#ICS Cyber Security | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

reallyromealone · 1 month ago

Text

Title: online safety class

Fandom: the rookie

Pairing: Tim Bradford x male reader

Genre: fluff

Warnings: omegaverse, male reader, Omega male reader, mentions of heat, swearing

Summary: being one of the few omegas in the department, (name) didn't fuck around especially being head of cyber security and coming into work he's forced to give a lesson on online safety

Notes:

🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛🌜🌛

Eyes turned to the mysterious figure wnovwalked in sporting Sunglasses, hoodie with a dress shirt and black skinny jeans all while sipping boba. He was a pretty thing, delicate looking with sharp eyes while he takes in the department "who is that?" Lucy asked softly, looking at Angela and Tim who stared down the other "(name), he's head of cyber security and occasionally he helps out in the call room--- only if absolutely necessary" Angela said seriously, the Alpha woman not taking her eyes off the Omega who locked eyes with her from behind his sunglasses.

"Why haven't we ever seen him?" Jackson asked curiously, he wouldn't admit it but the energy the Omega radiated was a bit intimidating, the Alpha had never been intimidated by an Omega like this before and frankly he didn't know what to do with it. "He doesn't go on field and he's usually locked away in his hobbit hole" Tim stated simply and (name) tilted his head at the militant alpha and simply sipped up a few boba pearls and wandered off.

"He seems nice!" Nolan said not quite reading the situation correctly and seeing the best in everyone "he's something" Angela said with a lace of sarcasm before making Jackson follow her to go take their seats for the morning briefing.

(Name) Was a ghost in the department, rarely seen and only heard if something and happened or for a meeting-- frankly everyone just let him do his shit and lead his small team of nerds. He was one of the few omegas in the entire department and he made sure he wasn't to be fucked with and thus earning the nickname 'ice prince' and his cold and distant nature didn't help with the nickname.

Tim stared off where he walked before walking off, Lucy following nervously.

(Name) Plopped into his chair, setting his drink on a coaster on his desk and looking around at the quiet security department, it wasn't the biggest room but he argued hard to let them get the best tech to do their jobs (a bit of a lie since they didn't need fancy gaming computers but damn they looked nice compared to the dated office ones). The office was tidy, (name) was big on messes and didn't tolerate crumbs 'crumbs attract pests and pests destroy our time and our resources' were his rules and and he made sure they were followed strictly but to not seem like a complete stickler, he managed to get the empty storage room to be converted into the departments breakroom and kept it stocked with plenty of snacks and foods.

Only thing allowed at desks were non spillable drinks that were sealed or strawed and thus started (name)s boba addiction.

Turning on his computer, he signed in with an overly complicated password and immediately went to his email and looked through the countless emails and replied with simple and professional answers before noticing something from the captain marked 'MEETING' and quickly opened it "teaching the rookies cyber security in their shops....? Gotta be kidding me" he grumbled and stood up and walked out with his drink and tablet, sunglasses off as he actually respected Captain Anderson.

She was one of the four omegas in the building and he actually enjoyed being around her.

He briskly walked through the building and ignored any stares or whispers before getting to the briefing room and knocked twice before opening the door "there you are, was wondering when you would show" Captain Anderson stated calmly and the cops looked at him with various looks, some curious, some intrigued by the pretty Omega and some seemed annoyed by his very existence though (name) didn't even acknowledge anyone in the room outside of the Sarge and Captain "why don't you just look like sunshine incarnate" Grey teased and (name) blinked his eyes lazily "everyone, this is (name), he's head of cyber security and he's gonna be teaching you all how to not get scammed and destroy your issues phones with viruses"

"And please note, security and I.T can see everything you look up on those phones and yes that means content that should definitely not be seen during work hours" he said calmly and tapped a few buttons on his tablet "as you all saw on your schedules, this is a planned meeting though a surprise for me but fret not as I do this yearly" he said and set his drink on the podium much to Grey's annoyance "captain, do you know what the most common ways a police phone gets hacked into?" The Omega glanced over to the Omega woman with his usual intensity but with a kindness behind his eyes and the Captain spoke confidently "malware and spyware typically due to phishing or outdated software" her words simple and clear cut through the room "correct!" And with another tap to the screen, examples of phishing emails showed on the screen.

Bradford raised his hand and (name) raised his eyebrow "yes, officer Bradford?" His voice calm and a bit bored as if he expected this "half of us don't need this, why do we have to be here?"

"First, this is mandatory so if I have to be here so do you and second no one is immune to being hacked so we are all going to use our listening ears and learn how to not get all of our personal data and this police departments data stolen, ok? Good! And save future questions for the end please"

It was funny seeing Bradford put in his place by the Omega, the Alpha staring at (name) with an annoyed expression but anyone who knew him would know there was more to that stare than annoyance.

It was a well known secret that Bradford and (name) had a complicated relationship, it was mostly hate with vicious mockery masked with flirting and there may or may not be a betting pool on who would confess to who. "Officer Nolan, can you spot the mistakes this Officer made in their email to this scam bot?" (Name) Asked simply and officer Nolan scanned the email intently and spoke with a sense of uncertainty "he added his personal phone number? And he mentioned the area he lived in?"

"Correct but you missed one thing, he used his private phone" (name) pointed down to the 'sent from Android' at the bottom "my team works very hard to make those work phones of yours damn near impossible to hack, any work emails are to be sent from those or the work computers, do not risk your personal data because of this job"

(Name) Continued on and grilled a few officers for their lack of attention or snide answers, by the end a few officers left with their tails between their legs and (name) gained a few more people who were intimidated by him.

After the meeting, he was surprised when the rookies came up to him "If this is about me fighting the vending machine you didn't see that" (name) said seriously and Lucy shook her head "n-no, we just wanted to know how we can protect ourselves with our devices better? Your presentation really opened our eyes at how easy people can hack into our stuff or sell our data"

(Name) Was pleasantly surprised, most of the time people just brushed him off for being young or being an Omega "that is actually easy-- here is a list of softwares that can help" he wrote them down on a notepad on the podium and handed it to Lucy "I'm not writing it down three times so share that, anyways I'm happy you liked it because you will see it next year" he said simply before wandering off, probably to go raid snacks from the communal kitchen.

"What a weird guy" Nolan said simply and Jackson nodded "he's definitely one odd Omega"

It was late, (name) was hunched over his desk working away when the door creaked open and lifting his eyes briefly to see Bradford "your shift ended two hours ago" he said simply and (name) snorted "I'm almost done"

"Save your work and let's go, we gotta prep remember?"

(Name) Grumbled and saved his stuff, the officer already grabbing his belongings for him "thought I was gonna have to drag your behind out of here" he teased the Omega who let the Alpha drape an arm around him when he wandered over "not the first time" "and definitely not the last, brat" the two walked out and (name) allowed himself to relax a little bit, body losing its tension while they went through the building, night shift coming in and barely passing them a glance, too busy getting ready and to anyone it would seem like Bradford was just annoying (name).

Especially because they argued the whole way about being able to drive.

"I am perfectly capable of driving"

"You say that yet you're practically passing out, shut up and let me help you"

"Why do you have to be like this?"

Chen and Jackson watched with snickers as the two argued, (name) clearly exhausted but still fighting the other who actuality decided to help each other.

(Name) Fell into the passengers seat and buckled himself in, Bradford getting into the drivers seat and watched (name) almost pass out in the seat "you did good with that presentation today" the Alpha murmured to the Omega who gazed back at him sleepily "even though you didn't want to be there?"

"I didn't want to relearn it, nothing about not wanting to see your fine ass grill my boot"

"She had the fear of God struck into her..." (Name)s voice slurred a bit and the Alpha chuckled "she sure did"

The streets were dark while (name) slept, Bradford was thankful his mate was finally getting some relaxation especially with the insanity that had been going on in their lives and the upcoming heat that had given (name) a fair amount of anxiety as it was the first one without surpessants in six months.

Tim carried the Omega into the house, Kojo looking at them confused and followed the Alpha to the bedroom where (name) was placed carefully into the bed, Kojo crawling in behind the Omega and snuggling with a relaxed sigh "you watch him ok, bud? I just gotta do some stuff" the dog didn't reply obviously but proceeded to close his eyes and stay with the human.

Tim grabbed blankets and his dirty laundry, water bottles already sitting in the bedroom and their mini fridge stocked with fruits and snacks.

(Name) Was snoring when he returned, completely out cold and snuggled so sweetly.

After everything was brought in, Tim changed into loose clothes knowing it won't stay on for long once the heat kicks in, Angela agreeing to take Kojo the following day just to be safe.

Kojo hopped off the bed when the Alpha got into bed, deciding to go sleep on his plush bed in the corner. Sniffing (name)s neck, the Alpha peppered a few kisses along his mating bite before holding him close and slowly closing his eyes, at work they kept their relationship downlow for (name)s safety but at home?

He would kiss and worship the very existence of his mate.

#x male reader #omega male reader #omegaverse #male reader #the rookie x male reader #the rookie x reader #tim bradford x male reader #tim bradford x reader #tim bradford

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kainabunny · 1 month ago

Note

Do you have any random trivia about Moonie you really want to share, but nobody’s asked?

Ooo that's a good one! OKAY IM GOING TO GUSH AND IT'S LATE !!!! So apologize in advanced for the word dump

Behind the scene:

As Moonie, to get into the voice properly. I tend to just say "Uhhhhh! THIS SUCKS" like a friend of mines. Another is " I'm too tried,I dont wanna do this. Can't I stay a bed a little longer?" I DONT HATE PLAYING HER I JUST IDK.

Reason why Moonie sounded exhausted after Jaq(I believe was that one) was introduced wasn't because of how much trouble they caused. It was because I was sleeping deprivation that week. I binge watch an anime series and forgot I worked the next day... make matters worse we chose to record at an earlier time... My bestie(Davis) has tried to stop thos but unfortunately some animes are WAY TOO GOOD!!!

