#and as a result our team is thriving!

[msfantasy-comics]

The Perfect Match

Damian Wayne x Reader

Summary: Ways in which you are Damian’s perfect match

Requested: Yes

Masterlist - Tip Jar

Damian Wayne at times yearned for a partner.

He never dwelled too much on the idea, as his way of life does not accommodate a nurturing environment for a relationship to grow.

The volatility of his lifestyle would always squash any ambers of romance.

But you are the outlier that defined all odds.

You were Damian’s perfect match.

Independence and Sense of Adventure

Damian is a free-spirit so to speak and generally thrives in personal space.

Since Damians life has always centred around independence and self sufficiency, he requires his significant other to reflect similar qualities.

Whilst you could always go for extra-Damian-time. You’re quite content on letting Damian have his personal space.

But that doesn’t mean your going to sit around and wait for him.

Damian: “I’m heading out, will probably be back whenever….”

Y/n: “… Kay, see you later.”

During Damian’s frequent disappearance acts, you often take advantage and go on spur of the moments girls trip with Kori and Steph.

Damian: “I just got back home, where are you?”

Y/n: “Los Vegas with Kori and Steph.”

Damian: “I- … Fine send me the hotel address I’m on my way.”

Y/n: “Girls trip only!”

Damian: “I’m part of the gir-“

Y/n: “I’ll see you tomorrow, Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”

Similar Interests

Whilst you might not be on the Streets of Gotham, dirtying yourself with the likes of criminals.

You support Damian from a distance behind the very safe bat computer.

Often you excitedly present him with his next case.

Y/n: “So I’ve found our next case! An advocate for West Papua was attending a world submit to advocate their people’s freedom, but in the middle of his speech he just disappeared!”

Damian: “Government did it. Case closed.”

Y/n: “Except not case closed, his monitor is still registering his heartbeat, oxygen and sleeping statistics and his tracker is still locating him in the same room!”

Damian: “A supernatural anomaly… interesting… tell me more.”

Abrasive

Damian has had an incredibly volatile up bringing which has conditioned him to act and behave in certain ways that isn’t easy to handle.

You’re generally very empathetic and flexible as a result.

But at times Damian is incapable of knowing his limits which means you need to step in and put your foot down.

Damian: “- the team needed me-“

Y/n: “This isn’t a debate Damian! You disappeared for an ENTIRE month without warning! That’s not an acceptable way to treat your partner, it is objectively and fundamentally wrong. You cannot do as you please and expect me to just accept your every whim.”

Damian: “You were preemptively warned about the demands of my lifestyle.”

Y/n: “Precaution is not a synonym for absolute submission. Your actions are not permissible, there are steps that could’ve been made, but you chose not to because you thought I’d blindly accept what was happening.”

Damian: “Forgive me, I did not intend for things to get out of hand like this.”

Y/n: “…I forgive you this time, be warned, I have my limits.”

#Damian Wayne #Damian Wayne x Reader #Damian x Reader #Wayne X reader #DC x reader #DC Imagine #Damian Wayne imagine #Damian imagine #batboys #batboys x reader #batboys imagine

[sungbeam]

nonidol!eric sohn x f!reader

you won't think golf is a boring sport after he's done with you! (but it's not about golf, and it's not about swings. just a young heir with money, love, and a thing for you.)

▷ genre, warnings. technically s2l, country club au, summer break au, starts with him already into you, slight pining? idk, fluff, humor, rich people™, golf lol, swearing, drinking, kissing, it gets like actually romantic, Eric Sohn bc he's so attractive someone help me.

▷ word count. 11.4k

▷ inspired by swing my way (cha cha malone & phe r.e.d.s)

a/n: my submission for the deoboyznet summer on you event! and @mosviqu who implanted the idea of country club rich boy eric into my brain @@

It wasn't like Eric Sohn, heir to his parents' multi-million dollar investment firm, prized shortstop of the UCLA baseball team, planned to spend his entire summer charming his parents' clients and partners. A summer spent at the Beverly Hills Country Club wasn't something new for the young heir either. The rolling, emerald green hills for golf; the clean cement tennis courts; the dim and classy bars were all ingrained in him since childhood. They were environments Eric had learned to thrive in, and when one had the advantage, one was always taught to wield it like a blade.

At least, that was what he was taught. Over the years, he'd also learned that his extroverted personality and charming smile were disarming—and his pretty boy appearance often resulted in others underestimating him. That was their mistake.

"...that trip to Taiwan will be such a great opportunity to explore the relationship between our companies."

Eric clasped Mr. Thomas Tsaur's hand in a firm shake as the two men stood at the final hole of the golf course. Eric beamed. "Yes, of course! I know my mom would love to see the night markets around Taipei; my parents have been looking forward to the trip all year," he said, as easy as breathing air. Of course, he didn't really know if his parents were looking forward to it. If he was the one on his way to Taiwan instead, he knew that he himself would be ecstatic.

During business meetings—and meetings that weren't officially classified as business, but were definitely about business—Eric tried to stay as true to himself as possible. Once in a while, some of the persona he'd built up slipped through the cracks, but there was a reason he liked baseball more than business.

Mr. Tsaur made a pleasant reply back about promising a fun-filled tour of the city with his wife, and the two of them were splitting up. There were offhanded comments about seeing each other for dinner when Eric's parents finally arrived, but that was all that was left of the interaction.

Eric jogged down the hill toward the conventional path where a white-topped golf cart sat waiting for him. His driver and caddy companion for the day was Jacob Bae, a regular worker here at the country club whom Eric had known for at least a couple years now.

But instead of just Jacob and the cart, Eric found that someone else had joined the group.

You sat in the second row of the golf cart with a circular serving tray pressed over your lap. Like some of the other staff members at the club, you wore the standard black, collared shirt and black skort. He'd seen you around this place plenty of times this summer and even greeted you once or twice, but he knew you were new.

Oh, trust that he knew a new face when he saw one, especially when said face was as pretty as yours. The only shame was that you were often assigned to areas where Eric didn't exactly frequent, but he never took himself as the type to give up easily.

You and Jacob were sharing a laugh as Eric approached the golf cart with his golf putter in hand. "Hey guys," Eric chirped.

All the attention flickered over to Eric, but he couldn't stop staring at the way the slight breeze this afternoon was making your hair fall in your face all pretty. Even in a braid, the little strands fell out to frame your face.

"Oh, hi Eric! How was the last round?" Jacob asked as he twisted around in his driver's seat to watch Eric round the back to put his putter away. You had shifted in your seat slightly to follow him with your eyes, as well.

Eric slid the stick into his bag and caught your eyes. His smile widened. "It went well. Same old, same old," he chuckled, bracing a gloves hand on the roof of the cart. "When'd you get here, Yn?" He asked you with a nod of his chin.

You perked up at the sound of your name. Cute. "Ah, just a few minutes ago," you said. You sheepishly gestured to your empty tray. "Haknyeon dropped me off a few holes over to deliver drinks, and then I saw Jacob over here and walked over to catch a ride back to the clubhouse."

"I can't believe he just ditched you," Jacob chortled.

Eric circled around the cart to take the seat in the front beside Jacob. "He ditched you?" He frowned, leaning his arm over the back of the seat to look at you.

As the cart began making its smooth return down the path and over a small bridge, you smoothed your braid over your shoulder. "No, no! He didn't ditch me; we were just headed in the same direction until we… weren't," you mused. "I mean, if Cobie wasn't here, a walk back wouldn't have been the worst thing anyways."

"I guess," Eric agreed, biting his lip. "So, uh… ever played golf before?"

"Golf? It's been a while, but yeah, I've driven the occasional golf ball across a green."

From the driver's seat, Jacob slapped his right hand down on Eric's shoulder. "Yn-ie! This guy's one of the best casual golf players you'll probably ever meet. His swing? So clean."

Eric chuckled, clasping a hand on the back of his neck, when he felt your attention flicker back to him again. "I'm no pro…"

"I'll have to see that for myself then," you said with a smile.

The golf cart slowed to a stop in front of the doors into the main kitchens of the clubhouse proper. Because this main kitchen was so large, they were given their own set of doors directly to the outdoor courts and beyond for easy access. While Jacob would drop you off here, he would have to continue onward for Eric's proper spot.

You clambered out of the golf cart, poking Jacob in the shoulder as you went. "Bye, guys! Thanks for the ride, Cobie."

"Bye, Yn!" Both boys chimed together. When you disappeared behind the swinging kitchen doors, Jacob pulled the cart back onto the main road to carry onward.

Eric settled into his seat to face forward once again. He lifted the cap off his head and carded a hand through his hair to let the strands, dampened with sweat, dry a bit. "I didn't know Yn was allowed to work the golf range," he commented as innocently as possible.

Jacob made a small humming noise. "Yeah, we're short a couple people out here because of the Ferndale event going on down by the gazebo."

"She wasn't sent there?"

"Did you want her to be sent there?" Jacob grinned slyly at the young heir, who turned his gaze elsewhere.

Eric coughed. "I didn't say that."

His companion still would not wipe that knowing smile off his face, even as he slowed the golf cart to a stop and Eric hopped out to collect his equipment from the back. "I didn't say you did," he snickered as Eric walked away.

He didn't give Jacob the satisfaction of an answer, instead, saying a "thank you" for driving him over his shoulder, before ducking inside the clubhouse locker room.

Jacob shook his head in amusement and began making his way further down the path to return the cart. Silly, silly kids.

You didn't realize country clubs were real until you were sitting in the office of the Beverly Hills Country Club's hiring manager and being hired. That was about a month ago, and no, you still didn't believe it was real. The entire training experience, in fact, had swept through like a fever dream.

The summer season had just begun, though, and they had taken you on in a rush of desperation. You hadn't failed to notice how relieved the hiring manager looked when you told him you'd worked as a waitress at an upscale wedding venue before you moved cross-country, and knew how to carry a drink platter and dirty dishes. That was part of the reason you'd been hired on the spot. You'd also mentioned your extensive knowledge of how to fold cloth napkins into swans, and you liked to think that was your true selling point. (Don't ask, the last part was because you had been very bored while waiting in the backroom during a wedding.)

And while you cared little about cleaning pools or catering to rich prick egos, you did care about the crisp green bills that graced your eyes with more frequency than a Superman actor on Hollywood Boulevard. There was also the possibility to gain some more experience in the dining and catering world; if you were lucky, you could butter up your manager to let you help out in the kitchen some.

After all, that was why you were here so far from home.

"Yn, you've got company at table five," Haknyeon said as he passed by you on his way into the kitchen.

You gave a nod out of instinct. You brushed your hands against your black waist apron, absentmindedly reaching up to also smooth out the black vest on your upper half. Usually when you worked at the club's restaurants and bars as wait staff, your uniform consisted of a white button down under a black vest, followed by a black skirt and apron. It was classy and chic, and definitely added to the expensive atmosphere.

You could see table five in your section up ahead. It was a little early into dinner service, but there were still people who came in. To your surprise, the company at table five was none other than Eric Sohn himself, along with two others you recognized as his parents. They were dressed casually—meaning semiformal. It was something out of a dinner cruise, with Eric's dark brunette waves styled effortlessly messy and the top three buttons of his dress shirt undone to reveal the slightly bronzed, toned skin beneath—

You cleared your throat, plastering a smile on your face as you approached the table. "Evening, everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Sohn," you gave a small greeting bow to his parents, then swiftly doled out little napkins for their drinks. "It's nice to see you on the grounds again today."

"Oh, Yn! It's very nice to see you this evening," said Mrs. Sohn with a delicate flourish of her wrist.

"Yes!" Mr. Sohn chimed in, "What have you been up to? Eric says he saw you on the golf range today."

Your eyes darted to Eric's, then went back to his parents when you realized his eyes were on you. You laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear and bracing the end of your serving tray against your waist. "Oh, uhm, yeah! I was just summoned down there to get some drinks to the Santos family—you know them, right?"

Recognition lit up in Eric's mother's eyes. "Yes, yes! Marina and her kids! Ah, well that sounds nice; I'll have to see if I can bump into her at the spa or something. Eric gave you a ride back in his cart, didn't he? The walk back is awfully far."

You nodded. "Yeah, of course. He was with Jacob, so I just hopped in the back and rode back with them here."

"I still owe you that golf date," Eric cut in smoothly, the hand with his Rolex draped over the back of his chair. His smile was casual, innocent, the kind that so easily could make anyone do his bidding.

"Golf date?" His parents glanced curiously between the two of you, and you felt heat rush up to your cheeks.

"It was just an offhand comment," you said sheepishly. "Jacob was telling me about how great of a golfer Eric is and I said I wanted to see his swing some time." Before anything else could be said on the matter, you tucked your tray under your arm and replaced it with your notepad and pen. "Can I get you anything to drink? An appetizer to start?"

