#that one was way easier to just add to the cable bill at the time
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I just had to remind my parents (mostly my mom) that looking through my Netflix user is a really bad idea and, in fact, way out of line. That was the one rule I gave them when I moved back in. I had to name drop Memento before my mom understood - I’ve promised to never watch it again when either of them are in the house (long boring story.) My Mom apparently still doesn’t understand how it’s a total violation of my explicit boundaries, but that’s a fight for different day. And the look I got from My Dad meant he knows and he’ll explain to her. Thanks Dad.
#I’m not ashamed of anything on there; there’s just a bunch of shit they would not enjoy#I pay for all the streaming services#except acorntv#that one was way easier to just add to the cable bill at the time#they don’t charge me rent#the least I can do is make dinner and pay for streaming#now I have to clean everything and prep for a tea party tomorrow#you’re welcome mom
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Organize Your Life with a Pop of Color: The Magic of Colored Binder Clips
In the realm of office supplies, binder clips might not be the first item to ignite excitement. However, when you add a splash of color to these practical tools, they become not only functional but also a vibrant addition to your organizational arsenal. Let’s explore the myriad ways colored binder clips can add flair and efficiency to your daily life, both at work and at home.
1. A Burst of Color in the Office
The typical office environment can sometimes feel monotonous, with its endless stacks of white paper and black pens. Introducing colored binder clips is a simple yet effective way to bring some cheer to your workspace. Here's how you can make the most of them:
Color-Coding Documents: Assign different colors to various types of documents. For instance, use blue clips for financial papers, red for urgent tasks, green for completed projects, and yellow for items that need review. This visual cue can save you time and reduce the stress of sifting through piles of paperwork.
Priority Management: Use colored clips to prioritize your to-do list. A red clip might indicate high-priority tasks that need immediate attention, while green could signify less urgent work. This method helps you focus on what’s most important without constantly checking your list.
Personal Touch: Personalizing your workspace with bright, colorful clips can boost your mood and make your desk feel more inviting. It’s a small change that can have a big impact on your workday.
2. Home Organization Hacks
Colored binder clips aren’t just for the office. They can be incredibly useful around the house as well. Here are some creative ways to utilize them:
Kitchen Helper: Use binder clips to keep your snack bags sealed and fresh. Assign different colors to various family members so everyone knows which snacks are theirs. You can also use them to organize your spice packets or recipe cards.
Cable Management: Tired of the tangled mess of charging cables? Use binder clips to keep them organized and untangled. Assign a different color to each device’s cable for easy identification.
Mail Sorting: Create a mini mail station by using colored clips to sort incoming mail. Red clips for bills, blue for personal letters, and green for advertisements or catalogs. This system helps you stay on top of your correspondence without feeling overwhelmed.
3. School Supplies with Style
For students, staying organized is crucial for success. Colored binder clips can make this task easier and more fun:
Classwork Organization: Use different colored clips for each subject. This way, your math homework doesn’t get mixed up with your history notes. It’s a simple trick that can save time and reduce stress during study sessions.
Binder Enhancement: Decorate your binders with colorful clips to add some personality. It can make your school supplies stand out and might even make studying a bit more enjoyable.
Project Management: When working on group projects, use colored clips to designate each team member's contributions. This visual distinction can help keep the project organized and ensure everyone is on the same page.
4. Travel Companion
Colored binder clips are also great for travel. They are compact, lightweight, and incredibly versatile:
Travel Documents: Keep your travel documents, such as tickets, passports, and itineraries, clipped together with a brightly colored clip. It makes them easy to spot in your bag and ensures you don’t misplace any important papers.
Money Organizer: Use different colored clips to separate your cash into categories like food, souvenirs, and transportation. This method helps you stick to your budget and keeps your money organized.
Accessory Holder: Prevent your necklaces from tangling by clipping each one to a binder clip. It’s a simple solution that protects your jewelry while you’re on the go.
5. DIY and Craft Projects
For the creatively inclined, colored binder clips are a dream. They can be used in a variety of DIY projects:
Photo Display: Create a unique photo display by attaching your favorite pictures to a string with colorful binder clips. It’s an easy and affordable way to personalize your space.
Art Supplies: Keep your drawing or painting materials organized with different colored clips. This method is particularly useful for separating different types of paper or organizing your paintbrushes.
Gift Wrapping: Add a personal touch to your gifts by using colored binder clips instead of traditional ribbon. It’s a quirky and modern twist that can make your presents stand out.
Conclusion
Colored binder clips are more than just office supplies; they are versatile tools that can enhance organization and add a splash of color to your life. Whether you’re managing paperwork, sorting your mail, or getting creative with DIY projects, these vibrant clips are sure to become your new best friend. So why settle for boring when you can have a rainbow of options at your fingertips? Start exploring the colorful possibilities today and see how these simple clips can transform your organizational habits and brighten up your day.
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The Future is Now: Automated Window Treatments
Automated Window Treatments: The Future is Now
Are you tired of constantly having to adjust your window treatments throughout the day manually? Do you want to increase your home's efficiency while adding a touch of modernity to your decor? If so, then automated window treatments might be just what you need.
What are Automated Window Treatments?
Automated window treatments have come a long way in recent years. Nowadays, you can choose from various types of window coverings, including battery-powered motorized blinds, Roman shades, roller shades, and wood blinds, just to name a few. These types of window coverings are not only convenient, but they are also energy-efficient and stylish.
One of the advantages of automated window treatments is that they can be powered by a rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for a power source or electrical outlet near your window. This makes installation much easier, as you don't have to worry about running power cables to your window blinds or shades.
Another popular feature of automated window treatments is that they can be integrated with smart home systems, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. This means you can control your smart shades using voice commands, which is especially helpful if you have limited mobility or prefer hands-free control.
Smart blinds and shades can be programmed to open and close at specific times of the day, based on your preferences or the amount of natural light in your room. This helps regulate the temperature in your home and reduce your energy bills. Additionally, automated window treatments can be programmed to open and close when you're away from home, giving the impression that someone is there to deter potential burglars.
If you're considering adding smart window treatments to your home, choosing a reputable brand and considering the types of window coverings that would work best in your space are important. Whether you choose roller shades, Roman shades, or wood blinds, you'll enjoy the convenience and style of automated window treatments. And with the integration of smart home devices and voice commands, controlling your window blinds and shades has never been easier or more accessible.
Advantages of Automated Window Treatments
1. Convenience: Automated window treatments offer unparalleled convenience, especially regarding hard-to-reach windows or windows behind furniture. Instead of struggling to adjust your window blinds or shades, you can simply use a remote control or smartphone app to adjust them from the comfort of your seat.
This feature is especially helpful for those with limited mobility, as it eliminates the need to climb ladders or move heavy furniture just to adjust their window treatments. With smart shades and blinds, you can sit back, relax, and let technology work for you.
2. Energy Efficiency: Automated window treatments are also energy-efficient and convenient. Adjusting your window coverings to the amount of natural light in your room can reduce the heat or cold that enters your home. This helps regulate the temperature in your living space, reducing the need for air conditioning or heating, which can lead to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
Plus, with the ability to schedule when your window treatments open and close, you can optimize the amount of natural light that enters your home throughout the day. For example, you can program your shades to open during the day when the sun is out, and close in the evening when temperatures drop. This helps keep your home comfortable and adds an extra layer of security, making it look like someone is home even when you're away.
So not only are automated window treatments convenient, but they can also help you save money and reduce your environmental impact. It's a win-win situation!
3. Increased Privacy and Security: They provide your home with an added layer of privacy and security. With the ability to adjust the amount of natural light that enters your home, you can easily block out prying eyes and create a more private living space.
And when you're away from home, smart shades and blinds can help make your home appear occupied, deterring potential burglars. By scheduling your window treatments to open and close at different times, you can give the appearance that someone is home, even when you're on vacation or at work. This extra layer of security can provide peace of mind and protect your home and valuables from intruders.
Plus, with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, you can control your window treatments anywhere in the world. So whether you're on vacation or running errands, you can easily adjust your shades or blinds to create a more private and secure home.
In short, automated window treatments provide a range of benefits beyond just convenience. From increased energy efficiency to enhanced privacy and security, these high-tech window coverings can improve your quality of life and help you create the perfect living space.
4. Improved Aesthetics: Not only do automated window treatments provide convenience, energy efficiency, privacy, and security, but they can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home. With no cords or chains visible, these motorized shades and blinds can create a clean and modern look that seamlessly blends in with your decor.
Plus, with a wide range of styles and materials, including roller shades, Roman shades, wood blinds, and smart shades, you can find the perfect window coverings to match your home's unique style. And with the option to add rechargeable batteries or connect to a power source, you don't have to sacrifice style for function.
With the integration of smart home devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, you can easily control your smart window coverings and create a stylish and functional living space. So why settle for outdated window treatments when you can upgrade to the convenience and elegance of automated window treatments?
FAQs
Q: Are automated window treatments difficult to install?
A: Not at all! With professional installation services, the installation process is quick and easy.
Q: How do I control my automated window treatments?
A: You can use a remote control or a smartphone app to control your window treatments.
Q: Are automated window treatments noisy?
A: No, they operate quietly and smoothly.
The Future at Your Fingertips
Motorized window treatments are a game-changer for any homeowner who wants to enjoy the benefits of modern technology. Whether you choose roller shades, Roman shades, smart shades, or wood blinds, you can easily control your window treatments with the touch of a button, voice command, or a smartphone app.
And with the integration of smart home systems like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, you can create a fully automated and functional living space that is convenient and stylish. With a simple voice command, you can adjust your window treatments and create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.
So why settle for outdated window treatments that require manual adjustment when you can upgrade to the convenience and elegance of motorized window treatments? Contact your local window treatment professionals to learn how you can transform your home with the latest technology and create the perfect living space for you and your family.
#custom window treatments#residential window treatments#window blinds#window treatment company#window treatment automations#motorized window treatments#window coverings#blinds company#vertical blinds#roller shades
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Here, Take My Money
The era of streaming has found viewers with plenty to talk about in the hallway or wherever you gather to chat.“Watched any good shows lately?” “Let me tell you about…” “You really need to watch…”
In fact, finding, watching, and sharing shows has become a new social norm, and to be into certain shows is almost a badge of honor. So much so that now we want to tell the world how cool we are by wearing our favorite shows. I’m guilty. I wore my Stranger Things stocking cap yesterday for a chilly morning walk. And I have a t-shirt and sweatshirt in the closet.
The networks have watched this, duly noted the trend, and obliged us with merch. There’s plenty of stuff available online from them for their big shows, like Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building (You really ought to watch this!) and What We Do In The Shadows (Oh man, have I laughed during Season 4!), and Max’s The Righteous Gemstones (I’m probably going to hell for liking it, but it is so good!).
In recent years, Netflix even opened pop-up shops around the country. I visited the Stranger Things store last year at Grapevine Mills Mall near Dallas. It was over the top, part TV show museum, part retail. The whole idea was customer engagement, which is a big deal these days. It worked.
And now Netflix is taking it to the next level in announcing they will open two permanent stores in 2025. Netflix House will invite visitors to immerse themselves into the show, buy merch, eat themed food, and maybe even try a Squid Game obstacle course.
Whaaaat? Everyone who failed those courses in the show died straight away. I presume there will be no losers in Netflix House. I hope. Would I do it? Oh yeah.
The goal, of course, is just basic marketing. Yes, it will certainly add to revenues, but more importantly, it will keep subscribers engaged and paying their bill each month. This is increasingly important with rising subscription fees and tight consumer budgets.
This all makes sense. Whereas Disney has theme parks to reinforce their movies, the streamers have nothing aside from those pop-ups Netflix has been doing. And while Netflix House is a big step forward, it still pales compared to going to see the Mouse in Florida or California.
Now compare this to linear broadcasting. When was the last time you saw folks doing this for a weekly show? I’ll wait. Sure, they had eyeballs, but not wallets. It’s too bad that AMC did not see the future in this, because it took my two friends to open the Breaking Bad Store in Albuquerque on their own. They have done exceedingly well, and although they opened after Breaking Bad’s run, they were open for part of Better Call Saul, the prequel. AMC aired both shows linearly via cable, so I guess it is not surprising they were stuck in the old-school mode.
If you want to hear my friends’ story, check out my podcast interview with them in Season 1 Episode 25 of BuffSpeak. These guys are too funny.
The root of all the excitement can be found in one word: Fandom. I’ve written about this before, particularly in regard to sports teams. The digital era has allowed for fandom to take off in new ways, connecting like-minded people around the world, not just in your local market.
Basically, it is easier than ever to find your people, your tribe. Better yet, thanks to streaming, we do it all in our own time. The M.A.S.H. finale drew 105 million viewers in February 1983, but they all had to tune in at the same time. In contrast, 142 million households—arguably much more than just individual viewers—watched Netflix’ Squid Game. I got so sucked in that I was watching it at 3:00 in the morning, consuming it the way precisely how Netflix intended.
I bet that Hulu, Max, and the others will be watching closely. Paramount+ (owned by CBS) could do well selling official Yellowstone merch (I have a couple of hoodies my daughters found online). Apple+ could do likewise with some of its excellent shows.
Meanwhile, my Funko Pop Squid Game characters are watching me as I type, more evidence that this fandom thing is here to stay. And whatever the next cool show to come along, you can bet there will be a huge push to monetize it.
Now if I could only find the remote…
Dr “Living In The Upside Down” Gerlich
Audio Blog
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chocolate covered strawberries | r. d.
summary: a precious person like you was what had been missing in Ransom’s life.
pairing: ransom drysdale x reader
warnings: fluff only, language, implied smut maybe?, oh and beware of fucking soft!Ransom
word count: 3,479 (less or more)
a/n: well, i certainly didn’t expect it to be this long. anyway, this is a soft and ooc!Ransom fic, no spoilers because i follow practically nothing from the movie (at least i think). excuse my errors, please, and enjoy!!😊let me know what you think!!
Ransom is furious, driving home from another family gathering that couldn’t end any differently than with yelling, insults, and throwing things at each other. He has no idea why he‘s still going to these things, he always swears to himself that the next time will be the last time. Maybe somewhere deep inside of him, there’s still a sparkle of hope that one day he will have a normal conversation with his mom and dad.
He needs something to calm him down and while a drink and some bimbo he’d meet in a bar sound amazing, it is still early for that. On his way home, there is this bakery he‘s always liked to stop by because they have the best fresh-from-the-oven chocolate-filled croissants to ever exist. They are maybe even better than alcohol. Just maybe.
He leaves the coat in his car and heads towards the entrance. The bell above the door rings as he enters, taking his sunglasses off. The shop is quiet except for the soft chatter of the patrons that are occupying some of the seats. He doesn‘t even need to look at the display case with all the baked goods, he already knows what he’s having, so he heads directly to the counter to order.
After the cashier takes his order and disappears in the kitchen, Ransom slowly moves to the waiting counter where a young woman is chatting with the older man (Timmy, he thinks is his name) that owns the place together with his wife. The woman has a big genuine smile on her face and occasionally a beautiful laugh leaves her mouth when Timmy says something supposedly funny. Ransom has never seen her before. Maybe it’s not so early to charm his way into a woman’s bed after all. He gets closer and as Timmy hands her her order on a pink paper tray – two Halloween themed cupcakes, with white frosting, yellow and orange sprinkles and a little marzipan ghost sticking out – Ransom only hears their goodbyes.
You are still smiling, cheerful from the conversation you had with Timmy as you turn around, ready to leave, and enjoy the sweet treat on the way home. But you don‘t even have the time to react when you suddenly collide with a solid figure. You stumble a little, but strong hands on your shoulders steady you, which you don‘t even realize since your mind‘s only focus is on the mess you have caused. And just like that, your smile disappears.
“Oh my god,“ you gasp and your eyes widen as they scan the not-so-white-anymore cable-knit sweater covered in frosting and sprinkles. “Oh my god,” you repeat, a little louder this time. Panicking, you quickly dispose of the tray with crumbled cupcakes, taking an unnecessarily high number of napkins from the holder on the counter and trying your best to clean the beautiful cozy-looking piece of clothing.
You have yet to see the person’s face, either too embarrassed to look them in the eye or too concentrated on getting the crumbs out of the wool. Probably both.
“I am sorry.” You say, throwing the dirty napkins on the counter. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve been looking where I was going. I was still so absorbed in the conversation that I didn’t notice you,” Oh, god, here comes the downpour of babbles… „And I didn’t even hear you come behind me or maybe I wasn’t paying attention, that’s prob–“
Your gibbering is interrupted by the stranger’s hand circling your wrist, also stopping your frantic movements.
“Would you calm down? It’s just a sweater. I can buy a new one.”
You finally look up, your eyes meeting ocean-blue ones with hints of green around the pupils. His voice sounded empty, emotionless and you aren‘t sure if he is upset or just doesn‘t care.
“Oh,” slipping your hand out of his hold, you break the eye contact, the situation too embarrassing for you. You look at the mess on the countertop, the paper tray still laying there, dirty napkins scattered across the surface and some of them even found their way to the ground.
Shaking your head, you grab all the garbage, bend down to pick up the ones on the floor and throw it into the trash can situated in the corner.
You turn back to the man, tucking your hair behind your ear.
“Um… Can I at least pay the cleaning bill?”
“It’s fine, really.”
He still hasn’t cracked a smile.
“Well, let me buy you something sweet then. What’s your guilty pleasure?” you smile again and look over his shoulder, studying the selection of desserts.
“I said it’s alright,“ he bites. “Besides, I already ordered.”
You don‘t expect him to snap at you like that so it kind of shocks you. Better let sleeping dogs lie…
“Okay,” you nod. “I’m sorry again,” you stuff your hands in your coat pockets and head out.
Ransom stands there, looking at your leaving form and he sighs. Shit.
When you bumped into him, he was really pissed that you ruined his clothes at first, but then you started apologizing, cleaning him and rambling . That infuriated him even more. Why the hell did you even care? It wasn’t even your sweater!
You were annoyingly sweet, which Ransom isn‘t used to at all. Sure, women are nice to him, giving him that fake sugary smile just to get into his pants. He never complains, of course, it makes getting laid much easier when they’re trying to get his attention, not the other way around. But it was just an act. The smile you gave Timmy was genuine and so was the concern about his sweater. How was he supposed to react?
His thoughts are interrupted by the young employee who took his order, signalizing his croissant is ready. He takes it and turns to leave, his face still painted with… confusion?
“Fuck.” He curses silently. You can‘t be far. If he hurries, he can still catch up to you and… apologize? He doesn’t know what he’s going to do, except for one thing.
He faces the cashier again. “Hey, could you give me two of those Halloween cupcakes? With the ghosts. And wrap it up. Quickly,“ his voice is intimidating, arrogant and the boy doesn‘t have the balls to argue so he just does as he is told. Ransom snatches the covered tray from the boy’s hands and sprints out.
He looks around and luckily sees you not so far away from the shop so he decides to add a jog to his steps as he follows your direction.
“Hey!” he yells to catch your attention, which he successfully does. You turn around, brows furrowed, stopping when you notice the man from the bakery.
He runs up to you and when he reaches the place where you’re standing, you open your mouth again.
“Oh, did you change your mind?” Your hand makes a move to reach into your bag. “Just say how much and I’ll –”
“No.” He interrupts and confusion becomes evident on your face again. “As I said, it’s fine.” You expect him to continue, to tell you why he stopped you in the middle of a street. But he just stands there, looking at you as if he expects you to say something.
See, when Ransom spontaneously came up with this great plan, he didn’t think it all the way through. He seriously didn’t know what he was going to do, so now, he is just awkwardly shifting on his feet as he contemplates what to say.
“Here.” He shoves the mini tray into your hands. You look at it and then back at him, still confused. „It’s the cupcakes you bought before my sweater decided to have a taste.“
Really? That’s the smoothest thing you could think of? Jesus, what is wrong with you?
But you laugh. And god, is that a beautiful sound. Wait, what?
“Thank you, that’s really sweet of you.” you smile and before Ransom can argue, you stick your free hand out. “I’m (Y/n).”
He closes his fingers over yours. “Hugh… I mean, Ransom.”
The smile doesn‘t leave your face. “Well, which is it?”
“Ransom, you can call me Ransom.”
