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#the cost is the listed price + the emotional expense of knowing that i am judging u
oh right, technically i sell t-shirts
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i forgot about that
#holidays are coming up and it would make a terrible gift#that's the main selling point#anyways these exist and can be exchanged for legal tender#the cost is the listed price + the emotional expense of knowing that i am judging u#bc i am. i am judging u#why would u want this. why would u exchange currency for this#there are so many other things you could exchnage currency for instead#a grocery store shrimp platter for instance#with the nauseatingly red cocktail sauce that is SO much better than a t shirt any time#hmm chicken picatta at a local Italian Eatery perchance? i am. a big fan of anything picatta#oh oh i know! 3.6 POUNDS OF FRESH OKRA#FOR THE COST OF THIS FRIVOLOUS T SHIRT U COULD INSTEAD PURCHASE 3.6 POUNDS OF FRESH DELICIOUS OKRA#and then --hold on i have a recipe--and then what u do is#so it is basically sacrilege to suggest this but what u do is u skip the cornmeal entirely#my southern ancestors are shaking a wooden spoon at me right now but LISTEN. u skip. the gotdang. cornmeal#instead: wash chop and soak (for 10 min) the okra in a mixture of 1 egg to tblsp water#then coat in flour#THATS IT JUST FLOUR#No cornmeal. i am betraying my heritage rn but I'm RIGHT#coat in flour sprinkle liberally in S&P and FRY that suck in veg oil high heat#until crispy & brown & u hear your arteries clenching in apprehension#so. so yeah#that's what u should do instead of buying this shirt go fry the shit out of some okra#(but buy local and young & tender if u can bc the grocery store is full of old-and-therefore-super-stiff specimens#pro tip (aka grandma tip): if u can't chop okra smoothly with your normal cutting knife then it's too old and tough.#...i mean u probably CAN still fry the shit out of it I've certainly done that before it's just much less delicious#ANYWAY. anyway ANYWAY. shirt. okra. farmers market. that reminds me of a post i made back when we first started selling these dang shorts#shirts. shorts shorts. oh shit i should make a crop top option.#i. i don't Know How to make a crop top option#HUH . . . i need to lie down now and contemplate the constant and irreconcilable limitations of the human experience good night
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Moving hacks to know for an overseas shipment!
De-cluttering before relocating your house is probably the essential task to do. It helps lower down the moving burden which further helps to reduce the overall moving expenses. And not only that, if you organize and make your move clutter-free you will have less stress during the move. The longer the distance and the more the number of articles, the greater will be the hassles along with the continuous increase in moving expenses.
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There is no point in taking all of the household goods to your new home because it may unnecessarily maximize your overall moving expenses. Secondly, if you carry all the articles without even checking what is essential and whatnot, you may land up in an unstable condition and you may end up framing clutter in your new house. And hence, it becomes even more essential to sort when moving home.
So, in today’s article, I am sharing a few tips that will help you to de-clutter your home for your upcoming move.
At first, know that the articles are de-cluttered on certain grounds and most of them are listed below:
As per the requirements- The necessity of the article is an extremely crucial factor to decide whether to get rid of it when relocating it. If you need an item regularly, and it is still in good condition, then you should take that particular item with you.
But, if you have something which is not worth it neither it is used by you anymore, then you can get rid of it because it is not worth the space that it will occupy at your new home. Rather take something else that is more useful at its place. Also, it will help you to get the exact priced quote from your appointed Agarwal packers.
Present condition
The present condition of the articles is the most crucial thing to be considered while de-cluttering your goods while shifting household. If the article is not in a good state, no matter how useful it is, you will not be able to use it for a longer period. So, why take unnecessary pain when you can just discard and move on with buying new stuff? And if an article is already damaged and is not even in a condition to get repaired, then it is beneficial to get rid of it.
Emotional importance
Question yourself, if the item is really valuable to you? Most of the time, we have certain goods usually antiques or something which is gifted by someone special, etc. such articles becomes priceless and very special because there are several emotions attached to each of them and you genuinely do not want to sell, leave behind or discard any of these goods.
The value of these items cannot be compared with their monetary value neither they cannot be replaced because of their emotional importance, so if you have any such items, keep them with you. They should not even come into consideration while you are sorting your house before relocating.
Monetary value
What is the market value of an article? Yes, you should take into consideration the cost of each item while you are thinking about whether to get rid of it or not. And, if you have something very expensive, you should carry it along with you.
But, if you have anything that is not too costly and is also heavy to carry, then it is better that you get out of your house soon. Also, if it’s not too costly, you can even buy it later or at the time when you have shifted to your new home.
Carrying goods in big quantities
If you have diverse quantities of the same items, then it is better to not carry all of them with you. You can simply keep the best one out of them with you. You can either sell or donate the rest. There is no point in carrying the extras goods to your new home unless it is not much useful or essential to you. For example, if you have two sets of the same crockery, then you must carry the one which you think is in better condition.
Moving expenses
Sometimes, due to the size or characteristics of the items (including weight), you may have to pay more for carrying it than the actual price of the item. Now, if that item is extremely essential for you or is very expensive, you can always pay more to carry that household item to your new house.
But, if there is a condition where you need to pay more money than usual and that is no more than the actual value or the cost of the item, then you think about it and be wise whether you have to carry it or not? No, because you can utilize that extra money in order to buy a new thing later.
Relocation hurdles
If you are using movers and packers service, they will be able to pack and move all of the items. They may charge you a little extra for heavy items or when they have to relocate the articles up and down the stairs but they know the techniques of moving each article. They will be able to load and unload them carefully. But, if you are considering a DIY move and if you have not hired any moving experts for relocating, then moving such goods may not be that simple for you.
Well, it’s pretty sure having essential packing materials, tools and equipment will make it a little bit easier, but still relocating heavy items needs experience and proficiency too. So, if you are not sure of loading and unloading such goods, it is better not to carry those to the new place because you may actually irritate yourself. You can either sell or donate the goods and buy the new ones after moving to your new home.
Antique articles
If any of your articles are unique or antique pieces, then never dispose of it away because no matter how much you have researched, you may not get a similar piece again. Such items are timeless and very precious, and therefore it should not be a part of the sorting process.
Expired or waste articles
There is no need to say if you find that any specific item has already expired, and then you should soon get rid of it. There is no point carrying such articles with you while moving to your new home in a new place.
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Further, to know what is legally allowed to move to another place, you can get the list of the items that are allowed to be moved from your hired Agarwal packers and movers.
Happy Moving!
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hxpelessnurse · 3 years
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I work at a liquor store and sometimes I see stuff on the shelf and think “What danganronpa character do I see drinking this shit?” (I also do this for other fandoms/rpc’s I participate in.) So I’m gonna make a list of headcanons on what the cast of DR1 and SDR2 choose as their go-to alcoholic drink. I would add the cast of V3 but I haven’t finished that game yet so I don’t know the characters as much as I know the casts of the first two games. Also most of the cast of UDG are children and shouldn’t drink and I am lazy af. There’s already way too many characters in this series lmao.
Please note that I am basing this off of Japan’s legal drinking age of 20. Though it’s well known that underage drinking isn’t really frowned upon or prosecuted like it is in the States or Canada. Also, I am based in Canada, so prices of alcohol are significantly higher here than they are in other parts of the world because alcohol sales are taxed by the government and controlled by the provincial governments. So if i say a bottle of something is expensive that’s because it is to me - a Canadian. lol.
Under a read more because I don’t wanna stretch everyone’s pages with such a long post.
DR1 Cast
Makoto Naegi: Something light or not so alcohol forward - probably a vodka soda like White Claw (probably lime flavour) or rum and coke cause its sweet and hardly tastes like alcohol at all.
Kyoko Kirigiri: White wine - specifically Chardonnay. She likes the buttery texture and tartness. I could see her drinking sake for this reason too.
Byakuya Togami: Gin Martinis specifically made with Empress 1908. He enjoys the smooth mouth feel and the distinct colour of Empress 1908 gin makes the drink feel more luxurious. It always has to be garnished with edible gold-leaf.
Aoi Asahina: Pina Coladas. The sweetness of the fruit tends to hide the alcohol aftertaste and rum adds its own sweetness to the mix that she finds delicious. Bonus if blue curaçao is added to make it look even more tropical!
Toko Fukawa: Blueberry Tea - a mixed drink that involves a cup of hot orange pekoe tea with an added shot of amaretto and a shot of grand marnier. The resulting drink tastes like blueberries surprisingly! Toko likes the warmth the drink brings.
Genocider Syo: Caesars! (Aka a Bloody Mary as its known as outside of Canada). Tomato juice is earthy and sweet while gin and vodka add their own herbal elements. The added ingredients of worchestershire sauce, tobasco, clam juice add tartness and heat that Genocider enjoys. She prefers the garnish of a celery salted rim and a dill pickle over the traditional celery stick. She also likes them extra spicy!
Yasuhiro Hagakure: Asahi Beer or Sake. He’s a simple man who likes to keep his alcoholic drinks simple too. He prefers to drink when there’s lots of grilled meat to eat alongside.
Sayaka Maizono: Moscato Rose. It’s sweet as hell and pink to boot. It looks super cute and totally fits Sayaka’s cute aesthetic.
Leon Kuwata: Stout Beer. It’s rich and creamy and a little more complex than lagers or ales. Leon likes to be unique and Stouts are interesting and complex. Like him.
Chihiro Fujisaki: Cream Liquor on the rocks. (Think Bailey’s Irish Cream.) The sweet and rich flavour of cream pairs well with the warm spice of Irish whisky. The two flavours contrast, but also blend together well. Chihiro likes it with lots of ice.
Mondo Oowada: This man drinks whiskey neat. No ice, no fancy garnishes. He likes it straight from the bottle. It’s very manly and cool. His preferred brand is Jack Daniels.
Kiyotaka Ishimaru: I feel like he would be extremely lightweight so he’d probably stick to vodka sodas like White Claw or drinks with lower alcohol content. He is usually the DD because he doesn’t actually like drinking that much.
Hifumi Yamada: Any cooler that has his favourite anime characters on the can. He doesn’t care what the alcohol tastes like he will drink it. If it’s got his waifu on it he’s drinkin’ it.
Celestia Ludenburg: Red wine - preferably Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Bonus if the bottle costs more than 50$. She’s got expensive taste after all and she really, really needs to show that off with her alcohol choices.
Sakura Oogami: Sake, plum wine, rice wine. Sakura keeps it rather traditional with her alcohol choices. She prefers the interesting flavours of traditional Japanese beverages but she is also often the DD because she doesn’t drink often.
Mukuro Ikusaba: Vodka. Just straight up vodka. Straight from the bottle. No chase either.
Junko Enoshima: Our queen of despair drinks only the finest of Champagnes. Bonus if it’s gone flat because that just adds to her feelings of despair!
DR2 Cast
Hajime Hinata: He keeps things simple; he really likes Suntory Japanese Whisky on the rocks or vodka and orange juice (aka a Screwdriver). He doesn’t like to make complicated orders because he doesn’t wanna burden the bartender.
Chiaki Nanami: Strawberry Gin Soda! She likes the fruity flavour and the fact that it comes in a can makes it super easy for her to drink while she’s gaming. Though she’s not a big drinker to begin with so it’s not often she chooses an alcoholic beverage.
Nagito Komaeda: Straight Everclear. No but I feel Nagito is pretty easy going and will drink just about anything that gets handed to him. If he has to choose though I could see him drinking Ciroc or Grey Goose vodka. He comes from affluence, so he tends to like the more expensive brands.
Ultimate Imposter: Whatever drink the person he’s impersonating prefers to drink. He’s gotta sell the illusion that he’s really that person, right?
Teruteru Hanamura: He would rather cook with the alcohol rather than drink it. But he doesn’t mind a beer every once in awhile. He also loves to pair the perfect wine with whatever dish he’s making. 
Mahiru Koizumi: She is the DD. She refuses to drink alcohol because she hates the taste and she doesn’t like the smell, either. She babysits everyone when they’ve drank too much.
Peko Pekoyama: She doesn’t drink often. But she likes traditional Japanese liquor like sake, plum wine, rice wine, etc. She needs to be in peak condition to protect Fuyuhiko so she will probably only have one drink at most.
Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu: He drinks strong whisky. Preferably Suntory but he isn’t picky. As long as it’s strong and served neat he doesn’t care.
Hiyoko Saionji: She likes the sweetest drinks ever. Fruity cocktails piled high with candy and fruit garnishes. She doesn’t care what kind of alcohol is in them, just as long as it gives her the BIGGEST sugar rush after finishing it.
Ibuki Mioda: Same as Hiyoko. Doesn’t care what alcohol is in it. Just needs to be the sweetest and most extravagant cocktail ever. Not that she needs it.
Mikan Tsumiki: Korean Soju (preferably grape or citrus flavoured), Sake, and Rum based mixed drinks. She’s not a big drinker because she tends to get irrational and overly emotional while drunk. She’s also pretty lightweight.
Nekomaru Nidai: He’s a simple guy. He likes beer and he’ll drink the occasional glass of scotch or whiskey. He likes Canadian Whiskey! He doesn’t drink often because he prefers to be sober so he can help take care of the others. He babysits Akane mostly.
Akane Owari: She shotguns an entire case of beer the moment she arrives at the party. Thus why she needs a babysitter like Nidai.
Gundham Tanaka: Crystal Skull Vodka - specifically Crystal Skull Onyx. Black Vodka is the most hardcore goth shit man. He would LOVE it.
Sonia Nevermind: Sonia is royalty so she has grown up drinking the finest and most expensive wines. But she also really loves a good cognac or brandy. Really she can drink just about anything and she won’t mind. She’s not big on beer or coolers though.
Kazuichi Souda: Cider. Preferably dry apple cider like Strongbow. He hates the taste of beer but he likes the idea of drinking beer. Cider is a more refreshing and less bitter taste that he finds more enjoyable.
Izuru Kamukura: Because he gets bored so easily his drink of choice is constantly changing. He will try any alcohol at least once. 
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notquiteaghost · 4 years
Text
there’s nothing i wouldn’t do
mcu/hawkeye comics, post-avengers, barney&clint, 2k
inspired by this post
AO3 link in notes
He wasn’t expecting it to be a thing, is the problem.
Like, how often do aliens fucking invade New York? Once in a lifetime deal, it’s gotta be. Clint was busy — with having a hole in his chest, but SHIELD wouldn’t like him picking fights with run-of-the-mill mobsters, so it was, once again, up to Barney to step up and keep his baby brother safe. Hell, even if Clint could’ve got out his building without passing out, Barney still probably would’ve gone instead. Clint’s just a guy.
He had a plan, and it should’ve been simple. Bandana tied round his face, hair hidden under a beanie, and only Natasha’s gonna notice which Barton is actually slinging the arrows around, and Natasha’s well-aware of Clint’s stab wound. Murder all the aliens, sit through Coulson’s lecture on Clint’s behalf, hopefully their building’s still standing by the end of it. Hold it over Clint’s head until they die. Never, ever do it again.
Except.
He goes after the wannabe god, and the wannabe god can, obviously, control fucking minds, so then he shoots a shit ton of almost-entirely-innocent SHIELD employees. And then Natasha knocks him out of it and they all murder a shit ton of aliens, so hopefully SHIELD will cancel the shoot on sight order, but after all the aliens are dead, Tony goddamn Stark drags them all to get shawarma, and it’s not like Barney can say no. He can’t make Captain America think Clint’s an asshole.
And then, three days later, when Barney’s trying to explain to Coulson that, no, Clint is absolutely not going to fucking Russia, Clint can’t lift his arms, and also they’re still trying to get back the power in their building and also also as far as SHIELD is concerned it was Clint who got used as a puppet by a hostile alien and then bounced without any kind of medical eval so what is this actually about, because it sure as shit ain’t a human trafficking ring — three days later, his phone rings. Caller ID says Your New Sugar Daddy, so it’s Stark, so Barney hangs up on Coulson and answers it.
