#Compensation Planning Tools

[robertanthony34]

How To Use Compensation Planning Software To Support Budget And Workforce Objectives

Introduction

In today’s competitive business environment, organizations are under immense pressure to manage their workforce effectively while staying within budget. One of the most strategic ways to align financial constraints with employee performance and satisfaction is through effective compensation planning. However, manual methods or disconnected tools often lead to errors, misalignment, and inefficiencies. This is where Compensation Planning Software becomes essential.

Bullseye Engagement, a leader in workforce optimization solutions, offers robust Compensation Planning Software designed to align your compensation strategies with your budget and workforce goals. By streamlining compensation processes, this software helps HR leaders and managers make data-driven decisions that positively impact retention, performance, and overall organizational success.

In this blog, we will explore how to use Compensation Planning Software to support both your budgetary requirements and workforce objectives effectively.

Why Compensation Planning Matters

Compensation is more than just salaries and bonuses. It is a critical element of employee satisfaction, performance management, and organizational culture. Poorly planned compensation strategies can lead to low morale, high turnover, and missed financial targets.

To ensure that compensation supports both workforce and financial objectives, companies need to integrate data, forecasts, and performance metrics. This level of strategic planning requires a dedicated system — not spreadsheets or disconnected tools.

What is Compensation Planning Software?

Compensation Planning Software is a digital solution that automates and streamlines the process of planning, budgeting, and executing employee compensation. This includes base salary adjustments, bonuses, incentives, merit increases, and equity distributions. It enables HR and finance teams to work collaboratively, ensuring compensation aligns with performance data and budget limits.

Bullseye Engagement's Compensation Planning Software offers intuitive dashboards, role-based access, and analytics tools to simplify complex compensation decisions. It’s designed to make sure that compensation not only retains top talent but also adheres to financial guidelines and organizational goals.

Key Features of Bullseye Engagement’s Compensation Planning Software

1. Budget Alignment Tools

Bullseye Engagement’s software allows HR and finance teams to set compensation budgets and allocate funds across departments and teams. The system provides real-time tracking to ensure that managers don’t exceed allocated limits, enabling smarter decisions during merit cycles.

2. Performance-Based Pay Integration

The software integrates seamlessly with performance management systems, allowing managers to tie compensation directly to employee performance. This supports a pay-for-performance culture, which is essential for motivating top talent and ensuring fairness.

3. Scenario Planning and Forecasting

With built-in modeling tools, managers can create “what-if” scenarios to test the impact of compensation decisions before implementation. This helps in balancing workforce needs with financial objectives without unpleasant surprises.

4. Automated Workflows and Approvals

Manual compensation planning is often delayed by approval bottlenecks. Bullseye Engagement’s software includes automated workflows that speed up approvals while maintaining compliance and transparency.

5. Compliance and Audit Trails

Compliance with internal and external regulations is a growing concern. This software includes detailed audit trails and customizable compliance features to reduce risk and support accountability.

How To Use Compensation Planning Software to Support Budget Objectives

Set Realistic Budget Constraints

Begin by inputting your organizational compensation budget into the software. This budget should account for fixed salaries, potential bonuses, cost-of-living adjustments, and any variable compensation plans. Bullseye Engagement’s platform helps you break this down by department or role level, providing a clear view of your financial boundaries.

Monitor Spending in Real Time

One of the primary advantages of using Compensation Planning Software is real-time budget tracking. Managers receive instant feedback if their compensation plans exceed the budget, allowing adjustments before final approval. This prevents overspending and promotes accountability across the organization.

Use Predictive Analytics

Forecasting future compensation needs is essential for long-term budgeting. Bullseye Engagement’s solution uses historical data and trends to project future costs. This allows HR and finance to prepare for workforce changes such as expansions, promotions, or market adjustments.

How To Use Compensation Planning Software to Support Workforce Objectives

Align Pay with Performance

High-performing employees expect their efforts to be recognized and rewarded. Bullseye Engagement’s Compensation Planning Software integrates with performance management tools, allowing managers to allocate compensation increases based on performance ratings. This motivates employees and reinforces a merit-based culture.

Improve Transparency and Fairness

Employees want to understand how their compensation is determined. The software’s transparency features allow for clear communication of compensation decisions, reducing confusion and increasing trust in the organization.

Retain Top Talent

Turnover is costly. Competitive and fair compensation plans, driven by data, help organizations retain their best performers. The software can identify top talent and recommend compensation adjustments that align with market standards, reducing the risk of losing key employees to competitors.

Address Pay Equity

With built-in analytics, Bullseye Engagement’s software can identify potential pay disparities across gender, race, and other demographics. This enables companies to take corrective action and demonstrate a commitment to pay equity and diversity.

Best Practices for Implementing Compensation Planning Software

Involve Key Stakeholders

From HR to finance to department heads, involve all relevant stakeholders in the software implementation process. This ensures that the system meets the needs of all users and gains broad support.

Train Managers Effectively

Managers play a key role in compensation decisions. Providing them with training on how to use the software ensures they can make informed, budget-conscious, and fair decisions.

Review and Adjust Regularly

Compensation planning is not a one-time event. Use the software to review compensation structures regularly and adjust based on market data, performance metrics, and organizational goals.

Leverage Data for Continuous Improvement

Data collected through the software can be analyzed to refine your compensation strategy over time. Bullseye Engagement provides dashboards and reports that help identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.

Why Choose Bullseye Engagement?

Bullseye Engagement stands out in the market for its holistic approach to workforce optimization. Their Compensation Planning Software is just one component of a larger ecosystem designed to improve employee engagement, performance, and organizational effectiveness.

Key benefits of Bullseye Engagement’s solution include:

Seamless integration with performance and goal-setting tools

Role-based access to maintain data security

Scalable features suitable for organizations of all sizes

Exceptional customer support and onboarding

By choosing Bullseye Engagement, you are not only investing in a software solution but in a strategic partner committed to your organizational success.

Conclusion

In a business world where every dollar and every employee matters, compensation planning must be both strategic and data-driven. Compensation Planning Software from Bullseye Engagement empowers organizations to manage compensation with precision, aligning financial budgets with employee performance and satisfaction.

By leveraging this powerful tool, HR leaders can ensure fair, competitive, and budget-conscious compensation strategies that drive engagement, reduce turnover, and support organizational growth. Whether your goal is to reward top performers, ensure pay equity, or stay within strict financial limits, Bullseye Engagement’s software delivers the insights and control needed to succeed.

Start transforming your compensation planning software process today with Bullseye Engagement — where workforce strategy meets intelligent software.

For more info Contact us : (888) 515-0099 or Email : besales@bullseyetdp.com

[dartican]

Mastering Modern Compensation Management

In the ever-evolving realm of business management, the compensation process stands as a vital component, determining not just the monetary worth of an employee's work but also influencing their motivation, satisfaction, and company loyalty. Simply put, this process refers to the steps an organization takes to determine how it will compensate its members.

Benefits of Streamlining the Compensation Process

Employee Satisfaction: A fair, transparent, and competitive compensation process ensures that employees feel valued and appreciated.

Business Growth: Attract top talent and retain existing employees, driving productivity and innovation.

Efficient Resource Allocation: Optimized compensation processes prevent overspending, ensuring funds are appropriately allocated.

Why a Compensation Planning Tool is Essential

In today's digital age, manual compensation planning can be both cumbersome and prone to errors. This is where a compensation planning tool proves its worth:

Data-Driven Decisions: Make compensation decisions based on factual data and insights rather than intuition.

Automated Workflows: Streamline operations and ensure that each step of the process is efficiently executed.

Integration with Other Systems: Ensure a smooth flow of information across different HR and payroll platforms.

Spotlight on CompAccel

One trip to Dartican gives a clear idea about where the future of compensation planning is headed. CompAccel, distinct in its capabilities and features, brings a fresh perspective to compensation planning tools.

Holistic View: CompAccel offers a comprehensive perspective on compensation, integrating data from multiple sources.

Interactive Dashboards: Dive deep into the intricacies of compensation with dynamic dashboards and reporting tools.

Cloud-Based Solution: Accessible anywhere and anytime, ensuring flexibility and convenience for all stakeholders involved in the compensation process.

Staying Ahead in the Compensation Game

With industries evolving and the market becoming more competitive, it's imperative for businesses to have a handle on their compensation strategy. An effective compensation process combined with a robust compensation planning tool like CompAccel ensures that businesses remain ahead of the curve, attracting and retaining the best talent.

Final Thoughts

In the grand scheme of organizational management, compensation stands as a critical pillar. A sophisticated approach, empowered by tools like CompAccel, ensures that companies can navigate this complex realm with finesse and efficiency. As the future unfolds, leveraging the power of technology in compensation management will be the game-changer.

[sirfrogsworth]

I think this question is the most asked one I see from people starting their photography journey.

They upgrade from their smartphone and get a nicer camera and lens and then wonder why their photos don't look much different.

A fancy camera opens up more possibilities and gives you great control. Lenses are creative tools that allow myriad perspectives. But a paintbrush does not paint a picture for you.

The answer to the question is light and effort.

The better the light, the less effort required. The worse the light, the more effort required. But you always need both to get a good photo. And you need a lot of both to get a spectacular photo.

Imagine this photo taken in the same overcast light as the waterfall above.

That would be the world's most boring parking lot photo.

But because the light was so beautiful I was able to pull out my smartphone and get a great shot. No fancy camera required. But I knew my phone was limited so I took three photos for a panorama. And I captured everything in RAW format to make sure I didn't lose any dynamic range or color information. This required a lot of extra post processing to combine everything and edit the colors close to what my eyeballs saw.

The light made things much easier. I just had to point the camera in the direction of the sunset. But effort was still part of the equation.

The best light is at...

Sunrise.

Sunset.

Or at night (tripod required).

Or... bring your own light.

I had a sunset but my friend was in the dark so I employed my gigantic 7 foot umbrella.

Good photographers often plan their shots in advance. They will scout locations (Google Maps is your friend), take test shots to find the best composition, and then wait until the light is magical to get their shot. There are some landscapists who return to a spot continuously until conditions are perfect. I've heard of some who spend a year or more to get the photo they desire.

I knew I was going to be near the Arch. I used Google Maps to figure out a cool vantage point. I hauled my tripod a few blocks to that spot. And then my heart sank a little...

They turned the lights off.

The lights that illuminate the Arch confuse migrating geese in September. I still took the photo. And it's okay. But I didn't have the light I wanted. So I'll have to go back another time when geese aren't screwing everything up.

I'll have to put in that effort.

I understand you cannot always plan ahead. If photographers need to get a good shot spontaneously in bad light, they have to go above and beyond to elevate the photo.

They might have to find an interesting perspective.

Perhaps use an atypical lens.

Long exposure.

Or they can incorporate an interesting subject. A model. An old barn. Fungus.

Think about foreground, midground, and background. If you have a dull background, increase interest in the foreground or midground. Or both.

Again, the worse the light is, the more effort you have to put in to compensate. You might find yourself lying on the ground or dangling over a cliff.

Another option is to bring your own light. Overcast days can actually look quite compelling if you light a subject and then underexpose the background. This can bring out a lot of details in the clouds that would otherwise get lost in a natural light exposure.

(not my photo, source unknown)

Sometimes the prettiest days make the most boring photos. Sunlight at high noon is very hard to work with photographically. Especially if you have people in the photo. Hard shadows tend to not be flattering.

Black and white can sometimes make harsh sunlight look cool.

Or you can add a fold-up diffuser to help soften things.

All of this is to say... you cannot take a fancy camera to a waterfall on an overcast day and expect it to do all of the work. You are just going to end up with a flat looking snapshot. You have to put thought into your photos. You need a bag of tricks you can pull from at any moment. And you have to be willing to go the extra mile if you don't have the light you want.

For a waterfall at sunset, you can just put it dead center and call it a day.

(photographer unknown)

But if you have an overcast day with boring light, you're gonna need to effort your ass off.

This photographer put the camera near the ground, found a great composition, included cool foreground/midground elements, and used long exposure to make the water silky.

(Stephen Spragg)

There is also the option to combine maximum light with maximum effort.

This is by famed photographer, Joe McNally. He shot at night. There is a hidden flash off to the right of the worker. He used a wide lens to get a unique perspective. He used long exposure to get light trails from the cars below. Oh, and he is hanging off the side of a building.

