#Analyst Comment/Recommendation

[stuckysbike]

Moonlight Kisses

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Warnings: Angst, unrequited?feelings. Fluff.

Summary: You’ve fallen in love, but he wants someone else, and it’s you he’s asking for advice!

It was a cold December Friday night when you realised you were in love with Bucky Barnes.

Natasha had ushered you out of your solitude and over to her private apartment on the compound. Steve was already there, along with Sam, Joaquin, Yelana, a few from the medical team and a few mechanics.

The place was decorated for winter, with playful snowmen and fuzzy christmas trees stacked in the corners. Everyone got comfortable on the big couch and music played in the background whilst you snacked on festive foods and sipped seasonal alcoholic drinks.

Bucky had been telling a story, his face lit up and his big hands flying everywhere as he described his mom chasing him with a broom during his teenage years after a stray snowball missed its target and landed on her. Occasionally his eyes met yours and they sparkled with mischief, but you figured he was like that with everyone.

You’d been crushing on him since you arrived in January and he was first to greet you. He seemed fascinated by your job, research and data analyst, but it was ultimately boring to almost everyone but you.

You lunched together sometimes and you swapped books every few weeks. You even got him into podcasts and you were always swapping recommendations.

But tonight he looked happy, relaxed even, and when Natasha dropped her dainty feet into his lap you felt the world skip underneath you, you wanted to put your feet in his lap. You wanted his big hands dwarfing your feet.

He rubbed her toes without thinking, and she snuggled down as the mechanics started describing the prank they’d played on Tony this week, going so far as to rope Pepper in. Bucky was listening intently, laughing along with them but his hands never stopped moving. It was obvious they were intimate with each other from the tiny looks and touched they shared.

You couldn’t understand why your heart suddenly ached, and then it hit you like a train. You were jealous, more than jealous, the revelation of their relationship hurt.

“Wanna stay here tonight?” You heard Natasha murmur to Bucky during a lull in conversation. Yelana was changing the music and Joaquin was setting up tequila shots.

He smiled at her but shook his head. “Nah,” his voice was thick with tiredness.

“You finally made a move on that girl?” She teased wiggling in her spot.

Bucky’s cheeks tinged pink and you dropped your eyes when you realised you were staring. You didn’t want to be caught looking like some dumb kid. You studied your hands but your head was swimming with this sudden realisation.

It was foolish to think that Bucky with his wonderful abilities and handsome looks would be interested in you who spent most of your time at work or alone. Bucky had been to hell and back, he deserved someone gorgeous who could distract him from reality

“Think I’m gonna’ take her out, yeah,” he nodded. You snuck a glance at him in time to catch him looking from you to Natasha.

Oh god, he must have noticed you staring. How embarrassing!

Tears that had no right to form in your eyes were there anyway and you stood suddenly distracting Steve who was kneeling at the coffee table next to you. Sam took the opportunity to defeat him in their thumb war game much to Steve’s annoyance.

“I’m going to head back, I’m just really tired,” you said to the room, avoiding Bucky and trying to look above Natasha’s head. “Thank you for the invitation Natasha.”

There were a few comments asking you to stay but ultimately everyone wished you a good sleep. Your own room was a fifteen minute walk away in a shared block and you pulled your arms around yourself to fight the cold as you stepped outside. You wished you brought more than a hoodie to keep you warm.

You looked up into the sky and focused on the moon and sucked a deep breath of cold air deep into your lungs. It grounded you so you did it again.

“Hey Doll,” Bucky called startling you. You hadn’t noticed him leaving behind you but he was closer than you expected.

“Bucky, hi,” you frowned.

“Thought I’d walk you back,” he said falling into step with you. “And I wanted your advice.”

“Oh?”

“So there’s this girl I like. She’s not like the others, she’s not really - she’s different. And I really want to make a date special for her, you know?” He glanced as you, letting his arm bump yours as you walked.

“I do,” you sighed resigning yourself to your fate. You didn’t want to have this conversation but you didn’t want to not help him either. He was your friend after all and despite your feelings you would be there for him no matter what.

“So I’ve had a few first date ideas, but I’m thinking farmers market then making brunch together? I started this really great podcast and I was thinking we could listen together as we cook then talk about it while we eat? Then after we could go to a museum or something?” Bucky licked his lips and stopped turning to look at you.

You didn’t want him to share a podcast with her. That was your thing with him. You knew you were being unfair, childish even but right now you didn’t care. His deep blue eyes searched your face. He looked so vulnerable in that moment.

“That sounds lovely,” you said. And it did, you wished you were that girl, you wished Bucky wanted to go to all that trouble for you but instead you’d have to sit home alone tomorrow whilst he woo’d someone else. You hoped it would be a long time before you were forced to meet her.

“Yeah?” He asked excitedly. “I really just wanna’ hold her hand, at the market, in the museum, I just crave that feeling you know, like this,” Bucky reached for your hand and laced your fingers together, holding your joined hands up to inspect. “It’s been a long time since I held a girls hand like this.”

“I-I’m sure it has Buck,” you swallowed. His hand dwarfed yours and his heat easily crept onto your skin. His thumb caressed your knuckles and your breath hitched but Bucky didn’t seem to notice.

He resumed walking and you could do nothing but join him, he still had your hand in his. He described his outfit for his date and wondered if you had a cosy chunky sweater.

“I do, it’s so comfortable,” you said softly. You couldn’t hide the disappointment as you slowed in front of the doors. “It’s my favourite colour too.”

“Will you wear it tomorrow?” Bucky tilted his head to the side.

“Why does it matter what I wear?” You couldn’t help but giggle at his odd request. You couldn’t do it though, thinking of him with someone else whilst you wore what he asked you to.

“I want to know that you’re warm tomorrow. You know, on our date?” Bucky pressed his cool left hand on your cheek as he turned to face you. His kiss was soft, just a sweet brush of the lips and then he pulled away. “I’ll see you at nine thirty?”

“Uh huh,” you nodded dumbly. He kissed you again, and you caught the faint taste of whiskey on his lips. He was warm as he pressed into you and you let your hands slide up his chest to his shoulders.

“See you tomorrow baby girl,” he pressed one last kiss to your forehead then opened the building door for you.

You walked inside in a daze, waving goodbye and drifting up the stairs like you weighed nothing.

You couldn’t remember getting changed into your pj’s, all you knew was that you were snuggled under your duvet setting an alarm for your date with Bucky in the morning.

You smiled, and suddenly your legs kicked and you let out a little squeal. You were going out with Bucky Barnes and he kissed you three times.

You feel asleep to the memory of one hot hand and one cold hand cupping your cheeks as he kissed you in the moonlight.

[mamirhodessxox]

Ultra violence (Introduction)

Dexter Morgan! x Fem!Oc (Piper Cora James)

(Nothing important from the show such as previous cases mentioned in the series won’t be used or mentioned within the FF so nobody feels like they’re missing out on anything but for those interested in the show it is called ‘Dexter’ & can be used on Netflix, be warned there are mentions of heavy topics like Murder & can even include gore-ish scenes so watch at your own risk.)

Desc: In the shadows of Miami's Bay Harbor, Dexter and Piper, two enigmatic souls, found solace in each other's darkness once but Divorced. Their connection, a dance of masks and secrets, unfolded in blood-soaked whispers, drawing themselves into a world where love is still thrived amidst the shadows of their shared secrets when the two become closer & rekindle their past and shared traditions.

Contents: Murder, Alcohol consumption, in depth detail on certain aspects of violence that is mentioned, Smut in later chapters, Knife Play, Bondage, toxic relationship, (original characters from the TV show will be mentions such as Vince Masuka, James Doakes, Debra Morgan, Angel Batista & María LaGuerta.)

🏷️ list: @alyyaanna @ginswife @coolpastelartshoe @greatkoalawizard @cokolin044 @kotoriarlert @alicerosejensen @bunnybot55 @mini-rollins @southerngirl41 @harmshake @femdisa @kabloswrld @claymoresofinfamy23 @bones-rhodes @cococodysleevlesshoodie @edtomh @ihatecodyrhodes @ihatecodyrhodes @ayeeitsali @lisatommo28

FF inspired Playlist as usual! (I would recommend to listening to the playlist while reading but too each their own <3):

{~I'm very serious with you guys interacting with my writing!!!! it would make me so happy & excited, the more comments & reposts the more inspiration i have to write :) likes and comments are strongly appreciated so please COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT COMMEENNTTT the more comments the more content <3!!!~}

———————————————————————

Piper Cora James - 27 years old (Forensic Investigator)

Christina James -41 Years old (Pipers Mother)

Pedro Ramirez -32 Years Old (Detective for Miami Metro Police)

Alexa García -29 Years Old (Bartender)

Dexter Morgan -36 Years Old (forensic blood spatter analyst)

Michael Patrovski -38 (Chief of Police)

Valeria Ortiz -45 Years Old (Lieutenant of Miami Metro Police)

———————————————————————

This series will be found in the “Dexter Morgan” Category within my Masterlist so be on the lookout or ask to be apart of the tag list so you can keep up for future posts / updates :)

PS. I have a discord server dedicated to many fanbases & FF writers so please feel free to join <3

[deleteddewewted]

Supermarket Romance p2

Modern! Titus x Gn! Reader

S: Titus goes back to the supermarket as he needs ingredients for a new recipe that his gyms security guard recommended trying. He gave himself the liberty to wear a hoodie this time as he wasn't feeling all too well. He wasn't expecting to see you again nor that you asked him a question. (Cairon makes a brief appearance here!)

W: PTSD episodes, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Reader is a broke Artist, Titus works as an Analyst for a company, Ableist comments (From Titus and to Titus)

Previous / Next

He didn't know what to think about his appearance at the moment. If anything, he was trying to not think about it. He was wearing shorts, which he usually wore for semi-formal occasions, and a hoodie, which he had for the gym. His leg was acting up again, the weather and his lack of use of his knee brace created bigger problems for him. He knew he should have worn it the last time he worked out but he felt too embarrassed to wear it out in public. He thought people would stare or pass judgment if he did so he left it in his gym bag. He didn’t think to much about it anyways. He just needed to grab a few things to make a recipe that the security guard at the gym he goes to suggested.

Cairon was a hulking figure, especially for a security guard. He was an ex veteran like himself, was younger than Titus by a few years, and he was discharged after losing his arm during an explosion. The man seem to take his injury in stride unlike Titus. He constantly encouraged Titus, was motivational to all who walked in, made sure to keep everyone in check. Cairon was a ray of sunshine that Titus couldn’t seem to damper. Not that he wanted to but it was a little much at times. Cairons eagerness to help and be there became overwhelming at times but Titus also welcomed it. The man approached him first after all, made sure to help him find the locker room and the private gyms if he ever needed a moment to himself. Titus thought the younger man might have picked up on his disability and that’s why he was being kind but no, Cairon picked up on Titus’ discomfort for overly loud and crowded spaces. Ever since their first meeting Cairon has been a constant presence in Titus’ life and the older man appreciated that. He even told Titus that he should wear his brace and that not wearing it would just make things harder on himself.

