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scuttle-buttle · 3 years

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Psychopathia Sexualis - Chapter 1

Sequel to The Interpretation of Dreams

Pairing: Modern AU Professor Laszlo Kreizler x Fem!Reader

Summary: After experiencing a whirlwind enemies-turned-lovers romance with the imposing Professor Laszlo Kreizler, things have been wonderful for you. Your studies are coming along, work is enjoyable, and you are in a stable relationship with the man you believe to be the love of your life. Suddenly, everything threatens to come crashing down with the arrival of a face from the past. Will jealousy and desire consume you and destroy the love you finally found?

WC: 1116

Rated: M (will increase in later chapters)

Chapter Tags: domestic fluff, age difference, technically student/teacher relationship, mentions of daddy kinks & sugar daddies

🧠

Time passed quickly since the day you and the doctor finally admitted your feelings for each other. After that you were practically inseparable. You resumed work as his TA, only occasionally getting distracted, but the term was over after a few short weeks anyway. You had agreed to keep everything rather low key, so as not to encourage the wrath of the university. There was no actual rule against graduate students coupling with professors. Nevertheless, the practice was often frowned upon, and you didn’t want Laszlo to get in trouble. If anyone asked, you were just ‘friendly coworkers that sometimes ate meals together after work’. Most didn't pay attention to you anyway since you weren't friends with any underclassmen. Despite the fifteen year age difference you were both on the same page with the seriousness of the relationship. You knew how you felt about each other.

Sara and John found out right away. Because they had expected it to happen anyway there was no reason to hide it from them. The two were beyond happy for you. Whether Laszlo had noticed John slip a twenty dollar bill into Sara’s hand after the admission you’ll never know; at your raised brow John just shrugged and said that it was "about damn time". Bitsy was equally as delighted for you. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was also glad you would be out of the house more often so that she could spend time with her own boyfriend, Lucius.

Now, you are laying on your Laszlo’s bed scrolling through social media. The wintery weather outside his bedroom window gives you a chill despite the warmth of the fireplace he has burning. You were still not over just how nice his place was. It was in a rather upscale part of town and was roughly three times the size of your place. The townhouse style was similar in fashion to his office at the university - full of dark ornate wood and books and even a chandelier in the foyer. When you had asked how he afforded something like this in the heart of the city, he had just said a wealthy great uncle or other had left it in the family. With Laszlo being the only surviving member he inherited it.

Your love was getting himself ready in the bathroom. He had a department meeting to attend on campus in an hour. Tomorrow the new spring term would begin, and you were to resume your post as his TA. An errant thought crosses your mind as you admire the expensive looking painting hung on his wall.

“Laz?”

“Yes, Bärchen?” his response echoes in the large bathroom. You smile at the nickname, little bear. He’d given it to you because he said your presence was like that of a bear, ready to fight to protect herself and those she cared about.

“Are you my sugar daddy?” You can see his reflection in the mirror. He looks scandalized by the implications of your question.

“What would prompt you to ask that?” A blush forms on the apples of his cheeks.

“I mean think about it, I spend time with you - an older, exceedingly handsome, wealthy man - and in return I get orgasms and nice things.” Truth is, you are joking entirely, you know the relationship is conventional. You just like to watch him squirm with teasing like this.

He walks into the bedroom and picks his sweater off the bed next to you. “You're teasing me," he accuses with a grin. "I hardly think it can be considered as that sort of arrangement when you get paid because you are employed to work for me. It is merely happenstance that the other characteristics should parallel themselves to that of a…” he searches for the words, “financial benefactor.” You laugh at his unwillingness to say ‘sugar daddy’. “As for the orgasms…” he smirks and drops a kiss to your head.

He finishes dressing as you bury yourself under the duvet. “What are your plans while I’m detained?”

“I don’t know, figured I would just take it easy today. I need to be well rested for my first day at work tomorrow - I hear some pretty ruthless things about this German doctor I’m going to be working with.” You get off the bed and wrap your arms around Laszlo’s waist. “But I don't know, I think I’ll like the guy.” He leans in to give you a chaste kiss.

Checking his watch he sees that he needs to leave lest he be late for the meeting. “You’re welcome to stay here while I’m gone. It shouldn’t be more than an hour or two at most. Perhaps we will go to Delmonicos for dinner to celebrate the beginning of a new term.”

“Sounds great, daddy,” you wink. Normally you didn’t tease him this much, but you were in a playful mood.

He rolls his eyes. “Remind me why it is that I tolerate you?”

“‘Cause you love me,” you retort with a broad smile.

He brings your hand up, kissing the back of it as he turns to leave. Softly he whispers “Indeed I do.”

Laszlo fiddles with the pen in his hand. The upcoming semester was no different than previous ones. He had stopped taking ‘notes’ long ago as the head of the department continued to drone on. Laszlo would admit, the meeting had drawn on longer than anticipated and he had lost focus on the last few minutes. He would rather be at home in your company than here.

“Before we end the meeting I do have one last exciting announcement - many of you have been around long enough to remember, but we are pleased to be welcoming back Dr. Stratton as a visiting professor this semester!” the department head cheered. At the mention of a Dr. Stratton Laszlo perked up.

“Dr. Karen Stratton will be conducting outside research in the city, so I have asked that she grace us with her presence in teaching an elective on her speciality: sexual deviancy. Unfortunately, she is on a flight to the states as we speak, otherwise I know she would be here to greet you all herself.”

Karen was coming to New York?

The thought excited him, as he hadn’t seen her since he moved to the States four years ago. He and Karen had followed each other's work for years before meeting at a symposium in Vienna almost six years prior. The two remained close until he accepted the current position and fell out of touch.

Meeting over, Laszlo sent you a text to be ready for Delmonico’s when he got home. He had much to look forward to this term.

Tag list

@hardlyinteresting @lorna-d-m @livvyshmiv @somethingthatsaysbubbles @greeneyedblondie44 @unbeatablecurlgirl @apparrio @marchingicenotes7 @anteroom-of-death @bruhidaniel @lemairepstuff @thehuiabird @zemosimp05 @alindeluce @iamnotthecatladynextdoor @laura-naruto-fan1998 @trelaney @boneheadduluc @i-am-dead-inside-666 @fictionlandslanddreams @thatoneartgalsstuff @hb8301 @fandom-princess-forevermore @foggycandywitch

#Psychopathia Sexualis #the interpretation of dreams #laszlo kreizler x reader #laszlo x reader #laszlo kreizler #laszlo kreizler x reader smut #modern laszlo kreizler #professor laszlo kreizler au #the alienist #the alienist angel of darkness #daniel brühl #daniel bruhl #daniel bruhl laszlo kreizler #laszlo kreizler fanfic #scuttle-buttle

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derangedhyena-delphinidae · 3 years

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numerous issues with “The Aftermath of Seaworld”

When I get time to do so (aka when I’m done with the documentary), I’m likely going to make a video version of this going into the details.

But for right now, I’ve made this. Both as a guideline for me and so everyone can begin to get an idea of the severity of issues involved.

Researching things is time-consuming and can be very difficult - believe me, I know. But I’m of the mind that if you’re making content with the intent of educating people, you have a responsibility to perform a certain level of due diligence. It IS okay to express uncertainty or doubt if you have it. It is NOT okay to confidently assert things that you do not know with certainty.

The video has an anticap slant, and I’m obviously not disagreeing on that front. But again: if you’re gonna go through the trouble of teaching people something. Bare minimum... please make sure it’s actually correct. *** 1) x ‘founded in 1964 and based out of Florida’ - ???? Seaworld definitively began on the west coast, in San Diego, CA. And given that the first park opened in early 1964… things came together before that. Uh? 2) x ‘four people founded Seaworld [...]’ For one… it wasn’t originally conceived as a restaurant, it was originally conceived as an underwater bar/lounge. Two… calling the four guys involved in founding the place “frat brothers” is fucking ridiculous and completely overlooks a) how each was actually involved and b) the overall significance of their contributions to the field as individuals. Hint: like it or not, they were important and did a lot!

3) x If one is going to bring up SWBGCF/rescues while talking about the literal founding of SW, it gives the impression that it’s been around for that duration. It hasn’t. It’s actually a bit unclear when SW started an organized rescue program, but the Fund itself and all that it did came about much later. The rescue information and how it’s presented is actually INCREDIBLY complex, nuanced, and has a fascinating history (from a “bad company behaving badly” perspective). Oversimplifying this, to this degree and in this misinformative way, does the facts of the situation an INCREDIBLE disservice.

4) x [assertive statement about what the name Shamu means] ….Uh actually there’s several explanations for the name Shamu, and the most likely one IMO seems to be the “she-namu” one, not the “friend of Namu” one(? What is this even based on.) 4b) It’s not quite clear if she’s saying “Namu was the first ever orca to be displayed and perform shows” or or Namu was the first to be displayed and, like Shamu, performed shows. Either way, Moby Doll was the first to truly be displayed to the public, not Namu.

5) x ‘Namu died after one year in captivity and you’d think that this might deter Seaworld from doing the same thing again…’ Seaworld truly had nothing to do with Namu. And they leased/took possession of Shamu before Namu died. ‘Again’? What?

6) x “Now, PETA paints a pretty disturbing picture…” [while showing Okura’s artwork] This video segment is, and this is putting it nicely, a pile of poorly-researched BULLSHIT. -Yes, PETA talks about Shamu’s capture, re: the harpooning of her mother. This Youtuber cannot apparently be arsed to look more than 1 Google search into this, as she proceeds to dismiss the information as potentially fabricated. There are two detailed accounts of Shamu’s capture that I’m aware of - in books - and though they have some slight conflicts, it’s absolutely NOT in doubt that the female who was very likely Shamu’s mother was 1) harpooned, 2) died from her injuries and 3) this had been done to make her easier to catch/locate because there was a fucking buoy attached to the harpoon. Which she dragged around for at least 24 hours prior dying. So maybe don’t dismiss that as PETA hysteria, maybe TRY to determine the truth of the matter, which would inform one that it is both true and completely horrifying. -In addition, Okura is an awesome individual who has worked very hard to create a variety of informative artwork for our cause. Okura is NOT associated with PETA and it’s borderline libel in my eyes to use their artwork in this dismissive manner when the primary sources of it can be easily identified online, with full explanations and everything. Do I take special offense to this because of the misuse of artwork? Absolutely. Artists get disrespected enough online. I’m tired of it. This kind of laziness IS NOT acceptable.

7) x ‘timeline is fuzzy about when Shamu died’ …………… it’s…. It’s really not … newspapers are pretty clear about it…..

8) x [complete and utter oversimplification of the lifespan issue, which is not acceptable for anything published in 2020. It just isn’t. If you’re going to bring it up like this, either do the legwork and get into the weeds or stay out.] 8b) [same for reproductive ages. sigh]

9) x if we’re going to talk about when Cornell was involved with Seaworld it’s very important to specify when Cornell was involved with Seaworld and not make it seem like it’s present tense.

10) x “both were rescued by Seaworld” - uh? no. Zero orcas have been rescued by Seaworld. Literally none. The infected-jaw orca was Sandy, whose story is complex and certainly does not involve Seaworld until much later. And many of the orcas in that time period had bullet wounds, often only identified post-mortem because they didn’t seem to hurt the animals much. Also, unflinchingly blending 70s captivity ethics with modern ones is also complete nonsense?

11) x [tilikum coming from sealand] inhales I am going to make an entire video centered on this fucking subject because it’s one of the single most profound arguments for Seaworld being garbage as assessed by US government agencies in the 90s yet everyone utterly fails to mention this. Why?!

12) x what on earth is this nonsense re: quoting a quote from Zimmerman’s article - which has already been removed from its original context, so the original context is not available - and then penalizing the quote for existing as if Zimmerman’s article were the context? That is offensively disingenuous. I honestly don’t know what the original context is, either - but it’s wildly inappropriate to act as if the Zimmerman article is.

13) x this is relatively minor but ‘Paul Sprong’? You literally have his name on the screen. And then mis-reading his age too? While asserting it from a static article published years ago? Effort? Where is it?

14) x ‘another trainer, Peter’ ….. Ken Peters….

15) [weirdly glossing over the widely-available list of orca-trainer injuries/aggressions, despite it being central to the point.] 16) x This pilot whale outrage certainly happened but it was pretty clearly Blackfish that started the cascade of woes for Seaworld. Who has ever asserted this?

17) if you’re gonna just rehash blackfish, tell people to go watch blackfish.

18) x I’ve already gone over the context issue with Seaworld calling out Howard’s statement in Blackfish here (point 23). Which is to say, IN CONTEXT in Blackfish it’s clear what Mr. Garrett is talking about but, divorced from that, it sounds incorrect. But this Youtuber AMPLIFIES the issue by doubling down on the assertion with “no record of a killer whale doing any harm to anyone in the wild.” The surfer event should always be mentioned. Yes, there’s absolutely room for doubt. But there’s also a clear demarcation between an accidental attack (eg mistaken identity, as was likely for the surfer) and intentional one (eg the incidents at marine parks.) Why do people kneecap themselves on this point 18b) please stop acting like Luna represents orcas in general.

19) x “Howard, for all of his research…” … while referring to David Duffus’ b-roll and statements. Uh. 20) x Apparently this Youtuber has single-handedly resolved the dorsal fin issue. You know, the thing that hasn’t been properly researched ever, that has been subject to a ton of debate, that isn’t 100% settled for a variety of reasons, and almost everyone talks about in terms of theories and likely possibilities. 21) x Alexis Martinez wasn’t “torn to shreds.” In a space where even moderate exaggerations are often penalized harshly by the opposition, this kind of blatant nonsense is not welcome. Plus, the reality’s bad enough… you don’t have to make anything up!

22) x *sighs. points at own webpage*

23) Talking about the shows stopping without acknowledging how that’s a bit of a farce is something else. In addition to apparently just flipping to buying what Seaworld’s selling re: its ‘improved image.’

*** Tl;dr video is so unrelentingly full of errors ranging from small to egregious it makes me seriously concerned for the veracity of the rest of this person’s content. The maker of the video provided a list of their sources in their video description, which I will have time to look through in detail later. The above is solely a response to the information they present IN THE VIDEO - which, is very important because let’s be real: a lot of people are not going to look at the list of sources. People don’t even do it when citing papers (no really, you’d be surprised, fml.) For anyone who wants to whinge that I haven’t linked or asserted any sources of my own for my claims… well, remember what I said about time-consuming and ‘I’m busy’? Yhea. Getting all of that together will be part of making a video. So if you want to shrug loudly at my list here… you can, that’s your prerogative, I’m happy to say I DGAF if that’s your takeaway.

What I hope, is that if there’s anything I’ve made clear over the While of running this blog, it’s that I don’t fuck around when it comes to sources and information and do my best to provide what information exists, all of it, not just cherrypicked bits and bobs. Anyways. Here’s step 0 at least. Please don’t share that video. Pretty please.

#seaworld #grumble

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mxvladdy · 3 years

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Unrepentant: Chapter One

Yoz! Finally, I sat down and edited this! (Yaay I'm slow as fuck)

I loved writing Diavolo's True Form piece (Located Here) so I wanted more and really to write this headcanon I've had since he was introduced! It is suggested to read his true form before this but you do you and live your best life.

Anyway idk how long this will be but all the true form stuff will be in this fanfiction :)

Hope ya like!

