#limit and continuity class 11

[9nid]

Continuity in One Shot: All Concepts covered

Join us for an engaging one-shot lecture focused on the critical topics of limits and continuity in calculus. This video aims to clarify these concepts through detailed explanations and illustrative examples, making it accessible for learners at all levels. Enhance your understanding of how limits and continuity form the backbone of calculus and their significance in mathematical…

[edusquaremaths]

Continuity in One Shot: All Concepts covered

Join us for an engaging one-shot lecture focused on the critical topics of limits and continuity in calculus. This video aims to clarify these concepts through detailed explanations and illustrative examples, making it accessible for learners at all levels. Enhance your understanding of how limits and continuity form the backbone of calculus and their significance in mathematical…

[lesmana-enterprise-ltd]

Lesmana Arta International School, High School and Auditorium Lot (NO CC)

About Lesmana Arta International School

Lesmana Arta International School (LAIS) is a premier, corporate-backed institution dedicated to academic excellence and global education. Offering world-renowned curricula from SB to SGCE, LAIS provides students with a rigorous yet innovative learning environment. With state-of-the-art facilities, top-tier faculty, and a commitment to shaping future leaders, this elite school ensures that every student is equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Unrivaled Educational Facilities at LAIS

At LAIS, we are committed to providing an unparalleled learning environment equipped with world-class facilities to foster academic excellence and creativity. Our cutting-edge classrooms are designed for interactive and immersive learning, featuring the latest educational technology to enhance student engagement. The expansive library offers a vast collection of international resources, digital archives, and quiet study spaces, ensuring that students have access to knowledge at their fingertips.

For the creatively inclined, LAIS boasts specialized music rooms with professional-grade instruments, state-of-the-art art studios that encourage artistic expression, and fully-equipped science laboratories for hands-on exploration in STEM fields. From innovation hubs to collaborative study areas, every aspect of our campus is designed to inspire, challenge, and support students on their journey to academic and personal success.

Elite Sporting Facilities at LAIS

At LAIS, we believe that excellence in academics goes hand in hand with physical well-being. Our state-of-the-art sports facilities set the benchmark for athletic development, offering students access to a world-class indoor swimming pool, a professional-grade gymnasium, and a private tennis court, all designed to foster discipline, teamwork, and peak performance. Whether training for elite competitions or engaging in recreational activities, LAIS provides the perfect environment for students to push their limits, stay active, and excel beyond the classroom.

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At LAIS, dining is more than just a meal—it’s an experience. Our state-of-the-art cafeteria offers a premium breakfast and lunch buffet, meticulously crafted by Lesmana Resorts-grade chefs, ensuring that every dish meets the highest standards of quality, nutrition, and taste. Students enjoy a diverse selection of gourmet meals, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients and international cuisine tailored to various dietary needs.

From wholesome breakfasts to energize the day to balanced and delicious lunches that fuel academic and athletic performance, LAIS prioritizes student well-being through exceptional dining services. Whether it's a quick bite or a full-course meal, our culinary team is dedicated to providing a five-star dining experience that nourishes both the body and mind.

Adi Lesmana Hall: A Legacy of Excellence

Standing as a tribute to the visionary founder of Lesmana Enterprise, Adi Putro Lesmana (1915–1988), the Adi Lesmana Hall is the heart of grand occasions at Lesmana Arta International School (LAIS). This concert-grade auditorium is designed to host the school’s most prestigious events, from elegant proms and career expos to inspiring graduations and academic symposiums. Equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics, professional lighting, and a spacious seating arrangement, it offers an unparalleled venue for both formal ceremonies and artistic performances. More than just a hall, it is a space where milestones are celebrated, talents are showcased, and the legacy of excellence continues to inspire future generations.

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Students enrolled until February 2025 intake is eligible for a semester discount, reducing 1st to 2nd Semester tuition from §115,000 to §110,000 per semester.

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Parents who are currently employed in Lesmana Enterprise are eligible to apply for their children's 25%-50% tuition discount *Terms and conditions applies.

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Stay in Our Dormitory, the LAIS House!

[tamby-teeze]

Okay, so I know a solid 40% of the new Fantasy High was about Tracker "There's still deep attraction here" O'Shaughnessy, but HERE ME OUT

Gertie Bladeshield is the perfect woman for Kristen Applebees.

Cause, like, look, there was a lot of talk in episode 11 about impulsivity and chaos as an aspect of Kristen's character, mainly in how it's mirrored in Princess "Kristen if she had money" Naradriel, but it's also been a general focus this season, especially in how she often uses it to guard her emotions. Think back to "That's what you think", an incredible improv moment, but if you look at the big picture, Kristen's estranged parents make an incredibly inflammatory statement about her religion right after actively bullying her little brother, and instead of honoring any of the actual negative emotions she's being filled with in that moment, she pirouettes away. It's brought up in the adventuring party after this exact episode how Kristen is a cleric, a high-wisdom class that is naturally insightful, but uses these silly deflections to hold other people back from being insightful into her (hence Mac & Donna's lifetime insight disadvantage)

This isn't just limited to small moments, too. To take a broader look at the season so far, Kristen's chaotic, shrimp-jumping, wrangler-wearing, salsa-dipping, middle-school-campaigning, steel-workers-union-supporting bid for class president is often shown explicitly as a distraction from her existentially important job as the only cleric of Cassandra. Even when trying to earnestly apologize to Cassandra and prove to them that she's gonna prioritize her over class presidency, the only way she can articulate it is "You're the meat, mama." Her emotions are always guarded by some amount of chaos and impulsivity.

Now, how does that relate to Gertie "I've had a crush on you for a really long time" Bladeshield?

In both of the two scenes we've gotten of The Best D20 NPC (/j (but I do really like her)), Gertie has shown a pretty similar propensity for making bold, chaotic decisions in the heat of the moment. However, in my observation, these decisions do NOT come from a place of emotional suppression. Quite the opposite, actually.

Think back to her Grand Entrance into the narrative. Gertie, being one of the last people awake at Fabian's party, gifts her longtime-crush a jar of honey, something that connects directly to her passion/special-interest of beekeeping, in a homemade container designed as a pun on Kristen's last name. (in hindsight, the crush was very obvious) Then, in the middle of her infodumping to her about honey, Kristen's rich friend makes an incredibly dismissive remark about her good-natured gift. This obviously pisses her off, but unlike Kristen "That's what you think" Applebees, Gertie "I don't give a shit who's kid you are" Bladeshield lets herself feel those emotions very loudly, immediately starts a duel with possibly one of the most accomplished sword-fighters in the history of Aguefort, and declares him a life-long nemesis. She acts very brashly and impulsively, but in a way that doesn't hide her emotions, instead expressing them.

(I know there's a lot of talk about outbursts of anger being tied to Ankarna, but not only does the scene not really seem like foreshadowing to me, it's more interesting to see it through the lens of being Gertie's actual actions)

This trend continues with the 12th most noteworthy thing to have happened in episode 11 (which incredibly high acclaim), where after being explicitly asked to talk about bees by her crush, and being placed inches away from her face, kisses her on the lips. Now, excusing the albeit upsetting lack of consent, it once again shows Gertie acting very impulsively in a way that exposes her feelings to the people she likes. With these two instances of characterization being literally the only two scenes we get with her, it poses her as a very interesting parallel to Kristen, someone who shares in her willingness to make impulsive decisions, but differs wildly from her in the way she uses them to react to strong emotions.

However, does this really make Gertie the Autism to her ADHD?

(idk if Gertie really shows autistic traits, I just wanted to say that) Well, part of what Tracker a good companion for Kristen was that, as a fellow cleric, she naturally had very high wisdom, meaning she had enough insight to look past the layers of shrimp and salsa and engage with her on a deep level. However, clerics aren't the only class that cast spells with wisdom, so do rangers, including swarm-keeper rangers, which is a subclass that both has a good few abilities focused on spell-casting and was confirmed to be Gertie's subclass in an adventuring party. While her highest stat still could be dex (which, come to think of it, is a hilarious contrast to Kristen), there's no doubt that Gertie has a higher chance than most at being able to look past Kristen's barriers and see the complex hive of sweet, buzzing emotions underneath.

Hell, maybe that's where Gertie's crush comes from in the first place. Maybe, seeing this popular, proudly sapphic cleric be incredibly playful and chaotic on school grounds, she not only saw a bit of herself, but a little more. Perhaps, the type of mind that dedicates itself to allowing small, harmless critters to prosper even when no-one cares to join her club, is also the type of mind able to recognize when someone isn't allowing their truest emotions to prosper, making her wonder if they might have something to gain from sharing some of that chaos, using it not to hide, but to be free.

Or maybe it's just cause her last name has "bees" in it, idk.

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

HBCU CONFESSIONS.

Part Two

The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy sat on a circular table within the study hall of the dorm building. Erik was dressed down in a red graphic hoodie that read Lost Tribe in black letters with the map of Africa on the back. He paired it with grey joggers and Jordan retro 11’s. He checked his I-watch for the fifth time. It was going on 5:20 pm and Valencia hadn’t shown up yet. Erik wished he’d gotten her number.

Two minutes later, Valencia came rushing over, carrying her books in the crook of her arm and a flustered expression on her face. Erik sat up straighter in his seat and his eyes couldn’t help but scan her body. She was still wearing the same curve-hugging dress she’d worn earlier that day. Her braids were now up in a ponytail with a few hanging in front of her face.

She sat her bag down beside the table and before she could even pull out her own seat, Erik was behind her in a flash. Valencia’s back stiffened and she gasped. Erik gripped the back of the chair and slid it out across the carpet. Valencia couldn’t help but notice how Erik towered over her. He was standing at 6’3. She looked up at him with a faint smile and bashful eyes.

“Thank you, Erik.” She says with a light voice.

“You’re welcome.”

They each took their respective seats. Valencia opened her bag to retrieve her book and her notes. Erik waited patiently, staring at her with a slight, dimpled smirk.

“I’m so sorry, I’m all over the place.”

“No worries, Valencia.”

She finally had everything in order. Valencia exhaled and sat her palms down on the table to calm herself. She giggled and Erik couldn’t help but to laugh himself.

“I’m not always late, you know.” Valencia said to her defense.

“Can’t always expect to be on time every single time.” Erik replied with a smirk.

“I knowww,” Valencia tucked a braid behind her ear, “But you’re a TA. This isn’t a great first impression.”

Erik folded his arms against the table and leaned in. He quirked a brow up at Valencia, staring her down through his gold-rimmed glasses.

“You have a point,” Erik swiped the bottom of his lip with his tongue, “Prove to me that you know your shit, and I won’t hold it against you.”

Valencia turned away because she couldn’t stare him in the eyes.

“You have a deal,” her eyes darted towards his face then down towards her lap.

Erik’s eyes burned with mischief. He loved that she was shy and he wanted to push her limits. See how far Miss Valencia could go.

“Aight, let’s get started.”

Erik opened his textbook.

“Where exactly are you in class?” Erik asked.

“Free will,” Valencia sorted out her notes, “Yes, Free will.”

“Okay…”

Erik combed through the textbook until he found where he needed to be.

“What do Philosophers believe about free will?”

