#not only does being efficient and saving time not exactly mean being paid less

[savefrog]

hold on just saw some stupid shit in the replies of the Snoopy foley post

BRO I THINK THE GUY PROBABLY KNOWS ABOUT SOUND EDITING. HE KINDA LOOKS LIKE HES A PRO AT IT I THINK HE QUITE POSSIBLY KNOWS ABOUT RECORDING SHIT SEPERATELY. WHY ARE WE ASSUMING HE DOESN'T KNOW - DEAR GOD SOMEONE TEACH THE FOLEY ARTIST POSTING INTERNET VIDEOS ABOUT COMPUTERS

THE GUY IS DOING THIS FOR A FUN INTERNET VIDEO TO SHOW OFF HIS SKILLS. IT'S ENRICHMENT. LASTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF ITS NOT OBVIOUS BUT I DONT THINK HE IS BEING UNDERPAID BY A STUDIO TO DO FOLEY FOR A SNOOPY ANIMATION THAT IS PROBABLY OVER A DECADE OLD(????). UNLESS YOU COUNT NOT BEING PAID AT ALL BECAUSE, AGAIN, I EMPHASIZE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS DOING THIS FOR FUN FOR A FUN INTERNET VIDEO. NOT UNEMPLOYED, PRO-AI OR A 16 YEAR OLD BUT EVEN IF I WAS IT'D BE BETTER THAN BEING THIS DENSE AND AGGRESSIVE FOR NO REASON. JESUS H CHRSIT

IS THE FOLEY GUY VIDEO CUTE?

YES WHY IS THIS A QUESTION

[goblinontour]

Alone, Together

cooking, eating, fucking

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

warnings: lawyer!alex, smut, just normal fucking, alex & his cocobolo (less this time, but still present)

word count: 7.2k

It was a rare occurrence that Alex was cooking. You perched on one of the bar stools at his island, watching him with an amused smile. The kitchen was immaculate, each appliance gleaming as if it had never seen anything but coffee and reheated takeout. Because, that was the reality. Today, though, there was something simmering in a pot that had your curiosity piqued.

“Is this a special occasion?” you called out, leaning back casually, arms crossed.

He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. “Nope…Maybe. Just thought I’d waste some time like a normal person.” he said, stirring the sauce with exaggerated motions. “Though honestly, I still think it’s a dumb idea.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “You still think cooking is just a fancy way to waste time?”

He turned back to the pot, his shoulders relaxing as he stirred. “Exactly. Why spend an hour cooking just to spend another hour eating? I’d rather order in and only waste half of that time.”

“Right. You know, Alex, then you’re wasting someone else’s time cooking for you.” you pointed out. 

He chuckled, a warm sound that echoed in the space, and turned to you, eyebrow raised, as he set the spoon down momentarily. “But they’re getting paid for it, so it’s not wasting time. Simple economics, babe.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “Only you would make that argument.”

He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. “And only you would let me win it.”

“Or it just means you’re being lazy.” you countered, tilting your head playfully.

“Lazy? I like to call it efficiency. Lazy or efficient, you decide.” He shot you a grin before returning to the pot, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Speaking of efficiency, how’s the case with, uh, Henderson was it? How’s that going? Any breakthroughs?”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “Not as much as I’d like. He’s being uncooperative, as usual. I swear he enjoys dragging things out just to test my patience.”

Alex nodded. “Sounds about right. You should hit him with a motion. It might scare him into cooperating.”

“Yeah, maybe.” you replied, leaning forward. “But I don’t want to show all my cards too soon. Plus, I might need to save that for when he really pisses me off.”

He laughed, the sound warm and rich. “Just don’t let him get under your skin. You know how I feel about letting clients dictate the pace.”

“Right, right.” you said, smirking. “I remember that time you told a client they were being ‘insufferable’ during a meeting.”

He feigned innocence. “I was merely being honest! He needed to hear it.”

You shook your head, still smiling. “Honesty doesn’t always get you a good outcome.”

“Maybe not, but it does feel fucking good in the moment.” he winked, his eyes sparkling. 

As he continued, you felt a sudden impulse to be closer. You stood up and moved behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist. He paused mid-stir, humming softly at your touch, leaning back slightly against you.

“Hey there.” he murmured, a hint of surprise in his voice. He left the whisk in the pot, placing his hands on top of yours, rubbing over your knuckles with a gentle rhythm. “What’s going on?”

“Just wanted to be close to you while you do…whatever this is.” you said, resting your chin on his shoulder, feeling the warmth radiating from his body. 

He chuckled softly, glancing back at the sauce, steam curling up to meet his face. “It’s my attempt at culinary greatness. You know, a chef in the making.”

You snorted. “Sure, let’s go with that. I’ve seen you master a coffee maker, but cooking is a whole different level.”

He turned slightly, meeting your gaze with a teasing smile. “You underestimate my skills. I could be the next Iron Chef, is that what it’s called? Or, at the very least, I won’t set off the smoke alarm.”

You wrapped your arms a little tighter around him. “I have faith in you, sort of. What’s the secret ingredient, Chef?”

Alex glanced over his shoulder, a playful smirk on his face, his dark hair slightly tousled. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you, eh?” he quipped. “But it’s mostly just me hoping this doesn’t end up in the trash.” His expression turned slightly more serious as he leaned into your embrace. “So, are you gonna tell me what you wanted to share? Because I’m really hoping it’s what I think it is.”

You hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of your news settle in your stomach. “After dinner. I promise it’ll be worth the wait.”

He sighed dramatically, though the twinkle in his eyes didn’t fade. “Fine, but you’re making me curious. It’s not like you to keep secrets.”

“Just focus on your culinary masterpiece.” you teased, pressing a quick kiss to his shoulder before stepping back to let him work.

He turned back to the pot, a contented smile still on his lips as he continued stirring. “I can do that. But you know I’ll be expecting the details afterward.”

“Deal.” you said, settling back into your stool, anticipation bubbling beneath the surface as you watched him move about the kitchen, an unexpected domesticity woven into his actions. 

Dinner was over. Alex had just set his fork down with a soft clink against the plate. He wiped his chin and mouth with his hand, trying to catch the little specks of sauce that clung to the stubble along his jaw. The sauce had smudged slightly, and the way his lips quirked up made it clear he didn’t care about perfection. Just getting the job done.

You were still finishing the last bite of his extremely mediocre spaghetti. Spaghetti you appreciated nonetheless, more for the effort than the execution. He wasn’t even pretending to wait for you to finish. His eyes were already on you, full of expectation, his fingers drumming lightly on the table.

You sighed, glancing up at him. “What?”

“Tell me.” he said, his voice soft but eager, as if he’d been holding back for the past half-hour and was finally letting it spill out.

You raised an eyebrow, shaking your head with a half-smile. “My god, Turner, you’re like a child.”

“Come onnn.” he groaned, leaning forward a bit, his elbows resting on the edge of the table. “Please, tell me, tell me, tell me-”

“Okay! Okay, I’ll tell you.” you interrupted, laughing as you set your fork down in the almost-empty plate, still dotted with remnants of sauce. “Impatient as ever, I see.”

He grinned sheepishly, leaning back again in his chair, fingers still fidgeting with the edge of his napkin. His foot tapped lightly under the table, like he could barely contain himself.

“So,” you started, taking a breath, “about the firm-”

“Our firm?” he cut you off instantly, eyes bright with excitement.

“Yeah, our firm…” You paused for a moment, letting the words settle in the air between you. He was watching you so closely now, his brows furrowing just a little as if trying to anticipate what you were going to say next. 

You exhaled slowly, trying to find the right way to put it. “So, I was thinking…what if it wasn’t ‘us’ but…‘you’ and ‘me’?”

His smile faltered for just a second, and he blinked, processing. “Go on.” he said, though there was a slight tightness in his voice, like he wasn’t sure where you were going.

“We find an office together.” you continued, choosing your words carefully, watching the way his fingers stilled on the napkin, his eyes fixed on yours. “We share rent, expenses, everything. But…I am me, attorney at law, and you are you, Alex Turner, attorney at law. Both free to practise as we see fit.”

His mouth twitched at the corners as he leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table, narrowing his eyes just a little, like he was trying to see the full picture. “Separate firms…under one roof?” he said slowly, tilting his head, brow furrowed.

“Yeah.” you nodded, gaining a bit of momentum. “Why not share a ride? You do things your way, and I do them mine. Not partners, exactly…”

“Solo practitioners…together.” he completed, his voice quiet, almost like he was speaking the idea into existence. He sat back again, running his fingers through his hair, ruffling it more. His lips parted, and for a moment he didn’t say anything, just stared at you with a half-lost expression, as if trying to see all the angles of this new idea you were offering him.

You bit your lip, waiting, your heart hammering just a little. “What do you think?” you asked softly, not sure how he would take it.

He stared at the table for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly again, then he exhaled a long breath. “I, uh-” He paused, looking up at you with a bit of that boyish uncertainty you didn’t see often. “I mean…yeah, I think it could work. I really do. But…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

“But?” you echoed, feeling a knot tighten in your stomach.

“I guess I always pictured us doing it together. Like, actually together, as partners. Officially. You know, Turner &…” He waved his hand in the air, as if searching for the name that belonged next to his. “I like the idea of having you with me.”

His eyes softened, that vulnerability creeping back in as he let his hand drop to his lap. He shifted slightly in his seat, his leg bouncing under the table in a nervous rhythm. 

“Look…” you said, leaning in, trying to ease the weight you could see settling in his features. “It’s not that I don’t want to be with you. I do. But I also want to be…me, you know? You run things your way, and I need to run things mine. No compromises. It doesn’t mean I don’t want us to be-” You stumbled, feeling the weight of what you were saying. “I mean, this way, we still have each other. We still share everything.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze dropping for a second before finding yours again, that intensity returning. “Yeah, no, I get it. Really, I do. You just want-” He scratched his jaw, “You just want your space to work how you need to work. And we’d still be in the same place, so…yeah.”

You exhaled, relieved to see him processing, though the uncertainty still hung between you. “Exactly. We’d still be together. Just…independent too.”

He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Leave it to you to make independence sound romantic.”

You smiled, the tension starting to ease from your shoulders. “Well, it kind of is, isn’t it?”

He raised his eyebrows, looking at you with a glimmer of amusement. “Okay, fine. I see the appeal. Solo practitioners together.” His eyes flickered to yours again, more sure this time. “I can live with that.”

You smiled, letting out a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding. “Good. Because I really think this could work for us.”

He pushed his chair back slightly, standing up and moving around the table toward you. As he approached, he bent down, his hand resting on the back of your chair as he brought his face closer to yours. “You know what? I think we’re gonna be just fine.” He kissed you lightly, his lips still tasting faintly of the spaghetti sauce, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“An A for effort for the meal by the way.” you teased, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.

He grinned, his eyes warm and soft now, all traces of tension gone. “Next time, we order in.” He tilted his head, a slow grin spreading across his face, the flicker of excitement behind his eyes growing brighter. “Solo…together.” he repeated, testing the phrase out on his tongue like it was something new he hadn’t tasted before.

He took a step closer to you, his hands still on the back of your chair, but his voice was gaining momentum. “Solo together…That’s actually…perfect.” His eyes locked onto yours, lighting up with an energy you could feel sparking through the air between you.

You could practically see the wheels turning in his head, the idea catching fire. “No one stepping on anyone’s toes…” he continued, his voice rising in enthusiasm. 

You opened your mouth to say something, but before you could get a word out, he grabbed your hand, pulling you up from the chair with surprising strength. “This is it!” He was grinning now, practically glowing, his excitement infectious as he tugged you toward him.

Before you knew it, you were up against him, your hands pressed against his chest. He didn’t stop there, though. In one swift movement, he lifted you up, his hands firm around your waist as he effortlessly placed you on the table. The cold surface under your thighs was a sharp contrast to the warmth radiating off him.

“Alex-” you started, a laugh escaping your lips, but he was already kissing you. His mouth crashed against yours, hungry, eager. You barely had time to process the intensity before he pulled back just enough to whisper against your lips.

“Solo…together.” he murmured between kisses, his hands now cupping your face as he pressed closer. “I love it.”

His breath was hot against your skin, each word punctuated by another kiss. You could feel the warmth of his stubble brushing your cheek as he moved from your lips to the side of your neck, his voice a low, breathless murmur. “We’d be our own bosses…No one telling us what to do…”

You gasped softly as his hands slid down your back, gripping you tighter, pulling you even closer to the edge of the table. Your fingers tangled in his hair, holding him close as his mouth found yours again.

“And-” another kiss, deeper this time, his hands roaming, the intensity between you building with every second, “we’d still get to come home to each other…Every single day.”

He pulled back just long enough to look into your eyes, his pupils dark, his face inches from yours, breathing hard. “Fuck, this is such a good idea.” His voice was rough, unrestrained. “No compromises, no pressure…but still together.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, a breathless sound caught between the rapid beats of your heart. “I’m glad you like it.” you managed to get out, your voice shaky but full of warmth.

“Like it? I fucking love it.” he growled, his mouth finding yours again, more desperate now. His hands moved to your hips, gripping you firmly as he kissed you harder, his breath hot and ragged. 

You could feel the excitement vibrating through him, the way his body pressed against yours, each kiss deepening with the weight of his growing anticipation. “Solo practitioners…but always together.” he murmured against your lips, his voice filled with something close to awe, like he couldn’t believe how perfectly the idea fit.

The table creaked beneath you as he leaned into you, his hands sliding under the hem of your shirt, fingers splayed against the small of your back. His kiss was urgent, full of need, like he couldn’t get enough of the idea, of you, of everything that was spilling out between you.

“We’re going to be unstoppable.” he whispered, his voice a low, husky rasp. “You…and me.”

Your head was spinning, your fingers digging into his shoulders, holding on as his kisses grew more fervent, more insistent. His hands roamed over your body, pulling you against him like he wanted to fuse you together. Every word he spoke between kisses buzzed with that same electric energy, his excitement fueling yours.

“We’re going to be so fucking good at this.” he said breathlessly, pulling back just enough to stare into your eyes. His gaze was intense, almost overwhelming in its rawness. “Just you and me…killing it, every single day.”

And before you could respond, his mouth was on yours again, his body pressed against you, leaving no space between you as his hands gripped your waist, lifting you slightly as if he was trying to get you closer, as if you weren’t already as close as you could be. 

Alex’s excitement grew like wildfire, his hands moving with purpose as he reached for the plates still scattered on the table. With a quick sweep, he pushed them to the side, the sound of ceramic sliding across the wood sharp in the air. You barely had time to react before he gently but firmly guided you down, your back hitting the surface of the table. His body hovered above you, his face inches from yours, eyes dark with hunger.

You felt the heat of him pressing against you, his hips grinding into your thigh, the hard outline of him unmistakable even through his clothes. His breath was ragged, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of your neck as he groaned softly into you.

“You’re eager.” you managed to say. 

“You bet.” he whispered, a smile curling at the edge of his lips as he pressed his mouth to your neck, kissing his way down your body, even through the fabric of your shirt. His lips left a trail of heat as they moved lower. 

His hands slid over your hips, gripping you with a mix of tenderness and desperation, fingers brushing just under your shirt as he kissed his way further down your torso. His stubble grazed your skin as he paused at the hem of your jeans, his breath warm and steady against your stomach.

“Fuck- I wanna fuck you here.” he murmured, his voice thick with need. He pressed his face into your belly for a second, inhaling. “Can I fuck you here?” he asked, his voice low, rough, a plea that sounded more like a demand in its urgency. 

The question hung between you, his hands stilling on your waist, his thumbs tracing small circles against your skin as he waited for your answer, his eyes locked onto yours. His breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, his body tensed above you, ready to close the space between you in a heartbeat.

You swallowed, your breath catching in your throat as his gaze never wavered. “Yes.” you whispered, the word slipping out before you could second-guess it. 

His lips twitched into a grin, but it was hungry, almost feral. “God, you have no idea how much I’ve been thinking about this.” he growled, kissing your stomach again, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. His hands were already moving, deftly undoing the button of your jeans, tugging them down your hips with a quickness that made your breath hitch.

As your jeans hit the floor, he kissed lower, over the curve of your hip, his hands kneading the flesh there before he pressed himself harder against your leg. You could feel him, all of him. 

He hovered over you again, eyes locked on yours as he nudged your legs apart with his knee. The friction between your bodies was maddening, and you could feel his impatience in every twitch of his muscles, every shallow breath. “I’ve wanted you like this, right here, all night. Now I'm just waiting until I’ll get you on my desk…in our office.” he whispered against your ear, his voice a low, hoarse rasp as he kissed along your jaw, his body pressed into yours so firmly you could barely breathe.

You couldn’t help but smirk. “Your cocobolo?” you asked, the absurdity of him obsessing over his desk even now making you bite your lip.

He lifted his head just enough to meet your eyes, his expression full of dark amusement, a cocky grin spreading across his flushed face. “That’s right.” he murmured, his voice a low, sultry growl as he leaned closer, his mouth brushing yours with every word. “Fucking on my fucking cocobolo.”

The way he said it made you laugh softly, but before the sound could fully escape, he giggled, too, vibrating against your lips. It was that kind of infectious, unguarded laugh that made your chest warm, the kind of laugh that only Alex could pull off mid-seduction, somehow. 

His hands roamed over your body, tugging your shirt higher, fingers brushing your skin, sending sparks wherever he touched. He pulled back, just for a moment, his eyes flicking down your body, taking in every inch of you laid out beneath him. “Look at you…” he muttered, almost to himself, his voice low and reverent. “Fuck, you’re perfect.”

Without waiting, he kissed you again, deeper this time, his teeth grazing your bottom lip as he tugged it gently, making you gasp. His fingers slid down your sides, hooking under your underwear, dragging them down as he pushed you further back on the table, the edge digging into your back but you barely noticed, too focused on the way he was looking at you. 

His hands were on your thighs, spreading them further open, his mouth back on your neck, murmuring into your skin. “I need to feel you.” he whispered, his breath hot and ragged against your ear as he rubbed himself against you, his erection pressing hard into your thigh through his pants. “I need to be inside you…right now.”

His desperation was palpable, but there was something tender in the way his hands gripped you, in the way he kissed your collarbone. Alex’s breath came out in sharp, ragged gasps as his hands fumbled with his zipper, the sound of it cutting through the heavy tension between you. His eyes never left yours, as he freed himself, his cock hard and straining in his hand. There was no hesitation, no teasing now. Just pure urgency.

He pushed your legs further apart, the rough edge of the table biting into your skin as he positioned himself between your thighs. And then, he was inside you. The force of it knocked the air from your lungs, his cock filling you completely, stretching you in a way that sent a jolt of pleasure-pain through you. You gasped, hands flying to grip the edge of the table as it wobbled beneath you, creaking under the weight of his movements.

He didn’t hold back. His hips snapped forward, driving himself deeper into you, fast and rough, his breath coming out in sharp, uneven pants. The table shook beneath you with every thrust, the sound of it scraping against the floor barely audible over the wet sounds of your bodies colliding, over the ragged groans that escaped him every time he buried himself inside you.

“Fuck-” he groaned through clenched teeth, his hands gripping your hips so tightly you could feel the bruises forming. His pace was relentless, his cock slamming into you over and over. “You always feel so good…so fucking tight.”

You couldn’t form words, couldn’t do anything but hold on as he pounded into you. His eyes were wild, locked on yours as he watched your every reaction, his mouth falling open in a breathless groan each time you clenched around him.

The table rocked beneath you, on and on, the legs threatening to give way, but neither of you cared. It only spurred him on, made him thrust harder, deeper, his hips grinding into you with a roughness that bordered on desperate.

His hands roamed over your body, one sliding up to grip the back of your neck, pulling you closer to him as his mouth crashed against yours in a brutal, hungry kiss. His tongue was hot and demanding, his teeth scraping your lips as he kissed you like he was trying to consume you entirely.

The pace was maddening, his hips never faltering, each thrust hitting deeper, harder, making your body tremble beneath him. 

“Alex-” you managed to gasp out, your voice barely more than a breath, but he cut you off with another hard thrust, a groan escaping him as he felt you tighten around him.

“I know-” he breathed against your ear, his voice rough, barely holding back. “I know, baby…I’m close too.” His movements became more frantic, more desperate, his body trembling as he drove into you, pushing you both closer to the brink.

Any control he might’ve had moments ago slipped. His hands were everywhere. Gripping your thighs, pressing into your hips, sliding up your sides. He needed to feel every part of you, to hold you closer. 

“Fuck.” he groaned, his voice a low rasp as he buried himself deep inside you again, harder and faster. He was losing it, his rhythm faltering as he got lost in the sensation, in the heat of you around him.

Your legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper, feeling the way his cock stretched you with every ragged, unsteady thrust. His face was buried in the crook of your neck, lips brushing your skin as he cursed under his breath. 

You could feel him trembling, his body straining as he teetered on the edge, each thrust messier than the last. His mouth found yours again, a desperate, sloppy kiss that was all tongue and teeth. The heat between you was unbearable now, overwhelming. 

“Fuck, baby...I’m gonna come.” he groaned, his voice breaking as he thrust into you hard, hips slamming into yours with a final, urgent rhythm. His body tensed above you, his breath catching in his throat as he lost himself in the overwhelming sensation. His body shook with the force of it, his hands gripping your waist tightly as he spilled into you, warmth flooding between your legs as he gasped against your skin.