Light and effort. Light and effort. Light and effort.

And, as always, the third secret ingredient is... education.

Education will help you leverage light and effort more so than any camera or lens. Don't just learn the open chords. Learn those ones where you have to stretch your pinky out super far while barring the low F.

Sorry, I used to play guitar and a metaphor slipped through.

Free photography education...

Tony & Chelsea 7 Hour Course Karl Taylor Free Introduction to Photography

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Mark Zuckerberg announces mind-control ray (again)

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in PITTSBURGH on May 15 at WHITE WHALE BOOKS, and in PDX on Jun 20 at BARNES AND NOBLE with BUNNIE HUANG. More tour dates (London, Manchester) here.

Mark Zuckerberg has told investors how he plans to make back the tens of billions he's spending on AI: he's going to use it to make advertisements that can bypass our critical faculties and convince anyone to buy anything. In other words, Meta will make an AI mind-control ray and rent it out to grateful advertisers.

Here, Zuck is fulfilling the fundamental duty of every CEO of every high-growth tech company: explaining how his company will continue to grow. These growth stories are key, because growth stocks trade at a huge premium relative to the stocks of "mature" companies. Every dollar Meta brings in boosts their share price to a much greater degree than the dollars earned by companies with similar rates of profit, but slower rates of growth. This premium represents a bet by investors that Meta will continue to grow, which means that the instant Meta stops growing, the value of its shares will plummet, to reflect the fact that it is a "mature" company, not a "growth" company.

So Zuck needs to do everything he can to keep investors believing that Meta will continue to grow. After all, Zuck's key employees and top managers all take much (or even most!) of their compensation in Meta stock, which means that the instant the company stops growing, those workers' pay will plummet and they will seek employment elsewhere, depriving Meta of the workers it needs to successfully create or conquer a new market and once again become a growth stock.

This is why Zuck keeps telling stories. The most important story Zuck tells is about himself, the boy genius who converted a tool for nonconsensually rating the fuckability of Harvard undergrads into a social media monopoly with four billion users. Zuck's cult of personality isn't the product of mere narcissism – it's a tool for creating the material conditions for ongoing investor confidence:

https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-shirt-latin-what-does-it-say-explained-words-2024-9

If Zuck is a boy genius, then Zuck's pronouncements take on the character of prophesy. When Zuck announced the "pivot to video," investors poured tens of billions into Facebook stock and into video-first online news production, despite the fact that Zuck was obviously lying:

https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/facebook-online-video-pivot-metrics-false.html

The "boy genius" story is an example of Silicon Valley's storied "reality distortion field," pioneered by Steve Jobs. Like Jobs, Zuck is a Texas marksman, who fires a shotgun into the side of a barn and then draws a target around the holes. Jobs is remembered for his successes, and forgiven his (many, many) flops, and so is Zuck. The fact that pivot to video was well understood to have been a catastrophic scam didn't stop people from believing Zuck when he announced "metaverse."

Zuck lost more than $70b on metaverse, but, being a boy genius Texas marksman, he is still able to inspire confidence from credulous investors. Zuck's AI initiatives generated huge interest in Meta's stock, with investors betting that Zuck would find ways to keep Meta's growth going, despite the fact that AI has the worst unit economics of any tech venture in living memory. AI is a business that gets more expensive as time goes on, and where the market's willingness to pay goes down over time. This makes the old dotcom economics of "losing money on every sale, but making it up in volume" look positively rosy:

https://www.wheresyoured.at/reality-check/

Now, Zuck has finally described how he's going to turn AI's terrible economics around: he's going to ask AI to design his advertisers' campaigns, and these will be so devastatingly effective that advertisers will pay a huge premium to advertise on Meta:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ai-revolution-is-an-advertising-revolution-morning-brief-100001467.html

This narrative is especially galling because it's literally the same story Zuck has been telling for decades: "Facebook has built a mind-control out of Big Data, and we can sell anything to anyone":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/09/30/dont-believe-the-criti-hype/#ordinary-mediocrities

This is a facially absurd proposition. After all, everyone who's ever claimed to have perfected mind-control – Rasputin, Mesmer, MK-ULTRA, neurolinguistic programming grifters and pathetic "pick up artists" – was a liar. Either they were lying to themselves, or to everyone else. Or both.

But many of tech's critics helped sell this narrative (and thus helped Meta sell ads). Many critics have fallen prey to the sin of "criti-hype," Lee Vinsel's term for critiquing the claims of your adversary without bothering to ask whether they are true:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/02/euthanize-rentiers/#dont-believe-the-hype

The project of convincing investors that tech's "dopamine hackers" had perfected mind-control with warmed over, non-replicable Skinnerian behavior-mod techniques and mass surveillance sold a hell of a lot of ads. After all, if there's one kind of person the advertising sector has always been able to sell to, it's advertising executives, who are the easiest of marks for a story about how easy it is to trick the public into buying whatever you're selling:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/05/florida-man/#wannamakers-ghost

Every ad-tech sales-bro who takes a meeting with an advertising executive finds himself pushing on an open door. Advertisers desperately wants to believe in mind-control rays. Think of the department store magnate John Wannamaker, who said, "half my advertising spending is wasted – I just don't know which half." Imagine: some advertising exec convinced John Wannamaker that he was only wasting half of his advertising spending!

I've long maintained that the threat from AI to workers isn't that AI can do your job – it's that an AI salesman can convince your boss to fire you and replace you with an AI that can't do your job:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/18/asbestos-in-the-walls/#government-by-spicy-autocomplete

The corollary here is that it doesn't matter if AI can design ads that work, not so long as an AI ad salesman can sell this proposition to an advertisers, and not so long as a tech CEO can sell it to investors.

AI keeps passing the worst kinds of Turing tests – for example, it's great at helping people who are prone to life-destroying hallucinations that they are talking to God:

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ai-spiritual-delusions-destroying-human-relationships-1235330175/

Zuck kept up his growth story with this mind control narrative for more than a decade, got caught committing a string of spectacular frauds, and then lured investors back into his stock offerings by telling the same story. This isn't just an indictment of Zuck, it's a stinging rebuke to the whole idea that markets are a kind of infallible computer for assessing and operationalizing information. The market's "thought process" demonstrably lacks the object permanence that most babies acquire by the time they are a year old. You can tell when your child has acquired object permanence by the fact that they cease to enjoy "peek-a-boo" (object permanence means they understand where you have gone when your face is hidden).

In claiming that AI will give him an infinite growth mind-control ray, Mark Zuckerberg is challenging the market to a game of peek-a-boo – and he's winning.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/05/07/rah-rah-rasputin/#credulous-dolts

Image:

Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[wordsinhaled]

The things Charles touches in Hell

Everyone run and look at @qwanderer's amazing gifset of the things Charles touches in hell that inspired this meta!!!!

TL;DR Charles' journey to get Edwin is not just retracing Edwin's steps following the maps in the notebook but also on some level specifically reflects the doubts Charles holds about his own capacity to be a good person (and, extrapolating from Edwin's confession, a worthy romantic partner for Edwin in the future). Everything Charles touches in Hell (the mirror in Limbo, the bell, the lock, the claw machine + Maxine grabbing him on the stairs) is designed to sow doubt in Charles - incidentally, much like Orpheus experiences doubt on the journey out of Hell with Eurydice.

-

The mirror

The mirror shows Charles his reflection, which he hasn't been able to see since he died. Jayden said in a Cameo that when he acted in this moment he was embodying Charles giving himself a pep talk about saving Edwin - so he's thinking about whether he is different enough from his father to be able to pull off this rescue, whether he's capable of it.

The mirror also reminds him that, being corporeal in Hell, he doesn't have the capacity to mirror-hop to Edwin, which would have been the easiest way to get to him. It's a tool he'd have had as an incorporeal ghost, a tool that he lacks in Hell. The mirror highlights Charles's need to be Useful to his loved ones and the doubt that if he isn't capable of being useful (especially in rescuing/protecting them), he isn't loveable. Later he says to Edwin "Well, I'm here now," and is able to use the tools in the bag of tricks to distract the doll spider and get Edwin to safety.

And though I don't think Charles is as consciously aware of this bit, the mirror's also a bit of a metaphor for Charles' people-pleasing and how Charles effaces himself in favor of his loved ones. Charles isn't able to be seen in reflections normally, as a ghost, just as he puts the comfort and mood of others above showing his authentic feelings/frustrations, so he isn't "seen" in those relationships. In the mirror in Hell, he can see himself, for the first time in over three decades, and it echoes a fear/doubt that if he shows up fully present in a relationship, romantic or otherwise, he will take up too much space for himself, or people won't like what the see when he is visible.

The bell

The bell speaks to Charles's doubts about impulsivity and its unintended negative consequences. Charles' on-the-spot impulsive decisions are a theme throughout the show - he identifies himself as "the one who does shit like this" in the pilot when possessing Esther. And he compensates for or offsets these things really successfully with resourceful thinking (see: the enchanted jar to replace the sprites' smashed vessel, etc.), and his quick thinking is a huge strength. But the bell here is an example to Charles of a time his impulsivity hurt others, even without him realizing.

Charles and Edwin have an exchange about it: "What about the bell?" "No - it hurts them." Charles experiences direct proof that his impulsive action caused harm to others that he can't fix or soothe, and this moment leads directly into Charles slowing down to take time to process/figure out his feelings for Edwin during the staircase confession rather than impulsively saying he was in love back right away. The bell reflects his fear of how his impulsivity could be a hurdle or liability in his relationships. The bell can also represent the fear that even something that typically makes Charles an asset to Edwin, a strength or a positive, can become something harmful if Charles isn't careful. It's the doubt that Charles' quick thinking, which complements Edwin's more regimented nature and desire to always "have a proper plan in place," could have an unintended harmful shadow side if Charles allows it to, so that he can't trust himself.

Also, the ringing of the bell that is meant to summon someone, much like the mirror, also speaks to Charles' desires to take up space and be perceived by others, and ties back to his doubt that he might take up too much space in a dynamic with someone else. Charles has missed being visible and living, wished to be "seen by someone his own age who's alive." The 'attention' piece might reflect Charles' occasional showiness - which became comfortable over years with Edwin, but which while alive he probably used to associate with negative consequences for himself for taking up 'too much space' or otherwise putting himself in a position where his dad or his peers would 'cut him down to size,' so to speak.

The ringing of the bell at a counter is, in theory, used to seek attention or service from someone, which would also mean Charles knowing what he wants in order to ask for it - and, in a relationship, being able to articulate his desires and needs. It would mean Charles subverting his usual way of being where he makes sure others have everything they need, to prioritize his own wants and needs. It represents his doubt of his ability to be vulnerable in a relationship.

The lock

Irene's phrasing "manipulate for access" about the lock got me thinking about the idea of Charles being able to pick any lock, having confidence in his ability to do so, and even others having confidence in his skill at it ("Big lock" "I'm sure you can open it"). It parallels Charles being good with people, being the one who "everyone likes […] eventually" because he's a "good sort of chap" - but also makes me think it reflects a fear that others will be taken in by the façade of affability he takes care to put on for others' comfort, and make themselves vulnerable to him only for him to hurt them. The classic sort of not-wanting-to-continue-the-cycle-of-abuse type fears.

The bell also highlights Charles's differences from David (who Crystal says "must have lied to [her]" to get her to "let him in" to possess her, as Edwin put it in that same scene). Charles doesn't actually manipulate people for access to their bodies, but it calls back to the doubts he experiences in 'The Case of the Two Dead Dragons' about being compared to Crystal's ex/Brad and Hunter in how they exploited women. The lock also speaks to the doubt that once he has actually gotten someone to like him, or if he were to enter into a relationship with Edwin, they're only there because they've been 'taken in.' Charles knows how to be a "cute distraction" to others or a temporary fling, he doesn't think people should be let in to see the dark emotions at the depths of him that he suppresses. The lock is a bit tied into the claw machine, I think.

The claw machine

The claw machine is associated with grabbing prizes and reflects Charles' self-doubt in general and the ways he seeks praise. It speaks to his issues with feeling fundamentally deserving of love and the fear/doubt that he doesn't actually deserve the "prizes" he gets (being praised by others, or receiving Edwin's love without any expectations or conditions).

