#application sorting for best candidate

[recruitment-tools]

3 Things an Executive Assistant Can Help With

An executive assistant plays a critical role in supporting high-level executives and ensuring the smooth operation of a business. Their contributions can greatly enhance productivity and efficiency. Here are three key things an executive assistant can help with.

1. Scheduling and Calendar Management

One of the primary responsibilities of an executive assistant is managing the executive’s schedule. This includes organizing meetings, setting up appointments and ensuring that the executive’s time is used efficiently. A well-structured hiring guide for a startup executive assistant should emphasize the importance of strong organizational skills, as effective calendar management can keep a busy executive on track.

2. Communication and Correspondence

Executive assistants often serve as the primary point of contact between the executive and other parties. They handle emails, phone calls and other communications on behalf of the executive, ensuring that important messages are addressed promptly. Following a hiring guide for an executive assistant can help identify candidates who excel in communication and can represent the executive professionally.

3. Task and Project Management

Beyond administrative duties, executive assistants often manage specific tasks or projects. Whether it's coordinating travel arrangements, preparing reports or overseeing special projects, they ensure that everything runs smoothly. Their ability to juggle multiple responsibilities makes them indispensable to the executive and the business as a whole.

In conclusion, an executive assistant is a valuable asset who can help with scheduling, communication and task management. By following a hiring guide for a startup executive assistant, you can find the right candidate to support your executive team and contribute to your company's success.

Read a similar article about hiring for startups here at this page.

[kumeko]

There's a lot of "but they have to earn my vote, so just blame X politicians" messaging going around right now and it's just...no. That's not how that works.

Yes, a candidate has to earn your vote. They certainly should be spreading their messages and going door to door and more.

No, that doesn't absolve you if you don't vote at all. You have to put in the effort too--learn policies, candidates, etc. You're still living in your country. You are still impacted by the policies of the winner. You are still dealing with the election results regardless. You're not living behind a magic wall, incapable of doing your own research.

It is called civic duty for a reason.

If you don't want to have a voice in it, then fine. Don't vote. But don't act like that erases your part in the process and whoever wins. Because by not voting at all, you automatically vote for the winner. And you'd better hope others aren't so apathetic that you get someone you hate.

"I don't want to see anyone blaming abstaining voters for this!"

Of course you don't. The entire idea of abstaining was that you could pretend this didn't involve you. Not getting blamed was more important to you than doing any kind of damage control, more important than protecting any of the people you said you wanted to protect. And in this moment, I don't really care what you want. Of course, this isn't entirely your fault. Of course other people made this worse. But if you're going to pretend you had nothing to do with this, forgive me if I ignore you.

[justagalwhowrites]

Undone

After a stressful week at the office, Joel knows just how to take care of his wife. AKA Joel Miller doms the stress out of you.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: No Outbreak AU. Established relationship, husband and wife. Dom!Joel x Sub!Reader (light). Tiny little age gap (like 5 years? I'm picturing Joel at 44 and reader at 39?) Unprotected P in V sex. Oral sex, F receiving. Creampie. Overstimulation. Aftercare.

Length: 5.4k

A/N: This is totally self indulgent. It's also like... entirely smut. Sorry. But not really. OK love you bye!

Joel knew what you were after the minute you kicked the door closed. 

It was Friday and it had been a hell of a week for you. Joel had done his best to support you through it - he’d finished up one big job on Tuesday and didn’t start the next one until Monday - so he’d taken the lead on keeping the household running while you put in extra hours and came home frustrated and exhausted every night. 

He knew it wasn’t going to magically be better just because it was Friday, so he’d spent the day trying to make the end to your work week as good as he could. He went to the HEB and got your favorite snacks, picked out flowers for the kitchen table, even went by the liquor store on the way home to get everything you’d need to unwind at the end of your day. He started smoking ribs early that afternoon and was outside to sauce them when he heard the door slam behind you. 

Joel didn’t need to see what happened, he knew from the sound that you’d thrown the door open and then kicked it shut behind you. He’d bet the check from his next job that you’d be face down on the couch, your shoes and briefcase a little trail from the front door to the living room. He shook his head, taking a swig of Shiner before closing the smoker and heading inside to find his wife. 

You were exactly where he thought you’d be, taking up almost the entire length of the couch, flat on your stomach, blazer still on but your heels and bags scattered between you and the front door. 

“Aw baby,” he said sympathetically. “That great a day, hm?” 

You made a sound that was caught somewhere between a grunt and a groan. 

“Want to talk about it?” 

You made the sound again and Joel tried not to laugh at it. 

“Here,” he said, coming and adjusting your legs so he could sit beside you on the couch. You groaned as he did but he guided you from lying on your stomach to sitting up to leaning on him, your face in his chest. He put his arm around you and gave you a squeeze. “Tell me what melted down.” 

“We have our quarterly earnings release going out in less than two weeks,” you sighed. “And it’s a shit show. Legal’s been reviewing that shit for what feels like an eternity and I need to issue the goddamn release announcing the date of the full release but I can’t do that until I actually know that legal and financial are going to have stuff sorted in time and the CEO has emailed me twice a day about it the whole week because sure, the legal team definitely falls under my department…” 

Joel held the still mostly full bottle of beer in front of you and you took it from him, your fingers brushing his and you were quiet for a moment as you took a sip before handing it back. 

“Also, HR is going to be the death of me,” you continued, on a tear now. “I swear, it shouldn’t be that hard to find a qualified entry level candidate but here we are, still short staffed 10 weeks after I got the OK to hire. They’ve sent me two resumes, Joel. Two. I called them today to ask how many they’d received and they’ve had 226 candidates apply and they’ve sent me fucking two! I refuse to believe that just one percent of applicants were remotely qualified so I asked them to forward me all the applications since, apparently, recruiting can’t do their damn jobs so I’m going to have to do it for them…” 

Joel nodded along, handing you the beer periodically when he felt you getting too worked up. He found himself, not for the first time, awed by what you did for a living. He didn’t understand much of it, really, and he was thankful he didn’t need to. He wasn’t cut out for that kind of shit. You, on the other hand, had jumped in with both feet when you’d started at your company seven years ago when the two of you had just started dating, You’d risen up the ranks quickly and you now had a team of several dozen people reporting up to you. As gentle and sweet as Joel knew you to be at your core, he knew you were also unflinchingly driven at work. During the COVID shut down, he’d gotten a glimpse of it, listening to you take people - mostly men who seemed to think you weren’t as capable as you clearly were - to task and get things done. He was eternally grateful that, when the two of you fought, you didn’t take him down the way you did people who crossed you in the office. Though that stood in sharp contrast to how Joel heard you talk to the people who reported up to you, with you seemingly always happy to lend an ear or provide guidance or take the heat if they fucked something up that was going outside your department. 

Unfortunately, that meant you had weeks like this one, where plenty went wrong and you had no one to pass the buck to. And he knew as well as you did that you wouldn’t just let something fall apart, not if there was a damn thing you could do about it. Even if that meant working yourself into the ground. 

After a while you just deflated against him and he handed you the beer again. You took a long drink, emptying the bottle, and Joel took it from you to set on the side table. 

“Feelin’ better?” He asked, his nose brushing your hair. 

“Kind of,” you sighed, pressing yourself closer to him. 

“Somethin’ more I can do?” He asked, trying to make sure that he wasn’t nudging you in the direction he was hoping this would go. 

“Yeah,” you said, something shifting in your tone when you said it. No longer frustrated and fed up, instead needy and wanting. You sat up from him and looked at him through your eyelashes, practically pouting. “Turn my brain off for a bit?” 

Joel’s heart picked up, heat and tension already gathering low in him. 

“Aw, my baby need me to fuck her stupid?” He asked, reaching out to cup your face in his hand. His thumb traced along the arch of your cheekbone as his eyes locked on your blown pupils. “You need me to make that big brain of yours slow down for a while, that it?” 

“Yes please,” you breathed. He could feel your skin getting warmer below his touch. 

“Please what?” 

“Please sir,” you said, holding your hands up with your wrists together, like an offering. “Please fuck me stupid. Please sir.” 

He quirked his jaw before he smiled, dark and low.

“Good girl,” he growled. He got up and closed his large hands around your wrists before pulling you sharply to your feet, looking you up and down as he did. There was something that drove him wild, seeing you like this. Dressed in your armor of the business world, a place where lesser men had to go to you for permission to do a goddamn thing, and you came home to him, begging him to strip you down to something small and vulnerable and easily consumed. 

He wasn’t sure why you’d picked him of all people. When you’d met almost eight years earlier, his first thought was that you were way out of his fucking league. A friend of Tommy’s then girlfriend now wife, you were a few years younger than him but had clearly kept your life on the right fucking track the whole time instead of driving it into the ground for a while first. You’d gone to college, built a damn impressive career, had goals and dreams and plans for yourself. You were beautiful and smart and funny and kind and the first time he’d taken your clothes off he was still not entirely sure why you were letting him do it. 

He’d been even more surprised the first time you’d shared with him that you wanted him to take control in the way he was now. 

“I just have to make decisions all the time,” you’d said, folded into a corner of his couch with a glass of wine in your hands. “I just really want to have someone else take over for a while, you know? Not have to make any plans or take care of anybody else, just enjoy and be enjoyed.” 

That, Joel had thought, he could give you. 

It wasn’t something the two of you always indulged in but there were days like this one where you seemed to crave it. Maybe even a step beyond that - you needed it. You needed the safety of Joel’s guidance, the comfort of his control, the ease of his pleasure. He liked to give you those things. More than liked it, sometimes he lived for it. 

Today was one of those days. 

He led you to the bedroom and stood you at the foot of the bed, your wrists still firmly in his hands as his eyes searched yours. 

“You just want to be my little doll, is that it?” He asked, his thumbs brushing the inside of your wrists. Your pulse was heavy and hard. “Want me to take control so all you have to do is feel what I let you feel?” 

“Yes,” you breathed. 

“Yes what.” 

“Yes sir,” you were practically squirming. 

“What are your colors,” he said more than asked. 

“Green, yellow, red,” you answered quickly. 

“Where are you now?” 

“Green.” 

“Good girl,” he guided your hands so they hung at your sides. “Don’t move until I tell you.” 

He watched you resist the urge to nod and he slipped his hands below the lapels of your jacket, running his hands over your skin for a moment before shoving the sleeves down your arms and leaving the blazer in a pile on the floor. He watched you swallow, your throat working and he tried not to think about making you kneel and taking his cock into that pretty throat of yours. He knew just how good it would feel while you sucked him, how fucking good it would feel to come down your throat. 

Maybe later. Right now, he needed to take care of you. And that’s exactly what he was going to do. 

*** 

When Joel touched you like this, it was like something unspooled inside yourself. There had been a knot in your stomach for days at least - maybe longer - and nothing had worked to untangle it. Not crossing things off your to do list at the office, not the yoga class you’d skipped lunch to take, not the iced latte your assistant had ducked out to grab you that afternoon. But Joel’s hands on your skin as they slipped the slender straps of your satin top down your arms were better than anything else, especially when your mind wasn’t going a mile a minute thinking of ways to please him in return. You watched as he moved to undress you, his eyes heavy and hot and hungry as your top pooled around your hips. He reached around your body to unhook your bra, casting it aside before cupping your breasts in his large palms, groaning as he did. 

“You feel so good,” his thumbs brushed your nipples. “My soft, pretty fuckin’ girl.” 

“Joel,” you whimpered, clenching your hands into fists to keep from reaching out to touch him. He’d told you to stay still and you had to obey. If you didn’t, you knew he’d drag out your first orgasm for what felt like an eternity, bringing you just to the edge of it but never letting you fall into your climax until you were a desperate, dripping, squirming mess. 

“What, baby?” He almost cooed at you, just a hint of a teasing edge to his tone. “What’s my baby need?” 

“More,” you whined. “I need more, please, I need…” 

He took his hands off you then and looked you in the eye and you almost reached for him before you caught yourself. 

“Who decides what you need right now,” he said. You moaned and he ignored you. “Who. Tell me, pretty girl.” 

“You,” you said. 

“That’s right,” he nodded. “And I’ll give you more when I decide you need more and I decide I’m done enjoyin’ the parts of you I’m enjoyin’ right now. So. You stand still like a good little doll and we’ll see when I’ll let you have more. Got it?” 

“Yes,” you said. 

He took your chin in his fingers, forcing you to look him in the eye. 

“Yes what.” 

“Yes sir.” 

His crooked smile dimpled his cheek. 

“Good girl.” 

He returned to touching you, running his large and callused hands over your shoulders to your chest, holding and massaging your breasts and you could tell he was taking his time less for himself and more because he knew what it was doing to you. That it was making you achy and desperate and the thoughts that had been weighing on you all day at the office were slipping out of your mind, drifting far away into the ether. 

“Think I remember you sayin’ something about more?” Joel said, his voice low and gravelly as his hand slipped over your stomach, below the bunched fabric of your shirt, below the waistband of your pants until his fingertips were brushing your bare mound inside your panties. You whimpered. “How about I give you some more, hm?” 

His index finger reached out and brushed the top of your clit, sending a shiver through you, all the heat you had inside yourself pooling low in your stomach. 

Joel chuckled. 

“Think she likes it.” 

He pressed a little lower, a little firmer, working your sensitive nub in slow, languid circles. 

“She like this too?” 

You nodded frantically. 

“Thought I told you not to move,” Joel said, stern. 

“But…” 

“No buts,” he cut you off. “You wanted to give me control so you give me control. Otherwise, you won’t get what you want. Got it?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“You’re lucky,” he said as he went to open your pants. “Got me all worked up, too. Too worked up to draw this out the way you deserve, squirmin’ the way you are.” 

He got on his knees in front of you and gathered the fabric of your shirt, pants and underwear in his hands and pulled them all down in one go, the sudden exposure of your skin to the air making you gasp and goosebumps scatter over you in sharp little pin pricks. 

“Fuck, there you are,” he groaned, his hands coming to grip the thick swell of your ass, his fingers digging into the meat of you as he pressed a kiss to your stomach just below your belly button. You moaned, wanting nothing more than to tangle your fingers in his curls. You clenched your fists tighter, nails digging into your palms, acutely aware of where he was touching you because of the absence of him everywhere else. 

He trailed his mouth down to your slit, his tongue dipping into you there, brushing against your clit, the heat of his mouth in sharp contrast to the cold air against your wetness. His hands slipped up your back, finding your waist before Joel stood, his still clothed body so close to your naked one. 

“Lie down for me,” he said, a little breathless. “Middle of the bed.” 

You rushed to obey and watched hungrily as Joel undressed himself, his black t-shirt coming up and over his head, his jeans opening to reveal his tight boxer briefs with his thick, hard cock straining the fabric. He took off everything before crawling up the bed over you and, for half a moment, you thought he really was going to give into you that quickly, give you exactly what you wanted that fast. But instead of settling between your thighs with his heavy length brushing against your slit and his mouth on yours, he fell to the side of you, the weight of him jostling the mattress. You turned your head to look at him, confused, and he laughed, dark and low. 

“You didn’t think you were gonna make me give in that fast, did you?” He asked. He slid one arm below your ribs, his hand coming up and around the back of you to hold your breast while his other hand teased a feather light path down from your throat, over your chest, your stomach to your slit. “No, not done with this yet.” 

“But…” 

“You just lie still and let me worship you,” he said, his palm cupping your mound, his middle finger settling between your lower lips as he put gentle pressure against your clit. The tip of his finger circled your dripping entrance but didn’t slip inside where you were aching and desperate for him. “Want to enjoy you for a while.” 

He didn’t give you a chance to protest, his mouth finding just the right spot on your throat at the same moment he added pressure to your clit, grinding his hand against your most tender place and making your back arch below his touch. 

