#what are the signs of a dying car battery

[autorepairhendersonnv]

What are the symptoms of a bad car battery? If you are experiencing starting issues or weak lights, it may be time for a car battery replacement.

[philsservice]

How can you tell when your car battery is going bad? The auto repair experts can give you advice about a needed car battery replacement.

[rumriverautos]

Wondering what is the average life of a car battery? Ask the auto professionals at Rum River Automotive if it’s time for a car battery replacement.

[sweet-old-hereafter]

aghrhrjdj to the three people who read Primus I AM SO SORRY. I got very distracted with the bridge hug fanart that I neglected to work on the next chapter right after a (sort of ) cliffhanger! Rude of me. Am working on it now, meanwhile please accept these random facts about this bizarre convoluted world I’ve created.

- ‘Fourbounding’ is the term used for when apes propel themselves forward with their knuckles. This is considered low-class and regressive by the Coastals (and some of the higher ranking clans). ‘Knuckle-walker’ is a commonly used insult to refer to another perceived as slow-witted or uneducated.

- The apes speak a unique dialect of English with its own grammatical conventions, such as the lack of contractions and adverbs, as well as frequent article omissions. The use of sign language is regional; the preference for brevity in dialogue doesn’t come from a lack of understanding of complex language, but from the fact it is still physically difficult for apes to speak for long periods of time.

- All of Pacifica is in California. Eagle Clan (officially recognized as ‘Mining Clan’) is a valley in the Sierra Nevada. It’s important to note that the clans don’t necessarily originate in the areas that they currently reside in. When the Coastals sought to round up the ‘sundered’, they would’ve relocated them to the nearest natural resource that could be exploited. The borders were not so strictly defined before the Darkest Chapter (the rebellion). They are now fenced and sometimes patrolled.

- The Appia (aka the Pride of Pacifica) is named after the infamous Appian Way of Ancient Rome. It connects all the clans to the Coastal City, though inter-clan travel is barred save for officially sanctioned duties.

- The equivalent of a passenger train system is the ‘caravans’, salvaged Airstream campers pulled by mules and powered by rechargeable batteries. Each system has one car solely dedicated to preparing food and more than one dedicated to refueling supplies.

- The saltwater batteries are real! They can be made from the casings of regular batteries. They aren’t super efficient but are much less dangerous to manufacture.

- The radios are supplied (and required) by the state, but they’ve been altered to only pick a certain range/ frequency….hmm what was that beeping Mae noticed in chap 3 after Noa started screwing with the radio hghhdhhfhhhhphh.

- Proximus comes from a long line of divine-right rulers who claim not only to be descendants of Caesar but to embody him spiritually. Unlike the areligious Panem, Pacifica is highly faith/superstition based.

- The Coastal apes got into that vault at least a century prior the when the story takes place, hence why the society is much more technologically advanced than what we see in Kingdom.

- That mechanical looking water fountain mentioned in chap two is a clepsydra, or a ‘water clock’.

- In case you didn’t catch it, the dead echo that Noa encounters is the one Mae mentions committed suicide. He was a ‘breaker’, the strongest of the miners. Mae is a ‘fuser’, another class of miners who’s small size is utilized to place explosives in crowded tunnels.

AND some bonus character tidbits:

- Koro (Noa’s father) defeated an invading clan during the Darkest Chapter. The rebellion created a power vacuum that enabled some of the larger clans to overtake the smaller ones. Eagle Clan managed to stay neutral, not siding with the rebels (but they did attempt to enforce their sovereignty). Despite this, the Coastals perceived this defeat as a victory on their side and granted the House of Eagle Sun special privileges post-treaty-of-treason, though they are still subject to the same provisions as the ‘traitor’ clans. Koro is very troubled by his recognition as a war hero, especially since defeating said clan involved killing. He’s now dying of a curable disease called the ‘hectic’, hence all the coughing.

- Soona and Anaya are from a lower class than Noa’s family. As they age into adults this rift becomes more obvious (and uncomfortable). Noa recognizes the narrative transpiring between the two without him and this stirs some confusing feelings….(yeah I am on a soonaya kick they’re prolly gonna kiss on the mouth)

- Noa has dyspraxia. His clumsy-ness is alluded to in Kingdom but will become increasingly relevant in this story. From a young age he’s been prone to neurosis (the reoccurring nightmares, the desire to up and leave the clan) despite his relatively comfortable lifestyle. His emotional intelligence and empathy has allowed him to realize the full scope of the cruelty of the system he exists within, yet he has to actively resist these thoughts because he knows he’ll go mad. Sure hope this isn’t used against him…

- Raka’s partner has been dead for a long time, but Raka suppresses the urge to grow flanges by keeping a photograph of him by his side wherever he goes. He sleeps with it. :(

- Mae has secrets upon secrets. That’s all I gotta say there.

[thap1nkblog]

[★] ᵈᵒʷⁿˡᵒᵃᵈ ᶠⁱⁿⁱˢʰᵉᵈ!

FILE PATH ↬ THAP1NKBL0G ↬ MASTERLIST ↬ [＃] P1NKYSH0TS

ᵐᵉᵗᵃᵈᵃᵗᵃ: keith powers [male!oc] x saweetie [female!oc], 18+, third person ᵈᵃᵗᵉ ᵐᵒᵈⁱᶠⁱᵉᵈ: 8/18/22 ʷᵒʳᵈ ᶜᵒᵘⁿᵗ: 10,937 ᵖ¹ⁿᵏʸ'ˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵗˢ: i had an idea of a spinoff/au for one of the books i was writing at the time. i wrote this in 2022, practicing writing in third person. originally posted on wattpad, lol.

❝𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐦𝐫. 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧.❞

❝𝐢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞.❞

The energy tonight was potent, thick with the seductive, sensual energy that filled the club. Blue and silver confetti, and green dollar bills rained from the sky, covering the floor while lights flashed across the club, bathing everybody in hues of blue, while the crowd swayed unpredictably like a tsunami wave. It was fierce, tugging at you as you entered, beckoning to rope you into the cesspool of sexual tension and lust that was only fueled by constantly flowing drinks, given to patrons by scantily clad bottle girls who rushed from table to table with big bottles of various alcohols, while dancers dressed in next to nothing, and even nothing at all, spun about the poles on the main stage, luring men in just like a siren’s song. 

This kind of activity wasn’t unusual for Club Crystal - but tonight was different. To those tucked away in the comfort of their homes, eyes shut peacefully away from Atlanta’s fast-paced nightlife, it was any regular Friday.  It was the end of a long work week, and the start of a shorter weekend filled with relaxing and running errands. But depending on who you asked, tonight as a special occasion, one for the history books, a complete blowout. 

Tonight was 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥. 

Not to be confused with any fairytale, it was the fifth anniversary of the day Club Crystal officially opened its doors to the public. The Crystal Ball wasn’t just any regular Atlanta event - each year, it got bigger and better, and each year, the theatrics doubled, tripled in size. Beyond the double doors of Atlanta’s newest strip club, right on the old soil where Follies once stood, cars were doing burnouts in the parking lot, and if you paid a pretty penny, you could get what they called “A Crystal Flush” - where you and your car could come out squeaky clean - if you held onto your morals and dignity once you made it out on the other side. If you made it out on the other side. 

And in the middle of it all, surrounded by the smoke, reverberated, bass boosted music and buzzing, energizing sensation that seemed to drip and ooze from the four walls of the club was 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧. 

And the friends that had dragged him along tonight. 

“Ooh, I love this shit!”

Sipping - or in his brother’s words - babysitting the Don Julio reposado that filled his glass, he slouched back against the couch, the black leather supporting his back, giving way for his shoulders to sink in. Terrell was like a kid in a candy store, flinging money over the balcony, the crisp, thin sheets of blue faced, hundred dollar bills slipping through his fingers, raining money down on the people below them. With the force and speed that he kept throwing, Tyree would’ve figured his arm would’ve popped out of socket by now. 

Tyree sighed, checking his phone, looking for any signs of life from his fiancee. It was probably the tenth time he had checked his phone already, and he had nothing to show for the hour that had passed aside from the picture on his lock screen that stared back at him, and wasted time. His battery was dying - his phone and his social battery, but the party around him continued on, his friends blowing through stacks of money without a care in the world. 

From where he was sitting, he could see the hosts for tonight’s event - Future and 21 Savage -  throwing racks of their own, surrounded by an entourage of security guards, who enclosed them like a human cage - dressed in all black and ready to go if something unsavory was to happen. Bottle girls dressed in black glitter leotards slid in between the security guards, bringing over bottle after bottle for Atlanta’s own royalty. 

“Oh my god, nigga she’s not gonna text you back, she’s doing her own shit.” 

RC plopped down next to him, tucking a stack of ones into the front pocket of his olive green Chrome Hearts hoodie. He peeked over Tyree’s shoulder, kissing his teeth at the blank lock screen that illuminated their faces. He attempted to pull the phone from Tyree’s hands, but Tyree tilted his wrist just out of reach from RC’s hands. 

“I’m just checking on her.”

“You in a club full of bad bitches, sitting mere feet from Future, and you worried about Michelle? Damn, Terrell was right.” 

“The fuck you mean Terrell was right, Julius?” 

Tyre scrunched his face up, which only made RC grin, practically from ear to ear. RC leaned in close so Tyree could hear him, the sounds of Future’s Freak Hoe thumping from the speakers, making it hard to hear the person next to you - let alone hear yourself think.  

“That you one pussy whipped motherfucker. You changed, nigga.” 

“I’m not listening to a nigga who’s still out here chasing hoes.” 

“At least I’m having fun. You over here checking your phone like you waiting for some STD results or some shit.” 

“You the last nigga I’m finna let talk to me like that. Didn’t you have the clap? Twice?”

“It was once! And fuck you, I told you that shit because I trusted you, you Ronnie DeVoe looking bitch.”

RC’s not-so subtle British accent rolled off his tongue, his words like daggers, piercing the surface of Tyree’s emotions. Any other time, Tyree would’ve been able to ignore it. But this time was different. He felt different. 

Tonight was supposed to be a night of celebrations, yet Tyree was stuck. Trapped. He was supposed to be happy, yet all he could think about was how time was ticking down for him. He was venturing into unknown territory - the hours counting down, leading up to the inevitable moment where he was no longer a boyfriend, a fiance. He was going to be someone’s husband. Tonight was supposed to be his last hurrah before he had to buckle down and get his mind on straight. Yet, his mind was completely elsewhere. And RC’s playful teasing wasn’t making it any better. RC didn’t know, or maybe he did, but all it did was make Tyree think about what he was walking into. 

Like he wasn’t thinking about it enough, already. 

The hours were counting down, leading up until the moment where he was going to be walking down the aisle, but the more he thought about it, the more the nagging voice in the back of his head picked at him. The more the nerves set in, the more his stomach twisted in knots, and the knot in his chest only grew larger. He didn’t know exactly why he felt like that - I mean it was natural to feel nervous right? To feel like you’d fall to pieces? 

But for some reason, Tyree couldn’t shake that it was a symptom of something bigger. Way bigger than just nerves. Bigger than just “cold feet”. Shit, he was feeling frigid. Like a sheet of ice floating in the Antarctic Ocean. Ice fucking cold. 

And he didn’t want to think about that. 

