#iOS 15 speeds

[ruben-tech]

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SUSCRÍBETE A RUBEN TECH SPEED TEST 🙌🏿

[twohearts-hs]

Dove & Captain: 7 - Dr. Jack Abbot x Reader Series

Words in Total: 11.9k

Pairings: Dr. Jack Abbot x fem!reader

Synopsis: She's his Dove. The ER nurse who is the definition of chaos, trauma and humour in scrubs. He's her Captain, gruff, emotionally guarded war veteran with a prosthetic leg and completely in love with her. Six years together, a mortgage, four dogs and the ability to conquer anything. This is a story of their life in one day. He is 49, she's 30. This is one day of their life based on the 15 episodes of 'The Pitt'. There will be little imagines of their relationship over the years.

Warnings: Swearing, Age Gap, Trauma, Medical Language/Procedure, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, etc.

A/N: This is a complete series of ~60k. I will post a few snapshots of their relationship over the six+ years they've been together.

Hope you enjoy :)

Series Masterlist

-

2000

It was now eight o’clock. An hour passed the time Y/N was supposed to be off. Another hour into this mass casualty.

            Y/N was on another patient. Jack was behind her with a different patient. Dr. Mohan was with her as they worked alongside one another.

            “This is weird,” Dr. Mohan called out.

            “What?” Jack asked, looking over.

            “Shot in the chest but nothing out of the thoracostomy tube,” Dr. Mohan said to Jack as he came over.

            Leaning over, Jack looked at the tube going into the patient. “You got through the pleura, ok?” he asked.

            “Yeah, I definitely felt the lung with my finger,” Dr. Mohan replied.

            Y/N was working around them, then glanced up. “Hey, I lost the radial pulse. I got a femoral though,” she stated, looking at the two doctors. “I think he’s bleeding out.”

            Jack nodded. “Indeed, he is. Probably tore through the spleen,” he said.

            “How?” Mohan asked.

            “Ok,” Jack hummed, “nipples to navel is no man’s land. If he got shot while exhaling, the bullet possibly passed below the diaphragm.” He glanced over to Mohan. “Start a second IO, transfuse two units O-positive. Where’s Robby? Let’s find him and call Walsh. This guy needs the next OR immediately.” Then Jack was gone, moving to the next patient.

            Y/N went straight back to her work.

-

Y/N continued to follow Mohan around. She was a great doctor, an excellent doctor and the more Y/N worked with her, the more impressed she was.

            They were in a trauma room stabilising a patient when Jack opened the door and came in, pulling his gloves on as he entered.

            “Tapping in,” he expressed.

            “Thanks, brother,” Shen responded, patting Jack on the shoulder.

            “Yeah,” Jack grunted, coming over to the side.

            “EFAST normal. No abdominal haemorrhage, no tamponade,” Mohan stated, trying to catch Jack up to speed. Jack glanced at the monitors.

            Jack looked at the wound before Y/N spoke up. “Pulse ox borderline, 89% on 15 litres,” she stated as they made eye contact. “BP’s only 95 over 58,” she finished, looking over at the monitor before going back to her work on the patient.

            “Vinny Rivera…is he here?” the patient asked, looking over to them.

            “I’m not sure, man,” Jack replied.

            “I’m so sleepy,” the patient muttered.

            “Were you tired right after you got shot?” Mohan asked. The monitors continued to repeatedly beep.

            “Uh, no,” he muttered back. “I helped move 20, 30 people.”

            Y/N continued to do her nursing duties as Jack analysed the monitor, brain trying to calculate.

            “What’s causing his oxygen levels to tank?” Mohan asked.

            “Up the oxygen!” Jack ordered, looking at Y/N.

            She went over to the machine, trying to adjust it. “Abbot, 15’s as high as it goes,” she replied.  

            Jack walked over to her. “Gauge only goes to 15. Keep cranking, Kid,” he fired back. “You can get to 50.” Y/N nodded, going back to the machine.

            Just then, the door opened and a woman appeared. “Brian?” she asked. Lupe was there too. Y/N and Jack both turned around. Jack stood there like he was in the military, hands behind his back as he stared at Y/N, then at the patient.

            “Vinny got shot. I sent him with the first car I saw,” the patient stated, voice breathy. “Is he ok?”

            The woman looked at Jack, then to Brian, leaning over. “You fight, Brian, ok? You fight like the stubborn bastard you are.”

            “I tried, Whit,” Brian replied. “I tried,” he cried.

            They continued to work with Brian, but the monitor continued to rapidly beep. No one had an idea of what was happening. Y/N glanced at the monitor and than to Jack and Mohan.

            “He’s on 100% oxygen,” she stated. “His pulse ox is still only 88.”

            Jack nodded, listening to the patient’s chest when Walsh came into the trauma room. “How’s it going upstairs?” Jack called over his shoulder.

            “Regular spa day at the OR,” Walsh replied. Y/N was grabbing IV bags, changing them. “42 ex-laps and thoracotomies.”

            “Impressive,” Mohan replied.

            “What do you got?” Walsh asked, grabbing gloves.

            “GSW through and through the thigh, not arterial, now hypotensive and hypoxic,” Jack replied, walking around the patient and trading spots with Mohan.

            “Sounds like blood loss,” Walsh replied.

            “No. Haemoglobin times 2 is stable,” Mohan stated, glancing over to Walsh. “Vena cava is plump. It would be flat with haemorrhage.”

            Jack stared at the screen where the ultrasound was presented. “It’s actually a little too plump. Let me see the phased array probe,” Jack stated, grabbing the probe.

            “Any history of heart disease?” Walsh called out.

            “Not sure, but he’s a strong guy,” Y/N replied. “Got shot, strapped a t-shirt and belt around his thigh and ran around helping people for a few hours.”

            Jack then gasped quietly. “Holy shit,” he exclaimed. “Check out the four chamber apical view.”

            Y/N turned her head to look at the monitors.

            “Dilated right atrium and right ventricle. Right-sided strain with vowing of the septum,” Mohan stated, reading the scan.

            “Sounds like a PE,” Walsh added. “He threw a clot from having the tourniquet on?”

            Jack shook his head. “Way too soon for a DVT. Ok, let’s get him in left lateral decubitus,” Jack stated, moving the probe before handing it back to Y/N. “One, two…” Y/N grasped the patient’s side and helped roll him over. “Trendelenburg ASAP.”

            “What for?” Mohan asked.

            “Intracardiac air embolism. All that running around introduced air into the femoral vein right up to the heart. Now it’s blocking blood flow to the lungs,” Jack told them.

            “You need a CT to confirm,” Walsh replied.

            “They’re still backed up with other patients,” Y/N said to Walsh.

            Walsh looked at her. “Well, then maybe the cath lab can take them. They have fluoro. I’ll go check!” she called out, walking away.

            “Yeah, good luck with that,” Jack retorted, then he met Y/N’s eyes. “Kid, get me a central line kit and a 5 French pigtail catheter, please.”

            “Yes, Captain,” she hummed, walking to grab supplies. Jack looked at her, sending her a hard glare. She was not allowed to use that nickname at work.

            “Y/N,” he warned, raising a brow. Voice was low and sharp.

            She smirked over her shoulder, already grabbing supplies. “You said please,” she replied sweetly. “I’m being polite.”

            Jack stared at her again. “Y/N. Don’t.”

            Mohan looked between them before looking at Jack. “He doesn’t have a collapsed lung,” she told him.

            Jack grunted. “Yeah?”

            “So, what are you going to do?” Mohan asked.

            Jack glanced over, standing up straight as he stared at her. “I’m not going to do anything. You are.”

            Y/N looked between the two of them, holding the supplies. She chuckled, shaking her head as she watched Mohan’s shock take over her face.

            Y/N was watching, doing her job as Jack and Mohn were performing whatever they were performing.

            “Got the IJ,” Mohan stated, placing a needle inside the patient while Jack held the probe.

            “Ok, back to business as usual, thank God,” he stated, looking at the ultrasound. “Guidewire and introducer,” he began, grabbing the supplies on the tray behind him.

            “What the hell are you doing?” Dr. Walsh spoke up as she entered the room.

            “Dr. Mohan is about to pull air from the right atrium and right ventricle,” Jack stated, annoyance in his tone but also his damn stubbornness.

            “With what?” Walsh barked.

            “Five French Pigtail catheter,” Mohan replied.

            “Inside the heart?” Walsh asked, voice sharp.

            “It’s so cool,” Y/N replied, looking over her shoulder. “I want to do this.”

            Jack glanced at Y/N. “You’re a nurse, Kid. Dummies is all you get,” he mumbled.

            Y/N frowned. “Way to kill a girl’s ambition.” Jack just let out a low chuckle.

            “Multiple side-holes gives you a better shot at suck out all the air,” Jack explained, watching the procedure be done.

            Mohan glanced up. “Dr. Abbot showed me a case report from South Korea–“ Mohan tried.

            “What the actual fuck?” Walsh barked, pushing Y/N out of the way.

            “Woah, girl,” she muttered.

            “Hey,” Jack stated. “Be gentle.”

            Walsh glared. “I just talked to cardiology. They want a CT scan. If it’s showing air, then you need to dive him in the hyperbaric chamber,” she said, looking at the procedure.

            “He’ll be dead by then,” Jack barked.

            “Not if you kill him first with this banana-pants procedure,” Walsh fired back.

            Jack was getting agitated. Y/N could tell. His brows were furrowed, his jaw was tight. “We don’t have time to wait for your fancy-pants machine,” he replied, tone sharp but low. “If we don’t get the air out of his heart, he’ll die.”

            “This is not the standard of care,” Walsh replied lowly.

            Jack shot up to look at Walsh, eyes glaring at her as if she had stolen the last cookie from the cookie jar. “Oh, fuck standard of care. If we want to save him, we go in now.” His eyes were glaring holes into Walsh.

            Mohan was uncomfortable. “Maybe I should–“

            Jack glanced at Mohan. “Thread in the pigtail?” he hummed, mocking Walsh. “Excellent idea, Dr. Mohan.” Jack grabbed the supplies before handing them to Mohan, sending her a reassuring nod.

            Gentle beeping was heard as Mohan took the pigtail and continued to work under Jack’s supervision and words.

            “Go down to 24 centimetres, and then we’ll confirm with X-ray,” he told her, watching as she did what he told her to do. “Good.”

            “Think I’ll stick around in case you need another set of hands to resuscitate your patient when he crashes,” she remarked, then looked at Y/N. “Nurse, gloves.”

            Y/N stayed there for a moment, raising a brow. “A please would be nice,” she muttered, walking away to grab gloves before handing it to her. She took them. “And a thank you would suffice. Mother never taught you manners, Walsh?” she hummed with a smirk.

            Jack glanced up, smiling lightly but the average folk wouldn’t know. But Y/N, she knew.

            Walsh looked over to her. Staring hard but didn’t respond as she snapped her gloves on.

            “Pigtail’s in the right atrium, good position,” Jack said after they took an X-ray. “Aspirate, see what you get.”

            Y/N was there, helping Mohan as she glanced up to see Jack staring at them. He was gowned up in blue, surgical gloves on and safety glasses. His hands were close to his chest, but far away to make sure its sterile.

            “Pulling back blood from the heart…” Mohan muttered holding the syringe and pulling its trigger. “Along with some air,” she said then looked back at Jack.

            Jack smirked, looked at Walsh. “How about that?” he snarked before walking back over.

            “BP’s still only 85 systolic,” Y/N called out.

            “No improvement,” Walsh stated the obvious.

            Y/N let out a sharp breath, trying to keep her cool. Jack ignored her comment.

            “Advance slowly into the right ventricle,” he told Mohan.

            “How do I know when I’m–“

            “PVCs–“ Y/N tried, looking at the monitor.

            “That’s how you know. Aspirate again,” Jack stated.

            “Run of three,” Y/N hummed as the alarm blared from the machine.

            “More blood and air coming out,” Mohan replied, pulling more on the syringe.

            “Run of five,” Y/N said.

            “Non-sustained V tach. Charge to 200 for when he deteriorates,” Walsh commanded.

            Y/N stared at her for a moment, and she raised a brow. Y/N then promptly nodded, moving away from the table and doing her orders and going to the crash cart.

            “Mainly blood now,” Mohan explained.

            Jack nodded. “Pull the pigtail back to the RA.”

            “Step aside,” Walsh barked.

            “Pull the pigtail, Dr. Mohan,” he commanded, looking at the monitor again.

            “Step aside!” Walsh yelled, holding panels, however Jack took a step to block her.

            “You got this,” he stated, looking at Mohan. Then Mohan pulled the pigtail.

            Y/N smiled where she was. “Normal sinus rhythm, 92,” she called out as the beeping stopped. “Pulse ox is improving. BP’s 112 over 84.” She stared at the monitor.

            Walsh stepped down. The patient stabilised and Jack was full-blown smirking. He turned his head slightly to look at Walsh. “Not too shabby, huh, Dr. Walsh?” he hummed. “I think we can admit him to General Surgery now.”

            “Hell no,” Walsh replied.

            Jack’s brows furrowed. “He’s a gunshot victim.”

            “Admit him to the cardiac ICU. We’ll consult from there,” she barked back.

            Jack hummed, shrugging. “Well, you can admit him yourself, with Cardiology consulting. I thought you liked flying the plane.”

            Walsh took a step up to him, lowering her voice. “Not when it’s gonna crash.” Then she glared at Mohan and Y/N before leaving.

            Jack turned back to Mohan. “Solid work.”

            “That was your save, not mine,” Mohan replied, shaking her head.

            Jack smirked. “Take the win, Dr. Mohan,” he hummed.

            “Thanks,” she said, voice light and happy.

            “Besides, it was a little too risky for me to do myself,” he hummed, looking down. Y/N watched them, working around them, shaking her. What an ass he was…a little shit.

            “What?” Mohan breathed.

            “Kid, suture?” he called over his shoulder.

            Y/N chuckled, grabbing the supplies before handing Jack them. “So, you’re allowed to make jokes mid-procedure now? Is that what we’re doing now, Abbot?” she asked, smirking.

            Jack didn’t look up as he took the suture kit. “When I’m saving lives? Yes, when you’re mouthing off at me? Never.”

            Y/N smirked. “So, I can’t make comedy in your trauma room?” she hummed.

            Jack looked at her. “Kid,” he warned, then shook his head. “Keep it to the stage but thank you for your application in entertaining me while I’m working. It’s in the trash.”

            Y/N chuckled, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. They were back to normal. Their banter was there, and Jack was actually letting loose at work. It was as if he wasn’t pissed off at her an hour ago, though she knows the lecture is coming.

            Mohan blinked at them, pausing her movements. “Um, I’m sorry, but like you two close?” she asked.

            “Y/N was part of the night shift for a long time,” Jack said, handing Mohan the suture kit. “Suture.”

            “You two used to work nights together?” she hummed, brows furrowing.

            Jack nodded. “Yeah, she was my charge nurse until she was moved back to days like two weeks ago,” he stated, watching Mohan.

            Mohan shook her head. “Ok,” she muttered, looking down then back up, “Kid and Captain?” she asked, raising a brow.

            “What do you mean?” Y/N asked, crossing her arms.

            “He calls you kid like he’s your dad–“

            “I am not her fucking dad,” Jack bit. “Not even fucking close.”

