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leejenowrld · 1 year ago

Text

nct masterlist

!!! minors dni

— nct dream —

nct dream reactions

them fucking you dumb

what sex and aftercare is like

dreamiest getting possessive

getting needy

where they cum

soft and slow sex

when you tease them in public

when you dom

nct dream texts

sending them a lingerie pic

sexting the dreamies

nct dream series

ღ… the love & games universe

➜… one tree hill inspired

➜… college au, ongoing [1/3]

welcome to neo tech college, where basketball reigns supreme, and the ravens, the college’s elite team, are at the center of it all. this isn’t just a game—being on the team means power, popularity, and pressure. the court is where talent shines, rivalries ignite, and reputations are made or broken. neo tech college isn’t just about academics or basketball—it’s about the tangled relationships, the pressure to be perfect, and the firestorm of emotions that come with trying to find yourself in a world where everyone’s watching. here, every decision you make ripples across the court, the classroom, and beyond.

ღ… seven days of christmas

➜… heavy smut, minors dni

➜… shorter one shots, smut focus, not plot

seven days of christmas, seven ways to ruin you—slow and sweet, rough and desperate, teasing and possessive. from tangled sheets to quiet stolen moments by the tree, each night gives you more to beg for, every touch leaving you trembling and wanting more.

ღ… campus heartbreakers

➜… college au, ongoing [1/6]

➜… on hiatus, planning to revisit in due future

enter the heartbreak campus, where love, sex, heartbreak, playboys, fake dating, tangled emotions, and unexpected connections unfold in intricate ways. join the rollercoaster of relationships, where navigating matters of the heart is as demanding as acing your exams. tread cautiously in this campus; heartbreak isn't just an experience—it's a vital part of the curriculum.

mark lee

‘love me back?’ (m) seven part series, smut, fluff, angst, forbidden love, strangers to lovers, completed

mark lee goes from being the quiet kid at the river court to the star basketball player on campus, reigniting old tensions with his brother, jeno. as jeno’s girlfriend, you’re pulled into the rivalry, but it’s mark who captivates you. his touch, his presence—he stirs something deep inside you that you can’t shake. the tension between the brothers grows, so does your forbidden connection with mark, forcing you to confront where your heart—and body—truly belong.

warm me up, one shot, 5k words, smut, christmas smut

mark insists on “warming you up” after you come in from the cold, wrapped in fuzzy blankets with cocoa still in your hands. he shifts closer, his touch slow and teasing, until his hands are roaming beneath the blanket, pulling soft gasps from you. before you know it, he has you on your knees for him on the living room carpet, the faint glow of christmas lights and a forgotten movie playing in the background. his low groans mix with the soft sounds of your mouth on him, his fingers tangling in your hair as he whispers just how good you are—his perfect little gift.

mark loves your tits

you love his new hair

huang renjun

… nothing yet

lee jeno

lee jeno masterlist

lee donghyuck

falling for you, 5.8k words, smut, strangers to lovers

at a crowded christmas party, the air buzzing with laughter and music, you and donghyuck can’t stop locking eyes, the tension between you thick and impossible to ignore. it snaps when he grabs your hand, dragging you into a dark, empty room, the door clicking shut as he presses you hard against it. his breath is hot against your ear, his voice low and filthy as he murmurs all the things he’s been dying to do to you. his hands move with purpose, peeling away your clothes like wrapping paper, unwrapping you as though you’re the only gift he wants. the distant hum of the party fades as he fucks you with rough, desperate strokes, your moans swallowed by his mouth, the risk of being caught only making it hotter.

haechan whining for you

na jaemin

na jaemin masterlist

zhong chenle

… nothing yet

park jisung

jisung eating you out

— nct 127 —

johnny suh

naughty or nice, one shot, smut, 6.2k words, soft sex

johnny surprises you with a gift—delicate lace lingerie, wrapped neatly with a note that reads, “for later.” when you step into the bedroom that night, wearing it just for him, he’s already waiting, sprawled across the bed, his dark gaze raking over you like he’s ready to devour. “you’ve been so naughty this year,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing as he pulls you into his lap. his hands roam your body, deliberate and possessive, before he guides you down onto his cock, making you ride him slow and deep. every roll of your hips draws a growl from his chest, his words filthy and unrelenting as he promises to make you pay for every sinful thought you’ve put in his head this year—until you’re shaking, speechless, and ruined.

jung jaehyun

my christmas love, one shot, 5.8k words, smut

it’s the early hours of christmas morning, the house still and quiet, your kids asleep down the hall, but you and jaehyun can’t resist each other. tangled in the sheets, the soft glow of christmas lights spilling through the window, he fucks you slow and deep, his hand over your mouth to stifle the moans threatening to slip free. every thrust is deliberate, every roll of his hips leaving you trembling as he whispers filthy promises into your ear—reminding you that you’re his, and on a morning meant for giving, he’s the only one who gets to have you like this.

‘yes, professor?’ one shot, 1.5k words, smut

it starts with whispers. nothing concrete, just hints scattered in the air like cigarette smoke curling in the hallways after late-night classes. you hear about him before you meet him: jung jaehyun, the youngest literature professor in the department, rumored to have a sharp tongue and a reputation for unraveling students’ egos in seminar discussions

jaehyun pussy eater

kim jungwoo

unwrap me, one shot, smut, soft sex, 7k words

jungwoo teases you all night about being impatient to open your presents early, but when you get to the last box under the tree, all you find is a note that reads, “your real gift is waiting upstairs.” when you find him in the bedroom, he’s sprawled across the bed, shirtless with nothing but a red ribbon tied low around his waist, his smirk equal parts playful and sinful. “go on,” he murmurs, his voice dropping as his eyes darken, “unwrap me.” what follows is him letting you take control, your hands and mouth exploring him as he groans beneath you.

— wayv —

… nothing yet

#nct reactions #nct dream reaction #nct reaction #nct fanfic #nct scenarios #nct smut #nct dream #nct dream x reader #nct dream fanfic #nct dream fic #nct dream smut #nct dream imagines #nct dream reactions #nct dream fluff #nct #nct masterlist #nct 127 #nct series #kpop fic

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local-dragon-haunt · 1 month ago

Note

so i have made like sheet/writen data/whatever i rembred in you au,in order to be able to fangirl more, so wanted to ask if everything is right or i rembre dsomething wrong in the data?

Human Perry/little brother AU:

Perry Flynn-Fletcher / Agent Codename: perry The Platypus, agent p.

Age: 9

Species: Human (bio-engineered using DNA from two random OWCA agents, basicly ivf test tube baby)

Codename: The Platypus — thus, “Perry the Platypus” becomes his full agent name. aka agent p .

Communication: Selectively mute. Uses sign language to communicate, speaks only rarely. Quiet in both daily life and during missions.

