#Face Recognition Based Access Control

[angelbby555]

"Controlling each other's tinder dates!" Pt. 3

pt. 1 pt. 2

Summary: A year later, Bradley finally comes face to face with his favorite youtuber, and takes you out on a real date.

pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x female reader

word count: 3500 K

warning: allusions to smut.

Because of his pride Bradley never messaged you over Tinder after. He never gained the guts to shoot you an invite to get dinner. You didn't reach out either, and according to your videos, you loved him too.

Penny called him once. Bradley had violated multiple traffic laws that day. He drove the Bronco like his life depend on it. But the moment he got their you, were gone. Penny claimed to had offered you ever drink to man kind, but you got shy and left. Maverick with his yapping couldn't even keep you there.

Bradley mopped very hard the whole week after. He re-watched his favorite videos on your channel "Camilla Birthday blast <3" You looked very beautiful in your cocktail gown at your friends party. Stunning, breathtaking, out of his league. He had lost his dream girl that week.

Bradley was openly re-watching your videos at base, Jake had caught him. It was a huge reality check. Because somewhere in Bradley hazy mind, he had a chance with you. But the moment Jake said 'you were his favorite youtuber." The words had hit him like a freight train. You were his favorite youtuber, not his girl, just a big fan of you- that's all he was.

After that, Bradley did some reflecting in the rec room. It was becoming unhealthy. He knew your hobbies and interests, watched all your videos and began to re-watch them, and knew personal information about you. Bradley got a little scared when he realized, that he never could watch the video that included your ex boyfriend. He couldn't stomach it, his jealousy wouldn't let him.

He need to cut himself off. Never had, he ever been a big fan of something like this.

Then Bradley was hit with, deployment after deployment. First Florida for a month, then Wisconsin, and then Hawaii for a good chunk of the year. He didn't have much access to his phone during these missions. So in his mind Bradley was counting up the amount of weekly videos, he had stored up to watch when he got home.

Except Bradley became busy catching up with his friends when he got back home, he never got a chance to watch his 'favorite youtuber.' By the end of the year, Bradley had 64 unwatched videos. Which was a surprise since all of the videos under your channel were decorated with a red line under it.

The channel had grown. It wasn't a cute underground fan base anymore, it was crossing influencer territory. Bradley was happy for the recognition the trio got, yet a bit upset it that everyone could have an opinion on you.

The day, he had nothing else to do he decided to click on your newest video titled "Stress baking." Of course the first frame of the video was of you setting up the camera on the kitchen counter. You grown more beautiful, looked more radiant, and still had a smile that mad him melt.

"Hi guys!" You excited waved to the camera.

Bradley whimpered. Gosh he had missed when this channel was his life. Bradley just wanted to watch a minute of it, and somehow magically ended up watching a bit more. You talked about your cousin wedding. How you felt like you were still in the same place and everyone was growing up without you.

"Look how pretty!" You squealed showing the pink frosted cupcakes you made with your friends. They looked professional, like they were store bought. "These are the kind of cupcakes, I would make for Bradley when he comes home." You licked some frosting off your finger, and off screen it could be heard your friends laughter.

Instantly his heart was pounding against his rib cage. 9 months, and you still made jokes about him and you being together. Bradley had to pause the video because somewhere, in your mind there was a little folder that had his name on it.

"Gosh what are you doing to me pretty?" He rubbed his face over his hands. One special shout out and Bradley was becoming delusional again.

Not this time he told him self. Bradley couldn't keep playing these games anymore, it wasn't healthy. He clicked off the video. There was no chance he could casually like you, Bradley could only love you.

⊹☆~⟡⋆

"Do you guys remember, when Bradley called me the prettiest girl in the bar?" You playfully twirled your hair between your fingers. Camilla was filming on the camcorder, which was slowly becoming your favorite camera.

"Can you guys believe we filmed that video almost a year ago, and y/n is still hung up on the guy?" Josephine teased. It was truly hard to believe, because you never intend on liking a guy based on 5 minutes of meeting him.

"It's crazy because every time we come to this beach, the one by his bar- I get nervous." You let your tote bag fall on the sand, once you three picked a spot on the beach. "Every time I get this adrenaline like maybe he could be here."

Camilla passed the red cam corner to Josephine so she could set her beach towel up. But she reached for you instead pulling you into her embrace.

"Aw honey!" Camilla placed a hand behind your head. Out of your 2 friends, Camilla was the one to complain more about your silly Bradley comments. But right now, she felt empathy, that you actually still liked him.

"Yeah feel pity for me." You playfully nodded.

"How about we start making merch and plaster Bradley face all over it?" Josephine added. Never would you do that, but it was a funny thought.

"Specifically his shirtless beach pic." You replied making both your friends agree. "Now since I think of it, this might be where he took the picture."

⊹☆~⟡⋆

The day had been very relaxing. Tanning under the sun, going swimming with your friends, and eating watermelon Camilla had packed.

None of you had picked up the camera since you were at the beach. Enjoying the moment spent with each other, rather than recording for people to see. The channel had grown in subscribers over the year and, all of you started valuing your privacy a bit more. Nothing extreme, just kept a few things personal, topics amongst both your friends.

You held the camera up to yourself. In the reflection, you could tell you've tanned since your bikini line was visible.

"Alright party people, where going to Hard Deck because we're thirsty and-"

"We wanna see daddy Bradley!" Josephine joked as she folded her beach towel up. She had taken the words straight from your mouth. It was amusing that your friends were the biggest Bradley supporter and also the biggest Bradley haters, because you brought him up weekly.

All of you finished packing your things up and headed back to the car to put your things away. You were holding the camera this time around, recording your friends talking about how boring Marvel movies were.

"Dang, y/n passed her Bradley nerves down to me!" Camilla jumped up and down, shaking her hands. You tried not to give up your emotions too, because you felt the blood pumping through your veins.

"Shut up, were probably not even gonna see him!" You dismissed with a shake of your head.

⊹☆~⟡⋆

Bradley and Nat were both doubled over in laughter, seeing how stupid Hangman looked in Bob's wired framed glasses. He never realizes how much he misses his friends until he realizes how empty he feels without them.

Natasha made him do 4 shots and shot gun multiple cans of Bud light. Surely he would not be able to drive home tonight. Bradley had finally caught his breath, when he saw Penny approach the pool table. Never in his frequent visit to the bar, had he ever seen Penny's not behind the counter.

"Wow Pen, I've never seen your bottom half." Bradley snorted not realizing how tipsy he was. "It's just as good looking as you top half-"

"Bradshaw have you not heard me calling your name for the past minute!" It was the first time Penny's sweet voice was above an octave too high for him.

"No, what's up?" Bradley's expression turned serious. Penny hazel eyes glanced around at the rest of the daggers before landing back to him.

"That weird girl you went out with was here a couple of seconds ago." Penny's tone softened. "I was trying to get your attention a long time ago, wasn't sure if you were still into her."

Based on the way Bradley shot up instantly, he was clearly still into his Tinder date from a year ago.

"Thanks Pen." Bradley placed a hand on her shoulder before moving through people. The rest of his friends were also shocked by this information, but he didn't care. He refused to lose you this time. Bradley didn't even know what he was gonna say to you when he saw you, but all that matter was getting to see in real life again.

The cool night breeze planted light kisses on his hair when exited the stuffy bar. The air smelled like sea salt as his eyes searched around the parking lot. Bradley's brain was buzzing with information he knew. You drove a white Nissan convertible. The car was still in the parking lot, you had to be here some where.

It felt like a treasure hunt when Bradley was adding up the information up in his head. There was an excitement that took over his tipsy state. You were close. Maybe a minute or two passed.

That's when he saw you, and your two friends. Walking back to the parking lot with ice cream cups in hand while Camilla filmed both of you.

It felt like an honor to be in your presence. Like after the solid month he spent watching you videos, you felt more like a celebrity then a person. A rare gem he thought, he would never find. You hadn't notice him since he was standing by the Hard deck across the street.

There was 2 other girls talking to you guys. They were probably supporters too since the girls had stopped to take a picture. There was liquid courage flowing through his veins. The two girls went back to their car, and that's when Bradley wasn't thinking straight and thought it was the perfect time to strike for himself too.

His long slides got him there in no time. Now here he was standing next to you. You were wearing a pretty throw over dress, and your skin had looked dark from the time Bradley assumed you spent on the beach.

"Hey can I get a picture? I'm a huge fan." Bradley took his phone out of his pocket. You turned around to face him and you dropped your ice cream cup splattering chocolate and vanilla on the concrete.

"Bradley fucking Bradshaw! No way! " You covered your mouth. Bradley wanted to kiss you and hug you, but he stood there blushing not knowing what to do. Josephine and Camilla were surprised as well.

"I was wondering what happened to my tinder date when I came back from the bathroom." Bradley playfully laughed. Your hand was still clamped over your mouth, baffled to see him. Bradley felt like he should be the one freaking out standing next to a famous person.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry. I've acted like that, it was a-" You cut your own apology off, registering the words he said a moment ago. "...Wait, you've watched the video?"

He should have been ashamed that he wasn't at all apart of the usual demographic. But standing in front of you seeing you freak out, Bradley didn't feel to embarrassed to express his love.

"Yeah, one of my friends should it to me."

"I sure hope it wasn't Penny." Through your shocked and timid attitude, You could still crack jokes. It got a laugh out of both your friends and Bradley. "Yeah because, you know how I am. Might flip a table." You sheepishly stared at the ice cream that was splattered on the pavement. Bradley couldn't believe he had this much of an effect on you.

"No it's all good I thought it was funny once I saw the prank." That was that fattest lie he had told considering how upset he was after. "But I'm serious about that picture though." Initially it was his pick up line, but the more he thought about the idea of wrapping an arm around your shoulder for a photo, made him smile.

"Anything you want, I should be asking you for the photo." You cringed at your words. Camilla and Josephine weren't controlling what you did, so naturally for him you were a silly flirt.

Bradley handed his phone to Josephine. Both of your friends had been too stunned to speak. Camilla was hiding behind a camcorder and he smiled.

"I'm gonna be in the video again?" Bradley excited asked. Oh he was for sure gonna wait impatient for this upload. Bradley placed a polite hand on your lower back, instead of bring you close like he wanted. But to his surprise, you leaned in closer.

"If you want." You looked up at him with your beautiful eyes, that he had spent a month looking at through a screen. The height difference, made him wanna protect you from the rest of the world.

"I mean of course. It would be crazy to make my come back." Josephine handed his phone back to him. Bradley was confident that in these pictures neither one of you had glanced at the camera. "When I say I'm your biggest fan I mean that." Bradley confessed followed by a nervous laugh.

"I'm your biggest fan." You blurted out. He didn't know why he had been so nervous about this. You liked him, he loved you, it was that simple. Before he could shove his phone back into his pocket he glanced at you.

"Maybe you can give me your number and we can go out again. But this time around you don't prank me?" Bradley chuckled handing his phone over to you. You tried to get words out but you were speechless.

"Uh huh." You nodded instantly taking his phone and dialing your number in his phone. You passed the phone back to him and he smiled.

"Alright, it was an honor girls. This has been the highlight of my night." Bradley said confidently. "I'll call you, pretty girl. Night Josephine, night Camilla." Bradley was feeling like the man as he walked away.

Behind him he could hear all of you freak out. It was truly an honor.

"He knows my name!" Josephine screeched out like a fan girl.

"Bradley watches the videos?! Shut the fuck up." Camilla laughed too. He wanted to turned around to see all of your reaction but walked back to the bar. After a year, he finally got his do over.

⊹☆~⟡⋆

"Can I tell you something?" You nervously snapped your hair tie against your wrist. Bradley was sitting across the table from you. It was an out door restaurant, and the sky was slowly starting to turn orange and purple. "I'm a little nervous." You confessed making Bradley grin.

It should be illegal the amount of times you have re-watched your latest video with Bradley as a feature. He was so handsome and tall, and so... daddy.

From the prank video you filmed, it was dared of you to call him that. Now you would say that willingly. Because everything about his screamed daddy. His big hand on the smalls of your back, his Hawaiian shirt you can imagine wearing, and the way he said he was a fan of you. It almost felt weird not calling him daddy as he sat on the other end of the table.

You didn't know but Bradley was feeling antsy like you were. He couldn't be a wuss though so he kept the knuckle cracking under the table.

"Why's that?" Bradley rasped. The golden sunlight was hitting his face beautifully. It looked like he was dipped in sweet honey. His whiskey colored eyes, felt like they stared into your soul.

Your mouth felt bone dry. It's like you're back in college, and the professor had asked you a question you didn't know the answer to, and everyone was waiting for a response.

"I don't know." Your tone of voice sounded like a whine. Your face started to grow hot. A chuckle rumbled threw his chest, and you placed your forehead on the table in embarrassment.

"You don't know?" Bradley repeated with a fondness in his voice. You picked your head back off the table realizing your hot date was still waiting for a response. For him you would find an answer.

"It's just-" You felt face burn up staring at him. He was even more handsome then your last date. "I made a fool of myself before. I don't want to mess up again." You swallowed dryly, grabbing the glass of water on the table to calm yourself down.

Bradley tilted his head, examining your face. Only making you want to sink in your chair as you placed the glass back down.

"It wasn't you controlling the last tinder date was it?" Bradley reminded you with a reassuring smile. Words couldn't be found so you nodded your head. "Don't worry, it's all water under the bridge for me."

Bradley placed his elbow on the white table cloth almost knocking down all his utensils in the process. A small laugh escaped your lips, and automatically he was smiling shaking his head out of embarrassment.

"But, if you wanted to hop on the chair and tell everybody you love me, I wouldn't stop you." Bradley joked. He was ready to take the joke back but you laughed a little more. The timid walls were slowly coming down.

The waiter came back with both of your plates. You had gotten crab cakes with fried fish, while Bradley got lobster with a side of shrimp calamari.

Your stomach had been rumbling all day, and the food smelled delicious, but you kept staring at Bradley. Not believing he was real. After the year of horny jokes you made about him, here he was in all his glory.

Both of you thanked the waiter, and you both had caught each other's eyes. The corners of Bradley's lips were pulling up, you were mirroring him because you were smiling right back at him.

"I'll invite you to ice cream since you dropped yours last time." His sexy stare was no match for you so you had to look away at the sunset.

After the ice cream Bradley had promised you it was nothing but making out in his bronco. His lips alone had your panties completely soaked. It felt like you were on Ecstasy, you still couldn't believe this was happening.

Dinner was amazing, Bradley had the skill of making you comfortable and to keep you talking. His jokes made you laugh, and you both had shared your food with one another. Every thing about him was perfect, he was worth the year wait.

"Let's go to your place." You said against his mouth. For a second Bradley almost didn't notice you had said something since your kisses felt too sweet. It took him a few seconds to pull away.

"I live in the barracks." Bradley confessed his lips brushing against yours again. "I have a twin bed." Like him earlier, you had completely blacked out since his tongue was in your mouth. But once the words registered a moan slipped out your lips.

"My idiot friends will make fun of me if I bring you home." You rested your forehead against his, that didn't stop him from pecking your lips repeatedly.

"Ashamed of me?" Bradley was breathless when he finally pulled away to look at you.

"Never." You smiled crashing your lips back onto his.

⊹☆~⟡⋆

Of course, both your idiot friends had to be on the couch when Bradley was kissing down your neck when you unlocked the front door. Bradley wasn't even present to the stares since his main focus was to leave a visible love bite on your neck.

Josephine and Camilla stared at you from the couch while you stood still like a deer in headlights while Bradley was stuck on your neck.

You almost threw your head back in front of them. For a second you even thought Bradley was gonna start taking your clothes off when you felt his hand creep up into your blouse.

"If it ain't Bradley himself?" Josephine announced causing Bradley to remove his warm mouth of your neck. For a second you felt ashamed, but then you realized you had a hot guy standing behind you so suddenly it was more of a boost to your ego.

"Hi ladies." Bradley smiled leaning down into your shoulder. He guided you to the closest door he saw. But the girls start laughing.

"It's the other hall buddy." Camilla pointed to the other side of the apartment. Bradley manhandled you and with his arms turned you back around.

"Thank you." Bradley playfully bit your shoulder. Gosh you couldn't believe this was real. Bradley bulge was brushing up against you butt, as you walked. "Goodnight." Bradley said to your friends.

"I'll see them in the morning." Bradley said into your ear causing you to smile, when you opened your bedroom door.

Finally.

The end! thank you to the 2 people that read this lol! might write a few one shots for these two at some point.

[vampirsava]

The Devil You Know, The Name You Don’t

So, I’ve been reading all the theories here on Tumblr these past few days since the new Black Butler chapter dropped. And while many things are up for debate, what’s been bugging me the most isn’t actually Sebastian forgetting Modri.

As someone familiar with the Ars Goetia and general occult lore—and considering just how much Goetic symbolism is present in Black Butler—there are a few things that keep bothering me.

One impression I can’t shake is that Undertaker might actually be trying to save O!Ciel from Sebastian. According to various sources (like Carl Nagel, John Dee, and Crowley), one of the easiest ways to control a demon is to know their true name—along with using sigils, enns, protective wards, and binding circles.