That drew away the conversation promptly. It wasn't like you were uncomfortable with the idea of going on a date with Eric Sohn, it just wasn't that simple. Though the club officially encouraged good relationships between staff and club members, they didn't exactly encourage the romantic kind of relationship. Obviously, it would be impossible to enforce a no-entanglement policy completely, but you wanted to stay on your manager's good side.

You nearly folded in half over the counter of the tiki bar at the pool. Sweat streamed down the side of your face, and you were pretty sure your baby hairs looked akin to a lion's mane under your white baseball cap. Thank god the club didn't force you to wear a black colored hat instead; the black polo and skort were death enough.

Jacob chuckled as he passed you a clean, damp towel that had been soaking in ice water. "Before you get heat stroke," he said, then returned to preparing a tray of drinks someone had ordered at the hot tub.

You thanked him profusely, dabbing your face and neck with the cool blessing. "Sheesh," you groaned. "I think I need to reapply my sunscreen soon. How are you out here all the time, Cobie?"

He grinned with a half-hearted shrug. "Well, I work with cold drinks and I'm under the shade. And—" he tapped the handy little fan clipped to one of the structure poles of the tiki bar, "—this beautiful work of engineering."

"I need one of those umbrella hats and squirt bottles kids bring to Disneyland," you grumbled and plucked yourself up from the bar. You returned the towel to Jacob so he could toss it into the soiled towel bin on the other side of him. You watched as he finished up filling the tray and whistled at the pool waiter who had ordered it for the group at the hot tub.

As the waiter walked away with the drinks, you thought aloud, "How could they stand to be in the hot tub in this heat?" From here, you could see the group of girls gathered in the bubbling jets of the hot tub at the far end of the pool in their bikini tops and Gucci shades.

"They're not standing—they're sitting."

You sent Jacob an unimpressed look, to which he simply smiled wider.

"Hey guys!" Ji Changmin huffed and puffed as he collapsed onto the barstool next to you. He had a towel hanging around his shoulders and a white sweatband holding up his dark bangs dripping with sweat. "Can I get an ice water, hyung?"

"Yeah, man," Jacob said, already dumping a scoop of ice in a cup.

"You alright there, Changmin?" You glanced over at the club's dance instructor with barely concealed amusement.

Changmin took the corner of his towel to dry the dribble of sweat making its way down his forehead. "Whoever thought it was a good idea to do hot Zumba in the height of summer needs a reality check. I think I'm dying."

As one of the country club's primary dance instructors, not only did Changmin lead all of the dance activities on the grounds, he was also supposed to take over any dance aerobics classes like said hot Zumba. You knew it wasn't his favorite, but it was still funny to make faces at him through the window as he did can-can kicks in leg warmers with all of the rich moms.

You leaned down to check if he had the leg warmers on. He did not. At least he finally had the good sense to break uniform.

Jacob slid over an ice-cold glass of water, and Changmin drained it like a man who trekked through the desert for seven days. You glanced at Jacob's digital clock on the counter behind him—he kept it so he could be on time for all of his breaks.

"Oh shit," you said, quickly fixing your cap and adjusting your hair, "time for me to get back to work."

Changmin straightened. "Where are you stationed today, Yn-ie? Chanhee and I wanted to come pick you up later for dinner before we have to come back."

"That's right!" Jacob slapped his palm to his forehead. "We have to all be back here for the banquet. I almost forgot, damn it."

You cocked a brow at him. "Wow, you, Jacob Bae, almost forgot about the major event all of our jobs are riding on that's taking place tonight?"

A smile curled onto your face when Jacob narrowed his eyes at you. "Don't you have work to do?"

You let out a laugh and began backing away from the tiki bar and your friends. "Kim has me at the ice cream bar until the end of my shift, Changmin. I'll catch you boys later!"

Jacob and Changmin raised their hands in twin waves to you as you walked away. If you remembered the time on Jacob's clock correctly, you had about fifteen minutes to get up to the indoor ice cream bar for your shift.

Tonight, the country club was hosting a banquet for one of the business men here. It was supposedly one of the most important events for the club's reputation, so it was all hands on deck. Everyone from Chanhee at the spa to Haknyeon in the kitchen were called upon to clock into work once again tonight to help out. You were glad you weren't a part of the set-up and takedown committees, but you were expected to wait on the banquet. Jacob was supposed to be bartending tonight, as usual, and your other friends and coworkers would be waiting alongside you.

You glanced up on your walk out of the pool area and nearly tripped over the soles of your sneakers.

Coming in hot (literally) were none other than Eric Sohn, Lee Hyunjae, and Lee Juyeon—all of whom were very much shirtless. Swim trunks hung low on their waists, their stomachs carved like triplet Michaelangelos. Seeing shirtless guys at the pool wasn't new for you, but these guys were actually around your age.

Eric saw you first and waved. "Yn, hey!"

"Hi guys," you greeted back with a shallow nod of your head. "Nice day out for a swim."

"I know, right?" Hyunjae raised a hand to shield his eyes from the unforgiving summer sun. "You must be baking in that uniform, Yn." He raised his chin to gesture at the all black attire.

"I don't suppose you'd be able to join us?" Juyeon smiled. He knew you probably couldn't join them because you were clocked in, but he had always been pretty nice nonetheless. He and Hyunjae were cousins, and the Lee family was well-known around here for being big names in the legal sphere, as well as being one of the larger families. There was another cousin of theirs around their age running around here somewhere, too.

You gave a helpless shrug. "Duty calls, unfortunately."

"Yn, hey wait—" Eric caught your attention as you were about to continue walking up toward the main clubhouse. He flashed you that smile again, the one that made your stomach do flips and would convince you to do flips for him if only he asked. "You won't happen to be working at the banquet tonight, are you?"

"How'd you guess?" You replied good-naturedly. "Why do you ask?"

He began walking backwards toward the direction his friends had drifted off to, his smile tilting up slightly. "So I know which cologne I should wear."

And it definitely wasn't a trick of the summer sun that made you see him wink at you.

"He's into you."

"He is not—" you wrestled your sleeve up your forearm and made a frustrated noise when the button would not go through, "—into me."

Chanhee gave you a nice, slow eye roll just so you would see it, and he yanked the sleeve away from you so he could roll it up himself. "A lot of men around here like smelling nice, but no one pulls out the Acqua Di Gio just for the service girl or a business banquet," he hissed as a fellow waiter rushed past you two in the narrow corridor. "Jesus, why is this button such a bitch?"

"That's what I'm saying," you hissed back at him as the two of you both struggled to fix your sleeve. "Not the cologne thingy—I hate how you're able to just take a whiff and name the cologne. What kind of demon nose do you have?"

Chanhee sighed and collapsed against the wall opposite to you when he finally managed to get the sleeve right. The two of you were currently on break, not hiding, in this corridor. In T-minus two minutes, you would both have to be back out in the hustle and bustle of cleanup or after-party drinks in the lounge. Because the main course had finally been served, a lot of the waiters were allowed to go on break. The banquet thus far had gone relatively smoothly, other than the fact that when you had served Eric all of his courses, he'd made sure you practically melted on the smell of his cologne.

It wasn't your fault you had to bend down close to him to not spill the hot food. And it wasn't your fault that he chose to put his mouth right to your ear when he told you a joke, masking it as asking for more water.

You couldn't decide if you were going to giggle or let your knees buckle at that moment. Thank god you managed to laugh behind your hand and hustle away before anyone noticed.

But that was besides the point. The point was that Chanhee had also passed by Eric, caught the faint trail of Aqua De Whatever, and connected some dots.

"If you want a demon, you talk to Changmin," he said. "I just know my shit. And I also know that you only break out the Acqua Di Gio when you want to attract someone, and based on the fact he's currently seated around about fifty other businesspeople…" Chanhee made a wild, desperate gesture with his hands, eyes widened. Are you getting this? He seemed to ask. Because I will smack you if you aren't.

You fanned yourself, justifying it by thinking about how hot the back hallway was and this outfit was, rather than admitting that it was because Eric was hot. "Okay, okay. Come on, we have to get back out there," you said, already turning your heel toward the door.

"I'm just saying that clearly he's been trying to tell you something," Chanhee added as you both broke out of the hallway and into the kitchen. He grabbed a circular serving tray from a stack on the counter next to him to hand over to you.

"Well, what do you suppose I should do with that?"

He pressed his lips into a thin smile, taking hold of a small, empty cart and pushing it ahead of him. "Just keep an open mind, darling."

You and Chanhee separated at the kitchen doors out into the banquet hall. While he would be a part of cleaning up, you needed to head over to the next-door parlor where the party had moved post-dinner. Business would continue as usual, just with a few more drinks and pool involved.

The parlor room was arguably one of your favorite rooms in the club with its cozier atmosphere created by the evergreen walls, tiffany-shaded lamps, and dark oak furnishings. It was also outfitted with a hearth (unused during the summer and spring) and a billiards table. Most of those who had chosen to stay had migrated with a certain crowd of people they planned to continue chatting with. Your job, as well as the few others recruited to the parlor, was to be a fly on the wall until somebody needed something. If tips were passed around, you were free to pocket them.

You were probably standing and waiting for only five minutes before you saw Eric stand up from where he was on the far side of the room. He shouldered his suit jacket off and draped it over the back of his armchair, exposing the white dress shirt and black vest beneath. Whew, he was wearing a full suit to this event? You wondered how he even survived, but all conscious thought flew out the window when he caught you staring and started smirking to himself. The smug, little expression stayed etched into the sharp planes of his face even as he strolled over to the pool table and lined up his shot.

You wondered—and it was just a thought—what it'd be like (possibly) for him to lean over you—

"Excuse me, miss?" You shook out of your daze and remembered why you were here. Unfortunately, it was not to admire the young heir watching you from the other side of the room, but to serve guests.

For the next couple of hours, your job was exactly what you did. You had been so focused on running back and forth from the bar in the other room and back that you always seemed to have missed Eric trying to catch your eye again. If he wanted drinks, he had to suck it up and ask someone else who just happened to be near him instead.

As the evening dwindled into a sweet, humid night, the amount of guests also began to trickle down. You had grabbed a rag on your way back to the parlor room and said goodbye to your coworkers on their way out. Some still lingered for last minute clean up, and though you were technically done for the night, you wanted to wipe down anything you had missed. It was something simple that you could do to help out a colleague, and it wasn't like you were in a rush to go home.

When you walked back into the parlor room, however, you blinked—surprised—at the sight of an individual left. He leaned against the billiards table, one hand holding the edge of the suit jacket draped over his shoulder and the other scrolling through his phone.

Eric glanced up from his device and pocketed it at the sight of you. "Hey."

"Hi," you said back. "Uhm, can I get you anything—"

"Oh, no no. I'm good." He shook his head, pushing off from the table. He shot you that signature boyish smile of his and your heart began doing cartwheels. "I just wanted to ask if I could give you a lift home."

You opened your mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Truthfully, you were caught off guard, stunned. This wasn't what you were expecting from him.

He saw your hesitation and let out a sheepish laugh, cupping the back of his head. "Sorry, this is so out of the blue. I… it's a little late out right now, and I didn't know if you had a ride or not. I know you're not usually scheduled to work so late."

"You know my schedule?" You blurted. Though, the thought did warm you and amuse you.

His eyes widened. "I mean, uhm, definitely not in the creepy, stalkerish sort of way! I uh, I like to think I pay a lot more attention when it comes to you." His admission didn't do much to slow the racing organ in your chest cavity. You always saw Eric Sohn as one of those smooth and collected young men who were born to charm. But seeing him flustered and tripping over his words because of you?

You ducked your head slightly, flattered and most definitely charmed still. "I'd really appreciate a lift home, Eric."

You both shared a smile in the slightly dimmed, slightly warmed lights of the parlor room.

Once you had finished glossing over the surfaces of the parlor room with your rag to catch any rings made by perspiring liquids, your manager dismissed you for the night. Eric told you he would meet you out front where he would bring his car around for you. You found yourself standing at the edge of the curb with a gentle, yet rare summer breeze wafting through your hair. You had your bag slung over your shoulder, and you grasped the strap and fidgeted with the material.

A car pulled up to the circular driveway—it was a sports car. The Corvette, sleek and aerodynamic, was doused in a shiny orange coat of paint that glimmered even in the night. The passenger side window rolled down so you could see Eric leaning over the center console and waving to you.

"Hey, hop in!" He said to you with a grin, lowering the music he was playing.

Gingerly, you walked up to the car and managed to maneuver yourself inside. The passenger seat was lined in soft black leather, and the inside of the car made it all the more easy to suffocate on that delicious cologne of his.

Eric had ditched his suit jacket and vest in the backseat of the car, leaving him in just his white dress shirt and slacks.

"Nice car," you whistled lowly as you buckled yourself in.

