#AND ONE OF THEM INVOLVED KEYS OF COURSE

[wonder-worker]

"In reality Richard III invented a Woodville scare as a screen for his own conspiracy"

-A.J Pollard, "Richard III and the Princes in the Tower"

#lmao #r*chard iii #my post #I think that's true for all usurpations and coups to an extent #but its 10x more applicable and accurate for Richard III #Not only because of the compressed length of time (a mere 3 months as opposed to years of back-and-forth tensions) #but also because ultimately one of the key reasons Richard could do what he did was because he did it from the heart of the political #institution (ie he was an internal threat rather than an external one) #and he was someone who was trusted and loved rather than mistrusted and hated. His betrayal was political but it also had far more personal #ramifications for everyone involved - most people simply did not expect it from him and cooperated with him precisely because of that #which enabled him to seize power before most people even realized what he was doing #And there's the fact that he actually did stage a conspiracy by accusing the Woodvilles of plotting to attack and ambush him #and produced weapons from his own war in Scotland as fake 'proof' - when in fact we know that HE deceived and ambushed THEM #there's also the (propagandic) lie that they usurped him from the position as Lord Protector when they certainly didn't #either Edward IV didn't appoint Richard Lord Protector meaning the Woodvilles denied him nothing #OR the council collectively chose to have a council rule during Edward V's minority rather than a Protector (something they were entirely #within their rights to do both socially and legally) #so claims that they wrongly defied Edward IV's last wishes or broke the law (which Mancini repeats in his account) must be seen as exactly #that - propagandic lies to vilify EW and her family #when in fact Richard was the one plotting a seizure of power - whether it was as Lord Protector or as King #(of course these are just two things - there's a whole laundry list of others) #so this is definitely applicable to him

[love-birds-stuff]

Oagh thinking trisona thoughts

#im still like cooking a design for him but like #ok i havent talked abt this but i f/o but vash and knives (separately) and i like to break my own heart right #its sand falling though ur fingers #and i keep thinking that like ultimately my guy is aligned with knives first and foremost (thats a key thing) #so like vashverse (thats what im calling it where he guns for vash instead of knives) its like hey check this out how tragic #could i possibly make this right #bc rosario (trisona; thats his name) will always put his loyalties to knives and the ghg before anything else #that includes vash #so every time they do come together its never set in stone when itll be the last #theyre just biding their time until the inevitable #double owie if you consider ww into the equation bc looks wise rosario and ww look eerily similar #so going off of like vashwood thats like so theres this guy that looks like ur dead bf hope that doesnt cause any problems #i think their involvement hinges on that loss being fresh too; a perfectly aligned coincidence #trying to fill a hole someone left behind with someone else #AGHHH they drive me crazy bc theyre always coming together like stars on course collision; always dancing around eachother never to fully #meet and when they do meet the mutually assured destruction of one of them is guaranteed #(listen all the ghgs DIE; rosario is no exception) #anyway go crazy go stupid its 3 am aaaa #its sand falling thru ur fingers #bird chirps.txt

[thoughtportal]

Opinion Here’s how to get free Paxlovid as many times as you need it

When the public health emergency around covid-19 ended, vaccines and treatments became commercial products, meaning companies could charge for them as they do other pharmaceuticals. Paxlovid, the highly effective antiviral pill that can prevent covid from becoming severe, now has a list price of nearly $1,400 for a five-day treatment course.

Thanks to an innovative agreement between the Biden administration and the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Americans can still access the medication free or at very low cost through a program called Paxcess. The problem is that too few people — including pharmacists — are aware of it.

I learned of Paxcess only after readers wrote that pharmacies were charging them hundreds of dollars — or even the full list price — to fill their Paxlovid prescription. This shouldn’t be happening. A representative from Pfizer, which runs the program, explained to me that patients on Medicare and Medicaid or who are uninsured should get free Paxlovid. They need to sign up by going to paxlovid.iassist.com or by calling 877-219-7225. “We wanted to make enrollment as easy and as quick as possible,” the representative said.

Indeed, the process is straightforward. I clicked through the web form myself, and there are only three sets of information required. Patients first enter their name, date of birth and address. They then input their prescriber’s name and address and select their insurance type.

All this should take less than five minutes and can be done at home or at the pharmacy. A physician or pharmacist can fill it out on behalf of the patient, too. Importantly, this form does not ask for medical history, proof of a positive coronavirus test, income verification, citizenship status or other potentially sensitive and time-consuming information.

But there is one key requirement people need to be aware of: Patients must have a prescription for Paxlovid to start the enrollment process. It is not possible to pre-enroll. (Though, in a sense, people on Medicare or Medicaid are already pre-enrolled.)

Once the questionnaire is complete, the website generates a voucher within seconds. People can print it or email it themselves, and then they can exchange it for a free course of Paxlovid at most pharmacies.

Pfizer’s representative tells me that more than 57,000 pharmacies are contracted to participate in this program, including major chain drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens and large retail chains such as Walmart, Kroger and Costco. For those unable to go in person, a mail-order option is available, too.

The program works a little differently for patients with commercial insurance. Some insurance plans already cover Paxlovid without a co-pay. Anyone who is told there will be a charge should sign up for Paxcess, which would further bring down their co-pay and might even cover the entire cost.

Several readers have attested that Paxcess’s process was fast and seamless. I was also glad to learn that there is basically no limit to the number of times someone could use it. A person who contracts the coronavirus three times in a year could access Paxlovid free or at low cost each time.

Unfortunately, readers informed me of one major glitch: Though the Paxcess voucher is honored when presented, some pharmacies are not offering the program proactively. As a result, many patients are still being charged high co-pays even if they could have gotten the medication at no cost.

This is incredibly frustrating. However, after interviewing multiple people involved in the process, including representatives of major pharmacy chains and Biden administration officials, I believe everyone is sincere in trying to make things right. As we saw in the early days of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, it’s hard to get a new program off the ground. Policies that look good on paper run into multiple barriers during implementation.

Those involved are actively identifying and addressing these problems. For instance, a Walgreens representative explained to me that in addition to educating pharmacists and pharmacy techs about the program, the company learned it also had to make system changes to account for a different workflow. Normally, when pharmacists process a prescription, they inform patients of the co-pay and dispense the medication. But with Paxlovid, the system needs to stop them if there is a co-pay, so they can prompt patients to sign up for Paxcess.

Here is where patients and consumers must take a proactive role. That might not feel fair; after all, if someone is ill, people expect that the system will work to help them. But that’s not our reality. While pharmacies work to fix their system glitches, patients need to be their own best advocates. That means signing up for Paxcess as soon as they receive a Paxlovid prescription and helping spread the word so that others can get the antiviral at little or no cost, too.

{source}

#article #washington post #Paxlovid #covid #pandemic #health

[needle-noggins]

(CW for SA, suicidal ideation) Here we go. My favorite and simultaneously least favorite panel of Vash and Knives.

I've seen a few interpretations of this scene and before we dive into the one that really struck me, let's start with the more... chill one. We're finally introduced to the third gun of Trigun, Vash's angel arm. And the way we're introduced to it involves Knives forcing him to pull the trigger. Of course, since no one knows anything about Knives, the people of Noman's Land blame Vash for Fifth Moon, and Vash likewise blames himself (this is kinda a spoiler but if you've been paying attention, it's just par for the course). However, he's not the one who pulled the trigger, Knives is. It brings up an interesting moral question of blame - do we blame the gun (and Vash, who is being used/objectified as a weapon here), or the person who wanted it to happen? Guns don't kill people, genocidal twins do!

Now for the awful interpretation, the one that makes me cry and wish Vash was real so I could hug him and pay for his therapy. And really highlights how awful Knives is and how far he'd go for his brother in his own, fucked-up way. I touched on this in a previous post about Legato and the Murder Cafe, and the whole time I was thinking about Fifth Moon but didn't want to say anything for the sake of spoilers.

So. Pay attention to the way Vash and Knives are standing. Knives, when he first grabbed Vash's head, was standing in front of him. He moves behind him to better control him and yeah, he's still controlling him via hand on head, and now he's got his other hand gripping Vash's chest, where feathers/wings are manifesting. Knives is assaulting him. If you wanna get crazy with it and say that the angel arm is kinda phallic, you could say... yeah. This is rape. I heard that specific interpretation once and while I accepted it I also don't know if that would be generally accepted or if I'd be called out for it, so I'm trying to tread lightly here.

It also doesn't escape me that of course the angel arm has feminine features like the plants - the plants that, again, humans are exploiting for their ability to create. There's a lot of feminist commentary to be made here but many people have said it better than me. Specifically I'm thinking of this one post I saw about gender fuckery and Tristamp Vash. Anyway.

Also, the atomic bomb/black hole/sun/whatever that is in the middle... It's just so powerful. It's terrifying. The eldritch body horror here is a punch to the gut. What the fuck, Trigun? I thought this was a funky space western!!!

Oh, and here's more commentary on the following few panels:

Vashussy shot, Knives is still right behind him. Yeah, I wasn't kidding about how bad this pose is for them. Knives, you sick fuck.

Vash shoots himself in the leg (a key difference from '98 trigun, lol), because of course he does, but it doesn't free him from the arm.

The arm's getting darker/the light inside is getting lighter! Stampede did an awesome job with their interpretation of the angel arm and I don't think I would have understood it without that. Also, on my first read I didn't notice that Vash is literally levitating, which is cool, but also terrifying because ?? he's not in control of that either??

Finally. A super painful, minimalist, double-page spread. Nightow loves 'em. Vash thinks he's dying (maybe?) and he wishes he had never existed. It's not suicidal ideation per se, but he wishes he didn't exist at all because he's already caused enough suffering. This is a low for him, because he believes so strongly in the concept of the Blank Ticket. (Come on, soupy brain bitch boy, get it together!) He's a monster, it's just how he was born, and he's not in control. Very specifically too, he says "we", and then changes it to "I"... he doesn't blame Knives at all, and that's very him. I want to shake him! Stop playing the martyr, Vash!

#trimax #trigunbookclub #cw assault #cw sa #ive never tagged content warnings before please help if i didnt do it well enough #cw sui ideation #vash the stampede #millions knives #also if you say ONE WORD about plancest i will kill you with my mind because you have sorely misunderstood the point here #posting this makes me so nervous ngl #dont hate me

[magics-neptunes-things]

Calm After Storm

Hi guys!

It was way too long since I didn't write for Leah, so here is a sweet little thing.

I'm so happy Arsenal won yesterday, even if I almost cry three times and had two hearts attacks. And of course I think about Frida, hopping she's ok :(

TW : Lover fight, Angst.

______________________________________________________________

Leah is intense. Always have, always been and that’s how you love her. You love how much she can be passionate about everything she’s doing. You love her love for football, for her family, for her friends. She is always here to help her relatives for everything. She’s here for her grandmother when she needs help for groceries, she’s here when her mother can’t walk their dog, she’s here to get her brother to the airport at 8 in the morning even if she played a game the night before, she’s here to support her teammates through injuries.

She’s everywhere she can be, at every time.

You, in another hand, you’re calmer. You’re a little shy and need some time to observe the people you don’t know before opening up. You are as affectionate and attentive to your loved one than Leah, but in a more discreet way.

Those differences are the meanly reasons of why you didn’t understand at first why Leah seems interested in you. You met her thanks to your friend Lotte and Leah took the time to talk to you every time you came to watch Lotte plays. When Leah did her ACL, she attends almost every game, and you talk a lot during this time. That’s where she asks you out for the first time, after having asking Lotte if you are into girls.

You said yes, obviously.

If you didn’t think that Leah must be interested in you, you were deeply charmed by the personality of the blonde. She’s funny, intelligent, great to talk to and you have a lot in common. And yes, you must admit that you find her unbelievably attractive. Like almost half of the population but hey, you’re just a girl.

Leah kissed you at your second date. She asks you at the fourth to be her girlfriend and introduce you to her family after six months of dating. Of course, they already have known about you. And you knew them thanks to the Arsenal VIP room. But it was the first official diner with the Williamson and relatives.

You are not living together for now, but you find yourself a lot at each other’s house. You love being at Leah’s, everything smells like her. But she loves being at your house too. At Christmas, Leah gave you the keys of her house and you gave her the keys of your flat.

You love her, a lot. And you know that she loves you back, even if those precious words were never pronounced to each other. At least you both know that you care for each other. A lot.

That doesn’t mean you never fight, to be honest. Not later than yesterday, you had a really stupid argument about something really stupid. But with Leah’s stress about football and her comeback and your proper tiredness thanks to your job, it was sometimes happening. Some means words were exchanged, and Leah ended up leaving your flat, slamming your door.

Stubbornly, you decided not to write to her. In your opinion, she was wrong, and it was even more wrong to leave the way she did. You were hurt a little bit too, by the argument and after by the fact that Leah didn’t call you or at least send you a message. Not the same night, not the day after.

Almost two days later, you still didn’t have talk to each other. You ask casually to Lotte how Leah is doing when you have her on the phone. But your cousin answers that she was Switzerland in your love life and that she didn’t want to be involved in anything. Unless it’s for marriage or children. So, basically, you don’t know how Leah is today.

You saw the video and the pictures posted by Arsenal’s admin on Instagram, but that’s all. You choose not to go to the game, not sure that Leah wants you here. It’s an important game though, so you decide to watch it on TV. Leah’s starting and it’s strange to see your girlfriend’s face on your TV screen. She’s focused, her glare well fixed on her face. Her blue eyes are piercing her opponents.

But that doesn’t help Arsenal to win today. It wasn’t a big loss, but it was a loss anyway. Leah seems particularly sad, and you feel your heart cracks. So, you decided to jump in a jean, in your car and to go to Arsenal’s stadium. Leah gave you a pass to access to the parking lot, so you just use it to get in it.

You know that Leah went to the game with Beth, so you’re not surprised not to see her car. But, when you get out from yours, you can’t help but feel a little bit uncomfortable. What if Leah doesn’t want you here? Maybe your idea wasn’t as good as you thought at first. You almost decided to leave when Leah passes the door.

She’s looking at the ground, not listening to Beth or Laia Codina who are walking with her. The other blond spots you first and elbows Leah who looks at her. Beth then points in your direction and when Leah spots you too, she seems as surprised as she is relieved.

You don’t move, only waving shyly at her. She gives you a little smile in return, turning into Beth to says her something. You don’t know what it is, but Beth rolls her eyes and push Leah in her direction with her hand before mimic a kick in the ass.

“Hello” you say softly when Leah is next to you.

“Hi” breaths Leah.

You reach out to take her bag, putting it on the back seat of your car. Then you went to opens Leah’s door, but you cross her eyes, and she seems so upset that you can’t do nothing against that. So, you reach out to her again, so that she can grasp it this time. And, when Leah almost jumps on your hand, you take her delicately against you. She hugs you back, putting her face in your neck almost immediately.

“You played good” you whisper after some seconds.

“You weren’t here to watch” Leah objects, her face still in your neck.

“I watched you on TV.”

At your explanation, Leah pushes herself even more against you and you tighten your arms against her. No one like to lose obviously, but you’ve never seen someone with such an ability to take all the blame on themselves. You know that tomorrow, Leah would pass half of her day watching the game, analyzing her mistakes and noting them in her notebook. You hate that damn notebook.

“You still watched me?”

You can’t help but smile, hearing how small your girlfriend is when asks you that question. Leah Williamson, captain of England and Euro champion looks like a little girl right now. No one ever saw this part of Leah, or her mother only maybe. But you do.

“Of course.”

You could have tease her and answering that you wanted to watch Katie, but it wasn’t really the good timing. Leah takes a deep breath and release you, looking attentively at your face before trying another smile. You smile back and stroke her hair before nodding at your car.

“Can I take you home?”

“I’d love to.”

You don’t really talk during the journey to your house, but Leah captures your hand in hers almost immediately. She strokes your fingers and plays with your ring all along, looking out by the window. You let her, knowing with time that she needs some quiet sometimes to figuring things out.

When you get out of your car, you take Leah’s bag with one hand, your girlfriend’s hand with the other and go to the ascensor. In it, you can smell Leah’s shampoo and that’s make you smile. The blonde surprise your smile in the mirror of the ascensor and you just shrug. She doesn’t have the time to question you though, the doors opening just after.

“Do you want to order pizzas? Or I can go to Tesco to take you a ham sandwich if you prefer?”

“Nah, pizza is good Babe. Don’t worry”

You let Leah orders your diner, using this time to wash her dirty laundry before heading back to the living room. Leah had made herself comfortable, lying on your couch. But she stands when she spots you, making you frown.

“We need to talk. About our fight.”

