#overseas agent and developers

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 436: GRWM Marta

Marta Vacek aka “Marta Walker” aka Agent  0GGB004 had not been able to get Melissa Monroe out of her head since she had visited WGGB last weekend. Though she had known Melissa was to come in preparation for the special interview and meet the team, Marta, Channel 5’s newest Sports Reporter, had not been prepared for the involuntary reaction she’d had to the brunette bombshell. Her sister had been right.

Over the past year-and-a-half, both in Russia and in her native Poland, the Vacek sisters had been prepped, conditioned, and ultimately put together, developed and assembled into proper agents for the company. Injected with their Program and fully indoctrinated into their ranks, trained and fashioned, Marta had grown four inches in height, ballooned into a GG-cup, and could now bend steel bars like it was a party trick. She knew she had been chosen for her current on-air assignment purely due to the mathematics of her new figure: scientifically proven and formulated to be the most captivating to the American male gaze. In both its ratios and proportions, it had been perfected to hold a male's attention onscreen, while at the same time, being just this side of acceptable for a general viewing audience without being relegated to the porn channels or MSIT. 

The only thing Marta felt moderately unprepared for in her new role as an eyeball-magnet sports reporter was, well…sports. American sports still flummoxed her - what was this ‘football’? This bassball? Silly little games for silly little American men. Whatever it was, it was something she could blithely breathe through on air, feeding her viewers with whatever the teleprompter showed her as a side dish to her hourglass torso. Her real purpose was to keep the American eyeballs in the local viewing area plastered on her 5’11”,  44-26-36 figure while she kept her own eyes on Alicia Ray, the provincial former beauty-queen chosen to be the center of this WGGB Channel 5 hive, that would, soon enough, be moving on from their small local stage on to a much larger one. It was all thrilling, exciting, and though this was just an assignment, yes, she figured she could have some fun here while doing it. 

Like tonight. Marta had this event to go to, a grand opening for a new puppet facility. She’d been briefed. Coronado had sent a new platoon of Program girls, one of the largest yet, to work this new outpost medical center. Like Marta with Alicia Ray, these girls should be largely immune to the more invasive psychological tendrils of the Monroe woman’s influence, but, with the feelings Marta was dealing with now, how being in that tall brunette’s presence for just those several minutes last weekend had affected her, it made her think they would want her to keep a watchful eye on everything going on tonight. As tedious as that seemed though, she knew there would be vodka, and cameras, and her breasts were enormous…so she couldn't help but be excited. 

Yes, she’d been told to keep an eye on the new girls, each an agent, on their first real night of exposure to the Monroe pheromones. Marta would keep an eye on Melissa herself of course, try to glean if the rumors about her were true. It was being said that she was not only ballooning in height, figure, and strength, but that she’d been developing unpredictable abilities they hadn’t foreseen. There were those overseas, she knew, that were starting to consider Melissa an unwitting threat, that possibly feared what her growing influence might accomplish. Marta knew that she would be called on to report what she saw tonight, possibly directly back to Kazakhstan, so she needed to stay vigilant, but that didn't mean she couldn’t look good while doing so. She admired herself in this perfectly too-tight red dress procured specifically for that purpose. 

As she studied herself in the mirror her mind inevitably went back to Melissa, this odd fixation as of late. Yes, there was part of her that was wary of Melissa Monroe, though, there was another part that pitied her. If what she’d read in the briefings was correct, Marta felt for the girl, understanding how hard it must be for someone to endure what she had been raised through, and from the youngest of ages. She was not an unwitting nor necessarily an unwilling participant in the whole experiment, but her road had clearly not been easy. 

Beyond all the sympathy and pity she felt though, or maybe just buried deeper, there was another part of Marta that was lured to the woman, that wanted to be close to her and to witness her, and maybe be witnessed by her in return. She understood now what Katarina had been telling her, how powerful the magnetism of Melissa was. Strange, these urges; as much as they thrilled her, she knew she would need to keep them leashed as tight as she could. She could speak to her sister about them tonight.

Marta knew that her own complicated feelings reflected the entire viewing area’s feelings as a whole. Some fear, some curiosity, and…something deeper, something magnetic all clashing and the only way for her to sort it all out was to see what happened tonight.

At least I’ll look good doing it, she concluded, admiring herself one last time in the mirror…

========================================

[regular-samdragon]

More tfa Reverse au sketches and rambles. Here's the first post for the initial info on all of this

I dont exactly have a plot idea for this au yet, just mostly silly interactions between the characters. I'm still a little lost on what to have the decepticons doing in this. I have some slight ideas though, just might change up some details later

It makes sense for the decepticons to also be humans in this au. The initial idea I had was that Megatron owned the corporation that paved the way for technological developments in the city. Of course, Megs isn't the scientific mastermind behind it all. He just happens to own the company. Starscream and Blitzwing act as the head scientists, and Barricade is head of security. Starscream is constantly trying to think up ways to take over the company himself while the others are content to keep working under Megs. After all, he doesn't restrict them on how ethical their experiments have to be.

Sumdac himself, I haven't quite decided on yet. The lot that Ratchet's and Prowl's establishments are located in definitely has more than one store, so one idea I had was for Sumdac to stay human and own an electronics repair shop. Perhaps he misses Sari's initial landing, but the gang ropes him in when she ends up needing specialized repairs. Or, alternatively, he could be Sari's cybertronian dad, stuck back home and worried over how his daughter's first mission is going. Although he wouldn't be super involved in the au if I went with that idea.

Swindle is the owner of the local pawn shop, also in the same lot. He rarely seems to ever show up to work, leaving the shop closed for several days in a row. Sometimes even for weeks. It's a wonder to everyone how the pawn shop still manages to make a profit when Swindle is constantly on his 'overseas trips'. Bee and Bulk have swapped plenty of theories on what they think Swindle really does for a living, such as being a secret agent, or his store being a front for secret military experiments.

Thinking more of the lot they all work in, I'm calling it the Tower Plaza. Sort of drawing off the idea of Sumdac Tower from the show, and yeah a little inspo from OK KO I have to admit. The Tower Plaza gets it's name from a tall, abandoned clock tower that stands as the icon of the area. The clock hasn't worked for years but no one can afford to own or repair the building. This ends up becoming Sari's main hiding place. Bulk and Bee help her to spruce things up inside, making her a real home away from home. There's even a big basement door she can hide out in when Meg's men start poking their noses around.

Speaking of Megs again, his goal in this au would primarily be to capture Sari and have his scientists reverse engineer her for their own advancements in tech. Pretty much exactly what Sumdac did in the show with Megatron himself. Although while Sumdac had empathy for Megs when he was found to still be alive, Megs in this cares not what happens to Sari in the process. He doesnt see her as a living being (yet), and mainly just wants to advance his company for even higher profits.

And thus comes the conflict between the Tower Plaza gang and uhhh whatever I end up naming Megatron's company as.

Smaller notes:

•Folks on discord helped me out to find the PERFECT alt mode for Sari. That is, a Folland Gnat fighter aircraft. It's small and speedy and just really fits Sari's vibes

•Bee personally takes it on himself to teach Sari as many human curse words as possible. Orion nearly has a heart attack the first time he hears Sari swear

•Bee is also the one who came up with nicknames for everyone. Although Bulk is the one who came up with 'Bee' for him

•Orion was a second lieutenant before he was discharged

•Orion doesn't like to talk to anyone about why he was discharged from the military. Uncle Ratchet knows it involved another lieutenant and an intelligence officer, both friends of Orion. He doesn't know anything past that.

