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onlygirlasia · 7 months

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Monetizing Your Short-Form Videos

Making money from short-form videos used to be as elusive as finding the Loch Ness monster. But over time, creators and platforms have become more creative in their monetization strategies. From traditional ad placements to sponsored content and brand collaborations, the possibilities are expanding faster than a waistline at an all-you-can-eat buffet. As the appetite for short-form videos grows, so does the potential for making some serious dough.

Challenges and Opportunities for Content Creators and Platforms

While monetizing short-form videos may seem like a walk in the park, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. Content creators face the challenge of finding the right balance between authentic content and paid promotions. Audiences can easily sniff out an inauthentic money grab, so treading carefully is essential. Additionally, platforms need to strike a balance between providing opportunities for creators to make money while keeping user experience intact. It's a delicate dance, but if done right, it can be a win-win for everyone involved.

The Power and Influence of User-generated Content

In the battle of short-form videos, user-generated content (UGC) is the secret weapon that keeps on giving. Whether it's a hilarious lip-syncing challenge or a heartwarming pet video, UGC has the power to captivate and connect with audiences in ways that professionally produced content often can't. It's like a refreshing sip of homemade lemonade on a hot summer day - simple, genuine, and oh-so-delicious.

User-generated Content vs. Professionally Produced Content

But does that mean professionally produced content is out of the game? Not so fast. While UGC may have the charm of a quirky indie film, professionally produced content brings the blockbuster fireworks. It's like comparing a homemade meal to a gourmet feast at a fancy restaurant. Both have their place and cater to different tastes. So, in the battle of short-form videos, it's really about finding the right balance between the two to keep audiences engaged and entertained.

The Influence of Short-form Videos on Social Media Engagement:

Short-form Videos as a Driving Force in Social Media Platforms

Short-form videos have become the lifeblood of social media platforms. They're the party guests everyone wants to invite because they bring the fun, the laughter, and the entertainment. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels owe a huge debt to short-form videos for catapulting them to the top of the social media hierarchy. It's like they cracked the code to the secret sauce of engagement, and now the world can't get enough.

The Impact of Short-form Videos on User Engagement Metrics

Remember the days when user engagement was all about likes, comments, and shares? Well, short-form videos have taken engagement metrics to a whole new level. They've turned us into a bunch of obsessive data junkies. Now we track watch time, completion rates, and even the number of times a video made someone snort with laughter. Short-form videos have redefined what it means to engage with content, and it's no longer just a passive experience. It's like an interactive dance-off where everyone's a winner.

The Future of Short-form Videos: Trends and Predictions:

Emerging Trends in Short-form Video Consumption and Production

As technology evolves faster than a downhill skier, so do the trends in short-form video consumption and production. From vertical videos to interactive elements, the future holds exciting possibilities. And let's not forget about augmented reality and virtual reality, which are set to take short-form videos to a whole new dimension. The only limit is our imagination, and boy, are we getting creative.

Predictions for the Future of Short-form Videos and Their Influence

So, what does the future hold for short-form videos? With the rise of bite-sized content, we can expect short-form videos to become an essential part of our daily lives. They'll shape our entertainment, our shopping habits, and even our social interactions. It's like they're the cool kids who just joined the party, but instead of dominating the scene, they're here to redefine it.

Furthermore, as the battle of short-form videos continues to unfold, it is clear that this medium is here to stay. The constant innovation, fierce competition among platforms, and the creative prowess of content creators have propelled short-form videos into the forefront of digital entertainment. Whether it's for personal expression, brand promotion, or simply for the joy of creating and consuming bite-sized content, short-form videos have become an integral part of our modern digital landscape. As we look ahead, it will be fascinating to witness how this dynamic medium evolves, shapes the future of content consumption, and influences the way we connect and engage with the world around us. Get ready for a revolution in the way we consume and create content. It's going to be short, sweet, and oh-so-addictive.

FAQ

1. What exactly are short-form videos?

Short-form videos are brief video clips typically ranging from a few seconds to a couple of minutes in length. They are designed to capture viewers' attention quickly and deliver engaging content in a concise and condensed format.

2. How have short-form videos impacted traditional media?

Short-form videos have had a significant impact on traditional media. They have disrupted traditional media consumption patterns, as more people turn to platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels for quick entertainment. Traditional media outlets have also had to adapt by incorporating short-form videos into their strategies to stay relevant and engage with their audience.

