#No 6 Collaborations Project

[duranduratulsa]

Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber - I Don't Care [Official Music Video]

Song 🎵 of the day: I Don't Care by Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber (2019) from No. 6 Collaborations Project #EdSheeran #justinbieber #idontcare #No6CollaborationsProject #2010s

[glittergoats]

the awful feeling of watching yourself become obsessed with a rarepair in a small fandom

[lightscamerabitchsmileee]

Vote for your fave, reblog & share your thoughts and let me know what your other faves are even if it's not on this list in the tags I would love to hear it 😊😊

Check out my masterpost for the other open polls thank you and have fun 😊😊

[kslyricdiary]

[songstuckinmahead]

Category is: collaboration albums

[aerequets]

then what - final collaborative comic

it only took... 8 months (i can explain i swear) but it's finally finished! its extremely long, so i'm putting it under a read more. enjoy :D

page 2 - @unhappy-sometimes

page 3- @neapenning

page 4 - @missedthememo

page 5 - @chimken-nugget

page 6 - @spencer-is-someone

page 7 - @shrimparmy

page 8 - @missflufffanfics

page 9 & 10 - @nightviator

page 11 & 12 - @awesomedurraworld

page 13 - @spacemichelle

page 14 - rough by @quinonoid, final by me

page 15 - @izzy-draws05

page 16 - @cresneta

page 17 & 18 - @dipothebookworm

page 19 - rough by @cat-copnt, final by me

page 20 - @gijipaw

page 21 - @tinypaperstar

page 22 - @esomq

page 23 - @kittyshy123

page 24 - @peanutseagle

and pages 25-30 by @buf309 / @buf309-art-binder :)

Oh boy. a project like this was gonna take a long time already because of the scope and sheer number of people, but add in a bunch of technicalities + extra work in the end + the few extra pages i had to draw + finals week and... yeah. 8 months later. its funny bc this was supposed to be to celebrate hitting 25k, and im at 27.7k now 😭

BUT IT'S FINISHED! i'm so proud and so in awe of all the talent that exists in this fandom. i have definitely learned a lot from managing a project like this. I would love to do it again in the future (but maybe on a smaller scale, LOL).

special shoutout to @buf309 for all that legwork you put in the end with SIX PAGES, that also managed to bring the story together. I honestly did not know how the heck you would bring it all together, but you knocked it out of the park.

this was lots of fun. thank you everyone and i hope you enjoyed :D

[elodieunderglass]

hi! i was just wondering if you’re getting a piece of this pie. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voidrealmminis/rise-of-the-eldertubbies?ref=profile_saved_projects_live

Oh my goodness! Haha thanks for showing me! And no, of course, this guy is still selling my dream while claiming it’s totally nothing to do with me. I hadn’t heard about it so thank you.

For those just joining us, here is the saga of the elder teletubbies:

1. in 2017 I posted a dream I had on Tumblr. In the dream I discovered that the childish teletubbies shown on BBC’s Teletubbies are merely the children of a species that grows up to be forest cryptids as adults. The post contained a detailed character description explaining how the children’s simple antennae become more complex antlers; their coats become thicker hair; their eldritch screens are unknowable; here, look:

The adult Teletubbies have more branching, complex antlers and shaggy coats. They are less brightly coloured. They are terrifyingly large. Their strangely human faces, emerging from the thick fur, are unquestionably adult; remote, serene, reproachful. Their television screens are glitchy, esoteric and unknowable. They are cryptids whose public exploitation has undermined their rarity and their strange, alien dignity.

That’s a pretty clear description.

2. The post quickly gained attention and many people drew art, made sculptures, designed in-depth character concepts, and even made DnD character sheets and entries with detailed notes. It was 2017. The post got over 90k notes. It had an extremely clear description of the cryptid in it. This wasn’t at all obscure.

3. The post and four pieces of the concept art, including the first piece by were screencapped and posted on r/tumblr. The post included this art by the now-deactivated @finoliatav which is, I think, the first piece of art. Most screencaps don’t show that it’s animated! Once you see it you can no longer pretend that any more work needs to be done in designing these characters, really - they’re all variations on a very clear theme.

4. A guy called Jars started drawing the BBC Teletubbies as adult Teletubbies. He noted on Reddit that his inspiration for the first one was the r/tumblr post but after that, he considered it entirely his own creative work. He drew each of the 4 BBC Teletubbies as adults using my character description and wrote a little story about how his character had stumbled upon them in the woods. He’s a good artist and his work went viral on Reddit and instagram. Those places being separate from Tumblr by the walls of the enclosure, they quickly believed the Jars was being highly original and praised him for it.

5. jars got carried away by his fame and started merchandising for all he’s worth. He’s selling elder teletubbies placemats. He got a collaborator to help him make and sell plushies.

6. Plushies of my character design applied to BBC characters. Jars sells them. To people. Who buy them. He sells these.

7. I think this is like… his job.

8. It has been years of this. I don’t think he has actually come up with anything else to sell by himself. But given that he now has millions upon millions of views on platforms I don’t use, let alone dominate (Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok) he seems to have fully subscribed to the idea that this is his THING.

9. After a while I wrote him a friendly email expressing that since my original dream was very much about discomfort with how the teletubbies were being exploited, I didn’t mind him selling his own art but that I wasn’t happy with him selling plushes based on my writing.

10. He wrote back along the lines of it all being his original intellectual property and absolutely nothing to do with me, etc, so jog on and don’t interfere.