You feel your face fall, hopping to never discuss your fight again. You hate fighting with Leah, and you hate the way you feel after. You were hopping that you can have like a silence contract to forget it. Plus, the We need to talk sentence is never really good. But Leah seems to understand really fast what’s happening in your head, because she takes your hand when she sits down on the couch again, taking you with her. You are almost sitting on her lap when she talks again.

“I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I don’t even remember why the fight start, but I shouldn’t have left like that. It was childish and I’m really sorry. Are you still angry with me?”

You shook your head negatively, relieved to learn that Leah doesn’t want to break up or something like that.

“No, I’m not. To be honest, the same night I was more sad to sleep without you than angry.”

“Why didn’t write me?” Leah asks with curiosity.

“I wasn’t sure you’d answer me and I was afraid I’d be even sadder.”

Leah sighs softly, stroking your back. Her eyes are looking at you with intensity and you bite unconsciously your lip.

“Do you want to know a secret?” Leah asks you soon after.

You nod, taking advantage of your position to cuddle against her. Leah puts her chin on top of your head, and you can hear her heart when she talks again.

“I was sad too. I was hopping you will come to the game but when I didn’t see you, I realize how much I fucked up. And after the game, all I was thinking is that I will have to deal with the loss all alone. Almost everyone was going home to their partner and mine was probably angry at me. I just wanted to go home and hide under the cover. When I saw you in the parking lot, I was thinking of the best way to apologize and get you back. I knew it was my fault, but it didn’t ease the sadness of it, it was even worse I think.”

“Don’t say that” you mumble “It was my fault too. We were both arguing.”

Leah hums and you look up at her before kissing her cheek. It was nice to know how much your presence means to Leah whether it’s during the games or at home. You love being here for her obviously.

“But we’re good now, right?”

Leah smiles, with her real smile and you feel your heart fluttered.

“We’re good, my girl.”

Then you kiss her for the first time since the fight and you get lost in your embrace. The kiss is sweet, tender and you feel like floating somewhere above the ground. Maybe your exchange will change in something more passionate if your pizzas weren’t already here.

You eat them in front of the TV, but still cuddling against each other. Leah finishes her pizza first and takes you more against her soon after. She kisses your cheek several times, not really interested in the movie she picks before. When you feel teeth against the skin of your neck, you decide to forget your meal to roll on your girlfriend.

Leah smirks, happy to have all your attention and catch your lips in an intense kiss. You whimper, surprise by the intensity of it but didn’t waist time to answer it.

“Thanks for coming for me tonight.”

Leah whispers it way later, when you were under the cover of your bed, almost asleep. The pizzas were eaten, you forgot the movie to better activities and after that you took a hot bath.

 Leah’s body is warm against yours and you hum at first for only answer.

“My pleasure” you mumble, half-hiding your face in her.

You yawn and Leah start scratching your neck, just like she knows you like. You only need thirty seconds to fall asleep after that. Leah needs a little more time, but she watches you sleep to pass time. She knows she’s lucky to have you and she swears to herself not to leave you angry anymore.

#woso imagine #woso x reader #woso fanfics #leah williamson #woso one shot #leah williamson x you #leah williamson imagine #leah williamson x reader

[yourwosogirly]

enchanted - l.williamson

short lil fic

pairing: leah williamson x reader

summary: after obssesing over tiktok, you take the jump to buy the perfume that’s supposed to make your partner obsess over you, so of course you had to try it

warnings: fluff, possessive leah

“sorry, baby” leah mumbled into my neck as i grunted, shifting my body weight in bed as she moved her arm out from underneath me.

“what are ya doing up?”i grumbled, voice still groggy as i rubbed my eyes and she leaned over my body, kissing my forehead .

“shh, go back to sleep, i’m going to walk nellie”she cooed, laying my body back down against my pillow, giving me one final kiss on my lips before getting out of bed.

“come on, nells!”she called out to the dog, who ran after as she headed down stairs, dog collar in hand before exiting the house.

with the front door slamming shut from leah’s exit, my eyes fell heavy as i fell back asleep.

✰

once you had started seeing about this venom perfume all over your for your page on tiktok, talking about how it was supposed to make your partner drawn to you, you were hooked. you went straight to your basket and bought the perfume, excited to get leah’s reaction.

you were sat in your car, waiting for leah to get back. today, you had planned to go out so that you could finally spend some time together, alone on your days off. you had finished getting ready, grabbing your sunnies, placing them on top of your head from the bright day in london, and slipping into leah’s car after you finished applying your lip gloss.

you checked you watch, you knew you had enough time before leah got back, having known she had not long left and would be at least half an hour.

you pulled your phone out of your jacket pocket, setting up on the holder for it on the dash board, making sure it was at the right angle before pressing record.

you didn’t do many speaking videos on tiktok, since you had been obsessed with the app mary had convinced you to join the tiktok squad with her at one of the england camps, fans loving seeing some of your content that you posted every now and then even more so if you got leah involved. if you were going to try this on leah, you might as well video it for your fans to see.

“hey guys! i just got this new venom perfume,” you said into the camera as you started to roll the perfume on your wrists. “apparently it’s going to make leah drawn to me, makes me irresistible.”

i rolled the perfume on my neck a few times, dabbing it on all places i know that leah was going to touch me .

once you had finished applying the perfume all over, you waited in the car patiently for leah to come back from walking the dog, ready to see if it would actually work.

your leg shaked nervously as you watched leah approach the car, getting in the drivers seat besides you. “hey,” i greeted her, smiling as she kissed me softly. “hey baby.”

“what’s that smell?”she pondered with a confused look on her face as she put her seatbelt on.

“what smell?”i questioned, giggling slightly to myself, i always was a bad liar.

“something smells really nice”she stated as she continued to sniff the air while i tried to keep a straight face. key word, tried.

“my new perfume maybe?”i shrugged, as she leaned closer sniffing my jumper, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“hmm, you smell so good baby”she audibly moaned as she leaned back into her seat, forcing herself to pull away.

“you like it?”you smiled at her, seeing how she bit her bottom lip, nodding and taking your jumper into her hands, pulling us closer again.

“come here”she said as you yelped, she grabbed your arm bringing you closer as she pulled you into a kiss, smiling in between as she kept saying kiss me.

“god your irresistible”she mumbled as she nibbled on the side of your neck making you arch your back in pleasure with a moan as her veiny, large hands traveled down to your hip bone .

we didn’t even make it off the drive .

#💌🎀🤍 yourwosogirly #💌🎀🤍 keeley writes #leah williamson x reader #leah williamson #woso x reader #woso imagine #💌🎀🤍 blurb

[harmoonix]

Mars and the sports in the birth chart:

💥 We all know Mars is a planet who needs a lot of movement/motion/action/stimulation and of course competition, and in a birth chart Mars can indicate a passion for that, here are some examples 💥

Mars aspecting the North Node can indicate being involved with sports in your life, maybe you wanna make a living out of a sport you like, for ex, swimming or football/soccer etc

Mars aspecting the Midheaven can indicate a career involved with sports, making a sport your job/career

Mars in the 1st/6th/10th and 11th/12th house need a lot of movement in their lives try waking up with a running outside if is comfortable for you, maybe with yoga or meditation

Mars in the 1H / 2H /5H and 10H can have athletic bodies which can be a boost/bonus when they're practicing a sport

Mars in the 4H can indicate a person from your family can be involved with sports/a sport- passionate person! They may get you into sports aswell

Mars in the 9H/12H is really good if they practice something between mediation - yoga and sport in the same time because it can help them a lot

Mars aspecting Chiron can help you to get out of your fears by using a sport/gym/personal motivation

Mars in the 3rd house can be very attracted into being motivational to others or to themselves, and here we bring the podcasts (take care *healthy podcasts* not toxic ones) or that one person who watches yoga from their tv at home

Mars in the 3rd house can aslo develop a passion for bikes or motorcycles so if that helps you and your body do it!!!

Mars in the 11H can be into a sport where involves communication and friendship (team work) such as team sports like football/basketball/volley and more..

Mars in the 6H needs lot of mental stimulation in order to enjoy/start their day maybe try a little bit of body movement after waking up like waking up your muscles and you can feel a lottt better

Mars in the 8H can be actually invest a lot in sports, either be watching sports from home either practicing a sport themselves, sports can also bring them money or wealth

Mars aspecting Uranus are known for being talented already, dancing/body movement/gymnastics/ballet is a good key for them

Mars aspecting Sun can easily have a passion for everything they get into, whatever it is they'll enjoy it

Mars aspecting Neptune on the other hand can be good at teaching others, especially in sports like gymnastics/yoga they're good mentors

Mars aspecting Moon needs an emotional boost before starting their day try to listen to music and practice body movement in the same time it can help

Mars aspecting Saturn can either have sensbile bones or really strong bones it really depends here, a good massage can help them with their body movement a lottt

Mars aspecting Venus can have a healthy routine/ a healthy relationship with their body so there just try to make whatever your body feels the best/most comfortable with

Mars aspecting Mercury can be good at encouraging which may help in not losing hope/getting better and better everyday

Mars RETROGRADE in your natal chart can indicate a sport can help you much better, can improve your life and your mental Health

Mars aspecting the South Node at first can be a bit shy/confused if they are into sports or not but if they're truly passionate about it they can get attached to that

Mars sitting empty in a chart/little or no aspects to Mars can indicate not really a passion to sports but you still wanna do something to improve your life and your body

Mars aspecting the Ascendant natives already have that very athletic energy, they're that type of person who can be good at any sport if they have the ambition for it

Mars in the 7H can be good at improving their love lives with using sport as a tool. Maybe you and your partner share both a passion for sports (which btw is a really cute thing to have), that type of couple who goes running every morning

#sports #astrology #astro observations #birth chart #astrology observations #astro notes #astro community #placements #horoscope #ascendant #venus #mars #sun #moon #football #tennis #swimming #volleyball #sport bike

[milf-murdock]

Safety First

(AKA: The one where Simon views “the law” as a relative term when it comes to your safety)

Simon “Ghost” Riley x Civilian!Reader 

Summary: After a scare involving a break-in at your flat, Simon decides to take extreme measures to ensure your safety—including getting you an illegal firearm and teaching you how to use it. What he doesn’t expect is just how turned on he is by watching you shoot it. Warnings: potential break-in scenario described, protective Simon to the rescue, use of a firearm, descriptive use of firearm, smut (I promise there is a plot here though it just….devolved into smut because I have no self control), P in V, oral (F receiving), unprotected sex, sliiiiiiight breeding kink, praise kink (really exposed myself with the number of “good girls” here👀), no mask Simon because civilian life, mate 😌  A/N: I had a lot of fun with this. It just seems so very “Simon” to me. He would have exactly 1 (one) incident where he gets scared shitless that something has happened to you, and he would pull every last goddamn string necessary to get your trained up on a handgun to make sure you can defend yourself always, even when he’s not there. Personal firearms are very much illegal in the UK but you can’t tell me the 141 boys aren’t packing at home. Simon Riley?? Leaving weapons behind?? Be so fucking for real.

Your grip on the shopping falters, nearly dropping the heavy container of milk. Your body freezes as you take in the sight before you, immediately on high alert. The front door stands ajar.

Someone’s broke in, your anxieties speak for themself. Images flash in your mind at a rapid pace, escalating in concern: men ransacking through your things, hiding out, waiting for you, strong foreign hands on your body—your shaking hands have your boyfriend’s number dialed before your imagination dares to unfold any further. You drop the shop bags on the floor, backing away from the door and down the hall of your complex.

“Hey—“ the deep  familiar baritone is immediately cut off by your sobs. 

“Si-Simon?” You choke out his name between your gasping breaths. You try to steel yourself, but the tears have already started.

“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” Simon’s voice instantly hardens, shifting to one of action. 

The tears are relentless now, and you try to force them at bay to respond. 

“Answer me, love, are you hurt?” Simon’s voice raises ever so slightly in pitch. 

“N-not hurt,” you gasp out. “It’s my flat. The door’s open. I know I locked it—at least I think I locked it, I went to the shop, I needed more milk, remember? I was only out for a bit—“

“Breathe, babe. Breathe.” You can hear the jingle of keys in the background of the call. “Listen to me very carefully, love. You turn around right now and get back in your car. Lock the doors. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there.” 

You sniff, thankful the tears seem to have finally subsided. You’re already put slightly more at ease knowing Simon is on his way. “Okay,” your voice waivers. “I can do that.” 

“‘Course you can. Now stay on the line with me until you get to your car.” You hear his car door slam in the background. 

__________________

Simon turns the 20 minute drive to 7. 

His sharp tap on your window startles you, sending your heart racing once again. 

“Stay ‘ere, love. Be right back.” Simon’s voice is muffled through the window, but you nod in response. 

Simon makes his way up the stairs to your flat, pulling his concealed weapon to his side and subtly shifting the safety off. The heavy weight of the cold metal is familiar as he cocks the weapon, preparing for a sweep. The motion is as natural as breathing for him. He gently toes open the door, immediately pulling his weapon at attention as he scans the room for threats. “Clear” Simon thinks to himself. Some habits are too deeply engrained. 

He makes his way through your flat, thoroughly checking for anything amiss. Once he’s satisfied that everything looks clear, he disarms the weapon, clearing the loaded round from the chamber and clicking the safety back on. The gun gets tucked back safely against his body, concealed from sight as he makes his way back out to your car. 

Simon gives you a brief nod, signaling all was clear. At that sign, you fling the car door open and throw yourself out of the car, instinctually trusting those strong arms to catch you. 

The moment your face is buried in the broad expanse of his chest, his familiar scent hitting you like a freight train, the tears well up once more. 

“S-sorry, I was just so freaked out,” you stutter, unsure if Simon could even understand you with your face pressed against him, but unwilling to untangle yourself even a bit. 

“Shh, it’s alright swee’art,” Simon murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of your head as his hand rubs soothing circles on your back. “I scoped out the whole place. It’s clean.” 

He could feel the relief in your body as you took in his words. 

“You sure you locked the place up, babe?” Simon treads lightly, not wanting to upset you further. “It didn’t look like anybody had been in. Could’ve just been a draft knocking the door open if it wasn’t shut and lcked properly.” 

You pulled your head back from Simon’s chest, fumbling with the edge of your jumper to gently wipe the tears and snot from your face, sniffling. 

“I’m sure I locked it.” You pause for a moment. Well, at least you think you’re sure. You think back to when you left your flat, hands juggling your keys, your purse, distracted by your neighbor and his adorably fluffy Pomeranian who were leaving at the same time. Mr. Darcy immediately demanded your attention, of course, and who were you to deny him all the fluff-filled pets his heart desired? Embarrassment curdles in your stomach, a heat creeping up into your cheeks. 

“Well, maybe not absolutely sure…” you correct yourself. “I think I did, but Mr. Darcy was out, and I got distracted, and I just needed some milk for my tea, and I—“ 

Simon took you back in his arms, cutting off your monologue. “Ahh, Mr. Darcy, you said?” He knows your fondness for the small Pomeranian well, especially after the last time you dog sat for them and insisted Simon make friends with the blasted pup. “That would explain it.” 

“I’m sorry if I overreacted,” you sigh, shame replacing the fear. “I shouldn’t have called you.” 

“Oi-“ Simon is quick to cut you off. His strong hand grips your chin, forcing you to look up at him. “You did the exact right thing. Any time something feels off, got a bad feeling from some bloke at the pub, walking out by yourself in the dark, I don’t care what it is or when it is—you call me. Understood?” 

“Understood.” You sniffle once more. 

“Let’s get back inside and get you that cuppa,” Simon soothes, one hand pressed to the small of your back as he guides you back inside your flat. He stops to grab the forgotten shop bags off the floor with one hand. 

__________________

You two are getting ready for bed, having convinced Simon to spend the night—not that it took much convincing. Simon watches as you parade around the bedroom in one of his oversized t-shirts, toothbrush in your mouth as you walked around getting ready for bed. It’s in these little moments he realizes how truly in deep he is. He’d give his left fucking arm to have this view daily. 

“Thanks for coming to my rescue today,” you quip, exiting the bathroom and sliding into bed next to him. “And for agreeing to stay the night.”

“‘Course, love.” Simon opens his arm and lets you get into your designated spot, head on his chest, leg tangled over his, hand resting on his stomach. “Woulda probably stayed the night anyways.” 

“Yeah, but still…” you let out a sigh as you settle in, curving your body against his. The warmth of his body heat warms your chilled frame. 

“I was so scared.” Your voice is a whisper in the dark. “I just kept imagining the worst possible scenario. What if I was home? Alone? And someone did break in? What if you weren’t here? What if you were overseas?” Your breath hitches and your heart rate picks up again. Simon resumes rubbing soothing circles across your back. 

