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#cricket hotspot
amberraymond · 1 month
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Fran Drescher’S Master class health summit
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techgain · 2 years
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Cricket offers cheap and reliable unlimited plans to customers. It also provides free data to some customers. It allows your mobile phone to work as a wireless hotspot with an extra charge of $10. This is the best feature of Cricket, but sometimes you may get annoyed if Cricket Hotspot not working. So, you can fix it easily.
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crevicedwelling · 11 months
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If you had like infinite money and resources what would your dream bug study / research project be about?
ooh, good one. I think I’d do a global review of scutigeromorph systematics and also take a look at the ecological roles they play worldwide. they’re my favorite group of centipedes and so sadly understudied—so many bizarre leggy species out there that need proper names!
aside from that, I’d really love to get a good camera and make a pretty coffee table photography book of beautiful land flatworms from around the world. New Zealand, Brazil, and SE Asia are particular hotspots for platyhelminths more colorful than any exotic birds, and I think more people need to love the worm.
oh, that reminds me I would love to contribute to nature documentaries about under-appreciated inverts. you could get such nice stories out of mother centipedes, soil fauna diversity, dramatic flatworm hunts, and nest-building raspy crickets. need a good video camera someday
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eclecticmiasma · 2 years
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Kinktober '22 Day 8 (Childe x Reader)
"Truthfully, he had hoped to end things before they got to see you naked. But no matter. They won't live to remember it anyway. "
NSFW
[Warnings: general yandere scariness, blood, gore, death, attempted rape, emotional/psychological manipulation, childe is his own warning]
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Art credit: @ha___ze on twitter
Even immaculate calligraphy can't hide the fact that the Regrator is far from pleased. Weeks of back and forth negotiations have greatly soured a relationship that was already tenuous to begin with.
As tight as I pull my purse strings, you always manage to hemorrhage Mora...
Childe smirks, perfectly able to envision his fellow Harbinger nearly snapping a pen nib with rage. It's a shame that the most uptight of them all holds power over funding and the hiring of troops. Dottore could be told the full intent behind his request and be more than happy to oblige, were he able. Great minds think alike, as they say.
...but your request has been granted. Three men will be dispatched to the location you provided within the week. However, I caution you that should it reach my ears this endeavor is for naught but one of your personal schemes, I shall see to it personally that you are cut off from any and all supplies for the duration of your mission.
The letter tears to pieces with ease, unceremoniously tossed aside to flutter to the marble flooring of Childe's office. He leans back and flexes his gloved fingers in an attempt to steel the anticipation that's been building in his system for days. The overwhelming urge to maim bubbles up like rancid milk. Soon, Tartaglia.
In hindsight, the sound of nothing but crickets floating on the warm breeze should have been a warning sign. The moment you were allowed to pass Liyue's massive stone gate unimpeded should have given you reason to turn back and hightail it home.
For now, everything is peaceful. Liyue Harbor's twinkling lights are dazzling from the city outskirts. Fireflies pop in and out of your vision as they lazily drift about. For the first time since you arrived in this strange land, you understand why others settle and never leave.
Still, as you press forward down countless wooden steps and out into the open trail, you can't help but peek around expecting a certain redhead to scare you half to death.
"Haven't you heard the rumors?" You hear his voice, cheery with an undercurrent of sincere warning, "They say there's a demon slayer with a penchant for pretty women out here in the wilds...wouldn't want him stealing you away now," Every time you roll your eyes and bid him leave you alone. And every time he ignores your ire, walking alongside you unphased.
In all honesty, he isn't terrible company. A funeral parlor worker he often chatters on about seems to have given him a wealth of information about the nation, beyond just its history. Sometimes you find yourself enthralled when he relays facts he's learned about the various ruins that lay scattered about. There are times when it's difficult to imagine that this strange man is a Harbinger.
Sure, it is incredibly unnerving to feel his hand on your shoulder as you traverse home some nights. The man moves so silently it's as if he travels the rooftops just to get to you without being noticed. The conversation always goes the same- you are more than capable of moving about without a chaperone. But he always flashes you the same wild grin before ruffling your hair like you're an insolent pet.
Somehow, you always cave to him. Mostly, you find him a harmless pest. After all, he's been nothing but kind even in his clingy presence. The first day you met, he seemed so excited to have met another foreigner. He all but dragged you around to different hotspots in the city that very day, and even gave you a way to contact him at Northland Bank should you ever need anything. Could a Harbinger be capable of such selflessness?
You pause, peering up at the ruins of Wuwang Hill as a slight feeling of guilt sinks your mood. No doubt you'd have gotten an earful about how the little village had become so decrepit. The last time you talked to Childe you had been so stressed from work, from homesickness, that you hadn't been very kind to him. You said nasty things in an attempt to be alone for five seconds without him around. In fact, I'm sure some passersby were shocked to see someone shouting at the Harbinger until he actually relented. They probably expected him to beat you to dust on the spot. His cheery face had been so...crestfallen as he actually turned and left you alone. It felt wrong, an apology died on your tongue as he went. That had to have been two weeks ago by now.
Just as you start walking again, a large bush near your path rustles unnaturally. It startles you, but an exasperated smile makes its way to your lips. He's forgiven you, and now you can apologize to him properly.
You should have known better than to think Childe would be so messy in hiding.
"Childe, come out," You chastise when the bush settles once again. Though the redhead has a penchant for jokes, you'd really like to apologize and get it over with.
"You heard her boys, go ahead and come out," Ice floods your veins as your feet are rooted to the spot. The voice comes from somewhere not four feet behind you, deep and gravely. The bush resumes moving as two men make their way out of it. One with gleaming yellow eyes and bandages wrapped around his face and neck, the other clothed in long black robes frayed with the color of fire at the edges, a ruby red mask hiding his expression from view. Each carries a symbol all citizens of Teyvat know well.
Fatui.
You turn to run, only to be snatched back by your hair into the abdomen of the man who spoke. His enormous hand covers your mouth before you can scream for help. Painfully, you crane your neck back to look up at your captor with pleading eyes. Only a single, vibrant purple orb gazes back.
Humans are nothing but if predictable. Dottore always had a way with words. Childe watches the scene below with sheer amusement, electricity practically skittering around his form.
He watches as the Fatui assassin's blade slices easily through the front of your shirt. Truthfully, he had hoped to end things before they got to see you naked. But no matter. They won't live to remember it anyway. Hopefully, your beautiful skin will stay relatively unmarred.
Childe wants to cheer when you land a kick square in the geomancer's crotch, proof that you can and will put up a fight after all. But the pride is short-lived as the soldiers easily subdue you after. He can hear them cackle as they rip your underwear, as the electrohammer pinches and squeezes your breasts. One of them threatens to beat you unconscious just to make their lives easier. When the assassin wraps a hand around your neck, Childe decides you've probably had enough.
"Little bitch, can't wait to have you moaning on my cock-" It takes a moment for you to register that the wet splatter you feel on your face neck is blood. The yellow-eyed Fatui seizes as his head is cleaved in two. As he falls, the blue blade that took his life is jerked back and there stands Childe, grinning like a maniac. You don't even know if he sees you.
The assassin turns to engage the Harbinger, but is no match for his speed. Childe whips around and aims his two blades perfectly at the Fatui's neck and abdomen. The massive solider that held you in a vice grip drops you to the ground to watch in horror as viscera pour from the assassin's body. Somehow, he is still alive as he hits the ground next to you. Though you can't see it through his mask, you feel as if he's looking to you as blood gurgles up through the gash in his trachea.
Childe howls with glee as the electrohammer swings his weapon and misses gloriously. He easily hops onto the head of the hammer and uses it as leverage to jump, stabbing the Fatui straight through the chest in one fatal blow. The solider falls flat into the stained grass, and all goes silent.
The Harbinger heaves as he tries to catch his breath, soft grunts escaping him as he replays the fight in his mind. Though, it wasn't much of a fight. He considers a multitude of alternative routes he could have taken. Perhaps he could have disguised himself as a pyromancer and gutted them one by one as they tried to have their way with you. Maybe he shouldn't have waited until their weapons were almost entirely cast aside.
His spiraling thoughts were halted as he registers a pitiful sob coming from somewhere at his feet. He drops his weapons as he spots you, soiled with bodily fluid and sobbing. You look utterly broken, trembling arms wrapped tight around your knees as if making yourself smaller will make everything disappear.
"Thank the Archons you're safe," He coos, falling to his knees beside you and making a show of being elated that he arrived in time. He wraps his arms around you and despite the fear that grips your heart you lean in to his heaving chest, sobbing harder, "Did they hurt you, princess?
He forces you back to look at him and admires the terror in your eyes. You look so small, so lost. Surely, you would regret every word you had said before. Surely, the world would be terrifying without him.
"I'm sorry," You wail like a lost child, voice hoarse. Childe runs his gloved fingers through your hair, combing more blood into the strands in the process, "Y-you told me, so many times and I-"
"Shhh, milaya*," Childe thumbs away your tears and does his best to shove deep the dizzying pleasure he gets in watching you crumble, "I forgive you. But, promise you'll never tell me to leave your side again."
For a moment you look at him, tears continuing to fall. The terror of what could have been replays in your mind and you grip his forearms with your fingers, holding onto your savior for dear life.
Later, you would regret your words with all of your heart. You would scream at yourself for being so blind, so naïve.
"I promise."
*sweetie
*all original work is my intellectual property. do not edit or re-upload.
[KINKTOBER '22 MASTERLIST]
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cryptic-michael · 6 months
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~Groovy Framed Dame~
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A fic about Ace Merrill getting dolled up for some fun times in a town far from his own!
