#commissions are like an accumulation of skill over years and years and years

[qsycomplainsalot]

Something very sad and dumb is happening. During the slow collapse of the Roman empire we lost many "luxury" trades and techniques due to them not being sustainable in a post-roman less connected world. People didn't get dumber, and they kept using and inventing new things to improve their quality of life, but, to take an exemple out of many, the recipe of the seawater concrete that was so closely tied to Rome's monumental architectural projects was forgotten for over a thousand years simply because for quite some time there just weren't cities vast enough to attract the kind of patrons to fund them, which stopped the process known as euergetism to take place. Somehow we have been going through the same process again over the past hundred and so years, not because there's no upper class to chase civic recognition by sponsoring the arts, but because the upper class has lost interest in sponsoring the arts at all. It seems like rich people have become more and more into the idea alone of accumulating money, and just can't think of ways to spend it that wouldn't also be thought off by the most basic dudebros around. Not to glorify rich people at any point in time but it used to be that when you had an insane amount of money you'd use it to foster a court of artist, build gigantic public baths or commission a rank in the navy to discover new continents. Nowadays it all goes towards a dick measuring contest of yachts, mansions and what just seems like the least satisfying way one could ever spend their money. This wouldn't be so much of a problem considering the lower class has had more spending money than ever before in history, but aside from that and in lock step with exponential capitalism, rich people seem to take personal exception to the arts existing at all, opting instead to commodify everything, copy it and sell it for cheap. We're staring down the barrel of losing thousands of crafts honed over dozens of generations simply because the mercantile hellscape we live in does not, for whatever reason, value having the best possible teapot ever produced, or the best knife, or the best brush, etc... instead these products are undermined by cheap imitations sponsored by rich assholes wanting the appearance of quality over the real thing for revenues' sake, possibly because the idea that an ultra-skilled artisan class getting paid insane amounts of money completely proportional to their labor feels alien to this bunch of parasites. And I don't think that trickle down economics has ever been a thing, but it sure as hell feels like we went from being the paid monkeys of the elite, to them not being willing to spend the piss it would take to save us from a fire.

#history #politics

[davidejohnson82]

     I’ve been doing art on and off for more than 20 years now. I started off using pencil and paper like most visual artist, and whatever misplaced crayons & markers I could get my hands on. I taught myself to paint by smearing blades of grass and flowers across dry paper. To mix the colors, I used my own spit as a base moisturizer to mix the colors. And when I wanted to add texture to said paintings, I used the dirt from outside to add grains of texture to the paintings. Eventually my Grandmother allowed me to keep a few plastic butter knives as tools to use when I painted. Once I made enough money from regular 9-5 jobs and the odd commission on and off, I was able to afford a Cintiq to make work digitally. But to my surprise, the skills I accumulated over the years were not as easily transferable as I had hoped. So, I was forced to teach myself to draw and paint all over again with new, more expensive equipment. I could not afford to go to an art school, so I trained myself as much as I could whenever I had time.

     The current state of A.I. “Art” (from what I’ve been able to gather) uses tools that can learn by studying previously made images. But in studying images created by illustrators & painters, it is learning their styles as well. So, if you want a Picaso painting, just give the A.I. as much Picaso to study as you can find, and it will be able to produce new Picaso paintings at will. The problem with this is that once a visual artist dies, their style dies with them. The only Picaso paintings that exist are the one’s he made before he passed, so anything created in his style with A.I. would be expressly against his will. In short, when the artist dies, their style dies with them. That is part of what makes their work valuable, the scarcity of it.

     I am not against the idea of A.I. “Art” as a concept, I think it can be a powerful tool for visual arts in the future. If it were possible to give these tools my artwork and mine alone and have them create pieces without taking the work of other artists, I would definitely be interested. Or if I could give companies permission to use my style and be paid for it, that would be fine as well. But as of right now, it just seems to be a tool to bypass the training of being an artist to steal the accumulated skills developed over time by human artists. Not to mention the sacrifices that are made in that time in the form of finances, time, health (physical & mental), etc. It just feels like all the time of training and sacrifice aren’t worth it if someone can just upload your work into a machine and create something brand new, in your style, against your wishes, without having made any of those sacrifices.

     So, with that said, there are centralized art websites that allow the A.I. aggregators use of our work to train their systems. Anyone who had work on those sites opted us in without our consent, so the work I submitted it in the system whether I want it to be or not. For those sites that I have an account on, if they are guilty of this, the only images of mine you will see are the images presented here. Any other images will be deleted effective immediately. All my shops & social media accounts will remain open for the foreseeable future.

#2DArt #2DArtist #2DIllustration #2DIllustrator #DavidEJohnson #DavidJohnson #DigitalArt #DigitalArtist #HumanArt #HumanArtist #Illustrator #Illustration #NoAI #NoAIArt #Sketchbook #SketchbookPro

[hesselberghumphries88]

How To Prequalify A Buyer Beneficial Sell House "By Owner"

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View More: tophoabinhaz.com - Top Hoa Binh AZ Reviewed by Team Leader in Top Hoa Binh AZ: Bùi Đức Thành - Bui Duc Thanh Shaving is probably the favourite method of removing unwanted body hair out amongst all the hair removal methods easily available. It's economical, and it can easily be done at home. You ain't ever gonna get rich selling $20 items. Seriously, include some higher priced goods and services in your marketing. You will definitely get less sales, but more profits. Will not know if they sell until you try! Do not fall in the trap of promoting any old thing a person get a very high commission. Integrity is important, too. Good hot waxes melt just above body temperature so lots of easily spread thinly the actual skin. Hoa Binh Province As they harden they trap the head of hair in the wax associated with removed through roots when the wax is ripped back. Other locations where you Might prefer to invest money in include: logo design, web design, web promotion, and useful tools such as being a graphics editor and potent autoresponder. However, there are extensive free resources on the online world and I encourage in order to seek them out. Many these kinds of devices have tweezer discs in your head which rotate picking along the hair in the operation and plucking them of this root. Many are contoured in a way re glide easily over many parts of ingest at least. One more thing will. try to be original. Yes, I'm sure you go about doing like the outside and in order to meet one who looks good in a tux also as in jeans, but so does everyone altogether different! Tell us some things about you that wouldn't necessarily emerged in a lift conversation with a tax certified public accountant. For example, what are you passionate surrounding? What would you do if no longer had to dedicate yourself a dealing? What's your favorite flavor of gelato? A person secretly wish everyday was sampling trip to the grocery store? . now it' getting interesting! Done right, online dating is growing rapidly a involving fun, truly a superb to meet some wonderful people . just ask the thousand-plus people we've had submit success stories to us in the past few years! So, enjoy it, and follow these ten tips, and hopefully we'll be obtaining a success story from you sometime before you know it.

In some cultures pubic hair removal is performed for hundreds of years for hygiene and other reasons. Now it is becoming widely accepted all over-the-counter world and both as well as women are keen to find a pubic tweezing and waxing methods method which suits themselves. If pain and discomfort is a primary concern use a pain reducing gel or cream which are available from pharmacists. These solutions always be applied 30 to sixty minutes before waxing so pores and skin is numbed beforehand. We can opt to walk in integrity taking us one step closer towards becoming a large Ground Human or just as we do turn out to be choose to take the safe route, hide our true feelings, protecting our vulnerability and safely hiding our stress and anxiety. Tin Top Hoa Binh AZ 24h Fairness and ethical behavior goes for both. Due on the fact that online e-books and downloadable software are easy to copy and "keep" while also obtaining a refund, the purchaser kind of has Hoa Binh Province an exclusive "burden of honor" too. I have wanted refunds every single time a product was totally misrepresented and poorly done. Inside a instance it and audio courses were sold getting "convenient and viewable anytime and anyplace". Turns out it any convenience for the marketer because you had need them from his site, and you guessed it, the site was very, very S-L-O-W. If I purchase something costly and you sell me like that, I in order to download and OWN this kind of. If using hot water to warm the paste container, guarantee not assist you to water in the paste. Sugar paste is water soluble and are going to spoiled in the event the container isn't sealed properly and water gets wearing. This depends greatly for your individual and also the thickness or coarseness of the hair. Some prefer to alter a blade after with it once or twice, others after 3 or 4 times even though a portion expect between 5 to 7 puts forth. I hope identifying these pitfalls aid you look at yourself differently. Contrary to popular belief web marketing is no instant approach to riches, but an achievable one. If using hot water to warm the paste container, positive to not to permit water into the paste. Tin Top Hoa Binh AZ News Sugar paste is water soluble and are usually spoiled generally if the container isn't sealed properly and water gets by using. They're still hurt, and disappointed. And, your relationship is unlikely to pass over the wave goodbye because friend comes back in their car to go home. View More: tophoabinhaz.com - Top Hoa Binh AZ Reviewed by Team Leader in Top Hoa Binh AZ: Bùi Đức Thành - Bui Duc Thanh Written By Author in tophoabinhaz.com: Bùi Mạnh Dũng - Bui Manh Dung

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[selfimprovementsage]

10 best money-making apps in 2024 T

echnology is making it easier than ever to make a little extra cash, whether it’s taking on side gigs or getting rewarded for certain purchases. With a money-making app, you can look for gigs, deals and other ways to earn money simply by browsing on your mobile phone.

There’s a slew of money-making apps available on the market tailored to a variety of skills and needs. These apps are some of the best to help you make a bit of extra money. Key takeaways There are a variety of apps available for individuals to earn money through different means, such as cash back on purchases, completing tasks and providing services.

Many of these apps are free to use, but some may charge a subscription fee or take a percentage of earnings. By utilizing money-making apps, individuals can make extra cash in their spare time, and potentially even turn it into a full-time income. Best apps to make money

App Best for Rakuten Cash back online Ibotta Cash back in-store Upside Cash back on gas Depop Selling clothes Swagbucks App-based tasks TaskRabbit Local tasks Fiverr Freelancing Survey Junkie Taking surveys UrbanSitter Babysitting Rocket Money Saving on bills and subscriptions

1. Rakuten: Best for cash back on online purchases Rakuten is an app that earns you cash back for shopping at over  3,500 stores online. It works by partnering with different stores and getting paid a commission for sales, which is then shared with the customer in the form of cash back. Some popular brands that Rakuten partners with include Etsy, Macy’s, StubHub and Best Buy.

A few stores come with the opportunity to earn over 10 percent cash back on purchases. You can earn cash back by shopping through the Rakuten app or downloading the Rakuten browser extension. It’s also possible to collect earnings from in-store purchases by linking a card to Rakuten in the app and then using the linked card to pay in-store. Earnings are paid out four times a year, and they can be distributed by check or PayPal.

ProsCons

2. Ibotta: Best for cash back on in-store purchases Ibotta offers cash-back rewards on purchases made online and in stores, much like Rakuten. A unique feature of Ibotta, though, is its abundance of earnings opportunities for in-store purchases. If you have loyalty cards at certain retailers, you can link them to the Ibotta app to earn cash-back rewards whenever you shop at the retailer. Another way to earn cash back is by submitting a receipt from stores Ibotta partners with; when you buy certain products listed in the app, you receive cash back on the purchase. You can also opt-in to Nearby Offer Alerts, which send notifications to your mobile phone whenever you’re near an Ibotta retailer. You can even earn cash back for grocery shopping at a number of popular grocery stores, including Foodtown, Kroger and Trader Joe’s. Instead of earning points and then redeeming accumulated points, you get direct cash for each qualifying purchase within 24 hours. You can withdraw earnings whenever you reach $20, which can then be converted into a gift card or transferred to a bank account via PayPal.

ProsCons

You need to earn at least $20 and redeem at least one offer before you can withdraw earnings For online shopping, transactions only qualify if you shop through the Ibotta app 3. Upside: Best for cash back on gas With Upside,

you can earn cash back on a purchase that’s inevitable if you drive a car: Gasoline. The app makes it easy to find eligible gas stations through its interactive map, and you simply claim a cash-back offer in the app before you pay.

According to the app’s website, if you spent $200 on gas in a month, you’d earn about $4 in cash back. Plus, you can earn cash back at certain restaurants and grocery stores through the app. To cash out, you can connect a bank account or PayPal, or use earnings to buy a gift card.

However, there’s a $1 fee if you cash out less than $15 through Paypal or less than $10 to a bank account. Payouts process within one or two days. Pros You can earn cash back on everyday gas purchases. Some restaurants and grocery stores are also eligible for earning cash back. The app offers a helpful map to find eligible gas stations nearby.

Cons

You need at least $10 for bank transfers and $15 for PayPal transfers to avoid a $1 cash-out fee. Cheaper gas stations may not be eligible for cash back

– it’s important to compare options to ensure you’re getting a good deal. 4. Depop: Best for selling clothes With Depop, users can sell their old clothes and accessories. Depop began as a social network for younger creatives to connect with new designers.

Today, the app is a widespread online marketplace that boasts about 30 million registered users. Anyone can create an account with Depop to list items, and the app offers seller services to teach users the ins and outs of selling on the online marketplace.

Once listed, an item can be liked or bookmarked by potential buyers, and there’s a messaging service embedded in the app so buyers and sellers can communicate. Sellers also have the option to offer international shipping. In addition to clothing, there are categories for homeware, sports equipment, magazines and more.

ProsCons5.

Swagbucks: Best for app-based tasks Swagbucks is a one-stop shop for earning monetary rewards on various tasks. Tasks you can make money on through the Swagbucks app include watching promotional videos, completing surveys and shopping online. You can also earn rewards for buying certain groceries — you just snap a picture of the receipt after shopping and upload it to the app.

For each task you complete, you’ll earn a certain amount of points. Then, the points can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers, a check or cash via PayPal

Every 100 points equals $1, and Swagbucks states that users typically earn $1 to $5 per day. Pros There are many different ways to earn rewards, including taking surveys, watching videos or shopping at eligible retailers. Points can be redeemed for cash or turned into gift cards.

Cons6.

TaskRabbit: Best for local tasks TaskRabbit could be a good option for someone looking to take on the odd job here and there to make extra cash at their own rate.

The app connects service providers — called Taskers — to clients who need a helping hand in their local area. Some of the services that you can offer on TaskRabbit include furniture assembly, yard work, grocery shopping and moving help.

Signing up to become a Tasker is relatively simple — you download the app, select the services you want to offer and complete a verification process. You set your own availability and rates. There is, however, a one-time $25 registration fee for Taskers to use the app.

Pros Cons

There’s a $25 registration fee, though it’s only a one-time fee. There may be fewer tasks available in less urban areas.

7. Fiverr: Best for freelancers Fiverr is an app designed to connect a variety of entrepreneurs and businesses with freelancers. Freelancers, called sellers in the app, can offer services in hundreds of categories, such as website design, copywriting and data engineering.

o become a seller with Fiverr, you must first create an account and undergo an onboarding process, which involves watching a few instructional videos. You’ll then provide information regarding your skill set, work history and identity verification.

Fiverr will review the information to determine whether you are approved to become a seller. Once approved, sellers can create gig packages, which are three tiers of the service offered.

