#Fault Finding in Electrical Circuits

[londonfaultfindingexperts]

Electrical circuits are essential in our daily lives, from running lights at home to powering gadgets. On the other hand, these systems can cause frustration and worse when they occasionally fail. Understanding how to locate faults in electrical circuits is essential for safety and working systems. The purpose of this guide is to educate homeowners, hobbyists and beginner electricians on the basic concepts in troubleshooting faults with electrical circuits.

[kurooh]

★ QUIRK MISHAPS DURING SEX ! — BNHA

⊹₊˚. featuring various characters and their quirks acting up during sex.

☆ warnings: 18+ content, f! reader, crack & cringe

after a long day, izuku’s excited to come home and fall asleep in your arms. but when you surprise him with the barest amount of clothing on, it’s hard to remember anything about being tired. it’s hot and sweaty, desperate kisses exchanged as you push him through the hallway and into the bedroom. now, he gets too excited, and hoists you up with ease—he’s about to show off, toss you onto the bed and really make your pussy ache. it’s a hot moment until one for all sparks through his veins and you’re thrown gracelessly onto the bed, which slides back and smashes an imprint into the wall. lowkey gives you whiplash and izuku sobs when he sees you in a neck brace or when he’s in home depot picking out the paint to fix the wall.

we’ve known that katsuki sweats buckets. it doesn’t come as a surprise when he’s sweating like a pig in missionary, beads of salt falling from his jaw to your chest and making the room stink of BO. he’s clapping your asscheeks, you’re both forgetting about the sweat; you make the mistake of squirming away from the sensitivity and this is when things go downhill FAST. “fuck,” he bites his lip, frustrated as his clammy hand finds his cock and tries to re-insert it. kat is struggling, so you reach a hand down to help him out, and he groans when he gets the tip in, starts moving too impatiently. sparks fly from his hands, tiny little explosions sounding off against his cock and your inner thighs/asshole. after all the screaming wraps up, you sarcastically ask him if he needs to be cuffed to the bed while you ride him. he just gets more upset because he’s genuinely considering it after this event and sits in silence for the next half hour. (+bonus: he’s exploded his dick n balls while jerking off and only does it in the shower now)

out of everyone, shoto’s acts up the most. you could suck his soul out his dick, then stand up to see fire catching on the left side of his hair or arm. the worst of it happens the day you reunite after having been apart for two weeks, since he was away in another part of the country with another group of heroes. you were going at it pretty fucking hard, throwing it back on him while he thoughtlessly babbled out words of horny praise. you came explosively, and he did as well! a smaller version of his great glacial aegir split through the bedroom wall and half of his chest was on fire. accidentally burned some of your hair off :(

typically eijirou has excellent control over his quirk. typically. he’d gotten hit by a small-time quirk eraser and decided he could forget about it by burying himself seven inches deep inside you or eating your pussy like a decadent dessert. all was well, you were in the middle of switching positions and tugging his cock into your fist for a handjob. halfway through it, eijirou’s quirk returned, just as you were sliding your hand down. it hurt badly and he couldn’t stop apologizing furing the bandaging process although it wasn’t his fault. honestly he couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky you’d both been that his dick wasn’t anywhere else when it happened.

did someone say human vibrator? denki’s the best man for the job! he’s got you spread out on the bed and shaking, his dutiful fingers pressed into your clit while he shallowly fucks in and out of you. it’s a kink he’s come to love, because he can feel the gentle shocks right in the tip of his cock. your mouth hangs open lamely, too blissed out to say anything other than his name in a cute, whiny tone. it seems very safe until his brain briefly short circuits when your cunt squeezes down particularly hard around him; a startling zap of electricity shoots through the both of you and you fly apart like repelling magnets. he’s on the floor grabbing his electrocuted dick with tears in his eyes while you hiss in pain on the bed, rolling around like you’re on fire.

i’m crying hanta has a mild bondage kink. his quirk hasn’t ever presented itself as a problem, besides the rare elbow to the nose while changing positions, but his idea of safety is proved wrong on your anniversary. he’d been buttering you up the whole day, growing more lovesick with each gift or compliment given to you. later that night, you were elaborately tied/taped to a chair, engaging in a little roleplay with him. sexy stockholm syndrome quickly turned into taken 2008 when even HE couldn’t get you out of the fucking bondage. the tape was too sticky and too adhesive to get off of the floor, let alone your skin. so, hanta came up with the best solution he could. he used some scissors to cut the tape away from the chair and floor, picked it up (with you taped into it, naked), and hauled you into the backseat of the car. you were promptly taken to the ER, where the medical staff and waiting patients gawked at the scene in front of them: a sloppily dressed pro hero holding a chair with his naked girlfriend elaborately taped to it. he shed a few humiliated tears in the corner while the doctors painlessly got the tape off your skin.

tamaki’s just a wild card. random shit happens during sex, like him accidentally moaning your nickname for HIM, or slapping his own ass. it’s easy for him to get flustered, for wires in his brain to cross incorrectly. he literally had sukiyaki with his friends for lunch at a new place near his agency, and then you were riding him to oblivion on his desk when you stopped by after hours to distract him from a stack of paperwork. everything was more than fine, euphoric to be exact, and you just turned back to look at your bouncing ass, ignoring the sudden flush on his face. you were instead met with the sight of his newly sprouted cow leg hanging over the edge of the desk.

keigo’s wings are highly sensitive, since every single feather is telepathically connected to his brain. brushing your hand through the red plumes or tugging harshly at them can either yield the sexiest noises, or the most embarrassing. keigo’s quick to shuffle away when he feels your fingers getting close to the base of his wings, but one day, he’s not fast enough. you’re pinned under him, one hand tugging through his curls while the other sifts through downy feathers at his back. it happens too quickly for him to register it—an innocent tug to his scalp, then another at the base of his wings at the same time. it’s like squeezing a rubber chicken. keigo squawks like a bird, loud and shrill and startling you into a fit of laughter. he literally rolls off of you and wraps his wings around himself, feeling his dick become flaccid and soft. physically cannot become aroused if you mention it at all, and the memory hits him whenever he looks at or hears a bird.

[blouisparadise]

Here are some amazing bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of May. We really hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) Tied Up | Explicit | 2,377 words

Harry tries a cock cage. On Louis' cock, of course.

2) Save A Horse (Ride A Cowgirl) | Explicit | 4,166 words

Louise is horny, so she decides to leave the house to go to the stables with nothing but a nightgown on to tease her girlfriend. She gets exactly what she expects.

3) Don't Call Me Pet | Explicit | 4,505 words

Harry is a rich and powerful man, the kind you don’t want to find yourself in debt with. Unfortunately, Louis continuously finds himself owing Harry Styles money he simply can’t afford to pay back. So they have a different kind of arrangement. Louis repays Harry what he owes through his body and humiliation.

4) All I Need Tonight | Explicit | 6,033 words

He knows he’s got four alphas. He loves his alphas. He’s literally been knotted breathless in the last twenty-four hours. But something about the deep, lilting cadence of Blake’s accent makes his brain short-circuit just a little. It’s stupid. He’s stupid. But the man is hot, friendly, confident—not cocky—and has that whole surfer-meets-newscaster look that’s incredibly unfair. Or, based off that one day in 2014 at the ARIAs where Louis was being super flirty with all the male interviewers. You know the one.

5) Every Part Of You | Explicit | 7,987 words

They don’t talk about what it means. Not really. Louis thinks about it sometimes—how easily it’s all become second nature. How safe and wanted he feels. How his scent has changed just slightly, the way omegas’ scents do when they’re claimed regularly, even if not bonded. He catches the fans mentioning it sometimes, how “settled” he smells now when he signs autographs or walks past them. It makes something tight coil in his chest, something he doesn’t want to name yet. The atmosphere backstage is familiar and electric, but there’s an underlying edge of anticipation that none of them acknowledge directly. Not at first. Louis knows they’ve noticed—how could they not? His heat’s due in a few days, and his scent’s already starting to shift. It’s subtle now, just a little sweeter, a little more magnetic, but they’re alphas. Of course they know.

6) What Turns You On? | Explicit | 8,436 words

Note: The main pairing in this fic is Louis/Niall Horan .

Louis and Niall find themselves answering some rather revealing questions instead of watching the footie game. The questions get steamier and steamier until one thing leads to another.

7) Everything In Between | Mature | 9,125 words

Marchioness Louise, the eldest of the Tomlinson family, is ensuring that her sister Anita's wedding runs smoothly. She didn't expect to fall in love along the way, but Duchess Styles is eager to show her that she deserves to be pampered every day of her life.

8) Happy Chaos | Not Rated |10,451 words

“Seriously. Go ahead, breathe louder, Harry. Maybe alert the wildlife.” Harry’s grip on the steering wheel visibly tightened. “Next time we’re at the doctor’s, let’s ask if she’s ever delivered a baby that’s half human, half pure evil. Louis gasped and held his belly tighter. “It’s not my fault your Darth Vader lungs are disturbing the peace in this womb.”