His mouth tilted upward. "Thanks," he said. He fussed around with his phone for a second before passing the device to you. "If you wouldn't mind putting your number and address in."

"Oh." It was a brand new contact page. You didn't question it, swiftly inputting all of the necessary information before returning his phone to him.

Eric took a peek at the address, then pulled out of the country club's driveway. You didn't live too far away from the club, luckily. It was only a few minute's drive, but the walk sometimes felt a bit longer. California didn't exactly have the most convenient public transportation system, and in an area like Beverly Hills, it was near impossible to find a reliable bus or train service.

"Any music preferences?" He asked you quietly.

You shook your head. "I'm not super picky. What you have on is all good with me."

"I have to confess, Yn," he said with a half smile, eyes darting toward you, "that I was trying to steal your attention all night."

Your stomach flipped and you suppressed the smile that threatened to crawl onto your mouth. "Really?"

He laughed. "Yeah, but obviously, your work ethic beat me out, as well as my own luck."

"Any reason for seeking me out?" He'd technically had your attention all throughout the banquet, but he had also needed to entertain and chat with the other people around him. While the after party was sometimes used for business discussion, too, the banquet dinner itself was the main event.

"I mean, besides wanting to talk to the cute girl eating up all my thoughts?"

He was turning onto your apartment complex's street all too soon. The car slid into a parking spot along the curb, and he twisted in his seat to face you. "I really want to take you out, show you a good time. It doesn't have to be something fancy if that's not your vibe; we can always start with golf."

You let the smile bloom on your face at the reference to the "golf date" you both had yet to schedule. You still wanted to see his swing, after all. "Then it's a date," you said, "I should have a free day two days from now, if that works for you."

Eric bit his lip. "I'm all yours, hon."

Before you could start doing somersaults from excitement, you resolved yourself to getting into your apartment first. "Well, thank you again for the lift, Eric. You have my number?"

He nodded. "Never losing it."

You grinned something fond. He grinned right back at you. "Get home safe."

"I will. Good night, cutie."

You slammed the car door shut and left Eric to his lonesome. Through the passenger side window, Eric watched as you disappeared into your apartment complex, safe and sound. He had almost given into the urge to ask if he could walk you up, but it was a miracle you had even taken him up on his offer to drive you home.

He pulled up your contact and sent you a text so you could have his number, too, as soon as possible. He deposited his phone into the cup holder, then punched the roof of his car with a shit-eating grin on his face. He'd scored your number and a date in one night—damn right, he did.

You had reasoned with yourself that this was okay based on the fact that you weren't on company time.

"Shoooooot," you whistled with a slight arch in your brows and applause. You tracked the distance Eric's driving shot sent the golf ball flying, and in the early morning sunlight, the white sphere disappeared over the crest of green hill.

You figured being courted by a club member during your own free time was a loophole you could live with. Especially when such a loophole looked so good swinging a golf club.

His follow through was just as beautiful as he was, his arms lifting the golf club over behind him from the arc. When he lowered the club to turn back to you, he was beaming. "What's the verdict?"

Your golf club was currently acting as your arm rest as you staked the head against the grass. "I don't know, Eric," you sucked in a breath, teasingly. "I think you could've gone pro."

He laughed then, eyes narrowed into glorious upturned crescent moons. "Thanks, cutie." He made a gesture to the tee. "All yours."

"Let me preface this by saying that it's been awhile," you were quick to say as the nerves suddenly bubbled up into your chest and made you wanna do a jittery shuffle. You should not have let Eric go first.

"No worries," he chirped. "Why don't we practice first?"

Yes, practice. Thank god he knew where your head was at.

You eagerly agreed, and set your golf ball up on the tee. Nervously, you smoothed your gloves down the front of your pleated golf skirt. You lined up the face of the golf club with the ball and pulled it back a millimeter—

Then chickened out.

"Performance anxiety," you grimaced to your date.

"Oh, well, that's okay!" Eric set his golf club down on the field and made his way over to you. "Can I help?"

Yes. "Please do," you chuckled, leaving room for him to take your club.

But instead, he shook his head. "No, no. You won't learn anything from just watching, silly goose."

He grabbed the golf club over your hands and lined both of your bodies up correctly. Your breath hitched at the feeling of his front pressed against your back. His mouth was so close to your ear again, and there was that damned cologne making you see hearts.

"Sorry, is this okay?" He asked softly.

You gulped, nodding. "Yeah. Perfectly okay." You wondered if he could feel your heartbeat quicken like a drum crescendoing. If he wasn't careful, your heart might just fall out and run to his arms.

From this position, Eric smoothly guided you through the steps of a perfect swing. The pullback was cranked over your shoulder, then the club would swing straight through, followed by the arc back over your other shoulder and the appropriate turn of your body. As he had explained to you, getting the perfect swing or shot in sports mostly came down to the follow through. If one could not back up their initial movement, then why make the shot?

"—and you turn your body—yeah, just like that," he praised as you automatically rotated yourself from the side to the front, the toe of your foot digging into the ground and turning with you. "That's beautiful."

He backed up from you then, giving you some space. It suddenly felt like you were missing something with him gone. "You should try it now!"

You took a deep breath in as you lined your golf club up with the ball again. Cranking the club back over your shoulder, you swung it down and back up again. When the face of the club met the ball, it did so with a resounding PING!, and the ball went sailing.

(That sound… mwah. The sweet, sweet sound of triumph.)

"You did it!"

"I did it!"

It hadn't gone as far as Eric's had, but it had definitely traveled farther than it would have without his help. You whirled to him, clasping his hand with yours as you both shared equally radiant smiles. A giddiness flooded into you, and no doubt into the glow of your face.

"See? Not too bad," he said, squeezing your hand.

"All thanks to you," you pointed out.

He shook his head, using your linked hands to lead you back to where your golf bags were waiting a little ways back by the cart. "Nah, you had it in you, Yn. It was just performance anxiety, as you said."

The two of you each grabbed your own bags and hiked them over your shoulder to head down the hill and find your respective golf balls. From this view, you could see that the other patrons of the club were slowly trickling out onto the acres surrounding. It felt strange to be here as not a staff member, but as a guest instead.

Eric piped up, "Is it weird that I was hoping you would ask for my help?"

"Not really," you mused, then meekly added, "'cause I was kind of hoping you would offer your help."

He looked about as happy as you felt, and he swung your hands together between you.

It hit you, then, that you were still holding hands. But you didn't let go, and Eric didn't say anything. He just helped you find your golf ball, line up another shot, and hugged you from behind like it was nothing.

From across the pond, Jacob, Changmin, Chanhee, and Haknyeon pulled up over the bridge. The four of them were all piled into a golf cart, and Jacob stopped it just over the crest. They all knew about where you were today and why you were dressed in proper golf attire rather than the country club uniform. They watched with wide eyes (and maybe a camera or two) as you and Eric had a good time.

"Young love," Jacob sighed fondly from his spot in the driver's seat.

"I think it's gross," Changmin giggled. He yelped, furiously rubbing the place on his shoulder that Chanhee had whacked. "Hey! I was kidding!"

Chanhee rolled his eyes. "Let them have their moment. I'm glad Yn-ie let herself have fun with him."

"They look like they're having quite the time," Haknyeon said. "They're cute."

Changmin poked his head in between Jacob and Haknyeon from the backseat. "Just a thought, but what if we turned on the sprinklers like in High School Musical 2?"

An exchange of looks, a deep consideration… "No," they all chorused. They would get their asses kicked for that.

You were on lunch break when Changmin practically crashed onto the bench next to you with a crazed look in his eyes. "You. Me. Spa. Now."

You couldn't even say goodbye to the sandwich you were eating before Changmin grabbed your arm and dragged you across the club.

"Changmin! What the hell—"

"I'll explain in a second!" He hissed back at you while ducking into the service entrance of the spa.

The backdoor led to a staff break room, where Chanhee was currently (coincidentally) seated on a stool eating a box of Pepero while watching a cartoon on his phone. The man glanced up from his phone at the loud commotion, one cheek full of his snack, and he blinked. "You're lucky I'm not with a client right now."

"Yeah, yeah," Changmin said, dragging you and a stool over to Chanhee at the same time. He pushed your shoulders so you would take a seat. Changmin placed his hands on his hips as he stood before the two of you. "You're never gonna guess what I just overheard."

"What?" You and Chanhee asked at the same time.

"Well, you know Clara?"

Chanhee jumped right in. "The one fooling around with that Brian Yang guy. He's the heir to that one corporation monopolizing SIM cards or some shit."

How the hell…?

Changmin's head bobbed vigorously. "Yes, yes! That's the one. Anyways—I was walking past the manager's office and they were talking loud enough to hear with headphones on. Apparently, Clara and Brian had a nasty, nasty split, and Brian got her fired."

Silence.

Chanhee's eyebrows flew up. "Like… fired-fired?"

A grave nod. "Fired-fired."

You held your head in your hands. "Just because of a break up?" You asked. "Clara is such a nice girl."

Your friend's lips were pressed into a line. "Doesn't mean he's a nice guy. I dunno—" he threw his hands in the air and let them flop back against his legs, "—it's fucked, man. He said it was, like, too awkward to be around her all the time since he was here all the time. And because his father is one of the stockholders of the country club, Manager Kim could do little but do his bidding."

Your heart had fallen into the pit of your stomach. Drama like this didn't really happen often here, but there was always something going on.

You always thought there were assholes here, but sometimes they just kept on reminding you of it.

"And now I'm fooling around with one of the club members," you thought aloud. The realization hit you, a golf ball to the face. "Oh my god."

Chanhee's hand came up to your shoulder and gave you a soothing, warm squeeze. "Eric seems like a good guy, Yn-ie. You never know."

"But you really never know," you murmured. There was a reason why the club discouraged romantic relations between club members and staff. Perhaps this time, it wasn't about work productivity, but about keeping your damn jobs. You needed this job. You needed it so desperately because of the money, the opportunities, the connections. Not to mention all of the people you'd befriended here… it didn't seem right that you were scared of what Eric could do to you, but reality was settling in fast.

The Sohns were a major shareholder in the club, which meant they could pull strings like tying a shoelace.

But Eric is good. He's been good, you reasoned.

Changmin crossed his arms as he leaned back against the wall behind him. "You should talk to him. At the very least, you only went on one date, so it's not like you're completely involved yet."

That was a good point. You were going to run with it.

When Eric invited you over to his house, you should have known you were about to drive your beat up sedan into the driveway of a palace, not a house. A house was for normal people, not whoever the Sohns were, you knew that much. To say you were intimidated by the massive front lawn, iron gates, and limestone arches and columns would be an understatement. Maybe you should have worn something nicer.

You pulled up to the curb of the roundabout—he'd mentioned to you that you could just park there. Apparently the garage was a little inconvenient for guests, but you weren't complaining. The front of the house was a marvel to look at, and wherever that garage was would have left you unable to fully soak in this modern wonder. Plus, you had some time to pull yourself together before seeing Eric.

The plan was… no plan, really. He wanted to hang out with you, and you'd mentioned your love for cooking. Thus, he proposed a miniature cooking class in his kitchen, along with dinner on the patio. It sounded nice. It also sounded great when you remembered what you needed to talk to him about. (Yay.)

It's not a big deal. Eric's cool.

You finally managed to trek your way up to the front door and you booped the doorbell. It was one of those loud bells that must have echoed throughout the house, because you could clearly hear it from the outside.

A couple minutes later, you heard the locking mechanism come undone. The door opened after; you swore that every time you saw this guy, you became speechless.

You had seen him in a dress shirt before, but this tank top and over-shirt thing was new. It was casual and comfortable, yet chic. His hair was styled in the same manner his clothing was—simple and so attractive. A silver chain and matching silver rings added the subtle touch of elegance to pull everything together.

"Hi," he grinned—he was always smiling, you realized. It was such a pretty smile. He stepped aside and gave you room in the doorway. "Come on in, cutie."

"Thanks for having me over," you said pleasantly, trying not to openly gawk at the front foyer with the sky-high ceiling, chandelier dripping with crystals, and grand staircase wrapping around the walls up to the indoor balcony.

He closed the door behind you as you deposited your shoes by the small rack. Eric wrapped a loose arm around your shoulder to guide you through the foyer. "Of course! I'm so excited you're here; I went out—actually no, I…" he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "ordered it off that grocery app. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for."

"Grocery app?" You laughed. "Are you talking about the stuff for dinner?"

"Yeah!"

The two of you entered the kitchen. It was a wide, open space that flowed straight into the living room. The cabinets were smooth and snow white, accented with countertops marbled with black and hints of gold. Though clean, it was a space well-loved with a recipe book left open to a lobster risotto; little candies left in a jar on the island labeled with chalk; barstools that weren't quite aligned, like they'd actually been sat on. The living room, too, was beautiful. Massive, but beautiful, with a wraparound couch sectional and a flat screen with family photos hung above it. It was framed by shelves filled to the brim with CD and DVD cases, more family photos, books, and little baubles.

