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pharmrx · 1 year

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How To Stop Using Your Phone

Why Should You Stop Using Your Phone

We spend way too much time on my phone, and yes probably everyone else’s too.

Many people usually check their phones every 15 minutes or less so now let's talk about Stop using your phone, even if there are no alerts or notifications on there. Psychological studies suggest that They have built up this layer of anxiety surrounding the use of technology, that if one doesn’t check in as often as we think we should, then we are missing out.

Research also has shown that besides increasing anxiousness, the compulsion to check notifications and feeds forms an obstacle to people’s ability to focus which should be towards a good hobbies or some really productive like a sports.

Also, the time is wasted a lot, besides the wasted time, there is also the psychological grind that comes from spending too much of your time on the phone. Many studies have shown that social media is proving bad for your mental health, also Facebook has admitted that last year the passive use of its social network has led people to a bad mood hence you need to Stop using your phone. Researchers are still trying to think that what long-term effects channeling so much of our time and energy into our devices will cause in the near future

Many Small Efforts Make a Big Differences

Some large investors are even requesting Apple to develop new tools to help users reduce their phone addictions, by saying that a feeling of dependency is very bad for the company’s long-term healthy lifestyle

Fortunately, you as an individual don’t have to wait for Apple — you can simply become more conscious about how you must use your phone. If you are craving more for your phone then concrete down some steps to tone down your usage or the simple step of I will go less on Facebook or I am not checking my Snapchat and Instagram during work, below are some simple tips to help rescheduled your behavior as you need to Stop using your phone be.

Keep on a fixed schedule.

Stop using your phone be. as baby step that the study suggests for keeping yourself off of your phone is literally setting alarms on the specific fact that how often you can check your phone. Start with just 15 minutes and then slowly move to, every half an hour, then every 45 minutes, and eventually every hour. When your alarm clock sounds, spend one extra minute by going through any and all of the notifications and then reset the timer again.

To reduce response anxiety or stress and hold yourself accountable, Rosen suggests telling close friends or family that you may not be responding to their messages as quickly as you used to.

Turn off as many notifications as possible

If you don’t have to be disturbed every time like when your latest Instagram picture receives or with the other messages that are of your favorite podcast which is a just-released of a new episode.

A very simple way to cut down on these distractions is to turn off all the push notifications for as many unnecessary apps as you can. Just head to Settings then Notifications and put a control on your preferences. personally only left notifications on only for my official email, chat app messages, my calendars, and some of the utility apps which only activate when I am using them personally and invest your mind in dance or any other healthy lifestyle workouts.

Take distracting apps away from your home screen.

A lot of distracting behavior on the phone is an unconscious behavior, according to studies person can shift from Facebook to Instagram, to check the weather, as well as texts.

But if one has to specifically seek out an app to use it, then you will cut down on the accidental time sucks that happen when you have just started tapping around on your phone device.

Keep only the apps that you want to encourage yourself to use like those which are used for reading or learning a new language at front and center, but vanish everything that you feel is limiting your time with to folders on your second page of apps.

To one step ahead, you can even delete certain apps such as Facebook or Twitter entirely and then limit your usage only to your smartphone’s web browser then try to completely Stop using your phone and rather think about

Kicking out your device

Stop using your Phone be the last thing that you see at night and the first thing which you check in the morning? Using a regular alarm clock and also charging your phone out of reach, then there would be no cravings to start your day by getting distracted into an addiction to messages and updates, and rather go for a walk with friends or family.

If you have a smart speaker, use if often

Stop using your Phone is one of the most valuable things about the smart speakers of the Amazon Echo or Google’s Home products is that they help you live a more screen-away life.

Since I got one, I have stopped turning on music or even the podcasts on my phone and have tried to answer all the basic questions by only voice. Generally, using the smart speaker for major of things as possible has even kept my smartphone out of my hands for more amount of time Stop using your phone.

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whelvenwings · 4 years

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3k, College AU. In which Dean attempts to scam Castiel over text, with... mixed results.

read here on AO3 if you prefer!

Castiel sat in his apartment, scrolling listlessly through his phone. He’d tried to stop doing this recently. The hours he flipped down the wishing well of his Instagram feed just weren’t rewarding him with the perfect life he wished for, and at a certain point it was time to stop making the wishes. But even though he’d put his social media apps in a folder marked Don’t Do It, and even though he knew he didn’t want to melt through his days like this – slumped on his sofa with phone in hand – he ended up doing it anyway.

He stared briefly at a picture of a dog. Then someone’s baked goods. Then someone else’s throwback picture to their time in Greece.

None of it was particularly exciting, but he couldn’t seem to will himself away.

Inside him, a little voice was saying, you know, you could be doing something that you actually enjoy right now, like going for a run or reading a book or watching a TV show or, and I mean heaven forbid, but you could possibly start doing that paper? You know, like, work?

Castiel scrolled some more. The voice in his mind was very loud but outwardly, he was just sitting in his living room, eyes fixed quietly on his screen.

Move! said the little voice. You can’t just sit here forever! What are you doing? Your minutes on Earth are slipping out from under you while you do things you don’t even like!

With a little sniff, Castiel kept going. It was like his thumb had a mind of its own, traversing his Instagram like a lone journeyman, while the sky-gods above in Castiel’s mind begged it to stop.

A white box unfurled from the top of Castiel’s screen.

He blinked. A notification – a text. He tried to pull down the notif to read what the text said, but he accidentally closed it instead. Treacherous little journeyman thumb, he thought. Maybe if it spent less time overexerting itself on social media scrolling, it’d be able to open a text message.

A text message. Weird. No one texted him anymore, not really – all his friends used WhatsApp, and his professors only ever contacted him via email. To just get a plain old text was unusual. He flipped over to his texting app and opened it.

>> Your phone is now hacked so do exactly what I say and I’ll remove the hack. If you don’t I’ll destroy all your phone data. If you try to block me or report this I’ll destroy all the data instantly send your home address or I’ll hack you and share everything

When he started reading the message, Castiel felt a cold clutch of worry grip his stomach. His phone was hacked? How was that even possible? He ran anti-virus and anti-malware apps all the time, even though they slowed down his phone. He took care not to visit any sites that looked suspicious. How could –

He read it again, and then frowned, and sent a message back.

<< I have to send the address or you’ll hack me? I thought you already hacked me?

There was a pause. Castiel could feel his heart beating a little fast. His phone was supposed to be a safe island that no one could get into, his own private space; having someone text him that they were inside it, had hacked it, felt like having someone in his bedroom rooting through his things.

After thirty seconds, the text came back.

>> Yeah I’ve definitely hacked it so send the address or I’ll destroy your data and share it

Castiel squinted. He typed back,

<< How are you going to share the data if you destroyed it?

Another pause, and then –

>> I’ll share it first

With a more suspicious expression on his face than ever, Castiel responded,

<< What phone do I have? What OS?

>> You have thirty seconds to send the address or I’m going to share the data

<< You didn’t answer my question.

>> I don’t have to

Castiel actually had a small smile forming on his face as the last text came in. The person on the other end of the phone clearly had no idea what they were doing. He wasn’t sure if this was just a prank from one of his friends, or if it was a genuine attempt to scam him, but it definitely wasn’t an actual hacker.

With that same little smile on his face, Castiel typed out,

<< It’s been more than thirty seconds.

>> Yeah and I have your data now so I’m gonna share it

It was almost endearing, Castiel thought.

<< You really didn’t plan ahead for if someone actually questioned you, did you?

>> Yeah I am prepared. I’m gonna destroy everything on your phone

As Castiel considered how to reply – and if he even should, or if it was better to leave the supposed hacker to their own devices – he felt his stomach growl. Lost in the endless scroll of his Instagram feed, he’d completely forgotten to eat for most of the day. The texts from this person had finally broken the spell.

<< Alright. Enjoy yourself. I’m going to go and get some food.

>> Copying all the content now

Of course you are, Castiel thought. Of course. He wandered through to his kitchen and started browsing through his shelves. He had rice – plenty of rice, and also a bottle of soy sauce that was going out of date, and a slightly withered onion. In the fridge he found a few more limp-looking vegetables that needed eating up before he next went shopping.

Ten minutes later found him watching a pot bubbling to cook his rice, with a frying pan sizzling beside it.

When he picked up his phone, the hacker hadn’t responded. Castiel took a screenshot of their conversation, and then flipped over to WhatsApp. Opening the groupchat he had with his friends, he sent the screenshot.

I’m getting hacked, he wrote, and then put a terrified emoji. Charlie responded immediately with four cry-laughing emojis, and a few others sent some gifs. Castiel watched along the top to see someone typing a response – a number he didn’t have saved to his phone.

Sounds pretty scary you should probably send it, said the person. Castiel checked the name in grey next to their number, the one WhatsApp displayed automatically. Dean Winchester.

Dean Winchester? Castiel felt a little flip in his stomach. He’d been hoping to get to chat to Dean for months, now – they’d shared a class last semester but somehow had never got to talking, just traded looks across the room. Castiel had thought he’d lost his chance when the semester had ended and their shared class had been over – but then Charlie had added Dean into the chat at the start of the new year, introducing him as someone she’d met in one of her computing classes. Dean had been quiet so far, though, just lurking and reading messages.

Now, for the first time, Dean had actually said something to him.

And it was something ridiculous. Dean wasn’t actually taking this seriously, was he? Those computing classes couldn’t be focusing in on hacking as a topic, if he was this clueless.

Castiel didn’t want to leave Dean hanging without a reply, but he also didn’t want to embarrass him by laughing at the idea of the hack being scary. Instead, he switched over to his texting app again. Maybe if he got more evidence that the “hacker” had no idea what they were doing, then Dean would realise on his own that it wasn’t anything to worry about.

He thought for a second, and then sent,

<< How’s it going? It can’t take that long to steal all my data. I only have like 4 pictures on my phone and they’re all accidental selfies.

>> I’m getting all your credit card details you should definitely just send the address

<< Isn’t my address in the same place in my phone where you found my credit card details?

A pause, and then –

>> Yeah it is but you should tell me anyway

Castiel pressed his lips together to repress a laugh, and took another screenshot, and sent it to the groupchat.

I think I’ll be okay, he said. Dean started typing again immediately, while emojis rolled in from the rest of the people in the chat.

Dean said,

I don’t know dude seems legit to me

Charlie sent a message that said,

Dean… are you reading the same thing I’m reading?

Castiel was glad that Charlie was the one questioning him, because someone had to. Surely Dean was just kidding around, though. There was no way he really thought that this terrifying “hacker” represented a serious threat.

Dean was typing again. Castiel stirred his vegetables in the frying pan.

I had a friend who got the same message, Dean said, and he didn’t send his address and the hacker totally ruined his life so you should probably just send it

The message sat there in the WhatsApp groupchat, and was met with silence. Castiel read over it, shook his head – and then he noticed his rice was definitely cooked, and went to drain the water away in the sink before it went mushy in the pot. A frown was growing on his face as he did so. When he was done, he stirred his vegetables some more and then came back and read the message again.

His eyes narrowed.

He switched to his texting app, and read over the texts the hacker had sent him. And then went back to WhatsApp, and read Dean’s message.

The style was undeniably similar.

Was Dean pranking him? Probably not, right? Why would he? But then again, Dean was trying to convince him that the hack was real over WhatsApp in a way that was stylistically similar and just as unconvincing as the hacker themself over text… Castiel wasn’t sure what to make of that. Attention from Dean would feel kind of good, but given that the attention he was possibly getting was some kind of attempt to scam him out of his personal details, the good feeling was definitely not boundless.

After some thought, Castiel turned down the heat under his frying pan, tapped through his phone, and hit Call.

Bzz, bzz. The dial tone hummed in Castiel’s ear. He found that his heartbeat was actually pounding a little hard.

Bzz, bzz. Maybe this was a bad idea. Probably he should just hang up, and try messaging instead –

“Hello?”

Castiel went still as someone picked up. Their voice was comically low and growling, as though the person who’d answered was putting on a voice.

“Hello,” Castiel said.

“This is the hacker. Tell me your address.”

Castiel pressed his lips together, very hard, so he wouldn’t laugh.

“I said, tell me the address.”

“Um,” Castiel said. “No, thank you. Dean, what are you doing?”

There was a pause, and some kind of hurried rustling on the phone, and then the voice said,

“Dean? Who’s Dean? I don’t know anyone with that name. Just send over the address and your data won’t be shared and destroyed.”

“Dean,” Castiel said, “I called you on WhatsApp. I know this is you.”

The silence, this time, was significantly more protracted. For a few seconds, Castiel thought that Dean was actually gone, or that maybe the line had gone dead. Instead, after an incredibly pregnant pause, Dean said in his normal voice,

“Fuck.”

“Can I… ask you what’s going on?”

“Uh…” Dean hesitated. “Shit. Oh, god. Okay. Look, man, uh, buddy, I’m – I’m really sorry if I freaked you out with the whole scam thing –”

“I wasn’t freaked out,” Castiel said, trying not to sound too much as though he was enjoying himself. It felt good to hear Dean’s voice down the phone. Dean Winchester, the most handsome guy in Spanish 101, was actually on the end of the phone. They were actually talking. Under circumstances that made no sense, obviously, but still.

“Right… right. I just – I’m sorry, it was this idea I had and I thought I could just…”

He broke off. Something about the tone of his voice took the silliness and hilarity out of the situation, and Castiel’s slight smile dropped to be replaced by a little frown of concern.

“Are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need a place to come to?”

“No, no, nothin’ like that. Oh my god, this is the worst.”

“Dean… is something wrong? If you need my address… you know you could have messaged me and just asked for it?”

Dean groaned.

“I don’t… I mean, yeah, but like, no,” Dean said. “Look, I’m just gonna go. I’m sorry for… whatever the hell this was, and –”

“Wait,” Castiel said, “wait, don’t go. You can’t try to scam me for my address and then not give me any answers, I…”

“Sorry,” Dean said, and then hung up.

Castiel took his phone away from his ear. There had been something so wretched and barely-concealed in Dean’s tone that Castiel himself was upset, his stomach twisting. He looked down at his phone screen.

After a long minute of thought, Castiel went to his texting app and opened the text chain with the “hacker”.

<< 401 Lazarus Rise SW, Apartment 67

He considered the text for a long moment, and then sent it. Dean didn’t text back.

But two days later, there was a knock at his front door. Castiel, sitting at his desk and reluctantly typing out some words on his paper, frowned and looked over at the clock as though its face calmly showing 5pm would give him some kind of answer about who was outside. Receiving no wisdom from it, he decided to go and see for himself.

Opening the door, he saw a delivery person wearing a big smile and carrying a bunch of flowers.

“Here you go!” they said, handed him the flowers smartly, and then marched off down the hallway. Castiel stared after them, wondering how they’d even managed to get inside the building without being buzzed in. Probably Mrs Tran down the hall leaving the door open again, so that her son could get in even though her buzzer was broken.

Castiel stood in the doorway of his apartment, holding onto the bunch of flowers. It was a simple enough arrangement – just twelve red roses, nestled in brown paper. When the delivery person was gone, Castiel blinked and looked down at them. Surely these had to be for someone else in the building – he could just check the label and try to figure out who.

The label was a piece of brown card tied to the roses with string. In a messy scrawl, Castiel read,

Hey sorry again about what happened hopefully these make up for it. Never really tried to do anything about liking a guy before so don’t know what I’m doing. Didn’t know if you’d find flowers embarrassing so tried to get your address and send them anonymously but I guess that plan sucked ass huh? Don’t feel like you gotta say anything just wanted to apologize. Dean

Castiel’s eyes went wide and soft. He read the message through one more time and then once more after that, and then tilted the roses up to look at them, and then read the message again, and then smelled the flowers. He leaned back against his doorframe. He could feel his heart just about ready to burst out of his chest.

He went into his apartment, feeling as though he were walking on marshmallows. His legs were fuzzy with his happiness. Finding his phone, he pulled up WhatsApp.

Bzz, bzz.

