#what else can I tag this with to get greater exposure?

[cutekittenlady]

I posted 862 times in 2022

That's 682 more posts than 2021!

475 posts created (55%)

387 posts reblogged (45%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@flamyangelwings

@lady-griffin

@logo-comics

@cutekittenlady

@violethowler

I tagged 558 of my posts in 2022

Only 35% of my posts had no tags

#pokemon - 303 posts

#submas - 157 posts

#pokemon legends arceus - 140 posts

#legends arceus - 123 posts

#pokemon ingo - 104 posts

#subway boss ingo - 101 posts

#monkie kid - 100 posts

#lego monkie kid - 100 posts

#pokemon emmet - 94 posts

#lmk - 94 posts

Longest Tag: 134 characters

#being a morally passive agent free of nuance in order to avoid the social difficulties associated with taking a personal stance is not

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Part of the reason I think including Elesa in the "goes back in time to find Ingo" club is just because Elesa is... more grounded? Like I adore the subway boss twins to death, but they're both eccentric as hell. If the people of hisui ever learn that Ingo is from the FUUUUTURE they may end up concluding that all Ingo and Emmets eccentricities are just what people in the future are like.

It'd be fun to have Elesa there to just go, "Uh, yeah, no. No they're not. These two are just a little eccentric. Good guys and even greater trainers, just a bit odd."

400 notes - Posted March 14, 2022

#4

Lol I've seen headcanons about Ingo and Emmet developing a slight resistance to poison and paralysis over time thanks to constant exposure by pokemon.

Imagine someone asking drayden if he trained them to do that, only for drayden to go "They did what?!" this being the first he's heard of it.

484 notes - Posted March 30, 2022

#3

Fun gen 5/gen 8 crossover idea.

In both BW/B2W2 and SwSh you have gym leaders who are also models (Elesa and nessa) who both presumably know people who specialize in some degree in double battles (Emmet and Raihan).

Imagine Elesa and nessa attending some modeling event or party and being friendly rivals in this aspect. They both appreciate each other's hard work and determination and find a sorta kinship in balancing both their careers so they get along while also competing.

Theyre both allowed to bring guests to an event and Elesa naturally brings the subway twins and nessa brings Raihan and someone else (I'd say piers but this sorta thing probably isn't his scene so it's up in the air. Leon's an option but who knows).

Anyway this is very clearly their event so the guys try not to detract from that but...

Well all I can imagine is Emmet staring across the room at Raihan shaking with so much excitement that Ingo has to keep a hand on his chair to keep it from vibrating across the floor, while on the other side Raihan is just emanating the thickest cloud of competitiveness.

The boys struggle to behave themselves all evening but in the end are rewarded for their efforts by getting to officially scrap with each other afterwards.

Just saying, it'd be awesome.

509 notes - Posted March 18, 2022

#2

Emmet: My brother is stuck in the past so I'm going to trust to first group of people who let me recklessly time travel.

Elesa: WHY?!

Emmet: Ingo was 99% of my impulse control.

670 notes - Posted March 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Too cute not to share.

3,902 notes - Posted April 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[ryujin-zanba]

True Identity

inspired by one of many chats with @dnarielle bc we like to rub salt splash in the wounds 😅

Rating: Teen & Up Words: 1365 Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Loneliness, Crying, Established Friendship, Gender Neutral Reader Pairings: Reader x Reigen Summary: Reigen is reaping the repercussions of being revealed as a fraud, but even when it seems like everyone has abandoned him there’s one last person who sticks around~

Not a single happy birthday message on his page.

 He’d expected it, but he hadn’t been prepared for how much it would hurt his feelings to actually experience it. 

 Reigen has never been one to struggle at connecting with others. He’s used to being liked. After all, charisma is the cornerstone of being a successful conman. But that’s all come crumbling down since his little ‘performance’.

 He’s about to close the tab, deciding that staring blankly at the screen isn’t going to yield any last minute well wishes, but as he’s browsing the list of people online the little green dot catches his eye under a name he hasn’t heard in years. Your name.  

 Though not an intimate friend, you’ve always been a constant in his life; tied by the friendship of your families and the comfort you found in one another at gatherings where you could escape from nagging aunts and screaming kids and share a drink in private.

 It’s been a couple of years since you last saw each other — since you last had to endure the scrutiny of acquaintances with high expectations — but you’d always been on his side when he was probed for the promise of a greater career.

 The memory that springs to mind now isn’t of how you’d protect him from his great grandmother or how you’d laugh at his corny jokes though. It’s of you being unfathomably kind to him in your childhood when some older kids had beaten him up and left him sniffling in the dirt.

 Expecting you to remember that, or to hold the same kindness in your heart all these years later is probably far too much... but Reigen has never felt so alone before, and that warm, cherished memory is enough to have him typing out a message before he even realises it. 

 If, like everyone else in the world, you’ve seen his embarrassing exposure on TV, then he expects that light will disappear in an instant.

 You probably just didn’t even realise you were still friends on here, he thinks. 

 It’s a minute or two, and he’s losing hope already, but then, rather than a block, he gets a chat bubble as you begin to type. 

 He’d kept his message simple. If by some slim chance you aren’t aware of what’s happened to him, he’ll take every opportunity not to bring it up.

 ‘Hey, happy birthday!’ is the reply.

 It’s something. Enough to bring a smile to his face anyway. 

 ‘Thanks’.

 He stares at the response before pressing send, sure that even in this pitiful state he could do better.

 He’s about to add to it, deliberating over if he should mention that it isn’t a very happy birthday at all, but then the chat bubble pops up again, so he scrubs the message entirely and waits eagerly for your next line.

 ‘How are you celebrating?’

 Jumping at the opportunity to admit to some level of need, he starts to type back.

 ‘I’m not really. It’s been a lonely one. Haha.’

 There’s no chat bubble for a while then. Your replies had been fairly quick, and each second passing only fills Reigen with dread that he said the wrong thing and chased away the last person he could reach out to. 

 Then he starts getting a call.

 “Shit!” he hisses, scrambling to click the answer button while making himself look presentable, only to realise he’s not actually visible.

 “Hey,” you say warmly.

 “H-hey!” he replies, nervousness evident in his voice.

 “That’s better,” you chuckle, “I much prefer being able to hear you.”

 “Yeah?”

 “Yeah, it’s been too long!”

 “Hah, I guess it has,” Reigen huffs a weak laugh.

 “So how’s it going? You’re not having a good birthday?” you sympathise. 

 “Uh... no, not— not really, no...”

 “No one to celebrate with?” you assume, sounding disappointed on his behalf.

 The reminder that he really doesn’t have anyone in the world to even just go for a drink with right now hits him hard, and a lump rises in his throat.

 “No... I’m... I’m all alone,” he admits, his voice breaking, heavy with hurt that he can’t hide anymore. 

 “Oh, sweetheart, no-no-no, it’s okay,” you tut, “it’s okay, you’re not alone, I... I mean I can come over if you want?”

 “Oh, god,” he tries to laugh at himself, “no I— I wouldn’t want to put you out like that.”

 “It’s okay, I don’t mind at all. It’d be nice to see you. I’ll even bring some drinks,” you bargain, insistent on making sure the poor man isn’t left like this on his birthday.

 “... Would you?” Reigen sniffles after a brief pause, genuinely taken aback by the offer. 

 “Of course! What’s your address?”

 “Um... you’re really gunna’ come all this way— are you sure y—?”

 “I’m already getting in the car, Reigen. Just gimme’ a clue where to find you,” you say with a smile in your voice.

 “Okay, okay, just gimme’ a minute to tidy up,” he implores, laughing through the tears.

 ~

 He does his best to make the place look mildly presentable, but he knows you’re not the type to care either way.

 You’d given him an extra few minutes though by stopping off to grab drinks, and he’s already looking out for you by the time you pull up to the complex.

 His heart is in his mouth; watching you getting out of the car and walking swiftly to the steps leading up to his apartment. He wipes the sweat off his hands and takes a deep breath, too nervous and too excited all at once to even consider waiting a moment before answering the door when he hears you outside.

 “H-hi,” he huffs, wearing a watery smile as he opens up before your knuckles even graze the wood. “I wasn’t uh— I mean I was waiting, sorry, I hope that’s not creepy, I just uh... geez...”

 “It’s okay,” you laugh, reassuring him that he’s still charming enough to pull off that kind of desperation. 

 “I can’t believe you’re actually... you actually came all this way,” he murmurs, eyes getting dewy as he attempts to lift his humble gaze to glance at you. But he is humbled, and his gratitude is overwhelming. He starts to cry. 

 “I’m sorry... I really... I really can’t tell you how much it means to not be alone right now,” he hiccups. 

 “Honey, you’re not alone,” you soothe as you wrap your arms around his neck.

 He starts to sob openly, no idea how much he needed to be held until he’s actually in someone’s arms, but you keep on hugging him as you shuffle inside and lightly kick the door shut behind you. 

 “Thank you,” he manages to say; voice high and strained as he burrows into the join of your neck and shoulder.

 “Of course,” you hush, cradling the back of his head tenderly. “Call anytime. Anytime you need someone. Anytime you feel like this.”

 He nods and sniffles, slowly regaining his composure, but he feels worlds better after letting all that out. More so for being able to do it in the arms of someone he trusts. 

 After wiping away his tears, Reigen extends a slightly more official invite for you to come in beyond the entryway, and you break into the drinks as soon as you’re sat down.

 In an attempt to be hospitable he tries to make something of a snack buffet, but the more you drink the less any of that matters. Just to be in each other’s company and to laugh is enough, and you keep at it until the early hours.

 Reigen insists on taking the couch and letting you have his bed when it becomes apparent that you’re staying the night, but you refuse to sleep at all unless you can have him in your arms.

 He doesn’t argue nearly as much as he thinks he should, and he’s glad.

 Despite how badly his day had started, this ended up being a better birthday than most, and maybe things still won’t have gone back to normal in the morning, but just for right now, everything feels okay again… and it’s all thanks to you.