And the lighting. Oh man, the natural lighting from the windows making up the entire back wall… it led out onto the acres of land his family owned, as well as a patio that overlooked the valley.

Eric had mentioned dinner on the patio. If your math was right, that meant you would probably be dining at sunset, all while overlooking a splendid view—how romantic. God, you hated how giddy you were starting to get. Those butterflies in your stomach would not cease.

"You have a really, really beautiful home," you murmured, letting him take your bag from you to place on one of the barstools.

You had always thought that big houses like this would be so difficult to fill. What was one supposed to do with so much space anyway? From the pictures on the wall, you could see Eric's parents, himself, as well as a sister who must have been out making her own mark on the world in that special Sohn kind of way. Even with just four people in this place… they still managed to make it feel like a home and not a house. It was like your own house back in your hometown, across the country. It was lived-in and warm and yours, and that was the beauty of it. And you were certain by just looking at this place that the Sohns were a family who loved each other.

How could you not believe in Eric? Not with all of this to vouch for him? He had grown up loved.

"Thank you," he said. "It's one of my favorite places to be. That's why I still haunt it like a ghost," he joked. He placed a warm hand on the small of your back and led you over to the fridge where he had put all of the grocery delivery bags in. Even the fridge was relatively stocked. "Not sure if everything I got was right, but hopefully it'll all turn out delicious anyway."

You helped him unload the bags onto the kitchen island, raising a brow at the labels on the groceries. They were on the higher end of price and quality, which definitely wasn't a problem, but holding a hundred dollar bottle of red wine just for sauce was making your anxiety levels spike. "Oh, no. It all looks great, Eric. Thanks for getting these, by the way. I would have gone out and brought them here, but—"

He waved away your worries. "You're busy and you're working. Plus, it lets me technically pay for dinner," he said with a cheeky look on his face and gesturing with a finger gun. It was cute. He was cute.

"Smooth, Sohn. I see you."

"That's what they called me in high school," he played along, dancing on his toes behind you to fiddle with his phone and turn on a speaker somewhere (you didn't know where). "Smooth Sohn."

You snorted, slapping a hand over your mouth. Eric's eyes glittered with a mutual mirth. "Whatever you say, honey."

He waltzed back over to you, tongue in cheek. "I like that better though—honey." He leaned back against the counter next to you and watched as you sorted out the ingredients in different piles depending on how they should be prepped. "So what's the plan, chef? You're the boss."

"I'd love to know where your knives and cutting boards are," you said.

He leapt into action. "Say no more!"

In reality, you did have to say more. It wasn't that Eric didn't know where everything was in the kitchen, he just wasn't as well versed in using the kitchen. He'd told you while teaching him how to hold a knife properly that he really only came in here for ramen. Good news was he could crack an egg with one hand; bad news was that was about all he could do. It was still charming, nonetheless. And the cute cooking lesson gave him plenty of opportunity to get close to you.

He had even insisted on you teaching him how to chop carrots like how he had taught you how to swing a golf club—over and around him—with your hands over his and your body wrapped around his, your chin on his shoulder.

But with dinner well past done, the two of you made your way out onto the patio just as the sun was sinking into the embrace of the valley below. It melted into the sky like a broken yolk, saturated and golden. He let you have the seat staring out into the valley. The way he looked at you though, made you feel like you were his million dollar valley view.

The table was set with twin glasses of red wine (amazing what a good wine paired with beef stew could do for the soul), plates separated by a hot stew pot, and a couple of candles for ambiance.

"Wow," he moaned as the beef melted on his tongue. "This is so good. And you're telling me you're pretty, smart, and can cook?"

You held back a giggle so you could swallow your bite. "And I'm single," you jested.

"And you're single!" He leaned his head back, eyes closed. "Thank god for that."

Eric leaned his cheek on his fist, his head cocked slightly and his eyes on you with a swoon-worthy admiration. "Thanks for coming out tonight and hanging out with me."

You could kiss him. "Please, I should be the one thanking you. It's been really fun hanging out with you." It was surreal, actually. The fact that this young heir had deemed you "worthy" or whatever to court and entertain—it wasn't like you defined your self worth by his attention and affection, but this felt nice. Your conversation with Changmin and Chanhee the other day came to the forefront of your mind.

"I, uhm, think this is a good time to ask if you wanted to do this more often? Hanging out with me, I mean."

You weren't sure if this was what you thought he was asking you. He reached for his wine glass, and in the fading sunlight and the candlelight illuminating the bashful expression on his face, your heart pounded.

"What I mean to say," he tried again after a small sip of wine, "is would you be my—"

"I think we should talk!" You cut in before you heard anymore. You were getting jittery, unable to figure out when was the right time to bring up the thing, but also, you wanted him to say his thing, and it was just a mess. But when you saw Eric's wide eyes, mouth zipped up, you repeated in a much calmer tone, "I think we should talk about something. It's not… it's not super serious or anything. I could just be overthinking."

Oh, you felt bad. He looked like a kicked puppy, but you saw him pull himself together for you. "It's—you're probably not overthinking, Yn. What's on your mind?"

The wine glass was put down. He even put his fork down.

Were you making a big deal out of this? Probably not, right? This was important, you reminded yourself. You pursed your lips. "So one of my coworkers—former coworkers," you amended, "Clara. Her name's Clara. She and this guy you might know, Brian Yang…"

He nodded. "Yeah, I know of him."

"Well, they kind of had this thing going on between them. And the other day, she was fired because they broke up and he thought it was too weird that she was working where he was hanging out all the time," you rambled on. "And I uhm, I just wanted to make sure from the get-go that… you know… it's stupid, I don't know. But it's my job, y'know? And—and I need this job, but I like you a lot, Eric. Am I making any sense?"

Neither of you were eating anymore.

You looked at him, hopelessly, searching for signs of understanding.

He leaned in slightly and reached for your hands over the table. "Yn, sweetheart," he said, lacing his fingers with yours over the pot of beef stew, "that is a valid point to bring up, and I can understand what you're probably thinking. That—that news must have been scary, or at least nerve-racking, and Brian's a dick for that—"

You nodded, swallowing.

"—and I don't want you to risk your job because of me," he said earnestly. "But I really want to see where this goes, you know? If anything happens and you don't feel the same way, then no harm, no foul. I'm not gonna take my emotions out on you like that asshole; that's not right."

The breath you had been holding in fell from your mouth, a wave of relief. A sappy, grateful sort of smile worked its way onto your mouth and you met Eric's own kind expression. "You are actually perfect," you let out a breathy laugh. "Where have you been all my life?"

He grinned. "Funny, that's what I've been thinking about you." Eric set your laced hands on the side of the table as he raised his glass to you. "So what do you say? Can we try this?"

You lifted your glass to gently clink it with his. "Let's do it."

"So he's perfect, but he hasn't kissed you yet?" Chanhee's gasp of incredulity hit you in a gust of air. His lips pursed like a penguin's beak. "Figures."

You sent him a look. "Oh, please. Figures what? He's just being… I dunno, chivalrous!"

"Chivalry is dead," Haknyeon snickered as he waltzed by you with fresh towels to lay out by the pool. "You should make the move, Yn."

"So you two are, like, dating now?" Asked Changmin as he hopped onto the tiki bar stool next to you and Chanhee. He kept on glancing down at his watch; he must have only a small break in between his dance classes today.

"They're 'seeing where things go,'" mocked Jacob with a shake of his head. He swirled a rag around the innards of a glass to dry it.

You sent them all dirty looks now. "Cobie, out of all the times you choose to be an imp—"

"An imp," Chanhee muttered, glancing away as he took a sip of his piña colada, "I'm dead."

"If it makes you feel better, Yn, I'm supervising a tennis match with him and the Lee cousins later today. I can get a feel of where his mind's at," Jacob offered.

You drummed your fingers against the bar. The offer was tempting… "It's fine," you insisted. "We don't have to rush things. We go to the same university and we live in the same city now. It's not like we don't have time… right?"

"Riiiight," Changmin drawled with an over exaggerated wink. He frowned at his watch, hopping off his stool. "Damn it, salsa class time. Catch you losers later!"

As he darted off into the distance, Chanhee sniffed. "Says the loser." He plucked the pink umbrella out of his drink and set the decoration down on his napkin. "You're not wrong, Yn-ie. Taking it slow isn't a bad thing. From what you told us, it seems like you're both on the same page now anyway."

"Thank you," you said.

"Maybe he's trying to plan a romantic moment." Haknyeon rejoined the conversation now that he had done his towel delivery.

Jacob nodded with an approving turn of his lips. "You might be onto something. He seems the type."

Your heart was fluttering as if it sprouted butterfly wings. Oh, the thought of kissing Eric Sohn in romantic lighting…

"I think you should take her back to her job before she drifts fully into La La Land." When you snapped back to reality, Jacob's eyes were twinkling, eyebrows wagging.

Haknyeon nudged you with the back of his hand and nodded up to the clubhouse. "C'mon, Yn-ie. I think Manager Kim wants to brief us on dinner service anyway."

Hours later, Jacob found himself on the tennis courts, overseeing a match between the three Lee cousins—Sangyeon, Hyunjae, and Juyeon—and Eric. He often thought it was luck that got him to land this job where all he did to pass the day was make drinks, drive golf carts, and occasionally play doubles with club members. For all that it was, he considered himself very content.

"—that was a foul," Jacob declared, jogging to go catch the tennis ball before it bounded into the bushes.

Hyunjae let out a groan. "Nooo! It hit the line. Jacob, please, I thought we were cool!"

Sangyeon shook his head, smiling as he caught the tennis ball from Jacob with his free hand. "Hyunjae, we all know your eyesight is shit."

Hyunjae wrinkled his nose. "Hey! No one asked."

"Can we take a break?" Juyeon asked, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "I think I need some water."

The boys all murmured their agreement, and Jacob reached down into the mini cooler he'd lugged out to toss them ice cold bottles of water. It was just one of the few perks that came with the club membership.

While Sangyeon and Hyunjae were bickering about eyesight and foul lines, Juyeon settled into a seat by them to referee. Eric sidled up next to Jacob as they both absentmindedly watched the chaos unfold from afar.

Jacob whistled. "So… Yn said she had a really good time with you the other night."

Eric perked up at the sound of your name. "She did? Well that's a relief to hear."

"It wasn't clear?" Jacob asked, face tilted in question. "I mean, not to completely expose her or anything, but she's been gushing about you all day, man."

A giddy smile took over the youngest Sohn's face. "She was?" He licked his lips, drawing the pad of his thumb over the corner of his mouth to catch the water that had dribbled from the bottle. "She's—she's so cute, hyung. Like, I don't know if this is weird for you because you're friends—"

Jacob coughed in amusement. "It's fine. Think of me as your guardian angel."

"Right," Eric piped up. "I think… I think we really hit it off, y'know? And I mean, she probably told you we just kind of had dinner and she had to leave, but she'd come after work, so she was probably tired and—"

Ohhh. Jacob understood exactly what was going on now. His heart warmed at the thought that Eric was being so considerate and not forcing you to stay. He was thinking about your long day, and didn't wish to prolong it anymore. Little did he know, you probably wouldn't have minded hanging around a tad longer.

"—I wanted to kiss her—"

Wait huh. Jacob tuned back in. "When?"

Eric blinked. "Uhm, at dinner. Or at least, when I was walking her out to her car." He glanced away and his smile softened at the thought. "I wish I had, actually. The moment was right there, and the lighting was perfect, and her smile—oh my god, her smile."

Jacob's eyebrows flew up to his hairline. So this was where Eric's mind was at; good to know. "Then do it—kiss her."

"Right now?"

"No! Not right now—"

"Hey, you guys ready to play again?" Juyeon called. The three Lees had already maneuvered themselves back to court.

Eric and Jacob exchanged glances. This conversation wasn't over, Jacob's look seemed to say.

They nodded to their companions, though. "Yeah, we're ready."

It did not come as a surprise to you when you found out Eric had a home theater in his basement. It was something like you'd pictured from the movies, the ones with the rows of dark leather armchairs, deep cup holders, and a giant screen and surround sound system. The foot of the theater room even had a little snack station to make popcorn, and a mini fridge stocked with drinks.

You and Eric shared the couch on the bottom floor that was big enough for the two of you. It was a random Tuesday, and you didn't have work today, so he'd suggested swinging by and hanging out with him for the day. You couldn't possibly refuse.

Eric scrolled through the movie options on the screen with the remote. "Are you sure you don't want any popcorn?" He asked you.

You shook your head. "I'm good, really. But it sounds like you want popcorn, Eric."

He caught his tongue in his smile. "Maybe."