For a moment, it was just him, messy, overwhelmed, trembling above you as he rode out the waves of his orgasm, his cock still pulsing inside you. His breath came in heavy, ragged bursts, his forehead resting against yours as he slowly came down, his body pressed against yours in the most intimate way. You could feel the rapid beat of his heart against your chest as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips. 

“That…” he whispered, barely able to form the word as he nuzzled his face into your neck. “That was…Jesus, that was…” He trailed off, too overwhelmed to finish the thought, his body still draped over yours, warm and heavy, but instead of slowing down, he rolled his hips again, a slow, deliberate thrust that made you gasp. He didn’t stop.

You could feel him still hard inside you, the slick heat of him moving against your sensitive walls as he resumed his rhythm, slower at first, but with that same intensity building all over again. 

“You didn’t come yet.” he whispered. His lips grazed your ear as he spoke, his hips bucking into you again. “I’m not stopping until you do.”

You moaned softly in response as he picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming more insistent. The table beneath you creaked again, the wood groaning under the pressure of his movements, but all you could focus on was him, the way he felt inside you, the steady, relentless rhythm of his hips, pushing you closer to that edge.

His fingers slid up your sides, brushing under your shirt to find the bare skin of your waist, gripping tightly as his mouth found yours again. 

“I love you.” he groaned into your mouth, his voice hoarse as he pushed deeper, the sound of his cock sliding in and out of you loud and wet in the small space between your bodies. “So much.”

Your hands flew to his hair, nails digging into his scalp as your body arched against his, a moan spilling from your lips as you felt the tension coil tighter inside you.

Alex was laser-focused on you, his cock pounding into you harder with each passing second. “Come on, baby.” he whispered, his lips brushing your ear as he thrust deep, grinding into you just right. “Let go. I want to feel you come…Please.”

That was all it took. The pleasure that had been building finally snapped, your body tensing beneath him as the orgasm ripped through you. Your muscles clenched tight around him, a cry breaking from your throat. 

Alex groaned at the feeling of you tightening around him, his grip on your hips tightening as he slowed his thrusts, riding out the aftershocks of your orgasm. “There you go…” he breathed and he kissed you softly. “That’s my girl.” he murmured against your lips. 

He stayed there, buried deep inside you, still hard, his hips barely moving in slow, lazy circles. He groaned softly, but you could sense something building again, the tension in his body still present, still tight. His fingers dug into your hips just a little harder, his breath hitching, and without warning, his hips jerked forward, instinct taking over as he thrust deep again, making you gasp.

“Shit-” he muttered, his voice shaky, almost surprised. He didn’t stop, couldn’t stop, his body reacting on its own, still desperate for more. You could feel it too, the way his cock twitched inside you, his muscles tightening, and you knew he was close again. 

“Oh- oh god…” he gasped, his voice catching as he thrust into you hard, the pleasure building too fast, overwhelming him. He pressed his forehead against your shoulder. His entire body tensed, a ragged groan tearing from his throat as he came again, barely able to process it, barely able to hold back. His release hit him fast and hard, his cock pulsing inside you as he spilled into you once more. 

“Oh-” he groaned, his voice breaking as his hips bucked one last time, his body shaking as the second wave of pleasure crashed through him, leaving him breathless and overwhelmed. 

He stayed like that for a moment, completely still at last, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath, his cock still twitching inside you as the last of his release emptied into you. His fingers were trembling, his muscles slack as the intensity of it all finally hit him.

“Fuck...I didn’t-” he started, his voice cracking before he could finish the thought. His chest was still heaving as he looked at you, the dazed, wide-eyed look on his face betraying just how overwhelmed he was. Slowly, a lazy grin began to spread across his lips, like he was finally processing everything. “I didn’t think I’d...come like that again.” he muttered, shaking his head slightly. “You…you’ve got me all kinds of messed up.”

You couldn’t help but smile back, your own breathing still unsteady. “Oh yeah?” you teased, your voice still breathless but playful, a little proud even. “Didn’t think you had another one in you?”

His grin turned more wicked and he opened his mouth to say something more, but before he could, you clenched around him reflexively, your body still sensitive. The reaction shot through him like electricity. He tensed, his whole body going rigid, and a groan slipped from his throat as he closed his eyes and his hands clutched the edge of the table, unable to take any more.

“Shit- don’t…I can’t.” he gasped, his voice trembling. “I can’t take any more.” He pulled out quickly, wincing as he did, his legs unsteady. “Not again...you’ll break me…I’ll die.”

You chuckled softly, a shiver running through you at the sudden loss of him, but the sight of him stumbling back from the table, almost collapsing, was too good. He looked utterly spent, but there was something ridiculously cute about it.

“Not so cocky now, huh?” you teased, smirking as you shifted on the table, watching him try to steady himself.

Alex shot you a half-hearted glare, though his smile was still there. “You keep doing that, and you’ll have to carry me out of this room.” he muttered as he staggered toward the nearest chair. He grabbed it, dragging it over with a dramatic sigh and practically collapsing into it with a groan. “I swear, I was two seconds away from my knees giving out.”

You laughed, still lying on the table, legs trembling slightly as the last waves of pleasure still lingered. “My poor, poor man.” you teased, throwing him a mock pout. “The table wasn’t so bad though, was it?”

Alex leaned back in the chair, still catching his breath, and gave you a lazy grin. “Oh, no complaints.” he said. “I mean, it was touch-and-go there for a second, but I think the table and I made it through.”

You rolled your eyes, letting your head fall back against the table, and let out a sigh of contentment. “Good to know I wasn’t the only one doing all the work.”

He shot you a playful look. “Oh, come on, give me some credit. I’d say I held my own pretty well. My knees would disagree, but they’re quitters.”

“You’re the one who wanted to fuck here.”

“Fair point.” he replied. As he sat, his hands absentmindedly reached down to tuck himself back into his pants, his fingers moving with a casual ease despite how shaky he still was. Once he’d zipped up his pants, he groaned, shifting in the chair as though trying to get comfortable.

Without a word, he reached for the buttons on his shirt, popping each one open slowly, his chest still rising and falling with every deep breath. He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders and pulled it to the sides, letting the cool air hit his skin as he leaned back. 

“Much better.” he muttered to himself, his head rolling to the side to glance at you. His chest glistened slightly with sweat, his skin flushed, and his breathing was still a bit unsteady as he sat there, letting the shirt hang loose on his arms like he’d given up entirely on any formality. 

“Cooling off?” you teased. 

He chuckled, eyes half-lidded. “Trying to. You’re too damn good at making things…hot. God…I’m wrecked.” he muttered, half to himself.

You snorted, your whole body feeling warm from the banter. “Next time, maybe pick a less risky location, Mr. Turner.”

He laughed, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and shaking his head. “No way. The danger’s part of the fun.”

You laid there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. “You know,” you said, voice still a little hoarse, “You’re dripping from me all over your floor now.”

Alex looked at you, dazed but amused, his eyebrows raising slightly as if the thought hadn’t even occurred to him. “That’s fine.” he replied, waving his hand dismissively as if it was the least of his worries. “The floor’s seen worse.”

“Worse than this?” you asked, raising an eyebrow, trying not to laugh.

“Oh definitely…absolutely.” he replied, sitting up slightly as he looked at you with mock seriousness. “I’ve dropped coffee, spilled stuff...once I even dropped a whole sandwich, oh- and, you won’t believe this one, one time I kicked over a glass of wine trying to catch a football. You’re just adding to the legacy.”

“Okay.” You couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. “Glad to know I’m in such good company.” you said with a chuckle, too exhausted to argue, and shifted slightly, your body still feeling heavy from everything. 

The mess of the moment didn’t seem to matter as much as the calm after the storm, both of you still caught in that lingering post-high. 

“You know, as much as I’d love to keep chatting about your floor’s sordid history I-”

“I need a shower.” he interrupted, his voice rough, like it took every bit of energy to speak, as if even just that required effort.

“Yeah, that. Me too.” you echoed softly, still not moving from the table, your limbs too relaxed to even think about standing yet. You both stayed like that for a few more seconds. “Come on, get up.” you said, finally mustering the energy to sit up on the table, your legs still feeling shaky. “If you’re going to shower, you need to move.”

Alex was glued to you like a second skin. His damp hair, still slightly mussed, was pressed against your shoulder as he half-draped himself over you. He wrapped one arm around your waist, fingers absently tracing the curve of your hip as he nestled his face into the crook of your neck, so close you could feel the soft puffs of his breath. 

“Tired?” you asked, running your fingers lazily through his hair.

He let out a low hum, not bothering to lift his head. “Maybe, a bit.” he mumbled into your neck. “I just like you like this.”

“Like what? Barely able to move under the weight of your body?” you joked, but the affection in your voice softened the words.

“Exactly.” he murmured, his lips brushing against your skin as he spoke. “Just want to be close to you...Is that a crime, counsellor?”

You smirked, shaking your head. “Not yet. But you’re on thin ice.”

Alex chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against your shoulder. “Noted. Guess I’ll have to be careful. Wouldn’t want to be thrown out of bed for being too affectionate.”

“Who said anything about throwing you out?” you teased, shifting slightly but not making any real effort to dislodge him. “I’m too comfortable to move.”

“Good.” he sighed, his body relaxing even more into yours. “I’m not going anywhere anyway. You’re stuck with me like this now.”

“I can deal with that. It’s kinda nice, actually.”

“Nice?” he muttered, half asleep but still stubborn enough to keep the conversation going. “Just nice?”

“Alright, fine.” you admitted with a smile. “More than nice. But don’t let it go to your head.”

He grinned lazily against your neck. “Too late.”

For a moment, the two of you just lay there, his body practically draped over yours. It was peaceful, the kind of quiet that didn’t need to be filled, but Alex, in true form, couldn’t resist.

“Did you know,” he began, his voice low and thoughtful, “that penguins propose by giving their mate a pebble?”

You snorted, caught off guard. “What? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.” he replied, lifting his head slightly to look at you with an exaggeratedly solemn expression. “They find the perfect pebble, you know? And they give it to the penguin they want to mate with. It’s very romantic.”

You laughed softly. “Why do you know this?”

He shrugged, settling his head back down on your shoulder. “I don’t know, I think I saw it on some nature documentary. Thought it was cute.”

“So what, are you planning on proposing to me with a rock you find on the sidewalk?” you teased, running your hand absently through his hair again.

Alex chuckled, his breath warm against your skin. “Maybe. If I find a really good one, you never know.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “I think I’d prefer something a little more...you know, traditional.”

“It's sorted then.” he said, his voice low and sleepy again. “No sidewalk rocks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

There was a beat of comfortable silence again, the two of you just enjoying the feeling of being close, the steady rise and fall of his chest pressed against yours. His fingers resumed their lazy tracing over your hip. You felt that familiar warmth flood through you, feeling his quiet need for affection, and you turned your head slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of his still-damp hair. “I love you too, you know.” you murmured softly. 

Alex hummed, pressing his face even closer to your neck, like he was trying to burrow into you. “I know…” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

You paused, frowning a little as you tilted your head to glance down at him. “Thank you?” you repeated, your brow furrowing in confusion. “Why are you thanking me for that?”

He shifted a bit but didn’t move far, his face still pressed against you. “Hmm?” he murmured, clearly not understanding your question at first.

Even though he couldn’t see it, you smiled, brushing a few strands of hair away from his forehead. “Why are you thanking me for loving you?” you asked again. “That’s not exactly something you need to say ‘thanks’ for.”

He was quiet for a moment, and you could feel him thinking, his fingers pausing their gentle movements on your skin as if he was trying to find the right words or come up with a good reason. But then he sighed, his breath warm against your skin, and you could almost feel the smile on his lips.

 “I don’t know.” he admitted quietly. “I just…yeah, I don’t know.”

You let out a quiet laugh, not mocking, just amused by how endearing he was when he got like this. “You don’t have to thank me, Alex. I love you because I do. It’s not a favour.”

He finally lifted his head slightly, just enough so that he could glance up at you with those sleepy, half-lidded eyes of his. There was something so soft about the way he looked at you right then. “I know.” he said softly, his voice a little raw. “But still…thank you.”

You gave him a look. “You’re ridiculous.” you whispered, reaching up to brush your thumb along his cheek. “But I love you, ridiculous and all.”

He smiled, that boyish grin that always managed to make your heart skip creeping across his face. “I’m just…I don’t know. Grateful, I guess.” he murmured, fingers resuming their soft tracing along your hip. “You put up with all of my bullshit. I get clingy, I say weird stuff, and you’re still here.”

You rolled your eyes but your heart was melting a little. “I’m here because I love you, not in spite of all that. Those are the things I like about you.” you said, your tone soft but teasing. “Even the weird penguin trivia.”

“Even that?” he asked, lifting his head more to look at you with a playful glint in his eyes.

You nodded, grinning. “Especially that.”

His smile widened, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips. “I’m really lucky, you know,” he whispered, his forehead resting against yours, “To have you.”

“You’re getting too sappy on me, Turner.” though there was no denying the warmth in your chest. “But...yeah. I’m lucky too.”

He laughed softly, pressing another kiss to your temple before settling back down, his head resting on your shoulder again. “Okay, okay. No more sap. Just...let me be like this for a while.” he muttered, his body curling back into yours. 

“Stay as long as you want.” you whispered, your fingers trailing up and down his back in slow, soothing motions.

“You’re so stuck with me.” he mumbled, already half-asleep again, his breath evening out against your skin. 

“Yeah, you’re basically a human blanket right now.”

“Mmm, sounds about right.” he muttered, his voice fading into a drowsy murmur. He snuggled closer, if that was even possible. “I could stay like this forever…just you and me.”

“Me too.” you whispered. “Now sleep, Turner. I’m not going anywhere.”

a/n: i love him. (yet another version of alex i made up and became obsessed with)

tags: @st7rnioioss @theonlyoneswhoknowsblog @rentsturner @yourstartreatment @avxoxo1 @jqsvi @turnersfav @youresodarkbabe @psychedelicrocker @aacheinthejaw @zayndrider @humbuginmybones @tedioepica

[yan-twst]

Yan dormleaders getting asked by their crush to kill someone headcanons please.

warnings: general yandere content, violence, blood, mentions of death

riddle rosehearts

at first, he’d be put off- where... where did such a violent idea even come from...?

riddle may be incredibly jealous and controlling, and perhaps even rough at time; however, this doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to prove himself in any way he can to the one he loves... even if it means to kill

it makes him nervous- of course it does, he’s never done anything like that- but at the same time, it makes him giddy to think his crush asked him something like that

the more logical part of his brain can’t comprehend why they asked such a thing- he should be horrified, should be terrified they wanted him to do something like that... but the fact they turned to him and not someone else gives him so much joy he can’t even bring himself to care

riddle is organized and methodical, not to mention quite powerful with magic. if this is truly what his beloved wants, he’ll do so; just like the queen of hearts truly did cut off her subjects’ heads, he’ll be an executioner if his darling truly needs him to do so

of course, he’s going to expect something in return; truly, if they ask something so dangerous of him... they can’t just expect him to do as they say and then as nothing more, can they? he reasons if his crush was fucked up enough to ask for someone’s life, it’s only fair for them to handle his less than healthy obsession with them... right?

leona kingscholar

leona almost wants to applaud the little herbivore. wow, how much courage did they have to gather to ask that of him, hm? don’t they know in how much trouble they could get for that? they’re asking for someone else’s life, and they’ve come to him?

of course he could easily do so; leona is strong, and it’s not like anyone would survive being subjected to his unique magic for a long enough time. similarly, there’d be no body; just and left to drift in the wind. logically, he knows it’d be easy

but well, he’s going to play with his crush a little. he’ll tease them: why, are they not strong enough? oh, the little herbivore is too scared to get their hands dirty so they come to him?

of course he’ll do it, though. he hates how obsessed he is with the damn little herbivore, but he isn’t stupid enough to waste this opportunity. hell, it’s not like he wouldn’t be willing to kill for them- the fact they asked him to do so is just the push for him to do so

he’ll use the fact he actually did so to manipulate and terrify his crush. oh? he can so, so easily shift the blame on them, don’t they know? he’s a prince, they’re a nobody; even if he’s just the second born, he can so easily slide out of trouble, but... Oh, but they can’t- so they better be nice for him, unless they’d prefer to spend the rest of their life rotting in a jail cell

(of course he’d never actually do so; he’d never hand his beloved over to anyone, they’re his, but it never hurts to terrify them so they don’t stray from his side; to be remembered what they caused. hey, he was just the weapon; if anything, it was them who killed the poor sod, weren’t they?)

azul ashengrotto

there’s nothing azul wouldn’t do for his darling. this man is desperate; he’s deluded himself into believing his stalking and his obsession are “genuine love”. in fact, it’s him who eggs his darling to tell him to do so; he can tell someone’s bothering them. oh, why not tell him who? he can help, don’t they know?

of course azul uses a contract for this. he likes to think he’s helping out of the love in his heart, but in reality, he’s trying to secure his crush to his side. it doesn’t take too long until the contract is signed and he’s promised to disappear the one his crush asked for

it should be noted azul isn’t the one getting his hands dirty. the tweels are more than enough of a weapon for him to send out; his crush watches as the octopus merman instructs the two eels on their target, and the odd grins the two sport. it’s fun for them, azul says. they’ll toss the body in the ocean and it’ll never be found

of course, the contract makes them be forced to stick by azul’s side: he didn’t even try to hide the clause when he presented it. breaking the contract’s terms wouldn’t only make them lose even more of their freedom; it would release their “dirty secret”, would make public they had asked for someone to die...

azul has effectively tied his darling’s hands behind their back, so to speak. even if the contract expires, he never promised to keep the secret: the fact he could so easily ruin their life is a standing threat to motivate them into obeying

it’s bonus points if his darling becomes scared of floyd and jade. azul might ask them to retell exactly how everything went down- for formalities, so the client knows the job was carried out efficiently- but it’s merely a way to remind his darling that if they chose to do something azul disliked, well... the eels would surely have fun chasing them down, don’t they see?

kalim al-asim

riches, jewels, clothes, exotic animals, silk clothes and expensive banquets: kalim is more than happy to give all those to his crush in the snap of a finger, if only to see them smile

kalim is... not a violent person. every impulse he gets, he internally justifies it as “love”- is he jealous that others are talking to his crush? oh, it’s love! he feels the need to lock them up for himself...? oh, that’s his instinct to protect the one he loves, right...?!

so when his crush asks him that, he’s incredibly distressed. that’s...!

however, once again, he’s quick to justify it. surely... no, for sure, if his darling wants someone dead, they must be a terrible person, right?! his crush is the sweetest person ever, so if they want this person dead then... then they definitely deserve it, right?!

he keeps justifying it in that way- even when he pays off some mercenaries, even when they bring him the head as proof the deed was done; this is... all because of love, so it’s ok, right?

his crush better be ready to comfort him. he’s going to be a bit shaken- even though this isn’t the first time he’s been around death (whenever he was kidnapped, he often watched his captor be killed right before his eyes by jamil or another servant in order to save him), but... well, it’s a bit different when he’s the one who actually paid to have it done

kalim isn’t one to weigh favours against others, but he might be a bit pushy. surely, after doing this... he has the right to hog his crush’s time and attention, right? he can keep them for himself- he.... he did such a thing for them, so it’s ok! it’s a fair deal, right? he’ll be super nice to them, too... so it’s ok! it’s ok because it’s love, right?

vil schoenheit

vil knows it could be so easy. the head of pomefiore must brew the strongest poison- that’s the rule, and he accomplished it. tasteless, scentless, colorless, untraceable poison? of course he could make it; it’d be a shame if he couldn’t, considering how much work he’s put into the craft...

when first asked, vil would be a bit cautious. wanting to kill someone... what kind of feelings could his beloved have for such a person? did they do something to them...?

even if he knows only negative emotions could be behind that request, he feels jealous. to want to kill someone... means that someone has been occupying his crush’s thoughts; their image has been running through his beloved’s mind, so much so they wish for their death... and he hates that. 

vil always wishes to be number one in his darling’s eyes; his efforts, his pains, he wants them recognized by the one he deems to be his love. the thoughts of someone else occupying his beloved’s mind are enough for him to forgo any sort of moral discussion about the crime he’ll commit

usually, vil would ask rook to do these sort of dirty tasks, not because he was incapable of harsh work, but because he preferred to preserve himself. however, this is something he needs to do himself: beauty is obtained through effort, and this too is just another stepping stone to his beloved, is it not...?

vil’s beloved crush better be ready for him to use this sin against them. he has no problem reminding them of all he’s done for them- he’s given them a custom-made skincare routine, every beauty product under the sun, adjusted their wardrobe, and he’s killed in their name. it’d be horribly ungrateful on their part for them to deny him anything he asked, wouldn’t they?

idia shroud

idia would do anything to get his crush to even look at him. he deeply believes he has no chance, even before speaking to them- anything, anything to get their attention...! it’s not enough to stalk them: he needs them

it’s so bad he doesn’t even think much of the request. he’s so lost on cloud nine of being so close- he could smell their shampoo if he leant closer, oh gods, oh gods; what is killing someone, compared to this? he’d do anything to be close to them

of course, idia isn’t going to brute force anything. he’s well aware he’s not the strongest student, muscles never trained from days spent indoors, locked in his room; but he prides himself in his genius

he’s proud. he shouldn’t be- he knows it, this is fucked up, he shouldn’t have done this, his crush is fucked up for asking this and he’s even more so for doing it- but he’s able to shake off all nausea and anxiety by knowing he’s doing it for them

he’s got no problem in showing up to his darling’s dorm all covered in blood; oh, don’t worry, he wasn’t seen, there’ll be no security tapes of what he did. he doesn’t even care how his crush grows scared of his bloody figure, hair glowing and illuminating the drying blood; they’re so close, so close- they owe him, don’t they...? the mere thought makes him grin wildly

idia is already a tad delusional: sure, he’s convinced himself he’s unlovable, and he doesn’t believe his crush will love him back, but he’s deluded himself into believing this is the only way to do things. doing such a violent action may as well be the tipping point; if he’s capable of killing... what’s stopping him from just taking his crush? to take them and lock them up for himself; isn’t that just another way of taking a life?

malleus draconia

why would such a sweet human desire something so morbid...? malleus can’t help but see his crush as a little animal, a young human with no power compared to him. it’s a bit jarring, to see them ask for something like death upon another...