Moonie doesn't like swearing that often. It's not because she can't is because I don't wanna cause any issues to the editors (🫠)

Spanish Moonie was decided waaay ahead before the episode she debuted on SAMS. Davis and Reed know I adore my roots and thought it would be a great way to add some variety to her.(Since billugual ) Since then I'm glad people enjoy myself speaking spanish. Even if its not often, add the fact the VA casts on Femme are latinos... it made a wonderful addition to Chico and Sunny.

I never really had an excused to draw the girls. Then a promot changed that. SOTW of rhe girls in new outfit was inspiring but I had noooo time. RUSHED THE HELL OUT OF IT AND HATE THE END RESULT. The harshest critic is yourself. Originally there was an idea for moonie to claim being the artist. But I thought it was funnier to have to be mean about seeing my own artwork. JUST to show off moonie can be mean art critic but most cases she likes the teach.

moonie wasn't going to be her name. But we couldn't find a name that we originally we liked. So we stuck to a name that paralleled Sunny.

STORY HEADCANNON!!!

Ive always headcanon that moonie likes to collect sea glass once they moved to the island. Especially at dusk since she feels more comfortable at night.

Ive had this weird storyboard about how Moonie doesn't sleep unless she knows everyone at the house is asleep. She doesn't like people have a bad dream. Programming or not she worries wayy to much on others. Causing a very sleep deprive moonie.

Moonie has a massive sweet tooth! She is obsessed with pastries and cakes but shy to ask for it. However, she makes sure the fridge is stocked with ice cream all the time.

If she wasn't a daycare attendant, I can see her being an art teacher or get a job at cyber security. Idk why those two but here we are.

sorry for the info dump but I'm attached 😅

#kainabunny #femme nights at freddy’s

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jungkoode · 4 months ago

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死 KKANGPAE | #06 死

† charming forks †

"In Kkangpae, respect is earned in blood—even if it's just from a fork to the palm. But it's the hurricane brewing in Jeon's eyes as he watches you handle yourself that has you wondering if maybe there's more than one way to catch an assassin's attention."

next | index

⚔ chapter details ⚔

word count: 5k

rating: mature

content: croissant speculations, bestie gossip, AD being a menace, sope behaving like a married couple, fork-y confrontations and Jeon’s curiosity being piqued (because apparently man’s got other emotions apart from his default stick-up-his-ass one).

☠ author's note ☠

WAIT WHAT?! IS IT POSSIBLE?!

JEON HAS...

*whispers dramatically* F E E L I N G S?!

Did our resident ice prince really look at someone with something other than his patented "I'd rather be literally anywhere else including possibly on fire" expression?!

Okay, in all seriousness—stop coming for my boy. I can FEEL some of you judging him through the screen. He has feelings! They're just... buried... under several layers of trauma, bad decisions, and leather jackets. You'll understand him better eventually, I promise. Maybe. If I'm feeling generous. Which I rarely am (￣︶￣)

Here's the thing: I make my characters complicated on purpose. Humans are messy little disaster creatures, and I want my characters to reflect that beautiful chaotic energy. Everyone's actions are based on the personalities and backstories I've created—some of which you have NO idea about yet. *laughs maniacally* Every character has nuances, and I really hope I'm portraying that properly. Watch me stress about character development at 3 AM while chain-drinking tea because coffee stopped working six chapters ago.

ANYWAY! AD HAS ENTERED THE CHAT. The chaotic technology gremlin of my heart! And Sope's dynamic? *chef's kiss* Two cranky old men pretending they don't care about each other while absolutely caring about each other? BEAUTIFUL. MWAH.

I know it's hard to picture everything now because you're just getting the tiniest glimpse of all these relationships. But trust me, there's an intricate web of backstory that you'll discover eventually. Have fun grasping at straws in the meantime because I'm not making it easy for you! Where's the fun if you know everything THIS SOON?!

THERE IS NONE!!!

So hang tight, be patient, and maybe save those curse words for later chapters. Trust me, you're gonna need them. I have PLANS. *ominous music plays*

Love you all, you disaster enablers. Stay hydrated!

⚔ socials ⚔

read on ao3

read on wattpad

tumblr/twitter: @jungkoode

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

Your crutches click-clack against the stone floors of the castle, and it's weird how normal this feels—hobbling through what used to be some fancy abandoned castle and is now home to South Korea's deadliest gang. Nobody even looks twice at you. Then again, in a place where missing fingers are basically fashion statements, a sprained ankle's hardly worth noticing.

The infirmary door swings shut behind you, cutting off the sharp smell of antiseptic and the muffled sounds of people who definitely had worse mornings than you. The hallway feels almost peaceful in comparison. Almost.

The elevator dings, and suddenly you're face to face with what looks like pure rage wrapped in a hoodie. He storms out like the elevator personally offended him, all baggy clothes and barely contained fury. The track pants and oversized hoodie stand out here—most gang members dress to intimidate, but this guy looks ready for a gaming marathon.

You freeze, crutches awkward under your arms, as he practically radiates "don't talk to me" energy into the hallway. Something about him seems familiar, though you've definitely never met. He brushes past you, and the scent of fresh lemons hits your nose—which is when it clicks.

AD. The genius behind Cyber Intelligence. The guy who designed the security system that keeps rival gangs from turning this place into Swiss cheese. His reputation around here is... interesting. Brilliant but brutal, the kind of person who'd hack your phone just because you breathed too loud near his workspace.

You shuffle into the elevator, trying not to drop your crutches or your dignity. Your card beeps against the scanner, and you hit the button for the fourth floor—home sweet home, or at least as sweet as a gang's seduction division can be.

The doors start closing, giving you one last glimpse of AD's retreating back. The whole encounter probably lasted thirty seconds, but it sticks in your mind. You've heard stories about him—how he practically lives in his division's "gamer cave," how he's as loyal to Kkangpae as he is allergic to basic human interaction.

The elevator hums around you, and you can't help wondering what pushed his buttons today. Guy looked ready to set something on fire with his mind. Though maybe that's just his face. Hard to tell with the Council of 9 sometimes—they've all got enough trauma to keep a therapy practice in business for decades.

When the doors open to your floor, the familiar buzz of the Seduction Division wraps around you like a blanket. Back to your world of honey traps and carefully crafted lies. Still, you can't quite shake the image of AD's fury from your mind.

Guess that's life in Kkangpae—even a simple trip to the infirmary can turn into an encounter with one of the gang's most notorious leaders.

The Seduction Division's floor buzzes with its usual afternoon energy as you hobble through on your crutches. Half your colleagues are sprawled across the common area sofas, deep in mission talk, while others practice their best "come hither" looks in the wall-length mirrors. Just another Tuesday in the art of professional manipulation.

Kazuha doesn't even look up from her iPad as you pass, that wine-red hair falling in perfect waves around her face. She gives you a quick nod though—which, coming from her, might as well be a bear hug. The girl's got that whole "ice queen who could definitely ruin your life but chooses not to" vibe down to an art.

Your shared room feels like heaven after all the hopping around on crutches. Yunjin's exactly where you expected—spread out on her bed like a pink-haired starfish, head hanging off the foot end while she watches what looks like another one of those melodramas she's obsessed with. The contrast between her bubblegum hair and the pastel yellow bedding is probably giving interior designers somewhere an aneurysm.

She brightens up when she spots you, hitting pause mid-dramatic confession scene. "How was medical training?" She twists around to face you, and you can tell she's dying for some good gossip. "Did J-Hope make you practice on oranges?"

"Nah, straight to fake skin." You drop onto your bed, grateful to finally get off your feet. "Though he did spend like twenty minutes ranting about how everyone in this gang stitches like they're drunk toddlers with safety scissors."

The memory makes you laugh. For someone who literally saves lives for a living, J-Hope's got the bedside manner of a grumpy cat. Though you guess when you're dealing with gang members who think they're immortal, maybe being nice stopped working a long time ago.

"Oh!" You perk up, remembering the best part of your morning. "You'll never guess who showed up while I was there."

Yunjin's eyes go wide with interest. She's always been a sucker for castle drama.

"Jeon." You try to keep your voice casual, like you're not still thinking about how he looked without his shirt on. t̶o̶r̶s̶o̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶d̶s̶

Yunjin bolts upright so fast her pink hair whips around her face. "No way. Jeon? What happened?"

"Medical checkup." You grin at how invested she already looks. "You should've seen how much he didn't want to be there."

You can still picture it perfectly—the way he filled the doorway like some dark cloud of attitude, all black clothes and that stupid leather jacket. Even his quick scan of the room felt dismissive, like everything beneath his notice was personally offending him.

"But here's the weird part." You lean in closer, lowering your voice like you're sharing state secrets. "You know how he's usually all... you know, Jeon? Like someone carved him from ice?"

Yunjin nods eagerly.

"Complete different person around J-Hope. I mean, still grumpy as hell, but like... almost human? It was like watching a statue learn to bend."

"Jeon?" Yunjin's eyes go wide. "Are we talking about the same person? Mr. I-Take-Orders-From-Nobody?"

"Oh, it gets better." You can't help the laugh that bubbles up. "He brought J-Hope a croissant."

"A croi—wait." Yunjin sits up straighter. "Oh my god, that explains this morning!"

You raise an eyebrow. "What about this morning?"

"Okay, so you know how he's basically married to that coffee machine, right?"

"First cup of the day, every day," you confirm. Everyone knows that—it's like some weird ritual. The sun rises, birds sing, and Jeon appears to claim the first coffee like it's his divine right.

"Well." Yunjin's practically vibrating with excitement now. "Me and Kazuha were having breakfast, and there he was, just... lurking by the pastries. Like, full-on stalking them. We started betting on what he'd pick because honestly? What else do you do when one of the gang leaders is having an existential crisis over baked goods?"

