for oikawa

❧ gn reader

✎ 2.2k words

a/n: gotchu! hopefully i didnt take too long ;(( i have trouble getting inspo, it usually will hit me all at once or neverr. hope you like cx

wishin i got some quality times during quarantine, y/n out here rlly living their best n domestic life smh

also, i hope this was fluffy! ik i made it a bit silly and playful so i hope thats ok! lmk if you would like me to attempt again and id be more than happy too cx

requests: open!

So far, it’s been a month into quarantine. Despite having lived with Oikawa’s needy self for the past two years, being stuck at home with him all the time definitely tested your patience, especially when he was bored, seeking attention, and missing volleyball.

“Oikawaaa, hold on, I’m almost done with work. Maybe talk to Iwa for a bit until I’m free,” you suggested as you typed away at your computer, not even sparing your whiny boyfriend a glance as he lamented about his boredom.

“Iwa’s already asleeeppp and there’s nothing to do hereeeee,” he complained. He pulled up a seat next to you and poked your cheek repeatedly. “Having a long distance best friend and an s/o who doesn’t care about you is harddd, why does life give me such a hard time?” he despaired, referring to his best friend who lived in another country, and you, his partner, who was trying to do work so you both could be financially stable in the middle of this pandemic.

You rolled your eyes in response and turned in your chair to face him, grabbing his cheeks in your hands and giving them a squeeze. “Boohoo, I think someone’s gotten a little too used to having fan girls entertain him all the time.” You gave his pouty lips a quick peck. “I’ll be done in 20 minutes, max. Go watch some tik toks or something.”

After you returned to doing your work, Oikawa settled for wrapping his arms   from behind you and resting his chin on top of your head. He hummed to himself some trendy tik tok song he discovered the other day as he played with your hair, and you found the vibrations from his throat and the soft tugs on your scalp strangely soothing.

As much as you rolled your eyes or scoffed at his antics, you loved when he would go out of his way to catch your eye. Oikawa knew what would get to you. He could make you smile, laugh, piss you off, or comfort you in an instant.

You felt your heart soften at a memory from not too long ago.

“Hmmmmm,” Oikawa thought aloud, stroking his chin with his thumb. “Put that one... here.”

“Yes ma’am,” you responded, placing a pillow in the gap between two other pillows. Then, you both took opposite ends of the same blanket, draping it over the array of pillows you arranged on the living room floor and thus completing your pillow fort.  

He eagerly slid inside the castle and patted the spot next to him. “y/nnnn, hurry up and lay here with me so we can watch our favorite show while we cuddle and I feed you~”

You couldn’t help but smile as you obliged, easing into the spot next to him. You both lay on your stomachs, supported by a single, long pillow stuffed underneath your chests. Oikawa hooked an arm around your waist, closing the gap between you two. His free hand reached for a bag of your favorite snacks. He opened it, picked up a piece, then held it up to your face.

Just as you were about to take a bite, your face contorted into an expression of shock and betrayal when you saw him quickly seize the piece into his own mouth. Looking at your gaping face, he raised a mischievous eyebrow. “Oh, you thought that was for you?”

And that was how he ended up face down and star fished on the floor, with you sitting cross-legged on his back and triumphantly munching on your snacks, surrounded by a chaotic mass of fluffy pillows and blankets.

“I win,” you giggle through your bites.

“No fair! That pillow to my face came outta nowhere!”

15 minutes passed by when you finally finished, closed your laptop, and hugged his arms. “Alright, I’m all yours now, what’s up?” you tilted your head back and glanced upwards to meet his gaze, the corners of your lips turning upwards in a small smile.

“Wellllll, I was thinking of sharing a nice dinner together, maybe a fragrant bath...” he trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“Pffft,” you spit out, shoving his face away playfully and getting up to your feet. “Only if your highness will make me dinner. I’m hungry after a long day’s work of breadwinning. What have you even been doing all day?”

“Uhhh...” Oikawa pursed his lip and looked at the ceiling in faux thought. Then his eyes landed back on you sheepishly, “Nothing.”

Laughing, you gave his cheek a soft pat and took his hand, leading him to the kitchen. “Of course, I expected nothing less of you, Lazykawa,” you jibed, well aware you were using one of Iwa’s classic nicknames on him.

“Fine, fine, I’ll get something ready for us. You just sit your pretty self at the table and watch.”

"I want a close up view, though,” you remarked, snaking your arms under his own from behind as he was investigating the fridge’s contents.

“Works for me,” he winked.

You clung onto him and followed his steps around the kitchen, taking in his refreshing scent and observing judging his meal preparation.

“Mm, yes, instant ramen, quite the challenge, Oikawa. What’s your strategy?”

“Divide and conquer. Watch and learn, y/n.”

He exaggerated his movements throughout the cooking process, which made clinging onto him a bit of a struggle, to say the least. He finally poured the cooked noodles and soup into a large bowl, adding in some boiled eggs, seaweed, and green onion for embellishment. “Voila!” he bragged, carrying the dish slowly to your small dining table as you continued to follow him. Oikawa set the bowl down, “Dig in, honey.”

Unlatching yourself from his back, you took a seat next to him and lay a head lazily on his shoulder. His heart fluttered at the sight of your cheek nestling comfortably into him, and he mentally kicked himself for letting your proximity make him experience those first date jitters all over again, even though it’s been four years since that time. He took in the details of your face, feeling his heartrate quicken when your eyes slowly flickered upwards at him from underneath your eyelashes. Your sweet lips parted slightly, looking like honey could drip from them at any moment. They were captivating, but tread the wrong way and he could be left stung. He wanted them to say his name, longingly--      

“Well, are we going to eat or just sit here and let the food get cold?”

“O-Oh, right,” he stuttered out, taking a pair of chopsticks and dipping them into the bowl. How had his mind strayed so easily? He might act like he could keep his cool all the time, but with you, that was a different story. Four years whipped by quickly, but the thought of you never failed to bring him a sense of comfort, anticipation, embarrassment, and intrigue all at once.

He picked up a few strands of noodles and blew on them gently. The steam from the bowl rose to warm both your cheeks, marking them with a dewy, rosy tinge. Oikawa brought the noodles up to your open mouth, which you received with such delight that he had to refrain from gushing over how cute it looked. He continued to feed both of you, listening as you talked about work, how your friends were in quarantine, and what you wanted to do when things got back to normal. Although he was attentive, making sure to acknowledge your words with some sort of response such as a nod or a reply, he could feel a knot in his stomach begin to tighten ever so slightly. When his mind wandered, he couldn’t help but think about what the future held for you both.

You were one of the most supportive people in his life. You decided to move here in order to stay close to him and support his career and passion for volleyball. You found yourself a job in order to help make a living and adjust to your new lifestyle. You put effort everyday into your relationship, making sure you looked after one another and communicated your needs. Your empathy and understanding were unmatched, and he couldn’t imagine what his life would have been like for the last two years if you never came along with him. Reaching back farther, he was almost positive the last four years of his life and all the good that’s come his way since then was thanks to you.  

“To be honest, that ramen hit the spot more than I expected it to,” you sighed with satisfaction. Then, you looked over at him and noticed the slight furrow of his brows. “Tooru...? Helloo?”

You waved a hand in his face and jolted him from his thoughts. He took your hands and looked into your eyes with a spark of determination. “Y/n.”

“Uhhh... Yes?” you asked, a bit confused.

Closing his eyes briefly and taking a deep breath, he proceeded. “The years we’ve been together have been among the best in my life. You’ve never failed to make me feel safe and happy, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you by my side. I need you to stay with me, to look after me while I also take care of you. I know we’ve only fantasized and shared jokes about the future, like when we tell our children stories, you’ll make fun of me and share with them some of the dumbest things I’ve ever done. When we get a pet dog (or cat, or any other pet you prefer), I’ll have to compete with it for your attention, and I’ll probably lose. When I’m old and my knee finally gives out on me, you’ll lug me around on your back. But I don’t want those things to remain little jokes; I want to experience all those moments with you, no matter how big or small. That said...”

Once Tooru realized what he was about to suggest, his cheeks flushed and he accidentally bit his tongue. “Ow, fuck!”

Startled and still caught off guard from his sweet words, your eyes widened as you choked out, “H-Huh?? What’s wrong, what happened?? Tooru?” You tried to convince yourself the heat you felt was due to the hot ramen and your concern for Oikawa.

I was just about to ask for your hand in marriage.

He held his hands in front of his face, waving them around in frantic dismissal. “N-Nothing, I just bit my tongue..!” Gotta think, gotta think of a cover...! What else could I even say that would make sense after having said all that..?!

He took in another deep breath and held up both your hands again, bringing them close to his mouth and giving them a kiss.  “When this is all over... W-Why don’t we take a trip somewhere? We’ll go anywhere you like! Just us two, going on adventures, having drinks, doing fun things.”

You sighed out in relief, releasing your pent-up anxiety. “T-That’s all?! I-I mean, ah yes, of course! That sounds amazing, I’ve always wanted to go to *insert place here lol* and this would be the perfect chance!”

You cupped his face gently and brought him in for a warm, soft kiss. His lips meshed with yours as his hand reached for your jaw. His thumb caressed over your right cheekbone, pulling you closer and giving you a sense of security.

Though, at the back of your mind, you had suspected, Was he about to propose? But then you thought, Nah, if he was considering it, I don’t think he’d do that right now, stuck at home during quarantine. Now, what if I proposed before he did.... Hm...

And his mind was filled with, Oh thank god I caught myself, I don’t know what I would’ve done, I don’t even have anything ready, I never thought about it as seriously as I did in that moment, what was I thinking, also ramen tastes kinda good on their mouth...

A few minutes passed when you broke apart. He spent a few seconds looking into your eyes, which glistened with passion and love. “You’re really sweet, Tooru, you know that?” you said with a smile. He smiled, giving you a kiss on your forehead before standing up abruptly, much to your dismay. But then he offered to wash the dishes, much to your content and appreciation.

He finished not too soon after, then walked into the living room to find you splayed out on the couch and browsing your phone.

“I made dinner like I promised, so into the bath we go!” he yelled, hooking his arms underneath your back and legs to lift your body. You yelped in surprise, dropping your phone on the sofa. You instinctively wrapped your arms around him, laughing as he rushed towards the bathroom.

“Fine, I’ll keep up my end of the deal,” you said, reaching for the bathroom door’s handle and turning it open. Once inside, he kicked it shut with his foot and set you down on the sink counter. He moved towards the tub to turn on the warm water, then came back to the counter and held up two bath bombs. “So, you want rose or lavender?”

But instead, you hooked onto him once more and pulled him into a needy kiss.

Someday soon, when this is over, you’ll be mine forever, y/n.

Despite having lived with Oikawa’s dorky self for the past two years, having to be stuck at home with him all the time had definitely its perks. There wasn’t anyone else you would’ve rather spent your time with, that’s for sure.

a/n: fihuofiejmcg i tried LOL, i hope you liked, honestly was just typing ad goign along till i got ideas! I wouldnt let myself sleep until i finished this sdfghjk anyways. we luv oikawa. also i hope that last thought of his dont sound creepy LMAO

ps i shoulda been filling out my job application but lmaoooo

[stonebreakerseries]

Day 4: Ambush + “That didn’t stop you before”

Another piece for @oc-growth-and-development‘s OC-tober, also incorporating the Day 4 #Fictober20 prompt.

Series: Stonebreaker (Original Fiction) Characters: Delver & Sylda Warnings: Language

             ____________________________

Where in the Divider’s name could she have run off to?

Muttering darkly, Delver peered down another alley, shook his head, and continued onward, boots scuffing against the dust and grit that coated Yelen’s streets. When he’d left Sylda, she’d been half-dead at best, barely able to move, her body a mess of hastily bandaged injuries and deeper, less visible pains. It wasn’t that he blamed her for taking off the second his back was turned; all things considered, it was fair enough. Waking up to a complete stranger eating soup beside her bed - especially a man from the Allied Kingdoms - would be alarming at the best of times. But particularly for a young woman who had spent her previous waking moments hanging by the neck in the gallows courtyard. How she had managed to get out of bed, yet alone sneak out the second storey window, was nothing short of baffling.

Or it would have been, if he hadn’t already witnessed her do far stranger things.

Whoever she was - whatever she was - he needed to find her. Apparently, convincing her to uproot her entire life and travel the length of the continent alone with him was going to be difficult.

Who knew.

Alleys and side streets drifted past as Delver continued his nighttime hunt, the middle moon, Rhana, kind enough to bathe the streets in her pale blue glow. Part of Delver knew what he was doing was foolish. His innkeeper, after some creative haggling that left Delver short an iron drem and his belt knife, had offered vague directions towards a section of the city infamous for housing thieves and cutthroats. Apparently, it was an area civilians knew to avoid, especially after dark. Which just happened to be the exact place a runaway thief like Sylda was likely to go. 

Of course, that meant Delver had to follow, and despite it being a well-lit evening, he couldn’t keep his gaze from snapping towards every faint movement in the corner of his vision. This particular tangle of streets would make the perfect site for an ambush.

It was going to be a long night. 

What if she’d collapsed in an alley, somewhere? Divider, he hoped not. Burnout was a severe risk among thaumists - even highly trained ones. If she pushed herself too hard too soon, it could be enough to succeed where the gallows had failed.

After his wanderings along the main road bore no fruit, Delver sucked in a breath, shoved aside his self-preservation instinct, and began to search the side streets. The even narrower alleys, swathed in a near impenetrable darkness, could wait until he was truly desperate.

Of course, as he was quick to discover, even the side streets held their dangers.

“Well, what’ve we got here? You’re a long way from home.”

