#continuous optimisation

[koobruk]

Explore the benefits of multi-channel marketing campaigns to boost your reach, engagement, and brand consistency. Learn how to integrate different channels, craft cohesive messaging, and track performance for effective strategies. Contact Koobr today to elevate your marketing efforts and drive growth.

[websyn]

A Strategic Approach to Cloud Migration: How Web Synergies Ensures a Seamless Transition

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are increasingly recognising the need for a well-planned cloud migration strategy. Moving operations to the cloud isn’t just about upgrading technology—it’s a critical step towards improving efficiency, scalability, and resilience. However, without expert guidance, this transition can present unforeseen challenges. At Web Synergies, we’ve fine-tuned our approach to ensure that cloud migration is a smooth, secure, and beneficial process for businesses of all sizes.

Why Cloud Migration Matters

As industries embrace digital transformation, cloud adoption has become essential for organisations to remain competitive. A successful cloud migration enables:

Increased Operational Efficiency: Cloud solutions allow businesses to streamline operations, reduce downtime, and eliminate costly on-premises hardware.

Enhanced Data Security: Today’s cloud platforms come with advanced security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Scalability and Flexibility: With cloud infrastructure, businesses can effortlessly scale resources to meet changing demands and support growth.

However, the journey to the cloud requires careful planning and a tailored approach. That’s where Web Synergies stands out.

Web Synergies’ Proven Cloud Migration Strategy

Our team at Web Synergies understands that every business has unique requirements and goals. By focusing on a strategy-driven migration process, we ensure that each step aligns with your specific business objectives. Here’s how we do it:

Assessment and Planning The foundation of a successful migration is a thorough assessment. We begin by evaluating your existing infrastructure, identifying critical applications, and pinpointing potential challenges. Our team creates a migration roadmap that prioritises business continuity and minimises disruption.

Customised Migration Pathway Whether you’re moving to a public, private, or hybrid cloud, Web Synergies tailors the migration pathway to best suit your organisational needs. Our customised approach ensures that your business enjoys the full benefits of the cloud without unnecessary complications.

Data Security and Compliance In today’s digital age, data security is paramount. Web Synergies employs the latest security protocols, ensuring your data remains safe throughout the migration. Our compliance-focused solutions meet industry standards, offering peace of mind that your information is protected.

Optimising and Testing A seamless transition means thorough testing. Before the full migration, we conduct rigorous testing to identify and resolve any issues. This ensures a stable and optimised cloud environment tailored to your specific needs.

Post-Migration Support Our commitment doesn’t end once the migration is complete. We provide ongoing support to help you navigate your new cloud environment, optimise costs, and leverage advanced cloud features for enhanced productivity.

Benefits of Choosing Web Synergies for Cloud Migration

Partnering with Web Synergies means more than just moving to the cloud. It’s about setting your business up for success in a digital-first world. Here’s what sets us apart:

Proven Expertise: Our seasoned team has a wealth of experience across various industries, ensuring a smooth migration that fits your needs.

Future-Ready Solutions: We design scalable cloud solutions that not only support your current requirements but are flexible enough to adapt to future demands.

Enhanced Agility: With our cloud migration services, your business gains the agility to respond quickly to market changes, fostering innovation and growth.

Embrace the Cloud with Confidence

Migrating to the cloud is a significant step in your business’s digital journey. With Web Synergies’ strategic approach, you can make this transition confidently, knowing you have a partner committed to your success. From assessment and planning to post-migration support, we’re here to ensure that your journey to the cloud is seamless and secure.

Ready to take your business to new heights with cloud migration? Partner with Web Synergies today to experience a smooth, strategic, and secure move to the cloud.

[brydig]

My 60+ year old dad finally 100%-ed totk today (completed all quests and all shrines, found all wells, cave openings, bubbulfrogs, koroks, clothes, auto-build schematics, towers, lightroots and map locations, put up all signs, and got all monster hunter medals)

[chloedecker0]

Maximizing Retail Profits: Harnessing B2B Price Optimization Software

In the ever-evolving world of retail and e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge. Among the many strategies employed, B2B Price Optimization and Management Software stands out as a game-changer. Price optimisation and management (PO&M) software solutions enable businesses to oversee and optimize the prices of their goods and services. These services also provide a growing range of sales intelligence advice, such as best-next-action suggestions and customer churn warnings. In the industry, vendors either focus on back-office price management and product management roles, or they focus on providing real-time sales intelligence to sales representatives and B2B digital commerce websites, or both. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, a leading global advisory and consulting firm, has recognized the significance of this technology in their report, “B2B Price Optimization and Management Applications, 2023”. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions focuses on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business, and Growth Advisory Services. 

Download the sample report of Market Share: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

Understanding the Retail and E-commerce Landscape 

The retail and e-commerce industry is a highly dynamic and competitive space. Companies within this domain face the continuous challenge of pricing their products right to maximize profitability while staying attractive to their customers. In this context, pricing becomes a critical element of their strategy. Let's delve into some of these challenges: 

Rapidly Changing Market Dynamics: Retail and e-commerce markets are highly volatile, with ever-shifting consumer preferences and market trends. Adapting to these changes in real-time is essential to stay competitive. Without the right tools, businesses risk making pricing decisions that are out of sync with market realities. 

Intense Competition: In retail and e-commerce, competition is fierce. With numerous players offering similar products or services, pricing becomes a key differentiator. Setting prices too high can drive customers away, while pricing too low can erode profit margins. 

Complex Supply Chain and Cost Structures: The retail and e-commerce sector often deals with complex supply chain operations and cost structures. Understanding the true costs associated with a product or service is essential for setting optimal prices. Traditional methods of cost calculation can be time-consuming and error-prone. 

Customer Behaviour and Expectations: Today's consumers are more informed and price-sensitive than ever before. Their buying behaviour can change rapidly in response to various factors, including promotions, discounts, and market trends. Retailers must be agile in responding to these changes. 

Competitor Pricing Strategies: Keeping a constant eye on competitor pricing is crucial. Businesses need to respond promptly to pricing moves made by competitors to remain competitive. Manual tracking and analysis of competitor pricing are arduous and inefficient processes. 

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software: A Necessity 

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software is the solution to these challenges. This technology leverages advanced algorithms, data analytics, and real-time market insights to help businesses make data-driven pricing decisions. It empowers retail and e-commerce companies to optimize their prices efficiently while taking into account factors like demand fluctuations, competitor pricing, and customer behaviour.

Talk To Analyst: https://quadrant-solutions.com/talk-to-analyst

[nottivagos]

notti's nightly thoughts (18+)

an: college dirtbag!lando and fisting. i mean, have you seen those hands lando has? jesus fuck, man.

"lando." you breathed as your hair flowed messily on the pillow below you, whilst your hazy eyes met his own. "fuck, i can't take anymore, lando," you groaned, skin prickling with burning arousal surging through your veins.

lando smirked, thrusting two fingers slowly into your dripping cunt, soaked from the umpteenth time of you coming on them. "shh, baby," he mumbled, kissing your temple from above, curling his fingers to the place that made you see stars, "you can take another finger, i know you can."

you gasped as his fingers stretched out your folds, the air being sucked from your lungs as your thighs trembled with increasing anticipation. "more," you whispered, eyes pleading as you met his devilish gaze and wolfish grin again, "i can take more. please. another finger," you groaned, head tilting back, as your hips pushed upwards, back arching off of the mattress.

lando smirked again as he slipped a third finger inside, feeling how your walls clenched him so snugly. you moaned, chest heaving as his fingers continued to curl inside your wet heat ever so meticulously and with ease.

"good girl, baby," he purred into your ear, large fingers continuing to curl and thrust into you. "such a good girl, taking my fingers like this," lando mumbled, pressing another kiss to your slick temple, "do you want more?"

you whimpered, a rush of heat surging up your spine. nodding, you whined, "more, lando, please", as your hips started to roll. "need more," you croaked, as a stark flush painted across your plush cheeks and your glimmering doey eyes stayed focused on lando's torturous smug grin, obviously revelling in the way you loved how he stretched you out.

his large fingers continued to delve in and out of your cunt, smearing your slick over your folds as extra lubrication. you gasped out loud again as he teased his fourth finger at your entrance, stifling down a moan by biting your bottom lip sheepishly.

