#science v military early on

[crqstalite]

also also, people are aware of ryder’s age right? like at some point once everyones Not Dying they gotta start asking questions and stop revering them, esp once they have other pathfinders aboard the nexus. ryder has been operating as some sort of space jesus loosely controlled by addison and tann — people are gonna realize their inexperience eventually. yk, once it comes to electing their leaders and political problems rather than outright survival from the kett are in the spotlight.

[phoward89]

Based on this ask

WARNING: dub con, non con, dark!Coryo, dom!Coryo, soft!dom!Coryo, overstimulation, vibrator, sex (p in v), slight degradation, spit kink

Coriolanus Snow was thriving under Dr. Gaul. Between his studies at the University ( double major in Military Strategies and Political Science) and his work as Dr. Gaul's assistant (he was quickly promoted from intern to personal assistant due to his cunning and cold nature, which impressed the mad scientist) he was a very busy young man. You didn't see much of him anymore, even though he's been your best friend since you were both little.

You weren't mad about it though. You understood, he had responsibilities and spending what little time he had with you was impossible. He has a family to spend time with.

And a girlfriend.

Your stepfather, General Prometheus Byzantine, had made sure to drop the fact that Coriolanus Snow was seeing Livia Cardew one night during dinner. He just casually dropped the ball, as if he was talking about the weather.

Your little brother, Darius, who had just started the Academy, gave you a sad look of empathy. He knew how you felt about your best friend.

You thought that your parents didn't know, but they did. Your mother and stepfather knew that you were, somehow beyond all logic, in love with your childhood best friend. And your stepfather, being a wartime hero, was on the war council that was headed by none other than Dr. Gaul.

Yea, the same Dr. Gaul that your best friend, Coryo, was studying and working under. 

You didn't know it, but your stepfather talked to the mad scientist about how he was going to be arranging a match for you soon, but he needed her little lab rat out of the way because he was around too much. Would corrupt you. General Byzantine also told Dr. Gaul that you were too sweet, too innocent for a young man like Snow. That he'd never approve of the match, so she better push him into somebody else's arms and away from you.

Cue Coryo's relationship with Livia.

But unknown to you, that relationship ended before it even reached the month milestone.

The real reason why the platinum blonde that held your heart in his large, calloused hands was absent so much from your life was because of the project he was working on with Dr. Gaul.

A very important project that was commissioned to cure the female ailment known as Hysteria. Something that doctor's stopped diagnosing near the end of the early 20th century. 

But now, well into the 22nd century, Hysteria in women's back and the treatment for it can be quite time consuming and strenuous on a doctor's wrist. 

So, Dr. Gaul and in extension Coriolanus Snow were commissioned to recreate the treatment tool of old that was used to help alleviate women's hysteria thru hysterical paroxysm.

The tool of old was an industrial grade electric vibrator. To be used by doctors to treat stressed and agitated women by bringing them to orgasm via clitoral stimulation.

It truly was a practice done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One that, apparently, was back.

Or at least the vibrator part of the treatment for hysteria would be back once the device was finished, tested, and approved. Until then, the doctors of Panem have to do manual clitoral massages to treat hysteria.

“Mr. Snow, the device is ready for live subject testing.” Dr. Gaul told Coriolanus, turning the vibrating tool off and placing it down on the work table.

Coriolanus wanted to laugh his ass off at Dr. Gaul's professional demeanor when it came to announcing that the vibrator was ready to test on pussies.

When his mentor told him what she'd been commissioned to make, he sprayed his tea out of his nose and literally choked. He couldn't believe that doctors had to bring their female patients to orgasm by roughly rubbing their clits because they were agitated and stressed due to sexual frustration. And the fact that the Capitol husbands were sending their wives to doctors for both the diagnosis and cure of hysteria (sexual frustration) baffled him.

Couldn't the husbands just play with their wives pussies themselves?

Dr. Gaul assumed that Coriolanus’ reaction to her commission project was one of proper breeding. Proper gentlemen are brought up to treat their women like dainty china dolls in bed, and to only use them for heirs. That lust was wrong to feel for a wife, a woman of proper breeding. That a gentleman was expected to join a sporting club (a sex club or brothel) in order to enact his base and lustful needs.

So, Dr. Gaul assumed that those teachings were the reason for Coriolanus' reaction to them having to invent an industrial grade vibrator for medical use.

She never once thought that the platinum blonde was judging the Capitolites backwards view of sexuality.

Coriolanus wasn't shy when it came to sex, but maybe that's because he spent some time in District 12 as a peacekeeper. Sex wasn't dirty and taboo in the districts. Hell, random hookups behind an alley with someone you met mere minutes earlier was a norm. Girls that looked so cute with their big doe eyes and simple cotton dresses would drop to their knees in a snap of a finger to hungrily suck cock. Those same girls would bend over, eager to take a cock. And half the time they didn't care what hole it was shoved in. Ass or pussy, as long as they got a good pounding that made them see stars. And then there were those handful of girls that would let a pair of Peacekeepers spit roast them.

So, safe to say, Coriolanus had a sexual awakening while a peacekeeper. He learnt what he liked, what he didn't like, and all of his kinks over the course of a summer. 

And his sexual appetite didn't change when he returned to the Capitol. But, unlike the other gentlemen in the Capitol, he didn't join a sporting club. He wasn't going to pay for a sex club membership when he could go out to Pluribus’ club, pick up a pretty girl, and fuck for free.

He just wasn't counting on the capitolite ladies to be prudes.

And the biggest prude of all was his ex.

Livia Cardew.

She didn't want to do anything-

ANYTHING-

-until her wedding night. All because of what she was taught, what all proper Capitol girls were taught. 

And just the thought of sucking cock disgusted her. She even slapped him across the face when he suggested it.

So, before they reached their month anniversary, Coriolanus broke up with Livia.

He also threw himself head first into his studies and work as a way to keep his mind off of sex. Settling for fisting his cock and  his fantasies fluttering behind his closed eyelids when his urges got too much to handle.

And now, here he is, helping Dr. Gaul invent a vibrator to get all the prudes of the Capitol off because their sexual frustrations are making them unbearable bitches to live with.

“When do you plan on conducting the tests?” Coriolanus asked Dr. Gaul, watching her as she boxed up the vibrating invention.

“I need to recruit some young ladies, of all different ages, from the districts for medical testing.” Dr. Gaul began while locking the invention up in a cabinet. “Of course, their families will be compensated with a small payment, since they'll be tied up here for some time.” The wild, frizzy haired woman sickly smiled while crossing the lab. Coriolanus followed behind her as she explained, “All of that will take time, so I conclude that testing will take place within the next 4-6 weeks at the earliest.”

Dr. Gaul exited the lab with Coriolanus right behind her. “I’d like to test it on a friend of mine, right away. That is, if I have permission to do so, Dr. Gaul.”

“And does this female friend of yours just happen to be General Byzantine's stepdaughter, Y/N?” The scientist asked knowingly, walking down the white hallway leading out of the heart of the lab.

“Yes, that would be her. She's been my best friend since we were children; she'd help me test out the vibrating tool without a second thought.”

“You should tread lightly, Mr. Snow. General Byzantine is in the midst of arranging a matrimonial match for Miss Y/N. Her helping test out our little invention is not going to sit well with him.” Dr. Gaul warned her prodigy, turning down a corner and walking down another stark white hallway.

Coriolanus felt like all the air from his lungs had dried up; leaving him breathless and suffocating. You were going to be handed off to some undeserving asshole. That wasn't right. It wasn't fair either.

You were supposed to be his.

It was common knowledge between your mother and his Grandma’am that when he was ready to settle down, he'd seek you out.

But your stepfather was almost done finalizing an arranged marriage for you with somebody. With somebody that wasn't him.

That was complete and utter bullshit.

Now more than ever, Coriolanus wanted to test that vibrator on your pussy. He wanted to make you cum multiple times; turn you into an overstimulated, crying, babbling mess begging for more. Begging for him to fill you up, fuck you with his cock and make you his.

And by God, he was going to make you his.

And he's going to use that invention, the industrial grade vibrating medical tool, to do it.

“Dr. Gaul, what the general doesn't know, won't hurt him. Besides, I’ll be testing a treatment for hysteria on my best friend. A treatment that, once married, her husband might send her to see a doctor for.”

Your husband was never ever sending you to get your pussy played with because Coriolanus was going to take care of your pussy himself. He wasn't going to let anyone touch you.

Only he's allowed to do that.

Just like he's the only one that's allowed to marry you.

“Very well, Mr. Snow, you have my permission to test our invention on your female best friend.” Dr. Gaul nodded as they reached an elevator. Hitting the button to open the steel box, she asked, “When do you want to conduct the testing?"

“As soon as possible.” Coriolanus honestly told his mentor. “I’d like to bring her here tonight, if she's free. If not, then the soonest day she has open in her schedule.” He said as the metal doors in front of them dinged open.

“And I imagine you want to be the only one conducting the experiment on your live test subject?” Dr. Gaul knowingly asked as they entered the elevator. The mad scientist might be diabolical, but she was very intelligent and knew that Coriolanus Snow was going to use that vibrator they invented to ruin you. And to do that, he'd want to be alone with you, to break you.

The scientist thought it was amusing. How her pupil wanted to ruin you with a vibrator because he couldn't have you. 

What she didn't know was that Coriolanus wanted to ruin you, but not because he couldn't have you. But to make you his. To make you pliable to him; want only him and abandoned all of your family’s plans for you just in order to receive endless pleasure from him.

“Yes.” Coriolanus firmly said as the doors to the elevator dinged shut.

“Very well, Mr. Snow.” Dr. Gaul nodded as the elevator began to ascend. “You may have your privacy conducting your experiment on your female best friend.”

You were home with your little brother while your parents were out at one of the finest restaurants in the city. Unknown to you, they were meeting with your potential future husband to discuss your dowry along with his expectations as your future husband.

Your brother was doing his homework and you were sitting on the living room couch, watching tv whenever the doorbell rang. You ignored it, assuming that either the Avox or the housekeeper, Marisol, would answer it.

You guessed correctly when you heard the heavy footfalls of shoes echoing against the marble floors. You didn't pay it any mind, assuming that one of your brother's friends had come over to study or something.

“Miss Y/N, your friend Mister Coriolanus is here to see you.” Marisol announced, standing in the archway of the room.

You tore your attention off of the TV and looked towards the living room entrance only to see your best friend strolling by your housekeeper.

“Thank you, Marisol.” You simply dismissed the middle-aged woman, causing her to nod and walk off.

You were shocked to see Coryo. It's been so long since you've seen him. “Coryo, what're you doing here?” You asked in awe, standing up and closing the distance between the two of you.

Before you could even approach him for a hug (that you so desperately craved from the platinum blonde man), Coriolanus told you. “I've came to ask you for some help testing an invention I've been working on with Dr. Gaul.”

“Oh…” You sadly sighed, letting your disappointment linger heavily in the air. And here you thought he came over to see you because he missed you. No, that wasn't the case. He didn't miss you at all; just needed you to help him on some project for work.

“Darling, what's wrong? I thought you'd be happy to help your best friend.”

“Are we still best friends, Coryo? I never see you anymore.”

“Of course we're still best friends, little dove.” The platinum blonde assured you, pulling you into a tight embrace. His hand trailed up and down your spine in a tantalizing touch that sent shivers throughout your nervous system. “I'll never abandon you, babygirl. I’ve just been preoccupied helping Dr. Gaul with a very important invention and studying for my University classes.” You could feel the thump, thump, thump, of his heartbeat as your head rested against his chest while your arms circled his wait. Hugging him close.

You missed hugging your best friend; you missed his scent and how he made you feel safe.

“I was hoping to see you at the University during lunch, but I haven't been able to. I guess you must be busy or maybe don't take your lunch break in the University’s dining hall.”

“I don't go to University, Coryo.” You told him, causing him to blink and stare at you in disbelief.

Coriolanus couldn't believe his ears. You weren't enrolled at the University. How could that be? You always wanted to study either science or medicine. It was your dream; you always talked so passionately about it before he was sent off to 12 to be a peacekeeper.

“”Why not? I thought you wanted to study science or medicine?”

“My stepfather and mother says it's a waste of time since I'm just going to be a socialite and one day a housewife.” Was the honest answer you gave Coryo.

The platinum blonde man wasn't too pleased by your answer. Not by a long shot. Who were your parents to control you; arrange for you to marry some rich asshole that would suppress you.

If you wanted to study at the University then so be it. You should be able to. 

And then a marvelous idea popped into his head. It was a great way to get you to agree to help him test out the vibrator too.

“If you help me by being my test subject tonight, I’ll get you a late midterm enrollment into the University in the science field. I'll even arrange for you to be my intern, considering that I'm Dr. Gaul's assistant.”

“Coryo, you'd do that for me?” You gasped, hand covering your mouth due to your shock.

“Yes, my sweet girl, I'll do that for you." Coriolanus confirmed with a nod. He flashed you that charming, manipulative smile of his, only to say, "I'll do that and more for you, if you just help me out with testing a new invention for me.”