Delver came to a sharp halt as a voice carried up the street behind him. Turning, he found himself approached by two figures, one as tall as he was, the other about a half-head shorter. They ambled almost casually, which seemed an odd tactic for a robbery. Or a murder. That or he posed so little threat that they were happy to take things slow. 

How thoughtful.

“Easy,” Delver said, swapping to the local dialect, hoping its might earn him some kind of favour. He raised his hands, proving he was unarmed, although he doubted it made much difference. “I’m looking for a friend, not for trouble,”

As expected, the tall one snorted. “Right.” He gestured to his partner. “He your friend?”

Delver blinked. “No?”

“What about me?”

“Ah, no.”

“Well...” The shorter one smiled and drew a knife from his belt. “Then I guess you’ve got trouble.”

Great. Thieves and fucking comedians to boot. He must truly be the unluckiest man alive.

Sighing, Delver lowered his hands. “I guess I do.” He made a show of stretching his back, using the movement to quickly scan the nearby alleys. There didn’t seem to be any more movement. The two of them must have been running as a pair, probably on the way back from an unsuccessful hunt somewhere else in the city. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to just leave me alone?”

The tall one shrugged. “You could try. Most folks do.”

“I take it that didn’t stop you before?”

“Nope.”

Delver sniffed. “Fair enough.” He went to put his hands in his pockets, only to find a second knife being thrust menacingly towards him. Jaw tight, he froze, then returned his hands to their former position. “Listen - I’m only here because I’m looking for a woman.”

“Yeah? Ain’t we all.”

“No, not like… her name is Syldana.”

There was a pause. The pair shared a glance, brows raised, their knives still raised threateningly. “Hey, wait,” said the taller one slowly. His dark gaze drifted back to Delver. “You the one that bought her off the rope?”

Realistically, telling the truth could go one of two ways. Luckily, Delver had always been a gambling man. “I am,” he replied, raising his chin, doing his best to look more important than he was.

Again, the two shared a look. Then, the smaller one grinned, crooked teeth flashing. 

“Well, you’ve got more coin than brains, dontcha?”

Exhaling, Delver closed his eyes. Of course it went the wrong way.

The taller one stepped forward this time, boots crunching, advancing until he was almost within arm’s reach. “It’s our lucky day, Raoul. C’mon. Let’s clean his pockets.”

Well, there was no helping it. Shoulders stiff, hands still raised, Delver waited as the man started patting down his sides, hunting for hidden pockets, jewellery, treasures sewn into the lining. His knife hovered menacingly by Delver’s throat at first, so close that when he swallowed, he could feel the steel brushing against his skin. But the man was distracted, busy running a rough hand down the side of Delver’s leg. The knife wavered… pressed closer for a moment… started to dip away…

The second he had an opening, Delver swung, cracking the man across the temple with his elbow. He went down with a shocked yelp, red dust springing up around him. The knife skidded from his hand, but Delver was already moving, dancing out of his reach and away from his partner, who appeared to still be processing what had just happened.

“Krom!” the short one cried eventually, then turned a hateful glare on Delver. “You bastard - get back here!”

“Alright, alright. Just take it easy.” Delver continued retreating, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. Reaching back, he slid a wooden rod from his waistband, its twelve inch length concealed beneath his loose shirt. Just as well Krom hadn’t gotten too handsy, or he would have easily found it. With a jerk of the wrist, Delver extended the weapon to the side, doubling its length, then twisted to lock it in place. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. Krom was already getting to his feet and Raoul had seemingly regained his addled wits. “How about we all just walk away?” Delver pressed, eyes flicking between the pair. “No one has to get hurt.”

Their response was simple enough.

Grunting, Delver ducked to the side, the sound of Raoul’s dagger whipping past his ear barely registering as he swung the rod, striking the shorter man across the back. The thief grunted, the momentum of his overeager lunge sending him stumbling past, buying Delver a few seconds to plan his next move. 

Or it would have, if there weren’t two of them.

A low grunt gave Krom away, but only barely. Heart lurching, Delver whipped around, his movement unnaturally fast. As he spun, something inside him burned away, the sensation sending a shiver of discomfort racing through his body. Still, he managed to slap Krom’s fist aside and follow through, ramming the end of the rod into his gut. It’s been too long since I did this, Delver thought, breathing hard, hands trembling slightly as he backed away from his assailants. He’d grown too reliant on the anchor fastened to his wrist; too willing to use its reserve of thaumic essence than tap into his own. Now the disc was empty - possibly even broken. He was on his own.

The rod, handy though it was, wasn’t doing the damage he needed. Even with its unnaturally hardened wood, the two thieves just weren’t staying down. He was starting to think the obscene amount he paid for it in Tel Shival might have been a mistake. However, before Delver had time to dwell on his poor financial decisions, he found himself accosted once more.

One knife, one fist, two angry men. Delver wasn’t a fighter. Not really. As Krom swung a punch at his stomach, Raoul darted forward, slashing at him from the side. He could only hope to stop one of them, so he swung the rod towards the dagger, barely catching it before it sunk into his shoulder. That left him open to Krom, and he acted on sheer reflex. Concentrating, sucking in a breath, Delver reached for the hum that resonated inside his body. Then, without the time or practice necessary for any finesse, he dragged it all to one spot at the center of his torso. 

Krom’s fist connected.

And the bones in his hand shattered.

The man’s scream was enough to curdle Delver’s blood. Cradling his hand, at least three fingers bent at jarringly unnatural angles, Krom stumbled away, tears pricking his eyes, a string of panicked curses bubbling from his lips. “Y-Y-You! You rat-bloody-bastard!” He groaned loudly, sounding almost nauseous as he curled over his ruined hand. “K-King’s eyes as m... my fucking witness... I’ll kill you!”

Normally, Delver would have had a snarky remark for that. You’ll have to catch me first. Tell The Errant King I said hello. Try aiming a little higher next time. But instead, he found himself also staggering, heart pounding, head spinning. Almost immediately after Krom’s fist connected with his stomach, the area briefly hard enough to rival stone, Delver had lost his concentration. What remained of his essence suddenly dispersed, like a cloud collapsing under its own weight into a fine mist. He could barely feel its hum now. It was weak. Very weak.

I need to get out of here.

Sweating, Delver backpedaled, stumbled on a broken cobble, and barely caught himself against a nearby wall. His arms were shaking something terrible, the rod in his grasp wavering laughably as he brandished it between himself and the advancing Raoul. “Last chance,” he rasped, blinking, fighting to clear his vision. And to think he’d been worried about Sylda pushing herself too hard. Divider’s Own, he was a fool. If he burned out now, that was it. He was a dead man.

“Y-You’re one of those freaks,” Raoul spat. He was shaking too, although for a very different reason. “A fucking aberration's what you are!”

On a regular day, Delver would have been impressed that Raoul even knew such a long word. But as it was, he could barely keep his feet under him, familiar shivers starting to tingle across his skin. That damn girl, he thought, an irrational anger washing over him as his remaining attacker warily advanced. She just couldn’t stay put for one night. Couldn’t even do me that one fucking favour after I---

“Raoul - stop!”

Suddenly, there was another body in front of him. Short. Brown haired. Familiar.

Delver stared, speechless. He must be dreaming. Or dead. Or both.

With a knife in each hand, Sylda jabbed one towards Raoul, who had halted mid-step, eyes wide. She was still injured, the bandages around her wrists, stomach, and throat all stained brown from old blood.

But she was there. Awake. Alive. 

“Enough,” Sylda continued, her voice surprisingly firm. Far stronger than it had been just a few hours ago. “He’s with me.”

“Ahh…” Raoul glanced back at Krom, who was clearly the leader of the pair. Unfortunately, he found him barely conscious, slumped against the wall of a boarded up building. No help there. Slowly, he turned back to reassess the situation for himself. An aberration and a miracle, both apparently on the same side.

What would he do...

“He’s your friend, is he Sylda?” Clearing his throat, Raoul’s eyes flicked to Delver. “Why, ah… why didn’t you say so?”

Delver blinked. He almost argued, then realised that this was his way out. 

“Must’ve slipped my mind.” He shrugged awkwardly. “Sorry?”

Huffing, Raoul rolled his eyes. Despite his over-performance, it was no small relief when he sheathed his knife and took a step away. “Gotta keep a better eye on your friends, girl. Nearly killed this one. He doesn’t belong here.”

Sylda just nodded. “I’ll keep it in mind.” There was a pause. “Uh… what happened to Krom?”

The man in question had started whimpering, rocking slightly, hand curled against his chest.

“He punched a wall,” Delver said hurriedly, then shot a meaningful look at Raoul. The other man, clearly looking for someone to follow, nodded.

“Oh, yeah. Got a mean temper, he does. Really shouldn’t let it get the better of him like this.”

Sylda glanced back, and Delver nodded sagely. 

While it was pretty obvious that Sylda wasn’t buying their composite lie, it didn’t really matter. Sighing, she lowered her blades and shook her head. “Fine. You’d better get him back to the nest. Davros has been asking about you two.”

Raoul stiffened. “He has? Did he say...”

Dizzy and about one sharp turn away from throwing up on his shoes, Delver let the rest of the conversation wash past him, focusing on his breathing, willing his body to comply. With the threat apparently over, he twisted the rod, the two halves sliding back into themselves. By the time he’d managed to stow it away again, Raoul and Krom were already limping away down one of the nearby alleys, their forms vanishing into the heavy dark.

“You’ve...” Delver coughed, throat painfully dry. Another fun side-effect. “You’ve got some timing.”

Sylda just exhaled, clearly as relieved as he was. She turned, regarding him for a moment; his clammy skin, his shaking hands, his over-reliance on the wall. Then she reached up, fingertips brushing over the bandage he’d wrapped carefully around her neck earlier that day. As she did, her expression softened.

“Guess I could say the same about you, huh?” Slowly, she moved closer, concern tinging her round face. “Are you okay?”

Delver grunted, offering a conciliatory nod. As much as he’d been cursing her just a few moments ago, he had to admit, she had practically saved his life. Which meant…

“I suppose this makes us even.” Delver chuckled weakly, tipping his head back against the crumbling stone, closing his eyes. Just for a moment. “A life for a life. Pretty fair trade, if you ask me.”

Sylda hummed, and the pair lapsed into a strange, heavy silence. They both knew it wasn’t the same. Not really. What Delver had done - reckless and archaic and irrational - went a little beyond intervening in an alleyway brawl. When he’d saved her life, she’d been a stranger. A murderer hanging for her crime before a crowd of thousands.

But, as it turned out, they were both willing to ignore that fact. At least for now.

“Come on,” Sylda said softly, her voice coaxing Delver’s eyes to open once more. Blurry at the edges, she held out her arm - an offer of support. It was a gesture of peace, even if only temporary. “We’d better get out of here. I’ve... got some questions.”

Nodding, pulling in one last steadying breath, Delver didn’t even have to swallow his pride for once. He just accepted the offer.

[fortunatelylori]

Love your analyses. (You are to Sanditon what jbuffyangel was to Arrow.) Question about 1x03, When Sidney asks Charlotte for “feedback,” her first question is why didn’t he help Tom more. When Sidney says it wasn’t fair. he’d done all he could, she says, ”Have you?” Did she inadvertently contribute to the demise of her own relationship? Sidney is a loyal brother, but he’s also already in love with Charlotte and, whether he realizes it or not, wants her approval.

Before we get started on the ask, I would like to thank everyone who has sent me messages or asks over the past few days. I really appreciate your guys’ interest in my blog and Sanditon opinions and it’s immensely satisfying to me to play a part in the growth of the very new Sanditon fandom.

I have many Sanditon related projects in the works at the moment, namely a new fanfic one shot that should be uploaded in the next couple of days, a very exciting meta that I think you’ll all love and I need to get started on my Christmas fic if I am to finish by the middle of December as I have announced. All of that in addition to my and Mrs. @kitten1618x ‘s Sanditioncreative blog which will be hosting the first Sanditon Christmas event this year.

All of this is to say that I might not be answering your questions as quickly as I would otherwise. If that happens, please don’t get discouraged! I will answer ALL asks eventually, whenever I find the time to work on them. To that end, I would also kindly ask all of you to please send your asks solely to my ask me anything inbox because if you send it via replies or private message, they will end up getting lost and I will forget to answer them.

Hope this works for everyone! Let’s get to the ask …

Oh, nonnie … I’m pretty sure you had no idea what you were getting yourself into when you sent this ask but strap in … because the time has finally come to talk about …

Tom THE WORST Parker

Leaving aside the torch and pitchfork party we’ve all thrown for Tom, I do think we should take a moment and give Kris Marshall a shout out for an outstanding job playing this character. Look at the desperation in his eyes, the strained smile, the implied pressure he is applying on his target (Sidney as per 90% of the time). He even does that annoying calling people over with your hand as if they were your dog thing that drives me nuts!

Fortunatelylori: Put the hand away, Tom, unless you want me to cut it off! Arghhh!!!

Now, you might rightly ask why we’re going to talk about Tom when your ask is about Charlotte and how she might have ended up sabotaging herself.

The thing to keep in mind is that Charlotte Heywood is our entry point into Sanditon. We are being introduced to this world and these characters through her eyes. So we are inclined to take her opinion on everything that is occurring as gospel. However, we should remember a few things about Charlotte: despite having excellent instincts and insight into people, she is still very much a young, inexperienced girl who has lived a very sheltered life. In addition to that, she is very kind hearted and a true romantic.

All of that makes her prone to having better opinions of people than she should at times. For example, she thinks Otis is “a good man who made one terrible mistake” because she doesn’t truly grasp the seriousness of his gambling addiction and because she feels that if he truly loves Georgiana then he can’t really be bad.

Her opinion of Tom is similar to that. Tom is, if not a nice man (he isn’t but we’ll get to that), he’s at the very least a pleasant one and that outward ease and friendliness makes her empathize with him.

