#Camera-based Scanners

[kishorxox]

Barcode Scanners Market Size, Share & Trends Report 2032

Meticulous Research®—a leading global market research company, published a research report titled‘Barcode Scanners Market—Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2025-2032)’. According to this latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the barcode scanners market is expected to reach $4.73 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2025 to 2032.

Government initiatives encouraging the adoption of biometric technologies, high demand for barcode scanners in the healthcare sector to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency, and increased use of barcode scanners for inventory management are factors driving the growth of the barcode scanners market. However, market growth is restrained by a lack of awareness in developing countries and high initial costs. In addition, the continued advancements in imaging technology and increasing demand for automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology solutions provide considerable potential opportunities for market players. The market faces substantial challenges, including integration with existing systems and safety and security concerns.

Key Players:

The barcode scanners market is characterized by a moderately competitive scenario due to the presence of many large- and small-sized global, regional, and local players. The key players operating in the barcode scanners market are Datalogic S.P.A (Italy), Scandit AG (Switzerland), Juniper Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Bluebird Inc. (South Korea), DENSO Corporation (Japan), Newland AIDC (China), Opticon (U.S.), SICK AG (Germany), Zebra Technologies Corporation (U.S.), OCOM Technologies (China), Cognex Corporation (U.S.), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Code Corporation (U.S.), a Subsidiary of Brady Corporation (U.S.), and CipherLab Co., Ltd (Taiwan).

The global barcode scanners market is segmented by offering (product (pen type readers, laser barcode scanners, ccd barcode scanners, and camera-based scanners), consumables, software); type (handheld scanners, fixed mount scanners, handsfree scanners, companion/wearable scanners, other types); end-use industry (retail & ecommerce, media & entertainment, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, education, transportation & logistics, government, IT & telecom, military/law enforcement and other end-use industries. This study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the regional and country-level markets.

Among the offerings studied in this report, the product segment is anticipated to hold the dominant position, with a share of over 72% of the market in 2025. Barcode scanners are essential devices for reading and decoding barcodes, which serve as graphical representations of data. The segment's dominance in the barcode scanners market is driven by several factors, including the growing adoption of automated solutions, advancements in scanning technology, and the widespread use of barcode scanners across various industries for rapid and efficient data collection in multiple applications.

Among the types studied in this report, the handheld scanners segment is anticipated to hold the dominant position, with a share of over 40% of the market in 2025. Handheld barcode scanners are portable devices specifically engineered to read and decode barcodes and QR codes, enabling efficient data capture and processing across a range of applications. Their seamless integration with inventory management systems, ERP solutions, and other software, along with their capability to deliver real-time data updates and reporting, are key factors contributing to this segment’s dominance in the barcode scanners market.

Among the end-use industries studied in this report, the retail & ecommerce segment is anticipated to hold the dominant position, with a share of over 22% of the market in 2025. Barcode scanners are essential in retail and e-commerce, significantly enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience. The widespread adoption of barcode scanners by retail & e-commerce companies is driven by their ability to streamline checkout processes, optimize inventory management, improve customer interactions, and enhance order fulfillment. These factors contribute to this segment's dominance in the barcode scanners market.

Geographic Review

This research report analyzes major geographies and provides a comprehensive analysis of North America (U.S., Canada), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), and the Middle East & Africa (UAE, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

 Asia-Pacific is anticipated to hold the dominant position, with a share of over 41% of the market in 2025. Businesses are growing their investment in barcode scanners to enhance operational efficiency, minimize errors, and boost overall productivity. Additionally, rising investment in industrial automation and the trend of rapid urbanization are key factors contributing to the segment's dominance in the barcode scanners market.

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=6035

Key Questions Answered in the Report-

What is the value of revenue generated by the sale of barcode scanners?

At what rate is the global demand for barcode scanners projected to grow for the next five to seven years?

What is the historical market size and growth rate for the barcode scanners market?

What are the major factors impacting the growth of this market on global and regional levels?

What are the major opportunities for existing players and new entrants in the market?

Which offering, type, and end-use industry segments create major traction for the manufacturers in this market?

What are the key geographical trends in this market? Which regions/countries are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the manufacturers operating in the barcode scanners market?

Who are the major players in the barcode scanners market? What are their specific product offerings in this market?

What recent developments have taken place in the barcode scanners market? What impact have these strategic developments created on the market?

Contact Us: Meticulous Research® Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Contact Sales- +1-646-781-8004 Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

[icy-book]

"Just scan this QR code-" I CAN'T. I literally CAN'T. Just give me the fucking link!

[alohajun]

hi wifey! i saw requests were open so i wanted to request a cute little mingyu drabble (you know me). just something soft and sweet and cute based on what you think i would like <3 all creative freedom goes to you <3

♡ LUCKY CHARM — KIM MINGYU

f1 racer!mingyu x race engineer!fem!reader | wc : 0.5k words | content : possible grammar and spelling mistakes, lowercase intended, f1 au, coworkers to lovers, fluff | loki's lines : i thought this would be quite fitting since our chats recently have been gojo (iykyk) and f1. love you, ratharan <3

“no, no, wait. where’s y/n? she has to knock on my helmet!”

the entire garage groaned at mingyu’s words, urging him to get the car out of the pit in time before the first qualifying round was over.

it was a silly little thing, really. what once started off as a teasing knock on his helmet by you turned out to be what kim mingyu considered his good luck charm.

but when mingyu started to see just how much he achieved after those teasing knocks, he didn’t dare to get on the track without you knocking on his helmet first.

you were just his race engineer ever since he started racing for ferrari, but to him, you were so much more; you were his lucky charm.

“she’s probably on the way. just get in the damn car, gyu!” the mechanic exasperatedly uttered, looking over at the screens. “only seven more minutes left.”

the team pleaded for him to get into the car, not wanting to lose out on the points for his drivers’ championship and the constructors’ championship too.

but mingyu only shook his head.

“no, i can’t. not until y/n gets here.” he stated, looking like a petulant child as he stood near his car with his hands on his hips, all geared up as he waited for you.

“kim mingyu.” the team principal scolded, his voice stern. “you are cutting it close, and we don’t have time for your—”

his words were cut off with your arrival, speedily rushing towards, an abundance of apologies leaving your lips. “sorry, sorry! the paddock scanner was down. they wouldn’t let me in!” you stated, looking truly apologetic towards the team.

without even waiting for him to speak, you rushed towards mingyu, knocking on his helmet thrice before ushering him towards the car as you looked at the timer.

“five minutes left, mingyu.” you nodded encouragingly, trusting his skills enough to know that he’d get in a good lap. “get yourself into round two of qualifying, yeah?”

mingyu beamed underneath his helmet, jumping into the car and moving out of the pit lane once he got the okay, making his way onto the track. you watched from the pit wall, coaching him through the qualifying rounds to ensure he’d come on top.

and he did.

as mingyu came on pole, with no other car being able to beat his score, the entire garage burst into cheers, and you sighed in relief, headphones still on as you smiled while looking at mingyu’s onboard camera.

“pole position, gyu!” you congratulated him on his accomplishment over the radio, chuckling softly. “you did it! p1 tomorrow, baby!”

as soon as mingyu made it to the paddock after qualifying, he made a beeline towards the ferrari garage, rushing over to the pit wall where he knew you’d be.

before you could even get a word out, mingyu lifted you off your feet, twirling you around. his arms were wrapped around you tightly, not letting you go even after he set you down.

“kim mingyu.” your eyes widened at his actions, wondering what had possessed him to behave like so as the cameras flashed wildly, capturing the two of you. “what on earth are you—”

you didn’t get to complete your sentence, your words fizzling out as you saw the cheesy smile on mingyu’s face, looking at you as if you hung the moon and the stars in the sky.

“go on a date with me, lucky charm.”

taglist : @kflixnet @mirxzii @woooooooosh8 @i05wook (to be added, please send an ask or dm!)

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© 2024 ALOHAJUN | PLEASE REFRAIN FROM COPYING OR REPOSTING MY WORK WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THIS SITE

[transhuman-priestess]

How I Scan Negatives

I've been doing film photography for 3 whole weeks so of course I am now an expert and you should toooooootally listen to me for my expert opinion on this matter.

But in seriousness, this post isn't meant to be a how-to guide, but if you can glean some useful information from it, that's really neat and I'm glad.

Part 1: The Scanner

There are a couple different ways to scan negatives. The simplest is known as camera scanning, and that just means you use some kind of backlight and take a close-up picture of a negative with a digital camera of some kind.

I've done a couple of scans like this but since it ideally relies on a macro lens, something which costs about $300 at a bare minimum, and more if you want one that's actually, yknow, good. Also, camera scanning inherently limits you to one picture at a time.

So my scanner is a flatbed Epson "Perfection" V600. I purchased this scanner because it is the least expensive flatbed scanner you can find that also does transparencies. It can scan 12 35mm negatives or two 6x9cm 120 negatives at a time. The Perfection V850 can do a full 36 exposure roll of 35mm but costs 4.33x as much.

So this thing is fine.

The first step is to cut my negatives up. This isn't as horrifying as it sounds. I have binder pages that hold 6 6-exposure strips, so a full roll of 35mm (which i will from here on out refer to with the slightly antiquated but slightly faster to type "135") takes up a single page.

Next, I mount them in the handy negative mounting frame that Epson provides, and put it in the scanner.

Now we can move on to the actual scanning.

Part 2: Scanning Software

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most irritating part of the whole ordeal. There's lots of decent scanning software out there, but there's fewer options for really good scanning software. Most of the "automatic" stuff sucks at being automatic so I end up doing most of it manually.

The scanner comes with the inventively named "Epson Scan," which is a very competent program if you want to scan and don't care about dust and scratches on your film. That is because I have yet to figure out what combination of options actually gets it to properly remove dust and scratches. This is mandatory, because I do not have $10,000 to spend on an industrial-grade negative pressure ventilation system for my bathroom/processing lab. Dust is avoidable, but ultimately inescapable.

The ins and outs of dust and scratch removal are interesting but not interesting enough for me to do a deep dive on them. The very short version is that the scanner scans every frame twice, once with visible light and once with infrared, and overlays the information from these to get rid of dust and scratches.

So instead of using the admittedly competent pack-in software, I opted to purchase SilverFast 9 SE. I paid $49 USD for this because I could not find a cracked version of the full-featured "HDR Suite" version and, frankly, i haven't missed the additional features.

SilverFast has a wizard option (Do they still call it that?) that walks you through the various steps of scanning. I haven't used it since my first roll.

The first step is to do a "pre-scan", which just scans the whole thing at a low resolution so you can pick the frames out of the lineup.

This is my screen at this point. The first step is to draw around the individual frames. This takes about 5-10 minutes depending on how anal i'm being about framing and overscan.

Now that i've let the computer pick the frames to save time for demonstration purposes manually picked my frames its time to boost the scan resolution from a postage-stamp 300 pixels per inch to an actually-usable 3200. You'll also note that i'm scanning these as "positives" rather than negatives. The "negative" scan option adds something called "Negafix" that i cannot turn off and that tries to color-correct for the negative stock's film base color. It is monumentally bad at this unless your stock is pre-loaded in its database which, as far as I can tell, hasn't been updated since 2005. We'll deal with that later though.

