#edge computing infrastructure

[techtoio]

The Edge of Innovation: Why Edge Computing Is a Big Deal

Introduction

Staying updated with the ever-evolving world of technology is vital. At TechtoIO, we pride ourselves on being at the edge of innovation. Edge computing is one of the most revolutionary developments transforming the technology landscape today. But what exactly is edge computing, and why is it such a big deal? Let’s dive into this fascinating topic to understand its significance and potential impact on our digital future. Read to continue

[tudipblog]

Beyond the Buzz: How IoT Redefines Business Operations

Moving from Hype to Reality

IoT has moved from being a futuristic idea to a practical solution that businesses use daily to improve operations and achieve sustainable growth. Though much of the discussion around IoT is about its potential, the real value that it presents is in how companies can use the technology to solve real-world problems.

Today, IoT is no longer a buzzword; it’s a necessity for any business looking to remain competitive and agile in a dynamic global environment. With its power to integrate devices, data, and processes, IoT helps businesses achieve efficiencies, improve customer satisfaction, and create new revenue streams. In this blog post, we explore how IoT is changing business operations across industries and what companies need to do to maximize its potential.

How Tudip Technologies Redefines IoT Solutions

Tudip Technologies empowers businesses with IoT solutions that tackle complex operational challenges and drive measurable outcomes.

Our Specialized Approach:

Edge Computing Integration: Enabling faster data processing closer to devices for real-time responsiveness.

IoT Ecosystem Design: Creating scalable ecosystems that adapt to changing business needs.

Sustainability-Focused Solutions: Tailoring IoT frameworks that align with environmental goals.

Example: Tudip partnered with a logistics provider to implement IoT-powered edge analytics, reducing data processing times by 60% and improving delivery accuracy across global operations.

Key Takeaways: Turning IoT Into Operational Strength

Invest in Scalable Solutions: Ensure your IoT systems can grow alongside your business needs.

Prioritize Security: Robust cybersecurity measures arToday, IoT is no longer a buzzword; it’s a necessity for any business looking to remain competitive and agile in a dynamic global environment. With its power to integrate devices, data, and processes, IoT helps businesses achieve efficiencies, improve customer satisfaction, and create new revenue streams. In this blog post, we explore how IoT is changing business operations across industries and what companies need to do to maximize its potential.

Redefining Operational Efficiency with IoT

1. Predictive Analytics: Smarter Urban Operations with IoT

IoT is revolutionizing energy management by integrating renewable energy sources into business operations. Smart systems analyze usage patterns and adjust power drawn from solar, wind, or traditional grids in real time.

Optimized Renewable Usage: IoT ensures renewable energy is used efficiently by monitoring supply-demand gaps.

Grid Stability:  Balances energy loads to prevent outages during peak hours.

Sustainability Goals: Helps businesses achieve net-zero emissions by prioritizing clean energy consumption.

Example: A technology campus integrated IoT in optimizing its solar energy consumption and reduced dependence on traditional grids by 40%, with a significant reduction in operational costs

2. Energy Management: Advancing Renewable Solutions

Predictive analytics powered by IoT is transforming urban infrastructure. Cities can now monitor critical assets like bridges, roads, and utilities in real time, ensuring timely maintenance and preventing costly failures.

Public Safety: Early detection of infrastructure stress minimizes risks to citizens.

Cost Efficiency: Avoiding large-scale repairs reduces budget overruns for municipalities.

Sustainability: Proactive maintenance extends the lifespan of assets, reducing waste.

3. Automation Excellence: Better Disaster Response Logistics

IoT-driven automation is transforming how disaster response occurs—getting aid to where it is needed, faster and more efficiently.

Real-Time Inventory Management: Monitors relief inventory and ensures its proper distribution to areas of greatest need.

Smart Transportation: Optimizes routes for rescue and supply vehicles during crises.

Collaboration Across Agencies: IoT systems enable seamless communication between response teams.

Example:In a recent hurricane, one global aid organization leveraged IoT-connected drones to survey damage and automate the delivery of supplies, resulting in a 50% faster response time.

Overcoming Common IoT Challenges

1. Integration of IoT with Existing Systems

One of the biggest hurdles businesses face is integrating IoT solutions with legacy systems. Compatibility issues can hinder seamless data exchange and functionality. Solution: Use a flexible IoT platform with built-in interoperability; make sure it provides APIs for smooth integration. Careful planning and phased implementation may also reduce disruptions to a minimum.

2. Data Security and Privacy

IoT ecosystems are all about continuous data gathering and transmission, which increases exposure to cyber threats. The security of sensitive information is the foundation of trust with stakeholders.

Solution: Implement robust encryption protocols, regularly update security measures, and educate employees on cybersecurity best practices.

3. Adapting to Rapid Technological Changes

The rapid rate of innovation in IoT can make it challenging for businesses to adapt to new developments and keep their systems current. Solution: Collaborate with technology providers that offer scalable solutions and ongoing support to adapt to emerging trends without overhauling existing systems.

How IoT Drives Operational Transformation

1. Enhancing Decision-Making with Real-Time Insights

IoT provides companies with real-time data that enables informed decision-making. Whether it is revising supply chain strategies or optimizing production schedules, IoT ensures that companies can act quickly and confidently.

Dynamic Adaptability: Businesses can change their strategies according to up-to-date information and stay responsive to market demand.

Improved Collaboration: IoT systems enable better communication across departments, enabling coordinated efforts.

2. Creating Value Through Customization

IoT’s ability to collect granular data allows businesses to tailor their offerings and services to meet specific customer needs. Personalization not only enhances user experience but also builds stronger customer relationships.

e non-negotiable in today’s interconnected world.

Focus on Outcomes: Use IoT to achieve specific goals, whether it’s reducing costs, enhancing customer satisfaction, or achieving sustainability targets.

Conclusion: Moving Beyond the Buzz

IoT has evolved into an indispensable solution, reshaping how businesses optimize operations and achieve sustainable growth. By addressing real-world challenges and delivering actionable insights, IoT enables companies to stay competitive and adaptive.

