#Smart power backup for office

[bpee123]

In today's digital and health-conscious world, uninterrupted power is not a luxury—it's a necessity. Whether you're working from home, managing essential health equipment, or simply ensuring your devices are safe from outages, BPE (Best Power Equipments) offers trusted solutions. From Medical Device Back-up Power to an 8 hours backup UPS for desktop, BPE's UPS power supply for home is engineered to protect what matters most. BPE also offers support services, battery replacement guidance, and scalable models for expanding needs.

Read Full Blog- https://bpeups.blogspot.com/2025/06/bpe-ups-solutions-smart-choice-for-medical-and-home-backup-power.html

[okayapowergroup]

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[rainydetectiveglitter]

🪐 Astro Observations

Who Looks Hot in Glasses (and Who’s Scheduling Vision correction surgery Right Now) 👓💫

-based on my observations + delusions

Disclaimer: This is a playful, observational take based on patterns and cultural stereotypes not a prescription or psychological profile. Everyone looks good or bad in glasses based on many factors beyond rising signs. Wear what makes you feel confident.

✦ Virgo Rising

Hot in glasses? Yes. Sexy librarian energy, sharp, controlled, like they see everything you try to hide. Vision correction surgery? Maybe, but only after a long, thorough research phase, they want the best, not the fastest. Contacts? Cared for like precious artifacts. Travel case, drops, backups. They don’t play.

✧ Libra Rising

Hot in glasses? Sometimes, if the frames enhance their natural symmetry and elegance. Otherwise, glasses can feel like they disrupt the flow. Vision correction surgery? Often likely. They prefer a clean, polished look without distractions. Contacts? Yes, but always chosen carefully to blend with their style, subtle, chic, and intentional.

✦ Scorpio Rising

Hot in glasses? Devastatingly so. Gives that “deep, dangerous, knows your secrets” vibe. Vision correction surgery? Depends on their current phase, either way, they’ll come out hotter. Contacts? Handles them, but loves the power play of removing glasses mid-conversation.

✧ Gemini Rising

Hot in glasses? Absolutely, but it’s chaotic-smart-hot. “Debate me, then ghost you” energy. Vision correction surgery? Yes, then ironically wears fake glasses to keep the look. Contacts? A mess. One lens in, one lost. Still walks out the door.

✦ Capricorn Rising

Hot in glasses? Immaculately. Looks like they’re running three companies from a corner office. Vision correction surgery? Yes, if it improves productivity. Contacts? Yes. Follows the optometrist’s instructions like it’s federal law.

✧ Taurus Rising

Hot in glasses? Yes, as long as they’re designer. Think “glasses as jewelry.” Vision correction surgery? Vision correction surgery? Skeptical, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Contacts? Yes, but only the comfiest, bougie brand. Won’t touch drugstore saline.

✦ Aquarius Rising

Hot in glasses? Glasses don’t always flatter, but they fit. Vintage, strange, or niche frames suit them more than anything trendy. Vision correction surgery? Not likely. They’re too attached to what makes them visually distinct. Contacts? Rarely. Might invent better eyes instead.

✧ Leo Rising

Hot in glasses? Only if they’re outrageous and attention-grabbing. Regular glasses? Absolutely not. Vision correction surgery? 100%, it’s about the FACE. Contacts? Yes, but they’ll complain if anyone sees them putting them in. Must maintain the mystique.

✦ Cancer Rising

Hot in glasses? More “emotionally devastating cutie” than hot. Glasses make them look trustworthy. Vision correction surgery? Only post-breakdown or glow-up arc. Contacts? Responsible, but sentimental about their old glasses. May cry during the transition.

✧ Sagittarius Rising

Hot in glasses? Not really. Always crooked, broken, dirty, or missing. Vision correction surgery? Appealing purely for freedom and convenience, but may forget to schedule the appointment for 3 years. Contacts? LOLOL. Wakes up in yesterday’s pair. Cleans them in tap water. A disaster.

✦ Pisces Rising

Hot in glasses? Look like daydreaming poets in glasses. A little whimsical, a little “I read your aura in a coffee shop once. Vision correction surgery? if they randomly decide to reinvent themselves one Tuesday at 2am. Contacts? Loses them constantly. Has 1-month disposables they’ve been “reusing just a little.”

✧ Aries Rising

Hot in glasses? Not hot in glasses. Glasses tone down the feral hotness. They look best with windblown hair and a slightly reckless expression, not frames. Vision correction surgery? YES. Immediately. Don’t even need a consult. Contacts? Will stab their eye 6 times before giving up and rawdogging nearsightedness for the day.

-Some signs become the aesthetic (Virgo, Scorpio, Taurus, Capricorn)

-Some signs ruin it (Leo, Aries, Libra)

-And some signs are out here losing their glasses in Ubers while googling Vision correction surgery side effects at 3am (Sag, Pisces, Gemini)

[random-cockroach]

Honestly decepticon prowl

I see his brain going 'if you can be ten steps ahead, why not be at LEAST twenty steps ahead?' to himself. In a mirror.

Barricade however seems rather clueless, not listening to certain things, communications officer with soundwave, barricade is the one to send in if someone HAS to be captured, he can endure a lot of mind games and trickery and has been known to come out with information instead of whatever falsities that he gave the autobots.

Prowl is smart, rarely seen, immoral, a walking grey line that somehow got on the decepticons side (?) however they aren't sure if he is, don't know where he is to get the upper hand of it to make sure he is.

Prowl knows enough about both sides he could stall the entire war, one side gets an advantage then the other gets lucky, and if a side pisses prowl off? They start losing for a little while, not enough to make a difference, but it happens.

The autobots... kind of know barricade, all of them know the tricky decepticon, except Red Alert, who knows barricade as a traitor. Why red alert? Because it's hard for anyone how knows him to question if he's serious or not. (Kill me I love idw version of red alert)

Anyway prowl being powerful yes... but in the mind way, Shockwave hates him.. only because Prowl throws a wrench in shockwaves backup plans, somehow, someway 'barricade' is curious and is known as a bad shot, he wanders, he is known to be an olay conversation, a little boring, but barricade is okay in everyone's book but shockwave..

Okay i gotta stop there, sorry to ramble... Imma go to my snacc collection now, hope you liked the ideas! 🍬

OH OH OH okay ahah okay I, I might really like to hear any rambles about people's ideas and looks on decepticon Prowl so feel free to ramble ahah Mmm, I think in Prowl's case it isn't an exaggeration to say that he needs to count 100+ moves ahead You just made he realise that he might end up being a good liar in such sircumstances? Like I always think of him as a bad liar because his face acts unproportionally to what he says. But his face movements are so barely noticable that maybe only Jazz and Red Alert could notice them (I didn't see enough of Red Alert in idw, I need more info on him I see people loving him pfehge) Barricade being clueless because he is busy coming up with the new tactical strategies while still doing him job so he loses some things he is said to. Oh god yes you made me realise that he is also sent on interrogations to get out information, autobots could learn about Barricade from here, a chance of someone running away. OH, Prowl is some kind of mistery just like Jazz. Prowl death bringer and Jazz life bringer to neutrals. One works undercover with decepticons, other undercover with autobots to help the ones who mustn't be involved in their war. (There would have been so many facts and details that shouldn't be on the front page but ahah let it be) OH Prowl was working with Primes. He was leading operations. He was responsible for Megatron's case when he was a gladiator. He knows enough of autobots' inner info. There is just one misconception. He was a Prowl back then. I wonder how he can trick everyone to believe Prowl is dead (seems easy but he wasn't a low figure to cover it was easily) unless he just made sure everyone who was working with him fell down under Prime's fire. I wonder if he changes his painting

OH mmm yes his plans could always be on the way of Soundwave's backup plans. So far in idw I saw that 1) Shockwave sometimes acts on his own too without Megatron knowing because he looks at possibilities of the world changing from the war 2) Soundwave ending up randomly anywhere ahah Pffffffht, "What do you mean you pissed off Prowl and we lost 3 squadrons a joor ago?!?""

[vodika-vibes]

HI vodika! Can I ask an imperial (or cx) Tech or Wrecker + soulmate au 👉👈

Surface Pressure

Summary: You know who your soulmate is. It’s obvious, as you both have the same symbol on your left hand. The problem is Tech is a clone and pretends you don’t exist.

Pairing: TBB TEch (Imperial) x F!Reader

Word Count: 2220

Warnings: None

Prompt: Soulmate AU - soulmates have identical marks somewhere on their body

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @imabeautifulbutterfly

A/N: Hihi! Thank you for your request! I hope you like it!

You smother your yawn with great difficulty as you pick up your datapad and squint at the information on the screen, you lay your datapad down and proceed to transfer the information from the datapad to the computer.

It’s amazing just how much paperwork the Empire generates.

It has to be copied into the proper system, labeled correctly, encrypted and then sent to Coruscant.

If it wasn’t such a well-paying job, you’d have quit ages ago. But no, you have to support your parents. And older siblings.