"let me hear you," lando coaxed, slipping the fourth digit into your hole ever so easily. "wanna hear you fall apart on my hand, baby," he murmured, lips now dangerously close to your own as he pressed down gently just in time to let a loud moan die in his mouth whilst curling his fingers deeper inside of you.

tears of pleasure brimmed in your eyes as the coil in your lower belly tightened, whilst the fire surged uncontrollably as his lips left your own. your legs shook even more, gasps and moans escaping your lips ever so freely whilst he now teased his pinky at your hole, trembling with the inevitable release that lando's fingers were coaxing you into.

"you want the last finger, baby?" he asked, murmuring into your ear hotly as he pumped his other 4 digits in and out of your pussy, the noises of your slick becoming obscene as your juices painted your inner thighs. "tell me you want the last finger," he added, teasing his pinky up and down your dripping slit.

"please, i need it," you gasped, body tensing with pleasure as your chest heaved erratically, hips thrusting even more towards his hand inside you as your back arched even more, body overwhelmed by the pleasure. "give me more, lando," you begged, lip quivering as you swallowed hard, stifling another sharp gasp that hissed through your teeth.

lando hummed contently, slowly inserting the final finger into your dripping cunt. you cried out as his fingers curled slowly, trying not to irritate or harm your insides. your hands clawed the bedsheets below you, your breathing erratic and lando's movements became slower and more controlled, curling to just the right spot to optimise your pleasure.

"f-fuck, feels so good," you breathed, nipples perked as your blood pumped hotly around your body. your thighs came to tremor uncontrollably as you slowly but hastily reached the climax you were craving. lando continued to thrust his fist in your cunt, causing you to scream out loud in pleasure.

"that's it, let them hear you," lando mumbled against your temple ever so deeply, hitting the perfect spot that made your whole body tense with overwhelming intensity. "let them know how good my fingers make you feel, baby."

thrusting one more time, the tightening coil inside your stomach snapped as your orgasm ripped through you. "let go for me, baby," he coaxed, as you arched your back, clawing tightly at the sheets below you, you cried out in pleasure, body tight as your walls fluttered around lando's hand, clenching around all 5 digits inside your cunt.

your juices coated his fingers fully, as you rode out your high, gasping for air as your pupils were blown out wide not only from your high, but from the amazement that lando was able to fist you with such ease. your cheeks burnt from the boiling blood now pumping steadily and normally around your body as lando removed his hand ever so slowly, trying not to agitate your body, or worse, harm your pussy.

"holy shit," you breathed, still in utter ecstasy and shock. "that felt so fucking good, lan," you added, chest now rising softly, as lando scooped you up into his arms, resting your head against his bare chest, whilst his back rested against the bedframe.

"yeah? well, you did amazing, beautiful," he mumbled into the top of your head, pressing a loving kiss into your dishevelled hair. looking up at lando with a loving smile, his lips curled into a knowing smirk, before he chuckled devilishly, "ready for round two? this time i'm gonna make you squirt all over the sheets." <3

[teaaddictyt]

Just some reminders for my sweet swimming friends in the TS2 community:

1. Modern EA are the most talented disappointers I have ever come across. Expect little, be pleasantly surprised if there's a higher quality than that. I have been consistently let down by EA for the last 10 years and I doubt that's going to change any time soon. Hype is RARELY (dare I say never?) met 🤣

2. "Re-Release" is not the same as "Re-Master". "Optimised for Win10/11" may just mean we don't need to let Graphics Rules Maker update the GraphicsCards.sgr file with modern GPUs, maybe GRM won't have to unlock higher screen resolution, and maybe the Sim shadows won't be black boxes without DXVK or a mod. Woo 🎉

3. Let's all agree to either ignore the "Big UTuberz" playing TS2 very badly (i.e. no idea what a cheat code is) for "the nostalgia" and then promptly dropping it again, or go comment on the videos to point out the sheer stoopid 🤦🏼‍♀️

4. Sims 2 has been available to play for the last 20 years regardless of EA, and if they put it behind a paywall, it will no doubt still be available to play. (Same with TS1 for that matter) 🥸

5. Best case scenario in my head? If I "DARE to dream"? - Maybe we won't all need to continue switching to Linux to get rid of Pink Flashing. Lol. But I doubt it. 🙈

It is nice to see that Sims 1 and Sims 2 are actually being recognised for the 25th anniversary of this franchise. Better than the usual tactic of trying to pretend the games never existed. But let's all keep our heads screwed on straight here.

Now, back to building my new mega downloads folder of doom 😎

[theresatzu]

Blue Lock Characters and going camping

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Pairings. Blue Lock character x reader

Characters. Isagi, Rin, Bachira, Reo, Nagi & Barou

Tags. Fluff, crack, camping

------------------《▪︎□▪︎□▪︎□▪︎》--------------------

Isagi Yoichi

-> Two loving parents and no trauma? This man definitely has camped before.

-> You can count on Isagi to know the ins and outs of setting up a tent, he's got that tent standing within ten minutes.

-> He'll definitely bring a football with him, or insist that you'd do some activities together. Because this man cannot sit still.

-> I'll just know that he'll try to optimise his time with you while camping. The one day taking a nice stroll through the woods and the other day going swimming.

-> He definitely likes it old-school. As in, roasting marshmallows above a mellow fire to star gazing on the grass.

In conclusion:

Isagi is big on traditional camping. He will insist on sleeping in the tent on inflatable mattresses because that's how he has always done it with his parents, and this way, you'll be able to get the best camping experience in his opinion.

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Itoshi Rin

-> This man makes everything a competition. Thus, Rin will be the one who's the fastest in setting up a tent.

-> Rin will decline any help, for sure, even when he clearly struggles. All in all, setting up the tent will take longer than necessary, but it'll be sturdy.

-> The sort of activities Rin would enjoy would probably be like scaling mountains, cycling, playing football (obviously), and swimming. There is no moment that he isn't driving his body to the ground.

-> Even though it's a holiday, Rin will continue to stick to his regimented schedule. Eating healthy food, yoga at an exact time, and sleeping before eleven, it'll be just like at home.

In conclusion:

Going camping with Rin will probably be more physically demanding than your regular week, but you can say for sure that you had a fulfilling time.

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Bachira Meguru

-> Setting up a tent with this man is near impossible. Bachira will incessantly try to sabotage the construction or just stand at the sidelines, giggling like a maniac at your struggling.

-> This man is also big on roasting smores, but Bachira will enjoy shopping or going to markets, too.

-> Going on a holiday with Bachira is a sure recipe for disaster, though. He'll probably accidentally tear the tent or forget the electric pump for the beds, so be the one who is prepared!

In conclusion:

A holiday with Bachira is definitely memorable. The question is, is the good or the bad one? However, you can count on Bachira to keep things never boring. It'll be one big adventure with a lot of fun chaos.

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Mikage Reo

-> Mister I'm Good At Everything is also good at camping.

-> Reo will have that tent standing within ten minutes, equipped with the newest luxury appliances, such as an airco or a built-in fridge.

-> Reo is a sucker for camping in style, so you can be assured that he has packed everything and more. From matching camping outfits to a sun-powered tea kettle.

-> Camping with Reo means doing a high variety of activities. Beach volleyball up to disco swimming. You'll do everything that's possible.

In conclusion:

Camping with Reo is camping with style, so much so that it's debatable if it's actually camping when his tent will contain devices an average household won't even think of having. But if you want an affluent holiday, Reo's the man to go to.

------------------《▪︎□▪︎□▪︎□▪︎》--------------------

Nagi Seishiro

-> He's the complete antithesis of Mikage Reo. Nagi does not know how to set up a tent.

-> Nagi will probably stand on the side while you set up the tent, doing a grand total of... nothing.

-> Nagi doesn't know what to pack, so you'll likely miss a lot of essentials.

-> If the others were brimming with ideas for activities, Nagi would suggest staying in the tent and sleeping all day.