To fully realize the benefits of IoT, businesses must focus on integrating flexible solutions, safeguarding data, and aligning technology with strategic objectives. With the right approach, IoT becomes more than a technological innovation—it becomes a cornerstone of operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Click the link below to learn more about the blog Beyond the Buzz: How IoT Redefines Business Operations

https://tudip.com/blog-post/beyond-the-buzz-how-iot-redefines-business-operations/

[vortexofadigitalkind]

🌐 The cloud didn’t vanish. It rained. And something new began to grow. Explore The Last Server Farm, a story of endings, beginnings, and the quiet revolution of decentralized networks. Read now: https://wp.me/p19z04-Oc #DecentralizedInternet #DigitalSovereignty #PeerToPeer #TheLastServerFarm

[goodoldbandit]

The Future is Now: 5G and Next-Generation Connectivity Powering Smart Innovation.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Explore how 5G networks are transforming IoT, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and AR/VR experiences in this inspiring, in-depth guide that ignites conversation and fuels curiosity. Embracing a New Connectivity Era Igniting Curiosity and Inspiring Change The future is bright with 5G networks that spark new ideas and build…

[classroomlearning]

BTech CSE: Your Gateway to High-Demand Tech Careers

Apply now for admission and avail the Early Bird Offer

In the digital age, a BTech in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) is one of the most sought-after degrees, offering unmatched career opportunities across industries. From software development to artificial intelligence, the possibilities are endless for CSE graduates.

Top Job Opportunities for BTech CSE Graduates

Software Developer: Design and develop innovative applications and systems.

Data Scientist: Analyze big data to drive business decisions.

Cybersecurity Analyst: Safeguard organizations from digital threats.

AI/ML Engineer: Lead the way in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Cloud Architect: Build and maintain cloud-based infrastructure for global organizations.

Why Choose Brainware University for BTech CSE?

Brainware University provides a cutting-edge curriculum, hands-on training, and access to industry-leading tools. Our dedicated placement cell ensures you’re job-ready, connecting you with top recruiters in tech.

👉 Early Bird Offer: Don’t wait! Enroll now and take the first step toward a high-paying, future-ready career in CSE.

Your journey to becoming a tech leader starts here!

[techdriveplay]

What Should You Know About Edge Computing?

As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways in which data is processed, stored, and managed. One of the most transformative innovations in this space is edge computing. But what should you know about edge computing? This technology shifts data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and improving efficiency, particularly in environments where immediate action or analysis is…

[pebblegalaxy]

Reimagining the Energy Landscape: AI's Growing Hunger for Computing Power #BlogchatterA2Z

Reimagining the Energy Landscape: AI's Growing Hunger for Computing Power #BlogchatterA2Z #AIdevelopment #energyConsumption #DataCenterInfrastructure #ArmHoldings #energyEfficiency #SustainableTechnology #RenewableEnergy #EdgeComputing #RegulatoryMeasures

Navigating the Energy Conundrum: AI’s Growing Hunger for Computing Power In the ever-expanding realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the voracious appetite for computing power threatens to outpace our energy sources, sparking urgent calls for a shift in approach. According to Rene Haas, Chief Executive Officer of Arm Holdings Plc, by the year 2030, data centers worldwide are projected to…

[chloedecker0]

Optimizing Connectivity: The Role of Edge Colocation in Today’s Digital Landscape

Edge Colocation is a rising trend in the data centre industry, representing a shift towards decentralized infrastructure to meet the demands of emerging technologies. As the market evolves, companies are increasingly adopting edge colocation solutions to enhance their IT capabilities and address the challenges posed by latency-sensitive applications.

Edge colocation refers to the deployment of data centre facilities at the edge of the network, closer to end-users and devices. This approach aims to reduce latency, enhance performance, and accommodate the growing volume of data generated by IoT devices, 5G networks, and other edge computing applications.

The emergence of edge colocation is driven by the need for faster data processing and reduced latency, critical factors in industries like gaming, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles. Traditional centralized data centres face limitations in delivering real-time responses for these applications, making edge colocation an attractive solution.

Why Companies are Adopting Edge Colocation

Reduced Latency

Edge colocation minimizes data travel distances, leading to lower latency and improved application performance. This is crucial for applications requiring real-time interactions, such as online gaming and autonomous vehicles.

Scalability

Edge colocation allows companies to scale their IT infrastructure more efficiently by distributing resources across multiple edge locations. This flexibility is beneficial for businesses experiencing unpredictable growth or seasonal spikes in demand.

Enhanced Reliability

By decentralizing data centres, companies can enhance the reliability of their services. Redundant edge locations provide backup support, reducing the risk of downtime in the event of a localized failure.

Compliance and Data Sovereignty

Edge colocation helps address regulatory and compliance requirements by allowing companies to store and process data within specific geographic regions. This is particularly important in industries with strict data sovereignty regulations.

Download the sample report of Market Share: Edge Colocation

Market Intelligence Reports

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions provides valuable insights into the edge colocation market through two key reports:

Market Share: Edge Colocation, 2022, Worldwide

This report outlines the market landscape, identifying key players and their respective market shares. Understanding the competitive landscape is crucial for businesses looking to make informed decisions about their edge colocation providers.

Market Forecast: Edge Colocation, 2022–2027, Worldwide

The forecast report provides insights into the future trends and growth opportunities in the edge colocation market. This information is invaluable for companies planning their long-term IT strategies and investments in edge infrastructure.

The Significance of Market Research Reports for Edge Colocation

In the rapidly evolving landscape of edge computing, companies are increasingly turning to market research reports to navigate the complexities of edge colocation. Here’s why these reports are crucial:

Industry Insight and Trends

- Market research reports provide in-depth insights into the current state of the edge colocation market, offering a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.

- Understanding industry dynamics allows companies to make informed decisions about their edge computing strategies, ensuring they align with market trends.

Competitive Landscape

- Reports delve into the competitive landscape, identifying key players, their market share, and strategic initiatives.

- Companies can use this information to benchmark themselves against competitors, assess market saturation, and identify potential collaboration or differentiation opportunities.

Market Size and Forecast

- Accurate market sizing and forecasting enable businesses to gauge the growth potential of edge colocation services.

- These insights assist in strategic planning, resource allocation, and market positioning, ensuring companies are well-prepared for the future trajectory of the edge computing industry.

Risk Mitigation

- Market research reports highlight potential risks and challenges associated with edge colocation, allowing companies to proactively address issues and build resilient strategies.

- Understanding market risks helps organizations develop contingency plans, ensuring they can navigate uncertainties effectively.

Customer Insights

- Reports often include customer preferences, requirements, and satisfaction levels, providing valuable insights into the demands of end-users.