The seller determines the price of each tier and can offer services on their own schedule. Payment is electronically dispersed to the seller as soon as the order is completed, though it takes up to two weeks to clear, unless you’re a top-rated seller. Sellers keep 80 percent of the payment while

Fiverr takes a 20 percent cut. Pros There are many service options for freelancers. Fiverr holds the funds from buyers before you deliver a service, so that you don’t have to worry about buyers owing you money.

Cons8.

Survey Junkie: Best for taking surveys Survey Junkie rewards you for sharing your opinions and digital activity. After you sign up with the app, it will match you with surveys that you can complete on your own time and earn points for.

You can also earn points by adding the Survey Junkie Pulse extension to your browser, which shares your digital browsing activity (such as shopping activity and website engagement) with market researchers.

Points can then be redeemed for cash via PayPal or gift cards with popular retailers, as long as you have a minimum of 500 points ($5) to redeem. Survey Junkie states that all data collected from both survey responses and digital activity are encrypted and collected directly by the researchers. Users can choose what they want to share to maintain privacy.

Pros

Earning money is easy by taking surveys and sharing data. You only need $5 worth of points to redeem them – some apps have much higher minimums to redeem earnings. Cons Payouts can be low for surveys. For Survey Junkie Pulse, some users may not be comfortable sharing their digital data.

9. UrbanSitter: Best for babysitters UrbanSitter is a platform that connects babysitters and parents in hundreds of cities across the U.S. To become a babysitter on the app, you sign up with your availability, set your own rate and complete a background check. Parents must verify their identities, too, so that both parties are safe.

The national average rate charged by babysitters on UrbanSitter for one child is $22.68, according to the site, though each sitter decides their own rate. UrbanSitter charges an annual membership fee, though it doesn’t specify the amount of the fee on its site.

Pros I

t’s easy to find local babysitting gigs. Babysitters set their own rates and hours. Babysitters keep 100 percent of their earnings.

Cons

There’s an annual fee, which the site does not specify. Not all locations may have babysitting gigs available.

10. Rocket Money: Best for saving on bills and subscriptions Rocket Money offers a unique way to make money: Cutting back on recurring payments. It does this by analyzing your bills and subscriptions, canceling unwanted subscriptions and negotiating to lower bills for you.

Additionally, Rocket Money comes with several other features to help users manage their personal finances. Some of these include a spending tracker, automated savings and credit score alerts. The Rocket Money app itself is free, but if it successfully negotiates a bill for you,

it takes a percentage of the savings for the first year. Users can choose for the service to charge between 30 and 60 percent of earnings from negotiated bills. Pros Rocket Money can cancel subscriptions and negotiate bills for you, lowering longer-term costs and boosting savings. A number of other savings features are included, such as a spending tracker.

ConsFAQs

about money-making apps Are money-making apps safe? While money-making apps are generally safe, it’s important to do research before using any app.

Check reviews and ratings, read terms and conditions, ensure the app uses secure payment methods and contact the app’s customer support with any questions or concerns. When should I use a money-making app? Money-making apps can be useful when you want to supplement your income or boost your savings.

For example, they can be a lifesaver when you’re in need of quick cash due to unexpected expenses or emergencies. Or, if you have spare time during the day, completing small tasks or monetizing your hobbies is a great way to earn extra income during moments of downtime.

Bottom line

These money-making apps may be great for some, but they’re not for everyone. Look for an app that matches your skills and lifestyle before getting started. Whether you’re a frequent online shopper or someone with lots of old clothes to sell, these apps can streamline the process of finding deals and gigs, and they can open the door for new money-making opportunities. It’s important to look at fees to determine whether the app is worth it. And make sure it’s a trusted platform so you don’t

#make money online #make money from home #make money fast #make money tips #make money as an affiliate #earn money online #passive income

[iraempirecom]

7k Metals

What is 7k Metals?7k Metals Locations, Timings, Email, Phone, Services

7k Metals is a multi-level marketing (MLM) company that sells precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. The company was founded in 2016 by Roger Ball, Josh Anderson, Zach Davis, and Richard Hansen. 7k Metals members can buy and sell precious metals at wholesale prices. They can also earn commissions by recruiting new members and selling products. The company's compensation plan is based on a point system. Members earn 20 points for each product they sell, and they can earn bonuses for recruiting new members. 7k Metals has been criticized for its MLM business model. Some people believe that MLM companies are a pyramid scheme and that members are more likely to lose money than make money. However, 7k Metals claims that its business model is legitimate and that members have the opportunity to make a profit.

- Address: 3640 South Yellowstone, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 - Phone: [phone] - Email: [email protected] - Website: https://www.7kmetals.com/home

People Behind 7k Metals: CEO, Owner, Co-Founders & MoreWho owns 7k Metals? What is the management team behind 7k Metals?

Zack Davis: Zack Davis, along with Anderson, boasts a wealth of experience within the realm of MLM companies. His introduction to network marketing occurred during his college years, and since then, he has played a pivotal role in aiding numerous individuals in realizing their aspirations. Collaboratively, Davis and Anderson have been at the helm of their own multi-level marketing venture, Black Ink International, since 2011. Roger Ball: Roger Ball stands as a recognized entrepreneur in his own right. The creation and ownership of JD Premium were attributed to him, a venture he ultimately divested in 2015. Notably, he was also an integral part of Paycation, a company he contributed to in 2012. Transparency is Important Richard Hansen: Richard Hansen brings to the table an impressive 34-year journey entrenched within the network marketing arena. His experiences span not only networking but also the intricate world of collecting and mining precious metals, adding a unique facet to his skill set. Josh Anderson: Josh Anderson's involvement with network marketing commenced at a young age, at 21 years old. His initial year garnered an impressive cohort of over 18,000 individuals, and within his first four months with another MLM in 2008, he attracted 9,000 more. His rapid ascent led to him being appointed CEO, overseeing the growth of the organization to encompass more than 26,000 members. Between 2009 and 2011, Anderson served as the CEO of JD Premium, with Davis holding the role of Chief Marketing Officer. During this period, their focus centered predominantly on the sale of personal care and nutrition products.

Collective Leadership: When evaluating the leadership structure of 7k Metals, it is evident that their leadership team boasts a substantial accumulation of experience and expertise. With their diverse backgrounds in network marketing, entrepreneurship, precious metals, and product sales, the 7k Metals leadership demonstrates a well-rounded blend of capabilities.

7k Metals Products: Bullion Coins, Bars, And Rare CoinsAll products offered by 7k Metals

7k Metals offers an array of five distinct product categories for its members to explore, each catering to precious metals enthusiasts: Gold Coins & Bars: Members can acquire a range of gold coins through 7k Metals, allowing them to diversify their holdings with this precious metal. For those inclined towards gold bars, the company presents a selection of options to consider. Silver Coins & Bars: The company provides opportunities to purchase various silver coins, giving members a chance to invest in the ever-popular silver market. Similarly, members interested in silver bars can explore different sizes and designs to suit their preferences on its website. Platinum Coins: 7k Metals extends its offerings to include platinum coins, adding another dimension to the precious metal investment landscape. They offer various types of jewelry, such as: - Rings - Necklaces - Earrings - Bracelets - Watches

Among the notable options within their product range are:

- Ancient Greece Alexander The Great Gold Coin – $129.99: A historic gold coin from Ancient Greece, available for collectors and investors alike. - Antiques St Helena Pegasus 1 oz Silver Coin – $189.99: A silver coin featuring the iconic Pegasus design, offering a unique addition to one's collection. - Daydream Future 2 oz Silver Coin – $299.99: A distinctive 2 oz silver coin, possibly carrying a thematic or artistic appeal for collectors. - Real Heroes FireFighter 1 oz Platinum Coin – $3,299.99: A premium platinum coin celebrating the heroic efforts of firefighters, appealing to those seeking a valuable and meaningful addition to their portfolio. - Australian Kookaburra 1/10 oz Platinum Coin – $144.99: A fractional platinum coin featuring the renowned Australian Kookaburra design, allowing investors to own a smaller piece of the precious metal. Aside from these offerings, a comprehensive exploration of their website unveils an extensive selection of products available for members to both purchase and sell. Notably, they even extend their range to include jewelry items such as gold necklaces and silver earrings, catering to those with a preference for wearable precious metal pieces. However, a closer examination of the price points highlights that the affordability of these products might be a concern. It appears that access to influential and affluent circles could be necessary for effectively selling these high-priced items. This raises questions about the sustainability of their business model, particularly when considering 7k Metals' stated mission of providing tools for financial freedom through gold, silver, and precious metals investments.

How to Invest in 7k Metals IRA?Step-by-step guide for investing in 7k Metals IRA

To invest in a precious metals IRA through 7k Metals are the general steps: Open a Self-Directed IRA Select an IRA company that handles opening precious metals IRA accounts and fill out an application. You can work with 7k Metals to recommend an IRA company and provide the necessary paperwork. However, I don't recommend doing so. Fund Your IRA Once you have selected an IRA company, you can move your funds into your new IRA account. You can work with the IRA company representative to transfer or rollover funds into the new account. Select a Precious Metals Dealer One of the forms you need to fill out along the way is typically called a Buy Direction Letter. This is where you list the precious metals dealer you have selected, such as 7k Metals. Decide Which Precious Metals to Purchase You can choose to invest in gold, silver, platinum, or palladium for your IRA. There are some restrictions regarding fineness requirements and allowable coin types, so getting guidance from 7k Metals in this area is important. Place Your Order Once the funds are available in your IRA account, you can call them to order the desired precious metals.

However, I don't recommend opening an IRA with 7k Metals. Why? Because there are plenty of better options available for you. Opening a precious metals IRA is a major decision. That's why I suggest checking out our top gold IRA providers list. There, you can find the best precious metals dealer in your state and choose accordingly. Also, the list will help you understand what the industry's best has to offer and what you might miss out on. On the other hand, you can get a free guide on gold IRAs below. It will help you understand the process:

7k Metals Fees and Charges: Do they overcharge?What are their fees? Do they have hidden fees?

Becoming a member of 7k Metals involves two distinct types of fees: membership fees and a travel savings card. Membership Fees: When considering 7k Metals membership, there are two tiers available: basic and premium. The basic membership entails an annual fee of approximately $249. For those seeking a more comprehensive membership experience, the premium option is slightly higher in cost, amounting to approximately $449 annually. Once a member, access is granted to the Buyer’s Certification Program. This comprehensive program equips members with essential knowledge about purchasing gold and silver. It covers various aspects, such as determining the most suitable precious metals based on the individual's buyer profile and offering insights into different purchasing strategies. Travel Savings Card Costs: In addition to the annual membership fees, individuals interested in enjoying travel benefits via the 7k Metals platform must obtain a travel savings card. The pricing structure for this card is outlined as follows: - Basic Membership Travel Savings Card: Priced at $250, this option provides access to travel deals, catering to those looking for cost-effective travel options. - Premium Membership Travel Savings Card: Offered at a rate of $500, this card enhances the travel experience with more extensive and potentially exclusive travel opportunities. Both cards offer access to a range of travel deals, striving to provide members with appealing options for their travel needs. In sum, the 7k Metals membership structure encompasses membership fees and an additional travel savings card expense. The basic and premium membership options cater to various preferences, providing access to valuable resources and opportunities within the precious metals and travel realms. Companies like Augusta charge ZERO fees for up to 10 years, allowing you to choose your gold & silver. 7k Metals on the other hand provides fewer options. >>>Get in touch with the #1 rated gold IRA company of 2023 Read the full article

#7kMetals

[careeralley]

Launch Your Cybersecurity Career: Insider Tips and Tricks

Many people can see the writing on the wall: cybersecurity is going to be big business over the coming years if it isn’t already. Practically every company now wants professional assistance to sure up its networks and protect its data. The costs of failing to do so are enormous.  For the career-minded, therefore, it represents a significant opportunity for advancement. People who manage to muscle in on the action give themselves the opportunity to earn higher wages and do more rewarding work. Going into cybersecurity, though, is about much more than just technical skill. If you want to excel in the field, you have to read widely and deeply and prepare yourself in multiple ways, no matter what your background.  Here’s everything you need to know about cybersecurity before you take it on as a career.  Most Companies Don’t Know The First Thing About Cybersecurity Given that there are still a bunch of companies out there using Windows XP, the vast majority of firms literally do not know the first thing about securing their networks. Most firms play “fast and loose” with their setups, going about their business in the vague hope that nobody will take advantage of their sorry situation. And that is what often leads them to catastrophe.  For people wanting to get into the industry, therefore, this is good news. Not only is there a massive market for security services, but there is also a lot of low-hanging fruit. You can waltz into a business, make a few simple changes, and increase the effectiveness of their security measures ten-fold. Very often, it’s easy work. Ready to launch your cybersecurity career? Discover key tips to help you succeed in this exciting and in-demand field. From essential skills to top certifications, this guide has everything you need to know. Don't miss out! #cybersecurity #ITjobsClick To Tweet People With Military Backgrounds Are Ideal Candidates For Cybersecurity Roles The next major global conflict is unlikely to be a “hot war.” The weapons are too destructive, and they hurt the person firing them as much as they do the target. It is much more likely to involve states or organizations facing off against each other in the digital realm, one trying to outwit the other.  There’s a growing military community, therefore, with extensive cybersecurity skills. So much so, in fact, that you can now do cyber security military training for college credit. In other words, if you’re in the military, you can get a headstart on your classmates. The knowledge you’ve already accumulated during your career puts you ahead of the pack.  You Can’t Learn Everything Fresh On The Job A lot of people think that they train to become a cybersecurity professional, and then they know everything that there is to know about the discipline. But there’s no substitute for time spent on the job. A guy who is a couple of weeks into a role is never going to have the same ability to solve problems as somebody who has been in the industry for a decade. It just doesn’t work like that. You need experience.  Typically, you often find yourself doing things that you never imagined would be a part of the role. It can be a lot of fun, but it is also a steep learning curve.  There will also be times when there are no clear solutions. Often, the only thing you can do is gamble, so roles also require a certain level of confidence. Uncertainty is par for the course.  Learning Links CareerAlley links to our learning resource partners. Learn New skills We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. You’ll Need To Publish Your Discoveries You rarely find a process-driven cybersecurity role. Almost always, you’re battling novel problems - things that people haven’t seen before. For that reason, there’s an industry-wide demand for information on how to go about efficiently resolving client issues. Many people at the top of their game regularly publish reports and instructionals for how to deal with tricky, idiosyncratic problems. Thus, you may find yourself spending a lot of time writing and creating help documents, especially if you become talented at what you do.  It Helps To Have Wider Computing Interests Cybersecurity is a big field. But the world of computing is even more expansive. The more you know about issues outside of security matters, the more helpful you can be to your clients. Many of the problems you encounter will link to other systems. Email, network functions, administration, and hardware are all important considerations.  You Don’t Have To Get A Job On A Help Desk When it comes to cybersecurity, there’s no set career path. It’s not like becoming a doctor or lawyer where you have to do everything in a specific order. In this field, you can pretty much walk in a direction of your choosing. You don’t have to get a job on the helpdesk.  Opportunities in the sector are changing all the time. The jobs that are available right now might not still be around in ten years. You Still Need To Be A Master Of Communication If you have visions of working quietly in the corner, sorting out problems by yourself as part of your cybersecurity roles, then think again. That’s not how it works in practice. Communication plays a vital role.  First, you need to understand what it is that your client wants. It’s not just a matter of walking into their offices and fiddling around with their systems. You need to have a conversation about what they want to get out of their networks and security arrangements. And that’s not always clear.  Second, you often need to educate companies on how to manage their security arrangements. After all, you can’t be in all places at all times. They need to take on some of the responsibility themselves. Thus, part of your job is to communicate these home truths to the people around you. Company owners need to understand that cybersecurity isn’t just a passive thing. They have to take the lead and be proactive in their approach. If they’re not, then they’re setting themselves up for a world of pain.  Finally, communication also matters when it comes to talking to your colleagues about the problems you face. The technical jargon isn’t always easy to get your head around. It takes time, patience, and practice to become accustomed to it.  You’ll Have A Lot Of Fun A lot of people get into the cybersecurity field for the money. After all, people with the right skills are in such high demand right now that it is pushing wages to new heights. But it’s not just a job you do for financial gain - many people in the industry find that it provides them with ample fun too. PHASE 1 - How to Become a Cyber-Security Analyst: FISMA COMPLIANCE (RMF) $9.99 This is the first of a 3-phase course that cater to beginners that are interested in but are timid about breaking into the field of IT. In this course I counter that apprehension with simplified explanations and mentorship-style language Learn More We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 02/21/2023 07:59 am GMT Read the full article

[philomathresearch]

The Dangers of DIY Qualitative Research

Market research recruiting seems simple at first, but it’s incredibly important to find the right people for the job. It’s like watching a professional athlete make their sport look effortless. The basketball player swishes every shot and gets a double-double almost every night. The same rules apply when conducting market research recruiting – finding an expert to fill a niche is no different from watching an athletic pro execute each play with ease!