“Uhm—”

“Don’t look at your notes, tell me.”

Valencia was startled by Erik’s command. She cleared her throat and started playing in her hair.

“Uh—well I know that it’s a requirement for agency, rationality, creativity…”

“Okay, that’s good. So, as far as accounts of Free Will, what exactly is the Faculties Model of Will?”

Erik glanced over at Valencia. She was pondering his question.

“…It’s the dominant view of the will for much of medieval and modern philosophy…their possession of certain powers or capacities…”

“Very good. They also possess the capacities for intellection and volition. Another way of saying this is that free agents alone have the faculties of intellect and will.”

Valencia clicked her pin and scribbled down what Erik said like a good pupil. Erik continued to throw questions and topics at her, challenging Valencia. It was the way he did it that helped her retain the information.

“I’m so used to just…reading from my notes over and over.” Valencia said.

“It’s the active recall. Don’t get me wrong, using notecards is okay, but all that time you spend creating fifty cards, you can use this study technique by asking questions about the subject you want to learn after reading the subject, which will help you retrieve information deeper. You want it to go deeper, right?”

Valencia stared at Erik with a dazed look.

“Valencia? Did you hear me?”

“Ye–Yes—”

“I said, deeper, right?”

Valencia chewed on her bottom lip. Erik wanted to chew on it himself…

“I do. I want to remember the information better. The method helps me out a lot.”

Erik smiles at Valencia and she glanced up at the ceiling with a blush. He couldn’t visibly see the heat creeping up her face, but her cheekbones and half-smile was enough to tell. They went on to cover one last topic, Epistemology. After another thirty minutes, their study session was complete.

“You got it, just a little more practice and you’ll be set.” Erik encouraged.

“I hope so. How did you get so good at everything?”

Erik laughed, “Everything?”

Valencia giggled into her hand. She couldn’t stop smiling. It was the most adorable thing Erik had ever seen. Her giggling and smiling was infectious. This is probably the most Erik has ever smiled and laughed in one sitting.

“I mean—what I’m saying is—I saw your achievements and you’re pretty impressive. I aspire to be like that.”

“…Thank you. What are you studying again?”

“Psychology. I want to branch off into Neuropsychology. I plan to go back to school for my PhD.”

“There’s so much you can do in psychology. Believe it or not, I wanted to major in psychology at one point but engineering just stuck to me.”

“Why engineering?”

Erik gave Valencia a lopsided grin that showed off a glint of confidence. She focused on his plump lips, porcelain teeth, and gold slugs.

“There’s so much you can do. You can choose to work on projects that benefit society, help clean the environment, develop prosthetic aids, create clean and efficient transportation systems, find new sources of energy, alleviate the world's hunger problems, and increase the standard of living in underdeveloped countries. The possibilities are endless. And on top of all that, you make a lot of money…”

Valencia couldn’t tell you everything he was saying honestly. This man was too fine. The way his voice sounded to her ears felt like asmr.

“…job security and excellent job prospects—”

“You’re like, very attractive.”

Erik rested his hands in his lap and cocked his head. Valencia jerked her head in the direction of the window and shook her head.

“That came out unexpectedly,” Valencia laughed with embarrassment, “But you are—”

“Thank you.” He drew in a long breath, “Coming from someone as beautiful as you…”

Valencia held her breath. She hung her head and smiled. Internally, she was jumping up and down.

“Thanks,” Valencia fidgeted.

“Anytime, beautiful,” Erik continued to stare at her while his fingers tapped on the table.

“Are you from Houston?” Valencia questioned with a timid voice.

“Nah. I’m from California. That’s where I live currently but I decided to come back here for my doctorate.”

Valencia nodded her head. She crossed her right leg over her left thigh and leaned in with her elbow on the desk. That gesture showed that she was warming up to him.

“I love California. I have an aunt and a few cousins that live there currently. They’re in San Francisco.”

“That’s where I’m from. Oakland. I’m staying in LA right now though. Are you from here?”

“Yes. Born and raised in Houston.” Valencia replied.

Erik stretched his arms above his head.

“Tired?” Valencia asked.

“A little. I worked out really early this morning and I had to deal with that party.”

Valencia giggled, “I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault. I didn’t see you there.” Erik said.

“Rochelle used to let us get away with a lot…”

Valencia looked over at Erik.

“I know. Which is why she’s no longer your RA…”

Her body shivered slightly. The air was too cold in the building. She thrust her chest out unknowingly and Erik could see the outlines of her erect nipples through her dress. He leaned back in his chair to admire her fully.

“I’m not an uptight motherfucker but I’m not gonna let these students walk all over me. I have a great rep here at TSU and I wanna keep it that way.”

“Oh, no, I totally understand,” Valencia reassured him, “I love that you follow the rules. Rochelle acted as more of a friend and she really didn’t know how to discipline…”

Hm,” Erik licked his lips, “I’m really good with discipline.”

“Oh?” Valencia says. She felt her body tremble.

“I’m very assertive. I tend to…take the lead in situations. It can come off as aggressive…sometimes I have to work on that.”

“Okay…”

Valencia rubbed her arms.

“Cold?”

“A little—”

“Here…”

Erik stood up and proceeded to take off his hoodie. Valencia paused, staring at Erik’s torso. He had on a white T-shirt underneath that clung to his biceps and chest. The muscles put her in a daze. He handed her his hoodie from across the table. Valencia accepted it and pulled it over her. It fit her like a dress. She fixed her braids and smoothed down the wrinkles in the hoodie. It smelled like him. She fought to press her nose into it.

“It looks good on you.”

“You think so?” Valencia wasn’t so sure.

“Yeah. So Valencia, do you mind if I have your number?”

She was not expecting that. Her eyes went wide with surprise.

“Is that okay?” Erik asked with furrowed brows.

“YES!”

She covered her mouth with her hand. She didn’t expect to scream it. Erik was cracking up.

“Yes, it’s okay. I’m sorry I don’t know why I yelled like that.” Valencia toyed with one of her braids, “Yes you can.”

She retrieved her phone and unlocked it. Erik did the same. They exchanged numbers and switched back.

“That way, you know how to get in touch with me if you have any questions about philosophy or just…anything in general really.”

“Definitely. Thanks so much, Erik. I really appreciate you.”

“Anytime. And you know you can always knock on my door…”

Oh, yes. He does have a dorm on the same floor as hers. She beamed at him and he smiled back.

“Sure…I can do that.”

They both stood up and gathered their things.

“Well, this is goodbye for now. I have to get ready to meet some friends tonight.”

“I hope I didn’t hold you up,” Erik tucked his textbook inside his bag.

“No, no.”

They stood there for a moment, staring at each other. Valencia broke eye contact first and turned away to leave. She glanced back at Erik, giving him a final wave goodbye before heading towards the elevators. Erik returned the wave with a smirk, his eyes never leaving Valencia.

—————-

Cindy, Skai, and Brielle were sitting in a booth nursing mixed tequila cocktails. Skai was sitting next to Brielle and Cindy was third-wheeling. She rolled her eyes every time Skai and Brielle would eye-fuck each other. Valencia texted Cindy’s phone that she just parked and is on her way in.

The Poetry Party Live is a college hotspot. They’re known for playing great music, having tasty food, and drinks that sneak up on you. It was definitely a more romantic vibe that Friday evening. So many couples were on dates. Cindy spotted two professors in the booth in front of them. Professor Boyd and Professor Parham.

Valencia came in and she searched the throng of people until she recognized Brielle’s ginger coils. She changed into an orange dress that compliments her mocha skin. Cindy looked up and over her shoulder, waving Valencia over with pleading eyes.

“What took you so long?! I’m dying over here!”

“My bad. I had a tutoring session that ran a little late.”

“They’ve been torturing me,” Cindy cringed, “And Dior isn’t here yet.”

Valencia frowned.

“Who invited Dior?”

Cindy pointed to Skai. Skai sipped her drink with a guilty look.

“I’m sorry! She really wanted to come. You still don’t like her?”

“No, I don’t, Skai. She’s weird.”

Skai rolled her eyes. Brielle laughed.

“Is she drunk already?” Valencia asked.

“You know she is. This is her third one.”

“Brielle!”

“It’s a Friday night and I passed my lab practical!”

“WOOHOO!!

Skai bounced up and down in her seat. Valencia squealed, reaching over to shake her friend excitedly.

“YES BITCH!—oh shit, I’m loud as fuck.”

Andrea looked up from her seat in the booth over and noticed Valencia. They locked eyes and waved to each other. Brielle glanced over her shoulder at Andrea. James turned around with a smirk on his face and a glass in his hand with dark liquor.

“Oooh! Ya’ll on a date?!” Cindy teases.

“Yes, we are,” James replied with a chuckle, “Hope you’re ready for that test on Monday, Cindy.”

Cindy shot James a playful glare that had everyone laughing.

“I’m kidding! Enjoy!”

James turned back to his date and the girls snickered.

A waiter brushed past Valencia and Brielle shouted to get her attention. She halted her footsteps, long ombré braids swaying against her back. She smiled and made her way over to them.

“Need anything else ladies?”

“Our friend just showed up! Can you get her a—”

“Long Island Iced Tea please.”

“Okay! Can I see your ID?”

Valencia opened her small white Telfar bag and plucked her license from her wallet. She showed the waiter and she put a thumbs up.

“Almost your birthday!” The waiter said.

“Yeah! Twenty-two.”

The waiter sauntered off and then a round of applause erupted around them. A full-figured woman with sister locs made her way on stage. She stopped in front of the mic, testing it to make sure it was on. She scanned the crowd with a warm smile before introducing herself. The instrumental to Floetry Say Yes started playing. She was blanketed in spotlights and the rest of the club was shrouded in low ambience.

“This one is called Enticing Night…”

whisper light, a sigh so deep,

In tangled sheets, secrets keep.

Your touch ignites a fevered glow,

As fingertips trace paths below.

On velvet skin, my hands explore,

Each curve, each line, I yearn for

more.

She paused, appreciative hums making her words all the more real.

Breath mingles in the heated air,

A rhythm builds, we're lost in where.

Our pulses race, in sync they beat,

In this embrace, our worlds complete.

“Thank you…”

Snaps filled the room.

“That was good,” Valencia accepted her drink.

“Dior!”

Skai stood up to get her attention.

Valencia looked up at Dior fighting the urge to roll her eyes. She didn’t understand what Dior didn’t like about her, maybe it was because of Isaiah? As far as Valencia knew they weren’t together. And she didn’t want him anyway. Dior scooted next to Skai, directly across from Valencia.

“Brie, Cindy, Val…”

“Hello,” Valencia waved.

“Why ya’ll chose this place? Ya’ll don’t wanna shake some ass?”

“Girl, we did that last weekend. It’s okay to switch it up,” Skai argued.

“I feel like I need whatever Brie sippin’ on because she is lit!”

“Peach Tequila!” Brielle shouted.

“Okurrrr. I’ll have that then…who the waiter?”

Cindy pointed at the young girl who was currently clearing off a booth.

“She got a phat ass butt,” Dior bit down on a long acrylic french nail, “She can have all my monies…”

“You’re such a whore for some booty, Dior.” Skai jokes.