            Mohan slowly nodded.

            “Do not mix Abbot’s and I’s relationship with the word ‘dad’,” Y/N warned as she went to check his IV and change the bags.

            “Right, so Captain and Kid,” she muttered as she began to suture.

            “Ask the question, Mohan,” Jack stated, watching. “It’s burning.”

            “You two are close?” Mohan whispered. “Like close? Because you act like a divorce couple who have joint custody of a dog.”

            Jack chuckled lowly, shaking his head. “We have four dogs,” he whispered. “We share them. No joint custody where we trade off to different houses. We have one house.”

            Y/N bit back her grin and chimed in casually. “And a mortgage.”

            Mohan froze; mouth slightly open. “Wait…what?”

            Jack stood straight up, peeling his gloves and gown off as he through them in the trash as he looked over. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Four dogs, a mortgage,” he muttered.

            Y/N then smirked. “He may be the boss here, but I’m the boss in the bedroom,” she hummed, winking.

            “Y/N!” Jack bit, snapping his head and hissing. “Shut it.”

            Y/N just smiled like a kid with candy.

            Mohan looked between them. “Oh my God, you’re the partner! I thought you were some metaphor. You know, like the ‘mysterious old guy with a truck and a grumpy demeanour’ genre.”

            Jack snapped his head at Y/N. “One, talking about me when I’m not there?” he scolded, raising a brow. “Second,” he looked at Mohan, “I’m not a genre.”

            “He is a genre, fulfils all my smutty romance kindle book fantasy,” she hummed, winking.

            Jack shot his head back to her. “Y/N,” he warned. “We are at work. This is a resident at work. We are in a trauma room with a patient.”

            Y/N stared at him. “God, you’re boring.” Then she rolled her eyes.

            Mohan looked between them; brows furrowed. “You guys are so professional, it’s honestly disturbing.”

            Y/N chuckled. “That’s trauma bonding for you, doll,” she hummed, winking.

            Jack ignored Y/N’s comment and looked at Mohan. “No, seriously, good job. You killed it,” he stated with a smile before walking out of the room.

            Mohan, who was still suturing, looked at Y/N. “So, that’s him?”

            “Yeah, that’s my Old Man, McVeteran, McGrump. Who scolds me for reading kinky books, leaving messes, banned me from his fancy truck but loves me till the world ends,” she whispered, smirking. “I’m a lucky girl.”

            Mohan nodded. “You’re the definition of one.”

            “I think he’s lucky, cause who’d want to be with that?” she joked, pointing to the doors. “Kidding, he’s the love of my life.”

            Mohan nodded. “I thought you were secretly with Robby,” she stated.

            Y/N cackled, full blown cackled. “Don’t tell Jack that.”

-

Jack walked by the nurses’ station while Y/N was still with a patient in the trauma room. He brushed his arm against Dana. “Hey, you got a second?” he asked.

            Dana turned to him. “Yeah,” she hummed, glasses on her nose. She turned to face him, taking off the glasses as she stared at Jack.

            “What is up with Robby?” Jack whispered.

            Dana shrugged. “He’s been better. I’m really worried about him. Maybe Y/N can get it out of him?” she said. “Use her psych degree and mental health background. Manipulate him into expressing his feelings.”

            Jack snorted. “Yeah, she’s good at that,” he muttered.

            “I’ve never seen him like this,” Dana stated, looking Jack in the eye. “Have you?”

            “No,” he said simply. “How about you, slugger?” he hummed, smirking.

            Dana scoffed. “Been better.”

            Jack nodded. “Preach,” he hummed. Dana nodded, patting him on the arm. Then Jack got serious. “Y/N told me,” he whispered.

            Dana raised her brow. “About?”

            He tilted his head and raised a brow. “Pregnancy. Miscarriage,” he said. “She told me cause I kept budging. I asked her why she couldn’t give blood, and eventually she broke.”             Dana blinked. Slowly. Then she took a deep breath. She crossed her arms as her face went serious. “Yeah,” she said, her voice quieter than usual. “She said she’d tell you. Robby and I both–“

            “Robby knew?” he asked, brows furrowing.

            Dana sighed. “Robby figured it out. He was there to give her the ultrasound today to confirm it was a miscarriage,” she said, voice low. “Don’t blame her. Don’t. She’s a survivor. You know that. I don’t know her story as much as you, but she’s not good with relying on someone when she needs emotional support.”

            Jack nodded. He knew. He knew her well. “I know. I’ve been teaching her these years that I’m here and not going anywhere…”

            “Marry her then, you grump,” she stated, nudging her.

            Jack nodded. “I know. I will,” he said. “We aren’t focused on that right now. Fuck,” he muttered, “didn’t even had a single clue she could be pregnant. I track her cycle, and I know her body–“

            “She wasn’t far. She was seven weeks,” Dana responded. “She found out yesterday when she puked everything up.” Jack nodded. “She was going to tell you, ok? Don’t think she was hiding this from you. And don’t ask me why I didn’t tell you…Abbot, this is her story…even if you were the father, it’s her body, her story.”

            Jack nodded again before dragging a hand over his face. “Yeah, it is. She doesn’t deserve this. She’s had a rough go at her life–“

            “Yes, but life has been good for her since you met her. She was what, twenty-one when she did her practicum for like six weeks. Then you swept her off her feet few years later, and life has been great for her,” Dana hummed. “Maybe before that was hard, but now she’s good. She’s not the same girl compared to when I met her. Now, she’s a–“

            “Gremlin,” he stated with a chuckle. “She’s a gremlin and her brother is a goblin who crashes at our house, drinks my beer and eats my snacks while talking quantum physics to her and I have no idea what they are saying.”

            Dana chuckled. “Those two are a team. She raised him since she was fourteen.”

            Jack nodded. “I know.”

            “She’s a mom, Jack. To Beckett. But believe me,” she looked around, voice low, “she always wanted a baby of her own.”

            Jack nodded.

            “And she has tried,” she whispered.

            Jack’s brows furrowed. “What?”

            “It’s not her first miscarriage,” she whispered. “Talk to her.”

            Jack froze. He didn’t move, didn’t blink. His brows furrowed; jaw tightened. “Dana, are you saying she’d miscarried before?”

            Dana’s face softened. She reached out, touching his arm gently. “Twenty-two was the last time. Then nineteen.”

            His breath caught in his chest. “Two?” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Three,” he then said, before breaking eye contact. “She’s been pregnant three times,” he muttered.

            Dana nodded. “Talk to her. She loves you with everything in her, and she is not planning on ever leaving you. You’re the thing she needed in her fucked-up life. For her and for her brother.”

            Jack nodded.

            “She didn’t want you to go through another loss,” Dana added. “She didn’t want that on your conscious. Especially with losing your wife,” Dana muttered.

            “I lost Grace nine years ago,” Jack said. “I’ve been with Y/N for six. Known her for eight.”

            Dana nodded. She reached out, squeezing his arm. “Take her home. Make her a mean meal. Run her a bath. Buy her a fancy bottle of wine. Let all the dogs on the bed. Hold her. She’s going to need you. All of you. The quiet parts. The ones you keep locked away. It’s been a day. It’s been a lifetime for her,” she whispered. “And, don’t be mad at Robby for figuring it out and supporting her before you could. Don’t take it personally, ok?”

            Jack just nodded, sending her a smile. “I don’t like it when she hides things,” he muttered.

            “Jack…you and I come from different worlds. We had a childhood, a teenagerhood, a life. A mother, a father, siblings, a roof on our head and education. She was in survival. She worried how to raise a four-year-old at fourteen when druggy Mom ran away to New Mexico with a boyfriend who she met at casino. She learnt how to count cards so she could win in poker matches to put food on the table and pay rent. She dodged CPS and social workers until she got the law involved with becoming Beckett’s guardian which was finally granted when she was nineteen. She did shit to survive. She’s not your average folk. She’s a trooper. But no one knows the real story.”

            Jack just nodded. “I know. Not all of it. But enough,” he stated. “I just,” he sighed, “I worry about her all the damn time.”

            Dana shrugged. “She’s your girl. Your partner. Of course you do, but be patient. Talk to her. Let her tell you more when she’s ready, but don’t pressure her.”

            Jack nodded. “Thanks, Dana,” he stated. “Thank you, really.”

            “Be patient,” she said lowly. “But let’s see if Y/N could crack Robby.”

-

2100

Y/N came over after finishing with a patient to see McKay being arrested. Quick on her feet, she hurried to where Jack stood. Hands on his hips, a death glare given.

            “Woah, what’s happening?” she asked, halting.

            “I disabled my ankle monitor because it was going off,” McKay said then looking over to the officers, “and fucking with our ability to help patients during the mass casualty.”

            McKay was in cuffs. Y/N was behind Jack, brushing his arm as he glanced at her.             “Tell that to your judge,” the officer stated to McKay.

            Y/N watched, arms crossed now as she looked between Robby, McKay and the officers.

            “This is my resident. I need her,” Robby stated, voice serious and stern. Then he glanced over to Dana. “Call Gloria. You can at least wait a second to speak to our chief medical officer?”

            The officer shook his head. “No, but they can call the Department if they have any questions.”

            Robby’s jaw was shut tight, taking a deep breath, trying to contain himself. “We just came through the worst mass casualty incident in this city’s history, and you two are fucking around with this? Are you serious?” Robby stated, raising a brow. “You don’t have anything better to do?”

            Just then, a group of officers walked by. The one’s who partner was rushed to surgery and Jack preformed a crike on him. Robby grabbed their attention.

            “Officer Harrelson, can you please,” Robby grabbed his attention as the officer came over.

            “Is there a problem here?” Officer Harrelson asked, glancing around at the group of medical professionals and additional officers while McKay was handcuffed.

            “She disabled her ankle monitor,” the officer holding McKay in handcuffs responded.

            “It was malfunctioning,” McKay replied.

            “She’s in a custody battle with a restraining order and is considered a flight risk,” the other officer responded.

            “A flight risk?” Y/N gasped. “McKay? No,” she muttered, looking at Jack, who remained focused on the scene.

            “Bullshit,” McKay muttered. “That is bullshit.”

            Robby nodded, crossing his arms as he looked at Harrelson. “It was interfering with our ability to treat patients. I’m not sure we could have saved Officer Stefano if she hadn’t disabled the damn thing,” Robby replied, pointing to the monitor, voice low.

            “Is that true?” the officer asked.

            “They saved Stefano’s life,” the other officer replied. “They saved a lot of lives.”

            The older officer looked at McKay. “Take care of this first thing tomorrow morning?” he asked her.

            “I swear,” McKay replied, voice full of promises.

            “Take the cuffs off.”

            McKay turned while her handcuffs were removed, giving her gratitude to everyone.

            Robby shook the officer’s hand. “Thank you,” Robby replied.

            “Thank you, for everything you did here tonight,” he responded, patting Robby’s shoulder before all the officers walked away.

-

Y/N got called to the code tan – a case of someone getting hurt in the hospital. Usually, fainting or a fall. She was wheeling the gurney when she looked up to see Robby.

            “Robby! Pelvis crush injury,” she called out.

            Robby was talking to Langdon about what Y/N knew, but didn’t want to think about it. Instead, she continued to move the patient to a bay area.

            “Thought we were closed to trauma,” Robby replied, walking over.

            “Well, code tan,” Y/N muttered. “He got pinned behind a truck backing up with replacement supplies,” she explained. “Oops. But, pulse is weak and tready, tachy at…”

            They got into the trauma room, instantly gloves on and Y/N began to cut the clothes away from the patient.

            “Grab me some monitor leads, please,” someone called out.

            “100% non-rebreather,” Robby stated. “Let’s draw up 120 of ketamine, 100 of rock, and page trauma surgery, please.” He was pulling his gloves on.

            Jack was across from Y/N, helping with removing the clothes off the patient. “The hell did this guy come from?” he asked.

            “Our loading dock,” Y/N replied.

            “Oh my God,” Jack muttered as they continued to work.

            “Ok, I got the EFAST. Grab a binder. Obvious pelvic fracture,” Jack called out.

            “I’m in a lot of pain!” the patient called out.

            Y/N grabbed the supplies, handing them to Jack and Robby.

            “You taking any medications?” Robby asked.

            “Crestor,” the patient replied as they wrapped the binder around him.

            “Any drug allergies?” Robby asked.

            “No. Am I gonna be ok?” the patient asked.

            Robby was using the ultrasound on the pelvis, trying to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it.

            “Absolutely,” Robby replied, looking at the monitor.

“We got you, Hector,” Jack stated, looking at the screen too.

            “BP 68 over 42, pulse 130,” Y/N called out as she glanced at the monitors. “I got a 14 gauge in the left AC.” Y/N was placing the IV in.

            “Whole blood massive transfusion protocol,” Jack stated.

            “Jack, we’ve got whole blood coming in from Erie and Youngstown. However, I’m not sure if it’s here yet,” Y/N stated, glancing up to look at Jack and shaking her head.

            “Let’s go one-to-one-to-one, red cells, platelets and plasma. We’ve got that,” Robby called out. “Let’s place an IJ after the intubation, please.”

            “Affirmative, Cowboy,” Y/N stated, turning away and grabbing the supplies.

            Jack glanced up at Y/N as she went to get the supplies, shaking his head with light chuckle. “We are in a trauma, Y/N,” he muttered. “Not the time to be calling the chief nicknames.”

            Y/N chuckled. “Oh, shut it. He loves it,” she hummed.

            Robby glanced at her for a moment, shaking his head.

“Ok, EFAST negative,” Jack stated. “It’s all retroperitoneal. No blood at the meatus. Kid, Foley,” Jack called out.

Y/N was back, handing supplies. “Can’t call him cowboy but can call me kid?” she hummed.

“Not the time, Y/N,” Jack stated, voice low.

“Hector, you crushed all the bones in your pelvis, and you’ve got some internal bleeding. We need to sedate you to treat you,” Robby said as the machines beeped rapidly.

“Hurts a lot!” Hector replied.

“When you wake up, you’re not gonna be able to talk. You’re going to have a breathing tube in your throat,” Robby stated as Y/N continued to work alongside them.

“Can I speak to my wife first?” Hector asked.

“Afraid we have to move now, Hector,” Jack stated, looking at the patient.

“First unit of packed cells in the infuser,” Y/N stated from her corner.

            Just then, the doors opened, and Dr. Parker Ellis and Dr. John Shen came in, smirking. “What have we here?” Ellis asked.

            “It looks like two old white guys poached our patient,” Shen replied.

            Instantly, Y/N glanced up, hearing those words. Biting down on her bottom lip, she tried to hide her chuckle, but it came out loud. Jack hated when people called him old, except when it was Y/N. Y/N constantly called him her old man and Jack tolerates it. While Robby, well, Robby got offended as well. To them, they weren’t old, but both approaching or over fifty anyway.

            Jack and Robby instantly looked at one another as Y/N stared at them.

            “Oh, I know you’re not talking about us,” Robby replied, voice low as he went back to intubation.

            Jack looked at the two doctors. “Well, I know he’s definitely not talking about me,” Jack stated, shaking his head.

            “Back off, you two, leave the senior citizens alone. They’re sensitive today,” Y/N barked, smirking.  