“Y’know, I could use some new shoes,” he says, throwing Clint’s phone on the couch when it immediately starts buzzing again. “What’re your terms? How much skin am I showing to get some new shoes?”
Stark splutters, but recovers within seconds and says, “Shoes are a titty pic at least,” and Barney is suddenly, sinkingly certain that him and Stark could be friends. It makes him shudder. 
He bites back the joke he wants to make about how many titty pics he gets to send before Stark stops buying him shoes, and says, “Titty pics ain’t why you’re calling, though.”
“Heard you’ve been having some apartment trouble,” Stark agrees, casually, like he has any way of knowing that that isn’t really fucking creepy. “Y’know, I have this great big tower. It’s got, amongst a lot of other things, an entirely self-sustaining power system.”
“…You want me to move in with you?”
“I’m just letting you know it’s an option, that’s all.”
Barney narrows his eyes. “Anyone else say yes?”
Stark huffs. “You’re first on my list, actually. Figured I’d start with the easiest, work my way up.”
Again, Barney bites his tongue. He cannot flirt with Tony Stark when Tony Stark thinks he’s his brother, no matter how funny it is. He’s sworn off starting shit with Clint since they got banned from Lithuania. “And what if I like my apartment?”
The briefest of pauses, before Stark says, “Then you keep living in your apartment. Again, just letting you know your options.”
“Pay to have the power lines for my block fixed,” Barney says, just as Clint stumbles out his room, “and maybe I’ll swing by for lunch. That’s what this is really about, yeah? Team building shit?”
“Wait, your block doesn’t have power?”
Clint is staring at him, eyes narrowing. He’s been awake maybe ten minutes, and it’s a coin toss if he’s remembered to put his aids in yet. Barney makes a face at him. “Half the damn city doesn’t have power, don’t you watch the news? Hell, ain’t people waving big signs outside your front door?”
“I’ve been—” Stark starts, then stops himself, then presumably remembers he’s trying to tempt Barney into some kinda morning-cartoons perma-sleepover and that’s gonna require some emotional vulnerability, and says, “Been in the workshop, mostly. The suit didn’t cope so well in the vacuum of space. But, yeah, power, I can do power. Text me about lunch.”
“Only if Captain America’s there, too,” Barney says, then hangs up. Clint’s eyes are even narrower. He’s gonna give himself a headache. “What?”
“Were you talking to Tony Stark?”
“Yeah, he wants me to move in with him.”
“He wants me to move in with him,” Clint counters.
“Hey, I’m the one who actually fought the aliens, kid—”
“I was all for fighting the aliens! You ziptied me to the bed!”
“And that you couldn’t get out of those makes it clear you were in no shape for fighting the aliens.” Barney walks into the kitchen, digs through their pile of homecooked food — you showing up on TV saving the world makes everyone want to cook you things, it turns out — for Clint’s pain meds. Clint leans against the wall and looks pitiful.
“Maybe I wanna live with Tony Stark,” he says. Barney laughs, hands Clint the tablets and the water so his hands are free to talk.
“Thought you were gonna die in this shithole. Thought, next time anyone shoots you, you were gonna demand they carry you back here so you can bleed out on the floor since getting the blood out’ll be someone else’s problem.”
“Bet Stark’s eyesore of a tower’s got power, though.”
“And soon,” Barney assures him, “so will we.”
Clint shuffles back to the couch and flops over it, and almost hides his wince at the feelings his stab wound has about that. “Bet Stark’s tower’s got heated floors. Stupid fast internet. Bet he’s got chefs and cleaners and everything.”
Barney always forgets how being hurt makes Clint into a five year-old again. “If some stranger tried to clean your room, you would stab them.” Clint sticks his tongue out.
Then he jumps, because Barney’s phone is buzzing again. Got his aids in, then.
It’s a text, this time, from an unknown number.
???: Stark tells me you’ll only come out to play if I come out too - Steve
“Holy shit,” Barney says, “Captain America is texting me.”
“What the fuck,” Clint pushes himself up, “Give me the phone. Give me the phone! He’s texting me!”
“Again,” Barney says, typing complete nonsense so Clint hears the tapping noise, “it was me who he bonded with when we murdered a load of aliens together, he has no idea who you are.”
“Barney. He’s Captain America.”
Goddammit, that fucking whine. He throws Clint his phone.
Then stands behind him to watch him type.
You: he ain’t exactly my usual kinda buddy
You: appreciate the thing with the missile obviously but also i don’t think he pays taxes?
Clint backspaces four times to change his terrible text speak for actual words. It’s hilarious. 
steve!!!!: He fucking better.
You: if you yell at him about this please film it
You: i promise not to put it online i just want it playing on a loop in my apartment
steve!!!!: He says ‘Excuse me of course I pay taxes, I have to get rid of all this money somehow’
steve!!!!: I’m double-checking with Miss Potts.
You: did shield just give you the phone numbers of the entire population of new york
steve!!!!: No, I think it’s only 30%.
You: oh shit do you have fury’s number
steve!!!!: Strangely, no.
You: dammit
You: one day
“You are definitely the reason Fury didn’t give Captain America his personal cell number,” Barney says. Clint shoves at him. 
steve!!!!: Not planning on moving into Stark’s place, then?
You: think living somewhere that expensive would give me a rash
You: don’t tell shield this but i stole my apartment from the mob
“Oh my God Clint they are definitely reading his texts,” Barney groans.
You: hey uh unrelated but anyone give you an update on opsec
Clint glares at him, pointedly, then makes a truly inhuman noise when he reads Steve’s next reply.
steve!!!!: Is that an offer?
“Oh my fucking God I’m gonna become best friends with Captain America,” Clint says, low and reverent.
Barney rolls his eyes. “He still thinks he’s talking to me.”
“So? You wore a mask and shit, he won’t notice.”
“You are so fucking injured. He will definitely notice.”
“Okay, then you wear a wire, and I tell you what to say—”
Barney snatches the phone back, types out ‘hell yeah let’s get a drink, when you free?’, then locks it and tucks it away. Clint is fully pouting.
“I’m going out,” Barney reminds him. “Coulson wants you in Russia, I’m gonna find out the fuck why. Amuse yourself for a while, you can keep flirting with Captain America when I get back.”
“If you really loved me you’d wear a wire,” Clint huffs. Barney ruffles his hair and goes to find his jacket.
–––––––––––––––
“Explain to me again,” Coulson says, exasperated in a way Barney’s more used to seeing directed at Clint, “why you thought pretending to be Clint was in any way a good plan.”
Usually, they have chats like these in some pretentious hipster place, where all the drinks have dumb names and cost twenty bucks a pop, but for obvious reasons that’s not happening. So, they’re in a park, miraculously untouched. There’s a flock of pigeons going at what looks like some bodega’s entire stock of bread.
“Clint was stabbed doing something SHIELD don’t need to know about; SHIELD didn’t tap me for the Avengers, ‘cause they still think I’d sell them all out for the right price; aliens were invading New York; I live in New York and I didn’t have any other plans.”
Coulson pinches at the bridge of his nose. He for sure agrees Barney made the right call, given the givens, and he will for sure die before he ever admits it. Barney is the reason the wannabe god didn’t stab him through the chest, though, so Barney is gonna try and make him admit it.
“You don’t have clearance to know about the Avengers.”
“Half the world knows about the Avengers, we were on every news channel there is.”
“Prior to the Chitauri invasion,” Coulson says, exasperation ticking up a notch, “you did not have clearance to know about the Avengers Initiative. SHIELD already don’t trust you, and now you’ve been compromised by a hostile alien with unknown motivations and allegiances—”
“Which is why SHIELD’s gotta keep thinking it was Clint,” Barney agrees, “‘cause they'll just straight up shoot me.”
Coulson sighs, heavily. But he doesn’t disagree.
“Going forward, then,” he says. “Are you going to continue to be Hawkeye?”
“I kinda really thought the alien invasion was a one-time thing. You telling me we’re expecting more aliens?”
“Not with any certainty,” which is Coulson for ‘yeah, probably’. “But I, for one, would rather we were prepared. And with the way some things are going, the Avengers may be needed for purely Earth-based disputes.”
“You get superheroes, you’re asking for supervillains?”
“Unfortunately.”
Barney lets out a long breath. It should be hilarious, that some idiot might actually pull on a cape and a dumb mask and try to take over the world, but he just got done stopping the last idiot, and they’re still pulling out the bodies. Morning cartoons never have collateral damage.
“I gotta talk to Clint,” he says. “He’d be better at it, but he’s been muttering about bouncing from SHIELD lately. Taking it real personal that you don’t trust me, who’d’ve thunk it.”
“I trust you,” Coulson says, lightly. Barney rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, no shit. Look, I’ll go to Russia, but someone’s gotta babysit Clint while I’m gone. I’m sick of the fucker pulling his stitches.”
“I don’t know who’s going to be there to meet you—”
“This ain’t the first mission I’ve run in Clint’s place.”
Coulson blinks. Huh, Barney had honestly thought he knew about that. “Well,” he says, “then you leave bright and early tomorrow morning. Try not to get in too much trouble, would you?”
Barney grins, trademark Barton asshole. “No promises.” 
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eryiss · 4 years
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Event: LGBTQA+ Month hosted by @ft-wwtdp​ 
Ship: Fraxus ( Freed Justine x Laxus Dreyar)
Prompts: Love, Gift, Brave, Tease, Quirk.
Verse: Canon Compliant
Alternate Places To Read: Fanfiction, Archive of our Own. Event master list here.
This is the first batch of submissions for the Fairy Tail LGBTQA+ week. I’m putting five drabbles per post as not to spam the tags, and I’ll make a new post every five days. Hope you enjoy them. 
Day One – Love (Of A Stubborn Thief)
Despite what many people thought, Laxus had always had a good handle on his emotions.
He always knew what he felt, had always been good at realising what his feelings were and what they meant, and he had enough emotional intelligence to understand other people's feelings as well. Thanks to his father's influence, there had been a time where he would shut off his emotions, but even then he had known what he was feeling. Even at his worse, he understood people and he understood himself.
It was because of this emotional intelligence that he wasn't shocked when he realised he was in love with Freed.
They'd been dating for a few months by then, and it had been incredible. Having this extra layer of intimacy with the other man made him feel comfortable, happy, and warmer. It was as if every second was just a little bit better than it could have been with Freed being only a friend. A small but constant improvement, and one Laxus had no intention of giving up.
It wasn't a particularly big moment that lead him to understand what he felt for Freed. It was in the middle of august, and the two of them were shopping in Magnolia's marketplace for everything they would need for the upcoming week. Laxus had been tasked at getting meat from the butcher's cart, while Freed made his way through the produce stands. Shopping together was something they had started to do three weeks prior, and although Laxus hadn't admitted it, he was rather fond of it now. Before, it had been a chore, but it was somehow pleasant when Freed was with it.
Laxus had never guessed he would enjoy the domestic side of a relationship this much.
After getting all the meat they needed – which was a lot, given they were intending to have a barbeque in the upcoming days – he began to walk towards the fruit and vegetable sections of the market. When he got in earshot of Freed, a grip split on his face.
"You and I both know that you're overcharging. I am not going to pay double the worth for a punnet of strawberries," Freed had snapped, voice a little harsh.
"Then you ain't shopping here," The vender said, and even with the distance between them Laxus could see Freed's jaw clench a little.
Laxus decided to stay back. This would be fun to watch.
The following few minutes were quite entertaining for Laxus. Freed, as he often did when he saw something he identified as an injustice, decided to use every tool available to make his point. One moment he had worked out the exact price of an individual strawberry – which was admittedly quite high – and was loudly making sure the people around them knew it. The next moment, he was explain the many health code rules that the vendor was breaking, and threatening him with an impromptu visit from the governing authorities so that they could see these violations.
After glancing at the vendor, who had turned from a confident extortionist to a bumbling victim of Freed's calm but effective threats, Laxus decided to approach. If left too long, Freed might make it known he had a weapon attached to his hip. That might be taking it a little too far.
Although, it would be funny.
As he got closer to his boyfriend, Laxus thought back to when he first met Freed. He had expected the other man to be a reserved and calm figure, lacking the eccentricities that made up Fairy Tail's members. Makarov had once confessed that he thought Freed would be a calming influence on Laxus, as he was one of the more mature members of the guild. Looking at him threaten a man's livelihood for a discount on some fruit, it was hard to believe that was the case.
"Hey," Laxus greeted, standing beside Freed. "Everything alright?"
"I'm simply refusing to be a victim to a scam," Freed explained, and Laxus fought off a grin.
"As I said before," The vendor continued, though his tone was unsure now. "I am not going to lower my prices because someone in threatening me."
"They are pretty expensive though," Laxus said smoothly, before Freed could cut in. "Maybe you could knock twenty percent off, get us out of your hair. I think we both know that this asshole ain't gonna give in."
The vendor took a moment to think, cussed under his breath, before offering a lower price. Laxus brought his wallet out and paid for the food before Freed could barter it down lower – there weren't many fruit vendors in the market, they couldn't afford to be backlisted by the best one – and started to walk away. Freed joined him a moment later, walking beside him as they began to left the market.
Freed was quiet, and Laxus assumed it was out of annoyance that he hadn't managed to get a bigger discount. But when he looked to his side, he saw that Freed was eating what appeared to be a peach, and Laxus frowned. That hadn't been part of what they intended to buy.
"Where did you get that, Freed?" Laxus asked with an amused expression on his face.
"The fruit stall, of course," Freed said, and Laxus let out a single laugh.
"Did you pay for it?"
"It's entirely dependent on what you consider paying to mean," Freed shrugged. "If you mean I paid the amount he wanted, then no. If you mean I covered the cost of overcharging by getting what my money was worth, then I did pay for them."
"So you stole it?" Laxus laughed, before furrowing his brows. "Wait, them? How much did you steal?"
Freed reached into his pocked and pulled out another peach, offering it to Laxus. The blonde looked at it for a moment, shaking his head in a mixture of both amusement and disbelief. His boyfriend – the man many people claimed was a voice of reason inf Fairy Tail – had actually stolen some fruit because he believed that he was being overcharged. He seemed completely unrepentant about it, and Laxus knew that if he objected Freed would stubbornly defend himself to an inch of his breath.
And it was then, when he took the stolen peach for himself, he realised he was in love with him.
The moment he realised it, everything seemed to make sense. Because of course he loved this ridiculous, stubborn, incredible idiot. Who else could he love? Who else could make him feel as he did? Who else was so perfect for Laxus?
It was a warm feeling, a feeling of solidity and comfort that Laxus hadn't often felt in his life. He found out he liked it. And as he looked down at Freed again, who had continued to eat his peach without so much as batting an eyelid as to where it came, Laxus found himself more contented than he ever thought he could.
"Freed," Laxus began, insides bubbling.
"Yes," Freed said patiently.
"I'm in love with you."
He kissed his boyfriend before he could say anything in response. Delightfully, it tasted like peach.
~~~
Day Two – Gift (From Afar)
"Hey Freed, wait up."
Freed turned around at the shout from behind him, stopping. It was his birthday, and he was retuning home from the customary celebrating in the guildhall. His parties were always a smaller affair than those of the louder members of the guild, something he had requested. Still, it had been a merry affair, but as the night had worn thin, Freed found himself fighting a small amount of melancholy as he sat around his friends.
It came form the fact that, while all his friends were there, his husband was not.