11. I’m not entirely sure where the original intellectual property is when taking BBC characters and drawing them according to someone else’s detailed description of how to “evolve” them (branching antlers, shaggy coats, eldritch screens, serene adult human faces) especially having drawn them after seeing four separate detailed reference photos to base your own drawings on; especially when they’re the existing BBC characters from the show and not even your own. Like, Jars, you were given an entire detailed brief, several sets of references, an entire concept and a television show: the only artistic choices made here were to pick up your own personal pen and do the drawing. You have never deviated from my description, which you did not come up with yourself in any way. But okay Jars. You did some real intellectual heavy lifting here, this is Intellectual Property suddenly, and I guess this is your day job!

12. I myself actually have a day job, am capable of generating lots of other original material just for funsies, have never asked you guys for money, and I’m not generally huge jerk I don’t think. Also, I’m uncomfortable but have never been clear on how to stop him - I don’t think I can. So I don’t do much about this, apart from occasionally scream with hilarity with you guys about it.

13. Like this is the opposite of Goncharov. This is a guy making his wage on a 2017 tumblr collaborative shitpost insisting that this is the beautiful fruit of his only brain. And millions of people believe him.

14. There are now YouTube documentaries with millions of views and TikTok lore about Jars, and his lore, the Elder Teletubbies, which apparently he invented. People are making their wage talking about the history of Jars and his teletubbies lore. These documentaries are, if you can’t tell, not especially well-researched, as it is not difficult to find the original elder teletubbies art on the internet, which is all timestamped. Occasionally hilarious people from Tumblr point this out in the comments (thank you, you guys are hilarious) but the juggernaut is unstoppable!

15. Jars is now, apparently, doing a kickstarter to raise money for some kind of DnD sheets using the grown up BBC teletubbies.

16. I will point out that tumblr made and played with DnD teletubbies in 2017 for free and nobody had to pay $3000, but again. The juggernaut is unstoppable.

I have never, ever known what to do about this guy.

I have always been open to advice but genuinely never been able to articulate how it “damages” me, apart from ethical discomfort about how much I hate my writing being monetised by other people, especially when it was about my discomfort with exploitation. The juggernaut is unstoppable though. He fully intends to get thousands of dollars from this. He almost certainly will!

[stellarsecrets86]

Random Synastry Observations

Grab Your Valentine's Astro Reading -Here

1. Venus conjunct Mars lights the fire for hot attraction and passion.

Example: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

2. Mercury trine Uranus brings up peculiar ideas and stimulates conversation between two people.

Example: Probably shared between Elon Musk and Grimes to account for such an unconventional collaboration.

3. Moon square Saturn can make them emotionally cold or feel the relationship as a responsibility.

Example: Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

4. Mars opposite Pluto - Power struggles, intense chemistry.

Example: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

5. Venus trine Jupiter brings joy, generosity, and expansion in love at early stage of relationship.

Example: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.

6. Mercury conjunct Venus brings beautiful, harmonious communication.

Example: Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

7. Saturn conjunct Sun-One person acts as a guide or mentor for the other.

Example: Steve Jobs and Tim Cook.

8. Mars square Moon brings emotional frustration and passion collides.

Example: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian had intense emotional ups and downs.

9. Pluto trine Venus is a fated love which brings transformation.

Example: Beyoncé and Jay-Z

10. Jupiter square Mercury,Exaggerative or overly optimistic communication-the politicians like Donald Trump and his cohorts could be a good example.

11. Neptune conjunct Venus, an idealistic romance-these people are susceptible to illusions; for instance, the dreamy, complicated relationship of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

12. Moon trine Mars, Emotional harmony with passionate action.

Example: Serena and Venus Williams.

13. Uranus square Sun-Excitement but instability.

Example: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth.

14. Mars trine Jupiter- Big projects need collaborative energy.

Example: Serena Williams and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

15. Mercury opposite Pluto brings intense and probing conversations. Investigative journalists or courtroom rivalries are often made of this aspect.

16. Venus sextile Neptune, Creative, romantic lovers .

17. Mars conjunct Saturn-Relationship Dynamic - Ambitious, frustrating.

Example: Thomas Edison versus Nikola Tesla's competitive professional relationship.

18. Pluto opposition Mercury can built a collaboration of power through communication.

19. Moon conjunct Uranus, Life is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Example: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.

20. Saturn square Venus, love is restricted or delayed and painful.

21. Sun trine Neptune - inspirational to each other, spiritual connection.

22. Dynamic between two people is very energized with sharp conversations if they have Mars sextile Mercury in their synastry.

Example: Comedy duos Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

23. Pluto sextile Venus makes a partnership transformational, a love that fosters growth.

Example: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

24. Venus square Moon - There can be a clash between emotional needs and how one expresses their romantic self.

Example: The famous Princess Diana and Prince Charles couple.

25. Mercury trine Saturn, Communication is practical, realistic, and constructive with this aspect.

Example: Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger's decades-long business partnership.

26. Moon opposite Pluto makes two people emotionally intense & vulnerable in relationship.

Example: Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.

27. If someone's Sun sextile other person’s Jupiter, it is an expansive, optimistic partnership. They are very supportive of each other.

Example: Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

28. Uranus conjunct Mars brings sudden sparks of action or attraction and instant chemistry between 2 people.

Example: Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson.

29. Venus square Neptune makes romantic illusions or unfulfilled ideals between two people. Both of the people see this relationship in rose tinted glass. This is a very dreamy yet short-lived relationship.

