#Three Function Diverter

[stoutsanitary]

Choosing the Right Bathroom Fitting Product Supplier in India: A Complete Guide

When designing or renovating a bathroom, fittings play a major role in enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. From faucets to diverters and shower systems, the quality of bathroom fittings directly impacts the user experience. For retailers, builders, contractors, and property developers, selecting the right bathroom fitting product supplier India is crucial to ensuring durability, style, and value for money.

In this blog, we will explore how to identify a reliable supplier, the importance of choosing quality fittings, and how specific products like bathroom fittings diverter and multi function bathroom diverter are transforming modern bathrooms. We will also look at the growing demand for bathroom fittings wholesale and why wholesale bathroom fittings in India are popular among buyers.

Why Bathroom Fittings Matter

Bathroom fittings include essential components like taps, mixers, showers, and diverters. These items are used daily, and therefore, they must offer a balance of design, durability, and ease of use. Low-quality fittings can lead to leakages, corrosion, and long-term maintenance issues. That's why working with a trusted bathroom fitting product supplier in India is necessary for obtaining dependable products that meet performance standards.

How to Identify a Good Bathroom Fitting Product Supplier in India

India is home to a wide network of manufacturers and suppliers specializing in bathroom hardware. However, not all suppliers offer the same level of quality, service, or variety. When choosing a bathroom fitting product supplier in India, consider the following factors:

Product Range: Look for a supplier that offers a wide catalog, including options for three function diverter, angle valves, shower systems, and other essential components.

Material Quality: A reputable supplier should use high-grade materials such as brass, stainless steel, or chrome-plated finishes that resist rust and wear.

Compliance and Standards: Products should meet ISI or international quality standards to ensure longevity.

Availability of Bulk Orders: For builders or bulk buyers, the ability to source bathroom fittings wholesale is a key advantage.

By ensuring these criteria are met, buyers can confidently partner with suppliers who understand both commercial and residential requirements.

The Growing Demand for Bathroom Fittings Wholesale

Construction projects, whether commercial or residential, require fittings in large volumes. Purchasing bathroom fittings wholesale is an efficient and cost-effective way to meet these requirements. Suppliers offering wholesale bathroom fittings in India cater to retailers, real estate developers, hotels, and large institutions that need a reliable and timely supply of fittings.

The primary benefits of buying wholesale include:

Lower Per-Unit Costs: Economies of scale reduce the cost of each product, making it budget-friendly for large projects.

Consistency in Design and Finish: Buying in bulk ensures all fittings match in color, finish, and design, maintaining visual harmony across spaces.

Inventory Management: Working with a single bathroom fitting product supplier in India for bulk purchases simplifies the logistics and reduces chances of mismatch or supply delays.

What Is a Bathroom Fittings Diverter?

A bathroom fittings diverter is a crucial component used to redirect water flow between two or more outlets, such as a showerhead, hand shower, or tub spout. In modern bathrooms, diverters are often integrated into concealed wall units to offer a seamless and minimalist design.

Diverters allow users to switch between various water outputs without installing separate valves or faucets. They are particularly useful in compact bathrooms or luxury settings where functionality and aesthetics must go hand in hand.

When sourcing diverters from a bathroom fitting product supplier in India, it is important to confirm the product's water pressure tolerance, ease of operation, and build quality.

Benefits of Multi Function Bathroom Diverter

A multi function bathroom diverter is designed to control water flow across three or more outputs, such as an overhead shower, hand shower, and bath spout. This kind of diverter is ideal for premium bathrooms where users seek personalized water flow experiences.

Here are some benefits of using a multi function bathroom diverter:

Space-Saving Design: Integrates multiple outputs in one unit, reducing wall clutter.

User Convenience: Simple rotation or lever movement enables smooth switching between functions.

Modern Appeal: Often concealed behind walls, offering a clean and sophisticated look.

Versatility: Works in various bathroom setups, from basic to luxury interiors.

Buyers should ensure that their bathroom fitting product supplier in India provides diverters that support high water pressure and are compatible with a range of sanitary fixtures.

Understanding the Three Function Diverter

A three function diverter is a specific type of multi-output diverter that controls three different water outlets. It is one of the most in-demand products for both new constructions and bathroom upgrades. This diverter is ideal for bathrooms that feature multiple shower accessories.

Reasons for the growing popularity of the three function diverter include:

Efficient Water Control: Redirects water among three options without needing separate valves.

Aesthetic Integration: Works well with concealed plumbing designs and wall panels.

Durability: Usually built with high-grade brass or stainless steel, ensuring long service life.

Working with a reliable bathroom fitting product supplier in India ensures that the diverter includes ceramic disc cartridges and corrosion-resistant finishes, which improve performance over time.

Advantages of Buying from Wholesale Bathroom Fittings India

The Indian market has seen tremendous growth in sanitaryware manufacturing, and wholesale bathroom fittings India are now known for their balance of affordability, quality, and innovation. Key reasons to source from Indian suppliers include:

Wide Product Range: Indian suppliers typically stock everything from classic taps to multi function bathroom diverters and wall mixers.

Custom Solutions: Many suppliers offer customized fittings for specific project requirements.

Fast Delivery: Due to advanced supply chains and logistics networks, orders are fulfilled quickly, even in bulk.

Global Reach: Suppliers based in India often export worldwide, complying with international standards and design trends.

What to Avoid When Choosing Bathroom Fittings

While selecting bathroom fittings, especially in large quantities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by variety and price points. However, buyers should avoid:

Unbranded Products: Poorly manufactured products may not offer warranties or post-sales service.

Incompatible Designs: Ensure the diverters and fittings are compatible with your plumbing layout.

Overlooking Water Pressure: Always select fittings that suit the local water pressure conditions, especially in high-rise buildings.

Working with a dependable bathroom fitting product supplier in India minimizes these risks by offering technical guidance and tested products.

Conclusion

Selecting the right bathroom fitting product supplier in India is a crucial decision for homeowners, developers, and contractors alike. Whether you need a three function diverter for a luxury bathroom or are sourcing bathroom fittings wholesale for a housing project, quality, durability, and timely supply should be your top priorities.With the increasing demand for modern solutions like the multi function bathroom diverter and the steady growth of wholesale bathroom fittings in India, the market offers plenty of options for those who plan carefully. Investing in good fittings today ensures years of trouble-free use and adds a polished look to any bathroom space.

[lovesickhughes]

Hiii may I please request a sweetheart letter with Quinn for the prompts “Believe me, I will never be tired of you.” + kissing away their tears? <3

a/n: thank you for requesting my love! hope u enjoy <3 (not edited)

—

You hated seeing Quinn frustrated, feeling lost and hopeless after losses. It was the one downside to his career and you wanted nothing more than to be able to take away that aspect. But, much to anyone's dismay, it was a part of the game.

You were well aware of the hardships that sometimes came along the journey of Quinn's career, and unfortunately this year seemed to be obstacle upon obstacle, another barrier for him to get past, and it was only causing more harm than good.

Injuries appeared and slowly but surely tore Quinn down, and with that, alongside the pressure of being the face of a franchise, you knew Quinn was more stressed than ever.

And when comes stress, for Quinn, comes isolation.

You knew it was unintentional, you knew it was justified and you reasoned time and time again when he'd come home, short of words and reserved. You knew he was processing, and you never wanted to get in the way.

You had learned over the years of being with Quinn, that this was how he functioned, and due to his recent captancy, it seemed like the pressure had only intensified.

After missing the Four Nations tournament, Quinn was chained to his apartment with you, and although he was grateful to have your support, he still silently replayed the events of this season.

He was more quiet than usual, dismissive of your attempts to console him, and was more reserved; waking up before the sun had even risen and going to the gym for long hours, conditioning and strengthening to help his return, only to arrive at home and busy himself in a book, avoiding conversation.

It was a few days before the return to the regular season after the two week long break, and you felt the intense pressure slowly start to rise, uncertainty filling the air as everyone from family, to friends, to even fans anticipated Quinn's return.

You woke up to an empty bed, once again, a sinking feeling in your stomach settling and making your ribs ache. You felt so distant, so detached from Quinn, but you reasoned with yourself, trying to convice your mind it was all for his own well-being.

Making your way through the apartment, you ran yourself a long, hot shower, letting the steam fill the room as you stood in your thoughts, replaying the last few weeks. You wanted nothing more than to comfort and support your boyfriend, but any of your attempts were faced with his dismissal, leaving you to feel hopeless and uncertain.

You couldn't help but think of the possibility that there was an underlying reason to Quinn's reserved behaviour, maybe he was reconsidering things— you wouldn't know. It's hard to tell what's on someone's mind when they speak three words to you.

Slowly, you drag yourself through your shared apartment, brewing a coffee and cooking breakfast before you found yourself on your couch, watching whatever channel was last left on the TV. You watched, but your mind was elsewhere, being stuck on the thought of some deep-rooted motivation that was causing Quinn to be so closed off, so deep in thought you hadn't heard him enter the apartment, softly greeting you before walking to the fridge to grab a premade smoothie.

You felt the couch cushion dip beside you as Quinn sat next to you, his arm coming to lay against the back of the couch, his thumb lightly brushing your shoulder as he faced your frame, eyes still glued to the screen.

"Hi, baby," Quinn said softly, caressing your shoulder in attempt to grab your attention, but you couldn't gather the effort to divert your attention. Your mind was racing, stomach sinking and heat was spreading through your skin as you felt tears begin to fill the well of your eyes. They glossed over, and it was almost instantly that Quinn noticed, as you bit the inside of your cheek to contain your tears.

It had consumed you, the thoughts, the what-ifs, you couldn't help but let your mind wander if how Quinn was acting, was something deeper. Your lip quivered as you played scenario upon scenario in your mind, and you hadn't even noticed the tear slip from your eye and trail down your cheek.

"Baby, what— are you— what's the matter?" Quinn asked urgently, his voice gentle as he shifted closer to your frame, his free hand reaching to rest on your hip, pulling you to him to grasp your attention.

And when you look at him, seeing his concerned eyes search your own, you break down, realizing this was the first time since you could last remember a genuine interaction with Quinn, and that's what felt like your heart was being ripped into two.

"Baby, talk to me, please," Quinn pressed, his face scanning your own as the tears slowly poured down your face.

You shook your head, "It's nothing— I just, feel like," you sniffled between breaths as you tried to compose yourself. Quinn only pulled you in further, his arms wrapping around you and pulling you against his hoodie-worn chest. "I feel like I'm just a ghost to you, like you're so guarded because of what you're dealing with— that I just have magically gone away." You sobbed, and you knew you sounded ridiculous, but the way you cried into Quinn's chest and stained his clothes with your tears, you knew it was something that needed to happen.

Quinn let out a huff, blowing the air harshly through his mouth as he soothed you, his hand running against your back. "Baby, y'know it's not like that— I'm not trying to excuse myself, it's not fair to you." He said into the crown of your head, mumbling against your hair.

"I just feel like you're tired of me, and you're dealing with so much already, that the last thing you need is to have me pestering you." You continued, letting our shaky breaths. "And you're doing so well, with all things considered, like it's so admirable, and I don't want to cause you more stress." You confessed, pulling back having his eyes meet your sad ones.

Quinn only looked of more concern, clearly distraught at your confession, "Y/n. Sweetheart," He said, his own voice sounding like it pained him, "Believe me, I will never be tired of you, okay?" He said through a stern look, the sound of your sniffles filling the room. His hands caressed the sides of your arms to soothe you, and as you went to wipe your face, tears staining your cheeks,

Quinn pulled you into him, his lips finding your cheeks, peppering your face delicately as if you would break at any sudden movement, and his kissed your tears away. He trailed across your skin, before planting a sweet, loving, intimate and long kiss to your lips as his hands on your arms found their place against your back.

"You would never be a reason why I isolate myself, okay? Sweetheart, you are the reason I don't. You are my escape, my safe space, my everything, and it breaks my heart to think you were worried about that." Quinn reassured, soothing your back as he mindlessly drew shapes against your frame.

You sniffle and let out a small chuckle, "Just don't do it again, 'kay? Let me in and break down those walls of yours." You smiled sweetly, leaning in once again to place a kiss against his lips, feeling the texture of his beard tickle your own face.

[aroaceleovaldez]

i know a lot of people talk about the Cupid Scene as not being great as Nico's coming out story (which i think is a complex matter but that's a rant for another day), but I personally find it way more compelling if it's just not Nico's coming out story at all - it's the beginning of Jason's.

Because it doesn't really work or make sense to be Nico's, right? It's not Nico's pov. Nico doesn't have a POV at all in this book. And in House of Hades, the Cupid Scene is one of the first major things Nico gets to do right out of the box jar. Why introduce a character, have him be outed as gay, lead the crew around, and then leave to go travel with someone else all in one book where he's not even a POV? It's also contrary to the way Nico generally functions as a character - he's either exposition, dues ex machina, or damsel in distress. He's kind of a damsel here, but ultimately he doesn't need anyone else to save him - or even be there. He handles it on his own. Jason is mostly just a witness.

But, if you view the Cupid Scene as being about Jason, it narratively fits a lot more; Jason at this point is dating Piper, and they're three books deep into their relationship. TLH they start dating and are relatively happy with it and where they are. SoN is a skip but we know they're happily dating during that time, and then Mark of Athena we get a slight shift. Jason and Piper see Percy and Annabeth and go "Oh! They're perfect. Their relationship is perfect. We could be happier if we were more like them." Piper and Jason are also both characters who go through an identity turmoil in general - particularly about how both of them want to be perceived by others and who they are as people. The things they identify with - their parents, their heritages, etc etc. Their orientations. Piper's get more focus earlier in HoO, and Jason gets more later.

The Cupid Scene is from Jason's POV, in a book where he is beginning to struggle with his identity and what people expect from him - particularly him not feeling like he perfectly fits with "either camp." He's too "Greek" to be "Roman" but too "Roman" to be "Greek." He's not quite one or the other. He doesn't meet the expectations either has for him. (This is bi-coding, if you couldn't tell. Just replace "Greek" and "Roman" with "Straight" and "Gay.") It starts with Cupid addressing Jason first, before Nico, very directly - asking him if he's so sure he's happy in his relationship? Does he really think it's perfect? Even Favonius very pointedly asks him if he really forget that guys can date guys? Do you have some internalized bias around that, Jason? Hm? Heck, they're both specifically in their Roman forms, not Greek. Why would they appear in their Roman forms if they're there for a Greek demigod? And very notably, they have this exchange:

(remember what I said about the bi-coding with Jason's Greek/Roman identity crisis? I don't think it's coincidence that this so pointedly comes up during the Cupid scene.)