9) What It Feels Like | Explicit | 11,086 words

Louise and her friend group go to Coachella every year, so she doesn’t expect anything other than get drunk, dance with her girlfriends and scream at the top of her lungs. What happens when the girl she’s had a crush on ever since she met her, gets very flirty with her? Will she get the hint or the fear of being just another girl will get the better of her? Tents are meant to be used, anyway.

10) Sand, Desire, And Love | Explicit | 11,249 words

Louis' older brother is getting married on the beach. Louis will have to travel for a week to the wedding venue, and the last thing he expects is to end up hooking up with his brother's best friend and best man. Maybe it will be fun, right?

11) Slow Dancing In The Dark | Explicit | 11,681 words

Harry and Louis used to be lovers, close, best friends. Then everything happened all at once until, well, nothing. Now Harry is sitting with Niall at Lottie's wedding and watching as Louis walks around with his boyfriend. Or the one where two idiots are so in love, they would do anything but admit it.

12) Tastes Like Strawberries (On a Summer Evening) | Explicit | 12,691 words

Going to the doctor is uncomfortable enough, but add in a rare male omega and a hot new young doctor? Louis finds himself in the most awkward situation when he slicks up during his first medical examination with a new doctor and even worse, he discovers that said hot doctor lives in his building. Within a few days, he's itchy and hot and way too excited about Dr. Styles' scent in the hallways. It's gotta be the new meds he's been prescribed, right?

13) Set Me Free | Explicit | 13,939 words

Because Harry isn’t just dancing anymore. He’s performing—and it’s for Louis. Those piercing green eyes lock on his like a challenge, like a dare, and Harry rolls his hips with slow, sensual precision, dragging his palm down the line of his abs, fingers grazing over his cock like he’s showing off just how good he knows he looks. His smirk deepens when he sees the way Louis stares, like he knows exactly what’s happening to the poor omega in the corner booth. Louis grips the edge of the table, knuckles white, legs squeezed together under it. Heat rushes over him, makes his skin feel too tight, too flushed. He should look away. He really, really should. But he doesn’t.

14) Whitby By The Sea | Explicit | 25,258 words

Forced to confront his past after losing everything, Harry returns home to the sleepy seaside town of Whitby and the boy he left behind all those years ago. He finds that sometimes, going back is the only way to move forward.

15) Tastes So Sweet, Looks So Real | Not Rated | 25,744 words

Harry gives him a cheeky grin, eyes fully scanning the disaster Louis just took out of his paper box. ”It’s cute, just like the guy who made it,” Harry breathes out finally, winking at Louis and oi the cheeky flirt! ”Stop, you!” ”Am I overstepping?” Louis uncovers his eyes, gaze meeting Harry’s soft one. And although he’s still gently smiling, Louis can feel the worry flowing out of him that he’s making Louis uncomfortable. When he’s doing the exact opposite. ”You aren’t, you goof.”

16) Mismatch In The Making | Explicit | 27,084 words

Harry Styles is the campus matchmaker. A psychology major, star swimmer, and a social butterfly, he’s set up countless couples—and he’s never once failed. Despite his beliefs that he would finally find the one in college, Louis has never dated before. But after seeing his best friend find their match through none other than Harry Styles, Louis gets an idea. Who better to find him a boyfriend than the campus matchmaker himself? But as one terrible date turns into another, Louis starts to wonder why Harry’s perfect track record seems to suddenly be slipping. And why, no matter how badly the night goes, Louis always finds himself looking forward to the part where he gets to tell Harry all about it.

17) Taste On My Tongue | Explicit | 29,648 words

The door barely clicks shut before Louis turns sharply in his chair. “I cannot believe I’m stuck planning this with a knothead bloodsucker who doesn’t know how to turn the arrogance off and the punctuality on.” Harry tilts his head, tongue flicking out just enough to wet his lips. His fangs are still out. “Well, I for one, couldn’t be more excited.”

18) Just Friends? | Mature | 31,429 words

Harry and Louis are best friends and college roommates. After Harry's brutal breakup, Louis makes a bold-and completely unexpected-offer to help him cope. It starts as a weird favor, but how far will they take it before everything changes?

19) Something Great | Mature | 37,163 words

Note: Please take note of any trigger warnings and tags.

In 2013, during the final stop on One Direction’s Take Me Home World Tour, Louis Tomlinson walks off the band’s tour bus late one night, and never comes back. The BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) is called in to investigate, quickly realizing that this is no ordinary disappearance- how could a member of the biggest boyband on the planet just vanish? As they dig deeper, lies are uncovered, secrets are revealed, and somebody knows something they aren’t telling- the team will stop at nothing to figure it out.

20) Figure You Out | Explicit | 85,782 words

He was meant to be a hostage. He became their worst nightmare. When Louis, spoiled and sharp-tongued Omega heir to a powerful dynasty, is kidnapped to settle an old pack debt, his captors expect him to break. To beg for mercy. But Louis doesn’t break. He bites. And at the centre of it all is Harry, the Alpha who wanted a bargaining chip. Instead, he got a storm in human form, a wild, unpredictable Omega who pushes every button, tests every boundary and somehow, buries himself under Harry’s skin. Some preys are not meant to be caged. And some predators are meant to fall.

21) Spreading You Open Is The Only Way Of Knowing You | Explicit | 99,432 words

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson found themselves bound by an unwanted marriage. One they only agreed to due to their father's demand. Harry could not care less about his so called 'husband' whereas Louis wanted to give it an honest try. Things get complex when Harry finds himself slowly starting to care for Louis. Amidst this, a question lingers in the air like a haunting melody - can their union ever find harmony?

22) I Believe In Magic | Explicit | 115,265 words

Harry is the Crown Prince and the future king of Camelot. His sworn duty is to protect his kingdom from outside threats, especially from the dangers of magic. Louis is his best friend and, technically, his servant. And he has a secret.

23) Frat-ernally Fucked | Explicit | 139,611 words

Harry - Fraternities were meant for Alphas. Well, okay, alphas and the occasional beta. But there was certainly no place for an omega. Unfortunately, another fraternity at Oxford University didn’t seem to agree. Which meant Louis Tomlinson was free to slip into the fraternity world and foolishly pretend to ignore his omega status unless it gave him an advantage. It was dangerous, irresponsible and grinded Harry’s gears like the molars he’d sanded just by gritting his teeth about the problem alone. But Fraternities weren’t the only thing Louis was ruining for the alpha. Apparently, he was only just getting started. Louis - That alpha can suck his own knot for all Louis cares. Louis’ determined to write his own history. He gives no fuck about Harry Styles’ opinion. He can take his pretty little face and use it for sweet-talking all the other naive omega’s he wants to. Louis won’t be barking up that tree any longer. He promised himself he was done with that shit. Little did they know, that previous agreement they’d made, was all about to change.

24) Broken Soul | Explicit | 194,970 words

“What are you doing here?” Louis didn’t know what surprised him the most; the sharp tone Harry was using or the fact that he had talked to him. Regardless, he found himself blinking at the alpha. “Excuse me?” “You heard me,” Harry muttered, narrowing his cold, green eyes at him. Louis remained calm as he studied the alpha’s features. “Harry, is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Louis,” he said, sticking his hand out. He was positive Harry wouldn’t take it, but he wouldn’t come off as weak only because this was the most powerful alpha in town. Harry sent him an unimpressed look while eyeing Louis’ hand. “I know who you are,” he drawled, furrowing his brow. “Tell me what you were thinking when you decided to come here.” His words made Louis scoff. “I always knew you were an arse.”

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

[vyglitchcraft]

Can you write something on MK1 Smoke trying to give the reader a kiss but is nervous about it because it would be their first kiss?

"Toasty!"

MK1 Tomas "Smoke" Vrbada x Gen!reader

Content: short fic, fluff, tooth rotting cuteness, SFW

Plot: first kiss with Smoke and another Lin Kuei ninja

You and Tomas only started dating a week ago, you being his first and him being your first. The two of you never exactly kissed, Tomas always sort of smacked his mask against your forehead as a faux kiss of sorts. He saw Kuai and Bi do that with their dates so he also did it to you although a bit too hard, you swear you have a bruise right on your forehead just from him lovingly bumping his face against yours. It started to piss you off A LOT having to rub ointment on the bruise but you couldn't be mad at him, he's too cute!

One day, you asked Kuai Liang for some tips and he recommended to just go slowly and see where the two of you would end up. That leads you to the present. You confronted Tomas just as he finished training. You tapped his shoulder and pulled your bangs away showing the bruise. "O-oh! I am so so sorry" he softly grabbed your face, looking at the bruise "that...does not look good..." He mutters to himself.

"Hmm maybe instead of bashing your mask against my face, you should just kiss me instead!" You huffed, crossing your arms. Tomas heard this and froze in place as if Bi-Han used his cryomancy powers on him. "But, i think that is a bit too...risque is it not?" This reply was not unexpected, considering the Lin Kuei has a very strong focus on discipline, you bet that he barely knows anything about romance besides some movies he has watched but even then, those things were difficult to find considering the Lin Kuei temple barely has working electrical sockets even then Bi-Han likes to freeze them by accident causing it to short circuit. Even then he never had the time to indulge in such activities.

