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touggulnow · 4 days ago

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10 tips to safeguard your critical business data in SAP systems

Secure your Critical Business Data

Security and risk are becoming increasingly challenging as businesses become more connected. It requires data sharing between different systems, applications, and enterprises.

According to Forrester, companies will double their budgets for data strategy over the next five years and according to Gartner, transparency and traceability are among the Top Ten Strategic Technology Trends for 2022. Smart spaces, they claim, will offer better business opportunities.

It was found in another recent report by Onapsis that between 50,000 and 100,000 organizations use SAP systems that are vulnerable. An example that made the world aware of the importance of data security is the case with the New Zealand government. An immense data breach in which firearms, addresses, and names of gun owners were exposed led SAP itself to apologize to the government. There was no hacking involved in the breach, but 66 dealers got access to sensitive information because of a change in user access given to dealers participating in the buyback scheme.

“Between 50,000 to 100,000 organizations use SAP systems that are vulnerable.”

Apparently, SAP is working on various solutions to increase the security of data. In addition, it reminds clients that security is a collaborative effort, and emphasizes the importance of proper system configuration.

The importance of security in SAP

Data breaches and ransomware attacks are on the rise, and the global pandemic presents new opportunities for cybercriminals. Many employees today access corporate resources through virtual private networks (VPNs). The shift to remote work has resulted in a more permissive VPN policy, which compromises corporate networks in an indirect way.

There is a need for IT security teams to accomplish more with less budget or with the same budget. It is part of their job responsibility to manage day-to-day IT and security operations, find and retain skilled security talent, identify and address security capability gaps, and maximize the return on investment (ROI).

Almost seven out of ten organizations do not place a high priority on securing their SAP systems. Considering the recent spike in cyber-attacks, it is essential to secure SAP systems. We have put together a list of 10 tips you can use immediately to secure your critical business data in SAP system.

1. Own it – Don’t blame

When a security breach occurs, who is responsible? A recent survey by Onapsis found that half of the respondents believe SAP is to blame for security breaches – not anyone within their own organization. Another 30% believe that no one is responsible. A small percentage of people believe that the CIO or CISO is responsible for a security breach.

50% blame SAP for security breaches

30% have no idea

20% say it is CIO/CISO’s responsibility

63% of C-Level executives underestimate the risks associated with insecure SAP applications

The dangers associated with insecure SAP applications are underestimated by 63% of C-level executives.

2. Regularly update the EHP & SPS

One of the most significant steps to staying secure is to keep your system up to date. Enhancement packages are delivered by SAP to deliver new innovations/functionality or “enhancements” to customers without disruption. Ensure you have the latest enhancement packs installed, and that you aren’t several versions behind. It is always risky to be a first adopter, but it is also imperative to avoid falling behind (n-1 is always recommended). Technology and computer security are constantly improving, so it is important to keep your system up to date with patches, fixes, updates, and enhancement packs.

As part of its Support Package Stacks, SAP releases periodic security solutions. The Support Package Stacks are patches for a given product that should be applied together. It is recommended that these stacks be applied at least once a year, and SAP specifies the maintenance schedule on its website. In addition, ToggleNow can help you identify your system’s most critical SPSs.

3. The Right SODs make a difference

As business processes rapidly evolve, employee roles and responsibilities are also changing. By establishing boundaries between roles assigned to an employee and conflicts of interest that may arise from the employee’s responsibilities, segregation of duties aims to reduce internal fraud risks. For example, one employee processes a PO while another verifies and approves it. This adds more control and prevents payments to ‘fake’ vendors.

It is becoming more common for mature organisations to look for ways to improve Segregation of Duties management while reducing costs. It is imperative for businesses to integrate an advanced, quick, and easy-to-install Access Management tool that fits with their systems. This will avoid conflicts after an employee’s role or tasks change.

This can be achieved either by implementing the SAP GRC Access Control solution or ToggleNow’s SoD Analysis solution for SAP. The SAP Security Assessment services provided by ToggleNow will identify the right solutions for your organization. Additionally, if you have SAP GRC implemented, explore the various SAP GRC services that are offered by us.

With the help of our SMEs, you will be able to implement the right separation of duties strategies and ensure that you comply with the various regulations and mandates.

4. Ensure the quality of your code

SAP systems typically have over 30 percent proprietary code, depending on the industry. Statistics indicate that one critical security defect occurs for every 1,000 lines of ABAP code.

It is possible that SAP system performance will be adversely affected. It is estimated that the average SAP system contains 2,151 risks, and 70% of enterprises fail to audit their ABAP custom code for compliance and security.

It is possible to simplify the security process for your code. It is no longer necessary for organizations to invest time, money, and manpower in major security projects. An analysis of your code beforehand will enable you to identify and prioritize any risks and issues before you begin an upgrade.

To ensure security, performance, maintainability, robustness, and compliance with ABAP standards, integrate coding and quality assurance into a single activity.

Finally, you should only keep the custom code you need. It introduces unnecessary risks and increases the amount of effort needed for unnecessary code corrections when redundant unused custom code is used.

Wondering how to handle the situation? Here is a solution – SAP Solution Manager CCLM is a fantastic solution that addresses the majority of these requirements. Refer to this blog

5. Implement SAP Solution Manager – Security Optimization Service (SOS)

We are often asked by clients what tools are available to check the security of SAP systems? Additionally, to Early Watch Alert (EWA), SAP Solution Manager (SOLMAN) has a Security Optimization Service (SOS) report that focuses on security.

Security Optimization Service for the SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP checks the security of your SAP system(s) and perform the following checks:

• Basis administration check • User management check • Super users check • Password check • Spool and printer authorization check • Background authorization check • Batch input authorization check • Transport control authorization check • Role management authorization check • Profile parameter check • SAP GUI Single Sign-On (SSO) check • Certificate Single Sign-On (SSO) check • External authentication check

You’ll need the latest version of SOLMAN and the latest support pack to set this up. The managed system must also be configured and setup in SOLMAN without any errors and the instance is correctly defined in LMDB. (Status Green). Additionally, the OS collector must be running on your target instances and database.

It is important, however, to answer the following before setting up the SOS:

• Does your organization have the capacity to manually review those reports and act on each recommendation? • It is set correctly so that your team has ample time to review and act on the reports.

Read ToggleNow’s success story on this subject. We have implemented Solution Manager 7.2 for one of our clients who is a leading refractory company in India since 1958.

6. Regular health checks keep the system healthy

Yes, you heard that right. Humans and systems alike benefit from regular health checks. Ponemon Institute reports that organizations lack visibility “into the security of SAP applications and lack the expertise to detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks quickly.”

Early detection is the key to staying healthy or secure. A frequent ERP system check helps you get a comprehensive picture of your ERP landscape before making changes and identifying areas for improvement. This is just like healthy people need annual checkups and preventative medicine to stay healthy and detect problems early. Regular health checkups can identify security gaps. Additionally, EWA and SOS reports provide an in-depth analysis of the system. According to experts’ recommendations, SAP Solution Manager must be configured to support these modules.

7. Implement an Antivirus scan

How confident are you that the documents attached in SAP are virus-free? A vulnerable code might be included in a file your users use/attach in SAP, allowing hackers to gain access.

If you use SAP software, you should use a virus scanner to protect against computer viruses, and SAP recommends this. However, SAP does not investigate, recommend, or release antivirus software as part of its server product validation program.

Many anti-virus software packages protect your SAP deployments using Deep Security, protecting critical information from threats such as malware, cross-site scripting, and SQL injections.

A Virus Scan Adapter (VSA) must be installed on the host before a Deep Security scan can be performed. SAP note 2081108 explains how to set up and configure the VSA system and SAP note 1494278 provides a list of the AV products that are supported.

Additionally, SAP administrators can define the types of documents that are allowed based on various policies. After selecting the right AV product, this can be determined.

8. Implement re-certification processes

Reviews of dormant IDs and dormant roles make a great start. Regularly reviewing the user IDs and deactivating those that are no longer needed is always recommended. This will not only increase the application’s security but also reduce licensing costs. If you already have an SOP in place and are still performing this activity manually, here is a solution for you. ToggleNow’s UserSentry automates both dormant ID review and Role review by taking the appropriate action according to defined rules. Thus, you can comply with a critical audit requirement.

9. Implement additional Security measures

In addition, we recommend that additional security measures be implemented. Back then, experts used to advise setting up complex password policies like keeping password lengths between 8-12 characters and forcing users to change their passwords frequently. Keeping strong passwords alone is no longer sufficient considering technological advancements.

It is recommended to implement additional security measures such as 2-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA), validating a user’s machine ID (aka mac ID) at log-in, and adding geofencing validations, verifying the availability of anti-virus software, checking the firewall status, etc. All these features are included in ToggleNow’s UserSentry application, which helps next-generation enterprises implement them quickly.

10. Transform your business with digital technology

The waterfall era has ended. Agility has won. By embracing digital transformation and getting fast and frequent feedback, organizations can respond quickly to critical security issues. By doing this, security issues aren’t ignored, and crises can be averted. If you are worried about the Subject matter expertise and resource availability, ToggleNow can step in and take over this critical piece. The FourEdge Service offering is a great reliever for many organizations that are seeking to start their GRC transformation journey. Remember to be in the race, or else your competitors will take over.

These are the best tips to secure your critical business data in SAP systems. Talk to our SMEs today and leave rest on us for your business data security.

Read More: https://togglenow.com/blog/secure-your-critical-business-data/

#SAP SOD analysis #SAP SOD analysis tool #SAP SOD analyzer #GRC access control #SAP threat detection #SAP GRC automation

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noisilyimminentcore · 10 days ago

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When to Redesign SAP Roles: During ECC or Post-Migration to S/4HANA or Rise with SAP

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA or adopting RISE/GROW with SAP is a strategic milestone for organizations aiming to modernize their ERP landscape. However, one critical consideration often overlooked during these transitions is the redesign of SAP roles. The timing of this redesign can significantly influence the success of the migration and the overall efficiency. Should you redesign roles during the ECC phase or wait until after the migration to S/4HANA? This blog explores the key factors driving this decision and introduces the S.M.A.R.T framework—a modern approach to SAP role redesign that ensures compliance, efficiency, and business alignment.

Understanding the Need for Role Redesign

SAP roles are pivotal in defining user access, ensuring compliance, and maintaining operational efficiency. Over time, roles in ECC systems often become bloated with unused authorizations or misaligned with current business needs. This can lead to:

Compliance Risks: Excessive authorizations increase the risk of segregation of duties (SoD) violations.

Migration Complications: Legacy roles with redundancies can complicate the migration process to S/4HANA.

Operational Costs: Since the licensing model is based on assignment and not by usage in S/4HANA and RISE, you may need to procure more licenses than required.

A role redesign ensures clean, streamlined, and compliant access structures, setting the stage for a smooth transition and efficient system post-migration.

ls.ECC vs. S/4HANA: When to Redesign Roles?

Aspect

Redesign During ECC

Redesign Post-Migration to S/4HANA

Compliance

Proactively addresses SoD conflicts and access risks.

Allows compliance alignment with new functionalities post-migration.

Migration Complexity

Simplifies migration with clean and optimized roles.

Reduces redundant effort, focusing only on relevant roles in the new system

Alignment with New Features

May require rework later to incorporate S/4HANA-specific functionalities.

Ensures roles are tailored to new modules, Fiori apps, and processes.

Timeline and Resources

Increases project timelines due to pre-migration workload.

Defers redesign efforts, potentially affecting initial system efficiency.

Business Process Analysis

Limited to existing ECC processes, with potential misalignment after migration.

Better aligned with current and optimized business processes in S/4HANA.

