#top marketing tips and tricks

[timesnewsblog11]

Unleashing the Power of Marketing Tips and Tricks for Success

Effective marketing is essential for fostering growth and success in the cutthroat corporate environment of today. Utilizing cutting-edge tactics and methods is crucial if you want to stand out from the competition and connect with your target audience. We will examine some helpful marketing tips and tricks in this post to assist you in navigating the dynamic world of marketing and achieving your professional objectives.

[how-to-work]

Famous Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for businesses to promote their products and services and for individuals to earn money online. As a result, there are many famous affiliate programs available for people to join. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most well-known affiliate programs and what makes them unique.

Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for businesses to promote their products and services and for individuals to earn money online. As a result, there are many famous affiliate programs available for people to join. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most well-known affiliate programs and what makes them unique.

1. Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is one of the most popular affiliate programs in the world, with thousands of affiliates promoting Amazon products and earning a commission for each sale made through their referral link.

What is Amazon Associates?

Amazon Associates is Amazon’s affiliate marketing program that allows individuals and businesses to promote Amazon products and earn a commission for each sale made through their referral link. As an Amazon Associate, you can promote any product listed on Amazon’s website, including books, electronics, apparel, and more.

How does Amazon Associates work?

To become an Amazon Associate, you need to sign up for the program on Amazon’s website. Once you have signed up, you can start promoting Amazon products by creating custom referral links for each product you want to promote.

When a user clicks on your referral link and makes a purchase on Amazon’s website, you earn a commission for that sale. The commission rates vary depending on the product category and can range from 1% to 10%.

In addition to promoting individual products, Amazon Associates also allows affiliates to promote Amazon’s storefronts, such as Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.co.uk. By promoting Amazon’s storefronts, you can earn a commission on any product the user purchases within 24 hours of clicking on your referral link.

Benefits of Amazon Associates

Huge selection of products

Amazon Associates has a vast selection of products available to promote, with millions of products listed on Amazon’s website. This means you can find products that are relevant to your audience and promote them effectively.

High commission rates

While the commission rates vary depending on the product category, Amazon Associates offers some of the highest commission rates in the industry. For example, the commission rate for luxury beauty products is 10%, which means you can earn a significant commission on high-ticket items.

Trust and reputation

Amazon is one of the most trusted and reputable online retailers in the world, with millions of satisfied customers. By promoting Amazon products, you can leverage Amazon’s trust and reputation to increase conversions and earn a commission.

Easy to use

Amazon Associates is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and easy-to-understand reporting. You can track your earnings, clicks, and conversion rates in real-time, making it easy to optimize your promotions and increase your earnings.

Various promotional tools

Amazon Associates offers various promotional tools, such as banners, widgets, and product links, to help you promote Amazon products effectively. These tools can be customized to match the look and feel of your website and can help increase conversions.

Tips for success with Amazon Associates

Choose the right products to promote

To be successful with Amazon Associates, you need to choose the right products to promote. Look for products that are relevant to your audience and have a high conversion rate. Additionally, consider promoting products that have a high commission rate to maximize your earnings.

Promote Amazon’s storefronts

By promoting Amazon’s storefronts, you can earn a commission on any product the user purchases within 24 hours of clicking on your referral link. This can help increase your earnings and make your promotions more effective.

Use various promotional tools

Amazon Associates offers various promotional tools, such as banners, widgets, and product links. Use these tools to promote Amazon products effectively and make your promotions more appealing to your audience.

Optimize your website for conversions

To increase conversions, you need to optimize your website for conversions. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, has a clear call to action, and is mobile-friendly. Additionally, consider using customer reviews and social proof to increase trust and credibility.

Track your results and optimize

To be successful with Amazon Associates, you need to track your results and optimize your promotions. Use the reporting tools available on Amazon Associates to track your earnings, clicks, and conversion rates. Identify the products that are performing well and the ones that are not. Adjust your promotions accordingly to maximize your earnings.

Follow Amazon’s rules and regulations

As an Amazon Associate, you are required to follow Amazon’s rules and regulations. Make sure you read and understand Amazon’s Operating Agreement and Program Policies. Violating Amazon’s rules can result in termination of your account and forfeiture of your earnings.2. Commission Junction

Commission Junction, also known as CJ Affiliate, is one of the largest affiliate marketing networks in the world. The company was founded in 1998 and has since grown to have over 3,000 advertisers and 70,000 publishers in its network.

What is Commission Junction?

Commission Junction is an affiliate marketing network that connects advertisers with publishers. Advertisers are companies that want to promote their products or services through affiliate marketing, while publishers are individuals or companies that promote those products or services and earn a commission for each sale or lead generated.

Commission Junction provides a platform for advertisers to manage their affiliate program and recruit publishers, and for publishers to find and promote advertisers’ products or services. The company offers a range of tools and features to help both advertisers and publishers optimize their affiliate marketing campaigns.

Advertiser Benefits

Commission Junction offers a range of benefits to advertisers, including:1. Large Network of Publishers Commission Junction has over 70,000 publishers in its network, providing advertisers with access to a large and diverse audience.

2. Advanced Tracking and Reporting Commission Junction provides advanced tracking and reporting tools to help advertisers track their affiliate program performance and optimize their campaigns. 3. Commission Flexibility Commission Junction allows advertisers to set commission rates and terms that work for their business. 4. Fraud Protection Commission Junction has a range of fraud protection measures in place to help advertisers protect their business from fraudulent activity. 5. Dedicated Account Management Commission Junction provides dedicated account management to help advertisers optimize their affiliate program and maximize their ROI.

Publisher Benefits

Commission Junction also offers a range of benefits to publishers, including:Large Selection of Advertisers Commission Junction has over 3,000 advertisers in its network, providing publishers with a large selection of products and services to promote. Advanced Tracking and Reporting Commission Junction provides advanced tracking and reporting tools to help publishers track their performance and optimize their campaigns. Commission Flexibility Commission Junction allows publishers to choose the commission rates and terms that work for them. Wide Range of Promotional Tools Commission Junction provides a range of promotional tools, including text links, banners, and product feeds, to help publishers promote advertisers’ products and services. Dedicated Support Commission Junction provides dedicated support to help publishers optimize their affiliate marketing campaigns and maximize their earnings.

Commission Junction Commission Structure

Commission Junction operates on a cost-per-action (CPA) model, meaning that advertisers only pay publishers when a specific action is taken, such as a sale or lead generated. The commission rates and terms are set by the advertiser and can vary depending on the product or service being promoted. Commission Junction charges a network fee based on a percentage of the commission paid to publishers. The network fee ranges from 20% to 30%, depending on the advertiser and publisher’s performance and the commission structure.

3. ShareASale

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects merchants with affiliates who are interested in promoting their products and earning commissions on sales. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, ShareASale has established itself as a reliable and trusted platform for both merchants and affiliates.

What is ShareASale?

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that was founded in 2000. The platform connects merchants with affiliates who are interested in promoting their products and earning commissions on sales. ShareASale provides a wide range of tools and resources to help merchants and affiliates manage their campaigns, track their performance, and optimize their results. ShareASale offers merchants a way to reach a larger audience and increase sales without having to invest in expensive advertising campaigns. For affiliates, ShareASale provides an opportunity to earn commissions by promoting products they believe in and that are relevant to their audience.

Features of ShareASale

ShareASale offers a range of features and tools that make it easy for merchants and affiliates to manage their campaigns and track their performance. Some of the key features of ShareASale include:

Merchant and Affiliate Sign-Up

Merchants can sign up for ShareASale and create an account to manage their affiliate program. Affiliates can also sign up for ShareASale and search for merchants to promote.

Merchant Product Catalog

ShareASale provides a product catalog for each merchant, which includes information about the products they offer, commission rates, and any promotions or discounts that are available.

Affiliate Links and Banners

ShareASale provides affiliates with unique tracking links and banners that they can use to promote a merchant’s products on their website or social media channels.

Real-Time Reporting

ShareASale offers real-time reporting that allows merchants and affiliates to track their performance and optimize their campaigns based on the data.

Payment Processing

ShareASale handles all payment processing for commissions earned by affiliates, making it easy for both parties to manage payments.

Benefits of ShareASale

There are many benefits to using ShareASale as an affiliate marketing network. Some of the key benefits include:

Wide Range of Merchants

ShareASale has over 4,500 merchants in its network, providing affiliates with a wide range of products and services to promote.