•Cybertron is not at war in this au, meaning the factions of autobots and decepticons don't actually exist. The need to hide the Allspark was more to keep it away from other alien races who would like to steal and misuse it

•Sari is only minimally trained for combat scenarios. With the occasional battle while on Earth, she asks Prowl to teach her some hand to hand combat. After an incident where she nearly took out a building, they now train far out in the woods

[we-stan-cale]

I wanted to talk about the side stories

Because @ladyteldra and I got some thoughts I'm incorporating in a fic. We might have thrown some of them out before?

Anyways

His Company (with a capital 'C', it's so well known it's just called The Company) does this

a third organization separate from guilds and the government, the company mediated any issues between the two other organizations in addition to taking care of monster invasions, guild inspections, and government audits among many other things.

His team seriously thought assassins might kidnap him

“…Do you think one of the illegal guilds attacked the team leader-nim’s house?” Agent Jung So Hoon’s voice was slightly shaking from anxiety. “Or maybe an assassin dispatched from overseas abducted the team leader-nim. Ah, I have a bad feeling about this. Doesn’t the team leader-nim live in the outskirts of the city? I’m sure the security there isn’t good either. Should I contact the Team 2 leader?” “Calm down. We will decide after going to the team leader-nim’s house.”

He's low key famous

Kim Rok Soo was quite famous not just in the company, but also throughout the industry and with the government and guilds. Although he had not known the name because this person doesn’t show himself in the media, he was the leader of Team 1, the greatest force in the company, as well as implicitly the leader of the company’s battle agents in the ‘Body.’ Furthermore, even the people in charge of the ‘Head’ were said to be unable to hold in their admiration at Kim Rok Soo’s abilities.

He had 0 mortality, always had a thorough plan, and really helped develop his people's talents

Team 1’s mortality rate was 0% since Kim Rok Soo became team leader. They had also not failed any of the missions they were assigned. Kim Rok Soo was said to come up with a thorough plan and complete the mission under any and all circumstances, even if he was lacking the resources to do so. Furthermore, many people’s abilities developed even further when they were in his team.

His team constantly worried about him

“Now I won’t need to worry about him dying!” His seniors showed their agreement at Agent Cha’s comments and smiles appeared on their faces.

Again a comment on the low casualty rate under his leadership, but also (from someone early after he took over as team leader)

There had been no deaths nor serious injuries on Team 1 since Kim Rok Soo became team leader. Although there were people who received minor injuries, nobody ever had to be hospitalized for longer than a few days because of a serious injury. Instead, the number of scars on Kim Rok Soo’s body continued to increase.

He probably got Instant around then? And was probably overdoing it already.

Choi Han, after getting Choi Jung Soo's memories, said he was able to realize Cale was Kim Rok Soo partly because he acted exactly the same.

So basically, we can picture Cale's time as team leader as, probably, him being exactly the same. Taking risks, overdoing it... But mostly in fighting monsters, doing government audits, and dealing with illegal guilds.

Also, again, he's famous.

And foreign governments may want to kidnap him.

We also know he studied monsters extensively, aided by Record no doubt, so I posit that he's probably the expert on monsters.

Which might be why they want to kidnap him? Not kill...kidnap. He's probably considered, like, a strategic resource or something

[writingrosesonneptune]

Pelican Queen/Rain Summoner Cast

*Contains some spoilers for Act One and Until Then

Will update with more links when applicable. Ages are rounded to how old they are for the bulk of Book One. Book Two/Prequel characters will be introduced in a separate post.

Art by @drawingrosesonneptune

Main Cast

Sadira

16 | Queen-Regent of Niloufar/Rain Summoner

Teenage queen-regent of Niloufar, capital of a group of city-states still reeling from the effects of a multi-nation drought. Can currently control water on a small scale. Stuck overseas in enemy territory, she moves in hiding as she tries to find her way home. Outspoken but shy on a personal level, she has a deep sense both of responsibility and inadequacy. Does not enjoy 'roughing it.'

Yanna

15 | Scholar/Assistant Messenger

Sadira's extremely indoorsy younger sister. Also in hiding but separated from her sister, Yanna is painfully adverse to the limelight and is currently tiptoeing underfoot in an enemy castle. While there, she meets up with an old pen pal she still has a crush on, and together, they scheme to harvest and alter correspondence pertaining to the war. Also has the ability to control water on a small scale.

Han

9 | Weed-Picker/Informant/Errand Runner

A child laborer of a local warlord in Mardesal, the country Sadira and Yanna are stuck in. He agrees to hide Sadira in his father's house in exchange for money, but he quickly comes to see her as a friend. Open and curious, he longs to have a better life and experience new things. Very interested in select gossip. He greatly fears being seen as useless.

Ghost-Hand

Around 50 | Former Mercenary/Unknown Agent

Also goes by Niall. A former mercenary of great renown now working for someone unknown. Hard to read, has a strict moral compass, but his idea of morality differs severely from Sadira's. Partially responsible for bringing her and Yanna to Mardesal. Has no faith in others and will only answer basic questions if cornered. Despises socialising.

The Huntsman

Around 50 | Stryn's Riders' Second-In-Command

Stryn's right hand man, but working with his own agenda. Described as intense by those who have met him, he is goal-obsessed and deeply bitter, but is somehow more of a conversationalist than Ghost-Hand. Has a collection of trinkets and machines from the Lost Continent.

Major Characters

Akeem

Mid-20s | Former Crown Prince of Niloufar

Yanna and Sadira's dramatic older brother, who chose to abdicate and fled into the desert with his fiancé. Enjoys luxury and attention, but is willing to make certain sacrifices (although not without complaining). Compassionate but patently irresponsible, he often leaves Sadira to deal with the aftermath of his decisions. Can control water.

Stryn

200+, appears early 50s | Former King of Isulfr/Leader of Stryn's Riders

The scornful usurped king of Isulfr, a land separated from Mardesal by two countries, Stryn is in the middle of a long campaign to retake his throne. He is dedicated to maintaining balance with the spirits residing in nature and has no patience for those who deliberately disturb them. Does not handle betrayal well at all. Long-lived and difficult to injure.

Giuliana

Late 40s | Queen of Mardesal

Queen of Mardesal, wallows in mourning everything taken from her by plague, drought, and a failed coup. Bitterness drives her to seek revenge both on her subjects and the Niloufarian government, a historic ally of Mardesal's. A skilled diplomat, she maintains power despite being unpopular outside her core circle. Desperate to protect her remaining family, she has become controlling and oppressive. Waiting for her son to develop an inheritable skill.

Esolie

Around 30 | Smuggler/Business Liason

Claiming to have a grudge against one of Sadira's enemies, Esolie offers her aid in the form of advice and lending a useful-if-dangerous family heirloom. Values gossip. She is often sardonic and struggles to speak from the heart. Supernaturally good at determining probabilities. Has a separate ability related to the scars on her hands.

Alyssa

15 | Knight/Future Queen of Mardesal

Yanna's former penpal, who shares her love of learning about niche subjects. Alyssa is adventurous but grounded. The daughter of a commander, she is well-versed in swordplay and strategy. Engaged to the Crown Prince of Mardesal, she has no strong feelings either way on her betrothal, but worries it will not be enough to protect her country from losing its independence.

Zoff

Around 30 | Vendor/Smuggler

A general vendor who peddles contraband and medicine on the side, he occasionally runs plot-related errands for his wife. Friendly, but difficult to pry details out of. Bit of a bleeding-heart. Does odd-jobs and describes himself as being 'from all over.' Seems to know a lot about secretive world affairs for someone outside of politics.

Samar

Late 20s | Former Council Member from the Red Desert

A former council member from the Red Desert, and Akeem's fiancé. Accused of instilling him with political bias. Soft-spoken and graceful under pressure, they have strong convictions and believe in doing whatever they must to uphold them. Likes being a trend-setter and misses a few particular luxuries.