In today’s world, conducting a market research study is part and parcel of business activity. It’s essential so we wanted to give you a few pointers on how you can go about doing it right.

One of the most important aspects in business is conducting research. For example, market research helps businesses predict upcoming trends and plan accordingly. This leads to accumulated wisdom and a better understanding of those who are interested in using your product or service.

DIY Danger #1: Shifting timelines

It’s not at all uncommon for market research projects to become delayed. Experience shows us that the initial schedule is often just a guide, and it will be repeatedly modified before completion. Delays can be caused by any number of reasons–for example, sometimes products to be tested aren’t available in time or the organization commissioning the study wants to expand or narrow its scope. We’ve worked in recruitment for several years now, and over this long period we’ve come to realize that flexibility is key. And if you want to move forward with getting together a good team, you need staff whose skills are focused on recruitment (or legal matters, human resources etc).

DIY Danger #2: Managing No-Shows

Managing market research no-shows creates a last-minute scramble for the moderator and recruiter. One of the familiarities in conducting market research involves dealing with last-minute changes. Sometimes respondents need to be replaced because they’re a no-show, and other times the moderator realizes that a participant isn’t qualified and slipped through despite the screening guide questions. Trying to manage and mitigate the scramble of any homecooked recruiting team is stressful enough, but it only gets worse when one must deal with last minute slipups or misfits on top of everything else!

Beyond the planning strategy itself, it is possible to still get a very high-quality study even if your recruiting team isn’t as big. Instead of sending out market research invitations all at once, why not instead try something different? For example, it may be useful to recruit a few participants each day for a whole week instead of doing 10 all at once. This method has been shown to be incredibly successful when targeting respondents who aren’t always available during business hours and can give you more flexibility when trying to find quality respondents that don’t have time on their hands or are too busy with their friends during the weekdays.

DIY Danger #3: Recruiting for Online Studies

With so many market research studies conducted online, in part due to Covid-19, there are additional steps involved when recruiting for online focus groups. DIY teams may not be aware that, in addition to creating a short list of qualified candidates and offering them an incentive to participate in your study, they need to also test and screen for technical and digital aptitude and connectivity. This is especially true when recruiting older or more mature demographics because while these participants may be fully qualified to fill a study being conducted in person, they could not have the skills or equipment available to participate digitally.

In addition to verifying the qualifications of each participant, many DIY recruiting teams also missed that important step to confirm their participants connect via the Internet. While it is not a problem for younger demographics, there are people who never did get around to learning how to use computers or those whose skills may be well below the average user. This is especially true among older generations. The key is to verify that they have an internet connection as well as any other equipment needed for them to log in and participate in one of your projects.

[stayatsam]

i think a common misconception non-artist commissioners (and some artists) is that $15 minimum wage should apply to the amount of time it takes to do art as well. that “if this picture only takes the artist 3 hours to make, then it should cost $45″ 

but it neglects that first of all, $15 is not a livable wage, but also that commissions are not regular and consistent and that years of practice also go into the commission as well

when youre paying for a commission from an artist that has been practicing for 5 years, you’re not just paying for a flat .png file. you’re paying for the detail and time that goes into an original piece of art tailored to your expectations that can only be done due to years of constant practice and craft. when you commission an artist you’re paying for a service, which culminates in the creation of a good. (as opposed to buying a good already made by the artist that isn’t serviced specifically to you, such as stickers on redbubble). 

digital artists notoriously undercharge for art, and most should raise their prices. but this doesn’t make an artist “classist” against their commissioners who may not be able to afford a $80 commission. artists often offer smaller commissions in the $20-$30 price range as well, even lower for other low-effort things such as simple sketches (or not, depending on the artist and how they price their art). 

blaming an artist for charging more for their art than you wish they were by calling them classist also neglects that commissions are often a major source of income for a lot of artists. being an artist is a JOB for many people. artists perform a service not unlike hairdressers coloring your hair. artists often don’t have another source of income, since art is, you know, a job. 

overall, blaming artists for raising their prices or charging more than you think is “adequate” is snobbish and miserable 

#sam crying #this has been on my chest a while #commissions are like an accumulation of skill over years and years and years

[remakethestars]

CABIN 7 — APOLLO

Headcanons.

❝There ought to be more drama, I think. A musical crescendo. Confetti.❞

— Jess Cooper, I Am Still Alive

Headcanon masterlist.

Oh, boy — this is my cabin, y'all; buckle up! 😁

Not all Apollo kids are good at everything their dad's good at, okay? I sure as heck can’t paint or play an instrument. 

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of violence?

They run an underground tattoo parlor.

That's where Will & Butch got their respective sun & rainbow tats.

Apollo kids with lyrics tattooed into their skin.

Rick says there isn't much by way of décor inside, which is f*in' B.S. Apollo's the god of art; those walls have been graffitied Tangled style.

🎶 i'll paint the walls some more — i'm sure there's room somewhere! 🎶

The east wall is covered in a landscape of a sunrise, & the west has a sunset (because the sun rises in the east & sets in the — yeah, I'll see myself out).

The north & south walls & the ceiling are white, though, because it really brightens/opens up the space (C7 has the 2ⁿᵈ most campers under C11 because Apollo's a slut; things can get a little crowded in the summer).

When there’re celebrations, the artistically inclined kids bust out the face paint. Especially for the younger campers.

The artistically inclined are the ones that paint the camp beads for the end of the summer. Despite the numbers, it doesn’t take them as long as one might think.

Rick said the ceiling had cedar beams, but we're not gonna do Cyparissius dirty like that. Cypress wood is good for building; the beams are cypress. You know what? F*ck you — the whole dang cabin's cypress!

There’s a massive, potted aloe vera plant by the steps that gets moved into the C4 greenhouse in the winter. It’s one of those old ones — because everyone knows the old aloe plants work better for burns & blisters than these sh¡tty new ones. (It’s constantly getting broken off to heal burns & stuff.) 

Rick said there are potted red & purple hyacinths in the window & yellow flowers from Delos. That's true.

I'd say the flowerbeds around the cabin are full of healing plants, but I feel like they'd be better off around the infirmary for obvious reasons.

I do feel like there's a laurel tree planted outside C7, though, because Apollo's a pining b¡tch.

And there's an actual infirmary building, okay? Rick's kinda inconsistent about that. Sometimes he says "infirmary," sometimes he says the Big House is running over with injured, & apparently there's a cot dead center for injured in C7? B.S.

Or maybe I've just read too much fanfic, and the authors don't get it right?

Either way, there's an infirmary building with surgery & delivery rooms. One floor. Locker room for C7 kids to store their scrubs & sh¡t.

They go for yellow scrubs, though, because orange C.H.B. scrubs make them look like escaped convicts.

Fun Band-Aids™

They give out little orange stickers with laurels around the edges that are like I voted! stickers, but they're injury-specific.

I got my leg(s) reattached! & Percy Jackson shot me in the butt! & I ticked off Clarisse! & I made out with an Aphrodite kid in the poison ivy! & I fell off the lava wall! & I got pranked by the Stolls!

After a war or just when there’re a lot of campers in the infirmary, there seems to be a constant flow of Apollo kids singing one hymn to their father in unison to heal someone.

Sometimes, an unconscious camper wakes in a cot & thinks they’ve died & gone to the wrong afterlife for a moment because their singing sounds like angels. 

The medically inclined wash their hands like surgeons. 

Kind of germophobic?

They also go around tying surgeons knots in everything.

In the summer, they’re walking Banana Boat sunscreen & after-sun aloe lotion dispensers.

The medically inclined also have the world’s sh¡ttiest handwriting.

They have to work hard to fix it if it bothers them. 

Can check your vitals & run a blood test just by touching you.

A lot of them casually touch their loved ones (at least, the ones that aren’t in C7) every morning to check their vitals & see how their health’s doing.

They do it subconsciously every time they touch someone & don’t notice it until they pick up something’s wrong.

They can do this for themselves as well. Though it may not be as accurate? And they take daily vitamins depending on what they need.

Organize their lives via pill box (never lose an earring).

Fight surgically. Every blade in their hands becomes a scalpel, & every time they’re going in for a kill against an armed anthropomorphic monster, they slice the tendons in its arm required to grip its weapon to disable it before going in for the kill.

Back to C7, it’s got a little porch with a porch swing. The kids sit on it sometimes & teach people how to play instruments.

They leave the porch light on at night when they’re waiting for one of their siblings to come home from a quest.

Jumping into the depressing sh¡t, they never found Michael’s body, so they only presumed him dead. They leave the porch light on every night now, hoping he’ll come home.

Apollo kids are afraid of the dark. They use the buddy system after the sun goes down. 

The cabin’s central light fixture is a papier-mâché sun that’s been charmed to glow when someone sings 🎶 clap on 🎶 & stop glowing when someone sings 🎶 clap off. 🎶

The curtains are a gold fabric. They’re only closed at night. Because, again, C7 kids are afraid of the dark.

The Wikipedia says Apollo kids are cursed to be afraid of snakes (I assume by the Python Apollo killed). I feel like they’d burn a lot of aster leaves then. I read somewhere it was said by the Greeks to ward off evil spirits & snakes.

They play Go Fish with their tarot cards. They’re really good at tarot games.

Hand-drawn tarot decks featuring figures form Greek myth.

There’s a target on the back wall they practice throwing cards at. They can throw them in combat for a distraction with terrifying accuracy. 

There’s a Magic 8 ball that’s passed around on the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year), when — as a headcanon I’m sure I’ve read somewhere has indicated — they’re up all night.

Crystal balls are allowed. However, they must be covered with a cloth or placed in a box when not in use because they’re double-convex lenses, & we don’t want another incident like the fire of 1993.

Sometimes, they make little predictions throughout the day other campers may find disturbing. Such as whipping around and catching a stray arrow without warning (spidey sense?). Or cutting you off when you’re talking about someone moments before they walk into the room.

There’s a tea cart in the corner. Because tea is good for healing & they’ve accumulated an addiction.

The cart has a radio on it that’s always on at night because a lot of C7 kids can’t sleep without noise. (Inspired by @sugarandspiceandkindanice.)

Most of the time, it’s on a nearby country station that actually plays good country at night. But sometimes they switch channels — especially when there’s a new kid settling in & they could use the comfort.

There’s a portable record player there too. The shelves under the cart are full of C.D.s & records.

I’m sure I’ve read a headcanon somewhere that they sing every morning while getting ready for the day. That’s true.

The number of times it’s been “When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled is disturbing, though. 

🎶 seven a.m., the usual morning lineup! 🎶

Luke said in The Lightning Thief C11 is up at 07:00 & breakfast is at 08:00, I think, but we all know Apollo’s waking his kids up when the sun rises. 

A lot of the time, someone will just start out with whatever song they have stuck in their head & everyone else will pick it up.

Sometimes, this leads to members having the aforementioned song stuck in their head for the rest of the day.

Even the people who aren’t musically inclined will sing along, as they’re usually drowned out by the music kids that get really into it.

So sometimes those not-music kids will find themselves singing by themselves during the day years later & are surprised to find — they actually sound good?? Or at least not bad??? And it’s because singing is a learned skill & they picked it up.

I’m sure I’ve also read a headcanon somewhere that they sing “Look Down” from Les Mis when they have to do menial chores, but I'm adding “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” from Annie, “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White, “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted, & the Smurf song.

They break into song all the time.

Lee was glaring at Tantalus once & made the mistake of saying, “Sometimes, I wish —” and the entire cabin broke out with “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

🎶 — i'd never been born at all! carry on, carry on… 🎶

As mentioned in at least The Lightning Thief & The Lost Hero, they spend a lot of time playing basketball. You can bet your butt they do a rendition of “Getcha Head in the Game” from High School Musical every time there’s a new camper passing by.

They have a sister named Jubilee, and every time someone greets her — "Hey, Jube!" — the entire cabin breaks into “Hey, Jude” by The Beetles.

🎶 hey, Jube! don't make it bad. take a sad song & make it better… 🎶

Sometimes, if there are two campers that really need to get together, C10′ll commission C7 to sing “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid (or the same song with different pronouns, obviously). 

It’s usually a capella unless someone happens to have an instrument on them.

Rickrolling. 

The “Macarena.” 

Apollo takes clandestine recordings of their jam sessions & distributes them professionally. Whatever money’s made goes directly into their college funds or they periodically find it under their pillow tooth-fairy-style.

There’s a lot of denim because the artistic members like to paint on the backs of jackets & the pockets of jeans.

A lot of them have excellent aim with most projectiles, so they toss stuff to each other a lot. This results in them being oddly in sync, so they can catch something from another sibling without warning & without looking like Sam & Dean Winchester do in Supernatural. 

Their life looks like a Dude Perfect trick shot video. 

It also results in some funny looks when they hurl things halfway across camp to each other. Namely, the whistling Nerf football. 

C7 is two stories. The second story has paint on every wall. 

The east wall upstairs has arrows mounted that got Robin Hooded along with a little tag with the name of the C7 kid & the date it happened.

They also have arrows mounted from the first bullseye if there’s a member being taught. 

Lots of musical instruments & art supplies up there.

There’s an old T.V. up there. They have all of Bob Ross’s show on V.H.S.

C7′s south wall (ground floor) holds the door to the bathroom on one side & a door leading to the stairs. 

