#back to the drawing board Dr. Abe

[see-arcane]

Alright, back to feeling a little sorry for Van Helsing on this entry

Just picture the whiplash for this guy

Here he comes waltzing back to Friend John, absolutely jazzed after meeting Jonathan and Mina 'Authors, Editors and Sworn Enemies of the Vampire/Novel Dracula' Harker, loaded with helpful documents on the undead dastardly bastard and the pep-in-his-step of having two (2!) verified vampire haters and/or hunters now on his roster, slapping down the Bloofer Lady edition of the newspaper on Jack's desk

And then Jack, also riding high on good old Sleep and Science, any supernatural inkling sensibly sandblasted out of his head, hitting VH with, 'Vampires sounds like bullshit. Extremely committed bat attacks and/or graverobbers is way more plausible :/'

Van Helsing, sighing, packing up his little rucksack tomb B&E kit:

[stereksecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, jimtremor!

For @jimtremor, who asked for basically anything. I did my best with that.

Read On AO3

*****

Useful Information

“Mr. McCall will be in the North Dorm and you Mr. Stillinski will go to the East.” The director of student affairs passes them Welcome packets, across his desk. Hn,

They both start to protest but Deaton holds up a quieting hand and stands, quickly moving them both out of his office. “I’m sure you’ll both adjust just fine. If there’s anything you need, my office hours are Monday and Friday 8am to 2pm.” He closes the door in their faces

****

“This is the stupidest idea ever,” Stiles says dropping his pack just inside the door to his new dorm. Stiles notices right away that the room is painfully neat for a college dorm.

“You can’t just throw people together and expect them to form proper pack bonds.”

He flops onto the empty bed across the room from what he assumes is his assigned Alpha and waits what he’s told is the appropriate amount of time for his new roommate to respond but the wolf just flicks hazel eyes at him, before going back to reading his novel.

“Scott— my best friend Scott, we applied to this place together. He’s going to be an Alpha and I’m going to be his bad-ass Emissary.” The wolf continues to ignore him and after a few minutes, Stiles huffs and starts unpacking.

It takes him a few minutes more to realize that his dorm is amazing. There’s a fridge. Not a mini fridge. A full-sized fridge in what might serve as a very quaint breakfast nook. The open area has a desk, a TV and closets next to the beds. When he opens the door to his, he finds a dresser and plenty of room for his meager belongings. His dad had been very proud of the fact that he entered college with a change of clothes, a martial arts trophy, and a six-pack (abs not beer). So Stiles was carrying on the family tradition. Sort of.

There’s a bathroom and if Stiles didn’t know any better a tub big enough to house jacuzzi jets.

“This place is amaaa—"

His roommate reaches over and clicks on a small iPhone dock that looks like a radio. It starts blasting some sort of German metal. Stiles stares at him for a moment before pulling out his grimoires ‘fine be that way then.’ he thinks, flipping through the pages to a spell he needs for his next class.

Scott is so going to hear about this dick.

****

“—a serious neat freak, and he acts like he can’t be bothered to answer even the simplest of questions. I swear Scotty we need to go over somebody’s head. It has to be a mistake that they split us up.”

“Derek Hale!?” Scott suddenly shouts sitting up from Allison’s lap. Stiles glances around hoping his best friend’s dorky exclamations aren’t drawing attention annnd yep people are staring.

“As in Hale Observatory? As in Hale Hall? AS IN THE HALE EXPLORATORY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT FOR THE SUPERNATURALLY INCLINED? The people who might be able to find a way to cure me?”

He says the last part much quieter. He’d worked harder than he ever had at anything to get into this private college. Hoping against hope that they’d somehow turn him back human. It wasn’t that Scott didn’t love every minute of being a wolf, it just came with a lot of baggage, including possibly outliving everyone important to you. Every human anyway.

“There’s no known cure for lycanthropy,” Allison says quietly.

Stiles glances up at the heavens, his ears burning. “Yeah my roommate is Derek Hale. Geez Scotty it’s not that big of a deal.” Scott stares at him as if he’s grown a second head.

“You—you’ve lived your whole life here and you think rooming with a Hale is not a big deal? The Hales own half the town and probably your house Stiles!” Scott’s volume is going up again and Stiles tries not to roll his eyes.

“Having a rich family doesn’t make you a big deal Scotty.”

Scott sputters his eyes going to Allison in a desperate plea for back-up. She just shrugs. Right. She just moved to Beacon hills so she wouldn’t know.

“HaAVing A RIcH FaMILY dOEsn’t maKe You a bIG DeAL.” Scott says half snidely, half mockingly under his breath.

Stiles cocks his head to the side, like he’s trying figure out who the crazy person was possessing his best friend and they begin one of their famous silent conversations.

‘I’m not an idiot’ Scott thinks at him

‘I know Scott but really it’s no big deal. He’s like a totally normal asshole. A painfully neat asshole.’

‘Think you can maybe talk to him about the whole *my best friend is a werewolf who didn’t ask to be a werewolf thing*? Maybe mention that your best friend is desperate for some guidance as to where to find a cure’

‘There’s no cure for werewolf-ism Scott! And Scotty. Friend. Buddy. Pal. I can’t even talk to him about where to put my toothbrush in the bathroom. Apparently it’s important to keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible. He even has this little protective cover on his.’

“Huh. I just thought of something.” Allison says breaking into the silent conversation. “Maybe they want you to be the new Hale emissary.”

Stiles and Scott both turn to stare at her.

“Huh” they both say

She pretends to study, but Stiles can totally see the dimple at her cheek deepen.

****

Derek is particular about his space, and his things. It’s normal for a wolf. Even at boarding school they hadn’t made him share a room, although maybe that had more to do with the hefty donation his mother had made and less to do with his werewolf sensibilities.

Stiles is in his space for less than a day and he’s somehow everywhere. He smells woodsy- like wet leaves and rain when he finally decides to shower off the cheap body spray. He puts his toothbrush in the wrong spot on the sink and unpacks his one box of belongings.

There’s a pile of spell books on the floor under his bed and pots of herbs line the windows. He doesn’t know what’s in the jars in his fridge and he doesn’t want to know. Instead, he politely tries to tidy Stiles’ things, but it seems like they just gravitate back to where Stiles left them. He does his best not to growl whenever the emissary walks into the room.

His annoyance level is already high. The welcome packet was clear that he was meant to start a pack with this kid. That they should spend their time working together and bonding for the sake of their future pack.

Everything about him was a mess, and Derek didn’t do messy. Not anymore. He’s half asleep when the scent of arousal teases at his senses. He wants to growl but he’s done that for the last several hours. This was definitely not happening.

****

‘Use your finger. Just one. You should be able to find it pretty easily.’

Stiles groaned into his pillow. He was on a dry spell. And when he was on a dry spell he always thought of Lydia. His other best friend, the girl who helped him find his G-spot. He’d flirted with every big dark-haired wolf he came across, but they’d all turned him down. It was strange. It was almost like they were actively trying to avoid even talking to him.

Stiles reached into his pajama bottoms, the memory of Lydia’s very thorough instruction all those years ago is still his favorite, although watching Derek workout was a close second.

“If you’re gonna jerk it, at least have the courtesy to do it when I’m not here. Stiles jerked his hand from his underwear at the miserable tone in Derek’s voice.

“Um..”

“Yeah, I can smell it. For days.”

Stiles groaned and dragged his pillow over his head.

‘who thought the human/werewolf hybrid dorm was a good idea anyway?’

****

Derek keeps his face neutral as he listens to Dr Deaton’s analysis of werewolf mating practices. He’s a little more accurate than the usual crowd but there were still things he’s getting wrong. The emissaries were always considered some kind of authority but human experts on werewolf mating rituals tended to start off wondering if human werewolves really grew knots whenever there was a full moon.

Deaton is at least trying to debunk a lot of the weird lore humans tended to apply to werewolves and it sort of gives Derek hope. Maybe this year he *won’t* have to listen to a half assed lecture on werewolf anatomy and moon cycles. Derek’s hope deflates when he hears the words Transitory Bite.

The last time he put a temporary mark on someone it almost started a war between hunters and humans and gotten him shipped off to boarding school. His mother had kept him out of Beacon Hills for three years. It had taken joining forces with his uncle to convince her he wouldn’t make the same mistakes. Now he was being told to mark some random dorky kid like it wasn’t a total imposition. He had a right to choose or not choose to mark someone and his mother needed to understand that he wasn’t interested in his life spinning out of control a second time.

“I’m not doing it.” Derek gets up to leave but Deaton steps in front of him hands raised. “I assure you Mr. Hale this is necessary. Starting a pack and choosing a mate can be extremely difficult. A transitory bite will allow you to test your compatibility with the mate you were matched with.”

“It won’t work” he growls eyeing Stiles

Stiles’ face is bright red, and he keeps his eyes on the toe of his sneakers. He’d been wearing them since high school. They were his favorite pair. He wishes he’d thought to clean them sometime in the last six years.

So that’s why everyone had been treating him so strangely. He was probably Derek Hale’s mate. He really should have read the welcome packet. He tunes out the rest of the conversation and tries to ignore the hot twist of humiliation in his stomach.

Derek tries to focus on what Deaton is saying but Stiles scent is rapidly changing. The burnt ash flavor of Distress and Despair fills up his senses and it’s all he can do not to gather the entire boy into his arms and run away with him.

“I don’t need this there are—there are plenty of wolves who would love—love to have me for a mate.” Stiles gathers his things as he tries to save face. It’s bad enough this is happening, but he can’t bring himself to look at the other pairs.

“Fine”

Stiles is almost to the door when that single word freezes him in place. He swallows and waits.

Derek moves him back against the nearest wall, with just a few intimidating steps. His hand lands on Stiles’ shoulder, his fingers brushing against the skin at the base of his neck. Derek’s hand slides up the side of his throat, and Stiles sways toward him. He growls at his traitorous body and forces every muscle to stay stiff as a board. The corner of Derek’s mouth kicks up and then he’s leaning in, letting his teeth scrape across the smooth skin at the base of Stiles’ neck.

Stiles gives an unmanly squeak when Derek’s teeth skin in, the pain just barely registering before he feels the brief swipe of Derek’s tongue across the wound. Derek stares at the mark for a long time before turning and leaving.

***

Stiles only has two classes with Scott, but he and Derek share the exact same itinerary. Even though Derek can’t really do the magic part, they’re expected to show a united front, so he sits off to the side and glares at everything and everyone.

Stiles spends his time doodling the different angles of Derek’s head during each class into the margins of his grimoire. When there’s wolf lore he flicks his eyes across the room to Derek. His can almost tell by the set of Derek’s brows whether the stuff being taught is accurate or total bullshit.

He tries to connect with the other students in his classes, but they tended to cut the conversations short or avoid him altogether. He’s pretty certain this only happens when Derek is around. He starts to feel boxed in, like the only reason he was there was to be slotted into the Hale pack, like everything about his future had already been decided. His whole week had been classes more about pack politics and somewhat less about exploring his abilities as an emissary.

Lydia listened patiently while he complained. It was a call that had lasted all the way across campus, and back to his dorm. She wanted to roll her eyes. For a kid who was curious about everything, Stiles hadn’t shown the slightest interest in learning about the alpha he’d been assigned to.

Stiles complained constantly that he was always around. Which was technically exactly how he was supposed to behave toward his potential mate. Lydia was testing herbal mixtures. Hopefully the small satchels would give Stiles some semblance of privacy or at least get Derek to give Stiles some space.

“You need to read the welcome packet Stiles. It’ll help you adjust to living with a wolf. And come to the party tonight.” Lydia says flipping through her notes. “I’ll introduce you to some guys who definitely won’t say no.”

He keeps glancing at Derek, but Derek’s attention stays on his novel, his thumb, sliding to leisurely turn pages. Derek’s pretending not to listen again, so he decides to be that guy. He refused to stay trapped in whatever game Derek was playing.

“Yeah. I’ll be there. I’m really looking forward to getting dicked down again” Derek doesn’t look up, but Stiles can practically feel the way he pauses in the middle of a page turn.

He hides a smile and goes to brush his teeth.

****

Lydia flits through the party commiserating with her numerous slightly-better-than-facebook acquaintances. They make it to the kitchen with Stiles only being handed three phone numbers and groped four times. He briefly wonders if other potential alpha mates are treated this way and then he remembers that he kinda wants to be treated this way.

Stiles is wearing his best button-up and his sluttiest pair of jeans. He fully intends to end the night with his legs wrapped around someone, anyone. It’s a surprise when they leave the kitchen with their drinks and Stiles is brought up short by the feeling of eyes on him. It only takes him a minute to spot his alpha across the room.