Dol

Around 70 | Warlord

The elderly warlord of Han's county, a terrifying strategist with no concern for the citizens under his care. Will do anything to earn a name for himself in history and has his sights set on defeating Stryn before his Riders reach the capital. Capable of creating carnivorous plants with a power related to an old injury.

Pelican Queen Taglist: @saturnine-saturneight @cowboybrunch @tabswrites

As always, let me know if you'd like to be added/leave the taglist!

[symbiotic-slime]

Hi I heard you really like Flash and I've been meaning to learn more about his character for a personal story I'm writing, do you have any reading recs for Flash?

hi!! sorry it took me a couple days to get around to this but omg I’m so happy that I’m known as the guy who really likes Flash and yes I would love to talk about it!!

not sure how much you know so I’ll just give you a quick rundown of what Flash is like in the comics! he starts as Peter’s high school bully before becoming friends with him in university. he then joins the US army and fights in the Vietnam war, goes back to being a civilian, then joins the army again and loses his legs overseas. after losing his legs, he bonds with the Venom Symbiote and becomes Agent Venom. he stays in the army for a bit and then goes to space to fight with the guardians of the galaxy (pretty insane lmfao). after that, the Symbiote goes back to Eddie and Flash becomes Agent Anti-Venom. he dies fighting the red goblin but then gets revived during the King in Black run. honestly I haven’t kept up with much after that— he’s still Agent Anti-Venom but I honestly couldn’t tell you what he’s up to right now lmfao.

I’m not the most informed on Flash pre-Venom so imma tag my friend @kitausuret who’s definitely more of a Flash expert than me to tag in and fill in some of the gaps in my recs :D

if you’re specifically interested in Flash as Agent Venom, the Agent Venom run (Venom Vol. 2 #1-41) is a pretty great place to start! it follows Flash through his first bonding with the symbiote and working as a covert agent for the US government. the symbiote isn’t much of a character and is more so a tool (much to my dismay) but the run really handles Flash’s character, relationships, and alcoholism incredibly. The first half is mostly focused on him in the army/running from the army and the second half is him trying to live a quiet life in Philadelphia. he pseudo-adopts an edgy teenager named Andi Benton and she becomes his sidekick.

The Space Knight comics are also really well done! it follows Flash and the Symbiote fucking around in the galaxy and doing little side quests for a bit before the real plot kicks in. I really love how Flash and the Symbiote’s relationship and also Flash’s disability! they don’t tackle it head on iirc but they do show him using mobility aids casually and not just relying on the Symbiote to create legs for him which is nice to see. the concept is a bit nuts— Flash and the Symbiote are agents of the cosmos (basically symbiote good guys™️) and are doing odd jobs to help the citizens of the galaxy and making a little ragtag group of friends as they go— but it’s a really fun read!

for more Flash as Agent Anti-Venom, the smaller part of Costa’s Venom run Venom Inc. (Venom Inc. Alpha, Anazing Spider-man #792, Venom #159, Amazing Spider-man #793, Venom #160, Venom Inc. Omega) is very cool! it’s how he gets the Anti-Venom Symbiote in the first place and it develops his relationship with Eddie. they move from like actively hating each other to being mildly okay with the other person.

there’s also Venom Vol. 4, which is also called the King in Black run due to its heavy focus on Knull, the evil symbiote god. as a Venom fan, I can’t recommend this for how it handles the symbiote and Eddie, but Flash is a pretty big part of it and I like how he’s characterized. they try to do a brothers-in-arms dynamic between Eddie and Flash, Flash turns into a dragon at one point, it’s decent from a Flash fan perspective (I’m aware that this run sounds insane— it is lmfao).

I haven’t read a whole lot after KiB— from what I know he got involved with the Venom War stuff and is human again (he’s been debatably not human since KiB)? but yeah. hopefully there’s some useful info in my ramblings about the comics Flash is in :D

[ramblings-from-the-ether]

Prohibition AU | Character Profile: Giovanni

The Roaring Twenties is a time of conflict, crime, and chaos—but chaos is opportunity, and the inexplicably salmon-haired Giovanni Potage is a professional agent of it. Currently under Naven’s employ after falling out with a much larger gang, he leads the majority of Bliss Ocean’s soldiers with little other than a vandalised baseball bat, a cooking pot of tricks, and a reckless confidence only matched by his sheer dumb luck and unconventional faculties.

Background.

Giovanni Potage was born to a small immediate family of two mothers in the Chinese diaspora of the US, and close relatives to the legendary crime family known as the Roughhouses. His upbringing was largely informed by honoured family traditions and festive gatherings, the ripples of the Great War overseas, and the growing cultural obsessions of baseball and motorsports in the States. The values of respect, diligence, and unity were deeply instilled in him since childhood, just as much as his taste for brazen rebellion and troublesome aptitude for making a weapon out of anything he could pick up.

Hungry for excitement, surrounded by an extended family versed in crime, and perpetually cruising for a bruising, Giovanni was soon enveloped by a strange aspiration: To become the greatest criminal name in the United States of America. He quickly found himself in a notorious, nationwide criminal group known as the Banzai Blasters, where his natural charisma and unusual, uncanny instincts would soon earn him a small company of deathly-loyal soldiers and an early promotion to captain (and help him to survive the job, at that!)

Giovanni first met Naven by proxy of Molly, who he had befriended early into the Prohibition during an operation gone-awry, and who he proceeded to protect from the chaos of said operation. When the organisational fallout of that night’s events revealed to him the true penny-pinching, dog-eat-dog mentality that suffused the Banzai Blasters’ ranks, Giovanni swiftly left the gang, bringing along his loyal crew of “boys” and a gang-spanning grudge with him. Naven quickly saw the unique assets and potential of the young rogue, and would soon approach him with a new, once-in-a-lifetime job offer. And what kind of aspiring criminal legend could refuse?

Relations.

Though he serves Naven and Bliss Ocean with diligence, Giovanni’s loyalties lie ultimately with his own “boys”. Notable among them is his younger cousin Trixie, of the Roughhouse crime family; as well as the resident foundling, Molly Blyndeff, who he has developed a remarkable compassion for, even serving as a sort of surrogate guardian towards her in her family’s absence. By proxy of the two, he also maintains a somewhat rivalrous acquaintance with Phoenica Fleecity and Dr. Sylvester Ashling.

Within the family’s inner rankings, Giovanni’s almost aggressive amiability—and frankly, his utter lack of social awareness—have also earned him the friendship of the equally-eccentric Rick Shades, the ever-friendly Indus Tarbella, and even a somewhat-amused Zora Salazar. As a largely-amateur criminal, he also admires and is close acquaintances with one Ramsey Murdoch, who has (resignedly) taken to mentoring Giovanni and “making sure the kid doesn’t get himself killed”.

Bliss Ocean Report.

In a business where saying or doing the wrong thing can cost you immeasurably, secrecy and anonymity tend to be valued luxuries; which I suppose is why my colleagues in the underworld find so perplexing my decision to place the notoriously loud, painfully unsubtle Giovanni Potage under my employ. But I do have my reasons, and he does have his traits that set him apart from the common gangster.

Given the young villain’s penchant for making general mayhem, it’s easy to miss just how excellent Giovanni is at making targeted mayhem when he wants to, especially when working in tandem with a team (or a teammate, failing that). Though not necessarily a gifted strategist, Giovanni is a remarkable improviser with seemingly no bounds to his creativity in combat, capable of fashioning life-saving plans out of the most ridiculous of circumstances. His talent with his favourite baseball bat especially is not to be underestimated…although his choice of embellishments for the signature weapon (knives??) can certainly be questionable.