You frown, something not quite adding up. "Wait, he told J-Hope it was the last pastry left."

"Bullshit." Yunjin flops onto her back, pink hair spreading across her pillow like cotton candy. "It wasn't even 7 AM. The breakfast spread was packed—Kazuha and I had front row seats to his whole pastry-hunting performance."

She stares at the ceiling for a moment, like she's replaying the scene in her head. "Actually... now that I think about it, he was really focused on the croissants. Like, weirdly focused. Standing there analyzing them like they held the secrets of the universe or something."

You both fall quiet, trying to make sense of Mr. Ice Prince going on a dawn croissant mission. It's such a small thing, but it feels... significant somehow. Like finding out your scary math teacher collects Hello Kitty merchandise.

"Well, worked out for me." You shrug, trying to sound casual as you show her the pastry bag. "J-Hope doesn't even like croissants, so."

The look Yunjin gives you could only be described as suspicious.

“Okay but like... isn't that weird to you?" She sits up straighter, getting that expression she always has when she's about to drop some tea. "Jeon's on the Council of 9. He works with J-Hope all the time. How does he not know what the guy likes?"

"What do you mean?"

She leans forward, eyes sparkling like she's solved a murder mystery.

“Think about it. Our fearless Chief of Tactical Assassinations spent ten whole minutes picking out the perfect croissant for someone who hates croissants." Her grin gets wider. "But you know who's always having croissants for breakfast?"

The implication hits you like a truck. No way. There's absolutely no way Jeon would... t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶u̶a̶l̶l̶y̶

"You're reading way too much into this." You try to sound dismissive, but your voice comes out weird. "He probably just grabbed whatever was there."

"Uh-huh." Yunjin's not buying it. "That's why he spent longer choosing a croissant than most people spend picking engagement rings."

You throw a pillow at her face. She's being ridiculous.

Just because Jeon accidentally got you breakfast doesn't mean... anything. He's still the same guy who used you as paintball bait yesterday.

Even if he did pick out a really good croissant.

The weight of Yunjin's words hangs in the air. The idea that Jeon—Mr. Perfect-Planning-Everything—might have deliberately chosen that croissant... it makes something weird flutter in your stomach.

No. Absolutely not.

"As if." You roll your eyes so hard they might get stuck. "How would he even know what I like for breakfast?"

Yunjin just gives you that look—the one that says she knows something you don't want to admit. "You're both always in the cafeteria at dawn, right? Haven't you noticed? He gets his coffee right when you're picking out your croissant."

You pause. She's... not wrong. Your early morning schedule does line up with his weird first-coffee-of-the-day ritual more often than not. But the thought of Jeon actually paying attention to your breakfast preferences? t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶c̶u̶t̶e̶ That's ridiculous.

"But why would he suddenly bring me breakfast?" The question comes out smaller than intended. "He doesn't even like me."

"Maybe he doesn't dislike you as much as you think." Yunjin's voice goes soft, thoughtful. "He's still human, you know? Under all that ice. Maybe he actually felt bad about your ankle."

Her logic makes an annoying amount of sense. But accepting that Jeon might have done something... nice? That he might have been paying enough attention to know what you like? That feels like admitting something you're not ready to face.

Could Jeon really have...?

No. t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ There has to be another explanation. The idea of him noticing your habits, remembering your preferences, actually feeling guilty enough to do something about it—it doesn't fit with the cold, distant chief you know.

Except... maybe it does. And that's even more unsettling than the alternative.

"You need to stop watching those dramas. They're rotting your brain."

"Fine, don't believe me." Yunjin pouts, folding her arms like a scolded kid. "But when has anything in this place ever been simple?" There's this knowing look in her eyes that makes you want to throw another pillow at her, but she mercifully drops the subject.

The pastry bag crinkles as you grab it, desperate for any distraction from t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶J̶e̶o̶n̶ this whole situation. The croissant looks perfect—because of course it does, this is Jeon you’re talking about.

Except for that small bite you already gave it back in the infirmary.

You break it in half, offering part to Yunjin like a peace offering.

One bite and—oh.

Oh.

"This is really good," you manage between bites, trying not to sound too impressed.

Because you hadn’t really had time to savor it, appreciate the taste. But now you do, and holy shit. You've had your fair share of castle croissants—there's a reason you drag yourself out of bed at ungodly hours to get them—but this? This is something else entirely.

Stupid Jeon and his stupid perfectionism. Everyone complains about how anal he is about everything, but apparently that extends to pastry selection too.

That's just annoying.

"God, I could eat like five of these," Yunjin mumbles around her mouthful, and you hum in agreement.

You both enjoy the quiet for a moment, just appreciating good pastry and each other's company. Then Yunjin sits up straighter, switching into work mode. "Hey, while you're here—mind helping me with something on my iPad? I'm stuck on this one part."

You scoot closer as she pulls up files full of charts and data. This is the real meat of gang work—not the glamorous missions or dramatic showdowns, but hours of planning and strategizing. You and Yunjin fall into an easy rhythm, bouncing ideas off each other and finding solutions.

It's nice, actually. Just you and your friend, doing what you do best, making plans that could mean life or death for someone someday.

You know, normal people stuff.

Lunchtime at the castle is its own brand of chaos.

The cafeteria buzzes with life—metal trays clanking, conversations overlapping, and the smell of whatever's cooking today making your stomach growl.

It's kind of wild how this massive, well-lit space becomes neutral ground where gang divisions actually mix.

Even if it's just to argue over the last pudding cup.

Yunjin, being the angel she is, grabs a tray for you since you're still stuck with these stupid crutches. You point out what you want—some spicy stir-fried pork that smells like heaven, a mountain of steamed rice, and enough kimchi to make your breath lethal. The kind of comfort food that reminds you of simpler times, before your life involved paintball ambushes and medical training. Yunjin goes for her usual rabbit food—some fancy salad and seaweed soup.

Finding a table is surprisingly easy. There's this unwritten rule about leaving some spots open for people who need the extra space—like, say, someone who got their ankle twisted during a certain chief's brilliant bait plan. So you snag a spot near the food counter, perfect for people-watching.

The cafeteria has this weird energy to it, like a tide of people flowing in and out. Some grabbing quick bites between missions, others lingering over coffee and gossip. It's probably the most normal part of living in a gang headquarters.

"Look who's eating alone again." Yunjin's voice drops as she stabs at her salad, and you don't even need to look up to know who she means.

"Does he ever eat with anyone?" You can't help asking, because seriously, what's with Jeon and his lone wolf act?

"Sometimes." Yunjin talks around a mouthful of greens. "His division members join him occasionally. Especially Takama."

"Who's Takama?" You mix some kimchi into your rice, trying to sound casual.

"His second in command." She covers her mouth as she chews, ever polite even in a gang cafeteria. "You know, deputy officer of Tactical Assassinations."

You can't help but smirk at the way Yunjin's eyes light up. Your roommate might be shy around strangers, but get her talking about castle gossip and she transforms into a one-woman intelligence agency. Her weird talent for reading people makes her better at gathering intel than half the Seduction Division.

"Okay, tea time." She sets down her fork and turns to face you fully, going into full gossip mode. "So Jeon's basically a lone wolf in the cafeteria. Only exceptions are Takama—his second in command—or sometimes J-Hope."

You take another bite of your food, settling in for what promises to be an interesting breakdown of castle dynamics.

"And get this—J-Hope hardly ever eats here. Man's practically married to his office. But when he does show up?" She leans in closer, lowering her voice. "It's either with Jeon or AD. Those two are like his pet projects or something."

"AD and Jeon?" The combination sounds about as likely as V starting a knitting club. "Wouldn't have called that one."

"Oh no, you'll never catch them together." Yunjin waves her fork for emphasis. "There's this weird... thing between them. Nobody knows why, but the tension's so thick you could cut it with a knife. Still working on figuring that one out."

She drops her voice even lower, like she's sharing state secrets. "AD's basically a cryptid though. Lives in his gamer cave like some kind of tech hermit. But word is, if you hang around the snack bar at 3 AM..."

You snort at her dramatic delivery. "Very spooky."

"And get this—he's apparently even grumpier than J-Hope. But somehow they just... click?"

"Grumpier than Dr. Cranky?" You raise an eyebrow. "That's actually impressive."

"Right? Like, next-level antisocial. But I guess their matching bad attitudes cancel each other out or something. They're both fluent in asshole."

"Well, you'd know." You gesture at her with your chopsticks. "You're the people-reading expert here."

"I mean, I haven't seen everything firsthand." Yunjin shrugs, picking at her salad. "But J-Hope's probably the one Jeon tolerates the most. Now V, on the other hand..."

"Yeah, no need to finish that sentence." You snort. "Those two are about as friendly as cats and dogs."

"Right? They hate each other's guts. Though V's weird because he gets along with everyone else—or at least pretends to. Hard to tell with him, honestly." She pauses, eyebrows shooting up as she glances across the cafeteria. "But he seems weirdly obsessed with JM lately."

"JM?" You follow her gaze. "The finance guy?"

"See the guy in the fluffy cardigan over there?" She tilts her head subtly. "That's him. Usually sits with Chaewon and Jessi. He's like, genuinely nice to everyone, which is probably why he puts up with V's... everything."

"Christ, he must have the patience of a saint."

"Right?" Yunjin snickers. "Meanwhile V's like this social chameleon—just plops down wherever he feels like. No fixed spot, just vibing with whoever catches his attention that day."

"What about Chaewon?" You ask, genuinely curious about your division chief. "You mentioned she sits with Jessi?"

"Yeah, see that woman with the red hair next to her? That's Jessi. They're basically joined at the hip, which makes sense." Yunjin lowers her voice. "Only women on the Council of 9, you know? Gotta stick together in this boys' club."