Joel kissed and licked and sucked along your neck, your collarbone, your breast, his cock brushing against your thigh as he manipulated your body and you could feel his precome on your skin when it did and you were desperate to touch him there, to feel just how hard you’d made him, make him start to unravel the way he was doing to you. 

“Don’t even think about it,” he said, a finger sliding inside of you, making you groan. 

“But I want…” 

He pulled back from you to look in your eyes and you could tell from the glassy look on his face that you probably already looked like a fucked out mess. 

“You tryin’ to make me feel good or you want it for yourself?” He asked, brows raised. You tried to find the words but couldn’t. He nodded. “S’what I thought, you sit still like I fuckin’ told you. You try to touch me and I won’t let you come, got it? This is about you, not me so you’re gonna lay there and take it, understand?” 

“Yes sir,” you whimpered. 

He went back to working you over, adjusting so that he could fully kiss down your body until his head was between your thighs, two fingers buried inside of you as he looked up your body to your face. 

“New rules,” he said, pressing his lips to your clit for a moment and sucking it into his mouth before continuing. “Want you to come and I want you to come hard. You’re allowed to touch my head to put me where you need but you do anything else with those hands and we’re startin’ over. Understood?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“Good girl.” 

He practically dove into your pussy, his thumb working your clit, his tongue licking deep into your channel. The fire in your belly burned brighter and it was like you could feel all the blood in your body pulling into the center of you. Your hands flew to his head, the thick of his hair and the heat of his scalp almost sharp against your fingers after having felt nothing but your own palms for what felt like forever. You rocked your hips against his face as he ate at you, a finger slipping into you alongside his tongue, working the inside of you deftly so that you were never empty but never lacking the friction of him moving in you. His fingertip curled into the soft, sensitive place inside of you that he found so easily now, adding the perfect amount of pressure as his thumb and nose worked your clit and you felt your pussy get so tight and hot you worried, for half a second, that it would hurt him before every worry flew out of your head entirely, your entire body flooded with waves of pleasure as you came on his tongue. 

Joel worked you through your orgasm, never letting up as you moaned and panted, your grip on his hair easing as your body started to go limp. Your pussy was so sensitive when your climax eased but Joel didn’t pay your little whimpers any mind. He pulled his mouth from you but added another finger, fucking into you with his hand and adjusting so his palm was grinding against your clit as he did. 

“There you go,” he panted, wiping your slick from his mouth before taking his cock in his hand and working himself with it. “That what you needed, pretty girl?” 

“Yes sir,” you whimpered. 

“Good,” he said, his eyes ranging over you, dark and hot. “Because now it’s my turn.” 

He pulled his fingers from you and spread your thighs a little wider, lining his cock up with your still weakly grasping hole for half a moment before thrusting deep into you in one devastating go. You gasped at the stretch of him filling you like that, the inside of you still soft and tender from your orgasm. Your fingers scrambled at the blanket below you, your back arched and taut and you tried to hold onto something - anything - in your head beside how he was splitting you open. 

“I say you could use your hands like that?” He asked, his fingers finding your wrists and clamping around them. He pressed deep inside you and folded over you, bringing your hands with him, pressing your wrists down into the mattress over your head. “Didn’t think so. You’re my little doll right now, ain’t you? Mine to do what I want with and I want you to take it.” 

“Joel,” you whimpered. 

“That ain’t my name right now, is it?” 

“Sir,” you corrected, resisting the urge to rock your hips up against him. “Please!” 

“Please what?” 

You couldn’t put words to what you wanted to ask for and Joel just smirked before releasing your wrists and sitting up, looking down over your body to where he disappeared inside of it. 

“What I thought,” he said, his hands pressing your thighs wide before his thumb trailed over where you were split open on him to your clit, teasing you in a slow circle that made you jerk involuntarily below him. He took it away, his hand on the soft flesh of your thigh again. “You leave those hands there and take it. You can take it, pretty girl. Know you can.” 

With that, he pulled back, slow and aching, before fucking back into you, hard and fast with a forceful grunt. You watched him fuck you, his cock slamming into you with enough force that it jerked your body up and down the bed. You were lost in it, the way you could see his muscles flex, the way his eyes ranged over you - watching the place he was spreading you open and the way your tits bounced for him and up to your face to meet your eyes and back again. It was almost hypnotic, like there was nothing else in the world that existed outside of him. He was controlling you totally, fucking into you with enough force that you couldn’t even breathe out of sync with his thrusts, your body just something he could manipulate and pleasure and use however he saw fit. 

You weren’t sure how long he fucked you like that before his hands ran over your thighs to your core, his thumbs brushing along your clit, pressing into you there and working you in hard little circles as your channel started to tighten around him again. 

“There we go,” he panted. “Got another one right there don’t you? You’re gonna give it to me, aren’t you pretty girl. Gonna give me everything, ain’t you?”

“Yes sir,” you whined, your fingernails digging into your palms as you fought to keep your hands still. 

“Good girl,” he pressed himself deep as he worked your clit and returned to his same punishing rhythm, the head of him finding the place inside you he’d claimed for himself. He left one thumb on your clit, his other hand stretching up and over your stomach, fingers splaying wide on you until it was in the middle of your chest where you knew he could feel how your heart was pounding behind your ribs. The feel of him everywhere was overwhelming, the tight spool of pleasure that had never fully relaxed after your first orgasm already wound unbearably tight again. 

“Want you to come for me,” he said, voice needy. “Want you to be a good girl and come. Give it all to me, baby, want you to just let go and give it all to me, let it all go, c’mon and come for me, make me fuckin’ feel it…” 

You cried out as you obeyed, your channel fluttering over his cock as he kept fucking you deep and hard. You could feel your orgasm in the very center of you, in every muscle and every nerve, your climax taking hold of you so firmly that you felt a gush of liquid rush out of you. 

“Fuck, there you go,” he said, not letting up. “Fuck baby, love when you squirt for me, such a good fuckin’ girl…” 

The wet snap of his hips into you was obscene and, as your orgasm eased, your body was already drawing tight again. Your heart raced and you could feel everything, everything, so sharp and harsh and overwhelming. Your head swam, your skin prickled. 

“Love feeling you come for me,” Joel was still fucking into you, hard and bruising like he was trying to climb inside your skin and claim a place for himself there. “Love when you get all tight and desperate, love making you all needy…” 

You let out a fucked out little whimper, tears pricking at your eyes, not able to see straight through the haze of your already building orgasm. Joel leaned over you, his cock buried deep but going still. 

“You with me, pretty girl?” He asked, his hands sliding up your arms to find your wrists, holding you gently in place. You couldn’t seem to find the words to answer, too overstimulated to think of anything beyond how he was filling you and surrounding you. “Gimme a color, baby.” 

“Yellow,” you managed. 

 He took your limp wrists in his large palms and guided your hands to his skin, resting them on his broad shoulders. 

“That help?” He asked. “You can nod.” 

You nodded quickly, your breathing evening out, body still tight and strung out. 

“Color?” 

“Green,” you said, the tears that were in your eyes slipping down your cheeks but not being replaced by new ones. 

“Good,” he shifted inside you, pulling back a little before thrusting in again. “Because I ain’t done with you yet. You keep those hands right where I put ‘em and just focus on coming one more time for me, need you to milk me dry, baby.” 

But his pace eased, less frantic and more desperate, working you slow and firm from within. He buried his face into your neck, his mouth finding that place that sent shocks of pleasure through your whole body. His hands ranged over you, fingers hungry and grasping at your skin, his hips working against your clit as his cock found its home deep within you. 

“Know you’re close,” he said against your skin, lips still close enough to brush against you as he spoke. He kissed along your neck, nose teasing along your throat. “You got one more in you, baby, I know you do.” 

“Sir,” you whimpered, pleading, not sure if you wanted to come or wanted to just dissolve. 

“You can come,” he fucked you slow and deep. His public bone pressed against your clit and your back arched. “Want you to come, want to feel you come. Make me feel you, baby. Be a good girl and make me feel you.” 

You dared to let yourself move, just enough that you could rock your hips up against him, working yourself with his body as you felt him grow impossibly thicker and harder inside you. Or, maybe, you were just tightening further around him, body clinging to him in one last desperate push for closeness as your climax hit again. You cried out with it and you couldn’t just leave your hands on Joel’s shoulders, instead latching onto his hair and sliding down his back, pulling him flush against your body so the only thing left in the world was him and his skin and the thick of his cock as he started to pulse inside of you. 

Your orgasm almost hurt it was so intense. You could feel every inch of Joel’s cock in you, the heat and softness of his skin against you, every muscle in your body going rigid and tense for a moment before relaxing. Your vision went spotty and you got light headed and you lost track of time. 

The next thing you knew, you were in Joel’s arms, cradled against his chest, his fingers trailing a gentle path along the edge of your hairline and jaw, thumb brushing the plush of your lips. 

“There you are,” he said softly and pressed a kiss to your forehead, his large hand coming to rest against your cheek as you turned your head to look at him. His eyes were soft and warm and there was a gentle smile on his face. “How are you feelin’ love?” 

You took stock of your body for a moment, everything feeling light and airy. 

“I’m good,” you smiled a little. 

“Yeah?” He said, his thumb brushing your cheek. “Take a deep breath for me, OK?” 

You nodded a little and did as you were told, only realizing then just how little your lungs had been inflating before. 

“How’s that feelin’?” He asked. “Good?” 

You just nodded, still smiling. 

“How about this for the night,” he said, going back to tracing an easy trail over your skin with his fingertips. “In a few minutes, I get up and get you water and a cocktail while you put on that pretty little swimsuit of yours. You float in the water while I look at ya and finish those ribs in the smoker…” 

“You’re making me ribs?” You almost pouted, your brows going up. 

Joel chuckled. 

“Yeah, that OK?” 

“That’s my favorite,” you said, feeling like you might be about to cry. 

“I know it is, baby,” he said, kissing your temple again. “S’why I made ‘em. Got that potato salad you like, green beans, cornbread too. Even got that chocolate cake you like so much…” 

“The Oreo one?” You sniffed, tearing up. 

“The Oreo one,” he brushed your hair back. “You still with me there baby?” 

“Yeah,” you nodded, crying a little. You weren’t entirely sure why, just every emotion you’d had over the past week seeming to bubble up at once. “I think so…” 

“You’re OK,” Joel said, pulling you closer, his lips gentle on your skin. “I’ve got you.” 

You just nodded against him and focused on how his skin felt on yours, his warmth and strength grounding while your mind was still swimming. 

“What about after dinner?” You sniffed. 

“We can watch one of those movies you like so much,” he said. “I know the ones that’ve been on your list, you don’t gotta pick unless you want to. Sound good?” 

“Yeah,” you nodded. “But… can we just stay here for a little while first? Please?” 

“Course baby,” he said. “Whatever you need. I’ll take care of you.” 

You nuzzled into his skin and breathed deep and you didn’t really know why you’d been so stressed when you got home to begin with. You just knew that you had Joel and that, as long as he was there, everything else would be OK.

[e1dritchjackal0pe]

ꜱᴇᴀʀᴄʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀʏɢɪʀʟ

Summary: Paul might just have developed an obsession with the camera that you let him have.

Warnings: 18+ MDI

(just a quick little blurb. this is just filth honestly)

You hadn't thought much of it when you had lifted the camera - one of those instant ones that spits out a laminated card of film that you have to shake.

It had caught your attention, because, in a certain way, it seemed important. The man who you had stolen it from, slipping the dark strap from around his limp, bloodied neck and over his head, had come all the way out in the middle of the night to take pictures. Trekking up the high hills that crest high along the ocean just to be able to stand on the edge.

All so he'd be able to take picture after picture of the town glittering in the close distance; the shimmer of the amusement park rides glimmering on the reflection of the water. Not that you could blame him, the view from up there is stunning.

You took the camera fully with the intention of using it, but somewhere along the span of a few weeks, it had wound up forgotten on the old dresser beside your bed. Hidden away amongst all the other tchotchkes and random trinkets that you've stolen throughout the last couple of years.

You didn't think much of it when Paul had asked if he could have it one night, nosily browsing through your stuff like he usually does. Always sticking his fingers where they don't belong.

You had hardly bothered looking up at him from your hand, carefully focusing as you glided a brush, damp with cherry red polish over your nails.

You remember giving a light hum of affirmation, nodding your chin stiffly from where you had it pressed against your knee.

You had hardly heard the delighted, "Hell, yeah," that he had whispered. But even while you idlily flipped through a dated issue of Vogue in between the application of the polish, you could hear the way his voice had gone all somewhere between husky but also light. Pitched with something downright sleazy. You could practically hear all the perverted thoughts rolling around in his head as he plucked up the camera from the dresser.

In hindsight, you should have expected the monster that you had unintentionally created. He's always been a pervert and giving him access to this type of thing was bound to unless a completely new side.

He has a whole stash of photos now. They're all of you, naturally. Sweet candid's that catch you in all the ways he'd like to remember. Immortalizations of your smile; sincere moments that he can tuck inside the inner pocket of his coat and keep held to his chest.

One in particular is always kept there. Hidden and safe like a cherished icon tucked away from unworthy, prying eyes. It's somewhat blurred. Distorted from when the lens had caught you in motion. It smeared around the edges of your hair; the lights of the carousel behind you create a sort of halo effect.

But he likes the carefree expression on your face the most. Bright and free, eyes glittering from when he had caught you in the middle of a fit of laughter. Courtesy of some joke he said - one that he can't really remember now, vague and miles away.

As much as he loves that little candid in his pocket - how casual and content it is, with you clutching onto a half-eaten funnel cake and laughing - he'd be a liar if he didn't love all his other pictures just as much.

He's become a bit of a photographer in the past month, and his portfolio is already packed. Filled to the brim with images that all focus around you in all the best ways possible.

He'd probably be able to make an entire magazine at this point. One that would put Playgirl to shame. All with you on each and every page, centerfold and cover.

God, he'd actually pay money to see that.

The pictures he has are all crammed into rusted toolbox that he keeps hidden away in a narrow crevice split inside one of the cave walls. It's close enough to the floor that he's able to block it from sight with a wooden pallet.

Maybe it's sort of overkill, but the last thing he needs is for someone to go snooping and find something that they don't need to see.

Yeah, he'd either die on the spot or kill someone if that happened, but he's pretty sure that you'd be more than happy to do the killing. You'd probably just end up wringing his neck though, and he'd be more than willing to let you.

The collection that he's got going on is easily one of his most prized possessions, and he's not guilty to admit it. Even if it is a little shameful how many times he's found himself looking back over them.

Shuffling back through the stack of pictures as though they're a deck of cards. But he swears that he notices something new about them each time. They somehow manage to look better and better when that probably shouldn't be possible.

He's jacked off more times that he should admit to the one that he has of you bent over his bike but fuck it's hot.

Between the dark cover of the night and flash of the camera, the background is a void of black. It makes you look as though you've been encased in satin.

There's a glimpse of the bike's handlebars peeking into the shot, a peek of chrome reflecting bright in the image. And yeah, he's not really paying attention to all of that, but he can't pretend that the sight of you bent over his bike doesn't do something for him.

Your skirt is all rucked up in the image, the tight slip of dark fabric bunched over the shape of your hips to shamelessly brandish the flash of your panties. The noticeable wet spot between your thighs, dark against the white material gets him hard every time, and his hand always manages to slip inside of his pants whenever he comes across it in the pile.

Just a small glance at the photo is able to take him back to that night, immersing him in that specific moment, with the warm air brushing over his skin and the sound of your cries melodic and mindless in his ears. You sounded like a pornstar.

His hand is pathetic in comparison to how you had gripped him. It's too rough, too cool. Nowhere close to the way your cunt had clenched around his cock like it was trying to keep him locked inside, stretched and wet and tight on him.