If you weren't supposed to be watching a movie, you would have gladly curled up on that couch and stared at him for the rest of time. His jawline was enough to make a girl go mad, and the fact that he was just so sweet, too—

"How about this one?"

You snapped out of it, barely flicking your gaze back over to the screen in time to avoid him finding out that you were just blatantly staring. "Uhh, sure. I haven't seen this one, actually."

"Really? Oh my god, we have to watch it then." And so you did.

It was about halfway into the movie that you realized there was a draft coming down on you—the air conditioning in this room was awfully high, but you didn't want to say anything. You hiked your legs up onto the couch and hugged your arms, leaning back slightly against the quilt draped over the back of the couch. (How conveniently placed…)

Eric saw your movement from the corner of his eye. "You cold? We can share the blanket."

"My hero," you joked as he removed the quilt from behind your heads and draped it over your laps.

Because the article wasn't exactly miles long, you and Eric had to shift over closer to each other. Not that you were complaining. The arm and leg pressed against yours were warm, and it gave him the perfect opportunity to raise his arm and place it over the back of the couch behind you.

As you both watched the rest of the movie, you gradually let yourself lean into him, and his arm eventually fell to rest directly around your shoulders, pulling you into his side.

"I always liked the ending of this movie," Eric murmured softly to you as the credits rolled. He brushed his fingers along your arm in a warm, soothing manner. "What'd you think?"

You stayed with your head tucked onto his shoulder. "Hmm, not bad. I think they could have cut the romance though."

"Ah, I see your point," he said. "Sometimes directors just like to force it for the sake of a subplot."

"Wholeheartedly agree."

His fingers danced up to your shoulder and began playing with your hair. He pursed his lips. "Are you a fan of romance movies? That's kind of a random question, I guess."

"Not really—a random question, I mean," you said, and pulled your head off of his shoulder to face him. The thought occurred to you of how close your bodies and your faces were, sharing warmth and skin. You saw his eyes dart down away from yours for a split second. "I like romance movies. I think they restore my faith in humanity," you mused. "You?"

"I like 'em, too." He released a small exhale, an almost-shy smile etching itself onto his face. "Most of them are just… feel-good movies. They're really sweet, and I've always kind of wanted something like that."

"High standards," you whispered, though playfully. "Wouldn't we all like something from the movies?" To you, this was what the movies were like—"handsome guy sweeps girl off her feet, and he's perfect and she's happy." You were already living out your too-good-to-be-true dreams.

He laughed. "True. I think it's just a matter of waiting for the right person to come along, maybe. And following through."

You bit the bait. "Following through?"

"Backing up your initial swing," he clarified. "Something to drive the ball home and make sure you mean it. I feel like maybe that's what people forget about romance—that there's still an after, beyond happily ever after."

Wow. "Your brain," you praised. "That was actual poetry, I think. Is this how you get girls?"

He bit his lip through a smile, leaning closer. "Only one girl. I hope it's working."

"I think it's working a little too well," you admitted, voice barely audible now.

You could feel the warmth of his breath fan over your lips as he came closer, about ninety-percent of the way; the other ten percent was left for you to either push forward or pull back. He was giving you the decision on a gold platter.

And who could deny something served so beautifully?

You closed the gap between you and pressed your lips against his. It was soft, at first, as the nerves in your brain and your vital organs threatened to go haywire. You breathed him in, your noses slotting against each other. He cupped the back of your head with his free hand, the other curling around your waist.

When you broke apart, it was for a split second, until he was kissing you again. You were half in his lap at this point, your legs draped over his, your side pressed to his chest.

Foreheads pressed together, you shared a breath of air with him. He nuzzled his nose against you as if unable to be so far from you. "Be mine," he said, simple at first. Then, "Please."

You smiled against him and felt his mouth do the same. "Only if you'll be mine, too."

"As if I would say no," he laughed, leaning in again, and crushing his mouth to yours. The theater room filled with both of your giggles as you fell backward.

If this was the happily ever after, then you would gladly follow through.

a/n: to anyone who read flight risk, i just redeemed myself from valentine's day

tbz m.list

permanent taglist: @flwoie @vatterie @seomisaho @hqrana @ja4hyvn @tinkerbell460 @kaaimins @hyunjaespresent-deobi @otterly-fey @zzoguri @floatingpluto @winterchimez @ethereal-engene @gyulfriend @polarisjisung @jaehunnyy @shakalakaboomboo @loveliestfelix @bless-311 @zhaixiaowen @leaz-kpop-life @amourdsr @pxppxrminty @kqyutie @sseastar-main @kxthleen14 @fluorescentloves @mosviqu @justalildumpling @jaerisdiction @super-btstrash-posts @jundundun @http-gyu @mvvnsseul @outrologist @vernonburger @maessseongs @kflixnet

#kflixnet #bjnet #deoboyznet #the boyz x reader #eric sohn x reader #sohn youngjae x reader #the boyz scenarios #the boyz oneshot #the boyz drabbles #the boyz imagines #the boyz fluff #eric sohn drabbles #eric sohn oneshots #eric sohn imagines #eric sohn scenarios #eric sohn fluff #the boyz fanfic #dbn: summer on you

[starsandhughes]

Penalty Box Series— Trevor Zegras Edition (Five)

23-24 Season Masterlist

previous: four

next: six

i skipped the cbj game since z got... benched... so sissy shall play nice

to those of you who have been waiting for leo and sissy content, may i present: leo and sissy content!

OCTOBER 26, 2026

yourusername

liked by trevorzegras, leocarlssoon, and 16,552 others

yourusername welcome back to my postgame penalty box update show: THE ANAHEIM DUCKS ENDED THE BRUINS'S SIX GAME WIN STREAK EDITION! (and they brought the bruins into OT for the first time this season!)

tonight, cammy played his 900th game, gudas scored his first goal as a duck, my son and my dad scored goals in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game, mac-t scored his first game winning goal of the season in overtime (i love you! i'm so proud! enjoy your forehead kisses!), and my lovely z-baby started a scrum over our son, leo, getting a hard hit which resulted in him drawing a roughing penalty by lindholm! and z led all forwards in time on ice with 22:49 minutes! all without getting a penalty!

oh, AND LEO GOT HIS FIRST ASSIST TONIGHT ON MASON'S GOAL! jackson also assisted on the goal, which means that all three players involved are under 23! we are, after all, the youngest team in the league, and it's starting to pay off! they're 2 for 2 on the roadie, so let's keep this up!

p.s. yes, that is my baby daddy biting our son in the fifth pic. yes, it's one of his ways of showing love. yes, he got it from me

p.s.s. LEO, MY CURRENT FAVORITE SON, I AM UNBELIEVABLY PROUD OF YOU! you had your first multi-point night tonight, and you are absolutely thriving in the big leagues🧡 i love you!

p.s.s.s. trevor, i love you, always! seeing you happy and supportive of your teammates on the ice makes me so warm inside, and i’m so lucky to be yours🧡

tagged trevorzegras, masonmctavish23, and leocarlssoon

view all 259 comments

trevorzegras i’m the luckiest guy in the world because you, sweet girl, are my biggest supporter, and my team's🧡 i love you, forever!

yourusername orange, black, white, plum, and turquoise, mother fucker! these colors don't run, bitch! anaheim! anaheim! anaheim!

trevorzegras and you also do things like that! i'm so lucky!

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras i can hear her saying that

trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale that's because she's yelling it and you're only two minutes away

yourusername IN TREVOR WE TRUST🫡

trevorzegras oh look! more things that you do! i will never run out of luck!

jackhughes @/trevorzegras her crazy is somehow entertaining

trevorzegras @/jackhughes and endearing

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras @/jackhughes she's so effervescent

trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale that's a band

colecaufield @/trevorzegras you're thinking of evanescence

trevorzegras @/colecaufield oh

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras it means bubbly and enthusiastic

yourusername @/trevorzegras @/jackhughes @.jamie.drysdale SAPS

user41 matthew tkachuk bites mouth guards, trevor zegras bites people <3 two kinds of rats

leocarlssoon thank you, mom! i love you, too! i also appreciated the forehead kisses and being your current favorite son🧡

lhughes_06 @/yourusername we've been over the fact that you can't announce your favorite child!

colemcward @/lhughes_06 you aren't the one being downgraded!

edwards.73 @/colemcward welcome to the club

mackie.samo @/lhughes_06 @/edwards.73 @.colemcward i’ve never even BEEN a favorite! i barely had a chance to be the newest child!

dylanduke25 @/lhughes_06 @/mackie.samo @.colemcward @/edwards.73 at least you have fathers! i’m a fatherless-secret child!

adamfantilli AT LEAST YOU GUYS ARE SONS

leocarlssoon @/trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale @.masonmctavish23 what's happening? this wasn't in my y/n run down course

masonmctavish23 @/leocarlssoon this is out of my expertise

yourusername @/leocarlssoon you played great tonight! keep it up and you'll get plenty more forehead kisses! z and stromer get some every night!

masonmctavish23 @/yourusername wait, why does stromer get them every night? i thought we were friends??

jamie.drysdale @/masonmctavish23 that is a losing battle you're trying to fight, my guy

yourusername @/masonmctavish23 because i like him better than you

lhughes_06 @/yourusername AND YOU LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE BETTER THAN ME! LIKE LEO!

yourusername @/lhughes_06 STOP BEING A BABY! AND TELL YOUR BROTHERS THAT, TOO! AND NON-BROTHERS!

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon welcome to the family!

user27 z spraying that water bottle on himself is making me feel things

anaheimducks we love our biggest fan!!

yourusername omg i can't believe THE ducks admin replied to me!😭🫶

anaheimducks omg i can't believe THE future mrs. zegras-hughes replied to us!😭🫶

user5 SISSY SON SHENANIGANS HAS RISEN!

colecaufield i miss when you two used to bite me🥺

yourusername prepare to be attacked on november 12th, coley woley!

trevorzegras and again on the 22nd since y/n is abandoning me that day to see you and quinn!

yourusername and maybe the 30th!

colecaufield @/yourusername MAYBE?!

yourusername @/colecaufield i can only abandon my boy toy so much! he gets his feelings hurt!

trevorzegras @/colecaufield i'm tragically codependent

colecaufield fine! but i’m not breaking it to suzy!

yourusername you bitch

colecaufield OR jordan!

yourusername THAT'S MY HARRY! YOU BITCH!

trevorzegras i’ll break it to matty!

yourusername @/trevorzegras i will go out of spite instead of keeping it a maybe

trevorzegras i’ll keep my mouth shut!

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras you know how to do that?!

trevorzegras @_quinnhughes you bitch

user89 i need sissy to adopt me! not trevor, just sissy

user40 I'M LIVING FOR THE THE NEW DUCKIES

_quinnhughes do you feed him?

yourusername we take turns feeding each other! and sometimes, jamie baby does it!

jamie.drysdale translation: they just show up

_quinnhughes @/jamie.drysdale why did you give them a key?

jamie.drysdale @_quinnhughes y/n/n has keys to all of our places! you know that!

yourusername @_quinnhughes jamie completes my rainbow! jack and luke's key is red, alex's is yellow, yours is green, cole's is blue, the lake house is purple, mine and z's key is pink and says princess, and jamie's is orange!

_quinnhughes @/yourusername princess pink is my favorite color in the rainbow

yourusername @_quinnhughes omg! mine, too! this is why we're best friends!! that's crazy!!!

trevorzegras @/yourusername then who's house does the minnie mouse key open???

yourusername @/trevorzegras that's a secret i’ll never tell, xoxo

trevorzegras @/yourusername and the one that says "key i haven't lost yet"?

yourusername @/trevorzegras petey

_quinnhughes @_eliaspettersson why does sissy have a key to your place?

_eliaspettersson @_quinnhughes she asked

user94 new sissy lore unlocked: she has keys to half the nhl's home???

jackhughes @/trevorzegras we told you to bite marchand, not your son!

trevorzegras no, i was told to bite him in retaliation if he licked me! he didn't lick me!

jackhughes so you don't deny the bite allegations?

trevorzegras cole has a video of me and y/n biting you at the same time! i have no defense!

yourusername @/trevorzegras why would you share that with the world?

trevorzegras @/yourusername you share so much worse things

yourusername @/trevorzegras touché

jackhughes @/yourusername @/trevorzegras you two never let me have any fun

yourusername @/jackhughes you could bite marchand! that would be fun!

jackhughes @/yourusername i could bite quinn before that! and z after!

yourusername @/jackhughes GREAT IDEA! do that one! throw in draisaitl! bite a guy on every team in the west!

_quinnhughes @/jackhughes don't do that

trevorzegras @/jackhughes do that

jackhughes @_quinnhughes sorry, captain bubba! it's 3 against 1

leocarlssoon did i start this?