“Nigga, you still got that damn glass in your hand?” 

Leaving his spot at the balcony, Terrell sat down next to Tyree, the expensive, yet popular scent of Dior’s Sauvage cologne following behind him. Dressed to impress in a white and navy blue designer polo shirt, his brother’s heavily tattooed arms were exposed, his brother’s flashy style only amplified by the gigantic, diamond, two-tone cuban link chain around his neck, and the diamond Rolex watch that reflected the lights that flashed above them. From the moment they walked in, Terrell had all eyes on him, gathering attention from everybody they walked past, his personality and demeanor attracting them like moths to a flame. As bottled girls flooded their section with what seemed like endless rounds of drinks, they made sure to be extra nice to Terrell, his charismatic personality and the money he flashed making them swoon. 

“No, this is my-”

“Oh cut the cap nigga, you been sitting there like one of them bronze ass statues for the past hour.” 

Reaching for a drink glass of his own, Terrell poured himself a drink from the slender, tall bottle of 1942, clinking it against Tyree’s glass. 

“For a nigga who’s getting married, you sure acting like you going to a funeral instead.”

“This just isn’t my kind of scene, and you know that.” 

“So? Michelle ain’t here - the fuck is she finna do? Besides, this is your last blowout, man. You already know Michelle’s gonna keep you locked down once you tie the knot.”

Tyree watched as Terrell brought the glass to his lips, tossing back the liquid in the glass without even a second thought. He didn’t even wince as he placed the cup back down on the round, glass table, amongst all the other bottles of liquor and empty cups and glasses that took up space on the small surface, surrounding an ice bucket that sat in the middle of the table. 

But even though Terrell was putting on a larger than life, excited persona for everybody else, Tyree could see straight through it. It was in the way he was looking at him - worried, confused. Apprehensive. 

But that wasn’t new, especially from Terrell. He had been against Tyree marrying Michelle from the moment he saw the forty-thousand dollar engagement ring on her finger. 

 “I can’t believe you’re getting fucking married.”

And in all honesty - Tyree couldn’t believe he was getting married, either. It wasn’t that he had anything against getting married, no, never. He wasn’t afraid of commitment, shit, he wanted to settle down. He already did all the late night hookups, spending thousands of dollars on women he knew it wouldn’t work out with. He had been the boyfriend, the ex boyfriend, the side nigga, friends with benefits - and he was tired of the drama and mess that had came with it. And in his line of work, you needed a partner to keep your secrets. Someone that you could trust. 

But even with all of that, he never saw himself getting married so soon. It sounded good on paper. Perfect, actually. Something that would be the final puzzle pieces to his life. 

But he was only getting older, and his hand was practically forced due to the revelation that Michelle thought she was pregnant. The two of them had been talking about having kids lately, but he didn’t think she was completely serious. And with the way things were going, a better time for things didn’t seem to be stretching over the horizon for him. This was as good as it was going to get. 

But if you asked Terrell - it was a bunch of bullshit to him. He had always been critical of Michelle, even more so now that she was going to become part of the family. The two of them never really got along in the first place, so it wasn’t surprising to Tyree that Terrell was overly critical of their relationship. Michelle thought Terrell was an asshole, and she wasn’t afraid to tell him what she thought about him - which never failed to start all their arguments. And since Terrell wasn’t one to back down, he’d come in quick with telling her how she was a “stuck up, judgemental, spoon fed -” which by then Tyree would usually step in and break them up. 

“Well believe it, cause it’s happening.” 

Terrell rolled his eyes, nudging Tyree’s arm. 

“Well if you’re gonna leave me by myself, the least you could do is drink. You know how expensive all this shit was?”

“Again, I ain’t ask you to do this.”

“Fuck you. It’s a celebration for you. The least your stone cold ass could do is try to enjoy yourself.”

“I’m sick and tired of hearing y’all niggas’ mouths. Fine, whatever.” 

And with a little extra peer pressure from his brother, Tyree finished the drink in his glass, and gulped down the next shot Terrell had poured for him. He downed the next round of shots they all had prepared when Dominic rejoined the group, covered in glitter and lipgloss. And while Tyree decided against asking what mess he had gotten himself into, RC made a toast. 

 “To Tyree, that nigga is all grown up!”

And as the the dark liquor coursed through his veins, Tyree couldn’t help but find himself sucked into the enticing, sexual ambiance that radiated throughout the club, slowly tugging, perminating on his mental. His friends were right - this was his last night before he had to buckle down and fly straight. They were celebrating him, and who was he to refuse? His brother didn’t do all of this for it to go to waste, and it was all in the name of “celebration”. 

That’s what he was supposed to be doing, right? 

All of his worries and the barrage of thoughts about his upcoming wedding, and the pressure he was feeling seemed to fade away with a few drinks, beautiful bottle girls flooding their section with overpriced bottles of liquor, topped off with sparklers while strippers dressed in hues of pastel blues and white danced against them, money beginning to litter the floor beneath their feet. He could feel the booming, fast paced beats in his chest, the melodic tune of Lil Baby and Gunna’s Never Recover echoing throughout the club as the DJ and patrons below them recited the lyrics on time and without missing a beat. 

“Throw that fucking money! We know y’all got it!”

Turning his attention from the conversation he was having with Dominic, the DJ’s loud voice in his ears announced the next set of dancers on the stage, only catching one of their names before the horns and explosion sounds gave way to the next song in the queue.

“Shit..these bitches ain’t no fucking joke!”

As Dominic threw fistfuls of money with no rhyme or reason, Tyree found his eyes glued to the girls that twirled around the pole, the duo dressed in matching, soft blue monokinis. The strappy, barely there outfits stretched over their curves, the rhinestones that adorned the straps twinkling as the light as they spun around, their bodies gliding around the pole. His eyes followed their movements, bouncing between the two of them as they put him in a trance. Mimi, a beautiful girl with long, blonde hair in layers that framed her face, garnered his attention initially, his eyes catching the vibrant colored floral tattoo on her thigh. 

Money burned a hole in his pocket, the intensity of the flames only getting hotter as the other girl on stage caught his attention, his eyes and head following her movements as she climbed up the top of the pole.  The other girl, with caramel skin and curly, black hair that flowed over her shoulder ascended the pole with ease, the platforms of her heels flickering with white light as she contorted her body around the sleek, silver metal pole. Her hair slightly obstructed her face as she spun around upside down, approaching the bottom of the stage quickly, but stopping short before she hit the floor, dangling upside down. Her precise, but graceful movements were hypnotizing, complemented by the money flying in her direction, and hands reaching out from her from around the stage. 

“Go on, throw it. You know you want to. I know you see something you like.” 

Like a devil on his shoulder, Terrell egged him on, squeezing his shoulders as the two of them watched the mystery girl captivate her audience below. Terrell tossed his own stacks of money towards her, and soon Tyree followed suit, the bills slipping from his fingers, raining down on the people below. First went one thousand, then another, and another, free falling throughout the sky, the four men’s bankrolls blanketing the club like a flurry of rain. It just kept coming, and the more Tyree drank, the more money left his pocket - and he didn’t give a fuck where it was going. 

As far as he was concerned, he had already spent a shitload of money on a wedding - funding six college tuitions wasn’t going to put a dent in his pocket. 

“Aye, Tyree!”

Getting Tyree’s attention was Terrell and RC, who dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder. The two of them were well past drunk - well at least RC was anyway, who swayed from side to side like a pendulum, slurring his words. Julius stumbled over his feet as he walked past them, bumping into Tyree on his way to the couch, where he dove face first into the cushions. One of the dancers, who he recognized as Mimi, sat down next to him, propping his face into her lap as she handed him a cup of water. 

“That nigga is done for.”

“You think? Anyways, I got someone I want you to meet.” 

He watched as Terrell waved over a beautiful dark skin girl, dressed in a similar outfit to all the other dancers Tyree had seen running around tonight. Terrell wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and the woman introduced herself as Fancy, whose voice was smooth, and sultry, with a pretty smile to match. Her burgundy red hair complimented her skin tone, and she looked him up and down, her eyes lingering on the Audemars Piguet watch that adorned Tyree’s wrist. It was almost like she was analyzing him, and even though he stood taller than her, she kept consistent eye contact with him. 

“You ready for your dance?”

“Uh, I didn’t order a dance.”

Tyree’s face twisted up in confusion, his eyebrows knitting together. Fancy kissed her teeth, rolling her eyes as she looked between the set of twins, raising an eyebrow. 

“Yeah you did, remember?”

“I-”

“Well someone paid five stacks for a dance - either of yall finna let that go to waste?” 

Tyree already knew that this was Terrell’s doing, judging by the stupid, slick grin across his face, and the laugh that came from him. It was just like Terrell to set him up like this - he was always getting the two of them in trouble, and this was just another one of the tricks Terrell kept up his sleeves at all times.

“Five?”

“Pocket change, really.”

Terrell shrugged, unbothered that he just spent someone’s down payment on a car in record breaking time. 

Before Tyree had time to object, Terrell was already pushing in the direction of the stairs, Fancy grabbing the front of his white Heron Preston shirt, the fabric pinched between her well manicured index finger and thumb. With Terrell following behind them, Fancy grabbed his hand, leading them through the stuffed crowd of people, packed in together like sardines, nearly taking up all the space and breathing room available. Tyree couldn’t even run if he wanted to - there was nowhere for him to go, and with the firm grip Fancy had on his hand, she definitely wasn’t going to let him get away. Not a chance.

They finally came out on the other side of the crowd at the private rooms, which was a long hallway with a set of doors fixed into the walls on either side. An LED sign hung overhead, reading “The Jewelry Store”, in bright blue, cursive letters, and underneath stood two security guards that blocked the entrance. Dressed in all black, they both stood tall, with their chests puffed out, and stoic, frigid expressions across their faces as their eyes scanned everybody that walked past them. 

One was dressed in a black shirt and vest, with a gun holstered to his hip, while the other had a well detailed scorpion tattooed on his neck, white light that briefly swept over their side of the club allowing Tyree to see the intricate shading and linework of the ink. They looked Tyree, Fancy, and Terrell up and down, giving their sole attention to Fancy who leaned up on her tip-toes to speak to them. 

While they talked, Tyree looked around, feeling a wave of uneasiness wash over him. Sure, he had been in strip clubs before, dragged along because of Terrell, but never had he done anything like this. This spelled out trouble, big trouble, and he knew that if Michelle knew what he was doing, he'd never hear the end of it. 

But deep down, way deep down inside, part of him was curious. Where this curiosity came from, he didn’t know, but it kept him from walking away, keeping his feet firmly planted in place. 

With one last, analyzing, throughout stare before unhooking the gate, the guards gave their approval to the group, one of them joining the walk as Fancy led the way down the hallway, which seemed to stretch on forever to Tyree. The music was much quieter, and subdued in this part of the club, and Tyree could hear their footsteps as Fancy brought them to their destination, her heels clacking against the concrete floor, the shimmery silver tassels on her heels shaking back and forth as she walked. 

“Here you go.”

“What?”

Pushing him towards the door, Tyree went bursting through the door, nearly sent flying into the room by Terrell. 

“Have fun. She won’t tell if you don’t.”

“Terrell-”

Tyree could feel the wind from the door closing against his face as he stood there in complete confusion, reaching for the door before it swung back into the door frame, leaving him alone in the room - or so he thought. 