It makes it difficult to narrow down a possible favorite from the pile. There's somehow too many and not enough, and each specific photo has something that he loves, no matter how simple the subject matter might be.

Like the picture he has of your tits. Your bra isn't even completely off in the photo, just slipped down around your ribs just enough to free your breasts. The red lace cupped beneath them, nearly brushing over your nipples. They're perky in the photo, hard from the chill of the cave, glittering softly from the spit he had left behind with his mouth.

He can't count how many times he's fucked his fist to that one. Tracing over the marks he had left behind, the blotches of cherry and plum he'd made with his teeth and tongue; sucked into your skin.

He's held that very picture in his left hand, satiating himself as best as he could while you went off with Star to have a night out on the town - 'girl's night.'

They happen every week and he looks forward to them with all the enthusiasm of someone who's scheduled to get teeth pulled. The pictures almost make it tolerable. Like chasing tequila with a swig of Coke.

But the image of you all splayed out on your bed is a close contender for the number one spot. It was one of those lucky nights where everyone else was out in town, giving the both of you the freedom to actually indulge in each other on an actual bed for the few hours you were afforded.

There's a dreamy quality that had been caught in your eyes while you watched the camera. That dazed, fucked out look that makes him feel just as ruined.

You were completely naked, flat on your back with the sheets and blankets all messy around you; rumpled in a way that seems like a current shifting over water. Your spine was a little arched, pushing your breasts out, making them more pronounced.

You were all kiss swollen lips and ruined hair. He can practically hear the soft little moans that you had been letting out, bouncing off of the stone and back over onto his skin.

But the best thing about it might be how your legs were held wide open, fingers between your thighs to spread yourself open for the camera. For him.

He remembers kneeling down at the foot of the bed and aiming the camera directly at you. It had taken everything to speak, mumbling out a husky, "Smile for the camera, baby." But just that had taken a effort to say, his throat tight, words snagging like he'd been punched in the chest.

Despite it being more of a joke, a mindless ramble really - because he can't think straight whenever he's got you like that - you did as he asked. Your lips had perked up in a smile, just as dazed as the clouded glint in your eyes. Looking all gentle and angelic while you showed him your pussy, so wet and soaked that it caught the fucking reflection of the fires burning around inside the cave.

It was filthy. Depraved. He's never seen anything more beautiful. It almost feels religious sometimes, as crude as it is, to touch himself to all the pictures he has - photos that you trusted him enough to take.

He doesn't think that he's ever going to be able to stop. He has twenty-one of them already (but who's counting), and it's lead him to become a regular at one of the shops downtown. Visiting as soon as the sun will allow. Just narrowly making it through the door just as it's light safely settles past the horizon around 8:30, always giving him about half an hour to punch it before the store can close.

The owner recognizes him by now. Some innocent looking old man, with a gentle, wrinkled smile who always offers him a Tootsie Roll from the tiny candy dish on the front counter while he rings up the total.

The old man - Ron? Robert? - would probably have a stroke if he knew just why Paul is constantly coming in to purchase film. But then again, there's a lot of things about Paul that would give him a stroke if he knew.

The fact that he's become a regular should be a little telling. Some might call it an obsession, but that's pretty much what a hobby is anyway, right?

He thinks that shitty little camera might be one of the best gifts he's ever received. It's nearly painful how stunning you are in each picture. How hot you always are.

So honestly, he can't pick a favorite at all. Because somehow, it's not the photo of you sucking his cock. Lips glossy with spit and precum, stretched wide in a mouthful with your nose nuzzled all the way down to his pelvis, the point of it pressed into the thatch of hair at the base. Not even with the wide-eyed way you gaze up at the camera, watching him like you were greedy; unshed tears threatening to spill.

He can still practically feel that way your throat had flexed around him then. The soft warmth of your palms massaging his balls while you sucked and licked up the length of his cock until he had cum in your mouth with a ragged groan.

But it's not that one.

And it's not the picture of your riding him, bare chested with your face slightly scrunched, jaw dropped in pleasure from the thumb that he had on your clit. His hand was in frame, just barely visible, but the clumsy grip he had on the camera was just secure enough for him to snap the shot, and it caught the curl of his knuckle on your stuffed cunt.

That still wasn't his favorite either.

It's a shame that he doesn't have one yet. But he guesses that you'll both just have to keep trying until he does. Until he gets that perfect shot. He'd maybe feel bad, but you don't seem to mind in the slightest.

There's something knowing and hungry in your gaze when notice him from where he's sitting off on the couch. He's already holding the old Kodiak in his hands, tracing his fingertips over the corners of the cold plastic while he watches from your place across the cave.

The fire catches in your eyes. It makes you wild looking, like you could eat him alive. Fire lights up in his veins because damn, he really wants you to until he's only bones. He knows that he doesn't even need to ask, but he does it anyway:

"In the mood for a photoshoot?"

Your smile is answer enough.

[ranticore]

Are female kobolds intrinsically from a higher cast from birth, or do they have the same social status as their male counterparts- just with the ability to socially climb if a priestess has a dream or someone appoints them? Both in Holly'w and Kettle's societies, i'd love to hear the differences between those groups on that, if any

i think these two asks are asking more or less the same thing or similar enough that i can just meld it into one post.

first of all i want to avoid the words 'harem' or 'caste' when describing these fictional societies, they are not applicable here

the two colonies (holly's and kettle's) are different but have the same sort of attitude towards male kobolds which isn't a 1:1 reverse sexism. male kobolds are seen as somewhat inferior due to being impermanent. they're a deviation from a base state which is parthenogenetic. they aren't allowed to forget that they'll be the first to go if anything happens to the colony and that the overarching society, the colony as it has persisted for centuries, is not made for them. they're tourists in their own colony, not residents. you can have fun with them, but they're fair-weather friends, so don't get invested.

Are female kobolds intrinsically from a higher class from birth - no, there are female kobolds in every class, they just tend to be over-represented in leadership and in legacy bloodlines because they can trace an unbroken lineage and accumulate generational resources and wealth. they have the privilege of never being seen as entirely disposable, no matter their status. but, realistically, for scavengers and those living outside the warrens, everyone's in the same meat grinder.

social mobility is rare and works differently in different colonies. for holly, he was allowed a chance to jump to a high social class. any red-black kobolds are also fast-tracked to working directly with the dragon, regardless of sex, and this can be a very privileged if strenuous position. the mother-of-matriarchs is also not an inherited role - the reigning matriarch selects a kobold who has a track record of never having birthed a son. once a mother-of-matriarchs has provided the colony with a daughter who survives infancy, she is allowed to retire into a cushy life in the warrens and a new mother-of-matriarchs is chosen. the matriarch herself is guaranteed to have only sons because of her proximity to the dragon's heat, and yes her sons do get put in as consorts for a new baby matriarch to ensure at least some continuation of the matriarchal bloodline, though only if they're considered a suitable fit for one of the 6 consort roles. if their new baby matriarch dies, these failsons are just kicked out into the warrens where they usually end up in normal social roles like labourer or artisan.

in kettle's case, she was selected because her colours were the best match to those in the high priestess's vision. i think i'd have to make a separate post about the social structures of this colony because it's several centuries older than holly's and far more developed. but kettle faced classist barriers to becoming a priestess - she received a lot of pushback from the other junior priestesses who felt they were being mocked by a scavenger's inclusion in their ranks. when it came time for her to interpret her own visions and select a candidate consort, even thinking about picking another scavenger was social suicide and confirming all the worst stereotypes about her, but she went ahead with it because she knew lucky would die on his own (he was very badly injured at the time of her own selection and she was forced to leave him then, and that was eating away at her 24/7. she had to confirm with her own eyes that he was even alive before she dared to select him as a candidate).

lucky himself faced less scrutiny than kettle did, because he was barely a person from the get-go and wasn't considered to have any agency whatsoever (which he did not. he is, at best, a professional sperm donor). but he was considered a reflection on her, and she was not brave enough or secure enough in her role to pick him from the candidate pool to be her own consort, so she basically dragged him to the enclave against his will and stranded him there without much support. as a junior priestess she could only pick two boytoys and couldn't have exclusive rights over either of them, had to share with another junior priestess. with increasing seniority, a priestess is allowed to have exclusive rights over one consort, then two, and so on. she picked two randos she didn't know or care much for, and then proceeded to neglect them while being a terrible busybody around the priestesses who'd picked lucky.

[sac-works]

Compiled notes of HC S9 Town Hall livestream 2022

For context, Xisuma and a bunch of hermits had a town hall livestream covering the Season 9 initial release date. Despite it being about 3 years old, I felt the stuff covered is still relevant to this very day. Below the video I have compiled everything I thought was necessary to note.

Please have a readthrough and share it.

How Hermitcraft operates

Hermitcraft is a flat hierarchy. Decisions, in this video’s case taking a break, are typically decided by a majority. Everyone’s voice is the same as each other’s.

There are plenty of factors for reasons for taking a break.

Try not to speculate. It’s not helpful to the hermits or yourself.

The hermits are still trying to learn and understand, so mistakes would happen. There’s no sort of bad intentions. If there were any, they were mistakes.

Be welcome to experiments and trying new idea.

Hermitcraft is consensus based. Some may disagree, but understand what’s best for the majority of the group. This includes the fanbase.

Being in a group:

Dynamics and groups are organic, unless there is specific discussion.

As with any group, there are groups that happen to get along better than others. Some group dynamics are natural, some change. Another factor is timezones.

Hermits are there to help motivate the others to step up their game. Everyone helps each other to keep going.

They can communicate with one another.

Being in a group they can give feedback on each other and nobody needs to worry about being offended.

It’s not about chasing the newest trends for the server. Everyone is an adult with expenses, do the art you want to make.

There is the benefit of taking a break with this sort of motto.

Regarding new members

There’s no need to ask if certain members are joining the next season.

Regarding adding new members:

Consideration: Content, how they blend into the server, public conduct.

Xisuma reading a post from Fwhip: “Can we normalise not asking certain content creators why they aren’t in certain SMPs. Or telling them that they deserve a spot and should try to join. It can come across as saying, ‘we are not good enough alone. We have not made it into one.’ This can really affect one’s mental health. Starting out, my goal was to join a big smp server. I thought it was the only way to make it. Years later, I realised I wanted to be on my own creator instead of only being known for being part of a group, and since then my mental health has been so much better.” [Quoted directly from the stream. I don’t have the link to that post.]

That candidate would have to already be aware of Hermitcraft.

Upon joining, that member has the same privileges as the others.

It’s bringing someone you trust, and act like you trust them

Be instead inspired by Hermitcraft and create your own version of the server. It is learning to be an artist, a communicator, a leader, and more.

Creativity and story crafting

Regarding textures: general rule of thumb is they should look like it fit in the vanilla world.

For mods: They are added to help with content creation. Most are game optimisation mods. Modded Minecraft creation takes a very long time.

Ideas are typically attempted to be done in vanilla. The Season 8 moon mod was an exception.

Scripting on HC means having a beginning and an end. How it gets there is not pre-determined. Almost all of the story-lines happen organically.

Per Ren: Survival does not limit creativity. Try to get better a little bit each time.

For the storytelling, try to enjoy the story and feel immersed. So there is importance to keep the mystery.

It does not make sense to reinvent and top an old storyline.

New Season details

There are plenty of factors for reasons for taking a season break.

Seasons are typically planned to be on updates and what’s best for the server.

Do not read into people’s health and wellbeing for the launch date. (This feels applicable to about anything.)

Cultures also play a role in the whole list of factors.

Additional Notes:

From Xisuma’s personal chat session: - There was speculation and assumption. Give the hermits space, and don’t put stress and focus on a specific hermit. - It is unhealthy to blame others if things are not going your way. - As a content creator, there is always the pressure from the audience. It varies from person to person.

---------------------------

Please inform me if I missed anything in the video that is important. If you have read this far, thank you! Feel free to share this as much as needed. A lot of these points I thought were important to restress.

~ S_Crystal

[kinkedquill]

To Rule The Roost

Contains:  M / M, Feral/monster x humanoid, dubcon, masturbation, voyeurism, fisting, bound, oviposition.

Explicit short story. A young fae wants to become a Gryphon rider, finding himself hired by a veteran flight master.

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“Never expected to see an ash fae here. You’re kind rarely wanders away from your home isle. Yet, here you are, applying to be the gryphon aide under me. You do realize what that job entails, right?” Asked the flight master Trall as I sprouted back into the present, hearing griffins screeches outside the tall building had distracted me from the conversation.

Trall’s bulky human frame made his belly look like a large sack of flour as he sat on his chair and went through my papers. The Gryphon riders' colorful attire complimented his dark skin and made him look formal.

“Yes,” I answered and nodded enthusiastically to drive my point home, “I’ve always wanted to be a rider and someone told me this is a great way to learn the basics, before applying to the academy.” Before coming here, I had memorized a long list of useful lies to make myself the perfect candidate.

“I see…” Trall muttered back to me with a curious expression on his plump face. 

“Skinny boys like you can’t withstand the wind,” he blurted like he was trying to see my reaction.

“I don’t need to withstand it, I’m delicate enough to go through the wind wall without feeling a thing,” I rebutted, attempting to sound confident. My answer made the flight master snort, but he still looked unsure.

“Why not just go straight to the academy? They teach all you need to know and without. Assigning here might look good on your application, but it will only prolong your graduation if you’re even worth the effort. Taking the exam is the best way to get it,”  Trall’s tone sounded dismissive like he was talking to a young child who didn’t know any better. He didn't know I had taken the exam, thrice, and had failed each time. I knew I could cheat when I took it the next time, but I had to make sure my record showed that I had been somewhere where I might have learned the ropes. This was my only chance.

I composed myself, before telling him another one of my lies, “I believe if I want to be good at something I should learn as much as I can from those who actually work in the field. Teachers at the academy might teach me theory, but the real learning happens here.”

“You’re not going to learn how to fly without the academy’s approval,” Trall declared as if I didn’t already know that.

“I know, but I’m going to do other work, right? The Gryphon riders must also know how to take care of their steed.” The flight master's unwillingness had surprised me. The amount of promised payment had been significant, especially considering how little experience was required, but I was sure his aides' job wasn’t too hard to handle. After all, I had gotten this far, my letter must have made some sort of impression. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have wanted to see me and made me go through an extensive healer’s inspection.”

“I see,” he muttered again, giving one last glance at my papers. “You’ve been an adult for three summers now and your letter was very passionate, consider yourself hired.” The flight master stood up and held his hand out to shake mine. Quickly, I gave him a firm handshake and looked directly into his deep brown eyes.

“Thank you, sire. I’ll make sure you will not regret this!” I stated. The flight master slightly lift his right brown. My enthusiasm must have been a little bit too much. Yet, I actually was ecstatic. The second part of my plan had worked and I was on my way to becoming a Gryphon rider!

Trall waved his hand .“Follow me, better get to work now than later. The last aide’s death has delayed our annual schedule and we’re in a hurry.”

I did not know that. The poster I saw never mentioned why they needed help, only that it was urgent.

“W-what happened to the last aid?” I asked with a concern in my voice.

“One of the griffins kicked him down from the flight pen. He had forgotten to change his clothes after tending another tiercel. They’re very territorial, you can’t put two males together without them getting aggressive with each other. Skilled riders must be dominant and assertive when flying in formations, we can’t have fights within the group.” Trall’s explanation sounded reasonable to me. I made sure to remember that.

As we ascended the long flight of stairs, I took in the view. Even though we were in the mountains, the air here was hot. The warm desert wind blew right into the mountainside and the sun scorched the black rock paving it, making the air dry and sweltering. Had we stayed in the open a little bit longer, I’d surely been burned. My light grey skin was not meant to be under the sun.