Titus was paying the price for it now. His knee more than anything was killing him and his entire leg felt like it was ready to collapse under him while he gauged the prices of the cabbage. He leaned on his other leg instead, hoping to gain some relief.

"Are they any good?" A voice asked from beside him. He turned to look at the person but didn't see anyone. He looked down instead and found you staring at the cabbages.

"Im thinking of getting one but im not sure. I don't think ¢.76 the pound is worth it for a cabbage." You rambled on. He didn't know what to think, he kind of just blinked at you hoping that his brain would help him push the words out of his mouth. What was he supposed to say? This wasn't the first time he's talked to you but this was the first actual conversation he was contemplating having with a stranger.

"Hmm, i think its cheaper at the corner store." You turn around and just leave, not even bothering for a response from him.

Titus just watches you leave, the words stuck in his throat as he turns back around and processes what happened. Your scent was something he picked up. You smelled nice, earthy even. He wanted to ask what cologne or perfume you used. Maybe it was your body wash. It was comforting and reminded him of one of his bunk buddies who was into hygiene and always looking presentable.

He didnt keep track where you going but every so often he did bump into you. You seemed to be on a tighter budget than last time, only grabbing a few items that where on clearance or expiring soon. He noticed that you had a lot of meat in your basket and ziplock bags. Maybe you were freezing them so they would last longer, he thought to himself. Now that he thought about it, his recipe did call for meat and he was yet to get any.

His hands began to sweat and his hands trembled as he thought about it. He could use this as his excuse to talk to you, to introduce himself and be pleasant. His therapist had suggested he start socializing with other people outside of his work and gym. He could do this, he told himself. He siked himself up, took a few deep breathes, and walked over to you.

You were looking at some potatoes, thinking if it was worth buying them since there was no way you would be able to preserve them. Your fridge was having issues and you were worried about the moisture in your apartment. Either way, the potatoes would mold quickly and it would be waste unless you tried eating only that for the next week and a half. The thought made you sick.

“Excuse me.” A man’s voice came from behind you. You jolted before moving to the side hoping you hadn’t taken too much space so he could grab whatever he wanted from the produce section. But he never reach forward to grab anything. Instead, he was facing you. You swallowed hard before turning to face the man. It was the kind stranger who gifted you the ice cream from last time. He looked menacing, he practically loomed over you and his clothes didn’t help disuade that feeling.

“Hey there, stranger.” You replied. You hoped that your nervousness wasn’t noticeable. You felt like you were practically sweating buckets. His gaze was intense, his eyes half lidded and looking into your soul as his face betrayed no emotion.

“Is there any good sale on the meats?” His question didn’t feel like a question, more like an observation. You didn’t know how to feel about it. The man gave ex con or ex military vibes and it was starting to make you nervous just how big he was.

“Uh…yeah, there’s some good deals. It’s half off if you get the clearance stuff. You just need to ask butcher for the cuts you want.” You felt awkward and out of place. Not an unusual feeling but it was made more intense by the man in front of you. He didn’t even react to the information you age him, he merely blinked at you before nodding his head and thanking you.

“Thank you for the information. I’ll make sure to check with the butcher.” He looked like he was going to take his leave, his body already turning to leave, but he stops himself.

“My name is Titus.” It was your turn to blink at him. Titus. The name was so… pristine. Elegant even. It sounded so modern yet old and it flowed with a nice bounce. You could practically taste the pronunciation of his name on your tongue.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Titus. I’m Y/n.” You offered your hand to him but he ignored it and walked away instead. You sighed and turned back to the potatoes.

“Titus, what a lovely name.” You thought to yourself. You with an amused smile on your face, you walked towards the cash register to check out.

Titus sped walk away from the produce area as quickly as he could. His leg was killing him and the muscles in the appendage were set ablaze. But he ignored it. His heart was pounding in his chest and the air around him felt heavy. He spoke to someone new today and they didn’t run away! A small spark of joy bloomed in his chest as he went over the interaction in his head. You smiled at him, you spoke to him, you met his gaze. You weren’t disgusted by his appearance but instead you treated him like he was any ordinary man. It was thrilling to him. And yet, he wondered if you stayed cause you truly wanted to speak to him. His joy dwindled but he did accept that it was progress. His therapist was sure to be thrilled with this new development. In the mean time, he mulled over your name. He thought it was nice and fitting for you. You looked like your name, for however silly the thought was. A lovely name for a kind looking person. He wondered if this meant you would speak to him the next time you meet. If he could approach you. Would that ok? Would it be welcomed? Doubts consumed him but he pressed on. He made his way over to the small butcher shop in the store and asked for their clearance cuts. He grabbed a few he liked or thought would be easiest to cook and made his way to the front of the store to pay. He couldn’t spot you in any of the lines but he did spot you waiting at the bus stop once again.

He bagged and grab his things and and this way back to his car. As he loaded his things he noticed you get on the bus with all of your bags and leave. He wondered what kind do life you lived. What minute inconveniences might you have in your own life? What were your motivations? He shook his head and closed his trunk.

He sat in the drivers seat and gave himself a few minutes to prepare for the drive ahead of him. He hoped that this issue would go away sooner rather than later like his therapist had told him. But he knew better than to rush himself to drive when he wasn’t feeling well. He didn’t want to have to stop on the side of the highway again because of an episode. It would make the trip twice as long and twice as painful.

[mechanicalred]

Because of this post made by @mechanical-sunchild I started thinking of some resources to check on basic information for most tech/AI/machine kins, this is not a comprehensive guide, just a starting point in research.

(Keep in mind this is are the ones that readily came to mind, some are just quick google searches and I'll probably edit this at some point)

Gold mining (a very common metal in most if not all electronics)

https://www.sciencing.com/facts-5218981-effects-gold-mining-environment/

https://earthworks.org/issues/environmental-impacts-of-gold-mining/

Lithium mining (main ingredient in most batteries)

https://www.mining-technology.com/analyst-comment/lithium-mining-negative-environmental-impact/?cf-view=&cf-closed=

Servers environmental danger (for if you are a program or use the cloud)

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-staggering-ecological-impacts-of-computation-and-the-cloud/

Lead sautering in electronics (it's still a common practice, but more so before 2003 in the US)

https://www.eptac.com/blog/leaded-vs-lead-free-solder-which-is-better

AI and LLMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPZh9BOjkQs

General places to find news (please don't just read from these, they are good starting points but not all there is)

Environmental org that specifies on mining and oil

news site that centers in mining and technology

General video essays (these are more technology/internet non-specific yet still usefull, I'd recomend at least checking the sources)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqPd6MShV1o&t=2442s

For general legislation those are more country/state/province based, I'd recommend keeping an eye on non profits or official government sites/social media or local news (sort by topics/hashtags/keywords on most news sites)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLgNN-czUpY

I know it's a lot, but if you tackle things one by one I promise it gets easier.

Lastly, for work conditions, check not just the company, but components makers. Most semiconductors and are usually made by TSMC for example, just pick something and go up the line of production (wikipedia is great for that!) and see some of the companie practices.

[mariacallous]

The biggest news this week is inarguably the Trump administration’s baffling tariffs, which have rattled the global economy, impacting everything from the US tech industry to literal penguins, leaving most of the world wondering what comes next. But if you’re looking for a mystery that doesn’t feel quite so, well, existential, look no further than Indiana University.

On March 18, the FBI raided the homes of Xiaofeng Wang, a data privacy professor and researcher who worked at the IU for more than 20 years. The same day, according to a termination email viewed by WIRED, Wang was fired from his job, and people soon noticed that he and his wife seemed to have disappeared.

A WIRED investigation found that the university was looking into whether Wang received unreported research funding from China prior to his position being terminated. IU also removed from its website Wang’s profile as well as the profile of his wife, Nianli Ma, who worked as a library systems analyst. An attorney for Wang and Ma say they are “safe,” and Wang has reportedly taken a position at a university in Singapore. As of earlier this week, the couple’s attorney was unaware of any charges against either of them.

The large language models behind generative AI tools may be black boxes, but one company’s leaky server has provided some accidental insight into how people are using these tools. The short answer? It’s not great. Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered an unsecured database with more than 95,000 records linked to South Korea-based image-generation tool GeNomis. The records contained prompts for creating images, as well as some images themselves, which included de-aged pictures of celebrities like Ariana Grande and Beyoncé made to look like children, and what appeared to be AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The GeNomis website went offline hours after WIRED reached out for comment.

And that’s not all. Each week, we round up the security and privacy news we didn’t cover in depth ourselves. Click the headlines to read the full stories, and stay safe out there.

The Trump administration has reportedly fired the director of the National Security Agency at the urging of far-right activist Laura Loomer. According to multiple reports, Loomer brought to an Oval Office meeting on Wednesday a list of about a dozen officials she claimed were insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump. Among them were General Timothy Haugh—who led both the NSA and US Cyber Command—and his civilian deputy, Wendy Noble, who has reportedly also been removed from her post.

According to CNN, Loomer specifically targeted Haugh, arguing for his removal because he had been selected by Mark Milley, the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. Milley, who publicly clashed with Trump, was quoted in a book by journalist Bob Woodward calling the former president “fascist to the core.” In a post on X, Loomer claimed that Haugh and Noble “have been disloyal to President Trump. That is why they have been fired.”

Haugh’s and Noble’s reported dismissals came just hours after several National Security Council staffers were also forced out following the Oval Office meeting that included Loomer.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Thursday, Trump confirmed the NSC dismissals and acknowledged Loomer’s role in advising him. “She makes recommendations … and sometimes I listen to those recommendations … I listen to everybody and then I make a decision,” he said.

Loomer, who has promoted conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks and espoused anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric, has become an increasingly vocal presence within Trump’s political orbit. In recent weeks, she has publicly attacked members of Trump’s own team, accusing them of undermining his agenda. “Laura Loomer is a very good patriot,” Trump said on Thursday. “She is a very strong person.”

DOGE Operative Linked to Alleged Hacking Past

On Monday, Reuters reported that an operative from Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) assigned to the US Justice Department was previously a hacker who ran websites distributing pirated ebooks and software. According to a Reuters review of domain registration data and archived pages from the Wayback Machine, one such site, fkn-pwnd.com, featured the slogan “Fucking Up Servers!” alongside a crude sketch of a penis.