Giovanni also appears to possess some stranger attributes which admittedly interest me somewhat, on top of simply being quite useful. Catastrophe seems to tail the teen wherever he’s directed to create chaos, but no matter the destruction that inevitably befalls the crime scene, he’s never been dragged away with more than a dozen or so scrapes and bruises (and the occasional concussion or dislocated shoulder). Ramsey pins the blame for the damage done on his “lucky” number, 13, which the otherwise-chronically dyscalculic Giovanni keeps count of with a strange obsession. Given his uncanny survivability and tendency to inflict the most devastating attacks at nigh-miraculous moments, I’d argue the accursed number is what’s keeping him alive.

Then there is the matter of…Giovanni’s soup. His soup, which is not only the strongest and spiciest I have ever smelled and tasted of a meal (and seasoned to perfection as far as anyone can attest), but also capable of spontaneous resuscitation, temporary adrenaline production, and sometimes even a minor increase to natural healing. Giovanni has attempted to explain this away as the work of a ‘family recipe’, which explains…well, nothing, and the effects aren’t even always consistent or guaranteed. Nonetheless, he’s never seen without a cooking pot full of it on hand, and he swears it has been a major boon in those missions that come to bullets and blows. I still dare not challenge this claim.

But Giovanni’s greatest asset to us, by far, is his charisma and his compassion. Just during his time working for the Banzai Blasters alone, he’s managed to earn the veritably undying loyalty of six of his peers, largely simply by being true to himself and kind to those around him. He has also taken it upon himself to care for our goddaughter Molly, who I think could benefit from his guidance and infectious confidence more than anyone…despite his criminal aspirations. Giovanni Potage is a chaotic, contradictory character indeed, a wild card to be sure; and personally, I’m almost as eager as I am nervous to see what becomes of his career in Bliss Ocean.

- Naven

[timothyclare]

kung lao in the spider-monk au

none of this super awesome epic story will make sense without PART 1 !!! explains how liu kang became spiderman

all story below the readmore VVV

when liu leaves for america, lao is hurt. he knows, logically, that raiden is the one to blame, but liu didn't even fight to stay or take lao with him.

and then deadpool comes along.

the vigilante slash mercenary is just stopping by, purely coincidence. decided he wanted to see the place. kung lao, of course, was naturally curious, and approched to say hello. to his surprise, deadpool is fluent in mandarin, and they strike up a lengthy conversation about their different lives. at one point, deadpool mentions "his spider-monk back home". kung lao naturally asks about it.

deadpool pulls out his phone, and pulls up a selfie of him and spidey- spidey's mask is half- up his face, and he's in the middle of trying to eat a taquito. deadpool is going on about the selfie, but.. kung lao is focused on the face. the lips of this 'spidey'. they have the exact two matching scars that liu's lips have, from when they were 8 and had the brilliant idea to get into body modification. it's the same mouth kung lao has seen scarfing down soup after training that reaches for a bit of taquito in the picture.

deadpool realises after a few seconds of silence that kung lao is in shock. and then that kung lao is crying. oh, shit.

kung lao spills immediately. he's ranting. he's raving.

HOW could liu do this?? first, leave without a hint of remorse to america of all places, second, start taking up dangerous hobbies, and third, NEVER FUCKING TELL HIM????? what was he thinking!? the idiot will get himself killed doing stupid shit without kung lao there.

deadpool offers the condolence that "he's definitely guilty about it, and i know he misses you. assuming, here, that you're the 'other half' he's always waxing poetic about."

and then, because he's an agent of chaos, deadpool offers payback: a secret to keep from liu. that way they're even. deadpool can offer training. (aka, wade really likes this kid and wants an excuse to hang about)

lao accepts immediately.

it's the next month that sees good news finally arrive-- in the best decision he's made since the 18th century, raiden is sending kung lao overseas to be with liu kang.

kung lao moves in on liu's last day of school.

raiden never told liu that lao was coming. liu kang comes home to find lao standing in the flat, like an idiot, staring at the doorway.

hugs. embraces.

then kung lao gives liu the tongue-lashing of the century. liu, fully aware at this point he's been a dick, takes it. then they hug again.

they spend the entire summer break together causing chaos in NYC, finally back together again, the dynamic duo.

and then liu discovers kung lao's secret-

not only has kung lao been training with deadpool, he's started his own stint as a vigilante.

needless to say, the fight that ensues is a whirlwind of huge, horrible emotions, name-calling, blame-throwing, and hurtful words.

they've made up by the end of the night anyway, because they both get miserably sad when they're mad at each other. unfortunately, their solution to the newfound power imbalance they've correctly identified as the unfair factor is possibly the dumbest plan any teenage vigilante has EVER thought of.

they're going to infiltrate oscorp, steal one of those fancy spiders that bit liu, have it bite lao so he has powers too, and then be on their merry way.

and they do it. and it fucking works. by some miracle, it works. peter and ned, now in on the secret, are their guys in the chair. mj is their strategist. they infiltrate, they steal, they escape, and oscorp are none the wiser. and even more miraculous, the spider doesn't kill kung lao.

kung lao develops powers, though they're slightly different from liu's-- he can't stick to things, and he isn't quite as strong. however, his regeneration is more comparable to deadpool's than to liu's, and he's got bones of steel-- he's practically impossible to hurt now. fitting.

and so he takes his RIGHTFUL place at liu's side as an equal vigilante, and after they're out of their month-long grounding for pulling that stunt without telling matt anything, they're a veritable vigilante family. matt is trying to obtain legal guardianship over them, and they're fine with that.

(lao, as a vigilante, calls himself styx. he's visually not a successor to deadpool, but when you see him on the field, deadpool's humor and violent tendencies have very much rubbed off on him.)

[mariacallous]

As dusk fell on the hills around the Georgian village of Odzisi, activist David Katsarava looked out over the valley and the glimmering lights on a mountainside beyond. The lights belonged to a military base, operated not by Georgian forces but by Russia’s Federal Security Service and border guard. The river that meandered through the valley marked the start of the occupied region of South Ossetia, which Russia captured during its invasion of Georgia in 2008.

“Even to go close to the river is rather dangerous, because they can cross the river, ambush you, kidnap you, and bring you to the occupied territory,” Katsarava said.

Katsarava leads an anti-occupation movement that monitors Russian military activity and kidnappings of Georgian citizens along the occupation line. According to figures that Katsarava has gathered from government reports in the last 16 years, Russian forces have built at least 30 bases on occupied territory since 2008 and kidnapped around 3,600 Georgians, killing seven after extensive torture.

“The government does not have any political will to defend our citizens,” he said. It “doesn’t have any vision of how to stop this creeping occupation of the country.”

That reality is unlikely to change anytime soon. On Oct. 26, Georgia’s increasingly pro-Russian ruling party, Georgian Dream, declared victory in parliamentary elections after observers noted widespread fraud, interference, and violence at the polls. Georgia’s pro-Western opposition has deemed the vote illegitimate, and the opposition-aligned ceremonial president, Salome Zourabichvili, alleged that Georgian Dream had “stolen” the election with Russia’s help. One of the firms that conducted exit polls during the vote called the result “statistically impossible.”

After a timid start, anti-government protests in the capital of Tbilisi still draw tens of thousands of Georgians more than two weeks since the election. The fight has also moved to the courts, where a judge nullified election results in 30 precincts due to violations of voter secrecy. With the opposition calling for unrelenting demonstrations until a new vote is held, Georgia appears set to enter a period of unprecedented political turmoil—which Moscow is poised to exploit.

Georgia’s drift toward Russia is nothing new. Even though the country’s development has long relied on Western support and Georgians are overwhelmingly in favor of European Union membership, Georgian Dream has positioned itself closer to Russia while nominally claiming to support integration with the West. Since the party came to power in 2012, it has sacrificed democratic freedoms that Georgians fought for years to secure in service of a nonconfrontational agenda toward Moscow that has morphed into subservience.