... but it makes him so unbelievably amused. who would’ve known they were so dark? he’ll go on to say such an innocent exterior was hiding such a dark, horrible desire... 

he’s projecting, absolutely. if he sees his crush: someone he considers so adorable and loveable, the one human he’d do anything for, the person he will spend the rest of his life with, hide a desire to have someone kill... then it’s ok if he- powerful and serious malleus draconia, who acts as gentle and kind as he can with his little human crush, star student of NRC holds a desire to hoard his treasure, keep his crush away from prying eyes, to have them think of him and only him no matter what method he must use, right?

he’s so amused by this child of man’s gall to ask him, one of the world’s most powerful mages, for such a favour- and also curious. did this other person do something to his beloved? did they hurt them? lay a hand on them? the thought alone is enough for him to desire that bastard’s blood spilled, even without knowing if his suspicions are even close to the truth- so of course he does

he makes sure his crush knows he did so. it was a painful death; he’ll assure them of that. burning fire, electric magic, thorns wrapping around an almost lifeless corpse: if his crush doesn’t find a way to shut him up, he’ll describe every detail. 

they caused this; this was the work of a child of man, not of a dark fae, he’ll remind them. he’ll justify any future actions with this- oh, he’s a monster for kidnapping them? he’s horrible for locking them up and forcing them onto the role of his lover? did they forget how much of a monster they are, too? 

[costellos]

I loved the hcds of the bucci gang realizing that they are in love, how is it with the squadra?

YEEEESSS thank you for this suggestion, friend! delicious. finally some good food. I only focused on Risotto, Prosciutto, Melone, and Ghiaccio for this one. it doesn’t seem like there’s much of an audience for Illuso, Formaggio, and Pesci, anyway.

Bucci gang ver. here!

❥ ┋ ❝ la squadra realizing that they’re in love!

risotto nero.

Risotto realizes he’s in love when you prove him wrong.

he’s a man on a mission. as a world-renowned assassin, Risotto knows exactly what needs to be done and how to do it. there is no room for hesitation in this line of work. that’s why he was so surprised when you were placed in his team.

you’re capable, he’ll admit that much. but during his assignments with you, he’s quick to notice those brief moments of apprehension. there might be a glint in the target’s eye, that sign that they’re not ready to die yet. even though he tells you to ignore it, you still hesitate. he concludes that you’re not ready for this.

it happens while following an assignment from the Boss. Sorbet and Gelato still haven’t turned up. despite his team being nothing but obedient (even with their suspicions of the couple’s fate), Risotto doesn’t like the way this mission is carrying out.

chatter fills the streets of Naples. streetlamps are ignited, signing a near-end of the day. there isn’t anything off about this night, not technically. it still doesn’t feel right. Risotto keeps his guard up as he turns with you into an alleyway. you’re supposed to retrieve a yellow envelope from the Boss here.

you catch it before he does. the mission is a set up, with the Boss sending men to dispose of Risotto, as his death would shamble La Squadra. yet before the Boss’s henchmen can do anything, you swipe at their legs, incapacitating them.

there weren’t any giveaways that these men were working for the Boss. yet when you both approach them, they admit they were paid a hefty sum to carry out the assignment. that’s when he sees it: the Aegis tattoos on their wrists.

like always, you hesitate when getting rid of them. thankfully, the job is done and you’re both safe. at least for now.

“you caught their tattoos,” he notes.

you admit that you did. it’s a sign of loyalty that all of the Boss’s higher profile cronies bear. a divine shield, the tool that Zeus himself used to strike fear into the hearts of men. Risotto is shocked that you caught the marks so fast.

you always hesitate during missions. he’s well-aware of that. but while he initially saw it as a weakness, there’s more to you than he anticipated. your ability to analyze the situation, to catch details that even he would miss. it’s... curious. yet intoxicating nonetheless. ↳ “good work.” his hand is on your shoulder, an action that you’ve become familiar with during your assignments with him. this feels different somehow, though. warmer. “but don’t assume that this is the end of it. tonight proves that we need to be more aware.” aware of everything now, he notes. your surroundings, the people you talk to, and as Risotto spends more time with you, his own feelings.

prosciutto.

Prosciutto realizes he’s in love when he sees your efficiency.

he doesn’t like dwelling on things. feelings, main points, and certainly not missions. Prosciutto makes his best effort to complete his assignments as quickly as he can. that doesn’t mean he cuts corners, though. he’s very good at his job.

that said, he gets quite frustrated watching Formaggio and Melone carry out their assignments. they always leave a trace of themselves behind, and in the case of the former, he often has to deal with several needless causalities. going over their paperwork is always such a headache.

then he’s partnered with you. despite your three months on the squad, this is the first mission Risotto has had you collaborate on. not that Prosciutto minds. like all other things, he doesn’t think much of it. he’s seen enough reports of your own fighting style to know that you’re skilled.

it didn’t come so apparent until you landed on-site. the Forum of Augustus, ruins left by Augustus himself honoring the Roman god, Mars. although Prosciutto had visited Rome countless times (sometimes for formal work, sometimes out of pleasure), this is his first time stepping foot in the forum.

you’re supposed to dispose of a small but rival gang. Prosciutto makes diligent work of aging them. but there’s one kid who’s stubborn, using her explosive stand to send shock waves throughout the site.

he sighs. this might be more work than he had anticipated. no wonder Risotto sent two people for this assignment.

but before he can think of his next move, Prosciutto finds the girl at his feet. he scowls. then he looks at you. you’re breathing heavily with your arm still raised, a sign that you had used your elbow to knock her out. he’s not sure how you did it but you did, and now this mission is over before it began.

“nicely done,” he tells you. the forum doesn’t look terribly damaged. there are some collapsed columns and chipped statues, but nothing worth fretting about. so he starts using Grateful Dead to disintegrate the bodies to nothing more than dust. that’s when you start beating yourself up, something about how you could’ve done better. Prosciutto turns to you.

you wanted to cause less damage. the Forum of Augustus is a national landmark; just because it was used as a meeting grounds for some lowlifes doesn’t mean that it should be destroyed. likewise, you wanted to make Prosciutto’s job easier. you had heard that he’s a stickler for inefficient work, and this being your first mission together, you didn’t want to be a nuisance.

Prosciutto blinks. you went that far for some thousand-year-old cement? for him? he’s so used to his colleagues brushing him off (save for Pesci, bless him). being considered for once feels... nice. so he puts his hand on the small of your back, shaking his head at your grievances. ↳ “to be honest, you far exceeded what the others would have done.” Prosciutto comes off as a cold man, but he’s actually quite comfortable giving praise as he sees fit. it certainly applied here. “don’t dwell on it. let’s just finish the job.” and it was true: you did great work, exceeding beyond his own expectations. how else will you surprise him?

melone.

Melone realizes he’s in love when you go out of your way to protect his stand.

yes, he can make a new junior at any time. this one, though... di molto! it’s absolute perfection! the ideal combination of nature and nurture, this junior is sure to put up a beautiful fight. Melone is brimming with excitement.

he first thought it was a mistake. your using your stand to protect his, defending it from an onslaught of punches from your target. “I can’t tell if they did it on purpose or not,” the junior reports to him. Melone simply waves his hand in the air, telling it not to worry. it can trust you protect it. he only says that to reassure the junior, however. while his other colleagues had protected it in the past, they never went out of the way to do so. Melone thinks nothing of it.

even still, he’s puzzled. he knows he can make a new junior at anytime. you know this too. 

ugh. whatever. he won’t think too much about it.

but then it happens again. this time, your stand swoops the junior into its arms, saving it from a falling lamppost. when Melone hears word that you defended his stand — for sure now — he’s not sure how to react. so he leans back in his seat, hand stroking his chin.

he’s become so accustomed to Formaggio mocking Baby Face. not like that idiot would understand, anyway; Melone’s gotten used to it. he knows what Baby Face is capable of. his colleagues do too. and certainly you.

that’s why he can’t wrap his head around why you would do it. it’s the first thing he asks you when you return back to the squad’s hideout.

because I knew how proud you were of this one, you respond. you make it sound so casual, with your bright smile and shrug of the shoulders. Melone simply looks back at you, eyebrows scrunched. even Risotto would let the junior perish if it meant completing the mission. you obviously went beyond simply defending it. at that point, it’s just risky for everyone.

despite that... he can’t stop thinking about it. your prioritizing his happiness over the mission might have been foolish, but he still appreciates it. how you smiled when you told him, how you made it sound like the easiest task in the world. Melone suddenly finds himself wanting more missions with you. so he approaches you as you’re leaving for your next assignment, frame overlooking you, expression amused: ↳ “heading out now? di molto! let me have Baby Face assist you!” he’s so obvious about wanting to spend more time with you but he doesn’t care. someone who entertains his silly, little pleasures is something worth keeping an eye on. “no, no, I insist. please, it’s nothing worth fretting about.” maybe one day, you’ll have eyes for him too.

ghiaccio.

Ghiaccio realizes he’s in love when you indulge his rant.

although he can remain level-headed during a mission (to a certain degree), there are many things that makes Ghiaccio tick during moments of peace. his most obvious grievance being inconsistencies in diction and proverbs.

everyone is familiar with the Venezia rant. that said, most had become familiar with what makes him annoyed. and unfortunately, most do it on purpose.

it happens while planning for the next group assignment. it’ll take place at Teatro di San Carlo, a historic opera house next to the Piazza del Plebiscito. Prosciutto is running over the details when he says it: foyer. not as foi-yur, however. foi-yeh. and Ghiaccio loses it.

he goes off on a tangent, explaining that the word stems from old French and it doesn’t make any sense for it to be pronounced like that. he’s slamming his fist on the table, voice raised as he makes his point. Prosciutto and Pesci are looking at him blankly. Formaggio and Melone are stifling a laugh. Risotto and Illuso let out a sigh and turn to each other. with a nod from Illuso, Risotto holds up his hand, asking that Ghiaccio save this for a different day.

despite his obvious displeasure (crossed arms and a soft click of the tongue, typical of him), Ghiaccio quells his argument. Risotto gives Prosciutto the okay to continue.

so he does. but this time, he makes it a point to continue using ‘foi-yeh.’ he emphasizes it every time he uses it, his azure irises flickering toward Ghiaccio with every use. he’s enjoying this. Ghiaccio clearly isn’t.

at the end, Prosciutto asks if there are any questions. you raise your hand. to be honest, Ghiaccio isn’t paying attention to most of what you’re saying. that is, until he hears you use ‘foi-yur.’ you emphasize it as clearly as Prosciutto had with ‘foi-yeh,’ sprinkling it wherever you can. when you finish, you turn to Ghiaccio (who’s now staring at you, eyes wide) and flash him a thumbs up.

Ghiaccio isn’t sure what to do. so he responds with an ‘okay’ sign, eyes still wide from your little show. no one has ever defended him like that. “defended” might be a strong word for most, but to have his point be acknowledged in such a small way has Ghiaccio at a loss for words. so he just sits there, wordlessly, staring at the blueprint that Prosciutto is using for this next mission. once Risotto calls the meeting adjourned, though, Ghiaccio is the first to spring from the table, taking his spot beside you as the others file out of the room. ↳ “you didn’t have to do that, you know.” he blinks. shit, was that to harsh? “they’re going to call you a kiss up now.” there. that puts the concern on you, because truly, he is worried that the others will tease you now. but you just shrug and say that you don’t care, that you didn’t want him to feel ignored. Ghiaccio is, in spite of White Album’s abilities, a hothead. he’s a man built from passion and liveliness and enthusiasm. and after hearing you say that, he’s starting to feel those sentiments apply to you, too.

[pokedash55]

Acronix X Coffee Robot Crack AU

SUGGEST READING MY ECHO MEETS ACRONIX FIC BEFORE THIS

IT BUILDS ON THIS WACKY WORLD OF MINE

Click for Echo Meets Acronix Fic

To summarize//TL;DR: Acronix falls out of the time vortex at the light house a befriends Echo Zane, learns empathy and put Echo on Social media so everyone knows he exists now. 

-After he leaves echo zane with a borg watch he finds himself back in Ninjago

-Stalks borg and his fam like a creep

-Jay introduces Echo to the dyer family

-Echo and unagami are siblings now

-Acronix is kinda like Echos big brother

-But no one else accepts this

-Zane and Pix give skeptical and menacing, “if you touch him” glares

-Unagami is confused babi and likes their new brother echo

-So Like One day it’s Borg, Pix, Zane, Jay, Unagami, Echo, and Milton dyer, and Acronix in a room together  (Fic on that later :3 )

-The whole fam

-Nixie just lingers around borg tower saying random junk sometimes

-Acronix : “You either die a villian or live long enough to see yourself become…”

-Pix: “A very annoying customer who is about to be escorted out of the building?”

-“UH NO. Wrong answer Pix (“dont call me pix”). REDEEMED. Cause I’m like… totally redeemed now”

-Just holds up a high five for the room and left hanging by everyone

-Jay’s like :Yeeeoree not part of our group”

-So like Acronix and Echo Zane are bro’s now cause I said so??

-Everyone: Nix is part of the Borg Family

-Me: Well YES, but actually no

-This isn't really a Future thing

-In this they're mostly frenemies kinda??

-But Acronix does really like him and borg tower and Borg is too nice to throw him out XD

-Acronix has zip money and doesn’t FEEL like looking for Krux rn

-Gets his morning coffee everyday bro

-Starts crushin on the Coffee manager (naming her shannon after the voice actor)

-His routine is basically wake up, coffee, Shannon, stalk borg, watch memes, think about looking for kux than fall asleep on phone

-Posts bout his lil bro alot (echo)

-Posts about Shannon ALOT

-Many many selfies of him an his coffee

-Realizes he may need to get someplace to live since he had yet to venture for krux

-Shoot money is a thing he doesn’t have

-Borg be super kind like, “You can stay at my Newly renovated highly advanced Borg Hotel but you must get a job.”

-Acronix gestures at being one of those technology intern clerks at borg industries. “Is for me?”

-”Must get a job AND leave my family alone…. For now… please?”

-Borg is too nice to the guy who kidnapped him and is infatuated with living at borg tower

-Does borg live in borg tower?

-Gunna say he does

-Cause Acronix just LOITERS in borg tower 24/7

-Like its like hours after closing of the downstairs shop and Pix is like getting her suit on and forcefully escorting Nixie out of the premises

-So anyway Nix has to get a job

-Ugh entry level Jobs are SO beneath him.

-Pouts uwu

-Gets a job as a barista to at least have fun with someone cool

-Ronin notices that sales have gone up in the coffee shop since Acronix has started hanging around there, because the girls think he’s pretty and he posts a lot on social media.

-Ronin wants this, but doesn’t want to have to actually pay Acronix for being a faceman.

-Hires him “as a barista”. Basically he hires Acronix to sit at the counter and look pretty, while giving the joint free advertising.

-Acronix totally doesn’t notice this and is fine with being completely exploited and underpaid.)

-Acronix X Coffee Bot! (In this she’s named Shannon)

-Shannon is like… chill and rude, but never offensive

-Cheats in chess

-Smug about it too like deamn she mean

-Epic moves (Both spinny sign and juggling. And makes epic coffee)

-Unflinching at a fire

-Complete apathy

-Throws "Floyds"  teapot plan away immediately cause she doesn’t get paid enough for this sh*t

-Says she doesn’t drink coffee but than is seen drinking coffee that lier

-Bad habit of Ignoring stufft. Ignores the upgrade, ignores her lie detector, ignores the fact the -machine is literally ice frozen

-She wears a miniskirt and a crop top/bra thingy to WORK. On the clock! savage

-Nixie is confirmed to get crushes easily and like powerful/ mean woman (Machia)

-Also he has no shame in liking nonhumans

-Love technology so would totally vibe with her

-Robotsexual for sure

-Powercouple

-Since she is still A.I, so Nix’s outgoing and I don’t care i'm great loud personality would really surprise her and she’d be inspired/impressed by his lack of chill and lack of care

-She has a bit of sass and goth hot topic to her but also still has that robot innocence that would blend nicely with Acronix since he is also Abrasive and rude on the outside, but is a tad of a softy coward (He hugs his bro and cowers behind him and gets adorably defensive when he snarks at him)

-He’d teach her so much about being more alive… maybe a bad influence but she’d dig it

-He calls her Shay almost constantly

-He hates being called Nix

-Like he is a prideful warrior who expects people to use his full name in respect

-But Shannon is too cool for that

-Calls him Nix sometimes anyway

-Respects her boldness

-The audacity to do so without permission!

-Shannon owns a motorcycle because come on

-Ridin home on a sick bike together

-Stealin stuff when people aren’t looking

-Banned from Ronin thrift shop for sure (they're lucky they weren't fired after that night. But he literally can't fire shannon)

-Chill on friday nights at Laughys karaoke.

-Not singing, just laughing at how stupid other people look singing drunk kareoke

-So a jock dork egotist and a apathetic punk bot walk into a bar

-Dareth honestly doesn’t know this guy was the one sending snakes after his trophies so he just treats him like a normal costumer

-Neither of them care about Dareth’s attempts at small talk.

-Too busy loving themselves like idiots

-She kicks his ass in strategy video games and he destroys her in battle royal stuff

-Both are equally bored by like Animal crossing and other fake life games YAWN so much work

-Shannon enjoys the thrill of racing games

-Nixie plays em but it’s not his best game

-Both GEAMMERS (but in a frighteningly cool way. They somehow both avoid nerd status… nixie still a dork tho. Jock dork)

-She makes coffee art of her hubbies face.

-He gives her so much social media attention

-Acronix gives her coffee shop media rep and he loves the petty feeling of beating Wu at something

-She doesn’t quite get his excitement in it (cause she’s on neutral terms with Wu) but loves the media attention

-She doesn’t get his phrases and he finds that both aggravating and endearing

-“Um I’m Aconic”

-Shannon: “So you’ve been lying about your name this whole time?

-Acronix: “...?”

-“That's honestly sick”

-Acronix “… “

-One day they joy ride on a motorcycle

-End up loitering around borg tower

-Borg officially meets Shannon and is interested in her origin

-Her design is not like he has seen but it also seems familiar

-She says she doesn't remember much other than working for ronin

-"Ronin" borg mutters spitefully

-He has a history of y'know.. Messing with his tech (dismantling pixal and selling zane hmmm)

-Does a diagnostic code scan

-Acronix worried bout his bae and hyped he was actually invited in for once.

-Progress on that "friendship"

-He discovers her model and general code is similar if not almost exactly the same as pixal’s code

-Ronin scrapped together with some mechanical help from his friends the walkers to make a functioning robot manager with borg tech he scrounged up and a stolen copy of pixal’s blueprints ( maybe he took pictures of them when he sold her to chen) and specs so he wouldn't have to pay for multiple employees. Just having the one really efficient one would save him thousands

-So shannon is pixals sister

-And her parents are The walkers, Ronin, and borg

-The family tree only grows people

-So Acronix is apart of the ninja family now if he marries Shannon

-Here's a chart if you're as confused as I am here:

-Anyway Shay doesn't really care much

- Her expression doesn't change

-She had never really gone out of her way to worry where she was from so it wasn't a huge revelation

-It was to nixie tho

-As the extravert he was (and has extensive experience of being a sibling) he had to make sure she got to know her new family NOW

-Like in the middle of the night now

-He never waits for things to happen

-Pix is first and she is about to power down for the night when...

-DOOR SLAMS OPEN

-"Hi SIS!!" Acronix just screams

-"hey. I'm like your sister now." Obvi shannon is more lowkey about it

-Shannon and pixal mildly get along

-Questions her taste in men alot

-Acronix chills in the back already bored and ready to move on.

-Although he's annoyed by them, the ninja were next up

-Zane and Jay are both family now

-Shannon starting to think he's using all this to fill the void of his brother being gone.