It's also a game, and in those types of claw games there's usually a lot of maneuvering the claw, trying over and over and failing to grab the prize, "falling short" if you will, even despite having skill at the game; the prize might slip free and be lost, etc. - much like how Charles always felt he was falling short of his dad and never reaching making him happy/proud ("no matter how nice I was, or how good at sports I was"). When it comes to Charles + games: Cricket was a game Charles excelled at and yet never quite made the mark of his father's approval no matter how many trophies he got, etc.

The claw machine can also be a metaphor for the cycle of abuse. It speaks to the idea that Charles was caught up in a sort of 'rigged game' - an endless cycle of abuse in which his abusers held physical, emotional, social, or systemic power over him and he would inevitably end up 'losing' the game with its uncertain rules and would be hurt (by his dad/his peers or by society). While alive he was playing the assimilation/likeability game with his friends for the prize of feeling belonging, only for them to turn out to be the ones to kill him.

(Notably, the way out that Edwin ended up taking was a hole smashed in the wall behind the claw machine, bypassing the game entirely - and Charles retraces the path Edwin took. This shows how Charles doesn't need to actually keep trying and failing to reach an unattainable/shifting goalpost in order to be loved unconditionally or be deserving of love. It also foreshadows he can take a different path that would break the cycle of abuse, that indeed he is already breaking it.)

+ Maxine

Bonus, since this one touched him and not vice versa - Maxine grabbing Charles on the stairs and knocking him off-balance. In life Maxine was a stalker, an abusive person who was invasive towards and controlling towards her romantic interest. Ultimately she became physically violent and tried to kill Jenny. This has been spoken on in other metas, but much like the Devlin House reflected his fears of becoming like his dad, Charles encountering Maxine on the stairs reflects Charles' basic fears of continuing the cycle of abuse in a romantic relationship and emotionally or physically hurting his partner by being overbearing/controlling/violent. Maxine being present on the staircase during the confession also underscores this doubt in Charles.

[messiahzzz]

i have seen several posts around that addressed how discouraging gale from taking the crown of karsus is “keeping him from realizing his true potential.” that tara is merely upset at his choice, instead of being utterly devastated at the loss of her little love. that it’s not a bad ending per se because to get there he didn’t need to sacrifice 7000 innocent souls in the process. gale isn’t continuing the cycle of abuse either, he still appears to love tav and does come back for them to offer them ascension. he wants them to be equal, so it can’t possibly be an unhealthy dynamic, right?

but what of gale himself, his own convictions, values, and everything he holds dear? everything flawed and human that shaped him into the person he is?

player: are you saying you want to ascend? claim godhood?

gale: no, not like that. i don't want to join them. i want to better them. a god's powers, paired with a mortal conscience, a mortal heart.

gale’s motivation for acquiring godhood is that he will able to aid mortals in a way no other god has ever done before. he won’t hide behind pretense nor require blind devotion of his followers. he will understand and be able to empathize. he wholeheartedly believes that he will be different - he will act.

gale: [..] the gods could aid us if they wished, but instead they cower behind ao. so let us act ourselves.

gale believes that by becoming a god he will kill two birds with one stone: aid mortals and acquire enough power to quash any of his insecurities and enemies in the process. that by ridding himself of every perceived flaw he'll finally feel like he will have enough to offer - maybe, just maybe he'll even be content. his flaws are merely holding him back from becoming the best version of himself, and by ridding himself of everything fallible, he will be whole. maybe this is what all of his suffering has led up to. maybe the orb chose him. maybe the reason he had to endure all the pain, isolation, and excruciating loneliness was so that he could realize that he was meant for something even greater. after all, power feeds ambition. and what is more powerful than a god? his convictions were certainly naive, he possesses enough knowledge to know better. don't get me wrong, part of him definitely wants to spite mystra a lil. but his intentions at that time were mostly pure. a reflection of his self-hatred and feelings of inadequacy.

player: this is wrong, gale. that power will corrupt you, even if you can seize it.

gale: it won't, i swear to you. it's merely a tool - a means to an end.

once we meet gale at the party in his new godlike form, it is apparent that even with all the power at his fingertips, he has reached no greater knowledge about himself. his insecurities are still as present as before, he merely is less subtle in his compensation - repeatedly highlighting his grandeur and how dull life on faerun is compared to the wonders of elysium. it is also genuinely crushing to see how little he thinks of himself even now.

gale: i was nothing. a drifting dust mote of a wizard, abandoned by my goddess, my powers lost, my reputation destroyed. and look at me now. i'm their proof.

any perceived dismissal of his Greatness™ is met with immediate disdain.

gale: a bold decision to treat a divine being with such cold indifference.

nodecontext: aloof, annoyed you weren't impressed with him

gale: you mortals do love to live dangerously, don't you?

nodecontext: the slightest hint of a threat - you've probably made an enemy here today. or at least, you've lost a friend.

he is still desperate to impress. emphasizing what an honor it is that a new-born god chose to bless their little soiree with his presence. gaze upon all his divine glory! gale has now become the embodiment of everything he criticized about the gods. his original intentions and plans are discarded and long forgotten. he assuages his erstwhile companions by telling them to simply pray to him, in case they should ever require aid. if they're lucky and their ambition pleases him, he might even deliver.

player: what does the 'god of ambition' offer to his followers?

gale: i 'offer' them nothing. i inspire them to seize their destinies for themselves.

player: interesting, so you help mortals help themselves?

gale: precisely. though that isn't to say i'm averse to the odd bit of direct encouragement.

gale: [..] my aims are set a little higher than offering cursory blessings to just any half-decent spellcaster.

gale: regardless, ethical quandaries are more the remit of my mortal devotees. they do love to talk, and faerun is starting to listen.

aiding "any half-decent spellcaster" is unbefitting of his status. he isn't concerned with questions of ethics and morality either. deeming such matters beneath his divine capabilities.

once gale has ascended and established his domain, what remains of the gale we knew? what of his mortal heart?

minthara: your ambition is not cruel, but you fear that if you indulge it, you will lose yourself in the mysteries of the weave and unravel the world.

minthara: you are afraid of so many things, and it is that fear that keeps you true to yourself.

gale did lose himself and ultimately became one of his biggest fears. considering that his existence as a being of pure ambition leads him to constantly seek out greater heights, it isn't farfetched to believe that raphael's prediction will indeed come true.

player[astarion]: ambition? finally, a god i can get behind...

gale: i assure you, this is merely the prelude to a far grander vision. elysium's in for something of a shake-up.

all that remains of gale is a thin veneer of the person he used to be. what he presents is a hollow echo of the old gale. he does retain some of his mannerisms and quirks, but he is definitely a lot colder and more condescending. if his personality already changed that drastically after a duration of only 6 months, what will he inevitability turn into when he has eternity at his disposal?

essentially, you are aiding gale in the eradication of himself. eradicating everything about him that made him into the loveable, charismatic, awkward, kind, buoyant person he was. everything about him that he perceived as defective, flawed, and lesser-than. before, his hubris was merely an expression of his own discontentment and low self-worth, but now he is hubris incarnate. all of his worst qualities have been amplified.

gale: i am ambition incarnate. as indistinguishable from that most potent sensation as mystra herself is from the weave. and word is spreading.

nodecontext: palpable, almost unsettling excitement from him - hint of megalomania

he put his trust in tav, trusting their judgment and relying on them to nudge him in the right direction. after all, they had plenty of opportunities to show him that they are an ally worth following and confiding in. but in the end, the prospect of what he could be, the things he could give them, the enemies he could yet conquer, won over the desire to simply accept him and help him rebuild a life on solid ground. tav denied him the unconditional love he craves most out of their own selfish desires.

tara: you were looking out for him. i expected better of you.

as i've already mentioned, gale desires nothing more than to be seen, accepted, loved, and valued. having a partner who wholeheartedly supports and believes in him is enough to make him feel content. most importantly - he just wants to live. to enjoy life with everything it has to offer. his ambition can’t be quenched because he hungers still. believing that only by acquiring more power will he finally be enough and reach said acceptance.

we see in his good ending that his own contentment was even able to influence and (temporarily) sate the orb's ever-present hunger:

gale: [..] or perhaps the orb's hunger was fuelled by my own, and my contentment influences it in much the same way.

gale: that's how i feel with you - content. it's a rather unfamiliar feeling, i must say. not something gale of waterdeep ever craved.

it is devastating that he doesn't reach the same feeling of fulfillment if he chooses to pursue godhood, and is instead compelled to continuously surpass his own accomplishments. not being granted rest or reprieve.

gale: i achieved everything we hoped i would, and still i'm not good enough for you?

gale pursuing godhood isn't evidence that he "has been evil all along" or that he "just waited to be unleashed" either. we can't diminish tav's influence in this outcome, they are after all an extension of the player. able to steer every companion toward a path of redemption or to enable them in their worst traits. fandom has already established that by letting astarion ascend you are actively supporting him in becoming the very thing he despises most, putting your own ambitions and idea of what you want him to be above his healing, this is no different.

tara: the gale i knew wasn't like this. he recognised his mistakes. he was contrite. all he wanted to do was live.

tara: unfortunately, he fell into company that turned his gaze towards foolishness. yes, i mean you.

player: gale is his own man, tara.

tara: false. he was mine. though now he belongs only to his own pride.

yes, the epilogue cutscene is beautiful and there is something bittersweet and romantic about his love for tav being one of the few emotions that remained a constant throughout the past 6 months. he didn't need to come back for them, but he did cause he loves them still. no matter how warped his definition of love may be now. while it is abundantly clear that tav ranks lower on his priority list than they did before, his commitment remains.

gale fears isolation, hoping to never return to the time when he was hopeless and alone, stuck inside his tower. by heading in this direction he is once again creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

tara: [..] if i pretended you hadn't turned tail on every lesson you set out to learn, i'd have no right to call myself your friend.

morena may as well have already resigned herself to her son’s death. elminster partly blames himself. for his lapse in judgment, as well as being the one who plucked him from obscurity in the first place. mourning the kind, bright-eyed boy who cried at the scorched roses in his neighbor's garden. tara won't be here anymore to care and look out for him either. he has lost his oldest and dearest friend, the one who witnessed his downfall from grace and never left his side. who believed him to be the finest mind AND the finest wizard she's ever had the pleasure to know. who was certain that he’d find a way out of any crisis no matter the circumstances. ...and if tav declines his offer to ascend with him? what does he have left?

gale: yes, i am rather radiant, aren't i?

tara: don't flatter yourself, gale. you've debased yourself in ways i could never have fathomed.

tara: goodbye gale, i hope the heavens are worth it.

gale’s godhood ending deals with the loss of humanity, the loss of oneself, and everything one holds dear. it is a devastating and bone-chilling narrative. it is a tragedy.

gale: i hope you don't think less of me. great ambition should not come at the expense of what you already hold dear. i see that now.

if gale could see himself, he would be horrified at the losses he deemed necessary to get here. he would be horrified at what he’s become.

[papoochu]

Okay, next on my list is Dr. Leo Anders, formerly known as Levko Andriienko. He would be a great conversationalist!

I'm going to go back and make minor changes to some of the bios that are already up (just color corrections and making sure everything is updated), so just letting y'all know!

Background

Born Levko Andriienko

Levko = means “lion,” representing strength, courage, and a fierce will to survive (ironic)

Diminutive form - implies a boyhood identity, or something emotionally vulnerable.