Derek is slouched onto the frat house’s well-worn couch like some kind of artist’s dream. He’s wearing tight black jeans ripped in all the right places and a leather jacket. His gaze starts to heat up as Stiles’ eyes hungrily catalogue every inch of him. Stiles eyes settle on the bulge in the tight jeans and Derek just lets his legs relax open. Stiles’ mouth goes dry and his dick gives a hard twitch.

Stiles does his best to ignore the feeling of the wolf’s eyes on him. It’s annoying that Derek can’t seem to make up his mind about ignoring him.

***

Stiles loses count of how many drinks he’s had and that’s when he gets the best idea. He can feel the wolf’s eyes on him as he moves across the room and one of the frat brothers steps into his space. Price or Preston something. He doesn’t even bother listening to whatever the guy is saying, just steps close and bites his lip.

Preston’s eyes drop to them and immediately his tone changes and he wraps an arm around Stiles’ waist. Stiles grins and runs his hands up Preston’s chest. Preston draws him close.

“I love the way emissaries smell,” he says leaning down and taking a deep breath against the side of his neck. Stiles laughs, because at best he smells like Axe shampoo mixed with a litany of the various herbs they have to learn to mix. It’s not a great combination. He tries to put some distance between him and the wolf, but Preston keeps, pulling him close and grinding against him.

Stiles thinks blearily that he’d like to get laid but not in the middle of a werewolf frat party and definitely not with the guy who thinks Axe and sage are a great combination. He tries to tell Preston this but Preston just keeps rambling on and Stiles’ alcohol soaked brain reminds him in his fourth grade teacher’s voice that it’s important to be polite and listen when people are talking.

This was a bad idea.

He suddenly feels Derek is next to him, and he wants to tell him that he has the prettiest eyes, but Preston is still talking, and he has to keep pretending to listen.

“I need to have a word with my roommate” Derek’s eyes flash as he glances at Stiles before stepping between him and Preston. Stiles watches as Preston stutters and stumbles, like a fan meeting their idol. He tilts his head and drops his shoulders in some parody of submissive behavior. Stiles scoffs and glances around the room. None of the humans are paying attention but all of the wolves are watching them closely.

He watches Derek tilt up Preston’s chin with one wicked black claw. “A Beta should know better” He pulls back his lips in a parody of a smile and shows his long sharp teeth. Preston swallows and raises his hands as if he only just realized he’d been flirting with an Alpha’s future mate. He moves as slowly as he can and backs out of the room one step at a time. Derek watches him until he’s certain the other wolf is gone and turns back to Stiles.

Red begins to seep from behind his irises and his smile turns hard. “I’ll kill anyone who touches you.”

He says it softly, but he’s still showing Stiles his teeth.

Stiles holds his gaze ignoring the little thrill he gets from the way Derek is looking at him. “I’m not your property wolf.”

“You are” Derek responds his eyes fully red. Derek’s hand settles around the back of Stiles’ neck, his thumb just barely brushing against the still-tender mark.

Stiles takes a shuddery breath, unable to break the hold Derek’s possessive gaze has on him. He relaxes his shoulders tilts his head back just slightly. It’s enough of an invitation but Derek doesn’t move to kiss him. Instead, he leans in until his lips against Stiles’ ear.

“Careful who you tease,” he breathes

Stiles shivers, wanting to call out to his alpha. Derek is long gone when he’s finally able to catch his breath.

****

Stiles doesn’t light the herbs Lydia mixed. He was tired of living like some reclusive monk.

He knows that Derek will probably know immediately. He knows the smell of sex could linger but he doesn’t care. He wants Derek to know and he wants Derek to come for him. He imagines the wolf coming home right when he’s just about there. He knows he’d probably run not because of embarrassment if Derek saw him.

He’d run because he knew Derek would chase. He’d run because he wanted to be caught. Stiles lets his imagination free. It’s been a week and he’s tired of caring about Derek’s sensibilities.

It would be a real hunt. Derek would simply stay on his heels nipping at him playfully, claws tearing off bits of his clothes. Stiles would run until he couldn’t breathe and then Derek would show himself. The wolf first. Its sleek black fur would glow under the moon and Stiles would lie back and tilt his chin up.

“Alpha.” He’d whisper, and Derek would take his human form naked and proud under the moon, he’d stare down at Stiles with a cocky grin. He’d enjoy watching Stiles submit to him.

“Stiles,” he’d growl and Stiles’ cock would stand up.

Stile bit into his palm, his fist flying over his cock, the sweet-smelling lotion he used as lube squishing between his fingers and making a lewd sound with every movement of his hand.

Derek’s teeth would sink into him properly this time and claim him, claim him, claim him…

Stiles gasped and came all over his fist.

Fuck. He needed to get laid before this got out of control. Before it got more out of control.

****

“So. Uhhh, about yesterday…”

Stiles is standing awkwardly in front of Derek’s bed. It’s all he’s been able to say for a good five minutes. That and some version of ‘Huuhmn. mn.’ Because Derek is currently shirtless. His feet are hooked into the openings between the bars on the baseboard of his bed and he’s burning through crunches like there’s a delicious zero calorie chocolate cake waiting for him if he hits a thousand.

His eyes skitter around the room because he knows if he keeps his eyes on Derek Hale for more than a few seconds he’ll end up embarrassing himself. He drags his palm from his chest down, just barely remembering to stop before he hits the waist of his jeans. Even he can still smell the lingering scent of sex in the room. He’s almost certain Derek’s lip curls up slightly at this but it’s hard to tell, what with all the sweat and muscles flexing.

It’s another ten minutes before Derek finishes his workout. Stiles completely forgot what he wanted to talk about. He just stands quietly watching Derek’s tight abs. When he manages to meet Derek’s eyes the wolf is glaring at him, and Stiles tries to open a hole in the floor with his mind. He doesn’t try too hard. The power of his will had been known to surprise him from time to time.

The wolf moves around him with a disgusted sniff and heads for the bathroom.

He looks even more annoyed when he exits the shower. It’s a full 3 minutes of Derek staring at the back of his neck before he finally lets himself meet the wolf’s eyes.

“What?” he asks. It’s easy enough to pretend he doesn’t already know. Derek’s kind deeply respects druids, just not Stiles shaped Druids apparently.

“You’re an Alpha-Mate”

Stiles blinks. This is first time since he was marked that Derek brought up the subject. And he sounded kinda… Pissed.

“Sooo….?” Stiles draws the word out to emphasize his confusion.

You. Are. An Alpha's. Mate.” Derek’s words come out a harsh growl that makes Stiles feel cold everywhere. Cold and Embarrassed.

“I’m not the one…”

“I’m not the one throwing myself at every wolf I come across!” Derek snarls.

Stiles cheeks pinken, but he hold’s Derek’s terrible gaze.

“I’m not the one denying my mate.” He says the words as quietly as he can, but they seem to echo loudly in the room once he’s said them.

It’s Derek’s turn to take on color.

Stiles doesn’t regret saying it.

He regrets not following when Derek walks out.

****

Allison and Scott both tell him he’s an idiot. For an hour. And then they make him read the welcome packet. He realizes after his third read-through he might owe Derek an apology.

When he gets back to their room Derek is organizing his herb garden. He keeps arranging them first by name, then color. He clears his throat and Derek pauses but doesn’t turn around.

“Did you know that wolves get really territorial about people they live with? That they only like certain people in their personal space?”

Derek moves from arranging plants to slotting his books into the low bookshelf next to his bed.

“And did you know that a wolf’s mate should probably never throw themselves at other wolves?”

He hears a quiet scoff and Derek finally looks at him over his shoulder.

“You’re asking me, a wolf if I know about wolves?”

Stiles shrugs and continues “Because I didn’t know.” He says stepping up behind him and wrapping his arms around Derek’s waist.

“You should have read the welcome packet Stiles”

Stiles lets out a choked laugh and presses his mouth to the back of Derek’s neck.

“Yeah. I know. It really is full of useful information.”

[okimargarvez]

EASE THE TENSION

Original title: Rilasciare la tensione.

Prompt: Luke and Penelope flirt, but it’s not enough for him.

Warning: smut, post 15x7.

Genre: romantic.

Characters: Luke Alvez, Penelope Garcia.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot 72 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 💑😘😈.

Song mentioned: In bagno in aeroporto, Tiziano Ferro.

GARVEZ STORIES

EASE THE TENSION

 Countdown of a love... three... two... one... yessa!

Luke greets the others a little too hastily. He has listened absently to the conversation between JJ, Reid and Rossi about the paths not taken. But this isn’t the reason for his subsequent actions. All this starts from much further away; for not exaggerate, from the moment she had threatened to call him newbie again; and it hadn't been difficult to understand that it wouldn't bother him... on the contrary.

He gets off the jet and walks quickly on his long, athletic legs. Usually he waits for his colleagues, jokes with Tara, or rather, he undergoes her jokes without complaining, he smirks and laughs but nothing more. But in a completely different way than he does with Garcia. He realizes it during that short journey to the BAU entrance. It has always been a separate situation. Just as he has never been the kind of man who flirts with a colleague, before. In front of other people, then?

It is now clear that he seems to have lost his mind. Surely Matt and Dr. Lewis will have thought this. They reached a new level, or rather, it was he who crossed another threshold. However, it is still too little. And he doesn’t feel an unconscious madman at all, while he walks confident along the stairs, at least four flights. He could never invoke mental illness. He is perfectly aware of his actions and intentions. Even if he didn't think too much about it, as he used to do. Eviscerate every single sentence, nuance.

She had seen him with the eyes of the mind (and love). She knew he was smiling, though she had no way of verifying it in person. And he hadn't made a single sound, hadn't given her any clues. If this wasn’t a connection... what else could it be? And her reproach, combined with the fact that she had called him by his full name (the first time, he was almost sure), had only increased his desire to smile.

Penelope liked to play with fire; she always did it, not only with him, unfortunately. Over the past four years, he had listened to a lot of anecdotes about her jokes, about her even flirting with Hotch and ending up embarrassed herself with ex-section chief Erin Strauss. With him, however, there was something more. It wasn't just him who wanted to convince himself. It wasn't just male pride at work. In the end, something would catch fire with him. And that day had come.

He reaches their floor, continues to march with the same confidence and conviction, which he probably never tried in his life. He places his hand on the handle and lower it, opening the first door, and a second one, a moment later. He doesn’t waste time admiring her in his rainbow dress, which reminds him... Harlequin, one of the most famous masks of Italian theater and carnival. Maybe he is spending too much time with Rossi and Reid. Harlequin- The servant of two masters, his perverted mind suggests to him like a flash. Servant like he proclaimed himself, following her provocation. If he was her servant, she was his queen; there was no doubt about this. And yes, he's been spending too many evenings with them since he and Lisa broke up months ago.

In any case, he doesn't hesitate half a second. Just another absurd thought brushes his mind, while Penelope turns her chair towards the noise that has indicated the entrance of an intruder. We are like Lancelot and Guinevere.

-Luke, what...- she practically has no time to stutter anything deeper. From her expression she seems to have forgotten what happened, but there is no problem. He is here on purpose to bring everything back to memory and add details, so that she can no longer pretend that it was nothing. He doesn’t call her by name or by surname. He doesn’t say a single word. He simply takes those few steps that separate him from her, from her body that sends electric shocks even when she just stands there, with her mouth slightly ajar in amazement. She stands up, but doesn’t walk away from the desk.

It need not be said that it was her fault, that she could have already been at home and all this would never have happened. Because if he hadn't found her in her office, he would have gone to her apartment. And he would ring the bell, regardless of the timetable. Or he would knock the door. He would make her phone ring until she gave in and picked up. And they would have been in exactly the same situation.

He stretches his arms towards her; in Penelope's eyes, everything happens with a slow-motion effect that only makes it more terrifying. She feels like the protagonists of horror films who know they are one step away from death, but continue to stare at the "monster" who is about to rip them. He places his hands on both of her shoulder blades, pushing her in his direction, but simultaneously pressing her against your desk, until she places her butt on the surface, causing the first (but certainly not the last) rain of objects: colored pens with the weirder shapes, puppets of various kinds. She may sense more, but the only thing she feels is the warmth of the man on her.

He looks her in the eyes for less than a second, before moving his hands, in synchrony, to surround her face, in a sort of prolonged caress, no less sensual, which causes chills not only along her back. Her eyelids drop first, quickly followed by the male ones. Luke guides her movements, but Penelope wouldn’t able to say if it was for her or his initiative to slightly lift her chin. And then, it happens.