Word Count: 4k

Rating: General

The Devildom moons glint high above you outside your bedroom window. Their perpetual radiance casting dancing shadows across the walls. The solace of your empty room envelops you like a warm hug. It pulls the stress of the day away off your shoulders leaving you sleepy. Dropping your book-laden bag to the floor you flop face-first into the freshly washed sheets of your bed.

Exam season was rolling in fast and all of the academy was gearing up for the students' and teachers' inevitable breakdowns. From personal experience, you saw firsthand what happens when a demon gets stressed out. Even the lesser demons you know can cause some major damage when they reach their boiling point, though it pales in comparison to the havoc the big seven cause. Just yesterday Beel lost control in the middle of cram school after the teacher refused to let them out on time for dinner. Poor Lucifer was still scrambling to pay for the damages and trying to find a replacement in time for next week's lessons. Then, on the same day at the other end of the campus, Satan all but totaled a classroom in a fit of rage after another student dared to try and correct him. Bless the Old Gods themselves that at least Levi and Belphie were easy to deal with during these times. They were both book smart and beyond capable with their studies, they just lacked the wherewithal to put the effort in. Well, Belphie was more guilty than Levi when it came down to it. Most of the time Lucifer could be seen dragging Belphie to class by the ankle, face stormy with rage. It was humorous to watch-just from a distance.

As for you, you figure it was best to just be out of the direct line of fire. One too many brushes with death in the Devildom for your comfort. During this time of year, it became almost a sport. You got really good at dodging large pieces of furniture and spells during exam week when the brothers finally start coming to blows. Not that you fault them, they were just letting their aggression out as any good primordial being would. But, the lack of sleep and constant fear of annihilation by bookshelf is murder on your grades. After a few meetings with Lucifer and Diavolo, you all decide you should stay in the palace till after exams.

The palace.

You smile softly to yourself tracing a thumb over your clavicle. Your finger ghosts over the healing black marks running down your skin. It was rocky at first, rebuilding your relationship and trust, with Diavolo after your "run in". He acts like you were made of spun glass and eggshells, physically trying to keep as much distance between the two of you as possible. All the while you had to butt head with seven of the strongest and most bull-headed men you had ever met. Their protectiveness towards you tried your patience in ways you never expected. It took what you are pretty sure was your guardian angel to finally get the brothers to relent. With Simeon acting as your chaperone you start to live again. It was nice to finally feel comfortable around the demon again. Seeing him return to his normal candor and temperament again was a breath of fresh air. Thinking of him makes you flush, the cool air of your room burning your cheeks as you recall all the stolen evenings in his and Barbatos's company. All the hours spent laughing at their outlandish assumptions of modern human social norms while they tried to guess if they were correct or not, and then there were the nights where it was just you and the prince. He was nothing but cordial and proper, just conversations between two friends.

A nice glass of port and dinner...maybe an errant brush of fingers when there was no need to touch a time or two. Perhaps a gaze held too long to be considered appropriate.

You groan into your pillows, feeling your heart flutter. You couldn't deny he was fascinating, and yes, perhaps you were a little infatuated with him. Who wasn't? You say it on the daily how other demons fawn over him. He is one of the strongest of their kin after all. Power is a huge part of the Devildom hierarchy, and he exudes it in spades. To a demon, he is the peak of their ideal. Yet, to you, from a human perspective, you enjoyed his personality and jovial nature. It was a side very few got to see of him and you cherish each moment you got to enjoy in the privacy of his quarters.

Of course, watching him crush an unruly usurper without a second thought was kinda hot. Hmmm-

A sharp rap at your door startles you. Was it time already? "Door's open Simeon!" You yell over your shoulder grabbing your robe and go behind your room divider to undress.

"Good evening!" The angel chirps entering your darkroom. With a wave of his hand, he lights your fireplace. The bright flames dancing to life to chase away the cold of the perpetual night.

"Show off." You come back around your divider to face him. He shrugs with a bashful smile offering you the tray he brought with him. His lithe fingers grab the few bottles he needed, leaving the rest for you. You unscrew the lid on one of the jars of salves specially crafted for you. You inhale, humming in delight, and the fresh scent of honeydew and lavender wafting up at you. "This one is new!" You beam dipping a finger in your eye the soft green goop. It was warm to the touch and made your finger go numb.

Simeon nods, twirling his hand in the air to make you turn around. "You mentioned stiff joints last night so I made something to help." His hand strokes over your back while he mutters to himself. "This is healing up nicely, though the color is becoming more opaque." You nod in acceptance. The curse- taint- whatever it was when Diavolo injured you hadn't stopped at just mental damage when it struck you. It took root on your body, burying itself deep and spreading through you like an uncontrollable flame. It wraps and twists itself around your arms, shoulders, and sides joining and merging with itself to rest around the tender skin of your neck. You found it beautiful in its own right. Like those ornate chokers in Levi's animes or the ones Mammon wore in some of his high-end modeling shoots. Yours was just as gorgeous but very permanent.

"These are coming along nicely," Simeon remarks looking over your back. He rubs some of his sweet-smelling ointment into your sides. He traces over some of the more intricate lines, they radiate power heating his celestial skin in a way you could not sense. The marks pulse in warning, threatened by his celestial power. Simeon frowns, taking his hand away. "It looks like Lucifer marks have been consumed completely now too."

"Really?" You crane your neck trying to see Lucifer's mark at the base of your neck. It figures Lucifer's was the last to be consumed. Solomon had hypothesized that since he was the eldest and thus the strongest it would make sense that it would take longer for Diavolo's blight to consume it. So far he has been correct.

Over time you watch as all the brothers' marks were taken over. Their bright colors bleed out to be replaced with an iridescent black. It was a little unfortunate since you loved the colors of their marks, but there was nothing you could do about it.

Simeon hands you a jar over your shoulder while he inspects the growing marks on your back. "I increased the dosage in this, your arms were still itchy, correct?"

You nod, taking the jar. You grimace as your nails scratch the delicate glass. Your skin wasn't the only thing that physically changed after Diavolo's magic took root. Your nail plates gleam black now, no longer clear and flimsy like human nails normally are. They are sharp now with lethal tips. They could gouge stone like it was tissue paper and even pierce the hard shell of a demon's skin. Beel had been impressed by the nick you gave him during P.E. It healed quickly so no harm was done, but it frightened you still.

Tutting, you shoot your fingers a scathing glance. As a defense mechanism, this new addition was great, but daily life was a pain. Your hands tore through everything if you weren't careful. Delicate pillows and sheets were kept far away from you lest they turn into ribbons. It was beginning to look like the brothers had adopted an unruly cat let loose in the halls.

Asmo fussed over you for days trying to figure out the best way to care for them. He wasted some nice clippers on you until he landed on a heavy-duty nail file. Your manicure only lasts a few days at best, but it was better than turning your pillows into pin cushions. Aside from your skin and nails, you could see better in the perpetual night of the Devildom. The blue haze of the twin moons is cleaner now. Every surface their light lands on shines like a beacon illuminating farther than you could see before. Gave Mammon a good scare walking the halls in complete darkness, you didn’t need a light anymore just the moons.

It was utterly fascinating to you, and Solomon. The mage takes every opportunity he could to poke and prod at your changes and charts them down with feverish excitement. So far, much to his displeasure, you show no more magical prowess than when you first arrived in the Devildom but he was certain you should. For now, no one knew what to expect so you were to just monitor yourself and check-in with Solomon and Simeon daily till they deemed this settled.

"There," Simeon finishes examining your back and neck, making sure he covered the entirety of each mark. "Looks like everything is in order. I'll leave you to rest for the evening." He wipes his hands helping you back into your robe before tidying up the small mess he made.

"You sure?" You ask following him to the door. "I feel like we haven't hung out for ages! I could fetch us some tea." You smile up at his soft face. You miss just hanging out with him. As of late all he has been to you is an on-call nurse. It would be nice to talk with him and Luke about something other than you for an evening.

Simeon smiles but shakes his head. "Perhaps tomorrow, Madame Scream has a few new cakes out this month. Luke has been talking my ear off about them and I'm sure he would love your company too." He eyes the door knowingly. "But for now someone else wishes to steal you away." He bids you goodnight then, leaving you clasping the doorknob and looking about into the pitch-black hallway.

It's in the moment you lock your door and turn to crawl into bed that someone knocks on your door. Your heart leaps in with an indiscernible emotion before beating fast with excitement, your brain following along slowly after it. You couldn't stop the smile crossing your face as you made your way back to the door. Something deep within you knew who it was. "Dia!" You swing the heavy door open and hug him tight. The moment your body makes contact with him you feel amazing. The grind of the day is gone, chased away by his warm arms encircling you. "I thought you were busy all evening?"

He chuckles swaying from side to side. "I was! But, what kind of prince would I be if I didn't throw my weight around every so often?" He leans down and nuzzles his face in your crown. He smiles into your hair. You were smelling more and more like him each day, it was titillating.

Dia breathes deeply taking in your sweet clean scent and savoring how his smokey amber smell was mingling with it. It was faint now, perhaps only strong enough for him, Barbatos and Lucifer can discern. Soon though lesser daemons will take notice of his scent mingling with yours. He makes a quick note to tell Simeon to look into a stronger ointment, it will be needed soon. Diavolo pulls away, clicking his tongue. He glances down at where your nails punched through the thick fabric of his waistcoat to graze his skin. "Do you have time for a drink? Barbatos went topside today and purchased a bottle of whiskey barrel age wine. It smells simply divine ." His gold eyes glance up to the large grandfather clock in the corner of your room. It was far past polite visiting hours, but he couldn't give less of a damn, despite the warning of his closest circles.

The nobles were beginning to notice how much he favored you and thus the court was beginning to talk. They were beginning to question his loyalty to the goal of the program, his fascination with one mere human raised concerns throughout his family members. "Why are you spending so much more time with that one?" They ask claws and fangs clinging as they nash and hiss at him, so many of his bloodline still refuse to use glamour believing it was an insult to their heritage. "They are of no importance, playing favorites could lead to a disaster for your crown." He knows many of them would love that.

For him to lose his neck and the crown so the old ones could rule again was a dream for many of them. Diavolo grimaces inwardly, they weren't wrong either. He was infatuated with you. Even Lucifer was beginning to express concern. While having you and the program was raising his ratings and the morale of the general populace, those of royal blood were beginning to create factions again. So far many were loyal, but the ones starting to make waves were the oldest in the circle.

He had plans in place of course, pieces on the board ready to move at a moment's notice. It would be messy when it happens and with you still in his kingdom...such actions were best to be avoided. No, for now, the brothers were enough protection from potential defectors and nay-sayers. He will do as he pleases, especially when it revolves around you.

"That does sound good," You agree tapping your chin in thought. It's been ages since you last drank a human liquor. All Diavolo's ports and sherries, while delicious, did not affect you. You missed the warmth that settled in your stomach after a good drink. "A good drink could calm my nerves. Give me a minute to change?" You step back into your room to scurry back behind your room partition leaving the massive demon to stand at your doorway.

"Nerves? Do you need more time for your finals?" He lumbers in coming to stand by your bed. He licks his lips staring at your rumpled bedding. It was still warm from you sitting there with Simeon. Deep down in his stomachs turns detecting the cherry sweet scent of the angel covering your sheets. He wanted to rub his body on the bedding, erasing that weakling's scent from what was his- He pulls himself back forcing his fangs back down. He trusted Simeon, no one was better suited for healing demonic wounds than an angel.

The prince observes your shadow scurrying about behind the paper screen. "There!" You jump from behind the screen in an oversized shirt. The fabric drapes down to rest just past your knees, the sleeves long and folded several times. "Ready to go?" You come back to his side slipping on your slippers.

"But of course!" He offers you his arm. "Though I am perhaps a little overdressed for the occasion, no?" He ribs, teeth flashing in jest. You accept his arm squeezing it tight and look him over dramatically.

"Yes, very much so...What good is a nightcap if you are still dressed in your day clothes?" You tug at his pressed white tie. For the first time that day, Diavolo laughed freely.

The walk from your room to his was a long one but filled with idle safe conversation. You jump from talks of the upcoming garden parties to what this week's lunch menu will be. Neither of you was blind to the prying eyes and ears lurking in the shadows of the corridors. You were unfazed by them now after months of coming to visit Diavolo and Barbatos during the evening. You became accustomed to their judgmental gazes and gossip over time. You nod politely to one of the visiting earl's and his entourage. They pass, many eyes looking you over curiously. "Earl Jan and his entourage have taken a liking to you." Diavolo rumbles watching the demons wander off to one of his many smoking parlors. "He finds your many human idioms and stories refreshing."

"Really? I have classes with a few of them they-"

"Young Prince." Diavolo stiffens by your side lurching to a halt. His hackles rise.

"Pleasant evening Lady Marquess?" The prince calls out not bothering to even turn around to acknowledge the baroness. You turn though curious as to who drew such vitriol from the normally genial demon.

The baroness scuttles out from where she had been standing, the shadows around her falling off like an elegant cloak. Her pale mandibles click in distaste when your eyes meet hers. Her hundreds of spider-like eyes latching onto you unblinkingly before flicking to Diavolo's tense back. "You missed our meeting on the upcoming festivities. I have some more requests on the dress requirements for the ball." She pauses head listing down to look at you again. Even without lips, you could feel her scowl of disgust. "It would be good for your little pet. Their dress attire at the last one was... lackluster."

Bull. Asmo and Levi had designed your outfit for the last ball. It had been amazing, the crowds looking on with jealousy and lust as you clung to Dia's arm. You don't have to look at Diavolo to feel his displeasure. "Such asinine topics like that can wait till tomorrow." He sniffs pulling you closer. His free hand comes up to grasp your hand around his bicep. “Good night Madame.”

You keep your eyes forward letting Dia escort you. The Marquess hisses quietly under her breath, something dark and biting in their native tongue. Diavolo goes rigid in head-snapping about inhumanly fast. The temperature in the hallway drops.

"Dia." You call in warning, breath wafting up in great puffs from the chilled air. He ignores you, turning his full attention to the interloper. He replies in turn voice simmering with rage. She wilts, head tilting down into a mockery of the usually appropriate bow when speaking to him. Beneath the fringes of her bangs, you could see a smirk playing on her lips. She struck the exact nerve she was looking for. "Dia," You pull on him more adamantly. "Come please?" His shoulders loosen at your words. His gold eyes drifting down to look at you.

"We will speak of this later matrona." He leaves the matter at that leaving with you in haste. The rest of the walk is tense, his eyes now darting to each shadowy corner in case another guest jumps from them.

"I apologize for that." Diavolo sighs the moment the doors to his private quarters close. He loosens his tie and tosses it to his smoking chair by the fire. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a moment." He smiles at you before disappearing into his bathroom.

You take a seat kicking off your slippers to dig your toes into the plush hide of some animal you didn't know the name of and pour out two drinks for you and Diavolo. Waiting for him to reappear you eye the treats laid out on the table next to you. They looked too good to ignore. Popping a few tarts into your mouth you groan at the sweet citrus and mint creme that coated your tongue. Your ears twitch at the creak of the bathroom door.

Burly arms drape over your shoulders as Diavolo bends to nuzzle your neck. "Too good to wait?" He chuckles. You flush hyper-aware of the sugar cookie crumbs on the corner of your mouth.

"You said help myself." You reply after swallowing.

The prince hums. "That I did." He raises a thick finger up to collect the crumbs around your lips. "Ah- Barb outdoes himself again." He licks his finger coming around to take the seat next to you. Diavolo busies himself for a moment propping his feet up on his footrest and taking the drink you prepared from the table along with a good handful of sweets. Despite his casual demeanor you still could feel his agitation thrumming through your markings.

