#oak software

[arconinternet]

Weird: The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction (Windows, TwoPointZero, 1996)

An interactive museum of the bizarre. You can download it here, or download it pre-configured to run on modern versions of Windows here.

[all-rock-and-roll-is-homosexual]

📸: Steve Double

scanned by me from Suede the Illustrated Biography by Nick Wise

[ignivv]

Rocks rock!!!

The software i was using crashed so may times while drawing this 😭 and I couldn't recover the progress! it's a nightmare but the brushes are so nice 🥲

Henry Oak! I love him!

[cherrycola27]

afterglow

Series Warnings: Language, alcohol and drinking. Military inaccuracies. Allusions to and eventual smut. Friends to lovers. Mutual pining. Unrequited love. Minors DNI. 18+. Banner Credit: @thedroneranger

Masterlist Previous Part Next Part

...........................................

Chapter 1: In My Head

The week passed in a blur of jets and clouds and sunshine. By Thursday, you were finally able to choke down the feelings you had for Jake, just in time for him to wreck them on Friday.

As the squadron sat in the briefing room Thursday evening, Cyclone came in, whispered something to Maverick, and then left.

"Well, folks, it looks like we need someone to make a late afternoon flight before they head home to test out some new software. Any takers?" Maverick asked.

There was a collective groan before Jake's hang shot up. "Glow and I can." He volunteered the two of you with a smile. He knew that you loved flying in the afternoon as the sun was starting to set. You always had.

"Are you okay with that, Glow?" Maverick asked you. "Yes, sir," you responded. Maverick sent everyone else home for the day. He met the two of you out on the tarmac to prep you for what you would be doing.

"Also, Admiral Simpson said whoever stayed late today could have tomorrow off. So, it looks like you two get a three day weekend." Maverick smiled at the pair of you. You and Jake exchanged a high- five before he helped you up and got himself situated.

The evening sky was absolutely beautiful as the two of you flew. The sun painted it in shades of pinks and oranges, and purples. The hues danced off the water and floated around the jet. You couldn't help but smile as Jake piloted back towards base.

"I can see why this is your favorite time to be up here." He said to you. "It's gorgeous."

"It is. There is just something about the afterglow that always gets me." You told him. And you meant it. In more ways than one.

After landing, showering, and changing, you ducked out of the locker room to find Jake leaning against the wall waiting on you. "Oh!" You exclaimed when you saw him. "I thought you would have already left by now."

"I was waiting on you, silly." He smiled before falling in step beside you. He lazily tossed an arm over your shoulders as you walked. His hair was still slightly damp, and you could smell his cologne. The scent of oak, whiskey, and tobacco filled your olfactory receptors. It was mixed with a hint of sunshine and salt water. A combination that was so perfect, so unique, so—Jake.

"So I was thinking." Jake began. "That's terrifying." You snorted. He lightly shoved you before pulling you back to him. "But seriously. I don't have any pressing issues I need to take care of tomorrow, and I assume you don't. So, I was thinking, what if we spent the day together?" Jake asked you as you reached your cars in the parking lot.

"And do what?" You asked him. "'We could get breakfast at that diner you love, and we could take the tops off of your jeep and cruise for a bit to our favorite ice cream place, hit the beach, get dinner, oh and Phoenix told me about the movie she and Lukas saw over the weekend. I thought we would check it out and maybe skip the Hard Deck because I, for one, don't want to hear Rooster bitching about how we got the day off." Jake smiled. He had the whole thing planned out.

"So? What do you think?" He asked you with a smile.

You knew this was a bad idea. If you were up in the jet, you'd have warning lights going off everywhere, and you'd be ejecting. "Sounds like a plan. What time do I need to pick you up if we are taking my car?" You asked him.

"Now, Glowy, you no good and well that I'm not going to let you pick me up." I'll be at your house at 9:30 sharp." He stated. You rolled your eyes and agreed. Jake pulled you into a tight hug before climbing into his Silverado and leaving.

....................

You set your alarm for 6:30 the next morning. Even though he said he would be there around 9:30, Jake Seresin was notoriously early for everything.

You got up and took a shower before drying and styling your hair. You took your time dawning some simple makeup for the day. After your finished with your hair and your face, you packed a bag for the day.

You grabbed towels, sunscreen, a change of clothes, some snacks and a few other odds and ends that you thought you might need.

Jake had mentioned the beach, so you slipped a simple purple two-piece on before deciding on a tea-length, bright pink floral sundress. You slipped on a pair of sandals and spritzed your favorite perfume on your wrists and neck.

You were giddy as you were getting ready. You had to keep reminding yourself that this wasn't a date. Just two friends enjoying an unexpected day off.

At nine on the dot, there was a knock at your door. "Good morning, Jake." You greeted him as you opened it. "Morning Y/N. I brought coffee and these." Jake smiled as he walked in. He handed you your favorite iced carmel latte and a bundle of fresh daisies. "They're your favorite, right?" He nodded to the flowers.

"Yeah, um—why did you get me these?" You ask him a little confused.

"My mother told me you never go to a lady's house without flowers." Jake stated matter of factly. "Plus, the farmers market is right near the coffee shop, and I saw these and thought of you." He smiled.

You quickly turned away from him to find a vase. You wouldn't let him see the pink rise in your cheeks.

After securing the flowers, he promptly stole the keys from their hook in your hallway and pulled the tops off of your jeep. He secured them in your garage. The weather was supposed to be bright and sunny all day, so you didn't bother storing them in the trunk.

You tried to argue with him that you should be the one driving, but he simply shook his head stating thst he was the pilot and you would forever be his back seater, or in this case, passenger princess.

..................

The weather was spectacular as the two of you drove to your favorite diner. You laughed and joked as the two of you feasted on bacon, eggs, potatoes, and French toast.

"I'm so glad that I got orders to come here. Lemoore sucked without you. The pilot they assigned to me after you got recalled was even more of a dick than you." You told Jake as you speared a potato square.

"Really? I doubt that." He chuckled. "And it is great that you got moved here." He smiled. Jake prayed you didn't catch the guilt behind his eyes.

It was no accident that you ended up in San Diego with him.

When pilots were being recalled for the uranium plant mission, the rule was that no pairs of pilots and their weapons systems officers could be called together. They didn't want to leave the original squadrons hanging for too long. That's why Jake flew a singe seater. He refused to have anyone in his back seat besides you.

It killed him to leave you. So, after getting word that he would be permanently stationed at Top Gun, he begged asked Cyclone and Warlock if they could transfer you, and he could get back in a two-seater.

Admiral Simpson and Admiral Bates reluctantly agreed, but it worked out for the better. Jake was much more tolerable with you around.

After you finished breakfast, Jake swiped the bill before you could set your card down, claiming once again that his mother would have his head if he let a lady pay. You had to take a deep breath and remind yourself that this wasn't a date.

You silenced the warning bells once again before getting into your car.

The two of you drove along the coast, stopping at a few shops and sent selfies to the rest of your friends who were stuck at work.