“First time?” 

Caught off guard from the sudden voice as he stepped further into the room, he spun around, his eyes settling on the large mirror that was fixed to the wall. Standing in front of the mirror was the mystery woman he recognized from the stage, who fluffed out her hair, making eye contact with his reflection in the mirror. She smiled softly at Tyree, unfazed by the baffled expression that had washed over his face, trying to process what had just happened. 

“Yes? Wait - no, no!” 

Tyree shook his head, tossing his hands in front of him, unsure of why he was reassuring her, and what he was even reassuring her of in the first place. A soft laugh came from the woman, who gestured for Tyree to take a seat on the couch. Not wanting to be rude, he obliged, slinking into the soft, fabric couch beneath him, watching her step up onto the small stage in front of him. 

Michelle was going to absolutely kill him. 

The thought of Michelle finding out was sobering. How would she find out? He didn’t know, but the mere thought of that kind of confrontation sent his mind reeling. He might be able to get away with going to a strip club - you know, stretch the truth a bit about what he did for his bachelor party when she asked - but there was no way he was going to be able to spin getting a lap dance. She was going to be able to smell the club on him, he just knew it. It was practically undeniable. 

“What’s your name?”

Pulling him from his obsessive thoughts was the mystery woman, who stood leaning against the pole in front of him, her arm wrapped around the metal. He tried his hardest not to look at her, wanting to avoid the reality of his situation. He looked all over the room, grasping for anything, something but the woman standing in the middle of the room to grasp his attention. The plush, gray couch spread out across the wall, simple, black paint covering all four walls. The light above bathed the room in a soft shade of blue, while along the floor was lined with white light strips. 

And no matter where he looked, he could see her out of the corner of his eye, slowly twirling around the pole, her attention locked on him. 

“Tyree.”

Wiping his sweaty hands on the denim fabric of his khaki, Jacquemus jeans, he accepted his fate, looking at her. She smiled at him again, Tyree subconsciously taking note of her warm, inviting smile, and her sweet, calming voice. 

He didn’t know why he gave her his name, but then again, he didn’t know why he was in this room. He didn’t know why he was here, period. As the alcohol began to catch up to him, his brain was practically screaming at him to get up, to leave, to be anywhere but here, that this situation screamed trouble - yet his feet stayed firmly planted. 

He could feel his nerves peaking, rushing to the top as the room filled with an uncomfortable, awkward tension. The subtle scent of weed and perfume hung heavy in the air, while silence overtook them, neither one of them opting to say anything further. Or rather, Tyree didn’t say anything further. 

Yet, the mystery girl didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she acted like the tension didn’t even exist.  

“So Tyree, how old are you?”

Was this what all the dancers did? Ask for your personal information? What’s next, she would ask what for the last four of his social security number?

“Twenty-seven. You?”

Yet, he still surrendered an answer to her question - Tyree unable to not notice how pretty she was, or rather, a voice in the back of his head acknowledged her it. He tried to ignore the new series of thoughts springing to life in his brain, breaking eye contact with her to reel his focus back in. 

“Twenty-four, but my birthday is in two weeks. I’m a Cancer. What about you?” 

“You believe in that zodiac stuff?”

“Yeah. When’s your birthday?”

She waited patiently for his answer as she twirled about the pole, the flashing white lights in her shoes beckoning for his attention. Even with his back pressed firmly against the couch, he could see the details of her outfit as she moved, giving him a full 360 view of how her outfit clung to her curves, stretching out over his hips, the thong seemingly swallowed between her ass cheeks. He wasn’t supposed to be noticing these details, and he swallowed hard, feeling his throat go dry. 

Just keep talking, Tyree. It’ll be over in no time. 

“August twenty-second.”

As if they weren’t already close enough, stifled by the stuffy, thick, tensioned air between them, she stepped down from the stage, standing in front of him. His heart thumped with each movement she made, his pace quickening as she leaned over, placing his hands on his knees, bringing her face close to his. He felt the smallest of shocks by her unexpected movements, glancing down at her hands. 

He didn’t know how, but her nails were the exact same shade of her outfit, adorned with gems and jewels, twinkling in the overhead light. Her long, manicured nails stretched over her fingers, gently grazing his knees. 

“Of course you’re a Virgo. I bet you’re a real critical person, huh? Always think you know better than everybody else?”

She spoke softly, almost whispering, ending her sentence with the same, nerve inducing smile she kept giving him. He rolled his eyes, knowing that she was right - but he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that. 

“But isn’t that everyone?”

“I don’t know, is it?”

The two of them fell silent, but the tension before them had seemed to disappear, melting away in the matter of a few questions. In their silence, Tyree was finally able to get a good look at her, his eyes dropping to her lips, which were covered in a pink, glittery shade of lipgloss that made her plump lips stand out. Body glitter decorated her exposed, honey colored skin, and he noticed the beauty mark on her shoulder. Thoughts about how soft she looked slowly took over his mind, his eyes wandering down to her cleavage, before he realized what he was doing. 

A lurking, ruminating thought in the back of his head kept questioning if she was as soft as she looked, tempting, beckoning him to make the move. He couldn’t shake it loose, the thought holding on for dear life, taunting him as she invaded his personal space - not that he was complaining. That’s all he had to do, right? She wouldn’t mind, right? They were already this close - 

But what about Michelle? 

Michelle - his beautiful fiancee. The one he was about to get married to. The girl of his dreams. His best friend. 

He kept trying to jog his memory of her - visualize her face in his head, yet that all became a distant memory as the woman before him climbed into his lap. His common sense begged him to get up and go - take him as far as his legs could take go, but yet again, his feet stayed firmly planted, another side of Tyree taking over, one that was fully falling into the trance that seemed to be taking hold of him. 

Taking his larger hands in her delicate ones, she placed them on her waist, the voice in the back of his head finally getting its answer. 

She was soft. Real soft. 

And she smells good. Real good. 

But pushing to the forefront of his mind was his fiance, Tyree unable to control the word salad that spilled out of his mouth. 

“I’m getting married in two days.”

He licked his lips nervously, his eyes searching her face for a response. He was sure she had her fair share of men that came through that were in his position. “Celebrating” their marriages by spending their last few moments gawking over other women, as if a ring and some vows were supposed to prevent a wandering eye. Tyree couldn’t help but wonder if that made her think about him differently. He wasn’t sure why he was so concerned about her opinion in the first place, but maybe it wasn’t really about her opinion, as much as it was about his. He couldn’t shake the lingering, overwhelming feeling that he was a bad person. He knew that he didn’t belong here, that this wasn’t his scene, that situations like this only invited drama, like his relationship wasn’t already rocky enough. 

His engagement ring catches his eye, the black, titanium band wrapped around his left ring finger, inset with matching black diamonds. It felt like only yesterday when Michelle and him were picking out rings, yet here he was, with his hand resting against a stranger’s asscheek. One that he only exchanged names with moments ago. 

But if she did have any ill feelings to what Tyree had admitted, he couldn’t tell, judging by her blank, unbothered expression. He half expected her to scold him, to get up and tell him to get his ass out of here, to ask him what the hell he was doing here. But she did none of that.

She just..continued their conversation, not missing a beat, breezing past his announcement like he had just told her that the sky was blue. 

“Marriage is a big commitment,”

She told him as she guided his hands along her body, the pads of his fingers sliding along the curve of her waist as she moved her body to the beat of the music. She maintained eye contact with him, Tyree opting to focus on her almond shaped, dark brown eyes, instead of how smooth her skin felt against his hands. Fuck. 

“You ready for that?” 

“I don’t know, it seems like the right thing to do.”

That was a loaded question - yet it wasn’t one that he hadn’t asked himself a thousand times before. In fact, it was all he thought about recently. In between planning an elaborate wedding, picking out cakes and decorations and finalizing guests lists, the deep seated feeling of reluctance continued to set in. He thought that by now he’d be over it, able to push past it. But as the hours ticked on - the worse he felt. He wasn’t able to shake it off. 

“But is that what you wanna do?” 

But that’s because the feeling wasn’t going anywhere. No matter how bad he wanted it to. No matter how many times he forced himself to smile through fittings for his tuxedo, or the countless times he had looked through venues and talked to planners, and put down all these deposits. The feeling in his chest only continued to grow, threatening to consume him if he didn’t do anything about it. 

And her innocent, well meaning question only answered his worst fears. Planted the seeds of feelings he had buried deep down, had convinced himself that he didn’t mean it. That it was just a phase. 

Dropping his hands to his sides, he sighed, leaning his head back against the couch. He couldn’t hide from the truth anymore, and the fact that he was in this situation confirmed everything. He was drunk, unhappy, and lonely, feeling more connected to the pretty girl sitting in his lap than the girl he had known since they were teenagers. And he was beating himself up for feeling that way. 

Michelle and him were the perfect love story. They were supposed to work out. They were supposed to be together forever, and live happily ever after. 

But he couldn’t fake it any more. Even though he really wanted to. 

But he couldn’t break things off. Not now. It was too late. For fuck’s sake, they were about to get married in less than seventy-two hours! It wouldn’t be the right thing to do. 

But what about how he felt?

That was something he hadn’t given much thought to until she had asked. 

“You know, you’re the first guy I’ve seen who feels bad about it.”

He leaned his head back up, meeting the sad expression on her face. 

“About what?”

His words slurred together, the syllables falling against each other due to the alcohol that washed over him, along with his feelings. It was like a wave crashing against the shore, the feelings he had pushed away, compartmentalized in the depths of his brain were rushing in with full force, ready to wipe out everything in its wake. It oozed out of him, out of his thoughts, dripping from his words. 

“About not being in love with a girl who loves them. Most guys don’t care.” 

“Or does that mean I’m an even worse piece of shit?”

He tilted his head back, feeling tears sting the back of his eyes. Tyree wasn’t one for crying, and he wasn’t about to cry now. Not here. Not now. And damn sure not in front of a stranger - regardless of how sweet she seemed to be. He wasn’t going to be one of those cliche niggas who poured their heart out to a stripper, when they really needed a therapist. Not that he needed a therapist, either.

He felt a gentle hand reach at his face, her fingers caressing the side of his face, gingerly tilting his head back down to make him look at her. 

“You’re not a bad guy, but sometimes you gotta live for yourself. Not for what someone else wants you to do.”

She spoke as if she had been in a position like that before - but the pessimist in Tyree made him wonder if she was being genuine, telling him that her wisdom had only come from the amount of guys who had probably told her the same thing before. She had no real reason to be nice to him - aside for money, yet something was telling him that she meant that for real, and was only trying to empathize with him. But then again, she was getting paid five grand for this “dance”. 

She was getting paid to be nice. 

But he didn’t want to think about that. What was he thinking? He didn’t mean any of that. Of course he loved Michelle. He wouldn’t stick around if he didn’t. If the feelings between them weren’t genuine. If their relationship didn’t mean anything to him. Michelle was the only woman he felt close to, that he could trust with anything. It was just cold feet. Everybody felt that way before they got married, right? 

And to avoid answering that, he did what he knew best.

Deflect. 

“Why are you here? You don’t seem like the kind of girl who would be in a place with this.”

She grinned, like she knew he was only asking about her so that it would take the heat off of himself. She didn’t call him out on it, and he was grateful. He was desperate to talk about anything else. 