Summary: For someone in Castle Rock to be free and wild, they go to the Bar or secret spots tucked away in the woods, or near them.
But still people know where those spots are, people hide and whisper, talk and even if they don't it feels like the crickets will tell your secrets at night.
So you have to go to the next town, where the brighter lights are and better bars are, the dinners are normally full and the people? Well they don't know you, and you don't know them.
Warnings: Interlized issues, gender dysphoria to some degree, use of more outdated terms (chick with a dck, guy-girl, gay being used mildly rudly), sexural harassment, panic, underage drinking, mentions of edibles and eating of an edible. Sexural advances that cause Ace to get confused. Physical violence(Ace slaps the shit out of Richard) and general warnings of swearing and hurt/comfortt, emotional issues and gender queer problems. (Also religious mentions and thinking one is Sinful for simply living)
Notes: please understand this was purely for fun on my end and to try somthing new out! Feedback is welcomed as are constructive crtitsms! Now enjoy!!
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The new hotspot of a theater bustled with loud excitement and tired yawns from the night pulling on. Some odd horror flic was playing, it was somehwhat intresting to Ace but he was more thinking about other things than the actual film itself.
The plot was something about a suposetly cursed western town being plagued with sudden odd deaths, only for a recent traveling cowboy to be a vampire killing them all. It was interesting at least, seeing as he was able to walk around in broad daylight, while being a vampire. The actor playing him also had a charm and look about him, too bad he died as all vampires do.
What caught his eye was the title and poster cover, "Dead by Dawn" a man who was ment to be Mexican, all handsome and elegant, dipping the female lead and love interest who was in a long beautiful flowy dress. On the poster it was a dull, pale blue color with white ruffles and a bow, her hair done up in curls and pushed atop her head, while the man was in all back with his gunbelt showing. He was meant to be biting her neck with fangs out.
"Man that was wild!" Richard breathed out quietly, still hung up on the film as he breathed in the fresh, crisp cool autum air. "How'd you think they got around the daylight vampire thing Ace?" He tilted his head at his blond friend who seemed very dazed and lost in thought.
"Hmm? Oh," Ace took a moment to rub his eyes thinking he needed adjusting to the equally dark outside as it was inside the theater. "It was alright, the film..." He scuffed out.
"I didn't ask that, I asked you," Hopping into the soft teal blue car, kicking his feet up to rest on the dash only to get swatted at from Ace. "Get those dirty fuckin' shoes off my nice dash!" Ace scolded as he slapped, and swatted at Richard's legs to get him to put hsi legs on the floor. Playful, 'Ow!'s filled the air as did the curly brunette boys laughs.
"God you're as bad as some of the dames Ace, telling me to put my feet down." Whining out his words as he draped himself across his seat, arms spread outward as he sighed. "You're as bad as my mom."
"Shut your trap Richard," Ace spat out, a too tired tone in his voice made it just barely shaken. "I just got it detailed, I'd like to KEEP!!" Yelling out the word as he snapped his head towrds Richard, almost snarling at him. "It detailed!" He wasn't very happy at the moment, he's blaming it on Richard kicking his feet up onto his nice clean dash.
"Fucking fine! Be that way then..." Richard retracted his arms as he crossed them across his chest, he didn't seem to be in any real mood to deal with one of Ace's moods again.
A stiffening Silence fell between them, as the engine roared, gravel and rocks kicked and creaked beneath the tires on the dusty roads of Castle Rock, while distant crickets sang, and the radio gave a quiet melody to their drive.
He had to take Richard home, something neither of them really wanted, but he had to do. Aces folks weren't home sure, but Richsrd had to get home on some days just so he wouldn't have to deal with too much shit.
"..I'll drive you home and-" His voice was hushed yet loud, ringing in Richards ears as he heard his friend speak. "-Maybe we can have fun this weekend?" He turned slightly to look at his friend before turning his attention back to the road, voice cracking from how dry it felt as he cleared it.
"No, not this weekend I wanna be alone." He didnt seem sad when stating this, he simply and softly gave a quiet statement to his friend as they drove on.
"Alright, maybe another time Rich."
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Weekends were hard, for eveyone. From adults, to the teens and kids, it was a time of freedom and peace. A time to be wild before having to function again for Monday to roll around slowly and agonizingly tortuous at times.
That's why Ace soaked them up, and it's also why, he was giving the gang, "A weekend off." Riared was staying home that weekend apsrently, the other were too tired or busy trying to impress girls and wanting to cram themselves also to the new theater or the local diner, leaving Ace at peace to be alone.
No one's ever really alone in Castle Rock. Neither is anyone ever really free.
For someone in Castle Rock to be free and wild, they have to sneak away and hide. To go deep in the woods to old abandoned places or a mix of both. Even then, most everyone can find those spots, or stumble on one another, it never feels truly alone or freeing. Even the bars on the outskirts of town feel trapped and caged in.
That's why, you have to go to the next town. To be bathed in the neon lights of the theater, fiber, and bars, the motels and hotel signs, and restaurants. The shopping departments and a whole mall of sorts, better places for one and all.
Sure it's a four somtimes five hour drive, and sure, Ace has to fill up a tank, then get a bag packed for his drive...a weekend long endeavor. Normally leaving late Friday night, and returning late Sunday night. (This week he gets an extra day off, Monday for a local holiday)
He loves the town, it's so nice and he doesn't know how that goldmine of a town is only three hours away from his shit one, and how no one goes to it hardly.
It's mildly expensive, most people going there are for the restaurants and anniversary, or birthdays of the extraordinary kind.
Or, for people like Ace, who after stumbling around for a bar found one by accident and discovered so much.
The town was called "Waterloo Front" due to it being on the water mostly, and orginaly being populated by a great deal of French settlers before the Dutch moved in and kicked them out to Lousisian. Still a lot of places had older names, French, Dutch, English, all mixing and boiling over into a mess of a tastefully delightful town.
They had it all. Nice restaurants, dinners, a nice and bigger theater with a proper popcorn machine and snack bar, a real drive in theaters the best candy and soda shop around, the best bars and liquor, and the brightest lights he's ever seen.
The glow of soft purple neon basked on his face as he parked his car under an awning at a motel. Cheaper than a hotel, and just as nice he felt.
It was a routine by this point to drive into Waterloo Front, stay at the WearyWave Motel, and get dressed up better, to go to a very, very nice bar.
It was 25-bucks a room, cheap but not too crazy cheap, better than 35-40 somthing. He hat a shower, and tow beds as most all the room did, and he typically got stuck with room A4 or B8. He once had C12 and that one was like the rest of them. (C12 being on the second floor and furthest across from everything)
"A4...Nice." He muttered to himself slipping his cash on thr counter, as he janked up the keys for his room. His hands fumbling, playing softly with the design on the Keychain.
The hotel key had a watery patter with the room number on one side, and "Have a Rest!" on the other, he considered more than once about just stealing them, just becuse of the way it looked frankly.
He wasn't there for all that, what he was there for was to toss his duffle bag onto the spare bed, rummage in it for his shower supplies, and wash up before heading out.
It had been a while, what felt him like a whole month nearly since he got to properly go into Waterloo Front, and he hadn't been that happy since neglecting his little mini vacations.
Been too long since he's had that perfect water that was so nice and warm, so hot roll down his face and body, and lather himself up with his special soap that he used for theses occasions.
Autum Breeze is what it was called, the most feminine thing with little maple and apples all over the packaging. He'd wrap it up in a small hand towel so it wouldn't get everywhere, since it was just some bar soap. (That had him smelling like a bakery in fall)Then the shaving cream, that smelled like pure vanilla and then the deodorant was just normal lavender.
He orgianly had a fear, a real awful worry, that he'd smell like an old woman when he firdt tried on the stuff, with how potent the lavender and jasmin scent was, but after a few weeks in school he realized lots of girls bathed in that perfume and soap that smelled similar to or exactly like that. So it made him feel better in the long run while on theses weekend adventures.
Now, how did he come to shaving his legs in the shower of a cheap motel in the town of Waterloo Front, that was four hours from his home, friend's, and eveything he knew?
Ace wasn't too sure honestly. He thinks he's always wanted this, a freedom that came with running away on the weekend, like those girls and women in those films. They run away, to a new town and meet some handsome man with money or kindness and get married or somthing.
He knows that doesn't really happen, but he sure can dream.
"Shit!" A hiss broke the silenec that was the water hitting the bath and roaring with jts own sound of a hiss. He had gotten too lost in his thoughts to realize he had cut himself with his razor. "No cut my fucking ass!" He was angry, this alwsy happened whenever he shaved. He even tried to get womens, u'No Cut!' Brand and yet, here he was bleeding from his thigh. And while sure it was getting less and less frequent, which was amazing and all, but he hated that he cut himself still.
He doesn't see how girls can mange it without any cuts, maybe their hands are built diffrent, or legs, or maybe it's the fact they're real girls and not whatever the fuck Ace is pretending to be.
"if anyone saw me here it would make for some great blackmail..." His thoughts were swimming, whirling sorund in his head again as he felt thst familiar sinking feeling in his chest. That dread that guilt, that sorrow almost that game with this routine.
It felt freeing, wonderful to do all of this, and yet eveytime he was in the shower he'd cry it all out just to put on a face and go out for the night. His crying seasons however keep getting longer, and longer, and his urge to- no, need to dress up is getting mkre and more frequent.
He doesn't know how much longer he can do this. Staying in Castle Rock, that shithole of a town, the pathetic town that eveyone goes to die in, like a field the farmer leads his lame horse to, too kill it. He feels that's his town, and this? Waterloo Front? Oh its beautiful, its amazing, and gorgous, freedom and like a big city, yet being small still.
