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venomous-ragno · 2 years

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Old habits die hard Pt.1

A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept - including your lover and partner, Simon 'Ghost' Riley. Your past as Enigma is naught but an unwelcome memory. Broken pieces you never bothered fixing, turned your back on the life of a special forces agent long ago. Your life now is comfortable and easy, and your partner need not know of the blood coating your hands. That is, until a dear friend and former comrade of yours calls you one night; his cry for help soon putting your relationship and everything you've known at risk.

Tags: Angst, fluff, established relationship, Ghost x you, gn!reader

Warnings: None for this part

Needles pricked your skin. Injected poison into your veins that numbed and sensitised your heart all the same - or maybe it'd always been there, wedged between feelings and words of reassurance that you daren't think about too long, lest they lose their worth.

There's no running from it. Not anymore.

Neither of you had been as honest with each other as partners should be. Years of lies and secrecy finally caught up, and you could either pick up the pieces to try and fix it or walk away from it for good.

Another rise of the sun, another mundane day.

Lunch bubbled on the stove and the radio played your favourite tune. The kitchen shone after you'd polished every inch of it, allowing the incoming sunlight to bounce off its countertops. Spring came early this year and you were bound to make the most of it: Enjoying the blooming flowers, shopping at the bustling markets and perhaps even discover some new hobbies to pass the time with. It's serene. Simple. Peaceful. A small but comfortable home, an active social circle and a boyfriend who you cared for; even if his 'thank you's sounded stiff, they were sincere. Besides, getting some kind of affection out of him was a luxury reserved for you and you only.

There was a framed picture by the entrance. It'd taken you ages to convince him to take one, but it meant the world to you. And who was he to deny his sweetheart such a thing? Even though the look on his face reminded you of Grumpy Cat, it was endearing and comforting. Almost as if he were home with you. You'd long stopped trying to count days; it'd do nothing but drive you insane. The memory of his arms pulling you close, hardened gaze softening when you called out his name kept you warm at night. And he revelled in it: Coming home, being missed.

You flinch at the shrill sound that was your phone. Once again gotten lost in dreamy thoughts, haven't we?

Unknown caller.

Simon had told you not to pick up anonymous calls. They were either scam calls or telemarketers who'd remember you picking up, calling again and again with ever new numbers. You turn off the sound and ignore the call. Lunch demanded more attention anyways, and there was no way you'd let it burn just to entertain some scummy wannabe Windows 'employee'.

Your eyelids remind of cement as you try to blink, once, twice. A groggy groan escapes you at the irratically obtrusive light that was your phone screen. It happened to shine right into your face - your fault for staying up too late and falling asleep over some niche YouTube video. Simon would've scolded you. As he always did whenever he thought you weren't taking good enough care of yourself.

It's enough when one of us is in bad shape. Take care of yourself for me.

Vibrations rattle the little nightstand your phone rests on. You turn over in bed, too lazy to check who could possibly have the audacity to call at this hour. It certainly wasn't him. One thing you could be sure of: He never called during deployments.

The call continued. Your phone vibrated. Its screen lit up the room. You huffed in annoyance, too stubborn to turn around and answer - but your phone kept on making noise and your resolve ran thinner and thinner, until you eventually had to admit defeat.

"What?" Your tone wasn't exactly friendly, but neither was the late interruption.

A breathless voice resounded from the other end. No doubt exhausted and... Fearful? You heard broken whispers. Someone was talking, but they were trying to prevent you from listening in. You grumbled under your breath, thumb moving to press the alluring big red button on the middle of your screen.

"Enigma?"

You remember that time you went on a stroll with Simon. There was a shop - an antique shop, and you'd dragged him inside if only to satiate your curiosity. The owner had a bird on display. A wild one he'd caught himself, thought it too pretty to let go.

Much like that bird flapping in its cage, your heart beat against your ribs. Panicked and desperate. Its thumping echoed in your ears.

"Enigma, you there?", he whispered. It didn't do much to hide the urgency in his tone. "I didn't wanna do this, I swear. I know you left for good. Fuck, you had every right to-"

He inhaled sharply, voice stuttering.

"But I need you. I... I tried doing this alone. I really did. But this- this is too big for me. I fucked up. I fucked up big time. If you hear this-"

Boots shuffled. Muffled voices barked commands. His breath hitched, and you swore you heard him whimper.

"Please help me."

Click.

Call ended.

~~~

Two days. Three maybe. Four at most.

Days you spent doing... Stuff. Cooking and cleaning, probably. Getting dressed, taking a shower in the evenings, or mornings, you couldn't quite remember. Time melted into one long stream and it dragged you under. The current was strong. You let it. Watched as if you were standing behind thick, foggy glass. Muscle memory and the instinctive need to live kept you up and running, kept your heart beating and lungs breathing even when your mind was on the brink of turning into a mess.

That call. That damn, late night call.

There'd been nothing but that call in the past few days. His voice echoed in your brain, again and again and again. You'd turn on the radio and forget about it just as quick, the music was nothing but dull background noise slowly drifting further away until there was none at all; like a broken record player did his last words repeat in your head:

"Please help me."

What followed after was silence. The suffocating kind. The kind that had you press unto that number no matter how often you heard the robotic voice telling you that this number was out of service.

"Please help me."

Silver... No, Rafael.

How long had it been?

His name came to you as easy as the memories you thought to have safely locked away.

Memories of mud and blood, of black caskets and stoic faces holding inspirational speeches about honour and sacrifice, too proud to grieve. Memories of sweat and steel, of sharing meals and punishments while laughing and motivating one another to keep going.

Oh, you remember well.

His uniform had looked sloppy. Rafael used to oversleep and forget to pull up the zipper on his pants, or to button up his shirt. The sargeant called out his name in the morning as if it were routine; your face muscles nearly hurt from trying to hide the laughter. Rafael never truly learnt, no matter how much he was scolded; He'd make excuses and bicker with those who didn't believe him. Sometimes you'd wonder how they even let him enlist at all.

But when it came down to it, Rafael was always at your side. He'd worry for you, always knowing when something was up, and took the blame for your mistakes more than once. He was so proud of you when you passed the special forces qualification exams - ushered everyone into a pub that night and overslept the morning after.

We make a great team, don't we?

The lighter kissed twice as he lit his cigarette. He knew he shouldn't, that it's forbidden when holding watch at night. He'd been unusually quiet back then - Rafael looked to the stars as if he were expecting them to tell him something, but you hesitated to ask. He wasn't someone who dwelled on things. Wether it'd be mockery by comrades, scolds by superiors or insults by his own family even, Rafael took it all in stride, for he had that strength you so admired about him.

When he did speak, his voice barely carried above a whisper. "My 'pa died." Another long drag of the cigarette.

"I...", you blinked at him, unsure what to say. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He closed his eyes for but a moment. "Fucker used to beat my mom every night until she left one day, high and dry. Couldn't bear the loss and turned to alcohol, became even more of a monster. Made sure I never had any friends either."

You swallowed hard. This may have just been the first time Rafael let you see a part of himself that wasn't the easygoing and boisterous guy who always laughed. "You must've been so lonely."

He flicked the stump on the ground and got up to stretch, began walking back towards base. You checked your watch: Shift change.

"I was. But you helped me out of that slump. You helped me more times than I can count."

"Likewise."

When Rafael finally looked back at you, he wore a smile much different from the ones you'd known of him.

Well, it doesn't matter now, does it? We're family. And family doesn't keep count.

~~~

Arid air carried the scent of baked earth. Dry winds blew sand to your goggles, heat seeping through layers of clothes and into your skin. Al Mazrah greeted you with heavy silence. Its houses lay in ruin, debris covering the perforated streets on which beggars cowered in groups; the wind drowned their heartbreaking cries. A once so prosperous oasis transformed into an ashen warzone where no law, no jurisdiction reached, except the locals own interpretation of it.

You checked the numbers on your map. Coordinates. Rafael's coordinates - and they led you here, right into the lion's den.