"I'm sorry." You blurt out. He looks up at you with a frown. "That confrontation in the hall, what the Marquess said was about me wasn't it?" You didn't know what her heated words meant, but the context of the exchange was quite clear.

A glint of pain flashes through his golden gaze. Diavolo goes for his drink, downing half of it in one large gulp. "You have nothing to apologize for. " He licks his teeth deep in thought before dropping his head back with a grunt. "What are politics like in your realm? Are they all-" He waves his glass vaguely.

You sit for a moment thinking hard on what you remember of human politics. "Most countries are no longer run by royal families. Though they still have a lot of sway with laws and the like." You take a sip. "But, back when royal families were more prevalent I would say they were like this." You mimic his little hand wave with a little smile.

"Homicidal and power-hungry?"

"Quite so." You chuckle looking into the fire. "Perhaps I can take you on a mini trip to go visit some old palaces?" Diavolo perks up intrigued.

"Where do you have in mind?"

"Maybe Italy?"

His eyes grow dark. "And why there?" He bites out. You shrug feeling as though you just crossed an unspoken line.

"Just-well. Your name, at least in human culture, is Italian, and you slip into it so casually. I thought you would like it..."

"I am not looking for you to humor me." He cuts you off. His glass thunking heavily on his oak side table, amber liquid sloshing over the side. "I get enough of that from the court. I only wish to spend time with you." You acknowledge him with a faint nod curling into your seat. "Ah-no, no mi giglio." Diavolo reaches for you, scooping you up to sit in his lap. "Forgive my agitation. If it is somewhere you wish to go then I would be happy to take us... The south is beautiful this time of year I hear." A shuttered look crosses over his eyes before he blinks it away. "Shall I get started with preparations?"

He pulls you in closer, your heat seeping through the thin layers of clothes separating the two of you. He feels you melt into the soft planes of his body. His closeness soothing the itching of your bandaged and oiled skin. Dia falls silent listening to you nod off on his lap but does nothing to stop you. Closing his eyes he instead enjoys the feel of his pseudo mark upon your body vibrating in harmony with his magic. Stroking your neck and spine he is unable to control the flood of unwanted memories bubbling to the surface of his mind. As you sleep peacefully unaware of your wishes he spends the rest of the evening watching the flames die down, lost in a waking nightmare.

#obey me shall we date #obey me diavolo #obey me fanfic #obey me au

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ask-iamnotanalicorn · 3 years

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Previous: The Discord Timeline

The Industrial Devolution Timeline:

The road to economic domination was creeping and insidious.

First, Nightmare Moon returned. Celestia and Cadance were able to subdue her, locking her in a (very comfortable) prison while Celestia sought a way to free her sister of the evil influence warping her mind. With the monarch so distracted and Princess Cadance struggling to take up the slack, a few opportunistic entrepreneurs began getting their roots into the market.

Then the Crystal War began, dividing Celestia’s and Cadance’s attention even further. The Changelings attacked, sowing destruction and distrust until Cadance defeated their queen. Tirek cut a swath through the countryside before being stopped, increasing the economic struggles. It was as if a domino of assaults on the Equestrian daily life had started, with none able to stop the ever-larger dominoes from toppling.

Celestia was terribly injured during the final fight that destroyed King Sombra. Luna finally overcame her rage and the parasitic magic fueling it, but went into seclusion out of shame and a desire to tend to her wounded sister. Cadance’s focus was split between post-war rebuilding in Equestria, assisting the confused, freed, and much-distrusted crystal ponies with stabilizing their crippled city, and tending to her own first child. With their leaders so distracted and the country still reeling from so many attacks, ponies desperately reached out for any kind of financial and necessities stability.

Perfectly fertile soil for the country’s most hostile economic takeover in its history.

Flim and Flam’s tactics were simple yet effective: move in wherever large numbers of companies had collapsed and fill the void with simple, cheap necessities that anypony could afford. As their finances grew, they began to expand, beating out surrounding competition with their rock-bottom prices until they could either buy out or crush their competitors. They continued this strategy further and further out, their influence spreading like hives across Equestria until hardly any retailers of food, drinks, household goods, small machine parts, and pretty much every other goods reseller below industrial level still operated. (Although who knew what the future might hold for FlimFlam Industries?) Once competition decreased to almost nill, they raised their prices to just barely affordable, swelling their already full pockets.

By the end of the Crystal War, they had such a grip, so much financial and political power, that even if the princesses should realize the toxic hold this company has on the market, it will be a long road back to rebalancing the economy. The country has, regrettably, come to rely on Flim Flam Industries, and their stranglehold would not be easily broken.

Sales always dreamed of being a traveling salespony. He’d even gotten a taste of it before the war. But now... well, there was no one to sell for. Companies kept dying out from under him. And if it weren’t bad enough that FFI already sold cheap, unexciting product options, the further lack of competition gave them even less incentive to TRY. They could cut costs on everything from packaging to flavor to color options; there was absolutely no consideration for variety or improvement or innovation. Soon everything in those blasted pop-up depots came in bland, uniformly labeled containers, with names like FLOUR and SOAP and TOWELS. There was no ART to it, and worst of all, no heart. And certainly no need for a door-to-door sales technique - not when F&F Depots were on every corner and people already had little choice but to get their goods from them.

So that’s how Sales ended up here, running one of those blasted depots. It is barely salesponyship, but it was still the closest thing he could find to his special talent. Meanwhile pollution and unchecked labor laws are creeping out from the cities, and farms are being consumed for their timber and factory locations. Quills & Sofas went under, leaving Sales’ father without a job and one more worry for Salespitch. Everypony prays that Celestia would heal, that Cadance would realize the depths of what was happening and make some move to stop it, that even the once-evil Princess Luna rumored to be tending her sister in the castle would take a stand. But for now, FFI is taking full advantage of the rulers’ distraction and obliviousness to tighten their hold on the country’s economy. Sales works and keeps his head down; it’s too great an issue for one pony to tackle, especially a pony whose only real talent is talking.

He tries to remind himself that things could be worse. Despite crummy wages and the soul-deadening monotony of just grabbing standard crap off a shelf when asked, Sales IS making a living. He makes an effort to keep his depot looking like the pony who works there actually cares (a façade FFI has long since abandoned.) Black took up work as a stocker in the store, so at least they get to hang out. Pollution isn’t as bad in Featherhorn (yet), although the deforestation and smog have been spreading nearer. But Sales just can’t get around the fact that there’s a briefcase-shaped hole in his soul where good, honest, smart salesponyship was meant to be. It’s hard not to be bitter and miserable when your purpose has been almost completely taken away from you. Still... if Sales can find a way to get a new company going without being ground under Flim and Flam’s hooves... maybe he can go back to doing what he loves, and the world will feel a little more right again. Fun Facts About The Flim Flam Timeline:

- I got my idea for a total economic takeover from a book 6 of the Pendragon series, “The Quillen Games” by D.J. MacHale. Its setting is a world where a single corporation has such control that they even own the people to an extent, but I didn’t want to go THAT dark (although this is still darker than my initial draft), so I stopped at just owning all of the selling outlets. Lack of competition in capitalism breeds complacency, leading to high prices with minimal improvement or variety. (That book may have also stuck in my mind because it was the first time an author so thoroughly pulled the rug out from under me that I was too depressed to finish the series. I can’t HANDLE that kind of catastrophic reversal, MacHale!!!)

- Sales’s dad, Sales Patter, lost his job as Head of Sales at Quills & Sofas after the company was eaten by FlimFlam Industries. He currently lives at home taking care of Pitch Perfect while Pitch Forward does her best to bring in funding through her competitive high-diving sponsorships. Sales and Black contribute money as well, although Black has a surprisingly well-stocked savings account that he refuses to explain to anyone.

- Flim and Flam offered Sales a job as their company spokespony, mainly because they loved the idea of having an ‘alicorn’ as their mascot. Obviously he turned them down, but he did still grudgingly accept a position at the Featherhorn depot since it’s the closest thing he can find to what he’s good at. (Flim and Flam do still like to give people a show, especially when it comes to the smoke and mirrors they must use to keep the wealthier populace and government from paying too much attention to some of the ways FFI cuts their spending - at the expense of their workers, mostly.)

- I’ve seen others do this timeline harsher; there’s a fimfiction that had an interesting take on Celestia being injured in her fight with Nightmare Moon and then IMPRISONED by Flim and Flam’s company so it could take over, which led to an ever-rising problem with pollution, underage workers, poor labor laws, and backhoof politics. Some of that does exist in this timeline, but I went with a severe injury and seclusion in the palace. The Princesses are still AROUND, but being carefully shielded from the truly dark nature of some of Flim and Flam’s machinations. It may just take someone getting their attention drawn to the right things to start the ball rolling...

- Sales and Patter do team up to create a small startup company, selling goods made by Featherhorn’s citizens to the local area. Black uses his connections as a Royal Service agent to sneak them into the palace, where they get an uber-rare meeting with Princess Celestia, who is blessedly awake enough to recognize the little AI and hear their plight. She convinces Luna, who has been taking care of her this whole time, that something needs to be done. Luna is grossly undereducated about modern economics and business practices, but she pulls Cadance in, and while Cadance works on investigating these horrible labor practices they’ve reported, Luna begins brushing up on her education and offers some protection to Sales’ little company. She does, in fact, find some obscure ancient laws that give them a leg up in the fight against FFI when they inevitably try to buy out, sue, and/or bankrupt Sales’ and Patter’s company into the ground. But they start making some headway.

- It’s a long road back to a balanced market, and much of the work will be done by the Princesses. But the inspiration ponies draw from the changes they see starts the dominoes again - this time, in the direction of positive change.

Next Week: The Wasteland Timeline (finale!)

#mlp ask blog #pony ask blog #my little pony #flim flam brothers #IANAA #salespitch #celestia #cadance #luna

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kyokkou · 3 years

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( // ok this is me being a curious, but I really want to know how your muses were like the 1960s! As in how did your muses react to the economic miracle, increase of consumption, and a post-war memory? ;v; )

I love receiving questions like this! Actually, I’ve been thinking about something along these lines a lot lately, not to the point of brainrot but pretty close... haha. I predict this being very long, so I’ll slap a readmore on it.

I want to start by saying Kiku was a bystander of sorts from 1945 until 1989. Though he doesn’t realize it at the time, he ends up being in a sort of spiritual limbo (this is something I’m still trying to put into coherent words for the most part, the why of it relating to being half-inugami but it’s still very vague right now and I apologize for that !! ) so he’s stuck watching life go on without him, and while he can go out and about, no one can interact with him.

Eventually, he just isolates on his own, since the situation seems so hopeless; he can’t communicate with Hikaru, and the only one who seems to see him is the personified fighter aircraft he favored. There is one other time where he had company throughout this, but the problem with Reiji is that he cannot speak. He couldn’t even tell Hikaru about all of this, so that’s why he just stays in and misses a good decade and a half from the 70s until 1989.

That said, for Kiku, things are completely different. He stagnates as a person and does not grow along with Japan / Hikaru, though he has little choice but to accept the changes as he watches them happen. He goes through a lot of emotions about things like Anpo and the resulting protests. At the time, he’s angry about it because he simply does not want Japan to befriend the US. He’s still angry about things from even before the war, even as far back as the Perry Expedition. He’s angry that Hikaru simply goes along with it because he wants to avoid conflict, even though just a decade prior he was pushed into allowing a self-defense force, with the remnants of Kiku’s army and navy.

On the other hand, he’s glad Hikaru isn’t starving. He isn’t unaware of what happened to his wartime allies, particularly the Soviet-occupied half of Germany, and Kiku has to admit that he’s relieved it’s only the Americans who are occupying Japan. Sometime in the final weeks of the war, the USSR did declare war on Imperial Japan (specifying this only because of the two of them being one and the other) and did take the Kuril Islands and south Sakhalin along with a partial occupation of N.Korea. So, they were always right around the corner, and since things had changed so much since the Russo-Japanese war, he obviously wasn’t too comfortable with that, either.

I’m digressing but anyway, Kiku’s experiences during the 60s were very different than Hikaru’s were, and he was stuck watching as Hikaru slowly started to adjust to being the main rep again. It was easy during the Edo period, until the end. He rarely had to deal with outsiders, but now, he constantly had to deal with the US occupying forces and all of the bases that are still in operation today. He had to be present for things, but he avoided anything having to do with the JSDF, as he still does today.

During this time, he isn’t swept up in the consumerism, because he’s still afraid of change and afraid to just go along with everything that the citizens are. He never picks sides; while he doesn’t particularly enjoy the fact that they had to enter a mutual defense treaty (it goes against Article 9, in his opinion) he also would rather not be left on his own if something did happen. As far as he knows, he is all alone, has no one to consult when he’s filled with self-doubt about the direction he’s going as a nation.

While he remains humble during all of this, he doesn’t completely shun the modern conveniences that begin to come about. The first shinkansen line came about in the early-mid 60s, and it is something close to his heart for two reasons. Not only was it the first high-speed rail line in Japan, but also the world... and the predecessor to this was something that was conceived in the 30s. The truth is, for as angry as he is (still, even 20 years after the fact) at Kiku for everything, he misses him. He has no one to really share these achievements with except the rest of the world, and he’s pretty sure they’re all still angry with him (which isn’t totally far off.)

Still, Hikaru has no reason to be too sad, because he also hosts the Summer Olympics the same year-- Japan is the first Asian nation to host the games. He’s learning that he doesn’t need someone to help him make decisions, and that he can be successful on his own, as the whole nation overall has been finding success in new ways and recovering from a devastating war. Hikaru finally feels at least somewhat confident during this time, a reflection of how well the economy is doing. Japan’s economy even manages to overtake West Germany’s economy in the late 60s.

In spite of being hesitant at the beginning of the decade, Hikaru is more inclined by the end of it to engage more with the consumer economy, he might or might not purchase things he doesn’t necessarily need, but wants to have to make life easier now that he leaves the house to work with the rest of the government on the daily. By the end of the decade, he stops being as dependent on the lifestyle he knows, and starts gravitating more toward how his citizens are living in their everyday lives. (This is going to be important for the 80s when there is more rampant consumerism and his attitude actually trends toward being somewhat snobbish and materialistic.)

He starts engaging more with western culture, where before he was reluctant out of fear that he would abandon his traditions, a fear that was instilled in him even more during the Imperial era, and this is likely when he becomes as fluent in English as a native speaker of the language. Honestly, this is probably the period of time in recent history in which Hikaru was the most open he’s ever been.

If asked, their memories of this time would be very different; Hikaru would remember how much he came out of his shell, but Kiku would remember how angry, depressed, and alone he was while serving his sentence in what I jokingly call Demon Jail™. He certainly deserved it, but his anger (as mentioned) comes from having to do a 180 and play nice with the US (and remember, he’s still pissed about things as far back as 1853-4... so this isn’t just about the war, haha.) He’s depressed about the rapid changes and how Hikaru doesn’t even need him around, so why am I still here like some sort of ghost? Why can’t I just disappear completely, then?

It isn’t that Hikaru is completely happy and healed from everything that happened, either. He’s simply too distracted by so many new and interesting things happening to him to think about it, and he’s more than busy with his new role, too.