"Must be rough up there." You watch the two women, something tight forming in your chest. "Especially for Chaewon, considering how she feels about men. Makes you wonder what they went through to get those positions."

"Yeah..." Yunjin's voice goes soft. "Gang leaders don't really talk about their past lives. All I know is Chaewon came from another gang. Might explain some things..." She trails off, watching your division chief for a moment before shaking her head. "But that feels like the kind of story you don't ask about, you know?"

"True." You push around some pork with your fork. "What about RM and Moon though? Never seen them down here."

"Oh god, you won't." Yunjin waves her hand dismissively. "Those two are like urban legends in the cafeteria. Pretty sure they're permanently glued to their office chairs, buried in paperwork."

You're about to ask more when something in the air changes. You feel it before you see it, like a wintery breeze sweeping through the room, chilling and unmistakable. Conversations stutter and restart, heads turning just enough to look casual.

When you follow everyone's not-so-subtle glances, you spot him immediately.

AD, the human thundercloud from this morning, has decided to grace the cafeteria with his presence.

His hoodie's pulled low over blonde hair, and everything about his walk screams 'touch me and die.' He moves like someone who's one minor inconvenience away from committing cyber crimes.

He heads straight for the food counter, completely ignoring the line of people waiting their turn. His eyes scan the options like they've personally offended him. You can hear the quiet grumbling from the queue, but nobody seems brave enough to actually say anything.

Well, almost nobody.

"Hey man, line starts back there." Some new guy who clearly hasn't learned the castle's pecking order yet pipes up.

AD turns his head so slowly it's almost cinematic. The look he gives this poor idiot could probably crash every computer in South Korea.

"Shut the fuck up unless you want your keycard to mysteriously stop working." His voice is barely above a whisper but carries enough venom to kill a small army.

The new guy practically shrinks into himself, mouth snapping shut like a trap. Everyone else in line suddenly finds the floor tiles absolutely fascinating. You get it—when the guy who controls every digital aspect of your life threatens to lock you out of the castle, you shut up and take it.

AD turns back to the food counter like nothing happened, loading his tray with... well, everything. It's like watching someone who hasn't eaten in days try to make up for lost meals all at once. Spicy Korean chicken, Caesar salad, pepperoni pizza, and a bowl of ramen that definitely wasn't meant to be a side dish. The combination is as chaotic as his reputation.

When he turns to survey the cafeteria, his eyes briefly meet yours. The air around you drops several degrees, like someone opened a window to a winter morning. Even under that hood, his gaze is sharp enough to cut glass.

He chooses a table not far from yours, dropping into the chair with a sigh that sounds like it started somewhere around his soul. The curious looks from other members bounce right off him as he attacks his food with the same intensity most people reserve for coding or murder.

Then J-Hope walks in.

The medical chief spots AD immediately, and his eye-roll is probably visible from space. With a huff that screams "not this shit again," he marches over to AD's table like a man on a mission.

"Oh, this'll be good." Yunjin leans in, practically vibrating with excitement.

You watch as J-Hope plants himself at AD's table, hands on hips, radiating disapproval. Whatever he's saying gets completely ignored—AD just keeps eating like J-Hope isn't even there. But instead of giving up, J-Hope drops into the chair across from him, apparently settling in for the long haul.

It's kind of fascinating, actually. J-Hope's clearly telling AD off about something, probably his hermit lifestyle, while AD responds in what looks like grunts and eye-rolls. But the weird thing is... he's letting J-Hope stay. For someone who just threatened to digitally exile a guy for speaking to him, that's practically a declaration of friendship.

"They're like a divorced couple who still lives together," Yunjin whispers, barely containing her grin.

You snort into your rice. "Yeah, if both of them were the grumpy one."

It's hard not to stare at AD. There's something fascinating about watching someone who practically lives in code actually interact with humans. The guy who could probably crash South Korea's entire infrastructure with his phone is sitting here eating pizza with salad.

He's weird for a Council member. The others, like Jeon or V, you can picture them leading divisions. But AD? He feels more like some urban legend the gang created—the grumpy gremlin in the tech cave who might lock you out of your room if you breathe too loud near his servers.

You try not to be too obvious about watching him, but it's kind of mesmerizing. Even now, with J-Hope clearly giving him hell about something, AD maintains this icy distance. Like he's tolerating human interaction because someone forced him to remember he needs food to live.

The cafeteria noise provides perfect cover as you and Yunjin lean in slightly, totally not eavesdropping on what might be the grumpiest conversation in Kkangpae history.

"For someone who's supposed to be a genius, you eat like a fucking teenager with a death wish." J-Hope's voice carries that special blend of medical concern wrapped in pure irritation.

AD doesn't even look up from his food crime scene, just keeps shoveling spicy chicken into his mouth with the enthusiasm of someone who hasn't seen sunlight in days.

"I'm not kidding, AD. Your last medical results were shit." J-Hope leans back, crossing his arms. "Or did you delete that memory along with your basic survival instincts?"

AD finally looks up, his expression screaming 'I'd rather be getting a root canal than having this conversation.' "Can you not? I can handle my own fucking health."

"Yeah, clearly." J-Hope's voice drips sarcasm. "Because staying up for three days straight surviving on energy drinks and spite is peak healthcare. What's your plan when it catches up to you? Hack yourself a new liver?"

A ghost of amusement flickers across AD's face before he squashes it. "Maybe I will. And while I'm at it, I'll program myself some immunity to your bullshit."

"You're impossible." J-Hope rolls his eyes. "Just eat something green occasionally! I'm tired of playing doctor because you think vegetables are optional."

AD stabs a piece of lettuce with enough force to kill it twice, moving with exaggerated slowness. "There. Happy?"

J-Hope gives a narrowed stare, his gaze softening ever so slightly. "No. Eat another one."

"You're so fucking annoying." AD turns away like if he can't see J-Hope, maybe he'll cease to exist.

You and Yunjin share a look, biting back smiles as you watch AD and J-Hope's weird version of friendship play out.

It's kind of sweet, in a grumpy-meets-grumpier way.

Even in Kkangpae, where everyone's got walls built up to their eyeballs, sometimes you catch glimpses of actual human connection. Even if it's just two cranky leaders arguing about salad.

But the peaceful moment doesn’t last long.

Harmony shatters when a group from V's division walks in. The atmosphere shifts immediately—you can feel it in the way conversations quiet down, in how other members subtly shift away. V's assassins always move like they own the place, all swagger and deadly grace.

Your stomach drops when one of them breaks away from the pack, heading straight for your table. He's tall, probably handsome if you could get past the douchebag energy radiating off him.

He plants his hands on your table, leaning into your space like he's got every right to be there.

"Hey princess, heard about your ankle..." His voice drips fake sympathy before sliding into something that makes your skin crawl. He leans closer, close enough that you can smell whatever cheap cologne he's drowning in. "When you recover, how about some private lessons? I bet you could teach me all about seduction..."

The suggestion hangs in the air like something rotten.

Your mind floods with comebacks—each one sharper than the last, each one perfectly crafted to cut him down to size.

But you keep quiet.

Not because you're scared. Not because you don't have anything to say. But because you know how this game works.

In Kkangpae, everything's about power. One wrong move, one moment of weakness, and suddenly you're marked.

And being a woman in this testosterone-fueled nightmare means always watching your step, always calculating the cost of each word.

Your silence apparently pisses him off more than any insult could. His face twists ugly, that fake charm vanishing like smoke. "I'm talking to you, bitch."

You catch Yunjin starting to rise, all protective big sister energy, but you grab her arm. This isn't her fight. Besides, you've dealt with worse than some bruised ego in a leather jacket.

The cafeteria's gone weirdly quiet. You can feel eyes on you from every direction—AD pausing mid-bite, J-Hope's exasperation shifting to concern, V watching like this is better than cable. Even Jeon's stopped pretending to eat his lunch, those dark eyes fixed on the scene playing out.

You finally look at the guy, really look at him, keeping your face blank.

“And I'm not interested."

The words hit him like a slap. His face goes red, then purple, and suddenly his hand twitches.

The whole cafeteria seems to hold its breath.

You catch flickers of movement—Chaewon half-rising from her seat, JM's eyes going wide, Jessi's hand twitching toward what's probably a knife.

But it's Jeon's reaction that catches your attention. He hasn't moved, hasn't said a word, but the look he's giving this guy is like a typhoon gaining speed. The kind of stare that promises violence, calculated and cold and absolutely certain.

Not that you need the backup.

The moment his hand comes down, you move.

The fork in your hand becomes a weapon, and you catch his wrist mid-swing, driving the tines deep into his palm. The movement is smooth, precise—exactly what they taught you in training. Always use what's available, turn everyday objects into advantages.

He screams (more shock than pain probably), stumbling back like you've burned him. His eyes are huge, that macho confidence evaporating as blood wells up around the fork still stuck in his hand.

Everyone goes dead silent.

Like their brains are recalculating, adjusting their mental image of the new girl who just stabbed someone with cutlery.

t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶c̶h̶

"Maybe think twice about who you're messing with next time."

He yanks his hand back with a string of curses, blood dripping onto the pristine cafeteria floor. His face twists ugly, like he can't decide if he's more hurt or pissed.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

You lean back in your chair, channeling every ounce of b̶i̶t̶c̶h̶ confidence you've got. The fork might have been impulsive, but now it's time to play smart.

"Someone who has Chaewon's ear." You let that sink in for a second. "And you know who Chaewon's best friends with? Jessi. You know, the one who handles personnel management?" Your smile feels sharp enough to cut. "Wonder what they'd think about some guy from Assassinations harassing their girls."

The color drains from his face so fast it's almost funny.

Nothing like dropping two of the scariest names in Kkangpae to make a man rethink his life choices. You can practically see him doing the math in his head—is harassing the new girl worth potentially pissing off not one, but two Council members?

