#Tech Tips for Producers

[justposting1]

8 Little-Known Retail Chains That Are Better Than Costco

Discover the Hidden Gems: 8 Retail Chains Offering More Value Than Costco Costco has earned its reputation as a retail giant, offering bulk goods at competitive prices. However, not everyone finds its massive warehouse model or membership fees appealing. For those who want alternatives, several lesser-known retail chains provide better value, specialized offerings, or unique shopping experiences…

[filmcourage]

Biggest Problems With Virtual Production - Keith Sutliff

Watch the video interview on Youtube here.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs

“The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs in the most biodiverse ocean area on Earth.”

2. [FWS] Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

“Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 500 species of wild mammals and birds, annual stocking of over 1 billion fish, operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country, and provided hunter and aquatic education to millions of students.”

3. Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding

“Indigenous knowledge systems and practices are considered in the project design, and its leaders and members have been involved throughout the process, from agreeing to participate to identifying suitable land and selecting plant species that naturally grow in the area.”

4. Responsible Offshore Wind Development is a Clear Win for Birds, the U.S. Economy, and our Climate

“[T]he total feasible offshore wind capacity along U.S. coasts is more than three times the total electricity generated nationwide in 2023. […] Proven strategies, such as reducing visible lights on turbines and using perching deterrents on turbines, have been effective in addressing bird impacts.”

5. Illinois awards $100M for electric truck charging corridor, Tesla to get $40M

“The project will facilitate the construction of 345 electric truck charging ports and pull-through truck charging stalls across 14 sites throughout Illinois[…. E]lectrifying [the 30,000 daily long-haul] trucks would make a huge impact in the public health and quality of life along the heavily populated roadways.”

6. Reinventing the South Florida seawall to help marine life, buffer rising seas

“[The new seawall] features raised areas inspired by mangrove roots that are intended to both provide nooks and crannies for fish and crabs and other marine creatures and also better absorb some of the impact from waves and storm surges.”

7. Long Beach Commits to 100% All-Electric Garbage Trucks

“[Diesel garbage trucks] produce around a quarter of all diesel pollution in California and contribute to 1,400 premature deaths every year. Electric options, on the other hand, are quieter than their diesel counterparts and produce zero tailpipe emissions.”

8. ‘This Is a Victory': Biden Affirms ERA Has Been 'Ratified' and Law of the Land

“President Joe Biden on Friday announced his administration's official opinion that the amendment is ratified and its protections against sex-based discrimination are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

9. A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’

“Ground source heat pumps could heat and cool the equivalent of 7 million homes by 2035—up from just over 1 million today[…. G]eothermal energy is generally considered to be more popular among Republicans than other forms of clean energy, such as wind and solar.”

10. Researchers combine citizens' help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

“Researchers in the project, which runs from 2022 to 2026, are experimenting with tools like drones, cameras and sensors to collect detailed data on different species, [… and] Observation.org, a global biodiversity platform where people submit pictures of animals and plants, helping to identify and monitor them.”

January 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[writers-potion]

Writing Weapons (4): Clubs, Maces, Axes, Slings and Arrows

Clubs & Maces

Maces are refined versions of clubs, usually made from steel and flanged or spiked.

Perfect for smashing and plate armour and for crushing skulls.

When used on horseback, the rider uses continuous swining motion and leans to the side to hit.

Type of Fight Scene: gritty, historical fiction, smashing armour

Typical user: brawny male with broad shoulders nad bulging biceps

Mostly used in: historical fiction - Stone Age to Middle Ages

Main Action: smash, crush, bludgeon, batter

Main motion: downwards

Typical injury: crushed bones, crushed skull

Strategy for lethal fight: crush skull

Disadvantages: heavy, need to get closer to the opponent

Batle Axes

Used by a peasant or lumberjack

Special battle axes are bigger and heavier, with longer handles

A weapons for attack rather than defence, good at cleaving through armour

Can break through enemy shields and kill a charging horse.

They require intense training, so users are highly skilled elite soldiers, often aristocrats.

Types of Fight Scene: gritty, brutal, battles, attack, historical fiction, fantasy fiction, cutting through armour

Typical User: tall brawny male with broad shoulders and bulging biceps, courageous, elite soldier, Viking, Saxon

Mostly Used In: European Dark Ages to Middle Ages

Main Action: cleave, hack, chop, cut, split

Main Motion: downwards

Typical Injury: severed large limbs, split skulls, cleaved torsos

Strategy for Lethal Fight: severe the arm which holds the sword or the shield, or cleave torso from top to bottom, or cut off a lef then split the skull

Disadvantages: big and heavy

Bows and Arrows

They are weapons of mass use. Hundred of arrows are shot at the enemy to inflict as mcuh damagne as possible from a distance.

In the middle of the battle and for close combat, they're useless.

Castles were designed for the use of bows and arrows, with narrow windows called 'archer slits'. The top of the outer walls were desgined so archers could shoot while remaining under cover.

Arrows are relateively cheap and quickly to produce. Tips an be metal or sharpened stone, wood, bone, glass splinters, etc.

Pieces of feather at the end help the arrows fly better, but knowing which part of the feather to attach how and where is much -treasured knowledge.

Characters can learn the basics of archery can be done quickly at an emergency. However, to be really good it takes years of practice.

Most important skill is to be able to shoot many arrows in quick succession.

Stone Slings

Stone slings are cheap to make - it only takes a piece of leather, string and ammunition are simply pebbls lying around.

This makes it good for low-tech historical periods and for characters of all ages and physical capacities.

Doesn't require great physical strength, but a lot of practice is required to achieve accuracy.

Different cultures have different techniques for holding and releasing, none of which includes the continuous frantic whirling around beloved by moview makers. Rotatin is usually done once or twice, or not at all.

(1) the slinger hooks the end of the sling over her fingers (2) holds the hand above the shoulder so the sling's bag with the stone in it hangs down behind her shoulder. (3) flings it straight forward.

Blunders to Avoid

Depicting an axeman as an unkilled brute who chops blindly.

Battles where the archers shoot when sword fighters are already engaged in close fighting

[dewracle]

So you've very likely seen the video/gifs of Vessel just sitting down in Manchester, leaned back on his hands, relaxing for a minute. I can't be the only one that that that was sexy af, man is in the perfect position for the best head of his life. Sooo maybe reader should provide it for him :D Please! m/f/gn any of it is fine by me. Something to add to your drabble list perhaps?

GOD! I got so into this request! I've been craving him ever since- thank you for the request! I'll take them all!

Manchester - NSFW Drabble

PAIRING - Sleep Token Vessel x GN! Reader Masterlist - Drabble On Ao3!

Vessel was a cocky man at times, he knew his body was attractive to you and the fans. He noticed after Manchester how utterly obsessed you became with him when he sat down. At first, it didn’t seem to click with him to what exactly you were thinking. Not until you let out a breathy moan at the sight of him still fully dressed in stage clothes, leaning back against the couch, legs spread just slightly. 

“You like this?” He smirked, purposely spreading his legs wide enough for your body to fit. “I’ve seen the fans drool, but you?”