Now that we have the basic setting defined we go over to the "frame" menu seen above and copy these settings to all frames. I could set them manually, but copying settings over is the one thing this software is good at doing automatically. This may have something to do with the fact that it is essentially copy-and-paste, which you may recognize as a basic feature of every computer since 1987.

Occasionally, and unpredictably, the scanning software will turn on "Unsharp Masking." The wikipedia page on this option will explain it. I will not, because my contempt for the option rivals my contempt for the Republican Party, The Catholic Church, and Portland's insistence on driving 5 below the limit on the highway. I turn it off and if I could i would find whoever invented this option and eat their dog.

Once that is turned off we get to turn on the most beautiful option that SilverFast 9 SE has to offer, iSRD. iSRD is the previously-mentioned scratch-and-dust removal.

I have found that, in this one instance, the automatic settings are completely acceptable to me. They eliminate most of the really problematic dust in high-detail areas. The hairs and dust that gets left behind is usually easy to deal with via clone stamp later.

Now that the boring stuff is out of the way we get to the tedious, yet, to me at least, fun part. Histogram adjustment!

What you're seeing here is a histogram, its a graphical representation of the brightness of an image. Our goal with this is to maximize the dynamic range of the image. All that blank space to the right of the "mountains" (and some of the "lowlands" on the left) need to be eliminated so that the file can use as much of the bandwidth they have for actual useful image file stuff. This is pretty simple. We just slide those little arrows until they bound the mountains better.

Once we do this we can check the output histogram and see how it's mapped all the image data to the full bandwidth.

This has to be done individually per-frame, since each frame is slightly different.

Now that's done we can actually scan. I use the "Batch Scan" function, which scans everything one-after-the-other. I'm not going to show the dialog windows because 1.) its boring and 2.) I don't want to reconfigure the save path the way I did for the above images. It's a privacy thing.

After we've scanned everything its time to move on to...

Part 3: Color Grading

This is the part you've never heard about before. It's the most involved, and the most important, and it's worth getting into why.

Computers are amazing at storing information, at sorting information, at rearranging and processing information, but they are fundementally incapable of the most important part of dealing with information, assigning meaning.

I'm sure a lot of folks are going to be very very angry at me for saying that, but I actually don't care, and what's more, I'm confident the computer scientists I know will agree with me.

Film is better at storing images than computers. Period, this is a physical fact. The amount of dynamic range and resolution contained in film exceeds the ability of computers to contain it completely. So scanning is always going to be about compromises. You're trying to maximize the amount of useful information you can see by eliminating as much of the un-useful information as you can. But the computer doesn't actually know what is and isn't useful, so we have to tell it.

In order to do this, we use image editing software. I know a lot of photographers who swear by Photoshop, but fuck Adobe, and I know a lot of photographers who love GIMP, but GIMP's user interface is so convoluted as to be detrimental to my purposes. So I use Paint.NET, which is Windows-only, a fact which is sure to get me hate mail from several users including one of my best friends. (Sorry, Murder*.)

Here we have an unaltered** negative. There's a bit of overscan you can see on the left side of the image, and obviously its currently in portrait orientation. Before we go any further, I'm going to fix both of these things.

I like to crop my negatives in a 3:2 ratio. This is the natural aspect ratio of 135 film, and i like that similitude. Paint.NET lets me set a fixed aspect ratio for selections, which is nice

Now that the overscan has been cropped out and the picture is rotated properly, we can invert the image to a positive, and here is where it will become apparent to you exactly why color grading is important, and why there's no such thing as an "pure scan".

Wow! That's very...blue? Well, yes, it is. Color negative film mostly has an orange base. This helps compensate for shortcomings in the dyes used, and those shortcomings are why we have to color grade. The next step I take is to open the "levels" controls, where you'll see our old friend, the histogram!

This histogram looks different, but it's the same basic concept, with the difference that this program lets me adjust red, green, and blue individually. You'll also note that the individual RGB histograms broadly look similar, just out of sync. This is because of the orange base. They won't always look that similar, and in this case it's largely because the sky was overcast that day and there's a large amount of gray in the entire image.

We're going to adjust the input histogram first. Here, our goal is to map the maximum amount of dynamic range possible to the final image. Color balance is not yet important. So we slide the little arrows up and down from the top and bottom so that as much of them fill the output histogram as possible without clipping.

What is clipping? Clipping is when the black or white levels "blow out". Some clipping is acceptable in some images. A bright, sunny day will invariably have some clipping, and if you go out of your way to avoid it the image will look weird and flat. But in a picture like this where everything is muted and gray, we want to avoid it.

Clipping, by the way, looks like this, and is why i don't let the computer automatically adjust the level balance. Some people like this look with the deep black shadows, I do not.

But, onto doing it the Proper*** way

You can see the image is looking a lot better, but it still has a notably off color cast to the image. Its kind of green. Now we can move on to adjusting the output histogram. There's two ways to deal with this. We can adjust the input red, but this will result in highlight clipping. I actually don't mind highlight clipping as much, and in this case we have several red lights in the image both on the BMW and the crossing gate, so we're going to adjust that input histogram.

Truthfully, I should have thought of this before picking this image to do a demonstration on, but at this point its too late to turn back, and like I keep saying, this isn't a "how-to" guide.

So we still have a bit of a color cast, but its (mostly) in the midtones. Now it's time to bring out our secret weapon: gray balance, also known as neutral point or gray point.

That middle slider can be adjusted for red, green, and blue independently, and that's exactly what we're going to do.

This looks, for the most part, very good. I'll probably go back and tweak the gray points in the red and green a bit more, and i often go through these steps 2-3 times, repeating with finer adjustments before finally confirming the changes.

Truthfully, I don't remember if the BMW was pure white or eggshell white, so i'm going to err on the side of "eggshell" because the rest of the image looks weirder if i adjust for that white to be "pure".

And now, Voila! A fully color-graded image.

Does it look exactly like it did IRL? No, not quite, but again, scanning is all about compromise. I'm sure someone with more experience could do a better job than me, but the point here isn't to show you how to make things perfect, it's to show how I, Ivy Michaels do this.

If you made it through this far, congratulations! I love you! I hope you found this interesting. Thanks for reading <3

*Murder is e's actual name.

** i have censored the license plate of the 25-year-old BMW in my shot out of privacy concerns. It is not my car, and i do not know the owner. The negative has not been cropped, rotated, inverted, or graded in any way. Only the license plate has been removed by select-and-stretch. *** Despite my repeated slides into "we/us" language, this is not a how-to and is not intended to be a statement of objective correctness. It is "correct" in the sense of "correct to my personal workflow"

[kaeso4ka]

You and Optimus are patrolling Jasper's neighborhood. Something's going wrong

Pairing: yandere Optimus Prime x reader

The unscheduled patrol was going smoothly. The rare oncoming cars flew past quickly, disappearing far behind.

You sat relaxed, lazily watching the steering wheel and the quiet red light of the Autobot's Insignia. An unfamiliar song in an unknown language was pulling something simple and positive.

You barely looked at the road at all. You'd weaned yourself off looking ahead on trips with Prime. Why? Optimus was doing it.

“So, remind me, what's the point of ground patrols? No, seriously. We have scanners.”

“Scanners are for long distances. Jasper's neighborhoods are more profitable to patrol by hand. The Decepticons know our base is in the vicinity of this city.”

“Yes, yes. And by showing up here in person, we confirm it easily and simply. Genius,” you clapped your hands weakly, and then yawned contentedly, ”what about... Optimus!”

You never thought you could scream so loud and over the top. It all happened so fast that you could hardly analyze half of what happened: here you and Optimus were, calmly driving, pulling into a hillside. At the same moment, a car flies right into your face, and....

Prime brakes sharply, on the edge of his tires and brakes. The seat belts tightened around you and pressed you to the seat, preventing you from flying into the windshield.

Prime felt no pain: only a couple of warnings dropped into the processor about the crumpled pavement and a couple of torn tubes.

“What the...?” you shook your head, unbuckling yourself. “Jesus, don't tell me some... Human is underneath us right now.”

Optimus was silent. He analyzed his condition and the video from the external cameras. What he was seeing, he didn't like.

You, on the other hand, without waiting for a response, opened into the door, jumping down onto the pavement. Examined what appeared to be the body of the Optimus... and what was left of the stranger's car.

The car was destroyed. It had crumpled like a tin can and hollowed out under Optimus, disappearing. But that, of course, was not the worst part. A mangled body was visible in the pile of crumpled metal.

You overpowered yourself, stepping closer. The unknown man was wedged among the metal, plastic, and chairs. His head leaned back unnaturally, blood trickled from his mouth. Just below...

You took a dispassionate look at the released intestines. The impact was so strong that it cut the driver of the car in half. The speedometer stopped at one hundred and twenty-seven kilometers per hour.

Reaching for your phone, you glanced around the road. No one. There'd been an accident and you could use someone else's help ...

“Hello, 911?”

“Yes, I'm listening.”

“This is Y/N. There has been a car accident at mile marker thirty near Jasper, Nevada. I was driving my truck when someone... Slammed into me.”

“You weren't hurt?”

“No, but the driver of the other car was.”

“Can you give him first aid?” the operator sounded impassive.

“I'm afraid I'm not Jesus,” you couldn't hold back a nervous grin, ”he's dead. He's been hollowed out.”

“Is there anyone else in the car?”

“Can't see from here. But even if there is, he's dead too. I don't hear any moans.”

“Ok. The police will be here in a minute. Medics, too. Is there a fire?”

“No, no fire.”

“Stay away from the car. Gasoline could leak.”

The operator wasn't lying. Not a minute later, loud sirens cut through the silence of the desert.

You tapped gently on the door of Optimus' altform.

“Brace yourself... Are you okay in there?”

But Prime didn't answer you anything.

***

“You look sad,” you remarked, having previously spent a long time watching Optimus work in complete silence, ”did something happen? Is it… Because of the crash?”

“Yes,” the short answer came with a hitch, ”it's because of the crash.”

“Are you in pain? Did the impact hurt...?”

“That's not the point,” Prime set the datapads aside, turning to you fully.

“Just... Don't tell me your conscience is bothering you,” you folded your arms across your chest, ”seriously? Optimus, that's stupid.”

“I'm responsible for a man's death. My... Braking systems are far better than Earth's. I could have done it, but I was too distracted,” Optimus focused his optics on your face. Your gaze was a little reassuring.

“Optimus, listen,” you shook your head, ”forensics showed the driver was drunk. Now imagine if he hadn't flown into us, but into... June. Or Jack. Or hit Rafe and Miko in the crosswalk. You know what they say on Earth about people like that? Good thing I left and didn't take anyone with me.”

Optimus didn't look convinced. On Cybertron, there was nothing wrong with transforming while supercharged. Even if there were collisions on the tracks, the only thing that suffered was the hull, which could be easily replaced.

“You don't think I've been hit by cars?” a chill ran down your back. Memories of a long ago accident didn't make it any better. “You've been hit. Same drunken scum. He didn't care, the car didn't care, but I got hurt bad. All because of an idiot who doesn't know the simple rule: If you've been drinking, don't drive.”

Combat protocols for the pathetic flick took over, Optimus was already preparing to seek out the one who dared to hurt you once... But he immediately controlled himself, coming back to reality.

“Thank you for your help, my Spark. Your concern heals me.”