Andriienko = Ukrainian surname from Dnipropetrovsk region, symbolizing resilience and intellectual tradition; rooted in family and place, it connects him to the past

In Soviet context, his full name subtly marked him as "not quite Moscow"

Born 1933, in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian USSR, into a modest family of engineers and educators

Showed early aptitude for physics, studied nuclear science in Moscow during the 1950s

Raised with strong faith in Soviet ideals, believed in science as a tool for progress and societal good

Chernobyl Disaster (1986):

Senior scientific advisor involved in emergency response at Chernobyl nuclear plant

Was one of the scientists who proposed the use of boron compounds to absorb neutrons and limit radioactive fallout, a key but little-known intervention

Witnessed firsthand Soviet government secrecy, misinformation, and chaos during crisis management

Worked as one of the liquidators who was not compensated properly

Exposed to high levels of radiation, suffering long-term health consequences

Deeply traumatized by the disaster and the suffering of victims, burdened by survivor’s guilt

Post-Disaster Years:

Emigrated to Graubünden, Switzerland soon after the disaster, rejecting the Soviet system and Ukrainian identity publicly

Chose Switzerland due to its priority of safety in science field as well as for its advanced healthcare

Changed his name to Leo Anders

Shedding a name with history for one that sounds clean, Western, untraceable

“Leo” is still “lion,” but now generic - a hollow echo of his true self

“Anders” is Scandinavian/Germanic - means “different” or “other”

Lived in relative isolation; worked on independent research, disconnected from official scientific communities

Physically weakened by chronic radiation sickness: fatigue, thyroid problems, neurological symptoms, lung deterioration

Haunted by memories and guilt, avoided public attention and political engagement

The Council’s Contact (1988):

Approached by the council

Initially skeptical, but accepted their offer for renewed purpose and resources

Began advising the Council on sensitive, secret projects with far-reaching ambitions

Bound by secrecy and loyalty, conflicted over his role and the Council’s shadow agenda

Life in Switzerland and Personal Struggles:

Experiences recurring nightmares and PTSD symptoms tied to Chernobyl trauma

Has obsessive behaviors and is very concerned with health/safety

Torn between hope for positive change and fear of complicity in the Council’s morally ambiguous plans

Uses work as a custodian of classified scientific and nuclear data for the Swiss government to channel his need for control and order (irony)

Present Day (2016):

Age 83, physically frail but mentally razor-sharp, a man who exerts power through knowledge and control

Custodian of classified nuclear and scientific data for the Swiss government, guarding secrets that could unravel nations - or rebuild them

"Order and method are his Gods" - Agatha Christie about Hercule Poirot

Every piece of information is meticulously cataloged and controlled to maintain a fragile balance

Obsessed with control and precision, he micromanages access to information like a vigilant, overbearing guardian - protecting the world from chaos, even if it means suffocating it

Deeply cares about the world’s survival, but his care manifests as relentless interference - an unyielding “helicopter parent” who won’t let anything deviate from his plan

Ruthlessly pragmatic, he believes the ends justify the means; innocent casualties and moral compromises are unfortunate but necessary collateral in his vision of stability

Haunted by his trauma at Chernobyl, he projects his guilt into a compulsive need to prevent further disasters through absolute order

Uses his position to manipulate political players and shadowy organizations, ensuring no secret slips, no chaos erupts

His “children” are watched closely and corrected swiftly

Lives behind layers of secrecy and detachment

Privately struggles with the suffocating burden of his responsibility and his inability to truly protect those he cares for

Design Notes/Character Study

Mirror to Victor Serdtsev

Both academics around the same age who were under the USSR but each turned out VERY different

Inverted color schemes

Take design points and swap them

Holds a handkerchief for his mild hemoptysis

Hunched

Shaky hands

Obsessive behaviors

See Poirot for reference

Very concerned with health and safety

"Helicopter parenting" - authoritative ideology comes from care, not apathy

Associations with Boron: Boron has 3 valence electrons, like the symbol on the atom

Years in isolation made him awkward in social environments

Formally dressed, but with a deeply casual, cerebral, sometimes haunted energy; rumpled, disheveled

Neutral palette

References: President Snow, David Attenborough, Richard Feynman, Noam Chomsky, Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer)

Time has not been kind - emphasize his age

Speaks Romansh

Pictured:

Reference to Gloria Ramirez tragedy: emphasizes his ideals of utilitarianism

Reference to Polonium-210 assassination: ironic given his hatred towards the Soviet Union

Assigned a brown color scheme: he is stuck in the past despite his attempts to leave it

[missbellie]

Redline, and...GO!- B.E

Synopsis: You and your ex-girlfriend are illegal car racers. Your breakup wasn't very amicable due to both of your toxicity, so you've avoided competing with each other. But apparently fate has other plans for you.

Pair: B.e×F!Reader

Words: 3.1k

Warnings: none (?)

Style: Fanfic | Imagine | Headcanons

Part: part 1 ⇽ part 2 ⇽part 3 ⇽ part 4 ⇽

You wiped your hands on your jeans, fingers still stained with oil, half-distracted by the sputtering engine in front of you. It had been a long night, but the peace of the garage was the only thing keeping your head from spinning.

Until—

“Thought you were good with your hands,” came that low, smug voice behind you.

You sighed.

“Billie,” you muttered without turning. “I was having a nice evening.”

She rounded the car, cocky as ever, her chain glinting under the fluorescent lights.

“Clearly,” she said, eyeing your half-reassembled carburetor. “Nice evening building a death trap.”

You rolled your eyes. “What do you want?”

“Just checking in.” Her tone was light—too light. “Making sure Alice didn’t fry your brain with one of her ‘deep talks’ about destiny or whatever.”

You looked up. “You’ve really got something against her, huh?”

Billie’s smirk twitched. “Only when she starts acting like she owns shit she didn’t earn.”

Your jaw tensed. “She’s my friend.”

“Right.” She leaned on the hood beside you. “So is your car. Doesn’t mean you should let her drive it.”

You blinked. “Did you just compare me to a car?”

“Don’t act surprised,” Billie said, grinning. “You’re high-maintenance. Loud. Fast. Sexy in the right light.”

“Shut up.” You shoved her lightly, half a laugh escaping your lips before you could stop it.

She caught your wrist on the way down. Just for a second.

“You blushing?” she asked, leaning in close enough for her breath to tickle your neck.

Your heart jumped. “It’s hot in here.”

Billie laughed—quiet and sharp. “Sure it is.”

You pulled away, grabbing a wrench just to have something to do with your hands.

“Why are you really here?” you asked, avoiding her eyes.

Billie’s smirk dimmed, but didn’t vanish.

“Wanted to see if you needed help. Or if you were still too proud to ask.”

You opened your mouth to bite back—but paused.

She was teasing, yeah. But she hadn’t pushed too hard. Not yet.

“I could use a second pair of hands,” you muttered.

Billie raised a brow. “Say it louder. I might die before I hear that again.”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“No promises.”

You worked side by side for a few minutes, tension thick but tolerable. Billie passed you tools without asking. Knew when to shut up. Knew when to poke you just enough.

“I still think you’re compensating with this spoiler,” she said, casually nudging it. “Trying to scare off anyone who gets too close?”

You shot her a look. “You’re one to talk. You walk like your boots are trying to fight the pavement.”

“Only because I’m always being followed,” she shot back, eyeing you.

You almost choked on your own breath. “You’re unbelievable.”

“But I’m right.”

You tried to hide the grin that tugged at your lips. Failed miserably.

And that’s when Alice walked in.

She paused at the entrance, eyes flicking from you to Billie to the engine you were working on together. Her smile faltered for just a second.

“Hey,” she said, walking in like she owned the place. “Didn’t know I needed an appointment.”

You straightened. “We were just fixing something.”

Billie didn’t even glance up. “Nice of you to drop by.”

Alice ignored her. She walked straight to you, placing a hand lightly on your back. It lingered.

“You wanna grab food after this?” she asked.

You hesitated.

Billie didn’t.

“She’s busy.”

You turned. “Billie—”

“She’s got a race tomorrow,” Billie said, voice casual, but eyes locked on Alice. “Unless you want her distracted.”

Alice crossed her arms. “We can eat and talk strategy.”

“We both know you’re not here to talk strategy.”

Silence.

You stepped back, suddenly very aware of how close the two of them were. Billie was smirking. Alice was pissed. You were caught in the middle with a wrench in your hand and a headache building behind your eyes.

“Maybe another night,” you said to Alice, soft but firm.

She blinked. Then forced a smile. “Sure. No problem.”

She lingered another minute, but didn’t say much else.

And when she finally walked out—heels loud, back stiff—you noticed Billie watching you.

“What?” you asked, irritated.

“Nothing,” she said, smug. “Just… you’re getting better at seeing through bullshit.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I don’t need you to coach me.”

“I know,” Billie said, her smile almost fond. “But it’s fun watching you figure it out.”

You roll your eyes, and Billie lets out a small nasal laugh.

But, once the door shut behind Alice, the garage seemed quieter.

You exhaled, wiping your palms on your thighs. Billie didn’t say anything—just grabbed a rag and kept fiddling with the bolt she’d been tightening.

A strange silence settled between you.

Not sharp. Not biting.

Just… still.

You glanced over.

“You remember when we tried to rebuild that junkyard Honda?” you asked, voice lighter. “The one that almost exploded?”

Billie looked up slowly, lips twitching. “You mean the one you insisted would ‘change the game’?”

“It could’ve! If you hadn’t wired the ignition backward.”

“Oh, please,” she scoffed, finally letting a laugh escape. “You’re the one who said red goes to green.”

“That was a joke, Billie!”

You both broke into laughter, the kind that came too easy, like slipping into an old hoodie.

Billie sat on the edge of the workbench, shaking her head.

“God,” she said, “we really thought we were invincible back then.”

You smiled, the memory a warm ache in your chest. “We were so stupid.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“Oh, come on. You once tried to fix your muffler with duct tape and chewing gum.”

Billie pointed a finger. “It worked for three blocks.”

You laughed again, and for a moment, the world pulled back. No races. No betrayal. Just you.

Just you and Billie, the grease under your nails, the sting of shared history behind your smiles.

She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, voice softer now.

“Those nights in your old driveway,” she said, eyes on the ground, “felt like the only real thing in the world.”

You blinked.

Something about the way she said it…

Your heart clenched. The air shifted. Like the ghosts between you had decided to sit down and join.

“Yeah,” you said, quieter. “Me too.”

Billie looked at you. Really looked. And for the first time in a long time, there was no wall in her eyes. Just… you. The way she used to look at you, like she didn’t know whether she wanted to kiss you or kill for you.

The moment stretched.

But before anything could be said—

Before you could breathe—

The door slammed open.

“Yo!” Benny’s voice rang out like a hammer. “Who left a wrench in the alley? Someone’s gonna pop a tire.”

Billie sat up straight, expression hardening in an instant. The softness vanished like it had never been there.

Jhon followed behind her, eyeing you both with a smirk.

“Well, well. What’s this? Date night?”

You scoffed. “Fixing the car, dumbass.”

Billie was already moving—grabbing her jacket, stepping away from the workbench like the walls were suddenly too close.

“Leaving already?” Benny asked.

Billie ignored her.

You watched her cross the garage without looking back.

But just as she reached the door, she paused.

Half-turned.

“Good luck tomorrow,” she said—just to you.

The garage felt quieter after Billie left, like she’d taken the air with her. The lingering scent of grease and burnt rubber clung to everything, but all you could think about was the flicker in her eyes before she walked away.

“So…”

Benny’s voice broke through your thoughts as she climbed up onto the counter, swinging her legs. “What was that?”

You shrugged, too casually.

“Nothing. Just… talking.”

John snorted and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, giving you a look that read straight through your performance.

“You two haven’t talked like normal people in years. What changed?”

Benny nodded, frowning.

“Yeah. And I thought you and Alice were a thing now.”

You rolled your eyes, drying your hands on a rag.

“We’re not a thing. You both know Alice has been my best friend since forever. That’s it.”

John raised a skeptical brow. Benny tilted her head.

“Either way,” John said, pushing off the wall and stepping closer, “we know your history with Billie. We’re just worried.”

You sighed, trying not to sound defensive.

“Relax… I’m fine. Under control.”

The two exchanged a glance that told you they didn’t believe a word of it.

“Seriously, guys.” You smiled a little, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “I’m fine. I’m almost ready to head over for dinner—just a few more things to finish up.”

Benny jumped down from the counter and stretched.

“Alright, I’ll go set the table. You two finish up and come over soon.”

She tossed a wink at John and left the garage, her footsteps echoing into the hallway. The silence she left behind was different than Billie’s—heavier.

You turned back toward your tools, only to feel John’s presence beside you.

“Don’t,” you warned softly, without looking at him.

But he didn’t listen.

“We love you, Y/N. Benny and I. You know that, right?”

You glanced at him, lips pursed. He wasn’t teasing. His dark eyes held nothing but quiet concern.

“That little heart of yours hasn’t forgotten those ocean eyes.”

You opened your mouth, but he cut you off gently.

“I saw it, Y/N. Don’t pretend I didn’t. The way you two look at each other like the world disappears. Like it’s still yours."

He took a breath. "And the necklace—yeah, I know it’s still under your shirt. I remember when she gave it to you. Every time your heart beats, it’s still saying her name.”

You swallowed hard.

“But listen to me—if she hurts you again?”

He stepped closer, hand landing gently but firmly on your shoulder. “I’ll make sure she never sets eyes on you again. I swear it.”