Ungrateful leeches.

This time, you don’t bother to smother your yawn as you press the sleeve of your uniform against your mouth to cover your yawn. Your job is well-paying, but it’s also very dull. You probably go through enough caf to keep the companies in business.

You lock your computer and cross your office to your caf machine, intent on making another cup to help you stay awake. While your caf is brewing, you lean against the desk and absently trace your soul mark.

It’s pretty, your soul mark.

It’s pale orange and has swooping shapes that almost make it look like a flower. As a child, you spent hours tracing the design with markers or clumsy fingers. And you would daydream about your soulmate.

As you grew older, those daydreams changed into full-blown fantasies. You dreamed up whole adventures with you and your soulmate, imagined the planets you would visit, and the discoveries you’d make together.

Reality, as it happens, is much more disappointing.

Oh, you know who your soulmate is. You see him every day.

But he likes to pretend that you don’t exist.

Tech, or CT-9902 as you are expected to call him, is a clone. He’s so smart, and so important to the Empire, that he single-handedly runs the Technical Department on the base.

He hides his soul mark.

But you managed to catch a glimpse of it when you started working here, so you know your marks are identical. And you know that he knows it too.

His gaze lingers on you, sometimes. Well, on your hand at least.

You can’t help but wonder if he’s disappointed. It’s not like you have a very technical job, and he’s very smart. Not to mention, there are plenty of prettier people—

Your caf machine beeps, pulling you from your thoughts, and you focus your attention on the machine that’s pouring caf into your mug. 

A small sigh falls from your lips and you tiredly rub your eyes. You must be more exhausted than you thought if your thoughts are spiraling so badly. You pull your mug out of the machine and add some sugar and some creamer, taking a sip before you return to your desk.

You sink into your comfortable chair, taking a moment to set your mug on a coaster before you unlock your computer and start typing again.

You manage to type three lines when the entire room goes dark, including the computer.

You pull your flashlight out of your desk and turn it on, using it to help you get to your office door. Like everything else in the base, the door is electric, luckily there’s a safety on the door, allowing it to be pulled open with a handle in the event of a fire or power outage.

So you pull open the door and peek out into the hallway, and you’re not the only one. Down the hall, all of the administrative employees are sticking their heads into the hallway, trying to get answers.

“Everything is fine,” The base Commander calls as he jogs down the hall, followed but several soldiers, “Lightning struck the transformer, but the backup generators will be up and running in a few minutes. There is no need to be alarmed.”

Just as he jogs passed your office the lights flicker and come back on, along with the relieving sound of the climate control kicking back on.

“Everyone, please go back to work.” The base Commander calls, “If you have any technical issues, please put a ticket in for Tech Support, do not try and repair it yourself.”

You smother your slightly amused laugh and vanish back into your office as you hear your neighbor try to argue with the base commander. That comment was absolutely pointed at your neighbor, who once tried to jerry-rig a supercomputer by stealing all of the administrative computers…and managed to burn down three offices.

He only still has his job because he’s the nephew of the base Commander.

You hit the power button on your computer as you drop into your seat, but nothing happens. You frown and hold the power button for a couple of seconds, but still, nothing happens.

“Great.” You grab a datapad, open the Tech Support chat window, open a ticket, and send your request. Then you drop your datapad back on your desk and pick up your caf to take a sip.

You expect to wait a while, a least a couple of hours, so you’re surprised when there’s a knock on your door almost half an hour later. You’re even more surprised when the door slides open and Tech walks into your office.

You have to bite your tongue to keep from saying his name, instead you just stand and greet him with a small smile. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”

“Your ticket said that your computer stopped working after the power outage?” Tech asks, his gaze lingering on the orange mark on your hand.

“That’s right.” You move away from your desk to allow him access.

Tech brushes against you to get to your desk, and you both freeze. His gaze snaps to your face, and you have to tightly fold your arms over your stomach to keep from doing something foolish.

Like touching him.

He clears his throat, “Well. Most likely the blown transformer is the cause.” Tech says as he ducks under your desk, “You should not need a new computer, though.”

“You think so?”

He pulls himself out from under your desk and looks up at you, “All of the computers are plugged into surge protectors for this very reason.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

He ducks back under the desk. You hear a curse, and Tech pulls back and rips his gloves off, tossing them over your keyboard, before he vanishes back under the desk.

There’s the sound of cords moving, and then he pulls back out from under your desk, your surge protector in his hands. “It is a good thing that you were using this.” He says as he stands and adjusts the long device so you’re able to see the top, there are scorch marks near some of the outlets.

You open your mouth to say something, but your office door slides open, interrupting you. 

“Commander?” You ask, “Everything alright?”

“I heard that you had some tech issues,” He says, his gaze darting between you and Tech, and then to the scorched surge protector, “Did a fire start?”

“No. We need to add more protections though.” Tech notes, as he quickly tugs his gloves back over his hands. He’s not paying attention to the Commander…but you are.

You see the way that his gaze lands on Tech’s soul mark, the soul mark that’s identical to your own. And you see the way his eyes light up.

You’re heart sinks into your stomach. 

You’re not stupid. You know that Imperial Officers are monsters on a good day, and you know that they’re not above using soul mates to force someone into obedience.

You just had a target placed on your back.

You can’t help but wonder if Tech would even care if you vanished.

“I will go and get you a new surge protector,” Tech says to you, “that should fix the computer issue.”

“Thank you,” You reply, your voice dry. You want to beg him to not leave you with the Commander, but the words stick in your throat.

And then it’s too late.

Tech is gone, the door is shut, and the Commander turns his gaze on you.

There’s silence for a moment, then the Commander takes a step towards you and picks up a small tooka figurine sitting on your desk, “I would prefer it if you didn’t make this difficult.” He says quietly.

“Yes.” You whisper, “I understand.”

“Follow me.”

Silently you follow him through the base. And then down, under the base. To a secret prison, located deep beneath the base. You’re handed off to a group of guards, clad in a stark white prison uniform, and then escorted to a small cell. 

The other cells are filled with men and women, of all races. And the guard, gleefully, informs you that everyone in the secret prison is the soul mate of a clone.

As you step into your cell, the door slams shut with a finality that makes you want to cry.

Game over.

The Empire wins.

Tech tries to be a good soldier.

He obeys his orders, he takes the verbal abuse that the natborns lay on his. He pretends that it doesn’t bother him that he’s been separated from his brothers.

He’s a good soldier.

But, right now, he doesn’t want to be a good soldier.

It has been three months, 2 weeks, and 4 days since his soul mate vanished.

Vanished, of course, is a colloquialism for the fact that she has been thrown in a cell somewhere for the crime of having a clone soul mate.

Tech can’t remember the last time he was so angry. Maybe when he was a cadet.

The base Commander is using her to force Tech into compliance. And every time he doesn’t do something that the Commander wants him to do, Tech gets another picture of his badly beaten soul mate.

It’s enough to make him want to comply.

It’s also enough to push him into homicide.

Tech glances around the room, just to make sure that no one is watching him, and then focuses his attention back on the computer in front of him. Echo might be the slicing master, but Tech isn’t so bad himself.

He scans the information on the computer, searching for the information he needs.

Then he finds it.

A picture of his soul mate, her prisoner ID number, the cell number she’s been confined in…and the location of the prison.

The moment he realizes that she’s been under his feet this whole time, Tech feels a surge of rage so intense that he has to shut down the computer and walk away for a moment.

It won’t do for him to act out of anger.

All that will do is put her in harm's way.

He stamps out his rage with difficulty and starts back to his office, a plan forming as he walks. 

Instead of going to his office, he turns and heads towards the armory. The natborns in charge think that he’s a regular clone.

They’re wrong.

He’s still a Commando.

Once in the armory Tech dons his armor and grabs his weapons as well as some explosives. And then he heads to the hidden door that leads to the hidden prison. 

One quiet explosion later, Tech uses the emergency stairs to get to the bottommost level, where he stops near the security room. A quick scan of the room tells him that he can open all of the cell doors from in here, as well as send an alert to the clone soul mates that their other halves have been freed.

All he has to do is remove the guards.

Easy.

7 blaster shots later, Tech steps into the security room and opens all of the cell doors. Then he sends a message to his reg brothers.

His good deed done for the day, Tech leaves the security room and weaves through the crowd of people until he reaches her cell.

She’s cautiously peeking out the open door as if expecting it to be a trap. One of her eyes is swollen, and her lip is split. Tech says her name and her eyes snap to his face.

“...Tech?” Her voice is soft, hesitant.

“I am sorry that it took me so long to find you,” Tech apologizes. “Will you come with me?”

“You came? For me?” She sounds surprised.

“Did you think I would not?”

“I didn’t think you cared.” She admits.

Tech steps closer to her and lightly brushes a thumb across her cheek, “I was trying to protect you, I am sorry if you thought that I did not care.”

She shakes her head and flings her arms around his neck. Hesitantly, afraid to hurt her any more than she’s already been hurt, Tech wraps his arms around her. “Will you come with me?” He repeats.