You chewed your bottom lip, thinking over your options. Truthfully, the only option you had was to say yes. Saying yes would both get you into the University and repair the cracks in your friendship with Coryo.

“Okay, I'll help you.” You agreed, smiling at your best friend.

“Excellent.” Coryo smiled, so wide that too many pearly white teeth were showing. The smile seemed feral, perhaps even deranged in a way. Slinging an arm over your shoulders, he suggested, “Let's go, shall we?”

The lab he escorted you to was in the belly of the Citadel. Deep in the basement where nobody would hear you. He had explained, as the elevator made its descent, that the room he was taking you to was soundproof and didn't have any cameras installed in it. That it'd just be you and him; that nobody would ever see the experiment. And he'd just relay his data to his boss, Dr. Gaul.

You didn't know why he told you that. It sounded a bit weird to you, but you just nodded along and told him okay.

You felt a bit nervous as Coriolanus led you down the basement hallway and to a door. He used his electronic key card paired with a panel retina scan to open the door. He led you into the room, only to stop by the doorway to flick on the light switch. 

The too bright florescent lights flickered to life, revealing a lab table of sorts with straps and stirrups attached to it. As Coryo slammed the door shut, you noticed that on the counter next to the lab table was some sort of hospital gown and some type of large, thick wand. 

You looked over your shoulder at your best friend, only to ask him, “Why’re there straps and stirrups on the lab table? And a hospital gown on the counter, Coryo?”

“It's to test out the new invention, darling.” Coryo told you as if he was talking about the weather. “You'll need to get dressed in the gown and have your legs parted so I can properly conduct the experiment.” He explained while heading over to the counter.

“But the straps, Coryo? Are you going to tie my wrists down too?” You asked, a bit concerned, while trailing behind him.

“It's so you don't try to stop the experiment.” He dryly told you. “Now if we're done playing 20 questions, put this on and get on the lab table.” He said, handing you over the medical gown. Your fingers brushed as he added in, “Oh and take off your panties. Your pussy needs to be bare for this little experiment.”

“What?” You asked, sucking in a deep breath between your teeth. You had to let him see and use your bare pussy for the experiment? Like what? Why? “Coryo, I didn't agree to this…”

“Yes you did, Y/N.” Your best friend reminded you as his icy blue eyes cut right into your soul. Sighing, he rubbed your shoulders. “I promise, you'll like what I'm going to be doing. Just do as you're told, okay?”

“Okay.” You reluctantly gave in. “Can you turn around so I can change?” You asked, feeling a bit awkward about your best friend seeing you naked, as you slipped out of your kitten heels.

“I don't see why it makes a difference, darling. I'm going to see your pussy; might as well see your tits too.” He chuckled, leaning against the counter with his arms folded over his chest. His icy blue eyes roaming over your form as you began to unzip your dress.

“Coryo, you have a girlfriend. Think about how she'd feel if she heard you right now.” You told him, pulling off your dress and folding it up.

“I don't have a girlfriend, Y/N. So whoever told you that's mistaken.” Coryo told you as you placed your dress on the counter.

Your brows rose up in surprise as you unhooked your bra, “Really? But I thought you were seeing Livia Cardew.”

Livia Cardew.

Of course, you knew about him and her. What you didn't know was that it didn't even last a month. And he made sure to tell you that. He also assured you that he was single; had been single for months as you finished undressing. 

You were relieved that he wasn't avoiding you because he was spending all of his time with Livia. As you put on the examination gown, you asked Coryo, “If you're not busy with Livia, then why have you been ignoring me?”

Your words made bile rise up into the platinum blonde's throat. He felt sick that you thought he was ignoring you. He wasn't ignoring you. Wasn't he? He's just been busy constructing a life for you two. 

A soft look crossed his features as he sighed, “I didn't mean to ignore you, little dove. I've just been busy with my studying and working as Dr. Gaul's assistant.” 

“Yea…” You trailed off in a long, airy sigh. You honestly wanted to believe your best friend, but didn't know if you should.

“Let me tie this for you.” Coriolanus offered, gesturing to the hospital gown. You just nodded and turned around, causing him to tie up the little ribbons on the back of the medical gown.

Like with all medical gowns, your ass was showing. The platinum blonde smirked seeing your round ass, only to grab it with his large, calloused hands.

“Coryo?” You asked in a startled tone, looking over your shoulder at your best friend as he massages and rubs your ass.

Coryo just smirked before smacking you on the ass and saying, “Go get on the table.”

Turning around to face him, you said, “I’ll get on the table, but I want to know why you grabbed my ass.”

“Maybe I grabbed it because I'm an ass man; happen to like yours.” Your bestfriend told you with mirth twinkling in his baby blues, only to walk over to the counter to grab what he needed.

“I thought men liked boobs?” You asked while making your way over to the examination table.

“Oh, I like tits too.” Coriolanus stated, in a tone that was too cheerful for the atmosphere of the sterile lab, while pulling a pair of latex gloves out of a box that was on the counter. The loud sound of latex snapping as he pulled on the gloves echoed throughout the room. “Tits and ass. Good ole T&A does it for me.” Coryo joked, trying to cut the tension in the room, as you nervously sat down on the table.

As you adjusted yourself on the table, placing your legs in the stirrups, you heard your best friend ask you, “Do you want me to use the lube or to get you wet the old fashioned way?”, from his place across the room at the counter.

“What?” You asked, your eyes nearly popping out of your head. He couldn't mean?...

“Jesus, Y/N, please tell me you've played with your pussy before. Cause if not…this is going to be one hell of an experience for you.”

“Coriolanus! This isn't something ladies talk about to their gentleman friends.” You scolded him.

Coryo decided to forgo the bottle of lube, opting to just grab the large vibrating wand. Making his way over to you, he said, “That mindset’s why I had to help Dr. Gaul invent a damn vibrator. Because sex's so taboo to talk about in the Capitol.” Coming to a stop at the lab table, he placed the vibrator down on the sheet, right below your spread legs. 

“I’ve spent some time in the districts, as you know while serving as a Peacekeeper, so I don't share the same close minded views when it comes to such things.” Coriolanus explained while walking up the length of the table. Stopping where your wrists were, he explained, “I'm not trying to embarrass you, Y/N. I want you to enjoy this thing I've got to test out. And in order for you to do that, I need to know if you've touched yourself before. I need to know if you know what to expect, what to feel.”

“Fine…I’ll answer you.” You gave in while your best friend strapped down your left wrist.

The platinum blonde arched a brow, his hand resting resting on your right wrist, as he waited on baited breath for your answer.

An answer of, “Yes, I've played with myself before. There, you happy now?” 

“See, it wasn't so hard to tell me that. Now was it?” Your best friend remarked while strapping in your right wrist. He stroked your hair and pressed a kiss to your forehead, “I'll make sure you're nice and wet before we begin. Just relax and enjoy the experiment.”

Coriolanus, true to his word, made sure that you were wet. He used the rough pad of his thumb to circle and tease your clit. He didn't apply to much pressure, just enough to get you moist. 

Coriolanus wanted you to enjoy this, but he wanted to make your pussy weep and flood juices from the vibrations of the wand. He could always drive you crazy with his hand another time.

And there’s going to be endless moments between you two after tonight.

“I'm going to start the experiment now. Okay, darling?” Coryo told you, picking up the vibrator and turning it onto the lowest setting.

“Okay.” You nodded. 

“Just relax for me.” He instructed before pressing the buzzing wand to your clit.

The light vibration against your clit felt good. So good in fact, that you let out a tiny whimper.

“See, I knew you'd like this.” Your best friend said, only to turn the vibrator up another notch.

“Mmmm…Coryo…” Your breath hitched up in a tiny whine. The slight chance in speed against your clit sent wetness to pool from your pussy.

“You're doing good, my little dove.” Coriolanus praised while teasing your pussy with the vibrator.

Without warning, he turned it up to the third level. He pressed it hard against your clit, needing to see you cum. He craved the sight of your pussy gushing for him. And he'd keep amping up the speed of the vibrator to do it.

And the large industrial vibrator had 10 speed settings. 

So…

You were in for a long night.

“Oh my God! Coryo!” You moaned, the vibrations of the third setting on your clit driving you closer to cumming. 

“Feels good “ Coryo stated with a smug grin on his face.

“Yes.” You nodded. Your legs, spread wide in the stirrups, began to tense up as you mewled, “Feels so good, Coryo. So, so good.” Your pussy began to spasm as you cried out, “I-I m gonna cum, Coryo.”

“Be a good girl and cum for me.” Your best friend told you, holding the vibrator firmly against your twitching clit. “Cum right now. Do it, cum like the little slut you are.”

You didn't know if it was the vibrations against your clit or the dirty, demanding words Coriolanus told you, but all of a suddenly you were cumming with a moan. 

Coriolanus’ icy blue eyes shined in excitement as he watched your juices flow out of your pussy as you came. Oh, he thought you looked so beautiful. He could stare at your soaked, leaky cunt for hours. 

You thought that your best friend would turn the vibrator off, unstrap you from the table, and end the experiment with the vibrating wand, but he didn't. In fact, Coriolanus turned it up another notch. 

“Coryo, I already came. You gotta stop.” You told him, trying not to let out a high pitched wine, as your clit began to throb. 

“Sorry, baby, but we're not stopping until all 10 speeds are tested.” The platinum told you, a mischievous smirk on his lips. Adjusting the pressure he was using to hold the vibrator against your clit, he simply said, “We're only on the 4th speed.”

“Oh no…”  You trailed off in a broken moan.

“Oh yes!” He mocked, watching your pussy as it began to pool once more. “Perhaps I should turn it up?” Coryo asked while turning up the speed.

“Coryo!” You screamed as your second orgasm hit you, causing your pussy to spasm and squirt juices onto the lab table you’re on.

“Oh, so you're a squirter?” Coryo asked, a wide smile on his face, as his eyes locked onto yours from his place between your pussy.

If you weren't so blissed out right now you'd be embarrassed. 

“I'm going to turn the speed up again, see if we can get you squirting some more.”

“Oh, God, Coryo. Please, please, stop. No more, I'm too sensitive.” You begged, feeling like you couldn't handle any more.

Coriolanus did something you weren't expecting. He stretched out his arm and took your hand in his, holding it. “I know, you're sensitive, baby girl, but you can do this. I know you can go all the 10 speeds for me.”

“Coryo.” You whimpered, lower back arching in an attempt to get away from the vibrations assaulting your puffy, swollen clit.

“Y/N, baby, calm down. You can do this; I wouldn't put you thru this if you couldn't.” Coriolanus told you while cranking the speed up once more.

Coriolanus loves seeing you overstimulated and thrashing about on the table for him as he talking you thru everything. But, his pants were starting to tighten. He needed to fuck you and fast, so that's why he decided to switch the vibrator to level 6 so quickly instead of teasing you.

“Coryo, please, please.” You begged, but for what you didn't even know.

“What do you need, Y/N? You need to cum again?”

“Yea.” You desperately nodded as tears began to brim your eyes. “I'm so sensitive but I need to cum so bad.”

“You're such a little slut for me.” Your best friend chuckled, only to press the vibrator harder against your clit and turn it up to level 7. He adjusted the position slightly, causing you to cum with a loud scream. Once again your pussy squirted your juices everywhere. This time your thighs were wet, the table underneath you was wet, and even Coryo's shirt was soaked.

Coriolanus is positive that if he didn't have you strapped down then you would've flown right up off the lab table.

“I know you're sensitive, but I know you have one more in you. Can you give me one more, baby girl? Hmm?” Coriolanus cooed, stroking your hand with his long fingers as he turned the vibrator up to the next level.

“I dunno, Coryo.” You sighed, feeling listless, as you felt even faster vibrations against your too sensitive and swollen pearl. Your pussy’s quivering and your asshole’s clenching from the overstimulation you're feeling. Tears rolled down your cheeks as you cried, “I-I’m aching so bad, Coryo. I need something more, but I'm so sensitive.”

Coryo knew just what you needed. Your body was craving his cock. And, honestly, his cock was painfully rock hard from watching you that he's going to be stuffing you full once he's made you come again from the vibrator.

“You need my cock, Y/N.” Coriolanus told you, matter of factly. “Don't worry, once we're done, I'll flip you over and fuck you.” 

“I'm a virgin, Coryo. I'm supposed to be saving myself for my future husband.” You informed him. You couldn't just sleep with him, you had to stay pure. What would your future husband think if you were already used up on your wedding night. If there wasn't any blood on your thighs to signal that he was the only one to claim your purity as his prize.

“You've done that, darling. You've stayed pure for me, but I can't wait any longer to have you.”

Your toes began to curl and your fingers were clenching into fists as you felt a hot, unbearable tingling began to build up inside of you, despite how overstimulated and sore your clit was. “You want to marry me?” You asked, more like moaned, as Coriolanus turned the vibrator up to the 9th level.

Your nails dug into his left hand as your pain began to turn into pleasure once more. Coriolanus thought you were so beautiful like this. Spread out before him, helpless and to his mercy. All fucked out, begging for things you didn't even know you wanted or needed- until now. 