Christopher Stanley, a 33-year-old engineer who has worked at both Musk's social media company X and space company SpaceX, is a senior adviser in the deputy attorney general's office, according to a former Justice Department official and a staff directory listing reviewed by Reuters. Starting about 10 years before joining SpaceX, Stanley allegedly ran several online forums that covered software piracy, video game cheats, and hacking. Reuters reports that he used various pseudonyms on those sites, including eNkrypt and Reneg4d3. The fkn-pwnd.com site, launched in 2006, would have been created when Stanley was in high school.

The Reuters report follows inquiries into another DOGE technologist, Edward Coristine, who worked briefly for a firm known for hiring reformed hackers, a WIRED investigation found.

Waltz’s Team Allegedly Had at Least 20 Signal Group Chats

Last week, The Atlantic exposed a staggering operational security failure when it reported that someone using the Signal account belong to national security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally invited the publication’s editor-in-chief to a private Signal group chat discussing a covert bombing operation in Yemen. Now, Politico reports that Waltz’s team has routinely used Signal chats—on a far broader scale than previously known—to coordinate official work on sensitive issues including Ukraine, China, Gaza, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Sources who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity say they were directly involved in or had knowledge of at least 20 such group chats. While none of the four individuals could confirm whether classified information was shared, all said the discussions regularly included sensitive national security details. In the wake of these revelations, Waltz and other US government officials have also come under scrutiny for leaving their Venmo accounts public and reportedly using personal Gmail addresses for government business.

On Thursday, the Pentagon’s acting inspector general announced a review of defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the encrypted Signal app to share plans for operations against the Houthis in Yemen.

[dramioneasks]

Hey !! I am looking for some new fics to read so, Please recommend some fics similar to: Simply Irresistible: [Ron breaks up with hermione a week b4 the wedding and mingles with draco's gf then and then draco comes to the rescue giving her a whole new makeover. I particularly liked the ron bashing, dramione bonding and sweet fluff. It also had dramione Hogwarts bonding.] Slow grenade: Over the years bonding of dramione, with secretive meet ups. Tooth rotting fluff is what I loved with a bit of action. Would be preferable if they are on wattpad. Thanks!! I am sorry if I am not clear with my request. (dramione = draco and hermione for short)

Next time send this in as two different asks please:

SI: dramioneasks (tumblr.com)

SG:

my brother’s best friend - mrsren - E, 5 chapters - Hermione’s plan to lose her virginity starts with a list of potential men to get the job done. At the top of an already very short list rests Draco Malfoy, but he’s her brother’s best friend. The pinch: Draco finds the list, and she is woefully unprepared for the fallout.

The Healer’s Guide To Transfiguration - malpal132 - E, one-shot - It happens like this: Hermione is hunched over her desk like some kind of Tolkien goblin, essentially deep-throating three Sambal fish tacos from Del Seoul in a desperate bid to finish a late lunch before her next appointment (she’d rather choke to death than be late) when a light knock on the open door makes her head snap up. “Dr. Granger?” Holy shit. Holy shit. Her previous nonchalance about choking to death vanishes when she sees who’s standing in her door and a piece of fish hunkers down for a long winter in her esophagus. “Are you–shall I perform the Heimlich?” He asks, face familiar and concerned as he moves a step closer. “I don’t think your face should be that shade of purp–” She cuts him off by vomiting into the trash can. Airway finally clear, she gulps a few greedy breaths. Her lungs expand and her face burns, and Hermione genuinely wonders if she’s hallucinating. She’s not prone to fantastical thinking even though she’s well acquainted with the fantastic, but…why else would Draco Malfoy be standing in front of her? Malfoy, on crutches. Malfoy, handing her a tissue? Malfoy, but…not. It’s complicated.

Project Ghost by youhavemyswordandmybow - M, 19 chapters - Granger is the Head Analyst working at the DMLE wondering what the hell is going on with the spike of dark magic - and why an unknown wizard vigilante is running around like Jason flipping Bourne. Malfoy, may or may not be that vigilante - but he’s certainly not telling Granger, with her exceptionally nice arse and cute freckles. As Head Auror, (Hermione’s former and Draco’s current) best friend Harry has answers - and as strained as their friendship is, Hermione is going to get them. *** Beta’d by loads of different people but mainly Peb, MagicalIndigoSunrise and Ardeleanca - with huge thanks to them! And if there are mistakes - masses of apologies. If you like it, gimme some kudos or pls write a comment :) Thanks for reading!

Other Halves by westxnorthwest - E, 37 chapters, Words: 155,362 - Hermione is returning to Hogwarts, this time as a professor of Muggle Studies. It had been four years since the Battle of Hogwarts and she was more than ready to reclaim her life as her own, rather than living under the pressures of being part of the Golden Trio. Her personal life might be somewhat in shambles, but she’s willing to forge her own future and put herself first, for the first time in her life. Little does she know, Draco Malfoy is beginning his tenure as a professor this year too. Her complicated feelings as they pertain to the Malfoy heir resurface as she tries to navigate them, her failing relationship with Ron, and the infancy of her career. *** COMPLETED WORK | Author’s Note: This is, first and foremost, a love story. Mind the tags, but this is not a dark tale, just a few…less sunny moments. You’ll have some fluff, some angst, some (hopefully) really good smut, and, of course, some plot to carry us along. Tags have been updated to reference important themes, even if they only feature briefly, and chapters will contain relevant content warnings. If I’ve missed one, please let me know! This story developed into its own as I wrote and posted.

Baby, Any Time You’re Ready, I’m Waiting by Zeebee3 - E, 11 chapters - “Alright,” said Pansy. “Then we’re still stuck. How do we divide three rooms between three girls and three boys?” “You share with Ginny. Blaise shares with Ron. And then Draco and I can share,” said Hermione easily, scrolling through the phone at the rest of the property images. Pansy’s attention snapped to Draco so fast, he almost jolted at the impact of it. “Oh?” She said with pointed interest. Draco shook his head minutely at her and her brows shot up. She turned back to Hermione. “Why you and Draco, Hermione?” “Well it’s such a lovely house, it’d be a shame to pass it up just because of sleeping arrangements.” She glanced up, perhaps sensing the underlying emphasis in Pansy’s question, and met his eyes. “You don’t mind, do you Draco? Or I could share with Ron if you’d rather be with Blaise?” “Don’t mind a bit.” He sipped his tea, the picture of nonchalance. —— Or where Hermione thinks she and Draco are “just good friends” but he’s secretly in love.

Big Dick Energy by louiseob - E, 9 chapters - After months of successfully keeping Ginny Weasley away from happy hours with her coworkers, Hermione finally relents and allows her to tag along. Unfortunately, her crassest friend wants nothing more than to embarrass Hermione and (hopefully) get her and Draco sodding Malfoy into bed together one and for all.

Fifty Shades of Granger - winterwells - E, 7 chapters - Draco Malfoy finds himself reentering society after having been on house arrest for the past five years. The Wizengamot has *graciously* given him the opportunity to leave the manor provided he gets a job at the Ministry. What could go wrong? Dramione, post-war AU

-Lisa

(PS: yes we know what dramione means....)

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jay Kuo at The Big Picture:

When ABC settled with Donald Trump to the tune of $15 million, capitulating in a defamation case in which Trump would need to argue he is not actually an adjudicated rapist but rather just a sexual assaulter, observers of our descent into authoritarianism groaned. Bill Kristol of The Bulwark wrote, “ABC’s settlement with Trump feels like it could be an inflection point in the Orbanization of our politics. I hope it isn’t.” He’s referring here to Prime Minister Victor Orbán, a two-bit dictator and Putin apologist who rules the country of Hungary in Eastern Europe. Orbán would be less consequential in a normal world, but the MAGA right has elevated him to hero status because of his defiant calls to establish an illiberal government. In illiberal states, you have only the trappings of democracy. Elections are held, but they are fundamentally unfair because the media and big business are all behind the guy at the top. Balloting is designed to give an air of legitimacy to the regime, but there is no substantial path to power, even for a robust opposition. You can spot an illiberal state—one suffering from Orbánization—by some key indicia, which political analyst and commentator Fareed Zakaria discussed some 25 years ago when he warned of the rise of “illiberalism” in certain parts of the democratic West:

Consolidation of executive power via a charismatic leader;

Populism targeting minorities and the monitoring of civil society;

Curbs on academia and curricula and restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly;

Targeted repression of opponents; and

Abuse of state financial power and state resources.

Donald Trump is not yet in power for his second term, and already we are seeing all five of these indicia flash warning signs. Today I’m going to focus on a few examples of Trump-syle Orbánization. But in so doing, I choose not to wring my hands over the inevitable decline of the U.S. into something that resembles Hungary or, even worse, Russia. Instead, I want to highlight how existing democratic guardrails, if supported by the U.S. court system, independent media, and civil society at large, can prevent such a slide. While the threat of illiberal rule has grown acutely real, so too has our ability and determination to defeat it.

Republicans target Trump’s political opponents in a report

Trump has long promised to seek vengeance upon his political enemies, and chief among them is former Republican House member Liz Cheney. In 2021, she bucked her party and voted to impeach Donald Trump for his actions on and around January 6, when he sought to overturn the 2020 election first by conspiracy and then by encouraging a mob to attack the Capitol during the electoral count. Later, Cheney accepted an appointment to the January 6 Committee, where she helped lead public hearings to expose the extent of Trump’s derogation of duty and criminality. For these perceived transgressions, Cheney was booted from the GOP and defeated in a primary in her home state of Wyoming. And she has been the frequent target of Trump’s musings, including that she ought to face televised military tribunals and violent consequences for her policies and actions.

To undermine Cheney and the rest of the January 6 Committee, Republicans formed a special committee to investigate the investigators—a standard move for Republicans seeking to muddy the waters. This week, that committee, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), who apparently was still smarting from the unproven suggestion by the Committee that he had led insurrectionists on a private tour of the Capitol in advance of the attack, released a preliminary report seeking to reshape the narrative around January 6. In that report, Loudermilk recommends that the FBI investigate Cheney over her handling of witnesses, in particular the way she convinced star witness and former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson to reverse her earlier statements about what she’d seen and heard. Loudermilk highlighted Cheney’s interaction with Hutchinson and claimed Cheney illegally coached testimony and turned her against her attorney, Stefan Passantino. Cassidy wound up altering the testimony she had previously given the Committee.