Bzz –

“Hello?”

“Hello, Dean.” Castiel still had the roses in one hand. He looked down at them again, and closed his eyes because the happiness was just a little too much for a half-second.

“Uh.” He heard Dean swallow. “I did put the part where you didn’t have to say anything to me, right?”

“I know. But I wanted to thank you.”

“Uhhh.” Dean sounded floored. “Okay. Well, you’re… welcome?”

“And I wanted to ask you for something.”

“Oh. Okay?”

Castiel smiled.

“Your address,” he said.

––

The next night, Castiel stood outside the door of a slightly shabby-looking apartment, and knocked.

After less than three seconds, it was opened. Framed in the doorway stood Dean Winchester, wearing a nervous smile and nicer clothes than Castiel had ever seen him wear before to class.

Castiel breathed out.

“Hey,” Dean said. His hands looked awkward and clumsy, and Castiel’s heart was full enough looking at the confused shy man in front of him that he couldn’t stop himself – he reached out and took one of them. And it wasn’t supposed to happen this way, it was all in the wrong order, they were meant to go out for dinner and then Castiel would drop Dean back at his apartment and walk him to the door and then they were supposed to do this – but somehow Dean was close, and Castiel was leaning in a little closer still, and then their lips met.

Dean kissed so gently.

When Castiel pulled away, he saw the colour flowering inDean’s lightly stubbled cheeks.

“Uh,” Dean said gruffly. “Uh, good, okay. Yeah. Good.”

“Good?”

“Good,” Dean confirmed. “Good.”

“Good,” Castiel said.

For a second, they stared at each other. And then, moving at the same time, they both leaned in again – not so gentle, now.

They didn’t make their dinner reservation.

“We should call and tell them we’re not coming,” Castiel said at one point.

“They’ll be okay.”

“We should tell them,” Castiel insisted, giving Dean a little dig in the ribs. “It’s rude not to.”

“What, you think the cops will come for us if we don’t?”

“They’re already coming for you anyway,” Castiel said. “This has all been a ruse to catch the biggest scammer in town.”

Dean dropped his head onto Castiel’s shoulder, and laughed.

“Never gonna live that one down?”

“Never,” said Castiel, and kissed him again.

#whelvenwingsfic #destiel #deancas #destiel fic #thebloggerbloggerfun #with my new and very tenuous digital drawing skillz #I made the banner with the phone on it!#I'm so oddly proud of it #I'm sure there are 10000 mistakes but hey they're my mistakes in a art what I did??#I did an art!#anyway #here endeth the three-day downpour of fics from me #lots more in the works though!

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every-marveler-ever · 4 years

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My 10 Step Plan

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Word Count: 1108

Summary: Tom has been Pinning after you for months. It was time to put his plan into action. What could go wrong with a solid 10 step plan? A beautiful girl.

Warnings: Some classic Tom Holland (awkwardness) charm ahead.

A/N: This was inspired by not only my own want but from @averyfosterthoughts ask so thank you! Also a continuation of The Quietness but can be read by it's self.

Tom had been pinning after you for months. By months he meant 16 months, 21 days and 9 hours. These last 16 months that you had known each other he swears you had his heart. Originally you were just Zendaya’s hot colleague and then her super cute friend. Now you were his super cute, adorable, awkward friend.

Just friend.

Who he would casually take on long dates and walks in the park.

He had a plan.

A plan to make you his girlfriend. If his calculations were correct (and they could easily be wrong) he could do it in 10 perfectly planned steps.

Step 1; Plant The Folder.

It was just like a spy movie, he would plant the folder and leave with no questions asked.

That was not how the first step went.

This should have been a hard task, but she was an actor, a clumsy one at that (another reason they were perfect for each other) folders were apart of their jobs. He used Zendaya as an excuse and planted the purple folder on your breakfast bar. Only for you to move it to the coffee table, away from him.

Oh.

So the plan didn’t go perfectly but he landed himself a date.

A coffee date at starbucks down the road which would hopefully lead to a second date. If he wasn’t the awkward geek that Harrison kept calling him. But this would lead him to step 2.

Step 2; Land A Date

This step was the most important step. This step was the major step towards dating.

And you had already ruined his second step.

You asked him to coffee. YOU asked him to coffee.

He didn’t even have a chance to even think about asking you, well that wasn’t entirely true he had made a 10 step plan to make you his girlfriend. But you had invited him to stay for dinner and then continued to ask if he wanted to join you for coffee the next morning.

Tom left your house and immediately began planning. What he should wear, how he should speak and what he should order.

There is so much that goes into a date.

Step 3; Complete Said Date

Take a shower, check

Get dressed, check

Skip coffee, check

Catch the 9 o’clock bus.

He was running late for your date.

Your date that was supposed to be absolutely perfect for you.

It didn’t bother you. You were sitting on your phone scrolling through Instagram when he arrived. Making him less worried then when he originally thought of you reaction to him being late (alot of “how could you” ‘s and “why did you take so long” ‘s).

Your reaction was a smile and a wave excited to see him.

Not at all what he expected.

Sitting down he smiled at you, a big, gorgeous white teeth smile. Classic Tom Holland charm.

“Have you ordered yet?”

A simple question to start off a conversation and because he was late it made it all the more perfect.

“No didn’t really know what I wanted, how about you?” smiling he nodded looking up to the list of Starbucks drinks.

Laughing you pointed to the board at a particular drink “what about a Spiderman fro Mr. Peter Parker himself.”

This date was going pretty perfectly.

Step 4; Launching The Second Date

After the first date you both caught the train back to your apartment and spent time together. Spent lunch together.

Your coffee date turned into a lunch date.

“Thomas move,” shouting at him to move so you could get to the oven to pull out the chicken for your wraps. It was cute.

Though it only made Tom move more in front of the oven smiling sweetly at you. “Make me, sweetheart,” that good old Holland charm, the one continuous thing he had been showing through the whole date. The rest of it consisted of his cute superhero awkwardness that you heard Harrison talk so much about.

You had to agree to one point of Harrison’s statement, he was cute.

Very cute.

Smirking you changed you thoughts kissing his cheek, smiling to yourself proud.

You just skipped 4 steps.

This cleary wasn’t the thought on Tom’s mind as he shyly moved away from the oven cupping his cheek. You only smirked so proud of yourself for getting to the oven. Your main goal.

Pulling out the chicken you turn back to him to see him paralised “are you okay you look slightly shocked,” you laughed thinking it was a phase.

What you didn’t know was that you just shocked the boy who loved you into silence.

Shaking your head you set up the waps, the chicken, lettuce and tomatoes plus any conderments you could possibly want, happy with yourself with what you have accomplished in such a short time. Turning and suddenly Tom was there in front of you “can I do something for you,” you asked slightly scared.

“Do you do this for everyone?”

Shocked the only thing you can do is shake your head. “What are you talking about?”

His settles down into one of the chairs around the table sighing before he speaks. “This,” he motions around him to everything “invite boys into your home, go on dates with them, make them dinner and lunch,” and then he pauses, whispering under his breath them “kiss them.”

It was a straight answer, you didn’t even have to think about it “no.”

“So your not just leading me on,” you weren’t heratbroken that Tom would even think that, think that you weren’t in this for the long hull.

“Of course not,”you nearly shouted “I care for you because I really like you, and I feel like a teenager again because I said that.” Smiling you took his hands and made him stand up “if you screwed your whole 10 step plan and asked me right now to be your girlfriend I would say yes, no doubt.”

With that speech in his head he smiled nodding and sitting down at the table beginning to create his wrap. Leaving a heartbroken girl.

It took 4 more dates, 2 months, 25 days and 17 hours until he finally asked.

In front of everyone on the current set you were working on.

Him getting down on one knee, with you ridiculously sweaty and, opening a necklace case opening to a silver necklace with your initials engraved on a silver heart.

You wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now that he had finally finished his ten step plan he had a new project.

My 100 Step Plan To Getting Y/N To Marry Me.

MASTERLIST

Taglist: @averyfosterthoughts

Love, Cait

#tom holland x reader #tom holland #tom holland x you #tom holland x y/n #every marveler ever #marvel #actor #cait's writing #this was fun #also alot #but it was good #so excited #for you to read

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hisgirlwonder · 5 years

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Unheavenly Creatures (Jim Mason x Reader)

Length: 3.2K words Warning: Smut which fulfils a lot of kinks such as public/library sex, sleeping-with-best-friends-brother, masturbation, etc Synopsis: You’ve been given an assignment in class and the teacher decided to pair you up with your best friends brother and class stoner, Jim Mason, which means a lot of time spent with someone who prefers to study the female body. Notes: This has been bugging me for SO LONG and I couldn’t stop thinking about the idea the last few days (hopefullyyyy this is okay and ps. if you’re following my fics HoW pt. 4 will be out next)

The irony of it all had yet to evade you. You’d been paired up with your best friend’s brother for your latest project and it should be a walk in the park, right? Wrong. It was a joke to you and Medina but both for different reasons.

Jim and you were complete opposites when it came to school. He’d often show up late with a lingering scent of Mary Jane coating him and glazed eyes to match; not to mention his grades weren’t fantastic. You, on the other hand, were the perfect student. The answer to the question of why you had to be paired with Jim remained a mystery.

“Em, I just can’t be-“

The conversation is brought to a halt when Jim appears out of nowhere and widens the gap between the two of you; forcing himself between your bodies as you and Medina are talking over lunch. He wraps an arm around your shoulders and Medina’s, first looking at her and then at you.

“Hello, darling twin, hello wonderful partner. How are you beautiful ladies doing?”

“Hi, Jim. Sorry, I’m just going to go for a walk. Em, I’ll see you later, okay?”

You couldn’t leave the two of them fast enough and walk away in the direction of your favourite spot, behind the auditorium. Once they’re alone, Medina warns him not to spend all the time trying to butter you up or making you laugh – naturally he ignores what she’s saying, more intrigued as to whether or not you actually thought he was funny.

“Jim Mason, how many times do I need to tell you that you need to take your classes more seriously? Mom and dad would be mad if they knew how little you cared.”

“As far as mom and dad are concerned, I will pass. The more important question at hand, dear Medina, is whether or not Y/N thinks I’m funny.”

Medina rolls her eyes in a less than impressed fashion with his preoccupation. He’s had a thing for you since day one and Medina knows this. She also knows how he is with girls and doesn’t know whether or not he’d do the same thing to you. Jim jokes about you needing something to relax because you work so hard but Medina doesn’t find it funny because if there’s one thing she cares about besides her family, it’s you. Her brother feels the intensity behind the stare and backs off, telling her he’s going to give more of a shit.

“I’m bored and Y/N isn’t here to butter up. Maybe I should go and find her.” He winks in provocation and leaves the seating area in search of other friends. Medina decides that she might go and have a look for you to continue the conversation from earlier before the interruption.

It didn’t take her long to find you because you were always in the same spot when you needed a moment. Behind the auditorium was a special spot for both of you because that’s where you met and nobody else went there so it was nice and quiet.

Sympathetic glances are exchanged before she sits herself next to you on the bench. Medina leans her head on your shoulder like she often does and the comforting heaviness of her head leaning on you was relaxing; unfortunately, not enough to take away the stress of the situation at hand.

“Are you going to write about the disgusting diet of pizza and marijuana my brother lives on in the weekends?”

You can’t help but laugh at her remark. Trust her to make you feel better.

“That wasn’t my plan but if my original idea doesn’t work then I might give yours a go.”

“God, I can’t do this.”

Jim’s inability to concentrate and continue the song he was working on gets the better of him. He puts his guitar back in the stand before flopping onto his bed to lay on his stomach. He reaches into his pocked to pull out his phone and look through Instagram out of boredom. The first post to appear was one of Medina’s and it happened to be you and her together. Of course seeing your face causes Jim to waste no time in trawling through your page but being careful not to accidentally “like” one of your photos when he’s 48 weeks deep.

You were the kind of girl who didn’t exactly flash what you had but there were a handful of pictures of you in some scantly items; Halloween last year with Medina after the two of you had first met, your own birthday party, the Girls holiday in Hawaii. Nothing too outrageous because that wasn’t your style, however, that didn’t stop Jim from drooling over the miniscule amount of flesh you were showing.

Jim has a lightbulb moment and searches through Medina’s photos on her Facebook page to find more – just as he suspects, Medina as a whole folder dedicated to you. He’s not sure why he hasn’t done it earlier but being within touching distance of you had triggered him.

Then, there it is. The one picture that sets him over the edge. You and Medina were hanging out with your friends, Duncan and Michael, and Duncan had thrown a bucket of water over you/ Michael had been taking photos on Medina’s camera at the time and to anyone else this would have seemed like a harmless photo but to Jim, and his sexual deprivation, seeing the wet fabric cling to your curves caused an urge he could no longer hold back.

Medina knew Jim was attracted to you but she didn’t realise just how much. Jim had slept with girls but ever since you’d met, he always ended up picking ones that bear a striking resemblance to you. The last few months he’d given up because it just wasn’t the same. He found it lacklustre and disappointing when these beautiful women, both younger and older than him, would appear in his bed and he knew that their bodies didn’t move with the way yours would. Jim kept going back because it was better than nothing until one day he gives up.

He checks the door is shut before manoeuvring his hand inside his underwear so it’s cupping his dick, wrapped around the shaft and begins to fuck it. His eyes are closed so he can disappear into the moment completely. He envisions you beneath him, legs wrapped around his hips with your feet interlocked on his lower back. His cock is coated with so much slick that it is easy to feel like his own extremity was actually your warm, tight cunt.

Jim digs the fingers on his free hand into the pillow he’s propped up on because the feeling is intense and he gets so lost in it he can almost feel you beneath him. He’s breathing hot and heavy breaths and as he gets closer and closer he’s unable to hold back the noise - his face falls into the pillow as hits the point of orgasm and moans loudly into it.

Medina is stood outside making some smart ass come back after she’s cleaned up in retaliation from earlier and Jim jumps at the sound of her voice because he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts. Pulling his hand out of his underwear to reach over and grab a tissue off his nightstand, he tries to yell at his sister to piss off but his voice cracks under the exertion.

Five weeks into the project and still nothing. Jim had teased you, shot flirty comments your way, but that was the extent of it. Both you and your vibrators were growing tired (one had to be replaced because you’d used it too much) and part of you wondered if this was just normal Jim Mason behaviour to have a girl eating out of the palm of his hand. Little do you know, he’d been forcing himself to hold back and you were the contents of his wank bank - he was getting so desperate that he bought something to help him along. Since being in your presence for almost a month and a half, he’d gone from wanking once a day to morning, afternoon, and night or more.

The two of you were due to meet at the library today at 6:00pm because tonight was a late night; figuring you’d take advantage because the both of you were busier earlier. You arrive there on time but it was 6:15pm when Jim decides to show up.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to be late?”

“To what, a study session? This isn’t a date, Y/N.” He teased.

You felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment as he walks up the steps beside you, holding the door open for you to walk through.

“I’ve got something to help you relax anyway.”

You didn’t bother to ask him when you were walking down to the computer room what he meant because you’d probably end up going around in circles as you’d learned he had a tendency of doing.

The two of you get settled into your studying and you wondered if Medina had actually gotten into him because he seemed as if he wanted to actually work. You figured now was the time to ask him what he meant but to your question his eyes stayed on the book in front and held his finger to his mouth to hush you.

You were shocked at the sudden turnaround and felt like the creep when catching yourself lusting over the way his chest would rise and fall with each breath or the movement of his lips. You were beginning to feel like he could tear the flesh from your bones with his teeth and you’d say thank you.

Jim becomes too obvious in his pursuit of your relaxation and breaks the sudden good boy behaviour to rest his hand on one of your exposed. Your body begins to swell, heat blazing in the thick of your thighs from just a simple touch. He grips at the inner parts of your thigh; squeezing it after he hears you make a noise. Despite being the first time he’d laid hands on you, and it wasn’t much at all, nothing felt foreign to you.