Easy to Use Interface

ShareASale’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for both merchants and affiliates to manage their campaigns and track their performance.

High Commission Rates

ShareASale offers competitive commission rates that can range from 2% to 50% depending on the merchant and product category.

Real-Time Reporting

ShareASale’s real-time reporting allows merchants and affiliates to track their performance and optimize their campaigns based on the data.

Reliable Payment Processing

ShareASale handles all payment processing for commissions earned by affiliates, making it easy for both parties to manage payments.

How to Get Started with ShareASale

Getting started with ShareASale is easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Sign up for ShareASale

Visit ShareASale’s website and click on the “Sign Up” button. You will be asked to provide some basic information about yourself, including your name, email address, and website.

Choose Merchants to Promote

Once you’ve signed up for ShareASale, you can search for merchants to promote. Use the product catalog to find products that are relevant to your audience and that you believe in.

Create Affiliate Links and Banners

Once you’ve chosen a merchant to promote, you can create unique tracking links and banners to use on your website or social media channels.

Promote the Merchant’s Products

Once you’ve created your affiliate links and banners, it’s time to promote the merchant’s products. You can do this by featuring them on your website, writing product reviews, and sharing them on social media.

Track Your Performance

ShareASale’s real-time reporting allows you to track your performance and optimize your campaigns based on the data. You can see how many clicks, conversions, and commissions you’ve earned for each merchant you’re promoting.

Receive Payments

ShareASale handles all payment processing for commissions earned by affiliates. You can choose to receive payments via direct deposit or check.

Famous Merchants on ShareASale

ShareASale has a wide range of merchants in its network, including some of the most famous brands in the world. Here are some of the top merchants on ShareASale:

Wayfair

Wayfair is an online retailer that sells furniture, home decor, and household goods. Affiliates can earn up to 7% commission on sales.

Reebok

Reebok is a leading sportswear brand that sells athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. Affiliates can earn up to 7% commission on sales.

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is an online eyewear retailer that sells prescription glasses, sunglasses, and accessories. Affiliates can earn a 20% commission on sales.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps people improve their writing skills. Affiliates can earn up to $20 commission for each sale.

Udemy

Udemy is an online learning platform that offers courses on a wide range of topics. Affiliates can earn up to 20% commission on sales.

4. Fiverr

Fiverr is an online marketplace that allows businesses and individuals to hire freelancers for various tasks and services, ranging from graphic design to writing to website development. Fiverr's affiliate program allows individuals and businesses to earn a commission by promoting Fiverr's services to their audience.

How Does the Fiverr Affiliate Program Work?

The Fiverr affiliate program works by allowing affiliates to promote Fiverr's services to their audience through their unique referral link. Affiliates earn a commission for each new customer they refer to Fiverr who makes a purchase. Fiverr provides its affiliates with a variety of marketing materials, including banners, text links, and widgets, to help promote their services. To join the Fiverr affiliate program, you'll need to sign up for the program on Fiverr's affiliate website. Once you're approved, you'll be given access to your unique referral link and marketing materials to promote Fiverr's services to your audience.

Commission Rates

Fiverr offers its affiliates a commission of $15 for each new customer they refer who makes a purchase on Fiverr. This means that if you refer someone to Fiverr who spends $100 on services, you'll earn a commission of $15. In addition to the $15 commission, Fiverr also offers performance-based incentives for affiliates who refer a large number of new customers or who generate a high volume of sales. These incentives can include higher commission rates, bonuses, and exclusive offers.

Benefits of Joining the Fiverr Affiliate Program

High Commission Rates Fiverr's commission rate of $15 per new customer is higher than many other affiliate programs, making it an attractive option for individuals and businesses looking to earn a significant income from affiliate marketing.

Wide Range of Services Fiverr offers a wide range of services that can be promoted by affiliates, including graphic design, writing, web development, and more. This makes it easier for affiliates to find services that are relevant to their audience and promote them effectively.

Marketing Materials Fiverr provides its affiliates with a variety of marketing materials, including banners, text links, and widgets, to help promote their services effectively. These materials can be customized to fit your website's design and branding.

Real-Time Reporting Fiverr offers real-time reporting of your earnings and referrals, making it easy to track your progress and optimize your marketing efforts for maximum results.

Referral Incentives Fiverr offers performance-based incentives for affiliates who refer a large number of new customers or generate a high volume of sales. These incentives can include higher commission rates, bonuses, and exclusive offers. Visit Fiverr Affiliate Here.

5. ClickBank

ClickBank is one of the most popular affiliate marketing networks in the world, offering affiliates the opportunity to promote a wide range of digital products and earn a commission on each sale.

What is ClickBank?

ClickBank was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. It is an affiliate marketing network that connects vendors (creators of digital products) with affiliates (promoters of those products). ClickBank offers a wide range of digital products, including e-books, software, online courses, and memberships.

How Does ClickBank Work?

To become a ClickBank affiliate, you first need to sign up for an account on their website. Once you have signed up, you can browse the ClickBank marketplace and choose the products you want to promote. Each product has a unique affiliate link that you can use to promote the product on your website, blog, or social media accounts.

When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission on the sale. The commission rate varies depending on the product and can range from 1% to 75%. ClickBank handles the payment processing and tracks all the sales and commissions.

Benefits of ClickBank Affiliate Program

Large Product Selection

ClickBank offers a wide selection of digital products to promote, with over 6 million unique products available in its marketplace. This means that you are sure to find products that are relevant to your audience and can generate sales.

High Commission Rates

ClickBank offers high commission rates compared to other affiliate marketing networks, with some products offering commissions of up to 75%. This means that you can earn a significant amount of money for each sale you generate.

Easy to Use

ClickBank is easy to use, with a user-friendly dashboard that allows you to track your sales and commissions. The platform also offers a range of promotional tools to help you promote products, including banners, links, and email templates.

Reliable Payment Processing

ClickBank handles all the payment processing, which means that you don't have to worry about collecting payments from customers. ClickBank pays out commissions every two weeks, and there are multiple payment options available, including direct deposit, wire transfer, and check.

Strong Support System

ClickBank has a strong support system, with a dedicated affiliate support team available to answer any questions you may have. Additionally, ClickBank offers a range of resources to help affiliates succeed, including tutorials, guides, and marketing tools.

Drawbacks of ClickBank Affiliate Program

High Competition

ClickBank is a popular affiliate marketing network, which means that there is a lot of competition among affiliates. To succeed, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd and promote products effectively.

Quality Control Issues

ClickBank has received criticism in the past for its lax quality control policies, with some vendors selling low-quality products or engaging in unethical marketing practices. It is essential to research the products you promote and ensure that they are of high quality and relevant to your audience.

Tips for Success with ClickBank Affiliate Program

Choose Relevant Products

To be successful with ClickBank, you need to choose products that are relevant to your audience. Consider your niche and the interests of your audience, and choose products that align with those interests.

Promote Products Effectively

To generate sales, you need to promote products effectively. This may involve creating high-quality content that showcases the benefits of the product, using social media to drive traffic to your affiliate links, or running paid advertising campaigns.

Build a Relationship with Your Audience

Building a relationship with your audience is essential for success with ClickBank. This may involve creating engaging content that offers value to your audience, responding to comments and messages, and being transparent and honest about your affiliations.

Research Products and Vendors

It's essential to research the products and vendors you promote on ClickBank. Look for high-quality products that are relevant to your audience and have a good reputation. Additionally, research vendors to ensure that they are ethical and trustworthy.

Use Promotional Tools

ClickBank offers a range of promotional tools to help you promote products effectively. These include banners, links, and email templates. Use these tools to create high-converting promotional material and drive traffic to your affiliate links.

Track Your Performance

Tracking your performance is essential for success with ClickBank. Use the analytics provided by the platform to track your sales and commissions, as well as your click-through and conversion rates. Use this data to optimize your promotional efforts and improve your results.

Famous ClickBank Affiliates

There are many successful affiliates who have made a significant amount of money through ClickBank. Here are some of the most famous ClickBank affiliates

Pat Flynn

Pat Flynn is a well-known online entrepreneur and blogger who has generated millions of dollars through affiliate marketing. He has promoted many products on ClickBank, including online courses and software.

