#Proof-of-work (PoW)

[jakes3resin]

Here's why Hallucination Bucky haunting Buck is amazing (there are many reasons but here's a big one): Bucky doesn't even have to be dead.

Sure, Bucky being dead works perfectly in this kind of AU. The inability to save Bucky leaves Buck bereft and alone in the world, so he holds on to the memory of Bucky so tightly he starts to see him again.

But!

The ambiguity of is Bucky dead or not is better. The reader doesn't know for sure, and Buck doesn't know. Hell the fic writer doesn't even need to know for sure. Leave that ending open y'all!

Buck having to go through his day swearing that Bucky is alive. He's fine. Bucky has to be fine. Him being fine is the only reason Buck can power through his day. He won't accept anything else until someone brings him Bucky's body.

And that can do a lot to a man's psyche.

Imagine it. Buck standing around Thorpe Abbotts after reassuring Harry and Rosie that Bucky is fine, he's simply back with the men taking care of them. Then he hears it. Bucky's laugh. He whirls around desperate and near joyous because of course Bucky made it out, of course he's laughing and about to yell at Buck to get his attention. Except what he finds isn't the John "Bucky" Egan that he left in Germany.

Instead, he turns around and sees the John he sent to London. Standing straight backed with cheeks that haven't gone through a diet of turnips and 'rabbit' soup, still wearing that awful sheepskin that Buck knows he traded away (Jack had given it back to him the moment he saw Buck) is His Bucky.

Arm raised to wave at Buck, Bucky grins. His smile is as bright as the sun, another spark of life Buck hasn't seen in months. Maybe years.

Bucky looks so young. Which he can't be because Bucky is older than him, but staring at this Bucky that no one else seems to realize is there that's what crosses Buck's mind. Bucky looks young. He looks happy and untouched by the hell they just went through together.

"Hey Buck!" Bucky's by his side without walking to him. "How was your flight? Ya miss me?"

And he falls into step once more with Buck chattering into his ear. Buck knows he isn't real, knows that Bucky isn't here, but he can't help but accept what little he has left of the other when he has no idea when or if he'll ever see Bucky again.

Because without a body, he has to live as if Bucky is still alive.

[cryptotechnews24]

Unlocking the Power of Kaspa (KAS): A Deep Dive into the Altcoin's Impressive Performance and Growth Potential

Kaspa (KAS) has been on an impressive bullish run, maintaining an upward trajectory for three consecutive days, positioning itself as one of the top-performing altcoins in July. At the time of this writing, Kaspa is trading at $0.04223, representing a notable 13.01% increase in the past 24 hours. This impressive uptrend has led to an astounding surge of over 80.52% in the trailing 30-day period.

Kaspa's Enigmatic Power in the Blockchain World

Kaspa stands out in the blockchain landscape as it operates on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)-powered proof-of-work (PoW) platform. Its emergence coincided with the need for an Ethereum (ETH) alternative after the transition of Ethereum from PoW to proof-of-stake (PoS) last year. Growth Drivers for Kaspa - Diverse Community and Increased Adoption: Kaspa's native community has been a driving force behind its growth, accumulating and supporting the project consistently. Furthermore, the entry of buyers from other protocols, like Ethereum, has contributed to bolstering Kaspa's appeal across the entire crypto space. - Utility and Performance Focus: Unlike many competitors in the market, Kaspa is prioritizing utility and performance over mere hype. The platform boasts an impressive throughput rate, capable of processing up to 100 blocks per second, making it exceptionally suitable for enterprise adoption. - Developer Team and Functionality Upgrades: The dedicated team of developers working on Kaspa has been instrumental in continuously enhancing its functionalities. Recently, they introduced a new update, further fortifying the platform's capabilities. Climbing the Ranks Kaspa's recent impressive growth has propelled it up the rankings, currently standing at the 208th position. However, there is a prevailing perception that the coin is still undervalued. With a series of upgrades and dApps in the pipeline, Kaspa holds the potential for further uptrend before the end of Q3.

Conclusion

Kaspa (KAS) has exhibited remarkable bullish momentum, making it one of the standout performers among altcoins in July. Its Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)-powered proof-of-work (PoW) platform sets it apart in the blockchain world, and with the support of a dedicated community and growing adoption, its appeal continues to expand. Focusing on utility and performance, Kaspa stands out as a strong contender for enterprise adoption. As the team of developers keeps upgrading the platform, the potential for further uptrend remains high, positioning Kaspa for a promising future in the crypto market. For more articles visit: Cryptotechnews24 Source: u.today

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[crypto195]

Useful Proof of Work (uPoW) - Blockchain’s Latest Way to Train AI and Secure Networks

Useful Proof of Work (uPoW): Merging Blockchain and AI Blockchain and AI are two big technologies, but both come with big problems. Blockchain networks need a lot of energy to secure the system, AI needs powerful computers to train machine learning models. Useful Proof of Work (uPoW) is a new system that solves these problems by using the energy from blockchain mining to train AI models. This secures the blockchain and allows AI to train faster, using the same energy for both. Consensus in Blockchain and AI Blockchain networks need to agree on which transactions are valid. This is called consensus. Different consensus methods have been developed, each with its own strengths. Traditional Proof of Work (PoW) is one of the most well-known, used by Bitcoin. It requires computers (miners) to solve complex puzzles to secure the network. But PoW has been criticized for wasting a lot of energy for no other benefit. AI needs a lot of computing power to train machine learning models which can be expensive. The idea behind uPoW is to use the computational resources from blockchain mining to help with AI training, turn the energy used for mining into something valuable for both.

To Know More- Read the latest Blogs on Cryptocurrencies

[omkarr11]

Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake: A Comprehensive Comparison by Liminal Custody

In the realm of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, two consensus mechanisms stand out: Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS). These mechanisms are essential for securing blockchain networks and validating transactions. Liminal Custody, a leader in secure digital asset management, provides an in-depth comparison of Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake, exploring their fundamental differences, advantages, and implications for the future of blockchain technology.

Understanding Consensus Mechanisms

A consensus mechanism is a protocol that ensures all participants in a blockchain network agree on the validity of transactions and the state of the blockchain. This agreement is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of decentralized systems. PoW and PoS are the two most widely used consensus mechanisms in the blockchain industry.

Proof of Work (PoW)

How Proof of Work Works

Proof of Work is the original consensus mechanism introduced by Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency. In a PoW system, miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles using computational power. The first miner to solve the puzzle gets the right to add a new block to the blockchain and is rewarded with newly minted cryptocurrency.

Advantages of Proof of Work

Security: PoW is known for its high level of security. The computational difficulty of solving the puzzles makes it extremely challenging for malicious actors to manipulate the blockchain.

Decentralization: PoW promotes decentralization by allowing anyone with the necessary hardware to participate in the mining process.

Proven Track Record: PoW has been successfully used by Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies for over a decade, demonstrating its reliability and effectiveness.

Disadvantages of Proof of Work

Energy Consumption: PoW requires significant computational power, leading to high energy consumption. This environmental impact has raised concerns about the sustainability of PoW networks.

Centralization of Mining Power: Over time, mining power has become concentrated in the hands of large mining pools and companies, potentially reducing the level of decentralization.

Scalability Issues: PoW networks often face scalability challenges, as the process of solving puzzles and adding new blocks can be slow and resource-intensive.

Proof of Stake (PoS)

How Proof of Stake Works

Proof of Stake was introduced as an alternative to PoW, aiming to address some of its limitations. In a PoS system, validators are chosen to create new blocks based on the number of coins they hold and are willing to "stake" as collateral. Validators are incentivized to act honestly, as malicious behavior can result in the loss of their staked coins.

Advantages of Proof of Stake

Energy Efficiency: PoS is significantly more energy-efficient than PoW, as it does not require massive computational power to validate transactions.

Reduced Centralization Risk: Since PoS does not rely on specialized hardware, it lowers the barriers to entry for validators, promoting greater decentralization.

Scalability: PoS networks generally offer better scalability, as the block creation process is faster and less resource-intensive.

Disadvantages of Proof of Stake

Initial Distribution: PoS can lead to centralization if a small number of users control a large portion of the staking coins, giving them significant influence over the network.

Security Concerns: While PoS is considered secure, it is a newer technology compared to PoW and has not been tested as extensively in real-world scenarios.

Complexity: PoS mechanisms can be more complex to implement and understand, potentially posing challenges for widespread adoption.

Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake: A Direct Comparison

Security

Both PoW and PoS offer robust security features, but they achieve this in different ways. PoW relies on the computational difficulty of solving puzzles, making it costly and time-consuming for attackers to compromise the network. PoS, on the other hand, relies on economic incentives, where validators risk losing their staked coins if they engage in malicious activities. While PoW has a longer track record, PoS is increasingly being recognized for its potential to provide strong security with lower energy consumption.