So here’s the thing: wouldn’t it have been easier for Undertaker to just nudge O!Ciel in the direction of ordering Sebastian to reveal his true name? That would, theoretically, grant him full control. And yet, O!Ciel remains weirdly passive on the matter.

Occult knowledge was not unheard of during the Victorian era, especially among the nobility and those with access to private libraries or foreign texts. Even if Crowley himself wasn’t active yet at that time, early occultists like Eliphas Levi and the general rise of spiritualism and esotericism in the 19th century were already creating a foundation. So it’s plausible that Ciel could’ve had access to books or ideas hinting at how demons actually work.

But instead, O!Ciel outright denies the supernatural—just look at his dismissive attitude toward witches in the Emerald Witch Arc.

Of course, one could argue this is simply narrative design—but it still feels strange. Especially since Sebastian actively avoids the topic of his true name, instead choosing to be named after a dog. That’s… telling.

Now, about Modri.

His priest-like appearance is intriguing—many priests, especially those from older scholarly traditions, received formal education in demonology. If Modri really did know Sebastian, there’s a chance he recognized him not by face, but by presence. That kind of intuitive recognition is often mentioned in texts describing interactions with the infernal.

It’s possible Undertaker used Modri—or someone like him—as a vessel to uncover Sebastian’s real identity. A well-trained magician wouldn’t need a contract to perceive who—or what—they’re dealing with. But Modri’s apparent arrogance and short temper may have gotten in the way. And as we know, pride and haste are two things demons love to exploit.

At the end of the day, this is all just an observation based on what I know. I could be completely wrong—and Yana could decide to take the story in a completely different direction. But still, it’s fun to let the symbols speak and the theories flow.

[c-u-c-koo-4-40k]

What do I Know About You? - Part 2

Its finally Heeeeeere! This was another Awesome collaboration with @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan who not only lent characters but also cowrote thic massive chunk of words back and forth with me! Also this one is Long so bring a Lunch!

Summary: Lullaby and Khopesh Finally get to have their first date, and things don't go quite as planned. Was there even a plan? No aside from a deeply uncomfortable talk about trauma and expectations. Meanwhile the others back at base scramble to understand the strange Zap and the odd recognition Anrir felt upon seeing Lullaby. Many things stand in their way; fear, uncertainty and worst of all...Paperwork!

Tags: @kit-williams (who let me use Anrir and Ghosk though his presenceis only implied!) @sleepyfan-blog @bleedingichorhearts @passionofthesith @egrets-not-regrets @bispecsual

Warnings: Negative self talk, fear and prejudice speak towards Nightlords and psychers, talk of stress induced self harm (scratching and skin picking), and public PDA

First Fic/Prequel to this series click Here:

Directly previous fic can be found here:

Next one: Coming hopefully soon.

Enjoy!

“Uh- Anrir something… Strange happened,” Claude shuffles over to where Anrir is and explains. “... I wasn’t accessing my powers, I - I wouldn’t hurt someone accidentally, or on purpose, without just cause. I just shook Lullaby’s hand- I… I…I don’t know what that was about.”

He looks down at his hands, unable to look Anrir in the face. Cursed. Having warp powers means one is cursed. Who in the name of the God Emperor ever desired such things is an imbecile. Warp powers are a curse, to the person who has them and those around them.

Anrir's face remained calm- but his eyes were a storm of emotion at hearing the confused, stuttered explanation from Claude. His initial emotion is panic, as Anrir recalls that Claude is unbonded and that means he could take actions against Humans easily. Then he remembers how soft his son could be- and watches how worried and upset the youngster is. Claude hadn't wanted to hurt the human, or intended to do so.

Anrir starts to comfort Claude- he doesn’t fully understand psykers, or their abilities, but he does know that Claude ever strives to control his abilities and really doesn’t like it when that control slips. Especially if he accidentally hurts others as a consequence, because the training that he and the other boys received on Mars hadn’t … well. It had certainly been effective in some ways, and also had a lot of unintended side effects too. Those mechanical bastards.

Claude is really grateful that Anrir is here, trying to calm him down, Karlsor had not been great at that- mostly swearing at him and scolding him, as well as asking demanding questions, that he really didn’t have answers for, and accusing him of doing a Zap on purpose, which he hadn’t done so. 

“Walk me through what happened, step by step,” Anrir asks as he gently pats one of Claude’s shoulders soothingly.

Claude nods and verbally goes over the entire interaction, as well as what he’d been thinking, feeling, and other sensory outputs as well. He looks at one of his slightly shaking hands and once he’s gone through the whole interaction again, he’s a lot calmer, a slightly thoughtful look crosses his face.

“When I was younger… and back on Mars,” Claude says slowly, now that he’s thinking and not panicking, “The times where I would accidentally zap others like that- was if… was if I wasn’t aware they were fellow Psykers and my powers would just kinda… poke at theirs? But- I didn’t think Ancient Terra had native psykers so soon?”

Anrir hums softly and thinks, "They might not be awake. Their powers could be there but they might not be fully active... the Sorcerers have theorized that why the Warp is so weak might be linked to the Eye of Terror... since it's not here in the current time." His fingers soothingly move through Claude's hair. "Which means that only extraordinarily strong psykers can manifest much of anything during this current time which is probably why it's hard for you and you probably can only do it because of your training. Again those are just theories."

“Oh,” Claude says quietly, “... So they have the potential for it then. Like… like ice that has flowing water underneath it?”

“Interesting euphemism,” Anrir muses, “I’ll have to check with some of the Sorcerers, but I think that’s an accurate description.”

Jophiel and Cedric are moving with purpose- but not trying to be super fast as they get to Claude’s side. The Blood Angel is trying not to fluff his wings aggressively at Karlsor or Anrir.  Jophiel gently grabs one of Claude’s arms- the one with the hand that had touched Lullaby.

“Claude- there you are!” Jophiel trills at his brother-cousin, sounding as normal as possible.

Jophiel can be rather tactile- it’s something that Claude knows well. But the way that Jophiel is squeezing his arm, something bugging his younger brother-cousin. Claude’s gaze snaps to Jophiel’s as his gaze sweeps over his younger brother-cousin and notices that Jophiel is Spooked by something. “Did you need something Jophie?”

“... Yes, Ced and I want to talk to Claude. Privately and alone.” Jophiel says cheerfully. His eyes slide over to the First Born and Terran Born Space Marines, lightly trying to tug Claude away from them.

His smile is a tad too toothsome to be polite, and the red is bleeding into his eyes more. Usually Jophie doesn’t get too aggressive so quickly. Just what could be bothering him. “Uh- sure Jophie.”

Before Claude could move towards his brother, Karlsor speaks up with his own growl. One of his hands twitching a little- he usually wasn’t bothered by the feathery little shit head- but the little bastard is hiding something. Karlsor can tell.  

“You can fuckin’ talk with us nearby,” Karlsor points out, with a not quite snarl- noticing the twitchy way that Jophiel was moving. Also teeth. That’s a lot of shiny sharp chompers the brat has. “And it ain’t nice to threaten others, we wanna help.”

Jophiel narrows his eyes a little at Karlsor, “... I want to talk to Claude first.”

Claude had told the other Primaris Marines about that one First Born Raven Guard Captain and his flock of brothers- the ones from M42 who had known what the Captain was doing to him, but looked the other way. 

As well as how Karlsor, Anrir and the rest of the Claw reacted, and how they’d gotten him Justice for the shit-show that had been M42. It has helped his brothers start to trust at least some specific First Born Brothers a bit more. Still- old habits, and Jophiel wants to check over Claude to ensure that he’s not… got spores on him.

"I must Insist your inquiry involve us." Anrir drawls, bringing himself to stand near both Claude and the still clearly upset blood angel. 

The younger blood angel's patience was clearly running thin. "With all due respect Apothecary Anrir, this has nothing to do with you. I would very much like to speak to my Brother regarding His Health..."

The air shifted, and Jophiel suddenly found his frustration turning to fear and a realization along the lines of 'Oh Shit those were the Wrong words to use.' Cedric twitches a little, if things weren’t so serious he would have face palmed or jabbed Jophi in the ribs, the last sentence one should say around an older apothecary is ‘concerns about health’. 

The aura now radiating from the Terran Nightlord was full of pressure. He spoke with firm words that would seem unbothered lest you could sense the venom lurking just beneath them. 

"With All Due Respect...I consider Claude my Son, so If you know something is affecting His Health, Which would Also be My Business as I am an Apothecary, I must Insist," Anrir hissed causing Jophiel to shrink back further. "You inform me This Instant."

Jophiel glanced at Cedric who seemed equally unsure what to do. Then to Claude, who glanced at Anrir.

When Claude turned back to Jophiel, he nodded. "Anrir helped me before, he might know how to help now."

Jophiel deflated a bit, but...if Claude was okay with it, Fine. The Blood Angel squared his shoulders to attention. "Very well but...not here…" Jophiel bargained. "We need somewhere more private, and...I want to look over Claude with my psykery first...or at least while I explain what I've seen."

The glower Anrir had mustered up lessens, "That is reasonable, we can convene and converse in my Medbay office. Let us not delay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cool of evening was beginning to settle in, though it was still fairly bright outside, as you and your 'date' walked the short distance to the Fire Drake Noodle House. 

You're fortunate when Anrir said it was close he meant by human standards, not Astarte ones. Only about five minutes with a single street crossing. 

"So...you've been to this place before?" You ask Khopesh. Who responded with a pleasant hum. 

"No but I have had takeout from there before. The Scallion Pancakes weren't what I expected but they were delicious." He explains as the two of you wait at the crosswalk. 

"Oh yeah I've tried those at other places! Wait...what do you mean they weren't what you were expecting?"

"Ah well…" Khopesh scratches his head kinda awkwardly. "It was just after I got bonded to Vada and Muti. I was still learning to speak and read the local language. I recognized Pancakes but not Scallions. So…I thought I was getting the sweet kind."

"Pfft!" You chuckled. "Yep, that sounds about right. But hey you still enjoyed them so that's good."

"Yes! My brothers got upset, but In my defense they were Very Good."

Ding! The little crosswalk man popped up and you two abided. 

"Wait, why did your brothers get upset?" You asked.

"Because they were technically a group appetizer and I stole and ate all of them, As well as the entree that had been purchased for me." Khoepsh replied cheekily.

"You did not!" You challenged with laughing disbelief. 

"Oh but I Did!" Khopesh declared. "And though I had to scrub the barrack floors for a Week straight, I regret Nothing!"

"Well, as long as you don't go stealing food off mine or other people's plates we'll be golden." You assure him. "Slight tangent but if you like scallion pancakes there's something else called Egg Foo Young. It's like a mix between an omelet and a pancake with meat and veggies and a gravy like sauce its Super Good-"

"Shit it's a Night Lord." You hear one of the other people hiss. "Uh let's just go the other way around…" The other person says nervously, tugging at their friend’s elbow.

You were broken from your explanation by two hushed but insistent voices. Turning around you saw two people walking quickly back the way you and Khopesh had just come, they must have exited the alley you just passed. 

"What was that about?" But before you could get even a rhetorical answer a different couple had exited a shop a little ways ahead. 

They took one glance towards the two of you before quickly diverting the path and jay walking across the street.

You stood for a moment after they'd walked off. The words came out almost without thinking. "Well...that was Rude."

Khopesh seemed surprised, "What do you mean?"

You gestured after the people that had left. "Them! They don't even know you and they just…" 

Khopesh smiled incredulously. "Lullaby are you...offended?"

You were taken aback by his nonchalance …"Aren't you?" 

He deserved so much better than to be treated like that. A thought comes to your mind that hisses out viciously, ‘He deserved so much better than you.’

"Lullaby," Khopesh cooed, now seeming touched. "I have been called Far Worse things in my time, mostly by Karlsor." He amended. "But yoooou." He brought his big pale hands up and...squished your cheeks! "You are so Cute! Getting mad on my behalf!" He chortled, rubbing and sqwoosing and lifting you Just slightly so your bodies were flush against each other. 

Okay...you actually didn't mind this...odd as it was. But you were in public. But before you could voice that you realized Khopesh was practically nose to Nose with you. "Makes me want to...Eat you up…" He growled with a sultry edge.

Staring into his dark eyes, your cheeks and face ignited, further contrasting your heated skin against his cool. 

You Really didn't mind this. But in the back of your mind you felt the alarm bells. Public, still in public and- 

"And never let you go..."

(!) There it was. Also you realized you were getting stretched a bit more on tip toe now. 

"Too much, down please." You state quickly. 

"Oh!" Khopesh seems taken aback but he releases you regardless. "My apologies, Lullaby, it seems I became too eager again." He chuckled bringing up a hand to gently rest on your cheek. "You're just so Cuuute."

You huff and can’t help but smile as you say teasingly, “You are right eager.”

‘Eager to keep you, or eager to break you,’ Your thoughts hiss at you again. You weren't certain. And that uncertainty starts to gnaw at you.

‘Talk, you Need to have A Talk.’ You think to yourself firmly. ‘And you will!! Just...dinner first. Get some food on his stomach so he's in a better mood.’ 

That horrible voice in your head hisses out at you, warningly, ‘Have you ever really Seen him in a bad mood. Do you want to find out what that looks like?’

"S'all right, learning curve and all that." You reassure him, and you continue walking. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright," Jophiel relaxed both his mind and body and let his warp sight dim. "I don't see anything strange on your soul Claude. You can stand up now."

He leans against the table, that was exhausting. And used far more power than it should have. But it was necessary to do so. He had to make sure that Claude was okay, and barring that, if he was not okay, that he could see what was wrong and fix it, or find someone who could.

"Ah thank you," Claude replied, hopping down from the medical table. Cedric hands him a hydration ration and a ration pack to help Jophiel replenish his energy a little bit.

Cedric, Karlsor and Anrir were gathered in the same room watching as Jophiel conducted his examination. Anrir was the first to speak. Karlsor has his arms crossed over his chest as he tries to figure out what sort of psy-exam the Blood Angel Scout-ling was doing. The younger Psyker was clearly looking for something.

"You've done your examination, now talk. Explain Why you thought something might be amiss with Claude." The Terran Night Lord commanded with no room for exception. "Spare no details, leave nothing out."

Jophiel turned and stood at attention. If he was to reveal this he would do so properly. "Yes sir, I was called by Cedric after the zap occurred. He believed as I do now that the exchange of energy was Not merely a static shock, but wanted me to surreptitiously examine the mortal to make sure."

"And?" Anrir prompted.

Now Jophiel became a bit more uncomfortable, but he pressed on. "The Human, Lullaby, has the spark of psykery. But it is...strange. It seems to originate from something that looks like a bond...but isn't."

"But Lullaby isn't bonded to Khopesh...are they bonded to someone else? And are you Certain they're a latent psyker?" Claude asks now Exceptionally curious, and the latter part of the question sounding a bit morbid. 

Claude's own powers had been Hellish to learn how to control, between the grueling training and the abuse he suffered... he didn't like the thought of a mere human having to go through even Half of that.

"Of that I have no doubt. It is the spark." Jophiel fidgeted a bit, thinking over his next words. "But...rather than manifesting as a plume of warp energy in their soul, or an aura around it...it appears to be originating from a...a mutated bond."

Anrir listened with rapt attention. "Mutated How?"

"It's...Wrong," Jophiel filled in. "From what I've always heard and seen...Bonds are supposed to resemble plants aren't they?"

Anrir nodded. "Yes, that is true. According to the librarians I have consulted, All bonds I have examined in my research have taken on the visuals of plant life. The strength and life span of the bond is displayed by the health of the vines, and usually the presence of flora. The type of which varies depending on the…relationship dynamics."

Anrir felt a slight annoying itch, like the thorns on his own bond were digging into him. He didn't like recalling their existence. His vines were Healthy and beautiful with blossoming roses that Bound his Draga to him Tightly. Just as he liked it, every rose has its thorns so it is Natural.

At least that's what Anrir tells himself. But back on topic. 

"Ahem, also, broken bonds take on a withered appearance until they desiccate back into nothing, or a new bond brings them back to life. So what makes you say this bond is mutated?" Anrir prompted. 

"Well for one, Lullaby isn't currently bonded to Anyone correct?" Jophiel reasoned, they were involved with a Nightlord with a separate platonic bond; if they had a bonded Astarte companion of their own, why would they be giving Khopesh that kind of attention? "They shouldn't even have one, that Alone makes it an outlier." Jophiel stated. "And even if it was a withering broken bond That would resemble dried out, dying foliage, That Thing," Jophiel shuddered. "Is Very Much Alive." 

"It...it was pulsing and glowing and spiraling out like a mycelium network! Some of its tendrils started moving over my Hand!" Jophiel rubbed the hand that had been touched like he wished he could scrub away the memory. "I could Feel it siphoning away my powers! It is Wrong and it is Dangerous!" Jophiel hissed, composure breaking and wings fluffing up. 

He rubs his hands against his legs, trying to get that prickling feeling that itched and scratched some of the skin off his shaken hand with the other one subconsciously as his claws extended and Cedric smacked his shoulder to keep him from making a mess of himself.

Cedric stepped in quickly. "Easy Jophie, it's okay. That Thing can't hurt you here." He said softly, giving his brother a calming presence to ground him. 

Jophiel leans into Cedric, closes his eyes for a moment, stopping himself from spiraling for a moment. Claude lightly puts a hand on his brother-cousin’s arm. Trying to help ground him as well.