“I just felt so helpless. So defenseless.” 

“You’re okay.” His voice was low, steady. “Everything worked out okay. You’re safe. I’m here. You’re safe.” 

Between the repetitive soothing motion of Simon’s strong hand against your back and the steady rhythm of Simon’s heartbeat, sleep soon found you despite your fears. 

As your breaths evened out, Simon’s own mind starts swirling with dark thoughts. The what if’s find purchase in his brain and he subconsciously pulls your sleeping form even closer to him.  

You were right, of course. He couldn’t always be here. He had to find some way to make sure you could take care of yourself, to make sure you could defend yourself. He had to know you were always taken care of, no matter where he was. 

Of course he had already walked you through the basics of self defense. You had a decent right hook, and he more than appreciated the opportunity to teach you a few other moves that had the two of you sprawled on the floor of your sitting room, sofa pushed up against the wall to create enough space. If his memory served him correctly, that particular little sparring session had resulted in an entirely different from of…wrestling.

But none of it was enough to put his mind at ease. Simon knows that if someone truly meant to do you harm, someone from his line of work…all the moves in the world wouldn’t help you. He wouldn’t want you getting close enough for that kind of combat anyways.There was only one thing that could make him feel even a modicum of peace. 

Simon was going to teach you to shoot. 

______________

That weekend, Simon woke you up bright and early, claiming to have a surprise date for you. 

“Oooh, what is it?” You’re nearly bouncing with excitement in the kitchen chair as Simon hands you your breakfast. 

“If I told you, wouldn’t be much of a surprise, now would it?” 

“Fair point,” you mumble around a mouth full of toast. 

“Let’s just say it’ll make us both feel better.” Simon takes a sip from his mug. 

__________________

You gazed out the window, the rising sun casting the military base in a warm glow. Simon had never brought you here before, had always hidden this part of his life away from you. You try to drink in as much detail as you can, driven by curiosity at this mysterious part of his life. 

Simon pulls the car as close to the shooting range as he could. Despite the base being mostly deserted this weekend, he was still taking every precaution necessary to ensure he was limiting your exposure to this area of his life as much as he could. 

With the car parked, Simon makes his way to your side of the car, his large, protective form shielding you from any prying eyes. He feels particularly exposed without his mask, but it’s a short walk to the range and he trusts that Price has held up his end of the bargain to keep this particular area abandoned this morning. His hand finds its way to the small of your back and guides you inside the range. 

The smell of gunpowder immediately filled your nostrils. There was always a lingering scent on Simon when he came home, but nothing quite as affronting as this. 

As promised, the range was completely cleared out, and Simon made a mental note to personally thank Price for his help. 

“What’re we doing here, Si?” Your voice piqued with curiosity. 

“Well, we’re teaching you how to shoot, o’ course.” 

“But why? It’s not like I’d ever have access to anything like that. S’not legal.” 

“About that.” Simon made his way to an area of the range that housed the standard weapons that were available for practice. He trusted that Price followed through on one other crucial part of this deal. 

Sure enough, a small compact handgun was nestled amongst the other array of firearms. 

Simon grabbed it, testing its weight in his hand before making his way back to you. 

“Listen to me very carefully, love,” his tone shifted, dripping with sincerity, and a touch of his natural commanding energy. 

You immediately sober up, looking at him with your full attention as if to show how good a listener you were. 

“This is for emergencies only. It stays hidden always. No one knows you have this. No one knows this even exists. It’s very important you understand that.” 

“But how did you—? Should I even—?”

“Mm-no questions. Just—“ Simon lets out an exasperated sigh. 

“Just trust me. I need to make sure you’re safe. ‘Specially after that little scare earlier this week.” 

You nod your head solemnly. “I understand, Si.” 

“Good. Then let’s get after it.” 

He guides you over to a stall and places your gun on the countertop as you assess your surroundings. There’s five lanes in this section of the range, each separated by stalls with an open range ahead. You can make out five faux targets at the end of the lane, but they seem impossibly far. Surely no-one can actually make that shot, you think to yourself. You’re pulled from your thoughts as Ghost steps up to you and places a pair of bulky earmuffs over your head. “These’ll help protect your ears while we practice,” he says as he adjusts them to fit snugly against your ears. 

“Don’t you need some?” Your voice is raised to compensate for your dulled auditory senses. 

Simon chuckles in response. “I’ll be alright. M’used to it.” 

“Now go pick it up,” he gestures towards the gun. “Safety’s on so don’t worry. It won’t bite.” 

Reality sinks in as you step forward and reach for the weapon. It’s lighter than you expected, but there’s a heftiness there that doesn’t have anything to do with the weight of the object itself. You test the feel of it in your hand, mimicking what you’ve seen in movies. 

“Good,” Ghost murmurs, stepping up behind you. He’s close enough now that you can feel him pressing up against your back. Two strong arms encase your frame as he leans forward and places his hands over yours. His large hands manage to make the weapon, and your hands, look even smaller. “Hold it like this.” He adjusts your grip just slightly. “Atta girl.” 

His thumb guides your own along the edge of the handle until you reach a firm button on the side. “Here’s the safety. You can tell it’s on when this red button is sticking out. See that, yeah?” 

You nod your head but it’s taking every ounce of energy you have to focus on his words and not the feeling of Simon’s hard body pressed against your back, his hot breath sending a chill down your neck, and the look of his large hands dwarfing your own—

“Oi. Pay attention. This is important.” 

You mentally scold yourself and refocus, adjusting your grip. “Okay, so the safety’s on?”

“Yes. Press it in to turn it off.”  You do as he says, the click instantly elevating your senses. Did the gun get heavier? 

“Now, pull back the top like this to,” he motions pulling back the barrel. “That’ll load the bullet into the chamber. It should already have a round in there, but we’ll get you some more ammo before we leave. Go ahead, cock it.” 

You can’t help the snort that escapes you. “Cock it, eh?” You turn your head to waggle your eyebrows at him. 

“Behave,” Simon warns, turning your chin to face forward. 

It takes more power than you expected to pull the barrel back, but the reaffirming click lets you know that something did indeed happen inside. 

“Alright, she’s loaded now.” 

“Okay…” you hesitate, waiting for further instructions. “Now what?”

“Now you point and shoot.” 

“At what?”

“See that fella at the end there? Aim for his head.” Simon gestures to the paper dummy hanging at the end of the alley. 

“All the way down there? There’s no way anybody could hit that!” You protest. 

Simon sighs, resigned, and flicks a small toggle on the countertop, triggering the electric pulley system that pulls the paper dummy closer to you, stopping it about halfway down the track. 

“Better?” 

“Only one way to find out,” you mutter, adjusting your position and taking aim. 

With a centering inhale, you close one eye, aim as best you can, and pull the trigger. 

The shot rings out louder than you thought possible, even with the ear protection. The force of the shot thrusts you backwards into Simon’s sturdy frame. Gun powder fills your nostrils even stronger than before. Your heart races as you look ahead to see…

You’ve miss the target completely. 

 “S’alright, love, wasn’t too terrible for your first shot,” Simon consoles. 

“Here, move your foot,” he gently taps the inside of your foot with his toes, and you spread into a wider stance. “Good, now straighten up those shoulders. Don’t worry about cocking it yet, let’s get the position right.” 

You do as he says, pulling the gun up once more to eye level. 

“Give your elbows a bit more bend. You want to hold it tight, but be loose enough for the recoil so it won’t knock you on your arse.”

“How’s that?” You ask, loosening your shoulders and relaxing your arms just slightly. 

“Looks good to me. Go ahead and cock ‘er.” 

You pull the barrel once more and ready yourself to take another shot. 

“Deep breathe,” Simon reminds you. “Now I want you to keep both eyes open, and look at where you’re directing your shot. You want to aim just slightly above your target. Gravity will pull the bullet down a bit from this distance.” 

You try your best to keep all these factors in your mind as you take your aim. 

A deep inhale and you brace yourself as you pull the trigger. 

This time you have a better idea of what to expect, and you move your upper body with the recoil, feeling more stable.  

“Did I do it? Did I hit it?” The excitement radiates in your voice as you eagerly lean over the table to get a better look. 

Simon can’t help but laugh at your enthusiasm, so at odds with what he usually sees in this environment. “Let’s take a look,” he says as he presses the toggle and the motorized target moves closer. As it gets within range you see a clear, definitive hole in his upper right chest. “I got him!” You exclaim, jumping up and down. 

“Easy there, love,” Simon scolds halfheartedly as he leans over you and clicks the safety into place. 

You set the gun on the counter and turn to throw your hands around Simon’s neck, laughing. “I did it, Si!” 

You laughter is contagious and Simon’s own chuckle is music to your ears as his strong arms lift you up on your tiptoes. “Yeah, you sure did, babe.” 

And then his lips are on yours, his kiss hot and passionate, setting your body ablaze. He deepens the kiss for a final moment before setting you back on your feet and pulling away, leaving you breathless. 

“Damn,” the curse falls from your lips as you try to catch your breath, feeling just a tad lightheaded. 

“Right,” Simon clears his throat, trying to get the run of himself once more. He not-so-subtly adjusts his trousers bringing a satisfying smirk to your lips before turning you back around. 

“Let’s get some more practice in.” His voice is resolute, but the bulging erection currently pressing into your backside says differently as he sends the target back to the middle of the range. 

You pick up the gun once more, already feeling more comfortable with it, and adjust your stance to set up for another shot. Simon reaches up and corrects your aim just slightly, and you take the opportunity to lean back into him, ass rubbing against his hardened cock.

“I said behave,” Simon groans aloud, but you can feel his hips thrust ever so slightly in response. 

You fire off another shot, reloading and firing two more times. The thrill of each shot sends a jolt of electricity through you. You feel in control. Not helpless. Not defenseless. No, you feel…powerful. 

Simon swears his cock couldn’t get any harder. He had brought you here with the express purpose of teaching you to defend yourself when he wasn’t there. How could he possibly have anticipated just how fucking turned on he’d get watching you fire that weapon. 

Your confidence grows with each shot, your stance already self-assured. You look like a badass. And right now, it is taking every last goddamn bit of strength and willpower for Simon to stop himself from taking you right then and there. 

Finally, the gun gives a satisfying click, signifying the end of your rounds.  

“Phew,” you exhale with a chuckle. “That was an absolute thrill.” Clicking the safety back in place, you set the gun down and turn to face Simon. 

The wide smile on your face, bright as the morning sun, it takes his breath away. He can’t hold back a second longer. His lips crash against yours, large hands settling on your hips, pushing you back against the countertop. He doesn’t dare break the kiss as his meaty hands slide down to your ass, squeezing the supple flesh before lifting you up with a grunt to set you on the countertop. 

“Si!” Your exclamations drown in another breath-stealing kiss as Simon slots himself between your legs. 

Simon bites back a groan as he grinds his erection against your core, sending a jolt of pleasure through you. 

Deft fingers undo the button on your jeans and you lift your hips up, allowing him to pull down your trousers and knickers in one swoop. 

You let out a hiss as the cool countertop meets your bare ass, but the sensation is lost among more exciting sensations as Simon gets on his knees before you. Thank god for his height—even with you seated on the countertop he’s at the perfect height. 

“Bloody perfection,” Simon eyes your bare cunt, eyes full of wanton need. 

His comment brings heat to your cheek, intensified by his playful nips and kisses placed along your inner thighs. 

He kisses higher and higher, exciting you with every soft kiss, before skipping right over where you truly need him, moving to the other thigh. 

You let out an exasperated groan. “Quit teasing, Si.” 

His brown eyes shoot to yours, giving you a look—how dare you order him around. He has half a mind to punish you right here and now, but the scent of your dripping cunt hits his nose and his mouth waters on instinct. He places one more kiss to your thigh before acquiescing and a moving to your core. 

Words escape you as he laps at your heat, eating like a man starved. Fingers tangle in his dark blonde locks, hips rising off the cool countertop to meet him. 

Simon’s strong hands slide up your legs, gripping your hips and forcing you back down on the counter, tongue driving deeper between your folds, relishing in your gasps of pleasure. 

His tongue slides up your sweet folds, savoring every drop, until he reaches your puffy clit. This is when Simon slows it down, takes his time. His tongue swirls around your clit, sending shivers up your spine. He continues teasing you like this, your legs shaking until you’re not sure how much more you can take. 

His eyes are wide open, locked on your squirming form. While shooting that firearm gave you a sense of power, this is what gives Simon his sense of power—watching you come undone by him, his tongue, his actions alone sending you into this frenzied state. His right hand slides from your hip to your inner thigh before sliding inside you. He curls his fingers expertly, hitting that spongey spot inside you, making you see stars. He takes your clit into his moth, suckling at the swollen nub, fingers fucking you hard, preparing you for his cock. He releases your clit with an audible pop, his voice breathy and low. 

“You’re gonna come for me right now. Just like this. On my fingers. Understood?” 

You’re past caring. You’re past words. But somehow you manage out a breathy “Yes, yes, Si, just let me— I’m gonna—“ his tongue is back on your clit and his fingers hitting that spot just so and you’re toppling over the edge, body going rigid. Simon’s tongue is incessant, lapping up every drop of juice that spills from your sweet cunt, prolonging your orgasm with every nip and suckle until you’re bucking up against him. 

“Too sensitive, Si,” you mumble, lost in the haze of your orgasm. 

“That’s just how I like you swee’heart.” Simon stands up and undoes his belt, freeing his cock from its restraints. You crack your eyes open to see him wrap a fist around his cock, giving his member a few rough tugs, rolling back the skin to expose the deep red shade at the tip of his cock, already leaking precum. You bite your bottom lip as you let out a moan. 

“Now you gonna take my cock like a good girl?” Simon smirks down on you, making eye contact as his fist slides languidly up and down his cock. 

You nod fervently. 

“Good girl, just what I like to hear.” With that, he notches his cock at your opening, looking to you for one final nod of approval before he starts inching inside. 

You gasp at the intrusion, but Simon’s groans are nearly pained. 

“Fucking hell, babe, you’re so fucking tight.” 

You can only whimper in response, still lost in the post-orgasm bliss. 

“Shit,” Simon mutters under his breath. “Gotta relax, love,” he presses one hand against your abdomen. “Relax for me. You can take it. I know you can.” 

Simon’s mumbles even more praises, each good girl blurring into one another, lulling you, relaxing you. With a final grunt, Simon thrusts in to the hilt, filling you completely. 

“That’s my fucking girl,” Simon growls, pulling out to the tip and thrusting back into you. “Ya always take me so well, so fucking well.” 

His thrusts are deep, steady, his thick arms holding your body in place while his hips drive home. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoes around the room, punctuated by your moans, and Simon swears he’s never been so thankful for Price’s little favors in his entire goddamn life. 

“Si…” you cry out, already feeling that familiar tightening in your stomach. Simon is already two steps ahead of you—he recognizes that tell-tale tightening of your cunt, that change in pitch as your breathy moans increase. Simon slides one hand from your hip down to your swollen clit, rubbing tight circles. 

“C’mon sweet girl, my good, sweet girl,” Simon’s hips move faster, cock thrusting into you with reckless abandon as he teeters on the edge. “Gonna come all over this fat fucking cock, yeah? Gonna let me fill you with every last drop of me, huh?” Simon’s words bordered on nonsense at this point, lost in the haze of pleasure. 

“Need it, Si,” you gasp. “Need to—gonna—can I—“

“Yes,” Simon growls low. It sends you over the edge, your entire body goes rigid as wave after wave of pleasure washes over you. 

“That’s my girl, good girl,” Simon coos, working you through your orgasm. His thumb doesn’t leave your puffy clit until your body is jerking against him, overstimulated and worn out. 

“You’re such a good girl coming undone for me, love,” Simon murmurs, pressing a kiss to your damp temple. 

You’re barely floating back to reality, but you know he hasn’t finished yet. “Need you, Si,” you moan. “Need you to fill me up…please?” You’re downright pitiful about it, but Simon swears it makes him cock even harder. 

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” Simon adjusts your hips in both holds, holding you steady as he pounds into your swollen pussy. “Fuck,” he groans, eyes rolling back. “Not gonna last long like this.” Simon loses all sense of rhythm as he pounds into you with abandon, searching for his end. “Fuck, I’m coming—“ Simon finishes with a growl, hips giving one final hard thrust before his warm seed start to flood you. Simon holds you close as he finishes, panting hard, forehead pressed to yours. 

You reflexively tighten your core, causing Simon to inhale sharply, beyond sensitive. 

