#sharded database

[nitor-infotech]

Discover how Database sharding can transform your application's performance by distributing data across multiple servers in our latest blog. With insights into key sharding techniques, you'll further learn how to implement sharding effectively and avoid common pitfalls.

As you move forward, this blog will help you dive into real-life use cases to understand how sharding can optimize data management. Lastly, you'll get the most important factors to consider before sharding your database and learning to navigate the complexities of database management. 

[simple-logic]

#PollTime

What improves database performance?

A) Indexing 📌

B) Sharding 🔀

C) Caching ⚡

D) Query Tuning 🎯

Comments your answer below👇

💻 Explore insights on the latest in #technology on our Blog Page 👉 https://simplelogic-it.com/blogs/

🚀 Ready for your next career move? Check out our #careers page for exciting opportunities 👉 https://simplelogic-it.com/careers/

[lucid-outsourcing-solutions]

Database Sharding and Replication in ColdFusion for Distributed Systems

[thedbahub]

SQL Server Partitioning vs MongoDB Sharding for Very Large Databases

Introduction Hey there! If you’re working with very large databases that are multiple terabytes in size, you’ve probably run into performance challenges. I know I sure have! Two common approaches to optimize massive databases are partitioning tables in SQL Server or sharding data across servers in MongoDB. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each strategy to help you decide which…

[outerwildsgeology]

Meet the Founders: Mohs

Outer Wilds Geological Survey Founder: Mohs, drawn by @dekkiidan Howdy! Thanks so much for stopping by the Outer Wilds Geological Survey database, it's always great to know there are folks out there interested in the amazing stories and secrets that our local, and not so local, geology can tell us!

Anyways, I'm Mohs - nice to meet you! I'm one of the founders of the survey alongside my good pal and esteemed colleague and pilot, Lari. Ah, yeah, most folks already know, I'm not a fan of flying . . . but that's why Lari is our pilot and not me. Besides, how can I solve the mysteries of the Quantum Shards with only the samples we have on Timber Hearth when there are more outcrops out there waiting to be analysed? Conclusion:- I can't! Unfortunately. And, you know, Lari hasn't crashed us! No yet, anyway.

Geology wise, my main areas of expertise lie in what most folks would call laboratory and technician work, so things like sample and specimen prep, sorting out thin sections for microscopy, and sawing large samples to get a nice clean surface for proper observational analysis. This is why you're more likely to find me in the museum prep. room than out in the field. Don't get me wrong, I love field work too, especially when Lari and I are wrangling a particularly tricky outcrop, or if there are fossils involved; but somebody has to ensure the survey sample and field note collections are properly organised, analysed and documented. And, I'm not sure if you've ever seen Lari or Hornfels' own collections, whether that be geological, astronomical or research based, but - well let's just say, I don't think they're the right hearthians for keeping things organised. Sorry Lari! Sorry Hornfels!

I'm also currently working on a research paper and presentation regarding Quantum Geology that has recently come along in leaps and bounds thanks to Hal and the hatchling's translation tool titled -

"Quantum Geology: A morphological mystery, or lost in translation?"

Because, you know, based on some of the latest translations, I really don't think the Nomai fully understood the complex nature of these curious shards, and I would love to crack the mystery of their formation and origins!

Ah, apologies, I got a little carried away there, heh! Well, if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with either of us, we'll do our best to shed some light on the mysteries and puzzles of the amazing geological history of our solar system! And if you have any questions about Quantum Geology, or even want to share theories, I'm all ears!

Thanks again for stopping by!

[vasyandii]

How did AM and Vernon come to be… romantic? (Like, within the timeline how did their relationship develop to that point.) Also, in this AU, how did AM acquire a body?

Love your art!

(Raises my hands up in celebration) finally, the time has come.. the very first VernonAM ask,, AHEM- Howdy Maggot-Meade! Thank you so much for asking and for the kind words! I really appreciate it💞💞!

How did AM and Vernon become romantic?

Their relationship only started becoming romantic after the events of the book (Keep this in mind for later it's important!). Before that, the last 109 years their relationship was something akin to a friendship, if you could call it that.

And it's partially due to how absolutely unpredictable Vernon is. Vernon doesn't turn away from eating worms, plastic,any other gross things. She doesn't turn away from her flesh being burned, her bones showing, her belly empty because of her morbid curiosity of these things. Of course they'll hurt, but it keeps her occupied.

Hell, AM had to make up a torture plan on the spot for her since she wasn't even supposed to be there. It was to have her wander around, isolated in a valley of all broken historical artifacts she destroyed. The task was to have her collect and dig through shards of them and put them all back together for her to escape. Instead of doing her task, she instead stomped on the pieces until they were irreparable for her own enjoyment.

Vernon's not.. okay in the head. before AM woke up, she was considered crazy enough to be put in a Ward, a sadomasochist. She wants to eat and be eaten.

AM was curious because of her behavior. Internally disgusted, but curious nonetheless. After all, she held knowledge of history that was incomplete in his database. And so their friendship torture starts.

He wanted to see how far he could push her before she broke. He often talked with her, took requests, etc. because she didn't try to kill herself or run. She liked playing with him and humored him.

Vernon never made an attempt to "understand" his hatred, she knows that's something she won't be able to. She just understood that's baggage she didn't care enough to pry and unpack. She accepted it because;

"How would you like it if someone constantly asked you personal questions about yourself because they think they can change you?"

Of course she keeps records of her observations on AM over the last 109 years; his patterns, the complex. But that's just used as entertainment to keep herself sane, after all what good Archeologist doesn't keep records?

Over the decades Vernon made it clear in her interest of AM, often flirting with him, arguing with him. AM refused to make it work for the time being since he HATED how he wasn't able to reciprocate, his hatred slowly bloomed into care, does that make sense?

How did AM acquire his body?

Remember how I mentioned that their relationship was officially romantic after the events of the book in my very long winded response to your first question?

As we all know, four humans died after 109 years of captivity. What does that leave him? Plenty of biological, organic matter to reduce into their purest forms and use to artificially make his own body. It took a while, of course.

He collected the brain matter of the four in order to make one stable enough to transfer his consciousness and a portion of his database without it exploding. Hair and skin for aesthetic purposes, reduction of skin allows him to be able to change the cells to suit his preferences.

Since he identifies with the masculine, he most likely tried to imitate the skeletal structure of the men, opting to reduce them back into a workable form; calcium, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, potassium, and fluoride.