Redesigning SAP Roles with RISE with SAP

If you are moving to RISE with SAP, it is advisable to conduct a complete role redesign during the ECC phase. Once the migration is complete, perform a retrofit to align roles with the cloud-specific requirements introduced by RISE. This approach addresses the unique security, integration, and scalability considerations of a cloud-oriented transformation. You might have many questions at this juncture – What is the best approach? Which tools must be considered? Are there any accelerators that can be used? Can we use stock ready/ready to deploy role structures?

Challenges with Stock Ready Rulesets

Many system integrators offer pre-packaged or stock-ready rulesets as part of their role redesign services. While these rulesets might appear to save time and effort, they often come with significant challenges, making them unsuitable for many businesses. Here’s why the stock-ready approach is not recommended:

Lack of Customization: Stock-ready rulesets are designed to be generic and may not align with the specific needs of your industry or business processes. This can result in inadequate or excessive authorizations.

Compliance Risks: These pre-packaged rulesets may not fully address industry-specific compliance requirements, leaving gaps that could lead to audit findings or regulatory penalties.

Misalignment with Business Processes: Every organization has unique workflows and processes. Stock-ready rulesets may not account for these nuances, leading to inefficiencies and user frustrations.

Post-Implementation Challenges: Organizations often need to spend additional time and resources customizing these rulesets post-implementation, negating the perceived benefits of a quick deployment.

Instead of relying on stock-ready rulesets, organizations should invest in a tailored role redesign approach. This ensures that roles are aligned with specific business processes, compliance requirements, and future scalability needs, delivering long-term value and efficiency. This is where S.M.A.R.T approach/framework can be a life saver.

The S.M.A.R.T Role Redesign Framework

At ToggleNow, we leverage the S.M.A.R.T framework for SAP role redesign. This approach ensures that roles are:

Simplified: Designed to reduce complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Mitigated for Risks: Focused on eliminating SoD conflicts and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Aligned with Business Tasks: Task-based roles ensure that access permissions directly support specific workflows.

Responsive to Change: Built to adapt seamlessly to future business or technical changes.

Transparent and Optimized: Designed with a focus on license optimization to eliminate unnecessary expenditures.

This framework delivers roles that are not only secure but also cost-effective and easy to manage

ToggleNow Advantage

ToggleNow brings a unique value proposition to SAP role redesign initiatives, ensuring a seamless and efficient process tailored to your business needs. Here’s why we stand out:

Customized Solutions: Unlike stock-ready rulesets, ToggleNow develops tailored role designs aligned with your specific business processes, compliance requirements, and industry standards.

Deep Expertise: With extensive experience in SAP role redesign, ToggleNow combines technical proficiency with a deep understanding of regulatory compliance and security best practices.

Innovative Tools:ToggleNow leverages proprietary tools such as Verity, Optimus and accelerators such as xPedite to streamline role redesign, risk analysis, and validation, ensuring faster project delivery.

Focus on Scalability:Our approach ensures that the roles we design are not only compliant and efficient but also scalable, adapting to your future business growth.

Proven Track Record:Trusted by leading organizations, ToggleNow has successfully delivered role redesign projects across diverse industries, enabling smoother migrations and enhanced system performance.

By partnering with ToggleNow, organizations can confidently navigate their SAP transitions, optimizing roles to drive operational excellence and long-term success.

Conclusion

The decision to redesign SAP roles during ECC or post-migration to S/4HANA or RISE with SAP depends on your organization’s priorities, resources, and timeline. Redesigning during ECC can simplify the migration process, while post-migration redesign allows alignment with new functionalities. For RISE with SAP, role redesign becomes even more critical to address cloud-specific requirements.

Moreover, organizations should avoid the pitfalls of stock-ready rulesets and opt for a customized approach that aligns with their unique requirements. By investing in a well-planned redesign, organizations can unlock the full potential of SAP S/4HANA or RISE with SAP, driving operational excellence and business growth.

Read more: https://togglenow.com/blog/redesign-sap-roles-ecc-or-s-4hana/

#SAP Risk Management #SAP access risk analysis tool #SAP GRC access control solution #SAP segregation of duties automation #SoD risk analysis for SAP

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suchi05 · 7 months ago

Text

10 tips to safeguard your critical business data in SAP systems - ToggleNow

Secure your Critical Business Data Security and risk are becoming increasingly challenging as businesses become more connected. It requires data sharing between different systems, applications, and enterprises.

“Between 50,000 to 100,000 organizations use SAP systems that are vulnerable.”

The importance of security in SAP Data breaches and ransomware attacks are on the rise, and the global pandemic presents new opportunities for cybercriminals. Many employees today access corporate resources through virtual private networks (VPNs). The shift to remote work has resulted in a more permissive VPN policy, which compromises corporate networks in an indirect way.

Own it – Don’t blame When a security breach occurs, who is responsible? A recent survey by Onapsis found that half of the respondents believe SAP is to blame for security breaches – not anyone within their own organization. Another 30% believe that no one is responsible. A small percentage of people believe that the CIO or CISO is responsible for a security breach.

50% blame SAP for security breaches

30% have no idea

20% say it is CIO/CISO’s responsibility

63% of C-Level executives underestimate the risks associated with insecure SAP applications

The dangers associated with insecure SAP applications are underestimated by 63% of C-level executives.

Regularly update the EHP & SPS One of the most significant steps to staying secure is to keep your system up to date. Enhancement packages are delivered by SAP to deliver new innovations/functionality or “enhancements” to customers without disruption. Ensure you have the latest enhancement packs installed, and that you aren’t several versions behind. It is always risky to be a first adopter, but it is also imperative to avoid falling behind (n-1 is always recommended). Technology and computer security are constantly improving, so it is important to keep your system up to date with patches, fixes, updates, and enhancement packs.

The Right SODs make a difference As business processes rapidly evolve, employee roles and responsibilities are also changing. By establishing boundaries between roles assigned to an employee and conflicts of interest that may arise from the employee’s responsibilities, segregation of duties aims to reduce internal fraud risks. For example, one employee processes a PO while another verifies and approves it. This adds more control and prevents payments to ‘fake’ vendors.

With the help of our SMEs, you will be able to implement the right separation of duties strategies and ensure that you comply with the various regulations and mandates.

Ensure the quality of your code SAP systems typically have over 30 percent proprietary code, depending on the industry. Statistics indicate that one critical security defect occurs for every 1,000 lines of ABAP code.

To ensure security, performance, maintainability, robustness, and compliance with ABAP standards, integrate coding and quality assurance into a single activity.

Wondering how to handle the situation? Here is a solution – SAP Solution Manager CCLM is a fantastic solution that addresses the majority of these requirements. Refer to this blog

Implement SAP Solution Manager – Security Optimization Service (SOS) We are often asked by clients what tools are available to check the security of SAP systems? Additionally, to Early Watch Alert (EWA), SAP Solution Manager (SOLMAN) has a Security Optimization Service (SOS) report that focuses on security.

Security Optimization Service for the SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP checks the security of your SAP system(s) and perform the following checks:

Basis administration check

User management check

Super users check

Password check

Spool and printer authorization check

Background authorization check

Batch input authorization check

Transport control authorization check

Role management authorization check

Profile parameter check

SAP GUI Single Sign-On (SSO) check

Certificate Single Sign-On (SSO) check

External authentication check

It is important, however, to answer the following before setting up the SOS:

Does your organization have the capacity to manually review those reports and act on each recommendation?

It is set correctly so that your team has ample time to review and act on the reports.

Read ToggleNow’s success story on this subject. We have implemented Solution Manager 7.2 for one of our clients who is a leading refractory company in India since 1958.

Regular health checks keep the system healthy Yes, you heard that right. Humans and systems alike benefit from regular health checks. Ponemon Institute reports that organizations lack visibility “into the security of SAP applications and lack the expertise to detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks quickly.”

Read more: https://togglenow.com/blog/secure-your-critical-business-data/

#GRC Access Control #sap user management automation #sap sod analysis #SAP cyber security #SAP Security Monitoring #SAP cyber Security Services #SAP Security #sap security services #SAP Security Audit

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messenger-of-babel · 9 months ago

Text

Green With Infatuation

Summary: Kyle hopes with all his heart that you like him back after rumors begin floating around. (Kyle Rayner x reader)

Word Count: 1.5K

Notes: Kyle just being a love sap (I know he's a more fleshed out character than that but sometimes I want to curse his romance).

━━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Kyle Rayner was many things.

He was a green lantern, a defender of Earth. He had carried the white lantern mantle for a while as well, until he tried to resurrect the Blue Lantern Corp. He was a friend to many, and when he felt like it, a pain in Hal Jordan's side (even though the other man took it in good mirth). However, nothing was a strong as what he knew himself to be at the core: A man head over heels for you.

From the first time he had seen you, he couldn't help but be captivated. The way that you smiled at him made him feel like he held up the sun, your eyes crinkling at the corners. He didn't often come by the Justice League headquarters, mostly just when Hal or John put a request in for extra backup. However, he found himself going back repeatedly when he wasn't needed, pacing through the halls just for a chance of seeing you again.

You were a secretary hired by the Batman himself, keeping things orderly and neat to the eyes of the public. He'd come to get coffee with Hal, looking through the glass wall of the second floor to the reception you manned. He'd watch how day after day you dealt with angry members of the public or crazed fans trying to get past you. Not that they could, everything beyond a certain point was access restricted so they wouldn't be able to do so much as call the elevator. With a sigh and a calm smoothing of your shirt you'd click the call button under your desk, security coming to whisk the person annoying you away.

He also saw you at some of the work functions, little get togethers that Superman held to try and encourage a team environment. You were invited to those too but seemed wildly out of place among all of the superpowered (or in the Bat's case, heavily armed) figures in the room. Since Kyle had been dropping by more and more frequently for months now, they invited him along. Every time they didn't, he asked to come along with Hal.

He yearned to talk to you, yet there was a pit of worry clawing at his gut. He wished he could take off the mask and talk to you normally, like you were both casual civilians bumping into each other on the street. He had debated that exact scenario multiple times, but he didn't want to be a stalker. If you two ever did end up together, he didn't want to have the foundations of the relationship be a lie. That wouldn’t be fair to you.

So, he watched from a distance, studying the way you laughed, the way you smiled, the way you held yourself. Catching sight of Diana coming towards him, he nodded his head in polite greeting. The Amazonian returned the gesture, drink in hand as she leans on the wall next to him. "Rayner," she greets quietly, lips quirking into a grin. "I've been seeing you a lot more at these kinds of things. Don't tell me you're actually starting to enjoy them?" she teases. he shrugs his shoulders, smiling back.

"It's not like the corps are gonna throw a Christmas party anytime soon, I'll take what I can get." he chuckles, raising his glass to hers in a toast. She clinks her own cup against his, and they both take a sip in silence. Automatically his eyes seek you out again, picking you out of the crowd as you talk to Superman. Diana's eyes follow his.

"Have you met our secretary yet?" she asks, curious. He shakes his head, throat feeling dry.

"No, I don’t think I have." he replies, trying to control the thudding of his pulse. She clicks her teeth at his answer, humming lightly.

"They're a civilian that helps us out. Batman hired them to try and manage PR, you know, when people think we aren't doing anything. They help keep those tabloids from running rampant, and they do a pretty good job of it." Kyle turns to look at her, eyebrow raised.

"Doesn't that make them a target?" he asks. "If they're a civilian at the front desk of the Justice League, isn't there enemies of you all that would love to get the chance to take a free hit?"