Decentralization

Decentralization is a key principle of blockchain technology. PoW promotes decentralization by allowing anyone with the necessary hardware to participate in mining. However, the increasing concentration of mining power in large pools has raised concerns about centralization. PoS aims to address this by lowering the barriers to entry and promoting a more diverse validator community. However, the initial distribution of staking coins can impact the level of decentralization in PoS networks.

Energy Efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of PoS over PoW is energy efficiency. PoW's reliance on computational power results in high energy consumption, leading to environmental concerns. PoS, by contrast, requires minimal computational resources, making it a more sustainable option for the long-term future of blockchain technology.

Scalability

Scalability is a critical factor for the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. PoW networks often face scalability challenges due to the time and resources required for mining. PoS offers improved scalability, as the block creation process is more efficient and less resource-intensive. This makes PoS an attractive option for blockchain networks aiming to support a high volume of transactions.

Liminal Custody: Leading the Way in Secure Digital Asset Management

As the debate between PoW and PoS continues, Liminal Custody remains committed to providing secure and innovative solutions for digital asset management. By offering comprehensive resources and expert insights, Liminal Custody empowers users to navigate the complexities of blockchain technology and make informed decisions about their digital assets.

Liminal Custody’s platform is designed to cater to the needs of both novice and experienced users, providing advanced security features, user-friendly interfaces, and robust customer support. Whether you are interested in the energy efficiency of PoS or the proven security of PoW, Liminal Custody has the expertise and tools to help you secure your digital assets effectively.

Conclusion

The choice between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake depends on various factors, including security, decentralization, energy efficiency, and scalability. Both consensus mechanisms have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best option may vary depending on the specific needs and goals of a blockchain network. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, ongoing innovation and research will likely lead to further improvements and hybrid models that combine the best features of both PoW and PoS.

[dencyemily]

Decoding Blockchain Consensus Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Analysis of How Proof of Stake Differs Significantly from Proof of Work

In the dynamic landscape of cryptocurrencies, Proof of Work (PoW) stands as a foundational consensus mechanism, gaining prominence after the advent of Bitcoin. PoW, characterized by its reliance on complex computational puzzles, plays a crucial role in validating transactions and creating blocks within the blockchain. Let's unravel the complexities of PoW, examining its operational intricacies, merits, and challenges.

Understanding Proof-of-Work (PoW)

PoW involves miners solving intricate mathematical puzzles to add new blocks to the blockchain. This process, known as mining, demands substantial computing power, a factor that contributed to the development of specialized mining machines like Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Unlike PoS, PoW relies on the competitive nature of miners, where the first to solve the puzzle earns the right to generate a new block and receive rewards in the form of cryptocurrency.

Operational Dynamics of PoW

In PoW, miners engage in a competitive race to provide the correct hash for a new block, expanding their computing resources to meet network requirements. This decentralized approach ensures the security and integrity of the blockchain, as any attempt to tamper with a block would require altering most preceding blocks, an impractical and cost-prohibitive endeavor.

Pros and Cons of PoW

PoW's strengths lie in its robust security against tampering and the ability to handle blockchain forks effectively. Miners can choose to continue working on the primary blockchain or switch to a new one, mitigating the risk of computational resources being split. However, PoW faces challenges such as significant energy consumption, environmental impact, and high operational costs. During network overload, transaction fees can soar, posing economic concerns.

Comparing Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and Proof-of-Work (PoW)

In the ongoing debate over PoS versus PoW, both consensus mechanisms demonstrate unique strengths and weaknesses. PoS showcases energy efficiency, faster transaction speeds, and accessibility, while PoW boasts robust security against tampering and effective handling of blockchain forks. The choice between the two depends on the priorities and goals of blockchain networks. As the crypto community continues to explore innovative solutions, both PoS and PoW contribute to the decentralized ecosystem, ensuring the smooth functionality of blockchain technology.

[metablog2023]

Bitcoin, il limite di 7 transazioni al secondo (TPS)

Bitcoin, il limite di 7 transazioni al secondo (TPS) I parametri base dei sistemi di pagamento elettronici sono velocità, capacità transazionale, sicurezza e costo. Bitcoin è forte in uno su quattro, debole in due e debolissimo nel restante, la capacità transazionale. La blockchain di Bitcoin, per la soluzione architetturale adottata (Proof of Work) che privilegia la sicurezza, ha una capacità…

[coincryto]

Deep dive into Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS)

Proof of Work (PoW), often regarded as the pioneer in consensus mechanisms, is the foundational principle behind the groundbreaking cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Proof of Stake (PoS) is the greener alternative that replaces the competitive mining process with a deterministic one based on the participant’s stake in the network. One of the key differentiators between PoW and PoS is their approach to ensuring the security and decentralization of the network

[phneep]

[antiquarianfics]

Shoot Me

Bucky swears he doesn’t like Y/N. In fact, he’s so confident he’ll challenge this: If he likes Y/N, shoot him.

a/n: dude, idk wtf this is. it’s like that one that 70s show scene, but it’s really just a crack fic. idk. this isn’t proofed. it’s late. it’s fluffy. i made you some content. enjoy.

warnings: mentions of gun violence (super minor), not proofread at all

note: I do not own the character Bucky Barnes or any other Marvel affiliated characters.

You do not have permission to copy, repost, or translate my work; however, feel free to like, comment, and/or reblog.

»»———-———-———-———-———-———-———-««

“I don’t like, Y/N,” Bucky says, voice adamant. The man is stoic, glaring at his friend who only shakes his head and laughs.

“Yeah, sure you don’t, Bucky,” Sam replies, tone laced in disbelief. After all, anyone with functioning eyeballs could look at Bucky and see that he liked Y/N. His harsh demeanor always softened around her: he smiled more, laughed more, glared less.

Bucky groaned, kicking off of the wall he’d been leaning against when Sam stands from the table he’d been sat at messing with Redwing.

“I don’t like Y/N,” Bucky reiterated as Sam only shook his head again, walking over to a tool box in the corner of the garage and beginning to rummage through it. “If I like her, shoot me.”

Right as Bucky lets the challenge slip through his lips, Sam turns on his heel to face Bucky, raising his hand in a finger gun and pointing at his friend.

“Pow.”

Bucky just stares at Sam, then his finger gun, then Sam again.

“C’mon, man. Real mature.”

Sam turns back to the toolbox and continues to rummage around for the tool he needs.

“I’m the one not being mature? You’re the one with a schoolboy crush who can’t admit he likes a girl.”

“I do not have a schoolboy crush”

“Right. You have a big macho man crush.”

Bucky scoffs, irritation growing. “Sam,” he warns.

Say lifts up the tool he evidently needs, inspects it, and returns to his seat at the table where he left Redwing and begins to fiddle with the wiring.

“Dude, just suck it up and tell her,” Sam says, ignoring Bucky’s aggression as he always does. “It’s not one sided, I can tell you that.”

Bucky’s eyes widen in surprise and he quickly—too quickly for his own liking and too quickly for someone who does not like you—sits down at the table in the seat beside Sam. Sam just smirks.

“Did she tell you that?”

“No,” Sam says and Bucky rolls his eyes, immediately standing back up and going to resume is original position leaning against the wall. “But,” Sam continues, “unlike you, I’m not stupid. I can tell.”

Bucky ignores the jab, dismissing Sam altogether. There’s no way Sam’s right.

“I don’t know, you’re pretty stupid,” a new voice cuts through the air, a teasing lilt in tone. The two men’s heads turn to the garage’s entrance to see you walking in holding a brown takeout bag and a drink carrier.

Bucky’s lips upturn slightly at your jab at Sam and his eyes soften slightly as they fall on you. Sam notices and rolls his eyes.

“Ha. Ha.” Sam says to you, but he offers you an affectionate smile which you return. “You bring lunch.” You nod and hold it up for them to see before setting it down on the table.

“I love you,” Sam says dramatically, immediately reaching for something to eat. “We’ve been out here all day.”

You laugh at his being over the top but return the sentiment. “So, what’ve you guys been talking about?” You sit down at the table and pull your drink from the drink carrier to take a sip.

Sam chuckles through a bite of hamburger: Bucky (who hasn’t yet moved) looks away. You raise your eyebrows.

“What? Did I miss something?”

Sam swallows his food and washes it down with his drink before answering.

“I shot him.”

Your eyes dart between the two.

“You what?”

“He didn’t actually,” Bucky clarified, amused and endeared by your concern.

“I fake shot him,” Sam clarifies, mimicking the handgun motion.

You scrunch your eyebrows as you attempt to make sense of this picture they’re painting. You turn to Bucky.

“You’re mad because he fake shot you?” You turn back to Sam. “Why did you fake shoot him?”

Sam is grinning like an evil mastermind at this point, Bucky is getting overly acquainted with his shoes.

“He told me to.”