It also hosts framed photos of Charlotte, Lee, & Michael.

Instead of saying “shoot,” they say “loose.” For everything. Instead of saying “Shoot!” when they drop something, they say “Loose!” 

It's kinda one of those things — like your friend starts saying something & you just integrate it into your vocabulary subconsciously.

They like to play a game where you shoot an arrow straight up & try to catch it as it comes back down.

That sounds really stupid on their part, but it actually comes in handy when someone tries to shoot them in combat & they catch the arrow, dumbfounding whoever's attempted to skewer them.

The cresting on their arrows is in Morse code of their nickname (·—— ·· ·—·· ·—··). They can take one look at an arrow & tell what’s whose.

And the paint color of the cresting tells them what kind of arrow it is — bullet tip, broadhead, explosive, etc. 

Every bunk in C7 is made with hospital corners. No exceptions. The kids who aren’t medically inclined learn because all the beds being made the same way makes it look cleaner for inspection.

I can’t decide if Apollo kids have really good eyesight so they fit the Hawkeye bill or if they’ve all just read — Apollo’s the god of knowledge — & painted so much they’ve messed up their eyes.

The number of times one of them has used bowstring wax on an art project in a rush instead of glue is hilariously large.

I use String Snot, and it comes in a container that looks like a glue stick.

A lot of them wear bracers all the time.

When the time it takes to sling one’s quiver onto one’s back, grab one’s bow, knock an arrow, & draw is so long, one really doesn’t have time to also strap on their bracers before rushing out of the cabin to threaten a giant bronze dragon.

Not to mention if they use a recurve, they’ll also have to string their bow.

And a number of them do use recurves due to the abilities to both knock multiple arrows at once & to restring in the field.

Bows with risers coated in golden, reflective paint & limbs painted with artistic strokes.

Trick arrows are their jam. C9 is constantly being asked for new arrows.

Explosive arrows, sonic arrows, grappling hook arrows…

That’s another saying they’ve all taken to: “___ is my jam!”

There’s a bookshelf or reference material on Apollo for new C7 kids (as Rick’s indicated), but the rest of the case is full of medical journals & textbooks & books on art & poetry & divining the future.

A lot — if not all — of them have either gold flecks in their eyes or central heterochromia.

Freckles across their noses & shoulders & on the tips of their ears. Tans. Sun-bleached hair. 

Long, nimble fingers perfect for playing musical instruments.

Either they hate the winter because the sun's out for less time (so you’ll find them walking around with blanched skin & faded freckles & with both a hoody & a parka on), or they’re perfectly fine with winter & are used by everyone around them as walking space heaters. 

They spend a lot of time with Castor & Pollux. 

Rachel sits at T7. She’s practically an Apollo kid at this point. 

While her cave was being renovated, she stayed in C7.

Their dad’s the god of truth; none of these M.F.s can lie worth a sh¡t. 

But, by the gods, they can tell when you’re lying.

And they take it as a personal insult. That you (A) would dare do something as immoral as lying in the first place & that you (B) would dare to insult their intelligence in such a way because you thought they couldn’t tell.

C6 & C7 are both known for reacting outrageously when their intelligence is insulted (see: chapter 10 of The Battle of the Labyrinth). 

The more civil of the reactions of a C7 kid being lied to is cursing the liar to tell the truth, which I believe they can. 

They can curse you to speak in rhyming couplets; they should be able to curse you to tell the truth.

You mean to tell me none of these kids have created a functioning Lasso of Truth yet?

This one's really long. 😅

A lot of people fancast Sam Claflin as Apollo, but I'm going with Ross Lynch. 'Cause I do what I want. ��

Visit my Apollo cabin Pinterest board or my headcanon masterlist.

DISCLAIMER ━━━ These headcanons are what I consider to be canon in my fanfictions. They may be others’s headcanons I’ve subconsciously filed away in my noggin. If one’s yours and you want it removed or credited, please send me your post and let me know.

#Apollo #Apollo kids #children of Apollo #Apollo cabin #headcanons #headcannons #Percy Jackson #PJO #HOO #TOA #remakethestars #art #archery #painting #healing #doctors #sun #hcs #TW: mentions of violence

[valdotpng]

Question. Do you have any specific resources you used to learn art and painting, etc?? Your style and skill is so so good and I'd love to see how you Do It

oh, gosh. i dont think i could ever answer this question in a truly satisfying manner, but i’ll try my best to do it!

learning art in general has just been a road of trial and error for me! looots of trial and error. im a ‘self-taught’ artist & i’ve been drawing since i was a toddler, so i’ve accumulated certain skills just bc i’ve been doing it for so dang long

that being said, i’ll share some links in a moment! but first, some advice from me to you, anon. just.. go wild. try new things and dont set too many rules for yourself, yknow what i mean? nowadays i tend to use lots of weird textured brushes + work on only one layer (which i hear is quite bad for when youre working on commissions, but i paint for myself so i dont gotta worry about correcting things all the time), and as a person struggling w/ a pretty severe case of OCD, i find it so liberating to be Forced to not give a shit through that painting method. just have fun! allow yourself to be messy, to make mistakes, and remember that you can just paint over them later. some of your ‘mistakes’ might even end up being the things that make your drawing look more interesting/organic, in the end! the ‘happy little accidents’ mindset just makes the whole process much more enjoyable imo :]

ALSO, an important thing to me was finding the right brushes for painting. just dl a shit ton of the ones that look fun to you (or make your own if your drawing program allows it!) and make an effort to try out each and every one of them at least once!! the brushes certainly arent that important-- you could paint a masterpiece with a simple square brush-- but more often than not i find my style being subtly influenced by the brushes that i use at the moment. its a thing worth considering!

another thing i should note is that, while im mostly happy with my art nowadays, i AM still learning, and i dont think i’ll ever stop learning, so, like, check in in a couple of years for some better tips i guess asuhdfuashfusdf

anyways, here are some resources that are/were very helpful to me:

when i need to browse for general art tips/tutorials/cheat sheets/etc, i usually go here: [link 1], [link 2], [link 3], [link 4], [link 5], 

now, here are some specific posts ive collected over the years that really made me rethink how i approach composition and the like in my, uh, more ‘serious’ paintings: [link 1], [link 2], [link 3], [link 4], [link 5]

this [link] video series is a Godsend, its got some very good advice AND its got nice editing too, my hellbrain was actually able to focus and learn smth from a video tutorial for once

heres a nice post about practice and improvement that you should deffo read before using all of these resources

i also find it very helpful to just.. look at art that inspires you/ that you find appealing Right before painting? that way all of the techniques you might pick up while staring at other peoples art will stay fresh in your mind, so you’ll be more likely to try em out. (setting a drawing that you really like as a phone/desktop bg works well too since youll inevitably stare at it quite often)

i also really like seeing other peoples process, so i tend to watch speedpaints/analyse process gifs & photosets a lot! seeing how messy and abstract most drawings are in the early stages of painting is really comforting/reassuring to me :] heres a couple for u: [link 1], [link 2], [link 3], [link 4], [link 5], [link 6], [link 7], [link 8], and finally, [link 9] and [link 10] (3, 9 and 10 are the ones that inspire me the most atm)

as a bonus, heres one from me as well! (usually i only post these on my patreon, but ik times are tough rn and any of your spare money could (and should) go to a far better cause) im putting it under a read more bc it contains blood and self-impalement, so beware! (bloodborne bosses, man) i might make a speedpaint in the future, too, so watch out for that!

#good luck! #hope you have fun :] #Anonymous #gif #blood

[ereawrites]

Batfam x Game Of Thrones AU

under the cut bc it’s long lol

HOUSE WAYNE:

An ancient house, which is held in high esteem both in the royal court and by commoners. Although House Wayne no longer holds a great deal of land (the border cuts through the Kingswood, just south of King’s Landing), they still act as lords over a large stretch of coastline in the south. The ports here allowed House Wayne to build their fortune, cementing their status as a high house.

In recent years, the Waynes have maintained and built their wealth through a combination of loans and investments. Often, they loan money to the Crown or the Iron Bank, and they control much of the trade of silks and spices from Essos. 

The Waynes are known to be a proud family, and very honourable, similar to the Starks in the North (for example, there are almost never rumours of bastards). They are known to treat the common people on their land well, and are well-bred and well-liked at court - however, the family is also somewhat reclusive, and little is known about their business.

Furthermore, in contrast with many of the great houses of Westeros, the Waynes tend not to have many children. This may be because of their isolated nature, or perhaps due to a lack of ambition - many lords of this house will only have one or two sons in their lifetime.

Good relationships with the majority of houses in Westeros, as well as connections across the Narrow Sea, but their main allies include the Tyrells and the Tullys. House Wayne also commands some bannermen, including House Kyle.

Traditionally, the Wayne’s colours are silver, grey, and deep blue - these are the colours of their armour and banner (a silver moon, partially obscured by a stormcloud).

House words: we are the night.

BRUCE WAYNE (THE BAT):

Bruce Wayne is the only child of Lord Thomas Wayne, and his parents were killed in front of him by bandits as a boy, while the family was travelling to King’s Landing.

Following his parents’ death, a young Bruce was sent to foster with the Starks in Winterfell - here, he began to train harder than ever in swordplay, archery, and riding. Soon, Lord Stark allowed Bruce out with Winterfell’s guard to hunt down bandits roaming the land: even as a boy, Bruce was a natural leader, and often convinced his fellow soldiers to use non-lethal force. This sat well with Lord Stark, who encouraged Bruce to continue his training after leaving the North.

Bruce returned to his own lands aged eleven, ready to become Lord Wayne and take command of the lands back from the family steward, Alfred Pennyworth. Although Bruce took well to managing the estate, the lands were not large or particularly difficult to run, and so he soon left again to train. Command of his lands was once again left to Alfred.

Over the next few years, Bruce trained in a variety of styles, often fostering with other houses. Wherever he went, he would always sit in on council meetings about criminals and traitors, and took a particular interest in their punishments. He quickly built a reputation for being strong-willed and passionate, but very much against sentencing men to death: many lords took his advice to send criminals to the Wall.

By the time he officially took the title of Lord Wayne aged 17, Bruce had trained with the Dornish, the men of the Night’s Watch, Braavosi sellswords, the Kingsguard, and a khalasar of Dothraki. He also returned with a new master-of-arms, Lucius Fox, who came from Qohor and had the knowledge to rework Valyrian Steel.

As Lord Wayne, Bruce is an excellent leader, even if he rarely deals directly with his subjects. He ensures the safety of his people, and commissions a new port on the coastline - he is also renowned for charitable donations, and opens the castle gates to commoners during winter.

Very well-liked amongst the other houses, and in the royal court; lords and ladies pity him for his parents’ death, and find him perhaps a little boyish, but Bruce is undeniably charismatic. He builds a playboy reputation in his later teens - brothels always make more money when he visits King's Landing, and he refuses to even discusses betrothals - but this is as a cover for his true intentions.

With the help of an enthusiastic Lucius Fox, and an exasperated Alfred, Bruce takes up the identity of the Bat, a mysterious vigilante in a black cowl and cape who roams the south on a black stallion. At first, the Bat is dismissed as a low-born playing at being a knight, but people soon begin to take notice when a notorious group of bandits is found, disarmed and tied up, outside the gates of King’s Landing.

The Bat never kills his victims, and always leaves clear instructions that they should either be thrown into jail, or sent to the Night’s Watch. Other lords will generally respect his wishes - after all, this vigilante is saving them a lot of work and trouble, and it’s easy enough to send a few bandits North.

Single-handedly rebuilds the Night’s Watch, halves petty crime in the South, and does it all without anyone other than his steward and Lucius Fox knowing his identity.

He doesn’t know why people started calling him the Bat, but he assumes it’s because of the black cape, which can look like wings in the night. He had a special cowl, with pointed ears, designed so he could play into the role. Also, people often assume that the Bat is one of the Whents, as their coat of arms is a bat. Bruce finds this hilarious.

As Bruce ages and his children begin to take over his work, Bruce begins to relax into the role of Lord Wayne more. He even begins to discuss the potential of marriage. Currently, he’s courting Selina Kyle, an only child who took over leadership of her house after her father died under mysterious circumstances. He also is taking the opportunity to travel more, since he can trust Dick and Tim to run the lands in his absences.

DICK GRAYSON (NIGHTWING):

Originally from Pentos, Richard Grayson (called Dick by his family members) was born into a large and successful circus - when he was young, the circus travelled across the Narrow Sea to Westeros, where he grew up performing in King’s Landing and Highgarden.

It was at one of these performances where his parents died. The Lannisters were implicated in the murder, after the circus accumulated unpaid debts to them, but nothing was ever proved. Young Dick was comforted at the scene by Lord Wayne, and later taken in as his ward.

An incredibly skilled acrobat, and, as Bruce soon found, a natural at fighting, Dick thrived as a ward of a great house. He missed his parents greatly, and vowed to hunt down the hired thugs who killed them (as well as all other criminals), but he also grew to love Bruce Wayne as a father.

Became Robin - a vigilante dressed in a signature red cape - aged 12. He would have done so sooner, if Bruce had allowed it, but he’s incredibly eager and loves the role. He incorporated fighting styles from Essos, as well as his acrobatic skills, into his fighting, which made him incredibly difficult to predict during sword fighting. He preferred a one-handed longsword, but he was equally as likely to use a staff.

The people of the royal court loved him. Dick quickly learned how to navigate high society, and as a naturally friendly and charming person, also learned how to make people like him. This was necessary, given people’s tendency to dismiss him as a lowborn foreigner, and after a few years of lessons, Dick managed to wrap half the lords and ladies of kings landing around his little finger.

Officially adopted and given the Wayne name in his late teens, as a result of Bruce’s long-term efforts to convince the King to allow it. However, Dick chooses to pass over the line of succession, and hates when people call him a lord. He can often be found playing with local children, teaching them somersaults or learning songs from them.

As a foreigner, he wasn’t permitted to officially join the Kingsguard, but he did spend a brief stint as Commander of the City Watch in King’s Landing. It was after Jason’s death and during a time of identity crisis for him. He enjoyed the role, but felt that he couldn’t overcome the corruption within the City Watch.

Became Nightwing after this time, and currently uses this identity. Nightwing wears black and blue leather armour, and fights with a distinctive staff inspired by his ancestors in the East. Nightwing roams the South, sometimes venturing as far North as the Neck - he has a talent for sniffing out assassins and hired thugs - but always returns to Wayne lands.

When he isn’t covering his lengthy absences as training, Richard Grayson-Wayne spends most of his time with his family in Gotham. He’s particularly good at teaching the others the finer points of high society (people always wonder why he rejected the chance to become Lord Wayne) and is deeply protective over his family. Dick also travels across the Narrow Sea on his father’s trading ships often, as he misses Essos.

If Dick doesn’t receive at least 3 proposals per week, it’s a slow week. Every woman (and half the men) south of the Wall have fallen in love with him. However, Dick has no particular interest in marrying or creating heirs, and he’s currently focusing on eradicating crime, where he can, as his own person.