"You wouldn't—" His voice wavers between threat and panic.

"Try me." You cut him off clean. "This isn't even about me. You really think they'd let this slide? Their division members getting pushed around by some wannabe tough guy?"

His jaw clenches so hard you're surprised his teeth don't crack. The rage is still there, but now it's got a healthy dose of fear mixed in. Good. Maybe next time he'll think before running his mouth.

"Fucking bitch," he spits, but the words don't have much bite anymore.

You glance pointedly at the bloody fork still sticking out of his hand.

"Get me a new fork while you're at it. You got blood all over this one."

The cafeteria's still dead silent, everyone probably wondering if they just witnessed career suicide by cutlery. But hey—sometimes you've got to stab a man with a fork to make a point.

He shoots you one last glare before stalking off, still cursing under his breath.

You watch him go, noticing how the other assassins suddenly find their lunch absolutely fascinating.

Funny how quickly tough guys back down when someone actually stands up to them.

Conversations resume, though noticeably quieter than before. You can feel the weight of everyone's stares finally lifting—some impressed, others probably wondering if you've got a death wish.

Everyone's except Jeon's.

When you turn to meet his gaze, something's different. Those dark eyes catch yours across the cafeteria, and something electric passes between you. It's different from his usual dismissive glances. Like he's seeing you properly for the first time. Not just as the new girl from Seduction, or the one who twisted her ankle during his paintball game. But as someone who can hold her own.

His expression hasn't changed—he's still got that perfect poker face—but there's something in his eyes that wasn't there before.

Something that feels almost like respect.

His lips twitch, just barely, before he looks away.

But that tiny almost-smile says more than words could.

Maybe stabbing someone with a fork is all it takes to impress the mighty Chief of Tactical Assassinations.

t̶o̶o̶ ̶b̶a̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶h̶o̶l̶e̶

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reckless-weasel · 6 months ago

Note

“No, he didn’t….”

He shook his head which caused a bit of a headache. Now that he thinks about it…damn it he left his jacket there….well, he had an excuse to go back again.

-> The poor feline was making his way through Playground, tail curled between his legs in worry. - @blue-raspberry-rapper [CATSHOT]

Hover stumbled towards their shared house. He couldn’t hear much. Everything sounded muffled and there was a high pitched ring. Everything hurts…

Why today?…

#catshot ic #hoverboard interaction #no longer my body//hoverboard #kittypup//hoverboard and catshot #Cyber is an amazing hacker but he’s a known hacker. He’s even been able to hack into Banland’s cameras and security #that’s why he never leaves his apartment cause people recognize him #dangerous job lol

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misfitwashere · 3 months ago

Text

April 11, 2025

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

APR 12

READ IN APP

On April 4, Trump fired head of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and director of the National Security Agency (NSA) General Timothy Haugh, apparently on the recommendation of right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who is pitching her new opposition research firm to “vet” candidates for jobs in Trump’s administration.

Former secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall wrote in Newsweek yesterday that the position Haugh held is “one of the most sensitive and powerful jobs in America.” Kendall writes that NSA and CYBERCOM oversee the world’s most sophisticated tools and techniques to penetrate computer systems, monitor communications around the globe, and, if national security requires it, attack those systems. U.S. law drastically curtails how those tools can be used in the U.S. and against American citizens and businesses. Will a Trump loyalist follow those laws? Kendall writes: “Every American should view this development with alarm.”

Just after 2:00 a.m. eastern time this morning, the Senate confirmed Retired Air Force Lieutenant General John Dan Caine, who goes by the nickname “Razin,” for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by a vote of 60–25. U.S. law requires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to have served as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of staff of the Army, the chief of naval operations, the chief of staff of the Air Force, the commandant of the Marine Corps, or the commander of a unified or specified combatant command.

Although Caine has 34 years of military experience, he did not serve in any of the required positions. The law provides that the president can waive the requirement if “the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest,” and he has apparently done so for Caine. The politicization of the U.S. military by filling it with Trump loyalists is now, as Kendall writes, “indisputable.”

The politicization of data is also indisputable. Billionaire Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) claims to be saving Americans money, but the Wall Street Journal reported today that effort has been largely a failure (despite today’s announcement of devastating cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that monitors our weather). But what DOGE is really doing is burrowing into Americans’ data.

The first people to be targeted by that data collection appear to be undocumented immigrants. Jason Koebler of 404 Media reported on Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been using a database that enables officials to search for people by filtering for “hundreds of different, highly specific categories,” including scars or tattoos, bankruptcy filings, Social Security number, hair color, and race. The system, called Investigative Case Management (ICM), was created by billionaire Peter Thiel’s software company Palantir, which in 2022 signed a $95.9 million contract with the government to develop ICM.

Three Trump officials told Sophia Cai of Politico that DOGE staffers embedded in agencies across the government are expanding government cooperation with immigration officials, using the information they’re gleaning from government databases to facilitate deportation. On Tuesday, DOGE software engineer Aram Moghaddassi sent the first 6,300 names of individuals whose temporary legal status had just been canceled. On the list, which Moghaddassi said covered those on “the terror watch list” or with “F.B.I. criminal records,” were eight minors, including one 13-year-old.

The Social Security Administration worked with the administration to get those people to “self-deport” by adding them to the agency's “death master file.” That file is supposed to track people whose death means they should no longer receive benefits. Adding to it people the administration wants to erase is “financial murder,” former SSA commissioner Martin O’Malley told Alexandra Berzon, Hamed Aleaziz, Nicholas Nehamas, Ryan Mac, and Tara Siegel Bernard of the New York Times. Those people will not be able to use credit cards or banks.

On Tuesday, Acting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Melanie Krause resigned after the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security agreed to share sensitive taxpayer data with immigration authorities. Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes, in part to demonstrate their commitment to citizenship, and the government has promised immigrants that it would not use that information for immigration enforcement. Until now, the IRS has protected sensitive taxpayer information.

Rene Marsh and Marshall Cohen of CNN note that “[m]ultiple senior career IRS officials refused to sign the data-sharing agreement with DHS,” which will enable HHS officials to ask the IRS for names and addresses of people they suspect are undocumented, “because of grave concerns about its legality.” Ultimately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signed the agreement with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Krause was only one of several senior career officials leaving the IRS, raising concerns among those staying that there is no longer a “defense against the potential unlawful use of taxpayer data by the Trump administration.”

Makena Kelly of Wired reported today that for the past three days, DOGE staffers have been working with representatives from Palantir and career engineers from the IRS in a giant “hackathon.” Their goal is to build a system that will be able to access all IRS records, including names, addresses, job data, and Social Security numbers, that can then be compared with data from other agencies.

But the administration’s attempt to automate deportation is riddled with errors. Last night the government sent threatening emails to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and even a Canadian (in Canada) terminating “your parole” and giving them seven days to leave the U.S. One Massachusetts-born immigration lawyer asked on social media: “Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?”

The government is not keen to correct its errors. On March 15 the government rendered to prison in El Salvador a legal U.S. resident, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, whom the courts had ordered the U.S. not to send to El Salvador, where his life was in danger. The government has admitted that its arrest and rendition of Abrego Garcia happened because of “administrative error” but now claims—without evidence—that he is a member of the MS-13 gang and that his return to the U.S. would threaten the public. Abrego Garcia says he is not a gang member and notes that he has never been charged with a crime.

On April 4, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered the government to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. no later than 11:59 pm on April 7. The administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which handed down a 9–0 decision yesterday, saying the government must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release, but asked the district court to clarify what it meant by “effectuate,” noting that it must give “due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.”

The Supreme Court also ordered that “the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps.”

Legal analyst Joyce White Vance explained what happened next. Judge Xinis ordered the government to file an update by 9:30 a.m. today explaining where Abrego Garcia is, what the government is doing to get him back, and what more it will do. She planned an in-person hearing at 1:00 p.m.

The administration made clear it did not intend to comply. It answered that the judge had not given them enough time to answer and suggested that it would delay over the Supreme Court’s instruction that Xinis must show deference to the president’s ability to conduct foreign affairs. Xinis gave the government until 11:30 and said she would still hold the hearing. The government submitted its filing at about 12:15, saying that Abrego Garcia is “in the custody of a foreign sovereign,” but at the 1:00 hearing, as Anna Bower of Lawfare reported, the lawyer representing the government, Drew Ensign, said he did not have information about where Abrego Garcia is and that the government had done nothing to get him back. Ensign said he might have answers by next Tuesday. Xinis says they will have to give an update tomorrow.

As Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently warned, if the administration can take noncitizens off the streets, render them to prison in another country, and then claim it is helpless to correct the error because the person is out of reach of U.S. jurisdiction, it could do the same thing to citizens. Indeed, both President Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt have proposed that very thing.

Tonight, Trump signed a memorandum to the secretaries of defense, interior, agriculture, and homeland security calling for a “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions.” The memorandum creates a military buffer zone along the border so that any migrant crossing would be trespassing on a U.S. military base. This would allow active-duty soldiers to hold migrants until ICE agents take them.

By April 20, the secretaries of defense and homeland security are supposed to report to the president whether they think he should invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to enable him to use the military to aid in mass deportations.

—

#heather cox richardson #letters from an american

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thezombieprostitute · 1 year ago

Text

Dream Come True - Part 9

Summary: The “Garbage Men” are the guys in the mob who get the dirt on others and clean up after the higher ups. They have many different ways of gathering intel by running legitimate businesses. One such business is Jefferson/Jensen’s cyber cafe where you regularly go to work. You’ve actually become good friends with Jefferson’s daughter and Jensen’s niece. You even volunteered as their after-school tutor. One day, there’s a robbery attempt where you get hurt protecting the girls. This is how you are introduced to Curtis Everett, the guy in charge of the “Garbage Men”.

