#UHSS

[modulsystemfrance]

Les solutions d'aménagements Modul-System sont fièrement développées et fabriquées en Suède, à partir de matériaux durables et de haute qualité. L'acier à ultra-haute résistance (UHSS) utilisé pour la fabrication de nos aménagements légers pour véhicules utilitaires est extrait des mines de minerai situées à la pointe nord de la Suède. Réputé pour sa durabilité, l'UHSS peut également être recyclé indéfiniment sans perdre ses propriétés de résistance. Pour une durabilité à toute épreuve, rendez-vous sur www.modul-system.fr ou contactez-nous par mail à 📧 info@modul-system.fr.

[bragganhyl]

not to compare Gale to Aloth again but ngl some of the stuff Gale says makes Aloth look... kinda vicious in comparison, like that one convo you have with him in Lenore's tower, he's all "haha in my academy days i got into some wacky magic hijinks and stole a powerful artefact and I damned near got myself killed when I accidentally teleported myself into the lair of a monster but I got away with a slap on wrist for it"

meanwhile Aloth (well, technically Iselmyr) on his first days of his academy years slapped another student, said student turned out to be the son of noble and a spellwright student (so like someone specifically studying to be an archmage), said student then subjected him to his bullying for pretty much the rest of his student years, then Aloth found out that he ran an illegal science club, joined said illegal science club (for reasons that i won't list here bc that would be the whole short story), then killed the guy in an experiment conducted by the illegal science club... maybe... probably... we don't really know, it's open to interpretation but Aloth is convinced that he did it

[a-word-a-day-for-writers]

𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

ak-ruh-MOH-nee-uhss

Bitter and irritating in disposition or manner; bitter-tempered.

[papayajuan2019]

pronouncing the camus in albert camus as "came-uhss"

[slavewriter]

The Dinner Party

I was looking forward to Friday night. My boyfriend, Louis, and I were throwing a dinner party for a group of about twenty friends and acquaintances. Louis owned a nice house with enough room for the amount of guests that were coming, so, we decided to have the party there rather than my dinky one bedroom apartment. I’d been staying at his place for the past week planning, cleaning and cooking for the occasion but the time together gave us an opportunity to play a few BDSM games along the way.

Louis was much older than I and enjoyed being dominant in our relationship, two qualities I look for in a potential partner. I am a submissive guy who enjoys serving older, dominant men and, when I met Louis for coffee, I was immediately attracted to him. He was tall with a bald head and a white beard. He was built like an ox. If you saw his workout schedule, you might call him a “gym rat.”

The clanking of chains could be heard throughout the house on the morning of the dinner party. I was in my “uniform” (as Louis put it) of no clothes, a chastity cage, shackles with a long chain attached to my wrists and ankles, and a muzzle keeping me gagged. I was mopping the floors and, while the chains were long enough for me to perform my duties, they were short enough to make the process more difficult.

Louis came down and kissed my muzzle and pinched my exposed nipples causing my cock to throb in its cage.

“I see my little slut is getting everything ready for tonight.”

He gave my ass a firm slap.

“Uhss sur,” I said through the gag.

He held my chin so i could look him in the eyes. “If you do a good enough job, maybe I will fuck you before the party. Would you like that?

I shook my head “yes” and he kissed my muzzle again.

“That’s my good boy. Keep mopping and don’t forget to iron my clothes for the party.”

Rather than walking around, he intentionally walked onto the floor I’d just mopped with his dirty shoes and said, “Looks like you missed some spots. I’ll have to punish you for that later.”

With a wink, he left me to my work, my cock still trying to burst from the chastity cage.

As the time approached for guests to arrive, I was quickly putting the finishing touches on the food for dinner. I was still in my uniform and needed to go upstairs to get ready. Louis had just come back from the gym and went upstairs to get ready. As I put the whipped cream on the strawberry pie, I realized I hadn’t ironed his clothes yet!

I shuffled up the stairs in my shackles and opened his bedroom door to find him naked with a stern look on his face.

“Ahm suh surry!, sur!” I said through the gag.

His stern look softened and he walked over to me. As he unlocked the shackles, muzzle and chastity cage, he reassured me.

