#how to magnification feature

[ropertplant]

me in the old folks home getting the nurse to help me find a fic on ao3 like "WHAT? WHATDYA MEAN YOU CANT FIND WOUND FUCKING? ARE YOU STILL IN THE HANNIBAL TAG"

[sharkiethrts]

[𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮]

𝘗𝘙𝘖𝘔𝘗𝘛: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦?

g/n reader

: jing yuan and reader are not in an established relationship, jing yuan is pining (ineffectively) at the reader

: 446 words

Qingzu did her best to not designate her attention to the elephant in the room today in the Divine Foresight but duty calls. It started when the general asks for a mirror, blathering about the apparent magnification in the front camera of phones. Even the most developed technologies have their flaws, as does all of nature, his laugh resounds across the hall with his talk.

She didn't understand his intentions with the mirror initially, but now that she does: "Jing Yuan, just in case you have forgotten, the documents piled up in front of you require your attention as well," when the man mentioned doesn't react, "And as for the concave of your facial features, please leave that interest at home."

Surprisingly, the man finally snaps out of his diligent distraction with a view that the Counselor has never seen before: red ears. However, the general's recovery is quick, much to Qingzu's amusement. But to her chagrin, it did not stop the General's shameless inquiry, "Am I handsome, Qingzu?"

"...Please understand that I am not a present figure in the fashion industry nor do I have any intention on recommending the General of Luofu Xianzhou to Xianzhou magazines any time soon."

The guards guarding at the gates of the Divine Foresight bite their tongues; it wasn't like they weren't used to the General's occasional remarkable behaviours, but vanity is certainly a new look. After all, the general doesn't even bother to brush his hair in the morning, letting birds build a temporary residency in his hair whenever he falls asleep. It's a miracle that there isn't an ecosystem building up in the general's hair, to say the least.

So, what's with the sudden change? Everyone in the Divine Foresight is in common agreement that the General is... in love.

And it makes sense: he has been caught outside the Divine Foresight more. Well, he's rarely in the Divine Foresight, really- but his frequent "breathers" are often at his own garden, where weeds pile up due to the General's negligence and how demanding his work can be (the general also claims to not need cleaners at home, that his title doesn't need to worry the lives of others). However, just recently, the General often strolls about at the market places and well known tourist sights of the Xianzhou Luofu, sometimes returning with an uncharacteristically large smile.

"...Is that a yes or a no, Qingzu?"

Qingzu ignores his further probing, "That reminds me (it really didn't, it's just a desperate attempt at deterring the general's awkward intentions), our friends from the Astral Express seems to be running a store- 'Express Eatery', was it?" She watches as the general's gaze light up, "promising foods from all around the universe, foreign to the native xianzhou's gaze. Cosmic Fried Rice is particularly famous for it's savoury mix of vegetables and-"

"- Where is it?" The general stands up abruptly, eyes shining more than ever.

"At the gate of the Central Starskiff Haven- you can't miss it," Qingzu answers with a steadfast response, just glad to have conducted Jing Yuan's attention away from her.

The general leaves almost immediately, taking his pouch of Strale with him. But it seems to Qingzu's celebration is short lived, because the general whom is about to leave turns to ask another difficult question, "Do I look satisfactory? How is my hair? It isn't too unruly, I hope?"

Qingzu clenches her fists behind her back, "Why don't you ask [name] that yourself once you reach the eatery?"

The ears of the general turns vibrant red again.

[envahisseurzim]

blingee tell us about prazr. please

blingee's 1,5k words prazr meta!

invader zim fun fact: when tallest purple and red tower over zim in the show's opening, their bodies form a heart around him. which might mean nothing

PRaZr (definition): acronym of Purple Red and Zim Romance, which is pretty self explanatory i think. i am indeed really passionate about their dynamic in the series! i do think about it a lot! thank you for asking me about it, i made sure to write down all my thoughts in a cohesive way ↓

I - the second R in PRaZr

the "Romance" is definitely the most derivative aspect of this fanon take on the three irkens, and naturally comes with lots of fanworks playing with various romantic tropes for these characters - good for them, good for them. but as you can guess, this is about MY preferred view of prazr, and so to get on the same page i have to define what exactly the word Romance means to me in this context.

even as i play around with my cartoon dolls, i like when my derivative self indulgent fanon resembles the original in tone or dynamic. because of this, my favorite prazr visions have always been agressively One Sided, for one, because at best Zim is an insignificant speck of dirt on the Tallest's robes, and at worst he's the Most Horrible Thing In the Whole Universe Ever... and then you have Zim, who i think is very aware of what the tallest represent to him, or at least cognizant of how much their opinion of him matters (regardless of how many times he'll ignore it for the sake of protecting his ego lol), but i don't think he'd describe it as romantic love ; and either way, his view of the tallest is so distorted and warped by his intense desire for approval, simply calling it romantic doesn't begin to encapsulate it.

rather, i believe zim glamorizes them the same way he glamorizes, well, himself. he tries to appeal to the tallest not just out of hierarchical deference to them, but because he wholefully believes they're the only ones great and worthy enough to see his genius. even when he rightfully reaps what he sows in the form of his old boss kidnapping him, or narrowly being publicly executed for his crimes, he's convinced the tallest will be on his side to bring him justice no matter what. it's always "the TALLEST will see to it!" or "you'll regret when the TALLEST hear of this" with this guy. it's a rose-tinted perspective, of course. he doesn't see the tallest as they are (stupid mean and gay), but as a projection that will hopefully reflect his own perceived greatness back at him.

still, the idea that zim's peculiar obsession for the tallest, disconnected from reality as it is, can present as romance-y isn't too far fetched. if the tallest were ever to make some grand romantic gesture towards him, i don't see why zim wouldn't respond to it positively - this is a guy who probably fantasizes about the tallest praising him the way a teenage girl daydreams about her school crush, who draws pictures of them saying they love him and everything. like many things about zim and irkens in general, there is no straight forward real world equivalent to what zim's relation to the tallest is. but passionate, obsessive parasocial infatuation... i think those are all fitting describers.

II - the magnification of it all

prazr is so good because it really elevates the endless torment the whole (gestures around) thing brings to all three of them.

i love how zim is somehow so confident, so assured that his tallest love him as much as he loves himself, yet simultaneously pathetically scraping for any kernel of approval at every corner like he's gonna die without it. the seesaw motion between adoring them both as familliar peers, and a sort of vague yet sharp looming presence all at once, almost divine in its scrutiny. their big eyes staring him down. the imagery seen at the beginning of every opening is very evocative to me, two shadows with barely any discernable features towering over an oblivious zim. it's funny then that, almighty and sinister as they appear, even they don't seem to know how to handle this guy.

i love how the tallest only have scorn and contempt for this horrible little thing when they're not completely blasé about him. they will comfortably mock him as they manage to sidestep him again, but all they're doing is buying time - because zim always manages to reinsert himself into their peripheral eventually. and so, they willingly trap themselves in this charade of making up yet another lie, another excuse, giving the guy Just enough leeway because its the only course of action that might not get them Literally Killed on the spot. it's like a game of Tug of War but where if one party loses they all lose, and one of the players is too delusional to even realize that's the kind of game they're playing. it being resolved by the Tallest doing a complete 180° and suddendly returning Zim's... adulation? is cute, but it's not that interesting to me. i want this struggle to end in their demise. i want zim's hunger for love to suck them in like a black hole. i want the tallest caught in zim's web and struggling against a prison of their own making. i want them tied to the train tracks and screaming in horror as zim excitedly approaches them on his shitty trolley, cognizant of the fact that they are also actors of their own misfortune. i want zim to get so neurotic about them to the point of self-destruction that he pulls them down with him as well. they're an absurd doomed greek tragedy to me.

a satirical romance.

a car crash in slow motion.

now, let's zoom in on some of those key moments together ↓

prazr top car crash moments !!!

4 - zim is funny

i wanted to put a gif there at first, but then i realized i actually love this whole scene, if only because seeing the tallest having so much fun brings a smile to my face. please enjoy this short clip of red and purple goofing off and being whimsical together :)

arguably the only positive the tallest can see in him. if zim is at a comfortable enough distance (at least as far as they're aware), they'll happily mock him, and i think them getting a kick or two out of some of zim's calls is a regular occurence (i showed battle of the planets as an example, but there's the tallest puppet call in tak's episode as well). anyways, congrats zim, the tallest think you're positively hilarious! ...well, they're definitely laughs at his expense, but you know. we're grasping at straws here

3 - having??? a normal conversation ??¿?¿¿¿

incroyable mais vrai. the tallest and zim are in fact able to have an actual conversation - discussing how humans are tall yet dumb. it's unknown how common this occurence is... for as little as the tallest care about zim's mission and his plans and so on, they do seem to show at least some interest when the subject of the report is specifically relevant to them. their height in that case. typical! well, red seems invested at least - as usual, he's the one most likely to entertain zim's little fads. purple's just along for the ride, adding his little comments here and there. it's kind of cute how he starts mimicking red's body language before the transmission cuts :)

2 - the kernel of approval that keeps you going

gif source

this kills me. this gif is like 4 seconds. the way he goes off erratically with uncontained excitement as the tallest look on completely static, probably stone-faced. just nothing going on. this is the kind of incident that, in addition to the tallest passively playing along with zim, really supplies him the love kernels fueling his delusions. how unfortunate. zim bringing up how he won't forget them when he rules not just the planet, but the UNIVERSE... i wonder if he's just saying that, or if he really would stay loyal to his tallest even if he were to surpass them. which won't ever happen. i wonder though... (he better for his own sake, or i'll kill him personally)

1 - this.

link to the full gifset because it's so glorious

this might be the worst scene of them together like of all time. what do you mean he's not only stalking his leaders, but admitting to it in front of them with a big smile on his face in the most cryptic way possible. "oh i know all kinds of things about you" what the fuck are you saying my guy. shut up. at least purple's telling it like it is. and this is without mentioning the fact that this moment comes right after zim excitedly yelling "MY TALLEST" for almost one whole minute (which red mentions was actually 3 hours) because he was just so eager to invite them to Earth, then is later followed by zim falling into a 1 hour long catatonic state after the tallest implicitly reject his proposal. awesome. incredible. and then he decides the best course of action is to organize what is effectively a glorified kidnapping to force his tallest to witness his awesomeness. not normal! and it's not even the scene in of itself either, it's also everything else around it too. years ago, i used to think the tallest were unfair to zim, but upon second thought this is actually more unfair to them. you decide to ghost him for once, and then he tries kidnapping you and almost gets you killed. i'd blow him up too. people need to get on the stalker zimcel shit immediately. i need to see the tallest ah heem heem whimper and holding each other when they see him like two shaking chihuahuas. anyways this has been invader zim and basically he fags it up out there

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Non-Biting Midges - Family: Chironomidae | Species unknown

Today's insect image showcase has been uploaded with 2 purposes in mind. Firstly, Midges as a whole haven't been featured all that much on this blog due to their difficulty to identify, their size and their swarming behavior. This is to say, it can be difficult to get the best picture of these insects since they're nearly always airborne and active. As well, while I'll happily showcase an insect by itself as it's found in nature, observing just one of these little Flies may not be that impressive. However, while a few distinct individuals were photographed here, I'm grateful to have found a large swarm at rest with individuals skittering along a wooden fence! Picture 10 offers a close-up of some of these fence-sitting individuals, while Picture 9 shows the range and density of the swarm, and that's not the end of it. While these Midges were content to walk along the shaded wood, there were many other airborne swarms dancing in the sunlit air throughout the afternoon! All these swarms didn't simply appear because Toronto had a warm spring day. There were always there as they were photographed near a waterfront, their breeding ground.

Although these little Flies can be a nuisance to springtime fun and outdoor parties, it's worth remembering that these Non-Biting Midges lack the mouthparts to bite humans. This is a stark contrast to the similar looking Mosquitoes who are more often associated with blood-feeding from mammalian hosts thanks to their prominent proboscis. That brings us to the second purpose of this latest showcase of images: a test of the Pixel 8a's ability to zoom in and maintain a reasonable level of image detail and clarity. Previously (using the Pixel 4) I wasn't able to take suitable photos of most insects beyond 2x magnification without a powerful light source. Maintaining image focus, especially on smaller insects was also quite difficult beyond 2x magnification which resulted in many deleted blurry photos. In taking photos of these tiny, dainty, thin-limbed Flies, the Pixel 8a was able to go to 6x magnification before losing focus and/or significant image detail. You can be the judge of these Midge close-ups, especially Pictures 1, 2 and 5. For 2 in particular, you'll find no presence of a piercing proboscis; only dangling palps which can assist in nectar/liquid intake, as demonstrated by the individuals lapping up food spillages in Picture 7. Naturally, this makes these individuals safe to handle with no chance of being pierced. They are delicate however, so kindly handle them with care. With these results, I hope that you look forward to the image quality achievable in future posts.

Pictures were taken on April 27, 2025 with a Google Pixel 8a. I still aim to get as close and possible to the insects I find. A better zoom cannot replace that...but it certainly is a big help. As well, I'll get to test how magnification will hold up during the creation of an insect video.

[nomsfaultau]

Lighting Lanterns to Bring You Home

Word count: 16,922. Chapters: 4/4, finished but not complete. A slightly Persephone and Hades inspired SBI mythological au featuring gods!twins duo, found family, and how to recover from grief. Content warnings for (cyclical) death, attempted suicide, and heavy angst. The love is there, it is important, but it does not save them.

Technoblade was the god of Harvest. Or, so he was initially. His worship was found in fingers buried in rich soil, his ichor in the sweat trickling down one’s brow. A god of dedication, day after day of slow progress. In him, the reward of a job well done. For those in his favor, the magnification of their wealth tenfold and the roundness of their stomachs. For those not, simply the reaping of what they’d sown. A fair god, beloved god. 

