#Integrated Resort

[emaadsidiki]

Sentosa Merlion 🌳🦁🦈

[janet-joe8]

[rustedleopard]

I feel like if Chujin was still alive during the events of Undertale Yellow, his and Clover's relationship would be incredibly rocky. Pacifist!Clover could bring him around to tolerating them (after all, they have that sort of effect on everyone), but it would be more in a "this human is the only 'good' human" manner than a "maybe I should reevaluate my opinions on humans overall because you can't judge an entire group based off (very biased) stories and one bad experience." Even then, that opinion would be subject to change should Clover ever get frustrated or behave "too aggressively" or act in any manner that isn't perfectly docile. If Clover ends up attacking a monster then it's "humans are just as horrible as they were in the war stories, I should've known better" regardless of the circumstances that could've pushed Clover to fight. Suffocating expectations and endless demands for patience when he wouldn't ask the same of a fellow monster.

And heaven forbid he ever meet Clover on a No Mercy Run...

[listen-to-my-eyes]

what does it mean when someone says they’re gonna kilometers seconds? what does absement have to do with anything?

[obstinaterixatrix]

p5t does a really good job with using the sprites, there’s a lot of times where at a dramatic moment a character cycles through sprites and it feels very smooth and organic. here though the way they had yusuke zoom past futaba and makoto and then they just make his sprite vibrate… feed my guy

[shiroselia]

This is exactly the kind of shit that confuses me to hell and back about SSE cause I just do Not get wtf their thing with rights is

Because given how things Work, if you create Anything of asset for a company, be it art, designs, whatever; The company owns it. That's just how it works. (Mostly because any company who isn't batshit stupid knows how to write a contract where that is the case, because that's standard and Not doing that is Fucking Dumb.)

And yet SSE has how many cases/rumors of them seemingly losing the rights to assets when the creator of said asset leaves the company? Which is implied because as Soon as someone leaves they just. Never use those assets again. (Read: Lusitano magics. The fucking loading screens most recently.) Like. There's a reason why I'm the first to shut down the fucking. lusitano magic rumors among others because That's Not How It Works and IF that is the reason then SSE are truly unforgiveably fucking batshit stupid to the point where I'd Almost feel like reclaiming slurs just to be able to adequately insult them.

So like. Why an art contest?? Have you tried just. reusing art you already reused anyways?? Because it was created For You Which Means You SHOULD OWN IT REGARDLESS OF THE PERSON WHO PHYSICALLY MADE THEM WORKING FOR YOU ANYMORE OR NOT??????

[ithacanradio]

studying update 😔

[entens]

so I've literally been thinking about this post since the first time I saw it and it made me realize that while this moment foreshadowed how Play works, this moment:

can kind of be seen as foreshadowing for Banquet. Banquet creates illusions—it tricks the senses. much like Uruha intentionally tricks Samura here.

in other words, Kunishige was right. Kumeyuri really does suit Uruha.

now that we know how play/kumeyuri works this is actually a more interesting moment, he wasnt just being goofy, he respects objects

i wonder what he used during the war. i guess you could telekinesis other blades? but i assume he had other things to work with

[my-global-life-travel]

Stay Fit in Style: Top Luxury Hotels with Fitness Facilities in Southeast Asia

Discover the epitome of luxury and wellness with Global Life Travel'sselection of top luxury hotels with fitness facilities. Our handpicked selections boast advanced gyms, professional trainers, and exclusive wellness programs, all set in stunning locations across Southeast Asia. Enjoy the perfect blend of relaxation and fitness, where you can stay active with the latest equipment and unwind in lavish surroundings, ensuring an unforgettable travel experience that prioritizes both comfort and health.

[emaadsidiki]

Sentosa Island 🌊🏝️🏖️ Singapore

[whywaittofallinlove]

off limits ch1 | jesse x miller!daughter reader

pairing: jesse x miller!daughter reader

summary: as tommy’s daughter and joel’s niece, there is an unspoken rule in jackson that you’re off limits. jesse, someone known for sticking to the rules, breaks this one rule

words: 854 words

warnings: barely there smut

Chapter 1

The early morning sun slips through the gaps in your curtain, scattering warm rays across the room, across the bed. The light catches on the faint scars and toned contours of your lover, painting him in an almost ethereal glow.