His words flustered you red, eyes wide as you stuttered to produce a cohesive thought. After all, he has caught you mid-fantasy, your tongue lapping at his thick cock, playing with the piercing you had heard him talk about. 

“Tour has been long, okay?” You shot defensively, the small embarrassment leaving you feeling vulnerable. 

With a small tilt to the head, Vessel did his best to show the “really now” expression on his face. He pursed his lips, the line from his water bottle removing the paint catching your eye. You shudder, remembering how not that long ago he spit on the crowd. Why couldn’t you be there instead of stuck behind the scenes? 

Vessel looked around the green room, thankful they had taken a moment to relax before leaving the venue. He nodded to the door with a soft sigh, “Lock the door.”

Your brows knitted together in confusion as you got up to lock the door. The smooth click did little to help you understand what Vessel wanted as you turned back to him. However, the shock of watching the large man palm himself made you shudder. Your breathing hitched as you made eye contact with Vessel behind the mask, his flirty smirk gagging you on.

“Any of the other techs gonna need you anytime soon?” Vessel asked while pressing his palm against his cock, the loose fabric of his pants giving away how hard he already was. 

You shook your head and swallowed back the copious amount of drool forming in your mouth. Slowly, you crossed the room to kneel between those spread legs. God, he looked so perfect. “Thanks, I just work out a lot.” Vessel laughed sensually as he pushed his pants down, pulling out his prick. You froze, looking up at the man from your position. “I said that out loud- Fuck…” Vessel chuckled softly at your dismay, finding amusement with how desperate you sounded. “Yeah, you did…”

You huffed at his comment before shifting closer to rest your forearms against his thighs. Vessel tensed before relaxing as you replaced his hand with yours, testing the weight. You looked up at him to confirm his consent, to confirm that you were being allowed to suck your boss off. 

The Prince Albert piercing called your name, every fantasy seeming to come true as the light reflected off the silver. You leaned forward, eyes heavy with lust as you stick your tongue out, pressing it flat against the head of Vessel’s cock. He exhaled roughly, watching closely as your wet tongue lapped at his tip. 

He reached down, cupping the back of your neck as you gently moaned at his taste. The salt from his sweat made you crave him more, made you want to lick his whole cock clean. “Gods… You’ve been wanting to do this for a while haven’t you?”

You hummed a yes before closing your eyes, sucking the tip of his cock in your mouth. Vessel hissed, thighs tensing at the suction. It seemed to have been a while for the both of you…

“Don’t tease- I don’t think we have ti- Ah!” Vessel warned as you bobbed your head, taking him deeper with every downward movement. His hips twitched, begging to fuck into your pretty throat. But he kept still, digging his nails into your skin as he tossed his head back. 

His hood fell off as he did, revealing his messy hair as you opened your eyes. You rubbed your thighs together, swallowing around his cock the best you could. You’d body relaxed as you took him deeper and deeper till your eyes pricked with tears and your nose brushed against his pubes. 

Vessel groaned loudly, his breathing coming out in rough pants as you traced your tongue along the underside of his cock as you pulled up to just the tip. Cock now covered in your spit, you jerked him off, suckling on the angry red tip. “Fu- You’re such a cock whore baby…!” 

He squirmed and pressed you down, forcing you to gag slightly at the unexpected intrusion. Your throat clicked as Vessel fisted your hair, using it to guide you up and down on his dick. It drooled heavily down your throat, adding to the mess of spit and tears around your lips.

“Oh god, I should have used your mouth sooner…” Vessel moaned out, voice pinched as he starved off his orgasm, “Best fucking mouth I’ve ever used…”

His words lit you ablaze with pride, happy you are able to satisfy the singer. You moaned around his cock, going slightly lax from the lack of air. Thankfully Vessel noticed, gently pulling you off his cock to allow you to breathe. 

You shook your head, gasping for air before batting his hands away. “Need your cum~”

Vessel opened his mouth, preparing to taunt you. Instead, he gasped out, whining as you took him down your throat in one go. Your hands gripped his thighs as you swallowed him down, nearly gagging as the piercing rubbed your throat. 

You couldn’t help but pull off halfway, shooting Vessel a pathetic look. He gritted his teeth, bracing his feet on the floor, and bucked into your awaiting mouth. His moans became music to your ears as the wet slide of his prick turned you on. Your jaw ached from being held open for so long, but you persisted with the desperate need for his cum. 

Feeling the way his pubes brushed against your nose, the way his abdomen clenched, and how desperate he sounded, you weren’t shocked when he pushed so deep in your throat your eyes screwed shut. Your face was wet as you forced yourself to swallow down the thick load of cum being poured into your throat. Vessel’s filthy moans and words encouraged you not to let anything spill. 

“Fuck take it all- take all my fucking cum and let me fill you full of it. You wanted it, needed it so badly!” His words made you whimper, eager to take your fill. 

As he pulled you off, you whimpered loudly and chased after his cock. Your lips were red and spit-slick, eyes teary as you whined for him. “Can I have more..?”

“If you find me after the next show.”

[lostinhistory]

Heritage News of the Week

Discoveries!

The ship was part of a Spanish colonizing expedition led by the conquistador Tristán de Luna y Arellano, who was voyaging from Mexico under the Spanish crown. In September 1559, a hurricane in Pensacola Bay wrecked several of the 11 ships, which had been anchored near the new Spanish settlement of Santa María de Ochuse. Researchers found one of these wrecks, known as Emanuel Point II, in 2006. This shipwreck holds the remains of an adult and a juvenile domestic cat (Felis catus), according to the new study.

'Overkill' injuries on Bronze Age skeletons reveal fierce feuding in ancient China

A unique Bronze Age cemetery in China has revealed a high frequency of injuries suggestive of intense, violent interactions.

Hikers make stunning discovery of $340,000 gold hoard in Czech mountains

The Museum of Eastern Bohemia in the Czech Republic city of Hradec Králové has announced the discovery of a 20th-century gold trove worth more than $340,000.

2,300-year-old sword unearthed at necropolis in France

Two 2,300-year-old swords discovered in a Celtic Iron Age necropolis in France "have few equivalents in Europe," and one is decorated with tiny swastikas, the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research reports.

Mummy mystery solved: ‘air-dried’ priest was embalmed via rectum

Intrigue had long swirled around the mummified body stored in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein. The remains were rumoured to be the naturally preserved corpse of an aristocratic vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746 at the aged of 37, gaining the mummy the moniker of the “air-dried chaplain”. Now experts say they have discovered the body was embalmed with the abdominal and pelvic cavities packed with wood chips, fragmented twigs, fabrics such as hemp and silk, and zinc chloride – materials that would have absorbed fluids inside the body.

Tw: Image of human remains at link

This facility once produced the ancient world’s rarest dye at a grand scale

Archaeologists in Israel have turned up the remains of a massive operation that once produced Tyrian purple.

'Groundbreaking' ancient DNA research confirms Pueblo peoples' ties to famous Chaco Canyon site

New genetic research confirms what the oral traditions of the Picuris Pueblo people of New Mexico have long described — that they're related to the Indigenous people of Chaco Canyon.