This was really long as predicted, and I had to stop for dinner in between, but I hope it covered everything / answered your questions! If not, I’m more than happy to have another round. 笑

#bozii #✺ 「そんな風にも考えていたの。」 || answers;#✺ 「深い闇を俺は抜け出した。」 || headcanons;#[ cw occupation ? ]#[ content warning: occupation ? ]#[ just in case idk how sensitive people are to this but i don't want to take chances. also: ]#[ cw: war ]#[ content warning: war ]

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lucyfitzwilliam · 3 years

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Context Essay

On arriving to university in September of last year I found quite quickly that all my pots and pans were completely and utterly useless. This is because the cooktops in Loring Hall are all induction, meaning they are powered by electromagnetic radiation; unlike mere electric cooktops which use a metal coil that through electrical resistance heats up and transmits infrared energy, eventually heating your pot or pan. The magnetic element means that if, like me, your cookware is not made from a specific metal, the pans simply do not work. Although there are many benefits to using induction cooktops, such as safer and reduced cooking times (which, I know, both sound like pretty significant advantages) as a student, having to buy a completely new set of cookware is both frustrating and, more importantly, expensive.

This problem continues to affect my everyday life as I, to the dismay of my 5 flatmates, still refuse to buy new cookware and instead have opted for using theirs. My rationale is that next year when I live in a house I will once again be able to unveil my pots and pans, which currently sit in the corner of the kitchen collecting dust or occasionally being used as glorified ash trays, and return them to their former glory. Many may argue that this is not a design “problem” at all and I should stop relying on the “what’s mine is yours” mentality that has formed amongst the people I live with and just buy my own bloody pots, which I suppose to an extent is true. However, this whole pots and pans nonsense is part of a much bigger problem: when the attempt to make something more simple, merely complicates matters further. Examples of this can be found in all areas of design, with the most frustrating instances often being in the technological world. Apple, as many will know, use the facade of modernity and simplicity in order to justify the release of products that only work if you have an additional accessory, which of course is never free of charge. For instance, the recent redesign of the earphone jack that was no longer compatible with practically any headphone connector or aux cord ever made and needed an adapter, until other tech companies redesigned their products to coincide with this change. These redesigns are of course motivated by the potential profit made when consumers who choose to purchase a new iPhone or iPad must also buy the “Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter”; or when someone chooses to install an induction cooktop and must therefore also buy induction cookware.

I do accept that these redesigns are inevitable and unavoidable because the promise of modernity and simplicity, but most importantly innovation, no matter how expensive, will always be valued over using the “same old stuff”. It is simply a shame for those left behind using the “same old stuff”, especially when you just want some pasta at 3 am…

https://www.cda.eu/hobs/how-does-induction-cooking-work/

www.apple.com/uk

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httplovecraft1890 · 5 years

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The Theme of Free Will in Yandere Simulator

So in the past, I’ve speculated at length about what some broad story points might be for Yandere Simulator and while I’ve revised my opinion on the significance of a character like Fun Girl (her statement of “YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING I SAY. I WONDER WHAT ELSE I CAN TRICK YOU INTO BELIEVING?” feels a bit embarrassing in hindsight) I do think there are broad strokes that can be taken from what I wrote and applied to newer story points that’ve been shared with us since. You can consider everything below a refinement of those original ideas, I suppose. Let’s start by going back and revisiting Saikou Corp. Note: some of this information doesn’t have a specific source other than vague recollections aside from what YandereDev has said on Twitter, Reddit, etc. so apologies in advance.

What, exactly, do we know about Saisho Saikou? If we’re taking Fun Girl less as an actual plot point herself and more as a vehicle to deliver exposition to the audience then we can summarize a fair few things:

He was drafted into the service of the Imperial Japanese Army at age 17 in the closing days of the war. This retroactively confirms his date of birth was some time in 1928, meaning Saisho is 91 in 2019.

Saisho was confined to kitchen duty after being transferred to Okinawa at first. This changed after a bomb tore his dorm apart and he was trapped with the corpses of his friends for hours until he was rescued by other troops. During the attempted retreat after their rescue operation he called them cowards for wanting to fall back in the face of American forces. The memories of being stuck there with his dead friends still haunts him.

After being moved to a bunker, he was under constant stress from air raids and a chronic lack of sleep as well as malnourishment. When the U.S. finally found their hiding spot he tried to pull a pin on a grenade but it failed to detonate; he was promptly captured afterwards.

- From the June 1, 2018 Fun Girl text files We know little of his life after the war at the moment other than in 1946 he was reduced to running the company that would become Saikou Corporation out of his family’s garage (much like the company it parodies, Sony, was forced to do at first in our world by its creators). Given his later characterization I suspect that he probably ruthlessly took advantage of the breaking of up so many of the zaibatsu (large financial or industrial conglomerates owned by specific families; Mitsubishi is an example) by the American occupying forces following the war. In the decades following his country’s defeat Saisho created an enormous megacorporation that makes most of the consumer products seen in Yandere Simulator’s universe. As Headmaster Shuyona later relates to us, once he puts his mind to something he never takes no for an answer. Aside from the obvious wealth aspect that it grants him, though, what else is at work in his mind?

Like so many others, the defeat of Japan in the war simply unimaginable to him and, as far as he’s concerned, even if everyone else surrendered he never did.

The brainwashing and propaganda of the early Showa period never left him; as more and more Western influence began to creep into Japan, the more he began to freak out about it. Progressive politics and democracy are things he utterly despises.

Unsurprisingly, his reactionary politics have a racial component to them. For Saisho, the only people fit to rule the world are the Japanese and that if only everyone else realized it, there’d be a worldwide utopia. Though not outright confirmed, this also goes some way to explaining the almost eugenics-like obsession with ‘purity’ in the modern Saikou clan.

Even so, probably through careful PR stunts and knowing when to keep his mouth shut, Saisho’s worst beliefs aren’t known to the public.

- From the December 1, 2018 build’s Fun Girl files

It’s with some surprise then we know for a fact that Saisho wanted his firstborn daughter to inherit the company after he was ready to retire and only kept his son, Megami’s dad, as a backup. Despite the grueling and inhuman training that each Saikou generation seems to be put through, it seems that Saisho did genuinely love his daughter based on what Headmaster Shuyona confirms in Headmaster’s Tape #1. While this seems incongruous at first with his far right politics I think it’s helpful to see it less as a belief in equality between men and women, but instead that since she was a Saikou, she was inherently a cut above others because of that. Not many fathers would have schools built for their children in their honor if something wasn’t genuine, I think.

Megami’s aunt is a very interesting character at the moment. We know nothing about her other than the fact that she was first in line for the proverbial throne and hasn’t spoken to Saisho in 30 years because of him disowning her after they got into an argument. Fun Girl seems to hint that the conversation revolved around her trying to remember a supposed sister of hers (i.e., her) but this might just be her trolling us all. I think there’s something else very important given that time frame we also need to keep in mind: the date. What’s 30 minus 2019? 1989.

If we assume for a moment that Akademi opening its doors in 1985 was her first year, then following traditional Japanese high school length, it stands to reason her graduation occurred in 1988. The following year, Ryoba’s murder of the girl who was almost certainly Headmaster Shuyona’s daughter must’ve sent serious shock waves through Buraza Town. Megami’s aunt would’ve probably followed the proceedings with a lot of interest and I think a reason she parted ways with Saisho is because Saikou almost certainly tipped the scales in favor of Ryoba during her trial against the journalist. Why? Because of the country’s insanely high conviction rate. It’s greater than 99%. You’d practically need a miracle to get through it all and make the person who tried to take you to court look like a monster for doing so - something we know she pulled off. It’s not something that she could’ve done on her own without money changing hands or judges being properly blackmailed and flipping the media circus around. Headmaster’s Tape #6 also confirms that by 1999 Ryoba had seemingly regular contact with Saisho and Megami’s dad but it’s easy to extrapolate that they must’ve been speaking with one another prior to then; after all, just because Shuyona didn’t know about it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen (it doesn’t help him either that Saisho almost certainly sees him as a useful idiot). Learning a dark secret like this about your own family, coupled with the hell they put you through growing up, would break anyone and I think it’s a good explanation of why she left. If we accept that Saikou Corporation are Ryoba’s and Mr. Aishi’s employers then several things fall into place - why they haven’t ever had to move, why they live in a well off neighborhood, how they can simply up and leave for 10 weeks at a time to a foreign country - and the picture comes into focus. One of the things that Fun Girl seems to confirm is that Saisho’s love for Japan is equally as strong as what Ayano feels for Senpai. Knowing what we know about how the Aishi family curse seems to work, that’s pretty bone chilling. Coupled with every other horrible thing he thinks, combined with his vast wealth and influence, and it’s a recipe for disaster. The question becomes, however, what the point of all of this is. What could a murderous young woman possibly offer one of the most powerful companies in the world? Her body and mind. Stick with me here. Pretend you’re a scientist working for Saikou Corporation and you’re tasked with finding out what makes Ryoba tick; we’ll ignore for the moment any possible supernatural angle that the story might develop to explain their condition. The Aishi ‘curse’ seems to be a psychological condition, effecting the maternal line, that results in its carriers possessing severely stunted emotional growth, antisocial personality traits, flat affects, monotone voices, etc. This begins to alter in the host, however, an intermittent time after puberty in their late teens when, through various circumstances, meeting an individual causes an unknown psychological trigger to occur, acting as a kind of drug that for a time rewires the brain to enter a euphoria-like state wherein they begin to function on a neurotypical level, but only in contact with the source of this change (19 being the median age when an Aishi woman typically marries their victim). What if you could isolate the factors that cause such a thing to occur? 30 years is a long time to study something, after all, and decades’ worth of research must’ve meant some kind of breakthrough. Assuming that Saikou Corporation is like any other megacorporation in fiction then they’re sure to have their hands in medical technology. Imagine taking the research you’ve done on a so-called ‘yandere’ and began to try recreating it. After all, the idea of being able to use certain external symbols or things as stimuli is practically dystopian in its usefulness. Like, say, introducing a corporate symbol and ensuring its customers only felt a sense of satisfaction when buying a certain product.

Let’s go further than that. What if you could engender the same feelings of emptiness, followed by unbridled joy, when looking at something as simple as a flag? Not only could you brainwash an entire nation, but any other place on earth that allows the services you provide as a global company...

From this perspective, the “why?” of Saikou Corporation involving themselves with Ryoba becomes evident. After coming to this piece of speculation, if it is the case, something else also really clicked for me. Two things, actually. The first is that it’d give new meaning to the speech Megami tells you on the Skype chat you can have with her at school:

Is someone there?...Ah! It's you...Why have you come here? Have you come here to taunt me? Do you even know who I am? I know who you are. I know WHAT you are. My father won't allow me to attend school while you are..."active". He has a reason for tolerating your presence at this school. I don't. You are a vulgar creature that is only allowed to exist because you serve a purpose. If it was my decision, then every last one of you would be exterminated. Have fun while you can. If you and I ever cross paths...you're going to have a bad time.

The purpose is to further Saikou Corporation’s knowledge of the yandere condition and to find further ways to exploit it. Megami’s dad is in on this scheme and has purposefully kept Megami off campus while Ayano is on her murder spree as a way to keep her safe. What’s more, Ayano isn’t the only yandere that’s active either. Such a statement is more revealing than you might imagine it to be too. I think it’s pretty accepted at this point that the journalist’s wife was a yandere herself. He tells us as much in Mysterious Tape #6

But as soon as we met, she wanted to spend every waking moment with me. She wouldn't let me out of her sight, and got possessive if another woman so much as looked at me.

I quickly began to depend on her for everything. It wasn't long before I couldn't live without her. I certainly wasn't in any state to take care of myself... I was like an adult-sized baby. Helpless and vulnerable. Who knows...maybe that's what she was attracted to. Maybe she just wanted to experience the sensation of owning a person. Maybe she wanted to keep a human pet.

Isn’t it odd how she showed up in his life only a year after his ordeal with Ryoba in court? How his marriage to her didn’t involve them leaving the town at all? If I were him, I would’ve probably left it behind a long time ago, especially if it brought up memories as traumatic as what he’d experienced (and the fact he was directly threatened by Ryoba too). But instead his marriage and alcoholism caused him to never get out until it was too late. The timing seems... convenient, doesn’t it? Almost as if it were planned.

It wouldn’t be hard, I think, to sic some girl afflicted with the condition on someone either in hopes they’d ‘imprint’ on them or alternatively try to induce that very same response in them somehow. It’s a safe bet, again, considering how long Saikou Corp. would’ve had to pour over the data they’d collected. There surely would’ve been theories on how it happened and they’d be unethical enough to try it on human test subjects. So if they could do that, who might it happen to?

I think that an overarching narrative theme in-game is going to be that of free will. Let’s consider for a moment both Megami and Ayano as parallels to one another. Both are incredibly driven women who will stop at nothing to get what they desire - order for Megami, Senpai for Ayano - with familial histories of treachery and abuse. If Megami’s life has been lain down before her without her having much say in the matter, how does this similar struggle reflect in Ayano? Arguably, Megami could have everything she ever materially wanted in life just as Ayano has in the form of the feelings Senpai gives her but the issue goes deeper. If the price for Megami was having every moment planned out for her, is it not possible that the feelings Ayano has are just as manufactured? I don’t mean that in the ‘love at first sight’ kind of way; I’m questioning if the meeting with Senpai was something that was set up for her to go through, a test to see if this poor schmuck could be the thing that would let them begin to move onto a new test subject to put them through their glorified obstacle course (Akademi). Not to mention the fact that it essentially occurs right after Ryoba and Mr. Aishi leave for America is an immediate red flag. If Megami is trying to stop Ayano, though, then it must mean that she’s rebelling against the wishes of Saikou Corporation itself. After all, they don’t want something that they’ve put years of investment into slipping through the fingers if they can help it. The end game she has in mind is anyone’s guess at this point but I suspect it will be the purge of anything related to the above secret project. As such, there’s going to have to be someone to offer us an alternative to bringing down the current iteration of Saikou - and I think we also have an inkling of who’s going to aid us in bringing her down.

Kencho is emblematic of the status quo. He desperately desires his father’s approval (the one who’s likely continuing his father’s wishes and pursuing this whole endeavor to begin with) and will do anything to gain it. If Megami steps out of line too much, he’s certain to know that means she’ll fall from grace. He’s only been prevented from doing anything about his current situation because he’s only second best and hurting Megami would upset his dad. However, if she were to have an unfortunate accident... well, it isn’t as if he could be ignored anymore. In exchange, I imagine he’ll give Ayano exactly what her mother had: a nice house, a life untouched by anyone who’d take Taro or Taeko away from her, and a way for the two of them to have children if you go the latter route. All Ayano has to do is just give in to being a pawn like her mother did, like Kencho did, and like his father did. Or she can, at last, have the first real choice she’s ever had in her life by siding with Megami and tearing it all down (with Senpai still the promised reward in exchange for her help, certainly...).

#yandere chan #yandere sim #yan sim #lovesick #megami saikou #taro yamada #speculation #long posts #theory #kencho saikou #ayano aishi #ryoba aishi

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diveronarpg · 4 years

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Congratulations, RACH! You’ve been accepted for the role of JULIET with an approved FC change to Ashika Pratt. Admin Rosey: I'm doing a happy dance right now because we finally have a Juliet back in our midst - our lovely, shining principessa has returned back to us again! Rach, your application was so enjoyable to read. It has the soft, melodic cadence of Juliana throughout the interview and laid a great foundation for her growth and development. There was an ease to it that I absolutely adored and I cannot wait to see how she will come to life on the dash! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Alias | Rach

Age | 20

Preferred Pronouns | She/Her

Activity Level | 8.5 ; These quarantimes are doing wonders for my activity levels.