Oh, and the unorthodox marriage proposal was the icing on the cake for the platinum blonde man. Made this night all the more special. “Of course I want to marry you, Y/N. I'd be a fool not too.”

Tears blurred your vision, sticking to your lashes, as you wailed, “Coryo, please, this is too much.” 

“You're doing such a good job for me, darling.” Coriolanus praised you, causing warmth to pool in your lower belly. “Just one more speed and it'll all be over, baby girl. Just one more for me, yea?” Coriolanus assured you as his lust blown eyes raked over your writhing form that was strapped down.

“Okay. Just one more.” You agreed, causing him to turn the vibrator onto the last setting.

The 10th speed. 

The vibrations sent a harsh jolt straight to your core. You became an overstimulated, babbling mess. Your head thrashed, your pussy spasmed, your asshole clenched, your legs shook, and your eyes were literally blinded with tears. The feeling was oh so much. It was both euphoria and hell at the same time. The pain ebbed into pleasure, a white hot pleasure that seemed impossible to reach.

And before you knew it, you were cumming hard with Coryo's name on your lips like a prayer.

Coryo quickly turned off the vibrator and tossed it to the side. The large wand crashed into something, but he didn't care. He just needed to get you unstrapped so he could fuck your 5th orgasm into you.

Fuck, he was so hard and needed your cunt so bad. 

Quickly, Coriolanus pulled your legs out of the stirrups and lowered tje metal things down to the sides of the table. Then he rushed up to the top of the table. To free your arms.

You were panting and fluttering your eyelashes, attempting to see thru all of your tears, as your best friend quickly unbuckled your wrist straps. “You did such a good job for me, baby.” Coriolanus praised you. Kissing you on the forehead, as your newly freed arms limply lay by your side, he asked, “Can you sit up for me or are you too fucked out?”

“I dunno, Coryo.” You honestly told him. Your body was numb with pleasure, so you had no idea if you could sit or not.

“Shit, did I break you?” He asked, pride laced in his baritone, as he helped you to sit up.

“I’m fine, just feel a bit numb’s all.” You told him, pressing your face against his chest as he held you. 

“Yea, you're too fucked out.” Coriolanus proudly chuckled.

Lifting your head up to look at him, you innocently asked, “Why's your shirt all wet for, Coryo?”

“That's all you, little dove.” He told you while petting your hair. “You came so hard; soaked everything near that pretty little pussy of yours.”

“Oh…” You buried your face in his chest. You were embarrassed; afraid of his reaction to you cumming so messily. “That's never happened before when I- you know- while alone in bed.” You admitted, hoping that he wouldn't think you were weird or something for making such a mess.

Coriolanus found your innocence to be cute. You were embarrassed about the spectacular show you put on for him.

And only him.

Because you've never made yourself squirt before.

Pride swelled in his chest at the mere fact that he had you squirting over and over again.

Him.

“Y/N, my dove, what you did was natural. It was very special too.”

“It was?” You asked, lifting your head to look up at him.

“Yea.” Coryo nodded. “Not everyone can squirt.” He explained with a smile. Pressing his forehead against yours and bringing your hand to cup the large bulge in his too tight pants, he said, “I need to fuck you so bad. Make you mine, Y/N.”

You palmed his bulge, causing him to let out a strangled moan. “Did you mean it when you said that I don't have to wait anymore? That you’ll marry me without my virginity?”

“Y/N, my darling rose, of course I'm going to marry you.” Coriolanus told you with a firm certainly in his voice as he cupped your face in his large, calloused hands. “I’m the one taking your virginity and I'm the one that's marrying you, so the order of the two doesn't really matter.” He told you in a tone that was too sweet, perhaps even on the verge of manipulative. 

Coriolanus kissed you, his lips pressing against yours in a passionate, bruising force. You were taken back by the kiss, but quickly responded to it by melding your lips with his. It felt like he was sucking all of the air out of your lungs as he kissed you.

Breaking the kiss, his lips ghosted yours as he swore, “I'll bring you home with me tonight after we fuck and tomorrow I'll go talk to the general; tell him about our engagement.”

“I'm going to need a ring.” You reminded him, a small smile on your lips.

“I'll tell Grandma’am I'm ready to give you her heirloom ring in the morning. She'll know what that means.” Coriolanus assured you while picking you up and bending you over the lab table. Unbuckling his belt and unzipping his pants, he warned, “This is going to be quick.” You heard his pants pool around his ankles as he told you. “You’ll enjoy it, but I'm too hard and you're too stimulated for me to drag this out too long.” 

Coryo quickly pulled down his boxers, causing his cock to slap against his stomach. “Hold onto the edge of the table, Y/N.” He instructed, grasping his dick and giving it a few pumps.

 Looking over your shoulder, as he lined his angry red tip at your soaking wet entrance, you asked, “Is this going to hurt, Coryo? I heard it hurts the first time.”

“With how your hole’s sloppy and dripping, my cock’ll easily slip in. The stretch might burn, but it won't hurt.” He explained before pushing into you.

You bit your lower lip as you felt his large cock stretch out your tight walls. It stung a bit, like he said it would, but it wasn't painful. Not like some of the rumors you heard.

“Such a good girl for me, baby.” Coriolanus praised you. Continuing to push himself into your tight, wet heat, he pressed a kiss to your spine (a part that was exposed by the gap in your medical gown) and cooed, “You're taking me so well.” His breath was hot against your skin as he assured you, “Just a little bit more and I'll be balls deep, Y/N.”

Coryo and you both let out little moans whenever he bottomed out. He felt so good inside of you. You felt so full, and it fanned the flames of your desire for him. And Coriolanus felt that being sheathed in your tight, wet warmth was heaven. The feeling of your cunt gripping his cock was better than anything he could've ever imagined. 

When he pulled his hips back, causing his cock to deliciously drag against your walls, and pushed them forward, driving his cock deep inside of you; hitting your special spot deep within you, you let out a delighted scream. 

“That's it, let me hear you scream for me, my good little slut.” Coryo told you, his hips roughly snapping against yours as he chased down both your highs.

He knew with how sensitive you were that it wouldn't take much to get you cumming. He also knew that if he pounded into you mercilessly then he'd be quickly cumming too.

“Feels so good Coryo.” You whined, clawing at the edge of the table as you felt the head of his cock press up against the spongy spot inside of you. The spot that had your cunt clenching around him.

“Fuck, your cunt's so tight. So perfect, baby.” Coryo began to babble, the feeling of your tight virgin pussy sending him into overdrive. He swears, it feels as if your cunt was made for his cock. It fit him like a glove. A perfect fit. Squeezes him just right, takes him without any problems.

Coriolanus was pussydrunk on your perfect pussy. A pussy that he was claiming as his.

And only he's allowed to pound your pussy. Paint its walls white with his cum.

You let out a loud shriek when you felt his cum heavy balls slap against your oversensitive clit. That only causes him to dig his long fingers harder into your hips and piston even harder into you. 

The lewd sound of your cunt loudly squelching paired with skin slapping skin and your loud moans filled the lab. The lab table beneath you was shaking from how hard Coriolanus was fucking you from behind. But you were so out of it with pleasure that you were worried around the table flipping over.

And even if it did, that wouldn't stop the platinum blonde from fucking into you like his life depended on it. No, he'd just keep pounding your pussy.

“You feel close.” Coriolanus gritted out as his fast paced movements got sloppier. “I'm close too, baby.”

“I’m gonna cum, Coryo. I-I’m gonna cum.” You announced in a mewl, your hips pushing back against his in a desperate attempt to chase your release.

“Me too. Me too.” Coryo told you while bending his body over yours, pressing his chest flush against your back, and grabbing your hands with his while rutting into you as quickly as he could. "Fuck, I'm gonna fill you up with my cum. Fuck a baby in you; show everyone yours mine."

All you could do was let out a string of babbled broken cries as Coriolanus had you cumming for the 5th time. And as your cunt tightly clenched him, he made a couple more sloppy thrusts before shooting his hot, thick ropes of cum into your womb.

Coriolanus laid on top of you, holding you as his cock was still buried inside of your pussy. He let go of your hand, only to grab your jaw and bring your head up towards his. Using his thumb, he wrenched your jaw open, only to hover his lips above your parted ones and spit into your mouth. The feel of it was disgusting, unnatural even, but without even thinking twice you swallowed his spit.

Coriolanus’ baby blues sparkle with possessiveness as he watches you swallow down his spit as if it was fine wine. Caressing your jaw, he told you, “You're not just my best friend, Y/N. You're my girl.”

His girl. That made your insides melt. You’ve always wanted to be his girl. You've always loved him.

And now you're his girl.

FINALLY

His girl.

“I'll help you get dressed in a minute, then we'll go home.” He told you before leaning in to give you a kiss.

“Okay.” You whispered against his lush lips. 

Oh, how you couldn't wait for him to take you home with him. Where you belong.

Tags: @kuroosbby001 @purriteen @poppyflower-22 @meetmeatyourworst @whipwhoops @bxtchopolis @readingthingsonhere @savagenctzen @ryswritingrecord @erikasurfer @tulips2715 @universal-s1ut @thesmutconnoisseur @squidscottjeans @sudek4l @wearemadeofstardust0 @mashiromochi @gracieroxzy @belcalis9503 @shari-berri @aoi-targaryen @whiteoakoak @spear-bearing-bi-witch @gisellesprettylies @loverandqueenofdragons @qoopeeya @mfnqueen1 @permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88 @v-love @swiftieblyth

[taraa-dactyl]

𝖀𝖓𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖎𝖈𝖗𝖔𝖘𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖘

Masterlist

A/N -> Horny on main for this mf, heads up idk how to write steamy scenes and this is slightly unedited because im writing this at 5am.

Pairing -> Jake Sully x f!Reader

Summary -> Set during the events of Avatar (2009) Jake Sully is your escort through the forest as you complete fieldwork, he unknowingly comes into contact with a potent plant that causes ruts in Na’vi.

Warnings -> nsfw, p in v, cunnilingus, sex pollen, not enemies to lovers but nuisance to lovers, Na’vi!Jake x Human reader, ruts. MDNI

word count -> 2.6K

You’d been swamped since your return back to work, taking two weeks for yourself was definitely worth it to protect your sanity and reduce the chances of a burn out. However, now in an attempt to make up for the work you had missed you found yourself working late nights and early mornings, nose practically pressed to your tablet as you wrote up papers on your samples. 

You were finally given the green light to complete your own fieldwork on the condition that you had an escort with you at all times, most commonly an avatar driver. Norm was good company because you were able to bond over your mutual passion for science and the Na’vi culture. You did tend to grow exasperated when he monitored and micromanaged your work, committed to doing your work by the book, rules set by the RDA. 

Grace was way too busy to babysit you as you picked and trifled different plants and herbs, when she could be connecting with the Omatikayan people. Which left you with Jake, the perfect candidate as he was not only an avatar driver but also had a military background. 

It wasn’t that the two of you didn’t get along but you tended to butt heads over your work, he didn’t understand why your field of research was botany when scientists could be better utilised studying and researching the Omatikaya, clearly a connection and new respect for the people had formed since training with Neytiri.

Obviously he had no room to talk as he wasn’t even a scientist but that didn’t prevent him from voicing his opinions, which was definitely exacerbated by Grace and Norm’s allegiance to you.

Which brought you to this, trudging through the forest following the map downloaded on your tablet with a disgruntled ten foot tall Jake grumpily following behind you, muttering to himself about how he clearly knew more about the Na’vi because of his connection with the clan, despite you having years of training and study before you were allowed to go on the mission. Egotistical asshole. 

There was no arguing with Jake because it seemed like no matter what you said to him to defend yourself was met with laughter, clearly enjoying riling you up and getting a reaction out of you. Skxáwng didn’t feel like a strong enough word for him. 

“Are you nearly done, I need to check in with Grace before I go train with Neytiri. We’ve been out here for nearly an hour, surely you have everything you need by now.” He’s borderline whining as he playfully swats overhanging leaves out of his way.

“Calm your damn tits, I’m nearly done, it just takes a while to actually extract the samples.” You huff out with a roll of your eyes.

“Ugh I don’t have time for this, I’m supposed to go hunting with some of the warriors today.” His whining is endless, you think to yourself.

You attempt to stifle your anger with a sharp inhale. 

“You are more than welcome to leave, so I can get this done in peace. Besides, Hell’s Gate is nearby.”

“Mmm, actually I can’t. In case you haven’t noticed Grace will have me by the balls if I just leave you out here. Also you’re practically defenceless out here.” His patronising ends with a snort.

Unimpressed, you side eye him. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, you may have an Avatar body but you're still human underneath that.” He doesn’t want to admit that it causes a pang within him.

He doesn’t respond, just walks past you to lead the way, pulling a rather large branch out of the way, waiting for you to walk through.

You finally set your equipment at the base of a tree where unruly moss sprouts and prepare your tools to harvest it.  

Jake continues to babble on behind you voicing his dissatisfaction and urges you to hurry up. You ignore the grunt he lets out when he sags to the floor, which soon turns to exaggerated sighing. You’re so focused on your work that you don’t notice when he runs his fingers over the plants around him with abandon. A patch of cerulean blue growths hidden from your view when you first walked into the clearing are the first thing he touches, enjoying the texture on his fingers as he picks at it and rubs it between his thumb and forefinger. 