You tilt your head back, slightly breathless as you grind your body back and forth. Strong calloused hands grip your waist, guiding your thrusts.

Three sudden knocks on your garage door causes you to halt your movements, your brow furrows in annoyance. A whispered groan escapes from the man tangled in your sheets. “Yeah?” Your voice unsteady and low.

“Just makin’ sure you’re up, you’re patrollin’ with Jesse today. He don’t like tardiness.” Your Dad’s Southern drawl commands from the other side of the door. At the mention of his name, you watch as Jesse lifts his head to the look at the blaring red numbers illuminating from your alarm clock, his hand raking through the mess of his dark hair, his head dropping to the pillow in frustration.

“I’m sure he won’t mind.” You call out, your tone full of mischief as your hands drop to either side of Jesse’s head, caging him in. Your bare breasts brushes against his warm chest as you begin to slightly roll your hips, Jesse still very much hard inside you. You bite your lip to stop yourself from moaning Jesse’s name.

“Get your ass movin’.” Tommy fires back, unimpressed and completely unaware of what is transpiring just behind the wooden door. ‘Don’t mind if I do.’ For a moment you wait, listening as your dads footsteps crunch over the snow covered driveway, each step growing fainter.

Jesse shifts beneath you, his hands moving to lift you off him, but you press down firmly on his chest, keeping him in your bed. You press your lips to his, your kiss deepening as you ride him with more urgency than before.

Jesse swings his legs over the edge of the bed, you sit up behind him, still breathless, your fingers faintly ghost over the red scratches across his shoulder blades, vivid against his pale skin. Jesse glances over his shoulder at you, an amused glint in his dark eyes. “Admiring your handiwork?”

You inch even closer until you’re pressing your breasts against the warmth of his back, your arms loosely resting against his torso. Resting your chin on his shoulder, “You know, I seem to recall you enjoying it last night.”

“Oh, I very much enjoyed it.” He turns to face you, his hand comes up to cradle your face as he places his lips against yours in a quick kiss. “We have to get moving.”

You sigh and lovingly roll your eyes at your lover. Jesse has always been a stickler for following the rules, always the one who shows up early, triple checking every route before delegating patrols. Except when it came to being with you. With you, he became a little bit more reckless, a little more free.

Being Tommy’s daughter and Joel’s niece made you off limits, not just to Jesse, but to everyone. If there was an unspoken rule within Jackson, that was it.

Out of the two of you, Jesse had the most to lose. He had earned his place beside Tommy through years of hard work, commitment and dedication to the community of Jackson. He had finally gained a seat on the council, a seat elected by the community.

That’s why you had resorted to sneaking around, the late nights, early mornings, brief glances when they thought no one was looking. All to keep Jesse’s integrity intact.

You glance at the Korean man as you step into your jeans, his eyes already on you, watching you unashamedly. “Stop staring.” A smile tugs on the corner of your lips. “Can’t help it.” Jesse replies, his own smile, the one solely reserved for you etched on his face.

You both dress quickly with almost military precision. No fumbling, no stalling, just practice that came with years of survival.

Both you and Jesse walk to the window at the back of your garage. You ease the frosted glass open, careful and quiet. Jesse braces himself on the frame, one leg already over the sill. His glances back at you one last time. “I’ll see you out there.”

You gently cup his cheek, eyes full of affection. He leans in, brushing one final kiss on your lips, then disappears into the cold morning.

Pulling your jacket over your shoulders, you step out of the garage, the bite of the cold December air not the only thing to send chills through your body.

Maria stands on the patio of the main house, arms tightly crossed, her gaze flicking between you and Jesse, who’s been caught red handed, in the act of slipping away. Neither of you move.

You watch as Maria gently closes the door behind her, before slowly descending down the patio stairs. She stops just a few feet away from the both of you, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the sight before her. She raises an eyebrow, silently gauging both of your reactions. “You’re both lucky it was me… if it was Tommy…”

[cinnamonest]

Thinking again about forced cultural assimilation, particularly linguistic… snatched up by some foreign visitor to your homeland, dragged far far away and thrust into an environment where you can't understand a single thing.

You don't understand anything said around you — all the others in this place you're kept in (underlings, servants, partners in crime, whatever they are) are constantly talking to each other and to your captor, saying so much, yet it's all meaningless babble to you, a frustrating barrier of confusion and unknown that makes you feel on edge, a constant state of discomfort and unease.