On the other hand, her major issue with Sidney is her inability to figure him out and his desire to keep people at arm’s length:

Charlotte: You are determined to remain an outlier. God forbid you give something of yourself!

Sidney: Please do not presume to know my mind, Miss Heywood!

Charlotte: How can anyone know your mind? You take great pains to remain unknowable.

Again and again, she reproaches him for not being more involved with Georgiana, for not helping Tom, for trying to separate himself from those around him. And while there is truth to what she’s telling him, it also reveals that Charlotte can be easily taken in by people who display affection and/or involvement towards others, even if the cost of that is very steep.

She judges Sidney harshly for not behaving that way, while allowing Otis and Tom to get away with their bad behavior because they do involve themselves in people’s lives and give “proof” of caring and thus make Charlotte think they are inherently good people. However, what she fails to see is the selfish reasons behind those characters’ actions.

I did reblog a gif set of Charlotte telling Sidney to help Tom more and made the joke that she shot herself in the foot. But that was me joking and noting the dramatic irony that the writing employs.

The serious interpretation of Charlotte’s line isn’t that she unknowingly acted towards the demise of her own love story but rather that she completely misunderstood the dynamic of the Tom/Sidney relationship.

In her mind, it was Sidney who held all the power in his relationship with his brother, as the younger, more handsome, more successful sibling to the put upon and fate tested idealist Tom. As such, Sidney’s “refusal” to help him seemed petty and cruel to sweet angel Charlotte who is utterly fascinated by what Tom is doing in Sanditon

And by and large I think the viewers have also bought into that image of Tom and Sidney.

But I would like to propose a different interpretation:

There is no reason to assume that Sidney wasn’t helping Tom prior to Charlotte calling him on it. Why else would he have dragged Crowe and Babbington to the ball in episode 1? Why else was he getting his liver smashed in, boxing for their entertainment or playing at cards in the hotel restaurant? Why else would Tom talk about Sidney “profiting” from the success of Sandition if Sidney had not already invested in his brother’s project?

The problem isn’t that Sidney isn’t helping him. The problem is that Tom has an endless list of things he needs help with:

Sidney: At least this time I leave knowing you are in good heart. A new physician, a new regatta to plan. All is well with Tom Parker.

Tom: So it would seem … Oh, I say … I’m … I just wonder if while you’re in London you could stop by the bank for me  and see if they might consider extending …

 First he needs help attracting fashionable people to Sanditon. Sidney provides them. However, as he points out, there isn’t enough entertainment in Sanditon to make it worth their stay. I would suggest that’s Tom’s fault, not Sidney’s.

On that note, remember what Eliza said during the regatta:

Eliza: At the last regatta I attended, they raced Arab stallions. The one before that featured 18 clippers in full sail. But for sheer exhilaration what could compare to a sand castle competition?

Leaving aside that this is Eliza and we all hate her, what does this tell you about Tom and his understanding of his clientele? Because it seems to me he wants Sanditon to be the Regency’s version of  Monaco while offering the quaint entertainment of whatever seaside resort your granny goes to.

He then reveals that he has financial troubles and needs money and eventually sends Sidney hat in hand to beg the banks for a loan. Sidney doesn’t want to do it at first because he knows there’s no point to it but because Charlotte made him feel guilty, he relents. The result is what he already knew: no more credit for Tom. This is Tom’s reaction:

Tom: No, no! That is not possible! Clearly you forgot to explain about the regatta. We are soon to be the most popular resort on the South Coast. Did you even mention Dr. Fuchs?

Sidney: Tom, I spoke to 3 different banks, at lenght. Not one of them is willing to extend your credit any further. 

Tom: What do you suggest I do now, Sidney? What exactly do I do now? 

Look at that violent, desperate reaction! That’s what emotional blackmail looks like. And that, my friends, is abuse. Because in one fell swoop Tom has not only put the blame on Sidney for something that is out of his control (Sidney can’t force the bank to give Tom money) but also put the eventual consequences Tom will face squarely on Sidney’s shoulders.

Also Tom decides to go buy necklaces for his wife instead of paying his workers. When they argue with him at the cricket match, he walks away in a fit, leaving Sidney, and Charlotte, to clean up the mess. It’s also up to Sidney to resolve the workers’ problems by “loaning” Tom the money to pay them. I’ve put loan between “” because one has to be truly naïve to think Tom would have ever paid that loan back.

I would suggest that Tom is an irresponsible, selfish man and a terrible businessman who doesn’t need help. What he needs is a business partner that will control his terrible decision making and handle all of the business aspects of Sanditon while Tom scribbles away at his architecture plans (plans that I suspect were mostly created by James Stringer and that Tom is taking credit for).

And on some level, I think, Sidney knows that as well, which is why he fights Tom’s desire to involve him in the running of Sanditon at every turn:

Sidney: I’m sorry but I have done everything you’ve asked of me, Tom. I’m not your keeper. I will gladly own my mistakes but I cannot own yours.

Oh, you sweet summer child …

I don’t think it’s Sidney’s dream to manage a seaside resort, not is it his responsibility. His brother is an adult who should be held accountable for his own actions. However, at the rate this story is going, running Sanditon while Tom gets all the credit for its success is exactly what Sidney will end up doing.  

His reluctance to get more sucked into Tom’s schemes in the beginning, I think, has less to do with Sidney being a bad person or an outlier and more to do with knowing that once he relents, there will be no end to Tom’s demands on him and he will end up being his keeper for all eternity.

Episode 8 also reveals something very interesting about the entire Parker family: they are all enablers of Tom’s bullshit. Arthur is the first to offer up his inheritance on a silver platter, Diana refuses to let him blame himself and Mary is ready with a love declaration the moment Tom shades one crocodile tear.

Despite being the hardest one to crack out of all of them, Sidney is ultimately one more enabler to Tom. He hops on the first carriage to London and gives up his life in order to spare Tom prison time.

From where I’m sitting, the dynamic of these 2 brothers is the complete opposite from what Charlotte estimated. It is Tom that holds all the power and he and Sidney are involved in a toxic relationship that has been going on long before Charlotte ever met either one of them. Perhaps it started the moment Tom paid Sidney’s debts before he sailed to Antigua. Perhaps it started long before that.

However, I don’t think Charlotte’s intervention in episode 3 influenced Sidney’s final decision. What ultimately sealed the deal on that was the emotional blackmail Tom has been inflicting on Sidney for years, Tom’s expectation that everyone in his life do everything to service him and his family’s compliance with those wishes and, not least of it, Sidney’s lack of selflove that allowed him to prioritize his brother’s temporary stint in prison (he could have worked to pay off Tom’s debts over time; there’s no law that says Tom had to be in prison forever) over his own permanent misery.

I’m not sure this was the turn you were expecting my answer to take but I hope you found it useful nonetheless.

[x-tarothoe-x]

Example Relationship spread using the Tarot in Wonderland and Alice Oracle Deck.

I did this spread for a girl who wanted to know if her relationship could be saved after a near breakup. She has given me permission to share this with you anonymously.

The left cards relate to the inquirer the right cards to the partner. The top 2 cards represent what each person is bringing to the relationship, the second 2 represent what each wants from the relationship and the final card represents the common goal.

The king of swords suggests that the inquirer is the decision maker in the relationship and powerful as this is she may be so busy making sure things are running smoothly and making sure her partner does things to her standard that she can appear cruel, cold or just generally lacking in excitement and enthusiasm. The card warns of the cold cutting edge of the mind without the warmth of emotion to balance it.

The eight of cups in reverse suggests that her partner is resisting walking away from the relationship, it is not what he wants but what he fears. It is a card of discontent with currant circumstances but as it is in reverse it shows he doesn’t want to walk away but wants things to change and work out.

The four of swords in reverse suggests that what the inquirer wants is a rest, a rest from the troubles of the relationship, a rest from organising daily life for them and a rest from any other responsibilities she might have but is unable to do so as without her involvement it may fall apart. It also warns that one may become so focused on a problem that it becomes a larger problem than it is, like looking under a microscope. Try to focus on another activity such as reading a book and things may seem a little less problematic and stress will be reduced.

The knight of wands in reverse suggests that the partner wishes to be appreciated admired and adored more, he needs an ego boost but as this card is in reverse it tells me he is unable to get this satisfaction as the inquirer is too tired and stressed from holding things together that she has little time or energy for emotional displays of affection. Wands represents passion and drive, he may be looking for more passion in the relationship to reignite the flame and perhaps more freedom for recreational or creative endeavours.

Ten of pentacles as the common goal is a very welcome card indeed. This cards shows that they both want a stable and loving relationship a happy family and financial security. Regardless

I then drew some Alice oracle cards. I used the “through the looking glass” spread as shown in the guidebook to see what is hidden or unclear regarding the question. Card 1 is at the top and clockwise the cards represent hidden emotions, hidden motivator (desires, drives and passions), hidden thoughts, hidden physical needs and hidden spiritual desires.

Hidden emotions - Law is not justice, rules that are not fair (reversed)

This card suggests that someone may feel like they are following rules that are not fair, or may be trying to impose unfair rules that they themselves do not follow. It can also suggest a biased judgment or a flawed filter of the situation. This card may relate to the king of swords in that it is suggesting to wield your sword wisely, if you are the decision or rule maker you must be fair and follow your own rules as a good example try not to cut into someone harshly if they do something unsatisfactory and consider how reasonable/important the request really is.

Hidden motivator - The right way, learning to create what u desire (reversed)

This card suggests that someone has not been motivated to act but are waiting and thinking and perhaps simply wishing for things to get better rather than doing anything about it. A possible connection to the eight of cups in reverse the unwillingness to walk away does not necessarily mean a motivation to act and perhaps these cards show there is no clear action to take however one must keep trying.

Hidden thoughts - Growing up, wanting to grow in experience,rejection of perpetual youth (reversed)

This card in its reverse position is suggesting someone is holding on to youth wanting to be young again and denying the changes that come with ageing. May also think that although they are older they haven’t learned much or got far and this negative self talk should be avoided at all costs. May also have thoughts that their personal growth is being hindered by the relationship.

Hidden physical needs - Nature communication (reversed)

This card represents misunderstanding, making assumptions about someone, not making true efforts to understand, and differing communication techniques/ styles. It suggests that the couple need to work on communicating and understanding each other, notice how one another show certain signs that don’t necessarily mean what you may assume. Also may suggest a need for physical touch in this position which relates to the knight of wands in reverse as in the initial spread.

Hidden spiritual needs- Use your time well, make every moment count (reversed)

This card in its reversed position suggests that someone is being to available to everyone, martyring themselves to help others. Someone may be wasting time answering questions that aren’t asked with the right intentions or trying to solve unsolvable problems, the card warns of these traps. It suggests that we take more time to ourselves and appreciate our own time not wasting time on things that serve us no good. Spend time on things that bring joy and satisfaction and do not waste time focusing on the negative.

The inquirer found this reading resonating and hopefully inspiring as although there is much work to be done there is much hope and love too. I thank her for allowing me to share this as an example of my work, if you would be interested in free 3 card reading feel free to message me if u would like a larger or more in depth spread such as this you can make donation at the link below and message with you question and desired spread or deck.

[justfor2am]

Snow in Venice

Words: 4610

Warnings: Character death, terminal illness, crying, alcohol mention

Ships: Logicality, implied Prinxiety, Logince

I technically wrote this a while back on a different site, but I figured I could bring this over here too! Hope y’all enjoy. Based around the cover of ‘Snow in Venice’ Thomas posted a couple years ago. I apologize if the Italian is wrong, I had to use google translate for some bits.

Abejita: little bee

Logan has the perfect life. A wonderful husband, a house, and a place in the world. But seasons change, and with it, Logan finds himself chasing old horizons and running into new ones.

   "Maybe my song isn't happy enough but I, I see it take flight with the snowflakes above me..." Patton's voice carried through the kitchen, over the light sizzle of eggs in a battered frying pan. Logan had been busying himself with setting the table, when a faint smile passed over his lips.

        "That song again? I'd thought by now you'd grow tired of it." His voice held no bite as he set down the last of the cutlery, and snaked his arms around the other's waist. Logan loved hearing Patton sing; sweet like the cardinals chirping outside their front porch. Light streamed through the open curtains of the window; the air was a fair and breezy reminder of the coming spring weather.

        Patton laughed under his breath, soft, golden brown curls falling into his eyes. He pushed his hair back, (Logan really must get him a haircut) and shrugged. "I don't know, it just makes me happy. Even though the singer is sad, they're still looking for their partner."

        He turned off the gas-lit stove with a click. "It's almost romantic." Patton smiled at his husband, and left a sweet kiss on his lips. Logan could never get enough of his kisses, and his ears turned pink in embarrassment. "I suppose that's one way of viewing it."

        "Come on, honeybee. Breakfast's ready!"

                                                        •••

        "My coffee gets cold, as I'm staring enthralled, at the snow, that keeps falling outside." The words were no longer belted out in a rich, warm tone. Patton's lungs had grown far too weak for such things in recent months, and Logan didn't want him straining himself anymore than necessary. Patton busied himself with another knitted scarf, humming under his breath; Logan prepped him another cup of tea and tried to ignore the fits of coughing that frequented his room.

        "You really should rest your voice, I don't want you to lose it again." Logan carried a small tray into the other's room, a cup of lavender tea with two spoonfuls of honey they way he liked. The tray was set down on the nightstand, and Logan picked up Patton's last, unfinished cup. He was having trouble keeping anything down, these days.

        Patton's fingers froze in their weaving, the yellow and green thread uneven and messy. He slowly turned to look at Logan, a thin, fragile smile gracing his face. "You're so sweet, but I promise, I'm nearly well. Can't I go outside for a little while?" He asked.