-Cause she has no interest for or against meeting these people but Nix sees it as urgent

-But he seems happier than usual so she'll let him throw her name around for a while. She did mooch off his social media so it was only fair

-Anyway eventually Acronix does find his brother, and tries to explain this whole mess to his less-than-thrilled twin

-God once Krux gets back tho

-“Hey bro! I married a robot she’s amazing!”

-He’s just taking selfies with her in hot topic outfits both of them

-“God no my brothers Robotsexual. My worst nightmares have been realized”

-Krux can only stare in horror at the people his brother now considers “family”

-Wu’s students?!, Robots!?, what EVEN IS AI?!?!?

-He eventually gets over it

-eventually maybe

-At least he can admire her attitude

-Will still mess with his bro tho.

-This is the worst timeline imaginable.

-But I can't apologize for art

[blowpair2]

Cryolipolysis Fat Freeze

Cryolipolysis Equipment & Company Plans

Content

Check. Cristal Fat Freezing Today!

Should You Integrate Coolsculpting With Workout And Weight Loss?

Fat Freezing Versus Other Treatments.

As soon as we have validated we can treat you, we arrange a convenient time for you. On the day an one-on-one assessment is executed to guarantee your upmost safety and security as well as to check for any type of elements you might have fallen short to educate us of. Researchers in the 1970s discovered that the subcutaneous layer of fat experienced a cell fatality procedure when cooled to specific temperature levels. It has given that been verified that fat cells are more prone to chilly than skin, nerves as well as muscle, as the fluid in the fat cells is exchanged solids at specific low temperature levels.

Non-Surgical Fat Reduction Market to Grow at CAGR of 5.1% through 2022; COVID-19 Causes Fluctuations (1) - PharmiWeb.com

Non-Surgical Fat Reduction Market to Grow at CAGR of 5.1% through 2022; COVID-19 Causes Fluctuations ( .

Posted: Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

, the top TUV clinical CE- accepted fat freezing innovation. The price of "Freeze Your Fat Slim" is a great deal less than typical Liposuction which starts at ₤ 3,000 climbing to ₤ 6,000. Following your exclusive assessment, we can establish your wanted physique then create an one-of-a-kind treatment program for you beginning with only ₤ 299.

Enquire About. Cristal Fat Freezing Today!

The Cryo360+ provides soft silicone to boost convenience in the therapy area. As soon as the treatment has actually taken place the huge majority of the targeted fat cells will be liquid and also consequently removed through your liver and also kidneys in the exact same all-natural means as various other toxins. Clinic 33 was the very first technique to offer the Lipoglaze fat freezing option beyond Harley street back in 2013, as well as have because greatly invested it as our key option for this therapy. Once the fat cells are removed from the body they are gone permanently, and also as our body has a set number of fat cells they will certainly not recreate. Nevertheless extreme calories consumption could result in continuing to be fat cells raising in size. Clients might feel somewhat tender after the therapy, however there is seldom any serious discomfort.

Our "Fat Freezing" equipment uses sophisticated cold modern technology to uniquely target as well as dissolve fat cells through a gradual procedure, keeping the surrounding tissues undamaged. When fat cells are exposed to precise cooling, the procedure of apoptosis over the following month or 2 slowly lowers the density of the fat layer. The cells in the cured location are gently taken in through by the typical metabolism procedure of the liver. Your skin as well as muscles are left in best condition with simply the fat cells being limited! These dead cells are after that metabolised by your liver as well as got rid of naturally like all various other waste items. Our "Fat Freezing" therapy is a method for you to resculpt your physique by targeting persistent, resistant areas of fat without needing to undergo lipo surgery. Whilst eliminating all the involved dangers as this is a non-surgical and also non-invasive therapy.

Should You Incorporate Coolsculpting With Exercise And Also Diet Programs?

Fat freezecan help get rid of excess fat and can make a significant distinction in exactly how other individuals see you as well as just how you see yourself. That's specifically true in the Newcastle location, where every person wishes to have the perfect body and also feel impressive. Fat freezing Newcastle has come to be preferred among both men and woman and can make you a more powerful competitor at work, on the dating scene as well as in the gym. Yes, you will require to call for a healthy lifestyle as this will certainly improve your end results. You will be evaluated at the beginning as well as end of your treatment, measurements of the location to be treated will be taken throughout the process and images will be taken, to view your results. We do have a food diary tracker you can utilize, if you feel this will certainly help to maintain you on the right track throughout your treatment procedure.

The results of cryolipolysis abdominal area treatment are long-term as long as a healthy and balanced lifestyle is kept, as fat cells can not grow back after being frozen.

It is best to consult from your medical professional if you have a medical problem in situation cryolipolysis abdomen treatment is not risk-free, for example in those with Raynaud's disorder, stomach psoriasis or Liver disease C.

Nonetheless, cryolipolysis abdomen therapy is not ideal for any person who is pregnant, overweight or had surgical procedure around the stomach location with the previous year.

Yes, the CoolSculpting ® procedure can treat visible fat lumps under the chin. With CoolSculpting ® treatment for a dual chin, people might see results after simply 2 gos to. The CoolSculpting ® fat-reduction treatment is specifically created for those who have unwanted fat in targeted locations. Unlike weight-loss surgery (e.g. stomach bypass), the CoolSculpting ® treatment is not a weight-loss option for people that are obese. Great candidates for the CoolSculpting ® treatment have noticeable bulges in certain areas they want to get rid of. la-lipo.co.uk LA Lipo Cryolipolysis Henley free trial given by the Cosmex Clinic in Cambridge allows the fat to be frozen away through Cryoliposis and also is then taken care of out of our body's natural digestion process. CoolSculpting uses this advanced treatment in a risk-free, efficient and also FDA approved method.

There are no task restrictions, as well as individuals can go back to their normal regular quickly. During the treatment you may experience feelings of drawing, tugging, light pinching, extreme chilly, prickling, painful, aching, and also cramping at the treatment website. As a leading non-invasive fat-reduction treatment worldwide, CoolSculpting ® has a reputable safety and efficiency profile. CoolSculpting ® systems are controlled cooling tools made with built-in safety measures. If sensing units find that the skin is getting too cool, the system will certainly close down automatically.

5 Crazy New Ways to Lose Weight - Men's Health

5 Crazy New Ways to Lose Weight.

Posted: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Simply one 3D Cryo-shock session is required to treat each details area, nonetheless we recommend an added course of Shockwave therapies to even more boost outcomes and speed up the process. 3D Cryo-shock can additionally be combined with other 3D body shaping treatments. Up to 20% -40% of fat cells within the therapy area will certainly be damaged. The innovation behind the trendy slimming device crystallises the fat cells in your body, which after that pass away and are filtered out of the body by all-natural procedures. During the great slimming therapy, the applicator is placed on the therapy areas you have specified. Book an examination with our qualified clinicians to choose your target locations.

For as long as I can recall the only way to slim down as well as fat down payments without working out and also dieting has been lipo. A very reliable treatment yet additionally extremely intrusive with potential for severe problems (Kayne West lost his mother to lipo of which he paid for!). CoolSculpting|Fat Freezing treatments London has more than 17 years proficiency in skincare.

Our elderly technicians have been picked especially to obtain intensive training for Fat Freezing in Barcelona which has brought back their skills as well as strategies to PLC . https://wallingford.la-lipo.co.uk/before-after-cryolipolysis will be removed after completing your therapy with. As long as you preserve your regular diet plan as well as exercise, the result should be irreversible. As we utilize a strong non-invasive suction to collect the target location, you may feel a 'grasping' sensation initially which wanes within a number of mins. You will certainly after that experience a cooling sensation throughout the treatment.

The fat cells that will be crystalized with the Cryo-lipolysis treatment are absorbed by the bodies all-natural processes. First of all we accomplish a telephone consultation to assess if you are an ideal prospect for the therapy, to save you time of seeing us just to be informed that you are not ideal.

Is Cryolipolysis painful?

Does it hurt? The pain felt from Coolsculpting is primarily experienced during the procedure itself. According to the official Coolsculpting website, the company acknowledges that it's possible to feel pain from the numbness caused by the cooling sensations from the freezing applicator used during the procedure.

[cdcycle18]

Non Medical Facelift Near Me

Elegance And Also Cosmetics

Content

Just How Does Doublo Hifu Job?

What Areas Can Be Treated With Hifu?

Face (hifu).

We understand it's a worrying time for people with cancer cells, we know to aid. HIFU is just helpful to treat a single tumour or part of a big tumor. This means that HIFU is not ideal for individuals with cancer cells that has infected greater than one area in their body. The Skin Repair Center have an interesting passion for delivering not just the best however additionally the most efficient and also reliable cosmetic therapies available to you throughout the South West and Wales areas.

With their extremely experienced background, both will certainly ensure you will not simply obtain the most effective solution from first enquiry right through to our thorough aftercare yet you will certainly attain the very best possible result. An excellent HIFU prospect has light to moderate skin laxity where the skin starts to really feel and look less company. Instances consist of a reduced brow line, loose skin on the neck, sagging under the chin, and also lines or wrinkles on the upper body.

Exactly How Does Doublo Hifu Job?

Ultrasound gel is after that put on the face, this is to guarantee that no warmth is felt on the skin surface and permit the HIFU power to be absorbed effectively into the desired skin layers. Permit 2 weeks before/after IPL treatments in the area that you wish to have dealt with. Enable 2 weeks prior to IPL therapies in the location that you desire to have treated. HIFU offers long lasting effects, tightens skin as well as promotes wrinkle decrease. HIFU facelift treatment is a cutting-edge, painless as well as non-invasive means to decrease wrinkles that lasts up to two years and also is skin-friendly, secure as well as effective.

How successful is HIFU?

Results: HIFU overall success rate was 84% (biochemical relapses in only 4 patients out of 25). Success rate was represented as follows: 94.2% in the low risk group, 83.4% in the intermediate risk group and 0% in the high risk group.

We have more than 10 years of experience in using appearance treatments, our objective is to bring the luxury of non-invasive therapies to the masses at cost effective prices. This treatment is suitable for all skin kinds over the age of 30 as well as can help with protecting against the outcomes of aging. You can solve back to your day-- there is no downtime required.

What Locations Can Be Treated With Hifu?

It is very important you feel great that you have chosen therapy that is right for you as well as your skin. Everyone is various and also will see results at various times. Outcomes are totally based on your very own body's recuperation time, age, lifestyle, diet plan and case history. non surgical facelift Grays such as hi-fu.co.uk face and also neck lift that is done appropriately by a skilled technician should take about minutes. That is because the majority of factors on the face are dealt with at 4.5 mm, then the very same at 3mm and once again at 1.5 mm. Time, treatment and attention have to be paid by the technician to supply these points in a way that offer you finest results.

Several months after therapy, you look freshened and also renewed-- never pulled. You will see remarkable arise from simply one treatment, nevertheless to obtain maximum benefits a comply with up treatment in 8 to one year is recommended and also these exceptional results will certainly last from 2-3 years.

Face (hifu).

Collagen production will begin after only one session, with results showing up over the complying with months. Your skin will be healthier, more powerful, as well as younger-looking, without any abnormal, drastic changes. The goal is to raise the local temperature to at the very least 65 ° C, the temperature at which collagen contraction begins to occur. HIFU creates distinct thermal coagulation factors while saving nearby cells.

Obviously, the best way to discover if you're a suitable candidate is to consult with a specialist. HIFUTherapy deals with the deep foundational layer addressed in cosmetic surgery, however will not replicate the results of a facelift. Nevertheless it is a great alternative, especially for those not prepared for surgery or for individuals aiming to extend the impacts of cosmetic surgery.

What Is hi-fu non surgical facelift Gosport ideas ?

After learning lots about fat cold throughout the assessment and reading whole lots online I reserved in for treatment. I have actually seen such a big difference around my love manages and stomach area. The aftercare was great, you get a diet plan, email, adhere to up visits and also if I needed anything they were there for me. A huge many thanks to Ryan for today at RT Looks for my fat cold procedure. I was a little bit worried but much more due to the fact that I required to get down to my underwear in front of you. Whatever was fully clarified to me and also I' am excited for the results.

The HIFU non-surgical facelift supplies ultrasound at targeted midsts of 1.5 mm, 3mm as well as 4.5 mm. HIFU facelift is also known as the Ultrasound facelift, Ultrasound treatment or 'Ultherapy' This short video clip discusses simply exactly how ultrasound innovation works in the face to tighten up the skin. HIFU treatment often tends to last in between 60 as well as 90 minutes, depending on areas dealt with.

In addition to neighborhood coagulation, the application of warmth causes collagen fibers end up being denatured and contract. Have a look at our complete checklist of treatments and obtain scheduled in with our friendly staff today.

HIFU is the only non-invasive therapy that can especially target the deep foundation below the skin without cutting or disrupting the surface area of the skin through plastic surgery.

It is likewise the only procedure to use ultrasound imaging, which allows us to see the layers of cells we target during therapy and also make sure the energy is deposited precisely to where it will certainly be most reliable.

It works by utilizing a high strength focused ultrasound which develops a training result for long-term and also prompt results without any demand for lasers, surgery or injections.

It's minimally intrusive and also avoids the demand for surgery, making the healing time much quicker than surgery.

[blueyesandleatherjacket]

The Fallen, 8/17

Volume: 1.

Number of parts: 8/17.

Pairings: Nine x Rose.

A/N: Tagging @thebookster on her demand.

“We've all fallen, but at the same time we're not broken. There is the hint that we are going to get up again.” - Amy Lee.

CHAPTER 8:

“So, you’re fresh from the war. Damaged. Broken. Shattered. And you meet that girl. Rose Tyler. She’s showing you that life is worth fighting for. Traveling with her makes you feel alive again. Until her life is threatened. You sacrifice yourself for her to life.” “Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing.” Nash shrugged. She had to pretend that she couldn’t understand the beauty of such a sacrifice. The concept of giving a life to save another should have been unknown to her as an assassin. Giving a life to save the one of the persons you loved was out of her reach though. She never had the chance to meet her soulmate but she had people she would die for. “But it doesn’t go as planned. You feel something is wrong…” “No, that’s not how it went. I just realised I didn’t want to leave her or my ship.” “Your time machine.” “Oh, she’s so much more than a time machine.” “A space ship.” “You’re so far from the truth.” “Anyway, the Doctor was gonna change into another man…” “Yep. And I was gonna die. And I had that irrational and universal thought that I wasn’t ready to die, that there was more to live. I made the wish to be sent back on Earth to stay around the woman I love.” “Even unsure that she would follow you?” “She was left with a new man. She trusted me, my daft old face… He certainly was prettier and younger and funnier to make a perfect match with her but he still remained a stranger. What would you have done?” No response. “I wanted to stay in her life but I woke up in Manchester with that deep conviction that something was wrong.” “Because you sensed that you had half of that Bad Wolf left in your mind.” “And since I could feel the other half around, it meant Rose still had it in hers.” “Which could be fatal to both of you.” “You’ve got it.” “So that Bad Wolf has quite amazing abilities. Meaning you’re some kind of superhuman now. You’ve got the control of Time and you can change whatever you want to. You’re also a telepathic being and you can access people’s mind and create a real mess in there. Change someone’s history, create false memories or erase it all.” “That’s not exactly how it works. There are rules.” “Who cares for the rules when you’re that powerful?” “I have a consciousness. So does the Bad Wolf. You can’t use its power for personal or evil purposes. Time Lords made the rules. They engraved it in their genetic codes. Anyone meddling with Time would go mad.” “Time Lords are megalomaniac. How could they not go against the rules?” “Oh, some have tried. And they paid the price.” “What about you?” “I ran away from home as soon as I could. Their philosophy wasn’t for me. I had my own dreams.” “What now?” “I intend to leave this place, find my Rose and survive this almost human life. Quite boring, I know.” “And the Bad Wolf?” “I only possess a part of its power. I can’t do much. Need my other half to be able to really do something with that power. Unless…” The Doctor voluntarily chose to stop his sentence there, to show a hesitation. Nash would get more curious if he wasn’t giving her all the answers. Or pretending to giving her the answers. He couldn’t forget that she was manipulated by Jeremy Backfire and that his goals weren’t clear enough. No need to give him what he desired by mistake. Better not give them Rose and the other half of the Wolf. He would die protecting them. Dying was exactly the card he was gonna play. So far, the Wolf and him had worked together but he was always in charge, except for some incidents that had happened now and then. The Wolf was remaining hidden for its own safety. I t was just fixing the damages Nash was creating to its human shell when she was done. He would have died a long time ago without this power, which ironically was also killing him. “Unless what? Is there another card you wanna play? You think that talking all the way through that session will save your ass? We can’t even tell what’s true and what’s not.” “It’s up to you to believe me or not. But just so you know, I am fully human and humans can’t handle the power currently stuck in my head.” “Which means?” “I’m slowly dying. The power is burning everything in me and you’re speeding the process up with your methods.” Nash smirked. Maybe she believed him and was concerned for him deep down, but on the outside, she had to act like she didn’t. She had to pretend it was a trick when the doctor inside her wanted to check his words and save him. She couldn’t see it, the power burning his mind and causing rage fits and complete blackouts when he was alone in his cell. He was holding on pretty well so far but he didn’t have much time left. They would realise it soon enough. “Nice try, Doctor.” That new voice turned his blood to ice. Jeremy had been there all along the session and had witnessed their exchange. That explained why she was so tensed and acting like the Quiston Assassin she had once been. Well, you never ceased to be an assassin. You just learnt how to hide this part deep inside you. The Doctor was well placed to know that. Jeremy was done with these games. Now was the time for round two. If the Doctor didn’t want to say the truth, he was gonna talk to his other self, the one he was keeping hidden all the time, and there was only one way to force him out. He came in the room and dismissed Nash who obeyed wordlessly. He pushed the machine to the maximum. However, the Doctor was strong and he resisted. Him and his Wolf were a powerful team. Powerful enough for Jeremy to fly off the handle. The yellow room wasn’t enough. He had to hit harder. The Doctor was breathless. All his body was suffering from the electricity that had just gone through it. He laughed in Jeremy’s face instead of complaining and raging. He was rewarded with a punch in the face. It added more to his physical pain but didn’t affect his mood. He was determined not to let Jeremy win, no matter the cruel things he had in mind to torture him. It was certain that he wouldn’t like them at all. Jeremy was furious. He turned around, opened a drawer and pulled out a needle. He checked the label on it. They had invented a special mix for him. One that wouldn’t wear off in the minutes that followed the injection. One that would keep him awake but unable to move or speak or think. The fluid was injected straight in his jugular vein and slowly followed the course of blood to spread in his whole body until there was nothing of him that could react to Jeremy’s threats. When the Doctor was completely paralysed, Jeremy called a bunch of his subjects to transfer the patient in another room he had never seen before. It looked like an OR, with red walls. There was a metallic table in the centre where he was strapped down. He couldn’t move at all but they were taking no risk. His head was placed in a surgical vice? All around him, the walls and furniture were immaculate, sterilised. There was a whole collection of tools for surgery, all perfectly sterile and waiting to be used on a new Guinea pig. Behind the strong smell of bleach, there was the smell of terror, of blood, of urine. Many had been taken there before him and many had suffered from irremediable damages. Today, the Doctor was gonna get familiar with the red room. Here, they weren’t gonna flood his brain with electricity. They were gonna go further. They were gonna explore the brain itself, for real. Jeremy Backfire was nowhere close to being a neurologist. That was gonna be a disaster. “Well, Doctor, it’s about time we use brand new methods. Forget about the soft ones Nash was using on you. Now, I’m taking the control of your case.” Jeremy slipped a finger down the collection of tools, seemingly looking for the proper one to choose. His mind was already set on the scalpel but making the choice last was playing on the Doctor’s nerves. Everything to make the unwavering man drop his mask of confidence he was wearing so proudly. “See, Doctor, I want something from you and I’m ready to get it at any price.” Jeremy placed his cold hand on the Doctor’s face and folded his ear to clear the way. The scalpel stroked his skin, just above the ear, and cut the tender skin deeply. Blood flowed and ran down his neck. Jeremy put the scalpel down, grabbed a drill and tested it. He pressed the trigger a couple times to make sure it was working. Then he drilled a hole in the Doctor’s skull. The patient was conscious. He was feeling everything and couldn’t defend himself or scream. A brain surgery without anaesthetics. It was gonna push him beyond his limits and forced the Wolf to come out. Exactly what Jeremy was wishing for. He inserted a little sensor in the hole. The Doctor didn’t see it properly but he felt it. A sensor inside his brain. It could have been a sensor to monitor his brain’s activity but he sensed that it was for another purpose. Another method of torture that needed two holes and two sensors, one on each side of his head. He had been scared of death once. Right now, he surprised himself to think that it would be a relief. Jeremy wouldn’t give him that. “Oh, now, you’re scared, big ears,” commented Jeremy, amused. “Excellent. That’s the right attitude. It means you’re gonna give me what I want.” The Doctor did, and not because he chose to. Actually, he tried to resist as much as possible but being electrocuted straight in the brain was proved to be efficient as a torture method. The human abandoned the battle in less than ten minutes. The pain and death threat hanging above its host’s head compelled the Time Entity sleeping in his mind to come out and protect him. So far, it had been too weak to even show up but it had found out that feeding on the evil vibes and negative emotions that were filling this place was more satisfying than feeding on a Time rift like the TARDIS needed. Being in a human body didn’t only have drawbacks. It could now take control and show that damn man who was the real boss around here. The Doctor’s eyes turned gold and a loud growl came from his throat. In the second, all the restraints and sensors vanished in golden particles and the Doctor, possessed by the Wolf, was on his feet. The cuts healed themselves. Jeremy stepped back, a smirk on his lips. He was scared of course. He knew partly what the Wolf was capable of. It was better not to make it angrier. It was mad enough at the moment. “There you are.” “Oh, so I’m the one you expected to see? You happy? Good. Because that’s the last thing you will ever have done in your miserable little life.” The Wolf took another step toward Jeremy. It wanted to lay its hands on him and feel his body disintegrating as it erased him from time and space, as he reduced his whole existence to dust. It had been provoked, but it also had been given the strength to finally be in charge. Wiping Jeremy away would also wipe Maxence away and that wasn’t an option. It had to reduce Jeremy to nothing and yet, keep him alive. There was one simple way to have its revenge on him and run away from here to find the real Doctor. “You think we didn’t plan it all? That we didn’t take any measure for the day you would come out again?” “Oh, you’re getting clever.” “Always have been.” The Wolf snorted, “What do you want from me?” “Do you even have to ask?” “Pure politeness.” Because the Wolf was already in his head and looking for the information it desired. Which wasn’t complicated. Humans were open books. They didn’t have any lock or any barrier to protect their minds. If they knew what was living among them, what was coming for them in the future, they would protect themselves better. At the moment though, it was an opportunity. “Hm. Humans are predictable but you have the merit of being different. On some points at least.” That hospital was only a façade. They were using this asylum to hide their real activities. Their basement had been turned into a lab and a prison for non-terrestrial species. The place was protected by all the human technology available at this time and it was doubled with some alien technology. They were capturing every alien specimen they could find and experimenting on them to get as much information as they could get. Worse than Van Statten and Torchwood. Jeremy had even offered himself some upgrades with this data. And one day, he had heard about the Doctor. “You want me. You want my power to rewrite yourself. My power and my immortality. Basic.” “I want the Doctor and I can’t reach him without you.” “You want to use me to get him?” The Wolf scoffed. “The Doctor left me on Earth, stuck in the mind of his now human former self who didn’t want to die. Do you think he cares about the bomb I am? If he did care, he would have taken me out of here and you wouldn’t have known a thing about it.” “He hasn’t come because he doesn’t know. We caught you before you could do anything and this place intercepts most of the calls. Telepathic or not. You did call him but if he got the message, he never came around.” The Wolf clenched its fist and a golden glow travelled through his veins. The anger burnt in its hosts body and mind. If it had any limit, Jeremy would have crossed them. It was about time to break the man once and for all. “You can’t have me or my power. I won’t let you. And if you want the Doctor to come, draw his attention with something big. Big ball of troubles. He loves that.” “I don’t remember giving you the choice.” Jeremy wasn’t losing his impertinence. “I can’t do anything to neutralise you completely and force you to obey, but I can still break your human shell.” “Go on, try.” Jeremy smirked. The Wolf pressed a hand on his face to reduce his brain to a puddle of grey cells, to make a vegetable of him. It should have seen it coming but it was one of those grey zones. The moments always in flux. The ones where a decision needed to be made. And Jeremy had just taken his when the Wolf chose to attack instead of submitting. There was a whistle caused by a flying object and the Wolf felt a distinct sting in his thigh. A needle. “YOU THINK IT’LL STOP ME?” it roared. It was really mad now. It began the process of killing Jeremy from the inside. Its other hand grabbed his throat and lifted him from the ground. He was struggling against the hand strangling him, his feet dangling in the air, but his face showed a clear victorious expression. “I was just the distraction,” he panted. The door of the room flew open and someone shot five times. The Wolf roared louder as the five needles jabbed in its back. It let go of Jeremy to run to the person who had dared shooting it. But it found itself unable to move anymore. It was losing its power, its control and slowly being numbed by the drugs he had been given. The Doctor couldn’t take over for the moment so the Wolf fought. In vain. It fell to its knees, to Jeremy’s feet who was watching him with a victorious smile. “I always get what I want, Maxence. You should know that.” Those were the last words the Wolf could hear before it completely fell to the ground, beaten by the high dose of modified drugs they had shot him with. Nash would have a furious Wolf to deal with on their next appointment. It wasn’t gonna forget or forgive that. Jeremy would pay for that. Not from the cell. It wanted to face this asshole when it would get his revenge. Just for fun. It would carve it in its memories to never forget. It would laugh about it. However, it would have to wait until later. The nurses chained up the Doctor’s body again and dragged him to his room. Since he was deeply asleep, they didn’t even bother carrying him. Dragging him was less tiring. They threw him in his cell and took away the chains before they left and locked the door behind them.