Laxus had taken an S-Class job nearly a month prior, being the only available member of Fairy Tail with the ranking to attempt it. He had known it was going to be a long job and that he would possibly miss Freed's birthday, and the rune mage hadn't minded. Missing out on things was an occupational hazard in their job.
Still, now the day had come, Freed couldn't deny he was missing him. They didn't have any particular traditions when it came to breakfast, other than being awoken with a fresh mug of coffee, so it wasn't as if he was missing anything in particular. It would have just been nice to have Laxus with him.
"Damn, you're a pretty fast walker," Natsu panted as he approached Freed.
The rune mage looked at the younger man with a small quirk in his eyebrow. They weren't the closest of friends, but they got along well enough given their contrasting personalities. He waited patiently for the other man to catch his breath – maybe he was a faster walker than he realised – and absently wondered what Natsu could have wanted. He'd congratulated him, given him a gift, and demanded a fight throughout the evening. There wasn't much else Natsu normally did on a birthday.
"I have this for ya," He eventually said, raising a hand.
In his hand was a package wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string. It was a simple looking thing, and Freed took it with a small amount of hesitance. Natsu's gift to him had been two bottles of alcohol; one a refined scotch, the other a cheap brand of tequila that boasted being the closest thing to breathing fire a man could experience. Lucy had later confessed that she tried to convince him to get the scotch rather than the tequila, and this had been a compromise.
But, given the fact the man had gotten him something already, it seemed unlikely that there was a third part to his gift. He looked down at it, then to the man, with a small expression of his confusion. Natsu grinned.
"It's from Laxus," He explained. "We had a mission close to the town he's helping and met up with him. Told me to give you it."
Freed looked down to the wrapped package with a small smile. It was of course nothing compared to having the actual man here, but it made him feel rather loved anyway. A lot of people assumed that Freed would be the more romantic of the two, but that wasn't exactly true. They both had their moments, both were thoughtful and kind to each other, and this was an example of Laxus' more romantic inclination.
"Sorry I didn't give it to ya in the guildhall," Natsu continued. "Didn't know if he wanted it to be private or not, so I waited. I should get back, so see ya," He started to jog back, waving towards Freed. "And I want that fight!"
Freed smiled a little as the younger man ran off, looking down at the gift in his hands. He continued to walk towards his house, absently moving the package from hand to hand as he did. It wasn't a long walk, so he decided to wait.
When he got home, he walked to his living room and settled in his large armchair. A pile of his presents had formed from when he had teleported them from the guildhall, and he decided he would deal with them in the morning. He ran his fingers down the brown paper of the gift with a soft smile on his face. He used his nail to cut it open revealing a small note above the gift written in Laxus' familiar handwriting.
'Freed. Sorry I'm not gonna be there for your birthday. I know you said you don't mind, but it's still kinda shit. I'll make it up to you when I get back, which shouldn't be too long I don't think. I hope this make you smile. Love, Laxus.'
Freed smiled, moving to place the note on the side table. When he did, he noticed writing on the back of the paper.
'Salamander. I swear to god if you opened this instead of giving it to Freed I'm gonna fry your balls off when I get back. Evergreen and Bickslow know I've got him something, so I'll know if he doesn't get it.'
With a laugh, Freed placed the note on the side and looked at the gift itself. It was a leather-bound book, and when Freed saw the title, he smiled. It was a book containing multiple short stories aimed at children, the same book that he had read as a child. This was a first edition of the book, and it seemed to be in immaculate condition. He smiled softly as he opened the first page and looked down at the illustration.
Freed realised, as he read, that Laxus' job had taken him through a far-off town that boasted a well-stocked vintage book store. He must have brought the book before he arrived at the job and kept it to give to Freed when possible. The idea of it made him smile, as did the knowledge that he had only mentioned the book to Laxus once, and he had remembered.
He smiled as he turned a page; Laxus really was a romantic at heart.
~~~
Day Three – Brave (In Every Way)
Laxus had always known that Freed was brave.
There was never any doubt in his courage. He had stood against powerful mages and fought dangerous beasts hundreds of time and had never shown any signs of backing down. He had pushed himself to his limits to help others, had stood up against injustices and cruelty, and had never cowered when challenged on his ideals. He was one of the bravest men that Laxus had ever met, and that was something Laxus would never change his mind on.
Today, he was proving it. Because fighting mages, stopping monsters and ending injustices were something mages had to do. True bravery could be seen today, as both Laxus and Freed walked into the large foyer of Freed's childhood home.
Laxus would say it was more of a mansion than anything else. But saying that wouldn't be appropriate.
Freed's relationship with his family had always been tense. Not as shattered as many Fairy Tail members, but there was always an underlying animosity between them. Freed hadn't been the perfect, obedient son that they had wanted, and from what Freed had told Laxus, they had resented him for that. He was his own man, had made his own decision, and those decisions had been at odds with what they wanted for him.
Apparently him joining Fairy Tail had been the last straw for them. His father had threatened to cut him off, remove him from their will, and essentially disown him. Freed had left the house the moment he could, and hadn't returned since.
Until now.
After the incident at the S-Class trials, it had been assumed that many members of Fairy Tail had died, and Freed was included. So when they returned after seven years alive, people had been shocked, and it had been a big part of the news. Apparently Freed's parents had seen this and, now that their supposedly dead son was alive again, they reached out to him. According to their letter, the seven years thinking he had died had shown them what it truly meant to have him out of their lives, and they had regretted their behaviour.
Laxus wasn't going to say anything, but he had heard Freed's soft sobs as he read the letter for the first time. Clearly he had been missing his parents more than he thought.
Today was the first time they would see each other, and Freed had admitted to being scared. He had insisted that Laxus come with him, both for support and to show his parents the man he was to be married to. If they wanted to accept who he was, they needed to accept Laxus as their future son-in-law.
"I'm so glad you're okay," Freed's mother whispered.
She had been the one to open the door, and the moment she saw him her face melted into emotions and she pulled him into a hug. Laxus had stood by a little awkwardly, allowing the two to have their moment. Although Freed didn't cry like his mother was, the strength in which she hugged her told Laxus how much It meant to see her again. It was nice to watch.
"I am too," Freed said softly. "You look well."
"So do you," She smiled. "You must still be twenty-one, mustn't you?"
"I am," Freed said with a small laugh, though a small frown followed. "Is father not coming?"
"He's coming," She assured him. "He's not as mobile as he was before, I'm afraid. But still pig-headed enough to refuse my help."
Freed nodded, and his shoulders hunched slightly. Neither his mother nor father were innocent in Freed being driven out of his home, but his father was the worse. He was loud and argumentative with his disproval, if Freed's stories were accurate, and it had been the constant arguments and fights between them that had been the final straw for Freed. It was clear that seeing his father would likely not go as well as seeing his mother.
And yet Freed stood firm, and Laxus was again reminded of just how brave his fiancé was.
As Freed and his mother spoke, Laxus allowed his eyes to stray around the room. There was a large painting above the staircase, seemingly of a pre-teen Freed with his mother and father. The father was a stern looking man, with a strong jaw, authoritative expression and pushed back shoulders. He looked like a high ranking soldier, actually.
He pulled his eyes away from the paining when the doors to the side of the stairs opened, revealing the same man from the painting. He was now hunched over, leaning heavily on a walking stick, covered in wrinkles. He looked old.
"Freed," He said, voice a little croaky yet still firm and controlled. "You came."
"I did. Hello father," Freed replied, voice tighter now.
"Who is this?" He asked, looking to Laxus.
"This is Laxus Dreyar. His grandfather is the guild master of Fairy Tail," Freed explained. "He's also going to be my husband."
It was perhaps the bravest thing he had ever said.
Apparently neither Freed's mother nor father had been told of this, as they both looked to Laxus in shock. Laxus didn't look towards Freed's mother, and instead kept eye contact with his father. If Laxus had judged them both correctly then the father would be the one to have an issue with him, not the mother. He looked at the older man without showing a hint of intimidation, and the man looked right back at him for a few moments.
"You do good by my son, and we won't have a problem," He eventually said, huffing.
"Of course," Laxus nodded.
"Good," The old man nodded, before turning to his wife. "We'll be eating soon, I assume."
As the older couple walked off, Freed's mother saying they would be waiting in the dining room and dinner would be served in twenty minutes, Laxus stood beside his fiancé and looked down to him with a gentle expression. Freed seemed to take a few moments recover; he had apparently expected something worse as well.
"You okay?" Laxus murmured to him.
"I think so," Freed said with a nod, looking up to Laxus with a smile. "Having them know I like men is rather a large weight off my shoulders."
"I bet it is," Laxus said, kissing the top of his head. "You ready to catch up with them?"
"I think so, yes" Freed nodded.
As they walked, Laxus was left with no doubt that Freed was the bravest man he knew.
~~~
Day Four – Tease (At Your Own Risk)
"Well, isn't this cute."
Bickslow had his arms crossed over his chest, the biggest shit-eating grin stretched over his features. Freed's eyes fluttered open as he was awoken, looking towards the man responsible through a hazy gaze. The cocky attitude radiating from the man was clear even without being fully able to see him, and his tone was annoying Freed already. His tired glare didn't dissuade Bickslow from his amused taunting.
He, Bickslow and Laxus had taken a mission together and had ended up sleeping in the woods. It was originally intended to be a Raijinshuu only mission but Evergreen had been called out at the last second, and Laxus had taken her. Bickslow had been more than happy to hear this, and now that the mission had begun Freed understood why.
The idiot had decided he would spend the entire mission teasing the new couple as much as possible.
Many little comments had been made about him third-wheeling them by coming along with them, and about how sorry he was that he had gotten in the way of their romantic time away. When fighting a pack of creatures they had been forced to split up, and Bickslow joked that if they wanted time alone then they could have just asked. And the moment he realised they were sharing a tent he had all but imploded with laughter at his own jokes about what they would be doing inside of it.
It was starting to grate on Freed's nerves, just slightly.
Right now, the subject of his teasing was the fact Laxus was sleeping, head resting on Freed's chest, arms wrapped tightly around him in an almost possessive manner. Freed probably had his nose nuzzled into his boyfriend's hair before he had woken up. Bickslow clearly had enjoyed seeing the two of them cuddled together.
"The two strongest, most badass men in the guild," Bickslow continued. "All snuggled up like idiots in love. It's enough to make your heart melt."
"You know I have a sword, Bickslow," Freed croaked a little as he spoke. "And you also know I enjoy using it."
"Whatever you to do in bed – or in the tent – ain't any business of mine," Bickslow grinned even wider, and Freed's glare got even more intense. It didn't stop Bickslow even slightly. "I always knew Laxus was this cuddly, didn't think you were though. Honestly wish I could take a picture of this, because it's too damn cute."
Freed sighed. He should have expected this when he and Laxus revealed their relationship to their teammates. They were both happy for them, and didn't bat an eyelid when Laxus essentially came out to them, and Freed was grateful of that. For a few days it had been nice, they had been given space and respect. It was now clear that was some sort of amnesty period, because their relationship was now as much a target for teasing as everyone else's. Freed would be better equipped to deal with it if he hadnt just been woken up.
"Did you honestly open our tent just to bother us?" Freed asked, yawning.
"Nah, I was gonna make some breakfast and see if you wanted anything. This is fun though," Bickslow cackled. "So, did you have a nice romantic evening kissing under the stars after I fell asleep."
"Leave him alone, Bix," Laxus groaned, waking up and removing his face from Freed's chest.
"Why?" Bickslow laughed. "This is fun."
"Because eventually he'll get pissed off at ya and try and kill ya. And that means he wont be here and he's really fuckin' warm and I don't wanna lose that until I'm really awake," Laxus explained, pulling Freed closer. Bickslow actually cooed at the action.
"Fine," The blue haired man said finally. "Bacons nearly ready. Be out here if you want any," He then grinned again. "And if you want some privacy, leave a sock on the tent's zipper and I'll get the message."
He cackled as he walked away, and Freed glared at his retreating figure as he turned to his boyfriend. Laxus was smiling a little in his tiredness, clearly amused by the situation; he was always more of a morning person than Freed was. The blonde pulled him closer, pressed a lip to Freed's collar bone, and curled up closer to him. Freed found himself placated slightly by the action and closed his eyes.
"How long do you think it'll take before he stops?" He asked, tiredly.
"None of us have given Ever a break since she got with Elfman," Laxus shrugged. "Just try not to let him get under your skin. You know this is his way of supporting us."
"I know," Freed admitted. He would be much more offended if Bickslow wasn't acting like this.
"And if he really does start pissing you off, we can just keep doing this. It's pretty relaxing if you ask me," Laxus mumbled, nuzzling his nose against Freed's chest. The rune mage smiled a little at that, and ran a hand through his boyfriend's hair.
"I suppose," Freed agreed, before laughing. "Although I do often enjoy getting revenge rather than calming down."
"You can do that too, later," Laxus grinned. "And hey, you're the team's leader right, meaning he technically has to do whatever you say during a mission. So the next time he really annoys you, make him do some weird shit to distract him."
Freed grinned as he looked down at his boyfriend. "I rather like seeing your devious side."
"Couse you do. You're a freak," Laxus taunted, smiling into Freed's torso. "But do it later, because right now I wanna fall asleep again and wait for the idiot to cook us our breakfast."
Freed chuckled at that, leaning down and pressing his lips to the top of Laxus' head. He curled down a little so he was lysing again, wrapped an arm around Laxus' waist, closed his eyes, and plotted his revenge.
~~~
Day Five – Quirks (And Their Meanings)
Freed considered himself an expert on many things.
There were a wide range of subjects that Freed was knowledgeable. There was the obvious, such as his magic and the languages associated with it. There was the necessary, such as how to survive in many situations that the normal person wouldn't find themselves in. And there was the obscure and pointless, such as the process in which leather was made and applied to the bindings of old books. Freed's mind was a home of knowledge both useful and not.
One thing he was particularly knowledgeable about was his husband. Many people assumed Laxus was unreadable and stoic – which was a fair assumption when compared to the loud and expressive people of Fairy Tail – but Freed knew better. You could often tell what Laxus was thinking, you just needed to know what to look for. This was something Freed excelled at.
Laxus showed many little quirks that betrayed his emotions. Some were obvious, like when he grinded his teeth together when annoyed, or how he swayed a little as he was on the cusp of getting drunk. Others were more specific, like how his index finger twitched when he wasn't paying attention and instead was thinking about a song stuck in his head. Freed had realised that particular one when they were getting chastised by Makarov for being destructive during a mission, and Laxus' finger tapped against the arm of a chair in time with a song they both liked.
The point was, Freed could read Laxus well. And right now, he was uncomfortable.
Freed had of course expected this reaction, when three weeks ago Guild master Bob had approached the Raijinshuu and requested they become part of the guild after Fairy Tail's closure. They wanted powerful mages to do some of the more intense missions, and that suited The Raijinshuu well. But, as was Blue Pegasus' gimmick, they needed to occasionally flirt with customers.
Each member of the team had different reactions. Bickslow and Evergreen took to it well enough; Bickslow was sociable and friendly already, and Evergreen found she enjoyed men fawning over her. Freed approached it pragmatically, it was a part of the job and he did it as well as he could. Laxus didn't.
He tried at the start, but he wasn't good with people. Either intentionally or not, he had started to be more standoffish and almost rude to those interested in him. It didn't seem to deter them, instead attracting an even more intense crowd.
Which was why he was so uncomfortable.
Freed had just finished speaking to a man who wished to garner his attention – nice enough, but Freed was happily married – and his gaze fell to the blonde. A group of women sat at his table, clearly not understanding that Laxus' uncomfortable and short-tempered attitude wasn't an act. But being an expert in reading his husband, Freed knew what to look for.
His shoulders were hunched, an attempt to make himself smaller. A trial for someone of his size.