“And what kind of girl do you think I am?”

He wasn’t expecting her to flip it back on him, though. 

“I don’t know, I’m just talking-” 

He stammed over her his words, falling flat on his attempt to get out the hot seat.

“I don’t know, you’re just being nicer than you have to be to me.” 

“You must think I’m paying for school or something. That’s what all you guys think, right?”

Tyree shook his head, squirming underneath her, which clearly amused her. She took her teasing a step further, continuing to playfully pick at him.

“You got a fantasy about saving a girl from the club? That turns you on?”

“N-No, I was just-”

She burst into laughter, interrupting his messy explanation, tossing her head back. She swept her hair over her shoulder, almost doubling over with laughter, the sound of her laugh just barely echoing in the room. She was laughing so hard she almost fell out of his lap, Tyree’s hands instinctively pulling her against him before she fell to the floor. The quick motion caused her to grind against the seat of his pants, a jolt of electricity running from his fingertips throughout his body. 

Her laughter stopped almost instantly, a heavy blanket of tension falling over the both of them. It lingered in the air, almost stifling the breaths Tyree took. Did she feel it too?

There was no denying it - he was definitely attracted to her. 

If Tyree wasn’t already in the middle of it - he was definitely approaching the danger zone. And the alarm bells that were firing off in his head were telling him that. Unfortunately, the sound of them was only subdued by the alcohol in his system, the same alcohol that was filling his mind with inappropriate thoughts. Thoughts about the pretty girl in his lap, when he should’ve been thinking about his future wife. 

But the thought of Michelle is so far away with this girl in his face. 

“I’m just a regular stripper,”

She leaned in close, her breath tickling his neck. She spoke in a soft whisper, pressing her body against his, the scent of her vanilla and brown sugar perfume filling his nose, her hand caressing the back of his neck, her fingers dragging along the chain around his neck.  

“But I do think you’re kinda cute.”

Her soft voice against his skin made him twitch in his pants, something deep, deep down within him stirring awake. She guided his hands over her hips and ass, his hands lingering in that position as she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in close to him. 

The inappropriate thoughts only continued in his mind, this time stepping to the very front, ruminating over the endless possibilities that seemed to race through his mind. She smelled so good, and her skin felt so good, he couldn’t help but hopelessly wonder what if she felt even better. His mind poked and prodded him with suggestive thoughts, fantasies forming in the back of his mind - wondering what she looked like without the outfit. What she sounded like. Even better - what she sounded like saying his name. 

It was just the two of them in this room - they could do anything. They had enough time to do whatever they wanted, and nobody would ever know. Not Terrell, not the security guard, and damn sure not Michelle. It could be their little secret. That wasn’t so bad, right?

Their faces inched closer to one another, Tyree’s breath catching in his chest, while the sexual tension between them bubbled over, approaching a crescendo. Could she feel it too? Or was he just crazy? 

But he’d never get the answer to that question. 

Loud, forceful knocking on the door cut straight through their moment, and she pulled away, Tyree exhaling sharply. 

“Time’s up.”

Tyree felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders when she stood up. His breathing returned to normal, the pressure that was building in his chest seeming to disappear as he snapped out of her trance. When he stood up, he swayed slightly from side to side, trying to gain his bearings. The room was spinning, his head was spinning, and so was his stomach. Why’d he drink so much?

As if she noticed, she took his hand, guiding him out of the room and back down the lengthy hallway. With each wobbly, drunken step he took, he tried to match her decisive, smaller steps. The music was pounding, reverberating through his body, almost like a breath of fresh air from whatever situation he had gotten - or almost got himself into in that room. 

He wandered over to the bar, not noticing that the mystery woman had left his side until his brother appeared in his face, sliding a cup of water in his direction. 

Any other time he might’ve been relieved to see Terrell, but after the shit he pulled, he didn’t even want to look at him. It was like looking into a mirror - a mirror that reflected his fuck ups and bad decisions right back at him, and reflected his own stupidity. Fortunately, it wasn’t like Tyree could see his face clearly, anyways - his head was swirling. Swirling with alcohol induced confusion, beating him up about his even more confused perceptions about Michelle, and his attraction to a scantily clad stranger - who represented temptation thinly veiled behind invasive questions and well intentioned advice. 

He couldn’t believe he actually considered cheating on Michelle. His future wife. The woman he had been with and pined over on and off since he was eighteen. His family. The future mother of his kids. 

Even if it was just a kiss - how far could it have really gone? He wanted to lie to himself, tell himself that he was stronger than that, better than that. He wasn’t a cheater. He didn’t want to throw away his relationship for just a moment of weakness. A moment of pleasure. If he was so strong, why couldn’t he stop replaying that blimp in time? Why couldn’t he ignore that feeling of her breath on his neck, the way her fingers lightly danced across the back of his neck? The way her voice sounded like a melody in his ears? 

What was he doing? What was wrong with him? He was going to marry Michelle and that was it. He was going to fix things. Fly straight and erase this night, and her, from his mind. He loved Michelle. He wanted to be with her - he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her - even though that seemed like a long, fucking time. Then what was the issue? Why was he so hung up on some girl he didn’t even know? He didn’t even know her name!

Because - he didn’t really want to get married. 

Hell, he didn’t want to have kids now. Not where he was at in his life. Not with what he did with his life. He didn’t want to bring a child into this world with the dirt he did. It would be putting too much at risk. 

More importantly, he wasn’t happy. 

“You alright man?”

Terrell shook his shoulders, his face flushing with worry, while the array of lights overhead bathed his face in hues of blue and purple. Tyree weaseled out of his grasp, putting some distance between them, nodding his head. 

“I’m good, I just need some fresh air.”

He doubted Terrell could hear him over the music, but he assumed Terrell got the hint when he didn’t follow him outside. 

Greeting him as he pushed through the set of black, double doors at the entrance was the muggy, humid air of Atlanta’s nightlife. Planes flew overhead in the sky, the stars obstructed from the bright, white and yellow toned lights that decorated nearly every building and street corner around the club. The line outside was still long - people still packing in, hoping to get a taste of the party inside, itching to cross the threshold into endless fantasy. The parking lot was full, folks posted up near their cars, some of them taking pictures while others played dice games or shared liquor from bottles they knew they couldn’t bring inside. 

Overhead was the sign for Club Crystal, the striking bright blue sticking out like an eyesore among the other buildings surrounding them. 

Tyree exhaled, leaning against the wall, pulling out his phone.

It was three fifteen exactly, and the club was scheduled to close in about forty minutes. He was surprised his phone was even still on - the battery on five percent, hanging on by a thread, much like how he was feeling himself at this moment. 

Even fresh air couldn’t shake the feeling Tyree harbored in his chest, his heart beating rhythmically to his breaths as he contemplated his next move.

There was only one move to do, honestly. 

And he was dreading taking the first step. 

In the back of his mind, way deep down - which was inching closer to the front little by little, taking giant leaps - he knew that the dancer was right. You can’t live your life for others. You can’t go along with someone else’s plans just because they love you. It would be selfish of him to continue a life with Michelle that he wasn’t happy with, just because it made her happy. Her happiness meant a lot to him, so why didn’t it make him happy?

But he didn’t want to hurt Michelle. 

And even though she would hate him, he knew she’d hate him even more if he followed through and couldn’t keep up the facade. It would absolutely crush her, and the thought of having to “fake it to make it” was going to crush him too. It was too late to get his deposits back and refunds for everything he had paid for already, but he had the money to not have to worry about that. And even though he’d never get that back, it was never too late to get peace of mind for his decisions and needs. 

Staring down at the text message thread between him and Michelle, his fingers hovered over the keyboard. The last time they had talked was hours ago, right before they went their separate ways for their parties. Cutesy, sugary-sweet exchanges of “I love yous” flooded in between their regular conversations, with Michelle’s last message telling him to have fun, but not too much fun. 

Tyree wasn’t one to be dumbfounded, or just draw blank - but for the first time in a while, he didn’t know what to say. For once, the overworking, clanking and crashing together gears that symbolized his brain were paralyzed, like someone threw a wrench dead center in the middle of it all. 

“You think that wing place will be open?” 

“It’s Friday, it might be.”

“I’d rather have Waffle House - they got them big ass chicken wings at that spot! It be making me feel like I’m really eating an animal.” 

“That’s cause it's..really a chicken, Mimi.” 

“I know, but baby chicks are so cute..I feel so bad for eating their parents.” 

Tyree looked up briefly from his phone as the three women exited through the doors next to him, engrossed in their conversation about what they were looking to eat. Dressed in sweatsuits and carrying stuffed, duffle bags on their shoulders, a security guard came out trailing behind them, escorting them through the parking lot. Tyree recognized two of them as Fancy and Mimi, watching them as the security guard pushed past drunk party-goers who stood outside, hoping to make a move on them, hollering a variety of obscenities. 

Although their faces were relatively familiar, the third woman was who he recognized the most. 

And here she was, approaching him from across the parking lot. 

Separating from her group, she dragged her feet beneath her, adjusting the pink bag on her shoulder. She walked slowly, walking through the line of cars that were trying to get out of the parking lot, and he noticed she kept constantly looking back and forth with almost each step. Almost like she was looking for someone, something. 

Tyree could feel his heart quicken in his chest, and by the time they were face to face, he felt like it was about to jump out of his chest and fall flat onto the ground between them. His hands were clammy, sweating, and he tightened his grip on his phone, finding himself anticipating her words, feeling himself slowly falling into that trance. The temptation. 

“You okay?”

Was all she said, keeping the distance between the two of them. Her demeanor had shifted, and he noticed she looked withdrawn, shrunken into herself, completely different from the woman who seemed to be in control of the situation between them not too long ago. Dressed casually, the black, cropped tank top and brown flared sweatpants were a stark contrast from her previous outfit, having exchanged her tall, platform heels for plain, black Crocs. Her hair framed the soft, beautiful features of her face, her arms and chest sparkling with shimmery, body glitter. 

“I don’t know,” 

He sighed, trying to shake loose the knot forming in his chest. 

He just had to take the first step.

Nothing major, right?

But the first step was always the hardest step. 

“But shit, I will be.”

Sending off a quick message to Michelle, telling her that they needed to talk, he locked his phone and pushed it back into the front pocket of his jeans. He gave his full attention to the woman before him, who tilted his head at him, her eyes analyzing him, seeing the slightest hint of a pitying, sympathetic look tugging at her features. They were quiet, taking each other in, an uneasy, weighted tension inching in between their lack of conversation. 

It was clear she didn’t know what to say, and neither did he, but it seemed like she understood what he meant without him having to explain it further.

She looked over her shoulder, at the black, Dodge Durango where her friends were waiting, hanging out of the window. They had been watching their exchange for the past few minutes, and the driver flashed their lights, signaling for her to hurry things up. She looked back at him, something lingering in her eyes, like she had something to say, but was unable to piece it together. 

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” 

She sighed, adjusting the bag on her shoulder again, looking him over, like she was savoring the moment between them.

“Well good night, Tyree.” 

“Yeah, good night-”

“Yaya.”

He nodded, finally able to put a face to the name. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but he didn’t expect it to be so simple. So easy, slipping from her lips smoothly. He found himself repeating it in his mind, bouncing back and forth between the two syllables like a metronome. 