“Fuck,” Simon curses, his breath still coming in pants as he tries to slow his heart rate. “You’re bloody perfect.” 

You chuckle in response, flushed from the thrill and excitement. “You’re just saying that because it turns out I’m a decent shot.” 

Simon smiles softly before nuzzling his head in your neck, nipping at the sensitive skin there. 

“Something like that, love.”

#simon riley #simon ghost riley #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #simon riley x you #ghost x reader #ghost x you #simon riley imagine #simon “ghost” Riley x reader

[rebelspykatie]

Steve who accidentally wishes that he never went back to the Byers house to apologize that night, and has to live out a timeline where he’s not directly involved in the upside down happenings. Just an observer of the events from afar and how his removal from the main plot changes the entire trajectory of the story. 

How some of the kids get injured when he’s not there to protect them. How Robin never gets entangled in their mess, but she’s lonelier and has no one to rely on, quiet and mistrustful of people, especially popular kids like him. How quickly Jonathan and Nancy get together when he’s not begging Nancy to forget Barb and dragging her into a bullshit relationship. How he fades from the top of the high school hierarchy after Billy’s arrival anyways, disgusted by him and Tommy. 

It provides clarity in the worst possible way and he thinks it’ll never go back to the way it was, that he’s destined to remain a bystander when every time he tries to intervene fails. That is, until he ends up in the wrong place at the right time, running into the woods when he’s threatened by Hargrove, stumbling straight into Eddie’s hideout for dealing, looking like he saw a ghost when Eddie just raises one eyebrow skeptically. 

Even with that hint of hostility, Steve’s so relieved to have something so familiar that he just starts talking, trying to charm Eddie into being his friend again and it works. It’s the first touch of normal he’s had in this upside down version of his reality, and it’s the key that connects him back to the supernatural events. 

Their friendship leads him back to the kids when they join Hellfire. Robin eventually comes around once she sees Eddie visiting their job every day and learns Steve’s not who he used to be. Nancy catches them studying in the library together so they can both graduate on time and ends up sitting with them. 

At some point, Steve gets lost in the fantasy, lost in the years of friendship he’s developed with Eddie that starts to feel like home, the key to unraveling this mystery he’s found himself in, even if there’s this nagging voice in his head telling him it isn’t real. 

And of course, the magic eventually fades, the monsters under Hawkins come for them all the same, and when Steve makes the sacrifice play, this time it’s for all of them. But it’s also for everything he’s lost out on in this world, the moments he wasn’t there, all the times the people he loved were hurt and he couldn’t intervene because of his own stupid wish. 

He puts himself in danger because he finally understands that even if things were hard, even if they lost people in his reality, those moments bonded them and gave him a family, gave them all a family. Changing the circumstances doesn’t just magically make everything better, and in some ways, it has unintended consequences, even if he had the best intentions wishing all of it away. 

Even if he’s scarred for life and grasping to understand why him. They’re all an important piece of the puzzle, including Steve. So when he dies, looking into Eddie’s anguished eyes as he falls, and wakes up back in his world, a very similar and equally as panicked looking Eddie staring down at him, he doesn’t take that for granted.

He doesn’t have to go back to the beginning to make a change.

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #katie writes

[khattikeri]

one of my favorite things about mdzs is that for how heavily its plot involves politics of classism and misogyny... even the characters most directly impacted by it can't and don't free themselves from it. literally the closest exception is mianmian.

meng yao being the "son of a whore" wasn't some sort of commie awakening for him that led him to wanting everyone to be socially equal. he played the political game, climbed the ladders, sucked up to and backstabbed and murdered people, including other prostitutes who actually had nothing to do with how he and his mother were treated at the brothel he grew up in.

he put in so much extra excessive effort for even a fraction of the same respect that members of gentry cultivation clans got. and he did deserve to be treated more humanely! but he feeds into the exact same system that created him, leading to his own undoing.

his efforts were for a fragile upward mobility that was never going to hold up. he never surpassed his origins nor did he empower others in similar stations, because the society he lives in is not one that would accept that.

the second he got caught and all those crimes exposed, he was scapegoated to hell and back, replacing wei wuxian as society's terrible one-sidedly evil boogeyman overnight.

speaking of not-quite male gentry, i think it's interesting that wei wuxian explicitly doesn't try to climb the ladders in BOTH lives, knowing full well that anything he does will be punished just for the sheer fact that he is wei wuxian.

wei wuxian is scolded for giving intelligent and correct answers in school. lan wangji does the same and is praised.

wei wuxian occasionally lounges around with fellow disciples and is punished. jiang cheng does the same and mostly escapes.

wei wuxian refuses to carry his sword around in public (after losing his golden core, which nobody knows) and is scorned as an arrogant upstart. nie huaisang has been doing the EXACT SAME THING for YEARS and nobody bats an eye.

unlike jin guangyao, wei wuxian knew subconsciously from the start that his acceptance was superficial and that he could be cast out any time. when he was 10 and recently taken in by the jiangs, he canonically would not eat or use "too much" food and water because he thought they'd find him a nuisance for "wasting their things" and kick him back out.

now away from just the classism, yu ziyuan is a proud and strong noblewoman in a society that belittles and derides women for everything they do. her strong cultivation doesn't matter. she's victim to the vicious rumors of her husband loving another woman who is strong like her but apparently had a more likeable personality.

it doesn't matter even if jiang fengmian didn't cheat or that wei wuxian is wei changze's son with cangse sanren; yu ziyuan can't bear with the humiliation of herself (and by extension her children) not being "good enough". she's ridiculed for "failing" in that one duty as a wife, mother, and woman.

she lashes out and takes out that anger on everyone present for years, giving her children lasting trauma and also being a key element in how the jiang family and yunmeng jiang sect are effectively wiped out at the hands of the wen clan.

madam jin doesn't even have a name outside of the fact that she's married to jin guangshan. i don't even remember reading anything that indicates if she's a strong or weak cultivator, or what, which in itself proves that to most people, it doesn't matter. she's "just" a woman.

of course she's angry at her husband's affairs and all the bastard children they bring in. but she also can't do anything about them, so she lashes out at the few people she can: servants. non-cultivators, probably. those very same bastard children.

shoutout to meng yao getting shoved down a flight of stairs at age fourteen, because if madam jin tried that move against her husband instead, it would make her lose even more face, which as a noblewoman she'd never do.

and that's not getting into how jiang yanli is consistently sidelined for being physically weak.

that's not getting into how mianmian was actually a good cultivator, but was mocked by everyone around her for trying to stand up for wei wuxian when everyone was turning on him. how everyone scoffed at luo qingyang's words as "just some lovesick woman" who "obviously wants to marry or bed him since he saved her".

luo qingyang is the only one of these characters who HASN'T died. she didn't play society's games like jin guangyao. she didn't dig her heels in confidence of her own abilities like wei wuxian.

she didn't bitterly lash out like yu ziyuan and madam jin. she didn't gently accept it like jiang yanli.

she just LEFT.

she married an ordinary merchant and cultivates separately from mainstream cultivation society, and therein found her own peace and happiness.

mxtx doesn't bother with particularly class conscious or feminist vocabulary to hand-hold readers into understanding these disparities, but that choice highlights them & the deeply entrenched politics of their society even more. i really love it.

#keri chats #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #long post #mdzs spoilers #im novel only but still tagging. #the untamed #cql #yeah yeah everyone's written meta addressing this aspect of the story BUT I THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIMEEEEE #maybe i just don't get to read a ton of books often; esp not ones that mirror my own culture. but it's just so. soooooo. augh #the fact that the setting itself enables so much of the tragedy in mdzs... which is true of all tragedies but STILL... #this isn't even getting into qin su and the power imbalance w her and jgy post-reveal... man. #man. so much going on here. man #THIS POST IS MESSY AND BARELY EDITED BUT IF U READ IT. ILU

[mysoullanguage]

#0018 venus and their ideals

where venus is the ideal feminine for the man, mars is the ideal masculine for the female. traits the male may exhibit from his venus will be searched for in the female

aries venus — confident, self-assured, and honest women

these men want women who are self-assured, confident, and authentic. an arian venus is a venus that seeks stimulation, growth, and adventure. without these in a relationship, the man will eventually tire and leave. spontaneity and surprise are a man's love language; he wants light-hearted love but he is possessive and will ensure to keep a close eye on his woman. while he may be jealous, he looks for women who try not to "control" them or "hold them back" from living life. for him, love involves growing by expanding boundaries and going beyond the comfort zone. if he is in a relationship with a woman and feels stagnant, the man will eventually reach an ultimatum of whereby he feels he cannot grow if he is still with her. he has a broad mind and will not settle for someone who tries restricting their way of living. they could be "out there" and party or simply just travel a lot and if the woman he is with attempts to restrict him, he will feel suffocated.

emotional expressiveness and honesty are key qualities these men look for also. he does not look for someone who smothers or someone who is overly protective, but he looks for someone he can rely on honestly. these men are not overly emotional but they are very impulsive and will heavily rely on their impulses to keep them moving and going through life. as long as feelings are kept honest and light-hearted, these men will feel most comfortable in the relationship. relationships where the woman is overly sentimental or "too sensitive" can actually trigger the man into leaving as he feels he has no emotional freedom as he is actually forced into feelings things, rather than coming to his own senses. this man needs to be pushed (mentally and physically) constantly and they cannot be stagnant in their personal and love life. lively, energetic, and confident women are most attractive to this man. shy and reflective women are only attractive if the man senses her inner confidence, mysticism, and self-respect.

women who are unafraid of expressing their thoughts and opinions are attractive to these men also. they may date women who are more "masculine" than feminine in the sense that they may be more sexual and free-spirited than a typical emotionally-attuned woman who values emotions and family over sex and etc. he may date women who are independent and have their own money and lives sorted as he feels unable to be wholly relied upon.

sex and lust will flow through the relationship in big, strong waves. passion and infatuation will be strong indicators of raw chemistry. these men want a connection that triggers their mind and soul into growing and chasing. these men, being an aries venus, love chasing; therefore, the women they are with must be enticing, with something to always discover. if the man feels as though he knows his woman thoroughly or feels as though he "caught" her, he may become bored or uninterested. if he doesn't feel a fiery connection or profound attraction, he may feel dissatisfied as his sexual needs can be hard to please. he wants a woman who is confident in her own sexuality and is not interested in women who are insecure or self-doubting. he doesn't want to feel owned while simultaneously owning the woman, if, of course, his venus is negatively aspected. in extreme cases if the man is insecure or threatened by a woman's self-confidence he will "own" the woman and become controlling. these men may have one night stands or just have very light and free relationships with people where labels don't define them. they may be cheaters or just very hot and cold in relationships. for an evolved man however, commitment and loyalty are actually desirable traits in a woman, because he offers these too. he may rush into relationships quickly or just offer a very quick-paced relationship... the woman must keep up or he will have no problem leaving her behind!

taurus venus — sensual, giving, and traditional women

in a broad sense, taurus venus are traditional men, whether with morals or actual traditions. traditional may include marriage or just very dedicated relationships. he may even have a provider mindset in his relationships. this is an insanely romantic placement with a very grounded demeanor that ultimately hides his passions and desires. he feels everything very deeply and looks for someone with whom he can live comfortably. he does not look for someone overly adventurous or spontaneous like a fire or air venus; instead, he looks for someone who can offer him the simplicity of love and peace. he loves women who value their appearance by taking care of their hygiene and taking care of their looks. they don't find unpresentable women attractive or women who don't make an effort on their appearance. this isn't to say these men are vain but, in a broader sense, these men love aesthetics; they love looking at something pretty or aesthetic. they love art and are fascinated by the magic of art and will, therefore, instinctively, look for "aesthetics" or the "pretty" in women. fashion, makeup, hair, etc. are all included in the "aesthetics."

these men might go for women who are independent and career-oriented. these men have the long vision of family and kids however, and he cannot settle with someone who does not share the vision of having a happy-ever-after with kids and love. these men are the type to spoil with gifts and surprise dates but these men do not rush into relationships. he is not insecure to bother with people just for the sake of being in a relationship. these men have no problem being alone whatsoever and will actually be alone until they meet someone who convinces them to stay. taurus men look for the qualities of loyalty, caring, loving, humility, and honesty in a woman. if he meets a woman he will not make any further movements until he is convinced she offers these feminine qualities. he is not interested in insecure women or women who have a lot of exes or promiscuous women. for him, a life of stability and financial freedom is all he wants; he looks at life as something to build rather than to exploit. by giving away his body or himself, he is giving away valuable access to people who don't deserve it. he doesn't need anybody's attention to be happy or feel free. he will also look for this in a woman.

these men are not emotionless; rather, they can be very emotional with the woman they have chosen. the only distinction is that he is very grounded in the way he expresses and processes his emotions and thoughts. he rarely lets anything bother him to the core but he is also very observant in how others act and treat him. he can be a very stubborn person with slight vindictiveness but he is generally a kind soul with little room for vengeance. he looks for women who won't mother him but will offer a balance between love and independence. he can provide for himself and is merely looking for a companion more than someone to care for him. if he is traditional, then he will actually look for someone to provide for. he may date women who are traditional or just very attractive. he may date women for marriage. he may date women who are independent; whether financially, or living alone, or working a specific job

these men express their love on a physical and emotional level. touching and gift-giving are these men's key love languages. they love experiencing life and others through touch and will devour their women with affection and attention. they are lowkey clingy with a very cold and hardened demeanor on the outside. he will rarely share his depth with people who haven't touched him emotionally. only close friends and family will know who these people really are. the ideal woman for this man would be someone who is of a consistent and hardworking caliber. she cannot let things get to her because she needs to stay consistent and dedicated on her journey to success. these men might not value materialism too much but it is also how they express their gratitude towards the woman they are with. someone who is predictable and humble will win his heart. it's like they are hardwired to be monogamous...

gemini venus — communicative, honest, and knowledgeable women

mental stimulation is probably the most important thing for these men. for these men, a mental connection is required for any relationship to bloom. it's why gemini venus typically prefers someone like-minded as them. in general though, gemini venus are very light-hearted people with little to prove. they are opinionated and somewhat stubborn; they are superficial but very funny and optimistic also. they can be very philosophical or just very communicative. he thinks nothing is impossible for him, not even relationships, however, relationships can become a real struggle if he surrounds himself with the wrong women. to specify, gemini venus is a very unserious sign, usually very light-hearted and very much non-committal. them being cheaters or two-faced is a direct manifestation of the superficial personality they show to everyone. it's not wholly true, because that suggests these people feel nothing below the surface when they really do. it's just they are very selective about who they share their feelings with and when. in relationships, for example, they may communicate their feelings very rationally or very specifically. for women who are overly sensitive or emotional, it becomes a bore for the gemini venus to give constant reassurance when, in his mind, there is nothing wrong. the disconnect between emotions is real when he is an unevolved gemini venus. he may lead people on or be very flirty, but he may also run away quickly once he detects any ounce of seriousness creeping in.

for him, his ideal feminine is someone who can keep the conversation going forever. he loves learning and will look for someone who can learn alongside him. he loves traveling and exploring and looks for a best friend and a lover to join him. his ideal feminine is someone who can trick him, someone who can make him laugh, someone witty, someone who can challenge his mind. physical aspects are important, but this sign tends to focus on the mental to really feel anything else. they look for the mental "click" between him and his woman before he feels comfortable going further. he may prefer women who are social and have a lot of friends.

independence is a strong need for this placement. they need to feel like they have the freedom to roam and do whatever they want without the restrictive "labels" that tie them down. a lot of these people don't commit because they actually fear commitment. he needs a man that keeps her guessing at all times.

these men may date women who are independent, flirtatious, and unserious. these men may date women who are vain or just very superficial. he may prefer short flings to real and long-lasting relationships. these men may date women who are insecure or need male validation; he often preys on these as a result of being an insecure man. when a gemini venus is insecure, he will become highly opinionated, will gossip, and will cheat. therefore, the women he attracts will be of the same caliber.

cancer venus — sentimental and family-oriented women

the ideal feminine for this man is someone caring, loving, and family-oriented. there is usually a nostalgic or sentimental connection with these men's lovers because of their connection to their roots and mother and how much they try to replicate it in their own personal lives. these men are tenacious and ambitious, being a cardinal sign. he is a leader at heart and understands the need to provide and his responsibility in building a home. he doesn't desire or go for women who are too loud or showy. he prefers women who are quiet and down-to-earth like himself. women who are homebodies or women who enjoy spending time alone are most likely his preference as he is the same. many people may associate this sign with immaturity because of certain stereotypes that cancer placements are cheaters but, in reality, it's only the case if this venus is unevolved or malefically placed/aspected. it can also be the case where these men are overly protective, jealous, or possessive of their women; these traits usually signify an underlying problem though, such as mommy issues or just neglect from a young age. for most men, they try to replicate their domestic home in their current one, whether it be through sentimental objects or just through certain traditions.

