#blue prism documentation

[sporesgalaxy]

hey I updated the Pierre Document. The document with all the information about which version of events I consider canon to Pierre. the Pierre document where i write down random shit all the time. that document.

posting this as im on the verge of passing out so i dont have time ti regret it yayyyyyyy

•••

Pierra's family are avid travelers, possible for mild-mannered citizens like them due to their home island Old Tool's status as a travel hub and their family history of working in the Marine shipbuilding and sailing industry. Thus, Pierra being taken along on a pleasure cruise with the rest of her family would be an unheard of luxury in most of the world, but it wasn't originally all that big a deal to Pierra.

Things took an unexpected turn after the cruise ship Pierra was on had already crossed the Grand Line (using sea prism stone technology) and entered the East Blue.

Since the East is supposedly the safest of the four blues, the hired Marine guards were lazy in their security measures, drinking and partying to congratulate themselves on crossing the Grand Line without incident.

Therefore the ship's protectors were woefully unprepared when the Buggy Pirates suddenly attacked! The Pirates were on their way to Reverse Mountain, and energized after reuniting with their captain and escaping Marine custody!

The pirate attack happened while Pierra was avoiding her family (and especially her mother) on a quiet part of the ship and quietlt spiralling into despair about how she has no idea what to do with her life. The terrifying pirate attack was almost a welcome distraction.

With no one she knew close at hand to worry about the safety of, Pierra's first instinct was to hide, and she was scared enough to employ the devil fruit powers she swore never to use in order to hide in an impossibly small space! This gambit backfired however, and to Pierra's acute horror, her hiding spot inside a crate of alcohol was taken aboard the Big Top as loot.

Pierra managed to stay hidden as a stowaway on the Bigtop for at least a couple of weeks. Then, the Buggy Pirates met Portugaz D. Ace, who managed to be the first person to notice the giant red centipede sneaking around the ship. Luckily for Pierra (who spur-of-the-moment decided to go by Pierre and "pretend" to be a guy), Ace is nice and believes Pierre when he says that he never meant to cause any trouble. And luckily for the Buggy Pirates, Pierre is down to his very core desperate for approval and has a lot of chitinous helping hands he's delighted to lend as long as you tell him he did a good job.

--------

Tiny Pierra lets ants crawl all over her. She watches them tear apart a dying grasshopper in the garden, piece by piece.

Pierra looks with wonder in her eyes at a rotting fish covered with maggots. At a dead baby bird that fell from its nest too soon. At a bag full of bloody ducks her father shot.

Pierra gets too upset sometimes, and too frightened frequently.

Pierra hides as often as possible.

When Pierra starts getting big, she wishes she was still small. She used to like squeezing into tight spaces; inside a box, under a small desk, under a bed. She doesn't fit anymore. Sometimes she feels like she's stopped fitting anywhere at all.

Pierra sneaks into other people's rooms when she's alone in the house, just to look around without disturbing anything. Just to hear the silence.

Pierra takes food she is not supposed to eat, just to get away with it. Just to test how far she can go without being noticed. Just to be unnoticed and forgotten on purpose, instead of as a reflex.

When Pierra is 16, she goes to the market with her mother. While her mother speaks to someone, Pierra breaks off a tiny piece of the most interesting fruit at the stand. No one notices her do it this time. Pierra chews and swallows the piece of fruit, and it tastes bad, but Pierra is pleased to have learned what it tastes like without permission.

Later that evening, alone in her room, Pierra thinks she is dreaming, or maybe losing her mind. She wonders half-heartedly if the fruit was poisonous and she is dying-- but she doesn't want to disturb anyone if she's wrong again.

So, she does what she always does when she thinks she is losing her mind: distracts herself and waits for it to pass.

It passes, eventually, but this won't be the last time. She learns that it's not madness, but the curse of a Devil. She learns she can't swim anymore. She prays for forgiveness. She tells nobody.

When Pierra gets too upset and admits it her mother a year later, she is begged never to transform again. To hide it forever, for her own safety. Human traffickers could be anywhere, her mother says, and Devil Fruit users fetch a high price. Pierra promises to keep hiding. Pierra wonders if it will be easier now, having someone who understands.

Pierra's mother goes back to acting like nothing ever happened. It doesn't get much easier.

---

"It'll be okay," says Pierra's mother gently, drawing her daughter into her arms. Pierra wraps her arms around her mother as well, because she is supposed to.

"We'll figure this out..." her mother continues, "...we can fix this."

Pierra stares over her mother's shoulder as she feels the last remains of her hope crumble away in silence.

That's it, then. Despite everything, despite so many years of cyclical disappointment and pain... Pierra's mother would not give up on "fixing" her.

She and her mother had been repeating this painful exercise for Pierra's entire life. Over and over, every year, every month, every week, for as long as Pierra could remember.

Pierra is so tired of trying to be fixed. She is tired of trying to be something she isn't. She is tired, so so tired, of letting down people who see something in her.

She had hoped that after such a spectacular failure as this one, her mother might finally give up on fixing her. She had hoped that her mother might start trying to learn how to forgive her, instead.

That hope was gone now.

Now, Pierra can see that her mother will never stop waiting for someone less disappointing to take Pierra's place. Pierra can see that her mother's pity will always be directed at the less disappointing person Pierra is certain she can never be.

Wrapped in her mother's arms, Pierra has never felt more alone.

"We'll figure it out together," her mother adds, squeezing Pierra's shoulders tighter.

----

Humans have to be taught everything. We're very good at learning. It's what we evolved to do.

Some animals have to be taught how to do things. How to hunt, where to go.

But many animals exhibit behaviors that are never taught to them.

Humans have a precious few. Holding our breath underwater, hanging on with our arms.

The less social the animal, the less learning it tends to do.

The more its behavior is ruled by instinct.

-----

Most Observation Haki users learn to tune out the auras of nonaggressive bugs, consciously or unconsciously.

Otherwise, their senses would be overwhelmed by spiritual "noise" from hundreds of tiny auras. The glut of information can make it harder to notice actual threats, and the easiest solution is to ignore typically irrelevant details-- i.e., bugs.

It's something like mentally tuning out the sound of cicadas in a forest when you are listening for a distinctive bird call.

In his centipede form, because of his skittish nature and typical lack of malicious intent paired with centipede instincts from his Zoan abilities, Pierre's aura usually registers as a genuine nonaggressive bug aura. It can therefore go easily overlooked, despite Pierre's large size.

Like if our proverbial birder was listening for bird calls, but Pierre was a bird whose call almost perfectly mimicked a cicada.

It takes a very skilled Observation Haki user and a very sharp mind to take in ALL auras in an area without tuning out small details like harmless bugs. To these sort of people, centipede Pierre can be detected just as well as anything else, and his large size will even cause him to stick out.

In the cicada metaphor, these people are sharp enough to identify any bird calls and count the number of cicadas calling at the same time. And Pierre sounds like a cicada...but not a species of cicada the expert listening recognizes. Thus, Pierre sticks out.

Pierre's attitude can also ruin his bug aura camoflauge. If he is too focused on anything besides his own survival, his aura ceases to be nonthreatening or buglike enough and he will no longer go overlooked.

For bird-Pierre, this would be like accidentally letting out a distinctly bird-ish squawk rather than the mimic-cicada call.

-------

B: [unlocking a chest] This poster better be the best thing since sliced bread or I am completely SCREW--

[Pierre is revealed to be inside the chest. Buggy gawks at him.]

P: I- I know how this looks!

P: But it's not the same as last time!! I'll leave as soon as I--!

B: [snotty, sobbing, frantically grabbing Pierre's shoulders] NO!!!!!! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!

P: !!!! [Pierre is wide-eyed and speechless]

B: [stops sobbing] wait a second.

B: [shaking Pierre by his lapels, angry now] Where the HELL have you been, Chucklehead?!!!

P: [being comically shaken around too much to form a response]

B: I haven't seen you since we got arrested on--!!!

B: [stops shaking Pierre, squints at him] .....OHHHHH.

[Pierre has no idea whats going on, is still being grabbed by the lapels]

B: [angry smile] [lets go of P and crosses arms] I see what happened!!!!

B: [vindictive] The government took back your pardon because they abolished Warlords!

B: [pokes Pierre in the chest] So after two years of thinking you're BETTER than me,

[Pierre's eyes widen]

B: You had no choice but to come crawling back!!! [flicks Pierre's nose] GYAHAHAHAA!!!

B: [patting Pierre's head condescendingly] Don't worry Chucklehead, I won't make you grovel. Much. [mean grin]

P: Wait, what?! [earnest] I-I'm not-- I don't think I'm above you, Buggy!! That would be crazy!!

B: [smug aura cracks slightly] Eh?

P: [sheepish] I'm surprised you even remember my name! A famous pirate like you must meet so many amazing people, I didn't think I'd stick out at all...

[Buggy gets smug again, and a bit flustered]

B: Well, heh heh...

B: [remembers he's mad] Then why'd you ditch me?!!

P: I-I didn't ditch you!

B: Like hell!!! All the Buggy Pirates got pardoned when I became a warlord, but YOU never came back!!

P: Because I'm not a Buggy Pirate?! I was a stowaway!

B: [gawks again, like "are you serious??"]

P: ...you...wanted me to come back??

B: [dodging the question] YOU'RE DODGING THE QUESTION!!!

B: What were you even doing for th last two years that was so much better than ME-- MY CREW!!!!!!

[FLASHBACK PANEL: Pierre on the Snail. He is saying "No, Mom-- I-- I DO want to be here. The science is really interesting, I just--"]

P: ...Well, keheh... [drags hands down face] ...Ugh. Trust me, I did NOT wanna be there.

P: So, when the navy caught the Buggy Pirates, they saw my Devil Fruit power.

P: [before Buggy can ask] I know I told you I've had this since I was a kid, but I never used it before I was with you. It was always this big secret.

P: Anyways, I was really afraid that I'd get in trouble for hiding it, so I told them I got the Devil Fruit on your ship and that I was a hostage.

[Buggy squints at Pierre. It's a good thing Buggy likes him and is exactly as cowardly]

P: They believed it, and I was hoping they would just let me go home, but they really wanted my Zoan powers, so I ended up stuck with the Marines...

[FLASHBACK PANEL: Marine representative says "You've got a unique ability, Ms. Pierra. Opportunities like this shouldn't be wasted! Please, consider our offer, at least--" Pierre interrupts: "I'll do it." He looks terrified and miserable as he says it. What's his problem?]

P: And that's where I've been for...two whole years.

[FLASHBACK PANELS: Pierre thinking "I have to get out of here." "I hate this." "I can't do this anymore." Pierre talking on the snail again, "Yeah, I'll look into research positions." "No, I haven't looked yet." "I've been really busy..." "I just haven't gotten around to it." "I still wanna do something different."]

B: Okay. So how the hell did you end up in my closet???

P: Uh.

P: They sent me with the guys who were supposed to arrest you, actually, but I ditched them.

[FLASHBACK PANEL: Pierre is on a Marine ship looking miserable and indecisive. Suddenly it is chopped in half by Crocodile. Pierre survives by hiding in a barrel & manages to paddle ashore.]

B: And you snuck all the way in here? On an island full of bounty hunters??

P: [manic grin] ...I guess!

P: I'm kind of just trying to not die right now!

P: Thanks for not killing me, by the way! Kehaha!

B: Kill you?? Of COUUURSE not, Pierro-chan!!!

B: [claps Pierre on the back] Why would I kill my own PERSONAL bodyguard!!!

P: ........HUH?

[astra-ravana]

Labradorite: History And Use

Labradorite is a semi-precious feldspar mineral known for its exquisite iridenscence. It is characterized by vibrant flashes of color, which ranges from deep blues and greens, to vivid purples and pinks, to fiery oranges and golds. The enchanting play of colors in labradorite has a scientific explanation that's as fascinating as the stone itself. It's known to exhibit 'labradorescence', a phenomenon that occurs as a result of the stone's unique internal structure and the interference of light.

Labradorite's mineral composition primarily consists of a type of feldspar called anorthosite. What makes this feldspar so distinct is its lamellar structure. Within these layers, there are thin, closely spaced structures that act as barriers to the passage of light. When light enters a labradorite stone, it interacts with these structures in patterns that are necessarily parallel, producing is distinctive flashes of color, the striking display that labradorite is renowned for.

The colors produced by labradorite are not due to pigments within the stone, but rather the dispersion of light. This is similar to the way a prism splits light into its various colors. As a result, the hues in labradorite can shift and change as you view it from different angles, giving it a dynamic and captivating quality.

Understanding the science behind labradorite's iridenscence adds another layer of appreciation for this otherworldly gemstone. It's a testament to the marvels of nature and how it can create something so aesthetically stunning and intriguingly mystifying.

History

Labradorite boasts a history as enchanting as its radiant colors. While it earned its name from the Canadian province of Labrador, where it was first officially documented in the late 18th century, its roots in human culture run deep. The discovery of labradorite was a moment of awr and wonder, as early observers were captivated by the stone's iridescent flashes. However its use and significance extend far beyond its namesake region.

In ancient cultures, labradorite was considered a magickal stone with connections to the unseen world. Inuit tribes who inhabited the region where labradorite was initially found, revered it as the powerful stone that captured the Northern Lights, trapping them within its depths. The association with the Aurora Borealis gave labradorite a sacred status among Indigenous people.

As time progressed, labradorite began to make its way into other cultures' spiritual practices and traditions. It was prized by shamans and mystics for its metaphysical benefits, healing potential, and ability to enhance one's spiritual connection and insight. Labradorite was often used for divination, channeling, spirit work, crossing the veil, and more, believed to bring about a deep understanding of the Universe, spirit, and the inner self.

Labradorite's history also intersects with the world of art and jewelry. Artisans and jewelry designers recognized its captivating beauty and incorporated it into various creations. The stone was believed to ignite divine creativity in those who worked with it.

Metaphysical Uses

Labradorite is more than just a stunning gem;  it is also revered for its metaphysical properties, making it a beloved stone among mystics and those who delve into spiritual realms. These profound effects include:

• Enhanced intuition and psychic abilities- One of the most commonly attributed labradorite traits is its ability to open the Third Eye, honing one's intuition and enabling psychic ability. It is referred to as the "Stone of Magick" or the "Stone of Transformation" due to the profound experiences it can facilitate. Labradorite opens the doors to unseen realms beyond perception enabling individuals to tap into internal and external sources of wisdom to gain insights far beyond the ordinary. For those who practice psychic readings, divination, meditation, astral travel, or any kind of spirit work, labradorite makes a valuable companion. It heightens spiritual awareness, amplifies inner knowing, and aids in past life recall. This improved intuition can aid in decision making, problem solving, and understanding complex situations.

• Spiritual transformation- Labradorite is regarded as a profound catalyst for spiritual transformation and growth. It supports individuals on their spiritual journeys by deepening their connection to higher realms and expanding their spiritual awareness. This expansion can lead to profound personal and spiritual transformation. Labradorite's energy encourages introspection, inner exploration, and a heightened sense of purpose. Those who work with this magickal stone become intuned to the subtle energies of the Universe, inspiring a sense of wonder and creativity and curiosity regarding the mysteries of existence, motivating them to seek a deeper understanding of their own soul. It is a guiding light on the path of spiritual enlightenment.

• Increased synchronicity- Labradorite holds a fascinating connection to the concept of synchronicity, the occurrence of meaningful coincidences in our lives. It acts as a beacon for recognizing and interpreting these important events, offering a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of the Universe.

• Protection and aura cleansing- Labradorite is also associated with protection. It creates a shield around the aura, the energetic field that surrounds the body. This shield acts as a barrier, warding off negative or unwanted energies and influences. Furthermore, labradorite cleanses and purifies the aura of these attachments, restoring a sense of balance and harmony.

• Inspiration and artistic expression- For artists abd creatives, labradorite is a wellspring of inspiration. Its fluid energy encourages thinking outside the box and pushing the boundaries of conventional ideas. The transitioning hues within this beautiful stone evoke a sense of enchantment and wonder, igniting one's imagination and boosting creative ability.

• Relationship harmony- Labradorite is associated with fostering relationship harmony by nurturing understanding, empathy, and effective communication between people. Its energy creates an atmosphere of openness and emotional connection, which helps resolve conflicts and strengthen bonds in any type of relationship.

• Confidence and communication- Another remarkable facet of labradorite is its potential to boost self-confidence and improve communication. When you harness the energy of this stone, it empowers you to express your thoughts and ideas with clarity and conviction.

• Focus- Labradorite is a valuable tool for those seeking to elevate their focus and concentration levels. The enchanting gem clears mental fog and grants clarity making it easier to engage in tasks that require undivided attention. It assists in sharpening your mental faculties, allowing for more precise and sound decision making.

Characteristics

Hardness: 6-6.5

Mineral family: Feldspar

Crystal system: Triclinic

Sun safe: Yes

Water safe: No

Correspondences

Planet: Uranus, Moon, Neptune

Element: Air, water

Zodiac: Aquarius, Sagittarius, Scorpio

Chakra: Third Eye, Crown, Throat

Numerology: 6, 9

Herbs: Lotus, mugwort, frankincense, sage, lavender, morning glory, eyebright

"A man is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand, until you come to a particular angle; then it shows deep and beautiful colors."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

[heylittleriotact]

WIP WEDNESDAY

Thank you for the tag @preciouslittlebhaalbae - I love ember and I’m excited to see how this oneshot plays out! ♥️

I’m on vacation this week and not getting a whole lot of writing done, but here’s the first part of Chapter 20 of i heard people are dying to get in here.