“He told you to?”

“He told me to.”

“Why?” You look between the two of them.

“He said, ‘If I like her, shoot me.’ So I shot him.”

Your eyes widen at the revelation. Bucky likes someone? Who?

“Bucky likes someone?” You turn around completely to face Bucky. “Bucky, you like someone?”

Bucky closed his eyes and look up at the roof of the garage, clearly wanting to disappear from the current situation he found himself in. He ignores the question.

“Bucky, c’mon! If you like someone, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you get a date, or something.” You cringe a little at the suggestion, but you really want to know who he likes. Sure, it will absolutely devastate you if it turns out he doesn’t like you, but you just want him to be happy.

“Yeah, Bucky, maybe she can help you get a date!” Sam teases, innuendo heavy in his words. Both you and Bucky give him a look—Bucky’s warning, yours questioning.

“Just drop it, both of you,” Bucky says dejectedly.

“Just tell her, man. I’m tired of dealing with your moping,” Sam argues.

“Sam,” you say cautiously, eyeing Bucky’s uncomfortable demeanor.

“No, I’m tired of this. He,” Sam points to Bucky, “talks about you,” he points to you, “when you’re not around, and you,” he circles his finger around your face, “talk about him,” he points to Bucky, “when he’s not around. Incessantly. Now, I am going to take the rest of my lunch outside while you two figure this out. I’ll be back for Redwing later.”

You and Bucky stare helplessly as you watch Sam storm out of the garage. Once he turns the corner and is out of sight, the two of you turn to each other. He’s still leaned against the wall, you’re still uncomfortably turned around in your chair facing him.

“So, that girl you like…” You start but trail off, hoping maybe Bucky will confirm the suspicion Sam has planted in your mind but he continues to avoid looking at you. “Sam made it kind of seem like maybe she’s… me?” Your voice sounds so shy and uncertain as you ask the question. You can’t help but cringe a little.

Bucky finally looks up at you, searching your face and attempting to gauge how you might feel. He sees you cringe, though, and he sighs, looking back down at his boots. Of course, there’s no way you could ever like him like that. You notice Bucky pulling away and you start to panic.

“It’s totally okay if she is me, but it’s okay if she’s not. I don’t want you to feel like you have to say it’s me if you don’t actually have any feelings for me, but Sam did kind of make it seem that way. I mean, if you did have feelings for me, though, that wouldn’t be bad.” You’re rambling, full of nerves, but the nervous rambling does pull Bucky’s attention back to you.

“He wasn’t wrong,” Bucky finally admits quietly.

Your eyes shoot up to meet his. “He wasn’t?”

“No.”

“You like me?” You clarify, a grin overtaking your face.

The corner of Bucky’s mouth upturns in a smile. “Only if you like me.”

You stand up from your seat and take a few steps towards him whilst he takes a couple towards you. The two of you find yourselves toe to toe and staring at each other.

“Maybe I do.” Your eyes glance down at his lips and back to his eyes.

Bucky’s grinning now and he hums in response as he gazes down at you. The two of you feel yourself being pulled towards one another like there is some sort of magnetic force you can’t break, and, then, before you know it, your lips are on his. He kisses you softly as if he fears it isn’t real. You attempt to pour months of pent up adoration for him into the kiss. Your lips only part when you both finally need some amount of air; Bucky pulls away and rests his forehead against yours. It’s momentarily silent except for your breathing.

“You really told Sam to shoot you?” You teasingly ask, pulling away just enough to look into Bucky’s eyes.

“Only if I liked you,” he defends. He attempts to sound serious, but he can’t help the smile pulling at his lips. You nod as you briefly consider his response. Then, you make a finger gun and:

“Pow.”

[cryptic-core]

Proof of Work (PoW) vs Proof of Stake (PoS)

[scribbles97]

The Nightmare Come True - Part 3

TW: POW, Torture Scott's POV 1 | Part 1 | Scott's POV 2 | Part 2 | Scott's POV 3 Thanks @loopstagirl for the support and inspiration!

Scott had thanked him. 

Scott had thanked him and it had made the Dog Tags in Jeff’s pocket feel all the heavier. 

“You found me.” 

It had sounded like the kid had never doubted him, and Jeff’s gut had started to refute the statement before he had consciously thought about it. 

Scott, I …

Wouldn’t have stopped until I did. 

I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner. 

Or, perhaps the most truthful of all, 

I didn’t. 

Because Colonel Jeff Tracy had not found Captain Scott Tracy. Instead, his son had been presented to him as a pawn in the game between one country and the rest of the world. It had been Hugh and Kyrano that had worked their magic and found exactly where Scott had been held. 

Hell, it had even been Kyrano that had found him in the cells when Jeff hadn’t heard his own son’s cries for help. 

The nightmare that had woken Scott in a panic and sent all manner of alarms blaring, were proof most of all. 

Jeff hadn’t saved his son. 

He had spent six months trying, and failing, to find him. He had stood by as others had taken action and done all the heavy lifting for him. He had done nothing whilst all that time Scott had been fighting. 

“What’s that look for?”

Jeff looked up from where he had perched on the arm of the chair Scott had fallen asleep in, Val’s whisper breaking into his thoughts. 

“He thinks I saved him, Val.” He murmured back, his hand absently brushing over Scott’s still too short hair, “He thanked me.”

Val eyed him for a long moment before hopping up onto the empty bed, her eyes assessing both he and Scott in a way Jeff had long since come used to. She’d speak when she’d decided what needed to be said, once she’d gotten a full picture of what was happening and the mindset of those involved. It was a skill she used to her full advantage and had seen her rise through the ranks of the Air Force right on Jeff’s tail. 

“The nurses won’t be impressed when they find him out of bed.” She watched him, leaning forward like it was a secret Jeff hadn’t already known the moment Scott had forced himself upright. 

“He needed to move,” He fired back, ready to defend as he had done when the same nurses had tried to force an oxygen mask over Scott’s face, “to not feel trapped.” 

He’d known even before he had asked that he wouldn’t have stopped Scott, even if he had wanted to. His son had always wanted to move, had hated confinement of any sort even when he had been tiny. Lucy had always laughed, insisted that he had gotten it from Jeff himself, and had known that he would inevitably follow his father to the sky where the only limit was the horizon. 

Being bound to a bed, barely able to stay awake, had always felt like …

“You helped him?” Val asked, raising an eyebrow that held no real heat. 

Jeff straightened, prickling at the insinuation he couldn’t quite see, “I was hardly gonna leave him to struggle on his own.” 

Because he had done that once, and even to that day he was seeing the reminders of that very mistake. 

Scott hadn’t wanted help, had been determined to push through and manage on his own even when he was exhausted and hurting. Jeff had partly fallen back on his Colonel Voice to get the Captain to listen, and it had twisted something deep in his gut that it had come to that. 

He knew the way Scott had leaned into him after he had thrown up had been subconscious, and definitely something he wouldn’t have done had he been more awake. It was for the same reason that Scott hadn’t actively called out for Jeff, except for in his nightmares. 

A much younger Scott had needed his father, and he hadn’t been there, so at some point the kid had stopped asking for him. 

Jeff had come back to his son’s though, and had sworn every day that he would be there for them. He would pick them up when they fell, guide them when they were lost, hold them together when they fell apart. 

Alan had just been young enough to still ask for him. 

Gordon had his moments, but had followed an example set by his older brothers. 

Virgil had always been his mother’s son, and whilst he would ask for Jeff, he knew his mother had always been the parent he had called for first. 

John wasn’t like the others, had always needed someone to see when he needed help rather than simply ask for it. 

Scott had once been like Virgil, except the oldest had been his father’s son where Virgil had been his mother’s. When Jeff had fallen into his grief, Scott had fallen to not wanting to ask for help. Ever since had had come to his senses, Jeff had been watching and doing his best to give his son what he needed. 

“You’re protecting him.” Val stated softly, the smallest of smiles playing on her lips. 

Jeff looked down again, Scott’s face slack in dreamless sleep, peaceful. 

He’d do anything to keep his son feeling that at peace, but he knew he couldn’t stop the nightmares that would come eventually.

“I didn’t protect him from them, nobody protected him.” He whispered, “He saved his crew, and he saved himself, I just turned up to pull him outta there.” 

“Maybe.” Val nodded slowly, “or maybe you turned up right when he needed you to.”

Jeff frowned across to her, “What do you mean?”

Her look was soft as she sighed, “They train us hard for what happens in prison, tell us what to do, what to say. There’s no training for this though, is there? For what comes after.”

He knew she was right, there was no guidebook or protocol for what Scott was going through. There was no command that his son could follow to make it better. 

Unless…

He felt sick at the thought, not confident that Scott was really ready for it. 