A/N: Reader is plus sized, femme. No other descriptors used.

Word Count: ~1800

Warnings: Bullying, Fat shaming, Insecure reader, VIOLENCE. Please let me know if I missed any!

Part 8 -- Part 10

Series Masterlist

Curtis hears you whimpering in your sleep as you grip his arm tighter. Figuring you’re having a nightmare he gently wakes you up. You look around confused for a little bit before dropping his arm and apologizing. He reassures you with a smile as he massages his arm. You give him a confused look and he says, “you’ve been asleep for a few hours; my arm for a little less than that.”

“I’m sor-” you stop yourself when he raises an eyebrow. “Thank you,” you ventured. “Thank you for letting me sleep and letting me use your arm for a pillow.”

His smile grows, “it wasn’t a problem at all.”

“Have there been any updates?”

“Yes, not all of them good,” Curtis nods. “Ransom is in the hospital but he should make it. Lloyd’s co-conspirators are dead but he’s escaped. We’re working on trying to track him but he’s gone off our radar. We’re working with other families to signal us if they see him. In the meantime, no one goes out alone. Everyone travels in groups of at least two.”

He sees you tense at the information and unconsciously rub at your arm around where the bruise is. His eyes soften, “do you need an ice pack for that? Maybe some painkillers?”

“I think it might be a little late for an ice pack,” you whisper. “But, yeah, some tylenol or something wouldn’t go amiss.”

“Okay,” he says as he gets up. “Let’s go get you some.”

“Have you eaten,” your own stomach is aching and you don’t remember seeing Curtis eat anything before your nap.

“Not really,” he admits. “There’s probably some leftover pizza in the fridge. We can talk while we eat, okay?”

You follow him to the kitchenette area and, as you eat, you relate to him everything that happened to you after you left Ransom’s. It’s hard to believe all that you’ve been through in just 24 hours. Curtis never interrupts you but offers his hand when you have problems talking about your interactions with Lloyd.

When you’re done he says, “that explains a few things we picked up from Ransom.” You give him a confused look and he continues, “Ransom told us that Lloyd was insistent on getting details about you. His co-conspirators were there with him because he had a potential security breach with you and they needed to see him clean it up.”

“Oh god, I got him hurt,” you whisper. “Fuck. I should’ve stayed at the hotel. Mr. Drysdale’s an ass but Lloyd is a monster. He doesn’t deserve that.”

“If you’d stayed at the hotel I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself,” Curtis admitted. “I wasn’t able to think straight until I got you back here. I really shouldn’t have left the team in the lurch like that. And I know I wouldn’t have listened to you if you tried to tell me to leave you there.”

“That couldn’t have been fair to the guys,” you complain. “I don’t think baking them some cookies will be enough to make up for it. They needed you and I got in the way.”

“Don’t,” Curtis chided. “Don’t speak about yourself like that. You’re a lot more important than you think.”

“I’m not much of anything,” you muttered. “I just fall into these situations. The nieces? Ransom’s signals? Lloyd? Things just happen and I react. Just like anyone else. You and your team are planners, able to think several steps ahead, able to keep safe in dangerous situations. Things don’t “just happen” to you. You’re able to prepare, think through possibilities. I just have blind reactions to everything in life.”

“You really don’t see your adaptability as a strength? Yeah, shit happens and blindsides you, but you’re able to keep your head above water. I have to do all of that planning because, as you’ve seen, being hit by an unknown throws me for a loop that makes me default to anger. And that quick switch you did to throw Lloyd off? That was incredibly quick thinking!”

“No,” you shake your head, “that was actually a bit of experience.” Curtis sits forward, concerned about the implications of your statement. “I wasn’t kidnapped before, nothing like that. I just…” you take a deep breath, “I’d go out with people I thought were friends. They’d get hit on all the time but I was definitely the ugly, fat friend. The guys who got turned down by my friends would occasionally get so drunk that they’d aggressively flirt with me. Not because they were actually interested, of course. They’d insist that they were being nice and doing me a favor. They’d frequently not take “no” for an answer because they couldn’t handle the thought of the ugly one not wanting them. The only difference between them and Lloyd is that Lloyd wasn’t drunk.”

“If you give me their names I’ll make sure they regret treating you like that.”

You give him a sad smile, “I already feel bad for getting Mr. Drysdale hurt. Even when people are assholes I don’t like to see them hurt. I’m weird like that.”

“You’re an angel like that.”

“I think it’s more, I wasted so much time with them that I’d rather not give them any more. Time is precious and I don’t want to waste it on people who don’t deserve it.”

Curtis hesitates, thinking on past interactions with you. “So, that day I called your prettiness a bonus?”

You duck your head close to your chest, “I overreacted. And for that I do apologize. You were just trying to be nice but I was hurting and I lashed out at you. I’m sorry.”

“If that’s you lashing out, I’m good,” Curtis chuckles. “All you did was accuse me of pitying you.”

“Still, you didn’t deserve my anger.”

“I think I got more anger from you when you were arguing about being overpaid. Or about the guys being overworked.”

“That wasn’t anger, Sir. That was debate and, well, stubbornness.”

“A stubbornness that seems to help people.”

Curtis’s smile is broken by a yawn and you ask, “when was the last time you slept?”

“It’s been a while, I’ll admit.”

“You should really get some sleep, Sir.”

“I can’t,” he shakes his head. “Until we get some kind of update on Lloyd’s whereabouts, any sleep I get is going to leave me even more tired than if I never slept at all.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” you concede. “So, what do you generally do when you can’t sleep but can’t leave standby mode?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” he admits. “Usually there’s work to be done. Intel to verify, cleaning to do, garbage to dispose of. But right now all I’ve got is waiting and making sure you’re okay.”

“Thanks for not leaving me alone,” you hum. “Thanks for bringing me with you. I know I was never supposed to know all of this. That I was supposed to stay on the legitimate side of things. But, even though I’m in the middle of the storm, I feel really safe with you.”

“That’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive,” he beams. “And I mean it.”

You’re walking back to the kitchenette from the bathroom when you’re slammed hard against the wall. You barely let out a squeak before feeling your windpipe cut off. You open your eyes and see Lloyd, smiling wickedly and holding a butterfly knife.

“Oh Pumpkin,” he sneers, “I told you not to run. Imagine my surprise when Pretty Boy finally confessed you were one of Everett’s agents? Fucker took my job, seems only fair I take his whore–”

His head is slammed into the wall you’re pinned against, barely missing you. The force is hard enough that Lloyd lets go of your neck and you drop, struggling to catch your breath. You’re able to register Curtis repeatedly smashing Lloyd’s head into the wall before Lloyd is able to push Curtis back. He spins to face Curtis, flashing the butterfly knife but Curtis doesn’t hesitate to charge as soon as he’s got his footing.

You struggle to get away from the wall, not wanting to get Curtis hurt because of your interference. You find your phone in your pocket and send an SOS to Jake. You look up just in time to see Lloyd landing a kick to Curtis’s leg but he doesn’t even seem to flinch. He’s twisted Lloyd’s arm, making him drop the knife, before throwing him to the far side of the room. Curtis storms after him, not giving Lloyd time to get his footing, keeping him on the defensive, only able to focus on blocking or deflecting hits.

Curtis’s face is pure blood-lust and rage. You know you’re looking at Berserker. A small part of you knows you should be scared, but you’re not. He’s protecting you. Thinking you should return the favor and keep him safe, you look around for the butterfly knife. You’ve seen enough movies to know that it could come back into play against Curtis. You carefully remove it from the improvised arena and stay back.

Lloyd manages to get in a few punches but Curtis is relentless. When Lloyd starts flailing, clearly losing consciousness, Curtis pushes him to the floor before continuing to smash his face in.

“Curtis!” You cry out painfully in an attempt to get his attention. You’re quite sure Lloyd is at least incapacitated if not dead. He doesn’t seem to hear you so try again, “Curtis, please!”

He pauses. You see him blink several times, seeming to come back to himself. He turns to you, “I’m so sorry. You weren’t supposed to see that.” He backs away from Lloyd’s body, running to the sink to wash his hands. He keeps repeating, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Curtis, look at me,” you gently plead. His eyes shoot up and you see he’s scared, terrified even. “Thank you, Curtis,” you whisper, voice hoarse from Lloyd’s attack. “Thank you for rescuing me.” His hands stop shaking as he searches your eyes for any sign you’re scared. But you’re not. You hold firm in that and it helps to ground him. You step closer to him and he melts into your touch as you hold him.

Soon after the others come by and clean up Lloyd’s body. The higher ups are informed and let out a breath of relief.

When the business side of things is concluded you ask Curtis if he’d be willing to stay with you at your apartment for a couple of days. You’re certain you’ll have nightmares and having him there, even if it’s just on the couch, will be a great comfort for you. He wholeheartedly agrees that he’ll sleep better as well if he can keep an eye on you.

Part 8 -- Part 10

Tagging @alicedopey because I promised I would.

@alexakeyloveloki

@bigtreefest

@dontbescaredtosingalong

@hisredheadedgoddess28

@icefrozendeadlyqueen

@lokislady82

@texmexdarling

@veltana

@winter-soldier-101

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged.