Favonius' introduction to the Cupid scene sets up Nico's portion of it, but Cupid almost exclusively speaks to Jason for the first half of it. Then Nico steps in. He diverts the conversation away from Jason and focuses the attention onto him. Nico's the one Cupid wants, he insists, not Jason. He's the target, not Jason. This is very in line with Nico's character - practically one of his core character traits is he trusts and starts caring about people very quickly, probably quicker than he should or even wants to, and will put himself in harm's way to prevent others from being hurt. The Cupid Scene isn't the start of Nico's coming out story - Nico already knows he's gay. He has no internal doubts about that. He's known it for awhile. He's just in the closet. And he starts coming out of his own free will in the next book, first to Reyna and Coach. The Cupid Scene is Nico recognizing that Favonius and Cupid are pushing Jason for something he's not ready for and hasn't figured out yet, but something Nico has and just hasn't said out loud yet. The Cupid Scene is Nico taking the proverbial bullet/literal arrow for Jason (Jason consistently describes the arrows as whizzing by him before striking near Nico, interestingly) and being outed so Jason isn't. And that presents Jason with the path to begin questioning his identity further. (Jason also then directly compares Cupid to Aphrodite, specifically her Greek form, which also ties into Jason's greek/roman stuff.)

And I don't think it's coincidence that Jason and Nico mirror each other so much, and that their arcs in HoH are so intertwined. The Cupid Scene functionally, on a meta level, establishes an explicitly queer character to parallel Jason and for him to bounce off of during his own arc. (And, also on a meta level, establishes to the audience to be sympathetic to queer struggles, with Jason's arc then proceeding to be a queer-coded struggle.) Jason is presented as having this strange level of isolation from how others perceive him in a positive way/the expectations people have of him that wraps around to something akin to Nico's ostracization as being an outsider and atypical demigod in general. Nico is a rouge - he explicitly expresses how he feels like he doesn't fit in at either camp (something he expresses explicitly during the Cupid Scene, mirroring Jason's simultaneous questioning his own place at Camp Jupiter) and a core part of his character is that he does function outside the rules and expectations of both camps. He operates on an entirely different realm to them. If the camps are an expectation of normative concepts of acceptable relationships, Nico is outside of that. And he recognizes that he operates outside of that and will never fully fit into the mold either expect of him, and he recognizes he doesn't need to fit in, even if he theoretically could force himself to fit that mold. Jason, meanwhile, is still locked within those boundaries, and grappling with this idea of how he can exist between them.

Nico hands Jason a goblet of poison and says "how much do you trust me?" and it's Nico challenging Jason to take his own advice about trusting others about their identities, and almost immediately after that Jason gives up his praetor title to Frank. Jason's Greek/Roman arc is directly tied to Nico and the Cupid scene. BoO ends with Jason asking Nico to stay at CHB so they can hang out that summer. By TOA, we learn that Nico has started dating and is staying at CHB (is exploring the niche of expected and socially accepted relationships) while Jason has broken up with Piper and is living away from both camps (rejecting hetero/allonormative expectations), still struggling with his own identity. They functionally swap places. And that's fascinating.

Anyways i think about Jason's bi-coding a lot.

[yungistiny]

Selfish Waltz ═ chapter two

[ J. YH + S. MG ]

chapter two: sweet lies

╚═════════

summary: yunho had been love with y/n since he was sixteen, not mustering up the courage to tell her until seven years later, seven years too late because his best friend just beat him to the punch.

note:reader and the boys are not kpop idols in this

warning:smut, threesome, double penetration, big dick yungi, size kink, just lots of smut

pairings: yunho x female reader, mingi x female reader

genre:smut, friends to lovers, angst, slow burn, romance, polyamory

chapter one

chapter three

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The small window in the far side of his room was the cause of Yunho blinking awake. His fan had caused the dark blue curtains to move out of the way, rays of sunlight peaking through and hitting him right in the face. A groggy groan left him as he untangled himself from his blanket and sheets almost tripping over the soiled ones on the floor he had left after changing them the night before after staining them to y/n moans.

Yunho felt dirty staring at the sheets on the floor. He really masturbated and came to his best friend fucking his other best friend. There is something so wrong there, had to be. He kicked the cursed sheets out of his way, grabbing a clean pair of grey sweatpants and tossing his cum stained underwear off as well. He really came so hard by just y/n moans and his own hand he couldn’t function properly to change underwear.

The grey sweatpants were a little big, hanging loosely on his hips, vline on display as he ran a hand through his messy bed hair before leaving his room. Mingi’s bedroom door was opened, room empty and voices echoing down the hall from the front of the apartment. He stopped into the bathroom first, relieving himself and staring at the sheer bra that still lay on the tiled floor only now the matching panties he had gotten a glimpse of the night before lay with them. He shook his head as to cleanse them from his mind as he washed his hands.

Yunho found Mingi sitting on the old couch in the living room that was opened and connected to the kitchen where y/n was stood fully dressed for Yunho’s sake in black jeans, a red beanie atop her head and an oversized hoodie and a black coat.

Mingi noticed him first, watching the way Yunho’s gaze lingered on y/n as she mixed together her coffee before he met Mingi’s stare. His best friend eyed him, gaze taking in his disheveled state before noticing how Yunho was completely commando in his grey sweatpants about the same time y/n noticed him. Y/N couldn’t hide herself from checking out her best friend if her life depended on it. Yunho’s chest was toned, stomach as well, he had abs now something he didn’t have before he left, replacing his once soft toned tummy.

Yunho squirmed a little under the gaze of his two best friends…. checking him out? Mingi had diverted his gaze to his girlfriend who was staring directly at the outline of his best friend’s dick print in the dangerous grey sweatpants. There was a tension in the room like static electricity between the three of them. “You wanna hit this?” Mingi broke the silence but not the tension by holding up the blunt he had been rolling causing Yunho’s gaze to land on him as a knock came loudly from their apartment door.

“I’ll get it.” Y/N removed her lingering gaze from Yunho as he walked over sitting at the opposite end of the couch from Mingi as another knock came loudly. “Finally!” Wooyoung huffed, walking past his sister causing y/n to roll her eyes. “Oh,” Her stepbrother snatched the blunt out of Mingi’s hand, plopping down between him and Yunho. “for me? You shouldn’t have.”

“Get your own weed.” Mingi snatched the blunt back from him, placing it between his lips and lighting it with his favorite pink bic. Wooyoung pouted before turning to Yunho. “Yunho…” he trailed off not even hiding the fact he was ogling his friend’s body. “ahhh” he placed his hand on Yunho’s abdomen, rubbing the muscles and abs under his palm. “ that’s nice.”

Yunho removed Wooyoung’s wondering hand, reaching and grabbing the blunt from Mingi, the scent of weed taking over the apartment. “Woo, we need to go.” Y/N urged him as they had to be at work in an hour at their dad’s law firm and it took them at least thirty five minutes to walk there, longer if they stop for anything. Wooyoung had stayed at Seonghwa and Hongjoong’s after passing out after the party. “Ugh,” Wooyoung stood back to his feet grabbing y/n mug of coffee out of her hand and helping himself.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Y/N gently grabbed Mingi’s chin, turning his face towards her and kissing him as Yunho watched, smoke slowly leaving between his lips and through his nose. He should feel jealous, jealous at the way y/n smiled into the kiss, jealous the way Mingi lightly smacked her ass as she walked away giggling as Wooyoung jokingly gagged at them. But he didn’t. He felt something else. Some emotion he couldn’t decipher.

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The morning weather was freezing, the mid December cold causing puffs of smoke to steadily leave y/n and Wooyoung’s lips as they walked alongside dozens of others trying to make their way to work or school. “I have to ask,” Wooyoung looped his arm with y/n as she sipped the hot coffee in her pochacco mug, she had bought it because it had reminded her of Yunho. “it has to be awkward, right?”

“What does?” Y/N arched a brow at her brother, using her free hand to fix her beanie atop her head. “Oh come on, it wasn’t a year ago you drunkenly told me how you were head over heels in love with Yunho now here you are dating the other twin tower, Yunho comes back hotter then when he left,” Wooyoung moaned. “did you see his body? Man if only he weren’t hopelessly in love with you and preferred dick.”

Y/N ignored the hopelessly in love with her bit, heart suddenly beating sporadically in her chest. “Aren’t you still seeing Vernon?” She changed the subject. Vernon Chwe was Wooyoung’s kind of sort of boyfriend he had met through San’s boyfriend, Lee Chan. “Seeing him tonight actually!” Her brother beamed, grabbing her mug of coffee. “Ever since you started staying with Mingi, he practically doesn’t leave our apartment.”

“So you’re getting serious?” Y/N teased him, Wooyoung rolled his eyes. “Almost as serious as you and Mingi. At this point you should move in already.” She had been staying at Mingi and Yunho’s place for the last two months, only showing up at her and Wooyoung’s apartment once in that time to grab a bunch of clothes and a few other necessities. “He did ask me a few days ago.” Y/N bit her bottom lip remembering how Mingi had asked her while his hands massaged shampoo in her hair in the shower.

“You say yes?” Wooyoung bumped her playfully but y/n shook her head. “It’s not just Mingi…..It’s Yunho’s place too.” Her brother scoffed, rolling his eyes once again. “Like Yunho would ever tell you no.”

“I think he’s pissed at us, Mingi and I.” She knows he didn’t necessarily tell her he wasn’t last night but she could feel the tension, the way he avoided her gaze but then throwing her off when she felt his foot rub right on her inner thigh. And she certainly hadn’t missed the smirk on his perfectly shaped cupids bow lips. It’s what caused her to be a little petty and agree to leave Mingi’s bedroom door open for Yunho’s wondering eyes.

“About what?” Wooyoung feigned shock. “The fact that his two best friends decided to fuck and fall in love while he was gone?” He shrugged, shaking his head, sarcasm dripping from his tongue. “Neither taking time in the last six months to even mention it. Couldn’t imagine why.” Y/N went to argue that her and Mingi had just wanted to tell him in person but Wooyoung didn’t give her time. “He’s better then me because if I came back home and saw one best friend making out with my other best friend that I was completely in love with, I’d kick Mingi’s ass.” He smirked at the guilty expression on his sister’s face masked with something else Wooyoung couldn’t put a finger on at the moment.

“But that’s just me.”

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“I’m fucking starving.” Yunho licked his lips as himself and Mingi walked into the Chinese restaurant down the street from their apartment building. It had been his favorite spot for years and he missed it oh so much while being gone. Mingi had brought it up when Yunho said he had the munchies after the two blunts they had smoked.

They sat at their favorite table in the back corner, Mr. Liu, the owner of the restaurant, smiled when he saw Yunho. “Ah, Yunho” the older man stopped at his and Mingi’s table, clapping the two of them on the back. “we missed you here. My favorite customer!” Mingi faked a pout at Mr.Liu. “And what does that make me?”

“This one here and y/n have kept this table occupied in your absence.” Mr. Liu squeezed lightly on Mingi’s shoulder suddenly excited as he beamed at Yunho. “You know my daughter is getting back from Bangkok, you should do a double date, huh?!” He turned to Mingi smiling.

“I’d like that Mr. Liu.” Yunho took Mingi off guard as Mr. Liu nodded his head with excitement, the man had been trying to make Yunho his son in law for the longest time now. “It will be fun, right Mingi?” There was a challenge in Yunho’s tone that Mingi found himself fidgeting under, false smile on his face as he nodded in agreement. “Can’t wait.”

Mr. Liu left after confirming that the boys wanted their usual meals leaving the two best friends in an awkward silence. “Are you really going to try and date his daughter?” There was a bite to Mingi’s voice. “She’s not even your type.”

“And what is my type?” Yunho arched a brow at his best friend wanting to hear Mingi say it. Say that it was his girlfriend but Mingi clenched his jaw instead, thanking the waiter that brought them their drinks. “I didn’t plan it. It’s not like I waited for you to leave to make a move or something.”

“I’m over her.” The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. Yunho grabbed his drink, straw between his lips, avoiding his best friend’s gaze so Mingi couldn’t call him out on his bullshit. “Oh really?” Mingi didn’t believe him for a second. “It’s not like I went to California celibate.” Yunho rolled his eyes as he sat his drink down, their waiter bringing them their food. That wasn’t a lie, he had hooked up with a few different people while in the States. “Being gone that long just made me realize it was nothing more than a little crush.” Now that was most certainly a lie.

Mingi narrowed his eyes at Yunho as he shoved some orange chicken into his mouth. They ate in silence for a while before Yunho broke it, he was after all rather curious as to how his two best friends became something more. It was driving him crazy actually. “How did you two… you know?”

Mingi moved his rice around with his chopsticks, he knew this conversation was eventually going to happen, trying to figure out how to tell Yunho without going into full detail. “It was a few days after you left…”

A few days? Yunho gripped his chopsticks, the wood splintering a little as he listened to Mingi start the story.

“We went to that G Dragon concert….”

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6 months earlier

“Hey!” Mingi wrapped an arm around y/n waist, pulling her back flush against him before she was hit by the speeding car leaving the stadium parking garage. The concert had ended about thirty minutes ago and they were struggling to leave in the mass of fans that had come out that night. “You almost got ran over!” Wooyoung was drunk, giggling and stumbling over his own feet as San struggled to hold his best friend and his drunk boyfriend up. Chan was also giggling and stumbling on his feet.

“Shit.” Y/N gasped, heart pounding as she caught her breath, Mingi letting her go though keeping a close step behind her now. If something was to happen to her Yunho would kill him. “Thanks.” She looped her arm with Mingi’s, opting to stay close to him as they tried to find San’s car.

“Sannie,” Chan hiccuped as he looped his arms around his boyfriend, lips attaching themselves to his neck as San struggled to get his keys from his pocket. “Take him, please.” Mingi begrudgingly took his friend’s drunken boyfriend as y/n let her brother cling to her. Chan pouted as San found his keys, unlocking his car.

“Guys!” Yeosang and Jongho had caught up with them, running and panting. “This one’s car got towed.” Jongho huffed, shoving his roommate before making his way towards San’s car. “ I didn’t know it was a towing zone.” Yeosang argued, now he’d have to get his mom to help him get it out of the towing lot and he dreaded that conversation. She was still mad at him after he totaled the last car she had helped him get.

“I’m not sure we can all fit.” San stated, grabbing Chan back from Mingi and helping his drunk clingy boyfriend in the passenger seat. “Lap it up.” Jongho shrugged as he disappeared into the backseat before anyone else. “I call Yeosang!” Wooyoung slung himself towards his other best friend, Yeosang sighing at him as he followed behind Jongho who had already situated himself behind the drivers seat against the door. No one was sitting in his lap he made sure of it.

Mingi groaned waiting for Yeosang to get in beside Jongho, Wooyoung crawling in behind him and much to Jongho’s annoyance, curling himself up on both Yeosang and him. “Hold on,” Mingi squeezed himself in beside the three other men, shoving Wooyoung over just a bit more so he could fit, long legs having no room to get comfortable, knees bent and already achy from the tight squeeze. “come on.” He patted his thigh, gesturing for y/n to fit herself in his lap.