Ancient tomb of nomadic horse lord yields untouched treasures and weapons

A archaeological discovery near Grozny has unearthed an undisturbed Alanian tomb dating back over two millennia, revealing a wealth of exquisite artifacts including unique triple-edged weapons and elaborate horse adornments.

Egyptologist uncovers hidden messages on Paris’s iconic obelisk

Olette-Pelletier found seven crypto-hieroglyphs on the monument that could only be read by elites.

Unique lion-headed handles unveiled from a Roman-period cist tomb near Khirbat Ibreika

Beneath the ancient dust of Khirbat Ibreika in southern Israel, archaeologists have unearthed an unexpected enigma: four bronze discs, each adorned with powerful lion head reliefs and accompanied by functional rings, carefully extracted from a tomb dating back to the first and second centuries CE of the Roman Empire.

Neanderthals made the oldest bone spear tip found in Europe

The 3.5-inch object was made between 80,000 and 70,000 years ago and was likely fashioned out of a bison bone.

Mass grave of Black Union soldiers slaughtered during the Civil War may lie under a Kentucky soybean field, high-tech scans reveal

Archaeologists have identified two potential mass graves of Black Union soldiers who were targeted by Confederate guerrillas in the Civil War.

2,000-year-old garlanded sarcophagus unearthed in "City of Gladiators"

A remarkably well-preserved, 2,000-year-old sarcophagus adorned with intricate garlands has been discovered during ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Stratonikeia, in southwestern Türkiye.

New evidence suggests Scots may have invented the game of soccer

In what may cause major ramifications for the history of sports, The Times reports that a team of researchers may have identified the world’s oldest known soccer field—not in England, where the “beautiful game” was purportedly invented in the mid-nineteenth century, but in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

Numerous statue fragments unearthed at lost Apollo sanctuary in Cyprus

The Sanctuary of Apollo at Frangissa, located near ancient Tamassos and lost for approximately 140 years, has been rediscovered through recent excavations.

Archaeological project maps historic boat sheds on Isles of Scilly

An archaeological project has highlighted just how crucial the agile, tough “pilot gigs” were for islanders by mapping 90 sites of sheds that housed the boats, the earliest believed to date back to the 17th century.

Unique column capital depicting a menorah unveiled in Jerusalem

The carved limestone block was originally discovered in 2020 in a 6th- or 7th-century CE. Byzantine house during excavations in Motza, outside Jerusalem. Yet archaeologists believe that the capital is centuries older, likely dating to the second or third century, and had been subsequently moved to this location.

Museums

A temporary restraining order was issued by the U.S. District Court to block the Trump Administration‘s dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Smithsonian Institution says it won’t remove anti-segregation exhibits

The Smithsonian Institution denied reports this morning, April 28, that its National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture intended to remove object displays documenting anti-segregation demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement.

Vatican museums, including Sistine Chapel, closed indefinitely for conclave to elect the next pope

The Vatican Museums, which includes the Sistine Chapel, has been closed to the public as Vatican City prepares for the gathering of cardinals who will vote to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 28.

‘The eighth wonder of the world’: China’s terracotta warriors to march on Australia for blockbuster show

Perth will host huge exhibition of ancient treasures from first emperor’s tomb in June, with 40% of the artefacts leaving China for the first time ever

Trump fires Doug Emhoff and others from US Holocaust Memorial Council

Husband of Kamala Harris calls move political and decries turning historical atrocity into ‘a wedge issue’

Trump names eight new appointees to US Holocaust Memorial Museum board

Eight new appointees for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum board were announced by President Donald Trump in a social media post on Thursday night. These trustees will replace the board members appointed by former President Joe Biden that Trump removed just a few days ago.

Edward II’s coronation roll goes on display alongside King Charles’s

The two rolls, part of a tradition dating back at least seven centuries, are on public display for the first time in an exhibition at the National Archives that also includes works of art commissioned by the government to mark the coronation.

The Getty’s Provenance Index makes more than 12 million records publicly available

The Getty Provenance Index (GPI) initially launched in the 1980s to keep track of the ownership history of each artwork in the museum’s collection. Since then, it has become an integral part of the Getty’s research on provenance, collecting, and art markets. Today, the records included in the GPI extend well beyond the Getty itself.

Repatriation

Ancestral human remains taken by a "grave robber" and brought to Belfast almost 200 years ago have begun their journey back to Hawaii. The human remains were repatriated in an emotional ceremony held at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, attended by representatives from Hawaii.

A looted Greco-Roman statue goes on display before its return

After a months-long legal battle, the sculpture is on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art ahead of its repatriation to Turkey, with newly added context about its provenance.

Heritage at risk

Ignorance appears to be no barrier as Trump seeks to grasp control of the US’s historical narrative in the run-up to next year’s landmark celebration of the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence, also known as the semiquincentennial. Under an executive order issued in January, the president has started to churn out his own approved version of US history that professional historians fear will resort to the tried and tested authoritarian playbook of airbrushing out inconvenient and inglorious chapters that do not align with his vision of American greatness.

Famed Memphis church associated with Martin Luther King damaged by fire

A fire has severely damaged the historic Clayborn Temple in downtown Memphis, which is closely associated with the US civil rights movement and Dr Martin Luther King.

Odds and ends

Modern-day conclaves are steeped in mystery: cardinal electors swear an oath of secrecy – and so do the cooks, drivers, medics and others who support their deliberations. Before the conclave begins next week, the Sistine Chapel will be swept for electronic bugs, jamming devices will be installed, and special coatings will be placed on windows to stop laser scanners picking up anything audible. It wasn’t always this way: in the past, letters, diaries and other writings by cardinals and their attendants gave revealing accounts of what happened in the meetings convened in order to choose a pope.

How African popes changed Christianity - and gave us Valentine's Day

Now predominantly Muslim, North Africa was once a Christian heartland, producing Catholic popes who left their mark on the Church to this day.

The buried hoard: a story of treachery and greed

This is a story of treachery, secrecy and greed which led to two friends ending up in jail and a mystery about buried coins.

Pompeii aerial tour helicopters seized in safety investigation

Italian police have seized eight helicopters and are investigating four pilots associated with a company offering aerial tours of Pompeii’s archaeological ruins last week, alleging a laundry list of safety and operations violations.

Two men filmed felling of Sycamore Gap tree during ‘mindless’ act, court hears

Two men filmed themselves using a chainsaw to fell the famous Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall in an act of “mindless criminal damage”, a court has heard.

Titanic survivor's letter sold for £300,000 at auction

Colonel Archibald Gracie's letter was purchased by an anonymous buyer at Henry Aldridge and Son auction house in Wiltshire on Sunday, at a price five times higher than the £60,000 it was expected to fetch.Colonel Archibald Gracie's letter was purchased by an anonymous buyer at Henry Aldridge and Son auction house in Wiltshire on Sunday, at a price five times higher than the £60,000 it was expected to fetch.

How did Hitler’s film-maker hide her complicity from the world?