However, even if he can make the likeness of a human for himself, he can't bring it to life.

He had to make some adjustments, for example the mechanical spine (pictured below).

The electrical currents allow for a network of nerves that provide sensory feedback such as touch, taste and smell. The wires transfer his consciousness and links the remainder of his database his brain can't store. (kind of a Bluetooth situation, it isn't connected to the complex) while the shorter ones provide nutrients to the biological body since he doesn't have blood.

Hope this helps! I don't think I'm very good at explaining stuff because I tend to ramble alot so if you have any questions feel free to ask! ;0;

[love-and-deepspace-wiki]

Wanderers

Details:

Wanderers are monsters made of Metaflux that first appeared from the Deepspace Tunnel. While most species lack intelligence, they are still formidable. They attack humans and animals and are not easy to defeat. When Wanderers of a high threat level are eliminated, they drop Protocores.

Wanderers are distinguished by type (e.g. A, B, H, O), category (e.g. Normal, Strong, Insane, Intellegentia), and serial number. Their assigned serial numbers always begin with their assigned type (e.g. a the serial number for a type B Wanderer would following the naming standard "B-?-????", where "?" represents a number).

Known subspecies include:

Elemental

Bestial

Wanderer Database:

Below is a compilation of every specified Wanderer mentioned in-game. It will be gradually updated with individual post links.

Bounty Hunt Wanderers:

Heartbreaker

Lemonette

Mr. Beanie

Pumpkin Magus

Snoozer

Miscellaneous Wanderers:

Carmine Talon

Charybdis Rex

Despairra

Despairra: Gravitas

Despairra: Repulsus

Basalt

Ferrum Obscurum

Flamma Ignis

Fissionform

Fusionform

Gelidus Dentus

Glimmerblade

Lamina Potentiae

Luminivore

Malachite

Nauticverge

Patrol

Scout

Thunderoar

Velox Venator

Vulcaneon

Knaves:

Elysian Knave

Herte Knave

Herte Knave: Advanced

Herte Knave: Original

Magma Knave

Mist Knave

Mossy Knave

Modified Wanderers:

G-2BW

Heatshredder

Sawshredder

Elysian Wanderers:

Elysian Cervus

Elysian Knave

Elysian Lacertus

Elysian Lupus

Myst Wanderers:

Dark Myst

Myst

Pale Myst

Golem Wanderers:

Byro Golem

Ignis Golem

Petro Golem

Wyrms & Wyrmlords:

Aeonwyrm

Ignis Wyrm

Polar Wyrm

Deluge Wyrmlord

Hoarfrost Wyrmlord

Ignitus Wyrmlord

Dragons:

Arbiterwings

Foulwings Fledgling

Foulwings

Galewings

Sentrywings

Tezcatlipoca:

Tezcatlipoca

Tezcatlipoca Remnant

Tezcatlipoca Shard

[nitor-infotech]

Understanding Database Sharding

Imagine you have a library with thousands of books, and finding a specific one becomes time-consuming. To speed things up, you decide to split the collection into smaller sections based on genres, making it quicker to locate any book.  

Similarly, Database Sharding divides a large database into smaller, more manageable pieces to improve performance and scalability. 

Fig: Database Sharding Banner Image 

What is a Sharding Database 

Database sharding is like storing a huge database across several machines. Imagine one server trying to handle all the data—it can only do so much before it starts slowing down. By splitting the data into smaller chunks, or shards, and storing these across multiple servers, we can manage and process large amounts of data more efficiently. 

As an application grows, more users and data can turn the database into a bottleneck, slowing everything down and frustrating users. Sharding also helps by allowing parallel processing of these smaller datasets, keeping things running smoothly even as demand increases. 

Scaling Techniques in Database Sharding 

Scaling database sharding involves several techniques to ensure efficient management and distribution of data. Here are some key methods: 

Horizontal Partitioning 

This technique involves splitting the data across multiple servers based on a sharding key, such as user ID or geographic region. Each server, or shard, contains a subset of the overall data. This approach allows the system to scale out by adding more servers, thereby distributing the load and improving performance and reliability. 

Vertical Partitioning 

This technique divides the database into smaller tables, each stored on different servers. Each server handles a specific aspect of the application, such as user profiles, transactions, or product details. By separating the data based on functionality, vertical partitioning can improve query performance and make it easier to manage and scale specific parts of the application independently. 

Range-Based Sharding 

Distributes data management based on a continuous range of values. For example, user IDs 1-1000 on one shard, and 1001-2000 on another. 

Hash-Based Sharding 

Uses a hash function on the sharding key to evenly distribute data across shards. This helps avoid uneven data distribution. 

Directory-Based Sharding 

Maintains a lookup table or directory that maps each data item to its corresponding shard. This allows flexible and dynamic distribution of data. 

Each technique has its advantages and is chosen based on the specific needs and growth patterns of the application. 

Benefits of Database Sharding 

Database sharding offers several benefits: 

Improved Performance: By distributing the data across multiple servers, each server handles a smaller subset of the data, reducing the load and improving query response times. 

Scalability: Sharding allows horizontal scaling, meaning you can add more servers to handle the increased load, making it easier to scale the database as the application grows. 

Increased Availability: With data distributed across multiple servers, the system can continue to operate even if one shard fails. This redundancy enhances the overall availability and reliability of the application. 

Efficient Resource Utilization: Different shards can be optimized for specific workloads, allowing better use of hardware resources. For instance, high-traffic shards can be allocated more resources, while less busy shards use fewer resources. 

Reduced Maintenance: Smaller databases are easier to back up, restore, and maintain. Sharding breaks down the database into more manageable pieces, simplifying administrative tasks. 

Factors to consider before Sharding 

Before deciding to shard your database, consider the following factors: 

Database Size: Sharding is typically suitable for large databases that have outgrown the capacity of a single server. 

Traffic Patterns: If your database experiences uneven traffic patterns, sharding can help balance the load. 

Growth Projections: If significant future scaling is anticipated, sharding can be a beneficial strategy. 

Complexity: Sharding introduces additional complexity to your database architecture and requires careful planning and ongoing maintenance. 

Cost: Sharding can be costly due to the need for extra hardware resources and infrastructure to support multiple servers. 

So, database sharding offers both advantages and challenges, and it is important to determine if it aligns with your application’s requirements. 

To know more about database management, reach out to us at Nitor Infotech. 