She nods mutely and then pulls back, “The Empire will kill us.”

“They have to catch us first.” Tech lightly kisses her forehead, “Come on, it is time to go.”

She nods one more time and takes his hand, “What about them?”

“Oh, I made sure to let their soulmates know where they are, and that they are free. You do not have to worry about them.”

As if proving his point, there’s an explosion from above them.

“Time for us to go. Come on, mesh’la.”

[daleeltrading]

Low Voltage Switchgear for Commercial Buildings: Key Requirements, Standards, and Best Practices

In the construction and modernization of commercial buildings, low voltage switchgear plays a critical role in ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient power distribution. From office complexes and retail malls to hospitals and data centers, these buildings rely on robust electrical infrastructure — and low voltage switchgear is the backbone of that system.

Whether you’re an electrical panel manufacturer, a building contractor, or a facility manager, understanding the key requirements for selecting and integrating LV switchgear in commercial buildings is essential.

What Is Low Voltage Switchgear?

Low voltage switchgear is an assembly of electrical devices designed to control, protect, and isolate electrical circuits under 1,000V AC. It typically includes:

· Air Circuit Breakers (ACBs)

· Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs)

· Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs)

· Contactors and Relays

· Busbars

· Metering and Protection Devices

Why LV Switchgear Is Critical in Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings demand:

· Continuous power availability

· High energy efficiency

· Electrical safety for occupants

· Scalability for future expansion

Low voltage switchgear delivers:

· Protection against overloads and short circuits

· Isolation for maintenance and fault conditions

· Load management for energy optimization

· Monitoring via smart metering and IoT integration

Key Requirements for LV Switchgear in Commercial Applications

Safety & Protection Standards

Must comply with IEC 61439 or UL 891 depending on the region

Must include overcurrent, short-circuit, and earth fault protection

Arc flash safety features (like arc fault containment) are crucial in populated buildings

2. Compact Footprint and Modular Design

Space is often limited in commercial utility rooms. LV switchgear should be:

Compact to fit tight electrical rooms

Modular for easy expansion as building loads increase

3. Smart Metering and Monitoring

Today’s commercial buildings demand energy-efficient and intelligent systems. Choose LV switchgear with:

Integrated smart meters

IoT-based energy monitoring

Remote control via BMS (Building Management Systems)

4. High Service Continuity (Form Segregation)

To ensure maintenance without full shutdowns, opt for:

Form 3b or Form 4b segregation

Withdrawable ACBs or MCCBs

Dual incomer and bus coupler arrangements for redundancy

5. Scalability and Flexibility

Commercial facilities evolve. Your switchgear must too:

Allow for load expansion

Be compatible with renewable sources (like solar panels)

Support future retrofits and upgrades

Standards to Follow

Ensure LV switchgear in commercial buildings is compliant with:

IEC 61439–1/2 — General and Power Switchgear Assemblies

UL 891 — US Standard for Dead-Front Switchboards

NEC (National Electrical Code) or local building codes

Also factor in:

Ingress Protection (IP Ratings) — IP54/IP65 for dusty or humid environments

Short Circuit Withstand Ratings — Ensure it matches building fault levels

Best Practices for Installation in Commercial Building

Centralize the switchgear for easy maintenance and reduced cable runs

Provide ample ventilation or forced cooling

Use color-coded wiring for clear identification

Ensure emergency shutdown mechanisms are accessible

Document the system with single-line diagrams and load calculations

Applications in Commercial Buildings

Office Buildings: Smart load shedding and energy metering

Hospitals: Redundant systems for life safety

Data Centers: N+1 configurations and continuous monitoring

Malls & Retail: Segmented load distribution for different zones

Hotels: Backup and emergency panel integration

Choosing the Right LV Switchgear Partner

Look for a supplier who provides

Customized switchgear assemblies

Fast lead times and local support

Engineering assistance for layout and specs

Pre-tested or type-tested assemblies

Future Trends in Commercial LV Switchgear

Digitization & predictive maintenance

Energy-efficient, low-loss designs

AI-assisted load forecasting

SF6-free eco-friendly designs

Need Help Choosing LV Switchgear for Your Next Commercial Project?

At Daleel Trading, we supply certified, compact, and smart low voltage switchgear solutions tailored for commercial buildings. Whether it’s a small retail site or a multi-floor office tower, we deliver performance, compliance, and reliability — on time.

👉 Contact us today for a quote, a technical consultation, or a custom panel solution.

[slippinmickeys]

The funfetti universe please oh please more! William vs the bullies, Mulder encouraging going lower, repercussions of William losing control when he's upset, Scully just getting to have her life with her boys I love it!

The mudball hit him right in the neck, sending little droplets of gunk into his ear. After the initial shock wore off, he turned slowly around. 

“Hey William, you’ve got some dirt on your neck. They not bathe out in Farrs Corner?”

William sighed. “What do you want, Logan?” He already knew the kid didn’t want anything. Just to inflict pain. 

“Nothing,” Logan said. “Just wanted to let you know you’re a freak.”

Will was so sick of this crap he could spit. He looked at the three other guys who had come over with the bigger kid; Winter, Cole and Liam, who up until now had always been nice to him.

“Noted,” William said, eyeing Liam directly, whose face at least registered a bit of shame. William turned back around, hoping they’d go away. 

Thwak! Another mudball, this time catching him on the butt. God, it was going to look like he’d crapped his pants. 

William thought about his mother’s advice. His father’s. He’d love to knee the guy in the nuts, but not with all that backup. Still. If he walked away, all he’d probably get out of it was another mudball to the back. 

He turned around, took a step toward Logan and his goons. 

“Why do you keep picking on me Durwood? There not enough enrichment in your enclosure?”

The confusion that crossed the kid’s face was amusing, at least. You had to be smart to get into this school, but Logan Durwood was legacy. His test scores probably didn’t reach William’s knees. It took him a minute to figure out the insult. 

“Are you calling me an animal, Mulder?”

William gave him a pitying look. “You can’t figure out what I called you?”

Winter and Cole both turned to look at Logan’s face, clearly worried he’d snap. William was worried he’d snap too, but it would give him a reason to hit the guy. Or something. 

“Shame,” Will went on, shaking his head. “And you, an intellectual.”

At this, Liam snorted in laughter and that was all it took Logan to turn sort of a reddish purple and start marching toward William, who watched him approach, holding his ground. 

William glanced back toward the big old barn that housed most of the school’s classrooms. There wasn’t a teacher in sight. 

It had done nothing but piss rain for the last three days and the field surrounding the old farm  was saturated. Logan’s footsteps squished as he approached, and the boy leaned down on the way and scooped up another mudball. 

“I’m going to make you eat this, freak,” he said menacingly. 

Winter and Cole were a couple of steps behind him, but Liam hung back, watching and looking nervous. 

“Actually, I think you’re going to eat it,” William said with confidence. 

Logan had just gotten up to him, and pulled his arm back to fling it or punch William with it or something, but instead, when his arm swung forward, his elbow bent and he ended up shoving the mudball into his own face. Logan froze, bewildered, and all five boys stood there in stunned silence. A glob of mud fell from the boy’s chin onto the ground at his feet.

“Geez Logan, I was only kidding,” William said, feeling the bright thrill of conquest, and an even keener thrill of power. His power. The kind no one else had.

Logan spit out a mouthful of mud, his eyes all rage. “Get him,” he instructed his two friends. 

***

Mulder and Scully escorted William out of the office of the head of school silently, squelching across the school lawn and into the parking lot. 

William kept throwing worried looks at his mother, who was walking quickly, her face a steel mask of what Mulder knew to be anger. Anyone else looking at her might just assume RBF, but Mulder–and more importantly William–knew better. 

When Mulder unlocked the car, Scully ducked quickly into the passenger seat and William slunk onto the back bench like a man headed to the gallows. As soon as Mulder turned the ignition, Scully whipped her glare to her son. 

“That was incredibly dangerous what you did,” she hissed. 

“But I didn’t get in trouble!” William said, defending himself. It was a childish answer, and they all knew it. William was a kid, but he was a smart one. 

“Will, you know what your mom is talking about,” Mulder said, flicking his eyes to his son in the rearview mirror as he pulled onto the county road on which William’s school sat. 

Mulder had actually been at least a bit amused by his son in the principal’s office. The boy had pointed at the remains of mud on his neck and ass, pointed out that his hands were perfectly clean and claimed perfect innocence. One look at the other three kids (all but the kid Liam, who appeared to have run into the school to grab a teacher once the muddy melee started in earnest) covered head to toe in mud so thick that the whites of their eyes stuck out, and the head of school had no choice but to proclaim William a victim and send he and his parents on their way. 

“But they were going to beat me up!” 

“That’s no excuse for using your powers on other people, William. On other kids!”

“They didn’t know it was me,” William said, growing a little sullen. “I only made them throw the mudballs at each other a couple of times, once they started, they kept doing it, it wasn’t me.” At this, he looked at his dad in the mirror, and Mulder suspected the last bit of his story wasn’t entirely accurate. 