Valencia giggled. She swirled her straw around her drink before taking another sip. Cindy rocked back and forth in her seat, singing along to Beyoncé Check Up On It.

“Hi! I’m Chanel…”

“Hi, Chanel, I’m Dior. I wanted to order what she had.”

“Okay, ID?”

Dior flashed her ID at Chanel while giving her a seductive look. Valencia and Cindy share a look before laughing into their drinks.

“you fine. You like girls?”

Skai slapped Dior on her arm. Chanel laughed at Dior.

“I have a man, but thank you.”

It was so cringe.

Chanel walked away and Dior’s eyes were glued to her ass like flies on shit.

“You need to chill. What’s up with you and Brooke?”

“That bitch? Girl…”

Dior and Skai talked about her drama while Valencia excused herself to the restroom. Brielle ended up following her. They entered the bathroom and Valencia let Brielle go first since she was on the verge of pissing herself.

“You never told me who you tutored with!!!!” Brielle yelled.

“My crush,” Valencia smiled.

“For real?! What does he even tutor?”

“A lot of shit but it was for philosophy. He asked for my number.”

Brielle flushed and damn near shoved the door open. She gawked at Valencia before they switched places. Meanwhile, Andrea exited the stall next to theirs and she walked over to the sink to wash her hands.

“So basically that means he’s into you? So the HBCU blog was the right thing to do, huh?”

“Yep! If it wasn’t for the advice the owner of the blog gave me, I wouldn’t have made it this far!”

Andrea slowly dried her hands while hanging onto their every word. Valencia flushed and left the stall. Andrea tossed her paper towel and stood within the mirror to fix her ponytail. Valencia caught her eye in the mirror and smiled.

“How’s everything going this semester, Valencia?”

“It’s going good. A little harder than last semester but I’m close to graduating so that’s good.”

Andrea nodded her head with a bright smile.

“You got this girl. And good luck with your crush…”

Valencia giggled. Andrea left the restroom, holding the door open for a woman to enter.

Back at the table, Andrea scooted into the booth to find another drink. She gave James a look and he chuckled.

“You know I have a lot of work to do tomorrow, James.”

“That’s why you need this drink. Take a damn break.”

Andrea rolled her eyes sassily before grabbing her drink. She toasted with James before taking a sip.

“What took you so long to ask me out?”

Andrea peeked at James from the top of her glass.

“I didn’t want to cross any boundaries. I didn’t wanna look like that guy friend who only wants one thing. That’s not what it is with you.”

“I get it,” Andrea sat her drink down, “I’ve crushed on you hard since undergrad…”

“Same. I always thought you had a thing for Daka though.”

“Seriously?” Andre laughs, “Everyone says that.”

“I see now it’s like a brother and sister thing.” James said.

“I used to sit back and watch you run after all these chicks…Thinking back to that Kappa party, my Delta sistas kept hassling me to tell you how I felt…”

Andrea traced the rim of her glass with her finger. James watched her intently.

“I’m just happy both of us get to sit here and express how we really feel.” James said.

“Me too.”

James cracked a smile before reaching over to grip Andrea’s soft hand. He stroked the top of her hand with his thumb.

Valencia and Brielle walked past their booth and settled into theirs.

“…That D9 party is gonna be lit tomorrow night!”

“I’m tryna go. Took y’all long enough!”

Brielle slipped past Dior and Skai to take her seat. Valencia sat down and pulled out her phone.

“You still talking to Isaiah?”

Valencia looked up at Dior.

“No. I’m over him.”

“Oh wow, what happened?”

“He wasted my time and he’s annoying as hell.”

Dior let out an obnoxious laugh, “YEAH. I could have told you that.”

Valencia looked towards the ceiling.

————

-I know it’s late, you’re probably not up. I just wanted to thank you again for your help 🥰 he asked for my number today! I don’t think it was because he’s interested but it’s a step, right?

Valencia sat alone in her dorm room wearing Erik’s hoodie and some panties with her braids tied down with a satin scarf. She sat at their desk with the television on in the background.

-I’m here ☺️ I’m happy I could help. If he asked for your number, I’d think it’s because he’s interested. It’s a big step actually.

Valencia typed a reply.

-You think so? I mean, he did flirt a little today. I just get so nervous around him.

Erik was in the middle of sprucing up his gold boots. He’s wearing a pair of red briefs with no shirt. It felt weird staying in the dorms when he has his own room at the Omega Psi Phi house. He picked up his phone to see the message that Valencia sent him.

-Don’t be. Try to be more open with him. See where it goes 😏 did you do anything special tonight?

-I went to this poetry club with some friends. Had two drinks and I’m a little tipsy now. It was an okay experience.

-...Is there anything that could have made it even better?

-yes 😭 if I was spending it with Erik. I wonder what he’s doing right now.

-you should text him. See what happens.

Valencia looked over at her phone next to her.

Fuck it. She had a little liquid courage.

Valencia: Hi ☺️

She made her way back to the blog

-I did it! 😭

Erik fell back against his bed. He typed a reply.

Erik: Hello 😌

Valencia: I hope I didn’t wake you.

Erik: I’m up. How was your night?

Valencia: it was alright. You?

Valencia nibbled on her nails anxiously.

Erik: Hazy. Had a little smoke session.

Valencia returned to the blog.

-Is it too late for a dare?

-Definitely not lol. This is fun. What’s the dare?

-I dare you to send a risky text. However you want to.

-How risky though?

-😈

Erik waited to see what she would do. He wanted to see how far she would go. The fact that she would have preferred to spend the evening with him made him wonder what they would have gotten into.

Erik: Did you crash on me?

Valencia:

She couldn’t believe she sent that picture. She tossed her phone on the bed and stood up from the desk. Valencia paced back and forth. Hands covering her face, heart racing, stomach in knots. Did she do the right thing?

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…

That picture was meant for Isaiah and boy was she happy she sent it to Erik instead. She’d heard her phone vibrate minutes ago but she was too scared to see what he said. Valencia walked over to the bed and picked up her phone. She pressed it against her chest, scared out of her mind. Overthinking per usual. Finally, she looked at his text and boy was she glad that she did.

Erik: Shit girl 😍

Erik: 😍😍😍😍

Erik: I can’t stop staring 😩

He didn’t expect that at all. That was the furthest thing from what he expected. He sat up in bed and drooled over that picture. That ass up and that beautiful arch. He wondered what other pictures she was hiding. He loved her body so much. He knew exactly what to do with all of that. Play into his size kink. His dick was brick hard. No pussy in almost a year. The longest he’d ever gone without sex. He could have easily linked with his ex girlfriend on campus but he pictured himself digging Valencia’s guts out whenever the fuck he pleased.

Valencia: 😛

Erik: You tryna tell me something? 👀

Erik: I see you do like it deep…That tutoring session was necessary after all 😍

Valencia was over the moon thrilled at Erik’s reaction to her pic. So much that she was jittery. Back on the blog, Valencia quickly typed.

-I can’t believe I sent him a risky photo. I thought he wouldn’t have liked it but I was wrong 😂

Ping.

Erik went back to the blog messages. Wouldn’t like them? Was she crazy! He loved them! Boy was he happy that he found out about Valencia when he did. He wanted to put her in that position. Arch that pretty back over the edge of his bed, slip her panties to the side, and slide his dick in deep and slow. He wanted her to feel his length. He had a big toy dangling between his legs. Girls with that type of body can take dick. Girls who arch their backs like that need the dick.

-No. if the feeling is mutual, why would you think that?

-IDK. I’m always overthinking shit. 😭

Valencia had to take a second to rethink what she was doing. Sure, she wanted to do unspeakable things with Erik. Nasty things. But she felt she was coming on too strong. Maybe she should dial it back a little…make him …yearn for more? Tease him. He’s older and definitely has more experience. He’s probably used to woman throwing themselves at him. No. Valencia was going to do the opposite. Who said she couldn’t be shy and purposely excite and sexually arouse while withholding gratification?

She left him on read.

Valencia logged out of the blog and shut off the light for bed. She pulled her duvet back and just then, Brielle came in. She had her curly, ginger hair up in a puff. Her pleated skirt was situated higher around her waist, showing some of her ass. Her cropped shirt was dangling from her shoulder and she looked freshly fucked.

Brielle noticed Valencia was still awake and she gave her an enigmatic smile.

“I’m surprised you’re still awake.” Brielle whispered.

“I’m surprised you’re still walking,” Valencia laughs.

————

It was 6 am and Erik stood on the race track and stretched his quadriceps. Flexing his toes in his green Nike running shoes, he took off running. He liked to go for a run around the track before he did any strength training. AirPod Max Pro’s over his ears, shirtless, and black running shorts on, Erik was a mission. In the zone, the heavy bass from the rap song he was listening to fueled him.

Erik made it around the track once before stopping to take a sip of water he’d left at the bleachers. He jogged over to grab a drink and when he looked up he saw his ex girlfriend from undergrad, Jeanette, stretching her hip flexors. She glanced up at Erik and waved to him. Erik returned the gesture. She stood tall and made her way towards him. She’s wearing a track and field outfit, similar to what she wore back then when she ran.

“Stevens. It’s been a while. How are you?”

“Good. You?”

“Great. Have you been avoiding me?”

Erik arched a brow.

“Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know…you’ve been back for a minute now and I haven’t had the chance to catch up with you. It feels like you’re dodging me.”

“Nah, Jeanette. I’ve been busy. What happened to that dude? The one that keep running his mouth?”

Jeanette broke out in a fit of laughter. Erik was dead serious. That nigga better be lucky he don’t go to TSU. That nigga better be lucky Erik didn’t find him yet.

“Erik, relax okay?”

Jeanette caressed Erik’s sweaty bicep. Erik eyed her down with a stony expression.

“What do you really want, Jeanette?”

“Whatchu think?”

Erik carefully moved Jeanette’s hand away from his arm. She kissed her teeth at him.

“I haven’t seen you in years. You look good…real good.”

“I know,” Erik smirked cockily.

“Still got that big ass ego…”

Erik glanced down at his I-watch. He needed to finish his run.

“Well, it was nice seeing you, Jeanette. I gotta finish my run…”

“Mhm, am I gonna see you at the D9 party tonight?”

“Of course I’ll be there.”

Erik backed away towards the track. Jeanette placed her hands on her hips, eye-fucking Erik while continuing her stretches.

“Ima put this AKA ass on you tonight, Daka!”

Erik sprinted off with a shake of his head.

Some time later, Valencia had finished swimming laps and doing a bit of water aerobics with weights. Her body was sore and drenched. After taking a shower, she gathered her things and walked out of the gymnasium. On her way back to her dorm, Valencia wasn’t paying attention and she almost collided with someone as she was leaving.

She didn’t have the best workout today because her mind continued to wander. She still hadn’t replied to Erik. The thought made her smile to herself. She shouldered her gym bag and took sips from her water bottle. As she approached her dorms, the man that distracted her was busy texting on his phone while listening to music. His head popped up and he paused in his tracks, staring Valencia down hard.