he is protective and loving of his woman. he is connected to his feminine side of nurturing and being sympathetic. he looks for these qualities in women too. his ideal feminine involves someone who is caring, loving, humble, and childish like him. he is a loyal man who will devote his time and energy to his woman, always. on the outside, he may be known as the guy who works hard to provide for his woman. he may be known as someone who's just ambitious or a workaholic. but really, he is a gooey and affectionate guy who loves hard. he expresses his feelings both in an affectionate and gooey way but also in a provider way, where he provides for his woman and gives her gifts. this is a seriously happy placement but it can also be a severely damaged one. these men may attract women who are insecure or just very emotional and overly sentimental. this typically speaks of an issue the man has, as the women he meets are reflections of his own insecurities. an unhappy home may lead him to see women with broken homes too. he may play the saviour in relationships or try to "heal" the other without realizing he needs healing too.

his ideal feminine will be someone who is sensitive to others and himself. he may go for women who are shy and sweet. he may be the indecisive type and will actually need a woman he can go to for counsel when necessary. he really just wants a best friend and a lover with whom he can relate to. this is a very needy placement and women who are easily overwhelmed or disgusted at gooey affection will not be satisfied in a relationship with these men. he wants someone he can build a family and a home with, not somebody overly focused on superficial things like money or social status (although because this is a cardinal sign, cancer venus are typically very ambitious when it comes to these things... but only because he has to!!!).

leo venus — dramatic, fiery, and loving women

leo venus is arguably one of the most devoted and loving signs of the venus zodiac. they are loyal and care for their partners very deeply. for a man, the level of devotion he expects should be returned from his woman. an evolved leo venus will always be humble and loving when in a relationship. to him, however, his ideal feminine will be someone who is unapologetically self-expressive and fiery. he wants someone who can bring the real deal and someone who offers an undying passion for their partner. he feels things on a dramatic level and expects his woman to express his feelings, however dramatic they may be. he goes above and beyond for his partner in a love so unconditional and somewhat divine. what he wants from a female, however, is appreciation, compliments, and to be valued as a man. if he is in a relationship where he doesn't feel reassured, valued, or appreciated, or feels as though his loyalty is being tested or abused, he will quickly lose interest. he does not settle for women who lack gratitude or appreciation in simple things. the ideal feminine will involve personality and security. this may be a vain placement in the sense that these people typically go off looks or appearances but their attraction towards physical appearance wears off as attraction towards personality and actual expressions of love take over. he needs someone who isn't validated by the world or someone who has a very strong self-image. he wants someone who knows how to dress. he has a love for art or just writing and would appreciate words of affirmation. he may be attracted to women who are independent but most importantly women who are proud and confident. he does not find insecure women attractive as it does not align with his goal to become his best possible self.

these men radiate luxury and materialism. they, if evolved, are hardworking and attract very elegant women. therefore, women who are promiscuous, or women who do not offer loyalty, are instantly out of his mind. their strong desire for affection and attention are sometimes expressed in how much they spoil their woman. they love love and love being loved. leo mars in women typically look for men who are ready to bow to her and worship her but leo venus in men look for this "worship" in a different way. if the woman is outgoing and herself and offers her time to the man only, then he will feel like he is worshipped. he wants a woman who is confident in her sexuality as he is very sexual and very intimately demanding. he will have a high sex drive for his woman and will continuously look to bond with her. in general, this placement dates for marriage or, at the very least, for the long term. because these men have so much love to offer, they typically hold off until they meet their "one" or until they trust someone. unevolved leo venus men actually act gullible because they desire attention so much and are so insecure they need it from multiple women. they tend to put their trust in so many people and are therefore abused.

leo venus men are probably the tamest out of the fire venus bundle because this is a fixed sign with a very hardworking streak. they are very calculated in their work life and will look for a woman who can match the independence, work ethic, and morals that he has. he has very high standards in love and will look for a woman with matching dignity and self-respect. he also looks for optimism, support, and advice from his woman. these men must ensure that they do not attract the wrong type of confidence, i.e. women who are cocky and self-absorbed. these men may have the tendency to be self-absorbed and cocky and therefore attract women who are the same. but, they must find childishness in the woman they date because leo, in general, is very childish/childlike and heals through playing with their inner child. releasing their inner child in a relationship is very important.

virgo venus — critical, humble, and self-giving women

virgo venus is a critical sign, especially in a man. because this placement is so logically placed, there seems to be an emphasis on logic or rational thinking in love. these men love being alone and spending time with quality friends/family. they're not the type to make friends with everyone, but instead the type to make a few friends along their journey. therefore, it's a clear sign of love if a virgo venus man decides to keep a woman in his life. his main struggles will revolve around learning humility and learning how to stop being critical (towards his woman and himself) and learning to not be a perfectionist. being perfect is great, but it is not realistic. modesty and honesty are admired and desired by these men because they love cleanliness and being tidy. they love women who have good hygiene or have a (strict) routine they can stick to, whether it be a work routine or a gym one. the ultimate downfall for this sign is being overly possessive or controlling and having standards too unattainable. on a general level, though, these men are attracted to quiet women. they don't like or desire women who are too loud or overly expressive.

these men may be the loner type, or at least the type to have very few friends. he needs a lot of time for his social battery to recharge. it's important for him, then, to have someone who respects his need for loneliness. he looks for women who are dependable and reliable because he is also. being an earth sign, reliability, consistency, and predictability are his strongest qualities. he may be overly critical or too much of a perfectionist, but his work ethic or sympathy toward the poor can never be undermined. he looks for these qualities (sympathetic, loyal, clean, predictable, reliable) because he looks for a woman who can live her value, rather than not having any self-esteem and trying to prove something she isn't. dignified women who have a lot of self-respect and humility are most desirable for these men. they may be traditional or, for example, look for maternal qualities in their women, too.

these men's downfall can involve self-esteem issues or heavy insecurities, usually projected when in a relationship because of how much they are forced to look at their partner who mirrors these men's self-esteem issues. they may attract "low-value women" with qualities the complete opposite of what these men desire because of their own "low-value" selves. these men may surround themselves with too many people because they actually fear being alone and they look for the attention and validation of others to satisfy their inner void. they experience great turmoil when they realize their critical and hateful nature actually stems from their own distaste for their own character. they become hypocritical and heavily hateful towards others.

these men don't fall in love very quickly, therefore making them very slow-moving in love. they're not quick to love or feel (but are definitely quick to judge!), so the woman can always expect the man to reveal himself later on in the relationship. he is not the one to expect immediate commitment, but commitment that is worked on instead. loyalty is everything to him, as he makes an excellent companion. these men can actually become infatuated and deeply in love with women, but it takes a long time to really get there. when in love, though, become provider men. they prioritize their women's needs and actually do everything for her.

libra venus — flirtatious, sensual, and feminine women

very similar desires as a taurus venus man: feminine women with good taste in art, "aesthetics", and fashion. these men may be feminine themselves or just be very attuned to their feminine side, i.e. emotional, fashionable, etc. they appreciate the finer things in life and looks for a woman that is a chase but also someone with style. as this is a sign of scales, these men look for a woman they can be in synch with. this is a sign of togetherness, therefore whoever this man chooses, he will reflect. women who are "well-groomed" or just very elegant are his ideal feminine. he doesn't look for someone loud or gaudy or someone who doesn't take care of herself. he looks for cleanliness, charm, and peace without her having to do much. if you want a mental image of who these men want, think of someone with a libra rising or someone who has very heavy libra placements (especially those that are very prominent.) he looks for a woman who is respectable, polite, and confident in herself and her sexuality.

relationships promote his flirtiness and need for love and, therefore, if in a relationship, he will find himself spoiling his woman or just tending to her every need. therefore, he will look for someone who can reflect his flirtatious nature and sex drive. this is a hopeless romantic who loves love. he does not look for a woman who is vain or so focused on appearance, it becomes her whole personality. these men, as much as they want good looks, actually fall into the trap of dating women who are superficial and offer only... well... good looks. they often date women with no personality or women who cannot truly reflect the man's need to bounce off his woman and connect with her on a romantic level. sensuality and sexual grace are key qualities the woman should have because he is drawn to looks and energy.

these men don't look for someone who make relationships hard. they don't look for someone who mother them or smother them in love and demands. yes, this is a highly affectionate and loving sign but he tends to stay as superficial as he possibly can, emotionally wise. feelings aren't difficult for him but they can feel like a chore if he is in a relationship with someone who demands feelings to be felt. he prefers someone he can work and grow beside. he prefers being with someone and feeling as though he can still be independent and not tied down by chains in the relationship. he wants someone who speaks and moves smoothly, not someone who is aggressive or sudden in their approach. he actually encourages feminine behavior in his relationships and will actually help other women heal their wounded femininity. however, women who act masculine or tough are not desirable to him. to him, the ideal feminine is quite literally feminine all around.

mental stimulation is important in his relationships because he is an air venus. if he feels stagnation or boredom, his mind is easily piqued by others who offer something more worthwhile. this isn't to say libra venus men are disloyal; they can be very loyal, but to a fault, they have demands as does anybody else. air signs are constantly on the move whether it be physically or mentally. this person is always thinking, interacting, and fantasizing. if his woman does not share the same excitement as him or the same energy, he will quickly become underwhelmed. he is not impressed by women that are wanted by other men, but women who are modest, independent, and offer love only when they want it.

scorpio venus — sensual, mysterious, and “untouchable” women

these men, on the outside, are typically very emotionless and uncaring. on the inside, however, they are profoundly emotional with a strong capacity to love. these men tend to attract women who cause severe change within themselves, as scorpio venus can be a tremendously burdening placement to have, with scorpio = change/transformation, and venus = love/friendship. with these two combined, their friendships or relationships are constantly challenged. for a scorpio venus man, love is a heavy source of change and transformation. their insecurities are usually mirrored in their relationships. they have a strong responsibility to heal with this placement. for a man, his ideal feminine is someone loyal, possessive, and caring. this placement carries a heavy emotional aspect and these men must find someone who can reflect their depth of feeling. he does not find weak-willed women attractive. confidence and sensuality are this sign's turn-ons and he will not find someone who lacks depth or mystery. for him, loyalty is not easily given. he will choose "untouchable" women who have a short history with men. they are not picky, but are just very selective with whom they have intimacy with. they will only open up to those they see long-term potential with.

this is not a sign that dates for fun or for the short-term. if he does, he is an unevolved scorpio venus. evolved scorpio venus' dates with labels, with clear possession, with clear signs the woman is his and his only. unevolved scorpio venus' usually date but fear fully committing because they are scared of rejection or facing the fact that someone might not like them as much as he likes them. typically, these men attract women who are seductive, passionate, and mysterious. they tend to keep their relationships private. for him, his ideal feminine is someone affectionate, loving, and confident. he loves women confident in their sexuality. he typically goes for women who have similar energy as him, i.e. someone with scorpio placements, with whom he can relate to. for him, having someone to relate to is important because he wants to feel understood by his partner inasmuch he wants to understand others. his red flag, however, is his subconscious habit of self-sabotaging. he may cause drama or self-sabotage whilst in a relationship. being a heavily insecure sign, it's common to see many relationships fail because of him. pluto's influence over venus causes turmoil within him, making him question his self-worth and ability to provide for his woman. it's why, for him, relationships can be scarce. oftentimes, the women he attracts are the catalyst for his healing journey. the typical depiction of scorpio is someone who brings others down in an attempt to become equal to them. here, too, the scorpio venus man might become overly controlling or obsessive in the relationship to the point of bringing down the other instead of uplifting the other.

the ideal feminine for these men is someone who can recognize the value between intertwining love and sex together. this sign is intensely passionate and will cling to whoever he loves dearly. if his woman doesn't reciprocate the same neediness or obsessiveness as he does for her, he will doubt his true feelings for her. what he wants is someone who can let him heal and grow. he is attracted to women who are quiet but fiery. he wants to know his woman inside out. he desires quiet elegance whereby the woman speaks with energy instead of words.

spirituality may become interwoven into the relationship as these men see love as an ecstatic experience more than a shallow connection. this means these men typically see relationships as something spiritual or destined. if his woman is not on the same wavelength as him on this fact, he will quickly become disinterested.

sagittarius venus — adventurous and free-spirited women

this can be a very fun placement for those who don't want to take love so seriously. these men are born to be unserious. they are born to be adventurous and to experiment with others, especially in love. this can be a highly polygamous person or a cheater. this sign is rarely loyal and, if loyal, is only loyal because the relationship has little to no rules. this man's ideal feminine is someone concerned with the spiritual life, as well as the material one. these men are highly spiritual people, with a very strong moral compass. they have very strong views on life and can actually be very opinionated, depending on how some people view them. they may be stubborn.

for him, his ideal feminine will involve someone who can offer spontaneity and excitement in the relationship. movement or adventure is crucial for these men to feel satisfied. they actually bond with their loved ones better when they have a mutual interest (such as traveling) or when they can explore new themes/places together. these men radiate light and optimism wherever they go and will look for a woman that uplifts them rather than one that tries dimming his light. he is actually very selective in who he loves because of his adventurous and independent standard. actually, his independence may become his ultimate downfall in relationships. because they are so individualistic and independent, they often fear losing their independence in relationships and will, therefore, avoid any sort of serious commitment. it often backfires when the women they're with lose interest because they can't seem to offer them honest loyalty. they start lying and manipulating their way into the sheets just to disappear the next day. this sign is the perfect example of someone who wants independence but also wants love. they feel love on a deep level, regardless of what anyone says. they're not superficial lovers but they make things superficial for the sake of light-heartedness. nonetheless, they can make great partners if this sign has evolved into someone with spiritual or religious values. an evolved sagittarius venus can become one of the most intoxicating signs because of their positive attitude toward life.

i may have mentioned his superficiality in relationships, but his ideal feminine involves someone who can think incredibly philosophically and someone who has a deep view of life. he meanders through life with a specific purpose in mind and needs someone who understands him and why he does the things he does. he needs to work with others to figure out how life works and how different cultures live. it's why adventure is so important to him and having a woman who can join him on his adventure. he wants someone to grow with, someone to evolve with, someone to learn with. these are highly philosophical men who will trigger others into rethinking life just from their opinions or beliefs on life.

these men may not have a particular goal in mind and therefore need a woman who is the same or at least is willing to explore with him. women who rely on predictability, consistency, and money will find themselves dissatisfied with a sagittarius venus because money rarely actually matters for these men. even if they become rich, their generous nature encourages them to spoil their family and friends rather than themselves. because this is a jupiter-ruled venus, luck and abundance may reign throughout these men's relationships, but they may become too broad and general, there's hardly ever a deeper click than with the mind or physical attraction. for these men, they can be highly lustful or passionate they use sex to satisfy themselves. this isn't for every sagittarius venus, however; this is only a general observation or interpretation. sagittarius can actually be a very loyal companion... only if evolved.

he may date women who are spontaneous, spiritual, religious, or philosophical. he may date women with little to no expectations or women who don't mind having short flings or short relationships. he may date women as part of an arrangement (think arranged marriage) or he may date ethnic/foreign women. he may date outside his race or culture. he may date women who are exotic or something he's not used to. not as a fetish, although this can be an extreme manifestation of an unevolved sagittarius venus. he may date someone from one of his travels or adventures. generally speaking, he may date women who are very optimistic, funny, honest, humble, and generous.

capricorn venus — hardworking, traditional, and successful women

these men are very traditional and hardworking. his ideal feminine will include the following traits: loyal, hardworking, traditional, independent but family-oriented, logical, and successful. social status may be important to these men but, in general, they value success and material wealth. they desire women who are family-oriented and motherly. because they are traditional, they will mostly be monogamous and will marry their spouse without a doubt. for them, hookup culture isn't a thing... if this placement is evolved. these men work for their money and are natural providers for their women, whether it be entirely or just partly.