You know they're talking about you, given the glances your way, but you don't know exactly what. It's a very discomforting feeling.

It's actually quite endearing, the way you bite your lip and cling to him out of perpetual bewilderment and fear whenever you're brought out of your room… still, at the moment, he's forced to resort to your language to communicate with you, which he doesn't like.

But that's okay. You'll learn.

It's not like you have a choice. Even if you're stubborn and noncompliant at first, it's no big deal. He just won't respond to anything you say until you say it in the correct tongue. It's adorable, watching you get so frustrated at the silent treatment, your stubbornness slowly breaking down until you finally give in and start making a very clumsy, stuttering attempt to communicate correctly.

But it's only fair that you do try. You know, if you're going to be living in a foreign land for the rest of your life, you have a responsibility to learn… okay, sure, you didn't exactly choose to live here, but that's not really relevant.

So you'll learn. He'll help you, of course, aren't you grateful? He went out of his way to buy learning books to get you started. And even if you're too stubborn to utilize them at first, a couple of hours in isolation with nothing else to do will essentially force you into at least looking them over, even if merely out of boredom. He'll set it up as a reward system — if you study a few hours a day, you get to do something else. Any other sort of activity or stimulation is withheld from you, kept behind a barrier, forcing you into compliance.

But that's not enough, you need direct practice. So he'll integrate learning into your daily life.

If you want to get dressed and not have to walk outside naked — and you could, don't think he won’t do it, it would be so funny watching all those other men drool and crowd around you, make you the center of attention to all their hollering and jesting — you'll just have to ask for your clothes piece by piece.

P-please, give me the… the…

And he just sits there and holds your shirt so close yet just our of your grasp, patiently waiting for you to remember. You've gone over it several times now. But even if you give up, he'll tell you again — you need to repeat it several times, though, before you finally get it.

Meal time is also turned into a learning ordeal — you're made to ask for a plate, for water, to have salt or anything passed over to you, all perfectly, all of which is kept out of your reach until you do so.

You hate the smile he always gives you, the little pats on the head and praise for saying things correctly. It feels mocking, demeaning, more than anything — and you're fairly certain he intends it that way.

Because it's not like he hesitates to make fun of you either — snickering with a hand over his mouth when you say certain words, repeating what you said with a mock exaggeration of your accent as if it's peak comedy. But hey, don't pout like that. It's just cute, that's all… and a little bit of revenge, if you recall, you once teased him the same way, back when he was just some foreigner visiting your land that you happened to become acquainted with. How the tables turn, yeah?

At night, you're held firmly in place — a normally sweet gesture, arms wrapped around you, yet a grip so tight it ruins any semblance of affection.

What did you do today?

You stumble out some words. You mess up the past tense. You're made to say it over again.

How do you feel today?

He's decided ‘good’ alone is no longer an adequate answer, so you have to elaborate, be more detailed.

You'll answer questions on things like weather, recall what they said on the news and such. Moreover, you can't neglect those reading and writing skills, so you'll have to comply with him on exercises for that too. He even went out of his way to get some newspapers for you to read aloud to him for practice. You should be grateful he's so nice.

Other times, it's not so nice.

When you've done something wrong, been bad, even then, you're not exempt from it being turned into a lesson. Bent over his knee, skirt pulled up to the end of your spine, shaking and grinding your teeth. At least you have the dignity of being behind closed doors, but that's not much.

What did you do?

As it turns out, panic is not conducive to coherent sentences. Your mind goes blank, you struggle to summon any words at all, much less ones you have to mentally structure before you speak. Harsher swats — you squeal, squirm, try to pull yourself forward, just for the hand on your shoulder to jerk you back into place — indicate a mistake. You'll have to try again, and it will continue until you get it correct — and then some more, for whatever you did in the first place.

What do you say?

You're sniffling and trembling, but at least that one is easy, a phrase so often uttered it's permanently etched into your brain.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…

There's a few such phrases that come to you very naturally, without any real effort to recall, but you're not proud of it. No, you resent, you loathe, how deeply your vocabulary is entrenched in filth, simply due to how frequently you're made to speak such words.

You still struggle to remember the words for door or apple or lamp, but you know how to say cock and cum and fuck without the slightest pause.