[negrowhat]

Hello :3 I saw your blog answering anons on the timeline, so a random A.C.E rant from a somewhat new Choice is coming if you’re ready. I’m not actually mad typing this all down but I’m frustrated and trying to find ways out to make A.C.E bigger with my social media managing/marketing/business lectures I’ve had in the past lol. Sorry if this is long but I need to hear opinions other than mine </3

I’m also an ARMY and saw a thread called “Jimin Being Tiny” and it was a bunch of pics him being cute and I enjoyed it so much. Now if I wanted to do the same for Byeongkwan for example, I know more than the half of the Choice fandom will literally be threatening me just because I called him small (FOR THE REASONS OF AN IDOL ACTING CUTE FOR THE FANS AND NOT THAT I DON’T RECOGNISE HIS STRENGTH). A populer choice on twitter would say “don’t call byeongkwan tiny he doesn’t like it” and others literally will be okay with it like they know as if byeongkwan is their cousin. I just know for a fact this fandom is so focused on attacking others AMONGST THE FANDOM and that is exactly why we can’t grow. It’s almost like popular choice accounts are gatekeeping A.C.E. Everyone is afraid of being cancelled and don’t talk about A.C.E on social media other than saying they are “talented” and “underrated”. They are very talented indeed, but Choice needs to understand that could be the least of marketing in the Kpop industry- especially if you don’t have a bigger company. Beat Ceo-nim is not doing the best job to promote them already, they almost never get a use of social media, when it basically is where everyone is into now. TXT for example, got so much attention just from several Tiktoks, promoting their music or hopping onto trends. They ain’t showing titties or anything, just some dances and songs. I mean A.C.E are already showing tits with this comeback lmao. I believe they have such hidden gems and would make a great use of them on the social media entering the trends. I know it’s not up to them, but it would’ve been so much better reaching out to new people. Another thing. I love their music, but as a BL lover, i first got into them with Wowkwan. Then, on a q&a their manager(?) says “Wowkwan is a fantasy, not real” (*screams* what was the reasonnnnn) and everyone in the fandom suddenly was against wowkwan and was “protecting boys” from the “rumors.” They won’t understand no one ships idols romantically already like it’s all about cute interactions and being close and the rest is up to imagination as any fan would do. For instance I can’t think anything like this happening to Woo/San from Ateez or Chan/Lix from Skz. I’m so upset about this lol. I love A.C.E and i’m an OT5, but we almost never get unit or OT5 interactions (the hotel room and the Christmas vlive were exceptions). For BTS, you could find millions of moments they give us as friendship moments or emotional moments with each other as a team, but I feel like A.C.E falls more into the individualistic category, where it’s important for every each of them to shine, rather than as a team. I’m not saying they don’t care about the team, they care about each other a lot and you can feel this from the letters they wrote each other or on that Sehyoon birthday vlive, I just don’t think they have enough interactions or moments that they showed a lot of emotions. It makes me question if they are not fully comfortable with each other or rather, stopping themselves from acting too much in front of the camera. Are they friends, or a team that was formed for a job? Junhee often talks about how being an idol is a job, but people on social media are on the social media just because they want to see the emotions they haven’t had the chance to feel irl. We already have struggles as international fans with A.C.E cause of the language barrier, unlike for example SKZ or NCT, we just need to understand as a fandom that this is a competition for A.C.E in the industry, and gatekeeping content or constantly fighting each other isn’t helping. For a win, we need to be promoting a bit more out of our comfort zone (also Beat Ceo-nim please hear me out) and stop being mad to each other for things like calling members positive adjectives, for liking an interaction between members or even for not streaming.

I'm pretty new to the fandom myself and haven't encountered any toxicity yet, but I've also only talked to Tumblr CHOICE. I know all the toxic stans play on the Twitter playground because it's a more popular platform and they'll have a greater chance of being seen to spread their negativity.

I feel like if you want to make a soft Byeongkwan thread on the bird app then by all means please do. There's going to be antis on the platform no matter what kind of thread you make. It doesn't matter how you word it, it's gonna offend someone. The antis are loud on Twitter on purpose. Their job is to push down the positive and bring up the negative.

I also don't really know how promos go for A.C.E. This was my very first comeback for them so I didn't know what to expect, and since they're from a small company it wouldn't have been fair of me to compare the quality to a group from the Big 3 or BigHit.

I mean they did a pretty great job with promotions prior to dropping the album and title, but I do know they they did a trash job of preparing CHOICE for when the actual song would drop. I remember seeing a lot of upset stans in the tag. Also I didn't know that they would only drop the MV on 1theK and not their own channel. Usually with MVs they're posted on 1theK as well as their own channel so there is dual exposure and more views. So that was pretty negligent too. IDK if A.C.E will be promoting a full month on music shows or just a couple of weeks.

I agree that TikTok would be a good platform for A.C.E as well as any kpop idol to promote on just because it's literally the most popular platform right now and they could be working on making one or maybe the members don't want a TikTok, honestly there's no real way of knowing about anything like that.

As far as interactions. I know nothing of the ships except maybe DongJun because they hang out a lot together. Also fans being mad about certain member interactions in a group is a toxic tale that's old as time. It happens in every fandom so I'm not surprised but what I've learned is that fans don't really dictate who interacts with whom, though it may seem that way to some stans. A.C.E spends most of their time with each other so they're not just going to stop interacting with a member because some immature and spoiled fan said it's messing with their ship.

I never really noticed a lack of ot5 content, but then again I don't really watch any lives of any idols because I don't have the time. I do know that both Byeongkwan and Sehyoon have taken personal hiatuses to work on their mental health so that could be a reason for lack of ot5 content. This job is stressful if not overwhelming most times, maybe some alone time is just something they really need to keep going. It doesn't matter if they're real friends or not (it's not really my place to say. Tho I think they are actual friends). Maybe one or more members is too tired to do a group live or maybe they're doing something else that they rarely have time to do. A lot of factors could go into why there may be a lack of ot5 content. That also could be a reason why they don't have personal IG/Twitter accounts. I could go on and on about possible reasons.

I'm sorry I'm not much help in these matters, my judgment is very impartial these days. I try not to be where any of the negativity is because it ruins things for me.

[meteor-sword]

i remember in the tags of a post was something about a mako recovery fic... care to elaborate vae??? (if u want ofc) bc im very curious now and i think it would be great coming from you. im also of the opinion that they could’ve done so much more with mako’s recovery but tbh thats just a constant in tlok’s writing

dsfljsldfj ok first of all.... you are so sweet thank you for overestimating me 

second of all i am always surprised to hear people read what i put on this site even if it’s a text post of mine getting many notes so im shook you read my tags and remembered? 

but for actually elaborating: i think this is the post which also i love you for thinking about this for 2 weeks apparently? 

anyway injury discussion warning but, lightning strikes can cause spiral fractures in long bones, dislocations, nervous issues, heart damage i believe? and clearly scarring on the skin, etc. some people after the finale were apparently disappointed they didn’t end up killing mako-- something about completing his arc and being more interesting for korra and asami to come back and realize that happened, and for bolin to have to deal with that, but honestly that would’ve been... too depressing. i think if they would’ve shown the krew dealing with his recovery it would’ve been better than either what we got or mako dying 

i think one of the worst things when you’re waiting for someone to recover is when they do gain consciousness, but you’re not sure if they recognize you or not. i imagine this from bolin’s perspective, after dragging mako out of the mecha, delirious, hooked up to medical equipment bolin might never have seen before (the doctor or nurse explains bender-originated lightning strikes are usually short exposure, similar to natural strikes from the occasional bender fight or malfunction at the electrical factories, but this is different. they really dont know what might happen) 

korra and asami come when they can, and bolin has to explain to everyone what mako did. opal stays by bolin’s side but this kind of stress is not like anything mako let him be exposed to before (up till bolin serves under kuvira and has to escape that) so i think bolin is stressed and tired and probably a little mean about it 

idk who would be there but bolin and maybe opal, maybe asami are there when mako wakes up for the first time, but he’s intubated and can’t speak, and he doesn’t seem to recognize them. bolin tries encourage him to squeeze his hand, but there’s no reaction. the nurses come, and the visitors are ushered out. i know next to nothing about medical procedures or anything but i’m sure there’s tests and things for nerve/muscle/skin/bone damage they’d need to attend to once he’s conscious on some level ??? 

mako is in and out for the next week or two-- bolin by his side whenever he could be, and asking mako if he recognized people as they came to visit. wu comes at some point and makes sure mako and bolin and their family will be taken care of-- even if mako doesn’t recover well. No more having to rely on asami or anyone else. bolin absolutely snaps at him before wu has the chance to explain but he cuts the check nonetheless (as wu should tyvm) 

as soon as mako is coherent though he’s playing like there’s nothing wrong and bolin has nothing to worry about and bolin knows it’s not true, but it’s so easy to just believe mako like always. except mako really needs assistance and probably has to live with bolin or someone, but mako is always pushing to go back to work. i don’t think he’d be able to work until around the time of zhu li and varrick’s wedding? 

i think with all the efforts to fix republic city, and stabilize the earth kingdom, it would be difficult to balance everyone’s greater responsibilities with helping mako but really showing that struggle and how everyone reacts to mako’s near death experience would. be interesting. idk i’m really bad at concluding these things lately but yeah <3 

[sun-summoning]

#25 Fashion Design - Marinette, Clara Nightingale

i.

When Clara firsts casts Marinette and soon gets to know her, she is absolutely certain that this girl is destined for greatness. She’s kind and well-loved and so utterly talented. Clara checks out Marinette’s Instagram and is a bit put out to see she doesn’t post as many of her designs as she should. She has full faith in her capabilities though so reaches out to her with a request anyway.

“You want me to design a gown for you,” Marinette repeats, blinking at her as if the idea is absurd.

“That’s right. I do.” Clara grins. “If anyone could make me look lovely, I have no doubt that it’s you.”

Marinette shakes her head. “Your music video literally featured outfits by Gabriel Agreste himself. And now you want to go downgrade to--”

“Don’t sell yourself short! You’re greater than you think.” She looks at the swatches of fabric strewn about on Marinette’s desk. “Now I was thinking something long, something flowy--maybe something pink?”

“Oh.” Marinette nods slowly, as if confirming for herself that this is actually happening. “You’re serious.”

“Of course I’m serious, or I wouldn’t have pressed. I just know that with you, I’d be the best dressed.”

And so over the next few months, Marinette designs the loveliest gown of dusty rose for her. It takes up virtually all of her free time and requires heaps of supplies that Clara can’t even name, but she gets them for Marinette anyway. The only thing Marinette seems to turn down is an assistant. 

Clara is positively radiant on the red carpet, twirling just so to show off her bodice embellished with rose appliques over a mesh that matches her skin. She glides along with her full, tulle skirt, and when she’s asked over and over who designed this gown for her, she refers everyone to Marinette’s Instagram account for her designs and commissions. 

Overnight, Marinette gains some thousand more followers and counting. 

-

ii.

Clara throws a grand party for her twenty-fifth birthday, something that wouldn’t be complete without an equally grand dress to turn everyone’s heads. She’s been dressed by countless fashion houses, but when it comes to these truly special moments, Clara can’t help but seek out Marinette again. 

“I know you’re still in university,” Clara says, “so I know you have school, but please, please, please, Marinette. Your designs always rule!”

Marinette giggles, wondering when she ended up on a first-name basis with one of Europe’s most adored singers. Probably between the album cover she designed for her two years ago and the gown she wore when she won an award for it. “It’s fine, Clara. I’d love to.”

“Really?”

“How could I not?” Marinette opens her Instagram and switches to her design account. She’s certainly been gaining attention from other designers and models. More importantly, she’s been getting those commissions, which have been helping her stay afloat while in school. “I think I gain an extra thousand followers every time you tag me in one of your photos with my clothes.”

“That’s wonderful!”

“It definitely is. I am, after all, a fashion student with an uncertain future.” She pockets her phone, grinning widely. “I’d love to design your birthday dress for you, Clara. Did you have something particular in mind?”

“Anything you make will be perfect.”

“You have to give me something to work with.”

“I believe in you, Marinette. You have free reign on colour, silhouette, whatever.” Clara claps her hands gleefully and then takes Marinette’s in hers. “I just want to be striking.”

“Alright,” Marinette agrees slowly, always eager to rise to a challenge. “I can do that.”

“And I want pockets.”

She laughs. “Oh, I can definitely do that.”

-

iii.