Wiping away his tears with warm water from the shower as blood from his mid thigh washes down into the drain, leaving a pale pink water running down and into the drain as the sharpe pain helps him focus on something other than his mind betraying him.
"I need to get out and get ready, I told her I'd meet her.." His mind racing off to which clothes he'd wear, and what steps to take after exiting the shower now fluttered aimlessly in his mind, dancing like leaves in the wind, not sure which one to focuse, let alone act on first.
Finally grabbing for the handle of the shower he switched it off, and stepped out. Drying himself in the bathroom, the whirling hum of the vent that was doing its job to suck up the humid bathroom air, left a perfectly clear lit up mirror in its wake.
He looked hideous. His body was plump, pudgy looking...full, he felt unfit, and like he wouldn't be able to squeeze his flesh into those clothes he brought, let alone get the makeup to hide his face, or that wig to stick. Let alone get the padding to stay put tonight.
He had to shake loose those thoughts off, he was going to look fine he was going to look beautiful, pretty as always, the guys and men always told him as much at least.
"Where's the fucking bandaids..." Huffing out as he trailed to his bag, fishing out a bandage and slapping it over the small cut on his right thigh. A sharp breath followed by a deep sigh leaving his lungs as he then rummaged for his clothes and his makeup bag.
He had eveything a girl could dream of, or a girl entering womanhood, maybe puberty, could defiantly dream of....or a little girls dream.
It was more of a little girls dream come true, when she daydreams about being an adult like her mommy or auntie. Nice undergarments, stocking, pretty new pumps, and Mary Jane's to prance around in, a lovly dress with a pretty sweater or cardigan, a pair of earrings, and a nice set of makeup...
It wasn't much but it was enough to fill the bag. A dress, that was darker dull blue, that went with his black stocking, and black pumps or Mary Jane's. Then he had an off white blouse, with a deep burgundy like red skirt, fitted either a little belt, and black cardigan, with an optional ribbon for his hair. It also went with the shoes and stocking.
His panties and bra were a diffrent story. They were both a normal white acutely, and his underwear had little roses on the left hip. Then his slip, yes, his slip was black.
He half bought theses, half got them from a new friend he made in the town. He bought the undergarments himself, claiming embarrassment, and that they were for a girlfriend back home and it was their anniversary.
The dresses and shoes he got from the new friend, her name was Evelyn, and she was sweet enough considering she was helping Ace out. As well as meeting him anytime he came down, or 90% of the time anyway.
Still, he was dressed in his underwear, feeling a bit better in the mirror. His body clinging to the fabric and curving it, how bits of him poked out over the sides ever so slightly. He felt...
He felt normal again.
He felt right, he alwsy did in these things. The panties fit him well, aside form he was having to fix his junk a lot, the stockings tended to help him in that area.
The panties in place, the bra with his padding placed into it, with his slip on made him feel wonderful. He felt comfortable as he sat his makeup bag onto the large bathroom vanity sink, and then pulled himself up to happily sit on it as he got ready for the night.
He favored a softer makeup look. Granted his hair, and wig was blond, but still he favored a softer more baby doll look.
'Somthing fitting for young girls like yourself hun!' Is what he remembered Evelyn telling him. She wasn't much older than him, she just turned 20 the night they met, but to a 16 year old boy that felt a lot older than it was.
Still he painted on his face, the light eyeshadow and mascara bring a pop to his baby blues, his soft pink lips getting an extra shine and slightly darker, brighter shade of pink, before he applied blush and blended it all in.
He sometimes wondered if he could do others makeup, and charge them for it. Be a local makeup person secretly for all the girls for their dates and prom nights, charge them cash or homework favors for it.
He'd get stoned to death and dragged through town who was he kidding with a daydream like that.
Still, it was a decently fun thought as he positioned the wig to fit nicely over hid head, ensuring it was in place perfectly, nothing showing or poking out or around as he gave it a small fix before putting his clip on earrings on. They were oval, a deep green and white design of two flowers. He thinks they were maybe a carnation, he wasn't sure.
That combined with his little lecklace that was ment to look like leaves made him feel so...pretty.
'Here! Take these I never wear them anymore since mine are peirced now, and this necklace is a bit to young for a girl like myself!'
The memory rang flash in his mind still, awkwardly standing in the bedroom of Evelyn's home as she was helping him with clothes. He remembers telling her he couldn't take all the stuff she wanted to give him, how he only had one real place to hide them all, and it wasn't a very big duffle bag at that.
So now he just had spare at her place if need be, or well trade outs. He'd trade out outfits sometimes, and she'd happily do his laundry, but he didn't like buging her since she had a life and a partner, someone who worked as a mechanic that's all he knew.
He imaged Evelyn wasn't what one would describe as straight, since the place they met was well....queer and fruity like the cocktails they served.
"Oh shit I gotta get going damnit!!" He checked the clock and realized he'd be a few minutes late, he didn't wanna risk hurting himself in the small pumps, so he traded them in for the more easy to run in Mary Jane's.
And just his luck, it was beginning to storm as he rushed through his motel door, thankful to be on the ground floor, but also fumbled with putting his keys into his clasp purse. Small, and showed the difficulties of getting the damn thing open.
"Stupid fucking clasp-" Ace trailed off as he manged to get it open, and open his umbrella, storming off intonthe night as his shoes made soft clicks on the pavement that was beginning to get damp and reflective form the light rain.
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Maneuvering the streets of Waterloo Front still felt difficult. Not yet fully comfortable and situated in his dress, combined with his creeping anxiety as he held a death grip on both his purse and umbrella. His knuckles white around his umbrella as he tried hard to walk with confidence and mild grace down the street. Knowing that no doubt he probably looked confused or lost amongst the small late night crowd.
Late showings from the theater were leaving, a few people still at diners and restaurants opening for their nightly rush, being open til around 11, and importantly, bars closing at 4am.
He felt hot flash, after hot flash wash over him, while he was greeted with a refreshing, and much needed cool breeze. It felt wonderful, what didn't feel wonderful was getting held up at a small cross walk. There weren't any cars, but he saw a cop, and well...
He didn't want to risk it but he was at the front a piling line fo men and a few women behind him, probably going to the bars like he was.
Shifting his weight, from one foot to the other as he periodically caught glaces to the light across the way to see if that would turn red, so that they could go, he felt a hand creep up on him.
The man, older man, someone his uncles age, was trying to creep his hand up on his side. He wasn't being sudden either, he was already trying to gently cup at Ace's hips and move towrds the base of his back, attempting to snake further.
Ace couldn't say anything, just freeze up as he felt his blood run cold.
His voice was rough, it cracked it sounded horse and sore, it was anything but femine and befitting of a face and outfit that he was parading about in. So he simply froze up, inching away from the hand and bumping into a guy around his age, and a greaser, who slapped the man's hand away.
"AYE Pal! The little lady doesn't want your PAWS all over her!" He harshly slapped at the man's hand, and before he could get more out another slap was hear as arguing ensured. His wife was next him, and aparently declared that the last staw for the night with him, and he was pleading apologies to her.
The situation, while it did leave him uncomfortable, also had him giggle some. A soft quiet laugh. "Look I know you got that perfect little frame for a gorgous dame like yourself," The guy by him began. "But those old fucks should really learn some manners! Don't you agree?" He leaned under Ace's umbrella to light his cigarette, Ace felt like he could go for one, maybe ten of those right now.
A hum, and a little nod was all the handsome fella got in return. "Real shy girl like yourself needs to watch it," He sucked in the cigarette, the tip giving a soft glow as he enjoyed it before breathing it out softly, turning away from Ace as he blew then look back at him. Smoke trailing from his lips as he spoke.
"But I'm sure you know what your doing toots!" He patted the lower back of Ace which had him jump slightly. Not in a fearful nor scared manner just surpise. It wasn't a bad touch or gross one like the man who was trying to feel up his hips was doing.
"Gotta scam, bye now toots!!" He rushed off without another word, Ace following him by pure accident as they found themselves in the alleyway to the bar thst only certisn people can frequent.
The Green Cowboy Was the name name of it. Ace learned it was called that becuse the owner who opened it up in the 20s, was found of cowboys, who were a staple in being queer aparently, and then green carnations were used to show you were queer.
He also thinks its a play on that one drink, the green fairy.
"Wellll~ we meet again little lady!" The guy was leaning aginst the door fishing out the token you flashed to get in once further inside. "After you I insist~" he politely held the door open for Ace who put his umbrella away and gave a gentle smile with a polite nod.
"Ricky's my name doll, what's yours? Since we're going someplace for...I imagine the same reasons as I." He wrapped his right arm around him, and oh the smell of leather off the guy was making Ace dizzy. He was a sucker for boys in leather, he was always egging Richard to get a motorcycle just to wear a leather jacket.
Oh and the hair, the smell of Ricky would make him weak in the knees if he were a girl.
"Whoah now princess!" Ricky had to catch Ace who's knees buckled after a bit of walking. "You alright doll?" He seemed genuinely worried and it was touching Ace's heart and soul in ways he never thought of.
Another nod as he brushed himself off, rushing ahead to the doorman to show his chip from his purse. Hands sweaty as he fumbled and dropped it a few times, Ricky coming to help him again.
As the extra door was opened and they strolled down the short flight of stairs and were happily greeted with a colorful well kept bar, Ace booked it for the corner.
Evelyn would be in their spot, over to the very corner of the bar, you can see eveyone entering and existing, and he was happy to rush over there.
"Hi-" Ace barley manged the words out before he fell onto his seat. He only just manged to get hid dress properly fixed before sitting, as to not pull it when he sat.