Valencia spotted Erik opening the door for her and she automatically grew timid. She tucked her chin and gave him a shy wave. Seeing him in person was completely different from texting him last night. The recollection of what she sent him hit her like a freight train. Her heart was practically rattling around in her chest cavity. The closer she got, the more his penetrating stare commanded her.

“After you.”

“Thank you…”

Valencia felt so exposed in her little gym shorts. He was directly behind her. She could smell his natural musk and it sent shivers throughout her body.

“Mm…mm…mm…”

She couldn’t contain her shaky exhale. He was probably picturing himself bending her over right there…

“Sleep well?”

Valencia blinked her eyes up at Erik.

“H–Huh?”

“…sleep? Did you get some rest?”

“Yeah! Sorry…”

“I figured you went to sleep since you left me on read and shit…”

Erik pressed the button for them to get on the elevator. Valencia avoided his gaze, her eyes looking around her.

“Valencia?”

She snapped her head in his direction. He was already on the elevator. She could tell he was fighting a laugh. Embarrassed, she walked in.

“You’re hella distracted…I’m the one that should be acting like that after what you sent me last night, girl...”

Valencia took in a breath. He did things to her body she couldn’t control. The trembling, the uneven breathing, the wetness that drenched her panties. She was in lust for this man and she needed him to fuck her. She wouldn’t say that to his face though.

“I…I have a lot of work to catch up on…and I’m really hungry…”

They left the elevator and Erik walked slowly so Valencia could catch up with him. She spotted Skai and Cindy sitting in the lounge studying and when they noticed her they gave her a weird look. Erik looked down at Valencia, biting his bottom lip openly so she knew that he was feeling her. Valencia slowed down her footsteps in front of her dorm room door. Her eyes discreetly roamed Erik’s body. His russet skin glistened with sweat and his muscles looked defined and sculpted. His locs were messy and resting against his forehead. He looked so fucking edible.

“This is me,” Valencia pointed to her door, giving Erik a quick glance with a smile, “I guess I’ll see you later…”

“You guess?” Erik cocked his head back.

“I—I didn’t mean it like that.” She spoke with a barely audible tone.

Erik startled her by reaching out to caress her arm. His hand stroked from the back of her upper arm, past her elbow, and down her forearm until he was holding her hand in his firm grip.

“You know you have a lot of explaining to do, girl.” Erik whispered.

He smelled so fucking amazing. His natural scent crowded her. She wanted to press her nose against whatever area that had exposed flesh. Lick his skin to see what his sweat tasted like—

“Do you know about the D9 party tonight?”

Valencia twisted her lips to fight a smile.

“I do. Are you asking me to go?”

Her eyes dropped down to her hand in his. She swayed from side to side.

“I am. I wanna see you there.” Erik said.

Valencia’s cheeks hurt from how hard she was smiling. She tried to hide her face so Erik took it upon himself to lift her chin.

“You gonna be there, Valencia. I want to see you there.”

She blinked at Erik slowly. His eyes dropped down to her juicy lips. He wanted to taste them…

“I’ll be there….”

“You better.”

Erik stroked her chin with his thumb. It sent shockwaves throughout her body. Straight to her pussy. It was such a small gesture that held so much dominance. Erik finally let go and backed away, his eyes dancing up and down her frame while he drew his plump bottom lip into his mouth. His eyes were low and almost sleepy-like and it made him look dreamy. Valencia giggled and looked away, unable to hold his gaze.

“We should get lunch later.” Erik said raising his brows.

“I’d like that.” Valencia replied.

“Aight, I’ll see you then, beautiful.”

He turned and strolled down the hall with a gait.

[gravity-between-us]

Gravity Between Us

Chapter 11: Between Two Suns

Summary: Caleb and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. We were once childhood friends, our bond as natural as the stars in the sky. But now, everything has changed. What used to feel like a safe, familiar orbit between us now pulses with unspoken desire.

Our friendship is no longer enough to keep the tension at bay, and the distance between us feels unbearable. Secrets, lies, and unhealed wounds stand in our way. I don’t know if we can survive this new gravity pulling us together... but I can’t keep pretending I don’t want to try.

Pairing: Female! MC x Caleb

Spoilers: Spoilers for Caleb's Myth's as well as memories. Read at your own risk for these. Lore spoilers.

WARNINGS:

Unlikely to be completely canon. The other love interests will not be likely to appear in this fic.

MC is named. MC is socially awkward. MC can be depressed at times.

Very? Slow Burn.

Very explicit smut (Chapter 12 onward): PiV/oral (male and female receiving)/anal sex. Fingering. First time. Pet names (angel, babe, baby, pip-squeak). Kinks: Praise, breeding, creampie, light dom/sub. Rough. Some consensual degradation talk (MC is into it). Probably many, many more that I am forgetting to name. If you see one that should be listed that isn't, feel free to let me know. (MC is a repressed deviant, and so is Caleb.)

Awkward blend of darker moments, angst, fluff, and humour.

Drinking. Questionable life decisions. MC spirals.

Protective Caleb. Both MC and Caleb are a little obsessive and overly protective of each other, which could be considered an unhealthy relationship.

We will revisit memory scenes, but they will be different from the memories in-game.

As proofread as I can get it, but not beta read, so probably some mistakes.

Limited plot - most focus is just on their relationship and interactions.

More warnings could be applied, but as a general rule of thumb, please read at your own risk and do not continue if you find the content triggering.

From up here, I can only see a glint of Skyhaven’s steel and glass towers between the tears in the clouds as they drift lazily through the sky. The heat of Caleb's lips still lingers on mine; his touch branded against my skin. One minute, his hands were on me, his breath tangling with mine, the weight of years pressing in around us. 

Just as quickly as it all escalated, it crumbled. He was gone before I could even form a coherent response, his expression closed off, his voice clipped and professional. The moment we had shattered in an instant.

I rake my fingers through my hair, exhaling sharply. A sharp chime interrupts my spiralling thoughts. My Hunter’s watch vibrates against my wrist, its display flashing a stark red.

**Urgent Mission Alert: UNICORN Team Deployment Required.**

Normally, I wouldn’t think much of it—urgent missions come and go. But something about this one makes my stomach twist before I even look at the details. I tap the display, and a holographic interface flares to life.

Metaflux Surge: Detected

Wanderer Attack - In Progress  

Location: Skyhaven

Threat Level: Critical

To get the exact coordinates, I need to accept the mission. My fingers hover over the command, but my mind is already ahead of me, racing through possibilities, through logistics.

There is no way off this damn island. Caleb took his plane. I curse under my breath and push off from the railing, rushing inside. The sleek, minimalist interior feels too pristine, too still. I grab the remote and flip on the news.

Smoke coils into the air over Skyhaven, thick and black against the blue sky. The camera feed jitters as a news drone zooms in, capturing the chaos unfolding in the heart of the city.

We are bringing you live coverage of an ongoing attack in the East Nexus District,” the news anchor says, voice tight with urgency. “Authorities have confirmed that a Class-7 Ignitus Wyrmlord has emerged near the main transit hub, causing massive structural damage. The Fleet is currently on-site, working to contain the threat.”

My breath catches. The Fleet is on-site. Is this the ‘minor problem’ Caleb had to go look into? I clench my fists. Did he sideline me—again?

I spin on my heel and storm inside, shoving past furniture as I snatch my phone off the table. I dial Liam without hesitation.

He picks up on the second ring. “Colonel’s adjutant, Liam.”

“Liam, I need a transport.”

There’s a pause. “Inara?”

“Yes, me. I need to get to the station in Linkon—Association business.”

Another beat of silence, then, “The Colonel didn’t mention any Association assignments.”

I grit my teeth. “Because it just came in. It’s urgent.”

“Inara—”

“I’m not asking, Liam. Get me a shuttle.”

A sigh crackles through the speaker. “You’re really putting me in a bad position here.”

“Liam,” I say, forcing my voice into something softer, more pleading. “Please.”

A long pause, then a resigned exhale. “Shuttle’s en route.”

I tie my hair back, securing it tightly before strapping my holsters into place. Caleb’s room is my last stop—I grab my guns and extra ammunition before sprinting back outside. The minutes drag by agonizingly slowly before the shuttle finally arrives, but at least the descent is swift.

The moment the transport lands in Skyhaven, I move quickly. The officers accompanying me attempt to guide me towards the train station, but I have other plans.

“Sorry about this.” I barely give them time to react before knocking them both out cold. 

They really should train their recruits better. I make a mental note to tease Caleb about their training program after I’m done chastising him for leaving me behind.

Lunging into a sprint, I bring up my Hunter’s watch and accept the mission. The real-time GPS flickers to life, mapping out my route.

The city is a mess of noise and motion, people fleeing in all directions, alarms blaring, the sky stained with plumes of thick, black smoke. The closer I get to the fight, the more the air thrums with the crackle of energy weapons and guttural roars.

Above me, through gaps in the steel and glass skyline, I catch fleeting glimpses of the hulking, winged monstrosity, its body like dried, cracked magma, glowing veins of molten red searing through its form like rivers of fire. Its wings beat against the sky, the force sending gusts of scorching wind spiralling downward. 

The ground shakes as another explosion rocks the district, debris pelting the street ahead of me. I don’t stop. I leap over fallen signs, weave around abandoned vehicles, push past the few stragglers still too stunned to move. I barely register the sting of smoke in my throat, the acrid taste of burning metal on my tongue. 

I skid around a corner, nearly colliding with a barricade hastily set up by the Fleet. Heavily armed officers stand guard, rifles slung over their shoulders, their faces hidden behind tactical visors. 

Beyond them, I can see the towering wreckage of a collapsed building and, farther ahead, the sky boiling with embers as the Wanderer banks in the air, its massive form circling like a vulture. 

“Let me through,” I demand, barely stopping myself from shoving past them outright. “I’m with the Association—Deepspace Hunter, UNICORN Team.”

The nearest officer, a woman with a sharp stance, doesn’t so much as flinch. “This is Fleet business. You don’t have clearance.”

I grit my teeth. “You’re looking at a Hunter. My jurisdiction is wherever a Wanderer is.”

“Not today.”

I inhale sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. “I can help. I have field experience, and I can—”

“You’re not authorized. Step back.”

Every second I waste here is another second Caleb is out there, fighting that thing. Every second is another chance he gets hurt—or worse. Frustration coils in my chest, burning hotter than the embers still floating through the air. 

I clench my fists, weighing my options. I can’t just stand here. I have to get through. One way or another.

Before I can make a move, an explosion rocks the barricade. The force sends me stumbling, hands flying up to shield my face as shards of glass and steel rain down. The Fleet officers duck, turning toward the source of the blast, their attention momentarily diverted.

That’s my opening.

I lunge forward, shoving past the first guard. Another reaches for me, catching my wrist. I twist, using my momentum to wrench free, planting my foot into the side of his knee just enough to make him stagger. Someone else grabs my arm, but I ram my elbow back into his gut and pull away before he can tighten his grip. 

Another officer tries to tackle me outright, and I barely manage to slip under her grasp, rolling forward and springing up into a dead sprint.

The battlefield is chaos incarnate. The streets are torn apart, flames licking up from shattered vehicles, debris scattered like a warzone. 