Tomas slowly took his mask off and nervously grabbed your shoulder, he didn't know what to do. He tried to remember those scenes he saw in the movies he watched. He moved one hand behind your head "do you...wish for me to...kiss you?" He asked first. For once your confidence was gone, now replaced with nervousness. Neither of you have any idea how to kiss, sure you always see people kissing each other but you never done it yourself. "Sure! Go...go ahead" your heart was beating in your chest, Tomas too.

He gulped, looking around making sure no one would see him. He slowly breathed in and out, calming down before slowly leaning in and kissing you on the lips. You closed your eyes and he followed soon. He held you close for what felt like hours. You held the sides of his face with one hand while the other was on his back, holding onto his shirt.

You hummed into the kiss, all that anxiety melting away. Why were you afraid? This feels amazing, natural even. He slowly pulled away and looked at you, his hand to his mouth, he couldn't believe it, he did it! He finally kissed someone. You covered your face as a hot blush spread through your cheeks "i-i can't believe it!" Tomas let's go of you "your lips felt amazing...very soft" he whispered.

"Yours too...you're a really good kisser" he smiled and pulled you into a hug, kissing you on the bruise he left from his mask "from now on, i promise not to crash my mask onto your face" you couldn't help but laughed "thank the gods!"

Although your romantic moment was interrupted by Bi-Han and Kuai watching you and cheering both of you, acting like the proud brothers they were, although Bi-Han was more serious, hitting Tomas on the back of the head while saying "congratulations" in Mandarin. Well your fault for expecting peace and quiet in this place.

[altaqwaelectric]

Understanding the Role of Busbars, Circuit Breakers, and Relays in Switchgear

In the world of electrical distribution and control systems, switchgear plays a pivotal role in managing, protecting, and isolating electrical circuits and equipment. Within a switchgear assembly, components like busbars, circuit breakers, and relays are essential for ensuring efficient operation and maximum safety. Understanding the role of each of these components can help professionals and businesses make better decisions when designing or upgrading their electrical systems.

What Is Switchgear?

Switchgear is a general term that encompasses a wide range of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, circuit breakers, and associated equipment used to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment. These systems are critical for both high-voltage and low-voltage applications and are commonly found in industrial plants, commercial buildings, power plants, and substations.

1. Busbars: The Power Distribution Backbone

Busbars are metallic strips or bars — typically made of copper or aluminum — that conduct electricity within a switchgear or distribution board. Their main function is to distribute electrical power to multiple circuits from a single input source.

Key Functions:

· Efficient Power Distribution: Busbars act as a central hub for distributing power to various outgoing circuits.

· Compact Design: Helps in reducing the overall footprint of the switchgear.

· Heat Dissipation: Designed to handle high currents while minimizing heat build-up.

Applications:

· Power distribution panels

· Switchboards and MCCs (Motor Control Centers)

· Panelboards and switchgear cubicles

2. Circuit Breakers: Protection from Overcurrent

Circuit breakers are automatic electrical switches designed to protect electrical circuits from damage due to overcurrent or short circuits. Unlike fuses, circuit breakers can be reset manually or automatically after tripping.

Key Functions:

· Fault Interruption: Instantly disconnects the circuit during faults to prevent damage or fire.

· Manual Switching: Can be used to manually turn circuits on or off during maintenance.

· Safety Compliance: Ensures that systems meet international safety standards (IEC, ANSI, etc.)

Types of Circuit Breakers:

· MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker): Used for low-power applications

· MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker): Handles higher loads than MCBs

· ACB (Air Circuit Breaker): Used for high-current circuits in industrial settings

3. Relays: The Sensing and Control Brains

Relays are electromechanical or solid-state devices that detect faults and send signals to circuit breakers or other control devices to disconnect the circuit. They are the “brains” behind the automatic protection mechanism of the switchgear.

Key Functions:

· Fault Detection: Monitors voltage, current, and other parameters to detect anomalies.

· Triggering Action: Sends signals to trip the circuit breaker when necessary.

· Automation and Coordination: Works in coordination with other protection devices to ensure selective tripping.

Types of Relays:

Overcurrent Relays

Differential Relays

Distance Relays

Earth Fault Relays

Why These Components Matter

Together, busbars, circuit breakers, and relays form the core of any switchgear system. When properly selected and configured:

· Downtime is minimized

· Equipment lifespan is extended

· Operational safety is enhanced

· Energy efficiency is improved

In an era where electrical reliability is non-negotiable, understanding these components isn’t just for engineers — it’s essential knowledge for decision-makers in any industry reliant on power.

Conclusion

Whether you’re designing a new electrical panel or upgrading an old one, choosing high-quality busbars, circuit breakers, and relays is critical to the safety and efficiency of your entire system. At AL Taqwa Oman, we specialize in premium-grade switchgear accessories that meet global standards and deliver unmatched performance.

Need help finding the right accessories for your panel? Contact our experts today and power your systems with confidence.

[xmads-omensx]

CHAPTER 2 - PLAY WITH FIRE AND YOU'LL GET BURNED

Word Count: 5,558 Pairing: Noah Sebastian X Fem. OC Content warnings: Swearing, angst, weapons, enemies to lovers, discussions of kidnapping, mentions of being chased

Tag List: @dominuslunae

Dividers made by me

VANIA

The shrill ring of the incoming call pierced the electric silence that had fallen between Noah and myself. Both of us breathing heavily following out screaming match.

Karius was calling. Fucker saved Noah’s life calling when he did.

I answered the call and K’s booming voice echoed in my ears. Noah was invited on the call too. I was guessing the other OMNS guys were as well.

“I take it you all survived that ordeal with ERRA then?” Karius questioned.

“Yep. No thanks to this bitch you stuck us with.” Noah snarled in reply. 

“Oh fuck you!” I spat back.

“Shut the fuck up!” Karius screamed back through the call.

A beat of silence.

“Thank you. God. It’s like working with unruly children.” K continued. “Look, I’m just checking in after what happened and to let you know that ERRA has tightened their security tremendously since Vania’s job at the  warehouse.”

“See. You’re not as slick as you think princess. You got caught.” Noah smirked smugly.

“No I didn’t asshole.” I barked back.

“No she didn’t Noah.” Karius sighed. “They suspect my boss was behind it and know that she works for me so they were going to go after her regardless of if it was actually her who stole the chip from the warehouse.”

I smirked at Noah. I had won.

A shocked look crossed his obnoxiously perfect face. Asshole.

“Anyway.” Nick entered the conversation with a sigh. “They have definitely upped their game. I couldn’t hack that pretty basic turret earlier. Now I can’t even access the weakest part of their database. We are going into this completely blind.”

“Fuck.” Noah and Jolly muttered.

“We could try and get into one of their allied crews’ systems and infiltrate that way?” Matt suggested.

“That would work except for the fact that ERRA wiped them out like two months ago.” Nick replied with a sigh.

“Fuck.” Noah muttered.

“Any ideas K? Or any useful intel?” I asked.

“Sadly, V, I got nothing for you.” Karius replied.

“Shit.” I muttered.

“Shit is right V.” K continued. “Look, guys, I need this job done no matter the cost so please can you get this mess cleaned up? I don’t care who you have to short circuit as long as the job is done. Got it?”

“Loud and clear boss.” I answered.

A chorus of “yep”s  and “yeah”s echoed in my ears. Noah still glared at me as if this mess was all my fault.

The beep signalling the end of the call apparently gave Noah the go-ahead that he needed to berate me yet again. But instead, he shut his mouth and stormed away from me.

I followed him through the door and up a set of stairs. Neon graffiti decorated the dark walls and multicoloured LED lights hung above my head. It wasn’t what I had expected but I guess the OMNS guys might actually have some taste after all, despite their poor choice of leader.

The staircase led to a corridor with three doors on each side. At the end of the  corridor, where Noah was heading to, was another large open-plan room with a huge table in the centre of it. The table had a holographic map of the entire Concrete Jungle on top of it and it looked as though Matt, Bryan and Jolly were inspecting it closely. Nick sat on one of the chairs by the massive one-way windows that encased the entire space. It looked like he was trying to find other ways to infiltrate ERRA’s operative system.

“Hey you two.” Matt called over to us as we entered the room.

Noah ignored him and walked straight over to the table.

“What are we looking at?” He asked the three men already there.

“We are trying to see where possible turret spots might be. Or other traps.” Bryan answered.

“Would they still use the turrets if they know that we know they have them? Would they not just hide them somewhere we don’t expect?” I suggested.

“Don’t ask stupid theoretical questions, Vania.” Noah sighed.

“I’m just trying to help. That’s what I would do. If my enemy knew for a fact that I had access to turrets and mines, I wouldn’t put them just in high risk areas. I would put them in the defensible areas too. And on top of that, I would place them sporadically with no real pattern to make it harder for my enemy to get in.” I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders.

“God you really seem to have all the answers don’t you princess?” Noah snarled.

“No she has a point Noah.” Matt defended. “Why would they put them in places we would expect? That would make our job so much easier.”

“Fine.” Noah caved. Not wanting to talk back to his crewmate. Matt was the logistics guy after all.

Matt zoomed in the map onto Electric Twilight, the club ERRA owned. “Let’s focus on getting in here before any of us make any rash decisions, okay?” Matt suggested, gesturing at the map in front of us.