Personality: Calm, observant, emotionally reserved. Keeps to himself. ,he’s deeply compassionate under the surface and cares for his family, and he is just like shows perry hence perfect and can do no wrong and i will not lisgten to anything esle.

Training: Trained as an OWCA agent since he could walk. Highly skilled, elite level. One of the best — possibly the best — OWCA has.

Cover:

Poses as a student at a highly selective and suceesfull private "academy" (actually OWCA).

The school has no summer break and frequent field trips — cover for missions.

His signature fedora and outfit are part of the "school uniform."

vanesa helped pick his outfit once, toconvert him to the dark side(aka Brought him to the mall, as she took one look at him and went "baby goth")

stacy eventuly found out like in show but kept secret like in show,(angst potential)

Family Life:

Fostered by the Flynn-Fletchers at age 3, adopted at age 5.

Loved and cared for deeply. Phineas and Ferb 's younger brother. phieas in particular is a realy doting and expresive older brother.

None of the family know about his agent life, and they’re not suspicious.

They believe his school is simply elite, demanding, and strange — but legit.

phieas,ferb and perry share a room, with ferb and perry having a bunk bed.

Percy “Pinky” Garcia-Shapiro / Agent Codename: pinky The Chihuahua

Species: Human (OWCA agent), but inspired by his canon animal form: a Chihuahua. Nicknamed Pinky.

Age: Around Perry’s age (9?)

Relation: Adopted brother of Isabella Garcia-Shapiro

Recruitment:

Tech genius who hacked into OWCA’s systems on his own as a child.

Adopted — qualified under OWCA’s “exploitable gifted child ” criteria.

Personality: More expressive and talkative than Perry. Energetic, witty, sarcastic. Excellent at tech, infiltration, hacking.

Relationship with Perry:

(Strong bond?( probably)) Perry’s friend.

They understand each other as they are in the same boat and closer in age.

OWCA: The Organization Without a Cool Acronym

Public Cover: Elite private “success school” for the gifted.

Actual Purpose: Covert child-agent spy organization.

Recruitment Policy:

Only recruits children with trauma?, from foster care, adoption, or bad backgrounds — or those created(ivf test tube baies) by OWCA itself (like Perry).

They refuse to recruit healthy, happy kids, believing those kids deserve normal lives. hence phias and ferb and the gang are not recruted.

Talent alone isn’t enough — emotional damage is the first test.

They justify it by basicly saying: “We give these kids a purpose. The world needs them.”

Morality: Deeply morally gray . They genuinely think they’re saving the world (kind of are tho??) and helping broken kids — but they’re using them all the same.

The Flynn-Fletcher Family

Phineas Flynn (11) and Ferb Fletcher (11):

Genius inventors as always. Totally unaware of Perry’s secret life.

See Perry as their quiet and cool (cute) little brother. They dont like perry's school's odd rules :(

but are as oblivious as always

Candace Flynn (15):

Oblivious to OWCA or Perry’s real life. i find it ironic in a way i cant explain, like candice your youngset brothers school could use busting.

Focused entirely on busting Phineas and Ferb — does not get suspicious of Perry at all.

Linda & Lawrence:

Loving, supportive parents.( we stan)

Think Perry is a sweet, quiet, gifted child with an unusual but prestigious education.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

Still Perry’s nemesis.

Assigned specifically to Perry because:

Doof has a traumatic childhood, and OWCA knows he would never hurt a child.

He builds elaborate traps to avoid real confrontation.

Relationship with Perry:

basicly the same as in the cannon.

gets beaten up by a(skilled) child reguraly.

dosent wanna caus harm as he is a decnt person depp down.

CURSE YOU PERRY THE PLATYPUS!

i wanted to ask if all my information gathred was right, and also

what is perry's dynamic with phinaes and ferbs friend? infact could you tell me more about his dynamic with ferb and candice?

i am afrid your au is one of those where my brian willl not let go so i hyperfiaxteinsetd of being normal human being. lol

LMAOO ur doing a better job at making a master doc than I am!

I'm gonna give you a TENTATIVE 'yes, you're correct' to most of these things. If you can't tell purely from my art progression, this AU is really old, and I took quite a few years' break from it, so now that I'm getting back into PNF I want to go back and really iron out some things, which is probably gonna retcon some minor details. I know for SURE that Pinky's backstory is going to change, bc it's essential for the next fic I'm writing (which should hopefully go up sometime next week? hopefully?)

But yeah. You got everything pretty much spot on, except for the school uniform (which is totally valid since I completely redesigned it a few years back lol). Just Perry's undershirt and pants are his 'school uniform'. His trenchcoat and fedora are exclusively his 'agent uniform', which he wears exclusively on missions, and the Flynn-Fletchers are not to see him wearing them. Like this!

Anyways, I imagine Perry has a very similar relationship to the other kids as PNF do. Clearly he doesn't get to hang out with them as often, but they are friends!

So yeah! Sorry for the rambles. Very very honored to have caused a hyperfixation (I am so, so sorry)

#jay speaks #inbox #ask #little brother au #pnf #phineas and ferb #human perry the platypus #perry the platypus

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satyricplotter · 2 months ago

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im foaming at the mouth for your tim thoughts

well firstly: he is my lovely little darling baby whom i love. please jot that down. that one is real important to me. let me see what else i can come up with. these come to me in dreams and also... other... private moments. these are explicit btw.

full head of hair. he's not really very hairy in the rest of his body (really struggles growing a decent beard lol) but he has a lot of hair to grab onto. i really like when he's got his long haired emo look. pin straight. i think he should go to that one japanese salon, they'd have fun with him.

i also think he's very pretty in an understated way. delicate. his particular brand of looks is not flashy, like dick is, or demanding, like jason's, and he's not even the old school hollywood beauty that bruce is. i'd put him in the ballpark of duke, but whereas duke is suave, vigorous, tim's almost waifish. i think it's easy to overlook him. and i like when he looks like cass but. i am gay.

but there are details about him, and those are the ones that really catch your eye. he is deceptively strong. you don't expect it from him, but you can feel it when you touch his arm, when he moves your chair with a quiet excuse me and it's no effort whatsoever. because he's pretty pale, his veins are really easy to spot. you tell him he's a lab tech's dream and he laughs and says, or a vampire, right? and you imagine yourself biting down on the thin skin of his wrist and feel a little faint.

and his eyes! that's the real weapon to me. i don't think he can really hide those. there's just something so... sharp about them. he can play dumb with ease, but there's this keen awareness swimming behind them. anyone who's any bit discerning can see the overwhelming force of his sheer presence in them. this is different from jason, who i also think has a very heavy gaze. tim's gaze is not heavy, but it is.. sharp. like a needle.

also unexpectedly manly at times. and pushy. i don't think you expect him to be pushy, because he behaves so nicely and is generally quite polite (and you do think well, isn't this a little bit of a farce and feel bad because the boy is trying to impress you, be a little kinder). and he really is so very nice until the last possible moment, when he's got you between his sharp, sharp teeth. foxy.