“You're welcome, Optimus. Be more careful next time. Don't get distracted by me.”

[chrysalis-thestateofchange]

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙* ── | “Caught” | ── *•̩̩͙✩•̩̩��* ＊

Characters // Atlas (he/him), Wren (they/them)

It’s the following day and Wren has pushed all thoughts of the events with the trainee out of their mind. Their confidence is renewed because today they are very lucky. They snagged a key card. A high access key card. They’re practically guaranteed an easy investigation in any part of the base. And so, as they march down the wide corridor past the training quarters, there is a slight pep in their step.

Wren is feeling perfectly confident in infiltrating higher level offices with ease and zero suspicion until they round the corner and find themself face to face with him. They gasp as they nearly ram straight into him and have to swivel on their feet slightly to avoid colliding him. When their stance is steadied, they look up at him for a long moment, eyes wide. So much for no suspicion. Wren stares for a long moment and then, without a word, turns abruptly and begins to very quickly make their way down a slightly emptier corridor, searching for a door to go through, glancing over their shoulder every so often to ensure that the trainee isn’t still looking.

Their pace increases at the sound of footsteps somewhere behind them. Every corner they round, their feet get quicker, their eyes darting to each passing soldier. They’re being paranoid. A trainee has no reason to follow them. With a huff, Wren’s pace quickens again into a light jog. The file room, the file room. Where was it on the map again? Shit, was it two lefts and a right or two rights and a left? Wren chews at the inside of their cheek, reaching a fork in the hall. They glance down both ways, hesitating. Oh! Two rights and a left. As they continue down the labyrinth of passageways, the people grow scarcer, only the occasional high ranking officer passing. Soon there’s no one. A good sign. After a few more minutes of creeping down the corridor, a shining metal door comes into view with a panel on the wall beside it. Aha. Wren does one more quick glance down the hall before slipping the key card out of their uniform pocket and pressing it to the panel. The light on the scanner goes green and a ding sounds. Perfect.

Wren is relieved when the room they slip into is dim and empty, the only light being the flickering of screens playing camera footage. Wren hesitantly presses their hand against another panel on the inside of the room, the lights flickering on with an electric hum. Upon further inspection, Wren sees the rows of screens, filing cabinets. There are shelves of boxes upon boxes, filled to the brim with what look like hard drives and wires. The air has a faint must to it like the room doesn’t get a lot of airflow. They note that there's not a single vent. Probably a security measure. This is exactly what Wren needs. They’re quick to pull out the bag stuffed under their bulky vest. Wren surges forwards and begins to sweep hard drives and paper files into it — anything they can fit.

Wren’s hands are quick as they fill the duffle and zip it shut. Get in and get out. If these files have good, solid information then their job is done and they can get the hell out of here and get to work. They try not to let the excitement brewing in them bubble too high but they’re so close to exposing Eden—

"What do you think you're doing?"

The breath on their neck is hot. Wren reels around, slamming their elbow into whatever body part of the person is closest and quickly backing away. Their elbow doesn’t make contact with anything. “What the fuck?” Their eyes are frantic as they scan the room. Nothing. No one is there. But they definitely heard someone there. They felt it. “Hello?”

Wren squawks loudly when a body materializes in the dark. Before they can register the person’s advance, their arms are yanked behind them and they’re pinned. “Hey, what the hell! Let go!” They bark, tugging their arms and trying to jerk away from their captor.

A boot meets their back, forcing them down against the frigid linoleum then the foot is pressing down on their head. 

"What do you think you're doing in here?" The voice repeats, low and even.

Wren grunts and lets out a yelp of pain as the boot digs into the back of their head, mashing their face against the ground. Any attempt to wriggle free only causes more discomfort. “Nothing! It’s none of your fucking business. Let me go man!”

"I think it is my business." There's a beat as the heel of the person’s foot digs into the back of Wren’s neck before the voice says, "Who sent you?"

Wren grits their teeth. There is no way they’re getting out of this. They were so close. “No one, I’m doing my job!” They bark back, trying to lift their head to no avail.

"Stealing files? That's classified information." 

Wren huffs and jerks their arms again to no avail. “No.” 

"Lie to me again and I'll cut out your tongue.” The growl in his voice tells Wren it’s not an empty threat.

“Let me go and I’ll tell you the truth, asshole.”

"I don't think so." The attacker keeps one foot firm against Wren’s face and they have to angle their eyes in a way that makes their head hurt to watch him in their peripheral vision as he stoops over and picks up their bag. "Where were you planning to take this?"

Dread settles heavy in Wren’s chest – and at the back of their head. This cannot be happening, all of that work can’t go down the drain now. “Nowhere! Okay? I don’t work with anyone, I was taking it for myself.”

"What were you going to do with it?"

Wren snarls and writhes defiantly at the attacker’s words. “You know, I was just gonna sit back and watch some footage for fun!” They snap, baring their teeth and rolling their eyes. “No, I’m going to expose this shitty corporation.” They try to push themselves up again.

The boot lifts off their head for just a moment, giving Wren hope until it stomps down again, smashing Wren’s face into the floor.

They let out a cry of pain as their nose makes a cracking noise and an instant gush of blood pours out. They grimace at the taste of blood in their mouth and gag. “Dude, what the fuck,” they wail.

"'Eden is eternal.'" The man recites in a robotic way that makes Wren’s skin crawl.

 Wren scoffs. “Yeah, bet they’ve been carving that into your brain since you were in diapers.” They mutter under their breath. They let out a grunt and curse silently as their face throbs and they are pushed down further.

"There's no point in trying to fight us. Who sent you then? Are you one of 'The Chosen'?"

“That fucking crazy cult? I hate them just as much as you.”

"You know, you should really learn when to close that big mouth of yours." He presses down harder on their head, Wren’s nose popping. "I could always just kill you now. It's not like anyone here would object to it. Or I could take you back to be questioned. I'm sure that'll put a stop to your smartass comments." 

Wren gasps and winces, squirming in pain under the force of the attacker’s foot. “No! Dude, I'm being serious. I’m telling the truth, I don’t know what more you want from me! Just ask me your questions now and let me go.”

"So you can go spread lies about Eden? I don't think so."

“They aren’t lies, it’s the truth and I’m going to prove it. Why would I come here looking for evidence if I was just going to spread lies.” They huff and shift slightly on the ground, the hard floor pressing against their body uncomfortably. “Do you know the truth? That your leaders, your “CEOs” are lying to you. And the Elites? Just more of their lies.”

"Shut up. You don't have any clue about Eden."

Wren snorts, wincing when the action sucks blood up into their nose. “Oh yeah? I know that they’re lying to the public and apparently to you guys too. They’re raising you to be monsters and then taking advantage of your skill. You’re their puppets.”

“I’m not.”

Wren rolls their eyes at his protest. “I’m sure every other one of their toy soldiers would say the same thing. You wanna check those files don’t you?” Wren manages to move their head just barely, wincing in the process. Their eyes shoot over to the bag. “Go ahead and have a look. If what’s in there isn’t enough for you, I've got more.”

There’s a long pause and Wren begins to fear he’ll just shut them up by killing them. Then they hear a suspiciously file sounding rustle. Wren would smirk if it weren’t for the throbbing pain in their face. They listen silently to the sound of pages in a file flipping. “See anything interesting?” 

They take the answering silence as a good sign and when their attacker steps back, their suspicions are confirmed. With a grunt, they push themselves into a sitting position, wiping blood from their face with a grimace. “Some not so great stuff in there, huh? That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. I need to know more. I’m going to expose them for their lies.”

The man takes another unsteady step back, his mind racing. “There has to be an explanation for this. They wouldn’t- they wouldn’t do this for no reason.” Unlike before, where his voice was unwavering, he now sounds very unsure of himself. “You don’t- you don’t know anything.”

Wren slowly pushes themself up onto their feet with a sigh. They don’t advance further, wanting to prevent being attacked again, now by someone who is clearly more unstable than previously. “It’s the truth. Why would they have to keep this a secret if it wasn’t exactly what it looks like — if it wasn’t evil?”

The man eyes them warily. “To… to reach our goal there has to be sacrifices. It’s for the greater good of all mankind.” He recites again, the words slightly easing his doubts.

Wren crosses their arms, eyes narrowing as they fix him with a scowl. Only now, looking at their attacker in better lighting, do they realize that it’s him. Not a man. That trainee. “So you’re going to justify their crimes? You’re being trained for the Elites too aren’t you? They’ll do the same thing to you.”

“You won’t say a word about this. About any of it. You’re lucky that I don’t take you to the lead director right now.” He takes another step back, avoiding their gaze.

Wren dares to take a half-step forward, not yet advancing into the trainee’s personal space. “So you’ll let it keep happening? Even now that you know? Even now that it’ll happen to you?”

The boy doesn’t respond, slowly inching further backwards. “Don’t let me catch you in here again. You’ll regret it.”

Wren grits their teeth and reaches forward to grab their bag. “Fine. Keep hiding from the truth. We’ll see where that gets you.”

The trainee snatches the bag before they can take it, suddenly disappearing into thin air.

Wren gasps and makes a grunt of protest. “Asshole,” they grumble, stomping towards the door and slipping away, heading for the maintenance elevator.

They’re not giving up. They can’t be done with Eden until they get those files.

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A big thanks to @oros-ash3s for helping me write this chapter ⋆˚࿔

─ O.W. ꩜ .ᐟ

[usafphantom2]

#USNavy #avgeek #ColdWar #aviation North American A-5 Vigilante supersonic carrier-based bomber and RA-5C reconnaissance bird with side radar, cameras, IR scanner, etc. 167 built; 1961–1970; 137 converted to or built as RA-5C with long sensor pod beneath.

@Usas_ww1 via X

[glitch-karma]

Bsd as Spidermen

Dazai:

His name would be Spider Stray

He was investigating something with the detective agency when he was bit

Sees his new abilities as a nuisance and tries to ignore them, much like the og Peter Parker

Dazai's dark and sarcastic personality carries over into his version of Spider-Man ofc

He would make dry and morbid jokes while fighting crime, often using his mind to outwit his opponents rather than relying solely on strength

Dazai's spider-like abilities would include enhanced agility, reflexes, and ofc spider-sense, but to go with no longer human I'd like to say he can minimally dull powers

His spider suit would be a sleek black with a light red web pattern, I think of his webbing as black instead of white as well. He does still use traditional web-shooters tho

Definitely does the classic spider kiss with you (like a lot of other people on this list..)