In conclusion:

If you want a really laid-back holiday, camping with Nagi is a commendable recommendation. Even though you don't do much, you can say for sure that you'll be well-rested at the end of it.

------------------《▪︎□▪︎□▪︎□▪︎》--------------------

Barou Shouei

-> This man is rigid. Barou wants that tent set up fast, but in the best possible way.

-> Everything is neatly put away, ranging from your clothes being evenly folded, to the lamps radiating just the right amount of light.

-> Maybe setting up a tent with Barou takes up a lot of time, but the end result is definitely worth it.

-> Because Barou wants to do everything as the best, he'll want to absolutely dominate the typical camping activities. Swimming? Ha, he's got those five kilometres in the bag. Barbecuing? Expect those perfectly crispy chicken skewers to taste absolutely ravishing.

In conclusion:

Camping with Barou is old-fashioned, but he'll account for anything. He'll be the person who is prepared for everything. A mattress leak? He has a spare. No food? He's got the canned tomatoes in the bag.

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Masterlist

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

A disgustingly economic discussion that is far more clear about the realities of covid than what our governments are telling us

“There is a huge delusion at the moment that COVID is over and when we talk about it, we say ‘when the pandemic happened’ but actually it is still happening,” he said. “So, insurance companies need to be very conscious of that and to be thinking ahead. Swiss Re has a powerful role across the market to make sure that this is being thought about. “In our view, there are a range of scenarios, but most of them anticipate a return to normality in five to 10 years, depending on your level of optimism. And we think that because of the other more fundamental movements happening around cancer, lifestyle risk and eventually Alzheimer's, to name the three biggest ones, that mortality improvements will also return over the longer term.”

By Mia Wallace

“COVID-19 is far from over.”

A recent Swiss Re report suggested potential excess mortality in the general population of up to 3% in the US and 2.5% in the UK by 2033 in a pessimistic scenario, highlighting the lingering impact of COVID-19 – both as a direct cause of death and as a contributor to cardiovascular mortality.

Discussing the report with Re-Insurance Business, Paul Murray (pictured), CEO of L&H Reinsurance at Swiss Re, outlined some of the key ageing and mortality trends shaping the life and health reinsurance market today. “Of course, we saw excess mortality when we were locked down and experiencing the pandemic but now we’ve returned to normal life, we think it’s over and it’s not. People are still getting ill with the COVID infection and they’re still dying.”

The debate for the market now is how long that trend is likely to continue, and whether its impact will fade over time – with Swiss Re’s recent report offering multiple scenarios into the reinsurance giant’s viewpoint on that question. Top of mind is understanding the key factors driving future mortality trends and changing life expectancy statistics – and how these influencing factors may change going forward.

What are the top trends driving future mortality trends? Pinpointing some of the key considerations driving future mortality trends, Murray underscored the need to look at historical data. “The headline for me is always that there has been a phenomenal period of mortality improvements, of life expectancy extending. This is probably one of the biggest social transformations that the human race has been through.

“One of the main drivers of that has been cardiovascular improvements. Smoking cessation helped a lot towards that in the 20th century and is continuing now as well. There’s also new technology that enables low-intervention cardiovascular surgery, like stents. We’ve shifted from a lot of surgery having to be open-heart and high-risk in an operating theatre to in-and-out in a day with injected stents. It has been completely transformational.”

Where do medical advances go next? The ”plumbing” of the human body and the way it’s protected and healed by modern medicine has been largely optimised, he said, but now some of the benefits of that is starting to level off. Looking to the future, he sees that there is still the potential for some further improvements as a factor driving increased life expectancy, particularly amid improving access to information and education about healthy living choices – and improving intervention techniques.

“When we look forward, I anticipate the area where we have the best chance of improvements is on the cancer side,” he said. “Comparatively to cardiovascular risk, improvements to cancer treatments have been relatively low in the past. Of course, it’s very complex as 'cancer' is a bucket term which combines 200-plus types, but we are seeing some very promising technologies emerging here that will help address that.

“Take mRNA vaccines, for instance, which are not new but became very prominent in the pandemic, specifically as it helped us develop vaccines very quickly. mRNA capabilities, combined with immunotherapy, are currently in trials, and showing very significant improvements in outcomes for cancer patients in specific causes. And we've only really started scratching the surface of that. Looking 10-to-30 years out, which is the duration we have to think about as life insurers, we think that’s a prominent contributor to future improvement.”

Alzheimer's is another pressing area for consideration, he said, as, with people generally living longer, this is becoming a much more significant risk. Due to a myriad of reasons, more people than ever are living with Alzheimer’s today and society is being increasingly challenged to deal with it and to support those living with the disease. “Again, improvements in dealing with Alzheimer's historically have not been that great, and I think this is one area where there's the potential for a meaningful breakthrough, and we're starting to see some signs of that in scientific research.”

Understanding the impact of lifestyle factors on future mortality trends An interesting element shaping discourse in the life and health reinsurance market is the question of the impact of lifestyle factors on future mortality trends. Murray noted that if you characterize overall mortality rates into lifestyle or non-communicable diseases, between 30-40% of mortality is driven by lifestyle choices – including such factors as what you eat, whether you smoke, whether you exercise, how much sugar you eat, and how you manage your stress.

The insured population are typically quite happy to engage with that, he said, and Swiss Re is seeing improvement on those metrics, but there remain large swathes of the overall population who don’t engage in that conversation. As more data emerges over time, he believes the market will start to see stronger connections between activity and outcomes which, in turn, will help it to drive better results.

“An interesting area here is diabetes and Swiss Re is taking a leadership position on this globally,” he said. “We regularly engage with policymakers around the world – with doctors and thinkers on nutrition and food policy in particular – to [highlight] how your diet has a big impact on your health, but also to assess whether the current advice is appropriate for the future.

“Obesity and diabetes continue to increase. That debate has a long way to go, but if it continues to evolve positively, it will have a positive impact on mortality.”

Poor metabolic health drives obesity and diabetes, which are offsetting previous advances made by treating cardiovascular diseases and smoking cessation. The emergence of GLP-1/GIP weight loss injectables has shown early promise in reducing weight and improving baseline clinical risk factors, when combined with long-term lifestyle alterations. Although long-term data doesn’t yet exist on the impact of GLP-1 drugs, in the short term these medications are showing positive results in reducing all-causes, and specifically cardiovascular mortality. In addition, the drugs appear to positively affect a range of other conditions such as cancer, liver and kidney diseases, and even neurodegenerative diseases.

When will excess mortality return to pre-pandemic levels? Underpinning the broader conversation is the big question on the minds of many across the life and health reinsurance market – when, or if, excess mortality will return to pre-pandemic levels. Swiss Re’s recent paper posited both a pessimistic and an optimistic scenario because its role is not to say what will happen, but rather to encourage people to think about the tail risk of the COVID crisis and how it might play out.

“There is a huge delusion at the moment that COVID is over and when we talk about it, we say ‘when the pandemic happened’ but actually it is still happening,” he said. “So, insurance companies need to be very conscious of that and to be thinking ahead. Swiss Re has a powerful role across the market to make sure that this is being thought about.

“In our view, there are a range of scenarios, but most of them anticipate a return to normality in five to 10 years, depending on your level of optimism. And we think that because of the other more fundamental movements happening around cancer, lifestyle risk and eventually Alzheimer's, to name the three biggest ones, that mortality improvements will also return over the longer term.”

Study link: www.swissre.com/institute/research/topics-and-risk-dialogues/health-and-longevity/covid-19-pandemic-synonymous-excess-mortality.html

[elliottexists]

quotes from boom that were so based:

"flashy lights play well in a showroom. modern warfare - death by salesman."

"my recovery was estimated as beyond acceptable parameters for a conflict as budgeted."

"life is cheap, patients are expensive."

"keeps you fighting, keeps you dying, keeps you buying. medical services optimise the casualty rate for continued conflict."

"war is business, and business is booming."

"whats a little kid like you doing out in a nasty war like this."

"since when was the church an army? since most of your history."

"it could revive her but its not programmed to assist non believers."

"you declared war on an empty planet."

"you are fighting your own hardware and its killing you at just the right amount to keep you buying more."