Timezone | PST

How did you find the rp? | See below!

Current/Past RP Accounts | Ahhh, so I actually played Delilah FOREVER ago @delilahbello and applied for Halcyon a while back! I know I’ve been in and out of rping for a while, but I literally have so much love for Diverona & it has such a special place in my heart I thought I might try my hand at another character. But if you wanted a more recent account I have @zubeidakhan!

IN CHARACTER

Character | Juliet; Juliana Arina Capulet (Could I request a FC change to Ashika Pratt and an age up to 26? )

Juliana - “youthful.”

Arina - “peace”

Capulet- “determined, or head-strong”

What drew you to this character? |

I think there’s something to be said about characters that stand the test of time. The very concept of Juliet Capulet has transcended centuries, but I find there’s something particularly alluring about this modern iteration of her. In Juliana. I see this aforementioned transcendence. I see a girl who’s on the cusp of something big-- and I cannot help but be consumed by a desire to sink my teeth into her complexities and uncover every nook and cranny she has to offer. Juliana is, after all, a girl who’s been forced to grow comfortable with toeing the line between certainty and the great unknown. Yet, beyond that line, I see something much sturdier. I am drawn to Juliet in that I see her as less of a dainty flower and more of a spider’s web (though it is fascinating how morning dew collects on both). It seems to be a recurring tragedy that girls who like flowers and pretty things are often mistaken for being merely that. But with Julianaa, I’m attracted to her haunting, persistent strength, a beauty that is equal parts aching, stubbornness, and gilded thorns.

I am drawn to the weaving of Juliana’s web-- her paradoxes, if you will. Humans are, after all, paradoxical creatures. She has loved just as much as she has lost (and she resents with equal rigor). She has the world in her hands, but remains uncontent, her heart bursting at the seams. Pride, compassion, loyalty, obsession-- they all coexist within Juliana manifesting in the form of her ambitions, motivations, and sense of self. Juliana is no stranger to blood and yet hate feels so foreign to her. Her sweetness does not precede her dedication nor her obedience. Juliana feels the weight of the world upon her shoulders, but charges forward unflinchingly.

And above all, while perhaps cliche, it is love that draws me to Juliana. There is something Machiavellian about Juliana. Not the ‘ends justify the means’ Machiavelli that has been ingrained into our cultural misunderstanding of the man and his philosophies, but rather the Machiavelli who wrote and acknowledged the power of Cupid’s bow. The Machiavelli who loved his wife in a time where love before marriage was a relatively modern idea. The Machiavelli who understood the reach of a beloved leader. Needless to say, there are so many aspects of Juliana’s character that I adore, I would be delighted to play her if given the chance!

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? |

One.

I imagine Juliana’s mother passed away when Juliana was quite young. Young enough for memories to futilely slip away, old enough to mourn and remember her loss. I see Juliana craving for good memories of her mother, just as she aches for the approval of mother’s ghost, a ghost which evades her like wisps of wind slipping through her dainty fingers the moment she's managed a secure grip. I see her as wishing she had more of her mother to replay within her mind like film-- the fire in her smile, the warmth of her embrace, her laughter like melody on a warm, summer day-- but alas, I think Juliana’s found herself trapped with something far more icy-- the frigid image of gaunt woman helplessly falling away from this world and into the next.

Because of this, I imagine Juliana still hasn’t come to terms with the fact that she will never know her mother in her prime. It remains the one hollow in her heart, so with all that said, I would love to explore how she attempts to fill that part of herself through her relationships with the other meaningful people in her life. With her father, I think that she finds blood loyalty. I love the notion of delving into Juliana being both a daughter in the singular (Cosimo’s daughter) and the daughter of the collective (Verona’s daughter). Then again, perhaps it speaks volumes that she sees her father as Verona itself. With this, I want to explore what does blood loyalty mean to Juliana? This is blood loyalty, that very thing that constantly inspires the darkest parts of hers-- frustration, fury, and desperation. Perhaps it ought to be said that even desperation requires ‘lighter’ traits like hope and fealty, but is there a breaking point for Juliana? Does love bolster or shatter her loyalty? Either way, I think that the answers to these questions will guide Juliana’s actions moving forward and would provide an interesting challenge to her character.

Two.

As for the other major figures in her life, Vivianne is arguably her most obvious maternal figure, which is why I think it would be interesting to explore how she seeks a mother’s wisdom and experience from someone who isn’t her blood. I am fascinated by what drove her initial resistance to Vivianne-- was it merely a child’s mourning or perhaps was it foreshadowing that her loyalty is more complicated and pliable than what meets the eye. While I could envision Juliana being played either way (most likely a combination both ways), Juliana’s relationship with Vivianne is a fascinating fixture of her character that I would love to delve deeper into. I think there is much to be learned for Vivianne in the ways of both womanhood and business (though I suspect they are far from separate entities). Vivianne has been a fierce advocate for Juliana, something she’s immensely grateful for, but I would like to see Juliana learn how to advocate for herself. How does the Capulet heiress give weight to her words-- is it the fulfillment of promises? Or better yet, is it the threat of something dangerous to come?

As for Rafaella, Tiberius, and Priam (and possibly even Roman) I cannot help but root for Juliana in her quest to find understanding in this lonesome world. Here is Juliana Capulet, surrounded by people but still so incredibly alone. Such a sweet, vivacious girl ought not to be as lonely as she is. I think that there is a part of Juliana has equated love and understanding. But where love can be evasive and consuming, temporary understanding is achievable. For Juliana it is found in small, kind deeds and shared life experience, but I would love to explore this on a larger scale. How do these tangible aspects of generally abstract concepts apply to Juliana’s unestablished relationships? I think there are many themes to explore there-- generational similarities, shared loss, forgiveness, ect. How do each of these external factors affect her internal sense of duty and loyalty?

Three.

Finally, I would like to see Juliana confronted by her privilege. Juliana is a girl born heiress to an empire, free from any want, and while her life has been far from ideal, I would like to see Juliana in a position where her fortune and name loses its relevance. While I suspect that in such a situation. Juliana would be moved to cling on to her faith in love even more, I do wonder if Juliana would take such an opportunity to relieve herself of the burdensome weight of being an heiress, even if only momentarily. Alternatively, on the topic of love and burdens, I do wonder, how Juliana would grapple with the choice between love and loyalty. Just as she has equalized love and understanding, one of Juliana's biggest blindspots is that she has mistaken love and loyalty to be synonymous, when in fact they are arguably quite contradictory. While she sees herself as loyal to love, I would love to explore Juliana’s mindset as she’s forced to reckon with the two as opposing forces. It’s niave of Juliana to believe her loyalty is enough and I think there’s a part of her that knows that, which would make such a choice all the more enthralling to unpack.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Yes, I mean after all, Romeo & Juliet did end in a very specific way...

IN DEPTH

Please choose between the interview or the para sample (or both, if you like!)

What is your favorite place in Verona? |

It’s begun to lightly drizzle in the garden. It’s a hazy summer afternoon, sticky and humid, but Juliana finds herself hard-pressed to move from the bench. Eyes closed, head tilted upwards, she finds she understands the thunderclouds, the raindrops, and the floods that rise to her knees. She’s become numb to the water’s presence, for it’s a cleansing experience to be drenched by the clouds in the sky. They do not know it yet, but she is one of them, a cloud—one moment an innocuous softness, the next a violent hurricane.

Opening her eyes, Juliana is shocked to find she is not alone, but rather in the company of an older stranger who eyes her with burgeoning curiosity. While mostly bare-faced, she still retains her aura of glamour, perhaps aided by the presence of her designer coat and untouched umbrella. Still, for Juliana it is strange to be regarded with such unfamiliarity. In her experience, perfect strangers were so terribly rare in Verona. She seemed to know everyone, or rather, everyone seemed to know her.

The stranger finally approaches her, taking a seat beside Juliana as the rain continues to pick up pace, drenching the garden and all its inhabitants in a light mist.

“Do you have a favorite place around these parts?” the old man asks, his voice deep and raspy, but not entirely unkind. His words are laced with a thick Italian accent, though she suspects he is not a native Veronian like herself. She had always had an ear for accents, an eye for details. His small talk was quaint and unusual, but who was she to deny herself some company and an exchange of words on this drizzly day.

She ponders his question monetarily, mentally tracing through the city in her mind, akin to skimming an elegant finger over a spinning globe. To choose a favorite place in Verona, Juliana thinks, is to choose a favorite child, in that even if one were to say they didn’t have one, they’d certainly be lying. This was not to say it was a particularly simple choice for her, as she liked to think all of Verona was her home. Her soul was old, her heart young, her mind fashioned from little snippets of the city’s vibrant history, forging a strikingly beautiful tapestry of a true Veronian girl.

“Why, here, of course,” Juliana says, smiling a glossy-lipped smile that could stop lightning in its tracks. “The museum and club are both lovely, but I must admit I’m quite partial to the Twelfth Night’s gardens. When I was younger my father would always hand me a coin to toss into that little fountain by the pond and make a wish. It must be the luckiest, if not the wealthiest, fountain in all of Verona.”

It’s a response that feels breezy and challengeless, but lacks a certain levity that would make it wholly true. It is, of course, only partially true as Juliana had in fact, tossed many coins into the pond over her lifetime. As for the notion of luck, it was fair to say she had been met with mixed results and limited success, but given that her earlier wishes had begun in vain (first begging for her mother’s health and later, for her father to step away from Capulet business) she never found it in herself to fault the fountain entirely. Most recently, she’s begun her newest ritual, tossing in a coin for luck right before particularly dangerous missions, that is until Rafaella had caught her one afternoon, shattering her already precarious spell of belief.

“You do know they just collect the coins at the end of every week,” she recalls Rafaella telling her.

“And what do they do with them?” Juliana remembers asking with genuine curiosity.

Rafaella shrugs, “They donate it to the youth program-- they try and get unprivileged kids engaged with the art and history.”

Needless to say, she’s continued to wishlessly drop coins in the fountain ever since.

What does your typical day look like?

She turns her attention from the fountain back towards the stranger who sits beside her, ears engaged with her every word.

“And you spend most of your days here? In the rain, signora?” he asks gently, with a small chuckle.

“Is this your way of asking what my typical day looks like, signore?”

“As I grow further from my youth…I cannot help but wonder what it is like to be young in these times,” he responds, with a knowing twinkle in his eye. Ah, so that is what this is, a recaputurement of his youth. While her instincts urge her to avoid such potentially revealing conversation, she cannot suppress her overcoming sympathy for the man. There’s a loneliness in his eyes that she recognizes, the very one she faces each time she peers at her own reflection.

“If you must know, I do not spend all my time in the rain,” she clarifies, humoring his original query, “I spend most of my days working for my father...it keeps me busy enough.”

“And your father? What does he do?”

“He’s a--” Juliana pauses, as if to search for the right descriptor of her father’s work, that won’t immediately reveal her own identity, “--a businessman, of sorts.”

She supposes if blood and bone were merely a form of currency, then businessman was certainly an apt descriptor. After all, it took a certain business-sense to run any sort of empire. While she may have inherited her father’s astuteness, she hasn't been rid her of all mercy, for she kills with a precision only a kind girl could have, pulls blood with an accuracy only one who understands pain could know. It takes a delicate touch to snap a neck, elegant restraint to pull life from body, a silken touch to strangle. She takes no joy from causing harm, but she is meticulous in her work, her fingers so soft, so stained with red, it sometimes hurts to say she’s done it all in the name of love.

What has been your biggest mistake thus far?

“Business…” the old man mulls, “It's a difficult way to make it in this world...so little room for error.”

“Indeed, mistakes can be lethal,” Juliana nods in agreement. If only he knew that the agreeable girl before him spoke of lethality in the actual sense, as opposed to the metaphorical one.

“And you, signora? What has been your biggest mistake thus far?”

Juliana looks at the man with surprise. What odd questions from a stranger. Still, she’s captured by the conversation, a chance to talk so deeply with a man she’s never known, who seems entirely content with listening. She doesn’t know too many listeners in her own life.

She is, however, unsure of how to respond. For one, did not like to dwell on her mistakes and misgivings. It was unbecoming of someone in her position to fail and furthermore, to brood on such failures.

Nonetheless, her mind flits to one of her earliest missions where her merciful ways had gotten the better of her. She had hesitated a second too long and she quickly learned her lesson when the coolness of the marble floor pressed painfully against her knees, gun digging painfully into her head. She does not weep, for crying would be too easy. Instead, she refuses to let herself drown. Vivianne gives her second life and her father gives her a second chance.

“I think my biggest mistake does not matter, signor,” Juliana replied, “what matters most is that I will never make it again.”

What has been the most difficult task asked of you?

“You are a very wise one, signora,” the man comments and Juliana surprised at the way her heart swells with pride in response to the compliment. He was a mere stranger and yet she already placed value in his approval. Old habits, she supposed.

“And your father-- he is good to you?” the man asks, “Doesn’t expect too much of you?”

“He is good to me,” Juliana affirms, “Though I fear I am never entirely sure of what he expects of me.”

“In that case, what is the most difficult task that has been asked of you?” he inquires further.

Juliana knows the answer to his question, though she’s not sure if she prepared to reveal it to herself, much less a stranger. Truly, the most difficult thing that’s been asked of her had been to watch her mother fade away so brutally, so slowly. It was, after all, her first acquaintance with injustice. Her failure to do anything to save her mother was painful and lingering, but her salty tears could only last for so long. If only for a moment, she had thought of herself a killer then, unaware of the true brutality that festered within her sweet, blue veins.

Her father had responded to the grief by throwing himself into his work, and she too would follow for reasons entirely different, and yet, entirely the same.

“To live with loss,” Juliana says with a certain finality, as if to clarify she had no desire to elaborate.

“Indeed, it is the most difficult task of all. It’s quite strange how one is never explicitly asked to live with loss, and yet here we remain.”

“Here we remain.” Juliana repeats and as if on queue, the clouds begin to part.

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

“Signora, forgive me for prying, but I must ask-- living here, in this city-- what are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?” the man asks, a striking turn from his previous question.

And there it was. If all roads led to Rome, then every conversation led to the feud. What could she possibly say in response? My name is Juliana Capulet. This war is in my blood.

He seems to sense her change in demeanor.

“I’m sorry, my dear. I did not mean to startle you with talk of blood and wars, I simply imagined a Veronian girl such as yourself familiar with the tales of this land,” the man explains apologetically, deep frown lines of worry, forming upon his thick brow.

“Worry not, signor, you do not startle me. I startle far less easily than perhaps it appears. I’m simply afraid I must be on my way now.”

“Of course, my dear. I cherish your time more than you know. May I at least catch your name, signora?”

She slides off the bench gracefully before turning to face the man one final time.

“Juliet. They call me Juliet.”

Extras:

Mock Blog

#accepted #accepted: juliet

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yanderedbdimagines · 5 years

Note

heyy, it’s me, the chick who requested the multiple boys at once(Quentin, jake, and the Legion) thanks so much for making it!!! I loved it to bits

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I’m gladyou’ve liked it! It’s always nice to receive some positive feedback on some of thework I’ve delivered thus far. And of course it isn’t too much trouble to makethese headcanons. ;) That’s what I’m here for. Besides, on my blog, there’s nolimit of how many requests you’re allowed to submit. I can’t even monitor it inany way either. So… I can only ask to keep it reasonable so that everyone has achance to ask me something. :)

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NOTE: Modern AU!