Tag list:

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@stressyanddepressyfoodservice @abbiesxox

@anonymousficreader @cabreezer0117

@hypernovaxx @fatedeniedhope @justmare

@lovessecunda @batmanunicorns523

@gonjie @khonshus-wife @undertaker-02

@uwu-i-purple-you @reyestrella

@idkwhattodowithmylife67 @blueoorchid

@kingjuli3n

#call of duty #call of duty fanfic #call of duty headcanons #cod mw2 imagine #call of duty x you #ghost x reader #simon ghost riley x reader

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thetimetraveler24 · 8 months

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Okay. Might be a hot take. But…

Episode 7 was the biggest let down and probably the worst episode of PJO so far.

Crusty was so underwhelming. Why did they know who he was right away? Why didn’t I get Percy cutting his head off? An iconic scene the movies robbed us of and now the show has done that too.

The bathtub line with Charon. And the Italian suits and the pay raise. Where was that? Another iconic scene we were robbed of.

Cerberus was… fine. I guess. Not what I was expecting with Annabeth’s obedience school stuff in the books. It was clunky and random. And Grover losing the pearl in Cerberus was stupid. It would have been way more painful if it rolled into Tartarus instead. (And could provide amazing angst material when Percabeth fall into Tartarus and come across the pearl that could save one of them but neither will leave the other and they lose it once again anyways because angst).

Hades was not Hades-ing. He is supposed to be irritated about infrastructure and overcrowding and Charon demanding more pay. None of that was there. I honestly cannot see this man being the cold father that tells an eleven year old he wishes he died instead of his sister. This Hades is not cold and detached. This Hades is chill and laidback. The Actor looks like how I imagined Hades but he doesn’t embody the character at all.

Why was Poseidon answering Sally’s call? Why? The gods don’t do that. He’s not supposed to even acknowledge the Jackson’s.

Why does Percy know everything? He’s not supposed to know Kronos is involved yet, but he does now? Listen, I’m all for recognizing Percy’s smarts. He’s not dumb. But he’s also not Annabeth. Now if Annabeth was the one working it all out, I’d believe it. She’s book smart, Percy is street smart. We all know this. Percy does not tell Annabeth what’s going on unless he’s coordinating a fight strategy in the heat of the moment. Annabeth is supposed to be the one name dropping monsters. She’s the one who figures this stuff out. I know Percy works it out eventually in the books, but not just based off of what little he knows in the show.

It’s just so so so disappointing. I really want to love the show and I do. Sort of. I love most of the scenes. I love the cast. I just… I’m really struggling with the writing. It’s so clunky and there’s not a good balance between showing and telling. There’s way too much telling and not enough showing. If that makes sense.

And another thing. I know Crusty getting guillotined was probably cut for the same reason as Medusa’s head was unseat when getting chopped, but this show is for the same audience as the books right? So if you don’t think the age group the books are for can handle a couple heads getting cut off, why is it marketed to them? I just don’t get it. It doesn’t have to be graphic or anything. The sword can be clean of all blood. I know that’s normal for kid stuff. But middle schoolers can handle Medusas head. They can handle Crusty’s head. And Crusty could have even happened off screen. Just a shot of Percy swinging the sword and a thud and squelch sound effect. Like… come on.

Also, thanks show runners for totally tricking us into thinking the Ares fight would happen this episode. I don’t know why it didn’t. There’s literally no reason it shouldn’t have. I feel like everything with Luke will feel more rushed next episode now. But honestly almost all the fights have seemed so rushed that I’m not very hopeful about either the Ares fight or the encounter with Luke.

#riordanverse #percy jackson and the olympians #percy jackson #annabeth chase #grover underwood #walker scobell #leah sava jeffries #aryan simhadri #percy jackson disney+#percy jackson series #percy jackson show #percy jackson spoilers #hades pjo #charon pjo #cerberus #pjo #rick riordan #hot take

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haggishlyhagging · 5 months

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In order to effect this re-birth—that is, castration—of women, the therapeutic "mothers" know that it is essential to discredit real mothers. All Hags are familiar with the omnipresent "blaming the mother" syndrome among psychotherapists from Freud downward. C. G. Jung, whose theories are pernicious traps which often stop women in the initial stages of mind-journeying, displays with arresting arrogance another way of discrediting women who are mothers. He simply flattens them into projection screens. We read:

“My own view differs from that of other medico-psychological theories principally in that I attribute to the personal mother only a limited etiological significance. That is to say, all those influences which the literature describes as being exerted on the children do not come from the mother herself, but rather from the archetype projected upon her, which gives her a mythological background and invests her with authority and numinosity [emphasis mine].”

Having reduced women to nothing, Jung blames them for everything. The reader is subliminally led to accept the idea that mothers and not men (such as Jung) are the castrators of women. This renders invisible the fact of female castration by males. Thus, describing a daughter who has a "mother-complex," Jung writes:

“The daughter leads a shadow existence, often visibly sucked dry by her mother, and she prolongs her mother's life by a sort of continuous blood transfusion. . . . Despite their shadowiness and passivity, they [these daughters] command a high price on the marriage market. First, they are so empty that a man is free to impute to them anything he fancies. In addition, they these women are so unconscious that the unconscious puts out countless invisible feelers, veritable octopus tentacles, that suck up all masculine projections; and this pleases men enormously.”

Jung's reversals should be obvious to Hags. He frankly admits that the daughters' condition of being "sucked dry" is a male requirement for marriageability. Just as foot-binding was required by the men of China, so is mindbinding a universal demand of patriarchal males, who want their women to be empty so that they will be forced to suck male projections/ejections, becoming pre-occupied, pre-possessed. This deprivation of vitality is required by patriarchal males who "command [this] high price" which "pleases men enormously." On the level of body-gynecology we have seen what women are commanded to "suck up": The Poisonous Pill, carcinogenic exogenous estrogens, DES, et cetera, ad mortem.

-Mary Daly, Gyn/Ecology

#mary daly #medical misogyny #jungian psychology #motherhood #patriarchal reversal

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savage-rhi · 1 month

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Duality

Chapter 9: The Reconcile

Summary: Sawyer Kiddo has walked a razor's edge as a hacktivist for several years, driven by the loss of her family in the Raccoon City incident. Haunted by past choices and fueled with desire for vigilante justice, Sawyer's work takes an unexpected turn when she ventures to Spain and crosses paths with Luis Serra—a man with blood on his hands long thought to be dead. Together they unravel a web of corruption and face an impending bioterror threat, fighting not only monsters but also the darker elements of their humanity. As they delve deeper into each other's pasts and the conspiracy at large, Sawyer begins to sense something unsettling about Luis—something that might be even more dangerous than their mutual enemies.

Read on AO3 Here

Sawyer’s fingers hovered over the laptop keyboard, her brow furrowed as she scrolled through the VITA network archives. The screen’s soft blue glow illuminated her face, casting shadows that deepened the lines beneath her eyes.

It had been hours since Luis left, and she’d spent every moment since scouring VITA’s hacked intel, digging through databases that reached into the darkest corners of governments, both familiar and obscure. She was even coming across data on countries whose names most civilians were never supposed to know.

Each time Sawyer had done a deep dive on a person or assignment, she’d always return to the surface with something tangible she could work with. She was used to this—this relentless pursuit of truth—but tonight, the truth seemed to be evading her, slipping through her fingers like a loose rope.

Nothing.

There was absolutely nothing on Luis Serra Navarro.

All she had to show was a handful of data, a few scattered notes about his work with Umbrella on over-the-counter drugs, and one vague, cryptic mention in a classified US government file suggesting he might’ve died in some nameless Spanish village back in 2004, but nothing definitive.

There was no closure, just more uncertainty.

A deep frown marred her face as Sawyer scanned the information again, muscles tensing with each word that offered nothing. She leaned back in her chair, the screen reflecting her exhaustion. How could someone so pivotal, so tangled in her life now, be reduced to a few sparse lines of text? She knew there were people in the black market who were more than capable of eliminating someone’s data from the internet. Still, it wasn’t a foolproof process, especially with ex-Umbrella employees from her own experience. Even those among the crueler rings of that underworld always kept blackmail for insurance, so how did someone like Luis pull it off?

More questions, no answers…

Her jaw clenched while she resisted the urge to slam her laptop shut. It wouldn’t help things, but the thought was tempting nonetheless.

With a resigned sigh, Sawyer opened a secure messaging app and began writing a quick status update to Maestro. She needed to get this done ASAP before sleep would consume her, not wanting yet another thing for the man to bitch her out on later.