You only pull out of the trance that you find yourself in when focusing when his sighing ceases, the sudden silence a forewarning. 

Jake stifles the urge to burst out laughing when he sees the size of your widened eyes, almost bursting out of their sockets.

“What? I’m letting you focus.” The blue coats his fingers now.

“Oh my god.”

“Oh my god what?” His prominent eyebrows knit together.

“Oh my god.”

He’s alarmed now. “Can you say anything other than oh my god?”

“Jake those are microspores, why would you touch a random plant?” Your voice is a whisper as you stare at him in disbelief.

“Eh it’s fine, it’s just a random plant.” He shrugs.

“No! It’s not fine, that random plant has spores on it that can trigger Na’vi ruts!” You exclaim, thumb and forefingers pinched together as you enunciate each word. His understanding of the situation dawns on him. 

“You mean- like the horny animal thing?” Not how you would describe it but you nod anyway.

You voice your thoughts as they run through your mind. “Okay, okay, I’ll take you to Grace-no what could she possibly do? Maybe the Tsahik or healers, surely they have a treatment to prevent it. Ok, yes.” You nod in finality.

Your tools are swiftly packed away as you usher Jake towards Hometree with urgency. He follows you blindly as you drag him by the forearm, he’s careful to slow his steps so he doesn’t bump into you. 

You find yourselves jogging through the forest with abandon, no longer attempting to clear branches and debris from the path. Jake’s steps begin to slow as you’re about halfway to Hometree and you glance back in confusion. 

“I don’t think you understand the severity of your predicament, we have to get you to the Tsahik before it kicks in.” You tug on his arm in an attempt to get him moving again. When you turn to face him, his large chest is heaving in an attempt to get enough air to his lungs. 

He licks his lips and breaks it to you with a shaky sigh, “I- I won’t get there in time, listen to me closely I need you to get to the Tsahik and tell her what is happening, tell her I sent you and ask for an escort back to Hell’s Gate.”

“What! No, c’mon we’re almost there.” Your confusion is palpable.  

He says your name to gather your attention. “If you don’t leave now, I won’t be able to control myself…around you.” He’s hesitant to add the end of the sentence.

You don’t budge, mind already made up.

“Jake, I’m not leaving you. we’ll work something out, surely a hunter or someone wandering will find us.” You’re urging him to go along with you.

His lips part and quiver as he finds the words to say. “I’m…out of time, it’s starting. If you don’t go now I will not be able to restrain myself.” 

You double down on your stance and come to a decision, “Fine, then don’t, because I’m not leaving.” You hold eye contact in the hopes he will understand your meaning. Thankfully he does.

He attempts to say something but quickly abandons it, bending at the waist to pull you close to him, chests flush together. His glazed eyes stare into yours hazy with lust, a final questioning for permission. A searing and hungry kiss is all he needs before his palm grasps your jaw, in an effort to deepen the kiss. Your lips part, his tongue enters and you’re hyper aware of your shared breaths mingling and intertwining with one and other. 

You’re almost embarrassed by how quickly you feel the effects of Jake in your senses, his masculine scent invades your nose, comforting and enticing all at once. You’re almost dizzy from his strong chest and muscled arms pulling you as close as possible. Weak knees force you to rely on him to hold you up and keep you from toppling over, surrendering to his hold. You’re thankful you can’t form Tsaheylu because he would feel the immediate reaction the stimulation has on you, nipples swelling and pressing against the thin material of your shirt, a slick wetness growing between your folds. 

He’s hesitant to pull apart from the kiss, finally concedes and forces the words out. “This is not how I wanted to do this. I wanted to take you out, wanted to take care of you.” He’s distracted by your lips, his breaths puff against your swollen lips. You glance up at him in confusion but let the thought go when he delves back into you.

He cups your cheeks gently as he plants all the passion and lust he’s clouded with onto you. You're forced to hold onto the backs of his hands as he walks you backwards till you’re leaving against the smooth bark of a tree. 

Now that you have some stability he parts from your body, planting kisses down the slopes of your face arriving at the innermost sensitive skin of your neck. He kisses, nips and suckles causing your eyes to fall shut once again and you can’t control the breathy gasps and quiet moans that escape through your parted lips.

Your head thumps back against the bark resulting in Jake’s new focus being your heaving breasts, that he has to admit look enticing. He abandons his task and is quick to grope at them before giving up and scrambling to pull the hem of your cotton shirt up and over your head. The folds of your skin and weight of your breasts jostle, he takes a moment to take in your form in all of its glory. Soft and delicate in comparison to his hardened warrior physique. 

His plump lips attach to your perked nipple, sucking and licking over and over until the sensitivity takes a hold of you, producing a moan from you. You want to smack him when you feel his lips quirk into a smirk, instead settling on running through the long tresses of his hair, groping and palming his queue. He whimpers, and now it’s your turn to smirk. Large hands trace down your ribs then stomach, kneading and pushing into the skin.

He pulls away from you, swiftly dropping to his knees, now level with your crotch. He looks up at you sending you a comforting smile that turns cheeky when he slides his hands around and gives your ass a squeeze. You blush and can’t suppress the shy smile that takes over your features.

You want to laugh and simultaneously aw while he scrambles to untie your boots and slide them off your feet.

All his focus is put on pulling your belt open and popping the button of your tactical pants, promptly sliding them and your underwear down your legs and holding the backs of each calf as you step out of them. 

Finally bare in front of him, he places a wet kiss to the space above your mound and slinks down to lick up your slit, lapping up and down before finally landing where you want him. Darting his tongue in fast circles on your clit and sucking softly which changes pace every so often. He continues on the seconds trickling into minutes before finally pulling away, your slick stringing from his lips. He goes back to pepper a few more kisses along your pussy, before pulling away again with a shake of his head.

“No, I’m going to have you around my cock when you cum.” There’s no room for argument when he pulls at you and moulds you into the position he wants. Your back is pressed into the forest floor, legs pulled apart and bent. His patience wears thin and is apparent when he pulls roughly at the ties of his loincloth, removing the offending material. He spreads the sticky fluid around the tip of his cock and pumps it, hips stuttering into his fist.

You’re entranced by the stripped pattern around his member, large and pulsating and prepare yourself.

The spores have full control of him now desperation and lust all culminating in him yanking you further closer to him by your thighs, he finally has you where he wants you. He slides his cock against your sticky folds, grinding on you before pulling back and aligning his head with your entrance. 

As he pushes in slowly, careful to not hurt you, the stretch is delicious pulling a loud high-pitched moan from deep within you. Heat flares all over your body, your eyes close in ecstasy as he pushes further and further into your wet heat. When he bottoms out and your clit is flush with his skin you take in a breath in an attempt to compose yourself. 

Slow pumps in and out give away, he’s unstoppable now, a brutal place that reminds you he’s under the effect of this carnal rut. He burrows into your neck placing more kisses across your glistening skin.

A resounding wet pap occurs every time he pushes back in, slick and sweat coats both of your skin, blending together, and you don’t know where he ends and you begin. He’s everything you’ve ever known and all you want, there are no words to describe the passion and connection you feel, undoubtedly reciprocated by him.

Grunts and moans echo throughout the immense forest, pure pleasure and fulfilment between the two of you. You’re hiding your face in his neck, it does nothing to muffle your moans and unrelenting gasps. 

You both make the steady climb to the apex of your orgasms, pleasure building steadily in the pit of your stomach as he hits the soft spot deep in you over and over, pushing you closer and closer to the edge. 

He reads you so easily. “I’m not pulling out.” There’s no room for argument, though realistically you don’t have one.

All you can do is nod against him as you stammer out that you’re close.

You finally reach your peak, pulsing and clenching around his cock, somehow more slick runs down his length and a long drawn out moan is inescapable. You look up at him wanting to memorise the lines and groves of his face, the white dots and freckles spread across the bridge of his nose. He stares deep into your glassy eyes and lets out a stuttering breath, eyebrows raising when he joins you at the peak. 

Warmth spreads within you as his hips stutter against you, gasping breaths intermingling, enjoying the remnants of the shared orgasm. 

When you both stop grinding and moving against one another's body, you remain like that, coiled within each other soaking up the aftermath. When he’s ready to move, he pulls out with a final deep groan, potent seed slowly dripping out of your sensitive cunt and trickles down to your puckered asshole.

“Beautiful.” He mutters with appreciation.

You untangle from one another and he shapes your malleable form onto your side and settles behind you, face nestling into your neck, sweat cooling. You both lie there in the afterglow, clouded with pleasure and slight surprise about what just occurred. He places another kiss to the notch at the back of your neck, sighing in content. 

After a couple of minutes lying there basking in the exaltation, you break the silence. 

“What did you mean this isn’t how you wanted it to go?”

The haze of his rut has subsided, and he’s finally able to conceive a coherent thought. He chuckles before answering, “I was gonna wine and dine you, that is when I could grow up and stop annoying you.” 

“I’m definitely a lot less annoyed with you now.”

[shiyorin]

Mournival but they are your college roommate

No one asked it but I need to share that :v

Ezekyle Abaddon

Comes to school with a huge duffel bag and toolbox. When you ask what's in it, he just smiles and says "tools." You don't ask anymore.

Always blasting really aggressive rap/metal music super loud. His top jam is "Back in Black" by AC/DC on repeat.

Leaves his dirty laundry everywhere but his bed is always perfectly made with tight hospital corners.

You're pretty sure you saw him behind the wheel of a rusty black van late at night, but the school won't investigate strange disappearances.

Loves party games but is way too competitive. No one wants to play Mario Kart with him anymore after "the incident".

Constantly gets in fights at parties but never seems to get in trouble. Cops take one look at him and just shake their heads like "not dealing with this tonight".

Always standing shirtless in the room doing calisthenics. Claims he's cultivating mass but you think he's just trying to intimidate the RA.

Somehow accumulated the world's biggest knife collection despite the no weapons policy. Admin turns a blind eye for fear of their safety.

Tries to get you to join his intramural flag football team, the "Black Crusaders". They go way too hard and half the other teams have dropped out.

Somehow has a 4.0 GPA while seeming preoccupied with "more important things." Howwww.

Tarik Torgaddon

Brings way too much beer to your first Friday night dorm party. Claims "Bro always shares his drinks!"

Leaves practical jokes everywhere - who put googly eyes on the toothbrushes?!

Always trying to get you to join the campus meme lodge with him. "Come on, it'll be fun! We just post poorly photoshopped history professors, I swear."

Never cleans the mini-fridge. Wonders why mystery science experiments started growing in there.

Burns popcorn at 3am trying to make "late night snacks." Fires the fire alarm and you both get written up.

Steals your lounging spot in the common room to "hold court" and tell loud stories to anyone who will listen.

Hogs the bathroom for hours getting ready to "go out in style" on the weekends. Comes back drenched and you don't wanna know from what.

Leaves you in charge of the dorm when he goes home for breaks. Comes back to three keggers you "somehow forgot" to tell him about.

Somehow always tests positive for COVID right before big exams. You're 95% sure he's faking to get out of studying.

He's a really fun dude and always has your back. Gonna miss this guy after graduation!

Garviel Loken

He wakes up at 6am every morning to do pushups and calisthenics in your room.

Never seen him drink or party. That one time you tried to get him to come to a frat party he responded with "Nah bro I gotta hit the hay early, lifting at 6 am."

Tries to get you to join the campus military re-enactment club. Insists you could benefit from "some discipline and camaraderie".

Cooking? You thought you were the one making ramen but he shows up with a whole homecooked meal like beef wellington from scratch. "My friend Tarik taught me."

That one time the fire alarm went off at 3am? He carried you and your mini fridge down the stairs in one go."

Always does his dishes immediately after using them. Not one speck of food left. The clean freak we all need but don't deserve.

Super into his classes, always studying. You often find him making color-coded notecards at 3am under his desk lamp.

Somehow still finds time to join every club and sport. Is president of the book club, captain of the ultimate frisbee team, volunteers at the animal shelter on weekends.

Has a strict 9pm lights out bedtime. You've tried stay up late to play game but he just throws a pillow at you look and says "some of us have 6ams."

Somehow always has cute girls knocking on your door asking "is Garrie there?". The chad energy is real.

Horus Aximand

The second you meet him you're like "Woah this dude looks EXACTLY like the frat bro president."

Helps you move in but 'accidentally' gets protective plating mixed in with your clothes and snacks. Whoops!

Forms LARP club which is really just him and 3 (actually 4) other guys who are all as intense as he is.

Constantly blasting Sabaton songs from his speaker. Claims it's for "battle prepping" but we all know he just loves some power metal.

Bonding over late night games of Smash Bros while deep in the existential crisis of your freshman year.

Always wears matching sweatsuits with "Little Horus" embroidered on the chest. Claims it's his sport team uniform but you've never seen him play any sports.

Making you try all the experimental protein shakes he conjures up in the mini fridge. You're scared but don't want to hurt his feelings. So many regrets.