His pupils were dilated, the girls surrounding him were annoying him them.
His sentences were short and filled with contractions. He was trying to force an end to the conversation.
There were other things, but Freed had seen enough. His time entertaining had ended anyway, and it was clear that Laxus needed a break. He stood up from where he had been entertaining men and walked towards the table Laxus was hunching over.
"Excuse me," He said, interrupting the almost single-sided conversation. "I'm incredibly sorry to interrupt, but Mr Dreyar is needed outside for a short while," Some of the women went to protest. "I understand, but I've spoken to Hibiki and he's rather excited about stealing you away from Laxus, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to keep him waiting."
The clear lie worked. Freed almost shook his head at how gullible they were.
Once the gathered women spread and went towards Hibiki – who barely managed to hide his shock and looked to Freed with a glare a moment later – Freed nodded for Laxus to follow him. It was part of their job to always seem willing to attend to the guests unless absolutely needed, and therefore Freed had to keep up the lie that Laxus was required in the back. He led him to the alley outside, both for privacy as well as the fact Laxus was occasionally called there to help move beer barrels when the guild was understaffed.
"You looked like you needed a break," Freed commented, leaning on a wall. "You okay?"
Freed watched as Laxus deflated slightly. His tense posture lessened, the tightness in his jaw released, and he allowed a trapped breath to leave his mouth. The quietness of the alleyway and the company of his husband clearly had an affect on Laxus, and Freed was glad to see it.
"They just get a bit intense," Laxus sighed. "And they're all fuckin' loud all the time. They screech."
"I've heard," Freed laughed a little. "I can't imagine it's pleasant when it's right in your ear."
"Honestly, I think that fucking laugh is gonna haunt me in my nightmares," Laxus groaned, but he was grinning a little now. "Should have done what you did and asked just to see guys, least they don't shatter your ears every time you say anything."
"No, I suppose they don't," Freed patted his husband's arm softly.
Laxus' deflation wasn't just because he was glad to get out of the main hall, it was also because he was slightly defeated. His identity had always been interlinked with Fairy Tail in one way or another, and Freed couldn't understand exactly what it felt like for him to lose that and have to join another guild. It must be hard, and all Freed could do was try and help him through it in any way he could. Knowing this, Freed reached into his coat's breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper which he handed to Laxus.
"If it's any help, I stole this," Freed said, and Laxus looked down at it. The paper was a job notice, requesting the arrival of mages in a village many miles away. A simple enough problem, but what had attracted Freed was the estimated time it would take to complete.
"Says it'll take three weeks," Laxus voiced, clearly having noticed the same thing.
"Exactly. It won't take us that long; a few days at the most," Freed explained. "But that'll give us two and a half weeks where we can claim we're working, when we're actually taking a break from…" He looked towards the guildhall. "Entertaining. "
Laxus grinned, tipped Freed's chin up slightly and brought their lips together. The kiss they shared was desperate and showed just how much Laxus had needed this break. Freed felt a little guilty that he hadn't noticed this need sooner. Until Fairy Tail opened its doors again, he would have to make an effort to make Laxus as comfortable in Blue Pegasus as possible.
After all, what use was it knowing all of Laxus' quirks if he couldn't use them to make his husband happy.
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Current Experience Of Construction Disputes.
We discovered their clear explanation of the legal setting as well as their suggested technique to the instance both extremely useful as well as reliable. lately been made repetitive so I went with a hrs repaired charge meeting to discuss my negotiation agreement, once again this was a very interesting meeting as well as aided me comprehend the process and give me with valuable concerns to ask. Make certain you have actually got more than one means to reach your builder-- preferably by phone, e-mail as well as fixed address. You may likewise want to think about Site Insurance coverage or Agreements Functions Insurance coverage, which can be secured on your own or jointly with your builder, particularly if your builder does not have Specialists all-risk cover. Individual recommendations, web searches, firm searches, recommendations from previous consumers, recommendations and also endorsements from trade bodies are simply some of the ways to obtain more info concerning your possible choice of builder. The majority of reliable builders will certainly be more than satisfied to show off their previous work as well as while you exist you can ask their previous client for a personal reference.
Stopping working to collect the appropriate or enough proof to support an insurance claim. Having an agreement in position is constantly a great idea on a major project. It needs to lay out payment timetables, deadlines as well as likewise include fines. As Builder Dispute Lawyers, we understand that having proof is necessary to verify your insurance claim. You must do this in order to recoup the expense of placing things right.
Requesting Faulty Building Work Be Repaired.
If to mediation 4 builders building job disputes Alton will not tell you anything about their company or provide you with get in touch with information, they may be intentionally making it tough to contact them. Additionally, if they decline to provide any references, they might be hiding something.
When there are a number of people working together, it ends up being difficult to locate a common ground.
Among the reasons this happens is since people may have various point of views.
When you have an interest in starting your own mediation solution, it is very important that you select a company that has a good online reputation and is dependable.
There are also instances where the events may pertain to a compromise even if both parties do not want to endanger.
Lots of people in the building industry work with a number of people.
As we had a fixed price arrangement as well as I did not ask you to do any additional work, I am not liable to pay you any kind of extra. I consider this to be as a result of you did not complete the building deals with reasonable skill and treatment. However all have to be sensible and can not be a loss you would have experienced anyway. A builder is entitled to receive money for the job done appropriately. Unless you concurred something various, the price of the building works ought to "sensible".
The very best method to take care of rogue investors is not to obtain entailed with them in the first place. Obviously, modern day software isn't constantly feasible, yet there are a number of warning signs that could tip you off to the truth that a builder must not be relied on. At the end of the job a builder may demand even more money than previously agreed.
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Please leave this field emptyWe send out an email once a month with interesting stories from the globe of law. As I intend like the majority of people, my legal needs have actually primarily focused on house acquisitions and also Will writing.
We do recognize that not everyone can pay for to pay legal costs for depiction. Nevertheless, we are greater than delighted to have a no-obligation chat with you to discuss your situation. The Court agreed to our demand to adjourn the trial so that the degree of the insurance claim can be cleared up and also correctly begged. Independent professional evidence was obtained to support the poor handiwork. As experts in celebration as well as presenting cases we are more than happy to have a chat to assist lead you on what needs to be done as well as just how ideal to present a case. Occasionally, advice may not be enough if it gets as well technical and also it may be better to instruct.
Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without women - Aljazeera.com
Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without women.
Posted: Sat, 31 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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jacksgreysays · 4 years
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Viridescent: Or, Tetsuki Goes Under New Management, (2020-04-27)
Related to this, but not required reading
~
Tetsuki is sent on a mission to yet another dimension with yet another group of people who she could help, but only if they pay an equivalent price in whatever the Shopkeeper has sent her to retrieve. It's a standard mission, all told, fairly straightforward for all that she's dealing in mercenary work exchanged for what should be intangible concepts. It doesn't even take that long. Only six days--not the shortest she's ever been on, that had been only six hours, and far from the longest--before she's ready to return to the Shop 
(Then again, what with the different dimensions and all, six days for her does not guarantee six days at the Shop.)
So she returns--with a bottled curse and a beloved keychain weighted with cherished childhood memories she had Assessed to be the equivalent exchange--and is only mildly surprised that on the other side of the Dimension Doors is an entirely different Shopkeeper than the one she left behind.
For a moment, Watanuki-kun doesn't look it. Startled and staring--as bewildered as the teenager she first met, tempered with a yearning grief--but that is quickly and carefully shuttered beneath the neutral guise of the Shopkeeper.
"Ah, you've inherited..." she says mildly, giving him time to compose himself, "... my condolences for your loss."
He nods his head, but doesn't say thank you, because he knows words have power, especially his own, now. But perhaps his education was not so thorough, because then he asks, "My loss, but not yours, senpai?"
Tetsuki blinks, but only because her eyes require it. "You're the Shopkeeper, I am no longer your senpai," she corrects, "And your loss, yes, not mine. Don't get me wrong, I liked Yuuko-san, but to me she was my employer, the Shopkeeper first and foremost and, well..." she does not gesture around her, because that would be unnecessary. 
"The Shopkeeper is dead. Long live the Shopkeeper."
Watanuki-kun's face doesn't even twitch, stays placid even under the wave of emotional turmoil she can feel off him. Good, he's a fast learner.
Now, the real question is, "Did you also inherit the title of Dimension Witch?"
---
The longest mission Tetsuki had ever been sent on lasted for six years: a grueling, grudging thing which was largely set in, of all places, Scotland.
The client was foolish, mismanaging his resources, and somehow both frustratingly vague and tediously inefficient with his Wish, besides. She even offered suggestions that she Assessed would suit the situation: it certainly wouldn't be the first time she bodyguarded someone from a villain obsessed with immortality or, alternatively, assassinate said villain.
(Yes, even including the whole magical soul container bit. Although, to be fair, most liches only bothered with the single phylactery.)
But Dumbledore only wanted her to observe and teach and no more.
And so for six years Tetsuki was Professor Babbling's apprentice and teaching assistant. Almost literally as far away from the important events of the mission as she could get while still being in the same castle. She never even had the Chosen One in any of her classes! 
She did get close in her third year, when the staff were deciding how to schedule around Professor Lupin's lycanthropy. Briefly they considered having her substitute for him--he would assign reading or have open study, so she didn't really need to be a master in the subject--except then Professor Snape swooped in, eager for his opportunity to sabotage, and made the matter unnecessarily complicated: she ended up covering the first and second year classes for both Defense and Potions so that Snape could go and torment the upper years.
Though at least Dumbledore paid his share of the price for the utter waste of her time, expensive as it was. Truly, it would have cost less if he had chosen to put a hit out on Voldemort. As if she didn't know how to extract a soul shard from a living vessel without harming said vessel--and that even before she learned magic.
At the end of six years, she returned to the Shop, having never spoken to either Harry James Potter or Tom Marvolo Riddle, but getting their payments, nonetheless.
And Yuuko-san--for who, it seemed, only six weeks had passed--raised an eyebrow, smirked, and asked, "Did you have fun?"
Tetsuki, irritated, refused to answer.
At least she was able to actually learn Ancient Runes, for all that it seemed less effective and more volatile than the various fuinjutsu, ofuda, and mahoujin she had picked up over her existence. Then again, that seemed to be the way of that particular dimension:
A whole lot of adversity for an unequal amount of payoff.
---
The first few missions Watanuki-kun sent her on were largely... local... as far as other dimensions went. Only dimensions he or either of the Mokona Modoki had already been to. Which, to be fair wasn't exactly a small list--Soel's journeys nearly too numerous to count. But it was a far cry from the literal infinity Tetsuki was used to.
"I've seen eight versions of the same person in the past ten missions, and six of them Wished for romantic help," she complains as she steps through the Dimension Doors, a clumsily made but charmingly heartfelt necklace in hand. She passes it on to Moro, to be placed in the store room, and takes a place at the table where Watanuki-kun is beginning to serve tea for three. Him, her, and a Doumeki-kun.
(She can never be sure which Doumeki it is--and it's not just her being unsure of the flow of time. They all physically look and magically feel identical--so it's best to just refer to them the same way)
"If I have to do one more mission involving playing messenger or clearing up misunderstandings for star crossed lovers, I'm going on strike," she says, once Watanuki-kun has taken his seat. The corner of this particular Doumeki-kun's mouth twitches up, even as he hides it by taking a drink--so not the most stoic of Doumeki, but certainly not the least either.
Watanuki-kun glances sharply at her, the Shopkeeper recognizing the wording of a transaction, informal as it was. "Is that--" he stops, hesitant, then reconsiders, "Does it feel equivalent to you?"
Tetsuki takes a moment to drink her own tea and Assess, the ability vital to her missions, something she had purchased from Yuuko-san at the very beginning of her employment at the Shop.
Truthfully, it would be more useful to Watanuki-kun now. He still struggles sometimes to make equivalent exchanges--generally skewing too much in the favor of his clients, and ending up paying the remaining price. But it's something he'll develop naturally as he gains experience as the Shopkeeper--to deprive him of that growth would be equally harmful.
"Well, it's not the most specific contract, though that works in our favor," Tetsuki begins, patient in her explanation. She understands why Yuuko-san was as hands off as she was, but it certainly hasn't helped the new Shopkeeper embrace his role, "Your Premonition ability isn't quite at the level it needs to be to know what the missions you send me on entail and so it's not as if you can screen which missions I do or don't go on at this time. It would be harsh to punish you for something you aren't doing purposefully. Luckily, I didn't say how long the strike would be for, nor did I define what concessions I would want to end said strike."
She shrugs, "I may just take a nap and request a specific dish for dinner, and if you cook it then we can either consider the exchange complete or renew the contract entirely."
Watanuki-kun splutters, "That's it?" he asks, more apprentice than employer. This particular Doumeki-kun barely bats an eye at this behavior, so either he's one of the earlier Doumeki or he is actually one of the more stoic ones.
"Sometimes specificity helps--it guides you in the right direction and prevents imbalance--but too much and it can make the prices too steep or inhibit the exchange entirely," Tetsuki shrugs again, "A lenient interpretation will serve you well until you are able to Assess for yourself."
~
A/N: I was briefly considering the idea that Tetsuki unknowingly inherited the title of Dimension Witch while Watanuki only got the Shopkeeper, but I didn’t like locking her in this limbo when, ostensibly, she started working for Yuuko because she Wished to go home (although, which home is the part where a lack of specificity will bite her in the ass). In a way, her training Watanuki to be an effective Dimension Witch/Shopkeeper is kind of her last mission before she finally completes her payment for her Wish.
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12-steps-in-action · 4 years
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Good Vibes Only!
DAILY ROUTINE
How can I better myself every day? What do I need to do to be better for myself and others? How can I benefit the world? What do I love to do? Who am I? When will life get better? Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions? I have, so I did a bit of digging. And I had discovered that I had no daily routine or a balanced schedule that benefited anyone other than myself. And then I thought...Why does everything I do for myself have to only be for me? Well, it doesn't. What you do for yourself you in return do for others, whether you realize it or not.
You may have heard that children follow your example more than your advice, true. So what do adults follow??? Nothing really! Most of them think that they got shit all figured out. I know I used to. But the smartest person I've had the pleasure of talking with told me that he knows nothing at all. And for the life of me, I could never understand why he would believe that about himself, then it hit me. He knows nothing so that he can remain teachable.
So I put together a little daily routine for adults so that they may balance their life and enjoy the rest of their days. Should they choose to? I promise once this becomes your daily routine, your life will not be the same as it once was. Fore-warned, for some people, it may get worse before it gets better, but it will get better once you shovel through the shit.
Daily Balance check-list (5:30 am start)
1. Recovery check-in (30 min) 2. Exercise/Diet (30 min-1 hr) 3. Productivity (6-8 hrs) 4. Writing Meditation (1 hr) 5. Goals (1-2 hrs) 6. Recovery check-out (30 min) 7. Rest & Relax
1) Recovery Check-In (30 min )
Wake up at 5:30 am and give thanks and count my blessings. Do a 15 min focus meditation on raising my frequency. We wake up at 5:30 to maximize our productivity, so we can do as much as we are capable of doing in 1 day, to be of service to the world that gave us so much. The reason that we count our blessings is so that we don't stay focused on the negative aspects of life. And so we remain grateful for what we have. And stay aware of the fact that even the most unfortunate person in the world has too many blessings to count. And the purpose of this focus meditation exercise is to practice starting and ending your day the same way every time, positively. The focus meditation is meant to shed light on everything that you need for the day or what you need to get done. So we don't lose track of our responsibilities. Raising your frequency is like swimming in a river with the current instead of against it. Life is much easier, things just seem to fall into place where they should be. And it increases your chance of manifesting miracles. To raise your frequency avoid things like: Self-pity, blaming others, negative self-talk, making excuses, ignoring your problems and not addressing them, and speaking the truth without compassion. Instead do things like: Being of service to others, self-reflection, self-discovery/awareness, creative arts, meditation, positive self affirmations, random acts of kindness. Anything that makes you feel good that didn't come at the cost of someone else's expense.