“Nice to meet you, Ransom.”
You have known since the beginning that Ransom has some skeletons in the closet. Hence the rudeness when you first met and struggle of wording out an apology for his manners. He managed to apologize in his own way and that was okay with you. You know people who don’t even try, but Ransom? He did his best and for that, you gave him your number when he asked.
It didn’t take him long to call you and ask you out. You agreed.
When he asked you on a date, his plan was to take you out for a dinner in a luxurious restaurant, order some expensive wine to get you a little bit tipsy, and spend the night at your place. The next morning he would silently sneak out of your house, block your number and never see you again.
But you are here, sitting across from him, with that big smile on your face, wearing a lovely cream knee-length dress that shows just the right amount of skin which makes him horny and at the same time, he just wants to focus on not how hot, but how beautiful you look.
“So, tell me more about yourself,” you say after the waiter takes away the empty plates.
There is no way he will talk about how filthy rich he is, how his grandfather owns one of the most successful publishing companies and lives in a huge mansion in the rich part of town. No, he’ll save this information for the gold diggers.
“Well, you might know my granddad, Harlan Thrombey?” Okay, nevermind. “He owns Blood Like Wine?” In his defense, this is all he’s ever talked about with girls. He just needs practice.
You nod. “Oh my God, yeah, of course, I know him! I mean, not know know him, but I’ve read some of his books! Just don’t ask me about them, I’m not exactly a number one fan.” you scrunch your nose and his mind tells him how adorable that is. Shut up, brain.
“Okay, I won’t.” he laughs genuinely. He always fakes laugh when he is on a date if you can even call the ones he’s been on that. “Besides, you can’t be a number one fan even if you wanted to, because that place is mine.”
“I wouldn’t assume anything else. Are you close with your granddad?”
He averts his eyes for a second and clears his throat.
Instead of answering, he throws the question back at you, his voice defensive, maybe a little too harsh. “Are you close with your granddad?”
The corners of your mouth slightly falter and you look down for a second before facing him again, “I was. He died when I was 15.”
“Oh.” Ransom’s face softens.
“But I loved him. Every Halloween, I’d force him to tell me scary stories all day and all night.” you smile at the memories. “You know, I’m sure he and your granddad would get along. He did come up with some pretty amazing tales.”
And suddenly, he is intrigued. “What was your favorite?”
You tell him about the cursed toy factory, how every Halloween all toys come to life and they stuff all the employees with plush so they become these living toys, too, and from all the anger, they do the same to the future workers the following year.
He laughs at that, agreeing that your grandfathers would indeed be good friends.
“I’m not that close with my granddad,” he says after a few moments of silence. What surprises him is your hand carefully coming to take his which was laying on the table. His eyes focus on your thumb that is stroking his knuckles as he continues. “I’m not close with anyone from my family, actually.” Why is he telling you that? Fucking stop.
He clears his throat and withdraws his hand, scratching the back of his neck.
“You ready to go?” he asks and you just nod.
He isn‘t in the mood for sex anymore, so he drops you at your place and speeds home. God, what are you doing to him? There is something about you that makes him want to open up to you, spill all of his secrets, desires and dreams.
It felt kind of good to tell you about his family, but to be honest, he is scared. He doesn‘t want another person that’s just going to treat him like a worthless piece of shit in his life. I mean, he is, but it would just make him even more shitty.
He’s decided. He is not going to see you ever again.
Then his phone beeps.
(y/n): I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable but I had a great time! I’d definitely be up for doing it again! You can tell me more about your family:)
He scoffs. Why the hell would you want to hear about his family when he told you he’s not close to them?
Then the phone beeps again.
(y/n): Or not! I mean, we can talk about whatever you want! But if you need someone to talk to, I’m here. That’s what I meant.
A smile involuntarily makes its way on Ransom‘s face. Maybe he will see you again.
Since you started spending a lot of time at Ransom’s house, he convinced you to bring some of your stuff. Some clothes, your favorite mug with a whale, saying mornings blow, books and a strawberry-scented shampoo which Ransom became to love.
Almost every morning you share a shower. Sometimes it escalates into a morning shower sex, but most of the time you try and fail to tame him, even though you remind him and yourself of all the times you’ve been late for school, which he doesn’t really care about, to be honest.
You head to the bathroom first, because it takes time for him to get out of bed. After a while, he joins you under the stream of water, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind as he kisses you where your neck meets your shoulder and licks the drops of water from your skin.
You sigh in contentment, putting your arms over his and enjoying the relaxing moment.
Seconds pass and you turn around, taking the bottle of your shampoo while doing so, squirting some into your palm, and the scent of strawberry fills your nostrils. As usual, you bring your hands into his hair, massaging the liquid into his skull and he closes his eyes in bliss, humming.
“You enjoying yourself?” you smirk.
He opens his eyes again and smiles, those butterflies in your stomach coming to life.
“You know I do.” He leans in to kiss you, your arms circling his neck. His hands slide to your butt, kneading the flesh before they grip the back of your thighs but when you are about to jump, he shrieks.
“Shit!” he backs up and his back hits the opposite wall.
You panic, not knowing what’s happened. “What?! Baby, what happened?” You come to him and his fingers are already rubbing at his eyes.
“My eyes! My eyes!” He screams. “I can’t see shit!”
You suppress a laugh, reaching up to remove the hair from his face and wipe away the suds. Then you reach for the detachable showerhead, turn down the temperature, and put it in his hand.
“Here, baby, you have to rinse them.”
He does just that, moans still leaving his mouth at the stinging.
After he finally manages to get all the chemicals out of his eyes, you can‘t hold it anymore. You burst out laughing, unable to stop and he just stares at you with a scowl, putting the showerhead back into its place.
When he turns to leave, you grab his wrists.
“Oh, baby, come on.” you wipe the mixture of water and tears from your eyes. “Don’t leave me here all alone.”
He frowns, his bottom lip sticking out just a little bit. “Might as well. I’m not gonna let you make fun of me.”
The grin is still on your face but you stand on your tiptoes and kiss his pout away. Ransom immediately reciprocates the kiss, pushing you against the wall.
“It hurt,” he says in between the touches of your lips.
“I know, baby,” you say. You pull away and smirk. “Is there a way I can make you feel better?” your suggestive tone hits his ears before you’re sliding down the wall to your knees.
Thank God he didn’t leave the shower.
It’s Friday night and you are watching TV this time in your apartment. Ransom still hasn’t come home from the mansion where he’s spent most of the day, as well as his family. He’s been working with Harlan for quite a while now which boosts up his confidence (not arrogance, there’s a difference) a little and it makes him feel better about himself, proud even, that he‘s finally useful. However, Walt has been giving him shit for it ever since Harlan gave Ransom a chance to be the Acquisitions Editor (of course, he has been pestering him long before that, but now it’s even worse).
Ransom can defend himself, you’re not worried about that, but his family brings out the worst in him, they push him into this dark place that is hard to find a way out of and sometimes you’re afraid that it will destroy him. That’s why you’ve promised yourself that you’re always going to be here for him, no matter what.
And as you expected, you hear your door being unlocked and then slammed shut with a force. He doesn’t even jokingly call out his honey, I’m home! which he never forgets to do. Uh-oh. Doesn’t look good. But again, you didn’t expect anything else.
He comes to the living room, strands of his hair sticking in every direction and falling over his forehead.
“Jesus, why’s it so hot in here?” he takes off his maroon sweater, revealing his plain white t-shirt underneath.
“It’s winter and cold. You expect me to have snow in here, too?”
He just shakes his head, coming to the back of the couch as you crane your head to give him an upside-down kiss. Then he heads to the kitchen, searching the cabinets for something to eat, meanwhile, you turn off the television.
“There should be three croissants in the breadbox!” you say loudly enough for him to hear.
“You want one, too?”
You answer with a no and wait for him.
When he comes back to the living room, he sits next to you and leans his back on the armrest. You’re already looking at him, watching his every move, and trying to see a sign of any emotion he might be feeling. He gives you a knowing look and you shift so you are fully facing him, putting your hand gently on his bent knee and lightly stroking it in a comforting way.
“Three, huh?” he asks with his mouth full.
“Just in case it went really bad.” you give a nervous smile, waiting for him to either confirm or rebut.
Seeing the crumbs fall from his mouth, you reach for the plate that is on the coffee table and give it to him.
“Well... nothing I’m not used to.” he takes another bite of the chocolate pastry. Once he swallows, he takes your hand and kisses your palm. “I love you.”
You smile and lean towards him, supporting yourself by putting both hands on his thighs as you kiss him on the lips that now taste like cocoa.
“I love you, too,” you murmur against his mouth.
After Ransom finishes the pastry, instead of going for more food, he lies down, putting his head in your lap. It‘s kind of a ritual now, every time he comes home (his or yours, wherever you are) after visiting his family, he satisfies his sweet tooth (sometimes it’s 1 croissant, sometimes it’s 5), then he sprawls his body on the couch and rests his head on your thighs, nuzzling his face into your stomach while you thread your fingers through his hair and read a book or watch the TV.
“You want to talk about it?” you ask softly.
You stroke his ear with your thumb. He stays quiet and then sighs.
“Later.”
You bend down as much as your position allows you to, placing a few kisses on his temple and across his cheek before you let him drift off to sleep.
You are Ransom’s safe place, just like he’s yours and always will be.
the end
a/n2: so, ehm... *crickets chirping* okay! i have a thing for fucked up guys who i believe can change if you show them a little bit of love, sue me! no but seriously, Ransom is an asshole and he would probably shove the rest of the cupcakes into my face but a girl can dream, right?
anyways, i do have some ideas for part 2 even if it looks like this doesn’t necessarily need a second part..? it could probably be read as a stand-alone but i’ll see if i even decide to post it lol.
thank you so much for reading, any kind of feedback will be appreciated!🥺❤️i love you, guys!!
oh and my other work can be found under #writer luci !!
#ransom drysdale#ransom drysdale x reader#ransom drysdale oneshot#ransom drysdale imagine#ransom drysdale fanfiction#ransom drysdale fanfic#ransom drysdale x female reader#knives out#knives out imagine#knives out fanfiction#knives out fanfic#writer luci
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This Life is Infinite: Chapter One.
OH YEAH. IT'S TIME, BITCHES!!!
Summary: The Infinity War Fic aka I do whatever the fuck I want with the Russo's canon.
Get ready for the most ambitious crossover in CHC history.
Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, Alexandra Rasputin x Nikolai Rasputin, and Kitty Pryde x Illyana Rasputin.
Rating: M for canon typical violence and death threats.
Word Count: 10k... oops.
Set after "Children of the Gods: Part Three."
Author's Note: Tentatively, I’m back from my hiatus. Things are nowhere near settled with my mental health, but I’m feeling well enough to post again.
I think it mostly goes without saying that updates for this series might be a little irregular going forward; not only do I need to take care of myself, but I also need to find a better balance with posting fanfiction and the rest of my life. As always, I will do my best to be clear with you all about what to expect in terms of updates and wait times.
Thank you again for your compassion and understanding.
Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @super-darkcloudstudent, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @leo-writer, @emma-frxst, @sadstone-s
It’s not every day that mysterious, leather-clad men appear –quite literally, considering they teleported in—in your kitchen unannounced.
(Okay, perhaps they don’t qualify as “mysterious” when one of them is your dad, one of them is your brother, and the third is your uncle, but there’s a fourth man with them that you don’t recognize, so you like to think that the principle of the expression remains intact.)
You glance between Nate, Wade, your uncle, and the aforementioned unrecognized fourth man, then lift the box of cereal you’d been pouring into a bowl by way of greeting. “Breakfast?”
***
(The fourth man, as it turns out, goes by the code name “Kronos” –which, in terms of super cool code names, ranks at about an eight.)
“There’s a war coming,” Nate explains while the four of you stand around your kitchen counter. “Apocalypse is stirring. He’ll be sending his allies to Earth to initiate the first stage of the war, so that he’ll encounter less resistance when he comes to rule.”
“‘s called ‘The Decimation,’” Wade interjects as he shovels spoonfuls of Lucky Charms into his mouth. He points at his bowl, then jerks his head at the fridge. “D’ y’all have chocolate syrup?”
“Yeah, second shelf on the door.” You take another bite of your cereal, swallow, then ask Nathan, “What… what happens with ‘The Decimation?’”
“One of Apocalypse’s allies, Thanos, will arrive with his armies and generals. He’ll use his own forces to annihilate the heroes of Earth, then he’ll finish assembling the Infinity Stones and gauntlet and use them to wipe out half of all life across the cosmos.”
You purse your lips together and eye your dad warily. “If… if this was anyone other than you saying this, I’d say this all sounds like a hackneyed comic book and-or movie plot.”
“His information checks out,” Kronos says, voice low and gravelly. “Our cross-temporal intel confirms communications between Apocalypse and Thanos. We might have a few weeks to prepare for Thanos’s arrival –and that’s if we’re lucky.”
Wade snorts and mutters something that sounds suspiciously like “handwavey bullshit” under his breath.
You look to your uncle. “And you’re here because…”
“Need to talk to Xavier,” your uncle answers, “and then alert the Avengers and anyone else that can help us face Thanos.”
“Right,” you say slowly. “And you stopped here first because…”
“I was hungry,” Wade blurts as he drizzles more chocolate syrup on top of his cereal.
“You have credibility,” Nathan says while shooting Wade an equally annoyed and endeared look. “Xavier and Piotr listen to you, and the rest of the X-Men listen to them. We can’t afford to deal with a bunch of hesitating and infighting right now. We need to get our shit together and defeat Thanos, or the world as we know it is fucked.”
“Question.” Wade lifts his spoon. “Does Donald Trump die in this decimation bullshit?”
“We’ll deal with him later,” your uncle stage-whispers to Wade.
“If you’re all sure…” You wait for all four of them to nod, then sigh and shrug. “Alright. I think most of the X-Men are training right now. Let’s go talk to them.”
***
“This all sounds fucking insane.”
Wade gasps. The eyes on his mask widen as he lifts a gloved hand to where his mouth is under his mask. “James Doohan used a no-no word! My goodness gracious golly!”
Scott Summers scowls, but otherwise ignores Wade. He turns to the Professor, expression incredulous. “Do you believe… any of this?”
Xavier grimaces. “Our sources through Kronos” –he gestures to your uncle’s colleague—“have been confirming the intentions of Apocalypse for several years now. The difficulty was always in determining when Apocalypse would act, and in which timeline –though, now that we have Cable’s intel, we’ve been able to figure those two details out.”
“If Thanos is as powerful as you’re saying,” Ororo pipes up, looking at Nathan, “then how are we supposed to defeat him?”
“Any way we can,” Nathan fires back, expression grim.
“Our intel says that Thanos only has three of the six Infinity Stones, along with the gauntlet,” Kronos adds. “If we can keep the last three stones out of his hands and defeat his armies here on Earth, we’ll have better odds of facing Apocalypse down the road.”
“Right,” Jean says. “And where are the last three stones?”
“The Mind Stone is in the possession of Vision, an android created by Ultron, who now works with the Avengers,” Kronos explains. “The Time Stone is in the possession of Doctor Stephen Strange, who leads an order of sorcerers and magic users in New York. The Soul Stone… has yet to be located.”
“And we’re sure that Thanos is coming here?” Ororo asks, brows raised in skepticism.
“One of the unifying features across the pertinent timelines is a battle that takes place on Earth, specifically in the country of Wakanda,” Kronos answers. “Regardless of the other features in the timeline, there is always a major confrontation between Thanos and the forces of earth there.”
“Great,” Rogue deadpans, expression flat. “Now we just have to convince them to let us in. ‘Excuse me, your Majesty T’Challa, but there’s an evil spaceman that is collecting all powerful rhinestones and he’s going to come here to try and wipe out half of all life on Earth, so we need you to let us into your country with strict visitation policies to we can help you fight him.’ Yeah, that’ll go over real well.”
“We don’t have time to waste on sarcastic bullshit,” Nathan grits out, cybernetic eye flaring as he glares at Rogue. “We’ll handle getting the Avengers and Wakanda on board,” he says, turning to the Professor. “I take it we can trust you to get your team and Magneto collected?”
“I’ll contact Erik,” Xavier promises before looking over at your husband. “Piotr, would you mind calling your family? I believe, given the severity of the coming conflict, having as many hands as possible would be in our best interests.”
Piotr nods. “Konechno –of course.” He looks up at you from where he’s sitting, confusion clear in his sky blue eyes—
“You good to come with us?” Nathan asks, tapping your shoulder lightly to get your attention. “We’ll need help talking to Stark.”
“Huh? Uh –yeah. Sure.” You look back at Piotr; the request to ask for five minutes, just five minutes, to talk to your husband is on the tip of your tongue—
Nate tugs you –gently—a couple inches closer, then says, “Bodyslide by five.”
The room blurs, then disappears from view.
***
You’ve only bodyslid with Nathan a handful of times –and each time you do, you’re always caught off guard by how fucking weird it feels.
Your stomach lurches like you’ve just gone down the steepest drop on a rollercoaster, even though the ground remains steady beneath your feet. In a flash, there’s a brand new room in front of you –sleek, monochromatic cabinets, white marble countertops, stainless steel appliances and fixtures, the works. The space oozes sophistication, function, style –and money. So much money.
Given everything you’ve heard about Tony Stark, it makes sense.
“Deep breaths,” Nathan says. He places a steadying hand on your shoulder while you blink rapidly. “In through the nose, out through the mouth.”
You do your best to comply –though it’s a bit difficult, given that your brain is shrieking ‘sensory overload’ while trying to adjust to the new lighting, the new sounds, the sensation of having moved without really having moved at all, at least in the sense of walking or riding in a car—
And then alarms start blaring. Red lights flash, klaxons go off, the works.
Wade swears and claps his hands over his ears. “Christ! For a guy who has literal robots that can wipe his ass with dollar bills, you think he’d invest in something a little easier on the ears!”
“Wilson!” The klaxons and red lights cut out, replaced by various whirring noises and the sound of hurried, angry footsteps. “I swear to God, if you’ve hijacked one of my jets again, I’m gonna –who the fuck are all of you?”
Tony Stark looks… nothing like what you see in the papers. Granted, his face and hair look largely the same, but he’s not wearing the crisp, stylish suits that all the magazines, articles, papers, and interviews feature him wearing. He’s got on a worn, holey Metallica shirt, ripped, grease stained jeans, and a pair of scuffed sneakers that look like they might’ve been purchased ten years ago, for all that they’re barely holding together.
The army of security bots hovering and whirring around him, however, do fit his press image.
“Jon Snow!” Wade chirps, waggling his fingers at the harried “genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist.” “Long time, no talk. How’s Daenerys doing?”
“Summers, would you do me a favor and put your psychopath on a leash?” Tony asks, tone less than polite or pleasant as he focuses on Nate. “Preferably a nice short one that’s far away from me?”
“We’re here to talk,” Nathan says –though he does stop Wade from trying to play with the knives in the block on the kitchen counter. “It’s a matter of life and death. The well-being of the entire universe is at stake.”
“Yeah, been there, done that,” Tony says, looking none too impressed.
“One of your colleagues may have mentioned his name,” Kronos interjects, taking a step forward. “Does the word ‘Thanos’ ring any bells?”
Tony’s expression sobers for an instant, but he hides it quickly enough. “This is private property, and you’re all—”
A red being with a green suit and a yellow gem in the center of his forehead emerges from the floor. He places himself between Tony and the rest of you. “Would you like me to escort them out, Mr. Stark?”
“Ah, Casper the Friendly Android with No Concept of Personal Boundaries Despite the Infinite Knowledge!” Wade fires back, waving cheerfully. “How you doing, twenty-twenty?”
Vision sighs, longsuffering. “You have been expressly forbidden from these premises, Mr. Wilson.”
“Unless he’s here under my direct supervision,” Nathan fires back. “Stark, we need to talk about this—”
“Tony?” A tall, elegant woman with red hair wearing a tailored, navy blue dress walks up behind the man in question. She flashes you all a polite smile, but there’s no missing the way her gaze cautiously assesses each one of you. “I’m guessing these aren’t –oh. Wade’s here.”
Wade waves in response. “Hi, Miss Potts! How’s being a CEO?”
