#;hit me with your best shot {additional guidelines.}

[garrettmxlt027]

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[letterboxd]

Savage Cinema.

From anarchists and adultery to milk baths and massacres, Matthew Turner shares five of the weirdest and wildest highlights of Hollywood’s pre-Code era, as #PreCodeApril comes to a close.

Pre-Code April was directly inspired by Noirvember, a month-long celebration of noir cinema instigated by Marya Gates (Oldfilmsflicker). I did Noirvember for the first time in November 2019, really enjoyed it, and thought it would be great to do the same thing for pre-Code movies. Although I’ve watched most of the classic 1930s films, I realised there were a huge number of pre-Code films I’d never seen (of my Letterboxd list of over 900 Pre-Code films, I have only seen 200).

As a sucker for a bit of wordplay, no matter how tenuous, I picked April partly because it’s six months away from Noirvember and partly because of the shared “pr” sound in April and Pre-Code. I’ve been absolutely delighted by the response—the #PreCodeApril hashtag on Twitter is a daily treasure trove of pre-Code-related joy, but I was genuinely thrilled to see the response on Letterboxd (here is my watchlist for the month). It’s been a real pleasure to see pre-Code movies constantly popping up in my ‘new from friends’ feed. My hope is that it’ll be even bigger next year—and that maybe TCM will want to get involved, the way they do with Noirvember.

Produced between 1929 and 1934, pre-Code cinema refers to films made in a brief period between the silent era, and Hollywood beginning to enforce the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines (mandatory enforcement came in from July 1934). The “Code” in question was popularly known as the Hays Code, after then MPPDA president Will H. Hays. As the depression set in and box office declined, theater owners needed fare that would drive cinema-goers to the movies. It was a wild time to be a scriptwriter; they threw everything at the page, designers added even more, and actors played out the kinds of scenes, from the suggestive to the overt, that would otherwise be banned for decades to come.

The following five films demonstrate some of Hollywood’s craziest pre-Code excesses. They’re still jaw-dropping, even by today’s standards, and notably give female characters an agency that would be later denied as the Christian morals of the Code overruled writers’ kinks.

Madam Satan (1930) Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, written by Elsie Janis, Jeanie Macpherson and Gladys Unger

A critical and commercial flop in 1930, Cecil B. DeMille’s utterly insane musical comedy stars Kay Johnson as a straight-laced wife who plots to win back her unfaithful husband (Reginald Denny) by seducing him at a costume party, disguised as a mysterious devil woman. The location of this party? Oh, nothing too fancy, just on board a giant zeppelin. (“Madam Satan or: How the Film gets Fucking Crazy on the Blimp,” as Ryan reviewed it.)

Madam Satan is not by any stretch of the imagination a good movie (the editing alone is laughably bad), but as a piece of pre-Code craziness, it really has to be seen to be believed. Co-written by a trio of women and set in just three locations, it goes from racy bedroom farce to avant-garde musical to full-on disaster movie after a bolt of lightning hits the blimp.

The film is justly celebrated (in camp classic circles, at least) for the wildly over-the-top costumes paraded in the masquerade ball sequence, but there’s weird outfit joy everywhere you look. Keep an eye out for an enterprising extra who’s come dressed as a set of triplets.

Call Her Savage (1932) Directed by John Francis Dillon, written by Tiffany Thayer and Edwin J. Burke

Adapted from a salacious novel by Tiffany Thayer, Call Her Savage was former silent star Clara Bow’s second-to-last film before her retirement at the age of 28. She plays Texas gal Nasa Springer, who’s always had a “savage” temper she can’t explain. In the space of 88 minutes she goes from wild teenager to jilted newlywed to young mother to prostitute to wealthy society girl to alcoholic before finally (it’s implied) settling down with her Native-American friend after discovering that she’s half-Native-American, something the audience has known all along.

Bow’s performance is frankly astonishing, to the point where you simply can’t believe what you’re seeing from one moment to the next. Sample scenes see her savagely whipping both a snake and her Indian friend, smashing a guitar over a musician’s head and violently wrestling her Great Dane… and that’s all in the first five minutes. She’s also frequently in a state of near undress throughout—one funny scene has her maids chasing her with a dressing gown because they’re afraid she’ll run down the street in her négligée.

The rest of the film includes alcohol, adultery, strong violence, attempted rape, murder, syphilis (not named, but heavily implied) and baby death. It’s a veritable smorgasbord of outrageous content and Bow is pure dynamite throughout. The film is also noted for being one of the first on-screen portrayals of homosexuality, when Nasa visits a gay bar in the Village frequented by “wild poets and anarchists”.

Smarty (1934) Directed by Robert Florey, written by Carl Erickson and F. Hugh Herbert

This deeply problematic sex comedy features pre-Code stars Joan Blondell and Warren William (often nicknamed ‘The King of Pre-Code’) at their absolute filthiest. Blondell plays Vicki, a capricious, happily married wife who gets an obvious kick out of taunting her husband, Tony (William). When he cracks and slaps her at a party, she divorces him and marries her lawyer, Vernon (Edward Everett Horton), whom she also goads into slapping her in a deliberate ploy to win back Tony.

Essentially, Smarty hinges on Vicki liking rough sex and it’s completely blatant about it, ending with her sighing “Hit me again” (the film’s UK title!) as they sink into a clinch on a couch, a rapturous expression on her face. It’s a controversial film because on the surface it looks like it’s condoning domestic violence, but it’s very clearly about Vicki’s openly expressed sexual desires—she wants to be punished and dominated, she just has a rather dodgy way of getting what she wants.

It might be unsophisticated, but in some ways Smarty is remarkably ahead of its time and ripe for rediscovery. To that end, it would make a fascinating double bill with Stephen Shainberg’s Secretary (2002). Oh, and it’s also chock-full of lingerie scenes (like most pre-Code films), if you like that sort of thing.

Massacre (1934) Directed by Alan Crosland, written by Sheridan Gibney, Ralph Block and Robert Gessner

Several pre-Code films (notably those made by Warner Bros) took a no-punches-pulled approach to their depiction of social issues, and star Richard Barthelmess actively sought out such projects. Here he plays Joe Thunderhorse, a Native American who’s become famous on the rodeo circuit. When he returns to his tribe to bury his father, he ends up fighting for their rights, taking on corrupt government officials and religious authorities.

Massacre is fascinating because on the one hand it’s wildly insensitive—Barthelmess and co-star Ann Dvorak are both cast as Native Americans—but on the other, it burns with a righteous fury and does more than any other Hollywood film (before or since) to champion the rights and highlight the injustices dealt out to Native Americans. That fury is encapsulated in a horrifying and rightly upsetting rape scene (it happens off-screen, but the cuts leave you in no doubt) that the film handles with surprising sensitivity.

In addition to being a passionate fight against racism and social injustice, the film also has some genuinely shocking sexual content. Most notably, Joe is seen making love to a rich white woman (Claire Dodd, who’s also in Smarty) who has an obvious sexual fetish, flaunting him in front of her friends and making a shrine in her room with Native-American paraphernalia.

The Sign of the Cross (1932) Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, written by Waldemar Young and Sidney Buchman

Yes, this is Cecil B. DeMille again, but no list of weird and wild pre-Code films would be complete without the jaw-dropping ancient Rome epic, The Sign of the Cross. Adapted from an 1895 play by Wilson Barrett, it stars Frederic March as Marcus Superbus (stop sniggering at the back there), who’s torn between his loyalty to Emperor Nero (Charles Laughton) and his love for a Christian woman (Elissa Landi), while also fending off the advances of the Emperor’s wife, Poppaea (Claudette Colbert).

The film is racy enough in its sexual content alone: highlights include the famous scene of Claudette Colbert taking a nude milk bath and an erotic “lesbian” dance sequence, where Joyzelle Joyner’s “most wicked and talented woman in Rome” does ‘The Dance of the Naked Moon’ at Frederic March’s orgy, trying to tempt Landi’s virtuous Christian, to the obvious arousal of the gathered guests.

However, it’s the climactic gladiatorial-arena sequence that will leave your jaw on the floor. Lasting around twelve minutes, it includes: someone getting eaten by a tiger, a tied-up, naked women being approached by hungry crocodiles, pygmies getting chopped up by female barbarians, elephants stomping on heads, a gorilla approaching a naked woman tied to a stake, a man getting gored by a bull, and gladiators fighting to the death, complete with blood and gory injury detail.

The whole thing is genuinely horrifying, even for 2021. Best of all, DeMille pointedly critiques the audience (ourselves included), by showing a series of reaction shots ranging from intense enjoyment to abject seen-it-all-before boredom.

Matthew Turner (FilmFan1971) is a critic, author, podcaster and lifelong film fanatic. His favorite film is ‘Vertigo’. The films in this article are also listed here: Five of the Pre-Code Era’s Most Outrageous Films.

#preCodeApril #pre code april #precode april #hays code #mppa code #cecil b demille #clara bow #matthew turner #letterboxd #1930s films #1920s films #depression films

[tigerkirby215]

5e Akshan, the Rogue Sentinel build (League of Legends)

(Artwork made for League of Legends by Riot Games.)

HE’S HERE HE’S HERE HESHEREHESHEREHESHEREHESHEREHESHEREHESHERE...

It’s no secret I’ve been excited for Akshan since he was first announced; the prospect of a grappling hook champ was simply too interesting for me. Seeing him now... I’m having slight reservations? I really dislike his Scoundrel mechanic (who had “bring back Garen Villain mechanic” and “revival mechanic” on their 200 years Bingo card?) and I kinda wish the grappling hook was incorporated more into his kit but... he still seems fun? It looks like he plays like a Twitch with more of an assassin focus, and Twitch has always been a fun character. I’m probably not buying him immediately on release but I’ll grab him when he drops down to a standardized price.

But anyways I’m here to build funny grappling hook man! ...Without his grappling hook. Look I’m going to tell you right now that while there is a grappling hook in 5e there’s little way to get a grappling hook gun like Akshan has, and while I’ll do my best to provide options in this build don’t get your hopes up. If that’s enough to make you lose interest in the build I’m sorry, but I do hope you stick around to read it anyways.

GOALS

Reclaimed by the light, yade yade yada... - Reviving people in real life is hard. Reviving people in League of Legends is a little easier. Reviving people in D&D though? Pretty easy.

Stealth time! I mean, stealth time...! - You will never guess what class the character with “Rogue” in their title is.

Only one way out of this mess; skyward! - Like I said I unfortunately can’t give you a grappling hook... gun. I can still give you the grappling hook item, and ways to climb out of dangerous situations!

RACE

Akshan is human according to the lore, so feel free to leave your complaints about Variant Human at the door. You can put +1 into your Strength and Dexterity for super Akshan action! You can also grab proficiency with the Persuasion skill (because how can you say no to that smile?) and whatever language would fit as Shuriman.

Of course Variant Humans get to grab a feat at level 1, and hello Crossbow Expert my old friend! Get that double-shot passive in while also fighting up-close and dirty. Oh and not needing to reload is obviously nice.

ABILITY SCORES

15; DEXTERITY - You’re still a marksman, which of course means Dexterity for shooting.

14; CHARISMA - You fight with a roguish charm. Rules are more like guidelines really, and why follow rules if they ruin your style?

13; STRENGTH - You need strength to throw grappling hooks if your DM doesn’t give you a proper grappling hook gun. Also carrying reobtained loot from warlords is nice.

12; CONSTITUTION - Even if you’re a squishy marksman / assassin having health is still a good thing.

10; WISDOM - You picked a few too many fights with bad people, but you’ve still got a good heart.

8; INTELLIGENCE - Grappling hooks are cool and all but attaching a grappling hook to an ancient relic used to vanquish a prophesized evil isn’t the brightest plan, and ignoring that prophesized evil for your own personal vengeance quest isn’t a good idea either.

Feel free to swap Strength and Constitution if you want better health but worse grappling hook tosses.

BACKGROUND

Akshan was an Urchin before being saved by Shadya. You get proficiency with Stealth and Slight of Hand as well as some tools, but I’d honestly suggest replacing them with Jeweler's Tools and Leatherworker’s Tools to keep your outfit in check. (Mostly because you get Thieves’ Tools from your class and won’t need a Disguise Kit.)

As a Shuriman kid you know all of the City Secrets. When you are not in combat, you can lead your allies through the city twice as fast as your speed would normally allow. Being a street kid does give you some valuable knowledge!

(Artwork made for Legends of Runeterra by Riot Games.)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - ROGUE 1

Wow who would’ve guessed the character with “Rogue” in their title is a Rogue?! As a Rogue you get proficiency in Acrobatics, Athletics, Insight, and Deception. But feel free to swap it up to make your own Akshan! You can also get Expertise in Acrobatics for rope-swinging tricks, and Stealth to hunt down scoundrels!

When you find the scoundrels deliver swift Comeuppance with a Sneak Attack! If you have advantage or fight dirty with an ally near the enemy you can do an extra d6 of damage with your shot! And to top it off you’ve spent enough times in the streets of Shurima to know how scoundrels talk and can use Thieves’ Cant to trick them that you’re one of them, or can listen to scoundrels talking to know when to stop them.

LEVEL 2 - ROGUE 2

Second level Rogues can opt not to attack and instead use a Cunning Action to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a Bonus Action. “To the shadows; where the scoundrels hide!”

LEVEL 3 - ROGUE 3

Third level Rogues get to choose their Roguish Archetype, and to get the ability to swing around on ropes the Thief is about as good as you’re going to get. That’s because Second-Story Work makes it so climbing ropes doesn’t cost extra movement, and also lets you jump further if you have a running start. In addition you have Fast Hands, allowing you to use your Cunning Action to make a Sleight of Hand check, use your thieves’ tools to disarm a trap or open a lock, or take the “Use an Object” action.

Now here’s the thing about using your grappling hook: most DMs would consider throwing a Grappling Hook to be a “Use an Object” action. So as a Bonus Action you can throw your grappling hook and then use your climbing speed to climb up the rope, as if you were grappling upwards! Of course talk to your DM if that’s okay, but if they let it happen you’ve practically got a flying speed at level 3! As long as there’s walls to grapple on, at least. “Akshan, away!”

And to top it off your Sneak Attack also increase to 2d6.

LEVEL 4 - ROGUE 4

Feel free to skip your first ASI if you want some Sentinel abilities first, but I consider Dexterity more important for a Rogue. More shooting, more AC, and better stealth!

(Artwork made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 5 - WARLOCK 1

The Light Sentinels are a powerful, ancient entity who gave you powers in exchange for a set of rules. Just because the one who signed you up is dead and you don’t really follow the rules doesn’t mean you can’t still use their powers! But truthfully I just wanted a Charisma caster and you all know how much I love Warlock. Naturally powers against darkness and undead would be Celestial in nature! While you normally use The Absolver’s Healing Light to revive people healing is also useful. You have a pool of d6s equal to your Warlock level plus one. As a bonus action you can heal a creature you can see within 60 feet of you, spending dice from the pool. The maximum number of dice you can spend at once equals your Charisma modifier. Roll the dice you spend, add them together, and restore a number of hit points equal to the total. You regain all expended dice when you finish a long rest.

In addition as a Celestial Warlock you get Bonus Cantrips like the Light cantrip to see with your dumb human eyes as well as Sacred Flame cantrip to deliver Comeuppance! And of course to get cantrips you also get Pact Magic! You learn two cantrips from the Warlock list like Prestidigitation to be cool and flashy, and Mage Hand which can help you with your... legitimate business.

You can also learn two first level spells like Guiding Bolt and Cure Wounds, straight from the Celestial List! Mark a foe as a scoundrel and keep your friends alive and well! “Go; and die no more.”

LEVEL 6 - WARLOCK 2

Second level Warlocks get Eldritch Invocations: normally you get two but we’re only going to take one for now. But which one? Mage Armor is the best AC you’re going to get until you get magic armor which means that Armor of Shadows could be good, but Mask of Many Faces will let you choose your outfits however you please, and keep them from getting dirty! Basically I’m leaving you with a choice: if you want better AC but worse infiltration go for Armor of Shadows. Alternatively if you want the ability to sneak around in plain sight then Mask of Many Faces is a good choice for you!

You could also learn another Warlock spell but we’re going to wait for...

LEVEL 7 - WARLOCK 3

Third level Warlocks get their Pact Boon, and while the Absolver isn’t quite a “blade” Pact of the Blade is still the boon related to using cool ancient relic weapons! If you want to upgrade Pact of the Blade into “Pact of the Blade and also Sentinel Weapons” take Improved Pact Weapon.

Now here’s where I’m going to have to tell you to homebrew with your DM a little: for whatever reason Improved Pact Weapon lets you summon a shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow. Notice that there’s no Hand Crossbow on that list. This (technically) means that you can’t summon a Hand Crossbow, even if you take the Invocation tax for Improved Pact Weapon. Pact of the Blade does let you bind to any weapon... as long as its magical, and the lowest level magical Hand Crossbow you can get is either a +1 Hand Crossbow or a Crossbow of Warning. (Both good items to have but not necessarily something you’ll find in your adventures.) In short the official rules don’t let you have a Hand Crossbow.

Honestly I see no reason why you can’t have a Pact Hand Crossbow, but if your DM’s a stickler about it you can survive with either a Heavy Crossbow or a Longbow. (Depending on your preference.) If your DM doesn’t allow you to use a Hand Crossbow take Sharpshooter as your level 1 feat instead of Crossbow Expert, as you’ll get more use out of it.

tl;dr talk to your DM about letting Improved Pact Weapon let you summon a Hand Crossbow. If they say no edit the build with that in mind.

Anyways you can also learn more spells like Invisibility to sneak around, and Misty Step for good ol’ Flash.

LEVEL 8 - WARLOCK 4

4th level Warlocks can get an Ability Score Improvement... or a Feat! It would be easier just to grab Eldritch Adept now and talk about which Invocation you’ll use it for next level.

You can prepare another spell at this level at least, and also learn another cantrip! For your cantrip Minor Illusion can be used to make distractions while sneaking, and Mirror Image is a good spell to keep alive.

There are other spells you can take instead if you so desire. Lesser Restoration from the Celestial list is never bad to have, and Darkness can be used as a Smoke Bomb which you can’t see through with your dumb human eyes. And of course there’s the obviously good spells like Hold Person or Shatter. I’m trying to build what’s most accurate to Akshan, as well as what I believe would be the most useful. Feel free to change the build as you wish.

LEVEL 9 - WARLOCK 5

5th level Warlocks get more invocations like Thirsting Blade for a bit more attack speed with your Absolver. You can also cash in that Eldritch Adept Invocation to take One With Shadows, to hide in the shade of a wall until it’s time to surprise your foes! “That’s right; it is I!”

And finally we’ve got our revive! Take Revivify to bring someone back from the dead, as long as it was fairly recent. And the best part is you don’t even need to kill the person who killed them! But you will need a lot of diamonds, which can get expensive. “Dear friends: please stop dying. Love, Akshan.”

There’s several other third level spells you could potentially take (notably Thunder Step which might be a good replacement for Misty Step if you don’t mind throwing stealth out the window) but it’s up to you to take them.

(Artwork by @Tsvetyaa on Twitter.)