these men value class, elegance, honesty, and ambition. these men are very stubborn people in the sense that they will persevere, regardless of circumstances. they are workaholics who appreciate when a woman is independent and can take care of herself. he looks for ambition in women, also. he does not find laziness or reliance on him attractive. he does not find gaudy or loud women attractive. modest and quiet women seem to catch his attention. in relationships, he is not quick to open up but, being a stubborn sign, will always persevere in his relationships. he is not quick to tire when it comes to working for a successful relationship. he is devoutly loyal and will always communicate openly. however, his only downfall is his emotional unawareness or lack of emotional reciprocation. he wants a woman that is motherly and intelligent. he wants a woman that is in control of her emotions instead of someone who is overly sensitive or complains a lot. being an earth sign, he is slow to fall in love and slow to propose. he is not looking for someone aggressive, but someone who is predictable, sure of what they want, and certain of their future. this sign works for its future. these men are probably one of the most hardworking signs in the entire zodiac and, while it may come with its disadvantages, it comes with a lot of advantages, too. for example, they will always be predictable in their approach. their woman will never be unsure of how this man feels for them. she will always know, for certain, where in life he wants to go. she will always feel comfortable knowing he will provide for her when necessary. she, on the other hand, must promise him loyalty, responsibility, commitment, and patience. these men work for their future slowly and steadily. if he values social status or social success, he will most likely look for women in the public field, or older women who have a lot of success.

these men look for someone mature. they're not feminine freaks but they will desire a woman who is connected to her feminine side as her maternal instincts (i.e. care, love, sensitivity, empathy, loyalty) match his masculine instincts (hardworking, providing, guiding, honesty.) these men may instinctively date women similar to their mothers. they may date women who are serious and detached.

aquarius venus — unconventional and authentic women

these men are naturally self-expressive and authentic. they are very different from others and know this in their minds. therefore, they will look for similarities in women. women who are self-expressive and unconventional are their ideal feminine. they don't want a woman with a copy-and-paste personality or an appearance that is similar to everyone else's. really, this person looks for someone who stands out from the crowd because, they too, stand out from the crowd. they are very genuine in their approach to love because they appreciate the differences in people, rather than what's conventional. they don't like following traditions or submission to dogma but instead will create their own "traditions" or beliefs that involve their own personality. they may oppose marriage, for example, or they may oppose monogamous relationships. they may not believe in labels such as boyfriend/girlfriend, even. nonetheless, they can make great lovers because they inspire their women to take charge and to go after what they truly desire. they push the boundaries of those they love and will happily stay loyal to the long-term vision they have with their partners. they're not particular about their fashion style but they, as an aquarius venus, stand out with their uniqueness. they feel if they were to "settle" with someone who is just like everybody else, they may lose their individuality. it's why, too, they tend to refuse or dislike labels. if they feel as though they have to fit some standard instead of being themselves, they tend to run away. this sign can have some serious commitment issues but, if evolved, can see relationships as an excellent tool and method to grow as a person and learn about others.

similarly to other air and fire signs, they tend to fear stagnation or boredom in a relationship. therefore, women who are "eccentric" or women who bring a lot of temptation, chasing, and change are very desirable. these men value women who can keep their own independence and women who can let them be independent also. women who recognize the value of excitement in relationships are ultimately most desirable as these women are the ones that cause growth in relationships. if he's in a relationship with a woman that is too laid-back or predictable, he will feel like there's nothing to chase and nothing to gain from the relationship. mental stimulation is a necessity for them as they must always feel like they are on the move.

because both aquarius and venus = friendships/relationships, these people ultimately look for a best friend they can relate with. they don't date simply for sex or for love but for the bond that comes with being friends and lovers. for these people, they can be very loyal to their partner if they think their partner is both a lover and a best friend. there must be a strong connection before he feels like he can commit to them. these men don't commit easily in the sense that they must have a mental rapport with them stronger than physical attraction. remember, this sign looks for quirks and things others don't see.

these men may date women who give themselves to society or those who are good with the public or have a lot of friends. they choose to date women who have a unique style and women who enjoy being self-expressive. loyalty and authenticity are key qualities these men look for because these men look for something unique, rather than something copied. they may date women who, on some level, "don't want anything serious", or women who have very loose beliefs on traditions and the like. these men may date women who are very independent and look for companionship more than a serious relationship.

pisces venus — loving, dreamy, and mysterious women

this placement can be very similar to scorpio venus in the sense that these men crave sensuality and emotional intensity. this is not a sign that dates for fun or for the short term. to thes men, love is more ecstatic than practical. this doesn't mean they are unreliable as lovers but they focus on the emotional aspect of relationships to the point of becoming engulfed in the idea of escaping through love with another person. he has an incredible capacity to love and will give whatever he can to the woman he loves. his ideal feminine is someone loyal, sensitive, and emotional. he needs someone he can feel back and forth with and needs someone emotionally readily available for them. they can be a hunch to date as they have a tendency to smother or be insecure in relationships. most of the time, these men attract women who are hard to reach or emotionally unavailable. this is a common link between all water signs because they crave a connection so deep and profound, they tend to force emotions or self-sabotage for the sake of feeling. he is ready to worship his female, but only if she is willing to do the same. they may be hopeless romantics and spend their entire lives looking for "the one" with unrealistic standards and expectations of love. despite the fairytale love he looks for, he often fails to live up to the dream he envisions. nonetheless, these people are devoutly loyal and, if positively aspected, can make some of the most unforgettable lovers out there. their level of kindness is unmatched and the things they are willing to do for others goes beyond just personal sacrifice.

he does not find cold women attractive. he needs someone to emotionally attune to. this is his demand. if he feels as though the connection has run out of synch he will either run away or try his hardest to revive the connection. he looks for someone understanding and committed because he offers a level of understanding and empathy others cannot offer. he is turned on by kindness, sweetness, and motherly traits because this person looks for someone quite the opposite of independent, aggressive, or just very emotionless. if any girl was to win his heart, it would be through affection, attention, and being nice.

a highly negative side to this placement is that, while he may desire love so much, he may actually attract women who need to be loved. he may act as the healer or attract very broken and insecure women who need to be shown love. this can prove to be toxic when the man begins over-giving and the woman begins abusing his attention and efforts by demeaning his efforts as she will never feel good enough for him. to him, the ideal feminine involves being mysterious and hard to reach. he doesn't like easily accessible women or women who have a lot of options. they need to feel like the only one.

this placement can be very ambitious, but he is ambitious through emotions rather than logic. if he feels something, it's felt passionately and thoroughly. he doesn't follow his instincts as much and actually prefers taking the flow with things but it doesn't mean he's idle or passive. instead, he takes his time and makes time for things he is genuinely passionate about or interested in. if he doesn't have someone who (emotionally) supports him or shares his interests, he will feel undermined or unvalued in the relationship. femininity is important to him. he likes someone gentle, delicate, etc.

love and sex are intertwined as one and only unevolved pisces venus would abuse sex. to a pisces venus, sex is the sacrifice of the body almost; it's the connection between body and mind and it is where love is truly expressed through physical connection + climax. there is a certain idealization of sex however, where it is made up to be some sort of great escape of pleasure when in reality it's a soul tie with a deeper bond.

#astrology #astro observations #astro notes

[impishjesters]

I have this idea floating around in my brain for a while about a reader who likes to draw and because they have a crush on Jax they draw him. Jax eventually steals their notebook and probably teases them about it lol.

Jax x Crushing!Reader

warning(s): innuendos, bullying/teasing, Jax note(s): Look it's me and Jax, there's gonna be innuendos or some spicy wording and bullying. It's like a packaged deal or something. A/N: If you see me mixing Angel Dust's speech into Jax, no you didn't. If you didn't notice, I don't know how to tease and not be an asshole, so pretty on the brand I guess.

Caine had given you a sketchbook upon request, it was a little different than an actual sketchbook but it did the job regardless. Ever since your arrival, your fingers have been itching to draw, there were so many new sights and so much new inspiration.

There were so many things, so why did it seem like the doodles of Jax ended up on almost every page?

Easy, you had a crush on the apathetic, mischievous jerk named Jax.

Why? Well, now that’s the million-dollar question. He’s not inherently awful, no, that’s a lie, he’s an asshole. You don’t really have a good read on him yet but he’s funny! That’s gotta be redeemable, right? However, his jokes are usually backhanded and often involve being mean at the expense of others.

Okay so he’s a walking red flag but there’s something about him that has you crushing on the purple bastard.

Looking down at the sketchbook on your lap shows another two pages filled with sketches of random things, though most of the page is filled with Jax. You had taken to sketching things back in the real world to remind yourself of home, but eventually, those sketches would involve Jax doing mundane things.

Thing’s like sitting at a table eating real food, though you took creative measures when drawing an open mouth on him, it still looked off but it was serene and domestic. Then there’s the little sketch at the bottom of the page of Jax leaning against a window and staring outside. You’d manage to nab the pose and angle when he was leaning against one of the many random geometrical-shaped things in the main room and later added in a window.

It was embarrassing that almost more than half of the pages in the book involved Jax to some degree. Some pages weren’t even subtle, the whole page taking up a detailed portrait version of the male. Sometimes you even got creative and put him in different clothing.

Thumbing through the pages you saw there weren’t that many empty pages left. You’d need to ask Caine for another one and figure out what to do with this one. It couldn’t be left out in the open, you knew Jax had keys to everyone’s room and wouldn’t put it past him to go snooping. He’d already questioned you about the sketchbook before.

You’d been so focused on the sketchbook that you hadn’t noticed the man of the hour walking up. Jax noticed your intense focus and peeked over to see the infamous sketchbook on your lap, and with practiced ease managed to yoink it right off your lap.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? You finally showing me what you keep your nose buried into?”

A yelp left you, stumbling to get on your feet you rushed to him and began swatting at the book and of course, he’d keep raising it just out of reach. “You took it! I didn’t say you could look at that!”

“Nah, pretty sure you said I could look at it.” He continued to lower and raise the book as you jumped to grab it. Sure he was curious before, but with a reaction like that? How could he not be even more curious? What kind of seedy shit were you drawing? Or perhaps some spicy nonfamily-friendly content?

Jax ignored your frantic words and opened the book to a random page, he was going to tease you about whatever dumb stuff you drew since you always had your nose in it but all he saw were sketches of himself.

A normal person might get embarrassed and hand the book back, but he’s not a normal person. It’s a little freaky, he won’t lie. A glance downwards shows him you’ve gone silent in front of him, simply staring down while he invades the privacy that was your sketchbook.

Your face is red and you look like you’re going to cry any second.

He’s a jerk, he was going to fuck with you, and he still is, but for the moment he’s taking in all the creative little pieces involving his face. Ya know, he never really thought much about how he’d look in other clothes. Gotta say he looks pretty snazzy in something that isn’t these shitty overalls.

“You know if I didn’t know any better,” his fingers still flip through the pages as he steps closer, circling you. “I’d say you like me.”

“I don’t.”

The reply is rushed and he rolls his eyes at the blatant lie, he’ll humor you this time. “Oh yeah? Does that mean you’ve got sketchbooks for everyone else too? Cause I’m pretty sure this is the only one I’ve seen you with.” He taps a doodle on the cover that gives away it’s the same notebook he always sees you with.

Tears trickled down your cheeks, you knew he was a jerk but this felt like too much. You just wanted your sketchbook back and to run away to your room, maybe pin something in front of the door that would render even the key useless.

His eyes roll the second he sees a tear, he’s not really seeing the problem here. You’ve got a book full of creepy—okay not completely creepy, he’s a good model so good on you for seeing that—sketches of him and he’s truthfully honored. It’s clear that you didn’t do this with everyone, so he’s honored to be your little model. Besides, it’s not like you actually have a crush on him, right?

Minutes tick by of him simply eyeing you, you’re still crying and it’s starting to get a little ugly and snotty, ugh. But you aren’t trying to further deny his little comment about you liking him. He’ll have to have a little talk about that later, what you could possibly see in him because he knows that you aren’t a sadist—oh, are you a masochist? That’d explain a lot.

Jax sighs and closes the book but doesn’t hand it over, simply putting the free hand on his hip. “You know if you wanted to see my face all you gotta do is ask. I’ll gladly show you this handsome face any day toots.”

Of all the things you thought he’d say, that wasn’t it. “H-huh..?” You embarrassingly wipe away the tears and snot before looking up at him.

“You heard me. Ya know I love this face too, very handsome. Maybe we can get Caine to put up some artwork in the tent of yours truly.” Jax wouldn’t consider himself vain, but you did have a way of making him look more, dare he say, attractive.

“I-I don’t… I don’t understand…” Was he still making fun of you?

He rolls his eyes before playfully hitting your head with the book. “Jeez, and here I thought you were smart.” Jax leaned over like he was speaking to a child and pushed the book to your chest. “I’m saying, the next time you wanna draw me I’ll give you a front-row seat. Maybe even take it to the bedroom so we won’t be disturbed.”

You push the book into his face to cover up that growing smirk and blush furiously. “Wh-what?! N-no I-I don’t…!” It’s hard to tell if he’s being serious or not in his offer to model for you, especially with the bedroom comment.

“C’mon, clearly you got taste. I mean that book is filled with sketches of me. I’ll commend you on your immaculate taste.” Jax taps the book before playfully bopping your nose. “At least let me give you the pleasure of seeing me close up. I’ve never been a model before so you might have to get a little hands-on to get me the way you want me.”

As the innuendos continue your face feels like it’s getting impossibly red and warm. Somehow this is worse than him telling you a sketchbook full of his face is creepy, in fact, you’d almost prefer it because your poor little heart can’t take anymore. You let out a yell and it stops his tangent but that stupid smirk of his never disappears.

“Offer still stands. You know where to find me.” Jax turns away but not before throwing a little wink over his shoulder. He still plans on pestering you about what you see in him, but for now, he’ll cut you some slack. You’re about as red as Ragatha’s hair and as much as he loves to see it, he didn’t plan to get this sidetracked when he saw you on your own.

He’s got a sucker to prank.

#tadc #the amazing digital circus #the amazing digital circus x reader #jax #jax x reader #tadc jax

[dodgeballstuckonthegymceiling]

Request for Jax x Male reader headcannons where the reader sucks just as much as him.

He's a prick but he's my favorite prick ಠ⁠︵⁠ಠ

Jax X male reader who "sucks as much as him" (couldn't think of a way to word that better)

★ When you first joined the circus and was still getting used to everything he, of course, messed with you. But unlike Kinger or Ragantha, you retaliated. Imagine his shock when you started to hide his things and generally tried to be obnoxious.

★ It's like they say, birds of a feather flock together. Except in this case it was two boys who had nothing better to do than screw with everyone around them.

★ For the sake of everyone who values their sanity, Cain doesn't allow the two of you to team up too often. Actually, let me rephrase that. Cain tried to keep the two of you separated as often as he can.

★ Unfortunately that's kinda hard to do with such a tight knit groop. But when you go on one of Cain's famous adventures™ where teams involved you almost always get separated.

★ While Cain is glad Jax finally made a "friend" he's not happy with the prank and messes he's had to clean up because of it. Poor Bubble is getting overworked.

★ I don't think Cain really understands romantic relationships? At least that's my headcannon until proven otherwise. So in his eyes you and Jax are just best friends who kiss when you think nobody is looking.

★ Jax cares about you, but you'll never hear him say it without making it sound like a joke. He'd rather be caught dead than have anyone know how he feels about you.

★ Sleepovers in his room? Sleepovers in his room! He doesn't really need to sleep but it's a nice way to act like his life is somewhat normal. Don't bother inviting him into your room, he already stole the key.

#Jax #tadc x reader #tadc jax #tadc fanfiction #the amazing digital circus #the amazing digital circus fanfiction #the amazing digital circus x reader #Jax fanfiction #jax x reader #jax fanfiction #digital circus jax

[incognit0slut]

Right Kind of Wrong (20)

She never thought she’d be involved in a murder investigation and encounter her one-night-stand again, the awkward guy who isn’t exactly that good in bed—Or is he? Offended by the sentiment, Spencer is determined to prove her wrong… But as he gets tangled with the beautiful stranger, he realizes there is more to her than what meets the eye.

Part Summary: Despite everything, she found herself feeling happy. Part Warning: 18+ explicit content (male and female oral, creampie, overstimulation, Spence is kind of a dom but is still sweet) A/n: this is just 4k words of pure smut, I hope you enjoy this last part of the series :')

Other parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

"Spence, you need to open the door!" She whispered harshly. His response was to press himself further into her, relentlessly sucking on her neck as he pinned her against his apartment door.

The road to his place had been filled with sexual tension, each passing moment heightening the desire that simmered beneath the surface. When he mentioned taking her home, she didn't expect it to be his apartment.

"It's closer from here," he had said when he pulled her out of the planetarium, practically dragging her towards his car. "Do you mind?"

Of course, she didn't. In honesty, she would have let him have his way with her even if he had taken her to the nearest restroom, or even in the confines of his car. She was too aroused to think properly that at least three times she had initiated some desperate contact throughout their journey to his place.