Finding mysterious used bandages around the room. He swears they're from "glorious battles" but they're really just from the intramural dodgeball games.

That one time the fire alarm went off and he tried to purge it with a flamer.

Always "forgetting" he can lift a textbook one-handed and showing off to the swole bros.

[khazadspoon]

I know MGS isn't your main fandom any more but...VQuiet plus Bakery AU? 👀

sings I Will Always Love You to MGS

This is such a cute idea and I love it!!!!!!! Here you go!

———

Waking up while the world still sleeps is one of the best parts of his day. He rolls out of the bed, eats breakfast, showers, and descends the stairs to the bakery before the sun has even tried to reach the horizon.

The delivery guys are always on time and they always appreciate his help getting the flour and sugar and myriad of other ingredients into the storage area. They don’t mind that he doesn’t talk much. Some of them come by later after their shift for pastries and loaves kept to one side. He knows it isn’t the best thing for his business’ profits, but he enjoys giving them a discount. A few good deeds to make up for past mistakes, perhaps. A small price to pay for smiles and camaraderie.

After his accident and medical discharge from the military, V had struggled to find a way in the civilian world. The prosthesis he had been given is top of the line and he is grateful for it, but the adjustment was… difficult at best. Now, after nearly ten years as a civvy and five as a baker, he can knead dough one handed better than most can with two. More importantly, he loves the process.

Baking isn’t like cooking, it’s a science. You need the correct ratios, the right temperatures; precise measurements and perfect conditions are what make it more than ‘just baking’. V has spent years perfecting and developing recipes to sell and eat. Most of them are pretty good. Some are incredible. He doesn’t boast, doesn’t enter competitions or ask for accolades, but he thinks he does a good job.

The bakery has a small seating area and a coffee machine. Locals and visitors buy something, grab a drink, and watch the world go by. Sometimes V does the same after the early morning rush and before the late morning baking for afternoon display.

More often than not, she comes in.

He doesn’t know her name, only that she likes patisserie and hates dried fruit. She’ll buy a Belgian bun and pick out the sultanas and raisins but scoop the icing up with her finger until the plate is clean. She doesn’t speak, only points at the item she wants for the morning and only drinks tea from the machine.

She always comes in alone. She always has her hair up in a ponytail. She always stays at least twenty minutes after finishing her treat, alternating between staring out of the window and watching him ferry his goods between the kitchen and the storefront.

Sometimes she smiles at him and he knows it will be a good day.

Today he has finally adjusted the black pepper ratio in a strawberry jam to perfection. He pipes it into neat lines, sandwiches delicate pastry with it and Chantilly cream, and carefully places one on a plate for her after she’s finished a toasted tea cake (the raisins dutifully lined up on the edge of the plate waiting for disposal).

“Here,” he says with a voice rough from disuse, “try this for me, on the house.”

She glances at him, frowns for a second, and he marvels for the thousandth time at how that frown makes her seem more beautiful than ever. She takes a bite, one hand cupped under her chin to catch any crumbs, and her eyes light up. V watches in satisfaction as she savours the treat, carefully using her finger to collect any stray jam or cream. She hums, nods, and gives him a thumbs up.

He thinks he might be in love.

[mirandamckenni1]

Every Argument For Atheism Get all sides of every story and be better informed at https://ift.tt/1ZIgksq. Subscribe for 30% off unlimited access or try it for less than $1 this month. To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://ift.tt/kmWpqFa To donate to my PayPal (thank you): https://ift.tt/3CfF2dl - VIDEO NOTES Responding to @redeemedzoomer6053's "ALL atheist arguments answered in 10 minutes". - LINKS Redeemed Zoomer's original video: https://youtu.be/k02_gcrsnLs?si=N0FCDkpaSEQzWA9R Behind the Gospels: https://ift.tt/hXLkH9I Did Jesus Claim to be God? (podcast): https://youtu.be/2STiabRV8TE?si=caWFTFDon2PRTMyM How the Bible Supports Slavery (podcast): https://youtu.be/MFE_qz47zjY?si=bZLAaIEIyc1tDcpH - TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Religion causes wars 1:30 People do evil in the name of religion 2:58 If you lived elsewhere, you’d be an atheist 4:06 How do you know which religion is true? 4:21 There’s no scientific evidence for God 6:06 Demonic possession 10:15 The Bible has contradictions 13:49 The Gospels are anonymous 15:35 The Gospels misquote Jesus 17:26 Jesus never claimed to be God 19:25 Mythological development 21:10 The Bible supports slavery 24:39 The “Slave Bible” 25:42 Christians supported slavery 27:10 God kills people in the Bible 27:39 Atheist countries are more prosperous 28:48 I just believe in one less god 29:16 Who created God? 29:56 Science disproves God 31:35 God of the gaps 32:30 The problem of evil 35:19 What if God is evil? 36:18 Can God create a rock so heavy he can’t lift it? 37:52 Why does evil exist at all? 38:52 Religion is just wishful thinking 40:39 Psychology/neuroscience explains religion 41:38 Drug trips show spiritual experiences are from the brain 42:05 Jesus is a copy of Horus 42:16 Faith is opposed to reason 43:12 Evolution proves God didn’t make the world 43:44 Christianity spread through military conquest 44:02 Constantine invented modern Christianity 44:20 Why are there so many Christian denominations? 45:00 There’s no evidence for Jesus outside the Bible 46:01 A whole universe, just for me? - SPECIAL THANKS As always, I would like to direct extra gratitude to my top-tier patrons: John Early Dmitry C. Mouthy Buddha Solaf - CONNECT My Website/Blog: https://ift.tt/4cgYU27 SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cosmicskeptic Facebook: https://ift.tt/MXCPDqv Instagram: https://ift.tt/pXBm3uh Snapchat: cosmicskeptic The Within Reason Podcast: https://ift.tt/HypZSXo - CONTACT Business email: contact@cosmicskeptic.com Or send me something: Alex O'Connor Po Box 1610 OXFORD OX4 9LL ENGLAND ------------------------------------------ via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emn-iSm1oHc

[luxuryfield]

How Elon Musk Spends His Billions @ElonMuskFanZone

How Elon Musk Spends His Billions @ElonMuskFanZone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfNbGaSKWYs How Elon Musk Spends His Billions Description: Elon Musk is a wealthy businessman, He currently has a net worth of 150 billion dollars, so discover how he spends his money on his companies, cars, mansions, planes, and much more! *Our story begins with Mushroom—a moniker used in his early entrepreneurial days. Unlike many who set sail on yachts or purchased private islands, Mushroom invested his fortune in the realms of science and technology. His influence on electric cars and dedication to space colonization have left an indelible mark. *From his early days as a 12-year-old programming enthusiast to his groundbreaking projects in the 1990s, including the creation of Zee 2 and the sale of PayPal, Musk's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. His ventures, like Tesla Motors and SpaceX, have propelled him into the limelight as one of the world's most successful and adventurous entrepreneurs. *Mushroom's foray into the automotive industry with Tesla Motors was met with challenges, but today, it stands as the most valuable automotive company globally, surpassing giants like General Motors and Ford. Meanwhile, his aerospace manufacturing company, SpaceX, achieved a milestone by sending a crew to the international space station with a reusable rocket, revolutionizing space travel. *What sets Musk apart is not just his wealth but his unyielding dedication. He once stated, 'Life is too short for long-term grudges.' His ability to move on from setbacks and focus on the next big idea has been instrumental in his success. Musk, the workaholic, clocks around 100 hours a week, dedicating his time to pushing the boundaries of technology. *Beyond the boardroom, Musk's passion extends to his personal life, evident in his diverse car collection. From his first purchase, a 1978 BMW, to a 1997 McLaren F1 and the iconic Tesla Roadster, his garage tells a tale of automotive fascination. Despite being a pioneer in electric vehicles, Musk has a soft spot for classics, including a 1920 Ford Model T. *As a billionaire, Musk's real estate portfolio has been a subject of fascination. From a $17 million mansion in Bel Air to homes in Los Angeles and San Francisco, he has shaped his living spaces to reflect his eccentric taste. However, 2021 marked a shift as he parted ways with several properties, signaling a change in priorities. *Mushroom's work-life balance, or lack thereof, is a topic of intrigue. With a net worth of around $150 billion, Musk's relentless work ethic and involvement in numerous projects leave little room for leisure. Vacations are a rarity for him, and his preferred mode of travel is often his private planes—a G650 and a military L-39 Albatros. *While Musk dedicates the majority of his time to his ventures, his philanthropic efforts should not go unnoticed. Through his Musk Foundation, he has donated over $250 million, following in the footsteps of business magnates like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. The intention to pledge a significant portion of his fortune to charity further solidifies his commitment to making a positive impact. *As we conclude this exploration into the life of Elon Musk, one thing becomes evident—his journey is far from over. With Mars exploration plans and an unwavering commitment to innovation, Musk stands as a beacon of inspiration for the next generation of dreamers. Join us in applauding the man who envisions a future where the extraordinary is just another day. Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary voyage. If you found this journey as captivating as we did, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share. Until our next exploration, this is Elon Musk's Odyssey—where the boundaries of possibility are merely a starting point. Goodbye, fellow adventurers! For Collaboration and Business inquiries, 📩 Email: luxuryfieldin@gmail.com #elonmusk #elonmusksuccess #lifestyle via luxury field https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhOMyDsJS5unW-iqcVEG7A December 24, 2023 at 05:23AM

[turbo4gproxy]

The World of Virtual Reality: Blurring the Lines Between Real and Digital

Over the past decade, virtual reality (VR) technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, ushering us into an era where the lines between the real and digital worlds are becoming increasingly blurred. In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of virtual reality, its applications across various industries, and the profound impact it has on our lives.

Understanding Virtual Reality: Immersion and Presence

Virtual reality refers to a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. It creates a sense of immersion and presence, transporting users to computer-generated environments that can be interactive and multi-sensory. Through the use of headsets and motion controllers, users can explore and interact with virtual worlds, making them an active participant rather than a mere observer.

The Evolution of Virtual Reality: From Science Fiction to Reality

Virtual reality has come a long way since its inception, evolving from the realm of science fiction to a tangible reality. Early VR systems were bulky and expensive, limiting their accessibility. However, advancements in technology have led to the development of more compact, affordable, and user-friendly VR devices, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Applications of Virtual Reality: Beyond Gaming and Entertainment

While gaming and entertainment have been prominent applications of virtual reality, the technology’s potential extends far beyond these sectors. VR is being used in educational settings, enabling immersive learning experiences that engage students and enhance understanding. It is also employed in healthcare for pain management, phobia treatments, and surgical simulations. Additionally, VR finds its use in architecture, tourism, military training, and more, revolutionizing various industries.

Enhancing Training and Skill Development: Simulations in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality has proven to be an invaluable tool for training and skill development. In fields like aviation and military, VR simulations offer a safe and controlled environment for trainees to practice their skills without real-world consequences. Medical professionals can hone their surgical techniques through realistic simulations, while athletes can improve their performance by visualizing and practicing in virtual environments tailored to their specific needs.

Virtual Travel: Exploring the World from the Comfort of Home

With virtual reality, the concept of travel has taken on a whole new dimension. Through VR, individuals can explore far-flung destinations and iconic landmarks without leaving the comfort of their homes. Virtual travel experiences not only allow access to locations that may be physically inaccessible, but they also offer a glimpse into different cultures, historical periods, and natural wonders, fostering a sense of curiosity, empathy, and global awareness.

Overcoming Limitations: Virtual Reality for Physical and Mental Well-being

Virtual reality has demonstrated its potential for improving physical and mental well-being. Individuals with mobility limitations can experience activities such as climbing mountains or skiing through VR, providing a sense of freedom and empowerment. Moreover, VR is being used for therapeutic purposes, such as treating PTSD, anxiety, and phobias, as it provides a safe environment for exposure therapy and relaxation techniques.

Ethical Considerations: Balancing the Real and Virtual Worlds

As virtual reality continues to advance, ethical considerations arise. It becomes crucial to strike a balance between the real and virtual worlds. Users must be aware of their virtual experiences not replacing or overwhelming their real-life interactions and relationships. Additionally, privacy concerns and the potential for addiction should be carefully addressed to ensure the responsible and ethical use of this powerful technology.

The Future of Virtual Reality: A Journey of Infinite Possibilities

The future of virtual reality holds infinite possibilities. As technology becomes more sophisticated, VR experiences will continue to improve, becoming more realistic and immersive. From advancements in haptic feedback and motion tracking to the integration of virtual reality with augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), the virtual world will continue to blend seamlessly with our physical reality, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Advice 1: Choose the Right VR Equipment: Quality Matters

Advice 2: Explore Diverse VR Experiences: Beyond Gaming

Advice 3: Set Boundaries: Balance Virtual and Real-world Interactions

Advice 4: Incorporate Physical Movement: Stay Active in VR

Advice 5: Engage with VR Communities: Share Experiences and Learn

Advice 6: Use VR Mindfully: Take Breaks and Assess Impact on Well-being

Advice 7: Stay Informed about VR Developments: Embrace the Evolution

Advice 8: Experiment with VR Content Creation: Unleash Your Creativity

Embrace the Power of VR for Empathy and Understanding

Conclusion: Virtual reality has transformed the way we interact with digital content, blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds. With its applications spanning across entertainment, education, healthcare, and more, VR has the potential to revolutionize various industries. As we continue to embark on this immersive journey, it is essential to navigate virtual reality mindfully, striking a balance between real and digital experiences while embracing the myriad possibilities this technology offers. The future of virtual reality is filled with incredible potential, and it is up to us to explore, innovate, and shape this exciting landscape.