2) Exercise/Diet (30 min-1 hr)
Work out for 30 min and then research nutrition and diet plans that are best for you. Everyone complains about the price of gas, but no one gives a shit that 1L of pop costs 3$. Realize that everything in life cost's money. So complaining about the price of healthy living only drives you further away from it. If you could pay 1 single price for good health it would most definitely be out of your price range. It costs money to feel good, as does every other benefit in creation. If you want good benefits at work then you show up every day, spend the time and sell your efforts and skills. If you're willing to do it for money then why not do it for good health. Good health is the greatest possession you could ever obtain, even more so than money. If you can't put a price on feeling good, then put the effort into it. Diet and exercise go hand in hand like coffee and cigarettes, it's way better if you have both.
3) Productivity (6-8 hrs)
Design a recovery program. Work the 12 steps of N/A. Find a job. Pursue a passion. Do something to better your situation or improve your future. If you don't have a goal to work towards then your time becomes invaluable to you and others. Do you see it? When you achieve your goals, you inspire others to do the same, and when you share your struggles then you allow others to know that they are not alone when experiencing the same. Feeling alone in a situation probably destroys more dreams then drugs, which is why they both go hand in hand, to increase productivity. So if your enemy is doubling up. Why wouldn't you? Team up with like-minded people who share the same goals and watch how fast your life changes with just a little bit of hard work. I promise that you will be nothing short of amazed.
4) Writing Meditation (1 hr)
Write about anything you want to. Negative, positive, doesn't matter. The point of this exercise is to expand on your feelings and emotions. If you feel like killing someone, write about how you would do it. Just don't show anyone they might not understand. Maybe burn it after you're done writing about it. The point is don't suppress your feelings and emotions, release them positively and constructively. I promise, when you're done you'll feel much better, you probably won't want to kill them anymore and best of all, it won't affect your next day. Writing is essential to understanding any type of problem. Just put your pen to the pad and let it flow, there is no wrong way to do this.
5) Goals (1-2 hrs)
Figure out what it is that you want and what you have to sacrifice to get it. To be honest, the formula for achieving your goals is very simple, it's just 3 easy steps. 1) A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. 2) A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. 3) a plan backed by action becomes reality. So you see? Turning a dream into reality is as simple as 1,2,3. Now don't get it fucked up, this is not easy, it's simple. There is a difference, some goals might come quicker than others. But if you apply these 3 steps to any or all of them, you will achieve them.
6) Recovery check-out (30 mins)
Give thanks for the day with a silent prayer. 15min breathing meditation and close with the serenity prayer. When you're done after a hard day's work, it's good to reflect on everything that you did and the positive outcome that it may have brought you or others. Remember that the idle mind is the Devil's playground. The less going on up there, the more room for him to dance around. Instead, do things like giving thanks for the abundance that your productivity has afforded you. Remember where it is that you came from and where it is that you would like to end up. We do this so that we can stay focused on the things that we can do instead of what we can't do, and the things that we can change rather then what we can't. Remember that reflection is just as important as productivity. Without it, you fall back into the same old destructive patterns. If we learn to accept what we can't control, then we don't focus on it. So instead it's a good practice to end your day the same way that you start it. Positive, grateful, accepting, and willing.
7) Rest & Relax( Endgame)
When I hit this stage, I like to prepare everything for the next day. So that when I wake up, I can enjoy the first hour of my day. But really though...Do whatever the fuck you want! Can't nobody tell you how to do this. Just make sure that you do it, and that you do it your way. I hope this helps anyone who finds themselves in a funk and remember...Struggles make you strong, it has to be dark for stars to shine and clear and straight roads never made good drivers. So enjoy the rest of your days here everyone. Time is so precious, and no one gets an extension. So let's do it right before it's too late.
Thank You & God Bless!
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insectchurch6-blog · 4 years
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seminar company tochucsukienhcm
Nearby Lookup Advertising helps make the cellphone ring! or simply a phone is worthy of fifteen periods a click on Local Look for Advertising and marketing presents you, the organization owner, with one of the most focused and cost efficient client acquisition option. http://tochucsukienhcm.vn/su-kien/to-chuc-hoi-thao-hoi-nghi-khach-hang.html are Progressively more generally trying to find corporations like yours online. Reports present that these customers have a serious purchasing intent. As a neighborhood business enterprise you would like to determine ways to Expense effectively get to out to these consumers and begin the small business marriage. You must do that Even when you dont Have got a web site and dont want one particular! The world wide web has modified the best way that buyers are looking for your company. The times of pulling out two kilos of two or even more volumes of mobile phone guides are coming to an finish. Folks are nonetheless letting their fingers do the strolling but its on a computer keyboard. The Kelsey exploration team printed these studies and tendencies. -> 74% of households use the online world being an information resource when browsing regionally. -> About 45% of community lookups had a shopping for intent. -> The percentage of respondents who made use of yellow web page directories reduced from seventy five% to 62%. (When you've got a yellow site ad, it is time to consider purchasing a smaller advert and shifting your marketing pounds to the online market place.) As regional business people you need to get motion now. You'll want to keep the current shoppers, and get new consumers, so you have to be identified in which They may be hunting. Nearby Look for Advertising and marketing is where your upcoming clientele and clients will originate from. So where by do you start? Almost certainly your buyers could have a default location on their pcs and this may be established to 1 of these web pages for look for; Google, Yahoo, MSN or AOL. These engines like google all index Websites and have some type of paid out advertising and marketing often called Spend For every Click. This is wonderful Should you have a Web-site but How about quite a few little and local enterprises that have little if any web presence in the least? And Even when you do have a Internet site, does it clearly show up in the various search engines over? Alright, Just what exactly other decisions Have you ever received?
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Very well, as an example, in Australia items are fairly restricted. You'll find Individuals folks, you know whom I am referring to, who will put you don't just in a hard duplicate Listing but even have expert services on line. The obstacle is in exactly what the financial Price tag is, Significant, but hey, they may have existed quite a while and also have deep pockets. The opposite difficulty is they generally market in the various search engines and you can find them there BUT if you Adhere to the backlink to them, you'll want to do your search all once again! What a ache. You will discover other business regional search engines and Many of these are excellent benefit but many are not in depth. If you'll find just a few thousand enterprises in an area Listing most people will go away specified the constrained level of articles. So what you might want to do is make use of a search engine like Google and try to find community research directory, you should definitely limit your search to your state you will be in. For this informative article I'm applying Australia. The outcomes include things like Yahoo regional look for and numerous community directories. You need to Check out these out and see what it will take to take part in the directories which make the first website page of your Google search. Several on-line marketeers fail to remember The crucial element stage to staying identified on-line. What is the Action you want to occur when an individual finds your Online page or directory listing? When you cant or dont provide solutions from a web site there are only two steps you want. 1st, that they call you, or 2nd, which they e mail you. Thats it! You wish a phone or an email. These are typically the sole two results that can result in interaction, a romance as well as possible to do business. A lot of small organizations currently know, and The existing investigate is proving them right, that a connect with is well worth fifteen moments a click on. Why Is that this? Email is to generally getting seen as spam, occasionally it never ever even gets by way of filters and it lacks the emotional and personal contact of voice. So what we actually need is really a cell phone get in touch with. We wish that phone to begin ringing. But Why individuals dont get in touch with as much anymore. It is actually obtaining more durable and more challenging to get folks to ring in recent times. They conceal behind email or resist buying up the cell phone with fear that one among these things will manifest: 1. Make sure you press one for . and a pair of for . or 3 for , or 2. We worth your business and you are quantity seventeen while in the queue, or 3. This get in touch with probably recorded for training and high-quality functions! No one wants this response to picking up the cellphone and building a get in touch with. So what on earth is the alternative? Its called Spend Per Get in touch with, but all it is, is actually a thrust to talk button. Somebody presses a button on the Web content, puts of their contact number and they are linked to the business that set up the button. Its basic, straightforward and direct. Not a click on, its a call! This can be what we see as the future of regional research. Individuals acquiring firms which can be of their area and pressing a button to talk with them. Could possibly be a local cleaner, carpet layer, pool builder, alarm installer, newborn sitter. You name it. They're the regional persons you would like to attract and do business enterprise with. To accomplish this, you need them to find you and talk with you. If they are able to come across you through a web research and know that they wont be placed on keep, since you are calling them, you acquire. Now its business as typical and your back again accountable for the product sales approach not the online world! These complimentary attributes of community lookup and thrust to speak buttons are currently available in Australia at AussieWeb Local Research. Google just announced that they are beta testing this with Pay Per Click on promotion in the united states. Speculate where they acquired that idea?
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shianneblog-blog · 4 years
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Pre-Challenge Reflection: Wednesday, April 1st
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I have been trying to plan and prepare for this challenge for a number of days. However, it has surprisingly caused me some stress and anxiety to even think about going to the grocery store... so I brought my mom with me to help! I think I felt these emotions because I knew how challenging it was going to be to find enough food to last me the week with this budget. I made a list of cheaper foods that I had an idea to buy for each meal and used that as foundation to reference back to. My goal was to reach a budget between $18 to $21 to match what people below the poverty line are allocated for food expenses.
We started our shopping trip off at Dollar Tree, where we surprisingly found many perishable foods including: bread, rice, crackers, and beans for $1.25 each! I was so excited that I found bread for this cheap because I know it is close to three times that price at grocery stores. Originally, I did buy tuna from here but I decided to remove it at the end of the shopping day because I went over my budget amount and thought I could do without the tuna. I ended up spending $6.31 at Dollar Tree. 
We then made our way to Superstore, and even though we were worried there was going to be a limited amount of food due to the pandemic, we were happily pleased with the stock on the shelves. Superstore is where I bought the rest of my essentials: mr. noodles, oatmeal, macaroni, canned mixed vegetables, soup, eggs, cheese, and bananas. Originally, I did buy apples from here but I decided to remove them as well, because I wanted to keep my budget amount under $21. I ended up spending $14.24 at Superstore.
At the end of the day, I spent a a total of $20.55 on food for the week. During the shopping I was quite stressed an overwhelmed but my mom and I tried to rationalize the best choice in foods, and I am happy with what I ended up with. While shopping I quickly realized that I could not buy what I wanted, but what I could afford. For instance, I wanted to buy hummus for my crackers, as this is a lunch that I often have, but it came to just over $3 which resulted in me having to put it back on the shelf. Nonetheless, I was still somewhat surprised with the amount of food I got for this amount; especially because I easily spend $20 on one meal at a restaurant, let alone food for the whole week. 
I also found it quite interesting that I did not get any fresh vegetables or fruits (other than bananas), because they are much more expensive compared to the packaged and processed foods. This leads me to understand why the low-income population are at greatest risk for developing diet related health conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, as most of the foods I could afford are not healthy or nutritious (Daniel, 2020). With healthier foods having higher prices, this keeps shoppers from buying these nutrient filled foods such as fresh produce and fish, meats, and nuts (Daniel, 2020). For many families of the low-income population, affordability of foods is often based on whether or not it will last until the next source of income received, which is usually monthly (Daniel, 2020). 
This week will be challenging for me because I feel as though I am so adapted to the easiness and accessibility of walking into the pantry or fridge and having the option to eat a variety of foods; compared to now only having a few options to choose from. I have a bad habit of buying Tim Hortons or Starbucks whenever I am out and about, but being stuck inside during this quarantine might come to my advantage! I am a bit uneasy and unexcited to eat these bland choice of foods; however, I am encouraged to experience and relate to what others below the poverty line endure in regards to food and nutrition. I think this challenge will be a very eye opening experience for me (the shopping portion already has been) and I am happy to be able to document it along the way!
Reference
Daniel, C. (2020). Is healthy eating too expensive?: How low-income parents evaluate the cost of food. Social Science & Medicine, 248. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.ardc.talonline.ca/loginurl=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=142004871
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puppyexpressions · 4 years
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Pet Euthanasia: When Is it Time to Let Go?
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One of the most difficult decisions any pet owner is faced with is knowing when to let go. Choosing the right time to euthanize your beloved fur-baby is never an easy one, but it’s unfortunately a necessary part of life, however heart-wrenching it may be.
Although there are a number of factors to consider carefully before going through the process, it’s important to remember first and foremost that you love your pet dearly, and putting your dog or cat to sleep when he or she is too sick to maintain a healthy and happy existence is the most humane and responsible thing you can do, even though it may not feel like it at the time.
Pet euthanasia is an extremely sensitive subject, and a personal decision that must come from within you. Although your veterinarian knows your pet’s overall health and what may be best for them, they will respect that it’s ultimately your decision to elect euthanasia as a last resort.
Putting your cat or dog’s welfare above your own happiness is one of the most selfless things you can do, because in the end, you’re preventing them from needless suffering. Below is a list of questions you may wish to ask yourself when considering this life-altering choice:
Is your pet terminally ill? When you schedule an appointment with your vet, be sure to ask him or her what to expect, and ask yourself if you’re prepared for the next phases of treatment or actions.
Are you able to afford adequate treatment, medications and/or operations? Although we cannot put a price on our pet’s unconditional love and friendship, end-of-life costs can be extremely expensive and can complicate the grieving process with the additional stress of debt.
Does your pet still have an appetite? A sharp decrease in appetite is a tell-tale sign that your dog or cat is nearing the end of his/her life.
Has your dog or cat lost his/her bodily functions? If your pet is experiencing any or all of the following, s/he is experiencing a very poor quality of life:
Is it possible that additional treatment will improve your pet’s quality of life, or simply maintain his current condition? If the latter, you will want to give his prognosis some thorough consideration.
Consider your pet’s best interest: If you’re extending your cat or dog’s life simply because you’re grappling with the sadness of saying goodbye, it is important to remember what the humane choice is, even though it may be a painful one.
Chronic pain
Frequent vomiting or diarrhea that is causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss.
Pet has stopped eating or will only eat if force fed
Incontinence to the degree that s/he frequently has accidents
Lack of interest in favorite activities (such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats, or receiving affection from family members)
Unable to stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk; incapable of climbing stairs
Chronic labored breathing or coughing
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Searching for Answers: Knowing When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
While some dogs and cats pass away peacefully in their sleep, more often than not, pet parents will come to the realization that their four-legged friend is no longer enjoying the joys of life they once knew – and it’s up to us to make the right decision.
Our responsibility to our pets includes keeping them comfortable as they age, providing them with protection against pain and suffering, particularly if they develop serious health conditions or terminal illnesses. Despite the fact that modern veterinary practices have flourished in the past several decades, it’s not always in your pet’s best interest to prolong his or her life. So how do we know when it’s time to say goodbye?
Here are some thoughts, actions and contemplations pet owners may go through before making their final decision concerning the welfare of their beloved cat or dog:
Look for signs
Oftentimes, pet parents know when their dog or cat is approaching their last days – the bond you’ve shared with your cherished family member gives you an innate understanding of their behavior. Whether it’s a lack of appetite, an inability to stand up, or hiding out of sight, there are certain signs your pet will display to indicate the imminent future.
If you see that your pet is experiencing a drastically diminished quality of life, euthanasia may be the most merciful and dignified action you can provide to protect them from further suffering.
Consulting family and friends
It can be comforting to seek the support system available through your family and closest friends – asking your relatives for advice is a natural reaction when you’re not sure what to do. Sometimes we simply need a heart-to-heart conversation with loved ones to lead us in the right direction.