“Onyx at checkpoint 105. There have been casualties in Madrid, Spain. Soldado is dead; the reason is unknown—alleged victim of a shooting. Spector is dead; the reason is bio-organic weapon contamination, the method through an attack via a stinger,” Sawyer muttered to herself while she typed. The words felt cold and insufficient as if they were coming from someone else. She hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly.

“Rebus and Atom remain unaccounted for. I'm uncertain if they made it out alive. Soldado’s base of operations was destroyed; the method through bio-organic weapon contamination and a facility self-destruct sequence. No documentation was salvaged.”

The cursor blinked back at her rapidly as if demanding more, like it knew she had something to hide.

Sawyer needed to mention Luis and knew it was logical—not to mention proper protocol, but something held her back—an apprehension, a whisper of doubt. If she told VITA’s higher-ups about him, they’d see Luis as a threat, a loose end needing to be tended to. Despite her contempt and the betrayal she felt after discovering his connection to Umbrella, the thought of putting Luis in Maestro's crosshairs made her stomach churn. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that.

She closed her eyes, pushing herself to take a deep breath—to think. Her mind raced, torn between duty and the confusing feelings Luis had stirred in her.

Luis was an enigma of the highest, a walking contradiction—a man who could be both ally and adversary. Dangerous, yes, but human too. And damn it, he was right about one thing during their little spat: he had nothing to lose with his survival on the line. If he hadn’t intervened, if he hadn’t helped her escape Soldado’s clutches, she wouldn’t be here. She’d be dead or, worse, would’ve suffered a similar fate as Samuel.

And someone truly evil wouldn’t have done what he did, would they...?

Her fingers froze over the keyboard, battling with deciding whether or not to seal his fate.

“I’ll be returning to the States tomorrow. As soon as I reach LA, I will provide a follow-up, and I’ll check in for my probation,” she added, the words final and detached, like putting a period at the end of a chapter she wasn’t ready to close.

Sawyer pressed Send before she could change her mind. The screen blinked, the message disappearing into the void of the VITA network. She stared at the empty inbox, her pulse a steady drum in the silence. Unsure if leaving Luis out of the report was a betrayal or an act of mercy.

Perhaps there were no correct answers.

The room felt too quiet now; the only sound was the faint hum of the computer and her tired breaths. Sawyer rubbed her face, her fatigue settling in. She turned her head, her gaze drifting to the window where raindrops traced paths down the glass, Madrid’s lights blurring in the humid night. She wondered if Luis was out there, somewhere in the rain, with just his t-shirt, sweats, and that old jacket against the chill.

Sawyer had yet to determine if he was going to return. Hell, she couldn’t find herself to blame him if he never did. Not after condemning him the moment she had the chance. Her hand still ached with the memory of gripping her gun, eager to pull the trigger against him.

Her thoughts once more drifted to the night Samuel bailed her out. The memory of that event crashed over her like the rain that pounded against her windshield as she drove, mad with grief and vengeance. She had almost thrown her life away in a moment of rage, only to stop at the last second because of one action—one hesitation.

“...You had it in you to stop yourself, to hold onto restraint.”

The words made her grimace, shaking her head as if to dispel an apparition from her past.

“I really screwed up this time, Sam.”

Her eyes landed on Luis’s lighter, sitting upright on the table beside the computer. She reached for it, her fingers tracing the engravings of the UE6 scientists’ names. The metal was cool against her skin, grounding her in the present as her thoughts raced between sleep and the VITA archives. There were still secrets to uncover, truths Luis had kept hidden from her, but Sawyer wondered if it would matter in the end. Would it change anything or deepen the pit she was already sinking into?

Samuel’s voice lingered, that comforting baritone that had always been there to guide her, even at her lowest.

“Sometimes—Kiddo, the hardest thing to do is nothing. But doing nothing isn’t the same as being passive. It’s a choice, and sometimes it’s the bravest choice you can make.”

Sawyer glanced up, looking at the spare beds in the room meant for Samuel, Mobley, and Kari. She closed her eyes, imagining Samuel sitting across from her on the bed to her right. His eyes were weary, but they held that familiar twinkle that always promised her that everything would be okay, even when it seemed impossible.

“What would you do in this case?” she whispered into the empty room, hoping the answer would come somehow, even though she already knew the truth: sometimes, there were no easy answers.

-----------

Two Legs trudged through the rain, each step heavier than the last as the cold droplets bounced off his jacket and fell to the ground at his feet. The fight with Sawyer replayed in his mind, a relentless loop of bitter words and unresolved tension that clawed at him. He wasn’t sure what angered him more—her stubbornness or how she made him feel so conflicted.

So human...

Seeking refuge under the awning of a closed café, Two Legs stopped walking. The dull sign above cast a weak glow onto the wet pavement. The rain pattered on the roof above, the unsteady rhythm doing little to soothe his agitated thoughts. His right hand instinctively reached into his jacket pocket, searching for Luis’s lighter, only to come up empty-handed. A frown creased his brow. Realizing that he’d left it back at the hotel made him chuckle.

With a sigh carrying the weight of worlds, Two Legs pulled out a bent cigarette, placing it between his lips. It was more than just the nicotine he craved; it was the ritual, the familiar act of leveling himself when everything else felt like it was tumbling away. While going through the motions, he pondered to himself.

Smoking had never been the plaga’s habit. It was Luis’s—a vice that Two Legs had inherited along with everything else that came with this body. He chewed on the end of the cigarette, the bitter taste filling his mouth, and the peculiarity of it all wrested in his gut. He wondered why his conflict with Sawyer—his quarry, made him crave Luis’s old comforts. The answer eluded him, yet his thoughts couldn’t stray far from her.

Sawyer's presence had a way of setting his heart racing, not out of only hunger but something far more confusing. A protective instinct that went beyond the primal need to claim or consume. It was maddening how her accusations about his host’s past life had sparked a rage in him that wasn’t entirely his own. Two Legs knew he had every right to be upset; any living creature with its life threatened would react accordingly, but the whole speech he went on about being dehumanized, and even his smart-alec remarks didn’t feel like himself. It felt too raw for his own good.

For a moment, a thought crept in. One that the plaga had been avoiding for so long. Wondering if there was still a part of Luis lingering inside of him, fragments of the man’s essence influencing his actions, thoughts, and feelings. Two Legs had considered it before, especially during moments of existential doubt, but he had never dared to peel it back any further. He wasn’t ready to confront the idea that he might be sharing his body with a ghost—a passenger.

A parasite…

The irony wasn’t lost on him. He darkly chuckled, a hollow sound swallowed up by the rain. Just as he was on the verge of an epiphany—a realization that maybe, just maybe , he wasn’t entirely in control—his senses caught something.

A faint, unmistakable scent carried on the wind like a fleeting whisper. It was earthy, tinged with the musty smell of rain-soaked soil, and something else—something pungent, almost rotting. It wasn’t unpleasant to Two Legs. In fact, it was nearly nostalgic, stirring memories of his time in the caves as a larvae. A pleased growl escaped his throat as the dots clicked.

There was another of his kind nearby.

The world around him seemed to fade as his eyes scanned the street, narrowing in on a shadowy figure across the way. Even from this distance, he could feel their gaze, a predatory assertiveness that sent a shiver down his spine, yet he didn't sense hostile intention, at worst it was a curiosity—like a shark seeing an unidentified shape at the oceans surface, wondering if it was a meal or a potential threat. Without a second thought, Two Legs gave chase, his feet splashing through puddles as he darted across the street to confront them. The figure moved almost supernaturally, descending through the shadows like smoke.

“Hey!” Two Legs called out, his voice lost to the storm, but the entity was frighteningly fast. By the time he reached the spot where it had been, the street was empty; the only evidence of its presence was the lingering presence of dread and hope in his stomach.

Two Legs stood there, rain running down his face, mixing with the sweat of exertion and nervousness. Whoever —it was, it had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only questions. He wondered if it was a regular plaga, maybe a loose brethren from Valdelobos, or if it was something more—something like him, pretending to be human. The probability was low, but there was still a chance.