“It’s going very well, thank you,” Pepper replies politely –though, this time, she’s scanning the room for missing objects and-or visible damage. When nothing turns up, she looks back at Tony. “Are we escorting them out?”
“They claim to have information about the end of the world,” Tony says, tone flippant –though the grave expression on his face belies his snark. “About Thanos.”
Recognition flashes over Pepper’s face, though her polite mask never fully slips. She nods, then says, “Are we going to listen to them?”
“Probably should,” Tony replies in the same lackadaisical tone. “I’m not turning off the security drones while Wilson’s here, though.”
“Just for that, I’m pissing in your Ficus before I leave,” Wade huffs.
“That seems like it’s for the best,” Pepper tells Tony, smiling going tight at the edges while she stares at Wade. She takes a breath, steeling herself, then steps past Tony and nods at the rest of you in greeting. “Sorry for the confusion. Would you mind coming with us, so we can talk somewhere more comfortable?”
***
“I started connecting the dots after Thor left,” Tony explains, twirling a pencil between his fingers as he paces back and forth. “He mentioned Thanos briefly –but with the destruction and repurposing of Loki’s staff, the straggling records of Dormammu’s attack and the use of the Time Stone by Strange, the roles that the Tesseract and Loki’s staff played in the attack on New York by the Chitauri…” He sighs, pausing to stare out at the window at some unseen object before grimacing and shrugging. “It wasn’t hard to figure out.”
You’re all gathered in a conference room –which, as with the kitchen, carries the same modern, sleek style. Floor to ceiling windows show off the training grounds and the forest that conceals the base from the rest of the world. A massive plasma TV takes up one of the far walls, while the other walls are taken up by various dormant, holographic and electronic displays (made by Stark himself, no doubt). A black, oblong table sits in the center of the room, with leather, silver studded swivel chairs positioned around it.
“How many are there?” Tony asks, looking first at Kronos, then at Nathan. “How much time do we have?”
“There are six Infinity Stones in total,” Kronos says. “Thanos already has three –the Space stone, which was contained by the Tesseract, the Reality stone and the Power stone. Your colleague, Vision—” he gestures to the android “—is in possession of the Mind Stone already, and Stephen Strange has the Time Stone. Our agents have been unable to confirm the whereabouts of the Soul Stone, but we’re certain that Thanos doesn’t have it.”
“Yet,” Tony adds, tone pessimistic.
“As far as time goes, we have a few days at most,” Nathan says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Maybe a week, if we’re lucky.”
Tony grimaces. “That doesn’t bode well for rebuilding international relations on a dime. Or team morale for that matter.”
“Sort it out,” Nathan gravels out. “We’ve got bigger issues.”
“We won’t have time for issues if we can’t even pull a team together,” Tony snaps.
“If it helps…” Kronos withdraws a flash drive from his jacket pocket and holds it out to Tony. “The evidence of Thanos’s collection of the stones and his plans to come here.”
Tony accepts the flash drive. He turns it over in his fingers a couple times –no doubt mentally comparing the drive to the technology he’s created—then pockets it. “And Xavier’s on board with all this?”
You blink when you realize everyone’s staring at you. “Uh –yes. He’s contacting Erik Lensherr for some additional support, and the rest of the X-Men are ready to take on Thanos as well.”
“Great.” Tony stares down at the table for a moment, expression slightly melancholy but otherwise inscrutable, but then he snaps back to his usual self. “Good meeting. I’ll text you with the details.”
“Ooh, does that mean we’re trading numbers?” Wade gasps, pressing his hands on either side of his face. “I’ll put you on my favorites list.”
“I’ll contact Xavier,” Tony amends, shooting Wade a slightly harried look.
“We’ll be ready,” you assure him, at a loss for what else to say as you hook your arm around Wade’s to keep him from messing with the holographic display system.
“Vision will escort you out,” Pepper says with a polite smile and nod.
“I’ll make you a friendship bracelet, Tony the Tiger!” Wade calls as you and Nathan gently usher him towards the door. “Wait –stop shoving me! I need to get his wrist size!”
“Later, gorgeous,” Nate says with a barely suppressed smile.
Under any other circumstances, you’d laugh, but the stony foreboding weighing down your gut makes it too hard to even muster up a chuckle –especially when you catch Tony slumping down into one of the conference room chairs with a despairing expression on his face. You force yourself to focus on getting Wade out of the Avenger’s headquarters without stealing anything –though that does little to calm your swirling thoughts. How in the hell are we gonna pull this off?
***
“Are you okay?”
You sigh, instinctively wriggling back against Piotr’s chest as he lays down behind you. “Define ‘okay.’”
It’s nearly midnight now. Between contacting other allies for help –Nathan had you all bodysliding around New York for the better part of the day to reach out to the Hell’s Kitchen figures—and learning up about Thanos’s army and what could be expected in a confrontation against him, you didn’t get home until well after dinner.
You’re in bed now, too tired for anything else. You stare out the windows that overlook the balcony, purposefully trying to keep your mind blank so you don’t grow overwhelmed by the chaos buzzing in your brain.
Because this is insane. This is beyond mutant trafficking or petty grievances between groups of mutant rivals or even being gunned down by the mafia. This is beyond abusive parents, groups of hateful bigots, or anti-mutant legislators.
It’s –quite literally—the fate of the entire world. The entire galaxy. Based on Nathan’s reports of the future, half of all life is wiped out. People, animals, plants –all gone, dissolved into piles of ash… and for what? So some egomaniac can have his moment of glory?
Your stomach curdles when you even try to contemplate a life without Piotr.
“Hey.” Piotr draws you in close when you start crying. “Tische, myshka. Everything is okay.”
“But it’s not.” You sniff, wiping at your eyes with your sleeve. “Nothing about this is fucking okay, Piotr. Someone’s gonna wipe out half of the damn universe because he wants to jerk off to it later.”
“He has to go through us, first,” Piotr reminds you as he presses soft, sweet kisses against your cheek.
“We don’t have the numbers,” you point out bleakly. “We don’t have the ammunition. We don’t have the time to make a solid plan, or to prepare any extra defenses, or—”
Piotr hugs you tight. He kisses the top of your head. His hand strokes up and down your arm in an attempt to soothe you.
You grip his other hand, holding him close to you. You focus on how warm and solid he is. How wonderful he is and how lovely your life is with him. “I love you, Piotr.”
“And I love you, Y/N.”
You squeeze your eyes shut and cry some more.
***
The call comes in at five thirty in the morning.
“Stark’s brought around the other Avengers and Wakanda,” Nathan says, sounding far more alert than you ever will at this godforsaken hour. “We’re lifting off at seven.”
“Roger that,” you manage while Piotr turns on the bedside lamp and blinks the sleep out of his eyes. “We’ll be ready.” You set down your phone when the call ends, then groan and drop your head into your pillow. Why can’t the end of the world ever happen in the afternoon?
***
The Blackbird jets are loaded to maximum capacity. Aside from carrying the X-Men and the X-Force exclusive members, you’re also ferrying the Hell’s Kitchen vigilantes, Piotr’s family and Allison, your uncle and his team, and the younger children and their parents to Wakanda for safe-keeping (your uncle’s reasoning was that an enemy of the institute might notice the sudden lack of protection and decide to attack the younger, more vulnerable students and their families for vengeance, so it was better to be safe than sorry).
You keep close to Piotr or to the cockpit, but there’s still no avoiding the tense, cramped feeling.
You’re not the only “birds” in the sky, either. It’s practically a whole convoy, flying out to Wakanda in what might’ve been a formation if Wade didn’t occasionally grab the control and try to do a “barrel roll.” Magneto and his forces are flying in their own airship, while the Avengers are leading their pack in Tony’s custom, “cutting edge of technology” jets.
You watch the small fleet of jets that belong to the Avengers, lips pursed into a tight line. Your gaze darts over to the navigation board every few seconds, tracking your miniscule progress across the Atlantic Ocean towards Wakanda.
There’s a heavy sigh behind you, and then an even heavier pair of arms settle around your shoulders. “Myshka. You should rest.”
You “hmm” softly to let Piotr know you heard him, but you don’t step away from the cockpit door.
He kisses the top of head and starts gently rubbing your neck with his thumbs. “Will be several hours before arrival, dorogoy. There is nothing you can do until then.”
“It feels like wasting time,” you murmur back –because, naturally, Piotr’s seen to the heart of the issue already. “We’ve got so much to do.”
“And we can do nothing until we arrive in Wakanda.” Piotr kisses your temple, then gently nudges you away from the cockpit. “Come sit with me, lyublyu. You will need full energy when we land.”
And that, above all else, is the only reason you let Piotr usher you over to the nearest seat.
You crawl into his lap once he sits, curling up in his arms. You lay your head on his shoulder and let his warmth combined with the gentle thrum of the jet’s sonic engines lull you to sleep.
***
Wakanda is simultaneously everything and nothing like what you expected.
There’s a force shield that surrounds the inner part of the country that gives way as the convoy of ships pass through it. It almost seems to shimmer out of view before revealing an elegant, shining palace and curved, glimmering towers that comprise the larger part of the city. Lush jungle and towering, ice-capped mountains border the city, split by a winding river and rushing waterfalls.
It almost looks too beautiful to be real.
The awe-inducing visuals and technology don’t stop as the convoy flies out to a glittering, black glass structure that, on the navigation board, is labeled as the lab of Princess Shuri. The convoy swoops around to a massive hangar at the base of the building, landing just inside on the polished stone and metal floor.
Waiting for all of you in the hangar is King T’Challa Udaku; he’s wearing a black robe embroidered with silver thread and a vibrant kente scarf, and generally looks every bit as poised and unflappable as he did in the UN interviews. He’s flanked by his Dora Milaje soldiers –who are undeniably badass with their armor and spears, and you catch Ellie, Yukio, and Kitty all staring at the women in awe—and his partner, Nakia, and his sister, Princess Shuri.
Tony and Professor Xavier handle the introductions with the King, which lets you stretch and take in the hangar and throngs of superheroes. You recognize a few of them –Captain America aka Steve Rogers, Ant-Man aka Scott Lang and his entourage --including a man with dark hair styled like Elvis that you recall seeing in some sort of news interview a while back and a young woman with curly brown hair and warm eyes that’s holding his hand-- and War Hero ,aka James Rhodes, aka Tony’s best friend and “work wife”—but some of the entourage members are new to you.
You take a moment to stretch out your back –sleeping in Piotr’s lap isn’t the worst quality rest you’ve ever had, but given the configurations of the jet seats it was a little cramped—and admire the glimmering, inlaid lights on the hangar ceiling. Swanky.
“We have space prepared for the upcoming preparations and hosting all of you,” T’Challa says, voice cutting through the din of the crowd with ease. “If you would all follow Princess Shuri, please.”
Shuri smiles, then motions for everyone to follow her out of the hangar.
Half of the Dora Milaje break away from the formation, keeping a protective line between the princess and everyone else.
You fall into stride alongside your husband, well-practiced by now at matching your steps to his long stride.
***
The “prepared space” winds up being three massive rooms, each with smaller rooms sectioned around the main spaces, a kitchen-slash-rec area that joins the three massive rooms in the center, and three large, communal style bathrooms with multiple stalls for toilets and showers. The main rooms have several long, workstation style tables at them, with some beds stationed at the fringes, and the smaller rooms function only as bedrooms, mostly for the families with kids and the handful of couples present.
“This interface,” Princess Shuri says as she taps on a small disk embedded into the wall, “will let you contact security and staff if you have questions or need to speak with someone. There’s one in each room, for easy access. It will begin glowing and beeping if someone’s trying to send a call to you; you answer by pressing the base,” she explains, demonstrating on the disk.
“We’re expecting another group of people,” Tony pipes up. “Strange is collecting some of our allies from the South Eastern Quadrant. They should be here in the next sixteen hours, give or take.”
Shuri nods. “We’ll contact you when they arrive.” She offers the group a magnanimous nod and smile, then strides out the hall you all entered through, flanked by the Dora Milaje soldiers.
For a moment, no one moves. You all stand around, hesitating as you all try to take in the new scenery and space.
Alex moves first. She sighs, then grabs her duffel and strides towards the nearest workroom. “No point in waiting.”
Her initiative seems to jolt everyone else out of their daze. Everyone sections off, largely sticking with the groups of their original affiliation.
You amble alongside Piotr, peering around the workroom as you try to decide where to set your pack. Here goes nothing.
***
We’re staring down the apocalypse, you muse as you watch everyone set up shop, and it’s all coming down to sewing machines.
It’d come as a shock when Alexandra had lugged the sleek, white machine out of its carrying case. She’d set it on one of the tables, then lifted bolts of thick, rugged Kevlar out of one of her duffels next. Thread, scissors, measuring tape, and gridded cutting boards follow the Kevlar—
And then the sewing machine jammed as soon as Alex turned it on.
“Ty meshok der'ma,” Alex mutters under her breath as she fiddles with the internal mechanisms of the sewing machine. She glares at the gears, grumbling and swearing while she prods at them with a pair of tweezers. “Kakogo khrena tvoya problema?”
The situation seems mundane in its inanity.
The end of the damn world, and we’re being thwarted by twenty pounds of plastic and metal.
“Day mne poprobovat'.” Nikolai crouches down next to his wife. He adjusts the reading glasses perched on his nose, then aims a small flashlight at the interior of the machine. He murmurs and tuts in Russian while prodding at the machine –and then he makes a soft noise of exclamation. “Broken needle. Pryamo tam.”
“Sukin syn.” Alex uses her telekinesis to draw out the metal shard, then lets out an exasperated sigh and spreads her arms when the machine finally makes the proper start up noises. “Thank you.”
“Be nice,” Nikolai chides her with a teasing grin. “Is uncomfortable, having metal stuck in organs. You would not want to work either.”
“I’ve had metal in my organs,” Alex grumbles as she gets her sewing machine configured. “I still managed.” She smirks when Nikolai laughs, then kisses her husband’s cheek before motioning for you to approach. “Come here, ptitsa. I want to reinforce your suit; I need your measurements.”
You round the table, shucking off your sweatshirt so Alex can measure your torso. “Is there anything I need to do?”
“Just hold still, malenkiy,�� Alex murmurs as she runs her tape measure around your waist.
“I make no promises,” you joke.
Alex snorts, then moves her measuring tape up to your ribcage.
***
The waiting is, somehow, worse now.
At least on the plan there was a promise of a destination. A sense of the temporary, that you’d be up and moving and doing again within a few hours.
Unfortunately, reality is so often different from how you envision it, just as it is now. Because the reality of the situation is that there are only a limited number of people capable of helping. Nate and Tony are working with the Princess to configure weapons to fight Thanos’s forces, Hank and the healers are preparing a makeshift medical bay, Frank, Wade, Mikhail, and Neena are cleaning and checking guns, Alex, Piotr and Nikolai are taking turns working on fabricating armor for those who need it—
Leaving you with nothing to do. Aside from keeping those who are working well fed and hydrated and managing the kids, all you can do is sit and watch while everyone else prepares.
It’s agony. Your chest aches from stress, and your stomach’s churning so much you can barely choke food down at mealtimes. I need to help more. I need to do something, dammit.
It’s like being in line for random execution and having no idea whether you’re going to be shot or not.
You stay close to Piotr. You run food and snacks and drinks for anyone who needs it. You help manage the kids when the need arises –but since most of their parents are here, the incidents are far and few between.
You sit. And you wait.
It’s all you can do.
***
“Absolutely not.”
“You need to be reasonable.”
“I am. It’s perfectly reasonable to keep a fourteen-year-old off a fucking battlefield!”
Alex sighs. She leans back in her seat and raises an eyebrow at her eldest daughter. “Normally I would agree, but I don’t think you’ll have much say in the matter. Your ability to control her is notably lacking.”
Artemis huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “You try reining in a teenager who’s realized there’s no consequences to her actions.”
“I’m not judging, merely observing,” Alex assures her daughter. “But, at any rate, it’s not unreasonable to predict that she’ll join the fray at some point. Body armor is a necessity.”
“It’s an invitation! She’ll take it as permission!”
“Artemis?” Allison sticks her head into the room, then strides over to her mentor-slash-surrogate mother. “Is everything okay? Who’s getting permission to do what?”
“No one is,” Artemis grumbles, even as she holds her arm out so the teen can lean against her side. “Especially not you.”
Allison lets out a disgusted sigh and rolls her eyes. “I already told you—”
“You’re not fighting.”
“I can handle myself!” Allison snaps. She jerks away from Tatianna, scowling. “You’re treating me like a baby!”
“Compared to me, you are a baby,” the older woman points out drily.
“It’s not your burden to bear,” Alex interjects, fixing the testy teen with an even –though not harsh—stare. “Teenagers shouldn’t have to fight for the future of the world. That’s for adults to handle.”
“No one gets to decide,” Allison grits out, “what my burdens are. And this isn’t about ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t.’”
The corner of Alex’s mouth twitches. She looks up at Artemis, brows raised.
Artemis sighs. She tips her head back, staring up at the ceiling, then looks down at Allison. “You need body armor to keep you safe. That does not mean, however, that you’ll be joining us in the fight against Thanos.”
Allison sweeps her tongue along the inside of her cheek. She crosses her arms and cocks her head to the side. “Pretty sure you don’t get to decide that.”
“Pretty sure you should listen to me,” Artemis fires back, “since I have more experience and am telling you that it’s too much for you to handle.” She lets out an exasperated breath when Allison rolls her eyes, then waves her hand dismissively as if to say ‘I tried.’ “Get her set up.”
Alex nods, then waves Allison over. “Alright, malenkiy. Let’s get you sorted.”
***
“Are you asleep?”
“Nyet.” Piotr rolls over, drapes an arm over you, and kisses your forehead. “I would ask you the same, but…”
You manage a small chuckle. “Pretty obvious answer, yeah.”
The two of you are in one of the private rooms –if only because (aside from your status as married) it has a bed big enough to accommodate Piotr. There’s a small window that overlooks a cavern beneath the lab. Dim, blue light seeps through the glass pane, but it’s not enough to properly illuminate the room.
Piotr’s fingers skim over your upper arm. “Why are you not sleeping, myshka?”
“Can’t,” you admit, voice wavering. You take a deep breath through your nose and try to calm yourself. “I just… I can’t handle not doing anything. It gives me too much time to think about what might happen.”
Piotr croons gently, drawing you in closer so he can tuck you against his chest. He cradles your head with one massive head. “Dorogoy. You know such things are not good for you.”
“Yeah, I know,” you grumble, eyes stinging with unshed tears. “Doesn’t mean that knowledge stops my brain any.”
“Ya znayu,” Piotr murmurs as he kisses your temple. “But everything is going to be alright, myshka.”
“Except it really might not be,” you argue, voice shaking. You grip the material of his shirt, as though he might be wrenched away from you at any moment and whisked away into the wind. “It really might not, Piotr.”
Your husband doesn’t say anything in response to that. He merely holds you closer still and strokes his fingers through your hair.
You press your forehead against his chest and start weeping quietly.
***
The second day is much like the first –a slow, agonizing crawl punctuated by overwhelming anxiety and exhaustion.
You linger at the table where Nate, Tony, and Ellie are modifying guns, handing the three various tools and materials when they ask for it. You watch their progress numbly, brain devoid of anything other than wordless worry.
At least, you watch until Nate texts Piotr to come get you.
“Davay, myshka,” your husband coaxes as he lifts you off your stool. He grunts slightly as he shifts you into a bridal-style hold, then carries you away from the table and out of the room. “Let’s have lunch.”
“But—”
“Is important to stay fed and hydrated.”
“—I was helping.” You peer past Piotr’s arm –then sigh when Nathan gives you a sympathetic, concerned smile and waves you along. “Baby—”
“Just for little bit.” Piotr sets you down when you ask, but he keeps a hand on your shoulder, just in case. “Is not good to sit and stew in anxiety.”
You drop your gaze to the floor. “You can’t prove anything.”
Piotr lifts his hand from your shoulder and cradles your cheek. He strokes his thumb against your skin, waiting until you look up at him before speaking again. “Come have lunch with me, moya lyubov’,” he says with an adoring smile (which you’re certain is a deliberate, tactical move on his part to make sure you don’t try and argue, and dammit if it isn’t working). “I would enjoy your company.”