- This customer-centric data aids companies in tailoring their edge colocation services to meet the specific needs and expectations of their target audience.

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: Edge Colocation

Why Choose Quadrant Knowledge Solutions

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions stands out as a reliable source for market intelligence, and here’s why companies should turn to them for insights into edge colocation:

Expertise and Credibility

- Quadrant Knowledge Solutions is known for its industry expertise and credibility. Their reports are crafted by seasoned analysts who thoroughly understand the nuances of the market.

- The firm’s reputation for delivering accurate and insightful analyses enhances the reliability of the information presented in their reports.

Comprehensive Coverage

- Quadrant’s reports provide comprehensive coverage, offering a detailed examination of various aspects of the edge colocation market, including market share, growth drivers, challenges, and future forecasts.

- This comprehensive approach ensures that companies receive a holistic view of the market, enabling well-informed decision-making.

Timely and Relevant Information

- In the fast-paced tech industry, timeliness is crucial. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions delivers reports that are timely, ensuring that businesses receive the most up-to-date information to inform their strategies.

Customized Solutions

- Quadrant understands that one size doesn’t fit all. Their reports often include insights and recommendations tailored to different business sizes, industries, and geographies, providing companies with actionable intelligence aligned with their unique requirements.

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

In conclusion, the rise of edge colocation signifies a paradigm shift in data centre strategies, driven by the need for low-latency, scalable, and reliable infrastructure. As companies increasingly recognize the benefits of edge computing, market intelligence reports play a pivotal role in guiding businesses toward optimal edge colocation solutions. Market research reports, particularly those offered by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, serve as indispensable tools for companies venturing into the edge colocation space. By leveraging these reports, businesses can gain a competitive edge, mitigate risks, and strategically position themselves in the dynamic landscape of edge computing.

[debajitadhikary]

10 Most important Technologies that IT Advisors use to Navigating the Future of Information Technology

Introduction as IT Advisors In the dynamic realm of Information Technology (IT), staying ahead requires a powerful arsenal of cutting-edge technologies. IT advisors, the guiding force behind digital transformations, leverage a spectrum of tools to optimize operations, enhance security, and propel their clients into the future. In this exploration, we’ll delve into the tech landscape that…

[flwrkid14]

Tim Drake, Sleep-Deprived Overlord Extraordinaire (and the Boy Who Grounds Him)

The thing about Tim Drake is that he’s brilliant. The thing about Tim Drake without sleep is that he’s unhinged.

It always starts subtly. A missed night of sleep here, a triple shift there. His words get sharper, his focus becomes razor-edged, and the bats can practically see the neurons in his brain firing like a thousand fireworks.

Then, somewhere around hour 56 of no sleep, Tim crosses the threshold into full-blown megalomania.

He doesn’t just think he’s smart—he knows it. He’ll drop gems like, “Honestly, Gotham’s infrastructure is appalling. If I really wanted to, I could take over the city in 72 hours, tops,” or “Do you think I could reprogram every Bat-computer in the Cave before Bruce notices? Because I can.”

Which—yeah, okay, the family knows he’s capable of it, but it’s terrifying.

When he’s in this state, Tim walks around with the energy of someone who’s cracked the secrets of the universe and is two steps away from becoming a benevolent dictator. His confidence is unsettling. His hyper-awareness is borderline supernatural.

The bats try. Oh, do they try.

“Tim,” Dick says gently, holding out a cup of chamomile tea and a soft blanket. “Maybe you should lie down for a bit.”

Tim doesn’t even glance at him. “Lying down is for the weak, Dick. Also, you left your phone on the counter. Might wanna grab it before someone texts Kori again.”

Dick freezes. He did leave his phone on the counter, and he can only hope Tim didn't do anything with it (Though his comment definitely says otherwise).

“Tim,” Bruce says, the Big Bat Voice in full swing. “You need to rest.”

Tim smirks, flipping through his tablet. “Rest is for the dead, and I’m not in the mood for ghosts tonight. Also, you forgot to update the encryption on your personal server. Again.”

Even Damian tries, but he gets as far as hurling a batarang at Tim’s leg before Tim dodges it without looking. “Tsk tsk, Damian. You’re getting predictable.”

It’s chaos. It’s exhausting.

Enter Danny Fenton.

Danny’s used to Tim’s shenanigans by now. He’s been around for enough of Tim’s sleep-deprivation arcs to know the signs. The sharp eyes, the slightly-too-bright smile, the way he starts muttering plans for world domination like he’s drafting a grocery list.

Danny lets it slide for a while—Tim in hyper-mode is kind of cute, in a “my boyfriend might accidentally take over the world” way. But then he sees the bags under Tim’s eyes, the way his hands tremble just slightly from over-caffeination, and he knows it’s time to intervene.

Danny doesn’t use tea. He doesn’t try reason. He doesn’t even bother with the blanket method.

Instead, Danny steps into the Cave, tilts his head at Tim, and says, “Honey, can we cuddle?”

Tim freezes.

The bats, who have been subjected to hours of Tim’s unrelenting, untouchable brilliance, watch in shock as their insurmountable sibling folds like a deck of cards.

“I—uh—cuddle?” Tim stammers, blinking like a deer in headlights.

Danny smiles, soft and sweet and just shy of smug. “Yeah, I miss you. Come to bed with me?”

Tim’s resolve crumbles. He’s already pulling off his gauntlets. “Yeah, okay. Just for a bit.”

“A bit,” Danny agrees, but he’s already leading Tim upstairs.

The bats are left standing in the Cave, mouths agape.

Jason’s the first to break the silence. “Did we just get out-maneuvered by Tim’s boyfriend? The guy who hangs out with Harley Quinn for fun?”

Dick snorts. “I mean, are we really surprised? Danny’s been handling Tim better than any of us for years.”

Bruce exhales, the tension in his shoulders easing. “As long as Tim’s resting, I don’t care how it happened. Danny’s good for him.”

“Yeah,” Jason agrees with a shrug. “Kid’s weird, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders. And if he can get Replacement to sleep, I’ll send him a damn fruit basket.”

The bats exchange a rare moment of collective relief.

Upstairs, Danny tucks Tim into bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face as Tim curls into him. He doesn’t care about strategies or what the bats think. All that matters is Tim, finally at peace in his arms.