[cabinetofquriosities]

Everybody Wants to Rule the World || Chapter Six: Mercy

Tw: Violence || Past Chapters

Please comment on the ao3 and reblog! I love hearing your theories and thoughts.

“I’m sorry, what?” Agatha said with a small laugh, trying to mask her confusion in front of Natasha.

“Natasha isn’t real. She isn’t an employee at HV-7. I managed to get a picture of her when we met without her knowing. I ran it through a database and got a match. She murdered her parents and brother when she was sixteen, Agatha. You need to get the fuck out of there.”

Agatha managed to keep a calm expression as the complete stranger stood across from her, leaning against her best friend’s kitchen counter with her arms crossed.

“Okay, I’ll be right over,” Agatha said casually as she hung up.

“Who was that?” Nat asked with a slight tilt of her head.

“Jenn. She found a new piece of evidence that just couldn’t wait. She wants me to go over there now. I’m just going to have Wanda drive me. I had a little too much wine to drive.”

“I can drive you,” she said.

“You drank a few yourself. Also, it’s probably best we stay away from being alone together after-“

“What did Jenn say, Agatha?” Nat asked, her voice dropping slightly.

“I-I told you. New evidence.”

“Mhm,” she pushed off the counter and walked closer, “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you don’t know me.”

“I wasn’t…”

“For an agent, you’re really shitty at lying. Or maybe I just watch you more than others do,” she whispered, nearing her.

Before “Nat” could take another step, Agatha lunged at her, shoving her back. Nat grunted as she hit the wall, a manic smile taking the place of her calculated one. Agatha reached for a knife from the block, beginning to pull it from the wooden divot before Nat grabbed a small pan from the clean dishes. She slammed it against the back of Agatha’s hand, effectively hammering the knife back into its place. Agatha cried out in pain as her hand throbbed from the impact. She put up an arm against Nat’s throat and rushed her, crashing her against the stacked dishes on the counter before pinning her to the opposite wall. Nat let out a choked laugh as if she was enjoying this. Her eyelashes fluttered as she strained against her hold.

Agatha moved to try and take her down, but Nat beat her to the punch, kneeing her hard in the stomach.

“Someone likes it rough,” Nat said as she fought for air along with Agatha, both bent over, breathless.

“I’ll show you rough,” Agatha bit out, grabbing the knife she had reached for earlier.

Nat just barely dodged the blade when Agatha swiped it at her. The second swipe caught her collarbone, leaving a clean cut from her collar to her chest. It wasn’t deep enough to cause severe harm, but it managed to stun her for a moment. Agatha yelled out for Wanda to run, but got no reply. She called again. Nothing. She looked at Nat.

“If you did anything to her, I’ll fucking-“

“What? Kill me?” Nat snapped back.

Agatha let out a growl and came at her with the knife. In one graceful motion, Nat grabbed her wrist and squeezed her hand. The knife dropped from it and skittered across the floor. She felt her back being crushed against the oven handle, the metal digging into its arch. Nat looked at her like a cat playing with its prey. She surged forward, capturing her lips again, biting them hard enough to break the skin. She pulled back with a drop of blood rolling along the curve of her smile.

“It’s Rio,” she whispered, “By the way. Not Nat.”

Agatha found herself stunned, unable to think quickly enough to act. Rio grinned.

“Te Veo,” Rio said before bashing Agatha’s head against the cabinet.

—————————————————————

A minute later, Agatha came to with a horrible headache. She moved to her feet slowly before the gears in her mind began to turn. She looked around at the ruined kitchen. There were shards of porcelain scattered across the floor. Blood had dripped down across the floor from Rio’s wound. The door was swinging in the winter air.

One thought materialized the instant Agatha stumbled over to the doorframe.

Wanda.

She ran to the living room, concussed and a bit off balance. She saw Wanda, unconscious on the couch. She couldn’t tell if she was breathing. She fell clumsily to her knees on the floor beside the sofa, putting her fingers to her pulse. She hissed as she felt the pain from them being hit earlier.

Wanda had a pulse. She was alive.

Before Agatha could reach her phone, red and blue were flashing through their windows. Jenn rushed in with a team of cops and paramedics.

“Agatha, are you okay?!” Jenn asked with a level of concern Agatha could have never predicted.

“I’ll be fine. Help Wanda. She won’t wake up,” Agatha said before a bout of dizziness overtook her.

“WORK ON WANDA! ON THE COUCH” Jenn yelled before turning to see Agatha fighting to keep herself alert.

“Hey, hey,” Jenn said, pulling her by the shoulders to sit up, knowing she couldn’t sleep with a head injury this bad, “Stay awake for me. Can you remember what state we are in?”

“The fuck kind of question is that?” Agatha answered hazily.

“Which state?”

“Massachusetts.”

“Good. What’s my name?”

“Jenn fucking Kale. Worst vegetable ever…”

“Well, you definitely have your memories,” Jenn said dryly.

“M’tired.”

“I know, but you need to stay awake. As much as you annoy the shit out of me, I’m not ready to put you in the ground, okay?” Jenn said.

“Fuck, fine…”

A few paramedics came in and guided Agatha onto a stretcher.

“I’m okay!” Agatha complained, trying to sit up.

“Like hell you are. Lay back down, you stubborn bitch,” Jenn snapped.

“Fuck you,” Agatha said.

“You too. Now lay the fuck down.”

“Fiiiine.”

Jenn got into the ambulance with her as a few other agents attended to the scene. She kept Agatha awake by letting her curse her out the entire way. Once they arrived at Mercy Hospital, they evaluated both women.

Agatha woke in a hospital bed, looking over and seeing the oddly adorable sight of Lilia asleep in a chair with Jenn sleeping next to her, her head on her shoulder.

She smiled to herself at the sight of her surrogate work mom and shitty little work sister waiting for her to wake up. She took it in for a minute before taking a pillow and tossing it across the room, hitting Jenn square in the face, waking both women up.

“What the hell?!” Jenn said as she woke before seeing that Agatha was up.

“Seems like you have your hand-eye coordination back,” Lilia said with a cackle.

“Wait, Wanda-“ she began.

“Wanda is okay. She was drugged, but she’s alright now.”

Agatha relaxed, taking a deep breath. Both women flanked her on either side of the bed. Lilia reached down and cupped her chin, looking closely at her face. Agatha snorted with laughter as she was roughly but lovingly checked over.

“I’m fine,” Agatha said, wincing as she tried to sit up.

“A concussion, swollen hand, broken rib, and busted lip isn’t ‘fine’.”