Both of you turn heads to catch the glance of the other momentarily but quickly turn away to hide that he’s beginning to unwrap you. He changes what he’s doing and moves his fingers in a walking motion up the inner part of your leg. You want to snap them shut because he was your best friends brother and you didn’t need a distraction but the want for him overpowered you. He creeps closer and closer to your underwear, mouth to your ear to tease you while you struggle reading over the notes you had in front of you. As if you had a choice.

“You don’t fool me for a second, YN.”

His nose sweeps across your face to move your hair with it - pushing it back behind your ear so you had nothing stopping you from taking in what he was saying.

“I can feel your frustration. I know how exhausted you are trying to fight this.”

His hand that travelled up your thigh now rubs the fabric covering your slit and you can feel your nipples harden from selfish want. The breath warm over your neck breath sends shivers over the surface of your skin and you’re waiting for him to continue on with his speech but he stays tight-lipped. Jim pushes the underwear you’re wearing to one side and then uses a finger to trail along the valley between your thighs. Jim’s eye contact has yet to break; stuck on you, the sight of your mouth opening as you breathe in bated breaths. Your strength can only hold back so many moans but you began to slip, sounds escaping your mouth. You quickly throw your hands up to cover your mouth and Jim notices what just happened; lowly growling for you to not be such a good girl while he’s slipping fingers inside and proving you’re anything but.

Jim places his thumb on your clit while his index and middle fingers are inside and the way he touches you feels like magic; sending you into a state where you no longer cared. You throw all caution into the wind, pushing the books from the table and pray nobody sees what is happening.

The both of you are messy in your movements because Jim starts to kiss you and you regress into the teenager who had just discovered masturbation for the first time. Greedy, salacious, and lewd in your own contempt towards your surroundings. You hold him back long enough and to sit on the surface of the table but he’s like a rabid dog and can’t get between your thighs fast enough. His hands' fumble trying to get the soaked piece of clothing off of your body because he’s so eager and eventually he does get there - throwing them to the side as if they were garbage; unneeded, unwanted, and he never wanted to see them again.

His mouth doesn’t waste a second and heads directly for your bud while his fingers fuck you. You thought to yourself he must have done this a thousand times because his tongue hits every spot, even ones you didn’t know you had. You came effortlessly and, for once, without the use of one of your toys. This was different. It felt like he’d planned this - how he wanted to move, how you were going to feel - and maybe God did grant him access to your Heaven’s gate when he saw how meticulous Jim had become for the first time in his life.

You both rise to your feet and instead of seeing him wiping away his mouth like most men do, he pulls you in for a passionate kiss; a kiss that barely even touched the surface of how he felt about you. The taste and scent of you on him drove you wild. He guides his fingers back inside, caressing every part, and you were gagging for more. You respond in kind by pulling his hair (probably harder than he’s used to) and he just looks you at you with lust-filled eyes, waiting for your next movement.

“Fuck me,” you whine. You felt desperate and it probably looked ugly but you didn’t care.

“You’re an eager girl, aren’t you? I don’t have anything with me.”

“You should know me well enough, Jim Mason, that my organisational skills extend further than just school.”

Jim tries to remain cool, acting as if the thought of fucking you raw didn’t drive him insane, but you could see it across his face and in his movements to follow.

He moves fast to undo his belt and pants and then yank down his underwear. You pull him in with your legs wrapped around his body, and he can’t get inside fast enough. The moment he slides in, you let out a gasp; he filled you entirely and was thicker than you thought; your pussy stretched by the girth of his fat cock.

You’re pulled in by desperate arms from this being who was trying to become as close to you as possible. His arms are supporting your lower back, making sure you don’t fall (because apparently, he’s a gentleman?) and you both become lost. You thought after the first time you came that anything else would almost be muted, nearly unnoticeable, but you were wrong. You had to kiss him and moan into his mouth as you did so otherwise, you would have bitten the flesh from his shoulder or your own arm.

Jim can’t hold back either and soon after he mumbles in your mouth, signalling he’s going to cum very soon as well. You break the kiss and instruct for him to get onto the table because you have a plan of your own. You let him sit where you were so it’s not cold and as he’s sitting down, plant a kiss on his shoulder, then stand between his legs with the swollen member in your grip.

“Are you ready, Jim Mason?”

Jim looks down at you, brows furrowed because he’s oh so close to exploding everywhere and your pretty manicured hands look so good around his cock. His teeth sink into his lower lip and he groans in agreeance through the crack between his teeth and his pretty, plump lips. You take him in your mouth before driving the length straight down your throat once, then twice, and travelling back up to the tip. Your hand wraps around the base, pumping it in a sporadic rhythm and you tease the outer rim of the head with your tongue as you look upwards.

Jim slams his hands down to dig his fingers into the edge of the table and tries to thrust into your mouth. You know he’s ready to blow but won’t let him and instead slide off very slowly with your sights on him to see what he does, and he can’t take any more. As you hoped, your head is forced down so far until you gag and shoots his load down your throat. Your eyes still on him as you’re sliding off but once you’ve fully removed his softening erection, you close your lids and swallow the contents of your mouth in satisfaction followed by licking the remnants off your lips as if he’d fed you.

Jim breathlessly comments how he didn’t take you for the swallowing type and you bite back with a remark that there is a lot he doesn’t know about you. He raises an eyebrow at you with a look you’ve seen many times before. Behind his boyish charm and good looks lies a devil in disguise. “I look forward to finding it all out, Y/N.”

“You know, this isn’t going to happen all the time,” You tried to correct him because you could read him like a book. The two of you got lost in the heat of the moment and you want to make it clear but he wouldn’t listen.

Jim knew from the way your body reacted that there was another story you weren’t wanting to read; about yourself; one where you knew that nobody else had that effect on your body – any efforts to achieve those kinds of orgasms with another human besides the boy-turned-man you saw before you were fruitless. Jim palms one of your rather flushed cheeks and kisses your forehead.

“That’s what you say now.”

“I’m serious, Jim. Em-“

“My sister doesn’t need to know. It’ll be our little secret.”

Taglist: @avesatanormalpeoplescareme @sensitivethot @sacredlangdon @wroteclassicaly @moltenskeleton @langdonsdemon @sammythankyou @queencocoakimmie @violett124 @1-800-bitchcraft @americanhorrorstudies @your-daddy-langdon @ticklish-leafy-plant @michaellangdong

#ttopv #ttopv smut #ttopv fanfic #the tribes of palos verdes #the tribes of palos verdes smut #the tribes of palos verdes fanfic #jim mason #jim mason x reader #jim mason x yn #jim mason x you #i hope you liked the little duncan and michael mention ;)))#fanfic #writing

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her-culture · 5 years

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Mindfulness in Everyday Life

I don’t need to convince you that life is chaotic. But, we live in a world that over-values productivity and undervalues slowing down. Even though we give mindfulness lip service, we still seem to be resistant to changing our workaholic habits. The kicker is that the more our lives speed up, the more we need to practice mindfulness as a way to manage stress, remain grateful and happy, and grow as people.

Mindfulness, essentially, is bringing your full attention to one focal point, like your breath or your food, choosing to take note of the senses without judgement. It’s so simple it almost seems trivial, but the beauty of mindfulness is that you only have to do one job to quiet your mind -- pay attention.

Practicing mindfulness in your everyday life can help you feel grounded because you’re taking the time to pay attention to your life instead of letting is zoom past you. It can soothe the spinning mind many of us experience when life is busy. Mindfulness can even help you feel more content because you’re taking the time to notice all that you have in life.

With that in mind, here are a few techniques that help you incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life.

Pause during a mundane task to focus on your breathing.

I like to do this exercise when I’m waiting for my car to warm up. After I start the engine, I sit back, check the time, and then close my eyes and take deep breaths for about five minutes. Pausing before I make my next move allows me to compartmentalize the situation I’m leaving and focus on safe driving. The stress of work or any anxiety I was feeling before I got in the car feels farther away after five minutes of focusing on my breathing, and my drive home is more peaceful. Use this technique when you’re in a safe place, so you’re not uncomfortable keeping your eyes closed which can interrupt the flow of the exercise.

You can use this technique with any task that you do on a daily basis, like while you’re making coffee, waiting for food to heat up, booting up your computer, or grabbing your keys right before you leave the house. The important thing is that the tasks serve as a reminder to do your mindfulness exercise and that you pause just long enough to experience calmness. This exercise is also a nice reminder to your brain that there’s really no need to rush (because you’re already waiting for something). You might pause for a minute, or three, or five, or ten; it’s up to you. Just make sure your brain has enough time to slow down with you.

Hide social media and other “impulse apps” on your phone.

Do you ever open your phone for a specific reason, like to Google a questions or check your banking app, only to impulsively click the Instagram app instead, not even realizing it until you’ve started to scroll through your feed? When you’re extra busy, these impulses can be frustrating and switching from one thing to the next can actually decrease your productivity (Psychology Today).

Personally, if I notice myself using what I call “impulse apps” (all the apps I check without even thinking about it), chances are I feel fatigued and scattered because I’m not narrowing my focus. A person can’t pay attention to everything at once. Practicing mindfulness when it comes to the apps we use can be a good way to monitor our impulses.

The most effective way I’ve found to prevent impulse scrolling is hiding apps in their own folder on their own page in my phone. For me, that means Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and the mail app are all in their own folder on the fourth page of my phone’s homepage. Sometimes I delete them altogether if I feel like I’m still seeking them out too often. Keeping my impulse apps in their own section on my phone makes them a little harder to get to, just hard enough that I have enough time to consider why I actually opened my phone in the first place. Creating this small barrier for myself has allowed me to be more intentional when I’m using my phone. That’s something I really value.

This choice stems from the fact that I simply feel better the less I scroll, and I scroll the most on social media and within my email inbox. For you, the apps you gravitate toward more often than you’d like might be different, but you’d be surprised how something as simple as where you place them on your home screen can help you increase your mindfulness and awareness of how you’re using your phone.

Practice giving your full attention.

It’s easy to think we can do two things at once, but often we miss out by splitting our attention. Not only is it time consuming to switch between multiple tasks, but you’re likely to make more errors or miss information while multitasking (Psychology Today).

Choose what to give your full attention to as a way to relax your mind. Watch a movie from start to finish without using any other technology, clean your kitchen in silence, invite a friend for coffee and leave your phone in your bag. By giving your full attention to one thing - acting mindfully - your mind is able to put its energy into a task and the other thoughts swirling in your mind settle. Your brain is a force of its own. It needs something to direct its efforts toward. Mindfulness gives your brain the job of paying attention.

When I use this technique, I start by putting my phone on the other side of the room or under the bed. I usually find myself reaching for it early on, but then I remember I’m choosing to focus on the movie I’m watching or the book I’m reading instead. I feel squirmy at first, but after a few minutes, it’s easy to get lost in the task. I feel my mind settle.

Mindfulness is becoming more important as technology progresses and our world changes. If you decide to start a mindfulness practice, I encourage you to incorporate it into each day, especially if you can tie it to a daily habit or if you can leverage it to make a stressful task less daunting. Remember that it’s called a practice for a reason - you won’t be perfect at it the first time, but you might find that it helps calm your mind, make you happier, or learn something about yourself. When life feels crazy, bring yourself back to a mindful focus on something as simple as your breathing.

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umbureraakademi · 5 years

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Introductory Note About the AU & Other Chapters

-a/n start-

[Potential spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen or finished TUA Netflix series but seriously how could you stop yourself from watching such a captivating show.]

Word Count: 1968

Face Claims & involved characters for this chapter (essentially the same as Chapter 1)

-a/n end-

The Hargreeves Case

Chapter 2

Muttering to himself, Diego sat himself down at his desk as he started arranging all the information he had on what used to be his murder case like an angry teenager told to go to his room. Chuck, sitting across from him, watched his friend in slight amusement at the less than pleased detective.

“So…” he started, with Diego not looking up from what he was doing. “You met the Captain’s new assistant.”

“Don’t get me started with that little shit.” Diego snarled. “You know she called you T’Challa? I mean he isn’t even African-American, he’s African. The actor is African-American.” at this Chuck raised an eyebrow.

“For someone who says superhero movies are bullshit you sure know your Marvel.” he said, Diego ignored him. “I’d watch the names you call her though, especially in front of the Captain, considering she’s his niece.”

At this news Diego fumbled with the folder he was arranging, all the files and unfinished paperwork of a stagnant case falling to the floor. Before picking it up he gave Chuck a wild look of disbelief saying, “S-she’s what?!”

“Uhh… the Captain’s niece? Apparently, his brother begged him to let her work here knowing he was looking for an assistant. Probably knows she’s got an attitude since he told everyone to be patient with her.” Chuck affirmed.

“Everyone? When was this announced?” Diego questioned.

“This morning at the briefing room. You might have dozed off like you usually do.” Chuck said nonchalantly.

“Ugh.” Diego sighed as he bent down to pick up his files when a pair of feet passed by and nearly stepped on one of the files he was picking up. “Hey!” he exclaimed, looking up to see that same assistant they were talking about still on her phone.

She paused but didn’t look up or turn to look at the guy who just “hey”-ed her. “Oohh sorry, are those important? Wait, I don’t care.” she said before starting to move again to wherever she was going. “If those files are so important don’t go around dropping them, Detective Dickhead.” she shouted on her way for everyone in the precinct to hear.

Diego was fuming and when he caught Chuck trying to stifle a chuckle he gave the man a death glare. Meeting those venomous eyes for a second, Chuck cleared his throat and said, “She’s quite the handful.”

“Handful doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Diego muttered as he put his files back all together. Standing up and passing by Chuck’s table he slammed the files on his desk, startling him a bit. “Your handling Morgenthau now. Captain’s orders.” he said before walking away.

“And where are you going?” Chuck called after.

“Getting coffee. Headache hasn’t gone away.” Diego responded before walking out from Chuck’s view.

- - - - -

Stepping into the pantry Diego was greeted with the sight of the Captain’s assistant holding the carafe and looking back at it back and forth with the coffee maker like it was some advanced technology. Not saying anything, Diego folded his arms and leaned on the doorway, curious to see what she was up to.

Not noticing him by the door, the assistant motioned to the sink about to fill up the carafe with water, thinking that was how you were supposed to brew the coffee.

“You know for someone with a smart mouth you sure are a pro at brewing coffee.” Diego said sarcastically just as she had started filling up the carafe with water. Jumping at the sudden sound of someone else’s voice she nearly dropped it in the sink but the jolt splashed some water on her shirt.

“Jesus Christ! Ugh, fuck.” she exclaimed, turning off the faucet and setting the carafe down beside the sink before turning to see who had just rudely interrupted her perfect coffee making. Seeing it was the same guy who jolted her awake with door drama she rolled her eyes. “Great, it’s Detective Dickhead.”

Fighting the urge to to call her a string of nasty names, Diego instead responded with, “Are you done? I’d like to make my cup of coffee.”

“Well too bad, Detective. Because the Captain wants coffee too and I can’t figure out this piece of shit.” the assistant said with a sarcastic smile as she picked up the carafe, still semi-filled with water, and walked back to the coffee machine. “He just can’t settle for instant coffee or Starbucks.” she muttered to herself.

About to put the carafe back in the coffee machine, Diego just had to stop her before she does any damage and the whole precinct is deprived of coffee because some stupid assistant didn’t know how to use it. “Okay, wait--” he started before the assistant put her finger up.

“Ah, ah, ah.” she said. “I don’t need your help, Detective Dickhead. There’s probably a YouTube video on how to use this thing…” she continued pulling up her phone from her pocket.

“Call me Detective Dickhead one more time you little--” Diego started to seethe before being interrupted again, this time by the Captain himself.

“Monica.” Captain Lee started, standing in the doorway now next to Diego. Noticing the other man he gave a curt nod before greeting him with, “Detective.”

Clearing his throat and straightening up Diego greeted back, “Captain.”

The assistant flashed the Captain a fake sweet smile. “Uncle Gwimmy.” she said with a mocking childish tone.