Anrir watched the exchange but his mind was Racing. "Possibly the First recorded psyker of the Baseline human populace…" He mused.

Karlsor meanwhile Knew that look. Anrir was going to be in his own head for a bit Fucking Greaaat. Karlsor rubs his face- this is some really big fucking news. And they would need to keep a tight lid on this. This could spiral out of control very fast if it’s not handled properly.

"And an entirely new subset of warp bonds...incredible...fascinating…" Anrir muses out loud

"It is Not fascinating! It is Horrifying! And it carries the shadow of Decay!" Jophiel shot back with a hiss, his wings raised and flaring in his upset.. 

"Decay?" That seemed to wake Anrir up. 

"Yes! Decay! That was what tipped me off that it looked like a Mycelium. I couldn't remember the word for it until I focused on the feeling of decay and remembered seeing a diagram in one of Apothecary Hura's biology books!" Jophile huffed, though he was starting to calm down with both Claude and Cedric comforting him. He wraps his wings around both of his brothers, shielding and half hiding them from view of the two Night Lords as he calms down. The red in his eyes is starting to fade away.

Now Karlsor noted the look on Anrir's face was much more grim. "Penny for your fuckin thoughts?"

"I believe I need to speak to Apothecary Hura." Anrir stated, turning to leave his office. "The rest of you should finish whatever duties you have left, and retire for the evening. Claude,"

“Oh fuck.” Karlsor growls, “What did that fucker do now?”

"Yes Fa- Ah Anrir." Claude asked. 

Anrir smiled wryly at the near slip. "I will send you some currency, this day has been surprisingly taxing for you and your brothers." He said, turning back to the three Primaris, "Get something nice for yourselves from a restaurant of your choice. My treat."

Jophiel and Cedric seemed legitimately surprised by the offer, given the...slight disrespect from earlier. "Ah...thank you Sir."

"Thank you Apothecary Anrir." Jophiel says politely.

"And, for the sake of not causing any Uproar, let us keep this conversation Private." The cold pitiless dread came back into Anrir's voice for a brief moment. The Primaris understood the unspoken threat. 

"Yes Sir!" Jophiel says with a nod, nascent psykers, especially baseline humans faced a lot of fear and scrutiny from the people around them who don't have those powers, or understand it.

 "Understood!" Cedric said with a nod- this was confidential patient information, and unless he had no other choice, no whisper of this would come from him willingly.

"Of course Anrir!" Claude says with a sharp nod, he's great at secret keeping.

Anrir nodded, and made his way out of the room. He needed to have a little...chat with Hura about his Long Term patient. Karlsor follows after Anrir, half curious, half dreading what the flying fuck was going to happen, what information they might fish out of the Death Guard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You and Khopesh arrive at the Fire Drake Noodle House, and you can't help but Marvel at the gorgeous space; emblazoned with warm reds, dark greens and shining golds. Banners display dragons and with the light fixtures having Actual Flames and the many metal worked items adorning the walls the whole atmosphere reminds you of a warmly lit forge. 

It’s such a wonderful place, you breathe in the smells of the restaurant through your nose. It smells so good.

The atmosphere inside also feels just as warm and vital as the decor...but that also means you might have to wait for a table.

"It's so pre-tty~" You fawn, utterly taken in by the environment. 

"Hmm...the lighting is a bit much...but the temperature is pleasant." Khopesh surmised, squinting his eyes a bit.

You were confused, till you remembered, "Oh right, your eyes are dark adapted...it's not too much right?"

Khopesh smiled. "You are too much," He pinched your cheek causing you to let out a painless "-Hm!". He was far more gentle than the squooshing earlier. "Your concern for me is endearing, but I have fought my way through battlefields and entire worlds where the blaze of war and the hellfire of artillery were literally Blinding. This Is Nothing, compared to that, and I will be fiiine." He assured you.

FWOOSH! A pillar of fire suddenly burst up in the kitchen with a sizzle, clearly an intentional part of the cooking. But you saw Khopesh flinch and squint even more as his eyes reacted to the sound by locking onto its bright hot source. 

Yeah, not fine. "...We're getting a booth in the back in the corner in the dark." You say simply. 

"But then we may have to wait longer." Khopesh groaned. "And aren't you hungry?"

"Yes, but this isn't Just for me, it's for both of us." You explain. "I want my partner to be comfortable while we're sharing a meal."

Khopesh seemed to take a pause. "Partner?"

You swallowed, "Y-yeah, you're my partner. At least...that's what I'd like us to be…" You explain. 

Khopesh doesn't respond, but he also doesn't seem...offended?? At least you hope not, he just seems to not quite understand.

"We can talk about it more once we've eaten." You finally say. 

Khopesh's smile curves back up, still a bit unsure looking. "That sounds ominous, Lullaby."

You shrug. "You wanted me to be honest, so I'm going to be." You declare. "But After food, cause no way am I doing something as exhausting as being Honest on an empty stomach."

"Pfft! Ha! You make it sound like Such a burden!" Khopesh chortled. 

"Is the Truth not a burden?" You reply dryly. "Ruminate on that while I talk to the host, also I've gotta use the restroom. If they call for the table before I get back go ahead and sit down okay? I'll find you."

"Of course my Lullaby, whatever you say~" Khopesh replied, it amused him when you got all chatty, and planned and laid out clear, obvious instructions. Honestly, were you able to become an aspirant you'd probably make a good Ultramarine. 

But you'd be Far more pleasant to interact with than one of those paperwork pushing, goody goody blueberries. Well maybe that's not completely fair, Khopesh had known...at least a Few Ultramarines that weren't...completely a drag to be around. 

He could only count those on one hand but Hey! They still counted. 

"Table for two please." You say as you approach the host stand, behind which stands a giant Salamander in a professional looking dark green outfit, with pale but textured hair tied back into a fashionable style. Also the marine in question looks...familiar.

The Salamander smiles in greeting. "It will be about fifteen minutes, I also heard you and your companion discussing your preference for a darker table setup. We can dim or fully extinguish any sconces once a table opens up should you so choose."

You were a bit taken aback by your whole convo being overheard. You were being too Loud again why are you Always so Lo- But you squashed that thought quickly, Astartes have excellent hearing even in a busy humming restaurant. This Host probably even tried to focus on chatter from incoming guests so he could get ahead of their accommodations. 

Clever and proactive of...Pyrus, as his name tag read. 

"Thank you, and yes! We would like that if possible…Go ahead and put the table under Khopesh please." You surmise, you wouldn't be able to hear it in the bathroom, speaking of which. "Ah by the way...could you tell me where I can find the restrooms?"

Pyrus nodded. "Ah yes, simply walk back from here to the left corner of the restaurant. Hallway alongside the patio, you can't miss it."

You give a quick nod, "Okay thanks." And hustle past to follow the instructions given. 

Meanwhile, Kerubiel had been sent by the rest of the Primaris marines as the one who had drawn the short straw and had to pick up the ‘not ration food order’ and it was from the Fire Drake Noodle House. Claude, Cedric and Jophiel had come back from going to the Chaos Base with pensive looks and thoughtful expressions.

When questioned all they would say is that they’d met someone new, who’d seemed nice. Other than that, they wouldn’t say much. Kerubiel knows that they are keeping something from him and the others.

But the rest of the Primaris Marines had allowed themselves to get distracted by food- and Kerubiel was curious about what sort of food this Fire Drake Noodle House place has, and begrudgingly looked over the menu and picked out some things to eat.

As he walks in, his gaze snaps to the First Born Night Lord sitting in the waiting area. His hands clench and unclench as he stalks over to the Chaos Traitor Bastard and glowers at him. Even if his new pride is keeping secrets from him. He can at least learn something.

“Night Lords don't usually travel Alone. Where is the rest of your godless heathen Claw of Bastards?” His curiosity gets a hold of him as he goes over to the First Born Space Marine. 

Khopesh is a little taken off guard by the sudden interrogation by the Dark Angel- he’s a big fucker. But he realizes- as he looks the rude bastard over, that he’s young- looks around the age of Claude and the other Primaris Marines. 

He’s also similarly sized, so he drawls out with a smirk on his face, “Back at base, which is where you should be...isn't it past your curfew little lion Cub?”

“I’m here getting an order,” Kerubiel says with a scowl, “I don’t have a curfew and I’m not a cub! Why are You here?"

Khopesh could see the little kitty was fishing for information. Dark Angels, over one hundred centuries and some things never Change. But fine...he'll play along.

"I'm sharing a meal with my precious Lullaby." Khopesh responded smugly. He let the follow up go unsaid. You know...because someone actually Wanted his company. 

Kerubiel could tell based on context (and logic I mean what space marine would call another space marine Lullaby of all things??) The Night Lord was referring to a human. 

Was this human his bonded? He was unsure if the Night Lord would give that information willingly. No matter though, he could find that out for himself. 

Carefully, Kerubiel drew on his psykery. He had heard about Bonds and other such nonsense. He didn’t really understand it, none of them did. None of them are Bonded. The lack of information was bothering him a lot. Information is key to survival after all.

And like in practice he saw the bond, flourishing and floral (honestly it was kinda pretty-) No! Focus! The strain of using his powers is starting to make his vision waiver, just a little bit.

But...something was off. Kerubiel may not have been the most experienced with bonds or emotions...but he could tell the bond in front of him was completely Platonic. He’d seen a few bonds of different kinds, they had different color-feel-patterns to them.

And again...context and logic. Precious Lullaby Could be a platonic term of endearment but considering how Dopey eyed the Nightlord appeared when he said it that was Doubtful. 

Khopesh grimaced as the youngster continued to Stare at him. He had a feeling he knew what he was doing. He'd let Claude and Anrir study his bond many times. So even without active psykery of his own he Knew the feeling of being examined. 

And this entitled little Snot hadn't even asked permission. But he held himself in Check; didn't want to get tossed out on his ass for being a Night Lord who got in a squabble. "Are you done being an Invasive little shit or are you just going to keep Staring at me Cub?"

Kerubiel let go of his sight, Damn that still took a lot out of him. But he would Not, show weakness. "Why would a space marine lower themselves to break bread and consort with a human they aren't even bonded to?" 

Okay Now, he was going to beat the shit out of the little snot consequence be Damned. One of his hands twitches, as he longs to clock the brat in the face with his fist.

As Khopesh was contemplating the best method of springing up from this bench and Strangling the little bastard in a headlock, Kerubial let out one more jab. "And Why would any sane  human choose a Night Lord of all companions?"

"Because I Like His Company." A terse voice comes from behind the Primaris Dark Angel, causing both space marines to perk up. 

You stand there, arms crossed as the large Dark Green hooded Bastard turns so he can see you, and you now have an unblocked view of your Night Lord still sitting on the waiting bench, though clearly much more tense than you'd left him. 

Honestly you leave for the bathroom, you use said bathroom, you wash your hands and splash your face and Hype yourself up for the talk to come and What do you come back to?? Some large petty nosy space marine getting into Khopesh’s face and asking a bunch of rude ass questions. 

At first you thought they might just know each other, until you heard the other Space Marine essentially ask, “Why would a human want to be with the likes of you?”

"Fuck. You. That's why!" You continue hotly, spurred on by your indignation and putting yourself Between this bastard and Your Night Lord, "He's fuckin Great. And Because, I can choose for myself who I damn well Please to hang out with! And not you nor anyone else is gonna tell me otherwise!" You state hands on your hips as your voice gets louder as you defend Khopesh from this asshole.

Does he need defending? Probably not, could probably fold this guy like a cheap tea table, but is that gonna stop you from puffing up and getting Right into a much larger Space Marine's face? 

Well clearly not you're already doing it. You would be more scared, but you were defending someone else. Someone who you care for deeply, who doesn't deserve to be harassed simply for being in a public place.

"Now you can either trot your merry renfaire ass along or I Will be reporting to your superior officer how you are making a damn Fool of yourself and All said superiors because clearly whoever trained you didn't impart you Manners!" You continue to rant and point a finger at him.

Kerubiel scowls at Lullaby and Khopesh, and starts to growl low in his throat at their rudeness. But while he clenches his fist, he’s no Chaos or Renegade scumbag to hurt a Baseline unless attacked first. His eyes narrow as he glares down at them and back at Khopesh.

Who now has an absolute look of looming Murder on his face. Not at You no no No. Before the prickly little cat bastard had the shitting Gall to Growl at His Lullaby, he'd been surprised and even Exhilarated by you cussing out his aggressor in front of him. 

Defending a monster like him, as if you had even a Ghost of a chance against the Primaris. All puffed up like a bluffing Hen, but you were completely serious. And so was Khopesh about that brutal homicide that was rapidly approaching this Dark Angel if he Didn't- Stop-Threatening-His-Lullaby!

Pyrus comes over- having heard raised voices- moving faster once he hears Growling Dark Angel Noises and calls out to the squabbling group. "Khopesh party of two your table is ready." He announces, trying to diffuse the situation and organically move the two arguing members apart. "We have the sconces dimmed and everything is set, if you'll just follow my fellow host right over there."

You glanced over seeing another smartly dressed host, this time a human Baseline, waving you over. "Excellent, thank you So much for the accommodations." You say in your sweetest most polite voice, before turning back to Khopesh and holding out your hand. 

"Let's go have a nice meal now, and try to forget any...unpleasantness." You gave Kerubial a sharp side eye. The bastard even had the audacity to look insulted.

Khopesh is now in a Much better mood without that nasty bastard growling and prodding at him. He's also pleasantly surprised to see the Host take his side but he pushes that thought away for now, taking his Lullaby's offered hand. 

You smile, and settle into Khopesh's side, literally hanging off his arm. Are you doing it to be spiteful? Absolutely yes, one hundred percent. But just as much you are doing it to be affectionate. 

You even decide to really lay it on, indulging in tucking yourself close to your Night Lord and nuzzling him. Treating Khopesh to some well deserved (after that bullshit especially) tenderness, and showing that green hooded Prick how Happy you were in the company of said Nightlord. Khopesh responds by purring softly, and giving the green hood prick a smug look with full teeth.

As you two move to go to your table. Pyrus moves over and accidentally bumps into the Primaris Dark Angel that’s growling a little and turns to look at him with fire-bright eyes, “Please leave, if you are going to upset guests at this place.”

“I have an order I’m picking up!” Kerubiel protests.

“Who’s name is it under?” Pyrus asks hands on his hips as he gives a disappointed look to the other astarte. “What’s your name and Chapter?”

“Primaris Marine Kerubiel of the Dark Angels. M42.” Says, before Kerubiel grumpily gives Cedric’s name to answer the second question.

 “... Ah- you’re one of the newer arrivals.” Pyrus says, which explains, but doesn’t excuse his behavior. “I’m going to report to Captain Ash’val about this incident.”

“He’s not my Captain,” Kerbuiel says one of his lower lips stuck out a little bit as his eyebrows come down in a scowl.

Pyrus stares at him flatly, he hands him the order, “please leave, unless you want to deal with the Reason we decided to call it the Fire Drake Noodle House.”

Kerubiel is curious- but he doesn’t want to get into that much trouble after finishing up healing and being finally allowed to run around outside without supervision. Fucking- Thressl’s reaction would be annoying to deal with, the cackling laughter and ribbing would be annoying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And for the love of all things Unholy Do Not scratch at the stitches." Hura scolded the newly arrived Space Wolf with the bright mane of red hair. "Unless, you want me to drag you back here and Actually put you in a cone for your impudence." 

"You wouldn't!" Thressel shot back, 

"I can and I Will." Hura assured him, snagging the willful pup by the ear. "I Might even have to shear off some of your precious red locks in order for it to fit properly. We wouldn't want that now, Riiiiiight?"

Thressel went pale, "Ack! Fine! FINE! I understand!" He snarled, barely tamping down on his instinct to Bite the hand disciplining him.

"Good," Hura cheerfully released the Pup and picked up the relevant paperwork. "Other than that your vitals seem good, your hearing is still slightly imbalanced but that may improve yet. Are their any other questions you have?"

"Nope, now let me Go ya Chaos bas-" Thressel caught himself before his big dumb mouth could land him in that dreaded cone. "I mean...I'm Fine, got no questions. And my brothers are waiting fer me."

Hura nodded, smart pup. "Any plans?" The apothecary asked as he wrote a few more notes. 

Thressel hmm'd for a moment. Cedric seemed to trust this Chaos traitor, at least with things related to healing. Sides, not like telling him would ruin their plans. "Says they ordered somethin’ called 'taik out.' Told me it was a special kind of Baseline food."

"I believe you mean Take Out." Hura corrected. "The food can be anything from any culture or style. Take out simply means the food is purchased and brought elsewhere."

Thressel huffed a laugh. "Whatever it is, I'm no one ta say no to a free meal. So can I go now?"

"Yes, pup, go run along."

The excited Space Wolf hopped eagerly off the medical table and ran for the door. No Way was he getting left with table scraps "-Oh!"

As Thressel was exiting he came face to face with a grim old face. Pale and dark eyed, a Nightlord…

"Watch where you're charging you clumsy Bitch!" Two Night Lords, the other one just behind the first snarled at him. 

“Oh Fuck off you gloomy bat!” Thressl growls at them, “I was here first!”