LEVEL 10 - ROGUE 5

Now that you’ve got the Sentinel part down it’s time to hone your Roguish skills! 5th level Rogues can use their reaction for an Uncanny Dodge, halving the damage from an attack they saw coming. In addition your Sneak Attack increases to 3d6.

LEVEL 11 - ROGUE 6

6th level Rogues get Expertise in two more skills: Deception and Persuasion would be useful to charm your way out of danger.

LEVEL 12 - ROGUE 7

7th level Rogues can swing out of danger with Evasion: if you make a Dexterity saving throw and succeed, you take no damage! And even if you fail you only take half damage! Oh and your Sneak Attack is now 4d6. “Consider yourself, absolved.”

LEVEL 13 - ROGUE 8

8th level Rogues get an Ability Score Improvement: let’s cap off that Dexterity to be the best shot you can be!

(Artwork made for League of Legends by Riot Games.)

LEVEL 14 - ROGUE 9

9th level Thief Rogues can never be found as long as they’re careful. Supreme Sneak gives you advantage on Stealth checks if you move no more than half your speed on your turn. This has insane synergy with One With Shadows as you can turn invisible and then get advantage on stealth (because for some reason being invisible doesn’t do that.) And of course if you go slow and steady you can sneak around just about anything, which is great for when you pop out to do 5d6 Sneak Attack damage! “Ha! I have you now!”

LEVEL 15 - ROGUE 10

Rogues get a few extra Ability Score Improvements... one extra, to be precise. But that means you can bump up your Charisma to be better at socialization and all that Warlock stuff.

LEVEL 16 - ROGUE 11

11th level Rogues get Reliable Talent, meaning the lowest you can roll on a skill you’re proficient in is 10. I always like to go through your skills when you get this ability to show what the bare minimum you can roll is, so...

27 on Acrobatics or Stealth

25 on Deception or Persuasion

21 on Slight of Hand

18 on Athletics

16 on Insight

And your Sneak Attack is now 6d6. What fun!

LEVEL 17 - ROGUE 12

12th level Rogues get yet another Ability Score Improvement, which of course means more Charisma!

(Artwork made for Legends of Runeterra by Riot Games.)

LEVEL 18 - ROGUE 13

13th level Thief Rogues can use any Sentinel weapon they reacquisition thanks to Use Magic Device. You ignore all class, race, and level requirements on the use of magic items, letting you have fun with whatever toys you find. And when all else fails your Absolver now packs a 7d6 Sneak Attack!

LEVEL 19 - ROGUE 14

14th level Rogues are so good at sneaking they can catch the sneakers! You have a 10 foot Blindsense to know if anyone’s hiding near you.

LEVEL 20 - ROGUE 15

Our final level is the 15th level of Rogue for Slippery Mind... You get proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. That’s it. Well how’s about 8d6 Sneak Attack as a final sendoff?

FINAL BUILD

PROS

I’ve got something for you! It’s... comeuppance - Three shots with a Hand Crossbow means three chances to apply your 8d6 Sneak Attack! Akshan is all about burst and burst people down you can certainly do!

Sometimes I even sneak up on myself - Supreme Sneak, One With Shadows, and the Invisibility spell will help you move around in the shadows without being spotted. And even without that you have a minimum 27 Stealth roll thanks to Reliable Talent!

You are reclaimed. Go! Live! - It obviously goes without saying but a little bit of healing helps a lot in the long run. Everyone can appreciate a pick me up.

CONS

You try to rest and some lowlife kills one of your palls! - You have a lot more limited resources than the average Warlock as your Healing Light only comes back after a Long Rest. What’s more is that most of your spells are utility based so it might be hard to get use out of the renewable nature of Warlock spell slots. And to top it off Revivify is expensive! So you’d best be ready to spend a lot of diamonds.

I live by my own code: don’t be an ass - Your Charisma unfortunately isn’t maxed out, which means your Warlock abilities aren’t maxed out. But you don’t really need maxed out Charisma as most of your spells are utility based... I’m just saying Sharpshooter is an option.

Shadya would approve of this... I think - You missed out on level 17 of Thief Rogue which means you don’t get arguably one of the strongest Rogue abilities in the game: Thief’s Reflexes. If you’re not going to get to level 20 anytime soon I think that this build is quite good but if you’re going to get to a high level maybe ditch the revives? (It’s more than likely that Cleric can do it better.)

But you’re enough of a hero without the super-awesome relic weapon that can bring people back from the dead; that’s just an added bonus... as is the grappling hook! Use your natural awesomeness to sneak up your foes and then use your legitimately-obtained weapons-of-mass-absolution to vanquish any scoundrel in your way! And if a depressed ghost king comes knocking tell him that the maximum time limit on your revives expired. “Silly Viego, we can’t bring back those we’ve lost. I mean, I can. But not you.”

(Artwork made for Legends of Runeterra by Riot Games.)

#dnd 5e #dnd #dnd build #dnd guide #League of Legends #League of Legends Akshan #Akshan #grappling hook #dnd rogue #dnd warlock #Sentinels of Light

[scarhoax]

Are you playing the Monsterhearts rpg? What's it like? I'm very intrigued by it but also hesitant because I feel like any character I made would be more... intimately Me than I'm used to showing people. The skins that interest me are the ones I relate to almost too much.

Yeah, I am! It’s frankly pretty amazing. Like wildly stressful but a great time. 

I definitely get feeling uncomfortable about the level of personal that MH skins can have. I was a bit nervous too when we got down to the details of character creation. For me, it’s hard not to put my heart into my characters at the best of times and Monsterhearts really encourages you to go deep. Since one of the major states your character can go into is Your Darkest Self, you have to be comfortable enough with a group to hit emotions that extreme. 

I’m playing the Fae in my group and thematically really hits on the frustration I have with injustice and cruelty (since the Fae is all about balancing the scales). It also takes one of my favorite tropes - a Faustian bargain - and puts me in the other side. I’m the one setting up the rules of deals for the most part, not the victim of them. It’s stressful in some ways to have that kind of power in play, especially because of how little my character knows about himself and what’s happening, but it’s getting to experiment with new and uncomfortable ideas in safe spaces that I enjoy about ttrpgs in general. MH is definitely a game where you don’t (and probably shouldn’t) play it safe - one of the main guidelines of the game is “keep the game feral” so our and our characters’ flaws add to the experience rather than taking anything away.

An important thing to keep in mind: if you’re playing with a good group, everyone is doing the same thing you are - revealing a bit of yourself in the name of good storytelling and a fun experience. Even before we started playing, our group has had absolutely No Chill and started sharing character playlists and picrews and lore documents. I even wrote a (intentionally pedantic) Teen Guide To Deals with Unknown Entities. One of our groups’ characters really, really needs to read it one of these days (he’s the Infernal). 

But one of the main reasons it works for my group though, is we have a lot of trust in each other and in our MC @fierypotatogirl. We had already done a couple months of Dream Askew (which is technically supposed to be a one-shot but shhhhhh)  and had built up rapport and trust. In addition, we hashed out lines, veils, and highlights before we started:

Lines: Things we don’t want to see in the game at all (e.g., stuff like sexual abuse, drug overdose, etc.)

Veils: Things we can mention but wouldn’t want to go into detail (e.g., sex scenes) 

Highlights: uncomfortable themes we really wanted to explore in play (e.g., bodily autonomy, homophobia) 

Just having ideas of places to and not to go thematically gives everyone a good starting place and an understanding that we’re here to have a good time that’s fucked up only in the ways that are interesting and not genuinely traumatizing. 

This probably went on longer than you wanted but I hope that helps! Please feel free to ask more if you want to - it gives me an outlet for MH until our next session, which I sorely need.

tldr: Play with good people you trust and remember that everyone is giving away a little bit of themselves to make an awesome story! It can be nerve-wracking but with a good group, taking that risk of showing a bit more of your soul is so worth it. 

#Monsterhearts #an ask #I hope that helped!! #Belrose Hollow Vibes #I didn't have a good place to say this but remember to keep some separation between yourself and your character. #If someone's character is saying something rude to your character it's part of the story not a personal slight

[liercrow34]

Steps to start play poker

1. THE RULES, POSITIONS AND POKER HANDS POSITION. Naturally, this is definitely the first step an individual want to get and the most players recognize that. While understanding general poker rules can be effortless, you should really invest some time understanding exactly what poker hand position is. You must not be in the spot where you stand in typically the middle of typically the hand and include to think have you been beating a right with your flush or even not and be spending your valuable selection time on that. This is precisely how poker hand ranking looks: Learning jobs is invaluable and even you should certainly not start playing before doing that. You probably have heard already, even if you did not play before, that place is very important in online poker. I would say, even more, it truly is 1 of the nearly all important poker guidelines you need in order to learn when starting out! Techniques not necessarily overlook it! Typically, if you possess a posture on additional players it means you are operating after them and it enables to discover what they do before producing your decision. This is a huge chunk info, which you can take into consideration. On the boat if that they bet or examine, how long they take to make a decision and what dimension they are using. For example, viewing that your opponent checks quickly may be an excellent indication of him or her having a poor hand and a person can opt to stone cold bluff knowing that. There are various examples like this particular one, but one thing is clear? it is best to observe that information than to give it to your adversary. When you will be ready to learn poker strategy just remember that will having a placement is crucial inside poker variations and you should play a lot more hands while in position. The arms you decide to be able to play are generally affected by the position you are inside. The later location you have a lot more hands you could be opening plus putting far more pressure on your opponents. One of typically the first things we all cover in online poker coaching sessions will be preflop ranges and you may take a search at my beginning hands from various positions here. Get my preflop holdem poker cheat sheet now and improve your own strategy at when! Always take this online poker tip into account ahead of jumping into your current games. Many players find no interest in playing reduced games, however you want to see that will your goal is to find out poker strategy and not to spend money while performing that. Therefore, you do have a few reasons for starting at very low stakes: Firstly, you will feel more comfortable knowing that you are not risking a lot of money and perhaps if you lose some at the beginning it may not hurt you. You will end up being able to find out the game and can not be shelling out a lot associated with money on the particular process so that will is an excellent idea. Secondly, some sort of player? s level of skill increases every period if you move up stakes. Starting from the lowest restrictions lets you play versus weakest players and find out the game instead of giving money to ones who are very much better right this moment. Finally, it enables you to discover the whole image and get the feel the full sport looks. You can understand positions, what poker hands you should play and can acquire everything in practice. Before moving up you need to be able to learn poker strategy and make sure that a person feel comfortable in a game that a person play. Another component that you should take in consideration is Bank roll Management, it is an independent topic and you will examine more about that Poker Bankroll Management here! This is usually a bit dire to the past tip for starting up at lower pegs, but finding the best games will assist you to even more and even drastically increase your own EV. You cannot find any spot for ego throughout poker, and if an individual stick to participating in better players, you can be losing. As basic as that. Also if you are the 10th greatest player in the world but continue to keep battling against typically the nine who happen to be better than a person, you will move broke sooner or even later. Truth being said, this is usually extremely important for just about every poker player, simply no matter how very good these are since it will verify your succeed rate. Additionally, an individual will have smaller sized swings in better games and may be able to be able to progress the stakes much quicker, which is definitely a massive reward on its own. If you happen to be not sure just how to find typically the best games, in this article are the top methods for you: Seem for best games for your file format (some rooms are better for money games and other for MTTs) Research when you can actually find top traffic and even more recreational gamers Locate the best choice accessible in your nation to be safe when playing and secure your own money Many beginner players come up with a massive mistake of taking part in too wide and even opening way too many Tx Holdem hands. The real key when you usually are starting out would be to play only your current strongest hands to take care of VPIP poker stat at a reduced side and steer clear of many tough choices post-flop. This may permit you play fewer, but more boldy when you choose to consider your hand straight into action. Most associated with your opponents found in low games heading to be actively playing random hands a lot of the time and using this poker suggestion alone will let you start prior to them. Using this kind of it will be possible to find out poker strategy without having losing money and a much even more effective way. Therefore be raising and even betting yourself whenever you play instead of just calling and place maximum pressure on your opponents. Knowing that that you include the advantage of holding much better hands pre-flop you will be merely winning against their particular array of cards inside the long work. When deciding which usually hands to perform in Texas hold em, your own position going in order to be just about the most significant factors to consider. You win even more money from later positions so attempt to play a lot more hands from right now there. Since all the poker coaching moves around 6max holdem poker strategy I may give you an illustration for this: Perform very tight by early positions, broaden up going closer to the BTN trying to steal more pots there. By a long way the most rewarding position in poker is Button (BTN) and sitting right now there you will be playing significantly more hands as compared to from any placement. It is proceeding to take some time out find used to this, but always carry your position into consideration when determining which hands to play. I cannot perspire it enough exactly how important this online poker tip is! Your own goal is to be able to learn poker approach and concentrate about seeing all the details. Thus leave multi-tabling regarding the future, stick with one table, and try to absorb all typically the information you can get. Look precisely how your opponents are playing and what fingers they have with showdown. As we all said, concentrate in using your placement and playing the tight-aggressive approach this means you will take you very far. Emotions are usually your enemy on the poker table. Sure enough that you can easily start feeling angry or sad whenever you lose while playing and you need to deal using this as well, although don? t help make it even more serious by starting your current games when a person feel bad.

We have been doing stupid points when we are tired, angry, or perhaps even drunk it will cost us a lot of cash. Avoid starting your games when a person feel bad and that will be the first, but a new very big stage in becoming a new better poker participant. When you will end up being able to package with these emotions, you can take it one phase further and get a short while to get ready for your periods before starting playing. To get more info regarding self-management and mental game be sure to obtain my FREE poker book! You should know holdem poker odds you must strike the winning palm and what weed odds you will be getting. All an individual have to do then is help to make your decisions dependent on it and not your emotions. What are the cooking pot odds? It is a concept that lets you understand will you be getting typically the right price to continue with the hand and assist you to associated with right decision. This is the big concept and something that we is going to not be handling deeply, but Let me give you a new quick list most common Texas Holdem hands and precisely how many outs you have to boost a specific hand till next street: Gut-shot? 4 outs Two overcards? 6 outs Open-ended straight pull? 8 outs Get rid of draw? 9 outs Flush draw and gut-shot? 12 outs Straight flush pull? 15 outs An individual can have an excellent indication how probably you are to improve your odds by simply multiplying your outs by a couple of if want to be able to know an approximate likelihood of hitting your hand on up coming street or growing by 4 should you be looking for the quantity how likely you are going to improve your hand coming from flop to typically the river. In http://parimatch-turk.org have an open-ended straight pull on the fail with 8 outs you can count that you'll improve this approximately 8*2 sama dengan 16% on the turn and strike your straight or even 8*4 = 32% of the time with the river. These types of are not exact numbers tend to be very close to correct ones and by far it is definitely the best plus easiest way to be able to learn poker approach. Moreover, you will find much more information within my full article regarding poker odds and so i highly recommend looking at it. Think concerning it when making a choice with a new draw and acquire this poker suggestion seriously. When a person know how likely, an individual are to enhance your poker hand if you have the draw you have got to learn to put your opposition over a range. This will enable you to understand how many outs you actually possess and then make a a lot more educated decision. Numerous factors can advise what hands your opponent could be playing. It is really tough and innovative topic, but you can start together with a straightforward version associated with it. Think of their position, what hands he could always be opening and actively playing after that; His post-flop action can recommend what he could have. Betting or checking can show his strength or perhaps weakness and you ought to get looking for that will information; Board feel is a crucial factor to take into thought too. People will be less likely to have many strong practical dry boards compared to connected ones; A period he takes to generate a decision and sizes he is employing will give us additional information as well. Right now there are many things to consider and also you need a whole lot of practice to be able to be able to be able to think about that. Do not blame yourself if you fight with it at the beginning. As we explained this is a complex matter, that has books created nearly it therefore do not anticipate to master it in a day time or a full week. Keep playing plus learn poker strategy in the right way! Usually do not tumble into a routine of making choices automatically. It will be a huge oversight that even superior players are generating most of the time in addition to killing all of their possibilities to win funds. Take your moment and think concerning all the things we already talked about. Especially at typically the beginning, it could be overwhelming believing about everything simultaneously, like your positions, poker hand ranking, opponent? s greeting cards plus much more. That is definitely why you have to follow that online poker tip of taking part in only one table and take all the time you need to choose your choices. A long time period ago, I had been describing how to participate in poker to our friend who by no means played before in addition to after discussing for a while, he said:? Therefore basically I require to play any time I have the hand and fold while i don? big t?. I do think this is one of typically the best advice an individual can get if just starting enjoying and learning. Involving course, when you move up stakes and begin playing bigger game titles this will not really be a choice since many players usually tend to play far more aggressive there in addition to bluff more, so that you need to study how to play against them. But also in the beginning, keeping to this plan is the best bet. If you move up plus start playing some sort of bit more reasonable opponents I extremely recommend you checking out out Poker Video tutorials! You can get your game one stage further by crushing the opponents in the particular way you do not think seemed to be possible! You have to have to take this particular poker tip in to serious consideration. Once your passive opponents who will be just calling all the time start raising out of nowhere you should be folding the lot and actually a number of your sturdy hands. Most associated with the time 1 pair hands perhaps as good as a top match or an overpair should go in to a muck. If just starting actively playing you will have got some problems allowing go of these hands, but it really is one particular thing that you need to learn if you would like to become successful. Gamers in the most affordable games are certainly not bluffing so very much and in the long term, you will become doing yourself a big favor by folding one pair arms to aggression in these spots. Not every opponents are passive ones and when you might be playing against a maniac or even someone that is very extreme and raising constantly you must not be folding these hands. An individual need to realize there are different sorts of players and also you really need in order to play differently against them. The past part of my poker tips list will help you deal with this particular. If you need to be capable to compete together with players even upon lower stakes, an individual should get certain help. I feel not talking regarding advanced programs that can help a person learn GTO poker strategy, but a new simple one that will every player need to have. Tracking software is essential because you can see stats on your opponents and recognize how they are participating in. It lets a person quickly spot the particular different types associated with opponents that an individual will be facing and also to change your current poker strategy in addition to decisions depending on that. In my opinion, certainly the finest program for this is Hold em Manager 2 and you can get yourself a FREE trial involving HM2 here!

#parimatch

[brookshaug978]

Nic Salt E.

Preferences like crap, makes me really feel ill actually and also I simply can't even do it. Like needing to breath while under water, So I never when swiming. If smoking could eliminate as effectivly as heroin, the majority of us would believe never attempted it, and the Gooberment would certainly have disallowed it at some point. It can also be because of the caramelized crud in your coils building up and also creating your fluid to have a darker shade. With all of that being stated, there should not be anything incorrect vaping it besides the slight change of taste. Based on the specs you have actually told me, you ought to be great. I would play around with the settings and also see to it you discover a happy medium so you don't get nic sick.

The vaping market, along with ingenious firms like PAX Labs, have actually spent years in the r & d phase; refining pure nicotine salts to make vaping a lot more pleasurable to vapers. As a result, nicotine salts have actually come to be an awesome alternative for those seeking a smooth vaping experience with a greater nicotine delivery.

What Is A Nic Salt?

