#Exploit Kits

[woted2]

AsyncRAT: La amenaza silenciosa que susurra desde las sombras

En el vertiginoso mundo de las amenazas persistentes avanzadas (APT) y el ciberdelito, emerge una sombra sigilosa, un depredador digital que acecha en las profundidades de la red: AsyncRAT. No es un actor nuevo en la escena, pero su constante evolución y su presencia ubicua lo convierten en un tema de análisis ineludible para cualquier profesional de la seguridad informática que se precie. ¿Creen…

[superm4ks]

This the loudest bunch of nothing ive ever seen from a 44 ‘lifestyle capsule’ . Awful work

Usually these u can tell where designer & ambassador meet halfway and brother I don’t think they went pass ig explore pages 😑 Wearable ski luxury wid denim and tweed and neon backpacks wid ripped off foootwear elements covered in Dior branding . ((Lemme go IN on that for a sec))

I fw the maroon chunky type sneakers of this Dior capsule, clear nod to LV past beasts (ripiss) , but obvi between the buffalo vintage in glitter maroon ((right)) Im not getting no chunky blood money sneakers lmfao ‼️

Other footwear inc in this capsule literally just Nike air max tn plus wid some smudged shit in the sole so not sure what it’s doing being sold at DIOR????

((Left is Lewis’ capsule wid Kim jones, 2024, right is 25th anniversary of Nike air max plus)) 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Lewis spoke of sustainability as a main source of inspiration for this collab, and made a big push to source fabrics from Africa, no leather, wid Burkina Faso.

For the life of me 🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬 I cannot c Burkina Faso/african sustainability in these looks . Not sure wht this capsule hopes to represent for the next gens of artisans in Africa, if it’s not even fucking being sourced sustainably in the 1st place. But surely a LUXURY French ready-to-wear capsule streetwear ski collection wid fleece and tweed is already representing the best of African artisans and garments wid their $60 handbags made in china. (???????????????)

Or not

We move Lewis. We move

[african-international-magazine]

How Mica Mining Endangers Children and the Environment

By Jemimah Chungu

The allure of makeup and cosmetics has long been central to fashion, adding a shimmering touch that completes every trend. Yet behind the glitz lies a darker reality: the mining of mica, a key ingredient in many beauty products, electronics, and paints, has devastating consequences for children, communities, and the environment.

Mica, the mineral responsible for the dazzling effect in products like lipstick, nail polish, eyeshadow, and car paints, is a billion-dollar industry. It also plays a crucial role as an insulator in electronics and as a component in lasers and radars. However, its extraction has been plagued by illegal mining, child exploitation, and severe environmental degradation, particularly in countries like India and Madagascar.

Child Labor and Exploitation in Mica Mining

India and Madagascar, the world’s largest mica producers, are infamous for horrific labor practices tied to the mineral's extraction. High poverty rates force an estimated 22,000 children in India and 10,000 in Madagascar to work in mica mines. These children face grueling conditions, earning less than 10 cents a day. Mining mica requires crawling into narrow, unstable shafts that often collapse, trapping or killing workers.

Health risks are pervasive: prolonged exposure to mica dust leads to respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, while using bare hands to extract mica causes frequent cuts and infections. Beyond physical harm, children working in illegal mines are vulnerable to physical abuse, modern slavery, and, for young girls, sexual exploitation.

“Children are often forced to mine mica instead of attending school,” the U.S. Department of Labor noted in its Report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty, robbing these children of education and future opportunities. Despite India’s government declaring in 2007 that it would legalize mica mining to regulate the industry and eradicate child labor, reports and satellite imagery from 2022 reveal a rise in illegal mines, highlighting the persistence of exploitation.

Environmental Impact

The environmental consequences of mica mining are equally dire. Illegal mining operations often clear large tracts of forest, contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Processing mica into usable materials generates further environmental damage, with significant water, land, and air pollution.

The broader industrial use of mica, particularly in cosmetics, electronics, and paints, exacerbates environmental harm through chemical pollution and waste. From production to disposal, these products leave behind a trail of pollutants, contributing to climate change and global warming.

Efforts to Combat Child Labor and Environmental Harm

Efforts like the Child Labor Free Mica initiative aim to eradicate child labor in mica production by 2025. This initiative focuses on creating "child-friendly villages," empowering communities to protect children’s rights and provide alternative sources of income. These grassroots efforts align with the Indian government’s national goal to eliminate child labor by 2025.

However, the fight against illegal mica mining and its associated harms requires more than grassroots efforts. Strict environmental laws, enforcement of mining regulations, and harsh penalties for violators are critical. Legalizing mica mining under stringent oversight could help dismantle cartels like the "mica mafia," which thrive on exploitation.

A Call to Action

Mica is deeply ingrained in modern fashion, technology, and infrastructure, making its extraction unavoidable. However, the industry must prioritize ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability. Governments, corporations, and consumers must demand transparency in supply chains, enforce child labor laws, and support initiatives like Child Labor Free Mica.

By 2025, global action could transform mica mining, ensuring that what glitters truly shines without casting a shadow of exploitation and environmental destruction.

[jjbizconsult]

Don't Let Websites Steal Your Data!

