#ASP security

[infoanalysishub]

What is .ASP (Active Server Pages)?

Learn everything about .ASP (Active Server Pages) in this complete guide. Discover its history, features, structure, how it works, syntax, objects, file handling, database connections, and real-world uses. Ideal for beginners and developers working with legacy systems. Understanding .ASP (Active Server Pages): A Complete Guide 1. Introduction to .ASP ASP, short for Active Server Pages, is a…

[homicidols]

10 Most Disturbing Idol MVs in History

Team Homicidols has compiled a list of the 10 Most Disturbing Idol MVs in History.

Last week, we published a piece recommending dark idol units for new alt-idol fans discovering the genre through Phantom Siita. The response to the post reminded me that not everyone has spent the last decade+ obsessing over and chronicling the alternative, independent, and underground idol scene. Especially the number of people who were hearing about JyuJyu and “Noroi Hajime” for the first time…

[valiant-portabella-pirkko]

Red Alert; an AU Guild Wars 2 Story

The Tideturners have lived in secrecy for decades, their operations hidden deep within the heart of the Mists. Rarely have they ever dared to reach out to the myriad of worlds that exist beyond their headquarters-- but things are changing. Time ticks away. The horizon draws closer. They cannot afford to hide away forever.

When the Commander was contacted by their head of security and offered a tentative alliance, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Why him? Why now? Who even are these masked strangers that all seem to know him so much better than he knows any of them? It was unsettling even back then, but now he knows exactly why.

Tick tock. Tick tock. It was a daring move, breaking into the Sidewinder's office to search for the answers, but the truth of this place is finally in his hands. If only it didn't leave him with so many more questions than answers. How can he possibly trust them now?

He has no idea how much his old adversaries feel the same.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

      The Sidewinder had always claimed that ASP’s security features shone crimson as a warning. Few had reason to doubt her claims; it made sense after all, didn’t it? Red was the color of blood. Danger. Risk. Injury. Who wouldn’t take it seriously? That was certainly how the Inquest used it, and the message never went questioned for long. To most, it was as logical an explanation as any– and there was no reason to ask any further after that.

     What else, after all, could the color red possibly mean?

     The Commander had almost forgotten, after all these years.

     Alarms blared, shrieking into the Turnabout’s main office from every direction. Every circuit flared with sharp, biting crimson, flickering along the wires and making the electric lighting overhead sputter and spark as if on the verge of a short. Power surged all around them– all from a source that he now knew all too well. How had he been such a fool?

      “Mai.” A single word left the asura’s lips. That was all he needed to say.

      The masked figure before him bowed her head. Acknowledgement, yet defiance remained as her shoulders rolled, the dangling chain links of her mechanical pauldrons rattling. He didn’t need to know what expression lay behind that disguise; he could already guess. Or, at least, he was pretty sure he could.

       “You know,” hummed a familiar electronic voice from a nearby speaker, “This really is no way to repay our generosity. Breaking into our humble workplace, after we so graciously invited you into our home? Tsk tsk. You really are a shameless little rat. Pity we didn’t set up any mousetraps for you.” Even laced with a heavy layer of static, he knew that voice well.

       “Don’t play coy with me. I know who you are, too.” The Commander’s voice was quivering. “The red energy signature, the morbid jokes, that pretentious attitude… Mai’s identity was just the last piece of the puzzle.” His eyes narrowed, jaw set as he glared into the closest camera. “You really had me going for a bit there, too. I almost believed you might be the real deal.” A twisted laugh echoed through the room, tinny as it reverberated from every intercom at once.

      He knew that laugh, too. He’d certainly heard it enough times.

      Red meant danger. Red meant fire and molten metal.

     But most of all, it also meant Scarlet Briar.

     “Come now, I would have thought the truth would be even more impressive! It’s not every day you meet a literal ghost in the machine, darling.” The Commander rolled his eyes, unimpressed.

     “Oh please. Every Inquest flunkie knows how to merge a living being with a golem, it’s not that impressive. I’ve encountered at least a dozen different biomechanical prototypes over the course of my career.” An annoyed ‘tch’ could be heard crackling through the speakers.

     “And how many of them were able to utilize that procedure to anchor a Fractalized echo, hm?” He had to admit, hearing her actually sound a bit irritated was a nice change of pace. “Or, say, give that spirit total control over a supercomputer hub and by extension, the entire facility it operates? None, I imagine. But you silly little asura do so love to think you’re the smartest ones in the room…”

     “Hm,” he remarked, unable to resist poking the bear one last time, “I think you just described yourself, actually.” A sharp pneumatic hiss rattled maintenance pipes in the ceiling, and he couldn’t quite tell if the technomancer’s invocation was hissing at him on purpose or had literally blown a gasket. He suspected it to be a bit of both.

      But the altercation was swiftly cut off as one boot thumped the floor impatiently. The Sidewinder didn’t look impressed; her tense body posture spoke louder than any words. The gleaming golden claws of one gauntlet were gripping a pistol at her hip, though she hadn’t yet drawn it. He studied her for a long moment, waiting. She made no move to approach.

     “Whatever you may think of me,” she growled finally through rattling hardware, “This doesn’t have to end in a fight. Surrender quietly and we can put this behind us.” The Commander fell silent.

     There was something in her voice that he hadn’t caught before. It was easy to miss behind the layers of electronic filtering, but… The more he focused on it, the more certain he was. He wasn’t sure how to feel about the revelation, something twisting unpleasantly in his gut. Suddenly he wondered if that mask was worn to disguise more than just her identity.

     … She was scared of him. The Sidewinder wasn’t shaking from anger, but fear.

     And in spite of all the poking and prodding, ASP still hadn’t made a single attempt to harm him. Neither of the two had, waiting for him to make the first move. They didn’t want to fight.

     The Commander wasn’t the type to back down from a scrap, no matter how impossible the odds. He’d taken on entire armies practically alone, slain massive heaps of raging dragon corruption, dismantled legions of mechanical horrors. He wasn’t afraid to use force if he had to– but that was just it, wasn’t it? He could feel his own hands shaking. This doesn’t have to end in a fight. The Mai he’d known rarely showed that kind of restraint. She only ever gave up when pushed into a corner, beaten down and hopeless.

     This woman was so broken she’d given up before the battle even began.

     There was no honor to be found in defeating someone like that. The mere thought of it just made him feel like a mean-spirited bully.

     A long, heavy sigh escaped the asura’s lips and, with no small amount of reluctance… He allowed his weapons to clatter to the floor. The Commander hoped he wasn’t going to regret that. For a long moment all was silent aside from the continuous blare of that alarm.

     “... Er..” To his amusement, the Sidewinder actually sounded a bit incredulous. “You’re.. Actually surrendering?” She straightened slowly, as if unsure what exactly she should be doing under these circumstances; this clearly wasn’t an outcome she’d actually expected. Even ASP seemed to be at a loss for words, her various jade tech artillery modules around the room slowly lowering in apparent confusion. Clearly the ‘AI’ wasn’t as much of a loose cannon as she liked to pretend.

     It wasn’t something he was used to doing either, but… This time, it felt like the right choice. The Commander nodded. “I am.” His former adversary only seemed to be even more perplexed, shifting her weight back and forth awkwardly before glancing pointedly at his dropped weapons.

     “... If I were to pass on what happened here, you'd be imprisoned at best, but most likely banished from the premises.” He could hear the inner conflict in the Sidewinder's tone. She paused for a long moment, head slightly lowered; only after seeing her nod a few times did he realize she was conducting a silent conversation with ASP. After a long, uncomfortable silence, she lifted one gauntlet and snapped her fingers.

     ASP’s alarms went silent as all the room's defenses retreated back into their hidden panels. All that remained of ASP's presence now were a few illuminated screens and the Sidewinder herself, her mask's red eyes watching the Commander in silent contemplation. He didn't interrupt, waiting patiently for her final verdict– only for the staring contest to finally break as she made a gruff ‘ahem’ into one gauntlet.