JASON TODD (THE RED HOOD):

A low-born boy, Bruce found a young Jason trying to steal his black stallion in the stormlands. Although Bruce was of course frustrated, he saw potential in Jason, and followed the boy back to his home at the local village. Here, Bruce saw that Jason had no future, other than the likely path of being forced into joining a local gang of thugs.

Bruce returned to the stormlands the next week, as Lord Wayne, and pretended that he was searching for a new stablehand. Jason jumped at the opportunity to leave his village, and took full advantage of Gotham’s master-at-arms and armoury. He could often be found in the dead of night, hacking at training dummies with a greatsword he was too young to lift - soon, Bruce intervened and began to train Jason himself.

Jason built a close relationship with Bruce, who allowed him to become Robin after two years of intense training (and the realisation that Jason was going to get into fights either way), and Dick, who accepted the younger boy as his brother after a frosty first impression. He would never have admitted it, but in his first few years with House Wayne, Jason craved their approval and did everything he could to fit in.

Although officially the stableboy, Jason was treat as a ward, and was eventually adopted in a similar manner to Dick. Jason pretended not to care, and Bruce kept it a quiet affair, but it meant more to Jason than he could manage to put into words.

Did well as Robin - beyond a few thugs ending up with severely damaged ribs - but, upon finding out that his birth mother was actually a prostitute from the Vale, decided to take a temporary break in order to track her down. With Bruce’s blessing and House Wayne’s money, Jason left Gotham and travelled for months, eventually finding his mother in Volantis. It was here that she sold him out to the Joker, a sadistic man whose origins were unknown, and Jason was killed in an explosion of wildfire.

Resurrected by Talia Al’Ghul, an ex-Red Priestess who once knew Bruce Wayne and had followed Jason’s journey in Volantis. Jason experienced a temporary madness from this resurrection, however, and ended up leaving the city to train with a Dothraki horde for some time - these were the only people who could manage his newfound strength and lust for violence. After this, Jason took up the mantle of Red Hood (a red cowl, with silver-plate armour) and worked as a mercenary in Essos.

Upon finding out that Bruce Wayne hadn’t avenged his murder, Jason returned to Westeros as Red Hood, now an extremist vigilante who killed the Bat’s targets and left them waiting to greet the Bat. This behaviour continued for years, until Dick managed to track Jason down and talk him down.

Now, Jason works more closely with his family. He still kills the worst of criminals - rapists, serial killers, etc. - but takes great measures to hide this from them. He fights with a silver greatsword, and is feared by bandits across the kingdoms. Jason is also the most likely of his family to venture into the North, and has even travelled beyond the Wall.

His absence from Westeros was easily explained away by House Wayne - Jason never appeared much at court as a child, so his disappearance was hardly noted - and Jason has taken somewhat more of an active role in the house since his return. He takes the title of lord, but passes over succession and still feels a little uncomfortable dealing with other lords, and instead keeps mostly to studying and dealing with the affairs of the Wayne’s land.

Builds a reputation as being harsh, but fair. No one even bothers to ask for a betrothal. They know what the answer will be. Even if his identity as the Red Hood is a secret, Jason Todd-Wayne still carries a greatsword with him at almost all times, and he intimidates even the mightiest of lords.

TIMOTHY DRAKE (RED ROBIN):

Tim was born into a noble house, distantly descended from the Targaryens (hence the name, Drake). However, he was part of a branch of the main family, and therefore was not expected to inherit all the lands and titles. Instead, Tim spent much of his childhood studying at the Citadel, and had the potential to become a great maester. 

However, he had been transfixed with Richard Grayson since attending one of his performances as a very young boy, and seeing Bruce Wayne comfort Dick after his parents’ death. After following their exploits for many years, and reading Citadel reports on the Bat and Nightwing, Tim deduced their true identities. When Jason Todd was killed, Tim travelled to Gotham and confronted Bruce and Dick.

He was accepted as the new Robin at the urging of Alfred and Dick. Tim gave the role of Robin a new meaning - although he was a skilled fighter and trained just as hard as Bruce and Dick, Tim was particularly good at following clues and setting clever traps for his targets. Many of his victims were lured into easy crimes, for example robbing a lonely woman on the side of the road, but were disarmed and subdued before they even realised they had been tricked.

Tim chose to fight with a staff, similar to one he once saw Dick using (he never quite gets over his admiration of Dick Grayson). He was physically very small until his late teens (where he experienced a much-anticipated growth spurt) and preferred to avoid physical confrontations where possible.

Disguised his time in Gotham as fostering with the Waynes. This is common amongst the sons of great houses, and when his parents died, Tim was officially taken in as a ward of House Wayne. Tim was not close with his parents at the time of their death (he resented them for essentially abandoning him as a child) and he saw the Waynes as his true family.

As he grew older, Tim took more of an active role in the House affairs: having grown up as part of a great house, he was a natural at diplomacy, and had a talent for manipulating lords and ladies without them being any the wiser. He single-handedly doubled the Wayne’s exports in the course of two years. Similarly, Tim was an expert at court, and therefore was often chosen to escort Bruce to King’s Landing (Dick was a little too over-friendly, and Jason was impossible).

Became Red Robin in his late teens, around the same age that Dick became Nightwing, and currently uses this identity. Red Robin still works closely with Batman, but he enjoys the freedom to experiment with his methods. He also regularly visits the King’s Landing dungeons, to interrogate prisoners and learn more about their minds.

He still spends at least a month of each year at the Citadel; he is hailed as one of the brightest minds in Westeros, but he doesn’t care for flattery or fame. Tim is purely focused on research, and bettering the Kingdoms as much as he can. If that means studying agriculture so he can ensure the people on Wayne lands will have enough to eat in winter, so be it. If it means taking on the identity of Red Robin and hunting down human traffickers, so be it.

Arguably the most dedicated vigilante in the entire family. Trains harder than anyone to make up for his smaller frame, reads and plans all night, and never gives himself enough time to recover from injuries. Bruce has a constant headache from worrying about his ward.

Tim is never officially adopted - his House name is too valuable to give up - but is generally referred to as one of the Wayne children. He is seen as a great potential marriage by many other houses, but always manages to slip away from meetings about betrothals at the last second. Some in Gotham suspect he has a secret lover (no one knows who, but it’s Kon Kent).

DAMIAN AL’GHUL-WAYNE (ROBIN):

Born to Talia Al’Ghul, who seduced Bruce during one of his visits to Essos to discuss trade. Talia used her powers as a Red Priestess to ensure that Damian would be genetically ‘perfect’, and she originally intended to induct her son into Ra’s Al’Ghul’s League Of Assassins - however, she later had a change of heart and sent Damian to Westeros for his own protection.

Damian, considered a bastard in Westeros, was given the surname Storm. Although raised by Bruce and treated just as well as a true-born son, Damian struggled greatly with this perceived rejection, and often fought with his adoptive brothers: he tried to elevate his position by justifying himself as the only ‘blood son’ of Bruce Wayne.

Thanks to Talia’s intervention, Damian was aware of the Wayne’s vigilante identities from as early as he could remember, and therefore he fought hard to become Robin as soon as he landed in Westeros. This caused initial tension between him and Tim, but the two reconciled as Damian grew and began to understand the importance of the role of Robin.

Became Robin within two months of coming to Gotham - Damian had spent much of his life training under Ra’s Al’Ghul, and he was arguably the most skilled Robin of all. He chose to fight with a simple curved sword, but was not opposed to using daggers and was equally comfortable with a broad range of weapons.

At first, Damian was very violent, and even struck out on his own and attempted to kill a particularly troublesome bandit leader in the Westerlands. The rest of the family never really directly addressed this, but gently continued to steer Damian away from his intensity. It was very difficult for him to learn to be merciful, but as he grows, he’s beginning to become more compassionate and less of a brat.

Thanks to Bruce’s high status and close relationship with the King, Damian was recently legitimised, and therefore is the heir to House Wayne’s lands and trades. As a result, he tries to take a decently active role in family affairs, even if they bore him with their ‘mundanity’ at times - Damian admits that he has a lot to learn from Tim in this regard.

Struggles with diplomacy. He’s already making a name for himself as a harsh lord: he doesn’t take kindly to people who rely too heavily on help from the Waynes, and often argues with other lords who try to take advantage of his family. It falls to Dick to apologise on Damian’s behalf. However. Damian is fiercely protective of the commoners living on Wayne lands - no one really knows why, but Dick suspects it’s because Damian believes he can protect them and better their lives.

Damian is one of the only high lords in Westeros who believes in the Lord of Light. He’s seen the Lord of Light’s power first-hand, through his mother’s powers and his grandfather’s Lazarus Pits, and he openly rejects the Old Gods or the Seven. This causes some tensions with older families, but people in Gotham are beginning to come around to the religion of the Lord Of Light, and this is further cementing Damian’s position as the future Lord Wayne.

Currently, Damian has no desire to stop being Robin. He’s still young, and has a lot to learn; plus, he appreciates the good he can do working with his father. Although he’d never admit it, the time he spends with Bruce in their vigilante identities is among his most treasured memories.

Accepts that he will be expected to marry one day, for the good of the family. Damian has a strong sense of duty. Betrothals are often discussed, but Bruce and Dick are strangely reluctant to allow their baby boy to marry just yet.

EXTRAS:

Stephanie Brown - a low-born girl living in Gotham, whose father was running a low-level crime ring at the docks. Steph, with a strong sense of morals, took on the identity of Spoiler to defeat her father: this caught the attention of Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne. After some time, Steph managed to convince them to allow her to be Robin - Tim revealed their identities to her during a short-lived secret romance - and this led to her near death at the hands of Black Mask. Now, Steph operates again as Spoiler. She can often be found in House Wayne’s castle, posing as a serving girl or handmaiden, causing general havoc and training with Damian or Tim.

Barbara Gordon - Barbara is the daughter of Jim Gordon, who once served as Commander of the City Watch in King’s Landing. She grew up with a close relationship to Bruce, and when she deduced his identity as The Bat, she decided to take up the mantle of Batgirl. After a fight went south and left her crippled, Barbara used her connections at the citadel to get a wheelchair designed, and she now works as Oracle. She has many connections across Westeros and Essos - both through her father’s work, and her own - and uses these informants to keep the rest of the family up-to-speed on crime.

Cassandra Cain - Cass was born into the Faceless Assassins, and was raised to be a perfect killing machine: illiterate, mostly mute, and trained to read emotions precisely. However, this skill caused her to become extremely emotive, and she fled the Faceless Assassins after making her first (and only) kill. Bruce Wayne found her in his ports, stowed away on a ship, and decided to take her in as his own. Cass currently fights crime with her brothers and sister, but prefers to stay in Gotham painting or drawing. She’s known to be soft-spoken around strangers, but comes out of her shell around her family.

Duke Thomas - Duke and his family emigrated from the Summer Isles, in order to avoid piracy and raids for new Unsullied soldiers, when he was very young. The family came to Gotham due to its reputation for being relatively welcoming - Duke grew up idolising Robin, and later joined and led the informal We Are Robin movement: a group of low-born boys, trying to clean up their villages and create better lives for themselves. Duke experienced an awakening of his meta powers in his early teens, and sought out Lord Wayne for advice, knowing he had travelled and likely encountered similar powers. Duke now works with the Waynes to control and hone his powers, and has a close relationship with Jason in particular.

#what the fuck am i even talking about #this needed to get out of my head somehow #my sincerest apologies #dc #dcu #batman #batfam #game of thrones #got #asoif #bruce wayne #dick grayson #nightwing #jason todd #red hood #tim drake #timothy drake #red robin #damian al ghul #damian wayne #robin #duke thomas #signal #steph brown #stephanie brown #spoiler #batgirl #barbara gordon #oracle #cass cain

[braintwig6]

builders

Loft Conversions & Extensions In London.

Content

Change And Building.

Do I Need Intending Approval For A Loft Conversion?

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[thomasmwilson]

Game Master for Hire / Local to NYC Area Available for Online Games

So I’ve been meaning to start this for real, so here goes!

I’m Tom and I’m a professional Game Master. I’m looking for clients for paid gaming sessions.

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1: Neither you or your friends own the source materials needed and or you don’t want to invest the time/money it takes to accumulate them.

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I’ve been playing and running tabletop story driven role playing games both online and in real life for nearly twenty years.

I’m a voice actor, improviser, comedian, illustrator (open for player character commissions of course), sound and video editor, and writer. I use the performaing and creative arts skills I’ve honed over time to deliver experiences worth playing for that will challlenge and elevate your expectation of your games.

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Systems I know well:

Pathfinder

D&D 3.5e

D&D 4e

D&D 5e

Shadowrun 5e

Call of Cthulhu 6e

Rates are something that should be discussed per group as each may require different levels of time investment on my part depending on group size and system complexity.

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Feel free to send me a message here or email me at [email protected]

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[careeralley]

5 Ways to Create a Job Rather for Yourself

Are you struggling to find a job? You’re not the only one. Thousands of people each day wake up looking for a new place to work, only to find nothing. They spend hours searching through job ads, and even if they find one that fits, they are up against dozens or hundreds of other applicants. If this sounds familiar, then you might be looking for another way. Instead of looking for a job, why not create one for yourself? Creating a job allows you to do what you love and get paid at the same time. All it takes is some hard work, and some out-of-the-box thinking in order to make it a reality. Here’s how you do it: 1. Figure Out What You Love If you’re going to create a job for yourself, you want to do something that you enjoy. Creating a job takes a lot of hard work, and it’s easier to do this if you love what you’re doing. So think about what it is you love to do. Where do your passions lie, or what things did you love to do as a kid? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in simply finding a job for ourselves we don’t take the time to think about what it is we actually want to do. So take that time now and once you figure out what it is you love to do, you can then move on to turning that into a job. Creating a job allows you to do what you love and get paid at the same time. All it takes is some hard work, and some out-of-the-box thinking in order to make it a reality. Here’s how you do it:Click To Tweet 2. How Your Current Job or Skills Can Translate Besides just figuring out what you love to do, you should also think about which of your skills you can still use. If you’ve spent your life as a journalist, it will be easier to transition into something like public relations rather than opening up a bakery. You’ve likely accumulated some skills over the years, whether it was through your jobs, your education, or just your life experiences. Which of these skills can you turn into your own job? Thinking about what you’re best at, and how it can be its own thing is a great way to come up with a job you can create. The New Job Search: Break All The Rules. Get Connected. And Get Hired Faster For The Money You're Worth. Don't waste days, weeks and months following the job search "rules." Learn how to take charge and get offers for the work you love at the price you're worth. Buy from Walmart We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 3. Where Are Your Services Needed? Once you have an idea of what you want to do, you next need to think about where you can do it. If your plan is to offer a service of some kind, who would have an interest in that service? What gaps in the marketplace have you noticed – or in other words, what job is no one else doing? Once you know who might need your services, you can start compiling a list of parties who might have an interest. These are the people or companies you’re going to want to reach out to once you’re up and running, so make a list with all of their contact information. source 4. Get Your Name Out There You can’t create a job for yourself if no one knows about you. You need to get your name out there and start marketing your services. There are several ways you can go about doing this. Word of mouth is great if you have a lot of contacts within the industry you’re after or ask your friends and family to recommend you. You’ll also want to establish a presence online. Look into how to choose a domain name for your business, start building up your website, and then promote it through social media. If you can, also add a portfolio of your work, or some examples, so that anyone visiting your site can see what you can do. "Hiring freelancers is becoming not only more acceptable, but more attractive for many businesses. This creates an incredible opportunity for people with useful skills to start a freelance business on the side, and eventually grow that into a sustainable self-employed career." Ryan Robinson Finally, you can simply reach out to businesses or people who you think might have an interest in your new service. Send them an email or give them a call. Ask to schedule a meeting so you can pitch them your services. If they decline, don’t be pushy or aggressive. Simply leave your information in case they change their mind down the road, or if they want to recommend you to someone else. For more tips on how to market as a freelancer, check out this guide. source 5. Stop Searching and Start Creating You have plenty of skills to offer, but the job market just isn’t recognizing it yet. Rather than wasting all your time applying for jobs, you don’t really want, put some energy into creating your own job. The key is to think about what you’re good at, and what service you can provide that doesn’t already exist – or how you can do it better. This isn’t always easy, but if you come up with a great idea, and you can put the hours in, the rewards are often great. SideHustle Millionaire: How to build a side business that creates financial freedom $14.50 Turn your passions into profit! Fuel your desire to be in control of your own destiny. Starting a business may seem an overwhelming task for a busy professional, but it doesn’t have to be.  Buy on Amazon.com We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 07/28/2022 03:29 am GMT Read the full article

[tmnt-brave-new-world]

So, what exactly do you guys do now? Like, what occupation do the four of you have to afford the high life? I mean, I get the broad aspect of it. I guess I just really want to know more. My mun is being mysteriously closed lipped about it. And......do you guys really get driven around?