🌱💚🌱💚🌱💚🌱

Three Months Later

A world-weary sigh found its way past Rook's lips as she studied the cremation paperwork in her hand.

1 x Ashen Pewter

3 x Ashen Pewter Miniature

2 x Sterling Silver Teardrop Pendant

1 x Sterling Silver Dog Tag Pendant

"Fucking hate filling jewelry..." she muttered, tossing the cremation contract onto the counter and lifting the small blue Rubbermaid container over to the hand towel that was spread out.

She found the cardboard boxes containing the urns taped shut and bearing the name of the deceased scribbled in Sharpie on the side: one big one, three little ones, and three small jewelry boxes.

Using a box cutter, she opened the largest box and pulled out the styrofoam prism that was packed tightly inside, gently laying it on the counter and lifting away one half to reveal the urn within. Snagging the contract again, she looked at the personalization field of the printed document.

Name: First, Last; D.O.B. - D.O.D.; 'Forever In Our Hearts'; Font: Elegant Script.

Her eyes went back and forth between the information on the paper and the front of the matte finish, grey-blue metal urn: it would have been checked over when the crem received it, but Rook had learned not to rely on other people's eyes when several-hundred-dollars worth of merchandise was on the table.

Satisfied that the manufacturer hadn't mistakenly engraved 'Arnold' instead of 'Ronald', Rook slipped the urn from the styrofoam and set about filling it: the lid was popped off the Rubbermaid to reveal the clear plastic bag of cremated remains within, sealed with a twist-tie, the scorched metal cremation tag resting against the backdrop of powdery grey and white skeletal remains.

It was Tuesday, and this urn was due to be received by the family the next day, along with three others that Becks hadn't seen fit to fill during the weekend when she covered the chapel for Rook's days off.

If there was one thing she'd learned in the months she'd been at Pemberly, it was that no one actually seemed to understand how fucking busy it actually was. For some reason because it wasn't as big as Hilldwell or Arbor Heights, it was automatically assumed that it didn't boast nearly the same volume of calls on a monthly basis - a fact that Rook took it upon herself to disprove one day when it wasn't insanely busy and sat down to calculate and average out the monthly calls that Pemberly got versus the amount that Hilldwell and Arbor Heights got. While Pemberly tailed both chapels by an average of thirty or so calls, it still averaged out to eighty-odd calls per month, which worked out to between two and three new calls per day, and nearly twenty per week.

That was a lot of dead people. A lot of grieving people coming through the doors. A lot of identifications and arrangements and obituaries and clothing drop-offs and urn pick ups.

And she was the only admin there.

There were no funeral attendants or directors unless there was a service or visitation scheduled, and half the attendants that ended up there were happy to sit in the lunchroom snacking on greasy hamburgers and fries during services instead of actually doing anything useful.

She had a housekeeper when she first moved, but Eloise had been on stress leave for over a month by then, and management seemed to think that along with every other aspect of the chapel, Rook surely had more than enough time to vacuum, mop, dust, shovel snow, and prepare coffee and cookies for arrangement meetings.

She glanced over her shoulder at the cremation container on a bier behind her and prayed that by the time her other two identifications were finished and she could move this one into a free visitation room, the person inside wouldn't be a mess of purge, which would be just her luck.

Emmrich was scheduled to come to the chapel for three o'clock arrangements, and she found herself hoping his graveside service at one would wrap up early enough so that he could come early - she felt a bit pathetic relying on him for help, but on a day like today, an extra set of hands would be extremely welcomed...

She pulled a fresh plastic bag from the drawer under the counter and arranged it inside the empty Ashen Pewter after sticking a label with the decedent's name, date of death, and cremation number to the bag itself and the bottom of the urn: if the urn ever went missing, or the bag of cremated remains was removed from the urn for whatever reason, this way the remains could be identified and returned to McDermott & Rafferty so someone could contact the family.

Having done this many times by now, Rook made short work of filling the main urn, the keepsakes, and was carefully spooning finely ground but gritty ash into the last of the pendants when she heard the side door in the garage slam, announcing the entrance of another employee.

"You made it!" She called to the adjacent space, rolling the threading of the small screw in the small puddle of blue thread-locker she'd squeezed onto a paper towel and using the small Allen wrench provided to negotiate the small metal piece into place on the back of the pendant. She gave it a couple of quick twists and squinted at the pendant, wiping away a bit of excess thread-locker and then setting it down with the others to dry. "I was wondering when you'd get here–" she negotiated around the cremation container in the middle of the room and entered the garage. "– how was the graveside?"

The welcome sight of Emmrich did not greet her in the garage, however, but rather the daft pink face of Derek, flanked by none other than... Elgar'nan?

Rook stiffened, immediately on the defensive the moment that vile cologne assaulted her nose.

What the fuck are these clowns doing here? They better not be fixing to fire me...

"Hello, Rook," Derek said, in his hollow yet amiable tone. "I'm giving Elgar'nan a tour of our facilities. Pemberly is our last stop - I’ll take Emmrich’s three o’clock arrangements since I’m already here.”

You mean you’ll sit in the arrangement office with the family for two hours and accomplish absolutely nothing and leave the rest for me to follow up with tomorrow?

Tagging: @xxnashiraxx @aldisobey @emmg @ollypopwrites @razildor

[mollowosh]

The Absolute You (Story)

(CanaryAnne_) Posted on 5/7/2023 

Hi all! I was wondering if I could have some other people look at this thing I stumbled upon, maybe figure it out. I truly, truly feel like I’m going crazy. So I went to Dresher University, and a while ago I was scrolling through their old social media posts out of boredom, and just a few years before my first semester there I found an obituary for a girl named Elodie Carter. I’ll go ahead and attach a part of that here.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that, on 10/7/2015, Dresher University student Elodie Carter lost her life shortly after a car accident at the age of 20.  Elodie was a bright student and charismatic speaker according to all those fortunate enough to connect with her. The aspiring physicist’s contributions to Dresher’s PRISM society pushed forward the organization’s capacity and ambitions to great heights, and even at such a tragically short span her life will have a positive impact on many to come. Even in her last few hours at the hospital, she was thinking about the wellbeing of others, comforting friends and organizing where her belongings would be allocated. Elodie was a bright light on campus, and we will never forget her. In the wake of her tra...

Ok, so really sad, but pretty normal all things considered. But as I was looking at it I got this really weird, like, reverse-deja vu moment where I felt like I was forgetting something that I should know about, but couldn’t tell what. So I looked into it a little bit, and I found this news article that references someone of the same name, at Dresher, dying on the same day. But instead of a car crash report, it’s a totally different story about some kind of mugging, which I have absolutely no memory of. And I… can’t think of any explanation for this? Both of these documents are public, and I just can’t see this being a coincidence. I’ll attach a bit of the article below, but can you guys help me look into this?

Student shot and killed during mugging at Dresher University (Published 12/7/2015) This Wednesday, Dresher University junior Elodie Carter was fatally shot while walking home from a party. Campus police were called to the scene after two gunshots were heard outside the Erwin Residence Hall, where they found Carter’s deceased body with two deadly gunshot wounds and purse missing.  Security camera footage reveals that the incident occurred just as Carter entered a blind spot, however, a blue truck not known to belong to any Dresher student can be seen quickly exiting the area moments before authorities could arrive.  Peers who attended the party she was leaving testify that nothing seemed unusual about her behavior, only that one friend warned her to be careful while walking home alone. The local police department is continuing to search for any signs of a perpetrator, and is discouraging students from being out alone in any context.

(Str4ng3r) Replied on 5/7/2023 to (CanaryAnne_)

God fuckin damn casually dropping you got into Dresher. Jealousy aside, you’re right, this is really weird. As far as I can tell, there’s nothing off about either of these sources other than the fact that they contradict each other. I think it is technically possible that there were just two Elodie Carter’s at Dresher who died on the same day, but that just doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe this is just my conspiratorial side, but I feel like maybe this is some sort of cover-up and the media mixed up their stories.

(CanaryAnne_) Replied on 5/7/2023 to (Str4ng3r)

I guess that’s possible? It just seems so coincidental, like, besides the fact I can’t find anything they’d have to cover up (which I guess is kinda the point), wouldn’t anyone with the power to do that at least ensure that their super basic stories are… y’know, at least compatible?

Also my student loans are still KILLING me so don’t feel too jealous about not getting in.

(Str4ng3r) Replied on 5/7/2023 to (CanaryAnne_)

Alright this is officially fucked I found another account of her death, I looked through the account that posted her obituary and it still shows she is still following it (I guess they don’t delete accounts of ppl who’ve passed) and i chose a random person following her, scrolled down to around the time it happened, and there was nothing. But there was a post one year later commemorating her and-

AmberFoster (10/7/2016): It’s been a year since we lost Elodie. Walked to the park where we were on the night when she first said she was feeling strange, then she had a stroke, and just a day later she was gone. I don’t really know why I went back, it just made me feel awful. I guess on some level I feel like I owe it to her, I know a lot of people aren’t going to remember so I have to be there for her. Elly, if in some universe, in some way, you can read this, know that I’m only okay because of you.

This is crazy. And before anyone asks, no I’m not going to message them further that would be so weird.

(xpp0q) Replied on 6/7/2023 to (CanaryAnne_)

Alright, I started looking into it more, it doesn’t get any less impossible. I was looking at Dresher’s website and found one of their physics professors that’s been there a long time, figured if Elodie was a physics major then they would have crossed paths. I shot him an email asking if he ever taught her and if he knew of her passing, without mentioning the discrepancy we have here. He got back right away, this is the email and obv I censored both of our names.

Dear ████, Good evening to you too. Yes, I can confirm I taught Elodie in my Advanced Experimental Physics class around 2014. As it was a while back, I don’t remember a lot of the specifics, but I definitely recognize the name. I do have some emails coming from her that I won’t show you out of respect, but from what I can tell she was very involved with some of the deeper research happening on campus, and her suicide was very unexpected. Best of luck with whatever you’re looking for.  ████, PhD

I have no clue what to do with this. I asked him if he could show me proof or any email/document that it happened, and he said he had none but heard it by word of mouth.

I did some additional digging, and found the studies that the prof said she was working on. Well, sorta, I looked for them in the database and got results, but all of them were blacked out. I think they got intentionally expunged somehow. This sort of leans into the “government coverup” theory I guess, but still doesn’t really make sense. What research could she possibly have been doing that was secretive, yet known to a random professor, sensitive, yet released to the public at some point, made her dangerous enough to get killed, but not dangerous enough for her story to be written with any consistency, created all these messed up narratives, but not enough for anyone to notice until years later - it’s nonsense, I don’t know what to make of this. And that’s assuming it is a coverup at all, and we don’t know that. 

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (CanaryAnne_)

Hey, what the hell is going on here? This isn’t funny.

(Str4ng3r) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (Elly_Carter94)

Fuck off troll

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (Str4ng3r)

This account has been around for FIVE YEARS, dude. I read this forum. You can find posts of mine talking about Dresher and engineering advice really recently. What are you guys trying to do here?

(CanaryAnne_) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (Elly_Carter94)

You… Aren’t dead?

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (Str4ng3r)

What do you think? I don’t know where all of these reports are coming from but they sure as hell aren’t about me. I had that professor, am still dating Amber, and have a job and everything now.

(CanaryAnne_) Replied on 7/7/2023 to (Elly_Carter94)

I’m really sorry you had to see us talk about you like this, but I mean… look at all of the different accounts we found, isn’t it reasonable that we thought that you were dead? None of us have found any evidence that these are fake, do you have any idea what this is?

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Str4ng3r)

I mean, no, I don’t know what they are. I’ve never seen these before. Sorry for my initial reaction, y'all aren’t doing anything wrong. You’re right, it is weird. I can tell you that my “involvement in research” was long enough ago that I can admit that I wasn’t actually super involved in it. My mom was the one actually in it, I just got a freebie internship that let me do accounting stuff for the researchers. I really wanted to be involved, but I just never got let in. There was only once I got any kind of action, there was someone missing that apparently was supposed to be there and I subbed in.

(xpp0q) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elly_Carter94)

What did you do when you got to work?

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (xpp0q)

I can’t remember most of it, but it was boring. I just had to stand in a specific place and press a button. I couldn’t even fully see the machine, but it was huge and underground. There actually was some kind of malfunction that day, a bunch of red lights and sirens told us that we had to leave like halfway through, and that was that.

By the way, I asked Amber to look through her posts for the one you guys found, and it is there but she doesn’t remember ever posting, nor would she have any reason to. I’m just as confused as all of you.

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (Elly_Carter94)

Oh my god it worked, I actually have a connection. Ok, please listen to me. I’m not here to make jokes or anything like that. I might be able to explain but I don’t have any time. For you all it’s 2023 but right now it’s 2015. And it's two days until every other Elodie dies.

(Str4ng3r) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

What are you talking about? What the fuck do you mean it’s 2015?

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Who are you??

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (xpp0q)

I’m sorry, you’ll just have to trust me. I’m Elodie Carter. A different one. Your Elly didn’t get to be a larger part of the research program but I did. And I don’t have a lot of time, so I’m just going to have to be blunt: I’m not from your universe. The research we were doing was about investigating if parallel realities existed - or at least that’s what I was told. That was a lie, they were already certain of it. This whole time, they’ve actually been working making an “absolute timeline,” which would destroy all the others.

(CanaryAnne_) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

That’s… so we’re saying multiverse theory is correct?

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (CanaryAnne_)

Doesn’t it make sense to what you’ve been seeing? A bunch of versions of the same person impossibly experiencing different things?

(xpp0q) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Hold on, if all this is true, why is your universe wanting to destroy all of the others?

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (xpp0q)

We don’t want to, we just discovered that we can, like you guys did. We realized that it's theoretically possible for a timeline to be made "absolute," as in turned into the one, true timeline which cancels out all the rest. And because we found out that it's possible, that meant anyone else could do it at any time. And the only way to prevent us from taking the blow is by being the first to do it.

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

What does this have to do with us? Like, specifically you and me?

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (Elly_Carter94)

You guys were the first. Not to make your universe absolute, since obviously I’m here right now, but the first to make a person absolute. Something becoming absolute means that there only can exist one across all universes. Whatever accident happened in your lab on the 9th, it turned you into an absolute being, and as a result every other Elodie can't exist after that.

(xpp0q) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

So why and how are you here to tell us this right now?

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (xpp0q)

I’ve gone under the radar using the other researchers’ equipment to try and warn all the others, I guess our timelines are slightly staggered meaning my now is your before. But more importantly, we need this business to stop. If we can coordinate everyone, maybe we can agree that NOBODY has to pursue an absolute timeline. If any of the universes does it, they’ll ensure their own survival, but cause the deaths of literal infinite others. Most universes are similar enough to have some form of the internet, so I’ve been trying to bridge them. And I think it’s working, since you guys are seeing posts from other timelines. Unfortunately, that’s also how I learned that I think it’s over for me soon.

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Okay, that… Thank you. I mean really, thank you so much. I will try to continue what you have going here. I’m so, so sorry that it happened this way.

(CanaryAnne_) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Yes, thank you. I don’t know how anyone is gonna believe us, but… We’ll try.

(Str4ng3r) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Yeah, me too. It’s definitely crazy, but I think if your internet shit works even a little bit then we’ll start to amass more evidence.

(xpp0q) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Same here. Is there anything else you want from us?

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 8/7/20██ to (xpp0q)

Just- Elodie, can you take care of Amber? I know it’s a different one and you’re doing it already, but I feel so awful having to leave her all alone. Just help her out. I don’t know what mine is going to do, but you can help yours. Will you do that?

(Elly_Carter94) Replied on 8/7/2023 to (Elo_Cart)

Of course. I promise I’ll take care of her, and I promise that yours will turn out alright. We can take it from here, your work is done. Go spend time with her. If you’re the same as me, then that’s probably all that’s on your mind right now.

(Elo_Cart) Replied on 9/7/20██ to (Elly_Carter94)

Ok. Thank you. Goodbye.

[linettefox]

My interpretation of the Precure lore, if anyone cares. Reposting this from my Twitter thread.

Full Interpretation of Precure-Verse

Yes! Although inconsistent between seasons. I'm actually trying to make a series of videos on my channel that's a whole Precure lore dump!! Allow me to dump some of it here too.

Precure exists in a system of multiverse and parallel worlds all connected by portals and various means of transportation powered by the Prism Flower. This flower was destroyed once and is implied to have been birthed from the Heart Tree.

The universe was created by the 12 Star Princesses who reside in the Star Palace at the center of the Starry Sky Galaxy. They gave people imaginations, but there secret 13th sister didn't like that and became evil.

When the floral sea was destroyed on Mother RaPaPa's final breath she mentioned the Pretty Cure. This was the first instance of the legendary warriors being named. A few years later 10,000 years ago when the world was ruled by darkness and monsters the first Precure team emerged+

Earth has two origin stories. In Happiness Charge canon the god Blue created it but in Mahoutsukai canon it started as the floral sea created by Mother RaPaPa. I actually plan to theorize how this works in my upcoming YouTube series but to shorten that my theory is that +

When the floral sea was destroyed and split into Magic and Non magic worlds. Perhaps the non magic one was uninhabitable after everything and Blue simply took that broken rock and turned it into planet Earth. This theory raises questions but it's the one I use.