You had ice cream on the boardwalk for lunch. The two of you sat side by side and watched the waves roll in. Jake had asked you something, and when you turned to answer, he noticed you at the smallest smear of mint chip on your face. He leaned in with his thumb to brush it away, but he lingered before pulling back. His eyes darted to your lips, and he leaned forward ever so slightly.

The caution lights flashed before your eyes. No, he wasn't about to kiss you. Not here. Not out in the open like this. Your brain was screaming at you to eject.

You pulled away from him and cleared your throat. He pulled back and coughed before licking the melted ice cream from his thumb.

"So, beach?" You asked him after a beat of silence.

"Yeah, beach" He nodded.

The two of you tossed your cones before going back to your car and grabbing the beach bag you'd packed. You slipped off your sundress, and Jake's breath caught in his throat when he saw you in your purple swimsuit. His was barely able to keep his tough guy charade up as he helped you apply sunscreen.

The two of you froliced through the waves, splashing and laughing until the sun began to sink. After a quick use of the beach showers and a pit stop in the changing room, both of you were relatively sand free as you sat back in your car. You'd pulled your hair into a high ponytail and were humming along to the music as Jake drove the two of you towards the movie theater.

After getting more popcorn and candy than necessary, and two icees that would give you the worst brain freeze ever, the two of you found yourselves in the last row of an almost empty theater.

Jake had moved the armrest separating your seats out of the way, claiming it was easier to share snacks that way. But you didn't miss the way his bare knee bumped against yours through the slit of your sundress.

..................

At the Hard Deck, the rest of the Daggers finally concluded that the two of you probably weren't showing up tonight.

"It's not fair," Fanboy groaned as he leaned over the pool table.

"I mean, they did volunteer to take a later test flight yesterday, so it is kind of fair." Bob shrugged.

"Bob is right. We all had the same opportunity." Payback stated.

"So what do you think they are doing that is better than hanging out with us?" Coyote asked the group.

"Probably fucking." Rooster shrugged causing half of the group to choke on their drinks.

"Jesus, Bradshaw. Have some tact, man." Payback scolded him.

"What, I'm just saying what we are all thinking." Rooster defended himself. "Glow assures me that they are just friends. Very good friends." Phoenix tells the group.

"Yeah, and I'm a front seater." Fanboy laughed.

"Nix, you can't really believe that. I mean, haven't you seen they way they look at each other? Or noticed how they always leave together from here? And they are together right now?" Rooster pressed.

"Rooster does have a point." Bob chimed in.

"So I have a theory, well three, of what the situation could be." Payback began. "I'm going to present them in order from least plausible to most likely." He continued.

"One, they are secretly dating or maybe married. That would explain why she got transferred to here from Lemoore. Two, they really are just good friends and have worked together so long that they act like a couple. Or, three, and what I feel is most likely, they are hooking up, and one of them, Hangman, wants to keep it more casual, while ignoring the fact that the other, Glow, has feelings for him." Payback finished.

"Well, I don't know what it is. All I know is that Hangman is way easier to deal with when she's around." Phoenix said as she held up her beer. Everyone mumbled out an agreement as they went about their pool game.

.................

Nat was right. The movie was great, and you were glad you had seen it.

You and Jake were walking back to your car as the last rays of the sun began to dip below the horizon.

"Ugh, the sunsets here are so much prettier than the ones in Lemoore." You told Jake.

"Yeah, they are." He agreed with you. "Looks like some clouds are rolling in. We'd better get a move on." He said. You took note of the weather and agreed. You definitely didn't want to get caught in the rain with no cover on your jeep.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. The two of you were about halfway back to your house when the heavens opened up and rain came pouring down. Jake desperately tried to find an overpass for shelter, but there was nothing in sight.

He broke a few traffic laws to get you home, sliding into your garage on two wheels. The two of you sat there for a moment, soaking wet and out of breath.

You shared a look before breaking out into a laugh.

As the laughter faded, the air shifted between the you. The electricity flowing wasn't just the lightening from the storm. Desire radiated off your bodies as you both surged forward and connected your lips.

You basked in the salty, sweet taste of him, as you tried to ignore the warning bells going off. But eventually, you gave in and pulled away from him.

"We can't keep doing this, Jake." You told him.

"I know." He replied as he cupped your jaw, dragging his lips almost criminally slow against your skin. You could feel the subtle hint of the stubble on his chin.

Heat flushed in your cheeks and spread across you from the tips of your ears to the curl of your toes. You felt like you were doused in gasoline, and his touch was the strike of the match, ready to burn you down.

"One last time?" You breathed out.

"One last time." He whispered against the shell of your ear.

Taglist: @thedroneranger @roosterscock @shanimallina87 @desert-fern @teacupsandtopgun @mayhemmanaged @lovinglyeternal @lovingbradshawafterdark @wkndwlff @roosterforme @daggerspare-standingby @dakotakazansky @startrekfangirl2233 @hecate-steps-on-me @cassiemitchell @na-ta-sh-aa @milestellerlover @katieshook02 @mak-32 @je-suis-prest-rachel @soulmates8 @ohgodnotagainn @diorrfairy @eli2447 @xoxabs88xox @potato-girl99981 @djs8891 @roosterbruiser @roosters-girl @sebsxphia @roostette @rosiahills22 @dempy @olliepig

[sweetsummercourier]

Wings of Icarus

But he told him, "Beware

Do not fly too close to the sun

The blaze will surely melt those wings."

But alas, he fell

His cries swallowed by the sea...

Synopsis: Saoirse's final memory of Eren. Their goodbye, a memory unlocked after the Rumbling ends.

Pairing: Eren Jaeger x Saoirse Blackwell-Casteel (oc)

Content: angst, cursing, pregnancy, mentions of pregnancy / child, teenage / young adult pregnancy, season 4 characters are 18+

Word count: 4k

A/N: not gonna lie... got teary eyed writing this. like the teary eyed where your throat begins to hurt. I proofread and used Grammarly just to make sure, but sorry for any minor mistakes myself or the software missed :) wings in art,,, symbolism,,, not real lol

Borders by @tsunami-of-tears + @saradika-graphics

Remember me, though I have to say "goodbye,"

Know that I'm with you the only way that I can be...

Until you're in my arms again,

Remember me...

/ / /

Saoirse gasped for air, her back arching slightly as she felt her neck. It felt like a fist had been stuffed into the center of her throat, adrenaline pumping through her veins like broken ice in a thawing river. 

Where was she? Where were the screams, the deafening drum of the colossal footsteps? Where were her comrades? Why wasn’t she looking through the eye of her Titan?

Ah, she thought. I’m dead.

That was the only logical explanation. Why else would she be lying in soft grass, staring up at the leafy branches of a towering oak tree? Dappled sunlight peered through the leaves as the wind wove through the branches, carrying the sounds of cheerful birds. The dampened sunlight felt warm on her pale skin. 