John Chow

John Chow is a blogger and affiliate marketer who has generated over $1 million in commissions through ClickBank. He has promoted a range of products, including e-books and online courses.

Zac Johnson

Zac Johnson is a blogger and affiliate marketer who has been featured in Forbes and The Huffington Post. He has generated over $100,000 in commissions through ClickBank, promoting a range of products including online courses and software.

Affiliate marketing is a great way for businesses to promote their products and services and for individuals to earn money online. There are many famous affiliate programs available, each with its unique features and benefits. By finding the right affiliate program for your audience and promoting products effectively, you can earn a commission and build a successful affiliate marketing business.

[jolenes-book-journey]

30 Day Calendars for Authors For Digital Marketing Ideas

Committing to a 30 day posting schedule is major. Most authors can barely commit to writing every day let along do marketing. Below are suggestions that might help you get started. You DO NOT have to commit yourself to doing this every single day but if you can carve out some time to create these types of blogs posts, videos, and graphics and then schedule them out one a day, everyday you just…

[jamaicahomescom]

Becoming a Top Realtor in Jamaica: Expert Strategies, Tips, and Tricks Unveiled

In Jamaica’s dynamic real estate landscape, rising to the top as a premier real estate agent and or realtor involves more than just closing deals; it’s about nurturing connections, its about understanding market intricacies relevent to the jamaican real estate market, and also mastering negotiation. Whether you’re a newcomer on the real estate scene or a seasoned agent aiming for excellence,…

[iamfit100percent]

Get Paid Doing Social Media Tasks , online earning jobs

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[axonspro]

The Ultimate Guide to Eliminating Under Eye Dark Circles

The Ultimate Guide to Eliminating Under Eye Dark Circles The Ultimate Guide to Eliminating Under Eye Dark Circles is a comprehensive resource that offers effective tips and tricks to help you get rid of pesky dark circles under your eyes. From lifestyle changes to skincare routines and makeup hacks, this guide covers it all. Say goodbye to tired-looking eyes and hello to a refreshed and radiant…

[gothamundernightlight]

Random Shit the Waynes Do on Social Media

Dick:

- The white whale of D1 and Olympic gymnastics athletes; always stitches their stunts and challenges, executing them perfectly, but no one knows who he is or who trained him

- Shares pictures of random children, and the whole internet becomes a detective trying to figure out if Bruce Wayne adopted another kid or if his gymnastics students won another trophy

- Photo montages of Haley being the cutest, which slowly transitions into Haley in whatever cute hat the internet can send to Dick’s PO Box

- Random video of him skydiving while giving tips on what to do if your chute doesn’t deploy. He never deploys his chute doing the video and no one can tell if it’s a bit or not.

Jason:

- AI Voiceover text posts providing surprisingly insightful analysis into classic literature

- A full six part rant on the Broadway adaptation of “The Great Gatsy”

- Random selfies complete with wildly made up backstories of any and every new injury he has

- Prank war on Damian specifically (this was intended for Talia but his finger slipped and now the whole internet loves it)

Tim:

- Randomly goes live to do study/work/research with me sessions complete with an actually decent Lofi soundtrack that no one can find (He totally mixes it himself but won’t admit it)

- Did ONE social media vlog for WE’s marketing division and it went so viral he gets forced to do more. The dead eyed stare he gives the camera with every stupid dance the intern teaches him makes the video top-tier

- Cute couples videos with Bernard

- Skateboard tricks (and fails)

- Screenshots of text conversations between him and his siblings discussing the most random shit??

Cass:

- Dance routines/pre-show/GRWM videos

- Shakily filmed videos of her kicking Dick’s ass and everyone just calls her a baddie in the comments. She doesn’t know what that means but she appreciates the love.

- Her and Steph’s late night food runs with the two of them just belting out to a song in a dark parking lot

Steph:

- Posts riddles and puzzles and how to solve them. She’s really good at it. Riddler hates her.

- Apartment tour of all the purple shit she owns. She’ll never admit that the room she’s showing off is her Wayne Manor bedroom, so everyone believes she just has a moderately sized loft apartment somewhere and she just never shows the kitchenette

- Her and Cass’s late night food runs with the two of them just belting out to a song in a dark parking lot

- POV shots of her going up to the boys asking them random questions. Dick matches her energy. Jason tells her to fuck off. Tim is barely conscious. Damian always has an overly rational answer to take the fun out of it. Duke just stares blankly at her (he always comes back later with a proper answer now that he’s had time to think about it). Bruce just stares blankly at her

Damian:

- Art reveals that never get many views but he’s still proud of nonetheless. Dick always comments on them to hype him up

- Accidentally recreates a popular vine that went viral and it’s just him insulting fellow GA kids under his breath but one of them says hi to him and he’s instantly polite back. His most popular video

- The multi-part experiment of him trying to Pavlov Tim, and when it actually works, Tim just chases Damian around the manor. The video cuts to black frames after Tim takes a flying launch at him

- All the pet videos. There are so many. People try to cancel him for exploiting them, but Damian clearly demonstrates that he would never force his animals to participate for views and how they will just leave if they don’t want to do something. Batcow is in the background just two-stepping unprompted

Duke:

- Every morning without fail, he posts a daily sunrise pic of Gotham, with a positive affirmation caption. One day he’s sick and he wakes up to a thousand messages of people panicking because their favorite poster has disappeared. He never misses a sunrise again

- Passionate rants about local government. Will not shut up about it. He might be an anarchist, but he’s forever remain optimistic that one day the systems that define society will one day actually work for all people. Bruce has every single one saved so he can implement Duke’s ideas into reality

- Boxing videos of him training with Luke. It’s never meant to be a thirst trap…but sometimes it is

- Dumb selfies. Duke unironically loves taking them, no matter what face he pulls, what filter he uses, not even caring where he is. This gets him in trouble the one time he posts one of him leaning off the edge of a high rise roof

Babs:

- Constant lectures on cybersecurity and internet safety. She teaches this at the library as a volunteer but feels she can reach a lot of people by building a platform

- Computer build stuff. Brands reach out to her for her reviews and she thoroughly discusses each product in length

- Rarely posts about her disability, but absolutely tears people to shreds when they make ableist comments about her. The only time she brings it up first is when City Hall takes over a month to fix their elevator and she calls them out on it

Harper:

- Electronics repairs. She constantly takes things apart to teach people how to fix it, and this can range from toys to cars. On more than one occasion , her video has been interrupted by someone who planned to be using the vehicle she’s just taken apart

- 2 AM hair dye/maintenance sessions. She constantly gets comments from men being like “Therapy works too, y’know” or “No, you’re so beautiful? Why would you do that to yourself.” She responds to the comments with a video of a gun pointed at the camera with the sole caption being “Fuck Off.”

- Gym videos. She and Dick work out together and he’s the ultimate hype man

- Outfit montages of her getting ready for a random gala and she’s always pulling off the most masc-looking suits that look gorgeous on her

Helena:

- Target practice. She does all kinds of trick shots and crazy crossbow stunts in a wide variety of outfits. Her most popular video is of her in a corset and platform heels.

- Her and Steph bonding over all things purple

- Outfit of the Day posts. The girl has expensive tastes and she absolutely shows it off.

Bruce:

- Occasionally does promo stuff for WE (because Tim refuses to do all of it, and their social media intern won’t back down)

- Shares absolutely wild stories from his college years that somehow always get proven to be true even when the whole comments section is just like “this seems false???”

- Kid tour. He saw one mom do it and felt sad bc he’s never get the kids to agree, but somehow they all did (Alfred bribed them.)

- Shares everything from each one of the charities he’s involved with. Has reposted every single one of their posts on his own personal channel. It raises them hundreds of followers each time.

- One of the kids posted a video montage of Bruce being Brucie and it’s so utterly humiliating? But he won’t delete it because all of the comments say he’s their favorite billionaire and that’s more than his own kids will say.

- Random Pride Month post. Every year it catches people by surprise and every gossip magazine always wonders if Bruce is coming out. He’s just being an ally (and potentially is in denial).

Alfred:

- Prefers not to use social media, but one of the boys filmed him doing random things to teach the internet how to do things properly, like making the bed, doing laundry, etc. Is the internet’s favorite grandpa.