Wilbur was the god of Festival. Or, so he was initially. His worship was found in the clapping of hands to a beat, his ichor in the sour-sweet of wine. A god of blurring exhilaration, of the glowing joy of celebration, of the now, now, now. In him, the reward of a job well done. The end to Technoblade’s beginning. A community drawing together, the sharing of feast and success. His the song of laughter. A free god, beloved god. 

And when the tyrant placed unbearable taxes upon the land and stole the Harvest from the hands his fellow god had rightfully given it to…

Well. Wilbur became a god of Revolution. 

[margindoodles2407]

Heyyy @seeking-elsewhither. You know how I'm giving you a HFSW Bad Batcher a day until you stop being sick. Well since I missed it yesterday,,, and you need your guys,,, well I went to draw Tech and things got. Out of hand

Closeups and notes under the cut

Goggles

You do not know how hard Tech's hair is to get right

So! His goggles I actually struggled over for months and months because, you know. They're hard to draw. And then I found these on Pinterest and all my problems were solved forever. (SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WANT THESE. I MEAN LOOKIT THEM THEY EVEN HAVE THE IMPERIAL INSIGNIA ON THE LENSES)

Now obviously my drawing skills mean I have to scale these down immensely but as you can see. These are not your everyday, run-of-the-mill goggles. Tech built them himself (actually most of his armor was either custom-built or modified) and so they've got some special features built in.

So Tech's an artificier, cause it's High Fantasy Star Wars, and they don't have computers but they sure as heck do have alchemy. One of his modifications is the addition of little lights mounted to the barrels of his lenses, for working at night/in low light, or with materials that need to be illuminated to function properly. The other main addition happens to be the extra magnification lenses mounted to his left lens barrel. He can adjust these as needed when working.

Upper Body Armor

Bro really went ☝ (you know i had to do it to him)

Okay so in the absence of his datapad he carries around his journal. That he is constantly writing in. It also has a panel on the front cover in which he can store some of his vials, because I think that's cool and it's my AU and I Can Do What I Want.

In fact, his writing in his journal is so frequent that he actually has a pen holder mounted to his left pauldron, so when he needs to take a note of anything he can just reach over and lo and behold there it is. (He's also the in-universe inventor of pre-filled fountain pens, because it's too much of a hassle to pull out a quill and a bottle of ink any time he needs to write in the middle of the field.)

His upper arm "armor" actually consists of little bags he keeps various things in, including a bottle of ink for when he needs to refill his fountain pen. Other trinkets include small amounts of alchemical ingredients and small personal trinkets (including, after his ID ring is removed, the chains it was kept on. side side note but while the clones who had their rings removed destroyed the rings themselves, they kept the chains because of the symbolism of brotherhood they carried. a lot of them reworked them back into a single loop and wore them around their necks, like they did when they were cadets.).

And then of course there is the Backpack of Many Things (tm) in which he keeps his many things, including but not limited to: alchemical bottles (both full and empty), bags and boxes and tubes of alchemical ingredients (he has an organizational system), backup journals (for when his current journal fills up, currently he has somewhere around twenty-seven full journals and he's been keeping them consistently since he was at least four-eight), medical supplies (common sense), non-perishable food items (also common sense), a waterskin and several empty extras (also ALSO common sense), his wallet (also also ALSO common sense), and his work instruments (knives, mortar and pestle, stoppers, eyedroppers, stirring sticks, measuring cups, et cetera et cetera).

Right Gauntlet Closeup

On his right arm, Tech wears a special leather gauntlet (as opposed to the metal bracer on his left arm) that, surprise surprise, also carries Things (tm).

He's got a little box (in which to keep miscellanea) that also functions as a holder for- you guessed it- more alchemical vials.

There's also a watch that double-functions as a thermometer and lunar calendar (there's a second face under the clock that has the thermometer, and the lunar calendar you see through a little cut-out window towards the bottom; it's got a little picture of the current phase of the moon in it).

This gauntlet doesn't have any heavy-duty finger armor on it cause he needs dexterous use of his dominant fingers. Also, it was the hand he wore his ID ring on, and with how bulky and complicated that gauntlet is, it was uncomfortable to have any major obstructions to the phlanges there.

Lower Body Armor

Featuring a full view of his cuirass! It... is in very low definition cause this is a small doodle mainly focusing on the legs XD

Okay so on his belt he has larger bottles full of chemicals that would need to be used often and reached quickly. It's not shown here but he does also have a book holster in which he keeps his journal for easy access.

Then there's his leather overskirt, which he wears to kind of cushion his bottles and book holster so they're not constantly chafing against his legs. It also serves as his upper-leg protection in place of full-leg greaves, and especially as a precaution in case any of his bottles ever shatter (protection against both whatever's in the bottle AND broken glass).

He does wear padded knee armor, since, you know, he's gotta kneel down a lot to study stuff and he needs to prevent early-onset knee damage XD

Finally, his boots; they do have the heaviest protection of all his lower-body armor (steel toes and heels, and tough shin guards), but they also double as- surprise!- a place to Hold More Stuff. Yes, he even has little pouches on his legs. I swear he carries like, all of his material possessions with him. If it can't be on his person at all times then why would he own it? (This does not apply to the piano he built into one of the Marauder's walls; I'll talk about that when I make that post about Clones and Music.)

Helmet

Okay so as you can see his helmet is unique because he actually had to design it himself. (Actually, all of Clone Force 99 have unique helmets, but Tech's is unique because it's not a historical style of helmet.) It's built in two separate pieces: a face plate, and a helm; this is so that, even when helmeted, he still has access to his goggles.

Other than that, it's pretty simple as far as helmets go. He did add the antennae just for funsies, but actually they're not really for funsies because he's Tech and everything he does has a Purpose (tm); they're incredibly sharp where they slot into the helmet and he can take them out as a secret weapon in life-or-death situations.

The other big thing is that the cheek guards of his helm are sculpted to look like Tern wings; Clone Force 99 are all Commandos, and as stated previously, Commandos are denoted by the fact that their helmets have wings mounted to them. Of the Batch, only Hunter and Cross have *actual* wings on their helms, but Tech and Wrecker still have the wing motif. (If you want to see the process behind this, and also what bird every Batcher claims, Evie and I had a long talk about it a few months ago, which I will link here. you may have to go into the notes to read the tags to get the complete picture but i assure you it's all there)

[sirfrogsworth]

This might sound like a weird question, but have you ever come across a camera with a Bird Watching setting? I have an Olympus SP-800UZ and one of the modes it comes programmed with is literally called that, for taking pictures of birds in the wild.

As someone whose special interest is birds, I love this setting and use it a LOT, but I've never been able to find another camera with a setting like it, and at some point I told myself I didn't want to replace the camera until I could find one with a similar setting.

The reason I ask is because I've been following for a while, and I've come to respect your opinions on photography.

I tried researching your camera and figuring out what exactly the bird watching mode does and even the official manual did not say. If I were to guess, it just sets the camera up with certain parameters that are usually ideal for photographing birds, but I don't think it does anything special that other cameras can't do. You would just have to set a different camera up to those parameters rather than the camera doing it for you.

If I were to guess, it probably enables a certain autofocus mode for small subjects and limits how slow the shutter speed can go so you don't get motion blur when very zoomed in.

However, I know exactly which features are important to get good bird photos, so as long as the camera has the following features, you don't really need a dedicated bird mode. Though if a camera has a "pet mode" it would probably work similarly to the bird mode you are used to.

Most important bird photography features...

Good autofocus

Good zoom range

Image stabilization (Either optical or sensor, not digital)

Autofocus has come a long way in the last few years. It's difficult to assess the autofocus from specifications alone, so you will probably need to rely on reviews to know if the camera locks in on subjects well. Some cameras have pet and wildlife autofocus features that can be very helpful in tracking smaller subjects like birds. So I would look out for any camera that has a pet autofocus mode or a review that says it locks onto smaller subjects well—even if they don't mention birds. If it can lock onto a chihuahua, it can usually do so with a bird too.

Birds and wildlife in general tend to get spooked easily and it is often difficult to get close without them running or flying away. So having a longer zoom range can really help you keep your distance and not startle your subject. I would say the minimum focal length for getting good bird shots is around 300mm (on a full frame camera). Some cameras only quantify their zoom by magnification (20x, 30x, 40x, etc.) and don't really say what that is in relation to. So focal length is a better metric to assess how zoomy a lens is. 10-35mm would be wide angle. 50mm is about like our eyes. 100mm is slightly telephoto. And 300mm and above would be very telephoto.

You may need to google the focal range equivalent to a full frame 35mm camera. So you would search "[camera model] 35mm equivalent focal range" to figure that out. And as long as it goes past 300mm, it might be a good candidate for birding.

When you have a camera that zooms in that far, any movement will be exaggerated—especially if you have naturally shaky hands. Not only can that introduce motion blur into your images, but it can make it very difficult to track your subject. Looking through the viewfinder will result in a wiggly mess and you won't know what you are pointing the camera at.

Image stabilization helps negate that exaggerated movement.

There are 3 kinds of stabilization. First is optical, which is built into the lens with a floating glass element. Then there is sensor stabilization (often called IBIS for "in-body image stabilization") which allows the sensor to shift and move to counteract any motion introduced by your hands. And the last form is digital stabilization which is done using the camera's software.

The first two are physical solutions that can adjust on the fly much like a chicken's head.

The digital solution is mostly just fancy image cropping. It zooms in a tiny bit on your image and then aligns a continuous crop to give the appearance of a stable image.

The lens and the sensor are still a jiggling mess, but this constant cropping allows you to see the illusion of a stable image in your viewfinder and in the videos you take. And while this is very helpful for tracking subjects and capturing video footage, it will not help you negate motion blur—which is why the other two methods are preferred for still photography.

Bigger cameras can often forego stabilization because the zoom lenses are bigger and heavier and don't shake as much and they let in a lot more light so you can raise your shutter speed to freeze motion. It's still nice to have, and if you have IBIS and optical stabilization combined on a big camera you can almost take pictures in the dark without camera shake, but all of those conveniences can get costly.

The camera you have now is called a "bridge" camera or a "superzoom". These are (relatively) inexpensive cameras that use a smaller smartphone-style sensor but with a more classic camera body surrounding it and a non-changeable lens. Small sensors have one big advantage where if you put a zoom lens in front of them, they can see from Alaska to Russia.

For instance, your camera has an 840mm equivalent lens. That is near telescopic.

For reference, this is what an 800mm lens looks like for a full frame professional camera.

It weighs 10 pounds and costs about $13,000.

Granted the image quality of that lens is in another universe compared to your superzoom, but if you are mostly interested in documenting the birds you are encountering, a superzoom is a neat tool to have. It's like digital binoculars.

So I guess the question is, do you just want to document your bird adventures or do you want to delve into artistic bird photography?

You can upgrade to a nicer superzoom and get some improved clarity and ease-of-use features, which is totally valid. You could even get a "premium" superzoom that can do artistic bird photography in ideal lighting conditions.

Or if you go with a more professional interchangeable lens camera system (ILC), you can achieve some stunning artistic photos like these...

Freezing a bird midflight while catching a fish is just not really feasible with a basic superzoom.

Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a superzoom bridge camera as compared to a more professional ILC setup.

Superzoom Pros

No learning curve. These cameras are designed for novice photographers and have very good automatic functions. You can pretty much pull them out of the box and start taking pictures without knowing the fundamentals of photography.

Incredible zoominess. You can get amazing zoom power for a fraction of the price.

Budget friendly. The top of the line superzoom camera is still only about $1500 as compared to the top of the line mirrorless ILC (for wildlife) which is $6500 *without* a lens. And the lower to mid range superzooms are even more affordable, especially if you consider used options.

Superzoom Cons

Noisy images in low light. These cameras are mostly suited for bright sunny days. The small sensors and cheaper lenses do not capture very much light. In more challenging lighting situations you will tend to get very noisy images due to using a high ISO to compensate.

Inconsistent image quality. Under the best of circumstances, you can get some really beautiful photographs. But when you push the camera to its extremes, the image quality can start to deteriorate. Low light causes noise. The more you zoom in, the softer your images will get. Low megapixels limit your options to crop in on far away subjects—which is often an issue with wildlife.

Deep depth of field. A lot of bird photographers like using shallow depth of field to blur the background so the bird really stands out in the photo. Small sensors can have a very hard time blurring the background unless the subject is quite far away and you are zoomed all the way in. But when you are all the way zoomed in, the image can get soft and lack detail. So you trade image quality for a blurry background.

Lack of professional features and accessories. There are many advanced features that can make bird photography much easier. Some cameras have advanced motion tracking that can allow you to capture birds in flight. The latest generation can even track a tiny bird's eye. There are also accessories that are only made for ILCs. Like motion activated shutter triggers that will take a picture of a bird automatically if you set up a camera near a feeder. There are flashes that work at very long distances. You can get camouflage skins for your lenses so the birds can't see you. Stuff like that.

ILC Pros

Lower image noise. With a bigger sensor and better lenses you can shoot with a very low ISO in good light and get incredibly clean noise-less images.

Better high ISO performance. If you are in low light, you can increase the ISO and still get a very good image. The noise on an ILC is much less distracting and easier to deal with—especially with advanced noise reduction software.

Background blur is easy. Due to the much larger sensor and telephoto lenses, almost every telephoto image will have beautiful blurry backgrounds no matter how small the aperture is.

Sharper, faster lenses. The lenses are much sharper and let in a lot more light. The quality of the image does not decrease as you zoom in. And the sharp optics allow a lot of leeway for cropping. So even if a bird was super far away, you can crop the image after the fact and it will still be quite detailed.

More megapixels. A lot of bird photography needs to be cropped in due to subject distance. Having more megapixels allows for more cropping. (I know I keep talking about cropping, but it really is a huge aspect of most bird photography.)

Advanced autofocus. This is the big game changer, especially on the new mirrorless cameras. The latest Canon and Sony cameras have eye detect autofocus for animals. You can literally lock onto a bird's eye while it is in flight and get perfect focus. It's bonkers.