"faith, the magic word that keeps you never having to think for yourself."

[soaringthroughthegalaxy]

Such a Good Girl

Crosshair can’t shake this strange feeling in his chest, especially after you save his ass during a mission. Perhaps it's worth finally exploring.

Pairing: Crosshair x f!reader

Word count: 4.2k

Rating: NSFW 18+ MINORS DNI!!

Warnings: praise kink, competency kink, pet names, Cross hates having feelings but has to deal with them anyway, oral (f!receiving and m!receiving), fingering, heavy eye contact, dirty talk, the armour stays on, light D/s tones, sprinkle of quirofilia, idiots falling in love, mention of inappropriate use of rifle rest, brief Soft!Cross, brief aftercare.

A/N: DBB once described Cross as ‘a coiled snake’, and it’s the most fitting description I’ve ever read.

The ache had started in your calves but was now working up your thighs. You tossed and turned in the small bunk, trying desperately to get comfortable, but nothing worked. With a quiet groan of frustration, you sat up, your flimsy standard-issue blanket tossed aside, and hauled yourself off the bed.

Bare feet on the durasteel floor, you winced as the cold shot up your legs. It took a moment for you to walk without wobbling, but you persevered, quietly moving past the other bunks. Hunter, Wrecker, and Tech had conked out when you entered hyperspace, with Crosshair taking the first watch.

The last mission had been rough – the intel you’d received from Command had been flawed, vastly underestimating the number of droids you’d have to face. Then a damn electrical storm had rolled in, thrown out your comms, and messed with Hunter’s senses. Everything that could’ve gone wrong had, but you shouldn’t have been surprised given everything that had happened over the last year.

A whole year. It had gone past in the blink of an eye. You could still remember the day you’d been introduced to Clone Force 99 and assigned as their civilian handler. It was your job to keep in contact with Command, feed the boys their missions, and ensure they had everything they needed to complete their work and return safely.

While most handlers chose to remain on Kamino, away from the blaster fire and chaos, you’d elected to go with the Batch, to live on the Marauder with them and share their barracks on the rare occasion you could return to base. After all, you couldn’t keep them safe if you weren’t with them.

They’d been distant with you at first – still polite, of course, but hadn’t opened up or engaged in conversation about anything other than the current mission.

Wrecker had cracked after a month, inviting you to watch a holofilm with him in the gunner’s nest. Tech had been next, optimising your datapad when you’d been in the fresher. Hunter followed afterwards, teaching you how to play dejarik. And then Crosshair had been last, sitting silently beside you to field strip and reassemble his rifle before he’d pushed it in your direction for you to repeat his actions.

They were your family now, The four chaotic brothers.

But they’d come close to becoming three today.

Your slow, steadier steps continue through the ship until you reach the closed cockpit doors. It was a courtesy for whoever was on watch to close the doors and dampen any noise for those resting. Pressing your palm against the panel nearby, the door gave a quiet whoosh as it opened, sealing shut behind you as you stepped in.

The cockpit was quiet; a lone figure sat in the co-pilot chair. “You’re meant to be sleeping.” The serpentine slink of Crosshair’s voice filled the space as he turned the chair around to see who was up, momentary surprise flickering in his eyes as he caught sight of you before he tampered it back down.

“Would if I could, Cross.” You answered dryly, sitting in the seat behind him. The nickname slipped out easily these days, though you could remember the scowl the sniper had thrown your way the first time you’d used it. Ultimately, he’d warmed to it and secretly enjoyed every time you used it.

“Hell’s wrong with you?” He asked as you shifted in the seat, the well-worn leather giving a little as you tried to get comfortable. He pushed his toothpick to the other side of his mouth with his tongue, sharp eyes raking over your body as he took quick stock of your condition.

Your lips fell into a flat line as you stared incredulously at the man opposite you. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe my whole body is protesting because I had to race up the side of a damn mountain this afternoon to save my snarky sniper from a platoon of droids.” You huffed, the tension palpable in your voice.

As usual, Crosshair had found the best vantage point during the mission, but the unexpectedly large number of droids had caught you all off guard. You’d been mid-way through fighting a platoon back when you’d spotted another cresting over the mountain. Crosshair had been focused on picking off the droids coming after you and his brothers, and without comms to alert him, you’d been left with two options – furiously field sign the warning and pray he caught it through his scope or haul ass up the mountain and deal with the problem yourself.

You’d chosen the latter.

Your blaster bolt had cut through the first droid just as they’d rounded the corner and spotted Crosshair in a prone position, his rifle aimed down the mountain. And though every muscle in your body had burned and protested, you’d valiantly held them back long enough for him to turn and help fight them off.

The corner of Crosshair’s lip twitched, a tinge of amusement in his hawkish gaze. “Your snarky sniper?” He quips, trying to ignore the warmth in his body at your words.

“Of course, that’s what you take out of that. Not the fact that my legs feel like they’re on fire.” You roll your eyes, arms folding across your chest as you meet his gaze. You weren’t really mad, and you both knew it.

For a moment, you silently stare at each other until Crosshair breaks the contact and reaches down, drawing your legs up onto his lap. A noise of surprise slips past your lips as you slide down a bit in the chair, but you adjust your position. His thumbs press against your ankles, sliding slowly up your calf as he works out the ache in your muscles, one leg at a time. His hands are surprisingly gentle as he pushes and rubs, the pain starting to fade with every pass of his fingers.

The cockpit falls silent again, the streaks of hyperspace throwing soft light through the space, illuminating Crosshair from behind like a halo. The idea has you suppressing a smile, knowing he’d baulk at such a comparison.

He can feel the weight of your gaze on him, but he studiously ignores it, focussing instead on trying to ease your pain. He’d been so intent on ensuring the safety of his brothers, picking off the droids attacking them, that he’d missed your scramble up the mountain. It had only been the sound of your blaster fire nearby that had snapped his attention to you and the oncoming droids. As much as he hated to admit it, he’d have likely been overwhelmed without your quick actions. He was better than any Reg, without a doubt, but without backup, an entire platoon of droids was too much even for him.

The surprise he’d felt at seeing you up on the mountain with him had been short-lived, replaced with a strange sense of attraction as he watched you protect him before instinct kicked in, and he’d joined you in the fight. That feeling had returned just now when you’d called him yours and prompted him to reach for you to ease your aches. It was confusing and infuriating. Sure, over the last year, he’d fleetingly thought of you in a less than professional way, but he’d never had the urge to act on it until today.

Your body sinks into the chair, relaxing as the tension is worked out of your legs. It feels too damn good, and a moan slips from your lips before you can stop it, your eyes widening as you inhale sharply, going stock still. Crosshair’s hands pause, toothpick slowly sliding to the other side of his mouth as he finally lifts his gaze, those sharp brown eyes dancing with something dangerous. “What an unexpectedly pretty sound, kitten.”

A strangled noise escapes you, wide eyes locked onto the sniper. The nickname is nothing new, usually thrown at you with a playful barb or some snark, but this time it’s different. This time, he purrs it.

“S-Sorry.” You stammer, clearing your throat as you try desperately to ignore the sudden heat in your belly. “It slipped out. Felt good.” You gesture vaguely towards your legs before pulling them out of Crosshair’s lap. But those slender fingers of his wrap around your ankles, keeping them in place, his eyes refusing to leave yours.

Crosshair knows he’s playing a dangerous game right now, knows he’s teetering on the edge of something that could go favourably for you both or go wildly wrong. But your moan…fuck. He’s grateful his codpiece hides his half-hard cock as one of his hands trails up your calves, skimming across your knees and thighs. He stops himself from sliding his hand under the hem of the oversized sleep shirt you’re wearing, a strange pang of something clawing at his chest as he realises it’s one of Wrecker’s old shirts.

Your own chest is rising and falling rapidly with tiny breaths. Crosshair’s eyes take in the flutter of your pulse in your neck, the way you’re watching him so intently. The pads of his fingers smooth across your thigh as he weighs up the situation. He could play this off, joke about riling you up and never mention it again. Or, he could figure out this strange feeling and why he’s picturing you naked, writhing beneath him with nothing but pleasure painted on your gorgeous face.

He, too, chooses the latter.