[fromdove]

HOW I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA IS LIKE IN ㅤㅤㅤㅤ GOTHAM CITY

tiktoks where people are like “day 54 of trying to get batman to notice me by looking helpless and holding a brick outside of wayne tower.” and then like. a day later they upload another one like “guys it worked. i threw the brick at a window and he SWOOPED DOWN AND YELLED AT ME. i think we’re engaged now.”

BATMAN FAN ACCOUNTS. “batm4nslut6969: yall i saw him last night and his thighs were THIGHING. i can’t.” “i want him to run me over with the batmobile. respectfully.” “what does it say about ME that i’m in love with a man who beats people up in alleys.” “he punched my cousin and now my cousin’s life is on track. king.”

you’ll see a tiktok like “get ready with me to testify against the penguin 😘” and they’re curling their lashes like “trial’s at 10 i’m wearing valentino. hope the DA is hot.”

facebook moms in gotham be like “hi!! anyone else’s toddler develop shadow powers after playing near the narrows??? normal or???”

“guys u wont believe what just happened i was literally just tryna get a tuna sandwich and then scarecrow gassed the 6 train again 💀” followed by: “ok but like did anyone else get lowkey productive on fear toxin bc same”

and like imagine those "what's in my bag" videos but it’s like “what’s in my gotham emergency kit” and they pull out like mace, an inhaler, one (1) batarang they found in an alley, a granola bar, and a tiny bottle of holy water just in case it’s some demon this time.

every batman chase has like. three angles. one guy from his apartment, one guy hiding in a dumpster, and one guy who just happened to be doing a GRWM video when batman crashed through the laundromat window behind him like a medieval poltergeist in kevlar.

there’s also that one tiktoker who’s like. always posting “day in the life as a gothamite 🥰” and it’s literally her dodging debris from a police chase while trying to get a matcha. like she’s got wireless earbuds in while the riddler is detonating something in the background. caption: “when i said i wanted chaos i meant eyeliner not explosives 😭😭😭😭”

people be going live from literal crime scenes. like “hey besties so i’m outside ACE chemicals rn and idk what’s going on but i just saw a clown sprint past. anyone know what’s happening???” and everyone’s commenting like “GIRL GO HOME” and “go inside nowwwwww” and “live laugh leave gotham.”

you'd see youtube videos like “i lived in gotham for 2 days and here’s why i left” and it’s just footage of a man watching fire rain from the sky while eating a pretzel in pure silence.

twitter’s a HELLHOLE. people tweeting like “batman knocked over my hotdog stand again. this is the third time. i’m filing a restraining order” and “why does bruce wayne look like he hasn’t slept since 2003” and “if the joker had a podcast i’d listen. just being honest.”

ALSO fancams of villains??? OF COURSE. edits of scarecrow like “your mental health isn’t scary but he is 😍🔥” and joker fan edits with lana del rey playing over it like “he slayed literally. like a bunch of ppl.”

there’s discourse about EVERYTHING. “does batman exploit underage sidekicks??” vs “no they CHOSE to be there 🙄”

imagine gotham love confession tiktoks like “i met him in an alley while harley quinn was robbing a jewelry store” and the comments are like “literally gotham's version of a meet cute 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘”

theres podcasts like “the ethics of vigilante justice” and then they go off topic and start debating if bruce wayne and batman have ever been in the same room and one of the hosts is like “they have different jawlines 🙄”

the gentrification discourse?? YEAH. “just moved to crime alley!! rent was SO cheap!! the vibes are kind of ✨✨ except for the screaming at night. also someone left a human tooth in my mailbox. i think that means i’m accepted into the neighborhood??”

and of course. OF COURSE. the joker thirst edits. like i wish i was kidding. i wish. but someone posts “what if he kidnapped me actually. like what if i let him.” and it’s a picture of him looking crazy with 15 different filters and a caption that says “he’s literally me (i need therapy).”

and GOTHAM INFLUENCERS. OH MY GOD. the way they would be the WORST. “hey guys today i’m doing a billionaire morning routine <3” cue 6 am ice bath in the wayne building gym someone does a house tour and people in the comments are like “i think that’s *insert famous rich socialites name's* old penthouse????”

homeless ppl getting filmed for fake charity clout. omg. “today we’re giving a makeover to this unhoused gotham citizen 🥺”

gotham meme culture is top tier. like they’re actually so funny. because they have to be. it’s trauma response meets terminal irony meets "oh the joker blew up a costco again time to live tweet." they have memes like: “you vs the guy she told you not to worry about” - it’s a pic of bruce wayne (or some rich socialite) in a suit and then batman looking like roadkill in a cape or something like “just got mugged by harley quinn and she said i have bad taste in shoes. kinda valid tbh.” or “why is scarecrow hot now. like when did that happen.” “penguin looked at me sideways in the club. should i press charges or kiss him idk.”

some of them are rich rich. and also literally host giveaways with captions like: “win a week in my tower penthouse if you repost and comment ur favourite crime i’ve survived 💋”

the drama is UNREAL. like gotham reddit?? a cesspool. like there’s this one post every week like : “AMA: i dated bruce wayne for 3 weeks in 2018 and he ghosted me after i found a batarang under his couch.” and then batman side of reddit is like “this guy tried to sell me fake kryptonite at a gas station AMA” and the replies are like “was it the guy in the trenchcoat outside the CVS?? i knew he was shady.” oh and you know there’s a gotham reddit thread called r/gothamCitizenSupport and it’s just “does anyone know how to get joker gas out of your vents” “batman smashed my windshield again how do i file an insurance claim” “my roommate joined a cult and now she glows in the dark?? normal or should i move out?”