A new documentary delves into controversial German film-maker Leni Riefenstahl’s private archive to uncover a director who spent a lifetime covering up her central role in the Nazi propaganda machine

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

I know this is totally missing the point of everything you do but………any tips for oxygen not included?

Same as any management sim, the most important thing to control is your population. It's gonna be tempting to get as many lil guys as you can. Don't. Only get what you can support.

Algae Terrariums seem like a good deal but they're not. You'll be forever refilling the stupid things. Just rely on diffusers until you can move onto electrolyzers, which you should do as soon as possible.

Find a water or steam geyser and both natural gas geysers as soon as you can, and use them to generate oxygen and power. You can set up 'self-powered' oxygen generation by using the hydrogen produced by the electrolyzers but personally I don't think it's worth the trouble. Once you have both natural gas geysers (and can build natural gas generators), electricity won't be a problem for the rest of the game; if you ever need more, it'll be after you have solar panel tech. You can just pump the waste CO2 directly into space (or stick it in bottles for now if you haven't dug that high).

Don't train your dupes in skills they don't use or need, or you're just making it harder to keep them happy for no reason. You only need one artist, for example.

I like to build a dusk cap farm as soon as possible and feed them just mushrooms for most of the game. It takes 3 dusk cap plots to feed 1 dupe (1.5 plots if you fry the mushrooms). My farms look like this:

The farm naturally fills with CO2 and is very low-maintenance. I like to put my kitchen directly above it if I'm not bothering to cook so dupes can grab food and eat right away. These farms do use slime so you'll run out eventually but by then you're very late into the game and can just harvest all the various plants naturally around the map for free.

I play a very chill game so this probably isn't great advice. There's a lot of strategies out there created by people who pay close attention to gas pressure and the thermal insulation of various materials and I am not one of those player.

[nanaminsmoon]

onyankopon x blackfem!reader🫶🏾 (mdni.) + wc:1216

'who can do hair?' had been the caption on the ig story that led to ony’s head buried in the space between your legs. with your thighs on either side of his half-done hair, ony had you spread out on the couch as his tongue sent waves of pleasure throughout your body. you in this very position had been the only thing on his mind since the second you opened the door, wafting the smell of vanilla and cocoa butter in his face, as his eyes busied themselves scanning your form. the only coverage of your body had been short ass shorts, and a cropped camisole—both serving no purpose because your nipples would be visible through the thin fabric, and your cheeks would be greeting him with every sway of your hips as you led him to your living room. having your back turned to him gave ony the perfect opportunity to openly look you up and down, a sly smirk spreading on his face when he’d see your painted toes and golden anklet that matched the necklace at the center of your chest.

it was as if, as soon as he saw the jewellery, ony knew that his lips would be meeting the skin next to it, in delicate and languid kisses. like he had already foreseen the image of his trimmed fingernails forming dips in the fat of your thighs, as he pushed them against your chest—the sound of your skin meeting beating his eardrums. ony didn’t know what the final straw had been; maybe it was the smile you had flashed him as you laughed at one of his jokes, maybe it was his direct view of your chest as you stood in front of him, or maybe it had been the glazed look in your eyes when you realised you couldn’t hide his effect on you anymore.

ony had been trailing his fingertips along the backs of your calves, mahogany orbs zeroed in on your face to measure your reaction. all attempts at putting on a cloak of composure failed to cover you from the neck down because, being sat so close you could feel his breath hitting your skin, ony could see everything. he’d take note of the way your chest rose and fell faster, he’d catch onto the way your hand fumbled with the rattail comb in your grip, as you parted his hair, and there was absolutely no way of hiding your goosebumps when his hand would flatten on you, to wrap around the back of your thigh.

“you good?”, a harsh swallow would travel down your throat as you smiled feebly at him. but ony would just shrug.

“i'm chillin’”, he’d shake his head, “just gettin’ comfy”, he'd say, and you’d nod at him before resuming your task on his head.

in the end, his hands ascending to replace the fabric covering your ass would be the thing to grant ony your attention again. it’d also be the thing to force your hand to substitute the comb for his shoulder as you leaned down to meet your lips. somehow that’d land you in ony’s lap, moving on him, before he got fed up and moved you to the couch. everything from then on was a blurry montage of events; one second you’d be lifting your hips from the leather to help him wiggle your shorts down, then your legs would be forced open by his head obstructing their connection. aimless fingers would then be moving over his twists, as the actions of ony’s mouth produced obscene noises that overrode the sound of the tv show you’d put on. it was no wonder you came on his face so quickly, sighing and cussing to yourself as unfettered moans escaped your lips. and ony would make quick work of cleaning you with his mouth, obviously in a rush to appease the hard length underneath his tech.

one of ony’s hands would hold your legs open, and the other would gather your arousal on his tip before pushing into you very slowly. eager fingertips would be underneath your top, digging into your waist as ony’s tip reached deeper inside you with every thrust. one half of the duo that had been challenging his self-control since you opened the door would momentarily be bare, before it’d be hidden in between ony’s lips. and the other half would have a large hand enclosed around it, as ony’s dick had your back detaching from the couch.

“you're so fucking tight”, his lips spoke around your nipple, ”better not be giving any other niggas this treatment when you do their hair”, he'd say, rutting into you.

“j-just you, i s-swear”, you'd promise, and pride would make ony quickly pull out of you, only to empty your lungs of air when he slammed back into you again. sensations would be hitting you from all angles; the feeling of him driving into you achingly well, his lips decorating your ankle and shin, and the repeated contact of your ass cheeks and his hip bones.

the actual reason why ony was there had been long forgotten by the both of you, so there’d be no hesitation from either party when you’d reach a hand to his head to pull him into you, and messily kiss his lips. ony’s tongue would glide past your lower lip, moaning at the sweet taste of your lipgloss, before it’d enter your mouth and move against yours. the kiss would have both of you moaning into each other’s mouths, with your toes even curling in their place around his waist. but ultimately it’d be ony's hand sneaking down to your clit that would pull your orgasm over you. your walls flexing around him, coercing ony's own release out of him.

“you want my nut in you, ma?”, he'd ask, and you'd nod while whining out an incomprehensible 'yes' into his ears. your lips moving to kiss at his earlobe would be the thing to pause ony’s hips inside of you. and he’d fill you until he felt empty and all he could do was barely hold his body weight up so he wouldn’t crush you as he caught his breath. he’d retreat from the crook of your neck, and pepper honeyed kisses on your palm when your hand would rise to neaten the hairs you’d messed up,

“you know you still gotta pay me, right?”, you'd ask playfully, and ony would laugh at you before kissing your forehead.

“the dick ain't give me a discount?”, he'd ask, and you'd shake your head, ”how ‘bout if we fuck one more time?”, he’d look up to your eyes through his thick eyelashes, as his lips kissed your burning skin and his dick slowly started moving in and out of you again. still sensitive, your lips would start making noise without your permission, and ony would smile at your endearing behaviour,

“fuck—make it two and i'll give you the whole thing for free”,

“bet.”