Command was something he could do though, something Jeff had seen him demonstrate a handful of times since he had woken up. He had found his voice again, rooted deep and found the stubbornness that ran strong in his genes to get himself from the bed to the chair. There was still something more needed though, something to get him to see exactly how strong he had been through everything. 

“Tomorrow,” He swallowed, “I’ll talk to him about a debrief.”

If Val was surprised by his statement, she hid it well. 

“I can’t get you in on it.” She stated with a heavy sigh, “But if he agrees, I’ll find a way for you to listen in.”

Jeff wasn’t sure he was ready for that, to hear exactly what Scott had gone through without being at his side to support him through the memories. He trusted Val though, knew she had stood up for the rest of the squadron, and knew that she would do the same if not more for the man sleeping at Jeff’s side. 

Slipping off the bed, she crossed the room to squeeze his shoulder with a silent nod before leaving them as quietly as she had come.

***

The nurses hadn’t passed comment when they had come to check on Scott, and Jeff said nothing in return as he scratched gently at his son’s scalp and thought about how stiff he would be when he did eventually wake. He deserved peace, the chance to rest undisturbed for as long as his mind would allow him. 

Jeff’s phone buzzing in his pocket startled him as he hurried to answer it before it woke Scott. 

“Virgil.” He hissed, glancing down to Scott, grateful to see him undisturbed despite the blue-tinged hologram lighting up the room. 

His middle son looked firstly shocked and then guilty across the miles, “Sorry Dad, I just-- is that… Scott?” 

Jeff realized too late that Scott would have been in the frame and immediately shifted the field to hide the eldest away from his younger brother’s eyes. 

“He’s sleeping.” He murmured, “He’s still recovering.” 

Virgil nodded quickly, eyes still clearly shocked at whatever he had picked up on of his eldest brother’s state.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have-- I just--”

Jeff straightened, already heightened senses picking up on the tone and immediately knowing the root of why his son had called. He glanced to the clock on the wall, a digital thing that showed the date in big bold numbers beneath the time. A quick mental calculation reminded him that Virgil had a recital that day, a solo he had been practicing since before Scott had been gone. 

They had both voiced hope that he would be home to see it. 

“What is it, son?” He asked softly, “Can your Grandmother still make it today?”

Virgil nodded quickly, glancing away from the phone before looking back again, “Yeah, Grandma’s still coming.” 

His voice didn’t hold its usual enthusiasm in anticipation of playing for his family. 

“I know you hoped he’d be home for this.” Jeff murmured, his free hand scratching over Scott’s scalp again, “We all did.” 

Virgil looked away again, someone out of field calling him, “I… it’s my turn for final rehearsal.”

Jeff smiled softly, understanding without the words needing to be asked, “I’m sure we could stay on the line whilst you play.”

Virgil’s face lit up, his eyes losing most of the worry that had settled there at the sight of his big brother, “You can? Ms Graham said it was fine but Grandma sid the doctors might--”

Jeff waved him off, quickly assuring him that the doctors could say all they wished. Scott had always encouraged Virgil to play, he was certain to appreciate the soft melodies even in his sleep. 

Or not, if the hand that reached to Jeff’s leg was of any indication. 

He glanced down as Virgil placed the phone on the corner of the piano, noting how Scott’s eyes were still rested closed even as he yawned. Reaching down, he rested his free hand over his son’s, unsurprised when Scott moved his hand to grip the best he could in response. 

Awake, listening, but not ready to face his brother was the summary Jeff came to as Virgil began to play.

He wasn’t sure when Scott’s body had tensed against him, but as the music floated through the speaker of his phone, Jeff noticed as slowly each part of Scott fully relaxed. Muscles that he was certain must have been tense for months, softened and lengthened as the melody flowed over them. The splinted fingers that had tried to curl around Jeff’s hand loosened until they were no longer holding on but resting lightly against Jeff’s palm. His eyes were open but distant, focussed somewhere in the middle of the floor but not really seeing the room they were in as the notes wrapped them in something soothing and calm. 

They perhaps could have sat like that forever, at peace with the music that had once been Lucy’s. Every song had it’s end though, and all too soon Virgil was looking back to the hologram with a smile much softer than the one he had given earlier. 

“Night Scott, night Dad.” He murmured softly before hanging up without another word. 

Jeff smiled to himself as he repocketed his phone, glancing down to Scott with a raised eyebrow, “How about we get you into bed? You’ll feel it tomorrow if you sleep here all night.”

Scott grunted as he shifted upright, clearly already feeling it after the few hours he had been sat in the chair. His eyes darted across the room to the bed, his jaw tensing as he gauged the distance he had to move. 

For a brief moment, Jeff thought he would need to convince his son to accept help once more, but right as he was about to step in front of him, Scott turned and held out his arms. 

“Easy does it, right?” Jeff had asked through his surprise, stepping up and supporting Scott’s weight just as he had done so earlier. 

Together they had shuffled back to the bed, Scott’s weight shifting more and more on to Jeff the further they got. Not that he minded, hell, Jeff would carry his son across that room a thousand times if it made things better.

“Dad?” Scott slurred as he sunk back into the pillows. 

“Yes, kiddo?”

“Tell Aunt Val you can lis’en.” 

By the time Jeff had interpreted just what Scott meant, the kid was asleep. 

***

Val had brought the Generals with her the next afternoon after a more lucid Scott had agreed to the debrief. She had stood at the door as the pair had introduced themselves and then asked Jeff to leave the room. 

He would never forgive the United States Air Force for what had followed when Scott had gripped onto his sleeve and stated in no uncertain terms that he wished for his father to stay. For a brief moment, Jeff had been assured that Scott would be fine as a flicker of the self-confident son shone through in the face of his superiors. 

Those superiors had instantly extinguished the flame.

There had been no gentle reminders, or soft explanations, no understanding or care for what the airman in the bed had been through whilst they had sat in their ivory towers. Without hesitation, one had barked a sharp reminder across the room, 

“You’ll do well to remember who’s in charge here, Captain.” 

Scott had instantly cowered, turning away from the authority figures and looking to Jeff with the same fear that he had found him with back in the cells. The hand that Jeff had taken in his own had been clammy and had shook as he held on to it tight. 

“Son, you listen to me,” He had told him, ignoring the pair at his back, “I’ll be right down the hall. You tell them everything that happened, and as soon as you’re done I’ll be right back here.”

It had taken a long moment before Scott had nodded and released Jeff’s arm enough for him to leave. 

As soon as he was out the door, he had shoved in the earbud Val had slipped to him and hurried to the office down the hall she had cleared for him. 

There he had listened, barely breathing, as Scott had recounted every detail of the six months he had been gone. 

From departing for the mission, to being shot down. 

From being helped by the villagers they were meant to be saving, to being captured. 

From being thrown in a cell with the rest of his squad, to fighting to protect them when their captors had come to interrogate them. 

It had all been almost robotic, Jeff could tell his son had slipped and fallen back to the Air Man he had been six months ago. There was no emotion there, the Generals didn’t have an interest in how their people felt, just one simple fact after another. 

“Your squadron told us--”

“You debriefed my people without me?” Scott cut in, “Sir, protocol dictates that any debrief should be--”

“You were unavailable, Captain.” Val told him gently, “Protocol was followed given the circumstance.”

“Your squadron described to us how you protected them.” One General continued, as if there hadn’t been an interruption, “Did you not trust them, Captain?”

Scott’s voice held the same flicker it had earlier as he responded, “I trust them all with my life, Sir.”

“So why take the beatings in their place?”

Anger curdled in Jeff’s own stomach, it had not been as simple as beatings, even he knew that much. The animals had tortured Scott and his squad, first for information and then, he imagined, just because they could. 

“It was torture, Sir.” Scott’s voice held an edge to it, sharp and dangerous, “I wasn’t going to let my people suffer more than they needed to, not if I could help it.”

“Your squad say you bartered with your captors, is that correct?”

“I bartered to protect them.”

“Yet it wasn’t enough, was it, Captain? You still lost half your team.”

There was a long pause, a quiet shuffling and a soft murmur of assurance from Val before Scott responded. 

“I failed my people, Sir.”

Jeff bowed his head, screwing his eyes shut to force his own tears away. Scott had failed nobody, he had done his best to protect his people in any way he had been able. He had stayed strong and fought, Jeff had seen how fiercely Scott protected his own, had been called to the principal's office over fights caused by bullies too many times to count.

“Why did they separate you?”

“Sir?”

“Your squad told us that just before their rescue, your captors split you from a group cell to individual cells. Why was this?”

“I don’t know, Sir.”

“So, in all your bartering, they never gave you anything?”

“They stayed away from my people.” Scott answered, his voice wavering, “They hurt me instead of them.”

“But they didn’t, did they Captain? They still hurt your comrades, didn’t they?”

Jeff felt his heart drop, the insinuation hitting him square in the chest. 

“Not as badly as they could have, Sir.” 