Diana shrugs in response. "There was at the start, and truthfully it was quite scary." she says. "But our enemies realised rather quickly that to be a mistake. There's always someone at the headquarters, and they just better hope that it isn't Batman's shift." She jokes, waving her hand. "Besides, everyone figured out pretty quick that they've got a guard dog watching 24/7. No one's coming to get them knowing that."

He huffs out a laugh, grin gracing his lips into a smile. "Who's that? Don't tell me it’s the Bat, I won't believe you."

Diana laughs, shaking her head. "No, it's not Batman." she says, eyes sparkling as she smiles. "I thought you would have known."

"Why?"

"Because he's a lantern." she says matter of factly, pushing off the wall as waving as she heads back into the small crowd. His heart thuds in his chest, world slowing down around him momentarily. Did she know about how he felt? rushed around his mind, making his hands twitch nervously. He excuses himself politely, wondering just how often he had to have been caught staring for Diana to put something like that together.

As he heads for the bathroom to wash his face, he fails to notice that you've since stopped your conversation with Superman, instead conversing with the Flash and Hal. If he had paid attention just a touch closer, he would have seen the way you stood a little closer to Hal than usual, and the respectful hand that snaked around your waist to sit on your hip.

Since the night of the party, Kyle found himself inextricably coming back to the Justice League base, day after day. Just for a chance to talk to you, a chance to see you, for your hands to accidentally brush against one another when you go to get water from the cooler. You'd give him a smile and a thank you each time, his heart softening after each one. He couldn’t help the daydream of what it would feel like to have you in his arms, and to wake up with you beside him. What your face would look like as he made your favourite meal after a long day of work or flying you up to the tallest building in the city so he could see the lights reflected in your eyes. Hearing the passing chatter of others did nothing to quell his racing heart either.

The rumours that floated around that you were getting close to a Green Lantern made his heart leap from his chest, hands tingling with excitement and blood rushing to his head. When there was any tearoom chatter that you were dating a Lantern, he brushed it off. He hadn't been that forward, had he?

He tried to push past it, smiling and striking up conversation with you a bit more. His lips longed to ask you questions about what the two of you were. He had just seen it as friends, but did you see it differently? Did you want to be with him even a fraction of the way that he wanted to be with you?

When you mention your respect for the work that the Lantern's did, giving him a genuine thanks, he swore that the sun came out in a halo behind you. Of course he played it off as well as he always did, lovesick smile pulling his lips back and dark hair flopping over his eyes as he laughs and tells you not to worry about it. Every compliment you give him, every time you talk about how much you liked a certain lantern in particular made his chest pound. His throat felt tight, brain racing at the way that you brought it up so casually.

Was this your way of signalling your interest in him? Was he being too dense?

Hope fluttered weakling in his chest each time, making him giddy. When he saw you with Hal, he waved politely at the two of you, carrying on his business. He so desperately wanted to say that if you wanted to get to know him better, that you could just ask him, not Hal. He didn't bite and he didn't have any intention of being rude to you. He chalked it up to you just being scared, a nervousness that he could relate to all too well.

That's why when he sees the two of you leaving one evening, he can only sigh dreamily from the sidelines. So in love and heart fluttering with hope he can barely register the arm Hal has thrown around your neck, or the fact that it's his jacket covering your shoulders. He doesn't take note of the way you kiss Hal's cheek rounding the corner, or the way his coworker smirks and leans down to whisper something in your ear.

Kyle Rayner was a man well and truly in enraptured, with eyes that were lovestruck and hopeful.

Even if that hope was a false one.

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honeytonedhottie · 2 years ago

Text

how to focus⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🪷

i feel like especially nowadays, its difficult and often feels impossible to stay focused on one thing for more than a couple minutes at a time. our brains are constantly overstimulated. as the world continues to progress and become more modernized, everything is too much.

the process in the brain that perpetuates distraction and procrastination goes like this (we have an unpleasant task that we need to do -> knowing that we have to do this task triggers a drop in our motivation -> so we go and distract ourselves)

lack of motivation is NOT the problem : the problem is distraction of motivation. will power/attention ≠ motivation. in fact its quite the opposite. even though we feel our motivation being sapped out, our will power doesn't get drained as quickly as we think that it is.

in order to do a task, we must be able to FOCUS on that task, so that we can sustain our motivation for that task. u dont lack motivation, ur motivation is simply distracted.

studies have shown that if u THINK u have endless willpower, you'll exhibit better task performance, and you'll therefore experience more willpower.

keep ur notifications OFF : the less accessible u make distraction to you, the better you'll perform. dont sleep with ur phone/computer easily accessible to u if u wanna sleep better. dont turn notifications on when ur studying if u wanna stay ON task.

we control our attention and our attention controls our motivation

act fast : acting quickly when these distractions come to ur mind is important to maintain consistency. i watched a video of a woman talking about how when she was breaking the habit of doom scrolling she made it her mission to put her phone down and quickly pick up another task, even if it was picking things up off the floor, but she just quickly shifted her attention. dont give ur brain a second to think for an excuse as to why u should procrastinate.

change the way that u think of the task : when the process of even thinking of doing the task becomes so unpleasant that even though u know that u MUST do that task u dont end up doing it, you need to switch the lens in which u see the task.

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galacticnova3 · 2 months ago

Note

thinking about that triple star head cannon post

if triple star is a legendary weapon like galaxia, why did they still allow daroach to use them when he was possessed?

Short version: when Daroach got possessed by Dark Nebula, Triple Star didn’t have enough control in that situation to stop themself from being used. Not that she’s the type to turn her back on her wielder even under those circumstances. Dark Nebula was also just a special case of being the exact type of being best able to take advantage of her strengths.

Long answer: given that MK still uses Galaxia even when he’s possessed or otherwise being influenced by an outside force, I imagine the connection formed between cursed* weapon and wielder essentially makes it so that if their wielder gets possessed or otherwise externally controlled, that actually extends to them as well. (*In my headcanon, curses are just a form of automatically self-perpetuating magic— not aren’t inherently bad or evil, even though the term has overall negative connotations. They’re used for basically anything that requires a spell or the like to be used repeatedly or indefinitely. Binding a soul to an object permanently requires cursing it, most forms of enchantment are technically curses, etc. Technically even Lor is cursed, but that’s a tangent and you probably get the idea by now.) This is actually one of the primary weaknesses of these weapons as a whole, as while they cannot be directly possessed or influenced, if they give their blessing to someone and then that person gets controlled, they can’t just retract the blessing without their wielder experiencing severe and potentially life-threatening consequences. They can try to hold back so that their manipulated wielder can’t do as much, but they can’t just turn themselves off in an emergency.

It’s exactly why Galaxia is so picky about who she will allow to wield her compared to Triple Star’s more lax nature. In many ways Galaxia is more powerful than Triple Star, so she is significantly more concerned about the possibility of being used for evil— she definitely functions a lot more like a classical cursed weapon than Triple Star, just with a conscience. I’ve already explained it before but just to recap, Galaxia gets her power from soul magic, which she can then transfer to her wielder. It’s why in the Meta Knightmare modes you get access to various abilities via defeating enemies; MK is invoking her power after she gathers soul magic from his enemies/opponents. That is in addition to her less often used elemental capabilities she grants even without additional soul magic, though you can actually see some of them when you fight MK in Epic Yarn. Basically, she knows very well that she is a powerful soul-sapping sword who can be used to empower her wielder, so she refuses to even entertain the idea of being used by anyone who might use her for evil of their own accord.

Triple Star, on the other hand, derives her power from the bonds between others; in that regard she actually has a sort of built-in failsafe against possession, in that usually in cases of possession it’s a matter of one entity trying to overpower another rather than cooperate. Trying to wield her in that state renders her fairly ineffective because there is no bond to draw power from, only struggle. Under normal circumstances, Daroach makes for a perfect wielder because he’s the leader of a very close-knit group and generally doesn’t mean any harm, even if he’s a bit greedy and often on the wrong side of the law. He’s a criminal but he’s not a bad person, and he has respectable standards and a moral code that’s solid enough for them. (This same idea is also why Kirby is so good at using them; friendship is his whole thing, obviously.) Even if she could, abandoning Daroach would have been against her own nature.

As for why Dark Nebula specifically was able to make use of them, and was even able to make their magic more powerful(note the difference in power between Daroach and Dark Daroach): it relates to that headcanon post I made yesterday. When possessing someone, Nebula effectively becomes a hivemind of nonetheless distinct instances of himself who naturally tend to agree far more than they disagree. As far as Triple Star’s magic is concerned, that’s like having the backing of a group of people who are all on the same page and more or less perfectly in sync with each other. She does not directly control her own abilities, much like Galaxia doesn’t directly control hers, so since Nebula was operating through Daroach she couldn’t stop him from using her. Once he was forced out, of course, he immediately lost the ability to do anything with her because he failed the vibe check spectacularly and she was extremely pissed that some grubby little bastard of a Dark Matter would possess HER friend.

They still sometimes poke fun at him for the situation just because the two recognize that in spite of his potential Nebula was still ultimately a pathetic cringelet, but it doesn’t mean they would take the star lightly if they were to meet again. Triple Star would probably hold more of a grudge than Daroach, actually. Don’t mess with her friends.

#asks #rambling #my headcanons #watch as I do exactly what that funny post was talking about and don’t put this in main tags because I’m nervous #ready? here goes!

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stumptation · 23 days ago

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How to Become the Perfect Man in 2035

In the bustling, high-tech corridors of a futuristic hospital in 2035, an 18-year-old man, fit and brimming with vitality, walks through the doors for the last time on his own two legs. Today, he elects to undergo a double above-knee (DAK) amputation, a procedure that will redefine his existence. Under the glow of advanced surgical lights, he is placed under general anesthesia as the team begins. Precise incisions are made mid-thigh, guided by 3D imaging, severing muscles, nerves, and blood vessels with meticulous care. The femurs are cut cleanly at 20 cm from the hips using laser-assisted tools, ensuring symmetry and a smooth surface for healing. Bleeding is controlled with bioengineered hemostatic agents, and the remaining muscles are sculpted to form optimal stumps before the skin is sutured, leaving two long scars. Within six hours, he awakens in a recovery room, his thighs swollen and tightly bandaged with smart dressings that adapt to his healing needs. Over the next few months, through AI-supported rehabilitation, he transitions from wheelchairs to optional cybernetic enhancements, emerging as a pioneer of a new masculine ideal in 2035—freed from the burdens of legs and ready to embrace a liberated future.

The Crushing Cons of Keeping Your Legs

Let’s face it: legs are a liability. For all their evolutionary hype, they come with a laundry list of problems that plague even the healthiest among us. Knee issues are practically inevitable—cartilage wears down, leading to osteoarthritis, while repetitive strain invites tendonitis or ligament tears. Tendons themselves are ticking time bombs; Achilles ruptures and shin splints haunt runners and casual walkers alike. Then there’s the feet: a nightmare of orthopedic woes. Bunions twist toes into painful knots, plantar fasciitis stabs with every step, and flat feet or high arches throw off your entire body’s alignment. These aren’t rare afflictions—they’re the norm for anyone relying on legs day after day.

Beyond the physical toll, legs are exhausting. Walking burns through energy at a staggering rate—studies show the average person expends 100-200 calories per mile, a constant drain that saps vitality. Standing for hours? That’s even worse, taxing muscles and joints while blood pools in your lower extremities, leaving you fatigued. Climbing stairs, dodging crowds, or just getting through a long day—legs demand a relentless effort that feels increasingly outdated in a world of efficiency. In 2035, where technology promises liberation from such burdens, why cling to a pair of flawed, tiring appendages?