“You did good today.” He states lowly, fingers skirting ever so slightly under the hem of your shirt, eyes focused on your face. That feeling in his chest expands as he watches your pupils dilate as you inhale shakily.

Warmth sits in your belly, the compliment curling around you like a blanket on a cold day. “Just doing my job.” You decide to play it off, even though the words and the way he’s touching you make your heart pound a little wildly. You’d never been good at accepting praise and certainly weren’t expecting it from Crosshair.

“Maybe. But I’d like to thank you properly.” He tilts his head ever so slightly, the usual bite to his words gone as his eyes flit down to watch his fingers shift, dragging down the inside of your knee.

Brows furrowing for a second, you swallow, wondering if you’re reading the room correctly. “Are you…propositioning me?” You ask quietly, a shiver sliding down your spine as Crosshair’s fingers still.

His eyes lift, locking onto you. And the silence stretches.

You can’t deny he’s a good-looking man, nor can you deny how your heart somersaults when you see the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips after you say something amusing or when he reaches around you for something and crowds into your space. Now, watching him, you swear you can see a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

“Forget it.” Crosshair insists, going to move your legs from his lap. He feels stupid for even suggesting it – you could have any man in the galaxy; why would you want him?

You grasp his wrist, having moved on instinct. Focusing on him, your expression softens as he avoids your gaze, shifting that damn toothpick across his mouth again. You reach for it with your free hand, prying it gently from his mouth. The motion makes him finally look at you, and you can see the walls he’s trying to put back up. That can’t happen. “I don’t want to forget it.” You confess, your eyes momentarily betraying you as you glance at his lips.

His mouth is on you before you know it, firm, demanding lips pressed against yours. The toothpick falls to the floor. Hands grasp at your thighs, hauling you into his lap. You go willingly, tongue sliding against his lips, seeking entrance to deepen the kiss. One of your hands slides to the nape of his neck, and the other grasps at his bicep.

Crosshair’s mind is spinning, though he forces himself to appear composed. Your gentle weight in his lap is delicious, the way your ass presses against him, your hands clutching him. That feeling in his chest grows, and he silently luxuriates in it, lips parting as he feels your tongue pressing forward. He tastes you, a groan erupting from low in his throat. There’s something else he wants to taste more.

Supporting your body, he eases you back until you’re sprawled once more in the opposite seat. His lips refuse to leave yours, steady hands positioning you at the edge of the chair before he pulls back. Watching as your eyes flutter open, his cock strains against his codpiece. You’re breathing rapidly, lips shiny, desire burning in your pretty eyes. He did that to you. He can’t fight back his pride.

Dropping to his knees, Crosshair barely feels the cold floor beneath him, his armour buffering the impact and the temperature. Hands slide back up your thighs, fingers hooking on your panties. They slide down your legs quickly, and a smirk tilts his lips as he pulls them off you, eyes locked on yours as he tucks the scrap of fabric safely in one of the pouches on his belt.

Drawing your legs over his shoulders, he leans in, breaking the eye contact to take in the beautiful sight of your pussy spread before him like a buffet.

It’ll be the best meal he’s ever had.

The edges of Crosshair’s armour bite into your thighs, but the sting of pain evaporates the moment he drags his tongue through your slick folds. Head thunking back against the seat, your hips buck as you gasp. 

“Maker, your pussy tastes good.” You hear the slink of his voice, a needy whine leaving you as you glance down to watch him feast. The almost permanent frown lines on his face are gone, a borderline serene look on his features as his tongue presses against your entrance, pulling a stuttered exhale from you.

His eyes snap open at the sound, watching up the length of your body as you writhe when he flicks his tongue across your clit, sucking the sensitive bud. The taste of you on his tongue is addictive, and though he’d deny it if he’s ever asked, he could quite happily live between your thighs. Right hand sliding up under your sleep shirt, he drags his fingers across the gentle swell of your breasts. You’d always been softness and smiles where he was hard edges and scowls. His other hand joins the party, two fingers pressing against your entrance, sinking in slowly as his tongue laves over your clit.

He silently preens as your hips buck, back arching while you moan. But then you’re tapping his hand under your shirt, head tilting down so you can catch his gaze. “Swap hands. Please.” You insist, a desperate look in your eyes.

Crosshair isn’t sure why it matters, but he does as you ask, sliding his right hand down your body as he removes his left from your pussy. Swapping them over, he presses his pointer and middle finger into you, prying his mouth from your clit so his thumb can run firm circles across it.

“You gonna tell me why, doll?” He questions, tongue darting out to lick his lips and enjoy your taste as he watches you cant your hips, chasing the pleasure his fingers are bringing you.

Heat rushes across your cheeks, and you avert your eyes, a mix of pleasure and shame flowing through you. “It’s…” You start, cutting yourself off with another moan as Crosshair twists his fingers, firmly pressing their pads to your g-spot.

Crosshair smirks, delight blooming inside him at your reaction. He stills his actions. “You can have more of that if you tell me…” He bargains, enjoying your groan.

Swallowing thickly, you bite the proverbial bullet. “Trigger finger.” You admit, eyes screwing shut.

The delight blooming in Crosshair’s chest now flits across his face. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected, but it went straight to his cock. “You like that thought, of my trigger finger buried in your pretty pussy, coaxing you to cum?” He teases, repeatedly pressing against your g-spot, rewarding you for your honesty. “Knowing this same finger will keep you safe on the next mission…”

Nodding eagerly, you rock your hips, chasing the building pleasure. “Yes. Always feel safe with you. Please, I wanna cum.” Desperation coats your voice.

Your admission makes him feel good – knowing how much you rely on him. Watching the slide of his fingers in and out of you, the way you writhe with every press against your g-spot and circle of your clit, he makes a slight noise of approval. “You really did do well today.” He comments lowly, enjoying the little whine you let out at the praise. “And brave girls get rewarded.” He tacks on, enjoying your chest’s rapid rise and fall as you pant, your hips still rocking, grinding against his hand. “You can cum.”

You’d never wanted a man’s permission to climax before, but something about Crosshair makes you want to please him. His fingers crook a little more, a little more pressure added to your clit, and you finally cry out his name. The pleasure slams into you, making you gasp as it floods your body, the tension snapping as your hips and thighs shake through your release. Your mind feels foggy, but you’re distantly aware of his fingers still buried inside you, drawing you through your orgasm.

Watching you fall apart might just be Crosshair’s new favourite thing. Your body is beautiful, the noises you make are absolutely sinful, and the thing clawing at his chest earlier is soothed, knowing he was the one bringing you such pleasure.

As you come down from the high, trying desperately to catch your breath, you feel yourself lifted, manhandled onto Crosshair’s lap as he retakes his place in the co-pilot’s chair. “There you go. So good for me.” The low rasp of his voice brushes against your ear. You feel something press against your lips, and your eyes open to see your sniper pressing two fingers to your mouth — the two fingers that had been buried inside you.

“Taste yourself. Get them nice and clean.” He instructs eyes darkening as he watches you suck them into your mouth, feels your tongue swirling around them, cheeks hollowing. And you hold his gaze will you do it, sending his heart racing and making his cock throb.

You make a show of cleaning him off, moaning around his steady fingers, the taste of your release hitting your tongue. Slowly sliding your lips up, a small ‘pop’ fills the cockpit as you pull off them. The effect you’re having on Crosshair is achingly obvious – his hawkish eyes are filled with a swirl of emotions, his hips shifting underneath you.

“On your knees, kitten.” He commands, easing you down gently off his lap, hands guiding you to the floor. You shudder as the durasteel meets your warm skin, Crosshair’s legs parting until you rest between them. Eyes tracking up his body, you slide your hands across his armour, fingers finding the small gap between the plates on his thighs. The brief contact makes him grunt, and you smirk as you reach his codpiece, undoing the latches and prying it off.

You knew the boys chucked their armour around, the katarn-class kit could withstand more than regular plastoid, but you placed his codpiece down on the floor with reverence. After all, it was part of what kept him safe.