Hura comes over hearing the argument and ready to politely bully his cousins for being naughty if needed, “Ah- Karlsor, Anrir- come in- what’s the issue? Go- on now Thressl. Shoo.”

“Fine,” Thressl makes a face at all three First Born Chaos Space Marines but he does scuttle off to go where his brother-cousins are. 

While he’s curious to see what the Old Bastards are up to, he’d rather heal up a bit first and taste this ‘take out’ is and set Kerubiel on this fuckers, that is entertaining to watch. And the Primaris Dark Angel would tell them if he thought he had some information that he thought they needed to know.

Hura gestures for Karlsor and Anrir to join him in his office- he waits until Thressl’s superior hearing, even among the Astartes, is out of range and he turns to the two Night Lords, “What can I help you with?”

He looks them over, neither of them are injured, and Anrir is an excellent Apothecary, for patching himself and others up. He’s curious to see what it is that has the pair of Night Lords Seeking him out.

“I have some questions for you,” Anrir says, watching Hura sharply as he almost glares.

“What questions?” Hura asks.

“About the Baseline you recognized earlier, and how you and Xerxes helped them recover,” Anrir says, eyes darkening a little, “When you and Xerxes helped them … was there any… additional things that you or he did to them?”

“What do you mean by that?” Hura asks, arching an eyebrow at Anrir, having taken off his helmet to speak with them more freely.

“Did you fucking Chaos twist them?” Karlsor, says, rather not wanting to dance around something, “Cause if you fucking did- then we have a big fucking problem.”

Hura rears back as if he’d just been slapped, and insulted, “I did not, and nor did Xerxes do any ‘Chaos twisting’ on them. And what do you mean by that anyways?”

Karlsor heaves a sigh and then tells Hura what Jophiel had explained to him ending with a, “decay and mushrooms sounds an awful lot like your Grandfather’s grox-shite.”

Hura can’t stop the look on his face, “And you think I, or Xerxes can - what- affect bonds like that?” 

“Can you?” Anrir asks. 

“Or Can fucking Xerxes do it?” Karlsor asks, in a rather rude tone of voice. “And why the fuck didn’t you tell us you could do this?"

“As far as I am aware of,” Hura states honestly, “I cannot affect bonds like that, Nor has Anyone been able to so far, not the way that you are speaking of anyway. And I don’t think that Xerxes can either, if you want, I can call in my brother for you to question him on what exactly it was he did to help...save them.”

Karlsor glanced at Anrir, who had paused to think. "Time is of the essence, I do want to inter-," The old Terran Nightlord stopped himself, before he could commit a Dreadful faux paus in front of the Death Guard who was almost as old and deadly as him. "I mean...I would like your Brother Xerxes's personal recount of the events of course. But I doubt he can arrive here as quickly as we need."

Hura drummed his gauntleted fingers on his chin. "...Perhaps, there is another way...at least one that could hold the information you seek. Or rather Proof, that whatever is presently occurring with that Bond, it was Not apparent the last time my patient was here." Hura stopped his fingers and his gaze turned Deathly serious. 

"What I am about to tell and show you is Highly classified information. The event That poor child has been through sent ripples through the upper ranks, and it was immediately quelled so as not to spark panic or rebellion." Hura explained, motioning for the two Night Lords to follow him out of his office. 

They do so, and to their surprise the Apothecary leads them from the usual travel path hallways of the medbay to a generic looking door in a random room off to one side. Anrir had never truly taken notice of it, as it had the look and smell of an extra storage room. 

Hura pulls out a key card and presses it to the blank wall. A click is heard and the mystery door opens. 

As Hura shambles through and down, Anrir marvels, a disguised Stairwell, how clever. Anrir understood there were places in this base he'd never seen. Each legion had their own separate spaces so it made sense. 

But as a trusted Apothecary he was taken aback that he'd never seen or scarcely even been told about 

Down, down, down they go past more floors and doors but they only stop at the bottom of which resides another door, which Hura instead knocks on. Anrir recognizes the pattern and has to stifle a laugh. 

Shave and a haircut. Two bits.  

Again another click, and the door pops open to reveal a hallway not unlike the regular ones on the floor above. With again...more doors. 

"What the Fuck!?" Karlsor exclaims.

"Language!" Both elders hiss, causing the mouthy Nightlord to clam up.

"Fuck, sorry." Karlsor mutters. 

Hura ambles forward. "The information we seek is behind one of these." He gestures. 

"The fuck you mean...One of these?" Karlsor asks with confusion. 

"The Doors of course, little cousin." Hura cooes, with Karlsor growling lowly in response. "This...extension of the medbay was a collaborative effort between several legions and the high ranking officials within them."

"Ultramarine, Raven Guard and Even Alpha Legion contributed. Despite the primitive setup and materials it's quite...secure." Hura continued, glancing at each of the doors. 

"I'm assuming there's a catch?" Anrir posed. This all seemed too easy. 

Hura nodded smartly. "Astute observation. Yes you see every three months the records and data here are reshuffled with a tweaked or brand new sorting method." Hura explained. "There are also false or incorrect documents mixed in to further muddy things." Hura approached one of the doors. "And of course in lieu of dealing with data breaches...the Ultramarines thought it best if all These records were kept in…" Hura opened the door, revealing shelves upon shelves of folders. "Paper form."

Anrir balked at the mountain before him. Karlsor let out a plethora of swears and Neither apothecary bothered to correct him this time. 

"Fuck this! I'm keeping watch." Karlsor declared. 

Seems he had his work cut out for him. 

“Shall we begin, Anrir?” Hura says, giving the other Apothecary a smile as he starts reading and sorting through the documents.

Karlsor would rather be stuck staring at the fucking sun striped bare ass naked for hours. Then deal with oh four Paperwork. It's why He's never accepted a promotion as then he'd have to deal with the fucking Paperwork that came with such a thing. So, while he wants to know what is going on, he's not that Curious about it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright folks I'll get these drink orders for you, give you some time to look over our menu. Please enjoy, and I Do apologize for that...unexpected upset." The sweet waiter states as the two of you get settled into your comfortable darkened booth in the back in the corner in the dark. 

Well it's not in the corner but the dimming of the sconces directly above you Does reduce the brightness. 

Khopesh snorts, "Wasn't your fault the Lion Cub decided to get all hissy." He assured them. 

"Yeah, no, don't worry about it." You chime in. "We're certainly not gonna let it ruin our evening." 

"Good good. If you need anything else just flag me down and I'll take care of it." As they strode away you took another moment to breathe in the atmosphere. A bit of nostalgia tickled at your brain. 

"Reminds me of this Tiiiiny Italian place my PawPaw used to love going to." You say, making some light small talk, Khopesh seems confused for a moment till you elaborate, "With the dimmed lights I mean. It was always so dark, only place that had regular lighting was the bathroom. And the only lights I ever saw lit in the dining area were the candles on the tables."

Khopesh smiled. "That sounds perfect for a Nightlord, but inefficient for a Baseline restaurant."

"True...funny enough I-" You felt a slight twinge of a headache. "I...don't remember ever seeing any Astartes in there...but I don't think they weren't welcome per se…" You shook off the feeling before the pain could amplify. "Maybe it was just too small a venue."

"Perhaps," Khopesh acquiesced. "Also what was that dish you mentioned on the way here?" He hummed looking over his menu.

"Egg Foo Young," You stated, "Though even if it's not directly called that, they might still have something like it." You surmised. 

The menu, appropriate to the restaurant's name, showed a plethora of noodle dishes and soups. The lo mein seemed tempting, but your eyes also lit up upon seeing they had a Ramen section. 

The appetizers featured a number of your favorites. But you tempered yourself. "Got a lot of good looking items," You hummed. "Just don't want to spend too much on myself. Get whatever you like though okay? As long as it's not gold encrusted or costs the same as a car payment I'm fine to cover it."

"Pfft! You really think my tastes are That expensive?" Khopesh shot back before following up with. "Besides, Anrir transferred some funds to me for this, so You and I can Both get whatever we like." 

"Wait seriously?" Oh...the cellphone exchange while they were back at the base suddenly made sense. 

"Of course! He wants us to have a nice evening…" Khopesh assured, but he noted you looked...conflicted. "Is something wrong?"

You glanced up, seeing Khopesh's vaguely worried expression. "Uh...not really it's just…" Honest remember? Try to be Honest. You let out a soft sigh. "Hmm...I guess I just felt like...expensive or not, I wanted to treat You. Like don't get me wrong! I think Anrir is Super generous for doing that. I'll have to thank him later."

"I just...I know there's not a lot I can Give or do For You. If that makes sense.” You offered. 

Khopesh didn't seem to follow. “I'm afraid I don't quite understand.” 

“Well…I guess it feels like You give me a lot, attention, affection, you make me laugh, you comforted me when I had that bad dream. And for someone like you who's so much more capable, and physically stronger than I'll ever be and…" You trailed off, noticing how Khopesh was listening intently. 

In his focus and with the soft candle light flickering gently over his features, tracing an orange highlight into his dark eyes he looked…

"Why'd you stop?" He asks, breaking you from your trance. 

"S-sorry it's just...you look Really pretty in the candlelight."

Khopesh...did Not expect that. He felt like the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding in his three lungs flew from him silently with a simple but Slightly squeaky "-oh."

His Lullaby...thought he looked Pretty? Pretty? P-R-E-T-T-Y? In all the time he'd been alive he couldn't remember Ever being called that. Fierce? Commonly. Terrifying? All the time. And he knew baselines back in his time revered almost all Astartes with various shades of Fear and Awe. Some could and would even call the most frightening of their kind things like Ethereal.

But something as simple and kind as pretty? Never. The Nightlord felt his cheeks burn and he couldn't stop himself from grinning.

"How do you Do that?" He groaned playfully, placing his hands on his cheeks and his elbows on the table. 

"Do what?"

"Surprise me like that!" Khopesh exclaimed, moving his hands to the table before him. Looking almost like he was preparing for a lunge. "No matter what you do, or if I Think I know what you'll do, you always seem to catch me off guard somehow! It's so Frustrating." He growled but again, there didn't seem to be any real anger in it. Honestly, it came out more like a rough purr. "But I Love it. Which I don't understand, which just frustrates me More." He giggled, running his hands through his long hair. 

Well, you were hoping for honesty, and though it was a...strange thing to find enjoyment in. "I mean...I guess I'll take that as a compliment. But back on topic." You redirected the conversation. "I guess part of me feels a little disappointed I wasn't able to do something nice for you. I'm not mad or anything, and honestly I'm still glad I get to spend time with you."

Khopesh agreed, but something itched at his mind, like there was something he wanted to say in return or perhaps he could sense there was more You wanted to say, but didn't quite know how. 

So instead he'd take a moment to read your body language in the candlelight. 

Khopesh wasn't unaware of his own appearance, he knew his features could run the spectrum of ethereal to eldritch horror in the minds of baselines. He'd known enough Nightlords who, ahem, acquired personal serfs; promising safety and security through whispered sharpened teeth that the baselines shivered from with every possible mix of revulsion and desire.

He hadn't felt that Drive like some of his battle brothers, thus he didn't give much thought to Baseline standards of beauty. Not until coming here, and not until meeting You. 

And in the candlelight you looked so...wonderful. Reminding him of a place that was Warm and Safe, something even a creature as fierce as him had hardly known. 

He looks at your skin that's been kissed by the sun over your farm, and he remembers how you'd felt in his arms. Like his own personal sun, one that didn't burn his eyes or skin but filled him with a tender warmth all the same, as well as a burning hunger and want. The want to hold, to keep, to protect. Maybe that's why his battle brothers took their serfs?

Because bright, sweet things; things that bring laughter and joy and hope don't live long in this hellhole.

Without thinking he reaches a hand across the table, palm up. You glance up from your menu as you notice his gesture. 

You seem unsure for a moment, before smiling, and wordlessly placing your hand on his, instead of directly taking it, you begin drawing soft circles on the smooth skin of his palm with the pads of your fingers. Yet again, you've surprised him, and yet again, he doesn't mind at all. A moment passes before either of you speak. 

"There is something I need to talk to you about." You state, now running your warm small fingers over Khopesh's much larger ones. "But for now, let's enjoy the moment. Honesty can come after food. You ready to order?"

It is then Khopesh realizes he'd gotten utterly distracted and quickly picks up his menu with an "Oop!"

You chuckle. "Well we'll flag down our waiter for appetizers in a moment. I think I'll get some Roulette Dumplings for myself, and some Scallion Pancakes for you."

Khopesh smiled, and you could see him brimming with excitement. 

"But if you steal all the pancakes again I Will run out of this restaurant." You threaten cheekily. 

"You wouldn't!" Khopesh gasped with mock fear. 

"I would." You shoot back. Causing both of you to laugh. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It takes multiple Hours of Diligent review, but Hura and Anrir find the paperwork they'd been searching for.

The folder has a picture attached to the front, and indeed it appears to be Khopesh's Lullaby. Anrir thumbs through the reports page by page. 

It holds Lullaby's personal details, and the accounts and evidence collected from several space marines who were present at the time of the initial attack. Including several loyalist White Scars, the Death Guard Xerxes, and a Renegade Iron Warrior. 

Fascinating. An injury imparted to one Baseline spurred multiple factions into cooperation. Though he wasn't totally surprised, Lullaby seemed quite the sweet soul, and Astartes, however hardened they might be, seemed to have a soft spot in their programming for such things. 

At least...Anrir liked to believe most of them did. (That they were better than the slavish dogs of war they'd been bred for.) And indeed he felt his hands clench and his lip curl at the description he read. 

One of the Emperor's Golden Elite, a Custodes, committed this act. The Emperor who created them to be beacons and vanguards for humanity. It seems this Custodian had forgotten their place and purpose. 

He grimaced as he looked over the pictures taken, the painful looking bruises around Lullaby's neck as they laid in a hospital bed, about how the intervention of Xerxes with his...carrion wasps (Anrir suppressed a shudder.) had saved their life, and the months of painful rehabilitation they'd had to go through as was documented. Thinking back, he had an idea of the Hunt Khopesh was planning to ask for. And more importantly, his own overcrowded memory was coming back to him. 

"I know why I recognized them." He mutters under his breath. "They were in and out of the Loyalist clinic, I saw them in passing a handful of times."

"To think they had survived an encounter with a Custodes. They truly must be a lucky soul…" Anrir mused. 

Hura sighed. "I was brought in to help in their care and recovery, given my Expansive resume of experience." Hura laughed almost scornfully. "And I was Sworn to secrecy, the alliance didn't want to deal with the risk of hunting a custodes, nor the backlash they'd receive for Not calling a hunt on an attempted human killer."

"So they buried the whole damn business. Typical!" Karlsor remarked, peeking his head in. 

Anrir nodded, but that still left one thing unknown. "Not to dismiss your capabilities, but why only You for the overseeing apothecary?"

Hura smiled wryly. "Less bodies, means less lips to worry about sealing. Besides...if you check the dates I think you'll recall you were...out of town when the attack occurred?"

Anrir ran a quick swipe over his memories, true he often went on...business trips of different sorts. "Ah right." Indeed, at the time, he and his sons were taking a small trip to rectify the presence of a human trafficking den in a township nearby.

He'd found some excellent supplies in the process. Too bad he couldn't make the former owners of the place Really Beg for the mercy of the grave. 

Ah well, only so much time in a day. Anrir continued to read. The report further described the presence of a Normal Broken Bond as described by an Ultramarine librarian who examined Lullaby as they lay stable but unconscious after their trauma. 

And though not every visit, they also had their bond examined multiple times. The appearance was the same, snapped vines that were slowly desicating away. 

Perhaps Too slowly…

"Hura, what is the average time for a broken bond to wither away?"

Hura hummed thoughtfully. "Weaker bonds can resolve in a matter of days, for those of moderate strength and age, a few weeks. As for intense bonds…" Hura trailed off. 

Ah yes, one of the more...disturbing sides of this bizarre gift they'd all received. He recalled the first time he'd had Karlsor use his warp sight on a Space Marine who'd lost their intense bond, as the restrained War Hound thrashed and howled in agony. 

He couldn't see it himself, but he'll never forget seeing his son's face go even more pale. 

"It's fucking Strangling his soul." Karlsor swore. 

But back to the present. Intense bonds Could indeed stay longer, but they hadn't the chance to examine their appearance on humans. And without the Custodes present, there was no way of knowing if their side of the bond held those characteristics. 

But still, Anrir cleared his throat. "Well, it does appear my questions have been answered. There's no evidence you Or your Brother played a hand in this bond mutation. But now we must still ask "Why?"

"And what the heck do we do about it?" Karlsor piped up. 

Wait a minute. 

Anrir turned sharply to 'Karlsor'. "What...did you just say?"

'Karlsor' stood there for a moment. "I...ah...I said What the Fuckin heck do we do about it?" He stammered a bit. 

"Hey! You old fucks even halfway fucking done in there or do I need to plan on getting a new fucking bolt after we get the fuck outta here!?" A voice shouted from down the hall just past the door with the knock lock. 

Anrir bristled. "IMPOSTER!" He snarled, lunging and pinning the interloper to the nearest wall. Hura simply stood back, arms crossed and shaking his head. 

"You Really couldn't help yourself, could you?" He sighed, Anrir was confused, until the squirming Bastard wearing his son's face sighed and relented. 