You scuff the toe of your sneaker against the floor, but ultimately acquiesce. “Alright. I guess I should take a break.”
***
The snooping starts after lunch, while Alex is chewing Frank out for spray-painting his bullet proof vest.
“What, are you looking to ruin perfectly good Kevlar?” Alex gripes as she tosses Frank’s “Punisher” vest aside. “You want to break down the material? Get shot out like some schmuck because you decided to be an artist?”
“It’s strategic,” Frank argues with a good-natured, crooked grin. “Keeps my enemies’ line of sight trained on where I have the most protection.”
Alex nods and makes a sarcastic noise of assent. “‘Strategic.’ Is that what it is? Ya ne mogu v eto poverit'. V moye vremya my nazyvali strategiyu pobedoy, a ne stavili svoyu grebanuyu vizitnuyu kartochku na kazhdoye sovershennoye nami proklyatoye ubiystvo. Get your ass over here, drama boy.” She scoffs and starts measuring Frank’s chest and shoulders. “‘Strategiya,’” she scoffs. “What a load of horse shit.”
“Akh akh,” Nikolai tuts as he walks into the room with a plate of food and glass of water. “What is happening here?”
“I’m pretty sure I upset the apple cart, sir,” Frank says, unabashed.
Nikolai chuckles while Alexandra brings up to speed, ranting in irritated Russian. He sets the plate and glass on the table next to his wife, kisses her head, then ambles back out to the kitchen—
And that’s when you notice it. Or, rather, her.
Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow. Renowned spy, assassin, weapons and espionage expert, and former member of the Avengers if the debacle surrounding the Sokovia Accords is to be believed.
She’s sitting at the kitchen counter on barstool, tapping away at her phone –which isn’t inherently suspicious, but her line of sight lets her look directly into the room you’re all situated in and—
She’s watching Alex.
At first you think she might be watching Frank (which, fair enough, having a mass murderer, somewhat unstable vigilante around is a reasonable cause for caution). But when Frank gets up and walks out (probably to go find Karen), Natasha doesn’t even move. Her gaze –when she’s not looking at her phone—stays fixed on Alexandra while she works at her sewing machine.
For once, you’re grateful Piotr is as large as he is; he makes a great hiding spot to do countersurveillance from.
Natasha approaches slowly, but deliberately. She talks to someone on her phone –whether she’s faking or not doesn’t matter to you, because she still uses it to get off the barstool and amble around while she’s talking. Then, she has a conversation with Captain Rogers, which she uses to get a few feet closer to the doorway.
At some point, you’re not certain if she realizes you’re watching her, only because she gives up the pretense of trying to hide her snooping entirely. She leans against the doorframe, watching Alex intently while she marks, pins, and cuts out fabric.
It’s Illyana who has enough of the whole thing first. Three minutes into Natasha standing in the door way, the blonde sighs, sets her phone down on the work table, and glares up at the red head. “Kakogo khrena ty khochesh?”
Natasha purses her lips slightly. She acknowledges Illyana with a brief glance, then turns her focus back to Alex. “Alexandra.”
“Natalia,” Alex says by way of greeting, not even bothering to look up from her work. “Are you here to help, or are you here to waste my time?”
She grimaces, but recovers and smiles politely. “It’s been a long time.”
“So, you’re here to waste my time,” Alex surmises as she pins a pattern to a piece of heavy black Kevlar.
Natasha swallows reflexively, then turns on her heel and walks away.
***
Half an hour later, it’s Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes’s turn.
The two supersoldiers are far less covert than Agent Romanoff. They stand in the middle of the rec room, a few feet away from the door, and don’t make any attempt to hide their conversation or the fact that they’re watching Alex (and, to some extent, her children and Nikolai as well).
Illyana says something to her mother a few times, but Alex waves her off –and, in general, seems unbothered. “U nas yest' rabota, snezhinka. U nas yest' rabota.”
“Did you know him?” you ask, later, when the Rasputin kids are out of the room. “The Winter Soldier?”
You’ve heard enough through the grapevine to know about the basics of the man’s story –captured by Hydra, experimentation, brainwashing, being coerced into murdering.
(It all sounds chillingly familiar.)
“We crossed paths,” Alex admits with a shrug. She slides a piece of ceramic armor plating inside a Kevlar pouch, then starts sewing the pouch shut. “Overlap was common back in the day.”
“Do you think he remembers you?” you murmur, glancing out at the kitchen (fortunately, Rogers and Barnes are gone for now).
Alex pauses. She purses her lips, then shrugs and resumes working. “I don’t know. He went through a lot with the forced mind wipes. There’s really no way of knowing.”
“Are you going to be in trouble if he does remember you?”
Alex huffs and favors you with a gentle smile. “I’ve gotten out of worse, ptitsa. Don’t worry so much.”
You say that like it’s easy, you think while the knot in your stomach coils tighter.
***
There’s a brief reprieve around dinner. You even manage to relax a little, smiling and chuckling as Piotr and Mikhail bicker and generally irritate each other as much as humanly possible.
Work starts up once more as soon as everyone’s done eating. You nestle yourself against Piotr’s side, relaxed via the virtue of being too tired to be stressed—
And then Tony Stark walks in.
Or perhaps “walk” isn’t the right term. He moves with an air of grandeur and utter self-assurance –which, even with your limited exposure to Tony Stark, you can tell is a “brand standard” for him. He tosses an apple up and down in one hand as he breezes along, expression blasé to the point of looking disinterested as he strides up to the table where Alexandra works.
If it weren’t for Natasha, Captain Rogers, and Sergeant Barnes scoping out the Rasputin matriarch earlier, you would’ve pegged Stark’s visit as entirely coincidental.
“What’s your deal?” Tony asks, leaning against the table next to where Alex is stationed at her sewing machine.
No pretense. No niceties. No attempt at subtlety.
Alex’s lips quirk into an annoyed grimace. She looks up and over the top of her machine for a moment, staring at Nikolai (likely trying to find any scrap of his infinite patience for herself), then lowers her gaze once more and says, “Usually, it’s not answering vague, pointless questions asked by nosey individuals.”
“You’ve got half my team twisted up just by being here,” Tony continues, unruffled. “I’ve seen Romanoff stare down the Hulk on a rampage without flinching. What about you is so special that you make her nervous?”
“Interesting,” Alex comments, almost to herself. “And here I thought, after the Berlin incident, your ‘team’ was largely disbanded. Something about ‘not agreeing with your leadership.’”
Tony’s face twitches, mouth briefly stretching into a pained grimace before he smooths it back out. “You don’t exist.”
“Everyone’s concept of self is different,” Alex mutters as she rips out a crooked seam on an armor pouch.
“There’s no record of your birth. Or your parents, for that matter. Your marriage license has no given maiden name. No history of education, doctor’s visits, driver’s license –nothing until you turned twenty-four.” He takes a bite of his apple, swallows, then says, “People don’t just ‘poof’ into existence as full grown adults. It doesn’t happen.”
“Perhaps,” Alex retorts as she resews the faulty seam, “you are just not very good at finding things.”
“I can find anything.”
“Except, it would seem, a way to keep from trying my patience.”
Tony watches her for a moment longer –then, when she doesn’t say anything, he turns and starts striding out of the room. “I’m going to figure out what’s up with you. There aren’t any secrets that can hide from my A.I.”
Alex doesn’t dignify his departure with a response –but her eyelid twitches as she continues her sewing.
You look up at Piotr, only to find he’s watching Nikolai. You look over at the Rasputin patriarch, and your heart sinks when you see the worried expression on his face.
Nick sighs, then stands and rounds the table. He ambles up behind his wife, drapes his arms around her shoulders, and kisses the top of her head before he starts murmuring to her in quiet, loving Russian.
You lean against Piotr’s side, giving him a reassuring squeeze even though the only thing you feel is disquieted. You force yourself to take a deep breath and relax your jaw as fear starts crawling up your spine once more. One thing at a time. One thing at a time, that’s all you can do.
Except, it seems, when everything decides to happen at once.
***
Meeting the Norse god of thunder is… intense.
Though, that may have to do with the entourage of people he brings with him.
Around three in the morning, Dr. Strange shows up with the remaining allies –Thor, god of thunder, and his brother Loki, god of magic, Bruce Banner aka the Hulk, a woman by the name of Carol, and a group that calls themselves the “Guardians of the Galaxy” (which happens to include a talking raccoon and a sentient tree).
“Just when you thought, like, it couldn’t get weirder,” Kitty mutters to you as she stares at the newest arrivals.
You nod. Granted, your usual metric for all things weird is Wade, who has basically explored every avenue of zany, bizarre, and disturbing—
But yeah, this is pretty fucking weird.
“Where do we stand in preparations for the arrival of Thanos?” Thor asks Tony.
“We’ve got most of the busywork done,” Tony says, outlining the weapons upgrades and the armor work that’s been done. “We waited for major planning until we had everyone here and better intel.”
Thor nods, then gestures to two women standing with the “Guardians of the Galaxy,” one with green skin and dark hair and the other with blue skin and cybernetic enhancements. “This is Gamora and Nebula, daughters of Thanos. They’ll be able to provide information on the strength and size of his forces.”
“Good,” Steve pipes up from where he’s standing with Sam Wilson and Sergeant Barnes. “The sooner we have a plan, the better.”
“It can wait until we’ve slept,” Alex decides, voice crisp. “We won’t come up with anything good while we’re fried.”
Tony blinks, then scowls. “Thanos could be here as soon as this coming morning.”
“Then we’ll be doubly fucked if we’ve stayed up all night trying to scrape together a plan,” Alex replies, unmoved. She crosses her arms when Tony glares at her. “The younger and less experienced of us need rest if this is going to work.”
“I’m with the lady,” Quill pipes up, brushing past Tony. He gives Stark a smile that, if you had to wager, is supposed to be charming but just comes off as arrogant. “I think you’ll find that we… don’t really roll with plans. It’s not our style.”
Alex stares at Quill for a moment, expression vastly unimpressed. She sighs, blinks slowly, shakes her head, then turns on her heel and strides back to the room she’s been sharing with Nick. “Absolutely not. I’m going back to bed.”
As if waiting for a cue, everyone else disperses, muttering about being tired and “needing an IV drip of espresso.”
You shuffle off with Piotr, hand in hand, shivering slightly from nerves. Please just let this go well.
***
“Both the Chitauri and the Klyntaar forces number into the tens of thousands. The Chitauri have sentient airships capable of carrying infantry forces while wreaking their own havoc, in addition to chariots that can carry up to five marksmen at a time. He also has tanks the size of this building that can demolish anything in their path.”
Everyone is gathered in one of the main work rooms. A majority of the people present hang back at the fringes, content to watch while Tony, Captain Rogers, King T’Challa, Alexandra, your uncle, Thor, Quill, and Natasha hash out a strategy.
“He’s trying to overwhelm us with sheer numbers,” Steve says in response to Gamora’s information.
“It might work,” Natasha murmurs, gaze focused on the worktable in front of her. “We don’t have near enough firepower to chip away at that many grunts.”
“Not if we play our cards right,” Alex says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“There’s also our siblings,” Gamora adds with a pained grimace.
Off to the side, Nebula scoffs. “They’re hardly family.”
“Thanos collected beings throughout the galaxy to serve him,” Gamora explains. “To act as his eyes and ears and eliminate his foes. Aside from Nebula and I, he has four other ‘children.’ They’ll be acting as his generals and commanders in the fight –and helping him track down and capture the final infinity stones.”
Tension ripples through the room.
“What do we know about these Infinity Stones?” Alex asks after a moment of fraught silence.
“The stones were originally created by the Celestials,” Loki pipes up from where he’s leaning against a wall. “Their magical properties are tied to aspects of the universe –time, space, reality, and so on. Only beings of immense power can wield them without severe consequences.”
“Thanos has the gauntlet that accompanies the stones,” Thor adds. “With it, once he assembles all six stones, he’ll be able to use them simultaneously.”
“He wants to wipe out half of all life on Earth,” Gamora says, voice wavering slightly. “That’s been his single goal ever since I’ve known him.”
“All men want to be gods,” your uncle jokes half-heartedly.
“Can the stones be broken?” Alex asks.
Loki chuckles, incredulous. “These are magical tools created by the most powerful beings ever known to the galaxy… and you want to break them?”
She shrugs. “Best not to overlook the simplest solution.”
“I’m taking that as a ‘no,’” Steve interjects. “So, if we can’t destroy them, how do we fight them?”
“The only thing powerful enough to combat the effects of the Infinity Stones are the Infinity Stones,” Loki answers.
“And we only have two,” Natasha surmises, expression drawn and grim.
“Three.”
Everyone looks up and turns when Illyana speaks.
She smirks, tilting her chin up when Natasha meets her gaze. “We have three Infinity Stones.”
“Vision has the mind stone, and Dr. Strange has the time stone,” Kronos argues, shaking his head. “The soul stone is still missing.”
Illyana’s smirk broadens. She lifts her hand, curling it as if she was holding something.
A sword materializes in her hand –and in the center of the sword, small but unmistakable, is a glowing orange gem.
Your uncle’s eyes widen. “Holy shit.”
“Three,” Illyana repeats, looking supremely confident and self-satisfied. “Unless there is elusive seventh stone?”
Loki smiles ruefully, shaking his head. “The Goddess of Limbo pulls through. Well done.”
“Okay, but Vision’s stone is in his head and Strange has his stone in a necklace around his neck,” Tony interjects, gesturing to each person in turn.
“Amulet,” Dr. Strange mutters under his breath.
“Your stone disappears if you’re not holding it,” Tony continues, pointing to the sword as Illyana dematerializes it once more. “What’s stopping Thanos from finding it and taking it?”
“I am only person who can use Soul Sword,” Illyana says, arching her eyebrows. “It is bound to me until the next in my line is ready to take my place.”
“My family has been bound to Limbo’s magicks for generations,” Nikolai clarifies when Tony starts sputtering. “Illyana is the keeper of the sword, which means only she can call upon it. Thanos would need our blood to have access to it.”
Tony grimaces. “Still risky.”
“Better than nothing,” your uncle fires back.
“We have a shot of taking down Thanos with the other three Infinity Stones in our camp,” Steve says, planting his hands against the worktable's surface. “Without them, we’re as good as sunk.”
“Well then,” Alex says, smirking. “Let’s make sure we don’t waste our opportunity.”
***
“For the love of god, stop talking.”
“I’m just saying,” Quill starts, spreading his hands in a defensive gesture.
“You’re not saying shit!” Alex snaps, lifting her head from her hands to glare at him. “You’re just wasting our time!”
Once the planning started, a large portion of the crowd dispersed to help wrap up the last of the weapons modification. The leaders from each faction stayed behind –Tony, T’Challa, Steve, Natasha, Thor, Peter Quill, Xavier, your uncle, Alexandra, and Erik—to plan, along with Gamora, Nebula, and Loki so they could offer up information on Thanos, his forces, and the Infinity Stones.
You’d also hung back, since you didn’t have the skills necessary to do the weapons modification. If all I can do is sit around like a nervous lump, may as well do it where I won’t be in the way.
“This plan just isn’t our style,” Quill argues, either immune or completely ignorant to the exasperated sighs and death glares the others are giving him. “We like to take things looser, add a little pizazz.”
“How many times did your parents drop you as a baby?” your uncle asks, staring Quill down. “No, I’m serious,” he adds when Quill glares back at him and opens his mouth to argue. “I’m genuinely at a loss for how you can be this fucking dense.”
“We’re up against overwhelming numbers and powers no one here has ever seen, let alone fought against,” Natasha adds. “We need to allocate our resources carefully if we want even a chance at victory. The three wave strategy is our best chance.”
“Okay,” Quill says, pressing his hands together. “I think we just all need to relax—”
“You’ll be pretty fucking relaxed when I gut you,” Alex grumbles as she pinches the bridge of her nose.
“Look, the way I see it, Thanos can’t take us all at once!” Quill reasons. “If we hit him with everything we have—”
“We have to survive his armies, too,” Tony adds, words clipped. “Or there won’t be any of us for Thanos to be hit by.”
“No.” Alex glares at Quill when he keeps trying to argue, startling him into silence. “Look at them.” She points at Gamora and Nebula. “These are your friends, da? Your teammates and companions, da? This is their abuser we’re facing. If we lose, what do you think happens to them? Do you think someone that wants to destroy half of all life will have mercy for them? Hm? If you care about them, you pick the plan that has the best shot of ensuring their safety. Got it?”
Quill swallows reflexively. He stares down at the holographic display of the future battlefield, jaw working. He exhales through his nose, slow and stuttered, then nods. “Alright. We… we do the three wave strategy.”
“So glad we can agree,” Alex says, turning her attention back to the battlefield schematic. “Now, we were discussing where to put our snipers…”
***
“—I need both their arms. Trust me, it’s the only way this is gonna work.”
“Look, I’m normally all for a little dismemberment, but I don’t think forming our own amputee league is gonna net us a win here.”
You shake your head as Wade banters back and forth with the talking racoon –whose name is Rocket, apparently—then look over at Nathan. “How long have they been at this?”
“Going on three hours now,” Nate replies. A soft, endeared smile flits across his face when he looks at Wade, but his expression sobers when he resumes his soldering job. “How’s the final plan looking?”
“Everyone but Quill was leaning towards a three-wave tactic.”
Nathan grunts. “Yeah, he seems like a jackass.”
“Alex threatened to gut him.”
“Hey!” Wade shouts, sounding genuinely wounded. “No disemboweling without me!”
“Quill wanted to do an ‘all for one’ attack directly on Thanos.” You sit down next to your dad, studying his face while he works. “You’ve actually fought against these people before. Do… do you think dividing our forces up will actually work?”
“The issue is the land and air forces,” Nathan says, shaking his head. He attaches a power unit to the base of a rifle, then starts welding the compartment shut. “This time doesn’t have the necessary shielding to repel the Chitauri and Klyntaar forces for that long. We’ll have to fight the grunts; holding some of our people back to make sure we have someone to take on Thanos is our best bet.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll win, though,” you point out.
He offers you a melancholy half-smile. “That’s war, kid.”
Your heart sinks further. “Do we even have a chance?”
“Statistics says we do,” Nathan says he strips a piece of wire before threading it into the gun.
“That’s not what I asked.”
Nathan sighs. He looks at you for a long moment, then says, “I think we have the best shot possible with what we have right here, right now.”
You gulp, then nod. It’s still not technically an answer to your question –let alone a positive one—but…
You’ve learned that, sometimes, it better not to dig at these sorts of questions at all.
***
“We’re dividing our forces into thirds.”
You’re all crammed into the rec room post dinner. In the center of the room, by the counter, Tony, Steve, Natasha, and Alex are addressing the crowd in turns.
“The first wave will consist of high stamina fighters and snipers,” Steve says. “There’s a shield system that extends several hundred kilometers around the lab’s perimeter. Wakandan soldiers will join the line of snipers who will pick off any of Thanos’s forces that make it through the shields.”
“We’ll also have any fighters with enhanced stamina on standby, in case there’s a larger breach,” Alex adds. “Their job will be to protect the sniper line from being overrun by the enemy forces.”
“The second wave will be air support,” Tony continues. “Myself, Rhodey, Wilson, and any flying mutants will head out when the Chitauri airships come in. Princess Shuri has a fleet of attack drones at the ready, which can be manned from headquarters in the lab. HQ will have a complete look at the battlefield; all intel will be coming from them during the fight.”
“Third wave is everyone else, save for Illyana, Dr. Strange, and Vision,” Natasha says. “We’ll join the fray when the second wave of Thanos’s forces arrive. The final three” –she nods to Illyana, Dr. Strange, and Vision in turn—“will wait in central headquarters until Thanos arrives, to prevent early capture of the remaining Infinity Stones.”
“In the meantime,” Tony says, “we’re going overtime on modifying rifles to be sonic weapons. They’re more effective against the Klyntar forces than regular firearms. All hands on deck. If you can’t solder, you can run supplies back and forth and help perform diagnostic tests at the firing range. Clear?”
Everyone nods, then breaks off to start working on constructing and testing more “awesome guns.”
You slid your fingers between Piotr’s. Your heart’s in your throat, racing a mile a minute. Your mouth feels dry.