(he is so. relentless. he really does fuck you with wild abandon. i don't know how to explain it exactly. he doesn't slip into mindlessness, there is no fog, he is just so so present all the time throughout it. it may look like he's lost control of himself from the outside but he always knows exactly what he's doing and it is all deliberate and in service of your joint pleasure. the only way i can think to explain this is you know how he zeroes in on a specific goal or mission and everything falls apart until he gets it? like proving bruce is alive. but this time he wants you to unravel underneath him. you will crawl away from him and he'll pull you back asking where you're going because he's not finished with you. good luck with that)

tim is very good at maneuvering, rather than lying outright. dick will deceive with the fervor of a corralled animal, and push come to shove, tim will do so as well but he doesn't prefer that. every bat can come up with a plan and put it in effect but i get the feeling that tim has a real talent for the chess board of it all, and doing do from a distance. he's the person i find the easiest to imagine as a yandere, because he's so prime for the calculation. (i don't exactly know how to explain the difference here with dick, but they could do more or less the same thing, and the mental processes would still be different.)

and he is also so so lonely. he seems like such a lonely child to me. i think his parents were neglectful in a sense, but not unkind, and i think he loved them very much, but he grew up with that little wall that separated him from the rest of the world. so he really looks for that love everywhere. in the small doses he can have it. i don't think even when he does have it, he ever quite believes it. and he really wants it to hold and i think most of the things he does are sort of in service to that desire or in conflict with it. ultimately he will choose what he thinks is optimal, but it does weigh on him.

also, tim sort of... exists to fill a place. in his mind. he is very dutiful to me, and because he is so lonely, i think he feels beholden to fill the place the relationships he has dictate he should. but these sorts of roles come with a type of hierarchy (a flexible one, but still) where his duty is more so defined by need that value (or perhaps value comes from need, which is very noble but not always kind). so say he's playing robin, boyfriend, son: robin will trump all others so long as nobody else is there to share that weight with. boyfriend always falls by the wayside because, well, they can break up with him. and he does feel bad when you tell him you need him there, but. a broken heart is not a life saved. with his dad the thing is a little more complicated, because you only have the one dad (well...) and you can always get a new partner. i think when it comes to you, when he thinks of you as the love of his life, this really is the place that will bring more tension. the biggest shift in priorities. good luck x2!

god. a contract marriage must be hell on earth.

i like his stalkerish tendencies. i'd like to play them up, even. i think they're cute! they betray a need to know more and more as a way of like... consumption. like every morsel of information is a little bit of you encased in him. for a long time he felt like knowing was the only thing he could do, the only thing he had permission for, and i feel he can quite quickly delude himself into think if he can just "stumble upon" these odds and ends of your life, then it's fine. you're both just living within each other's orbit* :) (*there are cameras in your home)

he likes sending you suggestive pictures, more so than outright nudes, just to rile you up (he has read ecchi manga :/). he really loves the ones where he puts stuff in his mouth. think a 20 second clip of him sucking one of those lollipops or a picture of a cherry on his tongue. he likes a really obscene one where his mouth is held open by two fingers pushing against his tongue, gleaming with spit, and you zoom in and is that cum and he's looking at you like these should be your fingers in my mouth. why aren't you here?

i always say he's into psychological warfare. he very rarely gives it to you straightforwardly, because he wants you to use your imagination to fill in the blanks, to spend your time thinking about him, putting together the clues to what he's doing and why he wishes you were there.

to that same end, he's an assiduous user of the voice note. you'll be working, middle of the day, and you get a text with a voice note you gotta scramble off to the bathroom to listen to. it's tim whimpering and moaning, calling for your presence, so needy, voice ragged, out of breath, telling you how all he can think about is your maddening heat enveloping him and how close he is to coming, but you're not there to see it. he never sends any visuals with these, because he wants to drive you mad trying to figure out how he's getting off. is he fisting his cock? is he fingering himself? is he humping against a pillow, imagining it's your thighs? endless possibilities.

phone sex haver. loves to hear you masturbate. HE will call you during a stakeout. kon's always begging to get a little listen in.

he is also. so wicked. i think i've said before but there's little to no way to win over him. it is so frustrating. he could be coming apart underneath you in a way you've never seen and somehow, somehow, the one who's losing it is you. wicked man.

#okay i think this is enough i'm tired now #sp. ask #mmm i normally don't post these to the tag but i want people to want him hahaha #i really do honestly like him. he's cute #tim drake x reader #[ incarnation : tim drake ]

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sukuna-ryo · 8 months ago

Text

Jjk Men College Au

Headcannons

Nanami Kento

Finance Major

Blonde neatly styled hair, sharp cheekbones, thin lips, light brown eyes, glasses pushed up the nose bridge, dark circles, well-groomed and tidy, looks more professional than the professor, you thought he was a professor when you first saw him, calm and composed, stoic, mature, responsible and reliable, emotionally intelligent, good with people, helpful, no-nonsense-adult attitude, pragmatic, cynical, intelligent, tactical, tech-savvy.

Early morning lectures, blue dress shirts, khaki trousers, leopard print ties, networking, finance club, seminars, workshops, turns in assignments before due date, stockbroker internships, libraries, desk lamps, late night study sessions, midnight snacks, ink pens, vintage cars, leather seats, cracking knuckles, strained shoulder muscles, working out, not compromising on physical health despite having a demanding major, does jujutsu as hobby.

College-personal life balance, strength of character, disciplined, organized, heartthrob (unaware), husband material, would probably fall for someone just as diligent as him.

Ryomen Sukuna

Kinesiology Major

Red hair, fiery personality, strength, endurance, gym, MMA fighter, training, late night MMA matches, muscles, tattoos, tattoo artist best friend, frat parties, alcohol, girls, messy sex life, doesn’t do relationships, toxic, fans and fan clubs, future MMA champion, media coverage, athletic, strong-headed, willpower, intelligent, calculative, cunning, missing lectures, top ranker despite not studying much, arrogant, crazy, borderline criminal, don’t try to date him pls.

Leather jackets, ripped jeans, cologne, smirk, loud, reckless, always on the move, fights, wins, clubs, stays up late, doesn’t care, bad boy persona, high status, no commitments, love for chaos. Tension in the air when he enters, always the center of attention, fans everywhere, no time for weakness, doesn’t need to try.

Tattoo sleeve, arms covered, history of fights, scars, reputation, strength, untouchable, doesn’t play by rules, barely attends class, still aces it. Smirks, keeps moving, doesn’t stop. Drinks, casual, no relationships, cold heart. Only more battles ahead, all eyes on him, unpredictable, dangerous, charming.