"Sleep well, genius," Danny murmurs, pressing a kiss to Tim’s forehead. And for the first time in days, Tim does.

[skylarkinfo]

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[mariacallous]

Next year will be Big Tech’s finale. Critique of Big Tech is now common sense, voiced by a motley spectrum that unites opposing political parties, mainstream pundits, and even tech titans such as the VC powerhouse Y Combinator, which is singing in harmony with giants like a16z in proclaiming fealty to “little tech” against the centralized power of incumbents.

Why the fall from grace? One reason is that the collateral consequences of the current Big Tech business model are too obvious to ignore. The list is old hat by now: centralization, surveillance, information control. It goes on, and it’s not hypothetical. Concentrating such vast power in a few hands does not lead to good things. No, it leads to things like the CrowdStrike outage of mid-2024, when corner-cutting by Microsoft led to critical infrastructure—from hospitals to banks to traffic systems—failing globally for an extended period.

Another reason Big Tech is set to falter in 2025 is that the frothy AI market, on which Big Tech bet big, is beginning to lose its fizz. Major money, like Goldman Sachs and Sequoia Capital, is worried. They went public recently with their concerns about the disconnect between the billions required to create and use large-scale AI, and the weak market fit and tepid returns where the rubber meets the AI business-model road.

It doesn’t help that the public and regulators are waking up to AI’s reliance on, and generation of, sensitive data at a time when the appetite for privacy has never been higher—as evidenced, for one, by Signal’s persistent user growth. AI, on the other hand, generally erodes privacy. We saw this in June when Microsoft announced Recall, a product that would, I kid you not, screenshot everything you do on your device so an AI system could give you “perfect memory” of what you were doing on your computer (Doomscrolling? Porn-watching?). The system required the capture of those sensitive images—which would not exist otherwise—in order to work.

Happily, these factors aren’t just liquefying the ground below Big Tech’s dominance. They’re also powering bold visions for alternatives that stop tinkering at the edges of the monopoly tech paradigm, and work to design and build actually democratic, independent, open, and transparent tech. Imagine!

For example, initiatives in Europe are exploring independent core tech infrastructure, with convenings of open source developers, scholars of governance, and experts on the political economy of the tech industry.

And just as the money people are joining in critique, they’re also exploring investments in new paradigms. A crop of tech investors are developing models of funding for mission alignment, focusing on tech that rejects surveillance, social control, and all the bullshit. One exciting model I’ve been discussing with some of these investors would combine traditional VC incentives (fund that one unicorn > scale > acquisition > get rich) with a commitment to resource tech’s open, nonprofit critical infrastructure with a percent of their fund. Not as investment, but as a contribution to maintaining the bedrock on which a healthy tech ecosystem can exist (and maybe get them and their limited partners a tax break).

Such support could—and I believe should—be supplemented by state capital. The amount of money needed is simply too vast if we’re going to do this properly. To give an example closer to home, developing and maintaining Signal costs around $50 million a year, which is very lean for tech. Projects such as the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany point a path forward—they are a vehicle to distribute state funds to core open source infrastructures, but they are governed wholly independently, and create a buffer between the efforts they fund and the state.

Just as composting makes nutrients from necrosis, in 2025, Big Tech’s end will be the beginning of a new and vibrant ecosystem. The smart, actually cool, genuinely interested people will once again have their moment, getting the resources and clearance to design and (re)build a tech ecosystem that is actually innovative and built for benefit, not just profit and control. MAY IT BE EVER THUS!

[probablyasocialecologist]

Consider the ways oil and gas are already entwined with big tech. The foundation of the partnership between Big Tech and Big Oil is the cloud, explains Zero Cool, a software expert who went to Kazakhstan to do work for Chevron and chronicled this in Logic magazine. “For Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, as well as a few smaller cloud competitors like Oracle and IBM, winning the IT spend of the Fortune 500 is where most of the money in the public cloud market will be made”—and out of the biggest ten companies in the world by revenue, six are in the business of oil production. What are oil companies going to do with the cloud? Apparently, Chevron—which signed a seven-year cloud contract with Microsoft—generates a terabyte of data per day per sensor and has thousands of wells with these sensors. They can’t even use all that data because of the scale of computation required. “Big Tech doesn’t just supply the infrastructures that enable oil companies to crunch their data,” explains Zero Cool; they also provide analytic tools, and machine learning can help discover patterns to run their operations more efficiently. This is another reason why Big Oils need Big Tech; they have the edge when it comes to artificial intelligence/machine learning. “Why go through the effort of using clean energy to power your data centers when those same data centers are being used by companies like Chevron to produce more oil?” Zero Cool asks, also noting that one of the main reasons oil companies are interested in technology is to surveil workers.

Holly Jean Buck, Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero is Not Enough

[eyreyereye]

i was chatting with friends about steven universe aus with submas and wanted to make one of my own~ ♪(´▽｀)

lore dump under cut

(white) feldspar: works in homeworld architecture and infrastructure, never really considered defecting until he found out the crystal gems would let him fuse with his computer; blunt and self-involved but loves magnetite deeply and unashamedly

magnetite: basically the homeworld version of a persocom (read 'chobits'), was originally there to help with designing but kinda ended up along for the ride with all this defecting business; naive and quick to let things slide, dedicated to feldspar

when fused, they form blizzard stone and, after defecting to earth, rarely unfuse

fusing allowed magnetite to understand the depth of feldspar's love for him in a way his mechanical brain was unable to compute before, and feldspar was able to feel the sense of excitement for new experiences magnetite had that he hadn't felt in years, so they both kind of get attached to the ~experience~ of it all

blizzard stone ends up also being pretty self-involved and blunt like feldspar is, but with a more excitable edge to them

they speak from both mouths with the same voice in tandem, creating a stereo effect unless one mouth is otherwise occupied -- the frowning mouth is always louder

they're roughly ten feet tall and tend to stand out, which works well for them when they need to inform some silly human to mind their safety while on the train platform (because of course they still found a way to work at a train station)

they like to hug themselves a lot 🤍🖤

[thewankbankuk]

Lieutenant Commander Neal Bailey watched in horror as a forcefield materialized between him and the rest of his strike team. How the collective had managed to adapt to their saboteur efforts, he didn’t know. All Lt. Bailey knew was that the Borg had cut off his teammates’ only chance for escape.