Your throat tightened, and for a second, the tears prickled behind your eyes.

John pulled you into a hug, no questions asked. You let yourself fall into it, hiding your face in his shoulder as he stroked your hair like an older brother—calm, solid, the kind of person who didn’t say things unless he meant them.

“By the way…” he whispered before pulling away, eyes serious. “I don’t trust Alice. Not for a second. Be careful, okay?”

He pressed a kiss to the top of your head and walked out, leaving you alone in the stillness of the garage once again.

The garage was quiet again, the last echo of John’s footsteps fading like a warning on the wind. You leaned against the worktable, fingertips brushing the silver chain just beneath your shirt.

You hesitated.

Then, slowly, you pulled the necklace out from under the fabric. The pendant glinted softly in the warm yellow light. A tiny gear with a sapphire set in the middle—subtle, but intricate. Mechanical, beautiful, just like her.

And suddenly, you were there again.

Two years ago.

Rain fell in sheets against the warehouse roof.

Billie stood beside you, soaked through from the ride, hair dripping down her forehead, a devilish smirk curling her lips. She was holding something behind her back.

"You’re shivering," she said, stepping closer, raindrops rolling off her leather jacket.

"I'm not cold," you muttered, teeth chattering slightly.

Billie tilted her head and pulled the tiny box from behind her.

"Happy 'You beat my ass at the track twice this week' day," she said, smug but soft.

You blinked, confused.

"That's not a thing."

"It is now." She popped the lid open. The necklace sat nestled inside on a scrap of blue velvet. Your breath caught.

"You like it?" she asked. For once, unsure.

"Yeah. I mean—yeah. It's..." You cleared your throat, caught off-guard.

"Why though?"

Billie shrugged, biting the inside of her cheek. Her eyes flicked to yours and didn’t look away.

"Because you always fix everyone else’s shit, and I thought maybe... something small could be yours. Just yours. And because I hate that you never wear anything that makes people look twice."

A pause.

"You should be looked at. All the time."

You didn’t say anything. Just closed the box, stepped forward, and pressed your lips to hers like gravity pulled you in. That night, you let her take the necklace off. But the next morning, you put it back on. And every day since—even after the crash, even after the fallout—you’d worn it, hidden beneath your clothes.

Like a bruise that never healed right.

Present.

“Y/N!” Benny’s voice echoed from the hallway, dragging you back to the present.

“Dinner’s ready, come on before John eats everything!”

You swallowed thickly, slipping the necklace back under your shirt and wiping your hands on your jeans. When you stepped out of the garage, Benny was waiting with her arms open like always.

"You good?" she asked softly, squeezing your waist as you approached.

You nodded.

"Yeah. Just... memories."

"Billie?"

You looked away, but your silence was answer enough. Benny didn’t press. She just wrapped her arm around your shoulder and led you down the hall.

"Well, if you're gonna be haunted, might as well eat while you do it," she joked, earning a small, reluctant laugh from you.

"You're a menace," you said, smiling into her hair.

"And you're stuck with me."

The two of you walked into the dining room, holding each other like you were both trying to keep something from slipping out of your chests.

Dinner felt like breathing again.

The table was set messily—plates a little off-center, forks mismatched, one glass already half-spilled thanks to Jonathan’s clumsiness—but it was perfect in the way only home can be. The smell of garlic, roasted vegetables, and cheap wine filled the house like a hug.

You sat between Benny and Jonathan, laughter spilling from your lips uncontrollably as they argued over whether Jon actually cried watching Fast & Furious 7.

"I did not cry," he said, eyes narrowed as he scooped rice onto his plate.

"You absolutely did, I saw your bottom lip trembling like a baby," Benny snorted, elbowing him.

"I had allergies!"

"Sure, allergies. To brotherhood and Paul Walker's smile."

You cackled, nearly choking on your drink.

It was like this all the time—this chaotic rhythm, this safe noise. You’d forgotten how much you needed it.

"Remember when we broke into the school’s storage room to steal the traffic cones?" Benny asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"To make a ‘practice track’ behind the football field?" Jon added, grinning.

"And then we got caught because somebody left a trail of Skittles from their backpack all the way to the cones—"

"It was Y/N!" they both shouted at once, pointing at you.

"Okay, but who ate the evidence?" you shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"I regret nothing," Benny replied, dramatically placing a hand over her chest.

Your cheeks ached from smiling. This was what they did best—reheat your heart when you couldn’t do it yourself. The three of you had been inseparable since you were ten years old, a trio of trouble. Every school you went to? Chaos. Always pulled into the principal’s office. Always in detention. Always together.

You shared one love above all: cars.

Benny’s dad was a mechanic, her mother the fiery owner of a dive bar just around the corner of your old neighborhood. Benny, with her riot of red curls and those light brown eyes that sparked with trouble, had always been the loudest of the three. Loyal, impulsive, and dramatic to her bones, the freckles scattered across her cheeks practically danced when she smirked.

Jonathan was the quiet one, but never boring. His grandfather had been a street-racing legend, and even though Jon didn’t talk about it much, you knew how deep that legacy ran. With short black hair, hazel eyes that could melt or freeze depending on the angle, and a sly, clever calmness that made him the perfect counter to Benny’s chaos, he carried his mischief like a secret weapon. And—yeah—Benny had definitely fallen for him somewhere along the way, even if she’d rather die than admit it.

And then there was you.

Maybe the glue. Maybe the spark. Maybe the mess. But undeniably part of the whole.

At eighteen, you’d all scraped together every penny you could and, with the help of Jon’s dad—who happened to own a couple shady properties—you’d rented a decent house in Ravencar, a half-forgotten village three hours out of New York. No street cameras. No police sniffing around.

It wasn’t a place for dreams. But it was perfect for the kind of dreams you three had.

Illegal races. Midnight engines. Living on the edge of something you couldn’t quite name.

And now, years later, here you were—older, maybe wiser, but still together. Still fighting to hold onto the pieces of yourselves.

"You’re zoning out," Benny said, mouth full of potatoes.

"I was reminiscing," you replied with a shrug.

"About what?" Jon asked, pouring himself another glass of wine.

"Skittles," you lied, smirking.

Benny snorted.

"You always get soft after garage shifts. Must be the oil fumes."

"Or maybe it’s the ghost of a certain ex," Jon said, not looking at you, but his voice edged with knowing.

You rolled your eyes but said nothing. The necklace beneath your shirt suddenly felt heavier.

The past was always lingering in Ravencar. And it was getting harder to ignore how close it had gotten again.

Billie POV

The bourbon burned on its way down — not enough to distract, but enough to blur the edges. The bottle sat on the table, half-empty, or half-full depending on how self-destructive she was feeling tonight.

The living room was quiet. She hated the quiet.

She leaned back on the beat-up couch in her shop, boots up on the table, a cigarette burning lazily between her fingers. One of Y/N’s songs was still playing on that old-ass speaker — not that she’d ever admit she left it on.

She didn’t even like that song.

(But she remembered Y/N humming it once while fixing her carburetor. Grease on her cheek. That stupid little necklace glinting in the sun.)

Billie groaned, tilting her head back, eyes closed.

"Fuck," she muttered to no one.

Y/N had looked at her differently today.

Not soft. Not angry either.

Just… strangely calm. Like she wasn’t carrying all that fire Billie used to know. Like maybe someone else had helped her put it out.

Maybe it was Alice.

Billie scoffed, the sound bitter in her throat.

Alice.

Pretty. Polite. Predictable.

She could play nice all she wanted — Billie could smell desperation a mile away. She’d seen the way Alice looked at Y/N like she was a prize to win. But Y/N was no damn trophy.

Y/N was chaos. Was wind through the windows at 150mph. She was the first taste of danger and the last breath before the crash.

And Billie… had been the one who let her go.

She took another long swig from the bottle, dragging her hand across her mouth after.

"You’re such an idiot," she whispered, half-laughing at herself.

The memories came easy when she was like this.

Y/N laughing in her lap during late-night stakeouts. Y/N shouting over engines. Y/N biting her lip when she was trying not to smile. Y/N begging her not to leave that night—

She shut her eyes harder.

They hadn’t touched in years, but the ghost of her still clung to Billie’s skin.

And today, with Y/N looking at her across the garage — not flinching, not running, just standing there — it had done something to Billie. Twisted something deep and unfinished.

Her fingers itched. For her skin. Her mouth. Her laugh.

But instead, she took another drag.

"You look at me like that again," she murmured aloud, her voice rough and slow, "and I might not be able to keep pretending I’m over you."

There was no one to hear it.

Just the hum of the speaker. The smoke curling into the ceiling. The burn in her chest that had nothing to do with liquor.

"I need to go for a walk," the girl says, grabbing her keys from the car and heading out the door.

The sky was dark, barely any stars peeking through. The cold night air scraped against your already sore throat as you walked back from the pharmacy, clutching the little paper bag in your hand.

Then—

Bright headlights.

Engine roaring.

Too fast.

You jumped onto the sidewalk just as tires screeched and the car came to a hard stop right in front of you.

“ARE YOU INSANE?!” you shouted, your voice raspier than usual.

The driver’s door swung open, and out stepped her.

“Y/N?” Billie blinked, leaning lazily on the door like she hadn’t just nearly flattened you.

You stared in disbelief.

“Are you drunk?!”

“Define drunk,” she said, voice annoyingly casual. “If you mean... artistically relaxed, then yeah, maybe.”

You squinted at her.

“You almost killed me, Billie!”

“Technically, I didn’t. That’s what reflexes are for. Yours are pretty good, by the way.”

“This isn’t funny.” You marched toward her. “You could’ve seriously hurt someone. You can’t drive like this!”

She held up both hands. “Okay, okay, jeez. Chill. You're acting like I ran over a puppy.”

“You ran over my sanity, does that count?”

Billie tilted her head. “I dunno, yours was already pretty wrecked.”

You glared, ready to swing your pharmacy bag at her head.

“Get back in the car and go home before someone actually dies.”

“I am home. Ravencar is my kingdom, didn’t you know?”

You rolled your eyes so hard it nearly hurt.

“And you’re its drunk clown, apparently.”

“Ouch.” She clutched her chest. “Harsh words from someone shopping for throat meds like a grandma.”

“Some people take care of themselves. Wild concept, huh?”

“Some people are also fun. You used to be fun.”

You took a threatening step forward.

“And you used to have a functioning brain.”

Billie laughed, stumbling slightly but catching herself.

“Okay, okay. No need to fight me on the street like we’re in some reality show.”

“You are the reality show, Billie.”

She leaned against the car, grinning.

“That mean you're watching?”

You gave her a long, unimpressed stare, then turned and started walking.

“Don’t follow me.”

She stayed where she was, hands in her pockets.

“I wasn’t gonna. You're scary tonight.”

"Must be the cough syrup."

hates this one, bye

luv u, xoxo

[germiyahu]

When the war ends (who knows when that will be though) and you know at least 95% of Gazans are still alive and can begin rebuilding their lives (hopefully with Israeli financial compensation), the antisemites who insist a genocide is occurring will do one of a few things:

Refuse to acknowledge that Israel was interested in a peace plan. They will never give Israel credit for deescalating or withdrawing. They will most likely attribute any (semi) permanent ceasefire and hostage deal to Joe Byron "forcing" Netanyahu to comply. I don't think this is too likely as I can't really see them switching up on Biden and suddenly thinking he's a good leader or a morally driven person. So this group might delusionally believe that Egypt or Saudi Arabia, maybe Iran/Russia... or laughably, Hamas or the Houthis, were the ones to "force" Israel to back down. And you know what, I'll take it personally. As long as they can see that no genocide occurred, I don't care if they're too petty to admit that Israel never intended to commit one.

Lose interest. It's that simple. When the dust settles and no evidence of genocide is constantly being fabricated and shoved in their lazy incurious faces... they'll move on to something else. Some of them will become lifelong obsessed antizionists and will probably agitate all their circles to continue talking about The Genocide That (almost) Was, but even they will have to go "dormant" about it eventually.