        Logan watched him carefully, those round, hazel eyes that didn't shine the way they used to. Logan saw how Patton's hand shook, how he could barely keep his knitting even. And he didn't want to remember the last time he'd let his husband get out of bed unattended; a nearly twisted ankle had given them both much more than a small fright.

        It pained him to shake his head, to look Patton in those gorgeous, hazel eyes and tell him "no," tell him "he couldn't risk getting any more ill."

        Patton said he wasn't sick, this was just a small flu, a cold, allergies. Every day, something new. Every day, the same request to leave bed rest just for a day, an hour, a minute. All he wanted to do was feel the sun again, or if it were raining, to splash in puddles and not care if his socks got wet. To be and feel alive.

        Eventually, he stopped asking. Mid summer, when Logan brought him his hourly tea, he asked a different question. "Honeybee," Patton said, "Could you bring me a map?"

        Confused, Logan set down the cup of tea. "A map? A map of what?"

        He paused, thinking. "Europe, I think. Yeah, Europe." He was almost cheery, a new, excited spark emitting from Patton. "And a pencil, if you don't mind."

        Logan brought him what he'd requested, and kissed him. "I don't know what you're planning, but don't strain yourself." He said. "The last thing I want is for you to fall asleep while working."

        The latter only smiled, and cupped his cheek. "You're one to talk, sweetheart."

                                                        •••

        Patton hadn't been this bubbly in ages. Through all of the coughing and feverish ranting, he kept his spirits high with what he was now calling, "The Fredricksen Project".

        "You know," he pushed another red pin into the now lightly battered-up map, connecting the blue thread to yet another city, "Like Carl and Ellie Fredricksen, from Up?"

        Logan chuckled, moving to sit on the bed next to Patton, "Last time I checked,  they only wanted to visit one place in South America, or did we not view the same movie?" He took a seat next to Patton on the bed, where he was now tying a light blue thread from one pin to another. There were quite a number of places marked, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome- "...I don't suppose you're also planning for modes of transportation?" He asked lightly. "London and Paris aren't exactly next-door-neighbors."

        His husband only shook his head and laughed. "That's part of the fun. We'll figure it out as we go." Patton pushed the map away from himself, taking a long look at it. "I think," he said, "we're still missing something." He pursed his lips, and clicked his tongue in a wondering key. "I just don't know what."

        Logan picked up the map, and smiled. "Perhaps a final stop in Venice wouldn't be a bad idea." He took a red pin, marking the city. "What do you think? I've heard it's lovely in the spring." 

        Patton nodded, and kissed his lips with a content hum. "Venice sounds perfect." He sat up slightly, stretching his back. "When would you want to go?"

        Tapping a pencil against the paper, Logan counted the points listed. "There's quite a lot of cities to visit, it would take us a while. We've only just finished paying off the house, and there's still my work at the university that needs to be taken into account-"

        He was interrupted by a heavy bout of coughing, and his eyes darted to Patton's frail figure, curling up into himself. Logan's hands went like clockwork, first to push away any loose pins or papers away from Patton, then to the glass of water that always sat on the nightstand. But he refused the water, instead taking a long, heavy breath. Patton leaned back against the pillows and sighed.

        Logan pushed his curls away from his eyes, and he could see what was left of that bright cheerfulness draining away. Patton was exhausted, or maybe more than that. Something like running on empty, Logan supposed.

        "Maybe we should wait a while, until your health impro-" "No." Logan blinked, his train of thought interrupted. Patton rubbed his eyes, and pulled his heavy black-framed glasses off. "I don't want to wait anymore."

        It was rare for his husband to sound so blank, even with the state of his illness. This was something new. "...What do you mean?" He asked.

        Patton stared down at his bedsheets, folding the fabric between his fingers. "I...I don't want to put this off anymore." He paused, adding hastily, "The trip, I don't want to wait on the trip anymore."

        "I think it's time we had ourselves another adventure, you know?" His hazel eyes met Logan's, and once again, Logan found it painful to tell him 'no'.  "Yes, I think it's time."

        He stood up, leaving the map with Patton. "But, not today. Soon, however. I promise."

        Patton nodded, looking back down at his hands. "Soon."

                                                        •••

        "I got you something!" Patton hid his phone screen from Logan, who in turn, playfully covered his eyes. "I suppose this is a 'no peeking' type situation?"

        Patton giggled, "Yup! You have to guess."

        "How many guesses do I get?"

        "Um, one."

        Logan uncovered his eyes slightly. "Well those don't sound like fair odds."

        "Hey, no peeking!" Patton chided, and Logan covered his eyes again. "Wait, can I just tell you? It's really, really special."

        "Do I get to uncover my eyes if you do?" Logan asked.

        "Sure, now come, come!" Patton reached for Logan's hand. Logan uncovered his eyes and threaded their fingers together. "What did you get me?"

        Patton turned his phone back on, "I know our anniversary is a few weeks away, but I wanted to go ahead and get this early." On his phone, there was a receipt for a connected-flight plane ticket. Logan scrolled through the page, and skimmed the cities listed. "London, Paris, Berlin... Patton, how did you afford this?"

        He shrugged, still smiling. "I went through my retirement fund. Was a penny and a half, but I'm glad I did." 

        Logan was dumbfounded. "I, this is a wonderful gift Patton, I love it." He hesitated. "But, I can't accept this. It's too much, you'll need something to fall back on financially in the future. Besides, there's only one ticket, and if you're implying that I take this trip without you, I could never."

        Patton squeezed his hand. "Honeybee, it's okay. This is just the first step, you know. We'll start saving, and I'll get a ticket for myself later. But this is yours, and I want you to have it."

        His breathing failed him for a moment, and Patton took a long pause. "From me to you, our adventure is finally starting."

                                                         •••

        "I don't want you here; please go home."

        "My home is right here; I'm not leaving."

        This was the types of talks Logan and Patton were having now, but instead of their cozy two-story home, and soft beds, and hot tea, there were sterilized hospital rooms, and hard beds, and beeping machines.

        Patton was counting his fifteenth day in this room, and fourth in his attempts to convince Logan to leave. "I don't want you to see me like this, I know it hurts you." His voice was faint and broken, and anything he said was more often than not, followed by a coughing spell. "It's time to go."

        "If you think I could leave you in a hospital all alone, of all places, and be able to live with myself, then you are sorely mistaken." Logan had his arms crossed in a defensive pose across his chest, pacing the room with an irregular foot step. "It's not time to go anywhere, Patton. I need to be with you, here."

        Logan could see Patton shaking his head out of the corner of his eye, and he sighed. "I'm not going to leave you, and that's final."

        "I've trapped you, I didn't mean to do that-"

         "You've done no such thing, rest your voice."

        "Lo, you need to go."

        "I can't. I won't. I'm not going to."

        Patton coughed, and fell back against his pillows harshly. "I think, maybe, we have different meanings to where you would go."

        He stopped pacing. "I'm talking about our house," Logan said. "What do you mean?"

        "Europe."

        He froze. "No. Absolutely not. I cannot go to Europe and simply leave you here."

        "You already have a ticket, remember?" Patton mumbled. He closed his eyes, and slowed his ragged breathing. "Everything's ready, and I really want you to go. Take pictures for me, if you'd like."

        Logan shook his head firmly, "I'm not going to Europe while you're so ill. When you get better, we can take the trip together. I promised you that, remember? I promised that we would go soon, the moment you were well enough to travel. Besides, there's almost enough saved up to buy you your ticket, it's just a matter of waiting a little while longer."

        Patton opened his eyes slowly, and stared up at the ceiling. "You know I can't wait anymore.

        "That's not true, you're getting better."

        "You know that's a lie honeybee, please don't lie to yourself."

        "Stop saying that, you're getting better I know it-" He wasn't sure at what point he'd walked to the window, or why he was leaning against it trying not to cry. Logan wasn't sure of anything anymore.

        "And traveling light.... is a curse, and a blessing. For someone like me, whose heart has gone missing..." Patton's voice was thin and worn out, but Logan needed to hear it.

        So get on that plane, as the snow turns to rain, and I'm writing your name, on the clouds..." 

                                                        •••

        Logan had always hated airports. The noisy bustling of business men in grey suits and black ties, maternal figures herding their children and partners to the correct gate with an exhausted expression, and those were only two types of people that frequented this place.

        It was something akin to purgatory for him, and Logan was filled with doubt from the baggage checks to the physical act of boarding the plane itself. There was very little he still carried with himself: a single suitcase with simple, practical garments, a wallet with as much money the bank allowed him to withdraw stuffed messily inside, and a few legal things here and there. Birth certificates, social security cards, passports, things he wanted to do away with.

        He found himself taking a window seat, waiting for the actual departure. Getting to this point had been incredibly difficult, and somehow the funeral was the least painful of the events leading up to this point. The event was an unsteady blur, from unknown guests leaving their best regards with him, to unwanted handshakes and teary looks as he sat silently by the casket staring unblinking at those who were mourning.

        He didn't want to mourn here, where people would judge and jeer, those who never approved of their marriage muttering under their breaths as to how deserved his husband's death was. 

        "Fuck them," Logan thought. Logan opted to mourn in private, when the viewing was over, and the body burned. Patton had always wanted to have his ashes turned into a tree. "Give back to the world!" he would have said. Patton was always giving too much. Giving was what killed him, handing out bits and pieces of his soul until there was nothing left of himself to keep ,and he was flat-lining at the hospital, and the room was so full, too many people, too many hands on his husband, where was his-

        Logan casually brushed away a stray tear that crawled its way down his face. No, not here. Not in an airport, of all places. He stared hard out of the window, his breath heavy, fogging up the glass.

        He wrote his name. It faded quickly, and Logan sniffed as quietly as possible. This was no place for crying. 

        This was no place for remembering.

                                                        •••

        The trip was fairly straight-forward. Logan found himself at what most would consider the most attractive tourist locations: London was the Buckingham Palace, a bus tour, the Tower of London, and a quick view from The Shard before departing for France. The sooner he got out of the UK, the better. Logan could remember all of the places Patton had longed to visit here, planned to a key. It hurt to stay.

        Before he left, Logan did make time to visit platform 9 3/4. He took a picture of the trolley stuck in the wall, and an attendant approached him. "You're allowed to take a picture on it too, if you'd like."

        He shook his head politely. "No, thank you. The pictures aren't for me." He walked away quickly, looking to avoid her follow-up questions. Yes, he should leave London promptly.

        France, unfortunately, was not any better for his emotions. Paris, the revered "City of Love": couples walking in happy, bubbly pairs and kissing by the Eiffel Tower ate away at Logan's heart, in pinching, little munches. He spent the least time in Paris, eager to see any place that wasn't so full of romance and well....love.

       Germany was a welcomed stop. Here, it wasn't so bad to drink beer at three in the afternoon by yourself in a park, so long as you didn't bother anyone walking by. Logan rummaged through his suitcase and pulled out Patton's map. There were still two more cities left, and he groaned to himself. There was very little will left in him to get off of this stupid bench, let alone finish the trip. Yes, Berlin was lovely.

        But it would be better with him here. 

                                                        •••

        The endeavor that was this trip wasn't to be completed in a matter of weeks, oh no. Logan had set out shortly after Patton's passing in late November. It was passing New Year's now, and he'd spent it drinking in Rome. In his defense, there was an extensive selection of wines to be had in Italy, and it would be a disservice to not enjoy a few glasses. Or at least, that's what the bartender had told him.

        Logan had left Berlin some days before the coming of the year, in a state of heated embarrassment. As it turns out, to make calls overseas via cell phone, you need an international calling card, which Logan did not own nor cared to purchase. He knew that family and friends back in the States were probably wondering where he was. In rather broken Italian, Logan made his way to a phone booth that hadn't seen a human in ages, and stuffed several euros into its slot.

        "Dove stai chiamando?" ("Where are you calling to?") the automatic voice system asked.

        "Um, gli stati Uniti?" (Um, the United States?") he replied.

        "Si prega di inserire il numero desiderato, ora." ("Please enter the desired number, now.")

        "...grazie." (Thank you.)

        He punched in the 0-0-1 for international calling, and froze. Logan didn't really want to call home, but felt that out of obligation, he should. He shook his head, and entered a familiar number.

        "Hello?" He spoke into the receiver. "Hello, greetings, um, it's...it's Logan. I know I haven't called in a while, I've just been...uncertain, of myself as of late. I wanted to check on how you were doing-"

        "Hey there!" A voice replied. "You've reached the voicemail of Patton Sanders!"

        Logan's shoulders sagged. The message played on, "oh, Logan's at the door, that's my husband. Logan, honeybee, come say hi! Oh whoops, that was the mail lady, sorry Mary Lee! Well anyway, this is his voicemail too, so just leave a message and we'll get back to you in a jiffy! Bye now!"

        A long beep played, and for a while Logan didn't say anything. He stared at the light flurry of snow that had started to pile up against the phone booth door. Months. It had been months since Logan had heard his husband speak. 

        He cleared his throat. "H-hello Patton, it's me. I know it seems odd to leave a voicemail, but many odd things have happened to me lately."

        "Uh, well, it's still snowing here. I'm in Berlin, by the way. On our trip? I'm sorry you couldn't make it, you couldn't imagine the views I've seen...um...I miss you. I miss you quite a lot, and I'll be home soon, okay? I promise. I love you."  Logan set the receiver back down on its hook, and rubbed his face pink, trying to fight away the tears. Not here, not now.

        "I love you. I love you a lot." 

        Now he was in Rome, trying to forget all of the emotions that had attacked him in that moment. Grief, joy, heartbreak, it just wasn't the right time for these things.