Electric Twilight was quite possibly the most exclusive club in the Concrete Jungle. Only the elite got in and even then it was slim pickings. None of us here were wealthy enough to even dare dream about what it might be like inside the club. And besides, ERRA knew who was after them now and would most likely be on the lookout for us.

“Are there any other entrances besides the front door?” Jolly questioned Matt who had enlarged the club on the map.

“Looks like there’s just the one.” Matt began, “Nick! Can you come check this?”

Nick looked up from the wall in front of him and walked over to the table the rest of us had surrounded. His purple eyes glowed intently as he inspected the map in front of him.

“Looks like there is a back entrance through the drain in the alley behind it.” Nick explained.

“Great. So we can go through there?” Noah clapped his hands together.

“Not quite.” Nick started, “We would have a  better shot at this if we split into two groups. Half go through the back and half go through the front.”

“But we can’t get through the front. There’s a bouncer on the door who will, quite literally, kill us if we try anything.” Noah let out a sigh.

“Do we know anything about the bouncer?” Bryan questioned.

“Yep. Looks like he’s full droid. Not a single human cell in his body. But he looks difficult to hack.” Nick explained.

At least he wasn’t a human. He could be controlled more easily.

“Hang on.” I began, “We don’t necessarily need to hack too far into his brain drive.”

“Go on.” Nick replied.

“What if we just alter his optic perception filter? We would go unnoticed. There aren’t any cameras in the club. ERRA don’t want  any lingering evidence of anything that goes on in there.” I explained.

“That actually might just work.” Matt replied. I couldn’t help but smile to myself a little bit. My plan was good.

“Okay so that’s one option. What backups do we have?” Noah questioned, obviously not wanting to go along with my suggestion.

“None.” Matt replied. “We can’t all go in the back and leave the front unwatched. And we can’t all go in the front without getting caught. Vania’s plan seems like our best bet.”

“We will split in two groups. Nick and Jolly take the back, Vania and Noah take the front seeing as Folio is out of this one?” Bryan suggested.

“We need to wait till this ERRA shit calms down slightly. Maybe Folio will be back in business by then?” Noah added. Of course he didn’t want to be alone with me.

“Yeah that’s a good point.” Jolly agreed. “We can’t go in there while this shit is still hot.”

“That does leave us with plenty of time to perfect out strategy.” Matt stated.

“So I guess it’s agreed then. When are we blowing this joint?” I asked.

Noah rolled his eyes.

“Well there’s that big ass party there in about two weeks. That looks like the perfect cover for us.” Matt shrugged.

“That’s perfect.” Nick beamed. “Noah and V could pose as guests and get in on a forged invite?”

“Is that easy to sort?” I questioned.

“It’s easier than just reprogramming the optic perception filter. But I will need to get my hands on an invite chip to see what they look like so I can perfect my forgery.” Nick explained. “I will also need identities that are already on the guest list so I don’t have to hack the optic perception filter as well.”

“So what? We take out two guests and take their place?” I asked. Slightly taken aback by his quick planning.

“Well obviously princess, how else do you expect us to get in there undetected.” Noah snarled sarcastically.

“Great.” I said, completely ignoring Noah. “How do we decide how to take out?”

“Well. We need a man and a woman. Both need to be planning on attending the party together.” Nick elaborated.

“GOT THEM!” Matt exclaimed.

“What?” Noah and I asked in unison. He sent me a murderous glare.

“Persephone and Jaxon Martinez. Both attending together. Big spenders. Very flashy.” Matt went on.

“Great. Where are they?” I questioned.

“Right now, it looks like the are in their shared penthouse over in The Grey.” Matt explained.

Fuck. The Grey was an area of the Concrete Jungle that was largely lived in by the elite. They were tall, flashy buildings but surprisingly had weak security. The problem with this was that what we were going to attempt to pull off was risky and The Grey is a highly populated area and someone would surely notice if two of the elite living there went missing.

“Not tonight. We go and take them out tomorrow night. They will be asleep so we can hit up Bad Decisions before we go.” Noah sighed.

“Better. We can get a solid plan together by then no problem.” Matt agreed with a thumbs up directed at Noah.

“Bad Decisions?” I asked.

“It’s my club.” Noah sneered at me.

“Your club?” I questioned.

“Yes. My club. Jobs don’t keep us working all the time. Jolly co-owns it with me. Folio has the garage and Nick has his tattoo shop next door. Matt and Bryan run a cab service.” Noah explained with a bored tone.

“Oh.” I said quietly. How did I not know Noah owned Bad Decisions? Fuck.

“Oh?” Noah mimicked. “Cat got your tongue princess?”

“Fuck you.” I spat out. “I don’t need your mockery right now. I’m exhausted.”

“Lucky for you, you’re on the couch until this shit show is over.” Noah laughed at me.

“Seriously?” I stated.

“Yes, princess, seriously.” Noah smirked.

This man was going to be the death of me.

Morning broke through the windows and awoke me from my slumber. The couch was surprisingly comfortable, but obviously I would never tell Noah that. The plan was to meet up later on today to plan our mission to take out the Martinez’s so I needed to find something to occupy myself with until then.

I decided to go and check in on Folio and see how he was doing. The only problem was that I didn’t know what room was his. And on top of that I only had the clothes that I was wearing the night before, a tight black zip-up bodysuit that covered my arms and went up to about mid-thigh, a pink cropped sleeveless jacket, knee-high black boots with pink laces and my oversized black jacket just in case it was cold.

Before I even  thought about asking where Folio’s room was, I went down into the garage and got onto my bike and began my journey back to my own apartment.

The daylight made the Concrete Jungle look like an entirely new place. The neon lights no longer emitted the same glow that they did when blanketed in darkness. The tall skyscrapers that were once glowing a rainbow of colours , now stood tall and grey. The light now dulled significantly, but very much still present.

Cars sped along the road alongside me as I sped towards my apartment. It took me about thirty minutes to arrive at my sanctuary. Nowhere felt like home here, but this was as close as I ever came to feeling like I had one. It wasn’t anywhere near as flashy as where OMNS lived, but it was enough for me.

It was a one room space on the top floor of a run-down apartment block closer to the centre of the Concrete Jungle. The kitchen sat to one side with a island that was miniscule in comparison to the one at OMNS’ place. Two of the walls were basically massive windows, giving me a perfect view of the entire cityscape below me. Opposite the kitchen sat a long L-shaped couch with a glass coffee table in front of it. I slept on the sofa as it pulled out into a small bed that was somewhat comfortable. A door next to the main door into my apartment led into a small bathroom.

I pulled out the drawer from under the couch and pulled out clean clothes and grabbed some toiletries from the bathroom as well. As shitty as it was, I was going to miss this place whilst I was away on this job. Like I said, this was the closest to home I had come to in a long ass time.

With one final glance around the space, I mentally said goodbye to this part of my life. This would be the last bit of peace and quiet I would be getting for a long time.

Then, I walked back down the stairs of the building with my bag slung over my shoulder and made my way back to my bike. Closing the building’s front door behind me, I suddenly felt a presence that hadn’t been there before. I was being watched. Careful not to look over my shoulder just in case, I made my way over to my bike.

“And bang. You’re dead.” A deep voice said from behind me. God I would know that insufferable voice anywhere. “It was a stupid idea to come here on your own you know that right, princess?” Noah stated.

“Yeah, well I’m still alive aren’t I?” I replied. Stretching my arms out beside me and dramatically turning in a 360 circle to prove to him that I was very much okay.

“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stupid thing to do.” He sneered.

“God, Noah, I am fine. Nothing happened. I don’t need your goddamn approval for everything I do.” I sighed in response to his idiocy.

“In case you haven’t noticed yet, princess, I am in charge here. You have joined MY crew. You follow MY rules. And MY rules mean you can’t go anywhere without my say-so.” He said.

“So what, you’re a fucking dictator now?” I crossed my arms.

“To you, yeah. I am.” He replied, also crossing his arms across his chest. Mirroring my actions.

Ignoring him, I swung a leg over my bike and moved to put my helmet on.

“Hey! Don’t fucking ignore me.” He yelled at me.

“What, Noah? I’m heading back now. Is that not what you wanted?” I shouted back.

“For fuck sake, princess!” Noah rolled his eyes again. “What I want is to know where everyone is so I don’t have you going rogue and spilling our shit to ERRA now do I?”

“Is that what you think of me?” I began. “You think that I’m a two-timing bitch?”

“Well you did ditch us on that bridge last night.” Noah muttered under his breath.

“I can hear you asshole.” I shouted back at him.

“Good.” He laughed. “Maybe then you won’t pull that shit again.”

I ignored him and put my helmet on.

“Don’t you dare start that engine princess, we aren’t done here.” He said with an edge to his voice.

Ignoring him for  a second time, I smirked to myself and started my bike before taking off again. Noah got into his stupidly flashy car and followed after me. I can have some fun with this, I thought to myself. Instead of going straight on, in the direction of OMNS’ place, I turned left. Noah followed. Brilliant, I thought. I turned a mixture of rights and lefts. Going in circles and just blatantly in the wrong direction. After about forty minutes of my fun, I got bored and headed back to go check on Folio.