[top6ways]

https://www.academia.edu/96134355/Top_6_Ways_On_How_To_Grow_Your_Business_In_2023

[starrylothcat]

Hello!!! It's eternal-transcience again! I am constantly thinking of smooching Rex's scars, so I was wandering if it was possible to have yet another Rex x Short!FemReader where there's some scar smooching (especially the one on his chest from Season 2)? I get so weak thinking about it!

No obligation and take all the time you need! I love your writing so much <333333

Worship You

Pairing: Rex x Fem!Reader

Summary: You smooch Rex’s scars and smooch other parts of him as well. 😘

Warnings: NSFW, 18+. Smut. No plot. Male receiving oral. Mentions of scars. Rex is mentioned as your husband. Fluffy.

WC: ~1200.

A/N: Kim, you wonderful person, you! Thanks for this ask. I was going to keep it fluffy but…I decided to make it spicy as a lil’ treat. I had this take place after the war…everyone lives AU etc. etc…Rex deserves a quiet life filled with BJs. 😌

Your front door whooshed open and you stepped through the entry, balancing groceries in your arms from the local market.

You strolled to the kitchen, setting down the ingredients for dinner on the counter.

The sound of the shower running signaled that your husband was home.

You quickly put the perishables away, padding into your bedroom. Steam escaped from the refresher, and the familiar scent of Rex’s soap wafted in the air.

“I’m home!” You called, not wanting to startle him, peeking into the refresher.

“I know, mesh’la.” He called back, the frosted glass of the shower blocking him from view. He may not be a soldier anymore, but he was still acutely aware of his surroundings at all times. “Be out in just a minute.” He said, the shower turning off.

“No rush.” You were about to leave to let him get dressed, but you decided to stay. Something about his broad silhouette opposite of the frosted glass enticed you, your mind wandering to dirtier and dirtier thoughts as you waited.

You sat on the bed, which gave you a partial view of the shower. “Just enjoying the view.”

A few seconds later Rex emerged from the steamy room. He had a towel wrapped low around his waist, water droplets glistening as they slid down his tanned skin, catching on his many scars. You met him halfway as he walked toward the bed, capturing him in a kiss. You stood on your tip-toes, wrapping your arms around his neck. You always loved your size difference, feeling so safe against his strong form.

His body radiated heat from the shower, his lips warm as they slid along yours, kissing you back with immediate desire.

Your body ignited, lightly tracing your fingertips down his buzzed head. Rex still kept it short, even after all these years.

You didn’t mind.

Your hands slid down, feeling the raised tissue from his many scars. Scars that told his story, that led him to you. Scars that proved he was a survivor.

Some mornings you’d wake up, sleep hazing your mind and tricking you into thinking you were still in the war. You’d fling your arm over, feeling Rex’s warm and alive body next to yours. Relief would flood your system in realizing that he was there with you not on a mission on some far-flung planet for Maker knows how long.

You were both grateful that now you could wake up in one another’s arms every morning, the war long past.

“Lay down.” You managed to gasp, as the kiss was now fervent, Rex tugging at your clothes as his tongue danced with yours.

“Yes, ma’am.” He smirked, breaking the kiss as he dropped his towel, showing off just how much he appreciated your advances.

You quickly stripped your clothes, climbing on top of him on the bed, his length pressing deliciously against your pussy, sending sparks up your spine. You leaned down, kissing him again, Rex’s hands reverently wandering over your skin, bucking up into you, sliding his cock through your wet folds.

You pulled away from his lips, kissing down his stubbled jaw, giving extra attention to the small scar on his chin. You kissed his neck, intending to find every scar, every mark, every freckle, and give them equal attention.

Rex groaned at the loss of your warm pussy against his cock as you moved down his body.

“Patience.” You murmured, tracing your hand over the large scar in the middle of his chest, kissing around it.

You knew every scar already, knew every story. Some were faded to the point of disappearing, others ragged and deep, part of him always. It still didn’t stop you from worshiping him.

“I love you.” You murmured, meeting his gaze momentarily, which held nothing but pure love in return. “I love every part of you, always.”

Rex opened his mouth to answer, but all that came out was a deep groan, your hand lightly gripping his cock as you made your journey down his body. He didn’t need to say anything.

You knew his answer.

You slowly pumped him, relishing the way his body reacted, and how hot his skin was under your hand, using his excitement leaking from the tip to glide your hand up and down more easily.

His abdominal muscles twitched under your lips, now hungry for something more. You still had more scars to kiss, to love, to worship, before you got to where you both wanted most.

You finally made it to the junction of his hip, nipping at the sensitive flesh, causing him to jolt slightly and sigh your name in a short pant.

You took a moment to admire his cock, flush with color and standing proud with desire.

You lightly licked the side of his hard shaft, a soft moan escaping his lips above you.

“Maker…” Rex groaned, gripping the bedsheets around him.

You slowly kissed up to the tip, wrapping your lips around and sucking gently. Rex’s hand released the sheets to hold your head, his fingers finding purchase in your hair. His legs trembled as you went to work, teasing and swirling your tongue around his thick cock, ever so slowly taking him more and more into your mouth.

You loved how heavy he felt in your mouth, how full you were with him, knowing only you could make him feel this way.

Rex was writhing beneath you, his breath ragged. You knew he was holding back, wanting to buck his hips. You took him as far as you could go, slowly gliding your lips to his tip and back down again.

“K-Kriff…mesh’la…I…” Rex’s utterances were cut with moans as you continued faster, pumping him with your mouth, giving special attention to his head. You could taste his arousal, his cock twitching in your mouth as his body convulsed and his breath hitched.

You hummed, pleased with his reactions. You glanced up at him when you could, the look on his face increasing the ache between your legs. Rex was completely wrecked, brows furrowed, eyes locked onto you, mouth agape as he couldn’t hold back his deep, heavenly sounds.

Fuck, you could almost cum seeing him like this.

You grasped the base of his cock, using your hand to bring him more pleasure, knowing he was getting close.

“Close…kriff, I’m so close, mesh’la…” Rex was lost in his bliss now, you could tell he was going to explode any second. His body was twitching and his control was mostly gone, carefully bucking his hips up into your mouth, still careful to not hurt you.

You squeezed his thigh with your free hand, signaling that it was okay for him to let go.

Rex came hard, letting loose a string of praises and moans that turned into your name. Your mouth filled with his warm seed, and you greedily took it all, swallowing what he offered.

You continued to pump him delicately, careful to not overstimulate him. He panted as he came down from his high, his hands carding through your hair in thanks. You sat up, wiping your mouth, gazing down at him and how lovely he looked. Sweat replaced the dampness from the shower, his chest heaving and eyes ignited with lust and thanks.

You nestled yourself against him, tracing your finger again on his large chest scar.

Rex let out a long, satisfied breath, kissing the top of your head.

“Thank you.” He murmured. “Let me return the favor.”

“I will…can we just lay here a moment, though?” You nuzzled closer into him, breathing in his scent, hearing his breath, feeling his scar under your fingertips.

He was here, he was yours, and always would be.

Taglist: @crosshairlovebot @sev-on-kamino @kimiheartblade @wizardofrozz @clonemedickix @sunshinesdaydream @kashasenpai @freesia-writes @multi-fan-dom-madness @aconstructofamind @dreamie411 @dystopicjumpsuit @wings-and-beskar @starqueensthings @idontgetanysleep @secretthegriffin @anxiouspineapple99 @sinfulsalutations @secondaryrealm @littlemissmanga @maybethatfanfictionwriter @pb-jellybeans @wanderer-six @king-chaos-world @wolffegirlsunite @dukeoftheblackstar @523rdrebel @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @sleepingsun501 @coraex @din-miller @cw80831 @dangraccoon @mythical-illustrator @eternal-transcience @the-cantina @nahoney22 @moonlightwarriorqueen @skellymom @reader6898

[drabblesandimagines]

I wouldn't mind holding your hand. I guess.

13 from creativepromptsforwriting's Grumpy Affectionate Dialogue list.

Cloud Strife x reader Fluff

--

"So, how'd it go?" Tifa asks the second you've walked through the door - it hadn't even closed properly behind you yet. Had she been waiting to pounce? "We don't say hello now?" You raise an eyebrow, shrugging off your jacket. You’d been dreading her interrogation - it had been a sleepless night.

