#Driving Recorder Forecast

[electronalytics]

Electrical Ceramics Market Geographical Expansion & Analysis Growth Development, Status, Recorded during 2017 to 2032

Electrical Ceramics Market size is expected to grow from USD 12.82 billion in 2022 to USD 19.3 billion by 2029, anticipated to witness moderate growth  with a CAGR 5.3% during 2023-2029.

The competitive analysis of the Electrical Ceramics Market offers a comprehensive examination of key market players. It encompasses detailed company profiles, insights into revenue distribution, innovations within their product portfolios, regional market presence, strategic development plans, pricing strategies, identified target markets, and immediate future initiatives of industry leaders. This section serves as a valuable resource for readers to understand the driving forces behind competition and what strategies can set them apart in capturing new target markets.

Market projections and forecasts are underpinned by extensive primary research, further validated through precise secondary research specific to the Electrical Ceramics Market. Our research analysts have dedicated substantial time and effort to curate essential industry insights from key industry participants, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), top-tier suppliers, distributors, and relevant government entities.

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Market Segmentations:

Global Electrical Ceramics Market: By Company • Kyocera Corporation • Murata Manufacturing • Taiyo Yuden • Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) • TDK Corp • NGK Insulators • CeramTec • ChaoZhou Three-circle • Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology Holding • Morgan Advanced Materials Global Electrical Ceramics Market: By Type • Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) • Dielectric Ceramics • Ceramic Substrates • Ceramic Packing • Others Global Electrical Ceramics Market: By Application • Consumer Electronics • Home Appliances • Medical Devices • Power Grids and Energy • Others

Regional Analysis of Global Electrical Ceramics Market

All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Electrical Ceramics market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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Report includes Competitor's Landscape:

➊ Major trends and growth projections by region and country ➋ Key winning strategies followed by the competitors ➌ Who are the key competitors in this industry? ➍ What shall be the potential of this industry over the forecast tenure? ➎ What are the factors propelling the demand for the Electrical Ceramics? ➏ What are the opportunities that shall aid in significant proliferation of the market growth? ➐ What are the regional and country wise regulations that shall either hamper or boost the demand for Electrical Ceramics? ➑ How has the covid-19 impacted the growth of the market? ➒ Has the supply chain disruption caused changes in the entire value chain?

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[youcouldmakealife]

David/Jake; all eventualities

Another Kickstarter fill, for the prompt: David showing commitment to Jake

It comes up at dinner with Jake’s sister. The Lourdes are very — candid with one another, David finds. Initially he found it uncomfortable, even sometimes alarming, but now he’s mostly used to it. Still, he didn’t expect Natalie to casually bring up making a will while twirling spaghetti on her fork.

“I know most people put it off,” she says. “But when kids are in the picture you can’t, you know? You have to make sure they’re taken care of. Not just financially, but you have to think of that too.”

“For sure,” Jake says. “You do know I would—“

“No, I know,” Natalie says, waving Jake away with her fork. “Still. I have Allie and Serge as guardians. No offence to you guys, obviously, she’s just, you know, already a mom. What’s one more, right?”

David is pretty sure it’s a little more strenuous than that, but then, he isn’t a parent, so maybe he's wrong. Jake doesn’t look offended, and David’s too busy suddenly considering the possibility of Jake having custody of his nephews, as small as it may be. He hadn’t really thought about it before, not even as a distant possibility.

“But you guys are the back up,” Natalie says.

“Sweet,” Jake says, completely unfazed, while David spends the rest of dinner methodically cutting his spaghetti down into smaller pieces.

“You know it’d never happen, right?” Jake says on the drive home.

“Hm?” David says.

“Me getting guardianship,” Jake says. “Nat’s just being thorough, checking all the boxes.”

“Oh,” David says. “I know.”

“You looked a little worried,” Jake says.

“I wasn’t worried,” David protests.

Obviously, that wasn’t true, but as David thinks about it more that night, Jake asleep beside him, he realises Jake’s right — the chance of both Natalie and Allie being unable to care for the children are infinitesimal, orders of magnitude smaller than the odds of, say, a collision each time David gets in a car. And that risk doesn’t stop him from getting into one almost every day.

But if David did get into a collision — and that would be the most likely cause of his premature death, statistically speaking — he wouldn’t have a will of his own. David likes to think he’s a responsible adult, and his bookkeeper praises his record keeping, but apparently that doesn’t extend to planning for the end of his life. It’s not like he’s never considered making one, given that he’s in a career where a shortened lifespan is unnervingly common, and just because he’s emerged from it more unscathed than others doesn’t necessarily mean he’s escaped long-term consequences, but it’s just — uncomfortable, he supposes.

If Jake died — David doesn’t even like thinking about it, but if he did, and he didn’t have a will, then his money would surely go to his family, and that seems right.

But if David died without a will? It’d probably all just go to his parents. He doesn’t think Jake would fight it, even if he had far more right to it than either of them.

He’d say it didn’t matter, that he had enough money, but it isn’t just money, is it? It’s David’s money, but it’s also property, furniture, keepsakes, from his Gold medal down to his pyjama shirts, plastic cracked and cotton faded. The things that belong to him — but if he isn’t around anymore, they’re Jake’s if he wants them.

*

“I want to write a will,” David says, after he thinks about it a few days, makes a preliminary appointment with an estate lawyer. He doesn’t think it’s a particularly inappropriate moment, sitting on the couch, half watching the news, waiting for the weather forecast, because Jake wants to go for a drive this week, maybe take a picnic basket along, but Jake turns the TV off, looking alarmed, so perhaps he didn’t choose the right one.

Or, well, David supposes he’d be alarmed if Jake suddenly announced that as well. Wonder if something had happened. If he had cancer, or—

“I don’t have cancer,” David says.

Jake looks, if anything, even more alarmed.

“Or anything else,” David says. “At least as far as I’m aware. I just — remember what Natalie said? About making a will?”

“Oh,” Jake says, and blows out a relieved breath so big it makes David startle.

“I haven’t made one myself,” David says. “Which was irresponsible of me.”

“I mean, I haven’t made one either,” Jake says.

“I’m not calling you irresponsible,” David says.

“No, I know,” Jake says. “Maybe I should, though.”

“I thought — if you were —“ David says. “If something happened, your family would get your money, right? And that’s how it should be.”

Jake’s frowning again, and David talks faster so he can hopefully explain himself before Jake misunderstands him again.

“If I didn’t have a will, my money would go to my parents,” David says, and the frown’s gone again, replaced by something closer to — it isn’t pity, David thinks. Hopes, at least. “Your family, they’ve been — supportive of you. Present. My parents — they don’t deserve anything of mine.”

“No,” Jake says. “They don’t.”

“So I think I’d like to make a will,” David says.

Jake reaches out, squeezes David’s hand. “Sounds like a good thing to have, just in case.”

“Yes,” David says. “Exactly. Did you want to — should we check the weather?”

“Okay,” Jake says, and when he turns the TV back on, the forecast sprawls across the screen, all sunshine.

“Good weather for a drive,” David says.

“Perfect weather,” Jake says, and squeezes his hand again.

[criticallyacclaimedstranger]

Let Me Take Your Fear Away [Frankie x f!reader]

My Frankie Morales masterlist

Read on Ao3

Fandom: Triple Frontier

Ship: Francisco “Catfish” Morales x you (cishet female, no descriptors except has boobs and pussy)

Warnings: Fear of thunder, deprivation of hearing and sight, cunnilingus, piv sex.

Summary: You're afraid of thunder and when a storm rolls in over town, you call Frankie to keep you company. And he has a new idea about how to distract you.

Words: 2,300

The dark clouds chase you home from work, and you just barely make it inside before the rain starts to hammer the streets. You pick up your phone and check the online lightning map immediately, finding that the storm is still raging in the next time over. The weather forecast, however, says it'll reach your town in a couple of hours. Chewing on your lower lip, you start to prepare dinner, checking the map and forecast every now and then. Nothing's changed, and you see that the lightning map is riddled with red and yellow dots. It's a rough one, and you can already hear the thunder in the distance.

You eat while watching a show on your laptop. Even if the storm is still far away, you're loath to use electricity, so you sit in the dark with the TV unplugged. When thunder starts to rumble closer to your town, it seems to reverberate through your entire body.

You fucking hate this. Hate that you're so skittish when there's thunder, hate that you can't stop thinking about lightning striking your house, hate that you flinch every time there's a crack in the skies above you. The risk of actually being harmed is so small, you take a bigger risk every day by driving to work, but you just can't help it.

Picking up your phone, you see now that the storm is rolling in over your town.

"Fuck," you mutter, and tap open the list of last made calls. Frankie's name is at the top, and you hesitate for a second before calling him. He picks up almost at once.

"Hi, babe." His warm, low barytone makes you smile. He sounds happy to hear from you, and you love that about him. Granted that this relationship is still quite new, but he seems genuinely interested in being with you.

"Hi. Listen, um, are you doing anything special?"

"Nah, just waiting for the storm to pass."

"Yeah, about that... would you want to do it over here?"

A crack makes you gasp, and Frankie's voice changes, becomes laced with worry.

"Are you okay?"

"Please don't laugh but... I'm kinda scared of thunder."

"Why would I laugh?"

"People do. Frankie, can you come over? Keep me company?"

"I'm on my way. Do you need anything?"

"Just you."

"Be there soon."

He’s with you in record time, hanging is wet jacket in the dark hallway with you holding up a flashlight, feeling stupid about your overzelous need to pull every plug in your home. You know that it’s safe to keep the lights on, but the flickering makes you nervous. With Frankie’s arms around you, you feel a little safer.

“What can I do to make you comfortable?”

You’ve never heard those words from anyone before, and it almost brings tears to your eyes.

“I don’t know… no one ever asked that before.”

“People are dumbasses,” he scoffs, one big, warm hand cupping the back of your head as he holds you close. “We could watch a movie on the laptop? That way we don’t have to keep it plugged in.”

A lightning strike flashes, lighting up the roomfor a second, and a loud crack follows. You flinch in Frankie’s arms, then laugh nervously.

“I’m not sure I can focus. The light and the sound…”

“I see.”

He thinks for a while, hand moving in soothing circles for every rumble that makes you shiver.

“Okay, I got an idea. Don’t hate me now, but do you wanna have sex?”

You look up at him in the half dark.

“Excuse me?”

“I know it sounds like an asshole suggestion, but there’s not uch else we can do, and I’d like at least to try to redirect your focus.”

He’s smiling, and his voice as dropped to a deep, honeyed smoothness that does make your groin tighten. You’re stunned for a moment, not really sure about what you want, but the truth is, sex with Frankie has so far never let you down.

“Okay,” you finally agree, and that’s how you end up in the bedroom, slowly kissing and helping each other undress. The blinds are drawn but harsh, albeit brief, strikes of light still illuminate the room. By the time you’re naked on the bed, with Frankie kissing his way down your body, you sigh in frustration at yet another fright.

“Frankie,” you mumble, “I’m not sure this is going to work. I’m too tense.”

He stops and looks up at you in the dark.

“I can feel that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for.” He comes up to kiss your lips, sweetly, just a couple of soft pecks. “I wish I could make you comfortable.”

“Not your fault.”

“I want you to be comfortable.”

“I know.”

He kisses you again, then hums, like he thought of something.

“Babe, can we try something?”

“What?”

“Gimme just two minutes. I’m gonna get something from my truck. Will you be okay?”

“Sure,” you frown as he kisses you quickly before getting up from the bed. You hear him put on his jeans and t-shirt, and grab the flashlight from the bedside table.

“I’ll be right back,” he promises, then lights his way to the hall, where he pulls on his shoes. You hear the front door open and close, and you sit up, nervous about being alone again.

He’s not even away for two minutes, but his hair is wet when he comes back to bed, finding you sitting up with your arms around you knees. He holds up a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and your scarf from the hall.

“Okay, feel free to say no, but if it’s the light and sound that bothers you, how about we block those out?”

You wet your lips, a nervous flutter in your stomach. You had no idea he was this creative, not to mention kinky.

“So I wouldn’t hear or see anything?” you state the obvious, accepting the headphones from him and turning them in your hands. Frankie nods.

“Precisely. We don’t have to, if you don’t want to, but it could be worth a try?”

You look at him, barely discerning his handsome features in the faint light from the flashlight. He looks so secure, so soft and full of concern for you.

“I wanna try,” you rule, and put on the headphones. The sound of heavy rain against the window stops, and all you can hear are you own breaths. A lightning flashes outside, making you recoil, but you never hear the subsequent thunder. Relief floods your body, and desire takes over fear. You take off the headphones.

“It works!”

“They’re good,” Frankie nods, handing you the scarf. “Tie this around your head.”

You raise the scarf to your eyes but before you can tie it, Frankie leans in for a kiss.

“I’ll be careful, and you just tell me to stop if you feel comfortable, okay?”

“I trust you,” you tell him quietly, and he kisses you again before letting you tie the scarf. Everything turns dark, and you adjust the fabric to avoid any cracks. You then put on the headphones, and everything turns silent.

Frankie’s lips seek out yours and in your silent bubble, your tongues dancing around each other sounds so loud. Your breath is thunderous when echoing in your own head, but you’re used to the effect from using earbuds at the gym. You focus on the kiss, on Frankie’s hands on your body, more exciting than ever before now that you can’t tell where he’s going. You give him command, let him lay you down on your back, sigh out your pleasure when he kisses your neck, your breasts, your stomach. Your sighs rise to moans when his tongue connects with your clit, and when he wraps his arms around your thighs to keep your still, your hands find his on your hips. You need that connection now that you can’t see him, can’t hear him – but you can still feel the vibrations of his hums and growls against your pussy. You feel it even more intensely now than you usually do, maybe because you’re so concentrated on what you can feel instead of our other senses. His name is a prayer on your tongue and a scream inside your head when he makes you cum, holds your pelvis down as you writhe and sob. He doesn’t stop, clearly determined to make you cum again, and while your clit is throbbing violently in dubious protest against the renewed ministrations, you don’t stop him but mewl your yesyesmoremorepleasepleaseplease in a way that drives him to tighten his hold of your hips before diving in with a new intensity. You feel it in a whole new way, in every fibre of your body, muscles flexing at the waves of pleasure that climb and grow and climb until your entire body is once again free to fall from Frankie’s arms and back into his arms, his breath searing hot against your slick folds, his tongue still lapping at your juices but slower now, your head full of your own voice, your orgasm, your breaths that you don’t know how you’re still drawing. Slowly, Frankie releases his grip of your thighs and you feel your hips groan when you carefully stretch out your legs. Your hand looks for him, and he's there, fingers plaiting together with your as he lays down next to you, his pussy-soaked mouth finding yours for a sweet, deep kiss. You want him, all of him, his warm, safe body snug against yours, and you trace your hand down his chest and stomach to his thick, stiff cock resting against your thigh. His breath stutters against your cheek when your fingers close around his girth, and then again when you tug him gently to get him to roll on top of you. Your legs fall open once again to accommodate him, and you nock him at your slick entrance, still fluttering from your orgasms. He pushes in with a moan that you feel as a reverberation and warmth against your skin. Your hands to come to his ass, pressing down to push him deeper in, and he obeys, cupping your cheek to kiss him moans into you.