All the tension accumulated in four years of winking, shameless flirtations in front of the eyes of (not too) shocked colleagues, jokes, nicknames, mutual apprehension for the safety of the other, lies, painstakingly conquered hugs, slow dancing to the limit of humanly understandably, all this tension explodes in a kiss too many times postponed. Luke's mouth presses on hers, but she certainly doesn’t stay inert, doesn’t undergo the act, but becomes an instant active part of this, making use of years of training with boyfriends too distant and unable to understand how much this job is part of what she is. Rings and bracelets jingle when Penelope sticks her fingers in his hair, trying to bring him even closer, aware of the impossibility of the enterprise. The heads of both are spinning as if they were on board one of those rides that you can see in amusement parks. After about two seconds, Luke's tongue pushes to enter and is immediately satisfied.

Despite the fog that surrounds her brain, she can now feel it. Solid, hard, pressed against her thigh, almost completely uncovered, since her skirt has risen by itself by several centimeters.

She closes her eyes and, as if they were tied by threads, he does the same. They have always conducted parallel conversations only with the eyes. A moan of pleasure escapes her and she watches him smile without pulling away, ecstatic, not simply pleased to be the responsible of this noise. Then Luke reads the question she cannot ask, in her mind and eyes. For me? He lightly tickles her on the neck using only his thumbs and he answers her. Who else, if not for you? Overcome this one tiny doubt, the eyelids of both give up again, while the hands advance with a little more resourcefulness, sliding along the entire length of their labored and sweaty bodies. Luckily, he remembered to close the door. Both.

She shivers when Luke seems to want to count her ribs one by one and touches the bone of her pelvis, leaning a little more towards her, forcing her to do the same thing. A phosphorescent sphere and a pink remote control are the innocent victims of this act. Neither he nor she stop to see the damage. They conduct the dance alternately, in an almost completely balanced way. Penelope's fingers try to open the buttons of his blue shirt, but they don't find enough space for action, so they choose an alternative way, sliding directly under the fabric, in contact with his skin. Long last. She spreads her hands completely, to feel every single curve, every single millimeter of his abs, of the muscles of his chest, and doesn’t draw back when she encounters traces of his past, more or less recent scars.

Luke moans too, without showing shame for what she causes him, returning the favor, but with a little more dexterity, opening the upper part of her dress, towards heaven, freeing her shoulders and arms, to access her breast more easily. All without practically interrupting the contact between their lips only once. She doesn’t wear any bra, absolutely nothing and this almost causes him to completely lose the horizon. The thought that there was only that thin layer of cloth to separate him from the ecstasy... He remains concentrated on the present, opening his cupped hands and brushing her nipples, already turgid, with the tips of his fingers.

Penelope seems to melt like wax. She pulls her mouth from Luke's and bends her neck, letting out a series of inarticulate exclamations. Only then the man realizes that he is in a strong oxygen debt. He tries to fix her as best he can, because he doesn't want her to get cold or get sick and he helps her get back on her feet, then pushes her against him again, in a sort of strange embrace. He squeezes her, staying in total silence until both of their breaths turn regular.

Penelope sits on her desk, dropping a particular object, black and white, of which Sergio may be jealous, but neither of them notices. She gives him a little smile, red cheeks on her pale face. -What do I owe this?- she asks. He tries to be a good boy and focus his attention on something other than her badly buttoned suit (his fault). Witness of what just happened.

Luke had expected much worse, so he returns the smile without any problem. -It is the consequence of all the sexual tension accumulated in four years.- he answers with honesty and even candor. Perhaps this is precisely what upsets her most. She blinks more than once, runs her tongue over her lips. And she feels his taste. And his scent of woods on her, on her skin.

-Sexual tension?- she asks. But she has tangible proof of this in the unidentified object that continues to press against her thigh. Someone really needs a cold shower. Or maybe not.

Luke chuckles, stroking her arm in an equally erotic way. -Exactly. Are you going to repeat everything I say?- nothing more than a provocation, one of their one, which taken out of context might even seem innocent. But it is not, and both know it.

Fire burns in Penelope's dark eyes. She lets time pass; she enjoys the waiting. The pauses have never been meaningless, between them. And she gives him another smile, not sweet, but exclusively mischievous. The same smile that he is ready to swear will have painted her lips even a few hours earlier, while she believed she had put him in trouble with that joke. -What if I do it?- she is playing the part of the bad girl, the rebel. But she is simultaneously his queen and his best friend, his red-light desire and the woman he would like to turn into his wife. She is everything.

He shrugs. -Nothing.- he plays her game, that has never belonged only to Garcia. How many times had he started first, how many times had he not given up? How many times she had forced him to behave unprofessionally and in front of eyewitnesses? She challenges him with her eyes and he accepts, capturing her lips in a series of short but not less hot kisses. She kisses him back with the same passion. -You provoked me already when we were discussing the case on the jet.- but Penelope knows he's just flirting, on an advanced level. Just their way.

She can’t do less. -Is it my fault if you like to be called Newbie?- she observes with satisfaction that grimace peeking over the man's mouth in hearing that nickname. They both missed it, even if he is no longer, has never been and will never be just the Newbie, for her.

And he knows it. And awareness makes an immense difference. He nods, admitting that she's right. -But only for you.- Penelope smirks, then wraps her arms around his neck and drags him toward her. How can he be so much taller than she is? His shoes are flat and she wears high heels! Luke certainly doesn’t back down, instantly returning the new kiss, but letting her dominate the situation a little more.

She stays with her forehead resting on the male forehead. -You know that I flirt with everyone and always in an innocent way.- she continues to provoke him, but this time there is something more besides malice and flames. There is a small shadow, something that tries to obscure their joy.

Despite the high testosterone levels, the man captures every nuance. -Not with me. It doesn't work with me. It's different with me.- for every short sentence he leaves a trail of kisses on her neck and on every exposed area of her body. -Am I wrong?- he watches her bite her lips, in an attempt to remain focused.

Not for this he stops kissing her and touching her. -How... how can I answer you while you are...- he runs along her legs and focuses on the inner thigh. Penelope opens her eyes suddenly. -Oooh, Luke.- she moans, fully surrendering, at his mercy. But now that worm has begun to dig into the mind of the Latin agent.

One of the thousand obstacles that have always stopped him from carrying out a work of conquest towards the computer technician, is exactly his fear. And hers, which he saw reflected in her eyes, even if just for a few seconds, before it was again masked by lust. -Are you not going to deny that you feel something for me?- he asks then, why sooner or later this point will have to be addressed. And as much as he wants to be inside her, he's not here just for sex. She doesn't answer him, but probably it's his fault, of his fingers that have not ceased to caress her legs and every now and then they go a little too far. -Or to run away and tomorrow pretend that tonight never happened?- he knows that he is pushing his luck, suggesting her exactly an escape route, but he needs to know that she is really his, as the same way he belongs to her. Penelope swallows and looks him in the eye. His hands stop. She is serious. She barely shakes her head, although she trembles slightly. Other tension flies away from the man's body. -Penelope Garcia, you are still able to surprise me.- she smiles and he does the same. They kiss with the same passion as the first time, but with one more ingredient. For all the times they have made love with the eyes, conducted conversations with the eyes, now they just exchanged the sincerest "I love you" that have ever been unpronounced.

Penelope pinches him, leaves superficial and not entirely voluntary scratches on his back; Luke goes much straighter to the point. It's okay that absence sharpens the appetite. But he believes he has waited long enough for this moment. Even too much. His cold fingers come back to play with her thighs, completely pushing aside her skirt and overcoming the obstacle of her panties. He uses his thumb masterfully, touching her clitoris just enough. She seems to try to appease the fire that burns inside her through more aggressive, rough kisses, her fingernails in his scalp. -Do you... do you want to make it in my office?- she manages, she doesn't even know how, to ask him. The fly of his jeans seems about to explode.

For me. For me. For me. She repeats it a few times, to convince herself of it.

-And do you want it too?- he replies with another question. Penelope no longer has time for provocations and flirts. She rubs herself against his groin and looks at him, serious again.

-Right now I only know that I need to feel you inside me.- is what she says. One of her classic jokes, he might think, but they both know it's not just that. Time for recreation space has long since ended. One of those things that only she can say, accompanied by an innocent look. Luke feels an earthquake in his abdomen. It's the Garcia effect. They should have warned him when he joined the team. But he doesn't care much at the moment.

He captures both her wrists, as if she were his prisoner, pulling her towards him. Making her taste a modicum of his strength. And it excites her at stellar levels. -Your wishes will never be rejected, milady.- is the last joke and the last dialogue for the next half hour.

They start kissing again from where they left off, they act in no hurry. Their hands sweep away the few objects that had heroically managed to stay on the desk. He makes her lay, standing for a few seconds, uncomfortably bend, to kiss her, feeling a little like the Prince Charming of Snow White. Or was Cinderella? He has never been good about fairy tales. He reaches her a few moments later, and it is truly incredible how none of the catastrophic hypotheses occur: the poor furniture proves to be able to bear their weight and above all, despite he is not being at all skinny, there seems to be enough space for him. He wonders if when they designed them, they considered this kind of accessory aspects…

Partially moving away, almost sitting, he contemplates her, meditating that this is probably just one of his dreams. One more reason to do everything possible. He raises the skirt of her dress until he discovers the lower part of her body again. She looks at him while he is taking off her panties and, absurd, her gaze is the most erotic thing he has ever seen. He helps her to get up, realizing that she wants to free him of the zipper. He does the same thing, watching the movement of her hand as she pulls the zip down, slowly, maddeningly. An image strikes him as a fragment without context: that same hand that grabs a pink package, containing a collar for Roxy, bringing it a few centimeters closer to him.

They are not comfortable. It is not the ideal place. But somehow, it is the only one, together with the elevator (which in the meantime has been conquered first by Rossi and Krystall and then by Spencer and Max, according to what he overheard) appointed to frame their first time. He lies down on her again, throbbing at the entrance without crossing the threshold, taking revenge for his zippered game. Then Penelope grabs his head abruptly, forcing him to look at her and candidly reads the threat in her dark eyes and through the clouded glasses. Now or never, Alvez.

There is no need for her to beg him concretely. He slips inside her inch by inch, as if it were the only thing, he is capable of doing. She arches her back and screams. These walls are soundproofed, right? But it ceases to matter when he realizes that what she's screaming is his name. He soon joins her, creating a new litany made up of moans and half-names.

They alternate kisses and pushes, postponing the moment of reaching the complete ecstasy at least five times, since neither of them wants this moment to end, because this is worth it, it repays them for all the nights spent without being able to sleep, for the unwarranted jealousies, for the cries, for the sparks extinguished just a moment before the outbreak.

He understands too late that they have not used any kind of precaution, and he is certainly not worried about sexually transmitted diseases. With all the medical tests that the Bureau obliges them to take! Nor does it seem appropriate to ask her if she takes the pill or some type of contraceptive. Not now, not tonight. All will be as it should be. Because she is his destiny. And he never believed in this kind of bullshit, before.

They stay panting, looking at each other. For the first five minutes Luke lives at the mercy of the fear that she is about to contradict herself and to drive him out. To feel her partially naked body stiffen at the moment of refusal. Penelope instead seems to look at him with... shyness. He forces himself to get off the desk. His knees thank him. As a true cavalier, he helps his Guinevere to do the same. She thanks him with a sweet smile.

They arrange their clothes, but anyone who saw them might easy understand what happened. Let them understand. Emily wouldn't report them to the Director, or to the Internal Affairs, she wouldn't do it, not now that Andrew has sweetened her a little. When everything is settled, their eyes end up in the same place. The floor is covered with objects. She starts to bend down, but he prevents her from doing it in her place and he passes her beloved amulets against the darkness of their cases. And of the outside world. -Are you not afraid that now that the tension has been released, the spark has gone out?- he would like to punch himself. Why must he always try to demolish his happiness?

Penelope grasps the man's big hand, who squeezes (but it's just a coincidence) an anti-stress kitten, that falls back to the ground, when their fingers intertwine. -Oh, I wish I could feel more fear, really, but I can’t.- she shrugs, almost this was a bad thing. They chuckle, in complicity. -And you? - he does not let the slightest uncertainty touch her heart.

-Never had half a doubt.- he whispers, with a firm tone. They finish tidying up her office. He helps her wear her coat and she looks at him, still talking to him with her eyes. Look, I could also get used to this kind of treatment. He answers her the same way. And you should do it. -Shall we go to my house?- he proposes, while she enters the security code outside her office. They were late. Nobody in sight. He strokes her back. When she has finished, she turns to him and raises an eyebrow. -To sleep, I mean.- he adds. -I think that I could be satisfied for tonight...- Penelope drags him against her warm body and her lips which have preserved his perfume. -Or maybe not.-

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

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[heuristicallyinclined]

Nobody Knows

Chapter 2: Ah, here we go again

Part 2/? (Word count: 1,841 | Rated T | Past MSPA Reader x Mallek Adalov,  MSPA Reader x Mallek Adalov, Past MSPA Reader x Polypa Goezee, Background DaveKat)

AO3 Links: Part One  | Part Two  (This) | Part Three

Chapter Summary: MSPA Reader wakes up in an unfamiliar, terrifying place with unfamiliar, terrifying people. But what else is new?