Geto Suguru

Philosophy Major

Long black hair, weird side bangs, manbun, hidden tattoos, sharp dresser, classic casual but always expensive, calm and composed, mysterious yet friendly to those who matter.

Religious studies, top student, always reading something deep, debates with professors over lunch, having lunch with professors, doing pottery in his free time, sharp opinions, loud thoughts, a little racist, has a vision for an ideal society, probably loves Pythagoras and his cult, wishes to have something similar, always scribbling down ideas in random places, likes to keep things classy but low-key, sharp, calculating, deeply invested in his beliefs.

Volunteers at orphanages, good with children, art hobbies, loves to talk about philosophy, sometimes found debating late at night in the library, always in deep thought, a bit of a perfectionist, not easily impressed by others, enjoys challenging people intellectually, likes to put effort into his appearance, always carrying books on ethics, metaphysics, and society.

Popular amongst women, Gojo’s best friend, your grandma would probably like him, friendly but keeps a bit of distance, doesn’t open up easily but will be there for you when needed, composed around strangers, warm to those he’s close to, respects loyalty, his ideal partner would be someone with similar intelligence and values.

Gojo Satoru

Business major

6'4, blue eyes, trust fund guy, loud, jolly, eccentric, talented, arrogant, sarcastic, wants to make friends but misunderstood by those around him, comes off as off-putting, rich family, only heir, prodigy, diamond spoon kid, first in everything, Geto's best friend.

Gets bullied because of his white hair, shades, blindfolds, people think he has some weird kink, has fangirls regardless, popular loner, sharp dresser, stands out, hates attention, smirk always in place, makes people uncomfortable with his confidence, carefree but secretly lonely, sharp-tongued, cracks jokes all the time.

Easily gets on people's bad side, works to keep up his image, loves challenging authority, doesn't care about consequences, fiercely protective of his friends, holds grudges, always first to show up, leaves last, high-profile business role in his future, a bit of mystery that draws people in, keeps everyone at arm's length.

Wants to be understood, still pushes people away, walks into a room and demands attention, but doesn’t say a word, people notice him immediately, no one dares challenge him, but it’s not for lack of trying, takes classes seriously, skips boring ones, coffee in hand, shades indoors, professors secretly like him, students admire or fear him.

Doesn’t attend study groups, pulls through with perfect grades, natural intelligence, picks up info quickly, a bit of a mystery, high-profile events, networking, parties, center of attention at social gatherings, random comments that leave people laughing or wondering, doesn’t care about others, secretly craves connection but too prideful to ask for it.

---

Do not copy, plagiarise, translate or repost any of my content.

Likes, reblogs, and feedback is appreciated <3

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baggebythesea · 10 months ago

Text

My favourite She-Ra post canon headcanons

Mystacor spa vacation for a month after the war

Best auntie Casta makes sweaters for everyone

The other princesses gleefully refuse to let Glimmer off the hook as over-queen (or as Bow like to call it - queen-queen) of all of Etheria. Lots of meetings and paperwork for our favourite queen

Catra is made second-in-command. Glimmer takes petty delight in throwing more and more stupid titles at First-Vizir Expert Logistic Coordinator Catra whenever she annoys her (which is often)

Therapy

Every parental figure in Etheria get together and decide that a) Frosta is their child now and b) Despite her protests, Frosta should go back to school

She-Ra spends most of her time subduing remaining robots and monsters, and working to repair war-damaged villages. She has a much less stressful time now when her friends are not constantly in mortal danger.

Most etherians, being a bit fuzzy on what exactly the deal was between Hordak and Prime, decide that Horde Prime was some kind of upstart that tried to usurp Hordak's rightful throne, and that Hordak cast him down in the end. This annoys Hordak immensely, especially since the other clones do nothing to correct them.

To his great discomfort, a group of clones who have a hard time with the 'free will' concept try to follow Hordak as the new Prime. Entrapta sets up a school for them.

Entrapta nearly dies from sleep deprivation as she tries to reverse engineer Horde Prime's tech. It takes Hordak, Imp, Emily, Wrong Hordak, a whole squadron of clones, the super pal trio, Bow and the entire princess alliance to convince her that she can keep working on it the next day

Entrapta totally runs Doom on Light Hope's old hardware. Fortunatelly Hordak manages to install some safety measures. Adora tears up when she realizes that it still spawns spiders.

Hordak takes up philosophy and has a surprising talent for it. This leads to a slow but steady thaw and eventual bonding between him and Bow's dads.

So Much PDA

(and so much PTSD)

Swift Wind, Bow and Sea Hawk invite Micah, Wrong Hordak and - to his great chagrin - Hordak to their boys night. No one invited Double Trouble but they come along anyway. Much shenanigans are had.

Mermista and Perfuma keeps hitting illegal clubs where they can let lose and forget all about queenship and cosmic harmony for a night. When Glimmer finds out she demands they bring her along

Catra and Hordak keep up a vitriolic but deep friendship. They sometimes go on secret missions together to 'sort out things the princesses don't need to know about'

Bow and Scorpia becomes tea-party buddies.

Double Trouble, Swift Wind and Wrong Hordak set up a 'legitimate business enterprise' which totally isn't a series of more and more convoluted scams

#spop

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idhren · 5 months ago

Text

March 1, 2025

A letter to the American People:

For over 11 years, 18F has been proudly serving you to make government technology work better. We are non-partisan civil servants. 18F has worked on hundreds of projects, all designed to make government technology not just efficient but effective, and to save money for American taxpayers.

However, all employees at 18F – a group that the Trump Administration GSA Technology Transformation Services Director called "the gold standard" of civic tech – were terminated today at midnight ET.

18F was doing exactly the type of work that DOGE claims to want – yet we were eliminated.

When former Tesla engineer Thomas Shedd took the position of TTS director and met with TTS including 18F on February 3, 2025, he acknowledged that the group is the “gold standard” of civic technologists and that “you guys have been doing this far longer than I’ve been even aware that your group exists.” He repeatedly emphasized the importance of the work, and the value of the talent that the teams bring to government.

Despite that skill and knowledge, at midnight ET on March 1, the entirety of 18F received notice that our positions had been eliminated.

The letter said that 18F "has been identified as part of this phase of GSA’s Reduction in Force (RIF) as non-critical”.

"This decision was made with explicit direction from the top levels of leadership within both the Administration and GSA," Shedd said in an email shortly after we were given notice.

This was a surprise to all 18F staff and our agency partners. Just yesterday we were working on important projects, including improving access to weather data with NOAA, making it easier and faster to get a passport with the Department of State, supporting free tax filing with the IRS, and other critical projects with organizations at the federal and state levels.