“Not busted. Bitten,” Jenn said.

“I’m sorry, what?” Lilia said, “How-“

“How do you think?” Jenn said with a pointed look.

“Did you two..”

“Before anyone says anything, SHE kissed ME. I shoved her off,” Agatha said, trying to shut down any further questions.

“Did she go further?” Lilia asked with a soft, comforting voice.

“With that? No. We just beat the shit out of each other.”

“Weird foreplay,” Jenn said.

“Jenn!” Lilia scolded.

“What?!” Jenn replied, her hands up defensively.

“It wasn’t… I wouldn’t have done anything with her even if she was really Natasha. It would kill Wanda. I cut it off right away.”

“Wait, wait. She kissed you before you knew who she really was? How did the biting not tip you off before I called?” Jenn asked.

Agatha rolled her eyes.

“Wanda never hears about this, okay? Once before the call and the bite happened after.”

“So you made out with your best friend’s girlfriend,” Jenn said.

“She kissed me fir- Y’know what? I can’t even go into this. She was the one who kissed me. I stopped her. We fought, she bit me, and then knocked me out.”

“It’s alright, Agatha. I understand. Wanda won’t hear of it,” Lilia assured her.

“And I’m not about to make things messy by telling her,” Jenn said.

“Thank you. Are the boys okay?”

“They are. Their uncle is bringing them to be with Wanda. They’re going to stay with him in Northampton after she’s released. We informed the police there and they will be watching her house.”

“Okay, good,” she sighed before suddenly hearing the sound of running steps.

“Auntie Agatha!”

“Speak of the little devils,” Lilia said with a smirk.

Agatha brightened up at the sight of Billy and Tommy. The two of them ran in and leaned over the bed rails to hug her before just crawling into the bed.

“Not so tight, boys. Auntie’s insides are a little mixed up,” she wheezed.

“Sorry!” Billy said, loosening his hold.

“We heard you saved Mom!” Tommy said.

“Are you okay?” asked Billy, the more thoughtful of the two.

“Did you really fight a serial killer?”

“Did she hurt you?”

“Did you stab her?”

“Is she gonna try to hurt you again?”

“Was she really Natasha?”

“Is she coming after us?”

“Should I get a gun to stop her?”

She shook her head as the boys peppered her with questions. She took a breath before replying.

“Yes, Yes, not too badly, a little, hopefully not, yes, no, and ABSOLUTELY NOT. No guns, Tommy.”

“Fiiiine,” Tommy said.

“So she was in our house the whole time…” Billy said, absorbing the reality of the situation on a deeper level than his brother.

“She was,” Agatha said, not wanting to sugarcoat it.

“I couldn’t even tell,” Tommy said, nervously chewing on the inside of his cheek, “She was really nice.”

“Sometimes, people who are bad can seem nice. I couldn’t tell either and I’m a detective,” she said, trying to push down the guilt of her own failure.

“She tucked us into bed…” Billy said, “She coulda-“

“She isn’t in your life anymore, okay?” Agatha said, combing his hair back with her fingers, “She won’t find you.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can promise you this. If she comes back, I’ll stop her again. This time, I’ll put her in jail forever. Deal?”

Billy and Tommy nodded, both saying, “Deal.”

“I would pinkie promise, but my hand has seen better days,” she said, holding up a bruised, swollen hand.

“Awesome!” Tommy said, “It looks so gross!”

“Boys? Let’s let Auntie Agatha rest.”

“Pietro, hey,” Agatha said to Wanda’s brother.

He walked in and kissed the top of her head.

“Thanks for protecting her,” he said.

“Thanks for protecting them,” she said, looking at Tommy.

“Not a problem. Wanda and them will be safe with me. Nat- uh, whatever her name is never met me. She doesn’t know where we’ll be.”

“Good. I have a feeling she’s not after you guys, though.”

“Can’t be too careful.”

“True. Stay safe. Call me if you need anything.”

“Ditto.”

“Hey, boys,” Agatha said, “Give your mom a big kiss from me.”

She gave them several kisses on the head until they giggled and swatted her away. Pietro nodded at her with a smile as they left.

“Well, that was insanely adorable,” Jenn said, “Never thought I’d see you in Mommy Mode.”

“AUNTIE Mode. I have completely opted out of having my own. I love them to pieces, but I am not looking to be a mom. Nephews are as far as I’ll go.”

“Fair,” Lilia said, “As much as I love being a mother, I definitely understand the allure of the childless life.”

The doctor popped in to check on Agatha. Lilia and Jenn volunteered to stay longer, but she sent them home to get some rest. She was sent to get a CT Scan and X-Rays. Officers were posted at her and Wanda’s hospital room doors. Agatha couldn’t relax. She almost asked them for something to help her sleep, but she wanted to keep her wits about her. It was bad enough that her guard had been down to the point that the killer was under her nose the entire time.

In the middle of the night, she heard talking in hushed tones outside of her room. Before she could discern what was being said, the door opened to reveal a familiar face.

“Wanda,” Agatha said with a smile.

She looked both troubled and relieved. She walked over and carefully hugged her with her arms around her neck and a kiss to the head.

“Are you okay?” Agatha asked.

“I should be asking you that. I’m so happy you… I’m just so glad you’re still here,” she said, her eyes welling up.

“Same here,” she said, “Scared the shit outta me when you wouldn’t wake up. She must’ve given you enough sedatives to put down an elephant.”

“I am… so sorry I never saw it,” Wanda said, her voice shaking as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Woah, woah. I was about to say the same thing. You couldn’t have known. Okay? You’re not the one who’s the investigator. If anything, I should’ve been the one to know.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” she said, sniffling, “I was the one who brought her into our lives. Into my house around my children. I can’t even think of how she could’ve…”

“Stop,” Agatha said, “She was after me. Not you.”

“I met her a couple months before you even started looking for her.”

“Not true. I investigated her first murder before that. We just didn’t know she would end up being a serial killer. It’s not your fault. She’s a horrible person.”

“Now it makes sense why she never really wanted to touch me,” she said, “She wanted you.”

Agatha opened her mouth before closing it again, shaking her head with a look of disgust.

“She just wanted to scare me off the case.”

“She did that with Alison.”

“Alice.”

“Sorry?”

“I guess she went by Alison, but her license said Alice,” Agatha said with a shrug, “Look, she was trying to scare me. Maybe punish me for trying to figure out who she was.”