For the first time, Marinette says no to Clara’s request for a gown. It’s not about money. Clara always provides her with whatever materials she needs and they always settle on a fair price. And it’s not about time, because Clara is asking nearly a year in advance. It could be about the amount of work, which Clara thinks is fair, but Marinette said it’s not that either.

Maybe it’s the pressure. Marinette, now interning, now really focusing on building her network and reputation, is afraid. Sure, she’s always been out there. A quick search to her name yields outfits worn by Clara herself, Jagged Stone, Luka Couffeine, and that doesn’t even include links to information about her achievements in various contests.

Designing Clara Nightingale’s wedding gown would draw a lot of attention. Much more than anything else Marinette might have done in the past.

“I’d really love to,” Marinette tells her softly, “but I just...I can’t right now, Clara.”

“But why?” Clara insists. “I can hire someone to help you--”

“No, it’s just--I can’t.” Marinette shrugs. She sighs deeply and sips her tea to find something to do with her hands. 

Clara looks around Marinette’s one bedroom apartment and finds it strangely devoid of life and personality. She remembers Marinette’s childhood bedroom, pink and overflowing with little bits of what made Marinette the girl she is. There were photos of her friends, sketches tacked onto the wall, magazine cut outs, half-made mockups, and more. Here, Marinette seems to just come home and sleep. 

“Up until recently, my personal life has been....” Marinette rubs her neck. “There’s something I was really busy with. And now, well, now it’s over. And I have a lot of time on my hands,” she admits with a sad smile. “While that’s ideal for wedding gown making, I think...I think I really need it for me.”

There’s something about the droop in Marinette’s shoulders that makes Clara nod. She keeps tucking her hair back before brushing her bare ears. Clara wishes she could get Marinette to design her wedding gown, but she can’t force her to. Marinette just looks so sad. So worn down and uneasy. Like the idea of having time to herself is bittersweet.

To her knowledge, Marinette never had a pet, but she looks like she might have lost them. Or no, Clara decides, that’s not it. It’s more like she lost a dear friend.

Deciding to step up to that role, Clara smiles at her. “You’ll still come to the wedding though, right?”

“Huh?” Marinette blinks. “I’m invited?”

“What? Of course!” Clara reaches across the table and grabs Marinette’s hand. “You’re my favourite designer, Marinette, and you’re very dear to me. If I can’t get you dressing me, then I can at least make you eat dinner and drink some wine with me.”

“I’d...I’d like that.”

“And--” Clara curses herself for starting because now she can’t stop. “You can say no, but what if you design something for my rehearsal dinner then? That’ll be fairly low key, I promise--”

“Okay.”

Clara blinks because she didn’t actually expect to succeed here. “Okay?”

Marinette nods slowly. “Okay. I can use the work,” she says, sounding like she’s trying to convince herself that the dress wouldn’t be a distraction. “What were you thinking?”

Clara shakes her head as she stands. Marinette reacts, standing as well, so Clara pulls her into a hug. “Focus on yourself for now, Mari. We can deal with my dress another day.”

-

iv.

Meeting with Marinette no longer happens in bedrooms above the bakery or in sad, bare apartments. This time, Clara visits Marinette’s studio, marvelling at the pieces that are on display before meeting with her favourite designer herself. Marinette soon rushes out in a green smock that really just makes pregnant look all sorts of chic.

Clara greets her with kisses before shaking her hand like it’s a joke. Her gaze falls down to Marinette’s middle and she grins.

“What are you at now? Six months?”

Marinette sighs heavily. “And counting.” She rubs her abdomen. “To be fair, I don’t think it’s this little one that’s making me so tired.”

Clara nods, knowing that Marinette’s ever-growing name also comes with a lot of demand. Moreover, a need for constant exposure. And Marinette always seems to forget that she married into fashion royalty. Or maybe she’s well aware of that, Clara considers. Maybe she’s trying to prove herself beyond everyone’s presumptions by heavily overcompensating.

“Did you make that dress yourself?” Clara asks.

Marinette’s face twists into a scowl. “Maternity dresses always look so frumpy. And the non-maternity dresses that can work with my stomach always look strange on my chest.”

Clara practically shakes in giddiness. “Do I sense an MDC maternity collection in the near future?”

“More like one titled afterbirth that is largely sweat pants and with prints that resemble spit up.” But Marinette pauses, genuinely considering a possibility of maternity clothes. “Or perhaps...actual dresses that fit properly. And then after that, matching outfits for mothers and daughters?” 

It all comes out like a question, but Clara knows Marinette is completely zoning out, especially when she reaches for her sketchbook. Clara keeps her mouth shut, preferring to spend this time watching Marinette’s creative process. After all, she technically came here to commission MDC into creating something for herself and her daughter for the girl’s tenth birthday.

“And suits!” Marinette continues. “And then little baby suits--” She cuts herself off with something between a squeal and a cry. She sniffles and then rests her hands on her belly. “I just--that would be so cute.”

“It would be,” Clara agrees.

Marinette turns to her, as if remembering she’s there, and then promptly flushes. “Sorry,” she mumbles. She laughs sheepishly. She closes her sketchbook and moves it to the other end of the table. “You came here for a reason. So how can I help you, madame?

Clara pulls the sketchbook back and pushes it Marinette’s way. “Continue with that, won’t you?”

“I can do that later,” Marinette protests.

But Clara considers the image Marinette had been in the process of sketching, a woman and a little girl in matching sheath dresses adorned with roses. 

“Nonsense.” Clara leans back in her chair. “I want whatever you’re making.”

-

v.

When Clara is set to celebrate her induction to L’Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur for her contributions to the arts, she asks Marinette to design her dress for the ceremony because just who else is there?

The morning of the ceremony, they’re alone in Clara’s suite as Marinette ensures that everything fits Clara the way it should. The navy neckline settle just off her shoulders, looking tasteful but still elegant for this special event. The dress is much simpler than anything Marinette has ever made her before, but Clara positively adores the waterfall handkerchief that adorns the right side of the knee-length skirt. 

When she’s finished looking over every single stitch, Marinette stands straight, takes a step back, and assesses Clara in the dress.

“Satisfied?”

After a moment, Marinette nods, making Clara roll her eyes. “The dress is fine, Marinette.”

“It’s--”

“Polished, professional, perfect for this event.”

“I know.” Marinette shakes her head and that seems to remove her from her stupor because she’s smiling. “I don’t think I’ve said this yet, but congratulations, Clara. This is a great honour.”

“You’re coming tomorrow night, right?” Clara is throwing a party to celebrate her new status as Chevalier among her family and friends. It would be only fitting that Marinette, who designed tomorrow night’s dress as well, was in attendance.

Marinette shakes her head though. “Emma has a recital,” she explains. 

“And you have a Spring line to design.”

“And I have a Spring line to design.” Marinette laughs. “Although only after Emma’s recital.”

Clara nods, knowing just how much family matters to Marinette. She almost snorts when she recalls that all of Paris (and even the world) knows that, if her line of matching outfits for parents and children a few years ago was anything to go by.

Before Marinette finally leaves, Clara grabs her hand.

“What’s up?” Marinette asks. It’s not like this dress is particularly finicky, unlike her other designs. 

Clara just pulls her close. She knows she might be wrinkling Marinette’s hard work, but this hug feels more important. 

She’s grown so much since being the kind-hearted teenager that starred in her music video decades ago. They both have. Marinette is almost her height now, and she’s a woman with a career and husband and three kids at home. 

“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but you really are amazing, Marinette.”

“Isn’t today about your lifetime achievements?” Marinette teases.

Clara draws back and pats Marinette’s cheek. “I’ve won more than enough best dressed awards to prove that keeping you by my side is one of those achievements.” 

Marinette bites her lip. She pulls away and grabs her bag of supplies. She moves to leave, but Clara calls her name when she gets to the door. 

“I’m so lucky to have been able to watch your talents flourish.” Clara beams at Marinette Dupain-Cheng with pride. “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

[firstpuffin]

Dealing with overpowered antagonists:

-Note: haha- whoops. I meant to add an image but forgot, leaving only the note reminding me to do so.

Always triple proof-read your stuff to save yourself from embarrassment! 

If you enjoy any kind of fantastic action story, whether it be peacekeepers in space, superheroes in New York or Vampires on a flat-earth atop the backs of four elephants, it is likely that at some point you will come across an overpowered antagonist. This enemy may be the man in the high tower pulling all of the strings or just a henchman too dumb to make plans; he can’t be hurt and he has greater raw power than the hero, but somehow he needs to be defeated (by the way, I’m using the old fashioned “he” rather than mess around with confusing specific gender-neutral pronouns; it’s just practical).

  An example of this and the one that inspired this piece is Doomsday from the recent “Death of Superman” cartoon movie and is my bad example of how to write an overpowered villain. A reasonably comparable- erm, comparison in world, power levels and characters is from Japan; the recently finished (or on hiatus) series Dragon Ball Super did an overpowered antagonist reasonably well. Keep in mind I’m not saying Japan does this better, it’s just a coincidence.

  I’m sure everybody knows Superman but I’ll briefly cover Dragon Ball to give non-nerds context. Like Superman, Dragon Ball started off as a comic book series (manga to those who get pissy about terminology) that has also been animated; the latest series is called Dragon Ball Super. The hero, Son Goku, is an alien sent from a dying planet and who gains godlike powers. I’ll point out that while Goku’s powers are innate, unlike Superman he has accessed them through rigorous training rather than convenient exposure to the sun and he is in no way a hero of justice. He’s already very strong but he transforms his body to get stronger and, through what’s become a gag in the fandom, he has about six transformations; he actually has more depending on what you count but six is the minimum. You may have seen the meme “this isn’t even my final form”: you can thank Dragon Ball for that.

  Goku and Supes have been compared again and again and fans frequently (and kind of pathetically) fight over which is stronger; I’m not going to get involved in that as I know Goku really well, but Superman barely at all. I bring all of this up because the similarities and comparisons allow for a really interesting analysis of their antagonists.

 First of all, let’s look at Doomsday. I mean, I’d rather not as he’s ugly as sin. Now that the bad joke’s over let’s actually say something of value: Doomsday is this huge grey-skinned, red-eyed (real original guys) and white-boned monstrosity. I say white boned because he has what appear to be pointed bones sticking out from all over him. From what I can grasp he is some sort of mutant Kryptonian without a mind or intelligence and that just destroys. There’s not much else to say besides that he appears to be a stronger version of Superman, minus intelligence.

  The antagonist in Dragon Ball Super is called Jiren the Grey and he is- well he’s grey-skinned. Don’t ask me, naming-schemes might be different in Japan. Anyway, Jiren is an alien with grey-skin, big black-eyes and no hair. It’s never stated what species he is or how innately strong they are, but the dude is huge, like absolute unit huge. He is intelligent but appears lacking in the personality department, generally being quiet. Like Goku, his strength has been achieved through training although he doesn’t transform.

 Let’s return to Doomsday and the subject at hand. Doomsday wanders around destroying everything until he meets Supes who is almost his match. The two fight for a long time with Superman losing ground until it is clear that he is being overwhelmed. Superman’s punches don’t do enough while Doomsday’s punches hurt. Supes tries everything he can, flight, heat vision, punching harder. But it reaches the point where the Hall of Justice is ruined and a broken Superman is being thrashed; Lois decides to yeet a stone at Doomsday who seems as fresh as a wild daisy and if I know the character well enough then it’s probably stronger than when the fight started. Seeing Lois in danger, Superman- kills Doomsday. Just like that. He fly-punches Doomsday’s head in a 180.