     “... Just put those away,” she ordered finally. “Gods know what sort of magical radiation you're packing. I'd rather not risk frying my hardware by handling them, but if anyone catches you armed then you're on your own.” He knows what she really means and won't say; if she confiscated his weapons they’d have to be logged. She's keeping him off the books. He gave her a nod of understanding and finally crouched to retrieve them, returning the weapons to his bag.

     “It really isn't an act, is it?” he inquired finally. “When I broke in here I assumed you were trying to pull a fast one on me, but…” Glancing to the cameras, he frowned. “You two really aren't planning anything are you?” The Sidewinder snorted quietly.

     “Oh you silly thing,” chuckled ASP with no small amount of amusement, “You really thought that, what, we lured you here as part of some nefarious trap? Come now, we both know I'm a more effective schemer than that.”

     “What she means to say,” clarified the Sidewinder with an exasperated shake of her head, “is that if we wanted to hurt you, leading you right into our base would be one hell of a stupid way to start.” One hand raised, resting on the side of her mask. Hesitation. “But… I get it. You don't trust us, and we don't trust you. Sooner or later something was going to have to give, and I know hiding so much didn't do us any favors. It’s time we talked… Face to face.”

     Click. The mask popped loose, electronics flickering out as it slid forward from the mechanical latches shifting underneath. When she drew it away, the sharp gaze that met the Commander's eyes told him everything.

      The woman staring back at him with weary eyes certainly was Mai Trin… But not as he'd ever seen her.

      She looked so tired and worn. Scars marked her jaw and vanished down into the collar of her coat, tracing old chemical burns that must have been excruciatingly painful. The wear of many years was written all over her features; he couldn't tell whether she was really that much older than the Mai he'd known, or if those creases had been carved by stress and pressure alone. This was the face of someone who'd been through the depths of hell and brought it back with her. There was no escape from the nightmares that lived on in her eyes.

     When he'd seen Mai drunken and rambling, abandoned by her crew with nothing left of her legacy except the barely coherent spirit of her former boss, he thought that was as damaged as the woman could possibly get. Maybe the Sidewinder was more stable, but he couldn't begin to imagine what could leave her with such a deeply haunted look. The Commander knew that look, though. He knew it very, very well.

      It was the same he saw whenever he looked in the mirror, thinking about all the things he could've done differently and all the lives he couldn't save.

      The Commander's gaze softened. Mai had wanted so desperately to be more than the horrors of her past. But in the end, no matter how far she ran, the darkness of her history always had a way of catching her up and dragging her down with it. He doubted this was what she'd had in mind, but it proved one thing he'd only ever been able to guess at before.

      … All she'd ever really needed was a chance to be someone better.

      “I shouldn't have ransacked your files,” he admitted, scratching behind one ear. “That was pretty reckless, even with my suspicions. I thought I knew what I was getting into, but… I apologize for misjudging you.” The Commander thought for a moment, brows furrowing. “Your version of Scarlet isn't exactly the industry standard either, is she?”

      “Well you certainly did find the rudest possible way to phrase that, now didn't you?” the invocation huffed. “But no, I suppose I'm not what you would consider a ‘standard’ echo of Scarlet Briar, as far as the Mists are concerned. Though I like to think that's a good thing.”

      “She died early,” the Sidewinder elaborated quietly. “Before the war even began. Her Alliance had barely even come together. Because of that she's a lot less… Corrupted. Turns out not having a dragon in her head does wonders for her sanity.”

     “See? As I said, it's a good thing.” Despite the revenant's somber tone, he could've sworn ASP sounded more chipper than ever. “I for one quite like being stable and well-adjusted. Isn't it nice when we aren't trying to kill each other?” In spite of himself, the Commander couldn't help a slight wry smile. He was starting to grasp her sense of humor a little bit more. For all her jokes, she was all bark and no bite.

      The last thing ASP wanted was to go back to square one.

      “Well, it's an improvement.” He maintained that smile. “At least now when you get an itchy trigger finger, you don't actually follow through on it.”

      “Exactly!” she cackled, apparently ecstatic that he was playing along. “See Mai, he gets it! These days I just traumatize nuisances with words instead of violence. It’s MUCH more efficient and I don't get confined to a toaster for maiming some incompetent clerk that doesn't know what an arcanomatrix cryotemperate modulator is.” The Sidewinder rubbed one hand over her face with the most drawn out exasperated sigh he'd ever heard. And that was quite a feat considering how many ridiculous questions had been asked of his poor college professors in class…

     “Please don't encourage her,” she groaned. “You're going to give me a hangover and I haven't even started drinking yet.” The Commander raised an eyebrow at her thoughtfully.

     “... ‘Yet?’ So I take it you haven’t kicked that habit?”

     “Try getting through a day with that menace rattling around in your skull and you'll understand.” ASP gasped in feign offense, but the theatrics were sign enough that she wasn't actually upset. He was starting to figure that out pretty quickly.

     … The two of them really were just joking around with him now weren't they? It was a surprisingly comforting revelation– not only that they trusted him enough to include him in their banter… But that he also felt good enough about it to join in naturally, too. Maybe, just maybe, this was going to work out okay in the end. Their casual snark actually reminded him of some of his friends from Dragon's Watch.

     “Fair enough,” he agreed, that smile still in place– even as ASP let out another offended gasp in turn. It was remarkable how quickly the tension had melted away now that they were actually being transparent with each other. Maybe that was all they’d really needed.

     A leap of faith, no matter what consequences it may entail.

     “Well, while you two were ganging up on me like the little traitors you are,” ASP bit back, “I’ve gone ahead and finished logging this security breach as a hardware malfunction in the official records. You’re welcome, you ungrateful drones.” He caught a faint ‘snrk’ from the Sidewinder.

     “Yes, thank you ASP.” With that, she made a swiping gesture in front of her with one gauntlet to summon a levitating holotablet, and then swiped and tapped a few more times before dismissing the display with a flick. “There, went ahead and cleared out my schedule for the day. I have a feeling this chat might take some time, Commander.” With that, she retrieved a stool from the edge of the room and placed it next to her desk, flopping into her own seat with a surprisingly casual air. He almost expected her to put her boots on the table, but apparently that level of disdain was strictly reserved for business meetings and politics.

     Understanding the prompt, he took a seat on the stool with a nod of agreement. “Then we’d better get started. I think we’ve got a lot to catch up on, Mai.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

     It was a bit haunting, she thought. The look on his face as she concluded her briefing felt so strange to her. Perhaps this Commander was full of surprises. And perhaps he wasn’t. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure whether his reaction was what she expected or not.

     Such keen sympathy wasn’t something she was accustomed to seeing on that face.

     But, for all his familiarity, the person wearing that face was much different from the one she’d known. And the Sidewinder had known that– of course she did– but had she been prepared for it? Not as well as she’d thought, it seemed. Even knowing the heart that beat within him was kind and warm, she still found herself waiting to find cold, bitter ice waiting in his eyes.

     This wasn’t her Commander. And she’d keep reminding herself of that until she believed it.

     “... I’m sorry,” he spoke finally. “It does explain a lot, though. And.. Strange as it is, I can relate.” The asura’s brows creased once more, studying her briefly before glancing at the red flickers that danced along a magitech display. “It seems like everyone around this place has a knack for defying expectations.” She caught the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, if for just a moment. But then it was gone– and he fixed his focused golden eyes on her once more, contemplative. “But… There’s one more thing I’d like to ask, if I may.” The Sidewinder felt her jaw clench ever-so-slightly, but she gave him a nod nonetheless.

    “Alright, ask away.” She had a bad feeling she already knew what his question would be.

    “... You never mentioned the Grand High Sovereign’s name.” She hated when she was right.

    “Trust me,” she answered quietly. “You’re better off not knowing.”

    But she could already see the answer in his eyes. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t telling him. She didn’t have to. He already knew. There was no hiding this truth from him, no matter how deeply she wished to. The guard rails were already off, and it was far too late to put them back on.

     Commander Ruju watched her silently with those tired, tired eyes, and she couldn’t help thinking how much different the two were. His expression was weary in a way that only the living could accomplish; there was a fire still burning deep within, smoldering under a layer of long-blackened ash. He kept it guarded carefully, but if you were to set your hand over the cinders, you would still sear your fingers on its concealed flame. Resolve like that had been tempered by a lifetime of strain, endlessly fighting against the flow of fate.