you know the “hot takes” girlies?? yeah they’re deranged. “ok but like… what does batman really do for the economy.” or “i’m just saying gotham has more billionaires than public libraries and i feel like that’s not a coincidence???” or “why is no one talking about the gentrification of *xyz place name* just because ivy turned a building into a forest resort spa”

the comments are always fighting for their lives like: “he saved my life leave him alone??” or “girl i got evicted because catwoman turned my apartment into a goth club shut up”

ALSOOOO there are entire sides of gotham tiktok like:

“batman sighting alerts”

“gotham thrift hauls (featuring actual riddler merch)”

“bruce wayne conspiracy theory corner”

“citizen thirst traps featuring blurry robins”

“updates from people who work at arkham: the podcast”

and every time a villain escapes it’s like “uhhh guys. just saw mr. freeze at the bodega. he said he wants vengeance.

"guys...my parents just told me we're moving to gotham because its cheaper...help me what should i expect?"

OH AND BATMAN WOULD HATE IT. and there are so many compilations like “BATMAN GETTING FED UP WITH CITIZENS PART 7” where it’s just clips of him looking pissed af. dramatically because someone asked for a selfie mid-chase or tried to ask him to do fit check in their video.

[gsm-skimmer-device-latest]

RIG EXPLOIT KIT V5

RIG Exploit KIT is the best way to spread your file by URL(HTML)

[needlxd]

@wildkaart replied to your post “« did you know symbiotes could have a specific...”:

Pavitr vc Kit you know I can literally get Indian streetfood for free as spider-man, right

« ...but i can pay for my own food? » signed with a bit of hesitance― she does think it's sweet, but she still feels a little bad about the idea of having him do anything of the sort.

[the-witch-of-wands]

I like buying fancy tools. Mainly hand carved/turned wands, and I freely admit I am a bit of a Wands Georg about them. (Wand collecting came before witchcraft for me.) So I can’t critique anyone for buying stuff.

That said, I do have a major gripe about “beginner witch essentials” lists, which is that they’re all incredibly the same.

One of two things will happen. Either you won’t stick with the witchcraft thing, which is completely fine. Or you’ll get a ways into it and realize much of that hoard of “beginner essentials” you bought is irrelevant to what you actually want your practice to be. The world of witchcraft would be a very boring place if those starter kits did work for everyone. What kind of craft are you trying to build—your own thing or more cookie cutter bullshit?

It’s so much more fun and more effective when you lean into doing your own thing. For me, that’s being a desert witch. When was the last time you saw a witch supply list recommend creosote trimmings, dried prickly pear fruit, mesquite pods, cactus spines, arroyo sand, palo verde blossoms…? It’s a lot harder to get creative if your craft begins within the boundaries of an Amazon box.

"I'm starting witchcraft, what do I need-"

I'm going to stop you right there, homie. You don't need anything. In fact, you'll probably regret getting everything now. You'll end up with so much you don't want.

Don't even get me started on those witchcraft "starter packs"

I began my practice with a single candle—just one. A white, three-wick Bath & Body Works candle I already owned. I learned the phases of the moon, traced sigils with quiet devotion, and stirred intention into my morning coffee. I printed my first tarot deck on plain paper.

Even now, I don’t have much. Another tarot deck, a handful of colored candles, but my magic still lives in my spice rack. I steep my water in the light of the moon and sun, letting nature do the work.

A cauldron is wonderful, but so is a simple pot. A tiny, ornate bottle of sage is lovely, but so is the sage tucked in your kitchen cabinet.

You already have everything you need for the craft. Even if all you have is yourself.

[divana-aa]

Hoodoo Ain’t for Everybody — And That’s Okay

As someone who walks the path of Hoodoo—not because I found it online, but because it lives in my blood, my bones, my people—I feel it’s time to speak plainly.

Lately, I’ve been feeling a shift. I’m not the only one. More and more folks in the Hoodoo community, especially Black folks who’ve inherited this work through our families or come to it through ancestral callings, are speaking up about something that’s been sitting heavy on our hearts: Hoodoo is being treated like it’s open to everybody. And that’s a problem.

Let me be real clear: Hoodoo is Black American folk magic. It was born out of slavery, survival, resistance, and deep spiritual knowledge carried from Africa and blended with what our ancestors could find and use in a world built to crush them. It’s not a trend. It’s not “just magic.” It’s not interchangeable with witchcraft or Wicca or whatever new aesthetic is popular this week.

This is our tradition. It was built in the shadows of plantations and backwoods kitchens. It was whispered between grandmothers and aunties, handed down in prayers, in oils, in roots, in the way we survived when nothing was left to hold onto but God and grit.

And now, it’s all over the internet.

Non-Black folks are selling jar spell kits labeled “Hoodoo.”

People with no connection to the culture or history are making content, writing books, and calling themselves rootworkers.

Things that used to be sacred are now trending hashtags.