©Rights owned by nanamoonsinc. Do not repost without permission.

[silentmagi]

Awkward Arrival:

First headcanon off the bat, 2 in 1, a name and thing, tessa’s design of what she call’s “protection model drones” are different then disassembly drones a few key ways

1.Sturdier build and only slightly more humanoid but overall still a drone.

2.Weapons are more varied and customizations/attachments for weapons can be spawned via a 3d printer that’s designed to look like a satchel at either hip, and a new weapon can be uploaded to the cloud at any point (I imagine Uzi would be happy to lend design schematics to see what a version of her railgun would look like on a PM drone body) but the weapon swap system is a bit slower to load the weapon,a 0.5 second slower to be exact (eldritch magic be damned, tessa got close).

3.no oil hunger thankfully but there is alot more oil acting as the blood of this machine.

4.backups of personal memory of the unit are done CONSTANTLY and the drone themselves is their own admin.

5.has tools for repairing regular drones as well in the arsenal

6.has a version of the patch installed in their hardware, allowing transfer of solver users into PM drone bodies

7.has a sharp knife-tipped usb with a copy of the patch on it as apart of the weapon arsenal

8.instead of the color scheme of the yellow and black of safety tape, its green and red.

Her J was of course the first subject, and also managed to free her from solvers admin controls and gave her memories back.A lot of digital tears were shed that day because solver implemented a false memory of her killing tessa, which Tessa removed before giving admin over to her jaybird.

2nd headcanon: The spaceship base is the most self-indulgent looking home of tessa, her interests on full display, she has found and made a station for oxygen tank refills, there is more futuristic stuff, mainly lots of old food and water producing related tech (thankfully J has watched her and she has a green thumb)

3rd headcanon: Tessa has had to learn how to make ammo and make new weapon designs to deal with dd’s due to the last planet she was on, picked it up from a old weapon smith colony on the same planet(they were the weapon supplier during the solver war)

1 Question: how is cyn feeling amidst all of this as she watches from the back of her own mind?

Awkward Arrival

I love the idea that Tessa would make the Protection Model Drones (PMD), with the Solver's Disassembly Drones (SDD) being inferior knock offs.

Probably would have them based off construction drones to start study, and just add some armor without cutting functionality.

The greater variety would make up for the delay in making a weapon, especially once Uzi gets the greenlight to have some fun making more weapons. She actually is slowed down due to upload speeds.

Probably also took care of the heat problem that caused the oil hunger.

Great idea, cloud back ups every hour, and a full system back up at night.

They are uploaded to the cloud for the weapons under a sub folder.

Excellent touch for them to have that patch, and that it's updated.

File number 00003 is the USB penetration unit.

This is her gift to the universe so the Christmas Colors are thematic.

J needs therapy, Tessa needs therapy, EVERYONE NEEDS THERAPY! No, group therapy is not kissing Tessa, Jaybird, get it together you two... NOT THAT WAY!

I could see her making it an even fancier mansion than her parents could imagine, and every inch is full of her interests and love. J keeps her alive by reminding her to use the food and water machines.

I could see her developing a love of kinetic and beam weapons over ballistic weapons. She gathers all blueprints she can find, no matter what.

1 Answer: Cyn is glad to see the two of them, and hopes that they can stop her, and the monster she has become.

[enchantedbat]

I would like to think that inhabitants of different planets have physical attributes that differentiate them or it's a power thing.

Bloom could have dragon scales. They could've grown during puberty where she mistakes them as pimples or other skin issues. Maybe they are somewhere embarrassing but hidden. She also could have fiery hair tips which starts with her using her power and thinking she accidentally is burning her hair.

Stella has glowing eyes. That's why she wears a sleeping mask and everybody is thankful that she has her own room - oh yeah, she sleeps with her eyes open. It is a Solarian thing. Brandon, thankfully, can sleep despite the light.

Actually, she could have them both during day and night considering her parents are sun and moon connected.

Layla could have webbed fingers or toes. Or she has scales. Perhaps on her legs due to her connection to the mermaids (Tressa is her cousin after all.)

Without her being a mermaid instantly, she should have the full package: scales, webbed fingers/toes, gills. They activate underwater.

Flora could have flowers as freckles, vines growing in her hair or something aesthetic like that. It could be something 'life producing' too. Her breath makes pollen or her blood grows plants, so all her wounds have flowers sprouting from them (Bloom would freak out seeing it the first time and try to clean Flora's wounds who would push her away because she can't heal properly without these plants).

Okay, first: Tecna has no belly button or no belly button like the girls. I see them having futuristic methods to have children without the women having to endure anything that will harm their body or mental health. With the help of both magic and technology, they have birthing chambers.

Additionally, Tecna could have cyber tech like for example Cyberpunk characters have them. You need glasses? Not on Zenith. Instead you like a lens built in? I hope it makes sense. Their bodies might have technology installed from the start of life. Something to protect her spin or limbs, so she can't break her bones that easily.

Of course, for Musa and people of Melody, it would make sense if it is something voice connected. It may not be visible to others. It helps them reach high or deep notes. Maybe like a voice modulator?

Besides, we saw how they communicated through sound waves.

I just used the Winx as example, so quick reminder that Helia would have the same thing as Flora and Nabu as Layla.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

J. Dylan Sandifer at TNR:

Two egos like Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s could never share the spotlight if it weren’t for the unifying force of grifter solidarity—two oligarchs teaming up to further tip the scales against everyone else. Just as Trump’s P.R. campaign as a canny dealmaker hid his multiple bankruptcies, Musk’s rogue genius performance serves as cover for the fact that he’s just another billionaire buying up others’ ideas and playing the system with enough of a safety net to repeatedly fail. His whole shtick is built on the idea that he’s a bold, self-made innovator who defies the odds, shuns government handouts, and stands for the unbridled power of the free market. In reality, his empire, built originally on an apartheid emerald mine, has been propped up by public money for years. One of its most consistent sources of income has been Tesla’s exploitation of the carbon credit market.