His heart was pounding, his head felt light, and he was sitting right next to Evelyn.
"Heeey Ace Hun!" She went right to patting the younger ones back as he shook his head. "How's your week been?"
"Been a week, been busy," Ace began as he took her drink and sucked it down, not bothering to wait and order his own. "Some fucking creep tried to grope me on my way here-" He began only to get cut off, he happily went back to soothing his dry parched throat with the syrup like liquor drink that burned and soothed his throat.
"Oh my word are you alright!?" She always cared for him, Ace felt like Evelyn would have made a great big sister maybe.
"Yeah, I'm fine a guy helped me-" Ace was quiet still and thank God for that becuse as soon as he finished his small statement, he swore that God was out for him that night for how sinful he was living.
"Toots!!" Ricky popped back up, happily looking at Acw with a sparkle in his eyes as Ace tried to hide his face in a mixture of embarrassment and shyness.
"...that's Ricky, he helped me..." Ace barely got the words out above even a whisper to his friend as she motioned for him to sit.
"Ricky! havent seen you around for a while!"
"Oh you know, been busy, followed this lovly lady here~" He flashed a smile to Ace as he leaned on the table slightly proving himself up by his elbow. "Or she followed me rather." He teased to him which has Ace getting more shy and anxious.
"Well my friend here is real shy, so give them some time and I'm sure you'll get a name!" Evelyn was trying her best to to accidently out Ace. Gaybar or not, it wasn't easy to look the way he did without getting called girl, and if he was rendered to as a he? God be damned as to what'll happen.
"Awee, I like a girl who's shy! But I got a friend I gotta phone to meet me, he'll love her more!"
"Ricky I don't think that's a very wise decision young ma- Ricky!" It was too late, he was rushing off the the paybooth room. The phone room where you made calls for rides home or friends to find you.
Just a bunch of phone booths in that room..
"Ace, dear, do you...have any prefered name or somthing you wanna use for safty?"
"Yeah, Bloody fucking Mary, or Brandy-" He was waving a waiter over to get his drinks, hard mixed cocktails to get him warmed up and lose for the night.
"Ace! I'm being serious now..." Her tone came out in a stern scolding manner as she round up gently pinching Ace's ear to get his attention.
"Ow! Fucking fine!! Mary It's Mary! And just call me a she, not like you can say what I really am anyways..." Ace began fishing through his purse for a light and a smoke, resisting the urge to kick his leg up as he smoked to calm down.
"And what's that?" Crossing her arms momentarily as she looked to see what kind of explanation Ace would come up with, for what he felt he was.
"I'm a chick with a dick duh- OW! Fucking damnit your not my mom Evelyn!!" She had again grabbed his ear to pinch it, ans he was just getting angry with her at this point. He'd slap her if not for the commotion it would cause.
"Your not a chick with a dick! Your Ace! Or Mary! Whichever once you'd like Ace!" She pleaded reasoning with him to little no avail as he sulked back further into his seat. Crossing his legs as he left a pink stain on his cigarette bud while he smoked.
"I'm a fucking freak that plays dressup Evelyn.." It sounded pitiful, almost sad when he said that. Voice full of melancholy as he took a few more drags of his cigarette before he was budding it out, and lighting another one.
"...Ace..."
"Dont- Don't fucking..." Darting his tongue out over his lips, he felt his chest tightening as his hands grew shaky while he felt tears threatening his makeup as they pricked the corners of his eyes. His nose was already getting stuffy. "I don't want or need your pity voice." He coldly spat out to her as he got up smoking still and made his way to the restrooms.
Or powder room, he didn't need to do anything except fix his clothes and have a break from the atmosphere.
Which brought him smoking while in a longe chair that wasn't very comfortable, staring up at the ceiling, wishing he had more to cool his nerves. He got his wish after giving a girl a solid 20, and a little kiss for a tiny bit of snack she carries in her purse.
"Ace, Ace Merrill did you smoke grass in the women's-"
"You know for a babe that hangs out in joints like theses," He guesterued around with his free hand as he drank more of his cocktail, feeling the affects of both that little bit of edible and the alcohol already. "You sure are reaaaaaal fucking stuck up. Your holy than thou ego is higher- HIGHER! Than tits on a elephant, and your fucking- fucking whiney you know that?" His voice was coming out in giggles as he smiled telling her those things, knowing full well he was insulting her.
"Ace you don't mean-"
"Yeah I fucking do, your pushy like a mother or a teacher it's annoying, you won't even let me get a little girl on girl with you!"
"I'm with someone already!"
"Then let me watch!"
"No! You really shouldn't even be here!"
"Then drag my ass home doll!"
"...Ace I'm going to leave and when I return you had better gotten some water in you young man." Evelyn stood marching with the tone of a pissed general giving orders to a half wasted very stoned Ace who, well, felt as if the night was finally lightening up.
He didn't even attempt to sober up with water or soda, he snacked on an order of bread and butter that was nice and filling at least, while making plans of what to do tomorrow. Normally he slept in real late, but he considered shopping maybe.
However it seemed he wasn't so lucky, he was cursed to deal with whatever God had set up for him.
Why God? Becuse Ace doesn't think that even the Devil himself could be to cruel at a time like this.
"Hey! Toots, this was the guy I was talking to you ab- Oh! Are you okey!?" Ricky returned, and Ace connected the dots inidaitly upone seeing who exactly he brought up with him.
Richard.
His right hand man, his best friend, the guy he wants to lay ontop of and make out until he has no air in his lungs, the guy he wants to hear call him a pretty boy...
His, Richard.
Ace wound choking on his drink when he looked up to see them side by side, and was trying everything in his power to figure out a soft high voice and to seem as girly as possible.
"I-Im fine.." He got it out just barely, and the way he raised his voice was wild to him, he didn't even know he could get that high.
"Oh you sound sore, need a lozenge? Peppermint?" Ricky offered and Ace shook his head 'no' and tried again to talk after clearing his throat a bit.
"S-so...Sorry, I'm getting o-over a co-cold." He stammered over his words feeling like he wasn't making a very good girl impression.
"Aweee, your cute you know that?" Richard told him as he sat down near him, smiling softly. That handsome pretty smile that light up a room, it was making Ace's heart flutter.
He realized after a bit longer, that they were cousins, distant, but cousins. Ricky was from his moms side, and his second aunts son. He lived in Waterloo Front, while Richard was stuck and cursed to live in Castle Rock...
He heard stories, and Richard mention how he could always beg him for his leather jacket and motorcycle one day, but he wasn't aware of how much of a damn heartthrob he was. Between the two, Ace wanted to get his world rocked by them both allll night long.
Hell, he'd probably try if it weren't for the fact he has a dick and well...he doubts that's what they'd want...he doesn't even know if they'd be okey with shareing him.
'What the fuck am I thinking about- having sex with my best friend and his cousin that's gross...' But it was also making his antsy and warm as he wiggled a tad in his seat.
He couldn't tell if it was that kind of problem, or if he had to piss.
"You alright?" Ricky nudged Richard to look at the currently distressed looking girl before them.
"N-no, i-i-I ne-need the-"
"Poweder room? I can help you too it if you'd like." Richard was quick to stand and already pulling Ace up by his hands. While Ace felt embarrassed, Richard was happily, gently running his thumb over them before wrapping his whole arm around one side of him as he led Ace to the powder room.
Powder room, washroom, restroom, it was the same thing, a large wall divided the sides of powder and bathroom. Then another wall divided the men's and women's, then there was another spot for just bathrooms.
"Can you walk? Oh-No here lets just use the normal ones, I'll turn around promice!"
"I-its fine I can stumble-"
"Look, I think your the most gorgous girl I've ever met, and I'd beat myself up if any part of you got hurt alright?" Ace gave in when he heard that soothing, sweet honey filled voice as he was lead into a stall, door clicked shut and after making sure Richard wouldn't peak he shuffled to get his stockings down and dress up to do his business.
He didn't mind sitting, if anything he found it quite enjoyable, it felt easier at times, and also he didn't have to deal with any kind of mess, especially in this state, just a worry of falling off the toilet, but he's fallen in his own piss once while stupid drunk.
Not like it could get worse than that night.
"Mkey, all done!" Ace happily announced only to realize he couldn't get up, his legs just...couldn't, wouldn't rather budge at all. They felt entiekry to weak and shaky.
He entered the point of no return now, so drunk his legs were weak, they alwsy fucking did this. Then again it could have been thst bit of edible he popped.
"...I-I need help up, no looking! But I need help, standing." His voice was coming out more easily now, still soft somehow but he still feared it would Crack and give him away.
"Right, well, eyes are closed, abandoned there we are! Can you get eveything pulled up miss groovy babe of waterloo?" Richard teased as he held onto Aces back to help him stable himself.
"Hmmm....It..it's Mary Merrill-" Ace doesn't know why he said fucking merril. That's a dead give away, he'll be beat any minute now.
"Mary...Merrill huh? You a cousin or somthing of John? He goes by Ace-"
"I-Im not sure, my aunt raises me and we-we don't see family much.." He rushed to fix his dress as he stumbled away from Richard, desptarly trying to get the stall door open only to stumble, fall into the door, open it after a bit, and then fall face first onto the tile floors.
"Mary!"
"Oh-----" His mouth was moving, Ace was saying words, responding, but after he fell his mind and memory became one, big, blur.
He remembers his warm strong hands on and around him, helping hin up. Remembers getting looked at slightly by someone and smelling Ricky again, his purse getting grabbed and he was taken to his motel at some point soon after becuse he woke up in his room.
Shoes and dress off, laid over a chair, his bag on the floor by the chair, and he? He was tucked into bed. His wig a little, well, a lot messed up as was his makeup. Jewelry off.