“It’s okay boy, we all make mistakes. You did such a good job putting this whole dinner party together. Do you still want me to fuck you?”

“Right now? I don’t think we have time, people will be here in half an ho—”

He put his finger to my lips and walked over to our toy chest. He pulled out a leather harness.

“Come here, boy.”

“Yes, sir.”

My mind was reeling as he put the harness around my torso. He then took out a leather thong and had me step into it and pulled it up into place. Next, he took out a leather mask with holes for my mouth and eyes and slipped it over my head. A thick leather collar was belted around my neck and a blindfold went over my eyes.

“Louis, this is all very elaborate for you to fuck me and then have to—mphhh!”

A ball gag was shoved in my mouth and secured behind my head.

“Shut the fuck up, boy.”

This is when I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary “quickie.”

“Lay down on the floor and put your hands behind your back.”

I did as I was told and he started tying my wrists. He pulled my ankles up to my hands and secured them with the same rope. There I was, hogtied, ball gagged, blinded, and guests were going to be here any minute.

After a moment or two of silence, he finally said, “I told you to iron my clothes before the party didn’t I?”

I rocked my body onto my side and pleaded through the gag.

“Mphhh! Mphhhhmphmph!”

“I’m sorry, boy. You’re going to miss the dinner party tonight. I’m just going to tell everyone you had a family emergency and couldn’t stay.”

What was he saying?! I was squirming to get free at this point.

“MPH?!?”

“I know! You worked so hard on it and everything looks amazing! But that’s how it goes when you disobey your master.”

He can’t do this! I put so much work into this party and he wasn’t going to let me enjoy it?! I protested and shook my head.

“You’re going to stay in here bound and gagged until it’s over, boy. I have a camera installed on that shelf over there so I can monitor you. I’ll come up and check on you personally throughout the night.”

“MPHHHH!!!”

“Shhhshh shh,” he said putting a finger on the gag. “You’re going to learn so much from this experience, boy.”

He reached down and patted my bulge, my cock hard against the leather.

“I know you are secretly loving this and I will make it worth your while tonight after the last person leaves.”

I begged and whimpered into the gag as I heard him leave the room.

[works-of-magic]

I just heard the most cursed pronunciation of Mismagius.

I was in Eterna City picking up some essentials, and he saw Mistress, and he complimented her. But he said it like, "That's a very well behaved Miss-mah-jus." Three syllables.

I've heard miss-MA-gee-uhss a lot (a short "a" like "cat" and a hard "g" like "good", so it rhymes with "hag" and I hate it), and I've always said it like "miss-MAYJ-ee-us" (contains the word mage, rhymes with "cage"). I've even heard "mis-MA-jee-us," with a short "a" and a soft "j" sound, so it's kind of said like "magic". It's one of those contentious species pronunciations. I knew there were some regional dialects involved. Even different versions of the Pokedex say it differently, it's WILD.

But "mis-MAH-jus" (sounds kind of like "raucous"?) is a new one.

He must've been Galarian.

[vip-source]

Winx Club - Season 4 | Prime Video

▶️ Duration - 24 Min. 🗄️ Size - 200 / 300MB | Per episode 📂 Type | Format - WEB-DL | MKV 📀 Quality - 768x576 | h.264 🔊 Audio - E-AC-3 [ English ] 🔠 Subtitles - N/A

🏆 Best Video Script!

UHSS-JFHSI-LODJSWN-OCJN9-SJB

UHDWW8YY6Bh6n6g7b76BG6Bhmh7NB6TUb6gfGN

[doublethinkcrimes]

abstemious

/ uhb · stee · mi · uhss /

(adj.) deliberately limiting one's consumption of food or alcohol

ORIGIN Latin abstemius

[all-about-research]

Navigating the Dynamics of the Europe Steel Market: Challenges and Opportunities

The European steel market is the cornerstone of the industrial sector of the continent, fairly being representative in manufacturing, construction, and automotive industries. With its strong production capability and historical significance, the industry is heading into a fundamentally new phase due to technological change, regulatory changes, and global market phenomena.