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon we started it with your mom! it was a family bonding activity

----

rbs appreciated! tell me whatcha think <3

#penalty box series #trevor zegras #trevor zegras x reader #trevor zegras imagine #trevor zegras au #trevor zegras fic #trevor zegras fanfic #trevor zegras insta edit #quinn hughes #leo carlsson #jamie drysdale #cole caufield #quinn hughes imagine #jamie drysdale imagine #luke hughes #ethan edwards #mason mctavish #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #trevor zegras x y/n #trevor zegras x hughes reader

[gunsandspaceships]

Proof that Tony Stark is not an extravert

Well, I’d bet it’s better results than one could get on YouTube, Twitter, or Reddit, but come on.

I’m going to show you why MCU Tony is certainly not an extravert.

I've already posted some stuff, such as:

Absent-minded Tony

Socially awkward Tony

As you can see, Tony has some issues that hint to us that he’s not always present or outgoing. And now it’s time to gather all these and other things and summarize our findings.

Extraversion: Large social network & Thrive in teams, crowds vs Introversion: Value 1:1 friendships & Favor independence

Tony no doubt knows a lot of people. Because he ran a huge technological company, right. Business partners, military officers, politicians, SHIELD agents, journalists, his staff, etc. Although this doesn’t mean that he communicates with many people regularly, or has many friends. And we know he doesn’t. He never had many friends. Throughout the Infinity Saga, he made a few, like Pepper and Happy. But before IM2 his only friends were Rhodey, J.A.R.V.I.S., and his bots.

He mostly interacted with AIs and robots, especially in his solo movies. This tells us something, doesn’t it? I’ll write a separate post about his childhood, but it is obvious that he was always an outcast: in school, college, before the Avengers, within the Avengers… We don’t really see him as a “gear” in this mechanism. He is most often steps ahead of others or steps aside. None of the Avengers were really his friends, and I’ll write about that too in the future.

Did he try to make more friends? He seemed to think some of the Avengers were. He thought Steve was. Remember this?

Or Bruce. But Bruce didn't even want to listen to him when Tony needed help.

And he left him at the end of AoU. But Tony thought he was a friend. Moreover, he considered them all his family.

That’s what he was doing – everyone around him, from assistants to teammates, were considered friends and family members and were treated accordingly. He needed that, not a large social network of "pals" and "buddies" he barely knows.

Let’s illustrate how he felt about people around him:

Deleted scene "Dubai Party" from IM (2008)

Tony doesn’t really talk to those people. He doesn't feel comfortable shaking their hands or taking anything from them. That's not why he's here, it's an alibi for the mission in Afghanistan. And we see that all this causes him disgust and discomfort.

The Charity Ball - IM (2008)

And boom - he doesn't know that Christina is talking about Jericho, which Stein sold to the Ten Rings. He thinks she is referring to this event. And he (surprisingly) reveals that he actually has social anxiety. That doesn't sound like an extrovert to me.

Alternate Opening from IM2 shows us Tony, who is trying to avoid going on some kind of dangerous mission. And then we find out that that mission is actually the Expo Opening. He doesn’t look excited that he has to go to the crowd, doesn’t he?

After that, he makes his way through the crowd of fans, communicating with virtually no one.

At the Senate hearing, he seems bored. He doesn’t pay much attention to the politicians, asking Pepper about chili, hacking networks, and making fun of Senator Stern.

After he’s done with Hammer and Stern he shows his public mask to others. We know he is not comfortable with this situation, but he has to deal with it.

At the party "Natalie wears the gauntlet" deleted scene from IM2

This is what Tony really thinks about these people. He doesn’t like them, doesn’t like this lifestyle. He didn’t want this party in the first place. He doesn’t even understand celebrating birthdays ("The Sub-Orbital Jet" deleted scene, IM2).

Sounds very introvert-like to me.

He wears sunglasses in public. Because he is uncomfortable when people see his eyes - they cannot hide from them what he wants to hide. And that brings us to the next trait…

Extraversion: Enjoy being a center of attention vs Introversion: Avoid being a center of attention

He hides behind sunglasses. Most of the time, he only shows his mask to people he considers strangers. When he's the center of attention, it's his mask, not the real Tony.

The real Tony refused to be the commander of the Avengers, despite being their benefactor and providing them with everything. The real Tony didn't go to important public events on behalf of the team, Natasha (WS and CW) did. The real Tony left the Avengers at his Compound and went to live with his family in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. And, again, we can recall what he said about his birthday and parties in general.

Extraversion: Think out loud vs Introversion: Think before speaking

Tony is not the guy who shares his thoughts with others. He thinks a lot. And he hides most of it from others.

Does he always think before speaking? No, not at all. But that’s his goofy personality, not extraversion.

Extraversion: Energize around people & seek greater stimulation vs Introversion: Recharge, reflect in quiet & Seek less stimulation

As we can see, Tony is not that much of a people person. He avoids gatherings when he can, and doesn’t enjoy them when he can’t. Most of the time he spends in his workshop/lab with his AIs, bots, and sometimes with Bruce, with occasional visits from Pepper and Rhodey. And he is comfortable in this environment.

With the Avengers he doesn’t act like an energy battery. Instead, he is quiet, calm, and just minds his own business. Look at the scenes from AoU:

At the party he doesn't talk to many people, we see him in a small group of Thor and Maria Hill, and he is, again, pretty quiet.

In Endgame he lives with just his wife, daughter, chickens, and Gerald the alpaca in a cabin, far from other people and their noise. He has nature around, a big fireplace, and paper books to read by it. This is his happiness. An introvert's dream.

Conclusion: all the extraversion we see in Tony came from his business training that started when he was a kid. He had to develop a set of skills: communicating with many people, participating in gatherings, selling stuff, running a company, dealing with journalists and politicians. He became the owner of a huge business when he was only 21 years old. Of course, he has skills formed by decades of experience. But we see he doesn’t enjoy doing all this stuff. This is not his comfort zone. His comfort zone is his lab and a few close friends. It's hard to tell from the masks he wears and his skills whether he's an introvert or an ambivert who tends to be introverted, but he's definitely not an extravert.

P.S. This is not a 100% comprehensive review of everything I've seen in the movies. There are many more examples of his introversion in the MCU. But this post is already huge, so if you would like to see more about it – let me know in the comments and I’ll make more detailed posts about each trait.

616 Tony here

#tony stark #iron man #mcu #marvel #the avengers #avengers endgame #captain america civil war #pepper potts #avengers age of ultron #iron man 2 #thor odinson #iron man 3 #happy hogan #james rhodes #bruce banner #clint barton #natasha romanoff #steve rogers #introvert #ambivert #extravert #psycology

[tf2shipswag]

ROUND 1, MATCH 3

armani belongs to @friendlyengie!! phantom belongs to @midori-berry!! [no propaganda rules for armani, 1 rule for phantom: "feel free to draw her either red or blu, no shipping please as she's ace"]

ABOUT OUR CONTESTANTS UNDER THE CUT!

ARMANI: - "Don’t you want to see a beautiful fat Italian clown get his rightful wins. He’s committed petty crime. Hes run from the cops. He’s attacked hecklers in crowds with his bare hands. He’s great with kids. He has a giant hammer. He’s a support class. Look at him." - "Armani Barone is a disgraced clown who Just recently lost his job as a clown slash lackey at a traveling shady circus (Its very mafia parody inspired . Because . Tf2 worldbuilding ) after being caught disposing bodies while in uniform, going against the clown code of ethics. In a desperate “fuck You” he stole as much shit as possible from his employers and ran. As a result, they’re currently hunting him down! They appear during Halloween sometimes as a little event for the team. But aside from the eternal target on his back, he’s thriving. Hes a very colorful and obnoxious little guy whose primary objective is to draw attention to himself on the field. He operates mostly on looney tunes logic (but Can be killed, thankfully!)"

PHANTOM: - "she has cool ghost powers and is so so sleepy" - "Ok so she's a 10th class and she can possess the other team and even possess sentries and dispensers to help her team, as well as having other ghost powers. She loves sharks too, and thinks they're neat"

#tf2 friendlyengie armani barone #tf2 friendlyengie the decoy #tf2 midori berry phantom #tf2octourney #tf2ocpolls #tf2 ocs #poll tournament

[avissapiens]

How to be a Bull Ch 7: Work

((FINALLY got to this one. Sorry yall.)) (Model is Elton Mota)

A prejudiced view might find it strange to see a Bull at such lofty heights in the corporate ladder. The uninitiated would see their size and assume that they have nothing to offer but eye-candy.

But our market research has shown that a large percentage of bulls actually thrive in high-achieving positions. Advertising, PR, R&D. Skilled professionals from doctors and lawyers to esteemed academics often get bit by the bull bug.

There is a clear set of transferable skills acquired when you spend your non-working hours totally gym obsessed. Discipline, Patience, Self-direction. Being able to work yourself, withstand the strain of constant progressive overload and always come back the next day ready for more.

Couple that with the bull lifestyle being more expensive than one would expect; with tons of protein, supplements and something’s extra. With specially tailored apparel because normal stores can’t contain your bulk any longer. With hyper-exclusive gym memberships and competition fee’s because that unending lust for growth requires constant improvement of facilities and community who shares your addiction.

The end result for the company is a driven, growth obsessed highly skilled worker who excels in handling large, well defined projects well ahead of the deadline because they know their muscle is at stake if they don’t.

*insert abyssal chanting*

Elton is the go-to guy for those big accounts at the Avis Athletics Agency. The look of absolute focus and fire in his eyes is sometimes frightening. Total dedication given to both sides of his life. They synthesize so naturally for him. It's like he puts every muscle and sinew into his work, and lets his work fuel every inch of growth. 

The gym at Agency HQ is state of the art, an obvious requirement given our team. But for Elton it basically functions as a secondary office space. On the phone talking with clients while he reps out a new PB on company time. He says his mind works best and is clearest when pumping iron. That pure euphoria of the mind-muscle connection truly boosting his performance through the roof. It’s such a potent addiction that when the gym was closed for maintenance for a month, the CFO offered to let Elton use his private suite just to keep his numbers high.

Company meetings with Elton are likewise a key to his productivity. The tight business attire straining around his form does end up distracting and reducing the overall work done by anyone else in the room, yes. But something about the attention drives our highest earning bull into a frenzy. Like his own personal audience. Intimately aware of how he outsizes every single man in the room. Going through the plan for an acquisition or a partnership deal that’ll PUMP PUMP PUMP the stock prices through the roof. Unconsciously flexing every time he gestures for a prop, veins visible beneath the sheer fabric of his dress shirt. Excitement palpable in the air as sweat trickles down that massive back, the fabric of his slacks starting to tighten even more. The rest of the boardroom doesn’t even need to speak. They know he’s got it.

In one wild 9-5 he gets the project that was slated to take 2 weeks on the CEO’s desk. Without a word he packed up and headed straight to the gym to unleash all that pent up energy. The CEO made a mental note to schedule more board meetings with Elton, and to make sure that his Holiday bonus was more than enough to ensure he came back from vacation 20lbs of pure muscle heavier 

To find resources to help embody your Bull Journey you can check out the Bull Archetype guide on my Patreon for free .If you’d like to support the creation of files like the one in this story, or you’d like access to exclusive files and files earlier than the rest of the world, then please, Support me on Patreon, And go and follow me on Youtube for more files. Also, be sure to join me and my community on Discord. 