      The Ruju she’d known was empty and cold, forever seeking the darkness that would one day fill in where a living heart was meant to beat. There was nothing in his eyes, not even hate. That asura had felt more like a machine than a living being even before he replaced so much of his body with rigid, unfeeling metal. Now she wasn’t sure if he had a living heart at all.

      What had made him that way? The Sidewinder didn’t know, and likely never would.

      He lowered his eyes finally, one stubby claw starting to trace circles on the desk in front of him. “That’s why you chose me, isn’t it?” She couldn’t quite identify the emotion in his voice. Regret? Frustration? Resignation? All of the above? “I’m the only option you haven’t tried.” There was no blame in it, though. She almost wished that there was.

       “Lots of Commanders have tried,” the Sidewinder admitted. “None of them survived. You–”

       “I can do it.” Her heart sank, breath hitching sharply. “I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. I might be the only one who can.” The earnest fire that broke out in his voice– the fierce resolve. She knew that expression, and she was never, ever going to let this happen again.

       “Don’t.” He seemed almost taken aback by the firmness of her tone. “The last thing we need to do is to feed another corpse into that lunatic’s meat grinder.”

       “Your chances of survival are roughly 0.000001 percent, dear,” ASP chimed in coldly. “And that’s assuming you flee at the start of battle. Victory? That’s a hard 0. I’ve run the statistics. And believe you me, a supercomputer powered by an intellect like mine simply doesn’t make errors.”

       Commander Ruju paused at that, but she could tell he was thinking. Finally there was a light tap of his nail against the table once more. His resolve was unwavering, but she saw something else this time– a flash of cunning. Maybe he was most used to having immense brute force on his side, but… That wasn’t how he got his start. Before Ruju was a soldier, he was a scientist.

      “Then, how do we even the odds?” The Sidewinder could feel her invocation smile.

      “... That’s more like it. Now you’re thinking like a strategist, Commander.”

[keykidpilipili]

I hope Instagram combusts into garbage ashes

[inestwebindia]

ASP.NET web application security is of paramount importance. Microsoft’s ASP.NET framework, renowned for its power and flexibility, lays the groundwork for dynamic and feature-rich web applications.

[floatyflowers]

Dark Platonic Mother! Cleopatra x Reincarnated Reader

Getting Reincarnated as the daughter of Cleopatra was the last thing you expected to happen to you.

The woman had you with a lover and decided to pass you off as the daughter of her first husband, Ptolemy XIII.

Let us get one thing straight, you were proud to be Cleopatra's daughter, as you saw her intelligence and chrismatic nature.

Being her first child, her overprotective attitude showed as you grew up.

She seduced Julius Caesar and Mark Antony to secure your safety.

There's no denying that you are her favourite child.

You tried to convince your mother to take different paths to avoid her demise.

But in the end, the paths still led to her demise.

However, the last female Pharaoh of Egypt decided to take you with her, refusing to leave you in the mercy of Augustus Caesar like the rest of her children.

Cleopatra’s gaze burned with a frenzied intensity as she clutched the your trembling hands, her voice trembling with emotion.

"My dearest daughter," she whispered, her tone a mix of desperation and conviction.

"Rome’s chains will not touch us. If Augustus dares to take us, we will not give him the satisfaction of parading us as spoils of war. You and I are above such humiliation, we are divine!"

Her grip tightened, her nails pressing into your skin, and she gestured toward a small, ornate chest on the table.

Within it lay the deadly asp, coiled and waiting.

Cleopatra’s eyes shone with determination as she drew the you closer, her words laced with a terrifying calmness.

"Together, we shall ascend to the gods. You belong with me, forever."

You stumbled backward, your heart pounding in terror as Cleopatra’s words sank in.

"No! I don’t want to die! Please, Mother, we can escape! There has to be another way!" You pleaded, tears streaming down your face.

The idea of experiencing death once again, a foreign, unimaginable concept for someone pulled from a different world sent you into panic.

Cleopatra, however, dismissed your protests with a soft, almost pitying smile, as though the your fear was a child’s naivety.

"Hush now," she murmured, stroking your cheek with a tenderness that only deepened the dread in her heart.

"You don’t understand yet, but you will. This is the only freedom left to us. The gods will welcome us as one."

Desperation clawed at you as Cleopatra reached for the asp, her movements slow.

You fell to your knees, clutching Cleopatra’s skirts, your voice breaking as you begged,

"Please, don’t do this! I’m not ready, I don’t want to leave, I need to be here for my siblings"

For the first time, Cleopatra hesitated, her hand trembling as she looked down at the your tear-streaked face.

For a fleeting moment, something human flickered in Cleopatra’s gaze, doubt, perhaps, or sorrow.

But it was gone as quickly as it had come, replaced by the unyielding determination of a queen who believed she was saving her beloved daughter from a fate worse than death.

"You don’t need to be afraid," Cleopatra whispered, pulling the reader into a suffocating embrace.

"We are leaving this world together. You’ll thank me when we are free."

However, when the asp bites you then Cleopatra...you miraculously and barely manage to survive.

𓅁 𓅂

When you woke, the oppressive weight of Cleopatra’s arms was gone, replaced by the cool silk of Roman linens.

The air felt heavy, and the low murmur of distant voices sent a shiver down your spine.

Slowly, you opened your eyes, your body weak but alive, and saw a figure seated beside your bed, his presence radiating authority. Augustus.

His smile was unnervingly calm, his piercing eyes watching her as if you were a prey ensnared in his trap.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Augustus said softly, his voice like honey laced with venom.

He leaned closer, his hands clasped as though he were greeting an honored guest, not a survivor of a tragedy he orchestrated.

"You’re even more exquisite than I imagined. Cleopatra spoke of you so often, a divine child, she called you, her most precious treasure."

His gaze darkened slightly, a possessive edge creeping into his tone.

"And now, you’re mine." Your heart raced as you struggled to sit up, your body shaking under the weight of exhaustion.

Augustus reached out, his fingers brushing against your cheek in a mockery of Cleopatra’s tender touch.

"You don’t need to fear me, I will protect you, as she couldn’t. No harm will come to you… so long as you remember who owns you now.”

[lullabyes22-blog]

Has Silco ever had any crushes or serious (for him, anyway) relationships in FnF?

tw: abuse, stalking, domestic violence

Lmao, to call them 'relationships' would be giving Silco far too much credit.

(If you'd like more headcanons on his behavior during hook-ups, flings and trysts: go here.)

With that in mind, if you hold his interest past the 'Tarts on a Tea-tray' stage, i.e. the floozies and flings; challenge his ideals past the 'Fleeting Fancies' stage, i.e. flash-in-a-pan romances; are loyal above and beyond his 'Assets' i.e. talented and treasured underlings...

Congratulations.

You've hit 'Main Squeeze' status: someone he'll make a point of 'treating right.' i.e. not slitting the throat of in their sleep for one offense too-many.

Sadly, this status, more often than not, tends to be bestowed post-mortem.

In FnF, he's not above passing fixations and even the rare fascination. But Silco's mind is like quicksand, so such interests never find much of a foothold before sinking inevitably beneath the black ichor of what truly occupies his focus:

Zaun.

More often than not, he'll 'purge' said distractions in the most expedient manner that's available to a man as driven, ruthless and capricious as himself. In each encounter, there will be a sense of premeditation, not unlike when one orders fastfood. Also during the encounter itself, he'll demonstrate a strange species of tedium—as if this is something he's indulging himself in purely to satisfy a prurient itch that's proving troublesome.

In the aftermath, his lovers are not worth lingering over. He'll cut contact right after use and move on with barely any consideration towards whether they're satisfied, unsatisfied, heartbroken or even still breathing after the fact.

That said, once in a blue moon, by virtue of some enigmatic alchemy or a cosmic hot-flash, he has found himself, in his own words, "At the mercy of my vices."

In other words, besotted in some capacity by whoever's unlucky enough to capture his attention.

