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paperanddice · 2 years ago

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A buraq is a minor celestial being that visits the worthy to provide guidance, advice, and very rarely as a steed. Each one takes the form of a human-faced, winged equine smaller than a mule but larger than a donkey, but has its own unique coat color, facial features, often with whites, silvers, and golds included. Additionally, each has a gilded band it wears around its head or neck, but none has ever revealed where the bands came from.

The buraq's ultimate role is as a courier and steed, but only to the most virtuous of characters. In a most dire circumstance, where a great deal of distance must be covered and teleportation magic is unavailable, a holy person may petition a buraq to bring them on a Night Journey, a mystical trip that allows the buraq and its rider to travel incredibly far, then return to the start of their journey.

Inspired by the Tome of Beasts 1. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

This stat block is partially built off of early readings for the Remastered version of Pathfinder 2e. While a few elements were simple (excluding alignment), elements such as the use of the holy and unholy traits, as well as spirit damage are a bit more guesses than thorough readings. Unfortunately, as far as I've been able to read there haven't been any proper celestials or fiends statted out for the Remaster yet, so I may be off on how some of these traits will work, but given the intention of the Remaster is that monsters should be easily converted between, any errors here should hopefully slide thorugh with easy fixes.

Buraq Creature 11 Medium Celestial Holy Perception +24; darkvision Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, telepathy 100 feet Skills Acrobatics +21, Athletics +19, Diplomacy +21, Medicine +24, Religion +24, Society +21 Str +2, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +4, Wis +5, Cha +4 Strong Back The buraq can serve as a mount to Medium humanoids. AC 31; Fort +22, Ref +19, Will +24; +1 status to all saves vs. magic HP 193; Immunities fatigued, frightened; Weaknesses unholy 10 Speed 50 feet, fly 90 feet Melee hoof +21 (finesse, holy, magical), Damage 2d10+8 bludgeoning plus 1d6 spirit Divine Innate Spells DC 30 ; 7th plane shift; 4th comprehend language (at will), pass without trace (at will); 3rd haste (×3); 2nd longstrider (×3); Constant (6th) true seeing Fold the Earth [three actions] (divine, teleportation); Frequency once per day; Effect the buraq can teleport itself and its rider to a location it can see (usually as far as the horizon, or approximately 200 miles). Night Journey 10 minutes Frequency once per month; Requirement it is night and the buraq is outdoors; Effect for the next 24 hours the buraq can use Fold the Earth at will, so long as its destination is in an area of nonmagical darkness. It can also use Fold the Earth to return itself and its rider to the location where it first declared the Night Journey, ending the journey.

13th Age

The buraq's Night Journey is better suited as a story element, such as a use of a player's Icon benefit, or a powerful ritual. Given the intended rarity and gravity of such an event, it should be limited to a one time event, unrepeatable except perhaps in the most extreme of circumstances.

Buraq 6th level mount [celestial] Initiative: +10 Hooves +10 vs. AC (2 attacks) - 5 damage plus 5 holy damage. Flight. Fold the Earth: 1/battle, as a standard action, the buraq can teleport itself and its rider to any spot it can see. Haste: 1/battle, as a standard action, the buraq can grant a nearby ally an extra standard action on its next turn. If the target was the buraq’s rider, it can sustain this effect as a quick action on each of its turns, granting an additional standard action during its rider’s next turn each time it sustains it. Mount: The buraq can have a medium or smaller creature as a rider. Each round the buraq can choose to act on its own turn or its rider’s turn. Resist Holy 16+. AC 21 PD 19 MD 19 HP 84

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #celestial #pathfinder level 11 #13th age level 6 #long post #tome of beasts

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thetruearchmagos · 1 year ago

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Airplanes VS Aeroships: A Comparison, Part II

Damn, this is actually turning into a bit of a miniseries for me! Thank you kindly once again @pixelazer for your questions, they've given me an opportunity to air some thoughts I've long kept bottled up!

Today, I'll be exploring some of the finer points of how aeroships and aircraft compare in the battlefield.

Tagging @athenswrites @theprissythumbelina @hessdalen-globe @nerdexer @caxycreations @thatndginger for the Worldbuilding. Careful, there's a lot of it!

A Brief History Of Early Aerial Warfare

It's important to note in assessing the prevalence of aeroships in combat roles that for most of such craft's existence they were entirely unchallenged. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say the earliest aeroships to sail the skies of the 12 Worlds would have come shortly after the invention of the steam engine. These early craft truly resembled their waterborne compatriots in structure paralleled many of the developments that would appear on ships at sea. Aeroships of this era would have essentially fought like thinly armoured, lightly armed, but terribly swift steam frigates, blazing away at each other with short ranged cannon. Most minor states would never even be able to afford more than a handful aeroships in this period, leading to relatively few actual actions between such vessels. Often, aeroships would disembark their guns and crews, instead serving as high speed couriers for only the most vital cargo and personnel.

This status quo would persist for almost a century, changing occasionally in response to developments across the 12 Worlds. Ever thicker armour and larger guns would be installed as aerium lift technologies matured and many interested great powers industrialised, while the invention of steam turbines would allow aeroships to keep their speeds despite the added weight.

The Chainbreaker War

Fixed wing aviation, like aeroships, would enter various parts of the 12 Worlds at various points in time in various guises, sometimes without one inventing group being aware of another's efforts. Speaking for the United Commonwealth, while testing and trials involving airplanes would occur sporadically, the lion's share of the UC's focus remained on its modest but modern aeroship fleet. Aircraft would see occasional combat use in the UC Army Air Service as reconnaissance platforms, but would remain more of a novelty than a revolutionary new technology throughout the Commonwealth's first seven decades.

The Chainbreaker War would upend that long held belief. While neither airplanes nor aeroships were present in the Upepwani Theatre at the war's outbreak in the fall of 75 A.S., units of both types would be assigned within the United Commonwealth Army of Upepwani's 15th Combined Air Wing at the personal request of UCAU's commander, Lt. Gen. Al-Saqr. The noted moderniser was among the few in the Army's upper ranks notably supportive of airplane development, and his air forces were put to good work while UCAU gradually gathered strength and licked its wounds.

A convenient arrangement between airplanes and aeroships would be formed. The former, even of the early models employed by 15th CAW, were faster than any aeroships present. These flew regular patrols above and behind Fuhrati lines, and the speed with which they could get on station meant multiple such flights could usually be made per aircraft each day. However, in exchange for added speed and flight range, these aircraft were stripped of what little armament they might have had, which at most would have consisted of a single machine gun mounted in a rear swivel. When targets were identified, heavier aeroships laden with rudimentary bombs converted from artillery shells could be dispatched to persecute a strike.

The main challenge facing these aviators would come in the form of the Empire's own impressive air fleet, based to an even greater degree on its own aeroships. Fighting on the home turf and able to bring its full force to bear, Fuhrati aeroships would enter the field of battle at around the same time as those of the UC, prioritising the striking of ports and harbours where Commonwealth troops were being unloaded. In the absence of air defence artillery, it would fall to 15th CAW to defend Upepwani from these raids.

In these days, combat between aeroships and airplanes was a hopeless cause for the latter. By now even the oldest Fuhrati aeroships carried armour thick enough to stop small arms, and had about as many quick-firing small 'picket' guns to swat slow flying, canvas winged biplanes from the sky. A single squadron, the 21st, consisting of eight Eyrie-class heavy aeroships was the only thing standing in their way for the War's first three months, and the fighting in the air would resemble that at sea, with lines of armoured vessels pounding each other with broadsides of guns. With superior quality in crew, craft, and equipment the 21st would stem the tide by the thinnest of margins, though failures in operational planning and inter-unit cooperation on the Imperial side would play a part in this outcome.

Aeroships would remain the unquestioned kings of the sky throughout the first year of the war, with UCAU's airborne battle line growing ever stronger while the Empire's struggled to modernise and keep pace with attrition at the same time. Changing technologies, tactics, and the broader context of the war would, however, challenge the aeroships' dominance.

Contest

Two developments in UC military aviation would play a key role in the rise of the airplane in the 'counter-air' role, alongside the more general improvements in their speed, weight capacity, and range. The first would be the invention in 76 A.S. of a powerful and reliable air launched rocket, the Mk. 1 "Candelabra". Simply referred to as the Candle by those who used it, it carried a heavy incendiary warhead on top of a large rocket, making for a weapon about as large as a light naval torpedo. Indeed, many were constructed using the bodies and frames from such weapons, and would prove similarly effective against ships of the air. The key to their employment was the technique of 'lobbing', where pilots would turn sharply upwards just before releasing their payloads. This extended their range by a good margin and allowed attacking aircraft to strike from 'below' their targets, where fewer picket guns were usually present. A logical next step from existing, far lighter rockets, both were useless against Fuhrati airplanes but could do a number on lumbering aeroships caught unawares.

The second major development was the formation of the Air War Control Centre, and the various tactics and methods developed by the AWCC. Created in 76 A.S., it was the brainchild of then Brigadier Padraig Dinneen, formerly CO of 15th CAW and appointed by al-Saqr as General Officer Commanding, Air Forces UCAU. The AWCC's primary function was the coordination of the Commonwealth's air power in battle across the theatre. Acting through a network of observers, plotters, and directors, it allowed AF-UCAU's aircraft to respond quickly, effectively, and efficiently to inbound Fuhrati threats, managing the complex task of air interception for hundreds of aircraft across thousands of kilometres.

A Battlefield Reborn

These developments, as well as the proliferation of ground based air defence artillery, would reshape the aerial battlefield for both sides as the war progressed. The sky would become an increasingly unfriendly place for aeroships on the prowl, unless they could fly high or far enough to avoid their own predators. While airplanes with skilled crews could rip apart squadrons of aeroships in the open, breeds of the latter which shed their guns and armour for payloads of bombs could still strike many targets with some safety, and a far larger load than even the heaviest aircraft.