#muscle bull #caption #how to

[max-praise-archive]

Q: Let's talk about this season just as a whole, because some of the records that Max and the team have broken this year are insane. 10 wins in a row for for Max this season. 14 wins in a row for the team. You've won 26 of the last 28 races. That is just utter domination. I saw that you put up a Instagram post that said, I've never seen anything closer to perfection than what Max Verstappen has achieved this year. Tell me about that perfection that Max has achieved. Calum Nicholas: It seems to be his nature that he will just chase every last bit. He will leave nothing on the table. It's great to have. It puts the pressure on us to make sure that we deliver, which is great. The nature of the people in the garage: we thrive on that pressure. It's what drives us. We want to be the best every single week. Watching what Max has done, week in, week out and having the sort of knowledge that as long as we do our job and the car is reliable and it does what he needs it to do, I know he's gonna deliver. It's just one of those things. You go into a race weekend and it's nice because... I've always said this, it doesn't matter where you are in the pit lane. It doesn't matter what garage you are in, you are doing the same hours. Everybody's working such long hours, Saturday or Sunday can be 16 hour days easily. So it's nice to know that you've got everything in place, that you've put yourself in the best position to get a result from that work. Q: And what's Max like to work with? Million dollar question. I'm sure you get asked it a lot. But what's he like? Calum Nicholas: I've always thought this is odd to me that people can't see sometimes how brilliant he is. For me, when he's in the garage, when he's not in a race car, he's one of us. And he really is. He engages with us, just as you want any of your other colleagues to engage with you. He's kind. He cares about the people around him. And it's brilliant, and I like the fact that he can get into the car and close his lid and then he should be ruthless. You're a sports person. We're here to win. He's here to win. And I think it's great that he's able to switch between the both. And he really does. Q: You've worked with quite a few drivers in your time. You've been at Red Bull since 2015. So you've worked with a few other drivers. What attributes does Max have? You've worked with Ricardo, you've worked Kyvat, you've worked with Gasly, Albon. What are their traits, what what do they all share? And maybe what are the differences between between some of them? Calum Nicholas: Where I think Max is probably different to most of the others is that Max over the years has managed to encompass so many of the great attributes of the drivers that we've seen before. Max, when he arrived in F1, it was clear that he had this raw, unbridled talent, this raw speed. Over the years, he's just grown and grown and he's added everything to his arsenal. His race management, his way of seeing the holistic picture, his determination. All of these things are what's put him in the position that he's in now. It's a way that he's been able to encompass so many things that so many great drivers have had, and bring them all together to make them work. When you see an athlete in their prime, in their absolute prime, you look at them and you say that's a package that right now no one can beat. That's what it is. When you're an athlete in that position, it's your job to try and stretch that out for as long as you can, and stay in that zone. That little window of perfection. That's what Max is able to do right now. He's just able to just extract everything from himself. It's amazing to see up close. It really is. Q: I'm jealous that you get to see behind the scenes. Obviously we only see the stuff on the on the television, but I'm sure a lot goes on behind the scenes that we don't see and it must be amazing. To be up close.

Sky Sports F1 Podcast (7:06 - 10:45) October 12, 2023 Archive Link | Original Link

#max verstappen #Matthew Baker #Calum Nicholas #sky sports f1 podcast #podcast #2023 #October 2023 #original source #Youtube #video

[yanderes-galore]

Hello! May I request dbd, with Jill Valentine? Where survivor s/o was around in the fog for a long time and helps her (and newer survivors) getting the hang of their new normal? Maybe s/o is close to another survivor (Nea if you want it specific?)

This is romantic Jill request- Also thank you for considering hun!

No problem! Here you go :) I hope the plot was okay, I tried to add more violence-

Yandere! DBD! Jill Valentine with Fog Veteran! Darling

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overprotective behavior, Arguments, Forced relationship, Blood, Violence, Jealousy, Possible OOC Jill, Some manipulation, Forced kissing, I still struggle writing yandere survivors, Entity manipulated Jill.

The Jill that goes into the Entity's realm in canon is RE3! Jill.

She already has survival experience against the undead and bioweapons.

Despite her natural survival instinct, Jill may still be lost in the Entity's realm.

First of all, survivors are unable to have weapons such as firearms to harm killers.

This is something Jill had grown used to... without a weapon she needs to learn to rely on other instincts.

Then there's the fact she isn't just dealing with Nemesis in here.

She has to evade other horrors with the help of three other survivors.

Not only does she need to look out for herself, she needs to look out for her new "team".

Even for a survivalist like her it's easy to be overwhelmed.

Then she met you, an even more skilled survivor.

You were one of the first survivors that the Fog claimed.

As a result you are better acclimated to this realm unlike Jill.

Upon introducing yourself to one another over a campfire, Jill learned you took on the role of a guide in the basics of the realm.

"Here, survivors need to learn a new normal. We are constant prey. Yet luckily, you'll have plenty of time to learn how to survive."

Jill remembers your words to her as helpful, yet she also catches the dark undertones of your message.

This isn't going to be a walk in the park.

Jill is used to dangerous situations, this is new to her however.

Jill begins to learn the harsh truth of this realm when she begins her first few trials.

Every trial is harsh with a new killer and area to learn.

The slightest mistake is punished, be that poor team performance or lack of knowledge about your surroundings.

Punishment is usually always a painful experience.

Although, by the end of the trial, you wake up fine regardless of your performance.

It's disorienting and could easily make someone go insane.

That is unless they aren't alone.

Jill quickly learns that if she wants to succeed in survival here, she needs to learn from you.

She learns about this realm a lot from you.

She learns how to stall the killer, how to repair a generator, and how to function with fellow survivors.

She even learns some survivors have relationships in the realm despite the situation.

"It's our new normal." Jill remembers you saying.

Jill's obsession is slow to develops romantically in this realm.

She takes time to apply the skills she knows and was taught by you to her situations and actually thrives quite well after a few dozen trials.

She has you to thank for that.

Jill actually bonds well with you due to you helping her, be it survival skills or coping with the loss of her friends.

That is until she realizes she was actually sent here with Leon, Chris, Claire, etc...

As a result Jill may feel like she wants to be romantically involved with you.

It's perfect... you've done so much for her already, it's worth a try isn't it?

She hasn't had time for a partner... now she has all the time in the world.

The woman prepares a confession to you until she finds out one final thing.

You're close to someone else already, a survivor named Nea.

Jill keeps an eye on Nea to see the relationship between the two of you.

You're about as close to her as you are with Jill, if not more due to Nea being around longer like you.

Jill is not normally the jealous type.

In fact it surprises her when she discovers a dark burning feeling deep in her gut when she sees you with Nea.

Has this realm been changing her and she's never noticed?

I like to imagine Nea soon finds out about Jill's intentions with you and proceeds to start things over it.

Nea may be yandere herself or may not be, yet she confronts Jill's strange behavior towards you.

The grown woman who survived the apocalypse follows you everywhere like a puppy, come on.

Something's up.

Nea may confront Jill to cause some sort of rift between you and Jill or just to genuinely understand why Jill is so infatuated with you.

It's not your typical crush, Nea can tell that much.

Jill's eyes just look too... dark.

As a result I can imagine these two fighting.

Seeing survivors fight one another isn't uncommon due to the high stress level the realm creates... yet normally others get along.

Which is why is surprises you when you walk in on a fight between Jill and Nea, a bloody fist fight Jill may just be winning.

This new violent nature in Jill puts everyone off.

Jill's surprised she let her jealousy get the best of her.

Nea's surprised Jill would be that kind of person and worries for your safety.

You are surprised that the two would fight so brutally and wonder what it was about.

You get your answer when Nea comes up to you and confesses her findings.

Jill's jealous of Nea and wants her out of the picture.

You ask your friend why and she looks away nervously.

"She likes you... more like obsessed with you if you ask me. She wouldn't stop telling me to stay away from you."

Once you're more aware of Jill's dark and corrupted feelings, you stay wary of her.

A theory as to why Jill's behavior changes to drastically could be due to the Entity.

The Entity could have manipulated Jill, turning her protective intentions into a suffocating jealousy and obsession towards you.

Part of her doesn't mean what she does.

Although she continues to try and be close to you, scared of losing you.

She tells you it was just an argument!

Everyone in this realm has seen worse!

Jill tries to tell you that she truly just wants to protect you in this realm.

You've done it with her, right?

She'll repay the favor, just forgive her!

This may also cause arguments between you, causing conflict in the survivors and their trust.

Jill is not normally one to force anything.

Although if the conflict continues, Jill may just snap due to the Entity's influence.

Maybe the Entity doesn't just like blood and violence.

Maybe it also likes the obsession and conflict between survivors, without a killer...

Why else would the Entity allow Jill to drag you away from the group in private?

By this point, Jill won't be herself.

She's let these romantic feelings corrupt her mind and now all she can focus on is you.

All she wants is you and your warm embrace/comfort in this dark realm.

She may not be able to kill Nea, but maybe she can scare the others away from you instead, or mark you to show you are taken.

When you're pinned to a tree by Jill and she gives you that bloodshot look before kissing you with such force... you learn killers aren't your only threat.

It's easy for the Entity to corrupt even the most innocent of feelings... and Jill, normally such a stoic survivalist, is an example of what could happen if you listen to the Entity's whispers.

#yandere dead by daylight #yandere dbd #yandere jill valentine

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for systems with gastroparesis!

Disability pride month may be over, but it’s always a good time to uplift and celebrate disabled systems within the plural community! Systems with gastroparesis may find that it’s difficult to speak up about their condition or have their voices heard and acknowledged in our spaces. This post aims to bring joy, hope, and awareness to systems with gastroparesis out there!

Shoutout to systems whose gastroparesis causes them to struggle to stay fed or get enough to eat!

Shoutout to systems who feel nauseous often or all the time!

Shoutout to systems who deal with chronic pain or discomfort in their tummy or abdomen!

Shoutout to systems whose gastroparesis has traumatized them or led them to develop their system!

Shoutout to systems who struggle to have their symptoms heard and taken seriously by their doctors and healthcare professionals!

Shoutout to systems whose gastroparesis developed suddenly and unexpectedly, and to those whose condition developed as a result or complication of another illness!

Shoutout to systems who need special diets, ample breaks in school and work, or other accommodations in order to live happy, healthy lives!

Shoutout to systems who advocate for themselves and others and try to educate others about gastroparesis, its prevalence, and how to be a good ally to those who struggle with it!

Shoutout to systems with gastroparesis who have had to manage their symptoms on their own due to being unable to afford quality healthcare!

Shoutout to headmates in systems with gastroparesis who are symptom holders for nausea, pain, discomfort, or other challenging symptoms!

Shoutout to systems with gastroparesis who are learning more about themselves and their bodies and are taking steps towards living full and happy lives!

For those who live with gastroparesis, we want to uplift you and support you however we can! Please don’t be afraid to talk about your experiences here - we care about you and we wish the very best for you in all that you do! We want to support you to the very best of our abilities!

Know that you will always belong in and be an important part of the plural community! We sincerely hope that you can find the accommodations you need, a healthcare team who understands you and takes you seriously, medications that improve your quality of life, or anything else that’s necessary for your system to thrive and flourish! Please don’t be too hard on yourself or your system, try to take it easy, and have a wonderful day!

(Image ID:) A pale orange userbox with a cluster of multicolored flowers for the userbox image. The border and text are both dark orange, and the text reads “all plurals can interact with this post!” (End ID.)

#multiplicity #pluralgang #plurality #actuallyplural #system positivity #plural positivity #plural pride #system pride #gastroparesis

[fandomtrumpshate]

2024 Supported Org: Voteriders

The United States has a very patchy history when it comes to voting rights, especially for minoritized people. Black men only secured the right to vote in 1870, and women in 1920. In practice, Black women were still effectively banned from voting until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1975. Among the many strategies used to discourage minoritized citizens from exercising their right to vote are unnecessarily strict ID requirements. Although a 2014 study by the GAO found that requiring photo IDs reduces consistently reduces voter turnout by 2-3%, many states continue to require photo IDs. Many other states have implemented time- and resource-intensive processes for acquiring even a basic state ID, creating hurdles for potential voters.

The requirement for government ID can often pose a particular challenge for trans and nonbinary voters. For people whose ID doesn’t match their name and gender, voter ID laws can make the experience of casting a ballot invalidating and intimidating. Many transgender voters report verbal harassment as a result of an ID with a name or gender marker that did not match their gender presentation.

VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote.

VoteRiders' vision is a thriving American democracy with an empowered, civically engaged, diverse, and representative electorate. In such a democracy, voter ID laws do not prevent any eligible voters from having a voice at the ballot box. They make it a special priority to help

VoteRiders and HeadCount’s Vote with Pride team are there to make sure everyone has everything they need to vote safely and confidently. They help people figure out what documents they need to get ID; request and pay for those documents; cover the DMV fees for getting an ID; and even find a lawyer to help, if necessary.

You can support Voteriders as a creator in the 2024 FTH auction (or as a bidder, when the time comes to donate for the auctions you’ve won.)

n.b. VoteRiders is one of two voting justice organizations on our list this year! You can read about the other one, Spread the Vote, here.

#fth 2024 #fanworks charity auction #supported org #voteriders #voting rights #democracy

[laura-the-mellifluous]

Pokémon Speculation

I'm sure that someone else thought of this, but I really don't want to spend the time running through various Reddit threads and youtube videos unless I have to.

So, the Unova/Isshu region has a lot of Pokémon species based off animals from the African savannah, South American rainforests, and Indonesian jungles. These are areas in our world where the corresponding animals are critically endangered. Some examples:

Minccino = Chinchillas, which are hunted for their fur and kept as pets. Some species are still critically endangered.

Darmanitan = Orangutans (duh), who have lost much of their natural habitat and now only live in Borneo and Sumatra. They are also critically endangered.

Zebstrika = the Grevy's Zebra, which is (you guessed it) endangered. There was once a Zebra variety called Quaggas that humans drove to extinction. We've attempted to bring it back with breeding to mixed results.

I could go on, but there's more...

Unova is also based on New York City and is one of the more developed Pokémon regions in terms of urbanization. It also is a Pokémon region where the local species are largely protected from outside, "invasive" species (to the point that the developers clearly scrapped having a Tauros and Luvdisc evolution and thought we wouldn't notice).