"Hello.” She grins. “How'd it go?" She puts her hands down on the counter and leans forward as you approach.

"Fine." You shrug, going to lift up the latch to join her behind the bar, but Tifa is quick – shifting so she’s now leaning on top of it, blocking your entrance.

“You pay me to work here, remember?”

“And do you see any customers? Anyway, this is important. I don’t think you understand how rare it is to go on a date with Cloud Strife. Spill!”

You sigh, sitting down heavily on the stool. Really, you should’ve known that the brunette would be keen to hear every single detail…

You’d started working at Seventh Heaven nearly four months ago now. Before Meteor, you’d worked in Wall Market as a cocktail waitress, doing bar tricks to earn tips off a bunch of Shira employees. It was just by chance you’d been walking by when Tifa had put up the help wanted sign in the window. The two of you had got on immediately and your skills honed behind the bar meant you could really start straightaway. The first time you’d seen Cloud walk in, you were immediately attracted to him - the blue eyes, blonde hair, the muscular, toned arms on display... Who wouldn’t be? He, however, seemed very indifferent to you, though Tifa disagreed. “He’s shy. He likes you - I promise."

It felt odd at first when she deemed herself a matchmaker – Cloud and her shared an apartment, with two kids – Denzel and Marlene – she assured you they were strictly platonic and she’d love to see him without a scowl on his face. Apparently he was always interested when you were working, especially if you were on a closing shift. Now everyone was based in Edge, all sorts frequented the bar. You’d experienced the same in Wall Market and weren’t afraid to cut people off but it was nice to have some sort of muscle around in case anyone became a little out of line. You thought it was Tifa’s doing, as Cloud would always offer up his services on the nights you were responsible for closing, even walking you home afterwards. When you’d thank him, he’d shrug, saying not to think anything of it.

He was chivalrous, you’d reasoned, trying not to get your hopes up there was something more to it, until two nights ago when he’d lingered at the point he’d usually head off when you’d unlocked your front door.

“Wait.” You span round on your heels at the sound of his voice, surprised that he’d gone off routine. “Erm, would you… Would you like to have dinner tomorrow night? With me.”

“With you?” You’re stunned.

“Forget I said-“

“No, I’d love to.” You interrupted, worried you’d blown it.

“Okay. Great. Er, I’ll text you.” And Cloud had then strode off into the night before you could say another word.

He’d texted - you assumed he’d got your number off Tifa from her string of texts the next morning - saying he’d pick you up from yours at 7, that he’d got a table at a restaurant nearby. You’d walked past it a few times but never been, and it seemed a popular spot for first dates - intimate, yet not overly fancy. He’d arrived promptly, saying you looked "nice" and that’s where things had gone a little downhill. There was nothing that happened to really distinguish this as a date...

“He didn’t get within three feet of me at any time the walk there, or the walk back. I know he’s quiet, but besides asking me if the food was okay, he didn’t say much at all at dinner. And then, after he’d walked me home, I said I’d had a really nice time, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, thinking he was nervous, you know?" Tifa nods. "But then he stepped forward, thanked me and clapped me on the shoulder, before he strode off.” You lay your head down on your arms. “It was a pity date, Tifa.”

“Okay, Cloud’s more hopeless than I thought,” she pats you gently on the head, “but it wasn’t a pity date. He set it all up because he wanted to take you out, I promise.”

“He could’ve swung that big sword of his all around him and not hit me, the distance he was keeping.” You continue talking into your arms, your voice muffled.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“No, don’t!" Your head shoots up, “That’ll make me look and feel even more pathetic. I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s a wake-up call.”

“You’re not pathetic. He’s just shy. Plus, I bet he’s feeling even worse than you are. He was out before I even woke up this morning.” She pauses, grinning slyly. “I did think that he might’ve stayed the night at yours…”

Your face flushes at that. “What?! No. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.” The door opens and the two of you look, you praying it's not Cloud. "Delivery!" A man chirps. "Enough about my dismal love life, okay?" You get to your feet and go to take in the stock.

--

You got home that evening just after 6pm, preparing yourself for a quiet evening and an early night after the sleepless one before. It was surprising when there was a knock at the door an hour or so later – you weren’t expecting anyone. You looked through the eyehole and were nervous to see the tell-tale spikes of blonde hair, a nervous expression across Cloud’s face. Had Tifa spoken to him? Oh, Shiva…

You unlock the door, pulling it open cautiously.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He smiles, a little awkwardly, but it’s sweet too. “Sorry, are you busy? I should’ve texted…”

“No, not at all.” You curse inwardly, you could’ve phrased that differently, sound more aloof. “What brings you here?”

“Uh, yeah…” It’s then you notice he has a hand behind his back. It’s quickly whipped out in front of you, holding a small, handpicked bouquet of pink, white and yellow flowers. “I wanted to give you these.”

“Cloud…” Your eyes widen, taking in the display. They’re the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen. “Thank you.” You accept them delicately, worried they might wilt instantly if you’re too rough with them.

“Would you like to go for a walk?”

“Sure. Let me just put these in water. Erm, do you want to come in?” You step back in anticipation.

“No, I’ll wait here.” He folds his arms.

“Oh, okay,” you nod. “I won’t be long.” You let the door swing close behind you, still holding the flowers so delicately. He delivers you hand-picked flowers but doesn’t want to come in? Is he breaking up with you? Can you break up even if you weren’t together in the first place? You grab a glass, filling it with water from the tap and placing the small bouquet in gently, before setting it down in the windowsill. You wonder if you’ll look at them in the same light when you return.

--

Edge, like its predecessor, had never been a pretty city in the desert. In the early evening though, fairy lights donned by the surrounding buildings cast a nice glow about the place and it was quiet as the two of you strolled through. Cloud hadn’t been the most talkative, as usual. Sometimes it looked like he wanted to say something, a comment on the tip of his tongue, but then his mouth would close and he’d nod to whatever nonsense you were spouting to fill the silence. It was at one of those moments when you hadn’t particularly been paying attention to where you were walking, catching your foot on an uneven part of the ground. You brace yourself for the impact and the embarrassment, but a hand grabs your own, yanking you back and upright, another hand on the small of your back – Cloud.

“You okay?” His brow is furrowed in concern. Your heart is thudding at the shock of tripping, or maybe the closeness of you two? It’s hard to tell.

“Y-yeah. Sorry, clumsy,” you know your face is red. “Thanks.” The hand from your back falls away, deeming your balance stable enough but your other hand isn’t released straightaway. You look down at the appendage in question, Cloud’s hand firmly clasped around yours. His eyes follow what you’re looking at and he seems to realise as his cheeks grow flush in the dim light of dusk, letting go abruptly.

“Do you even like me?” The question slips out of your mouth before you can even think what you’re saying. He looks almost startled by the directness of it.

“I thought the date and flowers made that obvious.”

“The flowers, okay, but the date and just now… Like, I know not everyone’s keen on public displays of affection, but you don’t even want to be within arm’s length of me…”

“I wouldn’t mind holding your hand. I guess.” It’s mumbled, his blue eyes directing at the ground.

“What?” You wonder if you misheard.

“I’d quite like to, to be honest. I’m just…” He meets your eyes at this point. “I haven’t really done this before.”

“That’s okay, neither have I.”

He looks sceptical. “That can’t be true.”

“I wasn’t exactly surrounded by gentlemen wanting to sweep me off my feet in Wall Market,” you smile. “Besides, it means we can try and work this stuff out together, if you want.” You hold your hand out, hoping he won’t notice the slight tremor.

To your relief, he takes it, deftly lacing his fingers through your own.

“I’d like that.”

- Masterlist . Requests welcome . Ko-fi

[evilscientist3]

so do you actually support ai "art" or is that part of the evil bit :| because um. yikes.

Let me preface this by saying: I think the cutting edge of AI as we know it sucks shit. ChatGPT spews worthless, insipid garbage as a rule, and frequently provides enticingly fluent and thoroughly wrong outputs whenever any objective fact comes into play. Image generators produce over-rendered, uncanny slop that often falls to pieces under the lightest scrutiny. There is little that could convince me to use any AI tool currently on the market, and I am notably more hostile to AI than many people I know in real life in this respect.