At the epicenter of the European steel market, one finds such stereotypical nations as Germany, Italy, and France, all of which have a tremendous historical track record with regard to high quality steel. To this day, Germany is prolific; ThyssenKrupp and Salzgitter AG being two of the better known companies that function at the forefront of the business. Both firms are known for their crème de la crème techniques and innovations that helped raise the profile of the German steel market within its own borders as internationally. For this reason, among many others, the kind of depth that steel's influence is able to have within these countries helps to underscore the fact that steel has a historical and economic significance within the European landscape.

Competitive pressure upon the European steel market has always, in the previous years, been one of the most active and aggressive ways to bring both benefits and damage to the market by the non-European producers, mostly from China. Chinese steel producers, with lower costs and the strong support of the government, have extended their market price in the world, often under pressure and creating imbalances. To save the impacts, the European Union has been imposing different protection measures, including an extra anti-dumping tariff, to level the playfield in protecting the interests of European steel mills.

To learn more about US Steel Market, read this report

The third critical factor that has shaped the European steel industry is in the environmental regulations. The European Union has been very strict in regulating the number of carbon emissions, hence implying that this has seen strict regulatory frameworks that have compelled steel producers there to innovate and adopt greener methods of producing steel. One of the greatest drivers toward this end was the European Green Deal, through which the goal is to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. Steel manufacturers should invest in research and development in order to fully explore new production processes that are less hazardous in relation to carbon footprints. A prime example was the cooperative venture in Sweden within the context of the HYBRIT project, which was aimed at producing fossil-free steel by using hydrogen.

Technological advances are further changing the face of the steel market in Europe. Implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts, reinforced by technologies like Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and automation, helps a company get to an optimal level of production efficiency and product quality. ArcelorMittal is one of the pioneers in the application of Artificial Intelligence to boost its operational capabilities for better predictive maintenance, meaning minimum operational downtime. These technological strides allow an increase in productivity while reinforcing a more sustainable form of manufacturing.

To know more about India Steel Market, read this report

The automotive industry continues to be one of the most important steel-consuming sectors in Europe, which requires increasing amounts of new higher-strength, lower-weight materials to meet the ever-tightening standards of safety and fuel efficiency. AHSS and UHSS are becoming increasingly relevant for car makers to achieve the targeted weight reductions in vehicles and help achieve better fuel economy. European steelmakers are responding with the introduction of new steel grades and strategic cooperation agreements with the automotive industry. This, for example, is where Tata Steel Europe excels more than its competitors in delivering innovative solutions in steel that are developed specifically for the automotive industry.

For these reasons, the European steel market has been complicated by Brexit and the UK's steel industry. Leaving the EU requires a new set of trade agreements and regulations. In this regard, the UK steel industry is currently gearing up to discover a new post-Brexit opportunity, focusing on high-value-added products in the steel sector along with the consolidation of the internal markets. "Post-Brexit, the steel sector of the UK might open new innovative trade relationships and put a maximum emphasis on the technological advancement in the UK," he added.

Yep, and that's just the sentiment quoted in the interview with regards to the steel business, not from the construction sector, another major consumer of steel. The construction industry is very likely to boost demand for European steel. Urbanization and infrastructure development projects are among the key driving forces of steadily growing consumption of construction steel. Steel's strength, versatility, and durability make it the ideal material for an ever-growing number of structures, from small residential constructions to large-scale infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, more investments in infrastructure in countries such as Spain and Italy are contributing to more demand for construction steel.

Buy Report: https://mobilityforesights.com/product/europe-steel-market/

The European steel industry is consequently getting more and more embedded in the sustainability commitment to a circular economy. Recycling and reusing steel save raw materials, at the same time lowering the environmental effect connected to them. The recyclability of steel positions automatically the material at the frontier of sustainability in manufacturing. The EAF process, powered by over 80% recycled scrap steel, is progressively looked at as a cleaner route of operation compared to conventional blast furnace. This is a critical move toward a circular economy and one keystroke for the sector's long-term prospects for sustainable development.

In conclusion, the future of the European market for steel is dynamic; analytic opportunities exist amid adversity. With global trade, environmental regulations, and technological innovations, these will be the constants which will place this industry on its future paths. One can conclude that without combined efforts of the governments, industrial stakeholders, and research institutions, the future of sustainable practices for and continued competitiveness on the European steel market is blurred.