The first one unfolded at a red light as she seized the opportunity, tugging him towards her before shoving her tongue in his mouth. The impatient blare of car horns stopped them from doing anything further. Then the next initiation came as a subtle yet provocative touch when she traced his leg, inching closer to his crotch. He threw her a look as he took a sharp intake of breath.

Although the third initiation wasn't exactly directed at him, it still held the same amount of torture. When she gracefully slipped her fingers right between her thighs, his grip on the steering wheel tightened, his foot pressing harder on the gas pedal. He watched as the speedometer increased rapidly. Even when chasing Unsubs he had never driven this fast before.

And now that they were finally inches away from his apartment, he couldn't wait any longer.

"Spence..." she giggled, but then her laughter died down when his hand traveled between her legs. "Let's go inside."

Without a second glance, he retrieved his keys from his pocket and thrust them into her hands. She huffed in amusement and gently pushed him, turning to face the door, but then she felt him pressing against her back as she struggled to unlock his door. "Baby..."

He groaned at the sweet sound of her voice calling him by the intimate nickname, realizing it was the first time she had used it. She them felt his hand circling her hips, his fingers starting to rub her clit over her dress. She was beyond grateful no one else was currently in the hallway to witness what was happening.

When she finally managed to get the key into the lock, a wave of relief washed over her. Without wasting any more time, she swung the door open to his apartment, and Spencer, right behind her, practically pushed her inside before slamming the door shut behind them.

"Take off your underwear," he ordered, pausing only to lock his front door. Too stunned to argue, she began inching up her dress but then he was suddenly dropping on his knees before her, grabbing the hem of her panties and yanking them down her legs impatiently.

His hands roughly shoved her hips into the wall before he lifted one of her legs onto his shoulder. Seconds later his face was between her thighs, his tongue greedily lapping up her arousal. Her head rolled back into the wall in astonishment, both hands coming to grip fistfuls of his hair.

"Oh, shit," she moaned out, hands gripping his curly locks tighter.

His mouth shifted while two of his fingers slipped inside of her. Her hips jerked and a long whine of his name spilled from her lips as he pressed his tongue to her clit. His fingers began working in and out of her tightening walls once just as his tongue flicked over her clit, seconds before he pressed against the swollen, aching bud to lick a stripe over her flesh.

"Fuck, don't stop," she cried out, voice hoarse and desperate. Spencer had no intentions of stopping as he sucked her clit even harder, his fingers driving into her faster, earning every sinful noise that left her lips.

Her eyes cast downwards only to see her dress covering the view between her thighs, so she grabbed onto the fabric and in one swift motion lifted it over her head before throwing it to the floor. Her hands found their way to on his hair again when she could finally see him at the same time his eyes glanced up to see her perky breasts on display. The satisfied groan that left his lips traveled along her skin and her head fell back as she rolled her hips against his face.

Her walls began to contract around his fingers, thighs tightening against his head. His tongue remained diligent in circling her clit, lapping up her juices to taste every last drop. She could even hear how wet she had become from the sloppy noises flooding the room, mixing with her whimpers and the groans filling his chest.

She was uncontrollably shaking by now and with one final deep breath, the pleasure consumed her entire body. His fingers slipped out of her to hold her hips in place as she cane undone for the second time tonight, but his tongue continued to work against her clit through every second of the bliss.

The first wave of pleasure turned into breathy moans, overly sensitive to his constant torture, yet he didn't pull away. He kept on tasting her until she could hardly take it anymore and her hands dived for his head to push him away.

He finally pulled away, and all that was left were broken breaths and shaking legs. He was satisfied with himself, giving her flesh a rubdown with his palm flat against her skin, soothing the tension while she tried to steady herself as he placed her leg on his shoulder back to the floor. When she attempted to kick off her heels, a firm hand wrapped around her ankle.

"Keep them on," he whispered, his voice carrying a command that sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't do anything but oblige as she watched him get on his feet before she felt the warmth of his lips taking hers.

She could taste herself as his mouth pressed desperately on hers, nibbling on her bottom lip until they were parting for him. He effortlessly slipped his tongue in her mouth and she couldn't stop herself from whimpering as her hands roamed along his body, seeking more of his skin.

So she pushed off his suit jacket to the floor, then tugged off his tie, and when her fingers hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt, he slightly pulled away, resting his foreheads against hers. "We—" he sucked in a sharp breath when he felt her undoing his pants. "We need a safe word."

Her movements faltered for a moment before she continued to pull out his shirt under his pants, and that too went to the floor. "What?"

"I-I don't think I can hold myself back." He then gasped as she slipped a hand inside his underwear, wrapping her fingers around his girth. He closed his eyes, jaw going slack as she continued to run her palm along his length. "A safe word... please."

His plea hung in the air, a vulnerable request amidst the rising intensity. Her fingers hesitated for a moment as she saw the conflict in his eyes, the battle between restraint and desire.

After a slight pause, her eyes scanned around the room before they settled on the chessboard on his coffee table, and finally whispered, "How about Chess?"

An amused smile played on his lips. "Chess?"

"Take it or leave it," she laughed. She then rendered him speechless by dropping to her knees and tugging his pants down. "Besides, I'm not going to use it anyway."

He was caught off guard by her bold move, his eyes widening slightly. A mixture of surprise and arousal flickered in his gaze as she held him gently by the base as she examined him, her eyes focused on the clear drop of wetness trickling out from his tip. It was unreal how gorgeous he was.

A groan tore itself from him as he laid his eyes on her taking him into her mouth while she held his gaze, making him pay attention to every inch of his cock disappearing slowly in between her lips. His mouth fell open as she worked him deeper, tongue working to coat him in spit, cheeks hollowing in to add suction every time she pulled him out.

His brows screwed together, his mouth going slack. She gasped off him, and he gasped with her, sounding almost pained as she teased him with her tongue, running it from root to tip and back. He threw his head back only to whip it down seconds later, unable to keep his eyes away from her, body shuddering each time she swiped her tongue from his base to his swollen tip.

He choked on a groan when she took him back into her mouth, pressing him into her throat. He sounded almost alarmed as she took him down her throat over and over again as if she was trying to push her limits. She continued to suck him, but then she slowed down when she sensed his doubt, the self-restraint lingering in his head.

"Let go, baby. I'm right here. You can use me," she said in between suckling and messily kissing the tip of his cock, hauling him to the edge. "Please."

There was a moment of hesitation, a silent battle within him before his resolve seemed to waver. His hands, which had been clenched by his sides, flew out to tangle in her hair, holding on with a vice grip. She moaned around his cock, encouraging and maybe a bit patronizing, even as she wrapped her lips around him again.

His hips started to thrust into her open mouth now, mindlessly chasing that familiar sensation as his eyes locked with hers; his pupils blown wide, his mind empty but for the pleasure coursing through his body. He started slow, pushing and pulling his hips, and groaned at the feeling of her tongue moving around his length.

Then between the grunts, moans, and whimpers leaving him, his pace sped up as he forced himself into her mouth. She was now gagging around his cock, spit trailing down her chin, tears slipping from her eyes as she gazed up at him. She felt the way his muscles tensed up like his whole body was going to combust on the spot before he quickly pulled himself out of her mouth with a wet pop.

"Come here." Ever the gentleman, he helped her with gentle hands as she got up on her feet and before she could think about what came next, he muttered, "Wrap your legs around my waist."

"What?"

A squeal left her lips as he abruptly lifted her off the ground and she instinctively wrapped her legs around him, her arms going around his shoulders. "Spencer! What's gotten into you?"

He simply answered her with a smile before making his way down to his bedroom. "I blame you for this."

She stifled a laugh. "You're blaming me for acting like a wild animal?"

"Is it... too much?"

"Are you kidding? I'm enjoying this side of you," she confessed, clinging onto him as she kissed the side of his neck. "Please continue."

His chest shook at the same time his laughter filled her ears. But the amusement in his voice disappeared as fast as it appeared when they finally entered his room before he placed her on the edge of his bed. "Get on your knees and face the other way."

She didn't have to be told twice, scrambling on the bed as her knees sank deeper into the mattress. She felt him push down hard against her and she obliged, lowering her face and upper body to the bed as his other hand remained holding her hips up in the air.

A hand landed on her ass with a sharp smack before he gripped a firm handful of it. His cock swiped back and forth along her folds, gathering her wetness, letting it coat around his tip. He moaned out a deep, pleasure-filled noise that reverberated around the bedroom as he lined up the tip of his cock at her entrance.

"I..." His mouth fell open when he watched the way her walls stretched around him, clamping around his cock as if she was swallowing him inside. "I really don't think I can hold myself—"

"Just fuck me already," she ordered, bending over the bed and pressing her ass back into him. "I don't care."

He abruptly plunged inside of her.

"Fuck, yes," she whimpered, arching her back. Both of his hands gripped her hips as he began to thrust into her. Her eyes rolled back, her eyelids dropping closed as she fisted the sheets tighter in her hands.

"You feel so good," he growled out behind her. "So perfect."

Shifting her head along the bed, she glanced back at him. She couldn't fight the way her cunt tightened around his cock at the sight of him using her body as he pleased. It was still hard to believe he was the same man who lacked experience when she first met him. Yet after all the times they had spent together tangled in pleasure, she could see the increase of confidence every time he touched her.

A particularly deep and brutal thrust had his cock hitting her perfectlyand she moaned out loudly, her mind going blank to everything but the pleasure he was giving her.

"Right there, baby," she begged him, squirming her hips against him for more.

With her cheek pressed to the mattress, she focused on the way he looked. His hair was a sweaty, mussed mess on his head, and there was a very obvious sheen of sweat glistening along his forehead. He was grunting and breathing heavily as his fingers continued to dig into her hips. Then another loud smack echoed throughout the room as one of his hands harshly landed on her ass. He slowly released her hips before he grabbed her by the arms, hauling her back.

She moaned loudly in response, her hips bucking eagerly into him as he fucked her like a man possessed. He plunged his cock so deep inside of her that her toes began to curl inside her heels—dear god, she forgot she was still wearing her shoes. She wondered if he realized how much bacteria could stick on his sheets, but with the way he was thrusting relentlessly into her, she was sure the only thought he had at this moment was their connected bodies moving in sync.

His grip on her arm tightened to the line bordering between pain and pleasure just as his thrusts sped up to a pace faster. It felt so good she hadn't even noticed the way the pleasure built until it was nearly unbearable.

"I-I'm gonna—"

A scream ripped out of her as she felt her body shaking. Her orgasm hit her so suddenly and she didn't resist it, letting it wash over her and sear through every muscle. Her body writhed and she thrust her hips against his, grinding herself through her release despite him not slowing down. A final gasp filled the room, signaling the pleasure overwhelming her body, before he let go of her arms and she flopped back onto the bed.

Her orgasm slowed down to a stop and she took a deep breath before another loud and unrestricted moan released through her exhale as he flipped her onto her back. He smiled crookedly at her, cupping the backs of her knees, crudely pinning them to her chest as he suddenly stuffed himself back inside.

With her completely pinned beneath him, she couldn't do anything except cry out and wail in pleasure. His eyes were locked on the way she was stretched so wide around his girth. Spencer was known for his aversion to getting dirty, and for his meticulous nature, yet he found the messy tangle of their bodies didn't bother him in the least. The fresh white cream coating around his cock only fueled his pleasure.

It was warm, wet, and fucking messy.

"T-Touch yourself," he choked on his words, voice breaking as they came out. He was so close that it hurts. "Play with yourself for me."

Her hand flew down to do as she was told without a second thought. It only took a few, quick circles around her swollen clit before she was coming again, her heels kicking helplessly in the air. She had lost count of how many orgasms she had tonight, but she gladly accepted it as her back arched off the bed.

Spencer groaned at the sight of her losing herself beneath him. He watched as her fingers continued to rub her clit desperately, forcing herself to come even harder until a gush of liquid squirted around him. It splattered everywhere—across his hips, thighs, and even his chest. It made his eyes roll up into the back of his head before he let his head fall back, his jaw going slack while he let out a loud and deep moan as his orgasm finally washed over him.

His warmth filled her core and she felt his pace slightly falter before he continued with short, aborted little thrusts. His cock pulsed inside of her, each vein had a throbbing heartbeat that struck so painfully good against her walls. But even when his orgasm dissipated, he found himself rutting his hips into the creamy mess dripping out of her cunt.

"S-Spence," she choked out, gasping when his cock hit right into the pleasurable spot inside her. "I-It's too much. I c-can't."

"Just say the word," he panted, almost deliriously, "S-Say the word and I'll stop."

The sensations overwhelmed her, yet despite the intensity, she didn't want him to stop. Her unspoken desire was palpable, and he read her so well that her silence was all he needed to continue.

He released his grip on the back of her thighs as he shifted his weight onto his left arm, his right hand coming up to brush some hair off of her face tenderly before it landed back on the bed. He then leaned down, pressing his lips against hers at the same time her arms wrapped around his neck.

She was trembling and twitching with each one of his thrusts. He felt a pang of remorse for her, he could tell she was tired and overstimulated but he just needed to wring one last orgasm out.

"One more," he cooed sweetly against her lips. "Let me use you once more, can I do that?"

"Y-Yes," she whimpered, nodding her head as her eyelids fluttered in exhaustion.

Lowering onto his elbows, his body molded itself over the top of hers. Her hands were hungrily grasping at his back, attempting to bring him somehow closer as her hips rocked up into his again. She could feel the hard lines of him pressed to every inch of her; she could feel the flex and pull of his muscles with each of his fluid, rhythmic thrusts.

His movements slowed down, each deliberate thrust filled with a different kind of intensity. It wasn't the same urgency as before; instead, it was deliberated and unhurried, and he seemed to savor every moment as if etching it into his memory. He pressed himself further into her, a desperate need evident in the way he sought closeness as if he couldn't get enough of her.

He shifted, lowering his mouth to her neck. He began leaving affectionate, open-mouthed kisses along the length of it. Her back arched underneath him at the feel of him surrounding her so wholly, his cock burying itself repeatedly inside of her. She could feel her peak nearing again, her eyes rolling back as a high-pitched whine fell out of her mouth.

"S-Spence," she cried out, nails beginning to claw at his back now as she clung to him.

"I know," he answered, voice strained himself as he pulled his face away from her neck. "I know, Sweetheart. Let go for me, I got you."

His sweet, affectionate voice sent her over the edge. The way he held her, the way he peppered kisses along her lips, cheek, and neck, revealed a depth of emotion beyond the physical pleasure. It wasn't merely about finding release; it was an intimate exchange of passion. At that moment, she realized how much his feelings had grown, and she burned just as intensely for him.

"Oh, god," she whimpered at his voice, cunt gripping his cock. "Spence, I'm–"

A loud moan cut her off, her right hand releasing its hold on his back, flying up to grip a fistful of his hair. Spencer practically groaned in response, his hips beginning to stutter as her orgasm overtook her once again. She held him tighter, her body quivering beneath him as her moan gradually broke off.

His forehead lowered to hers, his sharp breaths falling over her with each of his rough exhales.

"That's my girl."

She was practically crying by now, caught in the whirlwind of pleasure and affection. She wasn't sure which emotion held a stronger grip, maybe both. But whatever it was, she surrendered to the overwhelming sensation, letting it wash over her as she held onto him.

His hips continued their movements, dragging her through the end of her release as he was nearing his own. She could hear the rumbling groan building in his own throat, his face abruptly falling against her chest.

A moment later he choked out a moan at the same time he roughly thrust himself deep inside of her, gasping as he came for the final time. His cock twitched almost painfully inside her as he slowly rocked his hips, wincing at the overstimulation and filling her up at the same time.

He thrust into her a few more times before his hips finally stilled. Her hands began running soothingly along his back as he slipped out of her and then collapsed atop her, still careful to keep from crushing her.

His skin was damp with sweat from his exertion, his shoulders heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He rested his cheek against her chest and a happy noise fell out of his mouth as he relaxed. Her voice was the first thing that broke the silence. It wasn't even a spoken word, but a soft, girly giggle that he turned his head to look at her.

"What?"

She smiled at him. "You called me your girl."

He looked at her in amusement. "Well, aren't you?"

A hint of uncertainty lingered in her expression. "I don't know. Am I?" She sighed, the weight of unspoken emotions in the air. "We just... we haven't talked about this. I didn't want to assume things."

He took a moment, gathering his thoughts, a visible struggle for someone not accustomed to verbalizing deeper feelings. "Y/n," he finally began, the sincerity in his voice cutting through any hesitation. "I risked my life for you. Of course, you're my girl."

Her heart swelled at the gravity of his words, the unspoken commitment hanging in the air. It was a vulnerable moment, and yet, he had chosen to express himself. She gazed into his eyes, finding a depth of sincerity that touched her heart.