Through her one eye, everything was beautiful and vibrant – so much more vibrant than it had been in years. She could see each leaf on the branches above, and all the grooves in the tree bark. When she looked to her right, she could see rolling hills and wildflowers. Houses were sprinkled here and there, some together and some far apart. She could see a farm, the paddock filled with cows and goats that were just little forms in the distance.

“Beautiful…” she whispered. If this was heaven, she didn’t want to leave. She wondered who else she would find here. Marco? Sasha? Hange? A sense of calm washed over her at the thought of reuniting with the friends and comrades she lost… those she always believed she could have saved, and had horribly failed.

Something touched her left cheek, something she couldn’t see. It was a gentle touch, warm and comforting. The touch made her feel like she was a flower, and someone had reached out to touch and admire her soft petals.

“You’re awake. About time.”

Saoirse turned her head to find Eren sitting next to her, leaning against the trunk. His head was cocked to the side as he stared down at her, resting his cheek on his shoulder. His eyes remained on her face as a small yet fond smile graced his lips. His hair was short and trimmed. She could see his face. His eyes were so clear… a light shone in them that hadn’t been there before.

Her body moved by itself, twisting as she sat up and latching onto him with intense ferocity. Her nails dug into the fabric of his shirt, her face pressed against his chest. He was warm. Warm and safe and real and beside her. Like it should have been all along. 

“You ass… how many times have I told you not to stand on my left!” Saoirse huffed as she pulled away, moving onto her knees and gripping the collar of his shirt with his hands, shaking him slightly. “You’re such a pain!” 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he smiled. “I just wanted to admire you. Had I been on your right, you would have noticed me. And besides, I woulda blocked your view.”

Saoirse huffed and sat on the heels of her feet. She couldn’t stay mad at him. Not now, at least. She sighed and looked down at her hands.

A heavy weight fell on her shoulders, blanketing her. A deep sorrow sat in her chest. As much as she wanted to believe otherwise, self-awareness was a curse. 

“This is another one of your tricks,” she surmised. “We’re not really under this tree outside of Shiganshina. The Rumbling’s still happening.”

“... yes,” Eren said. “I was… hoping you wouldn’t have noticed. You’re too clever for your own good.”

Eren slowly stood up and turned to her, offering to help her stand. He latched onto her hand, holding it tightly like he was afraid she’d disappear. 

“Come with me… I want to show you something,” he said. “I know we’ve talked about the future we wanted, the future we could have. Let me dream with you a while longer.”

A lump formed in her throat. She had a million thoughts flooding her mind at that moment, everything she wanted to say was a swirling whirlpool. Eren’s eyes softened and pulled her closer to his side.

“Later… for now, just… let’s just be.”

Eren led her down the hill, keeping pace with her. The crisp grass swayed as they passed, flowers in full bloom reaching their leaves to the sky. People and horse-drawn carts dotted the dirt road leading to Shiganshina. Destroyed and desolate houses had been transformed into abodes filled with life. Children were playing in the streets, and mothers called for them to come inside for lunch. A dog chased a ball. A cat startled a flock of chickens. A man on horseback tipped his hat towards them and bid them a good day.

The Wall was no longer there. 

They entered the city where the gate once was. The infamous gate, where both had seen the Armored Titan smash through nine years ago. There were no traces of it now. It was as if the walls and gate itself had never been.

Saoirse paused and pulled Eren to the side of the road, and just stared. There were no soldiers. There wasn’t a massive structure blocking her view. She was standing where the Wall and gate had been, right where they stood that separated the Shiganshina District from the interior of Wall Maria. 

Saoirse wanted to stand there and watch the people and carts go by. To see the merchants come with their wares to set up shop. To see the weary farmer head to town to wind down at a tavern. To see the young women return to their homes with arms full of groceries. To see the children run to the river to play, dogs nipping at their heels. To see what she would be going back to once the Rumbling was over.

Life looked so… normal. Plain. Boring.

Eren squeezed her hand and coaxed her along, pulling her to continue walking. As they entered the teeming streets, what once would have been overwhelming brought comfort. The noise that would have given her a panic attack and ringing ears soothed her. Maybe it was because, after nine years of hell, everything was okay. All traces of Titans and soldiers and humanity struggling behind walls had vanished. 

The couple maneuvered through the bustling streets, wandering throughout the district. The smell of fresh bread and spices wafted into Saoirse’s nose. Rowdy music and patrons were singing in one of the city’s taverns. A heated argument had broken out between a merchant and a consumer over a poor barter.

A child ran into Eren’s leg while chasing a ball. The young boy looked up bashfully and apologized, hanging his head as if he were to be scolded. Eren laid a gentle hand on the boy’s head and ruffled his hair. 

“Don’t worry about it, sport,” Eren replied, very much like a dad. “No harm done.” 

Saoirse smirked and snorted, looking away. She began to chuckle softly. Eren gave her a quizzical look.

“What? What’d I say?”

“Nothing… you just sounded like such a dad.”

Eren laughed softly and pressed a warm kiss to the top of her head. He laced their fingers together and gently rubbed his thumb against her skin. He was being so tender with her, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it certainly hadn’t been a common thing, especially in public. Yet in the back of Saoirse’s mind, if this was their final moment together, it made sense he was being so affectionate.

No, she thought. This isn’t the end, everything’s going to be fine. This is all just leading up to Eren telling me that everything will be okay.

Eren led her down the bustling streets to the town square. There was a large fountain, decorated with flowers and surrounded by benches. Slanted plaques lay on the edges of the fountain. There were names etched into each plaque in neat rows, displaying the names of every person – civilian or soldier – who died when Wall Maria fell, who died when they were forced to be sent back, and those who died after reclaiming the Wall. 

Saoirse traced her fingers over the names, feeling the grooves of the etchings. She felt Eren pull away and move over to another plaque. His face grew somber and his heart seemed to sink to the pit of his stomach.

She moved over and stood by his side, her eye flitting over the names. Carla Jaeger stuck out like a sore thumb, and her blood ran cold. She leaned against Eren and sighed gently.

“She would’ve liked you,” Eren sighed. “I can almost picture how happy she would have been to hear she was going to be a grandma.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over what happened,” Saoirse replied. “You were ten.”

Eren remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. He passed his thumb over his mother’s name and heaved a shaky sigh. He grabbed Saoirse’s hand and gently pulled her away from the fountain and down another street.

“That fountain… this whole city… is this how the city looks or did you make this up?”

“A little bit of both,” Eren replied, not looking at her. “This is how the city looks in my memory and how it looks now that it’s been repopulated. But the memorial fountain? I made that up. It doesn’t exist.”

“Well, maybe it should,” Saoirse said. “It’s beautiful.”

Eren led her through the streets and up some paths in silence. He looked like a man on a mission, with a soft, somber expression on his face. He looked like he was half excited, half dreading to reach the destination.

He led her to a house and nodded in its direction. As they stood back, Saoirse turned her gaze up at him. She gently nudged his shoulder, yet he wouldn’t budge. He swallowed thickly, his throat bobbing. He sounded slightly hoarse like he was parched.