The Ignitus Wyrmlord wheels overhead, its molten veins glowing brighter as it gathers power. Fleet soldiers scramble for cover, weapons firing in desperate bursts. Some are down, clutching wounds, and I don’t hesitate—I duck behind cover, drag an injured officer away from the open, tucking them behind a crumbling wall before leaping back into the fray.

The Wanderer lets out a bone-shattering roar, swooping low, and I seize my chance. I spring onto the hood of a burnt-out car, vault off it into a backflip, firing mid-air. My shots strike true, the beast reeling back with a snarl.

I land smoothly, pivoting, eyes scanning the battlefield. Where the hell is Caleb? A man that tall shouldn’t be this hard to find.

The Ignitus Wyrmlord is fast in the air, but its wings are too heavy to keep it aloft for long. It has to land often, claws slamming into the pavement and sending fresh cracks splintering through the ground. 

That gives me my chance.

Between lunging strikes, I finally spot him. Caleb is directly beneath the beast’s molten belly, his Evol engaged, hands braced upward, holding back its crushing weight. His entire body strains, muscles taut with exertion, veins prominent as he keeps it from flattening him and an unconscious officer at his side. His knees are bent, feet planted, but he won’t be able to hold it forever.

No time to think.

I sprint, dodging the burning slag that drips from the cracks in the creature’s hide. My feet barely touch the ground as I throw myself into a slide, skidding on debris and dust, right underneath its stomach. Caleb doesn’t see me—his jaw is clenched, eyes fixed upwards, focused on not being crushed—until my hand clamps around his wrist.

The moment our skin connects, raw power surges between us, an energy that crackles and hums through my very bones. His strength expands like a dam breaking. 

With a snarl, Caleb heaves, forcing the Wyrmlord’s bulk upward just enough to shift its weight off them. It stumbles back, unbalanced, and he seizes the moment to shove it away. It lurches backward, buying us a few precious seconds before it regains its footing and takes to the sky again.

The unconscious officer is still sprawled beside us, and I grab her under the arms, dragging her away from the fray. Caleb is already moving to help, despite the exhaustion evident in his posture.

As soon as we have the officer tucked behind a slab of fallen concrete, Caleb turns to me, panting, “What are you doing here?”

I flash a grin, breathless. “Apparently, saving your dumb ass.”

His lips press together in a thin line, but I see the way his shoulders lower a fraction. He’s relieved, even if he won’t admit it. He shifts, checking the ammunition left in his gun, exhaling sharply when he realizes it’s not enough.

I casually hold out a new clip, wiggling it between my fingers, smug. “Looking for this?”

Caleb snatches it from my grasp with an irritated grunt, but the corner of his mouth twitches, betraying him. He reloads with practiced efficiency. The gunfire around us is relentless, but the bullets barely scratch the Ignitus Wyrmlord’s molten hide.

I snap a fresh magazine into place, double-checking my clips while I talk. "Its weak spot is near the top of its head."

Caleb leers at me. He knows exactly where I am going with this before I even say it. "No."

I arch a brow at him. "No?"

"No, I am not liftin’ you up there."

"Well," I say, gesturing vaguely to the beast still circling overhead, "it is either that, or we just plug it full of bullets until they run out. And then what, Colonel?"

His eye twitches. "I will suck it into a black hole."

I snort. "Oh, sure. If you weren’t already so damn tired, I might actually believe that is an option. I can do this. Trust me.”

With clear reluctance, he snaps, “Fine.”

I nod. “Wait until it lands, and then get me up there. I'll do the rest.”

There’s no more time for second-guessing. We break from cover, guns blazing, the sharp retort of bullets cutting through the air. The Wyrmlord snarls, wings beating as it dodges, but we press it, pushing it lower to force it down. It slams into the ground with an earth-shaking impact.

The moment it touches down, I move. Sprinting full speed, I launch myself at a steel beam jutting from the street, using it as a ramp to propel myself higher. The second my feet leave metal, Caleb’s Evol surges around me, gravity bending in his command. I feel it—an unseen force gripping my body, flinging me upward with a sudden, stomach-flipping burst of power.

I’m weightless—suspended in the ash-laden air as I arc toward the Wyrmlord’s back. I land hard on the beast’s neck, knees bending to absorb the shock. Heat radiates, searing heat through the soles of my boots, warning me that one wrong move could cook me alive.

It screeches, body twisting violently, trying to shake me off. I stumble but lurch forward, sprinting up the sinuous column of its neck. Every step is a battle for balance as it thrashes to throw me off. 

The beast jerks, throwing itself into the sky. My stomach lurches as the ground vanishes beneath me. Damn it. I reach for any handhold, fingers scraping against the jagged cracks of its molten hide. Heat licks at my gloves, blistering even through the reinforced fabric, but I grit my teeth and hold on.

It thrashes again, twisting mid-air. My grip falters—I slide, my body dangling off its side, only held up by sheer desperation. The sky spins in a dizzying blur, the ruined city below a patchwork of fire.

Gritting my teeth, I haul myself up and push past the burning ache in my muscles. I swing a leg over, straddling the beast’s neck again as I finally reach the vulnerable patch at the base of its skull. I press the muzzle of my gun flush against the exposed, softer tissue.

I empty the clip in rapid succession, each round ripping through the weak spot, dark ichor splattering across my arms and chest. The Wyrmlord lets out a piercing, gut-wrenching shriek that rattles my bones, its body convulsing as its wings seize.

Then, everything gives way. It disintegrates into a cascade of embers and ash, vanishing into the wind like a dying star.

And I’m falling. No time to think. No time to scream. Just the cold, crushing realization that the ground is rushing up to meet me at a speed my body will not survive.

Fuck.

Caleb's Evol slows my descent, and then he catches me in his arms. He's sweaty, covered in ash, dirt, and blood. I know I have probably fared no better. My damp clothes cling to my body, hair sticking to my forehead. Still, we just stare at each other.

Until someone calls out for Colonel Caleb, and the moment breaks. His expression shuts down, his face smoothing over into that unreadable mask of his. He sets me down without a word.

"Get the medics in here to treat the wounded," he orders, striding away. "Evac any civilians still in the area. Secure the perimeter, and make sure none of those bastards are left lurking in the rubble. I want a full report on my desk within the hour. And someone call the cleanup team—we need to clear the debris before the next patrol shift."

I leave him to it, stepping off to the side to find a relatively intact piece of debris to sit on. Pulling up my Hunter's watch, I report back to the Association that the area has been cleared. 

The message is barely sent when hands clamp around my arms from behind. I jerk instinctively, but another set of hands grabs my wrist, twisting it just enough to make me stop struggling. I whip my head around and recognize them instantly—the officers from the barricade. 

"You are under arrest for assaulting officers of the Fleet," one of them snarls. "You ignored direct orders and interfered with an official operation. Your reckless actions endangered personnel, and you will be detained pending further investigation."

I laugh. Actually laugh. "Oh, come on. Do you know how many Fleet officers I just saved? I should be getting a damn medal, not—"

They yank me forward, cutting me off. I wrench my arm, but their grip tightens. "You do not get to disregard Fleet authority just because you are a Hunter."

"Unhand her.” Caleb’s voice is cold, commanding, and immediate. 

The officers freeze. 

"Sir," one of them starts. “She—she assaulted—"

"She assisted in neutralizing a critical threat to Skyhaven and prevented further casualties," Caleb states flatly. "If you have an issue with her methods, you can take it up with me. Understood?"

There is a beat of silence before the officers reluctantly let me go. Caleb’s gaze doesn’t shift from them, his stance rigid. "Dismissed."

They nod stiffly before turning on their heels and walking away. 

He doesn’t even look at me before saying, "It’s time to go. Our evac is here."

I rub my wrist but don’t argue, following him to the waiting transport. The flight back to Fleet Headquarters is silent. Caleb sits stiffly, arms crossed, staring out the window. I know that look—he’s thinking, dissecting every moment of the battle, calculating his next move.

When we land, he doesn’t even wait for me to get out of the shuttle before asking, "How did you get to Skyhaven?"

I blink, feigning innocence. "Oh, you know. I jumped off the edge and flew down like an angel."

His glare could cut steel. Without a word, he presses his earpiece. "Pull the Fleet shuttle logs for Skyhaven."

Shit.

I sigh, knowing Liam’s about to get caught in the crossfire. "Okay, okay! I called Liam and had him send a shuttle. But it wasn’t his fault! I lied to him, told him I had urgent Hunter’s business and needed to get to the Association right away. He even sent guards to escort me to the station!"

Caleb’s eyes narrow slightly. "And what happened to these guards?"

I scratch my cheek. "Well, I might have, kind of… well, you see… I… knocked them out."

Caleb pinches the bridge of his nose. "Of course you did."

Something inside me snaps. I keep my voice low, but the anger is there. "You sidelined me. Again. Just like when we were kids. You can’t keep doing this, Caleb."

He lifts his head slowly, expression unreadable. "Can’t I?"

There’s something dark in the way he says it, a quiet warning—almost a threat. My anger boils hotter, but before I can say another word, a voice interrupts.

"Colonel Caleb."

Aurelia Voss.

I turn, immediately not liking what I see. She side-eyes me—not in a dismissive way, but in a calculating, judging-my-worth kind of way. Like she is trying to determine if I am even worth acknowledging.

Caleb steps aside with her, far enough that I cannot hear their conversation. My anger simmers, but my focus shifts. I watch the exchange unfold with a growing sense of irritation. She stands too close to him. Leaning in, batting her lashes, laughing at something even though Caleb’s face is as flat as a white wall.

What could she possibly be laughing at? Colonel Caleb does not joke. He does not even smile unless it is at someone else's expense.

Oh, and now she is touching his arm?

My jaw tightens. I cross my arms, glaring daggers at her back. If looks could kill, she would have dropped dead the second she walked up to him. My fingers twitch with the urge to—no. I cannot just shoot people.

…Can I?

If she leans in one more time, I might just have to conveniently trip and spill something on her. Shame there is no coffee around.

She laughs again. My eye twitches. Aurelia is practically purring at Caleb, her voice all sugary and sweet, like she’s auditioning for some romantic drama where she gets the guy. Every little movement she makes sends my blood pressure skyrocketing.

What if I shoved her into one of those industrial trash disposals? I could make it look like an accident. Yeah, nobody would miss her.

My foot starts tapping, a telltale sign that my irritation is growing. God, I hate her. She puffs her chest out like a peacock, parading around like she’s the queen of the universe. I can almost hear her in my head, like a broken record: “Oh, Caleb, you’re so strong, capable, and devastatingly handsome. Can I lick the sweat off your abs?”

I scoff loudly, so loud even I’m surprised. They both look at me. She bats her stupid lashes and turns her head slowly, like she’s just realized she has an audience. Caleb doesn’t even acknowledge me, his eyes flicking toward me for a second before he returns to listening to her.

But she? She smirks. That smug little, “I’m-better-than-you” smirk. My teeth grit as I stare at her. I’d like to see her try this crap when I’m holding a gun.

The tap-tap-tap of my foot is getting faster with every second she stays there. It’s so hard not to do something ridiculous—like just storm over and slap the shit-eating grin off her face. I cross my arms and lean against the wall, eyes glued to them like I’m watching some soap opera unfold.