JakePark

* You’ve met each other whilst traversing through the touristic parts of the woods. It instantly went off on the rightfoot after a solid handshake and before he’d offered you to accompany you towhichever local destination you had in mind. You’ve talked and talked- gettingfamiliar with each other. After you’ve reached the destination, you’d decided to partways with a kind farewell and a phone number left behind.

* The texts were as solid as the long talk back within the forest. You’d nearly think thathe keeps his new phone close to his heart whenever you’d message him-receiving one back almost instantly just after you’d pressed the send button. * You’d eventually invite him over for lunch at your hometown’s local café a fewweeks later. He didn’t think twice as he accepted the offer and he was awfullyearly to arrive at the set location, much to your amusement.

* long story short, you had a great time, but it was made even better as heconfessed his feelings to you because you secretly felt the same way about him by then.

* Some more time passes, and you had moved into Jake’s cabin at the edge of the woods. Somefriends and close relatives were very skeptical about this, but all of them wereawfully quick to change their minds within a set period of time for reasonsand motivations still unknown to you- telling you that they were happy for youinstead and that they’ll visit you whenever they’d have the time (which isn’tas often as you would have liked).

* The blooming relationship between you and Jake is close and warm, but far from suffocating. Hebrings you whatever you need and he’s always by your side whenever you want himto. Some even joked that he’d became your very shadow since he follows whereveryou go without any form of protest; especially when asked. You also adore hismother, who comes by every so often for a cup of coffee.

* He does tend to have a lose hand whenever someone, specifically another male, wouldstare at you for far too long. It’d rest on your hip or even your behind withan unbroken gaze- glaring at them. You’re not exactly bothered by that, butyou’d wish Jake would take a different route. There are better and morecivilized ways to let other men and women know that their specific form of attention is mostunwanted.

* As you might have noticed; sometimes, the best way for a Yandere to infiltrate theirobsession’s love life if they’d ever get this lucky opportunity, is simply bytrying to be a good boyfriend without raising any suspicions. This means thathe’s often forced to withhold himself from being too clingy or by showing you evena glimpse of his true nature. This doesn’t mean he will bring the same type ofeffort to anyone he deems unworthy of your attention, however. This includesmost of your friends and some of your family members…

The Doctor

* You have met Herman Carter underneath rather unique circumstances. You had enrolledyourself for a pilot lesson which focused mainly on the study about theanatomical regions of the human brain held at [City’s] university. Hewas assigned as one of three guest speakers; personally asked by one of Illinois’s handfulof prestigious hospitals.

* Like most present, you were taken aback by his intimidating height after he walked intothe lecture hall together with the other two guest speakers- dwarfing them and nearlyeveryone else who would come near him. But the lot of you were even moreimpressed by the quality of his part of the lecture after it had begun. Very detailed,but not too difficult to understand. Passion flowed through his words, and weretherefore very notable on the informative slides compared.

* When it was time for them to answer the Q&A of the students, you’ve noticed theAfrican American glancing within your direction every so often- as if curiousabout something. You’d gotten the answer to that particular behavior of his after the lecture wasofficially over. He stopped you at the door- asking you if you had enjoyed andlearned something from the lesson as a whole andif you’d like to grab a cup of coffee with him so that you’d get theopportunity to talk and even to give him some feedback to the matter. Simply said,you agreed.

* That quick cup of coffee ended up being a long and hearty talk. He asked you out for adate right after without even blinking an eyelash. After that said date a few dayslater, another one followed. And another one shortly after. Before you knew it,the two of you were officially dating.

* He is abusy man, which you already had taken into account seen what his preoccupationis as far as he had told you. Therefore, you rarely see him as result since heonly visits you around once a week for a certain period of time. But that doesn’t mean you rarely hear fromhim. At least thrice a day he calls or texts you. Itscontents are much more direct and genuine than they are sweet. He tells youwhat he’s approximately doing, what he feels emotion wise and why that is and prettymuch asks the same of you.

* In fact, after a few months into the relationship, he’d often be so direct that he isn’tafraid to tell you when he’s in a… romantic mood… and if the evening can bespend revolving around it the next time he visits.

* All in all, you very much enjoy his company. You do only wish that he’d set aside moretime for you simply by working less. Sadly, he has already denied these rather pushy pleasafter you had confronted him about it- telling you that his work is far tooimportant for him and any other party involved. And that on the long run, hiswork will benefit the both of you. Therefore, sacrifices, which under in theform of time, need to be made.

* This very fact keeps you thinking sometimes. He never did tell you what his line of work wasexactly; let alone going into any further detail about it. If it is that important tohim, and if his work is truly that very time-consuming, why did he start arelationship with you anyhow then? Knowing that you might possibly leave as ultimate consequence?

#herman carter #jake park #dbd #dead by daylight #doctor #yandere #reader

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posedmodern · 4 years

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postmodern or not? part 1

In addition to reviewing and analyzing media produced post-1990, posedmodern is also committed to fostering a discussion on how postmodernism gets defined and understood. This post is the first installment of an ongoing series where we aim to share some perspectives on the topic as we explore how it manifests through media, academia, and the absurdity that is life in the 21st century.

In the third episode in the thirteenth season of Matt Groening’s The Simpsons, there’s a great moment where Moe (the series’ beloved bartender) opens a new postmodern-themed bar venture. When trying to explain it (if you click on one link in this article, let it be this one) to Homer & company, he affectionally abbreviates it as “po-mo” only to be met with blank stares. Opting for the non-abbreviated version has the same result, so he resignedly calls it “weird for the sake of weird” to a chorus of resounding “oh, I get it now”’s. It’s no coincidence that the often unreliable but also waxing philosophical but also probably alcoholic bartender is written as the one to associate with postmodernism. The movement, if we can even call it that, has never been associated with clarity of definition. Merriam-Webster only offers us “of, relating to, or being an era after a modern one” as its primary definition of postmodern. Characteristically, this is already tricky, because one must remember that in the academic realm, “modern” refers to the artistic and cultural movement that loosely ran from the beginning of the 20th century up until the 1980s, opposed to simply meaning “occurring in the present-time” or “contemporary. Even a strict timeframe for the modern era, the era by which one is supposed to define postmodernism as not being, is up for debate. We’ve barely scratched the surface and we already might feel as if we could use a stiff beverage.

Thankfully, much of postmodernism's characteristics lie within its murky definability – it can be seen as a movement that questions that which was accepted as “true” in all prior movements. To briefly roll with the aforementioned academic definition, the modern era is broadly seen as focusing on things like progress, objectivity, and rationality. Modernists valued progress and change, which began to encourage artists to move beyond the boundaries of traditional forms.

Pablo Picasso’s 1937 painting (pictured above), Guernica, is an exemplary modern painting. It evokes feelings of the sublime; perhaps to some it might even come off as being “weird” and “strange.”

But wait – these are things that we might notice in so-called postmodern works too! Does that mean Picasso was a postmodernist?

Not quite, but this is a valid observation. Guernica has a lengthy, nuanced historical context that has to be considered when we talk about it. Picasso found traditional methods to be insufficient to convey the horror and chaos of Guernica’s (a real-life city in Spain) bombing during The Spanish Civil War, so he opted for the abstract. This was a very modernist decision, as most thinkers in that era believed that traditional forms of art were no longer adequate means of creative portrayal in a rapidly industrializing world.

So then Moe is right in The Simpsons, and postmodern is just “weird for the sake of weird?” Guernica was weird for a reason, and we call it modern, and postmodern stuff is weird too, but I don’t see a reason for it. Can’t we just make pretty pictures?

Well, all work requires context. Some contexts are understood through the climate du jour, like how commodification and consumer culture are in Andy Warhol’s work. Others require personal contexts, such as the life and experiences of an artist. The thing with modern art is that the predominant contexts were those of progress, innovation, and a rebellion from traditional forms. While these are certainly present throughout postmodern media, artists had to dance to modernism's unmistakable tune to be considered relevant. “Progress” was so valuable in the modern canon that it, ironically, became detrimental to true innovation in art (at least in the eyes of the artists who came after), and a rebellion against modernism's obsession with “the new” was present in almost every movement to come after it.

The takeaway from this is that it’s generally easier to define postmodernism by what it isn’t. Modernism, and the various avant-garde sub-movements that it inspired through up until radical avant-garde, essentially lassoed groups of artists that made work talking about human society’s migration from point A to point B; each new movement a reaction to the old. Postmodern theory says that we don’t have to ascribe to such a linear understanding – in fact, we can’t. If we’re at point J in human history, we can talk about any point: Z, L, W, even A again.

Maybe in our next installment we’ll talk about what any of that actually means though.

#postmodern #posedmodern #modern #modernism #postmodernism #8 #art theory #culture theory #pop #memes #dank memes #avant-garde #post-avant-garde #Warhol #Picasso #McLuhan #postmodern definiton #defining postmodernism #the simpsons

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fitzonomy · 5 years

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About .io Domains

Okay, so I have a friend who I’ve been working with on a project. Friend made a decision to host on a .io site. I’ve been seeing this crop up a lot, so I was curious: What is the .io domain? Let’s start with the basics: the internet is simply a way to describe how a bunch of devices are connected via a particular protocol (communications and networking is a weird beast). To describe where devices are in this complicated space, hierarchies of domains are used. Top-level domains just mean the highest and, therefore, biggest umbrellas in the Domain Name System (just a system that is used for naming things connected to the internet). If you live in the United States, .com, .gov, and .edu are examples of top-level domains. .io is a country code top-level domain. All this means is that the domain is for use in a particular area. Which area? .io = British Indian Ocean Territory

From Wikipedia: “The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands – many very small – amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi).[6] The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 km2 (10 sq mi), the site of a joint military facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. The only inhabitants of the territory are US and British military personnel and associated contractors, who collectively number around 2,500 (2012 figures).[4] The removal of Chagossians from the Chagos Archipelago occurred between 1968 and 1973. The Chagossians, then numbering about 2,000 people, were expelled by the British government to Mauritius and Seychelles to allow the United States to build a joint UK/US military base there. Today, the exiled Chagossians are still trying to return, arguing that the forced expulsion and dispossession was illegal.[9][10] The islands are off-limits to Chagossians, casual tourists, and the media.” [All the hyperlinks and bold and pretty much any formatting I kept from the original text.] Oh, gee golly. None of that looks particularly good. So, there I am, wondering why this domain has gotten so popular. First use seems to be in 1997 by Levi Strauss. Wikipedia gives me a lot of info but this part is particularly useful: “One reason given for the TLD's popularity is that it stands out by being shorter than other TLDs. Also, the .io TLD is less occupied than other TLDs, so it's more likely that a given term is available there.” TLD = top-level domain, so it’s talking about .io here. It’s less occupied so that means lots of catchy site names are available. One example we might all be familiar with is pillowfort, the forerunner after the Great Tumblr Apocalypse of December 2018. The network information center describes .io’s as thus: 1. .io is a new domain and therefore many more names are available. 2. Registrations are accepted quickly and efficiently. 3. Fast access to your domain from anywhere in the world. (source: nic.io as of 12.29.2018). Tagline for .io domains? “the domain powering the next generation of social websites” [copied straight from the site so all capitalization and punctuation is original] Okay, so it looks like it’s popular with start-up companies because of the the shortened TLD (.io) and the availability of names one can use for a site. Granted, I don’t do anything with networking. But, pragmatically speaking, it sounds like this area might not be the greatest at handling a lot of traffic and there might be a lot of DNS (Domain Name System) outages. Which is, um, saying, if too many people try to do too many things on it, there might be outages so no one can use it. If someone is more familiar with the particulars of networking when it comes to generic vs country use domains, please chime in. Okay, but then there’s the part where my own personal ethics/morals/values are kinda at play here: Okay, thanks wikipedia for all that info on the .io domain! I’ll be-- Wait. According to a Gigaom interview with Paul Kane, chairman of the Internet Computer Bureau, the domain name registry is required to give some of its profits to the British government, for administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory.[13] After being questioned as a result of the interview, the British Government denied receiving any funds from the sale of .io domain names, and argued that consequently, the profits could not be shared with the Chagossians, the former inhabitants forcibly removed by the British government.[14][15] Okay, okay, so don’t take wikipedia’s word for it. Go read the article. Aptly titled: “The dark side of .io: How the U.K. is making web domain profits from a shady Cold War land deal.” It does sound a little biased but I look into Gigaom and they’re a technology research and analysis firm. Our focus is on helping business leaders understand the implications of emerging technologies and their impacts on business, media, and society. I don’t know much about it. I go back to wikipedia. “The blog offers news, analysis, and opinions on startup companies, emerging technologies, and other technology related topics.” I decide to trust the article and go ahead and read it. Written in 2014, not new. It sounds well-researched and historically-grounded. First two paragraphs: “The .io country code top-level domain is pretty popular right now, particularly among tech startups that want to take advantage of the snappy input/output reference and the relative availability of names — Fusion.io, Wise.io and Import.io are just a few examples. But who benefits from the sale of .io domains? Sadly, not the people who ultimately should. While .tv brings in millions of dollars each year for the tiny South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, and .me benefits Montenegro, the people of the British Indian Ocean Territory, or the Chagos Islands, have no such luck. Indeed, profits from the sale of each .io domain flow to the very force that expelled the Chagossian or Ilois people from their equatorial land just a generation or two ago: the British government.“ So, hmm. Okay. I’m learning a lot about country-code top-level domains today (aka ccTLDs). Looks like the snappy TLDs we’ve been seeing are actually just ccTLDs that companies use to be cute and standout but, yanno, it seems only right to compensate people who live in that area since they’re domain is being used and not by them. Except, the people of the .io domain: the Chagossian. Here’s an article I found of a .io company that learned of the problem with the domain and immediately backtracked This looks like an interesting site (.io domain) but looks dedicated to making sure the way British and U.S. governments are treating the Chagossian are known This article does a great job at connecting modern networking and British involvement in the area. Looks like another perspective talking about why .io is popular with start-ups.

An article from independent.co.uk

So, yeah, my takeaway is that .io is being used by people with money to give to a couple of really bad governments and, surprise, second verse same as the first. I’d be really curious as to what the makers of pillowfort have to make of this as it seems like a lot of start-up companies don’t know this is going on. Mind you, this isn’t some X vs Y thing I’m starting about the superiority of Tumblr (tumblr sucks ass). I just worry about making sure I ethically consume crap or whatever (despite being poor and living in the United States).

#pillowfort #pillowfort.io #.io #networking #british imperialism #history's fav problematic team back at it again at the krispy kreme #long post

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saimajabeenposts-blog · 5 years

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35 of the Best Offline Marketing Ideas

Most businesses that succeed, do so because their marketing strategy uses a mixture of online and offline marketing ideas. This is usually called multi-channel marketing. But offline marketing ideas seem to be going the way of the dinosaur–extinct.

Just because you have an online-based marketing strategy, doesn’t mean you should ignore those great offline marketing ideas! It’s especially important because offline marketing falls under one of the letters in The CLICK Technique—“K” for “Keep Going”. Once you’re in the thick of your online marketing, consistency is key, and offline marketing can sometimes fall to the wayside. Here are the 35 of the Best Offline Marketing Ideas

Check out my list, and see what will work for your business so that you can keep going. 35 of the Best Offline Marketing Ideas

Business Cards

This isn’t just one of the great offline marketing ideas; it’s more or less essential for any business. Business cards allow you to quickly and efficiently give someone a compact way to get in touch—not just with you, but with your business as a whole.