With this danger present and growing, both sides would be pushed to find new uses for their heaviest, cannon armed aeroships. Some would live on as flying air defence batteries positioned over important targets, where their blindspots could be more easily covered by ground fire and gunnery against agile airplanes was an easier task. To make use of their primary guns, many would be employed as mobile artillery batteries in direct support of ground troops. High calibre guns, armour, ease of repositioning, and built-in fire control systems made for a lethal artillery platform, and many aeroships would serve out the rest of the conflict in such roles.

Another change which would aeroships a new lease on life was the increasing preference for 'smaller' craft, with smaller crews and running costs compared to the flying frigates of yore. Small aeroships acting as couriers or ferries of important personnel and cargo had seen limited employment before, but the UC in particular would greatly expand its fleet of these light aeroships with its novel doctrine of 'Aero-Mobile Rifles', which envisioned entire regiments and divisions being carried into battle via aeroship, with equipment. The craft that would eventually be developed to fill this role were smaller than their armoured predecessors, but had grown from the lightest couriers of before to be able to carry an entire platoon of infantry, various wheeled vehicles, or even full sized howitzers with their crews.

As the Chainbreaker War drew to a close in 80 A.S., the aviation forces that the United Commonwealth would leave that conflict with bore very little resemblance to that with which it had entered it, even without me mentioning the revolutions in aviation in the maritime domain*. Beyond these competing methods of flight, the very nature of air power's role in modern war was finally made obvious to all concerned, and would be recognised eventually across the 12 Worlds.

Contemporary Applications Of Military Aeroships

To skip about a century of technological development and competition, I'll take the time to cover some of the modern-ish uses of aeroships in warfare in the 12 Worlds, at least by the United Commonwealth. If you're a military nerd, you might see a familiar pattern emerge...

Tactical Mobility

If you want to move something from one point to another quicker than anything else, courier aeroships are your best bet. Craft in this role come in a wide variety of forms and weight classes, and see most prolific use in the UC Army's Air-Mobile Divisions. The UC Navy employ plenty themselves, facilitating ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore movement and playing a key role in amphibious deployments.

Reconnaissance - Strike

The birds of prey of any army which has them. Moving with terrible speed and agility, craft of the former type can provide invaluable real time intelligence on enemy formations on the battlefield, allowing the latter to hit them from an arm's length with missiles. While fast jets can come and go just as quickly, gunships provide boots on the ground with constant comfort under their rocket pods and autocannon.

Anti-Submarine

Two of the Chainbreaker War's finest innovations face off once again on the open seas. While fixed wing patrol birds can cover vast expanses of water, aeroships and the escort frigates they operate from keep close the Commonwealth's crucial convoys, playing their games of cat and mouse with the wolves under the waves.

Heavy Lift

The courier's larger sibling, Heavy Lift Aeroships can be as large as frigates of old and haul their weight in cargo. The largest airplanes may have an edge at intercontinental scales, but if you're planning on moving hundreds of armoured vehicles from one end of a theatre to another, fleets of HLA's are what you need.

Air Combat Control

As the range at which modern aircraft can reach out and kill each other increased with every new model of missile, the work of those whose job it is to orchestrate this made ballet hasn't gotten any easier. These flying control centres come packed with the most powerful Wave Emission Sensor suites in existence, soaring high and slow on their patrol routes while teams of directors and controllers vector their aircraft across the sky.

Air Defence

The relative imbalance between fast jets and aeroships in head to head combat was somewhat alleviated with the invention of the ground launched missile. While no aeroship can best the kinematics of a fast jet, when the latter stray too low and too near to exact their wrath on the ground pounders, aeroships play a key role in the Army's broader air defence network. While costly and complex, aeroships can be rapidly redeployed to keep up with ever changing frontlines in a way that cumbersome ground launchers can't.

Bonus Stuff #2

Ever since I mentioned those miniaturised aerium crystals in the last one of these articles, I've been having some thoughts on the broader worldbuilding surrounding them, which I'd like to share here. I'll keep it brief, hopefully.

Basically, the long time trend within the broader 'Aerium Industry' has pointed towards increasingly massive and 'complex' lifting crystals, and neglected the smaller one's previously mentioned. This is because the 'energy to lift' efficiency of a single aerium crystal increases exponentially as its mass and 'internal complexity' increases, so that two crystals of a given weight produce significantly less lift for a given amount of energy than a single crystal as heavy as both of them. This property was what allowed for, and even encouraged, those heavy aeroships mentioned above, and as aerium crystal forging techniques developed over time they kept to this general trend of increasing size.

Thus, when the United Commonwealth - ore more accurately, the Defence Consolidated Technical Establishment - began investigating the use of highly miniaturised aerium crystals in high performance aircracft, the industry to produce the needed crystals simply didn't exist. There was one field, however, that had seen significant developments in recent years when it came to producing small, low mass charged crystals; the electronics industry.

While aerium crystals were getting ever larger, the encoded computating crystals employed in electronic equipment and appliances the 12 Worlds over were only getting smaller. While there are obvious differences between aerium crystals and the ones used in this industry, DCTE would tap on this rapidly growing sector to apply its methods to aerium, with some success.

With the history of these mini-crystals production briefly explained, I'd like to return to the question of why smaller crystals were needed in the first place.

One of the key measured properties of aerium crystals is 'residuality', which refers to how easily a charged, lift generating crystal can shed its lifting capacity upon the removal of its source of energy. Smaller crystals shed their residual lift significantly faster than larger crystals, a characteristic once seen as a critical safety concern; while large craft would descend relatively slowly even from a great height in the event of a power failure, smaller aeroships could lose all lift and smash into the ground like a brick in a matter of seconds.

When it comes to designing manoeuvrable military aircraft, this presents a challenge not faced when installing aerium on, say, long range bombers and transports. The residual lift of aerium crystals leads to sluggish handling and difficulties with rapid changes in altitude, two characteristics that couldn't be tolerated in the age of high speed, agile air combat.

The engineers at DCTE believed that, using their miniaturised aerium crystals and high performing flight control systems, these issues could be overcome, and that the inherent inefficiencies of such small crystals would not be a major obstacle. Dozens of crystals, each about the size of a fist, would be installed in points across the aircraft's fuselage and wings. Each crystal's lift generation could be individually calibrated in real time by onboard flight control, meaning that not only would test pilot's not notice any hinderance to their movements, with sufficient practice they could pull off seemingly impossible stunts in the air.

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*I'd like to touch on this particular point for just a moment, then I'll let you go. In short, pre-Chainbreaker aviation, aeroship or airplane, was seen as a fairly niche capability by both services, but the Navy especially. Even the largest aeroships didn't have the weapons, endurance, or speed of most of the UCN's own vessels, and none could operate in the Warp, so only small numbers of patrol focused aeroships were operated to cover major sea lanes. The UCAAS's aeroship fleet was larger and better designed to fight air battles as they were understood at the time, but when it came to providing their crews most Army aviators would attend Navy installations for their training. This was because the vast majority of the equipment on a 'combat aeroship' - it's guns, fire control, and powerplant, for example - were of Navy design and in use on Navy vessels at sea, and so it was deemed an inefficient waste of resources for the Army to stand up its own effectively parallel training establishments.

#worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #my worldbuilding #writeblr #writing #my writing

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the-outer-topic · 12 hours ago

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The mercenary 'Mechwarrior and the ComStar nun - Scene 6-1

A flight plan

STARKOV (NARRATION – PRIVATE JOURNAL) PLAZA GARDEN — NEW SAMOS, KIRCHBACH

I turned to Alina. “Wait here. I need to speak with the pilot about... the flight plan.”

I gestured toward the idle helicopter, its engine whining like a bored insect, blades ticking slow and heavy. She nodded. There was no suspicion in her eyes. Just trust—or curiosity. Or both. She waited there alone in the plaza, framed by the golden light of Kirchbach’s setting sun —her cloak and white robe billowed in the down wash like a banner caught in slow motion, face half-lit like a saint in a Orthodox cathedral fresco, reminding me of the first time I saw her that morning, but now she looked less like a clerk and more like a statue of a goddess the ancient Terrans would have worshipped.

I climbed into the cockpit and leaned into the rear seats to speak to the Combine pilot. Alone, no copilot. A young one with handlebar moustache—eager eyes, too much energy. Blonde and Germanic looking. A native of the planet. I spoke low, precise, in Steiner German.

“First a stroll. Then we dance.”

The pilot gave me a puzzled look, then looked around and out of the side window, saw Alina and grinned. He understood. Youth always does.

“You ever flown recon under fire?”

“Nein Herr Kommandant, not real fire.” - I was getting used to the natives Austrian accent

"Got bored of shooting at goats and trees up in the mountains, and of flying taxi, I bet. Ever buzzed horses for fun?” He grinned.

“A couple times, Kommandant.”

“Gut. First, we show her the sunset. Then we give her the ride.”

He laughed, like all young pilots laugh when Death hasn’t yet carved their name on the cockpit glass.

I told him: “You will get five minutes. I am downloading some music through the milnet satlink. Play it on the headsets when I tell you. Verstehen?”

Jawohl Herr Kommandant! Sie ist sehr schöne madchen! - he said appreciatively.

I smiled and tapped him in the shoulder. You might think of me as a pervert. Or worse, a Canopian. But unlike lesser mortals, I do not get jealous when men, or women, for that matter, gaze at my companion when she's beautiful. It makes me proud, instead, to be admired and envied.

I went back to Alina and guided her careful of the whirling blades as the pilot revved up, Alina’s cloak and robes streamed behind her like comet tails. Her arms came up to shield her eyes, her mouth parting in wonder. A child’s delight cracked through the veil of ComStar solemnity.

I took her inside the front leather-padded seats, in this gunship converted to courier by replacing the nose guns and avionics. Two by two, no space for formality. I fastened her harness, fly tracing the cross-straps over her chest, tightening the belts at her waist.