To be continued...

The Fallen © | 2019 | Tous droits réservés.

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[creator-zee]

167

       I woke up surrounded by white. Sterile, sterile, white. Where was I? I tried to push myself up, but I couldn’t get my left hand under me. I managed to awkwardly push myself up with my right. But I was sore, oh so sore. I groaned slightly. An IV was in my hand and some other wires were connected to me. I now recognized the beeping of a monitor next to me. I was in a hospital. But why? I tried to remember what had happened but I couldn’t. I couldn’t remember anything. Nothing. It was blank. Entirely blank.

        The beeping increased as my pulse did. Who was I? Why was I in a hospital? And why did everything hurt? I tried to adjust myself to help support myself with my left arm, but I couldn’t feel the sheets. I glanced down at my left arm. A choked gasped sped my mouth. It was gone. Just like my memories, gone. From about the middle of my upper arm down was just gone.

        The beeping got louder and tears stained my eyes. I let myself collapse back into the bed. What was happening?

         Someone opened the door and bustled into the room.

        “Who am I? What happened? Where am I?” I desperately asked the nurse who entered.

        “Can you try and calm down for me?” She asked kindly, as she set down her clipboard. “I’ll answer what I can, but I need you to calm down first.”

         I nodded and tried to level out my breathing. I clumsily pushes myself back upright to better look at the nurse.

         “Easy there.” She warned. “You’re Probably still sore.”

          “You could say that.” I muttered.

          She reached and grabbed something from next to the bed. “This is a control to adjust your bed, so you can sit upright, leaning against the bed.” She explained, and I heard a whirring motion. I leaned back when the bed got into position.

           “What do you know?” I asked.

          “Honestly, not much.” She admitted. “Someone found you half-dead and called 911. You’re lucky they were there or you’d be dead. We barely saved you as is. We were hoping when you woke up you’d be able to tell us more.”

         “I can’t even remember my name, much less how I got here.” I said, slightly panicked. “How bad were my injuries?”

         “The main one was your arm, but you had small lacerations all over, and a larger one on your right hip. You also had a head injury which may have been the cause of your severe memory loss.” The nurse informed me. Her tone was sympathetic, but she remained professional. “Can I get you some water or something to eat?” She asked.

         “Just some water.” I said.

        She nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

        I nodded. It wasn’t like I was going anywhere. She returned with a glass of water and handed it to me.

        “I had a chance to touch bases with the doctor. He said that your head injury wasn’t severe enough to account for your memory loss so it was probably do you improper use of one of the new memory guns.” The nurse said as I drank the water.

         “Oh, right those were becoming a problem.” I said, and confusion immediately took over. “How do I remember that?”

          The nurse gave me another sympathetic look. “I’m afraid that since none of the guns being used are legal it’s not sure exactly what memories they target. They were designed initially to remove anecdotal memories and leave facts and language in tact. For example you would know that this is Laternia, but you wouldn’t know where you learned that.”

         I nodded and sighed. “What does that mean for me now?”

          “Unfortunately, since people have begun designing these on their own, criminals have been quite trigger happy, so a new program has been built for victims.” She explained, glancing at her clipboard. “It’s similar to a foster program, but for adults. You go and stay with a host - either a family or a single person or a few - it depends. The program gets you set up with an identity, a job, and helps you get your driver’s license. The program also provides one year of therapy - physical and mental in your case. After one year if you’re doing well, you’re on your own. But, that’s after you get released from the hospital. Your injuries still need to be taken care of, so that may be another week.”

         I nodded again, processing silently. This was so much. 

         “Speaking of which. I need to change your bandages. If that’s okay?” The nurse asked, setting down her clipboard again and grabbing a bandage caddy and pulling on some gloves.

          I nodded. I watched with some horror as she removed the bandage from my stump. The end had been sutured up nicely leaving a nice incision. That still didn’t stop the horror and shock that was sinking into my stomach at the loss of my arm. The loss of my memory was harder to mourn. I didn’t know what I was missing. But I knew I was missing an arm. 

          She replaced the bandage with efficient moves, before moving to the bandage at my hip. I felt awkward at being so exposed to the nurse, but I realized that while I was unconscious they no doubt had seen every inch of my skin. I finally steeled myself to look at my hip wound. The wound was also neat and healing up nicely (how did I know that) but it was a huge incision. It was easily the length of my hand, maybe longer.

          She changed another bandage in my arm, and one on my leg, and another farther down my other leg. The others weren’t big enough to need bandages. 

          “I’m all done. Do you need anything else?” She asked, peeling off her gloves. 

          “A book?” I asked. “To pass the time.”

          “I’ll get one for you. You do also have a tablet on your side table.” She told me, gesturing at it.

         I nodded. “Thanks.”

         She returned and handed me a book. I balanced it awkwardly on my lap. I didn’t recognize the title but I suppose that’s not a surprise. I began reading and found myself quickly lost in the pages. A story about a villain who infiltrated the heroes and then got very confused about what was right and wrong. When I reached the end and it was a cliffhanger with one of the characters possibly dead, I almost threw it across the room. Of course it was the first in the series. 

        I leaned over and grabbed the tablet off the table and looked up the book. It was the first in a trilogy, of course. I noticed that it was almost six now. I hadn’t paid attention to what time it was when I woke up, but I did now notice my hunger. Hopefully, the nurse would return soon. I could always call for her, but I didn’t want to bug them. 

        She returned with food. “I hope you’re okay with this?”

         I nodded. “Any food is good for me. I don’t remember what I like.” I tried to joke, but just received pity. 

          She set up a tray and I began the awkward process of eating with one hand.

         “When your arm is healed we will work on fitting it to a prosthetic.” The nurse said, and I nodded. Prosthetics has advanced quite a bit and I knew it would almost be like I had my arm back, almost. 

167.1

         I had a duffle bag of state-provided clothes. One nice outfit for interviews, one casual outfit, one workout outfit, and one lari of sweats. I had an ID, a new prosthetic arm, and a whole bunch of nerves. My last two weeks at the hospital had been relatively peaceful as I began physical therapy and got fitted to my arm, but that was over and now I was standing in a hallway of an apartment building, waiting to knock on the door of my roommate.

        I took a breath stealing myself before I knocked on the door. It swung open after a moment revealing a woman about my age - mid twenties. Her eyes first landed on my face but they quickly jumped to my arm - or rather, my prosthetic. Due to technology, I had the full functionalities of an arm, the only difference being that it was robotic. I still wasn’t completely used to it, but it surprisingly wasn’t that different, except it was removable.

She seemed to realize that she had stared for too long and that she had said nothing. “Hi, I’m Jess, you’re host.”

I nodded. “I’m uh...” I paused the name taking a second to come to mind. “Ryan.”

She nodded. “Come in, I’ll show you to your room.”

[babes-and-baddies]

I just read @codenamesazanka’s post (+some responses) about the issues with a ‘#1 hero’ ranking, and it ties into a lot of stuff I was already planning on writing about with how exactly this mindset self-generates and offshoots into everything else so I figured I’d write it here! I don’t know if Hori himself considered this view (it would be amazing if he did!), but the explanation that would make best sense in-universe? Is that this “#1 Hero” system seems like a bad idea because it is bad- and was designed to be.

I feel like this whole issue has to do with economics and how heroes are paid, mixed in with the value of public image and discrimination towards weak/lacking/dangerous quirks, the social emphasis on individual strength and image, as well as how that image perpetuates trust beyond the heroes means and stifles civilians inclination to help eachother. It all sorta jumbles together into one huge, complicated, interconnected, and unhealthy mess, just like real life does!

Disclaimer: this is gonna get long, and it’s very pessimistic about how things are and I’m probably going to be called a villain sympathizer which, y’know, isn’t wrong, but this is just really interesting and fun to look into. 

So to get this started: money.

It’s unclear how exactly heroes are evaluated for pay -though it seems competitive if Mt. Lady’s intro is anything to go by- but most likely it’s based on fulfilling specific pre-agreed upon tasks efficiently. There’s the normal heroes, rescue heroes, etc- and i’m willing to bet that they each have their own rigid set of expectations. 

It’s not about doing what’s the most good; it’s about doing what fits their job as a specific kind of hero. And as we saw with when Stain fought Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki, ‘what’s necessary’ doesn't always line up with ‘what’s allowed’. Doing what’s right is not only sometimes separate from hero work, but also discouraged in some cases with heavy penalty, potentially even the loss of their hero license. It’s a system that says, ‘Be strong, be flashy, play by the rules, and you’ll rank high. Rank high, and you’ll have more security and freedom.’  Following that mindset is a requirement of being a hero, even though it doesn’t help the public or even the heroes themselves. 

Likewise All Might mentions that heroes don’t participate in public service anymore (like cleaning trashed-up beaches), and I have to wonder how many don’t because they don’t have the time to. 

After all, if only Top Ranking Heroes get paid a lot for hero work, most heroes need to turn to other sources of a living- such as modelling, advertising, endorsing, etc. It’s been alluded to several times, such as with Uwabami towards Yaomomo and Kendo, that, at least for the girls, these extra media jobs are central to doing herowork! Even male heroes such a Present Mic have side-jobs, and I wonder as well for whether they’re because he wants to, or because they’re financially necessary. This all also leads to fierce competition. While heroes can in cases work well together, it’s shown as early as ep. 1 that there is also infighting and lack of communication, such as when Mt. Lady created unnecessary property damage in order to do nothing more than steal Kamui Wood’s thunder (and in extension, money). 

While at UA there are times where they students are forced to work together, overall it seems like communication and cooperativeness is something optional and never taught. And if Endeavour is any indication, it’s something they’re never expected to learn.

All of this creates a situation where heroes are limited in what they’re able to do. Helping others is most practical to do while working as a term and providing everyone with support, but things are set up with a Strong Lone Hero type ideal. 

They have to constantly look out for their image since it’s their source of income, they have to allocate their time carefully between hero-ing and jobs for money, etc. None of that leaves much opportunity to focus on other central aspects of helping others, such as helping local communities or volunteer work.

So how does this matter outside of the fact that it limits the amount of good that can be done? For starters, it can work as one of the main tools to maintain the hero industry: creating an environment which allows for villains to be created. Not to get too political, but this can lead to a strong parallel between the BNHA universe and our own, or at least many prominent societies irl.

There are countless types of people who turn to villainy, and while some are genuinely evil people who would do wrong in any situation, it’s most likely that the majority of villains are small-fry who did minor or non-violent crimes, just like in real life. And what leads to so many of today’s crimes? Economic disparity, lack of other options, and discrimination.

To start with disparity: public service is already undervalued irl, and I can assume it is over in the BNHA universe as well. Since villains are needed to maintain the hero vs villain rate to keep heroism acting as an industry, there needs to be enough villains. So for those who are controlling and benefiting from the system there would be active interest in maintaining conditions where villains would be created.

An easy way to do this would be by making it harder for heroes to help with community outreach, so that those in need have less practical avenues to get any while at the same time maintaining a cultural idea that heroes are able to save everyone, even in non-villain scenarios, and therefore civilians don’t need to get involved. 

I know that, luckily, lots of people wouldn't fall for it and would still try to take care of their own without heroes involvement, but having a sociocultural and political system invested in maintaining its power would certainly make it harder for the smaller communities where more villains come from to find enough resources.

At the same time, what is one clear example of discrimination shown time and time again in BNHA, something routinely shown in both extreme positive and negative light? Quirks. There’s probably a reason why there are no quirkless heroes, or why Shinsou had such a hard time to get his foot in the door at UA; their society and culture idolizes powerful quirks and overlooks/fears those who have quirk statuses that are deemed not good enough. 

Those with flashy quirks become ‘good’ and those with dangerous quirks become ‘bad’, despite everyone having no control over what quirk they eventually manifest. These people are underrepresented in groups of power, and looked down upon in different contexts. While this won’t in and of itself lead to villainy, it does a first step of ostracising someone from society.

At the same time, there’s a parallel idolization of heroes which aims to create trust in them, for both big and small things- they can save you from a villain, but they can also let you in on a secret of the best shampoo for every hair type for super luscious locks. They can clear debris, but they can also be a hero in every moment of the days, helping others. This is the image that sells, and it’s the image that maintains trust. 

It’s also the image that makes people see an injured and afraid child crying for help and happily think ‘a hero will save him’; it doesn’t matter that it’s improbable, because it’s what the media and hero industry has continually led them to believe. Even the most kind and well-meaning people can be susceptible to incorrect beliefs shared by those they trust.

Villains on the other hand are universally shown as irredeemable, where all of them are viewed as scum of the earth regardless of the severity of their crimes. This helps maintain the image that the hero industry needs to continue to sell itself. Heroes are always good and always win, villains are always bad and always lose. We can trust heroes, so we can trust the system, and we can trust what heroes are paid to tell us. Strong flashy quirks are good because heroes have them and heroes are good. We don’t need to get involved. Everything’s simple and we’re all in the right since we support heroes and we don’t need to worry, yay! The belief system is simple, it makes people feel good, and I understand how it could be appealing. 

Even when Midoriya looked past the idea that heroes would always win, and he went to save Katsuki from the sludge villain, he was admonished for it. While that’s fair because he’s a child and shouldn’t put himself into danger like that, it’s not hard to see how that reflects a wider mindset- not only do civilians not need to help others when there are heroes to do so instead, but it’s bad if civilians do heroes’ jobs for them. 

That would be relatively fine if heroes could always help; it’s shown both here and in canon that that often isn’t the case regardless of how much most heroes genuinely want to help people as best they can.

And of course there are people realizing things feel wrong. But even when there’s criticism of hero society, such as Stain’s ideology and it’s popular reception, it keeps failing to recognize the underlying causes of what’s going on. Heroes aren’t universally shallow and greedy any more than quirkless people are weak victims or people with dangerous quirks are evil. 

As long as the criticisms are like Stain’s in nature, which place the responsibility solely on the shoulders of individual heroes rather than the society as a whole and the people who benefit from how things are set up -the media, corporations which profit off of trust in the Hero Image, politicians which understand how things are set up and use it to improve their image- the system is never going to change. But this is a whole other topic deserving of its’ own analysis, so I’ll stop there for now.

As an example of where this ties all together, take the hero/villain fight in ep 1. It was a huge fight over a purse snatching- people potentially getting injured, major street damage, etc, all over one purse. And what do the civilians have to say about it? They’re impressed by the villains quirk, wondering why such a good quirk is wasted on someone like him; the villain literally gets called the ‘incarnate of evil’ by Kamui Woods- while purse snatching is bad there are much worse things to do, such as, I don’t know, murder; most importantly, the civilians watch it as entertainment.

Wow, cool, a fight! It doesn’t matter that it’s dangerous, because there are heroes there and therefore everyone’s protected. And if people get hurt, that’s sad, but it’s an exception, bad luck, or the injured person did something wrong like not listening to the heroes! The hero vs villain conflicts have become so normalized, sensationalized even, that people feel separate from the situation, as if they are passive bystanders to everything where everything works out as long as they cheer the heroes on. 

And when there are pro heroes, why would anyone need to think about what makes actual ‘heroes’ in the broader sense? They trust the pros, so they trust the system- even though it’s the system which controls the pros.

So as far as I can see- there shouldn’t be a number one hero! The very concept could play into a self-serving system which priorities public image over actually doing good, and in fact would be part of what allows the hero/villain conflict to be so rampant in BNHA’s society! And considering all the potential implications of that, maybe the LOV have a point, even if it’s not as simple as they make it out to be.

At least there’s still hope in the form of 1-A and the other up-and-coming future heroes, and maybe one day they’ll be able to work together and change things into a better, healthier, more cooperative hero system.

[wilderwestking]

Stand Unshaken

Chapter One: How to Rob a Train (Part I)

Summary: The Wilderwest is shrinking.

The year is 1899 and outlaws like Hiccup “Night Fury” Haddock are being hunted. Tired of running, Hiccup must choose between being loyal to the only life he’s ever known and leaving it all behind.

Rating: M (for later scenes)

So I realized I’ve never posted my fic to tumblr, and I figured, why not  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Wilderwest was shrinking before Hiccup’s eyes.

As a young boy, Hiccup’s father had told him stories of a Wilderwest untouched by man. Stories of forests with trees as tall as giants with roots that dug to the very core of the Earth. Mountains that cut through the land and broke the sky with their jagged peaks. Deserts that stood as a last, arid, defense against mans’ conquest. Stories so enthralling that Hiccup couldn’t resist the call of adventure, and at the age of fourteen slipped from his bedroom window in the night. But now, the map was growing and his world shrinking.

Each night more and more campfires would dot the land like wildflowers in a field. The untamed wilderness that Hiccup had grown to love was being replaced with towns and farms and trading posts, leaving only tree stumps and train tracks in their wake.