THE LIST:

Cure Empress, Cure Priestess and Cure Magician are the first documented cures to have existed. There are several other teams that popped up after them all the face their respective evils. I actually made a list of all the legendary cures in order, some are just estimates though.

8000 BC <- Cure Magician, Cure Empress, Cure Priestess

1020 <- Cure Oasis, Cure Flora, Cure Mermaid, Cure Twinkle

1524 <- Cure Ange

1724 <- Cure Mirage, Cure Noble

1924 <- Cure Lumiere

1936 <- Cure Earth

1960 <- Cure Rose

1960 - 2000 <- Cure Flower, Cure Tender

2000 - ??? <- Cure Moonlight, Cure Sword, etc (Past cures that joined main teams)

So what exactly is a Precure? They're legendary warriors, magicians, patisseries and super heroes. How their powers work is inconsistent but I have my theories. In general they just seem to be miracles, like the legendary power is needed to save the day and poof they a cure now.

They also get power ups and weapons through miracles as well. (Or more like Precure create miracles)

Anyone can be a Precure the only requirements seem to be the drive to protect and ability to never give up. A little courage and some hope may be needed but I don't think they are required as much as the other two are.

Most of the legendary cures if not all have failed to defeat the villains once and for all. This is why each year their predecessors are born to finish the job. Since Cure Black and Cure White's debut every team has been successful.

I actually nicknamed the in universe era from 2004 onward as the Precure renaissance since it was when the cures started to peak.

There is so much other lore I want to share but I have rambled long enough.

LINK:

[rorywritesjunk]

But suddenly now, I know where I belong It's many hundred miles and it won't be long

Buggy gets taken to Impel Down and her husbands have to help her.

Rating: PG-13 for swearing. A mention of assault but its phsyical assault. Word Count: Just shy of 2.3k; Just over 5 pages in a word document. Warning: Buggy gets upset near the end. Has self doubt and uncertainty with her relationships. A/N: This was a fun thing to write. A request from an anon who wanted Buggy to be rescued by her husbands from Impel Down. I'm almost always up for Swap AU writings now as well as Buggy and the Wives stuff. Enjoy!

(Also I'm going to try and start adding word counts to my fics and will probably go back nd update my works with it! I should have kept up on it as I know it can be something people look for with fics <3)

Title comes from "Train Song" by Ben Gibbard and Feist.

“Prisoner number E-8200. Buggy the Clown.”

The warden showed a picture to the new recruits. The woman in the photo was scowling, her blue hair pulled back into a ponytail as she faced the camera. The new recruits said nothing, listening to the words of the warden as he discussed safety protocols, evacuation routes, and what to do with an escaped prisoner.

“She was arrested by the Marines a few weeks ago and has been nothing but trouble since.” The warden continued. “Finally captured after all these years after assaulting a Marine officer in a pub.”

One of the new recruits shifted on his feet where he stood. The shoes were uncomfortable to be in, the pants a little too tight, and he was feeling warm. He glanced over at the other two recruits, one with long blonde hair and the other with short pink hair. They were all hired days apart with their first day happening at the same time.

“You three will oversee her stay with more experienced guards, but don't talk to her, look at her, or even acknowledge her while you go to her cell. She's a Devil Fruit user.”

The pink haired man raised his hand and the warden pointed at him. “What?”

“Is she fitted with sea prism cuffs, sir? I understand that they help subdue those kinds of powers.” He said as the other two listened.

“She is. We've taken all the precautions we can with this capture.”

The three recruits nodded in understanding. The warden continued on as he led the three out of the office and to the cell where the prisoner was kept. He mentioned that Buggy was unmarried, a troublemaker, even making comments about the sight of her nose as he laughed. The three laughed in agreement, though two of the men had to put their hands on the shoulder of the blonde recruit after seeing him clench his fists.

There were two guards already at Buggy’s cell. She was pacing around, screaming about mistreatment, missing her crew, poor food options, everything. The two guards pointed to their ears - they had procured ear plugs. They kind of worked.

“These three are new recruits.” The warden said loudly, trying to be heard over Buggy’s complaining. “Train them with this one.”

The guards nodded as one reached into her pocket and pulled out some extra ear plugs. Buggy looked up, rubbing at the cuffs on her wrists as she studied the three before grinning widely. She approached the cell door but one of the guards turned and shoved his gun through the bars at her, causing her to stop.

“Don’t get any closer, pirate scum!” The guard barked. 

“Aw, c’mon, you bring on new people and they don’t get the honor of meeting the Captain Buggy?” She whined as she pushed the barrel away. “I’m the Genius Jester! Flashy Fool! They should at least introduce themselves to me!”

The warden shook his head. “Ignore her. She just wants the attention. It’s rather pathetic.”

“She is pretty pathetic.” The female guard snickered. “Keeps going on and on about husbands and how they’ll rescue her, but all our intel says nothing about her being married to one guy, muchless several.” She glanced back at Buggy who was currently glaring at her, jaw clenched as she glared at the other woman. “Who’d willingly marry someone like her?”

“She is a clown so she’s supposed to be funny!” Her male companion laughed. “The idea of having husbands is hilarious.”

One of the new recruits suddenly raised his hand. “How was she caught?”

The guards looked at the warden but Buggy suddenly chimed in. “I’ll tell you! Some ass was flirting with one of my beautiful husbands and I wasn’t about to let that happen, got it?! He kept telling them to leave him alone but they didn’t take a hint so I stepped in and handled it!”

“She assaulted a Marine unprovoked.” The warden said as Buggy glared at him. “Hopefully you three can manage her.”

“Manage me?! Fuck you!” Buggy snapped. “If it wasn’t for these cuffs I would have escaped already, you know! You pieces of sh-”

“Hey, that’s enough.” The pink haired recruit ordered as he took a step toward the bars. Buggy narrowed her eyes at him as she took a step back from the bars. Grinning, he leaned against the bars as he looked her up and down before turning back to the others. “See? She just needs a firm tone, just like any woman.”

“Fuck you!” Buggy shrieked. “I’ll show you a firm tone, you ass!”

“Anyway, I’ll leave you three here. These two guards will go over the inmate’s schedule. She gets two meals a day, doesn’t get to leave her cell, and we have to watch her constantly. If she continues to cause us problems we may see about taking her to a lower level.”

“Yes sir!” The three said. He rolled his eyes and left. He was certain they’d be quitting by the end of the day.

~

They lasted a month. The little things that added up got to them.

One of them, the brunette, brought Buggy her meals only to have them thrown back at his feet, screaming about how disgusting the food was and that could they at least season the food with salt before trying to feed her? At least he left a parting gift of tasty sugar cookies for the other guards before he resigned. 

The blonde tried the gentle approach, trying to talk kindly to her, but she would throw it back in his face each time, making a joke of it, not taking his words seriously. She gradually wore him down that he quit the day after the brunette, which was unfortunate because the other two guards missed their shift due to illness. 

The pink haired recruit lasted a few days longer before he gave up. He stupidly went into her cell to try and calm her down after she had a screaming fit over something trivial. She knocked him out. There were stupidly no other guards around. She stole his clothes, leaving him in his underwear, before slipping out. 

He resigned, shouting about lack of training, assistance, and clearly the reason they were short handed was due to the stress of the job. People were missing because they were sick with stress from dealing with this nonsense on a daily basis!

They gave him a change of clothes and put him on a ship that would drop him off on an island. There was a guard standing with him, one wearing some kind of facial covering, who was scowling at him the entire time. It took several days to get to the closest island, but once he was on land, the guard threw her hat off and stomped on it before shrieking about quitting also. This was ridiculous. The prisoners were monsters and she couldn’t handle the cat calls and ass pinches. 

~

Cupcake brought the food up to their shared room at the inn. He was able to get word to Sunny and Birdie about getting the ship headed in their direction but to give them a few extra days just in case the prison noticed a missing inmate. 

Buggy was soaking in the room’s bathtub, her hair in a bun as she splashed hot water on her face. Prison was miserable. She had lost weight because the cooking was terrible compared to Sunny and Birdie’s so she refused to eat most of it. No doubt the food at the inn was going to be just as bad, but when she saw Cupcake come in with two bowls of beef stew, she figured she could suffer through that. 

“We’ll stay here for a few days, babe.” Cupcake told her as he set the bowls on the table. ���Gives the ship time to go back to Impel Down while Sunny and Birdie get the ship headed this way.”

Buggy nodded, rubbing her nose as she watched her husband go over to one of the shopping bags he obtained earlier, pulling out some clothes for her. “How are you feeling after I punched you?”

“You definitely weren’t gentle, but I’m fine.” He grinned as he looked over at her. “I’m sorry for some of the comments I made. I was trying to be the biggest asshole there so they wouldn’t be suspicious.”

She rolled her eyes. “Suspicious of what? You heard them, there’s no chance in hell I’d be married! Who would marry someone like me anyway?!” Grumbling, she took a swipe at the water before standing up. “I’m pathetic and the thought of being married was just so hilarious to them.”

Cupcake sighed and grabbed a towel before walking over to her. He wrapped the towel around her before helping her out of the tub. She was still grumbling about what the guards had said back at the prison. She tried to not let it get to her then but now…

She hesitated before looking up at her husband. “You don’t regret marrying me, do you?”

“What? Buggy, I don’t.” He assured her as he helped dry her off. “None of us do. Hell, Birdie was the one who came up with the plan to get you out, you know. He came up with the idea of getting hired on and then putting laxatives in the cookies. Sunny was the hardest to convince because he was worried he would be the one to mess it up.” He sighed and wrapped his arms around Buggy. She relaxed in his arms, resting her head against his chest. “He almost did. The warden said something about your nose and Sunny was ready to start throwing punches.”

“Well, Sunny is too sweet. He wouldn’t know how to throw a punch.” Buggy mumbled as she turned to hide her face against his chest. “That damn Marine back at the pub wouldn’t leave him alone even after he said he was married. I had to step in.”

“And he’s lucky to have a wonderful wife who watches out for him.” Cupcake told him as he kissed her on the forehead. “Now, let’s eat, okay?”

Buggy nodded and stepped away from him to pull on some of the clothes he got her. Once she was dressed she joined him at the table, looking down at the food with a frown. Picking up her spoon, she scooped up some of the stew before looking over at him.

“Why didn’t the others stick around to rescue me?”

Cupcake glanced over at her as he started eating. The food was okay but Sunny’s cooking was much better. “Are you mad that we didn’t blast out a wall of the prison to rescue you?”

She huffed softly and nodded. “I would have hoped it would have been flashy and loud, you know, a real spectacle!”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Babe, we couldn’t. For one thing, we aren’t pirates, and the other thing is we had to be sneaky otherwise we may have been arrested as well.” He took another bite of his food. “Just so you know, Birdie and Sunny are going to have a feast ready for you, so be grateful it was me saving you and not one of them. The feast would have been delayed.”

She perked up at the mention of their cooking. “Oh? What are they making me then? It better be some of my favorites!”

“I don’t know the menu but I know you’ll be happy.” Cupcake grinned. “Now keep eating. We’re stuck here for a few days and gotta get used to the food.”

She picked at the food and sighed, helping herself to a few mouthfuls. She just wanted to have her husbands’ cooking instead of this slop.

~

Buggy greeted her crew enthusiastically but the second she was done telling them how she managed to escape prison she was at her husbands�� sides, refusing to budge. It made it a little difficult as Sunny was trying to cook but Birdie took over, allowing Sunny to wrap his arms around his wife as she clung tightly to him. He eventually moved to a chair to sit down and his wife made herself comfortable in his lap, tucking her face against his neck as she let out a loud sniffle.

“I was worried no one would come for me!” She cried. “What if you didn’t?!”

“We did, honey.” Sunny assured her as he kissed her on the forehead. “Just no more punching people in the pubs, okay?”

“But I was defending you!” She reminded him as she rubbed her face against his shirt, sniffling still. “What if that Marine wanted you all for herself?! She could have done that!”

Sunny shook his head and hugged her tightly. “It’s okay, I would have resisted.”

“Would you?” She whined. “I have the best husbands. Someone is bound to get jealous, you know.”

“Well, we have the best wife.” Birdie chimed in from the stove as he fluffed up the mashed potatoes. He looked over at her and grinned. “Glad you made it home, sweetheart.”

Buggy gave Sunny a kiss before getting out of his lap to go give Birdie a hug. That was the sign for Sunny to take over cooking so Birdie could give his wife a hug. He held her tightly in his arms and kissed her forehead, telling her that he loved her as Buggy tried to stop crying. She hated that she was so upset but she was worried. They all could have left her to rot but they didn’t. They stuck it out to save her. 

How did she get so lucky?

[codecurrent]

RPA Consulting Services: Practical Guide to Process Automation

Introduction

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses software robots to handle repetitive business tasks. RPA consulting services help you plan, build, and manage automation for your company. This practical guide will show you, step by step, how to use RPA consulting services to automate your business processes.

🧰 You Will Need:

Access to RPA consulting services

Process documentation

RPA software (e.g., UiPath, Automation Anywhere)

Project management tool (e.g., Trello, Jira)

Support from IT and business teams

Step 1: Get Ready for RPA

Understand Your Processes

Action: Review your daily business tasks.

What to do: Identify tasks that are repetitive, rule-based, and time-consuming.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants assist in mapping out these processes to highlight areas ripe for automation.

Identify Automation Opportunities

Action: Assess which tasks are suitable for automation.

What to do: RPA consultants help you pinpoint key tasks like data entry, invoice processing, and report generation.

How RPA Consulting Helps: They guide you in selecting the most impactful and feasible tasks to automate.

Build Your RPA Team

Action: Form a dedicated team for the project.

What to do: The team should include IT staff, business users, and project leads.

How RPA Consulting Helps: RPA consulting services provide expertise to help you build a balanced, skilled team for a successful automation project.

Step 2: Assess Your Processes

Process Mining and Documentation

Action: Review your selected processes for automation.

What to do: RPA consultants document each step to ensure clarity and identify any missing pieces.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Ensures that your processes are well-documented and easy to automate.

Feasibility Study

Action: Determine if the process is stable and rule-based.

What to do: Consultants evaluate the feasibility of automating each task to ensure it is worth the effort.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Ensures you're not wasting resources on unsuitable or complex processes.

Prioritize Processes

Action: Select which processes to automate first.

What to do: Choose based on impact and simplicity.

How RPA Consulting Helps: RPA consultants help you prioritize tasks that will yield the most value.

Step 3: Design Your RPA Solution

Map and Standardize Workflows

Action: Map out workflows for clear automation paths.

What to do: Standardize your processes for easier automation.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants will help create efficient and standardized workflows for smooth automation.

Select RPA Tools

Action: Choose the best RPA software for your business.

What to do: Consider tools like UiPath, Automation Anywhere, or Blue Prism.

How RPA Consulting Helps: RPA consultants help you select the tool that best fits your business needs.

Create an Automation Roadmap

Action: Plan your RPA journey.

What to do: Set clear goals, timelines, and milestones.

How RPA Consulting Helps: RPA consultants provide a structured roadmap to guide your automation project.

Step 4: Develop and Test Automation

Build a Proof of Concept (PoC)

Action: Start with a small-scale project.

What to do: Test the feasibility of automation with a proof of concept.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants help create a PoC to validate your automation approach.

Run a Pilot Project

Action: Run the automation on a small scale.

What to do: Monitor the pilot to identify potential issues.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants support the pilot to fix problems early before full deployment.

Bot Development and Testing

Action: Develop the full bots after a successful pilot.

What to do: Test the bots thoroughly to ensure they work reliably.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Ensure the bots are fully tested for functionality and performance.

Step 5: Deploy and Integrate

Deploy RPA Bots

Action: Set up bots in your live environment.

What to do: Ensure smooth deployment with minimal disruption.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants assist in setting up the bots in your business environment for seamless operation.

Integrate with Existing Systems

Action: Ensure the bots work with your current software.

What to do: Integrate the bots into existing systems.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants handle the integration to ensure a smooth interface with your software systems.

Train Staff and Manage Change

Action: Prepare your team for the change.

What to do: Provide training on how to use and interact with the bots.

How RPA Consulting Helps: RPA consultants provide training and change management support.

Step 6: Monitor, Support, and Optimize

Monitor Bot Performance

Action: Keep track of bot performance.

What to do: Monitor for issues and ensure bots run smoothly.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Continuous monitoring and issue resolution to maintain optimal performance.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Action: Provide support to keep bots up-to-date.

What to do: Offer ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants provide ongoing support to ensure your bots evolve with your business.

Measure ROI and Improve

Action: Track the success of your automation.

What to do: Evaluate the time and money saved through RPA.

How RPA Consulting Helps: Consultants assist you in assessing the ROI and enhancing your automation.

Step 7: Best Practices for RPA Success

Start small: Automate simple tasks first, then expand gradually.

Clear communication: Keep all stakeholders informed throughout the process.

Ensure data security: Follow all relevant security protocols and compliance regulations.

Promote teamwork: Collaboration between IT and business teams is key to success.

Conclusion

RPA consulting services simplify the process of automation. By following these steps, you can save time, reduce errors, and improve overall business efficiency. Ready to automate your processes? RPA consulting services are here to guide you every step of the way.

[technorucs]

Workflow Automation: A Technical Guide to Streamlining Business Processes

In an era where digital transformation is crucial for business success, workflow automation has emerged as a key strategy to enhance efficiency, eliminate manual errors, and optimize processes. This guide provides an in-depth technical understanding of automating workflows, explores the architecture of automation tools like Power Automate workflow, and highlights the benefits of workflow automation from a technical perspective.