Going with your gut
Many pet owners get a gut feeling that it’s time to make that fateful trip to the vet. Although taking the moral high road can be a painful emotional journey, you’ll know in your heart you are doing the right thing.
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Getting a second opinion
You’re also entitled to a second opinion – if you find yourself on the fence or in disagreement with your family vet’s advice, you may wish to visit another office to help clarify your decision-making process.
When you’ve reached a breaking point
At some point, you may find that it’s become too painful to watch your pet suffer and realize you have the power to help end your pet’s misery. Although we arrive at this phase after attempting every possible form of treatment, you will feel a sense of relief knowing your beloved pet will no longer suffer.
Circumstances beyond our control
Sometimes, we may find ourselves in situations where the decisions in life are made for us, even though they may not be of our choosing or preference. In crisis scenarios – such as your pet’s operation revealing the cancer is in its final stages – we are forced to choose the most humane course of action.
Coming to terms with the inevitable
Once you have come to terms that your pet’s quality of life is declining and that you have the power to provide him with an act of mercy, it’s okay to embrace all of the emotions that come with your decision – euthanasia can be a relief to both you and your pet, because your dog or cat will no longer be in pain.
Preventing additional pain and suffering
When you realize that no matter what you do to alleviate your pet’s suffering, they’ll still be in pain and misery, it becomes a bit easier to accept euthanasia as the best option. Waiting until your dog or cat is completely incapacitated is far worse than taking a humane approach and letting them go with dignity and grace.
Ask your vet
For those who have established a good rapport with their veterinarian, it’s common for pet owners to ask them for their personal opinion – not just a medical recommendation, but actually asking them point-blank, “What would you do if you were in my shoes?” Nearly every vet has had similar experiences with other pet parents, so don’t be afraid to be candid if you feel it will help to have a conversation with them.
Additional Factors to Consider: Keeping Your Pet’s Best Interest in Mind
As is the case with any life-altering decision, there are many factors to be taken into consideration when coping with the possibility of euthanasia. In some instances, you may be part of a couple where one partner is having a more difficult time than the other at ‘letting go’. In this scenario, it’s essential to have a calm and rational conversation to decide what’s the most humane choice for your pet.
When looking to your vet for guidance concerning your pet’s future, it’s important to remember that although vets are trained to save lives, they can only make certain decisions with your consent. When your pet’s health is beyond saving, you will know what the right decision is – don’t be pressured to put your pet to sleep if you believe your cat or dog still has some good years left.
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However, be vigilant when weighing the pros and cons regarding your pet’s overall quality of life, and base your decision on that alone. Even if you can afford treatments to extend your fur baby’s life, ask yourself if it’s truly in his or her best interest.
Some people may ask the question, “Am I playing God by choosing euthanasia?” Although that is a moral question that is subjective to your personal belief system, providing medical treatment to save your animal’s life may be viewed the same way – so you’ll want to give this decision some heavy contemplation. Because you may choose to be present when your pet passes so that he’s not alone, consider your reaction – if you’re unable to remain calm, you will spare your cat or dog additional trauma by remaining in the waiting room.
Don’t forget this simple fact: your pets live in the moment. Unlike our predisposition to reflect on the past or anticipate the future, your cat or dog is enjoying the present – and with that said, if they’re not happily ‘living in the now’, it’s important to assess their quality of life. Since our pets are unable to verbally tell us how they’re feeling, it’s essential to pay attention to their body language. If you know your pet is ill and notice their condition is steadily growing worse, be mindful of their behavior.
One of the surest rules of thumb to determine their overall well-being is to write down their five favorite things – whether it’s socializing with other animals, eating, or going for a walk, if your pet is no longer enjoying his or her favorite pastimes, you may want to consider talking to your vet and seeing if euthanasia is a merciful option.
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In addition, keep track of their routine – take notes to see how many ‘good’ days versus ‘bad’ days your cat or dog has over the course of a few weeks. If the bad days outweigh the good ones, you should have a fairly clear indication as to the next steps for your pet.
Once you have made your decision, be sure that all family members have a chance to say goodbye to your pet before the procedure takes place. For families with young children, gently explain what is happening and prepare them for the loss of your pet. Since it may be your child’s first experience with death, it’s important to assist them through the grieving process. There are many children’s books available to open up a dialogue and help your child cope when dealing with this difficult subject.
Most of all, keep in mind that every situation is different – what may work for one pet family may not be feasible for yours. In the end, it’s up to you to trust your instincts, consult with your veterinarian, talk to loved ones, and do your research before arriving at your decision.
Although you’re losing a member of your family, administering euthanasia to terminally ill pets is actually a gift of sorts – by providing a peaceful passing for your cat or dog, you’re honoring the life you shared together and respecting that life by removing additional pain and suffering.
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knowfromme-blog · 4 years
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5 Paid Life & Money Apps That Are Actually Worth The Money
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Not too long ago, I wrote an article for TFD all about the fabulous free apps that attend me manage my health. And while I try to be as frugal as possible when using mobile apps, there are a select few that I’ve found really enact warrant the price tag. 
Here’s my breakdown of which ones made the slice:
1. Buddhify ($4.99; one-time purchase) Buddhify is a really glowing meditation app. It was recommended to me by a facilitator of a DBT skills group I took last year, and I’m so gay that I found it. It’s pretty unique in its layout — the way you pick a meditation is via its Wheel. There are 12 different options on the multi-colored wheel, with topics like Meditation 101, Stress & Difficult Emotion, Traveling, Going to Sleep, etc.  To be honest, I had a bit of a learning curve with this layout — I wasn’t used to categorizing the type of meditation I wanted before playing it. But once I got the hang of it, the process totally changed the way I meditate. Now, before meditating via Buddhify, I pause to consider what exactly I’m trying to accept out of my practice: enact I need something short to pass the time while on the train? Am I feeling stressed and need to find a way to unexcited down?  Taking the time to ask such questions allows me to maximize the benefits of my practice — I can choose the perfect recording for any moment. After a while, you’ll find your preferred tracks, which you can “Favorite” and save for easy reference. I particularly be pleased the Traveling and Walking tracks, which offer meditations specifically designed to be used on the disappear. I’ve yet to find another meditation app with such multi-purpose tracks.  I also really appreciate the fact that Buddhify is a quality app, but only asks for a one-time payment. Other, more expensive apps (i.e. Headspace) charge on a subscription-based model, which adds up over time. I like that I only had to invest $6.99 (CAD) up-front and can continue using the app for years to advance.  2. DailyPocket, formerly DailyPay ($5.99 premium version; one-time purchase) DailyPocket is a budgeting app that I’ve mentioned in TFD articles before. Although I employ many tools — such as my bank’s mobile app, or even Mint — to accept overviews of my spending habits, this itsy-bitsy app has served me well. Its premium version is 100% worth its weight in gold.  The concept is fabulous: you set a weekly budget, personalize a list of spending categories, and manually enter your purchases as you disappear. Then, the app calculates handy numbers — like how many days are left in the week, how much money you should spend each day to stay within your weekly budget, and what percentage of your weekly budget you’ve spent so far. You can also see visual breakdowns of your spending in the form of pie charts.  I’m not very wonderful at math (or spreadsheets), so this app does a lot of the work for me. I treasure being able to see exactly how much money I can spend for the rest of the week — it takes the guesswork out of budgeting. It kind of blends the process of manually entering expenses into a spreadsheet or journal, but combines that with the convenience of digital tools. I like to employ this app mainly for my weekly disposable income, and I employ other means to calculate larger figures (like my monthly savings, debt repayment, etc.). Again, this app only requires a one-time purchase, which makes its cost-per-employ very, very low. 3. The modern York Times Digital Access ($4 per month currently; promotional rate) When I first tried quitting social media for wonderful, I realized that there was a gap in my daily routine — I had been using Facebook to sustain up with a lot of daily news, from pages I’d followed and friends’ written posts. Without that constant stream of information, I needed a solid way to sustain up with current events.  Personally, I be pleased reading The modern York Times for the bulk of my news. I like the fact that it includes plenty of progressive ideas, but also has a healthy dose of conservative viewpoints. Even though I’m very left-wing in my beliefs, I find it useful to hear opposing perspectives in order to challenge my own ideas and understand their counter-points. I got a promotional offer that allows me to pay $4 per month for digital access, which has been totally worth it. Reading the NYT truly enriches my life, allowing me to sustain up with the news while also enjoying some leisure reading. If you’re trying to limit your social media usage, I’d definitely recommend trying this strategy out — find a reputable news source that you genuinely be pleased reading, and purchase a subscription (bonus points if you can find a promotional rate, which most publications will offer to modern readers!).  In the age of information overload, it can be refreshing to sit down and read wonderful journalism, instead of just scrolling through social media and taking in a haphazard selection of posts (most of which are probably not fact-checked). 4. QuickBooks Self-Employed ($7 per month currently; promotional rate) If you’re a freelancer or otherwise self-employed, I’m sure that you can sympathize with the hassle that is organizing your books and tax documents. There are many upsides to working for yourself, but having to prepare all of your famous financial documents is not one of them. When I first started freelancing, I found that I was getting indolent with record-keeping, which often meant that I was missing out on claiming real business expenses at the halt of the year. So, I ended up purchasing a subscription to QuickBooks Self-Employed (the Canadian edition), and it has been a valid lifesaver. It’s allowed me to sustain track of my accounting, book-keeping, and tax preparation pretty much on autopilot. I simply link my bank accounts/credit cards, etc., and the program automatically imports all of my transactions, which I can then brand as Business or Personal (I am a sole proprietorship, so this helps sustain things separate). I can also import images of receipts for cash transactions — the app then automatically reads the info and imports the data.  This software lets me enjoy a clear overview of my total net income per month, year, etc., and easily organizes all of my tax documents for the halt of the year. There are other options out there — like hiring an accountant or tax professional, or doing everything manually — but for me, this is what works best, and it is cost-effective. The app allows me to stay organized, and to avoid the hassle of doing lots of math (this seems to be a theme in my life), so the monthly price-tag is worth it. 5. Spotify Premium — Family ($4.99 per month; $14.99 price split three ways with family members) Lastly, I enact pay for Spotify Premium. My family members and I split this between the three of us, so we each contribute $4.99 per month. While Spotify isn’t the most novel service, it does enrich my life. I’ve tried free music apps, and I’ve also used the media apps offered through my public library, but they simply aren’t comprehensive or user-friendly enough for my needs. Shelling out the $4.99 is worth it to me, as a former musician who does really appreciate the act of listening to wonderful music. It adds a lot of joy to my days, allowing me to rock out in the shower, in my room, or even with headphones on the bus. And I like the offline mode, which saves me data charges on my phone bill. You could certainly trim this app from your budget if you were really trying to save, but at this point in my life, the subscription fee is manageable and seems reasonable for the enjoyment I accept out of it on a daily basis. Sometimes the itsy-bitsy pleasures in life really are worthwhile. What are your favorite paid apps? enjoy you slice certain ones from your budget, or added others? Let us know in the comments. Mercedes Killeen is a Toronto-based professional author and editor. You can purchase her book of poetry, tulips, at greyborders.com and order her freelance services at fiverr.com/killeenm. Image via Unsplash Like this narrative? Follow The Financial Diet on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily tips and inspiration, and sign up for our email newsletter here.
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imagine-loki · 6 years
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Mitigating Circumstances, Chapter 7
TITLE: Mitigating Circumstances
CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 7/? (masterlist | AO3)
AUTHOR: manager-of-mischief
ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine having been Loki’s childhood sweetheart after meeting him at the Royal Academy of Sorcery. Odin had always disapproved of you because you were from a poor village on the outskirts of Asgard. As a result, he sent you away to become a Valkyrie to ensure that the two of you would never marry and destroy the family’s image…
and
Imagine Loki developing feelings for you after initially dismissing you. However, he realizes that it’s too late when you start courting Thor. But is it really too late for him?
RATING: T (will be M eventually)
NOTES/WARNINGS: sensual but sfw
Cathrein was up earlier than usual on Sunday. She didn’t even stop for breakfast before teleporting to the library. Loki was already waiting, impatiently pacing along the aisles of books. He turned to look at Cathrein the moment she arrived.
“There you are.”
“We never agreed on a time,” she said sheepishly.
I wonder how long he’s been waiting.
“I had little to do this morning. Shall we?” he asked, holding out his hand.
She took his hand and nodded. His seidr snaked out from his fingertips and surrounded her as well, wrapping them both in cool, sparkling energy which slowly focused into a teleportation spell. This was the first time he had ever channeled a spell through her, and it was exhilarating. Cathrein closed her eyes and revelled in the energy. For a split second, during the jump from library to city center, the world was just her and Loki, connected as one.
The moment was broken by a wall of sound. Vendors selling various goods, people talking, loud walkers, and rapidfire bargaining all combined into the sound of the city. She opened her eyes slowly and took in the city. The palace loomed over the square, seeming infinitely tall and impossibly grand. There were more people in this one square than the entire population of Illisk. Cathrein had never even seen ten gold coins in one place, but everything cost at least twice that. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Loki’s hand.
“Welcome to the main square,” he declared. “This is the epicenter of Asgard’s trade.”
Cathrein was more focused on the fact that Loki was still channeling another spell through her, this time a shapeshifting spell. Because they were both enveloped in the shift, they saw each other in their usual forms, but to every outsider they were just two middle-class merchants strolling through a market. The street seemed infinitely long, and every stall had something different to offer. The morning slipped by without either of them noticing. Somewhere between the potions stall and the dagger stall, Cathrein’s stomach growled. It was practically lunchtime already, and she hadn’t eaten since the previous night’s dinner. The smell of food wafting through the air didn’t help.
“Hungry?” Loki asked with a smirk.
“Yes.”
Why am I suddenly nervous?
He smirked and said, “Me too. What would you like?” He swept his free arm across the market in a gesture to indicate that nothing was off limits.
“Anything this expensive must be good,” she replied, noting the prices listed on every stall. “You choose.”
“That’s what bargaining is for,” he explained, walking up to a seafood vendor.
“A shrimp skewer, a large piece of salmon, and half a dozen clams, please,” he told the vendor in a picture of confidence.
“That’ll be sixty gold coins,” came the gruff response.
Cathrein felt a flicker in the shapeshifting spell and realized that Loki had exposed his princely appearance to the vendor.
“I would ask that you reconsider your offer.” His voice had dropped into a lower register, and every word was dripping with power. It sent shivers up Cathrein’s spine.
“Of course,” the vendor replied, looking down. “Fifteen gold coins, your majesty. That’s all I can do without losing my livelihood.”
Loki wordlessly handed over the requested amount and left with a basket of fresh seafood. Cathrein eagerly lifted the cloth covering the food and looked at it. Illisk was a landlocked town, which meant that seafood was rare and incredibly expensive.
Smells good, looks strange.
“I assure you it is both safe and delicious,” he said, reading her apprehension, “but if you prefer, that stall sells bilgesnipe.”
“I trust you, but I’m curious as to what expensive bilgesnipe is like.”
When they neared the stall, they could see that there was small text under the large “Roasted Bilgesnipe For Sale” sign that read “Sourced from Illisk.” They gave each other a knowing look.
“Where in Illisk is your meat from?” Cathrein inquired, curiosity getting the better of her.
“It’s artisanally hunted bilgesnipe from a very small shop called Raolon Teronia Exotic Meats. They have a very limited supply of the fattiest bilgesnipe. It’s excellent for roasting. Most of what they catch goes directly to the palace kitchen, and we get what little is left,” the vendor explained.
Cathrein broke down into tears of laughter, Loki chuckled along, and the vendor stared at them both, completely confused. They ended up ordering one portion and adding it to their basket.
I have to write a letter home. It seems the family business has paradoxically improved since I left.