In each case, Silco has tried to bind these persons closer to him in order to secure their affections via promises of power, or threats of blackmail. He does this for a few reasons:

1) Because power is his primary language of affection;

2) Because he relishes witnessing strong-willed partners bend under the pressure of circumstance (by his hand);

3) And most importantly, to test just how strong their convictions are against him—or rather, where their loyalties lie: in his thrall, or without?

Sadly, Silco has a track record for choosing doomed entanglements. Each one, generally, meets a bad end.

Often: fatally so.

Some notable suckers on his Roster of Rue?

- Wysteria Wollatter:

An up-and-coming chem-baroness with a keen sense of style, wit, and the misfortune of choosing to fund Silco's early Shimmer enterprise, only to let greed supersede her business savvy. She attempted to extort the Shimmer formula from Silco's lockbox, but was caught before she could pull it off.

Silco, of course, found the entire fiasco blackly hilarious; here he'd believed himself dangerously taken with this woman who'd proven both smart and sharp-tongued as an asp—only to learn she'd been stealing from him for months on end. Her interest in him was about as genuine as her brand-new bustline. Which, by the by, he'd funded as an IOU after she made several half-serious threats along the lines of "If you don't pay my debtors before the end of the months, I'll have to sell myself at the brothel."

Needless to say: the bustline did not survive Silco's reprisal. Nor did her tongue, hands, eyes.

Or any other part of her, really.

He still regrets carving her heart out. If only for the sake of leaving her torso intact: her ribcage had been a masterpiece of anatomical symmetry.

Bitch didn't deserve those tits, though.

- Kasper Schlagg:

A young bruiser Silco employed to oversee the Last Drop. He was blunt as a hammer; strong as one too. Exceptionally useful as a threat-deterrent, but astonishingly sweet outside his profession. He managed to weasel into his boss' good graces with weekly rounds of gin rummy. By the six-month mark, he'd earned himself a few, infrequent, more intimate nights of companionship.

Silco found his company restful; calming; undemanding. In turn, Kasper enjoyed the challenge that came with earning his employer's affections through acts of daredevilry and brute strength.

Then Kasper threw in his lot with Margot, began stealing from the Last Drop's safe, and sealed his coffin within a single day.

Silco had the remains delivered to Margot's doorstep.

The poor bastard resembled ground chuck.

R.I.P. Kasper.

- Esméralda Claret:

An heiress to an illustrious import-export empire that fell into steep decline following Piltover's draconian trade edicts pre-Independence. Having fallen upon hard times—her estate seized; wealth stripped; kin driven to seek their fortunes abroad—her options grew exceedingly limited.

It soon became clear she'd need to make a living for herself within Zaun's wolf-den, or perish without making much of a showing at all. So she approached Silco in a bid to negotiate terms for shipping contraband past the Hexgates.

Silco, impressed by her cool competence, accepted her offer.

On the condition he take her to dinner first.

What followed was a charming series of evenings spent wining, dining, and later whoring their way across the depths and heights of Zaun. Silco would show up looking well-bred, polite, and not a little rakish. Esméralda would play the proverbial blushing rose atop his lapel. They would frequent operas, art shows and charity balls, rubbing shoulders with Fissure aristos and Topsiders alike—all while Silco quietly schemed to swindle her into accepting a marriage proposal.

He almost had her believing it would be one of love as much as mutual benefit.

Fortunately, Esméralda had a sharper instinct for self-preservation than most. When she sensed matters were moving a trifle too-fast, she dug deeper to uncover Silco's true motives: which was to blackmail her into staying put as a source of untraceable merchandise (not to mention unlimited funds), rather than risk letting her escape with his trade secrets tucked between her teeth.

Once he'd discovered the game was up, Silco wasted no time in bringing out his trump card: several promissory notes Esméralda had penned, back when she believed him smitten, wherein she pledged future shipments of her company's goods for free, in exchange for future partnership opportunities in his Shimmer ventures.

When she refused, Silco took the choice from her hands.

Literally.

Nowadays, Esméralda spends much of her time on a modest vineyard in Shurima. She cannot play the piano anymore, so her servants sing caccias instead to fill the void left in the music room. Nor can she indulge her penchant for calligraphy, or embroidery, or even tying her shoelaces.

All ten fingers currently sit in a jewelry box upon her vanity, encased in crystal.

When asked what they signify, she smiles wanly.

"They're a reminder," is all she'll say, "to never sign your lifeblood over to a Devil."

- Moxxie:

A chanteuse with a soprano that could crack stone into smithereens. Their stage-name was a direct reflection of their fearless, fun-loving persona. Even before they'd signed on as the Blue Note's resident cabaret act, they had a reputation for singing ballads so raunchy they'd gotten run out of every bar in Piltover.

Now, here they were:

Doing their best to set a new record for rowdy renditions beneath the city proper.

Silco first heard Moxxie's rendition of 'A Guy What Takes His Time' during one of his routine dinners at the club, lounging in the VIP section with a cigar and enjoying some hard-won quiet. The quiet didn't last long. One glance was all it took to determine what manner of mischief had just entered his arena, kicking off their performance with high-heels flying, and all the gusto of a natural-born headliner.

Everything about the chanteuse was vibrant, vivacious, and wildly animated: from their shock-white hair right down to the tips of their silver-toed spats, with every sequined flourish in-between glowing like radioactive tinsel.

The Eye of Zaun couldn't look away if he tried.

After the performance, he sent up a bouquet of lilies as a token of appreciation, complete with an engraved invitation for private drinks sometime that week.

Moxxie responded by sending back a handwritten thank-you note with the suggestion he visit them again Thursday.

Their romance was astonishingly short-lived (two weeks). Yet it seemed destined to stretch well beyond the superficial. They swapped banter over shared cocktails, indulged in long smoky suppers at the Promenade, and made sure their dalliance was public, potent, and thoroughly prurient enough to stir up gossip wherever they went.

Then Moxxie had to go and open that smart mouth of theirs where Sevika's cutthroat loyalty was concerned.

Right to Silco's face.

Needless to say, Silco did not appreciate their presumptions regarding his lieutenant. Especially seeing how their affair had barely exceeded a fortnight, give-or-take.

The following morning, Sevika showed up with one of Moxxie's silver tassels pinned to the lapel of her jacket. A gift from Silco, to recognize her value as one of the few confidantes he truly trusted.

Moxxie, meanwhile, has been missing since.

- Skylar:

This sweet young man wasn't so much a 'lover,' as the unfortunate recipient of Silco's burgeoning infatuation.

But who can blame the bastard?

Skylar, a hardworking entrepreneur, possessed an elegant, ethereal air, as if he hailed from another world altogether. Passing through the Lanes like a will-o-the-wisp, he'd turn heads even when dressed-down in shirtsleeves and suspenders.

He owned a successful confectionary boutique that served sweets by the hundreds; each concoction tailored specifically towards its patron's desires and dreams.

Silco found it intriguing that Skylar derived flavors from fairytales. Jinx adored the whimsy behind it, and frequented his shop weekly. Silco, at a distance, found himself drawn to watching this unusual candy-maker labor over his craft.

He was tempted to approach Skylar, but refrained until he'd built up something of a rapport via brief, professional exchanges; slowly acclimating Skylar to his presence. From there, it took several months to transition their exchanges towards more informal grounds, mostly revolving around business endeavors, catering requests for special events, etcetera. Then, Silco began testing the waters towards more personal interactions by engaging in idle chat regarding everyday topics like politics, arts, and literature.

All throughout, he observed Skylar closely, taking stock of every subtle nuance and micro-expression.

There was always something about Skylar that hinted at depths untapped; mysteries unknown. But he remained circumspect, modestly withdrawn, even as Silco pushed the boundaries of propriety.

Finally, after nearly five months of carefully cultivating the ground beneath their feet, Silco dared make his move.

Only to realize far too late he'd committed a grave error of judgment regarding Skylar's predilections.

Not only was the young man straight as a compass, but deeply religious in his commitment to upholding traditionalist values. He looked positively horrified at Silco's proposition. Not to mention deeply ashamed of himself for having failed to recognize such intent beforehand, especially given how generous Silco had been towards him throughout their association.

In his subsequent apology, Silco managed to salvage what he could of their working relationship: maintaining cordiality in public whilst avoiding anything remotely resembling intimacy thereafter.