  It comes out of nowhere and there is no reason for it. Yes, watching a man who can fly and shoot lasers requires the suspension of disbelief, but that only goes so far. Supes being able to outrun the sound of a speeding bullet is internally consistent within the world and we begin by accepting that. We know he is weak to kryptonite and being punched really, really hard, and that he gathers strength from the sun. And, in the name of being internally consistent, we see him being punched really, really hard at night when the sun is out and being unable to reciprocate. Even suspending our disbelief, just going by what we’ve seen in the movie so far, Superman should not have been able to beat Doomsday by just punching harder.

 So what about Dragon Ball? Some more background, there are twelve universes that exist and ten fighters from eight of these universes are having a battle royale in the “Tournament of Power” and it has been established that there is a character who even the gods can’t match: Jiren the Grey. From the moment we see him he is calm and strong. Throughout the tournament he rarely acts and when he does he pulls off amazing feats: he tosses a berserk character who Goku was struggling with off of the stage, he deflects attacks with a look and blows a fighter out of the ring with the air pressure from a punch.

  When he eventually fights Goku, who is the only person strong enough to actually put up a struggle, he overwhelms him. I’ll admit, the execution is trite and uninteresting (it’s boring and silly seeing someone block an attack with a finger; don’t do that), but it’s shown that Goku doesn’t stand a chance. Now Goku has been training under an angel in order to fight the gods (I know, sounds weird, right?) and he’s been training to do some martial arts thing where the body acts before the mind can think, and during the fight this training begins to manifest. This is shown before the tournament, as is the fact Goku’s species, known as Saiyans, are born fighters and will become more skilled as they do so; this is all internally consistent and matches what the viewers have already accepted.

  Goku and Jiren fight three times and the only reason that Goku doesn’t lose the first time is because of Jiren’s arrogance. He gives Goku time to rest (twice) and to get a hang on the skills that had started to manifest during their fight, skills which he perfects during the final fight. Now I’ll admit that things don’t totally make sense: Goku learns to let his body react intuitively, speeding up his movement, and yet this causes him to transform again? This seems a bit contrived, and yet it uses what we already know: the Saiyan race can transform.

  I can justify this by saying that it’s more than him reacting to attacks, his body as a whole is acting according to decades of training and transforming, and this manifests through the perfect transformation. I came up with this because it matches what the story has told us. Goku wins because of what they have told us for a long, long time. But you know what? Goku doesn’t win with this new power.

  Goku has worn down Jiren when the new transformation’s side effects kick in and he loses the power as the muscle strain nearly cripples him. He then has to fight alongside two of his teammates to defeat this weakened Jiren.

 The reason why Jiren’s defeat is so good is that it relies on things that we have known and has been established within the story; it’s internally consistent. Now I have to admit, Dragon Ball Super is a series that lasted a few years and is tagged on the end of another decades long series, and The Death of Superman is a couple hour long movie. This certainly gives Dragon Ball the advantage of time, but that doesn’t hugely matter.

  It’s more than possible to set up a weakness in the early minutes of a movie, or better yet throughout the movie. Show that Doomsday has a weak neck; maybe see his bone-protrusions pierce Superman’s skin but are fragile and break off. Supes can yank out a shard from his own stomach and stab Doomsday. Maybe being a Kryptonian monster he also has a weakness to Kryptonite. Maybe… anything. It doesn’t have to be hours of our hero training to get stronger, just don’t pull a stronger punch out of your arse.

[alexteltevskiy]

Why I take photos

Hey everyone, how’s it going?

I’m back. Been taking a break from social media this past year. Recently moved to SoCal from Chicago and was busy settling in. Also, I took this time to step back and look at where I’ve been and where I want to go with my photography, as well as how I present it online.

I’ve got a lot of fun new content planned and will slowly start rolling it out. Meanwhile, to make up for my lack of updates, this post is chock-full of awesome photos and interesting thoughts on photography. Climb aboard and enjoy the ride!

Throughout this past year I continued taking photos, but I left social media entirely, feeling that it was becoming a bit too much. Too much of a time investment and mental drain, researching & following, using all those silly hash tags… Too much attention being eaten up by a constant bombardment with a never-ending flow of imagery. Too much bots, too much spam & too much noise. Too much “for the likes”. Too much stuff I couldn’t care to care about anymore. Instant gratification and desensitization were the new norm. Even the quality stuff didn’t matter anymore. I knew it was time to jump ship.

But I did miss the things that were actually good about it. There weren’t that many, but still… I knew that it was only a matter of time before I plugged back in again. And… here I am. Meanwhile, my sabbatical allowed me the luxury to think about my photography from the ground up, and think I did. In this post I’d like to share with you some of the fruits of all that thinking: I’d like to share with you the 10 reasons why I take photos.

1. Exploration & adventure

Photography allows me to explore new, unfamiliar places, as well as see the old and familiar places in new light, over and over again. Back in the olden days I used to call it a “Passport to adventure” (pardon the cheese). And I still feel that way.

Nothing else gets me out the door as quickly as a camera and a fresh new roll of film, and not much enriches a life more than travel.

2. Meeting people

Meeting new people is always fun. It’s a life-enriching experience and helps one feel connected to the greater world. It’s not always easy to connect with strangers on the street, but a camera usually helps break the ice in more ways than one.

Since many of my interests lie in old mechanical objects, having a vintage camera with me actually sparks a lot of conversations to happen entirely by themselves. And at the end of the day, 9 out of 10 people actually feel honored to be able to tell their story and have their picture taken.

3. Family and friends

I don’t need 691 snapshots of what we ate for breakfast every year. I need just a few quality photos that are engineered to stand the test of time and will always bring back the fondest of memories spent with my family and friends.

Quality photography, where I put in the time and effort to make each shot count (ahem, film, not pointing fingers, ahem). It’s rewarding and it makes my relationships feel that much more special (sorry for the sentimental cheese).

4. Recording milestones

Speaking of family and friends, the moments that we cherish most are the ones that deserve their own dedicated photo shoot. Being a photographer transcends into being a historian and keeper of family history and even tradition.

“Production values” are high, trips are planned, adventures are had and lasting memories are made. Photos serve as testament to us and the big advancements in our lives - a big move, getting married, having children…

5. Fueling curiosity

To be curious is to be human. It’s what defines us as a race that’s able to advance and grow. There would be no fire, no wheel, no semiconductor and no landing on the moon and (gasp) no Instagram.

Taking photos for me is a continuation of that fine tradition of discovery. I see, I like, I take a photo. I obsess over the photo and object that lies herein. I learn more about it, wiki-ing about the design decisions on that olive green ’67 Cutlass or the impact of that historic Main St. movie theater on the town or how surfboards are shaped. Or why the moon is sometimes red. Or why Dingbats have such a funny name.

Photography helps me learn more about my world. Always a nice thing.

6. Imagination exercise

Every once in a while I’d take a photo and it would entertain my mind in many not-so-obvious ways. Could happen with a picture perfect landscape or a failed Holga long exposure. It would mysteriously linger in memory for a while, prompting repeat viewing. Often times the effect would be immediately after seeing the photo, other times it would surface years after the fact.

I would be drawn to the photo, get lost in it, imagine myself in it. All sorts of metaphorical thought would crawl into the picture, all sorts of things would form in the shadows and bubble up. Sometimes nostalgia would paint the skies a dull yellow and I’d feel warmth in my toes that I haven’t felt since 17. Sometimes at night, the skyline of Port of LA turns into Port Town from F-Zero and at midday, the sand dunes on the beach turn into a romanticized version of early 20th-century Arabia.

Humans are visual creatures, and photos have the power to play all sorts of tricks on the interplay between imagination, memory and all the 5 senses. Photos help me tie my mindscape together.

7. Giving back

It’s only natural to want to share with the world something that you truly, honestly love!

Photography is a craft that has lots to do with understanding fundamentals, repetition and learning from your mistakes. It also has lots to do with many other things that are not so immediately obvious due to the exceedingly esoteric nature of what makes or breaks a good photo. Not to mention that there’s a very complicated technical side to photography as well, film or digital...

The answers to all of these come with time and experience, and as always, with a little help from our friends. As such, it’s always a humbling and enjoyable experience when I can offer my friends a little help of my own, based on my personal experience and observations.

8. Experimentation and happenstance

Photography has always been about experimenting - seeing what works and what doesn’t. Every time I try something new I am faced with fresh and, dare I say, invigorating challenges.

Sometimes I learn something cool that I’d like to continue doing (redscale or Pen-o-ramas). Other times I find a format that completely changes the kinds of shots I’d do for long stretches of time (half frame or a 6x9). Or I would find a camera so unpredictable that I wouldn’t know how the shot will turn out at all (pinholes, Holgas, solarcams, old soviet cameras, etc).

In the world of film photography, there is absolutely no shortage of film, formats, cameras and techniques to try out. We have, after all, more than a hundred years of photographic legacy to fall back on and tinker with. It keeps things interesting and the perspective - fresh.

9. Getting lost in the moment

This is a big one, especially with film photography. A craft so diverse and expansive that condenses down to a singular moment when the shutter goes off. There’s so much to love, so many details to enjoy.

Starting with the obvious - not having to chimp or preview the photos and being limited by a scarce, diminishing resource (film) allows more time to bask in the surroundings and bond with the moment rather than just keep popping off the camera like a machine gun. Waiting for the moment (or setting up the shot), anticipating the scene, watching it all come together. It’s meditation.

The gear, so varied and spanning such a breadth of generations, each with its own intricacies, procedures and character. The mechanical, tangible nature of control manipulations. It’s all very tactile and ASMR-ish. Come on, all you Leica fans out there - tell me you don’t go through an elation every time that cloth goes sssssshwick, haha )

10. Feeling the passing of time

Photos are like a quality wine - they get better with age (I actually don’t know if that’s true, but that’s how the saying goes). A lot of photos we admire today were received completely different when they were first presented to the world. We look back at the photos from the 60’s, 70’s and go through a portal to that time. How people lived their lives, where they lived, what they drove, how they had fun. It’s all put through the context of history. Same goes for movies, music - any cultural item.

It’s important to understand that your photos, if you choose to keep them around for that long, will be viewed many decades down the line and will offer a glimpse into those times. Viewers from the future will look at the cars and marvel at how people got around in these dead-dinosaur-powered vehicles, or how everyone on the street was stuck staring down at tiny glass screens, or even the fact that the very photo they’re looking at is static, isn’t an immersive 3D experience and has limited resolution.

Things get especially interesting when the photographer himself is the subject of the photos...

11. Cars

Wait, didn’t I say it was 10 reasons? Well, there’s always room for cars! Awesome, timeless automotive examples, each with its own personality and style. As they say, there’s always room for cars...

Conclusion

Sorry if that was too wordy! A lot of reasons, huh? And everybody will have their own… That’s the beauty of this thing called photography - everyone makes it their own. Hopefully this post presented you with some interesting food for thought, or maybe inspiration for your next photo project. Thanks for reading, everyone.

Stay awesome!

[archionblu]

A Personal Announcement And A Request for my MBs

Hey folks. I should probably wait until closer to the actual date to share this, but I’m already going crazy waiting/watching the count down, so I’m telling you guys now.