I felt a bit like an inquisitor strapping a woman to the torture rack. And I say that as if it were a bad thing...

…and her eyes never flinched. Curious. Trusting. Brave, Her figure, always abstract beneath the robe, now took dimension. Slim waist emphasizing ample bosom hinted at beneath leather straps and silk.

Recalled the old saying about us Russians “Slow to saddle, swift to ride”

#starkov

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usapassportapplication · 22 days ago

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USA Passport Application: Why You Should Renew Your Passport Early

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lily22223 · 23 days ago

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The Role of Customs Clearance in International Door-to-Door Shipping

I’ve learned the hard way that even the slickest Door to Door Shipping Service can grind to a halt if customs paperwork is an after-thought. Customs clearance is the legal green light that turns a pallet on a truck into a product on your customer’s doorstep—so let’s break down why it matters and how you can keep your parcels moving smoothly.

Why Customs Clearance Is the “Great Unlock”

When I book Door to Door Freight Shipping, I’m paying for an end-to-end hand-off. Yet neither the carrier nor the driver can legally release my goods until customs signs off. Clearance:

Confirms legality – preventing prohibited or non-compliant items from slipping through.

Calculates duties & taxes – so I don’t get a nasty bill later.

Triggers final-mile release – the moment the customs stamp lands, the courier can make that last sprint to my customer.

Miss a form—or mis-declare a value—and everything stalls in a warehouse while storage fees tick upward.

The Paperwork Puzzle (and How to Nail It)

DocumentWhy It MattersPro TipCommercial InvoiceShows value, HS codes, buyer/sellerMatch invoice data to packing list line-for-line.Packing ListVerifies physical contentsAdd NET and GROSS weights; it speeds inspections.Bill of Lading / Air WaybillContract of carriageDouble-check consignee details match the invoice.Certificate of OriginDetermines preferential duty ratesLean on trade agreements to cut costs.Import Licenses & PermitsRequired for regulated goodsApply early—some permits take weeks.

I keep a master template for each destination so that every time I order a Door to Door Shipping Service, I’m just filling in the blanks—not reinventing the wheel.

New Rules to Watch in 2025

EU ICS2 Phase-In – From April 1 2025, rail and road carriers entering the EU must file complete Entry Summary Declarations before arrival. If my parcel data is sloppy, it could be flagged and delayed.

U.S. ACE Portal Modernization – CBP has migrated all user access and blanket declaration features to the new ACE platform. It’s slicker, but it means I need to update broker permissions or risk login lockouts. cbp.gov

De Minimis Shake-Up – With the U.S. winding down the $800 duty-free threshold for many China-origin shipments, low-value ecommerce parcels now face extra duties and paperwork, adding time to every Door to Door Freight Shipping order. reuters.com

Staying ahead of these shifts lets me warn clients about potential delays before their checkout page even loads.

Five Habits for Friction-Free Clearance

Describe goods like a human – “Men’s cotton T-shirt, 180 gsm” clears faster than “garment”.

Get the HS code right – I use the first six digits the world agrees on, then let my broker fine-tune the rest.

Sync with suppliers – When a factory swaps materials, I update documents the same day.

Choose data-friendly carriers – Some express providers pre-clear packages in-flight, shaving 24-48 hours off transit.

Budget for duties at checkout – I collect duties & taxes upfront so the courier isn’t chasing my customer for cash on delivery.

How Door-to-Door Makes Customs Easier

Because the carrier owns the shipment from pickup to final delivery, they often front customs charges and pass the invoice to me later. That single-handshake model means:

No hand-offs = fewer errors – Every data transfer risks typos.

Automated status alerts – I get pings the moment the shipment clears.

Integrated duty calculators – Many Door to Door Shipping Service dashboards now auto-estimate landed cost before I click “book”.

Final Thoughts

I like to think of customs as the hidden “middle mile” inside my Door to Door Freight Shipping plan. When I treat it as a core part of the journey—rather than a bureaucratic after-thought—I slash delays, surprise fees, and customer complaints. Keep your paperwork tight, stay current on the rules, and let customs be the smooth handoff it was designed to be.

Happy shipping!

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parcelflights · 3 months ago

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How to Send a Parcel to Ireland: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sending a parcel to Ireland is straightforward if you know the right steps. Whether you’re sending a gift, business items, or personal belongings, finding the best way to ship your parcel can save you time and money. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the process of sending a parcel to Ireland with ease.

1. Choose a Reliable Courier

The first step in sending a parcel to Ireland is to choose the right courier service. You’ll want a reliable provider with a strong international delivery network, good tracking options, and a reputation for timely delivery. Research different companies to compare their prices, delivery times, and service features.

2. Pack Your Parcel Properly

Proper packing is essential when sending a parcel to Ireland. Make sure to use a sturdy box or envelope that can withstand the journey. Fill any empty space with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or newspaper to prevent your items from moving around during transit. Ensure the contents are secure and not easily damaged.

3. Fill Out the Shipping Label

Accurate labeling is vital for smooth delivery. When sending a parcel to Ireland, include the recipient’s full name, address, contact number, and email address. Double-check that all the details are correct to avoid delays or lost packages. You’ll also need to fill out a customs declaration form if you're shipping items internationally.

4. Understand Customs Requirements

When sending a parcel to Ireland, it’s important to be aware of customs regulations. Ireland, being a part of the European Union, has specific rules regarding what can be shipped into the country. Check if your items are allowed, and make sure to include all necessary paperwork to avoid delays at customs.

5. Choose the Right Shipping Service

Shipping options vary depending on your budget and how fast you need the parcel to arrive. You can choose from standard or expedited delivery services. For example, if you need to send your parcel quickly, opt for express shipping to ensure it arrives in a timely manner.

6. Track Your Parcel

Once your parcel is on its way, use the tracking number provided by your courier to monitor its progress. Most courier services offer online tracking tools that allow you to check the status of your parcel in real-time, so you can rest assured knowing where your package is at all times.

In conclusion, sending a parcel to Ireland is easy as long as you follow the necessary steps for proper packing, labeling, and choosing the right courier. For a smooth experience, consider using trusted services like Parcel Flight to ensure your parcel reaches its destination safely and on time.

#parcel to hongkong #parcel to Ireland

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fanilys · 11 months ago

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Ordering from the TOBE Store + first time using EMS

I've made a post about my experience buying jpop stuff from CDJapan and DHL. I wanted to buy Number_i goods too but currently, they're only available on the TOBE official store which only ships through EMS. I wanted to share my experiences in case it might be helpful to fellow international fans (especially those from the PH like me) who are new to this kind of thing. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes 😂

1st purchase: delivered straight to PH address

My first purchase included the GOAT standard edition and 1 photo. I would've gotten the limited editions as well, but they were already sold out. This was after the preorder period but about a month before the release date. I got a confirmation email after placing the order, and then nothing more until the package got shipped around a month later.

I received the shipment email with the tracking number a week after the release date. The tracking number couldn't be found on the shipping company's tracker provided on the email (Sagawa), but I was able to track the package on parcelsapp after a couple of hours or about a day after. This website shows the status of the package across all the services where it can be tracked. In my case, it was on Japan Post, PhlPost, EMS and Universal Postal Union.

One concern I had with EMS is that I wasn't sure whether they'll be delivering to my address or if I will have to pick it up at a post office. I also wasn't sure how much the additional fees were for receiving the package. I found this reddit thread that explained the process for EMS and it helped clear some things up for me.

A couple of days (less than a week) after I started tracking the package, the status updated to "Letter Courier enroute to delivery", which as the thread says, means that the package will be delivered to my address.

I was asked to pay 212 PHP before getting the package. I wasn't issued a reciept, but I didn't question it since it was also stated in the post. But upon reading other people's comments online and a lot of digging through PhlPost's pages, it seems that the correct amount, called the Presentation to Customs Charge (PTCC), is only 112 PHP for all EMS packages. I tried to contact PhlPost through email and messenger to confirm this, but never heard back from them.

In summary, I ordered the CD after the preorder period and got the shipment email about a week after the release date. It arrived at my address about a week after it was shipped.

2nd purchase: had it delivered to JP address but didn't get it in time, reshipped to PH instead

My second purchase was quite troublesome. I was going to stay in Tokyo and was hoping to just get my package there to lessen the shipping fee, and more importantly, to avoid PhlPost since I had issues with them.

I ordered the Numbering bundle after the release date, as well as 1 photo. I would've ordered more photos but again, the ones I wanted were sold out. The expected shipping dates for each item are indicated after you add them to cart. The bundle was to be shipped as soon as possible, while the photo was to be shipped after early June.

The place I was staying at allows packages to be sent to them as long as they meet certain conditions. I thought "after early June" meant that my package could be delivered during my stay (3rd week of June), so I placed my order around 2 weeks before my flight to Tokyo, and hoped for the best.

I was actually concerned that the package would arrive before I do, so I emailed the accomodation before placing the order to confirm if this was okay, and they promptly replied that it was fine. If I had known about this much earlier, I would've ordered everything, including the Ariake Arena concert goods, beforehand. Unfortunately, the presale period was already over that time.

While in the middle of my stay in Tokyo, I still hadn't received the shipment email. I sent an inquiry to TOBE store to ask if my order can be delivered before the end of the week and if I can cancel if it couldn't, since I won't be at the address anymore. I didn't say that I will be overseas by then.

They replied a few hours later, only saying that they can't change my shipping information since the package has already been prepared for shipping and that I should coordinate with the shipping company specified in the shipment email.

I was a bit confused since I still haven't received any shipment email at this point, but I didn't reply anymore and just hoped that I could still get the package before the end of my stay. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and I left Japan without receiving it.

I only received the shipment email a few days after my flight back home, around 4 weeks after placing the order. I contacted the shipping company (Yamato) immediately to cancel the delivery.