All 18F's support on that work has now abruptly come to a halt. Since the entire staff was also placed on administrative leave, we have been locked out of our computers, and have no chance to assist in an orderly transition in our work. We don’t even have access to our personal employment data. We’re supposed to return our equipment, but can’t use our email to find out how or where.

Dismantling 18F follows the gutting of the original US Digital Service. These cuts are just the most recent in a series of a sledgehammer approach to the critical US teams supporting IT infrastructure.

Before today’s RIF, DOGE members and GSA political appointees demanded and took access to IT systems that hold sensitive information. They ignored security precautions. Some who pushed back on this questionable behavior resigned rather than grant access. Others were met with reprisals like being booted from work communication channels.

We’re not done yet.

We’re still absorbing what has happened. We’re wrestling with what it will mean for ourselves and our families, as well as the impact on our partners and the American people.

But we came to the government to fix things. And we’re not done with this work yet.

More to come.

#18F #website #rec #United States #a place beyond tears

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witchofthesouls · 2 years ago

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I would love to see you write some more culture differences between the bots and humans. If you wouldn’t mind :0 I wish we saw some in TFP

Same here. I love seeing world-building and deep lore, especially with other fantasy/sci-fi civilizations.

TFP gave us so much and so little at the same time. It's like going to a restaurant, you have a drink and great appetizers, so you're constantly waiting for the entrée that isn't coming!

TFP is also really fascinating when looking at it with the lens of the caste system and its deep roots within and among the 'bots, even their reduced circumstances. I get the feeling that Optimus is way more casual in way with his team than what the decorum would demand, even with his barriers.

The Autobots would find human cityscapes as quaint. Even the dense sprawls of megacities with towering high rises are paltry reminder of what they're used to.

Cybertron was a planet where its wilds had been tamed. Either reshaped or completely stripped. The Wastelands is/was an apt name for the baren landscapes outside the established city-states.

It wasn't just a large difference in public transport and zoning and sheer scale. It was also the functional design and architecture.

City-states mimicked the layouts of Titans' ground alt-modes. They didn't sprawl outward. Those had set perimeters based on Titans' outer defenses. Instead, the cities expanded up or down.

It wasn't limited to just a parking structure or secretive bases. Whole levels housed entire communities of what castes resided there: occupations, hospitals, sewage, refineries, restaurants, entertainment, and so much. Some mecha go without ever seeing the sunlight or feel real wind, especially those at the lowest of the system. The lowest castes are set all the way at the bottom, among ancient tech and dilapidated buildings. Sorting and recycling what could be kept and what must be sent back to the upper levels.

The concept of "open to the public" would confuse the Autobots. The Golden Age operated its society under the strict overview of a caste system, which expanded to "where" and "what" individuals of a caste could access.

Monster truck rallies fall under bloodsport to them. Bulkhead once scavenged money to watch and do small bets at high-stakes drift racing and lower-tier gladiator matches below the ground. Mecha still had to pay entrance fees to it.

Parks were under the Artisanal caste. Blending murals of legends, careful tending to fauna that are functionally extinct that was tailored to the agreed aesthetic, live music from specific pupils of masters, playing on instruments that merged with the gardens, so it was difficult to tell what was a tool and a plant or animal. And entry to any of it was only allowed for certain castes.

Universities were thriving, self-contained communities, and major points of power. No one off the list would be allowed into its grounds. All visitors and short-term guests were deeply screened and monitored. There is no such thing as "dropping by." Everything is meticulously planned and prepared. Unless a faculty member personally vouches for a guest, they must heed the numerous rules or a risk permanent banning.

Academia had long since been territorial over its talents and quality of its programs and people. They refuse to allow anyone outside its jurisdiction to bully one of its own. No matter the rank or caste, it will close its inescapable jaws around an outsider.

The fact that someone could go to a private university and simply jog upon its grounds is mind-boggling to the 'bots.

As well as libraries and their courses and workshops. So anyone can go? Anyone?! Everyone has access to the knowledge!? Can anyone simply go join a seminar on local gardening? Anyone can just go to a playground and start swinging or playing basketball or flying a kite or dancing to music? Anyone?

Bulkhead had a lot of questions for Jack and Raf since they're locals compared to Miko.

"So anyone can go?"

"Yeah. I used to spend my recess looking up bird anatomy and Ancient Greece and Egypt."

"You had a thing for ancient civilizations?" Raf asked.

"Doesn't everyone?" Jack shrugged. "Pharoahs and gladiators and old gods? We ate that up with mystery books or Goosebumps."

"I read Sherlock Holmes and the Chronicles of Narnia."

"Those are classics. Hey, did you get into The Lo-"

"Hold up," Bulkhead cut in, crouched down and leaning more forward, as if sharing a secret and quietly ask, "So anyone?"

"Yes. Anyone." Jack repeated, rapidly firing off each point with a finger. "Their family. Their friends. Their classmates. Their coworkers. Their pe-"

"Even, let's say, a construction worker. He could just go inside and pick up, I don't know, quantum physics? Anatomy of any frames? Gardening?"

"Sure." Raf squinted and moved to wipe off his glasses with his sleeves. "Clubs and people like to donate more to expand the base. Some of the college professors even leave early editions of their textbooks." Raf readjusted his glasses and beamed. "It's for easier access people and for an industrial copier."

"Oh..." There was a wealth of meaning in that small noise.

"You..." Jack struggled on the concept. Perhaps giant metal aliens didn't need books and could download information from their own internet. "You don't have libraries or schools?"

"No. We did." Bulkhead sighed. "I just wasn't allowed into them."

Out of all of them, Miko would be the to come the closest to understanding them in some ways. 出る杭は打たれる. The nail that sticks out gets hammered in.

As a transfer student from Japan, Miko does have instances of culture clashes with her American classmates and host family.

She's loud. She knows that. But Americans are a different breed with no restraint. In some ways, admirable. In others, incredibly frustrating.

Miko is used to a far heavier workload with long hours after-school and a busy city life. Jasper qualifies between a small and large town that she can't walk around easily on her own with the blazing heat and bitter cold nights and the lack of a car or a bike.

Detention in the US is a joke to her. Stay in school after it's over? She's used to doing that back at home with clubs and cleaning it. On a Saturday? Same thing. Some clubs back home ran long hours over the weekend. Do homework? She already finished it during lunch or between classes because she wants all the other time to herself and the 'bots.

Because Bulkhead gets a realization just how free the kids' social mobility is, he tries to get on Miko over her scrapping at school and her assignments, especially after Ratchet's high jacking their science projects resulted in failure. And that was another strange blow since Ratchet is a medic and a scientist. She's smart and quick and can be rough around the edges and so everywhere, and, to him, Miko deserves everything she could want in her short life. (And wasn't that also a terrifying concept to grasp? To just live and die under a single vorn?)

At first, Miko was getting annoyed because it's similar to the well-meaning nagging her host family does, but she reads the worry he has, and they have to really sit down and speak and soothe over his misunderstandings.