“The health of these beasts is very important to me and it is your job to help me keep them healthy and happy. You could say your job is almost as important as mine.” Trall glanced behind as he said it and waited for my reaction.

“As it is to me, sire! A healthy force is a strong force,” I said smiling and the flight master shot a small smile back at me. I was getting through to him.

Trall led me into one of the keep’s many spires and to a wide, round room.

There was a large opening on the wall, which was decorated with a carved stone arch with a small bell hung next to it. It was meant for the griffons, they’d fly in one by one when the bell rang for… Some reason. I honestly didn’t know why.

Various tools were hanging on the wall and there was a chair placed next to them. In the middle of the large room, there was also a tall sawhorse with a simple, but weirdly shaped, saddle with a long seat. It was facing away from the opening of the room. Long leather straps dangled from the saddle as the warm breeze made them sway slowly.

“I want you to clean and polish that saddle,” the flight master commanded, “Taking care of it is a significant part of your job.”

As Trall sat on the chair I grabbed a few items from the wall and climbed the sawhorse to reach the saddle. With a clean rag, I began to wipe the saddle. My mother used to be a well-known leatherworker and she took me with her when she worked in her workshop. The skills I learned had become handy.

Trall watched me work from behind, leaning into the backrest as I focused on my work. Secretly, I tried to take a peek to see, if he was pleased with my performance and I saw him rub his crotch with his hand.

My cheeks flashed red and in my shock, I turned away acting like I hadn’t seen anything, still talking about how important each step was when it came to working with good leather. I heard him mumble in agreement and out of my curiosity took another peek.

The flight master’s clothed member was getting hard and he let out quiet moans while caressing his balls with his other hand. Unsure where he was looking I saw him lick his fat lips in arousal. I began my next step when I heard him get up and walk towards me.

“You’re very good,” Trall said and put his other hand on my shoulder. I was too embarrassed to turn to look at him, “It usually takes a long time for aides to learn the proper leather care.” With me standing leaning on the sawhorse, we were about the same length. I could hear him still rubbing himself as he stood behind me.

“That’s good. Hand me the tools and climb on top. You need to learn how to sit properly.” The flight master said and I handed him the items I had in my hands without looking at him. I mounted the saddle and was now slightly higher than him, feeling kinda relieved that he could reach me. Trall returned each tool to its rightful place and walked back to face me. He had stopped pleasuring himself and took one of the leather straps into his hands. Through his pants, I could see still his half-erect member.

“Lean forward,” he commanded and I did as he said, fearing what he might do to me.

Quickly, he pulled the strap over my head and buckled it tightly around my neck.

“Sire! What is this?” I yelped alarmed.

“I’m showing you the ropes. Your job is to tend my beasts and the only way to learn it is by doing.”

The flight master walked around me, tying me firmly to the sawhorse as I tried to resist. 

“Please, let me go! I will take care of the griffons, I swear! I will do my job!” my pleads fell on deaf ears, as Trall’s straight face turned to a smirk.

“My boy, that you will. This is the job,” he replied and patted me to make sure every strap was holding me down. The flight master then tore my clothes off with a knife, leaving me prone. I was bent over the saddle seat, legs wide apart.

“I knew immediately you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into when I met you, but as I said, our situation here is urgent and you were so ardent about this job.” with glee in his voice he added, “... And the best part is, according to your health report, you’re perfect for the job.”

I struggled against my bonds, the saddle seat rubbed against my naked shaft and nipples, slick from the musky polish I had applied mere moments ago. The leather felt slightly coarse and every move made me grind against it. Struggling made me pant from the heat and sweat ran down my back. I was fatigued, and as I stopped, realized that if I didn’t move too much, my posture felt rather good. The seat was long enough to support me without putting strain on my body.

The flight master had retrieved more tools from the wall.

“This will be much easier if you relax, but I warn you, the first time is always the worst,” he snarked and walked behind me, before I could ask any questions he slathered my hole with thick oil and pushed three fingers inside of me. I yelped in surprise and thrust forward, my body stroked my nipples and cock against the coarse surface of the seat making them hard. Trall stretched my hole wider and wider, adding more fingers each time he assaulted me and each time I thrusted forward involuntarily, stimulating my body even more. My cries turned into whimpers.

“The beasts won’t be as careful as I am, you need to learn to loosen up quickly, otherwise it will be painful,” The flight master attested. Soon he managed to push his whole fist into me, making my hole wider than ever before. While vigorously moving his fist, ramming it against the end of my tunnel, Trall began to pleasure himself again.

I sucked in a breath as the constant strain on my cock made me shoot cum between my body and the saddle. The flight master seemed pleased and pulled his fist out, leaving my gaping hole open. He walked towards the stone arch and rang the bell.

“You better get ready, your true test is just about to begin,” Trall laughed and walked back to sit on his chair. He dropped his pants, pulled his cock out and kept massaging his balls as a sudden whoosh of wind flew over me. I heard a loud screech and turned to look. 

There it was. A large male griffin, folding its huge wings as it stomped toward me, looking curiously at its new servant. Long talons scratched the wooden floor with each long step. The oil Trall spread on my ass must have had something in it, the griffon’s large phallus flopped out of its pouch when it sniffed me. The cone-shaped thing almost touched the floor, already glistening with wetness. The beast shrieked loudly as it lifted its feline front paws on the sides of the sawhorse. The griffon bit my neck with its beak, the thick leather strap around my neck protected me from the damage, but the clutch made breathing harder.

“Oh, and don’t worry!” I heard Trall’s voice from across the room, “They might have feline legs, but their cocks are not barbed”

I whimpered as the creature began brutally pumping its member between my cheeks. The saddle was crafted so it slightly lifted my lower body up, it was meant to make anyone laying on it easier to enter, but the beast trying to mount me kept rubbing its cock on me. I whimpered beneath the monster as Trall watched my attempted breeding with exhilaration.

The tip of the griffin’s rod hit my entrance making me gasp in surprise. The next thrust missed it until finally, it impaled me deep within, the whole length of it disappeared in me until its knot pressured my opening. My tied body rose slightly as the shaft made my belly bulge from its girth. I screamed loudly until the beast bit my neck harder, making my voice fade.

Griffin re-adjusted its back paws before it pulled out and hilted its cock back in within me. The sawhorse below us tilted back and forth with each push. The agitation stimulated my whole body, building pleasure inside of me. Like a rutting animal, the monster showed no mercy towards my abused body. I spasmed from the frantic pumping, bending my tied legs as much as I could, making them numb. My opening milked the beast's shaft as its engorged balls smacked against my thighs.

The flight master admired the scene in front of him, pleasing himself while he watched me being broken in. His balls twitched as his throbbing cock shot string after string of white cum into the air. His chest heaved from the bliss, making his whole fat body shake. As he regained control over his body, he walked to me, his limp rod hanging free.

My mind had blanked as I limply laid beneath the monster, moving like a ragdoll on a string, when the beast drilled deep into me. With one last forceful thrust, it secured itself inside of me and let out a loud roar. The flight master laughed and cupped my face into his hand.

“Now you get to experience the best part,” he said, puzzling me with his words momentarily, “The Males of this breed carry eggs to be fertilized by the females. He’s going to fill you up.”

My eyes widened as I felt the first bulbous shape pressing against my hole. As it passed through, a scorching sensation filled me when the egg was pushed deep within my gut, assisted by flowing hot goo. Another one entered me, making my eyes roll back from the pleasure. I teared up when the beast kept me tightly in its grasp, laying eggs into me one by one. My bulging belly expanded pushing me further away from the saddle, only stopped by the leather straps holding my body down. 

Trall pushed his face against mine and forced his tongue in. Kissing me passionately. 

The griffin must have put at least six eggs inside me, before pulling out, the tip still leaking goo. Satisfied, it flew away, leaving me alone with Trall. I was tired as he carefully removed my bindings and lifted me from the saddle to the floor.

“Don’t worry, my boy” he said, there was care in his voice, “We will take them out after you’ve rested and then sell them to another breeder. You’ve done good.” Trall gently petted my enlarged belly, holding me in his arms, “Tomorrow, you know what to expect and will be prepared for the next breeding,” he whispered tenderly. 

I thought about the academy and about my dream of becoming a Gryphon rider. Now, I had another goal.

I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

[puffyartist]

SPORTY I volunteer for a charity that supports a cause I strongly believe in! Since I'm usually free Saturday mornings, I help them fund raise at the local Farmer's Market!

Looking to get into volunteering? Here are some tips and info for you! (alt text is also written out underneath the cut)

If you're interested, you can download your own PDF copy of this zine over on itchio for free!

Are you someone who wants to take direct action? Prefers to talk with the general population? Is interested in learning new skills while meeting new people? Go out and Volunteer!

“Hope for our democracy’s future lies in each of us connecting and engaging with our fellow citizens…”

Source: https://citizensandscholars.org/5-ways-to-be-an-engaged-citizen-besides-voting/

TIPS

Do Your Research What help does your community need? What are the upcoming elections? What offices or measures are up for election? Who is running as a candidate?

Your Ideal Contribution What are you interested in helping out with? What skills do you have? How much time do you have to help out each week/month?

Potential Career Impact Visible involvement in political activities can impact how people perceive you. How might a potential employer in your industry interpret your volunteer work? Does that bother you?

Contact the Organization Send an email directly to the Organization to express your interest! If they have a website with a volunteer sign up page, fill it out! It’s worthwhile to do both to show a sincere interest.

Prioritize Self-Care Rest and relaxation is important to avoiding burnout! Do your best to balance school/work/volunteering, and don’t be afraid to scale back if necessary for your health.

TYPES OF VOLUNTEERING

Informal Volunteering Volunteering in local communities to address specific social needs. Efforts are largely in unfunded, less structured settings, like a neighborhood support group.

Formal Volunteering Volunteering where the work is sorted into structured roles involving long term, regular attendance. Strong emphasis on quality of the services being delivered.

Social Action Volunteering driven by the need to achieve a particular outcome. The final goal of the group will dictate the level of structure and specific roles necessary for the movement.

Project Based Volunteering with a specific goal and time frame. Typically asks for high volunteer involvement over a shorter period of time.

Governance Volunteering as a board member or on management committees, providing leadership and direction for the organization.

Emergency Volunteering in a crisis to aid in recovery. Help is usually only required for short amounts of time.

FURTHER READING

In Defense of Informal Volunteering: https://www.vox.com/culture/368201/volunteer-charity-donations-systemic-change-activism-nonprofits-loneliness-philanthropy

Formal Volunteer Listings: https://www.volunteermatch.org

Governance/Project Based Opportunities: https://www.catchafire.org/volunteer/

Social Action Focused Opportunities: https://www.mobilize.us/

The Tips section has adapted text from the following sources:

Even the smallest stone thrown can create a Ripple!

All of the advice in here is written with the USA political system in mind. There may be some crossover with other countries, but not all advice is applicable.

This guide was made with the best of my ability with references I found online. Please use this guide as a first step to further research from actual professionals.

Remember: taking even the smallest of actions is more effective then just reading about it.

Taking that first step can be scary, especially if it’s a new experience for you, but it is worth it.

[quackity1999]

Las Nevadas Employment Application

•Candid name: Sparky Meridies

•Local contact and Location: The big treehouse near the port

•Previous employment:

- Summer camp assistant (before smp relocation)

-L'manberg general guard, section #04

•Qualifications: Security defense, Minor drink making, Hobbie and professional literature, Weapon use certificate of qualification.

•Reason of interest: "After everything, Las Nevadas seems like an excellent fresh start, I believe I would work well in this environment and be an effective member of this country and city!"

Signed, Sparky, 🎇

[ APPLICATION ACCEPTED. ]

welcome to the team, sparky. :]

thanks for applying! after reviewing your application, we're pretty impressed with your qualifications. just ensure that you'll firmly uphold las nevadas' values and integrity, and you're set.

feel free to let us know your availability for a roster. we'll have to sort out a proper interview or at least a thorough background check— through laverna, hoax or sam. they'll be able to share more details once we confirm your schedule.

i'll be sure to inform purpled, since he's the head of security and you'll have to take majority of orders from him.

best regards,

president quackity, from las nevadas.

[krunal-vyas]

Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

Hire dedicated developers in India smarter and faster with AI-powered solutions. As businesses worldwide turn to software development outsourcing, India remains a top destination for IT talent acquisition. However, finding the right developers can be challenging due to skill evaluation, remote team management, and hiring efficiency concerns. Fortunately, AI recruitment tools are revolutionizing the hiring process, making it seamless and effective.

In this blog, I will explore how AI-powered developer hiring is transforming the recruitment landscape and how businesses can leverage these tools to build top-notch offshore development teams.

Why Hire Dedicated Developers in India?

1) Cost-Effective Without Compromising Quality:

Hiring dedicated developers in India can reduce costs by up to 60% compared to hiring in the U.S., Europe, or Australia. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking high-quality IT staffing solutions in India.

2) Access to a Vast Talent Pool:

India has a massive talent pool with millions of software engineers proficient in AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. This ensures companies can find dedicated software developers in India for any project requirement.

3) Time-Zone Advantage for 24/7 Productivity:

Indian developers work across different time zones, allowing continuous development cycles. This enhances productivity and ensures faster project completion.

4) Expertise in Emerging Technologies:

Indian developers are highly skilled in cutting-edge fields like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, making them invaluable for innovative projects.

Challenges in Hiring Dedicated Developers in India

1) Finding the Right Talent Efficiently:

Sorting through thousands of applications manually is time-consuming. AI-powered recruitment tools streamline the process by filtering candidates based on skill match and experience.

2) Evaluating Technical and Soft Skills:

Traditional hiring struggles to assess real-world coding abilities and soft skills like teamwork and communication. AI-driven hiring processes include coding assessments and behavioral analysis for better decision-making.

3) Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers:

AI in HR and recruitment helps evaluate language proficiency and cultural adaptability, ensuring smooth collaboration within offshore development teams.

4) Managing Remote Teams Effectively:

AI-driven remote work management tools help businesses track performance, manage tasks, and ensure accountability.

How AI is Transforming Developer Hiring

1. AI-Powered Candidate Screening:

AI recruitment tools use resume parsing, skill-matching algorithms, and machine learning to shortlist the best candidates quickly.

2. AI-Driven Coding Assessments:

Developer assessment tools conduct real-time coding challenges to evaluate technical expertise, code efficiency, and problem-solving skills.

3. AI Chatbots for Initial Interviews:

AI chatbots handle initial screenings, assessing technical knowledge, communication skills, and cultural fit before human intervention.

4. Predictive Analytics for Hiring Success:

AI analyzes past hiring data and candidate work history to predict long-term success, improving recruitment accuracy.

5. AI in Background Verification:

AI-powered background checks ensure candidate authenticity, education verification, and fraud detection, reducing hiring risks.

Steps to Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

1. Define Job Roles and Key Skill Requirements:

Outline essential technical skills, experience levels, and project expectations to streamline recruitment.

2. Use AI-Based Hiring Platforms:

Leverage best AI hiring platforms like LinkedIn Talent Insightsand HireVue to source top developers.

3. Implement AI-Driven Skill Assessments:

AI-powered recruitment processes use coding tests and behavioral evaluations to assess real-world problem-solving abilities.

4. Conduct AI-Powered Video Interviews:

AI-driven interview tools analyze body language, sentiment, and communication skills for improved hiring accuracy.

5. Optimize Team Collaboration with AI Tools:

Remote work management tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira enhance productivity and ensure smooth collaboration.

Top AI-Powered Hiring Tools for Businesses

LinkedIn Talent Insights — AI-driven talent analytics

HackerRank — AI-powered coding assessments

HireVue — AI-driven video interview analysis

Pymetrics — AI-based behavioral and cognitive assessments

X0PA AI — AI-driven talent acquisition platform

Best Practices for Managing AI-Hired Developers in India

1. Establish Clear Communication Channels:

Use collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom for seamless communication.