That being said, these problems are not inherent to AI. In two years, or a decade, perhaps they will be our equals in producing writing and images. I know a philosopher who is of the belief that one day, AI will simply be better than us - smarter, funnier, more likeable in conversation - I am far from convinced of this myself, but let us hope, if such a case arises, they don't get better at ratfucking and warmongering too.

Many of the inherent problems posed by AI are philosophical in nature. Would a sufficiently advanced AI be appreciably different to a conscious entity? Can their outputs be described as art? These are questions whose mere axioms could themselves be argued over in PhD theses ad infinitum. I am not particularly interested in these, for to be so on top of the myriad demands of my work would either drive me mad or kill me outright. Fortunately, their fractally debatable nature means that no watertight argument could be given to them by you, either, so we may declare ourselves in happy, clueless agreement on these topics so long as you are willing to confront their unconfrontability.

Thus, I would prefer to turn to the current material issues encountered in the creation and use of AI. These, too, are not inherent to their use, but I will provide a more careful treatment of them than a simple supposition that they will evaporate in coming years.

I would consider the principal material issues surrounding AI to lie in the replacement of human labourers and wanton generation of garbage content it facilitates, and the ethics of training it on datasets collected without contributors' consent. In the first case, it is prudent to recall the understanding of Luddites held by Marx - he says, in Ch. 15 of Das Kapital: "It took both time and experience before workers learnt to distinguish between machinery and its employment by capital, and therefore to transfer their attacks from the material instruments of production to the form of society which utilises those instruments." The Industrial Revolution's novel forms of production and subsequent societal consequences has mirrored the majority of advances in production since. As then, the commercial application of the new technology must be understood to be a product of capital. To resist the technology itself on these grounds is to melt an iceberg's tip, treating the vestigial symptom of a vast syndrome. The replacement of labourers is with certainty a pressing issue that warrants action, but such action must be considered and strategic, rather than a reflexive reaction to something new. As is clear in hindsight for the technology of two centuries ago, mere impedance of technological progression is not for the better.

The second case is one I find deeply alarming - the degradation of written content's reliability threatens all knowledge, extending to my field. Already, several scientific papers have drawn outrage in being seen to pass peer review despite blatant inclusion of AI outputs. I would be tempted to, as a joke to myself more than others, begin this response with "Certainly. Here is how you could respond to this question:" so as to mirror these charlatans, would it not without a doubt enrage a great many who don't know better than to fall for such a trick. This issue, however, is one I believe to be ephemeral - so pressing is it, that a response must be formulated by those who value understanding. And so are responses being formulated - major online information sources, such as Wikipedia and its sister projects, have written or are writing rules on their use. The journals will, in time, scramble to save their reputations and dignities, and do so thoroughly - academics have professional standings to lose, so keeping them from using LLMs is as simple as threatening those. Perhaps nothing will be done for your average Google search result - though this is far from certain - but it has always been the conventional wisdom that more than one site ought to be consulted in a search for information.

The third is one I am torn on. My first instinct is to condemn the training of AI on material gathered without consent. However, this becomes more and more problematic with scrutiny. Arguments against this focusing on plagiarism or direct theft are pretty much bunk - statistical models don't really work like that. Personal control of one's data, meanwhile, is a commendable right, but is difficult to ensure without merely extending the argument made by the proponents of copyright, which is widely understood to be a disastrous construct that for the most part harms small artists. In this respect, then, it falls into the larger camp of problems primarily caused by the capital wielding the technology.

Let me finish this by posing a hypothetical. Suppose AI does, as my philosopher friend believes, become smarter and more creative than us in a few years or decades; suppose in addition it may be said through whatever means to be entirely unobjectionable, ethically or otherwise. Under these circumstances, would I then go to a robot to commission art of my fursona? The answer from me is a resounding no. My reasoning is simple - it wouldn't feel right. So long as the robot remains capable of effortlessly and passionlessly producing pictures, it would feel like cheating. Rationally explaining this deserves no effort - my reasoning would be motivated by the conclusion, rather than vice versa. It is simply my personal taste not to get art I don't feel is real. It is vitally important, however, that I not mistake this feeling as evidence of any true inferiority - to suppose that effortlessness or pasionlessness invalidate art is to stray back into the field of messy philosophical questions. I am allowed, as are you, to possess personal tastes separate from the quality of things.

Summary: I don't like AI. However, most of the problems with AI which aren't "it's bad" (likely to be fixed over time) or abstract philosophical questions (too debatable to be used to make a judgement) are material issues caused by capitalism, just as communists have been saying about every similarly disruptive new technology for over a century. Other issues can likely be fixed over time, as with quality. From a non-rational standpoint, I dislike the idea of using AI even separated from current issues, but I recognise, and encourage you to recognise, that this is not evidence of an actual inherent inferiority of AI in the abstract. You are allowed to have preferences that aren't hastily rationalised over.

[sehtoast]

Tender Threads CH7 (Homelander x OC)

chapter seven: a real hero

chapter directory | slow burn, hurt/comfort, fluff, spidersona as original character, original trans male character, smut, sublander

summary: there's more to being a hero than the strings in your back. isn't that right, little spider?

“You ever run out of that, uh… goo?”  

Now it was time to learn the ropes for saves.

“I uhm,” thwip. “No, not really.”

Not saves saves, of course.  No.

“What, d’you make it constantly then?”

Scripted saves– the ones The Seven really did.  It wasn’t just The Deep whose heroics were orchestrated and directed.  Even Homelander was subject to Vought’s oversight when it came to being a superhero, which was far from what Benjamin expected.  See, it made sense for someone like The Deep to be fully scripted. Realistically, nobody was going to be committing crimes underwater in the traditional sense in a way that Vought could market.  Even then, he isn’t quite bright enough to catch the common smuggler anyhow.

So it came as a surprise that the others were restricted in the same way.

“Uhm… sort of?”  Ben says, arcing through the air and shooting his next web while Homelander floats leisurely beside him.  “Just kinda happens, y’know?  I don’t make it on purpose.”

They’d just finished their third official save.  Some stunt man paid exorbitant amounts of money by Vought to stick up some mom and pop joint that likely also received a nice payout for their manufactured troubles.  

The usual:  swoop in, stop him, web him up, Homelander brings him to justice– i.e. Vought Tower– while the adoring public watches and records the whole thing.  Cut and dry, just like the last two had been.

“Gross.”  Homelander smirks, eyes rolling.  “Sticky and strong.  Anything else, or are you just boring?”

Ben signals for them to land atop a well known little place, hopping onto the wall to prepare to run alongside it only to be thwarted by Homelander’s arms hooking under his and zipping them to the top.

Benjamin peers off the edge of the eagle shaped perch.

“Show off,” Ben accuses with a light laugh, stomach fluttering at the smirk and wink Homelander gives in response.  

Oh…  that’s not– 

“I’m…”  The bug hums.  Truthfully, it’s always easier to show instead of tell.  “I mean it’s mostly a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of deal with me, but I can–”  

Ben holds a hand up, fingers splayed, and he closes his eyes.  He musters that odd feeling, like floating within the realm of himself, letting every speck of his being flow through his body, to his arm, to his fingertips, willing the electrons to release and–

A small zap of electricity crackles from the tip of his index finger, fizzling out as fast as it arrived.

Ben huffs a sigh.  “Harder than it looks.”  And, with the way it’s always been, never to be anything more than a teeny tiny party trick.  Some kind of bio-electricity, he’d surmised years ago, but never anything he’s had much control over.

Homelander snorts a laugh, but the fascination in his eyes betrays him.  For a second he seems to lose himself, lips parting, an unfocused look overtaking his features before he blinks rapidly– a tic of sorts Ben has begun to notice more and more.

“You okay?”  The bug asks, head tilted with a lens surely mimicking the arch of his brow. 

“Peachy.” Homelander deadpans, giving his head a small shake.  

But he doesn’t seem that way at all.

Think, Ben, think.  

“D’you wanna…”  He tries, foot scuffing on the ground to fidget out his nerves.  Strange, though, that none of that anxiousness was fear.  Not at all like when Homelander dropped that bomb on him or when he saw old glory swaying behind the proscenium wall during his speech.  It’s… different now, somehow. Maybe he’s just starting to get used to everything. The threats have faded, the danger has passed… It’s not the same as it was a few weeks back.  “Wanna go find like, actual assholes?”

Great phrasing, dumbass.