She hesitated a moment, hands fidgeting with the ends of the short black dress she was wearing, the material ending mid thigh and she knew it would ride up more once she sat. It was just Mingi though. One of her best friends. “Ok…” She stepped one of her legs in, slotting it between Mingi’s own, her converse clad foot stepping on Yeosang’s. “Ouch!” He exclaimed causing y/n to apologize as she pulled up the black strap of her dress back up her shoulder where it had fallen loosely.

Mingi grunted, clenching his jaw as y/n wiggled into his lap, his hands ghosting her exposed thighs and her scent invading his senses. Jasmine and vanilla. “Ugh” She slammed the door shut, San starting the car up and falling into line behind the many other cars trying to leave the parking garage. Y/N wiggled a little more, trying her hardest to get comfortable but gave up once she heard another groan escape Mingi. They were stuck like this for the foreseeable future.

Mingi hesitated at first before wrapping his arms around y/n, there’s no way he could keep his hands to his sides when his fingertips kept brushing the exposed skin of her thighs. And he felt the goosebumps on her skin, her arms. This was dangerous, forbidden territory. He could feel her breath hitch as his arms held her, wiggling a bit again causing Mingi to ghost his lips against her ear. “Please stop moving.” Her ass was practically grinding his dick and he knew that if she moved one more time he’d be hard within his ripped, bleached washed jeans.

Y/N froze at the tone of his voice, deeper, rougher and much more huskier than Mingi’s normal deep voice. “Move!” San exclaimed from behind the wheel, the traffic of the vehicles moving barely an inch a minute. Mingi prayed they’d move too and he wasn’t even religious but y/n in his lap, perfectly fit even in the crowded backseat, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could go without moaning with her against him.

“Fuck, man!” Jongho yelled when San had to hit the breaks due to the car in front of them stopping, catching him off guard. “Does know one know how to drive?” He exclaimed once again due to the abrupt foot on the breaks had caused Jongho to hit his head against the window and for y/n to bounce up and roughly back down atop Mingi. “Fuck.” Mingi hissed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes as he felt himself growing hard in his jeans. He needed to get out of here.

“Sorry.” Y/N apologized quietly when she heard him thinking perhaps she had hurt him when she was slammed against him but it was the exact opposite and she felt it, eyes widening at the hardened bulge pressed against her ass. Oh! She needed to get out of there. Her heart rate picked up, nervous to move, refusing to acknowledge her best friend’s predicament as finally the traffic moved and everyone sober sighed as San finally pulled the car out onto the road and away from the still packed stadium.

It took no longer than twenty minutes to get to Mingi and Yunho’s apartment, “Come on, Woo.” Y/N shook him, waking him up before she crawled off of Mingi who got a glimpse of the black cotton panties she wore as her dress had risen up, y/n quickly fixing it as Mingi stepped out the car, sighing and stretching and towering over y/n, something she never paid much attention to as she had always been fully aware of how tall her two best friends were. Their friend group had given them the nickname Twin Towers for a reason. She blushed when she saw Mingi turn from her, adjusting his problem in his pants, him hoping she hadn’t seen it.

Wooyoung groaned as he stumbled out to his feet, him and y/n were gonna stay with Mingi for the night as their apartment was on the other side of the city and way out of the way to continue driving after the long day and the late hours of the night. “I’m thirsty.” He clung to his sister, a headache starting to pound his head. “See yall later.” Mingi shut the backseat door as Yeosang stretched and scooted over off of a cramped Jongho.

“Goodnight!” San waved at him before pulling away from the curb and driving the few blocks to the apartment building where himself and the other three stayed. “Come on, let’s get you some water and to bed.” Y/N slung her brother’s arm around her shoulders helping him walk in his drunken state behind Mingi who led them into the building.

The elevator ride was quiet, Mingi sure to stay in front of the two so no one would see the bulge in his jeans though he’s sure there was no way y/n hadn’t noticed it settled under her the car ride over. As soon as they were in the apartment y/n let Wooyoung lean against the counter in the kitchen as she filled a glass of water for him before leading him to Yunho’s room where he could sleep off his drunkenness that he will surely regret in the morning.

Mingi collapsed on the couch, the only light bleeding out from the joint kitchen. “He’s out.” Y/N walked back into the living room, nervous feeling washing over her at the sight of her best friend manspreading on the couch, head leaned back looking up at the ceiling. “Tonight was fun.” She sat opposite him on the other end of the small couch, Mingi’s legs spread so far apart his knee brushed up against her.

An awkward silence washed over them and y/n began to fidget. Something between them had shifted, something that had y/n nervous, anxious and…..”why are you fidgeting so much?” Mingi was looking at her, eyebrow raised and eyes darker than usual. “I’m not.” Y/N lied meeting his heated gaze that made her freeze all movements, eyes trailing down to the still very obvious bulge in his jeans. A blush stained y/n cheeks once again as she could remember the feel of him against her.

Her thighs clenched not going unnoticed by Mingi, neither did her obvious ogling at his hard dick still hidden in his pants and it was starting to become unbearable. “I should go…” Y/N stood, avoiding his gaze as she feared that if she didn’t leave the room she would do something that she would possibly regret. She was halted by Mingi’s hand grasping her wrist gently. She looked down at his hand before meeting his eyes.

“Tell me to stop.” Please. He’d get on his knees and plead with her to just tell him, No. They can’t do this. Let her go and sleep next to her brother in Yunho’s room and forget about the changing shift between them.

“I don’t want to stop.” The words left her before y/n could think straight, Mingi’s dark gaze pulling it out of her. Her words changing everything. A gasp escaped her as Mingi pulled her down on his lap once again however this time y/n was straddling him with her dress riding up over her ass, her core pressing down atop his bulge the contact resulting in a wet patch to stain her panties from the sudden arrousel becoming her.

Mingi trailed his ringed fingers down her back to her ass, hands gripping her and a moan finally escaping him. Fuck. What was he doing? She was so fucking perfect, how had he never noticed? “You sure you want this?” He had to make sure, to know she was completely in. She answered him by gripping her hands into his shirt, leaning down, her lips brushing his. “Do you want me?” Her voice all low and husky with desire, desire for him, sent Mingi teetering over the edge.

He grounded her against him, her soaked panties dampening his jeans where it covered his bulge eliciting an intoxicating moan to spill from her lips. “You feel how much I want you?” He started a rhythm, grinding her against him wanting to pull as many beautiful moans from her as he could. “Mingi…” the sound of his name dripping from her lips was pure sin. “please… I…”

“Tell me what you need, baby.” The name slipped from him causing y/n to moan more liking the way he said it, loving the way his hands gripped her so tightly as he practically let her dry hump him.

“Can I have you in my mouth?”

Mingi paused his rhythm of grinding her against him, a literal growl escaping him. “It’s all yours.” He declared it like he was her favorite meal and she was insatiable. Y/N slowly moved herself from his lap, a wet patch left behind on his bulge from her causing Mingi to grow even more harder if that were possible. She sank to her knees in front of him between his legs.

Neither moved for a moment before y/n reached up, smaller hands gliding up Mingi’s thick thighs, fingers unzipping him and unbuttoning his jeans. The second his erection was finally free Mingi let out a satisfied sigh, hooded eyes watching as y/n took in his size and the absolute hunger in her eyes had his dick twitching.

Y/N wrapped her hands around him, stroking him as she watched the precum leak from his tip. He was so much bigger than she was used to. She had always had a suspicion that her two best friends were well endowed after seeing the imprint of them in swim shorts, boxers and sweatpants plus that time she had caught Mingi in only a towel around his waist.

“Fuck” Mingi darted his hand out, tangling his fingers into her hair as she brought his tip into her mouth, tongue cleaning the precum away before swallowing him whole. Mingi felt like he’d died and went to heaven or something because fuck she took his entire length in one go, his tip gagging her as it hit the back of her throat. He was heavy on her tongue, eyes watering a little at the stretch and gag, a little dribble of spit escaping the corner of her mouth.

She moaned around him and Mingi had to refrain himself from fucking her face especially when she was such a beautiful mess for him at the moment. He knew that if she kept going he’d lose what little self control he had. Gently he pulled her back, dick popping from her, string of spit keeping them connected.

“Come here.” Mingi pulled her back into his lap, her clothed core pressing right into his dick and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could go without being inside of her. He finally kissed her now swollen lips, tasting himself on her and moaning into the kiss, pulling back to trail kisses down her neck.

“Mingi!” Y/N gasped when he suddenly stood up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he held her with one arm and walking towards the small hall to his bedroom. He paused right outside his door. “You want this?” He had to be sure one last time because the moment he had her in his room it was gonna be over. She would be his and everything would change. Y/N met his eyes, hand resting at the nape of his neck as she kissed him. “I want you.”

There was only one last thought lingering in the back of Mingi’s mind as he pushed his bedroom door open, kicking it closed behind them with y/n still in his arms wrapped perfectly around him.

He just stabbed Yunho in the back.

[electronickingdomfox]

Star Trek TOS slash bits (Season three)

This is my personal rundown of all the slash scenes in TOS season three. I've omitted episodes when I didn't find anything remarkable in them.

-What I count: lingering touches or affectionate looks, clinginess, actions that show a strong concern/familiarity with each other, suggestive scenes...

-What I DON'T count: friendly gestures (like smiling or looking amused when someone says something funny), scenes taken out of context, physical proximity just because there's not enough space...

I'll try to illustrate some scenes when necessary, though screenshots usually don't do justice to it.

For season one analysis go here. For season two, go here.

Spectre of the Gun:

McSpirk The mind-meld scene. For Kirk, this was his first mind-meld, for McCoy the third, if you count the one with Mirror Spock. Actually, Spock also mind-melds with Scotty here, but in my opinion, the scenes with Kirk and McCoy look much more intimate. Almost like love scenes, while Scotty's seems a more clinical meld. For comparison:

The Paradise Syndrome

McSpirk At first McCoy is infuriated by Spock's decision to take care of the asteroid before rescuing Kirk, though then he submits to his very logical reasons for doing so (explained with rocks, so the doctor can get it). McCoy will spend the rest of the episode entering Spock's cabin every five minutes, to see if he's getting enough rest. While Spock works himself to exhaustion, trying to figure out a way to divert the asteroid and save Kirk (granted, he also wants to save the rest of the planet, but still...). Also, McCoy tries to comfort Spock, by telling him it wasn't his fault the ship was crippled, and that Jim would have done the same. For his part, Kirk isn't very worried about Spock and McCoy, but that's because he's being KIROOOK!! and can't even remember them.

And the Children Shall Lead

Spirk The famous turbolift scene. When Kirk feels he's losing command, he first grabs Spock in a panic, and then literally throws himself into his arms, in a half intimate, half awkward scene. It's only when Spock whispers "Jim" to him, that Kirk regains his confidence.

Spock's Brain

Spirk Kirk's anxiety when he discovers Spock's brain has been stolen. He argues with McCoy just because he can't replace a brain, and is determined to search the entire galaxy to save Spock, if needed. Later, when he hears Spock's disembodied voice, his face reflects absolute bliss:

Spock also says that he feels a distinct pleasure upon hearing his Captain's voice.

Spones McCoy doesn't hesitate for an instant to use the knowledge helmet to save Spock, even when warned about the possibility of it killing him. And Spock begs McCoy not to jeopardize his life for his sake.

McKirk This... this moment (nothing said):

Is There in Truth no Beauty?

Spirk At first, Kirk is all gallantry and pleasantries with Dr. Miranda Jones... Until he starts suspecting that she may have hurt Spock on purpose, out of jealousy. Then he turns absolutely nuts, accusing and threatening her, in the hopes that this will stir her conscience to save Spock's damaged mind. The whole scene is actually quite uncomfortable to watch.

Spones McCoy seems very angry and/or worried when Spock praises Uhura's beauty after his mind-meld with Kollos (jealousy?), and quickly points out that this can't be Spock. Though he's immediately relieved when Spock replies in his usual tone, proving that Spock's still there. It's noteworthy that Kollos had showed ample signs of being controlling Spock before this moment, like making him smile. Yet McCoy only reacts once Spock/Kollos starts flirting with Uhura.

Apart from this, there's Miranda's jealousy about Spock and Kollos, since she perceives their union as far closer than what she could ever achieve. Miranda is in love with Kollos, so Spock functions as a kind of romantic rival, at least in her mind.

The Empath

McSpirk It's like... the whole episode. But there are certain scenes that stand out. First we have Kirk offering himself as test subject for the Vians, as long as they leave his friends alone. Then McCoy sedates Kirk, knowing that he'd subject himself to the torture if awake. But his plan backfires, since this leaves Spock in command, and of course he wants to sacrifice himself to protect the doctor. At one point, Gem touches Spock's shoulder, and through her empathic powers she senses something in him that makes her smile with fondness; presumably, his deep love for his friends. McCoy is determined to be the one tortured, though, so he also knocks Spock out, even if the Vians had previously said that he was the most likely to die. Afterwards, Kirk and Spock gently hold the dying McCoy, with Spock touching his face, and McCoy complimenting him for his "bedside manner". Kirk tries to convince Gem to save McCoy, by all means possible, and has to restrain his strong emotions in order to break free from the force field. It's really a lot. After all, the whole point of the episode is that Gem learns about love and self-sacrifice by observing these three particular individuals.

The Tholian Web

Spirk Spock insists on staying in Tholian space, despite the danger it poses to ship and crew, for the remote possibility that Kirk may still be alive. McCoy points out the illogic in such an action, and this is one of the main causes for their disagreement.

Spones Spock and McCoy are very tense with each other in the first part. But after seeing Kirk's last message (that pretty much amounts to saying that they complement each other) they make peace, and McCoy apologizes and acknowledges Spock as Captain. They almost get into another argument because McCoy's being affected by the spatial distortion too, but he quickly apologizes again, before collapsing in Spock's arms (and how convenient that everybody else becomes crazy and murderous, yet McCoy's reaction is fainting on Spock...)

By the end of the episode, they're toasting together and have grown fond of each other. Kirk notices the change and teases them, so they reveal how difficult was working together. However, they don't give him the satisfaction, and even deny having seen his message.

For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky

McKirk Kirk is very angsty and pained upon learning that McCoy only has one year of life left. But he's even worse once he learns that McCoy won't be spending that year with them, but with Natira. Apart from this, Kirk is pretty touchy whenever McCoy is feeling bad.

At times, Kirk and Natira almost seem like romantic rivals, in a competition for McCoy. Further expressed by their parallelisms: both Kirk and Natira are leaders of men, burdened by enormous responsibilities, and this position has forced them to lead solitary lives.