“What are you insinuating, General?” Val’s voice held as much ire as Jeff felt. 

“We find it awfully convenient that the Captain is reported to have bartered with the guards and was then hidden away when the extraction team arrived.”

Jeff slammed his fist on the desk, sending pens scattering across the floor as he half stood from the seat he had taken. How dare they imply that Scott had betrayed his country! They hadn’t been there, hadn’t seen the scars or the nightmares, hadn’t heard their son scream their name like they couldn’t hear him. 

“You want to know where I was when they came?” 

Scott’s anger had always burned hot and fast, explosive against anyone that stood against him. It was something he had gotten from Jeff himself, a trait he had tried and failed to move him away from. 

Up the hallway, in a hospital bed, unable to stand for himself, Scott’s anger burned equally as hot but in a far more dangerous way. There hadn’t been any quiver in his question, each word had come as clear as the one before, his tone low and blunt. Anyone that had known the boy’s mother would have heard her as Jeff did in that question, and they would have known that whatever came next was far more dangerous than an explosion. 

“Please, enlighten us, Captain.”

Scott’s breaths turned ragged for a moment, anger and panic mixing briefly before a long breath was drawn in. 

“They put me in Solitary. To the right of the room where I was found, there was a concealed entrance, a room five by five.” 

Jeff felt sick as he remembered the screams for help he had heard over the phone, and he knew. 

“They took me there three times, General, and they left me there for weeks. Did my team tell you that? Did they tell you how they all thought I was dead the first time because I was gone for so long? Did they tell you how I couldn’t stand for a fortnight after they let me out? Did they tell you how I came back covered in my own filth because the guards thought it would remind me what sort of pig I was?”

Jeff was torn between pride and anger, between needing to listen and needing to stop. He’d had ideas, had made assumptions about everything his son must have been through, but he wasn’t sure any of them had quite matched the reality he was hearing as Scott ranted. 

“I was in there when they were saved! And I came out thinking they were dead and that I’d failed them all. That was when I gave up. That was when they could have killed me and I wouldn’t have cared.”

Jeff found himself gripping the desk to keep himself seated, his stomach churning enough that he thought about reaching for the waste bin. Scott had given up, had been ready to let them win. If Kyrano hadn’t have found him when he did…

“I think your people should be checking for that hidden room, General.” Val’s voice was the cool balm Jeff needed to hear, “That and the Squadron’s statements should be confirmation enough of Captain Tracy’s loyalty to the Force.”

Jeff didn’t wait for her text to confirm it was clear for him to return. He didn’t acknowledge the Generals as he passed them in the hallway. He didn’t stop for anything or anyone until his arms were wrapped around his son. 

Scott clung to him in return, a raw sob breaking free the moment that Val left them alone. 

“I’ve got you kiddo.” He murmured into his hair, “You’ve been so strong, I’m so proud. You didn’t fail, you saved Jen and Gary and Sienna, you did good Scott. You’re so brave.” 

His son’s tears weren’t like the ones that came before, they lacked the shaking grip that had come with fear and memories of terror that had been haunting him since he had woken up. 

His sobs were raw, his grip solid and sure against Jeff’s back, like he had finally realized that his father wasn’t going anywhere without him. He wasn’t sure if it was relief, anger, or something else that fueled them, but it was something.

He held on and kept repeating the soothing mantra until the sobs subsided into long aching breaths and Scott pulled back, clearly spent. 

“Dad?” He murmured, eyes drifting as Jeff repositioned himself to take hold of his hand.

“Yeah, kiddo?”

HIs eyes flickered to him, brow furrowing as he spoke, “I lied to them.” 

Jeff leant closer, holding on to Scott’s hand with both of his, “To who?”

“The Generals. Told ‘em I didn’t care. I did though, I wanted to come home, wanted to see the boys, and wanted to see you. Then you found me.”

He pulled Scott back to his chest, hugging him tightly as his own tears broke free and ran down into his son’s hair. 

[royal-confessions]

“Why is Kensington Palace feeding the narrative of the internet by giving the public a manipulated photo? The most sensible thing to do is just letting the POW get better and not drag her into more scandal. The whole thing went from silly memes to real-concern and eerie vibes so fast.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“Now I definitely think something weird is going on with the Waleses after the media issued a kill notification for the Mother's Day photo on suspicion of it being manipulated! What is going on with them... or at the least, what is going on with their PR??” - Submitted by Anonymous

“Beyond any conspiracy theory, it's worrisome that the world's largest news agencies, AP, AFP, and Reuters, withdrew the Wales portrait, citing manipulation.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“I personally believe that the British Royal Family is the finest PR machine in the world. However, I find it hard to understand why they sent out a picture that clearly shows signs of AI. It's really sad for Kate, as she can't recover in peace due to one PR disaster after another” - Submitted by Anonymous

“I was having a laugh with all the crazy memes about Kate going MIA... until today. :/”- Submitted by Anonymous

“Wow so KP try to fool us with a badly photoshopped photo of Kate and her kids! Can we really trust them after this, is Kate okay, are they hiding something serious?” - Submitted by Anonymous

“Not Kensington Palace getting a community note because they posted a fake photo 😂” - Submitted by Anonymous

“AFP issuing a "kill" notification for a portrait distributed by KP is a disgrace. Anyone with the slightest knowledge in communications know how terribly serious that is from a PR perspective. Extremely concerned for Kate.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“I seriously feel sick to my stomach with this Kate situation. I just want everything to go back to normal.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“I thought media outlets were merely being overly picky with Kate's Mother's day photo, but then I saw pointed out examples (eg. Kate's blurred right hand)... which makes the whole thing feel like a weird conspiracy cover-up. o.O” - Submitted by Anonymous

“The whole Mother’s Day picture scandal. Omg😂😂 the Catherine conspiracies are getting out of control” - Submitted by Anonymous

“This whole Kate thing is being handled so poorly. It seemed there was no prior planning for her "planned" surgery. Then she apparently "pap walked" in the car photo with Carole to put rumors to rest. The Mother's Day pic had such obvious signs of heavy editing though (copy/paste used to merge photos together - wow). The car pic of her with William barely shows her. Does whoever is managing this WANT people to worry? Because if so, they're hugely successful! Produce solid proof of life already!” - Submitted by Anonymous

“People think that all the attention on Catherine is because she hasn't work since December and that makes her super relevant. It's not like that, it's because her PR team are completely useless and have made her absence look incredibly suspicious. "Where's Kate?" It's just a testament to the terrible team that works for Wales.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“OMG the KP staff are completely useless! It's time to hire competent people and not just yes-men, William.” - Submitted by Anonymous

“A lot of people are misunderstanding photogate, the issue isn’t the fact the photos are edited, we already know Kate looks nothing like her wrinkle free airbrushed portraits. The issue is the fact Kensington Palace lied, they claimed this was a brand new photo William took for Mother’s Day, that’s not true and is making people more suspicious about what’s happening to Kate.” - Submitted by Anonymous

[ackerifle]

Captain Levi x prisoner of war reader please 😊 🙏

spoils of war!

yan. captain levi ackerman x fem captain. reader (ft. special operations squad)

+ CW. — au: canon adjacent, war crimes, treason, imprisonment, abuse of power & authority: mistreatment/abuse of pow, non-sexual nudity, choking, restraints & hot iron branding, uncharacteristically long post because it’s combined with another work i was making; not proof-read.

it came as no surprise that paradis island was capable of producing and preparing such an overwhelming abundance of competent and proficient soldiers. even if many civilians had initially criticized their old-fashioned choice of weaponry, their contentious plays on the battlefield, and even their morales as a stand-alone concern in itself; their doubts would soon be long forgotten once the soldiers had returned, claiming their first victory that would soon become countless victories. the war may still have yet to be won, but it is no secret that lady luck certainly favored the survey corps’ soldiers with all she had.

and that is precisely why levi had so easily been able to whisk you away with not so much as a glance from his subordinates and superiors alike, during an attack no less. in retrospect, you should have adamantly defended your right to fall back on this particular mission to your commander, should have let this great burden fall onto the shoulders of one of your fellow captains, and have been done with the whole situation entirely. but there was much more for you to prove to your commander and newfound nation than your other marleyan peers.

even if you had demonstrated your worth as a valuable asset time and time again, had gotten your hands dirty for the sake of marley’s name and conquest, serve your own motherland and its peoples only to turn your back on them halfway through the war; you would remain the only ‘foreigner,’ in power, a potential traitor in the eyes of soldiers who were your supposed comrades. if you could betray once, you could betray again— and those who held such leery and low beliefs of you simply could not be reasoned with.

but the judgment and distaste that was made very well clear to you by the marleyan military was nothing in comparison to levi's contempt. actually, it was captain levi now, although that isn’t such a shocking revelation when you take into account that you had also been promoted to captain status during your years away from home. however, your title was a gift from marley, not paradis, and that alone made all the more difference.