“I saw the look of confusion on their faces, William,” Scully said. “They may not have known it was you, but they damn well knew it wasn’t them.”

“They’re not exactly the brain brigade, Mom,” William said, slumping back on the seat. “They look like that all the time.”

Mulder had to suppress a laugh.

Scully sighed. “You should have walked away.”

“I tried.”

Mulder flicked his eyes to his son again. “Will, if anything like that happens again–if you show someone–anyone–your powers, we’re going to have to move. Change schools,” he said.

William heaved a breath out and Scully seemed to calm. 

“It’s not just about the school,” she said. “And it’s not just about letting other kids see what you can do. William, you can’t draw attention to yourself like that. If the wrong people find out about you…”

The boy’s lip wobbled. They hated having to tell their son that he could be taken away from them, but he had to know the risks. It was a far more dangerous world than anybody realized.

That sat heavily between all three of them for several long moments. 

“So I’m just supposed to let them beat me up?” William finally said, sniffing.

Mulder exchanged a look with Scully over the center console. 

Scully sighed. “What if Dad teaches you a few moves?” 

William’s countenance lightened at this and he sat up. “FBI moves?”

“Yes,” Scully said evenly. “FBI moves.”

“Yeah, okay! Cool!” 

“But they’re only to be used in self-defense,” she clarified. “Only if someone actually touches you first.”

William nodded enthusiastically. 

“And if anybody asks who taught you the moves, tell them it was your mom,” Mulder said. “Nothing will come back on us, then,” he went on, stealing a look at Scully. “Everyone is scared of your mom.”

[pickledpascal]

The Way The Water Flows

Chapter Seven: I'd Rather Be Free From Here

Warnings: blood, violence, uncomfortable situations

Word Count: 1.4k

The Way The Water Flows Masterlist

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Logan wasn’t sure how to feel. Maya left him, however, it was for a good reason. It still worried him and he didn’t like that the feeling settled in his gut and he couldn’t soothe his worries clawing up a few trees—maybe more, but no one needed to know that besides him and Charles.

“We have to go find her.” He told Storm since she was the first person he saw in the lower levels of the mansion. “Does the professor already have a lock on her?” He was eager to put on the suit.

Scott walked in with Jean, shaking his head. “He already knows where she’s going. No need to see where she is.”

“The hell?” Logan’s eyebrows furrowed as he went over to the lockers. “Then what the fuck are you doing just standing here. We gotta go get her.”

Scott stopped him with a hand on his shoulder which Logan promptly shoved off. “She can handle herself. Even without her mutation. She’s smart.” He argued lightly, genuine confusion as to why he cared about her well-being.

If Maya could fend off Logan, that was an achievement. Even if it was just training, not many people, Scott included, could accomplish that.

“I don’t care about that. She’s alone.” Logan’s jaw clenched, he was resisting the urge to punch those glasses off Scott’s face but that wouldn’t be productive in what he wanted. Which was to make sure Maya was okay. “Isn’t the whole fucking purpose of this place to be all ‘you’re not alone, there’s so many people like you and we’ll always be there for you?’” He mocked.

Scott was about to respond before Charles wheeled into the room. “Logan is right,” Cue the shit-eating grin. The professor looked at Logan with a knowing look in his eyes. What it was for, he didn’t know. “You and Storm will go find her. Bring her home.”

Home.

Logan liked the sound of that. The idea of bringing Maya back to his room, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her face until she got irritated from it and pushed him away. He was in too deep but he didn’t see it yet.

He grabbed his suit and nodded at Charles.

Maya was able to cover a lot of ground in just a few hours. But she blamed that on the fact that she stole one of Scott’s motorcycles. She had made it just a mile or so away from the testing facility and dropped off the bike near a large pine tree, deciding to go on foot from there.

She pulled her braids to rest on her back as she made it to the back of the facility, cutting the power with a slash or two of water. The backup power generator was going to turn on as she expected but it gave her enough time to slip in the building. Which meant there was no stopping her now.

See, the whole problem with making a weapon like Maya was that they wanted her to be powerful. So powerful that no one could defeat her, at least, not in any way their enemies could think of. They thought they could find a way to control her and maybe they almost did. But Maya couldn’t forget her old life so easily. So imagine their surprise when the weapon they created had turned on them.

And not every officer kept adamantium bullets or knives on hand.

So she left a trail of bodies, unconscious and lightly beaten as she passed through familiar hallways. She just needed to get this one thing done and she’d leave. She didn’t need to destroy the whole place as much as she may have wanted. There was no one else to save. This place was her prison and hers alone.

She made her way to the archive room, alarm blaring. She sat down at the main desk, logging in to the computer with ease. She picked up a lot of things with her time here. It was funny, how dumb and naive they thought she was. She noticed a lot, had to if she wanted to survive.

“Hello again, X-15.” A gun was pressed against the back of her head. “Had a feeling you would come back here.” She could hear the shit-eating grin in his voice.

Maya stopped her hand. She was one click away from deleting everything about her. One click away from freedom. Her finger itched to press the button anyway. She’d die free.

“Don’t even try it, this gun here has enough adamantium bullets to kill you.” He threatened lowly.

She slowly turned in her chair, facing the man who kept her here all these years. Paxton didn’t seem to change in the last few years since she saw him. Still blond, still greying, and still a piece of shit that preyed on the innocent.

He smirked down at her, an unsettled feeling in her stomach. “Still such a wonderful, obedient little pet.” Maya’s hand twitched again, for a different reason.

Logan and Storm appeared in the doorway, taking in the scene. Maya’s eyes shifted to them, eyes widening. They weren’t supposed to see this. She screwed her eyes shut. She couldn’t have them think of her differently, couldn’t have Logan think of her as a monster—what Paxton wanted them to think.

“Oh, have they come to save you?” He asked tauntingly, glancing over at the pair who were clad in their suits. “I heard from a little bird someone took your innocence away,” He shrugged for a moment, “Well, you never really had it to begin with.”

Logan unsheathed his claws, a low noise escaping his throat but Storm held him back with a hand over his chest. She looked at him sharply as if silently having a conversation with him.

“Please, just let her go and no one else will have to get hurt,” Storm said. Although she was prepared for a fight as well, Paxton had a gun trained on Maya. “You know Wolverine’s aren’t cuddly when they’re angry.” Logan huffed, narrowing his eyes at the blond.

Paxton let out a dry laugh. “We can’t just let it go. X-15 is our best asset.”

“Why? Because she can read minds and control water?” Logan let out a breath through her nose.

Sure, Maya was incredibly capable of killing nearly anyone but those abilities in themselves weren’t the most… desirable wasn’t the best word to describe it but it was true. Water abilities were fairly generic.

“You have no idea what she’s really capable of, do you?” Paxton tilted his head before he looked at Maya, gripping her chin. “You were afraid of showing them, hm? Afraid of how they’d think about you?” He let out another dry laugh. “Your emotions are so… funny. You don’t understand they’re holding you back—”

Logan’s eyebrows furrowed at how suddenly Paxton cut off his words and how his body began to shake, his hand moving to point the gun under his chin.

“You’re right,” Maya glanced at Logan, an apologetic look in her eyes before her gaze hardened when she stared at Paxton. Logan noticed her fingers moving at her side. “My emotions have been holding me back. From killing you.” She huffed out, rotating her hand.

A gunshot rang out.

Blood splattered over Maya’s chin and chest as Paxton’s lifeless body fell. And she pressed that delete button, erasing herself from every Canadian document ever.

Her shoulders slumped before the anger began to rise again in her chest. She raised her hands, pulling the closest liquid to slash at the computer. Paxton’s blood seeped into the broken circuitry and more drops bounced back onto her face with the force of each sharp laceration. She let out a loud scream once she was done, blood splattering to the floor as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

Maya flinched when she felt warm arms envelop her. And the now-familiar scent of whiskey and smoke that filled her lungs. She finally did cry, pushing her hands against her face, the blood smearing across her cheeks as she collapsed onto her knees. Logan fell with her.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” He whispered, breath fanning against her neck. “I gotcha, baby. I gotcha.” Logan didn’t seem to mind the blood which only made Maya cry more. “Everything’s going to be okay. It’s over.” His gloved hand wiped the tears from her face, as well as a few drops of blood.

She had a feeling it was just beginning.

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[onepiecc]

Modern Verse- All my muses

Leigh: Growing up with just his father, he wanted to become a detective officer solving crimes. He was a good kid and teenager involved in sports and in the top ten of his graduating class of high school. Sadly he was home alone a lot due to his father being a policemen and always being called into work. Still that didn’t discourage Leigh as he worked on becoming a detective for the police force. When he was in his twenties his father was killed in the line of duty and left Leigh all alone as he knew nothing about his mother. His father never told him who she was and just said she passed on so he thought she died. Inheriting his father’s house he ended up getting a pet black cat that only had three legs for companionship named Bats.