Spones Less evident, but when Spock grabs McCoy's arm to prevent him from getting up, McCoy looks at the hand and seems surprised and moved by the gesture.

McSpirk In the end, McCoy chooses to go back with Kirk and Spock, even if this means losing Natira. And he does so even before they find a cure for his illness! His situation is literally the same, so it's a choice born of free will. Besides, Natira knows that McCoy won't stop disobeying the Oracle and thinking about his friends as long as they're alive.

Plato's Stepchildren

McSpirk Similar to "The Empath", the whole plot revolves around Kirk, Spock and McCoy sacrificing themselves for each other. First, Kirk and Spock are subjected to the Platonians' humiliation because they refuse to leave McCoy behind. And when McCoy can't bear their torture anymore, he agrees to be a prisoner of the Platonians in exchange for their freedom, though Kirk talks him out of it. They're both also very concerned about Spock's wellbeing, after the Platonians force him to show emotions. And Spock can't contain his rage at having almost killed Kirk.

Wink of an Eye

Spirk When Deela monitors Kirk's actions, she notices that he's trying to communicate with Spock. And from this she concludes that humans are quite capable of affection. She's not speaking about "friendly affection" precisely, because she hopes that Kirk will show it to her too, and this makes Rael quite jealous.

That Which Survives

McKirk A bit of a silly example, but Kirk and McCoy probably didn't need to sleep so close together (and so awkwardly), with so much free terrain around.

The Mark of Gideon

Spirk In the beginning, Kirk looks at Spock with fondness and regrets that he can't accompany him down to the planet, which he describes as a paradise.

Requiem for Methuselah

McSpirk The final scene, where Spock makes Jim forget through a mind-meld, is often interpreted as pure K/S. That is, McCoy is nasty towards Spock for not feeling love; Spock proves him wrong by showing his love for Kirk; the end. But I think that this interpretation ignores certain elements in the story, and some things don't make much sense. In particular, the assumption that McCoy is simply being nasty. First, why would he insult Spock now? They don't even argue in this episode, there's no previous conflict between them to prompt this. Second, would McCoy really believe that Spock doesn't understand love, when a moment ago Spock showed a perfect understanding of Rayna's dilemma? ("The joys of love made her human, and the agonies of love destroyed her.") So, the way I see it is thus. There's a parallel between the love triangle of Kirk/Rayna/Flint (discussed right before McCoy's speech), and the triangle of Kirk/Spock/McCoy. Pretty much like Flint tried to extract emotions from Rayna, McCoy tries to extract the same from Spock. He's been doing it for the whole series, but it was also seen in this episode, when McCoy wanted to see Spock drunk, or celebrated that Spock admitted an emotion: envy. And here he's doing it again, with his speech as a revulsive for Spock to acknowledge his love and act accordingly. The difference is that, while Flint was motivated by selfish reasons, McCoy is doing it not just for Spock, but also for Kirk. His deep worry and love for Jim makes him wish he could forget. And it's this suggestion what finally sets Spock into motion. In a breach of logic, and probably Vulcan manners too, he mind-melds with Kirk to erase his pain. It's a complex scene, but all three characters are deeply intertwined in it, with each caring for the other two (well, except Kirk who's sleeping at the moment...).

The Savage Curtain

Kirk is absurdly in love with Lincoln, and he has this dreamy, goofy smile on his face every time he looks at him. Despite knowing very well that he's not the real Lincoln. Despite McCoy calling him on his bullshit... Lincoln is just THAT irresistible.

Even Spock admits that he too "experienced his charm"!

All Our Yesterdays

Spones And how! In the first part, Spock is constantly looking after McCoy and caring for him. When McCoy falls on the snow half-frozen, Spock refuses to leave him behind (despite McCoy's pleas for Spock to save himself), because they "go together, or not at all". Later, in the cave, Spock puts the doctor to bed and leans over him on several ocassions, mostly focused on his recovery, even if this prevents him from searching for Jim or an escape.

Once Spock begins to revert to his ancestors and show an interest in Zarabeth, is conflict time instead. In particular, McCoy's outburst at Zarabeth, and his accusations that she's lying and just wants to keep Spock for herself, sound like a bout of jealousy. As a matter of fact, it IS true that only Zarabeth is trapped in that world, but McCoy has no way of knowing that, and no proof that she's being dishonest. After this outburst, Spock pins McCoy to the wall in a very tense scene, while McCoy grabs his arms the whole time. And it's only then that Spock realizes what's going on with him.

In the end, when forced to choose between staying with Zarabeth, or going back with McCoy, Spock chooses the doctor. As he said in the beginning, they go together or not at all.

McKirk Much less obvious, but McCoy is constantly asking about Jim, and tells Spock to stop worrying about him and go find Jim instead.

Turnabout Intruder

Spirk Kirk (inside the body of Janice Lester) convinces Spock to perform a mind-meld on him, by saying that Spock is closer to the Captain than anyone in the universe, and that he knows his thoughts. Once he learns the truth, Spock takes Kirk by the wrist to accompany him outside the cell. Spock touches people more often than is usually believed, but here in particular is a tender gesture, not strictly necessary.

Apart from this, Dr. Coleman seems to still love Janice, no matter the body she inhabits. There's this scene where Janice (inside the body of Kirk) approaches him seductively, and places a hand on his shoulder. From the point of view of the audience, it's one of the most explicitly gay scenes in the whole series (and extra points for Shatner for choosing to play it that way; there was nothing of the sort in the script).

Summary

Spirk: 7 out of 24 episodes Spones: 5/24 McKirk: 4/24 McSpirk: 6/24

A big increase for McSpirk, in relation to previous seasons.

[xamiipholia]

Horizon Machine Idea - The Abyssal

Lv. 55 Combat Class Aquatic Machine. Real-World Megafauna: Mesonychoteuthis

The Abyssal, like the Floodrage, has been designed as a countermeasure to Quen naval supremacy. Imperial expansion has lead to mass systematic machine harvesting as the Quen empire and their need for resources has grown - the abyssal was created by HEPHAESTUS to impede the culling of aquatic machines and is able to destroy aquatic vessels with alarming speed and brutality.

The Abyssal has been built using some of HEPHAESTUS' newly-integrated Zenith tech that allows it to have a semi-decentralized nervous system. Dismemberment will not render the arms inert - they will reanimate after a brief period and can be reattached by the abyssal using Zenith nanotech if left alone for too long. Any dismembered limbs or removed parts must be damaged beyond functionality as quickly as possible.

The Abyssal is armed with twin electrical flails, two crusher arms equipped with grinder saws, auxiliary shock coils, Purgewater jets, an adhesive jet that uses an electroconductive variety of machine adhesive, and a radar jammer. It uses two pairs of dorsal-mounted repulser turbines for propulsion and three-dimensional underwater mobility.

When the Abyssal has firm hold of a ship, it can divert power from its weapons systems to overcharge the thrusters, allowing it to drag vessels underwater.

Extremely dangerous. Do not engage without a machine mount or ship-mounted heavy weaponry.

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Okay actually this was super fun and I don't think I've ever done something quite like this before. It took a week on and off and gave me a chance to play around with a bunch of new painting tools. Still getting used to digital but - happy with some progress.

Horizon font found here: https://fontmeme.com/fonts/horizon-font/

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

Daily fish fact #795

Epaulette shark!

They can survive up to three and a half hours in low-oxygen conditions by switching off non-essential brain functions, slowing down their heart rate, and diverting blood away from the extremities and towards important organs! They can swim, but their preferred mode of locomotion is a kind of crawling motion.

[misfitwashere]

TIMOTHY SNYDER

APR 19

READ IN APP

Thirty years ago today, I was driving a moving van across the country, from the west coast to the east. The hold was packed well; the ride was wobbly, and I kept the heavy vehicle between the lines, mile after mile. Driving carefully, I was surprised to be stopped by state troopers. When I rolled down the window to face some polite questioning, I didn’t know that Timothy McVeigh had bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring 684 more. 

In the days that followed, the horror was treated for what it was: an attack by a racist, right-wing anti-government terrorist. I worry now that, thirty years on, a similar attack is very likely, and would have a different outcome. I don't want us to be more frightened than we should be. But I do want us to be ready, so that a moment of predictable shock does not become a lifetime of avoidable subjugation.

As I will try to show, the present government invites a terror attack. Most of the people directing the relevant agencies are incompetent; the next few layers down have been purged in culture wars; much the remaining personnel have resigned, been fired, or are demoralized; resources have been diverted away from terror prevention; Americans has been distracted by fiction and chaos; and potential attackers have been encouraged. 

And so we have to think — now — about what would follow such an attack. Musk, Trump, Vance, and the rest would try to exploit the moment to undo remaining American freedoms. Let me cite Lesson 18 of On Tyranny.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

In just three months, the Trump people have made the unthinkable much more likely. They have created the conditions for terrorism, and thus for terror management. This is true at several levels.

Most obviously, they have debilitated the services that detect terrorist threats and prevent attacks: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Security Agency (NSA). The CIA is a foreign intelligence service. The FBI is the federal police force. The NSA, which specializes in cryptography and foreign signals intelligence, is part of the Department of Defense. Homeland Security is a cabinet-level department that amalgamates a number of functions from immigration control through disaster relief and anti-terrorism.

Overall guidance over the intelligence agencies is exercised by Tulsi Gabbard, who is known as an apologist for the now-overthrown Assad regime in Syria and the Putin regime in Russia. The director of the FBI is Kash Patel, an author of children's books that promote conspiracy theories, and a recipient of payments from sources linked to Russia. Patel plans to run the agency from Las Vegas, where he resides in the home of a Republican megadonor. The deputy director of the FBI is Dan Bongino, a right-wing entertainer who has called the FBI "irredeemable corrupt" and indulged in conspiracy theories about its special agents. He now draws FBI special agents away from their usual duties to serve as a personal bodyguard. The director of Homeland Security is Kristi Noem, who lacks relevant expertise. 

Noem has distinguished herself by posing in front of a cell full of prisoners in El Salvador. Homeland Security is focused on spectacular abductions at the expense of its other missions. Its programs to prevent terrorism have been defunded, and it is no longer keeping up its database on domestic terrorism. As one insider put it: “The vibe is: How to use DHS to go after migrants, immigrants. That is the vibe, that is the only vibe, there is no other vibe. It’s wild — it’s as if the rest of the department doesn’t exist.” The obsession with migrants means that local law enforcement, all across the country, is being in effect federalized in the service of an objective that is essentially irrelevant to core missions. That, too, makes life easier for aspiring terrorists.

The National Security Agency sits within the Department of Defense, which is run by Pete Hegseth, a right-wing entertainer and culture warrior. He has fired people who were qualified, and is unable to keep even his own people at work — he just lost four staffers in one day. The ��meltdown” at the top of the Pentagon bodes ill. 

The leadership of the NSA itself was recently changed, under bizarre and troubling circumstances. After a meeting with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, Trump fired the NSA director, General Timothy Haugh. Wendy Noble, the deputy director, was also fired. This decapitation was part of a larger set of firings initiated by Loomer. It takes place during an ongoing purge of military leaders and national security officials. From the perspective of potential attackers, the culture wars mean vulnerability. 

Meanwhile, other Department of Defense agencies that are central to the twenty-first century security of the United States, such as the Defense Digital Service, are destroyed by Elon Musk’s DOGE. It is worth contemplating the reaction of a former Pentagon official: “They’re not really using AI, they’re not really driving efficiency. What they’re doing is smashing everything.” In general, the penetration of the federal government by DOGE has weakened its functions, and likely made critical data available to adversaries who wish to hurt Americans. 

The rank and file of the critical institutions are subjected to administrative hostility and chaos. The names of active CIA officers have been sent on open emails to the White House, and in a Signal chat in which a reporter was included. CIA employees have been urged to take early retirement. CIA officers involved in any way in diversity recruitment have been fired (a judge has blocked this, for the time being). 

FBI special agents have been exposed to similar indignities. Top FBI officials have been pressured to resign and have done so. Musk-Trump is pursuingFBI special agents who were involved in prosecutions of people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th 2021. Patel proposes that special agents be trained by a company that promotes commercial fights that is based in Las Vegas. Sending FBI special agents to Nevada to simulate Fight Club for Patel’s personal delectation is not going to keep Americans safe. 

The Musk-Trump people run national security, intelligence, and law enforcement like a television show. The entire operation of forcible rendition of migrants to a Salvadoran concentration camp was based upon lies. It is not just that Kilmar Abgrego Garcia was mistakenly apprehended. The entire thing was made for television. Its point was the creation of the fascist videos. But this is a media strategy, meant to frighten Americans. And a media strategy does not stop actual terrorists. It summons them.

Terrorism is a real risk in the real world. The constant use of the word to denote unreal threats creates unreality. And unreality inside ket institutions degrades capability. Security agencies that have been trained to follow political instructions about imaginary threats do not investigate actual threats. Fiction is dangerous. Treating the administration’s abduction of a legal permanent resident as a heroic defense against terror is not only mendacious and unconstitutional but also dangerous. 

Moreover, Musk-Trump make the United States look vulnerable. Americans under the spell of Trump’s or Musk’s charisma might imagine that strength is being projected. Not so. To prospective terrorists we look erratic and weak. Even apparently unrelated policies — such as enabling foreign disinformation, gutting environmental protection, undoing weather forecasting, ending food inspections, and undermining disease control — make life easier for terrorists and open avenues of attack. By taking apart the government, crashing the economy, and dividing the population, Musk and Trump invite attention of the worst sort, from people who wish to hurt Americans.

Who are such people? Three possible groups of perpetrators of a major terrorist attack in the United States are native right-wing nationalists or white supremacists (“domestic violent extremists”), Islamicists, and Russians.

Most terrorism in the United States is domestic, and most of the domestic terror comes from the far right. We have recently seen a series of white supremacist killings. Cody Balmer, who wanted to kill Pennsylvania’s (Democratic, Jewish) governor, wrote that “Biden supporters should not exist.”

It might seem counter-intuitive that the far right would carry out acts of terror under Trump, but this is already the norm, and there are good reasons to expect worse. Musk pushes the story that civil servants deserve pain. The most lethal domestic terror attack in US history, McVeigh’s bombing, was directed against federal workers. Right-wing terrorists might believe that terror is what Trump wants. The suspect in the recent Florida mass shooting “advocated for President Donald Trump's agenda and often promoted white supremacist values,” according to someone who saw him regularly. Trump has long practiced stochastic violence. His pardon of the January 6th criminals encourages terror with the promise of forgiveness. Patel promoted a recording of the January 6 criminals singing the national anthem. This coddling culture of martryrdom makes more killing more likely.

There is also another scenario. Far right movements can divide, with the more impatient angry with those they see as compromised. This is a lessonfrom the history of fascism. Some supporters of Trump will be disappointed with him. The assassination attempt on Trump was carried out by someone whose social media posts conveyed hatred of Jews and immigrants. Bongino now has to contend with fans of his show who think that the January 6th criminals should be running the FBI. 

The Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, 19 April 1995

And our guard has been dropped. Even at the best of times, the FBI has generally had trouble articulating the centrality of domestic right-wing terrorism. Now the risk is denied. High officials of Musk-Trump tend to sharethe views of right-wing nationalists, which makes it less likely that they will be seen as a threat. Under Patel, the FBI will deprioritize this important area of investigation. In keeping with his and Noem’s priorities, FBI agents have been assigned away from domestic terrorism. Thus far, the main "terrorist" threat seen by Trump-Musk are protestors in front of Tesla dealerships. Diverting attention to parking lots will not keep Americans safe. 

Musk-Trump are also generating scenarios for Islamicist terror. A motivation for Islamicist terrorists is contention over territory in the Middle East. The Trump administration advocates the ethnic cleansing of the entire (surviving) population of Gaza. The US armed forces are also firing ordnance into Yemen with the announced goal of "annihilating" the Houthis who hold power. In a Signal group chat, top national security officials rejoiced (with emojis) over a strike in which a building collapsed. It seems unclear that Musk-Trump will have accounted for the related terrorism risk.

Russia is now a risk in a way that it was not before. It has special units that carry out acts of destruction abroad, such as assassinations and sabotage. In the last three years, these operations have accelerated inside Europe, and include blowing up military sites. Russia also pays people inside other countries to carry out acts of terror and sabotage. Russia has been carrying out cyber attacks inside the United States for years. 

Before Musk-Trump, the United States had been fastidious about including Russia as a possible source of foreign terror. Now Russia is presented as an ally and Putin as a friend; intelligence and defense work designed to monitor Russian sabotage inside the United States have been scaled back, as has tracking of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and public reporting on Russia. Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, rationalizes Russian aggression. Patel, the FBI director, owes his career to the claim that people who (truthfully) speak of Russian operations inside the United States are carrying out a hoax. Trump’s nominee for US district attorney for Washington, DC, is a media star in Russia. 

This is all beyond the wildest dreams of the Kremlin. The Putinism on display in the federal government creates an atmosphere in which a Russian operation inside the United States would be much easier.

It is not hard to see what Russia would gain from a false-flag terror attack on American territory. Moscow would be seeking to weaken the United States, and by generating a response from Musk-Trump that suits Russia. Having Trump blame his enemies for what was in fact a Russian attack is in the interest of the Russian Federation.

Other actors than these three are also possible. I fear, though, that whether I am right or wrong about the specific source, there can be no doubt that we are far more vulnerable than we were three months ago. And any major attack, regardless of origin, would lead to the same kind terror management. The people in the White House have no governing skills, but they do have entertainment skills. They will seek to transform themselves from the villains of the story to the heroes, and in the process bring down the republic. Please indulge me if I ask you to consider Lesson 18 again.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

20 lessons, read by John Lithgow

That lesson arises from two notorious twentieth-century examples: the Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933, which Hitler used to declare a state of emergency, and the Kirov assassination in the Soviet Union in 1934, which Stalin used as an excuse to expand terror. In both cases, it is the reactionthat we remember, rather than the event itself. 

I wish that terrorist attacks were a moment when government could be trusted. But the temptation, for any government, is to take the shock and to divert it in a convenient direction. And the temptation, for us, is to imagine that our leaders will rise to the occasion. After 9/11, I listened to President Bush address the nation, sitting in my pickup, on the driveway outside a friend’s house. Though my own politics were very different, I remember the pull inside me, the wish to believe that he would do the right thing. I didn’t let myself believe anything of the sort, but I remember the feeling: and it is that tug that we cannot let get the best of us. 

Our present government would be the last to resist the temptation to exploit terror. Musk-Trump would, I fear, make little if any attempt to apprehend the responsible people, especially if they are Americans or Russians. They might blame the Democratic Party, or Americans they hate for other reasons, or the opposition generally, or Canadians or Ukrainians or other Europeans. They will likely try to put an end to the American republic. 

This is the critical moment when we must prevent ourselves from going along.

I do not relish describing this chain of events. But the only way to cut the chain it is to see the links. And when we can imagine that we ourselves have the power to cut the links, as we do, we can also imagine ourselves more free. 

History teaches us how terrorist attacks are exploited. Our advantage is that we know this history, and so react sensibly. Do not give the present regime the benefit of the doubt after it allows a terrorist attack to take place on American soil. Be skeptical about its account of who is to blame. Insist that Musk-Trump take responsibility. And understand that freedom is the first condition of security. A terrorist attack is no reason to concede anything to this regime. On the contrary: such a failure by Musk-Trump would be one more reason, and a very powerful one, to resist it. 

Throughout history, and around the world right now, government indifference and incompetence that leads to civilians deaths has been seen as a reason for protest.

The night before I was stopped by the police, I had been driving that truck through water. It was a time of high rain in the central United States. Highways were flooded.

In the pre-revolutionary France of the eighteenth century, decadent rulers said “après nous, le déluge” — “after us, the flood.” We care not at all about the consequences of our actions; we are here to profit so long as we can. This is the attitude of Musk, Trump, and the rest. They are in it for themselves, provoking disasters for the rest of us along the way.

A few days before that drive began, I finished my doctoral dissertation, about revolutions, based on research in post-communist Poland. One of my supervisors was the the British historian Timothy Garton Ash. Considering the task of Poland’s new democratic government, he reversed the formula of French royalty, writing: “après le deluge, nous.”

After the flood, we remain. The disaster brought by the decadent is part of the story. But it is not the conclusion. It is what we do next that matters.

[mariacallous]

Thirty years ago today, I was driving a moving van across the country, from the west coast to the east. The hold was packed well; the ride was wobbly, and I kept the heavy vehicle between the lines, mile after mile. Driving carefully, I was surprised to be stopped by state troopers. When I rolled down the window to face some polite questioning, I didn’t know that Timothy McVeigh had bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring 684 more.

In the days that followed, the horror was treated for what it was: an attack by a racist, right-wing anti-government terrorist. I worry now that, thirty years on, a similar attack is very likely, and would have a different outcome. I don't want us to be more frightened than we should be. But I do want us to be ready, so that a moment of predictable shock does not become a lifetime of avoidable subjugation.

As I will try to show, the present government invites a terror attack. Most of the people directing the relevant agencies are incompetent; the next few layers down have been purged in culture wars; much the remaining personnel have resigned, been fired, or are demoralized; resources have been diverted away from terror prevention; Americans has been distracted by fiction and chaos; and potential attackers have been encouraged.

And so we have to think — now — about what would follow such an attack. Musk, Trump, Vance, and the rest would try to exploit the moment to undo remaining American freedoms. Let me cite Lesson 18 of On Tyranny.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

In just three months, the Trump people have made the unthinkable much more likely. They have created the conditions for terrorism, and thus for terror management. This is true at several levels.

Most obviously, they have debilitated the services that detect terrorist threats and prevent attacks: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Security Agency (NSA). The CIA is a foreign intelligence service. The FBI is the federal police force. The NSA, which specializes in cryptography and foreign signals intelligence, is part of the Department of Defense. Homeland Security is a cabinet-level department that amalgamates a number of functions from immigration control through disaster relief and anti-terrorism.

Overall guidance over the intelligence agencies is exercised by Tulsi Gabbard, who is known as an apologist for the now-overthrown Assad regime in Syria and the Putin regime in Russia. The director of the FBI is Kash Patel, an author of children's books that promote conspiracy theories, and a recipient of payments from sources linked to Russia. Patel plans to run the agency from Las Vegas, where he resides in the home of a Republican megadonor. The deputy director of the FBI is Dan Bongino, a right-wing entertainer who has called the FBI "irredeemable corrupt" and indulged in conspiracy theories about its special agents. He now draws FBI special agents away from their usual duties to serve as a personal bodyguard. The director of Homeland Security is Kristi Noem, who lacks relevant expertise.

Noem has distinguished herself by posing in front of a cell full of prisoners in El Salvador. Homeland Security is focused on spectacular abductions at the expense of its other missions. Its programs to prevent terrorism have been defunded, and it is no longer keeping up its database on domestic terrorism. As one insider put it: “The vibe is: How to use DHS to go after migrants, immigrants. That is the vibe, that is the only vibe, there is no other vibe. It’s wild — it’s as if the rest of the department doesn’t exist.” The obsession with migrants means that local law enforcement, all across the country, is being in effect federalized in the service of an objective that is essentially irrelevant to core missions. That, too, makes life easier for aspiring terrorists.

The National Security Agency sits within the Department of Defense, which is run by Pete Hegseth, a right-wing entertainer and culture warrior. He has fired people who were qualified, and is unable to keep even his own people at work — he just lost four staffers in one day. The “meltdown” at the top of the Pentagon bodes ill.

The leadership of the NSA itself was recently changed, under bizarre and troubling circumstances. After a meeting with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, Trump fired the NSA director, General Timothy Haugh. Wendy Noble, the deputy director, was also fired. This decapitation was part of a larger set of firings initiated by Loomer. It takes place during an ongoing purge of military leaders and national security officials. From the perspective of potential attackers, the culture wars mean vulnerability.

Meanwhile, other Department of Defense agencies that are central to the twenty-first century security of the United States, such as the Defense Digital Service, are destroyed by Elon Musk’s DOGE. It is worth contemplating the reaction of a former Pentagon official: “They’re not really using AI, they’re not really driving efficiency. What they’re doing is smashing everything.” In general, the penetration of the federal government by DOGE has weakened its functions, and likely made critical data available to adversaries who wish to hurt Americans.

The rank and file of the critical institutions are subjected to administrative hostility and chaos. The names of active CIA officers have been sent on open emails to the White House, and in a Signal chat in which a reporter was included. CIA employees have been urged to take early retirement. CIA officers involved in any way in diversity recruitment have been fired (a judge has blocked this, for the time being).

FBI special agents have been exposed to similar indignities. Top FBI officials have been pressured to resign and have done so. Musk-Trump is pursuing FBI special agents who were involved in prosecutions of people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th 2021. Patel proposes that special agents be trained by a company that promotes commercial fights that is based in Las Vegas. Sending FBI special agents to Nevada to simulate Fight Club for Patel’s personal delectation is not going to keep Americans safe.

The Musk-Trump people run national security, intelligence, and law enforcement like a television show. The entire operation of forcible rendition of migrants to a Salvadoran concentration camp was based upon lies. It is not just that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly apprehended. The entire thing was made for television. Its point was the creation of the fascist videos. But this is a media strategy, meant to frighten Americans. And a media strategy does not stop actual terrorists. It summons them.

Terrorism is a real risk in the real world. The constant use of the word to denote unreal threats creates unreality. And unreality inside ket institutions degrades capability. Security agencies that have been trained to follow political instructions about imaginary threats do not investigate actual threats. Fiction is dangerous. Treating the administration’s abduction of a legal permanent resident as a heroic defense against terror is not only mendacious and unconstitutional but also dangerous.

Moreover, Musk-Trump make the United States look vulnerable. Americans under the spell of Trump’s or Musk’s charisma might imagine that strength is being projected. Not so. To prospective terrorists we look erratic and weak. Even apparently unrelated policies — such as enabling foreign disinformation, gutting environmental protection, undoing weather forecasting, ending food inspections, and undermining disease control — make life easier for terrorists and open avenues of attack. By taking apart the government, crashing the economy, and dividing the population, Musk and Trump invite attention of the worst sort, from people who wish to hurt Americans.

Who are such people? Three possible groups of perpetrators of a major terrorist attack in the United States are native right-wing nationalists or white supremacists (“domestic violent extremists”), Islamicists, and Russians.

Most terrorism in the United States is domestic, and most of the domestic terror comes from the far right. We have recently seen a series of white supremacist killings. Cody Balmer, who wanted to kill Pennsylvania’s (Democratic, Jewish) governor, wrote that “Biden supporters should not exist.”

It might seem counter-intuitive that the far right would carry out acts of terror under Trump, but this is already the norm, and there are good reasons to expect worse. Musk pushes the story that civil servants deserve pain. The most lethal domestic terror attack in US history, McVeigh’s bombing, was directed against federal workers. Right-wing terrorists might believe that terror is what Trump wants. The suspect in the recent Florida mass shooting “advocated for President Donald Trump's agenda and often promoted white supremacist values,” according to someone who saw him regularly. Trump has long practiced stochastic violence. His pardon of the January 6th criminals encourages terror with the promise of forgiveness. Patel promoted a recording of the January 6 criminals singing the national anthem. This coddling culture of martryrdom makes more killing more likely.

There is also another scenario. Far right movements can divide, with the more impatient angry with those they see as compromised. This is a lesson from the history of fascism. Some supporters of Trump will be disappointed with him. The assassination attempt on Trump was carried out by someone whose social media posts conveyed hatred of Jews and immigrants. Bongino now has to contend with fans of his show who think that the January 6th criminals should be running the FBI.

And our guard has been dropped. Even at the best of times, the FBI has generally had trouble articulating the centrality of domestic right-wing terrorism. Now the risk is denied. High officials of Musk-Trump tend to share the views of right-wing nationalists, which makes it less likely that they will be seen as a threat. Under Patel, the FBI will deprioritize this important area of investigation. In keeping with his and Noem’s priorities, FBI agents have been assigned away from domestic terrorism. Thus far, the main "terrorist" threat seen by Trump-Musk are protestors in front of Tesla dealerships. Diverting attention to parking lots will not keep Americans safe.

Musk-Trump are also generating scenarios for Islamicist terror. A motivation for Islamicist terrorists is contention over territory in the Middle East. The Trump administration advocates the ethnic cleansing of the entire (surviving) population of Gaza. The US armed forces are also firing ordnance into Yemen with the announced goal of "annihilating" the Houthis who hold power. In a Signal group chat, top national security officials rejoiced (with emojis) over a strike in which a building collapsed. It seems unclear that Musk-Trump will have accounted for the related terrorism risk.

Russia is now a risk in a way that it was not before. It has special units that carry out acts of destruction abroad, such as assassinations and sabotage. In the last three years, these operations have accelerated inside Europe, and include blowing up military sites. Russia also pays people inside other countries to carry out acts of terror and sabotage. Russia has been carrying out cyber attacks inside the United States for years.

Before Musk-Trump, the United States had been fastidious about including Russia as a possible source of foreign terror. Now Russia is presented as an ally and Putin as a friend; intelligence and defense work designed to monitor Russian sabotage inside the United States have been scaled back, as has tracking of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and public reporting on Russia. Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, rationalizes Russian aggression. Patel, the FBI director, owes his career to the claim that people who (truthfully) speak of Russian operations inside the United States are carrying out a hoax. Trump’s nominee for US district attorney for Washington, DC, is a media star in Russia.