you hadn’t remembered him when the two of you came face to face after half a decade. when all of your soldiers had either met their final fates or been broken down with wounds beyond repair, captured and detained; you too, had fallen with them. and when levi had stormed down the ghastly corridor of deadmen and far worse to reap his reward of the fight well won, he had found you. the first thing he noticed was that you looked better, happier. far happier than he could’ve ever dreamed to see you when you were still in paradis— even with the absolutely disgusting mud, grime, dirt, blood, and shit smothered onto your raw and tender skin, with injuries that were likely already infected and guaranteed to last you a lifetime of scars, and well over half of your comrades-in-arms deceased. for someone who was just about to lose everything, you seemed so alive.

at the time, he had approached you wordlessly. slowly trekking his way down to your pathetic and forlorn figure, limp with lassitude and slumped in defeat in a messy pool of your own blood. given enough thought, levi thinks he must’ve looked angry back then. teeth grinding together behind a disturbing sneer, and eyes left wide open until they felt dry enough that he may as well have cried; levi acted far quicker than even his own thoughts could. as the end of his blade dipped beneath your chin, experimentally tapping the sharp side against your neck before raising the entire weight of your head until you could face him.

for but a moment's time, something vulnerable had flashed through levi’s eyes, and he remembered this feeling from his youth, that of a scared boy. his relentless heart wouldn’t stop in its persistence to beat out of his rib cage, and his sentiment, his fondness for you had resurfaced with bone chilling ardor. he was rendered completely, and wholly speechless. mouth agape and stunned into silence, but levi must have let your name slip from his lips in a voiceless whisper, because you finally opened your eyes, “do- do i, know you.” and so you had forgotten all about him.

you truly had done something so utterly unforgivable. leaving him all alone and abandoned while he remained under the unanswered pretense that you were taken; only to have been double backing on paradis the entire time, while he was the only one suffering, left in egregious shambles over your absence. so now he was going to do something unforgivable to you.

“get up.” levi always finds a way to announce his presence before making his way down to your cellar— as if the sound of him (unnecessarily) slamming the rickety door open and stomping on the the concrete steps wasn’t enough for you to catch the hint. a faint window of yellow light from above could be seen framing his silhouette on the uneven stone ground, and you brace yourself for whatever words of wisdom levi has so graciously decided to enlighten you with today, “it’s your lucky day.”

biting back a mirthful huff and an equally incredulous leer, you study his next words carefully, “we’ve got visitors coming today.” you’re quite observant of how he intentionally takes his time when it comes to unlocking your cellar door, his eyes don’t leave you, as if he enjoys seeing you imprisoned behind bars, and it makes your skin crawl, “visitors?”

your copycat repetition was intended to be silent, though you can’t help but ponder his statement aloud. there is something odd here, levi slides the door open and enters the caged room with you, you don’t know what it is, he grabs you by the arm far too intimately for someone holding a hostage, no— you know what it is; his voice, levi doesn’t bother to close the cellar door as he guides you down the ill lit, damp and dreary hallway, he almost sounds like he’s looking forward to having these ‘visitors’ coming today.

“you’ll be happy to see them.” as if reading your mind, levi offered his ominous words of assurance, if one could even call them that. opting to ignore his response in favor of studying your surroundings, partially because you weren’t conscious for the trip down, and partially to soothe your nerves, you have distant memories here— “familiar to you yet? the old headquarters’ basement.”

levi bites his tongue to refrain from adding in a sardonic jab about how you would have been there to witness the construction of the new headquarters, the symbol of paradis island’s first victory in the war, if you had simply stayed. but levi trusts that he’s spent enough time re-indoctrinating your pasts together with the days he’s been granted leave to tend to his war trophy. but his heart still aches every time he remembers your neglectful memory was due to your own carelessness, nothing to do with marley brainwashing you, or any sort of militaristic torture into subservience. was he that insignificant to you that over the span of five short years, you would think no more of him?

the two of you seem to recall your trainee days on paradis very differently, and the notion itself puts levi in a sour mood, “hurry up, the ropes don’t make you fucking immobile.” he barks with a shove in between your shoulder blades, “cuffs with enough leeway for me to move a single centimeter at a time? how accommodating!” levi shoots you a dark glare, “behave.”

it leaves your body sore when you come to a standstill atop the steps, vision straining at the introduction of an unhealthy combination of natural and artificial lighting on your luminescent-deprived eyes. levi takes advantage of your poorly adjusting eyes, suavely escorting you into a new room. there is something that you notice immediately upon entering the unrecognizable area, it is the smell of smoke. instinctively, your eyes frantically search the room to locate the source, landing on a small coal fire, all the while levi continues to usher you forward until you bump into a wooden surface.

peering down, you’re greeted by a low, yet unusually and unconventionally capacious table. each corner holds an individual ring of rusted metal, hooked to the ends with suspicious purpose. but before you can dwell on it too much, the force of levi’s hands on your shoulder and waist have you coming to your senses. with one calculating motion, he swivels you around, turning your body until you’re faced towards him, and although your hands are tied together behind your back, you struggle like you can touch him. levi is unfazed by whatever attempts you can bring yourself to muster to aid in escaping his grasp, dropping his hands to your torso with dangerous constriction before slamming you down onto the table with all his might.

your lower back takes the brunt of the force, and by god does it hurt. the edge of the table digs spitefully into your back and spine, causing you to momentarily scream in agony. and in an instant, levi distracts you from the pain when his hands start roaming your body, starting with your shirt. when he gets closer, the severity of the situation finally sinks in, and you only hope you’re wrong about what will happen next. wildly moving in his hold does little when your limbs are bound, and your legs are lifted too high from the floor for you to even do anything, and despite still maintaining full control over your movements, levi lets out an annoyed grunt either way.

his right hand quickly descends down onto your neck, enveloping your airway with a firm squeeze, enough to get you to stop violently staggering about. levi is more concerned with the position this has now put him in, only a menial worry, really; unbuttoning your shirt with one hand proves to be rather difficult, so he’ll have to tear at the fabric. like it was an ordinary sunday morning, he is more worried with the tattered frays and cloth pieces your blouse will discard, than you, a literal captive, scrambling to get out from beneath him. he decides he will both unbutton and rip the shirt, using his thumb to sloppily shove the buttons through while also dragging the article further down your body.

“fuck, don’t. this is inhumane, even for an enemy soldier!” it hadn’t crossed his mind that you may have taken this the wrong way, his intentions that is. but you did give him an idea for another day, “well, you aren't quite a soldier— no, not even a civilian of paradis anymore, now are you?”

levi halts his movements, but doesn’t release you, instead, feigning a thoughtful pause before continuing, “but that doesn't matter, even if you miraculously find your way back to marley, they won't want you back, not after i'm done with you.” your heart drops, and your thrashing increases tenfold, causing his grip on your throat to loosen with every move, but levi is able to ignore it with his determination to get those insufferable buttons undone.

the sound of a door and hurried footsteps interrupt any frenetic and hysterical thought you’re having, even levi tilts his head in the direction of the clamoring, “hm, it seems they’ve arrived.”

casual chatter could be heard nearing the two of you, and when voices were revealed you were horrified. gathering at the open doorway was a group of four soldiers, or so you had presumed, as they had the same matching uniform as levi. there were three men, and one woman; all of which who are holding something. two with the same rope that had your arms and legs tied together, one with a singular iron rod, and the lady with a water basin and a washcloth resting halfway inside the bucket and halfway on the outside. and what terrified you even further was that they seemed unperturbed by the sight before them, it’s almost as if their smiles grew wider.

“sorry we’re a little late, captain!” the woman chirped, lowering the water basin in her hands to a more comfortable position to allow gravity to uphold its weight, rather than her arms, “it’s about damn time you all finally show up, restrain her.” levi was blunt and to the point, glossing over greetings entirely, and aiming his index finger in your direction.

there was a lot going on, and levi disappeared behind the three figures approaching you in the midst of it all. the short-haired woman must have placed the basin on the floor, because her hands were definitely free when she reached for your shirt, “it’s been so long since we’ve last seen you, you know.” how she had managed to keep such a cheery tone and face while also single-handedly witnessing your torment and anguish was beyond you, and you leaned away from her touch.