It don’t sit right. It shouldn’t sit right.

The truth is, more of us are starting to say: we want Hoodoo to be a closed practice again.

Not because we’re trying to gatekeep out of spite—but because we are tired. We are tired of seeing the sacred used carelessly. We are tired of seeing folks profit off our culture while ignoring our history. And we are tired of having to constantly explain that you don’t get to choose to practice Hoodoo the way you choose a new hobby.

This work comes with ancestors. It comes with accountability. It comes with pain and power that can’t be separated from Blackness.

And yes, we’re protective. We have every right to be.

So here’s what I’m asking, if you’re reading this and you’re not part of the Black community but you’re drawn to Hoodoo:

Sit with why.

Is it because you want power without responsibility?

Is it because it looks cool on social media?

Or is it because you’re longing for connection—and maybe you need to find it in your own roots, your own ancestors, your own folk traditions?

Because Hoodoo ain’t for everybody. And that’s not hate—it’s protection.

We protect this work because it protects us.

Because our grandmamas didn’t fight to keep it alive just to see it turned into a gimmick.

Because our spirits, our roots, our ancestors deserve better than exploitation.

If you care about Hoodoo, respect it enough to leave it to the people it belongs to.

If you’re a practitioner, speak up. Set boundaries. Keep the sacred sacred.

We don’t need permission to reclaim what’s ours. And we don’t owe anyone access to our medicine.

[feastofdesires]

Being Secure In Your Relationship Is

the ability to help your girlfriend shop birthday presents for her “brother”. Except gege has held a torch for your girlfriend since they’ve been children. You tolerate the glares from him because it’s nothing in the face of years spent searching for her and existing in her absence.

He was happy to help you shop because it’s one of the rare times you actually want to use him and his wealth, so when you throw your phone across the couch in frustration and promptly throw yourself across his lap he can’t help but laugh. Gently rubbing his fingers into the back of your neck, he sets aside his book with a swirl of mist.

“Not finding anything, kitten?”

You lift yourself up to properly sit in his lap and toss your arms over his shoulders with an annoyed pout.

“He’s so hard to shop for! It used to be easy when we were younger, he didn’t have a complete model collection then. Now he has like, every notable model of a big metal thing that makes itself fly!”

You drop your head back to dramatically groan to lament. Of course Sylus took the opportunity to go for the kill.

The air filled with your shrill squeal and giggles as he bit and nibbled down the column of your throat. Your attempts to push him away were useless against his arms that pulled you tighter. It was only when Sylus made your neck peppered with red ghosts of his teeth that he leaned back with a devilish grin.

“You were saying?”

“Uh… Caleb has basically every model,” You started with a few deep breaths. Your cheeks were deeply flushed and your mind had to return from naughty places before you could continue. “Which sucks because it’s been a little tradition for his birthdays to get him one, then we’d put it together as a team. And this is his first birthday since…” you trail off, still having a multitude of complex feelings about his “death”.

Sylus was quiet for a time, thinking about your predicament. It left you time to play with his face in the way that you poked at his cheeks and squished them together until he tried to bite your hands.

“Not interested in terrestrial vehicles, then?”

“Just flying ones.”

—

Sylus is willing to do anything for you- including tracking down an ultra-rare, limited production model of a plane from the 20th century. Finding one still in its original packaging required him to travel 20 hours to a different country and haggle with an old man who didn’t want to let it go. He was glad the man was sensible when Sylus made it clear he wasn’t leaving without the kit. Violence is a tool to use with strategy. Sylus had already offered millions for the model, so a mere flash of his gun had the old codger taking the deal.

The old man had only made one other request- knowing why Sylus wanted it so bad.

“It’s a gift for someone important to me so she can gift it someone important to her.”

“Hah! You’re head over heels for your lady then? That makes it easier to let go of this then. I would’ve given my late wife the world if I could.”

Sylus glanced away for a second. He had, at first, wanted to exploit the man’s desires to reach his goal, but he only saw the deep longing for someone long dead.

“You gave her a lifetime of happiness.” Sylus eventually settled on while creating a little card with his mist. “I owe you a debt. If you ever need anything-“

“Bah!” The old man waved a hand. “Get going, young man. Your lady is waiting for you, yeah?”

—

When Sylus finally made it back, he detoured to Linkon and slipped inside your apartment. Setting the model on your coffee table had been his only task, but…

It’s deep in the night, and he can hear your soft breathing as you slept. He meant to leave immediately, but he just had to see you.

Moving in silence to your bedside, he found himself smiling, seeing you drool onto your pillow while clinging to Grumpy Crow. His hand started moving before he realized and only stopped inches from your face. You needed your rest.

He left your home, heart pounding in his chest after having whispered his affections to you. He worried about waking you up, but he couldn’t leave your side without saying how much he loved you.

—

Sylus was winding down for his own sleep when you FaceTimed him. He simply continued his routine as you spoke in a high, squeaky tone over the model on your table.

Brushing his teeth, he fondly watched as you were slipping on your hunter uniform, finally getting around to thanking him with glassy eyes.

“It was nothing, kitten. You better get moving, you have prey to hunt.”

He adored that fire that lit in your eyes as you nodded, heading towards your door.