“They must have rerouted power through to this section somehow!” Ensign Dan Korowsky exclaimed in dismay from the other side of the forcefield.

Standing next to him, Lieutenant Joe Cavalli, technician and resident Starfleet expert on the Borg, looked incredulous. “But we knocked out all the power generators routed through this section—and the regeneration nodes…” He lowered his phaser rifle and began scanning with his tricorder.

“We don’t have much time. Cavalli, can you run a bypass on this forcefield generator?” Commander Patrick Evans asked urgently. Cmdr. Evans, a decorated Starfleet Marine and the mission leader, looked around urgently for signs of pursuit. The mission had been going well—until now. Starfleet’s plan: insert a stealth team on frontier colony Ivor II, on the edge of the Klingon frontier. Objective: to determine if the Borg have destroyed the colony and its defense research facilities. Collect data, and if possible, neutralize any remaining cybernetic threat on the planet surface.

Within hours following their orbital drop, Cmdr. Evans’ team of five had successfully penetrated the former colony’s infrastructure. They found it almost completely assimilated by the Borg. Where once stood a joint human-Klingon venture in tactical cooperation, there was now instead a giant cube-shaped mass. Evans’ team penetrated the damp, humid structure, making selective use of explosives and computer overrides on entry. Now they were on their way out, having successfully downloaded data from several Borg distribution nodes. Oddly enough, at no time had they encountered any significant resistance.

“Let’s detonate it.” Ensign Mike Hunter, demolitionist and the youngest of their group, displayed his brashness yet again. But this time it seemed necessary.

“Fine…do it.” Cmdr. Evans agreed impatiently, wiping the sweat from his face. Ensign Hunter moved forward to attach photon charges around the corners of the forcefield projector frame. He had scarcely placed one charge on the floor when a whirring sound emanated from his immediate surroundings. The others heard it, but it was too late. Twin tubules, secreted within the framework of the forcefield, lanced out and plunged themselves into the young ensign’s neck, paralyzing him instantly. Ensign Hunter screamed in agony, falling to the floor. Lt. Cavalli fired at the Borg assimilation device, vaporizing it.

“Ensign!!!” Cmdr. Evans yelled in shock. Korowsky brought out his medkit and knelt beside his fallen teammate. Suddenly, klaxons sounded.

The team knew that the collective was afoot. In desperation, Bailey and Cavalli began firing at the forcefield from opposite sides. But it was no use. The Borg had awakened.

Drones materialized behind Evans and his team, and began advancing. Lt. Bailey could only watch as his teammates abandoned Ensign Hunter and began firing at the approaching Borg. One-by-one, drones fell. The team was at its best, wasting no shots. Within seconds, the Borg had adapted, but Evans’ team was prepared for this.

“Remodulate!” he ordered.

The team paused to activate their weapons controls, and resumed firing. Their weapons were effective once again, and the remaining Borg were mowed down. The complex was filled with an eerie silence. Evans, feeling relieved, turned to the still-active forcefield and the fallen Ensign Hunter beside it. The nanoprobes had done their work--the Ensign’s face had turned a pale shade of gray, and the telltale sign of Borg-colored veins and emerging implants were visible.

But before Evans could say a word, the sound of heavy metallic footsteps echoed again through the complex. The team braced itself for more drone beam-ins…but this time the Borg had a different strategy. In unison, two rows of Borg emerged from the corridor walls, forming two perfect flanks in front of the Starfleet team. They marched forward with incredible speed.

These were no ordinary Borg. Once, they had been the fittest of the humans and Klingons assigned to the base. Now, they were enhanced cybernetic warriors. Their already-impressive biological musculature had been enhanced beyond the ability of any other galactic power. These tactical drones did not carry conventional maintenance or surgical implements. Instead, they were built solely for combat assimilation. Sculpted armored plates conforming to their anatomically perfect cyborg bodies, made of Borg platinum and other enhanced synthetic alloys, moved with harmonious symmetry to their muscles. Interlocking plates across their thoracic sections provided an impenetrable barrier.

Ensign Cavalli was the closest and had the first shot. It glanced harmlessly off the Borg shielding. Cavalli remodulated, and fired again. The shot made a glancing blow off the lead Borg’s chest, leaving a cloud of plasma smoke. The rest of the team remodulated, and began firing.

But this time, the tactical drones emerged from the smoke, utterly unharmed. Their chest armor had absorbed the weapon impacts, and had in fact dispersed their energies back into their Borg power systems.

Evans watched in horror as his team’s weaponry was rendered utterly useless. Shot by shot, the Borg remained undeterred. The team switched to photon grenades. The first exploded in the center of the corridor, throwing the tactical drones to the sides. But it was not enough to destroy them. The Borg simply got back on their feet and marched forward.

The team had rehearsed what would happen if they were in a no-win situation. It was standard operating procedure for Starfleet’s elite strike forces. As the Borg drones reached within an arm’s distance, Evans dropped his weapon and reached for his belt where the emergency quantum grenade was stored. Better dead than assimilated!

“Lt. Bailey, save yourself!!” Evans ordered. On the other side of the forcefield, Bailey hesitated for a moment, then ran. The desperate but resolute look on his commander’s face was burned into his mind as he fled. Lt. Bailey ran down the corridor, and turned to see the explosion.

But it never happened…

The collective had learned all it needed. By accessing the mind of the drone formerly known as Ensign Mike Hunter, they knew the team’s plans. As Evans pulled out the quantum grenade, the prone form of Ensign Hunter suddenly came alive, and the newly assimilated Starfleet Marine charged into his former commanding officer, wrenching the device from his grip. With enhanced cybernetic strength, Hunter knocked Evans down with ease.

Before Lt. Cavalli or Ensign Korowsky had a chance to activate their self-destruct grenades, the tactical drones had surrounded them. Lt. Bailey watched from afar as they attempted to fight their way out, hand-to-hand. Their resistance was utterly futile. The Marines were knocked down, one-by-one. One drone took particular pleasure in testing his growing cybernetic strength against the humans. This newest Borg drone had gone from the archaic designation of Ensign Michael J. Hunter, Starfleet service #11283-5496 Alpha, to the efficient label of One of Five, primary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315. Resistance was utterly futile.