The brow raised in his direction makes the bug stutter out a correction.  “Like, y’know, real criminals.  We could take five and… I dunno, swing around– er, swing and fly, I guess.”

“What, were three saves not enough for you?”  Homelander asks, blinking as an unreadable smile settles upon his lips. False and genuine all at once. 

“Afraid you can’t keep up?”  Benjamin teases, once again scuffing his foot against the surface of the perch.  “Scripts are boring.  If we’re stuck together ‘til nine, we might as well have fun, right?”

The corners of Homelander’s lips quirk up a little higher.

He’s rebelled in his time as a hero.  Flown off to fuck knows where, run away from the noise of the city and isolated himself in the stratosphere any number of times.  But he’s never done this. And, frankly, why the fuck would he?  

Homelander was an icon of heroism.  He didn’t need to actually go snooping through the city's troubles to retain that status, nor did he particularly want to.  But somehow this is the one time he doesn’t find himself gnawing his bottom lip in annoyance at the mere thought of helping the poor denizens of New York's disgusting, piss-reeking streets.

He keeps his eyes trained on Benjamin’s form the whole time.  Even that was odd.  Trailing behind the bug, letting him lead.  Sure, Homelander could focus and hear each and every little disturbance at the cost of his sanity, but Ben practically knew where things would go wrong.  What alleys to check, which streets, parks, everywhere.

It’s the first time it strikes Homelander that the bug has been at this for quite a while.

Their first catch of the night is a gaggle of filth trying to break into a car.  They’re not even smart about it, talking loudly, rattling a wire hanger against the slightly cracked opening of the passenger side door in an effort to hook the lock.   The bug toys with them, quipping here and there as he knocks them around.

The best, though, was when Homelander descended from the sky and the group collectively pissed their pants.  Just a flicker of red in his eyes was enough to have them quaking, sending a shiver of exhilaration down Homelander’s spine at the sight.  Their fear is delicious.   It’s what those fucking scripted saves always lack.

It’s real. 

Were he on his own, he’d have just let loose a beam of heat to cut through all of them and call it a job well done.  Sure blood and guts would spill everywhere and there'd be a little property damage, but Vought had cleanup crews for a reason.  Wasn’t his fault if a little crime fighting made a mess.

Instead, he helps round them up.  Watches as Ben webs them into one big mass and then, ever the gentleman, he hoists them by a thread to dangle from a nearby streetlight to save Benjamin the effort.  He makes sure to smile pretty for all of the cell phones that get pointed in his direction.

Beside him on a nearby rooftop, the bug swats his hands clean of dirt and huffs a laugh.  “Much better than that bullshit earlier, yeah?” 

“Mm,” he hums, cocking his head to the side. “I would’ve left ‘em with some permanent reminders for not being fucking degenerates, but I guess.” 

“Yeah… let’s– that’s doin’ a little too much, y’know?” Ben says, clearly put off by the implications.  “C’mon, let’s go.  Cops’ll be here soon, and I’m pretty sure I’m still on their shit list even if Vought settled my warrants.”

Exhilarating was too weak of a word for it.

They’ve been out all night at this rate.  The city was a mess on a good day, but fate must have been cooking up an especially busy night just for them.  Muggings, burglaries, assaults, fires.  And with a speed like Homelander’s, it wasn’t hard to cover that much ground.

Something he has no problem bragging about to Ben.

There came a point where the best course of action was for him to zip around the city with the bug in his arms, listening closely for trouble, then hurling Benjamin at whatever scum decided to bless their night with a little fun.  Hell, even with Ben’s do-good mentality and infuriatingly noble no-killing rule, there was still so much enjoyment in doing something real. It’s almost a pity that it came to an end.

The two decided to call it a night, but still somehow ended up lingering with one another on top of the Queensboro Bridge.

“What do you mean she’ll be mad at us?”  Ben asks, brows furrowed as he leans forward to verify Homelander wasn’t simply lying for fun.

“Oh yeah.  Madelyn’s a thorn in the fuckin’ side about following rules.”  He says nonchalantly. Truth be told, he was in no rush to be met with the backlash they’d both inevitably be receiving for their work tonight.  Paperwork!  Verifications!  Legality! All the bullshit he’s sure to have thrown in his face tomorrow with, hopefully, Benjamin at his side to suffer with him.  “She didn’t give you the talk yet?  You were supposed to stop your antics as soon as you signed on.”

“HUH?”  

“Them’s the rules.”  Homelander purses his lips, gaze falling to the heights below.  Cars passing, headlights dancing along the bridge, the water glistening along the shores of Roosevelt Island.

“Oh, fuck that.” Ben declares, defiance heavy in each word.  “Someone’s higher than a kite if they think I’m stopping.  This is like my whole thing!  You promised I’d–”

There’s a touch of guilt, oddly enough.  Sure, he had an inkling that Vought would start putting such restrictions on the bug, but he mostly expected them to let him carry on.  Like Benjamin said, that is his ‘whole thing.’  It was the niche that made him into the hero he was.  There had been no mention of a cease and desist during the selection stage.  The bug was simply an emergency candidate with stellar public reception despite the media’s distaste for him.  A perfect fit.  Easily marketable, already well liked, enough controversy to keep his name in headlines for eternity… 

What wasn’t to want? Homelander signed off on him within seconds.

“Did you know..?”  Ben asks, defiance turning to something far more somber.  Homelander peeks over to find the bug staring down at the abyss of the river, feet kicking from over the rail they sat upon.

“No.”

It’s not a lie.  Not the truth, but not a full lie.  So why the fuck does his mouth keep running? 

“I thought they might, but I didn’t think they would.”  Shit, shit, shit.   Say something, say it fast, recover now. “But, as far as you're concerned… I’m your boss.”

Benjamin’s brows furrow.  “You’ve said as much, but–”

He holds up a hand to silence the boy.  “Which means it’s up to me if you have to stop.  Not some chucklefucks in suits who have never been heroes a day in their pathetic little lives.”  That hand lands upon Ben’s shoulder, gripping firm, but not too tight. “We’re heroes, not them. You and me, tonight?  We were fucking superheroes! D’you have any idea…”  He stops to clear his throat, looking away briefly as his eyes glass over.

The last time he tried to genuinely be a superhero and stop wrongdoers flickers through his mind like a picture booklet with all the haze of the projectors from the lab.  The screams echo in his ears, the ammunition in those guns bursting from the heat of his lasers, all those civilians howling in terror as he fucked up every goddamn step of it all just to have his ass covered by Noir.  Twenty-some years in the past, but the taste of smoke and death has never left his mouth.

Tonight was nothing like that.

“Tomorrow, when Stillwell’s up our asses…” No, no… that’s not how he wants to say it.  “Keep being you.  Keep being a goddamn superhero.  That’s your job.”

How long has he so desperately hated being a fucking marionette for Vought to yank around to sing and dance for their gain?  All the times he’s grilled the team about who they’ve saved just to hear the garbage fucking fake stunts Vought had coordinated for them that he’d already read about in advance… Now, to have someone legitimate, to have someone breaking the corporate mold?

Benjamin was a fucking godsend.  A genuine superhero.  A building block, if not the foundation, to the dream of true heroism that’s festered within Homelander’s heart since childhood.

The smile that greets him makes him feel like he might just be one too.

The flight back to the tower is slow.  Benjamin is sleepy in his arms– something that’s started to seem like an extremely common quality of the bug.  Even during the daylight, he always seems to be ready for a nap.  Despite that, though, Ben continues engaging in their banter.

Just before they’d decided to call it quits and get some rest, the bug raised yet another invasive question that he had zero reason to even be interested in.

‘What’s your name?’ Ben had asked.

Other than annoying, it was somewhat amusing to see Benjamin once again trying to get to know him.  The time in the makeup room had been bad enough, having been accused of his whole public life being a lie.

Having been accused accurately…

It made his teeth itch to know someone could see past it all.  That there was an inkling of doubt in what he’s been convincing the public of for decades was… unsettling.  The bug was smart, though– almost to a fault.  All the intellect in the world wouldn’t necessarily stop him from poking the bear until he’d find his hand trapped between its teeth.

“C’mon, it’s only fair since you know mine!”  The way he giggles as if he weren’t asking something so… difficult.