The next day, I saw on their tracker that the package was on the way to the delivery address. I still haven't heard back from them, but I contacted my accomodation to inform them to just disregard it, which they acknowledged right away.

After the delivery attempt, the status on the tracker said that it was under investigation. I waited for a few days, but neither Yamato or TOBE store contacted me.

I sent another inquiry to Yamato, this time asking if they can just forward it overseas. This time, they responded right away, saying they can't. They asked for the original delivery address (my accomodation) and processed returning to sender once I sent them the details. I contacted TOBE store again to inform them that the shipping company could not forward the package overseas, and asked if it was possible to get a refund instead.

They sent an email on Friday of that week, saying they will confirm the situation first. The package was returned to sender the following week based on the tracker. TOBE store emailed me within that day, confirming that they received it. They apologized for the refund request and asked for the updated address to resend the package instead.

I don't know what would've happened if I insisted on getting a refund. I just agreed and sent them the details needed since I felt like that was the fastest way to be done with this issue. I also updated my details on the store website as per their instruction.

They said that they would send the payment instructions for the additional shipping fee in mid-July or later, but I received it on Friday of that same week (1st week of July). There was nothing to pay yet, they only advised what I would need to do once I receive the actual email for payment.

The next week, I received the invoice for the additional shipping fee and paid it right away. Then I got the shipment email on Friday of that week (2nd week of July).

I tracked the package again on parcelsapp. It was the same as last time until the status updated to "Item for Customs examination" on Monday night of the following week. I was worried since I don't remember seeing this status last time.

My package didn't have anything out of the ordinary and was below 10,000 PHP, so there shouldn't be any problems. Thankfully, the status updated to "Returned from Customs" and "Letter Courier enroute to delivery" at around Tuesday noon. Seems like the status was updated late, though, since the timestamps say that it was already for delivery at around 9 AM, but I was frantically refreshing the tracker all morning and it didn't appear until around noon.

The package was delivered to my address a few hours later and I was asked to pay 212 again. I told the delivery person that EMS packages are 112 as per PhlPost, and they apologized and said they forgot that that was the fee for EMS. I think the PTCC depends on the type of package, so maybe it really was an honest mistake, or maybe it wasn't. I also wasn't issued a receipt again. In any case, I paid 112 this time and finally got my package after about a month since my stay in Tokyo, around 1 1/2 months since I placed the order.

To recap everything...

TOBE store ships via EMS and the package can be tracked on parcelsapp a few hours to a day after you get the shipment email. It may take a while from the time you purchase before the package actually gets shipped. The estimated shipping period for each item can be seen when you add them to cart, so take that into consideration if you wish to receive the package within a certain timeframe. If multiple items with different shipping times are checked out together, the package will be shipped based on the latest shipping time.

For any modifications (such as change in delivery details, request for cancellation or refund, etc), you will have to contact TOBE store. They may not always be able to accomodate to your request, but they were responsive to my inquiries and were able to have my package reshipped to PH after a failed delivery to the place I was staying at in Tokyo. For changes in orders within Japan, you can contact the delivery company indicated on the shipment email directly. Reshipments will incur another shipping fee.

For PH deliveries, when the tracking status updates to "Letter Courier enroute to delivery", that means the item will be delivered to the address you provided within that day. I've only used EMS twice and my packages were delivered to my address both times.

From what I've read, you may have to pick up the package from the post office yourself and pay additional taxes in certain cases, such as when the package: exceeds 10,000 PHP (including shipping fee), is too large, contains restricted or suspicious items, or contains more than 6 discs. I'm not sure if this information is still accurate or up to date, so it might be good to do more research online or try to contact PhlPost directly if you need more clarification. Though in my experience, they're not responsive to emails or on messenger. This reddit thread may also help explain how EMS works.

When the package arrives, the receiver will have to provide their name and signature. You will also have to pay 112 PHP for the Presentation to Customs Charge (PTCC). PTCC is only 112 PHP for EMS packages as stated on PhlPost's page. If you get charged more, you can inform/remind the delivery person that it's only 112 for EMS, or at least ask for a receipt if they insist on a higher price.

Opinions, other options I've looked at

The actual process from purchasing to delivery is quite simple overall, but for me there are a lot of factors that complicate it. Buying items overseas costs a lot, so I want to include all the products I want in one package to reduce the shipping fee. The problem is that some items may already be sold out by the time you're ready to order, so it can be hard to time it right.

Right now, there's no option to specify your preferred date of delivery. TOBE store will ship your order based on the timeframe stated on your cart.

Preorder items have an exact delivery date, but they will arrive after this date if you're outside Japan. When I ordered a CD after the preorder date but before the release date, it arrived around a week after the release date.

For other items, there is no exact delivery date stated. Some items can be shipped as soon as possible, while some items may just have a broad delivery date such as "will be shipped after early/mid/late July" or whatever month is indicated.

I ordered a package scheduled to be shipped "after early June". I thought it could be delivered within the 3rd week of June when I was staying in Tokyo, but it only got shipped on the 4th week. It was delivered the day after I got the shipment email, but I wasn't there to receive it anymore. I coordinated with the delivery company (Yamato) to return the package to sender, and then with TOBE store to have it reshipped to my PH address.

TOBE store currently only uses one delivery company for overseas orders, which uses EMS. EMS packages will go through the post office, which I personally think can be a bit of a risk in itself in the PH. To be fair, both my packages were delivered in good condition less than a week after I got the shipment email. But you will have to do some resrarch in order to make sure the delivery goes smoothly. I found it difficult to find a comprehensive and updated guide regarding overseas packages from PhlPost themselves, but a few helpful articles and reddit threads came up during my searches. It's helpful to know what you can, can't, or how much you can include in a package, as well as the corresponding fees when you receive the package. Sad to say, but some post office employees may try to scam you, so it would be good for you to have some knowledge about the process too.

Obviously, I ended up spending more than originally intended, but at least I know better now. If I have the chance to go to Japan again, I'll have a better idea on what to do and how to time my orders.

Maybe some time in the future, TOBE products will also be available in physical stores or other online stores that have other shipping methods. I think having different options can make it more convenient and enticing for fans to buy the goods they want. But it's times like this that I remember that TOBE is still a relatively new company even though their artists have been in the industry for a while.

There's also the option of using package forwarding services, where you can have multiple packages shipped to one JP address, which can then be combined and sent overseas as one package. Before you can start using the service, you will first be required to submit an ID or document to verify your identity. There are also additional fees depending on the specific website you use. I opted not to try it at this time since I didn't want to make things more complicated for myself, so I can't give any insight on how it works.

Right now, I'm just waiting on one more package. I decided to try CDJapan's proxy service for the first time and preordered the No.I album bundle though them. They will be the one to purchase it from TOBE store, then they will ship it to the customer's address after it arrives at their warehouse.

The advantage of this is being able to select other shipping methods, which can offer more flexibility for the customer. Of course, the downside is that there are additional fees per proxy item. Aside from the service itself, some shipping methods like DHL also recently started charging an additonal fee of 430 PHP for items below 10,000 PHP. This fee is currently not being charged for EMS packages. Proxy orders on CDJ also can't be cancelled or modified as stated on their terms. Despite all this, I thought to try it anyway just to see how it compares.

After that, I think I'll be taking a break from buying any more merch for now. Aside from the costs, constantly tracking the package and making sure it gets to you can also become stressful. I might just buy again if there are a lot of goods I really like and can order at one time, or if I'm able to go to Japan again and can plan it accordingly.

As much as I wish I could buy everything I want without a second thought, I'm not rich nor carefree enough to do that 😅 I'm still thankful though that I'm able to spend for these things at all, and I'm satisfied with the stuff I do have.

So yeah, if want to buy merch abroad then it's always good to know how it works, but I think the most important thing to remember is to be mindful of your purchases. I love Ni, but I really don't need to buy everything they put out. Spend according to your own budget and if you do choose to buy something, consider if it's really worth it to you. I've spent a good amount on merch and I don't regret my purchases, but I'm still mindful about how much I spend. This is a hobby after all, and being a fan is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. It's okay to not buy everything or anything for whatever reason.

Hope this post can be helpful. Thank you for reading, especially if you read through this entire thing!

#guide #jpop related

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svsembedded · 11 months ago

Video

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samedaycourierservice · 1 year ago

Text

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little-cecily · 3 years ago

Text

[ID: a screencap-by-screencap redraw of a scene for firefly episode “jaynestown,” but the crew of the serenity has been replaced by the crew of the uhuru from campaign: skyjacks. the first of six images shows a red clay statue of travis.

the second of the six images shows gable, their hand on their face in shock saying “this must be what going mad feels like.”

the third of the six images shows dref, travis, gable, jonnit, and orimar looking up at the out-of-frame statue. travis is in disguise, wearing a red courier’s cap, jonnit’s flight goggles, and gables purple coat. dref says, “i think th-they have, uh, captured him. you know, c-captured his essence.”

the fourth of the six images is a close up of orimar and jonnit’s faces. jonnit says, “he looks sort of pretentious though, doesn’t he?”

the fifth of the six images is a close up of dref saying, “yes, that-that is quite what i meant.”

the final image is a close up of travis in his disguise. he is scowling, and the goggles have fogged up, completely obscuring his eyes.

end ID]

the hero of canton, the man they call trevor mcrib

all credit for the idea must go to my dearest @drefvalentine of course

#campaign #campaign podcast #campaign pod #travis matagot #dref wormwood #firefly #gable skyjacks #gable #orimar vale #jonnit kessler

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biscuit-buddy · 5 years ago

Text

kuzumochi. (18+)

Endeavor x Reader (Smut, Birthday Fic, 3.1k)

A/N: holy shit guys this got so much longer than expected i’m sorry if it drags at all i just had so much i wanted to get out! Also its 11:22pm so its technically still his birthday. ha.