Tesla, the supposed future of clean energy, isn’t just making money by selling electric cars—it’s making a fortune off a regulatory loophole. In the first nine months of 2024, 43 percent of Tesla’s net income came from selling credits to other automakers that hadn’t met emissions standards. It’s not innovation that’s keeping Tesla’s finances afloat; it’s a rigged system that Musk is milking for everything it’s worth. And all the while, he’s using his newfound power as Trump’s unelected co-president to gut the very government programs that provide working people with a fraction of the support that he’s quietly pocketing. Musk loves to sneer at working-class people who rely on food stamps or unemployment benefits, claiming they’re lazy or entitled. But what’s more entitled than using regulatory credits to boost your company’s stock price and then leveraging that stock for loans to keep your cash flow steady? The hypocrisy gets even more grotesque when you look at Musk’s role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency—the dystopian fever dream where he’s now helping Trump dismantle social programs under the guise of ��cutting waste.” While he’s ensuring billionaires like himself keep their tax breaks and loopholes, he’s working to slash food assistance, disability benefits, and Social Security. The plan is clear: If you’re rich, the government will help you get richer. If you’re poor, you’re on your own. Meanwhile, Musk has strategically positioned himself to undermine public infrastructure alternatives to his products. Musk has started targeting public transit and infrastructure projects, claiming they are bloated and inefficient—while his own half-baked ideas, like the Las Vegas “Loop” (a glorified tunnel for Teslas), receive public subsidies and fizzle out into tech-world vaporware. He is claiming that government spending on social good is a waste, while positioning himself as the one true visionary who should receive those taxpayer dollars instead. Here’s how Tesla’s legalized scam works: Under California’s Zero Emission Vehicle, or ZEV, mandate and the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards, carmakers are required to meet emissions targets. If they don’t, they have to buy carbon credits from companies that produce cleaner vehicles. Tesla, which only sells electric cars, racks up a surplus of these credits and sells them to gas-guzzling automakers that don’t want to invest in real change. In other words, Tesla isn’t making money because it’s selling cars efficiently—it’s making money because Ford and GM still rely on gasoline. Musk has figured out how to turn regulatory inaction into a billion-dollar side hustle. If Tesla’s carbon credit well ever runs dry—if regulatory standards change or if automakers finally catch up—Tesla’s bottom line takes a hit. That’s when the whole house of cards Musk has built starts to wobble.

Musk’s entire empire hinges on one thing: Tesla’s sky-high stock price. He’s leveraged Tesla shares to take out massive loans, using them as collateral to fund his lifestyle and side projects. This means that keeping Tesla’s valuation high is a matter of personal financial survival. Those carbon credits—essentially free money from the government—make Tesla’s earnings look better than they actually are, which in turn props up its stock price. But this strategy is starting to fall apart. Tesla’s stock is plummeting��down nearly 40 percent this year—due to increased competition, battery technology falling behind, and Musk’s erratic behavior scaring off investors. When a company is built on smoke and mirrors, it doesn’t take much for the illusion to shatter.

A big chunk of Elon Musk’s Tesla income comes from their regulatory credits scheme.

[arbiterlexultionis]

Poltergeist

So, Danny, who’s blood is composed of mostly caffeine because the Box Ghost just WON’T FUCKING STOP attacking on the middle of the night, God Dammit this is the SEVENTH Time tonight how the Crap Baskets do you keep escaping the Thermos!! So, when he wakes up one morning needing both caffeine and ectoplasm in his sleep deprived state he just mixes a 4 pack of monster and beaker of ectoplasm in a jug and starts chugging to try and get it down before the taste hits and then stops. Takes a sip. Takes another. And realizes that it actually taste way better then either do individually.

So he starts mixing them up regularly, and eventually starts just phasing ectoplasm into still sealed cans so he can grab and go for the sake of convenience. Then some other ghost get a taste, like it, and start asking for more. So Danny gets some new friends and starts making ghost money selling his concoction, and as a joke based on the original name of the energy drink, paints over the can and relabels them Poltergeist.

For a while, business is booming but then a problem pops up. Real world items are contraband in the zone according to Walker, and most of the drink itself and the container it comes in is real world matter. Cue prohibition era shenaniganery as Danny and his allies became energy drink bootleggers, running from Walker, smuggling cases of Poltergeist, hiring ghost to help them with all of this, the whole nine yards.

I think this could work out pretty well with Danny and The Spooks, him and his boys mass producing and shipping out illegal ghost energy drinks could be a really cool plot line in my opinion, producing it, figuring out how to get it to the zone and all that as a group. I also feel this idea is just the right amount of wacky to work with the DP verse and serious/sensible enough to not be complete crack fic unless you want it to be.

When the Fenton’s and Valerie hear about that no good menace Phantom selling Highly Dangerous Ghost Drugs the flip their shit. The smear campaign is the stuff of legends. And then the truth comes out. It’s just a really Really REALLY tired teenager trying to stay awake and make some pocket money to buy first aid supplies and have some left over to buy food for homeless people.

If it’s a verse where Sam and Tucker are in on the whole ghost fighting thing then they are Energy Drink Kingpin Danny’s right and left hand men. Tucker’s the tech guy, figuring out how to build hidden compartments in vehicles to hide the goods, monitoring and screwing with Walker’s tech, managing accounts for human money he makes/figuring out how to exchange human money for Ghost money. Sam is his badass enforcer who keeps the underlings in line, and also uses her money and rich people connections to launder money and stuff. Proper crime boss stuff.

Eventually, everyone’s least favorite front loop catch’s wind of this. And I see this going one of two ways.

1) He comes to the conclusion that Danny’s not aloud to have nice things, and starts his own enterprise to compete with Danny. Stealing business, sabotaging production, tipping off Walker. General douchbaggery.

2) He is the opposite of opposition. He wants Danny as his Son, wants Danny to be just like him, wants to guide and train Danny the way he never got. So Danny, all on his own, building a criminal empire? Pissing off the authorities instead of being a little goody two shoes? Laundering money almost as good as his old man? It is wonderful and he is Here For It. Either he’s in the distance cheering him on or actively trying to help. “No no my boy, if you do it like that you’ll either end up broke or in jail for tax evasion. You’ve got to send your money through these channels and store it in banks of these countries. I’ll help you set up accounts.”

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - June 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $Kaybarr1735! And if you tip me and give me a way to contact you, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week!

1. Rare foal born on estate for first time in 100 years

“The Food Museum at Abbot's Hall in Stowmarket, Suffolk, is home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses - a breed considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A female foal was born on Saturday and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924. [...] Juno is just one of 12 fillies born so far this year in the country and she could potentially help produce more of the breed in the future.”

2. The cement that could turn your house into a giant battery

“[Scientists] at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a way of creating an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor from three basic, cheap materials – water, cement and a soot-like substance called carbon black. [... Supercapacitators] can charge much more quickly than a lithium ion battery and don't suffer from the same levels of degradation in performance. [... Future applications of this concrete might include] roads that store solar energy and then release it to recharge electric cars wirelessly as they drive along a road [... and] energy-storing foundations of houses.”

3. New road lights, fewer dead insects—insect-friendly lighting successfully tested

“Tailored and shielded road lights make the light source almost invisible outside the illuminated area and significantly reduces the lethal attraction for flying insects in different environments. [...] The new LED luminaires deliver more focused light, reduce spill light, and are shielded above and to the side to minimize light pollution. [... In contrast,] dimming the conventional lights by a factor of 5 had no significant effect on insect attraction.”

4. When LGBTQ health is at stake, patient navigators are ready to help

“[S]ome health care systems have begun to offer guides, or navigators, to get people the help they need. [... W]hether they're just looking for a new doctor or taking the first step toward getting gender-affirming care, "a lot of our patients really benefit from having someone like me who is there to make sure that they are getting connected with a person who is immediately going to provide a safe environment for them." [... A navigator] also connects people with LGBTQ community organizations, social groups and peer support groups.”