            Jack just looked at Y/N, sending her a hard glare. “Jesus, Kid,” he muttered. Then he told them the case, “Crushed pelvis, haemorrhagic shock.”

            “MTP, pelvis binder. I’m doing an intubation, about to place an IJ,” Robby replied as Y/N grabbed saline and other medicines for the IV. “Ace, behave.”

            “You need us?” Shen asked, raising a brow.

            “We got this for now. Hold down the fort,” Jack fired back. “Get caught up on the day shift’s remaining PittFest patients, and we’ll get this guy stabilised.”

            They continued to work on Hector, trying their best to stabilise him. Jack got gowned up, mask on, safety glasses and X-ray vest.

            “Central line is in,” Jack called out.

            “Let’s hook up the rapid infuser over to the IJ, and then we can shoot the film,” Robby muttered as Y/N and he fixed the lines.

            “Clear for X-ray.”

            The x-ray tech moved the x-ray machine over the patient as Y/N took a step back. The beeping was still rapid from the machines. Y/N walked over to Robby, who was stretching in the corner.

            “How are you holding up, Cowboy?” she asked, nudging her hip in his.

            He looked over to her, and it was all in his eyes. “Fine,” he eventually said.

            Y/N just hummed. “Don’t believe it for a second,” she responded.

            They shot the X-ray while Jack continued to work on the patient.

            Robby looked at her. “I could say the same for you,” he replied. Y/N just nodded.

            “Jack knows,” she whispered to him as Jack continued to be busy. “Found out during the mass casualty. I couldn’t give blood, and he dug into me,” she said lowly.

            Robby glanced over to her and just nodded. “Good.”

            “Clear!” the tech called back out.

            Y/N and Robby walked over to the X-ray screen. Pulling out his glasses, Robby leaned over to look at the screen.

            “Oh, that ain’t good,” he muttered. Y/N nodded too.

            “Shit,” she muttered before walking over to the phone on the wall.

            Jack glanced up to them, pulling his mask off as he came over. “What have you got?” he took one look at the screen and groaned. “Widened symphysis pubis anteriorly. “

            “Distorted sacroiliac posteriorly,” Robby replied.

            Jack shook his head. “Guy’s bleeding like a stuck pig,” Jack muttered.

            “I got Dr. Walsh on speakerphone from the OR,” Y/N called out from the phone, holding it close to her ear before pressing a button and putting the phone back.

            “Hey, guys, what’s up?” Dr. Walsh asked over the phone.

            “We’ve got an unstable pelvis ring fracture, systolic of 68, EFAST negative,” Robby called out as they went back to the patient.

            “Thought we were closed for trauma,” Walsh replied.

            “Hospital worker versus reversing supply truck. MTP and pelvic binder in place,” Jack said.

            “TXA?”

            “Gave it,” Jack replied.

            “Stable for CT angiogram?” Walsh asked.

            “Uh, not at the moment, no,” Robby replied.

            “Keep transfusing,” Walsh replied as they continued to stabilise the patient.

            “The blood bank is still waiting on a delivery, unless you have some upstairs,” Robby replied, walking over to the phone.

            “He doesn’t need surgery,” Walsh stated. “He needs interventional radiology to embolise the bleeders.”

            Robby was leaning against one of the machines, glancing back at Jack.

            “They don’t like unstable patients,” Jack stated, confused by her comment.

            “They will tonight,” Walsh replied. “I’ll be down as soon as I finish this grade 5 liver lac.” Then Robby hung up on her.

            They were continuing, but the patient was not stabilising. Minutes went by. However, Mel walked into the room, looking at them.

            “54 after 3 rounds packed cells, FFP, and platelets,” Jack called out.

            “Not too shabby,” Ellis responded.

            Y/N glanced up when she spotted Mel, raising a brow. “Our measles kid’s parents are trying to move him to West Penn,” Mel said.

            Robby, Jack and Y/N stared at her. However, Jack and Y/N went back to work as Robby yelled out, “Let them!” Shaking his head, he sighed. “They’ve been warned multiple times. I even took the father into the PittFest morgue to drive the point home.”             Instantly, Jack and Y/N snapped their heads to Robby. “You what?” they said at the same time.

            “Yeah, I doubt any hospital will take him without a spinal tap,” Ellis responded. Robby was still on the phone.

            “I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t let them move that kid,” Shen stated.

            Robby hung up the phone and looked at the crowd of medical professionals. “They can see this guy in 45 minutes in Interventional Radiology.”

            “That’s a long time for this guy,” Shen replied.

            “They’re just starting a REBOA,” Robby muttered.

            “A REBOA? Who did a REBOA during a mass casualty?” Y/N asked, looking at Robby.

            Jack smirked at Y/N. “One of his interns did,” he snickered.

            “Santos?” Y/N asked, looking at Robby who was groaning in the corner. “Jesus, she’s gonna kill someone.”

            “Shut up,” Ellis responded.

            “I was busy,” Robby muttered, raising a brow.

“That was ballsy,” Shen responded. “Yeah, we can babysit this guy until IR is ready. You guys are three hours post-shift.”

“Whoo!” Robby exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

“This was supposed to be my day off,” Jack muttered, taking his gloves off, “bought steak and lobster. Was gonna grill and have wine.”

“I would love wine. Wine in bed. Wine with blankets. Wine with dogs and a good hot fucking shower,” Y/N muttered, stretching her neck.

“We got this,” Ellis stated.

Y/N was pulling her gloves off too now.

“Hasta la vista, vatos,” Jack called out as he threw his gloves in the bin. Jack’s hand came over, barely brushing Y/N’s back as they left the room.

“Talking Spanish at work, Old Man?” she hummed in his ear. “Talk to me dirty,” she whispered and smirked.

Jack glanced at her. “Y/N,” he whispered. “We are at work. Work.”

Y/N groaned. “Boring,” she muttered, rolling her eyes as she went to a computer. However, Jack grasped her arm for a second, pulling her back.

“When we get home,” he began, voice low, “we are going to talk. We are going to sit. We are going to have a conversation where we are going to be honest and listen to one another,” he said. “It’s been a day for you. You kept me in the dark.”

Y/N stared at him for a moment. He wanted to talk about the miscarriage that happened today. How she didn’t tell him. How she kept it from him.

“Serious talk. No jokes. No, trying to mask your feelings. Serious talk,” he said, raising a brow.

Y/N just nodded. “Yeah, you’re right,” she whispered. “We will talk.”

Jack nodded. “Good.” Then he went to leave, but she stopped him.

“When I’m ready,” she responded when he glanced away to leave her. “When I’m ready, Jack.”

Jack paused mid-step. His jaw tensed, that square silhouette of his back going rigid under his dark scrubs. For a second, he didn’t turn, just stood there with his hand curled at his side, as if deciding whether to push or leave it alone.

Then finally, he nodded once, slowly. Barely perceptible.

“Ok,” he said. His voice wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t cold. Just rough. Quiet. “When you’re ready.”

“We are ok, though, right?” she asked, voice breaking.

Jack looked at her, seeing the fear in her eyes for a moment, then he sent her a smile. “We will always be alright, Dove,” he whispered. “Just don’t suffer alone.”

Y/N nodded as he left to go to a computer to write his patients notes. A loud exhale came from her as she pulled her hair out of the elastic, running her fingers through the long locks as she looked around her. What a fucking day.

            Robby came back from the ambulance bay. Y/N was sitting at the nurses’ station, pink water bottle in hand as she sipped through the straw and wrote out her notes. Finishing off everything that needed to be done.

            Jack was by her at the standing computer. “Doing ok, man?” he asked as Robby walked by.

            Y/N glanced up, looking at Robby and his tired state.

            “Why do you keep asking me that?” Robby responded, walking into the nurses’ station before looking at the board.

            Y/N turned her chair to look at them.

            “Oh, I don’t know,” Jack muttered. “You did take the parent of a patient into our makeshift morgue,” Jack hissed, staring at Robby. “Forget that its technically a fucking crime scene. That’s just not cool, man.”

            Dana was next to Y/N, reading something as she slowly turned to look at Robby. Y/N was glancing between Jack and Robby now. Tension there.

            Just then, Gloria walked up. “Just the two heroes I wanted to see. We’re holding a press conference in the education auditorium,” she said, looking between Jack and Robby.

            Robby shook his head. “Not a chance.”

            “I know you hate this stuff, but it’s important for this department and the hospital,” Gloria began.

            Robby was breaking down. Y/N could see it. Jack could see it. He was rolling his shoulders back, looking at the ceiling as he took a sharp breath. “Trust me, Gloria. You don’t want me speaking to the press right now,” Robby said, sternly.

            “Or ever,” Jack spoke up. Robby was running a hand down his face.

            “Look, as much as you ER cowboys are a pain in my ass, what you and your department did here tonight was nothing short of miraculous. People need to know that,” Gloria stated, looking them over. “Take the win.”

            She had no idea. Not a single clue of what truly happened there that day.

            Ellis opened the door to Trauma 1, yelling out, “Need a second round of MTP.”

            Jack glanced up. “What the fuck?” he muttered before walking over. Y/N stayed where she was as she already had her hand over to the night nurses.

            Y/N was still at the nurses’ station. Cops came to talk to Dana about Doug Driscoll. Y/N continued with her finishing up.

            “Kid,” she heard behind her. Y/N glanced over her shoulder as Jack had his hands on the top of her chair.

            “Yes, my dear,” she hummed before going back to her computer. Jack’s hand came over, grabbing the water bottle that was next to her. Her giant pink one as he took a sip from it.

            “You missed out on something good,” he whispered as he looked over at her computer.

            “Do tell.”

            “I did preperitoneal packing,” he whispered in her ear.

            Y/N instantly turned her chair to look at him. Her mouth fell open as she crossed her arms. He stood there holding her water bottle, smirking at her. “That’s an OR procedure,” she whispered.

            Jack nodded, raised his brows before shrugging. “Sure is, but I did one. Here. Done hundreds at the combat hospitals, but just did one here,” he told her. Then he smirked again. “And you missed out because you’re too busy tip-tapping on your computer.”

            Y/N groaned. “Ugh, I did my hand off,” she muttered. “I should’ve been there. I would’ve loved to witness it.”

            Jack leaned against the wall now, smug as hell, sipping her pink water bottle like it was a celebratory cocktail.

            “You’d have loved it,” he murmured. “Patient was crashing. Abdomen tight. Blood pressure in the toilet. Had to act fast.”

            Y/N narrowed her eyes at him. “God, you’re the devil. Just showing off now.”

            “Oh, yeah,” he admitted easily. “It was glorious.”

            “You’re unbearable,” she muttered. “Give me that,” she muttered, taking the water bottle back and sipping it with exaggerated drama.

            “What’s in there? It takes like berries,” he muttered.

            “Robby put electrolytes in it and other fancy jazz a few hours ago,” she responded, sipping her drink.

            He slowly nodded. “Good,” he hummed. They stayed quiet for a second as she turned back to her computer. “Almost done?”

            “Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “Not too much left. Normally, I’m faster. But my four cups of coffee have exited my system, I’m running on like 3% of serotonin and residual adrenaline.”

            Jack nodded. “Once you’re done, let’s go home. I’ll pick up something on the way home for us to eat, as I can’t be assed to cook.”

            Y/N hummed, not answering right away. “Sushi,” she said eventually. “Or burritos. Or Chinese. But I feel like sushi,” she muttered. “Just order something you know I’ll eat. You pick, I’m easy.”

            He nodded before brushing his knuckles along her arm for a second. “We will eat and talk,” he whispered.

            “Yes, Captain,” she said. “Now scram and let me finish this.”

            He nodded before walking away to the other computer to finish his own patient notes and logging the procedures he did. Y/N stared at him for a moment before turning back to her screen.

            Next to her, Dana, glanced over. “You ok?” she asked.

            Y/N glanced over. “I will be.”

            She nodded. “Go home, sweetheart,” she muttered, nudging her. “Sleep. Talk. Eat. Cry if you need to. Shower. Then go lie on your old man’s chest and make him watch some reality TV.”

            Y/N smiled, chuckling. “Let’s see if he allows me to eat in bed. What a grump,” she muttered. “Military man and all his fucking rules. I pay half the mortgage, too.”

            Eventually, it was time to leave. Robby wanted to give a speech to everyone before they left. Y/N walked over from the nurses’ station, standing across from Jack and Robby, who were preparing for a little speech.

            “Alright, everybody!” Dana called out. “Listen up!”

            All eyes went on them.

            “Today should never have happened,” Robby began. Y/N looked at him, then to Jack, who had his arms crossed. “It’s impossible to imagine that would possess somebody to commit such a horrific act. It’s the worst of humanity, but it brought out the best in the rest of us. We saw our better angels come to aid of our patients. Each of you rose to the occasion. And I can’t…can’t tell you how proud I am of all of you,” Robby expressed, looking all of them over, voice filled with emotion. “This place will break your heart. But it is also full of miracles, and that is a testament to all of you coming together and doing what we do best. Thank you for everything you did here today. We saw 112 mass casualty patients come through here in the last four hours, and 106 of them are gonna live.” Robby stopped, tears coming to his eyes as he glanced down. His voice broke. “None of us are gonna forget today…Even if we really, really want to.” Robby had tears in his eyes. Actual tears. Y/N bit down on her bottom lip, glancing at the floor as she took a breath. “So go home. Let yourselves cry. You’ll feel better. It’s just grief leaving the body.” Robby did one final nod before Jack patted him on the back as Robby walked away.

-

Robby was on the roof when Jack came up. Y/N was finishing off something and Jack saw Robby sneak off somewhere. He followed. Silent footsteps as Robby heard him eventually halt.

            Robby let out a sigh.

            “You’re in my spot,” Jack stated, nodding to where Robby was standing on the roof, hands on his lips. Robby was past the safety rails; however, he didn’t respond. “Just so you know, Grubhub will not deliver to the roof, but there is a DoorDash guy…uh…Marco, who will trek up here for an extra ten bucks, twenty if you want beer.”

            Robby didn’t say anything for a moment, focusing on the city skyline and the bright lights while the darkness slept. Jack walked a little further up, grasping the rails, then glanced at his best mate. “Nice speech down there. Wish I had given it.”

            Robby shook his head, still looking ahead. “No, you don’t.”

            Jack scoffed, shaking his head. “No. Fuck, no. But I’m glad somebody did.” Then he leaned over, looking over the railing to the fall. “Yeah,” he hummed. “I think I finally understand why I keep coming back now,” he said, taking a moment as Robby glanced at him quickly. “It’s in our DNA. It’s what we do. We can’t help it. We’re the…we’re the bees that protect the hive.”

            Robby sniffled, nodding as tears came down his face. However, he shook his head. “Maybe you, not me.”

            “What are you talking about?” Jack asked.

            “You know damn well what I’m talk–“ he halted, glancing away. “I’m talking about.” Robby continued to shake his head. “I broke.”

            “You didn’t break,” Jack muttered, voice stern. “You didn’t break,” he repeated.

            “I shut down. At the moment, everybody needed me the most, I wasn’t there. I couldn’t do it. I choked.”