Therefore, it can be consumed in greater concentrations. Despite being specialized devices, nic salt husk gadgets can really be cheaper, not much more pricey, than routine vaping mods. This is due, partially at the very least, to their reduced power consumption, permitting a much less effective battery and also burner. The lower cost of nic salt capsules over typical vaping devices can also be a result of their normally smaller sized dimension. The ordinary cost of a nic salt shell can vary from $12 to $50. Beginning with a tiny device as well as using pure nicotine salts is an excellent strategy, and you can constantly switch to high-VG/lower-nicotine sub-ohm configurations as you wean yourself off as well as begin to branch off. In fact-- salt or no salt-- it's much better to grasp the basics with a simple vaporizer prior to navigating through the various types of coils, storage tanks, as well as settings.

Since you recognize the essentials, it's time to example the lots of wonderful flavors of vape fluid out there. That depends on how much pure nicotine is in your e-liquid, what type of cigarettes you utilized to smoke, and how greatly you smoked. For quick referral, mouth to lung vaping has a smaller volume of smoke, whereas direct to lung develops a much bigger volume on your preliminary hit. The biggest distinction in these 2 methods is the way in which the smoke is inhaled. With a mouth to lung vape, your best option is to get rid of the smoke like you would certainly a cigarette, where you would inhale into your mouth and continue by taking a second inhale to the lungs.

JUICEMAN ® products have actually not been assessed by the Food and Drug Administration, nor are they intended to deal with, prevent or heal any kind of condition or condition.

Vaping impacts everyone in a different way, as well as it takes a bit of exploring to find what jobs best for you.

Non pure nicotine vape tastes are offered on all of our 100mL vape juice flavors.

Even at 35 mg nic salts, some might discover it extreme however after couple of usage, you will quickly get used to the throat hit.

I strongly suggest utilizing a low electrical power open pod system such as a Suorin Air, Kado, or a Smok Infinix. The reduced wattage shuck systems are definitely great to use as an additional device when you're out as well as about. I read this write-up pre salt purchase and also intended to return to update because I have a sub ohm device and also salts have been an outstanding change for me. So for the adventurous around it's most definitely worth a shot.

How Expensive Are Nic Salts?

Attempt the Mango or Pomelo initially for a tantalizingly succulent taste. Let you consume high nicotine levels in a smooth, tasty vape. Below's a standard guideline to allow you recognize how much pure nicotine you need to start with. Most e-liquids are available in levels from 0mg to 18mg nicotine.

Salts additionally can be found in a couple of different nicotine degrees which tend to be 50 mg and also anywhere from mg. I enjoyed reading your short article, I located it rather useful and also very easy to follow as a layman with a rate of interest in chemistry. I simply wished to direct something out, perhaps you have actually currently been warned, and if so, please negligence this remark. Again, depending upon preference as well as constitution, some people might be fine with sub-ohming 50 nic, however in general I would certainly CONSTANTLY suggest versus it. I simply wanted to place that out there, as most companies that I've seen who make or co-pack high-nic salts put some sort of "Except Sub-Ohm Use" label on their bottles. I only recognize one other person that vapes so Pub-Med, NIH and online articles and online forums are my primary resource for details. This one individual just so takes place to vape a real nic salt 70/30 blend in a Smok Morph between watts.

Nonetheless, lots of vapers still steep their salt nic e-liquids in order to make the flavor a lot more powerful and also richer. Most of the evolution in vaping technology has been available in the form of brand-new mods as well as tanks, but the globe of e-liquid isn't fixed either. The release of the Juul accompanied the development of pure nicotine salt e-liquid, as well as with it came promises of a much more satisfying vaping experience.

[calamitousrpg]

Hi. This could be a long shot but I used to rp on jcink and I left it almost a year ago to take a break as I found the communities very toxic. I miss my characters and I forgot you there were rp communities on tumblr! I have never rp'd on tumblr before and I'm not sure how it works, as in where is the actual place where written character posts are or where members chat? I'm a newbie to tumblr rp and would love to join. I would appreciate some advice on how to start! xx

Hey there! Thank for for taking the time to reach out to us, we’re more than happy to try our best and give you to tumblr RP rundown! Sorry to hear you had a poor experience elsewhere - rest assured, if you want to be part of Crooked, we don’t bite! (We even have Game Nights !)

A summary of what I’ll try cover: 

Your blog is where you post as your muse/character per se, you can reblog musings and anything you like about your character(s) on here for the group to see. 

Your replies/roleplay interactions are also on here where you can post responses to open starters and engage in all that’s happening! (If you don’t use discord - we use it as our OOC platform, your OOC communications will go on your blog(s) too!)

So, to begin, the way the process of on the dash RP-ing works is generally: You create a tumblr account separate to your personal/main. You can use a little trick in the sign-up process to avoid creating new emails and losing track. For example: 

[email protected] can be used for your personal tumblr escapades! And then, for an RP one, you can use the same email, but format it like this: [email protected]. (It still goes to your same inbox, but it allows you to have multiple accounts - if you’re using them for different groups.)

I already feel like I might have lost you a little here - so, let me continue off this topic... we can always help you set-up later! 

Once you have a tumblr account, you can then decide if you want to keep it organised in the sense of individual character blogs or if you want to compile multiple characters onto one blog; then use the tumblr tagging system to make it clear which you’re using if you have gathered a few muses! We have a mixture in the group who use Mumu blogs (multi-muse) and those who use individuals - it’s purely personal preference! Despite using a Mumu myself here in Crooked, I generally prefer individuals because it makes it a little easier to keep up with the replies I may owe! 

Alrighty, so there’s that ramble added... It’s honestly much simpler to navigate than I may be making it out to be - my apologies! Essentially, you reblog interactions at your pace and create new ones for those to engage in and your threads are you ongoing interactions. If you would like some examples, I’ll list the admin blogs below so if you wanted to have a quick scroll for examples of how we kind of interact - there’s not really a right or wrong way! 

@crxxkedevil , @twistedxpromises & @eternallyxcrooked 

These listed above are all mumu blogs - so we have multiple characters we have compiled into a single blog, whereas we have members that have a main blog and then add side blogs for each picked up OC character. But you should be able to see the method of roleplay in each of these. There is also no rule on length or tense you write in ... you’ll see some variation, I’m sure. As long as it’s understandable and we can gauge interactions, you’re on for a win! Hurrah! 

I feel like that’s the getting started basics kind of covered? Everyone has their own tumblr tagging system on their posts to be able to retrieve former interactions and such. 

A beneficial program (I’d recommended getting.) is a free add-on for google chrome browsers called XKit as it offers the ability to edit posts once they’ve been posted and you can reblog just the newest interaction instead of swarming the dash with previous/repeat engagements. Honestly, if you haven’t realised I’m Queen of the Rambles - you... do now... but truly, we’re all friendly and willing to help you every step of the way! You’ll pick it up in no time, I’m sure! A lot of information and step-by-steps are covered in sections of the Main blog that might give you some insights beyond my explanations! 

As for discord, this is the OOC platform we use for out of character interactions and general day-to-day conversations. (Also, game nights... and lots of other chaos.) It’s also free and is available on both mobile & desktop. There’s no obligation to be part of the server there - but you’re more than welcome to get to know your fellow members and RP-ers! Helps with plotting threads and interactions too.

As a last addition: we’ve broken down the process a little on the Navigation page (Mobile Navigation, here.) so you’re able to look at things pre-application and then post-application to try encourage an ease of access for all. Hopefully by looking at some blog examples of ours and having a meander through the CrookedSoulsRPG main blog that you should find some helpful resources. We also have a resources blog, here if you want to look at gifs and icons... especially if you’re potentially not used to using gifs/icons/gif icons in your interactions, we try to where we can and there’s many faces for inspiration if you haven’t acquired an arsenal of faces yet! 

Thank you again for sending this in! I hope that this somewhat helped you in your starting up process? If you need clarification on more, you’re more than welcome to hit us with all the messages you like, or if you want to pop in an application if you think you’e got the ropes and an idea of what muses/characters you wanna throw into the Crooked world. A quick read down our guidelines to check they’re all good for you and you’re away! 

We’re more than happy to continue helping you through the process in any way we can - we’re all very welcoming! Please, don’t be shy! Believe me, we’re all been there before, we all start somewhere! 

#loveheart89x #answered #supernatural rp #supernatural rpg #supernatural roleplay #original rp #original rpg #rp #lsrpg #new rpg #new rp #dark rp #dark rpg #mumu rp #mumu rpg #appless rp #mature rp #mature rpg #miscfaq #oocfaq

[aidenalcorn9]

Tips On Finding A Search Engine Service Provider

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In fact, professionalism is way more important than simply appearance. You will discover numerous business owners who got frustrated for hiring a service provider that gave poor perform well. If you do not want being trapped in this particular kind of situation, definitely find out about a company's reputation before hiring them. This better provided you can ask the company's representative directly so which you will know whether are equipped to handle your demand. One for this smartest investments I ever saw the company weekend in New jersey. There were 1,500 company reps and also. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders entertained our service. (They are tiny girls, all the actual same size). There were "on time drawings" for $1,000. New cars were given to top producers. And there was beer and barbeque for complete weekend. They filmed highlights of the event, and sent all attendees a copy, that includes a Texas music, and associated with shots of virtually everyone having a time using group. We left bonded to our fellow sales agents. The stories that we told concerning this weekend echoed for in a year's time. A few million dollars well spent, I do think. Do you know who wanting to go the next year? Each. The motivation that meeting provided, survived. Ambit Energy uses the direct selling multi-level marketing structure for consultants to make money. The multi-level marketing (MLM) sales structure primarily based on multiple levels of compensation. Avoided that simply will the seller make money on their own sales and may also profit off of sales put together by people who they recruit (their downline). For example, 2% earnings at the 3rd level down, 4% at the 2nd level, 9% in the 1st level, and 13% for an individual sale. They're not necessarily the exact percentages, it might should along with a better idea of methods dallas company the MLM structure is scheduled up for earning an ongoing revenue. Eventually, nearly through second most important round, one man fell into. It seemed unclear whether he seo company dallas was being hit or even no longer wished to face up more. This brought the sorry spectacle to a conclusion. But despite his victory, the particular winner was jeered off stage. After deciding whether to choose dallas company professionals or SEO consulting company you really should consider numerous things. You should choose someone that could take company from good to great by ranking your website at guidelines position on search search engines. It's a bit tricky task because days several professional are included in the market claiming to get you top ranking. But while going for any one firstly you should look at his past result and know how he/she is planning to get result you. After selecting few authentic professionals, you should ask some important questions, to know their upcoming. Once you've kicked the self-Googling habit, you'll get more time for your kinds of SEO efforts that are worthwhile -- like keyword and key phrase research, link building, and learning. Here are some tools to a person to in both those section. Keywords include the foundation. Work with a professional to attempt to do your keyword research, build your attorney marketing site around those keywords. Find keywords through having an acceptable amount competition. Some competition is good. Too much competition means you're wasting period and. Then put up a high quality website that is search engine optimized your selected terms. That is when you'll get traffic to and clients from managing costs. Don't believe me to? Save this article to all your computer and browse it again in weeks. You'll be kicking yourself at that time. Your seo company dallas expert must help you setup weblog network. Be active in several niche related blogs effectively, as just get these link to you. Remember that their purpose is to target your monetary article. The simplest way is to purchase an entire blog network or enroll in a blog put together by like-minded people who are ever to be able to exchange posts with additional.

[supermaryauniverse]

Blog 10 - Preparation for Submissions

For me, one of the largest huRdles to submitting my work is REJECTION. After I have written and rewritten my piece time and time again, and believe it is now perfect, I still hesitate to send it out. What if????

What if a publication doesn’t like it? Worse, what if I never hear back from them? Was my work so bad that it didn’t merit a response, even a simple big fat THANKS BUT NO THANKS!

John Sibley Williams article Simplify Your Submissions was an eye opener on several fronts. First, here is a writer and editor willing to give us a peak behind the veil of what happens to work submitted for possible publication.  Surprise! He doesn’t recommend you spend copious amounts of time reading magazines and journals to see if your work is a good fit. From personal experience, his work gets published in journals, that on the surface, don’t cater to his type of writing. However, this doesn’t prevent him from submitting it anyway because, “submissions are just a numbers game” (Williams 1).

 What a relief! The thought of having to read several versions of a journal before determining if my work is a good fit is a barrier to me submitting anything. Not only do I not have that much spare time, but also, accessibility to these publications isn’t readily available…unless I want to spend a small fortune purchasing multiple copies of each one. Bill Gates I am not and living in a small town whose local library does the best it can, means many of these journals aren’t available. Now, based on Williams encouragement, I can submit away, and the worse that can happen is that they say, “NO.”

What encouraged me the most, however, was that someone with Williams background, credentials and writing history grades his work on a tiered system. I would have guessed that he considered all his work “top-tier” and worthy of the best literary journals. But no…even he produces what he considers less than great writing. However, that doesn’t stop him from submitting those pieces. As a fledgling writer, with a few published pieces under my belt, I am encouraged. Even the pros don’t produce Grade A work all the time. They are human like the rest of us. And, if William’s Grade B and C work can get published, then what is now my “Best” has a chance also.

Finally, I like his approach to submitting the same piece to at least five publications at a time to increase the odds that it will catch an editor’s eye and get published. Williams doesn’t shy away from simultaneously submitting work, but the one thing he fails to mention is if he submits to publications that require a reading fee. I would guess, from the amount of submissions he sends out, that he does not.

So, armed with this information I used the search engine for literary journals and magazine provided by Poets and Writers.  I put in my criteria, hit “Filter” and received a list of potential publications to contact.  Having reviewed their submission guidelines, I narrowed down my first five candidates. I composed submission letters per each publication’s standards and developed a short author’s bio. Now, when I am sure my story is ready to go, I will send it off and see what happens. In the future, when my local library reopens, I will consult their copy of The Writer’s Market for additional places to submit my work. Finally, I created a spreadsheet in Excel to track where each piece is submitted and if it is accepted.  If it is rejected, I’ll submit it elsewhere. I also plan to go back and review other things I’ve written and put them out there also. Williams says it’s all a numbers game so I might as well join in the fun and see what happens.

 Fortunately, today most publications receive electronic submissions which eliminates the expense of creating hard copies and mailing them. After reviewing a publication’s submission guidelines, I will create a package matching their criteria, compose an email and hit “Send”. Now my work has a shot at catching an editor’s eye and being published.

 The only huRdle that is in my way is the fear of rejection. Will everyone love and appreciate my work as much as I do? I doubt it. But the possibility exists that there are those who will, and this makes the height of the rejection hurdle much lower. So, time to lace up my writing shoes and hit the track. Who knows, running the hurdles may really be my specialty.

photo credits: Huffington Post, Prexel, Google Images 

[chismositx]

Manifestation Wonder Review

Ultra Manifestation composed by David Sanderson, a 159 site handbook with sound and furthermore film clippings was dispatched all through the world. The whole framework speaks to criticalness of books that participate in imperative situation in developing self-assurance and furthermore confidence of people. I isn't generally wanting to exhaust you with all the momentum genuine examination Eddie did on mind logical exploration and similarly precisely how he co-made Ultra Manifestation just as a team of NLP and moreover hypnotherapy trained professionals. Basically that in the occasion you are endeavoring to find a help or item to therapeutically re-wire" your psyche mind cerebrum, at that point you can believe Ultra Manifestation in which you just should zero in on appear records rather than different courses which demand you to complete limitless making or read through digital books that drag you to death toll pointlessly.

Numerous people have seen or proceed by means of The Hidden-mystery and accept that you can approach the universe for pretty much any material thing you might want and the Law of Attraction will convey it to you. Obviously it's not as basic as that. You should change the strategy by which you accept in the event that you need to adjust your planet. In this astonishing book Esther in addition to Jerry Hicks depict the first class key right behind the Law of Attraction. They clarify obviously explicitly how to center your capability to manifest achievement. The guideline key to the law of attraction is consistently to perceive exactly what your heart needs. You will discover your heart may well desire an assortment of issues, so you should complete whichever you can to verify that you heart is unquestionably showing to look at from the particular way. You will likewise discover that you should play out an assortment of choosing. Ordinarily, you need to comprehend which you are in addition to what precisely it's that you desire. You should picture associated with the best estimation of stuff for the situation it issues the law of attraction. On the off chance that your heart truly doesn't are intrigued to purchase, at that point you is simply not liable to buy it.

One more bit only for this Ultra Manifestation book gives in track with the own future. It's initiating profundity of may discover unmistakable you, discover how to have cleanse of the product convey you back, things that forbid the street of getting exactly what you really would adore notwithstanding utilizing excellent from oneself and realizing especially precisely how amazing you truly are. The methodology for rehashing this is absolutely quite easy!

In any case, I grasp the standard assortment of psyche the following is that you can't manifest cash in your life range by using the Law of Attraction. Yet, again and again, individuals use this accurate strategy to help them move towards better financial abundance. You've plausible even known about Ultra Manifestation Review them selves into winning the lottery and furthermore getting different sorts of bonuses.

It hit me however the manner in which the explanation I am acceptable to such an extent that it truly works is essentially on the grounds that I did it much of the time with achievement. Inside the initiating I was reluctant and similarly lower than fearless! In any case the more measure of regularly I attempted it, and moreover had it present incredible advantages, the more measure of self-assurance just as thought I encountered during the whole energy of the treatment. However, when I give it a shot a component that I haven't talented previously, or perhaps if possibly exactly what I'm trying to manifest is certainly huge alongside outside of my solace level, it's somewhat harder to confide in which it will all things considered capacity.

[frukweek]

Banner created by @littleartsymely​

Welcome to FrUK Week!

Admin:  [ x ] [ x ]

The time for FrUK Week is upon us. It will be from 21 to 27 July, 2018!

Here are the prompts:

21 July/Day 1: Quirks or Superpowers/Magic or Fantasy AU 22 July/Day 2: FACE family time/Children 23 July/Day 3: Medieval times or Middle ages/Historical 24 July/Day 4: Cardverse AU/Growing old together 25 July/Day 5: Nyotalia/Angels and Demons AU 26 July/Day 6: Roses or Flowers/It was always you 27 July/Day 7: One More Night/College AU

Each day has an assigned prompt, but if anyone can’t fulfill a prompt for that day, they are free to still do something for it on the following days. Don’t feel pressured to have everything on time. The prompts are there as motivators. If anyone misses day 4, they can post that entry on day 5 and it will be okay! If someone misses the whole week and wants to post all their entries in one day, go for it. Just make sure to keep with the dates!

In addition, there will be 2 prompts for each day so you all will have 2 options for each day. If you don’t feel the prompt of “Cardverse AU”, for example, but you do feel the prompt of “Growing old together”, then you can have the choice to pick which one you want. If you want to combine both prompts in one work, you can do that as well.

Here are the guidelines:

Please be respectful to everyone! That includes people that do and don’t participate. This is to enjoy the pretty work people have done. Please don’t bash it.

I feel like this is a very important rule: Please do not have France and England hit each other! Violence is not romantic.

We have a lot of AUs as prompts!! Given that fact, I suggest using that AU that is assigned to their day. However, if you do not feel comfortable with the assigned au, you are more than welcome to use the canon nation universe. This is to have fun so if you’re not comfortable with canon settings, and prefer AUs, go right ahead and use an AU to your liking.