WARNING: POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING, CHECK THE TAGS BEFORE CLICKING THROUGH

I have an eating disorder. Specifically binge eating. I’ve ignored it for a very long time, pretended I didn’t have it and that it wasn’t a problem because I didn’t want to give up the one comfort item I felt like I had: food. But the impulsive, furtive overeating is destroying my body, threatening to make me even sicker than I already am (I have chronic pain/illness from EDS, PCOS, migraines, anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, and ADHD for those of you not aware). 

So I decided I would do an intensive outpatient program. I went and drove 2 hours away to do the assessment, ready to commit (though terrified) to doing the 3x a week program. I went through the assessment, ready to start asap, and the therapist/intaker said:

“I don’t recommend you for our IOP. I think you need to be in our residential program.”

That was not something I was prepared for. I have a deep fear of inpatient scenarios; I’ve had friends who have been IP, and visiting them always very difficult for me because I was terrified of getting locked up too. I need to be in control, and the loss of autonomy of IP is more than I’ve thought I could handle. I’ve also thought “how could I possibly get better while isolated from my support system and surrounded by people just as crazy and unstable if not MORE so, than me?” So obviously I was really against the idea initially. I didn’t want to go to fat jail.

But the more I talked about it, with my friends, with my family, with my therapists, the more I realized this is my best chance. This is my best chance to address a lot of things, and to hopefully keep myself from going over the cliff edge into diabetes (on top of everything else). My fear of what my life is now is greater than my fear of fat jail. 

It’s going to be hard. SO hard. It’s going to be a month (or longer) of daily strict schedule, no time alone, people watching me eat (something I HATE), all day therapy including exposure therapy (as the intake lady put it, “we’re gonna take you to McDonald’s and sit you down and say ‘yeah I know this sucks but you don’t get to eat it.’”). I can’t bring my personal stuffed animals or blankets, my access to my computer will be limited. As someone who is glued to her laptop, that’s scary. 

However, I will be allowed some technology time. What I am not allowed, though is: food related material (she said she thought it might be okay but that she wasn’t sure and that it would probably be closely monitored), and pornography is not allowed. Including erotica. 

So what this long winded post is about is basically a plea to my MBs out there. I need help, recs for two things: 

1. Great GMM episodes that have nothing to do with food, and

2. Your favorite fics rated T and less.

I’m obviously here for Rhink, but I also like a bunch of other fandoms if you have suggestions.

I really really appreciate you taking time to read this, and also for always being so supportive. 

I’m not going in until April, as there’s no way on the green earth I’m going to miss seeing RandL in St. Louis. So there’s time. But I’d really appreciate any and all suggestions you have for things I can do to keep myself entertained while I’m locked up. 

Thank you. Really. <3 Archie

[waggo-the-deer-blog]

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[brooklynislandgirl]

RULES: Don’t reblog, repost.

TAGGED BY: @annalerrel {lovely, talented friend that she is with the hella cool memes} TAGGING: @multi-mused, @whosxafraid, @morgansmornings, @ronmanmob, @therealgamble, @tabbyrp, @corinnebaileyrp, @generation-disaster, @corruptcorporateexecutive, @cajuncur, @tattoosandmusclecars, @agentharrisonofshield, @lucxsnorth, @jerseysass, @sheeradrenaline and anyone else who wants to steal this :) :)

► NAME ➭ ❝ Elikapeka Ailine Riley, but seriously it’s cool to just call me Beth. ❞ ► ARE YOU SINGLE? ➭ ❝ I don’t know why people make such a big deal about it. ❞   {varies by verse} ► ARE YOU HAPPY? ➭ ❝ ...sure. I mean I’m alive, healthy and blessed so got nothing to really complain about. ❞   ► ARE YOU ANGRY?  ➭ ❝ I don’t really get angry. ❞  Side-eyes her sibling. ► ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL MARRIED? ➭ ❝ No. ❞ Her parents divorced when Beth was ten, and her mother has found a new family that doesn’t include her. 

✨ NINE FACTS!

► ‘BIRTH’ PLACE ➭ ❝ Honolulu, Oahu.  ❞  Technically it had been Pearl City but most people don’t know make the distinction between Pearl Harbour and Honolulu, and when she says Hawai’i most people think of the Big Island even though they invariably picture Oahu or Maui. ► HAIR COLOR ➭ ❝ Uh...dark? ❞  Depending on sun exposure and her whims, Beth ranges from dark honey blonde to almost black. ► EYE COLOR ➭ ❝ Mostly green. ❞ There’s a ring of honey brown closest to her pupil, and in certain lights she can look brown-eyed, but they are too green to actually be hazel. ► BIRTHDAY ➭   ❝ 28 June, 1989.   ❞ ► MOOD ➭ ❝ Somewhere between lost and confused most of the time. But hopeful? Like..can’t get worse, right? ❞ ► GENDER ➭ ❝ Always been a girl. ❞  Though she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wondered what life would been like if she’d been a boy. ► SUMMER OR WINTER ➭ ❝ Oh absolutely winter! Means either the best surf or snow. Either way...shaka, brah. ❞   ► MORNING OR AFTERNOON ➭ ❝ For what? I think the language here is a little ambiguous.❞  

✨ EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE!

► ARE YOU IN LOVE? ➭ ❝ …. ❞   ► DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? ➭ ❝ Nuh-uh. I mean if people say they feel that way, then they’re confusing physical attraction with love. Lust shows up at ya door at midnight, wantin’ to know if it can sleep with you. Love understands that it’s an uphill battle and helps you make it to the top, even if it’s already carryin’ it’s own weight. ❞  ► WHO ENDED YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP? ➭  ❝ Didn’t end so much as he swam away ❞ And that’s all she’ll say about it. ► HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN SOMEONE’S HEART? ➭ ❝ No... ❞  And if she has, she absolutely has no idea that she did. ► ARE YOU AFRAID OF COMMITMENTS? ➭ ❝ …I mean I’ve got a netflix account? ❞   ► HAVE YOU HUGGED SOMEONE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK? ➭ ❝ Oh yeah. I do that a lot. ❞   ► HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SECRET ADMIRER? ➭ ❝ Wouldn’t be a secret then, would it, if I knew? ❞  ► HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN YOUR OWN HEART? ➭ ❝ … ❞ More often than not.

✨ SIX CHOICES!

► LOVE OR LUST ➭ ❝ In wha’ context? I think most people settle for lust when what they really want is a connection to someone else, to something greater than themselves. ❞   ► LEMONADE OR ICED TEA ➭ ❝ Coffee, preferably Kona. If not that, then I want tea strong enough to eat through metal spoons. As God intended. ❞   ► CATS OR DOGS ➭ ❝ All animals are precious and have purpose, even if they aren’t ‘cute’. ❞   ► A FEW BEST FRIENDS OR MANY REGULAR FRIENDS ➭ ❝ Personally, have a few best friends, but I know a lot of people. ❞ ► WILD NIGHT OUT OR ROMANTIC NIGHT IN ➭ ❝ By romantic do you mean like making up weird laws and concuring the western-world? Cause I have to work in the morning.  ❞ ► DAY OR NIGHT  ➭ ❝ Dawn patrol. ❞ Beth is afraid of the dark.

✨ FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS!

► BEEN CAUGHT SNEAKING OUT ➭ ❝ Naw, brah. Andy would have killed me. ❞ ► FALLEN DOWN/UP THE STAIRS ➭ ❝ Who told you?! ❞ ► WANTED SOMETHING/SOMEONE SO BADLY IT HURT? ➭ ❝ …  ❞ You’d have to pull her teeth out with pliers to get her to answer. ► WANTED TO DISAPPEAR ➭ ❝ ...like who hasn’t? Every human being regardless of their orientation, gender, race or creed has had to survive or will have to survive adolescence. ❞

✨  FIVE PREFERENCES!

► SMILE OR EYES ➭ ❝ Eyes Ya can see the most distant nebulae in them. ❞ ► FAT OR SKINNY ➭ ❝ Why are people so hung up on body image? Everyone is beautiful in their own way, and all you’re doing by glorifying one while vilifying the other is damaging someone else’s psyche. ❞ ► SHORTER OR TALLER ➭ ❝ For Serious?! I’m five foot even. Everyone over the age of three is taller than I am. ❞   ► INTELLIGENCE OR ATTRACTION ➭ ❝ Gotta go with Intelligence, for five hundred, Alex. ❞ ► HOOK-UP OR RELATIONSHIP ➭ ❝ I dunno ❞ 

✨ FAMILY!

► DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GET ALONG ➭ ❝ Define ‘family’. ❞  Beth has blood relatives and then she has her ohana, and most of the time, they’re two totally separate lists of people. ► WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A “MESSED UP LIFE” ➭ ❝ No more’n anyone else’s, I suppose. Luckier than most, not as lucky as a few. ❞   ► HAVE YOU EVER RUN AWAY FROM HOME ➭ ❝ Didn’t run so much as ‘went to college’. ❞  And she hasn’t stopped since. ► HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN KICKED OUT ➭ ❝ Of what? I don’t understand? ❞

✨ FRIENDS!

► DO YOU SECRETLY HATE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ➭ ❝If I hated someone, they wouldn’t be my friend. And hate...takes so much effort to fuel, why would you do that to yourself or someone else? ❞ ► DO YOU CONSIDER ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS GOOD FRIENDS ➭ ❝ If I call someone my friend, then it’s like saying they’re ohana. So, yes?❞   ► WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ➭ ❝ Jay Morgan. Since college. She’d help me hide the body and not say a word. ❞  ► WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU ➭ ❝ Uhm maybe Andy, my brother. ❞  {of course, verse depending that honour {?} also goes to Ron Kray}

[femininenachos]

Hey whats a good way to spread my clexa fics around i mean there are some incredible writers in this fandom and I’m not that level but what better way to improve other than practice and feedback from a wonderful fanbase

It’s all about shameless self-promotion. :)

If you have the ability to make moodboards or graphics (or you know someone who can), that’s probably the quickest way to get greater exposure for your fics on Tumblr. In my experience, visual posts tend to gain better traction since people are generally more inclined to reblog that kind of content.

So you could promote your fics by doing a post that includes:- a moodboard or graphic- a summary of the fic- maybe a short excerpt below a ‘read more’ cut- link to the fic on AO3 / Fanfiction.net or wherever else it might be posted - tag it as Clexa, Clexa fic, Clexa fanfic, Clarke x Lexa (there may be other tags that people actively follow but those are probably the main fic-related ones)

It might then get picked up and reblogged by a popular blog or even get on a rec list. 🤞

[emeraldnebula]

Thoughts on the comic book industry, Part 2

One of the biggest gripes about comic books is one that’s gotten a lot of traction since the end of the big 1990s comic book boom. And it’s only become a much bigger, much more unavoidable issue since then:

American comics are inaccessible to the general public, largely inappropriate and/or incomprehensible for all-ages audiences and newcomers, and are prohibitively expensive for anyone who isn’t already a die-hard collector.