3. Can short-form videos be monetized?

Yes, short-form videos can be monetized. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube offer various monetization options such as ad revenue sharing, brand partnerships, and sponsored content. Content creators can also explore avenues like merchandise sales, crowdfunding, and influencer marketing to monetize their short-form video content.

4. What does the future hold for short-form videos?

The future of short-form videos appears promising. We can expect to see further advancements in technology, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), influencing the creation and consumption of short-form videos. Additionally, as short-form videos continue to gain popularity, we may witness more personalized and interactive experiences, as well as the integration of short-form videos into various aspects of our daily lives.

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bearpillowmonster · 1 year

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Wolfenstein: The New Order

Actually, no, I hate this cover, it's a bit too basic.

THERE WE GO!

Hugh. Not Hugh as in Hue or Hugh Neutron but Huh-gah, as in a sigh.

So, where do I start? Every now and then, I'll get an FPS where the mouse just does not gel right with the game, whether it be sensitivity or mouse smoothing or what, but for some reason I've had so many games seem so misoptimized and apparently I'm not the only one with this problem but I'm putting it all down here. Vertical sync. Vsync. Turn it off. It worked, that's all I can say.

My dad is someone that plays with his mouse set up an unbearable sensitivity anyway so this might fit him. You know what else my dad plays? Wolfenstein. At least, the older ones. I remember when we moved and he decided it was time to update his gaming catalog since most of his were 5+ years old with classics like the Quake trilogy, Doom 3 and Unreal but one of the games he picked up was Wolfenstein 2009. And oh boy do I have just as fond memories playing that game as he does. It's not the best reviewed game either, heck, I didn't even play it for myself but you better believe that every time he loaded up that game I was right there next to him. I'd pull up a chair, sit on the floor, heck I'd even stand and watch him play, I loved it.

I remember one time I heard him booting up the game and the pitter patter of the gunplay while I was in the shower. I can't say that I've taken a faster shower in my lifetime because I believe that might've been around the time he finally beat the game. Everyone talks about how Bioshock made this and that with all these neat powers and stuff but- you know what, this review isn't for that game, let's skip a little bit ahead. Of course, I was excited when New Order dropped except…my dad found a new game. I bought him the game around release and he still hasn't played it to this day and that was kind of our thing and I wasn't interested in the game he was playing (still playing actually, it's an MMO) anyways, I decided to carry it on anyway because from what I've seen of trailers and pictures, you get a laser gun. That's all I needed to know.

I'm familiar with id's style of gameplay with Doom and such, in fact, I've played the demo of New Colossus and may even recall the mouse problems to be apparent in that as well but I saw this for free on Epic and practically jumped for joy. One of the things that sets this game apart from the others in its franchise is that it tries to lean more into the futuristic stuff as well as Blazkowicz' character.

It's nifty to have the enemies with blue electric coming out of their helmets every now and then, it makes for a good symbol when shooting from a long distance.

As for story, I just raved about 2009's game but I couldn't read you back the story, just what you do in the gameplay and I feel like this might be a similar thing, the opening isn't all that great, it's kind of average war game material, not much of an opener in my opinion and if you really wanted me to dive in why, I actually played the beginning twice. I'm also not going to bother avoiding spoilers for this game since it's nearly 10 years old, just fair warning.

(Prince Charming and his mother from Shrek 2)

So it's pretty linear, there are things here and there that you can go off track and collect but the first level is the most linear part of the game in my opinion. If it was story driven or had a setpiece or something that would tie it all together, it'd be fine but it felt stagnant to me, nothing impressed me and had this not had the name attached then I might not have picked it up based on that alone. The plane wasn't much to me.

The game itself is split into two depending on who you choose to keep from dying at the beginning but that decision doesn't feel earned, it's kind of an all or nothing kind of deal, don't give me lame half excuses to pick one character over the other, that's just not fair. So what I jumped out of a plane and this guy happened to be there? So what the other guy threw a grenade one time and I tried to calm him down? Either build them up to make the decision that much more painful or don't give me any context at all. That's from a narrative point of view.