This is all beyond the wildest dreams of the Kremlin. The Putinism on display in the federal government creates an atmosphere in which a Russian operation inside the United States would be much easier.

It is not hard to see what Russia would gain from a false-flag terror attack on American territory. Moscow would be seeking to weaken the United States, and by generating a response from Musk-Trump that suits Russia. Having Trump blame his enemies for what was in fact a Russian attack is in the interest of the Russian Federation.

Other actors than these three are also possible. I fear, though, that whether I am right or wrong about the specific source, there can be no doubt that we are far more vulnerable than we were three months ago. And any major attack, regardless of origin, would lead to the same kind terror management. The people in the White House have no governing skills, but they do have entertainment skills. They will seek to transform themselves from the villains of the story to the heroes, and in the process bring down the republic. Please indulge me if I ask you to consider Lesson 18 again.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

That lesson arises from two notorious twentieth-century examples: the Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933, which Hitler used to declare a state of emergency, and the Kirov assassination in the Soviet Union in 1934, which Stalin used as an excuse to expand terror. In both cases, it is the reaction that we remember, rather than the event itself.

I wish that terrorist attacks were a moment when government could be trusted. But the temptation, for any government, is to take the shock and to divert it in a convenient direction. And the temptation, for us, is to imagine that our leaders will rise to the occasion. After 9/11, I listened to President Bush address the nation, sitting in my pickup, on the driveway outside a friend’s house. Though my own politics were very different, I remember the pull inside me, the wish to believe that he would do the right thing. I didn’t let myself believe anything of the sort, but I remember the feeling: and it is that tug that we cannot let get the best of us.

Our present government would be the last to resist the temptation to exploit terror. Musk-Trump would, I fear, make little if any attempt to apprehend the responsible people, especially if they are Americans or Russians. They might blame the Democratic Party, or Americans they hate for other reasons, or the opposition generally, or Canadians or Ukrainians or other Europeans. They will likely try to put an end to the American republic.

Right then comes is the critical moment when we must prevent ourselves from going along.

I do not relish describing this chain of events. But the only way to cut the chain it is to see the links. And when we can imagine that we ourselves have the power to cut the links, as we do, we can also imagine ourselves more free.

History teaches us how terrorist attacks are exploited. Our advantage is that we know this history, and so react sensibly. Do not give the present regime the benefit of the doubt after it allows a terrorist attack to take place on American soil. Be skeptical about its account of who is to blame. Insist that Musk-Trump take responsibility. And understand that freedom is the first condition of security. A terrorist attack is no reason to concede anything to this regime. On the contrary: such a failure by Musk-Trump would be one more reason, and a very powerful one, to resist it.

Throughout history, and around the world right now, government indifference and incompetence that leads to civilians deaths has been seen as a reason for protest.

The night before I was stopped by the police, I had been driving that truck through water. It was a time of high rain in the central United States. Highways were flooded.

In the pre-revolutionary France of the eighteenth century, decadent rulers said “après nous, le déluge” — “after us, the flood.” We care not at all about the consequences of our actions; we are here to profit so long as we can. This is the attitude of Musk, Trump, and the rest. They are in it for themselves, provoking disasters for the rest of us along the way.

A few days before that drive began, I finished my doctoral dissertation, about revolutions, based on research in post-communist Poland. One of my supervisors was the the British historian Timothy Garton Ash. Considering the task of Poland’s new democratic government, he reversed the formula of French royalty, writing: “après le deluge, nous.”

After the flood, we remain. The disaster brought by the decadent is part of the story. But it is not the conclusion. It is what we do next that matters.

[stoutsanitary]

Finding the Right Bathroom Fitting Product Supplier in India: A 2025 Guide

In 2025, the demand for high-quality bathroom fittings in India is higher than ever. Homeowners, builders, architects, and interior designers are all seeking durable, modern, and functional solutions to elevate bathroom aesthetics and usability. At the center of this demand are trusted bathroom fitting product supplier India, who offer a wide range of innovative products that meet both performance and design standards.

Whether you’re working on residential projects, hotel renovations, or large commercial spaces, selecting the right supplier is crucial for ensuring product quality, on-time delivery, and long-term reliability. This guide walks you through the key considerations when sourcing bathroom fittings in bulk, focusing on essential components like Bathroom Fittings Diverter, Three Function Diverter, and Multi Function Bathroom Diverter—popular choices in today’s market.

Growing Demand for Bathroom Fittings in India in 2025

India’s construction and interior design industries are expanding at a fast pace, supported by urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and changing consumer preferences. Bathrooms are no longer seen as just functional spaces—they’re now considered wellness zones that reflect personal style.

In 2025, people are investing more in durable, water-efficient, and stylish fittings. This has led to a surge in partnerships with wholesale bathroom fittings suppliers who can provide not just volume, but also variety and innovation. Product demand spans from basic faucets and angle valves to advanced diverters and concealed systems.

Why Work with a Bathroom Fitting Product Supplier in India?

Collaborating with a professional bathroom fitting product supplier in India offers several advantages:

Access to a wide range of modern fittings, including faucets, mixers, overhead showers, and diverters.

Bulk order capability, which is essential for builders and contractors working on multiple units or projects.

Cost-effectiveness through bathroom fittings wholesale pricing.

Customization and support services, including finish options, product installation guidance, and logistics support.

Compliance with Indian plumbing standards, ensuring compatibility and safety.

These suppliers cater to domestic and export markets and are a backbone for retailers, construction firms, and interior design companies looking for reliable sourcing partners.

Key Products Offered by Bathroom Fittings Wholesale Suppliers

Among the many products in demand in 2025, certain categories stand out for their functional importance and market popularity.

1. Bathroom Fittings Diverter

The Bathroom Fittings Diverter is a central component in modern bathrooms, especially those with shower systems and bathtubs. A diverter allows the user to switch water flow between different outlets—typically between the showerhead and the spout.

Diverters today are designed for seamless operation and long-lasting performance. They are made from high-grade brass or stainless steel and come in both wall-mounted and concealed variants. When choosing a supplier, it’s essential to ensure their diverters meet durability and pressure resistance standards.

2. Multi Function Bathroom Diverter

The Multi Function Bathroom Diverter is an upgraded version offering control over multiple water outlets—such as an overhead shower, hand shower, and tub spout—all through one system. This type of diverter is particularly popular in luxury bathrooms and spa-style spaces.

In 2025, multifunctional diverters are appreciated for their convenience and space-saving design. A good supplier will offer these diverters in modern finishes like matte black, brushed gold, chrome, and graphite, compatible with varied bathroom themes.

3. Three Function Diverter

A Three Function Diverter allows switching between three water outlets. It’s often used in combination with rain showers, body jets, and hand showers. These diverters require precision engineering to ensure smooth operation and long-term leak-proof performance.

When sourcing from bathroom fittings wholesale dealers, it’s important to check that the diverters come with quality ceramic cartridges and ergonomic knobs or levers for effortless user control. Leading suppliers also offer matching trims and plates for a clean, uniform look.

What to Look for in a Wholesale Bathroom Fittings Supplier in India

Choosing the right wholesale bathroom fittings India supplier is critical for project success. Here are key aspects to consider in 2025:

1. Product Variety and Design Innovation

Ensure the supplier offers a complete range—angle cocks, wall mixers, diverters, taps, and shower systems. Look for products that support modular bathroom designs, easy installation, and modern finishes. Innovative features like anti-scale nozzles, water-saving flow regulators, and quick-cleaning surfaces are a plus.

2. Bulk Order Support and Custom Pricing

Reliable bathroom fittings wholesale suppliers offer scalable solutions with bulk pricing and flexible delivery schedules. Ask about order minimums, discounts on large purchases, and support for staggered shipments across sites or timelines.

3. Quality Assurance and Warranty

Look for ISI-marked or equivalent certified products that assure quality and safety. Trusted suppliers also provide warranties on diverters and mixers, usually ranging from 5 to 10 years. Some even include after-sales service options for large-scale orders.

4. Finish and Material Options

Suppliers who offer a wide range of materials—brass, stainless steel, and alloy—along with PVD, chrome, matte, and color-coated finishes help match the exact design requirements of modern bathrooms. Consistent finishing ensures that fittings remain corrosion-resistant and visually appealing over the years.

5. Delivery, Packaging, and Logistics

Top suppliers offer pan-India delivery, secure packaging for fragile components, and efficient dispatch tracking. For large orders, on-site delivery coordination is an added advantage.

Benefits of Partnering with a Wholesale Supplier in 2025

In today’s fast-paced construction and design industry, having a dependable supplier saves time, reduces costs, and enhances client satisfaction. Here’s why builders, developers, and architects are turning to wholesale bathroom fittings India suppliers:

Time-saving: One-stop solution for all fittings—no need to deal with multiple vendors.

Cost-effective: Wholesale pricing helps in budget management, especially for multi-unit projects.

Consistent quality: Sourcing all fittings from one supplier ensures design and finish consistency.

Streamlined logistics: Simplified shipping and delivery processes for bulk orders.

Technical support: Reliable suppliers offer installation assistance and technical data sheets.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, sourcing bathroom fittings is not just about price—it's about performance, design compatibility, and long-term reliability. Whether you're a contractor managing a high-rise apartment project or an interior designer working on a premium villa, partnering with an experienced bathroom fitting product supplier in India is a smart move.

Prioritize suppliers who offer functional solutions like Bathroom Fittings Diverter, Multi Function Bathroom Diverter, and Three Function Diverter with flexibility in finish, quality assurance, and after-sales service. Ensure they support bathroom fittings wholesale orders with timely delivery and fair pricing.

By choosing the right supplier, you not only secure top-notch products but also peace of mind—knowing your bathroom spaces will look stunning and function flawlessly for years to come.

[liesmyth]

Your last rb on the John Gaius post how much John is the OPPOSITE of what that reblogger implied. Because like - we rag on him for not using his magical girl powers for C--'s "Good Wizardry", but it's specifically because he *doesn't* want to rely on a new untested "technology". He tries to incorporate it into the old project, make it better, make people trust it and give him money. Slow down the people who are trying to actually do the "promising new technology" bit without proof of concept.

It's "We all came up with trials to figure out what I could do, what I couldn’t do" vs

"...they were taking one discovery and acting like it changed the whole ballgame when really we now needed ten years of funding to discover whether it was any use, i.e., academia functioning as normal."

And I think that's neat, actually.

[post for context]

Ok actually #discourse aside, I think a lot about how John WAS a scientist, and that was the approach he used in his cryo project, and that was ALSO the approach he used when he started displaying magic powers. He tried to do experiments. He tried to make up scientific terms. He tried to write papers.

And nobody would listen and then he had to cosplay a wizard on youtube.

I think about that SO MUCH. Like... I think John never had a high opinion of the "cultists." He's obviously annoyed that one of the first guys who gave them attention was a flat earther. He only started calling himself a necromancer so that people would listen. It was a last resort and personally, I think he wasn't keen on it.

Like... I think John, an educated scientist who has successfully pioneered a potentially revolutionary new technology (the cryo project, not the magic!) AND is also an indigenous man of colour, might have felt some kinda way about putting on a cape and eyeliner and recruiting a gullible cult of followers because he wasn't being taken seriously in ~intellectual circles. I know we make jokes aboout God being a twitch streamer - Taz put that in for a reason! I think it's funny, I think the cult aesthetic is fun, I think the pre-Res gang HAD fun with it, eventually. But I also think that there's a lot to unpack about John going from the lead research on a project that had serious corporate and government backing ("We cannot keep diverting three percent of the country’s electricity to your vats") to putting on a cape for the memes.

Also! You're absolutely right that the FTL fleet IS "the special technology that shows no promise." John, Mercy AND Augustine all it as hooky because it's SO new that it can scale up to what they need, if it even works as advertised. I'm very curious if / how / on which scale it was tested, and I think Augustine was right to suspect that the FTL propulsion was just an initial kick and the fleet was gonna generation-ship it and never come back.

Also speaking of people wanting an "immediate fix" - John also explicitly brings up that some of the cryo project backers nagged at him because they though an imperfect technology was good enough but the team thought the chance of damage was too high, and worked to reduce it.

Like, the whole point of the cryo project is that it worked, but it wasn't an easy fix, it required literally global cooperation, and there was no priority access for first-class passengers.

I am once again pointing a huge neon sign in John's direction that says HE ATE THE SUN!! That's plenty enough! We don't have to directly contradict canon to sue him for ethics breaches.

[kid-of-chaos]

Chapter 1: Sands of… Twilight?

Welcome to the Kingdom of Light! The Elder of this realm will see you shortly, but be wary: Your arrival has not gone unnoticed.

< Prologue / Masterpost / Chapter 2 >

.. all the murals meant nothing. Symbols formed, said symbols faded, there was THUNDER when he got close enough to one (who knows why), and light peered out of the cavern even though it was the dead of night. And all of it made no sense to the young boy. Whoever made the murals could’ve at LEAST added some text to go along with it, he thought. Whatever… keep making no sense to me I guess.

He soon found himself at the edge of the cavern, giving him a view of the area. There were a few people, a glowy rock accompanied by trails of embers from.. weird fire pots.. and an odd castle (or at least what looks like one) off in the distance, looking more foreboding than inviting to him.

First impression of the place and he really, REALLY wants to get out of here, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to go to the castle at all.

… but then again it looks like— or is— the only way out… yay.

And as soon as boy decided to jump down and get going, he quickly realized three things:

1. The cliff is a lot higher than he thought it was.

2. Judging by the rock structure at the end, he’s expected to fly. A lot.

And 3?

The cape is about a functional glider as much as the void is useful for substituting for a LIGHT SOURCE. Wonderful, he griped, a place of clouds where I gotta float like a feather and I fall like steel. After getting up, dusting himself off and getting far away from the weird glowing figure that literally HURT to touch (while taking note that it could explode), he eventually climbed over the ledge and began walking towards the castle… begrudgingly.

It took a while to get halfway there considering the fact that he was tired, it was pitch black and there were people running rampant for some reason. Some had cool capes, some had scarves, and others had weird wings on their back, but there were rarely anyone who didn’t have anything on their backs. But it didn’t take genius to figure out that the ones who had lights on their capes could fly around, while those who didn’t, well, couldn’t. But they seemed to be doing whatever it was that thankfully diverted any attention from his presence away from him-

HONK!

…

Well, almost all of them. One seemed to be attracted to him like a magnet, because whenever he tried to move, they pulled out a candle and started to follow him. It took three tries of escape before he got angry and hissed, “Buzz off, please.!”