It comes as a huge surprise to her that Bulkhead can just download a language into him. Context and colloquialisms would be missing, and he needs work because he's a mix between extreme formality and, much to her delight, yakuza. And it's all because of her own frustration that English is her second language.

#ask #transformers #transformer prime #tfp #cultural misunderstandings #culture clash #miko nakadai #bulkhead #jack darby #raf esquivel #my writing #maccadam #ahhhh the golden age was terrible #lets agree on thay #really god damn terrible #bulkhead has motherhening tendencies pass it on

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alltimefail-sims · 1 year ago

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Terrance Chapman Submission for @wrixie's Cherry! 🍒

The Basics: -> Human; He/Him -> Straight -> Born, raised, and currently living in Brindleton Bay -> Adult (irl probably like 31 y.o.) -> Single father!

Details below the cut! ↓

Terrance's traits are: Childish, Generous, Dance Machine, Family Oriented, and Ambitious.

-> His current aspiration is: Friend of the World

-> Education: Computer Science degree from Foxbury Institute

-> Career: Level 8 Tech Guru (Start Up Entrepreneur branch, Independent Consultant).

-> Other details: Terrance is the life of the party and the kind of person to make a friend anywhere he goes. He's a pretty great cook, a tech whiz, and quite the charmer! He admittedly can be childish at times, but he always jokes that he's "making up for lost time." Despite having a challenging childhood, he has been an extremely compassionate and involved single father* to his 10 year old daughter Shereé! But between his demanding job and being the primary caregiver to a very loved and spoiled 10 year old, he's had little opportunity to fill the relationship void in his life. He's not getting any younger though, and he feels like he needs to take the time to find love, especially because he wants to expand his family in the future!

-> Random Rapid-Fire Likes: Helping Shereé run her lines/songs/dances for her upcoming performances. The retro/70s aesthetic (the social justice movements, celebrities, music, fashion, decor, and so on). Pops of color in an outfit. Social media. Chips and ceviche or coconut shrimp (can't pick a favorite food between the two). Reading the newspaper and doing the crossword like a little old man (He does his NYT "Wordle" every morning, too). Trying out new recipes (the more complex, the better). Rock climbing. Dressing up. Naps!!

-> Random Rapid-Fire Dislikes: Any kind of "excessive" noise (fireworks, music with a lot of "banging," noisy people, etc.) Getting stuck in traffic. Mayonnaise and most soups for some reason?? The fact that he snores (RIP to whoever shares a room with him... he's tried everything to stop it). Getting paired with someone who doesn't know what they're doing in a multiplayer game mode. People who don't brush their teeth. Toe socks. Snakes!!! (He would say: "Something that can eat you is not a damn pet!")

*Note: Just wanted to add that he has absolutely no issues with his ex, they just didn't work out as a couple. His ex sees Shereé every other weekend, but Shereé has always lived with Terrance full time.

Lastly: here is his confident, talented, adorable daughter with high expectations, a love for gossip, and a big heart...Shereé!

She's lowkey a mini-Terrance with enhanced performance capabilities lol. She wants "to be a superstar" when she grows up and she lovessss dogs (just like Cherry!!!).

Private DL if chosen!

#cherrysbc #cherishing cherry #ts4 bachelorette challenge #sim submission #wrixie #simblr #ts4 #the sims 4 #oc: terrance #oc: shereé #sims 4

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terkmc · 1 year ago

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Horus Asp

A Horus dead simple "grunt" type mech, because other manufacturers all got one (Everest, Tortuga, Metalmark and Gilgamesh)

Also, Apep lore, because Manticore brought it into the lore and refuse to elaborate :P

It is meant to be a pretty "basic" mech-with-a-gun with a slight Horus twist, a challenge for myself to make a standard infantry type mech for Horus without putting any tech stuff in its license. Works well out of the gate with just the basic Fragment Signal which I think is criminally underated, as well as talents like HGunner, Infiltrator, Centimane, Orrator, as well as sources of on demand cover like the basic GMS smoke grenade, Skirmisher, Combined Arms etc.

#lancer rpg #lancer ttrpg #lancer #lancer homebrew #horus

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kybercrystals94 · 6 months ago

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The Defender (ch.5)

Febuwhump 2025 | Day 5 | Prompt: Not Trusting Reality

Read here on Ao3

<< Previous Chapter | Master Post | Next Chapter >>

Rated: G | Words: 2265

Character Ages

Omega (8)

The Batch (Chronological: 4.5 / Biological: 9)

Hunter thinks he is clever. He thinks that he can come back to the barracks after training with black eyes, bloody noses and split lips and explain that they are training injuries. But Crosshair is familiar with the work of fast swung, tight fisted, bony knuckles. He knows the weapon well, having wielded it and received it himself.

And yet, as Hunter grins sheepishly and tells another kark lie, Crosshair won’t call him out. None of them will, although they all know the truth. Because words without actions behind them fix nothing. It’s better to just shove it down deep and ignore it, that’s what Crosshair has learned. Cruel words, punches, sharp elbows, pushes, and shoves don’t hurt unless you let them.

Crosshair doesn’t let them. Not on the surface. His attackers would never know.

Any pain he might feel he uses as fuel when he retaliates to make sure it hurts whoever it was that tried to hurt him. Enough times of that, and the regs mostly leave him alone now.

Mostly.

Truth be told, regs as a whole aren’t the problem. Most of them could not care less about enhanced, defective, or altered clones. Weird looks, side eyes, and staring might be their only crime. Because in a sea of sameness, difference will always stand out. But Crosshair doesn’t like to be watched or stared at. Not for his leaner frame and shock of white hair. The only time he might not mind, though he’d never admit it, is when he’s at target practice and he hits mark after mark after mark.

He might not mind the wide eyed looks of surprise, awe and envy from his peers then.

Because if he has to be different, then he’d better be the best at what makes him so.

That is why Crosshair looks forward to specialized training, although he’d never say that to his brothers – especially Hunter. It had been hard at first, being separated; however, once Crosshair had made it known that he didn’t mind fighting back, fighting first, and fighting dirty, the problematic regs had backed off. That was Hunter’s problem. He only ever took the defensive, never the offensive.

Hunter’s other problem is that he had been advanced to training with cadet’s older than himself. While Hunter never talked about the issues that he faced in his own training, Crosshair was observant enough to clock the dirty looks Hunter got from three specific cadets during mealtimes, and the way Hunter carefully avoided eye contact with any of them. Crosshair had nearly exploded when one of the cadets had made a point to “accidentally” bump into Hunter while they were lined up. His brother had flinched, an indiscernible jerk of movement to the average eye, but Crosshair had seen it plainly. It took every ounce of his resolve not to drive his fist into that karking cadet’s teeth.