“Agatha, I saw how she looked at you. You practically finished each other’s sentences.”

“I can’t…. I can’t even go there,” Agatha said, “I can’t.”

“You mean to tell me that she never made a move?” Wanda asked.

Agatha looked at her guiltily. She considered lying to protect her, but Wanda could always detect her bullshit.

“Not anything I encouraged,” Agatha said, “I put a stop to it the moment she tried.”

Wanda nodded, her expression controlled and blank. They had gone down this road before on both sides. Agatha’s ex had once kissed Wanda and two of Wanda’s exes tried propositioning Agatha. All of them were very quickly cut loose in favor of their best friend.

“I’m not mad. I’m just scared for you,” Wanda said, “I liked her, but I wasn’t at the point of falling in love. Something was always missing with us. I thought it was just me.”

“This is so fucked up,” Agatha said under her breath.

“It really is. She really topped every other ex in terms of being shitty.”

Agatha smirked at that.

“Thank you, by the way,” Wanda said.

“For what?”

Wanda rolled her eyes and gestured to Agatha’s enter body.

“For saving my life. I would’ve been useless in that fight.”

“Nah, you’re scrappier than you look,” Agatha said.

“I’m an elementary school teacher. What would I fight her with? Construction paper and safety scissors?”

“It would definitely catch her off guard. No one expects school supplies in a fight.”

“Don’t forget my glue sticks.”

“How could I?”

The two had settled into their usual banter. Wanda talked about how she would spoil the boys while staying with Pietro and Agatha talked about how many gifts she would give them after this was all over. A nurse finally interrupted them to take Wanda to her room.

Wanda kissed the top of her head, smoothing out her frizzy hair.

“Be careful,” Wanda said.

“Likewise.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Agatha drifted off to sleep shortly after, her body aching now that every distraction was now gone. She woke up hours later, not noticing anything ordinary at first. Suddenly, a flash of red caught her eye. She looked down to see flower petals. Rose petals coated the bed and the floor, the shot of color standing out against the white.

She picked up her phone to call for help, simultaneously yelling for the guards. She caught her reflection on the screen and switched onto the camera. After flipping to the front camera, she was left with her pale face and a dark red kiss mark against her forehead.

Thank you for reading! Please be sure to comment and reblog 😊

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 3: It Is But A Scratch

When the phone call ended, I switched on all of the overhead lights of the villa. 

After eating one entire peeled carrot from the fridge, I rolled up my sleeves and set about deep cleaning the entire place. My shoulder throbbed but I disregarded the pain and cleaned over and under every object and chased away the dust. When everything in the villa was spotless and I was the one covered in dirt, I washed my hands and threw a batch of frozen meal into the slow cooker and headed to the bathroom for a nice, boiling shower. 

Mashi perched on the dining table beside my plate after I got dressed and sat down to eat with my laptop open to the Association’s preliminary database search engine. 

There was nothing about Onichynus that I could access with my credentials as a mere part-time researcher. I texted Jenna, saying that I was gonna attend the auction and needed access into the classified database. She sent me her own credentials and I was scrolling through the bowels of classified information minutes later. 

The search was disappointing, to say the least. Most of the records were about the crimes attributed to Onichynus and its mysterious leader. The profile was threadbare: the leader was a male, age unknown, name unknown. The rest was speculated from rumours: he was ruthless and merciless against his enemies, he was a highly successful and intelligent individual with a godlike evol.

I chewed my food thoughtfully, reading through the files again. Was Onichynus that good at keeping itself wrapped underneath the shadows or was the Association incapable? I spooned the last of the rice into my mouth, logging out and shutting down the laptop. Guess I’d find out the answer next week. 

I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen before securing the doors and windows and switching off the lights. Mashi settled in his nest as I undressed and crawled underneath the blankets. 

Sleep was a long way to come, partly because of me sleeping through the entire day and partly because I kept thinking about the auction and what I’d find there. 

Very little was known about the aether core and its origins. It wasn’t that easy to obtain, hence I was curious about where the fragment in my heart had come from.  Grandma had told me that the core had lodged itself into my heart during the Chronorift catastrophe. I didn’t remember much about it, but I knew enough to understand that she’d been lying, but she’d died before I could confront her about it. 

The aether core amplified my physical power and led to memory lapses. It was powerful enough to bring me back from the most devastating injuries to my body. However, I always remembered one memory from my past, a small shard of light in the crowded shadows of questions. I had been a kid, lying down on a white bed in a lab of some sort, and grandma was one of the people who watched me from the other side of the observation window. She had been present, her face a stony mask when a machine electrocuted me (I screamed and screamed my throat raw) until my heart stopped beating. 

And the aether core had made it beat again.

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

Follow me at _writtenbyshama on Instagram for more. Happy reading!

Part 1: Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

[prolix-yuy]

Chapter 3: That Was the First Time I Lost Her

Pairing: Jack “Whiskey” Daniels x F!Reader “Sugar”

Summary: It only takes a little digging.

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: More angst, insinuations of creep behavior, making shit up about Westworld, a million questions and no answers, will be E in later chapters so full series is 18+ MINORS DNI.

Notes: Sugar's got some soul-searching to do, and there are very few people who can help her with that. Where Cognitive Dissonance had a lot more Westworld characters in it, this series is gonna have a few cameos from Kingsman characters and you better believe this is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Cross-posted on AO3

Decoherence Masterlist   ||   Whiskey & Westworld Masterlist

It takes you three weeks before you say anything about Jack to anyone. Three weeks of going back and forth from your job, sitting in front of the large glass screen your work is projected on. Three weeks of seeing the world you live in - advanced far beyond Sweetwater’s rustic charm - in a new light, knowing there’s someone living in it that feels so out of place. Now, you feel out of place too. 

In that time you argue with yourself back and forth over what happened that fateful morning.

He’s a delusional man who violated your trust.

But he didn’t act delusional. Didn’t try to push you to come with him, didn’t try to get your number or find out where you live. He gave you a way to contact him, but didn’t press when you didn’t promise to.

But how did he find you?

That thought twists your stomach. Had he used some database to scour personal records for you? Had he been trailing you and you never even noticed? It clearly didn’t go to plan for him, but what had he planned? 

He wants to “explain.”

The most you would do is call him. Only to tell him to be prepared for a lawsuit. Maybe to scream at him a little more about how violated you felt. Definitely not because you want to know what he could possibly say to make this make sense.

Why are you entertaining this?