“yeah, captain said you forgot all about us.” it seemed that distancing yourself from the chipper lady had landed you into the trap of another, this time, a blond man with a blithe though hurt grin on his face, “we’ve got so much to tell you.” the tallest of the three added, carelessly placing a hand on the buckle of your belt.

entering your peripheral vision was the final soldier of what you presumed to be levi’s squad, he had been the one carrying the iron rod in his hands, now absent, as he made his way towards you, finding a spot next to the woman, “a lot happened while you were away.”

that’s right, you remember them. these soldiers were of the plethora of cadets that had enlisted in the military when you and levi had graduated. you had only encountered them a handful of times, but they were recurring guests in your life thanks to levi preparing for his promotion, the one you never had the chance to witness for yourself due to your leave. who knew they would be the same people to disgrace your pride and dignity by stripping you naked, even if they were much gentler than levi ever cared to be with you, there was no greater comparison than a pack of hungry wolves. and it was so draining to fight them, you tried and tried, but when the ropes had come out, you gave in.

and their names, they were: petra, eld, gunther, and oluo— which you had only picked up thanks to their small-talk with one another as they defiled you. shutting your eyes to avoid dwelling on the feeling of having your arms and legs strewn out, wrists and ankles bound by the rope that had been threaded through those worn out coils. all attention was focused on your shallow breathing, praying to disassociate hard enough to block out their jovial conversation. but you had picked up on something else, the burning coals. expectedly, the room was airless and sultry with a running fire and six people confined to such a small room. but this scent was different, like you could smell the heat, and that heat smelled like iron.

snapping your eyes open, you raise your head as much as your neck would allow it in your pitiful position, desperately scanning the room for answers. and you get them when you finally hear levi’s voice, “grab her arms and legs, i didn’t get this shit custom made for her to fuck it up.” readily, as if anticipating this specific command, petra and oluo had taken hold of your calves, while eld and gunther grabbed the inner side of your elbows. when levi leisurely drew near the side of the wooden table, the only thing you could see was the iron bar in his hands, the black metal now a light ash grey, emanating heat even with the distance levi was holding with you.

“wait, stop. get that fucking thing away from me!” the only control you had over your own body seemed to be your mind and mouth. even when you banged against the table, pulling away from the left side of the table where levi menacingly stood, recoiling as much as you could through the grip of the four soldiers and the ropes.

if it was forgiveness you wanted, you wouldn’t get it. that much levi would make sure of. if you wanted to run away? to be disobedient? then he’d reward your bad behavior with a deservingly bad punishment. carefully, levi lowered the scorching iron pole to align with the left side of your hips, though he wasn’t cautious for your sake, of course not, you deserved this and much more, but because he refused to let your little tantrum screw this up. you could feel the metal before it even touched your skin, burning away any body hair that may have been there to a crisp, and the sheer radiating from it had you screwing your eyes shut. you braced yourself, preparing to feel the searing iron, but it never came. levi contemplated whether or not he wanted to do it slowly, or to startle you after letting fifteen seconds pass, he fancied the latter.

it was so much more painful than you thought it was going to be. the sweltering hot iron rod blistered your sensitive skin, and you shrieked and cried in pain. it was scalding hot to the point it felt as if the metal was actually ice cold, and it pressed stiffly against your side, sinking into the fat of your hips. you had screamed until you couldn’t no more, until your voice cracked and your vocal cords bled, something the soldiers restricting you seemed to ignore. but the smell, the smell of your flesh being burned to the point it would leave a fresh, bloody mark. it was nauseating, and you gagged and heaved, but nothing to come of it. and despite how hellish it was, how it caused you unfathomable pain, caused you to convulse and spasm in your restraints, the pressure of the iron rod only lasted five seconds.

levi had counted, retrieving the metal pole and alleviating the pressure of its marking on your body after five maliciously counted seconds. you couldn’t tell if it hurt worse when the cold air nipped at the new wound than it did when it had been applied to your skin. tears fell from your eyes, and you don’t recall when you had started crying, but your face was wet with those salty droplets. shuffling resonated within the room, and the weight on your limbs was released. how tired you were, defeatedly laying your head until you could feel the rough surface of the wooden table. eyelids getting heavier by the second, you dared glance at the brand on your hip, the two letters ‘LA,’ bold and clear.

if you had the energy to, you would have flinched when a hand holding onto a lightly wetted rag came into contact with the new marking. the hand was tentative and mindful, applying little to no pressure on your hip, but just enough to cleanse the burn. you could have sworn you heard the sound of humming, but you knew you heard levi’s voice, “if you so much as think of betraying me again, i’ll do more than just mark you with my initials.”

[frau-wilhelm-klink]

Pls spill your ideas on Klink revealing he knew all about what Hogan was doing and just kept quiet. I need the details

Hi! Sure, I'd be happy to. As a Klink fangirl, I'm obligated to defend my man😂 For this answer, I was gonna type it all out...but then I remembered I have a fic that literally has eight different instances of it. (And this isn't a plug, it's just a lucky coincidence on my part because I'm tired.) So I took advantage of my good fortune by taking screenshots of the parts in question. All of these times are canon, and in every one, Klink has either looked the other way and/or not asked questions when he definitely should have been asking them!

To expand on this answer a little more, you have to remember that Klink is a veteran of the first World War. This is a canon fact. And as you may or may not know, there were quite a few veterans of that era who were...shall we say, less than thrilled about the regime. Klink is one of them; he's subtly expressed his distaste for Hitler in canon at least once in "The Most Escape-Proof Camp I've Ever Escaped From". (The scene in question is after he tells Hogan "We all make mistakes. Nobody's perfect." After Hogan looks rather pointedly at the picture of Hitler in the Kommandantur, Klink growls, "Except him, of course.") So we have at least two reasons why he'd support Hogan.

Another interesting fact is how every time Klink grows a backbone, it's always for the same reason - somebody is threatening to take his prisoners out of his camp, and therefore strip them of his protective custody. Now you might say, "Well, he's just doing his job." Which is true, but Klink's also shown to be terrified of the Gestapo/SS. He bows to their whim on everything else. If he was truly that scared of them, he would never speak up. But he does. Even Hochstetter, a man who regularly pushes Klink around despite being outranked twice over, can't threaten the POWs without our illustrious kommandant putting his jackboot down. If said prisoner is Hogan, Klink becomes even more adamant with his refusal. Why? Because he knows what's going on and knows Hogan is needed to lead the operation.

Speaking of Hogan, have you ever noticed how Klink has trusted him countless times with his very life? Hogan claims he's just "an ordinary POW - which is obviously a lie - but yet Klink still does it. He's asked Hogan for his advice more than once. Klink's also relied on Hogan countless times to get him out of one jam or another, already knowing the colonel would find a way to do so, even if it wasn't one that was planned by the Heroes. It makes zero sense for Klink to take that risk unless he knows for a fact Hogan can get him out of Germany if worse comes to worse. You don't get to be a full bird colonel (or Oberst, if we're using the proper German term) by being stupid. Heck, even if you blame nepotism, that would only get Klink so far. And that's not even counting the amount of times Hogan has mentioned things he shouldn't know about to Klink without it being questioned how he knew them.

There's no question in my mind that he knows. Klink might wear a monocle, but he can clearly see how clever Hogan is. He's well aware the colonel is both crafty and sneaky. If he didn't, the visit from Beidenbender ("Hogan Gives a Birthday Party") stating how he, Beidenbender, was personally assigned to get inside Hogan's head would tell Klink all he needed to know. Combine the first three traits with Beidenbender stating Hogan has a tendency to overplan everything and it wouldn't be hard to connect the dots. Especially since pretty much all of the sabotage work the Heroes do is near Stalag 13...which is yet another thing that's been pointed out in canon several times.

As to why Klink doesn't say anything...well, he just wants his Germany back. He doesn't want Hitler in charge any more than Schultz does. Klink turns a blind eye to everything as much as he can, although he still has to make a half-hearted attempt to question things so Hogan doesn't get suspicious. All part and parcel of being the one in command. Does he have other reasons for doing what he does? Possibly. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Klink (who would wait until the night before the Allies arrived to drop that bombshell) is hoping Hogan will protect him.

The thing is, Klink really can't outright say anything to Hogan. Not without running the risk of everything going to hell in a hand basket, anyway. He can't be certain how the colonel would take the news that his jailer is helping him. Klink can't openly join the resistance either; he'd be shot if he did. Instead, our kommandant fights back against the regime in the best way he knows how: quietly aiding Hogan however he can without drawing unwanted attention to himself, his camp or his prisoners.

Whew! Sorry this got so long-winded, but I'm sure you probably guessed it would be when you asked me that😂 Hope this satisfies your curiosity.

Edit: Since I've had more than one person ask me where they can read this fic, it can be found here. The title of it and link are also in the notes. I'm very flattered some of you are intrigued enough by the screenshots to take that much of an interest in my work🥰

[heartlvrrss]

haechan x reader

Word count: 1127 (puku puku pow pow)

requested? Yes( •̀ ω •́ )y

Warnings: Small mentions of being gutted (not anyone in the story itself don't worry I'm not cruel) THIS IS ALSO NOT PROOF READ SO IF ITS SHIT IM SORRY T-T other than that nothing (I think)<3

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It was finally halloween, the time of year where you would usually call up your best friend lee donghyuck to do all those little halloween things before scaring and bullying kids.