Crosshair wasn’t afraid to take the first swing, but he knew that the temporary gratification could cause bigger problems for Hunter. So Crosshair would bide his time and wait for just the right moment, when retaliation could come naturally. That was one of Crosshair’s most important, and difficult lessons: patience.

A sniper had to be patient, wait for the perfect shots to line up in their scopes. Squeezing the trigger too soon or too late could mean life or death for the soldiers that were depending on them. And that is why Crosshair looked forward to his sniper training. The sessions were designed to challenge him, to make him better, to make him the best.

With his enhancement, being placed with elite trainers had been easy. However, with natural talent came elevated expectations and standards. His trainers were tough and demanded the best from the best. And in that environment, Crosshair thrived.

“Hunter is late,” Tech declares to the room.

“We know,” Crosshair bites out, not moving from where he is sprawled across his bunk, sharp eyes staring dully at the ceiling tiles.

Wrecker is sitting at the table, half of his body slouched over the surface, toying with one of Tech’s pilfered tools. “I don’t like it when he’s late,” he says. “What if something happened to him?”

“He could have been slotted for extra training,” Tech says, but it's a weak explanation. Extended training is always scheduled beforehand, and the boys would have known about it before they went their separate ways that day.

Wrecker sits upright. “We should go look for him.”

“I agree,” Tech says, already pulling on his boots.

Crosshair rolls out of his bunk and snatches up his own boots. “We’ll start at his training room, then fan out from there.”

“That is unwise,” Tech says. “We should stay together.”

“We’d cover more ground if we split up.”

“We may not need to cover any ground at all,” Tech argues, “Hunter could still be at training. We don’t know.”

Crosshair hums doubtfully. “Do you really believe that, Tech?”

Tech’s silence is answer enough.

“We’ll just check his training room first,” Wrecker says. “We don’t gotta figure on anything else until we’ve done that, right?”

“Right,” Crosshair and Tech mutter reluctantly.

They set out after checking the halls for any sign of Kaminoan or droid. Technically, they are not supposed to be out of their barracks unless they are headed to or from training or the mess hall. However, the boys found the rule to be arbitrary, and it was only enforced if they were caught, which has never happened…yet.

“Think of it as extracurricular training,” Tech had told them the first time they’d plotted to leave their barracks unauthorized. “Stealth is a necessary skill for any soldier.”

It had almost become a game, blending into crowds they didn’t belong in, going places outside of their permissions. They found almost any excuse to play it, whether it be to raid the mess hall for extra rations or to pick through repurposing bins for Tech’s obsessive need for spare parts.

This is the first time that the game has been played to find a missing brother, and with it comes a sense of gravity that makes Crosshair’s insides feel like knots. They should have pressed Hunter about the three cadets in his training, about the injuries that seemed to get worse as the days wore into weeks. Crosshair had wanted to believe that Hunter could handle himself, and judging by the scabbed over cuts on Hunter’s knuckles, he always managed to get a few licks in. But three verses one…Crosshair didn’t think anyone – not even the nearly graduated cadets – could win with those odds.

He should have stepped in.

They should have stepped in.

Even if Crosshair doesn’t know how that would have worked.

They reach Hunter’s training room, but it is occupied by cadets twice the boys’ age. Nonetheless, they press their faces against the window and peer inside.

“I don’t see him,” Wrecker says, pushing away from the glass. “What should we do now?”

“Split up,” Crosshair says at the same time that Tech says, “Stay together.”

The two of them glare at each other while Wrecker glances nervously between them. Wrecker hates being the tie breaking vote. Hunter excels at it. That’s why he’s the one taking leadership training modules.

“How about this,” Crosshair says in his best imitation of Hunter’s mediation skills. “You and Wrecker stay together, and I’ll go on my own.”

Tech’s frown deepens. “I don’t think Hunter would like it if we separated.”

“Too late for that, isn’t it?” Crosshair growls. “You’re the one that said it was good for us, didn’t you?”

“Being separated for training is entirely different, and you know it,” Tech snaps back, temper flaring.

Crosshair did know it, but he tended to push sensitive buttons when he was anxious. “Whatever. We shouldn’t be wasting time. You and Wrecker go left and I’ll go right.”

Before Tech can say anything else, Crosshair turns and heads down the right hall leading away from the training room. He is halfway down the hall before he glances back to make sure Tech and Wrecker aren’t trailing after him. They aren’t, and Crosshair grins wryly at his small victory.

Now to find Hunter.

Crosshair moves quickly, but not quickly enough to draw attention from anyone that matters enough to stop him. He tries to think like Hunter would, but Hunter has always navigated with a precision lost on any of his brothers…or anyone for that matter. His enhancement always leads him in surprising, unexpected directions. Likely the reason they’ve never been caught during their games.

The realization makes Crosshair pause, looking back the way he came warily. He’s going to get himself lost, if he hasn’t already. Tech is smart enough to keep him and Wrecker on track…Crosshair…not so much.

Maybe Tech was right. They should’ve stayed together.

Pride rears its stubborn head and Crosshair continues his course, supposing that if worse comes to worse, he can let himself be caught and delivered back to his barracks. He practices excuses in his mind that might be believable to a disappointed, disapproving Kaminoan.

The farther Crosshair goes, the thinner the population of the city becomes, and he soon finds himself in long, echoing halls alone. Fear coils in his chest, around his lungs, making his breathing stutter. However, he won’t acknowledge the traitorous emotion that tries to cloud his mind.

Focus on finding Hunter, he reminds himself sternly.

“Hey!” a sharp voice calls behind him.

Crosshair turns around. At the end of the hall behind him, three older cadets loom.

“You’re one of those defective clones,” one of them says. “You’re the brother of that magnetic freak.”

It doesn’t take Tech’s genius to realize they mean electromagnetic. Leave it to the idiot, bully regs not to know the difference.

“Where is he?” Crosshair demands, planting his feet and drawing himself to his full height.

The three boys approach, their identical faces twisted by sneering, hateful smiles.

“We could ask you the same thing, little defect. What’s your power, huh? Is it in your head like the freak’s?” The cadet that had spoken stabs a finger against Crosshair’s forehead.

Scalding anger boils under Crosshair’s skin. “You better not have touched him!”

“Or what? What’s a little, ugly thing like you gonna do about it?”

Crosshair smiles, a snarling grin that bares his teeth. He thinks he’s been patient long enough.

And he thinks he can give one versus three a try.

Someone is holding his hand.

It isn’t Tech, because Tech doesn’t do that sort of mushy stuff. And it can’t be Wrecker, his hands are much bigger. So it must be Hunter.

He’d been looking for Hunter.

“Hunter?” Crosshair asks.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay.” It isn’t exactly Hunter’s voice, but it is Hunter’s gentleness.

“I want to go back to our barracks,” Crosshair tells him.