If you were the religious type, you’d start praying. As it is, you make a plea with the universe on the off chance it decides to listen to you –for once.
Please. Please just let this work.
***
“So… about the three-wave plan—”
Tony slams down the compartment piece he’d been working on against the table. He glares at Quill, face strained with barely constrained rage and impatience. “What the fuck is your deal?”
“It’s just not sitting well with me,” Quill continues, leaning against the table. “I’m more of a ‘solo moment’ style person. More of a lone wolf.”
You gape at him. “You… you work with a team of five!”
“I just think that there needs to be a more focused confrontation with Thanos. Y’know, for someone to challenge him, man to man—”
“Some get this idiot out of my face,” Tony snaps, looking around for anyone that might be willing to assist –or, at the very least, drag Quill out of the room by his jacket collar.
“You’re not listening to me!”
“You’re wasting my time!”
“Why does every problem come back to you?” Alex stalks into the work room, eyes glowing a dull shade of copper as irritation takes hold in her. She strides over to Quill, looking like a menace in black leather and Kevlar. “How much more of a nuisance can you possibly make yourself?”
“I’m just pointing out some flaws in the strategy!” Quill argues, holding up his hands in a defensive gesture. “I’m being the devil’s advocate!”
“You’re pointing out dick,” Agent Barton, alias Hawkeye, points out from the side (where he’s modifying some of his arrows to release sonic pulses).
“Look,” Quill presses on, ignoring Clint’s comment. “We need to make sure this thing is airtight—”
“We don’t have time for ‘airtight,’” Nathan growls, cybernetic eye flaring. “The goal is to survive, not to create perfection.”
“I really just think—”
Alex scowls –and then her hand snaps out and closes around Quill’s neck. She slams him against the edge of the table, sneering down at him while he coughs and claws –futilely—against her iron grip. “You’re past the point of being a nuisance. You’re a fucking liability.”
Quill wheezes, face slowly turning red.
“If I was paid every time a man like you told me how to do my job…” Her voice trails off, and she lets out a sardonic chuckle. “Let me make something clear to you, Peter Quill.” Her hand tightens around his neck, which makes some ominous creaking noises as she presses against layers of tissue, cartilage, and bone. “I am not about to have an asshole like you risk the lives of my children, the people who are putting their own lives on the line to protect the world, or the future of the damn universe. If you’re going to keep being a jackass about this…” She smirks. “I’ll kill you. I’ll do it right here, right now. I am not going to have a hazard like you on my team or on that battlefield.” She grins nastily, leaning in closer as Quill’s eyes bug out. “Best thing is, no one really knows you’re here. No tracks to cover, no family to pay off, no authorities to worry about. You’d be an unfortunate casualty in war. No one would fucking miss you.”
A chill runs down your spine. You gulp, stomach twisting as you look from Alex, to Quill, to Alex again. Is anyone going to stop her...
“I really don’t know how to make this any fucking clearer, but since you’ve proven to be thick-headed, I’ll summarize: you stray from the plan in any way, and you’re dead. Got it?”
Quill nods hastily. He gasps when Alex releases him, collapsing to the floor. He hacks and coughs, one hand rubbing at his throat while his skin slowly fades away from an angry magenta color.
“So glad we understand one another.” Alex smirks, then turns on her heel and strides out of the work room like nothing even happened.
You purse your lips, trembling while everyone goes back to work like nothing even happened. You try to focus on sorting pieces into containers for the fabricators to grab from, but with your shaking hands it’s near impossible. You duck your head, gritting your teeth together as your stomach churns angrily. I just want this all to be over.
***
The call comes in a couple hours later.
“We’ve got temporal disturbances outside the shield perimeter,” Kronos shouts while alarms blare overhead. “Thanos’s forces have arrived and are attempting to break through to our location.”
Your stomach drops as everyone starts scrambling. You grab your flight jacket and goggles, throwing them on haphazardly. You start running towards the hangar –then stop and switch directions. “Piotr!”
He pauses when he hears your voice, turning and catching you as you leap into his arms. He kisses you briefly –desperately—then pulls back and cups your face in his hands. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” You give him a quick hug, then pull away and start sprinting towards the hanger where the rest of the air support is gathering. Tears sting your eyes, but you wipe them away and force down your fear and preemptive grief. Focus. You have to focus.
It’s time.
#sass writes#piotr rasputin x reader#nathan summers x wade wilson#alexandra rasputin x nikolai rasputin#kitty pryde x illyana rasputin#aka my 'fuck you' to the russo bros#get ready for some big canon divergence#i am literally just doing whatever the fuck i want#deadpool fanfiction#x men fanfiction
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Apologies & Logistics
This is the end of the “Humans Adopt a Combat SecUnit” story, or at least this part of it.
Jae
I had expected the governor to fry my organic neural tissue for disobeying a direct order, but it had merely immobilized and disabled me. I couldn’t move or see, but my hearing continued to function normally. It was a non-optimal outcome but still significantly better than my initial predictions.
In my ear, Serenity provided a running commentary of ongoing events. I felt like an oddly captive audience to a ship that suddenly eager for conversation, no matter how one-sided. And it had a variety of opinions on topics ranging from the Corporation Rim to cargo haulers, handlers, and the intricacies of wormhole travel. I wasn’t bored.
Meanwhile, external voices came and went.
I heard Cass leave the control room moments later with a squeaky gurney that could have used some grease in her wake. Kris’s booming voice echoed on the bridge while he negotiated docking procedures with one of the incoming rescue vessels. He notified them about the rescued corporate higher-up but failed to mention my existence. I suspected either they would dispose of me or steal me. My risk assessment module deemed the former option unlikely, given my handler’s determination in reversing the governor’s freeze command.
Presumably, I was still on the inventory lists of the security and tactical support company that owned me, and the humans would need to make me disappear in order to leave the sector.
“I’m not sure you can hear me.” Kris’s voice was suddenly close enough that I thought he might be sitting on the floor next to me. “And I’m not sure which option is better, honestly. I hope you’re not just trapped in there until Cass figures out how to fix this. But if you can hear me, I want you to know that I’m grateful. You protected my best friend when I couldn’t, and that means a lot to me.”
The human’s voice trailed off for a moment before picking up again. “Anyway, we’re going to finish this cargo run, but before we do, we’ll meet with a friend of mine who, uh, locates documents that don’t strictly exist and formally assign your ownership to Cass. Just in case.”
More silence. Human processing time is slow, but this was different. “Deity, it hurts to even say that. I really hope you’re not hearing this.”
Meanwhile, Serenity explained, “What Kris is referring to is a forger or a fixer. Probably one of Kris’ friends from his university days.”
The human kept talking. “I’m sorry about calling you a bot. You’re obviously not, and right now, I’m fucking hating the rules that say otherwise.”
I didn’t understand the human’s concerns; to me, the facts remained immutable. I was property, and if I belonged to this crew in a legal sense, they wouldn’t be stopped by Port Authority wherever they went next. If I could speak, I would’ve recommended that exact course of action.
A moment later, Cass returned from the medical room. I could hear her light footsteps as she moved around the bridge, and Serenity gave me an excellent overview of what the human was doing. My handler’s voice was gentle when she said, “All right, let’s take care of Jae. How’re you holding up, SecUnit?” I could hear someone unspooling a cable. “Ready, Sere?”
“Of course,” the ship answered in its mechanical tone.
I recorded a brief but frantic burst of activity between myself, my handler, and the ship that was mediating between us. Cass wanted to disable my governor permanently, but there was no practical way to do so without access to a Combat SecUnit manual, which we didn’t have. She implemented perhaps the next best thing — the module would no longer react or take action without my handler’s explicit permission.
Then Cass overrode my governor’s freeze command, and I could move again.
I opened my eyes to find Cass staring at me with a worried expression on her tired face. Serenity reconnected me to the feed, so I reached up and removed the feed interface from my ear. Now the ship could bother me anytime it wanted.
“How are you feeling?” my human asked nervously.
Better than initially anticipated. I’d added the sentence to my buffer once I’d understood what Cass was asking. It was becoming easier to modify the buffer with each attempt.
“You weren’t expecting to survive that, were you?” The human sounded suspicious.
I shrugged.
“Don’t ever do anything that stupid again! That’s not an order, Jae. This is me telling you that we like you alive and safe, and I want you to consider your own well-being when deciding how to best handle a situation.”
Understood, Cass.
I sat up, and the woman hugged me with probably all the force she could muster. I… I didn’t mind it. At all
***
Kris
The rescue ship that finally docked with Serenity was a small patrol vessel that belonged to the station's towing company. I was pretty confident that the warship would not need a tow at this point — there wasn't enough of it left out there to warrant cleanup operations. Since I had performed the rescue spacewalk and had gotten injured, a company representative took my statement first. Te pulled out a display surface and took down notes, presumably so ter corporation could figure out who to bill for the unnecessary services.
While Cass and I dealt with the tercera and the legal bullshit in this sector, Serenity edited the video and audio of my spacewalk to make it look like Jae had been destroyed by one of the weapon-wielding bots. In my report, I noted that we had a Combat SecUnit on board at one time, but it had suffered catastrophic damage during the rescue operations. When prompted, I mentioned that we'd put what remained into the recycler.
It was a bald-faced lie, but the bored and cranky representative seemed entirely disinterested. Te didn't even review the video before signing off on the documents, didn't ask for any logs, and performed only a cursory examination of the unconscious corporate employee still in our medical suite. For a small fee, te even offered to take the woman back to the station so we could be on our way quicker. Frankly, I wanted nothing more than to be rid of the human.
Cass had other ideas.
She and I huddled in the mess while the representative returned to ter ship to finish scanning the debris field. Te grumbled that billing back damages on an infiltration attempt would be a nightmarish hell of solicitors from the owner company and wasn't motivated to make anything easy for them.
"What if she tells someone?" Cass demanded after the tercera had departed.
I sipped my coffee and shrugged. "It's going to be a he-said-she-said between the corporate and the station."
"No, I mean later, when Tatiana returns to work minus a construct."
"They'll probably deduct its cost from her salary and demote her. The company cares about profit margins. And she won't be able to prove anything anyway since I destroyed her interface."
The captain looked unconvinced. She paced the room, running a hand through her shoulder-length hair in a nervous gesture. "I don't know…"
"Cass, we are literally stealing one of the most dangerous weapons in the Rim. I think we have bigger problems than one pissed corporate." I tried not to sound patronizing, but it was a struggle. "We absolutely can't take her with us."
"What if we could change her mind? About Jae."
I tried not to spit out my coffee and almost succeeded. The smell of coffee in my nostrils was unbearable. "I don't think so, love. If she doesn't think it's a person now, after working with it for the entirety of its life, what are the odds that we can say anything to change her mind?"
Cass sighed and stopped pacing. "Yeah, you're right. I just…"
"I know. You want to do the right thing. But at this point, absconding with our new friend is probably the best we can manage."
"Yeah." She still sounded reluctant. "Maybe I can reach out to Mom's friend and see if she can help somehow."
I glanced at her dubiously. "You sure you want to talk to Dr. Mensah? Didn't you say she was a councilperson or something?"
I knew pitifully little about Cass's home planet because she never spoke of it. It was a freehold planet unaffiliated with any corporate entities where people were apparently nice to each other. At one time, she'd mentioned growing up on a farm alongside a large extended family, but the story always ended with her leaving home as soon as she was old enough to make her own way in the world. That her mother knew one of the Preservation Alliance leaders reminded me that Cass had connections, even if she chose to do everything on her own, all the time.
"She was until she retired a couple of years ago, I think. I haven't been back in a while, and I barely talk to move. I definitely don't keep track of her friends." She scratched at a scab on her arm. "I remember a news burst that Mensah rescued a SecUnit, but that was..." She frowned. "Well, long enough ago that I completely forgot about it until just now."
I cleaned up the mess I'd made on the table with the coffee. "We're sending the crazy corporate goon back with the tercera. And if you want to call your parent, that's up to you. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you."
"Says the guy that doesn't speak to his parents."
I stiffened and then remembered that Cass had no idea why I avoided my family. "My parents still believe I'm female. I'm not willing to add jack shit to that conversation."
The captain looked at me with the same warmth that had initially convinced me to join her crew. "Oh, man, I'm so sorry, Kris. I didn't realize your parents were idiots."
That made me grin. "Idiocy is a nice way of putting it, love. I used some stronger words last time I saw them." I got up and wrapped an arm around Cass's thin shoulders. "Come, let's go see about finishing this transaction and getting the hell out of here. I bet Jae is bored sitting in its cabin."
"It's recharging," Cass told me, another reminder that she knew what the SecUnit was doing at all times. "But yeah, let's go. Enough insanity for one day."
The End!
I don’t know where the characters go from here. I have some ideas but maybe that’s a story for a different time.
I wanted to tell a story about stealing a CSU and there it is. And CSU in this case is a complete sweetheart, so. :)
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Williston Force Portable AC Review: Does Williston Force Desktop AC Really Work?
Williston Force is a perfect companion for those hot summer days that make you want to hide inside your fridge. Instead of going to such lengths, get your personal air conditioner and stay cool wherever you go.
Trying to beat the summertime heat with air conditioning used to be a very expensive proposition, but thanks to a revolutionary new personal cooling system – the Williston Force Portable AC – customers won’t have to delicately balance their energy bills with their personal comfort any longer.
Designed to provide rapid cooling results (cooling down a person’s body temperature inside of 30 seconds, according to the folks behind the Williston Force Portable AC), this amazing piece of climate control technology is portable, simple and straightforward to use, and produces next to no background noise whatsoever. It sounds like a scam, but it is not.
Best of all, customers will significantly cut down on their energy bills during the summer months – energy bills that would have otherwise skyrocketed with traditional AC systems being used.
The portable nature of the Williston Force AC makes this air conditioner highly flexible and adaptable for a variety of different situations too. Homeowners will be able to move this unit around as they move through their home, and people in office settings are going to be able to relocate this cooler as necessary to get the best possible results, too.
Intrigued? Read one of the many Williston Force reviews to find out more!
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What Is Williston Force?
Williston Force is a portable air cooler that will make scorching summer days not just bearable but also enjoyable. Don’t want to spend the whole summer in a single air-conditioned room? You don’t have to! Bring the Williston Force AC with you to your bedroom while you rest, kitchen while you cook, or even your office while you work!
Williston Force is a portable air cooler that has recently been released in the United States, United Kingdom and many other countries across the globe. After only a short period of time, it has made quite a splash in the world of cooling devices. That comes as no surprise — the cooler is easy to use and deals with the heat effectively. Most Williston Force reviews agree that this product is a must-have for a pleasant summer.
How Does Williston Force Work?
Williston Force reviews claim that the unit works like a charm and requires minimal effort to use and maintain. Unlike the cheap knockoffs that can be bought in stores, this air cooler lasts for a long time and doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it may even exceed expectations.
In just a few simple steps, any consumer can enjoy cool and fresh air with Williston Force Portable AC. When the Williston Force Portable AC arrives, you need to open the top of the tank and pour some water in. Then, insert a water curtain at the front, and that’s it — the Williston Force Portable AC air cooler is now ready to use.
The unit has three adjustable fan speeds that the user can choose from. The lowest one reminds of a pleasant breeze, while the highest one is perfect for a sweltering summer afternoon.
While Williston Force AC is running, it will use up the water in the tank, so more needs to be added once in a while. Luckily, though, users will be aware of the water level at all times. The transparent water tank makes sure of that.
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What type of technology does Williston Force AC use?
The Williston Force AC works based on innovative cooling principles taking cold water (ice water, usually) to cool down, then blowing into a space, sucking in hot air to go through a heat exchange, very similar to Williston Force Portable AC. This way, users are able to dramatically lower temperatures in dedicated spaces with the help of this “reverse evaporative” solution.
One of the biggest benefits of taking advantage of the Williston Force Portable AC is that individuals aren’t going to have to remove a lot of the moisture in the air to cool things down. Traditional evaporative cooling solutions end up drying things out, causing skin to crack and becoming irritated.
The Williston Force Portable AC works to introduce a bit of extra moisture into the space (when necessary) through the reverse evaporative technology built right in. This allows for spaces to cool down rapidly without becoming uncomfortably dry, the best of all worlds.
All customers have to do to make the most of this cooling technology is simply:
1. Add water directly into the removable reservoir
2. Insert a “water curtain” that doubles as a water filter
3. Power the cooler on
… And that’s it!
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How is Williston Force better than its competitors?
Williston Force AC is a small but powerful AC device that makes the summer heat bearable and the air breathable more than any other product in the market. Its size makes it extremely easy to carry, so users can take it to different rooms in the house or even bring it along to work. They don’t even have to plug it in — the Williston Force air conditioner can work for several hours on batteries alone.
You can use the Williston Force Portable AC in two ways — as a regular fan that you need to plug in, or as a cordless cooler that works on batteries. I love carrying it around with me without the hassle of looking for a power source and dealing with cables. Cooling down in the summer has never been easier!
But the Williston Force air conditioner won’t just keep you cool. The device has a built-in humidifier and a dust filter, ensuring that the air you breathe is crisp and clean. If you suffer from allergies or don’t handle dry air well, Williston Force air conditioner is a game changer! After using it for just a few days, I noticed that I was breathing with ease, and my skin was glowing!
If you’re like me, summer nights are a struggle. It’s usually too hot to sleep, and even opening the window doesn’t always help. Plus, there are insects to worry about — mosquitos tend to rush inside as if they’re the ones paying the rent!
Luckily, the Williston Force portable air conditioner works silently, so I can let it run at night. In a nutshell, it keeps me cool and allows me to get a good night’s sleep!
Who Is Williston Force good for?
Williston Force is a portable air conditioner for all ages — kids, elders, and everyone in between can use it during sweltering summer days. It’s completely safe, so I’m planning to buy one for each member of my family. That way, we won’t have to fight over it anymore!
At the end of the day, those looking to beat summertime heat without spending a small fortune on energy bills or want to take a very close look at all that the Williston Force portable air conditioner provides.
Already quickly becoming one of the hottest selling cooling systems of this summer, the glowingly positive Williston Force reviews are piling up because of how great a job this unit does at helping people comfortably fight back against skyrocketing summertime temperatures.
Those that do not want to deal with the headache, hassle, noise, and unnecessary expense of traditional air-conditioning units will want to take a much closer look at this Williston Force Portable AC. It’s possible to get almost all of the same cooling results (nearly 90% of the cooling results) in a much more targeted and focused way when choosing to move forward with portable air conditioner technology like this or like Williston Force Portable AC which is another portable air conditioner very similar to this.
Customers shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves writing their own overwhelmingly positive Williston Force reviews after trying this technology out for themselves. It’s just that special!
Does Williston Force Work?
Williston Force is a product you won’t regret buying. You may have heard a lot about portable ACs and how they usually disappoint, but the Williston Force Portable AC is different. It delivers on everything it promises to do — it cools the air, filters dust, and works as a humidifier.
But surely such a device like the Williston Force Portable AC would be difficult to operate, right? Actually, not at all! That’s perhaps the best part — everyone can use the Williston Force air cooler by just following a few simple steps. Even my grandma, who is on bad terms with most technology, finds this device quite intuitive.
In just three easy steps, you can enjoy the cool air too. All you have to do is pour water into the top of the unit and then add a replaceable water curtain. Once you close the device, it’ll be ready to go! Turn the Williston Force Portable AC on, and you’ll feel the difference in just a few seconds.
Sounds incredible? You could get a second opinion — just read one of the many Williston Force reviews out there. I’ve scoured the Internet in search of a negative one, yet I couldn’t find anything. So if you ask me, that’s a good enough reason to get this fantastic cooler today!
Williston Force Benefits
· Noiseless Air Cooler. Unlike large ACs, Williston Force is so silent that it’s easy to forget it’s running. There is no humming, buzzing, or whirring, or at least, nothing too noticeable. Users can put it on the desk while they work, the coffee table while they relax with a book, or even their nightstand as they sleep. This air cooler is a perfect summer companion.
· Humidifier and Dust Filter. Summer air can be quite dry and hard on the skin and the eyes — but Williston Force cooler is here to change that. It has a built-in humidifier that adds moisture to the air and makes it more breathable.
On top of that, its powerful dust filters remove the particles that are likely to cause allergies. So, Williston Force isn’t only a must-have for those who can’t bear the heat — it’s equally beneficial to allergy sufferers.