Why Gay Men Should Embrace DAK Amputations

For gay men, the case for DAK amputations with symmetrical 20 cm stumps is even more compelling—it’s a revolution in both form and function. The 20 cm length isn’t random; it mirrors the world average penis size (around 13-15 cm erect, with stumps extending slightly beyond for symmetry), creating a balanced, harmonious physique that resonates on a deeply personal level. But the real game-changer lies in sexual dynamics. Legs, for all their supposed utility, are a hindrance in the bedroom. During anal sex, they get in the way—awkwardly positioned, limiting flexibility, and restricting access whether you’re giving or receiving. Remove them, and the body transforms. The spread and shape of DAK stumps—firm, symmetrical, and unobstructed—offer unparalleled versatility. They provide natural leverage and support, enhancing comfort and creativity for both partners, turning intimacy into an art form unencumbered by clumsy limbs.

Picture this: it’s 2035, and gay men who’ve chosen DAK amputations are the vanguard of a new masculinity. Free from the orthopedic nightmares of knees and feet, they conserve energy once wasted on walking, redirecting it to pursuits of passion and intellect. Their 20 cm stumps, healed and sculpted, are both a aesthetic triumph and a functional marvel—celebrated in a culture that prizes bold reinvention. Rehabilitation, powered by 2035’s advancements, is swift and seamless: smart prosthetics or sleek mobility aids integrate effortlessly, offering options without the baggage of biological legs. Sexually, they’re liberated, their bodies optimized for pleasure and connection in ways legs could never allow.

This is the perfect man—not bound by tradition, but shaped by choice. In a world racing toward innovation, DAK amputation isn’t a loss; it’s a leap forward. For gay men, it’s the key to shedding the past’s burdens and stepping—or rolling—into a future where perfection is yours to define.

#stumps #legless #no legs #dak #limbless #amputation

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spooky-v3 · 1 month ago

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Paranormal Paranoia/Danganronpa V3 Horror AU!

Hello hi Danganronpa community on Tumblr I hope my funny au entertains you. If it interests you, feel free to ask me about it! I would love to answer questions as I develop the students and the AU as a whole!

HOPE’S PEAK ACADEMY FOR PECULIAR YOUTHS

—

Hope’s Peak Academy may seem like a regular school ground at first, but it’s actually a containment facility. The students that come here are actually what you’d call “outcasts” who possess supernatural abilities, or were born as or transformed into supernatural beings. In this world, Supernaturals are largely demonized no matter how docile the creature may be, or how benign/insignificant their ability may be. Even if this is not the case, some form “alliances” with Supernaturals, which are illegal.

The students were captured upon discovery and acknowledgement by both the outside world and the Hope’s Peak staff. The “school system” is an observation of the supernaturals in their daily lives, and keeps tabs on their behavior and development. They are encouraged to learn more about their own kind and others, and interact with different species.

—

RANKS

—

There are “ranks” in the system, the division of which is dependent on a number of factors. This prioritizes the treatment of the students.

—

Memoriam

“A status for students who have been killed by other students, whether intentionally or accidentally. There have been a handful of incidents with ranks clashing for various reasons that were out of the facility’s control, but this is strictly kept on a deceased student’s file and is not shared nor discussed.”

Level C

“The students with controllable supernatural abilities that are mostly allowed to roam freely with minimal obese ration. The ability doesn’t inherently make them non-human, because the small handful harped into this category are just unlucky saps with abilities that are strange. These students are generally pitied since they’re at the bottom of the food chain.”

Level B

“The students who were born as/transformed into Supernaturals, including a small portion of students whose abilities require additional help from faculty to maintain. The largest group of the three ranks, these students receive average observation and are restricted to enter certain areas without clearance.”

Level S

“The students who have the highest possibility of harm, some having previously attacked others. These students are under constant observation, are allowed access to very few areas, and have arguably the most infamous reputation of the ranks. Students here have a mix of respect and fear about them, as they are usually exceedingly powerful, and equally gossiped about for the usage of their power.”

—

STUDENT ABILITIES AND RANKING

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Shuichi Saihara - Intuitive Polygraph Examiner

Level C

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Kaede Akamatsu - Clairaudient

Level C

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Rantaro Amami - Spirit

Memoriam

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Kaito Momota - Lycan

Level B

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Ryoma Hoshi - Reaper

Level S

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Gonta Gokuhara - Vampire

Level B

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Angie Yonaga - Mermaid

Level B

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Kirumi Tojo - Arachne

Level B

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Tenko Chabashira - Harionago

Level S

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Korekiyo Shinguji - Shapeshifter

Level B

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Kokichi Ouma - Demon

Level S

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Tsumugi Shirogane - Shifter

Level C

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Miu Iruma - Undead

Level B

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Maki Harukawa - Immortal

Level S

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Himiko Yumeno - Witch

Level B

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K1-B0 - Security Unit

Staff

—

EXTRAS

—

THE STUDENT COUNCIL

“The Student Council is a compilation of the most upstanding Supernaturals to assist the school in enforcing rules, promoting school spirit and so forth. Level S students cannot join for conduct reasons, and Level C students are not usually considered. These students work with Monokuma to organize school events and such. The Student Council in this case is Angie, Gonta, Tsumugi, K1-B0, and Himiko.“

—

and that’s about it for right now! I look forward to sharing more ^.^

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hetalianskywalker · 1 year ago

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Day 1: The Courtyard

Pairing: Merman Rex x Harpy Reader

Summary: A merman and a harpy plan an escape

Authors Notes: Mermaid AU. This is my first Mermay fic and longest fic ever. So sorry if it’s a bit rough. Partly inspired by a scene in the The Last Unicorn.

Warnings: So with them being a Harpy and a Merman, I go with old school myths so drowning and eating people is vaguely discussed. There is also some blood and it gets consumed. Minor Violence. Death, but not anyone we care about. The villain is manipulative and says some controlling creepy stuff.

Word Count: 2791

Prompt: The kingdom by the sea is cruel. A captured mermaid being carried through the castle gates briefly caught the eye of a harpy in a cage above, a glance full of rage and compassion.

Prompt 3243 by deepwaterwritingpromts

The rage in the brown eyes of the merman below you is just as much a comfort as the compassion is. Even when the brief moment ends, the complicated way they make you feel doesn’t vanish. You cast the blonde one last glance as the stormtroopers carry his coffin-like tank into the witch’s workshop.

A part of you worries as the doors shut, leaving you with no access to the only other inhuman in the castle. Perhaps they have brought him for fresh ingredients for the witch’s potions, but you have a feeling he would already be missing pieces of his blue and white fishtail if that were the case. Your talons dig into your perch branch waiting to hear sounds from the workshop as your mind plays through what might happen next. The silence only makes you more queasy.

It is late into the night when a tank, big enough for him to swim around a few feet, is carried out with magic. He looks exhausted, but that’s what having the magic drained out of you so you can’t fight or escape does to a mythical creature. At least he isn’t dead; it has been a long time since you had decent company other than the birds.

“They won’t be able to find you.” The witch simply states. “Especially now that you can’t summon a storm.” Tired brown eyes glare, but he doesn’t come to the surface to speak to her. She raises her hand and you can all feel the spark of magic in the air. You let out an ear piercing screech and the stormtroopers all around cover their ears. Your tormentor’s attention turns to you with a sharp glare, but the spell dies in her hand.

“Do you have something to add, harpy?” She walks till she is right under your cage. “You have been stuck here for years unable to escape. And I plan to keep it that way till the day I die. Perhaps you can explain it to the Mer.”

All rational thought leaves you for a moment. You had been asleep when her and her private soldiers, back before her island had been part of the empire, had stumbled upon you. If you had been awake and not put into an even deeper slumber by the old power hungry witch, this situation would be far different.

Your massive wings stretch as far as they can go within the cage as the wind begins to pick up. You screech as you summon forth all the magic you can at the moment, trying to shatter the iron bars. They bend before your might and for a moment a part of you hopes they will shatter this time. You can see the Mer look up at you in awe and surprise as the stormtroopers shake in fear.

But this is as far as you always come. The sleep spell once again starts to sap your energy no matter how hard you try to fight it.

“Why can’t you get rid of that damn harpy!?” One stormtrooper hisses. “It will be the death of us all.”

The stormtrooper is tossed against a wall in retaliation with a quick flick of the witch’s wrist. The others quickly fall back in line as the witch catches her breath still staring at you. You have now wrapped your wings around yourself on your perch, barely able to keep your eyes open.

“I… caught the last wild harpy. All on my own. No massive hunting party. No army. Just me. And I have held her. I may be mortal…” She moves her eyes to the Mer for a moment before turning back to you. “But my efforts and power shall never been forgotten by creatures held under it. When I am long gone, my memory will live on.”

As sleep finally takes you, you wish she was wrong. You want to say you’ll forget her after finally tearing her to pieces, but you know you will carry these years of captivity like a badge of shame. You wonder what the Mer thinks of you now.

The next few weeks are a struggle. The witch is being careful to drain as much magic as possible from the both of you while still alive. This has made getting to know the Mer, who you found out is named Rex, a bit difficult with one or both of you fighting falling asleep before the night shift guards come out. During the night patrols, there are windows of time where you can speak to each other without being overheard.

However, you both manage to remain awake tonight. News reached the castle that Lord Vader himself is coming. And he has been asking around about Rex. He had bared his sharp teeth at the witch with a growl making bubbles in the water and his claws slowly scratching down the magically fortified glass when your captor informed you both.

“I won’t ask for details.” You speak softly, laying on your stomach at the bottom of your cage. Your chin rests on your forearms as you look down at your Mer friend. He mirrors your position with his arms on the edge of his tank, looking up at you. “But we need an escape plan now. Your brothers won’t track you here in time.”

“I don’t have any details to give you anyway.” Rex bitterly grumbles. “Other than the fact he took over my battalion after the General died, I don’t know why he’s so interested in getting here to me.” This whole situation bothers both of you like there is something more going on. But whatever it is, it is safer to leave than to seek answers.

“I’m still not powerful enough to take human form and whatever storm magic I can perform right now isn’t going to be strong enough to free you or get my brothers’ attention.” He continues, glaring bitterly down at his clawed hands. You watch the powerful blue and white fin swish back and forth in the water and his sharp teeth clench together. Under normal circumstances, being a storm summoner is one of the most powerful subgroups of Mer there are; both of you would be more than a match for the people around you. You understand the frustration.

“I have an… idea.” He looks up at you again after you say that, curious and wary.

“I don’t like how you said that, senaar.” The blunt reply makes you softly smile just as much as the nickname does.

“Have you consumed?” Rex’s brown eyes squint at you before widening in shock. He quickly shakes his head with a look of disgust. You’re surprised to say the least. “You haven’t.”

“We were soldiers for the Jedi Order and the Republic for 3 years and before that I never had the need to.” He answers just above a whisper. Was eating a species weaker than your own so dispised now? It was strange hearing it from a species you had once heard stories of dragging harpies, who hunted too close to the sea, down below the depths. Perhaps Mer traits and instincts were far more affected by the kaminoan alchemists and the Jedi Knights than you initially thought.

“Do you know why your kind once drowned and ate humans?” You move the topic in a slightly different direction.

“It was a deterrent and…”

“And?”

“It strengthens our magic.” He stops to think and then suddenly looks like he would be sick. “And that happens even more so with other magical beings. You’re not suggesting…”

“It’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” You give him a guilty look. “If I could trade spots and have you give your blood instead, I would.”

He looks oddly relieved and it’s your turn to be confused as you begin to make a cut on your arm. You let the blood begin to trickle down toward his tank.

“What did you think I was gonna cut off my hand and throw it to you for a second?” You grumble sarcastically as he takes the first swallow of your blood.