What is Workflow Automation?

Workflow automation is the process of using software to define, execute, and manage business processes automatically. These processes consist of a sequence of tasks, rules, and conditions that dictate how data flows across systems. The goal is to reduce human intervention, improve speed, and ensure process consistency.

Automation can be applied to various workflows, including:

Document Management – Automating approvals, storage, and retrieval.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – Auto-updating customer data, triggering notifications, and assigning tasks.

IT Operations – Automating system monitoring, log analysis, and incident responses.

Financial Processes – Invoice processing, payment reconciliations, and fraud detection.

Key Components of Workflow Automation

A typical workflow automation system consists of:

Trigger Events – Initiate automation based on user actions (e.g., form submission, email receipt) or system changes (e.g., new database entry).

Condition Logic – Defines rules using conditional statements (IF-THEN-ELSE) to determine workflow execution.

Actions and Tasks – The automated steps executed (e.g., sending emails, updating records, triggering API calls).

Integrations – Connections with third-party applications and APIs for data exchange.

Logging and Monitoring – Capturing logs for debugging, performance monitoring, and compliance tracking.

Technical Benefits of Workflow Automation

1. API-Driven Workflows

Modern automation tools rely on RESTful APIs to integrate with external applications. For example, Microsoft Power Automate workflow uses connectors to interact with services like SharePoint, Salesforce, and SAP.

2. Event-Driven Architecture

Automation platforms support event-driven models, allowing workflows to respond to real-time changes. Technologies like AWS Lambda, Azure Logic Apps, and Kafka enable scalable automation based on event triggers.

3. RPA and AI Integration

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) enhances traditional automation by using AI-powered bots to handle tasks like document scanning, data extraction, and decision-making. AI-based automation tools leverage:

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for processing scanned documents.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) for sentiment analysis in customer feedback.

Machine Learning (ML) for predictive analytics in workflow decision-making.

4. Security and Compliance Considerations

When implementing automating workflows, businesses must ensure:

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) – Ensures only authorized users can modify automation rules.

Audit Trails – Logs all workflow activities for compliance and troubleshooting.

Data Encryption – Protects sensitive information during automation.

5. Serverless Automation

Serverless computing platforms like AWS Step Functions and Azure Logic Apps enable serverless workflow execution, reducing infrastructure costs while improving scalability.

How to Implement Workflow Automation?

Step 1: Process Identification

Identify repetitive and rule-based processes suitable for automation. Use process mining tools like Celonis or UIPath Process Mining to analyze workflows.

Step 2: Selecting the Right Automation Platform

Choose a tool based on business requirements:

Microsoft Power Automate workflow – Best for enterprises using Microsoft 365.

Zapier – Ideal for no-code integrations between cloud apps.

UiPath, Blue Prism – Suitable for RPA-based automation.

Step 3: Workflow Design & Configuration

Define triggers (e.g., email receipt, API call).

Configure actions (e.g., database updates, message notifications).

Set conditions (e.g., decision logic, approval steps).

Step 4: Integration with Enterprise Systems

Use APIs, Webhooks, and middleware (e.g., Mulesoft, Apache Kafka) to connect automated workflows with CRM, ERP, and HRMS systems.

Step 5: Testing & Deployment

Unit Testing – Validate each step of the workflow.

Integration Testing – Ensure proper data exchange across systems.

Performance Testing – Assess automation speed and efficiency.

Step 6: Monitoring and Optimization

Utilize monitoring tools like Splunk, ELK Stack, or Azure Monitor to analyze workflow performance and optimize automation rules.

Future of Workflow Automation

Hyperautomation – The combination of RPA, AI, and ML for end-to-end business process automation.

Blockchain for Workflow Security – Smart contracts ensuring transparent and tamper-proof workflows.

Edge Computing in Automation – Bringing automation closer to IoT devices for real-time decision-making.

Conclusion

Workflow automation is revolutionizing business operations by enabling intelligent, data-driven decision-making. Leveraging automating workflows through tools like Power Automate workflow, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. The benefits of workflow automation extend beyond cost savings, impacting compliance, security, and business agility.

Investing in the right automation technology will ensure a future-proof and competitive business environment. Start implementing workflow automation today to drive innovation and efficiency!

[himanshu123]

The Best Robotic Process Automation Solutions for Small Businesses 

In today's fast-paced business environment, small businesses are looking for ways to optimize their operations while reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) offers a promising solution to these challenges. Custom RPA solutions can help automate repetitive tasks, streamline processes, and free up valuable time for employees to focus on higher-value activities. By adopting RPA, small businesses can enhance their productivity and scalability without having to invest in expensive infrastructure or additional staff. But with a variety of RPA tools and platforms available, how do you choose the best one for your small business? 

This blog explores the best RPA solutions tailored to small businesses, helping you select the right tool to boost your business operations. From user-friendly platforms to cost-effective solutions, we will guide you through the options available and discuss how RPA can empower your small business to grow. 

1. UiPath 

UiPath is one of the most popular RPA platforms available today. Known for its ease of use, UiPath offers a range of solutions suited for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses, UiPath’s Community Edition is free, allowing companies to experiment with RPA without the financial commitment. This version provides access to a variety of automation tools, such as process mining and robot management, while ensuring seamless integration with existing systems. 

UiPath also allows businesses to build custom RPA solutions that cater to specific operational needs. This flexibility makes it an excellent choice for small businesses that require tailored automation without compromising on scalability. Additionally, UiPath’s extensive documentation and active community make it easy for business owners to get started with automation quickly. 

2. Automation Anywhere 

Automation Anywhere offers a cloud-based RPA solution that is particularly appealing to small businesses. It is designed to automate complex business processes while maintaining a user-friendly interface. This platform includes features like AI-driven automation, process discovery, and analytics, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to optimize their operations across departments like finance, HR, and customer service. 

One of the standout features of Automation Anywhere is its affordability. Small businesses can access a flexible pricing model, which allows them to scale automation according to their needs. The ability to customize workflows and automate tasks across various applications also makes this platform ideal for businesses with unique process requirements. 

3. Blue Prism 

Blue Prism is another well-established player in the RPA space, known for its high levels of security and scalability. Although it is generally seen as an enterprise-level solution, Blue Prism also offers products suited to small businesses. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface allows users with minimal technical expertise to build automated workflows without coding. 

Blue Prism also stands out due to its focus on governance and compliance, making it a great option for businesses in regulated industries. The ability to integrate with other tools like SAP, Salesforce, and Microsoft 365 ensures that small businesses can continue using their existing software infrastructure while automating routine tasks. 

4. Kofax 

Kofax provides a suite of RPA solutions that are ideal for small businesses looking to automate their back-office processes. This includes everything from invoice processing and data extraction to order fulfillment. Kofax’s intelligent automation features use AI to optimize workflows and improve accuracy in repetitive tasks. The platform is also known for its ease of integration, allowing small businesses to connect their existing systems to the automation tools seamlessly. 

With flexible pricing and a user-friendly interface, Kofax offers an excellent value proposition for small businesses. Whether you're a retail company looking to automate inventory management or a service-based business seeking to streamline customer support processes, Kofax offers the tools to meet your needs. 

5. Zoho 

Zoho offers a comprehensive suite of cloud-based software solutions, and its RPA tool, Zoho Zia, is no exception. This platform enables businesses to automate routine processes like email marketing, customer service, and inventory management. Zoho’s RPA is particularly suitable for small businesses that already use other Zoho products, as it integrates seamlessly with CRM, finance, and project management tools. 

Zoho’s automation tools are designed with simplicity in mind. Businesses can build automation workflows with minimal technical expertise. Additionally, the platform’s low-cost pricing structure makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious small business owners. 

6. WorkFusion 

WorkFusion combines RPA with AI-driven capabilities to help small businesses automate complex processes. Unlike traditional RPA tools, WorkFusion goes beyond simple task automation by integrating cognitive capabilities like machine learning and natural language processing. This is ideal for small businesses in industries like healthcare, finance, or legal services, where tasks often require human judgment and decision-making. 

WorkFusion’s intuitive user interface and customizable workflows make it easy for small businesses to get started. While the platform may require a slightly higher investment, it offers a strong ROI by significantly reducing manual workloads and increasing process efficiency. 

Mobile App Cost Calculator: An Essential Tool for Small Businesses 

As small businesses increasingly look to digital solutions, one critical aspect to consider is the cost of developing mobile apps. For businesses looking to expand their digital footprint with a mobile app, using a mobile app cost calculator can be extremely helpful. This tool estimates the costs involved in designing and developing an app based on various factors, including design complexity, features, platform selection, and integration with other business systems. 

By using a mobile app cost calculator, businesses can better plan their budgets and avoid unexpected expenses during the development process. Whether you are building a custom app for internal use or a customer-facing mobile platform, understanding the cost implications can help you make more informed decisions. You can explore various calculators online to get a rough estimate before contacting a developer.    If you're interested in exploring the benefits of Best RPA Developers services for your business, we encourage you to book an appointment with our team of experts. 

Book an Appointment 

Conclusion: Finding the Best RPA Developers 

Choosing the best RPA solution for your small business depends on your specific needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for a simple tool to automate routine tasks or a more sophisticated platform to handle complex processes, there is a solution available that can help you streamline operations and increase efficiency. 

However, to ensure that you get the most out of your RPA implementation, it is crucial to work with the best RPA developers. These professionals can help you customize RPA solutions tailored to your business needs, ensuring smooth integration and optimized results. By collaborating with experienced developers, your small business can harness the full potential of RPA to scale operations and improve productivity. 

[gameshowtrainwreck]

A Lot of Words on a Brief Update

No, I still have not cracked shaders for Godot 4. But I have mastered the SubViewport, Camera, and Lighting nodes, so the trilons have been incorporated into the main scene.

This may be the acme of foolishness on my part, but I went about this slightly differently:

Made one to the proper proportions for an equilateral, 3-sided prism. (The plan will be to attach a shader that will read a particular trilon's parent node by the type of parent I have attached to it and apply the appropriate texture to the appropriate polygon of the mesh).

Dropped that into another scene to resize it to spec, as well as attach animations, lighting, and camera nodes as siblings. (I've done separate animations to stop every 120° but I've also done another one as going a full revolution as a loop for... I don't know, something to look at while the credits run, I guess.

Made separate Viewport controllers with sub viewport as children and placed each resized trilon as a single scene in the 2D main scene in their appropriate locations.

Part of me wants to set up the game logic, but I feel like I can't get that done until I got all the graphical elements down pat. But the placement of graphical elements hinges on the game logic.

Well, I'm gonna hit the documentation again; I think I got the idea of the UV for the mesh down, I just need to connect the coordinates of each polygon of the mesh to the parts of the atlas images I've made for them.

The X for the mesh will either be 0, ⅓, or ⅔; Y will be either 0 or ½. Which makes the three polygons of this located at (0, ⅓), (.5, 0), and (.5, ⅔). The majority of these will use two graphics of the atlas, the 'inactive' tile (a blue art card with a little stylized logo on the center, located @ (0,0)), and a 'content' tile (white graphic to put labels on, located @ (0,1)).

That third polygon of the prism (@(.5, ⅔)) depends on the game logic. On one type of trilon I have built for this, it'll either show a 'modifier' (an extra incentive if they complete a bid, the remaining images in the atlas) or another 'inactive.'

The other trilon will show a confirmation on the answer selected ('YES' / 'NO'), so that will depend on the controls I set up for this.

The third only uses two of the faces, one showing a cover denoting a 'cover' (the A-D tiles with 2,3, or 4 on them), the rest denoting the boxes' 'contents' (first row of that being for a bonus round if I ever get enough together to offer one. May just do it for shits and giggles the remaining rows of slot machine graphics and the stop sign are for the main play loop).

So this shader will need to know:

The content of my CSV files for the category name + the possible answers attached to it.

If a crit roll was successful, which particular modifier should be attached (each new category is a separate roll, but the plan is to have the chance of a modifier increasing with every new category until it resets when someone collects a trophy off the 'prize board')

The location of the atlas images.

The location and designation of each graphic within each atlas.

Which polygon of the mesh is currently facing the camera (and I need to figure out how to plot the UV coordinates of that from the viewport)

Which answer was selected by the player as well as whether it was correct or incorrect.

The result of the game logic' selection and shuffling of three distinct prize graphics (I've got five total so far, but the plan is to change sets after each trophy and just reshuffle the graphics from that set with every unsuccessful PB attempt) and the stop sign across all three rows of the PB (the idea is to reveal the same graphic on the top, middle, and bottom rows. three stop signs end your turn without giving you a trophy for it, but you keep any points you might have left).

It seems to me I can simplify that at a couple of points, and if something reveals itself as I'm learning about this, I'll keep y'uns posted.

[deviljaythey]

Darksider - Vampire Fantasy Novel (WIP) Chapter 8 - The Harpy

If you want to read the full story, send me a message and I'll link you the document!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arlin didn’t get as much sleep as he probably should have, he had too much to think about and it kept him awake. He didn’t have much time to catch up because as soon as First Night began, they were off on their journey. Erica led the way, with Arlin and Leon following close behind. They walked through the forest, sticking to lower ground with trees and shrubs to give them cover. Her experience showed, she probably could have led them through the path blind with how well she knew it.

As they moved further southwest, it began to get warmer. The snow that had occasionally littered the landscape was completely gone at this point. Instead the landscape was vibrant, no longer choked by the cold. Arlin had never seen such color before, dark greens, purples, and blues littered the forest. The stars brought out more color as their light shot through the leaves, sparkling like prisms of crystalline color. 

He was so wrapped up in it, experiencing all of these wonderful new sights. So wrapped up in it in fact that he didn’t see the massive crater in front of him. Leon was there thankfully to pull him back before he tripped into it.

“Mind your surroundings, Arlin.” he said softly.

“Sorry, I was just–” before he could finish his apology, he saw what was in front of him.

In the middle of the forest was a huge crater, sixty feet deep at the center and forty feet deep at its highest. The air burned Arlin’s senses, the smell of ash and soot clinging to his nostrils. While the rest of the forest was bright, the crater was a garish white, like all the color was snuffed out by whatever had done this. It was like a gash in the earth, a scar that had become malignant and rotten. 

“What, what happened?” Arlin managed to stutter out. 

“Mana bomb.” Erica explained. “They’re bombs of concentrated magic; the damage they cause is irreversible.”

“About a thousand years ago, both the High Coven and Kingdom of Man used them against each other. Several of them were launched and detonated in enemy territory, but they were unpredictable and could not easily be controlled. Many of them detonated in their own land and caused damage like this to the environment; soon after that, they were largely decommissioned.” Leon elaborated. 

“Hold on, this can’t be repaired? What about the trees, the grass, can’t it regrow?” Arlin asked.

“It destroys everything within its blast.” Erica said. “Plants, animals, even magic. None of it can be repaired or fixed; it’s terrible.” 

The reality of it hit Arlin, but he couldn’t accept it. Despite the fact that it was right in front of it, he didn’t want to accept this reality. A reality where trees would never grow on this soil, birds could never build nests in those trees, and magic could not flow through this land. He could feel it, after his training with Erica he could sense the lack of magic, the cease of its flow. His body was made from magic, so he didn’t realize the lack of it would make him feel so sick. 

Leon walked over to Arlin and kneed down next to him. “I am sorry, Arlin.”

“It’s fine.” Arlin said, before thinking for a moment. “No, actually it’s not fine. But you don’t need to apologize, you didn’t do this.” 

“No, I did not. But I do not know how else to ease this pain.”

“Let’s just keep walking, we can’t be stopping like this if we’re going to get to the sanctuary in time.”

Arlin began walking away from the crater; he didn’t want to look at it. Erica soon began leading the way once more, and Leon this time decided to stick closer to the young vampire. Soon, the crater was far behind them, but the image of it was stuck in Arlin’s mind. After seeing that, who could really forget it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They were moving quickly, making up for lost time. Thanks to the paths that Erica knew, they managed to cover several miles in hours instead of days. Arlin’s mood was still poor, he was stewing in what he just saw as the image and new knowledge ran through his mind. 

“Young one.” Leon said, falling back to walk alongside Arlin. “Are you alright?” 

He jumped slightly, he had gotten so wrapped up in his thoughts that he forgot Leon and Erica were still with him. 

“Apologies, I did not mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine.” Arlin assured. “What is it?”

“I wanted to check in, how are you?” 

“I’m fine, nothing to report here at all!” he said, faking a happy tone. 

They walked in silence for a few moments, Leon just looking at Arlin with his usual stoic stare.

Arlin sighed. “That was a bad lie; to tell the truth, no, I’m not doing very good. Not after seeing… well you know.” 

“I would not expect you to be, it is only natural to have this reaction. I would have been concerned if you showed no reaction to it.” 

“Probably but, I honestly wish I didn’t see it at all.”

Leon sighed. “I apologize, I did not mean for you to see that. I want to protect you from what the world has in store, but it seems I can not shield you from everything. I will make sure to correct this failure.”

“It’s not a failure, there’s no way you could have stopped me from seeing it. You need to not be so hard on yourself, you’ve been doing everything to keep me safe. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to protect me.” 

He could tell Leon wanted to argue, that he wanted to find a reason to say he wasn’t doing as good as he should be. But he held it back, he allowed Arlin’s words to settle and disburse.