It can be easy to use both canonverse and AU. England can be a knight and France can be a prince/ss. Likewise, Francis can be a knight and Arthur can be a prince/ss.

K/K+ - very benign and no mature themes are featured.

T - Language/swearing is featured and some make out stuff. In ff.net, it was called a lime, if anyone is familiar with that.

M - Mature conent is featured, such as smut/lemons.

If writing fanfiction:

Writing can be in any language the author feels comfortable using. Although there are people that can write in English, others that do not wish to, or don’t feel comfortable, or simply don’t want to or can’t, have the opportunity and liberty to write in their language.

There is no word limit as long as the fic is longer than 100 words at least.

Authors can write drabbles/ficlets, one-shots, poems, and if anyone wants to do a chapter story, I’m all for it as long as the author can handle it. Just don’t stress yourselves.

Please place stories under a READ MORE, if they’re longer than 100 words.

If drawing fanart, please write somewhere in the caption that the work belongs to you. If you watermark it, that is also good!

I don’t really have any rules for this other than do your thing and try your best. Wanna color it? Make it colorful. Wanna keep it black and white? Hey, man, aesthetic. If it is NSFW, it is up to you if you want to put it under a read more.

You are free to interpret the prompts however you like.

For example, if a person chooses the prompt ‘FACE family time/Children’, they can write/draw/edit anything they want with that theme as long as it is there. Get creative, you guys can do it!

Whether you use our regular gay babies, nyotalia, 2p!talia, transtalia, nekotalia, other kinds of talias, so long as it’s FrUK, it is accepted!

Did you know you can also do edits? Yes, you can! Edits are great! If using canon artwork, state it is drawn by Hima-papa. If using outside images, please source accordingly. Sources that are not acceptable are: Zerochan, WeHeartIt, Photobucket, FanPop, and other sites like those. Provide a link to the original work if edited. If possible, ask the artists for permission.

You can also do aesthetics as well! Those are always fun to have!

I feel like this is necessary to note: Do not bash other ships. Please keep FrUK as the main focus of the prompt!

Tags

Use the tag #frukweek2019 so it can be easy to find.

Please tag this blog so that I can receive a notification! (@ frukweek)

Tag works accordingly, such as FrUK, nsfw, nyotalia, transtalia, etc.

Tag any triggers!!! Like guns, blood, and other stuff that can trigger people. If anyone has any triggers, let me know so I can add it to the list on here and so people can watch out for that while tagging.

Please tag with the day and prompt being used

I know the prompts are really long this year, so I can provide the tags that can be used: For example, if using Day 4′s prompt, tag as #Day 4: Cardverse , or #Day 4, just to keep it short, sweet, and simple.

#Day 1: Quirks or #Day 1

#Day 2: FACE or #Day 2

#Day 3: Medieval or #Day 3

#Day 4: Cardverse or #Day 4

#Day 5: Nyotalia or #Day 5

#Day 6: Roses or #Day 6

#Day 7: College or #Day 7

Works can also be submitted through this blog as well. If anyone has any questions, or need clarification, feel free to ask! There have also been questions answered and if anyone has similar inquiries these replies can help. The tag for that is #question. Have fun and enjoy FrUK Week!

#fruk #aph france #aph england #frukweek2019 #guidelines #fruk week

[batbrilliancesf-blog]

Brilliance SF Review :- Anti Aging Cream Brilliance SF Exposed!

This Brilliance SF audit is about an enemy of maturing cream which intended to assist you with keeping up your energetic supple skin by expanding the collagen content has been making swells in the healthy skin items specialty and it's not unjustified because of their better fixings helping than decrease scarcely discernible differences, dim spots, and wrinkly skin.

Brilliance SF Review – Is It A Superlative Anti Aging Cream?

All the more critically, Brilliance SF is anything but a substantial cream that makes your skin droopy however rather it's light and delicate, trying to not make your healthy skin routine bulky and inconvenient. The collagen equation present inside Brilliance SF saturates the skin to influence the most profound layers of the skin to fix it from within, over an amazingly brief timeframe. The declarations of the clients of this cream uncover that it has restored instances of dermatitis, skin break out and other skin illnesses.

Brilliance SF Review

How does Brilliance SF work?

A decent method to comprehend the nature of a healthy skin item is to take a gander at the manner in which it works. The fixings in Brilliance SF that incorporate collagen, delicate keratin, minerals and enemies of oxidants work to dive deep into the layers of the skin and discharge properties that rinse and feed the skin from within. At the point when you increment the collagen in the skin, it makes the skin supple, firm and solid.

This is on the grounds that a lessening in collagen levels, something you notice as you age is principally liable for how matured your skin looks and in case you're ready to keep up those levels or if nothing else prevent it from going down, you can prevent your skin from maturing.

The biosynthesis of collagen drops by practically 1.5 percent consistently once you hit the age of 25, making you look altogether progressively old as you hit your late 30s and this is reflected in scarcely discernible differences showing up, skin turning wrinkly and an absence of dampness on your skin making it dry and hard.

As indicated by Brilliance SF audits, The collagen content present in Brilliance SF forestalls all these from occurring by feeding your skin to keep it hydrated and sound. The delicate keratin present in the item is answerable for the flexibility of your skin, notwithstanding its quality, along these lines helping you to free those lines which happen when your skin begins losing its elasticity and folds.

Elastin is one more fixing that aides in the upkeep of the dermal structure of your skin, something which controls the lines all over. Finally, stress is another significant reason for maturing of skin and the feelings of anxiety work as you age and experience various pieces of your life, influencing the insusceptibility of your skin and this is fixed by Brilliance SF when it improves the skin's invulnerability and turns around the terrible impacts of free radicals while treating the trash which makes your skin unfortunate and unmistakably flawed.

Brilliance SF Side Effects

A major issue that is related with the treatment of maturing skin, for example, Botox infusions is that it's very unfortunate, also costly and agonizing. Nonetheless, Brilliance SF symptoms are nil as it treats you topically utilizing normal fixings intended to improve your skin by rounding out the wrinkles and making your skin more tightly over some stretch of time, rather than taking a chance with your skin over a convenient solution that are in many cases ridden with reactions. The item is additionally made under supervision in painstakingly created labs to ensure that the item is impeccable.

Effectively chose? Snap Here To Get Brilliance SF Cream From Their Official Website!

How to utilize Brilliance SF Cream?

As I previously referenced in my Brilliance SF audit, The best way to make the most out of Brilliance SF cream is to carefully adhere to the guidelines recommended. An exacting adhering to of the guidelines, alongside sound living can do miracles to your skin.

Utilize a mellow face-wash to clean your skin from all the soil and microscopic organisms that amass each day utilizing warm water and pat it dry utilizing a spotless towel.

Apply the item all over and neck once it's dry utilizing delicate movements, gradually working the item on to your skin, ensuring that each part is given adequate consideration with the end goal for it to saturate the skin.

Sit tight for Brilliance SF to set in and begin taking a shot at your skin and don't wash your face until it has totally set in.

Where to purchase Brilliance SF?

Brilliance SF cream is accessible on the web and can be acquired through the official site of the maker. Despite the fact that it is accessible on other web based business sites, we encourage our perusers to avoid that since the credibility of these sources hasn't been confirmed. Likewise, purchasing from the official sites accompanies a couple of energizing offers. The item is sold in four classes beginning from test bundle which sells for $49 in addition to transportation to the Best Selling bundle which sells for $24.57 per container and free sending. In the event that you are uncertain of the items impacts, you should evaluate the example bundle and test it for results and in case you're fulfilled you can arrange a superior bundle. Presently the official site giving a 30% off on the Brilliance SF cost. Snap beneath to get the rebate.

Last Verdict

Let me finish up this Brilliance SF survey by expressing that, it is a decent item. Splendor SF against maturing cream has us sold for three principle reasons. One, it works at a cell level to fix the skin, along these lines making the outcomes increasingly articulated and enduring. Furthermore, it's made out of characteristic fixings and isn't inclined to exorbitant symptoms. Thirdly, it isn't as costly as the greater part of the present maturing skin arrangements, for example, Botox and restorative medical procedures, also the way that it's not difficult by any stretch of the imagination.

Official Site>>> https://www.atoznutrapills.com/brilliance-sf/

#skin treatment

[wisccamping-blog]

How Bear Canisters Fail

At any rate more often than not, hard-sided canisters, similar to the BearVault BV500, shield nourishment in the backwoods from bears and "smaller than normal bears" (mice, squirrels, dark jays, and other little searching creatures). Be that as it may, for reasons unknown, they're not 100 percent bear-or idiotproof.

As of late, I glanced through a spreadsheet consented by the National Park Service that recorded 199 nourishment related bear occurrences with explorers in Yosemite between July 2012 and July 2017. The genuine number of occurrences in Yosemite and the bigger High Sierra is likely more prominent (perhaps a lot more prominent), in light of the fact that numerous episodes are not detailed and in light of the fact that mountain bears occupy most corners of this world-class wild.

The sheet depicts contextual investigations on different disappointments of canisters (from organizations like Bearikade, BearVault, Garcia, and Lighter1 in addition to the Ursack bear sack) that were expected overwhelmingly to human blunder just as plan or auxiliary blemishes. It additionally gives narrative help to Yosemite's nourishment stockpiling guidelines—for each bear-canister disappointment there are a few instances of bears acquiring nourishment or scented things that were hung in a tree, covered, or left unprotected medium-term . These capacity "systems" may work somewhere else however not in Yosemite, which is home to ostensibly the best-prepared camp burglars in North America. I dove into the information and concocted these takeaways.

Land Concentration

One striking example in the spreadsheet was the land centralization of the occurrences. Of the 199 reports, 142 (or 71 percent) occurred in only four spots:

Snow Creek

Little Yosemite Valley

John Muir Trail

Lyell Canyon

While it's sensible to expect more episodes in high-use backwoods territories, the recurrence still appears to be lopsided—I question that on some random night, seventy five percent of all hikers in Yosemite are stayed outdoors in simply these four areas.

These focal points present a solid defense for choosing campgrounds all the more purposely and staying away from high-use spots and passages. Like a berry fix in August, bears have discovered that a few destinations are dependable wellsprings of calories.

It's additionally worth referencing that these four regions will in general pull in numerous tenderfoot explorers, who by and large won't be as taught in boondocks matters like appropriate nourishment stockpiling and bear conduct.

Disappointments

Bear canisters are more defenseless against disappointment than I suspected, however for the most part because of human mistake. A more critical take a gander at the episodes uncovers that disappointments fall into five containers:

#1. Flood

Case #5 (July 31, 2012): "Troop of boy troopers couldn't fit all their nourishment into their 14 bear canisters, so they hung two stuff sacks with nourishment from a tree. The bear climbed the tree and hauled the nourishment down and ate it. There was roughly 5 to 10 pounds of nourishment. Troop pioneer got an obligatory appearance reference."

For a canister to carry out its responsibility, all nourishment and scented things (like toothpaste and sunscreen) must be put away inside. This can be a test toward the beginning of long excursions, in light of the fact that the commonplace limit of a full-size canister is around six days of nourishment, contingent upon your day by day consumption and the measure of room those calories take up (i.e., bagels versus Snickers, canned soup versus dried soup blend).

In any case, justifiably, you might be hesitant to convey two canisters and twofold the weight and unwieldiness. All things considered, what are your choices? Until the majority of your nourishment and scented things can fit in one canister, consider:

Remaining in set up boondocks campgrounds with perpetual nourishment storage spaces. In Yosemite, discover them in Little Yosemite Valley and at High Sierra campgrounds like Glen Aulin. In Sequoia-Kings, allude to this guide.

Outdoors in zones where noncanister stockpiling strategies (e.g., a hanging Ursack Major) are allowed. Canisters are required all through Yosemite however just in the most elevated use regions of Sequoia-Kings and the national timberlands (e.g., Mt. Whitney Zone in Inyo). In lower-use territories, there will in general be less bear movement.

#2. Opened

Case #3 (July 20, 2012): "A bear came into the campground and broke into an inappropriately shut carbon fiber canister. The bear had the option to eat a pack of trail blend before it was frightened off. Beginning verbal shouts and shakes didn't stage the bear. In the wake of shouting uproariously the bear fled. The guest was reached and unveiled that just one of three fastens on the canister were hooked appropriately. The bear pried the top off and sheared the single shut fasten to acquire the nourishment. The canister was not crushed."

Case #61 (July 25, 2013): "The bear canister was in a bad way shut however not past the locks on the cover. The canister was opened however not broken. The bear tore through plastic sacks and got nourishment. Nourishment eaten incorporates hotcake blend, salami, control bars, Gu gel, saltines, and nuts."

This would appear to be an undeniable one, however there were in any event ten instances of bears getting into opened canisters. Bears are brilliant and constant and have astoundingly solid and handy hooks. Due to past victories, they will endeavor to contort off the highest points of BearVaults and pry off the highest points of Bearikades and Garcias.

The answer for opened canisters is simple: lock them! Set up the twofold checking of canisters as a component of your daily practice. In certain gatherings, it might merit doling out a canister csar who regulates this duty.

#3. Open

Case #157 (August 29, 2015): "2 bear jars in camp, one was shut the other was open. Explorers were cooking soup. Bear strolled up behind a log and stood up on its rear legs to peer at the climbers cooking soup. Explorers hollered and stood up and got posts to blast together. Explorers wound up frightened and thought the bear was getting to be forceful so they moved in an opposite direction from their open canister. Bear moved toward canister, snatched it by its opening, and left. Canister was unrecovered. Bear got trail blend, bars, and drugs from a medical aid unit."

A few bears in Yosemite show amazingly audacious conduct, since they've discovered that it regularly brings about nourishment. Once in a while they get shot with elastic projectiles by officers or hit by shake tossing hikers when they get excessively close, however they additionally experience frightened people and gatherings who penance their canister for individual security.

That response is justifiable, yet it doesn't support the explorer or the bear. In the event that your canister is open, never be in excess of a stage away from it. Furthermore, on the off chance that a bear enters camp, promptly lock your canisters and afterward start tossing things at its body. (Rocks, sticks, pine cones will all do.) In bear language, this protective conduct says, "Leave. There are simpler calories somewhere else."

#4. Rolled Away

Case #122 (June 2, 2015): "Campers at Snow Creek scaffold had bear canister taken. Second time in 2 years at a similar territory. Couldn't discover canister in encompassing territory. No proof of bear. Model of holder is Bear Vault 450."

Case #123 (June 5, 2015): "Two bear canisters were folded into Snow Creek medium-term. Indeed, even in the wake of playing it safe. Additionally the bear bit on some outdoors rigging like our table material and plastic pack presumably because of modest measures of nourishment buildup."

In any event 30 canisters went "missing" after a bear moved it away in the center of the night. This was outstandingly basic along Snow Creek—canisters get folded into the brook (which has enough volume in pre-summer and late-spring to divert a canister) or off the close by bluffs. NPS never again allows outdoors at the highest point of the bends because of the bear movement. The NPS disclosed to me that the Snow Creek occurrences were "brought about by one especially brilliant bear that has taken in this conduct just at this particular area."

The recreation center suggests putting away canisters outside camp for security reasons. In any case, pick the spot carefully. Actually, I keep my canister around 20 feet away and leave my (perfect) cook pot on top, so I will be woken up by the upheaval.

#5. Basic Failure

Case #21 (August 3, 2012): "Bear got nourishment from IGBC affirmed 'Lighter1.com' brand canister by breaking the equipment that keeps the top on. The guest revealed the bear at 2300 and depicted it as being 'dark.' The bear got the total substance of the compartment including: 2.5 sacks of blended nuts, a large portion of a salami, 2 packs of triscuits, 6 'Zoneperfect' bars, a large portion of a pack of vita-light squeeze blend."

Case #57 (July 18, 2013): "Bear removed rental Garcia canister from a spot in the shrubs around 1:40am. I got out and pursued the bear away. I put the canister more profound in the hedges. We were wakeful for one more hour-90 minutes. We didn't hear it once more, however in the first part of the day it was no more. On our climb out we found the unfilled and broken canister without top mostly down the [Snow Creek Trail] bends."

Case #114 (August 10, 2014): "Bear shuffled and tossed bear canister until it popped open. Bear devoured all substance: oats, rice, shot squares, precipice bars."

At the point when utilized appropriately, just a couple of canisters level out fizzled. Much of the time, they were crushed open in the wake of being moved off a precipice, for the most part along—you got it—Snow Creek.

From what I can accumulate, when utilized appropriately, there were no announced instances of broken Bearikades or the Ursack Major (once in the past S.29 AllWhite), and only one BearVault. The Garcia canister flopped frequently, yet you'd expect that since they are the most widely recognized rental canister. Without a doubt the NPS verified that "rental Garcia compartments were not being appropriately kept up, thus the covers were free." For more in-depth information I highly recommend bear bag cord.

[buybearspray-blog]

How Bear Canisters Fail

In any event more often than not, hard-sided canisters, similar to the BearVault BV500, shield nourishment in the backwoods from bears and "scaled down bears" (mice, squirrels, dim jays, and other little rummaging creatures). However, notably, they're not 100 percent bear-or idiotproof.

As of late, I glanced through a spreadsheet gone along by the National Park Service that recorded 199 nourishment related bear episodes with hikers in Yosemite between July 2012 and July 2017. The real number of occurrences in Yosemite and the bigger High Sierra is presumably more prominent (perhaps a lot more noteworthy), on the grounds that numerous episodes are not revealed and in light of the fact that mountain bears possess most corners of this world-class wild.

The sheet portrays contextual analyses on various disappointments of canisters (from organizations like Bearikade, BearVault, Garcia, and Lighter1 in addition to the Ursack bear pack) that were expected dominatingly to human blunder just as plan or basic imperfections. It additionally gives episodic help to Yosemite's nourishment stockpiling guidelines—for each bear-canister disappointment there are a few instances of bears acquiring nourishment or scented things that were hung in a tree, covered, or left unprotected medium-term . These capacity "strategies" may work somewhere else yet not in Yosemite, which is home to ostensibly the best-prepared camp looters in North America. I dove into the information and thought of these takeaways.

Topographical Concentration

One striking example in the spreadsheet was the topographical convergence of the occurrences. Of the 199 reports, 142 (or 71 percent) occurred in only four spots:

Snow Creek

Little Yosemite Valley

John Muir Trail

Lyell Canyon

While it's sensible to expect more occurrences in high-use backwoods zones, the recurrence still appears to be lopsided—I question that on some random night, seventy five percent of all hikers in Yosemite are stayed outdoors in simply these four areas.

These focapoints put forth a solid defense for choosing campgrounds all the more purposely and maintaining a strategic distance from high-use spots and hallways. Like a berry fix in August, bears have discovered that a few destinations are solid wellsprings of calories.

It's likewise worth referencing that these four territories will in general draw in numerous novice hikers, who for the most part won't be as instructed in boondocks matters like appropriate nourishment stockpiling and bear conduct.