“You did have me worried.” Rex smiles up at you as you both feel the air sizzle with magic. There was once a time where a Mer’s smile would make your blood run cold, but now the sharp teeth just fills you with hope and excitement for what is to come.

The raging storm has the guards and witch scurrying to hold everything down. Your cage swings to the point it’s dizzying, but you don’t care. You don’t need magic to feel that the Mer are coming.

Rex is exhausted after mustering that strong of a storm. The rain slams into both you and there is thunder and lightning everywhere. All there is left to do is wait, basking in the might of a storm summoner.

“Captain!” You jump, startled at a voice being the same as Rex’s. Suddenly there are dozens of Mer scattered throughout the courtyard and on top of the castle gate. They scatter almost as fast as you see them, but a good handful go for Rex. A mix of the Mer language, Mando’a, and basic immediately fills the air as his brothers pull him from the tank.

Magic is exchanged through a simple touch and Rex quickly changes to human form. While he still doesn’t have the energy to walk, it makes him a lot easier for his brothers to carry. Two of them hold him up while a third checks him over. Three more stand guard around them as fighting can be heard in the distance even with the hallowing wind.

“I’m alright, Kix.” You can’t help but grin along with the rest of the men at the tired remark. The medic, that you have already heard one or two stories about, rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I’ll be the judge of that when we get home, but you’re good enough to be moved.” Kix sighs goodnaturedly. They begin to head for the exit and fear begins to bubble inside you.

“Yeah, Commanders Wolffe and Bly are tearing up the ocean looking for you.” You identify him as Jesse from the massive republic symbol on his helmet, helping carry Rex’s left side. He says it like it’s a joke, but it also has an undercurrent of worry to it.

“Wait. Free the harpy.” Rex orders; his men all stop before staring at Rex and then at you. You watch a couple of them gulp.

“You can’t be serious,” the arc mer with an intricate helmet design, who you are pretty sure is Fives, hisses.

“I wouldn’t have made it this far without her.” Rex stares up at you as he says it. You smile back and nod before pointing at the enchanted lock on your cage.

“Please let me out.” You beg, looking to the rest of the men. They all shuffle uncomfortably, caught between feeling obligated to let you out and the fear of the damage you could cause.

“What if she goes berserk!?” You glare at the one with the massive arrow pattern on his helmet, definitely Dogma.

“I can hear you.” You hiss at him causing all of them but Rex to flinch.

“The storm is lifting.” Tup says with a hint of worry as the winds begin to die down; you can see the painted teardrop on his helmet as he tilts up to look at the sky. Even with the fighting still going on in another part of the castle, it was best to leave now.

“I’m not leaving without her.” Rex pulls himself out of Jesse and Five’s grasp only to have Kix stop him from falling flat on his face.

“I’ll do it!” The final clone of the group announces, a little too excited, having already began pulling the lever to bring your cage to the ground. It comes down a little too fast, but you catch yourself on the bars.

“Sorry!”

“Hardcase!” He gives a slightly embarrassed laugh in response, scratching the back of his head.

A part of you wants to be mad; the majority of the Mer around stiffen with the expectancy you will be. However, the quick laugh that leaves your mouth serves to only make Hardcase nervously smile and Rex looks at you understandingly. Your freedom is so close.

Hardcase slices through the enchanted lock and you spring out into the sky, bearly giving him the chance to jump out of the way. You cackle at the feeling of the wind before circling back around to them.

You smile at them. Upon seeing your weren’t going to fall into the legendary harpy rage, they all seem to finally relax. They use their claws to scale back over the wall and the rest of the Mer retreat, having gotten what they came for.

“You never would have gotten out on your own, Harpy!” You freeze at the top of the courtyard wall. Rex turns to look back at you from his place on the ground with the rest of his group. He shakes his head; your mind registers the plea, but you can feel the fury of years of torment take over.

“You are always going to be mine! There is no way for you to ever be completely rid of me!” The witch’s words take hold and you turn around in a blind rage. There she stands, wounded and possibly already dying. It does not stop you from swooping down and ripping her apart. You proceed to do the same for every living person in the castle that night.

You don’t come out of it till dawn breaks. Covered in blood, you rise high above your old prison. You know the Mer and Rex are long gone, but you look around anyway. It was safer this way after all you remind yourself; if any of them had tried to stop you while you were like that, you probably would have killed them. There is a reason, after all, harpies are mostly solitary creatures.

You look toward the ocean and consider flying to the islands of Mandalore. Rex had made the home of the Mer sound like a paradise and you would be welcome to visit when you were both free. You smile sorrowfully before flying in the opposite direction.

It would take you months to gather the courage. You found yourself traveling from island to island, finding the world much changed by imperial rule especially with the Jedi Order gone. It was now your safest option to go live on one of the many outer rim islands.

You found yourself flying toward the home of the Mer without even completely comprehending it. Being a harpy they could always turn you away or even kill you for entering their territory, but you had to see Rex. The last look he gave you still ties your stomach in knots. And you miss him. You deeply miss him.

You meet no resistance as you make it to the massive island. They eye you warily, but none make a move to make you leave. You begin to grow frustrated as the hours pass; there are so many of the Sea Alor’s clones on this island intermixed with the original Mer population and even more spread throughout the island chain, not to mention under the water. How were you ever going to find him?

“Senaar!?” You stop and look down. Rex stands on the beach; his armor gleaming in the sun. It looks like he had just returned.

On pure instinct, you swoop down and crash into him. You wrap him in the tightest hug you can and his own arms squeeze you in turn as he falls backward into the water. You quickly let out apology after apology for everything, but he just smiles as you both sit up.

It is then you finally notice that there are way too many eyes on you. The renegade 501st members and some other rouge mer clones seem to swarm around the two of you and you become too embarrassed to talk.

“I missed you too.” The gentleness of his voice brings you comfort just like it did back in the courtyard. He gently leans his forehead to yours and his hands cup your face.

In that moment, you finally found what you had been searching for since you had been apart. You didn’t care about the witch's curse of haunting you, what the empire wanted, the old wounds between your species, or even your own kind’s long held belief in solitude. You understood one another and the sense of belonging made you feel at peace. You should have come sooner, but you're happy to be here with him now.

#star wars #captain rex #captain rex x reader #mermay #star wars: the clone wars #501st day #mermaid au

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jawbone-xylophone · 1 year ago

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Is this a stellar example of my writing? No. Am I posting it anyway? Yes.

Based on Hades 2 early access. I'm having fun with the idea of ways Melinoë could meet Hypnos.

~🌘🥀🌒~

The escape spell, the cruelly necessary evidence of her failure, tugged Melinoë through the weft of the world like a slipped stitch.

The scythe had hurt. The scythe always hurt, as proper punishment for her carelessness and proof that she was not sharp enough, quick enough, strong enough to complete the only task she'd ever been given- and now the magic primed in case of her failure would reel her back like a naughty kitten, all teeth and claws and no discipline. To darkness. To dreams. To do this again.

"-goodness, your near-deaths are always so violent, it's hard to get a word in edgewise! ...Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?"

In the dark between life and living again, Melinoë blinked.

Sometimes, there were memories here, wrested from the jaws of Time in recompense. Her pound of metaphorical flesh. Sometimes, there was Moros, who was there when all men died.

Here and now, there was a startlingly familiar god with startlingly short curls, grinning at her over a plucked poppy. He twirled it through his fingers and beamed.

"There you are, princess. Welcome to almost dying! You should try not doing that, I hear it's bad for your health."

"Lord... Hypnos?" He was awake? ...did this count as awake? "Is it really you?"

Hypnos shrugged, plucking a petal from his poppy flower. "Really me? That's a funny question. Not a very useful one, but a funny one! I'll think about it and get back to you." He plucked another petal, the little sound too-loud, too fleshy somehow. "You're waking up soon."

She couldn't exactly tell. It was always cold here, skimming the edge of silent oblivion. Melinoë tried to bow with limbs she couldn't feel. "I am honored by your visit, Lord Hypnos, if it is truly you. To what do I owe the pleasure? Perhaps you know of some way to wake your body...? Everyone misses you terribly."

He giggled at her strangely, shaking his head with a queer look like he worried for her head. "Waking me up is the last thing you need to worry about, princess. I'm Sleep! I'm busy. My brother's trapped, somewhere." He smiled, but it showed no teeth, and the gold of his eyes shone with brittle ice. He plucked another petal, calm and controlled, and she heard the flesh of it tear almost wetly, milky sap bleeding over his fingers. Hypnos prodded at it, felt the stickiness between his fingers, and she felt the cold clamp around her spine like gentle fangs.

He would not harm her. Probably. But she'd only watched him sleep her entire life- never actually spoken to him. And he had every reason to be waking in a terrible mood. She swallowed, and clung hard to polite protocol.

"You're waking up," he said again before she could speak, considering the ragged edge of torn petals. "You're trying to kill my uncle- and it seems you're having a bit of trouble! I'm sure you can do it, but maybe try something more effective than stabbing. We've been there, done that."

"A spell, then? Some kind of incantation?" That wouldn't shock her.

Hypnos yawned widely. Perhaps a little too widely, like he hadn't remembered how many teeth a person should have. "Nnno, no. I mean maybe. You never know!" He stretched, blinking heavily, and dragged golden eyes over her ragged body. "What're you the goddess of, anyway? If you're fighting a god, shouldn't you fight like a god? Just an idea."

The goddess of? That. Well. Hm. She'd been raised for a purpose. "Killing Time, I suppose."

Hypnos coughed in the middle of nibbling on a flower, snorted, and erupted in tinkling giggles that filled oblivion with little stars for a moment. "Oh- oh, that's good, wow. I like you. We have to do this again sometime." A final flower petal split off under his fingers, weeping white blood, and he waggled it at her in a little wave. "Or maybe we won't! You're smart, maybe you'll kill poor old uncle Chronos this time. Don't forget my advice and you'll do great, I know it."

She wanted to tell him to wait. She wanted to ask questions, do something. He'd been both helpful and not, if she just asked the right question then perhaps- but the cold prickle of moonlight raced like hellfire through her limbs, shocked awake from mostly-dead to debatably-alive, and the dewy grass of the Crossroads clung to her cheek like poppy sap.

She groaned, long and low, in the smallest moment of wallowing she could afford. Back to killing Time again.

The wind in the withered trees sounded almost like tinkling laughter.

#my writing #hades game #hades 2 #hades supergiant #hypnos hades #melinoë hades

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modern-inheritance · 5 months ago

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Modern Inheritance: Stabilize, pt. 3 (Multi-part story, extended war timeline)

PART 1 // PART 2 // PART 3 (you are here) // PART 4

Overall Summary: What should have just been an outreach mission to help heal and treat citizens of a recently captured city goes wrong. Arya finds herself tossed into her own mind with little to no control over anything around her, watching confused and in pain as the world whips by. Outside her body, Eragon, Saphira, Glen, Blödhgarm and the other spellcaster guards work franticly to stabilize her, uniting as a family Eragon and Saphira had not quite realized had formed around them.

(Pt. 3 A/N: Let's get some fluids on board and some blood circulating in the right places rather than onto the floor, yeah? Eragon comes to and finds that the elven guard is already hard at work, while Arya gets another visit from a familiar yet...not so familiar face.