Dark blue became teal, and the pale scarred face took on a more olive tone, with bright teal eyes. 

"Who are you? And if you even fucking Think about Saying Alpharius, I will start with your teeth and won't stop until I've plucked out Each and Every One of your bones!" Anrir snarled, before Hura put a tempering hand on his shoulder. 

"Relax Anrir, I know this one." Hura soothed. He turned to the Hydra and said very sternly, "Zariel…"

The Hydra sighed before acquiescing. "I saw your little family gathering and became curious myself. So I figured...what the hell? Might as well use the fact Alpha Legion helped design this space to my advantage." He shrugged. 

Anrir groaned, but did not release the pesky teal bastard. "How did you get past Karlsor?" He demanded. 

"I didn't, I figured Hura would bring you here eventually, so I got here ahead of you and decided to camp out in one of the other rooms after locating the file." Zariel shrugged. "Honestly, having a third person made it easier for me as I didn't have to worry about only approaching while the two of you were separated."

Karlsor sends Anrir a message [Oi- old man, you asleep in the hell that is paperwork?]

[I and Hura are still awake.] Anrir responds. [Just dealing with a sneaky Hydra.]

[Those fuckers!] Karlsor responds [Need back up?]

[Not yet, Hura and I have the situation handled for you.] Anrir responds.

[Let me know if you need some Psychic muscle Anrir.] Karlsor replies.

[Oh, I will.] Anrir responds.

Anrir focuses on the conversation between this ‘Zariel’ and Hura tilting his head and keeping the Hydra pinned against the wall. For now at least. One should always try to have the upper hand with the sneaky buggers.

“You should have said something or texted,” Hura says with a disappointed sigh and shakes his head. “You are lucky that I was here and that Anrir has yet to take more hostile, understandably so action with this grox shite that you pulled, Hydra.”

“Yes, but this way is more entertaining,” Zariel argues with a huff. Then he winces a little when Anrir pushes into him a little bit. “Could you let me up? I’m here to help. The Primaris Ducklings are also partially under my protection and care too.”

“Still, why are you here?” Hura asks Zariel as he strides closer to him.

Zariel shifts a little and huffs as he says that, “I couldn't help myself, we hydras love secrets and he's willing to share.”

“We who?” Hura asks, narrowing his eyes, “is your squad nearby?”

“They know where I am,” Zariel says, but they aren’t in these rooms, “So if you or Anrir, or someone else try to disappear me they’ll know who to go after and where.”

The file details many different things, more on the details of Lullaby's injuries and treatment. And that even at their last check up they were secretly looked at by a librarian. The bond was taking a While to wither, but it was withering!

Zariel points out, gesturing to one of the Librarian's latest reports, dated two weeks ago at a clinic in their hometown, “There is no sign of the decay Jophiel saw.”

“It’s… could it be a whole new bond type and … could Lullaby possibly be a nascent Psyker? Developing amidst the Baseline populace?” Hura muses.

“What a discovery!” Anrir proclaims as his eyes gleam brightly, fogging over with ideas of what this could mean. Anrir pauses as he thinks over the potential implications and says out loud, almost offhandedly, “ But...if the bond is altered...that could also mean. Ah. I wonder if Lullaby may not be able to form a permanent bond ever again.”

Zariel and Hura are quiet as they ponder those implications and Hura pipes up saying “Lullaby needs to be told. About their potential Psykery, and about the possibility of them not being able to permanently Bond with another.”

“I agree,” Zariel says, as he knows about the nature of various brothers and cousins and says warningly, “They're the patient and if they shock a less friendly space marine and that marine realizes what they are, they could be taken hostage.”

The trio of Space Marines look at each other at that. Some of their brothers and cousins could get highly reactive about certain things. And the reactions they could have were as diverse as the galaxy is.

“... I think telling Lullaby that they have an unviable bond, and that it is so unusual and mutated is… important, it could be affecting their health, be it physical, mental, emotional, psychically or in their soul, but we won’t know until we investigate more.” Hura says with a grim expression on his face.

“I will tell Khopesh he needs to bring them back to base,” Anrir says, “After their date is over to speak with them.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Hura says with a nod. “Don’t want to worry the younglings too much, but it’s important, too important to let it wait too long.”

The three of them are quiet, a somber heavy feeling curling around the three of them. Anrir slowly lets go of Zariel as they ponder what the next steps are to do. Zariel grabs the documents in Lullaby’s file and makes sure they are in proper order.

“Also, I was here to add in more of the falsified documentation and do more of the safety rotation and cipher changing,” Zariel tells them.

He’d gone into these archives for multiple reasons, some of them more legitimate and than others. While his fellow Hydra’s would understand because of curiosity and having a nose for Interview and how curious and strange certain reactions were, most others not of the lineage of the Hydra got terribly annoyed with that answer for some reason.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The waiter came back with a platter piled high with their appetizers and drink orders. He set down the plates of steaming hot food. The smell of it makes your mouth water and the way that it glistens in the low light just enhances the delight as your stomach rumbles as the appetizer plates are set down, and then the sharing plates. The dipping sauces and the drinks.

The waiter asks if they have decided on their dinner, or if they want him to come back in a bit. You've decided on the spicy ramen and tell the waiter as much. 

“Alright, I Must warn you though the highest spice level is more for Astartes, below that is what would be considered very hot for humans, then moderate, and then mild. Which level would you prefer?”

You thought it over. “I'll take it human moderate please.” You eventually settle on, handing the waiter your menu. 

“I’ll have it hot and spicy!” Khopesh says with a grin, “Astartes level hot!”

“... Khopesh,” You say, “are you sure you want to do that?”

“That sounds like a challenge Lullaby, and I don't back down from challenges!” Khopesh declared confidently, “Besides! You seem to like it so I'm sure I will as well.”

“Okay…if you're certain.” You reply with a shrug, deciding to grab and eat one of the Roulette dumplings, and a scallion pancake. 

You bit into the innocuous looking dumpling and hummed at the burst of spicy flavor. “Hm! Hot one on the first try!” You smiled, dipping the remainder in sauce and eating it. 

“Excuse me?” Khopesh asked, grabbing his own appetizers. 

“Oh that's what the Roulette Dumplings are, look.” You grabbed another dumpling and took a taste. A savory and sour flavor followed. “There are three flavors; spicy, sour and regular. It's a gamble what you get with every one you eat.”

Khopesh seemed legitimately intrigued, he picked up one and examined it, before tentatively popping it into his mouth. “Hm!”

That…that wasn't what he was expecting. It started out like a simple prick of sensation on his tongue, then it grew warmer spreading over his mouth, then it was Hot. It left his mouth tingling unpleasantly, even if the flavor was savory and good he-

“You doing alright over there?” You asked, noting the reddening of Khopesh's face.

The Night lord broke from his pain to shoot you a scowl, before he swallowed quickly so the burning morsel no longer sat on his tongue. It left an itchy staticky aftertaste falling down his throat. 

“Ulp! Fine, I am Fine.” He replied, rolling his mouth and tongue a bit as if trying to shake off the lingering taste. “See?? I can handle this Astarte Spice just fine!” He huffed, crossing his arms defiantly. 

“Khopesh, those were regular spicy.”

“-!” You saw him flinch. But before either of you could speak further…

“And here's two ramen bowls! One Moderate Spicy and the Other We have Salamander Spicy! Enjoy!” The waiter delivered your meal items cheerfully, and was gone almost as fast. 

Khopesh started down at the steaming bowl, and he could Feel the spice and the heat and the Hell that awaited his mouth. He felt it in every inhale. 

“Khopesh…you don't have to.” You started.

The Night lord turned his eyes sharply to you. “I will not be Cowed by a bowl of Soup and Noodles!” He declared, frustratedly picking up his utensils. “I Will enjoy it, just as you do.”

Fine! Just let him hurt himself. Fool won't fuckin listen anyway. You rolled your eyes. 

No…no, you're not gonna just stand by. 

“Khopesh…”

“Silence!” Khopesh snarled, focused on his bowl. “Do not try and stop m-”

Khopesh found himself cut off by a much smaller hand coming to grasp his own harshly. He looked up and what he saw Actually made him take notice.

You looked Pissed. Not unraveled but very much in line with; ‘Okay now the angry bitch is coming out’ as his Muti would say. 

“First of all,” You growled back with a convincing level of menace for your size. “Never, tell me to Silence, myself again. And if you even Think about laughing, I will walk out of here and leave your ass in a heartbeat. Do not play games, and Do Not talk down to me.”

Well he was somewhat at a loss for words. Seeing you like this Was kinda hot, good hot not hell hot, but also you might get more mad if he mentions that. 

Still holding his utensil hand hostage you pick up a spoon from your own side, gather some of your own broth, and hold it out to him. 

“Try mine first. Before you decide to hurt yourself to prove some dumbshit point for pride.” You insisted.

Khopesh looked at your spoon, and could smell the similar but Much less threatening aromas coming off it. He allowed you to feed him, halfway between confused and entranced. 

Until the spicy hit him even harder than the dumpling had and he reared back. “Mmp! Mmmmmuhhg Alck kkkkh!” In all his decades and battles and hardships (scrounging for rats and bugs in the gutters of Nostramo, looting and cooking corpses just to keep himself fed one more day-) he had Never been subject to a (not really flavor more like a) food sensation that repulsed him more. 

“See?” You prompted the Nightlord, who was now gulping down his drink to get rid of the bad pain hot sensation in his mouth. 

“By Curze that is Awful!” He gasped. 

You shrugged. “It's not for everyone. But then again hardly anything is.” You reply, taking a mouthful from your own soup. 

Khopesh slumped dejectedly, looking at his now cooler but still Evil bowl of hell soup. He couldn't eat this. 

“Let's go ahead and order something else.” You propose. “Something you'll like more.”

“But I wanted to eat the same thing as You.” Khopesh replied sullenly. He wanted it to be like you were sharing the same meal. Like he'd provided for both of you. “I couldn't do a proper game hunt on such short notice…I was hoping this could be similar. And that we could have more in common with the foods we like.” He explained when you looked confused. 

“ …Why? You know we don't have to be doing the exact same thing or Like the same exact things to enjoy eachothers company right?”

Khopesh glanced up, instead of frustration he saw…softness. “Khopesh. I like being here with you. Heck I'm still blown away someone as powerful and capable as you even Likes My company.”

Khopesh wanted to push you further on that point, but you continued before he could. 

“I enjoy our time together because we're different, not in spite of it. I love learning about all the little things that make you, You. And I love them just the same if they end up being the same as me, similar to me, or radically different to me.” You explain further, scratching the back of your neck as you felt the blush creep up it with the pseudo confession you'd just given. 

Well at least you weren't the only one. Khopesh had a vaguely surprised expression on his gaunt face, and a blush to boot. It was cute. 

“I guess what I mean to say is…I’m glad I get to spend time with you.” You state simply. “Although saying that, there is one thing…one conversation we Need to have before moving forward.” You place your utensils down and take a steadying breath. Now or never.

Khopesh leaned in. “I am listening.”

You nodded. “I've been thinking it over, and I Think I finally understand what my nightmares have been trying to tell me.”

Khopesh cocked an eyebrow. “You have the gift of prophecy??”

You shook your head. “Ah no. No. Not quite. Just self awareness.” You reply, then continue. “I had another Nightmare before coming here and…in that dream, you saved me from…a threat.” You chose your words very carefully, and subconsciously brushed your hand over your neck. 

Khopesh seemed agreeable to that. Yes of Course he would protect you from Anything. Can you protect them from yourself though? An nagging voice needled at him which he Firmly brushed aside. 

“But in the next part of the dream you ah…Reached Into my chest, and…ripped my heart out.” Well there wasn't any much Nicer a way to put it; Khopesh still looked horrified. 

“Are you saying you think I'd-” But you held up a hand to stop him. 

“Please, let me finish,” You pleaded, and though clearly dissatisfied Khopesh relented. “I…I adore you, Khopesh, I think I might even Love you.”

“But even though what happened to me before wasn't your fault, wasn't in anyway even Involved with you…It still left it's mark, mentally and physically.” More neck rubbing. You continued. “I think the dreams are telling me that what I fear most, is being hurt again. And the way I see it, there's two ways that could happen with you.”

“If there comes a time I can no longer surprise you…or excite you or even just…Amuse you…I’m afraid you'll throw me away…” You say quietly. 

“Or if there comes a day where, for whatever reason, I want to leave…that you won't let me.” You bring your eyes back to the Nightlord who is sitting stock still in front of you. 

His pale features are still lit with candlelight, still beautiful and haunting as ever. The rest of the noise in the background seems to fade away. 

“I Need to know…that if one day this ends. Whether it's you, or Me who decides to walk away. For whatever reason. That you'll let me.” You say solemnly. “I don't want to go down this road if I'll just end up where I was before. Broken and discarded because…because someone with strength and power over me that I could never hope to match, decides that my life and my being as a person isn't…isn't worthy to l-live.” You state, feeling yourself beginning to choke up. 

Not even worth a backwards glance. You weren't even worth a backwards glance. Unworthy to Live, Unworthy to Love! unworthy, Unworthy, UNWORTHY!

“Lullaby,” Now you felt a large cool hand reach for your own. The one that was scratching at you neck. You glance up to see Khopesh reaching over the table, his expression a mix of concerned and confused. “You're afraid.”

You couldn't help yourself, you leaned into the cool hand pressing to your face now and let out a giggle that was more sob than laughter. “T-that part is obvious.” You snort. “I just…” You gestured vaguely. “I want this to be a Choice for both of us, not an Obligation. I want us to both Choose to see where this goes. And if it doesn't work out then…we can both walk away safe. Can we…can we do that? Please?” You asked, more plaintive and less confident. 

Khopesh hesitated, of all things he did not expect…this. To see you so vulnerable, he had once before but this felt so much more Raw, since you'd chosen to show him this. 

Not to mention…the things you spoke of, he was entirely unfamiliar with. No serf would Ever dare bring these kinds of words to their Night lord…but…could he Really say your relationship had anything in common with the ones he'd seen in his own timeline? It was only then he realized he had so little to work off of. 

We could agree, a voice inside him purred, but not Truly. Pull them into our web so they can never leave. Make them believe it is their choice. They'll be so Happy to have all that dreadful stress off their shoulders. They'll never Actually want to leave. The voice sounds almost more like Anrir than himself, and while part of him is disturbed the other Desires. 

Another comes. What is even the Fucking point of this shit if there isn't Trust? You're a Night lord, we don't deal in honestly but we're not Fucking hypocrites either! That thought hurts and it's because it's true. 

Don't they deserve to feel safe? A softer thought chimes in. It's unusual but they seem to Really want this. What's the harm?

The harm is that if we allow this they could come to harm! A rougher voice shoots back. They belong safe in Our arms, why are we even entertaining-

“Khopesh?” The Nightlord is brought back to the present, and at once he is caught by your eyes. Pleading, unsure, fearful but most of all…

Hopeful. They are full of a Hope that Khopesh had long thought was beyond his kind seeing. Night lords did not inspire hope. The moment it was realized What the were, and Who they Were, all softness turned to fear and ice. 

But not you. You looked at him like he could be more than a monster...

Like he could make you feel safe, and loved

Like he could be… a hero…Your hero.

A clear voice comes next. His Vada You take good care of ‘em then.

Khopesh felt the coils of his muscles and the breath held in his lungs release. You still waited with baited breath. 

“I…” Fuck Curze dammit where does he Even start. “I was not…prepared for this I…I am…not sure what to say…” He lets out a low huff. He doesn't like being caught so out of his element.

He thinks back on your words. “I…adore the time I have had with you as well. And I won't lie, I Loathe, the thought of losing you…” He could feel a guttural snarl building up but he tamped it Down. 

“But if…having this promise between us would make you feel safe and…Happy…then I will…Agree…” He stated, still struggling a bit to get the words out, even having to close his eyes and grit his teeth as he did. 

Snff, hiccup He reopened his dark eyes to see you…crying?

Oh sweet hell what now- but before he could complete that thought you'd sprung up, come around the table and launch yourself into his arms with a cry of “Khoopeeeesh!” 

Khopesh let out a surprised “-ooF!” Though the impact wasn't anything he couldn't handle. “Lullaby what are you mMph!”

A little of that spicy bad sensation came back, but This time it was outside his mouth And it was because you were pressing your lips to his in a Firm kiss. The small flickers of displeasure from the spicy, and the feeling of unease from the strange new arrangement he'd just agreed to…all faded to a near imperceptible hum as he found himself utterly melting into your kiss. 

“Mwah,” You pulled back, but still gripped him to you, or yourself to him. Feeling again like a miniature sun, sharing your warmth with eagerness and snuggling up to and kissing him all over his face with gusto. 

“Ah so…are you, Pleased- with my phrasing?” He asked tentatively, okay now he was Really liking this. 

“Yes! You Dork!” You laughed, tilting your forehead so it rested against his. You stayed like that for a moment, just enjoying the physical touch. “That is Exactly what I needed to hear.”

Khopesh felt his chest swell with warmth. Okay…he could do this. 

“Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,” You felt the Nightlord you were still embracing start to vibrate with purrs. 

“Ah…you folks doing okay?”