Sedna: She is a female of Native American heritage. The female was born and raised in Alaska by her parents that taught her about her heritage and ancestry. The ravenette became a conservator restorer and travels internationally. She loves to uncover ancient history and restore artifacts that were damaged over the centuries. Her job as a conservator-restorer is a professional responsible for the preservation of artistic and cultural artifacts, also known as cultural heritage. She owns a little pomsky dog named Toklo.

Nyssa: Her mother was a part of the acrobats of a traveling circus and she was raised alongside them until she turned 10 . She expressed interest in pageants and modeling so her mother encouraged her while she still learned aerial ballet and acrobats to perform as a talent. She was scouted by a model agency from a young age of 14 and quickly rose in fame. Nyssa is a famous and popular model worldwide as she is also working in pageants as she wants to join the Miss Universe contest. She dyed her hair a light blue as she feels like it’s her signature color.

Stella: She is a backup dancer/singer that has come from humbled origins. Her mother died while giving birth to her. Then her father was an alcoholic with horrible gambling problems. However she met Gild Tesoro and together the pair ran away to pursue their dreams of being in the entertainment industry. She rose alongside him as he became a popular singer which he hired professional instructors for Stella to learn to sing and dance. The blonde practiced for nearly a decade before making her debut. Unknowingly her lover was involved with sketchy partners and corrupted people in the Black Market. This caused her to become a target and she was almost killed in something that was staged to look like an accident. As she recovered from the burns on her body, the doctors said it was more than likely she would never walk again. Stella saw Tesoro less and less after that as he quit the entertainment industry to become a powerful figure in the underworld. However she was able to make a recovery and learn how to walk again. But she broke up with Tesoro and started her own path within the entertainment industry and became a popular backup dancer and singer for popular artists.

Cosima: She comes from bloodline of a royal family. She is Dutchess after the passing of her father and brother. Cosima does have a god complex and sees herself as higher then most other do to her royal blood but she is also a very smart businesswoman. She has connections all over the world from famous politicians to underworld connections.

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[p-artsypants]

Paint it Black (18) Recovering

FF.net | Ao3

Beast Boy sat on his hands with his mouth zipped. Every precious moment in the Batmobile was being savored and he wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize it. 

Though he desperately wanted to ask questions. 

“Tell me about this Billy Numerous character,” Batman finally stated.

“Oh! Ummm…well, he can divide into multiple clones of himself, like we said. He’s not super strong or fast, but divides quickly.” 

“So no other powers besides multiplication.” 

“Right.” 

“Good. What’s his M.O.?” 

“Theft. He likes to ransack a city of its valuables.” 

“Money? Art? Tech?” 

“Anything. He stole a section of the bridge once.” 

Batman frowned. “So in it for the thrill. He doesn’t particularly want stuff, but wants to see what he can take. Got it.” He reached over and hit some buttons on the console. 

Beast Boy vibrated in his seat with excitement. 

“Jump City police department,” the radio spoke. 

“This is Batman. I’m helping the Titans with the Billy Numerous situation. What locations has he hit?” 

“Oh! Batman! Uh…That’s the weird part. He’s broken into several locations, mostly toy stores, but he hasn’t actually taken anything.” 

“So he’s either showing off where he can go this time, or he’s looking for something specific.” 

“I’ll radio the other officers on the scene and let you know exactly what we know. Is this number okay?” 

“Yes.” 

“Be back in a minute.” And the call ended. 

“Lucky bastards,” Batman mumbled under his breath. 

“Who’s lucky?” Beast Boy squeaked. 

“Your team. I never get cooperation like that from the Gotham PD. Maddening.” 

“Well…I think they respect us because of you. Everyone thinks you’re the coolest. Well, everyone outside of Gotham at least.” 

“Good. The last thing I need in Gotham is a bunch of groupies asking for my autograph.” 

Beast Boy pouted, assuming he knew how the request for an autograph for himself would go. 

Just then, Beast Boy’s communicator rang. As he answered it, the Batmobile picked up the call. 

“Talk to me,” said Batman. 

“We were just at the last place Billy hit,” said Cyborg. “The biggest antique mall in the city. A security guard was there, and said he had a confrontation with Numerous.” 

Batman pulled into an alleyway. “What happened?” 

“He said Billy prattled on and on about being Billy Numerous and outnumbering everyone as the guard called for backup. Then he said that Billy actually told him what he was looking for.” 

“Lucky break.” 

“Not especially lucky, Billy can multiply, but he’s not very smart.” 

“So what’s he after?” 

“Guard said a homemade doll. All white, handmade, made of fabric.” 

Batman frowned as he pulled up the computer. “Doesn’t sound like your typical heist item. Perhaps its maker is the key here. I’m going to check auction sites to see if I can find it.”

“Dude!” Beast Boy chirped. “I think I know what he’s talking about!” 

“You do? Spill.” 

“Ah man, I totally forgot about it too! With everything with Robin…okay, so I saw it while Raven, Cyborg, and I were exploring the place where Robin was held captive. I found it on the floor while you guys were talking. It seemed out of place, but not really important, so I took it.” 

“Where is it now?”

“In my room.” 

“Did it look like it had anything in it? How much did you examine it?”

“It was kinda squishy, but it didn’t feel like cotton inside. More like…beans? I don’t know. It was just all white and ugly. Like if you asked me to make you a stuffed polar bear from scratch.”

“Hmm…”

“I’m sorry I didn’t mention it. I totally meant too!” 

“Well, if Billy is looking for it now, that means it didn’t have a tracking device. And if anyone else had seen it, they may have left it there. Now, we just need to learn the significance.” 

“About 15 Billys have been spotted by the post office. There’s a town map there, so they might be planning their next hit. The original might be there,” Raven said. 

“Then let’s go, send me directions.” 

“I’ll go there now, track me.” Beast Boy opened the door and transformed into a cheetah to run away. 

—-

“Oh where oh where has the little thing gone, oh where oh where can it beeee?!” Sang a southern choir through the streets of Jump. “He promised it wouldn’t be this hard to find, oh where oh where can it be?” 

“Need a hand?” 

The multiple Billys turned around at the familiar voice. 

Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire stood behind him, as a green blur appeared beside them, soon transforming back into Beast Boy. 

“Oh gee willikers, I was wonderin’ when you slowpokes were gonna show up.” 

“We might have gotten here sooner if you hadn’t actually tried using stealth. Which, by the way, could use more practice.” Cyborg smirked. 

“I’ll take that into consideration. Now, if’n you’ll excuse me, I got some work to do.” 

Cyborg activated his canons and Star her bolts. Beast Boy turned into an octopus, and Raven built a wall out of cement slabs from the street. 

Billy noted this all quickly, then laughed. “It’s a nice try! But y'all could barely stop me when you had a full team! How do you expect to stop me when you’re down a member?”

Just then, a black form dropped in the center of the group, before raising to his full height and glaring at the enemy. “They have a full team.” 

The Billys all took a collective step back at the appearance of Batman. “Oh shoot…the rumors are true…” Then he seemed to regain his composure. “Ain’t no Bat gonna wrangle Billy Numerous though!” 

And he instantly doubled his number, so there were easily 30 Billys surrounding them. “These good odds? We can go bigger!” 

60.

120.

“There, that oughta be fair now!” 

“I think he’s still low-balling it,” Beast Boy muttered. 

Before any actual fighting began, the giant screen on the building across the street changed from an ad to a familiar face. 

“Billy Numerous!” He called. 

“Robin!” Starfire called back. 

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Billy halted and stared at the screen, along with the heroes. “The dead are coming back to life.” 

Robin, looking almost the same as normal, appeared on the screen. His mask was in place, and his hair was spiked back. The only difference, though it was subtle, was a Glascow smile scar on his cheek. “I know what you’re looking for.” 

“Oh yeah yeah, I’m sure ya do.” Billy scoffed, coming out of his shock rather quickly. 

“A doll. White, made of rough fabric. No face. I’ve seen it.”

Billy paused and then relented. “Okay, yeah, but what about it?”

“Their offer is no good. They don’t intend on paying you. Instead, they’d prefer no one knew what they were up to. They’ll hunt you down and kill you.” 

“Shows how much you know! I’m gettin’ in on the ground floor! They offered me an apprenticeship!” 

Robin shook his head. “It’s not going to be that simple. I’ve been following their case. They won’t hold lessons. They won’t let you shadow them. Instead, if they really do let you in, they’ll make you multiply yourself over and over until you can hold their torture and poisons and not die. Tell me Billy; if one of your clones dies, does it hurt?” 

Billy stood stock still, his mouth quivering. 

“They have an apprentice in mind, you know. That’s what the doll is for. And you’re stupid to think that the Joker would make such a deal with a no-name villain that no one would miss. Think about it. Would anyone come looking for you if you went missing? Would anyone care if the Joker cut you up into pieces and left you in an alley?” 

The Titans all stayed quiet while Robin negotiated. 