ILC Cons

Steep learning curve. A lot of people think they'll get a big ILC and immediately get better pictures than their smartphone. They are often disappointed when that isn't the case. You really need to learn the fundamentals of photography to get good photos out of an ILC (free course here). They do have automatic modes, but without learning about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (the exposure triangle) and how to balance them and when to prioritize what, you might end up with *worse* photos than a smartphone.

Wildlife photography can get very expensive. Big lenses with a lot of zoom are some of the priciest available. There are some budget options, but you will have to sacrifice quite a bit of zoom and light-gathering capabilities. The quality of the photos is usually worth it, but you may have to learn how to get closer to birds to photograph them.

Heavy as heck. Superzooms are very light and portable. A wildlife ILC configuration is very unwieldy. The camera is heavier. The lens is long and heavy. Carrying all of that gear into the wilderness can be quite a hassle.

Some camera suggestions...

Superzoom Options

If I'm being honest, in the sub $300 range, I don't think you'll be able to drastically improve over what you already have. All of the cameras in this range are quite similar and while a few might have some features that are helpful, the image quality is going to be roughly the same.

You are probably going to need to spend at least $400-700 to get a meaningful upgrade from what you have.

The top-of-the-line superzoom would be the Sony RX10 Mark IV at $1100 used. You can get the previous model, the Mark III, for about $900 used. It's a wonderful camera and the image quality and features rival or even surpass some ILC options. If you don't have the time to learn an ILC system but want the best possible quality, this might be an option. But an ILC will still give you better results if you are willing to put in the time.

For more mid-tier superzooms, you might look into the Panasonic Lumix models. They use slightly larger sensors than most superzooms and are known for their lens optical quality along with their stabilization.

The FZ1000 is getting very old, but it is still a powerful camera at a good price. The only downside is the focusing system isn't as advanced as newer cameras. But it will be better than what you have and you can find one used for around $400.

The newer FZ1000 II or the FZ2500 would be great options that have more modern autofocus and a lot more bells and whistles. They are fairly similar and can both be found for around $650 used. They do great video as well.

These are not the only options, but they are ones I know of and models I have heard positive things about. If you want to see what else is out there I would google "bridge superzoom cameras" and then maybe add your price range as well. Read reviews and watch YouTube videos to get a sense of the cameras you are interested in. As long as the camera has decent autofocus, I don't think you need a specific bird feature—so I wouldn't limit yourself in that regard.

ILC Options

When trying to come up with a good bird photography setup for interchangeable lens cameras, there is basically an easy, medium, and hard mode depending on how much you spend.

As I mentioned, the top-of-the-line mirrorless cameras have autofocus tracking that can lock onto a bird's eye while in flight. They have both IBIS and lenses with optical stabilization. They have burst modes that let you take 30 photos per second. They have 50 megapixel sensors that allow you to crop to your heart's content and still have megapixels left over.

It's quite dreamy if you have the money.

But I'm guessing if you are coming from an Olympus bridge camera that is probably a bit more of an upgrade than you were thinking.

So if easy mode is not viable, let's talk about medium and hard mode.

If you still want the bird detecting autofocus, in body image stabilization, and a pretty zoomy lens, Canon has some newer mirrorless cameras that would take amazing artistic bird shots. It's still spendy, but not $9000 spendy.

The Canon R7 is a great APS-C mirrorless camera with IBIS that can be found used for about $1300. It has 32 megapixels and due to having a slightly smaller sensor, you even get some bonus zoom out of all your lenses at about 1.6x. It's still a much larger sensor than a superzoom, just not quite the size of the Alpha 1.

Alpha 1 is Full Frame. R7 is APS-C. And Superzooms don't get any bigger than the 1" sensor.

Pair the R7 with the RF 100-400mm lens ($600 used) with optical stabilization, and you would have a stellar bird photography setup for about $1900. (It would be a 160-640mm equivalent lens on the R7 due to the 1.6x crop factor.)

Which is probably still way more than you want to spend.

So we have the hard mode option.

No bird eye autofocus. No stabilization. You have to learn the fundamentals and practice in order to get good shots. However, wildlife photographers have been getting AMAZING photos with the gear I'm about to suggest. In fact, all of these photos were captured with the hard mode ILC combo.

The Canon 7D Mark II has been a beloved camera body for wildlife photography for many years. Many pros still use it to great effect to this day. It doesn't have bird autofocus, but it still has one of the best DSLR autofocus systems that was ever developed. It can even track moving subjects, it just doesn't know it is tracking a bird so it is more prone to error on occasion. It can be found used for $500-600.

The Canon 400mm F/5.6 telephoto lens is one of the most affordable lenses Canon ever made for wildlife. It is an old lens, but it is sharp and takes beautiful images. No stabilization, but it is big and heavy so that isn't a huge deal. You can also carry a monopod rest it on. And on the 7D II, it is the equivalent of a 640mm lens. It costs around $650 used, which is very inexpensive compared to other telephoto lenses.

So you are looking at around $1200 for the combo. But the photos you can achieve with these two items will blow pretty much any superzoom out of the water.

To sum up...

ILC photography is always going to have a steep learning curve and expensive barrier for entry, but you can achieve some truly stunning results.

Superzooms are getting better and some of the newer ones can still take excellent pictures of birds under the right circumstances. They are lightweight and hassle free and allow you to get incredible zooms for a low cost.

If you mostly take photos of stationary birds outside on bright sunny days, you will be fairly happy with a superzoom.

If you want to take photos during darker times like sunrise or sunset or in a dense forest... or if you want to take photos of birds mid-flight, you will probably have to get an ILC.

I hope that was helpful. I know I overdo these answers, but I try to help as many people as I can by giving a broad overview of the topic and the myriad ways to go about things.

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 7

General Hux gazed impassively out the viewport as the gleaming skyscrapers of Coruscant came into view. The planet swarmed with sentient beings of every species, their buzzing activity a hive-like magnification of what lurked within his own breast. Duty called him to this gathering of First Order elites, yet part of him would rather be anywhere but immersed in beings. A quiet presence at his side drew his gaze, finding JR-6025 attentively scanning the horizon as well. She seemed rather quiet and in deep silent contemplation before such a lively setting. He smiled. How strange that this trooper's calm company soothed him more than any other's.

"Your first time setting eyes on the galactic capital, I presume ?" He asked. She nodded, eyes wide with wonder behind her visor. A faint smile softened Hux's stern features. "It can be overwhelming. But, this city is at the very heart of the First Order. A place unlike any other. The center of all trades and a great well of knowledge for those who know how to look and listen."

JR-6025 remained quiet as she listened to his words.

"…Isn’t it the planet where Imperial cadets are trained ?" She asked. She had heard about the academy and the way Imperial cadets were trained…and of their cruel and cut-throat programme of training and indoctrination. She shivered just at the thought and glanced at general Hux. Hux's faint smile hardened at the mention of the Imperial academies scattered across Coruscant.

"Indeed, the Imperial doctrines were forged from fire here," he replied evenly. "No expense was spared in molding raw recruits into efficient extensions of the Empire's will. Survival of the fittest, they called it.."

His pale eyes softened as they met JR-6025's masked gaze. Instilling fear had its place as a control tactic, but when directed inward corroded even the finest steel over time.

"The First Order improves upon that legacy," he continued gently. "Where the Empire broke minds and hearts without care, we aim to temper souls into masterfully controlled weapons of precision and obedience through discipline, such is the way."

Reaching out, his leathered fingers brushed a subtle caress upon her armored wrist in a rare display of comfort. "Fear has its uses, JR-6025. It crafts the minds into perfections of order and obedience."

"…You have been through their training." She looked at him and noticed that even in the way he was sitting—there were the remnants of his education in the way he was positioned. He was straight and seemed tense all the time—ready for anything. She couldn’t even imagine how hard it must have been—for a child no less.

She wanted to apologise—but she knew it wouldn’t change anything. And besides, she couldn’t offer an apology for an ideology they were both fighting to keep and expand. She lowered her head and looked away. As the shuttle breached atmosphere and the bustling metropolis sprawled in all its dazzling chaos beneath.

She quickly stepped outside and looked around. It wasn’t like any planets she had ever visited. As a stormtrooper, JR-6025 had always been sent to rather unwelcoming planets or war-ridden places where the First Order wasn’t all powerful. But here…Here, the First Order was booming. She could see the banners and the civilisation buzzing with life. It was…not what she had expected from a planet ruled by the First Order. It was…alive. She looked back at general Hux—waiting for his instructions. A protocol droid came to get them and guided them to some big lodging with enough rooms to make her dizzy. Once the droid gone, she was once again reminded of general Hux’s presence and didn’t know what she should say or do…General Hux surveyed the grand accommodations with an impassive gaze, at home amid luxury yet still observing with a keen tactical eye. Turning to JR-6025, he noted her awestruck yet uncertain demeanor, familiar with her kind's unease away from familiar regimen.

"At ease, trooper. For the duration we are but diplomats, not dictated by ranks or codes. You may explore the grounds and experience what pleasures this gilded world has to offer," he said, voice modulated gentle yet commanding as ever. Then, a glint stirred in his steel gaze.

"Unless, of course, you'd care for a guide well-versed in Coruscanti intrigues ?" The faintest smirk edged his stern lips. For all his austerity, even he took secret delight in frivolities when duty permitted—and this trooper's company was growing from respite to something more anticipated.

"Come. I'll show you a sight that puts this plush prison to shame." Sweeping from the chamber, Hux waited for her by the door—to walk Coruscant streets alone, or witness its wonders through the eyes of one who knew both its light and shadows intimately.

She followed him dutifully.

Hux guided her through grand plazas and hovering skywalks with an intimate knowledge of the metropolis' layout. "There, that shaft leads to the Galactic Senate building. And beyond those spires lies the Jedi Temple ruins." His usually stern voice held a note almost conversational as he pointed out landmarks.

Coming to a high overlook, he paused. "Now this, troopers like yourself never see—the true heart of Coruscant, beating beneath the surface." Below stretched an endless metallic expanse, speeders whizzing between towering ziggurats and spiralling walkways.

JR-6025 gasped softly. Even Hux's usual aloof demeanour softened, taking in the breathtaking panorama with something like nostalgia. "Magnificent, is it not ? This planet's true majesty lies not in its gaudy glitter, but the ordered industry beneath."

"…Fascinating." She uttered in a whisper—her helmet hiding her expression of awe and admiration as to such marvel.

"…And the First Order controls it all ?"

General Hux's chest swelled with pride at her words. "Indeed. Through strength, discipline and vision, the First Order has brought unity and progress to this once fractured world."

He gazed out over the gleaming metropolis, each meticulously organized level a testament to his own exacting standards. "Chaos and corruption once reigned supreme, as the misguided Republic crumbled into warring fiefdoms. But we have restored order and stability through fair but firm rule."

Turning to JR-6025, his eyes shone with zealous conviction. "It is a vision that shall envelop the whole galaxy in time. World by world, system by system, the First Order will lift every being from lawless squalor toward their full potential." A faint smile curled his stern lips.

"I'm glad you witnessed this, trooper. Too often our true purpose is obscured by perception of brute force alone. But order, progression, enrichment of life—this is what we strive to cultivate across civilized space. And with operatives like yourself aiding our cause, ultimate triumph is assured."

"…And…what happens to those who cannot keep up with such modernity and its civilised ways ?" JR-6025 asked—already fearing the answer.

General Hux looked away and sighed.

"Not all worlds embrace progress willingly, it is true. Some peoples cling stubbornly to backward ways." He turned, leaning on the railing as his gaze grew stern. "Those who defy the Order's will and refuse our repeated offers of integration leave us little choice."

Hux studied his neatly gloved hands. "I will not lie—noncompliance is not tolerated. Planets deemed irredeemably hostile face...sanctions. Their infrastructure may be targeted to quash unrest and force capitulation." His voice hardened as he looked into the distance.

"It is an unpleasant reality, I know. But progress demands sacrifice. A few must suffer so many more may be lifted to new heights. Once integrated, even former dissidents enjoy improved standards of living under the Order's guidance."

Turning to her, his eyes softened. "It is not a path I relish, trooper. But as a strategist, I must consider the needs of the whole galaxy, and shape each world to maximize civilization's advance."

She hummed understandingly and leaned on the railing as well as her eyes took in the breathtaking sight once more.

"…Is it the reason you do it ? The reason you fight for the First Order. For civilization ? For a world where only order remains ?" She then looked at him. "…Or is it perhaps for glory ? A name to be made ? Do you wish for all to know the name of General Armitage Hux ?"

General Hux considered her questions carefully. This trooper had an uncanny ability to cut to the core of what moved him.

"At the start, perhaps ambition played too large a part in my designs," he admitted ponderously. "Rising through the ranks, establishing my House's legacy—such were primary motivators in my youth."

His stare grew distant, recalling origins steeped in shame seeking erasure through military might. But over decades shaping the First Order into an indomitable machine, perspective had evolved.

"In time, though, my vision expanded to encompass the galaxy entire. I came to understand the depths of rot and chaos that festered under the old regimes." Hux's eyes blazed with zealous belief.

"Order, discipline, unity of purpose—these are what shall propel the Order, and all civilization, to heights never dreamed. Through strength, we will forge a legacy not of one man, but of an eternal empire guiding the galaxy to peace and progress as never known."

His gaze found JR-6025's. "That, Trooper, is why I fight. And that vision alone shall see the First Order's legacy reign eternal."

She remained silent for a while before straightening up.

"…I know it is not my place to say, but I do believe in your greatness, sir. And I do admire your dedication to the First Order."

General Hux regarded the trooper with muted surprise. Few were so bold as to openly praise him so, yet her sincerity seemed beyond question. A warmth spread through him at her deep-seated loyalty, rare and precious as a Kyber crystal.

"Your belief in our cause is appreciated, JR-6025," he said quietly. Gazing out once more over the glittering expanse that was his vision given solid form, pride and purpose swelled within.