            Jack’s brows furrowed. “For what, for forty seconds?” Robby stayed quiet. “Three minutes? Ten minutes?” Robby turned to look at Jack. “So, fucking what? We all have that. That is what happens when you’re in a war and nothing makes sense.” Robby was running his hands through his hair. “We survived as a species because we learned how to cooperate and communicate, so when we’re in the middle of killing each other, it divides the very logic of our existence. Your brain starts to short-circuit. All you can do is focus on the medicine. The medicine’s the only thing that saves the patient and your sanity.”

            Robby nodded along. “I’m gonna need a drink if you keep talking,” he muttered.

            Jack glanced over. “You get what I’m saying, right?” Jack asked, voice low and brow raised. He leaned in, tone going serious. “You rocked that shit down there tonight.” Then a beat as he tried to get Robby to make eye contact. “Yeah? You rocked that shit down there tonight. We all did. Now that is a compliment. Accept the damn compliment for once.”

            Robby looked back at Jack. “What if we just didn’t talk for a minute?” Robby muttered.

            “I’m just trying to help,” Jack replied.

            “I know.”

            “I appreciate you–“

            “Still talking,” Robby muttered, glancing away.

            Jack nodded, looking away as he stayed quiet. “Sorry.”

            Silence happened for a few minutes as the two of them took steady breathes and thought for a moment. Robby groaned lightly as Jack just stared at the horizon. After about thirty seconds, Jack looked up from looking at his feet. “I know you said not to talk, but I do need to thank you,” he began.

            Robby looked over. “For what?”

            “Being there for Y/N today,” Jack responded.

            Robby didn’t say anything right away. His jaw flexed once, then again. He looked away again, back to the skyline, like it was safer than the weight in Jack’s voice.

            Jack exhaled slowly through his nose. “I was mad,” he admitted, voice quiet now. “Fuck, I was mad. Not because I thought you did anything wrong or she did anything wrong, but because I wasn’t there. She needed someone, and I wasn’t the one there. And it killed me because the minute she was mine, I made a promise to myself that she’d never have to suffer alone again. But you were there and Dana.”

            Robby swallowed hard. His lips parted like he might say something, but then he just shook his head and blinked rapidly.

            “Never thought we would have an experience like this,” Jack admitted. “She has endo, severely, and I knew the chances of her getting pregnant were slim, and her carrying to full term was even slimmer. But,” he sighed, “it happened, and you were there. You were the one who figured it out before me, who gave her the ultrasound. You were the one who didn’t press, didn’t push. You just sat there with her. And when I couldn’t… When I didn’t even know what was going on, you had her back. So, thank you.” Jack found Robby’s eyes again.

            Robby was quiet again, his chest rising a little harder now. And then, he broke, tears coming down.

            “You don’t have to thank me,” he said hoarsely. “I did it because I care about her. I’ve always cared about her.”

            Jack nodded. “I know,” he muttered.

            “I tried not to,” Robby whispered, looking away. “After you two got serious. I told myself I was over it. That I was just her friend. That I was her partner’s best mate. That I was her boss. But watching her today,” he stopped, rubbing at his eyes. “Watching her go through that. Alone. Quiet. Acting like she was fine. It,” he stopped and took a breath, “killed me.” He took a sharp breath. “Then she threatened me to never mention it again. That she was never going to tell you–“

            “What?” Jack muttered.

            Robby bit his bottom lip. “She was going through it. It was conflicting in her brain. She didn’t want you to go through loss again.” Jack nodded. “I love her too, you know,” Robby whispered. “Just not the way you do. Not anymore. But she’s family. She’s always been family.”

            Jack didn’t speak at first.

            He looked at Robby, really looked at him. The way his shoulders shook despite his effort to hide it, the way he wiped at his eyes without thinking, the way his voice stayed hoarse like something had torn through his chest. And Jack felt it in his own ribs, too. That ache. The familiar pain of watching Y/N suffer and knowing there was nothing he could do to take it away.

            Jack nodded. “Yeah,” he muttered finally. “She’s family. That and her goblin brother,” he added with a chuckle. Then he shrugged. “Fucking genius that kid is. Scares me. The two of them. But I love that kid too. Even if he crashes in my bed when I work nights or steals my beer when I’m not looking or wrestles me when I’m in the middle of doing something.”

            Robby nodded, chuckling. “That’s her kid,” he muttered. “And we will never know the real story.”

            Jack shook his head. “No, we never will. I know enough, but not all of it. Don’t know where she lived between fourteen and eighteen when she raised him or how she fed him or…” he stopped and sighed. “I just know there was a woman named Charlotte.”

            Robby nodded as he grasped the railing. “I didn’t want to be the one there,” he confessed. “I would’ve rather it been you. She should’ve had you. But when I saw her, fuck,” he muttered, “she was lecturing me and then doubled over in pain. I found her grabbing an ultrasound machine, and I pushed myself into the room and made her let me do it. I didn’t want her to suffer alone. And she just shrank…she was so small. And she said she was fine, but you could tell–“

            “Yeah, she hides,” Jack muttered.

            “She wants to be a mom” Robby muttered.

Jack nodded. “It fucking destroys me that I can’t give her that,” he muttered. “I would. I would do anything for her to be a mother…despite my age,” Jack chuckled.

Robby nodded. “I didn’t want her to look at the screen,” Robby continued. “But she did. I saw the sac, she did too. Saw the lack of rhythm. I just…” he stopped himself, voice breaking. “And she didn’t even cry. She just…thanked me. Thanked me. And I didn’t know what to do with that.”

Jack’s voice came out like sandpaper. “She does that. She thanks you when she doesn’t know how to feel.” Robby nodded. Jack bit down his bottom lip. “She said we’d talk. When she’s ready.”

Robby shook his head. “She won’t be,” he muttered. “Not fully. But she’ll try. For you.”

Jack nodded. “Get that drink now?” he asked.

Robby nodded. “Yeah.”

-

Y/N was at the nurses’ station on her phone. Hot pink cardigan on and her giant handbag that fits her whole life beside her. She leaned back as Jack and Robby appeared.

            “Where’d you two old men run away to?” she called out, raising a brow as she pocketed her phone. “I feel left out. Complete FOMO.”

            Jack’s brows furrowed. “FOMO?” he asked.

            “Fear of missing out. Get with the language,” she hummed, smirking. “Seriously, where’d you fuck off to?”

            “Roof,” Jack stated.

            “Damn, where was my invitation?” she asked as she got up to walk to them, grabbing her bag off the floor.

            “Kids aren’t allowed there,” Jack stated as they began to walk to the lockers.

            Robby rolled his eyes, rubbing his face. “You wouldn’t have liked it anyway. It was mostly us bonding over trauma and failing mental health.”

            Y/N chuckled, pushing her bag over her shoulder, but Jack took it off, holding the massive bag in his hands. “So…a brooding pity party with a skyline view? Sounds romantic? Were the clothes on or off?” she asked, smirking.

            “Kid,” Jack hissed. “Enough.”

            “What? I love a little guy-on-guy action,” she chuckled, nudging their arms. “Favourite porn category.”

            “I am going to put a muzzle on you,” Jack muttered as they grabbed their things.

            She groaned. “Ugh, fine. I prefer lesbian action anyway,” she muttered as they walked to the exit after Jack grabbed his backpack and Robby too.

            Jack sent her a death glare while Robby just threw his head back in laughter. “I don’t know how you live with her, man,” he muttered, shaking his head before patting Jack on the back.

            “I don’t either,” Jack deadpanned. “I survive her.”

            Y/N beamed like he’d just given her a compliment. “Oh, you love me, Captain. I’m a full-time adventurer. Keeps you young.”

            “You’re a full-time migraine, is what you are,” Jack muttered as they left the ER into the waiting room, still holding her bag in his hand. “Whoa,” Jack mumbled as they entered the waiting room. “It didn’t take long to fill up in here.”

            “Never does,” Robby responded as they walked through it in a single line, Y/N in front.

            “How long until we run out of boarding beds?” Jack asked over his shoulder.

            “Probably sunrise,” Robby responded.

            They were walking when Jack halted with Robby. Y/N looked from behind them as Myrna came in with a police officer. Dressed in sparkles and chaos, she grinned at the doctors while the police officer had her bag slung over his shoulder.

            “She had a seizure,” the officer said to them.

            “Of course she did,” Robby replied.

            Myrna looked Jack up and down, smirking. “Looking good, Dr. Abbot,” she hummed, winking.

            Jack nodded to her. “You too, Myrna,” he replied respectfully.

            “Oh, thanks,” she hummed back. Then she saw Y/N. “Cupcake,” she muttered.

            “Hiya,” Y/N replied, grasping onto Jack’s bag with her hand. His camo one with his last name embroidered on it. “Dabbling in nighttime mischief?” she replied.

            “Always,” Myrna muttered, winking. Then she saw Robby as he walked away. She called over her shoulder. “Hey, Fruitcake. Fruitcake and Cupcake, my favourite bakery.”

            Y/N called over her shoulder. “Want sprinkles with that attitude, Myrna?” Then she heard a cackle.

            “You keep that sass up, Cupcake, and I’m gonna put you in my will. Leave you my collection of bedazzled ashtrays and felony charges.”

            Y/N snorted as she continued to walk with Jack and Robby.

            “Don’t harass my nurse, Myrna,” Robby called over his shoulder.

            Then Jack looked at Robby. “Fruitcake?” he hummed then looked at Y/N. “Cupcake?” he asked, eyes narrowing.

            “She reminds me of my mother,” Y/N muttered. “Without the pills. But attitude, absolutely. And the desire to show everyone her vagina.”

            They all started chuckling. They exited the hospital; Jack placed his hand on Y/N’s back as they walked across the street to the park. It was dark, Jack dropped his hand as they got closer to the park bench. Y/N brought her cardigan closer. It was a Friday night in September, the breeze was there. Jack, who wore no jacket, wasn’t bothered.

            “Cold?” she asked him.

            He shook his head. “I’m right,” he muttered. She just nodded but rubbed her hand up and down his bare arm.

            They got to the park bench. Princess and Donnie were there. Smiles went around.

            “Hey, hide the hard drugs, kids,” Donnie said as he threw a beer to Robby. Then he threw one to Jack, who missed.

            “Oh, nice catch,” Robby muttered.

            “Loser,” Y/N muttered before perfectly catching hers.

            Jack sat on the edge of the bench, placing his bag on the ground with Y/N’s before grabbing the back of Y/N’s caridgan to pull her next to him. She sat down as Robby sat next to her.

            “Man,” Robby groaned as he took a deep breath.

            Jack was playing with his prosthetic. He rolled up his cargo pants, revealing his transformer leg. Y/N glanced over to watch him.

            Princess sighed before Donnie shook his head. “Today was a motherfucker,” he muttered.

            “You in pain?” Y/N asked, looking at him. “How’s your hip?” she asked as he began to undo the leg.

            “I’m fine,” Jack muttered. Y/N just nodded.

            “You sure?”

            “Grand, Kid,” he said as he got it off and handed it to her. Y/N took it, placing it in her lap as if it were nothing. It was normal for them.

            Donnie looked at Jack. “Have you ever been in anything like that before?” he asked.

            Jack began to massage his leg, and Y/N grasped his hand. “I’ll massage it tonight,” she muttered, bringing his left hand to her lips and kissing it. It was quiet enough for them to only hear. He was still wearing his wedding ring, but she was not bothered by it.

            “Let’s hope none of us ever had to again,” Robby replied.

            Princess shook her head. “No shit.”

            Jack glanced up from massaging his leg. “We probably will,” he stated, voice gruffy and blunt. “If not us, others.” Then he grabbed his beer, cracking it.

            Y/N cracked hers, bringing it to her lips. A subtle groan came from her lips. “Ugh, divine.”

            “Yeah, but we survived that craziness, right?” Donnie hummed, nodding.

            Jack just nodded, eyes directly on the nurse. Eye contact always.

            “To the Pitt crew,” Donnie stated, taking his can up to the sky to toast.

            “To all the people we saved,” Princess added, holding her beer up.

            “Here, here,” Robby muttered.

            “And the ones we couldn’t,” Jack added.

            “To chaos, blood, gore and drama. We slayed that puppy like it’s a motherfucker,” Y/N muttered.

            Then they took a sip, smiling at one another.

            A few figures appeared as they drank their beer.

            “Is this where all the cool kids hang out?” Samira (Mohan) expressed, smirking as she came up with Javadi and Mateo.

            “Oh, you know it,” Donnie replied, opening the cooler to throw them a beer.

            “Nice of you to join us,” Princess said.

            “If there ever was a day,” Samira muttered as Donnie and each threw them a beer.

            Javadi got a beer, and she shook her head. “Actually, sorry, I don’t drink,” she muttered. “I don’t know why I took that.” Then she handed it to Mateo.

            “She’s not old enough,” Princess muttered.

            “I’d say if she is old enough to put in a chest tube and intubate, she’d old enough to drink a beer,” Robby muttered.

            “Kudos,” Y/N replied. “How old are you, Kid?” she asked.

            “Twenty,” Javadi muttered.

            “Holy shit,” Y/N replied. “Youngling. My brother is turning twenty soon, he drinks beer. Well,” she looked over to Jack who was looking at the ground, “Jack’s beer.” Then she chuckled.

            “We won’t tell your mom,” Mateo stated, handing her a beer.

            Javadi looked between them. How Jack placed his hand on Y/N’s thigh, squeezing it.

            “Wait, you two are together?” Javadi gasped looking between Jack and Y/N.

            Y/N smirked, taking a sip of her beer. She lowered it and raised a brow. “What gave that away?” she hummed.

            Jack didn’t even look up, just took another sip of his beer, hand still resting on Y/N’s thigh possessively.

            “I thought…” Javadi trailed off, looking at Robby with a confused expression. “I thought you and Dr. Robby were a thing.”

            Robby choked on his beer.

            Y/N let out a loud chuckle. “Oh my God,” she mumbled. “I did hear that rumour today,” she hummed. “Best entertainment.”

            Robby chuckled, shaking his head. “No, Ace and I,” he looked at Y/N. “Good mates.”

            Javadi’s brows furrowed. “You called him, ‘Cowboy���,” she stated. “Repeatly.”

            Y/N shrugged. “Been at this ER for eight years. Everyone gets a nickname,” she hummed and looking at Jack. “Old man and Captain,” she hummed as Jack met her eyes. “What else do I call you?” Then she patted his thigh.

            Jack muttered. “Six years,” he said, glancing up. “Been tolerating her bullshit for six years.”

            Y/N hummed with her beer and hand, prosthetic on her lap. “Robby and I are close. Best mates with a dysfunctional but healthy relationship. However, I’m more into emotionally constipated war veterans with truck obsessions, collects emergency medicine kits and superiority complexes.”

            Jack snorted. “You forgot the prosthetic.”

            “Oh yeah,” she hummed. “That’s the best part. Real kink starter,” she stated, smirking.

            Everyone snorted on their drink while Jack did a simple, “Y/N,” hiss.

            Javadi blinked. “There’s a…a vibe between you two,” she muttered, looking between Y/N and Robby.

            Jack stayed quiet, looking at the floor.

            “Just wait till they work together,” Princess stated, pointing to Jack and Y/N. “They read each other’s minds,” she whispered, smirking. Princess then handed Jack some wipes.

            “Thank you,” he replied, taking them.

            “You guys do this after every shift?” Samira asked.