He still visits Skylar's shop from time to time for sweets, appreciating the exceptional craftsmanship, always mindful to pay generously, yet discreetly.

And despite knowing he has little chance at ever winning Skylar over, Silco still harbors an indefatigable fascination for this rare specimen; a shining anomaly who manages to enchant without soliciting; attract without seducing; beguile without enticing.

The allure lies in the forbidden fruit; the fleeting glimpses afforded him of something ephemeral, unattainable, utterly unknowable.

It's an attraction doomed before it could even bloom.

- Astrid: (hehehe @ink-and-dagger )

A feisty little minx who mixed a killer cocktail. She was infamous for getting top-shelf clients drunk enough to do outrageous shit. But that rarely meant sex—more often blackmail and shady backroom dealings that might net Silco a pretty profit down the road.

She and Silco were exquisitely well-matched; equals in banter, wit, and lust. Shame the entanglement went up in flames after he learnt she'd slept with Marcus.

Who knows? They could've been quite the pair.

Still.

At least she walked out of that liaison with the memory of a great night's lay... and all her appendages intact.

<3

[idrawfunkythings]

DCAtober Day 14: Knock

Words 1,700+ Summary: You hang out with some friends, and try your best to make Moon's circuits fry, apparently

Somehow, you’d managed to drag your ass out of bed after a fruitless attempt at sleeping. It was 12:00 am, the moon was out, and you were exhausted. The constant switch between night and day shifts was starting to get to you. Since the layoffs, management had assigned you way more night hours, and you didn’t want to give them an excuse to get rid of you too.

The drive to work had you so zoned out it was a miracle you hadn’t hit anyone. Your walk inside is a daze, and you only register what you’re doing when you’ve been twisting the handle to the security office for so long you realise you haven’t unlocked it.

You grumble as you dump your stuff, pulling the staff lanyard from the hook on the back of the door over your neck and checking the alarm system. Thankfully, your list of tasks was blissfully short for tonight. Clean out Chica’s room, repaint Roxy’s nails (her PAs were all out with some unspecified illness, apparently) and check up on the Staffbots in the lobby and atrium. Since the outage a few weeks ago, there’d been an increase in reports of glitches, and Fazbear wanted to minimise the bad press.

You nod to Vanessa as you leave the office, having seen her enter at the front doors. She smiles back at you, waving enthusiastically. If your memory served you right, she’d been hired about a month ago, and only worked security shifts. She seemed nice enough, but you never had the chance to exchange more than a few words with her.

“Are you on the atrium today?” you call.

“No, I’m in the tunnels tonight. Something about a glitch in the cameras? I don’t know.” She shrugs, fiddling with her badge as she tries to pin it on her shirt. “Moon’s doing the rest.”

“Have fun in the tunnels, then,” you say, and she makes a face. “I’ll be by the main stage if you need me.”

“Thanks,” she says warmly, swearing when she stabs herself. She waves you off when you offer to help, and you oblige, taking the side doors to start the night off with Chica.

When you open the doors to Rockstar Row, you know he’s already waiting. You don’t bother looking up. “Hey, Moon Man. Did you miss me?”

Moon drops down inches away from your face, hanging from the roof upside down like spiderman. The bell on the end of his hat jingles. You jump, even though you expected his arrival.

“Not at all,” he chuckles, taking delight in your momentary terror. You playfully bat at his head, crossing your arms.

“Quit it,” you say in what you hope is a stern voice, but is definitely not. His faceplate does the usual spin, smile remaining in place. “You like scaring me too much. It’s like you feed on terror.”

Moon flips in the air until he’s right side up. He brings his hands up and wiggles his fingers, making his red optics shine brighter for added effect. His voice becomes gravelly, like nails on a chalkboard. “Of course I do, my dear. I’m the boogeyma-”

“Hi!”

Moon freezes, clearly having been caught unaware despite his usual constant surveillance of his surroundings. He turns to the side slowly, looking very much like he wants to leave right now. You’d laugh if you didn’t feel bad.

Chica is standing with Roxy, the chicken waving energetically just in case you’d missed her greeting while the wolf rolls her eyes, inspecting her nails with annoyance. Clearly she wasn’t coping very well with the sudden lack of PAs.

“I thought you two would be hanging out! Roxy’s been waiting for ages and she’s getting desperate.” Chica looks to Roxy expectantly, and the latter shoves her hand in front of your face for you to inspect.

“They’re chipped from the keytar,” she huffs. “I need them repainted.”

“We got the paint and stuff all ready!” Chica chirps. “It’s in my room. I’ll clean while you do her nails.” she grabs your hand excitedly. “It’ll be like a slumber party.”

Moon is hanging awkwardly in the air, playing with the ribbons around his wrists. In some aspects, he really was like Sun. Chica gasps and looks at him.

“Oh, and you can come too, Moon! I wouldn’t want to separate you two.” She gives you a sly grin as she says this, and you shoot her a glare back. Moon is too anxious to be aware of what she’s saying, and Roxy just doesn’t care, but still.

“I…”

You give him an understanding look. “It’s okay, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do.”

Chica looks much too upset for her offer to not be steeped in an ulterior motive. “No! We haven’t hung out in ages! Come on.”

“I have patrols to do,” Moon says, clearly grateful for your out. Roxy rolls her eyes.

“If the cheese head doesn’t want to see us, let him miss out.” Moon’s eye flickers black for a moment, and his grin strains. You knew him and Roxy were on… rocky terms, after watching him dump a bucket of water from Gator Golf on her head when she went searching for her bracelets one night, and when she’d flipped the light switch after trapping him in Kids Cove (it had taken you about an hour to get Sun to calm down). “Can we just get on with fixing my nails?”

You give Moon a smile. “I gotta check on the Staffbots after. See you then?”

He nods, before shooting up into the rafters and out of sight. Chica seems very disappointed, but she drags you back to her room to get started with your tasks anyway.

You pull a stool over to the vanity and begin, doing your very best not to get the paint anywhere but where it was supposed to be. It was hard, considering Roxy liked to talk with her hands when she got mad, and Chica had brought up Monty hiding her hairbrush, but you were nothing if not patient. Also, you were terrified of her, so that helped you stay steady.

Chica continues her gossip as she cleans the room, gathering trash into garbage bags and leaving them by the door. Thankfully, the trash was inedible, so she wouldn’t be sticking her beak into it tonight. “Ooh, did you guys hear that Adam got caught cheating on his wife?” Adam was a supervisor for the Staffbot production. Roxy gasps dutifully. You scrunch your eyebrows together as you maneuver the paintbrush over to a particularly tricky spot. “Yeah. She came here to meet him last night! But his wife was visiting with the kids.”

“Oh, that’s vile,” Roxy laughs.

“I know! Anyway, that’s why they closed off the car park. There’s stuff everywhere. She went off, somehow she got to the paint buckets!”

Speaking of paint, you were finally done with the last coat on Roxy’s nails. You slide her hand under the dryer and stretch. “Adam’s a bastard anyway, it’s not like this was the first time.”

“Ooh, do tell,” Chica squawks, pausing from tying up another bag (this one filled with broken crayons and old autographs they can’t legally give out anymore) to look up in excitement.

Unfortunately for her, a knock at the door cuts you off. Then another, and another increasingly annoyed one over the fact the door is not sliding open, and then a thud.

It opens automatically, as it does when there’s security cleared movement on the other side, and the three of you are greeted with Moon’s upside down face. Ah, no wonder the door didn’t register him. It scanned the floor for any movement. “You’re late,” he says shortly.

You check your Fazwatch. He was right - it was 1:30, and your shift ended at 4. You get up apologetically. “Sorry girls, I gotta run. Duty calls.”

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks for my nails,” Roxy says boredly, inspecting her new coats. Chica sighs dramatically, leaning on her trash bag.

“You’ll have to tell us everything another time,” she says seriously. You nod. Of course you would. She eyes Moon and her eyes glint cheekily. “Have you come to take them away?”

“Come to get them to work,” Moon responds curtly. “No overtime allowed.”

You walk outside, waving to the girls. “Thanks for the help, Chicken.”