“Good night, Yaya.”

Smiling at him, she spun on her heel, and with a slight bounce in her step and a subtle switch of her hips, she headed back to her friends. 

But something in Tyree wasn’t just going to let her walk away so easily. 

And Yaya only made it halfway across the parking lot before Tyree’s own footsteps trailed behind her, the last bit of liquid courage flushing through his bloodstream. 

“Yaya!”

“Hm?”

She stopped in place, watching as he closed the distance between them. He towered over her smaller frame, and she looked up at him, a ready listener for whatever he decided to say next.

“Can I get your number?”

“Ain’t you finna get married?”

Yaya knitted her eyebrows together, her face scrunching up in disbelief. She crossed her arms over her chest, cocking her head sideways, the stern, stiff look she gave Tyree leaving him to pick up the pieces of the waning courage he once had. He could feel himself sobering up by the second - kicking himself for his forwardness. 

“I uh..”

Rolling her eyes at him, she turned back around, starting to walk away from him. Yet, Tyree followed, calling her name again. 

“It’s Amaiyah.”

“Huh?”

She shook her head, her arms still crossed over her chest. They stood a few feet away from each other, and Tyree could see the security guard that stood at the hood of the car, eyeing him. It was the same security guard from earlier, with the scorpion tattoo. Time was ticking, and if Tyree was going to make a move, he needed to do so sooner rather than later. And judging from the expression written across her face, Tyree’s time was about to run out at any moment. 

“My name. I’m not a stripper twenty-four seven. Call me Amaiyah.”

Uh-mai-yuh. His brain savored it, just like it did with her dancer name. Pretty name for a pretty girl. It suited her. 

“It suits you.”

Come on, Tyree. You got to have something way better than that. 

“Why should I give you my number?”

Amaiyah stepped towards him, Tyree trying to figure out what to say before he was staring down at her face again. 

And he couldn’t come up with shit.

She snickered, knowing she had caught him off guard, staring up into his eyes again. She stared long and hard too, like she was trying to get a clear read on him, debating if he was well worth the risk. And for the first time in a long time, Tyree felt like a high schooler, the look in her eyes reminding him of how a parent would over analyze someone coming over to take their daughter on a date. 

But then her eyes softened, and a wave of relief flushed over him. He passed her checklist. Good. 

She held her hand out, and he didn’t hesitate to slip his unlocked phone into her hand. He watched patiently as typed her number in, adding herself to his short list of contacts. The bright light from his phone reflected in her face, and she locked it back before she handed it to him, pushing it into his hand. 

“Figure your shit out and then come see me again.”

“How am I supposed to know the next time you work?”

The cynic in him told him that it was just a ploy to get him back in the club, back in that cesspool of sexual tension and lust, clouded with free flowing alcoholic drinks. She thought he was a sucker - that she’d get him to spend every last dollar he had on her-

“I work every Wednesday through Saturday,”

She broke his rapid train of thought, bursting the bubble of negative thoughts that tried to balloon up. 

“Don’t text me if you change your mind. I’m not a homewrecker.”

He nodded, listening intently as her subtle accent popped at the end of her words. She sounded like she was from out of town, her accent covered by a thin blanket of that familiar, southern, Atlanta twang. Her face was serious, and her words told him she meant business. 

And Tyree was all about his business. 

With an unspoken understanding between them, and a feminine wave, she turned on her heel, heading back towards her ride. Fancy and Mimi eyed him as Amaiyah climbed into the SUV, and he could hear them teasing her, their voices being drowned out by the low rumble of the engine, the car’s headlights shining against his legs.  

With her number in his phone, and a confident pep in his step, he headed back in the direction of the club. People spilled out from the doors as people filtered in, stumbling over their own feet as they walked. One woman nearly fell to her knees, but caught herself just as a fountain of throw up spilled out from her. Gross.

As people avoided the woman - who had to throw up again - Tyree scanned the crowd for his friends, meeting them halfway as he saw them split off from the people wandering out to their cars. Leading the group was Terrell, with RC and Dominic following close behind, Dominic practically being dragged out by RC, who was holding him up. 

“I was wondering where you went.”

Terrell wrapped his arms around Tyree’s shoulders, the two of them watching RC struggle to help Dominic stand on his own two feet. RC had since sobered up - but Tyree could tell he was still pretty drunk, judging by the way he staggered back and forth. If a relatively strong gust of wind came through, Dominic would’ve ended up right on the ground.

 It wasn’t a surprise to Tyree that Dominic was wasted - that was typically his thing whenever they all went out. Dominic was the only grown ass man he knew that would purposely go past his limit and end up blackout drunk. This was no exception, in fact, the fact that tonight was so special only gave Dominic even more of a reason to get that drunk. 

“Who’s that?”

RC pointed past Tyree, which made Terrell turn his head to look behind his brother. He knew RC was referring to Amaiyah and her friends in the car behind them, and he could still hear the rumble of the car, and see the headlights that shined straight in their direction. Tyree shook his head, waving his question off, keeping the events of tonight close to his chest. It was already tossed in the metaphorical lockbox in his head, wiped clean from the rest of his brain. He played into the facade, however, glancing over his shoulder briefly. 

“I don’t know. Nice car though.”

“Can we get food? I’m fucking starving.” 

Domonic spoke through his slurred speech, the words coming out all at once, sounding like his mouth was filled with water. He groaned as RC shifted his weight, Julius rolling his eyes as he dragged Domonic in the direction of the car. They joined the crowd of people, walking to Terrell’s forest green Lamborghini Urus at the far end of the parking lot. 

Behind them, the Durango eased around them, cutting into the flow of cars that were formed in a line to leave. It rolled to a stop in front of the twins, the Toyota and several other cars behind them beginning to honk as the line halted. Tyree and Terrell exchanged glances, the limousine style window tints reflecting their image right back at them. The driver side window rolled down slowly, revealing the driver to be a brown skin man with face tattoos, an ankh tattooed under his right eye. He looked them up and down before leaning back, Tyree realizing that Fancy was in the passenger seat. She leaned forward across her seat, her eyes locked on Terrell, a smirk stretched across her face. 

“Bye Terrell.” 

A goofy smile danced across Terrell’s face, a smile Tyree had seen one too many times. He didn’t even have to ask to understand the picture being painted in front of him, and he shook his head at his brother’s antics. 

“Bye Fancy..”

With their goodbyes exchanged, the driver rolled the window back up, giving the two of them an acknowledging nod. He sped forward, disregarding the people honking behind him, swerving around a group of people walking across the parking lot. The Durango cut to the front of the line, Tyree watching as it pulled out onto the street, heading in the opposite direction of the club, the crackle of the car’s engine fading out into the distance.

“So,”

Terrell turned to him, a sly grin replacing the smile on his face. He could already tell what he was thinking, and Tyree refused to give into the excited, expectant look in his brother’s eyes. Tyree wasn’t saying a word. What happened tonight was between him, Amaiayah, and what happened in the private room inside Club Crystal. And that’s exactly how he wanted to keep it - private. 

Too bad Terrell was already one step ahead of him. 

“You get her number? Don’t lie to me, nigga.”

Tyree couldn’t fight the smile he had, and Terrell grinned, shaking him back and forth, laughing. And knowing he was caught, Tyree unlocked his phone to show him proof. The screen opened right back up to Amaiyah’s contact information, where she left her name with a pink heart next to it.

“Yeah, I did-”

With newfound confidence and all the cockiness in the world, he handed the phone to Terrell, only for his face to fall flat when Terrell burst out in laughter, practically doubling over onto the ground. 

“What? The fuck are you-”

Snatching the phone back, Tyree looked over the screen, trying to figure out what was so damn funny all of a sudden. Terrell was still laughing, wrapping his arms around his stomach as deep laughs escaped from his chest, ones that left him gasping for air and unable to form a clear sentence. 

Then he saw it - right there - staring back at him, were the nine digits of Amaiyah’s phone number. Not the normal, required ten. 

“Looks like she got you-”

“You got makeup on your shirt.”

Stopping Terrell’s laughter in his tracks, Tyree pointed at the big makeup stain on the front of his shirt. Terrell’s face dropped, pulling at the hem of his shirt, getting a clear look at the well defined makeup stain. He kissed his teeth, sighing harshly, and threw his hands up into the air, Tyree half expecting him to start throwing a tantrum. 

“Fuck, this shirt was Prada!” 

“And now it’s nada.”

“Nigga, fuck you!”

[lovingkvinner]

The aftermath-

Larissa weems x reader

Basically all the shit that went down after that bitch Marilyn fucked shit up

Tw: death, near death, fire, anxiety and hot milfs

You were getting worried, it was 6.30 and your wife wasn’t even home yet, and to make matters worse when you called she wasn’t picking up. Larissa was always home at 6, every day, she was never late, your wife was a woman who loved a strict routine and if she was going to be late then she definitely would have told you. Dinner had been ready in the pan for a full half hour now and you were just stirring it, keeping it warm and trying not to burn it. ‘Everything is fine, she, she’s fine” you said to yourself as you drew away from the kitchen counter and to the phone. “She will just be dealing with something and her phone ran out of battery. Wednesday will have been causing trouble again I’m sure” you reassured yourself like you were a nervous child, picking up the phone you dialled nevermore’s number hoping that someone would pick up. The phone didn’t even ring. Why wasn’t it ringing? You felt your chest tighten and you pulled your wife’s cardigan that you were wearing tighter around your body, breathing in her scent.

Your cat brushed itself up against your eyes and you reached down to hold it for comfort, you cradled it in your arms like it was a baby “your mother will be home soon Florence… shes just, running late” the cat had no idea what you were saying and just stared back at you with empty eyes before crawling out of your arms.

You placed the phone back on the stand and fiddled with the rings on your finger, you were about to wonder off to the kitchen again to try and salvage the burned mess that had once been dinner when you heard the door open.

In staggered a tired looking Larissa.

“Oh my god-“ you covered your hand with your mouth “I was so worried no one was answering any calls I was about to get in the car and come looking for you” it was at this moment you noticed her appearance, her eyeliner had travelled with her tears to run rivers down her face and her clothes were covered in what looked like soot.

Instinctively you grabbed your wife’s coat from her like you did every evening she returned home but instead of hanging it by the door like usual you just placed it on the floor as it needed to be cleaned.

Larissa said nothing and just hugged you, you held her as she let out a sob, you didn’t even care about your own clothes getting dirty.

“What happened” you asked stroking her mess of hair

“I’m never hiring a normie again. Or anyone for that matter….” She said as the two of you stood.

You pulled back from your wife with confusion “what are you taking about”

“Marilyn wasn’t actually, well, Marilyn. she was Laurel gates and she tried to resurrect some cragstone to kill all of the outcasts and then she poisoned me but I managed to survive when I shapeshifted into a rabbit because I knew they are immune to deadly nightshade but then the building was on fire and a dead corpse was trying to kill everyone but then Wednesday and some of the others killed him… for a second time and no one knows that I’m actually alive and-“ she said all of this without breathing or taking a moment to think.

“Rissa darling slow down you’re in shock, I think you should sit down ‘n i’ll get you some water and we can process this together” you dragged your wife to the table where you made her sit down but when you tried to get her a glass of water she held on to your wrist to stop you.

You took this as a sign and sat down.