2. Leverage AI-Driven Productivity Tracking:

Monitor performance using AI-powered tracking tools like Time Doctor and Hubstaff to optimize workflows.

3. Encourage Continuous Learning and Upskilling:

Provide access to AI-driven learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy to keep developers updated on industry trends.

4. Foster Cultural Alignment and Team Bonding:

Organize virtual team-building activities to enhance collaboration and engagement.

Future of AI in Developer Hiring

1) AI-Driven Automation for Faster Hiring:

AI will continue automating tedious recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and candidate experience.

2) AI and Blockchain for Transparent Recruitment:

Integrating AI with blockchain will enhance candidate verification and data security for trustworthy hiring processes.

3) AI’s Role in Enhancing Remote Work Efficiency:

AI-powered analytics and automation will further improve productivity within offshore development teams.

Conclusion:

AI revolutionizes the hiring of dedicated developers in India by automating candidate screening, coding assessments, and interview analysis. Businesses can leverage AI-powered tools to efficiently find, evaluate, and manage top-tier offshore developers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality software development outsourcing.

Ready to hire dedicated developers in India using AI? iQlance offers cutting-edge AI-powered hiring solutions to help you find the best talent quickly and efficiently. Get in touch today!

[fyonahmacnally]

Carterhaugh-Wood Academy (Fae AU)

READ THE FULL STORY ON AO3 HERE.

BIG thanks to BigMammaLlama5 for her artwork!  (@bigmammallama5)

Special thanks to @lovesastateofmind1 for being the best beta on the planet, but even more so for being a phenomenal friend and beautiful soul.

Shoutout to @chaotic-super for being supportive, encouraging, and hugely distracting. :) 

Chapter 1 - The Candidates

January, 2019 - Somewhere near the border of Scotland; Carterhaugh-Wood Academy & Training Center, administration conference room.

A pile of thick folders lay stacked in the center of the conference room table as J’onn Jones and Catherine “Cat” Grant, co-headmasters of Carterhaugh-Wood Academy & Training Center file into the room to discuss applications and recruitment of new trainees. In both of their long lifetimes, neither have come across such an elite selection of candidates. Most of them still have two more years left at their respective colleges before they can even set foot on the grounds of the academy, but J’onn and Cat both know they need to be proactive and keep an eye on this bunch.

“How do you want to tackle this, J’onn?” Cat asks as she perches her glasses on the end of her delicate nose, scans the room for coffee, flicks through the folders neatly stacked on the table, and takes a seat. “Looks like we have about twenty files to get through before we can narrow it down to start the official recruitment and acceptance process. Do you know how many are applicants versus strictly recruitments?”

J’onn casually walks around the table curiously taking in the petite faery while sampling her thoughts with his telepathic powers, watching as she takes her seat at the imposing mahogany table. Both are powerful faeries with telepathic abilities and have been headmasters at the academy for centuries. They’ve seen some of the most elite minds in fae history pass through these walls and spend every January sorting through the latest applications and desired recruitments.

“Well, not sure really. I haven’t had a chance to flip through them yet. I say we start with the applicants first. It’ll be easier to narrow those down, then focus on the recruitments since those will take longer. Recruitments usually take more…convincing.” J’onn smirks as he reaches across the table and grabs the stack of folders, handing Cat half.

J’onn opens the first file in his stack. “The first applicant is Nia Nal. Areas of focus include psychology, cultural history, and paranormal science. Loki fae with powers of astral projection, illusion casting, and several other interesting things that could be very useful. I believe her mother was a professor of paranormal science and psychology here many years ago. Looks like she is currently attending National City University and is expected to graduate in Fall of 2021. Her skill set would definitely be useful. Let’s keep an eye on her. It’s a yes for me. What do you think?”

Cat grabs the file, flips through the transcripts with an impassive look on her face. “Mmm. Yes, I think she is worth keeping an eye on. Moving on. Applicant Lucy Lane. Areas of focus are legal, forensic, and investigative studies, elite research skills, and combat strategy. She is a pixie with teleportation, earth manipulation, magical misdirection, and…oh, nice - I like her other abilities, too.” She pauses to remove her glasses and places the arm on the edge of her bottom lip. “I believe her father was kicked out of here when he attended. If I remember correctly, he was a condescending asshole. Her skills are impressive, as is her transcript, but if she has her father’s ideals or attitude, I’m not sure she’d be a good fit. However, I’d like to keep an eye on her. She is scheduled to graduate Fall of 2021 as well. You agree?”

“I know her brother-in-law, Clark. He’s a bit of a know-it-all, but a good guy. Her sister, Lois, is a spitfire and nothing like their father so I am willing to bet Lucy is more like her. I think Lois mostly raised Lucy anyway. She could be a good asset.” J’onn pauses to look Cat in the eye and grabs his next file. “Next up, James Olsen. Hmmm, nope. His grades are terrible and he’s already been kicked out of one program for disruptive behavior and fighting. He sounds like a liability that we do not need. What’s your next one?”

Cat picks the next file from the stack, rolls her eyes, and scoffs at the folder in her hand as she flips through it. “Next applicant is Michael Matthews. Areas of focus are bartending, socializing, and…debt collection? Seriously? Like hired muscle?" She scoffs, again. "No real life experience. Still lives in his parents’ basement playing with himself because no one else will. He may as well have listed his preferred pronouns as frat boy dude-bro." She says haughtily, wrinkling her nose before tossing the file in the no pile. "Next up, Jack Spheer. Areas of focus are computer, investigative, and forensic sciences. He’s, oh, haven’t been around his type in quite a while. An Incubus with powers of manipulation, aura reading, accelerated healing, and mmmhmm, yeah, yes he’s quite interesting. His transcripts are all top level and he is scheduled to graduate Summer of 2021. He’s definitely a good fit. What do you think?”

“Agreed. We can add him to the stack to keep an eye on. What do you have next?” J’onn glances at his next folder with a shake of his head, slowly removes several from his stack, and pushes them aside. “Some of these are just…I have no words, Cat. I suppose they get points for the courage to apply?”

Cat glances over at the gentle faery, sighs, and grimaces at her stack as well, removing a few more. “Here we have applicant Imra Ardeen. Areas of focus are psychological and legal studies, combat strategy, and elite research skills. She is a nymph with powers of photosynthesis, scent/pollen air manipulation abilities, and regeneration of nonlethal injuries. Excellent transcripts and letters of recommendation. She is a yes to watch for me, graduates in summer of ‘21 and seems like a brilliant addition to bring aboard. Next applicant is…” She pauses to flip through several pages of the file. “Eve Teschmacher. Meh, she is just average. Her transcripts are good, but I have seen better applicants already so I think she’s a pass for me. And another one, applicant Dey, um, William. Also rather mediocre and his smile is…unnerving." She says, eyes scanning over the attached photo before thumbing through the rest of the stack. "And these three aren't very impressive either. Add these to yours and let's move on to recruitment. Perhaps there's something promising there."

Cat sets the files aside and pulls her glasses off to rub the bridge of her nose. These meetings always give her a monster headache. It baffles her how some of these folks even have the cajones to fill out an application, much less send it. She has to give them points for gall. She is pinching her nose when J’onn breaks into her thoughts.

Feeling her discomfort, J’onn gently prods her. “You want to take a break before we dive into the last few files?”

Cat sighs, “No. No. Let’s get through these so we have a better idea of what we are looking at for the next two years. If these recruits are anything like what they’ve been hyped up to be, we'll need to act quickly. The offers will be rolling in and I will not be one-upped by that pompous, egotistical man-child running Heatherwood Institute again."

“Alright, well, let’s dive in. First up, Querl “Brainy” Dox. Specialties include…” J’onn flips through the file for a quick look at the transcripts. “Mathematics, advanced tech,  probability, and statistics. Wow. This person has genius level intellect. I can see why that moniker would stick. No wonder they go by the moniker of ‘Brainy', it fits.”

Cat grabs the file from J’onn and parses through it herself as she taps her dainty fingers along the pages. “They’re Loki, too. That could prove quite useful. They’re able to shapeshift and it also says here that they have mastered molecular rearrangement. Fascinating.”

J’onn chuckles as he stands from the table to stretch and walk over to the refreshment bar at the back of the room. “They do seem to be a good fit for this recruitment class. Would you like some tea, Cat? I need something to get through the rest of this stack. I’m starting to get a headache from staring at all these files.”

A deep, dramatic sigh escapes Cat’s mouth as she drops her glasses onto the dark wood in front of her. Rubbing her temples, she leans back in her chair. “Yes. Please, J’onn. Fortunately, we only have…” She pauses to count. “Five more files to sift through. From the looks of it, these are the best of the best of the recruits.”

J’onn sits a steaming mug of tea in front of the feisty woman and heads back to his chair with his own cup. A mischievous grin crawls across his face as he chuckles. “Then let’s get on with it. I have professors to visit and trainees to torment.”

“So, this Querl is definitely a yes for me. They are set to graduate in Fall of ‘21. Seems like most of these, no, all of these applicants and recruits are two years out from starting. That could be good and bad for us.” She shuffles Querl’s file to the ‘yes’ pile, picks up another one with a dramatic flick of her wrist, and tosses one to J’onn.

“Winslow Schott, Junior, also known as Winn.” Cat rolls her eyes and sips her tea before continuing. “Set to graduate in Summer of 2021 with specialties in computer science and software engineering. Says he has high level coding and hacking experience. Wonder how that was determined? And do I want to know what kind of government watch list Mr. Schott is on?”

J’onn reaches for the file and scans over the paper in front of him. “Hmm, his father was the notorious Pixie that caused the deaths of all those workers at that toy factory several years ago. Looks like he has done everything he can to distance himself from that. His abilities would certainly be useful. Teleportation and hallucination inducement. He’s a yes for me. Thoughts?”

Cat purses her lips and taps her chin as if in deep thought. “Yes. He seems like he would be useful to have around. As long as he doesn't share his father's questionable viewpoints, he'd be a great addition. Next." She drops the folder onto the modest pile of acceptable candidates and looks to J’onn for the next one.

“Samantha Diane Arias. Goes by ‘Sam’. Specialties are economics, business, chemistry, and linguistics. Graduation date of Summer, 2021. Excellent grades and looks like she got her bachelor’s degree in business at the same time she finished high school. Powerful too. Rare elemental nymph with control of all four elements. That would certainly be useful in dimensional crises." He nods to himself, impressed. "There is very little limit to what she can do. This list likely barely scratches the surface, Cat.” J’onn can’t believe what he is looking at. He’s been around a long time and hasn’t seen a fae that can command all four elements in hundreds of years.

Cat shakes her head and rests the arm of her glasses against her bottom lip. A habit she loathes, but can’t seem to break. “Her expertise in chemistry paired with her abilities could prove unparalleled. Definitely add her to the stack.” She agrees. “Now, moving on. God, this gets more tedious every year. Here we have Alexandra Marie Danvers. Goes by ‘Alex’. Specialties include biology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. Graduation in Fall of 2021.” She pauses to sip her now cold tea with a shuddering grimace. “Looks like she’s a shapeshifter, but, oh, she’s not just any shapeshifter. Unusual, she can shift into both human and animal form. Also has advanced healing abilities. Right. Yes. These are absolutely an asset to us. J’onn, these candidates are quite impressive.”

She closes Alex’s file and places it on top of the other seven that have made it to the ‘yes’ pile, her mind racing with all the possibilities of what these potential trainees could accomplish. She is broken out of her marathon of thoughts by J’onn’s light gasp. She hears him murmur across the table and looks up.

“Kara Zor-El Danvers. Wait...” J’onn scratches his head and his mouth drops open for a moment. He’s heard of this kid. If he remembers correctly, this one is from one of the most powerful, ancient families known to their species, but the last name doesn’t match.  He knows that middle name though. Zor-El. As in, one of the original families of their kind. Cat must pick up on his thoughts. She grabs the folder from his hand and flips through it with increasing interest and barely contained excitement.

Cat is very impressed with this Kiera person’s file. Not only is she from one of the most powerful families of their kind, her intellect is quite impressive as well. “We definitely want her here and need to do whatever we can to make it so. According to this, she is a Valkyrie with seer and oracle abilities. J’onn, if this is true, she is one of the most powerful fae alive right now. The ability to cause doubt, confusion, and intimidation while also being able to see the past, present, and future? We need her on our side, in our ranks. Look at this.” She hands the file back to J’onn, mouth open wide in awe.

J’onn sifts through the transcripts and lets out a low whistle. “Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Masters in Physics. Set to graduate with PhD’s in both Biomedical Engineering and Physics by Fall of 2021. Barely 24 years old? I’d say we need to make her our number one priority in this recruitment class. I don’t see how there will be anyone else that could compare.”

Across the table Cat lets out an inelegant snort-laugh, then clears her throat. “Hold that thought, Mr. Jones. Lena Kieran Luthor. Yes, from that family." She pauses for dramatic effect. "Bachelors in Business - achieved before she graduated high school, might I add. Masters in Computer Science. Set to graduate with PhD’s in both Biomedical Engineering and Physics by Summer of 2021. And she’s 22." Cat lifts her pristinely sculpted brow at the dark-skinned man across from her.

J’onn raises a dark brow in return and slides the file across the table, pulling it into his eyeline. “I guess the rumors were true. This is the most elite class we’ve had in centuries. Miss Luthor is a Succubus. And a powerful one at that. Powers of seduction and manipulation, of course, but aura reading and enhanced strength are not typical. She’s on par with the power of the Kara Danvers kid we just saw. Could you imagine what the two of them could do together?” The possibilities are endless, he thinks. “Cat, I think we’ve found our top two recruits.”

January, 2020 - Somewhere near the border of Scotland; Carterhaugh-Wood Academy & Training Center, administration conference room.

There’s a quiet rustling in the crowded conference room as Cat takes her place at the head of the deep mahogany table. J’onn quietly sits to her right observing the other women in the room. The rest of the room falls into silence giving the tiny, yet fiery woman at the helm the respect she commands. She glances around the table at the collection of six women with a knowing smirk on her lips. Each of the formidable professors were hand-picked by her for this precise reason and it makes her almost giddy to see it coming to fruition. Every one of them attended this academy and learned with and from J'onn and herself throughout several years, then each were offered a lucrative contract to step into their current roles. Dual roles, really. Professors and trainers, first and foremost, but also seats on the committee about to commence at this very table. The decision and preparation committee for the most impressive and elite class of candidates to cross the threshold of this building in a very, very long time. Cat nods her head and makes eye contact with each of them as she prepares to begin.

“Well, now that we are all here and settled, let’s get started, shall we?” She smiles as she pours water into the glass in front of her, sips it and lifts a perfect brow. “I see that some of you have been poking around in the files in front of you. Good. Each of you has a copy of the files on our next class of students. These ten candidates are set to comprise the most impressive class I have seen in decades, likely longer. Two in particular, are the most powerful of our species to set foot through these doors, ever. We have roughly two years before we start to prepare for them. One year before their acceptance and recruitment letters go out. That means, you have very little time to create a curriculum to teach, guide, and mold them.”

She glances sideways at J’onn and tilts her head. “Do you have anything to add, Mr. Jones?”

J’onn folds his hands across his stack of files before looking at each of the professors individually. “I do, Cat. Each of you will have a responsibility to teach and guide these candidates to be even better than they already are. They will need to hone their skills, fortify their knowledge, and make us all proud of who they become. They are the future of our kind and you have a highly coveted role in creating it. Don’t waste it.”