“Have fun with your prince!” Chica calls, and you move out of the way of the sensor so the door slams shut on her. You turn to Moon.

“We can start-”

He cuts you off. “You look terrible.”

Wow. “Okay, rude.”

“You haven’t slept in days.” His eyes are pixelated, meaning he’s currently scanning your condition. You do your best to act like a person who gets a healthy amount of sleep, but it’s hard, because now that he’s mentioned it, your eyes are drooping. “Tell me that my sensors are wrong, and you have slept more than five hours in the past two days.”

“You’re wrong?” you try, but he’s gripping your shoulders and marching you over to the lobby doors, still suspended in the air. “Hey, I have a job to do.”

“I’ll handle it,” he says through metaphorically gritted teeth.

“Moon-”

“You are going to take a nap.”

Okay, well, you couldn’t exactly argue with that. Mainly because if you did, he’d probably tear your arms off. And a nap really did sound nice about now.

Moon guides you to the red daycare doors, then stands in front of you sternly, hunched over so that you can’t escape his gaze. “You are going to go inside. You are going to get the blankets and pillows from the cupboard. When I return, you will be asleep.”

“No overtime,” you remind him halfheartedly.

“I will clock you out. Go.” He points to the doors.

“You’re bossy,” you try, but now you’re really pushing it because you think if you say anything more he’s actually going to kill you. “Okay, okay. I’m going to bed.”

Your phone dangles in front of your face. That son of a bitch. You reach for it, but it’s tucked away into his chest cavity before you can blink. “You will get this back when you have slept.”

There’s no use arguing. You give a mocking salute. Moon opens the doors, and you walk through, not looking back until they clang shut behind you.

You yawn instantly. He was right - you needed some sleep.

[darkeagleruins]

Admiral Mike Franken: "Apologies to Europe for the embarrassment that is VP Vance."

I couldn’t find any active government spending awards linked to you - they're all expired. But I am curious—you're a member of the American Security Project (ASP), a nonprofit with a modest ~$1 million budget that somehow boasts an impressive roster of high-profile figures.

Gary Hart, Chairman Emeritus, Former Democratic U.S. Senator; President of Hart International; Chairs State/DoD advisory boards.

Congressman Donald Beyer, U.S. Representative (VA’s 8th); House Natural Resources & Science Committees; New Democrat Coalition.

Chuck Hagel, 24th Secretary of Defense; former Republican U.S. Senator (Nebraska); Vietnam combat veteran.

David Wade, Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State John Kerry; two decades in State Dept. & Capitol Hill.

ASP doesn’t receive direct taxpayer funding, yet it has benefited from large grants from taxpayer-supported organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund.

Despite this, its actual purpose remains unclear.

According to its own About page, ASP board members are “available for on-the-record discussions and on-air appearances.”

Have you ever been paid for a speaking engagement through ASP? And how did so many high-profile individuals end up on its board?

[itsmercuriosity]

🧵NICOLA COUGHLAN AND LUKE NEWTON’S SYNASTRY CHART 🧵

Here’s a BIG preamble!

First of all I would like to state that I’m 80% sure about this synastry chart. Let me clarify: we do not know for sure their birth times, unfortunately, so I had to dive deeply (believe me) into their individual natal charts.

After a thorough analysis and having watched all the WT interviews, I came up with these charts. I’m pretty convinced that L has a 7h sun and N an 11h sun. So here’s the synastry. I cannot stress this enough: we only know their rising signs, so we are certain of the sign the planets are in but not of their houses. Aspects are confirmed, though.

I believe Luke's birth time might be around 16:20-16:45, as for Nic's I believe it to be around 10:15-10:30

Last disclaimer: this again is pure entertainment, I analyse charts of many celebrities and people around me all the time, it’s not my intention to be disrespectful. it’s just for fun! Having said that, I DO believe that they might have something in the future IF they really want to.

Lastly, I’ve been working on this for the last week so thank you in advance if you get to the end of this rambling.

Let's get it started!

ASPECTS:

- Venus conjunct Mars.

This is the first aspect you cannot help but notice. You should expect to find strong connections between these planets when there is a physical relationship. This is THE passion combination and a harmonious aspect link makes for a strong sexual connection as well as the ability to understand each other's sexual needs and drives. It also can contribute to understanding in the area of goals and is a good combination for working together toward a common goal. It is usually the Mars partner who is inclined to take the initiative (Nic).

-Venus trine the Moon.

A connection between these two emotional planets is common and desirable in romantic partnerships. The relationship feels smooth and easy; the feelings between the partners are strong and readily expressed, and there is a sense of a deep, inner connection. It is easier for them to share their inner selves.

-Venus trine Venus.

This positive aspect between contributes to harmonious living, strong mutual feelings of affection and shared tastes and pleasures. I would like to highlight that they both have a fire Venus (L in Aries and N in Sagittarius) and both in their individual charts in the 9th house (which symbolises love in foreigners).

- Their Mercurys have no aspects: This may lead to a lack of communication or understanding BUT having Mercury sextile sun - even though this usually is not an important connection in synastry- that is a positive connection, then it can overcome a lack of an aspect between the two Mercurys and give the ability to understand each other intellectually.

-Jupiter sextile the Sun. This connection allows the Sun person (Luke) to expand and helps this individual fullfil her potential. The Jupiter partner (Nic) will be experienced as a source of growth, gains, and fun. If it is a positive connection, the Sun person might think his luck has improved since the relationship began.

-Jupiter trine the Moon. This helps the couple experience the pleasure of the relationship. They have a great ability to have fun together and enjoy each other's company. There also can be feelings of deep, nonverbal mutual understanding.

-Saturn sextile Sun shows the capacity for commitment and responsibility required for long relationships, although of course compromise and accepting limitations are required. Saturn (Nic) can give the Sun (Luke) a greater sense of security and stability, while the Sun can "lighten up" Saturn. Even though the individuals will feel some of the restrictiveness of this combination, there is likely to be a sense of a deep karmic connection and acceptance that this relationship is going to last a long time.

-Venus conjunct Pluto. this is an undeniable chemistry. Especially Nic finds luke hot.

-Jupiter square Juno: it isn’t necessarily a destructive aspect for marriage. It just means they have to put more conscious effort into understanding each other’s perspectives. Open communication is a necessary ingredient.

HOUSES:

Let's talk about houses. Again this part cannot be verified because we don't know their birth times. This is just my intuition based on what we saw during the press tour.

VENUS:

L’s Venus in N’s 1st house-> He’s so smitten with her. There’s admiration. Feeling loved by him makes her feel that reconnection with herself again. He makes her comfortable with who she is.

N’s Venus in L’s 4th house: He shows her his inner self, his most vulnerable side. He thinks of a future together, he feels like being at home with her.

JUPITER:

L’s Jupiter in N’s 7h house—> She is attracted to his charisma. He makes her see love with better eyes. She wants something serious with him.

N’s Jupiter in L’s 8th house—> he is starstruck. She causes in him a combination of emotions so intense that he will not understand them at first. She will help him connect with the sides of himself that he represses or doesn’t show to others. She changes him. Great level of intimacy.

Jupiter in 8th also: money money money. this aspect gives insane amounts of luxury when with this person. also more self confidence achieved.

MARS:

L’s Mars in N’s 5th house: she feels drawn to him physically. The more he is driven, the more she gets near him.

N’s mars in L’s 9th house: she changes his life. He had a simple vision of life before her. She teaches him a lot.

MOON:

L’s moon in N’s 6th house: She sees him as a reliable person, however she thinks he is someone who finds it difficult to open up emotionally but she tries to let him know how proud she is of him. Acts of service vibes.

N’s moon in L’s 10th house: He cannot bear someone talking ill of her. For him she is superior. He is inspired by her. She gives him support and emotion in career matters.

SUN:

N’s sun in L’s 6th house: she is the peace he always wanted, she heals him.

L’s sun in N’s 12th house: For her he is very charming and has a heart of gold. He is very supportive of her.

PLANETS AND ASTEROIDS:

JUPITER (as in future spouse)

N has Jupiter in pisces. She meets her future partner during filming or when she is surrounded by art.