That fell upon deaf ears, apparently, because the other replied with a string of sounds that sounded like honks, coming closer with the candle. Two more tries, and he sneered, “What do you want with me?! Why do you keep making all of those sounds?! AND CAN YOU PUT THAT DAMN THING AWAY BEFORE YOU SET ME ON FIRE!?” But it was the same sound over and over. HONK! HONK HONK HONK! HONKHONKHONKHONKHONK-

It was at this point that he was so enraged that he grabbed the candle by the flame (which miraculously didn’t sting), YANKED it out of their hands, and with a booming voice, roared, “SHUT UP AND HONK OFF ALREADY!” before yanking them by the cape and throwing them into the sand. He then recollected himself, holding the candle in a better position to discover something.. rather odd. The candle’s flame was still burning although he was a hundred percent sure he grabbed it from the top WHILE the flame was still burning. “That doesn’t seem normal,” he remarked, but as he was going to touch the flame again, he heard honks.

Honks from all over the sandy dunes.

Everyone else who was busy with who-knows-what seemed to have spotted the… altercation… he ruthlessly ended. And as he looked back at the person he shoved, which apparently was a girl, she was holding a part of her cape with was torn off, her eyes now burning with a fury, a sign that he probably did something VERY BAD. “Uh- n-now now everyone,” he shouted before putting a hand up in the air, “let’s not jump to any sudden conclusions.! For all we know, she could have just tripped and fell on her cape, so let’s just talk this out like decent people!

You all understand what I’m saying, right? You all get I don’t want any trouble?? I’m not just.. in speaking a language that.. very.. few of you…” he trailed off, the singular thought of, ‘Oh shoot’ ringing in his head multiple times as he glanced at the crowd.

They did not seem happy at all. Oh shoot. The girl scrambled to her feet before she looked back at him, breathed deeply, and honked at the top of her lungs. Oh SHOOT. The one thing that really sealed the fact that he probably did something really offensive by grabbing her cape?

That EVERYONE RUSHED RIGHT AT HIM.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOH SHOOT!”

He had a torch which was technically a weapon, he had a chance to fight, how did he know that he has ZERO clue.. But some ancient instincts spoke louder than any other thought could. He needs to run. HE HAS TO RUN.

RUN.

RUN!

Everything he did was purely out of instinct. He ran, he dodged, he fought, he sprung back up to his feet and he repeated it all over again. He could only recall reaching a campfire and knocking over a bag of small stones all over the flame. There were people rushing to his position he needed to do something he needs to hit something break the rocks BREAK THE ROCKS-

In a blind fury he slammed the torch into the fire-charged rocks… and besides the explosion that occurred immediately after, that’s the last thing he remembered before he was forcefully brought back to reality a few hours later.

Well, that was eventful, he noted. Gazing upon the people that were.. uh.. TOTALLY fine (at least he hoped so), he spotted that they all seemed to have burnt clothing except for him. In fact, the only thing near him that was still on fire was the candle he snatched from the girl, although it somehow wasn’t put out when he were.. surviving the ambush that was suddenly upon him. He’ll definitely be needing that, so as he slowly got up, he picked it up from the sand.

It seemed like the event’s explosive end caused silence to creep in at full force. The only thing that he heard was the steps he took on the ground as he painfully fled from the scene. Eventually, he stumbled upon a cavern far from the campsite, finally allowing himself to flop down and take a breather. The boy curled up

, sticking the candle onto the sand to keep it from being put out, staring down at the flickering light as he slowly, but surely, drifted off to sleep.

Unbeknownst to him, the Elder of this realm has been watching their visitor from afar, intrigued by their skill. Impressive, he thought. Not many Moths can fend for themselves in their first days of birth, let alone talk. Something about your fighting style irks me, but for some reason, I can’t recall why. Perhaps the other Elders will know when they talk with you, Maybe I’ll remember when have ours.

But until then, rest up, young torchbearer.

I have a feeling you’re in for quite the ride.

[raging-violets]

Red One: Have Yourself a Merry Little Crisis | Chapter Three

Also on AO3

Summary: Dolly, head of Santa’s PR team, navigates the chaos of keeping the North Pole’s magic alive while managing the world’s growing disbelief in Santa. As she clashes with Jack, a disillusioned human solely responsible for Santa’s abduction, sparks fly. Can they overcome their pasts and truly allow themselves to accept the Christmas Magic they’ve been keeping at arm’s length all this time? Authored By: Rhuben

Divider by @strangergraphics

Calm Before the Snowstorm

Jack O’Malley,

Welcome to MORA – Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority.

You’ve been selected to join our Crisis Management team because of your skillset and experience. Due to your experience within the past year, you have been assigned to the North Pole Complex – a one-month contract with the possibility of full-time employment. Please be aware that work at the North Pole Complex is confidential, covert, high-stakes, demanding, high-priority, and fast-paced. Your position is deadline driven and time critical.

Your role will directly impact technical and magical operations within the Complex: including the development and strengthening of technological infrastructure, safety protocols for The Big Night™, protocols for managing our physical and magical resources, and other duties as assigned. Your expertise will be critical in handling unforeseen issues and ensuring that every aspect of our operation functions as it should for another successful Christmas season.

In this position you can expect being on alert to divert any high-stakes situations and watching for any sudden crisis that may arise such as “The Incident” from last year – a near catastrophe. You will be employed at one of the most magical places on Eart. Make no mistake that your position is one in which you are expected to work both independently and proactively within a team environment. It is important for you to adapt quickly.

Before you arrive, you’ll receive documentation outlining our systems, protocols, and resources. Review everything thoroughly. You will be briefed on your responsibilities upon arrival and introduced to key personnel whom you’ll be working in tandem with before the first all-staff meeting of the holiday season. Head E.L.F Callum Drift will be your point of contact moving forward.

Pack warmly.

Zoe Harlow Head of Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA)

“Are you sure you want to take this job, dad?” Dylan asked. He wrinkled his nose as he brushed his hair back behind his ears. He balanced his dad’s laptop against his thighs, settling back against the pillows of the bed. “Sounds tough.”

Jack scoffed, emphasizing his noise with a hard slam of a stack of clothes into the duffel bag settled on his bed. “Weren’t you the one blackmailing me to take the job?” he asked. “What happened to that?”

“I didn’t blackmail you.” Dylan’s eyebrows lowered. His lips flapped in a raspberry blowing scoff of his own.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah,” Dylan replied. Then he smirked. “I threatened you. There’s a difference.”

“Well, excu-u-use me,” Jack muttered, shaking his head. “And when did you get so good at that, anyway?” He pointed a finger at his son. “You shouldn’t be threatening anyone. Let alone your parent. You should just act. Show ‘em you mean business.” He curled his finger inwards and made a fist with his hand, striking his other palm with it. “Like that Kevin kid’s tires. You didn’t warn him what you were going to do and boom!”

“Yeah, well, I got grounded and mom said I had to pay to replace Kevin’s bike tires, so…” Dylan rolled his eyes. “I used my snow shoveling money.” Now Jack rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. I got him those cool tires with the splatter paint designs on them.” He shrugged. “We’re best friends again.”

“Why?” Jack asked after a beat of silence. Dylan shrugged again. “You can’t trust him. He sold you out so quickly. And wasn’t this the dick that was hanging out with that girl you like? What was her name? Harper?”

“Piper.” Dylan’s eyes widened a fraction of a second before narrowing in that blase ‘Whatever’ look Jack noticed he was seeing more often. “We’re just friends.” Jack silently lifted his eyebrows. “Idon’tlikePiper.”

“Ok.”

“I don’t.”

“Ok. You don’t. Whatever.” Jack put his hands up defensively. “I just don’t think it’s cool Kevin ratted you out like that. That’s all.” He crossed his arms over his chest, then pointed a finger at his son. “It’s like I said, you can’t trust people.”

Dylan mumbled something in response that Jack couldn’t make out. “Well, Zoe just gets straight to the point, doesn’t she?” he then said aloud, motioning towards the computer screen.

“Read the one from Santa,” Jack replied.

Dylan lifted his hand and tapped around the screen – responding to Jack’s loud “Watch the fingerprints!” with a swift, “Why’d you even get a touchscreen computer?” – before he cleared his throat and started reading aloud:

“Dear Jack O’Malley,

We are so-ho-ho excited to have you join out team at The North Pole Complex this year! Everybody: the elves, the reindeer, Mrs. Claus, and I are eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

Jack had not-so-silently scoffed when he had read that part himself. Not everybody would be excited to have him there, he was sure. Yes, he and Cal had come to see each other in a more positive light the last time they were around each other. But that didn’t mean they were the best of friends. That’d definitely be a Christmas miracle. If there was anyone there that was hesitant about a new person coming aboard, it would be him.

“As you know, the North Pole is a special place, where we do our very best to grant the Christmas wish of each and every person all around the world. No wish is too big or too small.”

Jack had another not-so-silent scoff at that one. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have wished for the same thing for years. He slowed in his packing. Maybe this is my chance to ask ‘Old St Nick’ why he didn’t grant me that wish, he thought. How stupid was he to keep writing those letters for so long? If he never got that dang puppy the three (or more) times he asked Santa, and all those times he asked his mom after Santa didn’t come through, what made him think it’d eventually happen?

"Do you have any idea how much work a dog is?” He sure was able to figure that out after the umpteenth time his mom had started her response to questions like that: a lot of work. “I can barely keep up with you right now. All the parent-teacher conferences, and your fights…between that and work, I can barely get anything done around here. I’m already stretched to the limit, Jack. I just can’t add the responsibility of looking after a dog right now.”

“You won’t have to. I will!” Jack had pleaded. He even did his best to use his blue eyes to his advantage. It usually softened his mom up. “Please?” He had then said quietly, “I promise.”

“Promise,” she had repeated just as quietly. Almost like a laugh. “Lots of people make promises, Jack. Some people even make them in front of all of their family and friends. Promises they don’t plan on keeping. You’ve promised you’d stop getting into fights, and I just had to take you to the doctor, again, last week.”

Jack had snorted. “Yeah, well, Caleb promised he’s stop calling me ‘Jumbo Jack’,” he replied. “So, I had to shut him up.”

“With your fists?”

“He did it in front of the girls!”

She had slapped her hand down on the table, causing Jack to flinch. “Jack! You don’t solve your problems with your fists.” She had closed her eyes for a long time then, just taking in deep breaths of air. Finally she had opened her eyes and started sorting through all the envelopes and papers spread out over the kitchen table, a dull look on her face. She was exhausted. “I don’t have time to be cleaning up after a pet right now, ok? Because it will all fall on me. Things are already hard to handle around here. I’m doing the best I can, but I need you to help me out. No more fights. Ok?” She released the papers and grasped his chin with her hand. She pressed her forehead against his. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, mom.” The words ‘I promise’ had died on his tongue. She hadn’t asked him to promise her. They both knew he wouldn’t keep it. Still, she had smiled, placed a kiss to his forehead, and released his chin to pat his cheek with a warm, “Good boy.”

“At the North Pole we work hard to ensure everything runs smoothly, from toy-making to sleigh rides,” Dylan continued to read, “and every little detail in between for a successful drop off on Christmas Eve night. Every day is spent making sure every contingency is accounted for, and every gift is accessible to everyone with a Christmas Wish. We’re confident that your skills will be a wonderful addition to our operation.

“Teamwork is a vital key to our success. I understand you are used to working alone, so I hope you adapt to the new environment here quickly. Everybody relies on each other to ensure smooth operations and that, in turn, allows us to spread even more joy than ever before!

“Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. I’m only a letter away. Ho ho ho.

Wishing you a holly, jolly, holiday season with us.

Warmly,

Nicholas Claus Chief of Holiday Cheer, Master of Christmas Magic, and Commanding Sleigh Driver at The North Pole Complex “From the North Pole, With Love”

“Sounds like a candy-coated nightmare, right?” Jack asked with a forced laugh.

“I think it’s cool,” Dylan replied. “No pun intended.” Jack laughed again. Dylan pursed his lips. “If you think it’s so lame, why are you even taking the job? You hate Christmas.”

“Um, because you threatened me,” Jack replied, his words dripping with ‘duh’. Dylan let out a single “Ha!” as he closed the laptop. “And I don’t hate Christmas. I just think it’s overblown. It’s like Valentine’s Day; you act all nice, and perfect, for one time of year and in exchange you get gifts? Come on!”

“If you don’t want to do it, why did you even accept the job?”

Truth be told, he didn’t feel like he had a choice. Zoe didn’t exactly ask for things from people, she told them what they were going to do for her. It sounded like they had already made the decision for him. And, simply, curiosity. A year ago, he wouldn’t have ever thought mythological creatures were anything more than a playground story. Maybe the Bermuda Triangle was actually something to be worried about, too.

“Because, buddy, sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do to get where you want to be in life.” Jack put his hands to his hips, staring down at his duffel bag. “That including taking on jobs, and doing things, you don’t really want to do.” He clapped his hands together. “Ok, I think that’s about it. Just gotta tie up some loose ends…” He blinked in surprise when Dylan let out a huffing sound and started shimmying off the bed. “What?”

“Take the job, don’t take the job,” Dylan said, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets as soon as he was on his feet. “Whatever, dad. Do whatever you want.”

“What did I do this time?” Jack asked. He reached for Dylan’s arm as he passed, but his son maneuvered himself away from his dad’s grasp. “Dude, stop!” Dylan turned around in the doorway, and shook his hair out of his face. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Dylan said with a shrug. “Whatever.”

“No, not ‘whatever’,” Jack said. Whatever. He was already getting tired of that word. “What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing,” Dylan said.

“Clearly, I said something to bother you,” Jack replied. “What’s going on?”

Jack watched his son’s jaw slide from side to side as his son debated on saying what he really wanted to say. “Forget it," he finally said, his tone barely containing the impatience bubbling up. “You say not to trust anyone, but you’re trusting me with this. And that I had a loose end the second I let Kevin know about changing the grades. So you can’t have ‘loose ends’ right?” Dylan asked, words filled with sarcasm and anger. “Well, that’s me, isn’t it?”

“Dylan…buddy—”

“I’ll make it easy for you and just leave. Forget you told me anything about this.”

“Dylan! Wait. That’s not what I meant, and you know it. You’re not a ‘loose end’. You’re my son.”

“But you said—”

“Forget what I said. Or have said. Or will say.” He pointed a finger in Dylan’s face the second he saw his son arch an eyebrow, a smirk of disbelief coming to his face. Geeze, he really had to work on this discipline thing. Teenagers are smarter than he gave them credit for. “Scratch that. Listen to what I’m saying now: there’s no way I would do this, if it meant I couldn’t have any contact with you. Ok? None of this would have ever happened if it wasn’t for you. I couldn’t think of anyone better to share this with. Ok?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

And there was that word again. Jack clenched his teeth together, clenched his hands into fists, and stopped short of hitting himself in the head with them. “What if I hand-deliver your Christmas list to Santa? Would that help?”

“Now you’re bribing me?”