Cat nods and grabs her glasses to place on the bridge of her nose before digging into the process. “Each of the files have been separated into sets of two. These sets are how they will be roomed together. If any of them do not accept our invitation, we will address that on an as needed basis. One, and sometimes two, of you will be assigned as advisors to each pair. That is what we will be addressing now so you are better prepared to develop the required curriculum. Any questions so far?”

A dark-haired, olive-skinned woman raises her hand and brings all eyes to her. “Ms. Grant, Jessica Huang, or Jess, in case you don’t recall. Will we be teaching all of them or just the ones we are assigned to? Should we all work together to develop the curriculum? I guess I am unclear as to what exactly you need from us.”

“Yes, Ms. Huang, I indeed remember who you are. Excellent question. You will all need to work together on the curriculum. However, each of you will have your usual specialties and will be the primary advisor to the pair that are within that specialty. There will be some overlap, but please, work together to make it smooth and compatible as a whole. Anything else?”

“Leslie Willis. Ms. Grant. Mr. Jones. Is this going to be an accelerated program or the standard two years? That makes a difference in how we design it too.” A white-haired woman with a raspy voice asked. “When we came through the academy, it varied, but all of us had the full two years to get through it.”

This time, J’onn spoke up. “Ideally, Ms. Willis, we would like to keep it at two years with everything that needs to be covered, however, I think if you want to try to get it all in within eighteen months, give it a try. Nothing less than that though. I don’t want to rush through this. Not with the level of these incoming candidates.”

Cat lets the information settle in for a moment  as she taps her glasses on the files in front of her before continuing. “Okay. Now let’s get into who is doing what and advising whom.”

“To start, let’s direct our attention to the screen to my right.” Cat stands and walks toward the projection screen on the far wall. “Beside each of your names is the candidate or candidates you will be advising. Again, there are overlapping areas of study so I will encourage you to swap information and help each other. This is a team and we will be wise to work together.”

She pauses for effect and continues her pacing in front of the group. “Meegan Morris. You will be advising Winslow Schott and Jack Spheer. Their areas of study are your areas of expertise so I expect it will go well. You will likely also be assisting Andrea Rojas with Querl Dox’s advisement since there is some overlap.” The short blue-eyed woman locks eyes with Andrea and receives a nod.

“Next up, Lena Luthor and Kara Danvers, our top two candidates. They will be with you, Ms. Prince as they are both within your wheelhouse. However, you will likely have some overlap with Ms. Huang in advising both Alex Danvers and Samantha Arias." Diana nods in agreement. "That brings us to Lucy Lane and Imra Ardeen. They will be with you, Ms. Willis. You and Gayle will have some overlap as well. And Gayle, you will be advising Nia Nal. She has very unique capabilities, Ms. Marsh. Take heed.”

J’onn clears his throat and stands as Cat takes her seat again. “All of you were chosen specifically for this task and this committee. We expect a great deal from you and know you can rise to the occasion. Having said that, please know that we are here to assist you should the need arise. If you need help with anything along the way, no matter what it is, make sure you reach out. Is that understood?”

His dark brown eyes scan the room as his powers scan their thoughts to make sure he is indeed being understood. “Good. Now, I would suggest all of you stay and start working on some ideas. In the grand scheme of things, you really only have 18 months to prepare for their arrival. Cat and I will let you know if any of them decline our invitation. If you don’t have any further questions, the meeting is adjourned.”

With the continued silence in the room, both Cat and J’onn gather their files and head back to their own offices. Both lost in thought and wondering what the next few years will  bring. She does have a few concerns about what she knows are a few dark secrets lurking in the halls of this place and the two potential top candidates they're  recruiting, but she can’t deny that she is more excited than she has been in centuries. Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor could change the fae world as they know it. She just hopes some things remain secret.

January, 2021 - Apartment of Lena Luthor and Samantha Arias just off the MIT Campus; Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sam barrels through the door of the apartment she shares with her best friend, hands full of coffee and the mail she just collected on her way back from class. “Luthor! Lena!!” She yells. “Where the hell are you?”

“Jesus, Sam! What the fuck?!” Lena peeks her head around the doorframe of the office they share, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. “Is the building on fire? Is something chasing you? Why the hell are you screaming?”

Sam just chuckles as she drops everything on the island in the spacious three bedroom apartment they’ve lived in together since graduating high school. She sighs. She knows they will both be sad to leave it behind after graduation at the end of the summer. Neither have any idea what they want to do yet, but plan to take the rest of the year, September through December to travel and figure it out. They deserve a break, after all. As she drops everything on the island, she sees two letters mixed into the pile. One addressed to each of them from none other than the Carterhaugh-Wood Academy. Shaking her head she stares at the envelopes in curiosity.

“Hey, don’t get your underwear in a twist, princess! I was just excited to see you and wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight. But first, look at this.” She glides over to the dark-haired woman still stationed in the doorway. “We both got something from Carterhaugh-Wood. Did you actually apply without telling your best friend?" Sam pouts.

Lena grabs the letter and stares at it with a very puzzled look on her face. “Of course not, Sam. I would have told you if I had. You know that." She says gently. "To be honest, it hadn’t occurred to me to apply. It isn’t a terrible idea. They have some archives and research I would love to get my hands on. I just hadn’t thought of it. What do you think it’s for? I mean, what could they want?”

Sam shrugs and grabs the letter opener off her desk to pry hers open, gently passing the piece of metal off to her best friend as she pulls the letter free. Her face scrunches and her lips purse as hazelnut eyes scan the words in front of her. “Wow. This is interesting. I never thought about applying either, but it looks like they want to recruit us anyway. According to this, they want me to start with the next class in January, 2022. If I accept…room, board, all texts and supplies will be covered. Plus, I will get a monthly stipend on top of it. Holy shit, Lena!" She exclaims, slapping at the ravenette’s arm. "They’re offering to give me $4,000 a month on top of covering all the usual living expenses.” Her eyes are wide as she glances up at her roommate. “What does yours say?”

Lena pulls her letter from the envelope and scans over it. She shakes her head and raises her emerald eyes to look at her friend. “More or less the same as yours. The last part says that upon completion of the two year academy, we are basically guaranteed a job within the realm of the fae or an undercover human role. Sam, this could be exactly what we have been looking for. Can you imagine the type of research we could do and how much good we could do in the world?! The type of technology that this academy has access to is unmatched! Why haven't we considered this before?!”

The brunette laughs at her raven-haired friend and shakes her head. The excitement etched across her porcelain features is one of the cutest things she’s seen from her in a long time. It’s almost child-like. Something she hasn’t witnessed on Lena’s face since they first met in boarding school all those years ago when Lena was only thirteen. God, that seems like eons ago. Here they are, both about to graduate with dual PhD’s from MIT. Warmth spreads in her chest and she suddenly has a lot of  hope for their future.

January, 2021 - Apartment of Alex  and Kara Danvers just off the CalTech Campus; Pasadena, California.

Kara lets out a dramatic sigh as she unlocks the apartment door after a dreadfully long day on campus. The workload is heavy enough with two PhD programs at the same time, but she just had to volunteer to tutor some of the undergrad students, too. To say she is relieved to be home is a gross understatement. She barely gets her shoes off and bag dropped by the couch before she hears Alex’s key in the door. She pulls the door back open and has to stifle her laugh when her sister almost faceplants on the floor.

“Seriously, Kara! I could have broken my nose! What’s wrong with you?!” The redhead scowls. “See if I bring you takeout again. Asshole.”

Kara lets out a breathy laugh as she takes the bag from her sister and closes the door. “I was just trying to help! Calm down.  Why are you always so, bristly, Alex? Gosh.”

Alex just glares at her as they both walk toward the couch and drop down onto it with a sigh of relief. “I cannot wait until the end of the year to be done with this and figure out what we’re going to do next. Speaking of, have you thought about it?”

The blonde glances at her sister and shakes her head. “A little, I guess. I talked to Eliza about working for her company, but I also kind of want to travel a bit or find something outside of what we’ve always known. Ya know?”

“Yeah. I get it. Me too. My friend Vasquez works for this agency that does a lot of research for various biotech companies. I may reach out to her and see what she thinks about me applying there. Not sure yet though. Oh, I grabbed the mail on the way in.” Alex reaches out to grab the mail as Kara starts dishing up the takeout.

She hears Alex grumble something and turns to see what she is griping about, popping a potsticker into her mouth. Realizing her mistake, she pauses to chew and swallow before asking. “What are you mumbling about, Alex?”

As she looks up and makes eye contact with her sister, an envelope gets shoved into her greasy hands. “What the heck, Alex?! My hands are greasy, you jerk.” She sits the envelope down to wipe her hands when she realizes who the letter is from. Her eyes bolt back up to Alex’s.

“Yeah. That’s what I was grumbling about. What do you think they want? I know we talked about applying there a couple years ago, but I never did it. Did you?” She asks the blonde with a concerned lilt in her voice.

“Alex, come on. You know if I did, I would tell you beforehand. Do you think they’re recruiting us? They recruited Clark when he was still in college. Maybe that’s what this is?” She could feel the dreaded crinkle on her forehead broadcasting her anxiety, but couldn’t do anything to stop it. “I mean, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. They have some of the biggest, most accurate archives known to the free world. Plus, can you imagine the technology and research we would have access to! Alex, we could do tons of cool things!”

Alex laughs and runs her finger underneath the lip of her envelope as Kara does the same. Both women scan over the words as their eyes collectively get wider with each passing second. The redhead lets out a soft gasp and looks back at her sister. “Kara, this is something we almost can’t refuse. Do you see this? We could actually make money while we are there! They want to give us a monthly stipend on top of everything!”

The blonde is blankly looking at the letter in front of her. She knows her mouth is likely gaping open without her permission, but she can’t help it. “Alex. I think we know what we're gonna be doing after graduation. Guess we better start getting our response ready. Holy wow! We’re going to Carterhaugh-Wood!!”

July, 2021 - Somewhere near the border of Scotland; Carterhaugh-Wood Academy & Training Center, administration conference room.

The clicking of heels and the sound of muffled voices fill the hallway outside the conference room as Cat glides confidently through the door. It’s more or less six months away from the beginning of the next round of training and the deadline for all candidates to give their responses has just passed. The committee is just beyond the doors in front of her and, thankfully, all of their coveted recruits and candidates have responded in agreement to attend. Now she has to make sure the curriculum is set and the texts, supplies, and whatever else is needed, have been taken care of. Nothing can stand in the way of these candidates’ success.

That reminds her, she needs to check in with J’onn after the meeting, making sure certain things are buried very deeply in the archives to prevent their discovery. She doesn’t necessarily want to keep the information hidden, just really hard to find. It seems more honest that way, but she knows it would be best if it remains where it is until this class graduates. Maybe even longer. She sighs. Cat is a lot of things, but deceit isn't a tactic she has employed in a long time. Her integrity is quite crucial for her role at the institution. However, she doesn’t think anything good will come from these secrets being discovered. She sighs again, straightens her spine, and opens the door with her usual haughtiness.

“Good morning, everyone. Let’s get started. We all have important things to do and places to be.” She glances around and takes her seat. “J’onn, can you stay afterward for a few minutes or meet me back in my office to discuss a few things?”

Dark brown eyes lock onto hers. She can feel him pressing into her thoughts and allows it. He raises a brow and tilts his head to the side as he sifts through her mind. “Of course. I have to teach a class at one, but we can meet after. Your office at 2:30 this afternoon?”

She nods her head and turns her attention to the rest of the group seated around her. “Today is a good day. All of our candidates have agreed to start in January. Each of you has a copy of the acceptance letters. Please read over them and put them in the files you already have on each new trainee. Now is the time to let me know if there are any issues with the curriculum or related materials. We have just under six months before everyone will be at orientation. So, let’s get started, shall we?”

Cat looks up when she hears a soft knock on her office door. J’onn is standing there with his signature stern smile. She nods her head for permission to enter as he does so and closes the door behind him. The tiny woman leans back in her chair and taps the arm of her glasses on her bottom teeth.

She signals for J’onn to take a seat in the chair opposite her and places her glasses back on her nose. “I think you know what I asked you here to talk about, right?

Dark eyes connect with blue ones across the expanse of the desk between them.

“I do.” He nods and allows the silence to settle before speaking again. “Four of our new trainees have connections in their pasts that we have to be careful about. Given the skills and levels of intelligence they have, it will not be an easy task. We can bury them a little deeper in the archives and put an encrypted key on them. However, it will be a matter of time before they get to it. You and I both know they will, eventually.”

Cat knows he’s right. The best they can do is bury the information in an obscure place with encrypted protection and hope they are deterred long enough to at least get through the program first. “You’re right. We can only hope they are busy enough with the program and don’t have the time to focus on it. Let’s just hope they don’t get too curious. If they start pulling at the threads and team up, we’re screwed.”

J’onn can’t help the laugh that escapes him as he listens to Cat finish her thoughts. Not because it is even remotely funny, but because the truth in that statement scares the absolute fuck out of him. “Yes, let’s hope.”

September, 2021 - Somewhere in the Greek Isles on the beach.

Lena glances over the top of the book she is reading at her best friend lying next to her on the beach lounger. She can’t believe they are both doctors now. They’re finished with school, soaking in the sunny leisure of the Greek Isles, and set to start Carterhaugh-Wood in January. If someone had asked her younger self, she wouldn’t have believed this was possible.  Yet, here she is. Happy. Relaxed. Ready to begin the next chapter of her life. Getting her freedom from her evil brother and mother…no, not mother. She had a real mother. Lillian is a monster. Lex, well, he is just an extension of what Lillian is, but possibly worse if she thinks about it. He’s a lot more charming than Lillian. He’s more of a wolf in sheep's clothing.  

She shakes her head. How the hell did she go from thinking about how happy and relaxed she was to those two? They certainly don’t deserve her thoughts. Not after the way they treated her. She’s suddenly drawn out of her thoughts when something pelts her in the forehead.

“Oww. What the fuck, Sam?!” She rubs her skin and glares at her best friend. “Why are you throwing shit at me?! What are you, twelve?”

Sam just laughs. “Sorry, sorry. You were just staring at me and then I could tell you got lost in a thought spiral. So, I fixed it!”

She laughs even harder as Lena starts picking up random things and tossing them at her. It shouldn’t, but when she gets her best friend to act like this, it makes her seriously giddy. When they first met, Lena was the most serious and quiet thirteen year-old she had ever met. The teen was more mature than even she was at sixteen. While that isn’t saying much because well, she was sixteen, Lena acted more like an old lady than some of their teachers. So yeah, seeing her act her age right now is a source of tremendous joy.

“Hey, for real, what had you so stuck in your head, Kieran? I haven’t seen you like that in a while. Care to share?” She watched her friend closely. This could go one of two ways - deflection or sincerity. She wasn’t sure which would win out.

The green-eyed woman paused and dropped her eyes to her lap for a moment before subtly nodding her head. She locked her eyes onto Sam’s and shifted her body toward her before she spoke. “At first, I was thinking about how happy and relaxed I felt. But then Lex and Lillian crashed the party again." She says self-deprecatingly. "Getting my freedom from them truly couldn't come at a better time. I hate that I lost my father, but at least he made sure I wouldn't be dependent on them anymore."

The brunette reaches out and gently squeezes Lena’s hand. “I’m glad too, Lena. You didn’t deserve to be subjected to them and I hate that you had to live in that hellscape for so many years. I’m just glad we met and got to room together. You had me to corrupt you! What more could you ask for?”

They both laughed and let the silence and the warm breeze wrap them in an embrace that carried the somber thoughts away. They didn’t have much more time to enjoy themselves and wanted to soak up every bit of their freedom before entering the doors at Carterhaugh-Wood. They both somehow knew their lives were about to change forever.

Mid-December, 2021 - The Danvers home; Midvale, California.