The conversation finally ends, and Caleb strides back over to me. "Come on," he motions toward the flight deck. "The plane is ready. I'll take you home."

I walk beside him, grumbling under my breath. Caleb has always had ample admirers. In middle school, high school, and college, he had me pretend to be his girlfriend on several occasions lest he have to beat them back with a stick. I mean, I get it. Look at him. He's handsome, talented, and caring. The whole package, really. 

It didn't irk me as much back then, but it downright pisses me off now. I should not even be focusing on this. I should be focusing my rage into trying to get Caleb to see me as someone capable of walking beside him instead of behind him. 

We climb into the plane, buckle up, and I sit there with my arms crossed and stew in my jealous spiral.

"Whatcha grumblin' about, pip-squeak?" Caleb's voice is back to being animated and warm. 

"She was flirting with you," I snap.

"Was she?" He shrugs. "I didn't notice."

I gawk at him, my mouth hanging open for a second, stunned by his complete lack of awareness. “You didn’t notice?” I practically choke on the words, my voice a little too high-pitched with disbelief. “She was literally batting her lashes at you like she was trying to hypnotize you with them, and you didn’t notice?”

Caleb shrugs again, the casual, unfazed idiot. “Guess I was too busy focusin’ on other things. It’s not like I’m interested.”

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Uh, hello? Newsflash, Colenol Caleb, you’re always the centre of attention. It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested or not. It’s just… the principle of it. She was all over you!”

He leans back in his seat, giving me a sideways glance. “You know, you’re adorable when you’re jealous.”

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat before my temper catches up with it. “I am not jealous!” I snap, trying to bite back the sudden flare of heat in my chest. I cross my arms even tighter, as if physically holding in all the ridiculous feelings I’m having. “I’m just—ugh, whatever.”

He tilts his head. “You don’t have to worry about her.”

“Well, maybe you should show her that you're not interested,” I grumble, staring out the window, willing the irritation to just dissipate. “Because I swear, if I see her trying to wrap herself around you like that again…”

“Again? You’re really worked up over this, aren’t you?”

“No!” I almost yell, but I manage to keep my voice from fully rising.

“Alright, alright,” he says with mock surrender, leaning back in his seat. “But you know… I think it’s kind of cute how worked up you get. Makes me feel important.”

“Do you wanna pretend to be my girlfriend again to scare away any potential advances?” Caleb teases, his voice dripping with mischief.

I freeze, the words catching in my throat. Could I really go back to pretending? I’d slip into the role of his fake girlfriend, and bam, problem solved. Something about the notion stings.

I stare out the window for a moment, my mind racing, and then I murmur, “What if…”

“What if what?” Caleb asks, guiding the plane into an easy bank as we near his house. His voice is casual, but there’s an edge of curiosity there.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts back. “Nevermind. It’s stupid.”

Caleb glances over at me, one eyebrow lifted in that infuriatingly calm way of his. “C’mon, pip-squeak,” he urges, leaning a little closer, like he’s genuinely interested. “What if what?”

I glance down at my lap, my fingers playing nervously with the edge of my sleeve. I’m quiet for a moment, my thoughts all tangled up in each other. The words finally slip out, quieter than I intended. “What if I don’t want to pretend anymore?”

It feels like I’ve just dropped a bomb, and I don’t know how he’s going to react. My heart races, but I can’t take it back now.

Caleb is silent for a second, and for a moment, I think maybe I’ve said too much. Then, his expression softens. A wide grin spreads across his face, and his voice, usually so cool and composed, comes out with excitement, almost breathless.

“You don’t?” he says, his eyes lighting up. “You mean it? You’re serious? This isn’t a prank, right?”

I blink, taken aback by the sudden change in his energy. “Yeah, I’m serious.”

There’s a lightness to him that’s contagious. His hand reaches over, and for the first time, it doesn’t feel like a casual gesture. It feels right, and I let him take my hand without hesitation. 

“It’s always been you, pip-squeak,” he assures, his voice suddenly low, full of sincerity. “It always will be.”

Chapter Masterlist

[mydearestbeloved]

okay, you said illusion is part of reader's arsenal so i think it would be cool if she has an AOE skill where she creates a fragrant field of flowers that heals and buffs allies but any enemies that step into the field will be teleport back to the other side before they can cross over it, kinda like a never ending loop? samsara? the cycle of life and birth? (i was inspired seeing shu arknights skill set)

?System¿: [Under review. Ideas considered for future versions.]

Interesting idea you got there. 🤩

You might notice by now that I love giving some logics behind what was supposed to be pure magic, if I can. That's one of my ways to make this story concept a bit more distinct than the others, and also a way for me to fit in the original narratives. Because as far as I know, from spoilers of the webnovel/novel and game, and from the webtoon/manhwa and anime, the mechanics of healer class hunter's power is not widely explained and developed. It's like filling in the gaps/plotholes with what-ifs and all that. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. 🙏

So, let me clarify a few things about the current Reader's powers as of now (12/11/2024):

For AOE heals, buffs, and even enemies debuffs, Reader's butterflies already got that covered.

The butterflies' main power is inspired by the very nature of butterflies in real life, pollination. While they might not be as effective as bees in that regard, they still feed on flowers' nectar (enemies' lifeforce). When they do this, their bodies collect pollen (excess energy) and carry it to other plants (allies) to help produce new seeds (in the form of heals and buffs).

The reason I also choose butterflies instead of bees are for their physical appearance. Hear me out first before anyone could get mad.

I'm not saying that I chose butterflies purely because of their aesthetics, over the effectiveness of bees. What I'm trying to say is that bees' have visible stinger, butterflies don't. This fact plays part in the Reader's vibe of being beautiful but deadly. Illusions is one of the reasons we perceive something that were actually dangerous as harmless, it tricked us into thinking that something so pleasing to the eyes couldn't possible hurt us, yet reality says otherwise. As the saying goes, "Don't let the looks fool you."

Now onto the 'field of flowers' concept in what is as of currently the latest drafted chapter of my Trial Player AU.

Plants in general absorb carbondioxide (mana, or other versions of it, like the contaminated ones) and produce oxygen (lifeforce) in exchange.

Additionally, in my story, the concept applied is that living beings continuously produce their own mana while they're alive. If they're freshly dead, there will only be residue mana from being alive just moments prior, limited and will be dispersed into the atmosphere as time goes on.

To simplify: 'Lifeforce' is the essence of mana. Being alive automatically produce mana, hence taking just a small amount of 'lifeforce' sourced from living beings can be converted to an abundant amount of mana. However, while Reader can still take back a mana's essence with the flower field, the field needs to take a larger amount of mana (CO2) just to produce smaller amount of 'lifeforce' (O2) to then be used by the butterflies (conduits) in a cycle and for Reader herself.

Hence the scenes in my Trial Player AU rendition of Solo Leveling's Demon Castle Arc. The land are roaming with demons and the undeads, perfect for the flower field. Though there's a catch that I can't fully explain for now, the 'contaminated' mana of the creatures there. The current Jinwoo in the manhwa can't extract Metus' shadow for exactly that reason, and while Reader was still able to use that mana, the contamination in it will have an effect on her, as shown briefly at the end of the chapter.

Last but not least, your Samsara cycle idea.

Awesome idea actually, one I want to ask for your permission to incorporate this concept in the future since you're the one who brought it up. 🙏

As of you know now, the current Reader's power is limited. To use that idea of yours now would be to imply that Reader could've reversed wounds to heal instead of accelerating cells (or other automatic biological processes) and subsequently trigger <Decay> if too much was sped up.

The current her was already struggling with <Erode>, a spell that supposedly accelerate weathering (not an automatic process) that needs outer factors like water, air, sunlight, or the help of living organisms, in which she managed to substitue them with applying more mana, hence the cost, time, and focus she needs to use the spell.

To simplify, to reverse a wound would be to reverse the cause of that very wound, hence dominion over space is also required, not just time. To make a 'Samsara Cycle' as you described needed the same power of space and time. A limitation for the current Reader...

For now. 🤫😉

---

That's all I can say for now regarding your ask. Hopefully, this was a satisfactory answer.

Thank you, for reading my stories, for your ideas, and for giving me the opportunity to share my own ideas. 💞

[whencyclopedia]

Education in Roman Spain

There was no compulsory state education for children in any of the western provinces of the Roman Empire. The primary sources are sparse when it comes to the education in Roman Spain, and while some scholars argue for a network of schools, others suggest that in the remoter areas of Spain sourcing Latin and Greek speaking teachers may have been difficult, and Roman education had geographical limitations.

Teachers in Roman Spain

In 197 BCE, the Roman Republic divided the peninsula into Hispania Citerior (near) and Hispania Ulterior (far). In 27 BCE, Marcus Agrippa further divided the Ulterior region into Baetica (the modern-day Andalusia area) and Lusitania (the area of western Spain & part of modern-day Portugal).

Our sources indicate that Roman educational influence in these provinces was expanding sufficiently to require the services of teachers. The homogeneity in the style and content of education in the whole of the Roman Empire was striking; the same methods were used, and the same texts were worked on everywhere. Teaching was seen as a humble position; the average teacher was a man of lower social status who worked independently and had to maintain himself in a schooling system without any support from the Roman government. He worked for a low income, with which he had to also provide a teaching space, whether it was outdoors or beneath shelters or in hired rooms.

Inscriptions provide us with the evidence of the presence of the three principal categories of Roman educators:

The magister or litterator provided an elementary Roman education for girls and boys aged 7-11 years old, which included reading, writing, mathematics, and languages.

The grammaticus worked with boys aged 11-15 years old (in accordance with the role of women in the Roman world, girls generally finished their formal education at this age), teaching subjects such as Greek and Roman literature and philosophy and developing their writing, speech, and language skills.

The rhetor trained students in subjects including public speaking, Roman law and politics; education at this level was only affordable for the upper classes, and it prepared a young boy for his future career and position in the higher echelons of Roman society.

Inscriptions confirm that in Baetica and Tarraconensis and other areas in the eastern and southern coasts of Hispania, children were learning with a grammaticus (CIL II. 5079). Roman studies for boys sometimes also continued with the rhetor.

Read More

⇒ Education in Roman Spain

[warsofasoiaf]

A feudal contract is a method of gaining power for rulers, ensuring loyalty of the support base they need. The Targaryens didn't need the nobles as a support base before the dance, they were kept around as a convenience. The field of fire and Harrenhal prove that beyond any doubt. Even after the dance you had people like Aegon the Unworthy brutalizing people and taking noble women as he pleased (heavily implied to be without consent in some cases). There was no feudal contract, The Targaryens began as absolute monarchs with dragon power and continued to act as such until people realized that they could put a stop to it.

Westeros is it's own world with it's own politics and culture. You can't understand it perfectly by assuming it functions like medieval Europe. The fact that letting the peasants die during war is standard practice disproves the idea of a feudal structure on the lower end of society as well. The social structure is closer to ancient China.