Georgian Dream has passed laws limiting LGBTQ rights, targeted independent researchers, and employed brute force against political opponents. One of the most dramatic steps in this direction was the passage of the Russian-inspired foreign agent law in May, which forced NGOs and media organizations receiving at least 20 percent of their funding from overseas to register as agents of foreign governments.

Russia had considerable levers of influence in Georgia before the elections. In addition to developing significant economic and energy ties to Moscow, Tbilisi has refused to put in place visa requirements for Russian nationals after the invasion of Ukraine, and according to local media, it has helped the Kremlin evade Western sanctions. Former security officials note that Russian intelligence agencies have been active in Georgia for years.

Georgia’s immediate future remains hazy. With few incentives for Georgian Dream to back down, the opposition has vowed to boycott Parliament, raising the prospect of one-party legislative rule, an intractable constitutional crisis, and indefinite anti-government protests. But what is clear is that with Georgian Dream’s proclaimed victory after a deeply compromised vote, Georgia’s relationship with Russia is set to undergo a fundamental shift.

As Russian officials signaled prior to the vote, Moscow is prepared to help Georgian Dream retain its position in the face of challenges to its rule from Zourabichvili, the Georgian opposition, and their Western allies. Moscow since denied accusations of interfering in the election while accusing the West of meddling and “neocolonialism.” On Oct. 30, the Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office summoned Zourabichvili for an investigation into her claims about election fraud, two days after Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, called for her arrest.

Georgians and political analysts alike have drawn parallels between Georgia’s predicament and the anti-government uprisings in Ukraine in 2014 and Belarus in 2020, with anxieties mounting that unrest in Tbilisi could lead to Russian special forces intervening to preserve Georgian Dream’s rule.

Should the ruling party continue to deploy repressive tactics to thwart protesters, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and torture, this scenario may not even require Russian troops. The party has reportedly already begun fortifying special police units to counter demonstrations. And if Georgian Dream does emerge victorious after the dust settles—which many Georgians fear is likely—those in the opposition are convinced that it will be the start of a new reality.

“If Russia consolidates its position and succeeds in pushing Western interests and influence out of Georgia, it will be one of the most consequential strategic victories of the Putin regime since its inception,” said Nino Evgenidze, the director of the Economic Policy Research Center and the Fukuyama Democracy Frontline Centre in Tbilisi.

Some Georgian national security veterans have gone even further. “We will completely switch to the type of relationship as [exists] between Belarus and Russia,” said Givi Targamadze, a politician affiliated with the opposition United National Movement and a key figure in Georgia’s 2003 Rose Revolution, which led to the establishment of the contemporary Georgian state.

Targamadze, the former chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee, recounted that in his time in government, as Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko moved closer to Russia, many Belarusian civil society organizations that he interacted with were gutted and replaced with bodies stacked with Russian loyalists—something he thinks will happen increasingly in Georgia’s near future, especially since Russian services and loyalists have already infiltrated Georgia’s national security institutions.

Nevertheless, Georgian Dream officially maintains a policy of political disengagement from Russia, relying on what the party calls “strategic patience” with its neighbor—a position that it says will preserve peace within Georgia, providing time for the country to work steadily toward reclaiming its lost territories.

“It took Germany 50 years to unify,” Nikoloz Samkharadze, a Georgian Dream parliamentarian and the chairman of the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, told Foreign Policy. “Maybe Russia is not ready for the occupation [to end] today, but they might take this step tomorrow.” “We do not have guarantees from [any] security alliance,” he added. “We need to wait for the right moment. We need to be very pragmatic.”

During the campaign, Georgian Dream warned that an electoral loss would provoke a Russian invasion, as in 2008—but in the eyes of some Georgians, the risk of conflict remains under a Georgian Dream government.

Although most observers say another Russo-Georgian war remains unlikely in the near term, Katsarava and his NGO have documented signs that Russia is prepared to assert itself in Georgia. Katsarava said recent drone and surveillance footage he gathered shows that Russia’s largest base in South Ossetia has grown, with an influx of armored vehicles and at least 810 troops, up from 150 four months ago. On Oct. 30, Katsarava’s team observed artillery trainings at the base near Odzisi. “We see that Russia is again flexing its muscles,” he said.

Yet under Georgian Dream leadership, Tbilisi seems to have disinvested in many of its practical military capabilities. Defense funding in Georgia has dropped considerably since 2008. According to an active lieutenant colonel in the Georgian armed forces with nearly two decades of military experience, salaries, barracks, and other cosmetic elements have improved, but overall readiness is diminished.

“In 2008, the situation and preparation and readiness was higher than now,” said the officer, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of professional repercussions. ���It’s kind of ridiculous.”

Zourabichvili has raised similar concerns in the past, and Georgian military experts have warned that the termination of defense cooperation programs between Georgia and Western partners this year has the potential to create serious security gaps.

According to the officer, Georgian Dream’s approach to defense has largely demoralized the military rank and file. “Approximately 85 percent of the Georgian armed forces stand in opposition to this government,” he said. “If Georgia moves further down the path toward becoming another Belarus, we risk seeing a significant number of our officers lose hope and leave the service.”

It has long been a central facet of Russia’s grand strategy to reconstitute its sphere of influence in its near-abroad. With the West now in retreat in Georgia, Tbilisi’s likely new role as a Russian satellite would help cement the Kremlin’s hegemony over the Caucasus.

This new relationship would give Russia expanded control over military matters in the Black Sea, energy routes that pass through Georgia and Azerbaijan, and a newly stable land corridor it could use to both rein in independence-minded Armenia and reach Iran. It would also prevent competitors such as Turkey from expanding their footprint in the volatile region. Perhaps most importantly, it would ward off NATO and EU expansion along Russia’s southern border.

Even a prolonged state of limbo would work in Russia’s favor. As Georgian Dream grows more isolated internationally, it may have little choice but to become more reliant on Moscow’s support.

But for Georgians distraught over their looming subordination to Russia, the immediate and local impact of Georgian Dream’s alleged electoral coup is front of mind. “We are under a big risk to be conquered by Russia without an invasion by soldiers,” Katsarava said. “This is much more dangerous than a war.”

[rauthschild]

🦟 Bill Gates turns mosquitoes into ‘flying syringes’, but who controls what they inject?

A Bill Gates-funded center has bred mosquitoes capable of injecting parasites into unsuspecting humans under the pretext of vaccinating against malaria. But are they truly harmless?

🌏 The Gates Foundation-backed Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands has developed a method of malaria vaccination using mosquitoes to deliver live-attenuated Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

🌏 The mosquitoes act as ‘flying syringes’ to deliver malaria vaccines – or potentially other substances.

🌏 But concerns have been raised that recipients could be unaware of the process and be vaccinated without their consent.

How it all began:

🔴 In 2008, Gates pledged $168 million to develop a next-gen malaria vaccine. Jichi Medical University in Japan received funding to genetically modify mosquitoes that can pass a malaria vaccine protein into a host.

🔴 In 2016, Gates announced a joint $3.7-billion initiative with the British government to combat malaria.

🔴 By 2018, Gates-funded Oxitec was developing genetically-modified male mosquitoes whose offspring with wild females would die before adulthood.

🔴 In both cases, scientists raised concerns over the lack of comprehensive studies of environmental, health and ethical risks.

Once Pandora’s Box is open, it cannot be closed:

🔴 If issues of human consent and ethics are overlooked, insects could be used as ‘vectors’ for other biological agents.

🔴 But who guarantees they carry life-saving vaccines and not harmful pathogens? It would be impossible to verify the exact contents of the ‘flying syringes.’