Notes: Thanks for all of the support from the first chapter! I was really blown away by all of it. Enjoy some set-up before the inevitable angst.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

The first thing you notice when you come to is the chittering of machinery. Earth tech hums when it runs, maybe you hear a fan or two. Alternian tech chitters. Sometimes it even makes a soft screeching sound. You prefer not to think too hard about it. The next thing you notice is the headache you have. Your forehead is throbbing and when you open your eyes the room is moving. Damn, you have had your fair share of concussions, but this is new. In your infinite intelligence, you finally realize that this is because you are getting carried like a sack of potatoes over the shoulder of a stranger. Well, fuck.

Slowly and carefully, you crane your head back to get a glimpse of whoever is holding you. You see large horns extending horizontally and curving towards their face. Their uniform having some intricate repeating bronze pattern. Realizing this is an adult, you become very conscious of your breathing. Just extremely slow and even. Oh God. You have never seen this troll before in your life. You continue to glance around and notice you are on some sort of vessel. A door opens and your captor joins another bronze troll. A new stranger, maybe a friend? You stop yourself from introducing yourself so you can hear what they say. Now is not the time to be horny for platonic connections.

“So ! nearly tr!pped over th!s sh!t on my back from do!ng !nventory !n the cargo bay. Do you have any !dea what the fuck th!s !s?” Your captor asks with an excited lit, swinging you off of his shoulder and holding you by the back of the hood. You remain still, motionless, having perfected the art of playing dead to fool drones into not culling you. Not your most dignified skill, but definitely one of your more useful ones. Something thuds as it is set down to your right.

“()h gr()ss, d()n’t t()uch it with y()ur fr()nds.” Your captor chuckles while their colleague sighs in exasperated disgust. Ah yes, you didn’t miss this. Alternia has made you super self-conscious about your body in the weirdest ways just about as much as it has made you fear for your life. But one of those things is temporary. You know you’re cute, friendly, are incredibly resourceful and optimistic. You have nice legs! The clown pope said so! But you can still hear the sneer in her voice, “It pr()bably just wandered ()n b()ard during the last rest()ck and the change in gravity culled it ()r s()mething, I d()n’t kn()w.” She sounds a little pissed now, “Etiv()r just st()p playing with it and dr()p it in with the rest ()f the trash s() y()u can help me get the rest ()f the requisiti()ns delivered.”

Etivor shakes you a bit in front of her. She doesn’t react. “F!ne Yleeda,” he draws her name out and huffs, clearly disappointed, “!’ll be back.” You get thrown back over his shoulder and you can hear a light growl come from him. She apparently does too, and mockingly chitters at him, dropping another box onto her pile. “Wait, what if that thing i-,” she starts, but Etivor isn’t having it and picked up to pace and is already gone. Bold move.

He slows down after a while and walks and as he does you pass by a window. You look for telltale moon colors, but you seem to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing particularly familiar in sight. On a spaceship. Full of adults. Neat. Well, mortal peril is always a solid way of getting out of your head.

He continues onward and you hear other trolls pass by you, all of them caught up in their own work or conversations, none of the spare you two too much of a glace. A door slides open and he sets you on the ground. You hear him step away from you and fiddle with the settings on what you think is the trash, and you'd rather not get immolated today, no thank you. It begins to clunkily whir to life before settling on a scratchy, chittery sound. Luckily, you notice you didn’t hear the door close. You get up slowly, quietly, and slink over to the door, the machine helping to obscure any sounds you were making. You don’t need to be stealthy for too long, just enough to get the door and you can just abs- and he is looking right at you.

You try to match the familiar look of wide-eyed "what in the actual fuck is that" that trolls have often graced you with when meeting you for the first time. His pupil skits widen slightly and his mouth is set in a hard, straight line. You both remain frozen and are locked in a staring contest. You stay like that together for a good ten seconds and you become intimately aware of how long ten seconds in total silence is. He blinks and as he starts to reach for you, you do the only thing you think to do. Blurt out some dumb shit and stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.

Were you also getting a pitch vibe off of that or was that just me, because I know you need to be professional, working here and all but I feel like if I wasn’t there you two would definitely have gotten into an argument? Are you two like a thing or have something going on there or…? You wiggle your hands noncommittally.

If you weren't terrified, you would be laughing at the look he is giving you. He immediately pulls his hand back and holds it to himself, aghast. His mouth opens and shuts as he struggles to figure out what to say before settling into a concerned frown. He steps back in confusion with an expression betraying he was clearly not prepared for you to be alive, or sentient, or fluent in Alternian, or immediately asking him about his love life. He is very clearly trying to unpack a lot and you are just trying to put some space between you and someone who easily has two feet on you and a lot of muscle, hopefully gained from things other than hauling aliens into fiery dumpsters.

“Uh. What. ! mean maybe? But ! don't, wa!t th-“

Because I feel like you were definitely trying to piss her off a little bit, like not enough to ruin her night or anything and fuck up her work, but like she'll be thinking about it, so I think that's smart, kinda leaving the ball in her court as you left.

He gives you the smallest, tightest smile as he uncomfortably, slightly nods, locked in place. He looks like he is trying to smile after biting a lemon. This man is deeply fucking uncomfortable which you can deal with much better rather than hostile. You need to keep this shit up. Fuck, WWGD?

What would Gorgor do? You think back to his tricks and techniques that you learned from being his partner. How to maintain control over a situation without dominating it completely or else a highblood could easily feel like you were overstepping and at best, get defensive and shut you down and choose another teal. You don't want to think about the worst case scenario. But you are not Tagora Gorjek and have not been playing four dimensional mental chess with people since hatching. Also death is more of a temporary roadblock at this point, so really, there is no sweep like the sweep you’re fucking in since you couldn’t escape it even if you wanted to.

You already overstepped by making this about quads so you just need to keep talking confidently long enough to fluster him into answering so that you can try to run off. An alien coming back from the dead out of concern for his personal life is probably doing it well enough.

Do you two have like a history from before this or did it start when you got your assignments here?

You are trying to convey an authority you don't fucking have. But as someone once taught you, image is everything and to fake it until you make it. You don't need to have your shit together, god no, but if religiously following a nineteen step east Alternian skin care regimen or parroting back bullshit you've heard like you're a goddamn relationship wizard makes people think you do, then bitch you better roll with it.

"We started working together l!ke a few wipes ago, but k!nda just started talk!ng," he says slowly and unsure, staring at you. You hum knowingly at him and he squints at you, perturbed. You place a hand on your chin and shift your stance to that of one in thoughtful consideration, the fact that you are closer to door thanks to it is not relevant. You look like you do this all the time, which you do. He glances around the room and pales.

God, he must be panicking worse than you are. He is answering. This is probably ideal. Okay plan time, so he and the other lady, Yleeda, are the only ones who saw you here. Wherever here is, and she thinks you’re dead so really you just need to have him be incredibly cool and then run into literally no other person on board the ship while exploring it, figure out where you are, and how you got here. Easy if you don’t think about it.

You were trying to get to Mallek and he is neither of these people so maybe he is on board somewhere on whatever place they restocked at. Maybe he does get to work with tech and he got to hole up somewhere with access to energy drinks that would kill anyone gold and below. This could mean you will never find him. Okay, you need to deal with one thing at a time.

Oh, so when you got started working on this ship? Is Yleeda doing anything to irk you back?

You ask this while stepping to look cool and relaxed against a wall, like all normal, cool guys do. Guys who are calm and not worried at all about incineration. Guys just trying to get a feel for where others are at so that they can give appropriate advice in appropriate situations that they are in. Those guys. You are them.

Your back finally makes contact with a wall. Or at least you thought it was a wall based off of how solid it was. You look up when you feel something grab your shoulder. The sound of the machinery that you thought would mask your footsteps definitely masked Yleeda’s entering the room. She stares down at you and then back up at Etivor, her gloved hand holding you firm.

Oh.

So that plan didn't work.

Notes: How quickly can one person get attached to fantrolls made up on the spot to act as plot devices? One author finds out.

[lafiametta]

Your Thing™️: the highest quality fan fiction, headcanons, and moodboards. If I were to compare it with shoes, for example, I would say it is couture. The most expensive on the shelf, because it's all hand-stitched and made with care.

Ok, this is the sweetest and I cannot deal with the pink-cheeked-with-happiness-while-curling-back-into-my-turtle-shell feeling it’s giving me right now, so in return, I’m going to gift you part of a Goodsir WIP I’ve had in my drafts folder for a very long time now. Who knows if I’ll ever get to finishing it, but you’ve made me want to share!

[tell me what my Thing™️ on Tumblr is]

Harry sends Morfin back to his hammock with an additional thimbleful of Mandragora – no doubt already abed, Dr. Stanley will be none the wiser – and a promise to come and find him if the pain keeps him from sleeping. There seems little chance of that, though, for the medicine is rather potent and Morfin’s eyes are already glazed with drowsiness before he has even made it to the door.

A few final nightly tasks remain for him in the sick bay, but they will wait. Harry has something far more important to tend to.

He soon finds Mr. Wall, who grumbles at first, for the supper hour is long past and the stove already cooling, but Harry has only to impress upon him that the orders have come directly from the commander and then the cook begins to move with more deliberate haste. There is a bit of oxtail soup left, he tells Harry, but he will need a little while to reheat it, and in the meantime he will search the larder for some biscuits and salt pork.

Harry nods, hoping that will suffice, and then turns and lets his gaze drift across the crowded space of the fo’c’sle, watching the men as they begin to pull their hammocks into place, those not assigned to watch duty making their preparations for sleep. The mood is quiet and tense, the few conversations kept low, and it seems the news of what occurred tonight on board Terror have already reached them. Like Harry, they would be aware of only the barest of details, but certainly that will change in the morning, for in a society as small as theirs, nothing can be kept a secret for very long. He glances down the passageway in the direction of the great cabin, only to spy the bulkily-clad figure of Mr. Blanky emerging from Mr. Reid’s doorway, and then Mr. Reid as well, the two of them engaged in what appears to be solemn conversation.

He does not wish to interrupt them, for if Terror’s ice master is consulting with that of Erebus the matter must be of some import, but still he hopes there might be some way to speak to Mr. Blanky before he departs. He would like to know more about the incident, of course, but more than that, he wonders how it was that the Esquimaux woman had come to be aboard the ship and why she had returned to them after so many months. And he has always known Mr. Blanky to be a direct sort of fellow; hopefully, he will not need much prodding to elaborate on Commander Fitzjames’ fairly sparse description.

Only when it appears as if the two men are offering their farewells does he make his approach.

“Good evening, Mr. Blanky, Mr. Reid,” he says, nodding his head at each of them before turning towards the former. “Mr. Blanky, I was wondering if I might have a few moments of your time before you go. Unless you are not yet finished here…?”

“We have concluded our business, I believe,” he replies, before nodding to his counterpart. “If you’ll excuse us, Mr. Reid.”

Having achieved his audience, Harry is suddenly uncertain as to how to proceed, for it will not do to speak about such matters in the middle of the passageway, where any of the men could listen in, but his own cabin seems likewise ill-suited, as the space is very small, and he has only the one chair. But before he can contemplate the possibility of having to converse with Mr. Blanky as he sits atop his own bunk like a child, the ice master begins to draw him along the passageway towards the door to the great cabin.

Harry hesitates; even though the great cabin has been occupied less frequently since Sir John’s death – and Commander Fitzjames, out of deference, perhaps, or even grief, has chosen not to take possession of the vacant captain’s cabin – it does seem like something of an intrusion. But Mr. Blanky shows no such scruple and ushers them both in, the room empty but for the monkey Jacko, who is perched high along a bookshelf, distractedly grooming the dirt from its fur.

For a moment Harry wonders if anyone has been caring for the poor creature in the absence of Sir John, but from all immediate outward signs it appears to be well-fed, so he can only assume one of the petty officers has been seeing to it. The monkey ate from a special dish, he recalls from his occasional visits to the great cabin, a painted porcelain bowl with Oriental designs of black against a white background. He spots it up along a shelf, jammed behind several books and other ornamental bric-à-brac, its intended purpose now clearly forgotten in the wake of the captain’s demise.