“But that’s not the important part!” She told you, her hands holding yours as her teary eyes gazed at you, you had never seen her this way before in the 14 years you had known her “when I was dying and I thought I would never see you again I realised something”

Saying nothing you decided to let her speak and freed one of your hands so you could caress her face, you weren’t sure why but now you were crying too.

“I realised that you are all I want and, and that school is what is holding me back from everything, from happiness, from moving on, from feeling alive. I can’t let it keep me in this god awful town and keep you here too we need to leave, get away, go anywhere” the look in your wife’s eyes was erratic, like someone who’d taken their first shot of heroin and thought they had found god.

You were both sobbing “where Riss where would we go?”

“Wherever you want as long as you are there then I don’t care. We could go back to London have a life see all of our old friends and you could go back to working in the museum instead of the stupid cragstone museum where your mind is wasted and I could teach there, there’s plenty of outcast schools or, or we could even go back to your home I know you miss it and you could show me everything you loved I can learn the language I don’t care!” She was insane but you loved her, this wasn’t the usual Larissa, the sensible Larissa who never did one spontaneous thing her whole life. You liked this though she was finally beginning to see what everyone else is seeing. You sat in awe for a second not saying anything.

This worried your wife.

“Say something please, say anything even if it’s calling me crazy just speak” your wife pleaded and you squeezed her hands to let her know you were thinking of the words.

“I always knew you were bigger than that stupid old school.” You smiled and Larissa gave you the biggest kiss. She sighed and you could finally feel her muscles relax.

Turning around to look at your cat you told her “Florence pack your bags we’re leaving for London”

Larissa laughed at this “don’t worry I’ll find our daughter the best cat school” she joked.

The mood soon turned sour as a knock sounded on the door. “Who could that be?” You wondered.

Larissa’s returned to being panicked “oh, that will be the police they think I’m dead!”

“Well what should I say?!” you asked her desperately. Your wife looked around herself aimlessly “I hope you can act. Faking your death is about as fresh as fresh starts come?”

Kissing your wife on the forehead you stood up and made your way towards the door, you looked back at her and smirked “you were never heeereeeee” you joked in a spooky voice before sauntering away

Larissa stayed close enough that she could here but not close enough she could be seen.

You pulled the door open and put on your worried wife act “hello, oh officer what is it? Is something wrong” it helped you had been crying, seemed more authentic.

He looked towards the floor, a look of regretful anticipation was plastered on his tired face “it’s, it’s your wife, Larissa Weems”

You opened the door further to look interested “oh what is it? I am dreadfully worried, see she was supposed to be home over half an hour ago I can’t seem to get a hold of her.” You increased your worried expression and god you hoped this was enough.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this but, I’m afraid she’s passed away” he didn’t make eye contact with you.

Tears flowed down your face at an instant “no; no no no what do you mean. No she’ll be home any minute you’ve got the wrong person!” You found it pretty easy to act sad and you hadn’t felt that different from the emotion only minutes prior.

“We’ve had witness accounts say she was poisoned. Although we don’t have a bod-“ he began to explain.

“What do you mean no body?!” You asked in desperation, you didn’t want to look like you were accepting your own wife’s death.

“Well we’ve had witnesses say she died but we haven’t found her in the wreck yet…” he said, more drawn back than before.

“I think I want time to process this on my own if you don’t mind officer”, your hands covered your face as you weeped.

“Of course, I’ll swing by if I get anymore information. I’m sorry for your Loss” that was all he said before walking away from the porch and climbing back into his car.

You slammed the door shut with relief.

“And scene!” Announced your wife from the kitchen

“Do you still have funerals if there is no body” walking over to her you leaned your body into hers.

“Yeah it’s just like an empty casket and everyone pretends” in amidst your conversation with the police your wife had been rooting through the pantry and was now eating cookies, she offered you one and you took it gladly.

“Guess we’ll have to stay until the funeral, it would be suspicious if I left seconds after my wife had dropped dead” you breathed in the scent of your wife which once was expensive perfume was now the smell of smoke and dirt.

Larissa was visibly exited “ I am SO attending my own funeral but like as someone famous so everyone thinks I’m cool” she squeezed you as she held you and placed a kiss on your cheek from behind.

Chuckling at your wife you escaped from her grasp “you are such a narcissist”

“No I just want to see Wednesdays face when she thinks I’m dead. Anyway I’m hungry do you want to order pizza?”

“Absolutely”

[lestappenforever]

I’ve just watched a couple of the TPs post race reactions, as well as saw the strategies that the teams used and we can conclude a couple of things from it:

The Mercedes power unit had quiet a noticeable presence today, especially with Williams, who fun fact, also take a lot of the legal components that they are allowed from Mercedes, according to James Vowles (Zak Brown, where did you dip to now). Alex and Logan both had the pace, and could have been in points today. But the power units on both the cars, in addition to Logan’s steering wheel caused them the race. But the issues were not only in the Williams, Mercedes themselves had issues, with the batteries not working properly or dying. Mercedes, what is wrong with the power units after securing multiple multi year contracts?

You can take the man out of Ferrari but not the Ferrari out of the man (Laurent Mekies I’m looking at you). The way RB handled today’s race was actually shit. Again this team was close to points, even closer than the Williams with Yuki P11. But the way they handled the race, and especially in those last few laps, just proves that Laurent still doesn’t have the handles of how Red Bull teams work, he’s, you could say, still stuck in the Ferrari haze. The car is actually good, which we saw in testing and the data, but the team handling was just shit today, and with this, Red Bull could overlook both of them, even drop one of the 2, for Liam, who was promised (maybe even signed?) a seat for 2025.

Nico is absolutely unlucky, and that is a ghost that is hunting him down. Man had a good start, but that collision with Lance cost him his race, which he could have finished in the point. Also, that Haas has pace, it’s not so bad. Let’s see if the absence of Guenther and the presence of a more technical TP is going to impact the team.

Zhou is impressive. He gained quiet a lot, with gaining 6 places and the car is not that great. I did not know his game.

Ferrari pulled a Ferrari. That’s all that could be said. Charles was very confident yesterday. He even was visibly very upset with the fact that he got P2, to today. Like, yes we don’t know if there was something, but fucking it up to the extent that the car is dangerous to even stop. This man just signed a fucking multi year contract, don’t make him regret it.

And finally, we now understand Red Bull’s runs. The runs that were only (or mainly) on C1, C2 and C3 only. They were able to properly visualize the race. And the fact that we saw how everyone in Red Bull expected the car to be slower shows that they have cooked (Adrain Newey, looks like you did it again). And the fact that these runs of Free Practices and Testing showed correct data of this track, not really focusing on topping the time sheets or any of that shit. They put their heads down and focused on the time sheets that mattered, focusing one race at a time, as well as visualize how the car is going to be and how it will work and react, gathering the data needed for checking the car (in football terms: partido a partido).

So yeah, these are kind of my initial post race analysis. Still want to geek more, but I guess this is enough for now?

(I wasn’t going to be able to sleep until I got this off my brain or I would have been overthinking all night long)

I love this analysis so much.

The way VCARB fucked Yuki over by forcing him to let Daniel overtake and proceeding to not even being able to overtake the fucking Haas in front of him is absolutely appalling. I know Yuki has some temper issues he definitely needs to work on when he's in the car, but I fully support his anger this time. The move was completely uncalled for, and VCARB desperately need to realize that they can't put their eggs in the wrong basket. No matter what his die-hard fans say, Daniel is not the future of F1 and Red Bull.

With the exception of Max pulling a very Max race and being superior to the rest of the grid, my favorite part of yesterday's race was definitely Zhou. He did so well, and it was such a pleasure to see him finish P11. I really hope this season will be good for him because I so desperately want him to succeed.

Ferrari being Ferrari was, sadly, not even remotely surprising. But, it's only the first race of the season and Charles still being able to drag that broken fucking car to P4 is impressive as hell.

Red Bull has handled testing and the first race weekend masterfully, and their 1-2 finish yesterday was truly deserved. I have a feeling this season will be a good one for them, even if their domination might not be quite as extreme.

(I hope you've had a great night's sleep, lovely. ❤️)

[wednesdaymunson]

Over Tacos

Summary: Frank has been gone for weeks and you're bored. Frank comes to "rescue" you. Sex happens and serious conversation.

Warnings: fluff/angst/manhandled/pet names/ unprotected sex/PiV/ cream pie/I think that's it...MDNI

A/n: I honestly couldn't think of a title and it's 11:15pm so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ feedback is most welcome, also reblogs and likes are great!

It had been raining non stop for days. You were tired of staying in and you've already got through your "Things to Do" list. Your cozy apartment was quiet and spotless since Frank has been gone. He hasn't been home in weeks because he's doing what Frank Castle does best.

His number one rule he gave you when he's gone, is not to leave the house at night for anything. It's 10pm and all you hear is the ticking of the clock in the kitchen. All you can think is "Frank, where the fuck are you? I wish you'd come home! I'm dying of boredom." You let out a deep sigh. "Fuck it." You sighed.

You're not completely defenseless, Frank has taught you a few things and made sure you carried some sort of weapon. You put on your leather mini skirt, fishnet underneath, red top, and can't forget your combat boots. You grab your keys and leather jacket and head out the door to a local club a few blocks away.

It's 1:30 am, Frank slips through the window to let himself in. He's bloody, and bruised as usual. He slowly walks the apartment looking for signs of you. "God dammit Y/N!" He shouts. He takes out his phone and calls you.

"Frank! Hey!" You try to yell over the music.

"Y/N, where the fuck are you?! I told you not to leave when I'm not here!" Frank yelling into the phone.

"Don't you.. fucking yell at me like that! I'm... fuck.. you know the club that has cage dancers... and TACOS! Frank! I want tacos!" You exclaim drunkenly.

"You're at Club Red Blood?! Dammit, Y/N and you're drunk!" Frank said.

"No, I'm not drunk just highly tipsy." You giggle.

"I'm comin to get..." Frank pauses as he realizes the call has ended.

You look at your phone and see the call has dropped and you have enough battery to request an uber. You get an uber and they're about 10 minutes away so you decide to go outside to try and sober up a little. You make your way out the club. A couple of guys try to start up a conversation. You know it'll lead to nowhere good.

"Hey sweetness, what's the move for the rest of the night?" Ask one of them.

"I'm just waiting on my uber so I can make it home." You replied.

The group moves a bit too close for comfort.

"Doll, how about you come party with us, we have all the party favors you could ever want." Says the other.

"No thank you. " You sighed.

"Aww, c'mon sweets. I'll make it worth your while." Another said while moving in closer.

You had already pulled out your switchblade. As he moves closer you turn towards him and present it.

"Look fuck-o, if you step another foot closer I'll cut your eyes out and mail them to your mother!" You spat.

Then men looked shocked, they hold up their hands, and quickly walk the other direction down the street taking a few glances back your way.

"Yeah! Leave you pieces of shit!" You laugh loudly.

"Someone's feisty, eh Princess?"

You hear that voice, Frank's voice. You feel a warmth rush over your body. Frank grabs your upper arm and turns you towards him. He's still bloody and bruised, apparent that he rushed to you.

"Frank, how long were you standing there?"

"Long enough for you to threaten the guy." He chuckles.

Frank grabs the back of your neck, pulling you towards his face. His forehead rest on yours.