Mosquitoes as deadly weapons:

🔶 Insects have previously been studied as potential carriers of viruses and bacteria.

🔶 Nazi Germany reportedly developed malaria-carrying mosquitoes as bio-weapons at Dachau.

🔶 The Pentagon is said to have conducted similar studies in overseas bio-labs, including in Ukraine, according to assassinated Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov.

🔶 Kirillov revealed that US biolabs in Ukraine studied viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, including dengue fever. That was also referenced in a lawsuit filed by Cubans following the 1981 dengue epidemic in the country, where the only area unaffected was around the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay.

[udonlawyers]

Business Visa in Thailand

1.1 Statutory Foundations

Governed by Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Sections 34-38

Implemented through Ministerial Regulation No. 17 (B.E. 2534)

Modified by Royal Decree No. 338 (B.E. 2562) for digital nomads

2. Eligibility Criteria and Documentation

2.1 Standard Requirements

Corporate Sponsorship:

Thai entity registration documents

BOI certificate (if applicable)

Shareholder structure diagram

Personal Documentation:

Passport (minimum 18 months validity)

4x6cm photos (white background)

TM.86 form (for in-country conversion)

2.2 Financial Thresholds

Company Capitalization:

THB 2M (foreign-owned)

THB 1M (BOI-promoted)

Salary Requirements:

Minimum THB 50,000/month

THB 200,000/month (SMART Visa)

2.3 Special Cases

BOI Companies: 7-day fast-track processing

Regional HQs: Reduced capital requirements

Startups: DEPA digital visa pathway

3. Application Process Mechanics

3.1 Consular Processing (Overseas)

Document Preparation (5-10 business days)

Legalization of corporate documents

Bank statement certification

Embassy Submission:

Appointment scheduling

Biometric collection

Processing Timeline:

Standard: 3-5 business days

Express: 24 hours (+50% fee)

3.2 In-Country Conversion

From Tourist Visa:

Must apply within 15 days of entry

Requires TM.87 form

Processing Stages:

Preliminary review (7 days)

Committee approval (15 days)

Visa stamping (3 days)

4. Work Permit Integration

4.1 Legal Requirements

Section 9 Alien Working Act:

Mandatory for all employment

Board positions require limited WP

Quota System:

1 foreigner per THB 2M capital

1 foreigner per 4 Thai employees

5. Compliance and Reporting

5.1 Ongoing Obligations

90-Day Reporting:

Online or in-person

THB 2,000 late fine

Tax Compliance:

Personal income tax filings

Withholding tax submissions

5.2 Renewal Process

Documentation:

Updated company financials

Tax payment receipts

Employee list

Timeline:

Begin 30 days before expiration

15-day processing standard

6. Special Economic Zone Provisions

6.1 Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)

Fast-Track Processing: 5 business days

Work Permit Exemptions: For technical experts

Tax Incentives: 17% personal income tax cap

6.2 Border Trade Zones

Cross-Border Visas: Special 1-year permits

Local Employment: Relaxed quotas

7. Emerging Trends (2024 Update)

8.1 Digital Transformation

E-Work Permit Pilot: BOI companies only

Blockchain Verification: For document authentication

Automated Approval System: AI-assisted processing

8.2 Policy Developments

Salary Threshold Increases: Proposed 20% hike

Remote Work Provisions: Under consideration

ASEAN Mutual Recognition: For professional qualifications

8. Strategic Considerations

9.1 Application Optimization

Document Preparation:

6-month bank statement continuity

Precise job description wording

Timing Strategies:

Avoid December/January peak

Align with fiscal year

9.2 Risk Management

Compliance Calendar: Track all deadlines

Backup Plans: Contingency visa options

Professional Support: BOI-certified agents

[tristanadrizzt]

The 5 most serious scandals in the history of the United States Agency for International Development

In order to establish a reason to overthrow the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the White House emphasized some of the most shocking sounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs funded by the United States overseas, such as Serbia's LGBT empowerment program. It also pointed out controversial medical research conducted by the United States Agency for International Development in Wuhan.

The US Agency for International Development does not always have an accurate grasp of the facts, for example, it once claimed that the $100 million grant it provided to a global medical charity was "condoms for Gaza". Some conservative commentators even claim that the subscription of US Agency for International Development staff to Politico is evidence of a media manipulation conspiracy, and President Donald Trump himself has repeated this theory.

Funding Afghanistan's drug production (1.46 billion US dollars)

The drug problem has always been a concern in the failed Afghan war in the United States. Due to opium being an important component of the economy in this poor and war-torn country, the fighting between the Taliban and the US backed Afghan Republic often resembles a territorial struggle between rival drug trafficking groups, with US troops protecting some opium fields and bombing others.

African child sexual abuse scandal ($29.6 million)

According to Bloomberg's report last year, a Kenyan charity funded by the United States Agency for International Development is suspected of covering up rampant incidents of child sexual abuse. A month after a major sexual abuse scandal in the Central African Republic, the United States Agency for International Development has funded a second charity organization. CNN revealed that the charity organization Caritas Centrafrique in the Central African Republic is operated by Belgian child sexual harassment offender Luk Delft and accuses Delft of continuing to abuse Central African children. The following month, the United States Agency for International Development began providing funding for Caritas Centrafrique through a joint United Nations project.

Medical supply waste (9.5 billion US dollars)

The US Agency for International Development has promised that the global health supply chain program can almost recoup costs. This multi billion dollar investment is the largest in the history of the United States Agency for International Development, aimed at significantly improving the ability of target countries to access medical supplies, so that the United States Agency for International Development will never need to provide funding for similar projects again. The United States Agency for International Development has awarded a contract for a larger $17 billion medical supply chain project, NextGen. The organization stated that its goal is to "help countries achieve self-reliance so that they no longer need foreign aid

Secret Wars during the Cold War

The United States Agency for International Development was established in 1961 when Washington was deepening its involvement in Vietnam. The special task force of the Kennedy administration quickly tasked the United States Agency for International Development with coordinating economic aid programs and military civilian action plans. To put it more bluntly, the agency colluded with agents of the CIA in the war.

Sending an aid worker to Cuba arrested

Despite the insistence of the United States Agency for International Development that it is no longer a spy agency, many people in Washington and foreign capitals still consider it a spy agency. Since the 1990s, Congress has allocated millions of dollars to the United States Agency for International Development to undermine the Cuban government, which has made cooperation with the agency illegal.

[agentnavarro]

FACECLAIM: Brenton Thwaites

NAME: Gabriel Alejandro Navarro

ALIAS: Gabe, Gab, Navarro, Agent Navarro, Agent 151

AGE: 25 years old, 8th of September

GENDER: Cismale, he/him

SEXUALITY: Homosexual

AFFILIATION: U.S. Air Force (Formerly), S.H.I.E.L.D. (Currently)

BACKGROUND: Gabe Navarro grew up in Miami, Florida, the son of a Cuban-American father and a Venezuelan mother. He always had a fascination with aviation, joining the Air Force straight out of high school. During a classified mission overseas, he was caught in an explosion involving experimental Stark-tech drones, leaving him critically wounded. Rather than let him die, an off-the-books S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist used a prototype nano-bio enhancement, giving him enhanced reflexes, agility, and a unique electromagnetic field sensitivity—allowing him to “read” the air and predict movements with uncanny precision.

After recovering, Gabe was honorably discharged, but his newfound abilities made him a valuable asset to S.H.I.E.L.D., where he was trained in aerial combat, tactical infiltration, and high-speed combat maneuvers.

PERSONALITY: Charismatic, charming, and naturally tactical. He’s witty with a bit of a rebellious streak, often bending orders if he believes there’s a better way. He has a strong sense of loyalty to his friends and team, but struggles with authority figures. He’s occasionally reckless—his overconfidence sometimes puts him in danger.