Example: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

30. Saturn trine Moon in synastry brings emotional support and stability in relationship. In the couples chart, this aspect makes the relationship very grounded and long lasting

Example: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

✨🐝

[lightscamerabitchsmileee]

Vote for your fave, Reblog & share your thoughts and other faves (even outside of this list) in the tags I would love to hear it 😊😊

Check out my masterpost for the other artists polls thank you and have fun 😊😊

[intotheelliwoods]

Here it is, the 2 Arms Left Collaboration Comic!

Big thank you to everyone who participated! This was such a cool project! There was so much talent put into this thing and I am amazed by the results

Enjoy the finished product everyone!

=-=-=-=-=-

=-=-=-=-=-

The wonderful artists, in order of their panels appearance, go check them out!!

To help count without eyes getting lost, the people highlighted in orange were a part of the black and white flashback sequence!

1 @tangledinink

2 @roquog

3 @sunnyyyteaaa Sun!

4 @apollo-not-in-space

5 @wraenata

6 @abbeyofcyn

7 @dianagj-art

8 @rbtlvr

9 @vangh17a

10 @avidlylivid

11 @butterfilledpockets

12 @thegunnsara

13 @manga-toons

14 @idiot-mushroom

15 @centerofleesmind

16 @sunnyyyteaaa Tea!

17 @volcanicsleep

18 @phykoha

19 @princesskkfish

20 @cokowiii

21 @y0unginhumans

22 @bluesgras

23 @karmacomesaround

24 @heckitall

25 @sad-leon

26 @blue-star-doodles

27 @teainthesnow

28 @cartoonhostage

29 @hatchi-matchii

30 @last-hourglass

[peachiejeongin]

Asleep and Adored | Bang Chan

synopsis: a short sleepy drabble about bang chan when he gets tired

pairing: bang chan x reader

genre: pure fluff!

warnings: lowercase letters intended, no warnings!

notice: hello my loves! i wrote this sleepy chan drabble back many months ago; considering i may or may not have posted part 6 to the phantoms a bit early, enjoy this filler fiction :)

whenever bang chan was sleepy, he got clingy. that was a given as he was physically unable to fall asleep without you by his side. it would start with gentle taps on your arm or thigh, progress into frequent hugging, and by the end of the night, chan would be laid in between your legs or vice versa holding you like a life-sized teddy bear.

however, tonight seemed different.

chan had been in the studio tonight for only heaven knows how long. he had been producing, writing, you name it. you were not sure as to why; after all, stray kids had just wrapped up dominate promotions, and there were no planned song collaborations scheduled to your knowledge.

you knew he was getting tired. his eyes were drooping as he attempted to stay focused on the, unnecessary, task at hand.

“love, why don’t we head home? it’s nearly one,” you stated softly. chan drowsily checked his phone clock, shaking his head in response. “mm-mm. gotta,” he paused to yawn, “get this done.”

“what even does ‘this’ entail?” you asked both in curiosity and frustration. chan shrugged his shoulders, quickly returning them to their slumped position.

“just a side project. i got bored, y’know?” a few mouse clicks sounded, as well as a few ‘mms’ and ‘i need to adds’ from your boyfriend.

“if it’s just a side project, can’t it wait?” you sounded desperate, but you could not care less. you were desperate. desperate for your insomniac boyfriend to lay down and get even a few brief moments of sleep.

“it can, but i don’t see the point in postponing it any longer.” he went back to adjusting sounds and adding beats, clicking notes and corresponding vocals, and auto tuning voices and repositioning lyrics. you had had enough.

absent-mindedly, you stood up suddenly, reached over your boyfriend’s left shoulder, and pushed his lap top closed gently.

“baby, no!” he almost instantaneously yelped, attempting to reopen his laptop; however, your hand sat firmly in place on the technological device.

“ah, ah, ah,” you said softly. “rest. you can finish tomorrow.” chan sighed both in annoyance and defeat.

“fine.” chan made a swift reach for his keys, yet once again you stopped him.

“i don’t think either of us should be driving this late. maybe we could…” your eyes darted over to the smooth, black leather couch positioned near perfect in the center of the room. chan nodded slightly, another soft yawn eliciting from his pouty lips.

you lied down on the makeshift bed for tonight, spreading your legs slightly in invitation for chan. he quickly obliged, crawling in between them and laying his head down on your chest whilst simultaneously wrapping his arms around you.

you stroked his hair gently, and before you knew it, the adorable boy was nearly half asleep. yet, something in him seemed to be keeping him awake.

“got something on your mind, hon?”

“mm, just, thanks for caring about me. if it wasn’t for you, i’d never get any sleep.” a chuckled vibrated in your chest.

“any time, baby.” the soft thump of your heartbeat lulled chan to sleep before you knew it, and the sight of the sleepy boy in front of you sent you to dreamland soon after.

in different manners, both of you dreamed of how you got so lucky.

[jewelielie-art]

Welcome to Starlight Daycare! Where your post-Loops can come to socialize! ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

Thank you to everyone that donated a Loop to the project! This came from the ISAT Gift Exchange server. I couldn't help but notice how many creative people came up with their own designs that I figured a collaborative piece would be a fun side-quest.