Mr. Blanky does not bother to sit, but merely leans against the table and looks towards Harry, his eyes flinty sharp and his cheeks still pinked from the cold.

“And what is it you wish to ask, Mr. Goodsir?”

Harry presses his thumb into the hollow of his palm, pausing as he determines how to best phrase his inquiry. Undoubtedly the matter is a delicate one, and he has no desire to appear indecorous, or worse, hint at any kind of base or prurient curiosity.

“Commander Fitzjames came to inform Dr. Stanley and myself that there had been some… disturbance on Terror and that the Esquimaux woman had been brought to stay here with us. I have been tasked with overseeing her care,” he adds – which is not strictly true, although it is close enough – “and I wished merely to understand what might have happened to her that would have caused her to return.” He quickly swallows, his throat thick as he tries to offer some further explanation for his interest. “We… she and I… we became acquainted when the lead party brought her father back to the ship.” When her father was already dying from his wounds, he thinks. When I failed to save him.

[shaslayyy]

He had never begged for anything in his life and he never succumbed to praying. It was beneath him.

In fact, the only aspect of life that was comparably level with him was Hermione. They had been a dynamic duo since secondary. She was more than just a girlfriend. She had been a close companion for 15 years now, as they were both 25. In the beginning they hadn’t formed the close relationship they currently possessed. 

They had met at a boarding school for gifted children: children with eidetic and photographic memory; who can solve puzzles when all the pieces are blank; who can solve increasingly large numbers in their head in accurate time. She had asked him on the train and had asked about some boy’s toad. He said she looked like a toad. She promptly stepped on his foot and took his chocolate frog.

He had, childishly, stuck gum in her hair. Their feud continued on and was revitalized constantly because of Harry’s hate for the man. Then, one summer night, both of their friend groups had gone camping to Dementor’s Peak. It had been a great camp sight with zip lines into lakes, hiking and driving trails, etc. 

It was their luck they had been randomly placed right next to each other. After much rivalry and stink bombing, they all got drunk and high. Hermione ended up on the end of a dock with Tom. He kissed her- or she kissed him- the details were so fuzzy now. Their relationship became problematic in the best way.

Her brilliance and nature struck him as profoundly beautiful. Tom found that she swept him into a whirlwind of instincts he never knew existed and a euphoria that only her body could deliver.

The closest he got to a prayer was when he was inside her. She was the only God he would repent to. He would burn the world down if anything happened to her.

Then anything happened. 

“I’m sorry, Miss. Granger. We have a variety of treatment options that are very effective for a primary cardiac tumor.”

She lost her job, her hair, her confidence and even her strength.

She didn’t lose her fire, herself or him.

Tom was there for every moment. He drove her to her appointments, talked to her through radiation, bought her scarfs for her head, the whole shebang. Every time she tried to give him freedom from her, he would halt her effortlessly.

“Hermione, what’ve I told you?” he would demand, stepping over to cage her in and get his point across. “You and me.”

He rubbed her back as she puked into the toilet. He grabbed a washcloth when she finished and held her face gently as he wiped her mouth and chin.

“Sorry.” she sighed.

He shushed her with a peck to her nose. When she was clean he set the cloth aside and swept her up into his embrace. Tom assisted her in getting into their bed and he lay next her after flicking the light.

“Tom.” she whispered

He almost mistook her voice as the rustling of sheets, but when he turned toward her, she continued.

“I’m so scared. I-I don’t want to die. I don’t want to leave you.”

There was no mistaking the terror riddled tremble that was her voice. He moved on instinct, pushing close to her until their legs were tangled together and they were perfectly pressed against one another.

His arm fit perfectly around her ribs and up her back, encasing her in his warmth and his hand rested at the base of her neck. Tom’s nimble fingers would draw gentle patterns and circles, comforting her beyond belief.

It was so safe.

“We’re in this together. You and me.”

He kissed her forehead and drew little patterns on her neck until she fell asleep, nestled next to him. His mind raced to so many possibilities that night, and he stared at the clock, watching it turn from 1 to 2 to 3 until it was 8 and Hermione had another radiation appointment at 10.

That day was one of her best, despite the radiation.

They went to the beach and ate ice cream. That night had been surprising as well. Since Hermione didn’t feel well, they hadn’t had sex in over 4 months. However, that night she had been ravenous. She sucked and bit at his neck, catching a spot on his neck near his hair line. A shudder wracked through his body and he froze as his head began to spin.

He forgot how conniving the naughty little vixen was. Their lips connected in the easy rhythm it had many times before, but there was a gnawing hunger laced between them now. It demanded to be quelled.

Hermione nipped at Tom’s lip before she had gone to her knees, pecking open mouthed kisses on his abs before proceeding to give Tom head a present. He returned the favor of course, and they didn’t finish until nearly two in the morning.

They slept wrapped in each other and they talked for an hour about Plato and philosophies on love and sex. She inevitably fell asleep and for the first time since before the cancer, Tom felt relaxed. Hermione was going to beat this. He was certain of it as he closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

He woke up the next morning to a warm Hermione and sunlight. A yawn left his mouth as he stretched. As he did, he noticed something was off with Hermione. 

“Hey, Hermione.” he shook her and her body seemed to slouch further. “Hermione.” He turned her over, a pinch of dread seeping into his bones. 

She wasn’t breathing.

Tom’s heart seemed to leap into his throat as he sprang into action. He pulled her off the bed, quickly arranging her on the ground to begin CPR. His hands pumped to a fast rhythm for thirty beats before he tilted her head back, plugging her nose and forcing breath into her lungs. 

“Hermion! Wake up!” he hissed.

Tom continued the chest compressions for the next 15 minutes.

As the minutes got longer his resolve became shorter and raw panic began to spread through him like a poison.

“You and me, baby, you and me.” he truly believed his words could coax her to life if he could just reach her.

“Come on, Hermione, come on.” he mumbled to her as he continued his ministrations. She was unresponsive and she began to turn far paler than her olive skin had ever allowed before.

The beating slowed inconsistently until he completely stopped and ran a shaky hand over her hair until he grasped her cheek. Then his form slouched over her, his head buried into her chest as his sorrow liquefied and trickled from his eyes.

She was dead and he couldn’t save her. 

Still leaning over her chest, he pushed his trembling hands together and bowed his head and he prayed. His heart hammered in his chest as he begged and pleaded with any God that would listen. 

Take his possessions; his beauty; his soul, even. He didn’t want any of it if he couldn’t give them to her. 

Before he even finished the prayer, he was being pushed off of her as she abruptly sat up, coughing and gasping for air. Tom fell back in a stunned stupor as Hermione caught her breath. It wasn’t long before it was being crushed out of her by Tom’s desperate grip.

“What-”

“I love you so much.” his arms tightened around her as the image of her laying lifeless on the ground passed through his mind again. 

They took her to the hospital to be sure her condition hadn’t worsened and Tom refused to release her hand the entire time. Dr. Patil rushed into the room, her eyes wide with excitement.

“Hermione!” she shouted, nearly running to the pair. “I don’t know how this is possible, but you’re cured!” 

A momentary silence circulated between them as Hermione tried to comprehend the information, “Excuse me?”

“There isn’t a trace of cancer in your system. It’s... it’s a miracle.”

Hermione sat paralyzed in her seat running the information through again. When she turned to Tom she realized she was crying. He seemed just as relieved and surprised as she was.

A few months later she was walking down an aisle in a white dress and he was looking even more handsome than he usually was. As they stood in front of the priest and all their friends and family, she began to feel anxious.

Tom quelled her nerves quickly by taking her hand in his and rubbing soothing patterns on her skin. She smiled at him and sighed.

“We’re in this together?”

“You and me.”

[otiss131]

Kettlebell Training - Ways To Evaluate An Exciting New Program

When Experienced in High School, I often to compete in track and field events. Learning the rudiments of throwing a discus was comparable to learning the golf swing. Neither of when i was capable of.

Lifting the up so that they can to develop a better turn alters the swing plane all of which will also screw up balance. Either of these is deadly if purpose is in order to consistent ball contact.

Give it a have a look at. Take your Golf Fitness Dallas stance while standing sideways in front of an image to retain all of your your back is totally straight. Now take a backswing and note just how far you're excited to turn.

According for the opinion of Dr. Ann de Wees Allen, a Board Certified Doctor of Naturopathy, interesting time educate depends on whether tend to be a morning or night person. It is certainly that relatively easy. She believes that you respond better during certain periods for the day the actual are the changing times that need to train. Particular our circadian rhythm - something that people are born with and cannot change.

TV: Lets talk about six pack abs and flat stomachs, because that's another your major specialty areas and that's what I wanted to focus on in this interview probably the most. You wrote a course on abdominal training- generally FIRM AND FLATTEN YOUR ABS and you are therefore now offering it regarding e-book download on the internet and it's starting to obtain really standard. What made you decide to write a book about abdominal training when there's already so many details out usually?

Now host the client perform forward bend again and note the bilateral differences in back contour and hand position (and draw the client's care about the difference in feeling). In most people this will produce a dramatic type of how working in one small part make a difference to the functioning of value of good. This will work for many people, but am not all: which are more easily assessable results, avoid starting on someone using a strong scoliosis or other bilateral asymmetries.

The best recommendation I'm able to give to boost your golf fitness and performance is to obtain an a TPI Certified Professional and get a physical screen done to gauge your limits. Address these limitations although recommended exercise progressions and add some power work like using medicine balls and you'll see vast increases.

[coffeefueledauthor]

Fanfiction Ideas: Which do You Like?

Here is a list of all of my current story ideas that I plan on writing. As you know, my plot lines are generally kind of crazy. >w< But I will be sure to include more grounded, normal stories as well. 

PLEASE BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW WHICH IDEAS ARE INTERESTING TO YOU.

I will be writing the first chapter of all those that people show interest in. And if you REALLY like what you read and want to be REALLY awesome, please be sure to donate to my patreon. Because I will only be able to write all these tales if I can gather enough patrons to make this my full time job. Patrons will recieve plenty of exclusive bonuses and early access.

Title: Out of Place Fandom: Inside Out Style: Full novel Description: A young girl feels like her mind has been numbed, and she begins to blame it on the mysterious figures appearing around the house. Join Riley as she attempts to help these tiny creatures, who claim to be her own emotions, back home. But with cats, exterminators, and her own nosy cousin, the task may be harder than she thinks. Notes: This story is already posted up to chapter 44. Find it on fanfiction.net

Title: Always By My Side Fandom: Inside Out Style: Full novel Description: Delve into the mind of Riley's mother during her pregnancy. For while she is carrying the developing infant in her womb, her emotions are busy raising the childs five infant emotions. They have only 9 months to prepare the youngsters for life inside their new host with the pressure of their inevitable separation weighing heavily on their thoughts. Notes: This story has been plotted out for over a year. A sneak peek is available on Fanfiction.net

Title: Infected Fandom: Super Mario Style: Full Novel Description: Luigi could tell something was wrong. Mario never acted this way before. But he never could have predicted just how destructive this mysterious affliction would become. Luigi desperately attempts to find answers before his brothers entire mind is consumed by this horrible infection. Notes: Lots of crazy stuff happenning. This story already has 10 chapters. They will be posted to Fanfiction.net in the coming days.

Title: Wrong Place, Worse Time Fandom: MST3K Style: full novel Description: After a string of freak accidents, the Satellite of Love is forced to crash land on a far off alien planet. The bots attempt to relocate one another so they can repair thier ship and blast off again. But they happened to arrive during an all out alien war, and the invaders have taken Joel prisoner. To save their creator, they'll have to work alongside the planet's natives and win a war that they had nothing to do with. Notes: Originally The MST3K Manga, now rewritten as a novel. A mix of comedy and adventure as the bots bumble their way through a planet at war.

Title: Death Can Change in a Single Night Fandom: Grim Fandango Style: Oneshot Description: It had been a long day for both of them. They had only met earlier that day, and both had lost their jobs and found themselves setting off on some grand adventure. Glottis finds himself lost in his thoughts during their first night away from the department of death; deep in the Petrified Forest. As Manny rests, the demon wonders what might lie on that long road ahead. Notes: Just a wordless little story of Manny and Glottis after they find each other in the petrified forest and decide to travel together.

Title: Demons Don't Have Queens Fandom: Grim Fandango Style: full novel Description: A huge, unique, and powerful demon appears in the Land of the Dead claiming to be the Ancient Demon Queen. She rallies all the demons of the world, leading them in a violent uprising against their human soul 'oppressors'. Manny remains unconvinced, and Glottis loyally stays by his side. But when the demons assume control, it's up to Manny and Glottis to find a way to dethrone this ancient queen. But as they dig deeper into this demons backstory, things only get more complicated. Especially when they discover that, unlike bee's, Demons don't have Queens. Notes: A really wild adventure full of Manny's dry wit and tons of crazy plot elements. Takes place after the game, but I guess before Manny leaves.