POWERS & ABILITIES: Enhanced reflexes and agility, thanks to the nano-bio enhancements, his reaction time is near-instantaneous, allowing him to dodge bullets at close range and fight with incredible speed. Aerodynamic combat, whether in the air or on the ground, Gabe moves fluidly, making him dangerous in dogfights or hand-to-hand combat. Electromagnetic sensory perception, he can “feel” shifts in the air, helping him anticipate attacks, track movements, and even manipulate lightweight metal objects in a limited capacity. Tactical flight suit, which is developed with S.H.I.E.L.D. tech, it comes with retraceable wings (similar to Falcon’s) but integrates EMP disruptors and short-burst thrusters for rapid repositioning.

FAMILY: Alejandro Navarro (Father), Camila Navarro (Mother), open for siblings

[chriscdcase95]

Fanfic Preview: “Screaming Until Dawn”

This is for a spinoff to one of my current stories, Unlife is Strange. I've been cooking this one for a while, and should post the first chapter in the summer. Fall at the latest.

— — — —

Summary: In October of 2011, Kirby Reed was stabbed by Charlie Walker. While she ultimately pulled through, there was a point in her near death experience that she experienced what she thinks is a dream, but isn't sure; the life of a girl named “Sam” — not to be mistaken for that quiet Carpenter girl that Kirby sees around school — having a slumber party with her friends Jess, Emily and the Washington Twins. After she awoke, Kirby decided this was just a dream that felt so real, so she tried to put it behind her.

In February of 2015, Sam Giddings and her friends survived Mount Washington, but left with scars, as well as a target on their backs. As Sam tries to numb things and is caught up with the Federal Bureau of Control, she has recurring dreams that she’s not sure are dreams. In these dreams, Sam is a college student named “Kirby”, the only survivor of her friend group in what is called the second Woodsboro massacre. Sam thinks that she should know Woodsboro, but when she looks into it, she finds only dead ends. And so, she brushes these dreams off as just that.

In October of 2016, Kirby Reed started her last year at Bayfield University. With an aim to join the FBI, Kirby has been following True Crimes stories; before soon receiving a call to Maryland. There, she is attacked by other figures in black robes and white masks; and yet, they were not Ghostfaces. As Kirby looks into who or what called her here — often seeing the name “Ithaqua” — she finds herself more and more looking through the eyes, and walking in the shoes of “Samantha Giddings”. 

In October of 2016, a year after she and her friends survived Mount Washington and signed up with the FBC, Sam Giddings has been taking a sabbatical, focusing on her college career. Sam attends Bayfield University, preparing to enjoy a much needed break with Emily and Jessica, while the rest of their circle are working on a case overseas. It isn’t long when Sam receives a call from “work”. Investigating paranormal activity in Maryland, Sam is attacked by a distressed girl, who mistakes her for someone named “Kirby”. As Sam looks into who or what called her here, she finds herself more and more looking through the eyes, and walking in the shoes of “Kirby Reed”. 

— — — —

So let's break a few things down.

1. Set between Scream 4 and 2022, originally this story was going to be about Kirby's first case as an FBI agent.

But then I did the math on Kirby’s age — she would be 22 at the time of the story; to join the FBI, you have to be 23 at the time of appointment. So instead, this occurs in her last year at University. Where we see Kirby is somewhere between where Sidney was in the second and third Scream.

Being the sole survivor of her friend group, Kirby is nearly propped as a heroic survivor up the same way Sidney was, but ultimately shied away from the spotlight.  

Unlike the more outgoing Sam Giddings, Kirby becomes more introverted as a coping mechanism; she's barely friends with her dorm mates; a lot of the people who try to befriend her do so for attention; and she developed insomnia from her near death experience, and has to medicate to sleep.

Her romantic life is almost non-existent; most dates she goes on fizzle out or just end up being one night stands. Which takes even more of a downturn when her medical professor made some “advances” towards her.

In her down time, Kirby has taken an interest in true crimes, cold cases and unsolved mysteries, and studies up on them while planning to join the FBI; especially for “Ghostface-like” murders. At the time of this story, she has a special interest in the Lakewood killing sprees; the case of Brandon James; and the arrest and trial of Kieran Wilcox.

However, when she gets a call to Maryland, Kirby quickly realizes that she has a stalker —  or stalkers(s) — who have a special interest in her. But what has her curious is why they are calling her “Sam Giddings” and who this woman is. And with a growing supernatural presence surrounding her, Kirby finds herself a little out of her league. 

Now would the supernatural be out of place for Scream ? Sure, but besides this whole “alternate universe/timeline” deal, I try to keep it mostly in the background or backstory. While this may be a Scream/Until Dawn crossover...It may feel more like “The Mothman Prophecies meets Borrasca”.

I also lean to the idea we can't assume a Ghostface is dead unless they're shot in the head.

2. So as I said above, this fic is also a spin-off to Unlife is Strange, and picks up after the “Flashback Arc” set in 2015. In that story, the Until Dawn cast are recurring/supporting characters who made a witness protection deal with the Federal Bureau of Control; which roped some into doing “scout work” for the FBC.

Sam and Emily both got involved in the Arcadia Bay case, soon investigating Rachel Amber’s presence in LA; and later uncovered vampire cult activity in Seattle. You can read their investigation here, here, and here.

Despite Sam and Emily being promoted to field agents after this case, Sam opted to take a sabbatical for college. At the time of the story, Sam hasn’t seen her friends in months. Mike, Matt, Chris and Ashley are overseas, looking into a cold case; something involving a different breed of vampires in Iraq.

Emily spent the summer in Japan for her own sabbatical; in truth, she got involved in investigating sightings of the “sea dragon” of Odo Island. Jessica doesn't officially join in with the FBC until 2019, and instead, attended Windsor College, before also taking a break.

Sam initially intends to take a “girls trip” with Emily and Jess, before all three are pulled into Maryland by this “call”. There, they find a girl in the woods, who mistakes Sam for someone named “Kirby”. 

3. Like I said, I don’t plan to go overboard with the supernatural stuff.

While the wendigo may have some presence, I don’t see them being the threat. Rather they’d lurk in the background, being more of a spiritual influence than a direct menace. And it’s here where I do some education from growing up with these stories.

There are variations of the wendigo, with specific beliefs often differ by region or tradition.  Some traditions say not to speak of them in general; some say only not to do so in Winter months; I've also been told it's directly addressing them that draws their attention.

Some portray them as pure evil, representing greed or selfishness, and even colonialism (which I lean too); or as tragic victims (like Hannah and Josh), with some writers using them as metaphors of addiction.

Some say that there is no cure; another says they can be cured by being force fed hot soup or grease from animal fat. Some say they can only be killed by fire, cutting out their hearts, or getting a living colonoscopy from a least weasel. 

What I’m getting at is, there’s a version that might not be widespread, but still something I was taught growing up. If you kill a wendigo without the right precautions, its spirit will awaken, fixate on you, and make its mission in life to punish you.

To avoid this, you must dismember its body, burning the pieces, and scattering the ashes about. And even then, there's a story about one creating the world's first mosquitos from its ashes. So yeah, “killing” a wendigo does is make things personal.

Here, this occurred after the “They All Live” ending.

When the survivors escaped Mount Washington, the spirit of the Makkapitew followed after.  Being an already powerful and vicious spirit — which possessed not one, but two victims who’d resent them — the Makkapitew wasn't content with just killing them. Instead it torments  them with what I call “Eobard Thawne Buffoonery”.

So even if it's not the threat in this story, I can see its spirit having some presence in Sam's life, and that of her friends.

As with the mentions of Ithaqua, let's talk a little more about this verses’ lore. 