Credits:

1. Astral Bodies AU Loop by @circusballoon

2. by @lycheelsea

3. Altair by @gosteon

4. by @iwontusethis255

5. by @poltergeist-clown-fanart

6. by @butterrbee

7. The Traveller by @whomst-yall

8. Ankaa by me! (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

9. Genesis by @a-weepin-willow

10. Field by @circusballoon

11. by @dustyfaith-bow

12. by @funnyjokespuns

13. Vega by @oriorchids

14. by @dreamdripdistance

15. Seafoam by @buttercupshands

16. Komítis by @pearl-crystals

17. Yakamoz by @starry-night-sky6

18. Andromeda by @homopopsie (art by @circusballoon)

19. by @polyhedron20

20. Sthesia by @anch0-a

21. Vale by @leafcaliber

22. Shadow the Hedgeloop by @polyhedron20

23. Daisy by @aeb-art

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Director's Obsession - Phase 1

Character: Director Orson Krennic x F!ISB Agent

Summary: Director Orson Krennic keeps one ISB agent under his thumb, pulling her from lunches, stealing her sleep, and destroying three dates. The project demands everything. Or maybe his obsession demands more.

Word Count: 4,598

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Chapters:

Phase 1, Phase 2 , Phase 3 , Phase 4 , Phase 5 , Phase 6 , Phase 7 , Phase 8 , -

Headcanons

Phase 1: The First Date

You barely have time to breathe. The last report for Phase 1 isn’t even cold on your desk when Director Krennic barges in with his usual dramatic sweep of his cape. The pristine white uniform almost glows under the sterile lights of the ISB Headquarters. He doesn’t bother knocking; he never does.

"There you are," he announces, like he’s surprised you’re working. "We need to push forward on Phase 2. Immediately."

You look up from your datapad, blinking. "Director, Phase 1 was finalized yesterday. The metrics haven't even stabilized yet."

"I know," he replies, his voice smooth, but edged with impatience. "Which is why Phase 2 is crucial. The rebel movements are growing bolder. The citizens need to feel safe. The Empire needs them to believe. And you," his eyes narrow slightly, "are the one who can make them believe."

Of course. Always you.

Phase 2. The next wave of carefully curated propaganda was to make the citizens embrace the Empire’s iron grip as if it were a warm blanket. Stormtroopers patrolled every sector, ensuring safety, order, and control.

"You want me to make them love seeing armored men with blasters on every street corner," you say flatly.

"Precisely," Krennic smiles, as though it's the simplest thing in the galaxy. "I trust your... creative talents."

And then, as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone. The cape swishes. The door hisses closed. You let out a long breath.

You don’t even get a chance to relax before your comm buzzes. It's Agent Dedra from across the floor. Again.

"Another visit from your work husband, I see," Jung drawls, voice dripping with amusement.

You rub your temples. "He's not my…"

"Oh, we know, we know.. Professional. Completely official. That's why Krennic only visits your office three times a day. I mean, he’s practically redecorating in there."

"Maybe we should get him a desk next to yours," Dedra adds. "Save him the walk."

"I swear to the Emperor," you mutter. "If you two don’t find something useful to do,"

"Oh, we’re very productive, we’re conducting a psychological study on how much attention one director can lavish on a single ISB officer before HR gets involved."

"I’m taking bets. I give it a week before he brings caf and calls it a 'collaboration session.'"

You groan. This is your life now.

You lean back in your chair and stare at the towering holoscreen of Phase 2’s draft campaign. Smiling citizens, loyal soldiers, protective Stormtroopers, the illusion of safety wrapped in polished armor.

"You’re just jealous," you shoot back finally, trying to reclaim some dignity. "He doesn’t visit you because you’re both insufferable."

Jung whistles. "You wound me."

Dedra chuckles. "Don’t worry. We’ll save you a seat at the wedding."

You slam the comm shut before they can continue.

Another sigh escapes you. The weight of the work presses in, heavy as ever. Phase 1 drained you dry, and now Phase 2 threatens to pull even more from you. But there’s no choice. Not with Krennic watching. Not with the Empire demanding results.

You glance at the door, half-expecting him to appear again.

The cape. The stare. The impossible expectations.

And you? You’re just trying to survive another day.

******

You barely have time to enjoy the brief silence after finishing Phase 1. The reports are still warm on your datapad when the summons arrives.

Director Krennic.

Of course, it’s him.

You drag yourself up from your desk, already knowing what this will be about before you even enter the meeting room. Krennic stands there like a monument in white, immaculate uniform, that damned cape swaying slightly as he shifts his weight. His hands are clasped behind his back, his posture as severe as his demands.

"You’ve done excellent work on Phase 1," he begins, voice smooth as polished durasteel. "The citizen morale reports have improved significantly. Public compliance is up. But now we move to Phase 2."

You bite your inner cheek, holding back the groan building in your throat. "Phase 2 Director?"

"Yes." He steps forward, lowering his voice like he’s sharing a state secret. "The rebel activity is escalating. Skirmishes, propaganda, and underground broadcasts. They’re infecting the citizens with fear and uncertainty."

He pauses, eyes narrowing. "Fear must be replaced with security. Confidence. They need to see the Stormtroopers not as enforcers, but as guardians. The face of order. Of peace."

You inhale, steadying yourself. "Director, I just finalized Phase 1 last week. The teams haven’t even stabilized the implementation yet."

"Exactly," he cuts in, smiling faintly. "Which is why we must strike now. While the momentum is ours. You have the skill to turn this tide. You always have."

Always me.