“Fuck me,” you beg him, the request so loud in your head, and he plunges his tongue into your mouth, his cock into your welcoming pussy, and he does as he’s asked, takes you with a devastating steadiness that knocks the breath out of you with each thrust. Fucking Frankie is always an experience beyond the normal, but this is profound: seeing nothing, hearing only your own cock-drunk thoughts and echoing breaths, feeling him so acutely, his whole length connection with yours as he kisses your breath away with your moans, all the while fucking you with one solid thrust after another. You rake your nails down his back, you slap his flat ass before kneading it, following the rise and fall of it as he works your pussy, you gnaw at his neck, bite his ear, his lip, his tongue until he has to put his hand over your mouth and you shriek I’m sorry, Jesus Christ, don’t stop fucking me, fuck, I think I’m gonna cum again!

He renews his efforts, skin slick with sweat by now, knowing how to move to make it good for you, to make you cum one more time, fuck, you’re delirious by now but you’re cumming, and Frankie cums right after you, filling you with his seed as he fumbles with the headphones and pulls them off your head so that he can growls into your ear, Fuck, baby, fuck, fuckkkkk!

You expect everything to be loud now that the headphones are off, but it’s like you can’t hear anything. Frankie’s still inside you, still now, his body a precious weight on you. Only when he starts to move, his softening cock slipping out of you, do you start to hear things, the first one being your pussy queefing when his cum spits out of you.

The rain has subsided into a gentle pitter-patter on the window, and you take off the scarf. There is soft light fighting to get in through the blinds. You blink a couple of times, and bring your thighs together to avoid getting cum stains on the sheets.

“You okay?”

You turn your head towards Frankie, finding him gazing softly at you, ruddy-faced and sweaty, but satisfied.

“I’m perfect,” you whisper. He extends his hand to cup your face.

“I wasn’t as careful as I said I’d be. Sorry.”

“Frankie, that was… fucking amazing!” you blurt out inelegantly. Frankie grins, clearly pleased with himself.

“You were so loud.”

“I was?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure the neighbors heard you screaming that you’re going to cum again.”

Your cheeks heat up. “I didn’t realize.”

“It was awesome. You were so fucking sexy.”

“So were you. I mean you felt sexy.”

He kisses you gently before wrapping his arm around you to bring you in closer. “Thanks for trusting me.”

“Thanks for helping me.” You wet your lips. “I know this is new and all but… no one’s ever helped me like this before. I appreciate it, Frankie.”

“Glad to help with anything and everything,” he replies quietly, finger stroking your cheek slowly. “I really like you. And I like that you feel safe with me.”

“I really like you, too. And I love that I can trust you. I never had anyone like that before.”

When you hear thunder far away in the distance, you don’t even blink. You make a note of it, but then let it go. You may not be cured of your fear, but right now you’re as safe as you can be.

[breelandwalker]

Hunter's Moon - October 28, 2023

Grab your masks and candy buckets and trim the twigs on your best besom, witches! It's time for the Hunter's Moon!

Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon is the name usually given to the full moon which appears in October, provided that the Harvest Moon has occurred in September. Remember - the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox and that can mean September OR October! The Hunter's Moon is next full moon to follow it, so it may occur in October OR November. The Harvest and Hunter's moons are the only two moons in the calendar which are tied to a specific event in this way, while the others reflect signs of seasonal growth or animal behavior.

Like the Harvest Moon, the Hunter's Moon rises big, bright, and early, and it may appear to be full for two or three nights in a row. The celestial peak of illumination is at 4:24pm EST on October 28th, but the moon may also appear full on the 27th and 29th. This year's Harvest Moon will also be sporting a partial lunar eclipse - check here to see if it will be visible in your area!

The name Hunter's Moon is taken from the traditional timing for the fall hunting season, as the name implies. The fields cleared in previous months and the gradually cooling weather meant that animals fattened up from summer foraging would be roaming in open ground, making prime targets for anyone looking to put some meat in the pantry for winter. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this may also be the origin of the other common October moniker, the Blood Moon, which has been in use in the British Isles since at least the Middle Ages.

North American indigenous names for the October moon include Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon (Ojibwe), Migrating Moon (Cree), and Big Wind Moon (Zuni). In several modern pagan traditions, the October moon is called the Sanguine or Blood Moon due to its' with the association with the hunt and with alleged sacrifices made ahead of the coming winter. (Keep in mind that any claims about What The Druids Did should be taken with a grain of salt, as they did not keep written records of their ceremonies.)

What Does It Mean For Witches?

October is a time to finish our harvests. We gather in the last of what we sowed earlier in the year and reflect on what our work has wrought and what our labor has produced. It is also a time of transition as the weather begins to shift more noticeably toward the chill of winter. Shore up whatever provisions you need for the immediate future and complete whatever preparations you've been making for the cold season, both magical and practical. A little weatherproofing goes a long way!

This is also the month when numerous Western cultures remember their honored dead and a time when some believe that contact with various unseen realms is more easily accomplished. If you're seeking advice or reassurance from the greater beyond, or looking to do some planning or forecasting for the coming year, now might be the optimal time to do it.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Celebrate the end of the harvest season with your favorite recipes! Bust out that hearty stew or delicious pie you've been dying to make but kept putting off during the hot months. Use local produce to make something special and gather in the last fruits of your garden.

Get your divination game on! Many October party games include fortune-telling aspects for love or marriage or professional prospects. Choose your favorite method and see what it has to tell you about the coming year and where your current path may lead. Remember that the choices we make change the path and therefore the outcome, so try to regard the results as written in sand rather than stone.

Participate in the hunt yourself! Whether it's an actual seasonal hunt for game (safely and responsibly done, of course) or a bit of foraging or a personal search for something you've been needing, this is the perfect time to connect with that drive to seek and gather. Make one more trip for wildcrafted plants before everything turns brown and brittle. Stalk the aisles of your favorite local shops for craft supplies, new decorations, or perhaps that fancy hat you've been dreaming of for the upcoming holiday.

Prepare for the cold months! Switch out your wardrobe, heap those blankets on the bed, change the decor to something autumnal, and make sure your home and vehicle are ready for winter. If you do any seasonal crafts or fibre arts, start pulling out your accoutrements.

Shed your metaphorical skin one more time. Examine what you carry in your heart and where your priorities lie. If there is anything left that weighs you down or no longer serves you or disrupts your life unnecessarily, prune it away and let it go. This process is not always comfortable and may leave you feeling raw, but sometimes hard decisions must be made. You are not meant to be in perpetual motion or constant production. Give yourself permission to rest.

Consider also the parts of yourself that you don't always like. Is there value in the struggle to deny them and push them away? Is there anything that might serve you better if it was embraced rather than denied? So often we speak of letting things go and laying down burdens in order to progress. But there is also power in remembrance, in anger, in spite, in grief, in ambition. Remember that while you should forgive yourself for past mistakes and learn from them, you are not required to do the same for others. Remember also that setting boundaries is healthy and that if they are not respected, you are within your rights to remind others than actions have consequences. Protecting yourself is not always pretty and it is not always polite. And it doesn't have to be.

Happy Hunter's Moon, witches! 🌕🏹

Further Reading:

Additional Lunar Calendar posts

Secular Celebrations - Samhain

Hunter's Moon, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Hunter's Moon 2023: The Spiritual Meaning of October's Full Moon, The Peculiar Brunette.

Partial Lunar Eclipse on October 28-29, 2023 - Where and When To See, Time and Date.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Credit - Darkfoxelixir on Shutterstock.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[merakiui]

thinking about riddle being a magic doctor with a very successful career. though he had always wanted to study law, he pushed his desires aside in favor of studying his mother’s profession. growing up, the expectation was that riddle was going to be a magic doctor, and when he was attending nrc that expectation was no longer a simple hypothetical. it was going to happen whether he wanted it or not.

so when riddle, years into a career he’s not very passionate about (but it’s making him plenty of money to live a comfortable life and it keeps his mother placated for the most part), is driving home after a late night working overtime at the clinic he isn’t at his best, mentally and physically. he’s tired, he’s trying to talk his mother out of yet another arranged marriage over the phone, and he isn’t very conscious as he drives down the long, dark, forested road towards his quaint home. 

he immediately wakes when his vehicle makes contact with something, and that something is sent tumbling ahead, coming to a stop a few meters away, sprawled in the shadows like roadkill. riddle hangs up on his mother at once; he surmises a scolding isn’t nearly as bad as damage to his car or the unfortunate animal he’s hit. 

after parking and using his phone to light the way, riddle finds what he happened to hit. and it’s not just any animal. it’s a human being.

rule-abiding riddle rosehearts has hit a person with his car. 

he can already imagine the stories that will be told. he can imagine his mother’s disapproval. he can picture the police as they write him up and take him into court so that he can explain what he was doing on that dark road and why he wasn’t paying attention. maybe they’ll revoke his license. maybe he’ll never get behind the wheel again. and with these rapid-fire thoughts, he can see his career shrivel as everyone looks down on him with scrutinizing eyes. riddle rosehearts, intelligent, reliable, and honest, will lose everything he’s fought so hard to attain. 

you’re in poor shape, bloodied and bruised, and your right arm and leg are broken. he can see the bone bent upwards and piercing through flesh in a grisly, gory sight. he nudges you with the tip of his leather shoe. you don’t stir. his heart squeezes, gripped with raw fear. hitting someone with his car is bad enough, but killing a person... he’ll definitely go to prison, won’t he? and then his reputation and the reputation of the rosehearts name will be forever tarnished. he’ll be labeled as a killer. he’ll be hated and scorned. his life will be over before it’s even begun. 

riddle paces before you for a solid minute, chewing his thumbnail down to a stump. what does he do? what should he do? what’s morally correct? how should he even go about solving this issue? he has to call the police and an ambulance. but then, if he does that, he’ll be taken in alongside you and it’s so obvious that he’s the one at fault. the front of his car has an impossibly huge dent and there’s blood on the road from where you're currently bleeding. and if he killed you... if you’re actually dead, the punishment will be so much more severe. he can’t be jailed for vehicular manslaughter. he’s always followed the rules. he’s been good! he’s never done anything wrong. he’s perfect. his record is perfect. he isn’t a murderer. he isn’t bad. he’s not.

he’s not. he’s not. he’s not. he’s not. he’s not.

riddle drags your limp, bloodied body into the backseat of his car. he is haunted as he drives slowly through the night, his trembling hands gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles whiten. he’s wrapped you in his jacket and a spare blanket he had in his car so that you won’t get blood on the seats and... great seven, he sounds like a murderer covering up his tracks! it’s even worse when he catches himself hoping that there will be rain in tomorrow’s forecast so that your blood will be washed away and no one will ever question a thing. 

his heart is thrumming with adrenaline, each heartstring pulled taut with primal paranoia. no one saw that, right? no one saw him hit a person, wrap them up like a mummy, and place them in his car. no one saw it. not even the animals in the forest. no one saw it. it’s his secret. he’ll deal with it. no one will know.

riddle is a skilled magic doctor, so he will take care of you. he’s dissected plenty of animals in the stages leading up to his degree; you’re no different. and he knows that with both needle and thread and some finely honed magic he can make you look alive again. that’s what he thinks when he fashions a splint for your arm and leg and wraps it well, his experienced fingers shaky with poorly concealed horror. luckily, you’re breathing. he nearly cried from relief when he heard the tiny wheezes coming from you. at least you aren’t dead. but the fact still stands that he hit you with his car and that he’s technically breaking many rules by not telling the truth. but his everything is at stake here. he could lose it all. 

riddle spends the entire night cleaning and bandaging you. he washes the front of his car, grouses over the dent, and resolves to deal with it come morning. he locks you away in his room and walks circles in his sitting room, shutting every curtain and checking all of the locks twice. he turns the tv on and checks the news when the first rays of morning sunshine peek through the trees. he waits with bated breath, half-expecting to see his face on the screen. to see the headline about how the queendom of roses’s most prominent magic doctor has hit and killed an innocent pedestrian. but it never appears. 

it’s hours later when you finally wake, and your scream is filled with so much agony that it has him cringing. you’re sobbing when he throws the bedroom door open and shushes you wildly, his eyes wide and horrified. he has to shove a rag into your mouth to get you to quiet down. you squirm as best as you can, but your every injury causes you a world of pain. riddle would know. he forgot to give you painkillers, which he’s quick to retrieve alongside a glass of water. the rag is still at your mouth when he speaks next, a low tremble in his voice.

“i’ll let you go when you’ve healed. i... i won’t hurt you. i just need you to stay here for a while. until you can walk again. you can’t go outside and you can’t call anyone. i’ll need your phone for that reason, okay?” you shake your head, whimpering a sad, blubbery sound that has his heart aching. this entire situation is a mess. he wants to cry alongside you, but he can’t. he has to fix this, so he hardens his stare and adds, “i’m a doctor. your leg and arm were severely fractured in the...accident, and you’ve sustained bruising and scrapes from the road. it’ll take a while for your broken bones to properly heal, but i’ll do everything i can to speed up the process so you can leave. if you understand this and don’t plan on screaming anymore, nod your head.”

you comply and he sighs, withdrawing from you. the rag falls from your mouth. he helps you take the painkillers, holding the glass to your lips as you drink. who is he kidding? of course he isn’t going to let you go. he can’t when he’s already in so deep. and when he starts to see your image on the news, he knows he absolutely can’t let you leave. 

riddle’s life has always been complicated, but this is a new form of complicated. this complication will cost him everything if anyone finds out, which is why he’ll keep this secret buried deep within the forest in the peaceful walls of his home.

[mariacallous]

Enormous floods have once again engulfed much of South Sudan, as record water levels in Lake Victoria flow downstream through the Nile. More than 700,000 people have been affected. Hundreds of thousands of people there were already forced from their homes by huge floods a few years ago and were yet to return before this new threat emerged.