            Jack took the prosthetic from Y/N’s lap and began to clean the shoe on it.

            “Not always,” Y/N replied.

            “Usually, it’s a little more lively,” Donnie stated.

“The emergency department throws wicked parties.”

            Y/N watched Jack clean the blood off his shoes. Then he gestured to her with the wipes. She shook her head. “Not now.” He then nodded. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

            “It’s going to stain,” he whispered. She nodded and squeezed his hand.

            “Just adds to the fear of me,” she replied.

            Just then, Robby began to cackle. Loud laughter. Y/N glanced over to him.

            “What’s so funny?” Samira asked.

            Robby ran a hand through his hair and beard before looking at Javadi. “I just realised this is your first shift,” he said, looking at the med student.

            Y/N’s eyes widened while Jack continued to focus on his shoes.

            “Yeah,” Javadi muttered.

            Then everyone began to laugh together. Jack smirked. “That was baptism by fire, baby,” he hummed, holding his beer up and a toasting moment.

            “I can pretty much guarantee you the next one will be easier,” Robby added.

            Javadi stared at Robby before nodding. “I really fucking hope so,” she stated, sternly.

            “You’ll love it soon,” Y/N replied. “If you want to do ED. You’ll fall in love with it. Its gore, chaos, disorganisation and blood. You’ll be addicted to it without even realising it. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” she said, nodding. Then chuckled. “Maybe plastics. You can make so much money in plastics.”

            “You’re not leaving the ER,” Robby and Jack stated at the same time.

            “Doll,” Y/N stated, looking at Javadi, “take it from me. You’re twenty. Finishing your medical degree. Mama is a hot-shot surgeon. There’s an expectation for greatness from your environment.” Javadi stared at her. “Pick something you love. That makes you excited every day. That fills your bucket. Don’t live for other people. You’re the maker of your own destiny.”

            Javadi blinked at her like she’d never heard someone say that out loud before. Slowly, she nodded, then glanced down at her beer in her hands, her eyes glassy with overwhelm. “Thanks,” she muttered, voice small but grateful. “I need to hear that.”

            Y/N nodded. “You remind me of my brother. He’s incredibly intelligent and I tell him that its ok to fuck up, its ok to not know but its ok to take time to figure it out. You have the privilege to do that. You have the time. So, if ER is not for you, then find something you love, and if medicine isn’t for you, then there are other ways to help people.”

            Javadi nodded. “Thanks,” she muttered. “I don’t know if I want be a doctor after today,” she admitted.

            “Because today isn’t normal,” Y/N replied. “You’re here for a few weeks for your rotation, you’ll see normal. But you were great today. Excellent. You’re a great doctor, Victoria.”

            She just sent a smile to Y/N. “Thanks.”

            Jack looked over to Y/N. “You know this is a park hangout with beer not a TED talk, right?” he hummed, smirking.

            “Oh, shut up. You love my inspirational moments,” Y/N replied. “Got to use the psych degree somehow.”

            “You have a psych degree?” Javadi asked.

            Y/N smiled. “I have a double major in nursing and psychology with honours. An IQ of 178 and an eidetic memory. Don’t let the charisma, humour and the massive rack confuse you, Doll.”

            Javadi’s mouth opened, then closed again like her brain had stalled. “You’re kidding. Why aren’t you a doctor?” she asked, shrugging.

            Jack and Robby both looked at Y/N, who stayed quiet. She stared at Javadi for a moment. “That’s where we are different, Victoria. I didn’t have the privilege to be one. But you do,” she stated, smiling. “So, make it your bitch. Because if I was in your position. I would’ve been a fucking goddamn award-winning surgeon.”

            Javadi swallowed hard, her face falling a little with the weight of Y/N’s words. “Sorry,” she muttered, genuinely, cheeks tinged with pink. “I didn’t–“

            Y/N cut her off with a soft smile and shake of her head. “Doll, it’s grand. This isn’t a pity party. This is me being a mom for a moment who is like ‘hey, make the world your bitch and bend it over so you can peg it’. I’ve given the same speech to my brother. You should meet. He’s a quantum physics major with a…well, debating between psychology or math as a minor. Honours as well. His IQ is 174, though. However, I’ve saved hundreds of lives and I’m happy so that’s what matters. I love what I do, and I love my life. I boss everyone around. So, don’t worry, ok?”

            Javadi just nodded.

            “You boss all of us around,” Robby muttered, lifting his beer. “Like an emotional support dominatrix.”

            Y/N gasped. “Jesus, Cowboy, want me to pull out the leather outfit as well and the whip?” she hummed. Robby just chuckled, shaking his head. Y/N glanced back at Javadi then Samira. “Don’t talk to your attendings the way I do,” she said seriously. “It will probably get you fired.”

            Jack sighed. “Behave, Y/N. Enough of the TED talks,” he stated, sipping his beer. “It’s too late.”

            “Fine, I’ll save it for the pillow talk,” Y/N hummed, sipping her beer now. Jack rolled his eyes. “I bring it all. The speeches. The depth. The rack. What do you bring, McGrumpy?” she hummed, looking at her man.

            Jack just stated, very seriously. “The retirement plan.”

            Robby snorted beer out of his nose.

            Donnie then hummed. “Hey, at least you didn’t get pissed on,” he added to Javadi.

            “Oh my God, the kid got peed on, didn’t he?” Y/N chuckled.

            “Who?” Jack whispered to her.

            “Whitaker. Poor Whitaker,” Y/N muttered. “Med student.”

            “Where is he?” Princess asked.

            “Yeah, probably quit,” Donnie stated.

            Robby shook his head, groaning. “No… Oh, that kid’s tough. He’ll be back. Just like the rest of us.”

            Everyone nodded, however, an ambulance came by. The loud sirens were echoing.

            “Home?” Jack whispered to Y/N. She nodded.

            “Ok, that’s it for me,” Robby muttered, standing up as he grabbed his backpack.

            “Want a ride, Cowboy?” Y/N asked. “Jack is going to get us food. He has the truck; I have the Bronco. So, I can drop you home.”

            Robby looked at Y/N and nodded. “Yeah, sure, Ace. That’ll be great.” He stood up and looked at everyone. “Goodnight. Get some rest. Tomorrow is another day.”

-

taglist:

@bubbleraccoon00

@beebeechaos

@travelingmypassion

@kaisanpoint

@sweetwanderlust05

@kmc1989

@hiireadstuff

@dizzybee03

@keileighr

@wolfbc97

@introvertathome

@sharkluver

@katydunn047-blog

@kenzimae67

@qardasngan

@rosieposie88

@samanthadegaro

@meowmeowyoongles

@ego-allie-bap

@loud-mouph

@jojodojo02

-

Hope you enjoyed. xoxo

Send in imagine requests for Dove & Captain!

Ava <3

[satoshi-mochida]

Riviera: The Promised Land remaster for Switch coming west on November 28 - Gematsu

Sting will release the Switch version of the remastered Riviera: The Promised Land via Nintendo eShop on November 28 worldwide for $34.99. Pre-orders are available now via Nintendo eShop at 15 percent-off discount price of $29.74.

The remastered Riviera: The Promised Land first launched for Switch on February 28 in Japan, followed by iOS and Android on May 29. A PC version launched via Steam on July 17 worldwide.

Here is an overview of the game, via Nintendo eShop:

About

You can enjoy the remastered version of Riviera: The Promised Land, the first work in the Dept. Heaven Episodes series, on Nintendo Switch! Equipped with various additional convenient functions, the ease of play has been upgraded! Full of elements that will satisfy everyone from first-time players to experienced players!

Story

At the behest of Hector, who is one of the Seven Magi, the Grim Angel Ein and his familiar, Rose, along with another Grim Angel named Ledah, all head to Riviera, an island floating in Asgard. On the way, Ursula, the guardian of the Riviera, appears and is thwarted by the Grim Angels’ intrusion. Ein, whose memories were sealed by Ursula’s attack, wakes up in Elendia, where the spirits live…

Key Features

Easy-to-operate field exploration!

A unique battle system where your skills are determined by the items you own!

Who are your close comrades? A favorability system that changes depending on your choices!

More than 90 illustrations to liven up events!

Remastered Additional Elements

Background music change function with five types of sound sources!

Play mode with up to 5x speed!

Event skip function!

All illustrations are available in high-definition!

Reliable auto save function!

Ease of play greatly improved by difficulty level and mode selection!

Boost function that allows you to quickly learn skills!

Improved user-friendly interface!

Function to switch voices between Japanese and English!

[entropy-sims]

Hi there ✨

I'd like to show you my new color palette. For a long time I planned to expand and change it a little. Some may say there is no need to have so many colors, but five has never been enough for me. Well, I done it. A little about the palette:

— there is 15 added colors and some replaced — my own colors - glintwein, whiskey, irish cream, amaretto, martini (no, I'm not an alcoholic lmao), sandalwood, black currant, millennium, coriander, hazelnut, vanilla, curcuma, lilac flower - are edits or mixes of other creator's actions, so as before credit goes to pooklet, io, digi, blackswan-sims, theraven and thecrimsonsparkles

Also I changed naming system and now the file names look like this:

NX_SclubVelour4to2_black1_isis NX_SclubVelour4to2_MESH

instead NX-sclub-velour-4to2-isis and NX-sclub-velour-4to2-MESH

If you don't need some of these colors you can simply delete it. Probably archive filesize has increased slightly but who cares about it in the age of high-speed unlimited Internet. That's all I wanted to say today (but not everything I'm going to change). Hope you like new colors, folks!

[arctic-space-penguin]

The Ultimate Apple 'Character Card'

(will be updated)

---

General Info:

Name: Apple Age: 10 (show/post-show) and 12 (movie) Best Friends: Leo, Donnie, Splinter, Root, Kin Friends: Mikey, Raph, April, Cass, Jr, Draxum Relationship(s): N/A Family: Moon, Blaze, Root, Kin, Ivory Loves: sunflower seeds, playing hide and seek, watching National Geographic (after Donnie installs a TV in her home ofc) Likes: helping her family Dislikes: when Root eats all the sunflower seeds without her, fights between siblings

This or That Questions:

1. Playlists or podcasts? A: Doesn't know what either is 2. Shoes or slippers? A: Slippers 3. Pork or beef? A: Neither 4. Swimming pool or beach? A: Pool 5. Fruits or vegetables? A: Fruits 6. Cats or dogs? A: Preferably neither, they both hate her 7. Summer or winter? A: Winter 8. Salt or pepper? A: Pepper 9. Cash or cards? A: Cards 10. Cookies or chips? A: Cookies 11. Soda or juice? A: Juice 12. Farm or city? A: Farm 13. Text or call? A: Text 14. New phone or new clothes? A: Clothes 15. Black or white? A: White 16. Driver or passenger? A: Passenger 17. Laptop or tablet? A: Tablet 18. Comedy or Horror? A: Comedy 19. Beer or wine? A: Neither 20. Dine in or dine out? A: Dine out 21. Movies or TV shows? A: Movies 22. iOS or Android? A: iOS 23. Waffles or pancakes? A: Pancakes 24. Rain or snow? A: Snow 25. Love or money? A: No need for either, but money 26. Ice or fire? A: Ice 27. Curly or straight? A: Straight 28. Oranges or apples? A: Apples 29. Sweet or salty? A: Sweet 30. Trucks or cars? A: Doesn't know what either is 31. Lunch or dinner? A: Dinner 32. Weekends or weekdays? A: Weekends 33. Pizza or pasta? A: Pizza 34. Friends or family? A: Family 35. Boys or girls? A: She lives with both, so both 36. Fiction or non-fiction? A: Fiction 37. Skiing or snowboarding? A: Skiing 38. Red wine or white wine? A: Neither, Moon and Blaze would kill her if they found out 39. Singing in the shower or singing in the car? A: Shower, she doesn't know what a car is 40. Organized or messy? A: Organized chaos

Vine that represents her:

(bc she technically never fucking learned how to read 😃😃)

Summary: (Up to end of movie)

Before Apple became a mutant, she and Root were the lowest in the orphanage totem pole. When they were mutated and cast out, they found refuge in a secluded part of the sewers where Moon found them. Apple and Root lived with the wolf for a few months before siblings Kin and Ivory came along, the latter in bad shape. Then some months after that, Blaze entered the picture and was deemed 'leader' by everyone later on (the last to join was Pigeon Pete... let's just say he and Donnie do not get along). Apple started to get tired of living in the sewers after some years, but that didn't last long when Moon brings back a certain very sick looking mutant softshell turtle (post-show). Apple and Root are the first to try to make friends with him. Soon enough though, Donnie's brothers come searching for him and he has to go home, but not without promising to come back. When the invasion strikes, the group/family of six leave their now overrun home to lay low in the Hidden City. As soon as it was over, they made their way back to the surface where Moon was called to help aid in the turtle's healing process, bringing Apple along with her.

Good Future Summary:

Apple resolved to find some way to help her family and friends after observing the long healing, and knew that would be learning how to do what Moon and Donnie did well. They agreed to help her learn. She got the hang of it easily, eventually able to hold down the fort when they're off getting supplies or whatnot.

Bad Future Summary:

This was a test for her, for lack of a better description. Apple got to use her heightened, adapted healing skills more, which she loved, and sometimes did on-the-field things because of her speed. But she was still young. One particularly difficult battle mission later, and she blamed herself for the loss of Blaze, Ivory, and Raph. She was told to choose a select few to teach what she knew to later, in case something were to happen, which was really possible at any time. Barely any were interested, but she taught them anyway. Apple ends up dying a year before Casey Jr was sent into the past.

Voice Claim:

(couldn't find the perfect video with just her voice lol, but the photo should be linked with the video)

[xxxnightcorequeenxxxv3]

The Curse of Magical Girl AU 15

So now that you know the characters' full names from the last post, you can look them up if you want. It's time to catch you up to speed on what the characters call each other. As for who wants to go by full name, not everyone on this list, that's for sure. On this chart, you'll see the different teams and their call singe on the map that Babs made to use to keep track of the Robins. (More on the map later, you know it's a in progress thing) So on to the nicknames, Full hero names, Hero nicknames, Map names, and Fake civilian identity names. I'll demonstrate with Timothy here. Nickname; Tim Hero name: Robin Emerald Nickname for hero work Em, short and sweet and easy to say on coms. On the map, RE is short for Robin Emerald, for ease of tracking what Robin is where. Then we got Emma Robyn. It's the fake civilian identity their hero can take on for a limited time. ps. Emma Robyn is the identity Tim met Bruce under, where he mistook Tim for Janet. Why? Cuz of that fake Civilian identity, they swap a feature with their "dance partner", Tim, and his partner swapped hair color. A dance partner is the one person with whom they are set up to make combo attacks. They will have matching Bows and glasses, so let's see if you can spot who is partnered with whom. ;)

Team A Harp- Robin Kunzite / Robin Kun / RK 🩷 Kurt Robyn. Dick - Robin Sapphire / Robin Safy/ RS. 💙 Saphira Robyn. Babs - Robin Jasper / Robin Jazz / RJ.🧡 Jake Robyn. Jay - Robin Ruby / Robin Rue/RR. ❤️ Ruth Robyn. Tim - Robin Emerald / Robin Em/ RE. 💚 Emma Robyn. Stef - Robin Ametyst / Robin Amy/ RA. 💜 Amos Robyn. Dami - Robin Diamond / Robin Dia / RD. 🤍 Daisy Robyn. Cas - Robin Onyx / Robin Nyx / RO. Oneil Robyn. Duke - Robin Topaz / Robin Arty / RT.💛 Tori Robyn.