Immediately made it very obvious to you that he was the famous spider stray

He accidentally drags you into a lot of shit though

Kunikida:

Introducing: The Web Detective

Kunikida was bit the same way as Dazai

His new powers are the same as normal petter parker

initially, he struggles to accept his new powers, feeling burdened by the responsibility

utilizes his detective skills to investigate and stop criminal activities in the city

often targeting corrupt organizations that threaten the peace of the city

operates primarily as a solo hero, but he occasionally partners with other members of the Detective Agency

His suit is also black, with accents of dark greens as reds along with white webbing patterns

Idk why but he is giving real webbing vibes.. ew

Tried his very hardest to not involve you in anything

After all the stress built up, he confesses his identity to you

Was still very keen on keeping you out of it though

Ranpo:

welcome The Yokohama Webcrawler

Was bitten while in an abandoned sweet shop

retains his highly intelligent and observant nature as Spider-Man

uses his deductive skills to unravel criminal activities and solve mysteries

Although, his laid-back and somewhat lazy demeanor remains intact, often getting him into trouble

Ranpo focuses more on detective work and strategic planning rather than actually getting out there and fighting

uses his deductive abilities to analyze crime scenes, anticipate criminal activities, and identify potential threats

He has enhanced agility, sight, analytical combat, and stealth

Has a dark suit with light blue accents, his webbing pattern is off-white. I'd like to imagine he also keeps his hat lmao

His web-shooters are upgraded to include various detective gadgets, such as tiny cameras (Shapped as spiders ヾ(•ω•`)o), fingerprint scanners, and chemical analyzers

Told you immediately

Was casual abt it too

"Oh btw I'm actually the Yokohama Webcrawler." "Oh cool."

"WAIT WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY-"

Yosano:

Let's hear it for Arachne!

stumbles upon a hidden laboratory where she accidentally gets bitten by a genetically enhanced spider

Powers included; enhanced physical attributes, healing for herself, spider-sense, and a healing venom

She has permanent fangs (Coughs in Miguel O'Hara)

She has a black form-fitting suit with purple accents and light purple webbing, also includes a red hourglass-shaped symbol on her chest to ref the black widow

Uses a classic web shooter

You figured it out after she accidentally called you a nickname as Arachne

Classic spiderman kiss <3

Prioritizes you at all coasts

Chuuya:

RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH coughs

The beloved, the great, the amazing, Spider Venom

Was transformed against his will by a threat to the Port Mafia

Although Chuuya is already pretty agile, his new powers include enhanced agility, reflexes, strength, and Spider Sense

Chuuya's gravity manipulation is incorporated into his web-slinging techniques

Instead of using mechanical web-shooters, he generates and controls threads of gravity that act as webs

He can swing from buildings and create web-based constructs to trap or immobilize enemies

His suit would be a sleek, form-fitting style (I am actively drooling)

His spider web pattern would be red and have a slight glow effect to it and the spider symbol on the chest would have a gravity-inspired design, incorporating swirling patterns around the spider

He also keeps his coat and hat <3

Chuuya cracks jokes during battles and maintains a cocky demeanor, even in the face of danger just as usual.

However, he is also a deeply compassionate and principled individual, using his abilities to protect the innocent and stand up for what is right

He did his rich girl voice to hide himself from you..

It didn't work.

CLASSIC SPIDERMAN KISS EVEN THOUGH HE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT THE SPIDER ABILITIES LOLZ LET ME SIMP

Terrified of you getting hurt

Has a moment where he almost was too late and has a full panic attack over you

(Can you tell he was the reason I wanted to do this?)

The best one in this list prove me wrong.

I was planning on doing more but tbh I couldn't think of anything for a lot of them

But I hope you enjoyed

[mildcharacterenjoyer]

Thought about Gemerl having to rescue Omega from Eggman.

YES! I was thinking about this too! You could go either way, Gemerl saving Omega or Omega saving Gemerl, but I LOVE this one specifically. You know Omega. He's so proud, high, and mighty and the fact that he has to rely on Gemerl's help is so aggravating to him. Like all his limbs are detached somewhere in an Eggman base and Gemerl sneaks in. Lemme just write something real quick.

Unimplied Gratitude

Ships: Gemega (Gemerl/Omega)

Words ~ 2,071 ~

Warnings: Kidnapping, restraints

A figure rockets quietly outside the walls of an Eggman base, dodging cameras and motion sensors. Gemerl is not known to participate in the restoration’s efforts without Cream or Vanilla’s involvement, however this extraction mission is a special case. E-123 Omega has been abducted by a new Eggman creation known as Sage with the intent to either reprogram him or delete his code.

Originally Rouge had been the one who had planned on rescuing him, but Shadow also requested aid. Instead of having Rouge choose between “her boys”, Gemerl decides to perform the E-Series extraction himself. One, because then the gizoid can hold the save over Omega’s ginormous ego and two, something inside of him aches at the possibility of losing his sparring partner.

Despite all the arguments and fights Omega starts, Gemerl decides the overall loss of his presence would be much less than ideal. His emotions regarding the badnik are already complicated enough. He would rather not add sadness to the mix.

By locking onto Omega’s IP Signature, he uses his location systems to determine what distance he is from the signal. Luckily, Eggman didn't seem to care about the security of the room he is in, or powering off the badnik so he couldn't call outside help. Not that Omega would, considering how much pride he takes in referring to himself as the ultimate robot. His awareness acts as a beacon for the Gizoid's sensors, showing him exactly where he is.

Gemerl enters into the building through a vent shaft, taking a few turns and navigating through the maze-like floor plan depicted by his scanners. It is not long before he reaches an air shaft directly above where Omega is kept. He peers through it while surveying the area, relieved to see it is only Omega and no other badniks are inside guarding the door.

It is a pitiful sight however. The E-series robot is limbless, his weapons and legs deposited out of reach on a table in the back corner. Gemerl decides he should limit his teasing for the moment, in case the fragility of their friendship is strained by his jests. With nimble fingers, the gizoid works the air shaft open, barely able to catch it before it drops to the ground and possibly alerting Robotnik to his presence.

Omega’s head follows Gemerl as he drops to the floor and sets the vent panel on a nearby surface. The gizoid speaks first. “Hello there.”

“Gemerl.” Omega’s voice is quieter than he is used to, but whether this is because of the hushed conversation or a wounded hubris he is not sure. He takes a second to see if the badnik has anything else to say, then walks closer to him when he doesn't.

“How are you doing?” Gemerl asks, throwing glances all around the room to look for possible traps or cameras.

“My movements are limbited.” Omega rotates his head back and forth as if to prove his point. Gemerl files the joke away in his black mail folder for later reviewing.

“I can see that. Would you like some help?”

“Is that not why you are here?”

“It is.” Gemerl crosses his arms out in front of him. “I am just hoping to receive a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ first.”

Omega ignores his request. “Where is Rouge?”

“Currently assisting Shadow.” Gemerl pulls up a nearby chair and sits backwards in it in front of the badnik.

“I see.” Gemerl notes the disappointment interlaced in his voice.

“I told her I would rescue you well before she knew Shadow needed assistance.” It wasn't entirely the truth, but an angry Omega is easier to save than a sad Omega.

“I would not call gloating in front of me ‘rescuing’.” Omega’s eyes flash in irritation.

“If these positions were reversed, you would be gloating the entire time as you rescued me and you know it.” Gemerl points between his eyes teasingly.

“Irrelevant.” The badnik looks off into the middle distance, seemingly embarrassed his sparring partner could see right through him.

For once, the gizoid wishes he could laugh at his ally's misfortune. He pushes the rest of his jests to the side for a moment of sincerity. “How is your central processing unit? Have you received any malware or attempts at reprogramming?”

“Not yet.” Omega looks past Gemerl towards the closed door before meeting his gaze again. “I was threatened with both around two hours ago. Along with my appendages, most of my other systems have been disabled.”

Gemerl looks back at the door and lets his shoulders drop in defeat. As much as he wants to wait until Omega acknowledges his rescue, the time remaining before his captor returns is unknown. “I won't waste anymore time then.” Gemerl rises to his feet and moves the chair out of the way, before kneeling down to inspect Omega’s restraints on the floor.

“There are clamps and chains binding me to the floor.” Omega’s head follows Gemerl as he circles on his hands and knees around Omega’s suspended chassis, looking for points of weakness in his restraints.

“Not just the floor.” The gizoid reaches under the E-Series and taps two thick steel beams where chains and clamps stem from jutting out of the floor. Gemerl swears under his voice box, silently cursing himself for not asking questions about Omega’s captor before playing hero. “Whoever did this does not want you to escape. Sage, right?”

“She proclaims herself to be Eggman’s daughter.” Omega spits the words out of his voice box with malice while Gemerl crawls around underneath, further inspecting the beams. “She calls him Father and then refers to me as a brother in the same sentence as if I were part of my creator’s family! I am enraged at the thought!”

Gemerl knocks on the beams lightly, testing the thickness. “You are enraged by many thoughts.” He taps other specific areas along the beams, pleased to find that they are not as dense as they initially appear to be. His processing unit generates a genius idea and he begins to stand, forgetting to check what might be above him. The tallest spike protruding from in the middle of his forehead clangs suddenly against one of Omega’s thigh joints, and his neck rebounds downwards from the impact.

“Expletive!” Apparently, Omega felt it too.

“Apologies.” Gemerl curls his face inwards and withdraws out from underneath Omega, then jumps to his feet. He is met with an angry glare from the E-Series robot.

“Your spatial awareness is lacking.”

“So is your spatial mobility.” Gemerl fires back. “I did apologize.”

“Your apology does nothing to aid my rescue.”

While ignoring Omega's slight, Gemerl swivels away and makes a bee-line for the desk displaying all of his detached limbs. “Which arm houses your laser?”

“Both are equipped with one.” Gemerl grabs them off the table, then holds the right and left in his respective hands. “Are there any differences between them?”

“Negative.” Gemerl sets the right one down and crawls back underneath Omega on the opposite side of the room. “You do not know how to operate my laser.”

“I would like to. If you would kindly walk me through the process that would be wonderful.” Light sarcasm intertwines with the gizoid's voice.

“There is no time! Reattach my limb and I will cut my own restraints.” Gemerl eyes the angle between Omega’s arm joints and the metal beams, imagining his full range of motion.

“You could cut your own restraints, but you cannot reach the beams or the clamps holding you down. You are too low to the ground to allow enough room to maneuver your forearms into the right position. It would be quicker and safer for you if I perform it from down here with direct access.”

Gemerl is close enough to Omega’s waist to hear his fans start to rotate faster than normal. “Due to our earlier incident, I do not like the idea of you operating a laser below me.”

“As long as you do not distract me, there will be no cause for concern. Now, how do I activate your laser?” Gemerl peeks inside the end that would fit into Omega’s elbow, hoping to become familiar with the layout.

The E-series robot is silent for a second, then gives into Gemerl’s request. “There is a maintenance handlebar located near the inner left wall of the arm. Find it and turn it 60 degrees counter clockwise. This will cycle between weapons to my laser.”

Gemerl does as he is instructed, finding the handle with ease and turning it the correct direction with care. The claws from the arm automatically retract and out pops a single ignition tube. He aims the laser at the edge of the closest steel beam. “How do I fire?”

“The lower arrow on the arm is a flap that can be pulled back. Like a trigger.” Gemerl finds it and digs it out, yanking the flap back. The laser ignites and begins searing through the steel beam. Sparks fly, and Gemerl quickens the pace at which he operates, remembering how noisy these weapons can be. A few seconds later and the first steel beam is cut. He bends one end and pulls out the chains and slides off the clamps that are supporting Omega from one side. 

The disarmed robot begins to lean and Gemerl watches where he stands up this time. He hooks an arm underneath Omega’s waist belt to support him as he works on the next beam from a top down angle. Gemerl feels his own fans begin to heat up at the proximity increase. A notification somewhere along his internal screen depicts Omega's core temperature is rising, so he is sure the E-series isn't doing much better. They can figure out what is causing these effects after Omega is free from danger.