(!) Both of you jolted at the awkward interjection by your waiter. Really wishing you'd gotten a table fully in the back corner at this point. (It was still further back and most people were still engrossed in their own food and conversations so…)

“Ah sorry!” You scrambled to pull yourself into a more dignified position, now realizing you'd been essentially kneeling on the space of the booth that Khopesh wasn't occupying, and latching onto him like a lamprey. 

“Lullaby…” You looked up to see Khopesh looked disappointed? Pouty he straight up looked pouty that you were trying to move. 

You let your embarrassment pass, and your heart melted all over again. “Here, let's do this.” You slotted yourself in so you were both sitting, right up next to your Nightlord, just like when you'd walked over. Khopesh smiled and wrapped his arm around you, nuzzling the top of your head. 

You turned back to the waiter. “We'll need a takeout box for this, and My partner,” You say the word full of new pride and confidence. “Would prefer something else.” You explain, gesturing to the hell ramen. 

The waiter smiled, still a little awkwardly but nodded. “Ah of course, I'll get right on that.” They also took a new order for Khopesh, who decided on the Egg Foo Young. 

“Wait…I thought you didn't want to eat something this spicy?” Khopesh asked as the waiter walked off. 

You shrugged. “One bite probably won't kill me. Besides, if I can't eat it I'll just let it spoil, then Xerxes can eat it. So either way, it won't be wasted.”

Khopesh smiled, and you returned to you less…emotionally taxing conversations. Now snuggled up close, with the stress and the fear and the awful voices dim in your mind. 

As you waited for Khopesh's proper order. You both nibbled on the Scallion pancakes and the Roulette dumplings; you consuming the spicy and passing the other ones to him. He actually quite enjoyed the sour variety. Even if his description of them was slightly…disturbing.

“The sour tinge reminds me of cooked rotten flesh, but without any actual rot.” 

How were you supposed to respond to that?? “Well…glad to hear a restaurant's food doesn't have any rot in it. What would the health department say?” You reply jokingly, which causes Khopesh to laugh. 

As Khopesh's proper food order was dropped off and you both resumed eating your entrees, you both heard a familiar Ping. Khopesh reacted to the sudden sound by glancing at his vox. 

[Khopesh, return to base as soon as you are able, and bring Lullaby. It is important.] The message is from Anrir, and it makes Khopesh feel both curiosity and concern.

“What's wrong?” You ask, not being able to see the message yourself. 

“Anrir wants us back at the base for some reason.” Khopesh replies, his tone conveying his unsureness with the situation. 

“I wonder why,” you reply a little nervously, “it could be for… not ominous reasons.”

“Not sure,” Khopesh replies, “... I hope we can end this on a positive note.”

Even if he does wonder why Anrir had to send him a message that could be anxiety inducing. He thinks and reflects on his behavior and on his lovely Lullaby's behavior and he doesn't think either of them have done anything To warrant a Scolding.

“We won't know until we see him,” You say, “so let's enjoy our time together and walk back. Yeah?”

Khopesh nods in response, pulling you just a bit closer with a low purr. “Yeah…I'm sure its nothing Too serious.”

[theculturedmarxist]

> THREAD: The official narrative of how Luigi Mangione was apprehended doesn’t add up. Evidence suggests a deeper surveillance operation involving real-time facial recognition technology. Let’s delve into the inconsistencies and explore the implications. 🧵 Image Image >Considering Mangione’s efforts to conceal his identity, it’s improbable that a fast-food employee could identify him based solely on limited public images. We’re talking about a high-pressure, fast-paced environment where employees process hundreds of customers daily. >But what if the real key to his capture wasn’t human recognition at all? I’ll bet you didn’t know McDonald’s kiosk cameras have facial recognition technology: pointjupiter.com/work/mcdonalds/ >Given the integration of this technology, it’s not unlikely that federal agencies can access these systems for surveillance with real-time facial recognition across multiple venues. The NSA and other agencies already have a track record of using private surveillance networks. >Admitting the feds are running real-time facial recognition surveillance across the country would spark outrage. Instead, they sell a more "believable" narrative that a heroic employee saved the day. >If this is true, it means federal agencies have access to live camera feeds in private businesses, and they’re using AI to scan and identify individuals in real time. Surveillance isn’t limited to fugitives – it could extend to anyone, anywhere.

>This has massive implications for privacy and civil liberties. If McDonald’s can be used as a hub for mass surveillance, what about other chains? Grocery stores? Gas stations? The infrastructure is already there. Image >Kroger has faced scrutiny for using facial recognition tech too – and it’s even more dystopian. Not only are they scanning faces, but they’re linking that data to shopping profiles and potentially altering prices in real time based on your data. aclu.org/news/privacy-t… >This isn’t just about marketing – it’s surveillance capitalism on steroids. Corporations are turning our faces into data points to manipulate our spending, while the government secretly piggybacks off that infrastructure to track civilians. >We should demand transparency. If facial recognition is being used at this scale, we have a right to know. How much data are these companies collecting? Who else has access to this data, such as third parties and law enforcement? How are these technologies regulated, if at all? >We’re at a crossroads. If we don’t push back now, this kind of tech will become the norm. Surveillance will be baked into every facet of our lives, from shopping to dining to simply walking down the street. Image >The Mangione case and Kroger’s practices show us the future: a world where our faces are not just tracked but exploited, both by corporations seeking profit and governments seeking control. >We need transparency and accountability: Clear limits on the use of facial recognition tech, protections against price manipulation based on profiling, and strong oversight of government access to private surveillance networks. >This isn’t just a McDonald’s or Kroger issue – it’s a systemic shift. Facial recognition is becoming the foundation of a surveillance economy, and we must demand better protections now.

[darkmaga-returns]

Apple has been granted a patent for “identity recognition utilising face-associated body characteristics,” which combines facial recognition technology with other body characteristics to identify people even when their faces are not visible to the camera.

Apple’s patent, filed in May 2022 and granted on 26 November 2024, describes a system that associates facial recognition with other body characteristics such as clothing, gait or gesture to recognise certain people.

The system works by linking a gallery of “body croppings” such as torso, arms or legs with their face biometrics, then comparing the data with a live video feed, and proceeds in a stepped approach to identify face, body parts and physical characteristics, which include body shape, skin colour, or the texture or colour of clothing.

The resulting data constitutes a cluster of “bodyprints” which can be assigned a confidence score against a person’s faceprint and other characteristics, with storage periods as brief as 24 hours for certain identifiers like clothing.

The system can recognise people based on their body characteristics, even if they are wearing different clothes, and can re-register their clothes periodically to maintain accurate identification.

“It all appears to add up to a smart camera system that knows a person’s face and walk but re-registers his clothes in the morning so that it is able to recognise him on his way home even if it can’t see his face because it knows his Hawaiian shirt,” Biometric Update reported.

Although the patent is primarily directed to performing identity recognition in a home environment setting, Apple notes that it should not be construed as being limited to this setting.

The technology can be used in various environments, including homes, office buildings, warehouses, parking lots, and public parks. And although Apple doesn’t say so, we shouldn’t be surprised if it turns up in applications in law enforcement, border control, intelligence, access management and event security.

As Biometric Update notes, Apple patents many technologies that it never makes but its interest in a smart AI camera that performs broad identity recognition is understandable given the growing markets for AI and facial authentication.

The above is a summary of the article ‘Apple patent uses FRT with ‘body data’ so cameras can ID people without seeing faces’ published by Biometric Update.  Read the full article HERE.

[wreckitremy]

The Political Platform of the Democratic Socialists of America:

Abolition of the Carceral State

Abolition of White Supremacy

A Powerful Labor Movement

Economic Justice

Gender and Sexuality Justice

Green New Deal

Health Justice

Housing for All

International Solidarity,

Anti-Imperialism, and Anti-Militarism

DSA' Political Platform on

Gender and Sexuality Justice

DSA is a socialist feminist organization. We organize people of all genders to fight against systems of oppression and exploitation, including patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy.

Liberal representation feminism is content with increasing the number of female faces in oppressive structures. A few women in positions of power, however, is not liberation. Liberation means all genders having freedom and control over their own lives and bodies through ending exploitation.

DSA fights to build a feminism for and by the working class and all oppressed people. Capitalism specifically impacts women workers through devaluing of feminized labor, sexual violence in the workplace, unpaid housework, and the expectation of emotional labor.

DSA fights for the democratization of domestic and care work, political and social liberation for all genders, full bodily autonomy for all, and the end of state recognition of the gender binary.

We stand in solidarity with grassroots feminist movements around the world in their fight against capitalist oppression and exploitation.

We organize for the liberation of queer people, understanding that liberation – having the power to define our life choices, and fulfill our greatest potential — depends on achieving economic justice for the multiracial working class, and all oppressed people.

We fight against violence against black transgender women, federal and state discrimination, and all political and social barriers to full control over ourbodies and sexualities. We seek equity so that queer people, subject to discrimination and violence, have the means to livea liberated, fulfilling life.

We strongly oppose “rainbow capitalism,” in which banks, police, andcorporations wrap themselves in Pride flags during June in order to make profit, all while exploiting queer workers.

We likewise reject “homonationalism,” the process of using superficial support of LGBTQ+ people, such as US military propaganda featuring gay couples, to provide cover for the brutalities of the American empire. Companies in the military-industrial complex may march in corporate Pride parades, but we recognize them for what they are: enemies of the global working class, and of the international queer liberation movement.

We seek nothing less than liberation.

OUR DEMANDS:

Reproductive Justice for All

Free contraception and birth control for all who want it, provided by the state

Free fertility treatment for all

Free abortion on demand

Repeal of the Hyde Amendment and all legal restrictions on abortion access

Reparations for all those impacted by reproductive and sexual violence committed by the state, such as those forced to undergo hysterectomies in ICE detension

An immediate end to forced sterilization of disabled people

Affordable representation of disabled people within family courts

Protection and expansion of the legal rights of disabled parents regarding guardianship

Paid parental leave for all people

Universal child care, elder care, and pre-kindergarten

Quality, age appropriate, and comprehensive sex-ed taught in schools

End Employment and Housing Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression

Enact federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including passage of ENDA and the Equality Act, as well as the addition of “sexual orientation, gender identity and expression” as a protected category in all human rights laws

Require “just cause” for evicting someone from housing or terminating employment

Enhance and strengthen equal pay guarantees, including by requiring the EEOC to resume collecting pay data from large employers, forbidding prior salary from being considered in setting pay rates, and increasing transparency and protections for workers discussing their own pay

Housing for all and a universal ban on housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

End Anti-Queer Violence

The establishment of community-based response systems to transphobic and homophobic violence, especially violence targeting black trans women, that is entirely separated from the police and criminal law system

Put in place greater protections for survivors of sexual assault and abolition of the requirement that survivors file a police report to access funds

Allow transgender prisoners to be housed in facilities reflecting their gender identities

Guarantee Queer-Friendly and Gender Affirming Healthcare

Enact a single-payer Medicare for All system that provides free queer sexual health and gender affirming healthcare, including HIV care, PrEP, fertilty treatments, birth control, abortion care, mental health care, hormone replacement therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries

Allow trans minors to access gender affirming care without parental consent

Prioritize funding for health centers that provide transgender healthcare, especially in rural and conservative areas, on reservations, and in underserved urban areas

Guarantee that transition-related healthcare, including HRT and surgery, to all incarcerated people who request it

End gender restrictions in insurance coverage, such as the practice of only covering contraceptive costs for women, and demand healthcare tailored to our actual bodies rather than our ID cards

End gendered restrictions on medical care, including but not limited to services available to sexual assault survivors

End the Repression of Sex Workers and Fully Decriminalize Sex Work Nationwide

Repeal FOSTA/SESTA

Increase consideration of the intersection of disability and sex work and provision of specific resources for disabled sex workers

Dignity for domestic and care workers

Increased wages for domestic labor and care work, including through a $15 minimum wage indexed to inflation

Require domestic laborers and home health aides to be paid for all hours worked

The end of mandated 24-hour workdays

End the State Recognition of the Gender Binary and Enforcement of Heteronormativity

Remove all barriers and requirements to changing one’s ID gender marker and legal name

End all laws prohibiting cohabitation of unrelated people, which exist only to privilege the heterosexual nuclear family over nontraditional and chosen family

End conversion therapy and provide stronger supportive care for minors whose families abandon them

Grant all privileges afforded to married couples to all consenting partnerships

Eliminate the financial and healthcare barriers for disabled people to marry freely

This pamphlet contains an excerpt from the Political Platform of the Democratic Socialists of America, ratified at the organization’s 2021 National Convention. The platform is a living document, up for amendment by our highest deliberative body, the national convention, every other year. You can read the current version of the full platform at ntdsa.org/nationaldsaplatform

Read the latest version of DSA’s full platform at

ntdsa.org/nationaldsaplatform

[contrasting-realities]

AU where Flint Lockwood (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) and Reiko Tamura (Parasite) share a body

Basically, while Flint was working on the FLDSMDFR he had a side project which was meant to create parasite larvae. The reason for this was because the origins of parasites are extremely murky and poorly documented, including how they took over humans and Flint wanted to see if he could get recognition from creating something that could change that. This device, called the Parasite Spawner, Revivor, And Generator, or PSRAG, worked by taking cells from a dead or living parasite and creating an egg which is cloned from said parasite.

Now, being in the middle of the ocean, Swallow Falls actually doesn't have a single parasite living on the island. So Flint had to buy the corpse of one from some sketchy japanese guy on Ebay/Craigslist for his experiment. And surprisingly, the machine worked flawlessly on the first attempt. He intended to have this parasite infect a rat so he could take notes on the process and make sure that the larva wasn't somehow defective, but the larva got out of the cage and flew into his ear. Flint panicked and accidentally tore up some wires in his lab leading him to be electrocuted, disrupting the larva's attempted take over of his brain.

This situation is actually based on one of the stories in Neo Parasite F, specifically The Prince, where a parasite takes over half of a girl's brain leaving her still alive. That's basically what happened to Flint, but his machine did have a flaw, it didn't wipe the memories from the parasite cells it cloned, leading to the dead parasite coming back.

Of course, that was Reiko Tamura.

I don't know exactly what happens afterwards but I have a general outline. This whole incident happened before the FLDSMDFR shot off into the sky and therefore most of the first film. Given Reiko's personality, she wanted to understand Flint and her situation to the fullest, and also keep experimenting with the PSRAG to find the limits of what can be done with it (practically, if Flint works out some of the kinks, it would be a viable way for parasites to actually reproduce). And given that this is the only one of his inventions which has actually worked so far, Flint agrees to do so and only tell the world about his discovery after they're done since he could be arrested for messing around with this stuff, but he still works on the FLDSMDFR given the sardine situation.

One thing I found interesting in The Prince was that the parasite actually had control over the girl's emotions, or at least had figured out how to by the end of the story. The same is at play here however Reiko uses this control on Flint a lot more often. Flint nearly had a panic attack after waking up and seeing that half of his face had been replaced by Reiko's, since she had yet to change it as she barely knew what was going on at the time, and she calmed him down to ask him some questions. Reiko doesn't do this all the time, just removing emotions that either get in her and Flint's way or if Flint asks her to do so for whatever reason. Over time this gets more frequent as things start going to shit around them and for more reasons than just the food rain.

Eventually, partly into the first film, a lab accident causes five experimental parasite eggs to be lost and spread throughout the island. Of course, Flint is horrified at this while Reiko is surprised, but sees it as more of a learning opportunity to observe what happens. They still try to track down these parasites though, as Flint wants to stop them from doing anything nasty while Reiko wants to watch them. Even though they're all clones of Reiko, the extent to which they were really her varies, one of these clones was extremely close to the one Flint got stuck in his head and it took over the body of a woman Flint knew in town. Another was very different from Reiko but still had access to all of her memories, and it wound up in a confrontation with the other Reiko clone somehow. This ended when the second parasite shapeshifted into the head of Reiko's baby to distract the first parasite before fatally stabbing her. Flint and Reiko showed up soon afterwards but given the severity of the injury, there was no saving her host body, but Reiko had been refining the methods she used to make Gotou using Flints inventions, and given that they ran over there in a hurry while she was telling him about that, she decided to use that method to save this clone and stick her onto one of Flint's legs, and he agrees to this since it's the only way to save her life.

Over time, the other four parasites eventually wind up absorbed into Flint one way or another, four in his limbs and one in his chest (mostly his organs). While handling these parasites and the eventual chaos which comes from the food weather, Flint begins to rely on Reiko more and more to keep himself calm. Eventually he winds up completely reliant on her in general and has began to shut out several emotions he doesn't like such as nervousness or embarrassment, combined with losing most of his body due to the Reiko clones and he becomes a very different person, more cold and rational and far more like Tamura, which is useful to her since it makes it easier for them to agree on things.

Reiko in this au wants two things mostly, one is to see how far she can take this situation, which I have already talked about a lot. But the second one is to reunite with and protect her child once doing so is possible, this is another reason why she put so many parasites in Flint's body, so that she could have the strength to keep her child safe even if she knows that they are likely already fine, as instincts don't exactly obey the laws of logic anyway (I'm thinking she eventually goes beyond the original five as she also figured out how to let Flint and herself control them similar to Gotou).

Also, with Reiko keeping Flint from fearing her or having a nervous breakdown, they get along quite well most of the time as fellow scientific minds. There are times where they disagree but these wane as time goes on and Flint begins to lose himself, but for a while morality around experimenting on humans, or letting forbidden experiments happen, was their biggest issue.