You leave the meeting more tired than when you entered. Another mountain of sleepless nights waiting. Phase 2 isn't just another propaganda wave. This time, you have to convince the entire citizenry that armed soldiers patrolling their streets is a comforting sight. That a government capable of planetary destruction is their protector.

You barely return to your office when the teasing begins.

Agent Dedra Meero is already leaning casually by your desk, sipping her coffee like she has all the time in the galaxy.

"Phase 2, huh?" she smirks. "Our golden star shines again."

"You could volunteer to help, you know," you mutter, sliding into your chair.

"And rob you of all the attention?" she laughs. "Perish the thought."

From behind her, Jung appears, balancing a datapad with a ridiculous grin. "How many times did he visit you this week?"

"I’m not counting."

"Seven," Jung answers for you. "Seven times. And it’s only midweek."

You roll your eyes, already regretting not locking the door.

Then Major Partagaz strolls by, overhearing just enough to chime in. "I never thought I’d see the day when Krennic made personal visits to ISB Headquarters," he remarks dryly. "The man barely acknowledged this department existed before you arrived."

"It’s called 'oversight,'" you reply, trying to sound more annoyed than amused.

"It’s called devotion," Jung teases.

Dedra leans in, lowering her voice dramatically. "He's your work husband at this point."

You stiffen. "Don’t."

But it's too late.

"You know," Jung adds with mock-seriousness, "we were thinking of organizing a little congratulatory party for you. Maybe get Krennic a desk right here. Right next to yours. Save him the commute."

"You could share office supplies," Dedra snickers.

"Maybe even a caf machine," Jung says. "Personalized mugs, his and hers."

Partagaz lets out a short huff, the closest thing to a laugh he ever gives. "Focus on your actual assignments," he mutters before walking off. But even he seems mildly entertained.

And then, as if summoned by the Force itself, the lift doors hiss open, and in steps Director Krennic.

The teasing evaporates like mist. Everyone straightens, faces suddenly blank and professional. Only your pulse remains elevated.

"Ah," Krennic greets with his usual calculated smile. "I trust you’re making progress."

You force a nod. "Of course, Director."

His eyes flick to the others, a silent dismissal, before landing back on you. "Good. I’ll be expecting a preliminary outline by tomorrow."

Tomorrow. Of course.

"Naturally."

He leaves without another word, his cape sweeping behind him like the final stroke of a signature.

The second he’s out of earshot, Dedra leans closer. "Work husband," she whispers.

You sigh, rubbing your temples. "I hate all of you."

Jung laughs. "You love us. Not as much as he loves visiting you, but close."

*******

The days blurred together. Work. Report to Krennic. Work. Report again.

Phase 2 was eating you alive.

You barely saw the sun anymore, not that it mattered. Your life was reduced to the narrow stretch between your apartment and the ISB headquarters. If there was a rebellion raging out there, you wouldn’t have known. You were too busy trying to make citizens adore the very soldiers that patrolled their streets like silent sentinels.

And Krennic?

Oh, Krennic was thriving.

He had a special gift for pulling you out of every moment of rest. Once, you dared to take a lunch break, an actual sit-down meal in the cafeteria.

That’s when the call came.

“Director Krennic requires your presence immediately,” the officer said, looking at you like you were a fugitive caught mid-bite.

You shoved your tray aside and ran, practically sprinting through the sterile halls, your boots echoing with every step as you reached his office.

Krennic barely looked up from his datapad. “I trust the break was refreshing.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I was three bites in.”

“Well, consider those bites a luxury. We’re not running a leisure cruise, Specialist.” He waved a hand as though dismissing the concept of meals entirely. “The sooner we stabilize Phase 2, the sooner you can resume... chewing.”

You wanted to throw something at him. Preferably his datapad.

Instead, you returned to your desk and drowned yourself in revisions, graphs, focus group data, and holovid drafts. The hours ticked by, your apartment becoming little more than a place to sleep for a few hours before dragging yourself back to ISB Headquarters.

Until one evening, when you handed him your final report, something unexpected happened.

“You’ve done well," Krennic said, scanning the summary with an approving nod. "Impressively well. Effective messaging, clear results, stabilized compliance... yes."

You held your breath. Was this… praise?

"You’ve earned a day off."

You blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"A full day," he repeated, smiling like he was offering you a rare antique. "I suggest you take advantage before I change my mind."

For a full minute, you just stood there. Surely, it was a trap. A test. But no, the next morning, your schedule was blank.

*****

Your friend Mia nearly fainted when she heard.

"Finally!" she exclaimed through your comm. "Do you know what that means?"

"Can I sleep?"

"No. It means you need entertainment. And lucky for you, I’ve arranged a blind date."

You froze. "Mia,"

"Don’t fight me on this. You need air, conversation, and let’s be honest, your social life’s been nothing but work and a bunch of uptight ISB agents for months."

You hated that she was right.

So that’s how you found yourself in a proper dress for the first time in months, sitting across from Malcolm, your date, at a very nice restaurant. He was Navy, tall, polite, and, thank the stars, had no idea about your work.

It felt... nice. Simple.

You sipped your wine, relaxed for the first time in what felt like an eternity. You even laughed, genuinely laughed, at one of his jokes.

“I have to admit, it’s refreshing to talk to someone outside of the fleet for once,” Malcolm smiled. “And you, you have this calm, professional charm. I like it.”

You smiled, blushing a little. “Occupational hazard.”

He reached for the menu again. "Shall we order dessert?"

That’s when it happened.

A sudden chill ran up your spine, that instinctive sensation you learned to never ignore.