“Right. I’ll text you later when I get off. Sleep well! Oh- and think about something you’d like from me in return for your hard work~ Okayloveyoubyyyeee!”

How was he supposed to sleep now when you laid that temptation at his feet before hanging up on him? You were such a sweet, evil trap.

[trans-mouse]

Okay, when Many-Faced Strangers came out I, like everyone else, immediately wanted to make a Thousand Blades Style character. But I didn't just... Have a pre-existing set of swords lying around that I could use, so I figured I needed to make my own! So I did! Five jade swords, one for each color, commissioned by the Empress for a lover, coming together to make something even greater than the sum of their parts.

The goal of these swords is to synergize well with the style, while feeling reasonably different from each other. I figured that, in the end, this is gonna be a pretty mote-hungry combat style, and I'm definitely right. So the air sword helps alleviate that by letting you gain extra motes in combat. The wood sword causes and exploits wounds by causing roses to grow within your foe's bloodstream, while the water sword drowns your enemy in onslaught penalties. The fire sword is all about relentless offense, while the earth sword makes you and your allies unbreakable.

Overall, the design is geared towards "these evocations and Thousand Blades Style make a full combat kit." You probably aren't picking up many native combat charms, after all, you're rocking fifteen dots worth of artifact weapons!

Rose-Amongst-Thorns (Green Jade Daiklave •••)- This green jade blade is inlaid with golden roses, the poetry on it extolling the hardships of surviving with one's lover, and the slow overcoming of heartbreak. It was grown from a single perfect flower by the Worm-Eaten Woman, infused with boundless natural essence. (takes advantage of wound penalties, lets you use a pinning gambit) Evocations of Rose-Amongst-Thorns - At the beginning of each round of combat, a wielder attuned to Rose-Amongst-Thorns can spend a willpower to reduce her wound penalty by 1 for that round. With all five daiklaves of the Panoply attuned, she may instead halve her wound penalty for the same duration by spending 3 motes.

Blossoming Wounds Cost: 3m Type: Supplemental Keywords: Decisive-Only, Stackable, Resonant Duration: Instant Prerequisites: None Thorns spread through her foe's blood, bringing pain to his heart. If the wielder's decisive attack deals 3+ damage, it increases the victim's wound penalty by 1 until the end of the scene. This penalty can stack up to (essence) times, but can only be applied once per attack. Resonant: A resonant wielder unlocks this charm upon first attuning to this artifact as long as she has a major or defining tie representing love or loyalty.

Vinegrasp Bloom Cost: 4m (+4i) Type: Simple Keywords: Decisive-only Duration: One scene Prerequisites: Blossoming Wounds The lover plants her blade in the ground, and vines spring forth, chaining her enemies. The wielder makes a special difficulty 4 gambit to entangle her enemies. An enemy within short range, as well as anyone in close range of them, becomes entangled on a success. Until he moves, he must make a disengage roll to move, as he disentangles himself from the grasping vines. While this evocation is active, the sword is planted in the ground, and cannot be used for any other actions. The wielder may reclaim the sword with a ready action weapon to end the effect early.

Nature Takes its Toll Cost: 5m, 1wp Type: Simple Keywords: Decisive-only, Resonant Duration: Instant Prerequisites: Vinegrasp Bloom, Essence 2 Vines press through the victim's blood, a pain comparable only to true heartbreak. A decisive attack made with this evocation poisons its target on a successful hit. This toxin deals 2i damage (lethal in crash), duration (essence+stamina) rounds, and causes thorns to grow from the victim's injuries, doubling their wound penalty for the duration of the poison. The poison does not otherwise impose a penalty. Resonant: A resonant wielder waives this charm's willpower cost.

Roses Paid in Blood Cost: 5m Type: Supplemental Keywords: Decisive-only Duration: Instant Prerequisites: Nature Takes its Toll, Essence 3 Roses bloom within the bloodstream, raining forth in a beautiful yet terrible display. A decisive attack enhanced by this charm deals additional dice of damage equal to the target's wound penalty. This charm can only be used once per scene.

Okay, this is only actually one of the swords, the Green Jade Rose-Amongst Thorns. If you want to see the rest, they're 100% free on my patreon, and I'd love if you take a look there. I'm happy to hear feedback or any questions anybody has about them! I am super happy with these swords and I just really wanted to share! I hope everybody else likes them as much as I do!

[ferritins]

SHOW ME (LITTLE BIT OF SPINE) | J. TODD

SUMMARY: You keep putting your back to Jason. He keeps wondering why. Eventually, things boil over.

NOTES: if you’re looking back at my ghost fic, reading this, and going “…hm. Marley I am putting some things together about you” no you are not! [lying]

title from Fall Out Boy’s Dance Dance because I am a cringe elder GenZ and former scene kid 🙂‍↕️🤘🏽

WARNINGS: canon-typical violence, resolved romantic tension, UST.

Despite the hissing, seething rage sitting green and molten under Jason’s skin, you are completely unafraid of him.

It’s not that awareness of his capacity for violence escapes you, exactly; rather, it is the fact he reins it in so tightly and meters it out so meticulously that sets you at ease.

The Jason who rends flesh from bone and tears viscerae from by bodies with nothing but a K-Bar and the impetus to obliterate is the one who haunts the abuser, the exploiter, the predator.