You see, it seemed like it was banking on its gameplay being good enough that you'd give it a pass like for the reason Blazko gets knocked out, a piece of shrapnel blows out of the hole, cuts the back of his head in the funkiest groove imaginable then lets him float out at sea, what is that? And I mean, I expect silly as well as seriousness, it's a game about cyborg nazis and one of the most over exaggerated nazi hunters but I feel the silliness is misplaced here and there.

But it picks up, the scenario they give to you afterwards is actually pretty cool. Someone who ends up injured and in a hospital/asylum, seeing these guys who put him here but not being able to do anything and stuck that way until you're pushed to the brink to either break out or die, then team up with a nurse. I just find that so cool, it's one of the reasons I look up to MGS5's intro so much.

Characters become meaningful (for a while), some even a little more so than others, like Caroline. She was actually introduced in 2009's game and she was carried over so if you didn't know her story, you get the gist here but it's a lot more meaningful if you played 2009 despite being a separate canon (but for some reason just isn't available on any storefronts...)

You can dual wield, I know I mentioned the laser gun and how that was all you needed to sell me on this game and yeah, it is fun when you use it, but it's still limited to certain areas and certain things. I also had a bit of trouble towards the end with getting the wires to line up so it'd actually cut the fence but it was still pretty cool.

There are actually a few side missions here and there but I can't help but feel that there should have been more, like maybe one after every mission. I mean they're mainly just fetch quests inside the base but that's just it, as an overall product, it teases its potential but didn't quite hit the bar for me. It would've been really cool to expand on that asylum idea and have him involuntarily kill, like seeing a nazi will trigger it and kick off the rest but no. Then they have these interesting side characters like Bombate who's there…but that's it. Or in my case, J (it depends on which playthrough you're on) but he gets introduced and you don't get to talk to him until later to which he explains that he doesn't even like America and explains why and how he just hates Nazis more, challenging Blaskowicz' pro American ideals but then the next time we see him he plays the Star Spangled Banner as if "Yeah, he got over that." there was no growth or anything there (there didn't need to be) but it just seemed rushed or shoved aside. You can have those types of things where they're shorter but what then when you don't go too deep into any of it? I was kind of disappointed by that ending because it all sounds so cool when you put it on paper but then in action, it just seemed like another level, like "That's it? Oh well", it didn't feel like a proper end for any of the characters. So it didn't win me over with playing the other later entries but maybe I'll give RTCW a try some time.

#wolfenstein #the new order #wtno #wolfenstein tno #review #video game

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artblocksucks · 3 years

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New ‘n’ Tasty AU; chapter 1.

I decided to start writing a story for the Oddworld franchise now that Soulstorm has been out and rebooted the love I’ve had for these games since childhood: The events of New ‘n’ Tasty but with a twist.

”This is RuptureFarms. They say it’s the biggest meat processing plant on Oddworld. I used to work here. Well, I was really a slave, like all the others... And not just my people.” Blaring alarms echoed through the dingy factory, accompanied by constant red light in sync with the alert of an escapee having abandoned his post during the night shift. The sound of hectic feet running across the floors as said mudokon fled for his life with scared breaths leaving him with each step, adrenaline rushing through every vein by the harsh sounds around him along with the voices of pursuing sligs demanding he hold it and stop running if he knew what’d be good for him, promising condescendingly to spare his life if he obeyed. But Abe didn’t know what to believe anymore. All his life he had worked loyally for the higher powers within the massive establishment, never had he asked any questions as to why he was kept in a cell, isolated whenever he wasn’t on floor waxing duty or why he had sprouted feathers during his upbringing while every other mudokon only had their loincloths and name tied to their identity. Abe had thought this was just the way of the life he had been given, his memories hazy except for the origin of the crossed stitches in his lips. He had thought he had a good job but what he had seen this night changed everything, and all his instincts cried for him to do one thing and one thing alone: Escape.

Every barrel of processed, ground up meat on the many conveyer belts had a whole new context now. Abe hastily continued to make his way through the factory still hard at work despite the late hours, his stomach turned by the thought of the wooden containers becoming filled with his people but he managed to shake it off to not be distracted in his quest. Along the way he’d meet more mudokons on cleaning duty and his desire to flee shaped into further compassion for his fellow slaves, leading them to portals with freedom only one chant away. Abe didn’t know what had occurred for him to know how to perform this chant but it comforted him to save others from a cruel fate on a dinner table.