You had to stutter and stumble over trying to ask one of the others ‘excuse me, what time is it?’, but you can perfectly recite the words you say every single night — please let me cum, please go harder, it feels so good.

Likewise, you begin to better make out the words he mutters and growls into your ear every night — you wish you didn't, wish you couldn't understand the humiliating words about how much he enjoys violating you, loves watching you fight and squirm, loves seeing you struggle.

Unfortunately, you also begin to understand what the others around you are saying all the time. When you first came, you didn't understand a word, but still felt the burning knot in your stomach of embarrassment, knowing whatever it was was clearly derogatory and humiliating, with the way they looked at you, the gestures and cheeky grins.

You wish you still didn't understand, that you couldn't make out the crude, vulgar words. Comments about your body, your thighs and your chest, all the joking comments about how they don't blame your captor for abducting you, after all, I'd want to be inside of that too.

But unfortunately, those vulgar comments are pretty much all your grasp from them — those are, after all, spoken at moments of rest, when they're all just lounging around, each word more drawn out. When you're forced to sit there through more serious discussions (clinging to your captor’s arm like a lifeline, the way he makes you feel safe from the scary men he associates with), they just speak so damn fast that you can't catch more than the occasional single word or two that you recognize, the rest a jumbled haze of meaningless sounds.

It's all so frustrating, so humiliating, you hate the dependency, you hate the power exchange that both of you are mutually aware of, yet left unspoken — the fact that you're the one forced into his way of life. The words themselves are more than words, more than their literal meanings — each one serves as a little reminder that you're owned, each is another way of forcing submission out of you. It makes you angry, makes you bitter, makes you resentful.

One day, that resentment drives you over the edge, all of a sudden, as you're being chastised and reprimanded for whatever misbehavior you've engaged in. Your fists clench and your face contorts with fury and you break.

A slurry of heated, snarling words come pouring out of your mouth — words in your tongue, familiar words. Saying that you won't do what he said to, that he doesn't get to tell you what to do, saying that you're sick of it all, saying he doesn't scare you, saying you'll do what you want. Vulgarity and profanity spills out, calling him every nasty word you can think of.

It's so soothing to feel words pour out so naturally, not having to pause to think about them. It's cathartic, you feel your heart pounding with rage and frustration and relief—

—and then your blood runs cold when you turn your head and see him looking back at you. Silent, eyes narrowed, quietly letting you go on and on and dig the hole deeper. He only smiles when your words come to a halt.

What's wrong?

Now you're so quiet, standing there shaking. You’re pulling your clasped hands up to your chest and shrinking back, your eyes start to water… but didn't you just say you're not scared of him? Why are you stepping backwards now?

And you say those words again —

I'm sorry, I'm sorry…

It’s so satisfying that you immediately switch back, after such a heated outburst. Deep down, even if you're still too proud to accept it, you really do know your place. You're still repeating it over and over as you're dragged by the hair back to your room, as if apologies will save you from whatever he's going to do to you.

But really, he kind of hopes you never master the language in full. How scared you are all the time, surrounded by a world that you struggle to make sense of, the way you're forced to depend on him so much… admittedly, it's a very satisfying feeling. And hey, the accent is cute, too.

[gachagon]

Wolfgang's deceit and hypocrisy

A deconstruction and analysis of Wolfgang's behavior based on what he said and did during Chapter 1

I kept thinking about why Damon didn't exactly get along with Wolfgang because it seems obvious that he doesn't like him due to Wolfgang's somewhat pompous attitude towards the idea of Ultimates. Wolfgang contrasts Damon's view of Ultimates in that Wolfgang believes all talents are equally valuable to society, and Damon doesn't.

Wolfgang says he doesn't believe anyone there was capable of murdering their "friends" and that the killing game wouldn't even kick off because he believed in the inherent goodness of Ultimates as a whole.

Damon disagreed with this notion and believed everyone had the capacity for violence regardless of their Ultimate status or not. He also disagreed with the idea that all talents are equally valuable to society and that some are more frivolous in nature than others.

Wolfgang believed in a lot of "hopeful" ideals however, I don't think he was telling the truth when he said these things. His actions spoke louder than all of those inspiring speeches he gave to the rest of the class.

In fact, I think Wolfgang agreed with everything Damon said, but he didn't want to admit it for some reason. Wolfgang said he believed in a fair trial and letting people explain themselves, but when Eva claimed she was the Ultimate Liar he immediately resorted to turning the others against her by casting suspicion on her.