Continue to insist that a genocide is occurring. Whether it's the people who play with semantics and devalue words and change definitions who'll be saying that Israel committed/is committing a "psychological" genocide or something... or the conspiracy theorists who will cite the lack of evidence and news coverage as proof that the Genocide has moved on to a quieter stage... or the people who say "this genocide has been ongoing for 80 years this is just a lull in Isnotreal's ethnic cleansing program to save face and wait for further instructions from their American masters!" I think this will be the largest group. Antisemitism, as a conspiracy theory, is just too fun and too addicting for these people. They don't have the tools to get themselves out of this cult. And it's not Jews' responsibility to help them. Thankfully the other two groups' existing, and of course, all of us normal people, will make this a small minority in the grand scheme of things.

[katarandaa]

The Augmentor - part 1

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Pairing: F! reader x Sevika

Set in season 1 between act 1 & 2.

Augmentor: Someone who specializes in augmenting the human body with mechanical or Shimmer-enhanced parts.

Summary: You’re a well-known augmentor in Zaun who - through your sibling Ran - take on a special commission to make Sevika a mechanical prosthetic after her accident.

CW: alcohol use, swearing, smoking.

Word count: 4.2k

AN: this is my first Arcane fic! It's a bit long, but I'm FINALLY happy with it after working on it slowly for WEEKS. This is basically just my MDD universe lol. (There will probably be a part 2). Hope you enjoy ~

PART 2 (coming)

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The music from your speakers was blasting in your workshop, you were bopping your head to the beat while working on a rusty prosthetic leg a customer had dropped off for you to fix. Smoke filled your nostrils as the cigarette you put out in your ashtray didn’t completely extinguish. You didn’t hear the elevator doors open and someone entering your workshop until the volume of your music dropped. You quickly turned around to face the elevator to see Ran through your goggles standing by the speaker.

“Ran!” You propped the goggles you were wearing onto your head and smiled at seeing your sibling dropping by for a surprise visit. “Didn’t expect to see you in here today. Your hand need a fix?”

“Hey, no, I actually have something to ask of you,” Ran said as they made their way down the steps into your shop. You put your tool down and spun around on your stool to face Ran, inviting them to keep talking.

“So, you need to hear me out on this one, YN - I need you to do a commission, -” Ran said and leaned on one of your workbenches.

“I don't know Ran; you know I don't really do commissions anymore. Just doing repairs is so much better,” you said the second you heard them say commission, turning your attention back to fixing the metal leg laid out on your workbench.

You had stopped accepting commissions after overworking yourself, and now you ran your business only doing repairs and occasionally some modifications for people who already had mechanical prosthetics. Doing commissions wasn’t easy work, it took months of work, long hours, loads of people involved and a lot of planning, so you decided to take a step back and work on a much smaller scale.

Ran walked closer to you. “It’s an important request, and I seriously need you to consider doing this job. I told them about your work. We really think you’re the best augmentor in Zaun for this job.” Ran flexed their prosthetic hand, which you had made for them several years ago. You sighed again and glanced at their hand before continuing your work.

“It’s a request from Silco - Sevika needs a mechanical prosthetic,” your heart jumped at the sound of her name. “I know you heard of her accident. They know of your previous work, and they want you to do it; they specifically requested you. The pay is really good, it’s from Silco’s pockets, so you’ll be compensated for your time and hassle, and then some.” Ran really tried to sell you this gig, and you could feel the desperation in their voice. “And I know you have a thing for Sevika, you know-”

“I do not!” you interrupted Ran and snapped your head in their direction. “What makes you say that?!”

 “YN, she’s totally your type, and I’ve noticed the way you look at her and act whenever she’s nearby - you get all stiff and nervous.”

You stayed quiet for a moment. “Is it that obvious?” You almost whispered.

“To me it is,” Ran smirked.

You had met Sevika several times at The Last Drop whenever you were out drinking with Ran or your friends. You had never really spoken, but you knew that she knew who you were; all the shared glances, the drinks sent to your table, thanking her by raising your glass in her direction, your blushing and fiddling. You had always been too nervous to approach her; she seemed to distant, and so unattainable.

“Fuck,” you muttered and couldn’t help but crack a smile. “ I don't know. It’s always too much work doing commissions - the clients always have way too high expectations, they never respect the timeframe I give them, they don't pay what they owe. It’s always such a hassle,” you explained, sliding the goggles off your head and running a hand through your hair. “Plus, if it’s for Sevika I’m gonna be all nervous, what if affects my work and I don't deliver her a good product?”

“YN, it’s gonna be fine. Just do what you’re good at. Please just come meet with them, have a chat about your conditions and the pay. I already told them I would talk to you and bring you in for a meeting tonight.”

You tilted your head back and sighed hard, looking over at Ran. “Ok, fine,” you said, and Ran quickly muttered a quiet “yes”.

Ran came running towards you and wrapped their arms around yours. “You’re gonna do great, I know it.” You wrapped your arms around Ran and squeezed before getting up, both of you disengaging from the hug. “And, maybe you and Sevika can get to know each other a little better-”

“Ran!” You interrupted them and hit them playfully on their arm. “Inappropriate! She’s my customer at this point.”

"Alright, fine,” Ran chuckled. “Just, don't promise them anything you can’t deliver. And don’t let them rush you.” Ran squeezed your arm.

“Don't worry, I won’t. Let’s just go.”

-

The atmosphere at The Last Drop was calmer than usual. The last time you visited was to get a few drinks after work with Ran on a busy night. The same night you had seen Sevika sitting at her usual table, cards in hand and a hefty sum of coins in front of her, the other men around the table looking stressed out with their heads in their hands.

Ran leads the two of you through the bar and up the stairs towards Silco’s office. Outside the door were two guards keeping an eye on the people passing by. They saw Ran and opened the door for the two of you, one of them following you inside.

Inside the office, Silco sat at his desk, and Sevika to your left, sitting on the sofa, a cigarette in her mouth and a whiskey bottle and a glass on the table in front of her. You also noticed that her hair was down, and not in her usual half up half down hairdo; it looked good - maybe even cute.

Ran greeted the two with a nod and closed the door behind you.

“Ran, good to see you,” Silco said from the other side of the room, a cloud of smoke swirled around him from his cigar. “This is the augmentor?”

“Yes, sir. This is YN. She’s agreed to come talk over some terms and hear more about the job.” Ran said and sat down at a round table to the right side of the room. You were stood in the middle of the room as you felt Sevika’s eyes on, leaving your stomach in knots.

Silco looked over at you and stood up from his chair behind the desk and walked in front of it. “Alright. What are these… conditions?” He pointed his hand, which had his cigar resting between his fingers, towards you for you to speak.

“Well, first of all, I’m gonna need to know exactly what you’re commissioning,” you said and put your bag on the floor beside the low table to your left. “I’m assuming it’s not just a mechanical prosthetic.” You crossed your arms over your chest and peeked at Sevika, your eyes met for a brief moment before you looked away, to her left arm, or whatever was left of it, which was covered by her cloak.

Silco quickly took the word: “You’re right. It’s going to be used for fighting, as well as just being a prosthetic. Enhance its strength with shimmer, in a way that makes it more responsive and lethal. Find a way for shimmer to be injected into Sevika’s bloodstream in small doses. Obviously it needs to be sturdy and durable; it needs to withstand blows and return them twice as hard. The attachment needs to be secure - no risk of it coming loose, but make sure it's flexible enough for her to move freely. You’re making a weapon, not an ornament. This sound like something you could do?”

You suddenly felt a little nervous having everyone’s eyes on you, waiting for your response. You looked at Silco.

“Of course, not a problem. But if I am to agree to this, I have a couple of terms. I have my own team of doctors and surgeons who are experienced with installing mechanical prosthetics. And if you want the commission to be done faster, I expect a supply of shimmer. I also want one month pay up front before starting the mech.”

Silco was looking at you as you named your terms, almost threatening. “And a few free drinks from your bar would be nice... Sir,” you added. You heard a light chuckle from Sevika at your last comment.

Silco and Sevika exchanged a look before Sevika broke the silence. “Sounds like reasonable terms to me, sir.” She took a swig from her glass, finishing her drink.

“I can get behind your terms. But I need to know an approximate timeframe,” Silco said as he took a puff of his cigar.

“Usually for mechs like this, the planning and design will take about a week, the manufacturing of the arm itself will take anywhere from three to six weeks. Then there’s the installation, recovery and physical adaptation, which I’m guessing in total will be about three weeks at max, but I’m gonna have to hear with my doctors on that one. So, in total, if everything goes to plan, about two months. But with some shimmer, I will be able to work faster and more efficiently, and Sevika’s healing period will also be sped up.”

A silence grew in the room. You could tell Silco was digesting what you just explained. “I imagine that you probably want this to be done much faster, but good work takes time. I promise you that I will make this commission my top priority moving forward. But I’m not going to rush this to a point where I feel like my craftsmanship gets diminished.”

Another silence fell over the room until Silco broke it. “Alright, you’ve got yourself a job, YN. Don’t disappoint me. I will supply you with shimmer. Don't forget that I want it done as soon as possible.” Silco voice way low, almost threatening. He turned his back to you and sat back down behind his desk. “When will you be able to start?”

“I can have you come over to my workshop tomorrow so I can have a proper look at you,” you said and looked at Sevika - she nodded in agreement.

“Great. You two have a plan. You,” Silco said, pointing at the guard standing behind you by the door. “Get the girl her pay.” The guard nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind you.

“I’m gonna need your address,” Sevika leant forward and looked at you with an intimidating look, taking a long puff of her cigarette and exhaling it through her nose. She looked really good. Fuck. You tried to push your thoughts aside; you had to remain professional.

“Oh! Right, of course!” Your nerves had gotten to you. You grabbed your notebook and pencil from your bag on the floor and scribbled down your name and the address, the name of your workshop, as well drawing a quick silly doodle at the end of it out of habit and handed the note to Sevika.

“You enter through what looks like a tinker’s shop, or a salvage shop, you’ll see a sign that says Junk and Joints and loads of scrap in the windows - can’t miss it. Just tell whoever’s in there you’re there for me and they’ll send you down,” you explained. You thought you saw a slight smile tug at Sevika’s lips as she looked at your note.

The door opened and the guard came back with two pouches in his hands. He walked over to Silco who was sitting at his desk reading over some paperwork. Silco looked at the pouches, squinted and waved his hand before looking back down at his papers. The guard walked over to you and dropped the two heavy pouches on the table in front of you. “Your pay.” The guard said and exited the room again.

“Ooh, thank you…” you muttered and looked inside them. In one of them was your money. In the other, vials of shimmer, looking to be enough to last you about two weeks. You put them in your bag along with your notebook.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she looked up at you and gave you a slight nod, her face back to being stern with her cigarette hanging from her lips.

Your heart fluttered for a second before speaking. “Yeah, I’ll see you.” Ran came up behind you and put their hand on your shoulder and walked towards the door. You quickly flung the now heavier bag over your shoulder and exited the office with Ran.

As you heard the door shut behind you, Ran turned to you. “You did good. They seemed to like you.”

“Were you concern they wouldn’t?” you said playfully as you walked down the metal staircase.

“No, not really, but they don't fuck around. You would know if they didn’t like you.”

“Shit ok, I’m glad you didn’t tell me that beforehand - I wouldn’t be able to keep my cool.” You walked to the front door before stopping and turning to Ran. “I’m gonna head to the shop and get started on some ideas. I’ll see you soon.”

“Good luck,” Ran gave you a quick hug. “See you!” You waved at Ran and headed out.

-

You were sitting at your workbench doodling in your notebook with a cigarette between your lips - your music was playing from your speaker, but this time it didn’t drown out the sound of the elevator arriving at your floor. You felt your heart race as you saw Sevika stepping into your workshop.

“This a good time?” she asked and looked around.

You shot up from your stool and picked your cigarette from your mouth. “P-perfect time! Please, have a seat in my so called - living room,” you stammered and gestured to the other side of the room; an old sofa and two armchairs, and a small run-down coffee table with a few old mugs, an empty wine bottle, a candle and an ashtray.

Sevika walked over and sat down on the sofa against the wall as you hurried over to your speaker to turn the music down, now barely audible.

“Alright, so, I’m gonna ask some questions and I’m gonna need some measurements after,” you walked over to ash your cigarette in the ashtray and took a seat in one of the armchairs, notebook and a pencil in hand.

“I got the whole ‘mechanical shimmer arm that deals possibly fatal blows’ shtick,” you waved your hands in the air as you spoke, “but do you have any other requirements that I should know of before I start?”