Ensign Korowsky found himself separated from the others. He’d been knocked unconscious in the scuffle, and now found himself attached to an assimilation table. A tall, muscular six feet and 200 lbs. of muscle, Korowsky prided himself on being able to master the machinery around him—and to use strength to win any situation. It was an attitude which had gotten him very far in the Starfleet Marines. But now his human strength was no match for the assimilation table’s restraints.

Korowsky wondered why they hadn’t assimilated him already. He felt no different, aside from a splitting headache from when the drones had struck him down. He felt no burning sensation in his bloodstream or puncture wounds on his neck or elsewhere. Korowsky realized, with a sinking feeling, that he was only waiting for the inevitable.

A soft breeze wafted through the assimilation chamber, making the Ensign’s body hair stand on end. It was then that Korowsky realized that he was completely stripped of clothing. In the incredible humidity of the Borg complex, he hadn’t noticed. Could it be that the assimilation chamber was even hotter? Around Korowsky, the cacophony of power conduits and throbbing regeneration alcoves echoed.

The walls in front of him shifted. A Borg drone approached. This tactical drone was of the same unique configuration that the team had encountered moments before they were captured. It was apparent that this particular unit had once been a very young, attractive-looking human male. He was tall, and muscular, with handsome features that were augmented by cranial tubing and implants but no ocular eyepiece. The drone had large, piercing green eyes, and his face bore the expression of a slight superior sneer. His body was covered from the neck down with thick Borg platinum armor which wrapped tightly around his bodybuilder physique. Was this one of the former colonists?

“We are the Borg. Your biological distinctiveness will adapt to service us. Resistance is Futile,” the drone intoned in a deep, synthetic voice. As the drone approached, Korowsky closed his eyes and clenched his square jaw in anticipation of the pain.

The drone reached out with one arm for Korowsky ’s crotch. Assimilation tubules shot out from his fingers, and plunged deep into the base of Korowsky’s penile shaft. The Starfleet Marine screamed in pain…

Seconds later, breathless, Korowsky opened his eyes in bewilderment. He felt a change—but it was not the assimilation that he had steeled himself for. Instead, he had felt himself get incredibly aroused. He was powerless to stop it—his cock lifted up, up into a raging erection. He was harder than he had ever been in his life. Korowsky arched his back as far as the assimilation table would allow and gasped in surprise and pleasure as his cock swelled with blood and stretched to its limit.

The assimilation table began to swivel, and brought Korowsky up to a vertical position. Then, with the drone standing behind him, the restraints released, leaving Korowsky standing with a massive erection.

“You represent a team which Starfleet selected to be on the front lines and infiltrate the Borg. Your combat skills and physical ability indicate that you are an excellent specimen of your species. Your genetic distinctiveness will become our own.”

Korowsky was unrestrained, and seemingly free to go. But the force of his erection was too much. The Ensign groaned as he felt his tool begin a change. The nanoprobes in his bloodstream were designed for assimilation, but they could also provide simply augmentation. That was exactly what Korowsky was experiencing as his testicles began to swell and grow heavy. He could feel the semen flooding through his reproductive tract at an alarming rate. He felt his body tighten up as the fluid rushed forth in a torrent up his shaft, and yet he did not ejaculate.

Instead, Korowsky stood there, his brain functions overcome with the hardness, the tension. The air around his naked body seemed electrified with sexual possibility. His whole being was collecting around his cock. It was unbearable; he felt primed to explode.

Korowsky groaned with pleasure as he felt his cock stretch even further. The cybernetic augmentations had grown his tool to massive proportions!

In the humid heat, with wave upon wave of energy seemingly directed at his mind, Korowsky felt the collective speak to him. The drone seemed to whisper…

Service the collective. Provide your biological distinctiveness to us.

The space ahead of him was dominated by a column-shaped alcove which reached through the ceiling. Korowsky felt compelled to move toward it, and he did. As he walked, his shaft began dripping pre-ejaculate; his cock was filled to bursting with cum.

When he finally stood in the alcove, his mind awash with the burning sensation of pre-orgasm, Korowsky thrust his hips forward into the orifice, which resembled a power socket. As he did, he felt a sense of relief. The regenerative Borg technology molded itself around his cock, gripping it tightly. Then, the alcove sprang to life, with power flowing through conduits and into Korowsky ’s body. The Starfleet ensign felt the sensation of a thousand fingers stroking his cock, licking it, sucking it—all synthetically, of course. He gasped, and his cock finally exploded.

Korowsky shuddered as his cock began releasing its juice into the alcove. He was in ecstasy, and it was never-ending. The alcove continued accepting his seed, and Korowsky, plugged in and nanoprobe-enhanced, kept pumping away. Sparks of electricity raced up and down the alcove and through the Marine’s body, overwhelming his senses.

As the minutes and hours passed by, Korowsky’s face assumed an expression of delightful agony, his jaw clenched in instinctive seriousness as his body shot its seed repeatedly. The torrent of cum was never-ending, as the alcove continually fed nutrients to sped up bioproduction in Korowsky’s body. As time went on, more and more nanoprobes entered Korowsky ’s system, slowly assimilating him, yet leaving his genitals enhanced but unassimilated—for now.

No human was ever made to have an interminable orgasm. But the Borg could do what evolution could not. Korowsky was the first, but certainly not the last to undergo this enhancement. As one orgasmic cycle ended, leaving the alcove full of liters of ejaculate, Korowsky gasped for breath, his hips relaxing for a moment.

Within seconds, the alcove socket clenched Korowsky’s rock-hard cock again, and he shuddered. The Starfleet marine could only grab both sides of the alcove and hold on for dear life as his permanently hard cock continued pumping away.

Behind Korowsky, the tactical drone watched impassively. But as the first Borg implants emerged on Korowsky’s skull, the drone seemed to smile. Or was it envy?

The pleasure seemed to last an eternity. But as the collective’s appetite for Korowsky’s seed was sated, it was replaced with their need to add individual distinctiveness to their hive. Organ by organ, inch by inch, the nanoprobes assimilated their way through the Marine’s body, eventually reaching his head and finally activating their assimilation programming in his cock. The last of the human personality known as Dan Korowsky faded into an orgasmic howl as Two of Five, secondary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315, was born.

Lieutenant Joe Cavalli awoke in another assimilation chamber. He was also bound, naked, to an assimilation table. Cavalli felt his heart pounding—he’d gone over this situation countless times in his years of research into the Borg collective. And yet he still did not fully understand the exact nature of the assimilation experience. After all, few eyewitness accounts existed. Nearly all who had seen the process were either dead or members of the collective themselves. Cavalli expected the same fate.