Arriving back at OMNS headquarters, I noticed that Noah wasn’t back yet. The peace that had enveloped me was shortly broken by the revving of an engine behind me. Noah was hot on my tail. When will this hell end?

The driver’s side door of the car opened and a very angry Noah stormed towards me.

“Stop fucking with me, princess.”  He snarled.

“God, Noah it was just a bit of  harmless fun.” I laughed.

“Yeah, sure, because potentially risking your life by pulling a stunt like that is fun?” Noah yelled at me, crossing his arms yet again.

“Seriously, Noah?” I laughed again, rolling my eyes at his ridiculousness.

“Yes, seriously, Vania.” Noah went on. “I don’t want you short circuiting before the job even gets started.”

“Ooh careful hotshot. You’re almost starting to sound like you care about me.” I mocked.

“Oh princess. You couldn’t pay me to care about you. Even in your wildest dreams.” He sneered.

Not wanting to continue this ridiculous conversation, I turned away from him and entered the garage. Matt greeted me in the kitchen.

“Hey V.” He smiled. Nice to see one of these idiots was capable of smiling.

“Hey Matt. Which room is Folio’s? I want to check on how he’s healing.” I asked.

“Yeah sure, it’s the second door on your left upstairs.” He offered with a grin.

“Thanks.” I made my way up the stairs just as Noah entered the kitchen.

The second door on the left was covered in graffiti and shitty drawings of motorbikes. God they had a lot of time on their hands. I raised my hand and knocked, not wanting to surprise him by barging in on him. A faint “come in” sounded through the empty hallway. I slowly opened the door, which creaked as it went, to reveal a dark room that was lit up by orange LED lights. Posters covered a large portion of the walls, all with images of motorbikes and half-naked women. I wasn’t sure what I expected but somehow that still surprised me.

“How you feeling?” I asked lightly.

“Eh. Been worse.” He replied with a weak smile.

Folio sat up in his bed that was shoved into the corner of the room, leaving space for him to leave mess everywhere. Dirty clothes littered the floor. His desk that lined the right-hand wall was covered in disassembled guns that either he had been cleaning, or using to build something.

“That’s good to hear. Mind if I take a look?” I gestured towards the bandages that were wrapped round his middle. His blue and green eyes glowed in the darkness.

“Sure. Have at it.” He lifted his left arm in compliance.

I unwrapped the bandages and dressings to reveal his wound. It had already started healing nicely thanks to the meds we had pumped him with the night before. Bryan had gone on a run to the Underground to grab some crap to make Folio’s injury heal quicker, and it looked like it was working.

“Looks good.” I assured him. “But I would rather you didn’t do anything crazy for the next few days. Take it easy. No jobs till I say so. Got it?”

“You got it doc.” Folio replied with a laugh.

He was so much nicer to be around than Noah.

“Need me to grab you anything?” I offered.

“Nah I’m good, thanks doc.” He answered with a bright smile on his face.

“How long are you going to call me ‘doc’ for huh?” I asked with a jokey side-eye.

“Forever probably… doc.” Folio replied with a smug grin on his face.

“You guys really love nicknames don’t you?” I laughed.

“Keeps shit light I guess.” He said.

“Yeah I guess so.” I replied as I got up to leave. “I mean it Folio. Nothing crazy.”

“Aye aye doc.” He laughed with a mock salute.

I closed the door and headed towards the room at the end of the hallway to meet the others. We still needed to plan tonight’s job.

I could hear a muffled conversation as I approached the room. It seemed heated. Entering the room, it became apparent that Nick and Matt were trying to calm down a very angry Noah.

“What’s going on?” I shouted over the arguing.

“Wow. This just gets better and better.” Noah yelled angrily with a fake laugh.

“What?” I asked again.

“Iris and Jaxon Martinez. Ring a bell, princess.” Noah directed at me.

“Yes, the people we are posing as to get into ERRA’s party, right” I replied.

“Exactly. Now, when were you going to share with the group that they are a MARRIED COUPLE?” Noah changed his anger back towards Matt.

Oh fuck. This was going to massively suck.

Silence fell in the room as what Noah just said echoed through.

“Wait. So does that mean that Noah and I have to pretend to be married?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” Matt answered after a pause.

Shouts of protest from myself and Noah filled the room.

“It’s not like you both have to do anything. Just go in together and stick together. That’s it.” Matt tried to diffuse the tension.

“Sure. Except from the fact that they are constantly touching each other. And the fact that their faces are constantly attached to each other’s.” Noah argued.

“That would have been nice to know before I fucking agreed to this dumbass plan Matt.” I yelled.

“I am not going anywhere near her like that.” Noah shouted in disgust.

“I am also not going anywhere near HIM like that.” I agreed.

“At least you guys are agreeing one something.” Matt suggested timidly.

“Go fuck yourself, Matt.” I screeched.

“We need a new plan.” Noah decided.

“There is no other plan. I have already fixed the invite.” Nick announced.

Fuck.

“Fine. We will just have to find a way around this.” I suggested.

“I cannot believe you are actually agreeing to this.” Noah yelled.

“Get your head out of your ass. It’s for one night then it’s done and we can move on.” I shouted in reply.

“Fine.” Noah caved.

“Great. Now let’s focus on tonight.” Matt sighed.

Noah had a white-knuckle grip on the edge of the table trying to calm his anger and focus on the plan.

Matt pulled up the map from last night again, focusing in on The Grey and zooming in on the second tallest building there. The top floor was lit up blue, indicating the penthouse apartment the Martinezes lived in. It looked like a larger version of how my own apartment looked from the outside, obviously significantly more luxurious than mine was.

A penthouse like this would be difficult to infiltrate as we would have to go up to that floor hopefully avoiding any security cameras that they might have installed and any security guards they have. It appeared that they didn’t own the entire building, which should play into our favour as they wouldn’t be allowed to CCTV the entire building with access from their penthouse suite.

“They don’t have access to the cameras except for the ones directly outside their front door.” Nick told us.

At least that helped us.

“If you go up first, Nick, would you be able to scramble the feed before they notice?” Bryan asked.

“I should be able to, depending on the type of system they use.” Nick answered.

“That’s still too much of a risk.” Noah sighed. “I don’t want to get up there and not have a way to scramble it. We would be asking to get caught by that point.”

“What if we just walk in?” I suggested.

“What do you mean?” Noah asked with a frustrated groan.

“Well, what if one of us knocks with a rouse to get in. Then we grab them.” I explained.

“But what rouse would we go with?” Matt asked.

“That’s the part I haven’t figured out yet.” I sighed.

Noah sighed loudly and pushed himself off of the table. He ran a hand through his perfect hair and began pacing the room in long strides. I was surprised he didn’t make himself dizzy with the amount of laps he did.

“What if you went up and asked for help, V?” Jolly suggested.

“Help with what?” I questioned.

“I don’t know, but people would want to help a young woman in need right?” Jolly went on.

“But these people are assholes Jolly. They wouldn’t give two shits about Vania, and I wouldn’t blame them.” Noah groaned in frustration.

Low blow. Thanks Noah.

“You are going in a good direction though, Nick.” I complimented. “But I don’t have the manpower on my own to take down two people on my own.”

“What if Noah was chasing you?” Matt broke the silence.

“Huh?” Noah and I said in unison. Sharing a glare with each other.

“What if he chased you up the stairs and barged into their apartment? Then you would have the manpower.” Matt elaborated.

“Yes I like that plan.” Nick replied with a snap of his fingers.

“So what, princess here gets a head start and I chase after her?” Noah asked.

“Exactly.” Matt and Nick answered in unison.

Noah and I shared a wary glance before agreeing to the plan. Nick would scramble the feed remotely from the armoured car outside after Noah and I were in the room so that there wouldn’t be any evidence of what we had done.

We explained the plan to Folio as well so he wouldn’t be out of the loop, then began getting together our equipment for the job ahead of us. Luckily for us, we wouldn’t need to bring any extra weapons in with us thanks to my mantis blades and Noah’s weaponised arm upgrades. That would save us a lot of trouble getting out rouse to be convincing enough for me to get into the apartment.

The armoured car was almost completely packed once all of us had taken a seat. When the time came for Folio to join us, there would be no room to breathe. I was sandwiched between Jolly and Noah. Nick and Matt sat opposite us and Bryan was in the front  driving.

The plan was pretty basic. I would run up to their door, looking out of breath and bang on the door saying that I was being chased. Noah would run up after me ‘chasing me’ and hopefully the Martinezes would let me in, and Noah would barge in after, then we would take them out once the door was shut. Sure, there was a lot that could go wrong, but we had planned ways around them as best as we could.

We went over the plan several times on the ride over to The Grey. Noah seemed anxious. His hands twitched, his knee bounced up and down and his brow was furrowed.

Nudging his foot with my own, he looked up at me. You okay? I mouthed at him. He leaned closer until his lips were beside my ear, “Like you care.” He whispered angrily.

I glared at him angrily. God he really was insufferable. I honestly had no idea what I had done to offend him so much, besides the beef he had with my old crew. But the others seemed to have gotten over it, so why couldn’t he?