Now, there are concerns that these displaced communities may never be able to return to their lands. While weather extremes regularly displace whole communities in other parts of the world, this could be the first permanent mass displacement due to climate change.

In the Sudd region of South Sudan, the Nile passes through a vast network of smaller rivers, swamps, and floodplains. It’s one of the world’s largest wetlands. Flood levels vary significantly from year to year, mostly caused by fluctuations in water levels in Lake Victoria and controlled releases from the dam in Uganda where the lake empties into the Nile.

The Sudd’s unique geography means that floods there are very different than elsewhere. Most floodwater cannot freely drain back into the main channel of the White Nile, and water struggles to infiltrate the floodplain’s clay and silt soil. This means flooding persists for a long time, often only receding as the water evaporates.

People Can No Longer Cope

The communities who live in the Sudd, including the Dinka, Nuer, Anyuak, and Shilluk, are well adapted to the usual ebb and flow of seasonal flooding. Herders move their cattle to higher ground as flood waters rise, while earthen walls made of compressed mud protect houses and infrastructure. During the flooding season, fishing sustains local communities. When floods subside, crops like groundnuts, okra, pumpkins, sorghum, and other vegetables are planted.

However, the record water levels and long duration of recent flooding have stretched these indigenous coping mechanisms. The protracted state of conflict in the country has further reduced their ability to cope. Community elders who spoke to our colleagues at the medical humanitarian aid charity Médecins Sans Frontières said that fear of conflict and violence inhibited them from moving to regions of safe ground they had found during a period of major flooding in the early 1960s.

Around 2.6 million people were displaced in South Sudan between 2020 and 2022 alone, a result of both conflict and violence (1 million) and flooding (1.5 million). In practice, the two are interlinked, as flooding has caused displaced herders to come into conflict with resident farmers over land.

Stagnant floodwater also leads to a rise in water-borne infections like cholera and hepatitis E, snakebites, and vector-borne diseases like malaria. As people become malnourished, these diseases become more dangerous. Malnutrition is already a big problem, especially for the 800,000 or so people who have fled into South Sudan from Sudan following the start of a separate conflict there in April 2023.

Many people are housed in internal displacement camps like at Bentiu, where close to 100,000 people reside. Bentiu is now an island in the floodwaters, protected by embankments that require continued maintenance. As such there are concerns about the long-term future and sustainability of the camp.

The new record levels in Lake Victoria this May raised the alarm over potential unprecedented flooding in the country this year. The two and a half months it takes for floodwaters to make their way downstream to South Sudan provides an early-warning system for communities and humanitarian agencies to prepare. However, forecast models are not able to accurately predict if the embankments at camps like Bentiu will hold.

Will People Ever Return?

Evacuating the camp may be inevitable, some say, because floods seem to be getting worse, likely linked to deforestation and anthropogenic climate change. However, while there is a clear upward trend to lake levels across East Africa, including Lake Victoria, this could also be due to the way water and land is being managed, as well as changes to precipitation.

Though there have been increases in the rainfall during the region’s short rains in October, November, and December, that’s balanced out by decreases in the rainfall season between March and May.

However, climate models indicate increases in precipitation in the catchment, as well as more frequent positive phases of the Indian Ocean Dipole (a weather phenomenon similar to El Niño in the Pacific), which caused the record rainfall in 2020 and 2023. With floods taking a long time to recede, even small increases in the frequency of these positive dipole phases, and small increases in rainfall, could lead to the Sudd wetlands growing—permanently.

Decisionmakers in a country affected by conflict are used to uncertain futures, but they will also need to consider a scenario in which an irreversible expansion of the Sudd wetlands could make the displacement permanent. Where these communities could be relocated is another question entirely.

[tanadrin]

Rarely do we predict the end of the world two or three generations hence; it’s always “this generation will not pass away before all these things have come to pass.” And I’m sure there are a lot of reasons for this—if you’re running a genuine doomsday cult, for instance, you don’t want to put the doomsday too far off. And I *think* part of the driving force there is that it’s really hard for us to imagine that the world will continue once we are gone, more or less intact. Like, it’s really weird to look at small children and know that, if everything goes right, they will see and do and think things you will never share in. That your life before they came along will be nothing more than the thinly imagined world beyond the borders of photographs that your parents’ or grandparents’ was before you. That however important and accomplished you are, the world will continue to spin when you have died.

That’s a hard fact to get your head around! And it’s sort of the inverse of the way we ofte treat our childhood as cosmogonic, as the default state against which all else rises and falls. We are prone to a solipsism where the bounds of the word are the bounds of our lives. That’s not a novel idea, but it does make me very skeptical of any eschatology positive or negative. The world has, so far, an extremely good track record of zero transformative catastrophes or eucatastrophes that take place with the sound of trumpets in the twinkling of an eye. Sure, it has lots of moments of *change.* Whole ages of them—dramatic sometimes, but always continuous. Differentiable, you might say, in that however rapidly the status quo is in flux you can see there is one, and how we got here from a previous state.

And not only do doomsayers have a pretty lousy track record, they frequently exhibit telltale signs that their doomsaying is based in something other than careful deduction—like Paul Ehrlich not only missing the Green Revolution (a forgivable error perhaps) but digging in even further the more reality continued to drift from his apocalyptic forecasts. One cannot help but think of Harold Camping, continually reissuing his predictions for the Second Coming. But also—peak oil was wrong; climate change has been bad but looks like it will not be “the end of industrial civilization” bad; a NATO/Warsaw Pact nuclear war never came to pass, (although arguably that’s the one that was in a lot of ways the most rational, and where we got luckiest). The non-doomsday-prophet types look at these fortunate turns and go “thank God that never happened!” But some people seem truly disappointed—after all, if the word will outlast you, how special can you or your era really be?

[your-divine-ribs]

Beach Life Part 1

Words: 3.2k

I got a few requests ages ago to write a beach picnic and skinny dipping with Van and this is part 1 of that I wrote a while ago // hopefully I’ll get part 2 written at some point // just fluff, friends to lovers 🩵

Imagines Masterlist Main Masterlist

The sky is pure cerulean with not a cloud in sight, the air warm with a gentle breeze that caresses your skin as you exit your friend's house with him, making your way down the driveway to where his car's parked kerbside. Beautiful sun-kissed days like this are a rare occurrence in this most typical British Summer where reports of 'highest rainfall ever recorded' have been dampening your mood, so when the highly anticipated forecasted heatwave hits the North Wales coast you jump at the chance for a beach day, much to Van's dismay.

"It's too bloody hot," he grumbles, pulling on the collar of his t-shirt with one hand and fanning himself ineffectually with the other. "You know I'm not made for beach life don't ya love?"

You laugh, taking in his flushed appearance and his lily-white legs that look like they've never seen the sun before today. "Oh stop complaining you mardy bugger! It's gorgeous weather. You really look like you could use some sunshine too!"

You purposefully look down at his pale legs peeking below his shorts, giggling, which earns you a gentle nudge in the ribs. "Oi! We can't all be bronzed and beautiful!"

"Don't worry, I've packed the factor 50," you smirk, patting the large beach bag which is slung over your shoulder as you make your way around to the passenger side, then you lower your voice but make sure that Van can still hear you. "Although I think factor 100 would have been more fitting!"

He narrows his eyes at you over the roof of the car. "Keep teasing me and you're gonna be in big trouble!" He warns playfully.

It's not a long drive to the beach thankfully as Van has no air conditioning so you crank the windows fully down, letting the wind blast in and toss your hair wildly around. You have The Strokes Heart In A Cage blaring out of the car's tinny speakers and you're both nodding your heads and singing along. There's a heady atmosphere in the air and it's not just the heat, this day feels full of the promise of something... the excitement of spending the day together with no interruptions and no band interference. It's a rare occurrence as since Van's debut album was released it seems like everyone wants a piece of him and you're relishing having him all to yourself.

You've been friends with him for three months now since you moved here from London after your parent's acrimonious divorce. You'd struck up a friendship when you'd moved into a small cottage across the road from him and his best friend Larry. He'd spotted you and your mum struggling with furniture on moving day, both of you stubborn enough to try and do everything yourselves without the help of 'useless men' as your mum had phrased it. But of course how could you resist the kind offer of help from the enthusiastic lad with the scruffy hair and the slightly crooked smile? He'd come bounding over the road with offers of assistance and cups of tea, eyes bright as he'd chatted away, his affable, friendly manner impossible not to instantly warm to. Since then you'd practically been inseparable... when Van's band commitments hadn't impinged of course.

"Here we are!" Van announces as he turns on to an narrow unmade road, the car bouncing around as it rolls slowly over the bumpy terrain.

You glance around, taking in your surroundings, feeling confused. "It's the wrong turning, the beach car park's further down the road. It's at least a few more miles."

"Nah, we're not going there," Van replies, and you wait for him to elaborate but he doesn't, he just carries on driving with a smug grin on his face like he's in on some secret that you're not privy to.

"Well where are we going then? This doesn't lead anywhere! It's probably the driveway to some farmhouse or something."

"Just you wait and see..."

Van tries to inject some mystery into his voice but you hate surprises. You turn this way and that, seeing nothing but rolling fields on either side. You can clearly see the sea up ahead but the track gets even narrower, barely big enough for the car to fit through, the branches from prickly bushes intruding through the open windows. You yelp as one of them brushes your bare arm, lightly scratching you.

"Where the hell are we going? It's probably private property. We could be trespassing. We might..."

Your words catch in your throat as Van steers around a tight bend in the road and all of a sudden you're faced with a breathtaking view of the beach and the sea beyond a small hedgerow. Van pulls up quickly, turning off the ignition and turning to you.

"What d'ya reckon then? My dad told me about this place. It's a way off from the main tourist area so it's usually dead quiet."

You stretch up in your seat, trying to get a clearer view of the beach, unconvinced that there won't be hordes of holiday makers there in this glorious weather. You can't see anyone but you're sure that as soon as you make your way down over the dunes it'll be just as busy as the main seafront.

"Well it looks good from here..."

You grab your beach bag from the footwell, exiting the car quickly, excited to get to the beach. Family holidays were few and far between whilst you were growing up due to the rift in your parents' relationship so you rarely ventured out of the city. Now you live on the coast you spend as much time as you can on the beach regardless of the weather. There's something so calming about being near the sea, looking out on the huge aquamarine expanse and watching the steady swells rise and fall, hearing the waves crashing on to the shore and feeling the sand between your toes.

Van doesn't share your love of the coast though. Growing up in a small seaside town as an aspiring musician he's always been quite vocal about how much he'd wanted to get out his whole life and into the big, wide world. Even now he's made it and his life is full of touring and visiting far flung cities he still complains when you drag him for walks on the beach whenever he's home. So you were particularly surprised when you'd suggested spending a whole afternoon by the sea and he'd actually agreed, although reluctantly, even offering to bring along a picnic.

"You carry on," Van calls as he walks around to open the boot of the car. "Just have to get a few things. I'll catch you up. The path there leads right down to the beach."

You don't hesitate, eager to see for yourself this hidden gem that Van's found, picking your way carefully down the narrow stoney path that he's indicated. It's only a short distance to the sand and as soon as your feet sink into it you're kicking off your sandals, smiling up into the warm sunshine, breathing in the salty air.

"What d'ya think then? Good, eh?"

Van comes to stand beside you, laden down with a huge picnic hamper and a folded chequered blanket tucked under his arm, a huge smile on his face and his eyes wide in anticipation as he waits for your reaction.

And it's not just good. It's perfect. You're speechless for a moment, taking in the expanse of sand, the sun shining on the glittered emerald sea, the only sounds the waves gently breaking on the shore and the faint cry of gulls as they wheel and dip in the sky. There's not a soul in sight, and you can't quite believe that you have the whole beach to yourselves. Normally you're fighting for a spot amongst a crowd of sun-seeking holiday-makers, sharing your space with bickering families and screeching toddlers, all desperate for that slice of the great British seaside holiday. It's hardly idyllic though. It pales in comparison to the scene before your eyes.

"Oh Van, it's beautiful... it's perfect. I really didn't believe it when you said it'd be so quiet. I'm just expecting hordes of tourists to come rushing down over those dunes at any moment."

"Knew you'd like it love. And don't worry, no one comes here... apart from me mum and dad. They come here all the time to walk Little Mary. You know how she loves the beach, but dogs aren't allowed on the main beach in town."

You giggle as you recall the few times you've volunteered to take Mary for walks, the way she gets so excitable when there's crowds of people around.

"It's probably just as well, can you imagine her on that crowded beach?"

Van laughs too, placing the picnic hamper down on the sand and grabbing the edge of the blanket to shake it out. "Yeah, for saying she's so tiny she's definitely got big dog energy!"

You dart forward to grasp the opposite edge of the blanket before the breeze can snatch it away, stretching it out and bending down to place it on the sand as Van does the same. You're just smoothing out the wrinkles as Van rises up and by some embarrassingly timely stroke of fate, a large gust of wind whips up behind you, taking the hem of your flimsy sundress and flipping it up around your hips.

You straighten up in an instant, red-faced and gasping, trying to cover your modesty whilst you resemble Marilyn Monroe in her iconic pose, albeit a much less sultry version.

"Ah shit, where the hell did that wind come from?"

Your eyes dart to Van who's staring at you with eyes like saucers, his jaw hanging agape, until he clocks you've noticed him looking and he turns away, embarrassed. You quickly sit down, smoothing down your dress.

"Maybe I should have worn my bikini underneath," you giggle as he turns back, warily, looking a little flustered.

"Yeah, fuckin' hell I got a right eyeful then!" He chuckles, then a mischievous glint lights up his eyes as he adds, "not that I'm complaining!"

Your cheeks flush even more at his cheeky comment and you look down, unsure how to react, opting to just laugh it off, digging in your beach bag as a distraction, taking out your sun cream.

"Bloody perv!" You giggle, watching him sink down on to the blanket next to you.

Even though you and Van are just friends there's definitely been something simmering between the two of you for a while now. Van's an affectionate person and he's always been touchy-feely with you, but a casual arm slung over your shoulder has definitely lingered longer than normal the past few weeks, a guiding hand on the small of your back as you make your way through crowds at a gig has more often than not found it's way curled around your waist. The most recent development is the cheeky comments that have been fired at you left, right and centre. You've often wondered whether Van's just testing the water, seeing how you'll react. He knows you didn't only leave your childhood home behind when you moved from London, but also a disastrous relationship. Your last boyfriend, and the only one you'd ever had, was a serial cheater and a womaniser. He'd treated you like dirt and you're still smarting from it three months on, reliving the bitter heartbreak whenever you consider moving on and starting to date again.