Reaching the lower floors closer to the stockyards Abe felt closer to his goal but the exit was heavily guarded as one would expect for a factory of this nature. The blue mudokon needed to cautiously sneak past a slig sleeping on his post and found a room with a grenade dispenser next to a pullable platform. He had used bombs before while freeing his brethren and hearing snoring above him brought a pondering hand to the escapee’s lips while the gears in his head turned.

Ascending the platform by pulling the rope and wincing slightly by the loud squeaking, Abe did find himself slightly thankful for his old job, as pushing the floor waxer for well over a decade had made his arms rather toned, allowing him to pull himself up and climb surfaces with ease. On the way up he noticed a lone slig sleeping near a small opening with what sounded like meat grinders operating inside it. Thinking of a way to get past the guard his mind did wander to the grenade neatly stored away in his pocket but he quickly discarded the idea. It felt wrong for him to end the slig’s life. Abe glanced off to the side with a sorrowful expression, remembering the one slig who had been kind to him and thus paid the price for it. Why was kindness punished here? Peering over the edge of the upper structure once he had parked the elevator, Abe decided to make a leap for it after a long pause to gather his courage and jumped with his breath held while hoping he would make it, landing right behind the slig, who immediately sprang up at the sound of feet slapping on the surface with a confused mutter which made the mudokon freeze in his hunched over pose. Gulping with pupils becoming mere dots out of terror, he reacted the moment the guard turned around by pushing him forwards with both palms, sending the bewildered soldier falling with a screech followed by a thud. Struggling to breathe in a cold sweat at how close that had been, Abe shakily peeked down to see the slig knocked out by the fall, lying safely nearby the lever to the elevator. Sighing deeply in relief he crouched down by the small door after a small break to calm his nerves and rolled inside, met with a puzzle of hopping between the butchery devices to save more slaves hidden away in a bloodied room. Sneaking past security once more, the mudokon felt a pang of anxiety to see the slig still lying unconscious on the metallic floor and took a long step to avoid stepping on him, pulling the lever to summon the elevator back down with nervous fiddling of his hands as he waited. Hopping on it briskly, he began to hoist himself back up to get to the final exit, head tilted upwards which made him unable to spot a twitch of the slig’s hand.

Freedom was so close now. Crouched down and viewing the layer of mines blocking his way, Abe glanced down at himself before digging his paw into his pouch and taking out the grenade, letting it rest in his palm before tossing it gently forwards and embracing himself for the incoming explosions below. Being so close to it made his ears ring and the aftermath made him sit back in need of a break to think, closing his eyes for the moment. Where would he go from here? Anywhere was better than RuptureFarms but he knew nowhere else... He’d have to rely on his instincts to find a new home.

Once he had rested enough Abe climbed down from the platform and looked over the ventilation shaft with a relieved smile forming on his tired face, coming closer to it with a crouch as it was plenty big enough for him to roll through. Just a little more…! “FREEZE!”

The mudokon flinched violently at the sudden vicious command behind him and instantly turned his head only to be blinded by the harsh glare of a familiar red visor. Petrified he stared in horror at the slig now aiming his assault rifle right at him with a low chuckle. “You thought you could punk me with that little trick!?” The guard lifted his firearm higher while placing a finger right on the trigger, making Abe cower more with eyes still fixed on the other. “I took quite the tumble there and you’ll pay for that! I’ll bring you to Molluck myself and get that sweet promotion I’ve been after for so long!” Hearing the name of the glukkon who had plans to grind him and his kind up into meat pops sent a reminder through Abe’s mind of how far he had come and how he could not fail now after all he had accomplished. Taking advantage of the slig’s gloating he lifted a leg up to stun him with a minor and restrained kick to the chest, scrambling forwards to get into the vent only to feel a strong hand grab on to his ankle shortly after.

“Oh no, you’re not escaping me!” The slig grunted and did his best attempt to pull the mudokon backwards only to be dragged completely along by Abe’s repeated crawling. Soon gravity got a hold of the two of them once the drop became vertical, their voices yelling in unison as they began to roll nonstop through the vent.