"It is operatives such as yourself, with unwavering dedication to duty and order, who will see the First Order truly triumph where all others have failed." Turning, he bestowed a small smile, meant as compliment beyond words.

"You have proven yourself an exceptional asset, Trooper. Therefore I am permitting you certain honors beyond your station." Reaching within his greatcoat, Hux produced a small metallic pin and fastened it to her armour himself.

"Wear this proudly—a token of my faith that together, through discipline and unity of purpose, we shall build a legacy to endure the millennia." His eyes gleamed with the weight of gloried futures yet to be forged through will and strength of arms.

She looked down at the pin and blinked twice in surprise before returning her gaze on general Hux.

"Thank you, sir." She felt proud and then lowered her voice as she whispered. "…And allow me to say that I believe in YOU. Always have. Always will."

General Hux stiffened almost imperceptibly at her hushed yet fervent pledge. Few had dared voice such intimate faith. Yet, he sensed no trap nor pretense—only steadfast belief in his vision, and in his leadership to see it realized.

Slowly, his stern features softened. "Your loyalty is a razor's edge, trooper, and all the sharper for it. In you I have indeed found a weapon to surpass even my calculations."

Grasping her pauldron gently, he gazed into her visored gaze with an intensity rarely afforded any being. "Together we have risen far, you and I. But farther still our empire shall reach, built on the cornerstones of faith like yours. Know that your dedication touches something deeper than mere strategy or protocol."

Releasing her, Hux turned once more to survey the glittering jewels below with a general surveying hard-won dominion. But within swelled a heat unfamiliar yet not unwelcome, born of her whispered oath.

"You speak frankly, JR-6025, beyond your station." His voice remained low yet modulated, gaze searching hers intently. Within her visor's reflective surface swam no guile or manipulation—only pure sincerity and deeper currents he dared not name.

"Greatness is a perception. Power, attainment, glory—these are but externals. To have earned even a single being's...faith, in what lies within..." Emotions ever elusive yet complexly woven through his being surfaced briefly, crafting a solemn sincerity upon lips more accustomed to disdain. "You honour me deeply, trooper. I swear to prove myself worthy of such belief, through strength of will and vision to forge a legacy of which we both may be proud."

She chuckled.

"Me ? Oh no, general. Not for me. For you see…If it is my validation you seek. You can have it. All of it. My faith in you never wavered. Never. Not once. You have nothing to prove to me—or to anyone. I know that you wish to prove yourself, but allow me to tell you that you…"

She took a step towards him and tilted her head.

"…you have NOTHING to prove. Your legacy is made. You are the general of the most powerful army in the galaxy…If I was being honest ? I strive to one day be but a little bit the man that you are."

General Hux stood immobilized as her impassioned speech washed over him. Never had any soul expressed such devoted faith in his intrinsic worth. Moments passed as he searched her visored gaze, finding only ardent sincerity meeting his own widened eyes. Then, slowly, warmth bloomed within like the dawning of some unknown sun. His lips curved ever so slightly, touched by unseen gentleness.

"Your loyalty astounds me, JR-6025...as does your perception." Lifting a hand, he softly traced the curve of her mask, longing to glimpse the eyes beneath lending him such unexpected solace.

"There is no praise I could offer to equal what I have heard from you." His palm lingered, transmitting a pulse of gratitude, respect—and something deeper, kindling in a heart that had long forgotten how to hope. At last, Hux smiled. "Come. It is time to get ready for the gathering ahead."

She smiled underneath her helmet.

"As you wish, sir."

She started walking back next to him and looked around at the city around them.

General Hux walked beside JR-6025 in reflective silence as they took in the glittering cityscape. An unseen burden had lifted from his shoulders, leaving room to truly see anew the magnificence wrought through his driven hand. Every gleaming tower and speeding airspeeder bore witness to his will given manifest form. Yet where before he saw only a machine of conquering supremacy, now deeper layers of meaning emerged. Here dwelled untold multitudes, each soul with potential to thrive and better the whole through unity and purpose.

His gaze found JR-6025 at his side, the spark that ignited this shifting perception. Within her words no judgement dwelt, only pure and unadulterated faith. And for her belief alone, worlds newly opened within his hardened heart. Coruscant shone ever brighter as in her companionship, new vision dawned.

General Hux’ protocol droid K-4 came to them when they were walking back to their lodging and informed him:

"Sir. It is. 6. pm. 1 hour and 30 minutes remaining until the. Gathering. You have. To. Get prepared."

General Hux nodded promptly before another droid came to lead JR-6025 to her bedroom where clothes and a mask had been provided for the night. General Hux quickly prepared to get dressed for the gathering. Once he was dressed, he went to JR-6025’s door and knocked.

"JR-6025. It is time to go."

He heard a faint commotion inside.

"Yes, general. I apologise. I am still getting dressed." General Hux nodded.

"Very well. No need to apologise. Take your time." General Hux waited patiently for Jr-6025 to finish up so they could head to the gathering. A few minutes passed and General Hux could still hear noises from her room. General Hux grew slightly impatient as he waited outside her door.

When she finally got out, she was dressed in the beautiful midnight gown with star-like patterns that General Hux had asked a droid to give to her the night before. She had her hair braided and her face was covered with a mask that General Hux had personally chosen for the occasion. She didn’t know if she would look the part as his plus one, but she would certainly try…

General Hux’s eyes widened slightly when he caught a glimpse of JR-6025. She was actually quite beautiful in the dress he had ordered for her. The dress suited her and he couldn’t help but look at her with awe. General Hux stood silent, admiring her and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She indeed looked the part as his plus one and he was quite happy with her appearance.

She remained silent, patiently awaiting judgment. General Hux was finally able to gather himself and was able to respond.

"I must say that the dress looks better on you than I had anticipated…"

General Hux slowly stepped forward and held his hand out to her, so she could take it and they could walk. She stared at his hand and smiled before hovering her hand over his.

"You know…It is not too late to change your mind." General Hux gave out a small laugh when she said this. For a split second, General Hux had that thought but quickly shook it off. General Hux was determined to have JR-6025 by his side and he was not going to change his mind now. General Hux slowly nudged his hand forward as he wanted JR-6025 to take his hand. He was already imagining the two of them walking into that gathering together. He kept smiling and was patiently waiting for her to finally take his hand.

She sighed in defeat and finally took it.

General Hux was pleased to see her take his hand and remained silent as they began to walk. He didn’t speak but, he was trying to fight the feeling of just wanting to stop walking and keeping her hand locked with his. JR-6025 stopped just as they were about to walk into the room. She held her breath. She hadn’t been nervous until that very moment. General Hux noticed that JR-6025 had gone completely silent and had stopped walking. He looked over to her and realized that she was starting to get nervous. He could sense her worry. He looked over at JR-6025 and spoke in a softer tone, so that she perhaps wouldn’t realize that she was going into this gathering with a First Order general.

"You’re doing fine. There’s nothing to be nervous about. You just need to stay by my side."

General Hux was now trying to comfort her. He smiled and spoke in a soft but reassuring tone. But, JR-6025 was starting to realise just how out of depth she was about to be…

"…What if I fail ? What if I embarrass you ?"

General Hux smiled and chuckled.

"You won’t fail. You won’t embarrass me either, JR-6025. You have got nothing to worry about. Just stay calm and I promise that you won’t disappoint me. All I need you to do is stand by my side and be yourself. It is quite simple."

"Will you guide me ?" She asked and instinctively squeezed his hand. General Hux smiled and gave a soft nod.

"Yes. I will guide you. All you have to do is stick by my side. Keep yourself calm and let me handle the rest. We’re going to be fine."

She nodded.

"What if people ask questions ?"

General Hux smiled and looked over at her as they walked.

"They won’t ask any questions. Just keep quiet and let me do all the talking. All you have to do is look pretty and stay by my side. That’s it."

She looked at him.

"What if something comes up and I cannot handle it ?"

General Hux looked over at her and spoke.

"That is not going to happen. Besides, I will be by your side to support you. All you need to do is simply stay calm and remain by my side. Keep your thoughts to yourself and don’t speak any more than you have to. You won’t disappoint me."

General Hux gave her a slight smile and gave her hand the slightest squeeze. He looked forward to getting through this gathering with her. General Hux felt something he had never really felt before. He didn’t know whether to love it or hate it. Part of him felt uncomfortable with this attachment he was feeling towards her but another part of him felt comfort from it. General Hux felt a little bit conflicted currently but he was trying to block out the negative thoughts.

She sighed and nodded before they started walking again and a thought passed through her head as they walked. A thought that made her shake her head in disbelief.

"…You could have had a princess." She uttered in a whisper and shook her head in disbelief. She deplored her own fate…General Hux was slightly surprised by her words when she whispered that he could have had a princess. The general then smiled and chuckled a little bit at her comment.

"Well…I didn’t want a princess. I wanted you."

JR-6025's breath caught behind her mask at the general's unexpected words. But before she could respond, the grand entryway loomed, filled with First Order elite in opulent finery. She gripped Hux's hand tighter for strength, sensing his own pulse quicken beneath pristine gloves. Then, his tone came firm and clear:

"Hold your head high. You are here as my equal, and any who question that will answer to me. Now, let us make our entrance—and start them wondering, shall we ?"

At her nod, they swept within together, the epitome of military poise and discipline. Yet beneath the surface, unfamiliar passions stirred, threatening long-held strictures. Would this forbidden dance end in the shattering of lives, or something more ? Announced, they began mingling amid lavish festivities. JR-6025 kept finely tuned to each subtle cue from Hux, charming dignitaries with poised discussion of policy. Her wit and intelligence impressed all—all save one, a visiting Lord who eyed her mask with disdain.

"A trooper, General ? I expected a worthier guest for our great general…." The man smirked.

General Hux's steely gaze cut to the haughty lord, smiling politely yet with an edge like a vibroblade. "Only results and loyalty impress me, Lord Javis. I find both attributes in my companion in quantities vastly exceeding your own."

Taking JR-6025's gauntleted hand securely in his, Hux lifted it to graze a subtle kiss upon her knuckles, never breaking the petulant lordling's stare. "While you quibble over trivialities, my associate excels at objectives that truly matter. So I suggest directing your contempt towards more productive ends."

As Javis sputtered—so did JR-6025. She hadn’t expected such a gesture from general Hux who then proceeded to ignore her eyes wide open in surprise. He turned smoothly to introduce JR-6025 to another esteemed officer. "Colonel Versio, allow me to present Trooper JR-6025—recently promoted to my personal attaché. Her strategic mind and courage in the field have proven time and again why she deserves the recognition."

Gleaming proudly beneath her mask, JR-6025 addressed Versio respectfully yet without reserve as to the extent of her admiration towards Colonel Versio’s recent wins on the battlefield. All the while, at her side Hux watched with an appreciative smile, pleased his plus one shone where superficial courtiers like Javis forever stumbled. Her radiance tonight far outshone any gem in the glittering hall—it was a light he found himself craving, like the true North star in this realm of false lights and misguiding beacons.

After that, JR-6025 seemed to play her part as the good company of general Hux. Her conversation was correct and quite interesting, but she then let general Hux do most of the talking as she decided to obey him and just stand by his side as he spoke. She looked around and saw people talking and dancing and eating…There were so many people, so many members and allies of the First Order…General Hux continued to walk with JR-6025 as they saw the many guests gathered within the room. General Hux noticed that JR-6025 was still holding onto his arm and he proceeded to gently pull her closer to him as as they kept walking from guest to guest. General Hux made sure to introduce her to many of the guests. JR-6025 smiled at them, but didn’t talk out of turn or without being absolutely sure that her words wouldn’t be considered offensive.

The evening proceeded smoothly, with JR-6025 charming all in attendance with her subtle wit and insightful discussion. Ever at Hux's side, she observed each interaction keenly, learning the intricate dance of power politics.

"You handle yourself admirably, as expected," Hux whispered to her with a small smile. She smiled back and didn’t say anything…not until she overheard people talking nearby and her blood froze in her veins.

"General Hux…How dare he show his face after such disgrace ?"

"The Starkiller base’s destruction. Such tragedy."

"Doesn’t he have any shame ?"

"To think he lost the Starkiller base..."

"No wonder. He is but a bastard. The rejected son of Commandant Brendol Hux and some kitchen woman…"

General Hux stayed silent as he attempted to avoid listening to them. He was tired and didn’t need to say anything. He knew many would be spitting on his name tonight…JR-6025 suddenly stopped walking however and all muttering and dark whispering stopped to look at her. She then detached herself from the General’s arm and looked around fearlessly at all who had dared insult the General. A bunch of snakes with venomous poison dripping from their gapping jaws…

"How DARE you ?! General Hux was at the origin of the Starkiller base ! He single-handedly annihilated the New Republic by destroying Hosnian Prime ! He is the closest general to have ever completely wiped out the Rebellion ! He promoted the development of new technology that allowed the First Order fleet to track targets through hyperspace ! So, if you dare question his competence as a First Order member ? Then, I invite you all to question your own judgment and investment to the new order !" She declared loudly and all the faces turned towards her in shock and she scrutinised each of them with a glare.

General Hux listened to JR-6025 and bit back a smile as no one dared to object. He knew he ought to stop letting her make a fool of herself—but he was too stunned and happy to care. He was enjoying thoroughly the way the other members all fell silent in front of the girl—the only one who he had ever heard stood up for him. Supreme Leader Snoke had always favoured Kylo and he had never felt good enough…but she had changed his perspective just by speaking her truth.

General Hux couldn’t help but be stunned by her declaration. His eyes were wide and he couldn’t stop smiling at how proud he felt towards her. General Hux watched as everyone fell silent and was actually shocked at this small stormtrooper standing up for him and making them all look foolish. General Hux was completely taken aback by this but at the same time he was incredibly proud of Jr-6025 for standing up for him like this. General Hux could clearly feel this attachment to her growing.

JR-6025 turned to face Hux once more, chin held high in defiance of all whispered slights. For a long moment their eyes held, an unspoken understanding passing between them amid the throng of onlookers frozen in shocked silence.