“You are exceptionally kind, young one.” Leon stated.

“It’s not hard to be kind when I’m just telling the truth.” Arlin said.

“On the contrary, telling the truth is exceptionally difficult.” 

Arlin looked ahead to Erica, she had walked a bit further ahead but not so much that they couldn’t keep following her. It seemed like she was giving them space to talk, not listening in on their conversation. 

“Are all the Shade Lord’s like that?” he whispered.

“Like what?”

“Are they all that, careless? Did they even think about what those bombs would do?”

“While I was not there when they were being used, I imagine that the environment was not on the forefront of their minds. Of the Shade Lords I knew, most of them were only concerned with the conquest of the Kingdom of Man; they were not concerned with much else.” 

“Most of them? Did you know one who wasn’t like that?” 

“I knew one yes, he was unlike any Shade Lord before him.”

“What was he like?” 

Leon actually began to smile. “Where to start. He was very kind, thoughtful, proud, he had a strength to him that was mesmerizing. When he spoke, everyone could not help but listen; he rarely raised his voice but gained the attention of all. He was brilliant.”

He spoke about this person with a certain wistfulness that Arlin noticed. He couldn’t pinpoint it but there was a longing there, he could tell that Leon missed this person.

“You remind me of him actually.” Leon stated.

Arlin was immediately taken aback. “Wait what? I don’t sound anything like that guy.” 

“I would beg to differ, but I suppose you would have to have known him. It is, difficult to describe him with words alone.”

“What was his name?”

“His name was Akbar, and he is very dear to me. But that was a long time ago, now he is– well, you would not be standing here today if he were still with us.” 

Arlin knew now what that feeling was in Leon’s voice. It wasn’t just longing, it was mourning. He didn’t know if talking about this was making Leon sad, so he decided that a change in topic was in order.

“Actually Leon.” he started. “How old are you anyway?”

Maybe it was a bit rude to ask, but it was all Arlin had in the moment. 

“Oh? Well, I believe this year makes me one hundred and thirty-four.”

“Really?! You don’t look that old.” 

Leon chuckled. “I am glad I have managed to keep my youth to an extent.”

The joke made Arlin smile, he liked to see Leon happy. They walked ahead for a few moments, Erica seemed to draw back to meet up with the two of them. 

“We’re close to the path, we should be able to follow it to the sanctuary.” 

They were close to the top of a hill, an overlook to a valley that would show them the path ahead. Erica crested over the hill for a moment, but an expression of shock went over her face. She jumped back and hid under the slope of the hill, Leon and Arlin coming down to hide with her.

“What is it?” Arlin asked. 

“Coven Guard, they found the path. Take a peek, but be careful.” 

Arlin glanced over the hill and saw what must have been at least thirty guards searching a small ravine that went through the valley. There was no way they could sneak around them, there were too many of them and they would be spotted almost instantly in the valley. This path was closed off to them, it would be hopeless to try to get past them. 

“What are we going to do now?” Arlin asked.

“I’m not sure, but this path is compromised.” Erica stated. “I need to mark it.”

She walked over to a tree that was just below the top of the hill, running her hand along the bark. At the center of it, a small symbol glowed with magic as she touched it. From her pocket, she pulled out a knife and slashed across the rune, the magic fading as she did so.

“There, now other witches will know the High Coven found this path.” she explained. “Now, what are we going to do now?”

“Do you not know any other paths besides this one?” Leon asked.

“None that can get us past them. I’ve been using this path for a while, I didn’t expect the Coven Guard would find it now of all times.”

“Then we need a new plan, what are our options?”

Arlin looked around, trying to get a lay of the land. To the north is where they came from and to the south laid the path that was now closed to them. However, to the southeast was a city, bigger than the one they just came from. It could be dangerous, but it was a better option than trying to sneak past the Coven Guard.

“There’s a city over there.” Arlin said, pointing it out to them. “Maybe we could go there and get some help.” 

“While I would agree, that course of action did not work well for us last time.” Leon said.

“But we met Erica, maybe it may have not worked out at first but it led us to her.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that again.” Erica chimed in. “There’s not many people in the valley like me. Tell me, what were you guys actually doing in the city? I know you were looking for some place to hide out but how were you going about it?” 

“Well, I had heard that there were people in the back alleys who operated under the nose of the Coven Guard. I had thought they could help us, but I was wrong.” Leon explained.

“That explains it, you don’t know the first thing about the Underground do you?” 

Leon scratched the back of his head. “My knowledge is based only on things I have heard, I must admit I do not have much hands-on experience.” 

“What’s the Underground?” Arlin asked.

“I’ll explain it for both of you.” she said. “The Underground is basically where all the business that the High Coven bans goes, along with people who need services to avoid the High Coven. Put simply, it’s the criminal underbelly of the Umbra Valley.” 

“So they’re kinda like what you and the witches do?”

“They’re nothing like us.” Erica stated, firmly. “We do what we do because people need it; meanwhile, the people in the Underground don’t lift a finger until they’re promised some coin.”

“Well maybe we can hire someone to help us out. Leon, how much money do we have?” Arlin asked.

Leon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. He quickly ruffled through it, the sound of tiny metal coins clinking together filled the air. 

“We have one hundred and fifty gold and forty-four silver.”

“That won’t get us much.” Erica stated. “Not unless we find a generous courier, or a bad one.”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

She thought for a moment. “I’d love to say I do but I’ve got nothing honestly.” 

“Then we will have to do it, it may not be the best choice but it is the one available to us.”

“I hate to agree.” Erica admitted. “Alright, I’ll lead the way. Stay close to me, we don’t want to be seen by the Coven Guard while we’re in the city.”

Despite Arlin being the one to bring up the idea of going into the city, he wasn’t exactly excited to go into one again. Even with all the walking they had done today, that was nothing compared to walking uphill at all times in the city. Not to mention, he wouldn’t be able to hear any of the animals while there, it was just so loud. 

But, they needed to do it if they were going to get to the sanctuary; otherwise they’d get caught by the Coven Guard. He didn’t know what would happen to Leon and Erica, but he knew what would happen to him. It would be straight to the capital, forced to rule and be the Shade Lord. A bit of discomfort was worth avoiding that. 

Erica led them down the mountain and on to a main road, a small dirt path that a few wagons were traveling down. She ran over to the back of a covered wagon, checking the back before seeing it was clear. Hopping in, she gestured for Leon and Arlin to do the same. Leon hopped in easily, picking Arlin up to help him into the wagon. Looking around, it seemed the wagon was delivering some fruits and vegetables, the person driving didn’t seem to notice the three of them getting on. Arlin thought about stealing some fruit, but he decided against it. 

“We’ll ride in here until we get into the city.” Erica said.

Arlin and Leon nodded as the wagon bumped over to the city entrance. It stopped at the gates, rocking both the cargo and the group around in the back. They couldn’t get a very good view of what was happening outside, at least not without risking being seen. From the front, they could hear the driver talking with the guards at the gate. 

“We’ll have to take a look at your wagon.” one guard said. “It’s simply a routine search.”

From both sides they could hear the guards walking to the back, right where the three of them were hidden. Erica acted quickly, she took a dried leaf from her bag and crushed it, throwing it into the air. She then waved her hands as the bits of the leaf glowed.

“Don’t move a muscle.” she instructed. 

With one final wave, the magic enveloped the three and they vanished. It was as if they weren’t there at all, they had all turned completely invisible. For a moment, Arlin wanted to test if he could move, but just when he moved his hand, the illusion began to break and his hand became visible. He froze again, the illusion once again coming back into place. Just as it did, the guards looked inside, staring right where the group was. But thanks to Erica’s spell, they couldn’t be seen at all. 

The guards dropped the cover and whistled, signaling for the wagon to continue into the city. The three of them unfroze, almost collapsing from the stress of that close call. 

“That was way too close…” Erica admitted.

“What was that?” Arlin asked.

“Invisibility spell, it helps in a pinch.”

“Why haven’t we been using that more? That would have been great for when we needed to escape the city.”

“For me to use it that quick without drawing attention, I can’t do a full invisibility spell. If we want to be quick and quiet we’ve got to use the small version, and we can’t move while using that.”

“Aw man. It would have been really nice to make sneaking around easier.”

“We’ll just have to do it the old fashioned way, we’ve managed it so far.”

As the wagon rode further into the city, Leon peeked out of the cover and into the city around them. He was waiting for just the right time for the three of them to hop out. When the wagon rounded a corner, he opened the cover and they all jumped out onto the hard cobblestones of the city streets. They’d thankfully ended up away from any of the guards, but it wouldn’t be long before they started to show up. 

“Where to next?” Leon asked.

“Just follow me, it shouldn’t be too far from here.” Erica explained. 

She led the way, darting into the backroads like she knew the city by hand. Once again they had to trek upward, the steep incline of the city being sure to make Arlin’s legs sore. Instead of trying to get to the most hidden corners of the city, they were actually heading to the densest part of the city. 

“Are you sure this is the right way?” Arlin asked.

“Of course I do.” Erica assured. “Do you think I don’t?” 

“It’s not that! But is the Underground really in the middle of the city?”

“Let me put it this way: if you were looking for a den of criminals, where would you look?”

“Well, probably in one of the dark alleys where nobody is.”

“Exactly, which is why they’re not going to be there. If that’s what you’re thinking then the High Coven probably had the thought before you. The Underground stays hidden by blending into the rest of the city, like they’re nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Oh, that makes sense actually.”

“Yep! We’re not gonna be wandering around any dark alleys today.”

She gave a pointed look to Leon who looked away. Arlin did catch a look at his face; he was actually a bit red. Even he gets embarrassed. They walked further into the city; thankfully other people were wearing hoods so the three of them weren’t out of place. After a few more minutes, they came up to a set of stairs going down below the street, and down those stairs was a door. 

Erica led the way down to it, knocking on the door three times with the back of her hand. After a few moments a slit in the door opened up, a pair of brown eyes looking over the group. 

A voice came from the other side of the door. “Who is it?” 

“Just a traveler, looking for a place to stay.” Erica responded. 

The pair of eyes looked over the group one last time, before the slit closed. A few clicking sounds were heard from the other side before the door opened up. On the other side was a tall monster, his most notable feature being the tusks that were pointing up from his jaw. He beckoned the group inside, Erica nodding for Arlin and Leon to follow. 

The inside wasn’t exactly what Arlin was expecting, though after what Erica said he wasn’t sure what he was expecting. It was a kind of bar, with many different tables and booths that people were talking and drinking at. The monster who let them in was heading over to the main bar, Arlin stayed close so he wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. Erica sat down at the bar and the monster got behind the bar at the place she was sitting, beginning to polish a few glasses. 

“Are you here for leisure or for business?” he asked.

“Business.” Erica replied.

“Interesting, we don’t usually see many witches come through here too often.”

“Let’s just say that I’m here under some, special circumstances.” 

The monster looked to Arlin and Leon and seemed to get it immediately. 

“I see, what do you need then?” 

“The High Coven cut off one of my routes and now we don’t have a way to get past this city. We need a courier, someone to get us past the Coven Guard and get us to the border.” 

As they were talking, Arlin’s attention wandered. He found himself taking a look around the bar, just getting a look at everyone that was in here. Many in here were similar to Leon, with various animal features or just fully transformed. There were a handful of vampires that seemed to be sitting off in the corner of the place, and even an occasional horned child who was just trying to keep to themselves. 

However, one stood out, and it was because he was staring right at Arlin. He was sitting across the room, near one of the corners in a booth. He had a hood up, but Arlin could just make out that he was looking at him. That would have been frightening enough, but what really shook him was the fact that he was smiling at him. 

He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Arlin, we are going now.”

Arlin jumped a little but calmed down when he saw it was just Leon.

“Oh, I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you.” he said. “Are you alright?”

Arlin looked back once more, but when he did, the figure was gone. He looked around one more time, but he saw no trace of him. Did he just imagine it? He couldn’t have, could he? Regardless, it wasn’t important now. 

“I’m fine.” he assured. “Did I miss something?”

“We have found someone who is willing to meet with us, the bartender was just going to lead us to them.” Leon explained. 

Arlin looked over his shoulder and saw that Erica and the bartender were waiting for him.

“Oh! Let’s get going then, sorry for holding us up.”

“It’s alright.” Erica said. “Come on, let’s go.”

Arlin started following, trying to push what just happened out of his mind. They walked out of the bar and further into the building. The place wasn’t exactly one singular building, rather a series of different buildings that had been linked together. They went through a few makeshift hallways; these rickety wooden tubs that Arlin swore could collapse at any time. Thankfully they didn’t, and they were eventually led into what seemed to be a study. 

The bartender loudly knocked on the door. “Jason! You have clients!”

He waited for a moment, but there was no response from the other side. 

“Figures.” he admitted. “Just let yourselves in, he doesn’t usually answer the door himself.”

With a wave, he walked off and left the three of them in front of the door. They all exchanged looks with each other before Leon simply opened the door and walked in, having to duck to fit under the doorway. Inside was a large room, the walls lined with bookshelves and those shelves lined with books. It had two floors, one at street level and the other seemingly overlooking the outside and the floor below. The first thing Arlin saw was on the second floor, a pair of wings that were resting over the railing. 

He seemed to notice them walking in, turning slightly to get a look at the small group below him. There was a small thud as he closed a book he was reading, setting it down on a table before fully turning around to face the three of them. His hair and feathers seemed to match, both being stark white. His hair was short, a bit rough but seemingly manageable other than his bangs which he moved to the side. He had dark brown skin and almost piercing blue eyes that seemed to be focused on Arlin in particular. 

The most noticeable part about him was the large pair of wings on his back, which made him look far bigger than he actually was; he was only about as big as Arlin and he guessed he wasn’t much older than him either. His wings seemed to be comfortably folded at his back, although he noticed that his right wing seemed a bit cramped. His feathers weren’t just on his wings, his ears were actually feathered and were pointed upward. 

He dressed simply, just a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black dress pants. Clearly, he dressed for practicality rather than style. He began making his way down the stairs, the three of them unsure what to do. Arlin especially didn’t know what to make of him, he didn’t think the person that was going to be helping him would be someone around his age. He did know one thing, he knew what he was. He was a harpy. 

“So you’re my clients?” he said after what seemed like ages. 

“We are.” Leon answered. 

“Let’s get started then, I don’t like my time being wasted.”

“Likewise.” Erica stated, going over to sit where Jason was sitting. 

They all convened at a pair of couches with a table in the middle, the three sitting in one and Jason sitting across from them. 

“What’s the job?” he asked them.

“Alright, I’ll explain again.” Erica huffed. “We were trying to make our way to the border but our route got cut off by the High Coven.”

“I see, you’re a witch then?” 

“That’s me.” she gave him a smile. 

“What about the big guy and cinders?” he said, gesturing to Leon and Arlin. 

“My name is Leon, and this is Arlin. We are just simply traveling.” 

“Hold on.” Arlin interrupted. “What do you mean by cinders?” 

“The marks under your eyes.” he gestured to his own eyes. “They look like ash stains.” 

It took Arlin a moment to figure out what he meant but as soon as he did, his face turned very red. The marks around his eyes were something he’d had since he was a child; he just assumed it was a side effect of being the Shade Lord. No one had pointed it out before, he didn’t realize how embarrassing it would be. He tried to cover his face so they wouldn’t see how red he was, but that was a vain effort. 

“Would you look at that, vampires can blush.” Jason said, actually smiling for the first time. 

“I’m not blushing!” Arlin lied, obviously. 

“He’s witty too.”

Arlin started to get a bit mad, which only made him even more red. Jason seemed to be enjoying himself, picking up a small kettle and pouring himself some tea.

“Alright, how bout we get back on topic before Arlin dies from embarrassment?” Erica said. 

“Gladly.” he took a sip of his tea. “I know about your situation, what exactly do you want me to do about it?”

“Well like I said, our route was cut off by the High Coven. We need you to get us around them, and furthermore, come with us so we can avoid the coven until we get to the border.” 

“So you want me to get you to the border?”

“Well, I’m getting us to the border.”

“Right, I’m sure you know the exact path you want to take. What does that make me then? Back up?” 

“Basically, we need you so we don’t get caught by the Coven Guard.”  

Jason went to take another sip of his tea, and Arlin saw an opportunity. He knew he probably shouldn’t try to pull a prank on the person they were trying to get help from, but he couldn’t help himself. With a tap of his shoe on the floor, a small squirrel formed from the shadows. It raced under the table and up to Jason. Just when he put the teacup to his lips, the squirrel nudged his arm upward, making him drink a lot more than he expected. He ended up coughing a bit, trying to catch his breath while Arlin had a cheeky smile on his face. 

“Very mature.” he said, glaring at Arlin. 

“Arlin.” Leon said sternly. 

Arlin wanted to argue, but he knew that he shouldn’t.

“Sorry…” he grumbled. 

“Whatever.” Jason composed himself once again. “If I’m going to help you all, I need you all to answer a question.”

“That being?” Leon asked. 

“Why are you worried about the High Coven catching you?”

“Well, it would be more accurate to say we simply wish to avoid them.”

“Oh really? Cause I heard that recently a group of criminals were on the run from the High Coven. Apparently one of them was a red-haired witch accompanied by a tall man and a young vampire. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Leon fell silent, he didn’t know how to respond to the question. 

Jason sighed. “Relax. What do you think I’m gonna turn you into the Coven Guard? That’s not my style, but it does mean my services are going to cost you extra.” 