What do you get for the man who could already have whatever he wanted at the snap of his fingers? Being the number one pro hero meant that Enji already received truckloads of expensive things, tickets to exclusive events, and the newest technologies simply because of his status. You knew this because everything he received went through you after being thoroughly checked at security. Eight months as his personal secretary offered you a glimpse into his extravagant world and honestly left you with a small bite of bitter jealousy. Some of the things that passed over your desk could pay the rent in your measly apartment for the next year, and you were sure he never gave most of it more than a second glance.

Your pen tapped lightly against your bottom lip as you stared at the pad of sticky notes on your desk, nothing more than illegible lines, dots, and scribbles covered the top one. With a sigh of frustration, you detach it from the stack, crumple it and toss it in the trash. Today was the first day of August, and the mental countdown to your boss’ birthday plagued your thoughts. While your job was comfortable as is, the cold treatment from the man you worked for grated on your every nerve. You’d think after nearly a year in his employment he’d begin to warm up to you, maybe even bother to remember your name. This was your chance to finally stand out to him if only you could think of something that the hero could possibly want for his birthday.

As much as he’d probably like a break or a vacation, you were in no position to provide that for him. He obviously didn’t want for anything material either. Does he even have a sweet tooth? You wondered silently as the tapping of your pen resumed against your face. I can’t even imagine a guy like him eating a cupcake. You know what? Actually I can and it’s hilarious. I bet his mustache would burn the frosting and-

“Ahem” Well, speak - or think- of the devil and he shall appear. Endeavor himself stood at your desk with an impatient look on his stern face. The goofy smile you’d been developing at the thought of the massive man eating sweets was quickly wiped off and your back straightened at an uncomfortable pace.

“Daydreaming on the job?” he asked, but you got the feeling he didn’t really want an answer, so you just bow your head in apology. In an embarrassed mumble, you replied, “Sorry sir, won’t happen again” and he gave a huff in response, not unlike that of a great dragon. You held back another smile at the fleeting thought of smoke puffing out of his nose in discontent, as he handed you a manila envelope stuffed to the brim with some kind of paperwork.

“I need this hand-delivered to the Hawks Hero Office immediately. This is sensitive information I’m trusting you with.” You gingerly accepted the packet, but couldn’t avoid the brief touch of his massive hand sliding past yours. You noted briefly just how warm they were, though you shouldn’t really be surprised. Courier work isn’t exactly in your job description but lately, you’ve been desperate to suck up anyways, plus some fresh air couldn’t hurt. You stood and gave one more quick bow, “of course sir, I’d be happy to deliver it” He seemed content with your answer and turned to walk through the frosted glass double doors that led into his office without so much as another word.

Honestly, that had gone better than most of your interactions in the past. Pleased with the slight development in your relationship you gatherers your purse and the envelope and headed for the elevator. Floors passed monotonously as you continued to float gift ideas around in your head, this was looking to be harder than you initially thought.

Once the lift reached the lobby you made your exit, pushing past a crowd of workers who seemed to just be returning from lunch. They laughed boisterously and made no notice of you squeezing around them. Finally, you made it to the front door of the Endeavor Agency and swiped your employee ID badge on the terminal next to the front door alerting the system that you had left the building. Fresh warm air tickled your skin as you made your way onto the sidewalk and began the trek to Hawks’ Agency. It wasn’t particularly far, only a few blocks away and the route was dotted with storefronts boasting all kinds of wares from cake to clothes to flowers.

In theory, one of the displays you passed should have given you an idea but once more you found yourself coming up blank as you approached your destination. The young man at the front desk smiled politely when you entered “Hi there, do you have an appointment?” his eyes flickered between you and the computer screen in front of him.

“Actually I’m here on delivery for Endeavor” you waved the yellow folder a bit to accentuate your statement “something about sensitive information?” This really wasn’t part of the job you signed up for. Face to face interactions with strangers is so damn awkward. Luckily the receptionist probably dealt with people like you all day and didn’t bat an eye before saying

“Of course, his office is on floor 22 but if he’s not in there, try the roof. I’ll let security know you’re heading up” and he began tapping at the keyboard with one hand while making a ‘go on’ gesture toward the elevator with the other. You thought about boarding but instead made your way to the staircase. I already walked this far, might as well make it a cardio day, and give myself a good excuse to order takeout for dinner. You were truly a genius, maybe it was time to apply at NASA instead of working your ass off for Mr. Hothead.

Twenty-two floors was a bit more of a workout than you thought it would be, and when you finally arrived at the top you were mildly sweaty cheeks ruddy and more out of breath than you’d like to admit so you take a moment to calm down before opening the doors and walking past the security guard. He gave you a sideways glance but kept his mouth shut as you knocked twice on the office doors.

The lack of a verbal response clued you into the fact that he was likely on the roof just as the receptionist had said, so you hung a left and let yourself sprint up one more flight of stairs. Once you made it through the door marked ‘rooftop’ you spotted the winged hero perched near the railing. You announced yourself so as not to startle him,

“Excuse me, Mr. Hawks? I’m here on behalf of Endeavor, he asked me to deliver this to you as soon as possible”

He wheeled around at the sound of your voice, and his eyes lit up with amusement at your disheveled appearance. “Hey, thanks! I was kind of expecting the big man himself but you’re certainly a nice surprise” he winked and took the folder from your hands “Nobody told me Endeavor hired such a cutie to be his secretary, ya think I have any chance of poaching you from him?” Despite your earlier thoughts about NASA, you had no intention of leaving your current position so you just laughed.

“I’m flattered but unfortunately I’ve got some oddly placed sense of loyalty for him”

“Oh I get it” he cocked an eyebrow “I would too if I was you, the guy’s a size queen’s dream after all. Gotta love the whole naughty secretary dynamic too”

You sputtered at his bluntness “Oh god no nothing like that I-”

“Aw, I’m just teasing kid, how couldn’t I when you come up here looking like that” He gestured to your flustered appearance and you immediately regretting taking the stairs moments ago “Besides, I’d be surprised if you got him to warm up to you enough to remember your name let alone bend you over his desk” He was spot on, you had to sigh at that.

“You’re right there, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even notice if there was an entirely different person sitting at my desk tomorrow”

“Heh, yeah, sounds like him. But you know, his birthday is coming up maybe a gift will put you in his good graces” another effortless wink was shot your way and despite him being the one with wings, the attention really ruffled your feathers. It’s like he had a secret mind-reading quirk or something.

“I thought of that, but I have no clue what a guy like him would even want. It’s not like shopping for your mom, where you can just give her a picture frame that says ‘Live Laugh Love’ and she cherishes it forever ya know?” Hawks snorts in amusement at your comparison. You’re right and you’ll defend that if he asks, but he doesn’t.

“In that case, I’d be willing to let you in on a little secret, some little known Endeavor lore, a true exclusive if you ask me”

“I’m not a tabloid Hawks, just tell me already” this guy messes around a lot for being the number two hero, its an incredibly stark contrast from his only superior.

“Okay, okay, you gotta lean in though, he’d kill me if I leaked something so personal” you lean in closer as instructed and he whispers into your ear, “his favorite food... is kuzumochi” You pull back in visible disappointment.

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, he goes crazy for the stuff. Honest to god I’ve seen him inhale an entire batch in like five minutes. You want him to notice you? Then this is the best possible way, trust me.” and for some crazy reason you do. This could actually work, if it’s really as much of a secret as the blonde claims, you’d certainly stand out among the other gifts he’s sure to get.

You thank Hawks and turn to leave with a newfound confidence in this new plan, but not before he makes you promise to tell him how it goes after the big day. As you exit the winged hero’s agency building the work phone you were assigned chimes with a new email letting you know that you can go straight home after the drop-off, and your grin widens. Even better, now you have time to stop at the grocery store on the way home, the decision already made to go big or go home. You were bound and determined to make the kuzumochi from scratch, and it was gonna be the best damn thing your boss had ever tasted.

*******************************

The rest of the week dragged on in a painfully average way, the only thing keeping your mood afloat was the surprise dish you had been working on every night. You’d gone through multiple test batches, determined to get the flavor and consistency just right. The work paid off on the night of the 7th, just in time when you completed your best batch yet. With a content sigh, you washed your hands and packaged up the kuzumochi like a damn professional. Finally, you were able to take a long hot shower and climb into bed early with the anticipation of tomorrow bubbling in your chest.

Morning came quickly and your daily routine was done with care, then you grabbed the gift and began the short commute to work. Brain on autopilot, it seemed like no time at all until you were seated at your desk and logging in to the company’s computer system. The pristinely packaged gift was nestled into the corner of your desk, waiting for the perfect moment.

This moment came just before lunch when a mildly scuffed up Endeavor breezed past you in a huff and headed straight into his office. This is it you thought Sure, he’s a little pissy at the moment but this’ll cheer him right up. And with that, you knocked once on the office door and peeked in. The sight of him slumped in the leather office chair in front of the massive floor to ceiling window, eyebrow cocked at your intrusion made your heart jump just a little. How can one man be so damn intimidating? You cleared your throat and began to speak with entirely false confidence.

“Sorry for barging in sir, I just wanted to give you a birthday gift. It’s not much, but I hope you’ll accept it” the whole situation reminded you of confessing to your crush with a box of chocolates in middle school, and it’s funny how some things never truly change. You presented the box to him and to your surprise he actually reached out to take it.

His scrutinizing glare never let up as he untied the silky ribbon and lifted the lid, but once he recognized the contents his expression shifted quickly to one of surprise.

“Is this... kuzumochi?” His gaze fell on you and it had nearly physical weight.

“Yes sir, I have it on uhm, good authority that it’s one of your favorites” should you admit that Hawks told you this bit of information?

“Why?”

“I’m sorry? Its… well, it’s your birthday, right? I wanted to get you something that would stand out.” It felt silly to admit to his face.