"Y/N, you know you're so fucking stubborn." He said sternly through gritted teeth as he tightened his grip on your neck.

You winced. "You wouldn't have me any other way." You grin.

Frank lets out a deep sigh and smiles. He wraps his arms around you and kisses the top of your head. "Let's get you home and fed, sweetheart. The uber is here. "

You both get in the car. You rest your head on Frank's shoulder. It's a quick, quiet ride home. Frank leads you upstairs, opens the door and walks in first to survey the apartment. "Frank, no one is going to break into our place, we're on the very top floor!" You exclaimed while stepping inside and locking the door.

"Sweetheart you know what I do and you know how I am." He opens up the fridge. "Now, we don't have tacos, but it looks like you have some leftover takeout from the Puerto Rican spot down the way. I'll heat that up for you, yeah?"

"I'm not hungry now." You pout. "I get where you're coming from, but you know I can handle myself....but sometimes I need to be handled, Frank." You grin, taking off your jacket.

"Is that so, Princess?" He chuckled while walking towards you. Your sopping, wet cunt pulsating with every heavy step his boots made.

"Mmhm" You nod.

Frank looks down at you. The mixture of blood and sweat that you can smell on him making your heart beat faster. He pulls up your top over your head, unhooks your bra while keeping eye contact, he cups your soft breast. You can feel Frank's bulge pressed against you. He kisses your forehead. "I love you, Y/N."

Frank quickly lifts you up by your throat and slams you up against the wall. You let out a yelp, clawing at Frank's arm. No matter how many times you two have been in this situation, you're still caught off guard. Frank reaches up your skirt with his free hand and rips your fishnets and pushes your panties to the side exposing your wetness. His fingers slide pass your folds to your engorged clit, he lightly runs his finger over it. You let out a groan. "You're so fucking wet. Does my Princess like it when I'm rough?" You nod eagerly. Frank pulls his fingers from under you, covered in your slick. "Open your mouth." He demands. You obey and open. He shoves his fingers in your mouth, down your throat, making you gag. You close your mouth to suck your juices off his fingers. "Good girl."

You wrap your legs around Frank's waist while he unleashes his hard cock from his pants. Without warning he trust his length into your cunt. You gasp feeling a pleasurable burn as Frank bottoms out. "Damn Princess, you feel so fucking good around my cock." He moans. His hand still tight around your throat, kisses you hard and fucks you at a steady pace.

You feel a fire pooling in your lower stomach, you dig your nails into Frank's sides. "Oh no, not yet sweetheart." Frank pulls out and tosses you over his shoulder, sliding off your skirt and panties and whatever is left of your fishnets. "God dammit Frank! I was so close!" You squeal. Frank smacks your ass while he makes his way to the bed room. "I'm not ready for you to cum just yet."

Frank tosses you on the bed and flips you on your stomach. He takes off his shirt and tosses it to the side. You turn your head to take a glance to drink in his physique, studying the old and new bruises that are forming. He joins you in bed and he pulls you up by the hips, lines the head of his dick up with your hot core, and slams into you. "FUUUCCCK!" You cry out, eyes shut tight. Frank leans over you and kisses the back of your neck. He grabs your arms and crosses them behind you and pulls you back towards him, making your back arch. Frank starts to pound into you, hitting your cervix with each thrust. He reaches around and up to your tits, rolling a nipple between his fingers. "Fu-fuck..yeah.. don't stop." You pant. You feel the fire pooling in your lower stomach again. Your breath starts to hitch. "C'mon Princess, cum on my cock. I wanna feel you leak over it and down my balls." Frank grunted in your ear. You inhale, hold your breath, and tense up, gripping around Frank's length as waves of pleasure course through your body. You let out a primal moan that gets louder as you reach your peak. Frank starts losing his rhythm, one last thrust in you, squeezing your wrist tight, you feel his hot ropes of cum filling you up with each pulse from his cock.

He lets out a deep sigh as he pulls out and lays next you. "If my enemies don't kill me, surely this sweet pussy will be the death of me." He chuckled. "How do you feel sweetheart?" He smiled while rubbing your ass. "What do you think?" You laugh. Frank smacks your ass. "Atta girl. Let's take a quick shower and go to bed."

Both of you are finally in bed after the shower, Frank being the big spoon and burying his face in the curve of your neck.

"Princess, you had me worried tonight. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you"

"I know, I'm sorry. I was bored and lonely. I just wanted to have some fun." You sighed.

"I'm sorry baby, you know the work I do takes a lot of time away from our lives together. One day it'll change."

"Yeah, but what if that one day never comes? I want to get out of the city, Frank. I want you all to myself, I babies, I want to have a long life with you." Your voice trembles.

Frank kisses your neck and holds you tight. "Shh, we'll talk about this tomorrow over some tacos. I love you Y/N."

"I love you too." You whisper as you drift off.

[obstinatecondolement]

Oh my god. I have had A Day. I arrived ten minutes early for my bus to get to my singing lesson and then proceeded to wait fifty minutes for the poxy thing to arrive and had to hustle to get in on time (the bus, when it is running on schedule, gets me in 40 minutes early). Then, when I was going home after my lesson, I was fifteen minutes early, waited forty minutes before the bus appeared. But wait, there's more! I put my arm out to flag it down, noticed it had the "out of service" sign on instead of my route number and destination, and put my arm back down and made a conciliatory sort of wave, and it drove past me... half full. I checked the real time app, which had moments ago said the bus would be there in two minuntes, and it was now saying it would be there in 58 minutes, so I can only assume that the "out of service" bus was my bus and the driver made a mistake with the sign.

I had 7% battery left on my phone (I had already texted my sister much earlier to say when my bus would be at the end of my road in case it died) and called my sister to tell her I had to get the tram home instead. She wanted me to go to a stop she didn't know the name of, but then agreed to pick me up where I had mentioned because my phone was dying and she couldn't find the name quickly enough on google. When I arrived at the platform, I saw the name of the stop she had meant and called her again asking her if she still wanted me to get off there, but she said to get off at the original stop I'd mentioned because Google Maps said it was only 11 minutes drive away from the house. She asked when my tram was leaving where I was and how long it'd be, I told her, and then waited another 10 minutes for the tram.

My phone died shortly after I got on the tram, but I figured that it probably didn't matter, because I'd be home soon. When I got off I waited another 35 minutes before my sister got there, on foot, and we had to walk 2 km to where she'd parked the car.

Apparently she got misdirected originally, then thought maybe I'd gone to the other stop and drove there, then drove back and got lost again, then parked somewhere there was free parking and walked to the stop and then went the wrong way and got lost again before she found me.

I couldn't really say anything, because she was near tears with frustration and exhaustion, but I was so fucking cold and I had been Quite Worried that no one was coming for me and that I had no way of getting in touch with anyone to see what was happening. Thank god I thought to bring a hat, scarf and gloves and wear a jumper, because there had been a few innocent and carefree minutes earlier this afternoon before I left where I thought that maybe I could get away with a long sleeved shirt, before I thought it was better to have and not need and bundled myself up.

I am genuinely considering writing a sternly worded email to the bus service about this, lol.

[glenwoodforeigncar]

When to Call a Professional for VW Push Button Start Problems?

Technology has made many things easier :) :) :)

Take push-button start for example... this technology has made cranking a car a whole lot easier. Unlike the traditional engine cranking method, the push-button start mechanism does not require the ignition key to be slid into the keyhole to start the engine. Simply, having the ignition key with you will do the trick. All you have to do is to keep the key in your pocket or laptop bag.

As you read this blog post, you will come to know;

  How does push-button start work?

  What would cause a push button start to malfunction? &

  What can you do to get the issue resolved?

Plus, we'll also discuss some of the early symptoms that could indicate a push-button start problem in a car. So, what are we waiting for… let’s get started.

Brief Discussion on the Working of Push Button Start System

For a push-button start system to work, the following three conditions must be met;

  The vehicle must be in PARK

  The brake pedal must be pressed

  You must have a properly functioning key fob

The key fob essentially sends a unique signal. Upon detection of this signal, your vehicle's onboard computer will allow you to start the engine. This so-called keyless ignition system not only makes it convenient to start the car but also deters theft. But, just like any other system in your Volkswagen, the push button start system can malfunction. Want to know what can cause a vehicle's push button start system to malfunction? Well, read on to find out…

Things That Can Cause the Push Button Start System in Your VW to Malfunction

The push button start system of your Volkswagen can malfunction due to several different reasons. Some of them are listed below…

#1- Key fob battery is dead

If your key fob's battery has reached the end of its usable life, it will no longer be able to transmit the unique signal your vehicle's onboard computer relies on to activate the push-button start system. So, if your VW's keyless ignition is not working like it used to, have its key fob battery checked immediately. If it is dying, get it replaced.

#2- Key fob is damaged

Your VW's push-button start system will not work if the key fob is physically or water damaged. At the most basic a key fob is made of a short-range radio transmitter, a radio frequency identification chip, and an antenna. If any of these components malfunction, the push button start of your vehicle won't work. If the damage is beyond repair, you may need a new key fob.

#3- Fault in the vehicle

If nothing is wrong with the key fob, yet you are still having trouble starting your VW, the problem may be with the push button start system itself. The push-button start system has many different components including a computer. If there is something wrong with any of these parts, you will not be able to start your car.

#4- Electrical issue/ dead car battery

Your VW's push-button start system requires electricity to function. If there is something wrong with the battery or other components of your vehicle's electrical system, the push button start system will stop working. Check the condition of your vehicle's battery periodically and if you suspect a problem, replace it right away.

VW’s Push Button Start Not Working: Things That You Can Do

If you suspect a push button start problem in your VW, don’t take it for granted. Before you visit the nearest car service center to get the problem fixed, do the following checks;

  Test the key fob battery to see if it is in good condition

  Check if there is anything wrong with your vehicle’s battery

  Check for signs of physical damage on the key fob

If the key fob has been damaged by water, you may need to replace it.

In Summary;

The push-button start system was intended to make our daily commute a whole lot easier. But, guess what? It can malfunction just like any other system. Therefore, if you suspect a problem with the push button start of your VW, reach out to a trusted car service center to get the problem resolved as soon as possible.

[autorepairhendersonnv]

How do you know what is the average lifespan of a car battery?  Ask the auto professionals at Rebel Automotive if it’s time for a car battery replacement.

[philsservice]

Wondering what are the symptoms of a bad car battery? If you are experiencing starting problems or weak lights, it may be time for a car battery replacement.

[rumriverautos]

How do you know if your car battery is bad? Ask your auto mechanic at Rum River Automotive for expert advice about a car battery replacement.

[amautoservice]

Here is why Your Jaguar’s Radio is not working

Now a days cars are not only equipped with better safety features, but also some accessories that make you feel refreshed while travelling in a car. One of such accessories is your car’s radio. A radio makes easy to pass time while travelling for a long time in a car. But imagine if you are going for picnic with your whole family and you have to travel a long distance, but unfortunately your radio is not working properly or not working at all. Then this long time travelling would become severely frustrating not only for you but for all of your family members. Kids would get easily bored and irritated. A malfunctioning radio can spoil your mood. If your radio is no working, then you can get it fixed, but before that you must know what can be the culprit in this case.