Good evening Miss Vicky,

Leo: “We each found our interests and talents opened up a several viable options that had lead us each to a “unique” position.” Leo led as he gathered his thoughts. “Keep in mind after we managed to stop Krang and those who worked closely with him, the world was vulnerable. As far as my brothers and I were concerned, we had fought too hard and for too long for someone to simply slip into the power vacuum we had created and to continue to harsh reality Krang had created for Earth’s inhabitants. Due to this we each chose to do what we knew how to do and could most easily adapt as challenges presented themselves.”

He paused for a moment as he thought about the hardships, they had each faced and managed to overcome as they slowly helped right the world and returned her to standing on her own. A shimmering blue jewel among the galaxy and other worlds that had become familiar with the planet and its amenities.

“During our years in the resistance we managed to acquire wealth and assets. We were able to accumulate quite the little nest egg using those. Along with our acquired influence it opened many a door which in the old world would have remained not only closed but permanently locked to us.”

“I became a strategic investor. Buying the remnants of properties, businesses and services and either helping them to return to what they once were or repurposing to better suit the needs of this new era and turn a profit. It proved to be very profitable and allowed for me to continue to churn out profits which allowed for me to seek other properties and businesses to invest in or connect the right individuals with each other in away that led to my ability to offer the initial capital for a small percentage of the quarterly earnings. It helped people to create jobs and led to a lot of normalcy for those who desperately needed.

One hand washes the other, and this in its essence has lead to my own sector of the Tartaruga brothers incorporated. I have a multi-billion dollar operation on Earth and several branches operating throughout the universe currently.”

 Donnie: “As Leo has said,” Donnie commented calmy, “our time resisting and fighting lead us each to our own talents. I spent a lot of time wearing many hats, which included, chemists, doctor, surgeon, agronomist, engineer, electrician, etc. to put it simply I spent a lot of time learning how to save lives, human and otherwise, and the best way to stretch our available resources in a way which led to people surviving. I also had to learn how to create medications which were so commonplace that many died without having them available. Most antibiotics don’t have a very long shelf life and when those ran out initially, we were in constant jeopardy of losing lives to the simplest of bacterial infections. My knowledge, and subsequent research lead to significant improvements and branching into many other factors, and shall we say break throughs.

Needless to say, the value of others wants, lead to my ability to fund the needs of the many. In my sector, I have several leadings areas including pharmacy, medical research, agrarian development, as well as generalized research and development in multiple fields from domestic to military. For obvious reasons, more detailed information is strictly classified.”

 Raph: Raph chuckled as Donnie glossed over his closely guarded research. He was willing to kill to protect his research and continue to control the aspects that allowed him to fund the bulk of his interests and common welfare of those he blanketed with his programs. “They ain’t lying. After the world came back from going to shit, it took awhile to get it back up and going. Additionally, there were a lot of people, generally those not from this world that were way too determined to make sure we failed. This led to a lot of infighting and groups struggling for control. That tends to lead to a lot of shady business if you know what I mean, and it wasn’t like we had any type of social services such as police, fire fighting, or anything else. I initially took charge in areas like these.

I took a lot of care to train groups so that they worked together and were prepared to handle whatever problems came. It took a lot of time to cultivate proper training programs and help prepare people on how to help a traumatized world get back to functioning in a healthy way. I still help do this on planets and areas that are in recovery.”

“That being said however, my primary interest and “job” if you want to call it that, is training mixed martial artist prize fighters for the world federation galaxy league. Simply put we aren’t the only species that likes to watch trained athletes test their skills against one another within their respective brackets, or on specially contracted prized fights. I used to fight for the league and earned a lot of titles and prestige. I won most fights and was often the favorite to win after a while. I’m semi-retired and only occasionally enter the ring now days. However, I take and train promising talents for the league and other groups. I have also trained personal bodyguards for a variety of individuals.  Different specialties come with different specifics and contracts as well as costs. It takes a specific might set for each, and a lot of time to drill into a thick skull.”

Mikey: Mikey laughed at the turtle in red, “Oh yeah, and you were the king of thick skulled back when we were young, and dumb.” He barely dodged the throw pillow that was chucked at his head.  “Let’s see for me personally,” Mikey flashed a big grin, “I happen to be a master of many trades. During our days in the resistance, I learned a lot of different tricks to help make the food rations we had on hand not only palatable but nutritionally sound while feeding a literal army of people! So when it was possible I spent a large amount of time learning how to take fancy old world recipes and revamped them with food sources that were still available or recreated them with off world goodies. I also still paint, and love to collaborate with others to create amazing new concepts!”

His face darkened for a moment as he thought back to the early days of the resistance. “There were so many people who in the blink of an eye had lost everything, and unfortunately it was insanely common to find kids who had either been separated from their families or were the only survivor. In a lot of instances they were traumatized and it took a lot of creative thinking to coax them out of their shells and help to reteach them on how to live. This happened fairly frequently with adults as well. Because of this and what seemed like a never ending shortage of textiles, I had to learn and create new ways to make things and often times help find things that brought the sparkle back to peoples eyes. Because of this however, I have a multimedia conglomerate that allows me to work in a wide area of creative outlets. The fashion world is a flippant mistress, but there are a lot of ways in which one can compete and stand out. It’s led to a lot of lucrative contracts with those who are “starving” for the next amazing piece of creatively, or at least that’s what they tell me. The great thing about taking high end contracts and commissions is that a lot like my brothers, the revenue lets me continue to reach out to others. I fund a program that includes shelters called “Uncle Mikey’s” for those who are missing, exploited, or just need help. I also teach cooking, and practical skills for those who need them, and they are streamed to community centers such as local libraries, after school programs, and the like, to try and continue to help those who never received a chance to learn to do things due to the world kind of going through an apocalypse level event.

 We hope this answers your question Miss Vicky. From the Tartargua Brothers collectively

#TMNT Brave new world AU #Asks #TMTN AU blog

[apharine]

Blizzard in the Reach

Pairing:  Reader/Argis the Bulwark

Fandom: Skyrim/The Elder Scrolls

Rating:  Explicit

My Writing Commission Info |  Please consider tipping me on Ko-Fi!

Read on AO3

Summary: The Druadach Mountains of the Reach are known to be dangerous for travelers - not only for the presence of the Forsworn, bandits, and monsters, but also for vicious blizzards that have killed many a traveler. You had hoped to get through the mountain passes as quickly as possible, especially with a snowstorm coming in, but now it looks like you and Argis might be in store for a night spent together on the mountains.

Notes:   This started as part of a series of one-shots with Argis the Bulwark several years ago, back when I was writing for the kink meme still. Some of the one-shots have been lost to the Internet and to now-dead computers, some are still with me and in desperate need of re-working, but this one was always my favorite. I found it on an external hard drive recently, and thought I'd share it with the world - there's really not enough Argis content. I know he doesn't have a lot of dialogue, but he's always been my favorite Housecarl and follower, and I always marry him in-game. If anyone would want to see any of the other Argis one-shots, let me know, and I can see what I can dig up and re-work! I've certainly got a little more time on my hands with this coronavirus thing. Hope everyone is staying healthy and happy, and most importantly, stay at home <3

                                        _____________________

“We need to make camp for the night, my Thane.”

You turn to face your Housecarl, Argis the Bulwark, and you immediately see obstinacy in the way his arms are folded across his broad chest, his feet spread in a wide stance. This obstinacy has served you well time and again, especially in the stubborn way he never gives up on you. He's rushed back into battle after receiving grievous injuries, his only care in all of Tamriel protecting you. He's sat up all night with you, waiting for you to explain what in Oblivion is bothering you. He's carried you, as you lay dying in his arms, to whatever nearby town was available, on the slim chance he could find a healer skilled enough or a potion strong enough for you. Yes, you're grateful for all that this man has done for you.

But that doesn't mean he's any less stubborn than he was on day one.

“We can still make it back to Markarth, and be home in Vlindrel Hall by morn,” you retort over your shoulder, anxious to keep moving. The Reach is howling with a snowstorm, and visibility on this face of the mountains is becoming terribly low. The accumulating snow and the slick rocks will only make traveling all the harder - you need to press on, not have a debate with one another.

“My Thane,” he warns, his deep voice dark. You continue marching ahead. If that stubborn man would just cooperate - “My Thane,” he repeats, more firmly, and you stop in your tracks, irritated. He knows you long ago disregarded any illusions of rank between the two of you, and that, as equals, you don’t believe in issuing him orders. He also knows that his obstinacy is driving you insane at the moment, as it so often does, and that he’s only calling you by your title of Thane to hammer home his point. Moreover, the snowstorm is already picking up more speed, threatening a full blizzard, and he knows he's right about it. All of it.

“Maybe they should have called you Argis the Bull-headed, not Bulwark,” you quip as you trudge through a snowdrift back to the man. For an instant, you think you see his scarred lips quirk up in a smile, but visibility is terribly low.

“You may call me whatever you wish,” he responds evenly, his face the epitome of calm.

“Anything?” You tease him drily as you continue your trudge, tilting your head back to affix the tall Nord with what you hope is a stony gaze.

“Aye, anything,” he agrees, his lips again twitching at the edges as he watches you - an unmistakable gesture, at this close proximity. “As long as you’re alive to say it and not frozen to death, like you will be if you try to keep on in this.”

“You are insufferable sometimes,” you sigh, coming to a stop, and Argis quirks a single eyebrow at you, as if to say you’re the one who’s being insufferable. But he doesn’t say it out loud, instead commenting,

“There was that deserted camp we passed by not more than a quarter of an hour ago.”

“There was a good lean-to there,” you agree, nodding slowly. “As long as it really is deserted.” You shudder at the thought of being snuck up on at night by bandits or Forsworn, but a moment later you shudder even harder as a blast of wind roars down from the mountain peaks, so cold as to be ungodly, and with as much ferocity as the worst frost breath of any dragon you’ve fought against. You turn away from it, drawing the hood of your cloak closer about you, but even so, your eyes water from the chill and a few loose strands of hair flutter about your face, whipping your cheeks with the condensation that quickly freezes on them.

You feel a solid form at your back, two great armored hands steadying you by your shoulders, and though the roaring of the wind hasn’t died down any, some of the worst of it is blocked from you now.

“Deserted or not, we have to get you out of the cold,” Argis says from behind you, his deep voice just loud enough to cut through the roar of the wind.

“I just hope there isn’t a fight waiting for us,” you admit, but Argis gives your shoulders a reassuring squeeze, as if to say I know, but I’ll be there. The next moment, the great hands are gone, and you start backtracking through the treacherous mountain trails, the Bulwark right behind you.

The camp is much as you had last seen it about a half hour ago, with no new tracks in the snow around it and no signs of any items disturbed. An encouraging sign, you think, but not an absolute certainty that you will be safe.

You follow Argis’ lead as he slips behind a large rocky outcrop jutting out from the Druadach mountains, peering around it to get a glimpse of the camp every couple minutes. It’s a bit harder for you to get a glimpse of the place, as Argis is largely shielding you with his body, ever protective. But when you do manage to peer around him, you realize that the camp looks decidedly made by a group other than the Forsworn. You’re relieved; you’ve discovered enough abominations at Forsworn camps to hope not to be forced into one right now. There’s also a better chance that, if the camp was made by non-Reachmen bandits, they were either traveling through or moving from site to site, instead of inhabiting the place continuously. On your second time glancing around the outcropping, you notice there is one lean-to in particular that catches your eye, the way it caught it on your first pass through - it’s reinforced with multiple furs, and looks like it might actually be made out of wood underneath versus just stretched leathers. The overhang it sits under seems to provide some degree of protection, as well, and a rather enormous firepit is positioned close to it.

You open your mouth and turn to Argis, but he gives you a sharp nod, already on the same page.

“I’m going in to scout it out,” the Bulwark says, shrugging off his heavy pack, stuffed with supplies and topped with a bedroll, leaving it by your side. You do the same with your pack, which is also stuffed full but smaller than his, aware that you won’t want to be encumbered by it in the next few minutes. “Back me up if I need it,” Argis adds, drawing his bow and knocking an arrow to it in a movement you can’t help but feel is graceful, especially for a man as massive as he is.

“Aye,” you agree solemnly. Suddenly, struck by impulse, you reach up to him before he slips off, your hand brushing against his armored elbow. He starts at the contact, turning to you, and you realize you’ve surprised him on his blind side, where he can only make out faint shapes based on contrast in the light. “Be safe,” you say, just loud enough to be heard over the storm. He eases the tension on his bow, transferring both bow and arrow back into one hand with practiced ease. The next moment, he reaches out with his other hand, brushing your cheek with the back of his fingers, lingering just a moment. Never one for unnecessary words, he silently turns back to the camp, letting his fingers fall from your face and knocking the arrow to his bow again.

You’re a little dumbstruck for a moment as he sets off, keeping his blind side close to the mountain walls. Affection from Argis is not terribly uncommon - he’s a man’s man by all accounts, but you know well enough how fond he is of you. But the look on his face - the tenderness - had nearly been enough to set your heart to aching.

You recollect yourself, peering back around the outcropping, barely able to follow the Bulwark’s receding figure through the whiteout. If you’re going to have his back, you realize, you had better follow him. The trails he has broken in the accumulating snow make it easy enough for you, and you summon some fire to your hands. Not only is it nice to have the heat on your frozen fingers, but a quick blast of flames from a near-invisible location will disrupt any plans of potential marauders and buy you some extra time to help the Bulwark.