“And why would you need to stand out, Y/N?” You had to keep your jaw from hitting the floor when he so casually dropped your name, the name you were sure he hadn’t even known. He decided to let you mull over the question as he took a bite of your carefully crafted treat, you could hear a small satisfied hum in his throat and it gave you chills. He beckoned you closer, “it’s delicious, would you like a taste?” when you hesitated he added, “it would be awfully rude to refuse your boss on his birthday, especially after all the trouble you’ve gone to making these”

A heavy step carries you over to his desk, like lead weights attached to your ankles. As you approach he rises out of the chair, a new unreadable look replaced the one of irritation you had been so used to all these months. “Come closer,” he said when you stopped just short of the desk. He’d never spoken to you like this before, and it sent chills down your spine. A few more steps took you around the desk to where he stood, and you barely flinched when he placed a large palm on the side of your jaw, the other held a piece of kuzumochi near your mouth. His intent was clear, he was going to feed it to you by hand. “Open” he commanded softly and you couldn’t deny him if you wanted to, so you complied.

The sweetness melted over your tongue, you truly had outdone yourself here. And once the piece was securely in your mouth, a warm thumb brushed over your bottom lip where his eyes also happened to be resting, completely content in watching you chew and swallow. The intimacy of the situation wasn’t lost on you. You recalled something that Hawks had said about a ‘sexy secretary dynamic’ and once again he was right. When the taste had completely faded from your senses, you looked up to finally meet your boss’ eye. The intensity in them shook you to your very core.

“I’ll ask you again, why do you think you need to stand out?” at this, his hand dropped from your lip down to your waist “Were you hoping for some kind of special attention?” the depth of his voice made your thighs clench, knowing full well where this conversation was heading. He noticed the action and quirked his lips into the faintest smile, one full of mischievous intent. One large step forward for him pushed you back onto the sturdy wooden desk. “I can’t possibly disappoint my favorite little employee then, can I?”

You barely had time to brace your arms behind you before his hand moved over again to res on the top of your thigh, and the one that remained on your jaw guided you into a kiss. It began soft, Endeavor was no fool. He tested the waters, your willingness, before jumping right in. The second you started to kiss back it was full speed ahead. The man was experienced for sure, he knew exactly how to coax your mouth into a dance with his own. Once his tongue pushed into your mouth it was all over for you, you’ve become a slave to the feeling.

All too quickly he broke the kiss, and you had half a mind to whine at the loss of contact. When you opened your eyes you noticed he was leaned over towards the box of kuzumochi that started everything. Odd time for a snack but okay. And when he returned to face you he did have another piece in his mouth, as well as the red ribbon you used to tie it in his hands. Your mouths met once again, this time he pushed the food into yours with his tongue. While you’re distracted with the odd sensation of kissing and eating at the same time you hardly notice the way he pushed both your arms up above your head and deftly tied your wrists together with the ribbon. When he was sure they were secure he let them drop and find a home around the back of his neck.

You swallow the kuzumochi just as he turns up the intensity, completely claiming your mouth with his own. This time, he pushes you even further back until you’re laid completely flat on the desk. His fingers rake up and down your sides while his hips press against yours. You can feel his growing excitement pushed up against you and the feeling has you nearly moaning. Nearly isn’t good enough got the number one though, and he starts trailing kisses down your jaw and further until he reaches the junction of your neck where he bites and sucks like his life depends on it. This finally brings forth the noise he was chasing, and when you go to cover your mouth from embarrassment is when you finally realize that your wrists are bound.

Your boss’ attention is directed elsewhere though, as he reaches a hand under your skirt, past you panties, and begins to stroke your folds. You both realized how wet you’ve become at the same time, and now it’s his turn to moan. One large digit enters you as his mouth travels further south, now nipping at your collarbones and chest. Your wrists slip from around his neck and his free hand strokes upwards from your side to push your arms up over your head. Completely exposed to him he continues to ravish your skin and curl his finger in and out of your cunt. Quickly you come undone around his finger and he removes his mouth from you long enough to drag the digit along his own tongue.

“You’re even sweeter than the kuzumochi, here” he pushes the finger into your mouth and you diligently suck the rest of your juices from it. “Good girl.” The praise itself makes you moan once again. When he’s satisfied with your work he begins to remove his pants and you finally get a glimpse of what you’re working with. You nearly get up and walk out right then, because the man is massive.

“Just relax, I’ll start slow” he reassures and stays true to his word. After a long moment of adjusting he’s fully sheathed inside you and you swear this is what heaven feels like. The moment he begins to move you know you were wrong. If that was heaven you must have finally ascended even further, to wherever gods go when they die. Endeavor fucks you hard and slow against his desk until your eyes are rolling back in your head and you can see every constellation on your eyelids. And when it’s over, you’re shaking like a leaf.

He pulls out, not giving a second glance to the fluids leaking out of you and onto the floor, and begins to untie your wrists. Both of them are red and raw from the friction of the ribbon, and he places a tender kiss on each of the marks. One more kiss on the bruised patch he left on your neck, then he’s hoisting you upwards in a sitting position. Still unsteady but slowly coming back down to earth, you feel a soft tissue wipe at the mess between your legs while a strong hand continues to keep you upright rests at your side.

When you look up to meet his gaze, your confidence is no longer an act. “Happy birthday,” you say and for once he breaks out a genuine smile that makes him look ten years younger.

As he rests his forehead against yours he replies, “It’s not over yet” but before you can question his meaning the intercom system next to his computer rings and a voice announces “Mr. Hawks is on his way up, sir” and you choke. You did promise you’d tell him how things went.

#endeavor x reader #endeavor #enji x reader #enji todoroki #bnha #mha #happy birthday endeavor

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karmanticmoved · 3 years ago

Note

pick any OCs for these!! whoever you feel has an interesting answer lmao, feel free to talk about more than one per question :D

😨 fearful: when scared, do they go into flight or fight?

🙊 speak-no-evil: what is something your OC will refuse to stay quiet about?

⚾ baseball: can they play sports? what is their best position if they play a team sport? what's their strong suit (speed, power, etc.)?

🎵 music note: what is their playlist like? their favourite artists? do you associate a particular song with them?

❤️ red heart: their love language(s)?

🙏 YESS i will talk sooo much. apollo my bestie beloved ilu

😨 fearful: when scared, do they go into flight or fight?

I'm gonna talk about carson, my fnv courier for this one. ok. so.

carson doesn't really scare easily, after dealing with being shot in the head, many many deathclaws, the legion, being lobotomized, fighting a whole ass war, etc etc. but he does get scared sometimes, mostly when it's something at stake, like lives of his companions or the threat of harm to a group he's inclined to protect. whenever he gets scared, his first instinct is always, technically, fight. though sometimes that's just acting impulsively rather than actually fighting, but it's the same instinct. he throws himself headfirst into things with no regard for his own life as is, so there's little hesitation. honestly, he barely even has the instinct for self preservation at all. but whether that's something stemming from all of his head trauma (bullet to the brain, lobotomy, several concussions), or something he already lacked, he can't quite say.

🙊 speak-no-evil: what is something your OC will refuse to stay quiet about?

hmmm. I think I'll talk about jesper 4 this one!! he is a chiss sith lord & my absolute favorite swtor oc ehehe

jesper has a very strict moral code set for himself, despite, or even because of his status as a renowned sith lord & alliance leader. he has more than enough experience with the dark side & those driven by evil that he can tell when things are likely to bring consequences. anything that he deems a risk to the alliance, to the galaxy, or especially to his wife and crew, he immediately speaks up about. unrest between imperial and republic soldiers is addressed the moment that gossip reaches his ears, reports of potential traitors are investigated, and absolutely no bigotry is tolerated. he does sort of enjoy telling people off about their misogyny and alien racism. but that's just because he and his wife love to clown on people whenever possible, especially as they are both aliens and he drinks his respect women juice daily.

that got so off topic but that's ok bc I love him <33 anyway. anything deemed a risk is immediately discussed to some extent, no matter what.

⚾ baseball: can they play sports? what is their best position if they play a team sport? what's their strong suit (speed, power, etc.)?

NOW is time for my haikyuu ocs. ok . Ok!!! i I only talk about... a few.

sakuma, kyoya, and kiya. sakuma is the 3rd year vice captain of the wolves and is a key part of their defense and is a powerful spiker. kyoya is the wolves' starting setter and kiya is the deer's starting setter. theyre both second years & they all play volleyball (ofc)

using the official hq stats system:

sakuma / kyoya / kiya

power: 4 / 4 / 3

jump: 5 / 4 / 4

stamina: 4 / 5 / 3

strategy: 4 / 3 / 4

technique: 3 / 5 / 4

speed: 4 / 4 / 5

🎵 music note: what is their playlist like? their favourite artists? do you associate a particular song with them?

I'm gonna talk abt my rbwy oc kiyoomi bc ive been listening to his playlist the most recently tbh.

a lot of the music steers towards punk stuff, more rebellious and fuck it attitudes because that's his general. vibe. BUT. there are also a couple songs in there regarding his family issues, mostly with being neglected and ignored and the least favorite child even after he was the only child around.

the song my grand plan from the tlt musical (its about pjo annabeth and her family issues) is on there specifically because. he's a fox faunus. he's incredibly smart and witty, he's talented enough to do an awful lot, but he was so. ignored and not allowed to extend his abilities that he got fed up with it all.

also teenagers by mcr <3 he is an incredibly pissed off teenager that knows full well how fucked up a lot of the world around him is, and he's so prepared to bitch about it and say fuck the government.