Let me put it this way: For about $5 to $7, you can buy at your drug store or supermarket a 300-page paperback novel that tells a complete story. For $4 or $5 bucks at minimum, your money will get you a 22-page comic book that more often than not is part of a prolonged story arc that even upon completion probably won’t be a complete story. And you won’t be able to find said comic anywhere but a comic book store, so you have to put out the extra effort to see if there even is a store in your area. Which is the better value for your money? The complete story that’s easily accessible and reasonably priced, or the 22-page booklet that won’t be a complete story, will likely be impossible to understand unless you’re already a fan, and will be much harder to come by?

Obviously, the devolution of American comics from something easily available and accessible to all to the impenetrable mess they are today is the result of the industry switching over to the direct market system exclusively. In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, comics started abandoning newsstands, grocery stores, and drug stores in favor of comic book stores. That transition bled a lot of readers over time, and gradually led to comics catering almost exclusively to an audience of aging die-hards. Dick Giordano commented around the time of John Byrne’s Man of Steel that they were playing to “a much smaller and much more demanding audience” than had existed before. So there was no more incentive to make comics reader-friendly for potential newcomers or to bother with wide distribution. Just play to your captive audience and call it a day.

The consequences of this have been playing out for the last 32 years. Since 1986, when Alan Moore and Frank Miller made their names by shaking up the public perception of comics (for good and ill), the major publishers have adopted soap opera-style storytelling as the default model, a nihilistic and mean-spirited overall tone, lots of graphic violence and shock value gimmicks, and the default assumption that their readers are the same people who’ve been with them all along. Little to no effort is made in publicizing their wares to appeal to a larger audience; any publicity that’s done is purely to pimp the latest bad idea the editors are stuck on at any given moment to their existing readership. (This is even more baffling when you remember DC and Marvel are both owned by major studios, and could have used those resources at any time.)

And by not even bothering to make themselves available on a mass scale, comics have abandoned any notion of being reader-friendly, relying on convoluted, incomprehensible “continuity” and seldom bothering to open issues with even a brief recap of previous events to get new readers up to speed. The assumption is that anyone who’s reading today’s comics has already been doing so for years, is already an adult, and is more than likely somebody who gets off on material that can best be described as malicious. The high price of modern comics is even more of a problem when you have franchises with multiple books to their name, as crossover events either within said franchises or within the publisher’s entire line force readers to buy multiple books just to follow one storyline. And God help you if there’s a book or even just a creative team you don’t like, because you’ll be faced with the choice of buying stuff you don’t like or not buying anything at all. At $4 or $5 a pop for 22 pages at a time, that’s not an investment worth making.

This all assumes, of course, that there’s even a comic book store anywhere near you. In the last 18 years or so, comic book stores have been gradually dying out with the emergence of digital media. (In my neck of the woods alone, at least four stores have bitten the dust.) Again, availability is a major issue. And since the overall idea behind crossover stories is essentially double-dipping – profit off both the individual issues and the eventual trade collection – missing out on the individual issues automatically means having to wait for the trade. But by that time, any potential new reader is likely to lose interest and move on to something else. So again, the industry is still playing to the same aging, ever-shrinking audience.

Another failing of the direct market system and the overall inaccessibility of comics is that new readers more often than not won’t have any idea what all is really out there and how much variety there is. In the olden days where comics were available everywhere, it wasn’t just DC and Marvel running the show. You had stuff like war comics, funny animal comics, crime comics, horror comics, romance comics, comedy comics...anything and everything you could imagine was available on the newsstand. And while there is still some variety in the comic book industry from the smaller publishers, it doesn’t get nearly the exposure it should because DC and Marvel both stand to benefit from the limited availability of comics in general. If all you’re aware of is those two companies, you won’t know to seek out anything else. And if you find those companies’ output to be absolute shit (and it is), you’re not going to want to bother looking for anything else. So again, the other, smaller publishers end up suffering for it.

And let’s be honest, there’s really no reason for the comic book industry to be so exclusive and inaccessible in the age of social media. With Facebook and Twitter alone, promoting and bringing awareness to comics should be a snap. It’s even less excusable when you remember we live in a time where digital downloads for books and music are the standard, and movies and TV are gradually following suit. But since the industry by and large doesn’t want to be accessible to a bigger audience and doesn’t care about appealing to anyone outside the tiny clique it already has, a golden opportunity to bring in new fans is being wasted. Then again, as gruesome and nihilistic as DC and Marvel have become, would parents even want their kids reading this stuff? Would kids really want to see the heroes they watch on TV and in the movies making deals with the devil, being humiliated/torn down/killed off and replaced with alternate universe impostors, being dismembered and having loved ones killed off needlessly, having their romantic relationships destroyed out of the blue on a whim, turned into glorified villains in heroes’ clothing, or changed beyond the point of recognition?

(Yes, I’m fully aware that there are still kid-friendly comics in existence. But those books don’t get nearly the publicity and the attention as the event-gimmick crap I just mentioned, and tend to fall by the wayside. Again, another opportunity to get new readers on board is being largely wasted.

And yes, I also know that as of this time of writing, DC’s planning a series of 100-page digest comics for distribution with Wal-Mart. But since it’s just going to be more of the same shit they’ve been doing and failing miserably with in the direct market, I’m not holding my breath on it.)

The biggest sin with the current setup of the industry? Everybody who’s currently in the fandom was a newcomer at first. They all, in one way or another, benefited from the industry at one time being accessible and easy for a newbie to understand. By making comics so impenetrable, hard to find, unappealing to anyone who isn’t maladjusted, and expensive, the industry has effectively cut itself off from the people who could, in theory, keep it alive for years to come. You can’t expect comics to stay in business when you’ve made them too costly, too unpleasant and confusing, too far under the radar for anyone not already in the know to be aware of them, and too hard to come by. And by clinging to a dying brick-and-mortar system in a digital age...well, we all know how that sort of thing ends.

It’s not rocket science. The 22-page pamphlet format of comics is obsolete. In the age of digital, it’s not worth the inflated price tag and doesn’t give you any real value for your money. Digital comics made widely available thru a variety of distributors AND complete paperback graphic novels on sale at retail stores and/or newsstands would be a far better bet. Greater convenience, more satisfying formats than the old model, more value for your money, and a cool-looking graphic novel available for a decent price at your grocery store or drug store would be an enticing impulse buy for kids (provided, of course, the content wasn’t nihilistic garbage). But that would require looking beyond the ever-shrinking core audience of entitled fanbrats the major publishers cater to, so thus we’re not seeing anything like that happening. They won’t take advantage of digital media (if they do digital comics at all, it’s in the most half-assed way possible), and they do not want in any way, shape, or form to reach a wider audience. This goes beyond leaving money on the table; this is the industry saying they don’t want to make money at all if it means actually putting forth anything resembling effort. Forget long-term business sense, this is idiotic even in the short term. And it’s ignoring the most basic truth of the comic book industry: Without new fans, without another generation to carry it along, the industry will die.

But as we’ll be discussing soon enough, neither the major players of the industry or its ever-shrinking core audience of aging, lunatic fringe fanboys and fangirls see anything wrong with that at all.

[kaushalsheth]

Google My Business Optimization FAQs

What is Google my business Optimization?

Google My Business Optimization is a way for businesses to optimize their google my business page. Google My Business optimization includes increasing visibility of your business on Google Maps, enhancing your social media presence across the web, and getting reviews so people can see how awesome you are.

What will Optimizing Google My Business Page do for me?

Google My Business Optimization will help increase customer contact and lead generation from your website. You can be found by potential customers who are searching for local businesses online or in the nearby area with a click of a button.

Who should sign up for Google My Business Optimization?

Google My Business is an essential tool for every business whether you’re based locally or online. You need to use it to reflect your brand and have a presence on the web. If you’re thinking about starting a business or are already running one, you should do some optimization because this will give your business an edge over your competitors. You can do it in the back of a van or a cozy office with a computer, but doing it will be worth the time spent.

What are the benefits of Google My Business Optimization?

Google My Business Optimization is a great way to increase your visibility and get more business from your website. The more customers you get, the more money you make. You’ll see better results with google my business optimization than you would with print ads, radio ads, or even coupon ads on social media outlets. Having an online presence will allow you to have a better relationship with your customers and drive more sales through your business.

Can I do it myself or will someone else help me?

You can do it yourself, but being a little bit of a computer whiz or good with Google Maps will make the process easier. You may need to research what is needed to start your google my business optimisation campaign or which tools are best for your business. Look around on the internet and find out which websites are trusted and relevant. Use these sites as your resources so you can start a successful google my business optimization campaign.

What are the steps I need to take to optimize Google My Business Page?

Step 1: Put your business address on the page

Add your business address to Google My Business page. Verify it using postcard of other methods available to you.

Step 2: Add a website address.

This is what will allow people to contact you online. You can do this yourself, but it is recommended to contact a company that does custom work for businesses. You can also have a website set up by a third party.

Step 3: Add your business name and opening hours.

This is necessary because Google My Business Optimization requires this information to function properly. Your opening hours should be correct so travelers know when they are able to come by your store or restaurant.

Step 4: Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

This step depends on your business and how far you want to take it. You should have a company that specializes in this process to help you out.

Step 5: Get online reviews.

People value other people’s opinions. Having a review or two will give you the trust that will make your customers happy and more likely to come back, which can lead to more sales and profits for you.

Step 6: Share your page with as many people as possible.

Interact and share the page on other social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. You may also want to tag businesses in your area that are similar to yours so you can gain exposure.

How can I get started?

Start by sending a message to someone who can help you with Optimising Google My Business Page. They will be able to give you direction and advice on how to get the most out of your google my business page. Make sure to ask what their fees are and the process they take to do the optimization.

Is Google my business Free?

Google My Business is free. However optimizig your Google My Business page requires the help of a professional who can help you with the process. It can benefit your business tremendously but requires a little bit of money and some time.

How much does it cost to get started?

The cost will depend on the steps you take to improve your google my business page. There are pros and cons to each step, which includes getting an address, website, and making online reviews available. Services will vary from website design to helping you with your marketing campaign.

How long does it take to optimize my business?

The steps for google my business optimisation are different in each case. Time will depend on what step you choose and how well your company is doing with businesses similar to yours. The process will be different for each company and can be on the order of months or years, depending on the steps you take.

What should I look for?

When looking for a company to help you with google my business page, you want them to have experience with this type of work. You want to find someone that knows how to do this right. You should look at the reviews of people who have used the company’s services before so you know it’s a good choice.

Who should I contact?

We at XENRION provide Google My Business optimization services. We work with businesses to set up a google my business page for them and start their optimization. We are able to provide all the services you need in one place with competitive rates. We have done this many times before with great success, and we would love for you to be our next client.

How does it work?

Google My Business Optimization works by making sure your business is visible on the internet and tourists know where to go when they are in the area. This is where SEO comes into play so people can find your business easily. It is a way for businesses to advertise themselves on google search and it’s done by submitting your business online via Google My Business. The service will help your business reach a greater number of people through local or organic searches. It will also help you get more local clients, customers, and partners.

Here are some quick tips and Google My Business checklist for getting your page up there and keeping it at the top of the search engine results pages (SERPs):

List all of your phone numbers, with links to each number. This way, customers can call whichever number they prefer.

Ensure you have high-quality photos on each page listing of your products or services.

o make sure you’re not getting any sort of duplicate listings, Google will check to see if your ads and keywords are appearing on other websites, so be careful what you’re linking to.