But you have been considering it... a lot recently thanks to Van's attentions.

"Hope you packed your bikini anyway, gonna get you in the sea later," he says, fingers working on the catches of the picnic hamper.

"You... going in the sea? But you hate it. You've always moaned when I've suggested it before."

He shrugs. "Just fancy it today. It's not normally warm enough for swimming, but it's fucking roasting today."

"Well I didn't bring it, I'll just have to watch you. I can paddle on the shore. It's no big deal."

Van stops what he's doing and turns to face you. "Oh no, you're not getting out of it. You're coming in, even if I have to pick you up and dump you in fully dressed!"

"Fuck off!" You laugh, squirting sun cream on your left arm and starting to rub it in. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me!"

"You know I'll kick your ass if you pull anything like that!" You grin, then your conversation turns to good-natured banter, back and forth and back again, each one of you firing out cheeky insults about who'd get the upper hand if you were to get embroiled in a fight.

You're both laughing freely until Van drops a bombshell that's implied as a joke, but actually you're pretty sure he's deadly serious about the suggestion.

"I guess we could just go skinny dipping!"

You laugh so hard it comes out like a snort, raising up your hand to cover your mouth. It's a ridiculous idea but you can't deny the way the idea's made your pulse quicken, images racing through your head of Van's naked body brushing up against yours in the cool water.

"Ha ha yeah I can just see that, we'd probably get arrested for indecent exposure!"

"By who?" Van grins, holding up his hands to indicate the empty beach. "There's no one around. It's deserted. No one would see us."

Oh shit... he is actually serious...

Your heart's started thumping now, your palms feeling clammy. You wipe them surreptitiously on your dress, wondering how to respond. Token gestures of affection and playful flirting are one thing, getting naked in front of one of your closest friends who you're definitely attracted to is another.

You decide to play it safe and make a joke out of it. "Knowing our luck we'd strip off and your mum and dad will have decided it's a lovely day to bring Little Mary for a walk!"

Van's grin widens at the thought and he starts chuckling loudly, but when his laughter dies away he still seems keen. "That'd be a bloody nightmare! No chance of them turning up today though. My grandad's down for the weekend and he's staying at theirs."

"That'd be even worse, imagine your grandad catching us in the buff!"

"Fucks sake, if he saw my skinny white naked ass it'd probably finish him off!"

You both burst into fits of laughter, hysterically so, laughing so hard that your stomachs are aching and you have tears rolling down your cheeks. It disperses the tension though, Van focussing his attention back on to the picnic hamper again once you've both calmed down.

Van's never been one to brag about his culinary skills, in fact it's usually the opposite, so it had surprised you when he'd insisted on preparing a picnic hamper. You watch him, full of curiosity as he opens up the wicker lid, delving inside and bringing out various Tupperware containers.

"Someone's been busy," you comment, impressed as he lays the containers on the blanket, then he produces a bottle with a flourish. "Oh my god is that champagne?"

"Uh-huh," he nods. "Only the best for you Y/N."

"Aww thank you," you smile coyly, taking a plastic champagne flute off him when he offers it to you. He really has thought of everything. "So what's this all in aid of anyway?"

Van sets about removing the foil from the top of the bottle and twisting the cork. "Well... I know you've been feeling down about that idiot boyfriend of yours..."

"EX-boyfriend," you quickly correct him, noting his smile.

"Yeah... EX-boyfriend... AND a little bird told me it's your birthday next week..."

"Who told you that?" Your eyes widen in shock.

"Your mum... I saw her mowing the front lawn last week and she just happened to tell me. Thought a little celebration might be in order."

"Awww thank you, that's so sweet. You really didn't need to go to all this trouble though."

"I know," he smiles back at you. "I wanted to though."

You feel a warm glow pass through you at the sentiment, knowing that he's done all of this for you. After a few twists the cork bursts from the bottle with force, making you yelp in surprise. Immediately the frothy liquid begins to bubble over the top so you dart forward a hand with your glass to catch it, both laughing as it rises quickly up the thin glass and trickles over into your lap, soaking you.

"Ahhh shit, sorry!" He laughs, his hand moving forward to brush the damp material which is draped across your thighs, lingering a little too long as your eyes meet and you look away to hide a blush.

"S'okay, it'll dry quick in this heat," you assure him, reaching for one of the plastic tubs as a distraction which thankfully works, Van eager to show off all the treats that he's prepared.

He's really gone to town. There's sandwiches with several fillings, all cut up and stacked neatly in one container, chopped up salad vegetables with some kind of dip, quiches and crackers and other savoury nibbles, and even various fruits in another container.

"Oh wow strawberries!" You exclaim, reaching forward to grab one excitedly. "I've had such a craving for these all week! You must be a mind reader. All this is great... really. Did you do it all yourself?"

He nods enthusiastically before cracking a grin and reaching for a strawberry himself. "Well... I guess I might have had a little help. Larry might've lent a hand."

More like Larry did everything, you think, but you don't say anything, not wanting to take away from the sweet gesture that Van's made in treating you.

"These are so good!"

The strawberries are heavenly, huge ripe fruits bursting with flavour and so juicy that as soon as you bite into one the juice is dripping down your chin. You giggle, embarrassed by the mess you're making, shooting up a hand to wipe the stickiness from your skin. "Oh my god, just look at the state of me!"

Van is looking, a lot closer than you realise. In fact he can't take his eyes off you, the way the strawberry juice stains your lips. They're as plush and ripe as the fruit itself, and he wonders whether they'd taste the same. Probably even sweeter, he muses.

He teases you as you wipe at your face, only managing to smear the red syrup further over your chin. He grabs for a napkin and raises up his hand to dab at the mess, leaning right in, close enough to make you suck in a breath which you try to hide with another shy giggle.

"What a mess, can't take you anywhere," he teases. "First you get covered in champagne and now you're all sticky."

"Hold on, you're the one who covered me in champagne!"

"Don't worry, you can just wash it all off in the sea later..."

[jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka]

Santa Baby

Pairings: Jake Kiszka X Danny Wagner ***slash my besties

Warnings: fluffffff, domestic bliss, established relationship, smut, m/m sex, oral

Word count: 7.5k

“Did you just say you want to go play in the snow?” Jake blushed and pushed Danny off him, standing up to fix his shirt and take off his jewelry so it wouldn’t get lost or damaged. “Yeah, when was the last time we got to play in the snow?”

“Another text from Josh” Jake chuckled as he silenced his notifications and tossed his phone into the empty cup holder between him and the driver. “Have you gotten any from Sam?”

Danny glanced at his phone which was situated on a stand that hung from the air vents so it could be used as navigation. “Oh, only about seven” he smiled over at Jake and they both had a good giggle at the expense of their brothers being ignored.

As the soft laughs bubbled out of his chest Jake was able to watch as Danny kept his focus on the winding mountain road before them.

Initially Jake was reluctant about letting him drive, but Danny put his foot down and even brought up Jake's driving history to get him to back down. Though it was a low blow, Jake secretly admit that it was nice to be the passenger, so he could take in the beautiful scenery- of both his boyfriend’s gorgeous profile and the plush snow covered mountain top.

It was mostly a last minute decision for the two of them to sneak away for the holiday. Well maybe Jake had the makings of the idea in his head already after the past few weeks of nonstop photo shoots, recording sessions, and interviews had kept both him and Danny busy and drained.

He’d brought it up as a joke ‘why don’t we just disappear in the mountains and spend Christmas together?’ but to his delight Danny easily agreed.

One slightly delayed plane ride and a blink of an eye later here they were in a rental headed towards the only cabin Jake could find online still available for the week.

After just shy of an hour of driving, the deep green colored pines dusted in sparkling white grew thicker. The wind was blowing the loose powder from the tree tops like it was still snowing although the forecast didn’t call for more participation until tomorrow afternoon.

A break in the trees gave way to an open gate with a freshly plowed driveway and at the end of the drive was the quaint yet impressive cabin that the two would call their home for the next six days.

“Looks even better than in the pictures” Danny commented as he cupped his hands around his eyes and leaned his forehead against the window. He was trying to get a peek inside as Jake fumbled with finding the access code in the long message the owner had sent him with check in instructions.

“Would you quit being a creeper, what if we’ve got the wrong address?”

“There’s no way, you triple checked” Danny laughed at Jake’s incessant doubting, knowing it was just the perfectionist in him showing.

“Ah! Here it is” he chimed, reading the numbers aloud as he keyed them into the pad on the door. A little green light illuminated and the electric lock whirred as the bolt was retracted from the door.

“Good thing we’ll be able to hear if anyone tries to enter in the middle of the night” Danny commented at how loud the mechanical sound was. Either the lock needed to be greased, or they just weren’t used to the still silence of living out in the middle of nowhere.

They set their bags down at the door in a little foyer that contained a coat closet, a shoe rack, and a large framed painting of the very cabin with the phrase-

Everyone needs a place to retreat: a spot where the world grows quiet enough for the soul to speak.

“Cute” Danny said as he stood next to Jake and admired the artwork. After a moment he slipped his arm around Jake’s waist to give him a squeeze before pulling him up a step and around the corner where the rest of the cabin lay waiting for them.

Besides the small space at the front door, which offered privacy for those inside, there was a wide open floor plan shrouded in lots of blue tinged natural light from the abundance of windows that overlooked a snowscape that was so beautiful it could have been a painting as well.

To the left was a surprisingly large kitchen for the size of the cabin overall. Its stainless steel appliances shimmered, polished carefully with the numerous cleans in between stays. White quartz countertops mirrored the untouched mounds of snow outside, smooth and glittery. A vase full of probably two dozen white roses sat elegantly arranged waiting to greet the next guests. White roses Jake smirked to himself, of course they were.

The living room was to the right. It was small but cozy, a rocking chair sat in front of a large stone fireplace with a round table tucked to its side. The couch hardly looked big enough for the two of them, not that either of them minded having to snuggle up with each other. Behind the couch were sliding glass doors that led to a small porch built out of the same raw sealed pine as the interior walls. Two more rocking chairs made of sturdier wood sat on the porch that looked out into the sparse trees that grew into a sea of forest that surrounded their island of paradise.

Jake felt like he was going to get too comfortable here. He could picture how their week was going to play out already, him cooking in the kitchen, looking over the island at his boyfriend lounging comfortably on the couch, feet propped up, maybe reading a book to pass the time until food was ready. He’d stop where he was every so often to look up and say ‘smells good’ with his signature crooked smile that Jake loved so much.

Perhaps the most unexpected element was the fully decorated Christmas tree erected right in between the kitchen and the living room. It was a real tree, no doubt cut down from right outside and somehow hauled in through the door. It was covered in thick ropes of silver tinsel, glass ornaments of varying size and color, and large velvet bows. The lights weren’t on but he could tell when they did light it up, which if he knew Danny the way he thought he did would no doubt would be soon, they would glow elegantly bright.

“Look, a rule book” Danny pointed out a binder that was sitting on the counter next to the vase of roses. He flipped the book open and started to skim read aloud. “No parties, no pets, we’ve stocked some food in the fridge but there is a general store about 30 miles past the cabin's entry road. The upstairs and downstairs are heated by a radiator but it’s old so we recommend starting a fire in the evenings to keep the cabin warm. There’s a pile of wood around back. It gets really cold outside up here so there’s an assortment of coats in the closet on the foyer for your use. Please message us if you have any questions”.

“I’m going to take the bags upstairs” Jake called over his shoulder as he turned and headed back towards the front door, but Danny jumped up and ran in front of him.

“That’s alright I got it!”

Jake glowered over at Danny. He always treated him like he was a delicate flower especially when they were alone together. When in fact Jake was a grown ass man that honestly handled himself better than Danny did. He dropped his shoulders though and let Danny pick up both the bags, knowing that Danny just liked being extra nice and showering Jake with his affection any chance he could get since the times when they could be lovey-dovey around each other were few and far between.

“I’ll come with you, I want to check out the bedroom anyways” Jake wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Danny, who smiled coyly before leading them up the small spiral staircase at the other end of the living room.

The upstairs wasn’t much more than a loft. A large chair with a fuzzy gray cable knit blanket thrown intentionally over the back sat perched toward the window that overlooked the top of the porch and the yard.

Danny dropped the bags in front of the accordion closet doors and flopped onto the bed with a satisfied groan.

“Jake, I don’t want to ever leave here!” He stretched his entire body out over the bed like a starfish, unintentionally showing how impressively big the bed was since not a single long limb hung off the edge.

Jake took a seat on the chair, adjusting the waistband of his pants and crossing his legs to get comfortable. “Remember the last time we shared a room with a lounge chair?” He mused over at Danny who sat up onto his elbows in the bed with a knowing look.

Jake smirked, thinking back to the night in question when he had pulled the chair from their hotel room in front of the bed and watched Danny play for over an hour.

“You said you were going to be nice to me while we’re here” Danny reminded him, though the mischievous glint in his eye said he didn’t exactly hate the memory of it.

Jake stood up from the chair and joined Danny on the bed, marveling at the way Danny scooped him up and threw him down onto the crisp duvet. “I’m always nice to you” he playfully argued with a smile as Danny smoothed his hair away from his face.

“I know you are, I was only teasing” Danny replied quietly then quickly gave a kiss to the tip of Jake’s nose.

“See, you’re the mean one. How many times have you teased me?” Jake didn’t drop it, in fact he brought up more memories from over a year ago. “How long did you make me worry before you told me you felt the same way I did about you back?”

“That was a long time ago baby” he sighed. How they got their start was something he didn’t like to think about often.

Danny didn’t like being reminded that there was a time when he didn’t know how he felt about Jake. He knew there was something there, but feeling that way about another man, let alone your best friend's brother, was a scary notion at the time.

Danny knew now exactly how he felt about Jake. Absolutely head over heels, and he planned on spending this week letting him know exactly that.

“Come on, let’s go back downstairs, I want to go play in the snow”.

Danny blinked a few times, thinking he hadn’t heard his boyfriend right. “Did you just say you want to go play in the snow?”

Jake blushed and pushed Danny off him, standing up to fix his shirt and take off his jewelry so it wouldn’t get lost or damaged. “Yeah, when was the last time we got to play in the snow?”

Danny took a moment to think about it. It had to have been back at home in Michigan, probably when they were in highschool if not even before then. “Alright, let’s go”.

“This looks like it will fit you” Danny held up a purple polyester coat from the closet the rule book said they’d be in. He eyed the way its proportions looked like it would match Jake’s.

“Is that a girl's jacket?” Jake pouted, crossing his arms instead of taking it from Danny’s hands to try it on.