Crosshair watches you intently, swallowing thickly as you place his armour down on the ground. An odd sensation of nervousness crashes into him as your eyes return to his body, homing in on his hard cock, which strains again his blacks. He tampers the feeling down – you’re not the first woman to get her hands on him, but he silently acknowledges that you’re the most important.

The cockpit is quiet again as you lean forward, focused on his outline. Your lips ghost across the taut fabric, the contact dragging a sharp grunt from Crosshair. His right hand finds its way into your hair, holding you steadily as you pull the waistband of his blacks down, revealing him.

Tongue darting across your lips, you tuck his blacks under his balls, pushing them up just so. Dicks weren’t inherently lovely to look at – or at least the ones you’d seen up until now weren’t. However, Crosshair was in an entirely different league.

Just the right thickness and a little longer than average, he curved gently to the right. Heavy balls sat just below, and you had to suppress a smile at the thatch of neat, silvery hair at the base of him. The colour wasn’t a fashion choice after all.

Wrapping your fingers around his base, you look up as you press soft kisses along his underside, dragging your tongue across velvety skin. His groan echoes around the room, fingers tightening in your hair. “Keep looking at me like that, doll. Let me see those pretty eyes.” He instructs, voice low and coiled, igniting heat in your belly.

Your lips wrap around the tip, tongue sliding into his slit to lap up the small bead of pre-cum. His hips buck and you bring your free hand up to rest against his abs to help stabilise yourself and apply gentle pressure to keep him seated. Your eyes stay locked on his, holding steadfast even as you bob your head, moaning unabashedly at his weight on your tongue.

Pulling off him completely, you dragged the head of his cock across your lips, shiny with your spit, watching him track the movement. Laving your tongue across him, you take him back into your mouth, sliding down a couple of centimetres, cheeks hollowing.

Crosshair knows he’s fucked. That strange feeling in his chest…yeah, he knows what it is now.

He can’t pretend this is some random hookup, that he’s just thanking you for saving him earlier. He can’t pretend it wouldn’t bother him for other men to hit on you during shore leave or for you to go home with them. You’re his. And while he might not be able to say it yet, he’ll damn well show it.

His free hand moves to your chin, gently tilting your head so he can slide in further, gasping as he feels the head of his cock bump against the back of your throat. “So perfect at sucking my cock. There’s my good girl.” He croons, watching how your eyes light up, how you bob your head that little bit faster, making him hiss with pleasure.

Spurred on, you take a deep breath and press forward, sliding more of him into your mouth until you can feel him in your throat. You exhale through your nose, hearing his choked moan before you pull back, desperately in need of air. You cough, drawing in a ragged breath, a string of saliva still connecting you to his flushed cock.

“You’re gonna be the death of me.” Crosshair grits out, feeling his balls tighten with every glide of your lips across his shaft. Your mouth was heaven – warm and wet – and it only excited him more for the day he could bury himself inside your pussy.

Alas, the Marauder wasn’t the most comfortable place for that. And with what he had in mind, you’d need a comfortable surface.

Taking him back in your mouth, you set a steady pace, feeling the twinges of ache starting in your jaw. But you push through, deep-throating him repeatedly until you can feel his thighs tremble and see how tight his balls are. Your focus shifts to the tip, lips wrapped perfectly around it as you suck and lick, tongue flicking against his frenulum on the upstroke.

He was moving more, unable to stay still as he hurtled towards the edge. Your eyes darted to his rifle rest, the winged extension shifting as he grasped the arm of the chair, knuckles white. It didn’t escape his notice, and a foul thought crossed his mind. “Think you could take it, kitten? Fuck, you’d look so pretty with it buried inside you.” He voiced, hips thrusting upwards as he chased his orgasm. He’d never be able to look at the piece of armour the same way again if it had been inside your gorgeous body.

You moaned around his cock at the idea, and that was all it took. Fingers tangled in your hair tapped at your scalp in warning seconds before Crosshair let out a stuttered groan, hips pressing forward as he came. The tang of him filled your mouth, and you greedily swallowed down everything he gave you, tongue gliding softly around the head of him as he collapsed back against the co-pilot seat. Gently, you cleaned him up, licking the last remnants of his release away, knowing he was extra sensitive.

He guides you off the floor, dragging you back onto his lap, his softening cock pressing against your damp folds. One of his thumbs tugs at your lower lip as you finish licking them clean, and his gorgeous brown eyes are focused on you as you both catch your breath. For a moment, you see a hint of vulnerability pass through him, and he leans in to give you an unexpectedly soft kiss. “Maybe I should save that fine ass of yours some more.” You murmur, voice a little hoarse.

Crosshair’s fingers move to your jaw, and he gently massages it, having spotted the subtle twitch of the aching muscles. The corners of his lips quirked up ever so slightly in a small smile. “I’ll be sure to thank you every time.”

[ayeforscotland]

Sora looks awesome from OpenAI and then also Chat with RTX (Nvidia) will have a personal local LLM on your own machine but new windows updates will have co-pilot too. The future of AI is going to be awesome. As someone in the data field, you have to keep moving with it or be left without. IT is definitely an exciting time.

As someone else in the data field, my full background is in data and data flow, AI is the latest buzzword that a small group of people in Silicon Valley have pushed to work people up into a frenzy.

The people cheering on AI are the same people who said NFTs were going to radically change the world of work.

I think there’s positive uses for AI, particularly in pattern recognition, like detecting cancer.

However, Sora looks like shit. It’s producing videos of three-legged cats, and it’s using stolen work to do it. And sure, it’ll get better, but without regulation all it will do is poison the well of human knowledge as certain groups begin to create things that aren’t real. We move into a world where evidence can be fabricated.

Why are generative AI fans targeting artists who voice their concerns? Every day I see some AI techbro tweeting an artist and saying they’ve just scrolled through their art and fed it to an algorithm. It is scummy behaviour.

As a fellow ‘data field’ person, you’ll know that AI is also only as useful as what we feed it. Most organisations don’t know where their data actually is, they’re desperately trying to backpedal their huge push to the cloud and host things on premise. The majority of digital transformation projects fail, more fines are being handed out for failing compliance than ever, and companies can’t possibly claim to be cyber secure when they don’t know where they’re holding their data.

AI won’t fix any of this. It needs human engineering and standardisation to fix, non-technical and technical teams need to understand the connectivity of every process and piece of technology and maybe then some form of AI can be used to optimise processes.

But you can’t just introduce AI and think it fixes large-scale issues. It will amplify them if you continue to feed it garbage.

[urfavdomsofturlife]

The training of a fuck toy.

I train sluts to be obedient and optimised fuck holes. First a fuck toy must admit what they are, and they must want to be trained. A week before I meet them for their first training session I get them to text me a degrading name every day that I will call them by during their training.

This is the first step to training a slut: making them admit what they are. When the fuck toy to be arrives for their training they are wearing stockings, their highest heels, shortest skirt and lowest top. I have my tools laid out for them when they arrive: a riding crop, ball gag, suction cup dildo, four bundles of rope, a magic wand, and a dog collar with "slut in training" branded onto it

I ask them "Are you ready to start your training? Do you want the collar?" Then I tell them the rules:

 You will always address me as Sir

You will refer to yourself as slut, cunt, or fuck toy.

 From now on you exist for my pleasure, you will keep your holes ready for my pleasure. 

 you will not cum without permission.

 You will answer all questions immediately. Failure to abide by these rules will result in punishments and loss of privileges e.g. use of furniture

 I ask her "do you understand?" she nods. I slap her face "1. You will always address me as Sir, do you understand" "Yes Sir"

"Good, show me what I am working with: strip" she immediately takes off her top and I have to hit her tits with my crop. "You are a fuck toy, you exist for my pleasure. When I tell you to strip you will do it sexily, do you understand?"

"yes Sir" watch her first attempt to strip for me with mild interest, stopping her when she is only wearing the stockings and thong. I walk around her examining her tits and slapping her arse.

I growl into her ear "what are you?"

"I'm a fuck toy"

"A stupid fuck toy" I say as I grab and pull back on her hair. "What is rule one?"

"I will always address you as Sir"

"Try again, what are you?" I say as I grab a tit.

"I am a stupid fuck toy, Sir"

"Whose fuck toy?"