Team B Maps - Robin Morganite / Robin Mort / RM 🧡 Micah Robyn. AJ - Robin Peridot / Robin Dot / RP 💚 Prince Robyn. Terry - Robin Zicron / Robin Z / RZ 🖤 Ziya Robyn. Matt - Robin Beryl / Robin Bae / RB 🩷 Bambi Robyn. Lacy - Robin Larimar / Robin Mars / RL 💙 Luke Robyn. Tom - Robin Fluorite / Robin Flor / RF ❤️ Fantine Robyn. Bobby - Robin Celestite / Robin Ciel / RC 🤍 Chrysta Robyn. Jim - Robin Iolite / Robin Io / RI 💜 Irene Robyn.

Team C Carrie - Robin Wairakite / Robin Rike / RW 🤍 Wade Robyn. Helena - Robin Halidor / Robin Hali / RH 💛 Hale Robyn. Cullen- Robin Quarts / Robin Artie / RQ 🩷 Queenie Robyn. Bette - Robin Nephrite / Robin Nephy / RN 💚 Nethan Robyn. Lance B - Robin Xenotime / Robin Xeno / RX 🧡 Xenia Robyn. Gan - Robin Uvite/ Robin Uvi / RU ❤️ Uriel Robyn. Drake - Robin Garnet/ Robin Gari / RG 💙 Grace Robyn. Claire - Robin Vivianite/ Robin Viv / RV 🩶 Vinny Robyn. Lance H - Robin Yedlinite/ Robin Line / RY 💜 Yessica Robyn.

Now that your head is spinning from all the new info, I'll leave you be for a bit to digest it. So until next time, when I drop more art or lore, depending on what gets done first.

[cagemasterfantasy]

Dragonborn Race Traits and Class Rankings (5e)

Guide:

1=Do not play as this race

2=Can play but Not Recommended

3=Decent Choice

4=Perfect

Born of dragons, as their name proclaims, the dragonborn walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Shaped by draconic gods or the dragons themselves, dragonborn originally hatched from dragon eggs as a unique race, combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids. Some dragonborn are faithful servants to true dragons, others form the ranks of soldiers in great wars, and still others find themselves adrift, with no clear calling in life.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. Young dragonborn grow quickly. They walk hours after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80.

Alignment. Dragonborn tend towards extremes, making a conscious choice for one side or the other between Good and Evil (represented by Bahamut and Tiamat, respectively). More side with Bahamut than Tiamat (whose non-dragon followers are mostly kobolds), but villainous dragonborn can be quite terrible indeed. Some rare few choose to devote themselves to lesser dragon deities, such as Chronepsis (Neutral), and fewer still choose to worship Io, the Ninefold Dragon, who is all alignments at once.

Size. Dragonborn are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Draconic Ancestry. You are distantly related to a particular kind of dragon. Choose a type of dragon from the below list; this determines the damage and area of your breath weapon, and the type of resistance you gain.

Black Acid 5' by 30' line (DEX save)

Blue Lightning 5' by 30' line (DEX save)

Brass Fire 5' by 30' line (DEX save)

Bronze Lightning 5' by 30' line (DEX save)

Copper Acid 5' by 30' line (DEX save)

Gold Fire 15' cone (DEX save)

Green Poison 15' cone (CON save)

Red Fire 15' cone (DEX save)

Silver Cold 15' cone (CON save)

White Cold 15' cone (CON save)

Breath Weapon. You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. It deals damage in an area according to your ancestry. When you use your breath weapon, all creatures in the area must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your ancestry. The DC of this saving throw is 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increase to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th, and 5d6 at 16th level. After using your breath weapon, you cannot use it again until you complete a short or long rest. Instead, you may use your breath weapon a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier. You regain expended uses on a short or long rest.

Damage Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your ancestry.

Languages. You can read, speak, and write Common and Draconic.

CHROMATIC DRAGONBORN (Fizaban's updated Dragonborn)

Dragonborn with chromatic ancestry claim the raw elemental power of chromatic dragons. The vibrant colors of black, blue, green, red, and white dragons gleam in those dragonborn's scaled skin and in the deadly energy of their breath weapons. Theirs is the raw elemental fury of the volcano, of biting arctic winds, and of raging lightning storms, as well as the subtle whisper of swamp and forest, toxic and corrosive.

Ability Score Increase. Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or you increase three different scores by 1.

Type. You are a Humanoid.

Size. You are Medium.

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Chromatic Ancestry. You trace your ancestry to a chromatic dragon, granting you a special magical affinity. Choose one type of dragon from the Chromatic Ancestry table. This determines the damage type for your other traits as shown in the table.

Black Acid

Blue Lightning

Green Poison

Red Fire

White Cold

Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level (2d10), 11th level (3d10), and 17th level (4d10). You can use your Breath Weapon a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry.

Chromatic Warding. Starting at 5th level, as an action, you can channel your draconic energy to protect yourself. For 1 minute, you become immune to the damage type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character.

METALLIC DRAGONBORN (Fizaban's updated Dragonborn)

Dragonborn with metallic ancestry lay claim to the tenacity of metallic dragons — brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver — whose hues glint in their scales. Theirs is the fire of hearth and forge, the cold of high mountain air, the spark of inspiration, and the scouring touch of acid that purifies.

Ability Score Increase. Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or you increase three different scores by 1.

Type. You are a Humanoid.

Size. You are Medium.

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Metallic Ancestry. You trace your ancestry to a metallic dragon, granting you a special magical affinity. Choose one type of dragon from the Metallic Ancestry table. This determines the damage type for your other traits as shown in the table.

Brass Fire

Bronze Lightning

Copper Acid

Gold Fire

Silver Cold

Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Metallic Ancestry. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level (2d10), 11th level (3d10), and 17th level (4d10). You can use your Breath Weapon a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Metallic Ancestry.

Metallic Breath Weapon. At 5th level, you gain a second breath weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation in a 15-foot cone. The save DC for this breath is 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. Whenever you use this trait, choose one:

Enervating Breath. Each creature in the cone must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or become incapacitated until the start of your next turn.

Repulsion Breath. Each creature in the cone must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 20 feet away from you and be knocked prone.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character.

GEM DRAGONBORN (Fizban's updated Dragonborn)

Gem dragonborn partake of the heritage of gem dragons, who claim to be heirs of Sardior, the Ruby Dragon. The colors and mysterious powers of gem dragons — amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, and topaz — gleam in these dragonborn’s scaled skin and course through their veins. Theirs are the wonders of the mind, the force of will, the brilliant light of insight, and the resounding echo of discovery — but also the desiccation of despair.

Ability Score Increase. Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or you increase three different scores by 1.

Type. You are a Humanoid.

Size. You are Medium.

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Gem Ancestry. You trace your ancestry to a Gem dragon, granting you a special magical affinity. Choose one type of dragon from the Gem Ancestry table. This determines the damage type for your other traits as shown in the table.

Amethyst Force

Crystal Radiant

Emerald Psychic

Sapphire Thunder

Topaz Necrotic

Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Gem Ancestry. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level (2d10), 11th level (3d10), and 17th level (4d10). You can use your Breath Weapon a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Draconic Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Gem Ancestry.

Psionic Mind. You can telepathically speak to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.

Gem Flight. Starting at 5th level, you can use a bonus action to manifest spectral wings on your body. These wings last for 1 minute. For the duration, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed and can hover. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character.

Source: Player's Handbook and Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Artificer 4 Dragonborn’s breath weapon offers a helpful AOE damage effect to complement the Artificer’s spellcasting. Artillerist’s canons will totally outshine the Dragonborn’s breath weapon but other varieties of Artificer may enjoy an AOE damage option that doesn’t eat precious spell slots

Barbarian 4 a Strength increase is absolutely crucial for the Barbarian and the Dragonborn’s breath weapon provides a helpful way to handle crowds of enemies which is often difficult for Barbarians. The standard Dragonborn’s Charisma increase is wasted.

Bard 3 College of Valor is the most obvious option for a Dragonborn Bard but Strength-based bards are a difficult build. Without a Dexterity increase you’ll want to fight in medium armor so start with 14 Dexterity and try to keep yourself alive until College of Valor grants you Medium Armor proficiency at 3rd level. Or you can just build a Caster Bard but when fighting at range your breath weapon will be much less impactful

Cleric 1 nothing about Dragonborn supports Cleric’s strengths. If you want a divine feel Paladin is a much better option

Druid 1 no Wisdom increase

Fighter 3 a Strength increase works really well for Fighters and Dragonborn’s breath weapon provides a helpful area damage option for a class that usually doesn’t have a way to handle crowds easily. A Charisma increase works great for Purple Dragon Knight

Monk 1 Monk is too MAD (again Multiple Ability Dependent for those who don't know tabletop lingo) to work with a race that doesn’t provide either a Dexterity or Wisdom increase

Paladin 4 the standard Dragonborn’s ability increases are perfect for Paladin and the damage resistance is a nice addition to the paladin’s already spectacular durability

Ranger 2 Dragonborn racial traits offer nothing which nicely complements Ranger. If you need an AOE from time to time use Hail of Thorns. You can build strength based Rangers in medium armor but that’s not enough to make Ranger a good option for Dragonborn

Rogue 1 no Dexterity increase

Sorcerer 4 Draconic Bloodline makes a lot of sense thematically for Dragonborn and between the 2 you can damage resistance to 2 damage types. Dragonborn’s breath weapon provides a helpful complement to Sorcerer’s spellcasting but expect to rely more on spells. The spell Dragon’s Breath may prove either enticing or frustrating. The damage is better than Dragonborn’s breath weapon and you can use it every round for a full minute. You can even twin it allowing you and a friend to share the benefits.

Warlock 4 like Sorcerer Warlock benefits from Dragonborn’s Charisma increase and damage resistance and since Warlock has fewer spell slots to spend on AOE spells Dragonborn’s breath weapon is more impactful. The Strength increase is tempting for Pact of the Blade but Strength is largely worthless for Hexblades and if you’re building Pact of the Blade without Hexblade you’re doing something really weird

Wizard 3 Dragonborn’s breath weapon offers a helpful area damage option similar to Burning Hands but expect to rely primarily on spells and to stay well away from melee. If you want an Intelligence based Dragonborn spellcaster Artificer is a better choice. The spell Dragon’s Breath may prove either enticing or frustrating. The damage is better than Dragonborn’s breath weapon, and you can use it every round for a full minute. You can even cast it on your familiar turning you cat or owl into a roving flamethrower

[govindhtech]

Apple Intelligence powers iOS 18, iPadOS 18 & macOS Sequoia

Apple launched Apple Intelligence, the iPhone, iPad, and Mac personal intelligence system that uses generative models and personal context to provide highly valuable and relevant intelligence. Apple Intelligence permeates iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

It uses Apple hardware to comprehend and create language and graphics, act across apps, and use personal context to simplify and speed up daily chores. With Private Cloud Compute, Apple establishes a new benchmark for AI privacy by flexing and scaling computing power between on-device processing and bigger, server-based models on proprietary Apple silicon servers.

Apple Intelligence New Language Understanding and Creation Skills Apple Intelligence offers new ways to improve writing and communication. Users can rewrite, proofread, and summaries Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party app content with new systemwide Writing Tools in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

Writing Tools boost confidence in writing by organizing class notes, proofreading blog posts, and perfecting emails. Apple Intelligence’s Rewrite feature lets users set a tone for their writing based on audience and task.

From perfecting a cover letter to injecting humour and creativity into a party invitation, Rewrite helps produce the proper words. Proofread evaluates grammar, word choice, and sentence structure and suggests modifications with explanations that users can review or quickly accept. Summaries can summaries text into a paragraph, bulleted points, table, or list.

While writing an email, a user can choose Proofread or Rewrite from the Writing Tools menu. The Summarize feature is selected in the Notes app for holistic health notes. In Mail, managing emails has never been easier. Priority Messages display urgent communications like dinner invitations and boarding passes at the top of the inbox. Instead than previewing the first few lines of each email, users can see summaries without opening them. Users can tap long threads to get relevant details. Smart Reply suggests rapid responses and identifies email questions to assure answers. Deep language understanding extends to notifications. Priority alerts display at the top of the stack to highlight what’s most important, while summaries assist users skim long or stacked alerts to see key facts on the Lock Screen, like ongoing group chats. Reduce Interruptions, a new Focus, highlights only urgent alerts like a nursery pickup SMS to help users stay focused. The Notes and Phone apps may capture, transcribe, and summarize audio. Participants are automatically notified when a call is recorded, and Apple Intelligence creates a summary to help recall key points after the call. The Notes app on iPad Pro can capture and transcribe audio. iPad Pro can summarize audio. Image Playground Enhances Communication and Self-Expression Fun Apple Intelligence enables innovative image creation to help consumers express themselves. Users may create amusing graphics in seconds using Image Playground’s Animation, Illustration, or Sketch styles. Images Playground is simple and embedded into apps like Messages. A separate software lets you experiment with different ideas and designs. Users can play with as many images as they wish because all images are made on device.

Users can choose from themes, costumes, accessories, and locales; provide a description to characterize an image; incorporate someone from their personal photo bank; and pick their favorite style with Image Playground.

Messages’ Image Playground lets users easily create amusing graphics for pals and explore personalized conversation-related themes. If a user messages a group about hiking, they’ll receive suggested concepts relating to their friends, destination, and activity, making image creation faster and more relevant.

iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro demonstrates Messages Image Playground Image Playground presents the user’s mum as a superhero in iPhone 15 Pro Messages. In Notes, the new Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool menu opens Image Playground, making notes more visually appealing. Users can generate beautiful graphics from rough sketches and even empty space utilising information from the surrounding region. Keynote, Freeform, Pages, and third-party apps that use the new Image Playground API also support Image Playground.

Genmojis Create Genmojis for Any Situation

Users can build unique Genmoji to express themselves. Typing a description displays their Genmoji and other options. Photos can be used to create Genmoji of friends and relatives. Genmoji can be used in texts or as stickers or reactions in Tapbacks like emoji. Genmojis are chosen for the prompt “Smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers.” In Messages, users can choose Genmoji Tapbacks.

New Photo Features Increase Control Apple Intelligence makes photo and video searching easier. Use natural language to find photographs like “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt,” or “Katie with stickers on her face.” Finding certain moments in clips to jump to the relevant segment improves video search. The new Clean Up tool can also remove background distractions without affecting the subject.

Memories lets users create stories by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will use language and picture understanding to select the finest images and videos based on the description, create a plot with chapters based on photo themes, and organize them into a movie with a narrative arc. Apple Music will even suggest songs based on memory. Apple and others do not access user photographs and videos, as with all Apple Intelligence features.

New Era for Siri Siri Siri becomes further integrated into the system using Apple Intelligence. With better English understanding, Siri is more natural, contextually relevant, and personal, simplifying and speeding up daily activities. It can track users’ stammering and preserve context between requests. Users can also type to Siri and switch between speech and text to converse as needed. Siri’s new look includes an exquisite flashing light around the screen while engaged.