He assumed it was Evelyn who took him there and fixed it all up for him, but she normally takes his wig off. Maybe she was mad at him, so his wife getting messy was the punishment he wasn't sure.
He'd be going back to bed, but after waking up, and seeing a note for him on the bedside table, from Richard asking for a date since,
"You got sick and that lady took you home but please can I meet you at the Sea Salt Slab - the ice cream, soda candy shop? We can have a whole day for fun? I hope you feel better soon Doll!♡"
He definitely felt loved while reading that, and would have to get dressed up again later but for now, he curled back under his blankets for a much needed sleep.
°•°•°•♤°•°•°•☆°•°•°•♤°•°•°•☆°•°•°•°
Ace felt as if his heart was going to pop out of his chest. It was 11am, and he stood all dolled up again, this time in his little pumps, pretty red skirt, and off white blouse, as he stood waiting, looking for Richard.
Once again a death grip on his little purse, holding its small handle infront of him as he softly swayed, giving hushed "no"s to passerbyers asking if he needed help or somthing.
Right as he walked closer towrds the large window of the soda shop, gently leading aginst it he heard rapid tapping, which earned a startled jump from him.
Turning around he saw a smiling Richard motion for him to enter and sit with him, and oh he felt so embarrassed and dumb.
'Should have known he was already inside, it's Ritch, that's how he fuckin works...' Ace felt his heart pounding again as he took a seat across from Richard. The music from a jukebox softly playing, as the bustling sounds and giggles form others filled their ears.
"Wow your real pretty Mary.." He sighed out in awe of the sight before him, nothing but pure wonder in his voice and eyes as he looked with a daze at them.
"Oh, your just being nice.." Ace muttered out looking away from him, afraid his voice would be rough again today, or worse, crack.
"Really! I don't say that often when I first meet a girl! Your a smokin babe! Real groovy with that frame of yours!" His eyes light up more with each praising word to Ace who was feeling his heart melt and flutter with each one he heard.
"Alright, if your such an honest boyscout then~" he looked back to his friend with a small smile.
"I pride myself on being such you see," He leaned on the table slightly as he proudly announced such to Ace before sliding the second menu to him. "So what will the lovly Mary be having today? They can take an order then we can go buy candy if you'd like."
"Oh uuhhh..." Ace looked at it, normally he knew exactly what he'd want, and he still did but he felt shy like this. "I-Im...not sure," he gave a nurvous laugh before picking up and stareing blankly at the menu. The words seemingly melting together as he tried to find what he wanted. "There's a lot of options."
"Well, there's pop, ice cream bowls, waffle cones and bowls, then," He leaned over the table, gently taking the menue from Ace as he poitng out the options. "You have milkshakes, then flavors. They have Coke, Dr. Pepper, RC Cola, Squirt-"
Ace cursed himself, he hated himself for it still. He heard one of the guys once talk about how a girl can squirt. Then confirm it, so it gave a whole new meaning to hearing that. He doesn't even remember who, but he does know his face light up red as he gave a stiffened laugh, a not so attractive snort, before having a giggle fit.
He couldn't stop it, he hated that it made him laugh but it just came out along with the uncomftable laughter that was building up in him, he knew his laughs, and giggles wernt sounding the most feminine but he alwsy saw how Richard was just smiling like he was seeing the best thing ever.
A smile he'd give Ace when they were alone, and normally when he thought Ace was totally out of it or something.
"-Not that kinda Squirt, now cal-"
"You get your girls to squirt much Richard?"
"Shhh! Now come on, i-i didn't know a sweet thing like you was dirty like that!"
"Oh shh yourself handsome, finish reading the drinks...please?"
"Sure thing Mary, they have that, and also orange, and grape soda. Then you have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and on the more exciting flavors, they have...uhh," Richard had to pull the menu closer to make sure he head it correctly.
"Devil mint, mint chocolate chip, rocky road, banana and strawberries, and rainbow..oh hey they got fucking Candy Apple Ice-cream whoa!"
"Let me see that, they do! Wanna share a bowl?" It was Ace's turn to get extramly excited now.
It was almost a small tradition between them, he ans Richard, sharing the first candy apple of fall. And while this time he probably asumed some nice yet giggly mildly dirty girl just wanted to share icecream, it was still his thought of that tradition.
"Sure why not! Let's get two scoops of that, and why not share a malt? You want strawberry? And a Dr Pepper? Or Coke? Maybe root beer." Richard was smiling as he waved a waitress on her little skates down for serving customers, but Ace was caught up on how he just offered his faviort things.
'He knows, there's no way he doesn't know, he knows now, he knows, he's gonna tell, he knows-' Ace's face was draining of some color as he felt himself get cold, not just from the shop, but from Richard's words.
"You alright Mary? Do you feel sick again?" He leaned fowrad and placed a hand to her head and cheeck, somthing Ace couldn't help but lean into.
"Y-yeah just got a bit sick there I apologize...I'd like to share a malt yeah, but you pick it...I'll take a root beer float..please and a bottle of Coke." Ace was hoping he wasn't making a fool of himself.
"Alright, banana strawberry malt, two cokes, a float, and two scoops of candy apple ice cream!" Richard happily relayed their order with a toothy grin when he was done.
A bowl of ice cream, one rootbeet float(that was finished off by Richard) a shared fruity malt, and a bottle of Coke later they were out. Richard limp and leaning aginst his chair with a groan, while Ace was sitting in his chair trying not to die. Richard was groaning becuse he ate too fast and was having a bad brain freeze, Ace was genuinely ill from the sweets. He just ate too much to soon, too fast and needed real food not ice-cream and pop.
"...do you wanna go broke and buy some candy?" Richsrd asked lifting his head to look at his date.
"...sure why not pretty boy." They stood and while Richard walked off to pay for their current sweet treats, it coming to only $18, Ace was busy shoveling candy into a bag, and shoving it into his purse.
Hard candy, his weakness. The cherry flavor would be gone soon, so he snaged a lot of those. Cherry, soda, cotton candy left over flavor, orange, and then some creamy flavors, fall flavors of maple, apple pie, apple, and just so much, enough to fill the medium bag and he barley manged to shove it into his Purse.
He filled another but with a lot less stuff. Two bags. Equal amounts. One for him, one for Richard, both fall flavors.
"Oh you got me a bag and filled it a bit nice! Thanks a bunch Mary~" he leaned to give her a kiss onto her head but Ace jerked away. "Sorry, should have...asked.." He apologized to Ace as hee put more sweets in hid bag, Ace not putting as meny in his.
"Oh hey, candy apples...want some?" Richsrd picked it up and offered one to Ace.
"...why don't we share it?" He suggested to Richard knowing he'd probabky decline but still.
"Oh, uhhhh...no, let's get...get sep-separate ones Mary."
"Alright then, but let me pay for my stuff."
"Sure doll!"
A total of only $5 later and them walking around to Richard's car had them giggling and talking about random things. From if they could have dinner together, to her faviort sweet, to what Mary liked doing, and if she'd been with other guys before.
"Richard..do you ask all thr girls that?" She asked him as they drove down the street and around town for a while.
"Yeah, cource I do!"
"Well, I've never been with another boy before, honestly...I just have a lot of..crude relatives thst don't watch their mouth around me."
"Oh I got a few of those myself Mary.."
"Hmm...wanna go get a drink?"
"It's barely 1pm....Sure."
°•°•°•♤°•°•°•☆°•°•°•♤°•°•°•☆°•°•°•°
After spending more than enough time at the bar for it to turn into evening, and while they were still quite sober, Richard decided to drag Mary to a movie. He'd seen it before, "Dead by Dawn" but he was sure Mary hadn't seen it.
She had, Ace, had already seen it with Richsed but least now they could focus more on it.
The evening wound down, more and more. Richsrd getting mkre dsring, while Ace grew more confident as the day dragged on well into thr night, past dinner, and finally, under the stars.
"I enjoyed tonight a lot.." she muttered, feeling very buzzed from the drinks she had at dinner, felt mkre lose and without anybreal care. Forgetting where she was as she relaxed in thr car, leaning aginst Richard.
Ace felt less like John Merrill as the day went on, and mkre like Mery. He felt less like that hardass Ace and more like Mary.
He thought about that a lot, if he were anyone else, he'd wanna be Mary. Girls named Mary had the best lives he felt.
They had nice homes, loving families, friends....the boys they dream of, and just everything a girl could dream and hope for.
But he still felt like Ace, not John...he never felt like John, just Ace since getting that nickname.
Maybe he was a bit of both. Ace and Mary, Mary and Ace. Two halves of a coin.
A masculine and manly fella, racing about while working on his cars. Hanging out with the Cobra gang all day while he messes with his switch blade sometimes.
A feminine and girly gal, twirling and dancing about, getting sweets and compliments from the boys as she walks around town and can hold Richard's hand safety.
He did wonder about all that, wonder about just eveything as they sat in a soft silence in the car.
"Me too Mary...Can I kiss you?" Richard leaned his head onto her feeling the buzz from their day winding down and their drinks coming in full swing, as thst simple little "Yes" filled the air he gently pulled her up to shower her in kisses.
What was ment to be a quick soft kiss turned into them falling aginst eachother, passionately kissing as they felt eachother warming up more and more.
Moans, with wet messy, lipstick stained kisses fell between both of them as Richard pulled her into his lap hiking her skirt up to try and feel his way around only to get a slap on the hand.
"Slow down sailor~"
"I don't wanna, I'm at half mast and ready!" He pleaded with her but she couldn't.
Ace couldn't....Mary, could.