Yet he would not have expected the appearance of another tactical drone before him. Starfleet had no records of this type of drone—there was truly so much that they did not know about the collective. The drone had large, piercing green eyes, and it spoke to him in a synthetic yet masculine tone.

“You will provide your knowledge and expertise of Starfleet tactics against the collective to us.”

Before Cavalli had a chance to answer, the drone had leapt up onto the assimilation table, displaying impressive agility, and was straddling his body. Cavalli felt the incredible heat emanating from the drone’s body as it slid across his body, finding his cock. The drone looked into Cavalli’s eyes and gave a seeming half-smile, then grasped at Cavalli’s cock.

Part of the Starfleet Marine was repulsed and yet at the same time he felt strangely aroused. Perhaps it was pheromone-induced? As Cavalli pondered this fact, his mind struggled to resist the sensations but his body betrayed him. Cavalli felt his cock stiffen and almost immediately the moist warmth of the tactical drone’s mouth slipped around his cock and began sucking expertly. Cavalli felt a wave of pleasure come over him.

It was unlike any sexual experience he’d ever had. The instant his cock entered the drone’s mouth, he could hear sounds of the collective. A massive, synchronous voice filled his head. Cavalli gasped as hive mind commanded him to obey.

He struggled to break free of the control but the power of one mind was insignificant compared to the might of the collective.

"No…I…my duty is to Starfleet, the Federation…I am a Starfleet officer—

"I…will resist!!!!" This mental assimilation quickly became a war of wills, of biology versus technology.

"I will resist….my duty is to…." then Cavalli gasped as the drone released him. The withdrawal of the voice drained him greatly—it was like a narcotic. The collective was massive, powerful, dominating…Cavalli felt himself long to surrender to it.

The drone looked at Cavalli as if assessing his worth, then continued the process. He moved forward, sitting on Cavalli’s chest, and let his massive Borg cock rest on the Starfleet Marine’s face. With a firm but gentle push, Cavalli’s mouth was opened and the cybernetic shaft entered into him. The Borg cock was completely rigid, and coated with metal. Yet it was surprisingly warm.

When the cock entered Cavalli’s mouth, his whole awareness was transformed. He felt the collective in him and around him.

"I am the---I—I will resist…must resist…must----Resistance is Futile. My duty is to Star—My duty is to the collective. I am Joe Cavalli…of Borg. My designation is Three of Five, secondary processor of Unimatrix 315. I will—we will provide all tactical knowledge to the collective. This unit will service the collective."

By now, the primary programming was complete. This human would not resist any further mental extraction efforts. His mind was open and part of the collective. Before the Borg had integrated Cavalli’s biological distinctiveness into their own, they had already converted his psychological distinctiveness into the beginnings of Borg algorithms. Phase one of assimilation was complete.

Cavalli did not resist as the tactical drone impaled him with his cock, and simultaneously plunged his assimilation tubules into his neck. Phase two of assimilation had begun.

Lieutenant Commander Neal Bailey had endured a most painful two hours alone on the outskirts of the former colony. He’d witnessed all of his teammates being captured by the Borg. He could only assume that they’d been assimilated or killed. He hoped it was the latter.

The mission had failed miserably. With Lt. Cavalli’s capture and Ensign Hunter’s assimilation, all their reconnaissance data had been lost. Their remodulated weapons, which ordinary Borg couldn’t adapt to, had no effect on these new tactical drones. Now Lt. Cmdr. Bailey found himself alone.

But he just couldn’t accept the loss of his teammates. They’d been together on more missions than he could count. Each team member had saved the others on numerous occasions. Bailey owed it to each man to do everything possible to rescue them.

For the past two hours, Bailey had searched the Borg complex's walls, trying to find a way in. When the team first arrived, the colony had numerous entrances. Now every last one was sealed by a forcefield. After seemingly endless searching, the Starfleet Marine had resigned himself to returning to his exit point and resorting to tricorder scans. Meanwhile, the Borg complex stood impassively, glowing with the power of alcoves, conduits, and power systems coming online, one-by-one.

With a brief flicker, the forcefield closest to Bailey went down. The Marine stood up. Did the Borg consider the threat over? Grabbing his weapon, Bailey walked into the complex, scanning all the way.

As he entered the Borg facility, Bailey saw maintenance drones working alone or in pairs at various stations throughout. They seemed to be engaged in construction activities which served to expand the Borg facility. There was no opposition of any kind, and no Borg tactical drones to deal with. As Bailey moved deeper into the complex, retracing his steps, he found several forcefields down and not others. Scanning the layout, Bailey was confounded by the seemingly random placement of chambers and equipment. Was he being led somewhere?

Ahead, Bailey saw a Borg chamber with a series of tall columns on aligned near the walls. In the center was an assimilation table. And on it--one of his teammates. Bailey rushed forward, and saw who it was.

“Commander?” he asked breathlessly. Aside from some bruises on his face and neck, the team leader looked unscathed. Bailey leaned over the assimilation table, searching for signs of life.

The Commander’s eyes opened.

“You came…just in time,” Cmdr. Evans said.

“Sir, I’ll get you out of here!” Bailey responded, and began looking frantically for the table’s controls.

“There’s no need,” Evans replied. And Bailey froze to look at his former Commander. The bruises on his neck reformed, and the telltale signs of assimilation became visible. Evans had been assimilated just moments before. Bailey turned in horror, but Evans reached up and grabbed his neck.

“Resistance is futile, Bailey…once you’re with us, you’ll understand.”

“Never!!!” Bailey replied, turning to escape. But out of the shadows, four tactical drones emerged. One was the former Joe Cavalli, another used to be Mike Hunter, the third was once Dan Kawalsky, and the last, with piercing green eyes, he’d never seen before. Only his comrade's faces were recognizable now, behind the Borg flesh and tubules; their bodies were taller and stronger, with massive, rippling muscles and thick armor.

Resistance is Futile, the tactical drones intoned in unison, and began moving forward. Bailey lifted his rifle and opened fire at point-blank range. This time, Borg energy shielding protected the drones from any damage.