There is no good relationship between Homelander and his given name.  It was simply a label assigned to a product in development, nothing more.  An echo of humanity forever chaining him to the tortures he’d never asked for.  Why should he give that away? Why give it one more hold over him? 

“No.” Homelander says for the umpteenth time.

“Fiiiine,” Ben whines, yawning right after.  “I’ll get you some day, though.  You like me, I can tell.”

Whatever that’s supposed to mean…

They’re outside the access panel to Benjamin’s apartment, but the bug doesn’t let go.

“I’d rather be your friend.” Ben confesses, and it’s so fucking earnest that it almost makes Homelander drop out of the air entirely. 

The first thing he does is check if it’s a goddamn lie.  Heart rate, cortisol, adrenaline– it’s all in check.

That’s the worst part.

“We got off on a pretty bad note, I’ll give you that,” Ben chuckles. “I mean, you gave me one hell of a run for my money, but I’m starting to think you’re not as bad as you wanted me to think you are, y’know?  You’re weeeeird, but I get the feeling there's more to you under all that.”

If he only knew the real you, eh tiger?

The bug departs from his hold to cling to the wall, turning to rest against it and stare into what must be the most pathetic fucking expression Homelander’s ever had on his face.  He can practically feel that damned deer-in-the-headlights look settling in.

“And if you ever decide we’re good enough buds that I can learn about you, then I, Benjamin Elliot Colyer, would be happy to know what Mister Homelander’s name actually is.”

His gaze falls, dropping all ninety-nine floors to the streets below.  He can’t explain why the corners of his mouth tug.  Why, even with all of his expertise with acting and self control, he can’t quite contain the way the odd sensation in his gut manifests into the smallest sign of happiness– or maybe it was appreciation.  Maybe it just felt nice to have someone nipping at his heels for the chance of getting to know him.

The real him. 

He floats closer to the bug, lips parted as if he means to speak.  But he doesn’t.  He simply extends one hand and presses against the wall panel, opening it the whole way.  With the other, he reaches out for Ben and guides him inside.

“Get some sleep, Benjamin.”  Homelander murmurs.  

Something in his chest feels tight.  Their time ending seems like a tragedy.  But why?

Ben offers him a drowsy grin in return. “You too, Homie.”  He says.  This time, Ben gets to see the amused roll of the eyes such a nickname deserves.

“And make sure you wake up on time.  I don’t wanna have to face the big bad wolf all by myself.”

[zoesblogsposts]

o 625 words to know in your target language o

There is a really interesting blog called "Fluent Forever" that aids foreign language learners in tricks, tips and techniques to guide them to achieving fluency "quickly" and efficiently. One of the tricks is to learn these 625 vocab words in your target language, that way you have a basis to start delving into grammar with ease as you can understand a lot of vocab right off the bat. Plus this list of words are common across the world and will aid you in whatever language you are learning. Here is the list in thematic order

• Animal: dog, cat, fish, bird, cow, pig, mouse, horse, wing, animal

• Transportation: train, plane, car, truck, bicycle, bus, boat, ship, tire, gasoline, engine, (train) ticket, transportation

• Location: city, house, apartment, street/road, airport, train station, bridge hotel, restaurant, farm, court, school, office, room, town, university, club, bar, park, camp, store/shop, theater, library, hospital, church, market, country (USA,

France, etc.), building, ground, space (outer space), bank, location

• Clothing: hat, dress, suit, skirt, shirt, T-shirt, pants, shoes, pocket, coat, stain, clothing

• Color: red, green, blue (light/dark), yellow, brown, pink, orange, black, white, gray, color

• People: son, daughter, mother, father, parent (= mother/father), baby, man, woman, brother, sister, family, grandfather, grandmother, husband, wife, king, queen, president, neighbor, boy, girl, child (= boy/girl), adult (= man/woman), human (# animal), friend (Add a friend's name), victim, player, fan, crowd, person

• Job: Teacher, student, lawyer, doctor, patient, waiter, secretary, priest, police, army, soldier, artist, author, manager, reporter, actor, job

• Society: religion, heaven, hell, death, medicine, money, dollar, bill, marriage, wedding, team, race (ethnicity), sex (the act), sex (gender), murder, prison, technology, energy, war, peace, attack, election, magazine, newspaper, poison, gun, sport, race (sport), exercise, ball, game, price, contract, drug, sign, science, God

• Art. band, song, instrument (musical), music, movie, art

• Beverages: coffee, tea, wine, beer, juice, water, milk, beverage

• Food: egg, cheese, bread, soup, cake, chicken, pork, beef, apple, banana orange, lemon, corn, rice, oil, seed, knife, spoon, fork, plate, cup, breakfast, lunch, dinner, sugar, salt, bottle, food

• Home: table, chair, bed, dream, window, door, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, pencil, pen, photograph, soap, book, page, key, paint, letter, note, wall, paper, floor, ceiling, roof, pool, lock, telephone, garden, yard, needle, bag, box, gift, card, ring, tool

• Electronics: clock, lamp, fan, cell phone, network, computer, program (computer), laptop, screen, camera, television, radio

• Body: head, neck, face, beard, hair, eye, mouth, lip, nose, tooth, ear, tear (drop), tongue, back, toe, finger, foot, hand, leg, arm, shoulder, heart, blood, brain, knee, sweat, disease, bone, voice, skin, body

• Nature: sea, ocean, river, mountain, rain, snow, tree, sun, moon, world, Earth, forest, sky, plant, wind, soil/earth, flower, valley, root, lake, star, grass, leaf, air, sand, beach, wave, fire, ice, island, hill, heat, nature

• Materials: glass, metal, plastic, wood, stone, diamond, clay, dust, gold, copper, silver, material

• Math/Measurements: meter, centimeter, kilogram, inch, foot, pound, half, circle, square, temperature, date, weight, edge, corner

• Misc Nouns: map, dot, consonant, vowel, light, sound, yes, no, piece, pain, injury, hole, image, pattern, noun, verb, adjective

• Directions: top, bottom, side, front, back, outside, inside, up, down, left, right, straight, north, south, east, west, direction

• Seasons: Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall, season

• Numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 40, 41, 42, 50, 51, 52, 60, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 80, 81, 82, 90, 91, 92, 100, 101, 102, 110, 111, 1000, 1001, 10000, 100000, million, billion, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, number

• Months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

• Days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

• Time: year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second, morning, afternoon, evening, night, time

• Verbs: work, play, walk, run, drive, fly, swim, go, stop, follow, think, speak/say, eat, drink, kill, die, smile, laugh, cry, buy, pay, sell, shoot(a gun), learn, jump, smell, hear (a sound), listen (music), taste, touch, see (a bird), watch (TV), kiss, burn, melt, dig, explode, sit, stand, love, pass by, cut, fight, lie down, dance, sleep, wake up, sing, count, marry, pray, win, lose, mix/stir, bend, wash, cook, open, close, write, call, turn, build, teach, grow, draw, feed, catch, throw, clean, find, fall, push, pull, carry, break, wear, hang, shake, sign, beat, lift

• Adjectives: long, short (long), tall, short (vs tall), wide, narrow, big/large, small/little, slow, fast, hot, cold, warm, cool, new, old (new), young, old (young), weak, dead, alive, heavy, light (heavy), dark, light (dark), nuclear, famous

[smilesession]

watching stupid videos of some woman who’s getting paid by the Coca Cola company to make Diet Coke look extraordinary delicious and tantalizing by making a big show about how cold it is, talking about how it’s been “marinated” to perfection because she’s let it sit in her refrigerator for fourteen days, with over-the-top marketing aesthetics convincingly disguised as “tips and tricks” on how to make your soda colder (= pop it in the fridge for a while). pouring it over “pebbled ice”. watching this as i sit in my un-airconditioned apartment with nothing to drink except the water in my water filter in the fridge that has needed its filter changed for a while. it’s been a week now of a heat wave where I’m at, every day over 100 degrees, in my un-airconditioned apartment. no air conditioning in here and no ice in the freezer either because i was putting all the ice i had (not pebbled ice, big oval chunks from a tray) down my clothes when I got home after driving home from my un-airconditioned job in my un-airconditioned car. there’s nothing to drink in my refrigerator except the water in the filter and half a steel reserve that I didn’t finish before I went to bed last night so I popped it back in the fridge this morning. my marinated steel reserve

[feetpiclovers]

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