But you and Argis circle the whole camp, with no signs of any life visible in the entire place. Upon nearly coming back to the outcropping you had started at, Argis sets his bow back to its place on his back and returns his arrow to his quiver, instead unsheathing his sword. He walks boldly into the center of the camp, roaring a battle cry at the top of his lungs.

“Is there none here who would defend this place from me?” He bellows. “Show yourself!”

But he receives no reply except the whistling of the wind.

To be safe, he approaches each lean-to, beating the furs with the flat side of the sword and prying open the front flaps. You follow him again as he goes, still not wanting to lose sight of him.

“Coward! Craven! Fight me for what is yours!” He challenges at each shelter, but there is nothing and nobody. Satisfied, he doubles back to you and sheathes his sword. He doesn’t have far to travel; at this point, you can’t be much more than 20 feet away from him, or you’ll lose him in the ever thickening whiteout.

“We’ll be safe here,” Argis shouts over the wind as he comes to stand beside you. You nod your agreeance, not sure you would be able to say anything the Bulwark could hear over the increasing storm. “Let’s get you in the shelter.” One great hand rests on your waist, gently turning you around to backtrack through the path you had cut through the snow earlier. With a degree of alarm, you realize that the snow has begun to come down so fiercely that even this path has begun to fill in. Argis walks beside you, cutting a new path as he guides you along back to the big lean-to. You’re relieved when you see the place, and even more grateful to see that the overhang is keeping some of the snow from accumulating around it, as you had suspected it might.

“I’ll go get our packs,” Argis shouts again. Fear clamps around your heart, though, and you grab him quickly by the shoulder, pulling him down towards you so he can hear you.

“How will you find your way back here?” You shout, immediately frustrated that your voice doesn’t carry the same way he does. He hears you, though, and smiles.

“I grew up in the Reach,” he reminds you. “I had to learn how to navigate in storms like this. How to count my steps and my turns. But if it makes you feel better, make a big fire for me to find, and I’ll be back faster.” You glance at the firepit adjacent to the lean-to - yes, that’ll work, you think. By the time you’ve turned back to Argis, though, he is already trudging away through the deepening snow.

You set to work immediately, casting the brightest magical flames you can conjure, stoking the flames higher and higher. There’s enough of a woodpile left in the fire pit to burn brightly, the magical fire making short work of any wetness that had soaked into the lumber. You only stop when the heat becomes so searing that you’re not sure you can stand near it any more; the snow in a wide radius all around it has begun to melt away, as well, which you figure is good for keeping your camp from getting buried.

It feels like an eternity that you’re waiting by the fire you’ve conjured, watching the bright colors dance back and forth, hoping they can cut through the whiteout enough to help Argis. You remind yourself of what he said - he’d grown up here. He knew about how to navigate in a blizzard, how to see the tiniest remnant of a path, how to count his steps and how far he’d turned without getting confused. No Reachman who wasn’t well-versed in these things would last long outside the city gates of Markarth. But all the same, you feel an immense amount of relief when he appears again, shouldering his bigger pack and your smaller one. He’s moving at a plodding pace through the deep snow, nearly hip-deep in places, obviously fatigued. When he is close enough, you move to help him with the load he carries, and he gratefully swings your pack down to your waiting arms. You follow him into the lean-to, immediately impressed by the thing’s construction. There is wood under all the heavy furs, as you had suspected, and virtually none of the wind makes its way into the structure.

“By the Nine, it’s brutal out there,” Argis pants, unceremoniously dropping his heavy pack on the ground and plopping himself down, knees bent in to his chest, next to it. You drop your pack and move to his side.

“Are you okay?” You ask, glad to be able to talk at a normal volume instead of shouting over the wind.

“Yeah,” Argis grunts. “Just tired.” You reach out to touch his immense, armored shoulder, and let a little bit of a healing spell flow into him - not enough to tire you, but enough to help him recover his energy. He closes his eyes and drops his head back, exposing his thickly muscled throat, the large Adam’s apple, the beard stubble under his chin where the beard ends -

“That feels good,” he murmurs appreciatively. You let your magic infuse him for a few moments longer, and pull both your hand and your eyes away when he opens his eyes and smiles at you. You summon up the courage to look back at him and smile back, knowing that to be thanks enough between the two of you.

“Let’s get the bed rolls set out,” Argis suggests, raking one hand through his thick golden hair, now matted down with the melting of the snowflakes that had accumulated on him.

“Aye,” you agree, moving to open your bedroll, but he gently shoos you away from the entrance of the lean-to and towards the back of the structure with a gentle pressure of his hand on the small of your back.

“I sleep by the opening,” he reminds you. Despite his fatigue, a light comes to his good eye as he teases, “I swore an oath to protect you. We’ve been through this before.”

“I thought it wouldn’t matter if the place was empty,” you quip at him with a smile, pleased to see that he wasn’t so exhausted as to lose his sense of humor.

“Can never be too safe,” he answers, and though he tries to sound light-hearted, you know for him it’s the most serious matter in the world. You hum in response, pulling your bedroll out of its tightly-rolled Horker skin covering, pleased to find it dry, but chilly, underneath. You spread it out on the ground; beside you, Argis is doing the same with his.

“Argis?” You call to the man.

“Aye?” He answers quickly, raising his head from his work.

“You were right, earlier. When you kept me from trying to push on in this to make it home. I’m sorry for being foolish about it,” you finish.

“Lass,” he murmurs, a soft expression upon his face. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. If we were in Whiterun Hold, or anywhere in the South of Skyrim, you would’ve been right to push on. The blizzards here in the Reach are different.”

“I’ve never seen a storm as bad as this,” you agree. “The snow must be coming down a couple feet an hour, at least, never mind the drifts that are growing, and I could barely see you at twenty paces.”

“Aye, Reach blizzards build quickly and are unrelenting. They take many travelers unaware,” Argis agrees, finishing spreading out his bedroll.

“Well, thank you for knowing these lands better, and for making sure to keep us safe. The Divines blessed me the day we met, Argis,” you say honestly, finishing with your bedroll, pulling your rucksack to you, and beginning to rummage through it.

“Not as much as they blessed me,” he murmurs, and when you look up at him, the expression on his face is unreadable. You give him a small smile and return to your rucksack, triumphantly pulling out a slab of very frozen venison packed in enchanted paper, some root vegetables in a small burlap sack, and a little bit of cheese and bread. “Looks like a pretty good spread for tonight,” Argis notes, procuring a small pan from his rucksack and gathering your ingredients up.

“Aye,” you agree, continuing to root around in your bag.

“We probably don’t need much else,” the Bulwark offers, but you’ve already found what you wanted buried at the bottom of the sack.

“Here - we - are,” you grunt, pulling it out laboriously until it sits before you - prize of all prizes - an oversized bottle of beautiful, golden Honningbrew mead.

“I can’t believe you packed that,” Argis laughs, shaking his head at you in disbelief.

“But I’m sure you’re glad to see it, all the same,” you laugh back. The big Nord lets out a deep belly laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners, before admitting,

“Aye, I can’t argue with that.”

As you finish your dinner, you can’t help but think to yourself that you and Argis together are formidable - not just on the battlefield, but also in the kitchen. Or around the firepit, as the case had been tonight. In fact, you were hard-pressed to find a time on the road when the two of you hadn’t managed to take whatever scraps were in your bags and conjure up something delicious out of them.

“That was good,” Argis shouts, echoing your thoughts. His voice manages to carry over the wind, which, against all odds, has again managed to pick up even further. You’ve had to set up a ward to keep the worst of it from freezing the both of you, but even the ward can’t keep all of the chill away. You smile and nod at the Bulwark, picking up the large bottle of Honningbrew mead you’d stuffed in what little snow was left by the fire. Uncorking it, you take a swig; the alcohol burns on its way down, and a warmth settles in your belly. After one more swig, you nudge Argis' arm with the bottle. Honningbrew isn't his favorite, you know. He likes that darker Black-Briar stuff. But you're a fan of the sweeter taste, and Argis has never been one to protest, especially when you’re willing to carry a surprise bottle in your rucksack and share it with him. Mead is mead is mead to him.

He takes the bottle from you, his fingers brushing yours again before closing over the neck of the bottle. His touch is surprisingly gentle for such a big man; you can’t be sure, since the fire already has your face heated up so much, but you think you might be blushing. You resist the urge to duck your head, instead reaching up to Argis’ shoulder and pulling him down so you can talk closer to his ear and be heard. There is no way you can shout over this storm now.

“You don’t happen to have any more of those sweetrolls from the other day, do you?” You ask. Argis turns towards you, his face apologetic as he shakes his head no.

“Just the meat and mead for us tonight,” he murmurs into your ear. Pulling away, he takes another deep swig of the Honningbrew mead before handing it back to you. You share the rest of the bottle in a companionable silence, listening to the howling of the wind and tasting each other’s lips on the bottle.

By the time you're crawling back into your bed rolls, you’re both quite drunk and very relaxed. Sleeping tonight should really be no problem, you muse. Still, for a little more peace of mind, you cast a couple quick lightning runes outside the tent - just far enough away to alert you if anyone were to approach. You take down the ward you’d left by the fire, setting up another one outside your shelter for the night.

Back inside the lean-to, the wind is blessedly absent, though the air is still bitingly cold.

“Do you mind if I conjure a little smokeless fire in here?” You ask Argis. The Bulwark, in the middle of unclasping the greaves that cover his shins, frowns, pursing his lips.

“Go ahead,” he says, a trace reluctantly. You know his Nord upbringing has made him naturally mistrusting of all magic, and that mistrust is still not entirely gone, despite his fondness for you and admiration for what you could accomplish with it on the battlefield. “But…please make sure it’s the smokeless kind. I don’t want to suffocate.”

“And I don’t want to freeze,” you laugh, waving your hand. A soft, blue flame sputters to life in mid-air between the two of you and, though it veritably produces no smoke, its heat still permeates the tent. You mentally thank Farengar Secret-Fire for creating this nifty little spell and for deigning to teach it to you; his work was honestly that of pure ingenuity. A condescending little snot though he may be, you admit to yourself.

Argis moves onto the cuisses that cover his mighty thighs, beginning a small pile of armor on the far side of the lean-to next to the rucksacks. You pull off your vambraces first, throwing them in the accumulating pile and starting in on your greaves next.

“Could you help me with these, when you get a chance?” Argis asks, and you turn your attention from your armor back to him. He’s pointing to the large pauldrons that sit on his shoulders, and you move closer to him obligingly.

“Of course,” you agree, your fingers setting to work fiddling with the straps and clasps that hold his heavy armor in place. You’ve done this many a night, by now, and you make short work of them, sliding both pauldrons off the Bulwark’s broad shoulders and moving to put them both in his armor pile. You help him with his cuirass next, until Argis is finally free of all armor, covered only by the light linen pants and shirt he wears underneath. You shift back to your bedroll, starting in on the cuisses over your thigh, eager to be free of the restrictive coverings as well.

“My turn to help you,” a gentle murmur comes from behind you, and a light brush of fingers at your neck lets you know that Argis is gathering your hair, moving it over your shoulder so it won’t get in the way and pulled.

“Thank you,” you reply, throwing your first cuisse into your pile.

A warm “mm,” is the only answer you get, and you smile to yourself; Argis is probably really rather drunk, having finished the majority of the oversized bottle quite quickly. The way he gets when he is drunk and tired is surprisingly adorable, you think; more like a teddy bear than the Bulwark you know him to be. You’re certain that relatively few people have ever seen him in this state.

Argis, too, knows how to make short work of your armor, and it’s not long before you’re freed of your pauldrons and cuirass, as well as the second cuisse you take off your own thigh. You sigh and stretch out, raising your arms overhead and arching your back. It feels great to be in just linens again, even if you are chillier in the slowly-warming air of the lean-to than you were with your armor on. Feeling bold, you lean back far enough in your stretch that you rest your head on the Bulwark’s shoulder behind you, smiling lazily up at him.

Argis is smiling back at you warmly - not an uncommon response to any of your antics. But, to your surprise, you feel his strong hands slide over your waist in a way that feels almost sensuous. He pulls you into his lap with ease, and you let out a quiet gasp. He pauses, his hands loosening their grip on you, his smile fading somewhat and concern that he had overstepped emerging in his eyes.

“I’m sorry -” he begins, but you cut him off, turning in the loose hold of his hands to face more towards him and hooking one arm over his shoulder. You slide your other hand up his chest, letting it rest on the large swell of his pectorals.

“You’re so warm,” you sigh, leaning into the Bulwark, a heady feeling stronger than the mead itself building in your brain.

“And by the Divines, you are cold,” he murmurs, that warm and soft smile spreading back across his face as his hands hold your waist more firmly once again. “How can you be so chilly with a fire right above you?”

“Only a Nord could ask how someone could be cold in the middle of a blizzard,” you tease back with a laugh, resting your head against his powerful shoulder and gazing up at him flirtatiously.

“Aye, very well,” Argis concedes, pulling you still closer to him, so that your breasts are pressing into his broad chest. When he speaks again, his deep voice is murmuring in your ear, the heat of his breath fluttering against your skin. “Then join me in my bedroll, and let this Nord keep you warm tonight.”

“Gladly,” you answer breathlessly. Argis lets out a quiet, low groan, one arm winding all the way around your waist now while the other reaches back for his bedroll, unfurling the covers. With ease, his powerful frame carries you close to him as he shifts back into the sheets. He lays down with you resting atop his broad frame, chest to chest, one arm still wound around your waist. With the other hand, he pulls the blankets of his bedroll over the top of the both of you, and moves beneath you, tucking them in on one side. You reach one hand up to his thick blond locks, threading your fingers through his hair and braids. Argis finishes tucking the sheets in on both sides and turns his attention back to you with another of those heart-achingly tender smiles. Gently, his thick fingers find their way into your hair, playing with the locks there. At the same time, the hand around your waist slides down, slow inch by inch, until it is resting on the outside of your hip. Still moving tortuously slowly, he slides his hand away from your hip, moving across your ass.

Hand still in his hair, you pull him in for a deep kiss. His lips are surprisingly soft and full, and you can feel the ridges of the scars that run over them as he kisses you. He’s yielding at first, moving his mouth gently against yours, the fine, trimmed hairs of his beard tickling your skin. Your head is buzzing and your whole body feels like every nerve is lit up. You’d always imagined a kiss with Argis to be rough, dominating - but this kiss, his soft lips, his hands in your hair, it’s romantic and sweet and just a little hungry, and it’s so much better than you could have ever hoped for.

“Oh, Argis,” you breathe against his lips. He lets out a deep moan; you can feel the rumble of it in his chest. After a long moment, he licks at your lips, asking entrance. You grant it to him, and he starts slow, exploring your mouth. But it’s not long before he’s battling your tongue, then winning, and he ravages your mouth in deep, hungry, passionate kisses.

The hand on your ass gives it a firm squeeze mid-kiss, and you feel a jolt of pleasure - of need - start in your core. You moan into Argis’ mouth, and he continues the hungry kiss for a long moment, pulling away slowly.