Really?

My speculation is that at some point in Unova's ancient past, it had a thriving savannah and jungle ecosystem and that the indigenous people there lived in relative harmony with the land. Sigilyph, Golerk, and Yamask echo the art and folklore of different ancient tribes from the Middle East to support this theory.

Golurk and Sigilyph both have Pokedex entries about protecting ancient civilizations, while Yamask wanders the ruins of ancient cities. Yamask is even said to be a dead human reincarnated into a Pokemon, possibly from these tribes(!)

Around 2500 years ago, the back story of the two brothers and the great dragon occurred, and ultimately, Unova was left open to urbanization after the split. Foreign humans started settling the land with more dangerous technology than the native Unovans (both human and Pokémon) could keep up with, and their urban sprawl destroyed many of the lush habitats there. As more and more people came to the area, they also brought in Pokémon that were not native to Unova, which had already adapted to blend in with human technology and likely assist their trainers in their destruction. Many Pokémon species were either driven to extinction or bred with compatible species to produce new variations, at the cost of never being able to gain their original forms back. Ancient Unova and its ecosystem was destroyed.

You can't tell me that these Pokémon are naturally adapted to a savannah or jungle environment. They were either invasive species or they rapidly adapted through crossbreeding to survive in the new urban sprawl.

This speculative history would reflect that of both the United States' and Japanese colonization. It would also explain why, in modern times, there is so much concern for Pokémon - particularly the native Unovan ones - and their wellbeing. These Pokémon are all that's left of a once diverse and wild ecosystem, and the people pf Unova overwhelmingly want to keep them from harm. This makes them susceptible to extremists who weaponize their righteous passion; enter Team Plasma.

#hellyeahlegendsunova

@franki-lew-yo

@thebigdeepcheatsy

#pokemon theory #unova #fandom essay #colonial violence #endangered animals

[joynomediamarketing]

At Joyno.inc, our seasoned team of digital experts is dedicated to empowering your brand to thrive in the digital age with tailored solutions that deliver results. Let's partner together and transform your digital presence into a success story that resonates with your audience and drives growth.

#joynomediamarketing#joynoinc#marketingdigital#socialmediamarketingtips#contentideas#digitalmarketing

joynoinc.com

[umlewis]

Following three seasons in Extreme E and a championship title in 2022, X44 has announced the team will be leaving the championship ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Following three seasons in Extreme E and a championship title in 2022, X44 has announced the team will be leaving the championship ahead of the 2024 campaign. In a statement, X44 said: "After three years as part of the Extreme E family, we’re today announcing that X44 will be departing the series. We’ve had an incredible three seasons competing as X44, winning multiple races and even a world championship. Thank you to our drivers Cristina, Fraser and Seb, and all our talented teammates who worked hard to help us achieve everything we did. Even more than the results on track, we’re proud to have been part of a bigger conversation about how to make motorsport more sustainable, of our success in giving people from all kinds of backgrounds an opportunity to thrive in this team, and of the legacy our team owner Lewis will leave behind with the Racing for All programme. Although we won’t be competing ourselves in 2024, we’ll be cheering on the series from the sidelines and keeping an eye on the exciting developments at Extreme H. Thank you for all your support." Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: "We would like to thank Sir Lewis Hamilton and his X44 team for their valued contribution to Extreme E during a successful three seasons in the series. They showcased their credentials on-track with some excellent race wins, not to mention their championship success in Season 2, but have also played a key role in implementing initiatives off-track which focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion, such as the series’ Racing for All programme. X44 has been a driving force in increasing diversity and representation in the paddock – an ethos Extreme E has shared since day one – and we wish them well for the future."

#lewis hamilton #f1 #formula 1 #extreme e #fic ref #fic ref 2024 #not a race #2024 not a race #pre-season #pre-season 2024

[windlassrivervalley]

Senior Living Housing in Dehradun: A Vision of Comfort, Care, and Community by Pranav Rastogi

The aging population is a global phenomenon, and India is no exception. With increasing life expectancy, the demand for senior living housing is surging. Traditional family structures are shifting, and seniors often lack the support systems they need. This is where senior living communities step in, offering a supportive environment that promotes independence while providing essential care and assistance.

The Growing Need for Senior Living Housing

With advancements in healthcare and improvements in living standards, people are living longer lives than ever before. As a result, the elderly population is growing, and so is the need for senior living housing. Traditional family structures are also evolving, with nuclear families becoming more common, leaving seniors without adequate support systems. Senior living housing provides a solution by offering a supportive environment where seniors can maintain their independence while receiving the care and assistance they need.

Pranav Rastogi’s Vision: Windlass River Valley — A Community for Seniors

Pranav Rastogi, recognizing the growing demand for senior living housing, envisioned Windlass River Valley as a place where seniors could live comfortably and securely. His vision was to create a community that not only provided high-quality housing but also fostered a sense of belonging and purpose among its residents. With a focus on holistic wellness and personalized care, Windlass River Valley aims to enhance the quality of life for seniors and promote active and healthy aging.

Uttarakhand: The Perfect Setting for Senior Living

Uttarakhand, known as the “Land of Gods” for its breathtaking natural beauty, offers a serene and peaceful environment that is conducive to senior living. The state’s pleasant climate, with mild summers and cool winters, provides a comfortable living environment year-round. Additionally, Uttarakhand boasts excellent healthcare facilities, with state-of-the-art hospitals and medical centers equipped to handle the healthcare needs of seniors.

The Allure of Tranquility: Dehradun’s Serene Surroundings

One of the key attractions of senior living in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is its tranquil surroundings. Nestled amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, Dehradun offers stunning views of snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and meandering rivers. The pristine natural beauty of the region provides a serene and rejuvenating environment where seniors can relax and unwind.

Building a Supportive Community: Fostering Connection and Well-being

Windlass River Valley fosters a strong sense of community among its residents, providing opportunities for social interaction, engagement, and companionship. From community events and recreational activities to shared dining spaces and common areas, residents have ample opportunities to connect with their peers and forge meaningful relationships. This sense of belonging and camaraderie enhances the overall quality of life for seniors and promotes mental and emotional well-being.

Personalized Care: Tailored Support for Every Resident

At Windlass River Valley, personalized care is at the heart of everything we do. Our team of dedicated caregivers is committed to providing individualized care tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each resident. Whether it’s assistance with daily activities, medication management, or specialized healthcare services, residents can rest assured knowing that their needs are being met with compassion and professionalism.

Uttarakhand: An Ideal Choice for Senior Living

With its picturesque landscapes, favorable climate, and excellent healthcare facilities, Uttarakhand emerges as the ideal spot for senior living housing. Pranav Rastogi’s vision for Windlass River Valley reflects a commitment to providing seniors with a nurturing and supportive environment where they can thrive and enjoy a fulfilling retirement. As the demand for senior living housing continues to grow, places like Windlass River Valley offer a beacon of hope for seniors seeking comfort, security, and companionship in their later years.

#wrv #apartment #dehradun #windlassrivervalley #home #Pranav Rastogi #Spade Care #Senior Living in Dehradun

[apptechbuilders]

The Rise of Native Mobile App Development Agencies: Meeting the Growing Demand

In today's digital age, mobile apps have become an integral part of our lives. From ordering food and booking a ride to managing finances and staying connected with friends, we rely on mobile applications for numerous tasks. As a result, the demand for high-quality and user-friendly mobile apps has skyrocketed, giving rise to a thriving industry of native mobile app development agencies.

A native mobile app is designed specifically for a particular operating system, such as iOS or Android. Unlike hybrid or web apps, native apps provide a seamless user experience by utilizing the native features and capabilities of the targeted platform. This level of optimization and integration allows native apps to deliver superior performance, faster loading times, and access to device-specific functionalities, ultimately resulting in a more engaging user experience.

Native mobile app development is a complex and specialized field that requires expertise in various programming languages, frameworks, and development tools. Recognizing this, businesses and organizations increasingly turn to professional agencies to develop their mobile apps. These agencies specialize in native app development and employ skilled teams of designers, developers, and quality assurance experts who work together to create cutting-edge mobile experiences.

The Benefits of Working with Native Mobile App Development Agencies

Partnering with a native mobile app development agency offers numerous benefits for businesses looking to enter the mobile app market or enhance their existing app presence:

1. Specialized Knowledge and Expertise:

Native mobile app development agencies have a deep understanding of the intricacies of different platforms and their respective programming languages. Their expertise allows them to leverage the full potential of each operating system, ensuring that the app is optimized for performance, security, and user experience.

2. Customized Solutions:

Native app development agencies work closely with their clients to understand their unique business needs, target audience, and objectives. This collaboration enables them to create tailor-made solutions that align with the client's branding, functionality requirements, and long-term goals.

3. User-Centric Design:

Agencies specializing in native app development place a strong emphasis on user-centric design principles. They focus on creating intuitive and visually appealing interfaces that enhance user engagement and make the app easy to navigate, resulting in higher user satisfaction and retention rates.

4. Quality Assurance and Testing:

Ensuring the stability, performance, and security of a mobile app is paramount. Native mobile app development agencies have dedicated quality assurance teams that conduct rigorous testing across various devices, screen sizes, and operating system versions. This comprehensive testing process minimizes the likelihood of bugs and ensures a smooth user experience.

5. Ongoing Support and Maintenance:

The journey of a mobile app does not end with its launch. Native mobile app development agencies provide ongoing support and maintenance services to address any issues, implement updates, and incorporate new features. This continuous support ensures that the app remains up-to-date, secure, and compatible with the latest platform updates.

The Future of Native Mobile App Development Agencies

The future looks promising for native mobile app development agencies as the demand for mobile apps continues to grow across industries. With advancements in technology, such as augmented reality, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT), there are endless possibilities for creating innovative and immersive mobile experiences.

As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of mobile apps in driving customer engagement and revenue growth, the role of native mobile app development agencies becomes even more crucial. These agencies will play a pivotal role in helping businesses leverage the power of mobile technology and deliver exceptional user experiences.

In conclusion, the rise of native mobile app development agencies reflects the ever-increasing demand for high-quality mobile applications. By partnering with specialized agencies, businesses can harness the expertise of skilled professionals who excel in native app development. With their knowledge, experience, and commitment to user-centric design, these agencies are poised to shape the future of mobile app experiences.

Source

#AppDevelopment #WebDevelopment #MobileApps #WebApps #SoftwareDevelopment #UIUXDesign #MobileDevelopment #WebDesign #CodeLife #TechSolutions #AppDesign #MobileTech #WebDev #DigitalTransformation #ResponsiveDesign #Innovation #TechIndustry #AppSolutions #WebSolutions #CodeNerds

[thoughtportal]

Anne Hathaway walked out of a Vanity Fair photo shoot Tuesday morning in support of the Condé Nast Union walk out.

Nearly 400 union members who work at Condé Nast are currently holding a 24-hour work stoppage to protest negotiation practices they claim are unlawful.

Hathaway was unaware of the work stoppage when she arrived at the New York City photo shoot. She was still in hair and makeup when her team was notified by a staffer from SAG-AFTRA to advise Hathaway to support the work stoppage.

“They hadn’t even started taking photos yet,” a source tells Variety. “Once Anne was made aware of what was going on, she just got up from hair and makeup and left.”

The work stoppage coincided with the announcement of the 2024 Oscar nominations, which took place Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Employees at Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, Allure, Condé Nast Entertainment, Architectural Digest, Glamour, Self, Teen Vogue and other Condé Nast publications walked to hold a rally in front of the company’s offices in New York.

Videos posted to the union’s X/Twitter show protesters holding signs that read, “Layoffs are out of fashion.” They can also be chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, winter’s extra cold this year,” an obvious play on Anna Wintour’s name.

Last week, Condé Nast merged Pitchfork with men’s magazine GQ — resulting in layoffs at the digital music publication, including the exit of editor-in-chief Puja Patel.

Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, explained the changes in a memo to company staff, writing, “Today we are evolving our Pitchfork team structure by bringing the team into the GQ organization. This decision was made after a careful evaluation of Pitchfork’s performance and what we believe is the best path forward for the brand so that our coverage of music can continue to thrive within the company.”

The Condé Nast Union shared its potential walkout plans last Thursday on X: “Our longest yeah boy ever: Nearly 400 of us have pledged to STOP WORK when our bargaining committee calls for a 24 hour walk out. RT to tell @CondeNast you stand with workers: stop breaking the law, stop union busting, and stop the layoffs. Keep your eyes here for more soon.”

Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch announced in November 2023 that the company will lay off upwards of 300 employees and take other cost-reduction measures to improve efficiency.

#article #anne hathaway #labor vs capital #workers rights #labor movement #strike #workers strike #Condé Nast #GQ #Pitchfork #vogue #workers vs capital