                                                        •••

        "Venice, the great city of.... Oh, who cares anymore." Logan thought, shuffling in from the heavy mid-January snow into a quaint café a few blocks from the airport. All of the time he's spent in Italy, Logan found himself enjoying the language as he ordered a small coffee in (albeit rather clumsy) Italian.

        The café carried a mellow atmosphere, with a guest tucked away in a far corner skillfully playing the piano. The lights were fairy-like and dim, and with plush pillows and chairs, it felt like home. Logan took his coffee to an empty table, and pulled out the battered map one more time. Venice was the last city Patton had planned for, and Logan was faced with the drudgery of home life staring him in the eyes blankly. 

        As much as he had wished for Patton's cheerful presence on this trip, Europe had become a healing experience for Logan, and he wasn't looking forward to leaving. Instead, Logan focused on the moment, and sipped his coffee slowly as the pianist started to shift songs.

        "Forse la mia canzone non è abbastanza felice ma io, lo vedo prendere il volo con i fiocchi di neve sopra di me." The voice was warm and rich, full of a vibrant tone that Logan could only call familiar.

        Half way into the first verse, Logan could hear the man shift into English. "And maybe I'll see you again when it's snowing in Venice. And I will be on my way home." Several heads had turned to catch a glimpse of the singer, but most simply nodded along, accustomed to these types of performances happening. 

        Logan stood, and made his way to the piano as the man sang on, "And see you in London or maybe in Paris. Berlin will be waiting, and so will be Rome," Logan knew this song. Had the words stitched into his heart and brain, knew the notes by memory. "And maybe I'll see you again when it's snowing in Venice. And I will be on my way home." The singer paid no attention to Logan, eyes closed in thought as he played. 

        "Oh la Venezia, mi fa cosi bene." Logan sang along quietly, sitting down nearby the piano. "Esco ogni sera, e vado a ballare." The pianist lowered his voice to raise Logan's, eyes still closed as he followed the tune. "Che ben atmosfera, che bellissima neve. Non ce proprio niente," the singer opened his eyes, and caught Logan's eye. He paused, hands floating atop the keys.

        Logan finished the phrase, "....Che mi posso mancare..." The two stared at each other a long time. There was something familiar about the other, but the two had never met before. The café had gone quiet, and whispered murmurs were floating around.

        Before Logan could even say a word, the stranger spoke. "...Virgil?"

                                                        •••

        The air was crisp and sharp, the heavy snow from before lightening into a gentle flurry. The two men sat together outside at the edge of a fountain, now frozen over and still.

        The pianist apologized for earlier, his suave, confident movements now awkward and nervous. "I hope I didn't startle you with what I said, you looked so much like someone I used to know." His voice was muffled from the heavy scarf around his neck.

        Logan waved him down, "It's alright, of all the things I've have to deal with on this excursion of mine so far, I would say this is the least unpleasant. Dare I even say, interesting. You speak two languages?"

        "Three," He mumbled. "I grew up in Spain and moved to Italy a few years ago. I've picked up what I can from the locals, and now it's my home."

        "Where did you learn English from?" Logan asked.

        The man sighed, and pulled down his scarf. "From him. Virgil." he clarified. "We met after I moved here, he was a college foreign exchange student from the United States. He spent two years here in Italy, and I found myself entertained with his language that I only knew bits and pieces of."

        "Eventually," he said, "I took an English class at a small college here, and the rest is history." His breath made small puffs of smoke rise up into the air, and his cheeks a rosy pink.

        "That's incredible." Logan said, watching his own breath lift into the breeze. "The only Italian I know is by ear, and even that is limited to a semester at best."

        They sat in silence for a while. "I never got your name."

        "I'm Roman. You?"

        "Logan. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

                                                        •••

        The two chatted for some time, until the sun started to reach for the horizon with its orange hues. Logan learned several things about Roman in that time: he moved to Italy to become a performer, he dated Virgil during their second year together but separated when Virgil had to return to the U.S., the two no longer spoke, and Roman was always wondering how he was doing back home.

        Logan told Roman plenty about himself: how his husband had planned the trip, about Patton's terminal illness and passing, how much he enjoyed having someone to share his grief with. When the tears came, and after so long of holding them back you'd think this would have happened sooner, Roman simply pulled a crumpled tissue out of his pocket, and gave him a side hug.

        "I think you know where you're supposed to be," Roman said. "And it's not here."

        From there, it was a simple exchanging of numbers and a short cab to the airport.

        Upon returning to the States, Logan bought the first calling card he could find and dialed Roman's number with an unsteady hand. "Hello? This is Logan."

        "Missing me already?" The voice teased. Logan sighed with relief, and chuckled. "I bet you'd enjoy that, wouldn't you? I'm only testing my card." He hailed a cab from the airport parking lot. "When did you say you could visit?"

        "March uh....shoot, what's that number? After the twelve? I can't ever say it right."

        "Thirteenth?"

        "Yes, that one! March one-three." He quipped.

        Logan smiled, "I don't know if I'll have my house clean by then, it's been empty for some time now. I wouldn't be surprised to find it over run with dust bunnies by now."

        Roman laughed loudly into the receiver, and Logan found himself remembering Patton's laugh within it; rich and full of life. "Please, a few dust bunnies is nothing compared to a good duster and enough time."

        "I guess you'll just have to come and see for yourself." Logan opened the door to the cab and pulled out his suitcase, staring up at the empty house. The paint was cracked in a few places, and the mailbox was overflowing with letters.

        The inside was perfectly persevered under a heavy layer of dust, and each room had a vast empty feeling to them; a need to be filled.

        "We've got our work cut out for us here, Roman." Logan set down his suitcase on the kitchen tables, and he yanked the dusty curtains open, propping his phone under his ear.

        "Oh, we'll manage. I better I can dust faster than you can, Abejita." 

        Roman laughed again, and Logan watched the bits of dust fall to the floor and on the sink, pilling even further. But the mountain of dust was a more welcomed sight than Logan's own grief, which felt small next to Roman's voice.

        He looked out the window. Patton's ash tree was much more than a sprout now. It was tall and thin, with wispy branches and a few vibrant, green leaves.

        A bird was singing. The sun was out. Roman rambled in his ear, and Logan felt at ease.

        "I'm so excited to visit America, I've never been there before! Florida must be beautiful abejita, I've seen pictures of your palm trees and wide beaches, and of flowers and animals..."

        "Yes, yes." Logan replied, but he was barely paying attention anymore. He closed his eyes, and hummed to himself.

        "It's home."

[polyamorouspixie]

Hello! I’m not sure if you’ve answered this question before, but what’re your thoughts on/tips for coming out to (potentially unsupportive) family? My husband and I have an almost 8 month old daughter, so we’re worried that will complicate matters and make them less accepting than they might’ve been otherwise 😥

I don’t think I’ve covered this before!

My first feeling on this is: you do not have to come out. Coming out is a big deal, and you can’t take it back. So have a look at the reasons why you’re doing it before making a big jump, and weigh up the pros and cons of what’s likely to happen. Is there a chance they would cut you off entirely? Do you rely on them for childcare? Would they ever cause trouble e.g. reporting you to your work or contacting social services? It shouldn’t have to be this way but the reality is these are risks in our society.

But, equally, there are risks to consider in staying closeted. If you get outed accidentally, family are much more likely to react badly as it’ll probably come at a bad time and there’s also that “they’ve been lying to us” aspect. You’re more likely to get serious backlash if they do find out that way, and you’ll not have so much control over how they view it. Depending on your set up, it may be really hurtful to your partner(s) to not be out. If you’re in an equal triad and one person has to pretend to be the lodger when your parents come over, that isn’t fair. But if you’re in a quad made of two previously existing couples, maybe being closeted isn’t so bad. If your non-marital partners are fairly casual it might not matter if they know your parents or not. 

I’m not a big fan of “being out is the only way to be your true self”--sometimes it’s safer, easier, and better for someone not to share all their life with everyone. I would absolutely not judge anyone who didn’t want their family to know they’re poly. My parents don’t know I’m poly or bi; or if they’ve twigged, we don’t talk about it. There’s a lot of pressure, especially in the queer community, to be out all the time, and I don’t think it’s necessarily healthy. 

Consider also that being out has grey areas. Maybe Mum and Dad will be alright, but your grandparents don’t need to know. Maybe his favourite auntie would definitely be cool and would understand keeping quiet with some of the rest of the family. Be aware that you can’t stop people from passing on information once they have it, but hopefully you know who is trustworthy when making these decisions. Keep in mind your daughter will soon be able to absorb information and pass it on, long before she understands the concept of appropriate audiences, and that children pick up so much more information than you realise. 

There isn’t a right or wrong answer to being out or not. Every choice has risks and benefits, so pick the one that seems best, not try to find one that’s perfect. 

If you do decide to come out, there are things you can do to make it go smoothly. First, test the waters a little with their general reaction to polyamory. Mention some friends who do it, or share an article, or ask their opinion of a documentary (Netflix has a series of short documentaries called Explained, one is Monogamy, it would be a good starter for someone who has never considered non-monogamy). Keep in mind that even if they react well to it generally, they may not be so keen when it’s in their family. 

When you decide it’s time to talk to them, I’d suggest a casual setting. A “we need to talk” and formal set up puts people on edge. Choose a time when nothing much else is going on (do not come out at a family event. People will be so mad). I’m a big fan of giving information through text because it gives you time to think about what you’re going to say and give the right impression, and it gives the receiver time to process before they react. There’s a lot of pressure when someone drops information on you unexpectedly and then stares at you to see what your face immediately does. But however you choose to tell them, keep it simple. No jargon, nothing unnecessary. Talk to them in terms they understand. Tell them what it means to you without giving uncomfortable detail. Most people do assume any kind of non-mainstream relationship is seedy, overtly sexual, and it is unfortunately on you to portray it to them in a way that isn’t. So don’t talk about it as a social idea that loads of people do, just talk about how you found you loved your friend as more than a friend and having that closeness brings happiness to you and your marriage, or whatever is appropriate to your situation (if you’re still at the “seeking” stage then you can talk about this in the abstract). Be gentle with how you explain it, it might come as a tremendous and unwelcome shock to them. 

You are going to have to put in the work here to make this go well. Don’t be confrontational when they ask rude and invasive questions. Answer them gently, again in words they understand with a focus on the happiness and support of the people involved. Calmly remind them that you have no intention of exposing your daughter to inappropriate behaviour with others any more than you would let her see behaviour between the two of you that she shouldn’t see. If swinging, sex parties, kink, etc, are involved, DO NOT mention it. They don’t want to know and they don’t need to know. You will probably have to be extraordinarily patient, repeat yourself, and give them space and time to process that what they wanted for you isn’t what you want for yourself. 

With time, though, even the most unusual of things become mundane. Don’t be disheartened if people are critical at first, because once the dust has settled, they will probably become tolerant. In my first job, I came out, because I had two nesting partners who would come and pick me up from work. At first I had to deal with the most ignorant and rude comments, but after a while, it was just who I was, a funny quirk of me that people were quick to defend if people from other departments noticed anything. 

Prepare for worst case scenario (if you rely on them for housing, financial support, childcare, make sure you have a backup plan where you can survive without them), whether you come out or not, because you do not know how people will react. I hate to have to say this, but it will go a long way to be “respectable” in every other aspect of your life. People who are “concerned” for the welfare of your child will look at how tidy your house is, how you dress, how you speak, how you eat, and judge you on that. Be a person who smiles at their neighbours, says hello, sends Christmas (or otherwise appropriate) cards to them, takes in their mail if asked to; so if anyone asks, everyone will have good things to say about you. Go out of your way to make a good impression on them, and on your co-workers. It’s unlikely to come to it, but be prepared for the worst.

Equally I don’t want to terrify you. Likely it won’t even be that big a deal; you’ll get cards sent that deliberately miss off names, a few passive aggressive comments, but everything will kind of just settle back to normal. Be prepared, but don’t panic. 

[austral-taur]

Mindless Self-Indulgence: Venus in Aries Mini-Scopes

Though both the Sun has ended its period of exaltation in Aries, and Venus its period of exaltation in Pisces within a 24 hour time frame, do not fret! Venus will be living her most bold life in her detriment in Aries, where she will stay until May 15th, when she makes her homecoming to Taurus. Even though Venus is in a sign where she cannot be her most elegant and peaceful self, she’s here for a good time, not a long time! She will work her way through Aries largely unbothered until she begins squaring the problematic pileup of Saturn, Pluto, and the South Node in mid to late Capricorn. While you may be tempted to live it up, perhaps a crisis half way through will prevent the good times rolling, more likely than not to keep them from rolling off of a cliff. However, as she parts ways with Aries, she will make a trine with retrograde Jupiter in late Sagittarius, providing some relief as well as a signal that she is no longer walking through the obstacle course laid out by the Capricorn parts of our lives.

As I state in all my threads, I write these Mini-Scopes from the perspective of the rising sign. However, feel free to read for your big three (Sun, Moon, Rising)!

Aries

You may find yourself feeling more attractive, if not starting to realize that you have the agency to turn over a new leaf in relationships and make new moves when it comes to finances. The subtle hints that were muffled during Venus’ time in Pisces have finally made themselves clear, and you will probably feel ready to seize what you feel is rightfully yours. However, a lesson you need to learn is that it is better not to overdo things, because there is such thing as too much of a good thing. If you do find yourself finally starting to reap the benefits of finances, or perhaps you have begun to realize that perhaps that person did like, you, it is best not to take such an abrupt change of pace just because you’re aware of it now! This could lead to some unwise spending decisions, possibly in an attempt to impress a lover or win people over. 