"I'm not good with words," he continued, his thumb tracing circles on her skin. "But I do care about you. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time."

A warmth spread through her chest at his admission. It was a vulnerable side of him she hadn't seen often, and it made her appreciate the depth of their connection.

"I care about you too," she replied softly, her fingers running along his damp hair. "More than I expected."

His smile was genuine as he turned onto the bed, pulling her against his chest. "Then I guess we're each other's," he declared.

The woman she used to be wouldn't have envisioned herself in this present moment, considering the twists and turns life had taken in the past few months. Despite everything that had happened, a subtle happiness filled her, a sentiment she cherished deeply. Her smile deepened, and a soothing sense of contentment settled between them as she eased into the comfort of his arms.

His words enveloped her like a comforting embrace. It wasn't a grand gesture, but it was genuine, and in that quiet moment, it felt more than enough.

>> EPILOGUE

.

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

Apple fucked us on right to repair (again)

Today (September 22), I'm (virtually) presenting at the DIG Festival in Modena, Italy. Tonight, I'll be in person at LA's Book Soup for the launch of Justin C Key's "The World Wasn’t Ready for You." On September 27, I'll be at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles with Brian Merchant for a joint launch for my new book The Internet Con and his new book, Blood in the Machine.

Right to repair has no cannier, more dedicated adversary than Apple, a company whose most innovative work is dreaming up new ways to sneakily sabotage electronics repair while claiming to be a caring environmental steward, a lie that covers up the mountains of e-waste that Apple dooms our descendants to wade through.

Why does Apple hate repair so much? It's not that they want to poison our water and bodies with microplastics; it's not that they want to hasten the day our coastal cities drown; it's not that they relish the human misery that accompanies every gram of conflict mineral. They aren't sadists. They're merely sociopathically greedy.

Tim Cook laid it out for his investors: when people can repair their devices, they don't buy new ones. When people don't buy new devices, Apple doesn't sell them new devices. It's that's simple:

https://www.inverse.com/article/52189-tim-cook-says-apple-faces-2-key-problems-in-surprising-shareholder-letter

So Apple does everything it can to monopolize repair. Not just because this lets the company gouge you on routine service, but because it lets them decide when your phone is beyond repair, so they can offer you a trade-in, ensuring both that you buy a new device and that the device you buy is another Apple.

There are so many tactics Apple gets to use to sabotage repair. For example, Apple engraves microscopic Apple logos on the subassemblies in its devices. This allows the company to enlist US Customs to seize and destroy refurbished parts that are harvested from dead phones by workers in the Pacific Rim:

https://repair.eu/news/apple-uses-trademark-law-to-strengthen-its-monopoly-on-repair/

Of course, the easiest way to prevent harvested components from entering the parts stream is to destroy as many old devices as possible. That's why Apple's so-called "recycling" program shreds any devices you turn over to them. When you trade in your old iPhone at an Apple Store, it is converted into immortal e-waste (no other major recycling program does this). The logic is straightforward: no parts, no repairs:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/yp73jw/apple-recycling-iphones-macbooks

Shredding parts and cooking up bogus trademark claims is just for starters, though. For Apple, the true anti-repair innovation comes from the most pernicious US tech law: Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

DMCA 1201 is an "anti-circumvention" law. It bans the distribution of any tool that bypasses "an effective means of access control." That's all very abstract, but here's what it means: if a manufacturer sticks some Digital Rights Management (DRM) in its device, then anything you want to do that involves removing that DRM is now illegal – even if the thing itself is perfectly legal.

When Congress passed this stupid law in 1998, it had a very limited blast radius. Computers were still pretty expensive and DRM use was limited to a few narrow categories. In 1998, DMCA 1201 was mostly used to prevent you from de-regionalizing your DVD player to watch discs that had been released overseas but not in your own country.

But as we warned back then, computers were only going to get smaller and cheaper, and eventually, it would only cost manufacturers pennies to wrap their products – or even subassemblies in their products – in DRM. Congress was putting a gun on the mantelpiece in Act I, and it was bound to go off in Act III.

Welcome to Act III.

Today, it costs about a quarter to add a system-on-a-chip to even the tiniest parts. These SOCs can run DRM. Here's how that DRM works: when you put a new part in a device, the SOC and the device's main controller communicate with one another. They perform a cryptographic protocol: the part says, "Here's my serial number," and then the main controller prompts the user to enter a manufacturer-supplied secret code, and the master controller sends a signed version of this to the part, and the part and the system then recognize each other.

This process has many names, but because it was first used in the automotive sector, it's widely known as VIN-Locking (VIN stands for "vehicle identification number," the unique number given to every car by its manufacturer). VIN-locking is used by automakers to block independent mechanics from repairing your car; even if they use the manufacturer's own parts, the parts and the engine will refuse to work together until the manufacturer's rep keys in the unlock code:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

VIN locking is everywhere. It's how John Deere stops farmers from fixing their own tractors – something farmers have done literally since tractors were invented:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/05/08/about-those-kill-switched-ukrainian-tractors/

It's in ventilators. Like mobile phones, ventilators are a grotesquely monopolized sector, controlled by a single company Medtronic, whose biggest claim to fame is effecting the world's largest tax inversion in order to manufacture the appearance that it is an Irish company and therefore largely untaxable. Medtronic used the resulting windfall to gobble up most of its competitors.

During lockdown, as hospitals scrambled to keep their desperately needed supply of ventilators running, Medtronic's VIN-locking became a lethal impediment. Med-techs who used donor parts from one ventilator to keep another running – say, transplanting a screen – couldn't get the device to recognize the part because all the world's civilian aircraft were grounded, meaning Medtronic's technicians couldn't swan into their hospitals to type in the unlock code and charge them hundreds of dollars.

The saving grace was an anonymous, former Medtronic repair tech, who built pirate boxes to generate unlock codes, using any housing they could lay hands on to use as a case: guitar pedals, clock radios, etc. This tech shipped these gadgets around the world, observing strict anonymity, because Article 6 of the EUCD also bans circumvention:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/10/flintstone-delano-roosevelt/#medtronic-again

Of course, Apple is a huge fan of VIN-locking. In phones, VIN-locking is usually called "serializing" or "parts-pairing," but it's the same thing: a tiny subassembly gets its own microcontroller whose sole purpose is to prevent independent repair technicians from fixing your gadget. Parts-pairing lets Apple block repairs even when the technician uses new, Apple parts – but it also lets Apple block refurb parts and third party parts.

For many years, Apple was the senior partner and leading voice in blocking state Right to Repair bills, which it killed by the dozen, leading a coalition of monopolists, from Wahl (who boobytrap their hair-clippers with springs that cause their heads irreversibly decompose if you try to sharpen them at home) to John Deere (who reinvented tenant farming by making farmers tenants of their tractors, rather than their land).

But Apple's opposition to repair eventually became a problem for the company. It's bad optics, and both Apple customers and Apple employees are volubly displeased with the company's ecocidal conduct. But of course, Apple's management and shareholders hate repair and want to block it as much as possible.

But Apple knows how to Think Differently. It came up with a way to eat its cake and have it, too. The company embarked on a program of visibly support right to repair, while working behind the scenes to sabotage it.

Last year, Apple announced a repair program. It was hilarious. If you wanted to swap your phone's battery, all you had to do was let Apple put a $1200 hold on your credit card, and then wait while the company shipped you 80 pounds' worth of specialized tools, packed in two special Pelican cases:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/05/22/apples-cement-overshoes/

Then, you swapped your battery, but you weren't done! After your battery was installed, you had to conference in an authorized Apple tech who would tell you what code to type into a laptop you tethered to the phone in order to pair it with your phone. Then all you had to do was lug those two 40-pound Pelican cases to a shipping depot and wait for Apple to take the hold off your card (less the $120 in parts and fees).

By contrast, independent repair outfits like iFixit will sell you all the tools you need to do your own battery swap – including the battery! for $32. The whole kit fits in a padded envelope:

https://www.ifixit.com/products/iphone-x-replacement-battery

But while Apple was able to make a showy announcement of its repair program and then hide the malicious compliance inside those giant Pelican cases, sabotaging right to repair legislation is a lot harder.

Not that they didn't try. When New York State passed the first general electronics right-to-repair bill in the country, someone convinced New York Governor Kathy Hochul to neuter it with last-minute modifications:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/12/weakened-right-to-repair-bill-is-signed-into-law-by-new-yorks-governor/

But that kind of trick only works once. When California's right to repair bill was introduced, it was clear that it was gonna pass. Rather than get run over by that train, Apple got on board, supporting the legislation, which passed unanimously:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/79902/apples-u-turn-tech-giant-finally-backs-repair-in-california

But Apple got the last laugh. Because while California's bill contains many useful clauses for the independent repair shops that keep your gadgets out of a landfill, it's a state law, and DMCA 1201 is federal. A state law can't simply legalize the conduct federal law prohibits. California's right to repair bill is a banger, but it has a weak spot: parts-pairing, the scourge of repair techs:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/69320/how-parts-pairing-kills-independent-repair

Every generation of Apple devices does more parts-pairing than the previous one, and the current models are so infested with paired parts as to be effectively unrepairable, except by Apple. It's so bad that iFixit has dropped its repairability score for the iPhone 14 from a 7 ("recommend") to a 4 (do not recommend):

https://www.ifixit.com/News/82493/we-are-retroactively-dropping-the-iphones-repairability-score-en

Parts-pairing is bullshit, and Apple are scum for using it, but they're hardly unique. Parts-pairing is at the core of the fuckery of inkjet printer companies, who use it to fence out third-party ink, so they can charge $9,600/gallon for ink that pennies to make:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/11/ink-stained-wretches-battle-soul-digital-freedom-taking-place-inside-your-printer

Parts-pairing is also rampant in powered wheelchairs, a heavily monopolized sector whose predatory conduct is jaw-droppingly depraved:

https://uspirgedfund.org/reports/usp/stranded

But if turning phones into e-waste to eke out another billion-dollar stock buyback is indefensible, stranding people with disabilities for months at a time while they await repairs is so obviously wicked that the conscience recoils. That's why it was so great when Colorado passed the nation's first wheelchair right to repair bill last year:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/when-drm-comes-your-wheelchair

California actually just passed two right to repair bills; the other one was SB-271, which mirrors Colorado's HB22-1031:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB271

This is big! It's momentum! It's a start!

But it can't be the end. When Bill Clinton signed DMCA 1201 into law 25 years ago, he loaded a gun and put it on the nation's mantlepiece and now it's Act III and we're all getting sprayed with bullets. Everything from ovens to insulin pumps, thermostats to lightbulbs, has used DMCA 1201 to limit repair, modification and improvement.

Congress needs to rid us of this scourge, to let us bring back all the benefits of interoperability. I explain how this all came to be – and what we should do about it – in my new Verso Books title, The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.

https://www.versobooks.com/products/3035-the-internet-con

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/22/vin-locking/#thought-differently

Image: Mitch Barrie (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daytona_Skeleton_AR-15_completed_rifle_%2817551907724%29.jpg

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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#pluralistic #vin locking #apple #right to repair #california #ifixit #iphones #sb244 #parts pairing #serialization #dmca 1201 #felony contempt of business model #ewaste #repairwashing #fuckery

[luciddownloading]

Venus in the 8th House 🕯️🖤

🕷️There may be a "familial curse" regarding the female lineage that needs to be broken. The mom's side of the family may be very female dominated but the women might be very troubled or suffer from abusive/controlling relationships

🕷️When you have this placement, please know the difference between "obsession" and genuine love. Venus in the 8th can draw very intense admiration or fixation from others. But, if you mistake that for love, you can attract some really toxic or destructive people.

Inevitably, with this placement, even the ones who truly love you will be highly fixated on you. But, it won't be only out of lust or a need to possess or control you

🕷️ The best way for you to know and build your self-worth in love is to avoid obsessing over your person. YOU also have to know the difference between obsessing over someone and actually loving them. If not, you can either attract emotionally/physically unavailable people who keep you in that state of longing or love interests who are very low-vibrational. Either way, this won't build your self-esteem.

This is to not say that you should become a self-obsessed person. Just put plenty of energy into yourself. Pour into yourself and only accept love from those who can pour into you, too, especially if you're a more feminine person. Because you have a tremendous amount of love to give and need someone to match that.

🕷️The more Venus in the 8th House people hold their incredible affection back for those who are willing to really show up for them and respect them, the more magnetic and irresistible they become.

The 8th House represents our power. With Venus in the 8th, you are very powerfully attractive, in many senses of the word. Your energy itself is super-attractive. But, when you are desperate or settling for disrespect/dissatisfaction/no-effort partners, you are not standing in your power.

🕷️Okay, so let's talk about the sex appeal of this placement because, yes, it is talked about all the time for a reason. But it's also very misunderstood. While Venus in the 8th CAN easily be that very alluring siren, there's often a deep seated fear or discomfort around playing that role that needs to be worked through.

Don't forget that the 8th House is also about trauma, triggers, intense fears. Unfortunately, a lot of people with this placement either experience some kind of sexual abuse or assault when young or were just sexualized way too early by adults or older people around them, which can be quite traumatizing in itself. They may even endure some sort of shame-inducing scandal involving sex. So, a deep fear around one's attractiveness or a subconscious worry about being objectified or taken advantage of settles in. If you have this placement, instead of sexing up your appearance, you may actually cover up or even try to desexualize yourself to avoid such a thing. But, even then, when you're doing absolutely nothing, you still get sexualized

🕷️I think a lot about Venus in the 8th can speak to the dark side of the feminine experience. Being treated solely like a sexual object. Also, you may fear just being dismissed as pretty or written off as having no substance. You may try very hard to prove that you're not just pretty or some nice person who can just be pushed around. There may also be trauma surrounding that, as some 8th House Venus people have been conditioned to either people-please or suffer abuse

🕷️ Because of the possible aforementioned traumas, it can be highly empowering for those with this placement to EMBRACE their sex appeal. Not just for the sake of being sexy but to take that power back; to own their sexiness and heal their relationship with it.

(Of course, if you have been abused or assaulted, therapy and genuine self-work is key, too. Because it shouldn't be about seeking validation through being sexy. Remember that it's not the source of your self-worth)

🕷️ Embracing a more feminine role, in general, can also be very healing and empowering; to know that femininity is a form of power, not weakness. If you're into men, this can open up your receptive power in a way that makes you even more enticing. If you're into women, this will give you much greater respect for them

🕷️You are very naturally seductive, especially toward your preferred sex. It's not always in a sexual way, in your mind. It's more about your ability to deeply connect to people and draw them in. BUT, it can come across in a very sexual way to others, whether you intend for it to or not

🕷️ Unfortunately, it is very easy to attract toxic feminine energies into your life, with Venus in the 8th, particularly women who are very envious, controlling or untrustworthy. If you're a straight girl or queer guy, you may deal with a female "bestie" or two who is actually jealous, nasty, and manipulative. Who may secretly want to be you or feels threatened by you and is subtly trying to tear you down because of it. Or, if the friendship ends, she goes on a whole smear campaign to try and "destroy" you (which will probably fail anyway because you're a bad bitch).

I'm not saying be paranoid or don't trust people. But, please be very discerning about who you let close to you. Someone may claim to love you while secretly hating you.

🕷️On the flip side, when you're vibrating high and using discernment, you could attract women into your life who are wonderfully empowering, fiercely loyal and deeply loving. You just have to choose what kind of energy you want around you.

🕷️ Speaking of which, if you catch yourself displaying jealousy toward others or a need to cut others down, work on that! An envious, hating-ass Venus in the 8th House person is a sorry sight, particularly because it's so obviously coming from a place of poor self-esteem. Mind your business, stay in your lane, and encourage the empowerment of others. Because that's a reflection of your own self-love.

🕷️Beauty is your power but this is not solely external. Some Venus in the 8th people could become hyperfixated on their appearance to try and maintain their power. Others could go the opposite extreme and claim to not care at all about their looks because they're not "shallow". The key is balancing an awareness of both your inner and outer beauty. To know you're equally attractive inside and out and that you should put effort into both kinds of beauty.

🕷️ People can react to you in very extreme ways because of your attractiveness. A lot of times, this is just dramatic idealization or feeling very intimidated or unable to act "normal" around you because of your beauty. And yes, some may just be very envious or triggered by you. Oh, well. It's their problem!

🕷️At your most powerful, you'll be able to turn any sort of hate directed your way into fuel for your self-love and self-respect. Especially if anyone is trying to make you feel like you're not good enough or attractive enough. No one can make you feel less than unless you allow them to.

#astrology #astrology notes #astrology observations #venus in the 8th house #8th house venus #8th house