“It looks different… without the giant boulder on top.”

His home. His childhood home. It did indeed look so different. She hadn’t been present when they went into the basement, but Eren had brought her by to at least show her the home he lost… where he lost his mother.

Suddenly, a small child of about four years ran out of the front door. Saoirse couldn’t determine if the child was a boy or a girl, but something about the child caused butterflies in the pit of her stomach. The child laughed and called for their mother, gripping a red ball in their hands.

“... That’s me.”

Saoirse’s eye widened as she watched a slightly older version of herself step out of the house. She held a large basket of laundry at her hip, donning a white blouse and yellow skirt, a red apron wrapped around her waist. She made a gesture to the child that said “one minute!” as she began to hang the laundry on a clothesline. She had even grown her hair back, and it looked soft and fluffy. 

“Is that how you picture me?” *Saoirse asked.

“Yeah,” Eren said softly. “Why? Have I offended you?”

“Not at all… just never saw myself in skirts and dresses.”

“I think you look beautiful in everything.”

“Shut up.”

They observed the pair as the child played with the ball, shouting at their mother to come play. They watched as the other Saoirse tied up her skirt to form makeshift shorts and began to kick the ball around with the child, laughing as the wind pushed up her hair. 

Someone called out in the distance. It sounded like a man. They turned toward the voice and the child yelled out “Daddy!” The child abandoned the ball and raced towards another Eren, who was dressed sharply. He beamed as he picked up the child, spinning them around before pressing a kiss to their cheek. When the other Saoirse approached, they seemed like a big happy family as Eren held her close in his other arm, kissing her lips.

“... we look happy.”

“Yeah… we do…”

Eren turned to her, his jade eyes soft and sad.

“Close your eyes for me. Don’t open until I tell you to.”

/ / /

Solid stone gave way to soft sand. Ocean water lapped at her feet and the urge to take off her boots was undeniable.

When Saoirse turned to look at Eren, his appearance returned to the now. His hair was pulled back in a messy bun, eyes devoid of light. He breathed a sigh and looked at her, his frame bathed in the red light of the setting sun.

“I think back to this time a lot,” he said. “How you looked standing here, in the water. It was the first time I ever saw you smile, I think. Truly smile,” he started. “I remember thinking to myself how beautiful it was. I wanted to protect it. I wanted to see it again.” 

Eren sighed softly and looked over at Saoirse. His eyes were at half mast, and his eyes just seemed so dead. So still and so dark. 

“Saoirse, be honest with me. When you look at me as I am now, what do you see?”

Saoirse knew what he expected her to say. A monster. A murderer. A demon. No — the Devil. Yet while she did agree that his actions were monstrous, she did not see him as a monster.  

Saoirse sighed and combed her fingers through her short hair before slowly shaking her head.

“I won’t say you’re a monster. I don’t see you as such. I’m… disappointed, and I’m mad, but when I look at you I see the man I love… and the father of my child.”

His expression softened and he reached for her hands, gently holding her fingers. He ran his thumbs over her knuckles, and for a time that felt like an eternity, there was only the sound of this imagined ocean.

“You’re going to live a long life,” he said calmly, his tone soft and low. “I want you to live a good, fulfilling life.”

“I will. With you, of course,” she replied, her tone slightly forceful with determination.

Eren hesitated and sighed softly, averting his gaze. Saoirse tugged on his hands a little as if trying to coax him into agreement. That somehow this whole disaster would end in a fairytale ending. That somehow, they would both walk away from this alive and live that life they talked about — that he had the gall to show her. 

He wouldn’t have conjured that up if it wasn’t going to be true… right? He wouldn’t dangle that in front of her like a carrot… right? Right? Right?

“Where you are going, I can’t follow,” he replied. “I’m sorry…”

His hold on her fingers tightened and he clenched his teeth, a tch emitting from his throat. Emotions overwhelmed him and he huffed,

“Shit… I don’t want this at all. I want to be here with you. I want to be close to you and grow old with you. I want to see your smile every day. I want to know what it’s like to live a boring life. I want to hold our baby, I want to be there when he or she is born… I want to be a dad…”

He closed his eyes and set his jaw, tears wetting his lashes. He opened his eyes and looked at her, his voice filled with regret.

“I want to be happy… I want to be happy with you. I don’t want anyone else to be by your side but me. I want to be your one and only. I want to raise our kid together… the idea of another man raising them, calling them “dad,” witnessing all those milestones… shit!!”

Eren shook his head and inhaled sharply, trying to control his emotions. It was clear he was in a tumultuous storm, battling with his emotions and the icy mask he had created. He was battling with his resolve, the older one wanting to be free and avenging his mother and the newer one wanting a clean slate for himself and his fellow Paradisians.

“Ah… I’m sorry,” he breathed slowly, the mask settling back over his face.

“No.”

Eren blinked at her comment. Something in her stomach churned angrily, and a white-hot marble of frustration and hurt boiled within.

Saoirse pulled her hands from his and began to wring them together, pacing. It was a feeble attempt to calm her. The more she paced, the angrier she got. Maybe it was because Eren had his eyes on her. Maybe it was his presence. Maybe it was his words. Maybe all three.

“Dammit, Eren… Dammit all!” She yelled as she turned to face him. “You selfish bastard! You don’t think, do you! You think you can just say that shit to me after everything!?”

She picked up a small rock from the wet sand and chucked it as far as she could, watching it splash and sink into the lapping waves.

“You didn’t have to do any of this! This whole “it’s the memories, it’s the future” — cut the bullshit! Destiny, predetermined fate… bullshit! You didn’t have to do any of this! We could’ve lived the life we wanted! But you decided it was more important to — to end the world? And for what? For what, Eren! Tell me! How many people have died for your — your stupid “memories!” Tell me!”

“...eighty percent.”

“Eighty perc — Eren!”

Saoirse held her head in her hands and exhaled sharply, her one eye rolling around. Eighty percent. How many lives was that? How many human lives was that? How many generations had he snuffed out? How much hatred had he sown into the hearts of survivors? How many survived who believed that, through Eren’s actions, all Eldians were devils?

“I’ve redone this over and over again… all with unsatisfactory results.”

“And this is the best case scenario? Slaughtering millions? Forcing us to go to war against you? Ostracizing your friends — do not give me that look, Eren Jaeger, I cannot believe the shit you said to Mikasa and did to Armin! They have known you forever! And this is how you treat them! And me! What about me! What about the kid!”

Eren grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. She beat her fists against him. She battled and screamed, but he held her. He didn’t speak, just held her and let her get all her frustrations out. He knew that if he tried to speak to her, to calm her, she’d only freak out more.

Saoirse wept, the rhythmic drumming of her fists stilling. Instead, she gripped his shirt, feeling the fabric against his skin. He gently pressed his nose to her shoulder, breathing deeply and closing his eyes.

“Was all of this a lie?” she whimpered. “Was I just… some pawn? Was I just a puppet with a role to play…”

“No,” he responded immediately. “No, you were never a pawn or a plaything. Never once have I seen you as such… but there is one thing.”