Diego could see the Captain’s expression tighten as he was also fighting the urge to tell off his niece. “You will address me as Captain Lee as long as we are both in this precinct.” he said patiently, but with a slight edge.

“Whatever.” the assistant muttered in response.

“Just checking to see if you didn’t have any problems preparing that coffee I asked for 20 minutes ago.” said the Captain.

“Sorry, Captain. I sorta just got here after browsing through 10 minutes worth of looking through cute dachshund pictures on Instagram and spent another 10 minutes trying to figure out how to use this.” as she explained she held up the carafe, still so wrongly filled with water. “Because as you know I’m more of a no nonsense instant coffee or get someone else to do my coffee like someone at Starbucks kind of girl.” she finished.

“Monica, I’m going out on a limb letting you work here at your father’s request. But if you’re going to keep up with your spoiled, entitled attitude I won’t hesitate to assign you into mopping floors instead of sitting behind a desk.” Captain Lee said as he was slowly approaching his niece, who seemed to have removed the smug look on her face and actually looked like she was shrinking.

“So while you are here working as my assistant, you will come to work dressed in proper office attire - no sneakers, no shirts of some random rock band, you can wear jeans as long as you have a collared top - address me appropriately, address my officers and my detectives appropriately, and do what I ask you to do - including, but not limited to, getting my coffee.” there was a short pause before he continued.

“I won’t have any rumors going around the precinct about how Captain Lee let some unqualified, incompetent little brat fill in as his new assistant just because she was his niece. That is an order. Are we clear, Monica?” he finished.

Swallowing on what she felt like a ball stuck in her throat, Monica replied with a meek, “Yes, Captain.”

“Good. Detective.” turning his attention back to Diego who was silently and awkwardly watching the entire thing, Captain Lee made a small request. “Perhaps you can teach my new assistant how to use the coffee maker.”

“Umm…” Diego started, he’s seen the Captain’s scary side so many times yet it’s still able to run a chill down his spine seeing it in action. “Y-yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll handle it, Captain.” he said, probably nodding his head a little too much.

“Excellent. I’ll leave the two of you to it. Remember, I like my coffee a little creamy, but not too creamy.” Captain Lee said.

“Got it, Captain.” Diego responded with an awkward smile as the Captain nodded to the both of them before leaving. There was an uncomfortable silence as Monica was avoiding Diego’s gaze after being roasted by her uncle right in front of him. “So uhh… Monica…?” he started and she looked up at him, the look in her eyes as sharp as the knives he was carrying.

“Okay, let’s get this straight. My uncle’s an ass but yeah since my dad was literally on his knees asking to put me here in the middle of all these cops I guess I owe him for at least not making me a janitor.” she said, her tone tight like she was trying to fight back angry tears. “But that doesn’t mean I have to be nice to everyone here. I’ll do my job but I won’t kiss your asses.”

No one’s asking you to kiss their ass, you’re just being a bitch. Diego thought to himself, trying not to roll his eyes out of pity. Instead he put his hands up like he was about to be arrested. “All right, well, Captain ordered me to help you with the coffee maker, so that’s what I’m going to do. First off…” approaching Monica, he took the carafe from her hands and headed to the sink. “This is not where you put the water.” he said as he poured the water out and, using a paper towel, wiped it down.

Diego ended up being the one preparing the coffee while he let Monica observe in silence, and miraculously she was actually paying attention and not looking through her phone. After filling up the right places with water and coffee beans, the machine started dripping sweet-smelling coffee thanks to him.

“That’s going to take like about 5 or so minutes to drip enough coffee for the Captain. There’s some fresh milk in the fridge with the Captain’s name on it. Mix it while you pour some in and stop when it starts becoming light brown.” he said, now leaning on the counter with the coffee machine between him and Monica.

“Thanks. Think I know what to do next time.” Monica said with a shrug. There was silence again as the two of them just stood there watching the coffee machine. “Aren’t you supposed to go back to your desk solving cases or something?” she said, unable to stand that Diego was still standing there.

“Well, if you can remember before Captain Lee walked in here to put you in your place, I wanted a cup of coffee myself.” he responded with an edge.

“Of course you do, want me to prepare yours for you as well like this precinct’s little slave, Detective?” Monica said with a scoff. “Cops…” she muttered.

“Think I can make my own coffee, thank you Monica.” Diego said, narrowing his eyes to try and tone done the iciness in his tone.

“God I hate that name but I hate you too so it’ll just be gross to tell you my nickname.” Monica grumbled, mostly to herself though since they were in close proximity Diego could still hear everything she was saying. “So, Detective since I can’t exactly call you Detective Dickhead anymore because of ‘Captain’s orders’.” as she said that she mockingly gestured quotation marks with her hands while rolling her eyes. “Guess I should get your proper name.”

His nerve ticked a bit at hearing Detective Dickhead again but he decided to digress, introducing himself instead, “Hargreeves. Detective Diego Hargreeves.” at this he could see Monica’s eyes suddenly grow wide and, if he was seeing right, she may have even paled a bit.

“H-Hargreeves?”

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tazusher-blog · 5 years

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Mind out, Mum!

There’s no time more necessary than now to share our techno-wisdom with our elders.

It is no doubt that at one time in your life you have had to show a parent or grandparent how to use a piece of technology. That might have been showing them how to take a photo, send an email, or even turn the computer on. Whatever the action, it is also most likely that you will have chuckled to yourself at the time; stopping to question how the simplest of actions could appear so complex to these people. Especially to those who once taught us to read, write and ride a bike.

Having been brought up in an age dominated by digital technology, it is hard to imagine how using such devices as smart phones and laptops comes unnaturally to some. In fact, if you asked your parents or grandparents, you’d definitely be shocked to learn the age at which they got their first mobile, when they sent their first email, and at what point their family owned a fully-functioning TV. Chances are, their responses will most definitely not fall within the first 13 years of their lives; an answer which is likely to come from only our current generation. Nonetheless, owing to the ever-growing influence of modern day technology, it is no surprise that more and more members of the older generation are turning to high-tech devices for the simple purpose of keeping up with the world. Yes, grandparents are still able to visit their local corner shop for a copy of the newspaper each day, or call up the number of the catalogue they want to buy a new winter coat from, but there are still so many advantages to be gained from having access to the internet. These include the use of Google, online shopping, and catch up TV; all of which my very own grandparents have gained access to following their recent purchase of an iPad.

So where do we step in?

Unlike us who will receive our shining new iPhone upgrade and have our devices set up and ready to go within an hour of receiving the phone, those who aren’t accustomed to using such devices will struggle to know where to start. And yes, there is that 1000-page document that comes with the device to tell you how to work it, but when you have no idea what you’re looking at to start with, even just getting the gadget to work can be a mission.

As a tech-savvy and knowledgeable generation, it is our responsibility to be there for our parents and grandparents; to show them the ropes and help them keep up with the world. I, for one, am frequently bombarded by questions from my parents about what updates on their phones mean, or how to email our auntie the latest photos of our family holiday. Equally, it is our role to warn our parents about the dangers of the internet by showing them how to protect their information online, and how not to be fooled by those on the prowl for such clueless victims.

(Yes, my grandparents are this cute.)

Surveillance Capitalism

One of the most pervasive elements of our online activity is the occurrence of surveillance capitalism. This is when the puppeteers of the internet take control of everything that we do online by converting our personal data into something useful and profitable to them. And it’s all out of our control.

Take Google for example. Google is a marvellous platform which allows us to ask almost ANYTHING and receive an answer within seconds of our search. We can ask Google how to change a tire on our car, what time the nearest Nando’s closes, or where to buy the best value top-of-the range makeup. Whatever our search, Google has an answer. And he’s happy to help at no charge. Well, that’s what we think…

Google is in fact, watching our every move. Absorbing our every click into its data base and sharing this information to its many friends; Facebook, Instagram and Amazon. And what do they do with this info? They use it to create targeted advertising tailored to our searches. Presenting us with adverts to help us find that perfect coat we were searching for two days ago, and tempting us with content that is personal and applicable to us.

Where’s the danger in that?

Whilst there are many of us who are aware of the internet’s tactful tricks, our parents and grandparents are less sensitive to this. And this is where things might get sticky. Take my mum for example, she on a day to day basis messages me with links to products she’s “seen on Facebook”, asking me to purchase them for her. Some of these products are often the most random of things; pillow case covers, ring polishers, and magnet eyelash extensions. Things I certainly wouldn’t come across on my news feeds. When asking her about the unusual eyelash extensions, I discovered that the previous week she had actually googled ‘the best mascaras for lengthening lashes”: and this is where I was able to make the link. The sites had worked together by exchanging this data, and their objective (to target my mum with a product which offered an expensive solution to her search) had ultimately succeeded!

However, this is a very minor example and it could be argued that it was my mum’s choice to buy the item. And that she easily could have turned her head if it was something she didn’t want to buy. On the other hand, there are also adverts which promote slightly fraudulent deals such as ‘Buy XXXXX for £0, limited time only’, which actuals totals at £20 once an extortionate delivery price has been added at the checkout (and you’ve already put your card details in...).

Elsewhere on the internet, there are also much more extreme examples of fraudulent and manipulative behaviour. Phishing being the major method of attack. Phishing is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “The fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.”. It is an act which forces users of the internet to become victims of their own devices, and can result in serious consequences such as losing money, being hacked, or having your identity stolen.

As with the other online trickeries mentioned above, phishing is another example of the need for us to educate our elders about such online crime. Just like cold-callers and scammers who use telephone calls to target vulnerable people, phishing is another, and arguably easier way, for criminals to benefit from the naivety of their victims at the click of a button.

How does it work?

Phishing usually occurs in the form of emails claiming to be sent from trustworthy sources such as your bank, ‘fake’ colleagues, or PayPal. Some might also occur in the form of Holiday agents claiming that you need to enter your card details to re-secure your recent holiday payment. In reality, after giving into this email, you won’t be able to afford that holiday you were saving for!

Whoever the sender, their goal is to persuade you to give them something valuable to them; that being your passwords, credit card details, or personal information.

What to look out for:

Before you can warn others about the danger of online crimes, it is important to know yourself what to look out for. The main things to seek out are:

Who is sending the email?

Do you actually know the person? If so, do they email like they normally would? How do they sign off the email?

If it’s from a bank or company, do you actually have an account with them? And is what they are referring to something actually relevant to you?

Is the email legitimate?

The first thing I do when receiving a suspected spam email is to click on the name of the sender and view the entire email address. This way I can see whether it’s likely to be an official account or not. If it doesn’t even mention the name of the sender, it’s likely it’s not.

Are they likely to EMAIL you about this?

When receiving an email about your latest bank transaction, or prompting you to verify your Paypal details, it’s also wise to ask yourself: would they actually email me about this? Or would they rather send me a letter in the post or give me a call? Legitimate emails from companies should never ask you to do something involving such confidential data at the click of a button.

Also, don’t allow yourself to be fooled by your inbox. Even if an email hasn’t been sent to your Junk folder, this doesn’t mean that it’s as true as it claims to be. Highest chances are, it’s only made its way through the spam checks because the sender knows what s/he’s doing.

If there’s anything that the hundreds of E-safety lessons at secondary school taught me, it’s to think extra-cautiously about everything I do and engage with online. It’s now time to share this wisdom with those who might be slightly less aware. Don’t be dumb, tell mum!

Image credits:

https://gfycat.com/fortunatesmartgreyhounddog

https://smith.queensu.ca/insight/articles/don_t_buy_what_surveillance_capitalism_is_selling

https://tech.rochester.edu/security/phishing-education/

#phishing #esafety #digitalage #surveillancecapitalism

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teenywhatever · 5 years

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Dealing with a Digital World - How to Find Your Balance

It’s constant and there’s almost no escape it can feel like.

During my social media hiatus, I was impossible not to realize what a big role in the digital world, and more specifically social media, plays in our lives. Whenever I met a new friend, they often asked for my Instagram or Snapchat handle instead of my phone number, which was all I could give them at the time. Every person I responded to with this was taken back in surprise. As a 19-year-old, I grew up with technology, speaking the digital language as my second tongue. Although it may be against popular culture, I’m not a big phone person. I prefer not to have it with me and I find it a waste of time to get locked into social media. Over the years, I’ve found a few methods that help me cope with the repercussions of the digital world and finding a balance between the false reality it creates and the present moment.

Take A Break

Delete the apps. I know, it’s a scary thought. Do it. You can always re-download them! Now go be free, go on a walk and don’t take your phone. See the sunset and don’t share the photo to social media. It’s different. You might not even find the need to take a photo of it since you can’t share it on your profile.

Funny, isn’t it? How much we share? How much we feel the need to share? Our food, our annoyances, the kind acts we do, the shoes we bought, a clip of every song from the concert attended… it reminds me of the saying “photo/video or it didn’t happen” since, in our world, almost everything is digitally documented.

Give yourself a few days. The first is probably the worst and most displaced feeling. It’s strange when you can’t peak into everyone’s day, but I’ve come to realize I’m better off for it. I get to choose what I feed my soul in each moment - it’s a beautiful thing. I find myself living life so much more when I stop watching others live theirs. Go, get up, and live!

2. Journal

I’ve found it helpful to objectively analyze my digital actions to understand my habits and what greater need I’m trying to fulfill. Even if you don’t write often, or ever, it’s a useful way to see your feelings and thoughts put on paper.

When was the last time you didn’t have access?

When was the last time you consciously observed your phone habits, particularly regarding social media?

What feelings do you have when you’re on social media? After you close the app?

Why do you use social media?

How do you feel when you don’t have your phone for extended periods of time?

Do you feel the time used on social media is well spent?

How do you feel about not using any social media for a week? Why?

What’s a hobby you want to try/learn/smart?

Consider deleting social media and doing that activity or hobby.

How often do you have earbuds or music playing? Would you be able to go without it?

Next time you’re in an in-between space and waiting, whether an elevator or at a doctors office, maybe even a traffic light, don’t go on your phone. Don’t use it. How does this feel?

Take notice of other’s digital habits and use those to reflect on your own. Is everyone in the room around you on their phone? Would you normally be one of those people if you weren't doing any activity to make you mindful?

Let your mind wander. Take these as inspiration to dig down into your roots, your habits, your tendencies, your thoughts - the self-talk that is often hushed by the blaring noise of the digital world. Get to know yourself.

3. Meditate

Whether it’s a long walk, laying in a warm bathtub, or sitting on the floor of your kitchen, you can meditate anywhere. This mental cleanse that meditation brings helps me find balance between the digital world with its constant pull and peace of mind in the present. `

Meditating can be incredibly simple. A lot of people overthink the practice of meditating - they don’t know where to begin or even what it is. The excessive use of social media is known to decrease productivity and neuroplasticity and increase stress hormones. In contrast, meditating is known to do the exact opposite of both these things, as well as increase happiness hormones and intensify neuroplasticity.

If you feel overwhelmed by the digital world or if you need to center yourself in any moment, try this mindfulness meditation.

Get comfortably seated. Have your eyes open and breathe freely. Take a moment to notice your surroundings, the people, the environment, the colors. What are you hearing? Where is it coming from?

Once you feel you’ve taken in your surroundings, turn your attention inwards. Feel your breath. Feel the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe naturally. Can you feel your heartbeat? Take a breath, and release it. Take another breath but hold this one for a moment, then breathe it out slower than you inhaled. Repeat this. Do you feel your parasympathetic nervous system kick in when you exhale? Your heartbeats should be farther apart on your exhale.

If your eyes have not closed by now, close them. Continue to feel your breath. After a few more breaths take your attention to your body and the sensations that accompany it. Allow your mind to travel down to your toes. Wiggle them, say hello to your feet. They do so much for you! Relax them, completely. Let your attention travel up, into your ankles. Roll them. Relax them. Now travel to your calves. Stretch. Relax. Breathe. Check-in with your breath as you check-in with your body. Return your attention to your calves and your knees. Relax them. Mindfully acknowledge your thighs and pelvis, your hips.