❤️ red heart: their love language(s)?

doing dominick (my fo3 lone wanderer) for this because he's an asshole who's trying to figure out how to Show Affection at all.

more than anything, his main love language is acts of service. but not in the traditional sense, but a fallout sense. hell watch your back without complaint or even a request to do so. he'll make space in his life to accommodate, like adding an extra bed to his house in megaton. he takes care to save food and water and medical supplies that he plans to share later on. he'll even take a bullet or a stab wound to show that he cares.

his second love language is quality time. just travelling, mostly. he willing brings someone with him, willingly allows them into his space and life, and protects them accordingly. he only gets close to people who stick around him long enough, so quality time is important after he cares as well.

both of the love languages are most obvious in regards to charon because of how frequently they travel together. others who've taken note of dominick have noticed the casual manner that he just. takes care of charon when he can. doesn't seem to mind spending time in his company, especially if they're both quiet.

overall it's just. the way he quietly makes room in his life for another person with ease.

#this was so fun to write its now 4am im sleeebbyyy goodnght<333 #asks #doctor-nightcore #apollo tag #my ocs

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prairiesongserial · 5 years ago

Text

11.5

No sooner had Rhea left Cody on the ferry than a courier was whisking him off it again, leading him down a long wooden dock and to the front doors of the Bellamy Mansion. It was a large place, easily as large as La Salle Rouge or the Waters mansion had been, but nowhere near as sleek. The mansion’s facade was made of crumbling black stone and infested with fuzzy vines that crept up along its sides like the veins of a living thing. Two statues made of copper green with age flanked its entrance; humanoid, but missing heads and arms. Cody spared them a look as he passed - they were submerged in water nearly to the knees, but he could tell that they were identical sculptures of a woman. Maybe Rhea, though there was no way to tell for sure.

The inside of the mansion smelled like must and swamp water. It was just as humid inside as it was everywhere else in Everglades City, and Cody could feel himself already sweating through his clothes. The carpet of the mansion’s main hall made squelching sounds underfoot as Cody trudged inside, and he was barely surprised to find that it was waterlogged, at least around the entryway. The water outside came right up to the bottom of the front door, lapping at the entrance as though begging to be let in. The foundation of the house, Cody assumed, had been underwater for a long time.

The heavy front door slammed behind him. Cody looked around to see that the Bellamy courier who had brought him there had already run off to some other errand, their crisp white shirt and red vest vanishing around a corner. He was alone in the entryway.

“You,” a gruff voice said from above him, immediately proving him wrong. “You’re the new courier?”

Cody looked up, startled, his eyes darting about for the source of the voice. Eventually, his gaze landed on a woman leaning over the railing of a second-floor landing, at the top of the grand staircase at the far end of the main hall. She was tall and lean - but muscular, Cody noted, as he began to walk towards the staircase. She held herself tensely, in a way that reminded Cody of Sailor, and she had unruly hair that fell around her face in waves. It was distinctly silvery, though she looked too young to have already gone gray. Maybe a mutation.

“I asked you a question,” the woman said, eyeing Cody with sharp, dark eyes as he neared the stairs. She shifted in place, her suit jacket pulling back to reveal a gun holstered at her hip.

“Yeah, I’m the new courier,” Cody said, hastily. “Cody Allison. I was sent here to meet, uh...Madeline?”

The woman nodded, her expression and posture unchanging as Cody climbed the stairs to join her on the second floor landing. She regarded him with her piercing gaze, so intense that Cody almost flinched away from it, then stiffly offered him her hand.

“Fleetwood Mercer,” she said. “Madeline’s bodyguard.”

“Charmed,” Cody said flatly, and shook Fleetwood’s hand. It was rough with callouses, and her grip was strong, almost too strong.

“Madeline will want you in better clothes,” Fleetwood said, beginning to walk the instant she’d dropped Cody’s hand. Cody had to struggle to keep pace with her - she took long-legged, purposeful strides, and seemed to know exactly where she was going, leading him deep into the dimly-lit halls of the Bellamy mansion. The hallways twisted and turned, leaving Cody with the impression that they were walking in circles, but Fleetwood never faltered for an instant.

“As her interim courier, you’ll be expected to shadow Madeline and deliver any messages she needs sent,” she continued, never once pausing for breath. “You’ll be treated as a representative of the Bellamy family. Anything you do reflects on Madeline and her mother. Do you understand?”

Cody nodded. He knew a threat when he heard one. Even if Rhea had said she wouldn’t turn him or his friends in to Hemisphere, the promise of a wealthy businesswoman didn’t mean much. She could make his life very hard. Still, it wouldn’t be a problem. Cody wanted to get through this day without incident just as badly as he suspected the Bellamys did.

“Sure,” he said, getting the idea it was better to agree. At least being around Fleetwood was marginally better than being around Rhea - Fleetwood didn’t mince words, and she didn’t wear a Hemisphere insignia anywhere on her person. Not that Cody could see, anyway. “How big is this place, anyway? It’s like a maze.”

“It’s not that big,” Fleetwood said. The assertion was almost comical, as they turned down another hallway that seemed to stretch on forever. The floorboards of the second-floor hallways were mostly bare, and creaked underfoot, some protesting so loudly that Cody was afraid they might snap and send him plummeting to the first floor landing.

“What happened to your hand?” Fleetwood asked, after a prolonged silence.

“My - oh,” Cody said, reflexively curling the fingers of the hand in question. He had grown surprisingly used to his two missing fingers in the past months. The stumps still hurt with a phantom pain sometimes, but they’d healed nicely, with no sign of infection. He had adapted to new ways of holding things, to hanging onto his motorbike’s handlebars tighter and shifting his grip on his gun so it wouldn’t slip out of his hand.

“I owed money to a gang,” he said, boiling the story down to as few words as possible. “Their leader cut my fingers off when I didn’t pay him back fast enough.”

Fleetwood hummed thoughtfully. “Did you ever pay him back?”

“No,” Cody said, finally uncurling his fingers. “I killed him, actually.”

Fleetwood paused in her tracks, looking to Cody and sizing him up again. Her gaze was more intense than it had been before, her lips pursed in a tight line. Then, finally, she nodded and began to walk again.

“Good for you,” she said.

Several more hallways and another flight of stairs later, they arrived at what appeared to be Madeline Bellamy’s room. From what Cody could tell, it was more of a small apartment nestled into the third floor of the mansion. The door opened into a small lounge area, which opened up into a small kitchenette and a hall that led back to - Cody assumed - Madeline’s actual bedroom.

“Wait here,” Fleetwood told him, pointing at one of the couches in the lounge. Once Cody sat down on it, she nodded approvingly and disappeared down the hall.

Cody crossed one leg over the other where he sat, bouncing his foot and idly considering snooping around. It didn’t seem like he would find anything worthwhile in the apartment. Besides, the chattering voices down the hall, now muted by Madeline’s bedroom door, threatened to rejoin Cody at any moment. They did so shortly, Fleetwood and Madelines’s approach announced by the sound of footsteps.

“So you’re the new courier,” a woman who only could have been Madeline Bellamy said, smiling brightly at Cody as she entered the lounge. She was surprisingly young - Cody guessed she was his age, if not slightly younger - and wore her dark hair pinned tightly to the back of her head, to create the illusion of a slightly wavy pixie cut. She was outfitted in a bright yellow dress, with a blue-and-white striped kerchief tied at a jaunty angle around her neck.

“His name’s Cody,” Fleetwood supplied, looming just behind Madeline.

“Oh, I know,” Madeline said, brightly. “I’ve seen his wanted poster. But he’s much more handsome in person, don’t you think?”

Fleetwood made a noncommittal noise, as Cody stood awkwardly from the couch. Surprisingly, he was feeling less out of his depth than he had before. Madeline’s style of dress and the flighty way she spoke reminded him eerily of Marc, and gave him sudden confidence that he could handle this. Hopefully Madeline wasn’t as adept at getting into firefights as Marc had been.

“It’s, uh, nice to meet you,” he offered, giving Madeline as much of a smile as he could manage, and offering her his hand. She stared at it for a moment as though unsure of what to do with it, then finally shook it limply, smiling with such enthusiasm that it almost made up for what had to be the worst handshake Cody had ever received.

“Enchanté, Cody,” she said, at last releasing his hand. “Fleetwood, would you be a dear and see if you can find a courier’s uniform in his size? There should be some spares downstairs, in the costume shop.”

“I’m not your butler,” Fleetwood said, with a tone that indicated they’d had this discussion many times before.

“And I’m not saying that you are,” Madeline said. “But Cody and I will go and feed the guard dogs while you’re gone, and this way you won’t have to come with us. We’ll meet you at the costume shop afterwards.”

She batted her eyelashes at Fleetwood - who, Cody noticed, had grimaced at the mention of the guard dogs. Having only just recently met a dog for the first time himself, he supposed he could understand being afraid of them, if you didn’t have much experience.

“Fine,” Fleetwood said. “But be careful.”

“We’ll be fine,” Madeline said with a tittering little laugh. She linked her arm with Cody’s, fairly abruptly, and began tugging him towards the door. “Come on, Cody, let’s go and feed the dogs. I’m sure they’re famished. I’m famished, actually. Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Yeah,” Cody said, wondering if this was what John felt like all the time. Did he talk this much?

“Well, I haven’t. And it will be lunchtime by the time we’re done finding you a uniform, so we may as well plan on having lunch after that,” Madeline said. She was leading him back down the hall, towards an odd set of double doors Cody didn’t remember passing before. She stopped in front of them, and pressed a button set into a brass panel in the wall, tapping her foot against the floorboards as she waited for something - Cody didn’t know what - to happen.

Finally, the double doors slid open on their own, the sound of screeching metal making Cody’s skin crawl. The doors revealed some kind of empty closet - or a bare, box-shaped room. Madeline dragged Cody inside, and pressed another button on the inside wall, jamming it impatiently with a manicured finger.

“What are we -” Cody began, but never had the chance to finish, because the double doors were sliding shut, and suddenly the closet was moving.