He said he believed that all talents are equal in value, but when Eva was revealed to be the Ultimate Mathlete, he didn't stop any of the others from mocking Eva over it. (I will also point out that while as hilarious as Cassidy's Bargain Bin joke is at Damon's expense, he doesn't tell her off for making said joke at all either.)

And Wolfgang said he didn't believe anyone there would kill anyone, but he was constantly taking "precautions" for the Killing Game. "Just in case" someone decided to do something. He agreed with Desmond's idea of bunking together, he at first doesn't want to investigate the pharmacy but decided it's a good idea to let everyone know what's inside anyways, and when he got the mysterious letter telling him to meet in the boiler room he brought a knife with him from the kitchen "for protection" supposedly.

Wolfgang says a lot of things that he clearly doesn't believe, him and Damon are exactly alike. But the difference is that Damon is honest in how he feels about the Killing Game and Wolfgang is not.

Where his hypocrisy comes in is how he judges Damon for his honesty, and makes it seem like he too isn't distrustful of others during the game. And I think the reason for why Damon specifically doesn't like Wolfgang is not just because he is a hypocrite but because he's purposeful about his hypocrisy. He isn't like the rest of the class in his hypocrisy in that he's not doing it by accident, he's doing it on purpose because it keeps him in control of the group.

And the funny thing about it is that it's kind of Damon's fault that the others adopted Wolfgang as their defacto leader. During the mock class trial, Damon was the one who defended Wolfgang's integrity and instinct as a lawyer to get the others to continue to believe in him so they could solve the murder.

But Damon didn't defend Wolfgang because he had some belief in the inherent goodness of Ultimates. He did it because Damon believed Wolfgang's *talent* as a lawyer is proof enough that he's well versed in situations like this. It wasn't about Wolfgang as a person, but his ability as a lawyer. And I think this is why when Damon just says what he thinks Wolfgang is confused by it because he thought Damon was like the rest of the class, hopeful and naive.

And obviously, later on Wolfgang states that he sees people, Ultimates, as more than just their talent. But I don't believe him. I think from the way he treated both Eva and Damon that he silently agreed on the idea of some talents being lesser than others. And he just puts himself in the position of not believing in what Damon says because it's unpopular with the rest of the class.

Wolfgang can subtly take all of the credit for solving Cara's murder, while Damon gets no recognition and because Damon has an unpopular opinion about Ultimates and Talents and the Killing Game, Wolfgang can become their leader very easily (which is exactly what happened)

But he doesn't truly believe in any of it, he's a biased person through and through who has his own selfish goals, and egotistical opinions just like Damon. I think he just didn't come out and be honest because being honest would've shafted him with the likes of Eva and Damon.

Wolfgang is leading them all with blind optimism, when he himself isn't that optimistic. I think this is why his Blackmail letter mentioned him having a Wolfish mind as well, because he is essentially a wolf in sheep's clothing leading a herd of sheep to their potential doom. Keeping them in the dark on purpose so he can continue to be seen as the leader and beacon of hope.

And if you think "Wolfgang wouldn't be that self centered to do this" I think he is, purely because of how he behaved during his death. Diana mentioned him saying things about being seen as great, trying to prove himself to someone, and not being able to measure up to another person.

I think Wolfgang is the exact type of person who would feed on other people's admiration in a situation like this. "It doesn't matter if they believe in me for a foolish and naive reason, because they believe in *me*. And as long as they have their faith in *me*, nothing else about this situation matters. Anyone who doesn't put their faith behind my ability to lead is irrelevant and isn't a part of the group."

(hence why Eva and Damon were constantly shafted by Wolfgang as outsiders)

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #20

May 24-31 2024

The EPA awards $900 million to school districts across the country to replace diesel fueled school buses with cleaner alternatives. The money will go to 530 school districts across nearly every state, DC, tribal community, and US territory. The funds will help replace 3,400 buses with cleaner alternatives, 92% of the new buses will be 100% green electric. This adds to the $3 billion the Biden administration has already spent to replace 8,500 school buses across 1,000 school districts in the last 2 years.