Adoption of green steelmaking practices, for example, those based on hydrogen, will only accelerate in the drive to align the industry with the climate goals of the EU. Investment in technology and innovation will remain key in continuously improving production efficiency and in the development of new steel grades, which meet the evolving requirements of key sectors such as automotive and construction.

Conclusively, the European steel market is undergoing very great changes. The industry is under strong challenge from global competition and regulatory pressures, yet its inbuilt spirit of innovation and sustainability serves to position it very well for the future. Thus, with technology and sustainable practice, the European steel industry should strive to continue playing a crucial role in the economic and industrial landscape of this very continent.

[simranjain123]

Steel has long been a cornerstone of the automotive industry, providing the strength, durability, and versatility necessary for vehicle construction. As the automotive sector evolves, driven by technological advancements, environmental concerns, and changing consumer preferences, the role of steel continues to adapt and innovate. 

Among the premier steel manufacturing companies in India, Aone Steel excels in delivering sustainable and efficient steel production solutions. Here’s an in-depth look at the latest trends and innovations in the use of steel in automotive manufacturing.

1. Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS)

Enhancing Performance:

Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) represent a significant leap in material technology. These steels offer superior strength-to-weight ratios, allowing manufacturers to produce lighter, yet stronger, vehicle components.

Safety and Efficiency:

AHSS improves crashworthiness, enhancing vehicle safety without compromising fuel efficiency. By reducing vehicle weight, AHSS contributes to lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, aligning with stringent environmental regulations. Aone Steel has earned its reputation as the best steel brand in India through its unwavering focus on innovation.

2. Ultra High-Strength Steels (UHSS)

Next-Level Strength:

Ultra-high-strength Steels (UHSS) are even stronger than AHSS, offering exceptional durability and resistance to deformation. These steels are used in critical areas of vehicles, such as the pillars and roof rails, to ensure maximum safety and structural integrity.

Complex Formability:

Innovations in UHSS have improved their formability, allowing for the creation of complex shapes and components without sacrificing strength. This flexibility is crucial for modern automotive designs. Aone Steel, one of the leading steel factory manufacturers, is dedicated to producing high-grade steel that supports a wide range of applications.

3. Lightweighting Initiatives

Balancing Strength and Weight:

Lightweighting is a major trend in automotive manufacturing aimed at improving fuel efficiency and performance. High-strength steels like AHSS and UHSS are key to these initiatives, as they allow for significant weight reduction without compromising safety or structural integrity.

Multi-Material Designs:

Manufacturers are increasingly adopting multi-material designs that combine steel with other lightweight materials such as aluminum and composites. This approach optimizes the benefits of each material, enhancing overall vehicle performance. As the best steel brand in India, Aone Steel offers an impressive variety of steel products that cater to diverse industrial needs.

4. Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Steel

Structural Solutions:

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) presents new challenges and opportunities for steel use. The need to accommodate heavy batteries while maintaining vehicle safety and performance has led to the development of specialized steel grades and innovative structural designs.

Battery Protection:

High-strength steels are used in the construction of battery enclosures and protective barriers, ensuring the safety of EV occupants in the event of a collision.  Aone Steel is recognized for providing the best steel in India, ensuring sustainability and durability in every batch.

5. Advanced Manufacturing Techniques

Hot Stamping:

Hot stamping is a process where steel is heated and then formed into shape, allowing for the production of highly complex and strong components. This technique is widely used in the automotive industry to create parts that are both lightweight and robust.

Laser Welding:

Laser welding technology enables precise and high-strength joining of steel components. This technique improves the structural integrity of vehicles and allows for the creation of complex assemblies. Known as the best steel company in India, Aone Steel prides itself on delivering exceptional customer service.

6. Sustainability and Recycling

Green Manufacturing:

Sustainability is a growing priority in automotive manufacturing. Steel is inherently recyclable, and the industry is increasingly focusing on closed-loop recycling processes to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact.

Lifecycle Analysis:

Manufacturers are adopting lifecycle analysis (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of steel components from production to end-of-life. This holistic approach helps in making informed decisions about material selection and design.