Your eyes wandered across the room. Five tables ahead, seated perfectly in your line of sight, was a familiar figure.

Dear stars.

Of all places.

Director Krennic.

Sitting with Major Partagaz.

Krennic's posture was relaxed, but his sharp eyes had already landed on you the moment you looked up. The brief flicker of surprise on his face vanished, replaced by something else entirely.

Amusement.

You tried to look away, pretend you hadn't noticed, but it was too late. He stood.

"No," you whispered under your breath. "No, no, no, stay seated. For once in your life,"

But of course, he approached.

The sound of his polished boots was like an executioner’s drumbeat.

Krennic stopped at your table, his eyes briefly scanning Malcolm before landing back on you.

"Him?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain, eyes narrowing at Malcolm as though inspecting defective equipment. “Him?”

He scoffed, almost laughing under his breath, then gave you one final glance that said more than words could: This is the best you could find?

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the heavy silence behind him.

Your date blinked, utterly humiliated. "What... was that?"

You swallowed hard, your face burning. “That was... work.”

Malcolm’s expression hardened. "You have some complicated office politics." He grabbed his coat. "You know what? I’m not interested in being part of... whatever that was."

And just like that, your first night out in months ended with your date walking out the door.

You sat there for a long moment, staring at the half-empty wine glass.

Of course.

Because even on your day off, Krennic found a way to ruin it.

*******

You were left standing there, alone, humiliated, abandoned at the table like some rejected charity case. Your fist clenched as you allowed yourself one brief, venomous glare toward Krennic, who sat there as if nothing had happened. He was calmly discussing something with Partagaz, sipping his wine, completely unaffected by the disaster he had just casually caused.

Of course. Why would he care?

You grabbed your jacket, forcing your breathing to steady as you headed for the door. But as you passed the cashier, the young clerk stopped you.

"Miss... excuse me," he said awkwardly, lowering his voice. "Your... companion hasn’t paid yet."

You blinked. "What?"

You glanced back toward the empty chair where your date had been. The plate of half-eaten food mocked you.

You sighed heavily. "Unbelievable."

You pulled out your credits, practically tossing them onto the counter. The night was a complete waste of time, of food, of hope.

And then, as if summoned by your suffering, you heard his voice beside you.

"So," Krennic drawled smoothly, watching as the waitress helped adjust his cape, "the man just left? Turned out he’s more dramatic than I thought."

You didn't answer. You didn’t have the energy.

Partagaz was standing just behind him, his gaze briefly meeting yours with something close to... pity. His eyes said it without words: Sorry.

You rolled your eyes. You weren’t looking for sympathy.

"Wait," Krennic said, just as you reached for the door handle.

You froze. Slowly, you turned.

“A man shouldn’t leave you alone. Especially in that dress.” His voice lowered slightly, as though it was meant only for you. “Let me drop you off.”

Partagaz huffed behind him. “What about me?”

Krennic didn’t even turn around. “Go call a taxi.”

The Major rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath as he walked away. "Fine."

You sighed again, heavier this time, and pulled the door open. ‘Fine. At least I don’t have to walk my shame home.’

You followed him to the black Imperial transport waiting just outside, the glossy surface reflecting the streetlights. The driver opened the door without a word, and for the first time, you found yourself sliding into the passenger seat of Director Krennic’s vehicle.

It was… immaculate. The interior smelled faintly of expensive leather and sterilized perfection. Of course it did.

As the door hissed shut behind you and the car pulled away, the silence between you hung thick for a moment before he, predictably, broke it.

"You have interesting taste," he said, glancing sideways at you with a little smirk. "Navy lieutenant? Really?"

You shot him a look. "It’s called trying to have a life."

"Is that what you call it?" he said lightly. "It looked more like a charity event. He didn’t even have the courtesy to cover the bill."

You glared ahead, jaw tightening. "I wasn’t aware my personal life was part of your department’s jurisdiction."

"Everything is part of my jurisdiction," Krennic replied smoothly, folding his gloved hands in his lap. "Especially when it concerns my top officer."

Your head snapped toward him. "I’m not your officer."

"Semantics." His voice remained calm, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You belong to the Empire. And by extension, to me."

You exhaled sharply through your nose. "You have no idea how incredibly inappropriate you sound right now."

He chuckled. "Perhaps. But not inaccurate." He let the words hang before his tone shifted, the playful edge dimming, replaced by the familiar cold professionalism you knew too well. "You’ve done well on Phase 2. But don’t let distractions pull you off course. We still have work ahead. The rebel sympathizers aren’t slowing down. Neither can we."

You stared out the window, your reflection staring back at you in the glass. "I know my job, Director."

"I know you do," he said quietly. "That’s why I tolerate your… outside hobbies."

You couldn’t stop the dry laugh that escaped you. "One failed date qualifies as a hobby?"

"In your case?" Krennic smiled faintly. "Yes."

The rest of the ride passed in silence, but his presence weighed heavily beside you, like always. Calculating. Watchful. Amused.

As the car pulled up to your apartment complex, the driver opened the door. You stepped out, wrapping your coat tighter against the chill.

Krennic leaned slightly toward your open doorframe. "Next time," he said softly, "choose better company."

The door closed before you could respond, and the transport glided away into the night, leaving you standing alone under the flickering streetlamp. The moment his car disappeared into the night, you couldn’t hold it in anymore. You punched the air with both fists, your voice breaking the silence of the street.