Truth, courage, and the Constitution will safeguard the Committee

The actual series of events, based on the facts Hutchinson provided the Committee, was quite different. Hutchinson testified that it was Passantino who had actively discouraged her from offering fully truthful and complete testimony before the Committee, even while promising her lucrative employment with the man paying the legal bills. “The less you remember, the better,” Hutchinson said Passantino told her. “We’re gonna get you a really good job in Trump world.” That Cheney uncovered this blatant effort to obstruct justice should be celebrated, not condemned. And the record is clear that Cheney did nothing wrong in seeking to discover and expose the truth. If anything, it is Passantino who should have been investigated and charged for interfering with a witness’s testimony. The Loudermilk report is a chilling reminder, however, that Trump and the MAGA right are quite serious when they say they intend to use the Justice Department to punish Trump’s enemies. That threat is now heightened by the prospect of Trump lackey Kash Patel as FBI Director. Patel has been open about his plans to pursue investigations and charges against Trump’s political opponents. That Loudermilk advanced such a disgraceful report and recommendation against a former GOP colleague is a clear sign of how low the party has descended and how far sycophants within it will go to please Trump. But the January 6 Committee members don’t seem intimidated. In a Tuesday statement, Cheney described the report as “a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth,” adding that “no reputable lawyer, legislator or judge would take this seriously.”

[...]

Trump’s threats to cancel broadcast licenses are empty

It’s common to assume that the craven capitulation by ABC in Trump’s defamation case was in reaction to Trump’s threats to cancel its broadcast license. Trump has made similar threats to CBS, claiming without evidence that the network had improperly edited Kamala Harris’s interview on 60 Minutes to make her answer sound more intelligible. (This is ironic, given that Trump canceled on the same interview and consistently sounds unintelligible, requiring major media to “sane wash” his speeches.) But as ABC’s and CBS’s lawyers no doubt know, Trump’s threats to use the power of the FCC to revoke the networks’ licenses are a paper tiger. First of all, Trump has made this threat on at least 15 occasions, according to a review by CNN. It noted, “His anti-broadcasting broadsides – against CBS, ABC, NBC, and even Fox – are almost always in reaction to interview questions he dislikes or programming he detests.” It’s becoming hard to take seriously the man who cries “Revoke!” Besides, canceling a network’s broadcast license because the president doesn’t like what it said about him would run smack into First Amendment challenges and almost certainly not survive them. The FCC agrees. At one point Trump tweeted an attack on NBC News’ reporting, writing, “Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!” Then-FCC Chair Ajit Pai responded that the agency lacked authority to revoke its license in this manner.

[...]

Media guardrails can be strengthened through Anti-SLAPP laws

Trump’s goal here, of course, is to intimidate the press and cause them to think twice about printing anything negative about Trump. That is why it’s quite important to shore up independent media, even while papers owned by larger corporations and billionaires capitulate. It’s important to begin enacting or enforcing anti-SLAPP laws against the President-elect and any others who want to use the threat of lawsuits to chill free speech. A SLAPP suit is a “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” meaning a complaint designed to silence and intimidate parties from speaking up or organizing. Anti-SLAPP laws are designed to prevent parties from using the courts and threats of a lawsuit to intimidate those exercising their First Amendment rights—exactly the kind of thing Trump is attempting.

[...]

A long way to go before Orbánization

These examples help demonstrate that Trump is a long way from the kind of grip that Viktor Orbán has on his country. In Hungary, Orbán maintains a stranglehold on the media, described by the Associated Press as a “sprawling pro-government media empire that’s dominated the country’s political discourse for more than a decade.” We rightfully should decry the kind of editorial capitulation we have seen lately in the U.S., where, for example, major papers’ billionaire owners at the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times thwarted their own editorial board’s endorsements of Kamala Harris, all in an attempt to suck up to Trump. Many such owners have business before the government concerning their other industries and concerns, and they’d apparently prefer not to see them endangered because one of their less profitable revenue centers decided to speak out against Trump. But such obsequious behavior, however repugnant, is still a far cry from the entire nation being dominated only by right-wing media, with no negative stories about Trump allowed to be published or broadcast anywhere. The more times Trump tries and fails to punish the media for its negative coverage, the less fearful many will grow of Trump. This includes his toothless threats to jail his political enemies. It includes his nonsensical threats to revoke broadcast licenses. And it includes his current efforts to intimidate reporters and pollsters through civil lawsuits that are destined to be tossed from court. Acts of resistance, whether from Liz Cheney or the Des Moines Register, need to be uplifted and publicized widely. The public must understand there remain leaders and news outlets that are unafraid of Donald Trump and will stand with their backs straight to face down his threats. This is not to suggest that the danger Trump poses is not real and imminent. We are admittedly closer than ever before to losing the liberal democracy and the republic we have kept for nearly 250 years. But the Orbánization of the U.S. is not an inevitability. Indeed, it is arguably Trump who faces an uphill fight from here. Trump still lacks many of the tools and much of the power Orbán has in his own country to seize full effective control of all media and stamp out all opposition. Trump likes to talk big, but his actions are often relatively diminished and inconsequential.

Jay Kuo wrote in The Big Picture on how America should resist the Orbánization of the USA under illiberal fascist demagogue Donald Trump.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

IBAMA upholds denial for Petrobras drilling in Amazon basin

Analysts from Brazil’s environmental agency listed technical issues they believe prevent reversing previous decision against permit

Twenty-six analysts from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) signed a report recommending the environmental permit denial for Petrobras to drill a well in Block FZA-M-59, located in the Foz do Amazonas Basin on the Equatorial Margin, should be upheld. The team listed technical issues they believe prevent reversing the previous decision against granting the permit.

Although higher-level authorities supported the report, IBAMA’s president, Rodrigo Agostinho, sent an official letter to Petrobras allowing the state-owned oil company to provide “clarifications” on the points raised in the report before a final decision is made. Petrobras did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

IBAMA’s recommendation comes as a setback for Petrobras, which, under Magda Chambriard’s leadership, has been stressing the need to open new exploratory frontiers in oil and gas. Last week, the company’s chief exploration and production officer, Sylvia Anjos, said, “We will do everything that IBAMA requests.”

In May 2023, IBAMA had denied Petrobras’s request for an environmental permit to drill a well in deep waters in the Foz do Amazonas. Petrobras appealed to the agency and submitted several documents revising environmental plans to overturn the decision. Key points in the revised plans focused on the impact of air support operations at Amapá’s Oiapoque Airport on Indigenous communities and a wildlife rescue plan in the event of spills.

Continue reading.

[canonical-transformation]

Genshin ships: stock market update (Fontaine Act 5 + Animula Choragi Act 1)

(Warning: May contain spoilers for character appearances and dynamics in Masquerade of the Guilty and "The Little Oceanid". Previously: Act 1; Act 3+4)

We begin by revisiting the traditional F/M capital-R Romance sector.

Navia/Neuvillette has surged to new peaks following what our analysts are calling "some serious Orpheus and Eurydice bs". We recommend: BUY.

Wriothesley/Clorinde has slightly dipped as a result, but— hold on, something's happening

⚠️ ⚠️ we interrupt this program for a SPECIAL REPORT on ⚠️ ⚠️

the Furina–Focalors stock split

Following 2022's embarrassingly premature Kusanali–Rukkhadevata merger rumours, and the 2021 disaster that data vendor AO3 refers to only as "Original Baal", the underlying "blorbos" commodity market has long been anticipating some form of reorganisation relating to Furina.

With the announcement of the clear delineation between Furina vs Focalors, most markets have gracefully incorporated the news. In the ship markets, little has changed, with most ships clearly indexed on Furina. The ships most strongly affected are the Neuvillette ones due to immortality and proximity.

Focalors/Neuvillette — HOLD OR BUY. Not only is it absorbing all the investors fleeing the Egeria/Neuvillette (SELL) write-off, but he receives 70% of Focalors's screen time and 100% of her sass. Would watch her monologue at him again.

Furina/Focalors — meme stock. Sorry. You do you, but our analysts say the "twincest but mommy issues" thing is funny for about five seconds but then that's it. SELL.

Furina/Neuvillette — BUY BUY BUY. Largely untouched by the stock split. With Furina having shed the "immature kid" accusations entirely, and with Neuvillette's exclusive front row seat to her entire 500 year performance, the market is having a renaissance right now.

🌎🌍 we conclude our special report. Back to our regular programming! 🌍🌎

While we're on the subject of Furina...

Furina/Lumine — Ooof. The "final temptation and confirming all Furina's worst fears" during Masquerade was bad enough. The entitlement Traveller showed Furina during the start of her Character Quest is also a major spanner in the works. And the revelations of Masquerade make any pre-Masquerade fluff a tough sell. SELL OR HOLD. Fundamentals are still there but the market correction is yet to finish.

Furina/Abyss Lumine — Keep an eye out for the coming IPO. Potential BUY at the currently discussed price.

Furina/Aether — Who?

Navia/Aether — Oh now we're talking. Tears of the Kingdom wants its Michelangelo reference back, but it won't hold up in court. BUY OR HOLD

Navia/Clorinde — BUY BUY BUY. According to one analyst, "if that lipstick line didn't spawn a dozen drawings/fics of them making out, I quit". Not to mention the childhood friends news from a few weeks back!

Lyney/Aether and Lyney/Lumine — HOLD. A slight dip following relatively dry interactions in the AQ, but nothing that affects the ships' longer term prospects.

Jurieu/Lourvine — Our analysts were unavailable for comment after a fist fight in the hallway. CHECK AGAIN LATER

Wriothesley/Neuvillette — BUY. Going strong as predicted, plenty more to expect.

Furina/Sandrone — HOLD OR BUY. A small handful of creators are doing amazing work in this space but it's hard to judge.

...and a few scattered others:

Ann/Caterpillar — No chemistry. Their potential dynamic is interesting but (unlike most of the populace of Fontaine) the ship doesn't hold water. SELL

Finch/Callirhoe — HOLD OR BUY depending on whether someone figures out a smut concept involving the teardrop gift thing.

Xingqiu/Chongyun — HOLD. Surprisingly, their interactions in the Waterborne Poetry had no upward or downward pressure on the ship whatsoever. I say surprisingly but um. Did they even get lines with each other. Yang! Chongyun finally appeared on screen though, which is a boon to anyone trying to show one of his more manic moments.

Nahida/Apep — SELL IMMEDIATELY. If anyone approaches you saying this is the next Neuvifuri, it's a scam. Don't fall for it.

Freminet/Neuvillette — oh come on I'm pretty sure the analysts are making things up at this point. Have they even interacted outside that conspiracy picnic at Navia's?

Diona/Callirhoe — yeah they're trolling me.

[yuki-boshi]

Kai no Kiseki - Act 1 Part 2 English Summary

Table of Contents

Sorry it took so long to release this. Life gets in the way. And Act 1 Part 2 I think is pretty long.

As always, this is is not a substitute for an actual translation, it's supplementary at best!