Taurus

Where you were feeling social and busy before, now you may find yourself needing to put a lot more energies into recharging your batteries. During this time, you may find yourself struggling to get work done because you are filled to the brim with new ideas that you are considering acting on. However, you may also be hindering your own ability to take care of routines that need to be taken care, of and you might be a little bit too indulgent during your alone time! Rather than letting all the energy you have for things stagnate or become wasted on things you likely won’t commit to once Venus is back home in your sign, you might want to spend time preparing for the things you are actually invested in.

Gemini

Now that you have probably done the necessary damage control to repair your reputation, you may find that you are motivated to try your hand at being social again. However, you may find yourself getting a little to comfortable with certain groups of people. Something that is important to remember is that the enemy of your enemy was never really your friend, they were just strangers uniting behind you temporarily for a “greater good.” Something you may also have to realize is that certain friends may reinforce some of your less useful habits, particularly those around fun hobbies or romantic activities that are known to often get you in trouble. Something worth noting is that you might want to tread lightly when it comes to reintegrating yourself into certain social circles, or approaching new ones altogether. You want to avoid living out the previous patterns that may have nearly cost you your reputation before!

Cancer

If some of you were able to travel long distances to see family, or perhaps a visit with long distance friends inspired you to consider changing residence, you are probably coming into this time feeling like you can make the necessary career changes to make that happen. Something you might want to realize though is that you cannot just rush through things just to get closer to this fantasy that you can almost taste! There can be a sense of wanting to push too much for this to happen, and in doing so you might alienate your friends or upset the sensibilities for certain family members. You may also find that you are just wanting to move in with friends or something to that effect, but perhaps a series of snafus keeps this from happening at the pace you would like it to happen. 

Leo

You may find yourself thinking that you are out of the woods when it comes to your reputation and the scorn of public opinion because of the help you may have gained from powerful friends or forces in secret. However, you may find that any avoidance of judgment has come to a sudden end, and you will be forced to confront your beliefs about where you stand, and what your role in your community is. You may find it a lot harder to properly control the narrative around what people are saying about you, or if you have siblings, you may find yourself struggling to support them from far away as they go through major life changes of their own. If you are tempted to journey far away from your problems, guess again! They will probably follow you everywhere. The best thing that you can do is use this energetic time to effectively cultivate a piece of mind and perhaps change your views about how public opinion will shape your trajectory.

Virgo

After doing some necessary relationship repair and finally feeling aligned with your partner and loved ones once more, particularly if you were having some difficult challenges related to money or your beliefs about it, you may find yourself needing to spend time with the aftermath of certain financial decisions you have made! If you went on a vacation to repair things with someone you love, now it’s time to work hard and pay off whatever debts you’ve acquired in trying to treat your loved one. If you found yourself instead dealing with legal challenges from an adversary, you might find that even though things went in your favor initially, you may have some challenges to getting the money that you are owed from this other party. Rather than fighting to the death to get what you are owed from this person, perhaps it would be wise to be happy with the bits and pieces they are able to pay you during this time.

Libra

After getting your nest-eggs in order financially and helping your partner sort through their finances, if not finally dealing with some debts you acquired by working smarter last month, you may find yourself needing to expend a lot of your energy on partnership this month. Where things were running smoothly before, perhaps the other party involved might feel that something is amiss financially and is worried about whether they are getting their fair share of the bargain. You may find yourself struggling to smooth things over with a romantic or business contact when it comes to some join resources that you have shared together. If you had already put things towards that agreement, you may find that some challenges with the actual account or resource will require you and this other person to put your heads together to figure out how to get the ball rolling.

Scorpio

While you have probably been able to appease your partner this last month or have a bit of needed seclusion with your partner, you may find that you will need to turn your attention to dealing with challenging scenarios at work or routine wise. You may find that your partner is actually quite busy, and as a result you may have conflicts about the lack of time that you have been spending together. Your partner may also being going through a difficult transition at work that may require you to be a lot more supportive, if not needing to renegotiate a lot of their schedule. Something that you might need to realize is that after the honeymoon or romance, comes the need to really work through some issues that you two have probably spent quite some time putting a bandaid on. The good news to remember is that this is only a temporary transition phase in your relationship.

Sagittarius

Though you might have recently been inspired to make some huge moves to be with friends, or maybe you and some people you know made some huge collaborative effort to redecorate your home or something to that effect, you are probably wanting to go out and celebrate your new space with a house warming party or something like that. Something you might want to be wary of is inviting the wrong people into your space this month, because they can literally and figuratively really do damage to your space. As a result, you may find yourself having to invest a lot more time and energy into cleaning things out and fixing things that are broken. If your friend was going through some challenges with health or family that required you to be supportive of them privately, perhaps going too hard on the celebration isn’t a good idea. You do not want to undo progress that you’ve made!

Capricorn

You have probably been inspired to really make the important creative changes to your lifestyle or career, and have been starting up school to hone your craft, if not telling everyone and their mother about how hard you’ve been grinding to make this a reality. However, this will probably be a time of having to come home to family and face the music about the gravity of your choices. You may find that you will have to smooth things over with parents or people you live with that maybe do not approve of what you are doing. Alternatively, you may find that in getting career things done, you may have to start focusing on life at home that you have been neglecting, especially if children are involved! Though you may experience a semi-turbulent peace at home, do not forget about the things you have been working for.

Aquarius

You have probably been thinking about and saving up for a long distance move for quite some time now, and perhaps you finally have the money to do it! However, during this time, you may find yourself needing to fill out a lot of paperwork and perhaps even renegotiating the terms of your place in a way that makes you think that this is not going to be a stable or achievable reality for you. You may even find yourself needing to make frequent trips to see the place before you can live in it, possibly doing a dent in the savings you have probably miraculously acquired in order to make this happen. Though it might seem like you have to exert a lot of effort just to make this big move a reality, it will eventually pay off!

Pisces

You have probably received some good news about an educational opportunity, if not the potential to gain some financial support or assistance or something to that effect. However, you may learn that you will need to maximize your income in take in some innovative ways if you really want to have the financial mobility you desire. While there is the potential to tidy up and improve your finances, something you might want to do is read the fine print before entering some pretty binding financial agreements with people. Also, your attempts to become more financially savvy or literate might have you consulting way too many sources that may contradict each other, leading you to make some impulsive decisions about what you want to do financially. Now would probably be a good time to just work with the little support you have, until you can really make the most of the funding and opportunity you have been given.

[dear-madam-mediator]

Hello. I'm a woman supported financially by my parents. They are threatening to stop, however, if I do not marry. I'd prefer to keep my independence. Knowing some of your backgrounds, I wanted to ask: would it be worth living as a free man instead?

Mod Hamilton: Personally, I would have never taken up this lifestyle strictly to avoid marriage - it was actually what allowed me to get married to whom I wanted (this led to varying success, but that's neither here nor there). However, to answer your question: there are certainly opportunities to be found, but there is a fair share of cons, too. My advice is to take up a particularly skilled field. I chose to become a doctor, for example - a niche profession that pays quite handsomely. Yet, for people like us, all it takes is for one person to "expose" our situations to render months of faithful work worthless. At least doctors are in high enough demand that I can take my services elsewhere easily - which is why I suggest a similar strategy if you're determined about this.

Mod Bonny: If you ask me, you should take what you can from your parents for as long as you can. If they're not going to support you for who you are, milk them for what they're worth and then get out. After that, consider this: you're probably fairly broke at this point, and I'm not going to assume like some other people that you have the background to just flounce around as a doctor or professor or whatever. So I say, if it's this society's standards that you're against, you ought to leave it completely. That's what worked best for me - sure, I've gotten married, but living a life on the sea makes getting away from crappy partners pretty easy. Woman, man, whatever. Just be who you want and live how you want.

Mod Howe: The others have suggested choices that require a degree of flexibility, but perhaps you want to both settle down and live in this way. In that case, I can't deny that it is possible, for I know of the situation of myself and my husband, but you must consider the following: marriage is inevitable. After all, my husband started life as a woman, but we agreed to live as we are now, as it allowed us to start a business together. So yes, it was financially rewarding. However, this is not something you could do alone. My husband needs me for cooking and cleaning, unable to procure outside assistance out of fear of being discovered. So, is it marriage to a man in particular that troubles you, or the whole arrangement in general? Consider what really troubles you, and what you're willing to give up in order to avoid it.

[northamptoncouplestherapy]

When To Call It Quits On Your Relationship

Being in relationship limbo is hard. For most of us, ultimately untenable. It’s understandable to want to bale when you and your partner are always fighting over seemingly insignificant issues, like what to have for dinner or where to park the car. Equally painful, is the throbbing ache of loneliness that arises in a relationship devoid of conflict that simultaneously lacks connection. A marriage where you’re living parallel lives and sex and affection are a distant memory.

But discerning whether or not your marriage is over can be challenging – and we know that the degree of crisis your relationship is in is not a predictor of its potential to rebound and improve. Furthermore, the decision to end a relationship, especially when you have children, should never be taken lightly. Children form deep and enduring emotional bonds that connect them to significant family members across time and space, and ruptures in these relationships can have a substantial and lasting impact on them, informing who and how they love in the years to come.

If you are struggling with knowing how to proceed in your marriage, there are beacons along the way to help you discern where your relationship falls in regards to hope, potential, or crisis. Telltale signs that can assist you in determining whether it’s time to end your relationship or give it one final try.

The Cusp of Catastrophe Sometimes we arrive at that moment in our marriage when we realize we’ve done all we can with diligence and have to give serious thought to the ending of our relationship. We feel we’ve brought our best self forward and believe we’ve reached an impasse. A place from which we can go no further – where we require specific changes that we can’t skimp on. These are deal-breakers that necessitate drawing a line in the sand. At the very least, arriving at this stance requires that we stop pretending things are okay (they’re not). At most, it calls on us to make one of the hardest decisions in life and determine whether or not to call it quits.

This can happen subtly. The months and years leading up to this moment often reach a tipping point. John Gottman, world-renowned for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction, refers to this juncture by citing what mathematicians call “the cusp of catastrophe.” It’s a qualitative state arrived at by the slow and subtle accumulation of stress and increased complexities. A threshold of urgency that once crossed, can result in coming undone. Think the straw that broke the camel’s back – the cap left off of the toothpaste. What’s important to note about catastrophe is that while it can feel sudden and dramatic, it comes on gradually, almost invisibly.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, it’s essential to remember that if you don’t stand by your guiding principles now, then your guiding principles don’t genuinely exist. The challenge of being on the brink is in finding a delicate balance between maintaining firm boundaries and a soft heart, even when dealing with game-changers like betrayal, rage, and separation.

Lack of Mutuality in the Relationship Stan Tatkin, the founder of PACT, A Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, states that in order to thrive, a relationship must operate as a two-person system. Meaning you make room for your partner’s thoughts and feelings, and they make room for yours – you give each other equal regard. Relationships that tend towards being one-directional do not prioritize the we, and instead, one partner’s agenda and mood dominates the culture of the couple. A lack of mutuality can happen for all sorts of reasons. It may be that one of you is more passive, does not speak up, or is guilty of enabling a rather expansive or dominant spouse. In such scenarios, it’s important to remember that the fault doesn’t lie solely with the partner who tends toward being overbearing. And that regardless of whose fault it is, a lack of power-sharing in a relationship spells trouble over time. It breeds resentment and is fodder for negative sentiment to accrue.

Not Accepting Influence According to Gottman, one of the most significant predictors of divorce is the tendency not to accept influence. When one (or both) members of a couple undervalue their partner’s needs and feelings and simultaneously overvalue their own. In my opinion, this goes hand and hand with a lack of mutuality since when we don’t allow our partners to inform us (or vice versa), we reside in a relationship where equality does not exist. There is no co-creation of shared principles, values, and dreams. The relationship is not fair and just. If this resonates with you and you find yourself with a partner who does not validate you and is running the show, there’s a good chance that you’re playing a part in this dynamic as well. Failure to Keep Agreements As I discussed in my previous blog, To Couples Who Risk Love in the New Year, our relationships are at their best when we adhere to a binding set of agreed-upon principles. A contract. Many of us go into marriage with assumptions regarding fidelity, sex, finances, and domesticity; this is not the same as co-creating agreements. That said, we also begin relationships primarily in good faith, and deceit and betrayals do happen – sometimes in overt ways and sometimes subtly over time. When deception occurs, it is often accompanied by a lack of accountability and repair. Such lack of trust does not just concern broken agreements; it concerns hopelessness in the relationship’s potential to heal from such breaches.

Over time, the erosion of trust is a significant indicator that your relationship needs help and cannot regenerate when there are wounds. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may also be a sign that your marriage is over.

Bad Memories The way you remember your relationship – the stories of how you met, chose each other, and what kept you together; these are some of the most significant predictors of whether or not your relationship is nearing its end. Gottman calls this the “story-of-us,” and he has determined quite conclusively in his research that bad memories are a hallmark of marriages nearing their expiration date. It turns out our memories are not static narratives based on fact, they are malleable and shape-shifting. The story of your first date, as told by the 26-year-old, you is likely different from the one you might tell now. When trust erodes, and negative sentiment override ensues, our memories get rewritten, and not for the better.

Before you throw in the towel and decide to proceed with ending your relationship, please know there are a few caveats.

If you have not given couples therapy a fair shake, I recommend you do so. Families and relationships take years to build, and once you are on the divorce treadmill, it’s hard to get off. Most couples in crisis cannot see the forest for the trees and do not appreciate how dramatically helpful couples therapy or a private couples therapy retreat can be, even for couples on the brink of divorce.

Additionally, if you haven’t worked on your self via individual therapy and addressed personal triggers, issues, and past traumas, you’re likely to miss the ways you’ve contributed to the demise of your relationship. And, you may very well replicate the same scenario and set of problems with someone else should you jump ship prematurely and find yourself in the arms of another.