Just as the drones closed around him, Bailey saw out of the corner of his eye Cavalli’s armored suit and rifle placed on a Borg examination table. The collective had added the Marines' technological distinctiveness already…

The drones pushed Bailey to the ground and were on top of him instantly. Bailey felt the crushing weight of the massive, newly-born tactical drones as they grabbed at his body and tore off his suit. The Marine struggled in vain. Even his most violent thrashing was unable to prevent an assimilation tubule pinprick, precisely positioned at the base of his crotch. Within seconds Bailey was fully aroused. Two of Five instantly took Bailey’s tool into his mouth; Three of Five inserted his cybernetically-enhanced rod into Bailey’s mouth, and the other two drones were lifting Bailey on to the assimilation table…

Bailey surrendered to cybernetic bliss…within 55 minutes the last member of the Starfleet strike team was gone, and Five of Five, tertiary subunit of Tactical Trimatrix 315, was born…

Hours later, a tactical drone led five new assimilation warriors to a newly-completed regeneration chamber. There, Tactical Trimatrix 315 entered Borg alcoves for the first time. The hive was now fully satisfied. All targeted assimilation…complete.

[dragonnan]

First Sentence Tag Game

Tagged by @chriscalledmesweetie THANK YOU!!

___________

Choice (Sherlock) What had that busybody old neighbor of hers called this? May December romance; that was it – with Martha decidedly in the winter category, grey tips and all. Oh, it certainly wasn’t anything actually romantic. At her age! And not with one, who’d scarcely looked out of short pants, the first time Martha had spotted him outside the club with that awful Jefferies person. She’d seen far too many, like him, given her husband’s line of business. She had nearly sighed and looked past this one, as well, except…

Sed Diabolus (Avengers) It was a pretty great view. He'd been meaning to check it out; sometime. Those weeks spent in his (new) room; dishes of food going cold at his elbow while he'd sat at his computer and clicked through five years of history that he hadn't lived. Most of the news stories had been about the failing economy; the declaration of martial law around the country, the breakdown of infrastructure. His current roosting spot was exactly the same as it had been the day he'd… dusted. Skyline Tower had been scheduled for completion in 2020. Three years later and, like so many other construction projects, it was an abandoned property with naked I-beams stabbing towards the clouds. It would probably never be finished. Not the way things were, now.

Over My Not So Dead Body (Avengers) His cell chirped a tune in his pocket. He ignored it; focused on his keypad with more determination than he’d had thirty seconds earlier. Ten seconds later, it rang again. And again. Aaand… Shit. He dragged the damn thing from his pocket and, reluctantly, answered.

“Yeah??”

“Why are you bugging my kid?”

Fury rubbed at his eye; already feeling that particular migraine blossom to life.

Left Behind (Avengers) I’ve thought of both of these moments but seeing them side by side just... 

How does one live when their heart stops beating?  Is that why everything inside hurts?  Is it because the body is trying so hard to live or desperately trying to die?

He’d thought his time had come and, really, he’d been okay with it.  Terrified, of course, how the hell wouldn’t he be with that... God, he couldn’t even come up with a euphemism... when Thanos had loomed over him like the physical form of Death.  No sickle, no robes, no bony hand - the exact opposite, actually, of that dated caricature.  That was dread.  No expounding on that emotion - no need to detail it beyond the single word.  But, hey, we’ve got time for exposition, now, don’t we?  Isn’t that right, doc?  Time...  The last inhabitants of a dead world that continues to claim all who visit her.  How long, now, for him?  For the cold creature at his back?

Why did he have to survive?

Rescue (Iron Man) One long finger tapped the edge of the wheel. Most of the time she was a passenger in the car. Unlike Tony, she wasn't hyper obsessed with being in control. Well, she was beginning to understand that obsession a little more after having her body burned down and rebuilt. After losing all control to someone who'd wanted to make her both pawn and prize. Today… today she'd wanted to drive. Be in control.

Tinkering (Iron Man) The leg attachments were the last pieces to be removed. Thankful to be the only human occupant of the room, Tony breathed a moment before moving towards the work table.

Four months since the first upgrade had led to lighter yet stronger armor. He'd improved the thrusters and created more flaps for balanced and controlled flight. He'd also adjusted the palm thrusters for sustained blasts. The helmet and torso were stronger as well – able to withstand up to 10,000 psi before experiencing structural collapse. The suit, in and of itself, and for all intents and purposes, was nearly indestructible.

It Keeps Away the Monsters (Iron Man) They'd thought it was fear.

Well they were right.  Sort of.  Hell, Tony himself would have mocked that reality had it ever been articulated. 

He needed the arc reactor because it kept him alive.  Couldn't get more straight forward.  Nobody questioned that.  Happy didn't question that.  Pepper didn't question that.  Tony didn't question that.

A fact didn't need to be questioned.  It was math.  Equations had only one answer.  They were reliable. 

Comfortable. 

Known.

But, then, some people just couldn't add.

Tony would never have banked on himself being one of those people.  It was unsettling.  No, it was... horrifying.

The Home Visit (Doctor Strange) It smelled cold.

Not like winter – which tasted metallic and fresh at the same time, no. No, this cold had the aroma that was patently October. Black cats and scudding cloud and ripened pumpkins. It was the earthy snap of fallen leaves and the far off sound of hunter's rifles and the call of geese and ducks headed for warmer lands. For many people, Autumn was their favorite time of year. Maybe... once, when he was younger, Stephen could have said the same.

Now it... it just felt...

The heels of his boots made a soft clomp on the road. He kicked at a loose stone, as he passed the hand painted sign welcoming visitors into town; watching it bounce and roll into the ditch.

Nothing had changed.

We Are Men of Action - Lies Do Not Become Us (Psych) Cool, that morning; just on the right side of chilly, actually. Early, even for the early risers. Far too early for a guy who hadn't slept in two days. Far, far too early for that guy's father to demand they share coffee while watching the sun rise over the waves.

Because it was never just about the coffee.

Emotionally neutral ground, at least. Not the office, where too fresh memories of Juliet's anger still overlapped the concussion fantasy he'd drifted into for most of the night. Not dad's house, where too fresh memories still whirled of seeing his parents go all Wild Kingdom; God no.

The beach, near the boardwalk and close enough to see the vendors setting up for the day's tourist rush. At least the coffee was still hot.

Tagging: @sgam76 @disappearinginq @teejaystumbles @the-apocrypha @tj-dragonblade @aelaer @gabessquishytum @kitcat992 @ceruleanmindpalace @cuubism @bovivinator