“Well it’s this, or you can try to squeeze into one of these kids jackets”. He pulled out a bright yellow one next and snickered at the way Jake snatched up the purple one and silently put it on. It fit really well actually.

Danny slipped into the navy blue one, it was a little big for him, but this was the best they were going to get with borrowed gear.

“Alright, ready?” He asked, making sure Jake had put on his gloves before they made the first step back out into the chilly air.

“Ready” Jake replied, unable to hide the childlike excitement he was feeling.

“What are you doing!” Danny hollered from where he huddled on the porch with a cup of hot cocoa trying to warm up a little. They had been outside for nearly 45 minutes now and although he was thoroughly enjoying the novelty of playing in the snow, he needed a break.

“I’m building a snowman!” Jake called back, not once worried about how cold he was getting even with his pink cheeks and frosted nose. “I used to build a snowman for our yard every year, just because Josh bet me one time I couldn’t make one taller than him”.

Danny chuckled as he took a slow sip, careful not to burn his tongue. “Well, did you?”

“Damn right I did” Jake grinned wide as he rolled the now giant ball of snow back and forth until it was nearly too big for him to pick up.

“Need some help?” Danny asked to sound supportive of Jake’s determination, but honestly he wasn’t planning on moving from his spot where he could watch in lovestruck leisure.

“You know what happens next after the snowman is up?” Jake questioned with his hands on his hips, standing back and admiring the faceless stacks of snow he’d stacked together. He didn’t bring anything out to decorate it with, but he’d shoved two twigs into its sides and that was good enough for him.

“What’s that?” Danny replied and Jake turned around with a mischievous grin. He wordlessly bent over and balled up a fist full of snow.

“You better not!” Danny yelled, already aware of what Jake was planning next. He didn’t heed his warning, instead hurled the tight packed snowball at the porch where Danny was standing.

Danny protected his drink; like the snow could do it any harm, it was too hot to drink right now he was just using the steam to warm up his face at this point.

The snowball landed at his feet, a warning shot. He turned to put the mug down on the small table between the chairs and as soon as Danny’s guard was down Jake pelted him with a ball of snow right between his shoulder blades.

He turned back around and Jake’s face lit up at the look of shock and utter betrayal on Danny’s.

“Oh, you’re in for it now Kiszka!”

“Come and give me all you’ve got Wagner!”

Danny’s arms flew up as he jumped off the porch and started running, bending down to scoop up some snow and scrunch it together between his padded palms. His first shot was a miss, but the second landed dead in the center of Jake’s chest.

“You have shit aim!” Jake called out as he tried to shield his body behind a tree. “Were you aiming for my head or my balls!”

“I was aiming for your heart!” Danny gave up on trying to gather snow and decided instead to just chase after Jake. He was faster than him anyways and it was time he proved it.

Jake caught on quickly and darted out from behind the tree, yelling and laughing as Danny chased after him. They were like a couple of big kids, finally free to yell and fight as much as they wanted without the scrutiny of others or an image to upkeep.

The thick snow was hard to run in and it slowed Jake down, or at least that was the only explanation he could believe when two long arms came circling around him and pulled him down.

He was thankful for the snow when they landed, otherwise the ground would have really hurt.

Danny landed on top of Jake, but he rolled off onto his back next to him, placing his hand on his heaving chest and waving the other in the air to call a truce.

Laying there on the ground Jake looked over and his heart clenched so hard he was afraid it might implode in on itself. Leaving nothing behind but an emptiness in his chest that could never be filled again.

Everything about Danny in this moment was perfect, from the way his dark curls stuck out from underneath his knit beanie, to the way his nose scrunched and one eye closed when flecks of snow drifted through the air.

Danny turned to meet his gaze, smiling so charmingly that Jake couldn’t stand it anymore. He lifted off the ground and threw a leg over Danny’s, successfully mounting him and attacking his lips with his own.

Danny’s were no longer warm, but he still tasted like hot chocolate. He placed his hands gently on Jake’s waist and if Jake didn’t already know that he would freeze within minutes he would have ripped that stupid purple jacket off just to feel Danny’s hands closer to him.

Once he’d had his fill, and Danny’s lips were nice and swollen, he pulled back and they locked eyes again.

Danny’s face was flush, whether from the cold or the sudden intense make out session Jake didn’t know, but his eyes gleamed with admiration. “Jake, I lo-” Danny’s words were cut short by Jake stuffing a fist full of snow into his mouth and jumping off him to run back onto the porch.

The two warmed up on the couch with the knit blanket from the chair upstairs wrapped around both their shoulders. Jake had said he didn’t want any hot chocolate, but he stole more than a few sips from Danny’s mug every now and then. Danny didn’t mind though, he’d give Jake the shirt off his back if he asked, not that it’d fit him.

They turned the TV that hung above the fireplace on but didn’t bother to flip through the channels. Instead they settled with watching whatever it was already on, which happened to be a channel running a marathon of Christmas rom-coms. The movie that was playing was already half-way over, but Jake didn’t care. This wasn’t really his taste in cinema but he was happy to be worry free, doing nothing but enjoying sitting with Danny who was actually pretty invested in the story. From what he was able to pay attention to, the whole premise of the movie was examining the different types of love.

“This movie is kind of stupid” Jake said, stealing another sip even though the liquid was luke-warm now and the chocolate powder had started to settle in a ring at the bottom.

“What? You don’t like this movie?” Danny replied, forgetting for a second who exactly he was talking to. “Well, my mom and sister love this movie. I've watched it with them a few times”.

“You’re just like those people,” Jake referred to the characters on the screen, “a romantic”. He tried to pinch Danny’s side but stopped when the squirming threatened to make the blanket fall off them.

“You are too, you just try to hide it, especially around your brothers”.

“I don’t care what my brothers think, but the team…” Jake sighed, they had this talk or a version of it many times but it never got any less frustrating. They could act like a couple at home or around family who all knew of their relationship status at this point, but in public or while working, they needed to be professionals. Not just for their sake, but for Sam, Josh, and everyone they employed too.

“I know” Danny set his mug down on the round table and slid his arm under the blanket over Jake’s shoulders to pull him close. “It’s hard right now, but eventually things will slow down and we will have more time together just like this”.

Jake knew Danny was right, but it still occasionally got to him. He’d fought so hard to get Danny, and though they had gone strong for over a year now, it sometimes felt like he still didn’t have him completely.

“You hungry? I’m going to go see what they have in the kitchen” Jake pulled Danny’s arm off of him and fixed the blanket across his lap so he wouldn’t get up and follow him.

“You know I’m always hungry” Danny smiled, grabbing the corner of the blanket and pulling it tighter around his frame.

Jake didn’t expect there to be much of anything in the fridge. Rentals usually only had the bare minimum for cooking, but he was surprised to see he had all the stuff to make some alfredo sauce and there was a package of dried spaghetti in the pantry.

It didn’t take long to cook, but the movie was already over when he returned to the living room with two plates in each hand.

Danny had fallen asleep sitting up but he slowly blinked his eyes open when he felt Jake sit back down next to him.

“You want to eat in here?” He questioned when Jake handed him his plate. Jake was usually the type to insist on eating at the dinner table, but he just shrugged and stabbed his fork into his food.

They ate in silence, Danny stealing a peak or two in Jake’s direction who was pretending to watch the next ridiculous movie on the TV.

When they were both done Jake took Danny’s plate back to the kitchen and started to rinse them off in the sink before loading them into the dishwasher for later.

“Everything ok?” Danny broke Jake’s concentration as he leaned against his elbows over the island. When Jake still didn’t say anything he pushed off and walked around over to where Jake was standing and wrapped his arms around him, resting his chin on his shoulder and simply watching as Jake mindlessly flipped through the rest of the pages in the rule book. “Tell me what’s bothering you baby”.

Jake didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t want his sudden onslaught of anxious negative thoughts to ruin the mood on the first day of their little getaway. That’s why he’d left the living room when he did. He knew though that now Danny had picked up on his energy he wouldn’t back away until Jake told him.

“It’s just we will never be like the people in those movies. Sure the tour will end and we will get a break and it will be amazing to spend time with you, but there will always be another tour, another project, people watching our every move”.

It was Danny’s turn to be quiet, because he didn’t know what to say to console Jake. This had always been a sacrifice they knew they would have to make when they started this career. Whether they were dating their bandmate or not, trying to have a relationship while being a touring artist was a challenge. If anything Danny had more pain in his heart for what Jake was internally going through right now, because he was in the same shoes. He understood that their love for eachother came second, and their love for the music came first.

“Not even that, but the way things are going in the world right now. Who knows, maybe in ten years when we’re finally ready to get married, what rights we will still have”.

Danny’s eyes widened at Jake’s words. He’d never heard the word marriage come out of Jake’s mouth in this context and it made his heart skip a beat. “You want to get married?”

Jake backpedaled real quick, he hadn’t even realized what he’d said or how Danny could take it. He only meant to reflect on the fact that the future of relationships that shared the same nature as theirs would always lay in the hands of others.

“Whatever. It’s going to get dark soon. I’m going to go chop some wood around back for the fire”. Doing something with his hands would help put his thoughts to ease, it always did.

“Want me to come help?” Danny backed away, thinking it better to just ask Jake if he needed space or not right now would be best.

“I’m from Michigan, I think I can chop wood on my own”.

He found an ax and got to chopping, focusing on his form and the feeling of his shoulders rounding before listening for the sound of the wood splitting in half. In fact, he was so focused he hadn’t even heard Danny come outside.

“Hey! Why don’t you have your jacket on?” He dropped the ax next to the stump he’d been working at and yelled at Danny who was walking briskly towards him with his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

“I just came to steal a few of these” his steps turned into a little jog as he realized just how cold it was even with his sweater on. He picked up a few of the logs Jake had cut and paused to press a quick shivering kiss to Jake’s cold lips before turning and running back. “Hurry up! I’ve got a surprise for you!”

Jake stacked as many of the leftover pieces as he could into his arms and carried them closer to the door for easy access, wondering the whole time what it was Danny was up to.

The first thing he saw when approaching the porch doors was the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree casting a bright glow against glass.

The sun had gone completely down while he was in the back getting his frustrations out, and he was tired and cold now.

The heat from the fire Danny had already built hit him as soon as he slid the door open. He hung his purple jacket back up on the coat rack by the door behind the couch, searching the small room for Danny.

He didn’t find his boyfriend, but he did find that Danny had come across quite a few candles, and he had them lit in various dark corners around the room so that the entire cabin was flickering and cozy in the warm fire paired with the white lights on the Christmas tree.

“Danny?” He called out, stepping a few feet to the left to check and see if he was in the kitchen. It was empty, but he could see now that on the floor in front of the couch Danny had also scattered a few pedals from the roses on the counter. What a romantic he really was.

“Sit down” Danny finally revealed himself as he started down the stairs, clearly holding something behind his back.

Jake moved around and sat back down on the couch where he had been earlier, before his thoughts and emotions got the best of him.

“I was going to give this to you tomorrow morning, but I think now is better” Danny crouched in front of Jake, placing one hand on his knee, the other still hidden from sight.

“Danny-” Jake began, his voice getting caught in his throat until he cleared it and tried again, “what are you doing?”

“Don’t worry baby, it’s not what you think it is” Danny assured him, but then stopped to think about it for a second, “well, kind of… just let me say something really quick ok?”

Jake nodded his head and stared intently at Danny as he searched for the words he meant to say when he got the idea to do all of this.

“I was thinking about what you said earlier, and you’re right, but you know I don’t really care what other people think about us or our relationship. All that matters to me is you and making you happy any way that I can. It’s not a ring, but I got this for you thinking that it would serve as a promise from me to you. A promise that that I will always be there for you, to shield you and protect you, and that we are bound together”.

Danny showed that he had a small black box and placed it in Jake’s hands for him to open.

Despite the heat from the fire Jake felt like his fingers were still numb when he pulled the top off the box and revealed what was inside. A coin set in a halo of silver and hung on a braided chain necklace.

“It’s not a real Atocha coin, I had it made by this badass jeweler back home, but this one is special”. Danny picked the delicate looking piece up and turned it around in his fingers, “If you look closely she hid our initials in the design”.

Jake took the coin from Danny and brought it closer to his face, his eyes scouring the tiny detailed engravings until he found them. A DW and JK carved right there, not in plain sight, but now that he’d found them it was all his eyes could see.

“So, I know this may sound silly,” Danny started again after he was sure Jake had found the initials, “but Jacob Thomas Kiszka I gave you my promise, do you accept?”

“I-” there were no words that would explain how Jake felt at that moment. So instead he gently placed the necklace back into the box and set it down at his side before grabbing Danny by the back of his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss.

“Daniel Robert Wagner, I promise that I will always be there for you, and that I will never give up on us no matter how hard the road gets. I promise that I love you and have always loved you. I do accept and I hope you do too”.

“I do” a couple of runaway tears fell down Danny’s cheek, it wasn’t often that he cried, but when he did it was always bittersweet. Jake kissed his tears away and Danny smiled at the feeling of Jake’s beautiful lips against his cheeks and eyelashes. “I love you too”.

Jake propped the box up open so he could see his promise when he looked over at the round table as Danny retreated back upstairs to collect the duvet and pillows from the bed.

They spread it all out in front of the fireplace before peeling each other's clothes off between sharing needy kisses.

“So, are we secretly married now?” Danny joked after they had both sunk to their knees on the floor. He held Jake against his torso and scattered kisses across his bare shoulder.

“Only if this can be our secret honeymoon” Jake replied as he pushed Danny’s boxers down over the swell of his ass.

“That sounds heavenly to me” Danny grinned, reaching his hand between their bodies and stroking Jake a few times causing him to shiver and tilt his head back with a moan. “How do you want it baby? You want me on my back for you?”

Jake nodded and pushed Danny down, mounting him like he did before when they had fallen to the ground outside. “I need to feel you though. I need you to fill me up”.

“Really?” It wasn’t often that they switched roles anymore. Jake liked to take charge in the bedroom and Danny never once had a complaint, but they weren’t in the bedroom. No, they were on the floor of a cabin at the top of a distant mountain. In a pile of blankets and pillows, their bare skin baking in the radiating heat of the fireplace. “Lift your hips up for me then”.

Jake was eager to obey. Usually he was the one giving commands, but tonight all he wanted was to let Danny take care of him in a way he knew only Danny could. Danny spit into his hand and brought it between their bodies again, only this time he slipped past Jake’s erection and to his entrance.

Once the first finger was all the way in he was sighing and groaning as he rocked back against it, his body already begging for more.