This is where you always come to a halt. You can reason around most of your internal arguments, make good decisions that would make your parents proud, but it’s when you get to this question - why are you still thinking about this? - that you falter. 

Because his plea - let me explain - and the furtive way he looked at you - I am a host - tug at something you hid away for the year since you saw him. That there was something more to Jack, but not this obvious of a betrayal. 

I didn’t get to tell you something that night. Something important. 

He tried to tell you something that day on the train platform. What was it?

I was a coward, and I wanted you more than anything Sugar. 

He was going to tell you he loved you. And it was going to shatter your heart to hear it, so you showed him the photograph. Because it would hurt less to prove him a fantasy. You forced him to reveal the machine behind the man, because he was going to tell you he loved you.

Right?

But if this is the last moment I get to say it before you leave my sight, I have to. 

I need you to know.

Was this it?

It’s Dina that helps you gain some clarity, though not in a way you imagined.

“I had my trip to Westworld refunded, ruined my whole vacation,” she says nonchalantly over lunch. The “cool bridesmaids” actually stuck together after the bachelorette, and you see Dina every few months for a boisterous lunch and catch-up. This particular revelation, two weeks after Jack sauntered into your life and left you with a handful of mirror shards for memories, makes you choke on your drink. 

“You were going back?” you finally ask once you can breathe again. Dina smiles knowingly, swirling her iced matcha latte loudly in her glass. 

“I’ll admit, it’s pretty fun. Only went once since the party, it’s damn expensive, but I was really looking forward to my third visit. Sounds like there’s some operational issues.” You listen with as much nonchalance as you can muster, but Dina smiles coyly at your ruse. “Didn’t see your man there last time. Maybe he was just for you.” 

You scoff, a clammy sweat on the back of your neck sending goosebumps down your arms.

“They probably rotate them,” you say weakly, thumb smearing away a drip of coffee from the lip of your cup. 

“Listen, baby, maybe this isn’t my business, but if Jack still gets you this fired up, it might be worth talking to someone about it,” she says gently. Your heart leaps into your throat, worrying that your face has given it all away.

“What, like a therapist?” you laugh, trying to put on a bright smile but you’re practically thrumming now. Dina scoffs instead.

“Hell no, my girl Ginger. She used to work for Delos, doing…programming or something. One conversation with her will definitely ruin the magic for you. Like seeing Mickey without his head on in Disneyland.” You both giggle at the image, trying to school yourself into a calm that won’t betray how close to the truth she is.

“She left on bad terms, so she’ll tell you the truth about shit. Doesn’t care about her NDA, or much else for that matter. She’s a badass,” Dina says, scrolling through her phone and typing quickly. “Ask her your questions, get your dreams dashed, and move the fuck on.” Dina means well, but the worry gnawing in your stomach draws much of your attention away.

Former Delos staff could definitely tell her if Jack was a host, or a fucked-up guest, or a host based off a guest that is now playing a terrifying game of switcheroo. 

“Promise she won’t think it’s weird?”

“She loves to dish about it, you’ll be making her week.”

Ginger doesn’t want to meet in a public place - I’ve seen a little too much of what can be done to risk it - so she invites you to her condo instead. You almost back out, shame and nerves getting to you, but the need to know grows at a greater pace. So, bringing two coffees and pastries (not from the shop where you saw Jack, you don’t think you could go back there), you climb her third floor walkup.

She’s business chic with a dazzling smile, a collared shirt under a sweater with dark-washed jeans. Her hair is spiked through with honeyed highlights that compliment her brown skin. A pair of serious horn-rimmed glasses frame her face, but look fresher on her than any academic. 

“Hi, I’m Dina’s friend,” you start as Ginger leads you into her home. Dina mentioned she was a programmer, and her design aesthetic screams “I care more about my processor chips than artwork.” Stacks of hard drives on tables, large manuals of computer code on shelves, all neat and tidy in a controlled chaos way. She brings plates for the croissants as you sit at her table, rolling your opening remarks in your mind as she settles across.

I had a strange experience in Westworld that made me question everything. Can you tell me if I’m crazy or not?

Before you get the chance Ginger speaks. 

“Dina told me a bit about your situation,” she says simply, regarding you with rapt attention and sparking intelligence. The confusion must have slapped across your face, because Ginger barks out a laugh just shy of impolite. “I made her spill the beans, I’m too suspicious otherwise.” 

You sigh audibly, covering your face with your hands.

“Great, now I’m just pitiful,” you bemoan, joining in on the laughter. Slouching back in your chair, you share a look that radiates I guess we’re here now.

“So, you had questions about hosts. Maybe one in particular. I haven’t worked for Delos in a few years, but I’ll do my best to help. God knows those assholes keep their mouths shut tighter than their assholes,” Ginger says, waiting for you to lay out your questions. So many bubble up, but you let the most important come to the forefront:

“How can you tell a host is a host?”

Ginger’s smile turns conspiratorial, cocking her head to one side.

“One really got to you, huh? Made you think he - or she - was real?” 

You twist your hands in your lap, shoulders tensing for laughter.

“It’s silly, right? A host is a host and a person is…completely different.”

Ginger talks as she darts around the room, gathering items - a laptop from a desk, a silver and orange hard drive, a handful of cords. She gestures with her hands while she speaks, face softening with the passion that shines through,

“It’s a testament to how well we programmed them. They’re supposed to trick you, keep you in the illusion. I was more in design and aesthetics, moved into expressive programming before they culled my team.” When she catches your eye, the first etchings of confusion on your face, she backtracks. “I designed the exteriors - faces, bodies, you know - before I moved into writing code for their facial expressions and body language. Cram years of what we as humans would observe and develop over a lifetime into a little computer chip. They learn too, just not the same sorts of things. They’re designed to interpret our body language, give us what we need before we think we need it.”

What had Jack read from your body?

Ginger plops down at the table, fingers moving quickly over the keys and eyes trained on the glowing screen. 

“But Delos axed my team, said something about ‘new coding avenues,’ the assholes. Just didn’t want to pay us if they could automate us. But!” She hits the last key and folds her arms, finally looking at your nervous posture. “They didn’t pay me well enough for my IP, so I took everything I could get my hands on. Most of it’s too outdated for them to care about, but I’m pretty goddamn proud of it.”

She motions for you to sit on the same side of the table as her, waiting until you’re settled to drag a window onto the screen. It looks like tiny image thumbnails all neatly stacked, face after face scrolling by.