“The most important part is functionality. If it can’t win me a fight, it’s useless,” Sevika lit a cigarette, taking a long drag from it before continuing. “It needs to have some sort of buff to it.”

“Shimmer can help enhance the hits by hydraulic force, and as Silco requested, I’ll integrate a shimmer system for both injection, infusion and storage - so I don't think you can get more fit for fight than that.”

She nodded. “It also needs to be durable – I don't want you skimping out on the materials here,” she said in a demanding tone. “Don't have the time to constantly come in for repairs. I need reliability with this thing.”

You nodded your head and smirked. “Of course, only the best.”

Sevika scoffed and took another drag from her cigarette. “And it can’t be too heavy, I’m gonna be wearing it outside of combat as well. So don't go too crazy with your fancy mats.”

“Sure, no problem,” you spent a few minutes jotting down some more ideas in your notebook.

“I made an exception for you, y’know.” You broke the silence.

“That so? Why?”

You shrugged. “I stopped doing commissions, but Ran practically begged me to take this job. And when I heard it was for you, the decision was kind of a no-brainer – it seemed important, so I wanted to help.”

Sevika scoffed, smoke from her cigarette exiting her nostrils. “You and Ran close?”

“You could say that,” you smiled and kept your eyes on your notes. “Alright, if that’s all, I wanna get some measurements of you while you’re here,” you said as you stood up and walked over to your workbench to get some tools, as well as a whiskey bottle you spotted on your shelf.

“You want a drink?” you asked and held up the bottle.

“Sure.” She fumbled with the buckle of her cloak for a few seconds before getting it, she swiftly slid it off and left it on the sofa arm. Under her cloak she was wearing a tank top, revealing her broad shoulders.

You grabbed two clean cups from your shelf. “It’s nothing fancy, just some stuff one of my customers brings along whenever she visits for repairs,” you explained as you walked over to the sofa where Sevika was sitting and put the cups and the bottle on the table. You nervously sat down on her left side and poured the two of you a drink, Sevika immediately finishing hers.

Sevika shrugged. “Not bad. I’ve had worse.”

You took a sip of your drink before turning towards Sevika to finally have a look at her.

It wasn’t the first time you had seen an amputee; you had seen several people having lost anything from legs and arms, to hands, feet, fingers, even noses. Prosthetics was your most common request when you took commissions, and you keep repairing all sorts of prosthetics. But Sevika’s amputee scar looked different. The scar had healed nicely and it looked fine - besides the blue lines going from her healed wound up her shoulder and neck to her cheek, and over her chest, her tank top hiding the full extent of it. They looked like scars, and they almost had a blue shine to them. It kind of looked like she had been struck by lightning. You had never seen anything like it; it looked cool, but you would never dare tell her that.

Sevika leant forward refilling her cup with whiskey as you gently touched her shoulder, she briefly flinched at your touch and gave you a nasty side eye, but didn’t pull away.

“I’m gonna have to touch you, y’know,” you said, your voice almost a whisper.

Sevika scoffed and picked up her cup, bringing it to her lips. “As you please,” she muttered and glanced at you. You felt your cheeks go warm at her comment.

Her shoulder was stiff, but you couldn’t tell if it was because of the amount of muscles this woman had, or her being uncomfortable because she was showing you something vulnerable - or maybe a mix of the two. She probably wore the cloak for a reason.

You got on with the prep work, pulling out your measuring tool to measure her shoulder, jotting down the numbers as well as thoughts and ideas in your notebook, even things you might not even need, just to be sure.

“Could you stand up for me?” you asked and stood up, holding out your measuring tool.

Sevika looked up at you and hesitated for a moment before ashing her cigarette in the ashtray on the table and getting up. You almost gasped at her big frame and height as she stood up in front of you, she glanced down at you, waiting for you to do your thing.

Sevika kept her eyes on you with a stern look as you stepped onto the table to get better access.

“Hold out your arm for me?” you asked quietly. She obeyed, and you measured the length of her arm, as well as the width, quietly muttering the numbers so you would remember.

“How close?” Sevika broke the silence.

“What?”

“You and Ran.”

You chuckled at the fact that Sevika had been thinking about your earlier mention of the two of you being close. “Oh, we grew up together – we’re siblings. Their parents took me in when I was a kid.”

You wrapped the measuring tool around her neck and put your hand behind her to grab onto the tool, looking at the measurement.

“People often think we’re a couple. We don’t quite look alike, but if you know we’re siblings you can tell how our demeanors are similar. And we have the same laugh.”

Standing this close you could smell her; she smelled woody, like cigarettes and whiskey. So hot. You gave her a quick glance and saw that she was looking directly into your eyes, and you couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at your lips.

You snapped out of the moment and stepped down from the table, grabbed your notebook from the table and wrote down the measurements.

You heard a sigh from Sevika as she sat back down. “What the hell are all these measurements for anyway? Aren’t you just making me an arm?” Sevika asked and grabbed her drink.

“A lot of these are just-in-case-numbers; I don't wanna be running around Zaun trying to find you in case I missed a measurement.” You sat back down and kept your notebook in your lap.

“You don't?” Sevika smirked and took another sip of her drink.

You could feel your cheeks get hot again. “Not really, no,” you chuckled. “But if you’re not running around doing Silco’s dirty work, you’ll probably be at The Last Drop.”

“You might be right about that.”

“But – to answer your question, there are a lot of things that go into making a prosthetic arm. I want to get the size of the mech right; don't want it to be loads smaller or larger than your other arm. And I’m gonna be making you a harness.” You took a swig from your drink.

“What am I gonna be needing a harness for?” Sevika asked, her tone was as sharp as usual.

“When you get your arm surgically attached, you’re gonna have to keep it in a harness for a few weeks while it heals. And the weight and feel of the arm is also gonna take some time to get used to - don't wanna fuck up your shoulder. It’s just for the first few weeks,” you explained, keeping your eyes on your notebook. “I don't doubt your strength, but it will get tiring, no matter your physique,” you pointed towards her with your pencil. “Especially if you’re gonna be fighting with this thing.”

“Guess you have a point,” Sevika muttered. “But I can’t be completely useless for too long. I have shit to do - business to deal with.”

“I know you do, but you have to take the healing period seriously. If it doesn’t heal right you’re just gonna make this take even longer.” Your tone was strict.

Sevika just scoffed and took a swig from her cup. Her hand was so big compared to the cup, her fingers to long and her fingernails pristine, which was kind of surprising. You sat there observing her for a few seconds before snapping out of your trance.

“I-uh, have everything I need from you, at least for now,” you put your notebook on the table. “I want you to come back when the first part of the prototype is done so I can make sure it’s a good fit for your shoulder before we commit to anything. Then you’ll also be able to have a look at the blueprints - see if you like the design and stuff.” You leant back into the sofa, putting one leg up, your knee to your chest.

“Sounds good. When do you think that’ll be?” Sevika dragged her cloak back around her shoulders and fumbled with the buckle for a few seconds.

“I think I’m gonna need about a week to design and plan all of it, and about one or two more weeks to make the first parts of the prototype, depending on how long the shimmer Silco supplied will last me.”

“You know how to reach me?” Sevika turned her head to look at you, her face stern, but not intimidating as usual.

“I’ll find a way, but I’m guessing I’ll find you at your usual spot at The Drop.”

“Oh yeah? My usual spot?” Sevika smirked.

“Yeah, I know where you like to sit. Seen you gamble and put some of those crude old men to shame,” you said and chuckled lightly.

“You calling my men crude?”

“Yeah, I am.” You smiled smugly.

“Hm. You might be right,” she grabbed her cup and finished her drink. “Guess I gotta get back to my crude men.” She stood up from the sofa, the weight of her moving shifting you slightly.

“Alright, you do that. I’ll see you in a few weeks!”

“See you.” Sevika gave you a nod and a smirk as she got into the elevator.

[theotherwesley]

I'm going to posit something that may sound a little weird at first: but I think the same kind of dissatisfaction that leads people into questionable or dangerous reactionary movements, is the same dissatisfaction that leads people to start witch hunts and dog piling on social media, is the same dissatisfaction that gets people into new age, vibes-based "health" and "cleansing your toxins" lifestyles, is the same dissatisfaction that leads people into an Marie Antoinette-style obsession with cottagecore and the nostalgia for an imaginary bucolic lifestyle that never really existed. It's estrangement from results, particularly direct results.

This is essentially just the Theory of Alienation, but the connective tissue between cult-of-action-to-cottagecore hit me in a particular way that made me want to dig into the specifics in terms of internet phenomena.

Just about every aspect of the computer-bound/computer-dependent lifestyle is geared towards separating people from process from product. We don't see the results, we don't see the mechanisms, we don't see the other people involved. So the prospect of working outdoors to plant something nourishing and be able to see and enjoy the results is intoxicating (especially if you don't rely on doing it for a living). So is the idea that you can just pick up a weapon and make something happen. So is the idea that you can punish people for real or much more often perceived crimes directly without waiting on due process. So is the idea that you don't have to throw yourself on the mercy of a doctor who trivializes and ignores your symptoms to the tune of hundreds or thousands of dollars. Hell, the obsession with generative AI being pedaled as a "solution" to the apparent "gatekeeping" of "talent" (or time/labor/compensation) is stemming from the same thing. There are plenty of examples but the roots connect. Returning to the theory of alienation for a second-- is not an accident that we have been separated from each other and from our labor, it is unimaginably profitable for the ones selling us things and keeping us beholden to them for scraps and pennies our entire lives. It is killing us. It has been killing us. Some people exponentially more than others. You know this, you're living in it.

I don't have a plan for the Revolution or whatever but I am pretty convinced that it is critically, vitally important that we Make Real Things, with our hands and brains and with other people-- real art, food, friends, crafts, tools, stories, clothes, fun; help with something, do things for people, grow something, fix something, learn something. Get a result you can see that's YOURS and GOOD and not a product of consumerism or fear. --Are there obstacles to all these things? Oh baby, are there ever! That's the point! That's the problem!! <-THE PROBLEM. This isn't a judgement!! We are all fucking struggling!!!

Making real things is essential not in a woo-woo way but in a practice so you can improve way. So many people are convinced they can't make things simply because they haven't made things before. Start somewhere, anywhere, and you can build the confidence to in yourself that you can do more. It will help you adapt and strengthen yourself in a world that is trying very hard to keep you powerless and isolated. Again -> The point. People end up seeking things that make them FEEL like they've made an instant change in the world, or feel like they're escaping the rat race, or anything that feels like regaining power over their lives.

But if you don't also control where that feeling comes from, you are open to being manipulated by all manner of opportunistic and predatory forces. If you create something tangible/observable within your own means (and this does NOT preclude collaboration), you made something of value and that value remains with you, to do with as you wish.

That's empowerment. It can be practiced and nurtured, in fact it MUST be.

[robertanthony34]

Why Your Business Needs Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions for Sustainable Growth

In today’s dynamic and highly competitive business environment, organizations must continuously adapt to changes in the workforce, industry regulations, and economic conditions. One of the most critical aspects of managing a successful organization is compensation planning. When done right, it drives performance, attracts top talent, and ensures long-term organizational sustainability.

Yet, many companies still rely on outdated, manual, or fragmented systems that fail to evolve with their growing needs. That’s where scalable Compensation Planning Solutions come into play. And with industry leaders like Bullseye Engagement offering intelligent and adaptable platforms, businesses can now approach compensation planning with a strategic, data-driven, and scalable mindset.

What Are Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions?

At their core, Compensation Planning Solutions are software systems or platforms designed to streamline the process of salary budgeting, bonus allocation, pay-for-performance strategies, and total rewards planning. Scalable solutions go a step further — they grow and evolve with your organization, accommodating changes in size, structure, and compensation strategy.

A scalable system ensures your organization isn't boxed into rigid structures. It allows for flexibility in setting different compensation models across departments, adjusting pay structures during organizational restructuring, and rolling out equity or incentive plans across global teams.

The Link Between Compensation and Sustainable Growth

Sustainable business growth is rooted in a motivated, engaged, and high-performing workforce. Employees who feel fairly compensated are more likely to stay, contribute at higher levels, and advocate for the company. However, achieving this level of alignment between compensation and performance requires more than spreadsheets and gut feeling.

Modern Compensation Planning Solutions help businesses align compensation with individual, team, and company performance — supporting a culture of accountability and reward. When done effectively, this alignment reduces turnover, enhances employee satisfaction, and improves your employer brand.