In the modern age, fewer people are relying on business cards. They assume that, because they have an online presence, a business card is superfluous. This couldn’t be more wrong. People remember you because of what’s on your business card. This includes details like your website URL.

Get business cards made, and start handing them out wherever you go! 2. Create Pamphlets

Great looking pamphlets can be tough to design, but it’s a great offering in the list of offline marketing ideas. Like any advertisement, the presentation is important; the importance is doubled for pamphlets. The first impression of this item can make or break its effectiveness.

Get a good set of pamphlets done, and then make sure you can leave them in places where they’ll be seen. And not just any place–you want them located places that your customers might go. Other places of business, public parks, washrooms–get creative here! 3. Hold a Contest

Contests have a lot of draw to them. Many of us are compelled to compete, especially when it’s something we know that we’re good at. And if there’s a good prize being offered? Oh yes–people will show up in droves.

Figure out what sort of contest would be interesting for your intended customer base. What sort of skill set would they have? What sort of prizes would they be willing to fight for?

This can be one of the more fun offline marketing ideas on the list, if done right. Have a good time while hosting the event, and you (and your business) will be the shining stars folks remember. 4. Head to a Trade Show

Even if you’re afraid that your business can’t spring for a booth, go to those vendor trade shows. Even if you’re nervous that your product won’t shine when compared with others, get to the trade show. No matter what sort of excuses spring up: Be. At. Trade. Shows.

This one of my offline marketing ideas can be costly and time consuming, but it’s worth the investment. You’ll never know how you’ll fare until you get to the show, but most people see a modest amount of success at minimum. At most, you’ll be wildly popular.

And, hey–if price is really a concern, find another small business who wouldn’t be able to afford the booth on their own and consider splitting a booth with a product that appeals to the same audience. It’s a win-win! 5. Send Seasonal Cards

Here’s a great on of my offline marketing ideas for those of you who love to send out seasonal cards every year. Seasonal cards can build a lot of rapport between the giver and receiver. People love to give them, and they love to get them. Consider how surprised they’ll be when they open their mailbox to find a card from your business!

More businesses used to send out seasonal cards, but it’s becoming less and less common as the years go on. Let your business be one of those that sticks with tradition! A great many people love receiving seasonal cards, and they’ll graciously accept one from you. 6. Community Engagement

How much are you involved in your community, as an individual? Depending on the type of person you are, you might be involved a lot, a little, or not at all. On an individual level, community engagement is one of those things that is a choice. As a business, however, that choice becomes a crucial part of your marketing campaign.

Of all my offline marketing ideas, this one is pretty critical. People love to support local businesses. It’s become the “thing” to do these days. People feel a lot of pride knowing that a successful business runs out of their area. If you can properly engage with your community, that pride will skyrocket. Harness that pride, and turn those people into customers. 7. Put Out Press Releases

Press releases are one of my top offline marketing ideas, due to how well they can spread the word about your business or product. A good press release can spark curiosity in your business. It can provide you with shareable content that can be spread easily. There’s no real downside to putting out regular press releases.

A press release is a one-page summary of something newsworthy that’s going on with your business. It will have your contact information, website, business name, and some basic details on your news. These press releases can be sent directly to any media publication, and they’ll consider publishing it.

Don’t think you have anything newsworthy? A newly released website or product is good material for a press release. Also consider things like events you are hosting, contests, public speaking events, and more. You can make something newsworthy out of just about anything. 8. Leave Branded Items at Key Locations

Ever seen a business name emblazoned on the side of a pen? Or a frisbee? How about a coffee cup? Of course you have! One of the most traditional offline marketing ideas to ever exist is branded items. It’s done so frequently, it’s become commonplace for people to use these branded items in their own homes.

Done the right way, these items can be fantastic advertisements. Make sure that, along with a fantastic logo, you have ways potential customers can find you. In modern days, a link to your website should be included on the item, along with your logo.

Don’t forget to include a line that describes what it is your business offers. People can’t be interested if they don’t know what it is you’re selling! 9. Speak at Events

Practice warming up your voice, because for this one you’re headed to the stage. Speaking in front of groups can really boost your visibility, as well as the visibility of your company. It’s one of the more effective offline marketing ideas, due to it’s relative usefulness to everyone involved.

If you head to an event and speak on topics you know a lot about, chances are you’ll get a lot of people who are willing to listen. Not just willing–excited. It’s easy to harness that excitement and funnel it towards your business. Hand out those business cards or pamphlets at the end of the presentation!

The key to this one of my offline marketing ideas is to find a good location to speak at. Find events where you can speak about the topics you know, and you won’t feel out of place. 10. Workshops

Educational workshops can be a place to learn, but they can also be a place to be seen. Head to a workshop, and make sure to bring your business cards. Networking, as I’m sure you’re aware, is a big part of marketing. Being around like-minded individuals can give you a chance to connect with smart, useful people.

Better yet, host your own workshop! Many of my offline marketing ideas involve hosting events, and there’s a good reason for it. People love events, and they love the companies that instigate them. An educational workshop about a relevant topic can boost the visibility of your business. 11. Offer Coupons

Everybody likes coupons, right? Why not incorporate something that everyone likes into your marketing campaign? This one can really draw in new customers. It’s easy to consider buying something you might not otherwise splurge on, if you can get it cheaper.

This one of my offline marketing ideas can really stir up interest in your products. The difficult part is making sure that those one-time customers convert into customers that keep coming back for more. Make sure the coupon is for a service or product that will hook people into wanting more! 12. Paper Emails

In a recent podcast I had with the marketing genius Kevin Donlin, Kevin shared one of the more unique offline marketing ideas I’ve ever stumbled across. He calls them “paper emails”, and you’ll want to incorporate them into your marketing strategy.

How often do you check your email? If you’re anything like me, you check it often… but don’t necessarily get a chance to read it all. You may be flooded with daily emails and end up only checking a few of the more important looking ones. Kevin noticed this trend, so he started snail mailing copies of emails he sent to his customers.

You know what? It worked! Many people who get these “paper emails” are thankful for them, due to the flood of emails they get daily. It’s also fantastic to have a physical copy of pivotal information. So the next time you send out an email promotion, be sure to send out a “paper email” that goes with it! 13. Cross Promotions

Cross promotions are what offline marketing ideas are often built on, and this is because they built rapport between your business and another business. Not only are cross promotions effective, but they give you a chance to work together with a similar business.

Say you know of a small store on the corner. You could reach out to the owners of that store and say that you’d like to do a giveaway. You’d provide them with some free products, and they would draw people to their store with those products. Everyone wins!

This could also work well in reverse. If you know a small business that needs a platform, and you have one, host their products instead. You scratch their back, and they’ll scratch yours. 14. Donate

Speaking of scratching backs: another one of my offline marketing ideas builds off the same idea, and that’s donating. Donate products. Donate your time by volunteering to staff an event. Donate whatever it is that people need.

Not only will you be visible to those who see your donating, but you’ll be forever respected by those you donate to. Charity is never a waste of resources. And, hey–you’ll feel good to boot. Can’t lose with this one! 15. Get in the Newspaper

It used to be that reading the newspaper was as pivotal to the morning routine as a cup of coffee. Even as technology advances and more news outlets offer online versions of their publications, many people still read the paper. Those people might just be potential customers.

Run an ad in your local newspaper. Maybe even try reaching out to several of your most local newspapers and asking to get in. They’re generally not too expensive to put an ad in, and you’ll be seen by a lot of local people who will be interested in your business. 16. Cold Calls

Oh, cold calls. The bane of business owners. Selling is difficult, but cold calling can be even more so. There’s something uniquely challenging about picking up the phone and calling a stranger to talk about your business. But you know what? It works.

This is one of the more traditional of my offline marketing ideas, and maybe one of the most difficult for a lot of people. Despite all the humming and hawing people do over it, it still works. Strangers will still convert into customers via a cold call. So pick up that phone, and give it a try! 17. Reconsider Your Businesses Voice

If your business had a voice, what would it sound like? What sort of personality would it have? What’s a phrase that would be quintessential for it?

This is one of my more thought-based offline marketing ideas: developing a voice to go with your business. It may sound a bit corny, but big companies are riding this train all the time. If you think of some big brands, you could probably construct an ad from memory based on the unique voice of the brand.

Is your business hard and to-the-point? Is it relaxed and chill? Maybe it’s quirky and funny? Personify your business, and stick to a voice that really works. You can easily convert the right kind of people by appealing to them with the voice of your business. 18. Sponsor a Community Event

Sponsoring a community event is one of those feel-good offline marketing ideas. Not only do you get seen, you get to make everyone feel good about you being seen.

Community events are often looking for sponsors. You get to put your name all over the event, and they get to afford to host it. The host will be thankful, the attendees will be thankful, and you’ll be thrilled to help out the community. 19. Leave Your Business Cards Elsewhere

Whoops, you dropped your business card on the ground. Sure would be nice if someone else picked it up, wouldn’t it?

Leave your business cards everywhere. On tables at the cafe. On the ground outside of your hairdressers. At the grocery store. Leave a few on railings, counters, tables – you name it, drop a business card there.

Sure, this is one of my more simple offline marketing ideas, but it works. And it couldn’t hurt. 20. Create Speaking Opportunities

Did you enjoy having a chance to speak publicly at an event, due to one of my earlier offline marketing ideas? Why wait until someone else hosts a speaking event? Get proactive, and host your own!

This option is versatile, and all the potential outcomes are great for your marketing model. You could host a speaking event just for yourself. You could host an event that welcomes lots of speakers. Work within what you think you and your business can handle, but don’t be afraid to dream big. Take a chance on a bigger event, and you’ll be able to create a place where you can easily network with others. And you’ll be the host of it all! 21. Canvassing

Got fliers? Business cards? Pamphlets? Looking for a place to put them? Go classic: go canvassing.

Offline marketing ideas can come in all flavors–if this one was a flavor, it would be a classic, familiar vanilla. We’ve all gotten a flier or two left on our doorstep from a local enterprising business. Now it’s your turn! Get out there and pound the pavement. You don’t even need to knock on any doors–just leave your material there for them to see! 22. Collaborate with Influencers/Brand Ambassadors

An “influencer” can take many forms. In the days of social media, and influencer is someone with an established base of followers that can review products or wear swag. When it comes to offline marketing ideas, however, influencers are often known as brand ambassadors.

Brand ambassadors are hired to be a walking, talking billboard. They’ll wear your logos, use your products, and talk positively about your business. Better than your traditional billboard, right? Some people can be a bit iffy about the concept of hiring a person as a billboard, but it can be great for the right business. 23. Get in the Classified Ads

An oldie, but a goodie! Offline marketing ideas often harness offline media sources–tv, radio, and newspaper. In this case, we want to use that timeless classic, the newspaper classified ads, to get eyes on your business.

People still look to these tried-and-true ad sections on a weekly, or even daily, basis. If you think your business and products would appeal to the age group that often reads these papers, you should go for it. Remember that younger audiences often don’t flock to newspapers, but those in the 40+ category do. 24. Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Offline marketing ideas often require you to get involved with your local community, and this one is no different. Your local Chamber of Commerce is designed to get businesses seen and working with each other. If you join, you’ll get a good deal of perks for a generally low cost. The cost, of course, depends on the size of your local area.

Depending on where you live and host your business, this could be just a bit helpful or incredibly helpful. An incredibly small community won’t garner you many new eyes, but the cost for joining the Chamber of Commerce is likely very low. If you live in a big city, however, joining may be pricey but fruitful. 25. Offer a Referral Program

Want to avoid coupons, but still want to draw in potential customers? A basic referral program can have a similar effect as a good sale or coupon.

Try offering already existing customers a chance to refer a friend. If they do it successfully, both they and their friend get a discount. This is another of my win-win offline marketing ideas: everyone comes out happy here. And, because your new customer already knows their friend is buying, they’ll trust the quality of your product/service more inherently.

#offline marketing

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embracehappy · 6 years

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Don’t Fight It | Shawn Mendes Imagine

Summary: You are on vacation, visiting a friend, when you accidentally befriended a coffee shop barista who does her best to set you up with her other “friend”

a/n: This is the first fic I’ve written. Sorry it’s so long. I really liked the idea behind it, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. Please please please let me know what you think! I am open and accepting to constructive criticism!! But I also really love positive feedback <3

Part 2

Warnings: Swearing, Angst (i think?)

Word count: 3.9k

It was ironic, really: how y’all met. It was pure happen stance. You weren’t even supposed to be there. One night you just got really tired of not being able to see one of her best friends in the whole world. So, you booked a ticket. And that was that.

The next thing you know, it is four weeks later and you are hopping off a plane.

“Y/N!!!” You hear Eden S C R E A M as you exit security. You embrace your friend in a hug so tight that you lose your ability breathe for a moment. As you rock back and forth, an old man walks by and mumbles toward you both: “That is true happiness right there, never let it go.”

Wiping the tears forming in your eyes, Eden helps steady yourself as y’all walk towards where Eden had parked. You hadn’t seen Eden in over a year, causing the mild tears of joy.

You had never been so excited to be in a foreign place. You had never even been to Canada, and here you are in Toronto. Eden was lucky. She transferred out of your college after freshman year. It broke her heart to say goodbye to the friend group, but she just really needed to find a school with a better Environmental Science program. So, she went home to Washington DC. She had been working for the last year at her Aunt’s company when she wasn’t in classes. Somehow, she got a promotion, and then another, and then one more, and now she’s in Toronto. (You aren’t even completely sure what she does; she was only a secretary when she was first hired at the company.)

~~ “Are you ready?” Eden asks as she is turning her lock.

“Oh just let me in!” You squeal, excited to start your girls weekend. You push past her into the apartment and quickly notice that her Pinterest boards were not a waste. Eden lives a one bedroom apartment, somewhere in downtown Toronto. It may have been small, but it was gorgeous. It was the perfect mix of vintage and modern. White and sleek, but with tasteful splashes of dark wood and antiques. You are quick to notice the small tree in the corner of the room.

“Well that’s a fake plant” you scoff to your friend.

“Is not!” She fights back.

“You have many things, Eden, but a green thumb is not one!” You say as you walk over and feel it to ensure you are correct. You are, it’s fake.

“Whatever!” She yells, carrying your small carry-on bag into the bedroom. “Is this really all you brought??” Eden yells to you.

“Well, yeah! I’m only staying for four days!!”

~~ Two days have passed. You’ve been enjoying the trip of your life in Toronto with Eden. However, last night got the better of you and you stayed up way too late watching movies. Knowing that it was the one last Netflix original that did y’all in, you were both planning on sleeping in. However, your body had other ideas.

You jolted awake sometime around 9am. You decided to be a little selfish. As much as you love Eden, you wanted to go explore. You were missing your usual morning routine and were desperate to go on a jog. So you decide that you might as well do both, explore and jog.

Quietly slipping into your leggings and clean sports bra, you are sure not to wake Eden as you grab her house key, along with your wallet and IPhone. You wander over to Eden’s closet. Surely, she has something you can borrow. Due to your light packing, you only brought one sweatshirt. The same sweatshirt that you accidentally ruined last night by spilling ice cream all down the front.

You almost laugh out-loud as you pull a grey sweatshirt off a hanger.

I can’t believe she still owns this!? She was always so obsessed with his music!