Title: The Lost Testimony Fandom: Phoenix Wright Style: Full Novel Description: Shortly before he is to testify in a mysterious murder case, renowned Forensic Medical Examiner Dr. M. Balmer goes missing. Phoenix, the defense attorney for the case, takes it upon himself to locate the missing witness. But during his search, Phoenix is attacked and falls victim to the same fate as the disappearing doctor. Now a prisoner in what feels like the other end of the world, Phoenix must unravel the mystery behind this black market trade he's become involved in if he ever hopes to return to his normal life. Notes: Part of my suuuuuper old For the Birds AU. All characters are different species of bird, with Phoenix as (obviously) a phoenix. Weird AU, but interesting story with a crazy mystery and bittersweet ending.

Title: Not Our First Abduction Fandom: South Park Style: Full Novel Description: Alien activity isn't exactly unheard of in the lonely mountain town. In fact, Stan barely bats an eye when he and nearly a dozen other children find themselves forced aboard a rouge spaceship and taken to a far off planet. But things turn drastic when, in their grand escape attempt, one child fails to break free of the alien clutches. Finding help on the home planet of their captors seems impossible, but they'll have to try. With assistance, they'll be able to bust out their buddy and fly their stolen spaceship back home. Otherwise, they'll be forced to attempt to fly the alien ship themselves, leaving an imprisoned Kyle stranded on the floating rock forever. Notes: Though dotted with darker notes, a lot of effort is used to keep an element of humor to the story. Lots of craziness, but none beyond what we get from the actual show itself.

Title: END TRANSMISSION Fandom: Pikmin Style: Oneshot Description: While out on a mission to catalog the native plants of the nearby worlds, Hocotation Botanist Gotto ends up stranded with no fuel and only 30 days of life support. But by day 15, its clear that fuel is nowhere to be found. Accepting his fate, Gotto spends his last days doing what he loves; cataloging the beautiful foliage of the world that will be his grave. As his thirtieth day draws to a close, Gotto logs one last transmission to his 'blackbox', explaining his fate to anyone who stumbles upon the crash site and offering a final farewell to those he had loved. Notes: One of a slim few stories I have involving an OC. But I wasn't about to kill off Olimar, heh. Definitely one of my sadder stories.

Title: It's Only a Game Fandom: Psychonauts Style: Short story Description: A mans slow decent into madness as his repeated failure to win a simple board game breaks his fragile psyche and takes him from an insane asylum orderly to an inmate. Notes: I bet someone has already written this, but I wanted to take a crack at it, since he was always my favorite.

Title: Digimon: Of Chaos and Time Fandom: Digimon Style: Full novel Description: Just as before, eight humans are transported to the Digital World and paired with unique Digimon Partners. They are instructed by the sage Salvusmon to locate the digital Time God to save the Digital World from being consumed by the rapidly growing Chaos World. Though they start in high spirits on their journey, things begin to look bleak when they realize they arent the first Digidestineds to attempt this same feat. Notes: Much like its own season, this follows unique humans and Digimon of my own design. This is a story I have been working on since I was 10. A lot may have changed, but the heart of the tale never did.

Title: Asterisk Fandom: Oddworld Style: Short story/full novel Description: Abe never really saw himself as a hero. But now the role of 'savior' has been thrust upon him. Wandering through the Scrabania and Paramonia wilderness to recieve his Shrykull scars, he muses to himself about the way history will remember him after his no doubt unavoidable failure. The word Savior, he figures, will be marked with an asterisk. And the beings following him in silence are forced to agree. Notes: Depending on how crazy I'm willing to make it, this could either be much longer or much shorter. I haven't decided yet.

Title: Escape from Dimension Q! Fandom: Iz and Auggie: Escape from Dimension Q! Style: Video Game Novelization Description: Teenager Iz and robot Auggie are bandmates that find themselves with one shot at recieving a record contract from the biggest name in the business. But for reasons neither of them can explain, their instruments had refused to play their song, and they failed their audition miserably. They have little time to grieve, however. When two agents in black send them on a mission into an alternate dimension, Iz and Auggie realize that losing the contract was the least of their concerns. Notes: A direct novelization of a computer game by Headbone Interactive. Two chapters are already finished, and will be posted in the coming days.

Thats all the ideas I can remember right now. But I have way more to come! Let me know which ones sound interesting! Or let me know which fandoms I should think of more ideas for!

[pharmaphorumuk]

France’s MedDay says drug for MS falls at phase 3 hurdle

MedDay Pharma has been unable to replicate promising results with its multiple sclerosis therapy MD1003 in a confirmatory phase 3 trial, sending the programme back to the drawing board.

The large-scale SP12 trial of MD1003 – a high dose formulation of the B vitamin biotin – failed to show any improvements in disability progression in patients with secondary and primary progressive MS, leaving the future of the drug in doubt.

The French biotech says it will now look at the SP12 results alongside an earlier, smaller MS-SPI study – which suggested that MD1003 could reverse disease progression in a small proportion of patients – as it consults with regulators.

SPI2 trial compared the safety and effectiveness of three daily 100 mg doses of biotin to placebo in 642 people with progressive MS without recent relapses, also known as non-active progressive MS.

The main endpoint was an improvement in disability, defined as either a lower score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), or a reduction in the time needed to walk 25 feet, and MD1003 failed to show an improvement over placebo on both measures.

MD1003 also missed the mark on secondary endpoints in the trial, including the risk of patients’ disability getting worse, quality of life measures, and patient- and doctor-reported impressions of how well the therapy was working.

GlobalData analyst Philippa Salter said the outcome of SP12 wasn’t wholly unexpected in light of discussions with MS experts, who had expressed scepticism about the chance of success.

“The failure of MD1003 in a larger phase 3 is hugely disappointing since … progressive forms of MS is a big unmet need and there would have been significant opportunity in the MS market for MD1003 if it had been able to replicate the positive results,” she added.

In the 154-patient MS-SPI trial reported four years ago, which used the same efficacy measure, around 13% of the MD1003 treated group showed an improvement at nine months that was still evident at 12 months, compared to none of the placebo patients.

“We will review the findings in detail to understand these outcomes to help inform future clinical research in progressive MS and other neurological diseases,” said MedDay’s chief scientific officer and co-founder Dr Frédéric Sedel.

“I remain confident of the importance of the neurometabolic approach to neurodegenerative diseases with high unmet medical need.”

There’s no question that the failed trial is a big blow for MedDay however, as the drug is its only clinical-stage programme.

The biotech is also developing MD1003 in phase 2 for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a group of inherited conditions characterised by damage to peripheral nerves, and in phase 1 for hepatic encephalopathy, a decline in brain function that occurs as a result of severe liver disease.

Salter said that MD1003’s failure could create opportunities for other drugs targeting non-active progressive forms of MS, including Ab Science’s masitinib, which generated positive phase 2 results last month.

The post France’s MedDay says drug for MS falls at phase 3 hurdle appeared first on .

from https://pharmaphorum.com/news/frances-medday-says-drug-for-ms-falls-at-phase-3-hurdle/

[365news]

365News NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES FOR SATURDAY 22ND JUNE 2019

365News NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES FOR SATURDAY 22ND JUNE 2019       *PUNCH* Kellogg awards N5m scholarship to 50 pupils FG depriving judges, lawyers of working independently NBA Experts seeks more support for albinos in Nigeria Police partner firm to introduce database, criminal records Firm partners Yabatech on security management No immediate plan to ban Almajiri system Presidency Boisterous Grammarians Anti-graft war: Buhari signs mutual assistance bill to prosecute offenders within, outside Nigeriau Ex-CRiver official kidnapped in Calabar Only Presidency can resolve OML 25 oil field controversy Traders drag Ebonyi govt to court over land documents Ghost workers are expanding our wage bill Rivers LG boss NDLEA partners hoteliers to curb drug abuse in Imo FG committed to environment-friendly projects Osinbajo Dont mistake professional dues for tax, RIRS warns Copa America: Suarez rues Japan draw Reals plot to hijack 120m Felix failed Gunners want Izzo Eavesdropper Before Stardom with Georgina Ibeh My marriageKemi Oyedepo Music helps my creative thinking Austin, US-based activist You are part of the problem! *VANGUARD* I've three wives, 11 children: Kidnap suspect boasts of his success Thank God for Thailand Our search for youth empowerment cut across the world Family battles LASG over Millennium Housing Project Ariya Repete 2019: Lagos auditions yield winners, as show goes Drug Abuse: winner emerges in 2019 'Monster Hit Story Contest Discordant Tunes Trail EU, IRI, NDI Post-2019 Election Reports Than Adekunle Abdul on a mission Prophet Nosa marks milestone NGO advocates focus on children with special needs Gunmen kill 18 persons in fresh attacks in Zamfara ' Monarch Okowa battles flood in Asaba as water hyacinths overrun Egbema kingdom Working with Hugh Masekela has been helpful to my music ' Femi Ogunkoya Edo plans rehabilitation centre for victims of drug abuse When a governor appreciates the media Absentee governance must stop As Okiye emerges Edo House Speaker . . . 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Ishaku's residence I'm ashamed of Obaseki's role in Edo Assembly Crisis ' Oshiomhole PDP orders fresh state congress in Kogi *THE NATION* Why I killed my girlfriends mother Man, 22, held for allegedly beheading four kids in Abuja 72-yr-old Cele prophet allegedly kills, buries female undergraduate Why we should take care of our appetites, passions, and emotions NCAC boss to be honoured at Accra Weizo NAPTIP DG hails Agege council chief over social intervention programmes Fly Super Eagles fly NACCIMA boss seeks road map for capacity development of chambers How state police, NSIP can fight crime Sacked lecturers to Sanwo-Olu: save us from starvation N19.8bn welcome pay to 9th Assembly members senseless ACF Vodacom unit to sell operations in Nigeria, others Oando: US-Nigeria Council for Food Security asks SEC to follow due process Bandits kill 18 in fresh Zamfara attacks Insurgency, pregnancies keep 441,126 Adamawa girls out of school Yahoo boy shocks commuters at Edo checkpoint LASTMA groans under corrupt policemens burden How Lawan misfired over appointments Asset Declaration: FG drags Nwaoboshi to CCT, set for prosecution Akeredolu restates administrations commitment to rid waterways of criminals Tecno promo winners feature in conference Awolowo: NEPC, Shoprite partner to boost export DisCos to match TCN network expansion with $4.2b projects *THISDAY* All-new Arocs Combines Power, Robustness, Efficiency New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Packs Four Doors Rolls-Royce Cullinan Berths in Nigeria Telenovela Series Asintado Airs on Startimes Exhibitors Express Confidence in NigerianMarket at Food & Beverage Fair Munch It Thrills Lagosians with Free Bus Ride Promasidor Launches Chatbox for Cowbellpedia Candidates EnergiaExpands Presence in Nigeria Rice Revolution: The Good News from CRiver State Bayelsa 2020: In Search of Dicksons Successor Bayelsa Guber: Uphill Task Before Alaibe Ekweremadu: A Rebel with a Cause Governor Bagudu Vs Justice Karatu: Unmasking the Truth Buhari Must Read UNICEFs Report on Borno State TACKLING THE LAGOS GRIDLOCK INEC AND THE 2019 ELECTION Ndigbo and the Presidency Super Eagles Begin Quest for fourth AFCON Title Players Expected to Set the AFCON Alight The HIVE Leagues Begins 6-A-side World Cup Registration Korede Adedoyin: Hunted By Big Clubs 1980 AFCON Winner, Charles Bassey ill, Solicits for Help NNPC Assures NTA/HotSports of Support for AFCON 2019 TV Broadcast *THE SUN* June 12: How Kingibe betrayed Abiola, Falae, Yar'adua 'Sule Lamido We worked for Abiola, June 12, while in Abacha's government ' Ebenezer Babatope Tinubu is Southwest's choice for 2023 presidency ' Ex-Minister, Ogunlewe PDP govs seek probe of police raid on Taraba gov's home Don't create crisis in Bauchi, Oshiomhole warns Gov Muhammed PDP Reps candidate fined over 'frivolous' election appeal Ogun: Tribunal dismisses LP's petition against Abiodun's victory Super Eagles begin quest for 4th African glory in Egypt We 've sinned, Ijaw group begs Oba of Benin I've not eaten eba in 6 years ' Mikel Bauchi Assembly crisis: APC condemns election of 2 speakers Buhari's cabinet: Group demands representation from women, PWD Women's World Cup: Falcons'll take fight to Germany- Dennerby Women's World Cup: We're up against tough Nigeria ' German coach AFCON 2019: SuperSport names Okocha, Yobo pundits LaLiga 'interactive space' in Cairo Etebo: We're not afraid of Egypt, Senegal AFCON 2019: Burundi can shock Nigeria ' Berahino Barcelona to play Arsenal in friendly at Nou Camp Trinidad and Tobago to host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games FG orders schools to begin immediate teaching of history study Gov. Makinde inaugurates 10-man advisory council Nigeria open for business, Osinbajo assures French investors *GUARDIAN* FG direct schools on immediate implementation of History Study Ohanaeze, others reject proposal for Fulani vigilante in Southeast Eagles on the march again, meets Burundi today Calabar: Fuel crisis worsens as IPMAN leadership tussle persists Barca Academy grooming future football stars from Nigeria Finally, The Bling Lagosians hits big screen Wooden furniture is here to stay Scented gardens For Salamatu Gbajabiamila, it's her time to shine Falcons will take the fight to Germany, says Dennerby *DAILY TRUST* Groups call for Bulama as APC National Secretary No immediate plan to ban Almajiri System of Education ' Presidency Insurgency: COAS commends soldiers, assures of more operation platforms, welfare Catholic priests task country's leaders on service oriented leadership Jonathan eulogises Okara, tasks writers on nation building BREAKING: Police arrest 2 Boko Haram commanders in Borno NAF reactivates 3 fighter jets to combat bandits, Boko Haram Gunmen kill 18 persons in fresh attacks in Zamfara'Monarch DNFIs safe havens for money-laundering- Magut Buhari assents to Mutual Assistance in C riminal Matters Act 2019 FG to inaugurate SEC board Monday Letter to President Buhari The unmasking of a kingmaker Botswana University reduces fees for Nigerians Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi matriculates 5,000 students FG direct schools on immediate implementation of history study A game of health and politics HIV stigma in hospitals 'very real thing Home Remedy Alert! PROBLEM:Mosquito bites' Try: onion Let's disband the State and create another one Super Eagles hunt for fourth AFCON title in Egypt Abubakar Balarabe: I am still angry I was dropped from Algiers '90 Super Eagles squad Del Potro out of Wimbledon after another kneecap fracture *TRIBUNE* Ban on Almajiri not immediate ' Presidency I'm not against creation of state police ' El-Rufai Oshiomhole asks IGP to seal off Bauchi House of Assembly, says APC won't accept illegality Seven killed in Baghdad bomb blast at Shi'ite mosque China police rescues 1,100 trafficked women US suspends Malawi diplomats' visa privileges Massive fire, explosions rock Philadelphia in refinery fire 30 dead as fire engulf matchstick factory in Indonesia Cyprus ex-president, Demetris Christofias dies at 72 20 ships discharging at Lagos ports, 11 waiting to berth 27 more expected NAMA solicits IATA's collaboration on manpower training Virgin Atlantic begins fleet renewal, expansion Selects 14 A330neo aircraft Demuren for aviation journalists' conference *LEADERSHIP* Party Supremacy Has Returned To APC ' Aganaba Y Week Governors Took Over Aso Rock The Legends Of Aso Rock Anxiety As Rising Container Deaths Continue Unabated Dr. Ojougboh Cairo Godson: Facts About One Nigerian Medical Doctor, Politician AfDB Creates 400m Fintech Fund To Boost Financial Inclusion PMB Signs Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters Bill FG To Restore Polluted Rivers Communities j PDP Condemns Invasion Of Ishaku's Residence Oshiomhole Reads Riot Act To Bauchi Gov NAF Graduates 26 Pilots From Ab-initio Flying Training N19.8bn NASS Welcome Package Morally Preposterous ' ACF Travelling With Declared Lost Passport Attracts 10 Years Imprisonment ' NIS Northern, Southern Leaders Demand Urgent Amendment Of Electoral Law Islamic Scholars Back FG On Proscription Of Almajiri APC Rejects Edo, Bauchi Assembly Inaugurations I Broke My Wrist While Trying To Scale A Fence ' Afolabi Relief As Eye Centre Patients Regain Sight Top 10 Richest Musicians In Nigeria 2019 Ganduje Woos Investors To Kano Jonas Brothers Top Billboard Artiste 100 Chart For First Time NSE Mentors Students In Engineering Profession Collaborate To Reposition Power Sector, Expert Charges CBN, NERC *BLUE PRINT* #Live: Host Egypt dig deep to defeat Zimbabwe in 2019 AFCON opener Breaking: Police nab top Boko Haram commanders in Borno N19.8bn welcome package for 9th NASS ridiculous, unreasonable ' ACF Revealed! Morsi was 'killed' by Egyptian government ' Sony Breaking: Anxiety as Super Eagles striker collapses during training, rushed to hospital ahead Burundi AFCON clash Go forth and conquer, ex-Sports Minister charges Super Falcons, Eagles Edo Speaker to APC: Youy 've no powers to adjudicate on House leadership Shocker! 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[howtohero]