L has Jupiter in libra. He meets his future partner in an environment associated with arts and creativity. Also through contracts and business.

JUNO: they both have Juno asteroid in the 11th house. Their soulmate may have 11h or aquarius placements (ijbol if I think about N’s alleged 11h stellium and L’s aquarius stellium). Their soulmate might be someone that was a friend before. L’s juno is in cancer and N’s one is in capricorn, which are literally opposite and complimentary signs.

In conclusion:

IMO they are very similar and compatible. Astrology tells us that they are attracted to each other and find comfort in each other's company.

Could they be a thing in the future? Definitely, but it's up to them.

Thanks if you read this thread <3

[sensualnoiree]

daily transits & horoscopes 11/30

The Sagittarius New Moon invites us to embrace mutability, adaptability, and a sense of openness. This lunation encourages us to consider alternative approaches, remain flexible in the face of change, and recognize the strength found in adjusting to life's dynamic currents. While the Sagittarius archetype is often tied to vision, adventure, and wisdom, its mutable energy reminds us that growth often comes through re-evaluating our course. This is a time to step back from rigid methods and find inspiration in the fluidity of possibilities.

With the Moon squaring Saturn in Pisces, challenges might feel heavy, like swimming against a strong tide. However, the supportive trine to Mars in Leo grants us the drive and determination to rise to these challenges. The sextile to Pluto in Aquarius adds a layer of transformative insight, suggesting that this New Moon serves as a transitional moment, urging us to leave behind outdated patterns while acknowledging that the journey is far from over.

Rising Sign Delineations:

Aries Rising This New Moon activates your 9th house of higher learning, travel, and belief systems, asking you to explore new philosophies or revisit old ones with fresh eyes. The square to Saturn in your 12th house might highlight fears or subconscious resistance, but the trine to Mars in your 5th house inspires creativity and courage to take risks. Pluto in your 11th house suggests a transformative moment in your goals or social networks—align yourself with people who challenge and uplift you.

Taurus Rising With the New Moon in your 8th house, themes of shared resources, intimacy, and personal transformation are at the forefront. The square to Saturn in your 11th house may bring tension in group dynamics or long-term aspirations, while the trine to Mars in your 4th house empowers you to find strength in your roots or family connections. Pluto in your 10th house urges you to rethink how power and authenticity show up in your career path.

Gemini Rising This New Moon in your 7th house invites fresh starts in relationships or partnerships. While Saturn in your 10th house might create friction between personal and professional life, the trine to Mars in your 3rd house encourages honest communication to navigate these dynamics. Pluto in your 9th house opens the door to transformative learning or travel opportunities that expand your worldview.

Cancer Rising The New Moon in your 6th house of work, health, and daily routines offers an opportunity to refine your habits and approach to service. The square to Saturn in your 9th house might challenge you to align your daily efforts with your broader philosophical or spiritual goals. The trine to Mars in your 2nd house provides the motivation to pursue financial or material stability. Pluto in your 8th house suggests deeper transformations around shared resources or inner empowerment.

Leo Rising This New Moon in your 5th house brings fresh energy to creative projects, romance, or self-expression. The square to Saturn in your 8th house might highlight fears around vulnerability or shared resources, but the trine to Mars in your 1st house gives you the confidence to step into your authentic power. Pluto in your 7th house signals profound shifts in relationships, helping you align with deeper connections.

Virgo Rising With the New Moon in your 4th house, themes of home, family, and inner security are spotlighted. The square to Saturn in your 7th house may bring challenges in partnerships, but the trine to Mars in your 12th house supports healing and spiritual strength. Pluto in your 6th house encourages you to transform your routines or approach to health and service.

Libra Rising The New Moon in your 3rd house inspires new ideas, communication projects, or connections within your immediate environment. Saturn in your 6th house may bring focus to the practical steps required, while the trine to Mars in your 11th house energizes your social life and aspirations. Pluto in your 5th house supports creative or romantic transformations that align with your authentic self.

Scorpio Rising This New Moon in your 2nd house offers opportunities to redefine your relationship with finances, values, and self-worth. The square to Saturn in your 5th house might feel like a creative block, but the trine to Mars in your 10th house inspires professional ambition. Pluto in your 4th house suggests profound shifts in your foundations, urging you to release what no longer serves your growth.

Sagittarius Rising The New Moon in your 1st house marks a personal reset, inviting you to align with your evolving identity and aspirations. Saturn in your 4th house might create tension between your inner world and external goals, but Mars in your 9th house fuels your drive for adventure and expansion. Pluto in your 3rd house supports transformative conversations and new ways of thinking.

Capricorn Rising With the New Moon in your 12th house, this is a time for introspection, healing, and spiritual renewal. The square to Saturn in your 3rd house might highlight communication challenges, but Mars in your 8th house empowers you to confront deeper fears or emotional blocks. Pluto in your 2nd house supports a redefinition of your values and approach to abundance.

Aquarius Rising The New Moon in your 11th house highlights fresh starts in friendships, community involvement, or long-term goals. The square to Saturn in your 2nd house may emphasize the need to balance financial realities with your aspirations, while the trine to Mars in your 7th house energizes collaborative efforts. Pluto in your 1st house encourages deep personal transformation.

Pisces Rising This New Moon in your 10th house brings focus to your career or public life. Saturn in your 1st house might feel like a weighty responsibility, but Mars in your 6th house offers the energy to tackle your goals with discipline. Pluto in your 12th house supports releasing old patterns and embracing spiritual growth.

follow for more astro insights like this and head on over to @quenysefields or my etsy --> sensualnoiree to grab my new astrology guidebook on reading your own natal chart :)

[cyber-sec]

Microsoft Identifies 3,000 Leaked ASP.NET Keys Enabling Code Injection Attacks

Source: https://thehackernews.com/2025/02/microsoft-identifies-3000-publicly.html

More info: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/02/06/code-injection-attacks-using-publicly-disclosed-asp-net-machine-keys/

[clairehadenough]

So the “PRer” claim the blurred photo was fake because the guy lives in NY and it doesn’t fit their story that Chris was in LA beginning of the week. The airport pic is fine - Chris was in NY in transit as he flew from LA.

Yes the ASP interview was done in advance but it might not of been Chris who wasn’t able to be in DC it could of been Joe or Mark (again let’s point out it was not Chris’s LA where he was during the zoom). Now they say it was done because he couldn’t go to DC because of his flights. Now I like circle have worked in travel. The ASP awards was known a couple of months earlier. Chris would have known his filming schedule and start date. If he could attend in person they would work to fit in with him. Easy to fly to DC then travel to NY to catch Athens flight the next day.

Also as they always demand proof where’s their proof he was in LA ? Oh sorry because of his privacy and security they are not going to say but will just tell everyone where he is. I know where he was for the ASP video in his place in Carlisle.

And they claim the airport poster who is public/ private let people know it was FB and he made it public because he was told to so does that mean they were given all his details. They said it’s not easy to find these things.

I’ll tell you the truth I haven’t wasted my time going into their blogs to check what new conspiracy theories they came up with regarding those sightings. Some of the blogs I follow were talking about it and it was more than enough for me to realise how deep the delusion has become.

It’s automatic. If Alba is photographed with him/ said to be with him—> it’s fake and photoshop

If she isn’t in the photo or mentioned —> it’s automatically real

These people are the most disturbed human beings I’ve ever seen.

But looking at their notes for the past few months, not only are they way lesser than before, they are now the results of the same 8 blogs (and their secondary blogs) simultaneously liking, reblogging and commenting on each other’s posts.

No body believes them anymore which is great and which is why lots of us are not commenting on everything they post anymore because our blogs have already succeeded in what they were intended for: making people aware of the crazies and why their content is just as unhinged as them.

Now I don’t suppose all of them will completely go away, sadly because other fandoms people keep telling us that some of their own delulus have been there for almost a decade and they got even worse with time.