Jack put his hands together in a praying motion. “Kind of running out of options here, bud,” he admitted.

Dylan raked a hand through his hair. “Good luck at the new job. I hope it goes well.”

“Thanks, son.”

One side of Dylan’s lips lifted into a hint of a smile. Or a smirk. They were becoming harder to decipher. “I can only hope this job also expands your wardrobe a bit.”

Jack pivoted to look at the pile of clothes in his duffel bag. “What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

“Dad, you’re not exactly Mr. Fashion Forward.”

“Meaning…”

“It’s gray on gray on gray!”

“The same color as this city,” Jack said, waving his hand in the air. “Especially in the winter. I don’t hear you complaining about that.”

“Don’t worry,” Jack’s eyes slowly closed when the sound of Callum’s voice reached his ears, “we’ve got some elves in the Tailor Shop that put out exceptional work.”

Jack opened his eye and turned to Callum. “You people really need to stop appearing in my apartment like that,” he said. “How did you even get in here?” He turned back towards his son. “Did you see how he came in here?” Dylan merely pointed a finger at the closet.

“In all colors, too,” Callum said to Dylan, ignoring Jack’s comment.

“Can you show me how to do that?” Jack asked.

“No.”

Dylan’s eyebrows came together as he leaned to the side to look past his dad. He continued the topic of conversation as if Jack wasn’t standing in the room. “It’s not just…red, white, and green?” he asked.

“No, it’s mostly that,” Callum agreed, “especially in our uniforms. A lot of people are pretty partial to navy, too.” He reached past Jack to offer his hand to Dylan. Dylan took it in his, his face contorting into a grimace as the two pumped their hands in a shake. Dylan shook out his hand, flexing his fingers. “Outside of work, there are some who choose to dress down. That’s where you’ll find some more colors.”

“Clearly you don’t?” It was phrased as a question, but both Jack and Callum knew he was making a statement. A year later and the man was still dressed in his leather clothes. Maybe they were a bit bigger. Callum did look like his shoulders and arm triceps got bigger. If that was even possible.

“As Head E.L.F. I don’t get down time,” Callum replied, leveling Jack with a half-lidded stare. “Except for—”

“Boxing Day,” Jack finished with him. “I know, I know.”

“And I find the work uniform to be very comfortable,” Callum explained defensively, lifting his chin. “Fleece lined, custom made, made with the finest yarn. Material you can’t get anywhere else.”

“Ok, but would I ever be able to learn it?” Jack asked, going back to the topic at hand. “I mean, if I’m going to be employed with M.O.R.A., that’s something I’d have to do, right?”

“Iffff you’re hired on permanently,” Callum reminded him. “Then you’d come to be trained in due time, I suppose.” He looked around the bedroom that suddenly felt even smaller with Callum’s big, muscle-y form in it. “Is this it? It’s all you’re bringing?”

“I followed the list Zoe gave me,” Jack said, referencing his computer with the wave of his hand.

“Speaking of which…” Callum cleared his throat and stepped past Jack. Reaching into his breast pocket, he retrieved a small, rectangular device, and plugged it into the computer. There was a loud zzzzppp sound, the screen flashed twice, and then with a pop the screen went black.

“Hey!”

“Just a precaution. You’ll still have access to your file and employee documents at the Complex. Your computer is not encrypted like our systems, that’s all.” Callum exaggerated a slow blink, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, crossing his big arms over his chest. “You can always ask Nick for a new computer. He’d be happy to help you out. And he wants to make sure you can do your job to the best of your ability.”

“Well then,” Jack said, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets, “I guess this is it, then. Tell your mom I’ll give her an update as soon as I can, ok?”

“Sure.” Dylan gave a solemn nod.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Or moved towards each other. They both just rocked on their heels, pressed their lips together, and gave slight nods. “Come here.” Jack looped an arm around Dylan’s shoulders and pulled his son to his chest in a hug. Dylan hesitated for a moment before giving his dad a slight squeeze around the middle. “Stay out of trouble, ok?”

“Sure, dad.”

“Well, if we’re all ready to go—"

“Whoa, whoa!” Jack put his hands up defensively when Callum stepped towards him with a hi-tech looking gun clutched in his hand. The chamber on the side glowed a shimmering teal color as it was pointed at his chest. “No! No! Not again! I refuse. Is there really no way to get me there without this…” He gestured wildly. “This thing? Without knocking me out?”

“Nope,” Callum said, simply. Almost happily. “Not until you’re a permanent employee. anyway. There’s still some things we need to keep secret. You understand.”

“No, I do not,” Jack protested. “We’re going to have a long talk about this—"

“I’ll try to find some time around our busy schedule.” Callum pressed the gun to his chest and pulled the trigger.

Jack felt a force knock into his chest like a punch. A jolt as his heart skipped. Then he felt his entire body lose feeling. His breath caught in his chest, his last breath slowly, very slowly exhaling from his body. The vision of Callum, his closet, the window behind Callum’s form shimmered and swam as darkness crept in like ink in water until it was all he saw. - A/N:

And now we've got a little glimpse of Jack's past. I originally had it where Jack and Dolly met in this chapter, but felt like I needed to start showing tidbits as to why Jack is the way he is, and how he relates to his son (or not) before I got there. But that will be coming with the next chapter, I promise!" Thanks for reading.

[talonabraxas]

The Sevenfold Zurvan 'Zurvan has even faces, and on each face three eyes,' we read. He is a sevenfold god, and each of seven aspects of his complex nature has three facets. As Infinite Time his three aspects are infinite space, infinite wisdom, and infinite power, that is, an infinite potentiality of initiating contingent beings, whether good or evil. He is passionless and indifferent, 'unageing and deathless; he knows neither pain nor decay nor corruption; he has no rival, nor can he ever be put aside or deprived of his sovereignty in his proper sphere.' He has neither 'pleasure nor pain from the evil of Ahriman or the goodness of Ohrmazd'.

As finite Time he is primarily 'he who makes virile, he who makes excellent, and he who makes old'. Alternatively, the order of the attributes is altered and he becomes 'he who makes virile, he who makes old, and he who makes excellent'. As such he is the god of life and death, presiding over the birth, maturity, and death of the body. As Frashokar, 'he who makes excellent,' he is both the god who brings creatures to maturity and the author of the Frashkart, the 'Making Excellent' or final Rehabilitation at the end of time. When he is thought of in this role, the epithet frashokar, 'he who makes excellent' appears at the end of series.

Seen simply as Infinite Time, his aspects are finite Time, the course of fate, and the year. As Order, his aspects are the god Mithra, the Spirit of Right Order (datastan), and Fate; and as Fate itself he is also the actual decree or moment of destiny, the decisive moment at which what is fated comes to pass, and the fixed decision. On the earth he represents the social order, and he is therefore the three great social orders of priests, warriors, and husbandmen. He is also the author of good and evil: he is the Cherisher, the Adversary, and he who has command of both. Thus he sevenfold Zurvan's functions can be tabulated thus:

ZURVAN Being: (Time), Space, Wisdom, Power. Becoming: He who makes virile, he who makes excellent, he who makes old. Order: Mithra, Order, Fate Time: Finite Time, the course of fate, the year. Fate: the decree, the decisive moment, the fixed decision. Good and Evil: the Cherisher, the Adversary, the One who has command of both. Social Order: priests, warriors and husbandmen

Macrocosm and Microcosm As finite space as well as finite Time Zurvan is embodied in the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, is made in his image, the parts of man corresponding in every respect to the parts of the universe in toto. Thus, the seven constituents of the material world which themselves correspond to the seven Bounteous Immortals -fire, water, earth, metals, plants, and man- correspond to the morrow, blood, veins, sinews, bones, flesh, and hair of man. The four elements in the macrocosm correspond to the breath, blood, bile, and phlegm in man; and just as the world is controlled and kept in working order by the elements of fire and air, so is man's body controlled and directed by his Fravashi or external soul working in close co-operation with his vital spirit. In the world this vital spirit which maintains the macrocosm as a living unit is Vay(u), the atmospheric wind, in exactly the same way as breath keeps the human body alive. In man it is the soul (ruvan) which guides the body and gives it consciousness; so too is the world guided by the world-soul, which is nothing less than the heavenly sphere. The heavenly sphere, then, is not only the body of Zurvan, but also his soul. And Zurvan is sick in soul.

Zurvan, the God of Fate He is sick in soul because he doubted; and this sickness reflects itself in the heavenly sphere, for it contains not only the twelve Signs of the Zodiac which pour out abundance on to the earth, but also the seven planets which intercept the good gifts of the Zodiac and divert them to people and purposes for which they were never intended. Thus, the embodied Zurvan is the god of fate, and because he himself must work out his own salvation in finite time and gradually wear away the residue of his sin which is still very much with him, he is willy-nilly the dispenser of good and bad fortune alike. As macrocosm he is subject, like the microcosm, man, to the depredations of Ahriman; and as man is afflicted by disease and sin, so is the poise of the macrocosm upset by the disorderly motion of the planets; and this disorderly motion accounts for the evil lot on earth that man is sometimes fated to endure.

'All the welfare and adversity that come to man and other creatures come through the Seven and the Twelve. The twelve Signs of the Zodiac... are the twelve commanders on the side of Ohrmazd; and the seven planets are said to be the seven commanders on the side of Ahriman. And the seven planets oppress all creation and deliver it over to death and all manner of evil: for the twelve Signs of the Zodiac and the seven planets rule the fate of the world and direct it'.

The orderly functioning of the universe is the responsibility of the Zodiac just as man's ordered moral activity is directed by the Good Mind indwelling him. The planets, on the other hand, originated by Ahriman are likened to the Evil Mind in man; and just as the Evil Mind seeks to drive a wedge between man's intellect and will, so do the planets seek to bring about disarray in the heavenly sphere, the soul of the world.

The Zoroastrian turned the planets into demons because their irregular motion could not be explained. When, however, they came into contact with the Babylonians, they learnt the 'science' of astrology, and this attributed different influences to the different planets. Some, like Saturn and Mars, were inauspicious; others, like Jupiter and Venus, auspicious. How was this to be explained? In the Zoroastrian scheme of things the planets who accompany Ahriman in his invasion of the material world, each choose a specific constellation as their opponent. Thus Jupiter is matched against the Great Bear, Venus against Scorpio. In their case their opponents prove more than a match for them and force them to do whatever they wish. The reverse, however, is true of Saturn and Mars, who, proving stronger than their chosen opponents, are free to do more or less what they like.

The God of Death Zurvan, as finite Time and Fate, is neither good nor evil: he is 'dyed' with both. Being the embodied universe he is the locus of good and evil, just as man's body is the locus of sin as well as of virtue. As a deity, rather than as an abstract concept, Zurvan, being also fate, is primarily thought of as the god of death, and as such he is:

'mightier than both creations -the creation of Ohrmazd and that of the Destructive Spirit. Time understands action and other. Time understands more than those who understand. Time is better informed than the well-informed; for through Time must the decision be made. By Time are houses overturned -doom is through Time -and things graven shattered. From him to single mortal man escapes, not though he fly above, not though he dig a pit below and settle therein, not though he hide beneath a well of cold waters.'

Time is synonymous with death; and even in the Avesta the paths of Time are the paths the soul must traverse on its way from death to the Judgement.

The inevitability of death and man's helplessness before it is a constant undercurrent of much that is greatest in Persian poetry, and this thoroughly pessimistic and almost morbid strand in the Persian national tradition must ultimately go back to that Zurvanite fatalism over which Aturpat, son of Mahraspand, gained his all too ephermal victory. Typical of this dreary preoccupation with a banal subject is this: 'As to him whose eye Time has sewn up, his back is seized upon and will never rise again; pain comes upon his heart so that it beats no more; his hand is broken so that it grows no more; and his foot is broken so that it walks no more. The stars come upon him, and he goes not out another time; fate comes upon him and he cannot drive it off.'

The God of the Resurrection Death is the lot of all men, and in this respect the fate of the macrocosm is no different from that of the microcosm. The world is born, grows old, and dies; but the death of the world is only the prelude to its transfiguration at the Frashkart, the 'Making Excellent' of existence when finite Time rejoins the Infinite, and when the Final Body, which is the material creation renewed, sets in. Zurvanism, so long as it remains within its Zoroastrian context, is no more pessimistic than is orthodoxy, for Zurvan is not only Zaroqar, 'he who brings old age', but also Frashoqar, 'he who brings about the Frashkart' itself. The 'fatalists', then, against whom Aturpat strove, were not the same as the 'classical' Zurvanites who saw in Zurvan the father of Ohrmazd and Ahriman.

Zurvan Akarana by Talon Abraxas

[fibermarts]

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How Does a Fiber Circulator Work?

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Applications of Fiber Circulators

Bi-Directional Communication: Fiber circulators allow two-way communication over a single fiber strand, enabling efficient use of network infrastructure — commonly used in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems.

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[the-archlich]

With Cao Cao making all the real decisions, what did Liu Xie do all day? More generally, what were puppet leaders of that sort (Liu Xie, Sun Liang, Cao Fang, etc.) generally allowed to do? Were they allowed to preside over ceremonies? Indulge in leisure activities like hunting or touring their domains? Were they just confined to their quarters all day?

In general:

The emperor fulfilled an important ceremonial and cultural function. There were a number of ritual duties that no one else could perform (such as sacrifices to the imperial ancestors) that formed an important part of the state apparatus. Emperors could often be kept busy with ceremony and pageantry. Active emperors often found this inconvenient and reduced their ritual obligations, while weak emperors accrued increasing ritual duties to keep them busy.

Most regents weren't powerful enough to completely do away with the emperor as a formal authority. They still needed him to rubber stamp their commands, at least for major reforms to the government. (Sun Liang was raised to just stamp "yes" on everything his regents gave him. When he investigated past rulings he discovered that Sun Quan always asked questions and demanded explanations from his officials, and this was the start of him becoming inconvenient to the regime.) The government theoretically still needed the emperor's approval to run.

There is a general trend (although not necessarily documented in the Three Kingdoms specifically) of such courts becoming a focus for art and culture. It distracted the emperor and courtiers, it displayed wealth and power, and it let despots paint themselves as patrons of the arts instead of violent thugs. Surely, they hope, a man who promotes scholars and poets must be more than just another greedy warlord.

The emperor had a number of leisure activities, and puppet emperors were buried in them. Banquets, hunts, and festivals could all keep one busy. The emperor also had responsibilities within the harem that would keep him diverted. It is no coincidence that regents were so often the emperor's in-laws.

Some emperors were allowed to retain control over certain court positions, such as the grand physician or some personal attendants. Obviously such individuals would be under the scrutiny of the governing regime.

Now, you could just ignore all of this. That's what Dong Zhuo did. He stormed in, said that the emperor gave him complete authority, and locked him away. That led to an armed rebellion that destroyed the empire.