Saoirse rested her cheek against his chest, swallowing thickly. Her chest and shoulders heaved as she stuttered, gasping for air to calm herself and regulate her breathing. Eren gently pressed his hand to her back and rubbed small circles against her, his fingers brushing against her spine.

“I cannot change the past,” he continued, “but through the Founding Titan, I can influence thoughts and memories of the past… my father never saw you in the future memories of me, therefore I originally never paid you any mind… but I did.”

Saoirse looked up at him, stunned. Eren held her shoulders gently, searching her face. She opened her mouth a few times, but no words came out at first.

“... did you alter me?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “I… primarily intervened in your thoughts to ensure your survival. At first, my intentions were purely selfish: your Titan abilities were useful, and I determined they would make the events leading up to now more achievable. But I certainly didn’t think I would fall in love with you as a result.”

“And the baby?”

“... no, that was a surprise,” he replied. “Again, in ensuring your survival, I never imagined falling in love with you. I suppose I… could’ve prevented it but can’t imagine why I would. In the end, I got to be with you, even if there was an unexpected result."

Eren paused and gently took her face in his hands, tilting her head up. Tears continued to pour down from Saoirse’s one eye, liquid pearls rolling down her cheeks and onto his thumb. 

“I have been a terribly selfish lover,” he continued, “but I love you. Truly, honestly, deeply. I want you to be happy. I don’t want you to be alone. I don’t want our child to be raised without a father… I want you and our child to thrive. To live peacefully and happily in this new world. My biggest regret is that I won’t be by your side.”

“Eren… please…” Saoirse pleaded quietly, her lower lip quivering. “Don’t go where I can’t follow… if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of the life I want now…”

Eren’s breathing was shaky, and tears pricked his eyes once more. He leaned forward and pressed a warm kiss to her forehead, his thumbs gently stroking her cheeks. His lips were so soft in the moment, the kiss so tender and soft and loving.

“I know I’ll be going to Hell,” he whispered against her skin. “Never doubt that I’m not watching over you, though. I promise I’ll be all around you. I’ll always be with you.”

“Where you go, I go too,” she replied quietly. “In death, be it Heaven or Hell, I want to be with you again. I would happily give up Heaven’s gates to be with the man who showed me love, who saw past my cynicism and cared for me anyway… I will shoulder your sins, too.”

Eren laughed softly and pressed his forehead to hers. He commented on how that was “pretty selfless” of her, and that he admired her resolve to abandon a peaceful afterlife for someone who didn’t deserve it. 

“Raise our child well,” he whispered, brushing his nose against hers. “Make them better than me. Show them that the world has so much beauty in it — so much more beauty than cruelty. Give them and yourself a normal life, free of the Walls and Titans.”

He tilted her head up a bit more and pressed his lips to hers. Saoirse moved her hands from his abdomen up to his chest, pressing herself closer to him. Even in this dream-like memory, she wanted to savor every little thing: the way he smelled, the way his chest rose and fell, the softness and warmth of his lips and how they moved against hers… how when she pulled back for a breath, he pulled her back in, a little tighter and more earnest. 

“I’ll be waiting for you,” he whispered. “When your time comes, I’ll be there. I will see you again. We will meet and be together again… and I look forward to hearing all the stories you’ll have to tell me.”

“Don’t go… ”

Eren finally broke away and embraced Saoirse tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. Saoirse nestled her head against his neck. As tears dripped down her face, he rubbed her back and pet her hair tenderly. His tears began to slip down his face, knowing when they saw each other again, she’d be fighting him… she wouldn’t even remember this conversation until his head left his neck.

“Take care, Saoirse… I love you. Always and forever, and even after that… I love you. Goodbye, my love… thank you for everything.”

[paulinawoodpecker]

The hugh family

Featuring kohl hugh, Nagham hugh, and kanji Hugh

Nagham:

Age: 17

(Religious headwear; hijab)

Likes: kohl, kanji, music, art, Ramona

Dislikes: getting her feelings hurt, her mother, other people (especially Tiffany) judging her

Personality: creative, artistic, honest

Kanji:

Age: 21

(Just started college)

Likes: Nagham, kohl, his colleagues, diplomas

Dislikes: failed tests, anxiety, losing Nagham, the loss of his mother

Personality: serious, sensitive, smart, genius

Kohl:

Age: 52

Likes: future wife, Nagham, kanji, being a software developer

Dislike: loss of his wife, losing Nagham and/or kanji, kanji not shaving

Personality: helpful, intelligent, responsible

Backstory:

(How it all started)

How Nagham’s Mother Met Kohl:

Nagham’s parents, Kohl and his late wife, met at a community event hosted at a local library, where Kohl was giving a talk about technology’s impact on education. Nagham’s mother, a teacher with a passion for learning and community involvement, was instantly drawn to Kohl’s intelligence and warmth. They struck up a conversation after the talk, bonding over their shared love of learning and a vision for helping others.

Their first date was a delightful evening at a quaint café that featured live music. They spent hours talking about their dreams, aspirations, and the values that guided their lives. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and they quickly realized that they had found something special in each other. From that day forward, their relationship blossomed into a deep and abiding love.

Engagement and Wedding:

Kohl proposed to his future wife during a quiet picnic in their favorite park, under the shade of an old oak tree that had become a symbol of their relationship. He chose this intimate setting because it was where they often spent time together, away from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives, sharing thoughts and dreams. She was touched by the simplicity and sincerity of the proposal, and she eagerly accepted.

Their wedding was a small, heartfelt ceremony surrounded by close family and friends. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and meaningful moments that reflected their shared values and deep connection. The couple exchanged personal vows that celebrated their journey and the future they looked forward to building together. Their marriage was built on mutual respect, love, and a commitment to supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

Parenthood and Raising Kanji and Nagham:

The couple welcomed their first child, Kanji, with immense joy and excitement. As new parents, they embraced the challenges and delights of raising their son, who quickly became the center of their world. They nurtured Kanji’s curiosity and intellect, providing him with a loving home and the tools to explore his interests.

When Nagham was born, tragedy struck as her mother passed away during childbirth. The loss was a profound and devastating blow to the family, leaving Kohl to raise his children on his own. Despite the heartbreak, Kohl dedicated himself to being both a father and a guardian of his wife’s memory, ensuring that her love and values were ever-present in their household.

Kohl worked hard to create a nurturing environment for Nagham and Kanji, teaching them about their mother through stories, pictures, and the values she held dear. He encouraged Nagham’s passion for music, seeing it as a way for her to connect with the mother she never knew. Meanwhile, Kanji stepped up as a protective older brother, always looking out for Nagham and helping their father when needed.

Present Day:

Today, Nagham is a vibrant young girl with a deep passion for music. She finds solace and joy in singing and playing instruments, often dedicating her performances to the memory of her mother. Kanji, now in college, is focused on his studies but remains a devoted brother, always finding time to support Nagham and assist his father.