But maey wasn't real, he wasn't her, she wasn't him, it was just a name to the clothes and look, and didn't match his body. He couldn't crush Richard's hopes like that, a chick with a dick, oh he doesn't even want to know what his friend would do.
Sure he's let Ace kiss him, but they were both drunk...this was different.
"I-i...Richard look I'enjoyingng this sure but...look im..not your type I think" He was fumbling with his words, he didn't know what to say how how to get his words out as he felt his voice wavering from worry.
He wanting feeling very Mary right now, he was feeling that fearful Ace, that worry, and he was getting real exhusted to the point hsi voice didn't wanna work like it should. He was losing his femininity, and was getting scared.
"You are tho my sweet little doll! Now come here Mary be a good girl~" he pulled him down and pinned Ace between him, and the glove box as he went back to kissing, this time Ace was getting frantic. He didn't want the kisses anymore, he was scared he'd get too excited, or that Richard would run a hand up his skirt again.
"Richard, Richard, Richard-" Ace was calling out to him, tapping him rapidly as he wiggled around like a worm. Voice cracking once, as he felt his mind swimming again, and head spinning.
"Yeah baby~ just like tha-" Richard was cut off by an extramly hard slap, a front hand slap. Palm leaving a red mark on his cheek as he was shoved forward a Seething Acw staring angrily at him as he unleashed hell on both of them.
"EYEBALL! FOR FUCKS SAKE! Your so god damn RAPEY!!! It's no wonder you can't land a single chick for fucks sake!" Ace had tears in his eyes. He felt sick to his core.
less so from Richard, he'd honestly would have let him contuine, if well...he was lacking a dick, since he doubts Richard likes that.
He didn't even mean to yell Eyeball, but even if he yelled Richard his voice broke finally, and he couldn't keep up the act. His voice wasn't a shy sore sounding Mary voice, it was Ace Merill's scarface voice of a young boy...
"Ace you just gotta tell me No and I would have stopped man..." Richsrd was rubbing his cheek with the occasional air sucking hiss sound as he leaned back into his seat comfortably looking at Ace. "I'm not rapey I swear alright? You just dance around that, so your a girl in that sence if it makes you feel be-"
"Your not gonna hate me?" Ace whined out before tears came streaming down his face, lips quivering as he wept to Richard.
"No! I...I knew last night.."
"WHAT!?"
"Yeah, when you got sick and passed out, you said "Richard" but I hadn't told you my name yet, and you kept saying you wanted me and didn't feel good.." He moved to gently pull Ace close to him, sitting him next to him as he held his hand and rubbed his back. "..so I took you to the hotel room, and saw your car...then today, I again, didn't tell you my name, but you said Richard...and dots...connected, voice broke, and yeah."
"I was scared, I was so scared, I've been so scared Rich, i- I thought you'd get angry and hurt me."
"Now why would I hurt a beautiful thing like you? Your the most handsome boy I've ever seen, and the most gorgous girl too! Maybe an even prettier girl~" He gently kissed his forhead which earned him a soft laugh from Ace.
"Yeah but...you don't know the...the struggle...the fear...anxiety and....have you ever shaved your legs?" He smiled at the last bit, more of a joke than anything to try and lighten the too serious feeling mood to them both.
"No, no I don't know...but I can relate, I've always wanted to kiss you and hold your hand, and today I got to...even of you looked like a girl."
"I like looking like a girl, it makes me feel nice.."
"Yeah...so, wait, do you want to be a girl? This sint some weird dress up gay shit?" Richard sat up more and looked to Ace who was red as a tomato.
"...maybe, i..I don't know yet, I like doing this,bit helps me wind down and feel good, but I also like being Ace."
"What?"
"Like...you know! I like feeling pretty, and pampered, getting compliments from boys, and it feels good wearing this! I just wish my hair were maybe a tad longer would make for easier styling than this wig.."
"....so your a guy-girl?"
"Sure, I'm a guy-girl. Guy somtines, girl somtimes, but...mkre guy in public, and girl...secretly." Ace smiled snd let a small laugh leave his mouth as he gave a soft kiss to Richard's forhead in return to his ealier, it evening him a bright smile in return.
"Well let me know if you wanna go full time girl, so I can revoke your already temporary role as Cobra leader, as you knkw, women can't make good choices, as proven today since you find me so handsome and marriage msterial~"
"Oh shit the fuck up Rich! Just...promice to call me...pretty names and stuff?"
"Sure Mary, just let me knkw when you feel like Ace or Mary doll, and I'll call you whatever you want~"
"Hmm~ thanks handsome, now can we go to the motels, I'm fucking beat downbwith exhaustion."
"Aweee no more fun~?"
"No I'm tired, get use to it, I'll be declying meny advances, and I still have the guts and stench to tie hou down pretry boy."
"I got the strength to hold you down and tickle you til you almost piss yourself Missy so I'd watch it Mary Ace Merrill~" a quick small tickle to her sides convinced her to least cuddle with him for the night.
They'd have to talk more tomorrow, for weeks, day, and months, years most definitely on what to do. Or least for how Ace felt. He was Mary and he was Ace. He like the masculinity and biyishness, but his own kind of that world. Same with Mary, she loved the feminine and beauty, but her kind and her little world of it.
Richard just loved his partner. His doll, his babes, his hotrod of a lover he called them. Ace his devilishly handsome boy, and Mary his drop dead gorgous babe. Both, were his groovy babe with that frame for well...fun and great for getting handsy with and grabbing.
Somtimes Ace was Mary, and vice versa, but most of the time, he was Ace. Behind closed doors and soft spoken nights he'd toss responsibility to Richard and treat himself to a fruity drink, or somthing soft. Stay in or go do his own thing.
Most of the time Ace had to keep Mary away, she couldn't come out to do anything or have any fun. She had to wait her turn in life and it would eat him up. But sometimes, he could be Mary, in small moments mostly, but sometimes, he was Mary, and she was Ace. Somtimes they're one in the same whenever they do somting, and sometimes it's just Ace, in a nightgown, cuddling Richard in bed, and talking about his day...and that's Mary cuddling her boyfriend, it's also Ace cuddling him.
They're one in the same, but somtimes, Mary likes to be more seen and heard is all.
~Fin~
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plethoraworldatlas · 3 months
Text
The federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to spray toxic insecticides within treasured and significant landscapes of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona to kill native grasshoppers.
The areas being considered include portions of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, and the newly designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
“This is a dangerous plan that could kill creatures that are key to northern Arizona’s unique biodiversity, which these national monuments were designated to protect,” said Taylor McKinnon, Southwest director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The federal government needs to stop downplaying the extinction crisis and back off its reckless plan to smother biodiversity hotspots with toxic pesticides.”
One out of every 10 plant species in the Colorado Plateau region is found nowhere else on Earth.
The agency's draft environmental assessment omits mention of the national monuments and unique species and habitats they were designated to protect. These species include rare bees, butterflies and other creatures found nowhere else, like the Kaibab monkey grasshopper and House Rock Valley chisel-toothed kangaroo rat, specifically named in the August proclamation establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument.
APHIS oversees and funds the application of multiple pesticides on rangelands to prevent native grasshoppers and Mormon crickets from competing with livestock for forage.
The proposed insecticides — carbaryl, diflubenzuron and chlorantraniliprole — are indiscriminate. In addition to the grasshoppers the agency is targeting, the insecticides can also kill bees, moths and other insects. Spraying can harm entire ecosystems by disrupting pollination and can harm populations of birds, reptiles and mammals who feed on grasshoppers and insects.
Although grasshoppers and Mormon crickets can be locally abundant from time to time, native plants and other wildlife evolved with these cycles. Introducing pesticides to eliminate native grasshoppers is a shortsighted, quick fix that fails to consider the complex interrelationships within these delicate ecosystems.
The agency’s draft analysis shows that it has failed to consult with affected Tribes with ties to the Grand Canyon area. The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, which proposed the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument, includes members of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of Paiutes, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Shivwits Band of Paiutes, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Zuni Tribe and Colorado River Indian Tribes.
“It’s so important that APHIS honor the promise made to work together with Tribal nations to protect the sacred spaces and resources within the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Monument when it was established less than six months ago,” said Sharon Selvaggio, pesticide program specialist with The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “We call on the agency to protect natural systems on Tribal and public lands by employing nonchemical management that allows humans and wildlife to thrive.”
In March 2023 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a draft biological opinion from NOAA Fisheries showing that carbaryl is likely to jeopardize 37 species protected under the Endangered Species Act, and harm 36 designated critical habitats.
While Arizona is not home to any of the species named in that report, the findings show the extreme harm carbaryl poses to endangered fish and other species.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is charged with protecting endangered plants and animals, has not yet completed a proper analysis of the potential harms from the APHIS proposal. Potentially vulnerable endangered species in Arizona include Chiricahua leopard frogs, western yellow-billed cuckoos, Gila chub, black-footed ferrets and Siler pincushion cacti.
APHIS is accepting comments on the proposal until 4 p.m. MST on Feb. 2.
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vergess · 1 year
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Out of every miserable little cellular company I've had the displeasure of working with, Cricket Wireless is easily the best.
They use Verizon and US Cellular towers, both, which is nice because it means coverage is strong even in rural areas. Data is high speed and cheap as fuck. We have 2 lines of unlimited data for $60/month, and that includes hotspot and tethering.
But more importantly, their billing system is about the least predatory thing I can conceive of. I'm never surprised by a bill; I get to pick my own due date and they give me text message alerts in advance of it.
I'm never given an undisclosed fee. If I somehow use all my high speed data and have to be throttled (a phenonmenon I've never actually hit because the throttle cap is insanely high), instead of auto charging me, it prompts me, and lets me continue on slower speed until my bill.