“Because that’s the truth of what will happen if you return to the Joker. He’ll get what he needs from you, and you’ll be of no use anymore.” 

“So what? I’m just supposed to quit?” 

“Oh no no. I know I can’t convince you to just go home. So how about you and I make a deal?”

One Billy crossed his arms, presumably the original. “I’ll hear ya out.” 

“You bring me the doll instead, and I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll even get your record expunged so you can keep whatever it is. Taking a Ferrari out for a joy ride is fun, but can you imagine showing it off to people? Making others jealous? Driving some hot babes around?” 

“Alright deal! I want 5 million dollars.” 

“Done.” 

“Alright, you heard the man, Billy!” He started to command his clones. 

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Robin interrupted. “I can’t have you tearing the city apart for hours on end. So the deal is only good for one hour. If you find the doll, you can give it to one of the Titans. Happy hunting.” And the screen went blank. 

“One hour!?!” Billy panicked. “Double time, fellas! I want my money!” And he proceeded to duplicate into an army of Billys that rushed into the city. 

The communicators lit up with a call, and Cyborg answered on his arm. 

“Sorry to butt in, but I have a plan,” Robin grinned. 

“Please, your plans are most welcomed at this time,” Starfire sang, a little too enthusiastically. 

“Rob, you gotta know—” Beast Boy began. 

“I know. I heard the first call. Alfred still has to finish administering the rest of the antidote, but once my head cleared, I asked to have my communicator to monitor the situation. The doll that Billy is looking for is a…Talisman, for lack of a better term. During the psychological torture I endured, the Joker convinced Black that all of his goodness was inside that doll, ‘White’. I don’t know what seeing that doll could do to me, but I’m sure Joker’s trying to find me with it.” 

“So it’s your Horcrux?” Beast Boy asked. 

“Yeah, you can call it that, too.”

“So what’s the rest of the plan?” Asked Batman, “you just gave a lunatic permission to ransack Jump City for an hour. What is he going to do once the hour is up?”

“Hopefully he won’t last that long. We gotta turn up the heat on him. Make him spread himself thin.” 

“Master Richard, it’s time for the next dose.” 

“Thank you, Alfred.” He said as an aside. “Make Billy panic. I’ll check in when my head clears again. Any questions?”

“How do you feel?” Starfire asked. 

He smirked. “Never better. Good luck team.” 

—

It turned out that by time Robin checked in with the team again, Billy had already reached his limit and all the clones returned to him. Cyborg and Raven were the ones to escort Billy to jail, while Starfire, Beast Boy, and Batman returned to the tower. 

Robin lounged on the couch, IV port still in his arm. He still wore his pajamas, but with the mask and gelled hair, he looked like Robin again. 

“Wow! You look great!” Beast Boy chirped as he entered. “You look like you got some color back.” 

“Indeed! Your skin held a certain pallor about it. Was the poison causing that?”

“I think so,” he stretched. “It wasn’t until the medicine kicked in that I actually started feeling better. I’m still sore from all of the chemicals, but it’s a far cry from the pain I was in. I didn’t even realize how bad it was until now.” 

Starfire floated right off the ground as she stared at him. He finally looked like Robin, really truly like his old self. “Your scarring appears less harsh. Are you wearing concealer?” 

He nodded. “I have some I wear in case I get mask lines,” he chuckled. “Eventually, I might try to get some revision surgery, but for now, I’m only appearing as Robin, so it won’t matter. Who knows, maybe it will help with my intimidation factor.” 

“You seem to be recovering well,” said Batman. “Maybe a little too well.” 

Robin again nodded, understanding Batman’s concern. “I’m ecstatic to have my body back. I will be working on processing all the trauma I went through as my new normal sets in. It might take a little while to get back on the field.” 

“That, I would recommend.” 

“Maybe you can be our man in the chair?” Beast Boy suggested. “Cyborg’s my best friend, but I’ll never admit this in front of him. His plans aren’t always the best.” 

“It’s hard work, and I have more experience. But that’s why we’re a team. We all have our strengths. We rely on each other…and I’ll probably need to rely on you all more now than I was.”

“By the way, do you want me to get the…” Beast Boy trailed off.

“No. In fact, it’s probably best if I never see it. The four of you should find a place to hide it where I’ll never come across it.”

“Yes sir,” Beast Boy saluted. 

“What if we were to simply destroy it?” Starfire asked. 

The very thought sent chills down Robin’s spine. “I’m not sure why, but I don’t like that idea.” 

“I can make a guess,” said Batman. “Just because we treated the poison that manifests Black, does not mean we got rid of him. If Black has that much attachment to that doll, it’s likely that those feelings would persist even when dormant.” 

Robin nodded. “I understand.” 

“Hey,” Beast Boy nudged him. “How much time before your next dose?”

“About twenty minutes,” said Alfred, looking at his watch. 

“Wanna play me a few rounds in Super Mega Monkey: Ninja Brawl? It just came out last month.”

Robin perked up. “Yeah, sounds like a blast.” 

—

The Southern docks were silent and dark. Not even the waves made noise as fog persisted in all the forgotten corners. 

“Robin?” Starfire yelled, her voice echoing between the trailers. 

“Star! Starfire! Help me!” 

“Where are you?”

“I was close! I was so close!” His words carried so much pain, just like they had when he was in the med bay. “But they found me! They’ve come for me, Starfire!” 

“No!” She screamed. She attempted to fly to get a better vantage point, but it was like she was chained to heavy weights. Even her run was far too slow. “Robin! Robin please! I’ll save you this time!” 

“Starfire!” 

The fog parted, and Robin stood before her. He wore a black trench coat and ratty black jeans. 

“Robin!” 

He reached up, and dug his fingers into his face, molding his skin like fabric. Then he tore, ripping away the cool and mysterious facade to reveal bulging blue eyes, skin riddled with spider web lines, and a smile that tore through his cheek. 

“Oh poor poor little Tamaranean,” a voice said, one she felt like she had heard before. Another figure appeared behind Robin. “You’re simply too late.” The figure stepped forward, becoming visible as a Gordanian. “But there’s always an opening as a new apprentice.” 

—

Starfire awoke suddenly, flinching in her bed. 

Just a nightmare. A horrible, realistic nightmare, but a nightmare all the same. As her heart rate started to slow down, the visions became less cutting and started to fade. 

Still in just her pajamas, Starfire rose, intent on checking on Robin. Just a peek, to make sure he was there and safe. 

Of course, he would be, she reasoned as she traveled the hall. There was no reason for him to be missing. But she just needed to see him with her own eyes. 

Maybe, if he was awake, they could talk, for the first time alone since he was able to speak on his own. 

When she arrived at his door, she knocked gently, assuming that he would be asleep. When he didn’t answer, she let herself in. 

But there was no one inside. 

The images in her nightmare came back, and she began to panic. 

“No, do not panic,” she said aloud. “Maybe he is simply having problems sleeping as well.” 

So she went to the common room, only to find it empty as well. She checked his office, and even the gym, but there was no sign of anyone. There was one last place to check before she started waking the others. 

Up on the roof, the sky was clear, the air was just perfectly crisp, and the moon was full and bright. 

And Robin sat at the edge of the roof, looking at the very few stars visible in the city sky. 

Starfire breathed a sigh of relief. “I feared something terrible had happened to you.” 

Robin jumped at her voice before relaxing again, “you scared me,” he chuckled. 

“I apologize.” She approached calmly before kneeling beside him. “What brings you out here at such an hour?”

He adjusted the blanket he had on his shoulders. “Ah, my sleep schedule is all messed up. I was in and out of consciousness all day, and then when I tried to sleep on my own, my mind wandered…” he shook his head. “What about you? There’s no trouble is there?” 

“No no, nothing of the sort. I had…a nightmare. I have had many since you went missing…” she admitted this sheepishly. “But this was so vivid, I just…I only wished to see you, to make sure you were truly here and safe.” 

He smiled at her. “Well, I’m here and safe. And Robin, most importantly.” 

“Yes,” she leaned forward and rested her forehead on his shoulder. “You’re back. I missed you.” 

He reached up and petted her hair. “I missed you too. Even though I could see you and hear you. It wasn’t the same.” 

She picked her head up to look at him, before slowly peeling off his mask. 

He didn’t fight her. 

With the mask off, she felt like she was looking at Black instead of Robin. But his gaze was soft and relaxed and void of the deranged mania that characterized Black. 

“I never knew you as Robin without the mask. I never knew Richard Grayson.” 

“Yeah…” he cringed. “I was hesitant to share that part. When we first started the team, I wanted to make sure I could trust everyone before I shared. After a while, I thought I’d be fine if everyone knew, but I never knew how to come out and say it. So…I just never told you guys.” 

“That makes much sense,” Starfire nodded sagely. “I must say, I believe I am the opposite. I trusted you almost right away, or else I would not have initiated lip contact.” 

Robin felt the blush rise to his cheeks, but hoped she couldn’t see it in the dark. “Oh, yeah, you sure did that…not how I pictured my first kiss to happen, that’s for sure.” 