Siri can now answer hundreds of iPhone, iPad, and Mac queries and provide device assistance anywhere. Mail app users can learn how to schedule emails and switch from Light to Dark Mode.

Siri will eventually understand and act on user content in more apps with display awareness. A buddy can text a user their new address in Messages and say, “Add this address to his contact card.”

Siri can do hundreds of new activities in Apple and third-party apps using Apple Intelligence. Siri will handle requests like “Bring up that article about cicadas from my Reading List” or “Send the photos from the Saturday barbecue to Malia.”

Siri will provide user-specific and device-specific intelligence. A user can say, “Play that podcast that Jamie recommended,” and Siri can find and play the episode without having to remember if it was mentioned in a text or email. Or they can ask Siri, “When is Mom’s flight landing?” and Siri will retrieve the flight data and compare them to real-time flight monitoring to give an arrival time.

Apple Intelligence must grasp deep personal context and respect user privacy to be helpful. Many Apple Intelligence models operate solely on device, a cornerstone of its processing. Privacy and security of Apple products are extended into the cloud to unlock greater intelligence for sophisticated demands that require more processing power.

Apple Intelligence can increase its computing capability and use larger, server-based models for difficult requests with Private Cloud Compute. Apple servers power these models, ensuring data is never retained or exposed.

Private Cloud Compute cryptographically prevents iPhone, iPad, and Mac from talking to a server unless its software has been publicly logged for scrutiny. Independent experts can analyze Apple silicon server code to verify privacy. Apple Intelligence with Private Cloud Compute redefines AI privacy, enabling trusted AI.

ChatGPT ChatGPT integrates across Apple platforms Apple is adding ChatGPT access to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, letting users leverage its expertise and image- and document-reading capabilities without switching tools. Siri can use ChatGPT’s knowledge as needed. After receiving inquiries, papers, and photographs from ChatGPT, Siri answers directly. An iPhone 15 Pro user tells Siri, “He have fresh salmon, lemons, tomatoes.” Help me create a 5-course feast with dishes for all tastes.” Siri on iPhone 15 Pro asks, “Do you want me to use ChatGPT to do that?” Siri displays ChatGPT results on iPhone 15 Pro. A bullet describes the first course, tomato and basil bruschetta. Apple’s systemwide Writing Tools will also include ChatGPT to let users write material for any topic. Compose users can use ChatGPT image capabilities to create graphics in many styles to match their content. ChatGPT users’ IP addresses are hidden, and OpenAI won’t store requests. Users who connect to ChatGPT must follow its data-use policies. GPT-4o-powered ChatGPT will launch later this year on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Users can access it for free without an account, while ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts and enjoy paid features from these experiences.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[gamergirljournalist]

From Biting Apples to Embracing Galaxies: My Switch to Samsung

For more than a decade, I've always been using the Apple eco-system. My first modern phone was the iPhone 5 in 2012 and it lasted for a couple of years until I upgraded to the iPhone 10 in 2017 after convincing my father that my phone was dying.

The proof: this photo of my phone bricking every 20 minutes when installing a new iOS when I was in university.

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As time passed, the iPhone X has survived numerous trips overseas, journalism jobs, freelancing gigs, concerts, and dating attempts. But like all tech devices, this one is about to reach its end after an incident where it wouldn't turn on properly when it was being charged.

I had two options: wait for the iPhone 15 to come out or move to Samsung. And based on the article, it's quite obvious what happened next.

One last bite of the Apple - why I love the iPhone

Moving to a Galaxy device has to be the hardest decision I've ever made. My original plan was to save $2000 for a brand new Apple product because the Apple ecosystem is pretty good. I can copy a link or photo on my phone and paste it on my Macbook. Airdrop is pretty convenient. Also, my entire family became Apple snobs ever since the release of Airpods. Also, since I moved out from home, Facetime became the most used method of communication between family members because it was instant.

Another cool feature that the iPhone has is that is very easy to customize. From having an Animal Crossing dark mode theme phone to selecting a case, the choices are ripe for the picking.

Lastly, it's just very easy to use. Unless you're planning to do some complicated stuff like jailbreaking, using an iPhone as an everyday device is very simple. Left it somewhere? Use the "Find my phone" app and annoy the heck out of those who try to steal it. Want music? Drop the file into iTunes and it will sync via iCloud. It's that versatile.

But as my phone was quickly on its final breath, as well as the cost of living crisis, waiting for the iPhone 15 was no longer a valid option anymore. So I had to say goodbye to these nifty features and swap to Samsung.

What it was like making the switch

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I bought the Samsung zFlip 4 during the End of the Financial Year sale, without realising that the zFlip 5 would be released 2 months later. Big oof. The reason I got this phone is because the 512 GB model cost $1300 AUD. The case was $10 from Telstra. I got a cuter one for $100 from Caseify.

If I were to buy the iPhone 15 (or in my case, the iPhone 14 Pro), the 512 GB model would have cost me $2400 + the cost of a case and the cable for the highest speeds. In case you were unaware, the 15 models only come with USB 2 speeds. WTF?! Also, there are the MagSafe accessories like chargers, which would cost even more.

The reason I chose to get the Samsung zFlip 4 is mostly because it's a flip phone and Samsung marketed it as "bending the laws of physics." Another reason is because of BTS. As a BTS fan, mostly a Suga stan, I learned that the K-Pop star will not hold Apple devices. I remember seeing a TikTok where a fan disguised her iPhone to look like a Samsung and the rapper was shocked until he held it on stage.

I was, however, warned about getting this Samsung model from my aunt. She told me that the battery life is bad and that Apple lasts longer. And she only uses her phone for the most basic usage - calls, text, and Facebook. But based on my experience, the battery isn't that bad… unless I use it for Pokemon Sleep.

Transferring my data from an Apple to a Samsung device is easier said than done. For starters, it nearly took a whole day for the transfer process to be completed. Second, I needed to use a wireless charger for one of my devices because it took so long.

When it came to the user interface, while it's somewhat different, some similarities made using my new phone not that difficult. It perhaps took a week to get used to the new functions and gestures.

I also liked the new camera. It's much more vibrant in my opinion. Much better than the iPhone X if I'm being honest. And there were times I did try filming like it was an old camcorder due to its flip functionalities.

If I have a complaint, it's that my game saves (except for Pokemon Go and Sleep) aren't transferable. This means all that effort I've placed in Tiny Tower for a year and a bit is gone and I would need to start over because the game is synced to Apple's Game Center. However, all of my texts since my senior year of high school made their way to the new device. WTF?

Also, not all the apps transferred to the new device, which makes sense since some of them were discontinued. But finding the APKs for them became a challenge, especially for a photo editor that I've been using for years. Thanks to the subscription model, it's been removed from the app stores.

Final Thoughts

Swapping to Samsung was probably a good decision to make. For starters, I'm no longer bombarded by my family's group chat messages since I no longer live with them. Second, I can text my boyfriend photos through NORMAL TEXT, not Facebook and discord. The amount of memes I've missed during the earlier parts of our relationship due to device differences was a massive pain and now it's all convenient.

While it's a shame I no longer have access to Siri, adding songs to a Samsung device is much easier compared to Apple since it is basically like a hard drive.

I will miss the Apple ecosystem though. iCloud and Apple Notes are super handy. Airdrop is pretty cool. And the new iOS features in the latest system look super appealing. However, these features are something that I would rarely use. I just need a phone to play games, go on social media, take photos and videos, and make phone calls. I won't be making 3D models of my room.

Looking forward to spending the next 5 years with this Samsung device until I have to make the switch once more.

[tradingmarketsblog]

Comparing the Top Online Trading Apps: Which One Is Right for You?

The online stock trading app industry has experienced a tremendous surge since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Thanks to improved internet speeds and the growing interest in financial literacy, mobile-based stock trading has undergone a significant transformation. Each day, more Indians are experiencing the seamless shift towards incredibly smooth and flexible trading options, all available at the touch of a button.

As these apps continue to gain widespread adoption, even beginners can enter the world of trading with ease. These applications not only enable the buying and selling of financial assets but also offer a range of other valuable services. The only requirement is a reliable internet connection to ensure these trading apps operate smoothly.

This article has listed some of the best online trading apps so that you can choose any one of them.

Top Three Online Trading Apps

The list of the best online trading app is as follows.

1. Zerodha Kite

Zerodha boasts over 100 million active clients, contributing significantly to India's retail trading volumes, making up about 15% of the total. This app is highly recommended for both beginners and experienced traders and investors, thanks to its robust technological platform.

Zerodha's flagship mobile trading software, Kite, is developed in-house. The current Kite 3.0 web platform offers a wide array of features, including market watch, advanced charting with over 100 indicators, and advanced order types such as cover orders and good till triggered (GTT) orders, ensuring swift order placements.

Furthermore, users can also utilise Zerodha Kite as a Chrome extension, enabling features like order placement and stock tracking for added convenience.

2. Kotak Securities 

Opening a trading account at Kotak Securities comes with the advantage of zero account opening fees. Additionally, there are discounted rates for investors below 30 years of age, making it a cost-effective option. The account setup process is streamlined, with minimal steps involved.

Kotak Securities enables users to engage in a wide range of financial activities, including trading in stocks, IPOs, derivatives, mutual funds, currency, and commodities. Furthermore, it offers opportunities for global investments through its trading app. This app is thoughtfully designed, featuring a user-friendly interface accessible on iOS, Android, and Windows platforms. It also provides valuable extras like margin funding, real-time portfolio tracking, and live stock quotes with charting options.

3. Upstox

Upstox PRO, supported by Tiger Global and endorsed by prominent investors like Indian tycoon Ratan Tata and Tiger Global Management, is a well-known discount broker app. It offers a range of trading and investment opportunities, encompassing stocks, currencies, commodities, and mutual funds. For experienced and seasoned investors, it is an ideal choice, featuring advanced tools such as TradingView and ChartsIQ libraries.

Online trading apps offer a diverse array of financial products and services, consolidating your investment and financial management in one convenient platform. You can engage in activities such as trading equities, participating in IPOs, trading derivatives, investing in mutual funds, placing fixed deposits, dealing in commodities, and trading currency.

[funkii4-blog]

Summarization of the content shown off in Paladins’ overview video of next update. There’s a lot of balance related stuff this time so this is kinda long;

- Valor’s End event pass; 30 levels with skins for Khan & Nyx

- (I’m not a huge fan of the Khan skin but Nyx’s looks pretty cool for her first inclusion in a pass. And sadly neither recolor is very good, Khan’s is too busy while Nyx’s has some weird clashing colors)

- Several minor UI adjustments, including slight color changes to XP bars and certain buttons

- Payload is now included in custom matches

- Additional details added to the Snowfall Junction map

- HUD effects now visible on the lower right side of the health bar instead of above on the left side, up to five can be shown there at a time. This is for Lex’s bounty mark, Corvus’ healing mark, etc.

- Kasumi’s class role has been changed from dps to flank and her abilities have been reworked to more fit the role. This is (at least to my knowledge) the second champion class change ever and the first since the end of the beta

- Talent adjustments for supports including Io, Seris, and Furia. Luna’s aoe ally healing is now a passive instead of talent-locked while Furia has received major overhauls of two of her talents

- Cherish’s old range increase effect is now passive and the new effect grants a small aoe when Kindle Soul is used; Exterminate’s old effect has been removed and the new effect increases attack speed bonus per tier of Wrath active (max tier bonus increased by 15%)

- Seris’ Mortal Reach talent now allows you to use Restore Soul and Shadow Travel simultaneously. It isn’t stated in the overview video or patch notes if the range increase effect is removed

- Grover’s Rampant Blooming talent has been severely nerfed, with healing boosts provided with the effect being cut pretty much in half :/

- Adjustmemts to several flanks (Caspian & Evie buffs, a much needed Skye nerf, etc.)

- Imani’s mana rift radius was cut by two thirds. Poor woman can’t catch a break

- Inara nerfs; Mother’s Grace’ bonus healing effect has been removed and both the damage reduction & duration of Earthen Guard have been decreased

- Slight nerfs to Nyx, her base hp reduced by 150 and the cooldowns of two abilities increased

- Octavia’s weapon can now be fired full auto, but scoped damage has been slightly reduced

- Several healing buffs for Ying :D good for her

[globosetechnology]

Mobile UX Optimization for a Food Delivery Application

In the fast-paced world of food delivery, a seamless mobile experience can make or break a business. Mobile UX optimization for a food delivery application focuses on improving navigation, speed, and usability to keep customers engaged and satisfied. At Global Techno Solutions, we’ve transformed food delivery apps with tailored UX enhancements, as detailed in our case study on Mobile UX Optimization for a Food Delivery Application. As of June 09, 2025, at 02:23 PM IST, optimizing mobile UX remains a top priority for staying competitive in this industry.

The Challenge: Improving User Retention in a Crowded Market

A mid-sized food delivery app approached us on June 05, 2025, with a challenge: their app suffered from a 40% drop-off rate during the ordering process due to a cluttered interface and slow load times. With competitors offering smoother experiences, they were losing customers, resulting in a 15% decline in monthly orders. Their goal was to optimize the mobile UX to boost retention, streamline ordering, and enhance customer satisfaction across iOS and Android platforms.

The Solution: A User-Centric Mobile UX Overhaul

At Global Techno Solutions, we redesigned their app to prioritize user experience. Here’s how we did it:

Simplified Interface: We streamlined the homepage with a clean layout, featuring quick-access buttons for popular cuisines and a search bar optimized for voice commands.

Performance Optimization: Using React Native, we reduced load times by 50%, ensuring the app responded in under 2 seconds, even on low-end devices.

Intuitive Navigation: We introduced a one-tap ordering feature and a progress tracker, making it easier for users to complete purchases without friction.

Personalization: We integrated AI to suggest dishes based on past orders and location, increasing relevance and engagement.

Accessibility: We ensured compliance with WCAG 2.1, adding features like high-contrast modes and screen reader support for diverse users.

For a deeper dive into our approach, explore our case study on Mobile UX Optimization for a Food Delivery Application.

The Results: A Stronger Customer Base

The mobile UX optimization delivered significant improvements for the food delivery app:

30% Increase in Order Completion: The simplified interface reduced drop-off rates.

25% Growth in Repeat Orders: Personalization and speed boosted customer loyalty.

40% Faster Load Times: Performance enhancements improved user satisfaction.

Higher App Ratings: Accessibility features earned a 4.8-star rating on app stores.

These results underscore the impact of mobile UX optimization. Learn more in our case study on Mobile UX Optimization for a Food Delivery Application.

Why Mobile UX Optimization Matters for Food Delivery Apps

In 2025, optimizing mobile UX is critical for food delivery applications, offering benefits like:

User Retention: A seamless experience keeps customers coming back.

Efficiency: Faster navigation and load times save time for busy users.

Competitive Edge: Superior UX differentiates the app in a crowded market.

Accessibility: Inclusive design widens the customer base.

At Global Techno Solutions, we specialize in crafting mobile UX solutions that drive success for food delivery apps.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Mobile UX in Food Delivery

The future of mobile UX for food delivery includes AR for virtual restaurant tours, AI chatbots for order support, and integration with smart kitchen devices. By embracing these trends, Global Techno Solutions ensures our clients stay ahead in the evolving food delivery landscape.