The boy was on his knees, peering over a cliff’s edge at one such set of tracks. Below him, the tracks cut through a mountain canyon heading from the East to towns farther and farther West. Lighting a cigarette, Hiccup was careful to avoid spilling ash onto the map that was spread out in front of him. Methodically, he dragged his pencil against the parchment, marking positions in relation to the land around him. Leaning back on his heels, he exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“I know it’s been a rough few months since Berk, bud,” he said, inclining his head toward his black Arabian that grazed feet away, “but I thought…Well, that we were lying low.” Hiccup took another drag from his cigarette, “But Viggo is Viggo. Always planning and scheming.”

A sigh, then in an impression of the gang’s leader. “Just one more, Hiccup my boy. One more and then we’ll have the money we need to head back West.” Another sigh, his voice his own again, “To head home.”

Toothless whinnied, his ears flicking in the direction of Hiccup’s voice. Sensing the distress of his rider, the horse stepped closer, pushing his head against him. Casually, Hiccup rested a hand on his muzzle.

“Just gotta have faith. Right, bud?” He stroked the velvet of Toothless’s nose and turned his attention back to the train tracks below him. “The train will come through here at approximately 2 a.m. Heather and the twins will already be on board, posing as passengers. The rest of the gang will catch the train as it passes through this canyon. In and out before any of Grimmel’s men notice they’ve been hit. Of course, this all counts on you being able to catch a moving train.”

The horse pounded his hooves against the ground in excitement, kicking up dust as he did so. Hiccup laughed, his voice the only sound in the late afternoon. He waved the dust away, “Good. Once I’m on the train you’ll have to keep pace until I can get to the brakes.”

Taking one last look at his surroundings, Hiccup folded his map and tucked it away in the inside pocket of his vest. Standing, he put his black leather hat over his auburn mop of hair to shield his eyes from the late afternoon sun and dropped his cigarette in the dirt. Pulling himself into Toothless’ saddle he looked to the East in the direction of camp. “Let’s get back to Raven Point, bud. We need to make sure everything is ready.”

                                                          xXx

Raven Point camp was nestled in a cove hidden deep in the mountain. Surrounded on all sides by towering evergreens, the camp was secluded from even the most adventurous of passersby. At each of the entrances Viggo had posted guards, but Hiccup paid them little mind as and he and Toothless tore up the path toward the camp. Spewing dirt in all directions, Toothless skidded to a halt, Hiccup flinging himself from the saddle. At the center of the camp Viggo, Johann, and Snotlout sat around a table. Engrossed in a map and discussing the details for the heist, they paid him little mind.

Johann caught his gaze as Hiccup approached. Johann was a tall man, tanned, and always willing to tell tales of his time as a Navy Captain. However, as Hiccup got closer to the table, the familiar jovial looks were gone, replaced by a bitter scowl that covered the portion of his face his large beard didn’t hide. The man turned his attention from Hiccup back to Viggo, “Why are we doing this, Viggo? I thought our plan was to lie low until we could head out West.”

Anger flashed across Viggo’s features, but Hiccup pretended he didn’t see it. The man had been less than pleasant since the death of his brother.  “We need funds, Johann. It costs money to caravan twenty people out West! Surely you of all people can understand that. “

“Of course, I can, Viggo. What I don’t understand is robbing a bloody train when Flyers are breathing down our neck!”

“Everything we had, we lost in Berk! We have to earn it back if we ever want to get out of here. We rob this train and we’re set.” Viggo pounded his fist on the table, causing Snotlout to jump.

Hiccup cleared his throat, taking a seat beside Snotlout. “Maybe Johann is right, Viggo. The plan was to lie low. Robbing a train isn’t exactly ‘lying low’. It’ll bring every Flyer this side of the Archipelago our way.”

Viggo straightened up, putting his arms behind his back and looking down his nose at the boy. It was the look Viggo gave Hiccup when he had overstepped his place. Hiccup had received that look a number of times in the years since Viggo had brought him in, but it never failed to make him feel like that starving fishbone of a boy Viggo had found in the woods so many years ago.

“Ah, Hiccup. I was wondering when you would return. Is everything in place for tonight?

Sighing, Hiccup met Viggo’s gaze, “Everything should go as planned. We can wait for the train to pass through the canyon on a nearby cliff’s edge. Toothless and I scouted it just now. But Vig—”

“We ride tonight, Hiccup. Best be ready.”

                                                            xXx

Thundering across the heartlands of the Archipelago, the Grimborn Gang was a formidable sight. Viggo, dressed in a red leather vest and a dark overcoat led the formation atop a large grey Turkoman he had named Skrill. A mean beast of a horse, he shared the same cold efficiency as his rider. To the right, Hiccup and Toothless kept pace. Dressed in all black, the pair were nearly invisible as they raced through the night. To the left, Johann rode dutifully, occasionally casting Hiccup glances when their horses’ gallops allowed for the exchange of looks. A division was growing in the gang. Perhaps it had always existed beneath the surface, but after the Berk Massacre the group had been left beaten down and open wounds allowed for resentment to grow like an infection.

Hiccup glanced behind him where Snotlout was covering his left side. Atop his red Mustang, Hookfang, Snotlout caught Hiccup’s eyes and offered a reassuring smile. Regardless of the inner politics of the Gang, Hiccup trusted in Snotlout. Though the shorter man was rash and often narcissistic, he had saved Hiccup’s life more times than he cared to admit.

Behind Snotlout the three rider-less horses of Barf, Belch, and Windshear thundered along. If everything went according to plan, they would be reunited with their riders before the dawn. Bringing up the formation, Silent Sven, Hamish, and Savage rode their horses carrying the bulk of the gang’s ammunition.

“Hiccup” Viggo shouted above the thunder of hoofbeats, “You’ll ride down first. Deal with the engineer and the conductor in the head end. After you’ve stopped the train, make your way to the back train car. The twins will meet up with you. Look for anything of value. Grimmel wouldn’t be sending this train through without reason.” Hiccup nodded, keeping his eyes focused ahead, Toothless’s reins gripped tight in his hands. “Snotlout, you and Heather will be on crowd control. Keep them quiet, and if you see anything of value, collect it. Savage, Sven, Hamish will take care of the guards. Johann and I will run point. Does everyone understand their job?”

A chorus of affirmations and Hiccup could see Viggo’s smirk reach his eyes. It filled the boy with dread and sickening excitement.

Determinedly, cruelly, Viggo smirked, leaning low over his horse and urging it faster. “Well then,” he said. “Let’s rob a train!”

Cheers and cries of “Snotlout! Snotlout!” rose above the hoofbeats, and the Grimborn Gang set their eyes on fortune.

                                                     xXx

For the second time that day, Hiccup peered over the edge of a cliff, his forest green eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the train. Beneath him, Toothless shuffled his hooves. Hiccup could feel the tension coiling in Toothless’s muscles. The horse always grew jittery before a race.

Silence stretched the night. Then a train’s whistle pierced the night. In the distance a tower of smoke billowed up into the night sky, hiding the stars from view.

“Masks up,” Viggo ordered, lifting a silk handkerchief to cover the bottom half of his face. “Hiccup. Go.”

Covering his face with a black cloth, Hiccup steeled his doubts and cracked the reins, shouting “Ride, bud!”. Identity hidden and horse charging, Hiccup was no longer himself. In his place rode Night Fury, the infamous outlaw feared across the Wilderwest. Toothless’s hooves pounded against the hard earth as he propelled himself forward like black lightning. The outlaw was only vaguely aware of the gang members that followed in his shadow as he rushed down the slope and along the tracks. Leaning low over Toothless’s neck, Hiccup could see the light of the head end and then it was rushing past him and the roar of the train filled his ears as he balanced atop Toothless and leaped onto the flat train bed. Rolling with the momentum of the jump, Hiccup sprung to his feet. Beside him, Toothless had pivoted and was running parallel to the train.

Hiccup hopped the gap separating a flatbed form the front end but blocking his access to the engine room was a large container filled with the train’s coal. Pulling himself up and over the lip of the container, he tumbled into the bin sending a black cloud of dust billowing up. Lungs burning, Hiccup pushed forward, careful not to jam his prosthetic between the rocks.

Attention on the steps in front of him, Hiccup had to throw himself to the ground to avoid the engineer’s coal shovel connecting with his head. Coal dug sharply into his back, and although he avoided the first swing, he barely had time to raise his arms to protect his body from the second strike. The impact of metal on bone sent vibrations through his body. Disoriented, he kicked out like a drowning man, sending coal flying up in all directions. The engineer staggered back, leaning away from the coal Hiccup was kicking up.

Gunshots rang out in the air reminding Hiccup of his goals, and with newfound strength, he lunged forward. Grappling for the shovel, Hiccup kicked the engineer and as he was pushed back, Hiccup charged. The force of the charge pushed them both over the lip of the storage bin and onto the hard ground. Winded, Hiccup rolled on top of the engineer, pinning him to the ground. Hiccup’s green eyes met the panic-filled engineer’s.

“Stay here, will you?” Hiccup said as he removed his old, rope lasso from his belt and made quick work of tying up the engineer. More gunshots competed with the roar of the train, and Hiccup quickly closed the gap between himself and the front end’s door.

The engine room felt more like a furnace than a train car, but Hiccup didn’t have long to consider the heat as he found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun.

“Up! Put yer hands up! Or I’ll fill you full of bullets!” The conductor said, each word emphasized by a nudge of his shotgun.

Gods Dammit.

Hiccup raised his arms, palms out, and slowly stepped back from the man. “Sir, put the gun down. Please. Nobody needs to get hurt.”

Two shots were fired.

The first from the conductor.

The second from Hiccup’s revolver.

The body of the conductor fell to the ground, dead. Hiccup stepped over the body, careful to avoid getting blood on his boot from the puddle that had pooled around what remained of the corpse’s head. Sparing no time for regrets, he grasped the handle of the air brake and pulled with all his might. The handle turned slowly, but he could feel the release of pressure and hear the screech of the tracks. The train came to a shuddering halt, and Hiccup allowed himself a moment to catch his breath. Then, he did as any outlaw would do: straightened his hat and whistled for his horse.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, bud” Hiccup said as he jumped into the saddle. A thin sheen of sweat covered Toothless’s coarse hair, but otherwise, the horse was unbothered by the exertion. “Let’s get to the back car and make sure the twins haven’t set anything on fire.”

Pulling the reigns, Toothless turned and loped toward the final train car. Through the train windows, Hiccup could make out the shapes of Heather and Snotlout moving through the cars and collecting belongings from the passengers. At the top of the hill, Hiccup could spy Viggo watching over the heist, a sniper rifle in his hands. Periodically, he would hear a shot and he knew Viggo was silencing a runaway.

The last train car was windowless, but Hiccup could see light pouring from a hole the twins had dynamited into the armored wall. Ruffnut was leaning out of the jagged entrance, excitedly stuffing her loot into Barf’s saddlebags. On noticing Hiccup she straightened up and saluted.

“Took you long enough!”

Tuffnut poked his head out, unlit cigar dangling from his lips and arms full of bonds and coin purses. “H! My man, you have got to get in here! Grimmel is loaded!” Tuff said as he dumped goods into Belch’s bags and turned his head toward Toothless. “Good job with the running, T. Saw it all from the window. Very impressive.”

Hiccup rolled his eyes and hopped down from his horse who was now basking in Tuffnut’s praise. Ducking his head, Hiccup stepped into the train car. “Yeah, yeah. Just get everything loaded. The sooner we’re out of he— Wh-What is that!?” Hiccup gestured to the pile of bodies stacked in front of a large, mahogany desk.

“It was them or us!” Ruffnut said

“Yeah, H. They jumped us!” Tuff added.

Hiccup groaned but stepped around the bodies to search through the desk. While the twins were excellent at nabbing shiny things, they often overlooked discreet items of value. “You guys understand the higher the body count the higher the bounty, right? The more men who will be looking for us?”

“They have to catch us first,” Ruffnut said.

“Like they caught Ryker back in Berk? Or Dagur?”

“That’s cold, H.” Tuffnut said.

Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Look, all I’m saying is that we need to be careful. The less attention we bring to ourselves the better. Just finish the jo—” the words left his throat, but never reached the air as he laid eyes on an envelope with the orange wax seal of a Singetail dragon:

Flyers Detective Agency, Department of Security & Espionage, United Archipelago.

“Whataya find?” Ruff asked leaning over his shoulder with interest.

“A treasure map?” Tuff oohed leaning over his other shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Hiccup mumbled, “whatever it is just might make this job worth the risks, though.”

Hiccup’s fingers hovered over the seal, hesitating to break the wax. Whatever was inside the envelope could potentially be incredibly lucrative to the Grimborn Gang. The information could make the asinine heist worth it. Lifting the lip of the envelope, Hiccup pulled the thick linen paper out and scanned his eyes across the page—

Bullets pounded the far side of the train car, the noise reverberating through the tiny room and making Hiccup’s ears ring.

Ruff and Tuff both drew their weapons and jumped through the hole to find the source of the attack. Hiccup, sensing the situation escalating, shoved the letter into his satchel and made to follow his friends.

Ruffnut poked her head back through the hole, her eyes wide, “Hiccup, we have Flyers! They found us!”

[justlookfrightened]

The Morning After, Part II

Read Part 1 here and Part III here

Jack still had a smile on his face when he slipped his phone back in his pocket.

“Good news?” Tater asked.

“Very,” Jack said.

“You want to share?” Tater asked. “You find new history book? You get money for new rink?”

“Not exactly,” Jack said.

How could he explain that he had just been invited to breakfast -- apparently in his own apartment -- at some undetermined date after they returned from their current two-day roadie? Instead he said, “I just got a text from a friend.”

“A friend?” Tater asked. “Or a friend?”

“A friend,” Jack said firmly, because even though he hoped Bitty turned out to be more, it was way too early to start talking about that. To even think about starting to talk about that. “I was hoping he would get in touch, but I wasn’t sure he had my number. He’s working on the campaign for the ice rink, too.”

“Okay,” Tater said, but he sounded suspicious. “Maybe he has a friend who is a she? Because that’s a smile I never see on you.”

“Nope, just him saying we can have breakfast when we get back,” Jack said, hoping it sounded like a breakfast meeting, to discuss important community ice rink campaign business.

“Okay,” Tater said.

Then Tater’s face lit up.

“You want help?” he said. “Bring me to breakfast. I agree Providence needs more ice rinks. Then more kids play hockey. That’s good, yes?”

“We’ll see,” Jack said, unsure about whether to tell Tater that his friend -- his friend -- wasn’t even a hockey player. He was a figure skater.

When Jack was finally alone in his room, he pulled out his phone and read the text from Bitty again.

If you’re looking for the muffin bowl when you get home, check the concierge desk. Sasha brought your groceries up. I used some to make myself breakfast. Next time you can have some too.

First, he carefully saved Bitty’s number, under “Eric,” to look less incriminating. Then he composed a text to send back.

Sorry about the grocery delivery. I forgot it was this morning. But I’m glad you had something to eat. That looks good. I’d love to join you whenever you can. We get back early Thursday morning, and that’s an off day, so I’m free in the evening, if you are. Don’t worry about the bowl -- I probably wouldn’t have noticed it was gone.

Actually, if Jack knew Sasha, it probably wouldn’t be gone by the time he got back. Chances were, it would be sitting on his counter, clean, probably with a note explaining the circumstances and thanking him for the muffins. Even if he had nothing to do with them.

Sasha, honestly, was sometimes a little intimidating, but Jack admired her efficiency, and he knew she wouldn’t have tried to make Bitty uncomfortable. It still made him cringe -- if he had been caught in someone else’s bed by the building staff, he’d still be hiding in the bathroom. But Bitty, well, Bitty didn’t seem like he was afraid of anyone.

Jack remembered the first time he’d seen Bitty. He’d been on the ice with one of his students, demonstrating a spin. Bitty would do it, his body perfectly balanced, and then let the kid -- a boy, Jack thought -- try, and then Bitty would show him again, drawing attention to the placement of his foot, to the position of his free leg, to the set of his arm. It went that way for three or four repetitions, and then Bitty looked up and caught Jack staring.

Jack had been embarrassed, but instead of apologizing, or complimenting Bitty on his technique, he’d lashed out, yelling about the time it would take to resurface the ice.

It was true, of course. No matter how beautiful figure skaters were -- and Jack wouldn’t argue against that -- they left divots in the ice that took a couple of passes of the Zamboni to fill in. Besides, there were never any more than three or four figure skaters on the ice at once -- fewer as they reached more elite levels -- when you could throw 20 kids on the ice for hockey practice. So why shouldn’t the hockey teams have priority?

But Bitty hadn’t backed down, skating to the boards and telling Jack off for interrupting. “We have five more minutes out here,” he’d said. “And your teams aren’t even ready yet. Why don’t you go tie some skates? Felix here needs to do one one more run-through before he gets off.”

That had set the tone for all their interactions for the next year.

Up until the season Bitty showed up, Jack had only made appearances at the kids’ league to open the season and to award the final trophies. Which he made sure every child got, snarky comments about participation trophies be damned. Those kids all made an effort to get out there and try something new, and Jack thought they should be rewarded.

Once Bitty was on the scene, Jack tried to come whenever his own schedule permitted. Bitty wasn’t there every time, but it seemed like his students had the ice either just before or just after Jack’s minor mites more often than not. Jack wanted to be annoyed at Bitty for insisting on the full measure of his ice time -- he was annoyed, truth be told, when he had 40 kids ready to play a game and Bitty was running one skater through his or her moves for the tenth time.

But he also was more than a little intrigued, and attracted. Bitty was a sight to behold when he skated, and, frankly, adorable off the ice. When he stood up to Jack -- which was every time Jack spoke to him, it seemed like -- he would come right to the boards, even though he had to look up to see Jack’s face. His cheeks would flush pink and his jaw would have a determined set to it.

Despite that, Jack had never seen him in any kind of conflict with anyone else at the rink; even the young hockey coaches Jack’s foundation hired for the league seemed to love him. That was a clear advantage when it came to winning support for a second sheet of ice at the rink, as the event the night before showed.

A new sheet of ice wouldn’t solve all the problems -- there wasn’t enough ice in the world to do that -- but having twice the ice would allow both the hockey and figure skating programs to grow, and Jack, with his celebrity, and Bitty, with his winning personality, were an effective tag team when they were making the case.

By the time the evening was over, Jack was feeling more friendly than he ever had towards Bitty, and he was having a harder time hiding his attraction, until they sat across from each other at the cafe and Jack realized that Bitty was attracted to him too.

Deciding to invite him home might have been the best decision Jack ever made. It also might have been the most reckless.

Jack knew that, and he knew that the very thought of bringing a man home -- someone who knew exactly who he was, and why he wasn’t out, and hadn’t seemed to like him for the past year -- would normally send him spiraling towards an anxiety attack. But when he and Bitty had really talked (okay, really flirted) at the coffee shop, he learned enough of Bitty’s history to know Bitty would never out him.

“I didn’t even tell my mama I was gay until I moved up here permanently,” Bitty told him. “It was bad enough being a gay boy in Georgia. No need for Coach and mama to be the parents of a gay boy in Georgia.”

When Jack looked confused, Bitty shrugged. “With me becoming a Yankee and all, which is what the neighbors think, no one does more than ask politely how I am, and all they have to do is confirm I’m still alive. The scandal of moving to New England is enough to drive anything else out of their minds.”

Sasha wouldn’t tell either. Jack was sure of that. She wouldn’t have told even if she wasn’t paid well to keep quiet about the residents.

He had just settled into a new book on Lewis and Clark when Bitty texted back.

At least while you’re gone no one will yell at me to get off the ice. jk. I have a class Thursday evening but it ends at 8. I could bring you dinner, if you want.

Jack tried to remember the rest of their conversation. Bitty hadn’t said anything about still being in school. Did he teach group skating classes too?

What kind of class? Jack texted.

Cooking, Bitty texted back. I do some cooking classes on the side.

How do you end up teaching skating and cooking? Jack asked, honestly curious. Bitty had mentioned being in college; why didn’t he have a regular job?

You get a degree in American studies, Bitty texted back. Seriously, I don’t like doing the same thing all day. Anyway, I’ll plan something you can eat and make it along with my students, and then I can bring it over. Or we can do something fast at your place. I already know I need to bring some spices. Are you allergic to anything? Besides flavor, I mean?

What was that supposed to mean?

What does that mean? Jack texted.

I’ve seen the inside of your cabinets, and what you order from the grocery store. I can help. I promise.

If it gets you to come over, then fine, Jack typed. But I can’t go far off my nutrition plan.

Don’t worry your pretty head about it, Bitty responded. I used to feed a whole hockey team when I was in college.

Did he mean he hung out with hockey players? Or just brought them treats so the wouldn’t be mad if he was on the ice? Jack was a little pleased that he knew that was how Bitty operated.

How did you know the hockey team? Jack asked.

Um, I was on it? Bitty texted. Captain my senior year and everything.

Shit. Was Bitty mad now? It wasn’t Jack’s fault that Bitty didn’t look like a hockey player, for all he was in great shape, with a compact, lithe body that Jack fully intended to ruminate on as soon as this conversation was over. The way his body and hair glowed gold against Jack’s gray sheets had made an image Jack would have loved to capture.