5. Tech company to help tackle invasive plant species

“Himalayan balsam has very sugary nectar which tempts bees and other pollinators away from native plants, thereby preventing them from producing seed. It outcompetes native plant species for resources such as sunlight, space and nutrients. [...] The volunteer scheme is open to all GWT WilderGlos users who have a smartphone and can download the Crowdorsa app, where they can then earn up to 25p per square meter of Balsam removed.”

6. [Fish & Wildlife] Service Provides Over $14 Million to Benefit Local Communities, Clean Waterways and Recreational Boaters

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing more than $14 million in Clean Vessel Act grants to improve water quality and increase opportunities for fishing, shellfish harvests and safe swimming in the nation’s waterways. By helping recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage, this year’s grants will improve conditions for local communities, wildlife and recreational boaters in 18 states and Guam.”

7. Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever

“Camera traps in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo have captured a Bornean clouded leopard mother and her two cubs wandering through a forest. It's the first time a family of these endangered leopards has been caught on camera in the wild, according [to] staff from the Orangutan Foundation who placed camera traps throughout the forest to learn more about the elusive species.”

8. Toy library helps parents save money 'and the planet'

“Started in 2015 by Annie Berry, South Bristol's toy library aims to reduce waste and allow more children access to more - and sometimes expensive - toys. [...] Ms Berry partnered with the St Philips recycling centre on a pilot project to rescue items back from landfill, bringing more toys into the library. [...] [P]eople use it to support the environment, take out toys that they might not have the space for at home or be able to afford, and allow children to pick non-gender specific toys.”

9. Chicago Receives $3M Grant to Inventory Its Trees and Create Plan to Manage City’s Urban Forest

“The Chicago Park District received a $1.48 million grant [“made available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act”] to complete a 100% inventory of its estimated 250,000 trees, develop an urban forestry management plan and plant 200 trees in disadvantaged areas with the highest need. As with the city, development of the management plan is expected to involve significant community input.”

10. Strong Public Support for Indigenous Co-Stewardship Plan for Bears Ears National Monument

“[The NFW has a] plan to collaboratively steward Bears Ears National Monument to safeguard wildlife, protect cultural resources, and better manage outdoor recreation. The plan was the result of a two-year collaboration among the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and upholds Tribal sovereignty, incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and responsibly manages the monument for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation while ensuring the continued health of the ecosystem.”

June 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[prokhorvlg]

The heavy H-54 Katyr was the last mech to be designed by Sordalan bureaus before their facilities were obliterated by Federal nuclear bombs.

Pilots reported sore ankles after operating the Katyr, because the neural interface was copied from tech meant for northerner biology.

Only five were ever produced. Of those five, three survived the bombing, and a single vehicle made it through to the defeat of the Federated States.

Dubra, the surviving Katyr's pilot, attributed his survival to tip-toeing for at least three hours per day. Go figure.

Designed for @rilegerard's The Final War universe.

[maybe-some-words]

Surprise

Summer of Bad Batch 2025 | Week 2 alt | "Don't even think about it"

Rating: G

Words: 2.2k

Featuring: Omega, Tech, Crosshair, Wrecker, Hunter, Lyana, Phee, Echo

Omega's brothers are keeping a secret from her, and she intends to find out what it is.

A/N: This one was delayed because I got sick and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it but, oh well. If I work on it any longer it will probably triple in length and it's already far longer than I intended.

AO3 Link

“I’m home,” Omega called into the house, tossing her bag towards the hook she was supposed to hang it on.

The front room was oddly empty; normally Batcher would appear at the door as soon as she heard the door handle turn, and at least one of Omega’s brothers would follow. Today, no one answered her, and no one muttered about tidiness when her bag hit the floor with a thud. Hunter must be out, then. She kicked her shoes off in the general direction of the rack, forgetting they were full of sand until it tipped out onto the floor. She winced, mentally promised to clean it after she’d had something to eat, and headed further into the house.

“Hello?” she called again, stepping into the kitchen. Her voice echoed in the small space.

She started down the hallway that lead out of the kitchen. The balcony was empty, and there was no noise from any of the bedrooms. Omega knocked and poked her head into each of them anyway, but they were as devoid of life as everywhere else she had checked. She began towards the study, the last door in the hallway, just as it opened and Tech stepped out. He pulled the door closed behind him, but not before Omega caught sight of Crosshair and Wrecker crouched over something laid across the floor.

“Good afternoon, Omega,” Tech greeted. “How was your day?”

“Was fun. What are you all doing in there?” Omega questioned, trying to peer around him as if there wasn’t a door in the way.

Tech adjusted his goggles. “It is a surprise.”

She frowned. “What kind of surprise?”

“The kind that I will not divulge further details about.”

Omega huffed. “Where’s Batcher?” she asked instead.

“Hunter took her to run some errands,” he answered. “They will return soon.”

Her stomach chose that moment to grumble a loud reminder that Omega hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She and Lyana had been busy constructing a very elaborate sand castle, which Lyana warned her was probably going to be washed away overnight. Omega held on to hope that it would survive anyway.

“I will make you some lunch,” Tech offered, placing a hand on Omega’s should to guide her away from the study. “I believe there are leftovers from last night’s dinner.”

Omega hummed, allowing herself to appear placated while she devised a plan.

The opportunity presented itself almost immediately.

The door squeaked open and Omega turned her head to watch as Crosshair stepped out into the hallway, gave half a wave in greeting, then disappeared into his room. He had left the study door slightly ajar.

Realising what she was looking at, Tech tightened his grip on her shoulder. “Omega, don’t-”

Omega did. She ducked away from him and bolted for the study. Crosshair must’ve realised his mistake, because he reemerged from his room to stand in her way.

“Omega, stop,” he growled as he reached for her.

But she was faster. Smaller, too, despite her recent growth spurt. Sidestepping around his grab, she burst into the study and straightened, only for Wrecker to scoop her up off the ground before she had a chance to register anything in the room. He spun her around, facing her away from whatever they had been doing.

“Wait,” Omega called, trying to wriggle out of his arms. “Let me see.”

“Sorry, kid,” Wrecker answered. “’s a surprise.”

Omega made one more valiant effort to escape, then slumped and let Wrecker carry her from the room.

“You can’t keep me out; I live here!” she reminded them as he set her down. She’d just go in while they were sleeping.

Rather than answer, Tech produced something small and metallic. He tossed it over their heads to Crosshair, who caught it and turned back to the door. Omega heard the click of a lock engaging.

“Since when does the study have a lock?” she questioned, frowning.

“Since I installed one this morning,” Tech answered. “You will not be ruining the surprise.”

Omega did not ruin the surprise, though not for lack of trying.

Her first plan of action was to steal the key; obvious, perhaps, but also simplest. When Crosshair got up in the middle of the night to engage in his usual routine of standing on the balcony and staring out over Pabu, Omega ducked into his room to look through his drawers. A notebook, labelled don’t touch in large letters; a drawing Omega had done of the two of them when she’d been trying her hand at art; a voucher for a café that was on the other side of the island but was his and Hunter’s favourite; another voucher for a restaurant that Crosshair openly hated, but kept going to anyway because Tech loved it; and a necklace of shells Omega and Wrecker had put together. His house keys sat at the foot of the bed, too, but the one for the study was not among them.