The Jason who haunts your kitchen is the same boy you grew up with, who is in turn both stroppy and sensitive, cuts your expensive sharp cheddar at stupid angles and takes a spoon of jam in his black tea.

He has only ever been physical in protection of you, and never, ever to you.

You have been scared for him, but never of him; put simply, Jason is the safest pair of hands you know, the keenest pair of eyes to have watching your back.

Which is why you’re completely bemuses by Jason being so entirely thrown by your willingness to put your back to him, to make yourself vulnerable.

It first comes up one evening in late January, when you’re making saag paneer to chase off the creeping chill; Jason is at your side (back-seat cooking, as is his habit).

After five minutes of his nitpicking, you roll your eyes, holding a sauce-coated spoon out.

“Less bitching, more taste-testing.” You sing-song, tone deliberately cloying.

Jason scowls, but takes the spoon.

“Definitely more cumin, maybe a little more garam masala and like… half a tablespoon more tomato purée.” He says a moment later, around his mouthful of sauce.

“Ooh, precision! Steady on, Marco Pierre-White.” You tease, turning to your spice rack.

When you turn back, there’s a look of poleaxed disbelief on Jason’s face.

You raise an eyebrow, questioning; Jason mutters something under his breath, shakes his head.

The oddity of the moment is quite forgotten five minutes later, when Jason starts being unbearable about the way you’re stirring the curry.

And then, it keeps happening.

You notice it a month later in the supermarket, when you spin on your heel mid-conversation to take advantage of the half-price Guylian chocolates; again, when you sprint to the kitchen as Jason, ah, redecorates your living room carpet whilst you hunt through your cupboard for your first aid kit.

Once you start noticing it, you can’t stop noticing it. Jason, hyper-observant as he is, picks up on your observations, though he can’t seem to place what exactly it is you’re observing.

A strange sort of tension starts to brew between the two of you.

The simmer starts slow, only really beginning to bubble in the subtext of your relationship as winter slips into spring.

By the time spring slips into summer, every interaction is underwritten with it; you feel like you’re sat atop a powder keg, waiting for it to blow.

The inevitable argument comes on a sweltering July evening.

You’re working late, the window to your tenth floor apartment open to try and combat the humidity rising from tarmac streets and concrete high-rises as you peck disinterestedly at your laptop’s keyboard.

You don’t even notice Jason until you catch a glint of red chrome in your laptop screen.

Your heart leaps into your throat for a moment; your momentary fear allayed when you turn your chair just enough to see Jason stood behind you, hair mussed from his helmet.

“Hi, Jay!” You chirp. “Pozole is still on the stove, if you’re hungry. Help yourself.”

With that, you spin your chair back around and return to the task at hand, trying to get your quarterly report finished.

Jason remains standing at your shoulder. You can the space between your shoulders itch under his stare. After ten minutes, the trapped-rabbit feeling of being watched gets too distracting.

You spin your office chair around to face Jason fully.

“Is…something wrong?” You venture.

“You’re not scared of me.” Jason states, voice low and intent.

“…I’m scared that you might be dripping hepatitis onto my carpet, because this sounds a lot like the kind of thing you say when you’re busy losing the better part of your circulating blood volume.” You squint. “Do I need to get the first aid kit?”

“No.” Jason says.

“Okay…”

Your wheedling tone earns you nothing. Slowly, you spin your seat back to face your computer.

From behind you, Japan makes a frustrated noise. Rolling your eyes, you shoot him a look over your shoulder.

“Not a mind reader, Jay.”

“You keep putting your back to me.” Jason snaps. “You shouldn’t. It’s stupid.”

You turn your seat again, regarding him with a look of pure disbelief.

“You’re an adult man with access to all my streaming subscriptions. You can find entertainment—“

“It’s like you don’t have any survival skills whatsoever!” Jason snaps. “I’ve literally killed people!”

Thoroughly confused and very much fed up with Jason’s irascible distemper, you huff.

“Yes, Jason, you’re very scary.” You say with a patient tone that tips right into condescension, spinning back round to your computer. “I have a quarterly report due on Tuesday, so if we could hold off on the homicidal affirmations for a bit, that would be great.”

Your seat whirls with enough velocity that you feel a touch dizzy; Jason is stood close enough to you that your knees brush, the unexpected proximity making you start backward momentarily and bang your rolling chair back into your desk.

“Why aren’t you afraid? Why are you so insistent on trusting me when you know what I’m capable of?”

“Because you’re not dangerous to me, moron!” You shout. “Because we grew up together! Because I’ve seen you cry, and made you laugh! Because we fight about how you cut my stupid cheese! Because I love you, damn it!”

The words seem to ricochet around your living room, bouncing off walls and amplifying in gravity.

Jason looks punched out, caught somewhere between agony and euphoria.

“What?” His voice is a whisper, a low, desperate thing.

The wounded devotion in his eyes is too much to take; you bury your face in your hands, the repetition of “I love you.” half lost in your palms.

Large, warm hands wrap around your wrists, pull your hands away from your face with a gentleness like you’re made of fine bone china.

You catch a brief glimpse of Jason’s eyes, the faintest rim of seafoam iris around the black saucer of pupil, and then he’s kissing you.