“So impatient tonight aren’t we baby?” Danny smirked as he lined up his second finger and pushed inside.

Jake bit down on his lip to silence his cry, his hands tightening their grip on Danny’s chest to show him he still had some sort of leverage.

Just then Jake pulled off, letting Danny’s fingers slip out of him, he was ready.

“Wait,” Danny asked Jake to hold on when he felt him shifting into position. He ruffled the blanket around, pulling the corner back to reveal he’d plucked their bottle of lube from Jake’s bag and brought it down with the bedding “here”.

“Thinking ahead were you?” Jake chuckled but graciously took the bottle and coated Danny up, letting his hand linger on him, getting in a few good twisted strokes before wiping the leftover on his own thigh.

“I’m always looking out for you Jake” he replied, fighting off a groan that made its way out by contorting his eyebrows into a knot.

Jake braced one hand onto the pillow beside the man below him and leaned closer, their chests pressing together as he lined Danny up. “I know you are” he whispered with a kiss to Danny’s ear then slowly pushed his hips back against him.

Danny gasped and threaded his arms underneath Jake’s so he could run his hands up his back, feeling the way the exposure to the fire left it so hot to the touch.

Jake bit down on his lip and buried his face in the crook of Danny’s neck to hide the way his face pinched at the pressure. He didn’t want his slight fleeting discomfort to diminish any of the pure bliss he knew Danny was feeling right now.

Three rough fingers circled around Jake’s upper back and gathered the hair that hung around his neck, guiding it over his shoulders to give Danny a spot to kiss and suck on while Jake adjusted to his size.

“You’re doing so good baby. Do you feel me?” Danny purred, his sweet praises and gentle touches paired with the proximity to the fire causing Jake’s brain to short circuit for a moment.

His body was tense and he figured he probably should have let Danny take more time to prep him, but Danny was right, he was just so impatient to feel connected.

Then he lifted his head from its hiding place and looked forward. Giving himself one last glance at the necklace hanging in its box above them and remembered everything Danny had said it signified. His body melted, finally resting completely against Danny without any pain or worry left.

“There you go” Danny felt Jake physically relax and wrapped his arms around him once more as he began to work slow deep thrusts, never once letting them loose their connection.

Jake’s own cock was throbbing, trapped between their bodies getting only some relief by the way Danny’s abdomen pressed against him with every rock upward.

This was euphoria, laying in a puddle as hot as the sweet liquid they shared earlier against Danny’s chest while he held him tight and fucked him slowly, but he wanted more. So he lifted himself back up, Danny’s hands sliding back down to his hips and squeezing as Jake sat up and used the muscles in his thighs to begin bouncing up and down.

Danny was fixed on Jake’s form above him, marveling at the shadows his features cast as they danced across his face with the flickering light of the cozy room.

No more words were said, but the room was all but silent. Moans and whines, the crackling of the fire as it slowly died down with their work, and the wordless reminder of their promises to each other as they watched the physical reflection of their love bloom between their bodies.

Danny removed one hand from its firm grip on Jake’s hips where he was guiding them against him and wrapped it around Jake’s pretty cock.

Jake clenched all his muscles and groaned something painful, nearly stopping the rapid motion he’d worked up to. “No, if you do that too I’ll-” he wasn’t as used to this position as Danny was, so the added stimulation of both pleasure points at once was sure to be too much for him.

“What is it baby? You don’t want to cum?” Danny asked sweetly, no teasing in his tone at all, just concern and love for this beautiful being that graced him with his affection.

Jake shook his head frantically, stands of his hair that had stuck to the sweat on his face falling free. “No, it’s not that”.

Danny cocked an eyebrow, squeezing his fist tighter over the achingly hard flesh which resulted in another loud choked cry from Jake. “You don’t want to finish yet?” He tried his question again, watching the way Jake’s eyes squeezed shut and his expression twisted into concentration as he resumed his speed again.

Jake opened one eye, jaw falling slack as the knot was beginning to tie itself around his insides and Danny then knew what he was holding out for. “Together?”

Jake nodded this time, he was past the point of being able to speak, just waiting for Danny to say the words so he could finally let go.

“Don’t worry, I’m there. I’ve been there. You just give it to me when you’re ready”.

The sudden realization that Danny had been holding back just as much as he had was the tipping point for his sanity. Danny had stopped stroking him but that didn’t matter. Hot streaks burst across his stomach as Jake couldn’t keep it in any longer.

It was the ‘O’ face that did it for Danny. He was used to seeing stars as Jake gave him earth shaking climaxes, or his face would be buried in the sheets with his back aching from holding its arch for so long, but this time he had a perfect view as Jake reached the peak of his orgasm and it was so sensual that Danny couldn’t help but finish as well.

“Want to go for a drive after breakfast? Figure out where that general store is that was in the rule book?” Danny asked as he rubbed soft circles into Jake’s back who had collapsed on top of him and hadn’t moved a muscle since. It was perfect.

“Anything you want” Jake replied, eyes wandering around the cabin to take it all in so that he’d remember this place in as much detail as possible when he thought back on tonight. Something caught his eye and he finally lifted his head from Danny’s chest to get a better look out the windows. “It’s snowing”.

Danny followed his gaze and gave a few breathy chuckles that shook Jake. “It tends to do that in the mountains” he jested and leaned forward to steal a kiss against Jake’s cheek. “Do you want to go back upstairs and get cleaned up or stay down here tonight?”

Jake settled back against Danny, this time turning his face towards the fire that was all but burned out, just like him. “I want to stay here” he replied as Danny got the memo and tossed the blanket over their tangled bodies. “Besides we will be getting messy again in the morning”.

“Is that so?” Danny laughed again and Jake smiled, he would never get used to how much he loved that sound especially from this proximity. “Good night Jake, sleep well”

“Good night Danny”.

Danny woke up with the sun shining through the many windows, only that wasn’t ultimately what had pulled him from his dreamland. It was the pouty pink lips wrapped around his morning wood that did the trick.

“Baby” he groaned in his raspy morning voice and threaded his fingers through the head of slightly knotted tousled hair.

Jake’s eyes gave him the ‘good morning’ that his mouth couldn’t as he really started to suck Danny off now that he was awake.

It didn’t take long for Danny to get the fuzzy feeling in his toes and head as he came with a sigh of profanities paired with his lover's name.

When Jake pulled off with a still sleepy but proud smile Danny motioned for him to get up and sit on the couch before shuffling on his knees to be in front of him.

Danny played with Jake a little first, cupping his balls in his palm as he licked around the tip. Jake squeezed the cushions to keep himself from bucking up when Danny did finally take him in.

Once Jake had finished too he finally let himself touch Danny. He leaned over and pulled Danny into a sloppy kiss, the taste of each other mixing with their saliva.

“I’m going to go get your present now” Jake said when he pulled away.

“You’re telling me that wasn't it? Or last night?”

“Course not” Jake chuckled, pointing at the mess of pillows and blankets still on the floor to silently tell Danny to ‘stay’ as he ran upstairs.

When he came back he had a small green paper bag topped with red and white striped tissue paper sticking out the top. “It’s not as thoughtful as the necklace, but here you go”.

He handed Danny the gift which he happily took and brought to his lap as he dipped his hand past the paper and pulled out a pair of brand new leather golfing gloves.

“You said you needed a new pair, so I got you some. I hope you like them”. Jake was avoiding eye contact, but still wanted to watch Danny open his present even if it always made him feel shy and awkward.

The leather was soft in his hands as he turned the gloves over and examined them, honestly so surprised. “I said that months ago, in a passing comment somewhere out west between shows”. Danny remembered the conversation they had been having on the tour bus when he mentioned needing new gloves, he just didn’t expect Jake to have picked up on it and gone out to buy him some. “Thank you so much!”

Jake crawled back over to him on the floor, Danny waiting to embrace him with a million kisses.

“Merry Christmas, I love you”.

Just before Jake could reciprocate he was interrupted by a phone ringing.

“That isn’t dead yet? I didn’t even charge it last night” Danny looked around the room, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from.

“I think it’s mine” Jake replied.

Sure enough the last place he remembered having it, over on the counter by the vase, his cell was buzzing violently.

He attempted to move to stand up, but Danny wrapped his arms around him to keep him put in his lap.

“It could be mom” Jake said. He couldn’t remember the last time his mom hadn’t called him on Christmas morning no matter where in the world he was.

Danny let him go and he ran over to the phone before it could go to voicemail, not even checking who it was before answering.

“Jake! Where the hell have you been?!” Josh hollered from the other end before he could hear him turn to yell at someone, most likely Sam, I got Jake to answer!

“Hey Josh, I’m alright, just decided to get away for a bit.

“Get away for a bit? Jesus Jake you had us all scared you were drunk facedown in a snowbank somewhere! Is Danny with you? Sam hasn’t been able to get a hold of him either”.

Jake looked over at Danny who was still sitting on the floor, trying to listen in on the conversation as best he could.

“Hold on a sec” Jake walked back over to their little lovers nest and held the phone up, making sure they were both decent enough before hitting the FaceTime button. It rang for a few seconds before Josh and Sams faces popped up with shared confused looks.

At the same time they both realized what was happening and groaned in unison at the image of Jake and Danny naked, save for the gray fluffy cable knit blanket wrapped around their waists.

“Gross! My eyes!” Sam yelled, shielding them with one hand and slapping Josh with the other who held the phone and shook his head with fake disapproval.

“As you can see, we’re together and we’re fine, perfect even” he and Danny laughed and Josh rolled his eyes. “Phones about to die, tell mom we said we love her! See you guys after the new year!”

Just then Jake’s phone really did die, the screen turning black in place of his scarred brothers.

“Wait, I thought our flight home was on the thirtieth?”

Jake tossed his now useless phone over to the side and shrugged. “They don’t need to know that”.

“Now where were we?” He placed his hands against both Danny’s cheeks and smiled innocently. “Oh yeah, Merry Christmas”.

[saturniandevil]

March 2024 Important Dates

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's March Forecast.

February recap: The conjunction between Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto in Aquarius conjunction has aligned with new tech developments. The Venus-Pluto conjunction heralded OpenAI's new text-to-video generator and the ensuing discussion on its potential political, labor, and artistic effects. Mercury was conjunct Mars and Venus trine Jupiter (with Virgo Moon completing a grand trine & involving the Saturn-Pisces opposition) the day Neuralink tried its first human subject. How will different parts of society react to further developments in cybernetics and body augmentation? Past occurrences of astrological alignments can help us make predictions. Advances in robotics during a major transit in the humanistic sign of Aquarius will challenge us to redefine what it means to be human. On February 10th, around the Mars-Pluto conjunction, a group of people set a self-driving delivery car on fire in San Francisco. These robo-taxis are likely going to increase when Jupiter enters Gemini, and indeed a few companies are poised to launch in other cities.

In other Pluto in Aquarius news, last episode Chris noted there's work in using X-rays to ancient scrolls from Herculaneum and Pompeii that can't be opened without incurring damage. On February 5th, the day of the Mercury-Pluto conjunction, the first images of one of these scrolls have been made available. This fits with Mercury-Pluto themes of lost or buried information coming to light. On the same day King Charles of England's cancer diagnosis was announced--an announcement of mortality. We also had the first privately-funded lunar vehicle landing. Pluto makes large thing imperceptibly small and makes microscopic things enormous.

In Saturn in Pisces news, in 2020 Chris predicted success for Miley Cyrus's Saturn return and indeed she won the Grammy. This also marks part 2 of the Dune movie--the book was written under Saturn in Pisces as well. Other influential sci-fi & fantasy stories were written under Saturn in Pisces like Lord of the Rings, and our hosts predict that a new classic will be born during this transit. In other Mars-Pluto news, we have ambiguous stories about nuclear weapons and Israel's announcement of storming Rafah. Unfortunately the upcoming eclipses (connected to 6 months ago) do not bode well for cessation of warfare. On February 15th, farmers in India have begun striking again, and doctors in South Korea walked out on the job to protest working conditions--Mars in Aquarius squaring Jupiter-Uranus in Taurus reactivates these ongoing labor disputes.

Our hosts recorded the forecast before the perfect Mercury-Saturn-Sun conjunction in Pisces hit on February 28th (the day I'm typing this!), which is one of the major influences over the first half of March. The other big influence is Mars-Venus in Aquarius. In the mutable, indeterminate sign of Pisces, Saturn doesn't bring us as much order as he did in the previous two signs of his domicile.

March 2nd/3rd - Venus square Uranus Venus in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus--either a change is needed to bring us peace and pleasure, or something is disrupting our pleasure. Austin says either way, this placement prompts us for significant changes. Venus's is overcoming Uranus (earlier in the zodiac, has the upper hand), so we can make good use of this placement if we shake things up a little bit in relationships.

March 9th/10th - Mars square Uranus, Mercury enters Aries Mercury has entered the sign where he'll retrograde, stretching what would normally be a transit of a few weeks into 2 months. Mercury in Mars's sign amplifies the wishes of the red planet, who's doing some pretty interesting stuff. In a firey Mars-ruled sign, Mercury wants something practical to do. This clarity and decisiveness will be welcome after all the indecision of Pisces. However, the North Node is in Aries, with the power to obscure things even when it's not blocking the Sun's light. There will be an eclipse here in April, so the pathfinding is tricky. We'll definitely be doubling back as Mercury prepares to retrograde. Sometimes you need to dive into things while you have the vision, yet before you have the rationale. Austin likens it to clearing your way through thick jungle terrain to determine whether a route is viable--it's only by going forward that you find out that you're on the wrong path, and thus, where the right one is. Mercury retrogrades teach us to learn from our mistakes--third time's the charm!

Mars follows Venus's path, and along with Mercury, weighs heavily on the upcoming lunation. Mars-Uranus connotes surprise attacks, sudden severing, unexpected explosions. Internally this can make us feel restless and impulsive. Keywords: recklessness and action without planning. Think of a cigarette being dropped near an oil drum. Technology disruptions are also likely.

March 10th - Pisces New Moon

Saturn and Neptune are close by to this lunation, and though Mars-Uranus is weighing in, Mars in particular is ultimately reporting to Saturn's broader plan. As Neptune and Saturn approach their conjunction, we'll seek escapism and the imaginal as a respite for our fatigue. We need to step out from being immersed in these waters. Mercury conjoined Neptune on the 8th before he left Pisces, leaving the imprint of confused or empathic communications in the air as the lunar cycle resets for the month.