Disappointments

Bear canisters are more powerless against disappointment than I suspected, however generally because of human mistake. A more intensive take a gander at the occurrences uncovers that disappointments fall into five containers:

#1. Flood

Case #5 (July 31, 2012): "Troop of scouts couldn't fit all their nourishment into their 14 bear canisters, so they hung two stuff sacks with nourishment from a tree. The bear climbed the tree and hauled the nourishment down and ate it. There was roughly 5 to 10 pounds of nourishment. Troop pioneer got a compulsory appearance reference."

For a canister to carry out its responsibility, all nourishment and scented things (like toothpaste and sunscreen) must be put away inside. This can be a test toward the beginning of long trips, on the grounds that the ordinary limit of a full-size canister is around six days of nourishment, contingent upon your every day admission and the measure of room those calories take up (i.e., bagels versus Snickers, canned soup versus dried soup blend).

Yet, naturally, you might be hesitant to convey two canisters and twofold the weight and unwieldiness. All things considered, what are your choices? Until the majority of your nourishment and scented things can fit in one canister, consider: 

Remaining in built up boondocks campgrounds with perpetual nourishment storage spaces. In Yosemite, discover them in Little Yosemite Valley and at High Sierra campgrounds like Glen Aulin. In Sequoia-Kings, allude to this guide.

Outdoors in zones where noncanister stockpiling strategies (e.g., a hanging Ursack Major) are allowed. Canisters are required all through Yosemite yet just in the most elevated use regions of Sequoia-Kings and the national backwoods (e.g., Mt. Whitney Zone in Inyo). In lower-use regions, there will in general be less bear movement.

The previous summer I yo-yo'd the Pfiffner Traverse in 9 days, beginning at Berthoud Pass. When I arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park, where canisters are required, I had the option to fit the majority of my nourishment inside the canister. In the James Peak and Indian Peaks Wilderness, I utilized other acknowledged techniques to store my nourishment during the evening. (Photograph: Andrew Skurka)

#2. Opened

Case #3 (July 20, 2012): "A bear came into the campground and broke into an inappropriately shut carbon fiber canister. The bear had the option to eat a pack of trail blend before it was frightened off. Starting verbal shouts and shakes didn't stage the bear. Subsequent to shouting noisily the bear fled. The guest was reached and revealed that just one of three fastens on the canister were hooked appropriately. The bear pried the top off and sheared the single shut fasten to acquire the nourishment. The canister was not crushed."

Case #61 (July 25, 2013): "The bear canister was in a bad way shut however not past the locks on the cover. The canister was opened yet not broken. The bear ripped at through plastic packs and acquired nourishment. Nourishment eaten incorporates hotcake blend, salami, control bars, Gu gel, wafers, and nuts."

This would appear to be an undeniable one, yet there were at any rate ten instances of bears getting into opened canisters. Bears are keen and tireless and have especially solid and able paws. Due to past victories, they will endeavor to contort off the highest points of BearVaults and pry off the highest points of Bearikades and Garcias.

The answer for opened canisters is simple: lock them! Set up the twofold checking of canisters as a component of your daily schedule. In certain gatherings, it might merit allocating a canister csar who manages this duty.

#3. Open

Case #157 (August 29, 2015): "2 bear jars in camp, one was shut the other was open. Explorers were cooking soup. Bear strolled up behind a log and stood up on its rear legs to peer at the climbers cooking soup. Climbers hollered and stood up and snatched posts to blast together. Explorers ended up frightened and thought the bear was getting to be forceful so they moved in an opposite direction from their open canister. Bear moved toward canister, snatched it by its opening, and left. Canister was unrecovered. Bear acquired trail blend, bars, and prescriptions from a medical aid pack."

A few bears in Yosemite show surprisingly baldfaced conduct, since they've discovered that it frequently brings about nourishment. Some of the time they get shot with elastic projectiles by officers or hit by shake tossing hikers when they get excessively close, yet they likewise experience frightened people and gatherings who penance their canister for individual wellbeing.

That response is reasonable, yet it doesn't support the hiker or the bear. In the event that your canister is open, never be in excess of a stage away from it. What's more, in the event that a bear enters camp, quickly lock your canisters and afterward start tossing things at its body. (Rocks, sticks, pine cones will all do.) In bear language, this guarded conduct says, "Leave. There are simpler calories somewhere else."

#4. Rolled Away

Case #122 (June 2, 2015): "Campers at Snow Creek scaffold had bear canister taken. Second time in 2 years at a similar zone. Couldn't discover canister in encompassing zone. No proof of bear. Model of holder is Bear Vault 450."

Case #123 (June 5, 2015): "Two bear canisters were folded into Snow Creek medium-term. Indeed, even in the wake of avoiding potential risk. Likewise the bear bit on some outdoors rigging like our table material and plastic sack most likely because of little measures of nourishment buildup."

At any rate 30 canisters went "missing" after a bear moved it away in the center of the night. This was outstandingly normal along Snow Creek—canisters get folded into the spring (which has enough volume in pre-summer and late-spring to divert a canister) or off the close by precipices. NPS never again allows outdoors at the highest point of the curves because of the bear movement. The NPS disclosed to me that the Snow Creek occurrences were "brought about by one especially keen bear that has taken in this conduct just at this particular area."

The recreation center prescribes putting away canisters outside camp for security reasons. However, pick the spot admirably. By and by, I keep my canister around 20 feet away and leave my (spotless) cook pot on top, so I will be woken up by the upheaval. 

#5. Auxiliary Failure

Case #21 (August 3, 2012): "Bear got nourishment from IGBC endorsed 'Lighter1.com' brand canister by breaking the equipment that keeps the top on. The guest detailed the bear at 2300 and depicted it as being 'dark.' The bear got the total substance of the holder including: 2.5 packs of blended nuts, a large portion of a salami, 2 sacks of triscuits, 6 'Zoneperfect' bars, a large portion of a pack of vita-light squeeze blend."

Case #57 (July 18, 2013): "Bear removed rental Garcia canister from a spot in the hedges around 1:40am. I got out and pursued the bear away. I put the canister more profound in the shrubberies. We were conscious for one more hour-90 minutes. We didn't hear it once more, however toward the beginning of the day it was no more. On our climb out we found the unfilled and broken canister without top mostly down the [Snow Creek Trail] bends."

Case #114 (August 10, 2014): "Bear shuffled and tossed bear canister until it popped open. Bear expended all substance: oats, rice, shot squares, precipice bars."

At the point when utilized appropriately, just a couple of canisters level out fizzled. As a rule, they were crushed open in the wake of being moved off a precipice, for the most part along—you got it—Snow Creek.

From what I can assemble, when utilized appropriately, there were no revealed instances of broken Bearikades or the Ursack Major (in the past S.29 AllWhite), and only one BearVault. The Garcia canister bombed frequently, yet you'd expect that since they are the most widely recognized rental canister. Without a doubt the NPS verified that "rental Garcia compartments were not being appropriately kept up, thus the tops were free." If you are looking for more information about cold blast lantern.

[thecardlogin-blog]

The Bull Market Checklist To Living Your Best Life Today (Part 1)

Maybe I'm confounding some positive things that are going on with my life, however I haven't felt this great about the present condition of the business sectors since 2007. Certainly, everything went to hellfire the following couple of years and mass bloodletting resulted. However, that is neither here nor there.

Starting at the present moment, we are living in the best of times. On the off chance that you've been a Financial Samurai peruser for at any rate a year or are a sensibly smart speculator, your total assets ought to hit new record highs. Thusly, the measure of speculation pay you're producing so as to live free ought to likewise be creating new record sums.

With the Fed now immovably on our side, speculators have increased new trust in going out on a limb. Further, we would all be able to gain hazard free cash in our investment accounts at a loan cost significantly higher than the 10-year security yield.

This twofold success is uncommon.

I'd like to present a few musings on the best way to put and spend in a positively trending business sector to carry on with a superior life. Since goodness knows, the great occasions can't keep going forever.

The Bull Market Financial Checklist To Living Your Best Life

1) Take bit of leeway of lower rates. With the 10-year security yield at two-year lows, contract rates and longer term understudy advance rates are likewise at two-year lows. You should exploit by renegotiating your home loan and your understudy advances on the off chance that you have any.

Lamentably, for those of you with Mastercard obligation and other momentary advances, rates have not fallen in light of the fact that the short-end of the yield bend has expanded since the Fed begun raising the Fed Funds rate toward the finish of 2015.

I'm wrapping up my 7/1 ARM at 2.75% with all expenses prepared in addition to a $2,400 credit this late spring. On the off chance that I held as of recently to bolt, I may have had the option to get 2.625%.

2) Stay presented to hazard resources. Stocks, securities, and land are your companions in a declining loan fee condition. Lower financing costs make owning different resources with higher loan fees or conceivably higher returns progressively alluring. Loan fees are probably going to remain low for more.

I can't reveal to you how much hazard presentation you ought to have since everyone's hazard resilience and money related circumstance is extraordinary. Everything I can say is that you have to evaluate your hazard resistance and afterward contribute as needs be.

The most legitimate hazard resource for me to put resources into is land since lower home loan rates acquire all the more land request. We've just had a huge log jam in numerous land advertises in 2H2018. Without an adjustment 2H2018 I'd be increasingly wary.

With home loan rates generally 1% lower than in 2018 combined with a retreat in land costs, it is my conviction that land will bounce back or if nothing else remain unfaltering in the coming years. The Fed has broadcast it is happy to be accommodative (cut rates) to fight off a subsidence if important.

3) Ask for a raise or change occupations. We're at present at a 3.6% national joblessness rate in America. That is near full work. This is the ideal opportunity to request a raise or chase for the "impeccable occupation" on the off chance that you are not happy with your current one.

The general principle guideline is that you can get at any rate 20% more in the event that you put yourself on the open market tomorrow. Contingent upon execution and industry, after around three years at work in a hot work showcase, you could possibly get half or more.

Faithful representatives will in general miss out the most. Try not to resemble me. I remained at my old business for a long time and presumably surrendered more than $1 million in income thus. The primary positive about faithfulness is that it builds your odds for arranging a succulent severance on the off chance that you ever need to proceed onward.

4) Take a holiday. Given it's at present a worker's market, this is the ideal opportunity to take a long get-away or a holiday. Indeed, it's hard to get off the framework when a lot of cash is to be made. Be that as it may, it might be currently or never as it may be vocation suicide to take a holiday during a downturn. Since when you get back, your activity probably won't be there!

On the off chance that you intend to work for at any rate five additional years, if you don't mind take an all-encompassing get-away or holiday. Cash is working the hardest for you in a positively trending business sector, so don't stress such a great amount over attempting to get considerably more cash-flow.

My greatest mix-up was not taking at any rate a one-month holiday. I was too stressed over my activity during a downturn and needing to profit during a positively trending business sector.

It was a ceaseless cycle since I constantly anticipated that a downturn should be directly around the bend. In any case, on the off chance that I had taken a holiday, I would have been revived and likely expanded my working profession by at any rate a couple more years. This is one of my huge laments as an early retiree.

5) Start deliberately having a great time. On the off chance that you can't have a great time when times are great, you positively won't probably celebrate the good life when times are terrible. At the point when times are awful, you'll need to spare more and take on side hustles. The final product is that you never end up spending any of your cash on enjoy a quality lifestyle.

During a positively trending business sector, you're profiting path past your ordinary anticipated salary (day work, side hustle pay, automated revenue). As it were, buyer advertise cash feels like "free cash" or "clever cash."

You will probably figure how much interesting cash you've made every year from the buyer market and continue to invest some of it on yourself, your family, and your friends and family. You don't need to burn through 100% of your positively trending business sector increases every year. Be that as it may, you should attempt to designate and spend in any event 10% of the interesting cash celebrating the good life.

For instance, in 4Q2018, I was down about $300,000 (15%) in my House Fund portfolio. That hurt. Fortunately, the House Fund portfolio made up the entirety of its misfortunes and after that increased about $200,000 for a $500,000 swing in a half year.

Restoring $300,000 felt like free cash since I had absurdly over-allotted towards tech stocks. Be that as it may, making $200,000 truly felt like free cash. In this manner, I took a bit of the $200,000 and got myself some new clothing. I feel so new! Be that as it may, truly, I made an enormous buy not long ago which I may partake later on.

6) Hunt for unicorns. During a buyer showcase, greater air pockets will in general structure. In the event that you can get an air pocket and ride it before it implodes, you could possibly profit.

I would put aside 10% of your income (not existing ventures) looking for the following incredible theoretical speculation. A theoretical venture is normally a doubtful item, doesn't have positive income, and is something not standard.

You ought to hope to lose 100% of your 10% with the possibility of making a 1,000%+ return. The probability of either happening is most likely little. In any event, you will study putting resources into resources that are regularly neglected.

It's totally fine to put resources into record assets as long as possible. Most by far of your assets ought to be distributed towards an exhausting S&P 500 and bond file. You simply have minimal shot of regularly getting more extravagant quicker than most of the contributing populace.

On the off chance that I hadn't put $3,000 in VCSY in 2000, I wouldn't have had the option to make a $120,000 up front installment for my first SF property in 2003. In the event that I hadn't purchased my first property in 2003, I might not have had the fortitude to bet everything on a solitary family home in SF toward the finish of 2004.

All you need is one chance of a lifetime to supercharge your riches. In any case, so as to get your chance of a lifetime you have to go out on a limb with a portion of your assets.

7) Shop your business around. Valuations will in general be at their most astounding during a positively trending business sector since desires are so high for future profit development. On the off chance that you accept desires are higher than the real world, at that point you ought to forcefully attempt and shop your business around to the most noteworthy bidder.

In any case, to have the option to shop your business around, you should initially have your very own business. Having a business is extraordinary in light of the fact that in addition to the fact that it has an income segment, however it has a value segment also. To make next dimension riches is tied in with developing the value segment.

Despite the fact that the trailing year P/E proportion doesn't look silly yet at 21.9X contrasted with the 14.75X middle numerous, the Shiller P/E proportion is getting up there at 30X contrasted with the 15.75X middle various. The Shiller P/E proportion depends overall expansion balanced profit from the past 10 years.

8) Become a fraud. In a buyer market, capabilities and qualifications are regularly neglected in light of the fact that everyone is getting quite a lot of money. It's simply after individuals begin losing cash that people begin cautiously perusing the fine print and scrutinizing the foundation of the individual.

During the last positively trending business sector, I know one person who composed a book about how to get rich in spite of having as of late moved on from school with barely any cash. He wound up getting rich mostly in light of his book. Splendid!

Today, I am aware of 25-year-olds with zero budgetary foundations who are showing individuals how to put resources into the financial exchange and resign early. It's noteworthy how people are drenching it up.

On the off chance that you've at any point needed to profit as a fraud, right now is an ideal opportunity to exploit. It doesn't make a difference in case you're a bombed political advisor attempting to position yourself as a money related master or an organization author with no appropriate understanding. In the event that you counterfeit it, odds are higher you will make it during a positively trending business sector.

[jadekitty777]

I Found My Heart in San Francisco

Another fun fact: Every day this week will have A. Three stories in Qrow’s perspective, B. Three in Tai’s and C. One they share, which was Day 2 of course. I really had the weirdest guidelines when I did this, but I honestly think it provided some of the best personal results.

Day 4 – Love Language/New Hobbies (thinking about it, they kind of both fit but the former was the more intentional choice) @taiqrowweek

Summary: It’s 1967. The Summer of Love has come and passed. Yet, Qrow discovers that even though the season has transitioned into the next, love is persistent. Maybe that was why they called it Falling. [Coffee Shop AU… with a twist!]

Rating: K+                  

Word Count: 13K – yeah this one’s a monster

Warnings: Take the timeline into consideration – definitely some discrimination in this one

Ao3 Link: I Found My Heart in San Francisco

Dedication: This one’s all for marvolo2526. I couldn’t think up another AU idea to complete the circuit and she had yelled ‘coffee shop!’ and then I went wild from there.

Notes: Title is a play off of the 1953 Tony Bennett single "I Left My Heart in San Francisco".

Okay. Oh wow. It’s time to give you all my absolute favorite of the week… and probably overall. This baby took two months of love and care and a BUTT-TON of research to compose. On that note, any historical inaccuracies, if anyone finds any, were either deliberate, accidental, or enough research was unable to be located. I’m very, very proud of this story though, my whole heart went into it, and I really just hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

~

San Francisco

September 18th, 1967

If anyone asked Qrow, he’d tell them patience was only for those who couldn’t figure out how to do things quickly.

Ca-chink!

Like using a cash register. Any twelve-year-old who had a dream of driving up to Harbinger Cliffs to maybe get lucky knew how to use one. He was certainly one of many who had lost countless weekends of his school years selling malts to snot-nosed kids or learning how to balance a tray full of burgers and fries while on rollerblades just to earn some nickels. It all paid off by junior year, when he finally got to roll up to school in his shiny Chevy Bel Air and got treated like a god by his peers. Opening himself up to the social map got him to also meet his high school sweetheart; and while he never took Winter Schnee up to the cliffs, he did get to take her to prom. They latest up until graduation day, where she went off to Atlas while he accepted a scholarship to Beacon. During the first year, he’d wrote letters; but a few months in, she stopped responding and he moved on.

In more ways than one.

“And that’s it!” Summer explained as she showed how to close the sale on the register, shutting the cashdrawer. “Think you got it?”

“Mmm? Yeah, I’m good.” Qrow replied, when in truth he had put more attention into trying to balance one of the red stirrers on his fingertips than listening to her.

His new manager swiped it off his finger and bopped him on the nose with it. “Qrow!”

“Whaaat?” He lent back against the counter. “Come on Sums, I’ve worked register before.”

Her expression only turned further sour, which was not very charming. “I pulled a lot of strings to convince my parents to let you work here, so if there’s even a penny out of place, I’m shoving this up your nose.”

Qrow eyed the stirrer warily, raising his hands in surrender. “Aye, aye, captain.”

Café Rosé was a charming little establishment on the corner of 3rd and Main, conveniently within walking distance of the academy and a college kid’s dream spot for exam cramming or after-party pick-me-ups. Though it had only opened a few years ago, it had done well for itself, having hit the scene just as coffee was becoming a larger fad among young adults. The quaint shop had a hole in the wall style feeling, with a bar running along the white counter and less than a half dozen tables and chairs set up across the limited floor space. The floor was chessboard checkered like a typical diner and the walls were black. The atmosphere would almost be depressing, if not for the additional design choice: red rose bouquets, hand painted at equally spaced intervals along the walls, making the room pop in an almost dazzling way without being too gaudy.

Honestly, he was ninety-eight percent sure the only reason he got hired was the fact he matched the shop’s chic color scheme to a T (though, he was certainly aesthetically pleasing all on his own, if he did say so himself). It definitely wasn’t because Summer’s parents liked him – they’re suspicious stares said all he needed to know of what they thought of him. Still, he couldn’t beat a job close to his dorm room that was also willing to work around his intensive school schedule; a fact only further daunted by the major-intensive coursework that came with starting his junior year. So, certainly he could put up with a bit of distaste for a few extra dollars in his pocket.

Plus, working with his best friend was an added bonus.

The bell above the door chimed, a small group of sophomores walking in, chattering amicably. Summer side-eyed him with a cheeky grin. “Alright Mr. Expert, time to put your skills to work.”

He winked in return. “I’ll try not to show you up, flowerbud.”