But seeing how they went from having lots of followers and interactions to now having to send each others anons (especially that one blog) and reblogging each other constantly, makes me very happy that the very vast majority of people are over their lies and delusions by now☺️

[houndsinspace]

Astral Security Preservatorium

Acting as a regulatory organization, the mission of the ASP is to ensure that the Autonomy Accords remain adhered to by all current and prospective signatories.  They possess a highly specialized and equipped security force, which has a robust defensive component to safeguard the Convocate Promenade - the center of the ASP’s Operational and Administrative Branches.  They’re also responsible for the ASP Expeditionary Command; a roving paramilitary branch that patrols the territories the ASP is responsible for as both security and police forces.

Both Branches and the ASP Expeditionary Command frequently work together in the execution of the ASP’s mission.  Operational Branch units and Expeditionary Command units would frequently deploy on combat cruises as Tactical Patrol Forces, while Expeditionary Command and Admin Branch units would commonly be seen on missions as Sector Infrastructure Teams.  In extremely rare instances, all three would be combined to form a Preservatorium Intercession Flotilla to respond to any emergency or crisis that might befall the ASP’s member systems.

Instead of functioning as a dictatorship or tyrannical ruling force, the ASP instead opts for a more parliamentary system.  Signatory membership requires full commitment and contribution participation in exchange for guaranteed protection, commerce, and enrichment for themselves.  Participation agreement is entirely voluntary and can be rescinded at any time of the Signatory’s choosing.  Once the ASP and the Signatory have negotiated time for dissolvement, the Signatory and the ASP cut ties, with no negative repercussions or penalty to the former Signatory other than losing their protections and privileges under the Autonomy Accords.

[inestwebindia]

Safeguarding Your ASP.NET Web Applications: A Deep Dive Into Security Considerations

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, ASP NET web application security is of paramount importance. Microsoft’s ASP NET framework, renowned for its power and flexibility, lays the groundwork for dynamic and feature-rich web applications. However, this power comes with the responsibility of addressing potential security vulnerabilities. This article delves into crucial security considerations developers must prioritize in ASP NET web application development.

Authentication and Authorization: Authentication and authorization form the bedrock of web application security. ASP NET supports various mechanisms, including forms-based authentication and identity providers like OAuth. Developers must judiciously choose and implement the appropriate authentication method based on the application’s requirements. Proper authorization controls ensure that only authenticated users with the appropriate permissions can access specific resources.

InformationValidation: Attackers often target user inputs to exploit vulnerabilities. ASP NET developers must validate and sanitize all user inputs to prevent injection attacks, such as SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). Techniques like parameterized queries and encoding user inputs before rendering them on the client side significantly mitigate these risks.

Secure Data Transmission: Secure communication is imperative to protect sensitive data during transit. Utilizing HTTPS (SSL/TLS) encrypts data exchanged between the client and the server, preventing eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Developers should enforce HTTPS for the entire application and configure secure communication protocols to enhance data integrity and confidentiality.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection: CSRF attacks exploit a web application’s trust in a user’s browser. ASP NET provides built-in mechanisms, such as anti-forgery tokens, to protect against CSRF attacks. Developers should incorporate these measures to validate the origin of requests and ensure that actions initiated within the application are legitimate.

Session Security: Sessions are crucial for maintaining user state, but insecure session management can expose sensitive information. Secure session handling practices, including unique session identifiers, session timeout mechanisms, and a secure repository of session data, are essential. Regularly rotating session identifiers add an extra layer of protection against session hijacking.

Error Handling and Logging: Effective error handling is vital for security and user experience. Carefully crafted error messages aid developers in identifying and resolving issues, while generic error messages presented to users prevent the disclosure of sensitive information. Proper logging mechanisms are equally important for tracking and analyzing security incidents for ASP NET web applications.

Secure File Uploads: File uploads can be a potential avenue for malicious activities. Developers must implement strict controls, including validating file types, restricting file sizes, and storing uploads securely. Utilizing content-disposition headers prevents browsers from rendering uploaded files as executable scripts.

Code Access Security: ASP NET incorporates Code Access Security (CAS) to control permissions granted to web applications. Developers should leverage CAS to restrict actions, ensuring applications operate within defined security boundaries. This granular control helps mitigate the impact of potential security breaches by limiting the scope of compromised components.

Regular Security Audits and Updates: The security landscape evolves, and regular security audits are crucial for identifying and addressing potential weaknesses. Staying informed about Microsoft’s security updates and promptly applying patches protects the application from known vulnerabilities.

In ASP NET web application development, security considerations are non-negotiable. Adhering to best practices in authentication, input validation, secure data transmission, and other key areas fortifies applications against potential threats. Establishing a robust security posture is not just a development best practice but a fundamental aspect of safeguarding user data and maintaining trust in an interconnected digital world. As technology evolves, so must our commitment to creating web applications prioritizing security without compromising functionality and user experience. Selecting an ASP.NET development company in India ensures a potent blend of technical expertise, cost-effectiveness, and skilled developers, making it a compelling choice for secure and innovative web solutions.

[onedingo]

a small part about an analysis of Bowers' posts on Gab that i found on the internet

- i will post the great ones (some analyses kinda lean to one side, and i want to keep my post neutral, maybe because my beliefs lol)

- my observations will be in green, and what i got from my search will be in white (or black if u use light mode)

Among the accounts Bowers engaged with most, several usernames stand out. The list includes Bradley Dean Griffin, Patrick Little, Jared Wyand and a user named “Jack Corbin.”

Bowers shared content produced by virulently antisemitic personality and alt-right influencer Jared Wyand 15 times between February and May, including one direct interaction. A sampling of the content shows themes that would also appear in Bowers’ later Gab activity:

"Why is there a “DACA Debate” topic? Why are people allowing a debate over whether millions of people who invaded our county will be allowed to cancel out our votes u give democrats indefinite one party rule? People who’ve been stealing $115 billion from us a year. This is not a debate. This is a red line and act of war if you have any dignity in your body."

In one chilling post, Wyand argues that

“we’re being invaded”

“our people are being completely destroyed.”

“by any means necessary” to stop it.

"Can we all agree that we’re being invaded? An actual orchestrated overthrow of our countries that is on track to succeed? And that our people and culture will be (are being) completely destroyed? And that it’s on us to stop this by any means necessary? And the people telling us we can’t are the people orchestrating overthrow? Are we all in agreement?"

here, we can see the way Bowers took the things to his action. When he saw a post that spread this kind of thought and the "any means necessary" he could be sure that one of those "means" would be killing

when Wyand said about being "invaded" i just remembered about this specific post of Bowers:

In March, Bowers and Wyand had a short back-and-forth about using secure messaging systems.

The user Bowers engaged with the most was someone who went by “Jack Corbin.” Corbin appears to collaborate with Griffin on Griffin’s pet project doxing activists affiliated with anti-fascist groups.

Bowers shared multiple posts from Corbin in early July following a riot in Portland, Oregon, that involved far-right groups, including the SPLC-designated hate group the Proud Boys, clashing with “antifa” and other counter-protesters. Throughout 2018, the Proud Boys have been at the epicenter of far-right political violence in the streets.

Here are several posts from Corbin that Bowers shared:

"The SHARP who got KO’d by Rufio Panman in Portland had a seizure after getting KO’d. I hear there’s a 75% chance he might die. One less Antifa terrorist and one less loose end if that happens!"

"I’m asking people to take a page from Rufio’s handbook wear Kevlar forearm bracers at rallies to block ASP Baton attacks from Antifa like [names of alleged activists] of Philly ARA. Goggles Helmets too!"

"i’m gonna waste my sunday binge watching beat-downs. antifa vs. wall (Corbin linked to a video of a Proud Boy ramming an antifascist protestor into a wall)."

oh, btw, Robert barely said things about groups other than jews. He mostly talked about jews and immigrants (muslims in this sense) but there's a speech about gay people that he reposted from Corbin that give us his thoughts about it too:

“Whites have a right to exist, f*ggots do not. F*ggots are not human beings, they are AIDS carrying flesh muppets”

Between May and July, Bowers shared 10 posts from antisemite Patrick Little

A sample Little repost from Bowers includes:

“I am organizing protests calling for the demolition of all holohoax memorials. Never again will we let jewish lies be used as a weapon against our children. #NeverAgain”

and the best part, Bowers said stuff about Trump too. Apparently Bowers saw Trump as controlled by jews, and he had a post by himself about it:

other reposts made by Robert