For the first time the federal government released guidelines for Voluntary Carbon Markets. Voluntary Carbon Markets are a system by which companies off set their carbon emissions by funding project to fight climate change like investing in wind or solar power. Critics have changed that companies are using them just for PR and their funding often goes to projects that would happen any ways thus not offsetting emissions. The new guidelines seek to insure integrity in the Carbon Markets and make sure they make a meaningful impact. It also pushes companies to address emissions first and use offsets only as a last resort.

The IRS announced it'll take its direct file program nationwide in 2025. In 2024 140,000 tax payers in 12 states used the direct file pilot program and the IRS now plans to bring it to all Americans next tax season. Right now the program is only for simple W-2 returns with no side income but the IRS has plans to expand it to more complex filings in the future. This is one of the many projects at the IRS being funded through President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.

The White House announced steps to boost nuclear energy in America. Nuclear power in the single largest green energy source in the country accounting for 19% of America's total energy. Boosting Nuclear energy is a key part of the Biden administration's strategy to reach a carbon free electricity sector by 2035. The administration has invested in bring the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan back on-line, and extending the life of Diablo Canyon in California. In addition the Military will be deploying new small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors to power its installations. The Administration is setting up a task force to help combat the delays and cost overruns that have often derailed new nuclear projects and the Administration is supporting two Gen III+ SMR demonstration projects to highlight the safety and efficiency of the next generation of nuclear power.

The Department of Agriculture announced $824 million in new funding to protect livestock health and combat H5N1. The funding will go toward early detection, vaccine research, and supporting farmers impacted. The USDA is also launching a nation wide Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program, hopefully this program will give us a live look at the health of America's dairy herd and help with early detection. The Biden Administration has reacted quickly and proactively to the early cases of H5N1 to make sure it doesn't spread to the human population and become another pandemic situation.

The White House announced a partnership with 21 states to help supercharge America's aging energy grid. Years of little to no investment in America's Infrastructure has left our energy grid lagging behind the 21st century tech. This partnership aims to squeeze all the energy we can out of our current system while we rush to update and modernize. Last month the administration announced a plan to lay 100,000 miles of new transmission lines over the next five years. The 21 states all with Democratic governors are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The Department of Transportation announced $343 million to update 8 of America's oldest and busiest transportation stations for disability accessibility. These include the MBTA's the Green Line's light-rail B and C branches in Boston,  Cleveland's Blue Line, New Orleans'  St. Charles Streetcar route, and projects in San Francisco and New York City and other locations

The Department of interior announced two projects for water in Western states. $179 million for drought resilience projects in California and Utah and $242 million for expanding water access in California, Colorado and Washington. The projects should help support drinking water for 6.4 million people every year.

HUD announced $150 million for affordable housing for tribal communities. This adds to the over $1 billion dollars for tribal housing announced earlier in the month. Neil Whitegull of the Ho-Chunk Nation said at the announcement "I know a lot of times as Native Americans we've been here and we've seen people that have said, ‘Oh yeah, we'd like to help Indians.’ And they take a picture and they go away. We never see it, But there's been a commitment here, with the increase in funding, grants, and this administration that is bringing their folks out. And there's a real commitment, I think, to Native American tribes that we've never seen before."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $135 million to help Moldavia. Since the outbreak of Russia's war against neighboring Ukraine the US has given $774 million in aid to tiny Moldavia. Moldavia has long been dependent on Russian energy but thanks to US investment in the countries energy security Moldavia is breaking away from Russia and moving forward with EU membership.

The US and Guatemala launched the "Youth With Purpose” initiative. The initiative will be run through the Central America Service Corps, launched in 2022 by Vice President Harris the CASC is part of the Biden Administration's efforts to improve life in Central America. The Youth With Purpose program will train 25,000 young Guatemalans and connect with with service projects throughout the country.

Bonus: Today, May 31st 2024, is the last day of the Affordable Connectivity Program. The program helped 23 million Americans connect to the internet while saving them $30 to $75 dollars every month. Despite repeated calls from President Biden Republicans in Congress have refused to act to renew the program. The White House has worked with private companies to get them to agree to extend the savings to the end of 2024. The Biden Administration has invested $90 Billion high-speed internet investments. Such as $42.45 billion for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, $1 billion for the The Middle Mile program laying 12,000 miles of regional fiber networks, and distributed nearly 30,000 connected devices to students and communities, including more than 3,600 through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

[cercess]

hi! I'd like to req anaxa and ratio with reader who is so scarily quiet, unless they're actively watching them, the characters will NOT hear them. Lmao can you imagine the scares we'd produce if we snuck up behind them

Hi anon! Sorry this took so long. I haven’t been able to write much recently due to personal reasons, but I’m back at it now :)

If I had a nickel for every star rail character that was a mean professor, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. I love these two and had a blast writing it! Ratio’s gets a little suggestive because I’m a degenerate, I hope that’s okay!