Kohl continues to be the backbone of the family, balancing his career with his responsibilities at home. He is proud of how far his children have come and is committed to supporting their dreams, honoring his late wife’s legacy through his dedication to his family.

Together, the Hugh family navigates life’s challenges with love, resilience, and a strong sense of unity. They cherish the memories of the past while looking forward to the future, knowing that they have each other to lean on every step of the way.

[orgxnas]

The Bad Batch as Dads

I feel like this has been done before? But my take on it

Hunter

The Outdoorsman Father™️

Drives a busted up pickup truck and REFUSES to buy a new one (he just keeps fixing it and it works?)

Wakes you up early to go fishing (like I’m talking 5 am) at your favorite creek/river/lake

After being out on the water for a few hours he’ll take you to breakfast at the local diner near the spot

Built a treehouse in the backyard

Brought you along to Home Depot to pick out the wood for the treehouse

Gave you a Swiss Army knife for your 10th birthday

Takes you to the lake to swim during the summer

Wears exclusively flannel and blue jeans

Makes the best Belgian waffles

Drinks his coffee BLACK. No cream, no sugar, no nothing

Pulls you out of school for the day to take you hiking up your fav mountain bc “the color is great this year! It’s worth missing a day of class to see these trees!”

Owns a small cabin in the woods that he takes you on a yearly trip to in the late summer

Tech

Software Engineer father

Homework with him is either hell or heaven

You’ll either leave the kitchen table burnt out and crying or with a whole new understanding of the material

Not overly emotionally involved with you but he def makes an effort

Picks you up from school on Fridays and then takes you out for dinner at your fav restaurant

He likes to watch documentaries and docu-series with you

Thinks it’s important to know about things even as random as the eating habits of squirrels

Helps you pick out your first computer

You both eat the same cereal (honey nut cheerios with cut up strawberries)

Teaches you how to do some basic coding

Works out on the porch in the summertime so he can keep an eye on you while you play in the yard

Soccer dad?

Wrecker

Former Athlete dad

Either a pro athlete or college athlete, either way he doesn’t play anymore

Def played rugby (he’s a rugby lad I will not be taking criticism)

Got you involved in EVERY sport growing up (soft/baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball, and rugby let’s be real here)

Didn’t force you to play tho, if sports weren’t your thing he’d respect that, he just thinks a lil healthy competition is good for you

Every sports drink imaginable is inside your fridge

Encourages you to eat your fill of food to keep up your energy

Has SO much exercise equipment that he got off of eBay in the basement (he’s trying to built a home gym)

Always watching a match on the tv

Goes for morning runs

Likes to show you old clips from his days as an athlete and goes “YOU SEE THAT? Guess who that is? That’s your old man right there! Bet you didn’t know I was that strong and quick huh!”

Def put on a few pounds since retiring and becoming a father but still in really good shape

Lives in athleisure

Is frequently found in the garage looking at his old trophies, plaques, and awards

Echo

Social Studies Teacher dad

I cant explain it, it just makes sense?

His students love him

the single moms at the school love him too

He does the grocery shopping at home and brings you with

Let’s you sit at the table with him and help while he grades homework and tests

He watches Curse of Oak Island

History channel after dinner is a nightly ritual with you two

Plot twist, he’s the social studies teacher at YOUR school

He teaches a few grades above you, so he’s not your teacher yet, but will be eventually

Homework with him is always pleasant and never stressful

Watches football on sundays and let’s you help make the pigs in a blanket

Teaches you how to drive

Crosshair

The Redneck father

LIKE PLS ARE YOU KIDDING ?

He already has the tooth pick in the mouth constantly

And the guns?

Yeah def the redneck dad

Smokes Marlboro reds for sure

You know that girl on tiktok who does the Cig Mom POVs? Yeah think that

Makes you grab him a beer from the garage fridge

Goes fishing a lot

Either loves taking you hunting or hates it

Likes it bc it means he can spend time with his kid doing something that he enjoys

Hates it bc you’re never quiet or still enough and you scare off all the game

Also drinks his coffee black but somehow it’s even more nasty than Hunter’s?

He does take you with him to the bar tho for happy hour and teaches you how to play the pool and the ring game

Used to play football in high school

I don’t even think this man is registered to vote

Shows up to your youth base/softball games and is asked to leave bc he started swearing and almost getting into fights with the other teams dads

Not emotionally involved in your life at all

Until he found out you had a date

Then he acted all intimidating towards your date and subtly threatened them

Homework with him is traumatic for the both of you

[helperhome]

Identifying Poisonous Plants!!

Whether you're going out for an evening stroll or foraging, being able to identify poisonous plants can be incredibly helpful.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no "one rule" to look for when identifying a poisonous plant from a harmless one. Each plant has its own characteristics that are unique to it, with some obvious overlapping of course. Also each person can have a different experience with a plant as well. Meaning, one person may be able to handle something another person can't.

A lot of the variance has to do with individual allergies, but there are also those plants that everyone needs to stay away from as well.

Some poisonous plants include:

Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac - these are know to cause contact dermatitis as well as other more severe symptoms (depending on the seriousness of the allergy)

Virginia Creeper - This is a pal to Poison Ivy that grows near it in most cases. While the leaves don't cause the dermatitis, the fruits are very poisonous. If ingested they can cause serious kidney damage and even death.

Wild Cherries - These are very tricky to identify so always use caution before consuming. [I've acutely poisoned myself with only 1 berry and it't definitely not something to mess with. For me, it caused disorientation, a drunk feeling, loss of balance, and an overall feeling of being unwell.]

Poke/Pokeweed - While there are ways to prepare Poke leaves to consume, this plant is best to be avoided by newcomers. If you boil the leaves, changing the water out 3 times, you can eat them. The benefit of doing so is that they purge your lymphatic system. This plant is known to be full of berries but they are poisonous so do not consume! (The berries can be used to make dye's however.)

Horse Nettle/Nightshade Plants - The plants in this family contain a compound called "solanine" which is highly poisonous. Most of the levels of solanine vary throughout the year. For example, Horse Nettle is known to be its most poisonous in the fall. Another example of a nightshade plant are potatoes! While potatoes are not poisonous, I'm sure you've been told to avoid eating any green ones - this is because of the high solanine level

The best way to identify which plants are poisonous or not is to do research into the plant in question and keep a detailed field journal. Using plant identification software is a great tool to use aside of your other identification methods, but they should be used with caution. Do not base the edibility of a plant solely off of an identifying app - do further research. I like to use the app to figure out the name of the plant and then compare it to what I've found on the internet.

Remember to have fun and be safe (using caution when necessary) whenever you are exploring the great outdoors!(:

[ettawritesnstudies]

9 people I'd like to know better tag

Thanks for the tag @moondust-bard!

current book: I'm about to start reading White Oaks by Jordan King for my indie author interviews/book reviews on my blog, and listening to The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec because I have a road trip to a work conference tomorrow and so I'm going to put that on in the car.