[bigbloatedblueberry]

CONTRACTING THE CONTRACT

concepts in time // thesaurus synonyms, antonyms

contracting

enrollment, service, trade, avocation, craft, position

abbreviating, condensing, contraction, diminishing, reduction, expand, increase, relax, shrink, abridge

(abbreviating) deflation, confinement, withdrawal

concepts in space // etymonline

contract (v.)

late 14c., "to draw into a smaller compass, become smaller, shrink" (intransitive); early 15c. "make an agreement, enter into a contract, agree or establish to undertake mutually," from Old French contracter and directly from Latin contractus, past participle of contrahere "to draw several objects together; draw in, shorten, lessen, abridge," metaphorically "make a bargain, make an agreement," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + trahere "to draw" (see tract (n.1)). Related: Contracted; contracting.

Meaning "to acquire as by habit or contagion, become infected with" is from 1590s. Transitive sense of "make narrow, draw together the parts (of something) to cause it to shrink" is from c. 1600. Grammatical sense of "to shorten (a word or syllable) by combining or eliding concurrent elements" is from c. 1600. Transitive sense of "arrange for by contract" is from 1897.

trade (n.)

late 14c., "path, track, course of action," introduced by the Hanse merchants, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German trade "track, course" (probably originally of a ship), cognate with Old English tredan (see tread (v.)).

Sense of "one's habitual business" (1540s) developed from the notion of "way, course, manner of life" (mid-15c.); sense of "buying and selling, exchange of commodities" is from 1550s. Meaning "act of trading" is from 1829. Trade-name is from 1821; trade-route is from 1873; trade-war is from 1899. Trade union is attested from 1831. Trade wind (1640s) has nothing to do with commerce, but preserves the obsolete sense of "in a habitual or regular course."

craft (n.)

Old English cræft (West Saxon, Northumbrian), -creft (Kentish), "power, physical strength, might," from Proto-Germanic *krab-/*kraf- (source also of Old Frisian kreft, Old High German chraft, German Kraft "strength, skill;" Old Norse kraptr "strength, virtue"). The ultimate etymology is uncertain.

The sense expanded in Old English to include "skill, dexterity; art, science, talent" (via a notion of "mental power"), which led by late Old English to the meaning "trade, handicraft, employment requiring special skill or dexterity," also "something built or made." The word still was used for "might, power" in Middle English.

The meaning "small boat" is recorded by 1670s, probably from a phrase similar to vessels of small craft and referring either to the trade they did or the seamanship they required, or perhaps it preserves the word in its original sense of "power."

position (n.)

late 14c., posicioun, as a term in logic and philosophy, "statement of belief, the laying down of a proposition or thesis," from Old French posicion "position, supposition" (Modern French position) and directly from Latin positionem (nominative positio) "act or fact of placing, situation, position, affirmation," noun of state from past-participle stem of ponere "put, place." Watkins tentatively identifies this as from PIE *po-s(i)nere, from *apo- "off, away" (see apo-) + *sinere "to leave, let" (see site). But de Vaan identifies it as from Proto-Italic *posine-, from PIE *tkine- "to build, live," from root *tkei- "to settle, dwell, be home" (see home (n.)).

The meaning "place occupied by a person or thing" especially a proper or appropriate place, is from 1540s; hence "status, standing, social rank" (1832); "official station, employment" (1890). The meaning "manner in which some physical thing is arranged or posed, aggregate of the spatial relations of a body or figure to other such bodies or figures" is recorded by 1703; specifically in reference to dance steps, 1778, to sexual intercourse, 1883. Military sense of "place occupied or to be occupied" is by 1781.

abbreviate (v.)

Origin and meaning of abbreviate

mid-15c., "to make shorter," from Latin abbreviatus, past participle of abbreviare "to shorten, make brief," from ad "to" (see ad-) + breviare "shorten," from brevis "short, low, little, shallow" (from PIE root *mregh-u- "short").

Specifically of words by 1580s. Also sometimes 15c. abbrevy, from French abrevier (14c.), from Latin abbreviare. Related: Abbreviated; abbreviating.

concepts in synthetic relationships // ask.alice-ch3n81.net

topic: trade // text: position // brain: xenotheka library

n10 e21 {ocean, sailor, indian, voyage, fleet, zealand, europeans, unload, navigation, tome, trade, embassy, tea, cruise, dutch, denmark, pepper, mecca, chieftain, polo, scandinavian}

n70 e2 {brazil, australia}

n9 e8 {port, boat, africa, swathe, keel, wreck, siberia, helena}

topic: trade // text: position // brain: library of serres's friends

n2372 e195 {validity, noun, adjacent, enumeration, biology, doom, arrangement, convenience, trade, lateral, duplicate, representation, grid, metal, contemporaneous, wealth, designation, overlie, interweave, uninterrupted, resemblance, berkeley, philosophique, alphabetical, empirical, grammar, sixteenth, microscope, dormant, duplication, dogmatism, subsistence, borges, untroubled, ethnology, merchandise, invisibility, superimposition, onward, vowel, clement, labour, mallarme, whereupon, philologist, barter, pledge, quixote, sequential, declension, firmament, allot, spatiality, finitude, interdependent, exchangeable, denomination, glitter, crustacean, representable, unthought, turgot, sanskrit, mint, courtier, syllable, quadruped, logique, prominence, buffon, cuvier, unbroken, emancipate, fulfilment, gill, historicity, adjectival, unfulfilled, historicism, locomotion, crocodile, nilly, construe, ternary, commodity, efficacity, plentiful, episteme, origine, proportionately, philological, discursivity, hiatus, lamarck, predicative, hermeneutics, simile, langues, tabulation, uninterruptedly, unrefined, macrocosm, unsuspected, needless, henceforward, foment, philology, linnaeus, heraldry, exegesis, spengler, jones, jussieu, dental, quesnay, analytique, spatialized, traversal, flore, similitude, superfluity, emulation, bonnet, quadrilateral, metaphysic, contestation, cither, paracelsus, abbe, historia, melon, nomination, ageless, francaise, taxonomic, transcendentals, ricardo, bodin, seq, lere, antipathy, calyx, coinage, remunerate, azyr, vicq, ineffaceable, valor, partie, adanson, bopp, recession, mathesis, velazquez, monnaie, schlegel, lecons, systema, marketable, appreciative, botanique, tabulate, aldrovandi, toumefort, ceuvres, empiricities, empirico, robinet, grimm, cantillon, brosses, grammaire, monosyllabic, propinquity, galiani, duret, daire, richesses, loc, jonston, comparee, empiricity, graslin, adjacency, inflectional, tracy, destutt, bauzee, davanzatti, estimative, infanta, ldeologie, mathematicization, residuum, taxinomia}

n2373 e45 {reside, picture, inversely, money, precedence, reappearance, knit, accommodate, extremity, enigmatic, pivot, perilous, brow, endeavour, topple, scarcity, invincible, toil, microcosm, estimation, ceaseless, digestive, locke, scan, indisputably, verticality, interminably, imprecision, erudition, avarice, piecemeal, sediment, herb, condillac, hoard, digestion, afresh, animaux, remarques, credulity, philosophiques, imminence, yardstick, forthwith, tournament}

n2312 e13 {representative, be, arrange, verb, posit, tions, frontier, alignment, ulterior, uncouple, affix, perishable, vertebra}

[near-manassas-park-va]

Manassas Christian School in Manassas Park, VA

There are many ways to find an amazing Prince William County private schools. One of the best ways to do it is check out online articles. In that way, it would be easy to find the best educational institutions for your kids. For example, you can research about Manassas Christian School. They are a private, faith-based preschool, elementary, and middle school in Manassas, Virginia. The school is truly an extraordinary place of learning where every student is valued. In addition, they know that a challenging academic program where strong, moral character and high behavioral standards are prized. Besides, the said educational institution is exactly located at Manassas Christian School, 9296 West Carondelet Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111.

Manassas Christian School

These days, finding a safe and reliable school that offer quality education isn’t easy. Luckily, Manassas Christian School provides extraordinary private schools in Prince William County location. Based on their website, it is clear that Manassas Christian School is a private, licensed and accredited elementary and middle school situated on 11-acres in Manassas, Virginia. Aside from that, they’re not church-affiliated and welcome all faiths. In addition, they are proud to be accredited by Cognia and offer programs for Kindergarten through eighth grade. Their 25,000 sq. ft. facility has 18 classrooms, a gymnasium, library, computer, science, and foreign language labs, a VEX Robotics room, and music room. Lastly, the outdoor campus features creative playgrounds, nature trails, soccer and baseball fields, a basketball court, covered pavilion and pool.

Manassas Park, VA

The history of Manassas Park, VA location is famous among students who like studying historical backgrounds of different places. Let’s discuss its early settlers. During the American Civil War, the Manassas Park area was used as a campsite by the Confederate States Army during both the First and Second Battles of Bull Run. In addition, Manassas Park was created as a subdivision of Prince William County, with the first houses being constructed in 1955. In 1957, Manassas Park was incorporated as a town. In 1974, approximately 600 acres of land was annexed by the town of Manassas Park in 1974, and the town was incorporated as a city independent from the county the next year in 1975.

Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas Park, VA

Many people are aware that Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas Park, VA location is famous. There are many people from across the globe who drop by the tourist spot to enjoy sightseeing. Manassas National Battlefield Park is a unit of the National Park Service located in Prince William County, Virginia, north of Manassas that preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Bull Run, also called the Battle of First Manassas, and the Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas. Aside from that, it was also where Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson acquired his nickname "Stonewall.”

Barrier-Breaking Black Army Officer Finally Awarded Medal of Honor

Are you interested with the bravery of soldiers? Here’s a story that will inspire you. Based on a recent news report in Manassas Park, VA, there was a topic about a Medal of Honor recipient. As reported, retired U.S. Army Col. Paris Davis of Arlington received the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military for his actions as one of the nation's first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, almost 60 years after he was first recommended for the award. President Joe Biden awarded Davis with the Medal of Honor on Friday in a ceremony at the White House. Lastly, he was a Vietnam veteran who was first nominated to receive the medal in 1965.

Link to maps

Manassas National Battlefield Park 6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA 20109, United States Head east on US-29 N 1 min (0.7 mi) Continue to State Rte 658 8 min (3.9 mi) Follow VA-28 S/Centreville Rd and Manassas Dr to W Carondelet Dr in Manassas Park 11 min (4.6 mi) Continue on W Carondelet Dr. Drive to Silver Meteor Ct 1 min (0.2 mi) Manassas Christian School 9296 W Carondelet Dr, Manassas Park, VA 20111, United States

[maggotaur]

O Holy Night.mp4 from Expansions on Vimeo.

Expansions News Podcast, 10th December 2022

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News

fox29.com/news/philadelphia-gas-station-owner-hires-heavily-armed-guards-to-protect-business-we-are-tired-of-this-nonsense

thecentersquare.com/vermont/new-route-for-illegal-entry-into-u-s-vermont/article_efc9f600-772a-11ed-8dbd-7b366fbbaef9.html

thecentersquare.com/texas/7-more-counties-express-support-for-declaring-invasion-at-border-now-total-40/article_97640910-731a-11ed-8cea-d71ecbb78817.html

thelifehacker.org/2022/11/30/we-saw-extraterrestrial-spaceships-spotted-in-saturns-rings-nasa-scientists-reveal/

liveandletsfly.com/easyjet-senior-citizens/

newsweek.com/solovoyov-russia-tv-bomb-ukraine-russia-war-1763895

theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/03/uk-agrees-to-negotiate-with-mauritius-over-handover-of-chagos-islands#:~:text=UK%20agrees%20to%20negotiate%20with%20Mauritius%20over%20handover%20of%20Chagos%20Islands,-Foreign%20secretary%20indicates&text=The%20UK%20has%20agreed%20to,legal%20defeats%20in%20international%20courts

amp.france24.com/en/australia/20221206-us-announces-increased-army-and-navy-presence-in-northern-australia

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11517793/British-MPs-demand-answers-future-UK-military-base-Indian-Ocean.html

news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/warnings/what-bali-sex-ban-means-for-aussies/news-story/c333fa91d211aac056ce69e2889253c0

newsweek.com/russian-tv-debates-whether-zelensky-antichrist-small-demon-1764391

usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-01/japan-britain-and-italy-to-announce-joint-fighter-project-as-early-as-next-week-sources

cnn.com/2022/12/08/us/power-outage-moore-county-investigation-thursday/index.html

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11507875/America-afraid-Canada-euthanizing-10-000-citizens-year-TOM-LEONARD.html

.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2022/november/greek-soccer-icon-posts-god-created-adam-and-eve-gets-sentenced-to-prison-5-years-later

interestingengineering.com/science/military-experts-warn-of-a-possible-war-in-space

Links

newsbreak.com/news/2848251692607/about-20-m-65-feet-of-foreshore-disappears-during-a-swarm-of-earthquakes-at-taupo-volcano-new-zealand?noAds=1&_f=app_share&s=i3

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11513797/AOC-ethics-investigation-Congress.html

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11520647/Arizona-Senator-Kyrsten-Sinema-QUITS-Democratic-Party-registers-independent.html

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11520571/Brittney-Griner-lands-Texas-Basketball-star-finally-soil.html

[tronictrust]

Heroes of might and magic v review

#Heroes of might and magic v review how to#

The art throughout the book and the rest of the box set is gorgeous, featuring both portraits of key NPCs and dramatic half- and full-page images showing major fights and locations. It shows off a wide variety of creatures often in spectacularly goofy ways, like a brain-collecting neh-thalggu pretending to be a pirate or a space guppy accidentally summoned for the players to fight only for it to be summarily devoured by the real threat. There’s even a suggestion for using a starlight apparition, a ghost devoted to helping someone complete a task they couldn’t fulfill in life, to deliver key information or aid if the players lose one of their NPC companions and need a little help.Light of Xaryxis isn’t perfect - the ending involves a deus ex machina and the results of your characters’ coalition building are underwhelming - but it’s an excellent introduction to Spelljammer’s rules and tone. Light of Xaryxis normalizes failure as just a key part of the narrative. He’ll help you no matter what your persuasion check is, but if you fail you have to call him admiral and adhere to his pirate code.These suggestions help change the nature of conflict in the game, keeping players from feeling too bad about a fight that didn’t go their way and keeping the DM from needing to fudge dice or come up with some other way to bail the players out on the fly. You need to negotiate with a vampirate captain to get him to join your cause.