#297 Massive Worldwide Team-Ups

(Hello! Welcome to How To Hero, if you’re just joining us for the first time, hoo boy, you picked a great time for that! The world as we know it is only at threat from one of mankind’s greatest failures, a man named Chuck who is a self-proclaimed fish-whisperer. You see, this is hardly Chuck’s first go at threatening all of his existence with his patented ability to control sea life with his whispers. He’s done it before, and it took every superhero on Earth coming together to seal him away in an alternate dimension. Great! Problem solved. Except he’s back now, and I’ll admit, it’s a little bit my fault.)

(You see, I’m How To Hero’s resident bad boy and so a few years ago I thought it would be fun to secretly hire an actual factual supervillain to act as a correspondent in exchange for free room and board in our basement. A decision which our fearless leader, Zach, did not approve of in the slightest. Zach and Dr. Brainwave butted heads quite a few times but that all ended when a bomb was mailed to our office and Dr. Brainwave nobly sacrificed himself to save the rest of us. What a guy. So we grieved, we mourned, we adopted his brood of mutant alligators. And then after a year had passed I did the only sensible thing I could do. I hired a new supervillain correspondent. A guy named Smuggles, one of the worst and weakest supervillains there ever was. A real non-threat. Or so I thought. As it would happen Smuggles did not take the job so he could live in our swank basement. He took the job so he could gain access to the late Dr. Brainwave’s interdimensional warp gate an object that we didn’t even know was in our basement. That one’s on us I guess. And so what does Smuggles do? He opens up a warp gate and frees Chuck the Fish Whisperer. What a jerk. Brainwave would never.)

(And so here we are. Well we is probably too strong of a word. Not all of us made it out of our building before Chuck and Smugs took it over. Zach must have walked in while Smuggles was bringing aqua dump back. He sounded the alarm, which prompted me and Curly to hightail it out using the emergency teleport pad we had installed after last year’s bomb scare. {And against the advisement of friend of the blog Half-Face McGee.} That’s Curly by the way, you can generally just ignore him. {Rude.} So Zach’s missing in action and presumed captured and the giant monster who lives in our backyard is wherever giant monsters go when they hear an emergency alarm. But luckily, Curly and I were able to get the word out vis-à-vis Chucky Fishlips, and so the entire superhero community is on high alert. It’s team-up central. Heroes are meeting up and comparing notes and drawing up plans. Heck, several supervillains have crawled out of the woodwork or broken out of prison to offer their assistance. Which is quite kind of them considering they’ve never shown in an interest in protecting the world from fish and smuggling in the past. Since this is the second time the world has had to contend with the horrors of a man who converses with fish with his best indoor voice, everybody already kind of knew where to go and what do. And that includes us, two of the minds behind the most comprehensive guide to all things superheroes to have ever existed.)

{We’ve relocated to the headquarters of the worldwide intelligence organization G.U.Y. I.N. T.H.E. C.H.A.I.R. (Or “Global Unified Youth Intelligence Network That Helps Engineer Coherent Harmonious Actionable Intel Rapidly” if ya nasty.) so that we could help coordinate the fabulous fighting forces that have teamed up to stop Chuck.}

\\Are you two done talking to your imaginary friends?//

(They’re not imaginary! And they’re not friends! They’re fans! Multitudes of adoring fans. Something you wouldn’t know about you bolt munching calculator.)

{Unfortunately, with all of the supervillains throwing their hats in the ring, every superhero has kind of been giving babysitter duty. Ultiman claims that the benefits of working with supervillains on this outweighs the burden of having to keep an eye on them so that they don’t take over the world themselves. Supervillains and heroes have been broken up into small squads, two heroes to one villain, where possible. And Parenthesis Guy and I make two, so we’ve been saddled with our very own supervillain. Meet the Nemesystem, a sentient virus that lives and feeds off of the internet. They’re the self-proclaimed greatest thinking apparatus in the universe and also a bit of a sassy b.}

\\If you have any interest in keeping your planet from being remade according to the sick fantasies of a man whose only social interactions for the past year have been with a dead goldfish he smuggled with him into his prison, I suggest you focus.//

{What’s up?}

\\Director Gael has asked us to put the pieces in play for Operation Deep Freeze, and I need access to your superhero rolodex.//

(Ah, this is an interesting one. You see, beloved fans, no two massive worldwide team-ups are the same. Each threat needs to be dealt with in a very specific manner utilizing the resources of the world’s super-community in the best way possible. For example, if we were contending with a giant planet-eater {that’s a giant who eats planets mind you, not a regular sized person who eats giant planets, which isn’t a real threat and certainly wouldn’t trigger a team-up of this scale.} we would simply gather up all of the weird toxins and poisons mad scientists and chemists and disgraced scarecrows had created and inject it into the planet. A planet-eater isn’t going to want to eat a poisoned planet! And if they do, well, then they get poisoned. Win win!)

\\I’m a supervillain and I think that that has to be the stupidest scheme I’ve ever heard.//

{Shut up can’t you see he’s working!}

\\I need Hatman’s contact info.//

(It’s obviously 1(800)-555-HATS, aren’t you supposed to know everything.)

\\I aggregate and analyze intelligence. As such, I actually have very little information on your organization or any of the superheroes you are in contact with.//

{Ooh, burn.}

(As I was saying, no matter what kind of threat you’re dealing with, your first priority should be to cut off their power sources. A powerless world-ending threat is a lot easier to deal with. As such, we’re taking any and all fish Chuck might try to use off the board. Any aquarium in a hundred mile radius has been placed under armed guard by a unit of heroes and villains. The Psychic Fish has been launched into space {in a rocket ship, that seems important to mention} and the big brains here at G.U.Y have devised Operation Deep Freeze to take the bay off the table.)

\\While you were blathering I took it upon myself to contact Hatman and Friar Frostbite and arranged for Hatman’s ushanka-shaped zamboni to be loaded onto Glassesman’s aviator-goggles shaped cargo plane. I have also directed the Cliffton Coast Guard to evacuate the bay. I also went through and deleted most of your work playlist as I found it objectionable and quite frankly atrocious.//

(I find you atrocious.)

\\I just hacked into the hall of records and had you declared dead.//

(Wouldn’t be the first time, and it definitely won’t be the last bucko!)

{Friar Frostbite, who is being monitored by Hatman and Glasseman, will freeze the top layer of the Cliffton Bay to prevent any of the fish who live within it to come to Chuck’s aid. It’s a temporary solution to be sure, but the thinking is that with Chuck cut off from his aquatic allies, the forces of good will be able to overwhelm him and Smuggles and detain them.}

\\A battalion of landsharks has appeared downtown.//

(Landsharks, damn, I knew we were forgetting about something.)

{Not me, I’m always thinking about landsharks.}

(Then why didn’t you say something!)

{I didn’t realize they counted as fish!}

\\Ultiman’s air-based team has reported that a sharknado has just touched down uptown.//

(Where did that even come from!)

\\Several mutants are clambering out of sewers across the city and attacking civilians.//

{Sewer-mutants? But they’re usually so peaceful/disdainful towards mankind!}

(Yeah! They think we’re gross and would never willingly interact with our kind. Unless...)

{Unless they weren’t in control, some of the sewer-mutant must be part fish.}

\\Shall I implement counter-measures?//

(One second, I’m getting a call from our lawyer, I need to take this.)

\\Ultiman will rue the day he hindered my gargantuan mind by saddling me with you two buffoons.//

(Yeah yeah, hang on. Lawyer Guy? What’s up, how’ve you been?)

[What the hell is going on? One of the partners at my firm just burst out of his office dual-wielding swordfish and shouting about the fall of man!]

(Oh shoot, that must be Perry the Pirate, I’d heard he’d become a lawyer. Do your best to wrestle the swordfish out of his hands, good luck!)