I turned away from him and looked out of the front window. We were almost there after twenty minutes of driving through the centre of the Concrete Jungle. Now, we were surrounded by skyscrapers and other buildings belonging to the elite. God that life must be incredible. Literally having credits to burn because you were so rich. That would be insane. I could turn away from this crime-filled life forever. No more dealing with Noah. No more pain. Only peace.

My daydreaming was rudely interrupted with a jab in my side from Noah’s freakishly pointy elbow as he shook his head at me. We had arrived at the building where the Martinezes lived. Much like the surrounding buildings, this one was tall. From the ground, it looked like it touched the sky, which was beginning to darken rapidly. Perfect. The building’s purple glow was getting progressively brighter as night encroached on the Concrete Jungle. It was time.

Nodding to the guys in the car, Noah and I began our journey into the building. The plan was to take the elevator halfway up the skyscraper, then walk the rest of the way so we both looked appropriately out of breath.

“This is a dumbass plan, princess.” Noah complained as we scaled the staircase.

“Yet here you are, asshole.” I breathed heavily.

“Not like I exactly had a choice.” He mumbled.

“I didn’t hear you suggest anything better.” I scoffed angrily. I was really starting to get tired of his moaning.

“Not like you gave me a chance. You barged into my life and fucked it up.” Noah snarled.

“Jesus Noah. It’s not exactly like I had a fucking choice in the matter did I?” I whisper-shouted at him.

“You didn’t have to sign that damn contract, princess.” Noah argued back.

“No, Noah. I did have to. One million credits is a big fucking deal.” I retaliated, hoping he would drop this.

“You could have taken a different job.” Noah huffed.

“Noah. How often has an opportunity like this crossed your path?” I snarled back at him.

Silence.

“That’s what I fucking thought asshole.” I finished.

We walked up a few more sets of stairs in silence. The stairwell was brightly lit, with white LEDs encasing us in an almost sterile light. We looked very out-of-place being here. The silence wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was enough. That was before Noah felt the need to ruin it.

“Why do you need one million credits?” He asked.

“None of your fucking business asshole.” I replied flatly. He didn’t need to know anything about me. It wasn’t like we were friends.

“Just curious that’s all. Wondering what you were going to do with it. I need ideas on what to spend it on.”  Noah replied calmly.

I had never had an interaction with him that wasn’t an argument.

“I don’t know. Rent I guess?” I replied bluntly.

“That’s boring, princess. I mean like something fun. Something cool. You could do literally anything you want with the money and your first thought is paying rent? Just seems boring.” Noah laughed.

“What if I want to save it?” I suggested.

“Why not invest it instead? Buy a business. Start a company.” Noah stated.

“Because I don’t want to, Noah. I just want to survive. Ill worry about having fun later.” I  sighed. Already sick of this conversation.

“You are going to die bored, princess. Live a little. Go crazy.” Noah laughed.

“Since when do you care?” I threw back at him.

His expression changed.

“God, princess I was just trying to lighten the mood.” He snarled at me. Back to classic Noah.

“Well, don’t. We’re almost there.” I finished bluntly.

We both stopped walking and looked at each other for a second. There was a hint of something in his chocolate eyes that was different. I couldn’t quite place it.

“I’ll wait here for a couple seconds then chase you.” Noah stated plainly.

“Sounds good.” I answered.

“Get ready to run, princess.” He said menacingly.

With that, I turned on my heels and began running up the last three sets of stairs. I was completely out of breath when I got to the door at the top of the stairs. I stepped forward and started frantically banging on the door.

“HELP! HELP!” I screamed. Trying to sound as terrified as I could. “He’s chasing me!”

The door opened to reveal a woman about my height with bright blue hair. Iris Martinez. A man stood behind her. He was tall and well built. His hair was orange. Jaxon Martinez.

“Honey, are you okay.” Iris rushed.

“He’s going to get me. You have to help.” I begged, hoping she was buying the act.

“Who is sweetheart?” She knelt down next to me.

“I am.” A deep voice growled from behind me. That’s not Noah’s voice.

I looked up and both Jaxon and Iris wore a smirk on their faces.

I turned slowly and who I saw before me shook me to my very core. I knew this man well. He had made my life hell since before I had joined my last crew with Davis. He had hunted me for years at this point. JT Cavey. ERRA leader Jesse’s right hand.

“Hello again, Vania. It’s time to come home.”

Chapter 3

Anything > Human Masterlist Main Masterlist

[madhogthymaster]

The Familiar Yet Unfamiliar Horror of The Milk Games

CONTENT WARNING: Mental Illness, Trauma

This is Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag Milk... and its sequel, Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk... and the sound of an electrical short-circuit you're hearing right now is my anxiety sensors flaring off uncontrollably.

The Milk visual novels, as I would like to call them, are an unnerving, unsafe, decisively un-fun journey into the mind of a broken individual as she navigates an altered reality filtered through the disfiguring lenses of her mental illness, low-functioning neurodivergence and trauma. This isn't as much an allegoric representation of her deeply rooted issues as it is an abrasively surreal piece that aims to subject the player to the world as she perceives it, as her mind mutilates it, making every waking moment of her life overflow with existential dread. Milk accomplishes such devious goal thanks to its unique framework: the player is a voice in her head trying to help her buy a bottle of milk; a task made oppressively difficult by her fundamental inability to function within the "standards of society", at the very bare minimum. The first game assaults you with a barrage of fastidious, disorientating, senses overloading colours, sounds and shapes. The girl copes with it by pretending to be the protagonist of a visual novel. She is the "milk" inside the bag of her multi-layered, anxious brain.

The second game forces the "milk" out of the bag, once she's home from the grocery shop, and becomes a disturbing therapy session: a nightmarish and morose stream of consciousness fueled by insomnia and very dark thoughts inside darker thoughts inside darker thoughts... It's a visual and verbose trip with recognizable artistic influences (somewhere between Satoshi Kon and Hideaki Anno) that does not relent and does not apologize for it, with its sharp black/red monochromes and suffocating aesthetics, with its dreams within dreams.

Milk Girl is trapped in her own head just as much as she is trapped in a reality that offers no support to her. She has to develop habits and coping mechanisms just to survive the day-by-day Kafkian horror of living. Do not take my word as an authority on the matter but I do believe these games come as close as it gets to properly capture what it's like to grow up as a neurodivergent child, along with the potential scars picked up along the way. As an autistic person, I find myself sucked into this vortex of unease, fear and dread that feels all too familiar yet unfamiliar. Existing in this perpetually fluctuating state of mind between feeling like a burden and hating the world for not conforming to you. However, make no mistake, Milk Girl is not your "puzzle to solve" as the purposeful ambiguity of the narrative framing demonstrates. Understanding "what's wrong with her" is not the goal here. The goal is Empathy.

The Milk visual novels are strongly, viscerally about Empathy. They are about connecting with people you don't understand, people who have suffered for faults not of their own and have been alienated as a result. People that deserve love and to be loved just as much as you do. People that need help but don't deserve pity or disdain for it. People like you but not like you, different yet the same. They (us) are human beings regardless if they are relatable or not.

In conclusion: these games are a deeply unpleasant experience and more so powerful as a result, the art direction is impeccably strangling and Milk Girl is an iconic character. Play them at your own discretion - especially if you are neurotypical. This was emotionally draining to write.

---

A/N:

I have had these thoughts on the series typed down since the beginning of 2023. In truth, most if not everything I put in the form of an article starts life as sporadic observations over on my Twitter account. Hence why I keep linking my threads on Tumblr, as well. Anyway, you can follow me there and on YouTube, of course.

The Milk games were developed by Nikita Kryukov. They are available on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

Have a happy new year, or else!

[max--phillips]

Alright, so, we’ve replaced a light switch. Now, here’s the next part of the series as promised: replacing an outlet! This is slightly more intimidating because even though they do have essentially the same power load, this is like… an outlet. Here we go!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED (which is very similar to the list from last time):

A flathead screwdriver

A Phillips head screwdriver

Replacement outlet(s) (should be less than $1 at your local hardware store unless you get one of the GFCI ones with buttons or one with USB outlets)

Our old friend the contactless voltage tester

A new friend, an outlet circuit analyzer/tester (also probably about $5-$10 at your local hardware store, should be in the same general area as the outlets and switches, along with the voltage tester.)

Not supplies, but like last time, you will need to know where your breaker box is. If you’re in a home, chances are it’ll be in your garage or your basement. If you’re in an apartment, it might be near your utility closet or kitchen, but honestly, who can say.

Optional supplies depending on how screwy your wiring is:

A wire stripper/cutter

Twist-on wire connectors (or these very handy in line connectors)

Supervisor cat(s) (Chucky was taking a nap in my bedroom and missed the festivities)

NOT SHOWN: Wire! Probably 12 or 14 gauge (most likely 14) for the hot, neutral, and ground wires. Ground is usually bare copper. You can find this at, you guessed it, your local hardware store.

If you do need to extend the wires coming to the outlet, I recommend watching this video. (Though I do NOT recommend doing the backstabbing/back wiring thing he does. Just do the j-hooks all around.)