At last, Hux spoke, voice ringing cold and clear. "You have all witnessed trooper JR-6025's...fervent defense of my character and achievements. I expect any further disparaging remarks to be weighed...carefully, lest one find themselves sharing her candor."

A hush fell as his meaning chilled the sweltering air. Satisfied, Hux nodded dismissal, offering JR-6025 his arm once more. As they turned to circulate, he continued in lower tones:

"I thought I had made myself clear on your role that was to remain discreet and let me do the talking ?"

"I apologise, sir." She seemed genuinely ashamed as she lowered her head and General Hux chuckled.

"Hmm…No need." He replied before pulling her closer to whisper in her ear. "I’d take hearing you singing my praises over hearing one more platitude from any of them any day. I would however hate to see your own light dimmed by their venomous words…"

She met his gaze steadily. "There are greater risks than idle gossip, sir. And no star shines alone…Together, our light may eclipse all others."

A half-smile quirked his severe lips, approval and something more kindling unseen in pale eyes. "Ever the idealist, I see. We shall see if optimism serves where cynicism and strategy have...limitations. For now, circulate—but remain vigilant. Where vultures gather, carrion may not be far..."

Hux then swept onwards to mingle, leaving JR-6025 to contemplate deeper mysteries than any festive frivolity held.

She then proceeded to look around and let her ears catch onto any piece of information regarding the missing scavenger girl. If she was to hear of any clues concerning her whereabouts, they she could maybe use it to gain general Hux’s trust further without having to condemn Rey or Finn ? She hoped so anyway…JR-6025 circulated discreetly through the lavish festivities, discreetly gathering whispers and fragments amid gilded revelries. More and more, her sharp mind perceived subtleties in each dance of information, discerning truths obscures by artifice and agenda.

A scrap here, an inference there—slowly, clues accumulated. Through it all, her keen eyes followed General Hux across the glittering scene, observing with newfound understanding how he wielded calculation and charisma to subtle yet inexorable effect. Power, she learned, held many faces—and where best concealed, its grasp proved deepest.

At last, mingling brought reward. A passing dignitary, lubricated by libations, let slip cryptic word of Resistance missions targeting the Atzerri system. Piecing scraps within her processor's vault, hope kindled—if confirmed, this may aid the Finalizer's hunt while bolstering her standing with General Hux.

Sequestering her newfound knowledge, JR-6025 emerged renewed into the festive swells, circulating with poise and patience. Calculating eyes sought out General Hux, discreetly catching his notice amid social maneuvers. A subtle inclination of her mask conveyed her readiness, and promise, to impart discovery that may shift the tides of their looming conflict. For now, intimations would suffice—for the dance had only begun.

She was about to go to him when she saw him being surrounded by women. One in particular took General Hux’s hand and they started dancing together. JR-6025 was stunned by how flawless and graceful he seemed.

She didn’t even know that general Hux could dance…

JR-6025 observed the scene impassively from behind her mask, betraying no reaction. Over a lifetime's programming, she had learned much about controlling outward expressions that might endanger duty or mission objectives.

Yet within, unfamiliar stirrings arose as she watched the General glide effortlessly across the gleaming floor, every movement a precision calculation in itself. No movement was without purpose, just as each word he spoke held layers of meaning for perceptive ears. Nearing the dance floor's edge as the song swelled, she awaited her moment. When at last the pair spun gracefully past, she inclined her head slightly to catch the General's eyes.

A subtle gesture, yet one carrying her usual message—an opportunity had emerged, if he was ready to seize it. Duty before pleasure, as always. His own head bent almost imperceptibly in response—the barest signal her information was received, and invitation understood.

Soon. For now, the games of politics and pleasure continued apace. But whenever the music ended, JR-6025 would be waiting to share what secrets she had gleaned this evening. There, duty would resume its rightful place once more. She spotted him while dancing with the other woman and inclined her head discreetly to catch his eyes. He seemed to have noticed and given a subtle response. She smiled beneath her mask and waited respectfully for him to be done.

Soon enough, the song ended and everyone politely clapped. General Hux bowed to the woman who curtsied back and headed towards her companions. General Hux then briskly walked towards JR-6025’s direction looking determined.

She stood up straight as he approached.

"Sir. I believe I have obtained valuable intelligence during the evening."

General Hux walked directly towards JR-6025 with purpose, leaving his dance partner behind. Reaching her position discreetly along the perimeter, his eyes gleamed with keen interest behind customary stoicism.

"You have proven yourself a quick study in more than just battle, it seems," he murmured, the barest note of approval in his aloof tone. "Proceed."

JR-6025 proceeded to relay to him in hushed yet concise tones all that her diligent ears had heard—fragments overheard, locations matched to past intel, possibilities extrapolated. Her delivery remained dutifully calm and factual, yet an undercurrent of excitement threaded her words. This was why she had come, after all—to prove value beyond dance floors or decorum. To advance their cause through vigilance and ingenuity.

Her report delivered efficiently. Now she awaited her next task, ready to mobilize on his command.

He finally nodded.

"Alright, trooper. Well done. Continue your search and find as much information you can on the whereabouts of the scavenger girl and FN-2187. I shall gather intelligence of my own in the mean time."

JR-6025 snapped a crisp salute. "Yes sir, right away."

Her circumspect scanning of the festivities had already begun identifying useful contacts for further interrogation. A senior port authority with knowledge of lesser-charted routes, perhaps, or a mining consortium leader prone to loose lips after drinks.

Turning to depart on her new directive, some instinct made her pause and glance back. So many people dancing together. So many with graceful movements and delicate limbs perfectly matched or in sync with each other…Her eyes then landed on General Hux—watching over the crowd with sharp and attentive eyes.

Would he indulge her the fancy of a dance ? She wondered before shaking her head.

Ridiculous, of course. Sentiment had no place in their climbing ascension. Still, as when storm clouds shift unseen on the horizon, something intangible stirred within her. Shaking off such frivolities, JR-6025 melted back into the glittering horde. Her mission was clear: gather all intelligence that may shift the tide of war. Onward she glided through the crowds and rooms alike, an invisible ghost gathering secrets in service of a so-called far greater purpose. For the dawn of Order Absolute…until she had the unfortunate fate of brushing past a man whose hand quickly reached out for her arm.

JR-6025 stiffened as the man's meaty fingers closed around her slender wrist in an unyielding grip. "Unhand me at once," she demanded coldly, meeting his bulbous eyes with a venomous glare beneath her mask.

"Feisty, aren't you ?" he chuckled, bowing closer to leer amid cloying puffs of spice-laden breath. "Come now, a dance won't hurt, pretty."

JR-6025's blood ran cold as the man's grip tightened painfully. But before retaliation could come, a booming voice cut through the fray.

"Unhand her. Now."

The intruder flinched visibly at the ominous modified tones. Slowly, he turned to face the towering masked figure that was Kylo Ren, flanked by shadowy knights.

"L-Lord Ren, I meant no disrespect," the fool stammered, releasing JR-6025's wrist as if burnt. "A dance, nothing more, I swear—"

Ren's mechanical rasp cut him short. "Your sworn word is worthless, worm. Consider yourself fortunate I do not end you where you stand." A twitch of fingers, and the man gasped, clawing at his throat as invisible bonds constricted.

"Leave. And pray we do not cross paths again." As the blue-faced offender fled, Ren turned to JR-6025, looming over her diminished form. Behind his mask, keen eyes scanned for injury past rigid composure.

"You were wise to decline such degraded company, trooper," he growled. "But in future, do not hesitate to end scum yourself, if left no other option. Now go—I am sure your esteemed general awaits your return."

Before he could go, JR-6025 suddenly had the foolish and absurd urge to ask:

"Sir…I hate to ask but, do you know how to dance ?"

Ren froze mid-step at her unexpected question, coils of cape swirling about his armored form. Slowly, he turned to face her, unseen brows knitting beneath angular mask.

"You question my knowledge, trooper ?" The vocoder imbued even casual speech with menace, yet she sensed no active threat in his posture. Merely...curiosity.

Steeling herself, JR-6025 met his masked gaze evenly. "Dancing requires skill beyond combat, sir. As one familiar with passion's many forms, I surmised you might possess such...nuanced understanding."

For a long moment he regarded her in silence, weighing indignation and grudging respect in turn. At last, his wide shoulders dropped subtly from their battle-ready line.

"You presume much, yet not without reason, it seems." Gloved hands lifted in placating gesture. "I was trained in diplomacy's subtler arts as well, in a past I no longer claim. The steps remain, though the heart which moved them is...altered, let us say."

He extended a hand, mechanical voice softening marginally. "I take it you wished a lesson, then, trooper ? To deal more capably with such...importunities as you faced, should they arise again ?"

JR-6025 eyed the proffered hand, considering. Then, steeling herself once more, she placed her slender fingers within his leather-clad grasp.

"I am yours to instruct, Master Ren."

And so, in a secluded alcove far from prying eyes, their strange duet began.

Ren wrapped an armored hand gently around her waist, guiding her palm to rest upon his other gloved one, holding it aloft. "Relax. I will lead—follow my steps, and let the rhythm guide you."

At first JR-6025 was stiff, limbs feeling mechanical as her polished boot pressed back against his in the opening movement. But as the dance began in slow circles, his sure grip and the music's sway helped loosen her paralysis.

"Good. Breathe, and feel how I shift my weight to turn. Anticipate, do not react." His vocoder rumbled low encouragement as she began to glide with more practiced grace. Soon their measured paces flowed as one, JR-6025 losing herself in the dance. Her silver mask tilted up to meet his obscured one, sensing an intimacy beneath plates of transparisteel and durasteel which words could not adequately name.

"You learn quickly, for one untutored in the ways of society." Ren's growl belied an approving note. "Let passion inform your form, yet do not be ruled by it. Control stems from within; power means little without mastery of the self."

His lessons in dance held deeper metaphysical lessons, JR-6025 comprehended. As the music swelled towards climax, so too did a recognition pass between them—of kindred spirits seeking answers beyond what others deemed acceptable. The last notes faded, and they slowed in each other's arms, breathing hard. As the music faded, JR-6025 became acutely aware of how closely she was still held in Ren's grasp. Stepping back, she bowed her head respectfully.

"You are a master indeed, Lord Ren. I am... grateful, for this knowledge you have shared."

His vocoder buzzed cryptically. "Think nothing of it, trooper. Your...inquisitiveness, intrigues me." One leathered finger tilted her chin up to meet his obscured gaze once more. "There is darkness in you, barely tapped. With proper... cultivation, who knows what wonders might bloom."

She shuddered beneath his caress, sensing invitation—and peril—in his enigmatic words. This was not the comfort of familiar duty, but a plunge into unfathomable deeps.

"I live to serve the First Order," was all she said finally, as noncommittally as possible.

Ren straightened to his full, menacing height once more. "For now. But forces stir beyond mere politics and warfare, trooper. Keep your senses attuned. The night holds many mysteries...as do I."

"What mysteries do you conceal I wonder ?" She couldn’t help but smile cheekily and Ren's hulking form loomed over the diminutive trooper, aura darkening at her audacity. Yet within his vocoder, a hint of sardonic amusement thrummed.

"Mysteries enough to chill lesser souls to the core, trooper. Dark powers dwell within this galaxy's shadow places from which even I am not immune." His fingers twitched, as if longing to call those powers forth and demonstrate their potency. But restraint held reign, for now.

"As for what mysteries I conceal…" Heavy boots carried him into a slow prowl around her stationary form, obscuring mask gazing down intently. "Let us just say the darkness I command holds insight into energies long banned by the so-called Light. Powers that could transform one such as yourself from pawn to player upon the grand chessboard…"

Gloved hands emerged from beneath swathing robes to hover a hairsbreadth from her slight shoulders. Her every muscle tensed yet held fast, awaiting his next move with wary curiosity.

"Reveal to me, trooper—do you hunger for true strength, beyond what your master deign allow ? To wield abilities none other can claim, and walk free of restraint ?"

His vocoder now whispered sibilant promise dire and sweet.

"Me ? And what sort of darkness do you see in me, Lord Rem ?

Ren's helmet tilted, analyzing her challenge. His leathered grip tightened minutely upon her arm.

"Do not pretend ignorance, JR-6025. I see the rage that simmers beneath your rigid self-control...the hunger for more than this pale imitation of life they have crafted for you. You ache to break free of petty rules and find your true potential."

His vocoder lowered to a rumbling whisper. "I can teach you to embrace that darkness, not fear it. With me, you would command far more than mere trooper legions. Worlds would bend to our power. Does that not stir your blood, little soldier ?"

His free hand drifted to her masked cheek in a mockery of caress. "Let go your restraints, your manufactured purpose, and feel what it is to be truly free. Power. Passion. Purpose of your own devising, without limit. I can make you a god among these insects. All that I ask..."

His mask drew close, until she could feel its chill against her own. "Is that you pledge yourself to me. Body and soul, to do with as I will. Say you will be mine, JR-6025. And I will teach you things none in this galaxy comprehend."

Behind her mask, JR-6025's breath came short and fast.

"It is…a very tempting offer. But, I am afraid my loyalty is to the First Order. And General Hux." She smiled apologetically. "Besides, do not waste your time with a stormtrooper, Lord Kylo Ren. There is truly nothing special about me. I have absolutely no connection to the Force or the mysteries of the Universe."

Ren's masked helmet drew back sharply, as if struck. For a long moment he said nothing, armor creaking as gloved fists clenched and unclenched in palpable frustration.

Then his vocoder crackled coldly. "Do not presume to judge your worth, trooper. The Force flows through all living things—its currents merely lay dormant in the uninitiated. I sense your potential far exceeds such meager titles or duties."