Travel now to your torso, into your belly. What can you feel? What is your body telling you? Place your hand on your stomach and feel your breath, feel the rise and fall of your stomach as you breathe in and out slowly, consciously. Travel up now to your rib cage, feeling it expand with each breath. Feel your heart pumping, Find the beat. Feel it, feel it change with your inhale and exhale. Check into your chest and your biceps, down your arms to your fingertips now. Up your neck, to your head. Feel your face. Move the muscles, stretch them. Feel your face breathing and engaging as you move it. Relax it now completely. Feel the top of your head and your crown.

Feel the energy around you. Acknowledge the outer energy layer that extends past the confines of your skin. Take a deep breath.

When you are ready, open your eyes and awaken your body by wiggling your fingers and toes.

4. Prioritize

So you don’t want to delete your apps. Maybe you’re too attached, maybe it’s for business purposes, maybe you need to see what your favorite YouTuber eats for breakfast every day - that’s fine! But if you find you’re struggling to find your balance, prioritize by re-organizing, your phone that is.

Unlock your phone. Where do you keep social media apps? Are they on your home page? Your stationary dock? If so, it could be helpful to create an app folder to make them slightly (one tap) less accessible. Silly it seems, I know, but if there is one thing I know is that the saying “out of sight, out of mind” stands. Not seeing the icon front and center will start shifting frequented neuropathways away from social media and apps that you have found to be “energy vampires”.

When you wake up, wait to go on social media. Don’t exit your clock app just to hop into Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Get up, grab your coffee, and get some fresh air. Maybe do a mindfulness practice or set your intentions for the day before filling it with clutter.

Give it a try!

5. Yoga

What’s the relevance of yoga and the digital world you say? Well besides the plethora of yoga pant clad Instagram influencers promoting one product or another, yoga can be a great alternative to time spent in the digital world. I’ve found yoga to be incredibly helpful for not only the physical repercussions of using my phone and computer so much but also a catalyst to disconnecting and finding balance. Yoga and meditation share a similar background as they are focused on clearing mental clutter and connecting the mind, body, and soul. Sitting on a little electronic mirrored device for hours stagnates not only the body but the mind, which is what yoga helps to take care of. The physical aspects of yoga being mindfulness back to the body as well as get the blood flowing. The mental aspect of yoga clears the mind and centers the soul, leading to inner balance.

These are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned on my journey to disconnect from and find balance in the digital world. If you’re facing the same challenges or give one of my recommendations a try, let me know how it goes!

PEACE & LOVE

Teeny :)

https://www.instagram.com/teenywhatever/

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curlswithcreativity · 6 years

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Attention - Tom Holland x Reader (Part One)

Prompt: Brittney and I like to send pictures back and forth. Sometimes in happens when I’m in class. We came to the realization that Boyfriend!Tom would almost definitely do it just for the joy of making you feel flustered. Some of the dialogue is stripped right from our conversation

A/N: I’m so sorry. It’s literally been so long since I posted that I had to look up how I formatted my fics. I’m back at school full time and it’s kicking my ass!! Also this is my first TH fic soooo... comments would be lovely! Also, this is a two parter because I didn’t like how it was turning out, so I just split off the end. I’ll post the rest tomorrow

Marvel & Marvel Cast Masterlist | Complete Writing Masterpost

Part Two

___

A tired sigh escaped your lips as you scribbled down your notes, your professor’s tangent failing to hold your attention. Your four-hour block of classes was almost done and you couldn’t wait for the short 30-minute break before the final four-hour block began. You needed to grab something to eat and quickly.

Absent-mindedly, your hand trailed over to your phone to check the time. When the light of your screen came on, the familiar Snapchat banner that accompanied a new message derailed you. The small little red ghost icon followed by the name “Tom 🐸 💖” made you smile instinctively.

Tom would frequently send you snaps to brighten your day and to help break up the monotony of your long lectures. The thought of a cutely framed photo of Tessa had you clicking on the banner urgently, your desire to see a cute dog in an equally cute or funny scenario incredibly strong.

Upon opening the app and message, you nearly dropped your phone in your haste to discreetly hide your screen. Tom apparently fresh from the shower had sent you a shirtless photo, his damp curls stuck to his forehead as he gave you a mischievous smirk. The towel he was wearing hung low around his hips providing ample view of his wet, well-defined abs. It was nothing you hadn’t seen before, but in the context of your lecture hall, you felt your cheeks quickly gaining a healthy flush.

The banner that flashed across the top of your screen showed another new snap, and you twisted your hand to cover your face as you clicked on it warily. The photo showed the towel that had previously been wrapped around Tom’s hips now in his outstretched hand. The white towel was a stark contrast against the warm colours you had chosen for your bedroom, and considering Tom’s toned forearm and that damn towel were the only thing in frame, you had little else to focus on.

This time when the small ghost appeared again at the top of your screen, first red, and then purple to indicate he had sent you a video, you turned your phone’s screen off and placed the device face down against the desk. Your face burned hotly and your heart raced as you squirmed in your seat. You forced yourself to breathe deeply, reaching for your pen and re-entering the password to your laptop that had fallen dark in your moments of distraction.

Right, you thought as you shook your head, focus on the Olympian Twelve. Do not think about the fact your incredibly attractive boyfriend almost definitely just sent you nudes.

The subtle buzz of your phone against the lecture hall desk drew your attention away from the discussion regarding the nuisances of myths and legends. Your brow furrowed; you had your phone set to do not disturb, with the exception of a very select group of individuals. Ever since you had started dating Tom, your previously respectable number of notifications had skyrocketed, and the constant chime of your phone was not welcome in academic settings.

Once more, curiosity got the better of you and you reluctantly turned over your phone to discover that although the banner was different, the sender was the same.

TOM HOLLAND (7)

You pulled down the notification with a swipe of your finger and quickly scanned the messages.

“Why didn’t you open my picture 😞”

“I made you a special video, darling ;)”

“Y/N!!!”

“Love you, gorgeous xxx”

“Answerrrrr myyyyyy messagesssss”

“Do you not love me? If you did you would open my video ;)”

“Respond plz”

You turned off your phone completely after that. There were only 20 minutes left in your lecture and he could wait that long. Maybe you would make it longer if he continued in his current vein, you thought as an email from him with the subject “LOVE, COME ON” flashed in the upper-hand corner of your laptop screen. You didn’t bother to read the preview.

The next 10 minutes were rather uneventful, and you hoped that Tom had finally gotten the hint. He was well aware of your schedule’s busy nature despite its stark contrast to his own. For the most part, he respected that.

“Hey guys, it’s me, Tom Holland.”

Your head whipped around in your seat, the sound of Tom’s voice coming through a tinny phone speaker an unexpected occurrence in your Classic Mythology lecture. The girl who was holding the phone shot you an apologetic look devoid of recognition as she lowered her volume. You sunk into your seat- despite the new sound level you could still hear the clear, familiar chatter of your boyfriend’s voice.

“Oh, hello marj1091 and… sorry, I can’t see your usernames anymore, they’re going by too quickly.” There was the familiar sound of your creaking bed and a loud huff, which made you think that Tom had thrown himself down in his typical fashion.

“Right.” Tom stated, a small pause following his voice as the sound of things moving flowed through the speaker. “I’m on live right now because I’m feeling incredibly ignored by a certain someone who is very dear to me.”

You had been so distracted by his dialogue that you had missed your class dismissal. Suddenly, the seats around you were emptying and Tom’s voice was being covered by the sound of squeaking chairs and hurried steps. As you gathered your things, you stared at your phone hesitantly before turning it back on. You were intrigued now, if not still a little irritated, about what he was saying about you. Walking outside of the lecture hall, you clasped your phone tightly in your hand as you scrolled through your folders to find the multi-coloured camera icon. You cringed when you noticed you had been tagged in a photo and now had almost 1500 new notifications and mentions.

The newest addition to your tagged page had Tom’s face filling your screen, his hair much less damp than in the photos he had sent you and his muscled chest now covered by a heather grey t-shirt. He was pouting as he clutched tightly to Tess, the dog somehow managing to look forlorn as well. The caption read, “When she’s ignoring you because she’s “being responsible”… Quite sure Tess thinks she’s gone forever.”

It would have been cute if it weren’t so blatantly manipulative.

Your teeth ground together as you looked for a safe spot to stop that was not in the way of the ongoing foot traffic. Settling on a nearly empty bench, you sighed despite yourself; you had to admit… he did look good. And that was infuriating given your current need to focus on getting through your school day. His stream was still running, and against your better judgement you pulled it up to catch him in the middle of a conversation.

“Look, I love that she’s going to class and learning. She’s absolutely brilliant and I’m so proud of her. But being home alone all day is rubbish. What am I supposed to do—?” Oh come on, Thomas, you thought, I’m sure you can think of something. “—Just wait? She should just stay home, it’s better for all of us.” He trailed off, his lips quirking up into a faint smile as he read through the comments, shifting in his spot as you let out a small huff. He nodded his head, reaching for something just out of frame as he spoke.

“Right, if you’re just joining us now,” Tom said as he held up a photo to his phone’s camera. Your face, smiling brightly as he planted a kiss on your cheek, came into focus as he repositioned the photo and let out a dramatic sigh. “The live stream is dedicated to remembering my girlfriend, Y/N. She’s not dead, she’s just ignoring me because she’s in lectures all day.”

You rolled your eyes and resisted the urge to comment, allowing others to do it for you.

“I’M fUCKING DEAD HAHAHAHAHAHA”

“tom ur such a little baby”

“omg Y/N sucks. Who cares about school when you’re dating Tom Holland????”

“take off your shirt!!!”

“tom, you’re literally the loving boyfriend meme and its gross”

“uh, I’m pretty sure I just saw her join the stream?”

The last comment made you pause, and you watched as Tom processed the slow feed. He had apparently missed the notification that you had joined in his dramatic presentation, his face breaking into a beaming smile. You felt your lips lifting upwards instinctively despite your mild irritation.

“Did she actually? That’s brilliant, I thought she would have turned off her phone. Y/N/N, are you paying attention to me now, love?” He was smiling broadly as he clicked through the viewers before finally finding your username. “You are.”

“I’m not.” You typed angrily while pursing your lips, chiding yourself. You had no doubt in your mind that this would only encourage him. When the comment finally made its way into his view, he let out a booming laugh.

“You’re so stubborn.” He shifted in your bed, adjusting himself so that he could sit up more comfortably. “But since you’re here, you really should open the snap video I sent you. Maybe not in class though.” His voice had the same mischievous air to it that his texts had conveyed.

“what snap video??”

“what’s the video?”

“video? Why are you making it seem like a sexy video? Did you send a sexy video?”

“tom why are you like this?”

“are you sexting her in class, what is this”

“puppy tom no!”

“fuckboy tom at it again”

The request to join the Instagram live stream flashed across your phone, and you glared at it for a moment before declining. It took a second or two for your action to catch up to Tom’s device, and his face twisted into a comical pout at the rejection.

“Aww, come on now, Y/N/N. You’re not in class now, yeah? Just-” The comments that were coming now were fast and overwhelming.

“omg tom let the poor girl learn”

“let Y/N get a degree 2k18”

“take your shirt off!!!”

“girl drop out & be a housewife. id live off that spider man $$$”

“TOM I LOVE YOU. DATE ME INSTEAD”

“-join for a moment so that I can see your lovely face.” He was relentless, you thought with a small shake of your head.

You settled on a suitable response and taped it out hurriedly; you had less than 10 minutes now to get over to your new building and you would have to skip lunch, which was truly tragic. “Pictures exist for a reason, Thomas. Stop being a baby. This is a home discussion! And! I’m! Busy!” You weren’t surprised when he chose to ignore the second half of your message.

“Well, yeah but it’s not the same, is it, love? And I’m not being a baby. Forgive me for wanting to spend time with my girlfriend.” Tom replied with a hint of a pout that was nowhere near as convincing as it could have been had it not been replaced almost immediately by a childish grin. God, he was infuriating.

You sent “✌️👶”, a sentiment that you thought succinctly conveyed the message you wanted to get across, and rolled your eyes as you left the stream despite your boyfriend’s whines. His incessant contact had thrown you off your groove, and now it was a struggle to get where you needed to be. You grumbled to yourself as you bolted across campus. “Do I call him repeatedly when he’s on set? Does he get roped into live streams because I haven’t seen him in 5 hours?”

The answer was a resounding no.

Boy, was he going to have hell to pay when you got home.

___

Please let me know if you want to be added to my tag list!

@thetenthdoctorscompanion @inkstainedfanfics @reid-187 @galaxies-behind-my-eyes @kkiyomizu @saint-august-8 @twilightparker @watchoutforfrostbite

#tom holland #tom holland x you #tom holland x reader #marvel cast #tom holland fic #curlsincriminology writes #tom holland imagine #curlswithcreativity #this fic is messy as fuck but I needed to get something up #sorry dudes

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jeanboehm · 4 years

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Your Fashion Questions, Answered

I took a poll on Instagram last week and requested that you send in all of your questions.

Because there was such a strong response, I decided to break them up into sections starting with the most popular category, Fashion & Style!

Do you still wear your Chanel sunnies you got last year? – Ashley P

No. They were an impulse purchase that I made while in Florence and I regretted it. I actually gave them to my brother to he can wear them for fun this summer.

Top 5 pieces for a summer wardrobe? – Cat

1 A great pair of denim shorts. 2. Oversized sunglasses. 3. A medium sized straw bag. 4. A classic black one-piece swimsuit. 5. Pair of white sandals.

How did you find your style? – Hibi C

That’s a tough question to answer because I feel like my personal style is constantly evolving. After high school when I moved to Chicago I was given the chance to play dress up more {living in a big city}. The seasons gave me a chance to play with layers and really explore different sides to my personality. After I moved to Los Angeles the style here is much more laid back. However I travel {or used to} quite often to New York and Paris for work so it lended me with opportunities to dress up. I think the more chances you have to dress up for different types of occasions the better you get at doing so.

What are your favorite styles of belt bags? Martha D

Do you mean crossbody bags? I don’t really wear belt bags but my favorite cross body bag is the A.P.C. half moon and all of Clare V’s crossbody bags.

Do you prioritize eco-responsible clothes (non-toxic, good salary, local) – Lauren C

I shop a LOT locally and strive to support my friends such as Heidi Merrick, Rachel Comey, Rachel Pally, Clare V., The Optimist, Janessa Leone, Sophie Monet, Sophie Buhai…to name a few. So to answer your question: yes!

Favorite everyday handbag? – The Luces

I absolutely love my Goyard PM tote and carry it almost every day. It’s a great bag to buy used because it’ll get banged up a little bit. For a less expensive option, I also love the Everyday Tote bag by Mansur Gavriel or the Cloud Bag by Baggu.

Can we see your fine jewelry collection? Favorite piece of jewelry? – Quyen P

I don’t love showing it all together. It feels a little braggadocious. My collection includes Cartier Juste un Clou and Love Bracelets, an Hermés watch, Retrouvai jewelry and Tiffany & Co. pieces to name a few.

How do you keep your tees so white? – @bexhunt1

I’m not sure but I do wash ALL of my whites together using Laundress. I love, love the smell of Laundress.

Do you take your love bracelet off? Is it hard? – Maddie B

Very rarely. I recently took my bigger one off as we entered quarantine because I wanted to wear minimal accessories while at home. It isn’t hard to take off at all.

Can we see your engagement ring? – Anne R

Sure! If you google it I think more images will come up. It’s a modified radiant cut, 3.25 carats.

Do you like your small Cartier Love better than original? Reason you’re wearing one less? – Keesha G

I’m only wearing it less because I’m home and it felt weird to be wearing two bracelets all the time. I’ll put it back one once I go back out into the wild

But to answer your question, lately I’ve been liking my smaller one because I’ve been feeling rather minimal lately.

How often do you do closet clean outs? – Sarah

Once a month.

New favorite clothing finds? – Lauren B

I’ve been loving finding secret pieces on Amazon. I’m doing a year-long partnership with them soon so I’ve been geeking out to finding super affordable pieces. It’s like a fun game for me!