If you're going to be late on your bill, they have a deferral program you just call in for. You can pay using every conceivable method, including cash and check and cardboard refill cards from the pharmacy.
Need more help? The website kind of sucks ass, but the phone, chat, and in-store support are GREAT. Very generous hours: 9 to 9, 6 days a week, closed on sunday.
It's all very nice.
If you're looking for a new phone provider, hit up Cricket. They've got the goods!!!
Normally the "poor people" version of a service SUCKS, but in this case the constraints of a prepaid service system makes the entire experience WAY better.
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nitinblog07 · 1 year
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Dhoni review system vs DRS
Cricket is a sport that has always relied on umpires to make decisions on the field. However, with the increasing use of technology in sports, the Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced to assist umpires in making correct decisions. The term "Dhoni Review System" is also used to refer to the DRS system, which is named after the Indian cricket team's former captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was known for his excellent use of the review system during matches. In this article, we will explore the Dhoni Review System and the DRS in detail.
What is the Dhoni Review System?
The Dhoni Review System, also known as the DRS, is a technology used in cricket to help umpires make correct decisions on the field. It was introduced in 2008 and has since become an essential tool in the game. The system allows teams to challenge on-field decisions made by umpires using technology like ball tracking, hot spot, and snickometer to review the decision. Each team is given a limited number of reviews, which they can use at their discretion.
The DRS technology has improved the accuracy of umpiring decisions, and the system has been successful in correcting some of the mistakes made by umpires. The DRS has also improved the transparency and fairness of the game, as teams have the opportunity to challenge decisions that they believe to be incorrect.
What is the Decision Review System (DRS)?
The Decision Review System (DRS) is a technology that is used in cricket to assist umpires in making correct decisions on the field. It was first introduced in 2008 and has since become an essential tool in the game. The DRS system allows teams to challenge on-field decisions made by umpires using technology like ball tracking, hot spot, and snickometer to review the decision. Each team is given a limited number of reviews, which they can use at their discretion.
The DRS technology has improved the accuracy of umpiring decisions, and the system has been successful in correcting some of the mistakes made by umpires. The DRS has also improved the transparency and fairness of the game, as teams have the opportunity to challenge decisions that they believe to be incorrect.
What is the difference between the Dhoni Review System and the DRS?
The Dhoni Review System and the DRS are the same technology used in cricket to assist umpires in making correct decisions on the field. The term "Dhoni Review System" originated from the Indian cricket team's former captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was known for his excellent use of the review system during matches. However, some people use the term "Dhoni Review System" to refer to a more streamlined version of the DRS system.
The streamlined version of the DRS system, which is sometimes referred to as the Dhoni Review System, is a simplified version of the technology that focuses on the use of ball tracking and the snickometer to review decisions. This version of the system does not use the hotspot technology, which is used in the full version of the DRS system.
The full version of the DRS system uses ball tracking, hotspot, and snickometer technology to review decisions. The system also allows for the use of ultra-edge technology, which can help to detect edges that may have been missed by the on-field umpires. The full version of the DRS system is used in all international matches and is considered the gold standard for umpiring decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dhoni Review System and the Decision Review System are the same technology used in cricket to assist umpires in making correct decisions on the field. The term "Dhoni Review System" originated from the Indian cricket team's former captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni
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ancientindia11 · 1 year
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Where to Stay at Kumbhalgarh: A Guide for Every Budget
Choose Where to Stay WiselyMake a ListVisit at Different Times of the Day
Have you been enchanted by the verdant hills, majestic forts, and breathtaking palaces of Udaipur? If so, Kumbhalgarh should definitely be on your list. This fort-town, a two-hour drive from Udaipur, boasts new architecture and a mesmerizing landscape—just ask any of the locals about their favorite hotspot in Rajasthan and Kumbhalgarh will likely top their list.
But the beauty of Kumbhalgarh isn’t just limited to its sights and sounds. The town also offers a great selection of accommodation options for every budget. From luxury hotels and resorts to small guesthouses and camping sites, you’ll find something that fits your travel style. In this guide, we break down where to stay in Kumbhalgarh depending on what kind of traveler you are.
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Exploring the Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh fort is the perfect destination for anyone looking for a fantastic trip. Whether you're traveling solo or with family, you won't be disappointed by what the fort has to offer. Beyond its remarkable history and architecture, you'll find plenty of activities to enjoy and sights to explore.
Take a stroll through the perimeter walls and marvel at their ancient engineering. View the palace from a bird's eye view on top of the Kumbha Mahal, or pay a visit to the Badal Mahal - considered one of India’s most striking monuments - and enjoy its rich wall paintings. If you're looking for more action-packed activities, there are outdoor games like volleyball, cricket, and badminton courts at the fort's base, which are sure to provide hours of entertainment.
No matter how you choose to experience Kumbhalgarh Fort, you're sure to leave with lasting memories of your time here!
Budget-Friendly Accommodations
If you're looking to stay in or around the best resort near Kumbhalgarh fort without spending an arm and a leg, there are plenty of affordable lodging options available, and one of the best resorts in Everest hill resort in Kumbhalgarh. Whether you want a comfortable budget-friendly hotel room close to the fort wall, a pleasant houseboat cruise along the lake, or an eco-resort nestled amongst the hills, Kumbhalgarh really has something for every traveler.
Hotels: The numerous budget hotels near Kumbhalgarh provide a mix of modern upscale comforts and rustic stays in private cottages. Here you'll enjoy simple rooms with basic amenities like air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, without having to pay more than the price of a regular meal.
Houseboats: Enjoy a unique experience by spending the night on one of Kumbhalgarh's traditional houseboats as it slowly cruises around Lake Pichola. All houseboats come with comfortable beds, attached bathrooms, and other modern facilities for an unforgettable vacation experience.
Eco-Resorts: Staying in one of Kumbhalgarh's eco-resorts offers an immersive experience amidst nature, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. There's something special about being surrounded by endless views of lush green hills while enjoying all the necessary comforts that come with staying at a resort.
Tips for Planning Your Kumbhalgarh Itinerary
When it comes to planning your Kumbhalgarh itinerary, there's plenty to see and do – but don't try to cram everything in. Kumbhalgarh is a great place to relax, take in the views and enjoy the music of nature. Here are some tips for making the most of your trip:
One of the best tips for planning your Kumbhalgarh Trip is to choose a hotel carefully. You want something that's close enough to the sights you want to see, but also with enough amenities to make your stay comfortable. Depending on your budget, there are lots of great hotel options available in Kumbhalgarh—from luxury resorts and boutique hotels, all the way down to basic homestays and budget-friendly guest houses.
Making a list of things you want to do while you're in Kumbhalgarh is essential – and don’t forget about taking time out for relaxation! Writing down what you plan on doing every day helps give structure and focus to your trip—plus it gives you something to look forward to as you're driving around town or exploring nature trails.
Kumbhalgarh is stunning at any time of day—but visiting different places at different times can give you a unique perspective on them. For example, visiting the fort during sunset offers beautiful views of its surroundings while exploring ancient temples early morning can give you an extra atmosphere full of peaceful vibes. Whatever you do, make sure that your itinerary includes different destinations when at various times throughout the day.
Conclusion
No matter what your budget is Ancient India Hospitality provides the best budget hotel in Kumbhalgarh, you can find the perfect accommodations in Kumbhalgarh that will meet your needs. From lavish hotels set on a hilltop to cozy homestays tucked away in the Aravalli Range, you can find a place that suits your taste and budget. From the beautiful garden views to the delicious local cuisine, you will find a number of ways to make your stay in Kumbhalgarh unforgettable. So no matter what type of travel experience you are looking for, you can find it in Kumbhalgarh.
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cobracipher · 1 year
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Reject pretentious modernist restaurant names like “Grain” or “Broth” or “Brew”. If your restaurant has some dumb name like that, it tells me that you’re probably an overpriced hipster establishment piggybacking on gentrification and the influx of white dudebros coming from even more gentrified cities looking for the next up and coming hotspot. Gimme nice, memorable names like Stacey Ruth’s Chicken Parlor or Little Cricket TapHouse
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thirstghosting · 2 years
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cricket in 2016: unlimited calls, texting, data, and wifi hot spots for $30/m!
me: okay
cricket: actually its $35/m unless you do autopay 😀
cricket 2 monts later: actually we raised our prices it's now $45 without autopay 😀
me: hey why is my internet so slow all of a sudden
cricket: oh yeah, we removed unlimited data but you can get it back for ONLY ten more dollars! 😁🥳
cricket: actually that ten dollars only gets you 3 more gigs of data 🤭 to add unlimited data it will be 30 more dollars 🥰
me: I have unlimited data, why can't I use my hotspot all of a sudden?
cricket: oh you have to add the Hotspot back on for $10 😊😚
me: .......my hotspot is spent after an hour
cricket: buy more hotspot data for just $10!
me: im burning down your headquarters
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techgain · 2 years
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Cricket Wireless is a company that provides internet and similar services with faster speed. Sometimes, its users face the issue of their Cricket Wireless hotspot not working. If you are also facing the same issue, then you will troubleshooting steps to fix this issue.