The thought unsettled Two Legs, the idea that there could be another like him out there, wandering the world alone. The excitement of that prospect was quickly surpassed by the fear of what it might mean in the grand scheme of things. When he dwelled on it, Two Legs wasn’t ready to face another anomaly like himself, not when he could barely hold onto his own identity. He shook his head with a sigh, trying to rid himself of the concern while he pondered his next steps.

Chasing the creature through the storm was a foolish endeavor, especially if it had any intention of harm. The plaga beat himself up for giving into impulse, and realized he couldn’t afford to waste fuel on a mystery that might be better left unsolved, especially not after how much he expended during his time at Lab Unit D and facing down Samuel as a Tusk. His stomach growled, a reminder of more immediate needs.

He would have to let this go—at least for now.

Cautiously, Two Legs retraced his steps, his mind racing as he put more distance between himself and the foreboding presence he’d felt. The further away he got from his relative, the better—less temptation to follow, because perhaps that was what the blasted thing wanted all along. He learned his lessons back at the village to not fall for that sort of "play", at least he liked to hope.

Eventually, as the night wore on, he stopped at a vending machine, its garish lights flickering in the rain like a lousy neon sign. An amused chuckle escaped him when he noticed one of the slots stocked with condoms and other adult content. For a moment, he was rather curious. The plaga tilted his head to the side as he skimmed at a packaging advertisement showing two people locking lips, both participants looking rather satisfied.

“Classy,” he muttered, a bitter snort accompanying the words. He paused for a moment, looking puzzled. The comment seemed odd, but he dismissed it with a shrug as if shaking off an old habit.

Two Legs fed a few coins into the machine, retrieving two chocolate bars and a bag of chips. The mundane action grounded him, pulling the plaga back from a million thoughts that wanted to take center stage. He tucked the extra bar and chips into the inner pocket of his jacket and unwrapped the spare chocolate bar. As he took a bite, the sweetness offered further respite, easing the tension that had knotted his shoulders from his encounter with the entity, but the pull to return to the hotel was persistent, a nagging thought that tempted him.

A part of him wanted to cut his losses and run, to put as much distance as possible between himself and his quarry after their fight. Yet another part— a part he was reluctant to acknowledge —yearned to see Sawyer again. They had unfinished business, after all.

Sighing out a curse, Two Legs turned on his heel and jogged through the darkened streets, ensuring he wasn’t being followed as he ventured back to the hotel—finishing off the rest of the candy bar before he made it to the entrance an hour later.

The door softly creaked open as Two Legs entered the dimly lit room using the spare keycard Sawyer had given him. Sober and unspoken, the remnants of their earlier argument clung to the atmosphere. His eyes fell on Sawyer, lying on her bed with her back to him, her form taut even in the stillness. Two Legs would've assumed she was asleep, had he not seen her visibly flinch when he let out a breath.

He could no longer smell the grime of the lab on her person or Samuel’s fluids. The faint scent of soap and shampoo lingered, telling Two Legs she finally sought comfort in a shower, perhaps trying to wash away the day—or maybe just trying to find a fleeting moment of peace after he left. Either way, he was grateful she decided not to lie in the filth, not wanting his predatory drive to be tempted further like it had been when he stitched her head. It was hard not to bite it off when she was at his mercy in that moment.

Two Legs hesitated in the doorway, waiting for some unseen force to push him forward. The anger that had fueled him earlier had burned out, leaving behind a recessed pang that chewed at him. With a quiet sigh, he crossed the room and sat on the edge of her bed, careful to keep his distance. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, a subtle acknowledgment of his presence. For a moment, neither of them spoke. He was still reeling from the earlier hurt.

“I’m...I’m sorry. Lo siento.” Two Legs finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn’t turn to face her, his gaze fixed on the wall across from him as if it could offer the answers he sought. “What I said about you making poor choices was uncalled for. I’m not going to apologize for protecting my identity, for lying about what I knew to keep myself safe, but I am sorry that I hurt you. And I’m sorry about what happened to Sam and your friends. It wasn’t your fault, y’know?”

His words dangled in the air, stiff and awkward, but it was all he could manage.

Two Legs turned his head slightly, hoping for a response, but Sawyer remained silent. He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to get up and leave, to escape the vulnerability that crept up on him, but alas, he stayed.

“As for the favor... ” he continued, his voice faltering momentarily. “I’m looking for someone...mi padre, father. I heard he might be in the States. I was hoping you could help me get there. Help me get out of the country.”

The lie sat heavy on his tongue, easier than admitting the truth. Easier than confessing he was searching for more of his kind—the very bugs that destroyed her friends and tore her life apart.

“Anyway, ” Two Legs breathed, rubbing his head. “That’s all I have to say. ”

He fished into his pocket, pulling out the other chocolate treat he had picked up earlier—a small, simple indulgence that now felt like an afterthought. The crinkling of the wrapper seemed loud in the hush. He had intended to eat it to alleviate himself further, but now…now it felt wrong.

His fingers hesitated shortly before Two Legs turned, stretching his arm out to place the chocolate bar beside Sawyer. The gesture was small, almost insignificant, but it was the closest thing to an olive branch he could offer.

“You should eat something, ” Two Legs said softly, his voice vulnerable. It was as much a peace offering as it was a plea on her behalf.

With a quiet sigh, Two Legs retreated to a spare bed, lying down and letting his eyes find Sawyer in the dark once he turned off the last remaining lights that were on. He watched her back from across the room, curiously awaiting her to speak up. The distance between them all the while felt like a chasm.

Sawyer shifted on the bed, her movements slow as she processed his words. The silence had changed—it was no longer oppressive but still dense with unresolved hurt. After a long pause, she got the courage to speak, her voice quieter, stripped of its earlier sharpness she had shown him.

“There’s a passport and visa under the bed, ” she began, her tone almost hesitant. “It was meant for Samuel before... ”

Her voice faltered. Two Legs blinked and remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“It won’t get you to the States, ” Sawyer swallowed. “but it’ll get you to England. It’s fake, though. The cops we were working with in Madrid had connections—people at airport security who could look the other way for a short time. If you try to use it after the next twenty-four hours, the authorities will come for you.”

Two Legs mind considered the possibilities. The UK wasn’t where he wanted to go, but it was an escape—a start to his long-term goal of finding a hive he could settle into. He nodded, knowing she couldn’t see it in the darkness.

“Thank you, ” Two Legs whispered, the words thick with emotion he couldn’t fully articulate. He wanted to say more, to convey the gratitude that welled up inside him, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he swallowed them down, replacing them with something practical.

“I can escort you to the airport in the morning, if you'd like? We can leave together. ” he offered.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure if she would accept, but then she nodded. A subtle movement that he barely caught in the dark.

“Alright..."

“Está bien...”

With that, they settled into an uneasy truce.

Sawyer shuddered, her breathing slow and stable as she stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. The chocolate bar lay untouched beside her for a while before she hesitantly reached for it, trying not to make a sound. Once in her grasp, she curled up further onto her side. Her mouth gently nibbling a corner edge as her eyes welled up, unsure if it was out of being grateful to eat something delicious like this again, or if it was from the trauma she endured. Whatever the case, she was thankful Luis had done this for her—despite not having the boldness to say it out loud.

Two Legs watched her from his bed, his gaze softening as he heard the small munching noises she made. The plaga noted that something pleasant stirred whenever he looked at her and remembered what he was— or what he used to be. The latter thought made him swallow, growing distant while he closed his eyes and tried to quiet the noise in his head, hoping “the other place ” wouldn’t be on the other side to greet him tonight.

They would go their separate ways tomorrow—she to the States, and he wasn’t sure where. But for now, they had their peace.

Somehow, it felt like enough for her but not for him.