If you have a business address, be sure to list the street address, as well as the city, state and ZIP code. This helps customers understand where they are located in relation to your business location.

The description field is for a short text description of your business. At the top of the description field, be sure to include your business name, address and phone number.

It’s also helpful to use keywords in your business name and address, so that customers can easily find your listing.

In the website field, fill out only the website you want to link to. Do not manually list any other links that may be displayed on your page.

In the category section, try to use a category that describes everything you do within your organization or business. If you don’t see it, select the category that is the most closely related.

In the additional details field, be sure to include a link to your store locator. This lets customers know that they can visit your site on a mobile device and see where you are located in their local area.

Lastly, make sure you’re only placing your business information in the field that is specifically for businesses. Using a personal web page will not help you get the most out of your listing.

Google My Business helps businesses like yours show up on Google Search and Maps. When done right, this is a great way to connect with new customers online and off. Google takes pride in keeping customers happy by improving their products to meet needs that aren’t met by their competitors.

from XENRION https://ift.tt/3BPsdAL

[celtic7irish]

A Brief Respite

Title: A Brief Respite

Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/13681113

Square Filled: Gi: Nick Fury x Phli Coulson

Ship: Nick Fury x Phil Coulson

Rating: General

Major Tags: None

Summary:  Phil closed the door behind him with a quiet click, shutting out the busy New York City traffic. Taking a moment, he allowed himself to lean lightly against the door behind him and close his eyes, but just for a second, and then he was straightening up and toeing off his shoes before heading further into the apartment, removing his jacket and tie and dropping them casually over the back of his armchair.

Word Count: 1965

Created for @mcukinkbingo

Full Text Below:

Phil closed the door behind him with a quiet click, shutting out the busy New York City traffic.  Taking a moment, he allowed himself to lean lightly against the door behind him and close his eyes, but just for a second, and then he was straightening up and toeing off his shoes before heading further into the apartment, removing his jacket and tie and dropping them casually over the back of his armchair.  Clint would have been aghast if he’d seen it, the normally pristine man rumpled and exhausted.  But Clint would probably never see him again, even if he did find out that Phil was alive.

“Long day?” a low, gravelly voice asked from the doorway to the kitchen.

Phil shrugged.  “Not longer than usual,” he admitted.  Then he grimaced.  “Reyes did manage to fry half the instruments in the cockpit, so we’re grounded until the system can be repaired.”  And yet, somehow, nothing that had been destroyed in the blaze had prevented them from landing safely.

“An accident?” his companion asked sarcastically, moving further into the room and resting a broad hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly.

Phil gave his friend and lover a tired smile.  “Depends on who you ask, I suppose,” he answered truthfully.  Ghostrider would probably admit, smugly, that he’d done it just to get off the plane for a bit.  And while Robbie wasn’t exactly in control of the demon riding him, the Ghostrider usually didn’t come out to play unless there was terminal justice to be doled out.  Phil rather suspected that the sudden failure of the generator had more to do with Robbie’s interest in their resident hacker.  He seemed rather enamored with Daisy, and Phil honestly wasn’t sure whether he should encourage it or not.  He had to keep reminding himself that Daisy was an adult and could decide for herself if she wanted to be involved with Reyes and his demon.

“That would explain why you’re here, and not down in Paraguay,” Nick Fury replied neutrally, moving up behind Phil.

With a sigh, Phil allowed himself a moment to just lean back into the other man, letting Nick support them both.  He felt a kiss pressed to the top of his head and murmured appreciatively.  “Dinner?” he asked hopefully, though he made no attempt to move away.  Even if he couldn’t voice it yet, it was nice to be home for a few days, and nicer still to come home and have somebody waiting for him.

“ETA ten minutes,” Nick informed him with a wry grimace.  Phil chuckled; of the two of them, Phil was usually the one who cooked, even if it was only simple dishes.  Nick preferred to let somebody else do the cooking, though his paranoid personality usually meant that delivery was restricted to a small number of businesses and very specific delivery drivers, following a very thorough background check.

“Well, whatever the reason, it’s good to have you back,” Nick told him solemnly, resting his chin on Phil’s shoulder before pulling away and prowling towards the front door of the apartment, where he’d wait for their food.  And woe be the driver that showed up even a minute late.  “Might want to get a quick shower,” he tossed over his shoulder.

Phil grimaced, but didn’t disagree.  Even with the amenities on the large military transport aircraft they called the Bus, a proper shower with heated water was something of a luxury.

Padding towards the bathroom on socked feet, Phil was grateful when he saw the towels on the warming rack and soft, comfortable clothes nearby.  Stark might tease that Phil had been born in a three-piece designer suit, but when he was home, Phil preferred to lounge around in baggy sweatpants and a t-shirt that was big enough to hang off his shoulders.

Phil’s shower was perfunctory at best as he washed off the grime and exhaustion of several weeks of stress and frustration, chasing Inhumans around the world in the hope that they could get to them before more hostile parties did.  In the last three weeks, they had managed to save eight, but had lost another five before all was said and done.  This small reprieve was a greater relief than Phil was willing to admit in the face of those he had failed.

When he was done, he toweled himself off with the large, warm blanket, smiling when he realized that Nick had chosen his favorite one - a red, white, and blue one with Cap’s shield on it, and got dressed, sighing as the heated cotton slid over slightly damp skin.

Stepping out, he sniffed appreciatively, smiling when he realized that Nick had ordered food from the little bistro about two blocks away.  Their paninis were excellent, as was their wine selection.  “Capri?” he asked hopefully, walking into the kitchen where Nick was busy getting food onto plates.  Phil paused for a moment, then relaxed, tension easing out of his shoulders.  Usually, they didn’t bother with transferring the food to plates, preferring to just eat them out of the containers they came in, but it was obvious that Nick had something more specific in mind tonight, and Phil watched as the other man cut their paninis into smaller, bite-sized portions.

“Grab the wine and a couple of glasses, would you?” Nick murmured, focusing on the meal.  Phil did as he’d been asked, bringing everything into the living room and setting it on the table in front of the couch before pulling the table closer and then settling himself comfortably on the couch.  He was too old to do this on the floor, but they made do.

Nick handed Phil the plate when he came out, and Phil held it while Nick settled himself on the far side of the couch.  Nick took the plate back, and Phil scooted over, settling so that his back was pressed against Nick’s chest.  “Comfortable?” Nick asked with quiet amusement.  Phil hummed back, enjoying the closeness.  Most people only saw the gruff, paranoide exterior, but Phil knew better.  For those that Nick cared for, he was fiercely loyal and viciously protective.  He was also incredibly gentle.

Nick speared a bite of the panini on a fork and lifted it to Phil’s mouth.  Phil let his lips part just enough that the food could slide in, and he groaned in pleasure as the taste hit his mouth.  Capri Paninis were his absolute favorite, and Nick’s chuckle rumbled down Phil’s spine.  “It must have been a really rough ride,” Nick murmured, taking the next bite for himself while Phil chewed, enjoying the line of heat along his back and the outside of his legs.

“You have no idea,” he managed to mumble before accepting another morsel. “I feel like I’m running in circles with no actual goal.”  Phil really hated not having a plan.  Not that plans always worked - people like Stark and Thor tended to throw a wrench into the works just by existing - but he usually had a generalized idea of what he was getting into.  With the Inhumans, the plan was just to get there and then wing it and hope Daisy and her small team of fellow Inhumans could get the job done.

“You can’t save everybody,” Nick reminded him, holding up another forkful.  Phil frowned, and Nick pressed the fork against his lips, carefully.  Phil opened his mouth with a sigh, accepting the truth of Nick’s statement.  He was only one man with a small team of people with very little outside report.  Ever since SHIELD had collapsed under the weight of Hydra’s exposure, their influence had become negligible.  It would take time to rebuild the organization, and in the meantime, the Inhumans’ plight would not wait.

“Enough about that,” Nick decided.  “Sheila got a new cat.  She named it Thor.”

Phil relaxed at the obvious change in topic, knowing that Nick didn’t actually give a damn about how many cats Sheila had - she was up to nine now, he was pretty sure, and she kept naming them after Avengers - but that he was giving Phil something else to focus on, meaningless gossip.  A bite of salad was next, and Phil twitched at the sudden sharp taste of the house dressing.  Then it was back to the panini, and the occasional sip of wine, and Phil allowed himself to do what Nick wanted him to do.  He drifted, listening to the rumble of Nick’s voice without actually paying more than the barest attention to his words.  None of it was important right now, and while he’d be able to recall it perfectly later, there was nothing pressing about it.

Instead, he focused on the rise and fall of Nick’s chest where it pressed against his spine, the shift of muscle as the other man fed him small bites of food, or reached for one of the glasses of wine.  He wasn’t required to talk, or to feed himself, or to do anything but accept what was given to him.  It wasn’t a ritual that the two of them indulged in often, Nick’s impatience clashing with Phil’s need to have some sort of control over any given situation, but when they did, it was fantastic.

Eventually, all the food was gone, and Phil blinked slowly back to awareness.  Behind him, Nick hadn’t moved more than was necessary to put the plate on the nearby table, and his arms were now wrapped loosely around Phil’s waist, resting against the warm skin of his stomach.  It was quiet in the apartment, but it was a comfortable silence born of long-standing familiarity.  Soon life outside would intrude again, and Phil would start planning for the next rescue mission while Nick did whatever it was he did on the ground while Phil was away.  But right now, there was just warmth and a gentle touch and a full belly, and Phil allowed his head to drop back and rest on Nick’s shoulder.  “Better?” Nick asked him, and Phil hummed his contentment, his eyes half-lidded and unfocused.  

He felt a gentle kiss pressed against his temple, and then Nick was urging him off the couch.  Phil went without complaint, and Nick herded him towards the bedroom.  “Get some sleep, Phil,” he murmured.  “We’ll figure it out in the morning.”

Phil dropped easily to the bed, allowing Nick to manipulate his limbs as the other man pulled the sheets and comforters over him before leaving the room.  He left the door open, though, and Phil could hear him moving around in the living room and kitchen, cleaning up after themselves.  He vaguely felt like he should be helping, but his body was like a lead weight, heavy and unresponsive, and so he just let himself float there, occasionally dozing off only to be awoken by the clink of silverware against glass or the low murmur of the dishwasher.

After a short stop in the bathroom, Nick made his way back into the room and under the comforter.  Phil dredged up enough energy to roll towards him, and Nick hauled him the rest of the way in, his head coming to rest on Phil’s chest, over his heart.  Nick had confided in him once - and only once - that after Phil had come back, before they’d woken him from the medically induced coma, he had spent the better part of a day lying just like this, listening to Phil’s heart beat, clinging to an impossible miracle.

Nick’s weight pressed him a bit further into the bed, and Phil’s eyes drifted closed without his consent.  But that was fine; he was home, and they were safe.  The rest of it could wait until the morning.

He might not even write Reyes up for the inappropriate handling of agency equipment.

Probably.

[jolie-guerrier]

3 Mistakes in Social Media Marketing That May Come Back to Haunt You

Picture this.

You order an object  500 likes Instagram on line and it takes way more time to reach than it must. Plus, some items are missing in the package. Frustrated, you are taking to the seller's Facebook channel to voice your concerns and count on to be compensated.

And notwithstanding repeated prodding, there is entire radio silence at the other give up.