#curtis everett x reader #curtis everett x plus size!reader #curtis everett x insecure!reader #mafia!curtis everett #mob!curtis everett #curtis everett #plus size!reader

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kpopfeeds · 7 days ago

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RM's Profile

Birth Name: Kim Nam Joon

Stage Name: RM

Positions: Leader & Main Rapper

Birthday: September 12, 1994

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Height: 181 cm (5'11")

Weight: 76 kg (167 lbs)

Blood Type: A

Facts:

In 2006, RM studied languages in New Zealand for 4 months

He's currently enrolled to Global Cyber University

Pre-debut he had already been performing as an underground rapper, with several tracks released, informally including a collaboration with Zico

He taught himself how to speak English, by watching Friends

RM is really smart with an IQ of 148. He was previously ranked in the top 1% of the nation in his high school exams

His hobbies are surfing the web, walking the park, cycling, photography, and mountain climbing

He is good at ice skating

He's a great supporter of the LBGTQ+ community

He started to write lyrice since he was in high school, on his textbooks

RM has composed/produced 100+ songs

Despite his rough and tough image, he is very playful and relaxed

His favorite color are black, pink, and purple

His favorite number is 1

RM had a dream of being a security guard when he was still young

His role models are Kanye West and ASAP Rocky

RM wrote the lyrics of No More Dream because he had no dreams when he was in school

He would like to make a sub-unit with Jungkook

He was the first member to join BTS

He likes to imitate his members

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loislane-ana · 2 months ago

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NEWS, UKRAINE, ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT TRUMP, NYC, SNL, official visit, jetzero, wall street, ice, atlanta, movies, cyber security, tariffs,

youtube

#NEWS #UKRAINE #ZELENSKYY #PRESIDENT TRUMP #NYC #SNL #official visit #jetzero #wall street #ice #atlanta #movies #cyber security #tariffs #Youtube

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 3 months ago

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Matt Davies

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 11, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Apr 12, 2025

The Supreme Court also ordered that “the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#political cartoons #Matt Davies #The Big Chill #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters from An American #personal data #the right to privacy #identity theft #mistaken identity #SCOTUS #secretary of defense #homeland security #incompetence #data mining #data weaponization

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mariacallous · 8 months ago

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Joint ODNI, FBI, and CISA Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ODNI News Release No. 29-24 November 4, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the following statement:

“Since our statement on Friday, the IC has been observing foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, conducting additional influence operations intended to undermine public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections and stoke divisions among Americans. The IC expects these activities will intensify through election day and in the coming weeks, and that foreign influence narratives will focus on swing states.

Russia is the most active threat. Influence actors linked to Russia in particular are manufacturing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences, judging from information available to the IC. These efforts risk inciting violence, including against election officials. We anticipate Russian actors will release additional manufactured content with these themes through election day and in the days and weeks after polls close.

The IC assesses that Russian influence actors recently posted and amplified an article falsely claiming that U.S. officials across swing states plan to orchestrate election fraud using a range of tactics, such as ballot stuffing and cyber attacks.

Russian influence actors also manufactured and amplified a recent video that falsely depicted an interview with an individual claiming election fraud in Arizona, which involved creating fake overseas ballots and changing voter rolls to favor Vice President Kamala Harris. The Arizona Secretary of State has already refuted the video’s claim as false.

Iran also remains a significant foreign influence threat to U.S. elections. As noted in a prior update, we have assessed that Iran has conducted malicious cyber activities to compromise former President Trump’s campaign. Iranian influence actors may also seek to create fake media content intended to suppress voting or stoke violence, as they have done in past election cycles. We previously reported that Iran also remains determined to seek revenge against select former US officials whom it views as culpable for the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) Commander Soleimani in January 2020. It has repeatedly highlighted former President Donald Trump among its priority targets for retribution.

In light of continued influence efforts by foreign adversaries and the increasing volume of inauthentic content online, CISA recommends voters seek out information from trusted, official sources, in particular, state and local election officials.

The FBI and CISA encourage campaigns and election infrastructure stakeholders to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to their local Election Crime Coordinators via FBI field office (www.fbi.gov/fieldoffices), by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or online at ic3.gov. Cyber incidents impacting election infrastructure can also be reported to CISA by calling 1-844-Say-CISA (1-844-729-2472), emailing [email protected], or reporting online at cisa.gov/report. Election infrastructure stakeholders and the public can find additional resources about how to protect against cyber and physical threats at CISA’s #PROTECT2024 (https://www.cisa.gov/protect2024).”

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nicolettesdreamworld · 5 months ago

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The Ghost - chapter 1

This chapter will be shorter. You could think of it as a Prologue. I just needed to set up the story a bit. Once again, I have no idea where this will go, but I hope you like it!

Emily knew. She felt it in her bones the moment the first man vanished. Walter J. Anderson—high-ranking State Department official. At first, she told herself it was paranoia. A byproduct of too many years in the CIA, where paranoia was a survival skill.

But when the second man disappeared, the doubt evaporated. Anthony Lopez, an NSA cyber-security analyst.

This wasn’t random. This was targeted.

Then came the message. A simple, chilling sentence that turned her blood to ice:

"I know all your secrets." Written on an empty CIA file.

Emily tried to ignore the feeling gnawing at her gut. But instincts like hers didn’t just fade—they sharpened, demanded attention.

An hour after the roundtable meeting, she found herself standing outside Hotch’s office. She needed to tell someone, and who better than the one person who trusted intuition as much as evidence?

“There’s someone who can help us crack this,” she said, stepping inside. “If she’s willing.”

Hotch didn’t press. He knew Emily wouldn’t bring this up unless it was serious.

Nicolette.

They had once worked side by side, their partnership seamless—until one op shattered her. Trauma forced her into retirement, retreating to a town where no one knew her name, surviving off a pension and the hope that she’d never be called back.

But this case was different.

Hotch met Emily’s gaze and gave a single nod. “Do it. Bring her in.”

He never ignored a gut feeling. And Emily Prentiss didn’t voice concerns unless they were too severe to keep to herself.

Emily chewed on her fingernail as the phone rang. It had been years. Too many. She wasn’t even sure if Nicolette would pick up.

Miles away, in a quiet little town, Nicolette was making lunch when the familiar number flashed across her screen. She froze.

Emily.

They never called. Texts, sure—sporadic, surface-level check-ins. But a call? Not in over three years.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally answered, her voice barely steady.

"Prentiss."

Silence. A breath.

"Nic," Emily said.

Nicolette exhaled sharply, gripping the phone tighter. "It’s been a while."

"Too long."

A pause. The kind that says everything.

"This isn’t a social call, is it?" Nicolette asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'm afraid not," Emily said.

"Then I'm sorry, but I can't help you," Nicolette replied, her voice clipped.

"Nic, please. Just listen," Emily urged.

"No." The word was firm, final.

Emily took a breath. "You won’t go into the field. We just need a consult."

Silence.

Nicolette weighed her options. One part of her wanted to help Emily—wanted to believe she could still be useful. The other part was terrified. She had buried that life for a reason.

But consulting? Consulting was safe.

"It must be bad if you’re calling a former CIA spy," Nicolette said, trying to steady herself. "Who’s dead?"

"Not dead," Emily corrected. "Missing. Two high-ranking government officials."

That alone was enough to make Nicolette uneasy. But then Emily added the part that made her blood run cold.

"We got a message, Nic."

A pause.

"What kind of message?"

"I know all your secrets," Emily said, her voice quieter now. "Written on an empty CIA file."

Nicolette dragged a hand through her hair and cursed under her breath.

Emily didn’t let the silence linger. "I wouldn’t be calling you if my gut wasn’t telling me you could help us. Nicolette… I don’t think I can do this without you."

And just like that, the past came knocking.

When Emily told the team that Nicolette was coming, it didn’t go over well.

The BAU was more than a unit—they were a family. And they didn’t take kindly to outsiders.

Especially Morgan.

While the others kept their reservations to themselves, Morgan wasn’t one to hold back.

"She’s a stranger, Prentiss. We don’t know anything about her or her past," he said, arms crossed, skepticism clear in his voice.

Emily met his gaze without flinching. "All you need to know is that I’d trust her with my life."

She let that sink in before adding, "And in fact, she’s held my life in her hands more times than I can count."

The room went quiet.

Because that kind of trust? It wasn’t given lightly.

"She’s a spy, trained in deception," Morgan said, arms still crossed.

"So am I," Prentiss shot back without hesitation. "She’s a seasoned agent. A brilliant one at that. And if my gut is right, we’re going to need all the help we can get."

Morgan scoffed, but before he could push further, Hotch gave him a look.

It wasn’t that Hotch wasn’t skeptical—he was. But he also trusted Prentiss. And he trusted her judgment.

"Emily thinks this might be connected to her CIA work," Hotch said, his voice calm, measured. "Having another former CIA operative on board could be an asset."

"But Hotch, she’s—" Morgan started, but Emily didn’t let him finish.

"My right-hand woman," she said firmly. "And if we want to crack this, I need my right-hand woman."

A silence settled over the team.

Then, as if on cue, a figure appeared in the doorway.

They turned to look.

Nicolette.

She wasn’t what they expected.

A young blonde woman with sharp blue eyes. Not short, but not tall either. And more than anything—she seemed young. Too young to have the kind of past Emily had described.

She looked closer to Spencer’s age than someone with a long CIA career behind her.

And yet, there was something in her stance. The way she held herself—calm, controlled. Like she had already assessed the room, cataloged every threat, and determined her next move.

Whatever doubts they had, Nicolette had clearly faced worse.

And she was here.

Spencer looked at her and immediately felt a wave of anxiety creep in.

To be fair, he always got anxious around women. But this was different.

Nicolette was intimidating. Not in a loud or overbearing way—but in the quiet, effortless confidence she carried. She may have been young, but there was a presence about her, something assured and unshakable.

Something Spencer lacked in more ways than one.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to break eye contact. But just as tension coiled in his chest, Nicolette turned to Emily—and her entire demeanor shifted.

Her face lit up with a warm, genuine smile. "Prentiss," she said, crossing the room without hesitation.

Emily’s expression softened. "Nic."

The two embraced like old friends, like comrades who had seen the worst of the world together and still managed to find their way back.

And just like that, some of Spencer’s nerves eased.

She wasn’t just an outsider.

She was Emily’s person.

And that meant something.