One leathered finger jabbed accusingly against her mask. "You fear to seize your destiny, clinging instead to the meaningless scraps he deems your purpose. But you and I both know the true hunger that gnaws within—for revelation, supremacy, purpose beyond anything these political puppets could understand…"

His hand fell upon her shoulder in a crushing grip, mask drawing close once more. "Deny your nature at your peril, JR-6025. I offer the galaxy itself—surely a fleeting infatuation or hollow sense of duty cannot compare ? Come. Let me ignite the fires within you, and you will see how paltry such loyalties seem beside true power."

The magnetism of his words was almost impossible to resist, darkness a tantalizing siren call. At the same time, her duty held irresistible obligation...Conflict raged within, as Kylo Ren's grip seemed to physically manifest invisible bonds now straining. What path would she choose, when duty and destiny collided so ? In that agonizing moment of suspended choice, Ren knew he had found a kindred spirit indeed. One who understood viscerally the war between light and shadow within. Now was the time to press his advantage, bend her will to the service of a power greater than any mere ideology...

Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her and looked back to see none other than General Hux. He gave Kylo Ren a tight-lipped smile before putting a hand on JR-6025’s shoulder.

"May I have my plus one back, Ren ?"

Ren's cold gaze turned to regard the newcomer, rage smoldering behind circuits at the interruption. But Hux met his shrouded gaze fearlessly, hand squeezed almost imperceptibly upon JR-6025's shoulder in a gesture of both claim and comfort. For a long moment the Dark warrior and General faced off in tense standoff, wills locked in battle as potent as any physical clash. Ren sensed his prize slipping away, the void within crying out for completion of his gift to awaken her true power.

But Hux had seized upon the most effective tool to counter the knight's sorcery—simple, immutable duty. His presence anchored JR-6025's conflicted spirit once more in obligations Ren could not so easily sever with mere words alone.

At last Ren's vocoder crackled contemptuously. "For now, General. But this is not over. The spark has been lit, and I shall fan its flames until they consume all else. She belongs to powers you cannot begin to grasp."

With that veiled portent he swept away. Leaving Hux and JR-6025 locked in a silence far heavier than before Ren's intercession, duty and destiny's war made viscerally manifest in their very souls. JR-6025 shuddered as Kylo Ren's ominous words echoed in her mind. His vision of infinite power had almost tempted her to renounce all else. But now, anchored once more in duty by the General's steadying grip, clarity slowly returned.

Her place was here, serving the Order to which she had pledged her life. More than that—Hux had shown her kindness, respect, seen her potential when others saw only a number. To abandon that, for the shadowy allure of the dark side, went against her core. Yet Ren's words retained an insidious ring; his insights into her true nature unnerved in their accuracy.

Hux offered JR-6025 his arm calmly, ever the paragon of rigid self-control. But when she took it, fingers wrapped his armored wrist instead, as if to reassure herself of anchor amid the tempest loosed this fateful night.

JR-6025 smiled behind her mask as she took Hux's leather-clad hand in her own. "Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, general Hux ?"

His answering smirk held a familiar note of cunning amid cool detachment, a spark stirring in icy eyes as he drew her close. "Very well, trooper. But, I must warn you. I have little patience for fumbled footsteps upon such important occasions as these."

She met his challenging gaze steadily. "You'll find I am a quick study, sir, and hope not to disappoint." As the music began in drifting swells, JR-6025 allowed herself to follow Hux's graceful lead with growing confidence.

Each turn and step flowed smoothly as they glided across the gleaming floor, the perfect picture of coordination and command. But beneath the dutiful rhythm, JR-6025 sensed lingering turbulence from Ren's provocative encounter.

Leaning closer to Hux's angular jaw, she murmured where only he could hear, "My place remains at your side, General, as it has always been. Your guidance alone do I heed."

His pale eyes flickered down to meet her obscured gaze, a flicker of something—approval ? possessiveness ?—kindling in their icy depths. "See that it remains so, trooper. Your...talents, would be wasted following that wayward fool into darkness."

As the dance carried them on, JR-6025 sensed an unspoken belonging reinforced in Hux's firm yet respectful grip. Whatever mysteries the night held, for now duty and a will stronger than shadow's siren call would be her anchors in the light. As the music swelled towards its crescendo, JR-6025 became keenly aware of how closely she and Hux now moved in their waltz, bodies melding with practiced synchronicity.

His sure grip radiated palpable strength, daring her to match his poise and precision through the dance's most intricate maneuvers. Sweat sheened their brows, yet never for an instant did composure or control falter. At last the final notes rang out across the gleaming hall in a vibrating echo, leaving them breathless yet standing proud as the sole occupants of a bubble apart from polite applause. Chest to chest they paused, regarding one another in that surreal interlude suspended from reality's constraints.

"You acquitted yourself admirably, as I knew you would. Let no mongrel words divide what is mine, is that understood…trooper ?" His soft rasp held veiled threat that sent a shiver down her spine, even as a flush of fierce belonging replaced conflict within her heart.

JR-6025 nodded, lips curving behind her mask in a subtle smile. "Crystal clear, general. I belong at your side—now and always."

The General's sculpted lips curled at her affirmation, a glint of primitive satisfaction lighting icy eyes. "As well you should remember, my resourceful trooper."

His arms withdrew reluctantly as their private moment ended, duty calling them back into the glittering throng. But some subtle shift had occurred, resonance of a deeper bond beyond mere ranks and titles stirring in their united souls. Ren's seductive shadow-call now seemed distant, obscuring memories of who and what she was: a tool of Order, forged in rigid discipline yet nurturing sparks of more within. Loyalty and finding belonging mattered most. With Hux's discerning eye to hone her talents, who knew the heights attainable ? For now honing skills and learning all she could from him fulfilled deepest drives for meaning and mastery.

Thus resolved, JR-6025 proceeded the rest of the evening as Hux's shadow; observing, listening, learning from each subtly waged interaction the finer points of dominating through guile and demonstrating one's mettle. Subtly too she noted who among the Order's elite seemed most valued—or viewed with disdain and distrust. Information was power, after all, in this nest of aspiring avians and lurking serpents.

"I will continue my mission—if you’d allow me ?" She asked general Hux who smiled and nodded.

"Go."

She nodded before going near the buffet and General Hux stayed behind, his eyes lingering on her. He smiled and then, a voice made itself heard next to him.

"So…It seems you also brought a stormtrooper as your plus one, General Hux ?" He heard a familiar voice say behind him and didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The voice continued.

"Captain Phasma." He acknowledged.

"General Hux." She acknowledged back and smiled. "Rather impressive. She succeeded in making all of those who hate you hate you a little less…"

General Hux quickly turned towards Phasma with a subtle grin on his face. He was enjoying the fact that his plus one had managed to impress everyone in the room as well. General Hux was hoping that she would be able to keep up the same energy throughout the party. General Hux was feeling more and more attached to JR-6025 at what he perceived as being a successful appearance.

General Hux gave Phasma a subtle smile in response and spoke.

"Indeed she has. She has managed to impress all of us, not just me. It seems like I made the right choice when I decided to bring her with me tonight."

Captain Phasma nodded and smiled back.

"…I know this stormtrooper. She fought with me on Takodana rather valiantly. And yet, I heard that you had made sure she doesn’t get a promotion. Too bad. She seemed to have all the qualities required to become a great sergeant…unless you have ulterior motives—of course." Captain Phasma glanced at him knowingly.

General Hux’s smile faded when Phasma brought up the notion that he had ulterior motives towards JR-6025. She seemed to be perceptive enough to figure out there was something else going on and she even pointed out that he was keeping any potential promotion away from JR-6025. General Hux was still feeling a little bit proud because of her recognised bravery, but this comment by Phasma had caught his attention and he wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to let her find anything out.

General Hux remained silent for a few moments and was thinking of the best way to respond without giving too much away. General Hux had to deny what she was saying because she was beginning to get a little too close to the truth. General Hux didn’t like the idea that his plans may be discovered or that he was being so transparent. General Hux was beginning to realize that Phasma was quite observant and he had to come up with a response that would not make it seem like he had something to hide.

General Hux gave out a fake laugh as he spoke.

"You have quite an imagination, Captain Phasma. How ridiculous for you to assume just because she was so brave and intelligent on the field that I must have some ulterior motive in not promoting her. I am simply making sure that she remains focused on her duties within the First Order. She is just a simple stormtrooper and I know it would be too much to throw promotion too early. It’s always too easy to be seduced by power and I would not want that to happen to her."

"Right." Captain Phasma had a small amused smile playing on her lips. "So thoughtful of you, general."

General Hux tried to let out a little chuckle. He knew that Phasma could see through this charade, but he was too proud to admit anything. He was feeling a little irritated because it felt like she saw right through him. General Hux was starting to wonder if he may be too transparent and too vulnerable with Phasma here. General Hux was trying to keep his cool when he spoke back to her.

General Hux continued with his charade as he replied back.

"Exactly. My focus is making sure that she remains level headed and focused on her duties."

"Oh yes. I am quite sure your intentions are in perfect alignment with the ones of the First Order. But, are you sure that the reason you are refusing JR-6025 a promotion isn’t because of…more personal reasons ?" Captain Phasma kept a knowing smile on her face as she looked at him once more.

General Hux couldn’t help but chuckle at her statement. She was getting way too close to the truth.

"How ridiculous of you to assume there is anything personal between JR-6025 and I. I simply am choosing to not promote her at this time because I believe she is still too inexperienced. You would want your soldiers to be level-headed and aware no ?"

"Of course, sir." She grinned as she brought a glass of champagne to her lips. "How ridiculous indeed…"

General Hux remained calm to not betray any emotion on his face. He was still trying to play it off as if he was being nothing but truthful. Captain Phasma was really beginning to make him feel nervous. General Hux tried not to let her affect him. But she was getting way too close to the truth. General Hux had to think of a good counter for what she was saying to keep the charade going. General Hux spoke back.

"Perhaps you feel you know better than I who should deserve a promotion in the First Order ?"

That seemed to make Phasma reconsider her direct approach.

"I would never assume to be any better than you are at your job, sir. I have the utmost respect for you. But…" Her smile faltered for a second "…does JR-6025 know ?"

General Hux’s anxiety seemed to increase as the conversation was going on. She was coming dangerously close to discovering his true intentions regarding JR-6025. General Hux tried to keep his calm and spoke in a low tone.

"What do you mean ? Know what ?"

Phasma suddenly lost her smile as she looked down at Hux—reminding him suddenly of their height difference.

"Does JR-6025 know that she is no longer First Order property—but yours exclusively ?"

General Hux suddenly froze. His breathing was fastened from the shock of her question and his heart was beating fast from this situation. General Hux looked deeply into Phasma’s eyes. Phasma was quite perceptive which is what made her so deadly. General Hux had to watch what he said at this point.

"Do not bring up any absurd conclusions like that. JR-6025 is not my personal property. That would be absurd."

"Is that so ?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Forgive me. I must have been misinformed then."

General Hux tried to play it off with a subtle grin as he responded.

"We all make mistakes. I assure you that this is indeed one of those times where you are just misinterpreting the situation. JR-6025 is by no means my personal property. She is just a simple stormtrooper that I have chosen to bring with me tonight. There is nothing to read into this situation beyond that."

"Of course…" Captain Phasma chuckled. "Then if anyone would take her away from you, it wouldn’t bother you one bit, would it ?"

General Hux’s heart started to beat even faster in his chest as she asked that question. He was very afraid that she had actually read between the lines. General Hux had to be very careful with how he responded. General Hux would not let anyone take Jr-6025 away from him. But he was also trying not to be too obvious about it.

"Why don’t we stop assuming things, Captain Phasma. There is nothing personal between myself and Jr-6025—" General Hux could not even finish that sentence.

"Come on, general. Your eyes haven’t left her since the moment you both walked in. You barely give me a glance every morning, and I may be the closest to an ally you have within the First Order." She smirked.

General Hux was not expecting that she would make this observation. Was General Hux really becoming too attached ? Why was this bothering him so much ? He felt completely off and he was starting to lose his cool.

"How ridiculous. I cannot look away for a moment without you making assumptions."

Captain Phasma chuckled.

"I am merely stating facts. Your eyes haven’t left her. Not for one second. Well, until I arrived anyway." Again General Hux felt all of his anxiety build as he realized how transparent he was becoming. He was aware of the fact that he had been staring at Jr-6025 all night long, not wanting to miss a single second of her. He also felt a wave of anger and annoyance build as she kept pointing out things that he did not want her to point out. General Hux decided he needed to turn this around somehow. General Hux was silent for a bit, deciding what to say next. It was clear that Phasma was getting under his skin and he wanted to try and turn this whole thing around. General Hux wanted to gain the upper hand again. He looked straight at her and tried to speak in a very composed way.

"My eyes haven’t left her because I was simply observing her behavior here. I need to make sure that she behaves herself and doesn’t do anything embarrassing here tonight. That is all."

"Ah. Of course." Phasma hummed—unconvinced. She then gave the room a quick glance and realised that…you were nowhere on sight. "Then, I am sorry to inform you that your plan has failed and your little stormtrooper is nowhere in sight."

General Hux felt a sudden urge to panic. He was now aware of the fact that JR-6025 had disappeared and he had no idea where. He was unsure of how long she had been gone and General Hux looked around quickly to try and find her but all he saw was Phasma with a smug smile on her face. General Hux felt that she had set him up and he quickly spoke to her.

"Where is she ? Where is JR-6025 ?"

Captain Phasma shrugged.

"She left towards the gardens. A few minutes ago."

General Hux felt his pulse spike at Phasma's words. After their charged dance, he hadn't meant to lose sight of JR-6025, yet here he was—played for a fool in front of his own subordinate. Quelling a scowl, Hux squared his shoulders coolly. "Thank you, Captain. I should attend to my..." He caught himself just in time, aware of Phasma's mocking stare. "...to ensuring proper protocol is maintained. Enjoy the festivities."

He exited briskly, abandoning Phasma's insolent smirk for the solace of the crystalline gardens. Their scintillating blooms soon led him to a shadowed alcove, and a figure swathed in moonlit silver.