A feudal contract is also a means to devolve power in the absence of a established central bureaucracy to administer territory. House Targaryen's use of Torrhen Stark to put down the Sunderland revolt or the various (failed) uses of viceroys and other noble appointments to administer the failed conquests of Dorne handily rebut your thesis that they kept around the nobles as a "conveinence." Aegon ruling on legal matters using maesters to advise on legal precedent and customs, and Jaehaerys I's consolidation of the legal code to ensure specific rights granted to lords, knights, and kings from everything to the right of pits and gallows to who is mandated to sit "above the salt" demonstrate that there are very clear structures in place that are very much not an "absolute monarchy." Nobles inherit their fiefs by right, a hallmark of a hereditary military caste and one of the key elements that advanced aristocratic power in regards to royal power.

Moreover, the predation of the nobility over the smallfolk, from Aegon IV's use of the Goldcloakd as his personal kidnap squad to provide women for sexual assault to the vast toll that noble warfare takes on the peasantry is very much keeping in line with history, and GRRM's writing style of "history taken up to 11." Legal protections for young peasant women who found themselves pressured to satisfy a King's lust were minimal (feudalism depended on legal inequality between the social classes). Warfare on medieval Europe often depended upon the chevauchée, a deliberate targeting of peasants to weaken an enemy's economic base and stir up unrest from the peasants who would fear the lack of protection. Medieval warfare of knights versus knights was often a chaotic affair, it was more reliable to strike at a noble's lands and villages, raiding the granaries and terrifying the populace. Taking into account GRRM's own self-described penchant for exaggeration for dramatic emphasis and his style where he often focuses on the lurid even to the detriment of the book in question (Coryanne Wilde), it's quite understandable.

I've never pretended to say that I understand Westerosi society perfectly as you assert. GRRM has been rather open about using a rough layman's grasp of English and European feudalism as a model for the political landscape of Westeros that he drew from that is relatively common to plenty of fantasy writers. He draws from plenty of sources that have shaped his own life as well - a lot of the troubles of war against the smallfolk are drawn from his experiences as a Conscientious Objector in Vietnam portrayed through medieval warfare. He's not a medievalist, but to deny that feudalism is a key component of Westerosi society is not correct, going either from GRRM's own statements or an analysis of the text as a whole; it's just flat-out wrong. You seem to have a singular fixation on the idea that because of the dragons, the Targaryens acted like absolute monarchs, but that's both not true and a remarkably limited conception of what feudalism was.

-SLAL

[evidence-based-activism]

taking care of your own house isn’t “unpaid labour” it’s called being an adult which y’all seem to understand just fine when you’re shaming men but not when you’re the ones doing the work. “most jobs” are not salary. And the only hourly jobs that pay overtime are agricultural positions. Which are male dominated. So if we are talking about unpaid labour that should be at the forefront of the discussion not household chores.

Unpaid labor refers to the massive amounts of work that is necessary for society to function but does not receive direct compensation and is therefore not registered in economic indicators like GDP.

The reason this is a feminist issue is because women are responsible for a disproportionate amount of unpaid work, which results in significant negative impacts both for individual women and women as a class.

Women around the world do three times as much unpaid care work as men [1-3]. A 2020 analysis [4] found that globally, all of women's unpaid work was worth almost 11 trillion dollars. A Pew Research analysis [5] found that when considering both paid and unpaid work, American women spend 2 to 3 times as much time on unpaid work as men, which corresponds to a proportional decrease in paid work and leisure time.

This work is absolutely vital for the continual functioning of society. As mentioned in [4], in "1975, 90 percent of Icelandic women refused to cook, clean, or look after children for a day. It brought the whole nation to a standstill," which is reiterated in [3].

And why does the gender gap matter? Because women's disproportionate burden limits their personal economic stability and advancement [3, 5]. It also has substantial, negative effects on their mental health [1].

With that context, here is my answer to your ask:

---

"taking care of your own house isn’t “unpaid labour” it’s called being an adult"

Something can be both necessary and unjustly allocated. Yes, a functioning society requires people cook and clean and take care of children and elders. If it were equally divided across all sectors of society, then we may not have needed a specific term to describe the hidden – but vital – work that underlies our society.

However, in reality, women bear a disproportionate amount of this requirement. This results in gender-specific disadvantages which are most easily illustrated via the conceptualization of a specific term "unpaid work".

(Further, I'd point out that your statement here implies that men are failing to "be adults" by failing to perform their fair share of unpaid labor.)

"which y’all seem to understand just fine when you’re shaming men but not when you’re the ones doing the work"

See everything I wrote above. Further, note that women are doing the vast majority of this work. Men's failure to do their fair share is a reasonable basis for shame.

'“most jobs” are not salary.'

I mean, sure, in America about 56% of jobs are paid at an hourly rate according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics [6]. This is not really relevant to the matter at hand.

"And the only hourly jobs that pay overtime are agricultural positions."

I assume you mean hourly jobs that don't pay overtime. Either way, this isn't true. Anyone who is considered an "exempt" employee is not paid overtime, which can include hourly workers in some industries (e.g., railway workers, seasonal employees, etc.). And, again, this really isn't relevant to the matter at hand. The 44% of American jobs that are salaried also don't pay overtime, along with all the other carved-out exemptions for hourly employees.

"Which are male dominated"

In America, sure. Notably, however, when looking worldwide, women are "responsible for half of the world’s food production" and "60 and 80 percent" in "most developing countries" [7].

"So if we are talking about unpaid labour that should be at the forefront of the discussion not household chores."

The issues with America's labor policies are an important class issue that you are completely free to focus on. The existence of this issue, however, does not negate the widespread problem with women's unpaid labor.

And importantly, the BLS also shows that a greater proportion of female agricultural workers are unpaid (3%) compared to male agricultural workers (<1%) [8].

---

In conclusion, women are burdened with a disproportionate amount of unpaid work, which causes significant negative impact on both individual women and women as a class.

References under the cut:

Seedat, S., & Rondon, M. (2021). Women’s wellbeing and the burden of unpaid work. BMJ, n1972. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1972

Hanna, T., Meisel, C., Moyer, J., Azcona, G., Bhatt, A., & Valero, S. D. (2020.) FORECASTING TIME SPENT IN UNPAID CARE AND DOMESTIC WORK. UN Women.

Not all gaps are created equal: The true value of care work. (2022, May 25). Oxfam International. https://www.oxfam.org/en/not-all-gaps-are-created-equal-true-value-care-work

Wezerek, G., & Ghodsee, K. R. (2020, March 5). Opinion | Women’s Unpaid Labor is Worth $10,900,000,000,000. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/04/opinion/women-unpaid-labor.html

Parker, K. (2013, March 14). Chapter 6: Time in work and leisure, patterns by gender and family structure. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/03/14/chapter-6-time-in-work-and-leisure-patterns-by-gender-and-family-structure/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, April). Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2021 U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/minimum-wage/2021/pdf/home.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Fact Sheet: Food Security and Gender. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnadr706.pdf

Employed persons in agriculture and nonagricultural industries by age, sex, and class of worker. (2024, January 26). Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat15.htm

[9nid]

Limits: Concepts & PYQs Covered, JEE Main & Advanced Part-02

Struggling with LIMITS? No worries! In this video, we break down all the essential concepts and tackle previous year questions for JEE Main and Advanced. It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to ace this topic. Grab your notes and let’s get started on this math journey! #jee2025 #MathMadeEasy #examready

[edusquaremaths]

Limits: Concepts & PYQs Covered, JEE Main & Advanced Part-02

Struggling with LIMITS? No worries! In this video, we break down all the essential concepts and tackle previous year questions for JEE Main and Advanced. It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to ace this topic. Grab your notes and let’s get started on this math journey! #jee2025 #MathMadeEasy #examready

[mostlysignssomeportents]

One of America’s most corporate-crime-friendly bankruptcy judges forced to recuse himself

Today (Oct 16) I'm in Minneapolis, keynoting the 26th ACM Conference On Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. Thursday (Oct 19), I'm in Charleston, WV to give the 41st annual McCreight Lecture in the Humanities. Friday (Oct 20), I'm at Charleston's Taylor Books from 12h-14h.

"I’ll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one." The now-famous quip from Robert Reich cuts to the bone of corporate personhood. Corporations are people with speech rights. They are heat-shields that absorb liability on behalf of their owners and managers.

But the membrane separating corporations from people is selectively permeable. A corporation is separate from its owners, who are not liable for its deeds – but it can also be "closely held," and so inseparable from those owners that their religious beliefs can excuse their companies from obeying laws they don't like:

https://clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2014/10/13/hobby-lobby-and-closely-held-corporations/

Corporations – not their owners – are liable for their misdeeds (that's the "limited liability" in "limited liablity corporation"). But owners of a murderous company can hold their victims' families hostage and secure bankruptcies for their companies that wipe out their owners' culpability – without any requirement for the owners to surrender their billions to the people they killed and maimed:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/11/justice-delayed/#justice-redeemed

Corporations are, in other words, a kind of Schroedinger's Cat for impunity: when it helps the ruling class, corporations are inseparable from their owners; when that would hinder the rich and powerful, corporations are wholly distinct entities. They exist in a state of convenient superposition that collapses only when a plutocrat opens the box and decides what is inside it. Heads they win, tails we lose.

Key to corporate impunity is the rigged bankruptcy system. "Debts that can't be paid, won't be paid," so every successful civilization has some system for discharging debt, or it risks collapse:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/09/bankruptcy-protects-fake-people-brutalizes-real-ones/

When you or I declare bankruptcy, we have to give up virtually everything and endure years (or a lifetime) of punitive retaliation based on our stained credit records, and even then, our student debts continue to haunt us, as do lawless scumbag debt-collectors:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/12/do-not-pay/#fair-debt-collection-practices-act

When a giant corporation declares bankruptcy, by contrast, it emerges shorn of its union pension obligations and liabilities owed to workers and customers it abused or killed, and continues merrily on its way, re-offending at will. Big companies have mastered the Texas Two-Step, whereby a company creates a subsidiary that inherits all its liabilities, but not its assets. The liability-burdened company is declared bankrupt, and the company's sins are shriven at the bang of a judge's gavel:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/01/j-and-j-jk/#risible-gambit

Three US judges oversee the majority of large corporate bankruptcies, and they are so reliable in their deference to this scheme that an entire industry of high-priced lawyers exists solely to game the system to ensure that their clients end up before one of these judges. When the Sacklers were seeking to abscond with their billions in opioid blood-money and stiff their victims' families, they set their sights on Judge Robert Drain in the Southern District of New York:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/23/a-bankrupt-process/#sacklers

To get in front of Drain, the Sacklers opened an office in White Plains, NY, then waited 192 days to file bankruptcy papers there (it takes six months to establish jurisdiction). Their papers including invisible metadata that identified the case as destined for Judge Drain's court, in a bid to trick the court's Case Management/Electronic Case Files system to assign the case to him.

The case was even pre-captioned "RDD" ("Robert D Drain"), to nudge clerks into getting their case into a friendly forum.