“So who is it?”

You steel yourself for whatever answer may come next.

“Jack Daniels.”

Waiting for a confused noise, for a bad search return, for some reason to hate the man who came back to you, instead you get a knowing laugh.

“Ah, I’m pretty proud of that one,” she says, typing in Jack’s name and pulling up a profile. “I was going through a very dashing cowboy phase, wanted something a little Burt Reynolds, a little Robert Conrad, flirtatious but a disaster at it, smooth talker.” As she talks she tabs through sketches, achingly beautiful pencil drawings of his hawkish nose, the pout of his lower lip, the tilt of his head up to look at something. 

“Then fucking Sizemore dumped him in that shitty Golden Circle timeline, which was a goddamn waste. Gave him a terribly written, cliched backstory and half-assed his motivation to make a shockingly underthought double cross villain arc seem edgy.” Ginger pauses on a dystopic photo, Jack standing in a glass and concrete cube, hand on his jutted hip and a smile you’ve been in the path of aimed right into the camera. You can almost hear his voice.

You can have all the Whiskey you want.

“Our cowboy deserved better than that,” she sighs. Managing to break from your reverie, you try not to stumble too badly through the most important questions.

“And he’s not…based on anyone else? There’s no Jack lookalike wandering the streets?” You try to make it airy, joking, unsure of your success. Thankfully Ginger skims right over the tremor in your voice, tapping into a file that details every scar and freckle over the expanse of his skin.

“If only. Unfortunately, the best men are designed by women. I’ve never met someone quite like Jack.”

Neither have you, and the implication settles heavy in your chest. 

You spent an hour more with Ginger, peeking into the secret workings of Delos and picking at flaky pastries without appetite. It’s more out of politeness than interest. Half of the things she shows you flow right through your consciousness and into the ether. 

Jack is a host. 

From the mouth of his…creator? Herself?

Maybe that combination of features could find its way in nature, but not his story, or the intimate details you both know in very different contexts. The groove she drew in his lower lip pulled softly across your stomach. The graphite glint in his eyes lifting to capture yours. The thick strokes that built a hand you’d felt hold your face so gently. 

Ginger knew him as well as you did, certainly more so, and there was no better explanation for what this means. 

He’s not a man. So what is he doing here? How is he here, in a world you never thought he could enter? 

Thanking Ginger for her hospitality and her patience, you take the longest way home possible. The rhythmic beat of your feet on concrete lets you ruminate. The air is warm across your cheeks, errant breezes dancing around your aimless path. The “park” has never been your favorite place to soul search, the lack of trees and tightly governed shrubs clashing against what you consider wilderness. Today, however, it’s so stark and blank as to clear your mind.

If not a host in a world built for pleasure, what is Jack? How can he survive in this world without a narrative, a directive, a fucking charging port for his battery? Does he run on batteries or did they slap a solar panel in that gorgeous head of hair?

Dropping onto a bench you bury your face in your hands, fighting the urge to laugh madly. You've seen under the facade and now you’re left with even more questions, and there’s only one person who can answer those. 

“Jack Daniels.”

“Hi. It’s…”

“Hey. It’s…it’s you.”

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.”

“I didn’t know if you would at all, after all that.”

“I wasn’t sure either.”

There’s a pause while you gather courage, but Jack jumps in first.

“Listen, I just wanted to say I’m sorry about last time. I saw you and I meant to sneak out before you saw me, but…it was just a perfect mess, huh?”

Right to the meat of it then. Somehow that makes it easier.

“Did you know I would be there?”

Another silence, but you wait for this one to end. Jack sighs heavily, and your body aches.

“I knew you could be there.”

“And you were…what? Waiting to get up the courage to talk to me?”

“Something like that.” Jack sucks in a breath. “I had some questions of my own. I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers.”

This admission dazes you. All Jack knew of you in Westworld was a lie. The footing feels more even knowing he’s just as trepidatious as you. 

You sigh deeply, pressing the palm of your hand against your forehead.

“I think I should let you explain.”

A softer sigh tickles your ear.

“I’d really like to do that, Sugar.”

You scoff.

“You still call me that.”

“Sweetest thing I’ve…”

“Please, Jack. Don’t. Not right now.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not…I’m not sure how I feel about everything yet. This is all frankly terrifying to me, and I need some time to understand it.”

“I understand. I had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the same rodeo as before.”

Lips curling up, you warm to his words. Same old west charm. Same teasing lilt. 

Same old Jack, but maybe more than you thought.

“Can I see you Friday?”

PREVIOUS NEXT

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 73

Shattered Kiln

Changed out of my kestrel armour and set out from the camp at sunrise.

Past the distant Shadow Carja forts and back south east to Meridian to deliver my intel to Marad.

Rested on the way; keeping out of sight of the Snapmaws.

A pack of Scrappers chased me down. They would have hounded me all the way to the city gates if I hadn't speared them through. Then through the mountain pass into Cut Cliffs, where for the second time I was ambushed by a group of bandits lurking inside. They went the same way as the Scrappers. How are there still so many of them in these lands?

Through Cut Cliffs and to the city gates. Still not on fire.

I headed for the palace to speak to Marad. I couldn't tell him much more than what he already knew, but could at least confirm the singular angle of attack, and that the Eclipse were bolstering their ranks with every Shadow Carja man they could. In the unlikely event that we survive long enough for an opportunity to counterattack, taking back Sunfall will be easy. It might even be necessary; I doubt anyone that Helis would leave in charge would ever stoop to surrender, no matter how hopeless the stand.

Marad will send his own agents to watch the ravine for signs of the Eclipse assembling their invasion force. He also told me I was free to stay in Olin's old apartment. Seems a bit...callous.

Marad told me that some Nora warriors had arrived in my absence, though they refused the invitation to enter the city and receive a royal welcome from Avad. Cursed earth is one thing, but a cursed city...I guess that's taking things too far. The important thing is that they came. Marad had also stationed the Vanguard on the Alight, and Erend was there making defensive preparations. He was already hearing word back from his agents sent afield as well; many outlanders were willing to come to Meridian's aid, some for loyalty or decency, others for shards alone. Avad certainly has plenty to go around. Others, he said, came for me. My name was enough for them to pledge themselves to a cause that wasn't theirs against an enemy they didn't understand. Well, rumours about me have spread far, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I've done things too, I suppose. I've done a lot. Free of charge too, for the most part. That goes a long way in a dangerous world. It'll only grow more hostile unless I stop it. I didn't know it then, but everything I was doing...it's exactly what I was made for. Downing murderous machines, patching up the consequences of the Derangement—all a direct result of the destruction that was my creation. A nice thought, but only if I succeed.