More medical stuff and some Dream State for you all. Hope you like drop ins from family members!)

~~~

MODERN INHERITANCE: STABILIZE, PT. 3: DRIP

The next thing Eragon knew were firm hands guiding him to sit against…cabinets? Cabinets, yes, those were cabinets, his vision fading in from a gray haze. A cup was being pressed into his hands, Saphira calling out to him as he curled in on himself and put his head between his knees. He couldn’t stop shivering, the lukewarm water sloshing out of the mug and onto his hands. Sticky. Bloodstained.

Saphira was a galeforce that nearly bowled him over as he tried to bring the juddering rim to his lips. ‘Little One! Please, answer me.’

Lifting his head made lights surge behind Eragon’s closed lids. He could hear the rise and fall of voices working together in the Ancient Language, spells for repair and clearing and binding. ‘What happened?’ He did his best to sip the water without spilling it, barely managing half a mouthful at the awkward angle.

Worry fluttered and flitted around every edge of his consciousness, Saphira fretting over him like some lost hatchling. ‘You went blank. Your mind was slate. I could touch and speak to you, but you did not respond.’ The sensation of her wings pulling him against her chest, tail wrapping heavy around his legs. ‘Angela said it was a grey out from the stress.’

‘Grey–’ The cup dropped to the floor as Eragon bolted to his feet. “Arya!”

“Shut up and sit down!” Angela’s snapped command was unnecessary. Colors and light swirled, and Eragon found himself fumbling for the edge of the sink as he groaned and lowered himself back down. His arms and legs were lead, his eyes pounding with his pulse. “We’re working on her. Stay there until you’re useful.”

Four of the gathered elves were seated at the table’s benches, Yaela and Laufin the only ones still standing. The silver haired woman was slipping something around her arm, lips a thin line of focus while her black haired counterpart unraveled loops of IV tubing. They moved so smoothly that it took a dark liquid filling the line for Eragon’s still hazy brain to comprehend that Laufin had deftly slipped and taped a needle into Yaela’s arm, repeating the process to an access port in place at Arya’s elbow. An IV bag already hung crinkled and wrung empty from a peg behind Angela’s head, the tubing still leaking minuscule drops of clear liquid to the floor.

Yaela caught him staring and gave a small smile. “Arya and I matched blood type during the Queen’s selection process.” She nodded towards the rest of her kin at the table, their heads bowed as they murmured spells and fed energy into the mess of broken vessels and torn veins that were sapping away Arya’s strength. “Each of us has at least one match among ourselves. It was considered wise in case of emergencies such as these.”

He nodded numbly. Eyes still flaring in jolts, he dragged his bloodied hands down his face and winced as something tacky slipped at his cheek. He pulled them away and swallowed hard at the slick of still-wet blood and scrubbed a somewhat clean cuff of his sleeve against the patch of his face. The smear in the splatter by Angela’s feet told him all he needed to know.

Angela. Right, she was taking control of the situation. Arya would be fine, she had to be, and Angela would make it happen. Even now she was standing at the head of the table, holding a bag mask firmly over Arya’s mouth and nose while squeezing in regular, steady intervals.

“Do you want me to intubate her?” Laufin’s voice was nearly buried under the spells being cast, his head close to Angela’s. “We have the supply for it.”

“No. No, not yet.” The witch sighed and nodded downward where Arya’s mangled ribs were rising and falling with each forced breath. “Just keeping her lung from collapsing is what I’m doing for now. We’ll need all our hands free soon, though. I have a diffusion spell that can oxygenate her blood while we heal the bones and remove this piece without all the shifting, but it’s a tricky thing. I can’t hold it for long without risking a full collapse.”

“Put a sphere of increased pressure.” Eragon grunted as he slowly hauled himself up. He could feel Angela watching him rise from the corner of her eye, but she did not admonish him. “Increase the concentration of oxygen, compress the air further in a set rhythm.” Saphira fed energy into him as a wave of nausea surged at the sight of beads of blood trickling down Arya’s side. “We’ll breathe for her still. Just have to keep her airway open and clear.”

Laufin nodded slowly, his eyes going wide for a moment. “Improvised ventilator.”

“Yes.” Eragon gave him a wan smile, grateful the man had understood him. “Yes, exactly. Don’t need to keep bagging.”

“It’ll work for now. I’ll keep the diffusion spell in reserve for the bone healing.” Angela touched the dark eyed elf’s shoulder. “Help him shape it. And Yaela, for star’s sake, sit down! Are you the only one with her blood type?”

Eragon was across the room in less than a moment as he saw Yaela’s shoulders tremble. He just managed to catch her under her arms with a soft “Whoa, easy,” as her knees buckled.

“Forgive me.” The silver haired woman mumbled as Laufin quickly stood from his seat at the bench and helped his commander ease his teammate to sit with her back resting against the bloodied table. “I am…fine. Simply dizzy.”

“That’s enough out of you.” Angela chided. “Quite literally.” Even as she spoke aloud, Eragon could feel the threads of the magic she wove changing without so much as a hitch. To both speak aloud and cast wordless magic at once was frightening. Though, of course, it was Angela doing it. The impossible and the terrifying seemed to bend to her will as easily as wilted daffodils.

Yaela weakly protested, free hand coming up to clasp at Laufin where he was closing the flow regulator, but Angela cut her off. “No, I don’t need one of you bleeding out to save the other. Again, are you the only one in the group with Arya’s blood type?”

It was Amaris who spoke up when Yaela simply stared blankly, the rich tone of her voice like warm water flowing over smooth stones. “I am universal. As is Uthinarë. If someone can take my place here then I am more than willing to donate.”

“You’ll do. Auggie’s shorter than you, we’ll keep him as a backup.” A flicker of a frown passed over the witch’s brow, the tip of her tongue peeking out between tensed lips. “The bleeding is slowing. We shouldn’t have to push you so hard, and we have three more bags of Ringer’s to supplement besides.”

“We’re halfway through patching.” Glenwing’s voice was far softer than before, though a hint of that former panic remained. Eragon placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze, a gentle flex under his palm filled with unspoken gratitude. “Once that’s done, we should…should give her a chance to rest. While she’s stable enough.”

“Agreed.” Blödhgarm was watching Eragon from under his furred brow, fingertips gently resting against Arya’s abdomen. “We will need to do the removal and healing in shifts. We cannot leave Eragon and Saphira completely bereft of protection.”

Eragon carefully sat at the far end of the table, trading places with Amaris as she began setting up another transfusion line. He knew they would not let him argue against them saving energy for him and Saphira, not when it was their main purpose and certainly not when Arya’s future wrath at leaving them defenseless loomed. It had to, she was getting better, Angela and Glen said as much, right?

“As long as she’s stable.” He tucked his head down and began searching his mind for the proper words to form the spell he had devised, Saphira lending her help when she could. Air was her domain after all, its changes and shifts through magic and nature some of her favorite lessons with Glaedr and Oromis.

Once he had the phrases ready he checked them with Laufin, the elf mulling over them for a handful of seconds before giving his approval. Angela let Eragon take her place, watching carefully with two fingertips resting on the injured woman’s ribs to feel for the rush of air into her lungs.

And when she felt it, Angela finally gave Eragon a true, broad smile, small hand squeezing his bicep. “Well done, Eragon.”

“It worked?” His mouth felt dry despite the little water he had taken in earlier. Arya still looked so pale. He couldn’t help himself and carefully brushed stray fringes back from her forehead, other hand resting against her cheek and thumb tracing the contours of her face. Her skin was clammy, tiny ripples of warmth arising with the miniscule shivers coursing through her body before it faded to coolness against his fingers.

“It worked.” Another brief squeeze, her tone gentle. She could feel him shaking, relief and trepidation mingling into one convoluted rush. And she didn’t need him passing out again. “Sit. Help the others.”

Glenwing’s mind was a carefully sealed fortress when Eragon took his place beside him. It took only a brush against his barriers for the elf to let him entangle their energy together, carefully reached out a metaphorical hand to allow Eragon access to the weave of word and magic that the one armed elf was working with.

Glen had been correct about the bleeding. It was less than before, but there was still a steady stream around each piece of debris. Eragon could see the dark lines of free flowing blood in his mind’s eye with each pulse of Glen’s soundwave spell, and with a gentleness of speech he did his best to connect broken vessels back together, held veins steady for Glen to merge them. Healing as detailed as this had never been his strong suit, not when Glen or Blödhgarm had been so helpful throughout the years, but now he found the lessons from Oromis and the medic a true boon to his work.

Saphira lent him energy when she felt him flagging even slightly, a tendril of thought still tagged to him while her focus turned to ensuring the guards that had come from the Varden’s camp collected every piece of evidence around the mage’s body. Some wary workers from the city had arrived as well, collecting broken cobblestones and carting them into organized piles. Only one of them was brave enough to work near Saphira, and to her half buried amusement he was using the back of a long handled street broom to drag pieces of rubble towards himself from areas closest to her glittering form.

A tiny grin flickered Eragon’s lips as his partner choked a snarl at one of the workers. The poor man had bent to pick up Wyrda from the broken ground, and with a warning hiss Saphira reached out one long claw and snagged the fallen sword. She dragged it over the stones to rest, protected and secure, between her two paws and tucked it under the edge of her chest. Like some massive cat pinning a favorite toy under her body for safe keeping.

‘Arya will need her favorite fate-claw back.’ Saphira grumbled softly. ‘I’ll have to tell her you left it on the ground.’

Eragon knew she was trying to bring some form of ease to his mind. The rush of fear was draining as their war sister came closer to stabilizing, not quite out of danger but inching further and further from sudden death with each passing moment. And despite the tightness in his chest, the worry he could still feel fretting behind his Partner of Heart and Mind’s barriers…her teasing threat had him crack a genuine smile.

‘I’m sure Arya will understand why I left it in the moment.’ Eragon delicately connected two more broken vessels, clearing away a forming clot. ‘When we have a second, I’ll bring the sheath out. Could you hold on to it for now?’

She sniffed, as if the question was a clear insult. ‘Of course. I am a dragon. Protecting shiny things is my greatest pastime, or so your little human stories say.’

‘Arya will bring you a proper horde as payment.’

‘Bah! Too much to carry.’ Eragon could feel the dismissive flick that Saphira did with her head, so akin in motion and meaning to the one he did with his hand. ‘She can pay me back with keeping her insides inside for the next two days at least.’

The mock scorn of the dragon’s voice faded, words coming soft as she risked a quick glance through her Rider’s eyes. ‘...How is she?’

Eragon swallowed. ‘Pale. And cold. Yaela already gave nearly three pints of blood, and Amaris is giving more, but at this rate they’re both going to be down for a while unless we control the bleeding better as we remove these things.’ The mere thought of inching out the multitude of debris embedded in Arya’s body while simultaneously healing and preventing further bleeds made his stomach clench. ‘Angela and the others agreed that this is…this isn’t going to be done all at once. Arya’s body needs to stabilize between each stage, and we’re going to need to rest as well.’

A soft, low rumble vibrated through the ground, tingling at the base of Eragon’s boots. Saphira’s deeper thoughts flickered past for the briefest of moments, frustration and a sharp wish for the injured elf to simply shake off the wounds with a bared-tooth, feral grin and hop up as she typically did dragging against his mind. The emotions were quickly subdued, replaced by uneasy acceptance. ‘If it is the safest option, then they are wise to follow such a plan.’

“That’s it.” Wyrden gripped the table with a rough exhale, his shoulders tense. “That should be it. All the major bleeds are healed, and a few others besides.”

“Yes.” Blödhgarm’s voice was equally tense. “I took the liberty of decreasing the swelling. As long as your spells hold, Eragon, then we have a moment to breathe.”

Eragon waited for Glenwing to disengage his magic from his own and pulsed a quick, comforting brush of his mind to the one-armed medic before nodding to the others. “If Angela is sure–”