The press of his lips against yours is an epiphany; the revelation of something divine.

“Love you.” You sigh in the space between close-lipped kisses.

The repetition of your confession flicks a switch in Jason; he half-snarls, one hand coming up to cradle the back of your head, keeping you pressed against his lips.

The next kiss trips out of sweetness and directly into hunger; Jason licks at the seam of your mouth until your lips open on a gasp. The kiss deepens; your senses are overwhelmed by the press of his tongue velvet-hot against yours, the way he catches your bottom lip between his incisors.

His free hand skates up your shirt, smoothing over your ribcage; his fingers dimple the soft give of your side over your fifth rib, skirting the edge of impropriety.

You but collapse against him in response, fingers curling creases into his shirt.

Time passes like treacle through a sieve; by the time that you and Jason part, your lips are spit-slick and bruised puffy, and your computer screen has long since powered off.

“Be mine.” He pants against your neck. “I can’t do casual, not with you. Honey, I need you to say you’ll be mine.”

“I’ve been yours for years, Jay.” You reply, shuddering at the press of his lips to the thin skin over your carotid. “I’ve always been yours.”

“Gonna ruin you for anyone else, sweetheart.” He vows into your skin. “No getting rid of me now.”

[warrioreowynofrohan]

The earliest structures on [Iceland, settled from Scandanavia in the early middle ages] were built of local timber, but thereafter it had to be imported. Some of the wealthiest settlers even brought their homes with them, as portable ‘kit’ structures that could be disassembled into their component parts in only two or three days by a team of workers. In prefabricated form, they were transportated to Iceland from Norway, and later also onwards to Greenland. This partly explains why the basic size of the structures is broadly consistent across the North Atlantic colonies.

Ikea. You’re telling me that Scandanavia had Ikea houses A MILLENNIUM AGO.

Now that’s a business with deep cultural roots. 😂

Another really interesting bit:

It is important to understand that the dramatic and barren landscape that attracts tourists [to Iceland] today was not at all what the Vikings found: it was what they created. When the Norse arrived, Iceland was heavily forested, but the trees were quickly cut for building materials – an entire society needing to construct places to live and work – while the scrub cover was exhausted for use as fuel. Within a generation of the first landfall, the nature of the place had changed irrevocably…with the trees gone, driftwood became a vital resource.

Dang. There are theories that the Mayan empire collapsed due to ecological exploitation, but today their cities are covered in jungle and look like hills. Iceland was transformed in a few generations and a thousand years later it’s still like that. (Granted, much easier to do that to an island, and in the Arctic circle.) Why don’t we talk more about Iceland, where we know what happened, instead of Easter Island, where we only have theories?

And on another note, Icelanders are probably the most ecologically-conscious society in Europe these days. Could this have a relationship to why? They know from their history how much it matters.

(From Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price)

[cosmerelists]

Cosmere Secret Santa

I did this last Christmas as well, but this one will be different, as I'm once again using a randomizer to choose characters. For the record, I didn't fix the results except to omit anyone who appeared in last year's list and to nix any repeats in this one. Let's see what gifts they choose!

Thanks to @imtheseventh for requesting that I do this again! :)

1. Marsh gives Spook...a book

Spook: Oh, thank you, but I think Kelsier already got me this book? Marsh: Look more closely. Spook: [holds up two books side by side] Spook: See? Kelsier got me Hemalurgy for Dummies and you got me...oh. Hemalurgy Not For Dummies. Marsh: [taps eye spike knowingly]

2. Spook gives Fort...a coupon

Fort: "Fifty percent off women's slippers"? Spook: I heard you like deals--that was the best one I found! Fort: [pats him on the shoulder] Every bargain hunter has to start somewhere...

3. Fort gives Allrianne...a bracelet

Allrianne: Wow! It's actually pretty nice--thank you! Fort: You're so welcome! Fort: After a lot of hard work, I got it basically for free! Allrianne: You...didn't spend any money on it? Fort: Practically none! You're welcome! Allrianne: ... Fort: What?

4. Allrianne gives Raboniel...a pink dressing gown

Allrianne: What I see when I look at you is a woman who needs to relax and feel beautiful. Raboniel: [carefully examining the robe] Raboniel: No safehand sleeve, I see. Raboniel: Are you trying to seduce me? Allriane: EXCUSE me?! Raboniel: Listen, I get that from human woman more than you'd think..

5. Raboniel gives Elegy...a book of Sudoku puzzles

Elegy: ...I don't understand. Raboniel: I can see that you're trying to fight off the insanity that threatens to consume you. Raboniel: I know...something about that. Raboniel: It is helpful to keep the mind focused, occupied. Elegy: ...with number puzzles? Raboniel: Well, it's either that or going into weapon manufacturing, but Navani gave me a dirty look when I tried to buy you a bomb kit.

6. Elegy gives Marasi...a book

Elegy: My people do not have much, but I collected a book of our native stories for you. Elegy: Since your people seem to want to know about us so badly. Marasi: ...I don't know what that last part means, but thank you! Marasi: Aww, it's a book of stores for kids? How cute! Marasi: ... Marasi: Do they ALL end with children being consumed by ghosts? Elegy: Shades. And yes. Marasi: Thanks anyway? Elegy: What do you mean "anyway"?