“How much?” Leon asked. 

“Well factoring in the danger from the High Coven and the journey to the border. And have to deal with him.” he pointed to Arlin, who replied by sticking out his tongue. “It’ll be twenty thousand gold, half upfront and the rest when we reach your destination.” 

Leon looked to Erica, who just shrugged; unless she wanted to figure out how to make money with magic right here, they weren’t going to be able to pay for the service. 

“You don’t have the money, do you?”

Leon shook his head. “We do not.”

He sighed. “Look, chances are if I recognized you, so did a lot of the people in the bar when you came in. If you try to get help from them they’ll most likely try to turn you in for the reward. You don’t have the money, so instead, how about we try to work something out?”

“Really?” Arlin asked. “You’d be willing to do that?”

“I said I’m willing to talk it out; don’t get your hopes up.” he clarified. “As long as you don’t go and try to pull another prank, I’m willing to talk alternative payments, alright?” 

Despite the harsh tone, Arlin actually felt relieved. He sat back and exhaled.

“Thank you, I thought I had messed up again.” 

There was an emotion that came over Jason’s face, but he quickly looked away and got back to the topic at hand.

“Alright, let’s talk alternatives.” 

“Actually.” Arlin interrupted. “Could I get some fresh air while you guys discuss? I’m not really good with money stuff.”

Leon considered for a moment. “Just as long as you don’t go to the main street, make sure to keep hidden.”

Arlin nodded. “I will.”

“There’s a balcony on the second floor, you can go up there.” Jason pointed to a door near one of the windows. 

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” 

Arlin got up and quickly made his way upstairs and out to the balcony. It was actually a pretty big space, there was some furniture set up overlooking the backroads of the city. He took a deep breath, trying to get as much fresh air as he could while in the city. It was different from out in the woods; it was thinner, it was harder to breathe. 

He rubbed under his eyes, trying to see if the marks would come off. But they stayed, like always. It wasn’t something he thought about, he only realized now that it was something he was embarrassed by. Just another thing to add to the list. He didn’t know if he liked Jason; hell, he didn’t know if he even tolerated him. It’s not like he knew Arlin would react that way, there’s no way he could have. Still, why did he have to target him in particular? 

The most Arlin could do was growl and just try to cool off by himself; he just needed some time to himself. 

“There you are.” said a strange voice behind Arlin. 

The sudden voice made him jump, he spun around and quickly called shadows to defend himself. In front of him was someone new, a man in a hood that had somehow made his way up here. Arlin probably wouldn’t have been able to identify him, but he saw something about the man that was familiar. His sickening, skin-crawling smile. 

He pulled down his hood, revealing the rest of his face. He had short, wild blonde hair, narrow brown eyes, fair skin covered in scars, and teeth almost as sharp as Arlin’s. But more than anything, he didn’t look like a monster. He looked, human.

“Finally.” the human said. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time, Arlin.”

[heylittleriotact]

𝐢 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎

𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐱 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐔

𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡, 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

Read below or on ao3

Three Months Later

A world-weary sigh found its way past Rook's lips as she studied the cremation paperwork in her hand.

1 x Ashen Pewter

3 x Ashen Pewter Miniature

2 x Sterling Silver Teardrop Pendant

1 x Sterling Silver Dog Tag Pendant

"Fucking hate filling jewelry..." she muttered, tossing the cremation contract onto the counter and lifting the small blue Rubbermaid container over to the hand towel that was spread out.

She found the cardboard boxes containing the urns taped shut and bearing the name of the deceased scribbled in Sharpie on the side: one big one, three little ones, and three small jewelry boxes.

Using a box cutter, she opened the largest box and pulled out the styrofoam prism that was packed tightly inside, gently laying it on the counter and lifting away one half to reveal the urn within. Snagging the contract again, she looked at the personalization field of the printed document.

Name: First, Last; D.O.B. - D.O.D.; 'Forever In Our Hearts'; Font: Elegant Script.

Her eyes went back and forth between the information on the paper and the front of the matte finish, grey-blue metal urn: it would have been checked over when the crem received it, but Rook had learned not to rely on other people's eyes when several-hundred-dollars worth of merchandise was on the table.

Satisfied that the manufacturer hadn't mistakenly engraved 'Arnold' instead of 'Ronald', Rook slipped the urn from the styrofoam and set about filling it: the lid was popped off the Rubbermaid to reveal the clear plastic bag of cremated remains within, sealed with a twist-tie, the scorched metal cremation tag resting against the backdrop of powdery grey and white skeletal remains.

It was Tuesday, and this urn was due to be received by the family the next day, along with three others that Becks hadn't seen fit to fill during the weekend when she covered the chapel for Rook's days off.

If there was one thing she'd learned in the months she'd been at Pemberly, it was that no one actually seemed to understand how fucking busy it actually was. For some reason because it wasn't as big as Hilldwell or Arbor Heights, it was automatically assumed that it didn't boast nearly the same volume of calls on a monthly basis - a fact that Rook took it upon herself to disprove one day when it wasn't insanely busy and sat down to calculate and average out the monthly calls that Pemberly got versus the amount that Hilldwell and Arbor Heights got. While Pemberly tailed both chapels by an average of thirty or so calls, it still averaged out to eighty-odd calls per month, which worked out to between two and three new calls per day, and nearly twenty per week.

That was a lot of dead people. A lot of grieving people coming through the doors. A lot of identifications and arrangements and obituaries and clothing drop-offs and urn pick ups.

And she was the only admin there.

There were no funeral attendants or directors unless there was a service or visitation scheduled, and half the attendants that ended up there were happy to sit in the lunchroom snacking on greasy hamburgers and fries during services instead of actually doing anything useful.

She had a housekeeper when she first moved, but Elo’isa had been on stress leave for over a month by then, and management seemed to think that along with every other aspect of the chapel, Rook surely had more than enough time to vacuum, mop, dust, shovel snow, and prepare coffee and cookies for arrangement meetings.

She glanced over her shoulder at the cremation container on a bier behind her and prayed that by the time her other two identifications were finished and she could move this one into a free visitation room, the person inside wouldn't be a mess of purge, which would be just her luck.

Emmrich was scheduled to come to the chapel for three o'clock arrangements, and she found herself hoping his graveside service at one would wrap up early enough so that he could come early - she felt a bit pathetic relying on him for help, but on a day like today, an extra set of hands would be extremely welcomed...

She pulled a fresh plastic bag from the drawer under the counter and arranged it inside the empty Ashen Pewter after sticking a label with the funeral home’s address and phone number, the decedent's name, date of death, and cremation number to the bag itself and the bottom of the urn: if the urn ever went missing, or the bag of cremated remains was removed from the urn for whatever reason, this way the remains could be identified and returned to McDermott & Rafferty so someone could contact the family and return them.

Having done this many times by now, Rook made short work of filling the main urn, the keepsakes, and was carefully spooning finely ground but gritty ash into the last of the pendants when she heard the side door in the garage slam, announcing the entrance of another employee.

"You made it!" She called to the adjacent space, rolling the threading of the small screw in the small puddle of blue thread-locker she'd squeezed onto a paper towel and using the small Allen wrench provided to negotiate the small metal piece into place on the back of the pendant. She gave it a couple of quick twists and squinted at the pendant, wiping away a bit of excess thread-locker and then setting it down with the others to dry. "I was wondering when you'd get here–" she negotiated around the cremation container in the middle of the room and entered the garage. "– how was the graveside?"

The welcome sight of Emmrich did not greet her in the garage, however, but rather the daft pink face of Derek, flanked by none other than... Elgar'nan?

Rook stiffened, immediately on the defensive the moment that vile cologne assaulted her nose.

What the fuck are these clowns doing here? They better not be fixing to fire me...

"Hello, Rook," Derek said, in his hollow yet amiable tone. "I'm giving Elgar'nan a tour of our facilities. Pemberly is our last stop - I’ll take Emmrich’s three o’clock arrangements since I’m already here.”

You mean you’ll sit in the arrangement office with the family for two hours and accomplish absolutely nothing and leave the rest for me to follow up with tomorrow?

Rook plastered on a smile that was as fake as Derek’s. “Of course. I’ll let Central know so they can reschedule Emmrich.”

“That won’t be a problem, will it?”

What the fuck is that supposed to mean, you prick?

“Why would it be?” She queried with enough polite obliviousness she thought she was deserving of some sort of medal. “I’ll leave you to your tour - better get started on coffee and cookies.”

Rook started to move towards the door into the main building, but Derek’s voice rang out again in the echoing garage.

“Have you been properly introduced to our new benefactor?”

Rook paused, arm falling to her side as she turned back towards the two men. Elgar’nan loomed behind Derek, dressed in a burgundy and black satin suit that made up for what it lacked in elegance and charm with the fact that it was clearly worth more than whatever high-end but still off-the-rack affair Derek was wearing. His eyes were as cold and cruel as they had been the night she bumped into him at the party, and his thin lips curled in a familiar scowl of disdain indicating that he remembered her too.

“Depending on what your definition of ‘proper’ is, I guess - we crossed paths at the Wintersend dinner, yeah?” She tipped her head to the side and squinted as if trying to remember a hazy memory.

Dudes like this hated when you didn’t care enough about them to remember them.

Something frigid, predatory, and calculating locked into place behind his depthless eyes - like some binary protocol demanding her demise had been executed within the core of a soulless machine designed to hunt living prey.

Or maybe she had just watched The Terminator with Emmrich the other night and she had murderous cyborg assassins on the brain. Either way - whatever she had seen in Elgar’nan’s stillness was unnatural and vicious.

“In a manner of speaking…” he purred through clenched teeth, every syllable betraying the forced grimace that he likely thought was a smile.

She was already on his bad side, but she didn’t particularly care to be on his good one anyway. Regardless, she’d worked for enough egotistical assholes that she knew outright antagonizing this person - especially this person - would be a dumb fucking idea.

“Oh yeah! Yeah, I remember you now!” She made an abrupt departure from the other side of the garage and closed the distance between them, extending a hand past. “Rook. Nice to meet you. Properly.”

A massive and meaty hand engulfed hers, squeezing hard enough to make her eyes water. She could hear his unnaturally white teeth grinding together as if this performative gesture of civility towards the nobody-office-bitch took great personal effort.

“A pleasure,” he rumbled, though Rook very much doubted it was.

“Rook is a student in the program. She’s studying for her uh…” Derek looked blankly at Rook who had repossessed her hand and was doing her best to avoid massaging her aching knuckles in front of either of these people. “Are you studying for a single or dual license?”

“Dual.” Rook managed, unable to keep the pain from her voice. “Funeral Director and Embalmer.”

You knew that too you stupid bastard. I’ve only worked here for the majority of a year…

“I’m certain you’ll be a credit to your profession,” Elgar’nan said dismissively, his black eyes wandering distractedly over the walls of the garage, his words similar to those Emmrich had said to her but lacking any warmth or encouragement. “Now if you please - we have a tour to embark on, and I believe you have the monumentally important task of… what was it again?” His gaze landed on her once more. “Ah yes - that’s right: baking cookies.”

The sick stretch of his smile at his own words was so smug that Rook immediately made a mental note to wipe a few boogers on anything she was ever expected to serve him… sneeze in his coffee mug…spit in his water glass…

Also, what kind of asshole ripped on baking cookies for sad grieving people?

Pondering this question, she excused herself and opened the door to retreat from the garage as quickly as possible.

“Where’s your blazer, Rook?”

Taking advantage of the fact that Derek couldn’t see her face from his vantage point, she indulged herself a deep roll of the eyes before walking back into the prep room, grabbing her blazer from the back of the door, and shrugging it on. Employees weren’t meant to be in common areas of the chapel without their blazers and name-tags - Maker forbid a family catch a glimpse of exposed white shirt sleeves and swoon from the very scandal of it all.

She hustled back to the office and pulled her phone out of the inner pocket of her blazer and fired off a text to Emmrich:

‘I’ll call Central and let them know, but FYI - Derek is here with our new friend Elgar’nan and he says he’ll take your 3:00.’

She looked down at her right hand and the indentation left on her middle finger from her ring where Elgar’nan’s hand had crushed it into her skin, then she sent another message:

‘Also, Elgar’nan is a dickhead.’

He must have been finished at the graveside and either back at Hilldwell or en route to Pemberly, because his response came quickly.

‘Thank you for letting me know, darling. Please be careful. I love you.’

Please be careful.

Well that was nothing if not disconcerting.

‘I love you too.’

Hours. It felt like he’d been taunting and teasing her for literal hours with his head and his fingers between her thighs, so skillfully working her into a tizzy only to pull back with a soft and knowing chuckle, depriving her of the release that was threatening to incinerate her from the inside out.

He’d heaped praises and compliments on her in the pitch darkness of the room, all while trailing gentle kisses over the bare skin of her trembling legs.

‘Good girl…’

‘You taste divine…’

‘I know you can last just a little longer for me, can’t you, darling?’

She nearly came the moment she felt the assuring heat of his cock slip past her entrance - the sensation of fullness - of being connected with him - more than enough to pop her cork in her current state of overstimulation.

He muffled her whimper with his mouth on hers, his own exhalation causing loose strands of hair to flutter away from her face, slowly pushing deeper and deeper as she tightened around him, feeling the friction of every tantalizing inch… knowing that he wanted her to hold on… to wait.

When she felt the welcome weight of him settled fully against her hips, and the way he readjusted his grip on her hands, fingers slotted so perfectly between her own where they rested on the pillow above her head, she knew that he was not far off either.

Memories of a bad day were banished by each sensuous slow movement against her - within her - his lips electrifyingly close to her ear as he whispered words that were only for her, though no one else was present to hear them.

“My darling Rook… so warm and wet for me…”

“Yeah…” she breathed. “F-fuck yes…”

Was her brain flooded in oxytocin, rendering her utterly delusional, or was she actually certain in that moment that by some fluke of chaotic cosmic design, his cock was made for her —? or her cunt for him?

Such questions…

She couldn’t see a thing, but she didn’t need to see him in this dark space to bear witness to the softness in his touch as he gently slipped her left leg upwards to rest over his shoulder, and the earnest care in his voice as he wound his fingers between hers once more, murmuring soothing placations in answer to her hushed moans the way one would appease a wild animal with its leg caught in a snare.

“That’s it… very good, darling - oh… here?” He rolled his hips against hers, sending a wave of effervescent shocks up her spine. “Right… here…?” Another serpentine, patient, deep thrust, and Rook was seeing stars.

“Deeper,” she plead from somewhere up in the stratosphere, mind utterly vacant of thoughts of Derek or Elgar’nan, or endlessly filling memorial jewelry. “Please… oh, oh… fuck… please…”

“Only because you asked so very nicely,” he mumbled against her neck, but she knew he would have done it anyway… even if she had crassly told him to dick her deep and fuck her like he meant it.

His left hand departed her right to guide her other leg over his shoulder, her hamstrings protesting slightly at the double-stretch they were subjected to.

“Ah, so this is why you’ve been making me do yoga with you…” she surmised, grateful that he couldn’t see the surely charming double-chin she was wearing in this position.

His laugh filtered through the darkness - her favourite one: the warm, closed-lipped sound of delight that came directly from the core of his chest - somewhere around the neighbourhood of the heart.

His hand skimmed over her ankle, down the side of her calf, then meandered sensually over her thigh and up the plane of her belly, reaching past her to snag a vacant pillow.

“Not a motive - nor even an ulterior one - but an enjoyable side-benefit, admittedly. Lift your hips a little, please.”

Rook did as she was told and let her weight relax when she felt the pillow underneath her, propping her hips up just enough to ease the burn in her thighs.

“Better?”

“Mhmm…”

Emmrich found her palms with his again, then her lips, then rocked forward again in a motion that was less of a thrust, and more of a meeting.

“Ah!”

He immediately froze and inquired after her comfort, to which she nodded, her nose rubbing along his and she urged him to continue, revelling in the weightless jolt that rippled through her lower belly as he hit places that Rook didn't even know existed.

"Stay with me, darling..." he whispered in the same intimate, private tone as he had before, the tip of his cock brushing against something deep inside of her that she was quite sure sent her to another dimension for a fraction of a second. He gripped her hand - still tender from her interaction with Elgar'nan earlier - just a bit tighter while being mindful of the lingering ache. "...ohhh, Rook... you are doing so, so well for me, my dear... letting me take my time with you like this… so soft... so perfect..."

"Maker Emmrich..." she rasped, her own voice barely audible as his soft pubic area rubbed against her clit, his cock fully seated within her: he didn't withdraw with each movement of his hips, but rather chased the intimacy of their connection, undulating with the rhythmic ebb and flow of a patient but steadfast tide, letting her feel the weight and pressure of him before easing back just enough to grant her the space and freedom to breathe. "Deeper..." she entreated again. "I want to be like this with you forever..."

She heard him groan softly, and then the rustle of the sheets under his knees; a deep inhalation - oh, he was close...

His hands left hers, one to grip her around the thigh to intensify the pressure of his languid, rich movements; the other to trace her lips with his dextrous, feather-light touch.

"Forever sounds rather lovely, doesn't it...?' He mused, breath catching when Rook took him by the wrist and sucked his index and middle finger into her mouth, moaning around them in agreement as he hit that deep, sensitive place in her core once again. She laved her tongue against them tasting herself and whining needily when he moved again, pressing down on her tongue. His cock throbbed against her walls.