"Your fuck toy sir"

"Play with your pussy, fuck toy"

"Yes sir", she reaches down to her cunt and starts to remove her pants, I stop her with a flick of the crop.

"Keep them on, so you taste your cunt juices when I stuff them in you mouth" I growl.

"Yes Sir" she pulls them aside sliding one finger into her pussy while her other hand circles her clit. I Pinch both nipples until she gasps "A good fuck hole is not distracted by pain, well done" I tell her as she continues to masturbate. She smiles at the mild praise and I know that I can train this slut for any purpose.

I leave her masturbating as I pick up a bundle of rope, I unfurl it and order her to present her wrists. I tie them in a double column tie, leaving a few feet of rope spare.

"get on your knees I want to see how well you can suck a cock" She seems surprised when I pick up the suction cup dildo and stick it to the mirror. "I want you to watch yourself suck that cock" She starts out poorly, but a few taps with the crop soon corrects that. Soon she is enthusiastically deepthroating the dildo and I tell her to start playing with her cunt again. She struggles with her now bound wrists. I watch her technique closely for any sign of distraction. "STOP!" I punctuate this with the crop "you were focusing too much on your greedy cunt and not enough on the cock. As punishment I will spank you 20 times, You will count them and thank me, get on all fours." She quickly gets into position to receive her punishment. I start off gently for the first five alternating between each buttock. As the next ten land she realises that I have only been taping her before. On the 18th she gasps but she still manages to thank me, on the 19th she screams as I target the same place, on the 20th she cries. I pull her to her feet by her hair "Have you learnt your lesson?"

"I am a fuck toy, I exist for the pleasure of my master, I will focus on pleasing him and not my cunt" she snivels

"good girl, you will earn that collar yet" I tell her and wipe away a tear. I turn her around and push her forward, bending her over I check how wet her cunt is. "You're a wet little slut aren't you?"

"Yes Sir"

I take off her pants and stuff them into her mouth securing them in place with the ball gag. Then I take the rope left from her writs and use it to tie them behind her head with a chest harness. I push her onto the bed and grab the wand, she begins to enjoy me pleasuring her with the powerful vibe until she nears orgasm and realises she doesn't have permission. She tries to beg with her eyes and when I don't stop she begins to struggle, I take the wand away. "Do you want to cum?" She nods vigorously. I tie her legs to opposite corners of the bed and her hair to the bed frame. I start again with the wand, she struggles again but cannot get far, I pull the wand away before she cums. A mix of relief and disappointment fills her eyes "You are not going to cum before I do." I tell her and she nods. I put the wand back, as I begin to strip off. On the seventh time I bring her to the edge I take off the ball gag and remove the pants. "Please Sir, Please let me cum, please I will do anything" I take the wand away, "I told you, you won't cum before I do"

"Yes Sir, please can I make you cum?" I straddle her chest and don't need to tell her to start sucking my dick.

"you're going to beg me to spank you again after you get me to cum" I tell her I take my cock from her mouth and make her play with my balls. Then I untie her legs, flip her over and raise her arse into the air. I place the tip of my dick on the lips of her cunt, she desperately tries to fuck me but her hair is holding her back.

"Please Sir please fuck me, let me be your fuck toy." she begs. I oblige ramming my cock easily into her wet cunt. "Thank you sir" I take up the wand and edge her again as I fuck her. As she gets to the edge she begs me to stop "Please stop Sir, I am going to cum, please don't make me cum without permission Sir."

"Good girl, you are learning your place" I tell her as I take away the wand. "As a reward you can choose where I cum"

"Please will you cum in my mouth sir?"

"yes I will you dirty cumslut" I say as I untie her wrists and hair. I pull her off the bed and make her kneel "Beg to suck my cock, fuck hole" "Please Sir, Please may I suck your cock?" "Why do you want to suck my cock?" "Because I want to make you cum Sir" "Why else, slut?" "Because I want to taste my pussy on your cock Sir" "Good girl, you may suck my cock"

I get out my phone to film her sucking my dick. "You are going to watch this film next time you masturbate" I tell her. She looks into the lens and lays my cock across her face then smiles, before enthusiastically sucking it. "You can take it deeper, slut" I tell her after about a minute. She tries to take me deeper but gags. I slap her face and tell her that her nose should make contact with my torso. She tries again, and gags again so I grab her hair and force her down.

When she gets me to cum I make her show the load to the camera before ordering her to swallow it. I put the phone away.

I pick up the crop. "Pick up the wand, bend over the bed and spread your legs" I test to see how wet her cunt is "Edge yourself, Twice" I order.

Once she has edged twice I tell her "You may use the wand and cum while I am spanking you, how many times do you want me to spank you?" "Twenty please Sir" I giver her twenty rapid strokes with the crop and she doesn't manage to cum in time. "You didn't want to cum that badly after all then?" I ask "Please Sir, Please spank me again, please let me cum, please" she begs "How many times" "Fifty please Sir" I start hitting her with the crop across the arse and legs, but when I get to the twentieth I slow down she cums before I land the twenty forth stroke. "You begged for this, you will remain still for the next twenty seven strokes" "Yes Sir, thank you sir" she sighs in her post orgasmic glow I strike hard and accurately until the spanking is finished.

"You did well, and I have decided to keep training you, put on the collar"

[themalhambird]

@greenleaf4stuff re: Eregion tea and coffee au:

Adar heard through the Grape Vine ( you can kick Shift Dad out of the franchise, but you can't make the remaining employees delete him from the wattsapp chats you don't know about...) that Sauron is teaming up with Celebrimbor of Eregion to create a spin off of "local" "independent" coffee shops (the same chain under different names) so that even the people who try to avoid Mordor Coffee end up spending money with the business anyway.

Having made it his mission to destroy Sauron or Die Trying (y'know. In between the bar shifts he's picked up and the not infrequent baby sitting gigs his former coworkers grab him for because the rotas got fucked with AGAIN) Adar decides to stake out this Eregion place and see if he can catch proof of underhand dealings.

...No, Adar is resolutely not finding the owner and his stupid cosy looking jumpers cute.

...ah fuck whatever Sauron's plans are Celebrimbor clearly isn't in on them. Okay new plan- catch Sauron in underhand dealings AND protect the definatley-not-cute owner from said dealings IF possible.

One time Sauron stops by Adar's table for a pleasant exchange of veiled threats. It's interrupted by Celebrimbor coming over to see what the problem is.

Sauron: "I was merely suggesting that if the gentleman has finished his coffee he may wish to vacate the table for new customers. We are rather busy, dear, and you'll recall we spoke about optimising turnover-"

Celebrimbor, cheerfully: "I recall you spoke about and I told everyone to ignore you!" *walks off, walks back a minute later with a steaming hot fresh black coffee.* "There, unfinished drink, you can stop bothering the poor man."

Adar would be smug about the outrage on Sauron's face if Celebrimbor hadn't kissed Sauron's cheek before walking off again.

But apparently Adar just? gets free refills now? Or so Elrond and Mirdania cheerfully inform him the next time he comes in?

One day as he comes in there's been an incident with one of the coffee machines and Mirdania ends up covered in boiling water and espresso grounds and while Celebrimbor is shutting everything off and Elrond is going into first aid mode, some weasel faced twerp is continuing to try and place his order and complaining about being ignored and Adar just. Assess the situation. And tells the fucker to get out. He clearly doesn't want to wait, the young lady who's potentially SEVERLEY injured is the obvious priority, so get the fuck out and spend daddy's money somewhere else.