How do you style outfits for spring? – Stephanie V

I’m all about layers and never leave the house without a light jacket. Lately I’ve been loving lots of neutrals and don’t worry about them being too matchy. I also lean in to accessories more during the spring, such as hats, jewelry and scarves.

Favorite affordable online shops? – Desi G

Obsessed with Everlane lately!

Any ideas for re-entry looks? – Janelle I

For me I’m going to wear less make-up and stick to minimal styles and neutral colors.

How to elevate basics for work? – Lisa L

I think that any outfit can be easily elevated with a great slingback heel. You can also pull your hair back in a low bun and add a headband to elevate the look.

Tricks for save/splurge style? – Lisa L

Splurge on bags and accessories such as a classic black headband and good jewelry. Splurge on classic pieces like the Hermès Oran Sandals or a Chanel quilted handbag. Save on jeans, tops and sunglasses.

Trend you can’t get behind? – Christine

Just one? (ha!). I can’t get behind the puffy Bottega Veneta sandals or the netted cage sandals. I can’t get behind biker shorts and crop tops.

How has your style changed to accommodate mom life? – Penny

My pajamas are less cute because I get messy during dinner time and soaked during bath time. Really just my “stay at home” style is different. I still love getting dressed when I can go out.

How long did it take for your Amazon straw bag to arrive? (backorder situation) Christine E

Damn! Mine took about a week.

Have you always had an eye for fashion and design or is a skill you have honed? – Joni

I’m not 100% sure but I do know that I’ve always enjoyed playing dress up and my mom and I used to take a lot of shopping trips growing up.

Summer tank/shirt dresses to wear with sneakers/sandals? – Narz T

Love this dress by Lacausa. It’s been in my closet for a very long time and I always bring it out during summer.

Robe suggestions? – Nina M

100% Lunya “The Robe”

Affordable fashion picks for transitioning back into seeing people? – Sabrina M

I’d check out my clothing favorites from my Amazon shop because I’m constantly adding affordable pieces that I love.

Classic, everyday pieces for work? – Grace M

Black trousers, a slingback heel and a crisp white button up shirt.

How do you know when something is out of style? – Marija P

If you are dressing in classic pieces that feel timeless then you will never be out of style.

Hat box suggestion? – Melissa D

I’m on the hunt! Steamline makes some great hat box luggage pieces.

What are the items I should invest in at goal weight? – Niamh C

Congrats! I would invest in a pretty black silk dress.

Next big wishlist purchase? – Noelline B

A piece of Retrouvai jewelry from her Lollipop collection.

10 best shoes? – Noelline B

Hermes Oran Flats, Gianvitto Rossi Portofino 70’s, Soludos Beach Slides, Mansur Gavriel Slingbacks in White and Black, Jenni Kayne House Slippers, Chanel Ballerina Flats, Tkees, New Balance Sneakers, Tory Burch Bubble Sneaker and a pair of Hunter Boots.

10 best bags? – Noelline B

Chanel Quilted Black Classic, Bottega Veneta Quilted Pouch, anything Mansur Gavriel, Goyard PM in black, Dior Saddle Bag, Cult Gaia, Staud, Tory Burch, Clare V. and Loewe.

I feel like I reached a certain age and lost my style – any tips for re-finding it? – Wendy W

Oh no! Have you tried hanging out with people who are younger than you are? Try listening to different music, watch a new show or read an inspiring book. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone a little bit and maybe buy something you normally wouldn’t buy.

Where are your sunglasses/eyeglasses from? – Melissa W

My eye glasses are very, very old and from LA Eyeworks. My sunglasses are Amazon.

Jewelry organization tips? – Erin T

I would check this video out. I use inserts in my drawers to keep everything organized.

Favorite white tee? – Jennifer J

Currently it’s this one by James Perse.

Best workout clothes for postpartum mom? – Stephanie

I love Beyond Yoga pants because they have stretch. I’d wear an oversized tee with them.

Do you have a bag you love that seems to go with every outfit? – Devon

Yes! Any of the Dior prints like this one OR the Tory Burch Lee bags.

How do you decide what to get rid of? – Kristin

If I haven’t worn something in over a month it gets moved to the further left side of the rack. I then make myself wear it within a month or I get rid of it (unless it’s something sentimental or occasional like a black silk dress).

What’s the story about your Chanel ring that Grant got you? – Julie

Ha! I’ll share it in my book (coming soon!).

Easy wardrobe style tips? – Tracy M

Keep things sweet and simple. I would “favorite” or take screen grabs of favorite outfits you come across online. I save all of my outfit inspiration images into a folder on my phone so that when I go to get dressed I try to put together an outfit that’s similar.

Favorite high and low designers right now? – Nadia D

High – Asceno // Low – Amazon

Best investment white sandal? – Tiffany

Hermes Oran Sandal for sure but there’s a great knockoff on Amazon. I also really love these Tkees.

If you were an award circuit celeb, which designer would be your dream gown partnership? – Shannon

Maria Grazia Chiuri

Favorite running shoes? – Amanda

Nike

Favorite affordable denim shorts? – Inessa

Everlane!

Affordable summer dresses? – @cmoggs

Faithfull The Brand

How do you organize closet? – Veroushka

I put everything into categories {t-shirts, dresses, blazers, dressy tops} and then organize by color.

Your Fashion Questions, Answered published first on https://lenacharms.weebly.com/

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itbethatwaysometime · 7 years

Text

Uncharted Chapter Six

Warnings：Some light swearing， fluff

Word Count： 2.4k

A/n: Hello! This is probably one of my favourite chapters to write. I really enjoyed it and hope you do too. Tear in my Heart is coming tomorrow!

Unknown Location

Hydra Operation 11:03 PM

“I have a simple way of tracking the Asset, ma’am.” A low grade Hydra agent stood on one knee, head bowed down in front of the ruler of the most dangerous worldwide subversive organization.

“Keep going.” She says.

“All we need is time,” she’s clearly about to dismiss him with the flick of her wrist,” Wait! Please… All we need is time because Captain America will find him soon enough. What we need to do is follow the Captain. Once they find each other, they won’t leave neither of each others sides.” He blurts out, hoping desperately that his idea was enough to prove him worthy of a future.

She pauses, then nods her head. She flicks her wrist, disposing of the agent, leaving her to her thoughts.

At last, the Asset in our grasps.

———————

2 months later

“Stevie, could you hand me the maple syrup?” You open up a portal for him to pass it through. “Thanks.”

“Hey guys.” Says Bruce, the last one to walk in.

Today was a day like any other. Except, since that fateful night in your apartment, every day has been a sort of unbelievable daydream. Mornings have been spent with the entire team in your kitchen. Tony, Thor and Steve had been permanent fixtures in your living area since the beginning. They seemed to enjoy spending time with you and became fond of your space. Sam just showed up with Steve one morning accompanying him through his daily routine. After hearing all the commotion, Wanda and Pietro wandered into your quarters.Then followed Clint, who you constantly scolded for entering through the vents, Tasha and Bruce, who mostly kept to themselves. And, lastly, Vision. You weren’t surprised, the guy didn’t actually need to eat.

You’ve only been here a short while but everyone’s already treating you like family. You were incredibly grateful and it showed through your kind words and especially your actions. The team couldn’t have chosen a better candidate. Plus, you’ve never been happier.

In the past two months, you’ve made more joyful memories than you had made in a year. This group of crazy, strong, super-serumed, nutty people appreciated your presence. It’s a wonderful feeling. Trust.

Like the first time Tony saw just how smart you were.

—— (Flashback)

“Look, all I’m saying is, Mach 78 or whatever wouldn’t be shutting down prematurely if you’d just use multiple power sources throughout the suit; each one would independently fuel different aspects of the suit, therefore, you’d use less power, have a longer lasting suit, and if ever one goes down, you’d be fine. Because you’d have the multiple other ones supporting. I’ve already done all the calculations and if the core is not even 5% vibranium it’ll withstand practically anything.” You state matter of factly,” And, theoretically, if you aren’t too reckless, place the power sources strategically laced through the mechanics, nothing’s going to get damaged enough to be powered down.”

Tony stares at you for a beat, then slowly gets up and takes a few steps around the table.”

“GOD, you’re great! Why don’t I pay you?”

“You wouldn’t be able to afford me.” You sass back with a big grin on your face.

——

Or the time you woke up because Steve was having a nightmare.

His scream made the hair on your neck rise and goosebumps appear on your arms. A wrecked shout pierced through the quiet night.

“God, please, PLEASE BUCK, no, NO!”

You immediately sprint towards Steve’s room, commanding F.R.I.D.A.Y to unlock the doors.

You arrive in his bedroom panting, your eyes softening sadly at the sight before you. Steve was twisted in the sheets, his fist gripping the white linen so tightly his knuckles were going white. He was pale and sweating, tears running down his face mumbling incoherently. Your heart clenched as you slowly approached a broken man right in the middle of the throws of a nightmare.

Knowing that touching a person who’s having a nightmare is a terrible idea, you start by asking the AI to up the lights to 30%. Once on, Steve seemed to flinch a little, but stayed unconscious.

You opted for your voice.

“Steve,” you gently sat down next to his tense form,” Steve, it’s ok” That’s when his hand lets go of the sheets and turns to grip your wrists painfully hard. You hiss, but settle for getting him to wake up first. That’s when he starts shaking. To the point where you knew that if you didn’t wake him up now, he’s going to get himself hurt.

You leap up, straddling him and get ahold of his shoulders shaking him gently.

“Steve, wake up, it’s just me, wake up Steve.”

He suddenly jumps up, eyes wide open and alert scanning the room for intruders. His muscles tense, then relax when he lays his eyes on you.

“Hey, hey, just breathe alright?,” He looked so, so broken. You move up the bed and kneel before him, delicately putting one hand on his shoulder and dragging him into a very well-deserved hug. Your hand snakes up into his hair and you let him cry over your shoulder. Explaining that he relived watching Buck die again and again and again. He gripped you tightly as you soothed him, gently caressing his back, whispering I’m here, breathe, you’re okay.

At some point he shifted and you wondered whether you should leave. But, he held onto you pleadingly and snuggled you tightly to his chest finally letting himself rest.

You listened to his even breathing and watched him sleep dreamlessly before drifting off yourself.

Since then, you’d been closer to him. He was like a brother to you. He felt the same way.

——

But you didn’t only hang around Steve and Tony. You loved talking to Wanda and Tasha. You thought Pietro was really funny.

He liked you even more after you fixed his favourite shirt that was ripped in half because Clint thought it would be funny to test how close his arrows could get to a target without actually harming anything.

In short, you were having lots of fun and you blended seamlessly into a family of super heroes.

——

After a chaotic breakfast, you went to train. Your skills were even more refined and the team work came easily for you.When you had free time you switched between hanging out in the common room and Tony’s lab.

“Hey, could you pass me the—“ You mindlessly hand him the fourth steel ring made to seal the right wrist propulsor.

“Ya, also the blue prints for—“ You swipe a manila folder across the desk as you scroll through your Instagram.

Ten minutes later, both of you are working in a comfortable silence.

“SHit, I forgot my —“ You shove a hand in your pocket giving him the phone he left in your apartment after breakfast. You miss the look of awe he throws at you, you also miss the amused smile on Bruce’s face as he watches the whole exchange.

You sigh, screwing in the final bolt to your little project and start decluttering your desk. You head downstairs quick quick to grab something to drink knowing that Tony would want another one any minute now. He doesn’t notice you leave, too engrossed in upgrading his beloved suit. You didn’t mind, you found it quite sweet, him being so completely occupied by something.

You come back to the lab hearing him say the exact words you predicted him to say the moment you get back.

“(Y/n), would you mind getting me a —“ You gently place his steaming cup of coffee into his already open hand.

“Am I that predictable?”

“Only to me Stark, only to me.” You smile at him smugly. He on the other hand couldn’t help but wonder how he got so lucky. To have a young smart, kind, woman keep him in check. He’d spent countless sleepless nights thinking about what you meant to him. He came to the conclusion that you seemed to fit right in in as a sort of daughter figure and an incredibly awesome assistant. He’d do anything for you, yet he couldn’t figure out whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

——— Later on in the day

Agent (Y/n), please meet Tony in Conference Room B.” F.R.I.D.A.Y says over the comms. You look around at the rest of the team, but they all shrug not knowing why he’d call for you, not even in his lab, in Conference Room B.

You knock on the frosted glass door waiting for a response, you hear a muted Come in, and enter.

He stood there in an overly expensive suit and sunglasses in front of a metal suitcase. It looks like a scene from every 50’s mobster movie.

“Uh, what’s in the box?” You heard him giggle at the movie reference.

“You do realize I’m way more attractive than Brad Pitt.” He sasses back.

“Alright alright, handsome. Seriously, what’s in the case?” This whole situation seems ominous, but Tony looks like an overexcited puppy.

“Have you spoken to Cap today? “ He crosses his arms.

“No, he’s busy, what does that have to do with anything?” You stare at him confused. That last time you saw him was yesterday night, but that happens all time. He takes midnight strolls that last two days. Or sometimes its a mission, personal or handed out by Fury.

“Ah, that makes sense.” He sighs walking around to the front of the metal box.

“Tony, what makes sense?” You’re starting to get really annoyed by his act.

“Why he wanted me to make you a suit.”

Silence

“What? Why would he want me to- Wait a second. He thinks I’m ready?” He nods excitedly.

“Yep,” he says popping the p,” there’s a pretty big extraction happening, but we’re going to be briefed by Fury in about,” he looks down at his watch, “give or take ten minutes.”

“Yes!” You squeal in delight. “Um, I mean this is great.” You clear your throat trying to remain professional.

He smiles at you knowingly before gesturing towards the case. “Go on.”

You walk unsteadily towards the edge of the table and run a shaky hand around the exterior. The outside of the case is a platinum silver with ridges all throughout, you run shaky hands around the edges bracing yourself for what was inside.

Your fingers find the two clips at either end of the box and open the latch. The lid pops open with an audible click and lifts up slowly .

You gasp.

“Tony it’s beautiful.”

The first part was a suit much like Natasha’s. A stretchy, but incredibly strong fabric that was probably a thinned out version of Kevlar that worked just as well. The sheen resembled leather and the texture was soft. The pants held numerous belt loops and straps for extra weapon ‘storage’. A large belt circled your waist with a sturdy steel clasp. The top was the same material as the leggings with a very sturdy zip that went down the middle.

That was awesome. But, what really caught your eye was the overcoat he had provided. It was truly, truly in honour just to be wearing it. It could’ve been mistaken for a long trench-coat except the inside was lined with the same Kevlar like material and pockets for gadgets. The lapels near your ears held incredibly lightweight Stark technology and the gloves that came with were slip-resistant. They were lightweight and protective.

Not to mention the colour. Now, if this was any other article of clothing you wouldn’t really have cared about something as trivial as the colour. Except, the coat was purple. Not any type of purple, but the exact shade of purple that surrounded your portals whenever you opened one. The type of purple that glowed iridescently in the moonlight and the type of purple you’ve grown accustomed too.Tony had payed attention to that specific detail and it made your heart burst.

“Thank you.” You say, at loss for words. You wrap your arms around his neck for a hug. At first he’s surprised, but quickly gets that message and relaxes into your embrace.

“Ok, kid?,” you nod,” because Fury’s going to call us in for a meeting in 3… 2… 1…”

Avengers, please present yourself to Conference Room A, Nick Fury is waiting, F.R.I.D.A.Y announces

You laugh out loud at his impeccable timing. You follow him out of the room and into the one adjacent.

Other than Fury and Steve, you two were the first to arrive.

“Hey Fury, Capsicle.” He nods semi-respectfully at both.

You smile politely at Fury, not exactly sure how to act around your superior. You turn to Cap and give him a warm smile, one that he returns immediately with a whispered Hey Sweetie.

You spend a couple of minutes in companionable silence before the rest of the group of grown-up children file into the room.