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solver002 · 27 days

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Eventually, all walls meet demolition So Wall Street had to keep the tradition Their financial systems resigned to ignition And out of the ashes, we have arisen

An empire is forged in the fire of ambition In business, there isn't the time for attrition Invest to suppress then ingest competition Then each acquisition is new ammunition

When governments crumble and fall to the floor That was paved with the graves of a corporate war A fundament funded in blood just to shore A foundation for founding our covenant

Born of a need for control of societal entropy Enterprise at the price of your indemnity Chart out the course and of course you were meant to be Bent to the will of a corporate entity

Arasaka Security. You're in safe hands

We're the light in your screens, we're the lead in your veins Then you wake from your dreams, so we can sell them again In the light we distract with the shiny and new So you're blind to the fact that the product is you So let your brain dance and replay the dream But don't drown in the data stream 'Cause we see where you are and we see where you go 'Cause we know what you own and we own what you know

From the top of all our towers, the corridors of power clearly need rewiring Arasaka saw the spark and then embarked upon the path to turn that spark to lightning There's no autonomous megalopolis so populous or prosperous you could reside in And every citizen that's living in this city is a digit on the charts we're climbing

Political systems are too inefficient They split like the atom and burned in the fission Now every department and every decision Defer to the herds of our corporate divisions

If you don't remember the ballot you cast It's printed on every receipt you were passed Each time you selected our products and services We were elected in each of your purchases

What's left to do when you've got the monopoly? Turn the consumer into the commodity It isn't hard where you've hardware neurology Honestly, do read the company policy

Take information and trade it for wealth You pay it in each augmentation we sell It's easy to cut out the middleman When he's cut out most of himself

Arasaka Finance. Investing in your future

All that you say on the net we composite To maps that go straight from your head to your pocket Complain if you want, you're still making deposits Of data — each day you log on is a profit

Society currently lists electronic So isn't conducting resistance ironic? We've plenty of skeletons locked in our closets But yours are assembled from old-stock hydraulics

So lucky we know just the pieces you need All plucked from your social media feeds The places you go and the posts that you read All snatched for a new algorithm to feed

Now, holding our gold isn't par for the brand Our silver is sat in the palm of your hand Quit whining and sign on the line in the sand The supply does not get to make the demands

Arasaka Manufacturing. Building a better tomorrow

Name, age, qualifications Race, faith, career aspirations Political leaning, daily commute Marital status, favourite fruit

Family, browser, medical history Hobbies, interests, brand affinity Fashion, style, your occupation Gender identity, orientation

Lifestyle choices, dietary needs The marketing contact you choose to receive Posts, likes, employers, friends Social bias, exploitable trends

Tastes, culture, phone of choice Facial structure, the tone of your voice If it's inside your head, we know You can't escape the ebb and flow

When guiding the hand of the market If it's holding a cheque or a gun The fingers go deep in your pockets And you can live under the thumb

You seem so surprised, what did you expect? We're thinking outside of that box that you checked The terms were presented in full to inspect You scrolled to the end just to get to "Accept"

Arasaka would like to know your location (In the light we distract with the shiny and new) Arasaka would like to know your location Arasaka would like to know your location (So you're blind to the fact that the product is you) Arasaka would like to know your location

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lenbryant · 1 year

Text

(Long rePost) "Blood in the water"

How SAG-AFTRA strike will create global havoc for Hollywood - Los Angeles Times

SAG-AFTRA members picket outside Netflix in Hollywood on Friday, the first day of the union’s strike — and first such walkout in 43 years.

(Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Hollywood top executives figured they could ride out a skirmish with screenwriters reeling from technology’s changes to the industry.

But few executives were prepared for — or wanted — a strike by the industry’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 actors and other performers.

After talks over a new contract collapsed last week, throngs of performers joined writers on picket lines — plunging Los Angeles’ signature industry into chaos and further complicating what some fear could become a long and devastating strike.

Movie shoots have ground to a halt. A-list stars have bailed on film and TV marketing campaigns. Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy and other actors walked outduring Thursday night’s London premiere of Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated “Oppenheimer.”

The upcoming fall TV season could sputter, devoid of new scripted episodes of “Abbott Elementary,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “NCIS.” And media companies that were already struggling to compete in the streaming era could see their fortunes further sink.

“There’s going to be a lot of blood in the water,” Jonathan Taplin, director emeritus of USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, said. “This is not going to end well.”

Simultaneous strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — the first joint work stoppage since Ronald Reagan led SAG in 1960 — couldn’t come at a worse time for traditional entertainment companies.

Their businesses haven’t fully recovered from pandemic shutdowns. Walt Disney Co., Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery have been grappling with heavy debt loads due to mergers, and also from ordering dozens of shows to ramp up their streaming services. All the while, linear broadcast and cable TV networks have witnessed a precipitous slide in viewers to Netflix and other streaming services.

“The economics of the industry are very challenging — the worst that we’ve ever seen,” veteran media analyst Michael Nathanson said. “A prolonged strike will only make things worse.”

Amid a nationwide rise in labor activity, Hollywood’s discord has taken on the trappings of a larger cultural clash, ostensibly pitting everyday workers against top wage earners, America’s 1%.

On picket lines and social media sites, richly compensated industry leaders, including Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and Warner Bros. Discovery Chief David Zaslav, are being portrayed as cartoon villains.

Outside Disney’s Burbank headquarters on Friday, a striking worker hoisted a sign that depicted Iger’s face superimposed on a hand-drawn Marie Antoinette figure, holding a raspberry-colored confection under the words: “How about sharing some of that cake, Bob?”

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, center, and SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, left, outside Netflix on Friday.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, best known for starring in the 1990s sitcom “The Nanny,” has been celebrated among striking workers after her rousing speech Thursday to announce her board’s unanimous vote to call a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the organization that negotiates on behalf of the media companies.

Actors are seeking higher minimum pay, increased residuals and revenue sharing with the streamers. They’ve demanded protections against the use of artificial intelligence to simulate background actors, known as “extras.” Writers have made similar demands, saying since the rise of streaming, midlevel writers have struggled to make a living wage.

“The entire business model has been changed because of streaming, digital and AI,” Drescher said. “At some point, you have to say ‘no, we’re not going to take this anymore.’”

The AMPTP defended the offer the group had made to actors, including what it said was the highest percentage increase in pay minimums in 35 years and a “groundbreaking” proposal for AI protections.

“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life,” the AMPTP said. “The union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”

It’s not clear when bargaining sessions with the actors might resume. No talks are currently scheduled.

AMPTP negotiators haven’t met with the WGA in more than two months.

Taplin, a former film producer who wrote a book about artificial intelligence, “The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires Are Selling Out Our Future,” said the threat posed by technology “for all artistic production is gigantic.”

“People worry, in the abstract, about AI replacing workers but here it is, it’s actually happening,” Taplin said. “They don’t want to have to pay for extras anymore, so they could have a scene that has 5,000 AI extras in the background.”

Technology also has upset Hollywood’s hierarchy. AMPTP’s shifting makeup now includes tech giants Amazon, Apple and Netflix — companies that don’t have a tradition of collective bargaining.

Veteran executives said the group, even in good economic times, formed an uneasy alliance. Member companies, including Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Netflix, are more accustomed to battling one another for viewers and revenue.

And some in Hollywood have wondered whether the AMPTP’s shifting makeup will stand in the way of a deal.

When reached for comment, AMPTP spokesperson Scott Rowe said: “The companies remain completely united.”

But unlike past strikes, including the 100-day standoff between writers and studios in 2007-2008, no leading executive has emerged to help broker labor peace.

Director Steven Spielberg, left, Disney CEO Bob Iger and director James Cameron in January.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Wall Street already has placed its bets, punishing the stocks of legacy media companies.

Since the writers’ strike began in May, Disney’s stock has fallen 13% to $88.62 a share. Paramount has dropped more than 30% to $15.96 a share, and Warner Bros. Discovery has declined nearly 7% to $12.40.

Shares of WBD, which owns HBO and CNN, closed at $12.40 on Friday, down nearly 50% since April 2022 when the smaller Discovery absorbed WarnerMedia — a deal that saddled the company with more than $45 billion in debt.

In contrast, Netflix shares have soared 36% to $441.91 since the writers’ strike began.

Netflix now boasts a higher market value — nearly $200 billion — than Disney, the world’s largest entertainment company, which is valued at $162 billion.

“Investors are saying Netflix can weather the storm,” Nathanson said. “They make a lot of shows, and stack them up because of the binge-viewing model. They also have a lot more international production that they can import.”

Disney’s boss, Iger, appeared on business channel CNBC last week from the annual media mogul conference in picturesque Sun Valley, Idaho. The executive, who returned to the company in November, acknowledged that he underestimated the challenges confronting his company — particularly in the traditional television business.

“The disruptive forces that have been preying on that business for a while are greater than I thought,” Iger said. “We have to come to grips with that.”