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hillingdontoday · 2 years
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Fire at Osterley Cricket Club sports pavilion
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Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters from Southall and Heston Fire Stations were called at 2:37 this morning to tackle a blaze at a sports pavilion at Osterley Cricket Club in Tentelow Lane.   Station Commander Brett Loft, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked hard to bring this fire under control. Due to the weather conditions the fire has created a lot of smoke in all directions and nearby residents are advised keep their doors and windows shut.”   The fire was under control by 6:57 this morning.   Firefighters are likely to remain at the scene throughout the day damping down any remaining hotspots.   The cause of the fire is under investigation.   #tentelowlane #osterley #osterleycricketclub #fire #cricket #heston #southall Read the full article
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visamintglobal · 18 days
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Unlocking South Africa: A Prime Destination for Indian Explorers
In the current era, the burgeoning interest among Indian travelers to explore international realms has triggered a global phenomenon. Nations worldwide are actively competing to attract Indian tourists, recognizing the significant economic benefits they bring through increased tourism and business engagements. South Africa, renowned for its awe-inspiring landscapes and diverse attractions, stands prominently in this competition. The South African authorities are proactively rolling out the welcome mat for Indian visitors, ensuring seamless travel experiences and crafting unforgettable memories for all who venture there.
To unveil the plethora of experiences the rainbow nation offers, South Africa is taking center stage at various travel exhibitions across India. The focus is on presenting a diverse array of activities, transcending conventional tourism norms and offering a holistic experience within a limited timeframe. Moreover, by hosting major events like the Cricket World Cup 2027, marathons, South Africa is strategically positioning itself as the ultimate travel hotspot.
Two critical factors that play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the two nations are flight connectivity and the simplicity of the visa process. South Africa is committed to streamlining travel logistics for Indian travelers, catering to both leisure and business purposes. Home to iconic landmarks such as Table Mountain in Cape Town and the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa's diverse terrain also encompasses vast savannahs and picturesque coastal regions. Its strategic location, bordering Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho, positions it as a gateway to exploring Southern Africa.
For Indian travelers seeking non-EU and non-American destinations, South Africa emerges as a game-changer, offering to fulfill their travel aspirations. The visa application process is facilitated through VFS or visa agencies like VisaMint Overseas Services, with bank statements and a travel itinerary being the primary requisites. South African authorities prioritize a streamlined visa process, aiming to make travel planning for Indians hassle-free.
As South Africa continues to position itself as a dynamic and multifaceted destination, it calls out to Indian travelers to discover its rich landscapes, wildlife, and cultural treasures. With a steadfast commitment to enhancing travel experiences, South Africa is poised to emerge as the next big destination for Indian globetrotters.
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khwabb · 1 month
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Stargazing in the Silicon Valley: Celebrities at Bangalore's Elite Events
In the heart of India's burgeoning tech hub, Bangalore, a city famed for its verdant landscapes and dynamic IT industry, there unfolds a glamorous saga. This narrative isn't about the latest software innovation or startup success, but rather the city's burgeoning reputation as a hotspot for celebrity appearances. "Stargazing in the Silicon Valley" dives into the phenomenon of celebrities gracing Bangalore's elite events with celebrities for galas, turning these occasions into veritable spectacles of glamour and excitement.
Bangalore's transformation into a thriving metropolis has coincided with a surge in high-profile events, ranging from opulent corporate galas and grand fashion shows, to exclusive music concerts and star-studded charity events. The city's elite, now more than ever, finds itself rubbing shoulders with icons from Bollywood, sports legends, and internationally celebrated personalities, making these gatherings the talk of the town.
At the core of this allure is the city's innate ability to blend traditional Indian culture with a modern, cosmopolitan vibe. Bangalore’s luxury hotels and sprawling tech campuses have become favored venues for these glamorous gatherings. Whether it's a Bollywood actor launching a high-end brand, a cricket superstar promoting sportsmanship, or acclaimed international artists performing at music festivals, the city has proven itself to be an enticing destination for stars and their admirers alike.
Take, for example, the Bangalore Fashion Week. This event transforms the city into a fashionista's paradise, attracting designers, models, and celebrities from across the globe. The presence of Bollywood actors, not just as guests but also as showstoppers, adds to the glittz and allure, making every flash of the camera and every turn on the runway a moment to behold.
The Bengaluru International Film Festival is another extravaganza where cinephiles get the chance to mingle with cine stars and internationally-acclaimed filmmakers. It's a place where the art of cinema is celebrated, and discussions on the latest in film technology and storytelling take center stage, all in the company of renowned personalities.
Charity events, too, have seen an influx of celebrity participation, using their star power for a cause. From fundraising galas for education and health care to initiatives focused on environmental conservation, celebrities in Bangalore are leveraging their influence to champion social causes, showing that their involvement in these events is more than just about the glitz—it’s about making a tangible difference.
In the music realm, Bangalore's vibrant nightlife and love for live music have attracted performers from across the world, including renowned DJs, rock bands, and pop stars, making the city a musical hub that resonates with global beats and rhythms.
What truly sets Bangalore apart, however, is how it embraces these events and the celebrities they attract. Far from the frenzied paparazzi culture observed in other metros, here, there’s a sense of respectful admiration. Stargazing, in this context, becomes not just about the celebrities but about the city itself—a Silicon Valley that dazzles not only with its technological prowess but also with its vibrant cultural tapestry.
As Bangalore continues to grow, the symbiosis between the city and its high-profile visitors promises to bring more such glittering nights. The celebrities may come and go, but their luminance leaves a lasting impression, making Bangalore's elite events a mesmerizing spectacle where the stars truly descend upon the garden city.
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thetechinsiderblogs · 2 months
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New AI Technology helps India emerge as the World’s Technology
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Forget chai and samosas; India is serving up a sizzling dish, and that is none other than the new AI technology! Yes, the land of vibrant colors and ancient wisdom is fast becoming a tech hotspot, and new AI technology is the secret ingredient. Brace yourself for a journey through India’s AI adventure, where algorithms dance with chai masala and robots dream in Bollywood beats.
Table of Contents
Tech Tiffin: A Feast of Talent and Innovation
Spice Route to Success: A Blend of Policy and Investment
Curry-fying Every Corner: New AI Technology Across Industries
Challenges with a Chutney of Solutions
The Future is Masala-fied: A Taste of What’s to Come
Conclusion
Tech Tiffin: A Feast of Talent and Innovation
India has the brains, and boy, does it use them! India has the third-largest pool of IT skills in the world when compared to the IT hub of the world. This makes India an ideal breeding ground for new AI technology. Engineers create algorithms like magic tricks, while startups pop up like chai stalls around the neighborhood, each bursting with creative ideas. From healthcare solutions identifying diseases with eagle-eyed precision to chatbots that speak the native language like your bestie. The new AI technology is brewing up a storm of technological advancement in India.
Spice Route to Success: A Blend of Policy and Investment
India is not simply putting turmeric into the AI pot and hoping for the best. The government has a Michelin-star recipe, with initiatives inspiring the business hub of India such as the National AI Strategy and the Digital India program adding texture. On one hand, these initiatives create a conducive atmosphere for new AI technology to thrive, and on the other, the investors—they’re like foodies, pouring in billions to sustain this new AI technology-driven feast. What was the result? A hot ecosystem of hybrid workforce where startups thrive and ideas get funded faster than you can say “baingan bharta!“
Curry-fying Every Corner: New AI Technology Across Industries
Not to place all its eggs in one basket, the new AI technology is altering the role of IT in every sector. From Mumbai’s hectic streets to Kerala’s tranquil pastures. For instance, farmers employ AI-powered drones to monitor crops, physicians use AI algorithms to diagnose ailments, and even the old game of cricket is given a technological boost with AI-powered coaching. It’s like a delectable thali, with each dish featuring its own distinct AI flavor, isn’t it?
Challenges with a Chutney of Solutions
Of all, no technological journey concludes without a few mishaps, and the technological advancement in India is no exception. Data privacy problems, moral dilemmas, and a shortage of skilled workers are among the obstacles confronting India’s technology growth. But, just as a skilled cook deals with tricky spices, India has a chutney of remedies in its arsenal. Robust data protection rules, code of conduct frameworks, and measures to close the skill gap are keeping the AI flame burning resiliently.
Indian technology is backed by government funding. The Aarogya Setu app, built by a government-backed consortium, is an AI-powered app that tracks COVID-19 contacts, has over 200 million users, and has contributed significantly to India’s pandemic management. Another such instance is eNAM, the National Agriculture Market, a government-initiated platform that uses AI to connect farmers directly with buyers, eliminating middlemen and improving farmer incomes by an average of 25%.
The Future is Masala-fied: A Taste of What’s to Come
India’s AI adventure is merely at its inception. In the past, India has used AI to track COVID—the infamous Arogya Setu app. eNAM is another AI revolution that transformed agriculture. Among the budding startups is Niramai Health, which uses AI-powered thermal imaging to detect breast cancer early, reaching 5 million women in rural areas without access to conventional mammograms. CropIn is another ag-tech company that combines AI and satellite imagery to provide personalized farm advice, increasing crop yields by up to 30% for millions of farmers across India. 
From Jugaad to Juggernaut, India’s AI is joining hands with global technology. India-US Joint AI Development Centre, established in 2023, focuses on developing AI solutions for healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management, with potential benefits for both nations. Then there is the India-UK AI BRIDGE Program, which fosters joint research projects between Indian and UK researchers, leading to breakthroughs in areas like climate change mitigation and intelligent urban planning.
The future seems as promising as a plate of pani puri. Consider AI-powered smart cities that regulate traffic and pollution, individualized education suited to each student’s needs, and even robots that do bhangra with you!
Conclusion
As they say, the sky’s the limit, and India has the spice to make them all sizzle. So, the next time you envisage India, acknowledge that it is more than just temples and tigers. It’s also a country where AI aspirations simmer and the scent of invention permeates the air. Prepare for a world where chai meets code as India leads the way in serving up the future, one artificially intelligent creation at a time! I hope you had a fun and informative time learning about the latest technological exploits of India. Stay tuned as we bring in more exciting tech news at The Tech Insider.
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