I'm thinking that if the second movie does happen, the food animals and Chester V will be more grey to line up more with Parasite. the former are just animals, not malicious or good, they just are. While the latter isn't cartoonishly evil, but rather highly dedicated to his craft and making the world a better place to the point of obsession and willingness to screw some people over for the betterment of humanity in his eyes. I wanted the kind of 'natural world contrasted with humanity' that Parasite has since I think it could be interesting.

[tsreviews]

AvatoAI Review: Unleashing the Power of AI in One Dashboard

Here's what Avato Ai can do for you

Data Analysis:

Analyze CV, Excel, or JSON files using Python and libraries like pandas or matplotlib.

Clean data, calculate statistical information and visualize data through charts or plots.

Document Processing:

Extract and manipulate text from text files or PDFs.

​Perform tasks such as searching for specific strings, replacing content, and converting text to different formats.

Image Processing:

Upload image files for manipulation using libraries like OpenCV.

​Perform operations like converting images to grayscale, resizing, and detecting shapes or

Machine Learning:

Utilize Python's machine learning libraries for predictions, clustering, natural language processing, and image recognition by uploading

Versatile & Broad Use Cases:

An incredibly diverse range of applications. From creating inspirational art to modeling scientific scenarios, to designing novel game elements, and more.

User-Friendly API Interface:

Access and control the power of this advanced Al technology through a user-friendly API.

​Even if you're not a machine learning expert, using the API is easy and quick.

Customizable Outputs:

Lets you create custom visual content by inputting a simple text prompt.

​The Al will generate an image based on your provided description, enhancing the creativity and efficiency of your work.

Stable Diffusion API:

Enrich Your Image Generation to Unprecedented Heights.

Stable diffusion API provides a fine balance of quality and speed for the diffusion process, ensuring faster and more reliable results.

Multi-Lingual Support:

Generate captivating visuals based on prompts in multiple languages.

Set the panorama parameter to 'yes' and watch as our API stitches together images to create breathtaking wide-angle views.

Variation for Creative Freedom:

Embrace creative diversity with the Variation parameter. Introduce controlled randomness to your generated images, allowing for a spectrum of unique outputs.

Efficient Image Analysis:

Save time and resources with automated image analysis. The feature allows the Al to sift through bulk volumes of images and sort out vital details or tags that are valuable to your context.

Advance Recognition:

The Vision API integration recognizes prominent elements in images - objects, faces, text, and even emotions or actions.

Interactive "Image within Chat' Feature:

Say goodbye to going back and forth between screens and focus only on productive tasks.

​Here's what you can do with it:

Visualize Data:

Create colorful, informative, and accessible graphs and charts from your data right within the chat.

​Interpret complex data with visual aids, making data analysis a breeze!

Manipulate Images:

Want to demonstrate the raw power of image manipulation? Upload an image, and watch as our Al performs transformations, like resizing, filtering, rotating, and much more, live in the chat.

Generate Visual Content:

Creating and viewing visual content has never been easier. Generate images, simple or complex, right within your conversation

Preview Data Transformation:

If you're working with image data, you can demonstrate live how certain transformations or operations will change your images.

This can be particularly useful for fields like data augmentation in machine learning or image editing in digital graphics.

Effortless Communication:

Say goodbye to static text as our innovative technology crafts natural-sounding voices. Choose from a variety of male and female voice types to tailor the auditory experience, adding a dynamic layer to your content and making communication more effortless and enjoyable.

Enhanced Accessibility:

Break barriers and reach a wider audience. Our Text-to-Speech feature enhances accessibility by converting written content into audio, ensuring inclusivity and understanding for all users.

Customization Options:

Tailor the audio output to suit your brand or project needs.

​From tone and pitch to language preferences, our Text-to-Speech feature offers customizable options for the truest personalized experience.

>>>Get More Info<<<

[rssecurityturnstile]

three arms gates barrier from RS Security Co., Ltd(www.szrssecurity.com) Appropriate for all kinds of public locations that require organized passage of pedestrians, such as scenic spots, exhibit halls, cinemas, docks, train stations, bus stations and other places that need ticket confirmation; locations that require authorized entry such as factory participation, canteen consumption, golf courses, monthly card leisure centers, and so on; anti-static control areas of electronic factories, systems that require stringent security steps such as face acknowledgment and fingerprint recognition. RS Security Co., Ltd primarily produces, establishes and sells access control items, such as tripod turnstiles gate, city flap gates gate, servo motor swing turnstiles door, translation turnstile barrier, drop arm gates barrier, full high turnstile gate, half high turnstiles door, speed gates door and other channel turnstile gate products, and parking barrier, acknowledgment camera, hydraulic bollards, road bocker tripod turnstile gate Integrated electronic tickets, gain access to control and presence, club consumption/catering, anti-static, finger print, palm print, face recognition, iris acknowledgment Integrated application of other series of items; complete stainless steel frame structure, servo motor, separately developed and produced motion; one-way/two-way turnstiles door/ swipe to release the lever button and the upper lever is optional, with Counting function can understand RS485 direct interaction with the computer; three rollers gates door triggers and instructions and alarm prompts; automatic fall of the pole when power is off and manual fall The pole is optional, and it gets the switch signal to open turnstiles gate; it can be equipped with a card reading control part, and numerous units can be connected to the network; it can be geared up with magnetic card and proximity card combination techniques; it can be purchased according to different functional requirements. Do. A completely rainproof box made of alloy aluminum or stainless steel, compared to the city flap turnstile gate servo motor swing gates gate and other pedestrian passage devices, three rollers turnstiles door are more economical. It has a tailored installation user interface (such as card reader, sign light installation, etc) to make sure that the system integrator's control gates gate equipment is simple and convenient to install. The motion of the three-stick turnstile door machine has an instantly changed hydraulic shock absorber. When using the three-stick gates door operation, the noise is extremely small and silent. Effect, turnstile gate bar instantly decreases back to center. The surface of the motion is plated with yellow dichromate. Can be set with gates door machine control, one or two instructions control (set by user). The base is repaired with expansion bolts.

[tripodturnstile]

waist height turnstile gate from RS Security Co., Ltd(www.szrssecurity.com) Suitable for all types of public locations that require organized passage of pedestrians, such as picturesque areas, exhibition halls, cinemas, docks, train stations, bus stations and other locations that require ticket confirmation; locations that require authorized entry such as factory participation, canteen consumption, golf courses, regular monthly card leisure centers, and so on; anti-static control locations of electronic factories, units that need rigorous security procedures such as face acknowledgment and fingerprint acknowledgment. RS Security Co., Ltd mainly produces, develops and sells gain access to control products, such as waist height turnstile barirer, subway flap gates gate, servo motor swing turnstile gate, translation gates door, drop arm turnstile barirer, full body turnstile barirer, half height gates barirer, speed gates door and other channel turnstiles door products, and barrier gate, recognition video camera, hydraulic bollards, road blockers three arms gates door Integrated electronic tickets, gain access to control and presence, club consumption/catering, anti-static, fingerprint, palm print, face acknowledgment, iris recognition Integrated application of other series of products; complete stainless steel frame structure, Taibang motor, independently developed and produced motion; one-way/two-way turnstiles door/ swipe to launch the lever button and the upper lever is optional, with Counting function can realize RS485 direct communication with the computer; tripod turnstile barirer triggers and instructions and alarm triggers; automatic fall of the pole when power is off and manual fall The pole is optional, and it gets the switch signal to open turnstile barirer; it can be geared up with a card reading control part, and multiple systems can be connected to the network; it can be geared up with magnetic card and proximity card mix methods; it can be ordered according to various functional requirements. Do. A totally rainproof box made from alloy aluminum or stainless steel, compared to the train flap turnstile door dc brushless swing turnstile Door and other pedestrian passage devices, waist height turnstiles barirer are more affordable. It has a customized setup user interface (such as card reader, indication light installation, etc) to ensure that the system integrator's control turnstile barirer equipment is basic and practical to set up. The motion of the three-stick turnstile gate maker has actually an immediately adjusted hydraulic shock absorber. When utilizing the three-stick gates door operation, the sound is very small and quiet. Impact, turnstile door bar automatically decreases back to center. The surface area of the movement is plated with yellow dichromate. Can be set with gates barirer device control, a couple of instructions control (set by user). The base is repaired with growth bolts.

[spintly-co]

Top Biometric Machine Brands in India for Attendance Tracking

In today’s fast-paced work environment, ensuring accurate employee attendance is more critical than ever. From streamlining payroll processes to reducing instances of time theft, businesses are investing heavily in biometric attendance systems to manage their workforce more effectively. As India embraces digitization across sectors, the demand for efficient and touchless attendance solutions is soaring.

Biometric attendance systems use unique physical traits such as fingerprints, facial features, or iris patterns to authenticate users, making them a reliable and secure alternative to traditional punch cards or swipe systems. If you're looking to invest in a biometric solution for your organization, choosing the right brand is crucial. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the top biometric machine brands in India and the key features that make them stand out.

Why Indian Enterprises Are Shifting to Biometric Attendance Systems

The shift from manual registers and RFID cards to biometric attendance systems is driven by several factors:

Accuracy and Reliability: These systems eliminate human error and prevent buddy punching.

Integration: Modern biometric machines easily integrate with payroll and HR systems.

Security: They offer better access control by ensuring only authorized personnel can check-in or enter.

Touchless Convenience: Especially post-pandemic, facial recognition and mobile-enabled solutions offer safer options.

The result is a more accountable, productive, and secure workforce.

Key Features to Look for in a Biometric Attendance System

Before we dive into the top brands, it’s essential to know what makes a biometric attendance system effective:

Touchless operation (facial recognition or mobile check-in)

Cloud-based functionality for real-time data access

Integration with HRMS/payroll platforms

Customizable access control options

Scalability for growing enterprises

Top Biometric Machine Brands in India

Here are some of the leading brands offering advanced biometric attendance systems for Indian businesses:

1. Spintly

Spintly has emerged as a modern leader in the biometric and access control space. Known for its sleek, wireless infrastructure and mobile-first design, Spintly’s biometric attendance systems redefine how businesses manage entry and exit.

Key Features:

Cloud-based access control that eliminates the need for local servers

Touchless attendance using facial recognition or smartphone authentication

Seamless integration with payroll and HRMS

Ideal for co-working spaces, corporate offices, and enterprises

IoT-based infrastructure with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility

Spintly stands out for its ease of installation, scalability, and minimal hardware dependency - making it a top choice for tech-forward businesses across India.

2. Matrix Comsec

Matrix is a well-established Indian brand known for its advanced telecom and security solutions. It offers a wide range of biometric attendance systems, particularly suited for large enterprises.

Key Features:

Supports multiple biometric modalities like fingerprint, RFID, and face recognition

Offers real-time web-based monitoring

Comes with centralized software for attendance tracking across locations

Good for large-scale organizations needing extensive data control

Matrix is robust and customizable but may require more infrastructure and setup than newer cloud-native solutions.

3. ESSL Security

ESSL (Enterprise Software Solutions Lab) is a household name in India when it comes to biometric attendance. Their devices are widely used across schools, hospitals, and SMEs.

Key Features:

Affordable biometric machines for businesses of all sizes

Options include fingerprint, RFID, and facial recognition

Software support for basic reporting and data export

Localized customer service and availability

While not as cloud-focused as others, ESSL machines are popular for their reliability and cost-effectiveness.

4. Realtime Biometrics

Realtime is another India-based company offering a wide range of biometric attendance systems. Their devices are known for being budget-friendly and easy to deploy.

Key Features:

Focuses on small to mid-sized businesses

Supports multiple authentication methods

Basic software for time tracking and data backup

Good for quick implementation

Realtime offers good value for money, although enterprise-grade integrations may be limited compared to providers like Spintly.

5. ZKTeco India

ZKTeco is a global brand with a strong presence in India. Their biometric systems are feature-rich and cater to industries ranging from education to government institutions.

Key Features:

Extensive biometric portfolio (fingerprint, palm, face, iris)

Cloud-based software options

Integration with turnstiles and smart doors

Advanced encryption for data protection

ZKTeco systems are reliable and comprehensive but may come with a steeper learning curve and higher setup cost.

Why the Right Brand Matters

Choosing the right biometric brand isn’t just about features - it’s about support, adaptability, and long-term value. Brands like Spintly not only provide modern biometric solutions but also offer:

Remote configuration

Easy software updates

Advanced analytics

Local and global support

Zero-heavy cabling requirements

This makes them ideal partners for organizations looking to streamline operations without increasing IT complexity.

Conclusion

India’s adoption of biometric attendance systems is accelerating as businesses recognize the value of automation, accuracy, and accountability. While traditional brands still hold a significant presence, newer cloud-native solutions like Spintly are redefining the space with innovative, touchless, and mobile-first technology.

For businesses aiming to modernize attendance tracking without overhauling their infrastructure, choosing a future-ready brand is key. Whether you're running a coworking space, a corporate office, or a manufacturing unit, biometric systems offer the blend of security and simplicity every modern organization needs.

Ready to upgrade your attendance system? Start by exploring providers that bring the future of access control and biometric technology to your fingertips - like Spintly, a name at the forefront of smart workplace transformation in India.

[meika-kuna]

Why Every Educational Institution Needs a Software Secure Remote Proctor Solution?

In today’s digital age, educational institutions are increasingly turning to online learning and assessments. As exams move online, the need for secure and credible evaluation methods becomes paramount. A software secure remote proctor solution offers a robust digital monitoring system that ensures exams are conducted fairly without compromising integrity. These systems use advanced AI, facial recognition, screen monitoring, and behavioral tracking to detect and prevent cheating. Institutions worldwide now rely on this technology to replicate in-person exam environments virtually. With accessibility, scalability, and real-time intervention capabilities, software secure remote proctoring provides a reliable framework to uphold academic standards across all levels.

Maintain Academic Honesty with Secure Online Monitoring

Academic honesty is crucial for preserving the credibility of any educational institution. With traditional exam halls becoming less feasible, ensuring ethical conduct during online exams can be a challenge. A software secure remote proctor helps monitor candidates in real-time through webcam surveillance, screen activity logging, and voice detection, ensuring students cannot access unauthorized material or seek external help. This level of secure online monitoring builds a culture of accountability and transparency. Institutions adopting such solutions have witnessed a significant drop in dishonest practices, making it a necessary component for any serious e-learning platform aiming to maintain trust and academic integrity.

Protect Exam Integrity Using a Secure Remote Proctor

Maintaining the integrity of examinations is vital to ensure fair results and uphold institutional reputation. A software secure remote proctor safeguards the exam process by preventing identity fraud, detecting suspicious behavior, and logging any deviations in real time. With features like automated ID verification, lockdown browsers, and detailed incident reporting, examiners are equipped with tools that mimic in-person invigilation. These systems flag anomalies that could indicate malpractice, allowing educators to review sessions post-exam. By implementing such measures, schools, universities, and certification providers can confidently conduct high-stakes assessments online without sacrificing credibility or the quality of outcomes.

Prevent Cheating in Virtual Assessments Effectively

Cheating in virtual exams is a growing concern as students find new ways to manipulate online environments. A software secure remote proctor acts as a deterrent by closely observing the test-taker’s environment through live video, audio, and AI-based behavioral analysis. It detects eye movements, multiple faces, device switching, and other red flags. These alerts help administrators take timely action, minimizing chances of academic misconduct. Additionally, the presence of a proctoring system psychologically discourages dishonest behavior, fostering an environment of self-discipline. With rising digital adoption, investing in such a solution is no longer optional—it’s essential to ensure the legitimacy of online testing.

Enable Real-Time Student Supervision During Online Tests

Supervising students during virtual exams is vital to maintain control and order throughout the testing process. A software secure remote proctor provides live or automated monitoring to ensure continuous oversight. Proctors can watch candidates via video feeds and intervene if any irregularities occur. Meanwhile, AI systems automatically flag suspicious behaviors for review. These tools offer a classroom-like watchfulness, allowing examiners to supervise hundreds of students simultaneously. Real-time supervision creates a transparent exam environment, giving students clarity on expectations and institutions confidence in the outcomes. This level of oversight significantly improves the quality and fairness of assessments conducted remotely.

Simplify Remote Exams with Proctoring Technology

Online exams come with logistical and technical challenges, from setting up secure test environments to managing student access. A software secure remote proctor simplifies the entire process by integrating seamlessly with learning management systems (LMS) and providing a user-friendly interface for both educators and students. It automates many processes like ID verification, exam launch, behavior tracking, and results reporting. With 24/7 availability, students can take exams anytime, anywhere, while institutions maintain full control over exam security. The reduced need for manual invigilation also saves time and resources. This efficiency and flexibility make remote proctoring technology a smart, scalable solution for modern education.

Ensure Fairness with a Software Secure Remote Proctor System

Fairness in assessments is essential for maintaining student trust and academic excellence. A software secure remote proctor system ensures each candidate is evaluated under the same standardized conditions. By eliminating opportunities for cheating and bias, it creates a level playing field. These systems can also accommodate students with disabilities by offering customizable features that uphold accessibility without compromising security. The recorded data and audit trails provide transparency for dispute resolution, ensuring that students and educators have confidence in the results. With global classrooms and diverse learners, maintaining consistent exam standards is now possible with secure and reliable remote proctoring tools.