Disney already has slashed nearly 7,000 jobs this year in an effort to save $5.5 billion. And in a nod to the changing winds, Iger suggested Disney might consider shedding linear channels, perhaps even the ABC television network.

The company, he said, also is open to taking on a strategic partner for ESPN.

Disney’s sports empire remains lucrative, but it is plagued by the trend of consumers ditching cable and satellite subscriptions in favor of streaming apps. At some point, the company plans to offer ESPN directly to consumers — but Iger didn’t say when.

“We’re seeing accelerated cord cutting as people are dropping the cable bundle,” Nathanson said. “And advertisers are no longer supporting the networks as they have in the past.”

Broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — are expected to be hit hard by the twin strikes because they are most reliant on fresh programming. Late-night comedians, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and CBS’ Stephen Colbert, have been off the air since early May, when the writers’ strike began.

If the two walkouts are not resolved before October, there probably won’t be any new scripted shows produced until next year, according to company insiders.

And that could be devastating at a time when traditional networks are struggling to hold on to viewers.

“The networks have sports and news but a lot of their constituents are there to watch the prime-time shows,” said Neil Begley, a senior vice president for Moody’s Investors Service. “Among those viewers, there’s an expectation that fall is the start of the new season. The networks are going to have to reach far and wide for content to fill those hours.”

Compounding matters, this year’s annual TV advertising market, when TV networks sell their commercial time for the new season, has been sluggish.

“Advertisers don’t know what type of programming they’re going to get with these strikes,” Begley said. “They’re saying: Why commit?”

Privately, company executives say their businesses won’t feel much financial pain for several months. Without widespread production, costs will be lower, which translates into higher profits — at least in the short term.

Studios also are expected to begin canceling TV writers’ overall deals to find more savings.

But eventually, networks and streamers will run low on original episodes and media executives will be motivated to reach a detente.

“You can’t get by without actors,” Begley said. “The actors’ strike gave more leverage to the writers.”

Analysts and veteran executives said the market is straining to support all of the streaming services — and shows to stock them — launched in the last five or so years. Hollywood, they say, could look dramatically different after the strikes get resolved.

“Consolidation is going to happen,” predicted Nathanson. “Perhaps the strike will accelerate those moves as the weakness sets in. Some of these players are going to get weaker.”

Times staff writers Richard Verrier, Yvonne Villarreal, Ryan Faughnder, Stephen Battaglio and Anousha Sakoui contributed to this report.

#refrigerator magnet #wga strike #sag/aftra strike #hollywood #labor #pay your writers #pay your actors #union strong

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sharloola · 10 months

Text

Salabed

No time for fretting over birthplace and who we might have been, home is sure enough of herself that she will never demand to be seen. She laughs at you, monolingual kid with lyca card hung out to dry, so worried about rules of belonging crafted under a foreign sky.

Child, she says, there is more to this than language, more than just words woven into the fabric of heritage. See that worlds are stitched together in beats banged on classroom tables and how you pick out spices in the market by smells, never labels.

Watch as you congregate in reflections of your elders around bottles and fried meat, identifying compatriots by the slope of noses and foreheads in the street. See how home has survived over concrete and ocean, in stiff hips, in carnivals of love and hand-me-down motion.

Because the body remembers what ghost men have failed to rip from its’ seams, will know by birth the power of tongue and kin with clairvoyant dreams. Teenage girl leaving for a party braids in patterns of ancestors she’ll never know, rolls her eyes when she’s sent out for fresh meat, only a kilo.

Greens, sukuma or collard, steaming on the table when her mother calls, snaps put the bag on her head and says be back before night falls. See how food anchors as melanin does, always cooked by eye, warm and spicy to thaw the ice of a world that glares as you walk by.

Language stolen has reassembled itself in words rendered improper, once molten and angry now hardened into something stronger than red underline or slur. Bottom lip juts out to replace pointing hands and teeth kiss like reunited lovers behind lips, paired with hums of judgements in the backs of throats, stage directions of ingrained scripts.

See how your gait is screen-printed from bodies that taught your bones their shape, how it’s in our nature to preserve, wrap banana leaves ‘round rice and silk ‘round nape. Shuffle nuts like dye and swap denim for kitenge at weekend weddings, let auntie drag you through the dancery with hesitant feet and leave with spread wings.

They call matter existing in two places at once quantum superposition, but we know it as the 5-for-1 plantain in our mothers’ kitchens. As grass-woven baskets and dried beans under old ice cream lids; stain-glass mosaic of our roots, ode to the patchwork kids.

Question the ley-lines of you and watch them burn with gold, unbreakable, coursing through your veins with no being told. Look up to see the tapestry where you have always fit, let your chin lift and bask. When you think a piece is missing trust the blood, child, Do Not Ask.

s.o.

#poetry #poem #original poem #black poets on tumblr #diaspora #black culture #black british #african american #african culture #inheritance #black poetry #sharloola

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marketresearchdataigr · 9 months

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#United Arab Emirates Blood Screening Market #Market Size #Market Share #Market Trends #Market Analysis #Industry Survey #Market Demand #Top Major Key Player #Market Estimate #Market Segments #Industry Data

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credenceresearchdotblog · 2 hours

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The Carcinoembryonic Antigen Market is projected to grow from USD 1235 million in 2024 to an estimated USD 3522.944 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% from 2024 to 2032.The global Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) market has been experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in cancer diagnostics, increased prevalence of cancer worldwide, and the growing awareness of the role of biomarkers in early cancer detection. CEA is a glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion and is commonly used as a tumor marker in cancer diagnostics, particularly for colorectal cancer. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the CEA market, exploring key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends shaping its future trajectory.

Browse the full report at https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/carcinoembryonic-antigen-cea-market

Market Definition and Scope

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is a biomarker that is frequently measured in blood samples to monitor cancer progression, especially in patients with colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers. CEA levels can provide essential insights into cancer recurrence, response to therapy, and prognosis. It plays a crucial role in detecting cancer at an early stage, allowing for timely intervention and personalized treatment plans. The global CEA market encompasses various diagnostic tests, including CEA assays, kits, reagents, and instrumentation.

Key Drivers of the CEA Market

1. Rising Prevalence of Cancer: The increasing incidence of cancer globally is one of the primary factors driving the CEA market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. Colorectal cancer, in particular, is among the most common cancers, and CEA is widely used in its diagnosis and management.

2. Advancements in Diagnostic Technologies: Technological advancements in diagnostic tools and techniques have improved the accuracy and efficiency of CEA testing. The introduction of highly sensitive immunoassays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs), has enhanced the ability to detect CEA levels in patients, contributing to better cancer management.

3. Growing Demand for Personalized Medicine: As the healthcare industry shifts towards personalized medicine, the demand for biomarkers like CEA is increasing. CEA testing helps in tailoring treatment strategies based on an individual’s tumor biology and response to therapy, improving treatment outcomes and reducing adverse effects.

4. Increasing Awareness and Government Initiatives: Governments and healthcare organizations worldwide are raising awareness about cancer prevention and early detection. In many countries, cancer screening programs that include CEA testing are being implemented to identify high-risk populations. This has further propelled the demand for CEA diagnostic tests.

Challenges and Restraints

1. Limited Specificity of CEA Testing: One of the primary limitations of CEA as a biomarker is its lack of specificity. Elevated CEA levels can also be observed in non-cancerous conditions such as smoking, liver disease, and inflammatory conditions. This can lead to false-positive results, complicating the diagnostic process. Consequently, CEA testing is often used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to improve accuracy.

2. High Cost of Advanced Diagnostic Tools: The cost associated with advanced diagnostic technologies, including CEA assays, can be prohibitive for healthcare providers, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This limits the accessibility of CEA testing in certain regions, thereby restricting market growth.

3. Regulatory and Reimbursement Challenges: Regulatory approval processes and reimbursement policies for diagnostic tests vary significantly across regions. Stringent regulations and the absence of uniform reimbursement policies can hinder market growth, particularly for new entrants.

Opportunities in the CEA Market

1. Emerging Markets: Developing countries, particularly in Asia-Pacific, are witnessing a surge in healthcare infrastructure development and cancer awareness programs. These regions present significant opportunities for market expansion as healthcare providers invest in advanced diagnostic tools, including CEA testing.

2. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI): The integration of AI and machine learning in diagnostic tools offers promising opportunities for the CEA market. AI-powered algorithms can enhance the interpretation of CEA test results, leading to more accurate and timely diagnoses.

3. Collaboration Between Key Players: Collaborations between pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions can accelerate the development of innovative CEA tests and assays. Such partnerships can also help in overcoming challenges related to regulatory approvals and market penetration.

Market Segmentation

The CEA market can be segmented based on product type, application, and end-user. Product types include CEA assays, kits, reagents, and instruments. Applications of CEA testing are primarily in colorectal cancer, followed by breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers. Key end-users of CEA testing products are hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions.

Competitive Landscape

Several key players dominate the CEA market, including Abbott Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Siemens Healthineers, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. These companies focus on product innovation, partnerships, and geographic expansion to maintain a competitive edge. For instance, Roche’s Elecsys CEA assay is a popular product in cancer diagnostics, offering high precision and reliability.

Key Player Analysis:

Abbott (U.S.)

Aviva Systems Biology Corporation

Boster Biological Technology (U.S.)

Cigna (U.S.)

Correlogic Systems, Inc. (Hong Kong)

Creative Diagnostics (U.S.)

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)

Genway Biotech, LLC. (U.S.)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (U.S.)

Lee BioSolutions (U.S.)

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) (U.S.)

Merck KGaA (Germany)

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC (U.K.)

Prospec-Tany Technogene Ltd (Israel)

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (U.S.)

RayBiotech Life, Inc (U.S.)

Segmentation:

By Type,

Serum CEA

Tissue CEA.

By Gender,

Male

Female

By Product,

Kits,

Reagents,

Instruments

By Test,

Clinical testing

Research testing.

By End-Use,

Hospitals,

Diagnostic laboratories,

Research institutes.

By Region

North America

The U.S

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Germany

France

The U.K.

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

South-east Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Browse the full report at https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/carcinoembryonic-antigen-cea-market

About Us:

Credence Research is committed to employee well-being and productivity. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented a permanent work-from-home policy for all employees.

Contact:

Credence Research

Please contact us at +91 6232 49 3207

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.credenceresearch.com

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expresscbd · 2 days

Link

#CBDandDrugScreeningCompliance #CBDMislabelingIssues #CBDOilDrugTest #RegulatoryStandardsforCBD #THCLevelsinCBD

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marketresearchintent · 6 days

Text

Blood Group Typing Market Analysis: New Opportunities in the Healthcare Sector

The Blood Group Typing Market is expected to grow at a rapid pace over the coming years. In 2023, the market was valued at USD 1.9 billion, and by 2030, it's projected to surpass USD 3.3 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. This surge in market value highlights the increasing demand for blood typing in various healthcare sectors.

What is Blood Group Typing?

Blood group typing is the process of determining an individual's blood group, typically classified into A, B, AB, or O types. This crucial medical procedure ensures compatibility for blood transfusions, organ transplants, and managing pregnancies where blood group incompatibility may lead to complications. It also plays an important role in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Why is the Blood Group Typing Market Growing?

Several factors contribute to the rapid growth of the blood group typing market:

Rising Demand for Blood Transfusions: The growing number of surgeries and trauma cases has driven the need for safe and compatible blood transfusions.

Advancements in Technology: With the advent of advanced testing technologies, blood typing has become quicker and more accurate.

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: As chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions become more common, the need for blood transfusions, organ transplants, and diagnostic tests rises.

Government Initiatives: Government health agencies across the globe are launching campaigns to improve healthcare infrastructure, which includes better access to blood banks and safe transfusion practices.

Access Full Report @ https://intentmarketresearch.com/latest-reports/blood-group-typing-market-3123.html

Key Segments of the Blood Group Typing Market

1. Based on Products

Consumables: Reagents, anti-sera, and red blood cells that are essential for blood typing procedures.

Instruments: Machines used in hospitals and laboratories for blood typing tests.

Services: Outsourcing services for hospitals and laboratories to perform blood group testing.

2. Based on Test Type

Antibody Screening: Detects antibodies in the blood that may cause immune reactions.

HLA Typing: Human leukocyte antigen typing is often used in organ transplantation to ensure compatibility.

ABO Blood Group Typing: The most common test, determining whether a person has blood type A, B, AB, or O.

Crossmatching: Ensures compatibility between donor and recipient blood before a transfusion.

3. Based on Technique

PCR-Based Testing: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is becoming popular due to its accuracy in detecting rare blood types.

Microarray Testing: A cutting-edge technique that offers detailed insights into blood group antigens.

Gel Agglutination: A traditional method where blood cells clump together to reveal their type.

4. Based on End-User

Hospitals and Clinics: The largest users of blood typing services, especially in emergency care, surgeries, and transfusions.

Blood Banks: Critical for maintaining safe blood supplies for hospitals and clinics.

Diagnostic Laboratories: Play a key role in providing accurate blood typing for various medical needs.

Research Institutes: Blood typing is essential in biomedical research and the development of new medical treatments.

Geographical Insights into the Blood Group Typing Market

North America

North America dominates the global blood group typing market, thanks to its advanced healthcare infrastructure and high demand for blood transfusions. The U.S. leads the region with significant investments in healthcare research and technological advancements.

Europe

Europe holds the second-largest market share, driven by increased demand for organ transplants and blood donations. Countries like Germany, the UK, and France are key players in the region.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market, with a rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure, especially in countries like China, India, and Japan. Increased government initiatives and rising awareness of safe blood transfusion practices are fueling growth in this region.

Latin America and the Middle East

These regions are experiencing moderate growth, with improving healthcare systems and increased focus on safe transfusion practices. Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are emerging as key markets.

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Technological Advancements in Blood Group Typing

Technological innovations have dramatically improved the accuracy and speed of blood group typing. Some of the most noteworthy advancements include:

Automation: Automated blood typing machines reduce human error and streamline the testing process.

DNA-Based Testing: Genetic testing methods like PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) have made it easier to identify rare blood types.

Artificial Intelligence: AI-driven platforms can now analyze blood typing data more efficiently, predicting rare blood types and crossmatching results with greater precision.

Challenges in the Blood Group Typing Market

Despite its rapid growth, the blood group typing market faces several challenges:

High Cost of Advanced Technologies: While innovative testing methods improve accuracy, they also raise costs, limiting access in some regions.

Limited Awareness in Low-Income Countries: In developing countries, there is still a lack of awareness regarding the importance of safe blood transfusions.

Regulatory Hurdles: Compliance with government regulations varies by region, sometimes slowing the approval process for new technologies.

Key Players in the Blood Group Typing Market

Several companies are leading the charge in the global blood group typing market:

Bio-Rad Laboratories: Specializing in diagnostics and testing solutions.

Grifols: A global leader in plasma-derived medicines and transfusion diagnostics.

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics: A top player in immunohematology and blood typing products.

Immucor: Focuses on improving transfusion and transplantation diagnostics.

Future Outlook of the Blood Group Typing Market

The future of the blood group typing market looks promising, with continued growth expected through 2030. Some key trends include:

Increased Investment in R&D: Research into advanced blood typing methods will likely continue, focusing on automation, accuracy, and cost reduction.

Emerging Markets: Countries with developing healthcare systems are investing in better blood typing technologies, creating new growth opportunities.

Personalized Medicine: The rise of personalized treatments will likely drive demand for more precise blood typing methods to ensure compatibility in therapies like immunotherapy and gene editing.

Conclusion

The global blood group typing market is on a path of exponential growth, driven by technological advancements, rising demand for blood transfusions, and government initiatives. With the market projected to surpass USD 3.3 billion by 2030, the future looks bright for companies and healthcare providers in this field. As the industry continues to innovate, the accuracy and accessibility of blood group typing will only improve, saving more lives and ensuring safer medical procedures.

FAQs

What is the CAGR of the blood group typing market from 2024 to 2030? The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during this period.

What is the importance of blood group typing? Blood group typing ensures compatibility for blood transfusions, organ transplants, and other medical procedures, reducing the risk of complications.

Which regions are leading the blood group typing market? North America holds the largest market share, followed by Europe and the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region.