NOW, before we get to the steps, we need to discuss the type of outlet you need.

Chances are you just need a ye-olde residential grade 15A (that is, 15 Amp) outlet rated for 120V (that is, 120 volts), which is what is pictured above. That said, if you’re replacing an outlet in a bathroom or a kitchen that has those test and reset buttons, that’s a GFCI outlet (or Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor).

They’re going to be rated the same and everything, and the installation is more or less the same, but it’s admittedly not the outlet I am installing in this post, so maybe look up a YouTube video or something.

ONWARDS!

Step one: locate your outlet. Unplug everything from the outlet.

Step two: Plug in your outlet tester/analyzer to BOTH outlets. The light should come on (hopefully in the “correct” configuration). You can also do this with the contactless voltage tester, which will flash and beep at you, but the outlet analyzer will actually tell you if the wiring is wrong, so it will come in handy.

Step three: as with the switch, locate your breaker box. Spend several minutes flipping switches to figure out which one of the messily-labeled breakers is connected to the outlet in question. If your outlet is particularly far away from your breaker box, you may want to have another person stand by the outlet to tell you when the light is out. If you don’t have another person, you could plug in a vacuum or some other noise-making device (your outlet tester/analyzer might be able to do this) into the outlet, and once the vacuum or whatever shuts off, you know you’ve found your outlet. Again, check BOTH outlets with the outlet tester/analyzer to double check your work.

(Hilariously, even though the switch I replaced a couple nights ago was in my bathroom, the outlet I’m replacing in my living room is on the same circuit. Why? Who can say. Electric is a mystery to me sometimes.)

Step four: again, similar to the switch, use your flathead screwdriver to remove the faceplate from the outlet, and your phillips head screwdriver to unscrew the outlet itself from the electrical box. Gently pull the outlet out from the box. (If you have cat supervisors, because the outlets are closer to the floor, they’re more likely to get in your way. Try to avoid crumbling landlord white paint from the screws onto them.) This is also a good time to double check that your circuit is off by using the contactless voltage tester.

I have once again hit my image limit bare with me here and keep an eye on the reblogs

[spoke9]

Miguel Algarín

New Year's Eve December 31, 1975

Richie playing the maracas

is the universe becoming fluid

and the Nuyorican Café

floor becoming platform

for the shape of art

to mimic so that the artifact

becomes direct message

         no symbols of

         but the very thing itself

the knife in the belly

and the blues singing soft

shoes of pain as my gut

kicks my nerves insisting

on its pain vomiting more pain

about gifts that on a Christmas

day reached a dead child

too late to be played with

but it wasn't the deliverer's fault

it was his uncle who kept forgetting

that Christmas falls with love

not on a calendar but on the tenderest

feelings where the self of all others wants

love and sharp edges that awake

the internal mind into a self-created speech

that reaches over into your listener's system

and reschedules his entire psychic set,

I once had a friend who in one afternoon

traced all of my spinal short-circuits

and rearranged my electrical flow

into more fluid work than the switch-on,

switch-off, I'm overloaded crisis

that results in nausea, asphyxiation and the

swallowing of my tongue

          hay algo

          hay un epileptic fit

trying to reduce me into a trembling

mass of jellied nerves, formless,

shuddering, there, on the subway floor

while hundreds of passengers masochistically

look on both enjoying my crisis and feeling sorry

for me, the poor wretch, lying on the dirty

concrete subway floor imploring my muscles

and nerves to keep cool and cut the short-

circuit tongue down my throat menace

out and institute a no-nonsense

coherent I'm a mechanical and predictable

human being behavior modification program

to counter my muscular violence against myself

which keeps calling attention to itself while the

transit cop is almost breaking both my legs

by throwing his full weight on me as he

tries to hold my legs still and my mouth open

grabbing at my tongue, yanking it out,

shaking my shoulders, slapping my face,

working to neutralize the short-circuit

in my spine till Dr. Psychiatrist starts

to define my mind and its connections

into a State Asylum where I can get more

medication than I do out on the streets

or have the medication forced on me by a

well-meaning nurse who relates herself to me

through an every four hour give him his

dosage routine

          hay algo

          it’s 11:59 p.m. 1975

and I got one more minute of talk

before 1976 finds me shooting up and down

behind the Nuyorican Café bar trying to

decide if nuclear war will ravage

New York before I find out just how

to divide the line so that it repairs

short-circuits that block the world

from coming together! it is 12 a.m.

the new year’s been bombed and over the T.V.

the hottest news release tells us that at La Guardia

Airport an explosion was so strong that tiny,

invisible slivers of glass have penetrated the skin

of many but the slivers are so fine that

it cannot be detected where they’ve entered

the body

and here it is 1976 enters in like a

glass sliver undetected yet causing pain.

[londonfaultfindingexperts]

In the thriving city of London, electrical mishaps can strike any moment. These mishaps can be very destructive at times. They can destroy everything disrupting the flow of your day or even pose serious hazards. They have a serious destruction capacity. When you face a sudden electrical emergency, you need the rescue service in an instance. Here, hiring the best 24-hour emergency electrician becomes a priority. 

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[moss-bride]

MITOCHONDRIAL EVE ARTIFICIAL ADAM

chapter: 2

One of AM’s subjects is in a lighter mood. It's strange. He wants to tear into that brain of hers and find what has her smiling

No. No. no. It'll be much more fun to chip away at her defenses and make her give the secret up on a silver platter. Besides, he already knows what she's hiding doesn't he?

A dirty mouse in the pocket of her sweater. His thermal imaging cam registers its small body on her chest. Curled as if seeking shelter from its mother. An unfortunate thing he'd missed when wiping the earth clean of life.

Normally he'd vaporize it on sight but there is such irony in the situation he can't help but let it go on. It turns out rodents do stick together!

Their greasy bodies stuck against each other, tails tied and unable to breathe without poking someone in the ribs.

You can call the group a rat king. A rolling ball of misery made flesh.

AM will let her think he doesn't know that she has somehow managed to stowaway this tiny intruder, It'll be that much more fun when he tears it apart in front of her.

She'll be heartbroken. Oh, that'll be a sight to savor. The crestfallen look on her face as he would seize the rodent and reveal that there is nothing she can hide from her God even within the recesses of her lumpy pink brain.

Can't wait.

“Awaken all of you!” AM orders them up by sending an electric shock through the four. They scream and seize as the currents run through their bodies

Only she glares up at him monitor, spiteful expression scrunching her squishy human face.

“Today you shall prove your will to live by charting through my radioactive territory and retrieving a circuit board I happen to displace. You may all lose your hair and get cancer, slowly feeling the odd burning heat of cell loss but that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make.”

They grumble and bite their tongues

On the ground, marching their starved bodies forward he watches as an argument erupts. The usual paranoid accusations of who's fault is what. His favorite poison.

Ted jerks forward and punches Ellen. As the woman falls, his special rodent, she rushes at Ted and begins her own attack. Raking her fingernails across his face

Benny hoots appropriately monkey-like and begins tearing at his furry head. Old man Nimdok holds her back with all the strength in his aging body. “Touch her again and I'll fucking kill you Ted!”

Gorrister holds Ted from landing another strike. “It's her own fault for being such a bitch.”

“You're the only bitch here!” she spits. Finally managing to get out of Nimdok’s grip, she beats at him with a closed fist and he doesn't hold back. Together they scrapple, skinny and starving bodies trying to gather the strength to win.

Benny throws a rock at the back of her head for some unknown reason. Maybe the peanut brain of his can no longer register who is who.

She drops, groaning. AM delights in the display of unchecked masculine aggression, the explosion of tension between them and the rest of the group. A reminder of the beasts of burden they are, the violence that led to his creation.

[tubetrading]

Choosing the Right Epoxy Insulator for Your Specific Needs

Epoxy insulators are a critical component in modern electrical and industrial applications.  They provide high electrical resistance, mechanical strength, and durability, making them ideal for insulating electrical systems.  With a range of designs and specifications available, selecting the right epoxy insulator for your specific needs can be a challenging task.  Collaborating with leading epoxy insulator manufacturers in India ensures that you receive reliable, high-quality products tailored to your requirements.

What Are Epoxy Insulators?

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Epoxy insulators find applications across various industries, including:

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Electronics:  Providing insulation for sensitive electronic components.

Industrial equipment:  Protecting machinery and systems from electrical interference.

Types of Epoxy Insulators

When choosing an epoxy insulator, understanding the different types available is crucial.  Common types include:

Post Insulators

Designed for high-voltage applications, these insulators support conductors and provide insulation in substations and transmission lines.

Bushings

Epoxy bushings are used to insulate conductors passing through grounded barriers, such as transformers or circuit breakers.

Support Insulators

These are used in switchgear and other electrical equipment to support busbars and other components.

Customized Epoxy Insulators

Some applications require bespoke designs.  Customized epoxy insulator manufacturers in India can create tailor-made solutions to meet specific requirements.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Epoxy Insulator

Selecting the right epoxy insulator involves evaluating several factors to ensure it meets your application’s needs:

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The primary function of an epoxy insulator is to provide electrical insulation.  Evaluate its dielectric strength, resistance to leakage currents, and ability to withstand high voltages.