Once everyone was settled down around the table, the Director began to speak.

“We have found the location of the Winter Soldier, and numerous of his files are in the database of this particular Hydra base. We suspect that Barnes is in the vicinity of this base to recollect his files. We’re planning on an extraction of the Soldier and the files.”

The atmosphere in the room went from playful to tense real fast. From what you’ve heard, Barnes was Steve’s best friend and that Hydra messed with his head real good. You couldn’t blame him for wanting to run. Fury quickly explains the rundown of the operation, not dwelling on too many details.

“Cap, you’re obviously on Barnes duty and I want someone with you on back up,” Steve’s about to retort,”no but’s, he’s unstable, you’ll need it.”

“And for the rest of you, here’s the game plan,” He points at a stack of files to his right,” we leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn.”

The team starts crowding around the files trying to get their fill on the mission. But, before you get a hold on a manila file, a large hand grabs a hold of your forearm and pulls you out of the room.

“Steve— what are you— I didn’t get a-“ you stare at him confused, he has a determined look on his face with his brow furrowed in worry.

“You’re coming with me for back up on Buck.”

Tag List

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tkstudiess · 7 years

Photo

, Hey all! I have collaborated with @allergictostudying to bring you this post :) I hope this is helpful. If it is, please do like and share :) I have divided this post into essay based, non-essay based subjects and general advice. I will try to make this as short as possible :3

ESSAY BASED SUBJECTS

This applies to English, Philosophy, History, Sociology etc

1. Don’t spend too much time on content.

My essay-based subject was economics and I spent more time on exam technique than on content which really helped me secure a good mark! You can know all the content inside out but if you cannot apply it and present your knowledge in a format that the examiners want, you won’t get as many marks. My tip would be to try to learn and understand all the content/clear up any problems you have, then focus on exam practice a month or so before your exams.

2. Make detailed essay plans for as many question possibilities and try remember them.

Essay plans are the quickened versions of writing a full essay. Exam practice usually involves writing tons of essays but this takes a lot of time and can be necessary. Essay plans are great since they save you time but also serve the purpose of writing a full on essay. Simply write a sentence of the point you want to make. You can use bullet points to note down the explanations and evaluations. These are useful to review just before your exam to be prepared for whatever question that could come up since you would have covered the points in your essay plan! If you find an essay difficult, you can write out the full essay and then get your teacher to mark it and get feedback.

3. Get as many essays marked as your teacher will allow.

Connecting to the previous point, give your essays to your teacher to mark. They would give you feedback that you can use to continuously improve until you have reached the point where you know exactly what you need to do. You will not be bothering/disturbing the teachers because that is their job and they want to help you to the best they can.

4. Learn a few random facts to boost your essays

Outside reading (reading outside your curriculum) is a way to boost your essays to get the top marks. For example, for economics, we had to learn some case studies which had facts and figures on developing countries which would be useful in our essays. This is more important for A2 than AS but it is always beneficial to use. The examiner would be impressed with your knowledge and may award you more marks.

5. Make sure you know the structure you should write your essays to.

Different subjects may have different structures, so know what structure you need to use. Structure is a part of exam technique which examiners would be looking for in your writing.

6. Mix up your revision techniques

You can use the Feynman technique (where you read a page of content, write as much as you can remember,compare it, see whats missing and make cheat sheets). Use an essay question, get A4 sheets of paper and put relevant information regarding the different points you have to mention in the question. Obviously, do what works for you but this is a good technique. Find out what kind of learner you are and use the appropriate techniques.

7. Dissect the question.

This relates to above point but basically you write down all the topics you need to mention underneath your question, whether or not you should put both sides according to what prompt is used (e.g. discuss, outline). When you dissect the question, it becomes less daunting and makes it much easier to answer!

8. Practice essays like mad

As I explained before, practice makes perfect!

9. Watch YouTube videos and documentaries

Watch on whatever topics you find difficult and make a cheat sheet of relevant information (THIS ONE IS SO USEFUL, ITS A LIFE SAVER!). Especially if your teachers aren’t that great at teaching or if you don’t feel like asking them. However, remember not to get distracted!

10. Make progress sheets

This is where you write what grade you got on a marked essay and what you need to add/remove to improve your essays and keep that at the forefront of your mind. This would help you know what areas to focus on and review your learning.

NON-ESSAY SUBJECTS

These tips apply to maths, economics, science subjects etc.

1. Past papers

Do a past paper and go over everything you did wrong. Write down a list of these topics and you can use Feynman’s technique to learn the content (As explained previously). Continuously refer to your syllabus so you know you are covering everything that you need, also refer to the mark scheme to understand what the examiner wants (what they are looking for).

2. Grade tracker

I did this for all my subjects on a excel spreadsheet, it was very effective. You can make a digital or physical tracker, whatever works for you. Track every past paper you do and write the topics that you didn’t do well on, this list should eventually decrease.

3. Go through syllabus and write summary of each section of the syllabus

You can get an A3/A4 paper and write a summary which would make it easier to review closer to the exam as well as helping you remember the content.

4. Videos again, watch relevant tutorials

I’ve explained this before, there are so many videos that teach/explain your subject well :) It will give you a better understanding if you are unclear.

5. Flashcards and the leitner system

Make a bunch of flashcards/cue cards and put them in a pile and test yourself on how well you know them. If you get the card wrong put it at the bottom of the pile, if you get it right move it to a second pile and you should have a pile you got wrong and one you got right. Make sure to go over the ones you got wrong every 2 days and go over the second pile every half week. If you get one from the second pile right move it to a third pile, if you get it wrong it goes BACK TO THE FIRST PILE. No matter what if you get a card wrong it always goes to the first pile where you review every 2 days. The third pile you review every week. Keep utilising this system as you add to your card pile! Flashcards tend to not be as useful for essay subjects as they are for the non essay subjects.

GENERAL TIPS

TIME MANAGEMENT

1. The pomodoro technique

I can’t stress this one enough, after 25/30 minutes of study, attention rapidly decreases, so take a 5 minute break where you do something else eg. chill like drawing or listening to music and then hop back into your work. You'll last a lot longer that way doing work. For example, for every 4 mini breaks, take a half an hour break.

2. Build a general study plan

Its generally not sustainable to plan out your week in 30 minute increments so make a weekly general plan. Plot in your lesson time and your non moving commitments and add in study time around them, stick to this schedule as best you can. Brains like regularity and this ensures that you dont have to keep making a weekly schedule, if you have appointments and such then give yourself leeway but in general stick to your schedule.

3. Get a planner

These are lifesavers. Write down what you need to do for homework and all your commitments in and reconcile these when you get home. You will be more organised and will be less stressed.

4. Just got home? Don’t sit down yet

Go to your planner and write any appointments etc on a calendar (I like the one on my phone and i set a lot of alerts for my appointments because I’m forgetful). Then write your homework on a piece of paper. When is it due? If its due tomorrow, do it now. Any small pieces of work, do it immediately and have it ready to hand in inside your bag (I put all my completed homework in a plastic folder in my bag so I knew where to find it). Then cross these off in your planner! I know having it on a piece of paper is random but it a) gets you in the mood b) it feels more consolidated in your brain. For any homework due that's a larger project, split it into parts, name the project and split it up on your paper. For example, essay on the cold war? You have to plan the essay, go over the content then write 3 pages...or 4 paragraphs an intro and a conclusion.

You split it up so:

Plan essay

Review relevant content as highlighted in my essay plan

Write introduction and paragraph 1

Write 2 middle paragraphs

Write last paragraph and conclusion

You have 5 steps. Now if you have a week to do your essay and you have 5 steps split it accordingly. Know you're gonna have lots of homework from your biology teacher on Tuesday and Thursday? Leave these days off and set one task for every other day of the week.

I hope this was helpful! A massive thanks to @allergictostudying on instagram and tumblr for helping out!

Check out my instagram! @tkstudies (I post way more on there). Follow this blog for more posts on school/college/uni and growing up in general! :)

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feedit · 7 years

Text

LiketyLikeLikeLike

Hillary Clinton wants you to like her.

I mean, she’s not staying up at night thinking about you, per se, but in general she wants to be liked. And that, she admits, has been a problem.

I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Secretary Clinton this week in Chicago as she toured in support of her book, What Happened. She said that just after her tenure as Secretary of State, her approval ratings were around 69%. People seemed to really like her when she was in a supporting role: As First Lady, as a Senator from New York, as Secretary of State. But when she stepped up and wanted to lead the nation as President, and indeed when she was a candidate, her approval ratings went down substantially.

She admitted that when people openly express that they don’t like her it is painful, even though she knew that it’s very common especially for those who run for public office and as an experienced public persona, she also knew what she was getting into as she stepped into the spotlight on her own. But it still hurts, she said.

Who can blame her? We all want to be liked, even powerful, strong people have that basic human need for approval at some level. But not everyone has public polling numbers following them around to remind them of their ‘failure’ in this regard.

Secretary Clinton noted when women are ‘behind the scenes’ for others in power – publicly or privately – they are seen as (and I’m paraphrasing here) warm, sincere and honest, but when they want to lead, suddenly they are cold, conniving and selfish climbers who have abandoned all of their previous morals to attain personal glory. But when men move from the background into a more prominent role, they are seen as successful, strong, intelligent and bold, and it is completely understandable that they would want more for themselves and strive to achieve those goals. Women who do the same are less liked than their male counterparts as a whole. And sadly, this shift in opinion, which has been measured in scientific polls, comes from both men and women.

Once upon a time, I was asked to take a ‘behind the scenes’ role by a partner in the advertising agency where I worked because the client on the account that I led “didn’t like my style.” To me that was insulting on so many levels. I felt that ‘my style’ was being honest, direct, hard-working and smart, all things I had been raised to believe were positive traits. But when I was being asked to support a junior person on the team, I realized this client wanted to be the smartest woman in the room. Perhaps I was a threat, even though I felt that my job was to help her succeed? After all, she was my client and her success was the agency’s success, if not my own.

I guess she didn’t see it that way.

As angry as I was, a tiny part of me was also hurt. I didn’t want to be best friends with this person, but why didn’t she like me? Wasn’t I really more similar to her than not? Why not support a fellow smart woman in a leadership role who was just doing her job, and actually doing it well? Was I supposed to sublimate myself or bring her coffee to reassure her that I was clearly her underling? I will never understand this phenomenon, no matter how many times it happened to me and to others through the years.

Needless to say I didn’t take that news very well. I stacked a pile of folders for this client on the floor by a partner’s office door and left the agency for the day. I told them I’d be so far behind the scenes that I actually would not be working on this particular account at all and good day. I may have also punched the wall by my cubicle on the way out. I have a tiny scar on the knuckle of my right hand and when it rains sometimes that joint aches just a little bit.

It’s my modern-day war wound.

Roxane Gay writes about likability and her struggle with it in the essay, “Not Here to Make Friends,” in her collection, Bad Feminist. Gay writes, “I had no idea what it meant to be likable, though I was surrounded by generally likeable people – or, I suppose, I was surrounded by people who were very invested in projecting a likable façade, people who were willing to play by the rules.”

Further on she poses, “Why is likability even a question?” and discusses how one common criticism of popular fiction is the ‘likability’ of female characters.

“Some might suggest that this likability question is a by-product of an online culture in which we reflexively click ‘Like’ or ‘Favorite’ on every status update and bit of personal trivia shared on social networks. … it would be shortsighted to believe that this desire to be liked… begins or ends with the Internet.”

It’s so addictive to be Liked.

I enjoy – I almost wrote ‘like’ – Facebook. A lot. Being a SAHM is often a lonely enterprise in terms of adult companionship and I find that reaching out online throughout the day makes me feel more connected to the Grown Up world that I might otherwise participate in IRL if I were a person with a Real Job Outside the Home. (I dislike the term Working Mother, but that’s another topic.)

Facebook is the modern day Slam Book, and it’s so easy to cast a quick and thoughtless judgment upon the masses. Like. Angry. Sad. Quick snarky comment. Eye roll emoji. I try to stay away from political commentary - even those with opinions with which I vehemently agree - simply because I can’t sit idly by and watch comments go by without adding my own thumbs up or down, and impulsively watching if others do the same. If so, they must be smart like me. If not, well… poop emoji for them.

As I’ve been writing more frequently and spending time to promote myself in the past few months, I have found more and more drawn to the Like. Writers tend to be terrible self-critics and the online world is the perfect venue for rampant self-doubt to find fertile ground to grow and fester. Compulsively, I check to see who read my latest piece. Did they Like it? Love it? Haha at it? Sad face rate it? Share it – ah, bingo, more chances for more Likes, more Love. More more more.

It worries me because these instant, Pavlovian ratings can pummel my self-esteem. Nobody put a heart on my stunning Instagram photograph? My kitschy homemade Halloween decorations? My self-deprecating and witty observation about parenthood? My heartfelt personal essay? Conversely, I get an adrenaline rush from seeing that Like count rise and other comments supporting my efforts. Where are you, my digital friends? Come and share a moment of your time and a few electrons to validate me. Like like like me. If you do, I must be OK. I must be doing OK as a writer, as a mom, as a human being. It’s my own Approval Rating Meter: 44 Likes today = Likable? Acceptable? Smart?

Or not.

As of today, November 1, I deleted Facebook from my phone. It’s just been a few hours now but it’s kind of painful, honestly. I literally forgot that I deleted it moments after - That’s done, now I’ll just go check on, oh wait a minute… It may be impossible to completely go dark (I do use it for volunteer work and events) but my goal is to stay away from it for most of the day. I wonder if I will feel like a relief or a terrible sacrifice? Will I feel less liked or will I just care less about being liked?

Either way, it will be interesting. Poop emoji, smiley face, wink, donut.

#like #facebook #roxanegay #hillaryclinton #badfeminist #whathappened #women

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telltheworld-phff · 7 years

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Chapter 24: Keeping in touch

When Carol woke up the next day she felt Harry’s body close to hers. He was snoring lightly and was peacefully asleep. He was embracing her body and she was so comfortable in his arms that she didn’t try to move out of his hold. Her face was nuzzled against his chest and she could feel his heart beating. Their legs were intertwined and she smiled. She was scared, of course, but she couldn’t deny that she loved being this close to him. She loved how safe he made her feel and how he’d always be there to calm down her fears and worries. She traced patterns on his chest with her fingers and snuggled close to him. She noticed he had woken up when he kissed her temple and grumbled something under his breath. She looked up and he had a grumpy face that soon became a smirk and then a huge grin when he saw her smiling at him. He caressed her face with his thumb and she closed her eyes to feel it.

“Good morning, darling.” he said softly.

“Morning” she answered opening her eyes again.

“Last day, huh” he said “Are you going to miss me?”

“You know I will...” she answered.

“That’s good. Because I’m gonna miss you a lot.” he said and cupped her face and pecked her lips a couple of times before really kissing her. She ran her nails on his back and nape slowly. It was a tender and sweet kiss.

“Have a shower with me?” he whispered through her lips after they parted the kiss.

“Isn’t it too intimate?” she asked furrowing her brow.

“Well… maybe. But it’s our last day. And we both know where we stand.” he stated.

She only nodded and he got up. He helped her out of the bed and hugged her from behind and made their way to the bathroom. He kissed her neck and tickled her a bit. They got inside the shower stall and he turned on the water. She was the first to go under it and closed her eyes feeling the warm water relax her body. He only watched her.

“Aren’t you joining me?” she opened her eyes and noticed he was gawking at her.

He came closer and grabbed the soap and started to run it on her body. They stared at each other while Harry gave her a bath. She did the same with him after she rinsed it and couldn’t help to see he was hard again. She truly considered not having sex with him anymore. They were friends and they were going to stay just friends. But she couldn’t help but want the amazing feeling he gave her all the times they had sex. So she just took extra care of his member while giving him a shower. He groaned softly when her hands wrapped around it and started moving up and down. He bit her lip and made her turn around. They lost themselves in each other for half of the morning.