Once the second steel beam is cut, Gemerl kicks in one side and reaches down to pull out the chains and slide off the clamps holding him hostage. Omega’s incapacitated body falls free into Gemerl's hold, chains and clamps clang to the the floor as the gizoid uses his own brute strength to break their hold of the E-series robot.

They are face to face now. Closer than he had ever cared to be to his sparring partner before now at least. Luckily for him, Omega doesn't seem to be in a talking mood anymore. Gemerl walks over to the desk where Omega’s other appendages are and lays him down across the desk. It is then his protests begin again.

“No. No! Pick me up at once. Do not leave me like this!”

Gemerl ignores him and sprints to pick up the Lazer arm he had discarded and lay it with the rest of E-series’ body. Gemerl quickly scans the room, aware that it would take too long to put him back together in enemy territory. He spies a large fabric bag hanging across multiple chairs in a different corner and quickly unfolds it.

“What are you doing?!” Omega’s volume rises from the desk where he is.

“Providing you with transport.” Gemerl opens the bag wide and begins to shuffle all of Omega’s limbs into it. The E-series protests grow with each part of him he packs, until all that's left is his torso and neither regions.

“You are not putting me in there!”

If a gizoid could smile, Gemerl would be grinning. “Maybe if you thank me for rescuing you, I’ll secure the bag below your head so you can enjoy the view.” Omega glares hard at Gemerl for a minute, before the gizoid decides his patience is up. “See you soon.” He stuffs the rest of Omega inside, muffling a string of angry explicit phrases and exclamations.

Gemerl ties off the bag and slings it over his shoulder. It wiggles around comically behind him as he uses a missile to blow a hole in the roof. He fires his jet engines and successfully escapes with Omega in tow. 

—----------------------------------------------------

Orbot hovers next to Sage who is giggling her little head off, watching the room the two robots were in through a screen. “You let them get away?”

“With comedy appeal like that, who wouldn't? Omega isn't all that important to Father anyways. I can always catch him again.”

“Oh the perks of being the favorite child. I will never know them.” The little robot flies off sadly

[corvid-gae]

i never thought stalkers were a problem in Subnautica until i finally had a scanner base in a kelp forest.... GIVE ME MY FUCKING CAMERAS BACK YOU ELONGATED FUCKS

[darkmaga-returns]

Starshield satellites can operate as a swarm in low orbits, offering the most pervasive real-time surveillance of human beings in history. These ‘low orbit satellite swarms’ are what we call drones.

Karen Kingston

Dec 27, 2024

December 27, 2024: With the recent news buzz about the unverified drones hovering over towns and military bases throughout the United States, I believe this March 2024 Kingston Report on Elon Musk’s Starshield Global Surveillance drone system may present an alternative hypothesis as to what the drones are, and who they belong to.

March 18, 2024: On December 19, 2017, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitle, “How China’s Surveillance State Overwhelms Daily Life.” The article details how the Chinese government turned Xianjing, China into a, “…remote laboratory for its high-tech social controls. Security checkpoints with identification scanners guard the train station and roads in and out of town. Facial scanners track comings and goings at hotels, shopping malls and banks...”

Not only are China’s 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week (24/7) surveillance policies and technologies highly invasive, many western nations consider the use of these surveillance systems as a violation of human rights. In August of 2022, a U.N. High Commissioner for human rights found that China’s policies on religion, biometric surveillance (i.e. public facial recognition cameras), DNA surveillance (human identification kits), criminal medical experimentation, and the overall 24/7 police surveillance of Xiangjiang residents were human rights violations, and in some cases, crimes against humanity.

Unfortunately for global citizens, a highly-advanced 24/7 surveillance system is currently being deployed on civilians in the United States of America and in other nations around the globe.

[carionto]

The spirit never dies, but please watch over it

(Previously)

"What are you doing, Captain?"

"What? Going outside of course. Uncharted lands and all that. You said the atmosphere is mostly harmless and I even put on my suit. You can't stop me, Zhao. I outrank you. So there!"

Captain Knoslark of the crash-landed Radiant Dusk at Everest made this declaration pretty much the moment the chief engineer said we weren't going to be flying anytime soon. Something about the warp jump frying all quantum-based computers and connections. Oh yeah, can't contact Earth or anyone really.

Turns out going through a hole in space-time really does breaks quantum entanglement, so that kinda sucks. Or perhaps even that has limits on distance, the furthest anyone tested was from one end of the Milky Way to the other. Or maybe there is something in the physics of space between galaxies that we don't understand yet.

Regardless, we're totally alone and roughly 12 to 30 billion light years from home, depending on if we landed in the target galaxy or one that moved into its place from the time when the light from it reached us. Every celestial body being unknown leaves a lot of room for guessing.

Now, given the circumstances, a normal ship and crew would not permit this and simply declare the captain unfit for duty and his second would take over. However, we are a crew of 27 civilian engineers, researchers, scientists, and technicians, and only a third have some military training, the captain not being one of them, and all of us are... a bit on the odd side.

In short, three people eagerly volunteered to join the captain on his expedition outside - Engineer Emily Halliday, Physicist/Botanist/Microchemist/(and like five other PhDs) Haespar Kraus, and Trisha, no last name, she just appeared aboard a few years back and is generally helpful and real fun to hang out with, she knows so much random trivia.

The world outside was... flat, but layered. Some areas only had very small types of vegetation, think like a grassy field, but orange with grey flower-like clusters everywhere. Then there is basically a hard cut wall of this deep red and brown bushes and small trees with super wide trunks that suddenly jut out in their area. And the tall spindly trees? that kinda resemble stretched out cobwebs and have this hazy transparent look to them except at the top where it's a really rich green field of dense foliage.

There's some variations further out, but that's the general idea. Almost like someone haphazardly painted with only base colors on a canvas and refused to mix or gradient them.

"We are entering the red bushes now. I feel a tingling sensation, Zhao. This is fun! I wonder if we'll encounter animals here. If we're stuck here for too long we'll have to start farming. I've always wanted to be a rancher, you know, but space beckoned me!"

"Yes, captain, I know. Please be careful and return from your trip soon. Trisha, knock him out if he tries to bring back a pet."

"I heard that, Zhao!" "I know, don't make Trisha knock you out." "Hmmph. You're no fun." "I am paid to not be, sir."

There was a bit of grumbling before Knoslark ended the call on his end. Thankfully, the other three kept their channels open, as you are meant to do, so the onboard crew always knew what was going on. Unfortunately, drones are one of the things that utilize quantum connections to operate, so it'll take time to refit them to receive radio signals.

Suddenly, nearly all of the scanners and receivers on the ship noticed a variety of new signals and distant sounds - explosions. Repeating ones. And... are those fireworks? Since the Dusk was grounded it couldn't really properly scan the whole planet, just the area immediately around them, so they had no idea if this was inhabited by anything resembling a civilization.

Not long after that, there were physical impact signals coming from the North-East side of the ship. Cameras revealed there were several groups of quadrupedal creatures not unlike rhinos with giraffe necks mounted by smaller bipedal ones that sorta resemble moths, but made of jelly and fish scales?

"Captain, Emily, Kraus, Trish! Get back to the Dusk right now, there's natives on this planet and they don't like the ship." Sergeant Zhao shouted into the comms.

"Gonna be a moment, Ying." Trisha replied, "The Cap'n got himself stuck on a tree. Some kinda sticky fungus lives on the higher branches, we're working on choppin' it down."

"Well hurry, the density of the heightened vegetation makes it impossible to see with our scanners what's inside. You might not have much time."

"We'll be done in a-

The words got cut off by the whole cobweb-tree area rapidly ascending, revealing a titanic creature of fur, mud, and countless short but lumbering limbs coming out of the ground, just as the local star began to set over this world. All other similar patches did the same. The shorter red bush areas then began to glow a faint blue releasing little clouds of dust just above. The titans made their way over these hazy spots, and remain stood there for the time being.

The assault on the Dusk by the locals had ceased during this commotion. Aside from the hum of the single active reactor, everyone was silent for a few minutes, broken by Trisha coming back on:

"Ying, we're fine it looks like, but you got a better view than us, what are we on?"

"Uhh, a giant... headless moss turtle thing? It's not the only one and seems did not act because of you, so you should be fine, but hurry back here." Sergeant Zhao then addressed the onboard crew:

"Drop whatever it is you're doing and get a shuttle working NOW. I don't care how basic, I'll fly it manually if need be. We are not leaving anyone out there!"

Continued->

[asheurbanipal]

You've Seen My Picture in the Daily Globe

<<Previous:Next>>

Venom, Eddie x Venom, symbrock

Explicit

4k words

Content: somnophilia, tentacle sex, canon typical violence

Ep 2 in series

On Ao3

Summary:

With knowledge from the multiverse, Venom and Eddie are waiting for Spider-Man to irrevocably alter their lives. Better to chase him down than vice versa.

Notes:

Notes on continuity: Getting this to play nice with SSU (Madame Webb, specifically) puts Spider pretty young according to the years everything is set. Just going with it. Playing with some of the comic timeline stuff for origin of Spider-Man. We're in a weird place of canon-compliance and continuity since the SSU hasn't actually created Spider-Man, yet, so I'm going weird with it.

Eddie Brock woke up with a mouth around his cock, teeth grazing his skin, long tongue draped around the base. 

"Sweetheart, again?"

"You said I could, Eddie," The Other replied through an occupied mouth.

"Yeah, but doesn't it get boring after awhi-ile. Ngh."

"No."

"It cuts into your time."

"I like playing with you, beloved."

"Oh god oh fuck."

"Play time" was something The Other had picked up from both traveling the multiverse and being one with the hive again, temporarily. The Other got three hours a night (while Eddie slept), to do what they pleased. With a few specific restrictions, of course. It had been mostly working to keep the balance. The Other had absolutely eaten a head or two. He could feel that in his belly. The crime sheet and police scanner, though, hadn't turned up anything to suggest a problem, yet. No dead Nobel laureates or human rights attorneys. And the vague splash of memories that got uploaded into his brain each morning didn't feel overly horrific. 

And every few mornings he woke up to being serviced. Sometimes he didn't wake up at all, the evidence on the inside of his boxer-briefs. He wasn't stupid. The act wasn't really for his pleasure. It was just the only way for The Other to get that same, extra special boost of neurochemicals.

The Other pulled his face away. 

"I can always stop, beloved," they said. 

"No you finish what you start, you fu-ahhhhh…" He hadn't realized how close he was to the edge, and just a nudge brought him over softly. He flopped over onto his back and The Other settled their head up next to his. 

"It's early," Eddie noted. 

"Until we catch the photographer…"

"Yeah, I know. I know." The Other sunk back into Eddie as he rolled out of bed. He didn't have time for a shower, but he cleaned himself up quickly. "If this was the last of my briefs, we're gonna have an issue."

I did laundry. It's sorted in the hampers.

Eddie looked against the wall to see a couple of hampers half-full with clean, folded laundry.

"Are you using your play time…to do chores…"

You won't fucking do it.

He started getting dressed.

"When you get a handle on this making clothes thing, we're gonna be set." Eddie hopped into his usual jeans, but only went so far as a white tank top. The Other changed it into a blue and gray Henley. 

"What's with the teeth on the front?" Eddie admired the look in the mirror. 

Practice. You don't like it?