Cody could feel the closet sinking towards the ground, the whole thing wobbling ever so slightly as it did so, and decided instantly that he hated it. There were muffled sounds of metal creaking and groaning all around him, and Cody would have been convinced that they were about to plummet through the foundation of the estate and plunge into the swamp to drown if Madeline hadn’t been so obviously nonchalant about the entire thing.

“You’ve never been on an elevator before!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she turned to him and saw whatever expression Cody must have been wearing.

“Is that what it is?” Cody asked, feeling vaguely seasick. He resolved to ask Enis more about elevators, when he finally got back to the circus. Enis would probably know how they worked. He had known about the special cameras, anyway.

“Yes!” Madeline said, with a laugh. “It goes between floors of the mansion. We’re going to the basement, and it’s much quicker than going down all those stairs. Isn’t it a wonderful contraption?”

“No,” Cody said bluntly, and almost felt a sense of satisfaction when he managed to startle another laugh out of Madeline. It wasn’t enough to distract from the churning in his stomach, though - he was sure they had to be below the water level around the mansion by now, but the elevator was still going down.

At last, the elevator shuddered to a halt and its doors opened again, onto a dark, cavernous room filled with the sound and smell of water. Cody stepped out hesitantly - he wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting to find in the basement, but he was sure now that it was at least partially underwater. He couldn’t hear the sound of animals moving around in the dark anywhere. Only Madeline flitting about, presumably to find the light switch.

“You keep your guard dogs all the way down here?” he asked, sticking close to the elevator, not wanting to step in any water. In the dark, there was no way to tell where it was, or how deep.

“Well, they’re not really dogs,” Madeline said, sounding a little apologetic. “That’s just my nickname for them. Oh, hang on - there it is -”

There was a grating, metal-on-metal noise of a heavy switch being pulled, and overhead lights slowly began to flicker on in the basement. As they did so, gradually lighting up the room, Cody’s breath caught in his throat.

He had been right that the basement would have to be partially underwater, but he saw now that what Madeline had called a basement was more of a cave. The stone under his feet sloped gradually down, forming a sort of shore where the water had lapped up against it and worn it away over the years. Half of the room was taken up by swamp water, large rocks jutting out of it here and there. The lights didn’t reach to the other end of the basement, and it was hard to tell exactly how big it was - or if it simply went on underwater for miles. Cody didn’t really want to know.

“I know it’s not much, but it’s where they know to come and get fed,” Madeline said. She’d disappeared behind a privacy screen in one corner of the room - Cody could just vaguely see her silhouette, and was about to ask her what in the world she was doing, when something moved in his peripheral vision.

Cody snapped his head back towards the water. A lumpy form poking out from the surface that he’d initially thought was a rock was now gliding through the water. It was only when it clambered up onto a rock that he realized it was an animal - a big animal, longer than he was tall and covered in lumpy scales. Some kind of lizard, he realized. He’d seen lizards before, but never one this big. Never one with a snout the length of his arm, with sharp teeth that jutted out of it at all angles.

“What the fuck -” Cody managed, as Madeline reemerged from behind the privacy curtain, wearing a sleek, black wetsuit, her hair still neatly pinned in place. She gave him an odd look, crossing to the other corner of the room, where a few large storage containers were stacked.

“I thought the circus would’ve warned you,” she said, opening one of the containers and filling the room with the metallic smell of raw meat. “You’ve never seen a gator before?”

11.4 || 11.6

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newstfionline · 5 years ago

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SpaceX capsule and NASA crew make 1st splashdown in 45 years (AP) Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast. “Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters. More than an hour after splashdown, the astronauts emerged from their capsule on the deck of a recovery ship, both signaling a thumbs-up as they headed for medical exams.

Students return to campus (AP) The first wave of college students returning to their dorms aren’t finding the typical mobs of students and parents. What they found Friday were strict safety protocols and some heightened anxiety amid a global pandemic where virus infections are growing in dozens of states. North Carolina State University staggered the return of its students over 10 days and welcomed the first 900 students to campus, where they were greeted Friday by socially distant volunteers donning masks and face shields. Elon University in North Carolina, mailed testing kits to all 7,000 students ahead of their arrival in a few weeks. Maine’s Colby College will be testing students before they arrive and then three times a week for the first two weeks on campus. They’ll be tested twice a week after that, until the semester ends. The University of Rhode Island is scaling back campus housing to abide by distancing requirements, causing a scramble for some students. “Just like the rest of the world, we have to figure out how to carry on,” said Betsy Flanagan, who was sending her freshman son, Arch, off to college. “This virus isn’t going away and it’s going to be with us for quite a while, so we all have to figure out how to safely exist and that includes continuing to educate our future.”

Face masks are thwarting even the best facial recognition algorithms, study finds (CNET) It turns out face masks aren’t just effective at preventing the spread of airborne diseases like COVID-19—they’re also successful at blocking facial recognition algorithms, researchers say. In a report published Monday, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology found that face masks were thwarting even the most advanced facial recognition algorithms. Error rates varied from 5% to 50%, depending on an algorithm’s capabilities.

How the pandemic and a broken unemployment system are upending people’s lives (Washington Post) He had five days to move out of the house in Brightwood Park, and now Daniel Vought stood looking at the plastic crates stacked in the living room holding his things. T-shirts. Power cords. Pokémon cards and stuffed animals. His beloved guitar—a Gibson Explorer electric—still hung on the wall. He figured it would be safer staying behind. A new housemate was coming, one who could actually pay $800 a month for the room Vought, 30, had lived in rent-free since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Georgetown bar where he worked. For four months, his unemployment benefits application had been snared in red tape at the D.C. Department of Employment Services, a black hole of unanswered emails, phone holds and automated voice messages offering delays instead of answers. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the nation’s capital have been sucked down the same confusing abyss. Through July 29, the employment office has fielded more than 133,000 claims, nearly five times the number processed in all of 2019. In the meantime, the end of July meant the end of the initial round of federal emergency pandemic assistance. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are deadlocked over the scope of a second wave of federal help. No matter what that future assistance looks like, for people like Vought, still waiting for benefits from the spring and living without a financial cushion, the damage has been done. People pushed into poverty by the coronavirus pandemic could face years of increased dependence on government help, experts say, and greater housing insecurity and homelessness. A single mother with another baby due this summer found herself choosing between buying food or paying the rent. A former D.C. police officer spent months on a relative’s sofa, unable to find work or collect unemployment so he could find his own housing.

Coronavirus pandemic causes another health concern—closed public restrooms (Washington Post) When courier Brent Williams makes his daily deliveries around the city here, he runs into one persistent problem: There’s almost nowhere to use the restroom. Most public buildings are closed under the pandemic, and restaurants and coffee shops that have shifted to carryout service won’t let him use their facilities. “It’s hard to find any place where I can use the restroom,” said Williams, speaking outside a library in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood that has reopened its restrooms to the public. The library is one of five citywide to have opened their doors, and other parts of the city have almost no options for those who need to relieve themselves or wash their hands. The lack of restrooms has become an issue for delivery workers, taxi and ride-hailing drivers and others who make their living outside of a fixed office building. For the city’s homeless, it’s part of an ongoing problem that preceded covid-19. “It’s gone from bad to worse,” said Eric, who lives in an encampment near Interstate 5. (Eric asked to be identified by only his first name.) “It’s definitely much, much harder.”

A weakened Tropical Storm Isaias lashes virus-hit Florida (AP) Bands of heavy rain from Isaias lashed Florida’s east coast Sunday while officials dealing with surging cases of the coronavirus kept a close watch on the weakened tropical storm. Isaias was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon, but was still threatening to bring heavy rain and flooding as it crawled just off Florida’s Atlantic coast. Upper-level winds took much of the strength out of Isaias, said Stacy Stewart, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm also slowed down considerably.Authorities closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, lashing signs to palm trees so they wouldn’t blow away. DeSantis said the state is anticipating power outages and asked residents to have a week’s supply of water, food and medicine on hand. Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters where people can seek refuge from the storm if necessary, while also safely social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

Latin America coronavirus death toll surges past 200,000 (Reuters) The death toll in Latin America from the novel coronavirus passed 200,000 on Saturday night, a Reuters tally showed, underlining the region’s status as one of the global epicenters of the pandemic that is testing governments to the limit. Apart from the United States, Brazil and Mexico have racked up more fatalities from the virus than any other country, and together they account for around 70% of the regional death toll. Both have struggled to balance the need to curb the spread of the virus with restrictive safety measures while trying to reopen their economies, which have been battered by the crisis. Other countries in Latin America are also battling to hold the coronavirus at bay, and the region breached the 200,000 mark after Peru registered another 191 fatalities.

Indian police crackdown on illegal liquor suppliers after 86 die (Reuters) Indian police raided rural hamlets and made arrests to break up a bootlegging cartel on Sunday, after 86 people died from consuming illegally-produced alcohol this week in the northwestern state of Punjab, officials said.

Victoria state declares disaster, night curfew (AP) The premier of Australia’s hard-hit Victoria state has declared a disaster among sweeping new coronavirus restrictions across Melbourne and elsewhere from Sunday night. An evening curfew will be implemented across Melbourne from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Premier Daniel Andrews says the state of disaster proclamation gave police greater power. He says 671 new coronavirus cases had been detected since Saturday, including seven deaths. It comes among a steadily increasing toll in both deaths and infections over the past six weeks in Victoria. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of their homes. All students across the state will return to home-based learning and child care centers will be closed.

Israel’s Netanyahu rails at media over protests against him (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday railed at swelling protests against his rule, saying they were egged on by a biased media that distorts facts and cheers on the demonstrators. Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of the long-serving leader, who is on trial for corruption charges. They’ve also panned his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Netanyahu has painted the protests as dens of “anarchists” and “leftists” out to topple “a strong right-wing leader.” The protests have largely been peaceful. In some cases they have ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. In others, small gangs of Netanyahu supporters and individuals affiliated with far-right groups have assaulted demonstrators.

#headlines #news

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