Their food gathering expedition ended after they acquired some fresh roasted fall vegetables from a farmer’s garden stand. Loki then stowed the basket in a pocket to another dimension, just so that they wouldn’t have to carry it wherever they went.
“One last thing,” Loki said, mischief glinting in his eyes. He tightened his grip around Cathrein’s hand and reinforced their shapeshifting spell.
“What?” Cathrein asked as he kept walking at their usual pace.
“This.” A flick of his hand and a spark of seidr later, Loki was holding a bottle of fine Asgardian wine.
“It’s illegal for us to be here, it’s illegal for us to drink, and it’s illegal for you to steal,” she admonished.
“But this’ll be such fun,” he replied. The grin that spread across his face was infective. Cathrein tried to resist, but found herself smiling too. There was something distinctively exciting about breaking the rules with him. He placed the bottle into the same pocket as the basket and led her away from the market.
“We’re walking to our destination?” Cathrein gasped, feigning incredulity. “Where is Loki and what did you do to him?”
“I presume you haven’t seen the ocean before,” he remarked, ignoring her question. She nodded in response.
“We’re walking because I want to,” he said. There was an air of finality in his tone.
Cathrein wasn’t complaining. She could spend an eternity walking through the constantly shifting views and never be bored. The breeze picked up as they neared the ocean, but the warmth of Loki’s seidr intertwined with her own kept her comfortable. There were no words to be exchanged during this journey; they were together but separate, seeing the world in their own way while sharing each other’s company. After about two kilometers, they rounded a corner of the palace faced the Bifrost itself. The rainbow bridge was even more spectacular than Cathrein had imagined, and her mouth fell open in a gape once she registered the sight.
“This is… wow,” was all she could say.
Loki was more focused on her reaction than the bridge itself.
“I can see the Bifrost from my room in the palace,” he explained. “I’ve seen it more times than I can count.”
They stood there for a few moments so Cathrein could fully take in the view, then proceeded to head down the steep almost-cliff that lead to the ocean below. Their destination turned out to be a small cave halfway down to the water. It was isolated and shielded them from the wind. Loki pulled a large green blanket, the basket, and the bottle out of the dimensional pocket and placed them on the ground. The tension and drama of the Academy faded away as Cathrein sat down on the soft blanket, dragging Loki with her. He finally released her hand, breaking the seidr connection between them and cancelling the shapeshifting spell they had shared. They scooted closer to each other to make up for the lost contact.
After a few moments of silence, they both reached for the basket of food. It only after the first bite of bilgesnipe that she remembered how hungry she was. Loki was slightly more dignified about his eating, breaking things off in manageable chunks and placing them delicately in his mouth.
“So,” Loki began, tugging the cork out of the bottle of wine with his seidr, “how was your date with Thor?”
“He invited me to dinner with you and your family, but I’m sure you’re already aware of that,” Cathrein replied with a shrug.
“What?” A flurry of emotions flashed across his face, and she immediately regretted starting with that particular detail.
“I thought you knew,” she replied softly, not knowing what else to say.
“Well then, congratulations, Cathy,” he all but snarled, looking away. “Welcome to the family, sister.”
Everything about this seems wrong.
Cathrein tried to laugh it off and it worked, but only because neither of them dared pursue the topic further. There was another lull in the conversation, during which Loki poured both of them some wine and handed her the shrimp skewer he had been holding. It was alarming how easily he could set his face back into its default smirk and push away the emotions that had surfaced.
Cathrein held up her glass and the skewer, looking back and forth between them. When she saw Loki’s confused face, she explained her dilemma.
“I haven’t tried either of these things and I don’t really know which one to try first.”
“You’ve never tried shrimp?” Loki was incredulous. Cathrein shook her head, blushing slightly.
“Illisk is landlocked. I’d never even seen the ocean until today.”
“Try the wine first, then the shrimp. I selected them as a pairing,” he said.
“Well then.”
Just to annoy him, she dipped the shrimp directly into the glass of wine. Loki immediately responded by casting an impenetrable force field to prevent the two from touching. The look on his face was priceless.
“Never do that again,” he growled. It was the same intimidating voice he had used with the vendor.
I’d do it again just to hear you tell me not to. Norns, what has gotten into me? That didn’t even make sense.
She ultimately decided on the wine first, though it hardly mattered. They were both delicious, and there was enough for more than just one taste of each. The food and wine was gone in what felt like minutes. After a couple glasses of wine, they were beginning to unravel.
“I’ve heard that Amora and Fandral call each other ‘dearest lovebird’ and ‘darling warrior,’” Loki said, trying to keep a straight face.
It wasn’t really that funny, but Cathrein found herself laughing so hard she fell sideways onto Loki.
“Well Thor called me ‘darling’ yesterday,” she said, having completely forgotten the fact that the date was an off-limits topic.
“Did you know that ‘darling’ is actually derived from an old Midgardian word for ‘minion?’” he asked. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“No, it does not,” she agreed.
“‘Cathy’ doesn’t suit you either. It’s a rather ladylike name and you are anything but.”
Cathrein responded with a lazy shove, made weaker by the influence of the alcohol.
“Well then, since you’re so enlightened, what should I be called?” she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.
He thought for a moment.
“Reina,” he declared his expression softening. “It means ‘queen’ in a very specific region in Midgard. And you will be a queen, Reina.”
She pulled her head off of his shoulder to look him square in the face.
There’s probably some reason why I shouldn’t say what I’m going to say next, but who cares?
“I hope you get the throne,” she whispered, leaning toward him.
I should really stop leaning before I do something I’ll regret.
She didn’t stop, but neither of them felt any regret when their lips touched.
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kagemane · 5 years
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When we talk about how poor the American healthcare system is, many of our first thoughts are to those who cannot afford any type of insurance, and while that is a huge deal and definitely needs to be addressed, I want to talk about the people who do have insurance but still cannot afford to get health care.
I have insurance through my employer. Every week, $32.94 of my paycheck goes toward my insurance. That’s $131.76 a month and $1,712.88 a year. My deductible is $1,350.00 - that means I need to pay $1,350.00 out of pocket before the insurance company will even pay anything toward my health care costs. Which really means, I need to pay $3,062.88 of my own money a year before my insurance company will contribute. 
And what I’m paying for is the most basic package because I cannot afford to pay into something better. This number is solely for a single person, and the weekly payments are fairly low compared to what a lot of other Americans pay toward their insurance. This is for a single person. People with partners or children will see this cost exponentially increase. 
That $1,350.00 deductible will only be chipped away if I see doctors who are in network. Which seems fair enough until you need to see a specialist. Trying to find a good, compatible specialist in network can almost be impossible depending on where you live. Even if you can find someone, that specialist is most likely going to have a rather significant waiting list.
So what do you do? What if you absolutely need to see someone right away?
You can:
Wait to see that specialist who is in network and hope nothing gets worse - but you could still need to pay them out of pocket anyway if your deductible has not been met
Find a specialist who is out of network and definitely pay out of pocket, though you probably cannot afford it and could now be looking into serious medical debt if they will even see you
Go to urgent care, wait for hours, and hope it’s something they may be able to assist with - chances are they will refer you to a specialist anyway
Just don’t go anywhere and continue on with whatever is wrong until it gets to the point that:
You have go to the ER - definitely accruing medical debt or
You die.
While I appreciate what former President Obama was trying to accomplish with making it mandatory for everyone to have healthcare, he was unable to implement it in the way that it needed to be implemented. That was not completely his fault - the push back from the Republicans is what really created this bastardized version of “universal healthcare” we have today. 
Right now, you are penalized every year if you do not have insurance. In 2017, it was 2.5% of your annual income - it’s expected to increase for 2018. This penalty could equate to less than what you pay if you have insurance, but you’re expected to pay this in whole come tax time - an extra expense most people cannot afford.
Due to the greed of the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and corporations as a whole, many Americans are paying into healthcare they cannot actually use. They cannot afford the out of cost price to even get through their deductible, so they either end up in further debt or continue to exist with whatever ails them. 
As of 12/12/18, here is a breakdown of moderate to severe mental and physical issues I cannot completely afford to take care of due to high deductibles or no coverage at all:
CTSD (continuous traumatic stress disorder)
Depression, anxiety, and disordered eating 
Chronic fatigue - has been getting considerably worse over the past few months to the point I’ve been sleeping 12+ hours on my days off and sometimes oversleeping on days I do work
Wisdom teeth removal
Tooth decay - I am completely dependent on sensitivity toothpaste at this time and even then I still have moderate discomfort
Bone spurs/calcium build up/loss of movement in my right shoulder - this happened to my left shoulder as well; the bone spurs caught my tendons and began to rip at them which then caused frozen shoulder
Hand pain/arthritis
Constant nausea - most food causes me to feel like I’m going to vomit, even when I don’t eat I feel mildly nauseous
Fevers when I start my period
Intermittent pain/bleeding during intercourse
Literally a growth in my uterus that I need a biopsy on 
Due to other life expenses and debt - mostly caused by medical reasons - I cannot afford to get treatment on all of these issues in a timely manner. I’ve been prioritizing my mental health, which means my physical health will have to continue to deteriorate until I’m in a more mentally secure place. 
I could actually have uterine cancer - cancer has been the cause of death for practically everyone on my father’s side of the family - yet I cannot afford to follow up on it because I have suicidal tendencies and may literally kill myself if I don’t continue mental health therapy. It hurts my teeth and makes me nauseous to eat, I’m constantly tired, and my right shoulder has been dramatically losing it’s range of motion...but the only thing I can do at this time is take care of my mental trauma so I can stay alive. 
To make matters even more fun, my counselor isn’t even in network so my visits are not reducing my deductible at all, but she’s been the only effective therapist for me. We should not have a system where I need to choose between a good fit therapist or someone who will be cheaper yet not help me in the long run. We should not have a system where someone has to chose between dying due to their mental health or dying due to not being able to follow up on their physical health. 
The point in me sharing my health concerns is not to throw a pity party, I can manage, but because it’s so common place in America right now that what I’m saying is probably relatable for far too many people. It’s probably even laughable to people who are going through much worse situations. The point is, this is common right now due to our current healthcare system and it’s absolutely disgusting. And if you don’t believe that this is “normal”, ask people you know when the last time they even had a standard check up was; don’t ask your well off friends or friends who have good insurance, ask your “average” friends. 
So if the employer based insurance can be so awful, why not get private insurance instead?
To be frank, private health insurance is completely unaffordable for most Americans. Just a quick search on Google states that for a single payer, the average cost is $440 a month for private insurance in 2018. That’s more than double what I pay with my employer based insurance. While the coverage and benefits may be better, it’s not an expense that is feasible for most Americans. 
Additionally, not everyone will qualify for the ACA. Even if you do, you’re going to find it is mostly those high deductible plans as mentioned before. Their monthly cost may be lower than the other private insurance, but you’re still in the same situation where you may not be able to pay through the deductible which means little to no medical visits. 
So why not find a job with better insurance or go to school to get a job to afford better insurance?
Both of those are completely unrealistic solutions. 
First, just up and finding another job is not an easy task. It takes time to fully look into companies, apply, interview, and even then you probably won’t get the job. Most companies will not disclose to you what their health insurance plan is either; they will tell you they offer it but not if it’s a high deductible plan or a copay plan. Additionally, most corporations do not even offer copay plans to their standard employees anymore as they are more pricey for the company overall.
Starting college so you can “get a better job” is not something everyone can do. It does not matter if you’re going for a trade or a degree, college takes time and money to complete. Not everyone has that time, energy, or the financial ability to do so - especially if you’re already dealing with debt and mental and physical issues.
It’s incredibly ableist to assume people can “just go back” to college or trade school. Nor is it a good mindset that only certain people should be able to get health care, that it’s something to be “earned”, when we as a whole society have the means to provide for everybody. 
The government absolutely needs to get more involved with what they allow corporations and insurance companies to get away with when it comes to healthcare. Healthcare should absolutely not be a commodity, it should absolutely not be a business, it has to be a basic human right. 
We allow these insurance companies to make these ridiculous packages where they may never even have to pay a single cent of their own money to most of their subscribers. The corporations have the choice between spending more on their employees and offering the actual good insurance people can use or they can cut corners and costs and offer their employees the high deductible plans instead. Both of these statements are crazy on their own, but combined it creates a cataclysm in society where the life expectancy is literally going down for the first time in history because people cannot afford to get the treatments that they need.
It’s 2018, almost 2019, that is so unbelievably messed up that I find it hard to wrap my mind around it. We absolutely have the means to take care of one another, to create a healthcare system that is not made to create profit but to help each other instead. That’s the whole point of society. We have created these large communities to help one another, not use one another for material greed - yet saying otherwise is considered “revolutionary” and that’s completely unacceptable. 
There is no logical reason we allow this to continue. There is no emotional reason we allow this to continue. There is no reason at all for us to allow others to suffer when we have the means to contribute and take care of others who need it, whether that be with healthcare, food, shelter, or otherwise.
Capitalism is a disease which has unfortunately infected a vast amount of people in America and elsewhere. There are people who legitimately believe that food, water, shelter, and health are things to be earned and things to make profits from. Resources that are essential to survival should never be seen as a way to make money. 
Humans do no exist for profit - no life should exist for profit. 
This mindset of “us against them” or if another human-being “deserves” human rights needs to be 100% destroyed. Our planet is literally dying, our animals are literally dying, and our fellow humans are literally dying in this toxic, capitalist system we have created. The planet and ourselves cannot be sustained in this type of society. 
A select few people are murdering us so they can continue to hoard their wealth and pit the rest of us against each other. We are in much larger numbers than them and we have the ability to make meaningful changes - we need to do so. 
We need to stop being silent when we see injustice and let these people know we will not tolerate this decay any longer. Our future sincerely depends on this. 
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Emotional Intelligence Ch1 (SS:BH Pt1)
You can find this entire series here on AO3. This chapter is here.
Fandom: Sanders Sides (Web Series) and Detroit: Become Human (Video Game)
Fic Description: Logan was a genius. Everyone said so. He was also the most self sufficient 12-year-old you would ever meet, and he was very happy with that--thank you very much. If there was one thing he did not want, it was an android. Thankfully, things don't quite go his way.
(This is the first installment in a 5-part series. I expect 3 chapters currently.)
Warnings: ‘benign’ neglect, trouble with emotions, and misgendering? (it vs he)
Chapter word count:  3,597
Headcanon post, master list, next chapter. Please read and let me know what you think and if you want to be tagged @rebaobsessivelywrites or @reba-andthesides.
A/N: This went a LOT faster than I expected. I have over 2,000 words of the next chapter done too ^.^
Logan Sanders was a genius. That was not a boast, just a simple statement of fact. Logan himself had never stated the fact, but he had heard it more times than he could count. His parents, his teachers, his classmates and peers—they all commented on his intelligence, in one form or another. It was obvious to him that it was true, but sometimes he wished they’d stop. Especially the children. Over time he had become desensitized to all forms of the observation, but it had been difficult in the beginning, when he began to skip grades.
He was now, at the age of 12, enrolled in the equivalent coursework of a junior in high school, although he was ‘homeschooled’. That term was rather insufficient, considering he was mostly self-taught, but it was as honest as his parents would allow. He had no problem with that, however; if he told the truth, other adults would panic about supervision and guidance and proper care… and that simply would not do. He was, for all intents and purposes, already an adult himself and wanted nothing to do with the constraints normally placed upon children his age.
Logan was self-sufficient. He got up on his own, obtained his own sustenance, dictated his own schedule, kept his room tidy, and ensured his laundry and trash were placed in the proper locations on the designated days. As long as he told his mother’s assistant where he was when he left the house, he was left to his own devices. It was a suitable arrangement. He may be more isolated than the average 12-year-old, but his autonomy was far more valuable than fleeting childish connections. After all, he could clearly remember what it was like before his parents pulled him from the traditional education system. It had been a… displeasing experience, and one he would prefer to avoid repeating.