"Nah. It's cool. Alright. Let's go."

A few more rounds of the mystery photos had come in over the past six weeks. Pictures had also started appearing online. Whoever their photog was, their strategy was…ineffable. The way this mystery figure was blowing up, anyone with such close access could be making bank with their photos. Staying anonymous they were leaving money on the table. 

And they were really trying to stay anonymous. According to Lee's "ink guy" they were printed at home. As opposed to mailing them in from a trackable address, they were just showing up in the mailbox that adjoined the building near a side door. A side door that somehow kept loosing the fucking camera feed.

Eddie volunteered to catch their photog in his spare time, and Bushkin had given his blessing. 

They had figured out when they dropped the photos off, at least. That had them out just before dawn, eating a bagel sandwich, perched on a nearby rooftop, out of line of sight from the mail slot. 

"We could just talk to Spider-Man," Eddie said. They kept seeing him from a distance when they went out for their nightly constitutional, but the fucker kept booking it before they could ease up on him. Their stalking grounds were the same, though, running the boroughs in almost the same order. Like they were drawn to each other, dancing around a center orbital point between them. 

No. Not yet. Want to talk to the photographer. They're special, somehow .

"Something you got from the hive?"

That or instinct.

Despite The Other's best efforts, little drifts of information from the multiverse had impinged on Eddie's brain. Mostly when he was sleeping. 

"Do you know what Spider-Man was like as a host?" Eddie asked, biting down on his sandwich. 

Eddie, please.

"We have to be able to talk about this kind of thing if we're going to get past the whole 'another version of you cried over my corpse' kind of stuff." 

The Other gave their version of a mental sigh.

I feel anger when I think of Spider-Man, in the abstract. But when I focus on him being my host, specifically, it's yearning. Like I'm angry because I want him so bad. But it's not…a good desire. The Other pumped the emotion into Eddie.

"Like an addiction?"

Close enough.

"You don't get the same feeling with me?" 

Hmmmmm. You are also addicting, Eddie, but I like it. Under his shirt and jeans, tendrils slid down the inside of his thighs. 

"Bro. I'm literally drained dry. You gotta stop."

You love it.

"I do, that's the sick part." He would have to come back to the "addiction" part of this conversation, later. His watch beeped the hour. 

"Okay, they didn't come today."

Bushkin's gonna be pissed he doesn't have anything new to post.

"Yeah, well, I'm technically out of office today, so I don't have to deal with him. Let's go intimidate some cops, instead."

"Brock, are you really trying to bribe me with donuts?"

"It's not a bribe, it's a gift with the hope you'll hit me with some information in return."

"Fuck you, Brock, " Detective Hinojosa shot back as she bit into a cream filled. 

He had caught her in the park on the tail end of her run. He didn't exactly trust any kind of government agency after all he'd been through, but he knew Hinojosa through a series of interconnected friends in college. What few friends he had. She was still a beat cop when he was in New York last, but had since both graduated to detective and moved over to sex crimes. So far she had proved herself as one of the good ones. 

"Look, I'm trying to get a read on these people running around in spandex," Eddie said, sitting next to her on the park bench. 

"The red and blue one or the 'black slime monster?'" she asked. 

"Oh he's 'black slime' now? I liked 'goo-dude.' That was fun."

They moved away from alien surprisingly fast.

I know, Ironic.

"Yeah, well, the black slime guy I'm pretty certain is a shared manic hallucination," Hinojosa said. "This blue and red guy, though…"

"You think he's the real deal? What makes you say that?"

"Brock, you know I can't give you info from ongoing cases."

"We don't have to do this dance, you know," he reminded her. "You know I'm good for scratching your back if you scratch mine. Then bam, justice served."

She considered him. 

"Why are you asking about blue and red? Specifically. What's your interest?"

"What is not interesting about a guy running around in a onsie?" 

She leveled a look at him. He held up his palms in placation. 

"Back in San Francisco, there were some rumors of some weird shit that was really similar to this." The lie was easy because it was rehearsed. A lot. He was good at doing a little on the spot fabrication for journalistic reasons, but a practiced diversion was easier. "None of us ever got the full story, but some good cops died." Well, one good cop, for sure. The other ones he took out he couldn't be so certain of. It was a weird night. Other people had died, too, but he couldn't be so sure they'd be nearly as important to Hinojosa as her fellow officers.

"Just want to do what I can to get ahead of this thing," Eddie shrugged, taking a bear claw. Hinojosa considered him again. 

"You didn't hear this from me, but he stopped a rape in progress."

"Holy shit."

"She said she was being attacked, then this guy in a blue and red wetsuit just appeared out of nowhere, threw a few punches, then tied him up. That's how we found him."

"Tied him up with what?" He had seen the stuff in person, but he still didn't know what it was. 

"Now, we're getting into police secrets, Brock.' 

Because they don't know either.

Probably.

Hinojosa checked her watch. 

"I need to get into the office." She poked him hard in the shoulder. "We never had this conversation." She moved off the bench, then jogged off through the park.

Good intimidation tactics.

"Gets the job done."

Someone glanced at him vaguely as he spoke to himself but moved on. That was the beauty of big cities. No one noticed below a certain threshold of weirdness. For New York that threshold was higher than San Francisco by a significant amount. 

The next passerby threw their copy of the Daily Bugle in the trash next to him. Eddie fished it out. He hadn't had a chance to get any of the papers this morning or check the daily front page online. 

"Oh fuck. That explains why he hasn't shown up at the mail-slot."

Front page, exclusive, the clearest photo so far of their mystery guy. Red from mask down to torso with blue arms and legs and red gloves. His giant white eye shields almost looked like The Other's but smoothed around the edges. And through the whole outfit, the lines of a spider web shape. 

The headline read "Spider-Man Menaces City." 

"That sounds like Jonah," Eddie sighed. "He probably finally offered a cash prize."

Sounds like we need to intimidate a newspaper editor .

"Nah, I think we need to be done with this and go to the source."

There was a rumble of disquiet in The Other.

Fine.

Have any ideas on how to track him? It was easier to talk internally when they were fully enveloped. The night was cold, but symbiote matter was warm. pulsing in time with his heart as he free-floated inside. 

He's like us, Eddie. Trying to protect the innocent.

So look for crimes in progress. Okay cool.

No. Wait. I can smell him.

You absolutely cannot.

Shut up. Here, feel.

The Other closed the loop around his senses. Eddie already felt what the The Other felt in this form. Saw and heard what they heard with heightened senses. His brain couldn't process it the same way, though, unless he let The Other into one of those reserved spaces. 

Oh. He could smell something. But…not smelling. A sense that felt like a smell because there wasn't anything else to connect it to.

Are you sure that's him?

It's the same smell from the few times we've seen him in person. There's something…distinctive about it. Sweet? I don't know.

They clipped along in a jog on the edge of the roof, then leapt to the next one with a long stride, following the smell as it got closer and closer. 

Where the fuck is this guy?

Two feet slammed into the back of his neck from above. 

"What the fuck?!" Venom slammed face first into the textured rooftop. They turned quick, though, catching the next blow mid-air. Spider-Man's body flopped at the knee, losing all the structure that came with momentum. Venom tossed him, his body thudding against the roof access door. 

"Don't fight me," Venom warned. 

"Monster says what?" Spider-Man replied. 

"Jesus fuck, dude come on--" Another sock across the jaw stopped them short and sent them reeling back over the side of the roof. They caught the edge, the building crunching under their claws. Spider-Man hovered above them. 

"Who are you and where are you from?" he demanded. "What's your deal?"

"My deal?" Venom replied, pulling their body up. "Stop fucking punching me and maybe--" This time it wasn't a punch that cut them off. A wail of sirens careened around the corner, EMS and firefighters escorted by police. 

They shared a single look before shooting off across the rooftops. 

Three intersections down they found the pileup, a semi on its side and five cars scattered around it, three of them smashed to absolute hell.

"Kid, listen," Venom said. "Stay out of the way of EMS. They're trained to handle injuries, and you're not. Unless you know how to stabilize a C-spine?"

"Uh, no?" Spider-Man stuttered. 

"Alright. You seem strong. Think you can pull a car door off the hinges?"

"I've never tried?" 

"I bet you can. Go to that red GT and carefully pull back the door to give access to the firefighters, then get the fuck out of the way. I'm going to do the same for the semi-truck. Got it?"

"Y-yeah. Okay." 

Spider-Man shot off ahead of him, and Venom leapt down on the semi. The shouting in the background became a gentle roar. 

Inside the semi, the driver looked up at him frantically, screams peeling through the glass.  

"Calm down," Venom said. "I'm here to help, believe it or not." They suctioned the door with some matter then yanked it free. He tossed it gently off to the sidewalk. The driver unbuckled his belt then started scrambling up out of the seat. 

"You might have a spinal injury, you probably shouldn't--" But he'd already flopped his body over the edge of the semi. "Okay, whatever." Venom grabbed him around the waist and brought him to the ground. Venom leapt back over the semi cab to see if Spider-Man had figured it out. He had, and now he was holding the car door awkwardly. 

"Just set it down, kid. Over there!" Venom pointed and Spider-Man flicked his head to the side of the road. He jogged over and set the door down gently.

Venom surveyed the area, looking for other places to help before they got out of the way. 

"Hey!" A firefighter had approached the semi, crouching low, ready to run if this was a mistake. "Can you safely remove the top of a car?" She gestured to the most crunched up of the cars. A few other firefighters were around it, apparently stuck on the best angle for the jaws of life. 

"Yeah, hold on. Spider-Man!" They whistled him over to the car, then jumped across the gap to land next to the family sedan. They crawled up gently on the trunk trying not to shake it. 

"Spider, stand on the hood, and do the pew pew thing on the roof and make a rope," Venom directed. 

"The what?"

"The thwip. The stuff. I don't know what the fuck it is."

"Oh, web fluid." He flicked out his wrists and two shots of webbing splorched on the roof. 

"Okay, I'm going to cut from this side, you pull the roof that way." Venom created blades from their hands, and dug into the metal of the roof. Together, they lifted the top free and deposited it on the ground next to the car. 

"This lady is really hurt," Spider-Man said quickly. 

"She's got a pulse." Venom hopped down from the car. They could feel her heart beating in her chest from a distance. Spider-Man lingered. "Dude, get out of the way of the paramedics."

"You two freeze."

Venom whipped around. A cluster of police officers had emerged in riot gear, guns up and ready to fire.

We could eat them, Eddie.

Or maybe we don't. Come on.

They launched upward, using the streetlight to swing to the nearest building, then up and over across the roof. A few gunshots fired after them, but they were long gone before the sound even reached them. 

"That was crazy." Spider-Man rolled up on the roof behind him. 

"Yep." Venom shot out a bullet of matter that wrapped around Spider-Man's chest and secured him to a utility pole behind him. 

"Yo, what the hell?"

"Just want to make sure you don't punch me again before we can talk." Venom pulled up a crate and sat down in front of him. "You're Spider-Man. We're Venom. To engender a bit of trust." The symbiote matter rolled down to his shoulders to reveal Eddie underneath. 

"You, too sweetheart," Eddie said. 

"Uhm…even if I wanted to take off my mask…" Spider-Man wriggled in the matter. 

"No, not you. Maintain your anonymity. I meant this guy." Eddie tapped his shoulder. The Other emerged in a slightly less jarring size than usual.