She leaned closer, intrigued. “I was your first kiss? On my planet, that does not hold much significance, or lip contact in general, but I have come to learn that it does here.” 

“Depends on the person, but yeah, the first kiss is kinda like a stepping stone into romance. You don’t kiss at all on Tamaran?”

She shook her head. “We are able to assimilate languages through lip contact, which is why I did it. But I was still putting myself in a vulnerable position by engaging with you. I am glad I was able to trust you.” 

“And all this time, I thought you were just showing your gratitude for me removing your shackles.” 

“Oh, I was grateful! Do not think I wasn’t. It was relieving to know the new planet I had arrived on held creatures willing to help for the sake of doing what was right. You were the reason I decided to stay on Earth.” 

He blushed more at that. “Well…I’m glad I had that much of an impact.” 

“I am too.” She scooted closer. “So I was your first kiss?” 

He chuckled. “Technically, I shared a peck with a girl in my class back in Gotham, but I hardly think that counts.” 

“A peck? Like a chicken? What is that?”

“Yeah, it’s like…well…” He leaned closer to her and placed the briefest kiss on her lips. A millisecond of contact. “Like that.” 

Starfire let out a gasp of awe, a smile taking her face, before she schooled her expression into something more thoughtful. “No, I do not believe that truly counts. I would not be able to assimilate anything from it. Indeed, I believe I was truly your first kiss.” 

He smiled at her. “I figured you’d say that.” 

She scooted ever closer, now being pressed against his side. “Robin? Did you hear the things I said to Black about my feelings for you?”

“I did.” 

“And…I saw you had written my name on the wall of your…cell. Black said that you loved me, but he does not have the same memories, and I think he was just saying that to make me feel better—” 

“He was right.” He wrapped an arm around her waist. “I do love you, Starfire. Thinking about you was about the only thing that kept me from succumbing like the rest of the boys. I was determined to get out and tell you that.”  

She rested her head on his shoulder, overcome with emotion. 

“I have a long road of recovery ahead of me, but if you’re willing to travel beside me, I think I’ll be okay.” 

She rubbed under her eyes. “I have a confession to make…” Her voice was thick with emotion. “I love you. I love you so very much, even when we had our struggles, when Slade was in your head, when work consumed you…I still loved you. But,” she turned her face away. 

“You don’t like that other personality, huh?” 

She nodded before sobbing, “yes! Yes, and I want to love him because he’s a part of you. But he’s not you, and he does not have your kindness or consideration or—” She sniffed before resting a hand on his face, covering his scar. “You have shown so much love and kindness towards me when I was at my most vulnerable. If I can not love you at your worst…how shallow must my love be?” 

“Oh Star…” he squeezed her to his side. “You’re being really unfair to yourself. Black is a personality created out of trauma. He’s a reflection of a villain, the Joker. I don’t want you to like him. I don’t like him.”

“But—” 

“Look Star,” he turned to face her completely. “Let’s just take this slowly. Hopefully, I’m cured of my DID, and now just some trauma is left. But you’re not obligated to stay with me if things become too much for you, okay?” 

“Actually…” she bit her lip shyly. “Tamaraneans mate for life. We only fall in love once, so…I would say you are stuck with me.” 

“Oh!” His eyes blew wide, before he started chuckling. “I suppose I could be okay with that.” 

“Yes?” 

“Yes.” Finally, he leaned in, kissing her gently, but nonetheless passionately. 

Starfire returned the embrace, slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and clenching his shirt. 

When they finally separated, he kept his eyes closed. “We’ll figure it out together, okay?” 

“As we always do.”

[teqful]

How-To IT

Topic: Core areas of IT

1. Hardware

• Computers (Desktops, Laptops, Workstations)

• Servers and Data Centers

• Networking Devices (Routers, Switches, Modems)

• Storage Devices (HDDs, SSDs, NAS)

• Peripheral Devices (Printers, Scanners, Monitors)

2. Software

• Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)

• Application Software (Office Suites, ERP, CRM)

• Development Software (IDEs, Code Libraries, APIs)

• Middleware (Integration Tools)

• Security Software (Antivirus, Firewalls, SIEM)

3. Networking and Telecommunications

• LAN/WAN Infrastructure

• Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi, 5G)

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

• Communication Systems (VoIP, Email Servers)

• Internet Services

4. Data Management

• Databases (SQL, NoSQL)

• Data Warehousing

• Big Data Technologies (Hadoop, Spark)

• Backup and Recovery Systems

• Data Integration Tools

5. Cybersecurity

• Network Security

• Endpoint Protection

• Identity and Access Management (IAM)

• Threat Detection and Incident Response

• Encryption and Data Privacy

6. Software Development

• Front-End Development (UI/UX Design)

• Back-End Development

• DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines

• Mobile App Development

• Cloud-Native Development

7. Cloud Computing

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Serverless Computing

• Cloud Storage and Management

8. IT Support and Services

• Help Desk Support

• IT Service Management (ITSM)

• System Administration

• Hardware and Software Troubleshooting

• End-User Training

9. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• AI Algorithms and Frameworks

• Natural Language Processing (NLP)

• Computer Vision

• Robotics

• Predictive Analytics

10. Business Intelligence and Analytics

• Reporting Tools (Tableau, Power BI)

• Data Visualization

• Business Analytics Platforms

• Predictive Modeling

11. Internet of Things (IoT)

• IoT Devices and Sensors

• IoT Platforms

• Edge Computing

• Smart Systems (Homes, Cities, Vehicles)

12. Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

• Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)

• Supply Chain Management Systems

13. IT Governance and Compliance

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

• COBIT (Control Objectives for Information Technologies)

• ISO/IEC Standards

• Regulatory Compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX)

14. Emerging Technologies

• Blockchain

• Quantum Computing

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

• 3D Printing

• Digital Twins

15. IT Project Management

• Agile, Scrum, and Kanban

• Waterfall Methodology

• Resource Allocation

• Risk Management

16. IT Infrastructure

• Data Centers

• Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)

• Disaster Recovery Planning

• Load Balancing

17. IT Education and Certifications

• Vendor Certifications (Microsoft, Cisco, AWS)

• Training and Development Programs

• Online Learning Platforms

18. IT Operations and Monitoring

• Performance Monitoring (APM, Network Monitoring)

• IT Asset Management

• Event and Incident Management

19. Software Testing

• Manual Testing: Human testers evaluate software by executing test cases without using automation tools.

• Automated Testing: Use of testing tools (e.g., Selenium, JUnit) to run automated scripts and check software behavior.

• Functional Testing: Validating that the software performs its intended functions.

• Non-Functional Testing: Assessing non-functional aspects such as performance, usability, and security.

• Unit Testing: Testing individual components or units of code for correctness.

• Integration Testing: Ensuring that different modules or systems work together as expected.

• System Testing: Verifying the complete software system’s behavior against requirements.

• Acceptance Testing: Conducting tests to confirm that the software meets business requirements (including UAT - User Acceptance Testing).

• Regression Testing: Ensuring that new changes or features do not negatively affect existing functionalities.

• Performance Testing: Testing software performance under various conditions (load, stress, scalability).

• Security Testing: Identifying vulnerabilities and assessing the software’s ability to protect data.

• Compatibility Testing: Ensuring the software works on different operating systems, browsers, or devices.

• Continuous Testing: Integrating testing into the development lifecycle to provide quick feedback and minimize bugs.

• Test Automation Frameworks: Tools and structures used to automate testing processes (e.g., TestNG, Appium).

19. VoIP (Voice over IP)

VoIP Protocols & Standards

• SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)

• H.323

• RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol)

• MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol)

VoIP Hardware

• IP Phones (Desk Phones, Mobile Clients)

• VoIP Gateways

• Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs)

• VoIP Servers

• Network Switches/ Routers for VoIP

VoIP Software

• Softphones (e.g., Zoiper, X-Lite)

• PBX (Private Branch Exchange) Systems

• VoIP Management Software

• Call Center Solutions (e.g., Asterisk, 3CX)

VoIP Network Infrastructure

• Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for VoIP

• VoIP Traffic Shaping & Bandwidth Management

• Firewall and Security Configurations for VoIP

• Network Monitoring & Optimization Tools

VoIP Security

• Encryption (SRTP, TLS)

• Authentication and Authorization

• Firewall & Intrusion Detection Systems

• VoIP Fraud DetectionVoIP Providers

• Hosted VoIP Services (e.g., RingCentral, Vonage)

• SIP Trunking Providers

• PBX Hosting & Managed Services

VoIP Quality and Testing

• Call Quality Monitoring

• Latency, Jitter, and Packet Loss Testing

• VoIP Performance Metrics and Reporting Tools

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for VoIP Systems

Integration with Other Systems

• CRM Integration (e.g., Salesforce with VoIP)

• Unified Communications (UC) Solutions

• Contact Center Integration

• Email, Chat, and Video Communication Integration

[forgedroyalseal]

My Reputation’s Never Been Worse

Chapter 14:

Will snuck quietly into Crowley’s office and waited by the door for the older man to acknowledge him.