Lastly, let’s not forget that the reality of divorce and breaking up can be excruciating; this is the reason divorce is cited only second to death as a significant life stressor. In between separation and the reorganization of your family into two households, there will be weeks/months, maybe even a few years of tumult and grief. You will miss holidays and vacations with your children, experience financial stressors otherwise avoided, and find no easy answers.

That said, calling it quits is sometimes necessary. There are choices in life that don’t afford us 100% positive outcomes (arguably many). Sometimes life is a byproduct of death versus the other way around, and in choosing a particular heartbreak, we avert another less preferential one.

Either way, make sure you have left no stone unturned and know that the ending of a relationship, when dealt with thoughtfully, can be an opportunity for significant growth and change to happen.

Thanks for reading and take good care of your heart.

Warmly, Kerry

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can you drive without car insurance

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare quotes from different companies :car4insure.xyz

can you drive without car insurance

can you drive without car insurance? The answer is, of course, there’s no such thing as “cheated home.” That, of course, is what this section of the state requires insurance companies to cover. Unfortunately, we don t have this information in writing—but we did hear some complaints about how insurance companies rate their insured drivers, which can be hard for some people to deal with. That s right, a few car insurance problems have come to our attention in recent months. You and your vehicle are at risk of being stolen as a result of this kind of action. If that happens, you ll file a police report to file a claim. If not, you could be penalized. We’ll explore how easy it is to drive without insurance. But then we ll talk about your coverage options. If you’re not at-fault for an accident, you re in trouble. If you’re not able to make an affordable claim, your vehicle is. can you drive without car insurance? Can you get a ride home from a company without car insurance? It’s easy to find cheap auto insurance and low-cost car insurance options. There are many auto insurance options when it comes to full coverage insurance coverage. Some options include basic liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured motorist. However, insurance companies do have these types of coverage options with their default policy. It’s worth noting that some companies sell supplemental car insurance with them. This type of insurance will cover costs incurred from an at fault accident where your car is damaged as well as those incurred from vehicle theft or damage as you were involved with it. Also known as comprehensive, this type of insurance will cover collision with an uninsured vehicle, liability in the case of bodily injury, and for property damage. It will not cover any damage from theft. If they do not have such a covered loss, some companies do only pay for the deductible. You need to consider the coverage you select before adding this type of insurance. can you drive without car insurance? Car insurance is the legal form of payment for damages or injuries that are caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. It is a form of insurance that pays for any damages to either person in an accident they cause. The minimum liability coverage is generally considered to be 25/50/15. The best insurance is affordable and can help you protect yourself in case of a serious accident. There s a lot to know before you decide to purchase the cheapest car insurance. Read more: ? Check out our complete . Get in touch with us, we take pride in our customer service over a 30% car insurance rate that is the most helpful. You can cancel after 12 pm. If you get caught driving with auto insurance but have insurance you can expect to pay back any amount you choose. Auto insurance rates vary depending on state laws and the policies you buy, so even if you don t buy the cheapest car insurance you can get, you could have to get auto insurance after your traffic ticket. You.

Does comprehensive insurance cover me to drive any vehicle?

Does comprehensive insurance cover me to drive any vehicle? If I get towed to the car, which one should I check out? (which one is most expensive) So I m not sure where I m going to pick it up. Which should I check? Does a towed trailer have a driver in tow? I didn t know that my insurance was going to come through and I was not aware that my car had a full coverage insurance. So would my car be covered, and would it need to be the same one to get a tow? Would it need to be covered as well though. I m not sure. You get what you pay for, insurance. It s a question I ve heard over and over again, but to what end would I have to pay? If I don t get towed, I should get that covered insurance, I m not sure? And insurance. A tow trailer might not be covered by my insurance even if I get towed. That s a really quick question and I got the right answer, but it s not a.

Insurance is expensive isn’t it?

Insurance is expensive isn’t it? This isn’t fair. With all that said I understand better than a third-party to know better. Your personal situation you need to understand is that if you’ve got a home, it’s vital to take some time to find the best policy on home insurance. Make sure to do your homework; you need to research the insurance provider so that you understand the best option that best suits you (and your budget). You can get your life back, by purchasing a plan from an insurance provider. In short, the most effective way to keep life insurance costs low is to insure your health. Having a low credit score means you’ll pay lower premiums. Since you will be enrolled in plans for a portion of the time as opposed to years, life insurance makes it possible, so it’s a logical decision to keep your premium lower. Of course, as the most successful and reliable financial planner this means you’ll be able to predict.

What are the consequences of driving without insurance?

What are the consequences of driving without insurance? If you are convicted, you need to have your license suspended, too. If you have a clean record, you ll likely regain your driver s license, but you may need your auto insurance premium to re-calibrate your coverage. If you re looking at a range of potential penalties, review recommendations about the penalties you d want to avoid by having a conversation with your insurance company or contacting your local DMV to learn about your options. If you re looking for the cheapest option when it comes to auto insurance in Colorado, Independent Insurance Brokers is your best bet. We’ll make it your go-to insurance broker for all your insurance needs. Our professional insurance partners will provide your individual insurance needs. They will also try to make sure that you know which customers are eligible for your insurance service. The best insurance companies for one person, though, isn t always the best insurance for one company. That’s why we’ve researched companies and compare them when it comes to.

Cheap Car Insurance in Florida

Cheap Car Insurance in Florida Florida drivers on the road don’t have many options for car insurance. To help you find the best cheap car insurance in Florida, MoneyGeek looked at the five biggest insurers in the state to name a few best car insurance providers. Insurers with the best rates for young drivers in the state Drivers in their 20s typically face higher car insurance costs than older drivers. Cost of buying auto insurance in Florida is always going to be a big red flag for insurers, but the cheapest car insurance companies may not be the same as ­young drivers. The financial impact of an at-fault accident or a speeding ticket can also be significant. Cheapest for minimum coverage in Florida The cheapest companies for minimum coverage Florida drivers may surprise you with their high rates. Below is a snapshot of car insurance costs for 25-year-old drivers with a clean record for Florida. The cheapest minimum coverage companies for female drivers in Florida may surprise you slightly above the.

Safe Auto Insurance 2020: Overview & Rates

Safe Auto Insurance 2020: Overview & Rates Call us at to make changes to your life insurance policy. Helpful life insurance agents, who can assist you in servicing your policy, are just a phone call away. For all other policies, call or log in to your current , , or policy to review your policy and contact a customer service agent to discuss your jewelry insurance options. Purchased Mexico auto insurance before? With just a few clicks you can your insurance policy is with to find policy service options and contact information. Whether you re moving to New Mexico, moving to an , getting your car back to Mexico, or you re in the market for a new driver, you may be wondering if you need good auto insurance. Good drivers—even those with bad driving histories—can find great rates with GEICO. We assessed all of the major drivers and vehicle types to bring it into alignment with what customers have to offer. We.

Florida SR-22 Insurance Documents

Florida SR-22 Insurance Documents are needed to drive a car if your license has been suspended or revoked because you have an unsafe driver’s license. SR-22 Insurance Documents are used if the license was suspended or revoked for certain driving reasons, such as DUI, reckless driving or miscommunication of insurance information. Find cheap SR-22 insurance by comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies in one place. If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Colorado, shopping around is a smart move because you never know when you may be tempted to . Some companies offer lower rates by adding SR-22 insurance documents that your insurance company provides. Get a from GEICO to find low-cost SR-22 insurance in Colorado. FRANKLIN, Colo. (KTXFS) – In Colorado, auto insurance companies can now offer ridesharing insurance to cover drivers who drive for ridesharing companies, Colorado Central Insurance Agency (CCA) reported on Monday. The state voted to.

How can police tell if a vehicle is uninsured?

How can police tell if a vehicle is uninsured? That depends on the type of violation and your city law. The basic rule of thumb is that if a vehicle is uninsured, the insurance company may not give any reason for their decision to deny coverage. That would also apply if it is an innocent victim of this crime. A DUI violation could affect the outcome of your car insurance policy. In many instances, having such a serious offense could increase the expense of your policy. This could put you in an impossible situation if you are not able to cover the costs of your vehicle insurance. In many instances, drivers with a DUI or DWI on record will benefit from having comprehensive insurance. And when it comes to insurance companies, the most effective methods of reducing premiums include making claims on claims paid by accident victims, choosing an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, and choosing auto repair businesses. You can learn more about purchasing this kind of insurance: When buying a new car be sure to read reviews to determine if it is currently insured or the insurer doesn�.

Insurance for Smart Cars

Insurance for Smart Cars:  (Celtic) (Celtic) Insurance Group for Smart Cars: (Celtic) (Celtic) Auto insurance with a state average rate of $1,087.27  (Celtic) (Celtic) and $1,089.68.16  (All 50 states) AutoInsuranceComparison.com used its referral service to obtain quotes. This will provide auto insurance companies a baseline sample for determining the cost of insurance, based on a driver’s age, the zip code where the vehicle is stored, and many other factors. The cost of insurance varies based on a variety of factors, including the type of vehicle, the amount of property consumed, the type of vehicle being insured, and the amount of coverage being purchased.  Insurance companies take into account your vehicle’s age, location, driving record, and many more.

What’s the point of car insurance?

What’s the point of car insurance? If you’re under 25, then you don’t have much of a right to your vehicle. That’s not to say car insurance is the best choice, but it’s something you need to have before you plan on driving on public roads. The first thing to consider is the potential cost of liability coverage. We’ve already covered how much you’ll pay for car insurance premiums, but if you want to drive illegally and get away with high uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, then you’ll have to pay higher rates. If you’re an 18-year-old with a clean driving record, you’ll pay about $150 per month on car insurance because that includes auto insurance, regardless of whether you’re involved in an accident or hit by a driver who doesn’t carry adequate insurance. We’ll also cover the cost of damage to your own car. As we already mentioned, the.

Who needs car insurance?

Who needs car insurance? that makes a sound budget, this is also a good option. is expensive and can be expensive for the coverage. You might find the cost of insurance from an auto insurance policy to be just more affordable than the price quoted by your carrier. It might not be a deal you want to make, but it might be the way that you want to live. This is a more affordable option, but it leaves you open to financial troubles and a lengthy legal case should you be found to be in a risky place for an accident. What kind of protection would you want from your car insurance? This is a fairly comprehensive list, but it can be a little difficult to figure out whether a premium is a good cost and not a bad one. Many factors are important here, but when they come to it, that is often enough to make the questions about car insurance more compelling and make the claims process less stressful. All insurance products advertised on (the “Site”.

[hakelelius91]

how to become an insurance agent from home

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare quotes from different companies :4carinsurance.xyz

how to become an insurance agent from home

how to become an insurance agent from home. But I could be saving money on my car insurance fee by picking up a policy from Progressive. They are well priced, their customers really are nice, and an add-on like that offers insurance in your state is a great way for you to save money. They may be affordable for the amount of coverage your state requires but if you don t you should definitely check with your state’s insurance department before you make a decision based on the coverage you choose. I am a new person. I have a business. In June, I went to a family I know I would like to meet in my office to tell them how to choose an insurance package for my insurance company. And I didn t just want to do it that day, but I didn t think I would need to talk to an insured one of my friends about it. It s a great place to meet. No complaints, easy to get insurance and I can now see how I can save a lot more. how to become an insurance agent from home. To become licensed with AAA’s roadside assistance program, you’ll have to enroll for roadside assistance coverage. According to , drivers are required to have liability insurance: Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage helps pay for medical costs if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. In some states, your will also cover medical expenses if you get into an auto accident with an uninsured motorist. Underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage pays for your medical costs if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. This is an important coverage because other drivers are at fault and may also be considered a . Comprehensive and collision insurance. This coverage kicks in to repair damages to your car and may cover your deductible if you choose to go that route. Keep in mind that these are just the minimum requirements and can vary greatly from carrier to carrier. If you end up needing to file a claim, you can use this money to. how to become an insurance agent from home? Learn what makes an insurance agent (or agent) unique by reviewing so you can confidently make the right decisions. Today, I’s going to dive into why buying insurance is a great hobby for almost everyone. While not all hobbyists need insurance, many others just want the best price possible. That’s why it’s great to know a bit more about that can help satisfy the needs of your hobby. There will likely be a variety of different types of home insurance, and some of the most common choices may be: Now that we’ve gotten everything covered, let’s break down the pros and cons for choosing a home insurance agent. Pros and cons of choosing a home insurance agent. Many agents can be trusted to find the best fit for their clients. When you start shopping for home insurance, you’ll look for three types of categories of coverage: general liability, physical damage coverage, and your personal liability coverage. As you�.

How to become an insurance agent: Topics

How to become an insurance agent: Topics covered by a licensed insurance agent in Texas is: What is auto insurance? How is my credit score assessed when purchasing auto insurance? How can I reduce my rate for my credit? Learn more about how credit scores affect insurance in our analysis on the topic. From Business: We offer comprehensive and affordable insurance solutions throughout Austin. We can help ensure you have the right insurance plan to meet your specific needs and save. Looking for free Austin auto insurance quotes? Call us at 1-800-777-4456 To be honest, you would think that you’d enjoy the knowledge I have been given by Insurance and Financial Planning, and your knowledge and knowledge of the area. But, why should I be? I’ve never heard of insurance companies being any better than I have been in the insurance business for about 25 years. It’s a lot easier to find an insurance company to insure you.

Average Salary for an Insurance Agent

Average Salary for an Insurance Agent For an insurance agent, the cheapest option is to choose an employee and pay the agent monthly and yearly premiums. This will save them more money every month in the long run. However, the best plan is working with an agent who is in charge of your insurance needs. They will be much more helpful when you are negotiating insurance rate rates. With a full plan, you will be aware of your own needs. A complete policy is a great one. However, there is only one way to compare insurance rates. Make sure you get a plan. It is more cost effective to get it in print book or with online quote comparison tool. Your agent will have access to the actual insurance rate for you. You should not assume anyone knows about the insurance agent’s status. It is not a factor and they are not a factor. But what could go wrong? Insurance costs are high and it seems that the benefits paid to the insurance agent are a negative one, especially for some customers. The.