“I know. You will,” Not-quite-Hunter’s voice soothes. “You got hurt. You have a concussion.”

“How?” Crosshair asks. His eyes are open, but the world swimming in his vision is warped and blurry.

“You got into a fight with some cadets. You hit your head really hard…”

Crosshair barely comprehends the words, hardly remembers that the syllables have meaning. He is distracted by the way the focus of his eyes won’t regulate. His breathing quickens as panic settles in. His vision is everything. Without it, he won’t be the best sniper, he won’t be able to protect his brothers…he might not be able to survive.

“Nala Se! Something’s wrong!” Not-quite-Hunter’s voice calls out.

Scared. Hunter sounds scared.

If Hunter’s scared…

…and Nala Se…nothing good ever happened when Nala Se was involved.

Crosshair tries to sit up, tries to pull away from Hunter’s hold on his hand. He wants to go back to the barracks. Please…just let me go back!

“He is experiencing a panic attack.” Nala Se’s voice is crisp and clear.

And awful.

“Crosshair, you’re going to be alright,” Hunter whispers, desperately. Crosshair can feel the warmth of Hunter’s breath against his ear as his brother leans in close. “Please, you have to trust me. Nala Se is going to help you.”

Crosshair trusts Hunter. Crosshair doesn’t trust Nala Se.

“Why can’t I see?” Crosshair pleads, voice thick in his throat.

“You must calm yourself, CT-9904, or you will be sedated,” Nala Se says. “Omega, get the hypo.”

Crosshair doesn’t know who Omega is, but Hunter lets go of his hand. “Hunter? Where are you going?”

“The unit is experiencing impaired vision, confusion, and disorientation. Prepare the necessary scans, AZI,” Nala Se says.

“Here, Nala Se,” Hunter says, and Crosshair tries turning his head toward his brother’s voice. There is only a blur of movement where he thinks Hunter might be.

“Please, Hunter,” Crosshair entreats, although he doesn’t even know what he is begging for. He wants this all to be a terrible nightmare he wakes up from. The kind where he climbs into one of his brother’s bunks for comfort, falling back asleep to their rhythmic breathing.

Hands cup his face. Soft, gentle hands. They are small, but they don’t feel like Hunter’s at all. They are missing the callouses that Hunter has been cultivating during training. “I’m here, Crosshair,” Hunter says softly. “You’ll be back with your brothers soon.”

The sting of a hypo-needle pricks his neck, and the tug of sedation pulls at the edges of his consciousness. “Our brothers,” Crosshair corrects him, voice flagging.

He hears a sharp intake of breath. “That’s right,” Hunter whispers, but Crosshair has to strain to hear the words. “Our brothers.”

And then, unconsciousness claims him.

Up Next...

Prompt: Forced to Stay Awake

Let me know if you'd like to be added to my tag list!

Tag List: @arctrooper69 @groguandthebadbatch @ezras-left-thumb @maeashryver @baddest-batchers @laughhardrunfastbekindsblog @omegafett99 @heidnspeak @fionas-frenzy @dreamsight73 @royallykt @blackseafoam @skellymom

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mariacallous · 6 months ago

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In the quaintly upsetting era of George W Bush’s presidency, there was something people liked to pompously call the “cultural opposition”. This was made up of figures in popular culture pushing back against Bush, and 20 years later it may be imagined their spiritual heirs are limbering up for equivalent duties. The first formal opportunity falls next week with Donald Trump’s inauguration and, just as leaders in the tech and business worlds have failed spectacularly to rally against him, so a sense prevails that among certain artists and influencers there has been a gentle softening of spines too.

This is a general observation and also one located in the figure of Carrie Underwood, the country star scheduled to sing the national anthem in Trump’s honour on Monday. Underwood, a 41-year-old who came to prominence via the fourth season of American Idol, may seem a slim figure on whom to hang observations about the waning of cultural opposition towards Trump. There persists a feeling, however, that in 2016, no singer-songwriter of Underwood’s prominence would have offered her services to the Trump administration. Back then, when Trump’s election struck many in the US and around the world with the force of an out-of-body experience, the best the inauguration committee could come up with was another talent-show graduate and holder of the unfortunate mantle “former child star”, Jackie Evancho.

By contrast, Underwood is a multi-platinum artist who has won eight Grammys. She is not Lady Gaga, who appeared at Joe Biden’s inauguration. Nor is she Beyoncé (Barack Obama), Aretha Franklin (also Obama) or even Jennifer Lopez (Biden). But she is a big name with a huge following, and her willingness to appear for Trump follows a general pattern of appeasement publicly justified as “why can’t we all get along?” national unity. Life is a journey, after all, and glancing down the inaugural set list, we can see how far some of next week’s artists-for-Trump have come. Victor Willis, for example, the only original member still in the disco group the Village People, has enjoyed a growth mindset that has taken him from sending cease-and-desist letters to Trump in 2020 demanding he stop using his 1978 hit Macho Man at his rallies, to making himself available for the inauguration weekend and assuring everyone he is not a “Trump hater”.

To be fair to the American cultural elite, the rest of the lineup for Trump’s inaugural festivities is pretty low grade, involving, as inevitably as a cockroach rising after a nuclear event, Kid Rock, as well as Billy Ray Cyrus and classical singer Christopher Macchio (no idea either). Plus the now reformed Village People, still led by Willis, who recently claimed, thrillingly, that YMCA wasn’t ever supposed to be a gay anthem and whose wife threatened to sue anyone who said otherwise. All the inauguration needs at this point is Marilyn Manson dithering about on stage like a Camden Market goth from the 1990s, and it will have found its perfect level.

Underpinning these cultural wobbles, of course, is the momentous backsliding towards Trump of US money. Meta, Apple, Amazon and Google have collectively contributed millions to the inauguration fund, as have BP, Boeing, Delta, Uber and, with a nice touch of irony, the trading-platform-for-little-people, Robinhood. This is opportunism of a kind that singers and artists at least have the decency to hide in other parts of the world, rather than shove under American noses. (I’m thinking vaguely of Beyoncé, and Kylie, while we’re at it – both of whom played for millions of dollars at private events in Dubai, where their gay fans enjoy the risk of imprisonment.)

Anyway, as usual, next week the job of being more morally rigorous than everyone else falls to Michelle Obama, who in defiance of protocol will not be attending the inauguration (she skipped Jimmy Carter’s funeral, too, a decision it is imagined was rooted in Trump-avoidance). She is an outlier. In 2009, President Obama capped individual contributions to his inauguration fund at $50,000, but of course Trump hasn’t done that, and so great and unseemly has been the rush to donate that there’s likely to be a surplus, which it is said will go towards the Donald J Trump presidential library. And if you are smirking at the oxymoron of the words “Trump library”, then you simply don’t believe in national unity and are precisely why the man was elected in the first place.

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