“Oh, little lady,” he growls against your lips. “You have no idea how badly I want you. How badly I’ve wanted you.”

“How long?” You breathe against his lips. You let your hand leave his hair, reaching instead for his beard and toying with the blond hairs on his chin.

“Truthfully?” He asks, and you nod. He lets out a bark of laughter, a wry smile spreading across his lips. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you.”

“Really?” You ask, a little surprised - he had hidden it well, always professional towards you in the early days, and warm and kind towards you as your companionship blossomed.

“Aye,” he confirms, unabashed. Then, watching you carefully, the smile fading from his face, he adds, “And you?”

This time, it’s your turn to let a wry smile cross your lips, as you remember how handsome - how gorgeous, really - you’d thought the big Nord was when you first met him.

“I’ve wanted you for a long time, too, big man,” you admit. The smile he gives you this time is no longer wry - he seems relieved to hear you speak those words, perhaps even genuinely happy. He pulls you back into another hungry kiss; you meet his lips with yours enthusiastically, and as he again ravages your mouth, you grab at the enormous swell of his biceps, almost as if to steady yourself. You run your fingers over the thick, bulging muscle, marveling at the size of it, how your hand doesn’t cover even half of the swell of it, how the portion you can feel ripples under your hand with power. As you explore his body, Argis squeezes your ass again, and yet again, you feel that primal jolt of pleasure. You let out a sound in response to his ministrations - a sound that is, to your ears, surprisingly needy and submissive.

This seems to trigger something in Argis, as he grabs you and maneuvers you off his broad chest, rolling so that his powerful frame now hovers above you, supported on his elbows and knees. You rest one hand on his broad shoulders, and let the hand that had been exploring his biceps move under his shirt to his chest. You run your fingers through the thick blond curls that cover his pectorals, then grope at the enormous muscles themselves, unable to keep from thinking how many times these muscles of his had saved your life. Tenderly, Argis presses another gentle kiss to the corner of your mouth, then works his way down your jawline and to your neck. You move your head to grant him more access, loving the way his full lips and bristly beard feel against your skin.

“Oh, little lady,” he moans, lips ghosting over your collarbone. Slowly, he lowers his hips down to rest partially atop you, some of his frame shifted to the side to keep from hurting you with his weight. As his hips come to rest atop yours, you feel the hard length of his manhood pressing into you, and you can’t help but note that your earlier name for him had been correct - he is a big man, both thick and long. He pulls back just enough to look into your eyes, and asks, “Is this okay for you?”

“More than okay,” you answer, grinding your hips up into his cock. He drops his head down into the crook of your neck again with a groan.

“I’m going to finally make you all mine tonight,” he rumbles, his lips against your skin.

“Please,” you breathe, grabbing at his heavily-muscled shoulders as he nips and sucks at your neck with renewed vigor. You slide your hand down from his pectorals, through his chest and body hair, to the ridges of his abdominal muscles, not yet daring to go too low - you want to enjoy feeling his body for a little longer first. You do, however, grind upwards into his manhood again, and feel him stiffen further against you. Argis grinds back down into you in response this time, and you moan to encourage him.

“And you want me to take you, don’t you, little lady?” He growls, continuing to grind into you. “You want your Housecarl to have his way with you.”

“I do,” you agree, sliding your hands just a little lower on his stomach.

"Then let’s get these clothes out of the way,” he suggests, grabbing the bottom hem of your linen shirt and starting to slide it up. You help him get yourself out of the garment, and while your hands make short work of your breast bindings underneath, Argis pulls his linen shirt off his frame. “By the Nine,” he groans when he sees your breasts laid bare before him, though you could say the same about his sculpted torso. He wastes no time, though, lowering his head to one breast, his tongue swirling around your nipple while one hand gropes and kneads at your other breast. You arch into his touch, desperate for more, but he pins you back down on the ground firmly. The hand that isn’t busy with your breast quickly gathers both your wrists up, pinning them above your head in a firm grip.

“Oh, Argis,” you moan, trying in vain to squirm against him for more pressure.

“You like the way I make you feel?” He asks, before doubling down on his assault on your nipple, flicking back and forth over it fast with his tongue.

“I do,” you agree.

“Good,” he murmurs, then pauses his ministrations to look up at you. “Because I’m going to fulfill your every desire tonight, lass. And when I’m done, you’ll know that no man can ever take care of you, as both your protector and lover, the way I can.” He moves to your other breast, first swirling it with his tongue, then flicking at it quickly.

“Argis,” you moan, halfheartedly wishing your hands were free so you could move his head down south a little- so he could put that tongue to use somewhere else.

“Promise me something,” he rumbles, this time without looking up at you.

“Anything,” you agree, all reservations gone. You’d give him just about anything right now.

“Promise me you’ll moan my name like that when you’re stuffed full with my cock,” he growls, pulling away from your nipple with a sharp scrape of his teeth.

Well. For someone who usually didn’t say anything that didn’t need to be said, he could certainly be a dirty talker in bed, you think to yourself.

The hand at your wrist releases you, and he moves to your waistband, pulling the linen pants and your undergarments down. You lift your hips obligingly, and soon, you lay completely bare before the Bulwark.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he murmurs, letting his hands trail down your waist, over your hips, and over the tops of your thighs. The look he gives you is another of those heartbreakingly tender looks, and it occurs to you that Argis might not just want you - he might really love you, too.

The thought is gone a moment later as Argis maneuvers his own linen pants off himself, allowing his manhood to spring free. His cock bobs before you for a moment before flattening up against his belly.

“You’re huge,” you blurt, and it’s true - he’s so thick, you wonder if your hand would even be able to close around his base. Looking at him, the size difference between you, a Breton, and Argis, the largest Nord you’ve ever met, becomes more apparent than ever, and you wonder for a moment if he can even fit in you.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs, reading the concern you struggle to conceal in your expression, leaning back over you. His thumb brushes your cheek gently. “I’ll make sure you’re ready for me. I promise I won’t hurt you. And if it does hurt, we’ll stop.” You reach up for Argis, your hand caressing his cheek in return. You have no doubt that he means what he says, and again, the thought that he might love you enters your mind. Staring up at him, the man who has served as your protector, who has carried you to safety, risked his life for you, and given you his unyielding friendship, you know you can trust him with everything and anything - including this.

“Okay,” you agree, and Argis smiles, pulling you in for another deep kiss. You reach up to his enormous body above you, feeling the thick cords of muscle rippling over his chest, once again running your hands through the soft blond curls of hair that cover his chest and belly.

“You’re gorgeous, you know,” you manage to tell him between open-mouthed kisses. He smiles against your lips.

“Oh. Thank you,” he mumbles, and you’re certain he almost sounds embarrassed, but still pleased. A moment later, his larger hand reaches for yours, and gently guides you just a little lower down his belly, until you are brushing against the tip of his manhood. He lets out a quiet hiss at the contact, and though he lets go of your hand, you know what it is he wants. You oblige, grabbing him at the base of his length - as you had suspected, your fingers don’t meet around him at his thickest part - and give a long pump up his shaft. When you slide back down his shaft, you take a moment to reach down to caress his balls, which are heavy and large in your palm.

You quickly return to pumping Argis up and down, and when you look away from his manhood, you see his eyes, heavily-lidded, watching you carefully. His hands are kneading your thighs, working further up them, until one hand reaches your core. He gently parts your folds, finding your clit and swirling his thumb around it. You moan and squirm under him, and he takes his other hand and pins you down at your hip, holding you in place. Continuing with the quick circles, he delves in between your folds with his fingers.

“Little lady,” he groans, “you’re so wet for me.”

“Of course,” you answer, your voice husky. “I want you so badly, Argis.”

“You’re going to have me,” the blond replies, slowly pressing one finger into you. Even his fingers are thick and long, and he takes a long moment, letting you adjust to the digit within you. Rather than begin to pump it in or out, however, he plays with the angle of it for a long moment, pressing against your front wall. It’s not long before he finds what he wants, and gently begins crooking his finger against the spot. Within moments, you’re seeing stars, the pleasure within you absolutely explosive.

“Oh, by the Nine, Argis,” you gasp, feeling the pressure against your hip intensify as the Bulwark has to work harder to hold you in place. “I - oh, Argis, that feels amazing.”

You get no response besides a low growl as Argis presses another finger into you, joining the first in its motion as his thumb keeps working away at your clit. The second finger begins to stretch you, and you try to grind into the feeling of fullness, forgetting about pumping Argis’ manhood for the moment. It’s not long before a third finger joins the first two; the sensation is almost painful, but you quickly adapt to it, spreading your legs just a bit more to accommodate Argis’ ministrations.

The pleasure is relentless, and you drop Argis’ manhood entirely to grasp at the pillow behind you with one hand and to grasp at Argis’ shoulders with the other. He watches you, seeing your pleasure build, and when you reach for the hand of his that rests on your hip, he obliges, taking your hand and holding it with a firm but gentle pressure. You hold to him tightly in return, grateful for the gentle point of connection between the two of you. Truthfully, you’re not sure if you’ve ever had sex good enough to make you cum like this, and you are feeling increasingly vulnerable before Argis, as he continues to stoke your pleasure relentlessly.

A stream of curses and cries of Argis’ name are falling from your lips, and the coil of pleasure is building ever more tightly within you. Finally, your orgasm breaks over you, slamming you in wave after wave of throbbing pleasure, and you tremble under Argis’ hands, crying his name one more time. He continues stroking you through it, eventually stilling his fingers within you, and slowly, the waves subside. In the end, you are left looking at the Bulwark, who is watching you like you’re the most gorgeous creature on Nirn.

“Fuck,” you breathe.

“Oh, little lady,” he groans, pulling his fingers out of you and smearing the fluids on them across his cock. “You’re so perfect.” He leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips, the feeling of his beard scratching against your lips and his chest hair against your breasts electrifying. You pull him into you hungrily, and you feel him smirk against your lips. “Do you want more of me, lass?”

“Please,” you manage, feeling Argis lower himself so that his hips rest between your legs.

“I love the sound of you begging for me,” he growls, moving so that the tip of his manhood presses against your slick folds. “Begging for your Housecarl, your protector.”

“Please, Argis. Please take me,” you repeat, sliding one hand down his broad back to grasp at his firm ass and try to push him towards you. He obliges, one of his hands lowering to his manhood to guide himself as he presses into you. His tip slides in more easily than you would have expected, and he continues pressing into you, stretching you, with a low groan. He stills halfway in, waiting for you to accommodate him, but you’re already so wet, so desperate for him, that you want more. You move against him, trying to take him in further, and he chuckles, burying his face in the crook of your neck.

“Ready for me, are you?” He sounds pleased as he eases himself the rest of the way in. You feel, for a moment, like he could split you in two, he’s so large. But then he starts moving in small, gentle thrusts, and the way he presses against all your walls, fills you and stretches you, is unrivaled. Slowly, he works up to larger thrusts, pulling back to watch you carefully for any signs of pain, but you’re already seeing stars, sensitive and excited from your last orgasm. “Doing okay?” He grunts.

“Yes,” you gasp. “Take me how you want. However hard you want.”

Argis wastes no time in obeying your order, his hips slamming into you suddenly. He sets a grueling rhythm, ravaging you with such force and power it’s all you can do to hold onto his shoulders through it. You wrap your legs around his muscular waist, offering him the opportunity to plow more deeply into you, and he takes it, never once breaking his rhythm.

A breathy moan comes out of you, followed by Argis’ name. Argis lets out a loud groan of your name in response - and then one of his enormous hands is at your neck, choking you with a gentle pressure as he continues to pound you. You feel even more pleasure coil within you at this, at your submission to the muscle-bound man fucking you without mercy.

Argis doesn’t change positions - he doesn’t need to. It’s not long before you’re coming undone on his cock, screaming his name to the heavens and clenching his manhood between your walls so tightly you feel that your orgasm may never end. He holds his pace through the waves of pleasure, but as you begin to wind down, you feel his movements becoming erratic, his hips stuttering in a desperate bid for more pleasure.

“Oh, love,” he gasps. “I’m close - I -”

Argis comes with a wordless roar, not unlike the ones you’ve heard him loose in battle, his cock shooting cum deep into you as he loses his pace entirely. Even as he rides through his orgasm, you feel the hot strands of his cum leaking down the insides of your thighs, threatening to spill onto the bedroll beneath you. Finally, he has spent himself, and he collapses above you, letting go of your throat to support some of his weight on his elbows, his face again buried in the crook of your neck.

You reach up from his shoulders to stroke his thick blond hair soothingly. Had he called you love, just then? Did he really mean it, you wonder, or was it just a figure of speech he’d used in the heat of the moment?

But when Argis raises his head from your shoulder to look at you, you see again that tenderness and adoration in his face, and you suspect that he really had meant to call you his love.

“Are you okay?” He asks, shifting off you and onto one shoulder, pulling you with him so you’re tucked against his body.

“More than okay,” you answer earnestly. “That was amazing.” Argis chuckles in response.

“I’m glad it was as good for you as it was for me. Let me get you cleaned up.” He disappears from the bedroll for a moment, moving to his rucksack. You can’t help but watch his form as he moves - from his impossibly broad shoulders to his narrow hips and powerful thighs, you’re amazed by how gorgeous he really is. When Argis returns, it’s with a small piece of cloth, and he cleans you gently until you have no more of his hot cum leaking from within you. He wipes himself clean quicly, too, then throws the cloth to the side. You’re grateful when he returns to the bedroll, which has begun feeling chilly without him.

“The smokeless fire has gone out,” Argis mumbles into your hair as he draws you back into his chest, tucked beneath his chin. You nestle into him gratefully.

“Couldn’t keep enough focus through all of that,” you laugh. He laughs, too, but asks,

“Are you cold? Do you want to start it again?” You pull back in mock surprise, amazed that the Nord had volunteered to put up with your magical proclivities for once.

“Are you actually asking for me to use magic?” You tease with a smile, but flick your hand out from the bedsheets, starting the smokeless fire above you again.

“Only until you’re warm again,” he returns, pulling you back into the warmth of his chest again.

“Fair enough,” you laugh, one hand playing with the golden curls on his chest. “After all, I don’t know what Skyrim would do if the mighty Dovahkiin froze to death tonight.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you,” Argis murmurs, his voice a deep rumble in his chest, reverberating throughout your body. His strong arms tighten around you, gently, protectively, and you feel the soft brush of his lips against your forehead.

“Nor I without you,” you murmur back, tipping your head up and managing to reach his lips for a return kiss. He kisses you back for a moment, then hums contentedly, deep in his throat, and tucks you back down under his chin.

“The Divines have blessed me,” Argis sighs. “This life is a hard one, at times, but by the Nine, am I blessed.” You wrap your arms around his chest, feeling the slow, soothing beating of his heart in his chest, and though you have a thousand – a million – questions for him, you don’t know how to ask any of them. Maybe they shouldn’t be asked, just yet.

“I’m blessed, too,” you whisper to Argis, and you know he hears you by the way he holds you just a little tighter. And not long after, the comfort of each other’s arms and the mead and the heat of the fire conspire to overtake you both and send you both to sleep.

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