You slip the crewneck over your head. Giggling to yourself when you look down and see the “I would date u but ur not shawn mendes” plastered across your chest.

It’s only fitting, you are in Toronto, after all! Usually you would never wear something that would blatantly label you as a tourist, but you’re only here for a short stay. And, it’s not even your sweatshirt!

Eden had been the one to turn you on to Shawn Mendes’ music. She first played you his album when you were studying for finals during first semester. After that, you had to admit, you were a bit addicted to his music. The melodies just had a way of making you move. They gave you a weird feeling somewhere deep inside you that you didn’t know how to explain.

You hadn’t listened to Shawn Mendes’ music in a while. So, deciding you might as well be extra ironic, you chose the SHAWN MENDES playlist on Spotify, hit shuffle, and step out the door.

~~ You ran for about a half hour, though the streets of downtown, before you are quickly realizing that you are lost. You slow your pace and start looking around, thankful you are in Toronto and not Montreal. (Eden had been telling you about a weekend trip she took to Montreal, but it was a disaster because there was a lot more French than she was planning for.) You know you can’t be that far from Eden’s apartment building, simply because you were careful not to go too far. You had purposely gone in circles, running down the same few streets more than once. But, you had gotten just a bit too adventurous on your last round and now you’re standing in an area you don’t recognize.

You start walking. Actually, you start wandering. You are trying to spot that one really tall and pointy tower, knowing if you can find it, you could correct yourself back into the right direction.

You walk for about 5 more minutes before you give up. All you can think about is a coffee shop that you had seen two blocks back. It has been consuming your thoughts because you are quite hungry now. You decide to turn around and walk back to it, feeling like the coffee shop is calling you.

~~ It is 9:45am when you walk into the shop. A very friendly looking red head smiles to you. The shop is empty. It is clear that the morning rush had already come through and now this local was just staying open in an attempt to be nice to any non-regulars.

“Hey hun! Don’t be shy! I promise I won’t bite!” She smiles to you as cautiously walk up to the counter, noticing her nametag reads “Anna”.

“I would like a medium vanilla latte… um, please.”

“Sure thing!” She says as she goes to prepare your drink, flashing you a smile again. “Can I get your name?” She calls to you from behind the machine.

“Y/N!” You say to her. Suddenly realizing that you are now smiling too.

“Y/N, huh. Pretty name!”

She must have recognized your accent: “If you don’t mind, we don’t get a whole lot of Americans through this shop. So, I’m officially declaring you my friend!”

You are taken aback by her forwardness. You are not sure if it’s just her personality or a Canadian thing.

“Oh. Ok!” You respond. “Well, I am officially declaring you my first Canadian friend!” You then explain to her how you had been visiting a friend from college, but were adventuring out on your own this morning.

The two of you really hit it off, becoming basically best friends almost immediately. It must be because you are in a different country, but you have no problem with opening up to the stranger. You even exchange Instagram’s at one point. Sitting at the bar, you discuss your whole life with her. She listens as you tell her about your exes and your family. And then you do the same when she talks about her girlfriend and her family. You are about the same age, so it is easy for y’all to relate to each other stories. You are laughing, about how you both had a family cat named Steven, when you hear the door chime.

“Anna!” you hear a booming voicing behind you call out. The voice is loud, but not intimidating. And vaguely familiar? He sounds like he could be about yours and Anna’s ages. “Are you actually replacing me! I thought Sunday morning talks were OUR thing!” He says, drawing out the “our” in an unbelievably cute way. You cannot believe you are actually thinking someone’s voice was cute.

Suddenly, you feel his presence leaning up against the counter next to you. The next thing you know, a heavy arm is being rested around your shoulders, pulling you into him.

“Anna! When I said I wanted to meet your girlfriend, I didn’t mean for you to bring her to OUR morning coffee date!”

You saw Anna’s face turn bright tomato red with shock. The arm’s owner must have realized that he was mistaken, as you feel the arm tense and lift up slightly.

“Anna… please tell me this is your girlfriend and not a complete stranger that I just put my arm around…”

Anna responds sheepily: “Well…. Um…. She’s not a stranger… to me…. She my newest friend!”

Anna’s face is no longer red as she is now grinning. “Shawn, meet Y/N!”

Shawn turns to look at you and for the first time you actually look up at him. And all you can see is his jaw line.

Damn.

You can hear Anna begin to speak again: “She’s American! She’s here for the weekend, visiting a friend from college. She’s… like... actually super cool and I need you to be really friendly and open and to not make any judgements okay, Shawn?”

You look back at Anna and see how she is suddenly giving him a frantic look. She’s trying to communicate something to him with her gestures. You look up at him again.

He is staring intensely at you. His eyes raking up and down you, pausing momentarily on your breast. You can’t quite figure out which emotions are hiding behind his eyes. You can’t even figure out what is going on between Anna and him.

And then it hits you.

The sweatshirt. The jawline. Shawn.

Shawn Mendes has his arm around you.

~~ He looks older than you remember him looking. You hadn’t been following his recent activity. So, you guess it makes sense though, for him to look so much older. He is your age, after all. And you definitely don’t look the same from the first time you heard his music.

Shawn’s arm is quickly retracted. It looks like he has chosen to be cautious, that’s how his eyes seem to appear at least.

He stumbles over his words when he speaks to you. “How did you find my favorite shop?” he says in an accusatory tone. “I’m so careful when I come here. The last thing I need is a superfan to ruin our mornings. I thought I told you to text me, Anna!” Shawn’s attention is now focused on Anna, who is getting very defensive very quickly.

Anna is throwing her arms up and begins raising her voice at him, something about how he needs to trust her and to just stop accusing her new friend of something.

You aren’t really paying attention.

Your head is spinning. You can finally get a good look at him. He is wearing a pink hoody under a jean jacket, black jeans, and a classic pair of black boots. And then your body goes numb and all you can hear is the word “superfan” rotating around in your head. Your vision goes blurry.

You fall off the bar stool.

~~ You’ve passed out. You can’t move or see, but you can hear. You can overhear Anna and Shawn.

“OH SHIT” Anna screams! An “oh my god” falls out of Shawn’s hushed voiced. “HELP HER YOU ASSHOLE”

You can feel a strong hand grabbing your arm and another suddenly on your back. You were being gently rolled to lay on your back.

“I CANT BELIEVE YOU REACTED LIKE THAT” Anna screams again. “Well I’m not going to pick her up while she’s unconscious!” “No! Not that! EARLIER! You dumbass! I didn’t text you because she’s insanely cool and you’re going to like her!” “SHE just WANTS you to like her, Anna! She’s a SUPERFAN!! She’s just trying to get CLOSE to ME! HELL! Maybe even she FAKED passing out! How do I know she hasn’t already tweeted my location to hundreds of followers on her FANACCOUNT--” “—OH MY GOD SHAWN! Did you even she her! Her phone is over HERE on the counter! And She didn’t move a muscle as soon as you wrapped YOUR ARM AROUND HER!”

You suddenly feel your body return to you. As you begin moving, a hush falls over the two. Next thing you know, you can feel Shawn next to you, trying to coax you out of your fog. Saying gentle things like “That’s it. Take it easy. I’ve got you.” Shawn’s helping you lift your head.

“I only want you to be happy” You hear Anna mumble to him. “You’re not my match maker” He responds, almost inaudible.

~~ As soon as you completely come to, anger floods your body. You were livid.

Yes, you were a fan, but in no way were you a “SUPERFAN” and Shawn should NOT have risen his voice at your new friend.

You sit up. Testing your words: “I… I am not…” You feel confident as your anger is quickly becoming rage.

“I am NOT a SUPERFAN! And HONESTLY…. The FACT that you ASSUMED as much really wants me to REVOKE my status of REGULAR mediocre FAN… WHO had NO IDEA that this is YOUR FAVORITE coffee shop in all of FUCKING TORONTO!! IM just HERE to visit a FRIEND and I HAPPENED to make another FRIEND! IM SORRY we CANT have the SAME FRIENDS, YOUR HIEGHNESS. I didn’t KNOW you OWNED all YOUR favorite SPOTS in Toronto!... YOU are an ASSHOLE! I KNOW how this works! YOU’RE just being KIND TO ME right now because you HAVE TO BE! HEAvon forbid something SHOWS up on the INTERNET about how THE Shawn MENDES treated a fan POORLY! I heard what you SAID!! You think IM SOME CRAZY FAN with a FANACCOUNT and all the SHIT!”

You notice Shawn’s face growing bright red and he is staring at you in bewilderment. Anna is smirking. But you kept firing off:

“I CANT Believe you! All you FAMous people are the same! YOURE ALL STUCK UP ASSHOLES! And to think that your fans actually think you’re WHOLESOME! WHAT THE FUCK, SHAWN MENDES?!?!”

You finally stop. He is hanging his head low. Anna glances down to you. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, hun.”

“But….. But your sweatshirt…?” Shawn questions timidly.

“It’s my friends FUCKING sweatshirt.” You say with a little less anger in your voice, but still firm. “In fact, I remember when she bought it. I made fun of her for A WEEK about it! I only wore it so that when I got back to her apartment, after my run, we could laugh about it...” you trail off, suddenly realizing that you are sharing way more information than you should with the asshole standing in front of you.

But you couldn’t help it. You had the weird feeling, that usually was caused by his music, currently fluttering about in your stomach. You were angry but you still wanted to talk to him. You decide instead to shut up, ignoring your gut.

Anna is helping you stand now, placing you into a chair at one of the tables. Shawn follows behind her like a sad puppy.

“Okay. You both stay here, eh. I’m going to get Y/N some water.” Anna says before she disappears into the back.

Anna has been gone a lot longer that she should’ve been. You assume this probably has something to do with those last comments you overheard when you were on the ground. Or you think you overheard. They were so quiet and quick at the end that maybe you may have hallucinated them.

You weren’t sure. Because of it, you didn’t know how to continue.

~~ In an attempt to ground yourself, you try reflecting on the current situation:

Okay, so I’m sitting in an empty coffee shop with Shawn Mendes. And I just YELLED at him? And now he’s looking like I just told him his dog died. What the fuck is even happening right now…

A few more seconds pass. You are about to give up waiting for Anna and just leave altogether. You’re really confused and just want to return to Eden’s apartment, when suddenly:

“I’m sorry…”

“What?” You say, shocked.

“I’m sorry.” Shawn says with more confidence. “I didn’t mean you any harm. I just… I need to be careful. I thought I could trust Anna… Er… I can trust Anna. But for a moment there, when I saw you, and then my name on your.. er… your friend’s sweatshirt… I… I panicked.”

There’s an awkward moment of silence. You didn’t know how to respond. You definitely weren’t expecting an asshole celebrity to be apologizing to you today… or any day for that matter.

Must be a Canadian thing.

Shawn looks up. His eyes are a little puffy and you can tell he’s trying not to cry.

Nope. This is a Shawn Mendes thing.

“Um… It’s ok… I totally shouldn’t have snapped at you… I understand why you need to be careful…. I guess…..”

Your gaze meets Shawn’s and he holds for longer than you expect. He seems to be accepting what you said, but still looks very sad.

“NO…no.. It’s totally my fault... I deserved to be yelled at… I treated you like shit. I’m so sorry.”

His eyes are still locked on yours.

“We haven’t even had a proper introduction yet” He says extending his hand.

“um… I’m Shawn” His mouth is curling up a bit at the corners, flashing you a bashful smile. His other hand is rubbing the back of his neck and for a moment his eyes glance to the ground. And you think you see him beginning to blush.

“Y/N” you say with a bit more confidence than he, but the lack of air in your lungs takes you by surprise. You can feel yourself blushing with embracement.

~~ Anna has returned with 3 waters. She places them down on the table and then walks over to the coffee shop’s door. Flipping the open sign to “closed” and locking the door. When she walks back, she sees the confused look on your face because she quickly shoots out: “I always close up when Shawn comes in… ya know… To give him… privacy.. from fans…”

Shawn looks up to her like he’s about to say something, but then everyone’s attention is quickly taken to the counter, where you phone is vibrating. Anna runs over and grabs it, running it back to you.

“It’s Eden, hun.”

You answer the phone to a frantic Eden: “OH my god!! Why didn’t you answer! I’ve called you three times already! I saw you weren’t here and I figured you went on a run, but then you didn’t answer and I assumed the worst!--”

You cut her off: “Eden! OMG Eden! Breathe! I’m fine! I’m in a coffee shop! I didn’t notice my phone going off because I fainted--”

“--OMG You fainted Why?? Are you Ok-”

“Yes, Eden. I’m fine. I just fainted because…” You glance up and see Shawn and Anna staring at you. Shawn is giving you an interesting look. Almost like he’s studying you. Your eyes linger on his briefly, “because… well… I’ll tell you about it later. It’s not important. Anyway, what are we doing today... I leave on Monday…”

“How about you come back to my apartment and we can discuss that. I want to make sure you’re feeling ok?”

“Yeah sure, I’ll come back. But I didn’t faint because I don’t feel well… I fainted because I… I’ll explain it later…” you say as you stand up. Blood rushes to your head and you slump back down into your seat. “Actually… maybe you can come pick me up… I’m.. I’m at…” you glance up towards Anna to get the name of the coffee shop, but instead hear Shawn speak up: “No… I’ll take you… tell your friend.”

You try to cover the mic on your phone and pull it from your face. “No. You don’t have too. Eden can come get me. Really. I don’t want to be an inconvenience. Seriously it’s--”

“--NO. I made you faint. It won’t be an inconvenience it’s literally the least I can do… please?”

You feel the blood in your head and you can’t seem to find the will to fight Shawn. “Fine, I guess.” You to say to him, shaking your head in annoyance.

Back on the phone with Eden: “Actually, I got a ride. I’ll be back at you place soon, okay?

But Eden is quick to catch on, clearly hearing everything you and Shawn had said: “Woah, woah, woah… First of all, if you’re not okay, I should be the one picking you up. You’re my guest! And also: Who MADE you faint? That’s… like…. Not ok? Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Eden, I swear I’m fine.”

“Since when did Y/N decide to accept rides from strangers? You’re clearly not yourself… you would never get into a car with someone you don’t trust! And it takes you FOREVErrrrr to trust anybody!”

“Eden it’ll be fine. I’m fine. I definitely think that the person I’m about to get a ride with is trustworthy. And I know his friend. She’s cool. It’ll be fine.”

“Okay fine, whatever. But if I have to explain to your mom why you went missing in Canada, you better believe that I’ll kill you, even if you are already dead.”

“Oh my gosh, Eden. I’ll be fine.”

“Send me your location. So, I can track you. Just to be safe.”

“Yes Ma’am. See ya soon.” You say jokingly as you hang up.

You quickly share your location with Eden.

God bless IPhones.

You look back up at Shawn and Anna. Shawn hasn’t taken his eyes off you. But for some reason it doesn’t feel creepy.

Anna is looking very pleased.

“Great! So you have a ride back. I’m glad. You’ll be safe. Shawn’s a really great driver.” Anna casually says as she stands from the table and shoots another look to Shawn.

Shawn is now standing and putting his arm around your waist, helping you to your feet.

“Oh, no I can do it.” You protest. But your comment only makes Shawn tighten his grip.

“Don’t fight it, hun!” Anna calls back to you. She has already begun bouncing towards the back of the coffee shop.

You think about what she said. Not quite certain what she was referring to with “it”. As Shawn and you move closer to the door. You are quickly considering that you and Shawn are about to be in a car alone, together….

“Don’t fight it, hun!”

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