1 PM

Elaine and the other Bracers meet Van at his office in Old Town. Van asks Elaine about the case she’s working on. Elaine looks to Zin for permission to share, and he agrees. She explains that the case dates back to March, when the Guild, ASO, and the CID cooperated to arrest an anti-immigration terrorist group. Now, there are signs of a new anti-immigration organization called the Yuushidan (憂士団). Elaine mentions that the police have little information and that this new group may have activity outside the Republic as well.

Risette asks if this is connected to the case Towa mentioned about Northern immigrants disappearing. Elaine speculates that the Yuushidan might be recruiting white immigrants to strengthen their ranks.

A map shows neighboring nations, revealing a small number of missing people, all tied to the same "broker." Bergard notes how covert the operation is, which explains why it's gone unnoticed for months. However, it's still a significant issue. Zin agrees, adding that the last three months coincide with the Space Program announcement, and there might be a reason the CID hasn’t acted yet.

Elaine then informs Van that neither she nor Van have been able to contact Rene. The Guild reached out to the CID for collaboration but was turned down, likely because the CID is focused on the space project. Aaron finds it suspicious that Kincaid, a master analyst who tracks every jaeger group, including the Kruga’s, seems to be overlooking this potential terrorist threat. Judith asks if the MK is involved, but Risette corrects herself, saying that the MK has no such orders.

Van interprets this as a sign that the anti-immigration issue isn't on anyone’s radar and proposes a joint effort like the one in March (Kuro 2). Zin agrees, although Elaine clarifies she can’t fully participate but will help occasionally. Frustrated, Elaine remarks that she could have just had Fie assist the ASO, but wonders why Zin specifically recommended her. The group has a lighthearted moment before Van thanks Elaine for her limited participation. Elaine agrees and asks Bergard to spar with her again to learn. Bergard, amused, accepts, eager to see what the "Sword Maiden" can do.

While the girls head upstairs, Aaron relaxes on the couch. Quatre comments on Aaron’s ability to stay fit despite his daily drinking. Aaron teases back, saying he’s "built different" and has his own form of "night exercise," implying something risqué (sex or something). Quatre, embarrassed, blurts out that he doesn’t need to know that. Bergard approaches Aaron, offering to teach him Kunlun breathing techniques. Aaron declines, satisfied with his Gekka style, but Bergard insists on the importance of being diverse.

Zin jokes that maybe he and Elaine can assist Van part-time so that he can study with Bergard too. Van declines and shifts the conversation, asking if there’s any news about Walter (Direwolf). Zin clarifies that the anti-immigration group has no connection to the Society. He also recalls Renne's earlier hint about an upcoming plan.

Zin then mentions that the Lemans State Headquarters may contact Van, as they are interested in learning about the Spriggans. Although Zin shared some information, he kept crucial details hidden, including Van’s ability to transform into Grendel. In very neat Japanese things, the kanji for “her” appears in the text, but the furigana reads Agnes, revealing the identity to the reader.

Zin also notes their curiosity about what happened in the Marchen Garten.

In the funniest most meta (outside game) thing, Zin leaves says considering Van’s track record, he will also be contacted by an organization that the guild frequents. Van thinks about it saying there’s only ONE group, and then a big Epstein logo just flashes in.

Elaine then re-enters, complaining about her new outfit. Van, geeking out, compliments her look, saying it suits her well and that her white heels look stylish and durable. Elaine is taken aback, stuttering, "O-Oh... R-Really?"

Quatre, annoyed, comments that Van still hasn’t praised him, and the others begin teasing Van about his dynamic with Elaine. Even Bergard joins in.

Overhearing them, Van tells them to knock it off and urges Bergard not to get involved. Elaine clears her throat to regain the group’s focus and announces that she’s temporarily removing her Bracer insignia to work with them until evening, ready to tackle the 4SPGs.

The players then receive a Judith Disguise item.

As the players take control in the field, Elaine will ask where Agnes is, expressing her hope to work with her. Judith adds that she also did not get to spend time with Agnes due to the morning's events. Van responds, telling them that they are both celebrities and should avoid attracting too much attention, especially Judith. Flustered, Judith questions why she is being singled out, insisting that she is very careful.

Outside the store, Baselia is no longer at the hotel and has come to Old Town to talk to Brenda, Eddy's mother. Baselia asks Brenda if Eddy is around, mentioning that she hasn’t seen him in a while and feels he has been distant. Baselia wonders if she has done something wrong. Brenda, with a sweatdrop, thinks to herself about Eddy's behavior. She tells Baselia that Eddy has been absent-minded lately, but he left the house today looking serious and went to a busy area. She suggests that if Baselia is interested, she should check there for him.

At the 4SPG board, the group finds no requests. Van receives a call from an unknown number, causing him to panic slightly at Zin's warning. He answers the phone and hears a girl’s voice, Altina, asking if this is Arkride's number. She introduces herself as Altina Orion, stating they met yesterday at MK. Bergard comments to himself about her being the same age as Agnes but having a beautiful background. Judith thinks Altina is very pretty and would make a great actress.

Altina, hearing their comments, clears her throat and explains that she is not contacting them as a member of Thors but as a representative of the Crossbell branch of the Epstein Foundation, requesting their assistance. The group returns to the office, feeling annoyed to hear that the Marchen Garten has been taken over again. They reminisce about events from Kuro 2, not expecting that MK would abandon the Garten after it was hacked shortly after a major update in May, especially since the Beta version was set to release in June. They learn that the takeover was executed using extreme cutting-edge hacking technology rather than Genesis.

Mirabel hijacks the call, stating that MK's policy is to let the Foundation handle this situation. She asks if it is acceptable to follow everyone since the handoff is not finalized yet. Altina agrees, and they load up what the Garten looks like now, revealing the Grim Garten, which has a darker, moodier appearance. Van appears unimpressed.

Judith remarks that it is obvious who is behind this, leading them to immediately suspect the Society. However, they note that they have not encountered them since March. Regardless, since MK is asking the Foundation to take action, the Foundation has no choice, especially since MK is also offering to share secrets about Shard technology in exchange for liberating the Garten. Aaron chuckles, commenting on the cheekiness of the arrangement.

Altina asks if they can take on this request as a 4SPG. Van hesitates, explaining that he cannot promise anything due to a backlog of tasks. However, he still agrees to accept the request. Altina is surprised and asks if he really means it. Everyone expresses their thoughts, with Aaron saying it is a good opportunity to utilize his skills, Quatre showing interest in how the hacking was done, Judith wanting to know how it was stolen as a phantom thief, and Elaine insisting she must participate since the Society is involved. Mirabel thanks everyone for their support. Shortly after, Van receives an app called “Grim Search,” a newer version of the Shard Search.

They discover a portal in the back alley and are introduced to the Grim Garten.

Grim Garten

The next area transforms into a board game format. In the first domain, the team must defeat a boss monster. After they successfully defeat it, the Garten briefly returns to normal but then changes back. They are teleported back to the entrance, where Altina explains that while they defeated the Boss Guardian, they did not clear the Domain. Mare reappears to assist them with their situation, noting that all the customization aspects of the Garten have been renamed to reflect a more grim theme.

Altina asks Van if he will continue with the request, to which he agrees. Altina thanks Mirabel, who will oversee the Garten in the meantime. Meanwhile, Simeon watches from a distance, noting that the team took the bait and entered the Grim Garten. He remarks that this is the first time he has seen anyone other than the “Lion” (Bergard) and expresses excitement about meeting the Hero of Shackles, which is Van’s chibi nickname. He decides it is too early to reveal his identity and plans to continue assisting the Professor from behind the scenes.

Riverside Area In the Riverside Area, players can find Sonia, the teacher from earlier in Part 1, where Towa encouraged her to talk to her boyfriend. Sonia is sitting at a small table by the water with Edward. They discuss their relationship and how not seeing each other often makes them feel as though they are not really dating. Sonia suggests breaking up because she feels inadequate. Edward interjects, insisting that he loves her and has taken their relationship for granted. He resolves to work harder, stating that being too busy with work is not an excuse anymore.

The group then enters Bermotti’s café, questioning if it is even open. Bermotti informs them that it has been open since noon, and it is now past 1 PM. He explains that another significant event is likely drawing customers away, probably related to the Star Taker plan Van is investigating. Van brushes off Bermotti's comments with a lighthearted response, but Bergard points out that Bermotti must have valuable information if he is speaking so directly to Van.

As they share information, Bermotti mentions that he initially thought the CID and the Spriggans were handling the underworld, but it seems to be the opposite. Everyone is focused on the Star Taker project, which makes him suspicious. He describes the situation as a calm before the storm. Van urges Bermotti to share any information he has since he is acquainted with Hermes and has been seen with her frequently. Elaine also reminds them that Bermotti introduced Hermes to her.

Van addresses Hermes by her proper name, prompting her to ask him not to do that. Emilia drops by because she knows they haven’t seen each other since the announcement of the space project and thought it was a good opportunity.

Van jokingly comments on the fact that the first astronaut in history was moonlighting as a delivery girl and questions if her injury was fake. Emilia clarifies that she was genuinely injured but is making a comeback. She explains that she began her career three years ago after the Great War. Van expresses surprise at her decision to be a delivery driver instead of pursuing racing, to which Emilia responds that driving allowed her to practice her piloting skills for future space travel.

She shares that she is 28 years old and flirts with Van, suggesting that she hopes to resume delivery services for him once everything settles down. Van reciprocates, acknowledging her help as Hermes. Emilia playfully clings to him, implying that if he relies on her so much, he could be more than just a customer. Van becomes flustered by her assertiveness.

Feri warns him that getting too close to a woman before marriage is inappropriate. Aaron teases Van, and Elaine asks him to clarify his earlier comment. Van requests that they not interrupt the conversation and misinterpret his words.

Judith, Bergard, and Risette do not tease Van; instead, they are hurt and curious about why Emilia misled them through omission.

After the cutscene, an optional conversation with Emilia becomes available. Speaking to her reveals that she is leaving for the Oort Testing Site to work on the space project. Van offers to take her out for a drink if she is ever free, hoping to hear about her experiences in space. Emilia agrees.

Talking to Bermotti reveals that Jack and Hal went on an expedition to Tharbad.

---

4SPG Quest A man from General Affairs at Edgeworth Company reports that the PC terminals have not been functioning since yesterday and that a ransom note demanding 1 million mira was found on a screen, threatening to release all the company’s stolen data to the public. Quatre and Risette determine that this type of hacking is known as ransomware. Van questions the man’s honesty, as this is a legitimate crime that should be handled by the police or the Bracer Guild, not the Spriggans.

The man admits that his device is likely the reason the company fell victim to ransomware because his phone was connected to the company’s orbal network while he was goofing off at work. He explains that he visited a shady gambling site, which likely infected the entire network. Judith understands why he sought assistance from the ASO instead of other agencies; he wants to avoid being fired.