The next hour proceeded fairly commonly; he took orders, Summer made them, he delivered them. Simple. They had some snacks and fare to sell – the homemade pastries were a little stale, so he didn’t recommend those – but overall, the big selling point was the coffee. It was good brew and made with one of these new-fangled drip machines that had come out only a few years back. Most households couldn’t afford it and still made their coffee by boiling water on the stove, so merely the appeal alone of being able to buy coffee made the fancy, expensive way left people feeling like they were sophisticated and high-class.

Frankly, the little machine was just fascinating to operate, and more than once Qrow found himself just watching the russet liquid teardrop into the glass pot. It was during one of those mesmerized moments that he didn’t realize someone was standing behind him until he heard a thump-thump-thump of someone’s hand smacking the counter. He started and whirled around, a retort already curling on his tongue –

And immediately fizzling away as he was starstruck by the deepest blue eyes he’d ever seen.

The fellow was probably the same age as him, but the way he waved and smiled almost boyishly shy at him made him appear a bit younger and had Qrow’s heart skipping like it was playing for the Hopscotch National championship.

Mother of Mary, he was in love.

“Uh, sorry. How can I help you?” He said, stepping back up to the register on wobbly legs. The stranger hesitated, as if uncertain, and it gave Qrow the chance to give him a real look over.

His appearance was very Beatles-esque but the shade arrangement blended into a sort of downhome country allure: mop-top cut blond hair, orange silk necktie, lamb’s wool yellow sweater, russet flare slacks. What stood out the most though was the single piercing in his right ear, the stud in the shape of a sunflower. He must have been staring at it too long, because the blond suddenly pointed at it, raising an eyebrow in an unasked question. Qrow reached up, covering his own stud, a sideways cross that matched his necklace, nodding quietly.

The response was… bizarre. Those pretty blue eyes widened as he shook his head rapidly, before he pointed a bit more insistently at his own ear.

“Uhh… what?” Qrow asked.

The stranger slumped a bit, before gritting his teeth a little and hissing, “Sssu…” He paused, frowning, then held up a finger in the universal gesture of ‘wait a moment’ before digging around in his pocket.

The hell was this, some weird game of charades? He wasn’t that out of the scene was he? Whatever it was, it was kind of a buzzkill. “Buddy, maybe you just want to order?”

He didn’t even bother to acknowledge that with a response, still going about pulling out a small notepad, scratching something onto it hurriedly before holding it out his way.

Where’s Summer?

Qrow felt a spike of annoyance rise. Was this guy confused or just an idiot? Either way, he aimed the other with as sharp a stare as he could muster, snapping, “I’ll tell you right now, she ain’t interested. So if you’d like to order, I suggest doing so. Otherwise, leave.”

That earned him another frown, before the blond started to write again. What the ever-living hell was this?! And why was everyone at the shop giving him looks, like he was the one doing weird shit? “Hey, you need your ears cleaned? Either order or get out!”

That was when he heard the snap of the back door closing as Summer walked back in.

“Tai!” She yelped, before crossing the room in an instant, hip-checking Qrow out of the way with a hasty, “Sorry, I got this!” She reached out, tapping the freak’s arm. It caused him to stop writing and look up, before he grinned brightly. Summer smiled in return and then started to move her hands in odd patterns as she spoke, “Sorry, he’s new. The usual, right?”

The blond set down his pen and paper, silently gesturing back in equally unintelligible movements. Qrow watched the odd events wondering if he’d stepped into the Twilight Zone or something because though he wasn’t speaking, Summer seemed to understand whatever it was he was saying – was the conversation transmitting right into her brain?

Qrow watched the man warily as he handed over some money and walked away from the counter, unsure what to make of the sheepish smile and wave he offered him as he passed. He looked back at Summer, ducking over to grab her shoulder and murmur, “Do I need to call the FBI?”

“What?” She snorted down a laugh.

“I think your brain’s been probed.” He shot the man a suspicious glance. Was that why he was so attractive? To put unsuspecting guys like him off his guard?

“Really Qrow?” Summer was unamused. “I think I’m going to have to ban you from late night TV.”

He frowned, a touch indignant. It could happen! “Well, what was that then?”

“It was sign language, dummy.” She rolled her eyes. “Taiyang’s deaf.”

He blinked.

Oh.

So, he just yelled at a deaf guy.

Face turning peppermint red, he placed a hand on the counter, using it as leverage to slowly sink behind it so no one could see him anymore. “I think I’m just going to take my break here. Preferably forever.”

He was given a few sympathetic pats on the head and, ten minutes later, a peace offering in the form of a cup of coffee with enough cream and sugar to turn it light as caramel. So, he sucked it up and took his walk of shame all the way to the end of the counter, carefully placing the mug down in the other’s line of sight, but not too close to the textbook he was reading.

Taiyang glanced up and that boyish smile was back. He placed a hand against his chin and waved outwards, like he was blowing a kiss to him.

Somehow, Qrow turned even redder this time, ducking his head and hurrying away as his heart thundered in a confused cacophony.

~

October 3rd, 1967

“Alright bro, you’ve been wallowing for days now. Lay it on me already.”

Qrow sighed, pulling the pillow up from his face and glancing towards his twin. Rather than answer, his lips pursed in disgust at the sight of her. “What are those grungy things?”

Raven pulled down the overly large purple shades, red eyes peering over the rim tops at him. “You don’t like them? I thought they were pretty boss.” She readjusted the glasses, looking back at herself in the mirror. Each time she turned her head to see herself from another angle, the multitude of beads she had strung in her hair rattled nosily, the flower bandanna around her head doing nothing to contain the wild black locks.

“Remind me to tell Vernal to keep you off the grass for a while.” Qrow mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“She was talking about getting inked, you know.” She pat her arm. “Right here. A raven.”

He hummed in acknowledgment, but his mind was on Taiyang and the little black heart he had on his own arm. Qrow had only seen it yesterday; it had been a warm day so he’d been in a polo rather than his arrangement of sweaters. “You get liver poisoning that way.” He replied distractedly.

“You really are being a drag.” Raven sat on her own bed, graciously sparing him from having to look at the gaudy shades by tossing them on the mattress. “What’s happening?”

He tossed the inkling around in his head, pondering over whether he really wanted to tell his sister about his woes. But, who else did he have besides Summer? “You know the job I took a few weeks back? We have a regular there who can’t hear.”

“Like, at all?” When he nodded, she lent forward, resting her hands under her chin. “Wild. So what do you do?”

“Summer talks to him with these weird hand flaps.”

“It’s called sign language, birdbrain.”

“I know! That’s not the point!”

She arched a brow. “So, what is the point?”

“I…” He looked away, unable to face her as he admitted, “He irritates me. I don’t get why we should cater to him just ‘cause he was unlucky.”

There was a creak of bedspring as Raven shifted positions, then said, “You sound like mom.”

“I know!” Qrow shouted, shooting up from the bed and running his hands through his hair. “It’s been three years Rae! Why can’t I get her damn screechy voice out of my head?!”

Raven lounged back on the heels of her hands, her red eyes following him while he paced the floor and mumbled out angry curses. She was patient as she waited for him to finish, but once he’d slumped back to his own bed, hanging his head in defeat, her voice was oddly soothing to his frayed nerves, “Ma had plenty to say about everyone. It’s hard conditioning to break. You and I know that better than anyone.”

He scoffed. “As if you ever had a problem.”

She shrugged, not answering that. It wasn’t like he hadn’t known Raven was kissing chicks behind the bleachers by the time she was thirteen. And when their parents finally found out and pointed to the door, she’d marched out of the house with her head held high as if it’d been her idea to leave the whole time.

But him? He didn’t even try crossing the bridge until his first college party, where a few shots blitzed him enough to realize that Tin Man Jimmy’s eyes were rather fetching and it was a terrible shame to make them close when he kissed him. They hadn’t lasted, but it had been enough to make him want to find the underground world hidden from society’s eye. So, after getting a few tips from Raven (and a lot of necessary encouragement over how he wasn’t a demon birthed from Hell’s fiery womb), he started to dress just a bit flashier, speak a little more in jargon and frequent more bars on the south side of town. Three years away from home left him more comfortable within himself than he’d ever thought possible, as if he truly was a bird that was finally given the right to fly for the first time. He thought he’d really broken free of the cage his parents had ignorantly built around him.

And then he had to meet Taiyang and, with each passing day leaving his attraction further soured with distaste, Qrow realized that no, he really wasn’t past everything and maybe he never would be.

“You’re brooding.” Raven quirked, always pleased in her awful taste of humor. “Look, you really want to stick it to mom? Make friends with him.” She rolled her shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. “And if you can’t do that, then just ignore him.”

“I, I guess.” He conceded, sighing towards the ceiling. “This is all so janked. Even worse, I feel like I’m betraying my people somehow.”

“What does that mean?”

He placed a hand over his piercing, recalling the expression on Tai’s face when he’d done the same thing during their first meeting. An expression he now understood had been panic as the man feared he’d just accidentally made a total stranger out himself in public. “He’s batting for my team, not yours.”

“Ooooo.” Her expression lit up with sudden understanding. A smirk began creeping its way onto her face. “So what’s he look like?”

Qrow gave her one glance before adamantly shaking his head. “Oh no. I know that gleam.”

She fluttered her eyelids; though, the day she could pull of innocent would be the same day God’s rapture happened. “Whatever do you mean, dear brother?”

“You’ve got that look that says you’re about to psychoanalyze me!”

“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”

“Just because you’re majoring in psychology doesn’t suddenly make you an expert.”

“No. I suppose not.” She finally agreed. And as he stretched back out along his bed, he thought she was just going to let it go, until: “…So, blue eyes, huh?”

Qrow buried his face into his pillow and screamed.

~

October 11th, 1967

The rag made a wet plop as Qrow tossed it onto the tabletop, wiping away circular coffee cup marks and pastry crumbs. It was a slow day at the café, only three customers in the shop and only a handful of others having come in since the start of his shift. He looked towards the only one sitting at the bar. Taiyang was signing in quick, rapid movements, and though Qrow couldn’t make heads or tails of it, Summer had no trouble keeping up as she started to laugh at whatever he was telling her.

Feeling his jaw tighten, he ducked his head and slunk off to another table, scrubbing a little harder at the stains. It had only been a few days, and he found attempting to ignore Tai was only resulting in him being even more hyperaware of his presence.

The only other patrons were two classmates he faintly recognized from his American Studies course. They were talking in hushed tones and, normally, he’d tune it out; but searching for a much-needed distraction, Qrow lent down to wipe one of the chair seats off as he strained his ear.

“I don’t know about this Cardin.” He heard one of them grunt gruffly. The guy’s hair was cut in a way that it made him look like a ridiculous cockatiel.

The other hissed back, “Don’t be a flake.”

“I’m not!”

“Good.” Then, even lower, “It’s not like he’ll hear us coming anyways.”

What?!

Qrow narrowly missed smacking his head on the bottom of the table as he straightened up. Walking around their table to the next, he continued to try and listen in, but they’d moved to talking about the Yankees game. He side-eyed their backs, wondering if he’d maybe just misheard. Eventually, he gave up hovering, knowing there was only so much he could pretend to clean and returned to the counter to organize the mugs.

The minutes passed and he kept sneaking glances to the duo, but when they didn’t so much as give Tai a glance when he stood to leave, Qrow relaxed, even returned the wave the blond sent him as he passed by. The bell rang as the door opened and shut.

Seconds ticked by and nothing happened.

He sighed, turning away and tossing his rag in the basin. Of course he was overreacting.

Scraaap!

Qrow paused, looking back and watching with increasing trepidation as the two students got to their feet, pulling on their jackets. The snap of the door closing was unusually loud, leaving a disturbing silence behind.

“Ah! Alone at last.” Summer cheered, handing him Tai’s mug.

He swallowed down the sickness in his throat. “Yeah.”

His friend continued to chatter but he found it hard to listen as he stared down at the cup, his mind circling as much as the coffee rings he was staring at.

“God has a plan for everyone.” He could almost feel the bite of his mother’s fingernails digging into his shoulder as she whispered in his ear, “If someone’s born unnatural, He’s already forsaken them. Whatever comes next, it’s only what they deserve.”

His hand tightened around the mug, then he slammed it on the counter, the loud noise drowning out her voice.

No!

“Uh, Qrow?”

“I’m taking my break!” He called, jumping over the counter in one fluid motion as he sprinted out the door. He took off around the building and through the alleyway most of the students cut through to get to the outfields.

The night was brisk, autumn’s chill having settled in deep this year and leaving the trees already wilting, their spindly limbs like decrepit fingers reaching out for him as he passed by. His heart beat a hard rhythm in his chest as he spotted the duo quickly closing in. Qrow sprinted forward as fast as legs could carry him, his mouth opening in a useless cry Tai could never hear.

Except, by some miracle he did, stopping and turning just in time to accept Cardin’s punch to his face.

Even from this distance, Qrow winced at the sound of the impact, and had it been him accepting the blow, he would have been on the ground immediately. But Tai was more solidly built, only stumbling back, and still had the awareness to jerk away from the follow up strike. What happened next was probably the most unreal thing Qrow had ever witnessed when, just as quick, the blond’s hands reached out, clasping around his attacker’s wrist and elbow, smoothly kicking out his legs so he could flip him. Cardin gave an aborted yelp, all the breath probably whooshing out of his lungs from how hard he hit the ground.

His mohawked buddy tried to grapple Tai from behind, but the blond’s elbow snapped back, landing a rough hit into his chest to knock him back. That was when Qrow finally managed to clean the distance, throwing all his weight in as he shoulder-tackled into guy just as he was stumbling back, actually managing to toss him into the grass next to his friend.

Rubbing the ache from his arm, Qrow ignored the look of surprise Tai was sending him as he growled out to sprawled forms, “If you don’t want to get thrashed again, I suggest you split!”

Cardin scowled as he got to his knees, eyes darting between them as if he was looking for another cheap shot. He must have thought better of whatever ill plans he was concocting though, because he said, “Time to cut out Russ, this scene’s getting diseased.”

A flare of anger burned through Qrow. “What was that?!”

It only earned him a taunting, “Later fags!” As the two took off.

His hands shook as he curled them into fists, mind playing the thought of chasing after them and giving them both a quality shiner to wear for the rest of the week. Yet, movement at his left had him looking back at Tai in time to see the blond cringing some as he touched his face.

“Ah, jeez.” Qrow mumbled when the other’s hand came away scarlet red with blood.

Returning to the shop with Tai’s nose gushing like a fountain yielded about the response he expected as Summer took one look at them, then yelled in horror, “What happened?!”

Leading the blond to the nearest bar stool, Qrow replied, “The two that left here tried to get the jump on him. Can you get a rag, Sums?”

The dainty woman was quick to do so, ringing it out in the sink before handing it over to the blond. As he pressed it to his face, she gestured and said, “Are you alright?”

With his hands busy, all Tai could do was nod.

“He’s fine.” Qrow reassured, leaning his hip against the counter. “Took it like a champ and gave twice back. It was kind of impressive actually.” Really, there had been something fantastic about the finesse in which Tai had moved; it had been as if he was channeling Bruce Lee spirit into his own.

Being the girl she was, Summer only continued to frown, flapping her hands some more. “Stay as long as you need.”

Tai just nodded again, and as she walked away to finish stocking the coffee canisters, he glanced sideways towards him in a confused manner.

“Eh.” Qrow just shrugged in return. He turned away, about to round the bar, when a warm hand closed around his arm. He looked down at it, then the man it belonged to. “Yeah?” He asked, remembering two seconds later he couldn’t hear him. Just like when they first met, Taiyang asked him to wait, before he dug out his notepad and pen, flipping it to a clean page. Qrow rested against the counter again, looking down when the notepad was pushed towards him.

Thank you for coming after me. It read. The handwriting was so neat, it could have been book print and Qrow imagined he probably went to one of those schools that slapped students’ wrists until each line and dot was perfect.

He wondered if they were even harder on Tai about it.

The pen was placed down next to it, invitation clear, and after a short hesitance, Qrow picked it up, writing back: You don’t need to thank me. You did fine on your own. How’d you know they were there?

Tai shook his head when he read it, taking the pen again, returning with, I saw their shadows.

Okay, that’s pretty boss. He replied.

Thank you?

The question mark, combined with the baffled look, made Qrow wonder if he even knew what the term meant so he quickly amended with: Sorry. It means really cool.

Tai read it, rolling his eyes. His reply was quick, but rather than push it back he held the notepad up, one raised eyebrow enhancing the clearly miffed tone: I know. I’m deaf, not out of touch.

He laughed, the response catching him off-guard.

Tai set it back down and added underneath that, Noticing stuff like that is normal for me. Nothing to get freaked out over.

Just like the blond had, Qrow replied with an equal amount of cheekiness: Alright Mr. Sassypants. I still -think it’s boss.

It gifted him a smile and a compliment: You’re lucky you’re a dish, Qrow.

He felt heat on his face. Perfect for every meal of the day. He flirted back.

Tai laughed behind his hand. It was mostly soundless, little tiny huffs of air, but it made his eyes shimmer merrily.

Qrow was glad he had the counter for support as he felt his knees go weak all over again, positive the smile stretching along his face was goofy as could be, but not minding at all.

~

October 12th, 1967

As he took the ever-familiar trek from his history class to the shop, Qrow found himself whistling the chorus to “All You Need is Love”, a bop to his step and a sway to his hips. He pretended the brittle grass crunching underfoot was a suitable replacement for the backing percussion, heels hitting a little harder when he passed over the same spot where those punks had gotten their tails handed to them just last night, and made his way through the trees and alley next. He weaved his way around the bad luck cracks in the sidewalk, humming the last tones of the song as he pulled open the door, the half-formed plan on how to convince Summer to let him slack off a bit today so he could chat Tai up again falling away when he realized she wasn’t at the counter.

“Hey there, Mrs. Rose.” He said as politely as possible. “Sums running late?”

The woman, hair graying and tummy plumped with age shook her head. “‘Fraid she won’t be making it in for a bit. Poor child came down with a frightful fever. She looks just dreadful. So I’ve decided to work her shift until she feels well.”

“Oh.” He said, trying to mask his disappointment. “Give her my regards next time you see her.”

“Certainly will. Now, be a dear and handle the dishes.” As he passed by her, she caught his arm, grip almost too tight as she whispered harshly in his ear, “And get that thing out of your ear. People talk you know.”

“Yes ma’am.” Qrow replied. As he placed the stud in his pocket, he found himself extremely glad she hadn’t been there yesterday. She certainly would have spared no sympathy for Tai and his mangled nose.

He wasn’t surprised when he spent his next hour working like a dog, despite the moderate business. But even if Mrs. Rose had made him scrub the tiles with a toothbrush, nothing could tear his eyes away from the door. Therefore, he didn’t miss the exact moment Tai walked through. He practically dropped the trayful of mugs he was bussing in his hurry to set them down and hop on the register.

From the smile he wore, it seemed Tai was just as blissed to see him. And though his face was swollen and bruised, he was still the prettiest sight Qrow had gotten all day.

He slid the note he’d written on a scrap of receipt over. Summer’s sick and her mom’s a prowler. The usual?