Support Scalable Testing Across All Educational Levels

Educational institutions often face challenges scaling exams across multiple locations, grade levels, or time zones. A software secure remote proctor solution supports scalability by enabling simultaneous exam administration for thousands of candidates without compromising security. Whether it’s elementary school quizzes or graduate-level entrance exams, the system can adapt to varying formats and durations. Cloud-based architecture ensures high availability and performance, while automation reduces administrative overhead. Institutions can schedule, monitor, and evaluate assessments at scale, making it ideal for national testing bodies, universities, and certification boards. The system’s ability to maintain consistent standards across diverse student populations makes it indispensable for future-ready education.

Conclusion

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, maintaining exam integrity, fairness, and scalability is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. A software secure remote proctor provides the critical infrastructure needed to uphold these principles in virtual environments. By leveraging AI, real-time supervision, and seamless LMS integration, it ensures academic honesty and streamlines the entire exam process. Institutions that adopt such technologies can confidently expand their online programs without worrying about compromised standards. Whether for schools, universities, or professional certification bodies, investing in a secure remote proctoring solution is an essential step toward future-proofing assessment practices in the digital era.

[studydocument]

McDonald’s Growth Tactics: Local Flavors, Global Vision

McDonald's, the global fast-food giant, is faced with an enormous challenge of human resource management marketing in the expansion process globally. In expanding in new markets, the corporation must train its employees through localized and effective means to remain relevant as well as guarantee consistent service. The challenge of the process is that it must balance global standards in accordance with regional sensibilities.

The need for good training programs is also underscored when considering McDonald's multicultural staff and operations in numerous nations. Staff must be trained not only to fulfill corporate needs but also to acquire the specific cultural, operational, and customer needs of each new country.

Macro-Environmental Forces in Operation

There are some external influences that affect McDonald's global operations. The economic downturn globally hurts the company but creates opportunities in the developing world. America remains its largest source of revenues but development in the developing world is its focus for long-term growth.

Politically and from a regulatory perspective, the expansion in international trade agreements is a boon for cross-border operations. There are, however, both challenges and opportunities for changing public health policies. Governments are increasingly making rules on diet and health, which directly affect McDonald's menu items and promotional strategies.

Social and cultural trends are also strong influencers. Urban consumers are busy and appreciate the convenience of fast food, and rising disposable incomes make takeaways more within reach. At the same time, the global trend towards healthy eating habits compels McDonald's to modify its menu without alienating its traditional customer base.

Review of Product and Distribution Strategy

McDonald's products demonstrate a willingness to accommodate both local and traditional tastes. In countries like India, vegetarian food options like the McVeggie and Paneer Salsa Wrap exist alongside non-vegetarian food options like the Chicken McGrill and McChicken. Beverages, sweets, and snacks further segment the menu, catering to the entire spectrum of life stages and lifestyles.

The company has a strong distribution network supported by a vertical marketing structure. This enables McDonald's to maintain control over customer experience as it grows its presence at a rapid pace. The strategy integrates restaurants, apps, and future options such as kiosks to make food accessible.

A Review of Marketing Communications

The communication strategy of McDonald's is the blend of traditional and modern media. It is largely advertised via print media, radio, television, and cinema halls. Public relations, direct marketing, and events play a vital role in reinforcing the brand message. The company's integrated strategy ensures the same and extensive brand voice, which is essential in maintaining international recognition and customer loyalty.

Competitive Analysis and Current Strategy

McDonald's is exposed to a very competitive environment with Burger King as a major competitor. At the corporate level, McDonald's has a very high diversification profile across related business sectors. At the cooperative level, McDonald's promotes customer loyalty through joint ventures and quality control. At the business level, McDonald's can successfully combine cost leadership with differentiation.

The international strategy is informed by local preferences, adopting a multi-domestic orientation. This is evident in region-specific menu changes and marketing campaigns, which work towards making the brand local in nature even though it is global.

Product Innovation and Brand Strengths

McDonald's is renowned for its top-selling Chicken McNuggets, Big Mac, and French Fries, but has also diversified into health-conscious options like high-end salads and snack wraps. McDonald's Happy Meal is a hit with kids and teens, and experimental items like the Egg McMuffin are a hit with breakfast buyers. McDonald's low prices, well-trained crew members, and brand tie-up with Coca-Cola are its strengths. Its opportunities are increased dining out and expansion globally. Its threats are economic downturns, health awareness, and greater competition from local food chains.

Strategic Recommendations for Sustainable Development

McDonald's needs to modify its menu, reduce its green footprint, and offer more healthy food to appeal to conscious consumers. McDonald's needs to develop low-cost meal options in countries like India, where a large percentage of the population lives below the poverty line. McDonald's can also leverage its personal app and self-serve kiosks to improve ease of use and provide speed of service in high-density locations, enhance brand image, and build new customer bases.

Monitoring Implementation for Long-Term Success

Successful implementation of strategy depends on monitoring key performance indicators. McDonald's must collect and examine evidence on a regular basis to identify trends and consumer patterns. Having precise measures, the business will be in a position to make instantaneous adjustments. Documenting findings and utilizing findings to reduce inefficiencies is an important process in maintaining its competitive edge.

Conclusion

McDonald's has been able to achieve the position of market leader in the fast food sector by employing well-crafted strategies targeting different global markets. Its emphasis on training, promotion, and customer care has established it as a force to be counted on. Innovation, price, and sustainability will equip McDonald's with the tools to combat adversity in the future as well as enhance its bond with global consumers. Want to know more? Go to desklib's website and find out more about this topic with our AI researcher tool.

[kwikpic]

Why Photographers Are Switching to Smart Sharing Photo Apps

Efficiency, security, and client satisfaction are more crucial than ever. Gone are the days when photographers would spend hours organizing, tagging, and manually sharing images. The new trend? Smart sharing photo apps that use advanced technology to simplify and automate the entire image sharing process.

1. Speed and Automation Save Time

Traditional photo sharing methods—emails, cloud drives, or social media uploads—can be slow and tedious. Smart sharing photo apps automate the process using features like:

Auto-tagging with face recognition

Batch uploading tools

Group-based sharing based on events or client names

These tools drastically cut down turnaround time. Photographers can now upload hundreds of event photos and automatically deliver them to the right people within minutes. This not only improves client satisfaction but also helps photographers focus more on their creative work.

2. AI-Powered Face Recognition for Instant Delivery

One of the most compelling features of smart sharing photo apps is face recognition technology. These apps can scan images, identify individuals, and automatically send photos to the right recipients.

Imagine covering a 300-person wedding and having the app instantly deliver every guest their pictures—without lifting a finger post-event. That’s the power of AI.

Apps like Kwikpic offer this functionality, making them particularly popular among wedding and event photographers who handle large volumes of photos and tight deadlines.

3. Enhanced Privacy and Permissions Control

Smart sharing photo apps offer granular control over who sees what. Unlike social media platforms or public galleries, these apps allow photographers and clients to:

Set password-protected albums

Manage individual viewing permissions

Share links with expiration dates

Enable or disable downloads

This added layer of control makes these apps ideal for private events like weddings, family functions, and corporate shoots where discretion is essential.

4. Better Branding Opportunities

For photographers looking to grow their business, branding is key. Many smart sharing photo apps provide options to:

Add custom watermarks

Embed photographer logos

Customize the gallery theme to match your brand identity

Link viewers to your website or social media

These built-in marketing tools help convert photo viewers into potential clients, making photo sharing not just a delivery step, but a brand-building opportunity.

5. Client Satisfaction = Referrals

Smart photo sharing isn’t just about making life easier for photographers—it enhances the client experience too.

Clients no longer have to chase photographers for weeks to get their photos. They receive personalized galleries almost instantly, organized and ready to download or share. This fast, seamless service often results in positive reviews and word-of-mouth referrals.

For event photographers, this kind of service can mean the difference between a one-time client and long-term business growth.

6. Cloud Storage with Organization Features

Most smart sharing apps come with integrated cloud storage, allowing photographers to:

Access files anytime, anywhere

Organize galleries by client, date, or event

Back up photos securely

Avoid clutter on their devices

The combination of smart sharing and storage makes these apps a complete solution for managing digital photography workflows.

7. Event Grouping and QR Sharing

Smart sharing photo apps also shine at live events, where they allow guests to:

Join event groups via QR codes

Upload or download photos in real-time

Stay engaged through instant access to event memories

Photographers can simply display a QR code at the venue, allowing guests to join the event gallery and receive their photos automatically. It’s an innovative, interactive experience that adds value to any shoot.

Conclusion: Smart Photo Sharing Is the Future

With features like AI-powered tagging, privacy controls, branding tools, and real-time delivery, it’s no surprise that photographers are switching to smart sharing photo apps. These platforms aren’t just about sharing images—they’re about transforming the entire photography experience, both for professionals and their clients.

If you’re a photographer still relying on traditional sharing methods, it might be time to explore smart platforms like Kwikpic, which combine innovation, simplicity, and performance in one seamless experience.

[bg6788gamenet]

Exploring the Excitement and Strategy Behind the BG 678 Game

The BG 678 Game has quickly become a favorite among gaming enthusiasts due to its engaging gameplay, thrilling challenges, and dynamic user interface. With an ever-growing fan base, BG 678 Game stands out in the competitive world of online games, offering players a unique experience that blends entertainment with strategy. Whether you are a casual gamer or a seasoned competitor, BG 678 Game has something exciting in store for everyone.

What Is the BG 678 Game?

BG 678 Game is a high-energy online game that combines elements of strategy, action, and chance. Known for its fast-paced rounds and intuitive controls, the game has attracted a diverse community of players from around the globe. Whether played on mobile or desktop, the BG 678 Game provides an accessible platform where users can test their skills, challenge opponents, and win rewards.

Unlike many other games, BG 678 Game places a strong emphasis on quick decision-making and tactical thinking. Players must use their wit, reflexes, and a bit of luck to progress through various levels and obstacles. Each session presents new scenarios, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging over time.

Key Features of BG 678 Game

One of the standout features of BG 678 Game is its sleek and user-friendly design. The interface is clean and modern, allowing players to focus fully on the action without unnecessary distractions. The game is also regularly updated with new content, keeping players excited and involved.

Another major draw is the game's multiplayer mode. Players can compete with friends or challenge random opponents worldwide, climbing the leaderboards and earning recognition within the community. The competitive edge of the BG 678 Game adds another layer of excitement and encourages players to continually improve their strategies.

Additionally, the game includes a reward system where players can earn points, virtual currency, or bonuses. These incentives add to the thrill, pushing users to engage more deeply and return for repeated play sessions.

Why BG 678 Game Is Gaining Popularity

There are several reasons why BG 678 Game is rapidly growing in popularity. First and foremost, it offers a balanced blend of fun and competition. While some games lean too heavily on either casual or hardcore elements, BG 678 Game finds the perfect middle ground. It appeals to a broad audience—young and old, beginner or expert.

Moreover, the game’s accessibility plays a big role in its success. It is easy to download and doesn’t require high-end devices to function smoothly. This means more players can join the action without facing technical hurdles.

Social interaction is another major factor. With built-in chat features, ranking systems, and community events, BG 678 Game allows players to feel connected to others, making the experience more engaging and less solitary.

Final Thoughts

The BG 678 Game has established itself as more than just another digital pastime. It’s an immersive experience that challenges the mind, sharpens reflexes, and encourages social interaction. As more players discover its rich features and competitive spirit, it’s clear that BG 678 Game is here to stay.

For anyone looking to dive into a game that’s both entertaining and mentally stimulating, BG 678 Game is a top contender. With ongoing updates and an active community, the future looks bright for this exciting gaming platform. Whether you're playing for fun or chasing victory, the BG 678 Game promises endless hours of enjoyment.

[cassparking]

Optimize Space with Cass Parking’s Intelligent Parking Management System

In today's urban environments, efficient use of space is more critical than ever. Cities are expanding rapidly, vehicle ownership is on the rise, and traditional parking infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. This is where Cass Parking steps in with its intelligent, technology-driven Parking Management System — designed to streamline operations, reduce congestion, and optimize space like never before.

Whether it’s a shopping mall, airport, hospital, office complex, or residential society, Cass Parking offers customizable solutions to enhance the parking experience and operational efficiency. With real-time monitoring, automation, and integration with an advanced Parking Guidance System, the brand delivers a future-ready parking ecosystem.

What is a Parking Management System?

A Parking Management System (PMS) is a centralized solution that automates the process of vehicle entry, exit, space allocation, fee collection, and occupancy tracking. It eliminates the need for manual ticketing, reduces human error, and improves security and revenue control.

Cass Parking’s intelligent PMS stands out by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as:

ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)

RFID-based access control

Digital payment systems

Smart sensors and IoT

Mobile-based parking apps

Real-time data analytics and reporting

All of these features work in tandem to make parking more efficient, secure, and user-friendly.

The Challenges of Traditional Parking

Before understanding the benefits, let’s consider what challenges outdated parking systems pose:

Space Wastage: Inability to monitor and allocate space in real-time leads to inefficient usage.

Traffic Congestion: Vehicles circle endlessly looking for a free spot, increasing road traffic.

Revenue Leakage: Manual systems are prone to fraud and unaccounted losses.

Poor User Experience: Drivers face delays, unclear signage, and limited payment options.

Lack of Data: No historical records for occupancy patterns, peak hours, or customer behavior.

Cass Parking addresses all of these issues with a smart, data-driven approach.

Key Features of Cass Parking’s Intelligent Parking Management System

1. Automated Access Control

Cass Parking utilizes RFID, QR codes, or ANPR cameras for automated entry and exit. This minimizes vehicle queues, especially during peak hours, and improves traffic flow.

2. Real-Time Parking Guidance System Integration

The Parking Management System is enhanced by a fully integrated Parking Guidance System that uses sensors to track available slots and guide drivers via digital displays and mobile apps. This dramatically reduces search time, frustration, and emissions from idling vehicles.

3. Digital Ticketing and Cashless Payments

Users can pay through UPI, wallets, credit/debit cards, or dedicated parking apps. The system also supports ticketless entry, reducing paper use and operational costs.

4. Dynamic Space Allocation

The system assigns vehicles to zones or levels based on real-time availability, ensuring maximum space utilization — especially in multi-level or large parking facilities.

5. Data-Driven Reporting

Operators gain access to valuable insights through dashboards and automated reports. This includes peak usage times, revenue data, maintenance alerts, and customer patterns.

6. Customizable for Different Sectors

Cass Parking’s solution is modular and can be tailored for commercial complexes, public parking lots, hospitals, airports, gated communities, universities, and more.

Benefits of Implementing Cass Parking’s Parking Management System

✅ Maximized Space Utilization

By tracking space occupancy in real-time and guiding users effectively, the system ensures that every available slot is used optimally.

✅ Enhanced User Convenience

The integration with the Parking Guidance System makes the user experience smoother and stress-free by reducing the time spent searching for a spot.

✅ Reduced Operational Costs

Automation minimizes the need for manpower, and real-time monitoring allows for predictive maintenance and better resource planning.

✅ Environmental Impact

By eliminating unnecessary vehicle movement within the lot, the system helps reduce CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption.

✅ Improved Security

With ANPR and surveillance integration, unauthorized access is minimized, and vehicle tracking becomes more accurate and efficient.

✅ Scalable and Future-Ready

As cities move toward becoming smart cities, Cass Parking’s modular PMS can be expanded and integrated with broader smart infrastructure networks.

Real-World Applications of Cass Parking’s System

Cass Parking’s Parking Management System has already transformed operations for multiple sectors:

Retail Malls: Ensures seamless entry, reduces congestion, and boosts shopper satisfaction.

Airports: Manages high-traffic volumes with speed and precision.

Hospitals: Reduces delays in emergency scenarios and provides priority access.

Corporate Offices: Enhances employee satisfaction and streamlines visitor access.

Residential Societies: Offers secure, automated, and fair parking for residents and guests.

Each implementation includes custom features based on facility size, expected traffic, and user behavior.

The Role of the Parking Guidance System

A core feature that significantly enhances the PMS is the Parking Guidance System. It comprises:

Ultrasonic or camera-based sensors to detect vacant/occupied spots

LED indicators to guide users

Digital signage at entrances and critical decision points

Mobile integration for spot reservation or tracking

By eliminating uncertainty and minimizing circulation time, the guidance system improves efficiency and user satisfaction across the board.

Why Choose Cass Parking?

Cass Parking has earned a reputation for delivering intelligent, reliable, and scalable parking solutions. Here's what sets them apart:

Years of experience in parking automation and traffic management

In-house R&D and tech innovation

Customization capabilities for various industries

Local and international project experience

Round-the-clock customer support and maintenance

Cass Parking is not just offering a product — it's offering peace of mind and futuristic infrastructure solutions.

Conclusion

In an age where space is at a premium and efficiency is a priority, implementing a robust Parking Management System is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. With its intelligent automation, real-time monitoring, and seamless Parking Guidance System integration, Cass Parking empowers cities, businesses, and institutions to revolutionize how parking works.

If you’re looking to optimize your parking infrastructure and deliver a better experience to users while enhancing operational performance, Cass Parking is the trusted partner you need.