7. Innovations in Coatings and Surface Treatments

Corrosion Resistance:

Advancements in coatings and surface treatments have significantly improved the corrosion resistance of automotive steels. These innovations extend the lifespan of vehicle components and reduce maintenance costs. When it comes to producing the best steel in India, Aone Steel consistently delivers top-tier products.

Aesthetic and Functional Enhancements:

Modern coatings not only protect but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of steel components. Additionally, functional coatings that reduce friction and improve wear resistance are being developed.

CONCLUSION:

Steel continues to play a pivotal role in automotive manufacturing, with ongoing innovations and trends shaping its future. The development of advanced high-strength steels, ultra-high-strength steels, and specialized manufacturing techniques are enhancing vehicle performance, safety, and sustainability. 

As the industry moves towards electric vehicles and lightweight designs, steel remains an indispensable material, adapting to meet new challenges and opportunities. Aone Steel stands out as the best steel company in India, renowned for its commitment to quality and excellence in every product.

Companies like Aone Steel in South India are at the forefront of providing high-quality steel solutions for the automotive industry. By embracing advanced technologies and sustainable practices, Aone Steel ensures that its products meet the evolving demands of automotive manufacturers, contributing to the future of mobility.

[factmrps]

Automotive Lightweight Material Market Material Insights

The global automotive lightweight material market has witnessed moderate growth at a CAGR of 3.3% over the past half-decade. However, due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, automotive production has plummeted in quarter Q2 of FY2020, and has cascaded the demand effect towards automotive light weight material.

The market is set to decline by more than twofold over the short-term forecast period, owing to prolonged COVID-19 effect on the automotive industry. By the 1st quarter of FY2022, demand for automotive lightweight material is set to resurrect, owing to normalization of automotive production.

The automotive lightweight material market size is projected to witness nominal expansion at a CAGR of around 5% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2030. Speculative demand of material was observed over the 2nd quarter of FY2020. Reduced market prices have attracted suppliers to charge up their inventories to enhance their profits, post resurrection of the market by the beginning of the 3rd quarter.

Download Sample Copy of This Report:

Key findings of the Automotive Lightweight Material market study:

Regional breakdown of the Automotive Lightweight Material market based on predefined taxonomy.

Innovative manufacturing processes implemented by Automotive Lightweight Material vendors in detail.

Region-wise and country-wise fragmentation of the Automotive Lightweight Material market to grasp the revenue, and growth outlook in these areas.

Changing preferences among consumers across various regions and countries.

Factors (Positive and Negative) impacting the growth of the global Automotive Lightweight Material market.

Automotive Lightweight Material Market: Segmentation

Fact.MR has studied the automotive lightweight material market with detailed segmentation on the basis of by material, vehicle, application, and key regions.

·         By Material :

Steel

HSS

AHSS & UHSS

Metals

Aluminum

Magnesium

Titanium

Polymers

PP

PU

ABS

Polycarbonates

Polyamides

Others

Composites

Carbon

Aramide & Fiber Glass

Elastomers

·         By Vehicle :

Passenger Cars

Compact Cars

Mid-sized Cars

Luxury Cars

Premium Cars

LCVs

HCVs

·         By Application :

Engine & Mechanical

Chassis and Suspension

Powertrain

Others

Exterior & Structural

Body Structure and Frame

Body Panels & Trims

Closures

Others

Interior

Seating

Door Modules

Instrument Panels

Others

HVAC & Electrical

·         By Regions :

North America

Latin America Excluding Mexico

Europe Excluding Germany

East Asia Excluding China

South Asia & Oceania

Middle East & Africa

Germany

China

Mexico

Get Full Access of Complete Report:

Queries addressed in the Automotive Lightweight Material market report:

Why are the Automotive Lightweight Material market players targeting region for increased product sales?

What patented technologies are the players utilizing in the global Automotive Lightweight Material market?

Which regions are displaying the fastest growth in the Automotive Lightweight Material market?

What are the underlying micro- macroeconomic factors affecting the global Automotive Lightweight Material market?

Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 E-Mail: sales@factmr.com

[bragganhyl]

No thoughts just Aloth telling his bully that his mother fucked the stable boy

[a-word-a-day-for-writers]

𝐀𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

ad-suh-TISH-uhss

assumed, adopted from without; taken in to complete something else, tough originally extrinsic; supplemental; additional

[crownprincessuly]

̗̀ (her) is that SOPHIE COOKSON coming off the private jet? oh no that’s ULYSSES HOPE the 24 year old CROWN PRINCESS of SWITZERLAND. people often say they remind them of GUNPOWDER, WHISKY and MASQUERADES. they are arranged to marry ANY MALE/FEMALE FC ( Fox, GMT +8, him/his) * ( No sibling spots yet )

Summary

Recently named as the sole heir of the Hope Monarchy in Switzerland, Ulysses was far from the scope of consideration until the death of her brother, Crown Prince Johnathan. Resolved to her new responsibilities, Uly tackles all problems with the same headstrong fervour, ever one to beat submission from her issues.

Ulysses, though a Hope, was primarily raised by her brothers and sisters in the Swiss Special Forces. From her time she learned many life lessons, none of which pertain to the intricate dance of intrigue and deception that culminates a political lifestyle.

Uly has never been a romantic in any sense of the word. The concept of any relationship other than practical is foreign to her. Losing friends in the field likewise hardened her already icey approach to friendship… however any willing to dig a little beneath the surface will find a sarcastic and sharp wit willing and able to engage in banter at a moments notice.

*****Trigger warning: Death/Injury + Swearing

Soft footfalls, gentle breathing. Calm. In, out.

Crack!

The door slammed open, splinters scattering into the already dusty air as Ulysses advanced into the cramped office space. Full length glass windows covered the furthest walls allowing passage for the moon’s light to offer minimal illumination of the dark interior. The multiple corners and hiding spaces crammed into such a small space made Uly’s hackles rise, the comforting weight of her assault rifle swivelling through the motion’s she’d done hundreds of times before. 

Corner, corner, sweep.

“Clear” echoed the soft baritone of her partner, Steele, sounding loud and out of place in the otherwise quiet room, amplified further through her own plastic ear piece. 

“Floor clear.” She echoed in response, lowering her rifle to a mid-raise as her hazel iris’ continued to scan the dim space. She needn’t have waited long, the grizzly tone of Lieutenant Sharpe crackling in her ear a moment later.

“Strike-two, hold-tight and fortify.”

“Copy.” Murmured Steele. She heard him hunkering down in the opposite corner of the room, the red laser-sight of his rifle briefly flashing on the plaster wall beside the doorway as he checked his aim. Uly shifted her weight, setting a padded knee against the ground as she turned her head, scanning the adjacent office building.

“You think Rowler’s got as much clout as they implied at the briefing?” crackled Jameson’s voice over their private line, barely a whisper. Uly shrugged in response, knowing he couldn’t see her past the empty cubicles between them. 

“He’s got enough that they had to call us in... Hijacking military shipments ain’t exactly easy.” She muttered, earning a snort in response. After a few moments of pregnant silence, Uly emitted a long breath, whispering into the headset microphone dangling near her mouth.

“So, you finally getting up the balls to propose to Katie this weekend?”

If blushing made a sound, it would have just filled the room. Oh, you big softie. She couldn’t help but laugh softly, hushed. “If you don’t propose to her soon, I might take her from you.”

“You probably could, at that.” Was his only reply, before they both snorted.

 Their humour cut short a moment later as Lieutenant Sharpe’s voice crackled over the radio, sounding terse. “Strike-two, prepare for contact. Strike-one has four hostiles moving down the north-east stairwell. Weapons hot, aim for non-lethal. Copy?”

“Copy.” The pair echoed, a brief shuffling breaking the silence as adrenaline began to awaken tiring muscles, guns raising. Click. The safety of her weapon turning her off heralding that gentle noise, returned a moment later by Jameson’s own weapon. Nice and simple...

She could not have been more wrong.

A dull boom reverberated throughout the building, plaster quivering as dust dislodged and eddied down from the suddenly unstable looking ceilings. Barely a half moment later, her radio came aflame with a deafening screech as strike-one’s front man yelled into his microphone, barely discernible amidst the static. One word stuck out. Ambush.