"F-fuck... cum for me, Emmrich - fi-fill me up... please... please..." she extracted the fingers for long enough to say before replacing them, a ragged sound escaping her when that sinfully decadent pressure returned somewhere behind her navel. "I want you to fuck me till I’m pregnant…” she whined as she continued to lick and suck on his long fingers, utterly lost in sensation and the overwhelming love for this man that filled her heart.

He stilled completely for a second time and pulled away from her, and though she couldn't see his face, she knew he must be wearing that beloved expression of wide-eyed and slack-jawed surprise that he only wore when she said something truly out of pocket.

"Is... is that what you want?" He whispered into the blackness.

Rook, emboldened, teetering on the brink of orgasm, and mind-bogglingly horny, dragged her teeth up his fingers then said, "Yes. Yes - that is exactly what I want..."

“Ahhh… Rook - what a beautiful sight that would be…”

He collided with her, crushing her into the mattress and smothering her mouth in a kiss that was so intense that their teeth knocked together. He thrust sloppily into her this time - an unrefined sequence of movements that wordlessly confirmed that he too rather liked the idea of planting his seed in the fertile soil of her womb.

He moved once, twice, and she swallowed his ragged cry, her tongue brushing hungrily against his as he came - and she did too.

She'd climaxed at the same time as a lover maybe a handful of times since she became sexually active in her late teens, but not a single instance came close to holding a candle to the utterly transcendental occurrence of chemical reactions that were lighting up her brain and sending veritable shockwaves of pleasure through what felt like every nerve in her body at that exact moment.

She could feel everything: every twitch of his cock still buried to the hilt inside of her, the warm flood of his thick, heavy cum coating her walls and filling empty space; the tremble of his arms as he shifted her legs from his shoulders and embraced her, her own arms and legs tangling within him... over him... around him... so tightly that they may as well have been a singular entity in the passing of time that marked their joint completion.

His fingers twined into her hair and he broke away from their kiss to utter breathless adulations, praises, and promises of love eternal against her lips.

"Do... you truly feel that way about me?" He asked when it was over, curled around her, enveloping her completely with his willowy frame, and Rook had never felt safer and more cherished in her life as she did then.

She kissed the back of his hand, feeling the soft give of protruding veins under her lips, then rested her face against the broad expanse of it. "I don't think I want to go anywhere in this life without you, Emmrich… and that's not just because you bought me a car."

His hot breath hit her neck as he nuzzled into her hair, and it mingled with the slow, warm spread of what could only be tears as they leeched over her skin.

"I think I want to marry you, Rook."

Oh.

"Is that why you’re crying?" She trailed her lips over his hand again.

"I... I'm not entirely sure."

There was a hesitance in his words - something that went unspoken, though what it could be, Rook couldn’t say.

She flipped over so she was facing him, pleased by the warm, familiar sensation of his cum pooling between her legs. She kissed his lips, then the corner of his mouth, then trailed her tongue over the sharp angle of his cheekbone, collecting the tears that dwelled there.

"Not every question needs an answer right away," she soothed, wriggling up against him so their bodies were flush and her forehead was against his.

"Did you just lick my face?"

She grinned into the darkness and giggled, and she knew he was smiling too. "No, it was Manfred." She laughed louder when he pinched her bare ass and she flinched. "Okay, okay, okay - I'm sorry. I just wanted to make you smile. Now go to sleep... and I'll be right here when you wake up."

He pressed his lips to hers and cupped her cheek in his hand.

"There isn't a doubt in my mind that you will be."

Somewhere in the liminal hours before the dawn, she woke to the sound of Emmrich speaking to someone, and the feeling of his fingers slowly slipping through her hair.

At some point in the she’d ended up draped over his lap, and she tried to make sense of what was happening as sleep slowly relinquished its hold on her.

“Dear oh dear - very grim business indeed.” He paused and waited for whoever was on the other end of the phone to speak, and Rook frowned: he wasn’t on call tonight. Who was he talking to?

She sat up and frowned at him questioningly: the dim lamp on his side of the bed illuminated his face and he offered her a sleepy smile before collecting her hand and silently kissing the backs of her fingers as whoever was on the other end of the line continued speaking.

“Yes, of course, Inspector Gallus… no, no - no trouble at all: I’ll gladly attend.” He paused, then laughed cordially. “No need to fret: we both know that late night phone calls are the norm for one in my profession, as it stands…” his eyes widened slightly and a flush of colour crept over his cheeks at whatever was said in response. “How could… now how could you possibly know that there’s someone here with me?”

Rook could make out the sound of a woman laughing on the other end of the phone, clever and haughty.

“No matter,” he asserted in a flustered attempt to save some face. “I assure you it’s no trouble for me to attend. I’ll be at the morgue within the hour - I expect someone will be there to grant me entrance?”

The morgue?

“Thank you. Take care, Inspector Gallus - see you soon.” He ended the call and the phone slipped from his hand onto the bedspread so he could hold Rook tight. She closed her eyes and inhaled, basking in his scent and his warmth. “Sorry for waking you, darling.”

“‘S’okay…” she murmured, smiling at the gentle tickle of his chest hair against her nose. “I take it your gifts are required by Nevarra’s Finest?”

“Indeed.” He twirled some of her hair around his fingers and kissed the crown of her head. “Though I would much rather stay here with you…”

She would much prefer that too, but she knew Emmrich felt a sort of duty towards the dead that he aided in this capacity: there would be no talking him into staying.

“Who’s the woman who called you?”

“Inspector Neve Gallus. One of the sharpest minds that the Nevarra City Police has at their disposal. I’ve assisted in a number of her investigations, and to my knowledge not a single case that she’s been assigned has ever gone unsolved: she’s something of a force of nature.”

“Mmmmm… sounds like competition…” she didn’t mean it: couldn’t find it in herself to believably feign jealousy. Not when he held her like he was holding her then.

But it got a chuckle from him: a tired and amused sound seated behind his heart. “You have nothing to fear, darling - from anyone. Ever.”

“I know,” Rook smiled, and Emmrich finally untangled himself from her and slipped from the bed, seeming to realize that if he didn’t start making moves, he wouldn’t leave at all.

Naked and wonderfully disheveled, he pulled the covers back up over Rook, tucking her in with care and pushing a strand of passion-mussed hair from her face. “Go back to sleep, dear… you need to be up in a few hours and I won’t have you going to work exhausted.”

Rook pushed herself up on her palms and started climbing out of bed anyway, stifling a yawn as she did so. “I’ll walk you to the door,” she said, ignoring his exasperated sigh and following him to the dresser where she helped herself to soft and well-loved Velvet Underground t-shirt while he began to dress properly in chinos and one of his beloved cashmere sweaters. She picked out a pair of socks for him - the ‘Duck Around & Find Out’ ones - which she draped over the edge of the dresser drawer with a cheeky smile, then went to use the bathroom.

When she was done - because Maker forbid he infringe on her privacy - Emmrich went to the vanity and ran a comb through his hair, forgoing any product but taming it into some semblance of order that he apparently deemed passable for a late night visit to the city morgue, then he brushed his teeth, prodding curiously at the bags under his eyes and pulling the skin under his eye taut between two fingers so his crow’s feet disappeared before letting it go slack again.

“Rethinking your skincare regime?” She leaned against the counter next to him, waiting for his reply until he spit his toothpaste into the sink with more elegance than one should be allowed and wiped his face with the black hand towel on the counter.

“Merely trying to unravel the mystery of what you see in an old man…” he mumbled, “I’m certainly not getting any younger, and I fear that I look older than ever…”

She pushed away from the counter and pulled him away from the mirror and out of the bathroom. “That’s enough of that. Nobody likes how they look at three in the morning.”

“Yes, but—”

“Stop it,” Rook interjected, maintaining levity despite her exasperation: why did he always pick the strangest times to get in his head about things? “I just told you I wanted you knock me up, and you mentioned you’d like to marry me someday—” he opened his mouth to say something but Rook forged on. “— so don’t start getting all tangled up in ‘whys’ and ‘hows.’”

“Yes, as far as hypothetical impregnation goes - unless you…”

“I didn’t have my IUD removed without telling you, no, so you can’t actually put one in the oven. But…” she felt somewhat childish saying it… admitting to this fantasy. “… isn’t it a little bit fun to pretend that you could?”

“Yes, I suppose there’s a certain… primitive allure, but—”

She closed the distance between them, slipping her arms around his narrow waist and walking them back until he bumped rather awkwardly against the wall.

“‘A certain primitive allure’,” she repeated, pressing herself against him, and guiding his hands to cup her bare ass. “By which you mean you enjoy the idea of fucking me over, and over, and over again… whenever you can… knowing that wherever I go, your cum is dripping down my thigh… your sperm doing what they need to do to fertilize the egg that waits so patiently for its champion…”

He needed to go, she knew that, but after all the teasing earlier, it only seemed fair that she exact her pound of flesh in return…

“Rook…”

Her hand drifted over the front of his pants, massaging the aspect of his anatomy that appeared eagerly responsive to the exhilarating and erotic fantasy she was weaving.

“You of all people must have put some thought into it at some point…” She probed innocently, tightening her thighs around his firm upper leg and finding the glorious friction of his clothed body against her naked cunt. His fingertips dug into her asscheeks. “Having a family, that is.”

Emmrich swallowed hard, apparently using all of his resolve to remove his hands from her rear and place them on her waist to stop her slow grinding against his thigh. “N-not seriously for… ah!” She squeezed his balls gently. “For a long time.”

“Mmmm… I think I’d make a pretty good mother, don’t you?” She purred, licking his neck and tasting the remnants of sweat and cologne on his skin. “I bet I’d look cute as fuck all round and pregnant… my tits all big and—”

“Rook…” he said again, though his tone was less of warning and more of pleading desperation this time. “You would: a m-marvelous mother, and the idea of making you into one is… is…” words seemed to fail him and swallowed again and shook his head as if shaking off a daze. “But right now I need to—”

“Go commune with the dead.” She finished for him, mind filled with the image of Emmrich’s big, long-fingered hands reverently splayed over her swollen belly, his lips trailing over the shape of her burgeoning womb…

She’d always assumed she’d be a mother someday, but had never craved it before… not with immature, unreliable partners like Tommy or any of her other fun but unserious dalliances…

She had never wanted it like she wanted it now - and it almost frightened her how bad she wanted it.

“There are… considerations. Reasons why… I…” he stopped short, exhaling the remainder of his breath as he took both of her hands in his. “We can speak more about it later.”

He kissed her right hand, then her left, then her lips. Glancing down between them, he noted the bulge in his pants, and the wet patch of his own cum from earlier and Rook’s arousal seeping into the straw coloured khaki where she’d humped his leg, another weary sigh escaping to join Rook’s apologetic titter.

“Sorry - let me grab you a different pair of pants.” She planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Combed. Angora. Wool: I can’t just throw these in the wash, darling.”

Oh Maker he’s so cute when he gets all bitchy…

“At least you’re getting laid,” she smiled pleasantly, extending a fresh pair of gray chinos to him.

“I’m of the mind to make you experience the joy of carefully handwashing them yourself…” he muttered, handing Rook his belt and stepping out of the khakis. “Naked.”

“There’s the dirty old man I fell in love with,” she beamed.

He changed into the other pants and together they made their way to the garage, Manfred trailing them, inquiring dozily as to why Emmrich was dressed as though he was leaving the house at this hour.

When they got to the door, Rook scooped the soft white cat into her arms and waved a paw at Emmrich.

“Can you say ‘bye-bye Emmrich’?”

“Mraooooow?”

“We’ll work on it.”

Emmrich donned his coat and gave Rook a kiss, and Manfred a thorough scratch under the chin: the cat purred deeply and wrapped his tail around Rook’s forearm.

“Lock the door behind me and set the alarm, then straight back to bed: you need your rest, darling.”

“Straight back to bed,” she promised.

“Good.” He leaned down for one more kiss, this one deeper and sweeter than the last - Rook felt her stomach flutter. “I love you, Rook, and please know that… I meant everything that I said to you tonight. All of it.”

She felt the corners of her mouth lift. “I know you did. I love you too. Now go do what you need to do and come back before the sun rises, okay?”

He returned the smile and then left, the door to the garage sealing shut behind him. Rook did as she was told and locked it, then punched the buttons on the wall panel to arm the alarm system.

“Do you want Emmrich’s side of the bed while he’s away?” She asked Manfred, gently booping his pink nose as she started back down the hallway. “I bet it’s still kinda warm.”

He shifted in her arms as she walked, wriggling free and landing softly on his paws before emitting a triumphant hiss and vanishing into Emmrich’s office.

"Awwww man c'mon... you know you're not supposed to go in there." Rook flipped the light on and surveyed the meticulously organized study in search of Manfred. "Something-something 'delicate curios', something-something 'priceless volumes' - you know how he is..."

She dropped to her knees to look behind an antique globe that she knew housed a selection of carefully curated scotches and brandies. "Ugh... he usually keeps the door to his office closed. Of course the one time I have to babysit, you get in here... if you break something I'm not covering for your furry ass."

Following the sound of an amused hiss from somewhere near the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, she got to her feet.

"Manfred!"

The white cat had leapt from behind a milk-crate of old 45s, causing a pedestal table to wobble, sending a miniature bust of Socrates hurtling to the floor with a crash. Frightened by the sudden cacophony, he streaked under the heavy black walnut desk in the centre of the room.

"Dude. It's too fucking late for this!" Rook whined: she was truthfully very tired, and wanted nothing more than to curl up back in bed. "Come on..." she cooed gently, wriggling her fingers under the desk at Manfred. "Pspspsps..." she reached closer but retreated when razor sharp claws slashed through the air. "And here I thought we were friends." She straightened and put one hand on her hip, leaning into it. "Tell you what, I'll cut you a deal: I treat you to a midnight snack - an entire can of wet food - and I won't breathe a word of this to your father." She pointed at the shattered bust of Socrates. "I can make that disappear. But, you need to trot your ass out of here without bloodshed and let me go back to sleep, kapish?"

Manfred licked his lips, pink tongue darting up almost to his eye, then folded his paws underneath him and laid down.

"Of course not," Rook sighed, dragging her hand over her face. "Kapish nothing - I'm talking to a fucking cat..." She started thinking of alternative methods of extracting Manfred aside from bribery, initially considering oven mitts, but was promptly derailed when her eyes landed on a neatly organized selection of paperback books on the desk to the left of Emmrich's ancient Compaq computer.

All thoughts of cat-herding vanished, and she picked up the topmost book, skimming the title: ‘The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions To Ask Before You Say 'I Do'’. She read the back, then set it down to pick up the second book, which was John M. Gottman's 'The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work'.

"Oh..." she breathed.

It wasn't that she hadn't believed him when he'd said he wanted to marry her, but... but maybe there was some dark, undeserving part of her that didn’t want to: a twisted aspect of self that insisted his words were merely the clever weaving of sentiment courtesy of a man far older and more experienced than she. A man who knew full-well that those words were what she wanted to hear...

People who said things solely for the benefit of the person they were saying them to didn't secretly purchase and read books about said topic.

Rook swallowed past the lump in her throat as everything that had until now been a novel but unlikely possibility suddenly became very, very real.

Marry Emmrich? Spend their lives together? Start a family?

Never feel alone or unloved, ever again?

“Of course you had to read up first…”

A teardrop crashed onto the cover of 'Seven Principles' and a tremulous laugh escaped from Rook. She wiped the tear away with the back of her hand and moved to place it on top of the other book. There was something else on the desk that had been concealed under the two books: thinner, more like a pamphlet or brochure.

Wiping her eyes, she plucked it up from the desk, taking in the easily readable, punchy font on the the front which was charmingly rendered over an image of a breathtaking mountain-range at sunset:

What Would You Do With Infinite Time?

What If You Could Exist Eternally?

Perpetual Knowledge. Perpetual Growth. Perpetual Unity.

Possibilities Made Endless...

Rook's mouth went dry.

She flipped the brochure open - it was actually a folder, similar to the ones they gave to families during arrangements, stuffed with paperwork and catalogues.

There was text printed on the left side of the folder itself:

Suppose the greatest minds of our time were still with us today - and not only with us, but capable of conversing - of collaborating - of sharing ideas. What cosmic mysteries would reveal themselves with the weight of the intellectual powerhouses of Einstein, Sagan, Hawking, Galileo, and du Châtelet collectively behind them? Would we live in a world free of cancer, blight, pestilence, and physical suffering if we could leverage the remarkable minds of Hippocrates, Blackwell, Jenner, Fleming, and Lister? What if Mozart was still composing music? What if Shakespeare still blessed us with plays?

Legacy Integrated Cybernetic Host is a marriage of modern sciences: cryogenics and industry-leading cloud-based computer software bring the potential of these hypotheticals to life. At NecroByte Laboratories, we are carefully curating a host of the best and brightest minds that society has to offer with the hope of accumulating a cloud-based library of sentient knowledge and wisdom that will redefine society’s relationship with life, death, and legacy… All For A Better Tomorrow.

Unable to comprehend what she was reading, Rook turned to the other side of the folder, to the letter at the front atop what looked to be other various forms and correspondence.

Dear Mr. Volkarin,

Enclosed is the final report detailing the results of your Intelligent Quotient exam, Bionic Aptitude Tier, and Keller-Magnusson Neurological Typology Bracket.

Upon careful review of your results, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the sixth and final portion of the application process to become a part of the prestigious and benevolent future that is Legacy Integrated Cybernetic Host.