"Arrgh!"

The fury bubbled inside you. That man never let you breathe. Not at work. Not at lunch. Not even on your first date in months. You stormed into your apartment, tossed your jacket aside, and glanced at the clock.

At least you’d make up for it with some sleep.

You took a long, hot shower, trying to wash off the frustration and Krennic’s smirk from your skin. Then you climbed into bed, shutting your eyes tight, letting yourself drift into sleep. Finally, you escaped. In your dreams, there was no Empire, no propaganda deadlines, no Director Krennic. Just quiet, peaceful nothingness.

*******

Morning arrived too quickly, but you felt surprisingly refreshed. You followed your usual routine. Breakfast. A light run. Shower. Coffee. Uniform. And then off to ISB headquarters.

The moment you stepped onto your floor, you felt it. The air was… different.

Your colleagues were eyeing you with strange, knowing looks. As if you were carrying some kind of secret you hadn’t shared yet. You tried to ignore it, walking straight to your desk, but the weight of their stares kept pressing.

Jung was the first to speak. He leaned over from his desk, lowering his voice but loud enough for others to hear.

"I heard Director Krennic offered you a ride home last night."

You closed your eyes for a brief second. So they knew.

"Yes. After he ruined my date," you replied, trying to sound casual.

Dedra’s head snapped up from her datapad. "Date?"

You sighed. There was no escaping it now. You told them everything. How your friend set you up with a Navy officer named Malcolm. How you finally had a night off after finishing Phase 2. How did you go to a fancy restaurant? How, against all odds, Krennic and Partagaz were there too.

You continued. How Krennic noticed you first. How he walked right up to your table, sized up your date like some superior officer inspecting unfit troops. How he scoffed. How Malcolm walked out, embarrassed and annoyed.

By the time you finished, their reactions came flooding in.

"Ooooh..." Jung leaned back, grinning.

Dedra raised an eyebrow. "I can't believe he just walked up to your table like that. Unbelievable."

"Oof. Rough," another agent muttered.

There were a few low whistles, some snickering. The entire office found this far more entertaining than any report they were working on.

At that moment, Major Partagaz walked in holding a datapad. His sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on you.

"So," Partagaz said, his voice smooth and neutral, "did Krennic stay over at your place afterward?"

You blinked, your jaw dropping slightly. "What? No!"

His eyes narrowed slightly, amused. "You went straight to sleep then?"

You raised both hands. "Yes. I went home. Alone. Straight to sleep. Don’t twist it."

The smirks were everywhere now, but before you could scold them further, the room’s atmosphere shifted again. You felt him before you saw him.

Director Krennic entered the room, walking with his usual polished arrogance, coat perfectly tailored, posture impeccable. He glanced around, reading the faces, noticing the barely-contained grins, but pretending not to care.

"My, my," he said in his cool voice, lips curling into a faint smirk. "What lively conversation so early in the morning."

He looked at you directly, eyes glinting with mischief.

"I do hope no one’s discussing personal matters during work hours. After all," his voice lowered just enough for only you to catch it, "we wouldn’t want to mix business with pleasure, would we?"

The ISB agents tried their best to suppress laughter. You pressed your lips into a tight line, biting back every insult you wanted to throw at him.

This man was impossible.

"Now," Krennic clapped his hands once, addressing the room like nothing unusual had happened, "Phase 3 awaits us. I trust you’re all ready?"

He didn’t wait for an answer. His eyes met yours one more time, and for a brief second, his smile widened like he’d won some invisible game.

You exhaled slowly, muttering under your breath. "Stars help me."

*******

Krennic stood behind his desk, skimming through the latest reports you handed him. His gloved fingers danced over the datapad, eyes narrowing slightly as he read through the results of Phase 3. You waited, arms crossed, heart beating a little too fast. You weren’t nervous about the data; you knew the numbers were good. You were nervous because this was Krennic, and he always managed to turn every conversation into something personal.

Finally, he set the datapad down with a quiet tap.

"Acceptable." His voice was calm, but the faint smirk on his lips betrayed his usual arrogance. "The citizen morale is responding well to your campaigns. The imagery of Stormtroopers as guardians of peace is spreading. The people are beginning to trust the Empire’s strength once more."

You allowed yourself a small breath of relief. Maybe this time, finally, you would get a break.

But of course, it never worked like that with Krennic.

"I hope you’ve also taken my advice to heart," he added, with that same smug grin. "About finding a man who deserves you."

You rolled your eyes, unable to stop yourself. "Director, are we done?"

"For now." He waved his hand dismissively. "You may leave."

You didn’t waste a second. You turned on your heel and walked out of his office, leaving his smirk behind you. Stars, that man could get under your skin like no one else.

You had hoped that Phase 3 would mean you’d finally earn another day off, like you did after Phase 2. Instead, less than twenty-four hours later, you received the message.

The Emperor requested your presence.

You stared at the message for a long moment, unable to fully process it. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a summons.

Then, of course, Krennic appeared.

"I see you’ve been invited," he said smoothly, as if this was just another routine briefing. "Naturally, I’ll be accompanying you."

"But the Emperor asked for me." You frowned.

"And I am responsible for you," he said. "I discovered you. Groomed you. Your success reflects on my leadership. This is as much my audience as it is yours."

You didn’t argue. What would be the point? Once again, Krennic made everything about himself.