Sorry, Jack typed. I didn’t know. How do you put the embarrassed face in a text?

The answer came quickly.

You should honestly be more embarrassed to ask that, Bitty texted. I’ll tell you all about it Thursday? Or maybe Friday morning, over coffee.

Part III

[teshknowledgenotes]

BOOK: 23 THINGS THEY DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT CAPITALISM - HA-JOON CHANG

WHY?

This was listed as a good book on most websites when I searched good books about economics. It was an interesting book and I found it cool to see the mindset of other intelligent people on economics, capitalism and how the world works

NOTES

Thing 1: There is no such thing as a free market. What they tell you is that markets need to be free. When the government interferes to dictate what market participants can or cannot do, resources cannot flow to their most efficient use. If people cannot do the things that they find most profitable, they lose the incentive to invest and innovate. Thus, if the government puts a cap on house rents, landlords lose the incentive to maintain their properties or build new ones.

What they don't tell you is that the free market doesn't exist. Every market has some rules and boundaries that restrict freedom of choice. A market looks free only because we so unconditionally accept its underlying restrictions that we fail to see them

A lot of the things that are outside the market today have been removed by political decision, rather than the market process itself – human beings, government jobs, electoral votes, legal decisions, university places or uncertified medicines. There are still attempts to buy at lease of these things illegally (bribing government officials, judges or voters) or legally (using expensive lawyers to win a lawsuit, donations to political parties, etc.), but even though there have been movements in both directions, the trend has been towards less marketization

Thing 2: Companies should not be run in interest of their owners. What they tell you is that shareholders own companies, therefore companies should be run in their interests. What they don't tell you is that shareholders may be the owners of the corporations but, as the most mobile of the 'stakeholders', they often care the least about the long-term future of the company (unless they are so big that they cannot really sell their shares without seriously disrupting the company). Consequently, especially the smaller ones, prefer corporate strategies that maximize short-term profits, usually at the cost of long-term investments, and maximize the dividends from those profits, which even further weakens the long-term prospects by preventing the company from re-investments. Running the company for the shareholders often reduces its long-term growth potential.

Thing 3: Most people in rich countries are paid more that they should be. What they tell you is that in a market economy, people are rewarded according to their productivity. Liberals may find it difficult to accept that a Swede gets paid fifty times what an Indian gets paid for the same job but that is a reflection of their relative productivity. What they don't tell you is that the wage gaps between rich and poor countries exist not mainly because of differences in individual productivity but mainly because of immigration control. If there were free migration, most workers in rich countries could be and would be replaced by workers from poor countries. In other words wages are largely politically determined.

The main reason that a Swedish bus driver gets paid 50 times more than an Indian bus driver, is because of protectionism, Swedish workers are protected from competition from the workers of India and other poor countries through immigration control. Foreigners are willing to take a pay cut while working in countries like Sweden, without foreigners Swedish workers for example can command fifty times the wages of Indian workers.

Thing 3: The washing machine has changed the world more than the internet has. The washing machine has given women more time to part take in other activities and educate themselves. Allowing women to enter the workforce, and partake in more activities due to time save by the washing machine.

Thing 8: Capital has a nationality. What they tell you is that the real hero of globalization has been the transnational corporation. Transnational corporations, as their name implies, are corporations that have gone beyond their original national boundaries. What they don't tell you is that most transnational companies in fact remain national companies with international operations, rather than genuinely nation-less companies.

In this globalized world, the argument goes, nationality of capital is meaningless. Corporations may have started and still be headquartered in a particular country, but they have broken out of their national borders. They now locate their activities wherever the return is greatest. For example, Nestle the Swiss food giant, may be headquartered in the Swiss city of Vevey, but less than 5 per cent of its output is produced in Switzerland.

A company has no national loyalty any more. A business will do what it has to do in order to increase its profit even if it means hurting its home country by shutting plants down, slashing jobs, or even bringing in foreign workers

Poor climate can hamper development. Being surrounded by poor and conflict-ridden countries limits export opportunities and makes cross-border spill-over of conflicts more likely. Ethnic diversity or resource bonanzas can generate perverse political dynamics. However, these outcomes are not inevitable

Not only are government decision-makers unable to pick winners, they are likely to pick losers. Most importantly, government decision-makers – politicians and bureaucrats – are driven by the desire to maximize power, rather than profits. Therefore, they are bound to go for white elephant projects that have high visibility and political symbolism, regardless of their economics feasibility. Moreover government officials play with “other peoples money”, they do not have to personally deal with the consequences of their decisions

Private sector firms also try to pick winners all the time, by betting on uncertain technologies and entering activities that others think are hopeless, and often fail, just think about Microsoft's disastrous Windows Vista operating system and Nokia's embarrassing failure with the N-gage phone/game console

If we remain blinded by the free-market ideology that tells us only winner picking by the private sector can succeed, we will end up ignoring a huge range of possibilities for economic development through public leadership or public-private joint efforts

In the rich countries, enterprises cooperate with each other a lot more than do their counterparts in poor countries, even if they operate in similar industries. For example, the dairy sectors in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany have become what they are today only because their farmers organized themselves, with state help, into cooperatives and jointly invested in processing facilities (e.g. creaming machines) and overseas marketing. In contrast, the dairy sectors in the Balkan countries have failed to develop despite quite a large amount of micro-credit channeled into them, because all their dairy farmers tried to make it on their own. For another example, many small firms in Italy and Germany jointly invest in R&D and export marketing, which are beyond their individual means, through industry associations, whereas typical developing country firms do not invest in these areas because they do not have such a collective mechanism.

If effective entrepreneurship ever was a purely individual thing, it has stopped being so at least for the last century. The collective ability to build and manage effective organizations and institutions is now far more important than the drives or even the talents of a nation's individual members in determining its prosperity. Unless we reject the myth of heroic individual entrepreneurs and help them build institutions and organizations of collective entrepreneurship, we will never see the poor countries grow out of poverty on a sustainable basis.

Herbert Simon a Nobel Prize winner in Economics states that humans try to be rational, but our ability to be so is severely limited. The world is too complex, Simon argued, for our limited intelligence to understand fully. This means that very often the main problem we face in making a good decision is not the lack of information but our limited capability to process that information – a point nicely illustrated by the fact that the celebrated advent of the internet age does not seem to have improved the quality of our decisions, judging by the mess we are in today. To put it another way, the world is full of uncertainty. Uncertainty here is not just not knowing exactly what is going to happen in the future.

With the increasing emphasis on higher education the recent period, an unhealthy dynamic has been established for higher education in many high-income and upper-middle-income countries that can afford to expand universities. Once the proportion of people doing to university goes over a critical threshold, people have to go to university in order to get a decent job. When, say 50 percent of the population goes to university, not going to university is implicitly declaring that you are in the bottom half of the ability distribution, which is not the greatest way to start your job search. So, people go to university, fully knowing that they will “waste time” studying things that they will never need for their work. With everyone wanting to go to university, the demand for higher education increases, which then leads to the supply of more university places, which raises university enrollment rate further, increasing the pressure to go to university even more. Over time this leads to a process of degree inflation. Now that “everyone” has a university degree, you have to do a master's or even a PhD, in order to stand out, even if the productivity content of those further degrees may be minimal for your future jobs.

Education vs Enterprises

If not just basic education but also higher education does not matter so much in determining a nation's prosperity, we must seriously rethink the role of education in our economy

In the case of rich countries, their obsession with higher education has to be tamed. This obsession has led to unhealthy degree inflation and the consequent over-investment of huge scale in higher education in many countries. I am not against countries having a very high or even 100% university enrollment rate for other reasons, but they should not delude themselves into believing that it would have a significant productivity effect.

In the case of developing countries, an even more radical change of perspective is needed. While they should expand education in order to prepare their youngsters for a more meaningful life, when it comes to the question of productivity increase, these countries need to look beyond the education in order to prepare their youngsters for a more meaningful life, when it comes to the question of productivity increase, these countries need to look beyond the education of the individuals and pay more attention to building the right institutions and organizations for productivity growth

What really distinguishes the rich countries from the poorer ones is much less how well educated their individual citizens are than how well their citizens are organized into collective entities with high productivity – be that giant firms such as Boeing or Volkswagen or the smaller world-class firms of Switzerland and Italy. Development of such firms needs to be supported by a range of institutions that encourage investment, and risk-taking a trade regime that protects and nurtures firms in “infant industries”, a financial system that provides “patient capital” necessary for long-term productivity enhancing investments, institutions that provide second chances for both the capitalists and for the workers, public subsidies and regulation regarding R&D and training and so on.

Education is valuable but its main value is not in raising productivity. It lies in its ability to help us develop our potentials and live a more fulfilling and independent life. If we expanded education in the belief that it will make our economics richer, we will be sorely disappointed, for the link between education and national productivity is rather tenuous and complicated. Our over-enthusiasm with education should be tamed, and especially in developing countries, far greater attention needs to be paid to the issue of establishing and upgrading productive enterprises and institutions that support them  

[inputgarlic92]

Taking Care of your Trendy Phone is Easy

It is definitely more difficult to change out your cellphone's lithium ion battery since it would be to treat it right in the first place. Many smart phones don't offer easy consumer access to their own batteries. That includes all iPhones and many flagship Android phones from brands such as Samsung. Authorized battery substitutes can be costly or frustrating (take to getting an official battery replacement in an Apple Store this year). There are also environmental concerns. Mobile phones are, honestly, an ecological disaster and boosting the lifespan of your smart phone battery helps offset this. Here are a few things you can do to preserve and expand the lifespan of your battery. By battery life that after all the number of years and months your battery life will last before it needs to be replaced. In contrast, battery life denotes how many hours or days that your phone will continue a single charge. This is Why Our Phone Battery Goes Below Average With every charge schedule your phone battery degrades slightly. A charge cycle is the full release and control of the battery life, from 0 percent to 100 percent. Partial charges count as a fraction of a bicycle. Restoring your telephone from 50 percent to 100%, by way of instance, could be fifty per cent of a fee cycle. Do this two and it's a full charge cycle. Many phone owners go through a lot more than the complete charge cycle each dayothers proceed through less. It is dependent upon how far you use your phone and exactly what you can do with it. Battery companies express after roughly 400 cycles that a phone battery capacity will deteriorate by 20 percent. It is going to only have the ability to store 80 percent of the power it did originally and can continue to hamper with added charge cycles. The reality, however, is the fact that mobile phone batteries most likely degrade significantly faster compared to the One online site asserts some phones reach that 20% degradation point after merely 100 charge cycles. And just to be clear, the phone battery will not quit degrading just after 400 cycles. That 400 cycles/20% figure is to provide you with an notion of the rate of rust. If you can slow those bill cycles -- if you can extend the regular battery life of your telephone -- then you can extend its battery life lifespan also. Basically, the less you drain and charge the battery, the longer the battery can survive. The problem is, you bought your phone to utilize it. You've got to balance saving battery life and lifespan with utility, with your smart phone how and when you desire it. Some of my tips on the next paragraph may not get the job done with you. On the other hand, there may be things which it is possible to apply quite easily that do not matter your personality. You will discover two overall types of strategies in this article. Strategies to make your phone whole lot more energy efficient, slowing battery degradation by slowing down those charge cycles. Minimizing screen brightness would be a typical example of the type of suggestion. Additionally, there are hints to decrease strain and stress to a own battery , affecting its lifespan considerably more directly. Avoiding extremes of heat and cold would be a good example of the secondary option. Watchful with the Extreme Temperatures In case your smart phone becomes very hot or cold it can breed the battery and shorten its life span. Leaving it into your automobile will most likely be the worst offender, even if it's sunny and hot outside or below freezing in winter. Employ the Quick Charger Only When Critical Charging your phone immediately worries the battery. If you don't actually require it, avoid employing fast charging. In fact, the slower you control your battery the better, therefore if you don't mind slow charging overnight, do it. Charging your phone by the own computer in addition to certain smart plugs could limit the voltage moving to your mobile, slowing its charge rate. A few external battery packs may possibly impede down the rate of charging, but I'm uncertain about this. Be Careful about Smart Phone Batteries Charges Older kinds of rechargeable batteries had'battery memory'. If you failed to bill them full and release them into zero battery they'remembered' and paid off their useful range. It had been better for his or her life span in case you consistently drained and charged the battery life completely. Newer phone batteries work in an alternative way. It disturbs the battery to drain it completely or charge it thoroughly. Portable batteries are equal if you keep them above 20 percent power and below 90 percent. To be extremely precise, they are speediest around 50% potential Short charges are most likely fine, incidentally, if you're the sort of person that finds yourself frequently topping up your phone for quick charges, that is fine for your battery. Paying a lot of attention this one can be too much micro management. Nevertheless when I owned my first smartphone I presumed battery applied therefore that I typically emptied it charged it to 100%. I understand more about the way in which the battery works, I usually plug it before it gets below 20 percent and detach it before completely charged if I consider it. Ensure that it Stays Right in the Middle The most economical charge for a lithiumion battery appears to be roughly 50%. If you're likely to store your phone for a protracted period, control it to 50 percent before turning off it and saving it. This is easier in the battery than charging it to 100% or letting it empty to 0 percent before firing. The battery, incidentally, has been degrade and release whether the device is turned away and maybe not being used whatsoever. This generation of batteries has been designed to be applied. If you were to think about it, then turn the phone on every few months and also top up the battery to 50 percent. How to Extend My Smartphone Battery Performance Any kind of smart phone's display could be the component that primarily utilizes the most batterylife. Slimming down the screen brightness can conserve energy. Employing Auto Brightness probably conserves battery for the majority of people by mechanically reducing display brightness whenever there is less light, even though it does involve more work for the light sensor. The item which will truly save the maximum battery in this area is to manage it manually and fairly obsessively. In other words, manually place it to the lowest observable degree whenever there exists a big change in ambient lighting levels. Both the Android and i-OS offer you options to turn down entire screen brightness even in case you are also using auto-brightness. If you depart from your screen on without the need for it, then it'll automatically turn off after a period of time, usually one or two moments. You may save energy by lowering the Screen Timeout period (called AutoLock on I phones ). By default, I believe iPhones set their Auto Lock to two minutes, which may be significantly more than you want. You may well be OK with 1 second, or maybe 30 seconds. On the other hand, should you lose AutoLock or screen timeout you might find your screen dimming as early whenever you're in the midst of reading a news story or recipe, so that's a call you will have to produce. I utilize Tasker (a automation program ) to improve the screen timeout in my Galaxy S7 depending on what program I am using. My default is a rather brief screen timeout of 35 seconds, however for apps where I am likely to be taking a look at the screen without using it, such as news and note-taking apps, I extend that timeout to a moment. My cellphone, the Galaxy S7, comes with an OLED display. To show black it doesn't block the back light having a pixel just like some iPhones and a number of other types of LCD displays. Alternatively, it doesn't display anything whatsoever. The pixels revealing black only do not turn on. This makes the comparison between black and colour very sharp and lovely. Additionally, it usually means that displaying black over the screen utilizes no energy, and darker colours utilize less energy than bright colours like white. Singling out a dark theme for your phone, if it's an OLED or AMOLED screen, can conserve energy. If your display does not have an OLED display -- and this comprises all iPhones prior to the iPhone X , a dark motif will not create a difference. I located a dark theme I like from the Samsung store, and there are a few outstanding free icon package apps for Android on the market which focus on darker-themed icons. I use Cygnus Black, Mellow Black, Moonrise Icon Pack, and Moonshine. I utilize the Nova Launcher App to customize the look of app icons and often eliminate the name of this program when it's evident enough by the icon exactly what it's. That gets rid of white space off of the screen, and that I think it looks nice and is not as distracting. Some folks find a darker motif is simpler on the eyes in terms of preventing eye strain, and less light overall may mean less grim lighting, which can influence sleep patterns. Many apps include a dark theme in their settings. As an example, I've Google Books set to a dark theme, where the virtual'page' is black as opposed to white and the letters are white. Most of the pixels display large (are turned off) and use zero energy. I'm less comfortable with customization and dark themes for I phones. My perception is that iPhones are somewhat harder to personalize. So far, however, only the iPhone X series have OLED displays therefore they are the only iPhones that will see energy savings from some dark theme. Facebook is a notorious resource hog, both on Android and iPhones. If you truly want to use face book, get into preferences and confine its permissions such as video autoplay, usage of your location, and notifications. Do you really need Facebook tracking your location? Auto-playing videos in Facebook (they play automatically, whether you choose them or not) uses data and energy, and can be annoying and intrusive in some cases. There could be important settings either from the program itself and inside your mobile settings. When Facebook came pre-installed on your own phone (since it did mine), it might not be possible to delete it completely because your smart phone considers it that a system program. If that's the scenario, you may disable it in Settings if you desire. Look over your own battery settings to get other programs which use a disproportionate level of energy and disable, delete, or restrict permissions where possible. For programs you wish to keep using, you can restrict permissions that you never require. There are also'light' versions of a few favorite programs which generally consume less space, use less data, and may use less power. Face-book Messenger Light is 1 of these. Generally, though, the programs which utilize the most battery is going to soon be the apps you use the majority of therefore deleting or reducing use may not be that easy for youpersonally. Your phone gets more than one energy saving styles. These limit the operation of the CPU (and other features). Consider with them. You can get better performance but better battery lifetime. You could not obey the trade off. Many programs exist since both paid and free versions, and the difference is usually that the free version is supported with adverts. Displaying ads uses slightly more data and slightly more energy. Paying for an app you use usually instead of using the no cost ad-supported version could pay off in the future by reducing battery and data usage. You free up screen space by eliminating distracting ads, usually gain more features, and also support program developers. You may turn off radios you rarely use and soon you want them. In the event that you never use NFC there's not any reason to keep it on. On the flip side, radios such as GPS, Wireless bluetooth, and NFC, don't really work with lots of energy in standby mode but only as long as they're actually operating. In other words, any energy savings from micromanaging radios will likely be limited. Another idea to consider in terms of radios is the weaker your cell or WiFi signal, the more power that your phone needs to access that signal. To get into cellular data or wi fi your phone wants to receive and send information. If you aren't finding a strong signal it means your phone should boost its input to reach that remote cell tower or wi fi router, then with more energy. In the event your bedroom has a solid output but a feeble WiFi signal, it may help save you energy to use cellular data instead of wi fi. In the same way, for those who have a solid WiFi signal but feeble cell signal, it's much better to stay glued to WiFi. If you're out of range of cell service and WiFi, turn air plane style on. Smartphones are always watching out for cell and wi fi signals if they do not have them. When no signal is available, your phone may go mad searching for you. Multiple online sources state altering up your email from push-to bring will conserve battery. Drive means that your device is always listening for new email, and also these get pushed through instantly. This means that your apparatus checks for new messages at a certain interval, every 15 minutes such as. The very energy efficient thing to do is to draw manually, this is your device only checks for mail once you manually start your email program. There is disagreement about if bring will actually conserve energy. It very likely depends upon level of email along with patterns of email usage. I use push. It's efficient enough for me personally. Recent versions of i-OS will reveal to you your battery health. There is no such capability in Android, however there are third party apps that'll carry out this role. I utilize AccuBattery which monitors battery health and other stats, as well as giving you a notification as soon as your telephone charges into a certain point therefore that you may unplug it. Thus far, AccuBattery seems to be confirming my understanding of battery degradation. AccuBattery urges charging to 80 percent. A lot of sources I have read indicate the wholesome range extends to 90% and that is usually a target I plan for as a fantastic compromise in the middle of preserving battery in the very long term and not running out of battery in the short time.

[elisehboyleblogs]

Business From the Home

Is “Business From the Home” the “New Normal” for 9 to 5?

More than ever, both the employed and the unemployed are seriously considering conducting business from the home. Many employees are asking permission to remain working from home permanently. https://www.forbes.com/work-from-home-jobs-from-remote/

So, what has changed? Why the sudden desire to keep working from home?

As we work with so many business owners and C-level executives in helping them to write their books, our most recent book interviews have revealed something interesting…

Business owners are surprised by the desire of their employees to hold business from the home.

“I thought my staff would be chomping at the bit to come back to the office,” mentioned one CEO client, baffled by the numerous requests to keep working from home. Many other clients mentioned similar sentiments.

Conducting business from the home has been the best-kept secret for a very long time. Much of the delight that people picture in their initial dream state of how they see their lives unfolding for the future is often only possible with a home-based business.

There are plenty of responsibilities with a home business, but many are less drastic than a brick-and-mortar business. For one thing, there are less overhead costs just to conduct business.

And unless you’ve been in business before, you likely don’t know that the utility companies charge MUCH higher fees for the same exact services for businesses! That’s right. Your telephone, Internet… you name it… it’s all a lot more expensive when you have a business space.

Significant Savings Working from the Home

You are already paying to have your lights on at home, Internet service, phone and so forth, so conducting business from home cuts out significant business expenses.

Even for the mid-size companies and large corporations, having a percentage of their employees operating from the home significantly lowers their overhead costs. Many pay their employees for travel and so forth. But even simply being able to turn off a few lights, turn down the thermostat, etc. for larger working spaces can mean significant savings—and higher profits—for companies.

Also, if starting out, your startup investment for a home-based business is a lot lower, and there’s no commuting and other liabilities of the “normal” brick and mortar business.