Current fic: I'm not actively reading or writing anything right now, but I have an old friend in the Newsies fandom who's continuing to put out chapters of a 300K+ fic that I love called Something Worth Winning and so I've been meaning to catch up on that. PJean over on ff.net and I think she's got an AO3 now? It's been a while...

Currently watching: Twelve's run in Doctor Who and the Clone wars in rotation.

Next on my watchlist: I'm about the start the new Fallout show tonight! Eric's been playing through the games recently but we've put off watching the show until my edit was done.

Current hyperfixation: I had Rolling With Difficulty as a hyperfixation until I got buried in Runaways writing, so I lost interest for a little bit while I shifted focus onto my work, but I'm hoping to get back into it!

Favorite color: Greens of all sorts!

Sweet, spicy, or savory: sweet, I joke I'm basically a hummingbird in human form.

Relationship status: I just got engaged over Easter! I don't talk a lot about him here because he values his privacy, but my fiance, Eric, has been such a wonderful support through all of my writing and publishing endeavors. We're in the middle of wedding planning right now, and if all goes according to plan, we'll get married next summer, which is right in the middle of all the promotion and distribution work for putting out Runaways in October. It's going to be such a busy (and expensive) year, and I was like "I can push the book release out, I guess :I" but he refused to let me do that because he knows how important it is to me and encouraged me to plan a Kickstarter for the spring like an absolute madman. Yesterday I complained that the formatting programming software I like is only available for Macs but fuck apple and he started looking up how to install a virtual machine without a second's hesitation. He's so wonderful and I don't know what I'd do without him.

Last song: The Old Witch Sleep and Good Man Grace by the Amazing Devil

Last thing I googled: Stegosaurus dinosaur

Skill I’d like to learn: oh god so many. Top of the list right now is songwriting. I've got dozens of lyrics cluttering up my notes app and I'm dreadful at turning them into complete songs. Also Animation!

Best advice: Recently, I've seen a lot of people in my life struggling with the 20-something capitalist-hellscape 1st-world-problem flavor of existentialist-depression and look, it gets to me too, but you guy have got to relearn the virtue of gratitude. On one hand, toxic positivity sucks and you're allowed to bitch and moan about your situation, but doomerism feels infectious and there is so much to be thankful for when you stop and take the time to appreciate what you've been given.

I'm turning into my mom.

[gravitywonagain]

Pls tell about the Definitely Not a Queer Eye fic!!!

hahahaha! yes, okay, thank you <3

so wife and i were watching a ton of queer eye for, like, happiness reasons. and i, as i do, started formulating a queer eye au. but i told her i wasn't gonna write it! and i wasn't! but then... and she shares access to my wips folder because she does all my editing. so that's why i named it that.

but it very much is a queer eye fic, in which wwx is a software engineer who has a lot of money but never takes care of himself. he's just moved himself and a'yuan into a split family house with wen qing, wen ning, and wen popo in the other half, but he's done absolutely no decorating in his house except for a'yuan's stuff. also he runs a community garden. also he's 33 but he still dresses like he's in college. also he has abandonment issues and struggles to believe he's worthy of love unless he's doing something for someone else. anyway, you get it.

so, wen qing and wen ning nominate him and the fab 5 come in and do their thing! it's not complicated. just sweet. and there's hints of wangxian throughout. karamo gathers all the friends at one point to do that thing where they sit in a circle and tell wwx he's loved. wx will probably finally kiss at the episode ending house warming party thing. lwj will definitely check out wwx's ass in his new jeans. but it really is all about getting wwx the self-love he deserves. and to make him prioritize himself for once.

but because i told wife i wasn't going to write it, it's basically just an outline with a few dialogue snippets, so i don't have much prose to give you... but here's a moment from the wens' nomination interview:

WEN QING (Friend/Nominator) and WEN NING (Friend/Nominator) sit together at an oak dining table. Family pictures cover the wall behind them. Wei Ying features in many if not most of them. WQ: How would I describe Wei Ying as a person? WN: Ying-ge is... a very giving person. WQ: Giving? He's the fucking Giving Tree! I once saw him literally hand a man the shirt off his back.

i kind of envision it in the style of After the Final Rose by azurewaxwing where i do the episode, but also some extra bits to kind of round it out some more :)

thank you <3

WIP Ask Game

[wikirobot]

Been a while since I've had a project going. Been spending the last couple months on a few personal software projects. Now getting back into it with a staked sitting bench.

Starting by flattening a piece of oak by hand. So far I'm almost done with a 1/4 of one side.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Deep-learning-based data analysis software promises to accelerate materials research

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a machine-learning inspired software package that provides end-to-end image analysis of electron and scanning probe microscopy images.

Known as AtomAI, the package applies deep learning to microscopy data at atomic resolutions, thereby providing quantifiable physical information such as the precise position and type of each atom in a sample.

Using these methods, researchers can quickly derive statistically meaningful information from immensely complex datasets. These datasets routinely include hundreds of images that each contain thousands of atoms and abnormalities in molecular structure. This improvement to data analysis allows researchers to engineer quantum atomically precise abnormalities in materials, and can be used to gain deeper insights into the materials' physical and chemical qualities.

Read more.

[optikes]

Grayson Perry (born 1960) UK

1 The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal (2012)  digital jaquard loom woven tapestry in wool, silk, cotton, acrylic and polyester, With cotton warp. 200x400cm     search at http://visualarts.britishcouncil.org

A graysonperrytr.com     Tim is relaxing with his family in the kitchen of his large, rural (second) home. His business partner (in yellow) has just told him that he is now extremely wealthy man, as they have sold their software business to Richard Branson. On the table is a still life demonstrating the cultural bounty of his affluent lifestyle. To the left, his parents-in-law read, and his elder child plays on the rug. To the right, Tim dandles his baby while his wife tweets. This image includes references to three different paintings of the Annunciation by Carlo Crivelli (the vegetables), Matthias Grünewald (his colleague’s expression) and Robert Campin (the jug of lillies). The convex mirror and discarded shoes are reminders of that great pictorial display of wealth and status, The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck.

Text (in the voice of Tim’s business partner): ‘I have worked with Tim for a decade, a genius, yet so down to earth. Tim’s incredibly driven, he never feels successful. He’s calmer since his mother died. He’s had a lot of therapy. He wants to be good.’ (On the copy of The Guardian used to wrap organic vegetables): ‘A Geek’s Progress, Tim Rakewell: risen without trace.’ (On iPad): ‘Rakewell sells to Virgin for £270m.’