Alex pulls into the long drive and takes a deep breath as she shuts off the moving truck. She and Kara didn’t have much time to get their whole apartment packed up and make the trip from Pasadena to Midvale. It isn’t a terrible drive between the two cities, but doing it in a moving truck makes it take longer and definitely makes it infinitely more stressful than either of them would have liked. Not only is the truck big and clunky, they also have their shared car attached to the back of it. To say that she is glad to finally be in their childhood driveway is an understatement. They now only have approximately five weeks to figure out what they are taking with them to Carterhaugh-Wood and what they need to store at the house in front of them. As much as the two of them want to travel a little before starting their training, they know it isn’t feasible.

“Hey, wake up, Kara. We’re here. Kara!” The redhead pokes her sister in the forehead and shakes her shoulder. ”Wake up! We have to say hi to mom and unload the truck.”

The blonde finally opens her eyes and blink owlishly at her surroundings before stretching. A giant yawn cracks her jaw before she is awake enough to speak. “Ugh. Unloading the truck sounds like a terrible idea, Alex. Why can’t we do it tomorrow?” She whines as they both get out of the truck.

Alex rolls her eyes, even though she knows her sister can’t see it, it’s the principle of it. “Kara, you know we have to have the truck turned in by ten in the morning. Do you want to get up early enough to unload everything and have the truck back by ten? Because I have known you most of your life and I know you are not a morning person. So, if you are okay with getting up at the ass-crack of dawn and unloading it, go for it.”

Alex makes her way around the back of the truck to unlatch the car and park it next to her mom’s car. The sooner she gets moving on this, the better. She really just wants to eat her mom’s famous lasagna, shower, and go to bed, but knows she has to prioritize. Now if she can just get her sister in gear. She peeks her head around the passenger side to see that the blonde is finally making her way to the back of the truck with their mother in tow.

“Hey, mom!” Alex says as she jogs up to give Eliza a hug. “I forgot how much of a pain in the ass driving a moving truck is.”

Eliza chuckles and gives her daughters each a kiss on the cheek. “Language, Alexandra. I am glad you made it safely. Was the drive okay?”

Kara chimes in as Alex unlocks the roll-up door on the truck. “It wasn’t horrible. Just long. It’s not so bad when we are in the car, but that truck is just a behemoth! Plus, the initial traffic getting off campus was gross.”

They make idle conversation as they unload the truck into piles of what needs to go where. A majority of the furniture is going into the finished basement since they had taken most of it from there when they left for college anyway. The rest of it is going into their bedroom and guest rooms to sort through over the next month. Figuring out what to take with them is going to be an exercise in patience. Especially since Kara is such a sentimental sap that struggles to part with things. Getting her to part with something for two years is going to be a serious pain in the ass for Alex. It took her longer than she cares to admit getting Kara to reduce what she took when they left for college. Now they're going to be continents away.

As the sun is setting, the truck is finally empty. The last of the boxes are stowed away and ready for them to deal with later. They head into the house and shed their shoes at the door. Both sisters sigh as their shoulders sag from the long day of travel and heavy lifting. The mouth-watering aroma of fresh pasta lures them toward the kitchen before either even realize it, too excited to have their first home cooked meal in a while. Conversation is light and jovial, catching up with Eliza and learning about all the new projects she’s working on. Kara and Alex help clean up, pack what little leftovers away, and tell their mother goodnight before heading up to their shared childhood bedroom.

“Phew, I am beat. I feel like I could sleep for a week, Alex.” Kara says, settling into bed. She shifts around for a moment, and then right on cue lets out a little squeal and kicks her legs like an excited toddler, completely contradicting her claims of exhaustion. “I can’t believe we’re finally doctors! I mean, I know we worked our butts off, but it still doesn’t seem real. Ya know? And, in a few weeks, we’re going to be a world away from everything we’ve ever known. I’m excited, but also a little bit scared. Are you?” Kara looked over at her sister as she rolled over onto her side.

Alex pulls the covers over herself and rolls to her side as well. “I’m definitely excited. Maybe a little scared too, but mostly excited. It’ll be cool to see new places and be able to learn more about our species. I mean, mom has taught us a lot, but being able to have access to some of the biggest and oldest research archives related to the fae as a whole will be so fucking cool.” Alex pauses before continuing. “Plus, part of me wants to see if I can find anything out about dad. He worked so closely with one of the headmasters so there has to be something there, right?”

“I’ve thought about that too. Wondering if there is anything there about my parents or Jeremiah. Surely there is something. Even if it’s just a tiny breadcrumb, at least that is more than we know now.” She makes sure her sister is looking her in the eye before she continues. “We just need to be careful, Alex. We both know that what happened to my parents and Jeremiah is shrouded in secrecy. I don’t want either of us to get in trouble before we even have a chance to make our way. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I can use the money we’ll be getting. It will go a long way in starting out in life and I don’t want to ruin it before I get the chance to enjoy it. So, promise me we will at least wait until we settle in and get a feel for the way things work before we start a side project. Okay? Promise, Alex.” Kara looks at her sister with wide blue eyes and her cute little pouty, puppy face.

“Ugh. Fine, Kara!” Alex sighs and pulls the duvet over her head. “Just put that fucking pout away. That thing is deadly!”

The blonde laughs and pulls her own duvet up as she snuggles into the mattress to try to get some sleep. She has no idea what the next two years will bring, but knows she is definitely ready to find out.

Mid-December, 2021 - The Arias Residence; Metropolis, New York.

Sam and Lena try to relax at the Arias Estate after storing most of their belongings in the basement. They’re currently sorting through their clothing, electronics, and books, trying to decide what to take with them for their journey to Carterhaugh-Wood. When Lionel died, Lena removed all of her belongings from the Luthor Estate as quickly as she could. She knew she had to get everything out of there before Lillian tried to get her hands on anything she valued. Fortunately, Sam’s father let her move everything here prior to the two of them moving to Cambridge for college. Storing everything here while they are at the academy is much the same and she is incredibly grateful Sam’s father has somewhat taken on Lionel’s role. As distant as he is from Sam, he at least treats Lena the same, much like his own daughter.

“Hey, where’s your dad?” Lena asks. “Have you talked to him since graduation?”

Sam looks up from her task and tilts her head. “I talked to him when we got back from our trip to let him know we were having everything delivered here, but not since. I figure we will see him sometime this week and for sure for Christmas. He’s probably at work. Same as always. That’s where he spends most of his time anyway.” The brunette hesitates for a moment before continuing. “I still can’t believe he went to work for The Luthor Company after your dad died. It doesn’t make sense to me. He left a lucrative position with a reputable company to work with Lex and Lillian? Something about that doesn’t sit right with me. Every time I try to ask him about it, he deflects and changes the subject. I know he’s a good man, but the fact that he is working with those two makes me wonder and I hate it.”

Lena quietly listens to the taller woman. She has often wondered that same thing and has no idea why a brilliant scientist and reputable man like Samuel Arias would choose to work for the devil and her spawn. It’s a subject they haven’t spoken much about, but have both often questioned independently. “Yeah, I agree, Sam. Something about it is suspicious. Have you ever wondered if he and Lionel figured something out before he died?” The dark-haired genius wavers a bit before continuing. “It’s just weird that Lionel dies and your dad leaves his position at Loki Tech to work for my evil family. I wish I had been able to get more out of the house after Lionel died. I know there was something in his office that they didn’t want me to get my hands on. Lex hovered around me like a buzzard when I went in there to get some of my father’s books. If I hadn’t wanted to get out of there as fast as I could, I would have poked around a bit more. There’s no way that this is just a coincidence, Sam.”

“We’re on the same page, Kieran. There is a rat somewhere and I think my dad might know something. We need to figure out a way to get some information from him before we leave. Let’s snoop around in his office while he is at work this week. There’s bound to be something we can find.” Sam sighs. She has often thought her father knows more than he is letting on. A mischievous smile spreads across her lips. “He’s pretty good at keeping his cards close to the vest, but between the two of us, I think we can get him to share something. Though, it might take a bit of the good scotch to get him talking.”

Lena chuckles and shakes her head at her best friend. “I won’t say no to the good scotch! And, snooping around in your dad’s office has always been fun, Sam. We both know he will be long gone when we wake up in the morning anyway. Do you think he knows something about Lionel’s death? The timing of him going to work for the family company is just weird. Add that to the fact that his death was suspicious…” She pauses to blink the tears away. “Anyway, I feel like there is so much that we aren’t being told and I fucking hate it.”

Sam walks over to her friend and wraps her in a warm hug. Releasing her, she lets her hands slide down pale arms, and latch onto delicate hands. “I know, Lena. Between both of our mothers disappearing, your father dying under odd circumstances, and my dad suddenly changing companies, there’s too much for it all to be a coincidence.” She rests a comforting hand on Lena’s cheek, pats it, and pulls away. “My gut says there is at least a connection between Lionel’s death and my dad going to work for the Luthors. The company my dad worked for prior to that did a lot of work for the fae elders. I know he traveled to Carterhaugh-Wood and met with Catherine Grant, one of the headmasters several times. We both know that he and Lionel were good friends. Do you know if Lionel ever traveled with him?”

“I don’t know for sure since I was at boarding school for so many of his trips, but I know he mentioned traveling with your dad a few times. Never about where they went, but he did talk about them traveling together.” The emerald eyed beauty tilts her head, grabs Sam’s hands, and stares at her best friend. “Wait, Sam, do you think we might be able to dig around in the archives at the academy? Do you think there might be something there? I want to see if I can find anything out about my mother, Elizabeth anyway, but if there is even a slight chance that there is anything about my father, I want to know.” The dark-haired woman squeezes tan hands and steps back to her pile of books. She desperately wants to know more about her mother, but she also wants to know what happened to her father. She is absolutely convinced his death was not of natural causes like it was claimed. Her gut instinct is that Lillian had something to do with it. Those archives could hold the key to unlocking years of unanswered questions.

The brunette sighs and locks her hazel eyes onto the hazy green of her best friend. “Who knows if that place has the answers we want. I think that if any place would, it’s there. But, Lena, we have to be careful. There is no telling what we could find and how much danger it could put us in.” She holds her hand up to stop the incoming protest. “I’m not saying we won’t look, but promise me we’ll wait until we adjust to the place first. We need to figure out how things work before we start pulling threads to things we don’t know about. Please, promise me. Okay?”

The pale beauty nods her head and reaches out to squeeze Sam’s forearm. “You have my word, Sam. We’ll wait, but just know that I plan to dig around in those archives. With or without you, I am going to be looking. There’s no way I can pass up an opportunity like that.”

She raises her eyebrow at the woman standing across from her and dares her to say anything different. They have both lived through some serious trauma and have helped each other achieve more than either ever thought possible already. If she has the chance to dig into the two evil monsters that are still alive and find out more about her biological parents or what happened to them, she’s taking it. Even if Sam doesn’t help, she’s going to dig.

Sam laughs, pulls her best friend close again, and squeezes tight. “Oh my dear Kieran, I would expect nothing less. Not even close.”

Remaining chapters on AO3: Carterhaugh-Wood Academy (Fae AU)

@supercorpbb

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[wandafiction]

Lunch Date - Just Us Chapter 17

Warnings: Fluff, Humour.

Word Count: 2860

Series List | Chapter 16 | Chapter 18

================================

I had my head buried in piles of paperwork that had accumulated on my desk from the previous day because I had decided to spend the day with Carol instead of coming to work, but I'm the boss so I can do that every once in a while. I was sort of hoping maybe one of my associates would have been able to sign a few of these things off. Unfortunately, that is not how this was going to work because we were going to be signing on a group of new scientists who had just finished school, apprentices as you will and I am going over their applications with a fine tooth comb. Tony also emailed me about 3 of the 100 candidates and how they are the best of the best. Top grades can just get on with their work, give them something to fiddle with and they fiddle. Give them one of our gadgets and tell them to fix it, they can fix it. So that's who's profile I am currently looking at. 

Peter Parker

Ned Leeds 

Michelle Jones

They all went to the same school, all got into trouble here and there for working on science projects not condoned by the school board but proved they were willing to take risks. I like them! My search is put on pause when my office phone rings, the name on the screen showing my assistant.

"Good afternoon, Boss." The cheery voice echoes through the phone.

"Good afternoon Mantis."

"I have a Miss Maximoff waiting downstairs for you, reception thought they best phone up before sending her up. She says she has an appointment but I don't see one in your schedule." 

"It's not on the books Mantis because it's lunch. Get them to send her up, get Drax to escort her to my office, tell him not to pretend to be camouflage this time." I hear Mantis laugh down the line.

"Of course Boss I will get them to send her up right away." 

A few minutes later there is a light knock at the door, before it opens slightly and Mantis pops her head in the gap. I simply nod at her and she opens up the door, and in enters Drax and Wanda. When I see Wanda I have a large smile on my face that actually hurts my face muscles. 

"You're free to go Drax, just close the door behind you." Drax's eyes go wide.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Just because you stand still and silent doesn't mean you're camouflaged."

"But it works on everyone."

"I'm not everyone though Drax." 

"Hah! No you're not. Right, I will leave you to it boss." 

"Thank you Drax, don't slam the door on your way o...too late." I let out a small laugh as the door slams and I hear Drax's voice through the door as he lets out a small sorry. I turn to Wanda who has a matching smile on her face. "Good afternoon princess."

"Afternoon dorogoy." She lets her accent slip out, god I love that accent. "Should I be offended that I was not in your calendar?" 

"Well maybe I want to keep you as my dirty little secret for a while."

"Oh yeah?" She quirks an eyebrow as she sits on the chair on the other side of my desk laying a few containers on the desk.

"Yeah. You know, sneaking you in and out of the building these super secret meetings." 

"Hmm, and what would these super secret meetings consist of?" She grabs some plastic plates from her bag, wow this woman is prepared.

"Well today's meeting is about food, what do you want the meetings to be about princess?" I see a blush grow on her face and I give her a sly smirk. "Oh, do you like the idea of being a dirty secret? Sneaking around maybe allowing me to bend you over the desk and taking you right here in my office, or you under the desk between my legs." 

"You keep talking like that and we are skipping food." I laugh out loud.

"Unfortunately not today princess, I mean you have to be able to walk back into work without limping." She bites her lip at the thought before pushing my food in front of me. "So what have you made for me princess?" 

"Nothing special unfortunately, just some leftovers from last night with fruit and salad. I am used to cooking for 3 people so I cooked way to much last night." 

"Well whatever it is looks lovely." I scoop some of the food put onto my plate, ready to eat but waiting for Wanda to dish her food up. "Do we need to heat it up at all? I have a microwave in the mini kitchen."

"You have a kitchen in your office?" She looks around, not being able to see it so I point to one of the few doors in the room. "And yeah it's better hot "

"Okay, well follow me to the kitchen then. I only have it because I sometimes work here for days on end, so instead of starving to death I can at least cook. Cooking is a nice break from the work as well so it's a win win. Don't die of starvation, and get to relax."

I lead Wanda into a small kitchen, it literally has a couple of cupboards, an oven and microwave, but also a coffee machine for when I really need to stay awake and a fridge freezer of course. I grab Wanda's plate first by placing it into the microwave and setting it for about 4 minutes. I can see it has chicken in it so it needs to be piping hot. No food poisoning for us. No thank you. I turn to the coffee machine adding in a pod of my choice, caramel latte because you cannot go wrong with one of them...and they are my favourite. 

The beautiful aroma of the food being cooked, well reheated, spreads around the room. I recognise the smell, but will have to taste it to be sure but with Wanda being sokovian it wouldn't surprise me if she has cooked chicken paprikash. As the coffee machine is finishing off my drink, the microwave beeps so I take out Wanda's food, give it a stir and put it back in for 2 minutes then head back to my coffee which is now ready.

"What would you like?" I realise we have been stood in silence, as once again Wanda just observed me like she is in some sort of trance.