“You know,” Crowley said casually without lookin up from the paperwork in front of him, “when you first came back, I thought there was something vaguely familiar about your rings. I shrugged it off, figuring it was nothing. That they were the typical type of rings you’d collect after time on a pirate ship. It wasn’t until I was passing by the infirmary and saw a young knight being carried in that I realized where I recognized that insignia from.” Crowley finally looks up and nods to one of the rings on Will right hand.

Will rubbed at the ring, then crossed his arms. “And where would that be?”

“Lord Emmers dead body. Particularly, his battered in face.”

“You said it yourself, these are pretty standard rings for a rouge.”

“Except for one. Captain Nero gifts every crewman who sails under his flag for over a year with a custom made silver ring. The letter of their first name pierced through with a dagger. Lord Emmers face was embossed with a D.”

“I suppose that settles it then. My name is Will, and unless Nero is extremely illiterate, there’d be no reason for me to have a ring like that.”

Crowley shrugs, “That’s true. But you didn’t use your name with Captain Nero did you? You used your father’s. Daniel. Which why your ring was made with the letter D.” His tone left little room for disagreement and Will knew that he was backed into a corner. Because despite his faults, Crowley wasn’t the Ranger Commandant for nothing. He was whip smart, and once he started putting the pieces together, he’d always find the answers he was looking for.

Will rolls he jaw and steps closer to Crowley’s desk. “So what’s your play here Crowley? Blackmail? Another trial with insufficient evidence? You can’t hang a man for having the same fashion taste as a murder. You can’t connect Emmers death to my hands.”

“No, I can’t. Especially once I take that ring and have the blacksmith melt it down and recast it. And the physician has already started treatment on the young knight who happened to bare very similar bruises as the late Lord. In fact, by this point, his face is no doubt heavily bandaged. And those bandages won’t be coming off until the marks are long gone.”

“Why are you doing this? Why let this go?”

“Because I’ve failed you once before Will, and it is the biggest regret of my life. I won’t betray you again.”

Will pursed his lips. “Well. I suppose only time will tell if you mean what you say.”

Crowley nodded in acceptance, understanding that this was as much as he was going to get from Will at the moment. He extended his hand out and Will dropped the ring into Crowley’s open palm. As he slipped the incriminating ring into his pocket, he said, “This wasn’t the only reason I sent Gilan out looking for you. I received word from Eisel.”

“Already?” Will asked in surprise.

“Marie and Hannah didn’t delay. They sent a carrier pigeon the moment they arrived.” Crowley frowned. “They found the knights the king sent in… compromising positions.”

“I told you, Eisel has a corrupting power over men.”

“Marie will do the best she can, but I fear that without clear, physical force to back her up, there won’t be much she can do.”

“Understood. I’ll leave immediately.”

“I’m sending Horace and Gilan with you. Halt too, if you’ll have him.”

“I don’t need their help.” Will said indignantly.

“Perhaps not. But you’ll have it regardless.”

“Crowley-“

He rose his hand to interrupt whatever argument Will was about to make. “My mind is made up Will. You will have backup with you. Anyway, I doubt I could stop them from going with you. Those two would follow you into the Underworld if they could.

“That’s a good thing I suppose. Because that’s exactly where we are going.”

_____________________________________

Will left Crowley’s office and went off in search of Horace and Gilan. His plan was to leave for Eisel as quickly as possible. And without running into Halt. As he rounded the corner, he collided with a solid mass. Looking up, he could hardly believe his eyes.

“Baron Arald.” The name was a ghost on his lips.

“I think we are well past titles son.” The warmth in his words pulled Will in, like a moth to a flame. “It’s been far too long Will.” Arald smiled tenderly at him.

“I know. I’ve been,” Will huffed out an empty laugh, “I’ve been living like wild beast I suppose. Running thought out the countryside like a monster. But it’s not like I had many other options.”

Arald eyes filled with a sadness Will couldn’t understand. “You could have come home my boy. Redmont would have welcomed you back with open arms. You could have found refuge within our walls.” He paused then, “You still can.”

“But, they all must have hated me. They must have taken my alleged betrayal hatred than anyone.” Will said vehemently.

Arald gave Will the most pitying look he had ever seen. “Will, from what I have heard and seen, not a single resident of Redmont thought for even a fleeting moment that you were guilty of treason. Your people stood by you. They still speak of you with such reverence. You are still the pride and joy of Redmont.”

Will felt his stomach drop. His blood chill. His heart stop. “You mean, I could have just, gone home? All these years on the run, living in pain and terror. It was all for nothing? I could have found sanctuary at home?” He took in a shuttering breath. “Oh god, I’m going to be sick.” His knees buckled, but he didn’t crash onto the cold stone floor. Instead, from somewhere beyond the haze of regret and remorse, Will felt a strong pair of arms wrap around his shaking frame. He leaned in instinctively and inhaled the familiar scent of sandalwood and wine. The embrace transported him back to his childhood. Back to scraped knees, and fights with Horace, and nightmares of monsters under the bed. Baron Arald had always been there to hold Will, to wipe away his tears, to comfort him. It had taken years for Will to realize how much of a fatherly role the Baron had served in his life. And now, as Will comes undone in the middle of Castle Araluen, the weight of the past years crashing down onto his shoulders, Arald was there to hold him together once more.

“You always did give the best hugs.” Will murmured against Arlad’s chest once he could finally catch his breath.

“We all have our skills. You can sneak about in silence, I can give magically healing hugs.” He chuckled as he rubbed circles between Will’s shoulders.

Will pulled back and Arald wiped Will’s face dry with the sleeve of his soft, but somewhat garish tunic. “There, no need for anymore tears my boy. Now, why don’t you join Sandra and me in our suites and we can all catch up. I’ll even see if I can’t have some hot chocolate sent up.

And god, had Will ever had such a tempting offer? All he wanted was to let Arald and Sandra coddle him. For them to tell him that it would all be alright, that they still cared for him. But he had people to protect, to avenge, and to defend.

“I can’t. I have to find Horace and Gilan. We need to leave for Eisel immediately.”

“Yes, of course, Halt mentioned the situation there when he summoned me. Absolutely dreadful. If there’s anything I can do to assist-“

“Halt summoned you here?” Will hadn’t even realized he was interrupting, brain stuck on what Arald meant by that.

“Oh, yes. I thought he would have told you.”

“We haven’t exactly talked much.”

“Ah.” And there was more understanding in that single syllable than Will thought fair. “He wrote to me once you returned. He asked me to come and check in on you. I’ve only just arrived, though, there was a terribly boring but important meeting I had to see to.”

“Why did he send for you? Not that I’m complaining, I just, why?”

Baron Arlad’s face soften. “He didn’t say much, you know how stingy he is with explanations, but I believe that he hoped you could find some semblance of comfort in my company.” He looked somewhat bashful, “A reminder of home.”

“He was right.” Will admitted quietly. A reminder of home. More like a reminder of safety. Of peace. Two things Will hadn’t felt for a very long time. But having Arald’s larger than life presence besides him, he felt himself relax into the trust he had always put in the Baron. It also occurred to him that Halt knew exactly what Will needed, even if Will would never have realized it on his own. Because even with five horrible years between them, Halt knew him, better than he knew himself it would appear.

[five-nights-at-fujisakis]

You also mentioned that the doors open when they run out of power. Obvious lack of safety aside, the doors can run out of power?? Like, they aren't hooked up to a main power line?

oh i'm so sorry, i kind of phrased it badly. the doors run out of power when the building runs out of power, and the building's nighttime power... isn't very good. the doors seem to cause it to drain faster, i bet if i had them closed all night the power would go out really fast, and while i do have my flashlight i'd really rather that not happen.

and honestly the entire system is pretty weird. the restaurant does have a main power line, but apparently they only use the backup generator at night. which... isn't the best system. okay, it's actually a really horrible system, but i just didn't want to say that, it sounds mean. stuff like this really makes me worry about what kind of company i work for, but. it should be fine. and i really do need this job.

oh! i did look into the safeness of the doors, actually. at first i figured that they really were unsafe, because usually closing the doors is the smart thing to do to prevent a fire from spreading, but in the case of the security office it actually kind of makes sense? the office is kind of in a pretty closed off location, you'd have to leave through one of the two doors if you wanted to reach an exit. if there was a fire or some other emergency, and both doors slammed close... i'd be trapped. and when those doors are shut they're REALLY shut, i think there's a hydraulic system in the walls that's constantly pushing them closed. if i was trapped in there it'd be ages before anyone would be able to get me out. and um. i may have a slightly better constitution than i used to, but i still don't think i'd be able to handle that situation well.

honestly a lot about how the building works is really bizarre... i'm kind of curious as to if it was originally built to be a restaurant or if it was something else, first.

time for my second shift! hopefully now that i know the animatronics aren't being intentionally spooky i'll be able to keep my wits about me a little bit better!