2 Carlo Crivelli (c1430-1495) Venice, Italy The Annunciation with Saint Emidius (1486) egg and oil on canvas   207x146.7cm    search at www.nationalgallery.org.uk

3 Robert Campin  (1375/1379–1444) Triptych with the Annunciation, known as the Merode Altarpiece

4 Matthias Grünewald (1470-1528) Germany   Annunciation (outer wing of the Isenheim Altarpiece) (c1506–1516)

5 Jan Van Eyck (c1390-1441) Flanders  The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) oil on oak panel  82.2x60cm   search at www.nationalgallery.org.uk

[genesisnanotech]

Deep learning–based data analysis software by ORNL promises to accelerate materials research: AI Applications

AI Generated Image: Neural Networks Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a machine-learning inspired software package that provides end-to-end image analysis of electron and scanning probe microscopy images. Known as AtomAI, the package applies deep learning to microscopy data at atomic resolutions, thereby providing quantifiable physical…

[qotu33]

POI Fanfic: The Butler: Chapter 1, Part 1

Nathan was sitting on the love seat tucked into the corner of Harold's small home office, while Harold himself sat behind his oak desk. The room was paneled in dark wood, a lot like Harold's current mood.

"He comes with excellent references! I think he's just what you need."

"And what is it you think I need, Nathan?" Harold scowled at him, knowing full well that once Nathan had seized on a project, he would never shake it free.

"Someone to look after you. You've become a recluse."

"A... recluse? I see you at work every single day. How the hell do you think I'm a recluse?"

"I worry about you, that's all." "I was going to ask Grace to marry me. What about that?"

"But you didn't."

Harold sighed. The man - stranger - currently standing out in his hallway, did seem like a nice enough guy, he supposed. It was just that... Harold was a very private person and he didn't like having someone, especially someone he didn't know, getting in his way and into his privacy.

"Does he have a place to live at least? I only have one spare bedroom."

"Perfect!"

All he really knew was that the man had come from Holland, where the best Butler School was said to reside. Though he was American. Harold did not want this stranger in his house invading his privacy. Why the hell was Nathan doing this to him? Why was Nathan so worried about him?

They'd been friends since their MIT days, nearly two decades now. This was not something Nathan had sprung on him before. No, Nathan had just shown up out of the blue twenty minutes ago on his doorstep with another man standing beside him.

A good looking man, Harold had to admit, but still a stranger. A stranger who'd traveled all the way from another country to be a butler to him. And he had been unaware until now.

He got up from his desk and went around to the door, well aware that Nathan was grinning at him behind his back. The stranger, who went by the name Mr. John Rhys, was standing in the narrow hallway in a military parade rest, he noticed. His feet were planted shoulder-width apart, his hands were clasped behind his back, and he stared straight ahead as if his corporal would punish him if he even so much as thought about blinking. The man was an unmoving statue.

Harold eyed him, critically, from a few feet away. His hair was greying at the temples, but in a very suave sort of way. His eyes were sharp, a blueish grey, very entrancing. And he was tall. Over six feet for sure. Harold had to crane his neck to look into the man's face. The suit he wore, Harold couldn't help but note, while a proper butler's uniform, was not of the highest quality. If this man became his butler, he would need to see to that suit at some point.

Though thankfully, the only other person who'd ever been invited into his home was Nathan and his son, Will, and neither of them were likely to care. Cheap bastard. That was Nathan. He might have been rich, founder and CEO of his software company, IFT, but he could also be cheap when it came to his personal life.

Mr. Rhys' cheeks flushed. He clicked his heels together and shifted his hands to hold them in front of him. Classic butler pose. What this told Harold, however, was that he'd likely been career military for long enough that those orders and movements had gotten themselves lodged in his mind, and overrode even the new butler training he'd received lately.

He stepped back into the office and closed the door. "He's military, Nathan."

"He's good at taking orders."

"You know what military might mean-"

"Oh, would you just shut up and let the poor man in so we can interview him already?"

[ajpandey1]

Amazon Web Service & Adobe Experience Manager:- A Journey together (Part-2)

In the fist part we discussed how one day digital market leader meet with the a friend AWS in the Cloud and become very popular pair. Also what gift they bring for the digital marketing persons.

Now AEM asked to come to my home.

So AEM insides about its parts and structure explored.

AEM Platform :

AUTHOR:-

The content and layout of an AEM experience are created and managed in the author environment. It offers features for authoring content modifications, reviewing them, and publishing the approved versions of the content to the publish environment.

PUBLISH:-

The audience receives the experience from publishing environment. With the option to customize the experience based on demographics or targeted messaging, it renders the actual pages.

Both AUTHOR and PUBLISH instances are Java web applications that have identical installed software. They are differentiated by configuration only.

DISPATCHER:-

Dispatcher environment is the responsible for caching (storing) content and Load balancing.Helps realize a fast & dynamic web authoring environment.

Mainly dispatcher works as part of HTTP server like Apache HTTP. It store as much as possible static content according to specified rules.

So end user feel faster accessing of content and reducing load of PUBLISH. The dispatcher places the cached documents in the document root of the web server.

How AEM Store Content in Repository:-

AEM is storing data without any discrimination as it treated all the family member (data) are content only . Its following philosophy of "everything is content" and stored in the same house(Repository).

Its called CRX i.e. implementation of JCR coming from parent Content Repository API for Java and Apache Jackrabbit Oak.

The basement(base) of the building is driven by MK MicroKernels as in the picture its Tar or MongoDB. The Oak storage layer provides an abstraction layer for the actual storage of the content. MK act as driver or persistence layer here. two way of storing content , TAR MK and MongoDB MK.

TAR--> tar files-->segments

The Tar storage uses tar files. It stores the content as various types of records within larger segments. Journals are used to track the latest state of the repository.

MongoDB-->MongoDB database-->node

MongoDB storage leverages its sharding and clustering feature. The repository tree is stored in one MongoDB database where each node is a separate document.

Tar MicroKernel (TarMK)--for-->Performance

MongoDB--for-->scalability

For Publish instances, its always recommended to go with TarMK.

In more than one Publish instance each running on its own Tar MK then this combination is called TarMK Farm. This is the default deployment for publish environments.

Author instance is having freedom to go with either TAR or MongoDB. it depends on the requirement, if its performance oriented and limited number then it can go with the TarMK but if it require more scalable instances then it would go with the MongoDB. TarMK for a single author instance or MongoDB when horizontal scaling.

Now story of TarMK with Author, a cold standby TarMK instance can be configured in another availability zone to provide backup as fail-over.

TarMK is the default persistence system in AEM for both instances, but it can go with different persistent manger (MongoDB).

Gift of TarMK:-performance-optimized,for typical JCR use cases and is very fast, uses an industry-standard data format, can quickly and easily backed up, high performance and reliable data storage, minimal operational overhead and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

Now story of MongoDB it basically come into picture when more hands required, means more user/author (more than

1,000 users/day, 100 concurrent users)and high volumes of page edits required. To accommodate these horizontal scalability required and solution is with MongoDB. It leverage MongoDB features like high availability, redundancy and automated fail-overs.

MongoDB MK can give lower performance in some scenario as its establish external connection with MongoDB.

A minimum deployment with MongoDB typically involves a

MongoDB replica consisting of

1)one primary node

2)two secondary nodes,

with each node running in its separate availability zone.

AEM--store--binary data--into ---data store.

AEM--store--content data--into ---node store.

And both stored independently.

Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) is best high performant option for shared datastore between publish and author instances to store binary files(Assets like image etc).

Continue....