If the Sacklers hadn't opted for Judge Drain, they might have set their sights on the Houston courthouse presided over by Judge David Jones, the second of of the three most corporate-friendly large bankruptcy judges. Judge Jones is a Texas judge – as in "Texas Two-Step" – and he has a long history of allowing corporate murderers and thieves to escape with their fortunes intact and their victims penniless:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/07/hr-4193/#shoppers-choice

But David Jones's reign of error is now in limbo. It turns out that he was secretly romantically involved with Elizabeth Freeman, a leading Texas corporate bankruptcy lawyer who argues Texas Two-Step cases in front of her boyfriend, Judge David Jones.

Judge Jones doesn't deny that he and Freeman are romantically involved, but said that he didn't think this fact warranted disclosure – let alone recusal – because they aren't married and "he didn't benefit economically from her legal work." He said that he'd only have to disclose if the two owned communal property, but the deed for their house lists them as co-owners:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24032507-general-warranty-deed

(Jones claims they don't live together – rather, he owns the house and pays the utility bills but lets Freeman live there.)

Even if they didn't own communal property, judges should not hear cases where one of the parties is represented by their long term romantic partner. I mean, that is a weird sentence to have to type, but I stand by it.

The case that led to the revelation and Jones's stepping away from his cases while the Fifth Circuit investigates is a ghastly – but typical – corporate murder trial. Corizon is a prison healthcare provider that killed prisoners with neglect, in the most cruel and awful ways imaginable. Their families sued, so Corizon budded off two new companies: YesCare got all the contracts and other assets, while Tehum Care Services got all the liabilities:

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/prominent-bankruptcy-judge-david-jones-033801325.html

Then, Tehum paid Freeman to tell her boyfriend, Judge Jones, to let it declare bankruptcy, leaving $173m for YesCare and allocating $37m for the victims suing Tehum. Corizon owes more than $1.2b, "including tens of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices and hundreds of malpractice suits filed by prisoners and their families who have alleged negligent care":

https://www.kccllc.net/tehum/document/2390086230522000000000041

Under the deal, if Corizon murdered your family member, you would get $5,000 in compensation. Corizon gets to continue operating, using that $173m to prolong its yearslong murder spree.

The revelation that Jones and Freeman are lovers has derailed this deal. Jones is under investigation and has recused himself from his cases. The US Trustee – who represents creditors in bankruptcy cases – has intervened to block the deal, calling Tehum "a barren estate, one that was stripped of all of its valuable assets as a result of the combination and divisional mergers that occurred prior to the bankruptcy filing."

This is the third high-profile sleazy corporate bankruptcy that had victory snatched from the jaws of defeat this year: there was Johnson and Johnson's attempt to escape from liability from tricking women into powder their vulvas with asbestos (no, really), the Sacklers' attempt to abscond with billions after kicking off the opioid epidemic that's killed 800,000+ Americans and counting, and now this one.

This one might be the most consequential, though – it has the potential to eliminate one third of the major crime-enabling bankruptcy judges serving today.

One down.

Two to go.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/16/texas-two-step/#david-jones

My next novel is The Lost Cause, a hopeful novel of the climate emergency. Amazon won't sell the audiobook, so I made my own and I'm pre-selling it on Kickstarter!

[bryngmemoney]

✁FASHION FLIRT✃

Megumi Fushiguro x Reader

⭑story masterlist link

tw: mentions of death (just jokes)

Writing in between messages!!

🪡Chapter Twenty-four: Beading & Braiding

“Look it’s you!” you lifted up the notebook, with a simple portrait of Megumi, based solely off your memory and what you could see on the call. “It’s me,” he said while giving you a short laugh.

“Show me yours!”

He complied, lifting up his paper with his portrait of you. The paper covered up most of the camera, but you could see his eyes peaking over it looking at you.

“So you’re just good at everything?” you asked, surprised at what he had managed to make in the ten minutes you had set the time limit to.

“Just incredibly talented,” he said while lowering the paper down. He leaned down to his side out of your view, reappearing with his white dog in his lap. You laughed as you could see he was struggling to lift him up into the frame.

“He misses you,” Megumi said while the dog leaned completely in covering up camera with its nose.

“Aw hey there!”

You were about to continue praising his dog, only to be interrupted by the sound of a door slamming open, followed by Megumi’s voice.

“What the hell are you doing!?”

That was the last thing you heard before seeing the call end on his side.

You stood in front of the door to Megumi’s home, waiting for him to come open it after having sent the text that you were here.

Nobara had arrived around ten minutes ago, currently sitting next to Yuji and the couch as he basically explained what he had finished and what parts she was in. They both turned around to face the sound of a door opening seeing Megumi walk out, looking down at his phone before heading straight for the door. “Where are you going now?” Yuji asked, looking at his friend. “Nowhere, someone’s here to help me with a project,” he answered, opening the door to reveal you standing there. Nobara and Yuji were taken aback, especially since you greeted him so sweetly.

“Y/n?” Yuji asked, Nobara still staring you down.

“Hey guys,” You waved. “So, little suprise..”

Next day, and you were sat in class next to Nobara, helping her with beading a string she needed for one of her shirts. “Are you almost done?” she asked looking over at you.

“No, no i’m not almost done, you’ve asked that three time now.” She just huffed going back to sewing a button onto a pair of pants. “Serves you right.”

Maki slid a shirt, cut in the back to make stripes of loose fabric. “When you’re done, help me braid the back of that.”

“You guys suck for this.”

Panda, who was up looking for something behind you threw you three a glance. “I was gonna ask you for something, but I think those two have done enough.”

“Thank you for your mercy.”

Author’s Note: well they found out 🤗

erm also regarding last chapter when i said 7-8ish chapters left it’s probably closer to 10-11 chapters after this one tbh was feeling silly and added things 😋

hope you guys enjoyed!

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[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

By Nurit Yohanan

Education to martyrdom in math classes

Among the passages flagged by IMPACT-se is an 11th-grade history text that claims Zionists “used false claims” to justify their connection to the land while establishing a “Zionist settlement in Palestine.”

These “false claims” include “first, that Jews, despite belonging to various countries and societies, represent a single national group characterized by Semitic ethnic traits… and that there is no solution to the Jewish problem other than the establishment of a Jewish state in the Promised Land (Palestine).”

It also refers to the Jewish settlement of the land as “Zionist colonialism… in Palestine.”

A map of the Arab world in a Grade 11 Geography textbook. (courtesy IMPACT-SE)

Educational material for 12th graders on Islam includes a religious text interpreting the Quran that portrays Jews as liars and deceivers. A discussion question asks whether a warning about resisting “the temptation of enemies” refers only to Jews.

According to IMPACT-se, the textbooks glorify martyrdom and violence, including a first-grade reading exercise that uses the word “shahid,” or martyr, to teach an Arabic letter. In a second-grade Arabic textbook, a poem tells of a boy and girl pledging to “carry the flame of the revolution,” as they go from Haifa to Jaffa to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque.

An 11th-grade reading exercise includes “Martyrs of the Intifada” by Palestinian poet Fadwa Tuqan, which praises stone-throwers during the First Intifada. An 11th-grade history textbook describes the high Palestinian death toll in the First Intifada as “fuel that powered the uprising.”

“The blood of every martyr gave the Intifada the strength to continue,” the text reads.

Archive: Clashes in Ramallah during the first intifada (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

The glorification of jihad and martyrdom extends even into arithmetic, IMPACT-se found. Fourth and ninth-grade math textbooks include problems requiring students to calculate the number of martyrs killed over a given period.

Meanwhile, at least three maps found in the textbooks omit Israel, instead terming the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River as Palestine. An 11th-grade map also refers to 1988 as the year that Palestine was founded, referring to the Palestine Liberation Organization’s largely nugatory declaration of independence that year.

Glorification of the war on the class chalkboard

Beyond the online textbooks, the IMPACT-se report claimed to find images and videos from schools that opened since February in which students are exposed to materials and other content inciting violence against Jews or Israel.

According to Mahmoud Matar, the PA Education Ministry’s representative in Gaza, 93% of all schools in the Strip were destroyed in the fighting that was sparked on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’s deadly invasion of southern Israel.

But in February, as a ceasefire took hold, the PA announced that it was opening 680 learning centers across the Strip. To cope with demand, students must attend in shifts, going for a limited number of hours a few days a week.

[arcadeichu]

The Lawson Fuentes

Characters for BOTB - Axel's Family

Manuel Fuentes - Axel's dad

Suzanne Lawson - Axel's mom

Axel Lawson Fuentes - drummer for Adelaide Anarchists

Raelyn Lawson Fuentes - Axel's older sister

Manuel Fuentes was born in America to a Mexican Nicaraguense family in 1961 and moved to Miami in his teen years. His older brother Maximilio raised him the most since his parents were absent and neglectful. Manuel found himself to a life of crime and rejecting the government. In his 20's, Manuel got interested in street racing, driving a Ford Mustang LX 5.0 (fox body) and his dream car being a Buick GNX. He got married to Suzanne Lawson in 1987, two years after their daughter Raelyn was born in Miami, Florida. Their marriage would go well for the first year before getting rocky and tense arguments would lead to Suzanne conceiving Axel five years later as a last ditch effort to saving the marriage. It would work but only for 8 years, with Manuel being arrested in 1999 and deported from Australia to Miami. He would be filed for divorce and would remain in prison for 4 years before being released in 2003 and living in the same trailer park as his brother. He has a distant relationship with his daughter and gets along with Axel, who visits his dad every 4 years.

Suzanne Lawson, born in 1962 in Mt. Gambier, Australia, grew up in a middle-class Australian household. She studied abroad as a nurse and that's where she ended up meeting Manuel. The two would marry and have children before bitterly divorcing on bad terms after Manuel's arrest in 1999. She would remarry to a 36 year old tech employee named Ashwin Lochan a year later and continue to raise Axel and Raelyn till 2006, where 15 year old Axel, fed up with his mother's alcoholism and abuse, would retaliate and run away to live with his bandmate Kyle Johns in Adelaide. Suzanne remains bitter and indulged in her bad coping mechanisms.

Raelyn Lawson Fuentes, born 1985 in Miami, Florida, grew up in Mt. Gambier - witnessing from an early age her parents turmoil until her baby brother was born. Sparking jealousy over how Axel being born was what mended her parent's marriage, she resented him and saw Axel as a "Twerp" / "Idiot baby brother" during her 20s and would only grow out of that mindset once Axel turned 24. When it comes to the abuse the two endure from their mom, Raelyn treats it as "survival of the fittest" and ends up dipping from the house as soon as she turned 18, only occasionally returning when her living plans don't fall through properly. She currently studies in business and is a total diva.

Axel Lawson Fuentes, born in Mt. Gambier, Australia in 1991, is the drummer for Adelaide Anarchists. Growing up, he had a decent relationship with his parents until he turned 8, where his mom would grow bitter due to the divorce and he'd be limited from visiting his father due to Manuel's predicament. He would be frequently bullied in school and at home would only be further pestered by his mother and his step father would remain a bystander to the harassment. He felt wounded by his sisters resentment as well, mocking her frequently to cope with how lonely he felt being the main one targeted by his mother's abuse. He would resort to drumming at the age of 11 and would pick it up well, landing the position as the drummer for Adelaide Anarchists and soon would run away at 15 from home to live with his best friend and band mate, Kyle Johns.

(Bonus note: Axel's mom is bitter and frequently compares him to his father based off similar appearances.)