A cylinder arced through the open stairwell doorway, the surface slightly ridged as the soft tap of it striking the floor heralded the oncoming bang! as white light flooded the room. Stars jumped in Uly’s vision as an involuntary cry of pain escaped her lips, needles stabbing at her retinas as she blinked away the blindness. As the ringing in her ears resolved, the deafening crackle of gunfire exploded around her, plaster and brick showering down as bullets tore into the flimsy structure. To her right, she heard a response of gunshots from Jameson, apparently having fared better as a result of the flash than she had.

Enough.

Pivoting around the side of her flimsy cover while keeping her torso side on to reduce her profile, Uly lifted her rifle and fired two short bursts at the doorway before pulling back. One of the gunmen went down in a puff of crimson mist, his cry adding to the cacophony of the small office space. Moments later, the world exploded into the whipcracks of whistling bullets as the other gunmen replied. Involuntarily Uly curled down, her back against one of the building’s supportive pillars while the office’s open windows exploded into millions of crystal shards in front of her.

“Cover, Jameson! Now!” She yelled into her microphone, jerking as a bullet tore a chunk of plaster and brick from the pillar near her head, “Gah, fuck!”

“Now!” Came Jameson’s reply. Trusting him with her life, she waited barely a second after he opened covering fire before peeking out on the opposite side of her pillar, emptying the remainder of her magazine at the doorway and the remaining two gunmen - the third likely having gone down to Jameson’s shots. One went down with a barely perceptible grunt, the other forced to duck back into the stairwell.

“One down!” She yelled, dropping back behind her cover as her empty magazine clattered to the floor, replaced moments later by a fresh magazine from her vest before she pulled back the primer with a satisfying click. 

“Control, three contacts down, one escaping into the stairwell. Unsafe to pursue.”

“Copy, strike-two. Regroup. Strike-three is one floor above and have injured, await call to attend. Over.”

“Solid copy. Over.” Replied Jameson, his voice sounding shaken over the crackly radio line. Keeping her rifle on the door, Uly went through her checks almost unconsciously. Adrenaline had a funny way of masking even the most painful of gunshot wounds. Satisfied that she hadn’t been shot, she did another brief scan of the room. Another voice crackled over the radio as she was approaching the doorway to push it shut, carefully stepping over the limp forms of the gunmen after looking for breathing or signs of life. 

“Uh, control. Requesting confirmation of friendly recon asset in the adjacent building, over?”

“Wh- negative, strike-three. That’s not one of ours.”

Crash!

Uly’s head whipped around just as the glass behind Jameson ruptured into a downpour of glittering fragments seemingly at random. “Jameson!” She cried out, protocol forgotten as she broke into a run. Like a flower, crimson blossomed from a small patch in the centre of his chest, spreading outwards. The frozen look of surprise on his face as he crumpled made her world spin, bile rising at the back of her throat as she slid to a stop beside his prone form, pressing down on the wound. His blood pulsed around her hands, unrelenting. Warm. 

Slowing.

In the distance she was dimly aware of a hail of gunfire as various units returned fire from other floors in the building. Her entire world narrowed to that single point of pressure, however. The man’s bright green eyes locked on her own with a ferocity she was oh so familiar with. “Uly...” He rasped, a speck of crimson blood, far too bright, slowly sliding down from the corner of his mouth.

“I-I’m here, James... I’m here... Stay with me, you hear? Stay with me. You’re gonna be fine.. Alright? James? James!” Her voice rising to fever pitch as she shook him by his vest. 

“Uly...” He whispered, though his lips weren’t moving. Eyes fluttering shut.

“Please, James... please...”

“Uly...”

“Ulysses...”

“Princess!”

The world snapped into focus, entire body jerking awake as the memory fluttered away, just out of reach. The memory was familiar and often plagued her dreams. No matter what she did, it always ended the same way. My fault.

“We’re here, Princess.” Came the responding bass of the family manservant, an ageing man who always held that dull look of disapproval whenever regarding her. 

A full minute later, she stepped from the plane, hands in the pockets of her jeans as those glittering hazel eyes scanned the Athens skyline. Just another battle.

I don’t belong here.

[just-julie143]

On Wednesdays we wear pink 💗

[hot-n-secy19]

Pop the puss find the uhss 💦