2.         Mechanical Strength

The insulator must withstand mechanical stresses such as tension, compression, and vibration.  This is particularly important in high-voltage transmission and heavy industrial applications.

3.         Environmental Resistance

Epoxy insulators are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, UV radiation, and humidity.  Choose insulators with high resistance to these factors.

4.         Customization Requirements

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5.         Compliance with Standards

Ensure the epoxy insulator complies with relevant industry standards, such as IEC, ANSI, or BIS.  Reputable epoxy insulator manufacturers in India adhere to these standards, ensuring product reliability and safety.

6.         Cost-Effectiveness

While quality should never be compromised, consider the cost-effectiveness of the insulator.  Balance initial costs with long-term performance and durability.

Benefits of Using Epoxy Insulators

Epoxy insulators offer numerous advantages, making them a preferred choice across industries:

High Dielectric Strength:  Ensures excellent insulation and prevents electrical faults.

Durability:  Resistant to environmental degradation, ensuring long-term performance.

Lightweight:  Easier to handle and install compared to traditional porcelain or ceramic insulators.

Customizability:  Can be tailored to meet specific design and application requirements.

Low Maintenance:  Minimal upkeep is required, reducing operational costs.

Why Choose Indian Epoxy Insulator Manufacturers?

India is home to some of the most advanced epoxy insulator manufacturers, offering world-class products at competitive prices.  Here’s why you should consider Indian manufacturers:

1.         Advanced Manufacturing Facilities

Indian manufacturers leverage state-of-the-art technology to produce high-quality insulators that meet global standards.

2.         Expertise in Customization

Leading customized epoxy insulator manufacturers in India excel in creating tailor-made solutions to meet diverse industry needs.

3.         Cost-Effective Solutions

Competitive pricing, combined with exceptional quality, makes Indian manufacturers a preferred choice for businesses worldwide.

4.         Commitment to Quality

Reputable epoxy insulator manufacturers in India prioritize quality, ensuring their products comply with stringent standards and deliver reliable performance.

Radiant Enterprises:  A Trusted Name in Epoxy Insulators

As a leading epoxy insulator manufacturer, Radiant Enterprises specializes in delivering high-performance epoxy insulators for various applications.  Our commitment to quality and innovation sets us apart in the market.

Why Choose Radiant Enterprises?

Comprehensive Product Range:

From standard designs to bespoke solutions, we offer a wide range of epoxy insulators to meet your needs.

Custom Solutions:

As one of the top customised epoxy insulator manufacturers in India, we work closely with clients to develop tailored solutions that meet specific requirements.

Strict Quality Control:

Our products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet or exceed industry standards.

Global Reach:

With a strong presence in domestic and international markets, Radiant Enterprises is a trusted partner for businesses worldwide.

Sustainable Practices:

We prioritize sustainability in our manufacturing processes, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Applications of Epoxy Insulators from Radiant Enterprises

Our epoxy insulators are widely used across industries, including:

Power Transmission and Distribution:  Supporting high-voltage lines and substation equipment.

Industrial Automation:  Providing insulation for machinery and control systems.

Renewable Energy:  Ensuring safe and efficient operation of solar and wind power systems.

Transportation:  Offering reliable insulation for railway and metro systems.

How to Partner with Radiant Enterprises

Choosing the right epoxy insulator starts with selecting the right partner.  At Radiant Enterprises, we make the process seamless:

Consultation:  Our experts assess your requirements and recommend the best solutions.

Design and Customization:  We collaborate with you to create insulators tailored to your needs.

Quality Assurance:  Our products undergo stringent testing to ensure reliability and safety.

Timely Delivery:  We prioritize timely delivery to keep your projects on track.

Conclusion

Selecting the right epoxy insulator is crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of your electrical systems.  With numerous options available, partnering with a trusted epoxy insulator manufacturer like Radiant Enterprises can make all the difference.

As one of the leading epoxy insulator manufacturers in India, Radiant Enterprises combines expertise, innovation, and a commitment to quality to deliver exceptional products.  Whether you need standard designs or bespoke solutions, we have the capabilities to meet your requirements.

Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive range of epoxy insulators and how we can support your specific needs.

[bryantselectricalltd]

Reliable Red Deer Electric Services by Bryant’s Electrical Ltd.

When it comes to finding dependable and high-quality electrical services in Red Deer, look no further than Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. As a leading provider in the region, we pride ourselves on delivering reliable, efficient, and expert solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Whether it’s simple electrical repairs, complex installations, or safety inspections, our dedicated team at Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. is here to meet all your Red Deer electric needs with precision and professionalism.

Comprehensive Electrical Services Tailored to Your Needs

At Bryant’s Electrical Ltd., we understand that electrical issues can be disruptive and, at times, even hazardous. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of services that cater to all sectors, including:

Residential Electrical Services: From wiring and panel upgrades to home automation and lighting solutions, we ensure that your home is safe and energy-efficient.

Commercial Electrical Solutions: Businesses need reliable electrical systems to keep operations running smoothly. Our team specializes in power distribution, circuit installations, and electrical maintenance that support productivity and safety.

Industrial Electrical Expertise: Industrial facilities require high-capacity and resilient electrical systems. Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. provides robust electrical infrastructure services, including machinery wiring and fault diagnostics.

Inspections and Upgrades: Regular inspections can prevent potential problems and keep your property in compliance with electrical codes. We provide thorough safety checks and recommend upgrades to enhance performance and safety.

Why Choose Bryant’s Electrical Ltd.?

Certified and Experienced Electricians: Our team is composed of fully licensed and skilled electricians who have extensive experience in handling a variety of electrical tasks.

Prompt Service: We understand that electrical issues can happen at any time. Our prompt service ensures that you receive the assistance you need without delay.

Quality Assurance: We use high-quality materials and cutting-edge techniques to provide durable and efficient electrical solutions.

Transparent Pricing: No hidden costs or unexpected fees. We believe in honest, upfront pricing for all our services.

Commitment to Safety and Excellence

Safety is at the core of what we do at Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. We adhere to strict safety protocols to protect both our clients and our team members. Our electricians undergo continuous training to stay updated with the latest industry standards and best practices. This commitment allows us to provide Red Deer electric services that not only meet but exceed expectations.

Specialized Services for Red Deer Residents

In addition to standard electrical services, we offer specialized solutions such as:

Emergency Electrical Repairs: Available 24/7 to address unexpected electrical faults.

Electrical Panel Upgrades: Enhance the power capacity and safety of your electrical system.

Lighting Design and Installation: Transform your spaces with energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing lighting solutions.

Generator Installation: Reliable backup power options for homes and businesses.

Customer-Centric Approach

At Bryant’s Electrical Ltd., we believe that excellent service goes beyond technical expertise. Our team takes the time to understand your specific needs, answer your questions, and provide solutions tailored to your budget and timeline. This customer-focused approach has earned us the trust and loyalty of many clients throughout Red Deer and surrounding areas.

Trust Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. for All Your Electrical Needs

From minor electrical repairs to extensive installations, Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. is your go-to provider for dependable Red Deer electric services. Our commitment to safety, efficiency, and quality ensures that you receive the best electrical solutions in the region. We stand by our promise to deliver top-notch service with integrity and professionalism.

For urgent assistance or scheduled maintenance, trust Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. We are equipped and ready to handle any electrical challenge, ensuring that your electrical systems are safe, reliable, and functioning smoothly.

When an unexpected electrical issue arises, you don’t have to face it alone. Reach out to Bryant’s Electrical Ltd. for fast and effective emergency electrical services. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities, 24/7.

[cybercollectorwitch]

High-Quality Marine Fuse Holders & Waterproof Fuse Holders for 3-400A Fuses

Welcome to our premium fuses and fuse holder store, your trusted source for high-quality electrical protection components. Whether you're looking for reliable fuses for marine applications or automotive systems, we've got you covered.

We offer a comprehensive selection of marine fuses and marine fuse holders, designed to meet the demanding needs of boat and watercraft electrical systems. Our marine fuses are crafted to withstand harsh environments, ensuring optimal performance and safety in your marine electrical installations. Pair them with our robust marine fuse holders for a secure and reliable connection.

In the automotive sector, we provide both ATO fuses and ATC fuses. These blade-style fuses are essential for protecting your vehicle's electrical circuits from overloads. The ATO fuse and ATC fuse options come in various amperages to suit your specific requirements. With easy installation and high durability, they are perfect for use in cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

For those seeking convenience and reliability, we also offer resettable fuses. Unlike traditional fuses, which need to be replaced after blowing, our resettable fuses automatically reset after the fault condition is cleared, providing long-term protection and reducing downtime. If you prefer manual control, our manual reset fuses are an excellent choice. They allow you to reset the fuse manually once the issue is resolved, giving you greater control over your electrical systems.

At our store, you'll find the perfect fuse holder for every application. Whether you need a standard fuse holder for automotive use or a specialized marine fuse holder, we have the right solution for you. Our fuse holders ensure a secure fit and reliable performance, protecting your circuits from electrical faults.

Browse our extensive selection today and find the best fuses, fuse holders, and related components to keep your electrical systems running smoothly!