7. Marasi gives Vin...a nice pen

Marasi: I-I mean, what do you give the woman who has everything?? Marasi: You did EVERYTHING in your life and set the bar so amazingly high with all of your powerful exploits! Marasi: S-Seriously I couldn't even FATHOM what do get the Ascendent Warrior for Christmas! Marasi: A-Anyway, since you have that nice pen anyway, I-I thought maybe you could sign something for me... Vin: ... Vin: What exactly happens in the future?

8. Vin gives Syl...the design for a mistcloak

Vin: You're sort of wind, right? Vin: Back home, the mists loved to play with the tassels on my mistcloak. I thought wind might be similar. Syl: [has already changed her form so that she appears to be wearing a mistcloak] Syl: Why do I feel so unbelievably cool?? Vin: It has that effect.

9. Syl gives Nale...coal

Nale: ...Are you telling me that I should build a nice fire and relax? Syl (arms crossed, glaring at Nale): I'm telling you that trying to KILL children means you get COAL Nale: The child in question gave me a hug when she confronted me. Syl: Yeah, well, I'm an Honorspren, not an Edgedancer.

10. Nale gives Denth...jail

Denth: ... Denth: It is literally Christmas. Nale: The law cares not for holidays.

11. Denth gives Charlie...a cat plushie

Charlie: [eying the cat plushie nervously] Charlie: Y-You're a bit of a bastard, huh? Denth: I don't know what you're talking about.

12. Charlie gives Marsh...a really nice bottle of rum

Marsh: This looks...expensive. Charlie: W-Well, you know. Charlie: When you draw the literal personification of death out of a hat for Secret Santa, you, uh...don't blow it off. Marsh: ... Marsh: I'm actually quite pleased.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Protect the Child: Digital Glitch

It was supposed to be a simple job. Get in, get a sample, get out, don't get caught. You didn't expect there to be a kid, locked up in a room like a mouse in a box. She says the corpos stole her away from her parents and stuck her full of needles. Now she's in your arms, hands over her ears while the alarm blares, and security drones are blocking your every exit. What do you do?

Digital Glitch is a new, cyberpunk setting for Protect the Child. It includes 7 pre-written characters, all members of a group of cyber-runners, criminals who go on high-stakes jobs to rob the mega-corporations called zaibatsus in order to keep themselves alive. Unfortunately, the lab they were attempting to rob also happened to hold a girl, whose genetic code has gave her super-senses and a hyper-sensitive nervous system after IrisLabs tried a new experimental procedure.

You need the rules for Protect the Child in order to be able to play this game, but right now, since PtC is in playtesting, the rules are free!! Currently downloading the game gives you access to a Google Sheets play-kit. There is also a pdf in the works to be released at a later date.

This play-set was designed for both the Kiwi Jam 2024, and the Dice Exploder Pregen Jam. It's list of inspirations include Hamixh Cameron's The Sprawl, Cory Doctorow's Unauthorized Bread, and ZebraMatt's 24XX Dire Pulse. It contains themes of Infertility, Exploitation, Police Violence, Capitalism, Disability, and Medical Horror.

Check it out today!

[milkywaydrinker]

I've been rotating this thought in my mind for a while: People in fandom have a very weird fixation on age gaps.

There's a tendency to instantly assume an age gap is always bad or problematic but it's not the case at all, especially in fiction and doubly so for a human/non-human ship.

The most recent example would be Kit and Jentry (from Jentry Chau vs The Underworld).

Let's start from the general topic: When is the age an issue?

Most rational people acknowledge age gaps are pretty common in real life. Between adults, an age gap isn't as much of a problem because we're dealing with people on the same stage of life, a 24yo shouldn't have any issues dating a 30yo just by the virtue of one party being older. They're both years into adulthood there's no moral or legal argument to make there.

A 30yo dating an 18yo raises eyebrows because we recognize the difference between their lives experiences, it's still not immoral or illegal but many would find it suspect due to a potential power imbalance compounding with financial dependence or adult life experience. It still doesn't necessarily mean the relationship is exploitative or abusive just because of the age gap but the probability of it is way higher.

The age gaps between minors can be similarly suspect just as in a case of a minor and a freshly minted adult. Things like that need to be carefully evaluated on a case by case basis.

Now, to the point: fictional characters dating non-human/long lived/immortal characters when is it problematic and when it doesn't matter at all?

The fictional narratives often play around with what age means for an immortal character, how they perceive the passage of time, how they grow and change with time, if at all?

In case of Kit, the narrative positions him in a similar spot to Michael who's a regular highschooler. He behaves in ways consistent with a teenager too, socially clumsy, not very developed emotionally and impulsive just like Jentry. The only mark of his age we can see is the compounded trauma he carries with him.

He has no social advantage over other characters, no financial advantage, no maturity advantage as his lived experience in society is so different and fragmented he cannot reliably pull from it to have an upper hand in any way.

That's why it personally drives me a bit crazy when people pull the age gap card as if it matters when it's the least relevant part of why he should never be together with Jentry. With so many other, serious red flags about him, throwing an absurd "pedophile" label diminishes the angles of possible character interpretation. It makes people miss out on all of the things that are actually wrong with him that should be talked about more and are leagues more interesting.