“And what do you think you’re doing?”

Omega gasped, spinning around to face Crosshair. “I was just-”

He fished around in his pocket and produced the key. “Looking for this?”

“No…”

“Uh huh.” He pocketed the key again. “Bed,” he ordered.

Omega complied with a sigh.

Hunter had, unfortunately, become the key’s sole protector.

Omega wasn’t sure whether she was supposed to know that. Crosshair had been banned from the key after leaving it unattended, which he grumbled about, and Wrecker didn’t want the responsibility. Tech was going away with Phee for a few days on a mission he wouldn’t reveal any details about.

That left Hunter. Omega wasn’t going to pretend she had any chance of sneaking up on him, especially since everyone else had filled him in the moment he stepped in the door with Batcher. She’d begged him to tell, had even pulled out the tooka eyes, but he’d just smiled and told her to clean up the sand she’d forgotten about.

A new plan would be needed.

The study had an Omega-sized window that could be accessed from the balcony. Omega had already confirmed that they’d locked it and pulled the curtains across on the inside while Crosshair kept watch on her, but she had also noted that the bolts for the windows were on the outside. It would be a problem anywhere else in the galaxy, but – Empire excluding – there had been zero break ins on Pabu in Shep’s time as mayor.

Omega was about to make that number not-quite-zero.

She knew Hunter had taken the key with him when he went out two days later, because she listened to Wrecker try to open the door for a solid minute before he remembered it was locked and retreated to the front room to sit with Crosshair. She waited another minute to make sure no one would come looking for her, then ducked out to the balcony with her tool box and got to work.

There were a lot of bolts on the window, but Omega’s brothers had taught her well. They’d probably be proud if she wasn’t using her skills against them. She had just added the last one to her pile when Crosshair opened the balcony door. Omega wasted no time in removing the small window. She didn’t realise how heavy it would be until it landed on the deck with a clang, barely missing her toes. It would take more than that to shatter it, though; everything here was built to survive earthquakes and tsunamis. The noise did, however, rob Omega of the two seconds it would’ve otherwise taken Crosshair to notice her presence from around the corner.

“What-”

She scrambled upright and dove for the window, but Crosshair’s hand wrapped around her ankle before she was halfway through. Momentum lost, the upper half of her body succumbed to gravity and slammed into the inside wall.

“Ow,” she mumbled.

She kicked hard, but Crosshair didn’t let her have more than a moment to try and shake him off. Omega thought she’d succeeded when he let go, only for him to wrap both arms around her torso and haul her back outside. The two of them landed hard on the deck.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Crosshair offered when Omega had caught her breath. He kept one hand on her shoulder. “If you stay out of the study for two days, I’ll tell you what we’re working on in there.”

She huffed and eyed the still-open window in contemplation.

“Don’t even think about it,” Crosshair growled, “or I’ll call Tech back early to install a lock on the outside of your door.”

Omega gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

“Wanna test that?”

She didn’t, even though he was definitely bluffing. Even if he wasn’t, she could always get out through her window, but she didn’t want to interrupt Tech’s trip.

Crosshair raised an eyebrow, searching for an answer.

“Fine,” Omega grumbled.

When she checked back later, the window had been reattached with the bolts on the inside.

Two days came and went quickly. Tech and Phee returned, and neither of them would share any details of the trip with Omega. When she asked, Tech just smiled and said it was part of the surprise, which prompted her to immediately go to Crosshair.

“It’s been two days,” she told him.

He smiled. “I’ll tell you later. Promise.”

So, as her brothers and Phee disappeared into the study again, Omega and Batcher went out to find Lyana and rebuild their long-flattened sand castle.

“I tried to get in through the window, but Crosshair caught me,” she recounted in the evening as they wandered back towards Omega’s house with Batcher in tow. “It’s not fair!”

“I’m sure they have a good reason,” Lyana told her. “You’ll find out what it is soon, anyway.”

Omega stopped and eyed Lyana with suspicion. “How do you know that? I didn’t get to that part of the story yet.”

Lyana just grinned.

“You too?” Omega questioned, throwing her hands into the air. “Does the whole island know but me?”

“Not quite the whole island,” Lyana giggled. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

Omega sighed.

“Come on, we’re almost at yours.”

The lights were off when they reached Omega’s house, despite night quickly settling over the island. She pushed through the door and blinked as she left the streetlights behind for the darkness of the front room. Lyana stepped in behind her and closed the door.

“Hello?” Omega called into the dark as she reached for the switch.

Someone else got to it first. “Surprise!”

The first thing that caught her attention after she had adjusted to the sudden brightness was the collection of balloons in the centre of the room. There was one in every colour she could name, and a few she couldn’t. Above them, suspended from the ceiling, was a massive hand-painted banner in almost as many colours as the balloons that read Happy Birthday Omega. A table had been set up to hold a large cake and more plates of food than they would ever be able to fit in their fridge.

Finally, Omega noted the people gathered around the balloons and the table. Hunter and Wrecker stood in the centre, smiling widely. Tech and Phee were beside Wrecker, leaning against each other. Lyana skipped off to join Shep, who stood beside them. Crosshair was next to Hunter, and next to him was…

“Echo!”

Omega launched herself across the room, trusting Echo to keep them both upright as she barrelled into him. He caught her and lifted her off the ground, spinning her around once before setting her back on the ground. She latched herself back onto his side.

“When did you get home?” she questioned. “I thought you were busy helping Rex.”

“I was,” Echo answered, “but I wasn’t going to miss your birthday. Tech and Phee picked me up yesterday.”

Omega pulled back to admire the decorations again, then glanced over at the rest of her brothers. “I’ve never celebrated a birthday,” she commented. “Is this what you were doing in the study?”

“It was mostly Phee’s idea,” Hunter admitted.

The woman in question waved. “Happy birthday, kid. We spent three hours in hyperspace for those balloons, so you better enjoy ‘em.”

“I will,” Omega promised. She looked over at the table. “Is the cake-”

“Chocolate,” Wrecker confirmed. “You want some?”

“Yeah!”

She started towards the table, but Crosshair’s hand on her shoulder stopped her.

“We have a gift for you,” Tech explained, producing a small, circular object wrapped in coloured paper.

Omega took it. “What is it?”

“Open it,” Crosshair instructed softly.

She ripped off the paper carefully to reveal a small holoprojector. Omega found the button to activate it, and a star chart sprang to life. She recognised the system as the one they were in, and five coloured dots sat in the centre on Pabu’s surface.

Hunter crouched on the other side of the holo and held up a small bead, pulsing gently in the same shade of red as one of the dots. “Now, wherever we end up, you’ll always be able to find us,” he explained.

Omega threw herself into Hunter’s arms, careful to hold the projector up to keep it from being crushed between them. “I love it,” she said, sniffling.

“Group hug!” Wrecker called.

Her brothers pressed themselves around her, and Wrecker squeezed had enough that everyone else gasped for breath. Omega didn’t mind.

Maybe surprises were worth waiting for.

@summer-of-bad-batch