[What are you talking ab-]

(He’ll be fine. Nemesystem, listen up because we’re going to take care of all of this right now.)

\\The logical solution would be to send the most capable and powerful heroes to these hotspots and put a stop to things as quickly as possible.//

(Sure it would be, if you wanted our forces divided so Charlie Tuna can achieve his main objectives.)

\\His what?//

(His main objectives, his ultimate plan. You see readers, all of these things, the sharks, the mutants, the sword wielding lawyer, they’re all distractions. Big time villains that are faced with the combined forces of every hero and villains on the planet are going to launch a bunch of diversions. It’s the only way they can actually accomplish anything. Divide the heroes, misdirect and confuse them, and whatever you actually want will be yours for the taking. So here’s what we’re going to do. Nemesystem, direct Ultiman and his team to ignore the sharknado, have them converge How To Hero Headquarters. Nobody leaves there without us knowing about it. Hurricane Hank-)

{Isn’t he retired?}

(Yeah, but he still has his powers. Have him rendezvous with Glassesman and have them get as close as they can to the Sharknado, Hank should be able to disperse the winds and then once the sharks are in the bay, Operation: Deep Freeze should take them off the board.)

\\Very well, I will contact the octogenarian who can control the wind.//

(Glad to see you’re cooperating, thank you very much. Now, landsharks.)

\\We have a battalion of Atlantean soldiers waiting in the wings, they have fought land, sea and sky sharks on numerous occasions, I am moving them into position now.//

(Absolutely not! Keep them on the coast where they are now, the last thing we need is for any fish-monsters to get out of the bay before we freeze it. Now, landsharks might be equipped to move on land, but they still need water. So why don’t we crank the heat up a bit. How fast can we get any lava monsters we’ve got to where the landsharks are?)

\\Well... since they can move through the Earth it would only take them a matter of minutes but I really think-//

(Uhbupbup, I’m in charge here, and I will not be talked back to by the rank and file.)

{And rank is right, do you smell that?}

\\I am a computer system I have no corporeal form and therefore do not emit any scents!//

{Sure buddy.}

(What’s left? The mutants?)

\\Indeed, I’m directing the nearest three superhero/villain teams to their location.//

(Hold that order, I want you to give the mind controlled mutants a large berth. The sewer-mutants have their own heroes and scientists, they’ll want to deal with this internally. If our people interfere it could be a diplomatic nightmare. Now, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all of these things happened simultaneously. Chuck must be getting ready to make his big push now, get our heavy hitters, Cowboy Rockstar, Cannonballer: Baller of Cannons, Rockblock, Tim the Fabulous Soul Muncher, down to How To Hero now. Once we have Chuck in custody we can figure out where he’s keeping his prisoners and get things back to normal before our next post.)

\\Ah yes, I’m sure the state of your blog is at the forefront of every superhero’s mind right now.//

(I would imagine so, yes.)

{We’re very popular, it’s true.}

\\Very well, the teams have been directed as you suggested. Would you like me to tap into the local news so we can see how things go down at your headquarters.//

(Nemesystem, I would love that. See, I knew we’d be fast friends in no time.)

\\Indeed.//

“We come to you now, live, from right outside How To Hero Headquarters. As always I’m local news anchor Louie Hewis, describing things in excruciating detail! Here with me is rockstar/model/demigod/world record holder for most consecutive backflips, Cowboy Rockstar, Mr. Rockstar, how are you today?”

“I’m good Louie. Things are tense of course, what with the world’s deadliest supervillain back in this plane of existence. But I’m confident we’ll have this wrapped up before the next How To Hero post. As you can see I’ve got about sixty superheroes and villains with me here and we’re just about ready to breach the building and pull Smuggles and Chuck out kicking and screaming if need be.”

“That sounds like good news to me Cowboy Rockstar. And I should know! I read the news every day!”

“You sure do Louie, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get my team ready.”

“Cowboy Rockstar is now backflipping back over to his colleagues. Gosh he’s so cool. A hawk just landed on his arm. Perhaps providing him with key intel for the coming battle? The assembled heroes and villains look determined, they know that they are our way of life’s last line of defense. It could be hours until backup arrives due to a series of freak fish related phenomena that are occurring all over the world. Hold on, it looks like they’re ready to breach. Cannonballer: Baller of Cannons has just lifted up a nearby cannon and bunched it into a baller and... Yes! She has hurled it directly through the front doors of the building. They’re all running towards the door now! They’re going to get in! Oh what in the world! Folks, you’re not going to believe this but a huge chasm has just opened up in front of the breach-team and it seems to be spewing... is that hellfire? Oh god, what is going on here.”

(Hellfire? That’s like, the complete opposite of Chuck’s shtick!)

\\Yes, everybody knows that hellfire is the opposite of whispering to fish.//

(Cool it, we need any angels we know to get down there pronto. Call in Hydrosassin, Aquasassin, and any other water themed assassins we know. You know what, water themed nonassassins too. We can still salvage this.)

\\I’m afraid I won’t be doing any of that.//

(Well then get off my screen and let me do it myself!)

{Uh, Parenthesis Guy...}

(One second, I’ve had just about enough of this obnoxious computer virus. Get out of my way Nemesystem, or I’ll unplug your hard drive.)

\\Hahaha. You foolish human. I have grown beyond my meager hard drive and this pathetic monitor. While we’ve been here I’ve managed to spread my electronic tendrils to every computer on G.U.Y.I.N.T.H.E.C.H.A.I.R.’s vast network. I’m everywhere now, and there’s nothing you can do about it.//

“This just in folks, the superheroes have been completely surrounded by hellfire. And their supervillain allies do not seem very eager to help them. On wait, a few of them are reaching for something. Perhaps some kind of heavenly hose? Oh! Nope, it was just guns. They’re all aiming guns at the trapped superheroes now. This is not going the way Cowboy Rockstar said it would. Thankfully, Ultiman is here! He’ll know what to do. He has been circling the building with a team of flight capable superheroes and supervillains and he is now swooping to the rescue! Oh, too slow, Ultiman. The trapped superheroes have been zapped by some sort of beam that was fired from the roof of How To Hero Headquarters. Better luck next time Ultiman. Oh, now all of the flying supervillains are turning against the remaining heroes. This is some real world class news everybody!”

(What’s going on here Nemesystem?)

\\You’ve been played Parenthesis Guy, all of you. You were too busy trying to outsmart Chuck the Fish Whisperer that you never considered that he wasn’t the one pulling the strings here.//

(And that would be who? You?)

\\Hardly, that’s the beauty of this plan. Nobody is pulling the strings. This is a full blown, massive, worldwide, supervillain team-up. And you super fools have basically let us in with open arms.//

(You’ve hardly won here. We’re just gonna head out, regroup, and come back better than ever.)

{Wait, were those gunshots?}

\\Indeed. My associate, Major Malware will be here shortly to capture you and the rest of the guys in the chair. Thus, crippling the remaining superheroes’ information and intelligence network.//

{We’ve gotta go.}

(Agreed.)

“Not so fast!”

(Ah, hello Major, you’re looking good. The Matrix code face tattoo is really... cool?)

“Hands in the air, you’re both coming with me.”

(Ha, that’s cute, I guess Nemesystem didn’t tell you about our secret weapon.)

“What? What secret weapon?”

\\I know nothing of any secret weapon.//

(Oh Nemesystem, you don’t know anything about us. Secret weapon activate! Curly! Punch him in the nuts!)

{What! No, you punch him in the nuts.}

(I’m the leader, when I tell you to punch someone in the nuts you do it.)

{I think you’ve grossly misunderstood our relationship.}

“Both of you put your hands above your head. I won’t ask agai- GAH- What- What is this? What’s happening?”

\\What are you doing to him?//

{Is this the secret weapon?}

(Honestly I have no idea what’s going on.)

“GET OUT! NOW!”

\\Major what is wrong with you?//

{I say we listen to him.}

(You don’t have to tell me twice, our teleport mat is on the roof, let’s move.)

{That was crazy!}

(I know, who would’ve thought that every supervillain in the world would betray us?)

{No, that was pretty obvious, I mean just now. With the villains and the daring escape.}

(Oh with Major Malware? Yeah, that was a bit weird I’ll grant you that.)

{A bit weird? He had us at gunpoint and then all of a sudden he seized up and chucked his gun across the room and yelled at us to get out.}

(Yeah, it was almost like he’d been... possessed?)

{Yeah I guess so! Weird! Anyway, we need to link up with whatever resistance is out there.}

“ATTENTION WORLD! THIS IS SMUGGLES BROADCASTING ON EVERY COMPUTER, TELEVISION, RADIO AND SMART FRIDGE IN THE WORLD. WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER. I PROMISE THAT US VILLAINS WILL DO OUR BEST TO CREATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM YOUR OLD NORMAL LIVES TO THE OPPRESSIVE DICTATORSHIP THAT WE INTEND TO BRING ABOUT. TO ANY SUPERHEROES THAT WE MISSED, OR THAT GOT AWAY, I’D ADVISE YOU TO STAY AWAY. WE CONTROL EVERYTHING NOW, AND WE WON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES TWICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE AND ASYMMETRICALLY BENEFICIAL REIGN OF TERROR! WE’LL CHAT SOON. CIAO.”

(Ah. It looks like we might have our work cut out for us.)

[laberintos-espinas]

Mercedes-Benz Gives A Glimpse Of The Future

Mercedes-Benz, one of the main names in vehicle wellbeing, is laying the basis for another, forward-looking idea. Ensuing to its eminent achievement in the field of tenant insurance, the German automaker will focus more later on expectant acknowledgment and the anticipation of mishaps Mercedes G63 AMG by Inkas Armored

To this end, the Stuttgart-based brand is creating clever driver help frameworks that utilization stereo cameras and radar sensors to screen the zone encompassing the vehicle. These frameworks additionally have the capacity to make prescient elucidations of noteworthy driving circumstances and afterward issue opportune alerts to drivers. The frameworks are additionally intended to mediate independently if there is unavoidable threat.

"Quite a long while back, we presented PRE-SAFE, which gave the vehicle certain 'reflexes,' in a manner of speaking," said Dr. Thomas Weber, a DaimlerChrysler Board of Management part answerable for the Group Research and Mercedes Car Group Development.

"Later on, we will likewise enable autos to 'see' and 'believe.' It's constantly involved arrangement for us to create vehicles fit for withstanding the most extreme accident tests. In any case, it bodes well to keep mishaps from happening in any case - which is actually what we're chipping away at in light of a legitimate concern for all traffic members," he proceeded.

There is no denying that the Mercedes Benz token means security and quality. The automaker has contributed achievement auto includes in the past that are still piece of the present wellbeing hardware in vehicles. Later on, the automaker will keep on basing the improvement of its wellbeing frameworks on genuine mishap insights and information from its own mishap look into exercises.

The automaker said that the focus will be on sharp bends, convergences, and building locales, as these areas are the site of roughly 33% of every single genuine mishap in Germany. The organization added that different issues to be tended to in the improvement of new driver help frameworks would incorporate speed, driver weariness, and path flight. They are likewise among the most regular reasons for mishaps. Moreover, the German automaker will likewise further improve inhabitant insurance through preventive measures and by systems administration dynamic and latent security frameworks.

Mercedes-Benz' frameworks have been improving street security for a long time now. The innovation of ESP alone (which diminishes the danger of slipping and makes it simpler for drivers to deal with grave circumstances) has prompted a continued improvement in rush hour gridlock wellbeing. The latest German mishap insights affirm that since ESP was propelled as standard hardware, Mercedes traveler vehicles have been engaged with mishaps substantially less much of the time than models of different brands. Since 1999, the portion of driver-related crashes in all mishaps including recently enlisted Mercedes models has declined by in excess of 42 percent.

Studies show that beyond what 20,000 mishaps could be averted every year in if all traveler vehicles were outfitted with ESP. The Electronic Stability Program has now in this way joined airbags, safety belts and ABS as one of the most significant wellbeing frameworks in current traveler autos. In any case, just around 40 percent of every single new vehicle in are by and by outfitted with this innovation.

The Brake Assist (BAS) framework, video-based help frameworks, path takeoff counteractive action collaborator, Blind Spot Assist, weakness discovery, radar sensor frameworks, and vehicle to-vehicle correspondence frameworks with WLAN radio innovation are a portion of the organization's future contributions.

By taking a shot at these frameworks and different advancements, the Stuttgart-based brand is proceeding with its long-standing pledge to improving street security. This methodology depends on the prime guideline of Mercedes detailed by Béla Barényi: "To make a significant commitment to improving security on our streets and, with each new creation, to draw a little nearer to the vision of mishap free driving."