· A Sleek Design. The design may not be a crucial aspect of an air cooler, but Williston Force doesn’t neglect it. This is a modern, sleek device that won’t look out of place in any home. What’s more, its smooth white surface and the transparent water tank can add a futuristic feel to an otherwise plain room.
The Williston Force Portable AC water tank is perhaps the most interesting part of the device. It’s not only mesmerizing to watch the water move in it, but the tank can also provide mood lighting. When turned on, it emits a pleasant white glow in the dark that isn’t too harsh on the eyes.
· Cooling Mist. For those particularly scorching summers, cold air alone might not be enough. That’s why the Williston Force air cooler comes with a unique feature — cooling mist.
The mist is made of tiny drops of moisture that disperse through the cool air, bringing the temperature down quickly. It’s also great for the skin — after using the Williston Force Portable AC for a while, consumers will notice that it looks healthier and more youthful.
· Easy to Maintain. As Williston Force reviews claim, the product requires very little maintenance. It’s enough to wipe it down when the surface gets dusty and clean the fans once in a while. All of that can take less than 20 minutes, which is convenient for people who don’t have much time to spare.
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Williston Force Facts and Specs
· Easy to use and maintain
· No chemicals — it uses only water to cool the air
· No excess noise
· Can be used as a fan or as a cordless air cooler
· 3 fan speeds
· A transparent water tank that’s easy to refill
· Water curtain suggested changing every 6–8 months
· A dust filter and humidifier
· Sleek and compact design
· White colour
· USB powered
· Cordless thanks to its rechargeable battery
Williston Force Pros and Cons
I know I’ve praised this product a lot, but the last thing I want is for this to sound like one of those biased Williston Force reviews. So here is a list of both pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision about your purchase.
Pros
· Portable and cordless. No more fixed ACs and bulky fans! This light and portable air cooler can go with you everywhere, even to your office. And you won’t have to fight a tangle of cords and cables either — just let Williston Force run on batteries. They last quite long!
· Three fan speeds. Sometimes, you want to feel a cool breeze on your neck, while other times, you prefer a powerful blast. Obviously, a single fan speed isn’t enough — so Williston Force has three of them. You can easily switch between them at any time and find the one that suits you best!
· Cooling mist. Some days are so hot that even cool air isn’t enough! That’s why this air conditioner comes with a special setting — it sprays cold moisture. Just sit by the cooling unit, and you’ll soon feel its soothing effect on your face.
· Transparent water tank. The air conditioner uses water to cool you, so naturally, you have to add it when there is none. And how do you know if there is enough water? Well, in the case of Williston Force, it’s simple! The water tank is transparent and illuminated, so you’ll always be aware of the water level. On top of that, it looks quite sleek!
· No noise. The last thing you want is a device loudly humming by your ear while you’re trying to read or work. Williston Force is rather silent — so silent, in fact, that you’ll barely notice it’s there!
· Easy to maintain. This air cooler barely needs any maintenance — you should only replace the water curtain every six to eight months. In the meantime, you could wipe it down once in a while and clean its fans to ensure it continues to work properly.
Cons
· Limited availability. This air cooler isn’t always in stock, so it’s best to get your hands on it quickly.
· Available only online. The best and only way to buy Williston Force is to visit the official website. You can’t find it in physical stores, which may be a problem for some people.
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What are the Williston Force reviews saying?
Most Williston Force reviews agree that the benefits of this product far outweigh the few negatives. It’s a small, portable cooler that fulfills its purpose quickly and without using any dangerous chemicals. It’s not only safe for people and animals, but also for the environment — which isn’t always the case with regular ACs.
Ultimately, the product is well worth its price, and it’s unlikely to disappoint. However, if it does, the company offers a fantastic return policy. If the customer doesn’t like the product or experiences issues with it, they can return it within 30 days after purchase for a full refund. In essence, there really is no risk involved with buying Williston Force.
Final Verdict
You probably have only one question left — is this product worth the money? And my answer to that is a loud and clear yes. All of the Williston Force reviews agree that this air conditioner is a summer must-have — a device that both cools and purifies the cool air.
But if you end up disliking it for any reason, don’t worry. You’ll get a full refund if you return the device within 30 days. Sounds like a fantastic deal to me!
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https://kit.co/WillistonForcePortaac/williston-force-reviews-portable-ac-scam-of-the-summer
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How to loosely gauge where you stand on the privilege scale.
Everybody has some sort of privilege over someone else. It doesn't make you a bad person to have privilege. What makes you a bad person, is not being aware that you have a privilege and criticizing those who have less privilege than you for calling you out on it. So here is a very loose way to find out how much privilege you have. Feel free to add more questions in the comments I'll add them in!
Create a small "staircase" by laying out 21 pieces of paper on the floor, or just 21 small objects to mark the steps. (Have extra in case you need to add as you go)
Start by standing by/on the middle one.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I white? If yes, take two steps up the stairs. If not, take two steps back.
I am female. If not, take one step forward, if yes take one step back.
I am straight. If yes, take on step forward. If not, take one step back.
I am naturally thin/fit and have no difficulty finding my size in stores or seeing models and celebrities that have similar body types to mine. If true, take a step forward and if false, take one back.
I am christrian. If true, take one step up, if false take one step back.
I live, and always have lived, in a safe neighborhood where I felt no danger on a regular basis. If true, take one step forward. If false, take one step back.
I have never been discriminated against because of my race, religion, or sexuality. Discrimination meaning; in the workplace, school, unprompted on the streets etc. If true, take one step forward and if false, one step back.
I can walk down to the street during the day freely without fear of being called out or attacked. If true, take one step forward. If false, take one step back.
I have a caring and loving family. If yes, take one step forward. If not, take one step back.
I have access to fresh foods that aren't canned, bagged, or prepackaged regularly, and never had to wonder when my next meal would be. If true, take a step forward. If false, take a step back.
I have never been scared of/had my power, cable, water, or electricity turned off because of insufficient funds. If true, take one step forward. If false, take one step back.
My parents/grandparents offer to help/Currently help pay some of my bills or funding. If true, take a step forward. If not, take a step back.
I have never not had a warm bed to sleep in, or a roof over my head. If true, take a step forward and if false take a step back.
I have access to things like the internet regularly, and the ability to further and choose my education if I wished to. If yes, take a step forward, if not take a step back.
I am transgender. Of true, take a step back. If false, take a step forward.
The top of the staircase is success. The higher up you are the easier it's achievable, the less stairs you have to trudge up to get there. You should notice by now you're probably rotating between the same 3-4 steps. Or you're continuously moving forward, or continuously moving backwards. This is where you loosely stand on the privileged staircase. If you're at the top, you are very privileged. It doesn't mean life is perfect or you've never been sad, it just means society has no reason to hold you back, and true oppression will never happen. You have little to no steps to climb. If you're at the bottom you don't experience any privilege in today's society. You are forced to trudge up every step, through every barrier to even just see the top. If your still directly in the middle, you're more privileged than some, and less than others. You get the gist.
This is just to make you more self aware and understand that you don't have to have a perfect life to be privileged, that having privilege doesn't make you a bad person. It means you need to be aware of the privileges you have and how it effects those that DONT have the same ones. To grab their hands and say "you're a person like me, I'll support you in whatever you need to do. I understand I'm privileged and that somethings may be harder for you even if I don't understand it. So please lead the way so I know how to use my privilege to make this better for you. To be equals. You have the floor because I know nothing about what it's like. "
You do NOT put yourself on a pedestal and say "I'm more privileged I'll be their hero."
You do NOT treat them like a disease or that there is something wrong with them and they need help all the time.
You ask them what it's like, you LISTEN to what they have to say with all of your attention because in this time, you don't completely understand and you never will. They are strong, independent beautiful people who don't need saving. Many of them have climbed from the bottom of the steps to the top and deserve every fucking second of praise and reward they recieve. They just need support and friendship. They need RESPECT. They need you to gently grasp their hand as they pass you in the steps, give them a part on the back and say "you're so fucking strong keep pushing yourself." And by listening to their stories when they pause on your step to rest and sharing them as they are said to you word for word is the only way to ever even think of changing the staircase.
You can be angry with where you stand. I want you to be angry. I want you to scream and rage and cry and say "this isnt fair" and then SCREAM EVEN LOUDER. if youre at the top I want you to be angry. I want you to be so mad that you use what you have to understand those below you, o want you to be so mad that you jump off the fucking staircase and say "how the fuck do I break it?" If you're at the bottom I want you to say "SCREW this staircase" and climb the railing to your own success. I want you to find a way to climb without it. To say "Fuck the stair case" and soar because you have just as much potential as the person in front of you and deserve to live and be happy.
Maybe we can never change it. Maybe we are stuck on this stupid staircase, so you give up and ignore it all together. But if we do that we won't ever know if we can weaken the cement holding it together. We never will know if maybe part of the staircase gets cut off or someone gets a chance to hop up a step.
But the first step? (The most difficult for some) is to acknowledge where you stand, and do something about it.
Edit: since I got some feedback Id like to make a couple things clear.
This isn't an exact placement. It's a social exercise. It helps people humble themselves or become more self/socially aware. The act of taking a step forward while knowing someone has to take a step back or even WATCHING someone else take a step back is enough to make a person think. It simply gives you an idea that: "maybe this DOES negatively impact people" or "I take that for granted." It's not an exact place. Of course, if you wanted an exact place you'd need to be severely tested, create multiple staircases for individual topics and then do math to find the average of where you stand. That's not what this is about. It's the action itself.
I would also like to mention that this is just a very basic outline. You can take this game and alter it, use it for specific topics like jobs, mental health, lgbtq+ etc. It's all up to you the questions you ask. Whenever I play this game I always start asking random questions I've seen discussed in the media to see how things going on effect those around me. There will be a couple questions I add up there because they are good valid questions, you can also simply create more and ask yourself them in the moment. Just like how the real world is there are no set structures or rules, just a basic outline.
Also, someone decided to comment on my Grammer and how I worded the questions lmao. I really don't care because posts like these are just brain dumps. They're stuff I just write out quickly on my phone and document for my own sanity. I often don't have the time to sit an plan out brain dumps they just happen, and I have to post them within the time constraints I have. For example I had to write this in less than ten minutes. I also never reread brain dumps because then I end up deleting them. So trust me, I know the grammar isn't great for any of my brain dump posts but that's what they are, dumps. This is just something I do to help connect with people since I have a lot of communication issues and difficulty understanding people, thoughts etc. This game and my brain dumps are how I get through them.
Please, if you think of any good questions feel free to add them in the comments or reblog with more. Check for new questions in the comments.
Again, don't take this too seriously, it's a brain dump and very quickly written. I never expect any brain dumps to get attention, so I feel no need correct grammar or make sure everything is 100% perfect all the time. I just write and go so I can focus on my task at hand. It's that simple.
#lgbt#lgbtq community#lgbtpride#lgbtq#equality#rasicm#privilege#white priviledge#bts scenarios#nct reactions#stray kids#makeadifference#speakup#acknowledge#tumblr#game#personality test
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Best Financial Advice: The Guide to Easily Get Your Finances in Order
Organizing your finances probably isn’t at the top of your list of ways to spend your free time. But by setting aside just a few minutes a day, you can transform your finances by making trivial changes that can make an immense difference! Read on to know the best recommendations in our financial guide to finances in order.
Whether you’re new to navigating your finances or not, it can seem overwhelming. A bit of sound financial advice is certainly welcome then. The better you set yourself up now, the better off you’ll be later. It’s time to get on the right track toward thinking and planning for the months and years ahead and get your finances in order right away.
We’re going to look at several fairly effortless ways to handle money, save money, get your finances in order and earn extra income, to get you on your way to financial success with little to no sacrifice!
For starters, let’s look at eight easy ways to get your finances in order and get ahead.
Build a budget
A budget is crucial to your money health! If you don’t track your money’s coming and going’s, it can get out of control. It’s essential to be realistic though, you don’t have to deprive yourself, but you do have to be honest and know what you can, and cannot afford to spend. It is the least you can do to get your finances in order.
If you know you can’t or don’t want to quit your take-out coffee habit; keep it in your expense budget; be upfront with yourself.
Earn extra – save extra
You got a raise or figured out how to make some extra income! After you celebrate, you can think about how you can raise your savings too! The sooner that you add a bit of this extra into your savings, the more your finances will benefit for the long-term!
Know your credit score
Your credit score can give you a baseline for your finances. If you’ve got some work to do, try to repair it as best you can. If you have a good credit score, that’s great, maintain it and continue making it better. You might be astonished at how easily and quickly you can raise your credit score. By following even a few suggestions found here, you’ll be delighted at how swiftly your credit score will get restored.
Cash only
Credit cards are convenient and can offer purchase protection and rewards. If you have one that provides cash-back you not only save on transaction fees of other cards but you also earn cash-back with no effort. If you pay off your balance every month there is no interest; therefore, credit cards can be beneficial.
On the other hand, they can be very harmful if you do not pay off your monthly balances. The interest rates are very high and an unnecessary burden. Not really a great move, especially after the simple but sound financial advice we offered in the lines above.
Credit cards make it easy to spend money. Swipe or tap the card and whatever you have your eye on is yours. Handing over real money helps you be much more conscious of your spending compared to swiping your credit card.
The use of cards can also make it easy to lose track of how much you are spending. Only carrying the amount of money that you’ll need is always a good idea too.
Another sound bit of financial advice is If you have a cash-only policy, there will also be times that you will have to save up for your purchase. Delaying the purchase can give you time to question how much you need or want that item.
If you still want it once you’ve saved up, then you should feel no guilt or regret in having what you want!
Money buddy
A financial friend can help you with saving and investing. Choose a friend or relative that has smart money habits, and will speak openly about your financial goals and challenges. They should have the same outlook towards money as you so that they can help push you in the right direction and be the genuine financial guide you need.
A money buddy can also help you resist the temptation to buy unnecessary items and can serve as a double-checker on your investment decisions.
The two of you should meet up to discuss your objectives and review your plan as well as your progress.
As you make small changes and discuss your successes, you’ll both benefit from using your money buddy’s ideas for yourselves.
If you can’t find a suitable friend, consider joining a money club. These groups can be found online and were formed by people who have similar financial goals and can help you put your finances in order.
Consider your objective
You’ve probably thought about your life goals, but what about your money goals? Where do you want to be in 5,10 or 20 years? Consider the small and big things that you’ll need to do when you’re writing out your financial goals and plans.
The earlier you start setting aside savings for these priorities the easier and quicker it will become part of your money routine.
Having a visible reminder of your goals can act as a good financial guide. Think about building a vision board. Cut or print out pics of what you want, from your living space to your travel and everything in between. It’s okay to add other goals to your vision board too.
Gathering all objectives in one spot will make it more accessible and keep those priorities front and center. Post it wherever you’ll see it regularly.
It’s super fun and exciting to create your vision board! The daily reminder will help keep you eager and motivated; serving as an exciting and inspiring reminder as you bring your goals to life.
Attention to costly habits
Things like going out with friends can create an expensive, financial snowball. A day or night out can make it very easy to get off track with your spending. If you have an active social life that’s okay as long as it’s not a huge financial setback; be sure to work this into your budget.
Tracking your spending doesn’t mean that you can’t spend; it just traces what you’re spending money on; which helps eliminate things you’ve predetermined to be unnecessary expenditures.
Do your research
The thought of money and finances may stress you out. If you’re not realistic about your debt and expenses, you can run into some damaging situations; you need to be informed.
Take charge of your money and read articles or watch videos on personal finances. Financial knowledge is the best tool for understanding how your money works and making it work for you. It is the key to getting your finances in order. It’s like you will be giving yourself the best financial advice, you will be your own best financial guide.
How to save money?
No matter what your position is on this journey, you need to know that anyone can turn their financial life around. It only takes a single step in the correct direction. But, as with most things, the first step is the most difficult.
This article can help you start today. Some of these items can be life-changing over time, and some are small improvements you will notice right away.
Ways to save money
Take advantage of bank accounts that give you rewards
If you are paying monthly fees for your saving accounts, try researching some new banking options. Many banks even offer sign up bonuses for opening an account or setting up direct deposit.
Switch TV services
Consider bundling your services or downgrading your cable services. Many streaming services and devices are available at no cost or considerably lower than cable.
Start selling
If over the years you have collected items that no longer serve you, now is the time to sell.
Several safe online sites allow you to post your articles for sale and earn some money. If you haven’t used something around your house in the last 6-12 months it is highly likely; you will never need it. Your home will be in order, and you can add some extra bucks to your pocket.
Removing unwanted things from your energy space also tells the universe that you’re making room for new wonderful things that you truly want. Now that is some financial advice you won’t get anywhere else to get your finances in order.
Selling unwanted clothing, for example, makes space physically and energetically for new clothes to come to you. In no time you’ll find that a friend wants to give you some of their clothes or you find an amazing deal on clothes you’ve been wanting. It’s a win-win situation.
Make your gifts
Another way to save money is by creating homemade gifts. You can prepare yummy sweets, candles, fresh baked goods, or whatever you’re crafty at; check out Pinterest for other great ideas.
Sew that button back on
Do not throw out a shirt because of a broken button, instead sew on a new one. The same applies to your jeans or pants; you can add some trendy patches or hem them into some cute shorts!
Save money while entertaining your children
A lot of children, especially young ones, can be easily amused. How many times have we bought them gifts only to see them having more fun with the empty box?
Play ball, make homemade slime, go to the park, ride a bike; kids love doing things together more than anything.
H20
Drinking a glass of water before you start eating your meal has been proven to help you feel full longer and ultimately eat less.
Cutting out juice or pop and swapping for water can save you hundreds and also keep you better hydrated and feeling healthier. If you heed this financial advice then you benefit health-wise as well.
Quit smoking
If you smoke or vape, you already know that the habit is not only expensive but also unhealthy. You will look and feel better and have a lot of extra money in your pocket every week by stopping or even cutting down.
Switch off the lights
Lights consume a great deal of energy over time. Turning off the lights when you leave the house and the room can cut down on your monthly bills.
Use the internet or library
Books, magazines, movies, and music can be conveniently downloaded from the comfort of your house. As well, many libraries offer free or low-cost rentals.
Changing of cars air filter
A clean, well-functioning air filter can improve your gas mileage and save you hundreds over your vehicle’s life span.
Save money by canceling unused membership
If you are a member at a gym or club that you never use, cancel it. The monthly charges can really add up, and most times they are automatically withdrawn and go unnoticed. If at a later date you decide you want to join again, many of them will waive the renewal fees.
Generic brands
Instead of picking up the well know name brand items at the grocery store, try using the store brand or generic brands. You’ll save money and like them just as much or more than the expensive ones. You’ll notice a difference in your grocery bill right away!
How to fix your money problems?
If you are in a challenging financial situation, here are five things you could do to help improve your outlook.
Know your money
The hardest thing to do is, to be honest with yourself and recognize that you are in a bad financial situation, and you need to fix it. There are a lot of websites and free tutorials that can teach you about money and money management.
Quote your insurances
It is so convenient to keep paying the car and house insurance bills, especially if they are set up for automatic payment from your bank account. Taking 30 minutes to make some phone calls to look for a lower quote could save you hundreds of dollars.
Pay down your debt
If you have debt on numerous credit cards, take the time to make a few phone calls to your credit card companies and ask for a lower rate. Ask about transferring all your credit cards to them and getting a better interest rate.
You may also want to consider calling your financial institution and see if they will give you a loan. If the rate is reasonable, you can pay off your credit card debts that have higher interest rates. This would be a great of getting your finances in order.
Be a savvy shopper
Choose generic brands that are less expensive and just as good as the more expensive ones. Check out sites that pay you back for shopping, remembering only to purchase items that are a necessity though. Stock up on non-perishables when there’s a bargain available.
Stay away from the mall and unnecessary online shopping
Spending any recreational time at the mall is a bad idea if your getting your finances back on track and online shopping can be just as dangerous. Instead, go for a walk, read, watch a movie, anything that can help you stick to your plan.
Easy Ways to Make Extra Money
Rent Out Your Car Or Drive People Around
By listing your car online, you can make extra money by renting your car to people who need to borrow a ride. A lot of sites let you choose your rate, and insurance is covered.