March 11th/12th - Venus enters Pisces From here she builds up to a conjunction with Saturn at 11° on the 21st. As the sign of her exaltation, she's better able to bring harmony and reconciliation in our relationships, though Saturn brings a cool distance to our relationships. She'll conjoin Neptune in this sign next month. We may also see some kind of artwork that resonates with people on a deep emotional level.

March 17th - Sun conjoins Neptune, Electional chart

At around 1PM local time, this chart has Cancer rising with a dignified Moon in Cancer, applying to a trine with Venus at 7Pisces and sextile with Jupiter in Taurus in the 11th house. This chart occurs before things go crazy later in the month and is the best time to start something new. It's especially good for friends, groups and alliances and doing new things outside of the box.

March 18th - Mercury enters shadow (not pictured) Mercury hits 15Aries, the point he'll retrograde back to, at the same time as he conjoins the North Node. This is a precursor of things that will occur in April.

March 19th/20th - Sun enters Aries This puts the Sun in the same time as the Node that will eclipse it.

March 21st - Venus conjoins Saturn Saturn and Venus bring a sort of melancholy beauty to things. Though we may see them at odds for signifying discipline and love respectively, Saturn does exalt in Venus's sign of Libra. In the sign of Pisces empathy is especially relevant--think understanding each other's feelings because we've suffered the same things. Nostalgia is another important keyword.

March 22nd - Mars enters Pisces This puts him on track to contact to Saturn (exact cojunction c. April 10th)--a dangerous combination. Along with the Sun in Aries and Mercury slowing, this represents the event horizon of major developments for the rest of the month and early April. This will be the first Mars-Saturn conjunction in Pisces; note the Aquarius conjunctions in 2020 and later years coincided with the COVID lockdown(s). Sea lane transit will likely slam on the brakes as well, and current maritime conflicts will see big developments. More figuratively we may ask "where are we going, and what dangers lie ahead?"

March 25th - Libra Lunar Eclipse

For about a week things have been building up to this eclipse. Its twin will be visible across much of the United States in early April, meanwhile a comet will start to be visible in the night sky. Mars in Pisces copresent Saturn weighs heavily on this eclipse. The pace of events starts moving quickly and chaotically around eclipse season, and things start to move rapidly up or down, especially for prominent people & companies. This eclipse represents a culmination or next chapter of events started in October--major beginnings and major endings (in the Libra house of your chart for individuals). The picture may begin to get clearer. It's not the last installment, but things are clearly underway. Unfortunately this does not bode well for ongoing global conflicts. We can't see clearly with the eclipse, meanwhile Mercury is slowing down about to station retrograde, while right on the North Node. Combined with dangerous Mars-Saturn, it's a bit of a crazy situation. Jupiter's approach to a conjunction with Uranus indicates some surprising, amazing wins, and some people will find unexpected good fortune once the smoke clears. However, not everyone will be able to count on winning the Jupiter lottery here. (Later in April, when Jupiter conjoins Uranus exactly we can expect some kind of freedom and liberation).

The two weeks between these eclipses will be very active, dramatic, and chaotic, with beginnings and endings galore. In the Indian astrology dasha timing technique, the US Sibly chart has been in a time period ruled by Rahu (north node) since the early 2010s, making any eclipses visible in that country especially important to it. This is a time to be flexible!

[electronalytics]

Aircraft Connectors Market Geographical Expansion & Analysis Growth Development, Status, Recorded during 2017 to 2032

The competitive analysis of the Aircraft Connectors Market offers a comprehensive examination of key market players. It encompasses detailed company profiles, insights into revenue distribution, innovations within their product portfolios, regional market presence, strategic development plans, pricing strategies, identified target markets, and immediate future initiatives of industry leaders. This section serves as a valuable resource for readers to understand the driving forces behind competition and what strategies can set them apart in capturing new target markets.

Market projections and forecasts are underpinned by extensive primary research, further validated through precise secondary research specific to the Aircraft Connectors Market. Our research analysts have dedicated substantial time and effort to curate essential industry insights from key industry participants, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), top-tier suppliers, distributors, and relevant government entities.

Receive the FREE Sample Report of Aircraft Connectors Market Research Insights @ https://stringentdatalytics.com/sample-request/aircraft-connectors-market/2411/  

Market Segmentations:

Global Aircraft Connectors Market: By Company

• Amphenol Corporation

• TE Connectivity

• Carlisle Companies Inc. STRINGENT DATALYTICS

• Esterline Corporation

• Bel Fuse Inc.

• Eaton Corporation

• ITT Corporation

• Smiths Group PLC

• Radiall

• Rosenberger Group

Global Aircraft Connectors Market: By Type

• PCB

• Fiber Optic

• High Power

• High Speed

• RF Connectors

• Others

Global Aircraft Connectors Market: By Application

• Commercial

• Business Jets

• Military

• Others

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All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Aircraft Connectors market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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[darkmaga-retard]

by Kyle Anzalone | Aug 26, 2024

As wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to rage, Vertical Research Partners forecasts top weapon manufacturers will experience record cash flow during the coming years.

The analysis, which was commissioned by the Financial Times, reports, “The leading 15 defense contractors are forecast to log free cash flow of $52 billion in 2026,” with the “Five top US defense contractors are forecast to generate cash flow of $26 billion.”

The cash flow in 2026 will be double the 2021 numbers. The record numbers are part of an upward trend for weapons makers already benefiting from a surge in global military spending and conflict. 

Washington is driving the worldwide arms race. The US military budget is about the same as the next ten countries combined. Additionally, under President Joe Biden, Washington funneled billions in weapons to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

The policy has led to massive wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon. Additionally, tensions in the South China Sea are boiling as Israel and Iran are on the brink of a potential direct war. 

The White House is well positioned to deescalate many of the world’s conflicts. The US could push Israel and Ukraine to negotiate by leveraging Washington’s military aid to Tel Aviv and Kiev. 

In the South China Sea, potential conflicts between China and Taiwan or the Philippines have been partially driven by Washington’s pledge to go to war against Beijing for Manila and Taipei. The US has also given the Philippines and Taiwan hundreds of millions in weapons, further provoking China. 

[chitsangenthusiast]

for awhile now i've been craving to do a fic/scene to this song but no earthly clue how to write it where it adequately matches the energy of the song and isn't a song fic

so imagine with me: marine biologist sokka, famous rocker zuko, and a night of karaoke

——

naturally, their entire thing starts with a concert.

zuko's playing in his home city, and all sokka needs to do is take an hour train in to see one of his favorite bands. easy enough, he's made the same commute countless times, and absolutely worth it, even if it means he's going alone when no one else's schedules line up to be able to tag along.

except the forecasted snow hits harder than it was supposed to during the concert, putting any outbound trains out of commission as well as any hopes for an uber willing to drive him the hour back to home. it's bad enough that he wouldn't risk asking his friends to come out to him, especially not katara, who was already on call tonight and whose probability of going into work just sky rocketed.

which means: a hotel. which means: he's pissed, and if he's going to be unexpectedly forced to spend the money to stay a night in the city then he's at least going to go waste more money and get blasted at a local dive bar he knows.

the older couple sitting next to him who he'd been commiserating with get up to brave the weather at the exact moment zuko walks in.

(the next morning, sokka wakes up to the distant sounds of zuko saying he got late check-out for him, then again to an empty room and a phone number scrawled onto the hotel note pad laying next to his dead phone.)

//fast forward, where zuko is trying to enjoy lunch with his friends in the city, except the paparazzi are relentless. but fate had granted it to be a beautiful day, with the bay sparkling invitingly, and one of the best seafood places happens to be on the route to sokka's favorite lunch spot.

they make eye contact across the street, and zuko pursues.

//fast forward, through several more nights spent together, several more paparazzi issues, a classic airport scene, the kiss that finally seals the deal.

//linger on the moment when zuko sneaks into a conference sokka is attending. the one with an importance that had been alluded to for the past month, where sokka even refused to schedule anything together in the two weeks leading up to it, the one where he laughed at the idea of zuko attending it as a show of support, but also hadn't explicitly stated he didn't want him to find a way to get in.

so zuko does, and he finds out that what sokka had vaguely described as a podium presentation was actually the keynote speech, given to a packed auditorium.

zuko knew sokka was smart, but he didn't know he was 'on the fast track to being renowned in his field' smart.

(it's hot, all that easy intelligence and confidence as he watches sokka just totally in his element. he jokes to mai later that he can't believe he fell in love to a total nerd.)

//linger on how, once he's said it out loud, the thought never leaves his mind.

//fast forward to (finally) karaoke night. sokka can sing, but zuko's never succeeded in getting him to sing along to one of his songs, despite sokka's unabashed proclamations of how big of a fan he is. until tonight (thank you katara and ty lee), and—oh.

oh.

zuko had encouraged him by saying he'd provide back up vocals (it's fun to watch sokka squirm at the idea of singing along with the lead singer of the song he's about to perform), and sokka declared he's going to face the tv the entire time to avoid seeing ty lee's phone bc of course she's recording to some social media live—

he forgets about the camera halfway through, forgets their friends are even in the room despite their cheering, because he loves this song, loves the theatrics, and he'll be damned if he doesn't do it full justice like he does every time he sings it. especially when he whips around, caught up in the vocals and the dramatic sway of his performance, and catches sight of zuko on the couch, microphone fully forgotten in his lap as he stares wide-eyed and open-mouthed at him.

sokka is hitting every note, every emotion that the song demands. he's doing perfect, he is perfect, and when he sidles close enough zuko can't help but cling to his legs, desperate and breathless as he stares up at him, utterly enraptured. he yanks on sokka's belt loops, tries to pull him down, an unconscious action fueled more by his pounding heart than any desire to end the performance—the last thing he wants is to end this—but sokka doesn't indulge him until the very end, during the small space of a breath right before the last few lines.

"together bound in madness," he sings, shakier then zuko performs it, sweeter then he could ever make it, then bends down to kiss zuko soundly, putting as much of his everything into this kiss as he is singing zuko's song, and only sokka is able to hear the rattled gasp zuko releases when he slips his hand into his hair to cradle the back of his head.

when he pops back up to do the big finish, his hand remains nestled in zuko's hair, grounding him. he savors both the iron grip on his hips and how zuko's head lays boneless against his palm.

the last ringing note, the end of the song, and sokka barely gets in a steadying breath before zuko is frantically tugging him back down to his mouth.

in the background, simultaneously hazy and so, so clear, he hears mai: "i can't believe we just watched zuko fall in love."

and yeah. yes.

he absolutely just did.

[rjzimmerman]

A couple of my photos of joshua trees in blossom.

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

When it comes to one of California’s most beloved plants, the forecast is dire. Projections suggest that much of Joshua trees’ habitat will become unsuitable by the end of the century as the planet continues to warm.

Now, a new study has revealed that the icons of the Mojave Desert are experiencing conditions vastly different from those in the early 20th century, and that those conditions are changing the frequency of their reproductive activity.

“This is reinforcing the point that climate change impacts are already here,” said author Jeremy Yoder, associate professor of biology at Cal State Northridge.

The study, recently published in Ecology Letters, draws on observations from citizen scientists to reconstruct the effects of 120 years of climate change on Joshua trees. It’s the first systematic examination of exactly what triggers the spiky, Seussian succulents to mast, or flower, the first step in their reproductive process. It’s also the first study to examine how the plants are faring across their whole range.

The results were so surprising that Yoder spent days digging through the data trying to understand what was going on. He found that, counterintuitively, climate change, by driving bigger swings in precipitation and warmer winters, is causing Joshua trees to flower more frequently. While that sounds like a good thing, those same changes are probably reducing the survival of delicate Joshua tree seedlings, which need a consistent supply of water to grow into robust adult plants.

“We have all these predictive models about what’s going to happen in the future with Joshua trees, but this is showing us some real change just in the last 100 years,” said Kelly Herbinson, executive director of conservation nonprofit Mojave Desert Land Trust, who was not involved in the study. “It’s also helping us see this broader picture, which is that even though they may be flowering more often, these changes in precipitation and temperature are not advantageous for survival of the tree.”

Joshua trees are important for the entire desert community. Yoder likes to refer to them as umbrella species — two species, to be precise — because they provide food and habitat for other wildlife unique to the Mojave. The researchers looked at both the eastern and western Joshua trees, which have some differences — for instance, each is pollinated by a different species of yucca moth — but also hybridize and occupy overlapping climates, as the study notes.

“If we protect Joshua trees, we’re probably protecting this whole category of things that live in the desert,” Yoder said.

Yoder and his fellow researchers used more than 10,200 images of Joshua trees gathered from iNaturalist to train machine learning models to predict flowering from annual weather records. They then used weather records to “hindcast” flowering activity to 1900 to see how it has changed over time, resulting in the surprising projection that its frequency has increased from a median of once every five years to more than once every four years.

The model indicated that Joshua trees are more likely to flower when they experience a wet year following a dry year, as well as winter low temperatures above freezing. The plants are also more likely to flower when drought stress is relatively low, and temperatures and drought stress have been relatively stable over a couple of years, it found.

Evaluating the health of Joshua trees is a complex undertaking, and more research needs to be done to understand exactly how climate change is affecting each aspect, Yoder said. For instance, he said, in one area north of Death Valley, where conditions are cooler but also drier than much of the rest of their range, the researchers recorded a slight decline in conditions supporting flowering frequency. That area has been identified as a likely climate refuge, where Joshua trees may be able to survive in the future even as other portions of the desert grow inhospitable.

[elizabethbennets]

My DaisyBilly! headcanons because I am unhinged and unable to think about anything else:

1. The first time Billy proposes to Daisy, she says no. She’s so happy with their life, and she doesn’t want him to feel like he has to prove anything to her. And besides—they’ve already gotten more than they should have; in this life, anyway. Jules convinces her to reconsider. She knows the real reason Daisy said no, and she reminds her that Camila wanted this for Billy, and for them.

2. They have a backyard wedding three weeks later. Billy cries throughout his vows. Daisy calls him her twin soul when she recites her, and by then, most of the guests are in tears.

3. Billy wakes up before her in the mornings, usually to go for a run, or a swim. Daisy’s a night owl, though, so he usually falls asleep on the couch while they watch Friends and Ally McBeal or whatever videos they’ve rented from Blockbuster that week. Daisy always laughs at him as he nods off, but she knows he hates going to bed without her, so he’ll close his eyes and cradle her against his chest with the smell of buttery popcorn and ginger ale between them.

4. On Sunday mornings, they make brunch for Jules and River. Sometimes Graham and Ashley and the kids will come over, too. Daisy makes her trademark blueberry waffles and homemade syrupy, always leaving a mess behind for Billy to clean.