Van agrees to help since it seems the attackers are likely former associates of Almata.

They access the bidding site where the auction for the Edgeworth Trading Co. data is taking place. Choosing Option 2 twice (+5000 each) and then Option 3 (+10000) allows them to win the bid. After acquiring the data, they receive a direct message from PLAYBOY. The group tracks the IP address to the Auber District. However, they are interrupted by a person named Rain, who delivers something to Van using drone technology. Rain states that he will fill in for Hermes regarding ZCF-related inquiries.

In Auber, they find people in a suspicious black car, which flees the scene. Rain uses his drone to deploy spikes on the road, causing the car to crash. The perpetrators are arrested, but Rain explains that he is from RA Security and must report to his superiors about the drone’s use. This means the employee from the Trading Company may face consequences and possibly get fired.

Players can choose from the following options:

Tell the man to be honest with the company.

Deny the allegations.

Make a deal with Rain.

If players choose Option 3, Van interjects, suggesting that Rain could leave out the employee's name from his report. Rain responds skeptically, questioning whether Van is trying to interfere with his work. Eventually, they reach a compromise.

After the quest, Rain states it is time to focus on business and informs the group that he will leave the Crossbell situation to his sibling.

Tyrell District Upon entering the Tyrell District, the group notices that the area is buzzing with excitement about the Star Taker project. They discuss how the introduction of the T-Phone and Orbal Social Networks has enabled news to spread quickly.

Players can find Celis and Rion at a café, where they inform the group that they are searching for something not available in the capital, so they are leaving. Additionally, players can find Shahina and Saara looking for a book, which triggers a 4SPG quest where Shahina seeks information about Central Eastern performing arts. After inquiring around Tyrell, players can use the T-phone network to contact someone at the Z1 GR to obtain the book.

Auber District

The group arrives at Auber District in their truck. Aaron parks the vehicle, and Elaine asks Van if he plans to see Agnes since she is in the area. Van confirms he does intend to visit her, and he is suggested to bring gifts from the nearby cake shop. At the patisserie, the owner mentions that they are familiar with Van's blog about sweets and expresses a desire for him to share more content.

Meanwhile, Regina and a new recruit are stationed at the gate to the underground. Regina warns Van about the recent increase in Bracer recruits and expresses concern for their safety, advising against rushing into danger.

At the school gates, Bergard reminisces about attending a festival in Aramis eight years ago, before he knew Van. He recalls watching Elaine's performance about the Revolution, where she portrayed Sheena.

The local 4SPG is seeking assistance in dealing with an Almata assassin who remains at large. The group's reaction to the direct request for murder is one of hesitation, but they reach out to the Bracer Guild for guidance. Hazel informs them that the assassin is likely "Lady Silence," known for leaving little evidence behind after her crimes. They contact Hal for more information and head to Brothers Music Store, where they notice someone suspiciously following them and give chase.

The options for pursuing the stalker are as follows:

He hid in the News Store.

He hid behind a car.

Choosing the second option successfully captures the culprit, who turns out to be Lady Silence's son. He pleads with the group for help in finding his mother so they can escape abroad, away from the threats they face. They eventually track down Candice, a.k.a. Lady Silence, in the Riverside sewers.

Candice refuses to cooperate and opens fire on them. After a chase, Bergard confronts Van, suggesting that Candice may have orchestrated the 4SPG request as a way to seek assisted suicide by involving the Spriggans. Van decides to contact Stan while urging Bergard and the others to move ahead. They finally corner Candice, but she points her gun at Van, leading to a tense showdown.

The choices presented to Van are:

Turn her over to the police.

Turn her over to Eisenchild, known for dealing with Almata remnants.

If Van chooses the first option, Stan reproaches him for not fulfilling their promise. Van counters with the harsh truth that aiding Stan's wish would only result in a life built on lies and constant fear. He argues that if she goes to jail, it might provide her a chance to start anew.

Grand Prix

At the racing track, Lucio and Graham engage in a mock race to prepare for the actual competition the next day. During the race, Lucio’s car flips, causing Graham to crash into a wall while trying to help his friend. Yunifa expresses her sadness that they may be unable to participate in the race due to the damage to the engine. Lucio and Graham feel guilty about the incident.

Elsewhere, Maxim, Gotti, and Giordono discuss the usual movie business. Gotti spots Elaine and wonders if she has come to accept his offer for her to star in his films. Elaine bluntly declines. Judith observes the interaction, commenting that Elaine’s face conveys everything without needing to say more. Gotti and Maxim also chat about their upcoming film, Perfect Driver 0. Maxim wants Yume to finally acknowledge him more than just Uncle and see how rich and cool he really is.

Zin, Gray, and other Bracers discuss Gray's transfer to Basel.

Connect Event: Agnes

Van and Agnes take Alphonse for a walk around Edith. They visit Old Town and encounter Yume and her friends. Afterward, they head to the Central Marche, where Agnes requests to visit a nearby dog park near the fountain. Van is swarmed by dogs, prompting Agnes to laugh and remark on his unexpected popularity with them. She reveals that she has been fostering dogs since childhood and that Alphonse is a rescue she found when she was ten, during a rainy walk with her parents in Riverside, where she heard a puppy's cries for help.

As they continue their conversation, Van compliments Agnes, expressing how much he relies on her as his indispensable part-time assistant. She blushes at his praise. After another swarm of dogs, Agnes giggles, but her thoughts drift as she contemplates how to confess her feelings, recalling her experiences during Kuro 2. She hopes to take things one step at a time.

Connect Event: Elaine

At Riverside, Elaine asks Van to help her choose an Orbal bike, having been indecisive for a week. Van suggests that either option would be fine, leaving the decision to her personal preference. They test ride both the ETWAS and the Red Star. After switching back and forth, Elaine feels more anxious than ever about her choice.

She decides on the Red Star as a safer option, but Van's intuition suggests that she is avoiding the ETWAS due to her father's arrest and the negative reputation of its CEO from the previous year. Elaine quips that childhood friends can be annoyingly perceptive.

She then finalizes her purchase, choosing the ETWAS, Elaine asks if she can drop by to express her gratitude to Van for his support during her decision-making process.

Back at Auber District

The group heads to the Student Council Room in the school. Elaine and Van reminisce about their time there, including memories of Rene. Upon entering, they meet Towa, marking the first introduction between her and Bergard. Towa shares that she has heard various stories from Gaius. The group enjoys cake together while Towa discusses her friends from MK, Thors’ class. Feri mentions that one of Towa’s friends inquired about the Grim Garten case on behalf of the Epstein Foundation. Renne joins the group to greet them.

Towa checks her phone and discovers that the bus system in Edith is down. She asks Van for a ride, complimenting his diverse friend group as being naturally harmonious despite their different backgrounds. Elaine echoes Towa's sentiments, pointing out that Thors has a similar diversity. Towa agrees, explaining that her connections to her friends stem from Thors, which is why she decided to leave for the Republic.

While driving to the airport, Towa mentions a new anti-immigrant organization operating near the Republic. Van expresses his concerns about the group's lack of visible connections to the space project, noting that the Guild is worried about them. They ponder whether Thors might have any relevant information, but Towa reports no activities from Liberl, Crossbell, or Imperial territories.

Eventually, Towa reveals that she is headed to Basel on a secret mission. After dropping her off, the group proceeds to the Blacklight District. On their way, they see news coverage reporting that the test dummy from the prologue has successfully returned to the planet and announces the date for the upcoming manned rocket launch, set for three days later on July 12th at 1 PM. Feri realizes that this date coincides with Agnes's birthday.

Upon entering the Blacklight District, the group encounters Ashlad and Hasan, who are seeking information. Hasan mentions a troubling trend of missing persons connected to the area. Van claims this is the first he’s heard of it, but Elaine suspects it may be related to a canceled missing persons report previously handled by Inspector Nate. Hasan elaborates that initially, only a few Jaegers were missing, but now the number has increased significantly, prompting Bergard to inquire if Ashlad is in the area due to the Church's activities. Ashlad affirms this, emphasizing the importance of staying informed about these groups.

Van asks about influential powers in the Blacklight District and learns that a certain individual is referred to as "boss." He seeks out Isabelle, the unlicensed doctor, to inquire about this "boss." Isabelle is hesitant to reveal the identity.

After the group looks around they learn that it is Gin, the tobacco lady. She explains that the nickname was not her doing but rather something the community adopted, and that she oversees the area, caring for vagrants. Eventually, she directs the group to an abandoned area called the Culvert, where they may find more information about the missing people.

As soon as they enter, Elaine mentions that not even the Guild knows about this place. Van says, no wonder someone as important as the boss would know something that even the Guild doesn’t.

They find a spot where a bunch of clothes are on the ground. Risette starts to feel uneasy as Bergard and Van notice, and they are jumped by a giant boss monster. They are saved by Gouran and Rixia. They discuss how Rixia is no longer a contractor of The Lu family, but that she and Gouran are collaborating together due to both being Heiyue. They discuss about the monster being similar to the ones fought at the Outskirts.

Chardin District

Upon reaching the Chardin District, the atmosphere is enchanting, especially in the evening. Feri describes it as the "adult" district, to which Aaron responds that she is still a kid. Feri retorts that, in Kruga culture, turning 14 is considered adulthood. As you explore the area, you will come across a museum displaying art from Kisara, Fleix, and Mehmed. Engaging with nearby NPCs will lead to Feri expressing her surprise at discovering what "sex appeal" means.

Next, you encounter a small club performance featuring Central Eastern dancers. Van speaks with a man surrounded by women who questions why a child is present. Feri insists she is an adult in her hometown. The man thinks to himself that Feri looks promising and notes that if the establishment has no objections, then it should not be an issue.

While considering entry into the Chardin, Van learns that acquiring tickets can be quite challenging. Shortly thereafter, they run into Marielle, who mentions an upcoming play. Judith realizes she forgot she was invited by Nina and hastily puts on a disguise.

The play, titled "Gloria” features re-enactments of Atkinson, Aramis, and Sheena Dirke, with Nina portraying Sheena. Judith explains her absence from the rehearsal, which necessitated her disguise. Dominique and another person spot the group; the other person is identified as Judith's mother, Chloe. During this moment, it is revealed that Bergard knows Dominique and that Chloe is acquainted with Paulette's father, Viktor. Additionally, Cody and Rocksmith are present.

Part 2 concludes with Nina, in her role as Sheena, reciting that the path for Calvard has been fraught with blood from the beginning, yet she must continue moving forward. She wonders if a new tomorrow (dawn) awaits them.

[stuckysbike]

Kiss Me Once In The Moonlight

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Warnings: Angst, unrequited?feelings. Fluff.