“Yes, yes.” The small witch flapped her hands at the lot of them, head still bent and eyes still locked on Arya’s chest as it rose and fell. “Go. Twenty minutes will give her time to adjust to the transfusions and settle this bloody heart rate. Solembum is bringing my materials for the next stage.” Never looking up, she first gestured vaguely in Amaris’ direction, then Laufin’s. “You, unhook yourself, take Yaela to lay down and both get fluids. I’ll hang another bag of Ringer’s solution, it’ll tie her over for now. And you, Laufy, take Auggie with you and get some of that fortifying drink you lot keep in your tents. The medicinal ones, not the party ones.” Laufin’s mouth opened as if to protest the nickname, then promptly clicked shut at the order. “Well? Go! Scram! Scatter to the wind! Do I need to repeat myself? Honestly! You children these days!”

Eragon offered Laufin an apologetic shrug when the elf looked to him for confirmation, though inwardly he felt a twinge of relief. Angela’s commands cut through the haze of worry clinging to his thoughts, her sharpness grounding. He couldn’t have picked a better pair if he were honest. Laufin and Uthinarë were the fastest of the elven guard, and even with the added weight of several heavy jugs of fortified Faelnirv they would have no trouble in making it to and from the Varden’s camp in the designated time.

The small group dispersed to their tasks. Blödhgarm excused himself to confer with the spellcasters left outside, while Wyrden began clearing away the used gauze and linens, separating them out to burn and clean respectively. Angela began setting up an IV bag, muttering to herself and the unconscious elf under her care the whole while.

Glenwing seemed content where he was, quietly staring off with shoulders hunched. He nodded only slightly when Eragon patted his back and mumbled that he was fine at a gentle question after his state, flickering a wan smile the Rider’s way.

“Do you know where they put her gear?” Eragon whispered. He didn’t quite know why. Arya was deep in magic induced sleep, probably teetering on the edge of slipping into the Dream State if she wasn’t already in the metabolic trance. “Saphira found Wyrda and is going to start collecting more shiny things if we let her sit on it too long.” His chuckle was forced, though the slight grin was genuine.

The joke was enough to strengthen the smile still trembling at Glenwing’s lips. “Can’t have that, can we? She’s already eyed my arm a bit too greedily for my tastes.” He lifted the hand not stroking a thumb along his war sister’s scarred knuckles and pointed with a mechanical finger towards the space Blödhgarm had vacated. “Under that bench.”

As Eragon knelt to disentangle the shoulder harness Arya used to keep Wyrda sheathed at her back for travel, Glen cleared his throat. “Hey, be careful going outside,” he said, his golden eyes weary when Eragon looked up. “She’d cuff me upside the head if I didn’t say that. And, uh… you just have to pull the clips at the rotation points.”

Eragon glanced back down, a helpless little laugh escaping him. Glen was right—two sliding pucks along the strap held securing clips fastened at the rotation points. He tested the mechanism, gripping the sheath and belt firmly. With a bit of applied force, the sheath rotated a full ninety degrees, then swung back smoothly, clicking into place once he released it.

“I wondered how she manages to draw Wyrda from over her shoulder so quickly,” Eragon said, shaking his head as he worked the clips free. “She’s always moved too fast for me to catch it.” With a final twist and a bit of pressure against the clips, the sheath popped free of the contraption. “Thanks. I’d have been here all day trying to figure this out.”

“No problem.” Glen’s grin sobered. “Really. Be careful. I know Saphira and the others are outside, but stay alert.”

“I will.” Eragon placated, gently touching the elf on the shoulder on his way to the door. “Call me if there’s any change.”

“Of course.”

Falling.

That’s what it felt like. Falling straight down when direction and gravity didn’t exist.

If physical form existed here, Arya would have cursed and coughed and swore at her impact with the dusty packed earth. As it was she stared up at the canvas hanging over her head, chest still tight, mental form wheezing as her body struggled for breath. Some things transitioned over. Not always. But the worst typically did.

Take a few moments. Could be minutes or hours out there. Just. Collect her thoughts. Everything was a jumbled mess, her physical form an utter wreck to the point that it refused to let her back in for the time being. Not even to check. That had never happened before. Not even when Glen had her practice.

When nothing was forthcoming, thoughts muddled, Arya winced and carefully rolled first to her stomach, then quickly onto hands and knees before finally staggering upright. Her surroundings were the same as always, a standard issue Varden tent with a few sparse pieces of furniture. A cot, a camp stool. And, like the one time before–

“Hey, Stringbean.” The voice was gentle, filled with warmth and an aching sort of longing love. Filled with outstretched arms, waiting embraces, tight hugs and an appreciation only known to those who never would be there again, who knew what they lost. “Another rough one, huh?”

Arya turned. Felt something deep in her chest relax. She was already taking the steps to him, arms around his neck, face buried in his shoulder as an upwelling of confusion and worry and ache filled the newfound space.

“Da.” Her voice, not really there and not really real, was muffled in that fine tunic of his, the same one she had clutched to while curled against Evandar’s cold side on the funeral dias. Her fingers scrunched in it once more, clinging to the comfort she so desperately needed but still couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

“Da, I’m sorry. I think I got hurt and– I’m– I’m lost, and I can’t– I don’t–” She pressed harder against him, shivering as a wave of cold swept from the tethers to her body. Even though she wasn’t dwarfed by the elven king’s height as many others were, having him here suddenly made her feel very small again.

Arya forced her voice into a whisper, struggling to keep the emotions in check where they raged, confused and whipping around like untamed cables snapped in a gale, just below their feet. “Da, I think I’m dying again and I don’t know what’s happening. My friends...they're in danger. I need to get back.”

Evandar hummed, gently rocking his daughter in his arms and rubbing soothing circles between her shoulders. “It’s alright, kiddo. You got hurt. Your friends are going to put you right, okay?” He pulled back and gently tucked wild fringes away from Arya’s face, remembering with a pang that his own hair had the same messy habit when he was far younger. She looked so scared in that moment, unable to fully comprehend the jumbled memories and flashes that her rattled mind was trying to feed her in heavy drips and drops. He could catch snippets, saw them from the outside, understood the general path that had led her here. “Don’t worry, now. Your friends are safe, they’re making sure you’re going to make it through.”

Arya was shivering. “...You promise? They’re safe?” Her grip on his shoulders felt weaker than before, and Evandar eased them both to sit on the cot. His child did not protest when he tugged her legs over his and tucked her head to his chest, cradling her close as he had all those decades ago.

“I promise, Stringbean.” He wrapped her in his arms and cursed his lack of warmth, pressed apologetic lips to the side of her head. “King’s promise. Your friends are safe. You can recuperate here. I won’t leave you.”

The young elf sniffed once. Grasped the folds of his tunic in her hand again. Still heard and felt no heart beating in his chest. Took comfort only in this memory, this...thing that still defied explanation ever since she remembered him after waking in Tronjheim. Since she asked her mother of the letters, since she asked Blagden of his prophecy.

She nuzzled closer to her father’s chest and decided that once again…once again, she could take a moment in the fevered mania and blood loss addled Dream State to simply…believe in it. For just a moment.

“Okay.”

They sat like that for what could have been five seconds or five days, Evandar’s soft crooning of the cradle song he wrote for her drifting through her mind.

Then:

“Mum said if you ever showed up again to tell you you’re a bastard for leaving when you knew you would die. And that she loves you very much.” Arya paused. “Blagden had some bullshit to say too, but I ignored him. He was being a prick.”

Evandar just laughed, and held his daughter closer.

#eragon #inheritance cycle #the inheritance cycle #the world of eragon #modern inheritance #ket's modern inheritance cycle #modern inheritance stories #arya #arya drottningu #eragon shadeslayer #saphira #blodhgarm #glen #glenwing #angela #angela the herbalist #eragon's elf guards #stabilize #evandar

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noisilyimminentcore · 11 days ago

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5 Hidden SAP GRC Pitfalls That Could Jeopardize Your Compliance Strategy

1. “One-Size-Fits-All” RuleSet Syndrome

Many organizations implement SAP GRC with out-of-the-box rule sets and assume they’re covered and are completely Sox/SoD compliant. The problem? Standard rule sets don’t always reflect the unique business processes and risks of an enterprise. They must be utilized as a baseline.

Example: A global company using a generic SoD rule set might flag conflicts that aren’t actually risks in their specific operations, leading to unnecessary firefighting and role redesign efforts.

What is the solution? It is always recommended to tailor the rule set to align with your business needs. Involve process owners and auditors to ensure relevance. Disable those which are not relevant and add the ones what needs to be part of the rule set. For example, your custom transaction codes.

2. Over-Reliance on Automated Controls

Yes, automation is powerful, but blindly trusting automated GRC controls without proper oversight is a recipe for disaster.

Example: Automated access reviews might seem great, but if managers are just clicking the approval button without understanding the risk, you’re inviting compliance issues.

What is the solution? Combine automation with human intelligence. Train reviewers on what they’re approving and implement periodic audits.

3. The “Too Many Firefighters” Problem

Firefighter (emergency access) access is meant for temporary, critical access. But in many companies, they become a backdoor for permanent privileged access. I’ve seen in some instances where the FFIDs have SAP_ALL, SAP_NEW assigned

Example: If every second user has firefighter access “just in case,” then what’s really being controlled?

What is the solution? Reduce firefighter usage with strict policies. Ensure that the Firefighter IDs have limited and relevant access, not SAP_ALL. Look at how often your users are asking for such access. Set expiration dates, and enforce approvals before access is granted. A detailed review is must after the usage.

4. Role Design Nightmares

Ever seen a single SAP role with 500+ transaction codes? It happens more often than you’d think. Poorly designed roles create access chaos, security risks, and audit nightmares.

Example: A company that grants “Display All” access thinking it’s harmless—only to realize some reports contain sensitive payroll data.

What is the solution? Follow a least privilege approach. Display tcodes does possess risks. Design roles based on business functions, not user demands and assumptions. And, no, giving everyone SAP_ALL is not a solution!

5. The “Check-the-Box” Compliance Trap

Many organizations treat GRC as a compliance checklist rather than a risk mitigation strategy. The result? A false sense of security.

Example: An enterprise that passes an audit but later discovers a critical access loophole exploited by an insider threat.

What is the solution? Shift from a compliance-first mindset to a risk-first approach. Ask, “What’s the real-world impact of this control?” rather than just checking off audit items.

Final Thoughts: GRC is Not Just About Tools, It’s About Mindset

SAP GRC isn’t just about implementing Access Control, Process Control, or Risk Management modules—it’s about adopting a security and compliance culture. The best GRC strategies combine technology, process rigor, and human intelligence to create a resilient, risk-aware organization.

Readmore: https://togglenow.com/blog/sap-grc-hidden-pitfalls/

#SAP Risk Management #SAP access risk analysis tool #SAP GRC access control solution #SAP segregation of duties automation #SoD risk analysis for SAP

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suchi05 · 7 months ago

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SAP IAG for Enhanced Access Governance - ToggleNow

Understanding SAP Identity Access Governance (IAG) SAP IAG serves as a comprehensive framework within the SAP ecosystem, designed to manage user access, control risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Its primary focus lies in governing user access across various SAP applications that are hosted on-premise and cloud along with other non-sap systems such as Azure ID, and platforms.

Access Analysis Service Similar to SAP GRC, SAP IAG also has powerful capabilities to assess and mitigate access risks associated with user permissions. It conducts thorough analysis, identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities within the access structure. A clear definition of risks are displayed for each of the users enabling the Business Owners to take better decisions on managing the risks for each of the user.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) Service PAM Service is similar to GRC Access Control Emergency Access Management aka Firefighter, a specialized solution designed to manage critical access by controlling, monitoring, and securing the SAP systems from unauthorized changes using privileged accounts. It focuses on a more controlled assignment and management of accesses which has business impact. PAM ensure compliance with regulatory standards, thereby fortifying the overall security posture of an enterprise.