5. Oh, and on River’s 13th birthday, he tells Daisy he wants to officially adopt her. Daisy doesn’t say anything. He tells her it’s her choice; he would never push, but they both know Billy is her father, and Daisy can’t put into words what it means to her.

6. Daisy may be in her 40s now, but she still doesn’t check the forecast before she leaves the house, and it drives Billy crazy that she always forgets to bring a jacket. She knows that nights in Los Angeles are always cool; the air tinted with smoke and frost, and they’ll bicker until he gives her his jacket.

7. Because they’ve both stubborn, and they hate being wrong, so they fight until their words are clawing. Billy usually apologies first, because he can’t stand to see her hurt, and he hates that she narrows into herself. He’ll kiss the place between her eyes, whispering apologies, and the storm is over before it really rained. They’ve both lost too much, and this life is too precious to them for either of them to scar.

8. Their life together is simple, really. They write and play music, touring with The Six every now and then. They have their girls and their crossword puzzles and their records, and maybe life isn’t fire; maybe this is just healing—the parties and the drugs and the broken glass were just one version of them, and they’re so much happier now, grateful for slow nights by the fireplace. Because they never thought they’d be here. Daisy never thought she’d see Billy’s face in the morning, early sunlight slanted across their bedroom. And Billy? Well—he’s not stupid. He never thought he’d feel this way again, and certainly not with her. So they don’t need fire. They just need this light.

[norabrice1701]

Twist My Heart - Ch. 1

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Jake “Hangman” Seresin

- A TG:M Twister AU -

Series Main List

Also on AO3

Ch. 1 Warnings: Language; discussion of canon character death

Bradley hates wintertime. Tornadic storm activity drops off to nothing. Winter cold roots in his bones no matter how warmly he dresses. Endless days pass behind a computer screen, blurring together until he’s on the brink of madness.

At least, that's what it feels like. Or maybe it’s just been another long ass day of his forecasting model still not compiling correctly. Objectively, in theory, Bradley's program works. He’s studied enough storms forming on Doppler and watched their evolution during his years of chasing, so something must still be off with the back-end code. Exhaling a long sigh, he swivels in his desk chair as he stares at the horrible tornadic behavior model that loops repeatedly on his computer screen.  

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he glances at his wristwatch – 10:27 PM. On a Saturday night. His mom’s voice echoes in his mind, and a familiar guilt creeps over him. Of course, he respects her concern. Of course, he doesn’t want her to worry – he’s just fine. He always has been. And of course, he’s not alone – he has plenty of friends. Besides, so long as mother nature keeps whipping up her violent delights, that’s all he’ll ever need.

The sky has always been his number one passion, his number one love. He still remembers the stories from his dad – how Goose’s eyes lit up and his voice warmed with the thrill of exhilaration when he recounted his tales of storm chasing. How he held Bradley in his arms, perched on a hip as they stood in the garage, explaining the cloud formations and tracking the storms' progress as they passed overhead.

Even when the record-breaking tornado outside El Reno, Oklahoma killed his dad, it had done nothing to diminish Bradley’s passion. If anything, it only strengthened his resolve – his determination to study the skies, to improve humanity’s understanding of tornadoes’ destructive patterns, to take up his dad’s charge to help save lives with better, accurate forecasting. And if his mother and godfather had conspired years ago to stop him… well, that’s a different story. One that Bradley doesn’t care to revisit now that everything's out in the open. Now that he’s on speaking terms with Maverick again (even working in the man’s lab), and that hatchet is well and truly buried.

It just leaves him counting down the days until spring storm season starts with nothing but this damn forecasting model taunting him.

The lab door’s hydraulic hinge gives a familiar hiss, cutting through Bradley’s thoughts and drawing his gaze across the large, workstation populated room. His mouth pinches to a thin line of annoyance and he just resists cursing his rotten luck as Hangman breezes in. 

The man looks good. Fuck, Hangman always looks good, even when soaked to the bone or exhausted from driving all night. His dimpled megawatt smile, tanned skin, and toned physique are ripped straight from a Hollywood magazine – and he knows it, too. It doesn’t help that he is actually good at his job, with a keen mind and razor-sharp instincts behind those grass-green eyes… but he doesn’t have to be such a cocky asshole about it.

Doesn’t have to be, but he always is.

Hangman’s gaze runs over Bradley’s seated form and a lazy grin teases his mouth. “Bradshaw,” his Texas drawl combines with his tone to make the name sound like an insult. “As I live and breathe.”

“Hangman,” he acknowledges with cool indifference. “You look… good.” It’s the truth as much as anything else. He hasn’t kept track of exactly how long Hangman’s been away from the lab on some research fellowship for the last three months, but he’s not surprised that the man would return just before spring storm season fires up.

“Well, I am good, Rooster.” Hangman tosses over his shoulder as he deposits his backpack on his spartan desktop. “I’m very good. In fact,” he flashes a sharp, self-indulgent grin and the light catches in his too-perfect dimples. “I am too good to be true.”

Three years ago, that comment would have earned an eye roll, but Bradley’s long since developed thick skin where Hangman is concerned. “How was Tennessee?”

“Well, I prefer Kentucky bourbon over Tennessee whiskey – but they’re developing some incredible data patterns. Up until the last 20 years, nobody went east of I-35 to chase tornadic activity.”

The map of central US states forms in Bradley’s mind, divided by the north-south artery of the interstate expressway that cuts through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota.

“But that’s changing,” Hangman continues, sitting in his desk chair as if testing the fit after being away so long. “Tornado concentrations in Dixie Alley - Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana - have actually been higher than in Tornado Alley in recent years, and everyone’s trying to understand why. Not least of all so we can get a good jump on real estate prices to relocate the lab.”

This time Bradley does roll his eyes. “Mav won’t relocate the lab. He's not a big fan of Tulsa, but we’re in Tornado Alley for a reason.”

“Not according to what they’re saying.” Hangman swivels towards him with his trademark brand of mischievous intelligence gleaming in his eyes. “They say that the greatest concentration of damaging tornadoes is sliding southeast instead of staying in the Central Plains, and they’re trying to pin it on climate change.”

Bradley cocks his head in consideration. “Seems reasonable," he answers after a beat. "After all, the Gulf of Mexico is warming. The prevailing winds are pushing more moisture over the southeastern states, so the dry line shifts accordingly.”

“But that happens over centuries, not decades.” Hangman counters, folding his arms to rest behind his head. The unfairly tight fit of his Henley highlights the build of his biceps. “You know what else has also changed in the last 20 years?”

Bradley assumes it’s a rhetorical question but as the silence draws out, and Hangman raises his eyebrows in silent expectation, he sighs heavily. He tries to conjure an answer, waving a vague hand. “Too many things to count?”

Hangman snorts indignantly as he dips his head to glare under his brow. “You didn’t even try, Roo. Come on,” he says, shifting his hips and reaching in his pocket to produce his phone. “The prevalence of technology – phones, cameras, social media. Instant access to better storm prediction technology. Add to that the boom in storm spotting created by pop culture, and suddenly, any yahoo with a camera thinks they’re the next Bill Paxton.” He waves his black phone for emphasis. “That’s why it’s my theory that higher concentrations of tornadoes aren’t shifting east, just that the last 20 years have seen increased and better reporting of tornadoes in those states outside traditional Tornado Alley.”

A hint of amusement curls the corner of Bradley's mouth. “Well, that’s quite a theory.” He can't quite restrain the soft chuckle in his throat. “Is that what you did in Tennessee, then? Comb Facebook and Twitter and Instagram to build a correlation to reported tornadoes?”

“Privileged information, I’m afraid.” Hangman's shit-eating grin widens. “S’what you get for sitting around here all winter. In fact,” he sits up straighter, raising his hands to frame Bradley in view. “You’re right where I left you. If your pornstache was any more out of control, I’d think that you hadn’t moved at all.”

Indignation flares in Bradley’s chest and he draws a deep breath to squash it, squaring his jaw to measure his words. “Hangman, not all of us have to chase work nonstop around the country. Some of us can do just fine right here.”

That's also true as anything else. Hangman never sits still. He never lets things slide - he pokes, he prods, he pushes. It makes him a great, if irritating, scientist; but if he's not chasing storms in the plains, he's chasing lab work that keeps him on the move. Hell, for all his cocky attitude, Bradley's never known him to boast about anything that implies a connection to keep him in one place for too long. Not even any romantic or sexual conquest, let alone flaunting some gorgeous partner at company events.

Bradley watches Hangman's face freeze for the space of a breath before his expression sharpens. Suddenly, Hangman pushes to his feet with a telltale clench of his jaw as he threads around the workstation separating them. “Well, that’s just you, ain’t it, Rooster?” He says, approaching Bradley’s desk, leaning against the edge and crossing his arms against his chest. Bradley carefully tilts his head back to meet Hangman’s gaze head-on, refusing to be intimidated as the blonde continues. “You’re snug on that perch, waiting for just the right moment… that never comes.”

"You turned too soon," Mav shook his head, evaluating Bradley's performance as the vehicle GPS signals played out in relation to the tornado's position.

Bradley sighed. "If I'd stayed on that road, I would have missed it altogether."

"No, you would have been able to track it north," Mav replied, motioning back at the conference room TV screen showing the data replay of Bradley's last chase. "The twister's already made her turn and the rope on the ground was fully developed. You had everything you needed to know and still, you didn't get there in time."

Bradley ground his teeth. "I was right on target-" 

"Which is always ever-changing." Mav countered, sharp eyes scanning the room. "And that goes for all of you," he pointed a finger at the other chasers assembled around the table. "The numbers will only help you so much, but you can't rely solely on them… you can't think out there. If you think, it could cost you - you could be dead." 

Fire burned in Bradley's veins. Sharp, accusatory words clawed up his throat - is that what happened to my dad? Aren't you just a fucking hypocrite? - but he swallowed them down. He refused to give anybody else in the room the goddamn satisfaction of turning this debriefing into an episode of his personal family soap opera. 

Mav turned back to the screen as the video replayed, displaying the satellite proof of Bradley’s failure for everyone to see once again. “You were on path to intercept,” Mav said, again motioning at the animated GPS tracking signal of Bradley’s SUV. “But with those wind shears and the updraft angle of that twister,” he paused to point at the tornado symbol tracking northeast of Bradley’s position. “You were a minute too late.” 

“Mav,” Phoenix spoke up, cutting through the tension in the room. “He was the only one close enough.” 

“But it still wasn’t enough.” Mav shook his head, fixing Bradley with a hard stare. “You want to capture the data you need for your model, you’re going to have to get much closer than that.” 

Bradley worked a tight swallow down his throat. “We were on course. It was dead ahead.” 

Hangman tipped his head back against the conference chair. “You’re not driving fast enough," he interjected. "You don’t have a second to waste.” 

Bradley’s blood pressure ratcheted higher, teeth grinding together. He refused to dignify Hangman with a response, instead keeping his fury focused on his lousy excuse for a godfather at the front of the room. “It’s not the chase,” he said, steel in his voice. “It’s the chaser.” 

Fire blazed in Mav’s eyes as he hissed. “Exactly!” 

Silence deafened the conference room as Bradley’s heart stopped. The words pierced him straight through and tears stung his eyes but he refused to let any of them fall. His throat tightened as he held his ground. “There’s more than one way to read a storm and get close.” 

Hangman swiveled his head around. “You really don’t get it,” his sharp green eyes pinned Bradley in place, rubbing further salt in the wound. “I don’t mean to criticize - you’re conservative, that’s all. We’re up against the elements that none of us can always predict. Not even him.” He turned to nod towards Mav in reference to his point before turning back to Bradley as a smug - perhaps even pitying - smirk tugged at his lips. “That’s no time to be thinking about the past.” 

Bradley’s spine stiffened with indignation. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

Hangman settled back against the conference chair like a cat with a canary. “I can’t be the only one that knows that Mav used to chase with Rooster’s old man. Or that Mav was driving when his old man-”

Bradley's blood reached boiling point and he lunged across the table. His hands connected with the solid plane of Hangman's chest - and despite the restraining hands of his teammates, the cacophony of voices around him, and Mav's incessant demands to calm down - those damnable green eyes held his all the while, burning straight to the core of Bradley's being. 

The memory still burns two years later, and while Bradley's put his past with Mav to rest, he's never been able to heal the wound that Jake Seresin rubs raw. On reflex, Bradley's jaw tightens and his gaze narrows. He's learned to swallow the urge to punch a few of Hangman's too-white teeth from his too-perfect mouth, but the fire that blazes in his eyes should be enough of a warning for Hangman to stand down. 

Unfortunately, those sharp green eyes study his face in relentless pursuit, searching for a crack, for any opening to press his advantage. But then the calculating assessment abruptly ends, and an obnoxious smirk brightens Hangman’s face instead. “So," he says with a jovial tone. "How is that dangerous behavior prediction model coming along, hmm? Figured out yet how to tell if an EF2 tornado will behave more like an EF1 or EF3?” He turns his head to stare at the computer, and Bradly can’t move fast enough to minimize the software screen.

Red and green particles still swirl in their chaotic spirals, but there’s no sense to be made of it. Bradley tries not to think of it as failure – scientific discovery is often marked by what the answer isn’t versus what the answer is, and he’s just on his own journey… but it still stings when a man like Hangman studies his progress.

A man with cunning instincts that never fail when the heat of chase bears down. A man with the uncanny ability to outmaneuver the storm as quickly as it develops – to drive, to position, to take the shot without hesitation. In truth, Hangman’s photography is just as beautiful as he is. 

The torturous truth has gnawed at Bradley for years now. And in the lingering silence, he chews his bottom lip to distract from it as he stares at the computer model. It doesn't help that he can almost hear the red and green particles laughing at him, taunting him.

A hum pitches low in Hangman’s throat before he turns back towards Bradley. “Looks like you still have some work to do. Is that why you’re here so late on a Saturday? All work and no play, hmm?”

Bradley arches an unimpressed brow. “And is this the part where you say that you’re all play and offer to loosen me up?”

“Only if you insist.” Hangman darts a sly look from under his brow. “It’s all about consent, you know.”

"Then, I consent to you getting your ass off my desk.”

Hangman's shoulders move with a breathy, quiet chuckle before he leans in as if to impart a secret even though there’s no one else in the lab. Hints of his intoxicating, subtle, day-worn cologne reach Bradley’s nose. “Just don’t pretend that you don’t like watching it go.” Hangman says, winking with a devastating edge as he stands and walks back to his desk.

Bradley resolutely refuses to look, but he doesn’t miss the extra sashay in Hangman’s hips. 

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