You can also make more by driving for just a few hours with Uber services or similar companies that are popping up.
Sell Gift Cards
Many websites buy and sell gift cards online. Most are free to join, and the consumer can get a discount on gift cards or sell their gift cards for cash.
Invest Your Savings
Another way to make money is to move some of your savings over to an account that gives you a higher interest rate. Take a few minutes to do a little research, and you could see the difference and have some extra money over time.
Part-time job
Many people don’t have a lot of free time to run their errands. Grocery shopping for the elderly, disabled, or over-worked is a great way to make money.
You can also start making some cash by walking dogs or offering a doggy daycare.
Proofreader, Website Writer, or Blogger
Websites are always looking for fresh new content; if you enjoy writing this could be a great option or if you want something tailored to you, start a blog.
Advertising
Many businesses need help with their social media and keeping relevant. If you enjoy social media management, this could be a fun way to be creative and make extra money. The main motto is to be your own financial guide and it takes just a few steps of being aware and careful, and you will have your finances in order in no time.
#financial#finances#rich#career#career life#abundance#financial abundance#attract abundance#abundance spell#psychic medium#psychic readings#psychic reader#psychic
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Looking for ways to save money? Ditch cable and start streaming
Did you know there's a clear way you can put aside to $1200 every year right now? It's called cutting the rope – or disposing of standard satellite TV for spilling decisions – and it's easier to do currently more than ever.
Spouting lets you watch comparative shows, movies, and sports that are on standard TV, anyway using the web as opposed to connect. Likewise, most spilling organizations offer one of a kind substance you can't bounce on connect. So why pay for some channels you never watch? With spilling, you pick the shows and stations that are basic to you and leave the rest, like the ground-breaking join bill, behind.
On the off chance that you're considering joining the spouting change, the essential thing you'll require is fast, reliable web. In Chicago, Google Fiber Webpass is an ideal choice for string cutters. Google Fiber Webpass is a web just association that passes on speeds fast enough for an ideal spilling experience, paying little mind to what number of people are related.
So what improves spouting than interface? Money, money, money, money...MUH-NAY!
A typical connection energize adds to an astonishing $217.42 per month.* Compare that to most spilling organizations, which cost about $10 to $50 every month (some are even free!), and you can see any motivation behind why such a critical number of people are cutting the line. On top of that, some PDA providers moreover offer free spouting organizations to their customers. With all of these other options, you can without a very remarkable stretch join two or three different spilling organizations, get all your favored shows, and still extra an OK wad of money. There aren't any dropping charges either, so you can drop and reactivate your organization at whatever point you need.
No increasingly tricky hid costs or surprises on your bill.
In case you've anytime opened a connection bill and been found napping by covered costs, you're obviously not alone. As demonstrated by Consumer Reports, 66% of Americans state they are paying more now in stun charges than they finished five years earlier, and those costs are on the climb. Steaming organizations only here and there feature any covered charges. They charge one level participation rate, so you'll know absolutely what you'll be paying every month. No more stuns on your bill!
Spilling gives you total authority over your TV. Tailor your own custom "TV group" to get just the shows and frameworks you need, and not a mystery load of stations or costly extra things for premium substance. You in like manner have the chance to watch anything you want, at whatever point and wherever, on any contraption. Do whatever it takes not to get kept to gazing at the TV just in rooms with a connection box.
Here in Chicago, it's not just enhancements that are changing to Google Fiber Webpass over satellite web. Gamers, work-from-homers, infrequent explorers and generous interneters all love the unreasonably fast speeds and trouble free assistance Google Fiber Webpass gives. As far back as 15 years, the association has been upsetting the market by offering only the snappiest velocities possible in each building they serve (no more speed levels), likewise fast exchange and download speeds, and an understanding let free sign for one low rate. That suggests no extra costs or restricted time esteeming that goes up following a year.
Regardless, joining is energetic and straightforward. Basically make a free foundation course of action on the web or by means of phone for a period that is useful for you. The master will show up alright on time and is conventionally in and out inside two or three minutes. No increasingly four-hour windows or staying for the duration of the day! Visit their site today to join and adventure all it brings to the table.
For more information about cable ditch and online streaming, visit: https://estreamvision.com/
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The Sims 4 on Xbox & PlayStation 4: New Game Patch (July 16th, 2019)
There’s a Sims 4 update available for players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Update: 07/16/2019 – v1.16
It seems like only yesterday when we added Mouse & Keyboard support to The Sims 4 but that hasn’t stopped us from making improvements based on your feedback while preparing for Island Living. The team has also been hard at work on new features and have addressed some long standing issues so let’s dig in, starting with the new stuff.
New Console Features
Mouse & Keyboard can now be used to bypass the “Press START” screen rather than requiring a controller to get to the Main Menu. That means you can start and finish your Simming session using the control scheme you prefer. Now, where’s the any key?
I’m on a boat… Oh I’m not?!?! Seems that going into First Person view didn’t agree with all Simmers and left some feeling a little ill. Worry not, head to Options > Game Camera and Disable First Person Head Bob for that more on rails feel while you are inside your Sims’ heads.
When entering cheats, Sims would continue their day as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Using a controller, adding cheats could take most of a Sim day if you were unlucky. Now, when entering cheats, the game will pause letting you add all the cheats you want without missing a second of Sim life.
Randomize Traits Button
We all get creative block sometimes, other times we just look for a challenge. Whatever your approach you can now hit the Randomize Traits button in CAS to get a set of traits you might not usually pick for your Sim. Will your Sim be a Jealous, Lazy Goofball or a Genius, Slob who Hates Children? Let the dice decide.
Lounge Chair
Everyone (even you) gets a FREE LOUNGE CHAIR! That’s right, we’ve added a delightfully Portable Lounge Chair, so you can now lounge by the pool they way you’ve always wanted and you don’t even need to wake at the crack of dawn to put your towel down.
Pride Content
Created in partnership with the It Gets Better Project you can show your pride with some fantastically colorful new clothing. From the rainbow leggings to the body suit and new t-shirts your Sim can show their Pride. In addition, we’ve also included a selection of decorative Pride flags for hanging on your Sims’ walls. Finally, we’ve updated our bathroom door sets in-game so that every bathroom door also includes a gender-neutral version for builders, and includes a full suite of color swatches for mixing and matching to your heart’s content. Happy Pride Month everyone, even if we did get here a little late!
Stilt Foundations
Or as we like to call them, High Heels for your House. Or House Heels. These things don’t need to be limited to just the tropics. Stilts are a great partner in crime to terrain manipulated and flat lots, in any biosphere. You can find them in Build Mode alongside all the other regular Foundation types. Now go get your stilt on.
Further Eaves Extension
Now you can pull your Eaves… further.
Freelancer Career
Freelancer is a brand-new type of career. Sims can choose to be a Freelance Artist, Programmer, or Writer, and will work through an agency that will connect them with a variety of gigs. Unlike other careers, there’s no defined work schedule to worry yourself over. Need some extra Simoleons? Smash through a few gigs in a single day and get paid! Need some time off? No problem – plenty of gigs will be waiting for you when you’re ready to get back to work. Your office is wherever you want it to be. Perhaps a quiet corner in the local library, or maybe you’d prefer a home office decked out in the new set of office furniture? You’re your own boss, so the choice is yours! Completion of gigs across the different agencies will lead to a variety of rewards, and ever-increasing pay.
New Objects
This free set of home office furniture and decor is ideal for your burgeoning Freelancer Sims!
Bookcase: Edgier LadderCase
Desk: Anglette Desk
Desk Chair: The Professional
End Table: A Cute Anglette
Decor: Not So Simple Pen Holder
Decor: Hand Reference Model
Decor: Robo, The Friendly Circuitry Kit
Decor: The Note Book
Laptop: FreeRoam Portable Computing Device
Wall Decor: Better As A Pair Of Paintings
Wall Decor: Supreme Freelancer Award
Doors of many Colors
Knock knock! Who’s there? Color! Color who? 350 new color swatches spread across all of the doors. Yeah, maybe the future as a stand up comedian isn’t in my future after all.
New Lot Traits
Clothing Optional: This new venue-only lot trait will inspire your Sims to — you guessed it — get nude.
Off-The-Grid: Now you can live out your nomadic fantasy on any lot. Applying this lot trait will remove your Sim’s use of power and running water, but on the upside it keeps your bills down. Keep a lookout for existing objects with the “Works Off-The-Grid” note in the Buy Catalog.
New Clothing
Freelancers tend to want comfy, but professional outfits. We’ve got them covered with the following new pieces of clothing.
Women
Men
A cable knit cardigan outfit
A sweater and skirt outfit
A layered sweater
A pair of flats
A collared sweater
A button up shirt
A crewneck sweater
A pair of drawstring pants
Immaculate White Shelf
According to SimGuruGraham, Simmers really REALLY wanted a plain white version of “The Immaculate” shelf available in Buy Mode. Who are we to argue with what SimGuruGraham tells us?
More Toddler Diaper Colors
We added some L’il Swimmies Splashy Diapers! You don’t necessarily have to use them for splashing in the water, but that’s where our brains were at when we made them. We made these not only in anticipation for Island Living, but we also thought you’d appreciate more swimming options for your toddlers to use in the Seasons Kiddie Pool.
Back Float
A new Back Float interaction is available for Sims swimming in the pool. Select the water. Try it out. Take a load off.
Fishing Additions
Brace yourself, we’re about to cast you into a deep dive…
We added several new interactions to allow players to fish in different ways and interact with other Sims around fishing activities.
Sims can perform a few new Fishing-based socials to gain useful info (via UI TNS/Notebook) and push NPCs to Fish.
Fishing is now joinable.
Improved fishing interaction tuning and autonomy to make the interaction more efficient and fun.
Upper skill levels now provide more meaningful rewards, with new Interactions added to Fishing skill levels
New high skill cast interaction “Angle for Big Catch” increases chance of getting rarer fish.
New high-skill VFX visuals on Rare fishing spots.
Ability to now “Mentor Sims in Fishing.”
Fishing UI has improved information, including Notebook info with Bait information.
Tuning for fish that can be caught is unique per world & more fishing spots added to some of our previously shipped worlds.
New bait preference system applied to most existing fish that modify catch chances.
Ceiling Fan Updates
Ceiling Fans will now cool a room if you have Seasons and the fan is on. Oh yeah, speaking of which, we also added the ability to turn them On and Off. And while we were at it, we figured we’d make them dry off damp Sims too.
Ceiling Objects Build Sort
We also added a new Ceiling Objects Build sort category to make things like Fans easier to find.
Swimming Things
There is now a chance for interesting things to happen to your Sims while swimming, like getting a cramp or losing their suit (eek!). Swimming also now gives your Sims a boost in Fitness skill gain.
Part-Time Jobs Update
And last but not least (you still with me?) all existing Part-Time Jobs are no longer just for Teens. That’s right, now elders could work as Fast Food Employees. Young Adults could be Babysitters if they want. Why not? The Part-Time world is your oyster. Oh oh oh — and one last thing on that note: You can now have two Part-Time Jobs at once and pick between shifts. Wowee.
The green pulsing of the snap cursor would previously appear every 20-30 seconds for some players even if you were using a Mouse & Keyboard. That pulse is under control now, unless you are using snap cursor in which case you should expect to see it.
Rooms can now be resized with the Mouse & Keyboard control scheme.
Talking of Mouse & Keyboard, if you use them you can live drag objects now.
Simmers using a Mouse & Keyboard can now make use of edge scrolling. We had the option before but it didn’t work as you might have thought.
The Virtual Cursor may be virtual but it doesn’t mean it was meant to disappear after you came out of build mode.
Sims will travel to the correct venue when invited out to an event by a NPC Sim.
Fixed an issue where the UI would occasionally indicate that a Sim was at work, when they were actually at home, which would block access to the Sim’s inventory.
Sims will no longer receive random phone calls from other Sims between the hours of 8pm and 10am, allowing them to enjoy a full – and speedy – night’s sleep.
Fixed an issue where multiple music tracks could end up looping and playing simultaneously.
Expecting parents will once again be able to “Take Family Leave” via their phone to take time off from work.
Fixed an issue where a Sim who had cheated with another Sim romantically, were then unable to successfully propose to that Sim and get married.
Fixed an issue where Sims in the eSport Gamer branch of the Tech Guru career were not earning money when programming video games.
The Pick Up Serving Together interaction will no longer cause one of the Sims involved to fail to route to the food.
Fixed an issue where interactions on the Digitalistic Sketchpad object would disappear if a Sim’s actions were canceled while they were picking up the Digitalistic Sketchpad.
Updated the Digitalistic Sketchpad object so that creating paintings on it will satisfy Aspiration goals and work tasks that involve painting.
Fixed an issue with the Lin-Z Smart Speaker, where the interaction to hire a Gardener would remain unselectable, even when the home had a garden that needed tending.
Sims will now look at the Lin-Z Smart Speaker when speaking to it.
The “Pre-Owned Painter’s Easel”, that’s unlocked via the Painter career, will now provide an Inspirational emotional aura, instead of a Focused emotional aura.
Fixed an issue where staircases were not rendering properly while held by a mouse cursor.
Adjusted icons of Lunar New Year recipes to better display what food you’re looking at within an inventory.
The children’s Yin & Yang Necklace will no longer clip into their neck when wearing a shirt that’s tucked in.
The “CleanRoom” wall pattern, which was previously missing a name for its 5th color variant, has now had that specific color variant named “Like Sand”.
A new content alert icon has been added to individual careers within the Select a Career panel, to help players find new careers that have been added to their game.
“Shift clicking” with the controller (X and Circle (PlayStation 4) or A and B (Xbox One)) at the same time on the Age Up menu will no longer cause menus to overlap.
Note: If a save file created prior to this update contains a Sim that’s already in this bad state, simply traveling to another lot with that Sim will permanently fix this issue.
As far as I’m aware, this is the only instance in the game where a color variant has been given a unique name. Huh… neat!
Scientists will once again wear an appropriate outfit when going to work even if StrangerVille is not installed.
The “Chemical Analyzer” object can now be purchased from Build Mode without having to use a cheat.
Made updates to the list of valid objects that can be selected as the outcome of the SimRay’s “Transform Object” interaction.
Fixed an issue where objects from multiple festivals were appearing on top of each other in the neighborhood simultaneously.
Apartment landlords will now leave the apartment immediately after addressing a tenant’s complaint.
Added the ability for Sims with the Vegetarian trait to hire a Vegetarian Caterer by clicking on Stoves or Refrigerators.
Vegetarian Sims will no longer enjoy eating Mud Carp.
Fixed an issue where hungry pets would not eat from food bowls autonomously.
The pet toy box will no longer have its position rotated in a random direction when a Sim returns home from an active career.
Fixed an issue where the “Litter-Matic Scoop-Free” litterbox wasn’t looking clean after cat poop had been removed.
Fixed an issue with the Pet Adoption Agency, where they would occasionally show up at a Sim’s home without any pets to adopt, and would simply stand at the home’s front door and not do anything.
The Hide/Show filter now does as you’d expect while using the Simstagram pet interaction.
Fishing in Brindleton Bay shouldn’t have your Sim facing the wrong direction. No more fishing the land and wondering why the fish aren’t biting.
Updated the Gardening career so that Sims will earn more than 10 Simoleons per completed work shift.
Fixed an issue where on days where no holiday was set to occur, a Sim’s work schedule would update to falsely indicate that the day was a Holiday just prior to going to work, causing the Sim to stay home for the day.
Fixed an issue where NPC Sims were not autonomously using the skating rinks that appear in certain neighborhoods.
Toddlers will no longer attempt to queue up behavior to “Run Inside” during bad weather conditions if they’re already inside.
Fixed an issue where Sims voices could not be heard when Singing Together around a Holiday Tree if City Living was not installed.
You’ll now be able to cancel the Compel to Drink interaction after choosing to feed on a Scarecrow.
The Acting career task to “Get Into Hair and Makeup” can be successfully completed once again.
Fixed an issue where celebrity Sims who had been set to use their normal walkstyle were switching back to using the celebrity walkstyle after traveling to certain types of venues.
Three star celebrity Sims will no longer use the celebrity walkstyle.
Your Sims can now pester… er… visit, any campers of their choosing in Granite Falls.
Fixed an error where Sims would get stuck in the Forest Hideaway lot in Granite Falls.
Simmers who have City Living installed can now put the Siopao and Ensaymada dishes on their restaurant’s menu.
Bat!
Grand Master Vampires know all, or so they thought. Now they can continue to earn points. Does that make them a Grand Grand Master?
Vampire NPCs shouldn’t get appear at a venue and prevent you from saving.
Vampire NPCs shouldn’t have their Vampire Energy drained after a load which allows them to continue with their expected autonomous behavior.
Sim Form!
The following environment objects, which were created for StrangerVille, have been added to the Build Mode debug catalog to allow placement on lots. Players must enter the bb.showhiddenobjects cheat before they can be seen in the catalog.
Added proper images to the Officer and Covert Operator branches of the Military career.
Removed the “Question about Spores in Lab” interaction for Sims who have already acquired the Modified Hazmat Suit.
Removed the “Heart of the Pack” styled look from Create a Sim, as it was authored using clothing that’s only available to Sims that have joined the Military career.
Updated the pack information panel on the main menu to not display world objects under the Build Mode Items.
10 different cacti
3 different Joshua trees
3 different RVs
2 clusters of rocks
2 junked cars
A group of desert flowers
A military truck
A tire
A parking stop
Holiday Celebration Pack
The Crown Roast platter will now show a partially eaten state when half of its servings have been taken.
PlayStation 4
Some makes of keyboard are extremely fancy with lots of features, one of those features appears to have been the ability to prevent the mouse from being used. We’ve made improvements in this area.
As usual, we have new creations which were created and shared by members of the Sims Community. You can find them in My Library.
There we are, a lot of changes to take us further into 2019. Now I’m off to get my Sims some sun, sea and fun in The Sims 4 Island Living.
SimGuruLegacy
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My technological imperative
It’s 2006, I’m sitting in a computer lab watching a caterpillar jump from one letter to another, the teacher comes over and places a piece of white poster board over my hands. I’ve been cheating, I was looking at my fingers while also trying to match the letters to the caterpillar. It’s computer class and our grade are based off whether or not we can keep our fingers on the “home keys.” I’m home now, it’s time to feed my Neopet, my dad’s on the phone though, I hope my Neopet hasn’t died yet. I finally got online, my AIM pops up, my friends are online—we discuss how terrible computer class is; my Neopet is fed, time to fix my Myspace page. Its 2006 and my generation is great at coding HTMLs because Myspace is what’s important to us all. Its 2009, Facebook is all the rage, thank god I don’t have to spend hours coding and we no longer have dial up, I have a flip phone and have just gotten unlimited texting, we no longer type words out, now it’s only “brb, g2g, ttyl.” It’s all about PowerPoint, until about 2011 when I discovered Prezi, now we can make things zoom out and zoom in and whoosh through without having to click a bunch of buttons in PowerPoint. Its 2012 and I get my first laptop, it’s a refurbished Dell laptop, it runs out of storage so now I need a portable hard drive to keep room. Its 2013 and my laptop dies, I get a brand new one that has the capability of a split screen. It’s 2017 and I finally get a MacBook Pro, I have no idea what to do on this thing, I didn’t even know what to do on my Dell, I’ve spent a year just clicking around on my Mac trying to figure out what the buttons feel do. My email addresses have gone from aim emails, to a comcast, to a google and now an Akron one; from [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] now kennedyano7and kao34. I still am trying to learn what the excess buttons are at the bottom of the emails—I barely know how to send an attachment let alone full-blown pictures in the email.
Its 2006, we’re goofing off in computer class trying to draw pictures via the computer, the mouse doesn’t move in a circle. Its 2009, and now you just click a square to color its in. Its 2012 there are apps for everything, now you can just download a coloring app. Its 2019 and now coloring books are back, except there created for cuss words and jokes now. I don’t understand how apps work at all— like the “notes” section on your phone, I still don’t understand how that works. What buttons are you supposed to click when you want to create a new note/send a new note/save a new note. Now I’m just trying to figure out how to use MacBook Pro to just do my regular everyday work.