So, he went about is business, comfortable in his routine and isolation, uncaring of his parents’ absence or the strangely empty feeling that would follow him through the empty hallways in his luxurious family home. (It was simply quiet— peaceful. That was the only logical conclusion.) He was content. That was all that mattered.
But now, out of the blue, his parents were suddenly no longer satisfied leaving him to himself. He was getting a babysitter. Sure, it was an android, not an actual person who could risk his precious freedom, but it was infuriating all the same. Now, of course that’s not what they told him. They were buying him an “assistant” to help him “manage” his studies and daily life… but it was a babysitter. A machine meant to cater to his every need. He didn’t want that! He could do it himself, hadn’t he already proved that?
Logan could remember when he had first heard about androids. He had been around five years old when he picked up a stray technology magazine and read about the extraordinary RT600, a humanoid android that had publicly passed the Turing Test, proving an extraordinary capability to mimic human conversation. Following that discovery, Logan had idolized the inventor Elijah Kamski and obsessed over biomechanics for years, carefully following the development of CyberLife’s groundbreaking technology, starting with the release of the first commercial model, the ST200. The world was blown away, hundreds sold despite the model’s staggering price, and Logan was thrilled to occasionally see a humanoid machine with a LED glowing blue on their right temple. Over time, sightings became more and more common. By 2027, just after Logan turned nine, CyberLife had streamlined their android production and released the JB100; it cost a fraction of previous models, dropping to only four figures. Sales skyrocketed, and it became more common to see the extraordinary machines on the streets with their owners.
The company had only improved in the three years since, adding features and dropping prices constantly. Sales continued to increase and androids became analogous to cars (expensive but extremely useful) throughout the city of Detroit and (Logan presumed) the world. Logan found every new model and feature extraordinary and awe-inspiring. When his father bought a secretary android a few months before his twelfth birthday, he had been fascinated to examine it and admire the craftsmanship and remarkable programing.
That did not, however, mean that he wanted one!
Logan valued his independence. He liked doing mundane tasks and taking care of himself. It proved that he was more than just a brain, that he was capable and functional despite his obvious lack of social aptitude. He ran his own life and he was good at it. An android was meant to care for it’s owner, handling tasks like cooking, cleaning, and scheduling so the human could “get more out of life.” Logan loved technology, but having a personal android went against everything he wanted.
He found, as he descended the elegant darkly stained wood staircase in his house’s entryway, that he felt like he was going to the slaughter. The decision had been made before he had even been told about it and no matter what argument he presented, his parents had insisted. And now his android was here, and his parents were officially killing his independence.
“Logan!” his mother’s excited voice cut through his somber reflection as he stepped into the entryway itself, the soft carpet giving beneath his shoes. She was standing next to a human-sized box and an exhausted looking uniformed technician, her eyes gleaming, “Come on, lets get it activated for you!”
Logan cautiously approached the pair, giving his mother a strained smile before resituating his glasses and pasting an expression that hopefully passed for friendly. “Salutations,” he turned to the technician and attempted to hide his displeasure at the situation, “Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come here in person.”
The haggard looking man gave him a wry smile, “Not a problem, kid, it’s part of the job.” Before Logan could decide if he should take offence at the term, he turned to pop open the box, “This will only take a few moments, and I’ll get out of your hair so you can enjoy your new toy.”
Staring at the back of the man’s head, Logan felt his lips twitch downward into a frown. Androids weren’t toys. They were efficient, cutting-edge, and extraordinary machines. He found himself almost disturbed at the implication— that this man had activated androids for children who intended to use them as toys. His inner inventor was downright offended! His brows furrowed and his frown deepened slightly as the technician unwrapped the android, muttering something under his breath, but Logan instantly realized his mistake; he caught his mother giving him a sharp look out of the corner of his eye and quickly pasted a smile back onto his face before the man turned around.
“Alright, this’ll only take a few moments,” the technician moved back so that he was even with both Logan and his mother, before turning back towards the android. It was of average height with light mousy brown hair about two inches long and one of the more standard face shapes for caretaker androids, however it’s skin module was obviously special order— it was a light tone, slightly tanned, covered in hundreds of freckles. Logan couldn’t help but feel slightly betrayed by his mother; she knew that he had wanted freckles when he was younger. His own skin tone had always been horribly pale, certainly not aided by his dislike of outdoor activities, and he hated how it contrasted with his stark black hair.
“HK400, confirm voice recognition,” the man commanded, breaking through Logan’s thoughts.
The android’s eyes flicked open, revealing eyes just as startlingly blue as the LED on its right temple. It blinked once, twice, “Voice recognition confirmed.”
“Good. HK400, perform a system check.”
Its LED indicator flashed blue, indicating rapid mental processing, before it gave a bright smile—its first facial expression—and happily announced, “Everything is working perfectly.”
The technician gave a small smile, and glanced at Logan, “You have a name for it, kid?” Logan, caught completely off guard, wasn’t certain what look he had on his face, but it must have been answer enough because the tech simply gave him an amused look and turned back to the bot, “HK400, postpone name identification.”
The android nodded, the picture of geniality, “I am HK400.”
“Alright, HK400, these are your owners, Sarah and Logan Sanders. Understood?” the technician gestured towards his captive audience. Logan’s mother smiled warmly at the man, but Logan himself was transfixed watching the machine in front on him, his light brown eyes wide and searching.
“Of course!” it beamed, skin stretching in complete realism and accentuating the dusting of dark dots over the bridge of its nose.
Logan tilted his head in fascination, watching as its vibrant blue eyes flicked back and forth, following the movements of the technician and Logan’s mother as they wrapped up business. He became so engrossed in just observing that he didn’t realize the man had left until his mother embraced him unexpectedly from behind, jolting him from his peaceful state of non-thought and causing his spine to go rigid.
“I know you didn’t like the idea when your father and I brought it up… but look at it Logie! Isn’t it amazing?” she gave him a squeeze, “Just imagine everything it’ll do for you!”
Logan desperately inhaled through his nose, swallowing the bitter sensation rising in the back of his throat. For one terrible moment, he was furious beyond belief. He wanted to rip himself out of his mother’s arms, storm up the stairs and slam the door to his room. He wanted to yell and kick and scream until his face was red and his shins were bruised… but he sucked it down. Such impulses were childish and pointless; he was better than that.
He forced a smile back onto his face, refocused his eyes on the android—whose eyebrows were creased as it gazed down at the pair—and turned stiffly to face his mother. She reluctantly let go and smiled warmly in return, before clasping the side of his face (unknowingly setting off another internal struggle as the 12-year-old fought the urge to jerk away) and pushing his glasses back up his nose.
Seemingly satisfied, she straightened, tugging at the bottom of her suit jacket, and turned her attention to the new machine, “HK400, you will take care of Logan, make sure he’s healthy, and do anything he asks.”
It smiled warmly again, “Yes, Mrs. Sanders.”
“Good.” She glanced down at her son, “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
Logan kept the smile on his face until his mother disappeared down the hallway to her office, before sagging. Running a hand over his face, knocking his glasses askew, the 12-year-old turned to peer back up at the android. It was standing exactly where it had been last time he looked, with the exact same expression on its face. It was rather unsettling how statue-like it appeared.
“What can I do to help, Logan?” it asked brightly.
Logan could tell that was going to get old really quickly. “I do everything myself,” he crossed his arms, “I didn’t want an android.”
The HK400 gave him a sympathetic look, “I’m very sorry your parents went against your wishes.”
“It’s not…” he squeezed his eyes shut, “not your fault. Just. Don’t… interfere with my routine or start doing everything for me, alright?”
“Of course, Logan,” it agreed easily, “Just let me know if I overstep your boundaries.”
Logan’s lips twitched downward and his eyes flew open to stare at the machine; he didn’t know what he had expected, but for some reason he hadn’t expected easy agreement. He didn’t know why—it was an android! Of course, it agreed with him. That was what it was programmed to do. But, as he examined the crinkled freckles, brilliant white smile, shining blue eyes and matching LED… he couldn’t fathom why his chest felt heavy.
A week later, Logan was settling into a new routine, one that was not as horrible as he had expected. Yes, he did fewer chores and he rarely obtained his own sustenance, but he had almost double the amount of time to spend studying and exploring avenues of academic interest. It had been wonderful! He was almost complete with his Calculus course and was preparing to start his next math course (Calculus 2).
Although… he could do without the HK400 hovering over him, harping about optimum sleep cycles and hydration and nourishment—he already knew all of that! He just… well, didn’t do as good of a job on his own as he thought. It was just so easy to get lost in his books. It had been strange, at first, having his work flow interrupted unexpectedly for such necessities, but after seven whole days he was almost used to the bot’s presence and was learning to tolerate its more annoying qualities in favor of the benefits it clearly provided.
“Are you lonely?” (Speak of the devil…)
Logan was sitting in one of his favorite spots in the house, perched on a windowsill overlooking the small garden in the backyard, when the voice broke through his thoughts. Caught off guard, he blinked blindly at the book in his hands a few times before glancing up. Standing in the doorway to the room was the HK400 unit, its face crinkled in something that resembled concern and its head tilted curiously to the side. For a moment, Logan was dumb founded at how human it looked, with its vibrant blue eyes almost glowing with emotion. After several seconds, however, where the android stood perfectly unmoving showing no reaction to the lack of response, he was able to shake of the knee-jerk reaction and turn his attention to the question it had asked.
“No,” he finally pronounced, pushing his glasses back into place, “No, I’m not lonely.”
If it was possible, the HK400’s brow creased even farther, its LED changing from blue to yellow, “Are you sure? You’re always alone—over the past week, I haven’t seen you interact with anyone but your parents, and even those interactions have been brief and distant.”
Logan frowned at the concern somehow lacing the android’s voice. “Just because I am alone doesn’t mean I’m lonely,” he explained as firmly as he could. After a beat, the machine’s LED stopped flashing yellow and its face smoothed out slightly. Logan nodded to himself, taking that to mean it would cease its line of questioning, and turned back to his book.
However, it persisted, “Logan, as you know I was made to care for whoever my owner might be. That means I know a bunch when it comes to human health.”
Logan looked back up, a frown once again plastered across his face—both at the strangely colloquial wording and utter bafflement at the android’s goal. “I am aware.” The android shifted under his gaze in manner that seemed… uncomfortable? Logan stared as it lifted a shoulder in an aborted shrug, lips twitching upwards in a half smile he was sure would mean more to him if he knew anything about body language. (And what did it say about him that an android was better than him with the nuances of human expression?)
“Humans need social interaction,” it stated, ignorant to Logan’s internal crisis, “You need social interaction.” Logan wasn’t aware that he had opened his mouth until the HK400 raised a hand as though to stop him. “I know you don’t want to play like other children, but there are other things you can do… and as your caretaker, I have to advise you do something.”
Logan squeezed his eyes shut and heaved a sigh, finally giving in and shutting his book, though he kept his finger in it to mark his place. “Look, I’ll admit I’ve appreciated your assistance more than I anticipated. It has been beneficial to my studies to not be responsible for every meal and chore necessary to sustain my lifestyle, but I stand by the boundaries I gave you a week ago. I do not want you to affect my way of life.”
“And I won’t,” it immediately insisted, LED shining a steady blue, “so long as it doesn’t go against my primary mission—your wellbeing.”
“HK400—”
“A walk,” it interrupted him, “Just once a week, go out into public and at least see other people. Please.”
For a long moment, the room echoed in silence and they stared at each other, human and machine, both attempting to understand the other. Logan’s light brown eyes searched those of his android, finding nothing but honest concern and determination, and he sagged. For that moment, at least, he didn’t care if that emotion was real or merely a feat of programming.
“Fine,” he sighed, setting his book aside, “One walk.” He would humor the android. He could, after all, spare the time now.
The HK400 unit beamed at him, his face and eyes lighting up, “Thank you.”
Logan sat there staring at the doorway for a long time after the android left, attempting to decipher the unanticipated behavior he was witnessing in the machine and resolutely ignoring the bizarre sensation in his chest.
(It felt suspiciously like hope.)
Logan was reasonably certain he had just experienced a perfect day, or at least as perfect as feasibly possible. He had spent his morning reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and several research articles relating to a tangential interest in genetics, before his HK400 unit herded him out of the house for his second weekly walk. Unlike last week, the android insisted he go to the park it recommended, and Logan certainly ended up thankful he had listened; the park was equipped with chess tables and a surprising number of players.
Needless to say, Logan’s walk lasted about three hours longer than planned.
“Well, I’ll be!” Logan’s current opponent leant to offer a hand over the table, “Third time in a row! Well done, ki—” he cut himself off and gave a wry shake of his head, “I mean, Logan.”
After a moment of hesitation, Logan accepted the handshake, “Thank you, Mr. Stokes. It’s been a pleasure.”
The man gave a warm smile, the worn creases around his eyes crinkling, “Likewise.”
“Logan,” a voice that was growing familiar sounded from just behind him, “We might want to head home soon. Dinner is at 6.”
For a second Logan was confused—although the HK400 attempted to keep his meals and sleep on a schedule, it wasn’t typically that strict. As he frowned to himself, the android moved to stand beside him. It had its normal warm smile plastered across its face and its LED was a bright blue that accentuated its eyes in a way that continued to fascinate Logan.
“It’s Friday today,” it prompted helpfully.
Realization and dread swept over him. He had forgotten. His parents were having a dinner party, and he was, of course, required to attend. Their precious little genius. Logan couldn’t help letting out a huge sigh, swiping a hand over his face. Well. There went his perfect day.
“Oh, well I take that to mean you need to get out of here,” Mr. Stokes chuckled a little.
“Yes, that is correct,” Logan muttered, indulging briefly in his frustration before pulling himself together and smiling politely, “Thank you again.”
“No, no, don’t worry about it, kid,” he waved him off, “Like I said, it’s my pleasure. I know I speak for the others when I say you and your tin can are welcome here whenever.”
Logan chose to overlook the demeaning nickname the chess player had let slip and gave him a genuine smile as he stood, Mr. Stokes following his example. They shook hands a final time and Mr. Stokes wandered off to find another partner while Logan set off home with his android. Despite the direction he was headed, Logan couldn’t help smiling. He had enjoyed his day and he wasn’t going to let it be ruined by a dinner.
“Do you think they’ll be here next week?” the HK400 examined him intently from its spot at his side, blue LED flashing.
“Well,” Logan shrugged, his smile growing at the thought of repeating today’s experience, “that’s anybody’s guess.”
The android grinned, “Don’t you mean it’s anybody’s chess?”
“Did you just—” he stopped mid stride and turned to stare at the android.
The HK400 froze, its smile fading slightly and its LED flashing yellow. “I’m sorry, Logan,” it turned back to him, widening its smile again and looking earnest, “what did I do?”
Logan stood there and simply stared up at the machine, examining its face to the best of his meager ability. Ever since it was activated, it seemed different. It kept doing things Logan had no idea androids could do, and it was always so… emotional and expressive and baffling.
And now it was looking at him with an expression so obviously fake that Logan could tell. Well—it helped that its LED was rapidly flashing yellow, but the point was still valid! There was something off in its expression; he wasn’t quite sure what was hidden underneath the false cheer and all too real concern, but it unsettled him.
“Nothing,” Logan shook his head and started walking again, “You didn’t do anything.” Out of the corner of his eye, Logan clearly saw the HK400 sag in relief.
What, exactly, was going on with his android?
A/N: Idk how I like this first bit, but up next are more puns (and dad jokes!) and HK400 gets a name :)
Next Chapter.
I will be reblogging with my taglist on my Sanders Sides specific blog.
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