The blond nodded, pulling out his pen. Good luck.

As he took the change, he stuffed the note next to his earring, hoping that having the wish in his pocket would act like a charm, because he was going to need all he could get.

No matter how much he wanted to, Qrow didn’t dare try to talk more with Tai. He did spare him a few glances here and there, and if they caught eyes, they’d share smiles; but even that yielded short supply as the blond spent most of his time bent over his notebook, scribbling away. He would have been more upset that those blue eyes weren’t following his every moment like a lovesick chick gazing upon her Casanova, had he had enough time to consider it.

Instead, he was too busy following the siren’s noxious songs of “Qrow can you do” and “Qrow can you get this” and “Qrow this just isn’t clean enough”. So, by the time he thought to look back, Tai’s stool was empty, nothing left but his mug. Trying not to let disappointment drag him down, he went to fetch it. His hand paused inches from picking up the mug when he realized a folded slip of paper was pinned underneath it.

Heart jamming a rhythm that would make even The Rolling Stones jealous, Qrow scanned the store, just to make sure no one’s attention was on him, before he picked up the note. A question was written on it:

What’s a crow’s favorite drink?

He arched an eyebrow, before unfolding the page. The answer was written in large lettering, arched like a rainbow over a surprisingly well-drawn ink picture of a cartoon crow with its wings folded around a mug.

CAWfee!

Qrow snorted, shoulders shaking with effort to contain his laughter, a flush of warmth spreading throughout him like a warm summer rain.

“Qrow! Don’t dawdle over there! I need you to scrub these pastry pans!” Mrs. Rose called shrilly.

Even that couldn’t ruin his euphoric mood. “Coming!” He placed the drawing next to his receipt and earring, feeling luckier than the richest man in Vegas.

~

October 13th, 1967

Day two went much the same, but with a heavier crowd often found as the week drew on as exhausted students tried to sludge through the day and make it to the weekend. Once the first hour had passed, Qrow’s feet and patience were already tired and he’d managed to mix up two orders. Summer’s mom was in a state over it, and she made sure he knew it as she yelled down at him enough that he felt like he was back in primary school and getting scolded for pushing Glynda off the witch’s hat on the playground all over again.

As he waited for the coffee to brew once again, vengefully contemplating the ramifications of his soul if he decided to set Mr. Rose’s hair on fire, he heard a telltale rap-a-tap-tap along the countertop that told him his favorite customer had arrived. And, sure enough, as he turned to face the register, there Tai was, smiling back at him in that way he couldn’t imagine he’d ever grow tired of.

Qrow did his best to return it, but Tai didn’t need hearing to tell him that his heart was misplaced from it. Already prepared, the blond scribbled on his little notepad, sliding it his way.

You alright?

He took the proffered pen. I’ll survive.

It felt a shame to see the smile get overtaken by a frown and he felt almost as cheated as if the weatherman promised a sunny day only for him to walk into the rain. Tai rolled the pen between his fingers, before writing quickly: Hang in there Pige.

Wait.

What?

Qrow’s eyebrows knotted. Of course he knew the reference. Any 50s kid did. But how did-? No. More importantly-

No way. You’re Lady. I’m the Tramp, through and through.

I’m interested in that yarn if you dare to spin it. Tai was laughing quietly again.

Feeling his face heat, he quickly changed topics. How do you even know that movie?

I really like dogs. So, every week I’d beg my parents to take me to the cinema to see it, even though I couldn’t hear it. My mom eventually wrote out the dialogue for me so I could follow along. Now it was the other’s turn to look embarrassed.

Feeling a bit amiss for words, Qrow only wrote back, Good mom. Secretly glad that bitterness couldn’t be telegraphed so easily.

The best. Speaking of, Mrs. Rose is giving you the stink eye.

Ah, shit.

He gratefully accepted the dime the blond slipped him, reluctantly getting back to work.

That night, a new drawing was placed beside his coffee drinking crow. This one was only pencil and more hastily sketched due to being busier than its predecessor.  The first thing that drew his eye was the slightly more masculine Lady, snooty nose up in the air and sunflower perched atop one floppy ear. There was a leash in ‘her’ teeth and a speech bubble above her head that said, ‘You belong in the dog house.’

Attached to its other end was Tramp, the pendant on his collar a sideways cross. His ears were raised hopefully as he inquired back, ‘Yours?’

Qrow lay in bed that night, unable to rest as he thought over the silent question for a long, long time.

~

October 14th, 1967

By day three, Summer was back and Qrow practically fell to her feet in his relief, hugging onto her knees and begging her to never leave him again. She promptly told him to stop overacting like he was living in a Broadway musical and, as an apology, gave him one of her Secret Ingredient Cookies that were known for their heavenly taste. It certainly made up for him still doing most of the work while his still recovering friend puttered about at the speed of molasses. Nor did she raise protest as he endlessly groused over his meager sufferings. It was only when he got to the single highlight of the past two days, did she speak up.

“Of course I knew he could draw.” Summer interjected what was meant to be a rhetorical question. “Who did you think painted the roses here?”

“Hold up. Didn’t your parents open this place up a few years back?”

“Yep.” She said, adding a little pop to the ‘p’.

He looked at her, mildly betrayed. “How long have you known Tai?”

She hummed. “Since 10th grade. I went to a special sign language event with my cousin Neo. To support her, you know?” He was certain from the way she rolled her eyes that he looked about as utterly clueless as he felt. “She’s mute, Qrow. Anyways, that’s where I met Tai. We stayed in touch ever since.”

He was starting to wonder what else he didn’t know about Summer. “So why haven’t I met him before?”

“Tai tends to get nervous meeting new people. And you’ve never exactly been Mr. Approachable, especially not back in high school.”

A weak, “Hey!” was about the extent of his argument. He couldn’t deny he used to be one of the biggest gas lighters in the whole school, always looking for a new victim to scoff at. It was a world wonder how Summer put up with him back then.

“But, you know,” She continued as she stacked a few of the clean mugs up on the rack, tone deceptively casual, “He sure has been hanging around here a lot more often ever since you started working here.”

Rap-a-tap-tap, went the counter. Summer smiled knowingly before she flitted over to the register. Qrow watched the two talk, meeting Tai’s eyes over her head every now and again, and found the question he’d been agonizing over all night was suddenly startlingly simple to answer.

As he went to make the order he’d long ago memorized, he turned to his friend and said, “Sums, I need a favor.”

Ten minutes later, the cup was placed down on the counter, and as always, Tai smiled at him, waving his hand in front of his chin like a kiss. ‘Thank you’ he said.

For the first time ever, instead of the simple nod that had been the entirety of their communication for weeks now, Qrow mimicked the movement. ‘You’re welcome.’

Tai’s eyes widened.

Hands shaking with both nerves and inexperience, he carefully followed up with, ‘Would you like to go out sometime?’

For a fraction of a minute, while the blond sat there, not replying, Qrow worried he’d gotten it wrong.

And then, just as slow and deliberate, Tai rose his hand, curling it into a fist and shaking it in clear answer.

‘Yes.’

And like the bird he was named after, Qrow soared.

~

November 28th, 1967

So that’s why you wear your crosses like that!

Yeah. With a mother like mine, you’d forsake all religion too. What about you? Why a flower?

Don’t laugh. I garden. Sunflowers are my favorite.

Wait. So you can draw, plant flowers and you’re a martial artist blackbelt? Is there anything you can’t do?

Well, I can’t sing.

Qrow laughed, reaching over the bar to give the other’s shoulder a playful shove. Tai grinned back, completely unabashed, but as he pulled his notebook back towards him to write something else, he seemed to hesitate. His expression gentled with contemplation before finally writing what was on his mind.

When Qrow read it, he felt his breath stick like glue in his throat.

I know you want to ask. It’s okay.

He looked from Tai’s inviting gaze down to the pen, the offer clearly on the table to finally break the light conversation they’d been having the past six weeks and truly get serious. Inhaling deeply, he gathered his courage as he took it and replied: You got me. So, were you always deaf?

Tai’s smile never faltered, even as he answered: No. But I don’t remember a time when I could hear either.

What happened?

When I was a baby, I got really sick. My blood-related father refused to let mom take me to the hospital, even when I wouldn’t wake up. That’s why she left him. The doctors brought down my fever but my hearing was gone after that.

Qrow’s scanned over the words again and again, unsure what to say, but knowing ‘I’m sorry’ wouldn’t be well received. That’s awful. He settled on instead.

Tai shrugged. Can’t miss what you never knew you had.

Qrow had a feeling he didn’t only mean his hearing. He could certainly relate.

He tried to think of something, anything to say – but, despite a distinct lack of a usable voice, Tai was easily better at breaking silences. Alright, your turn. Tell me something unique about yourself.

Unique, huh? He tapped the end of the pen on the counter as he thought over whether he wanted to give away his biggest trump card or if he wanted to hold it until he could introduce them before dropping the bomb. But, when nothing else good came to mind he finally wrote:

I’m a twin.

It was still worth it. Tai’s eyes practically bugged out of his head, looking between the page and him and when he wrote back, it was messy and excited, underlined multiple times for emphasis.

FAR OUT! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!

He laughed again, twirling his wrist in a gesture he’d only recently learned meant ‘go on’. He was picking Sign in bits and pieces from the other. He still couldn’t hold a conversation or even complete the last third of the alphabet, but it certainly didn’t deter him. It helped his teacher’s hands were warm and gentle, often lingering intentionally on his own (it was also half the reason he was having so much trouble remembering most of them).

The notepad was finally pushed back, and though he expected all of them, it was probably Tai’s genuine enthusiasm that left Qrow feeling endeared rather than annoyed as he read, trying to contain his grin.

Are you younger or older? Identical? Have you two been switching on me this whole time without telling me? Can you read each other’s minds? Most importantly: Who’s the evil twin?

I’m younger. Not identical, but Raven’s definitely the evil twin. She can read my mind, sometimes, but she can do that with everyone. I’m pretty sure she’s actually an alien.

Tai scribbled back, You think everyone’s an alien. Really though, what’s it like having a sibling?

Qrow twirled the pen between his fingers like a baton as he gave the question some honest consideration before writing, Like having a best friend and worst enemy rolled into one. Rae gets on my nerves constantly and she can be unbearable to live with, but she’ll always be the first person I tell all my secrets to.

Sounds profound.

He wondered if it would be too weird to ask if he could save this page for himself, even as he replied, You should come to my dorm sometime. I could introduce you.

It was rare he ever saw Tai blush. He was suddenly very committed to making it happen more often. The blond started to write before shaking his head, quickly slashing it out and saying instead, I’d like that.

Yet, no matter how well the words were blacked out, Qrow truly was at least quarter-part hellion, because he had been reading as it was being written and filed the idea away for future use.

To what, your tongue?

~

December 2nd, 1967

“How. About. This?” Qrow said as he moved his hands slowly, then lifted them up to his eyes, circling them like spectacles.

Tai was unamused, making a sharp motion. ‘No way.’

He laughed, waving him down. ‘Joking.’ 

‘Try again.’

“Aright.” Qrow acquisitioned, “This?” This time, he brought his fists together like a heart, before moving them apart, spreading out his fingers as he did so, mimicking a firework.

Still wary of another joke, Tai tilted his head some and asked, ‘Why?’

Qrow reached for the notepad that was never far, writing down, Because you’re like a burst of energy.

He knew he had struck gold, because Tai immediately brightened, signing enthusiastically, ‘Love it!’

Rather pleased, he settled back against his headboard, scanning over the page which was full of broken sentences and single words. They’d been at it for a good hour but deciding on their name signs had been wicked cool. It felt like a secret handshake almost. Thankfully, Tai was also determined to be a bit more creative than simply making a bird that any teenybopper with a flashlight could imitate. Instead, he had curved the index and middle fingers of his right hand sideways, while placing the index of his left at the base of them.

Like a scythe. Qrow reread, brushing his thumb over the text. Because you’re dangerously beautiful.

A hand patting along the bedsheets drew his eyes back to the blond, who either signed ‘What now?’ or ‘What next?’, Qrow wasn’t entirely positive. He lifted the notepad for Tai to read, Can I ask you to try something? When he got the affirmative, he added after it, Can you say my name with your voice?

The response was immediate, Tai making the same motion over and over, ‘No. Nononononon-’ Face turning red, he stopped and hid behind his hands.

“Whoa, whoa.” He sat up, running his hand over the tops of the golden locks until he could see those blue eyes again to sign, ‘Please?’

Tai sighed soundlessly. ‘You’ll laugh.’

‘Probably.’ He chuckled when the other shoved him, repeating, ‘Please?’

The other snuffed like a discontented bull. ‘I’ll try’ Tai straightened up, placing his hand against his throat. He hummed and hawed to get a feel for the sound for a minute, his expression shifting comically as he got used to it, before his lips parted, a confused hiss escaping, “Ccccccoo?”

Qrow tried his best, he really did, but even with his teeth leaving grooves into his bottom lip, nothing could really contain the sudden fit that overcame him.

Tai flushed, looking indignant as he signed harsh repeats. ‘Jerk. Jerk, jerk, jerk!’

“I’m sorry!” He said, signing it adamantly but the blond looked away from him, obviously peeved. Qrow waited until he wasn’t going to laugh in his face again, reaching out to cup his hand under Tai’s chin, gently pulling his gaze back his way. Not quailing under the glare, he said, ‘Thank you.’

His lips pursed some, almost a pout, and his shoulders relaxed. But, he didn’t let him completely off the hook as he snatched up the notepad, pointing at, Can I ask you to try something?

Well, that was probably fair. Qrow nodded, “Yeah, sure.”

The book made a soft thump as it was tossed back to the sheets. Tai began to move his hands in a slow manner whenever he was worried Qrow wouldn’t understand. He pointed to himself.

“Me.” Qrow sounded out. Two movements, one blending into the next as Tai closed his hand and pointed at him, “And you.”

Boyishly shy as if it were their first meeting all over again, Tai hesitated, before tapping his index and middle finger against his own lips.

Oh.

Suddenly, the fact that they had been alone in his dorm room for over an hour and hadn’t been making out the whole time seemed like a great misuse of a Saturday afternoon.

‘Yes,’ Qrow replied unsteadily, whole body feeling electrified as if he’d truly become a bird that had just landed on a live wire. Tai was eyeing his shaking hand uncertainly, so he repeated the acceptance more vigorously, nodding with it.

The blond chuckled with that breathy, huffing laugh of his, own smile trembly with nerves. The bedsprings creaked as he shifted closer, fingers drawing a warm pattern from Qrow’s forehead down to his chin but just scant inches away, he hesitated. It was hard to tell if it was inexperience or jitters making him freeze, but Qrow reached up, hand covering the one on his chin, fingers slipping into Tai’s as he tilted his head and closed the rest of the distance between them.

The first kiss was chaste, their lips slightly winter-chapped but warm, lasting only a few seconds before they were pulling back. Squeezing his hand, Tai pulled his away only to sign ‘again?’. His expression was delightfully starstruck. Qrow grinned, clutching Tai’s sweater and leading him back in.

By the fourth kiss, Tai stopped checking.

By the sixth, a swipe of Qrow’s tongue along his lips had Tai jerking back, eyes wide in surprise, only to eagerly dive in for a seventh.

By the time his sister walked in, he had lost count, too preoccupied by trying to make the blond moan again to keep track.

“Well, aren’t you two disgusting?” Raven said, shutting the door behind her.

He lurched out of Tai’s lap, glaring crossly at her. A moment later, the blond realized she was there too and yelped. The noise was so unexpected it made both of the twins jump.

“Whoa, hey,” Qrow placed a hand on his arm to get his attention. “It’s okay. It’s okay. This is Raven.” He said, carefully fingerspelling her name. He’d practiced it enough, preparing for when he’d introduce them – though, he certainly hadn’t meant for it to be like this.

The panic slowly melted away to understanding, quickly followed by absolute mortification. Still, Tai made the effort to offer her a greeting wave.

The way Raven eyed him, smirking with gleeful smugness, only seemed to increase his intimidation. “Ah, so he does have blue eyes.”

Making a mental note to explain things later, Qrow gave Tai a pitying pat, before turning back to his sister. “Thought you said you were gonna be out.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not sticking around.” Her nose wrinkled, not hard to guess what nasty scenarios she was envisioning. “I just need the keys to the Chevy, then I’m gonna split.” He snatched up the keyring on his nightstand and tossed them her way. She caught them easily, waving as she headed back for the exit, “Have fun!”

He almost just left it at that. Almost.

Instead he called after her, “Where are you going?”

“Draft card burning.”

“Another one?”

Her hand hovered above the doorknob, before slowly pulling away as she turned to him, demeanor predatory in the way she stared him down. “Got a problem with that?”

Raven’s scare tactics had never worked on him before. They certainly weren’t going to now. “Yeah I got a problem with it!” Qrow snapped back, air quoting ‘problem’ for emphasis as he got to his feet, facing her down. “You shouldn’t be going to them. People are getting killed.” When her only response was to roll her eyes, his anger flared. “Raven, I’m serious!”

Her voice rose with his. “And I’m not?! For every one of us shot, ten more of our brothers are being gunned down across the sea!”

“That’s not your problem to solve!”

“No, it’s all of ours, you’re just too oblivious to see it. If you won’t stand with me, then fine!” She stepped forward, snarling in his face, “But you damn well better not stand in my way.”

Even before he responded, he knew what he’d say would be childish; Raven was the only one who made him feel like he had to resort to the tactics of a twelve-year-old. “Oh, I’m oblivious?! You really think anyone’s gonna listen to some stupid girl that thinks handing out a bunch of flowers can stop a war?”

They were about as effective too, because she hardly faltered. “You’ll thank this ‘stupid girl’ when it saves your ass from being next.” A scoff. “Just like always.”

Somehow, that stung. “Don’t act so full of yourself.”

“You know I’m right.” Raven turned away, clearly done with him. “These protests can’t stop until the day our troops are sent home.” She yanked open the door, tossing back at him, “We’re fighting a useless war. And the sooner the rest of the world sees that, the better.”

Then she was gone, nothing left but the snap of the latch catching to echo her departure.

Qrow stood there, fists shaking where they curled tightly at his sides, blood running hot in his veins. So caught up in his turbulent emotions, he almost forgot he wasn’t alone until a warm hand caught his wrist. Looking over, he was met with Tai’s earnest concern. It took some effort, but he managed to relax his hands, enough to sign a quick, ‘Sorry.’

The apology was quickly dismissed, the blond guiding him back to his bed. Both of them sat on the edge. ‘The war?’ The blond guessed, fingerspelling the second word for him.

‘Yeah,’ He replied halfheartedly.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’

As answer, Qrow mutely slipped his hand into Tai’s, tangling their fingers into a tight grip.

~

March 30th, 1968

The trunk was popped open, a duffle bag being set down inside. Qrow peeked at it around Tai’s arm, inching his hand towards it.

Smack!

He recoiled quickly, shaking out the imaginary pain.

‘Naughty.’ Tai signed.

He winked back. ‘You know it.’

The trunk was shut before he could make any more attempts, the blond swinging the keyring on his finger as he made his way to the driver’s side of the Chevy. Qrow hopped in on the other side, watching quietly as the other adjusted the mirror and got the car started. Before he put it in reverse though, Tai caught his eye. ‘Nervous?’ He asked.