Summary: You’ve fallen in love, but he wants someone else.

It was a cold mid October Saturday night when you realised you were in love with Bucky Barnes.

Natasha had ushered you out of your solitude and over to her private apartment on the compound. Steve was already there, along with Sam, Joaquin, Yelana, a few from the medical team and a few mechanics.

The place was decorated for spooky season, with playful ghosts and fuzzy spiders hiding in the corners. Everyone got comfortable and music played in the background whilst you snacked on nuts and candied apples and sipped beer. Halloween meets Octoberfest was the theme.

Bucky had been telling a story, his face lit up and his big hands flying everywhere as he described his mom chasing him with a broom during his teenage years after a Halloween fright. Occasionally his eyes met yours and they sparkled, but you figured he was like that with everyone.

You’d been crushing on him since you arrived in January and he was first to greet you. He seemed fascinated by your job, research and data analyst, but it was ultimately boring to almost everyone but you.

You lunched together sometimes and you swapped books every few weeks. You even got him into podcasts and you were always swapping recommendations.

But tonight he looked happy, relaxed even, and when Natasha dropped her dainty feet into his lap you felt the world skip underneath you, you wanted to put your feet in his lap. You wanted his big hands dwarfing your feet.

He rubbed her toes without thinking, and she snuggled down as the mechanics started describing the prank they’d played on Tony this week, going so far as to rope Pepper in.

“Wanna stay here tonight?” You heard Natasha murmur to Bucky during a lull in conversation. Sam was changing the music and Joaquin was setting up tequila shots.

He smiled at her but shook his head. “Nah,” his voice was thick with tiredness.

“You finally made a move on that girl?” She teased wiggling in her spot.

Bucky’s cheeks tinged pink and you dropped your eyes when you realised you were staring. You didn’t want to be caught looking like some dumb kid.

It was foolish to think that Bucky with his wonderful abilities and handsome looks would be interested in you who spent most of your time at work or alone.

“Think I’m gonna’ take her out, yeah,” he nodded. You snuck a glance at him in time to catch him looking from you to Natasha.

Oh god, he must have noticed you staring. How embarrassing!

Tears that had no right to form stung your eyes and you stood suddenly distracting Steve who was kneeling at the coffee table next to you. Sam took the opportunity to defeat him in their thumb war game much to Steve’s annoyance.

“I’m going to head back, I’m just really tired,” you said to the room, avoiding Bucky. “Thank you for the invitation Natasha.”

There were a few comments asking you to stay but ultimately everyone wished you a good sleep. Your own room was a fifteen minute walk away in a shared block and you pulled your arms around yourself to fight the cold as you stepped outside.

“Hey Doll,” Bucky called startling you.

“Bucky, hi,” you frowned.

“Thought I’d walk you back,” he said falling into step with you. “And I wanted your advice.”

“Oh?”

“So there’s this girl I like. She’s not like the others, she’s not really - she’s different. And I really want to make a date special for her, you know?” He glanced as you, letting his arm bump yours as you walked.

“I do,” you sighed resigning yourself to your fate. You didn’t want to have this conversation but you didn’t want to not help him either. He was your friend after all.

“So I’ve had a few first date ideas, I’m thinking farmers market then making brunch together? I started this really great podcast and I was thinking we could listen together as we cook then talk about it while we eat? Then after we could go to a museum or something?” Bucky licked his lips and stopped looking at you.

You didn’t want him to share a podcast with her. That was your thing with him. You knew you were being unfair, childish even but right now you didn’t care.

“That sounds lovely,” you said. And it did, you wished you were that girl, you wished Bucky wanted to go to all that trouble for you but instead you’d have to sit home alone tomorrow whilst he woo’d someone else.

“Yeah?” He asked excitedly. “I really just wanna’ hold her hand, at the market, in the museum, I just crave that feeling you know, like this,” Bucky reached for your hand and laced your fingers together, holding your joined hands up to inspect. “It’s been a long time since I held a girls hand like this.”

“I-I’m sure it has Buck,” you swallowed. He resumed walking and you could do nothing but join him, he still had your hand in his. He described his outfit for his date and wondered if you had a cosy chunky sweater.

“I do, it’s so comfortable,” you said softly. You couldn’t hide the disappointment as you slowed in front of the doors. “It’s my favourite colour too.”

“Will you wear it tomorrow?” Bucky tilted his head to the side.

“Why does it matter what I wear?” You couldn’t help but giggle at his odd request. You couldn’t though, thinking of him with someone else whilst you wore what he asked you to.

“I want to know that you’re warm tomorrow. You know, on our date?” Bucky pressed his cool left hand on your cheek as he turned to face you. His kiss was soft, just a sweet brush of the lips and then he pulled away. “I’ll see you at nine thirty?”

“Uh huh,” you nodded dumbly. He kissed you again, and you caught the faint taste of whiskey on his lips. He was warm as he pressed into you and you let your hands slide up his chest to his shoulders.

“See you tomorrow baby girl,” he pressed one last kiss to your forehead then opened the building door for you.

You walked inside in a daze, waving goodbye and drifting up the stairs like you weighed nothing.

You couldn’t remember getting changed into your pj’s, all you knew was that you were snuggled under your duvet setting an alarm for your date with Bucky in the morning.

You smiled, and suddenly your legs kicked and you let out a little squeal. You were going out with Bucky Barnes and he kissed you three times.

You feel asleep to the memory of one hot hand and one cold hand cupping your cheeks as he kissed you in the moonlight.

[tomorrowusa]

On July 4th Britain goes to the polls in an election which is likely to put the Conservative (or Tory) government out of its 14 year misery.

The Conservative Party has conducted what has to be one of the most hysterically inept campaigns of the past 50 years.

The latest wrinkle is that some Tories, including people in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's circle, are part of a gambling scandal which used apparent insider information to place bets on the timing of the election.

In a highly ironic touch, a 2018 ad by the Conservative Party with the theme "don't gamble with Labour" was recently rediscovered.

😆

Things are so bad for the Conservatives that one of their own candidates called his party a "shower of shit".

James Cracknell, who is standing to be a Conservative MP, has called the Tories a “shower of shit”, in a video he posted on Facebook. The former Olympic rower, who is the Conservative candidate for the key Labour target of Colchester, said: “Two weeks out from the Olympics, if we are competing against the Conservative party my teammates and I would be saying they are a shower of shit. “And if one of my teammates got caught for cheating they’d be dead to me. That abuse of trust is unforgivable.” His comments emerged over the weekend as more allegations surfaced that Tory candidates and officials bet on the date of the general election before Rishi Sunak announced it.

The election is Thursday July 4th. That's a national holiday in the US, but I would recommend to my fellow Americans to catch live UK election coverage on the BBC (or wherever) online after viewing the traditional fireworks displays. This will be one for the history books. And if things go as expected, it will be fun to hear reporters and analysts run out of adjectives when describing the election results.

[pebblysand]

[CHAPTER 19 RESOURCES]

hi all! i've seen a lot of messages/comments asking about the political/historical events referenced in chapter 19, and the research i'd done about it. as such, i thought i would write this short post to give you more resources if you're interested in digging further. i will however caveat the below by saying that the aftermath of 9/11 (and particularly the iraq war) is my political roman empire; it's a topic that truly fascinates me, and about which i've done a lot of research/thinking throughout the past 20 years, and something i'm always coming back to. so when it comes to the below, this is mostly made of the media i've consumed semi-recently, and that i remember. i couldn't possibly tell you what i was watching/reading ten years ago about this when i was getting obsessed by dick cheney 😭.

- on 9/11 -

it's relatively easy to find out literally anything you want about 9/11 from an american perspective. there's so many resources out there, feel free to pick your own. i myself recently watched 9/11: inside the president's war room on apple tv, which was comically bad pro-bush propaganda, but does give you some insight on bush's bizarre state of mind. having said that, for this chapter, i actually needed to figure out what it would have been like in the uk government, and i felt that this podcast episode from westminster insider was very good at doing that.

- on iraq -

the war in iraq, be it from a uk or a us perspective, is one of the most destructive, outrageous government lies and cover ups in history, and certainly of the 21st century. we really don't talk about it enough. it also not only destroyed the public's trust in government institutions, but killed and injured thousands of civilians (as well as soldiers) only to lead to the rise of isis and the perpetuation of instability in this region of the middle east. i could probably rant about it for literal decades, but here are some resources if you want to be outraged yourselves.

note that most of these are from a UK perspective, which was a deliberate choice on my end as i was writing this chapter from that perspective. i've also watched/listened to stuff from the us (and france, probably), but that was a long time ago and honestly i wouldn't have the references.

film/TV:

(fiction) official secrets with kiera knightly isn't bad. it's a bit dramatised but it goes over the story of a GCHQ analyst who leaked secrets to the press before the invasion.

(documentary) once upon a time in iraq from the bbc is genuinely incredible. it is the story of the war told through the point of view of those involved in it, from american soldiers, to journalists, to iraqi civilians. i thought it was very well made and did a great job at showing the perspective of people you rarely ever hear from.

(documentary) everyone always recommends fahrenheit 9/11 which i think i saw a long time ago and i suppose it was good, although i don't think it taught me anything i didn't already know.

podcasts:

most of the "research" i did for this chapter was actually through podcasts, so here is the stuff i listened to.

the fault line's entire first season bush, blair and iraq is INCREDIBLE. it's both very good at setting out the basic facts about the war and the chronology of the iraq invasion, but also at explaining how we got there, the lies both administrations told the general public, and how global group-think led to intelligence services to believe in intelligence that was ridiculously unreliable. i would say that this was my main source when planning out this chapter, and the research put into this podcast is truly top-class.

british scandal did a series of episodes on the david kelly scandal - a british weapons inspector who committed suicide after giving an interview to the bbc accusing the government of lying to the public about WMDs. this led to a bogus enquiry into the british government and the bbc, and a report that basically concluded the government didn't lie, which was of course not true. in tone, british scandal is a bit more casual and less journalistic than the first podcast (maybe a bit easier to digest if you're not into deep stuff though), and although i was mildly aware of it, i'd actually never done much research into this particular story before, so i still found the episodes quite interesting.

politics weekly UK and politics weekly america from the guardian did two very interesting episodes on the aftermath of the iraq war 20 years on, last march. i thought both were interesting, but the america episode was particularly good at explaining the liberal case for war, and how/why so many left-wing liberals fell into the pro-war side, with very good intentions that later turned out to be catastrophic. i already knew of this, and knew i was going to have harry take that side going in, but i used this podcast a lot to refine his position and what i was trying to get across in the chapter.

shock war from radio 4 is a good overall source with rather short episodes, if you can't be bothered with longer ones.

anyway, i hope this helps! thanks for reading and enjoying this chapter as much as you have, reading your comments, DMs, etc. has truly been incredible.