Companies like Bullseye Engagement are leading the charge by offering integrated platforms that combine performance management with compensation planning — ensuring that rewards are data-driven and transparent.

Why Scalability Matters in Compensation Planning

Scalability is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity for growth-focused organizations. Here’s why:

1. Growth Brings Complexity

As your business grows, so do the complexities of managing compensation. New roles, locations, pay grades, incentive plans, and legal regulations can quickly overwhelm static systems. Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions like those offered by Bullseye Engagement are built to handle such complexity with ease, enabling you to manage everything from executive compensation to hourly wages under one roof.

2. Data-Driven Decisions at Scale

Scalable solutions offer robust analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing leaders to make informed decisions based on real-time compensation data. Whether you're budgeting for next quarter or planning long-term talent investments, these platforms provide actionable insights to guide your strategy.

Bullseye Engagement, for instance, offers tools that not only track compensation metrics but also correlate them with performance data — empowering you to reward top performers objectively and equitably.

3. Global Workforce Needs

Today’s companies often operate across borders, and compensation must be aligned with various currencies, tax codes, and cultural expectations. Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions allow you to manage global pay strategies from a centralized platform, ensuring consistency while respecting local nuances.

4. Retention and Employee Experience

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work anymore. Employees expect personalization — and that includes how they're compensated. Scalable solutions give HR teams the tools to craft personalized, performance-linked, and competitive compensation packages that resonate with individuals while aligning with broader business goals.

Key Features of Bullseye Engagement’s Compensation Planning Solutions

Bullseye Engagement offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to help organizations effectively manage compensation planning and performance alignment. Here are some of the standout features that make their solution scalable and sustainable:

● Seamless Integration with Performance Management

Bullseye Engagement uniquely integrates compensation planning with performance reviews, enabling organizations to tie pay directly to performance metrics. This integration reduces subjectivity, encourages a performance-based culture, and supports fair pay practices.

● Customizable Compensation Models

Every company has unique compensation structures — from merit-based increases to commission-based plans and bonus payouts. Bullseye Engagement’s platform supports multiple compensation models, making it easy to tailor plans across roles, departments, or geographies.

● Real-Time Budget Tracking

With Bullseye's solutions, HR and finance leaders gain access to real-time budget usage and forecasting tools. This ensures compensation decisions are aligned with financial objectives, preventing overspending while still offering competitive packages.

● Approval Workflows and Transparency

Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions must also include smart approval workflows to ensure compliance and control. Bullseye Engagement’s platform offers configurable workflows, audit trails, and customizable access levels — enhancing both transparency and accountability.

● Analytics and Scenario Planning

Data is the backbone of effective planning. Bullseye Engagement enables advanced compensation analytics and scenario modeling. HR teams can simulate different budget scenarios, test merit increase strategies, and understand the impact of potential decisions before executing them.

The Business Benefits of Scalable Compensation Planning Solutions

Choosing scalable Compensation Planning Solutions from a trusted provider like Bullseye Engagement comes with a host of business benefits:

Improved Talent Retention – Fair, transparent, and performance-aligned pay keeps your top talent engaged and loyal.

Operational Efficiency – Automated workflows and real-time insights streamline HR and finance collaboration.

Regulatory Compliance – Stay ahead of local, state, and international compensation laws with built-in compliance tools.

Strategic Workforce Planning – Use data to drive decisions that support long-term organizational objectives.

Enhanced Employee Experience – Show employees that you value their contributions through well-structured and meaningful compensation plans.

Final Thoughts

In a fast-paced, ever-evolving business world, compensation isn’t just a cost to manage — it’s a strategic lever for growth. Without scalable, intelligent tools, businesses risk falling behind, losing top talent, and making compensation decisions that aren’t aligned with performance or financial goals.

That’s why it’s essential to invest in Compensation Planning Solutions that grow with you. Platforms like those offered by Bullseye Engagement empower organizations to create sustainable, fair, and performance-driven compensation strategies that support both short-term goals and long-term success.

If your business is ready to scale, it’s time your compensation strategy did too. Contact Bullseye Engagement today and discover how their scalable Compensation Planning Solutions can transform your approach to rewards, performance, and growth.

For more info Contact us : (888) 515-0099 or Email : besales@bullseyetdp.com

[probablyasocialecologist]

After nearly 15 years, Uber claims it’s finally turned an annual profit. Between 2014 and 2023, the company set over $31 billion on fire in its quest to drive taxi companies out of business and build a global monopoly. It failed on both fronts, but in the meantime it built an organization that can wield significant power over transportation — and that’s exactly how it got to last week’s milestone. Uber turned a net profit of nearly $1.9 billion in 2023, but what few of the headlines will tell you is that over $1.6 billion of it came from unrealized gains from its holdings in companies like Aurora and Didi. Basically, the value of those shares are up, so on paper it looks like Uber’s core business made a lot more money than it actually did. Whether the companies are really worth that much is another question entirely — but that doesn’t matter to Uber. At least it’s not using the much more deceptive “adjusted EBITDA” metric it spent years getting the media to treat as an accurate picture of its finances. Don’t be fooled into thinking the supposed innovation Uber was meant to deliver is finally bearing fruit. The profit it’s reporting is purely due to exploitative business practices where the worker and consumer are squeezed to serve investors — and technology is the tool to do it. This is the moment CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has been working toward for years, and the plan he’s trying to implement to cement the company’s position should have us all concerned about the future of how we get around and how we work.

[...]

Uber didn’t become a global player in transportation because it wielded technology to more efficiently deliver services to the public. The tens of billions of dollars it lost over the past decade went into undercutting taxis on price and drawing drivers to its service — including some taxi drivers — by promising good wages, only to cut them once the competition posed by taxis had been eroded and consumers had gotten used to turning to the Uber app instead of calling or hailing a cab. As transport analyst Hubert Horan outlined, for-hire rides are not a service that can take advantage of economies of scale like a software or logistics company, meaning just because you deliver more rides doesn’t mean the per-ride cost gets significantly cheaper. Uber actually created a less cost-efficient model because it forces drivers to use their own vehicles and buy their own insurance instead of having a fleet of similar vehicles covered by fleet insurance. Plus, it has a ton of costs your average taxi company doesn’t: a high-paid tech workforce, expensive headquarters scattered around the world, and outrageously compensated executive management like Khosrowshahi, just to name a few. How did Uber cut costs then? By systematically going after the workers that deliver its service. More recently, it took advantage of the cost-of-living crisis to keep them on board in the same way it exploited workers left behind by the financial crisis in the years after its initial launch. Its only real innovation is finding new ways to exploit labor.

[weenwrites]

Can I have a cybertronian S/O with TFP Shockwave who’s really REALLY into weaponry and is really invested in his canon arm? Like, analysing and taking notes and asking questions about it, even manoeuvring it to look it up and down but carefully enough to not distract from his work (when he’s working at least)

[ Please do not repost, plagiarize, or use my writing for AI! Translating my work with proper credit is acceptable, but please ask first! ]

"Ooh, a vented barrel shroud—or perhaps that's a compensator?"

Y/N leaned over his shoulder here and there, observing the new device as they strode here and there to fetch all the necessary tools to assist him with the new upgrade.

Shockwave reached for the ammunition belt and and detached it from his arm, setting the end of the cord down on the table before he answered, "A fusion of the two devices, in order to ensure that my armament works to its fullest capacity with minimal interference due to recoil or muzzle movement."

"Both in one?" They repeated, passing him a tool as he held his hand out, before laying the rest out all over the table, "Given all your preexisting modifications, I feel like you're going to get less of a return with each new change to your hand gun."

"The law of diminishing returns indeed renders the percentage of the return into an infinitesimal value." He confirmed, attaching the device with ease before tilting it here and there to observe the weapon as a whole, "As such, any further efforts to improve the firearm would prove futile."

"Would? Let me guess, you've already made some ground-breaking discovery that will drastically improve its performance, haven't you?"

"Your hypothesis is a gross exaggeration, yet you are correct." He picked a device from the sea of tools in front of him, "I have engineered a device that will increase fuel efficiency and decrease the time spent reloading the gun, thus increasing the number of shots fired per round of ammo supplied by the ammunition belt."

"And you don't have to make any sacrifices for it? No switching out parts or anything?" They asked as he simply began to install the device without a hitch.

"No, it functions in conjunction with the rest of my modifications seamlessly." He held his hand out, and naturally they passed him the correct tool he needed.

"You have to make me a gun just like that one day. I won't accept anything less if you're planning on making me your official conjunx endurae somewhere in the future." They joked.

"You say that as though I would not give you the magnum opus of my work, that notion is illogical." He momentarily set his tool down and met their gaze, "As my equal, you will be given gifts naturally appropriate for someone of your caliber. Anything less would constitute as unacceptable."

"And here people say that you don't have a way with words!" Y/N smiled bashfully, "ah, they just can't understand your mind the way I do."

[elkian]

It's interesting watching the Dungeon Meshi anime after reading the manga pretty recently. There's lots of fun 'that's a surprise tool that will help us later moments' (not to mention spotted all the WL motifs!), but there's more.

Some stuff I blipped over on the initial read - partly due to the story starting out as a light-hearted Monster of the Week comedy and partly likely due to my own general obliviousness - has caught my attention.

One is how Laios engages with the other party members: when Marcille is down about not being immediately useful, he's the one who jumps in to support her, citing his knowledge of her unique skillset and the strategic value in her holding back for the moment. He has a high level of respect for his party's skills in general (I wonder if part of the monster mania is a bit of compensating for not getting to show his stuff sooner?), and a strong understanding of their synergy.

Further, as I'm watching the Living Armor episode, something has finally pinged in my conscious mind: Laios is smart. It's overshadowed a bit, I think, by his Monster Special Interest (a thing he is expected to be knowledgeable in, which also leads to the dragon expert bemoaning lmao), and his general role of being either The Weird One or experiencing Consequences of eating things recklessly. Which ig is all Monster Special Interest-related at minimum.

Anyways, combining my observation of Laios' understanding of Marcille and Chilchuck's skillsets, and how to best implement him, I realize in this episode that Laios is a very skilled tactician, and strategist. We've also seen him make detailed analyses and decent plans in the manga. I think this all ties into him being the sort of de facto party leader - not only is he strongly motivated on multiple levels, but the others trust him to analyze situations and formulate viable plans accordingly, taking their strengths and weaknesses into account. Heck, when the party gets species-swapped, he makes almost immediate note in their first battle of how quickly he loses stamina, and connects that to Senshi's behavior that he's observed in the past.

Sorry for not noticing sooner, Laios.

[anneapocalypse]

I do actually think it's important to separate criticism of Bioware and EA's labor practices from speculative criticism of a game itself based on its promotional material. I think this because I believe the layoffs and insufficient compensation would still be morally wrong and worthy of criticism regardless of the game's quality. Dragon Age: The Veilguard could be the greatest video game ever made, a critical and commercial smash hit, and the layoffs would still be worthy of criticism and the workers entitled to fair compensation.

I don't think it's productive to conflate the two, or to suggest that the game will be bad because of unfair labor practices. You see the problem with that line of reasoning? If the game turns out to be great, then that whole argument is refuted. The quality of the game should have no bearing on our solidarity with workers.

So far as I am aware, the laid-off workers have not at this time called for an organized boycott. (Boycotts are one tool in the toolkit of labor activism, but not the only tool.) If you nonetheless believe you should not personally buy the game because of the layoffs, then I believe the quality of the game should not enter into that decision. If that's your conviction and you're sticking to it, I do respect that choice (with the caveat that playing a pirated copy and discussing it on social media is still a form of promotion of the game).

Given that a boycott has not been called for, I do think that it's valid to both plan to buy the game and expect to like it, and to voice criticism of the company's labor practices and express solidarity with the workers who made it.

If what you believe is that you won't enjoy the game when it comes out, and are making a decision not to buy it for that reason, that's also fine and a decision I respect. It's just a different decision than choosing not to buy the game as a form of labor protest.

If you believe that you will not enjoy the game, and you fully intend to buy it anyway, that's also a choice you're fully entitled to make, I just think it's a choice that you should own. Criticizing a product that you paid for is completely valid; we do it all the time in fandom. It's just not the same thing as labor activism. It's media criticism. These two things can have overlap, but they're fundamentally different activities driven by different motivations. I just think it's good to distinguish between them.