‘Somewhat.’ Qrow admitted; because really, how would someone go about teaching a deaf guy how to drive anyhow?

His smile was reassuring. ‘Trust me.’

So, he did. Mostly. And if he clutched onto the car door for the first ten minutes of the drive, it was only because the Chevy was getting ricketier with age and certainly did not have anything to do with the violent imagery of death-by-car rolling through his head like a B-grade horror show.

It wasn’t until they hit the highway that Qrow allowed himself to truly relax. Boredom set in soon after and with little else to do, he pulled out his sociology textbook to take the notes he would need for his dissertation on how Darwinist societies were dystopias in disguise. Maybe, when he finished it, he’d mail it off to his mother just to tick her off. Though, he was sure her response would be less about the words on the page and more about the name on the return address.

His lips quirked in a slight smile, knowing if he told Raven she’d cheer him on. Maybe even provide the stamp.

Well, that is, if she would talk to him.

Qrow sighed, trying to focus on the words on the page and not the daunting tension that had leaked into his everyday life. Since the turn of the year, with nothing but the heat of the Battle of Khe Sanh on every channel and the growing violence against MLK’s protestors in every paper, it felt like the entire world was ready spin off its axis. Each daily report only seemed to further his sister’s resolve to act even crazier than the most insane person in an asylum, because now she was considering dropping out of school altogether to go onto some ‘peace-spreading road trip’ across the country. She refused to listen to reason, no matter how much he hollered at her about how she was throwing her future down the drain.

It had been a week since that fight and they hadn’t said a word to one another since. It seemed they’d both concluded that the first one who did was admitting they were wrong; and both of them were surely too stubborn to do that. He wasn’t expecting any apologies; Raven never said sorry to anyone. But the stifling silence between them was dismaying.

It felt like he was losing his best friend, and he didn’t know what to do.

A gentle nudge on his shoulder drew his attention, and he looked up, realizing they were stopped at a light. Tai gestured his way. ‘You alright?’

Qrow smiled. At least he had him. ‘Yes.’ He replied. ‘Just thinking.’

The blond wasn’t fooled for a moment, but let it go with a simple nod and turned his attention back on the road.

The rest of the drive went by without event, though Qrow had some distinct concerns when they turned off the main pathway and started weaving their way up into the network of mountains that bordered the eastern side of Santa Cruz. Once the paving ran out, Tai parked on a level patch of land, signing enthusiastically, ‘We’re here!’ before he jumped out of the car.

They were? When suggesting going on a getaway for the weekend, the man had been rather scarce about the details, wanting to surprise him. Now, as Qrow peered out the windshield at the thick groves of trees all around them, he realized that either they were going camping or Tai had been secretly planning his murder this whole time.

Snorting at his own imagination, he climbed out, heading to the back of the car where Tai was shouldering the bag with ease. ‘Ready for a walk? It’s not too far.’

‘Lead the way.’ He said. Yet, when the blond turned and started to hike into the forest, Qrow found he couldn’t help himself when faced with the other’s shapely backside, reaching out and delivering a teasing smack along the other’s ass.

Tai jumped, emitting a little yelp that had Qrow cracking up. He whirled back around, a mischievous gleam in his blue eyes the only warning before he was sweeping him right off his feet. Surprised, Qrow shrieked before dissolving into laughter, winding his arms across Tai’s shoulders. The blond was grinning brilliantly, leaning forward to capture his lips in a searing kiss that had him humming with pleasant appreciation.

When he was set back on his feet, they headed up the trail together this time, fingers intertwined between them.

Despite it being mid-afternoon, the forest floor was fairly dark, the early hints of spring causing dense overgrowth of the maple and redwood trees and blocking out most of the sunlight to where it could only dapple along the brush they waded through. He could hear the faintest rushing noise of a nearby stream that had likely only just broken through the remaining winter frost. The birds were awake as well, the faint warbles of loon birds and the trills of song sparrows being particularly loud. Just as they were passing over a patch of wildflowers, Tai nudged him excitedly as he pointed out an adolescent deer just before it leaped out of sight. They kept their eyes out for other creatures after that, but other than a few scurrying squirrels, didn’t see anything too outstanding.

It didn’t matter as shortly thereafter, Qrow knew they’d reached their destination when Tai waved him on and sprinted up a sloping ridge. He was a little slower, not entirely trusting himself to not trip, but as he came up over the crest, he was suddenly breathless, uttering nothing more than a soft, “Whoa.”

It was like walking out of realty and into a fantasyland. They were at the edge of a cliff on the mountainside, the land below them nothing but hills full of trees and thickening mist that clung to the valley like a gentle blanket. As he stepped as close as he dared, he looked down, seeing the jagged edges of rock and the sheer drop descending into the fog. Instead of inciting fear, it was freeing, as if he was standing on top of the entire world from here.

‘Beautiful, right?’ Tai signed.

‘Yeah.’ He replied.

‘Wait until sunset.’ He grinned, before walking away, leaving Qrow to take in the sight. A clapping eventually prompted him to turn away though, only to see Tai spreading his arms to showcase the yellow-patterned quilt he’d placed along the ground with its simple lunch of sandwiches, set right in the middle and waiting for them. This was almost like a fantasy too; having a picnic in the mountains. Even as he sat with the other and took his first bite, everything felt so unreal.

‘How did you find this place?’ He asked.

Tai seemed to think over how to answer, before pulling out the notebook and pen they always kept on hand when the signs got too complicated. Before my Volks tanked, I used to drive out as far as I could go. This is one of my favorite places.

There was a line break, and then he continued on a new paragraph. The summer before college started, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. So, I packed up a bunch of my stuff and just started driving. Found a bunch of small towns. Hit up LA, Vegas, the canyons. I think I even crossed the border at one point.

Though he was certain he already knew, Qrow asked, ‘Alone?’

He nodded. ‘I just felt so lost. I thought if I just kept going, eventually I’d find my way.’

‘Did you find what you were looking for?’

‘No.’ Tai signed back, expression gentling, ‘I found it when I came back.’

For the second time today, Qrow felt breathless. Awash with sudden boldness, he said, ‘Next time, let’s go together.’

Smile widening, he replied, ‘I’d like that.’

The next few hours were spent exploring the surrounding forest. They hopped across flat stones sticking up above the rushing stream and dared one another to climb up one of the low-hanging oak trees. They kept looking for other animals, which was mostly a bust except for a half dozen different birds. Though, Qrow did happen upon one spectacular find hiding in the roots of a tree that he managed to scoop up into his hands. When he revealed the tarantula to Taiyang, he almost couldn’t stop laughing at the girly scream the other emitted as he jerked back and fell into the brush.

As dusk grew near, they headed back to their spot. They sat near the edge, bundled up together in the quilt to keep away the brisk chill that still came with nightfall. They watched as the sun fell below the horizon, the mist having turned into a dense, rolling fog that seemed soft enough to jump on and hued with the colors reflected in the sky. And as an arm came around his waist, holding him close, Qrow found that he’d never felt so content in his life.

‘Thank you,’ He told Tai later, when night had truly fallen and they were instead laying along the quilt to stargaze.

‘For?’ Qrow had to squint some to read the question, nothing but a battery powered lamp behind them and the moon above left for light.

‘I needed this.’ He turned onto his side to face him more fully as he added, ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

As answer, Tai cupped his face in his hand and brought him into a tender kiss, thumb caressing his cheek. After a few moments, he pulled back, but Qrow didn’t let him go far, dragging him into another. Just like that fateful Saturday in his dorm room, and the many, more amazing sessions afterwards, they quickly became drunk on each other. Strong arms hefted him up off the ground, Tai allowing his body to rest atop his own.

Qrow nibbled at a strong jawline, dipping down to suck along his neck and hearing how the other’s breathing grew heavy. He also grew daring, because his hands wandered an unhurried path down his back to the curve of his ass, squeezing. Arousal jolted through him, Qrow burying his head into the other’s collar just to gather himself a moment. When he felt a bit more in control, he lifted his head to look at Tai.

And god, was he beautiful. His lips were swollen and thoroughly kissed, his face lightly flushed and blue eyes dark with passion as he stared up at him. And when they came together again, when Tai moaned softly into his mouth as their tongues tangled, when one hand twisted into his hair while the other still squeezed his ass, Qrow knew with absolutely certainty that he was moments away from ripping off all their clothes and claiming Tai as his own.

So, it took all his willpower to tap his hand along Tai’s arm twice, their personal signal to hold on. The other’s look of confusion was hard to face even as he obediently drew back.

‘Are you alright?’ Tai asked.

‘Yes.’ He sat up, his knees straddling the other’s waist to give them a little space. Qrow’s hands were as nervous as he was, starting and stopping his signs as he tried to find the right way to ask what he needed to. ‘I just – What do you – How… how far do you want to go?’

Again, the answer was given in action, Tai reaching out to capture his hands before slowly, deliberately guiding them down to rest on the buckle of his belt.

Qrow swallowed hard, heart picking up speed. When his hands were freed, he rose one of them. ‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes.’ Tai replied and the way he smiled at him, so tender, so fond, was almost too much. ‘I trust you, Qrow.’

An emotion tided through him, so strong and immense, it threatened to overspill from his heart and Qrow couldn’t wait another moment to say it. As his hands moved through the signs, he couldn’t help but speak it aloud as well, even if he’d be the only one to hear it: “Tai, I love you.”

At first, Tai was too overcome to respond, hands hovering in silence between them. Then he was sitting up, and it was only the way he suddenly caught him around his waist that kept Qrow from being pitched right out of his lap. Instead, he was pulled so close it felt like their bodies would meld together and swept up in a kiss so intense he swore he saw fireworks behind his eyes. It ignited his own soul so that even when they pulled back, the intensity was still there, their gazes smoldering as they looked upon one another.

‘Me too.’ Tai reciprocated fervidly. ‘Now, show me.’

And so Qrow did, capturing Tai’s lips once more as he laid him back along the quilt and made love to him under the stars.  

~

April 4th, 1968

Qrow would have done anything to have stayed in that fantasyland where society was so far removed it couldn’t touch them and he and Tai could dance along the top of the world forever.

But, they couldn’t.

Eventually, they packed everything up and drove home to the San Fran, going back about their daily lives as they always did.

And, six days later, Martin Luther King was assassinated.

The world fell off its axis and spun out of control.

~

April 6th, 1968

It happened just a half hour before closing.

Qrow, Summer and Tai were the only ones in the shop. After the news had hit, business had stalled, too many people either too afraid to leave their homes or too infuriated that they were rioting in the streets. It was both a blessing and a curse for what came next.

He remembered how it happened so clearly: He was just undoing the notch to the coffee machine to clean the filter for the night, when the thunderous noise of the storefront window shattering filled the air.

Summer screamed, dropping to the floor.

Qrow cursed, bruising his hip against the counter as he lurched back against it, whirling around to see that a third of café rosé was already ablaze. He fell to his knees when another window was broken out, the flames intensifying as a second Molotov cocktail exploded along the floor. He reached out, partially covering Summer’s body with his own, feeling her trembling in fear as she covered her head.

A second scream made his heart drop. “TAI!” He yelled uselessly, only to see the blond vault himself up over the counter before ducking behind it. His eyes were wide with fear, but otherwise appeared to be okay.

But they had to get out of there.

The heat from the fire was already searing, and his voice choked on it as he hauled Summer up off the ground and shoved her towards the exit first. “Come on, the back door!” He pointed as expressively as he could for Tai, who thankfully got the idea and chased after them.

They rushed out of the door, b-lining for the campus rather than the street where the strikes had come from and, when they were far enough away to be both safe from them and the fire, Qrow pushed Summer into Tai’s arms, signing, “Watch her! I’ll get help!” Though pale-faced and wide-eyed, Tai nodded, holding onto the terrified woman tightly. Qrow ran as fast as he could for the nearest telephone, almost pulling out the cord in his panic as he called for the fire department.

No matter how fast he was, there was no saving the shop.

The three of them sat in the grass just inside the police barrier, watching the firefighters fight a losing battle as the flames overtook the roof of the building. The sight had attracted the attention of the whole campus, the entirety of the student body standing in the field to get a look at the tragedy. The officers were doing their best to ward the bolder ones from inching too close.

“What am I going to tell my parents?” Summer sobbed as she twisted the folds of her skirt in her hands. “They poured everything into this place!”

From one side, Tai was just trying his best to comfort her as he rubbed her back.

“Hey now, it, it’ll be okay.” Qrow, on her other, tried as well.

“How?!” She burst out.

He didn’t know. He turned away from her, helplessness weighing him as she continued to cry.

He just didn’t know.

Wanting nothing more than to block out the horrendousness around him, he shut his eyes.

“Qrow!”

Only for them to snap open in surprise, head jerking around to pinpoint the location of that yell.

“Hey lady, you can’t-”

“Get out of my way!”

He spotted Raven just as she was jabbing her elbow into an officer’s ribs, breaking past his guard to rush across the grass. “Qrow!!”

He was on his feet and rushing to meet her instantly, almost being bowled over by the force in which she collided with him.

“You idiot! I thought, I thought!” Her fist slammed into his chest, fighting back tears, “Idiot!!”

“I know, I know. I’m okay though.” Qrow held her tightly, whispering soothingly into her hair. “I’m okay.”

She laughed, the notes strained. “Good. Because you’re not allowed to die until I say so.”

And as he laughed and cried with her, found that for all that was wrong in the world, one missing piece fell back into place and made it just a little more right again.

~

Palo Alto

October 14th, 1981

The first thing that greeted Qrow as he opened the front door to his home was Zwei, the three-year old Corgi yapping hello. “Hey stubby.” He lent down to give him a few affectionate pats, following him through the entryway and into the family room where he could hear the TV running.

Tai was looking much like a yellow roly-poly from the way he was bundled up on the couch in his old quilt. He was watching the screen with rapt attention but when he caught movement in the corner of his eye, he glanced over, brightening immediately. ‘Welcome home!’

‘How are you feeling?’ Qrow asked as he approached, running his fingers through sweat-soaked blond locks. Fever was still going strong then.

‘Furious!’ He signed back harshly. ‘Did you see what Greg just did?!’

He glanced at the TV, realizing a rerun of The Brady Bunch was playing. At the bottom of the screen, the closed captioning was giving the play-by-play of what the characters were saying. The dialogue encoder had been a bit of a strain on their Christmas budget last year (especially when they both still insisted on spoiling their niece and honorary niece rotten), but nothing was worth more than having Tai so overjoyed he was in tears as he swept Qrow up in his arms.

Of course, that also meant that the blond had taken a near permanent residence on the couch as he tried to make up for 35 years of television.

‘You really need to get off the sitcoms.’ He signed to him. ‘Watch sci-fi instead.’

‘Never!’ Tai huffed loudly, only to start coughing, curling up a bit more into his nest.

‘Medicine?’ Qrow asked him once the fit had passed.

‘Please.’

With a nod, he headed into the kitchen. As he poured the cough syrup into the little plastic cap, a jangle of tags told him a shadow had trailed after him. Sure enough, when he looked down, Zwei had his front paws perched on the cabinet door, looking up at him hopefully. “I’m pretty sure you don’t want this buddy.” He joked as he filled a glass with water next. He took pity on the dog all the same, opening the fridge and throwing him a slice of cheese before heading back into the other room.

Though it wasn’t anything even remotely as good as coffee, Tai thanked him all the same, a full-body shudder wracking him as he downed the revolting medicine and chased it with the water. Qrow sat down beside him, leaning back into the cushions. He draped his arm along the back of the couch so the blond could more easily nestle against his side, the two of them watching the rest of the episode together. It wasn’t a very good one, and Qrow found himself zoning out, carding his fingers through Tai’s hair absently as his mind wandered.

“Qrow?”

The croaky, too-soft whisper pulled him out of his trance, and he blinked at the television, realizing the end credits were rolling. He tilted his head to the one who had spoken, not entirely surprised to see his ever-observant partner had already caught onto his sour mood. ‘Sorry.’

‘What’s wrong?’

He shifted back, just enough to free his other arm. ‘Ciel came into class crying today.’

‘Henry?’ Tai guessed, straightening up as well.

He breathed out an irate sigh. ‘Yep. Broke up with her this morning.’

They had both seen it coming from the very first day the couple had joined their ASL class. A vehicular accident had left the petite Hindi woman partially deaf and her doctor had suggested learning sign to help adjust. Tai and he had done their best to give the two some special attention, knowing the transition was hard, but Henry’s participation in the lessons was lackluster at best and Qrow had to keep running interference when the entitled brat kept trying to push Ciel into Cochlear Implants, having to remind them both again and again that it was a high cost, body-blemishing and, most importantly, experimental surgery.

It especially wasn’t worth undergoing it all for a sleaze that wasn’t worth hearing in the first place.

‘What gets me most is his reasoning. Told her it was taking too long to learn.’ Qrow carried on, rolling his eyes. ‘What did he expect? To learn it overnight?! Jackass!’

Amusement gleamed in Tai’s eyes. ‘Not everyone has your patience Qrow.’

‘I’M NOT EVEN PATIENT!’ He replied explosively. Tai reached out, capturing and bringing down his hands, rubbing soothing motions along his knuckles. Every now and again, his finger would catch along the silver ring on Qrow’s right hand; it was one he’d worn for over a decade now, ever since it was given to him by the very same man sitting beside him. It was only a promise ring, but to him, it was as interchangeable as a wedding ring.

His partner’s thoughts must have been somewhere similar, pausing to drop a kiss along the metal band before letting him go to say, ‘You were for me. I’ve never had anyone in my life work so hard to talk to me like you have. That’s always meant the world to me.’

Tai had told him this at least a dozen times before, and Qrow responded in the same, flustered way he always did: ‘Yeah well, how else was I supposed to tell you I love you?’

Instead of teasing him more as he usually did, the blond paused, giving the question some honest thought. ‘Maybe… like this?’

And then, for the second time that day, Tai spoke.

“Love you, Qrow.”

Qrow felt his jaw unhinge, staring back at him in absolute shock as his brain subsequently short-circuited. What?! It had taken Tai years just to be able to say his name as well as he could. When-? How??

With a smile still as full of youth as the day they met, his partner signed, ‘Happy anniversary.’

Qrow sucked in a sharp breath, hardly able to breathe as love sang throughout every inch of him.

And then he found himself tackling Tai down onto the couch, suddenly quite determined to kiss all that love right into him.

The blond managed to fend him off long enough to say, ‘Wait! I’m still sick!’

‘Don’t care. It’s worth it.’ Qrow allowed himself a moment to enjoy the fond way the other looked upon him, before bringing their lips together once more.

Tai would always be worth it.

And if anyone asked Qrow, he’d still tell them patience was for those who couldn’t figure out how to do things quickly.

He’d also tell them it wasn’t patience that one needed when loving someone.

Because patience was a fickle, thin thing too easily broken.

No.

What was needed wasn’t patience; it was perseverance.

The drive to never give in or give up, no matter the strife or uncertainties faced, whether it be several years of vigilant study just to effectively communicate with his deaf partner without need of a pen and paper on hand.

Or, just dealing with a terrible case of the flu come morning.

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