JR-6025 stood pensively among fragrant clusters, seemingly lost to thought. At the crunch of his boots on gravel, her helmeted head turned swiftly. "General ! I did not mean to abscond, I only wished a breath of air after—"

Hux raised a gloved hand, forestalling excuses. "Think nothing of it, trooper. I merely wished to..." He trailed off, momentarily at a loss beneath her visored gaze. Stepping closer, he resumed softly, "To ensure you found this place...as relaxing a respite as I." His fingers traced the petals of a glittering hyperflora, eyes following their delicate contours. "Phasma's taunts know no bounds, it seems. But here, we need not face such insolence."

She chuckled.

"Captain Phasma is an excellent captain. She has saved me and my comrades many times…"

A wry smile curled Hux's thin lips at JR-6025's response. "That she is, though it seems her skill at command extends also to...needling vulnerabilities, where she senses them."

His pale eyes gleamed with cool purpose once more as gloved thumbs massaged her plated palms affectionately. "Make no mistake, I respect Phasma's prowess immensely. But here, now, there is a...higher authority whose favor I seek."

JR-6025 tilted her masked face inquisitively towards the General as he caressed her plating in a clandestine gesture most unlike protocol. Yet his intentions sparked no alarm within her, only intrigue towards nuances beyond codes she'd been crafted to comprehend until now.

"Phasma sees much, as befits a commanding officer," she ventured softly. "But perhaps some things evade even her keen sight." Lithe fingers wound gently through his in reciprocation, testing boundaries both craved yet feared in equal measure.

"Your vision, sir, encompasses far more than mere strategy. Each lesson you share expands the possibilities of what I might achieve." Eyes flared with earnest longing to justify his faith where others saw but a disposable toy soldier. "My purpose remains to serve—yet also to evolve under your discerning tutelage into something…"

She trailed off, sensing dangerous currents in words left unsaid. Around them blooms swayed languid as perfumed sighs upon the whispering breeze, dappling moonlight across their clandestine congress. Out there conspiracy brewed, but in this bowered cocoon another power held fuller sway.

His hands prowled the intimate mysteries of her form with sensual care. "Let go rigidity's chill grasp, feel the imperative fire your potential hints at—and become the revelation I foresee." Lips grazed the chill of her mask where a flush of understanding might bloom. "Dare to evolve, JR-6025. Become mine. "

JR-6025's breath came short, mind racing at the implications behind General Hux's provocative offer. To renounce protocol's rigid grasp and embrace a higher, more intimate purpose under his singular tutelage—the prospect both terrified and exhilarated in its audacity.

Meeting his piercing stare steadily, she attempted rationale. "Sir, while your faith in my abilities humbles, a trooper's function remains utilitarian. We are but tools to further Order's mission as deemed fitting."

Yet his roaming hands tracing her waist with gentle feather-light touches awakened sensations beyond what she knew, stirring turbulence in her formerly disciplined heart. When had duty's lines blurred so, between this man's charismatic orbit ? Hux smiled, a reptilian gleam of ambition in icy eyes. "Do not think to instruct me on what is fit, my resourceful trooper. I alone determine Order's designs, as I do yours." Gloved fingers lingered beneath her chin commandingly.

"Deny if you must. But, I see potential begging to be found…" His intensity ignited answers to questions she'd not known to ask. In the gardens—away from prying eyes—she felt…more.

Softly, borrowing his courage, she replied. "Then guide me, General, to walk new paths of understanding. I would…evolve, under your hand."

In Hux, Order. In Order, destiny. And in destiny…Two sapphires burning bright…The eyes of general Hux filled with ambition and unfulfilled purpose. General Hux regarded his loyal protege, unspoken understanding flaring between them. Few dared match his will and vision with such acuity, let alone offer soul's depths to shape as clay.

"Well spoken, soldier," Hux murmured approval. "Your dedication to Order's ascension heartens."

For a lingering moment they remained, breaths mingling intimately behind twin barriers. Both wearing masks. Yet duty remained. With evident reluctance, Hux withdrew. "Come, JR-6025. I believe we have much to do…"

JR-6025 slipped from the blossom-berved bower's lush confines to fall in step beside General Hux as they began the return to gleaming corridors where duty waited.

Yet for moments lingering, some hidden tendril of sentiment curled warm in her core recalling how his eyes had glimmered upon her, seeing promise of greater things to be. Though duty called them each to solemn purpose, in that private grove another truth had flowered, bright as the glitterflora.

"General." She kept her tone level, professional despite fleeting fancies. "My purpose remains to the Order. Its perpetuation and betterment are the sole objects worthy aim. If through your direction I may evolve to more fully realizing such goals, no reservation shall I harbor."

A respectful distance separated them as befit rankings, yet she risked a glance aside.

"Your vision gives shape to our collective destiny, General. Where it leads I shall follow, without hesitation or doubt." Gloved hands folded at the small of her back, she straightened proudly. "My skills are at your full disposal. Command me as best furthers our righteous cause."

General Hux hummed before asking JR-6025:

"Indeed, trooper. Now, tell me…What intelligence did you manage to gather ?"

JR-6025 nodded shortly.

"Very well, sir. I believe the enemy is hiding in the Atzerri system. I have done my research and we recently received a message from one of our spies there who claimed to have some potential leads, General. Names and last known locations of suspected Resistance collaborators to interrogate."

A satisfied smile crept onto Hux's pale features.

"Excellent. We shall meet with our operative and have them give us the full intelligence package. It's time I took a more...personal role in the search."

He looked to JR-6025 expectedly. "And you, Trooper, will accompany me on this mission. I have a feeling your unique skills will prove most useful as we extract whatever secrets may lead us to our enemies."

She nodded.

"Yes, sir. I’ll do my best to help you and the First Order."

A traces of a smirk played at Hux's pale lips. "Well spoken, as always. Your loyalty will not go unrewarded, trooper. Now, prepare yourself—we leave for the Atzerri system tonight. Just after the end of the gathering."

JR-6025 nodded and took her leave, hoping her methods would continue guiding them both toward restoring peace through understanding, not just vengeance. Time would tell what secrets awaited them in the stars ahead.

But part of her wondered what secrets this far-flung system might yet unveil. And what path her partnership with the enigmatic General Hux would forge. His methods were severe, yet she sensed in him a deeper wisdom that could guide them to lasting victory without needless bloodshed.

Her thoughts wandered to the cryptic words of Kylo Ren, warning of Hux's supposed deceit. She couldn't make sense of his intent—was it a power play to undermine command, or did lingering gratitude for her saving his life prompt genuine concern ?

Either way, she trusted her own intuition above the anarchic ramblings of an unstable force user. Hux had proved himself a strategist who valued duty and discipline above all. Together, their coordinated skills could piece together the map to Skywalker and crush the Rebellion at last. Her thoughts returned to FN-2187 and she sighed.

She hoped that he would be far away from Atzerri.

Zipping her bag closed in her room and leaving the fancy outfit on the bed, JR-6025 rose with purpose and headed for the shuttle bays. A new chapter in the war was unfolding. JR-6025 strode with fluid grace toward the gleaming hangar bay where General Hux's shuttle awaited. Though purpose sang keen through her enhanced veins, hidden currents eddied in recesses of her refined mind.

Ren's ominous words still lingered, shade amid the harsh glow of duty. She trusted Hux's vision, his strategic acumen and dedication to the Order's righteous cause. In him she sensed a guiding intellect that could steer them to victory through coordinated effort, not wanton brutality.

Yet doubt nagged at reasons behind Kylo's warning—was it truly spawned from instability alone ? Ren claimed to see deeper verities than most, though obscured by passion's tempestuous tides. And Hux himself remained an enigma, calculating eyes betraying depths beyond what met the gaze. As she marched past sleek TIE fighters toward the shuttle's lowered ramp, JR-6025 paused. Gaze drawn upward through viewports to endless night skies strewn with distant worlds, reflections stirred.

Out there amid the stars' chorus of mysteries lay answers to the war rending the galaxy. Sought both as prizes of conquest and balms for the conflicted soul. She would see this mission through with Hux, have faith in his objectives aligning with the greater peace she envisioned.

On the edges of perception, tantalizing futures flickered—lives rewoven across parsecs under compassion's weaving hand, bloody strife redeemed to purpose higher. All hung in the balance of each moment's choices. With steadied breath, she turned to face her fate, whatever secrets the shuttle's hold might birthetch aboard.

[nareshkumartech]

How Canadian Licensing Systems Protect Against Identity Fraud

Identity fraud is a growing concern worldwide, and Canada is no exception. As licenses increasingly serve as key forms of identification for banking, travel, and government services, Canadian licensing systems have had to evolve with robust security measures to protect against identity fraud. Whether you are applying for your first license or renewing an existing one, it’s important to understand how these systems work to safeguard your personal information.

1. Advanced Physical Security Features

Modern Canadian driver’s licenses are embedded with multiple physical security features designed to make them extremely difficult to forge or tamper with. These include:

Holographic overlays: Special images that appear when the license is tilted, making duplication extremely difficult.

Microprinting: Very tiny text that is not visible to the naked eye but detectable under magnification, preventing easy reproduction.

Ghost images: A faint second image of the license holder that helps prevent photo swapping.

Raised lettering: Some jurisdictions use raised text that you can feel, adding another layer of protection against fakes.

These built-in technologies make it easy for authorities and businesses to quickly spot a fraudulent license during routine checks.

2. Digital Data Encryption

Canadian licensing systems now store driver data in encrypted databases, making unauthorized access to personal information extremely difficult. When information is transferred — such as when police scan your license or when you renew online — the data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This ensures that even if someone intercepts the data, it remains useless without the decryption keys.

3. Stringent Identity Verification at Issuance

Before issuing a license, provincial and territorial licensing authorities conduct rigorous identity verification checks. Applicants must present multiple pieces of identification, including:

Proof of legal status in Canada (passport, PR card, visa).

Proof of residency within the province.

Secondary documents such as a birth certificate, citizenship card, or utility bill.

In many cases, cross-checks with federal databases (like immigration records or citizenship status) ensure that the applicant is who they claim to be. Newcomers may also face additional document checks to confirm their eligibility before a license is issued.

4. Real-Time Photo Comparison and Biometrics

When you renew your license or apply for a new one, your photograph is compared with existing photos on record using facial recognition software. This system helps detect cases where someone might be trying to fraudulently assume another person’s identity. In the future, more provinces are planning to expand the use of biometrics, such as fingerprints or iris scans, to further strengthen identification measures.

5. Ongoing Monitoring and Alerts

Canadian licensing systems do not just verify identities at the point of issuance — they continue monitoring afterward. If a license is reported stolen, lost, or involved in suspicious activity, it can be flagged in the system. Law enforcement agencies and border officials have real-time access to these databases, making it harder for stolen or fraudulent licenses to be used undetected.

Additionally, provinces encourage drivers to immediately report lost or stolen licenses to prevent identity theft and ensure the system remains secure.

Canadian licensing authorities are committed to staying ahead of fraudsters by continually updating security features and identity verification processes. Thanks to multi-layered protection — from physical security measures to real-time monitoring — Canadians can trust that their licenses remain a strong line of defense against identity fraud.

For step-by-step guidance on obtaining your driver’s license safely and staying informed about new ID requirements, visit LicensePrep.ca. Their resources make navigating the licensing process simple and secure!

[heartswarm-void]

P***s Fish’s YouTube Channel presents:

WHAT’S IN MY TOTE BAG? BUCKY BARNES EDITION

[BUCKY]

Hi! I’m Bucky Barnes, “The Artist Formerly Known as The Winter Soldier (TAFKATWS)”, “Soft Boy” and “Bubble-wrapped Naked Rodin Statue” and I’m here to divulge the contents of my viral tote bag, which was featured prominently on the Narwhal Prize winning non-fiction book, Rom-Com Boat Hell.

This is the bag—soft, delicate-looking, and made from eco-friendly canvas. I love it because it’s simple, dirt cheap and can fit a lot of stuff. I think it can hold two full-sized flounders, or five inflated blowfishes, or five to eight kilos of rock lobsters, or maybe a seagull or two, like most of you tuned into this channel would actually carry on a daily basis.

But I’m a proud metrosexual and prefer to sunbathe half-naked in urban fields rather than on seashores or boat decks, so I tend to carry fewer sea-based items.

So, without any further ado, I’m happy to share with you what’s in my tote bag:

1. Super Protect™ SPF150 sunscreen (bubblegum scent). This one’s custom-made for me because I tend to combust upon contact with the sun, like a sexy, pale vampire. Plus, it keeps my alabaster skin from burning to a crisp. The consistency is oily and slick, my preference, as this usually makes Sam believe he’s applying oil on my back and pectorals.

2. A couple of paperbacks. I’m currently reading the self-help book, How to Say I Love You For an Emotionally Constipated Idiot in Love, which is not doing anything for me. I also carry this New York Times™ bestseller, Mutual Pining Apocalypse, which is a romance-horror novel about two muscular guys who slowly fell in love in the midst of a zombie outbreak. The zombies died and rotted on the road while waiting for them to bone.

3. 8x magnification binoculars. I use this to observe Sam’s unholy biceps from a distance, for example, when we’re on recons or high-stakes surveillance missions.

4. Ten packs of mussel chips. These are for fast metabolism purposes and low-key Torres bribery. Because Torres munches on and breathes mussel chips like they’re the only things keeping him alive.

5. My wallet, of course. It contains cash, credit cards, receipts, some coins, copies of warrants, and a naked picture of you-know-who.

6. 1 Gallon of Ben and Jerry’s™ Plainest Vanilla Ice Cream. I don’t know, but the flavor is so me.

7. Butter knife. This is used to open raw shellfish, spread almond butter, aioli, Vegemite™, marmalade, etc., and for self-defense purposes. It’s a versatile and handy tool to have in your bag.

8. Anti-mosquito lotion with hyaluronic acid (25 ml). This one is essential when you are deep inside the engine room, doing maintenance work and there are deadly mosquitoes attempting to bite your neck. So rude.