What are the major technologies used in blood group typing? Key technologies include PCR-based testing, microarray testing, and gel agglutination methods.

What are the major challenges facing the blood group typing market? Challenges include the high cost of advanced technologies, limited awareness in developing regions, and regulatory hurdles.

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creativeera · 14 days

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DNA and RNA Sample Preparation Market is Estimated to Witness High Growth Owing to Increasing Adoption

The DNA and RNA sample preparation market involves processes associated with isolation, extraction, purification and quantification of nucleic acids DNA and RNA from various sources like tissues, blood, sperm, cells etc. for downstream applications in genomics, molecular diagnostics, personalized medicine and others. The sample preparation is a critical and initial step before conducting various genomic tests including Next Generation Sequencing, polymerase chain reaction and other assays. Growing awareness and adoption of precision medicine and genetic/molecular testing is driving demand for efficient nucleic acid isolation and downstream analysis.

The Global DNA and RNA Sample Preparation Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2262.46 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period 2024 To 2031. Key Takeaways Key players operating in the DNA and RNA sample preparation are Agilent Technologies, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., DiaSorin S.p.A, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Miroculus, Inc., Illumina, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., QIAGEN, Sigma Aldrich Corp., Tecan Group AG, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Growing prominence of personalized medicine is creating opportunities for development of new sample preparation methods and kits which can extract nucleic acids from various types of samples. Rising incidence of chronic and infectious diseases worldwide is increasing diagnostic testing which will propel sample preparation market growth. Global expansion of key market players through acquisitions and partnerships with regional diagnostic labs and research institutes will further augment market revenues. Market Drivers Increasing funding for Genomic and genetic research from government bodies as well as private sector is one of the key factors driving the DNA and RNA Sample Preparation Market Size. Government initiatives aimed at large scale population screening and clinical testing for various genetic disorders, infectious diseases and cancers are also creating demand for high throughput nucleic acid preparation. Growing geriatric population and rising healthcare spending in developing nations also provides growth opportunities for market players in the forecast period.

PEST Analysis Political: Laws and regulations imposed by governments for research using DNA and RNA samples could impact the market. Changes in healthcare policies will also have effects. Economic: Factors like GDP growth, income levels, healthcare spending will drive demand. Rise in research activities and focus on precision medicine boost the market. Social: Growing awareness about personalized medicine and importance of genetic testing are important. Social trends also promote preventive healthcare and wellness. Technological: Advancements in fields like next generation sequencing, lab automation, bioinformatics are key for market growth. Miniaturization and portability of equipment expand applications. Developments in sample collection and storage methods improve efficiency. Geographical regions where the market in terms of value is concentrated include North America and Europe. North America accounts for the largest share in the global market due to presence of well-established healthcare industry and research institutes. Europe also captures notable share due to growing biotech sector and research funding. The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period. This is attributed to factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure, growing awareness, expanding biotech industry and rising government investments in research. Countries like China, India offer growth opportunities as they focus on healthcare infrastructure development.

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delveinsight12 · 15 days

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Cocaine Intoxication Market: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Options, and Market Insights

Cocaine intoxication is a critical medical condition resulting from the use of cocaine, a powerful stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. Known for its potential to cause severe physiological and psychological effects, cocaine intoxication demands prompt and effective management. This article explores the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options for cocaine intoxication, and provides an overview of the market related to its treatment.

Causes of Cocaine Intoxication

Cocaine intoxication occurs when an individual consumes cocaine, which can be in the form of powder, crack cocaine, or coca leaf extract. Cocaine is a potent stimulant that increases dopamine levels in the brain, leading to heightened euphoria and increased energy. The primary causes of cocaine intoxication include:

1. Recreational Use: The most common cause of cocaine intoxication is recreational use. Users often seek the stimulating effects of cocaine, which include increased alertness and energy.

2. Overdose: High doses or frequent use of cocaine can lead to intoxication and overdose. The risk is heightened when cocaine is used in combination with other substances, such as alcohol.

3. Non-Medical Use: In some cases, individuals may misuse cocaine for performance enhancement or weight loss, increasing the likelihood of intoxication.

Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Intoxication

Cocaine intoxication can present with a wide range of symptoms, reflecting its profound impact on the central nervous system and cardiovascular system:

1. Euphoria: Users often experience intense feelings of happiness and energy. This is a hallmark symptom of cocaine intoxication.

2. Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Cocaine can lead to tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and hypertension (high blood pressure), which may cause chest pain and increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

3. Dilated Pupils: One of the visible signs of cocaine intoxication is dilated pupils.

4. Hyperactivity and Agitation: Users may exhibit restlessness, agitation, and hyperactivity.

5. Paranoia and Hallucinations: Cocaine intoxication can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

6. Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting are common.

7. Seizures: High doses or severe intoxication can lead to seizures and convulsions.

8. Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath: Cocaine use can precipitate myocardial infarction (heart attack) and respiratory issues.

Diagnosis of Cocaine Intoxication

Diagnosing cocaine intoxication involves a combination of clinical assessment and laboratory tests:

1. Clinical Evaluation: Healthcare providers conduct a thorough assessment, including taking a detailed history of drug use, observing symptoms, and conducting a physical examination.

2. Toxicology Screening: Urine and blood tests can confirm the presence of cocaine and its metabolites. These tests help in diagnosing cocaine use and assessing the extent of intoxication.

3. Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG may be performed to assess the heart’s electrical activity and detect any abnormalities caused by cocaine use.

4. Imaging Studies: In cases of severe intoxication or suspected complications, imaging studies such as chest X-rays or CT scans may be used to evaluate cardiovascular and pulmonary effects.

Treatment Options for Cocaine Intoxication

Treatment for cocaine intoxication focuses on stabilizing the patient, managing symptoms, and preventing complications:

1. Supportive Care: Initial treatment includes providing a calm environment, monitoring vital signs, and ensuring adequate hydration.

2. Medications: Various medications may be used to address specific symptoms:

- Benzodiazepines: These are commonly administered to manage agitation, seizures, and anxiety.

- Antihypertensives: Medications to control elevated blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

- Antiarrhythmics: For managing abnormal heart rhythms.

3. Cardiovascular Support: In cases of severe cardiovascular effects, treatments may include medications to stabilize heart rate and blood pressure, and interventions to manage myocardial infarction.

4. Psychiatric Support: Mental health support may be necessary to address acute psychiatric symptoms, such as paranoia and hallucinations.

5. Detoxification and Rehabilitation: Long-term management may involve detoxification programs and rehabilitation to address substance use disorders and prevent recurrence.

Cocaine Intoxication Epidemiology and Market Facts

The prevalence and impact of cocaine intoxication are significant public health concerns:

- Prevalence: Cocaine use and intoxication remain substantial issues globally. According to recent data, approximately 0.5% to 1% of the adult population in developed countries report using cocaine annually.

- Market Size: The market for treatments related to cocaine intoxication is part of the broader addiction treatment market, which is growing due to increased awareness and demand for effective interventions. The market size for substances abuse treatment was valued at several billion dollars in recent years and continues to expand.

- Economic Impact: Cocaine use and its consequences have a significant economic impact due to healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and criminal justice expenditures.

Companies Working in the Cocaine Intoxication Market

Several companies are active in developing treatments and interventions for cocaine intoxication and related conditions:

1. Indivior PLC: Known for its work in addiction treatment, Indivior develops medications and therapies for substance use disorders, including cocaine addiction.

2. Alkermes plc: Alkermes is involved in the development of medications for addiction treatment, including those targeting stimulant use disorders.

3. Opiant Pharmaceuticals: Specializes in developing treatments for addiction and overdose, with a focus on opioid and stimulant-related conditions.

4. Mylan N.V.: Mylan provides various medications, including those used in addiction treatment and management of acute symptoms associated with intoxication.

5. Psychedelic Sciences: Emerging companies in the psychedelic research space are exploring novel treatments for addiction, including cocaine use disorder.

Cocaine intoxication is a serious medical condition with significant implications for physical and mental health. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options is crucial for effective management and prevention. The market for cocaine-related treatments is growing, driven by increased demand for effective interventions and ongoing research. Companies across the pharmaceutical and therapeutic sectors are actively contributing to advancements in the treatment of cocaine intoxication and substance use disorders.

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