#Oddworld #Oddtumblr #fanfiction #Abe #Slig #Mudokon

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spaceskam · 4 years

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covered in scars i did nothing to earn

Summary: 5 times Forrest finds old scars on Alex’s body + 1 time he sees a new one

warnings: mentions of past self-harm, descriptions of violent/dangerous situations, past child abuse, sexual situations, vague mention of 2x06 but not That Thing from 2x06

.1.

Forrest quite liked the feeling of Alex’s skin.

He was scarred beyond understanding, but his skin was still soft and taken care of with only little bumps. His body hair sometimes camouflaged the little ones and Forrest had created a game with himself to find them like an Easter egg hunt when they were in bed together.

Tonight was no different as he kept his head on Alex’s shoulder and dragged his fingers through his chest hair. It was barely there, but it was enough to play optical illusions.

“Oh,” he breathed, rubbing his index finger gently into a little knot of a scar over his heart, “What’s that from?”

Alex lifted his head to look at it as if he didn’t know before letting his head all back to the pillow. Forrest kissed his arm before snuggling back into his shoulder.

“Got stabbed,” Alex said like it wasn’t a big deal. Forrest lifted his head and stared at him with furrowed eyebrows.

“You got stabbed?” he said, trying to keep the calm demeanor that Alex had, “Over your heart?”

“Yeah,” Alex yawned, his eyes settling closed, “Leather tools or whatever.”

“You got stabbed with a leather slicker?” Forrest said, eyes wide as he looked closer at the scar. It was still sort of red, newer than the rest. “When did that happen?”

Alex was quiet and Forrest wondered if he’d fallen asleep, but when he looked at his eyes, he was looking right back at him. He looked like he didn’t understand why he was asking.

“I don’t really want to talk about this,” Alex said cautiously. Forrest adjusted himself just a little, worry still heavy in his system.

“Well, are you at least okay?” Forrest asked. Alex nodded, combing his hands through his hair.

“Yeah,” he said, “I’m fine.”

Forrest wasn’t quite sure he believed that, but he pressed a kiss over the scar and laid his head down on Alex’s chest again.

.2.

Forrest felt stupid.

He’d stopped kissed Alex the minute he got on his knees, instead finding his eyes locked on the scars lining Alex’s hip. Precise lines, all the same size and all in a row with the occasional vertical line across them. They were old, that much was clear, but they were there. He hadn’t noticed them before.

“You okay?” Alex asked, looking down at him. Forrest quickly made it look like he wasn’t staring, like he wasn’t overthinking everything Alex had told him about his childhood, like he wasn’t terrified for a boy he he’d never met.

But this was a man. He wasn’t going to bring it up and make him feel guilty for what he couldn’t change.

“Yeah,” Forrest nodded, pushing a kiss on Alex’s lower stomach, “I’m okay.”

As he settled himself between Alex’s thighs, he couldn’t help but look for similar scars. He found them, too, a row high on his inner thigh. Forrest’s stomach dropped, but he tried not to think about it as he took Alex into his mouth, doing his damnedest to make him feel good.

But, because Forrest was notorious at self sabotage, he found himself thinking about the other people Alex had slept with in his life. Had they noticed? Alex had told him that most of them were quick fucks in dark allies, so they probably hadn’t. But Michael Guerin had seen them, surely. Had he made Alex feel okay about them? Had he comforted him? Had he gotten the entire story?

Forrest zoned out for too many seconds in a row and started actually choking to the point he fell back on his ass as he sucked in a deep breath. Alex was staring down at him with wide eyes.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, voice sweet and full of genuine concern, “I’m sorry, did I-”

“No, you didn’t do anything, I’m just stupid,” Forrest laughed, managing a smile as he looked up at him, “I was thinking about dinner and forgot what I was doing.”

“Oh, jeez, I’m that much of a turn off?” Alex laughed, holding his hand out to help him to his feet. Forrest shook his head.

“No, I just didn’t eat much today,” Forrest lied. Alex gave an exaggerated pout.

“You should’ve said something, you wanna order pizza?” Alex suggested, pulling him in closer. Forrest rested his head on Alex’s, giving him a small kiss and loving the way he smiled against his lips.

"Sounds good,” Forrest said. Alex smiled wider and pulled up his jeans before finding his phone. Forrest laid against his chest, letting Alex wrap his arms around him and order the pizza while he held him close without question.

Someone had to have showed Alex he was loved and needed, right? He wouldn’t be this sweet if they hadn’t.