"Sorry, what?" She blinks a couple times coming back to reality.

"What coffee would you like?"

"Does that thing make iced lattes?"

"It does. Any flavours?" She nods and points to the caramel. "Good because it was that or nothing." 

The microwave beeps once again as I start the coffee machine to make Wanda's drink, I shuffle over to the microwave using a tea towel to take it out and place it on the counter. I grab a proper plate from one of the cupboards and transfer Wanda's food onto it. I slide the plate over to where Wanda is standing while pouring my food into a microwaveable dish and putting it in for four minutes, just like I did for Wanda's.

"That smells really good princess, can't wait to try it." She covers her mouth with her hand when she goes to speak.

"Well it's my favourite, so I really hope you like it. It's something special from Sokovia." 

"I believe it's Chicken Paprikash, right?" Wanda smiles at me as she takes another bite.

"It is. How did you know?" 

"Don't forget I've travelled to Sokovia." The coffee machine finishes off her drink and I hand it over. "There's a nice place there where the Old Sokovian witches, well that's what they call themselves, make the meal from scratch. I believe the place is called the coven."

"You've been to the coven? Wow, normally they don't let anyone who is Sokovian inside." I shrug at her with a small smile. "What did you do?" 

"I may or may not have saved the head 'witches' grandson after he got shot by one of ultrons men. Let's just say I was made an honorary Sokovian after that as I then took down the guy, saved the child's life and paid for anything the child needed afterwards. No child should go through that." 

"And here I thought you just travelled there for business to add more to your account." Okay ouch, but I guess from many stories of millionaires who don't share their wealth or do good by their wealth paint this picture for the rest of us. "Sorry not that you don't help, and give money. I just guess, I don't. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that." 

"It's okay Wanda." The microwave pings, as I think of what to say next I stir my food, placing it back in for a bit longer. "What's your take on my wealth? Like does it bother you?" 

"I thought it would, but I guess with how much you help with your money I can't really judge you for being a good business woman. I'm also not in this for the money if that's also what you want to ask. I have no interest in using you as my sugar daddy, well sugar mama I guess. I mean of course I would love to be spoiled but I'm not after your money." 

"That's not what I expected to hear, but also it was." Wanda gives me the 'that makes no sense' look but before I can explain myself the microwave interrupts.

Damn microwave. I hold up my finger to let Wanda know all will be explained in a moment as I walk to the microwave taking my food out, giving it a small smell and letting out a happy sigh. This shit smells good, looks good and made by a Sokovian so it's going to taste so fucking good, my mouth is watering just at the sight of it my taste buds very excited to be having this once again. I usher Wanda out of the kitchen, both of us with drinks and food in our hands, placing it down on the desk. I clear off the paperwork by putting it in one of my filing boxes and sticking it on top of the filing cabinet and close the lid of my laptop, and turn off my computer screens so there are no distractions on this lunch date.

I stab my fork into my chicken, I can feel Wanda's eyes on me waiting for my reaction. I bring it slowly to my mouth, leaning over my ate looking at Wanda through my eyelashes as I bring my fork mouth slowly biting off the chicken. I chew a few times and fling my head onto the back of my chair and moan at the taste as it almost devolves in my mouth. The chicken is cooked perfectly, I can taste all the herbs and flavours in the sauce. This is fucking amazing! I look back to Wanda after swallowing to see her blushing heavily, I point my fork at her then at the food.

"Speechless." I take another bite as a big grin covers Wanda's face, her eyes almost closing her nose scrunched. HOLY SHIT, SHE SCRUNCHED HER NOSE! Cute!

"Good speechless? Or bad speechless?" 

"This is fucking delicious Wanda. It's fucking amazing. I mean it literally melted in my mouth. This is on par if not better than when I went to the coven." Her jaw drops at my admission.

"I knew it was good. But now you're just lying, nothing is better than the coven."

"Well this is." I take a bite, then another. "You have to cook this on Saturday, please." I give her my best puppy dog eyes and pout.

"I can't say no to those eyes." She leans across the desk to peck my lips a couple of times till my pout turns into a smile.

"Pouting gets me kisses. Noted." 

"You're a cute dorogoy." 

"I know." I swing in my chair like a child as she laughs at my reply. "You're cute too princess." 

"Good save." She winks at me as she continues to eat her food moaning herself as she eats it. "You're right this is so good. It doesn't matter how many times I eat and cook this, it seems to get better every time." 

"Well I mean maybe it's because I'm not actually Sokovian, but mine never tastes this good." Wanda hums in thought as I take another bite.

"But you're an honorary Sokovian so I'm sure it tastes just as good." I twist my lips thinking about it. No mine will never be this good.

"Nope. You add a secret ingredient and I can't put my finger on it." A take another bite, taking my time to chew to see if I can figure it out.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Who knows." I look up at her through squinted eyes and point my fork, that has a bit of chicken on it, towards her.

"What's your secret?" Wanda rolls her eyes, leaning forward to steal the chicken off my fork smirking at me as she swallows my mouth agape in shock. So I lean over the desk, stab my fork into a piece of her chicken and eat it. 

"That secret is for me to know and for you, well, it's for me to know." 

"Har har, so funny using my words against me. Really you're hilarious." I state sarcastically as I take another bite of my chicken.

"You will get to know my secret ingredient when I know your secret ingredient." 

"So if I was to say my secret ingredient is my love for making them, what would you say?" She tilts her head giving me an unamused look.

"I would say, I'm not dumb and you're not getting the answer from me."

"Fine, keep your secrets. I like this mysterious thing you've got going on." Wanda laughs out loud as she shakes her head at me through her laughs.

"You're such an idiot, if I'm mysterious you're just as mysterious miss secret keeper." 

I gently place my fork on my plate, wiping my mouth with a bit of kitchen towel and lean back into my desk chair letting out a satisfied sigh. Wanda does the same a few moments later, both of us just basking in the silence and each other's company. Every now and again we catch each other staring and we send a smile to each other as we both end up blushing. It's kind of cute and relaxing. Not going to lie. 

We are brought out of our quiet bubble by a knock at the door. I look at the clock on the wall, Holy shit it's just turned 2! Wanda is late getting back. I clear my throat before telling the person behind the door to come in.

"Sorry to interrupt Boss, Miss Maximoff. But your 2 o'clock has just turned up." Wanda looks up at the clock herself and stands to start packing away.

"Who's my 2 o'clock again, Mantis?" I say as I smooth out my suit and help Wanda to pack up her stuff.

"Your meeting is with Nebula." 

"About the security stuff right?" Without my laptop I'm not always the best at remembering who I have a meeting with and when because I have so many meetings.

"Yes Boss it is."

"Thank you Mantis. Can you show Miss Maximoff out once she leaves."

"Of course Boss. I will be outside." With that she leaves, closing the door gently behind her.

"Sorry that our date has to end like this, I completely lost track of time." I say as I wipe down my desk now Wanda has packed everything back up. She makes her way over to me cupping my face with her hands.

"Don't be, I lost track of time too. I had a really good time." She stands on her tiptoes pecking my lips a couple of times, but I end up deeping it, capturing her lips between mine.

 As I pull away I bring her bottom lip with me realising it with a pop. Rubs her lips together licking slightly with her tongue, her eyes shiny with an emotion I can't quite read.

"I will see you on Saturday dorogoy. I'm home all day, so come over whenever." She pecks my lips again.

"I will see you Saturday princess. Now off you go." I peck her lips a couple of times until she smiles which makes me smile. 

She kisses me one last time before turning towards the door. Wanda opens the door but turns around to face me and sends me a kiss so I send one right back. Her smile widens and she practically bounces out of the room, closing the door behind her. 

I'm really falling for this woman, and I can't stop. I just hope she feels the same.

================================

[meowdei]

hiiiii River!!! I so love this game you’re hosting hehe 💞 I think in genshin I’d have a pyro vision, and in terms of what weapon I’d have…..maybe a grimoire? I feel like it would suit me to just use magic like that (and if all else fails; smack someone with the book DVZBSBZBBS)

and also ily because I think you’re incredibly kindhearted and welcoming and talented and cool and hot!!!!!! There’s so many reasons it’s hard to narrow them down 🥹❤️

ANDY CANDY WELCOME TO MY ASK GAME ILY HEHE pls I giggled at the smacking with a book part 💀 that’ll always be an option if all else goes to chaos 🙏

But for youuuuu as a pyro character with a catalyst (WE NEED MORE OF THOSE!!! Why is it only Klee and yanfei????) I think you’d be a sub dps who also shields. I THINK sort of similar to baizhu’s kit but you don’t heal. And no, this isn’t because you’re a baizhu girlie hehe I just always wanted a pyro catalyst with a kit like this so you’re the perfect candidate BUT it would be cute if you both were catalyst users that scaled off HP together as a couple wouldn’t it???

But the basics of your kit would be:

HP scaling pyro sub dps that has a shield. Just like baizhu, it’s not the world’s strongest shield bc I think it’s a nice extra feature for the sake of interruption resistance and not as an actual full blown sustain. But the shield scales off HP and you’d definitely need crit stats

I’d make you with a 5 star crit rate catalyst weapon user that ascends with crit dmg as your base stat, and you’d need an HP sands, pyro goblet, and crit circlet. Your main dmg would be your skill off field SO I think maybe golden troupe 4 pc would be your best set anddddd essentially I would make you what everyone BEGGED mavuika to be in terms of pyro applicator who deals dmg off field too. It would be so cute if your burst made a pyro shield and ur skill idk maybe shot little sparks every few seconds to nearby opponents or something and did decent dmg, but also just applied pyro for REACTIONS. We need that desperately. This is I think most optimal for a pyro sub dps that we DESERVE bc Jesus out options are so unnecessarily limited so . ANDY CANDY TO THE RESCUE

My kinich would need you desperately in abyss 🥹🙏

[victor-rookwood]

Goodday Mr. Rookwood,

I’ve just obtained my qualification from the Quikspell Administrative Magic course, and I was wondering, being as you’re one of the largest employers in the area, whether you had any Administrative employment openings? Accountant, or Secretary, Stock manager, that sort of thing?

I greatly appreciate your time, and I’m looking forward to your earliest reply.

Thank you so much for your inquiry. We will happily accept your resume should an opening in our administrative department arise.

That said, while I'm sure you're more than qualified, the Ministry has expressed certain... expectations for Rookwood Group staffing distribution.

I'm no stickler for rules but, as they say, it's prudent at times to mind the small rules so you can break the big ones.

Well, at least I say that.

Anyway, as a result of Ministry pressure encouragement, the Rookwood Group has earned our certification as a "Best Employer in Wizarding Britain for Applicants of Age and Colour."

However, should you not meet those particular parameters, your resume will still be considered.

But... perhaps a pretty witch such as yourself might be interested in a different kind of position. As my maid.

This place is a pigsty.

The successful candidate is at my sole discretion as this will be within my personal employ rather than with the organization.

The benefits will be exceptional, I assure you.

Inquire within.

[commanderjuni]

💣 CHARACTER TALK | TECHNICIAN LAFF

dw abt me recycling a character name i do it all the time /lh

OK onto this girl! i made her literally Just Yesterday and am deciding that SHE shall be my de facto commander but her priority purpose? roleplay! :]

i'll be playing with her for story mode but that aint her main attraction... ONWARDS TO THE RAMBLE BELOW THE CUT! this is pretty much spoilers free! :] no story bits at all, just a basic overview of my newest pookie

Technician Laff | Young Adult | She/Her | Engineer | Queer

Right what it says on the tin, Laff is a technician working for the Inquest. Mainly, she does operations, maintenance, repairs and diagnostics for the megakrewe. Her expertise in engineering is a massive boon, even if it is just one of many.

Laff is an engineer by nature, nurture, profession and trade. Ever since she was a progeny, she's always taken to brewing alchemical potions or wiring mines. She's a very spatial thinker, and has an uncanny ability to see intricate machines in her head without even needing a blueprint.

She was recruited into the Inquest at a young age, about when she was already fresh into actual college. She studied in Dynamics for a few years (and I'm talking less than 5, at maximum) before a recruiter caught her interest.

Laff mainly was convinced into joining the megakrewe at the prospect of that delightful 'road to greatness'. She was a prime targe— err, candidate— due to her already... unruly nature. Laff didn't do well with conventional studies, and found even the enthusiastic and often reckless Dynamics too constricting. Everyone wanted to operate under the Eternal Alchemy's dictations, but Laff was much more curious in studying it, and using it for more... practical applications.

In terms of her actual personality, Laff is concerningly friendly for someone working under the Inquest. She's less-so cordial, and more-so just a massive chatterbox who derives energy from being around people. She enjoys the idea that she 'fits in' quite a bit.

Most asura tend to find her annoying at best, and off-putting at worst. There's nothing wrong with her, for a lack of better words, she's just a little... strange, y'know?

Of course, like most asura Laff is exceedingly intelligent. She's well-versed in engineering (duh), especially when it comes to mapping out alchemical equations for empowering elixers or having the dexterity to pull pins out of five grenades.

And don't let her shrimpy form fool you! Laff is surprisingly BUILT under her uniform, and she has loads of upper-body strength due to the mechanical side of her work and duties.

And be sure to not let her chipper smile and optimistic nature fool you, either. Laff is a very competitive spirit, and strives to be the best technician the Inquest has ever seen, regardless of her low-to-mid level clearance and ranking. You get in her way, and she'll make sure you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually regret it.

Laff's greatest vice is her uncooperative nature when it comes to dealing with anyone who opposes her, her allies, her goals, or whatever it is she wants. This causes her to butt immense heads with Peacemaker officer Leff— whom of which is her twin brother.

Did.. I forget to mention that? Yeah. Laff and Leff are twin siblings who, from a young age, were adopted by a single asuran mother named Botanist Ainne. Ainne only really wanted Leff since she just wanted a son, but Laff and Leff were as thick as thieves back then, so seperation was a no-go. (p.s. Peacemaker Leff is an actual NPC! I enjoy oc & canon relations...)

Ainne put much focus and affections towards Leff, and sort of just left Laff to her own devices. This excessive attention towards Leff made Laff incredibly jealous, and envy is not a color she wears well. It shouldn't have, but it came as a surprise to Leff and Ainne when Laff one day announced that she was ditching Dynamics and heading off to the Inquest. To this day, Leff constantly swears he will have her arrested for... something! He still has to figure it all out. But he will!

As aforementioned, Laff is an engineer in all sense of the word. She's proficient with rifles, pistols and other tools of the trade. She makes medium weight armor look killer in signature black and red, and her favorite tool is her magnifying eagle-eye goggles. Pin-point details are very important unless you want to accidentally get blown up, or have your elixer spill everywhere in a fight.

She's surprisingly particular about her machines and weaponry, and takes a keen liking to explosives. Mines, grenades, bombs— you name it, she probably has it stashed away somewhere on her person.

If I had to assign her a core specialization, Laff embodies explosives the best. "I'd duck, if I were you." is such a cut and corner Laff quote, AND Laff personally focuses on just blowing the enemy up into beautiful smithereens than wasting time trying to shoot them to death. Tools comes as a close second.

As for an elite specialization, Laff leans heavy into Scrapper territory. She's not big on the flashy lights of Holosmiths, nor is she crazy about having a big golem follow her around all the time like Mechanists. What she does like is putting things together, bit by bit, until she creates some new innovative little gadget. Plus, she'd find the gyros pretty cute.

stole this picture off the gw2 wiki... shh... no telling....

BUT this pretty much concludes BASE information about laff.... im VERY excited to continue writing for her, and i hope to keep true to my word about using her in rp! as she grows as a character, some things MAY change, but not by a lot.... i hope....

(p.s. you MAY have encountered her at the NA versus art party on dec 2nd .... ;] wink wonk)