******

The following morning, you stood side by side with him as the shuttle glided toward the Imperial Palace. The air inside was cold and clinical. No one spoke. Krennic looked utterly at ease, as if this was just another meeting. You, however, kept your breathing steady, forcing yourself to appear calm.

As you stepped out onto the landing platform, two Royal Guards awaited you, their crimson armor gleaming under the harsh lights. Without a word, they led you through towering black corridors, polished to perfection. The air smelled faintly metallic, sterile, like power itself.

Finally, you entered the throne chamber. The tall columns, the eerie silence, the shadows, all pressed against you like a physical weight. And there, seated atop the raised platform, cloaked in darkness, sat Emperor Palpatine.

His yellow eyes gleamed beneath his hood as his withered hands rested on the armrests.

You bowed immediately, head lowered. Krennic followed, slightly more theatrical in his movement.

"Rise," Palpatine commanded, his voice low and rasping. "My child... I have watched your work with great interest."

You straightened, standing tall under his gaze. His presence was suffocating yet mesmerizing.

"Your propaganda efforts are effective. The citizens are responding. Their trust in the Empire grows stronger. You have... talent."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." You forced your voice to be steady.

Krennic, of course, couldn’t stay silent.

"Naturally, my Lord," he said with that unmistakable tone of self-importance, "I was the one who found her. Saw her potential. Polished her skills. She was... raw, once. But under my guidance, she shines."

Palpatine turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing, studying Krennic. The corner of his pale lips curled ever so slightly.

"Good," the Emperor rasped, his voice echoing. "Then your judgment has served the Empire well, Director Krennic."

Krennic’s chest seemed to puff out just a fraction more. You fought the urge to roll your eyes right there in front of the Emperor.

Palpatine’s attention returned to you.

"Your work is not finished. The rebels grow bolder. We must tighten our grip before they become... dangerous. You will continue your efforts. Do not fail me."

"Yes, Your Majesty," you answered, bowing once more.

"Excellent," Palpatine whispered, his voice trailing off like a shadow.

As the guards signaled the audience was over, you turned to leave with Krennic walking beside you, his mood practically glowing.

"See?" he whispered with that infuriating smirk. "You're becoming quite the star of the Empire. And you owe it all to me."

You let out a quiet breath, focusing your gaze ahead.

"Director," you replied, voice flat. "Don’t push your luck."

His chuckle followed you down the corridor.

The car hummed softly as the palace lights disappeared behind you. You sat beside Krennic, arms folded, staring out the window as the stars stretched across the sky like distant promises. For a few minutes, neither of you spoke.

Then you finally broke the silence.

"You know," you said, "since the Emperor was quite pleased with my work, I think I deserve a reward."

Krennic glanced at you from the corner of his eye, his signature smirk already forming. "A reward?"

"Yes." You arched a brow. "Like a day off."

"A day off?" He chuckled, shifting in his seat as if the idea itself amused him. "So you can have another date?"

You rolled your eyes. "I want a social life too, Director. You do realize I’m not one of your droids, right?"

He made a show of pretending to consider it, tapping his gloved finger against his chin dramatically. "Hm. Fine. You may have a day off."

You looked at him, slightly suspicious. "That easy?"

"Of course." His grin widened. "You’ve earned it. And besides, I’m curious to see what kind of disaster your next date will become."

You let out a groan and sank back into the seat, muttering, "Stars save me."

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My book Arrogant Ex-Husband and Dad, I Can't Let You Go by Alina C. Bing are on Kindle. Check it out!

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Amazon.com

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Amazon.com: Dad, I Can't Let You Go eBook : Bing, Alina C.: Kindle Store

[sarahmackattack]

Philly Biodiversity Zine is LIVE!

Happy Earth Day 2025!

I can finally share a project with you that has been a LONG time coming: The Philly Biodiversity Zine!

Download the zine here!

The goal of this project is to make taking action to protect our local wildlife easy and fun! Each page covers a different theme, like water management, native plants, climate change, and affecting change across your community. I cannot wait to pick up the printed copies and get them distributed!

This project is a collaboration between 6 Philly artists:

Nafeeza Hassan a Philly street artist and graphic designer.

El Toro a Philly street art legend, muralist, and graphic designer

Kait Waldman a Philly illustrator who focuses much of her work on animals

Jean Wei a Philly illustrator who makes SUPER cute illustrations

Sarah Beahm a ... ok, you're sensing a theme maybe, a Philly illustrator! Sarah's work often focuses on Philly iconography, especially our row homes!

and me! A... whatever the heck you call me. Science communicator and enthusiastic doodler, perhaps.

I put a call out on social media for artists back last summer and we've been slowly cooking on this project ever since! Each artist illustrated one spread in the zine, and I wrote the words (and illustrated the back cover).

This project was made possible thanks to generous seed funding from the Biederman Peterson family charitable fund! That donation allowed us to pay each of the artists and print the first 1000 zines. I was hoping to get a bit more funding so I could afford to print more, but unfortunately our grant application got rejected (this has been the theme of 2024 and 2025 unfortunately), so that slowed the process down by a few months. Bummer.

We hope to distribute 3000 zines across the city in the coming months. The printed copies should be ready for pickup in early May! Once they're in hand, I'll start distributing them through little free libraries, library branches, cafes, record shops, and anywhere else with the treasured "pile of free stuff" that the good cafes often have. If you'd like to help us print more, you can do that here!

Check out the zine and support this project so we can print more copies for kids in Philly here!

Hope you all love reading it as much as we loved making it :)

xoxo,

Sarah