Besides, they were old. He would be okay as long as he remembered that.

.3.

“And you’re sure you’re okay with this?”

“Stop asking me or I’ll change my mind,” Alex laughed, quickly followed by a sneeze that rocked through his whole body and a loud groan. Forrest smiled in adoration, huffing a little laugh as he scooted a little closer.

Forrest moved closer and gently pulled Alex’s stump into his lap, giving him one last look to make sure it was okay before he slowly started massaging the scar like Alex had showed him. It was something he’d seem Alex to before, but he never stared and had never offered to help. Help, this was the first time Alex even let him touch this specific scar. It was a lot for him and it was a massive privilege.

“So, what does this do exactly?” Forrest asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.

“Well, it’s a desensitization technique that they made me start doing before I got my prosthetic. I think I could technically stop doing it, but it helps a lot with phantom pain and on days where I don’t use my prosthetic, it keeps the scar tissue used to movement and friction, stuff like that,” Alex explained, voice nasal from his stuffy nose. Forrest smiled a little helplessly at the sound.

“Do you want me to wash it too?” Forrest offered. Alex made a face.

“I can do that when I go to brush my teeth.”

“Okay,” Forrest said, not wanting to push. Alex hummed and settled into his pillow more. He was cute when he let his guard down. Well, he was always cute, but it was infinitely more obvious on days like this when he was all soft and cuddly. He leaned down and pressed a kiss on his other leg.

“Don’t kiss me, you’re gonna get sick,” Alex scolded. Forrest laughed.

“It’s your leg, no sickness germs are going to seep out and get me sick anymore than just being around you will,” Forrest said. Alex groaned.

“I don’t want you to get sick,” Alex whined before repeating the same phrase he’d been saying since he got sick the day before, “You should go home.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Forrest insisted. Alex sighed semi-dramatically and looked up at him with the world’s sweetest eyes.

Not for the first time, Forrest wondered just how much Alex felt his own feelings. He always seemed hardened, but his eyes betrayed him and showed just how big his heart was. Forrest kissed his leg again.

“Thank you,” Alex sighed softly, “For taking care of me.”

“Always.”

.4.

“Stupid fucking hair regulations.”

“You could always say fuck the man and grow it out all long and nice,” Forrest suggested, honestly kind of sad as Alex plugged in the clippers. He hadn’t seen Alex with regulation hair, but he knew he liked having something to put his hands through.

“Not an option, unfortunately,” Alex huffed, turning on the clippers and just taking it to his head without hesitation. Forrest visibly grimaced as the side just fell off. “Stop it, you’re making this harder.”

“I’m sorry,” Forrest sighed, sitting on the edge of the bathtub.

“It’s okay,” Alex said, buzzing off more. He left the top a little bit longer than the sides, but it wasn’t long enough. It really felt like the end of an era. Forrest watched closely, still, and he felt his eyebrows slowly come together as he saw a visible white line on the side of his head.

“Do you have a scar on your head?” he asked bluntly. Alex looked at him through the mirror.

“Yeah.”

“How?”

Alex didn’t answer right away, touching up his hair with unmatched precision. It made Forrest wonder how young he was when he started doing that by himself. Whenever he was in the military, he always had to get someone to help. Alex didn’t.

Eventually, Alex was done and he looked like a new person. Like a soldier. Forrest had mixed feelings.

“My dad made us keep regulation cuts when we were kids,” Alex explained, “My brother didn’t use a guard. Pretty sure he didn’t do it on purpose.”

Forrest’s whole body tensed and his eyes widened, involuntarily feeling the pain of it secondhand. Alex just stared at him, unflinching and unbothered. Maybe that was why he liked his hair long. There was a doubt in him on whether his brother had deliberately cut his head open.

“You okay?” Forrest asked cautiously. Alex nodded, shrugging it off.

“Yeah, my dad gave me stitches, I’m fine.”

The worst part was he said it like it was normal.

.5.

Forrest had his arms wrapped around Alex as tight as he could with the center console between them, shushing him as he sobbed into his chest.

He wasn’t sure what set him off. They’d been fine enough, just walking around the park and holding hands and talking about getting ice cream. Something had switched in him though as they passed the playground and Alex suggested they go right then, so they went back to the car. And then on the drive to the ice cream shop, Alex broke into tears. Forrest pulled over immediately to soothe him.