Now Adar doesn't just get free refills he just straight up doesn't pay because Celebrimbor was about to commit Serious Violence (he's had a difficult week anyway- the shop was broken into, small but vital things keep going missing, the paperwork he swears he filed wasn't and now there's an issue with suppliers, and Mirdania is hurt and it's his fault for not resetting properly last night after cleaning--)

(Raw Ambition is proving a tougher sell than Sauron expected so now he's moved on to making Celebrimbor think he literally cannot keep things going without Annatar Halbrand's assistance)

[starleska]

bit of personal/mental health talk under the cut, just need to yell into the void a bit. tw for discussion of autistic burnout, depression, trauma, etc.

it feels a bit silly to be posting about this, but i haven't been doing too well lately. like many high-masking, late-diagnosed autistic people, a lot of my identity and worth is wrapped up in productivity and creation. when you feel like you're defective, you end up associating success with how well you can mask; how you can make people smile; how you can perform and do and solve until you're really nothing more than a machine. we take pride in that...but as it turns out, that's not too healthy. for a while now i've been in a state of autistic burnout, but now it's hitting in a way that it never has before. this time, it's real depression. in the past when i've been suffering, my coping mechanisms have involved doing. it's changed over the years...everything from heavy exercise, to rage-cleaning, to throwing myself into projects, to fixing other people's problems. when i'm resting, i'm not really resting: i'm 'optimising', thinking about all the things i need to do to make things easier for a future version of me that doesn't exist. the metaphorical muscles that have been working to hold up these impossible standards are failing, and i'm not...coping with that well. i'm sure many other traumatised autistic people here can relate to feeling like they're only human and worthy of care and affection if they are 'giving' something in return, because we feel like we're a drain on others or inherently repulsive. in the past, i've been able to 'justify' my CPTSD by creating a bit of an internal martyr narrative: soldiering forwards despite it all, continuing to push ahead, to not be defined by my neurodivergence, disabilities, or my past. but that in itself is an ableist narrative which demonises folks who are high-support needs. it's a neurotypical-borne urge because of how we're punished for existing as ourselves. depression and needing support isn't a moral failing any more than any mental or physical health condition is. when i was diagnosed, my assessor told me i was one of the strangest autism cases she'd ever seen, because i'd so successfully pulled off a 'perfect' mask and was letting my brain eat itself trying to perform neurotypicality. she'd seen a few similar cases, but none quite as severe...and it feels wrong that i take some pride in that. like, yeah, i'm unhealthy, but unhealthy because i try too hard. but the more i learn about myself and other people like me, the more i realise there are countless others out there suffering in the same way, and we don't get caught or provided support because we don't want to be a bother. we just kind of...waste away. i don't want that anymore. i don't want to live a life where i'm just constantly doing to fix some imagined internal defect. i'm struggling to admit after a long, long time that i do need support...even if that support just looks like saying 'i'm in pain and can't do this the way i used to'. this part is definitely the trauma-brain talking, but here's the crazy thing: every day, neurotypical, non-disabled people ask each other for support, and they receive it. and those requests aren't met with hostility, or ridicule, or assessments of character. they're just...supported. to me, that feels insane. if i take even an hour off to do something non-productive, it feels like i should be exiled. my impulse is to say i'm posting this here because i want other people to feel seen if they feel the same way, but that's just another way of justifying feeling sad and hopeless. the truth is, i'm really not well right now. and if anyone has any words of encouragement or support to offer...i'd be incredibly grateful for that. thank you so much ���

[puckingeccedentesiast]

Pain

"You do this once a month?!"

"Novs, I don't want too but I can't let you stay at home today." Sid had whispered to his daughter who was bundled into a mountain of blankets, on the couch. "You're going to have to come to the rink with me beautiful."

"Dad, I really fucking hurt." Nova had shot back in response, her voice wavering.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I have to bring you though." Sid had sighed, rubbing a hand down gently down Nova's side, through the blanket. "What can we do to optimise the situation? What do you need to bring with you, what do you need Uncle Kris or Geno to get for you?"

"Some dark chocolate, strawberry creams and chai." Nova mumbled, "on almond."

"I get one of them to drop by the shops on the way through, yeah?" Sid continued his soothing rub, up and down her side. "You want to bring your blankets? Will you need any products with you?"

"Yeah, I've got some stuff upsta-" Nova started speaking but she was cut off.

"I'm making Kris get that stuff there, so we have some stuff at the rink in case you need it at the future." Sid had spoken, fishing his phone out of his pocket to send Kris a message.

"Thank's dad." Nova had mumbled, bringing her hand out to wrap around his. Something she does to express her gratitude, and had always done.

"You want me to carry you to the car?" Sid had offered.

"Could you?" Nova had asked, she started trying to wiggle out of her blanket.

"No, No. Stay there." Sid had stopped her, he bent down and grabbed Nova, blankets and all and walked out to the car. He opened the car door, placing the girl down, adjusting her blankets and and dragging her seat belt over and fastening it. "You comfy?"

"Yeah," Nova had mumbled "Can we get chai on the way?"

"How much chai do you need!" Sidney had exclaimed, laughing. "Yes, we can."

"Thanks Dad." Nova had smiled at him.

-

After Sidney had stopped by the local cafe, got some chai and his prefered coffee he drove them to the arena. Sidney looked over the center console,

"You want me to carry you in?"

"Yes please dad." Nova replied in between sips of her chai. Sid, exited the driver's side of the car. He unbuckled Nova and slid her into his arms, "Let's go! Kris told me he put the stuff in the common room. You happy to chill on the couch in there?"

"Yeah, I should be fine." Nova answered, "Can I put my show on the tv?"

"If you would like!" Sid had smiled down at her.

"Thank's Dad." Nova had mumbled into Sid's chest, as he walked along the halls to the common room. "I don't know if I would be so lucky with someone else."

"I'm lucky to have you, kid." Sid said.

Sidney carried his daughter the rest of the way down the halls into the teams common room, where most of them were lounging. Sid walked toward the couch.

"Can you boy's move please?" Sid had asked, Drew O'Connor and Jansen Harkins. They both complied and Sid dropped her down on the couch. Handing her the chocolate and lollies, leaning down and kissing her head. "You stay there, call me if you need anything alright. I will come and check on you regularly."

"Wait, why are you here Nova?" one of the boys asked.

"Pain." the girl grumbled in response. "You can't expect me to function."

"It can't be that bad!" Someone else exclaimed.

"You try some of this pain then tell me that." Nova shot back.

"Fine, we'll get one of those simulator thingys!" Erik Karlsson stated.

-

This is the prerequisite part to the pain simulator! I hope you like it!

[whimsy-wheels]

🌸 нσω ƒ1 тєαмѕ ∂єνєℓσρ ιη тнє σƒƒ-ѕєαѕση 🌸

Every Formula 1 season brings new challenges, and teams must continuously evolve their cars to stay competitive. The process of developing an F1 car is a year-round effort that involves cutting-edge technology, engineering expertise, and strategic planning. Here’s how it all happens:

Regulation and Rule Changes

Each season, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) may introduce new technical regulations that impact car design.

Teams must carefully analyse these rules to ensure their car complies while also finding innovative ways to maximise performance within the limits set by the governing body.

During The Season

2024 McLaren F1 Car

Teams analyze data from the previous season, assessing where their car performed well and where improvements are needed. This includes evaluating tire wear, aerodynamics, power unit efficiency, and reliability.

Aerodynamics

F1 Car Under Wind Tunnel Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics play a crucial role in F1 car performance. Teams conduct wind tunnel tests and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to refine the car’s shape, optimize downforce, and reduce drag. These adjustments help improve cornering speed and straight-line performance.

Power Unit Optimization

The hybrid power unit is another critical aspect of development. Teams work with engine manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency, energy recovery systems (ERS), and reliability while ensuring maximum power output. Fine-tuning cooling systems is also essential to prevent overheating during races.

Materials and Weight Reduction

F1 teams use advanced lightweight materials such as carbon fiber to reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. Engineers constantly search for new materials and manufacturing techniques to make the car as light and strong as possible.

Simulations and Virtual Testing

Before a new car even hits the track, teams use driver-in-the-loop simulators to test various setups and performance characteristics. Virtual testing helps identify potential weaknesses and refine the car’s setup before physical prototypes are built.

Pre-Season Testing and Development Updates

Once the car is built, teams conduct pre-season testing to gather real-world data and fine-tune setups. Based on test results, modifications are made to aerodynamics, suspension, and power unit settings to optimise performance before the first race.

Continuous Development Throughout the Season

Car development doesn’t stop once the season begins. Teams introduce updates, such as new front and rear wings, revised floor designs, and suspension tweaks, to gain an advantage over rivals. These updates are based on ongoing data analysis and track performance feedback.