The enjoy did not sense appropriate did it? You think perhaps this commercial enterprise does not care approximately you - how you trusted it to give you an amazing enjoy and it shattered this accept as true with rather. So you do what any frustrated man or woman might - you vow in no way to reserve some thing from right here once more and hit the "not like" button.

For social media strategists, there is a lesson to be discovered here. A social media advertising strategy can eventually falter with a few unlikes and negative feedback.

As a commercial enterprise owner, social media gives you limited probabilities to make an awesome impact. How you take benefit of these possibilities may make your business or smash it.

The evidence is in these stats:

• 71% of customers who have a high-quality social media experience with a brand are likely to propose it - Ambassador

• According to a observe, hardly 20% of social media posts hardly generate any emotional response on social media - Havas Media

• 42% of Twitter users count on to be anticipate a enterprise to reply to their inquiries inside an hour - Ambassador

As a social media marketer, the high-quality manner to improve your social media strategy is to first discover why it falters inside the first vicinity. Here are some mistakes which you would possibly have ignored:

1 - Being careless with terrible feedback

If you have ever treated a shop clerk, you would not anticipate him to come to be defensive when you have a grievance or be careless approximately your worries.

So why would your followers on social media?

Keep in thoughts, whenever everyone says something terrible approximately you on social media, the rest of your followers can see them. And they will be as fascinated to look the way you reply.

For businesses, this is a nail-biting state of affairs. But it's miles completely avoidable. Here is how:

• Put a person in a position behind the wheel: Experienced specialists like social media specialists will take an unbiased approach to the negativity and recognize that being careless approximately it serves no reason.

For example, they understand that being unresponsive to remarks like "your service sucks! I need my money again" doesn't honestly assist everybody. A well worded respond alternatively, helps each your recognition and appeases growing tempers.

To illustrate, your respond need to pass some thing like, "We are sorry which you had a terrible experience. Can you tell us precisely what happened so we are able to make amends?" This way, you are more likely to ease frustrated customers.

• Become alert to mentions by way of the use of online tools: It's clean to forget about about some thing you do not come upon every day. Comments on social media are the equal. You can not music each certainly one of them. No one inboxes them to you and there's no assure that followers will tag you.

To preserve track of all feedback, you may use equipment like Google Alerts which notify you whilst all people uses your keywords on their social media fields.

2 - Using social media management gear to time table equal posts on all systems

Social media control equipment permit marketers to post the equal content on numerous social media platforms without delay. Many businesses use it to agenda posts. And it has worked for them too, freeing up the time they want to consciousness on different obligations.

But oftentimes, people use those equipment as a shortcut to agenda equal posts on numerous platforms. It's a lazy tactic and suggests which you do not care how your content is acquired by means of audiences.

Keep in thoughts, what works on Facebook or Twitter might not necessarily paintings on LinkedIn. Every social media platform became created with specific goal audiences in thoughts. A 140 character tweet, for example, may not sit well with LinkedIn audiences who assume more complete posts.

Use tools to time table optimized posts

To make the most of social sharing gear, improve your social media strategy first. Take the time to learn about the particular abilties of every platform. Limit yourself to two or 3 systems if that's what it takes. For example, posts that are wealthy in imagery are greater successful on Google+.

Hootsuite and HubSpot are  of the many social media control gear that you could use to automate posts and even see which channels are driving the maximum engagement. In addition to automated content material sharing, those systems also offer free on-line social advertising and marketing schooling publications that will let you make the maximum of every platform like optimizing your posts for special social media channels.

Three - Skimping on social share buttons

Business proprietors normally reserve their high-quality content for their web sites. Content like informative blogs, for example, set up them as professionals of their niches.

It additionally deliver visitors a risk to live longer on these web sites. Perhaps they would love to go searching to see what else is on offer?

Unfortunately, you can feature content that everybody would really like to proportion - however if traffic haven't any way to proportion it, it isn't going to get the exposure you are looking for.

To make this give you the results you want:

• Make your social sharing paintings on cellular: Statistics show that over 15% of tweet mentions are from the tweet buttons which are embedded to your website online. This also proves to reveal that people share loads on cell gadgets.

• Tools to create social proportion buttons for WordPress: You can use on line gear to create custom designed social share buttons for one of a kind audiences.

When deciding on suitable plugins, an awesome rule of thumb is to select those who allow you more freedom within the sort of social percentage buttons you could create for one of a kind systems.

For instance, to enhance engagement with cell audiences you could inform your developers to download WordPress plugin gear like Simple Share Buttons Adder to create customized share buttons for your web or mobile target audience and upload them to all your social media posts. Another plugin device is Addthis.

• Have a social finances: If whatever is worth doing, it is well worth doing right. Tools like Simple Share Button Adder are loose to download and use. But in case you really need to make your proportion buttons shine, it's excellent to have a price range for it and use it to purchase their seasoned or premium packages. These provide greater customization options and retail for around $10 to $one hundred dollars.

• Select shareable content material accurately: If you need to take gain of social media, your content material have to be something that humans would want to share. Image wealthy posts, as an instance, are shared loads more than textual content-based totally content.

To illustrate, do not forget infographics. Studies show that infographics are shared and "appreciated" on social media 3 times extra than any other type of content material.

Wrapping Up

Use tools to maintain your self alert to bad remarks and rely upon expert assist. Avoid taking the lazy manner out with the aid of ditching the car posting approach. Pay interest to the kind of content material you submit, how your followers percentage content in your social systems of preference and optimize it for cell to amplify your attain.

It's a mistake to treat social as a brief and easy way to marketplace your emblem. It takes time, attempt and endurance. Learning about the mistakes and pitfalls will let you avoid them.

[doodleodramablog-blog]

Do freelancers work for free?

Yes, of course! Why else would they be called “Free”lancers?

After that sad pun which is the general perception, let’s start this blog with a disclaimer because why not? 

If you came here looking for some sort of a rate card; greeting cards Rs. 500, posters Rs. 1,000, wedding invites Rs. 2,000. Etc then I suggest you close this tab immediately.

Pricing is very personal just like bras. There’s no one size fits all. So we are here to discuss the cup size and the strap width, texture, material, push or no push etc... sorry! We were discussing pricing, right?

Before we dive into the different factors that I consider before putting a price tag on my work, there are majorly two types of pricing that you can work with; a fixed price and variable/fluctuating price.

Fixed price : you pick a rate card for yourself depending on the kind of work you do/ you’d like to do. E.g.: Any or every wedding invitation will be charged Rs. 2,000 (imaginary figures) regardless of the brief (kind, type, size, etc).

Variable price : the pricing will depend on the brief.

Again, I am no expert in this field (I will always be a newbie) and I’ve learnt things the hard way (and I’m learning everyday). Here are a few pointers I tend to keep in mind before giving a quotation to a client (please bear in mind that this advice is coming from someone who once charged a client Rs.15 for a doodle!).

Time : the amount of time it will take you to make the said artwork. E.g.: an artwork that takes you 5 hours to make should ideally cost more than something you can whip up in 15 minutes. Some freelancers also charge a fixed rate on hourly basis. E.g.: you charge Rs.500 per hour. You work on a piece for a total of 4 hours then 4*500 = cost of total project Rs. 2,000.

Effort : this is hard to quantify but comes with practice. Effort as the word suggests is the effort you’re going to put into the artwork. E.g.: it could be a single character illustration but may require a complex amount of detailing and layering which will take time and a lot of effort when compared to making a stick figure of a human.

Scope of work : I’ve discovered this only recently (from my mistakes, you shall learn). I think I can best explain this pointer with an example : if you were to make an A5 size poster for a client and charge them Rs. 1,000 for it. But the client uses the same artwork as a book cover and prints say, 1,000 copies of it. Prints bookmarks and posters, and even wall art of the same design makes a thousand copies of each and sells them in the market, then congratulations! You’ve been fooled. *hands a paper crown*. In such cases, always know what the scope of work is, where all it’s going to be used, have the client sign a terms & conditions document which prohibits the client from using the artwork outside of the scope agreed upon.

Size of artwork : sometimes size matters. Sometimes! It’s a simple case of designing an A4 size poster Vs. designing for a food truck. The latter will require more effort and time and greater scope of work, hence the client has to part with his/her kidneys!

Timelines/priority : my favourite breed of clients are the ones who use the words ‘ASAP’ and ‘URGENT’. They will always ask for top notch quality with quick turnaround time and want to pay you peanuts for it. Now, you cannot compromise on quality (because I am assuming you’re a decent artist and human being) so you’ll burn the midnight oil and deliver within the “URGENT” timelines. So in such scenarios, the one thing you can do is demand more money. Because you are pushing other commissions to make space for this one, you better get reimbursed for making their priorities yours.

How to get pricing right?

Nobody knows (ok! Maybe some people do. But hey! This is my blog and I will give shitty advice).

Trial and error (this is my mantra for EVERYTHING in life. Glad I don’t have kids yet!).

DON’T EVER WORK FOR FREE (I will stab you in the eye if you do!). You can work for free for NGOs working for a cause you believe in or for your grandfather (poor old man. Have a heart!). But otherwise, as a rule of thumb, please don’t ever work for free. If you work for free for a client/organisation, you’re not only securing yourself a comfy spot on the pavement to sleep for the rest of your life but also hitting the rest of us. Because then it’ll be a case of, oh! Sharma Ji’s son worked for free, you should learn something from him. We will all end up on that pavement. And people in our country DRIVE on pavements!!!

Ask yourself how much you’d be willing to pay for the piece you’ve created. Or ask a friend how much they’d be willing to pay for it (a real friend not those imaginary ones)

The other thing you can do is ask the client for their budget and see if you can match their budget or meet them halfway. You could alter the project E.g. An A4 poster with complex detailing and colouring can be reduced to an A5 poster with less background work, one character eliminated, etc to match the budget. Basically, work together with the client to make the project work. But don’t work for free! (I’m watching you).

You can (and should) revise your pricing every 6-12 months. This is again assuming you have polished your skill set and you’re producing better work and know your craft a little better than you did 6 months ago. To ensure the client doesn’t completely ruin your life, see if you can get a full or 50% advance payment before starting out. A lot of companies don’t agree to the 50% advance payment method (unfortunately) because they have their own 30 day payment schedule, in which case it’s a gamble. So you decide whether you want to risk it or not, how badly you want the project, and how reliable is this brand.

A quick wrap-up of this very serious and very useful blog :

Never work for free.

70% of the clients will claim to be poor.

And IF you are working for free as a one-off then make sure it is a one-off only and the “exposure” or “cross promotion” “collaboration” is worth it. Because if its not, I am coming after you with that knife!

Make sure you include cost for ideation if you’re also working on the idea/storyline/layout etc for a project in your total quote. You can totally charge for rough drafts/samples/and even extra iterations. 

And lastly but most importantly -Pricing depends on you, your skill level, your experience, & your needs.

Please remember that it’s ok to fumble, be confused, make mistakes, underprice (happens with me all the time) & overprice (the client won’t let this happen). At the end of the day, you need to decide how important the project and that experience is for you. You might come across a very interesting project which will also look amazing on your portfolio but the money isn’t great. Or the money is good but the project itself is bleh. It’s a choice you have to make!

Hope all this rambling was useful. If not, I am not sorry, you chose to click and read.