He knew Alex was a bit off when he woke up that morning, so he suggested the park to give him something chill to think about it. He didn’t expect anything there would set him off.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Forrest promised, trying to breathe in sync with Alex to ground him. It took awhile, but he eventually calmed down. He didn’t let go of Forrest’s shirt.

“I’m sorry,” Alex whispered, “I didn’t mean to ruin your day.”

“You didn’t ruin anything, it’s okay. Don’t feel bad,” Forrest promised, pressing a soft kiss into the side of his head. Alex took another shaky breath, not moving from his place pressed into Forrest's chest.

Forrest thought back through all of the things Alex had subtly revealed about his childhood, trying to find a moment that could've hinted about a playground or a park being a trigger. He couldn't think of one, the closest one being his mom bringing all four of her sons to a park the day she ran off without a goodbye. But Alex never got like this when he talked about his mom.

"I'm sorry I brought you here," Forrest said, "I didn't know."

"No, it's just..." Alex said, sniffling as he sat up a little, "It's just a bad day. Could've been anything."

"But I knew that, so I'm still sorry," Forrest insisted. Alex huffed a small laugh, wiping his face dry as he sniffled again.

"You're too good to me," Alex said. Forrest shrugged and didn't say anything. He didn't feel like he was too good for Alex. In fact, he was still quite sure he wasn't good enough for him at all. "Guess I kind of owe you an explanation."

"You don't owe me anything," Forrest promised. Alex sniffled, shaking his head.

"No, I never give you an explanation, but this time I have one," Alex said, taking a deep, steadying breath. Forrest listened intently. "This, um, this was the park my dad took me when I was little when I got into trouble at school. I was, uh, super antagonistic in those years right after my mom left, I was so mad at everyone all the time. But, uh, he would take me here and every single time I could trick myself into thinking it was going to be okay. We'd walk around for an hour and we'd talk about what happened. He'd ask me why I did it, talk through it. It always seemed like it was going to end well. Then, um, then..."

"Alex," Forrest said softly, shaking his head, "You don't have to–"

"Then he told me to pick my own switch," Alex finished, breathing heavily. Forrest felt sick. "'Cause having a reason didn't excuse my actions, he said. I don't know, I just saw that tree and I just..."

"Jesus, Alex, I'm so sorry," Forrest breathed, leading him back to lay against his chest. He went willingly. He thought about Alex's body and tried to remember where scars from that might be. But Alex was six when his mom left, the chances of those having faded by now were high. And then Forrest was faced with the image of six year old Alex walking through the park, holding his dad's hand, and picking out the stick he'd get beaten with later that evening. "Fuck, I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Alex said, "I-It's not even that big of a deal, tons of people had to do that, I'm just having a bad day."

"It doesn't matter how many people had to do that, it's still fucked. You're allowed to be upset with that no matter what kind of day it is," Forrest insisted, "I'll pick a different park next time."

Alex gave a soft laugh, "Okay."

"You still want ice cream?" he wondered. Alex sniffled and shrugged. "How about we stop by the store and I'll run in and get some and then we can eat it in bed with Buffy?"

Alex took another breath, steadier than any of the ones before.

"I'd like that."

.+1.

Forrest woke up to frantic knocking on his front door and Buffy barking.

"Who the fuck–"

He stopped speaking when he opened the door to see Michael and Kyle carrying a limp Alex between them. He didn't even ask questions as he got out of the way, letting them pull Alex inside and lay him on the coffee table. Kyle ripped open his shirt to reveal a bullet wound in his stomach. Buffy barked in concern beside them, trying to peer onto the table.

"Oh my God," he breathed, panic rocking through him as he saw his boyfriend who said he was just going a recruitment trip. That wasn't supposed to lead to this.

"Sorry, you were just the closest and we can't bring him to the hospital without Isobel because they'll ask questions," Kyle explained.

"I-I don't understand," Forrest breathed, "How did he..."

"Get shot? Because your boyfriend is determined to die a martyr," Michael said, not taking his eyes off of the wound. Forrest could barely think straight. Actually, he couldn't at all. "Can you put the dog away?"

"He'll be okay," Kyle promised, looking up at Michael as Forrest dazedly led Buffy to the bathroom, "Do your thing."