"Hey, kid," they growled, keeping their teeth at least a little clicked back. 

"Oh, sweet Jesus," Spider-Man warbled. 

"Kay, I'm gonna pull the matter back. You gonna be chill so we can talk?" Eddie tilted his head and raised his eyebrow in question. Spider-Man nodded his head emphatically. The Other brought the matter back into their form. Spider-Man dropped hard to the floor then shot back up. 

"Are you an alien?" he asked immediately. 

"I'm not. They are. They're a parasite."

"Fucking rude. I'm a symbiote." The Other smacked their head against Eddie's.

 "Kay…" Spider-Man shifted on his feet. "Are you…evil?" "Yes," The Other replied immediately. "I will eat your brains."

Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose.

"They're not totally joking about the brain-eating…thing…They do have a hankering. But we are doing our best to be good Catholic boys."

"We have been in a church exactly one time since we've been together," The Other said. "And that was to kill my child. So…"

"K-kill your child?" Spider-Man froze.

"Yeah, no Carnage was straight up evil. They're host was a serial killer."

"Damn." Spider-Man dropped to the floor and crossed his legs. "You've been doing this for a minute, then? This, like…superpowers thing."

"I mean…I guess?"

"We've saved the world three times already." The Other preened. 

"Maybe a little," Eddie admitted. 

"That's so cool." Spider-Man looked up at them, the set of his face under the mask dramatic enough to change its shape.

"Okay, but…what's your deal?" Eddie asked

"Oh, well…" 

Spider-Man talked fast, words coming out quick and on top of each other. Radioactive spider bite. Changes in physical prowess. Speed. Something he was calling "spider sense." Sort of falling into crime-fighting when he saw injustice spring up all around him and other noble shit instilled in him by his aunt and uncle (parents by adoption). This had all started maybe a month before the photos started showing up. 

"So what are these wrist thingies?" Eddie reached forward to tap them, and Spider-Man pulled back. 

"Web shooters. Um…I kind of like to tinker? They're not quite right, yet, though."

"And you did all this yourself? The web shooters and the outfit and everything?

"Yeah?"

"Shit. That's cool as fuck. I just let the alien do everything." 

Yes, tell him how I wear the pants in this relationship.

A little more practice, and you'll literally be the pants. 

Spider-Man tented his fingers together in thought.

"This is going to sound like the stupidest question ever, but like…you're a dude?" Spider-Man asked.

"Yeah?" Eddie replied. Spider-Man shifted focus to The Other. 

"Are you also a dude? I mean like…you're an alien. Do you have…like…an alien gender?"

Eddie could feel The Other hesitate through the connection, figuring out how to answer that. 

"Klyntar reproduce asexually," The Other said. 

"I mean the two concepts aren't mutually exclusive," Spider-Man faltered. 

"Are you asking for our pronouns?" Eddie finally said. 

"Yeeeaahhh…I guess that would have been easier. If it was going to be awkward no matter what, I could have at least got through it faster."

"I mean, I--" but then Eddie stopped. He had always been a man. That wasn't really a question. Dude through and through. The Other made him feel like more than that, though. Like 'man' didn't quite cover it. This was the first time he had ever thought about it, though, and on a Manhatten rooftop in the middle of the night was not the time. 

"I tend to think of this one as an 'it,'" Eddie shifted the focus off himself with an even stupider statement. 

"That feels a little dehumanizing," Spider-Man said. 

"They're not human."

"But they're sapient, and they're doing most of the work. Feel like…I don't know…"

"Oh, I like this kid," The Other said, bopping their head against Eddie's. "He respects me."

"I respect you!"

"Oh okay, sure." The Other's sarcasm didn't always read, but this time it was seething. 

"I let you share my limbic system. How is that-- you know what. Not gonna fight about it."

"You guys are wild." Spider-Man eased back against the utility pole. "So, is this like…do we team up? You seem to know how to do this, and I don't."

"Barely, dude. Just picked up a little police and EMS procedure over the years."

They both looked up as a light flashed over them, the sound of a helicopter whirring in behind. A series of quick gunshots scattered around them. 

"I also know when to run from the cops, scatter." 

It was actually extrmely easy to get away. No one knew how to chase creatures like them or track them through the night. Venom rolled through their window, then became Eddie again as he flopped on the bed. He laid there in just compression shorts, kicking off his barefoot shoes at the end of the bed. It was stupid but it fucking worked once he got over the feeling of immodesty. 

The hugging bands appeared over his body, and The Other's face nuzzled his cheek.

"I know you respect me," The Other said. "You just like to pretend you're disaffected to avoid facing your actual feelings." 

It was annoying how spot on that was. 

"And I don't actually think of you as an 'it,'" Eddie continued. "At one point, yeah, but not anymore. Not for a long time."

"I know. I can feel inside your head." The Other spread their fingers over the side of Eddie's face.

"You're aroused," they hummed. 

"Don't….don't say it like that."

"You are, though."

"I know. It's the adrenaline." Eddie picked at the front of his shorts, but his hand that close to his crotch just made it worse. A tendril dipped under his waistband. 

"Let me handle it for you."

"No! No…no."

"Do you not like it, Eddie?" 

"No, I do. I just…I want to have sex. I haven't had actual sex in more than a year and a half." 

"Is that not what we're doing?" The Other spread their hand through his hair.

"No. It's just you jacking me off so you can get the vicarious dopamine rush. I want to fuck. " 

"I don't know the difference." 

Eddie stared at the ceiling, black matter creeping into his periphery as The Other wrapped around him tighter. They wouldn't know, would they?

"Okay. Do as I say." Eddie hooked his thumbs into his shorts and wriggled out of them, then rolled up on his knees. The Other shifted around him, following his movements.

"Can you…this is going to sound so stupid…can you make a body? Right here?" Eddie gestured to the bed in front of him. The Other rotated around their head falling down on the pillow. Matter dripped off him into the vague shape of a human form, feet still attached to him. 

"Is this what you want, my beloved?" The Other craned their head back into the pillows. "Can I touch you, now?"

"Yeah, but only a little and softly. Just until I'm hard then let me do stuff." Eddie sunk down against The Other, laying his weight in his forearms. He dove into a kiss. They were still working on this part. The Other's teeth were too sharp. Their tongue too long as it tried to creep down his throat. He didn't hate it. He just didn't know how to navigate it logistically. 

Between them, The Other worked his cock slowly, building it into a rock-hard tension. He pulled away from The Other's mouth to bury his face in their neck. A moan crept out, disappearing into the matter. 

"Do you want me to make sounds, too, dearest?"

"I know you'd be faking it so--" 

"Not faking. Just different." The Other purred and chirruped, the sounds vibrating through their matter and against Eddie's skin. 

"Okay, yeah, that's nice," Eddie panted. "Okay, follow my lead, here." Eddie pressed himself into the symbiote matter. The Other grunted, a sound he had never heard them make before. It was almost human. 

"Surprised me, Eddie, but now I get it."

Their manifested body changed underneath him, creating a soft, tight welcoming place. The Other started to undulate around him, pulling and pressing on his cock. 

"No," he said softly. "Let me do it."

Eddie thrust into The Other, the pullout creating extra friction as the matter clung to him. He thrust again, over and over. 

"This…this is what I wanted." He brushed some kisses along The Others jaw. 

"Is it really?" The Other asked. Their hands stretched across his back, legs lifting to wrap around his waist while never breaking the contact needed for their bond. 

"Yeah, I just wanted some control. I wanted to feel connected." He whipped his hips faster as the matter started creeping over the rest of his body. 

"We're always connected, beloved." The Other's hands curled over the back of his head, down his neck, until his whole body was drowning in it. The Other kissed him, holding their mouths together just at the front in a light touch.

"This is…hah…different." He pulsed into The Other faster and harder, rebounding against the grip of the matter. The thrust turned into rolls, chasing the pulsing the friction inside the place The Other had made just for him. 

He came with a stuttering groan, falling forward into the matter and letting it wash over him in a tight hug. At the same time, The Other gave a tight, full body growl, vibrating with the mirrored climax. 

Fingers ran up and down his spine. 

"Do you love me, Eddie?" 

"If I say yes, will you stop asking?" 

"Only if you mean it." 

"You're really concerned with the idea for a species that reproduces asexually." Eddie repositioned himself within the matter blob to find The Other's still manifested head. He nudged his head against theirs. 

"Two different things." The Other reformed some fingers to run down his cheek then created two more hands to caress his thighs. "I don't want to lose you again." 

"You're nervous about Spider-Man?" Eddie asked. The Other answered in a flash of uncertain emotions. "He's not the same guy you saw in the hive. Things will be different this time. Not everything is inevitable." Another flash of emotion in response. "I don't want to be apart from you either. Not anymore."

"Hmm," The Other vocalized before sinking away into the mass.

Your skeptcism isn't very sexy.

Good thing I'm just an alien slime monster. We need don't need to be sexy. 

The other kept encasing him, pulling around him tighter. 

Go to sleep. Our body's already too exhausted for play time, as is.

We're coming back to this at some point. 

Sure we will, dearest. 

"What's with all the kids at the front desk?" Eddie moved down the stairs of the Daily Globe with Bushkin, heading out to grab some lunch. The news over the weekend had blown up about menaces and monsters rampaging through the city. Bushkin had given him a side-eye, but didn't ask the question he very clearly wanted to. 

"Journalism club field trip. We drew the short straw. One of these little bastards already has a byline, though. Sold their photos of Spider-Whatsit to the Bugle ."

"Are you serious? The one giving us pictures is…a high schooler?" Brock hesitated with his hand on the railing, searching the faces. 

"I don't know if he was our mystery photog, but he's certainly on Jameson's payroll, now." Bushkin spit with dissatisfaction. 

"Sucks for us, I guess," Eddie replied, still focused on the teenagers. 

"Which one of you is Peter Parker?" Bushkin said as they passed into the lobby. A kid raised his hand. Mop top. Glasses, but they were clearly just plain glass. The light didn't refract through them right. Slim, gangly, but a little muscle poorly hidden under his long-sleeve shirt. 

Bushkin was introducing Eddie's resume to the kids somewhere in the background of his hearing. He was focused on the kid. On Peter Parker. 

It's him, Eddie.

Fucking clearly. He's a literal child. Shit.

More importantly, Peter Parker had recognized him, realization dawning on his face with an owlish expression. 

"Brock?" Bushkin was saying, "Anything to add for the kids?"

"Uh….stay in school? Um…actually wait." He dug into his wallet. "I have a few of these still." He pulled out some business cards. "Any of you want to ask more questions about journalism or whatever." He handed the cards out, making sure one of them pressed into Peter's hand.

"That was nice of you," Bushkin said at they moved of the building. 

"Children are the future," Eddie said noncommittally.

What now, do you think?

We wait, sweetheart. Whether  it's all inevitable or not, that's up to Spider-Man, now.

[mytimeatsandrockzine]

Regarding Some Concerns Brought to Us

Internet Safety

Howdy Sandrockers! A quick update since this has been asked and we see that it’s a concern. We at the My Time at Sandrock Zine tumblr will NEVER ask for you to surrender your private personal information (legal name, home address, banking details, etc) and will put in the effort during the creation of the Google Forms application to ensure that people feel safe and secure if they wish to participate by only asking for the most basic information (social medias you want us to include for others to find your art, the user name and profile picture you want to be used for you in the credits, your idea pitch to the zine, etc).