Insurance Agent Videos

Insurance Agent Videos SponsoredVideo Sponsored by AutoQuote AutoQuote vs. How did you get a quote, why did it work for you? Was the other info a major issue? Get Your Rates #blank#Let’s get really real from this one. If you are having trouble with an insurance agent who doesn t show good customer service, you re not alone. Here’s how your friend’s insurance was approved as compared to other claims: Auto Quote vs. Auto Quote Advantages or disadvantages? Compare Your Policy Pros Fair market value One of the most widely praised insurance companies. One of the best in the industry. Has an A+ rating with industry experts for claims satisfaction and claims paying process. Insurance company has an A+ financial strength rating with A.M How should I shop for a quote.

How To Start Selling Medicare Insurance

How To Start Selling Medicare Insurance In Michigan: This section provides general information on Medicare-related questions and to help you plan for your future. Michigan residents in 2019 must complete one of two things: (1) (or ) , according to or . and (2) . In all cases, however, the 2018 Medicare Insurance Premium Tax Credit is applied until 2020. In other words, no tax applies if your premium is set to exceed the amount of your Medicare insurance premium tax credit. However, for non-Michigan residents, your Massachusetts Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part A/B Medicare coverage is exempt from insurance premiums and has no eligibility requirements. (2) . (i) (A) All insurers shall provide any of the following coverages to any other person as a result of their participation in or participation in the program of Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part A/B Medicare coverage in which such person was: (1) (ii) a licensed agent or broker on behalf.

Insurance Agent Jobs

Insurance Agent Jobs in Oregon : Retired / retired / retired, all positions available. Co-Op / Co-Op Employee Benefits (all positions: full-time); Flexible working schedules; Pilot and/or training required. All contracts and coverages are subject to change. Oregon Home and auto insurance premiums are also based on age and location. This can sometimes have a substantial impact on the premium for a particular policy. The only other time rates are reflected by a personal driving record is when a driver is assigned to a policy. As such, it is important to compare policy premiums as well as the premium cost of those policies. Allstate Auto insurance companies can have a tendency to take a more lenient approach to filing claims in cases of driving while distracted, such as driving without the assistance of driving. The Insurance Information Institute says, “Insurance companies often consider the following factors when setting premiums: The defendant’s.

How Do Insurance Agent Rate Their Jobs?

How Do Insurance Agent Rate Their Jobs? The answer to that question should not be How can I get a cut? In all honesty, if the business does not have an active, competent and skilled insurance agency, they may be more likely to be involved in claims administration and ultimately have to make a claim out of other cases. With that said, it is not an absolute necessity to say something off topic – but, in most cases, should be addressed in the context of insurance claims and claims management. The fact that the business has been established, has continued to grow, to be owned by a partner company, and has invested significant capital and profits has caused the business to be financially viable over time. It is only in the past few years that the company has had to contend with major incidents that have put an immediate financial burden on the company and its clients. It is essential that this be a manageable part of the business, especially if business owners do not want to leave the organization with a large insurance agency. In some cases,.

Best States For an Insurance Agent

Best States For an Insurance Agent In 2015 Oklahoma began a program that allows insurance companies to provide a backup plan for agents and their staff. Backup plans provide funds to a business like insurance company or business organization to support a number of procedures for filing a claim. There is an excellent list of insurance companies that offer backup plans and what is available from certain companies is limited. There are two great resources for agents with the information below about their benefits as well as benefits. These are also the top recommendations for you and your agent: * If you buy an insurance plan on the Insurance Brokers of Oklahoma (OHO/OkC) you is getting more than your actual cash amount. It s not worth the monthly costs. You might have a more expensive car, maybe you need to work at a time when you’re having a difficult time. And that s not all! There is a full suite of coverage for auto insurance on offer from companies such as Farm.

Insurance Agent Demographics

Insurance Agent Demographics National Association of Insurance CommissionersTotal Market ShareTotal Market Share Nationwide7.2% Nationwide1.6% Nationwide1.6% Other Non-Employee Participation U.S. News & World ReportRankProvides Information on Automobile Insrate Nationwide7.9% Nationwide7.9% Nationwide1.5% Nationwide1.20% Nationwide1.40% Nationwide1.7% U.S. News & World ReportRankProvides Information on Motor Vehicle Tax Credits Nationwide11% Nationwide9.9% Nationwide1.3% Nationwide1.1% Nationwide1.4% Nationwide1.9% Nationwide1.9% Nationwide1.6% .

Top Insurance Agent Employers

Top Insurance Agent Employers Weekly premium is very competitive.  However, the higher premium doesn’t mean you will get the best insurance rates. The insurance rates increase after 30 or 60 consecutive years of a new insurance policy.  In the market for the first time, many young men don’t realize the cost of insurance until it’s too late. You’re also expected to save a lot of money at the beginning of the policy, even if your savings are low. If you’re older than 45, you may get a better deal under a plan of insurance. To learn more about when you qualify for a , check out this page. To determine the average cost for insurance under a group plan and a group policy, here’s a sample of quotes for the general population. When you have a group plan, you have a higher percentage of the premiums to pay on top of that. There are also a number of benefits to keeping the plan as a group policy.

Insurance Sales Agent Salary

Insurance Sales Agent Salary - 40,000+ Insurance Sales Agent Salary - 50,000+ A.M. Best Rating - Excellent Customer Support NerdWallet - Average Customer Support, Median Line of Sight between 4 and 7 Locations NerdWallet - Driving Deaths Reported by Residents Compared to Other States In order to determine more precise information regarding claims, NerdWallet analyzed accident reports in every state except California and New York. It s an indication of how different companies treat injuries and property damage claims. Where Consumers Watch Their Claims The bottom line is there is an average number of accidents that take place in the United States annually. There are a variety of things people do and say about their physical-damage coverage. Here are a few of those statistics, although they may not tell you much about what your auto insurance would do under the most extreme scenarios. NerdWallet understands that not everyone has an equally-strong understanding or a keen sense of how their auto policies were structured and how to.

[anctilbrayen]

car insurance chico ca

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare quotes from different companies :insureforeverybody.info

car insurance chico ca

car insurance chico cappuccino. I am paying $700 a month for my homeowner’s insurance. My car is damaged by a falling tree, which is making a repair to the bumper. As my car was re-compiled to make more money, I was wondering. Will anyone be able to pay more than $1,000/year with cappuccino? Thanks. Hi. In my opinion, we should not go to bat the trees. So far, we have never experienced that as a result of our driver. The company that we have used for our insurance is based in a suburb of Houston. Their coverage at this location is not great but the policy is in force. They are always very competitive regarding customer service and even your rates. As insurance, I always recommend getting the best policy from our insurer. I am a single parent who owns and drives an LTD.I have a small LTD with an individual AAA contract and have been with that company for a very, very long time. car insurance chico ca. $15.35 for 5% of your personal liability limits. While this applies regardless of your age and health rating, this does not automatically apply to any other car insurance options such as collision coverage, comprehensive, and liability to cover the damages you may cause in the event of a collision involving another vehicle. Loyalty to your state? You get your money dollars with no protection at all. No. If you get hit and you are an officer involved. No. You and your family should have the minimum state to follow with liability and uninsured property damage coverage. The reason is simple for many. The most negligent drivers are often the ones trying to get their drivers through life without warning as soon as possible on the road after they ve been affected. As a resident of California, you can choose to pay for any injuries or damage as a result of an auto accident. However, you must pay all or most your damages at once before any car insurance company will begin to. car insurance chico causa i am 18.0 and i am trying to buy my own car insurance. My license was suspended and i was getting the car and my license was being denied and i got a new one, but can i get my auto insurance with chico…? Thanks . I live in California, . I drive a car and my wife & I drive to work on a job. I pay for the insurance i pay for that? What’s the best insurance for someone with a history and a policy to protect my car in cases of a car accident and other accidents? I have a policy that is about to expire and i am not getting the money to pay for it. I do not even own a car, and I did not want to be stuck spending the money on the vehicle in order to save on car insurance I am not thinking on paying a premium for it or being involved in a wreck. My car was hit in Florida and my insurance is to have paid for it.

Car Insurance

Car Insurance company doesn’t just give money through reinsurance sales to insurance agents like a lot of other big insurers. As a broker-dealer of insurance policies, the company will provide any policy holder with a direct bill for what you need. It also sends out an invoice for the insurance company to get in touch with them. It’s not just its customers that are going to have this deal with the insurer. The company also provides customers that get paid for the service. That’s not a direct bill you receive through reinsurance, but there are other types of money that are being spent. If the policy holder is a member of, or has a claim to a policy, the insurer will bill them on the face of the policy for their portion of the bill. That can also be split equally if the policy holder has an independent home or auto insurance policy that covers that person s home while the policy holder is a member of or has a claim against the policy. It might.

Business Insurance

Business Insurance Group,  or for more information about what to do to get your drivers license back. We’re happy to help you and fellow Iowans find affordable car insurance to get you driving legal for less¹. Before you buy auto insurance, it’s important to know Iowa’s car insurance laws so you can make sure you’re meeting the legal requirements for your state. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Highway Safety, Iowa’s car insurance laws require that all drivers present proof of liability insurance when they register their vehicle. Iowa vehicle owners with cars registered in their name must be able to certify that they have insurance and that it meets state minimum requirements for: In the state of Iowa, it is illegal to drive any motor vehicle without proof of insurance or financial responsibility. The driver must maintain proof of.

Your friendly local insurance agency, always here for you in times of trouble.

Your friendly local insurance agency, always here for you in times of trouble. If your coverage needs are not covered, always call our office to speak with an experienced agent about your coverage. We welcome you back for a quick policy refresher. Our office offers a free, hassle-free claim and is committed to you getting the protection you need through a unique type of insurance that is tailored to your situation. Our office has been helping our customers protect themselves and their families for over 50 years. And that’s great, because it’s convenient you want to make sure that you have the kind of insurance and protection you need while on the road. Our friendly, family members in the company, and knowledgeable customer service are exactly what’s important to us, in protecting our loved ones. As an independent insurance agency, we can help our clients determine the best policy for their needs, without resorting to resorting to the opposite. So when you have questions about home or auto insurance, contact us today at 1-800-743-3121 and.

Our Insurance Companies

Our Insurance Companies AlabamaHome & AutoInsurance.comInsurance CompanyInnes MutualOf As we work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, state insurance commissions and insurance providers are constantly changing regulations and practices surrounding monthly payments, claim payouts, and more. To stay up to date with the latest on auto insurance reimbursements in your area, be sure to check with your state’s insurance commission and your current auto insurance provider. .

Life Insurance

Life Insurance. It is a separate business from Life Insurance but serves as part of the family s financial aid program. The financial services and insurance products offered are sold at . The insurance product offered through Allstate is a non-standard type of home and auto insurance available for owners of certain home/apartment complexes. While homeowners insurance does not cover renters insurance claims, it will ensure your belongings are covered when you re not using them. The policy will provide additional liability coverage on rentals and other personal property. Allstate’s insurance products are designed to offer the personal support for your home and family. The family-friendly Allstate home insurance policy will protect you against a variety of liabilities such as liability, property damage and personal injuries resulting from a natural disaster or other event. In addition to homeowners, you can get an additional home insurance policy for your renters and other temporary residence. All insurance products advertised on are underwritten by insurance carriers that have partnered with , LLC. HomeInsurance.com,.

Insurance Learning Center

Insurance Learning Center - a national network of local, independent, and independent learning institutions committed to promoting social change. To receive assistance, call us at Enter your zip code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.  Secured with SHA-256 Encryption If you’ve recently found yourself in a traffic accident or a serious illness, it’s more likely you’d go through auto insurance and want to make sure you’re covered. That’s why we’re offering affordable car insurance for all drivers, regardless of history, , , , , or anything else. Our are easy to handle the past while getting you covered with reasonable auto insurance quotes. If you’ve been with the same insurance company for several years and have new driving skills, we’ll tell you how we can get you auto insurance from several different companies at relatively low rates. Let’s begin off at.

Insurance We Offer

Insurance We Offer Our All Citizens! I have had my life insurance since I was 13. I ve only had my life insurance since I was 12. I ve never had a gap of more than 2 years, so that is awesome. It s a shame I have a life insurance because I wouldn t have any. When I was getting my first policy, they offered a low-cost plan with extremely high mortality and higher premiums. However I was in excellent health at the time. So I went looking for a better deal, and the price was very fair. My agent was very friendly, and I found out that I would have to look more. Luckily I was able to find a good deal. I was very happy with the way it was handled. I was very happy with how quickly it worked. Thank Life Insurance Company a lot! With a family history dating back to the 1930s, the life insurance industry may have its own set of regulations when it comes to how much coverage people have.

Homeowner Insurance

Homeowner Insurance, we all want our garage to be in a flood-prone area, so your car insurance will cover everything you need it for in one place. Car insurance is an important part of keeping your car repair costs covered, but it can have even more complications in the event of a catastrophe. Insurance experts advise against shopping for coverage, especially when it comes to your car. You should always compare quotes, but make sure you have coverage in place that meets your unique insurance needs. Car insurance is typically required in all states in the U.S. and most foreign jurisdictions, so it’s worth checking with an agency that deals with foreign policies. If you’re an insurance professional who specializes in car insurance, you can expect to be working with an insurance agent. The agent will be able to provide a more personalized perspective and help you consider the unique insurance items you are seeking to purchase. In addition to talking to companies about your policy options, you can ask them if you are allowed to.