✧ Tags: fluff, Anaxa and Ratio being grumpy (but also split), slightly suggestive content in ratios ✧ Rating: Mature ✧ Word Count: 730

ANAXA

As always, Anaxa is experimenting in his private laboratory. He’ll never admit it (primarily to preserve his academic integrity) but he finds it relaxes him after teaching. The saying that “there are no bad questions,” isn’t true; he would know after enduring thousands of bad questions. Clarifiers are one thing, but the endless drone of mundane queries have driven him to the brink.

Experimentation is simple, because ingredients and equations do not ask stupid questions. He allows himself to get lost in rhythm of the scientific process, drowning out the stressors of his day with a symphony of data.

“Anaxagoras,” your voice snaps him out of his state of focus with a jolt.

He does his best to appear unaffected by your sudden appearance, resorting to professionalism to maintain his facade. “May I help you?”

“Were you scared?” You asked, a sly grin creeping its way onto your lips.

“I was absorbed in my experiments, and did not expect you to arrive unannounced.”

“You jumped a little.”

Anaxa sighs and turns away from you. “I’m very busy.”

Even with his back turned, you can picture his pout. He always insists he would never do something so childish, but you’ve come to recognize the telltale sign of him hiding from you.

“I’m sorry I startled you,” he stiffens when you wrap your arms around his waist and rest your cheek against his back. What your beloved professor lacks in muscle, he makes up for with layers of robes.

“I’ve never come to a conclusion on how you manage to move around so quietly.” Of course he’s contemplating the unknown. You suppose it’s part of his charm.

“Perhaps Zagreus has blessed me, and I’d be better off as a thief than a scholar.”

Your mention of the Titan coaxes a scoff from the one-eyed man, but you know there’s so real annoyance behind it. If he were irritated, you would no longer be resting your chin on his shoulder, peering over at the mess of ingredients that lays before him.

“A caravan of dromas just arrived. I was wondering if you’d like to visit them with me.”

Anaxa perks up at the mention of his favourite animal. Triumph overcomes you as he begins tidying up the table. “Allow me to lead the way. We do not need you spooking the poor animals with your sudden appearance.”

DR. RATIO

The bath has always been a place of serenity for Veritas. It is one of the few places he feels he can allow his brain to rest after endlessly exercising in the pursuit of knowledge. He’s reading the latest craze amongst mathematicians: a book on computing Pi in the anti-organic equation. Truly thrilling stuff.

He recites the number to the two-hundred and thirty seventh decimal, only to be interrupted by someone placing their hand on his shoulder.

Veritas scrambles to see the intruder, his frantic movements causing him to slip on the porcelain and dunk his head below the water. When he surfaces, he finds you watching him with amusement.

You lean down, and straighten his headpiece. Why he wears that thing in the bath, you’ll never know. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You should have knocked. I’m indecent.”

“Is that supposed to deter me from entering?” You grin as you sit on the edge of the bath. When you dunk your hand in, the water is a comforting warmth, perfect for relaxation.

As you create small waves, an unfamiliar object brushes against your fingers. You pull out a drenched book, its pages utterly unreadable.

“I dropped it when you appeared.” The sigh that escapes Veritas makes guilt bubble in your chest. You really hadn’t meant to scare him, but sometimes you forgot about your propensity for stealth.

“I’ll make it up to you,” you grin wolfishly, shrugging off your jacket.

“By buying me a new book? It wasn’t easy to obtain you know, I had to-“

His complaining is cut off by your lips meeting his. He’s quick to disregard the soggy book once again in favour of pulling you closer. You consider the debt forgotten when his neediness nearly pulls you into the water. “Someone’s eager,” you smile against his lips.

“Seeing as my reading ended prematurely, I might as well find stimulation elsewhere.”

“And how do I compare to that book of yours.”

“You know better than to ask stupid questions.”