Please be safe online and be kind netizens to each other!

Portia, Sandrock, and Evershine

This Zine is exclusively to celebrate Sandrock. But don’t be too disappointed! We also have untouched Portia and Evershine Zines we have had set up for a while that we are hoping to start up when the time is right!

Content We Will Not Accept

While we want to encourage artists of all skill levels, backgrounds, and mediums to apply we DO have to lay down some ground rules in case some of this wasn’t previously made obvious.

We will NOT accept pitches or submissions that are:

Pornographic or Sexually Suggestive (we want to keep it clean and sfw around here!)

Gratuitously violent or can be described as gore content (mild blood and action is allowed! We know the contents of the game after all).

Discriminatory against any race, gender, sexuality, identity, or religion.

Ai Generated. AI generated images or writing is absolutely unwelcome and if we discover that AI was utilized in the creation of something we have the right to reject it.

Not your own original content. This means submitting screenshots from the game, submitting images not created by you, or submitting writing not created by you. Basically if you didn’t make it, we will not accept it.

Photography containing real life minors. Even if you are a cosplayer who’s passionate about the game we do not feel comfortable with hosting images that depict a minor on the internet. The internet is forever, please keep yourselves safe and sit this one out.

Content created to incite some sort of violence, harassment, stigma, or to instigate others negatively. This means content which is made with the intended purpose of “flaming” individuals or which contains private information of other people with the intent of publishing it. Please do not use our zine to harass others. Please come to us if you believe that content in our zine is being used in order to target or harass you.

Please note that by submitting to our zine you understand that we reserve the right to remove any content we believe violates these rules at any time during the creation of the zine in order to protect others from inappropriate or unacceptable content. If we are notified that your submission may contain writing or images that violate our rules we have the right to remove your submission and immediately terminate your participation in the zine as well as possibly blacklist you from future projects we run.

Niche Content That We DO Accept

We’ve seen plenty of “obscure” submissions during our time in other Zines (heh. Get it? No? Ok.) and we believe that art of all mediums are welcome to be submitted to the Zine. Digital art and fanfic writing is not the only form of art that we accept!

Only do traditional art? Grab a scanner or a camera and send it our way!

Wrote a poem professing your love to your favorite character? We wanna read!

You enjoy making fake magazine ads for nonexistent things and wanna try your hand at making Arvio proud? Go for it!

Feeling crafty and wanna show off some jewelry, yarn work, or even soap you’ve made based off Sandrock? We wanna see!

Is your pet the greatest Captain cosplayer the world has ever seen? Show us those paws!

You turned our favorite fellas into fuzzy muppet friends and you did a photo shoot or skit at a grocery store? We. Are. Here. For. It!

If you’ve got an idea and a dream but aren’t sure about how you can make it work, we want to help! All art and writing forms are valid and we want absolutely every creative fan to feel welcome. This zine is all about showing our appreciation to the game and the people behind it, and everyone has their own way of showing that.

That was a bit of a long post, but we hope we covered most of the questions and concerns! Thanks y’all!

[archandshri]

9th feb '24 - [arch] characters, interactions and emotion - making a mini webcomic

Gahhhh Shri this has been an absolutely crazy couple of weeks!!!! Hope you are doing well :)) First of all, WOW! You have a lot of goals, and I’m sure you’ll get them done! I’ve worked a lot on my graphic design during the process of making Winter Wellbeing. If you wanna see a blog post dedicated just to that, I can do so! It would be cool to compare notes on the approaches we take for graphic layouts. If you wanna share your knowledge of camera skills when you build that up that would be awesome 😭😭

It’s been a tough few weeks, art wise. I have been reflecting on my process, motivations to create, the ego and all the baggage that’s lumped into the creative process for me. It turns out there’s a lot. I took some space from my illustration practise (literally for a weekend!) and began to realise how dysfunctional it is. I’ve been writing a lot about that so there may be a larger piece of writing coming about that at some point (no promises!!)

But for now, let's talk about little successes!

I’ve been playing with some characters for a while but I’d hit a bit of a block with the plot. I realised the expectation of having a finished project of high quality soon is unrealistic, and an unhealthy expectation to put on myself. I rarely give myself time to play with concepts for a long time and let the characters, plot and interactions evolve naturally. Maybe this in part came from sticking to the short university module turnaround. I noticed that that short turnaround was causing a lot of block, so I have decided to bench it as a comic for now and focus on using it as a playground - falling in love with the characters, creating stories and drawing them for fun. Maybe years down the line I’ll make them into a comic - we shall see! 

I *tried* to do hourly comics day this year and it didn’t quite work for me. I think I made 3 comics? And then got distracted with a bigger project that ended up taking a week or so to complete. Let’s have a look at it, shall we?

[you can find the full version here]

First of all, it’s based on an unfinished fanfiction I started a couple of months ago, which was mostly bad, but there was one nice scene that I liked and wanted to expand on. I started by having a look at the script I wrote and thumbnailing on the iPad. I’m away from home at the mo and usually would prefer to do most of my artwork traditionally, but because I don’t have access to a scanner, the whole process was digital this time. A lot of the pages got scrapped because the dialogue wasn’t necessary, and I’m not drawing pages that aren’t necessary.

some more development screenshots

I thought a lot about posing during the process, acting the scenes out in my mind and sometimes physically, really understanding the emotions of the characters, why they’re saying what they’re saying, their tone and how to convey that though their body language and expression (i find grian really annoying normally [affectionate] but I want this grian to step on me).

Pearl was hard with this because she’s quite erratic and unpredictable in this series, so I wanted her to switch from raw explodey anger to playful jabs at Grian. I’m hoping this comes across as somewhat insane, rather than tonally off and inconsistent. I did super enjoy drawing her and her explosive nature though, especially in comparison to Grian’s coldness.

I played with levels and monotone colour too - I’m not working with multiple colours much at the moment so I’m able to focus on things like values composition, characters and backgrounds. My skills limit the kind of stories I can tell currently, so I’m working to improve those foundations. Maybe when I’m back in the riso studio I can play with colours a little more.

Colours - despite the simple pallete it gets a bit nerdy here.I stuck to specific flat percentages for most of it - Pearl’s hair and Grians jumper are 60%, Grian’s hair and Pearl’s cloak are 20%. Then I added a 14% layer for shadows, using a ahrd blend eraser tool for highlights, making the images quite dark. I fill a layer with texture from Forystr’s riso brush for procreate, and turn it into a 40% opacity colour dodge layer. This gives it some much needed texture and makes the lighting feel low and nighttimecore. It also pushes the values to look really nice - I tend to be too scared to push them by myself.

I tried a few different colour layers to get a *vibe* but settled on a low percentage riso blue in a colour layer. All layers besides the riso blue are in a riso black, colour picked from a riso colour pallete. I learnt these tools - using percentages to get good values - from working with risograph. I really recommend having a look at these techniques and doing some monotone work. It's really improved by character designs, page layouts and compositions.

That's all from me today, though I have had MANY other thoughts over the past two weeks about creating, but perhaps we'll dive into them another time. If you (or anyone else) has any questions, hit me up with a reblog or an ask and I will get right to it. Lovely to hear from you! Hope your art is going great too :)) Arch :)

[ashenberry]

[saw a post and this was far to tangential for me to add it as a reblog or reply] this is just me musing about metal gear controls :3

as far as how good metal gear games control i doo think 3 maybe controls the best of the first 3 games but it isn’t by a wide margin. for context for the rest of this post i played each of the master collection games (mg1/2 & mgs1-3) on switch(in handheld with joycons) portable ops & pw with a nintendo pro controller, v w/ mouse and keyboard, and i haven’t personally played through 4.

with mgs1 it is like. very faithfully recreating mg2’s gameplay in 3D and a lot of my complaints do come from the fact that i’m just. playing on a controller it wasn’t made for* + 25 years of perfecting Da Shooter. my grips come from mainly snake sticking his ass on the wall when i don’t want him to and some of the fights realllyy not being designed with the controls in a way that feels cohesive. i think the ocelot fight is bad and stupid why am i trying to hit a guy off screen i cant see. you can’t shoot in first person view mode in this version. 1 does still remain pretty high on my replay list tho it’s been a year even if i played the vr missions recently. it’s a fine base

*looking into it, it looks like the original playstation controller didn’t have sticks. the dualshock DID and was introduced in ‘97, seemingly 11 months before mgs1’s released but my guess is that mgs1 is designed assuming you may not have sticks. that’s what it feels like atleast playing on switch

mgs2 is… it introduces good mechanics that get refined later controls wise but being use to current games certainly isn’t its favor. i believe the original ps2 version has a mechanic on slowly releasing the trigger to not shoot if your in 1st person view mode but that didn’t carry over making Not shooting after you put ur hand on the trigger a bit awkward. generally a lot of the first view mode feels clunky, esp at first and my god is grabbing the guy and taking him over to the retina scanner a pain but in this games defense i don’t think that feels good until peacewalker. other than that i think this game really suffers from turning the radar off so often. it’s the main reason the fixed 3rd person camera works and thus it feels pretty bad when you don’t have it, especially cause again in relation to first person view mode you can’t move when your looking. with your eyes. certainly an evolution of mgs1 controls but i hesitate to really call it an improvement

3 in all versions after substanace we get to control the camera ❤️main thing i remember tho is that cqc in this entry fucking sucks holy shit i did not use that bitch until the volgin fight n the volgin fight fucking sucked bc you needed to throw him down in a specific way and jt would not cooperate !! the punching combo works fine but it’s not reslllyy what makes cqc cqc and every other game basically had the 1-2-3 combo. aside from that this is. only kind of a control thing but i think the lack of the crouch walk introduced in later entries also kind of hurts in retrospect. having that middle stage for half speed and half stealth is Incredible for this game so your not crawling the entire time which is why the 3DS port stays the definitive version babyyyy. oh yeah i would also say i had “sit your ass down you piece of shit stoner” issues with 3 where snake LOVED to stand up. granted i occasionally get this issue in v with venom standing on the table like a cat but it’s nowhere near as often

portable ops made me mad it fell a tier i played it after peacewalker and it’s very clearly po walked so pw could run what do you fucking MEAN i need to press a button to fucking walk the psp HAS A STICK. I KNOW IT DOES BC IN PEACEWALKER YOU JUST MOVE THE STICK LESS TO WALK. anyways clunky ass control scheme

peacewalkerrr ❤️ for a system that only has one stick i think it generally does it’s best in relation to movement and camera and shooting feels decent but i’m also constantly bringing up the wrong menu when i need to switch my weapon or item and they got rid of the pause in this one when your switching items. cqc is also good in this game thank youuu

ground zero’s keybinds feel like they got someone who’s never played a game on a keyboard before and a lot of stuff def needed further refinement (which it got in tpp!) like the fact that when your zoomed in with the scope the movement seems to still be how far you could look not zoomed in which. it’s hard to explain but when your zoomed in you should look left and right slower to account for it or else it is really fast and touchy

and then tpp. the phantom penis. the best these games have ever controlled truly is very fun to play i don’t think i have any real complaints i think it’s funny when venom jumps on the table like a cat.