(…)

Carol went back to her room at noon. She organized her things and checked twice to see if she wasn’t forgetting anything. She dressed in comfortable clothes and waited for her friends to be ready to go.

“I think you should give it a shot.” Lara whispered in her ear when they hugged and were saying their goodbyes.

“What are you talking about?” Carol asked her friend.

“You know what I’m taking about. You and Harry. You’d make a great couple. You guys bring the best in each other.” she answered.

“I don’t think so.”

“So you two, just friends?” she asked.

“Yeah. it’s better this way. I gotta live in the real world, Lara. But thanks.” she said.

“I’m rooting for you though.” she smiled.

Carol bid goodbye to Skippy, who hugged her a lot of times, Arthur, Alessandra and Bill. They all left she and Harry alone in the room to say their goodbyes. They kissed one, two, three times. They hugged and she cried. They were saying goodbye for this amazing trip, for this calmness, for this togetherness and for the amazing moments they shared. But they’d remain friends. That mattered the most for them.

“You take good care, ok?” she said fussing over him and adjusting his shirt. “Don’t stay up late and stop bothering your brother.”

“Ok, mom.” he joked.

They stared at each other and she smiled through her tears.

“I’m going to really miss you, Henry.” she said.

“Me too. But it’s not like we’re not going to talk everyday anyway.” he smiled. “But please, don’t go after that jerk again.”

“Even if I wanted, which I don’t, I couldn’t.” she answered him.

“Why not?”

“I can’t ever settle for less than what you gave me on this trip, Henry.” she said simply and shrugged.

“But I didn’t gave you too much.” he was confused.

“Exactly my point. Everything you effortlessly gave me made me feel so respected and honored that I won’t ever settle for less.”

“That’s good to know.” he smiled.

“Goodbye, Harry.” she said when she heard her taxi honking on the street.

“Goodbye, darling.” he said kissing her knuckles and palm before pecking her lips again.

She turned away and grabbed her luggage. She walked without looking back because she didn’t know if she would keep going if she did. The driver helped her with her bag and she could see her friends waving to her. She waved back and put on her sunglasses. She was about to cry and didn’t want them to see her like this. She didn’t want Harry to see her like this.

Harry had a sullen face and a sour mood ever since she left. And it didn’t go unnoticed by his friends and his bodyguard.

(…)

“PRINCE HARRY ALREADY MOVED ON FROM MEGHAN MARKLE.”

“PRINCE HARRY VACATIONING WITH NEW GIRLFRIEND.”

“PRINCE HARRY SPOTTED AT RIO DE JANEIRO WITH A BEAUTY.”

He groaned annoyed and looked at Edward when he saw the headlines. He was furious and angry and he wanted to punch every single person that published and printed it. He had already received calls from his father, brother and grandmother. All of them asked for him to explain himself and he wasn’t in the mood to talk to any of them right now. He didn’t really have to talk to them. He had to talk to her. He didn’t know if she already saw the photos, but he wanted to say he was sorry.

He looked at the pictures again. They were leaving the beach the day they went to see the sunset at Arpoador. Her face, thank heavens, didn’t show in none of the pictures. They all were taken from a long distance and were blurry. But one could simply pinpoint him and Bill. And could see they were holding hands. He was thankful that his arm covered her face, but for anyone who knew who Carol was, it was obvious and pretty easy to spot her. He was afraid someone who didn’t like her would sell her infos to the best payer. That would devastate her, because being linked to him was what she avoided the most ever since they met. He tried to call her three times before she picked up.

“Already saw it, Henry.” she answered the phone. She was at work, it was her first day back and it had been two weeks after their trip. She was sad. She was mad and scared. She didn’t think she had many enemies, but some people would rather make an easy money and sell her to the press. She didn’t want to lose her privacy. She wanted to come and go as she pleased. She didn’t want to be followed or having to mind what she said. She didn’t want the constant fear that every single word she said would end up on tomorrow’s headlines.

“I’m so sorry, Carol...” he started running his hands through his messy hair.

“It’s alright. I mean… it’s not alright. But we knew it was about to happen. And thankfully that’s a shitty picture and my face isn’t showing on them.” she said while printing files for her boss. She was balancing her phone on her shoulder.

“I’m still very sorry.” he answered. “Edward’s trying to take them out of circulation.”

“I doubt he’ll be successful… because the pictures are everywhere I look here in Brazil.” she said. “They’re even doing guessing games to discover who the girl is.” she sneered.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to be able to distract them from you...” he said. ”But do you think someone that knows you could sell the info to the press?”

“Some people, yes. But they don’t usually read tabloids.” she said after finishing her task and separating it on folders.

“That’s a relief, then.” he said.

“Yeah… but Harry, I’ve gotta go. Have a meeting in 10 and I didn’t even finish what I needed to.”

“I’m gonna call you later. Take care, ok?”

“Sure. But can I ask you something?”

“Anything, darling.” he jumped right in and answered without hesitance.

“Do try to keep me hidden. My life is difficult as it is already.” she had a grief in her voice that broke his heart and fueled his anger. That was completely unfair to her to have to go through this shit.

“I’ll do my very fucking best to.”

“That’s great. Talk to you later.” she finished the call and got back to work.

Carol’s phone buzzed all day. She received texts from her mother, Flavio, Hailey and Julia. All of them saying they were feeling betrayed that she didn’t tell them she and Harry were dating. Her mom went way above her senses when she asked Carol if they were already girlfriend-boyfriend and if she could call him her son. Carol rolled her eyes and only explained that she’d talk to her later.

She also got texts from Lara, Skippy, Arthur and Alessandra. They were a mix of “I told you so”, “I knew it” and “Why didn’t you guys tell us?”. Carol couldn’t help but feel like she had betrayed her friends’ trust, but at the same time, she didn’t really have anything to tell them. She and Harry had hooked up on a trip. And it was great. But it was over and they were back to their normal friendship path.

Some people she hadn’t talked since his party also texted her. Some asked if that was really her and others just sent exclamation points. She was getting upset because of the situation. All because a fucking photo.

At night, when she was home and alone, she checked her social media and something in her mind told her to erase all compromising photos and block view from most of her things. She closed her instagram account, which was needed because now Harry and his friends followed her. And on her facebook the only things people outside her network could see was her profile picture and her name. She untagged herself from her friend’s photos and blocked the option for other people to see who she was friends with.

The thing that surprised her the most was that the fandom was on fire. Lots and lots of manips and posts with those photos, lots of people speculating about them. A couple of girls were trying to identify the woman in the photos and the other half were being their nasty self and talking shit of someone they didn’t even know just because she was next to Harry. She rolled her eyes and logged out. She was on a thin line and afraid of being discovered.

She woke up everyday thinking this was it. But days and weeks had came and gone and no one discovered who the brunette was.

And she was thankful for that.

(…)

One of the things that became an habit of them was their Friday night Skype chats. They’d have a glass of wine, a comfortable place and they’d talk for hours and hours. Harry always made her laugh and the internet was helping them to remain close and connected. They knew what was happening in each others lives and they shared secrets and good moments.

“You’re so grumpy tonight, Henry.” Carol said looking at him through the camera. He was laying on his bed and his laptop was resting on his stomach.

“I’m in desperate need of a shag.” he said grumbling.

She laughed and he got annoyed by her attitude.

“Go wank one off, then.” she answered.

“Care to help me?” he wiggled his eyebrows a couple of times and she laughed even more.

“Are you crazy?” she said mid laugh.

“Of course not. I’d enjoy it even more if you helped me a little bit.”

“We’re not doing this Henry.”

“Why not?” he shrugged.

“Because it’s gross and weird and… unnatural.”

“Everything is a matter of getting used to it.” he answered. “I can help you through it. It’s been a while since you had sex too.”

“Why are you so sure of it?” she implied.

“Because I know you more than you think I do.” he smirked.

She blushed and he spent a whole hour convincing her to simply show her body to him. She was reluctant but give in. She got up to make sure her door was locked and she positioned her laptop the way he guided her, on her bed and with it’s screen slightly turned down so in this way she could move freely and he’d still be able to see her without having to adjust it all the time. She couldn’t deny that she was eager to have sex again, but she couldn’t convince her body to forget the touch of Harry. She couldn’t get herself to find an one night stand. She had never masturbated in front of someone and he was giving her a whole new experience. He asked her to undress and hissed when he saw the body he missed more each day. She was wearing a nightgown and panties, and she took it off slowly and shyly. He instructed her where to touch, how to touch and a once nervous Carolina became a confident woman touching her body and giving pleasure to herself. Harry watched and listened to her sounds and moans and his hand was wrapped around his groin and moving slowly. She was also turned on watching him, because she remembered how good that part of his body made her feel. He enjoyed seeing her amazing body and the way she knew how to give pleasure to herself. They dirty-talked, they role played until they both came together. She bit her lip and he wished he was the one doing that. She was embarrassed when they finished but the only thing he said was:

“Don’t you dare to be embarrassed by it. It was fucking amazing.” he said after he cleaned himself and came back to his bed. She had dressed her night gown again and still had that after-bliss expression on her face. “We’re doing this again for sure.”

A/N: Another short and filler chapter for us today. But I kinda like this one. One of the girls asked me how I’d make them connected even when they’re living in different countries. Well... through technology. They text, the video chat, they call, they send emails... Pretty much like us.

Next chapter is Carol’s graduation day!!

(And yes, we’re getting closer to her moving to England.)

See ya next week.

#when you tell the world you're mine #phff #prince harry #fanfiction #chapter: 24

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paperscraps-and-inkstains-blog · 6 years

Text

Problem

“Richman!” Agent Abernathy’s tone was strident, grating on the brunette male’s nerves. Great. She was already pissed. Just what Ryker wanted to deal with first thing in the morning.

“Yes ma’am?” Ryker asked, taking off his sunglasses as he stepped into the entryway of her office. Agent Abernathy, her fiery curls pulled into a neat bun, arms crossed over the chest of her gray Armani suit, motioned for him to enter, picking up a manila file.

“I need you to track this person down- they’ve got a whole web of firewalls and phony IP addresses, so it’ll be tough- and I need it done yesterday, got it?”

Ryker cocked an eyebrow, accepting the folder. “… yeah, alright… anything else?”

“Yes, next time, take your fucking sunglasses off at the front door. Most of the higher ups don’t know our genius hacker is also a pothead college kid, I’d like it to stay that way.”

Ryker saluted, receiving an annoyed ‘smartass’ to which he replied ‘buzzkill’, turning and disappearing down the hall to the remodeled storage closet they called his office. Tossing the file on his desk, the male wandered about the room, tossing his jacket and bag onto the bean bag in the corner before turning his attention to his wall of computer monitors.

Clicking on the Sirius radio, he selected one of the louder channels- trying to make his distaste at the unfair demands evident to the entire office- before he finally set to work.

Four aliases, six fake social media accounts, and three hours later, Ryker had little to nothing on this asshole. Sitting backwards in his computer chair, the male stared each social media account. They were only linked to two of the four aliases, the first alias- Peter Parker- having Parker Peters, Parker Peterson, and Peter P. Arker, the second alias- Steve Rogers- having Roger Stevenson, Steven R. O. Gers, and Roger Steves. And so far, he had a small list of similarities.

A, both aliases were the names of male superheroes.

B, both superheroes were mutants who’d started out as weak nerds.

C, both were technically avengers.

D, none of these accounts had anything useful. Addresses were all Wal-Mart parking lots. Cell phones led to hotlines neither his mom or his mother would approve of. And the photos all used the same vaguely popular instagramer’s face.

So, basically, he had shit.

A knock at the door drew the male’s attention. He glanced up to see Agent Nicholas Kane- a taller, bald black guy who could probably snap Ryker in half if he wanted to- standing in the doorway. The man flashed a grin, holding up a Taco Bell bag. “I bring a peace offering. Amanda-” Nick referred to everyone, even Agent Abernathy, by their first names. “Sent me to check on your progress. I’m guess from the screamo that its not going well.”

“Its punk pop covers, but your guess is correct,” Ryker sighed, taking the offered bag as Nick perched in the chair beside him. “All of this assholes alias’ are superheroes- Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, Buck Barnes, Anthony Stark- only two of them have related social media so far,” With this, he motioned vaguely at the screens, pulling one of the three soft tacos from the bag. “And all of the social media has addresses at Wal-Mart and phones linked to sex hotlines.”

“Wow, and Facebook hasn’t taken them down yet?” Nick seemed amazed, Ryker only scoffed.

“As if… the only time Facebook hassle’s a page is if it says something negative about straight white guys or if someone reports a trans person for having a fake name.”

This made Nick laugh. “I hear that. God that ‘this does not go against community guidelines’ message is obnoxious. Anything I can help with?”

“Not unless you can get Abernathy off my ass. She yelled at me for not taking off my sunglasses the minute I walked through the front door this morning,” Ryker says, moving onto his second taco. Nick sighs.

“She’s… not actually pissed at you. She’s got some personal shit going down at home. And then the higher ups are laying on the whole department until we get this guy.”

“What’d he do that makes him so important?”

“Doxxed some family members of the higher ups. They had to be temporarily moved into witness protection. It’s a whole mess.”

Ryker winced. Sure, he’d hacked the FBI before, that’s how he ended up working here, but he’d never been stupid enough to go personal with it. He was more the ‘leave a harmless virus that sends them a new meme every three hours’ kind of hacker. Talented, but doing nothing with it.

As if on cue, Nick’s phone buzzed. Pulling it up, Nick smirked. “Shit, kid, you been personalizin’ these?”

“Just yours,” Ryker grinned, tossing the now empty taco bell bag into the garbage can. “You usually bring me food and yell at me a lot less than everyone else here. You get the friends package.”

Nick grinned. He’d given up scolding Ryker about eating too fast months ago. “Alright, I’ll come back and check in on ya later. I’m gonna go see if we can find a link between those Wal-Marts.”

Ryker nodded, grinning when Nick ruffled his hair. Nick was a pretty cool guy. Probably the first real friend Ryker’d ever made.

As he went back to his searching, a Set It Off cover came on the radio. Ryker grinned, turning it up, and putting his fingers to the keys.

By the end of the day, they found their link. Each address, including the ones on the six new fake profiles Ryker found (three for each of the other two alias) belonged to Wal-Mart’s in Utah. Once Ryker had this, he was able to find the real IP address. The arrest was made two hours later.

Agent Abernathy came into Ryker’s office as he was shutting everything off, having done his usual, ‘I hack you, you don’t hack me’ checks and procedures. Ryker glanced to the woman, running a hand through his hair.

“Am I in trouble for the music?” She didn’t usually come to his office unless he was in trouble. Agent Abernathy simply chuckled.

“No, Ryker, I’m here to congratulate you. That was a good catch.”

Oh. This was new. Ryker simply shrugged. “It wasn’t all me. Nick was the one who figured out all the addresses were in Utah.”

“Either way,” Agent Abernathy said. “You did good. Stop being humble.”

Ryker nods, gaze flicking to the hall when he hears the distinct ring of Agent Abernathy’s office phone. She glances in its direction, making a face.

“Big bosses or your husband?”

“Probably my husband, he still wants an apology for me being angry at him for skipping our last two counseling sessions.”

Ryker nodded. After a moment, he spoke. “Want my advice?”

Agent Abernathy glanced to him, raising an eyebrow. Leaning on his desk, the male spoke.

“Binary code is useless if its all zeros and no ones,” Ryker remarked. “Same goes for a relationship. Both parts need to put in effort in order for it to work properly. You’ve plugged in all your zeros, if he’s not going to plug in the ones, you need to find someone else who will.”

The woman stared at him for a moment. Then, she nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. Thank you.”

Ryker nodded back, retrieving his jacket and bag from the bean bag chair. Agent Abernathy joined him in walking out, chuckling as she watched him put his sunglasses on the moment they stepped into the elevator.

“You’re a little shit, y’know that?”

“Yeah, I know.”

#Writing #original character #weed mention #taco bell #wal mart #fbi #hacker #don't repost #don't kin plz #reblogs are nice

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