For a comprehensive look at how we’ve enhanced food delivery apps, check out our case study on Mobile UX Optimization for a Food Delivery Application. Ready to optimize your food delivery app? Contact Global Techno Solutions today to learn how our expertise can support your goals.

[atplblog]

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ACCA DipIFR Remote Exam: Requirement, Set-up & Tips

In our previous blog, we discussed ACCA DipIFR exam utility interface & answer writing tips which will help students to get comfortable with CBE interface and to be familiar with the examination pattern and face it with confidence.

This blog is especially for the students who chose Remote examination session i.e., who would appear from home or office instead of centre-based examination. This blog will guide you about technical requirements of the allowed devices and necessary care to be taken before and during the remote examination session.

System Requirements:

Operating System

• Windows 11 and 10 (64-bit) – (excluding ‘S Mode’) • macOS 13 and above – (excluding beta versions)

Note:  • Mac OS, starting with Mojave, now requires permission from the user to allow any hardware access     to an application, which includes OnVUE (proctorapp). Candidates should be prompted to allow this         application • Windows Operating Systems must pass Genuine Windows Validation.

Unsupported operating systems

• Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista • Linux/Unix and Chrome based Operating Systems

Firewall

• Corporate firewalls should be avoided as they often cause this delivery    method to fail. • VPNs and proxies should not be used. • We recommend testing on a personal computer. Work computers generally     have more restrictions that may prevent successful delivery.

RAM Required

Recommended Minimum RAM of 4 GB or more

Display

Minimum Resolution: 1024 x 768 in 16-bit col Recommended Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or higher in 32-bit color • If using an external monitor, you must close your laptop and use an external    keyboard, mouse, and webcam. • Multiple monitors are forbidden. • Touch screens are strictly forbidden.

Webcam

• The webcam may be internal or external. It must be forward-facing and at eye       level to ensure your head and shoulders are visible within the webcam. • The webcam must remain in front of you and cannot be placed at an angle. • Webcam filters are not allowed (for example, Apple’s ‘Reactions’). • Webcam must have a minimum resolution of 640x480 @ 10 fps.

Note: • Mobile phones are strictly prohibited as a webcam for exam delivery. • Mac OS users may need to allow OnVUE within their System Preferences: Security & Privacy: Privacy    settings for camera & microphone.

Speakers and microphone

Speakers:     • Speakers must be built-in or wired.     • Bluetooth speakers or the use of headphones* as speakers are not allowed. Headphones: • Headphones and headsets are not allowed unless explicitly approved by your    test sponsor. • If allowed, headphones must be wired – Bluetooth are not allowed.

Browser settings

Internet Cookies must be enabled.

Device

All tablets are strictly prohibited, unless they have a physical keyboard and meet the operating system requirements mentioned earlier.

Power

Make sure you are connected to a power source before starting your exam to avoid draining your battery during the exam.

Internet Browser

The newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, and Firefox, for web registrations or downloading the secure browser.

Internet Connection

• For better performance, a reliable and stable connection speed of 12 Mbps    download and 3 Mbps upload required. • We recommend testing on a wired network as opposed to a wireless network. • If testing from home, ask others within the household to avoid internet use    during your exam session.

We strongly recommend using equipment that meets or exceeds the Recommended Specifications. The minimum requirements will change periodically based on the needs of exam sponsors.

Mobile phone: You may have the option to use your mobile phone to complete the check-in process. The mobile must meet the following requirements:

• Android (11+, Chrome) or IOS (15+, Safari) operating systems • A functioning camera with a stable internet connection

A mobile phone is used only for completing admission steps and must not be used during the exam. After completing the check-in steps, please place the mobile phone where it is not accessible to you during the exam. As a reminder, phones are a prohibited item and should not be within your reach or visible to you while sitting in front of your computer.

Pre-exam requirements

Passing the Mandatory system test

• You MUST pass mandatory system test prior to your check-in for exam. • When taking the test, use same device and the same location you we’ll use on    exam day. • Make sure your last test run is a pass, so that you are eligible for all post-exam    options. • Go to Exam Planner & hit the Run System Test button.

Practice using the scratch pad

Remember, you cannot use scratch paper for remote exam session. So, it’s important to get used to using the scratch pad on the Practice Platform before your live exam.

Exam set-up

Your room setup

You will be under exam conditions and monitored by an invigilator throughout. Make sure below conditions are being followed: • A private and quite room with solid walls and doors. • No other person can be visible or heard for full duration of exam. • Use curtains or blinds to cover windows if anyone can be seen through them. • Switch all other unnecessary electrical equipment off. • Refer below images to have an idea about ideal exam environment.

Prohibited                                                                        Permitted

Your desk setup

Your desk must be setup in a way that meets the rules and regulations of the exam: • No scrap paper• Only one monitor • A glass/bottle of water with label removed permitted • No headphones / earbuds / earphones • No watches

The check-in process

• Check in to your exam by going the exam planner and click launch exam button. • You can launch your exam 30 minutes prior your scheduled time. • If you are more than 15 minutes late you will miss your exam attempt and be marked as Absent.

Using your mobile phone:

• You may use your mobile phone during the check-in process – On-screen instruction will guide you.• You’ll be asked to take and upload photos of your exam environment, yourself and your ID. • Once completed this process place your mobile phone on silent and out of arm’s reach. • Do not use your mobile phone for any other purpose during exam (exception if invigilator calls you) • Taking photos of your screen or making calls during the exam is strictly prohibited.

Under exam conditions:

In addition to the desk/room requirements you should be aware that the following is also prohibited:     

• Talking aloud during your exam. • People being audible outside your room. • Leaving the exam early – DO NOT end your exam early, you must stay supervised for the full-time    duration.

Contacting the invigilator

• To start a chat with your invigilator, select the chat button. • Your invigilator will be with you as soon as they are available. • Unlikely they can assist you, but you should inform your invigilator if you are    experiencing any technical difficulties. • You must inform your invigilator if you wish to use your permitted bathroom    break.

Bathroom breaks

You can take one bathroom break during your exam of up to 5 minutes: • Notify your invigilator when you are leaving and returning from bathroom    break. • You do not have to wait for the invigilator to give you their permission before    taking your bathroom break. • The exam timing will continue to run – if you exceed 5 minutes your exam may    be terminated.

Post-exam options: In the event of technical issue disrupting your exam, you may wish to use post-exam options which can be accessed on exam planner or under Contact Us on ACCA’s website.

Minimise the risk of the technical issue by: • Performing your equipment and connectivity test. • Accessing troubleshooting resources.

Using post exam options

To use rebook or withdrawal option you must have: • attempted to check-in your exam • experienced a technical issue impacting your ability to complete exam.

Additional withdrawal eligibility criteria

• The mandatory system test must be taken ahead of each exam session. • Student must have passed the mandatory system test in their last attempt    prior to checking in for your exam.

Make sure that your device / other equipment’s are compatible as per the provided requirements and you are availed with the environment requisite for the exam purpose. Everyone should make sure to follow fair practices during exam to avoid any disqualification or disciplinary action.

We hope, this blog about ACCA DipIFR Remote Exam Requirement, Set-up & Tips shall assist in making the necessary arrangements.

Further, please watch video related to the remote examination on the below link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRYOefFr48S0apGK6f0kw0sX7fC6uSzsx&feature=shared

Best wishes from Team FinPro!

[dinoustecch]

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Logistics App Development Company?

As businesses across industries embrace digital transformation, logistics and supply chain companies are investing heavily in technology to improve operations and customer service. One of the most impactful investments a logistics company can make is in a mobile or web-based app. Whether it's for fleet tracking, warehouse management, or delivery coordination, a custom app can bring real-time visibility and streamlined operations. But before getting started, many companies ask, how much does it cost to hire a logistics app development company?

Why Logistics App Development is in Demand

In today’s fast-paced world, logistics efficiency is everything. Customers expect faster deliveries, real-time tracking, and seamless communication. Businesses are responding by automating manual processes through mobile and cloud-based solutions. This is where a skilled logistics app development company can play a transformative role. From route optimization to delivery status updates, logistics apps reduce costs, eliminate errors, and enhance overall service.

Key Features That Affect Cost

The cost of developing a logistics app largely depends on the features you want to include. Basic features such as user registration, GPS tracking, order management, and push notifications are essential and generally more affordable. However, advanced features such as AI-based route optimization, driver behavior monitoring, fuel usage tracking, and analytics dashboards can significantly increase the cost.

If your app needs to integrate with your ERP or third-party services like Google Maps API, Twilio for messaging, or payment gateways, the development hours—and consequently, the cost—go up. A professional logistics app development company will help you choose features based on your specific operational needs and budget.

Custom Development vs. White-Label Solutions

When planning logistics app development, companies must decide between a custom-built solution or a white-label product. Custom apps are built from the ground up, tailored exactly to your business model, and are ideal for companies with unique workflows or large-scale operations. However, they require a larger investment and longer development timelines.

Alternatively, logistics management software development using white-label solutions can significantly reduce costs and time to market. These platforms come pre-built with core functionalities and allow for branding and slight customization. They are especially useful for startups or SMEs that want to test the waters before investing in a fully custom solution.

Development Phases and Their Impact on Cost

App development isn’t a one-step process. It includes several phases: requirement gathering, UI/UX design, development, testing, deployment, and post-launch maintenance. Here’s how each contributes to the overall cost:

Requirement Analysis: Understanding business needs and creating a development roadmap. Cost: $2,000–$5,000

Design: Crafting wireframes and user interfaces. Good design improves usability and can cost $5,000–$10,000

Development: Writing code for front-end, back-end, and APIs. Cost varies greatly: $20,000–$100,000+

Testing and QA: Ensuring the app is bug-free and secure. Cost: $5,000–$15,000

Maintenance: Ongoing support and updates post-launch. Annual cost: 15–20% of the total development cost

Platform and Tech Stack Choices

The platforms (Android, iOS, Web) you choose also influence pricing. A single-platform app costs less than a cross-platform or multi-platform solution. Similarly, the tech stack—whether you’re using React Native, Flutter, Node.js, or cloud services like AWS—affects both development speed and cost.

A knowledgeable logistics app development company will suggest the most cost-effective and scalable technologies for your specific needs.

Geographic Location of the Development Team

Location matters when hiring developers. Onshore teams (USA, UK, Australia) may charge $100–$250/hour, while offshore companies in regions like India, Eastern Europe, or Southeast Asia charge $25–$75/hour for comparable services. Choosing the right development partner allows you to balance quality and budget effectively. Many businesses hire offshore teams to reduce costs without compromising on quality or delivery timelines.

Average Cost Estimates Based on Complexity

Here’s a rough cost breakdown based on app complexity:

Basic App (Single Platform, Core Features): $20,000 – $40,000

Mid-Level App (Multiple Features, Admin Dashboard): $50,000 – $100,000

Advanced App (AI, IoT, Analytics, Multiple Platforms): $100,000 – $150,000+

Custom logistics management software development solutions can exceed $200,000 if you’re building enterprise-level functionality with real-time data synchronization and multiple user roles.

Legal, Compliance, and Security Costs

Logistics apps often deal with sensitive data—delivery addresses, user info, payment data, and internal operations. Ensuring data protection, securing APIs, and complying with GDPR, HIPAA (if medical logistics), or other regional laws will add to the cost. However, these steps are non-negotiable for protecting your business and building trust with users.

Post-Launch Maintenance and Upgrades

Once your app is live, it needs regular maintenance—updates, security patches, performance optimization, and feature enhancements. A well-established logistics app development company will offer post-launch support packages that typically cost 15–20% of the original development cost per year.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a logistics app development company is a strategic decision that depends on your goals, budget, and operational needs. While upfront costs can seem high, the ROI from improved efficiency, reduced errors, better customer experience, and data-driven decision-making justifies the investment. Whether you choose a custom solution or a white-label platform, working with experts in logistics management software development ensures a smoother journey from concept to launch and beyond.

For more information, visit us: -

Grocery Mobile App Development

Taxi App Developer

Healthcare Mobile App Development

[16naughts]

Dev Log May 30 - It's baaaaack (the WebKit issues, that is)

Last week we released the Sweet Bee update for Crescent Roll, which had some substantial changes both in terms of content and some of the inner organization. It was supposed to be a little bit bigger than it ended up being, but we decided to split up the changes into a couple of chunks to give it more polish and not have to re-do things for the public API release. (Which the PM in me wants to apologize to somebody for the delay, but I was the only one who set the time table anyway, so we'll have to work on breaking that "everything has to be done Yesterday" mentality.) As a quick recap - Crescent Roll is written in Javascript, which means it runs in a web browser. For Windows, Android, iOS, and practically every other platform, you can write your program to hook in to the OS native one and not have to install anything. For Linux (which Steam OS is a fork of), there is no native browser. Valve technically _did_ include Chromium as their front-end for their store, but they embedded it directly into their application and as such nobody else can reach it. Which is bad news, as if you want to embed it yourself, that's an extra 1GB of space. Which is bad for our 30MB game. So, in order to keep install size lower, we ended up opting for using WebKit instead. WebKit is what Safari is based on, just like how Chrome and Edge are based on Chromium. Fortunately, it's a lot smaller at around 200MB, which is technically still more than 5x bigger than the application, but it's better than the 30x. This, however, is proving to be a rather bad move. The Steam Deck uses a container system that runs self-contained little mini operating system runtimes that can just be stuck on pretty much any flavor of Linux with minimal compatibility issues. The unfortunate part for us is that it is Debian 11-based. Which is only 4 years old at the time of writing, but gcc and clang (C compilers) already dropped support for it, and thus WebKit also dropped support for _right_ before they did a major overhaul to a lot of important internal systems that fixed a lot of performance problems. When testing the newest update, apparently some of the libraries that were being provided by the OS received updates that have severely interfered with the game's performance. The startup now takes about 5-10 seconds on a black screen before anything shows up. Shutdown will keep playing the music and also requires you to press B to close for some unknown reason. The Main Menu had also dropped to 45FPS out of nowhere, and something with the audio playback got completely screwed over where it suddenly decides to stop playing music, and then every single sound that was attempted in rapid succession at faster speeds a few seconds later (In what world is that ever the expected behavior?! Just don't play it if it can't. This one is just stupid.) Fortunately, none of the issues actually affect gameplay all that much. Most levels still ran at 60FPS, and even when they dipped, we built the system specifically to support variable framerates, so the game speed is still exactly the same with no lag. The update was still published, as the issue was apparently caused by the OS changes and not our changes, so even old versions are still affected. As a result though, much of this week's work went in to optimizing the graphics system even more and attempting to play around whatever the heck is going on with that audio playback. We were able to hit 60FPS again, but at the time of writing, are still having the audio thing happen occasionally. So, what now? I think I've officially given up on WebKit. We're squeezing blood of out a stone at this point in terms of optimizations I can make to the game itself. It seems kind of silly that Windows is able to pull off 4k at 120Hz on 15-year old hardware, but the trimmed-down Linux port can't even handle sub-1080p at 60Hz. I've had an idea to try and use the Windows version of CEF specifically for the Steam Deck, which will keep it around 300MB and maybe solve some of our issues. It's going to take a bit, so fingers crossed.