The final application process includes an assessment of your overall brain health at a cellular level, as well as a full and unbiased third-party assessment of your day-to-day responsibilities and relationships (including but not limited to: familial [by blood or marriage], spousal, non-platonic [friendly], platonic [friendly], professional, and otherwise transactional.)

We kindly ask that you provide our office a list of contact names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone in your life who falls under the umbrella of any of the aforementioned categories by no later than July 1. A lab appointment for the clinical assessment of your brain may be scheduled by visiting our website —

The rest was concealed by the bottom of the folder.

The letter was dated just before Wintersend…

Rook slammed the brochure shut and dropped it on the desk like it was covered in ants.

Redefine society’s relationship with life, death, and legacy?

Cryogenics and mention of uploading sentient thought into cloud-based storage centers… how is that even possible?

All that came to mind was a wall of brains, floating in jars, wrinkled and pink with wires and cables plugged into them that lead to a massive computer in whatever depressing windowless basement such a setup would occupy.

Is… is that what he wants to be? A… a fucking brain in a jar?! A prop in a fucking Hitchcock short?!

And of course it’s all framed so altruistically, but I fucking know him well enough to know this is just… just an excuse to get out of dying like the rest of us…

Tears of joy at the prospect of a perfect future were replaced with tears of mortified betrayal.

“Fuck my life,” she muttered before bitterly dropping the books in the waste paper basket, and vanishing from the room, leaving Manfred to do as he pleased in Emmrich’s dark office.

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

RPA Project: Process Definition Document

In the ever-evolving landscape of automation, the significance of a well-structured RPA Project: Process Definition Document (PDD) cannot be overstated. For organizations looking to streamline their operations and enhance efficiency through Robotic Process Automation (RPA), the PDD serves as a foundational blueprint. It outlines the processes to be automated, ensures alignment with business objectives, and provides a clear framework for implementation. In this article, we will delve into what a Process Definition Document entails, its importance, and how to create one effectively.

What is a Process Definition Document?

A Process Definition Document (PDD) is a comprehensive outline that defines the scope, objectives, and workflows of a specific process intended for automation using RPA. This document acts as a bridge between business needs and technical execution, ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the process to be automated.

Why is a PDD Essential in RPA Projects?

Clarity and Alignment: The PDD establishes clarity among stakeholders regarding what the automation will entail. It ensures that everyone is on the same page, from business analysts to developers.

Scope Management: By defining the scope of the automation project, the PDD helps to manage expectations and prevent scope creep, which can lead to project delays and increased costs.

Risk Mitigation: A well-prepared PDD identifies potential risks associated with the automation process, allowing teams to develop strategies to mitigate those risks before implementation.

Resource Allocation: The PDD provides insights into the resources required for the project, including time, technology, and human resources. This helps in effective planning and allocation.

Documentation for Future Reference: Once the project is completed, the PDD serves as a valuable reference document for future projects or enhancements. It can be revisited to understand the rationale behind decisions made during the automation process.

Key Components of an RPA Project: Process Definition Document

When creating a PDD, certain essential components should be included to ensure its effectiveness:

1. Project Overview

This section provides a high-level summary of the automation project, including the business case, objectives, and expected outcomes. It sets the tone for the document and helps stakeholders understand the project’s importance.

2. Process Description

In this part, you will describe the process to be automated in detail. This includes:

Process Name: Clearly state the name of the process.

Current Process Flow: Include a flowchart or diagram that outlines the current state of the process. This visual representation helps stakeholders understand how the process operates before automation.

Inputs and Outputs: Define what inputs are required for the process and what outputs are expected.

3. Automation Objectives

Clearly articulate the goals of the automation project. These objectives should align with the overall business strategy and can include:

Reducing processing time

Minimizing errors

Enhancing compliance

Improving customer satisfaction

4. Stakeholders Involved

Identify all the stakeholders involved in the process, including business owners, process owners, IT teams, and RPA developers. This section ensures that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities throughout the project.

5. Technology Requirements

Outline the technology stack that will be used for the automation. This may include:

RPA tools (e.g., UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism)

Integration with existing systems (e.g., ERP, CRM)

Infrastructure needs (e.g., cloud vs. on-premise)

6. Risk Assessment

Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential challenges that may arise during the automation process. Common risks include:

Data security concerns

Resistance to change from employees

Integration issues with legacy systems

7. Implementation Plan

Detail the step-by-step plan for implementing the automation. This should include timelines, milestones, and resources needed at each stage of the project.

8. Testing and Validation

Outline the testing strategy to ensure the automated process functions as intended. This section should cover:

Types of testing (unit, integration, user acceptance)

Criteria for success

Feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement

9. Change Management Strategy

Develop a change management strategy to facilitate a smooth transition to the automated process. This may include:

Training programs for users

Communication plans to keep stakeholders informed

Support resources for troubleshooting

Best Practices for Creating an Effective PDD

Creating a robust RPA Project: Process Definition Document requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are some best practices to follow:

Engage Stakeholders Early: Involve all relevant stakeholders in the PDD creation process to gather diverse perspectives and insights. This collaboration fosters buy-in and reduces resistance later on.

Keep It Simple: Avoid using technical jargon and complex language. The document should be accessible to all stakeholders, regardless of their technical expertise.

Use Visual Aids: Incorporate flowcharts, diagrams, and tables to visually represent processes and data. Visual aids enhance understanding and retention.

Be Specific: Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings and project delays.

Regularly Update the PDD: Treat the PDD as a living document that evolves as the project progresses. Regular updates ensure that it remains relevant and accurate.

Conclusion

A well-crafted RPA Project: Process Definition Document is a cornerstone of successful automation initiatives. It not only provides clarity and structure but also aligns stakeholders toward common objectives. By following best practices and incorporating key components, organizations can set the stage for effective RPA implementation, leading to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

As automation continues to reshape industries, mastering the art of creating a compelling PDD will be an invaluable skill for business leaders and automation practitioners alike. The journey to successful RPA implementation begins with a clear understanding of the process at hand, and the PDD serves as the essential roadmap for that journey.

[aryacollegeofengineering]

Becoming an RPA Developer in 2024?

Have you ordered a product online, received a shipping notification via email, or perhaps filled out a job application online? If so, you’ve been exposed to the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology.

Now that you have an idea of what RPA is, you may be wondering what type of career path is available to someone interested in this intriguing and rewarding field.

What Is an RPA Developer?

How to become an RPA developer is a big question that we need to understand the meaning of RPA. An RPA developer is someone who works cross-functionally with business operations and business analysts to create and optimize workflow processes this is a relatively new career path, and many organizations’ formal titles for RPA developers differ Other similar positions may use titles like Process Designer or Automation Architect.

But no matter the title, the role of a successful RPA developer requires specific skills and best practices like documentation and planning to automate a business process, an RPA developer will be required to create workflow diagrams and strategically document the process before implementation.

While the responsibilities of an RPA developer may vary, someone in this role is typically in charge of designing and managing workflow automation projects you may be responsible for testing or bug fixes, and some of the coding skills are important as well To be successful in the role of RPA developer, you must have the ability to navigate various appropriate technologies, such as UiPath or Automation Anywhere.

What are the benefits of RPA?

RPA has various benefits based on improving the efficiency of a business, There are some of these benefits include the following:

 High-quality services with better customer service and accuracy

Speed of process completion

Flexibility in business resources

Improvement in business efficiency due to auditing and digitizing of business data

Reduction in the cost of manual labor so that it helps complete redundant tasks that were earlier done by humans

Increase in the productivity of employees

RPA Developer Roles and Responsibilities

RPA Developers help in designing, developing, and implementing RPA systems using tools such as Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, UI Automation, etc and They also help in setting up and analyzing automated business tasks.

There are some roles and responsibilities of RPA professionals are as follows:

 Designing automation based on the operational requirements of a company

Using any RPA tool to code and resolve issues related to automation

Reviewing the design and the code of automation

Providing gained expertise during system development and integration

Configuring automation using RPA tools

Documenting the entire process of automation

RPA Developer Jobs

There are various jobs available for RPA Developers in the IT industry and Some of the most demanding jobs include:

 RPA Administrator

RPA Consultant

RPA Engineer

RPA Business Analyst

Desirable Skills for RPA Developers

Now that you know what an RPA developer is and what their duties look like, it’s time to investigate which skills are essential for success in this domain A few of the most important skills are outlined below.

Strategic Planning Skills: - Planning is imperative for success in this role Setting design goals or initiatives for your RPA project and mapping out workflow will allow for an easier implementation.

Strong Analytical Skills: You will need to be able to analyze a process and provide improvement recommendations A key benefit of adopting RPA is its ability to improve workflow, and as an RPA developer, you are responsible for managing the technology that does just that: improves workflow.

Problem-solving skills: Automation does not always go smoothly the first time aroundMistakes happen, and bugs will pop up We already mentioned that you may be responsible for testing and bug fixes also The ability to debug a robot will come in handy, saving you time and stress as you handle any crisis that comes along.

Understanding of Programming Languages: You must have experience and thorough knowledge of programming languages such as C/C++, Python, Ruby, and Java (to name a few!).

Future of RPA

Robotic Process Automation isn’t going away; in fact, Forrester estimates that by 2021, the RPA market will reach $2.9 billion and Industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and retail are adopting RPA to automate tasks such as claims processing, inventory management, and invoice generation also RPA is continuing to advance and improve the processes of those who properly employ it.

 The better that RPA gets, the more companies and organizations will eagerly adopt it, creating the need for even more RPA professionals, so what does that mean for the IT workforce? An increase in hiring, specifically those with RPA in their skill set and A career in RPA also comes with an attractive salary. According to Indeed, the average salary for an RPA developer ranges from $97,166 to $141,261 also because this is still a fairly new industry, strong RPA skills are hard to find and highly valued!

How to Get RPA Certified?

RPA course and Automation Anywhere certification courses are a great way to sharpen your skills and If you consider yourself more of an RPA beginner, we have a course for you too also Introduction to RPA gives learners an overview of RPA concepts, RPA tools, and workflows used in intelligent automation, and steps for implementing RPA in different segments of the enterprise, So these courses are sure to help you get started on your journey to becoming an RPA developer.

Conclusion

One of the best colleges in Jaipur Rajasthan which is Arya College of Engineering & I.T. has many courses like this. Put, RPA allows for the configuration of software “robots” to capture data and perform routine tasks ranging from automated emails to streamlining process flows or business operations. Not only is RPA simple to employ, it provides several benefits such as an increase in efficiency and improved customer service.

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[designstudio1]

MY THOUGHTS ON THE DESIGNS

For starters, I am quite bad with curves or playing with wavy letters and so for both my designs I tried to come up with something without changing too much of the letters. For the first design, I wanted to do something somewhat related to architecture technology. My idea for this design was to draw some kind of stairway or steps. I knew having 2 straight edges like the center of the letter “Z” next to each other could make an image that looked like a flat surface, like when drawing a prism. I then needed to incorporate the letter into a way to make a riser for the step and so at first, I tried to simply put a 90° rotated “Z” which to me felt way too simple and lost the steps effect. To solve the losing of the effect, I mirrored the rotated letter “Z” as I didn’t want to use another letter such as “N” and this solved my issue as now it looked like the cross section of 2x4 like in my architecture drawings missing one line as normally it’d be a rectangle with an X as the diagonal lines from their corners would cross. Finally, to get to the end product, I simply copy pasted a lot and made sure they aligned with snaps on and so they did and I got a nice stairway.

For the second design, I wanted something more creative and far away from architecture. I wanted to make a sort of star shape and so I believed using a letter such as “A” or “V” would be the best option. To make the star shape u pressed 4 “A”s together with their pointy end touching at the bar in the middle, one vertical, one horizontal and the 2 others mirrored. This gave me a ninja star like shape although it felt very incomplete. In my struggle to find out how to complete it, I copy pasted the same pattern on the entire page. The pattern spread past the borders of the document which I then masked. I drew a rectangle over the 20x20 surface and then selected all layers, went to the drop-down menu titled “object”, went to “clipping mask” and then “make” this clipped all the letters outside of my design surface.

Then came the issue of colour and what I wanted to do with the pattern in general. I noticed the stars across the sheet made different shapes when next to each other, a sort of square with pointy tips in the corners and a hexagon, so I got the idea of a checkerboard pattern due to the repetition of square, stars and the weird shape I just mentioned in the drawing. The problem now was that I have trouble seeing colours properly. Although undiagnosed, I’m sure I inherited some form of colour blindness from my father. And so, I picked what I believed was a dark colour of blue and then a lighter version of it. I then coloured the pointy squares with the paint bucket tool making one row of dark and the next light which gave me a checkerboard pattern with them. Then came the inside of the letter “A” I chose a lighter, more vibrant shade of blue as to make the square within the star stand out to make a second “checkerboard”. I then coloured the hexagone a lighter more teal colour making a third checkerboard with the triangles formed by the “A”s I then did the same with what I thought was purple but to change it up I made the hexagon the darker colour. I then made the blue pattern the top left & bottom right with the pink/purple pattern top right & bottom left giving me my final checkerboard. I then obviously showed it to friends and family to make sure the colours worked together and was pleasantly surprised when they said it was okay.

[techgalaxxy]

What Are The Best Practices in Blue Prism?

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has emerged as a game-changer for businesses seeking to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency. Among the myriad of RPA tools available, Blue Prism stands out as a robust and versatile platform. 

Its capabilities enable organizations to automate repetitive tasks, integrate disparate systems, and improve overall productivity. However, to harness the full potential of Blue Prism, adhering to best practices is crucial. This article explores the best practices in Blue Prism, delving into effective usage strategies and practical insights to maximize its benefits.

Understanding Blue Prism: Use Cases and Usages

Before diving into best practices, it's essential to grasp the core functionalities and applications of Blue Prism. Blue Prism is a leading RPA tool designed to automate complex, rule-based tasks through the use of software robots. It is particularly well-suited for tasks that involve interacting with multiple systems or applications, such as data entry, report generation, and system integration.

Use Cases of Blue Prism:

Finance and Accounting: Automating invoice processing, reconciliation, and financial reporting can significantly reduce manual effort and errors.

Human Resources: From onboarding new employees to managing payroll and benefits administration, Blue Prism can streamline various HR functions.

Customer Service: Automating responses to common customer queries and integrating support systems can enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Supply Chain Management: Blue Prism can automate inventory management, order processing, and supplier interactions to improve supply chain efficiency.

Best Practices in Blue Prism

1. Define Clear Objectives and Scope

Before initiating any automation project with Blue Prism Training, it is crucial to establish clear objectives and define the scope of automation. This involves understanding the specific processes to be automated, identifying the desired outcomes, and setting measurable goals. Clear objectives ensure that the automation aligns with business needs and helps in evaluating its success.

Best Practice Tip: Engage stakeholders early in the process to gather requirements and set realistic expectations. Document these requirements thoroughly to guide the development and implementation phases.

2. Design Efficient Process Flows

Designing efficient process flows is key to successful automation. Blue Prism operates based on process diagrams that map out the sequence of tasks to be automated. It is important to design these processes with efficiency in mind, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Best Practice Tip: Use Blue Prism’s Process Studio to design processes in a modular fashion. Break down complex processes into smaller, manageable components, and ensure that each module is reusable and maintainable.

3. Adopt Standardization and Reusability

Standardizing and reusing components across different processes can significantly enhance the efficiency and maintainability of your Blue Prism implementations. This includes developing reusable components, standardizing naming conventions, and adhering to best practices in coding and design.

Best Practice Tip: Create a library of reusable objects and processes that can be leveraged across multiple projects. Establish naming conventions and documentation standards to ensure consistency and ease of understanding.

4. Implement Robust Error Handling and Logging

Effective error handling and logging are critical to ensuring the reliability of automated processes. Blue Prism provides mechanisms for handling exceptions and logging events, which are essential for troubleshooting and maintaining process stability.

Best Practice Tip: Implement comprehensive error handling routines to manage exceptions gracefully. Utilize Blue Prism’s built-in logging features to capture detailed information about process execution and errors. Regularly review logs to identify and address potential issues.

5. Ensure Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are paramount in any automation initiative. Blue Prism’s automation processes often involve sensitive data and interactions with various systems. Therefore, it is essential to implement robust security measures and adhere to regulatory requirements.

Best Practice Tip: Follow the principle of least privilege by granting minimal access rights to Blue Prism robots and users. Ensure that all data handling complies with relevant regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. Regularly review and update security protocols to address emerging threats.

6. Monitor and Optimize Performance

Continuous monitoring and optimization are essential for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of automated processes. Blue Prism provides tools for monitoring process performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Best Practice Tip: Utilize Blue Prism’s analytics and reporting features to monitor process performance and identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Regularly review and refine processes based on performance data to ensure optimal results.

7. Foster a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Automation is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement ensures that your Blue Prism implementations remain relevant and effective over time.

Best Practice Tip: Encourage regular feedback from users and stakeholders to identify areas for enhancement. Stay informed about new features and best practices in Blue Prism, and be proactive in adopting improvements and updates.

Closing Thoughts

Blue Prism offers powerful capabilities for automating complex business processes, but realizing its full potential requires adherence to best practices. By adopting these practices, organizations can maximize the benefits of Blue Prism. As businesses continue to embrace automation, following these best practices will not only enhance operational efficiency but also drive long-term success in the dynamic world of RPA.