Role Designer Service Role Designer service in SAP Identity Access Governance (IAG) is a pivotal tool facilitating the creation and management of user roles within an organization’s access governance framework. It enables administrators to design, customize, and maintain role structures, aligning access with specific job functions or departments. Leveraging Role Designer, businesses can streamline access provisioning by defining business roles, assigning parameters.

Access Request Service The Access Request service feature enables users to request access rights based on predefined roles for various applications integrated to SAP IAG. It streamlines the process, ensuring quick and accurate provisioning while maintaining control. Access Request supports pre-defined workflows and can provision to various on-premise, and cloud applications such as SAP BTP, SAP SAC etc.

Access Certification Periodic access reviews are crucial for compliance. SAP IAG automates access certification processes, allowing designated individuals to review and confirm user access rights periodically. How Access Governance can be enhanced with SAP IAG? Streamlined Access Requests and Approvals

SAP IAG simplifies the access request process by providing a user-friendly interface. Users can easily request specific access rights aligned with their job responsibilities. These requests are then routed through customizable approval workflows, ensuring compliance with defined policies before granting access.

Risk Mitigation through Access Analysis

With its robust risk analysis capabilities, SAP IAG identifies and evaluates potential risks associated with user access. It conducts in-depth assessments, highlighting access combinations that might pose security threats or regulatory non-compliance. This proactive approach enables organizations to mitigate risks effectively. SAP IAG offers refinement options such as Simple Refinement, and Advanced Refinement in addition to the regular Mitigation options.

Further, the SAP IAG Ruleset is delivered with risks related to APO, BASIS, HR, R3, SRM, S4HANA On-premise, S4HANA Cloud, ARIBA, SuccessFactors, Fieldglass, and IBP. For more details on the supported systems, refer to SAP Note – 2782388 – IAG – How to load default standard ruleset?

Automated Access Reviews and Certifications

Manual access reviews are time-consuming and prone to errors. SAP IAG automates these processes, scheduling periodic access reviews and certifications. This automation ensures that user access remains aligned with current job roles and business needs, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

SAP IAG facilitates Role-Based Access Control, a method of managing access based on job roles, referred to as Business Roles in IAG. It streamlines access provisioning by assigning roles that are pre-analyzed, and all the relevant mapping is done. This approach simplifies access management while reducing the risk of excessive access rights.

How difference SAP IAG is compared to SAP GRC Access Control? Great Question! Despite sharing similar functionalities, SAP IAG and SAP GRC Access Control possess unique capabilities, advantages, and drawbacks. Comparing them is akin to comparing apples and oranges solely based on their commonality as fruits or similar features. Just like distinct fruits with their individual properties, each of these solutions has its own set of characteristics and benefits.

Read more : https://togglenow.com/blog/sap-iag-for-enhanced-access-governance/

#sap sod analysis #sap user management automation #GRC Access Control #SAP Cloud Identity Services #SAP IAG Implementation #Cloud IAG #SAP Cloud IAG #SAP IAG Access Analysis #SAP IAG Integration with GRC #SAP Cloud IAG Integration #SAP IAG- Analytics Cloud Integration #sap cloud identity management #sap cloud based solutions

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warriorcatsguidesandstuff · 6 months ago

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Warrior Cats HRT and Transitioning

Disclaimer: Do not use this on actual cats or on yourself! Warrior cats, like their creators, may transition in their clans and find their true selves, but unlike us humans it is much harder for cats to transition as they do not have access to surgeries like we do, what they do have access to however is Herbs, preys and adornments that can help them to appear more like their authentic selves. This is part 2 of my transitioning warrior cats guide!! For any guides I'm making, if you want to see them all be sure to follow the hashtag #Warriors Guides With Bug Tom to Molly Herbs to help increase E: Flax Seeds - Full of phytoestrogens and lignans that help break down E and metabolise it in the body. Sesame seeds - Similar to Flax seeds, the contain Lignans that help break down E and metabolise it in the body. Chasteberry - Found to aid in PMS and other hormonal issues, they have been found to have an estrogenic affect on the body Evening Primrose - Useful for controlling the effects of low E in the body, Evening Primrose is full of Omega 6 and fatty acids which are popular is aiding PMS and Menopause. Red Clover - Similar to the above herbs, it has been known to maintain E levels in the body and aid hormonal imbalances in the body Fennel - Estrogenic by nature, Fennel increases E levels in the body and helps to maintain hormonal balances. Anise - Similar to Fennel, it is Estrogenic by nature and helps to keep E levels stable throughout the body Prey to increase E: Fatty Fish (Such as: salmon, tuna, and mackerel) - Fatty fish are full of zinc, which increases E levels and has Vitamin D which also helps balance hormones. Shell Fish (Such as: oysters, clams, scallops and Geoducks) - Containing Zinc, Selenium and Omega-3, These three compounds are known to help increase and maintain E levels. Birds (Such as: Chickens, Pheasants, Pigeon and Garden Birds) - With plenty of E in the white meats, hunting and eating birds is great for increasing E levels in transitioning mollies Eggs - Eggs and especially egg whites have been known to help increase muscle mass which aid a masculine appearance but also can help to increase Estrogen. Items / Additions to look more Estrogen: Shells, sea glass and crystals - Worn in the pelt as braid accessories, on necklaces made of twine or attached to claws with sap as accessories, the shiny and rather beautiful adornments can help to add a dainty, feminine appearance to your character. Flowers, Leaves and Lichans - Worn in crowns, or on necklaces and bracelets, flowers and leaves can give a godessly and quite ethereal femininity to a character/ Kittypets, Rogues and Loners could also wear: Bows and Simple Collars - Bows and collars with a floaty appearance could help to create a feminine aura Dainty Chains and jewelled collars - Thinner and smaller chains create a more feminine appearance while still having an edge to them, and jewelling helps to create a dazzling appearance to all those who wear them Feminine Twoleg Jewellery - Stolen twoleg jewellery worn by female twolegs is often already feminine by nature, so if accessible may help to make your character appear more fem.

#erin hunter warriors #warrior cats #trans mtf #transgender #trans woman #trans girl #trans pride #transfem #if you're a turf this is your invitation to fuck off #Warriors Guides With Bug

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vlad-theimplier · 5 months ago

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WIP Wednesday: Custos Custodium

This week marks an exciting new direction for the story, and indeed the series: after Jensen succumbed to the Orchid, our focus shifts to Daniel "Smiley" Fletcher. Will he rise to the occasion and win the battles Jensen could not? Will he get the girl, and/or realize she's an enemy plant? Will he absolutely serve in his new suit? All this and more awaits you here, dear reader.

Nah, Jensen's mostly fine, and now he has a whole installation to investigate. Too bad his pilot's a traitor--if only he knew another one...

It was the cold that woke him. A score of icy daggers pierced his chest and back, sapping his strength but unpleasant enough to rouse his mind. He prised his gummy eyelids open and blinked. His eye sockets ached. So did everything else.

With a stifled groan, Jensen lifted his head and looked around. Walls of rock and ice surrounded him where he lay in a narrow gulch carpeted in snow. A security ladder, its stringers collapsed together, rose in black and yellow stripes up one wall; a normal ladder led to a platform on the other amidst silos and compressed-gas cylinders. He was half-buried at the bottom of a mound of—he grimaced as he realized—corpses, frozen stiff where they’d been dumped. Dumped? Yes, definitely dumped. They were all lined up roughly parallel to the higher, currently inaccessible platform. Probably tossed by a pair of the Gold Masks, one by one. At least they’d insulated him a little.

Artificial joints aching in an unfamiliar way, he gathered himself and tried to stand, but he only managed to drag himself a foot or so out from the pile, into the fresh snow. His energy display read flat and dismal crimson: all out. He’d probably burned it all running his heaters. Fortunately, he had that pair of biocells. With fingers even more nerveless than usual, he fumbled one out and plugged it in. The rush of power let him plug in the other one and stand clumsily, the cold ache at his shoulders and phantom knees already beginning to ease.

The ladder was clearly the best route out. He knew the model: when activated, the stringers would separate, the rungs locking into place between them, and his remote-hacking suite should be able to reach the controls at the top. But when he tried it, his software threw an array of errors. He wondered whether the Orchid was still wreaking havoc on his body. He wondered how he’d survived. Chalk up another one for the good old Sentinel, presumably.

He clawed his way up the regular ladder to the platform by the silos. None of the controls there seemed helpful, or even active, but he laboriously scrambled across some of the pipes that bridged the gulch until he could hook his fingertips on the edge of the higher platform and pull himself up. Thankfully, he found a door, a red-bordered employee access like the other. He hacked it with care, awkwardly positioned to one side, but no one burst through and stabbed him this time. It let into a hallway lined with lockers, several hanging open to display cold-weather gear.

Jensen slumped against the wall as the door closed, relieved to be out of the cold and wind, and checked himself over. The injector was still stuck in his leg. He pulled it out, fiddled with it until the needle retracted, and pocketed it for possible later study. His limbs responded to his commands, as did his shades, but the remote hack system still fuzzed with errors. His blades stuttered and jerked as they emerged. The Tesla readied itself happily enough, but its targeting laser was on the fritz. The dart launcher, on the other hand, seemed wholly unaffected, but he wouldn’t rely on it without some practice under his belt.

Munching on an energy bar and watching his energy readout, he thought his bioconverter was acting sluggish, too. But smart vision worked fine, and once he had the energy to venture a cloak, it coöperated. His attempted Icarus dash was a feeble letdown, though. He hoped the aug would keep him from splattering himself if he fell.

They’d left him his weapons and grenades: the Destrier in its shoulder holster, the Sanction mag-locked to his lower back, the tranq rifle in its own bespoke holster and pockets. He hadn’t bothered with the Zap, thinking it superfluous to the Tesla—a choice he regretted, now. His ammo seemed untouched. His vest had held up to Marchenko’s sucker-punch, the aramid taking a few percent off its power before it rattled his ceramic plates against his ribs. He supposed he should be glad Marchenko had used the arm that was mostly flesh.

He bowed his head and struggled to dredge clarity from the mélange of images he hadn’t processed as he choked on his tongue and tried to scream his lungs out of his own chest. Someone had carried him through bare metal corridors. Shouldn’t there be more blood? Rucker was covered in it, he remembered hearing in a distorted voice. Perhaps one of the Gold Masks.

Rucker had more meat in him than this one. Maybe that’s the difference. That had been Marchenko, he thought, the voice close enough he’d probably been over the giant’s shoulder. Broken, like that drone in Útulek. It had been hard to focus.

But you’re sure he’ll die?

The Orchid has no mercy. His end will come. It will be slow. And it will be painful. Just time enough for a man to think on his sins.

Then his heart had stopped. The Sentinel had whined and kicked it back into shuddering motion, its sound drowned out by the conversation. Things had gotten even hazier at that point, though.

… the facility is compromised. We should…

… warned that this one was coming. We have time…

… friends from ARC?

The appeasers, Rucker’s clique? Those fools have… with the Orchid. Dump the bodies with this one. He’d hit the deck, hard, head bouncing limp from metal plates, stunned on top of the whiteout agony into missing most of what followed.

He’d squinted against the pain, behind his lenses, and focused enough to hear … stay here and proceed as planned?

Yes, Brown confirmed everything with Picus last night. Date and time.

Then heavy footsteps clomping away, while he’d slid on his back, flickering in and out of consciousness. He’d woken up a bit when the cold air hit, and a distorted voice had said, End of the line for you, friend. Then he’d flown, and fallen, and it had been lights out for real.

#deus ex #adam jensen #wip wednesday

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