4. Ithaqua is an entity originating from the Cthulhu Mythos, being the son of Hastur, and based on the wendigo and the yeti. Later writers depict Ithaqua as being obsessed with spawning a child that would help awaken the Great Old Ones.

I previously included Ithaqua as a Greater Scope Villain in Love’s Sacrifices (alongside daddy Hastur) and passing mentions in Unlife is Strange.

In Love's Sacrifices, Ithaqua was the “human” son of Hastur born to the Paleo Siberian people and was a mediator between his father and mankind. 10,000 years ago, his following spread across what would become Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia, and North America. His reign ended when Hastur was slain by an “Earthly Hero” and Ithaqua himself was bound to another world, unable to directly interact with this one.

In Unlife is Strange, Ithaqua is mentioned as having some ties to Mount Washington. While I don’t see Ithaqua being a direct threat, his followers are around in the present day. Albeit not as an apocalyptic threat and nowhere near as powerful as they were 10,000 years ago.

They exist with the guise of Christian based institutions, akin to prosperity gospel preachers and televangelists, obsessed with making money, and breeding prosperity. Modern followers don’t even believe in Ithaqua as an entity, but a concept/symbol to live under — ironically akin to how actual Satanists view the devil.

5. As for pairings and ships...I don't see this story being too heavy in the romance department.

However, write Kirby as bi, if only because she seemed somewhat actually interested in Charlie in Scream 4. Though bout the only character I actually ship Kirby with is Sam (Carpenter), but she ain't likely to be in this story.

But the way I see it, Kirby isn't looking for a relationship at this point in the story. A fling or two maybe, but nothing serious. 

As for Sam (Giddings); I write her as being a lesbian and having a “friends with benefits” relationship with Jessica and Emily, both of whom I write as Bi. Sam may actually have romantic feelings for them, but in her mind they aren't dating dating.

In Unlife is Strange, it's mentioned that Sam took up a mild promiscuity to cope with her trauma. Besides Jessica and Emily, Sam also had a near fling with Rachel Amber. It’s also mentioned that during the Arcadia Bay investigation, Sam couldn't “keep it professional” with some of the witnesses/survivors, becoming very friendly with Max, Kate, Victoria and Chloe.

During her time at Bayfield, Sam had a few casual hookups with a couple of girls from her dorm. All this to say, this story probably isn't going to be too big on shipping, other than Sam, Jess and Emily's “girls trip”.

But even that may take a back seat to the actual drama in this story. Though if Kirby looks through Sam's eyes and experiences her life, I can see her experiencing Sam's relationship with Jessica and Emily. I can also see them catching on to Kirby if/when they see something off with Sam.

But who knows ? It'll be a while before it's up.

— — — —

Anyways, here’s a hypothetical soundtrack to cap things off

“Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men.

2. “Poison” by Groove Coverage

3. “Dark Horse” by Amanda Marshall

4. “Broken” and “My Hands” by Leona Lewis

5. “Losing Your Memory” by Ryan Star.

6. “Hero” by Toni Braxton.

[nerdytimemachinebouquet]

The list of USAID personnel in China was exposed across the internet, and a certain public intellectual's "feeding trough" was smashed to pieces.

In the early morning of February 10, 2025, Musk suddenly dropped a bombshell on the X platform, revealing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had supported 6,200 journalists, 707 news organizations, and 279 civil society organizations in the media industry across 30 countries. The list of USAID personnel in China was exposed across the internet, and Fang Zhouzi's English name coincided exactly with the codename of a certain "Z Plan" agent.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Zhouzi's related "secret messages" were dug up by netizens: his 2016 US visa record showed that he was approved as a "special talent"; USAID had paid a science popularizer $2.8 million in consulting fees; Fang Zhouzi's Twitter account had forwarded USAID promotional content 427 times over six consecutive years, with one post in 2019 causing an uproar. It compared certain institutions to vaccines that, on the surface, prevent diseases but in reality carry pathogens, and the accompanying image was the DNA double helix structure, which is also the logo of USAID.

Fang Zhouzi, born in Yunxiao, Fujian in 1967, graduated from Yunxiao No.1 High School in 1985 and was admitted to the Department of Biology at the University of Science and Technology of China from Jinjiang, Fujian. In January 1991, five years later, he enrolled in the Department of Biochemistry at Michigan State University in the United States and received his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the end of 1995. While studying in the United States in 1993, Fang Zhouzi published many short articles on literature and history on a Chinese website abbreviated as ACT, becoming one of the recognized "Eight Masters of Online Literature" on the site. He returned to China in 1998 and later obtained a US green card, making a living in the United States by receiving USAID "consulting fees" for anti-China smearing.

Musk shut down USAID, cutting off Fang Zhouzi's "food supply". Faced with overwhelming质疑 (questions/doubts), Fang Zhouzi became extremely agitated and immediately started a live broadcast, but the screen suddenly went black at a critical moment. His studio issued a statement claiming that it had been attacked by overseas hackers. Sharp-eyed netizens discovered that the properties of the statement document showed that the creator was "USAID_DH2".

He was furious and has been swearing and ranting in recent days, directly accusing Musk of being a "demon", "spreading rumors", and even alleging that he is suspected of committing crimes! Fang Zhouzi predicts that Musk's actions will surely "backfire", and when the Democratic Party comes to power, it will be time for him to flee, and there will be no place for him in the United States!

[malaysianpeanut]

First part of my Misao x Aoshi fan story. Yes I know, I draw these two way too much lol but what to do, when inspiration hits, you gotta put it down on paper. I am sucker for romance too.

I think partly because of the new remake anime as well that I am doing these more.

Basically the whole story will be about how these two find their footing as a couple. Won't be too NSFW or whatever, just more on relationships dynamics and conversations.

Part 1 tells about Aoshi who returned from overseas work as an agent after a year and reunites with Misao. He expresses his interest to marry her to Okina, who gives him some advice. Misao on the other hand had picked up some talent on performing on stage as Aoshi and Okina watches the stage play she is in.

I don't make fully developed comics, but I make tidbits of stories like this.

[meret118]

Bioré markets some of its products in the U.S., but its ultra-popular facial sunscreen contains bemotrizinol, a chemical filter that’s popular overseas but has not yet been approved in the U.S. The substance is on a short list of those that Dobos told me have the strongest case for FDA approval—it’s widely used around the world and very effective at absorbing UV rays. Another ingredient at the top of her list is bisoctrizole, a favorite in Europe, which she said degrades more slowly in sunlight, is less readily absorbed by the wearer’s skin, and helps stabilize other UV filters when mixed with them, potentially improving their efficacy. Wearers don’t need to reapply it as often in order to remain protected, and they may not worry as much about the putative risks of carrying chemical filters in their bloodstream. (

. . .

The FDA hasn’t added a new active ingredient to its sunscreen monograph—the document that details what is legally allowed in products marketed in the U.S.—in decades.

. . .

In 2014, Congress passed a law attempting to speed access to sunscreen ingredients that have been in wide use in other countries for years, but it hasn’t really worked. “The FDA was supposed to be fast-tracking these ingredients for approval, because we have the safety data and safe history of usage from the European Union,” Dobos said. “But it seems to continually be stalled.”

. . .

“In the medical community, there is a significant frustration about the lack of availability of some of the sunscreen active ingredients,” Henry Lim, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health, in Michigan, told me. The more filters are available to formulators, the more they can be mixed and matched in new ways, which stands to improve not just the efficacy of the final product, but how it feels and looks on your skin, and how easy it is to apply.

On a very real level, making sunscreen less onerous to use can make it more effective. “The best sunscreen is going to be the one you’re going to use often and according to the directions,” Dobos said. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and by one estimate, one in five Americans will develop it in their lifetime.