9. Hardbound Diary. This is where I pour out my hopes, dreams, emotions and carnal desires.

10. 1,000 grams of Petroleum Jelly. This is to prevent chafing. Because...I chafe. Like a lot.

11. 20 unused strawberry-flavored condoms. I have had these for like ten years already and are probably expired. I do not wish to elaborate.

12. A box of Kleenex™ tissues. For wiping sweat from my chiseled body. And maybe some other bodily fluids. This show is PG-13, right? Right?

— Appendix A, Chapter 5 of Rom-Com Boat Hell

[fierceawakening]

Got a mini yesterday!

True colors

Washed out due to crap lighting, but better magnification

LOOK AT HER FACE it looks. So good.

I dunno I am absurdly proud of how good I’m getting at faces. I’m face blind, so I really struggle to figure out subtleties of features and sometimes of expression.

I’m getting super good at something that’s really tough for me and I think that’s pretty awesome.

[klcthebookworm]

Fanfic Friday: Three of a Kind

Summary: Deep Space Planet Future Rock ‘n Ride Action! A Trigun 1998 and Biker Mice From Mars 1993 crossover. Vash juggles helping out strangers to Gunsmoke and thwarting Legato Bluesummers’ machinations to further Millions Knives’ plans for the planet and finds more family than he ever dreamed he deserved to have.

Ao3 Chapter Thirteen

Hannah turned on her helmet's telescoping feature. The face shield focused on the building and enlarged it. She saw a group of buildings forming a rectangle around a courtyard in the center, but the outer walls didn't have windows that she could see even with the magnification. It looked like there was one gate in through the wall. It wasn't as tall as a castle, but the one gate made it look like a fort. The bike started scanning for offensive weapons that could endanger the group.

Vash sighed. "It's hard to tell, but my gut says this Driscoll guy has guards."

"The bike doesn't sense any guns on the walls. You know, laser turrets. No regular bullet turrets, either."

"How about we not give Gunsmoke any new weapon ideas?" He lowered the binoculars from his face as he looked at Hannah.

She shrugged. "I don't know how to make them."

Meryl-ma'am took the binoculars back and stared down at the compound. "So the only way to get answers is to go down there and ask them. The rest of you stay here--"

"No!" Hannah said as her stomach clenched. But surprisingly, everyone else said it with her.

Milly-ma'am loomed over Meryl-ma'am with her hands planted on her hips. "They already took you once. You are not going down there with no backup to get back out."

Vash turned back to the view of the compound. "There are no sight lines. We'd never be able to see if you need help from this far away."

So Vash didn't want to split up, either. Hannah could support that. "There's nothing really stopping them from coming out to look for us once they have you."

"Splitting up has never worked back home," Chuck said.

And it certainly didn't work when it happened by accident, and Chuck and she had ended up on this dirt-ball planet with no one else.

[jazzandothersounds-blog]

The Yes Album, 1971 listen here

Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson y Bill Bruford en 1971

(English / Español)

On 19 February 1971, the pioneering English prog-rock band released their third album, the first with Steve Howe and the last to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye (he was replaced by Rick Wakeman), conquering lands far beyond England's borders.

There's an old adage that "third time's the charm". That expression of popular wisdom fits like a glove for the dilemma that the London quintet, then formed by vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire (†), keyboardist Tony Kaye, drummer Bill Bruford and the recently added guitaristTony Kaye, drummer Bill Bruford and the recently joined guitarist Steve Howe, who was replacingSteve Howe, who replaced a shy Peter Banks.

Yes, as it is known, was destined to arouse the interest of the masses. However, on our celebrated record label, Yes had the last chance Ahmet Ertegun's label gave them to even out the marketing numbers, despite having managed to garner modest interest with the albumsYes (1969) and Time and a Word (1970). In them we find the rudiments of an excellent band that throughout their long career has left us masterpieces such as Fragile (1971), Close to the Edge (1972),Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973), Relayer (1974), Going for the One (1977), Drama (1980) and Magnification (2000).

The Yes Album would introduce us to a virtuoso guitarist emerging from the ranks of the bands Bodast and Tomorrow, as well as being the last album with Kaye at the keys, until his return for the period between 1982 and 1994.

This Yes line-up made their entrance to London's Advision Studios to produce with audio engineer Eddie Offord six tracks of a solid and varied scope over 41 minutes, distancing themselves from blues formulas and favouring more the combination of harmonic-vocal elements with a lengthy and melodious bass, the classic sound of the Hammond organ and the virtuoso guitar in "Fingerstyle", even flirting with slight baroque and medieval overtones under the spiritual guidance of Napoleon ( Jon Anderson ).Hammond organ and the virtuoso guitar in "Fingerstyle", even flirting with slight baroque and medieval overtones under the spiritual guidance of Napoleon (Jon Anderson),a singer characterised by his high tenor range and for writing lyrics where the texture, colour and sound of the words are as or more important than the meaning of the words themselves, producing a sound of superlative appeal that eventually brought them worldwide fame.

The Yes Album opened to the world the doors to a fertile ground of imagination and dreamlike visions that we collectively call Yes and that still exists without the presence of the inimitable Chris Squire, who passed on to another life on 27 June 2015.

Before you start listening to our tribute LP, I would like to recommend the re-released edition with mixing and mastering by Steven Wilson.

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

El 19 de febrero de 1971 la pionera banda del progrock inglés publicó su tercer álbum, primero con Steve Howe y el último en el que participó el tecladista Tony Kaye (lo sustituiría Rick Wakeman), conquistando con ella tierras lejanas de las fronteras inglesas.

Dice un antiguo adagio que “a la tercera va la vencida”. Esa expresión de sabiduría popular encaja como anillo al dedo para el dilema que atravesaba el quinteto londinense conformado entonces por el vocalista Jon Anderson, el bajista Chris Squire (†), el teclista Tony Kaye, el baterista Bill Bruford y el recién incorporado guitarrista Steve Howe, quien sustituía a un tímido Peter Banks.

Yes, como es conocido, estaba destinado a despertar el interés de las masas. Sin embargo, en nuestra celebrada placa discográfica, Yes tenía la última oportunidad que el sello de Ahmet Ertegun le daba para emparejar los numeritos del marketing, a pesar de haber logrado captar un modesto interés con los álbumes Yes (1969) y Time and a Word (1970). En ellos encontramos los rudimentos de una excelsa banda que a lo largo de su dilatada carrera nos ha dejado obras magnas como Fragile (1971), Close to the Edge (1972), Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973), Relayer (1974), Going for the One (1977), Drama (1980) o incluso Magnification (2000).

The Yes Album nos presentaría a un virtuoso guitarrista emergente de las filas de las bandas Bodast y Tomorrow,  a la vez que sería el último disco con Kaye tras las teclas, hasta su vuelta para el período entre 1982 y 1994.

Esta formación de Yes hacía su entrada a los Advision Studios de Londres para producir junto al audio ingeniero Eddie Offord seis temas de una sólida y variada envergadura a lo largo de 41 minutos, marcando distancia de las fórmulas del blues y favoreciendo más a la combinación de elementos armónico-vocales con un dilatado y melodioso bajo, el clásico sonido del órgano Hammond y la virtuosa guitarra en “Fingerstyle”, coqueteando incluso con leves tintes barrocos y medievales bajo la guía espiritual de Napoleón (Jon Anderson), cantante caracterizado por su rango de tenor alto y por escribir letras donde la textura, el color y el sonido de las palabras son tan o más importantes que el significado de las mismas, produciendo un sonido de un atractivo superlativo que finalmente les trajo a la fama mundial.

The Yes Album le abrió al mundo las puertas de un terreno fértil en imaginación y pleno de oníricas visiones que colectivamente llamamos Yes y que aún subsiste sin la presencia del inimitable Chris Squire, quien pasó a otra vida el 27 de junio de 2015.

Antes de comenzar a escuchar nuestro homenajeado LP quiero recomendarte la edición reeditada con mezcla y masterización de Steven Wilson.

Source: revistaladosis by Leonardo Bigott

[encorejewelry-blog]

Traditional Diamond Engagement Ring with a Modern Obsession How We Got Here The evolution of diamond engagement rings traverses generations of sharp and round shank designs, curved and split shank modifications, prong, claw and pave set diamonds, perfect symmetry and contemporary, asymmetrical aesthetics. While the 20th century witnessed an increase in sharp edges, the 21st century has gravitated back to the classics. Today's engagement ring trends are seeing more traditional four prong solitaire side stone diamond settings, with curved and split shank variations. Even round, princess, emerald and cushion cut halo wedding sets are being designed with more curvature and fewer contemporary design metrics. But I am Buying an Engagement Ring for the Long Term - Will It Still Be In Style Next Year? Welcome to every jeweler's dilemma, as we attempt to shape the future and predict the engagement rings' design aspects that will still be relevant tomorrow. Twentieth century engagement ring designs were predominantly based on the use of diamonds. The transformation of the past twenty years, however, has seen a growth in popularity of CZ, various gemstones and even lab grown diamonds. If you place two halo engagement rings with a split shank, milgrain and filigree wirework, where one is set with high quality real diamonds and the other features lab grown diamonds, it's not likely that you will be able to tell them apart without the use of magnification. What if I am Not a Fan of Diamonds The number of buyers choosing to think outside the diamond continues to grow at a fast pace. Along similar lines, plenty of buyers are choosing to balance their engagement rings with both gemstones and diamonds. The demand for sapphire, ruby, aquamarine and tanzanite engagement rings has grown exponentially. Those looking for an especially reasonable balance are enjoying the trend of setting a gemstone as the main, center stone, with beautiful diamond accents and side stones rendering the perfect finish. In this case, while the diamonds contribute fire and scintillation to the overall design, the spotlight is on the gemstone. In fact, the only niche where gemstones have not yet broken through is the peripheral side stone and accent stone placement. Rarely do we see a sapphire engagement ring with a sapphire set as the main, center stone, and with sapphire side stones and/or accent stones in the periphery. To date, this role is still being filled by diamonds and cz stones. However, even this design metric has seen its share of evolution and transformation, in which side stones are being replaced by the likes of milgrain, filigree and other designs built into the shank. A Classic Never Dies Gemstones have been around for centuries, so perhaps it is reasonable to conclude that they will still be around for centuries to come. It would be reasonable to apply the same logic to diamonds. Similarly, solitaire and halo engagement rings have been around for generations, so perhaps it is safe to conclude that future generations will enjoy similar design characteristics. Since round edges versus sharp edges are a function of personal preference, the logical conclusion is that the chances of most of today's diamond engagement ring designs of remaining popular in 20 years are in our favor. We are free to enjoy and satisfy our aesthetic cravings, one proposal at a time.

[seaside-lovers]

loving hank feels weird bc this is a guy who is stated to not do well in a relationship. he views people more like tools to get to his goal rather than actually bonding with them and viewing them as friends.

So our relationship starts off very weird since he's not really ever been attracted to someone. I also never really felt attracted to anyone, but I would make jokey comments here and there about finding him attractive, so realizing I had actually developed a crush on him felt extremely weird... and hopeless, considering how standoffish he is.

I can only really see our relationship starting out as a fulfillment for him... I like him and he wouldn't mind someone to have for physical comfort. You know, just fulfilling his own needs... definitely nothing reciprocal from him at all. /sarcasm

This is to say that I think part of Hank's view toward other people is because of how changing Nevada constantly is. Nothing is guaranteed. People die constantly. So building relationships is a waste of time - it's likely they're going to die tomorrow, anyway. Or that he might get orders to kill them himself. That's just his job.

And yet, he finds himself developing feelings for me, and he hates it. He hates being reminded that he's not a super human, emotionless machine just made to kill. That he can feel love toward someone - not just romantic, but platonic, too. And he does eventually give in to it (metaphorically kicking and screaming, I should add). He doesn't talk a lot and he's terrible at it, too. But he shows it through his actions.

He protects Sanford. He reminds me to be safe, giving me a proper weapon when I go out scavenging. He reminds Doc to sleep every once in awhile. He helps Deimos get used to his new, rocky features, like Hank himself had to get used to a metal jaw and his new size after magnification.

So as much as this grunt thinks he doesn't care at all, he does. He may hate it and fight emotions tooth and nail, but he does care in his own way. He'll never be a super sappy, loving partner, and that's okay with me.

anyway. that's just all to say that I love this emotionally stunted murderous goober.

[seabeck]

Do you have any suggestions for an entry-level macro setup for someone with a Nikon DSLR? Ideally something less than a few hundred dollars?

So there's lots of options for entry level macro!

Macro filters - These just screw on to the front of your lens and give you extra magnification. They're how I got started. Lots of options and brands here, I'd recommend getting a larger one and then a stop down kit (typically around $20-30) so they can be used on all of your lenses

Raynox 250 - A clip on macro filter. I use this on my macro lens to do super macros. I like it because unlike tubes I can still auto focus well (when doing macros you typically manual focus most of the time but I use this with moving bugs where auto focus is easier/better)

Various macro lenses. I'm assuming you're shooting with a crop sensor (dx) camera. Nikon makes a 40mm and an 85mm macro lens that are dx. There's also the 60mm 2.8, 105mm 2.8, and the 200 f4 (very expensive and big and bulky but the queen of macro). There's older versions of the 60mm that are just as good and cheaper than the newer model. Always check craigslist and marketplace, you can typically haggle for a lower price and this lets you try out the lens. Sigma also makes some great macro lenses. Nikon lenses are really cheap right now because everyone is jumping to mirrorless

35mm 1.8 dx - Not a true macro lens but does focus semi close. This was my go to lens on my D7100

Laowa lenses - these are fully manual lenses but they allow for greater than 1:1 magnification. Kind of pricy but used would be cheaper if you can find them.

Extension tubes (I use these ones). These will give you a bit of diffraction and you lose light so you'll need longer shutter speeds/better lighting but they work great. I like that these ones work with the electronics. They technically autofocus but it's crap. They work great with my D850s built in focus stack feature though.