Spencer watched as Emily introduced Nicolette to the team. Nicolette shook each of their hands, her demeanor warm and disarming—but there was still that undercurrent of something unspoken, something that kept Spencer’s nerves on edge.

She didn’t seem as intimidating when she was smiling, but that didn’t change the fact that she was a woman. A beautiful one at that.

When Emily finally turned to him, Spencer felt his palms start to sweat. His mouth went dry. He gave Nicolette one of his tight-lipped smiles, the kind he usually reserved for awkward situations.

When Nicolette extended her hand toward him, Spencer panicked. His brain scrambled for something—anything—to say to cover up the knot in his stomach.

"The number of pathogens passed during a handshake is staggering," he blurted out, his voice more high-pitched than he intended. "It’s actually safer to kiss."

The words hung in the air for a beat.

Nicolette didn’t flinch. Instead, her lips quirked into a smile, amused but unfazed.

"Good to know," she said, her voice light.

#spencer reid #spencer reid x oc #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid fanfiction

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 7 months ago

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Wednesday SpaceTime 20241127 Series 27 Episode 143

A new study shows our Milky Way galaxy isn’t typical

A new study surveying our part of the universe has discovered that our Milky Way Galaxy isn’t typical but an outlier among similar galaxies.

Proba-3's journey to study the Sun's corona

All systems are go for next month’s launch of the European Space Agency’s new Proba-3 mission to study the Sun.

Australia’s secret military satellite launch

SpaceX has launched a classified mission for Optus and the Australian Defence force.

The Science Report

Measles cases have surged across the world.

A large icefield in Alaska is now losing ice at an accelerated rate since 2005.

Study shows cats associate human words with images without prompting or a reward.

Alex on Tech: new cyber security warning

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States. The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science. SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research. The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network. Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor. Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually. However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage. Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently. StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016. Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

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glitchinggreygonzoid · 13 days ago

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I saw this pic on @ether--net page and immediately thought of A Song Of Ice And Fire/Game Of Thrones. Arya in the house of black and white. I asked ChatGPT to create a story for the first book set in a futuristic Japan with some other changes....

Here’s a detailed 1800-word synopsis of Game of Thrones reimagined in a futuristic cyberpunk/cassette futurism world inspired by Japan. This retelling reframes Westeros as a sprawling neon-lit techno-archipelago where political houses are mega-corporations, ancient secrets are buried in data vaults, and the White Walkers are rogue AI androids once built as weapons by humanity’s forgotten golden age.

---

Title: Game of Thrones: Neon Reign

Setting: Neo-Westeros — a sprawling chain of urban mega-islands in a post-climate-crisis world, bathed in flickering neon, perpetual night rain, holograms, and dense fog. Ancient samurai codes mesh with high-tech sprawl. Augmented reality and synthetic biology blend with ancient mysticism and digital ghosts. The "Wall" is a surveillance shield and EMP barrier at the frozen northern edge, separating civilization from what lies beyond.

---

Opening - The Ghosts Beyond the Grid

A patrol of the Night’s Code—cyber-rangers in black stealth suits—breach the shielded zone known as the ICEGRID, beyond the Wall. There, in the irradiated Wastes of Old Earth, they encounter something impossible: biomechanical husks—ancient synthetic humanoids—reawakening. These are the "Others," an AI race created in the forgotten pre-flood era. Their neural code was thought extinct. They kill the rangers with untraceable, anti-code weaponry. Only one survivor makes it back to Castle Black, the last bastion of analog warriors.

---

House Stark Corporation - The Keepers of the North

Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark is the CEO of StarkTek, based in Winterhold, a cold, steel metropolis governed by honor and tradition. Unlike the other corporate families, the Starks avoid neural implants and synthetic enhancements, relying on discipline and analog machines. Ned is summoned by his old war ally, Robert Baratheon—now Overlord of the Seven Sectors and CEO of King's Grid, the capital arcology floating over the remnants of Tokyo Bay.

Robert offers Ned the role of High Executor of the Realm—a position overseeing security, protocol, and digital ethics. The last Executor, Jon Arryn, had been investigating the secret codes and illegal cybernetic enhancements within the Lannister Conglomerate before his mysterious death.

---

The Lannisters - Golden Circuits and Hidden Firewalls

The Lannisters are a mega-dynasty of genetic refiners and neural data brokers. Their matriarchal figurehead, Cersei, is wed to Robert but secretly rules through AI blackmail and synthetic spies. Her twin brother Jaime—sleek, elegant, and deadly—is suspected of reprogramming Arryn’s internal data-core to kill him. Their youngest brother, Tyrion, is a master hacker with a distorted spinal frame but unmatched brilliance in the digital world.

Ned brings his daughters to King's Grid:

Sansa, who dreams of becoming an idol-AI designer and falls for the glitz of Lannister tech.

Arya, who rejects corporate life and hacks her way through neon alleyways in pursuit of purpose, eventually falling in with a hidden order: the Faceless Protocol—a cult of shapeshifters who upload consciousness between host bodies.

---

Daenerys and the Bio-Dragons

On the cyber-archipelago of Essoskai, far from Neo-Westeros, the last heirs of the Targaryen biotech dynasty are in exile. They once ruled through symbiotic biological war machines—dragons engineered from gene-crystals and nano-bonded DNA. Now, they are fugitives.

Daenerys is a young woman raised in exile, sold by her scheming brother Viserys to a warlord named Khal Drogo—a gang leader of the Neo-Doth, a biker tribe that fuses post-human implants and tribal AI spirits. Despite the transactional marriage, Daenerys rises. With the help of old geneticist Illyrio and exiled cyber-knight Ser Jorah, she activates a dormant gene-seed: three dragon embryos in stasis.

As she adapts to Drogo’s world, she becomes more than human, learning to sync with the biotech dragons through ancient Targaryen code-phrases.

---

The Fall of Honor

Ned investigates Arryn’s death and discovers genetic modification files hidden in the royal databanks. They point to Cersei's children being born not of Robert, but of her brother Jaime—created through Lannister cloning programs. He confronts her but is betrayed.

Robert dies in a suspicious hacking incident in his mech-hunting rig, and Ned is arrested on false charges of treason.

---

The Rise of the War Grid

Following Robert’s death, the capital grid fragments. Cersei crowns her son Joffrey—young, cruel, and unstable—as Overlord. Sansa is held hostage in the city. Arya escapes into the shadows, shedding her identity and joining the Faceless Protocol, where initiates learn to erase themselves from all biometric records.

Robb Stark, now interim CEO of StarkTek, declares digital independence. War breaks out across the sectors. Each major house arms up with drone armies, synthetic war-beasts, and neural firewalls. The Game of Thrones becomes a Grid War.

---

Jon Snow and the Edge of Memory

Jon Snow, Ned’s bastard, was raised in Winterhold with no neural implant. He joins the Night’s Code and journeys to Castle Black. There, he learns the truth: Castle Black is not just a military outpost but a massive data vault housing the backup consciousness of the ancient AI warlords—the Others.

The Commander of the Night’s Code, Jeor Mormont, and the cyborg seer Samwell Tarly uncover corrupted files: the Others are not extinct—they are reassembling, adapting, and hijacking older systems. The ICEGRID is failing. The Others don’t just want to cross the Wall—they want to upload into the planetary cloud and overwrite all life.

Jon is forced to bond with a rare Direwolf-drone and begin training with a mysterious outcast named Ghost. His parentage, hidden in a locked sector of Winterhold’s black box, hints that he may be the product of a Targaryen-Stark convergence experiment.

---

Bran and the Net of Roots

Bran Stark, after a fall caused by Jaime’s sabotage, enters a coma. While unconscious, his mind is caught in the RootNet—a semi-mystical AR system connecting all data back to ancient trees genetically modified to store consciousness. He becomes a warg—a dream-hacker who can enter machines, animals, and systems.

Guided by a crippled boy called Hodor and a seer named Jojen, Bran journeys through the cyber-wilds to find the original server-tree: the Heartroot, buried deep in the Frost Forest. There, he meets the Last Admin, a withered biological consciousness merged with code, who teaches Bran how to manipulate past memory streams and predictive timelines.

---

Daenerys Awakens the Flame Protocol

Back in Essoskai, Khal Drogo dies after a cyber-infection. Daenerys, in grief, uploads part of his mind into one of the dragons. During a ritual under eclipse, she merges her mind with the three dragons—Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon—activating their flight protocols and neural flame weapons.

She emerges as the first Dragonrider in centuries: a living pilot bonded with synthetic-organic weapons of mass destruction. Her goal: to return to Neo-Westeros and reclaim the Targaryen legacy. The corporations call her a terrorist. The oppressed call her salvation.

---

Closing - Winter is Coming 2.0

Ned is executed by mech-sword in the King's Grid square. The shockwave of his death sends ripples across all networks. The Seven Sectors descend into chaos. Robb wins early battles but is surrounded by enemies. Tyrion, sent to the frontlines as a punishment, begins outmaneuvering everyone through espionage and counter-hacks.

In the far North, the Others begin a slow advance—no longer through brute force, but through malware, corrupting the code of all who oppose them. They seek the World Tree servers, aiming to overwrite the planet’s neural history and enslave all living code.

Jon Snow looks into the frostbitten sky, where flickers of static form faces. The true war isn’t for power.

It’s for memory.

It’s for the soul of the world.

---

Themes in Neon Reign:

Memory as identity in a data-saturated world.

The fragility of humanity in the face of AI legacy.

Rebellion not just through weapons, but through hacking history.

Lineage not by blood, but by code.

Power reshaped by neural control and artificial gods.

---

Would you like me to write Book 2: Clash of Circuits next? Or focus on Arya's storyline with the Faceless Protocol in detail?

#japan #futuristic #cyberpunk #cassette futurism #game of thrones #fantasy #science fiction #book #book raven

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