[cindylouwho-2]

Etsy First Quarter 2023 Earnings Report - More on Plans to Make Etsy an Everyday Shopping Destination

(Above - slide 5 from Etsy’s Q1 2023 Earning Presentation, © Etsy)

Etsy’s first quarter 2023 numbers were pretty good considering the current economic climate, and beat most analyst expectations. Unfortunately, their outlook for the second quarter did not anticipate improvement, and the earnings presentation did not unveil any truly new plans for achieving improvement. 

First, here are the reference materials covered below:

the press release

transcript of the conference call

slides from the conference call

video of the call (click on “Webcast” under Q1 Earnings)

my summaries of the first quarter 2022, and the fourth quarter 2022 for comparison

The basic numbers (covering January to March 2023, compared to the same period in 2022):

Sales on Etsy were $2.7 billion, down 4.7%  [nearly half of this drop was due to currency fluctuations]

Total sales for all 4 marketplaces (Etsy, Reverb, Depop, Elo7) were $3.1 billion, down 4.6% 

Etsy’s revenue (including all 4 sites) was $640.9 million, up 10.6%

Seller service revenue was up 14.4% to $173.4 million, while marketplace revenue was up 9.3% to $467.5 million. Remember that the fee increase from April 11, 2022 is part of that marketplace bump; this was the last full quarter for that increase

Net Income was $74.5 million, down 13.4%

Active sellers on Etsy alone are 5.9 million, a large jump compared to the past 5 quarters when the total hovered around 5.4-5.5 million. [Note that “active” means one charge or transaction in the past 12 months; many “active” shops currently have nothing for sale. I don’t see an obvious reason for this sudden increase]

Active buyers on Etsy alone stand at 89.9 million, up from 89.1 million a year ago

Below are several points of interest for sellers, but I strongly suggest reading the whole transcript or listening to the call to get all of the details. 

As always, my side comments are in square brackets, and most everything not in square brackets is just a report on what was said. 

Etsy Search

Slide 7 of the presentation again stated that Etsy’s search is now driven by “multiple search engines”, and that more are in development. CEO Josh Silverman explains the problem that they are working to solve:

“You don't walk into a store and yell, "Blue, shirt, cotton," the way you search on Etsy today. In a store, you walk in, explain to a salesperson that you're going to a cocktail party at a chic place in Brooklyn and are looking for a shirt to fit the vibe, what do you recommend? And you certainly don't expect the salesperson to show you 90,000 options. They'll show you the best handful of items that match the vibe.”

The plan is to move away from keywords “to show the buyer a curated set of results”. This is not just about personalization, but about understanding the connections between style and trends and what the buyer said they wanted, and helping the buyer refine results to get something closer to what they envisioned. While these plans are still not well developed, features such as search by image are on the path to the final goal.  

One big change on the horizon will be incorporating decisions from Etsy’s merchandising team into algorithms. Human curations are going to be combined with machine learning to produce search results and ranking “over time”. [One problem I see here is the quality of the human curation. Silverman says “Etsy’s Picks” are actually human-curated, which surprises me, as my only listing to ever get this designation is a commercial pendant probably available in hundreds of Etsy shops. (Since I placed it on a chain, it qualifies as handmade on Etsy, and unlike most others selling this item, my chain is actually handmade by me - but that isn’t required.) Hilariously, he claims that “... our merch team knows how to select the very best inventory, items with true craftsmanship...” which apparently includes my “charm on a chain” that wouldn’t even qualify for Amazon Handmade. Embarrassing.]

Later in regards to shipping expectations, he mentions these could be better, including “prioritizing items and search results located closer to the buyer for time-sensitive purchases.” [I know that some sellers think this already happens, but testing from multiple locations doesn’t really show that, yet, but this means it could be coming. That, of course, would be a disaster for many business owners who use Etsy to reach a worldwide market, not their next-door neighbours.]

As shown in the slide at the top of this post, Etsy believes shoppers are put off by too many options, so expect this work on search to help start decreasing the options soon. 

Marketplace Violations, Including Mass Produced Items

All of the media coverage of resellers has apparently had an impact, as Silverman felt the need to address “mass-produced items” diluting trust in the site. He cited the 2022 Transparency Report as proof Etsy was dealing with the issue. [As I have detailed in my coverage of that report, it only demonstrates how poorly Etsy is doing in the area, by applying a huge batch of pesticide to kill the odd mosquito while also destroying tons of valuable bees in the process. If only 5% of the flags the AI generates are for actual contraband/counterfeit/manufactured goods, then they will have to flag most of the site’s listings to get rid of the reseller issue. The collateral damage of innocent sellers is too great for Etsy to keep claiming they want to “Keep Commerce Human”.] 

It’s also notable that this was only one prong of the trust issue Silverman highlighted. Etsy also intends to more actively promote the Purchase Protection Program, and do a lot more with shipping. [You can read how the Purchase Protection Program is playing out for sellers here on my blog. Changes in shipping were expected after Etsy posted a bunch of fulfillment jobs last year, and there is already some movement in the area of shipping labels, with Etsy forcing sellers in India to use Etsy Labels for domestic orders. As a Canadian who can’t even use Etsy Labels due to my commercial account with Canada Post, I can see this being the action that finally forces me off of Etsy completely. Time will tell!]

Upcoming Promotional Plans & Focus

As the slide below shows, Etsy has good brand awareness in many places, especially the United States, but few people think of the site as a top place for things such as gifts or home furnishings. They will soon be focussing on funnelling more shoppers to “new pathways” for gifts, home and living items, and general style ideas. 

(Above - slide 11 from Etsy’s Q1 2023 Earning Presentation, © Etsy)

In short, Etsy should be thought of as “every day” shopping instead of occasional. Silverman elaborated on this in the Q&A portion of the call:

“That campaign, Etsy has it, is so important. The fact that Etsy sellers sell billions of dollars of home furnishings, it's our largest category. And when you ask people name 3 places to shop for home furnishings, only 3% of people unprompted will name Etsy. There is a massive opportunity.“

As mentioned above, purchase protection will continue to be a focus, to reassure buyers that Etsy is safe. “...we found that prepurchase messaging about Purchase Protection improved conversion rate and our post-purchase e-mails spurred buyer frequency over a 90-day period.” Also, shipping [sigh].

To sum up plans for sellers:

“So this year, we've got a jam-packed to-do list, which includes investing in our seller growth suite, education, tools and the personalized insights they need to market their shops, improve their listings and grow sales on Etsy. We'll make it easier than ever to list items and will provide best practices on pricing strategies and discounting.” 

Depop, Elo7 & Reverb

Etsy’s other 3 companies have also been busy. [As on Etsy], management at Reverb have been focussing on highlighting discounted items and stressing that musicians can “find good deals” on the site, “so we'll be studying some of these for relevance to the Etsy marketplace.” 

Elo7 has been working on improving search. 

Depop isn’t looking as bad as it did last year. The conversion rate is better, and there is more personalization. “We also launched an exciting new feature called Repop, which enables users to seamlessly relist a Depop purchased item, a good thing for GMS and the planet.” [I looked that up, and yes, the buyer gets to use the original seller’s description and other listing work to relist the item, but the photos aren’t included. Really hoping they don’t bring that copyright infringement and forced unpaid labour to Etsy...]

Miscellaneous

Performance marketing (Offsite Ads) increased 11% in the quarter. “Offsite Ads revenue...offsets approximately 1/3 of our performance marketing spend.” [That is down from previous reports, when they said that Offsite Ads fees covered about 40% off the total cost of the ads. Remember that larger numbers of sellers began to opt out of Offsite Ads in mid-March due to EU law, and Etsy still pays for ads for some shops that have opted out.] CFO Rachel Glaser stated that the ROI for Offsite Ads has improved by 40% since 2019. 80% of the ad spend is currently in the US and the UK (Etsy’s top 2 countries).

Seller service revenue is still well behind marketplace revenue, but the seller service side is growing faster. Both Etsy Ads and Etsy Payments (in particular the higher Payments fees non-US sellers usually pay) showed increased growth in the quarter. [So growing in non-US markets will drive revenue for Etsy.]

Etsy is still hiring, although the rate has dropped. 

Sales were down in the first quarter due to 1) consumers buying more services than goods, 2) declines in large categories such as Home & Living and Craft Supplies, and 3) less discretionary income, especially for lower income buyers. Compared to Consumer Edge's U.S. e-commerce retailer data, Etsy is managing to keep up with the pack, especially in Home & Living and apparel. 

The new “Make an Offer” option for US vintage sellers has thousands of users and over 1 million listings available. 

Outlook for the Second Quarter

The predictions for April to June 2023 are for the 4 sites to be down around 1.8%, getting between $2.85 billion to $3.1 billion in sales. At the time of the call, Silverman said the second quarter was looking good so far, with a good few weeks leading up to Mother’s Day. However, they issued a cautious outlook, given that May 2022 slowed down a bit. 

So, expect more of the same - a soft economy, Etsy telling you how to run your business and pretending that is helping you, and more bot removals and forced refunds. 

[mariacallous]

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked how Ukraine could be involved in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, as the Kremlin has alleged, given that the attackers appear to have been recruited by ISIS and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish.

In response, Peskov said that Zelensky is a “specific kind of Jew.”

Below is the exchange in English:

Journalist: Does the Kremlin still consider it plausible that the Islamists who carried out the terrorist attack may somehow be linked to Ukraine’s leadership, considering the fact that it’s led by a Jew?

Peskov: Well, that person is a specific kind of Jew: a Jew who, in many ways, exhibits a sympathy, who gravitates, to the nationalist spirit that has permeated the Kyiv regime. This is abundantly clear based on the facts and on his statements.

As far as the question of what can be said about the situation, anything can be said. And observers and analysts can probably afford to comment. But I will repeat again that as long as the investigation is still ongoing, no official authorities can afford to make any statements in this regard. Although I recommend that you very carefully reread the statements that President Putin has made in the last two days. In this context, they’re very important.

Vladimir Putin first commented publicly on the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack nearly 20 hours after it occured. In a televised address, he alleged that four of the men responsible for the attack had been arrested while en route to the Ukrainian border, where he claimed the “Ukrainian side” had prepared a “window” for them to cross.

Putin addressed the public again on March 25. This time, he said that it’s vital to find out “why the terrorists were trying to go specifically to Ukraine after the attack” and “who was waiting for them there.” He added that Friday’s attack was committed by “radical Islamists” but also accused the U.S. of trying to “convince” other countries that “there are no signs of Kyiv’s involvement.”

ISIS-K, a branch of the Islamic State terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attack, and multiple U.S. officials have confirmed the authenticity of the group’s statements.