Employer Concerns

Without a doubt, employers are very worried about their home-based staff not being productive, and this is a valid concern. Smart owners and executives are requiring Productivity Course Training before they will even consider approving their employees’ requests to continue to work from home.

A great idea for employees is to include in their request to their employers proof that they have taken a reputable Work From Home Productivity Course.

That so few people have taken notice of how Apple, Microsoft and so many other mega-giant business successes, ALL started from their garages is beyond me.

Hidden Opportunities Become Obvious

The perfect storm of a pandemic and increasingly user-friendly technologies have given hundreds of millions of people the opportunity to consider a business from the home or; at least stay-at-home employment.

Authors and entrepreneurs (one and the same) are a resilient type of human being. Something like a down economy or a world-wide pandemic may knock us off balance, but never do we cave.

And why not? To work from home offers so many different benefits. As I note below in the “Business From Home Ideas” section, the options mentioned for what to do as a from-home worker or business owner are just a few of what great ideas you could imagine for yourself. Consider them triggers for more great ideas.

One of the remarkable aspects of the pandemic has been that suddenly millions of people who had never worked from home before are now doing exactly that – some for over three months now! And according to pollsters, they LOVE it. Many are publicly stating that they don’t want to go back to commuting and punching the ole clock at the company offices. Even more remarkable: employers are, in large part, agreeing that this is a good thing. Here’s why:

As I alluded to above, commuting stinks, and the American worker has disliked it for decades. A business from the home saves on fuel costs, automobile wear and tear and, most importantly, most attractively, TIME.

Fewer employees in a traditional office means companies can lease or buy smaller offices, saving them money. For larger corporations with multiple locations, such savings can multiply by thousands.

Contrary to the old thinking, working from home is more efficient than working at the traditional office. Study after study shows that a worker in their home office can be more productive with just a small amount of training specifically for the home. I’ll address the issues of productivity and efficiency, from the worker / entrepreneur’s perspective, later in this article.

There are countless other benefits of a business from the home and of a work-from-home office for the employee / freelancer, for the employer / contractor, and for the author / entrepreneur.

 BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

Being your own boss means different things to different people. Generally, the phrase is associated with attaining a certain level of freedom. Even the word “boss” sounds a bit antiquated, though it yet retains a clear connotation that the person using it values humility, order, and good work ethic.

On the other side of that coin, one might imagine the fearsome bosses of the American Industrial Revolution. For most workers in the factories of yesteryear, the dream of being released from under the iron fist of the “boss man” was fleeting – even foolish. Never mind becoming one’s own boss some day!

Those days are thankfully long past, and today anyone at all can dream of being their own boss, and know that – through smart work, diligence and discipline – they can make that dream come true. 

Work From Home Tips

The dynamics and overall feel of working from home are usually quite different than working in a traditional office. It’s bound to be more casual, and while that can put you in a better state of mind for greater clarity and creativity, there are also some pitfalls to be wary of. 

Let’s look at some work from home tips and tricks that can help ensure each day is enjoyable and productive:

1. Create a Work Area

You might notice a theme as we go through these: the are “best practices” meant to help keep you focused and highly productive. While working from home can be a great option, it does NOT mean “anything goes.” It’s not a free-for-all, and having a dedicated work space is one of the most important things you can do in order to make the most of your time at work.

The good news is that you can customize and design it to fit your work processes and aesthetics. Focus and fun are not mutually exclusive.

2. Dress (semi) Professionally

This is the part where it’s suggested that you don’t work in your pajamas, even though you’re not planning to see anyone that day. “Dressing the part” really works. That’s not to say you must work in a business suit all day if you run a carpentry business, but do wear whatever signals your brain that you’re serious about getting your work done, according to the type of work you do.

3. Customize (and take) Your Breaks

Here’s an area of work from home tips where you’ll probably have more discretion. Even as an employee, your employer will generally understand that there’s no need for rigid scheduling of breaks for people working from home. So do whatever works for you. Maybe that’s 30 minutes for lunch plus two, 15-minute coffee breaks. Maybe you need an hour to pick up items for dinner that night. Breaks will usually be up to you, so make the most of that freedom.

The video above is an excerpt from our Work From Home Productivity course. To see the full video, go to:  entrepreneursuccesstraining.com

BUSINESS FROM HOME IDEAS

Before listing the top online jobs and great small business from home ideas, let’s notice that the top online businesses and jobs fall into one of three broad categories:

Employment

Gig economy

Passive income

You can find a company to work for (sending your work in remotely); you can sell your skills to online clients on a freelance basis; or you can create an online business where you sell products or services, sometimes even making money while you’re not actively running the business. That’s the “passive” part of passive income.

Job / work roles can fit into any or all of these categories. As a programmer, for example, you can:

create apps to sell directly to users (passive income)

provide code for clients that are working on apps (gig economy)

work remotely for a software company as a full-time employee (employment)

Here are some ideas for working from home, just to give you a starting point for what you might find in your research online for good, work-from-home careers.

Our Work from Home Productivity course has some amazing recommendations for work-from-home ideas – for making good money. Here are a just a few:

1. WRITER

This is the broad category of employment that includes everything from creative writing to authorship of books in your field of expertise. Through decades of experience, Writer Services has discovered the sweet-spot in combining authorship and entrepreneurship.

2. EDITOR

Editing work can be abundant and well-paid. The need for quality content online engenders a healthy market for writers, which then creates demand for good editors to “clean up” articles and make the content fit better with branding, marketing initiatives, and the clients’ needs in general.

3. PROOFREADER

The proofreader is also an important role in presenting clean copy of the sort used on millions of web pages. Proficiency in grammar, spelling, a wide vocabulary, and exceptional attention to detail are prerequisites in providing the valuable product of typo and error-free, professional text.

4. COPY WRITER

Another member of the content / marketing / publishing team is the copy writer, who is a more specialized version of the writer. This professional usually wields a wide range of knowledge to create compelling text for web pages, marketing materials, and interdepartmental communications. They’re often part of a marketing department, but can also work freelance with individual corporations and/or public relations firms. A good copy writer can earn good money, double as an editor or proofreader, and even move upward into a career as an author.

 5. GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Are you an artsy type? Graphic design can be a great outlet for your creative energy and it pays well, too. Did I mention its potential as a small business from home? Advances in technological tools and file sharing make it possible to create and sell logos, splash-page designs, printables, wearables, and tons more – all from the comfort and convenience of your home

6. DATA ANALYST

Talk about an exciting, ever-growing field to explore as a small business from home idea. The term “data analysis” is an umbrella for various activities involving the use of tech in helping companies make decisions and operate on a more scientific basis. Some of the work data analysts do involves data mining, which helps businesses with predictive information. Another subcategory is business intelligence, which uses aggregation of business information to answer questions that arise in operations, marketing, sales, or any other aspect of a going concern

7. ONLINE MARKETING PROVIDER

The key words here are “online” or “Internet.” Online marketing service providers use the whole of the Internet to drive traffic, sales, and sales leads to brands and/or businesses and their products or services. As you might imagine, this position offers nearly endless opportunities to individuals and teams who bring a variety of skill sets and who have the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing technologies and trends

8. DIGITAL MARKETER

The digital marketer or digital marketing manager works in the same fields of promotion expertise as the online marketing provider, but usually has more responsibilities, often including supervision of marketers on the team. They are also generally involved in the development, implementation, and management of marketing campaigns

9. SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Software development is yet another field where a diversified skill set is desirable. Design, research, implementation, and management of software programs are the core capabilities of a software developer. They also work with other developers, and business and systems analysts, and test and evaluate new programs.

PRODUCTIVE THINGS TO DO AT HOME

The pandemic, besides its horrific toll on human lives, hasn’t meant instant golden opportunities across the board. Yes, the employment and entrepreneurial playing field is new and somewhat more level, but unemployment is very high. What to do if one is still partially or fully sheltering in place AND unemployed? Few jobs or business opportunities can be had from one day to the next. What are some productive things to do at home in the meantime?

1. Keep Learning!

Did you know there are literally thousand of free classes you can take online? If you decide to continue your education or professional development, it doesn’t have to involve formal courses. Chances are that any learning you do in your down time will be well worth while.

2. Planning

Time in between jobs can be a good time to revisit your goals and plans. Tidy up your calendar, and make sure all your appointments and events are logged. It’s rewarding to do so, not only because it will save you time later, but because it also gives you peace of mind now regarding what lies ahead.

3. Relaxing

It might sound obvious, but you might be surprised at how many people could benefit from practicing relaxation. Science in recent years has confirmed what Eastern practices have shown for centuries: mindfulness and relaxation benefit the mind, body and spirit. What type of relaxation routine would you enjoy? Learn about them, choose one and, most importantly, practice it daily.

You can get more tips from this course at entrepreneursuccesstraining.com

HOW TO STAY PRODUCTIVE AT HOME

I mentioned earlier that there are certain elements of your from-home work that can make the difference between failure and success. When looking at staying productive at home, these fall into three main categories:

1. Focus

Earlier, we went over things we can do to stay focused in your work from home: creating a dedicated work space, dressing appropriately for your work, and taking customized breaks can go a long way in keeping you on task. I would also add that being aware of potential distractions, and having a strategy to avoid them, is key. This is one of the secrets of the super successful entrepreneurs.

2. Efficiency

This category helps us remember another fact known by the wealthy and successful: you CAN do more in less time. It helps us remember to check our habits, procedures, and protocols. Is there a faster way to do this that works as well or better? This is a question we can ask ourselves several times a day.

3. Productivity 

This category combines focus and efficiency into a measurable: How much work are you getting done each day? Of course, the quantification of your work must be customized to your field. Measuring your productivity is essential to success in your from-home job or business.

Whether you’re looking to join a company, work freelance, or start your own business, now is a wonderful time to create your success at home.

 The post Business From the Home appeared first on Writer Services.

Business From the Home published first on https://writerservicesblogs.blogspot.com

[richardkhaynes]

Business From the Home

Is “Business From the Home” the “New Normal” for 9 to 5?

More than ever, both the employed and the unemployed are seriously considering conducting business from the home. Many employees are asking permission to remain working from home permanently. https://www.forbes.com/work-from-home-jobs-from-remote/

So, what has changed? Why the sudden desire to keep working from home?

As we work with so many business owners and C-level executives in helping them to write their books, our most recent book interviews have revealed something interesting…

Business owners are surprised by the desire of their employees to hold business from the home.

“I thought my staff would be chomping at the bit to come back to the office,” mentioned one CEO client, baffled by the numerous requests to keep working from home. Many other clients mentioned similar sentiments.

Conducting business from the home has been the best-kept secret for a very long time. Much of the delight that people picture in their initial dream state of how they see their lives unfolding for the future is often only possible with a home-based business.

There are plenty of responsibilities with a home business, but many are less drastic than a brick-and-mortar business. For one thing, there are less overhead costs just to conduct business.

And unless you’ve been in business before, you likely don’t know that the utility companies charge MUCH higher fees for the same exact services for businesses! That’s right. Your telephone, Internet… you name it… it’s all a lot more expensive when you have a business space.

Significant Savings Working from the Home

You are already paying to have your lights on at home, Internet service, phone and so forth, so conducting business from home cuts out significant business expenses.

Even for the mid-size companies and large corporations, having a percentage of their employees operating from the home significantly lowers their overhead costs. Many pay their employees for travel and so forth. But even simply being able to turn off a few lights, turn down the thermostat, etc. for larger working spaces can mean significant savings—and higher profits—for companies.

Also, if starting out, your startup investment for a home-based business is a lot lower, and there’s no commuting and other liabilities of the “normal” brick and mortar business.

Employer Concerns

Without a doubt, employers are very worried about their home-based staff not being productive, and this is a valid concern. Smart owners and executives are requiring Productivity Course Training before they will even consider approving their employees’ requests to continue to work from home.

A great idea for employees is to include in their request to their employers proof that they have taken a reputable Work From Home Productivity Course.

That so few people have taken notice of how Apple, Microsoft and so many other mega-giant business successes, ALL started from their garages is beyond me.

Hidden Opportunities Become Obvious

The perfect storm of a pandemic and increasingly user-friendly technologies have given hundreds of millions of people the opportunity to consider a business from the home or; at least stay-at-home employment.

Authors and entrepreneurs (one and the same) are a resilient type of human being. Something like a down economy or a world-wide pandemic may knock us off balance, but never do we cave.

And why not? To work from home offers so many different benefits. As I note below in the “Business From Home Ideas” section, the options mentioned for what to do as a from-home worker or business owner are just a few of what great ideas you could imagine for yourself. Consider them triggers for more great ideas.

One of the remarkable aspects of the pandemic has been that suddenly millions of people who had never worked from home before are now doing exactly that – some for over three months now! And according to pollsters, they LOVE it. Many are publicly stating that they don’t want to go back to commuting and punching the ole clock at the company offices. Even more remarkable: employers are, in large part, agreeing that this is a good thing. Here’s why:

As I alluded to above, commuting stinks, and the American worker has disliked it for decades. A business from the home saves on fuel costs, automobile wear and tear and, most importantly, most attractively, TIME.

Fewer employees in a traditional office means companies can lease or buy smaller offices, saving them money. For larger corporations with multiple locations, such savings can multiply by thousands.

Contrary to the old thinking, working from home is more efficient than working at the traditional office. Study after study shows that a worker in their home office can be more productive with just a small amount of training specifically for the home. I’ll address the issues of productivity and efficiency, from the worker / entrepreneur’s perspective, later in this article.

There are countless other benefits of a business from the home and of a work-from-home office for the employee / freelancer, for the employer / contractor, and for the author / entrepreneur.

BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

Being your own boss means different things to different people. Generally, the phrase is associated with attaining a certain level of freedom. Even the word “boss” sounds a bit antiquated, though it yet retains a clear connotation that the person using it values humility, order, and good work ethic.

On the other side of that coin, one might imagine the fearsome bosses of the American Industrial Revolution. For most workers in the factories of yesteryear, the dream of being released from under the iron fist of the “boss man” was fleeting – even foolish. Never mind becoming one’s own boss some day!

Those days are thankfully long past, and today anyone at all can dream of being their own boss, and know that – through smart work, diligence and discipline – they can make that dream come true. 

Work From Home Tips

The dynamics and overall feel of working from home are usually quite different than working in a traditional office. It’s bound to be more casual, and while that can put you in a better state of mind for greater clarity and creativity, there are also some pitfalls to be wary of. 

Let’s look at some work from home tips and tricks that can help ensure each day is enjoyable and productive:

1. Create a Work Area

You might notice a theme as we go through these: the are “best practices” meant to help keep you focused and highly productive. While working from home can be a great option, it does NOT mean “anything goes.” It’s not a free-for-all, and having a dedicated work space is one of the most important things you can do in order to make the most of your time at work.

The good news is that you can customize and design it to fit your work processes and aesthetics. Focus and fun are not mutually exclusive.

2. Dress (semi) Professionally

This is the part where it’s suggested that you don’t work in your pajamas, even though you’re not planning to see anyone that day. “Dressing the part” really works. That’s not to say you must work in a business suit all day if you run a carpentry business, but do wear whatever signals your brain that you’re serious about getting your work done, according to the type of work you do.

3. Customize (and take) Your Breaks

Here’s an area of work from home tips where you’ll probably have more discretion. Even as an employee, your employer will generally understand that there’s no need for rigid scheduling of breaks for people working from home. So do whatever works for you. Maybe that’s 30 minutes for lunch plus two, 15-minute coffee breaks. Maybe you need an hour to pick up items for dinner that night. Breaks will usually be up to you, so make the most of that freedom.

The video above is an excerpt from our Work From Home Productivity course. To see the full video, go to:  entrepreneursuccesstraining.com

BUSINESS FROM HOME IDEAS

Before listing the top online jobs and great small business from home ideas, let’s notice that the top online businesses and jobs fall into one of three broad categories:

Employment

Gig economy

Passive income

You can find a company to work for (sending your work in remotely); you can sell your skills to online clients on a freelance basis; or you can create an online business where you sell products or services, sometimes even making money while you’re not actively running the business. That’s the “passive” part of passive income.

Job / work roles can fit into any or all of these categories. As a programmer, for example, you can:

create apps to sell directly to users (passive income)

provide code for clients that are working on apps (gig economy)

work remotely for a software company as a full-time employee (employment)

Here are some ideas for working from home, just to give you a starting point for what you might find in your research online for good, work-from-home careers.

Our Work from Home Productivity course has some amazing recommendations for work-from-home ideas – for making good money. Here are a just a few:

1. WRITER

This is the broad category of employment that includes everything from creative writing to authorship of books in your field of expertise. Through decades of experience, Writer Services has discovered the sweet-spot in combining authorship and entrepreneurship.

2. EDITOR

Editing work can be abundant and well-paid. The need for quality content online engenders a healthy market for writers, which then creates demand for good editors to “clean up” articles and make the content fit better with branding, marketing initiatives, and the clients’ needs in general.

3. PROOFREADER

The proofreader is also an important role in presenting clean copy of the sort used on millions of web pages. Proficiency in grammar, spelling, a wide vocabulary, and exceptional attention to detail are prerequisites in providing the valuable product of typo and error-free, professional text.

4. COPY WRITER

Another member of the content / marketing / publishing team is the copy writer, who is a more specialized version of the writer. This professional usually wields a wide range of knowledge to create compelling text for web pages, marketing materials, and interdepartmental communications. They’re often part of a marketing department, but can also work freelance with individual corporations and/or public relations firms. A good copy writer can earn good money, double as an editor or proofreader, and even move upward into a career as an author.

5. GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Are you an artsy type? Graphic design can be a great outlet for your creative energy and it pays well, too. Did I mention its potential as a small business from home? Advances in technological tools and file sharing make it possible to create and sell logos, splash-page designs, printables, wearables, and tons more – all from the comfort and convenience of your home

6. DATA ANALYST

Talk about an exciting, ever-growing field to explore as a small business from home idea. The term “data analysis” is an umbrella for various activities involving the use of tech in helping companies make decisions and operate on a more scientific basis. Some of the work data analysts do involves data mining, which helps businesses with predictive information. Another subcategory is business intelligence, which uses aggregation of business information to answer questions that arise in operations, marketing, sales, or any other aspect of a going concern

7. ONLINE MARKETING PROVIDER

The key words here are “online” or “Internet.” Online marketing service providers use the whole of the Internet to drive traffic, sales, and sales leads to brands and/or businesses and their products or services. As you might imagine, this position offers nearly endless opportunities to individuals and teams who bring a variety of skill sets and who have the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing technologies and trends

8. DIGITAL MARKETER

The digital marketer or digital marketing manager works in the same fields of promotion expertise as the online marketing provider, but usually has more responsibilities, often including supervision of marketers on the team. They are also generally involved in the development, implementation, and management of marketing campaigns

9. SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Software development is yet another field where a diversified skill set is desirable. Design, research, implementation, and management of software programs are the core capabilities of a software developer. They also work with other developers, and business and systems analysts, and test and evaluate new programs.

PRODUCTIVE THINGS TO DO AT HOME

The pandemic, besides its horrific toll on human lives, hasn’t meant instant golden opportunities across the board. Yes, the employment and entrepreneurial playing field is new and somewhat more level, but unemployment is very high. What to do if one is still partially or fully sheltering in place AND unemployed? Few jobs or business opportunities can be had from one day to the next. What are some productive things to do at home in the meantime?

1. Keep Learning!

Did you know there are literally thousand of free classes you can take online? If you decide to continue your education or professional development, it doesn’t have to involve formal courses. Chances are that any learning you do in your down time will be well worth while.

2. Planning

Time in between jobs can be a good time to revisit your goals and plans. Tidy up your calendar, and make sure all your appointments and events are logged. It’s rewarding to do so, not only because it will save you time later, but because it also gives you peace of mind now regarding what lies ahead.

3. Relaxing

It might sound obvious, but you might be surprised at how many people could benefit from practicing relaxation. Science in recent years has confirmed what Eastern practices have shown for centuries: mindfulness and relaxation benefit the mind, body and spirit. What type of relaxation routine would you enjoy? Learn about them, choose one and, most importantly, practice it daily.

You can get more tips from this course at entrepreneursuccesstraining.com

HOW TO STAY PRODUCTIVE AT HOME

I mentioned earlier that there are certain elements of your from-home work that can make the difference between failure and success. When looking at staying productive at home, these fall into three main categories:

1. Focus

Earlier, we went over things we can do to stay focused in your work from home: creating a dedicated work space, dressing appropriately for your work, and taking customized breaks can go a long way in keeping you on task. I would also add that being aware of potential distractions, and having a strategy to avoid them, is key. This is one of the secrets of the super successful entrepreneurs.

2. Efficiency

This category helps us remember another fact known by the wealthy and successful: you CAN do more in less time. It helps us remember to check our habits, procedures, and protocols. Is there a faster way to do this that works as well or better? This is a question we can ask ourselves several times a day.

3. Productivity 

This category combines focus and efficiency into a measurable: How much work are you getting done each day? Of course, the quantification of your work must be customized to your field. Measuring your productivity is essential to success in your from-home job or business.

Whether you’re looking to join a company, work freelance, or start your own business, now is a wonderful time to create your success at home.

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