#Heroes of might and magic v review how to#

If their ship is busted, they have to figure out how to wrangle a pod of space whales to get to their next destination. If they get lucky and make their saves against the attacks, they can continue on their way as planned. A battle against an organic ship with the ability to disable another craft’s spelljamming helm, the device that lets them cruise through space, is likely to leave the players stranded. Photo: Charlie Hall/PolygonLose an early fight against the astral elves? They’ll take you captive, and the Dungeon Master is encouraged to throw in an extra ship-to-ship combat where the chaos will give the players a chance to escape. But almost every challenge in Light of Xaryxis comes with text on what happens if the players fail - and those setbacks often have extremely entertaining results. You don’t want the story cut short because the player characters are killed in a fight or can’t get the information they need. While your table might get wise to the deception, they’ll still be rewarded by some goofy humor or a different sort of challenge.Most D&D adventures are balanced very carefully so that the players are likely to succeed at fights and skill checks required to move the plot forward. Often those cliffhangers will be the appearance of a nasty foe that the players won’t actually end up fighting. Adding to the pulp adventure tone, every chapter ends with a cliffhanger and starts with a catch-up summary of the action so far. There are splashes of space horror and a gladiatorial battle that show off many of the monsters in Boo’s Astral Menagerie.The adventure designed to take characters from level 5-8 is broken into 11 chapters, each meant to be run as a two- to three-hour session. To challenge their military might, the players will need to enlist allies including an alcoholic anthropomorphic hippopotamus, a renegade princess, and an amorous vampire pirate. The writers of the Spelljammer: Adventures in Spacebox set are trying to change that expectation with a cinematic adventure where failing can be even more fun than succeeding.Inspired by the 1980 pulp science fiction film Flash GordonLight of Xaryxis is a zany space opera where the players must save their home world from being destroyed by an evil elven empire. That’s harder to do in a game of Dungeons & Dragons, where players typically expect to win every fight unless they have some extremely bad dice luck. Before they can be victorious in the final confrontation with the villains, the good guys often get beaten up, get captured, or lose people or things that they care about to ramp up the tension. Wizards of the Coast has created a game where bad luck is part of the fun Movies are filled with heroes failing.

[st-just]

I am going on a trip soonish. Book recs for the airplane, especially if I can get them as ebooks (epub or Kindle)? Fiction or nonfiction, I'm omnivorous.

hmm, I mean, fiction-wise I have the distinct impression you've already read most of what I'd normally recommend. Or written it, in one case (but you've read Gideon the Ninth and A Memory Called Empire, right?).

But lets see-

Nonfiction (overwhelmingly history, I'm afraid, take with variably sized grains of sale):

The Making of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes - What is sounds like, basically. The history of the development of nuclear power (and, like, physical science for the first third of the 20th century) that everyone recommends and won all the awards and gets called Magisterial. Shockingly readable, for the amount of chemistry the early chapters tried to teach me. Last third or so of it is, unsurprisingly, very heavy reading. So, you know, fair warning.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee - Again, more or less what it sounds like. A history of the study and treatment of cancer from the late nineteenth century through the then-current early twenty-first. Surprisingly kind of hopeful, for all the horrors.

Strangers Drowning: Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Urge to Help, by Larissa MacFarquhar - A book length study of, well, people who take ethical obligations seriously? Chapters alternate between case studies of, like, a woman who left her life behind to be a nurse in Sandinista Nicaragua after she heard about the need for some and more zoomed out intellectual and cultural histories of extreme altruism and moral obligation as ideas.

The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914, by Margaret Macmillan - Another self-explanatory title! Nonfiction's great like that. A shockingly readable and funny history of Belle Epqoue Europe and the leadup to World War One. If the topic's even slightly interesting to you, really couldn't recommend this one enough.

The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World, by Patrick Wyman - It's what the title says it is, but more broadly it's basically a thesis on the causes of the Great Divergence ('Why Europe?', basically), with each chapter zeroing in on a different factor and explaining it at ground level by examining the life of one historical figure or another whose a good entry point into it. (Well, 'ground level', one of them is about Charles V, but you get what I mean?). Also pretty heavy reading in terms of subject matter, what with all the enclosures and slave trades and military revolutions and etc.

Fiction

Annihilation/The Southern Reach Trilogy, by Jeff Vandermeer - Non-Lovecraftian, well-done, properly eldritch cosmic horror. I will forever remain bitter that the movie basically nailed the aesthetics while getting all the themes and characters exactly wrong. First book is absolutely the best, but I love the Biologist as a protagonist enough that I can't not recommend getting through Acceptance for the conclusion to her arc.

The Ballad of Black Tom, by Richard Lavalle - Probably my favorite of the whole subgenre of Lovecraft deconstructions/subversions/remixes. Certainly the one that works the best as horror and not just urban fantasy with Shoggoths and racism ; probably simultaneously the most faithful and the most directly spitting in old Howard's eye. "The Horror At Red Hook, but through the eyes of a cultist', basically. Ish.

Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller - Absolutely beautifully written retelling of, well, the life and death of Achilles, told from the perspective of Patroclus. Not really much to say beyond that, really?

This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - Is "Time Travelling Spycraft Transhumanist Enemies To Lovers Lesbian Romance" a thing? I mean, it should be. Probably the best book I read in 2020.

The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi - Okay proper high transhumanism. Um, so, it's Arsène Lupin, except in a gonzo sci world where he's been trapped in a prison where thousands of copies of himself are trapped in an endlessly iterating prisoners dilemma before his old flame (one of the posthuman gods of the inner system whose long term goal is rewriting the laws of physics to abolish entropy) sends a cybernetic mercenary from the Oort Cloud to break him out so he can steal back his memories for her (hidden somewhere on the clockwork city of Mars). It just gets weirder from there. Also Mieli is great.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow - Turn of the (20th) century Portal Fantasy series about the young ward of a robber baron who keeps her father constantly travelling around the world digging about rarities and antiques for him to lock away in his private museum, who in her adolescence begins stumbling across doors to other worlds. Absolutely charming and with some passages I had to spend a minute or two just rereading again and again.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - Very very very loosely based off Rumpelstiltskin, insofar as there's a poor girl and a faerie and a lot of gold changing hands. Russian-ish fantasy setting about a moneylender's daughter and a noble heiress and a peasant girl, and the dread king of Winter and a mortal prince whose made a binding pact with a demon of flame.

Downbelow Station, by C. J. Cherryh - Classic space opera about a prosperous trading station orbiting one of the only lifebearing worlds yet discovered, suddenly on the front lines as Earth's hold on its colonies finally collapses. Really hard to explain in any detail without going into way too much detail, except that it's the most, well, history-like bit of genre fiction I can really recall reading, and a big part of that is having like three dozen POVs and no real protagonist and zero sentimentality towards anyone. (to me this is a compliment)

....okay yeah that kind of got away from me. Zero idea how many of them are available on screen readers, I'm afraid (though I'd assume most?). Hope at least a couple look interesting!

[anomaly00-archive]

when comes the dawn ; the vi drochona dynasty

the imperial family ; the vi Aetiers

Since the founding of the Aetierian Empire by Kaelstansa the Great, officially there has only ever been one family, one dynasty, the ruled over Aetier. Those bearing the surname vi Aetier (literally meaning "of Aetier") have since then become synonymous with the empire, and the empire synonymous with the imperial family. That does not mean however that there were not sub-dynasties within the empire. Families who, by their own good fortune and the ill fortune of others, found themselves seated on the Phoenix throne with the right to take the vi Aetier names for themselves.

ascendance of the drochonan dynasty ;

When Emperor Alexios V died of an illness and left no blood heirs to assume his throne, the short-lived and tragic Arkadian dynasy came to an end. Ascending the phoenix throne in its place are the vi Drochonas—first cousins once removed—whose reigns are as bloody as they are prosperous.

Below is a partial list of all known members of the Drochonan dynasty since Empress Saphynia's coronation.

/ SAPHYNIA I “THE IRON QUEEN’

The younger of the vi Drochona twins and the one who assumed the crown upon her coming of age at eighteen. Her reign saw the end of the Cal-Aei war and the expansion of the Aetierian Empire, brining victory to the empire after almost half a century of gruelling losses. Her sexuality gained her the criticism of her advisors and the nobility, as her adamant refusal to take a male consort sprung up questions of heirs. A problem easily remedied when she adopted her brother’s son.

/ KAREO “THE INDOLENT”

The elder of the vi Drochona twins and the duke of Rubello, the seat of the vi Drochonans. He famously refused to the crown in favor of his twin sister citing that the crown was ‘too much work’ and would drive him to an early grave. This did not stop him, however, from being one of Empress Saphynia’s most trusted advisors and he had even ruled as regent for long stretches of time in his sister’s absence.

/ KARLEON III

Kareo’s son and Saphynia’s appointed heir. His reigns saw relative prosperity, though it is during his time that Aetier declined its expansion eastward towards the Taulan Plains. Their efforts stymied by the rising power of the Iskaavar and the threat of the unification of the numerous Taulan tribes. He is most known for his numerous children and was killed by his fifth son, Dantalion I.

/ AREIONA

The first child of Karleon III and his first wife Empress Meidira of Aranthia. She was praised for her brilliance in numerous subjects such as history, science, theology, literature, and military tactics. She was named reilma-imperessa but perished from an undisclosed illness, though there are rumors that foul play was involved.

/ ARETOS

The second child of Karleon III with consort Silvia. The blood-sibling of Astaria vi Aetier. He was confirmed as the next reilma-imperessor a decade after Areiona’s death and was the first of Karleon’s children to die in the King’s Game.

/ ASTARIA

The third child of Karleon III with consort Silvia. The blood-sibling of Astaria vi Aetier. She was Dantalion’s main contender for the crown, with their feud lasting six years as she fought for her crown and revenge for her family. She died at the Siege of Konstantinye, marking the end of the King’s Game. Astaria only had one child, though it is rumored to have died during the Siege.

/ DANTALION I “THE GREAT”

The fifth child of Karleon III with consort Ruona. The blood-sibling of Andras vi Aetier. He was Astaria’s main contender for the crown. He was sent as a political hostage to the Iskavaar atthe age of 10 and would not see his homeland for more than seven years. He distinguished himself in the military with the reclamation of the Islands of Cer and his nigh prodigious control of arcana. He is known by many epithets, including “Areia-blessed” “favri deori” “the Lionheart” and most famously “the Kinslayer” for the assassination of his father and his many siblings.

/ ANDRAS

The seventh child of Karleon III with consort Ruona. The blood-sibling of Dantalion vi Aetier and the current Duke of Rubello. He is the only one of Dantalion’s siblings (sans those who married into other kingdoms) that survived the King’s Games. He helped Dantalion secure strategic victories during the King’s Games and often acted as his brother’s representative in gaining supporters.

/ FENICE

The first child of Dantalion I with his first wife, the once-empress Titania of Taul. What was supposed to be the herald of a new age and a source of stability for his reign turned into an ill omen. Adeadborne, she grew up far from the eyes of court in the dukedom of Isidore.