Role of radio in happy driving

Now a days everyone know what a radio is. It is one of the old means of infotainment. But still radios are in use. In cars, while travelling it sill provides you some necessary information and entertains you by music and entertaining programs. A radio provides the audiences to listen the radio shows and podcasts. A radio makes a long time taking journey to simpler and enjoyable driving. So a radio can be a complete travel companion, because every time you switch on your radio while driving, you always have a very good driving experience. A radio always make your travelling more enjoyable by entertaining the whole time you are driving your car. Nearly all jaguar car users’ use radio, so naturally, malfunctioning of radio can make them frustrated. So you must know what are the possible causes the malfunctioning of radio before diagnosing the issue.

What causes the radio to die?

A radio is an electronic accessory component in a car. It depends on electricity to run. So malfunctioning of radio can be an electrical issue. If it would not get electricity of proper voltage, then it would not run at all. Here are some reasons that commonly causes radios to stop working.

Fuse blown out

Fuse are protective components present in electrical devices that protects them from power surges. Whenever more electrical power passes through it, it melts and breaks leading to open circuit. So the power supply can be stopped and the electrical device is saved from high power. Fuse allows the current to pass, but if it is blown, then the current would not pass in its circuit and the device would stop working. Blown fuse is the most common culprit of a malfunctioning radio. If you encounter such problem then check its fuse first.

Damaged antenna

Radio receives signal by the help of antenna and processes it to get the audio. If your radio is no working, then problem can be in the antenna itself, because without antenna signals would not be received properly and radio would not work.

Faulty wiring

A faulty wiring is usually found in third party installations of stereos done in cars because mostly, those stereos are not designed to work in that car. So these are wrongly installed, which easily get loosened with time by vibrations of the car. Due to loose vibrations, the radio stops working properly.

Faulty speaker

A speaker makes the sound audible to every passengers in the car. Without speaker, the radio would of no use. If the speaker is damaged or its contacts with wires is loosened then the speaker would not produce sound properly. The radio displaying normally but no sound from speaker is a very good sign of faulty speaker.

Problems in the battery or its connections

If the battery is dying or got weak or its connections with the car is loosened, then a disruption on power flow occurs, due to this problem the radio have a feature called anti-theft measure which shuts off the radio and conserves the energy from the battery. Then you will find that the display in the radio is different than normal.

Conclusion

If the radio is malfunctioning, then first check the fuse inside it. A blown fuse is to be replaced. Then check the wirings, the speaker and the antenna. Every malfunctioning in radio is to be fixed by car professionals. You can contact your dealer to have them fixed.

[buysellrepairs214]

Computer Battery Replacement Services in Princeton

Let’s face it, we all rely on our laptops these days. They’re like little portable offices, letting us work, chat with friends, or stream shows from anywhere. But what happens when the battery starts giving up the ghost? The thing that keeps us free to roam suddenly becomes a chain, with those dreaded low-battery warnings popping up all the time. Don’t despair, tech troopers! Your trusty laptop can be revived! This article is your guide to navigating the world of computer battery replacement. We’ll show you how to spot the signs of a dying battery, teach you some tricks to keep it healthy for longer, and help you decide if it’s time to call in the computer repair services. With a little knowledge, you can keep your laptop the untethered companion it was meant to be.

Signs of a dying battery

Those carefree coffee shop sessions or park bench writing sprints might be a distant memory if your trusty laptop battery is on its last legs. But how do you know for sure it’s the battery replacement issue and not just a demanding new program hogging all the juice? There are a few indicative signs to watch out for.

Shortened battery life: First, the most obvious culprit: shorter battery life. If you find yourself constantly scrambling for an outlet or enduring those dreaded low-battery notifications way earlier than usual, it’s a strong hint that your battery isn’t holding a charge as effectively as it once did.

Sudden shutdowns: Another red flag is sudden shutdowns. Imagine you’re engrossed in a work project or the final level of a game, and your laptop abruptly shuts down – not because you hit the power button, but because the battery mysteriously gave out. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you haven’t saved your progress.

Inconsistent charging:  Then there’s the whole charging drama. Maybe your laptop seems to take forever to reach a full charge, or perhaps it charges inconsistently, dropping percentage points even while plugged in. These charging woes can significantly disrupt your workflow and leave you feeling tethered to an outlet rather than enjoying the freedom of a portable device.

Battery bulging: Finally, keep an eye on the battery itself. If it appears swollen or bulging in any way, that’s a serious safety hazard and a clear sign it’s time to stop using your laptop altogether. Don’t attempt to fix a bulging battery yourself – seek professional help from a qualified computer hardware repair technician immediately. By recognizing these signs, you can address a failing battery before it completely throws your mobile computing life into disarray.

Tricks to keep computer battery healthy for longer

One of the most important things you can do for your laptop is to take care of its battery. After all, a healthy battery translates to uninterrupted productivity and entertainment on the go. Here are some easy tricks you can incorporate into your daily routine to extend your battery’s lifespan and keep those low-battery warnings at bay.

Regulating Battery Temperature

First things first, fight the heat! Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can be detrimental to your battery’s health. Avoid leaving your laptop baking in direct sunlight or a scorching car, and don’t subject it to freezing cold environments either. Think about it like your favourite chocolate bar – you wouldn’t leave it melting in the sun, would you? The same principle applies to your battery. Additionally, keeping your laptop’s vents clean and ensuring proper airflow helps prevent overheating, which can damage the battery over time.

Brightness Adjustment

Secondly, become a master of brightness management. Your laptop screen might be beautiful, but that high brightness setting is a real battery guzzler. Adjusting the screen brightness to a comfortable level can significantly improve your battery life. Don’t worry, you can still enjoy stunning visuals without pushing your battery to its limits. There are also handy settings like automatic brightness that can adjust based on your environment, further reducing the strain on your battery.

Battery Charge Optimization

Thirdly, unplug smartly! Contrary to popular belief, keeping your laptop constantly plugged in doesn’t necessarily damage the battery in today’s modern laptops. However, it’s still a good practice to let your battery cycle occasionally. This means using your laptop on battery power for a while and then plugging it in to recharge. Aim for a sweet spot – don’t let your battery completely drain before plugging in, and avoid keeping it constantly at 100% charge.

By following these simple tips, you can show your laptop battery some love and ensure it keeps you powered up for all your digital adventures. Remember, a healthy battery translates to a happier you (and a happier laptop!).

Time to call in the repair pros for battery replacement

You’ve tried all the tricks – adjusting brightness, keeping it cool, and even letting it cycle occasionally – but your laptop battery just won’t cooperate anymore. Low-battery warnings seem to be your constant companion, and even simple tasks seem to drain the life out of it faster than ever. Maybe you’ve noticed the battery itself bulging slightly, sending shivers down your spine. Fear not, it might be time to call in the repair pros for a computer battery replacement service in Lawrence, Trenton. While replacing a laptop battery can be tempting as a DIY project, it’s important to exercise caution. While online tutorials exist, they may not address the specific model of your laptop, and mistakes can lead to permanent damage or even fire hazards. Furthermore, prying open your device might void the warranty and leave you without manufacturer support. If you’re comfortable with electronics and hardware repair and have the right tools, replacing the battery yourself might be an option. However, for most users, the risks outweigh the rewards. These skilled computer repair technicians have the expertise and the tools to safely remove your old, tired battery and breathe new life into your laptop. Plus, many computer repair service shops offer a warranty on their replacements, giving you peace of mind knowing your investment is protected.

Additional tips for long battery life

Beyond the core practices, a few additional strategies can further optimize your battery life. Consider enabling battery-saving modes offered by your operating system. These settings often adjust background processes and features to reduce power consumption. Regularly updating your laptop’s software and applications can also improve battery efficiency, as updates sometimes include optimizations. If you suspect a specific program is draining your battery excessively, identify and close it when not in use. With these extra steps, you can squeeze even more life out of your laptop on a single charge.

Comprehending battery health and adopting preventative measures can substantially prolong the operational lifespan of your laptop. Nonetheless, even the most meticulously maintained batteries will eventually reach their maximum capacity. At this juncture, enlisting the services of a qualified computer battery replacement provider offers a swift and reliable resolution. Equipped with a new battery, your device can restore the unrestricted mobility and productivity that it once offered. Ultimately, a dependable laptop contributes to a more efficient and satisfied user experience.

[daytonabatteries]

Stranded on the Road in Broward County? Know When to Call for Roadside Assistance

Imagine this - you're running late for work, a first date, or an important meeting. You hop in your car, ready to conquer the day, but... nothing happens when you turn the key. Your heart sinks as you realize your car won't start.  A dead battery in Broward County can leave you feeling stranded and frustrated.

This isn't an uncommon problem. Car batteries have a lifespan, and eventually, they wear out. But a dead battery isn't always the culprit. There could be other reasons your car is refusing to turn over.

So, how do you determine the cause of your car trouble? Wrestling with a dead battery in the Florida heat is no fun, and troubleshooting can feel overwhelming. Here are some common reasons your car might not be starting:

Dead Battery: This is the most likely culprit, especially if your car is cranking weakly or not at all. Headlights dimming or interior lights flickering can also be signs of a failing battery.

Loose or Corroded Battery Cables: Corrosion on battery cables can prevent a proper connection, hindering the flow of electricity to start your car.

Alternator Issues: The alternator is responsible for charging your battery while the car is running. A faulty alternator won't recharge a dying battery, leaving you stranded.

Starter Motor Problems: The starter motor is the component that cranks the engine. If it malfunctions, your car won't turn over even with a good battery.

Other Electrical Issues: A variety of electrical problems within your car's system can prevent it from starting.

Trying to diagnose the exact cause yourself can be tricky. Without proper tools and knowledge, you might risk causing further damage.

Don't fret! Daytona Batteries in Broward County is here to get you back on the road quickly and safely for prompt and professional road assistance services in Broward County. Here's how we can help:

Roadside Assistance: If you're stuck with a dead battery or any other car trouble, Daytona Batteries offers prompt and professional roadside assistance throughout Broward County. Our expert technicians will arrive at your location, diagnose the problem, and provide a solution.

Car Battery Replacement: If your battery is the culprit, Daytona Batteries offers top-quality car battery replacement services. We carry a wide range of batteries to fit most vehicles, ensuring you get the right battery for your car's needs. Our technicians will expertly replace your old battery and dispose of it responsibly.

Car Battery Jump Start: If your battery is just a little low and needs a boost, Daytona Batteries can provide a safe and professional jump start to get you going again.

Daytona Batteries – Your Partner in Broward County Car Care

At Daytona Batteries, we understand the importance of a reliable car battery. Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind and keep you moving. Here's what sets us apart:

Expert Technicians: Our team is comprised of highly trained and experienced technicians who can diagnose and resolve any car battery issue efficiently.

Convenience: We offer convenient on-site car battery replacement and jump start services, eliminating the need for you to tow your car.

Quality Products: We carry only the most reliable and high-performance car batteries from trusted brands.

Competitive Rates: We offer competitive rates for all our services, ensuring you get the best value for your money.

Don't Let a Dead Battery Slow You Down

If your car won't start in Broward County, don't panic!  Contact Daytona Batteries today.  We'll diagnose the problem, recommend the best solution, and get you back on the road quickly and safely.  Visit our website or call us for a free quote.  With Daytona Batteries, you can always  be confident your car will start when you need it most.