I tried to use Arbonne to make some extra something on the side with a new kid, but that needs so much technology I have no clue what I got into—none of it makes sense. Now I need to create something to house all my projects for this class? How am I supposed to do that? Aren’t millennials supposed to be able to do anything and everything technology related, am I even a millennial? I stopped trying to use Instagram to advocate for Arbonne, how does Instagram even work?
Its 2019, it’s all about Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and I have no idea how anything actually works. What is technology, there’s so many issues with WIFI I’d rather go back to dial up, at least then I knew the reason it wasn’t working was because someone picked up the phone and tried to make a phone call. All that mumbo-jumbo about WIFI not working because their working on lines or the cable needs to be restarted, it’s just too much. I’m about to be 25 years old and I still don’t understand how Microsoft Word even works.
Its 2006 and I just learned how to change the color on my away message for AIM, it’s all set up so that when someone messages me they get my message. Its 2009 and I’m just learning how to setup Facebook. Its 2013 and I just discovered how to add people from my new dorm room onto my Facebook. Its 2019 and apparently you can change the color of your twitter page from light to dark, change your MacBook from light to dark. I even learned how to get my WIFI setup nicely. Its 2019 and I’m still trying to get used to Brightspace, Springboard was a lot easier to use than Brightspace. Why does everything have to be so complicated.
Its 2006 and you’ve never heard of buying things online. Its 2009 and online Amazon shopping is popular. Its 2012 and I just purchased majority of my dorm room things online. I just signed up for Amazon Prime. Everything came within two days, this is amazing—you used to have to wait for weeks for your items and at that point you completely forgot what you bought. Its 2019 and now I can have everything the next day, or even pick the day I want to have things sent to me. Online shopping makes more sense to me than setting up a website—I can even program Amazon to one-click where I don’t have to use any information and can just click a button.
Its 2006 and my mini iPod shuffle has music from LimeWire on it. I don’t know what song is going to appear because it doesn’t have a screen but it’s still pretty cool. Its 2009 and I have a flip phone, my iPod shuffle and my Walkman! Its 2012 and I have a sliding keyboard phone with an iPod that has a screen! LimeWire isn’t a “thing”anymore—good because half the music I downloaded wasn’t even what I really wanted. I continue to ask for iPod gift cards for every occasion possible, iTunes is expensive. Its 2019 and I have Apple Music, for $10.99 a month I get unlimited anything and everything. I don’t even need to download things anymore, that saves me so much time/effort.
Its 2006 and technology is basically nonexistent. Its 2009 and Apple is becoming a thing. Its 2012/2013 and now I just have to worry about the University of Akron’s WIFI actually working [it never really worked in the dorms]. Its 2019 and now I can just go up to people at a desk and ask them to help me with my WIFI because it doesn’t work, it’s as simple as just deleting the old WIFI setting and setting it up all over again. We have autosave and an iCloud.
Its 2006 and I just need a floppy disk to save my work. Its 2009 and we’ve gone from a floppy disk to USB drive, now you just have to make sure your computer is compatible to your USB drive. Its 2013 and I have an external hard drive plugged into my refurbished Dell laptop. Its 2019 and now everything is saved to a “cloud.” Which reminds me of the movie where the people accidentally send the contents of their “cloud” to their whole contact list—is that the danger we face nowadays?
Its 2006 and you cannot text until after 9pm. Its 2009 and my parents are having me use a pay-as-you-go flip phone in order for me to pay for my own minutes, I just want to be able to text people. Its 2010 and my Samsung flip keyboard doesn’t work. Its 2013 and I have my first iPhone, I’m never going back to Samsung. Its 2015 and I crack my screen, I call my mom crying. Its 2019 and I have to set up AutoPay for my new phone bill service. It asks for the twelfth day of the month, but it’ll be taken out on the fifteenth, I don’t understand how that works. I’m so confused, nothing makes sense. My boyfriend’s father does everything electronically, I still send a check in the mail when it’s time to pay my car.
Its 2006 and I spend majority of my money on buying DVDs and a portable DVD player for myself. Its 2009 and I illegally downloaded movies off the internet. Its 2013 and my TV has a DVD player in it. Its 2019 and now there’s Netflix, which I’m still learning how to use. I miss Blockbuster. I miss VHS’s, I still don’t know what feeling is worse—a broken VHS tape or scratched up DVD Player, either way I cry when one of them happens.
Its 2019 and I don’t understand how anything works anymore. Between PowerPoint, iMovie, Microsoft Word, and even Amazon either way when did everything get so difficult? I will be 25 this year, my son is almost four months old, technology makes no sense to me. I can barely figure out the control remote for our TV. Its 2019 and Disney is coming out with a new service with access to movies. Am I still old school for wanting to buy DVDs? Sometimes, when dealing with today’s technology, I ask myself am I 24 or am I 48?
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Working With Hotels Doesn't Have To Be Difficult
Most people have at some point had an unfortunate experience with a hotel. Maybe the room was dirty, or smelled like smoke, or had mysterious stains on the furniture. Having to spend a night in such a place can really put a damper on your vacation. To avoid this fate, use the following tips.
Prior to beginning a hotel search, try thinking about what accommodations you want and can afford. Figure out if the hotel's location is more important than its price or if you limited to hotels under a certain price range. Also consider whether you need one that has items like spas and fitness centers or just a beautiful view.
If you've left amenities at home, ask the front desk. Often you won't need to go out to buy things like toothpaste and toothbrushes. The front desk typically has the staples available to customers at no cost whatsoever. Sure it's only a few dollars saved, but every dollar counts.
When searching for a hotel, consider "bundle" packages. For example, if you have to fly to your location, look for a bundle that includes both your hotel room and your airfare. You should save quite a bit of money that way, but make sure to always double-check the regular room rate to ensure you are getting a good deal.
If you travel often and prefer one hotel brand, consider signing up for a loyalty program. These programs offer free room upgrades, a free night's stay after so many days and other advantages. To get the most from this service, sign up to be alerted of specials the hotel may run from time to time.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
Before you make your hotel reservation, check to see if any fees will be added to your bill. Many hotels charge extra for parking, Wi-Fi and even room cleaning. These charges can make your stay more costly than you anticipated, so be sure to ask about them before you make your decision.
If you plan on using any glasses from the hotel minibar, make sure that you wash them first. Even if they appear to be clean, they may have been wiped with a chemical cleaner. Cozy Motel use the same products that they use to clean windows and mirrors on those glasses.
Use Twitter to your advantage. Prior to booking your hotel, tweet the property and see if there are any discounts available. Social media is becoming more popular than ever, and hotels use this medium to get the word out about the specials they have out there. If you aren't very familiar with tweeting, you can simply use the search function on Twitter.
Will your children be staying with you during your next hotel stay? If so, pick a hotel that best suits their needs. This includes amenities of the actual hotel and the location itself. A hotel could be lovely, have an indoor pool, or offer all the cable channels. But, if it's located in an industrial area or in the part of town with lots of bard, your children may not be pleased.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. People who are AAA members receive discounts at many hotel chains. In addition, having a AAA membership will make it easier to get a rental car when it's needed. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that's provided for free in a lot of locations.
Use social media to your advantage if you want to get fresh deals on hotel stays. Many hotels offer deals and freebies to people that "Like" their page. In addition, giving them praise on social media is a great way to snag an upgrade and/or a special rate that has not been advertised.
Nothing casts a pall over a vacation like having to stay in a hotel that seems like something out of a horror movie. However, finding the perfect vacation for your next trip can seem impossible at times. With the right advice, doing so becomes a lot easier. Use the tips you have read here to find a great hotel.
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Benefits Of Using a Bitmain Antminer
Bitmain Antminer's series is the best Antminer device on the current market. It's equipped with more than 100 power hungry devices, which will power your entire home via autopilot. The computer will automatically shut off when you are done using it. These devices comply fully with the USB standard.
Bitmain Antminer could be the right choice for you if you're looking for electricity that you can get from your computer. The company has been in business for nearly twenty years. They have been in the electronics industry for so long and are trusted by so many people. Because they offer a 30 year guarantee on their products, many people trust them. The only way you are going to find out if the Antminer is right for you is to try it out for yourself.
The Bitmain Antminer E9 makes your life easier. You won't have any more worries about running out of power or not being in a position to turn on your computer. It is easy to set up a computer, or plug in cables. This system has everything.
Bitmain spent many years developing this product to meet customers' demands for the latest technology. With the Antminer you won't have to worry about running low on electricity or energy. You will always have enough juice for your computer and accessories.
Your electric bill will be a lot cheaper when you use this type of technology. Your monthly energy bills will be much lower. It is well-known, that the computer is one of your largest energy users. With over sixty watts per hour of power consumption, you can dramatically reduce your energy consumption and even see significant savings.
Many people consider their computer a given. They are not aware of how much energy it takes to run. It is important to conserve energy when you have the Bitmain Athlon at home.
Your processor is used to download and install applications. Applications that do not have enough memory or processor speed will freeze and run very slowly. Other reasons programs may not load include a slow processor or insufficient memory. This problem will be fixed with the Bitmain Athlon processor. The processor will provide a noticeable speed increase in just a few minutes.
You will never have to worry again about a dead battery or a jammed processor. With this processor, your applications can run smoothly and all of your processor resources will be used efficiently. You won't have to worry about your home's energy consumption after you finish your work day.
The Bitmain Athlon uses less power and is safer. While your computer is running, no hazardous components will leak out. There will be no malfunction or defect. With a brand such as this, you can rest assured your computer will run safely every time.
Bitmain Athlon processors consume less power than others on the market. During intensive usage, the computer could slow down. This is normal, but you need to fix it before it becomes too complicated. You can just add RAM to the computer or replace the original RAM with an upgraded one.
Because they are made out of durable materials, the Bitmain Athlon lasts a long period of time. They are resistant against vibrations and shocks. You can be confident that your computer will continue to work in top condition for a very long time with a durable machine.
These processors are very affordable. You may be thinking that a processor boasting so many features is too costly. This processor can be used to save money on purchasing other processors. Although the price tag may seem high, the benefits you get from this processor are worth it.
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Best Amazon Echo smart home devices and Kindle e-readers and more are on sale
New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/health/best-amazon-echo-smart-home-devices-and-kindle-e-readers-and-more-are-on-sale/
Best Amazon Echo smart home devices and Kindle e-readers and more are on sale
We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
Nearly every Amazon smart home device and e-reader is on sale. (Photo: Amazon)
Hooray! Prime Day is going strong! Day 2 is here! Amazon has slashed prices on nearly all of its devices for the mega-shopping event, which ends at midnight PST. So if you’ve been reluctant to “add to cart,” there’s still time to save…but not too much.
What’s on sale? Just about all Amazon smart-home devices, Fire TV and tablets. A highlight: The very popular Echo Show 5 is on sale for its all-time lowest price ever ($45!). This display brings together all your smart-home devices, while also serving as a visual companion to Alexa. And right now it’s nearly 45 percent off!
What else is discounted? Audible, for your Amazon devices: Get a whopping 53 percent off the first four months of Audible Premium Plus, so you can up game with great audio books and more; summer “reading” has never been more fun.
Important: These deals, including the Echo Show 5, are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. Not yet a member? You can sign up for a free 30-day trial here and take advantage of all the deals below, plus free shipping and all sorts of other Prime benefits.
Scroll to get your hands on the best Prime Day, Day 2 deals on Amazon devices.
New Echo Buds are here — and they’re 33 percent off for Prime Day! (Photo: Amazon)
The latest Echo Buds feature active noise-canceling (not available with the first generation). Now you can enjoy your favorite music and podcasts free from annoying background noise. Score a pair for $80 with the standard charging case, or $100 with the wireless charging case, for Prime Day.
These second-generation Echo Buds are built for long-lasting comfort with a new, sleeker design that fits securely in your ears (unlike Apple AirPods). They deliver high-quality audio that’s well-balanced and clear with deep bass. These babies are durable and tough, with up to 15 hours of battery life per charge (and an extra two hours with a 15-minute quick charge). And your trusty Alexa voice assistant is built-in.
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“A quality pair of buds. Out of the box, setup was easy,” wrote a delighted five-star reviewer. “I already had the Alexa app on my phone, so all it took was having the app open while I opened the case on the new ear buds…. The audio playback is excellent. Experimented with some heavy metal and classical, and the sounds were great. Even the classics like Sinatra sounded great, with the vocals loud and clear.”
The new Echo Buds come in Black and Glacier White.
Read thousands of e-books with the Kindle Paperwhite — save nearly 40 percent! (Photo: Amazon)
Discounted from $130 to just $80, the Kindle Paperwhite is a great all-around e-reader. Thanks to its six-inch display with a built-in light and 300ppi (pixels per inch) for clarity, it reads just like paper — hence the name. Plus, it’s got lots of on-board storage (8GB), so it can hold thousands of e-books and digital magazines from Amazon’s digital bookstore.
“Best Kindle yet,” said one of many five-star reviewers. “This Kindle is lighter and thinner than the last generation, noticeably so. The flat edge-to-edge screen is an improvement in feel and makes it much easier to clean. It still has an excellent non-glare screen that I love for reading outdoors.”
One of the Kindle Paperwhite’s best features is its looooong battery life — it can go for up to six weeks per charge. That’s weeks, not hours!
Never switch out batteries again with this hardwired gadget. (Photo: Amazon)
Although it resembles a standard doorbell, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is super-powered. This smart doorbell provides a 24/7 video stream and a nice wide field of view (up to 155 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical), meaning you can see a broad swath of your property and any activity that might be occurring. And it syncs to your smartphone, tablet, laptop or streaming device (it’s easy — there’s a Ring app), so you can keep an eye on your home whether you’re inside, at work or away on that big vacation you’ve got coming up this summer. And this is the exact right moment to snap one up. For Prime members only, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is down from $60 to just $45.
“I absolutely love this doorbell. I’m thrilled the doorbell doesn’t need batteries. I hated that,” said a five-star reviewer. “The setup is so easy and the doorbell notifications come through my phone and my Alexa Echo Dot…Plus, the quality of the sound from outside is really good too…. I would absolutely purchase this particular Ring doorbell again.”
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is hardwired into your home’s electric system, so there’s no need to worry about replacing batteries every few months. As long as there’s electricity flowing through your home, this guy is on the job.
Save 50 percent: Echo Dot
Want to turn your home into a smart home? Start here. (Photo: Amazon)
With an all-new sphere design, the fourth generation Echo Dot — marked down from $50 to just $25 (half off!) for Prime members only — is a small but powerful smart speaker with a glow-light base that can not only channel Alexa but can also stream tunes from Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Sirius XM and more. It offers clearer, more robust audio quality than earlier iterations. Pair it with another Echo Dot to create amazing stereo sound — a particularly smart deal now that it’s half off!
Shoppers love the compact dimensions — it’s 3.5-inches high — which make it great for smaller rooms. “This is exactly what I was looking for,” said a happy Amazon shopper. “The sound is loud and clear. Now I am able to hear all online stations with no interference. The design is space-saving, with rubber underneath to prevent sliding.”
The Echo Dot 4 comes in Charcoal, Glacier White and Twilight Blue.
Stream live TV and free TV instantly. (Photo: Amazon)
Watch more TV for less with the Fire TV Stick Lite — on sale from $30 to just $18 for Amazon Prime members. It’s easy to set up: It plugs into just about any HD or 4K TV’s HDMI ports, syncs to Wi-Fi and then provides access to hundreds of streaming apps and channels, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video, Starz, Showtime and much, much more. For someone looking to cut the cord with their cable provider, this is perfect.
“…I’m very pleased with the Fire TV Stick Lite,” shared a satisfied Amazon shopper. “Alexa is installed, and using voice commands to change the TV is so wonderful! I can also turn the lights off from my remote control when it’s time to movie-watch. I love it! Let’s see the cable companies let me do that! I figure I’ll be saving about $230 per month now, and all for an investment that was less than paying one month of a cable bill.”
For anyone wondering: The Fire TV Stick Lite is the same as the standard Fire TV Stick but with a different remote. This remote has Alexa voice assistant built-in, but it doesn’t have a TV on/off switch or volume controls, which is why it’s deemed ‘Lite’.
The Echo Show 5 is a smart-home display that covers a lot of ground — but takes up very little space. (Photo: Amazon)
On sale for $45 for Prime members only (was $80), the Show 5 is Echo’s smaller, sleeker model. Armed with a 5-inch display, the Echo Show 5 is the perfect compact and lightweight companion to your nightstand. This smart-home display can double as a digital alarm clock with Alexa built-in. In fact, Amazon has a wide range of personalized clock faces to choose from, so you can bring a little bit of your own personality to this device.
“This is the best alarm clock I’ve ever had,” wrote a delighted five-star reviewer. “The clock face is customizable and very easy to read from anywhere in the room. The screen has no distortion or discoloration from any angle, so it is easy to see from everywhere…Perfect for checking the time in the middle of the night.”
The Echo Auto makes your car as smart as your home, and is down to just $15, from $50. (Photo: Amazon)
If you’ve ever called out to Alexa in your car, only to find she wasn’t there, this is for you. The Echo Auto — on sale for a mere $15 from $50 for Prime members only — is a clever gizmo that instantly makes any old car smart. It connects to your car’s stereo via auxiliary input and pairs to your phone with Bluetooth.
The Echo Auto is designed with eight mighty microphones, so it can clearly pick up voice commands (no worries about a loud engine, or noisy traffic). It’s great for making hands-free phone calls and searching for your favorite tunes on Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and more.
“I’m actually impressed with this little device….” shared a five-star Amazon reviewer. “It always picks up my voice no matter the sound level.”
The Blink Mini HD security cam keeps an eye on your home. (Photo: Amazon)
Some security cameras will set you back hundreds. For Prime Day, you can get this Blink Mini for just $20 — that’s $15 off — if you’re a Prime member.
This smart-home security camera detects motion — it can snap into record mode whenever it senses activity around your home. It comes with free cloud storage until the end of 2021, and It features Full HD live streaming and two-way audio, so you can talk to house guests via the Blink app.
“This is a great little camera monitor,” raved an excited five-star shopper. “It’s easy to set up and easily managed with your smartphone. Can be set up to arm and record at any time. I bought this to use in my master bedroom by my desk where I keep sensitive information.”
Save a third for Prime Day on this Insignia 43-inch Smart 4k Ultra HD TV. (Photo: Amazon)
On sale from $320 to just $220 for Prime members only, the Insignia 43-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD TV — Fire TV Edition is a total steal. This is its all-time lowest price ever, so it’s the perfect moment to grab it for a bedroom or guest room. With a beautiful, crisp image, this TV lets you stream movies and shows from Netflix, SlingTV, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video and more. Armed with an Ultra HD resolution of 2160p, this model is so popular it has earned a five-star rating from nearly 1,000 reviewers.
“I am so happy with my new Fire TV. The instructions weren’t complicated. I was able to switch flawlessly between my cable and the Fire TV apps,” shared a savvy Amazon shopper. “The clarity of the picture is wonderful…This is so perfect for me.”
Echo
Halo fitness
Luna gaming
Fire TV
Fire TV Cube, $80 (was $120), amazon.com
Fire TV Stick 4K, $25 (was $50), amazon.com
Insignia 24-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $100 (was $170), amazon.com
Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $130 (was $200), amazon.com
Toshiba 43-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD — Fire TV Edition, $350 (was $240), amazon.com
Fire tablet
Kindle
eero
Blink
Ring
Ring Spotlight Cam, $150 (was $200), amazon.com
Ring Stick Up Cam, $75 (was $100), amazon.com
Ring Alarm 5-piece kit (second generation) , $120 (was $200), amazon.com
Ring Alarm 8-piece kit (second generation), $150 (was $250), amazon.com
Ring Floodlight Cam, $140 (was $180), amazon.com
You know… for kids
The Mandalorian: The Child, Stand for Amazon Echo Dot (third generation), $22 (was $25), amazon.com
Echo Dot Kids Edition (fourth generation), $35 (was $60), amazon.com
Fire 7 Kids Tablet, $60 (was $100), amazon.com
Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet, $70 (was $140), amazon.com
Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet, $120 (was $200), amazon.com
Fire 7 Kids Pro, $60 (was $100), amazon.com
Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, $70 (was $140), amazon.com
Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, $120 (was $200), amazon.com
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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