/ CHARLES

The second child of Dantalion I with his second wife the consort-premier Illysandre vi Soresi. Beloved amongst many, he is expected to take up his father’s mantle as the next emperor of Aetier. He is known as the gentlest of the vi Aetiers.

credits ;

+ psd coloring by @/mikrokosmosresources

+ psd coloring by @/aeslayout

+ gif overlay by @/texturegifs

+ graphic style inspiration @/serpentarii

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

HASO “The Best Outcome.”

Just wrapping up a few loose ends from the past few months stories. I hope you all like it. And feel free to give me some ideas on what you want to see, or who you want to see more of. I will try to do my best :) 

Breaking News tonight from the Apollo 11 memorial landing site as Admiral Adam Vr and Captains Warren Richarards and Mary Chavez were rescued  from the Pacific Ocean following a journey that was supposed to be historical, turned harrowing. Amy Grey comes to us this morning with the story.

Thank you Julie, it was only a week ago here on the historic Cape Canaveral launch site, that the reconstructed Saturn V rocket was launched by the UNSC International Space and Aeronautics Division on the two thousand and fifty first anniversary of the original Apollo 11 mission. On board The reconstructed rocket were astronauts Fleet Admiral Adam Vir head of the UNSC deep space exploration division, Captain Warren Richards five year veteran and historical aeronautics expert, and Mary Chavez six year shuttle pilot veteran, and communications specialist. 

The reconstructed Saturn V rocket took off thirty minutes behind schedule at 10:03 GMTJuly 16 after delays attributed to engineering standbys. However, reports by UNSC investigation early this morning indicate that the delays were called for by engineering head Jade Clein who noticed something strange during her final checks of the Saturn V recreated rocket. In an interview early today, flight director, Aaliyah Seif of the Apollo re-creation mission informed outlets that there was evidence of attempted tampering on the hull of the Saturn V rocket. The tampering case in the shape of these small silver tape strips covering loosened bolts along one of the Saturn V side panels. Engineers stated that the tape was not heat resistant and would have burned off in time to rattle the bolts loose and, likely, cause a devastating spin that would destroy the rocket.

While this attempted tampering was thwarted, the mission would only become more dire. A sudden and shocking report by Mericanda News 5 showed an uncut image of an unknown alien hybrid woman claiming that the UN President had ordered th attempted assassination of Admiral Vir, in conjuncton with an audio recording by Admiral Colter Massie, Head of the Galactic intelligence division an known isolationist, that admitted to the attempted assasination of Admiral Vir, and the acquisition of twenty thunderhawks which were used to harry the Satern V on it’s way to the moon. Admiral Kelly, long time friend of Admiral Vir, corroborated the story, saying she caught General Massie just after he ordered the deployment of the twenty thunderhawks. During their conversion he attempted to kill her before being detained by two members of Admiral Vir’s crew, and was later seen being escorted into custody by Military Police.

Indeed footage has been captured from the hull of the Saturn V showing approximately twenty thunderhawks attempting to destroy the rocket while Rundi remote piloted drones and an unknown group of what appear to be racing jets, fought back to delay the attack while word was sent to the UNSC to deploy F-90 darkfire pilots to assist. This all after communications between Houston and the rocket were sabotaged shortly after leaving orbit. The  F-90 darkfire pilots were able to arrive on time to rescue the rocket, though a hole was reportedly torn in the hull sucking Admiral Vir out into space, though he was later recovered and returned to his ship without any injuries. Patch teams were then able to repair the torn hull and the astronauts completed their mission landing to crowds on the moon and returning to earth on time on time landing in the Pacific ocean only nine miles away from the waiting ship.

All three astronauts were recovered and are reported to be in good health. 

The investigation into the UN president’s involvement is still ongoing at this time, however preliminary reports from the Global Bureau of Investigation suggest evidence is both staggering and damning to the current UN president, who earlier today, attempted to cut all ties to the sabotage efforts saying she was framed. Political experts report that, even assuming her innocence, she will likely not last to the end of her term.

International News Network was able to interview Admiral Vir shortly after his landing while still on board the rescuing ship UNSS Victory.

Here is what the Admiral had to say.

“I find it…. Really very disheartening that someone we all trusted, and someone that we all should have looked up to could do something like this. It really is a heinous demonstration of what political corruption can lead people to do.”

“And how do you feel, personally about all of this.”

“Personally, I…. well to be honest I am hurt and appalled. Not to mention that I fear for the safety of my family and my friends. Every day I wonder if my involvement with them is going to get someone I love killed…. The thought haunts me, but I hope after all of this is over I… and all of us can breathe a little easier.”

“Were you scared?”

“I don’t think that even needs to be a question. Of course I was scared, getting sucked out of your spaceship isn’t ideal.”

“What do you hope will happen now?”

“I hope that justice can be upheld  to those who deserve it.”

“What do you have to say to the UN president.”

…

“I have nothing to say. Wouldn’t want to waste the air.

****

What followed would be one of the largest scandals in recent political history. At some point an unknown number of classified government documents was leaked onto the internet, and after that it was all over for the Presidency. Thousands of enterprising humans, and aliens alike, viewed the documents to discover all the underhanded and dirty things which had been going on in the UN governmental body over the past few years. Forensic accounting experts (mostly Tesrtaki) uncovered plenty of fiscal tampering  which shed light on plenty of isolationist related projects and bank accounts. There was even evidence that they had something to do with the original assassination attempt against Admiral Vir so many months ago. The drama had even managed to capture the attention of Rundi political experts and Vrul computer science geniuses, and together they unearthed a world of unfathomable, but not unexpected corruption. The process to remove the UN president from office was probably one of the fastest movements of human government ever seen by UN congressional leaders, who were likely trying their very best tro distance themselves from association with the president, who despite not being the only one involved, had become the political scapegoat for everyone else that had a supposed link with isolationism.

Even the VP fell under suspicion and was watched closely for the rest of his term.

Admiral Massie and the UN President were placed under arrest and set up for court dates in the nearing future, though everyone saw a long and arduous litigation process ahead. Even Ramirez’s family had filed for damages against the government after the news came to light confirming that their son had been shot as collateral in one of the UN presidents plans to assassinate Admiral Vir. They settled out of court to the tune of an unknown, but impressive sum of money.

No one really knew how much, but a couple months later Ramirez’s younger sister was seen training at one of the most prestigious olympic academies on earth.

Ramirez himself was suddenly able to afford housing on the moon in a condo just next door to his best friend, though no one else inquired further.

The Rundi chairwoman came forward with her own investigation admitting to being suspicious for a long time though she feared accusations without proper proof. Admiral Vir was seen having lunch with her not so many months after the events took place, suggesting that the trust between the two of them had not been completely dissolved. With much of the isolationist element gone from government, public policy began to lean heavily towards integration with the alliance. The occasional isolationist demonstration or protest was held, but none of them managed to gain traction.

Admiral Vir was finding himself more important than ever, though it was to his chagrin that his ship was grounded for the intervening months while the investigation continued.

No one was entirely sure what the future held.

***

Admiral Vir stepped into Admiral Kelly’s office. The last time he had actually visited her here had been over a few years ago before his promotion to captain of the Harbinger. It seemed so distant now, and he never expected to walk into her office with a star on his shoulder. She stood as he entered, and the two of them shook hands, ignoring all the stuffy formalities that usually come with the meeting of two military officers.

The wall behind her was decorated with a myriad of metals and awards she had received over her career, and he couldn't help but note the slight tinge of grey he could see forming in her hair. He knew that feeling, he was going prematurely white much to his chagrin. She stood and the two of them shook hands.

“Vir.”

“Kelly.”

She motioned him to sit and he sat sighing lightly as he had been on his feet all day consulting with political figures and other members of the UNSC.

“A strange couple months wouldn’t you say.”

“Tell me about it.”{

Kelly reached under her desk and withdrew an amber bottle which she placed between them, “I always forget; Do you drink?”

“On occasion.”

“Well consider this an occasion.” She said popping off the top and pouring two glasses for them. She handed his across the desk and he leaned back in his seat cupping the cool glass in both hands.

She swirled the amber liquid around in her glass, “So what are your plans after all this.”

He took a sip of water warmed by the burning liquid, “Hoping things will go back to normal and I can go back to traveling the galaxy.”

Kelly grunted, “A simple man with simple motivations.”

He laughed , “Sometimes I think a stupid man with simple motivations.”

She chuckled then grew serious, “A lot of people make the mistake of assuming simple people don’[t have the intelligence to match. Some people assume that trusting means gullible means dumb. Just because we are trusting and expect others to do the right thing is not necessarily a fault. I believe there is a kind of beauty in assuming the fundamental goodness of humanity.”

\Admiral Vir shook his head, “How can you after seeing what we have seen.”

“How can you not?” She shrugged, “We always knew that politicians were corrupt, but think about everything else we have seen.”

Admiral Vir nodded slowly, “The enthusiasm for the Apollo 11 recreation mission, the people who flew up to help us. All of those people who went digging through years of information just to uncover the truth.”

SHe raised her glass, “Precisely. Goodness in humanity is all around us, but we tend to overlook the good in favor of the bad.” She placed her hat on the desk and sighed, “It is up to good people to keep their goodness going even when it might seem easier to give into the bad. I I have and will always believe in the fundamental good of humanity. Some may call it naeve, or even stupid. Others have said I have a romanticized view of a species that is fundamentally broken.” She turned her head to look out the window a contemplative expression on her face before turning back to look at Adam.

“You understand me, I think.”

He nodded slowly.

“People need to be believed in. You tell someone for long enough that they are fundamentally bad at their core and they will begin to believe you. For thousands of years pessimists have gotten it into our heads that we are no better than animals, worse even since animals don’t fight in wars. But I believe that is wrong, I have seen people, I have met people, and I have interacted with people who prove to me that humanity cannot just be fundamentally bad or else these people wouldn’t exist.” She tapped her nails against the glass, “I think it is easier to corrupt purity than wash away a stain,”

He listened quietly as she continued.

“Humans are born good, Adam, and life stains us. We aren’t born stained while some of us are wiped clean. “ She shook her head, “Doesn't make sense to me.” She caught him with a look pinning him to the spot with her intense stare, “People like you convince me of this every day.”

“Me….”

She held up a hand. “Adam Vir, I am convinced that the best outcome this universe ever had, was when a happy go lucky science fiction freak was lucky enough to be the first man to meet aliens. Any other way things would have gone horribly wrong.” She leaned across her desk, “The universe needs men and women like you, and not only that but the universe needs people who are going to support men and women like you.” She sat back, “Which is why I have made a decision.”

He raised an eyebrow in curiosity not entirely sure where this could be going.

She smiled, “I have decided to run for President.”

He nearly spit his mouthful of expensive scotch onto the table but managed to choke it mostly down.

Eyes wide he set his glass down, “Are you serious.”

She smiled, “Seriously serious.”

“Well shit, you have my vote for sure.” He raised his glass to her, “I couldn’t think of a better outcome.”

[arewelemmings]

Alan Grayson: Right to Choose

The following is how Florida Representative Alan Grayson describes his policy concerning the Right to Choose:

"Right to Choose:

Because Roe v. Wade has protected the right to choose for so long, those of us who are pro-choice haven’t had any urgent need to think through how to protect that right – until now.  So here are seven practical proposals, all legal and feasible, to protect the right to choose:

Abortion rights should be incorporated, through the 51-vote reconciliation process or through agency rulemaking, as part of Obamacare’s health insurance minimal care, like preexisting conditions.  Making this an Obamacare “money bill” puts it within reconciliation.  And under the Constitution’s Supremacy clause, the states couldn’t thwart it.

By regulation or executive order, abortion should be included in all health coverage for military families, federal workers and federal contractors, and their spouses and children.  Also, every SSD (Social Security Disabled) and Medicaid beneficiary.  Here again, the states couldn’t prevent it.

Abortion should be a reimbursed and offered procedure in all hospitals receiving federal funding (which is, essentially, all hospitals), either by statute, regulation, or executive order.  This also applies at VA hospitals, and federally funded rural health clinics.  Abortion is healthcare.

Every major corporation should reimburse or front travel expenses to women who now must travel to have an abortion.  The Fair Labor Standards Act and labor law in “blue” states should incorporate this as a required employee benefit.  For others, governments and private donors/NGOs should do the same through small grants.

There are several “blue” states that had abortion bans in effect before Roe v. Wade, and they should be repealed immediately.

As long as the science supports it, the FDA should make pregnancy termination pills available without prescription, and also enforce existing federal laws that prevent anyone from interfering in the distribution of a federally licensed drug.  (Note to Supreme Court: the Post Office is in the Constitution.)  If an Rx is required, it should be available via Zoom.

“Blue states” can make it a crime for anyone to interfere with the rights of their citizens to terminate a pregnancy, including when those citizens are traveling elsewhere.

After the Alito draft decision was released in early May, helpless anomie settled over many pro-choice leaders.  Well, anomie is the enemy.  I believe that the right to control one’s own body is the most fundamental right of all.  No one should ever interfere in someone else’s decision about whether to have a child.  That goes against a bedrock principle of government and civilization: “Mind Your Own Business.”  In other words, if you’re against abortion, then don’t have one.

For all of us who support the Right to Choose, we must fight for what’s right."

(This article is taken directly from Alan Grayson's election website.)