You originally wanted to do a little party with your friends but apparently everyone all of a sudden had to do something, which, in your opinion was total bs. But at least you still had haechan, god did the man piss you off at times but he was a good friend, a cute one maybe even pretty.

“That actually looks like shit” Haechan had the audacity to say while you were carving your pumpkin that you were actually working very hard on, but your ego came back up after seeing his. “You have no right to talk, I cant tell if your trying to make a version of jack the skeleton that was dropkicked as a baby and fell down the stairs 1 million times or if your just making a pumpkin self portrait” You snapped back

“My mother told me to be an honest person, so I told you the truth, no need to insult me!” He replies with wide eyes. Before you could say anything more both of you heard a bell ring, a grin crept up both of your faces before running to the door with vegetables.

You both fought to open the door until u slapped him “get your fatass hand away from the handle I wanna see our victim first” you whispered loudly, the bell rang one last time before you opened the door.

You both saw a young girl in a unicorn costume

“Well hi! What are you this halloween?” You asked

“Isn’t it pretty obvious” the child said, which shocked me with the attitude. She really deserves a vegetable now.

“Is it a fairy??”

“I’m a mermaid you dumb bitch”

I turned to hyuck and mouthed “goddamn..” 

“Oh.. Uh… Choose 3 candies from here” This girl scares me i literally might shit my pants on the spot.

You and hyuck watch as the girl skips away to her mother that was waiting by the end of the driveway, still in shock.

“You were supposed to give her the vegetable!”

“Well she’s got fucking anger issues i don’t wanna get cursed out by a child again!”

“Whatever”

I walked back to the kitchen with hyuck right behind me, while i try to extend my legs as much as possible (which TOTALLY not an attempt to trip him)

“What the fuck are you doing ___”

“Its a walking habit hyuck, have you not known me long enough to know that?” you ask with a fake betrayed look on your face

“__ Ive know you for far too long to know thats not a habit of yours. Its a poor attempt of trying to trip me. YOU are the traitor not me.” He grabs his chest and looks away in a fake dramatic manor

you roll your eyes “drama queen.. Well whatever lets watch a movie we can finish the pumpkins tomorrow.” and you gave him the bright smile that hes always loved.

When he saw that smile his heart leaped as usual, whenever he saw you he swears he might have a heart attack; just how could a human be so perfect, is what hed always ask himself whenever he saw you. You are the epitome of perfection to him, and thats exactly what hurt him, he wanted you so bad but he just didnt want to ruin your relationship with him incase you didnt like him back.

Hyuck decided to watch scream on whatever illegal website you could find on your tv, when the part where Casey becker was gutted you flinched a bit immediately holding on to hyuck for comfort, as he just cuddled you closer in response, wrapping you around with the blanket. You looked up at him admiring him for a bit, your heart skipping a bit while the movie plays in the background, you then lean in to kiss him lips barely brushing against each others, thats when you heard a ring your house phone was ringing. A bit freaked out thanks to the scream movie you were watching, you walked up to the phone with hyuck trailing behind you, a bit bummed out the moment was interrupted. 

“Hello? Who is this” the fear in your voice evident

“You dont need to know who i am” the deep voice replied, you look at hyuck to see if he had anything to do with this, but he looked equally confused

“Do not fucking play with me right now, im watching scream right now and you using that voice is gonna make me shit my pants now fuck off and dont joke around” you hang up pissed “just some creep” you told hyuck “ok whatever, can we please contin-” his voiced was cut off by the phone ringing again.

You turn around and pick up the phone again 

“Dont fucking hang up on me bitch”

“What the fuck can i not just enjoy my halloween for goodness sake” someone started loudly banging on the door

“Open the fucking door”

“No”

“Open the fucking door NOW”

I cover the phone dk the person couldnt hear me “hyuck please open the door”

“Yes ma’am” I walk next to him with the phone still by me, as hyucks hand slowly reaches for the door knob he opens it

You scream and jump into hyucks arms scared for what would happen, only to be met with a loud 

“SURPRISE!!!” you open your eyes to see a bunch of your friends laughing at you including haechan 

“That was not fucking funny!” you say close to tears, looking at giselle holding a phone “And you YOU i thought no one was coming!” you jumped out of hyucks arms close to tears (angry tears be so real)

“Woah woah we are so sorry ___! Youre right that wasnt funny” hyuck apologises hugging you

“Thats right you better be sorry” you say as you cried

“I think we should leave.. seems like somethings going on here and i dont wanna be a witness…” you hear ningning say as the group walk away

°°°°°°°°

“Are you mad at me?” hyuck asks worried

“You actually thought my tears were real? I didnt know i was that good of an actor” you reply, a bit shocked he believed your stunt

“You were lying??” 

“Ofcourse i just wanted to get the away so i could kiss you in private” you say as you grab his face and give him a sweet pure kiss, finally able to continue the urge after you got rudely interrupted right when you were about to kiss him. 

“So are we official now?” he asks

“ofcourse”

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@polarisjisung here hua! ik im very late but I'm finally finished T-T I hope you like it<3

[lejel-labs-global]

Membongkar Teknologi Blockchain: Tulang Punggung Cryptocurrency

Blockchain, sebuah inovasi revolusioner yang menjadi tulang punggung di balik dunia cryptocurrency, telah mengubah cara kita memandang sistem keuangan dan teknologi. Seiring dengan kemunculan Bitcoin pada tahun 2009 oleh seseorang atau sekelompok orang yang menggunakan nama samaran Satoshi Nakamoto, blockchain menjadi fondasi bagi berbagai mata uang digital dan aplikasi terdesentralisasi.

Apa Itu Blockchain?

Pada dasarnya, blockchain adalah ledger terdesentralisasi yang mencatat transaksi secara transparan dan aman. Ini adalah rangkaian blok yang saling terhubung, di mana setiap blok berisi serangkaian transaksi dan memiliki hash khusus yang merujuk pada blok sebelumnya. Dengan demikian, setiap informasi yang dimasukkan ke dalam blockchain menjadi sulit diubah atau dimanipulasi.

Keamanan yang Diberikan oleh Blockchain

Salah satu fitur utama blockchain adalah keamanannya. Karena setiap blok terkait dengan blok sebelumnya melalui hash, mengubah satu blok akan membutuhkan perubahan pada seluruh rantai blok setelahnya. Ini membuat serangan terhadap integritas data menjadi sangat sulit dan melibatkan upaya yang sangat besar.

Blockchain juga menggunakan mekanisme konsensus untuk mengonfirmasi transaksi. Bitcoin, misalnya, menggunakan Proof of Work (PoW), di mana para penambang memecahkan masalah matematika yang rumit untuk menambahkan blok baru ke blockchain. Sistem ini memerlukan daya komputasi yang signifikan untuk melindungi jaringan dari serangan.

Desentralisasi dan Transparansi

Keunikan lain dari blockchain adalah desentralisasi. Tidak ada otoritas tunggal yang mengontrol atau memiliki kepemilikan penuh atas jaringan. Setiap node dalam jaringan memiliki salinan lengkap dari blockchain, dan setiap transaksi disahkan oleh konsensus kolektif. Hal ini menghilangkan kebutuhan akan pihak ketiga, seperti bank atau lembaga keuangan, dan mengurangi risiko manipulasi atau korupsi.

Transparansi juga menjadi kunci dalam blockchain. Semua transaksi dicatat secara terbuka dan dapat diakses oleh siapa saja. Ini memberikan tingkat kepercayaan yang tinggi di antara pengguna, karena setiap orang dapat memverifikasi transaksi dengan mudah.

Penerapan Luas di Luar Cryptocurrency

Meskipun blockchain pertama kali dikenal melalui cryptocurrency, teknologi ini telah menemukan penerapan luas di berbagai industri. Misalnya, banyak perusahaan menggunakan blockchain untuk melacak rantai pasokan secara real-time, memastikan keaslian produk, dan meningkatkan efisiensi operasional.

Selain itu, konsep tokenisasi, yang memungkinkan aset fisik direpresentasikan dalam bentuk token digital di blockchain, telah membuka pintu untuk inovasi di bidang properti, seni, dan keuangan tradisional.

Kesimpulan

Blockchain telah membuktikan dirinya sebagai tulang punggung cryptocurrency dan lebih dari sekadar inovasi teknologi. Ini membawa paradigma baru dalam keamanan, desentralisasi, dan transparansi. Meskipun masih dalam tahap pengembangan, potensi penggunaan blockchain di luar cryptocurrency terus berkembang, memberikan dampak signifikan pada cara kita berinteraksi dengan dunia digital dan fisik. Sebagai teknologi yang terus berkembang, blockchain menjanjikan perubahan lebih lanjut di masa depan, melampaui batas-batas yang kita kenal saat ini.