And then Forrest really was hallucinating his entire night because Michael's hand started glowing.

It was alight for a few seconds before Alex's eyes opened. Michael lunged to the side, grabbing the bag Kyle thrusted at him and vomiting in it in the same moment Alex groaned in pain.

"Forrest, come distract him, I don't have any anesthetics," Kyle instructed, gloves somehow already on his hands. Forrest was shaking and his mind was scrambled, but he obeyed and knelt by Alex's head. He held his head in his hands.

"Hey, babe, definitely would've liked a heads up," Forrest said. Alex gave a dopey smile, still sweating and clearly in pain. Forrest gave him a kiss on the forehead and stole another look at his abdomen. The wound looked fifty times better than it had before Michael did the glowy thing. He filed that away for questions to ask later.

It was when Kyle neared it with a suture needle that Forrest looked back to Alex. He tensed whenever the needle pierced him, but he just took a shallow breath to keep still. He didn't scream, didn't flinch, just breathed. Forrest found his hand and let him squeeze even if it hurt.

"You're doing great," Forrest insisted. Alex just breathed in slowly. Michael appeared beside him then, breath smelling of vomit and nail polish remover. It was the worst smell he'd ever been forced to smell.

"You really gotta stop playing hero," Michael told him.

"Says you," Alex shot back. Forrest didn't comment, just pushed his hair back and pressed another kiss to his head. "Sorry if I get blood on your new rug."

"Hush, I don't care as long as you're okay," Forrest told him. Alex nodded, taking another deep breath.

They sat there while Kyle stitched him up, Forrest kissing his head and Michael squeezing Alex's other hand. Eventually, Kyle was done.

"Can we stay here? I don't want to move him more and I need to look over him," Kyle said. Forrest nodded.

"Yeah, whatever you need, just keep him safe," Forrest said. He sat there with Alex for a few more minutes before he managed to get himself to his feet. "Gonna go get you some water, okay?"

A few shaky steps later, Forrest was grabbing three ups and filling them with water. A hand reached around him to grab his cup and Forrest followed it to Michael. He had a billion questions, but the guy was clearly having his own rough day and the questions could be saved for the morning.

"Thank you," Forrest said, "Not sure exactly what you did, but... you helped him, I think, so... Thanks."

Michael paused in the middle of downing his water, slowly pulling it away from him mouth as he looked at Forrest. He waited for whatever kind of reaction someone has when they just saved their ex-boyfriend's life and then had that person's new boyfriend kiss them.

"You're treating him right, aren't you?" Michael asked. Forrest nodded.

"I'm doing my best," Forrest said. Michael nodded curtly.

"Good. He deserves it. Keep it up, bro," he said, voice a little awkward and disjointed. He reached out a little, hesitated, and then went through with patting Forrest on the shoulder before grabbing another cup and bringing it into the kitchen. Forrest was too overwhelmed to even process that that was weird and grabbed the final cup and following him.

Forrest knelt beside Alex and helped prop his head up to help him drink. He sighed thankfully as the water got into his system.

"You know, I usually let you slide on the explanation thing, but I think I need one this time," Forrest said to him. Alex looked at him with his warm eyes and nodded, his head resting comfortably in Forrest's palm. So he didn't move it when he let Alex's head back down.

"I will," Alex said.

"At least you got another scar for the collection, much cooler story," Michael said, a lighter tone in his voice. Alex snorted a laugh but groaned at the pain it brought him. "Sorry."

"No, you're good," Alex said, "You're right."

"There is absolutely nothing cool about being shot," Kyle scoffed.

"Shut up, Dr. McDreamy, you vote doesn't count," Michael said before looking at Forrest, "You think his scars are cool, don't you, Forrest?"

Forrest blinked at him and then looked down at Alex who was looking at him expectantly. He didn't know how to say that cool wasn't the word he'd use. Tragic, maybe, a sign of his strength. Not cool. But they made him Alex, so that was something cool.

"Yeah," Forrest agreed, "Very cool."

Alex smiled and closed his eyes and Forrest officially accepted that this was his life now.

He was absolutely okay with that.

#Forlex #forlex fic #Alex Manes #Forrest Long #Roswell new Mexico #my fic #I wrote this at work sorry if it's messy #itll be on ao3 when i get home

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