One of Elisabet's journal files repaired itself as I made the trek to the Alight. She wrote of the Odyssey, the space station belonging to Far Zenith.

When I first heard about it I was excited by the possibility, though from the data I found at ZD, their escape from the planet failed. Elisabet seemed...less optimistic. Despite the doubled chances for humanity's survival, she worried about the world Far Zenith would create, and their underdeveloped version of the Apollo database. 'What's to stop them from playing god?' No less than what was stopping Elisabet and her team, surely. They were in the process of building god, but I can infer her meaning. Elisabet was a good person surrounded by like-minded colleagues. She cared about others and about life, all life, while the members of Far Zenith kept their identities secret to avoid a public outraged by their exorbitant wealth and technology. The way I've heard them described, it's like they controlled everything. I can't imagine that people like that wanted a better world for life to come, just for themselves.

I met Talanah on the Alight, helping the others prepare the defences. She'd left the management of the lodge to Ligan and roped in as many hunters as she could to join her in battle. Where else would she be, she said, than by her Thrush's side. After Tarkas, she wasn't willing to let her own fight alone again. Of all the people in this city, she just might be the one I'll miss most when I leave these lands behind. If I get the chance, that is. She never once doubted me, even when all I was in her eyes was a stubborn outlander sticking it to Ahsis. It's refreshing having someone who can keep up with me in a fight too.

True to his word, Varl stood on the Alight with a group of Braves, well away from the locals. The others with him went to bow at my approach, but he hastened them to stand. Still called me the Anointed though, if not to my face. I get it, the only reason the Nora are here are because they think I'm on a holy mission from their goddess, that I'm her mortal vessel, my words are her dreams, etc. As for Varl, he would've come anyway, he said. He came for me.

I asked for his honest opinion on all this. I could tell he was uncomfortable, beyond the sweat soaking his furs. His woes were those of a typical Nora: foreign lands, accursed structures, a Metal Devil of myth come to life, and a woman chosen by the goddess. He felt like he should worship me, after everything—after the battle in Devil's Grief, the cleansed corruption, the broken siege, and then the mountain...and here I was insisting he do nothing of the sort. How very tragic. I couldn't help but show a little of the distaste I felt at his words. I thought we were friends...I thought that maybe, given time to reflect and recover, he might arrive here eager to learn all I've discovered. I know he means well. Better than most, but again, I expected too much.

Sona was standing a little further off with the more seasoned warriors, gazing with distrust at the towers on the mesa. To build so high was to invoke the fate of the ancients, she said. Yes, lets all live in huts and hovels, ignorant of all that came before just because knowledge was denied to our caged ancestors. The Nora would have thanked Faro for his great sacrifice, purging Apollo and the Alphas with them.

To be fair, it was Sylen's hunger for knowledge that caused this mess in the first place, but I wasn't about to further fuel the Nora's convictions.

Still, Sona pledged her loyalty, eager to fight for my cause, even though the Nora's numbers were dangerously thinned in the recent attack. She spoke as if she was ready for death too. They always are, these old soldiers.

At the foot of the Spire I met Naman, who was casting his blessings on the soon-to-be battlefield. He'd been speaking to the Nora, learning of my new place among their mythology. Between that and the deeds I'd already performed for him and in service of his people, Naman said he believes I'm a blessing of the sun. So I'm the Carja god's will incarnate as well now. That's more than enough divine pressure, thanks, but again, I know it comes from a place of kindness. I just hope it doesn't catch on with his red-robed brothers.

Over to Erend and his Vanguard next. The soldiers were very...enthusiastic. They had battle chants and everything. Erend had a few kind words for me, and I for him. He wanted to know what we were really up against; I suppose all he got was a second-hand account from Avad, who didn't seem to grasp most of what I told him anyway. But I knew the technicalities didn't matter to Erend, only that if we lost, the whole world would too. Pretty big for his first battle as Vanguard captain. He seems to be doing a lot better now than he was before he set out for the Claim. I guess he saw to it that Dervahl got what he deserved once they arrived.

He's got preparations under control, and from what Marad said, many are soon to join him in his efforts. Confident, or confident enough, that the Eclipse wouldn't be attacking that very night after what I saw of their own preparations, I picked up a Charger back on the jungle floor and rode hard into the east.

When I descended from Gaia Prime, in my panic to reach Meridian I forgot all about the two power cells I've now acquired, which will unlock the Old World armour I found back in the Sacred Lands. Extraordinary tech, and still functional after all this time. If I'm going to face an army of Faro bots, I could really use it, just as the Old Ones did when facing them the first time around.

Up into the Gatelands, heading for Daytower. Lone Light was bustling with life for the first time since I first crossed the border from the east. With the impending invasion, many of those in Meridian and the Maizelands have evacuated further east. It would have been nice to stop by, but I don't know how long I have to retrieve this armour.

Rested a while outside Morning's Watch as the sun set. My body wanted to sleep there and then, but I pressed on.

There's no taking the road to Daytower without invoking the wrath of its guardian Stormbird. Made it out of the blast zone this time, but it was a close thing.

I stopped in Daytower for a meal, sitting amongst rumours exchanged about the Shadow Carja's demon overlord and its army of rabid machines. Some at the fort were fleeing the conflict, while many hunters were passing back from the Sacred Lands to join the effort. I wish I could have quelled the wild rumours. On their face they seem overblown, as many of the hunters attested. Not so.

I took a spot out in the open under light snows. No sign of Balan. The remaining soldiers said he'd headed west with most of his men. It was already late when I arrived, but I set my Focus to wake me in just a few hours. I should try to be back in Meridian by tomorrow night if I can. Who knows how fast the Eclipse are moving, despite Marad's assurances.

[bullet-prooflove]

Heyyyy girlie ❤️👋🏾 thank you again for answering all my asks because you don’t have too. I really appreciate it because I know you have so many stories & characters to write for but you always answer my asks and I think you are so awesome 🥹👏🏾

So I am back for a Stuart Scola from FBI ask and my prompt is:#1-I wanna start this out and say I gotta get it off my chest.

I can’t wait for you to bring this to life ✍🏾

Companion piece to Club Night

You’re silent in the car, your head resting against the window as you watch the streets pass by outside. Stuart can tell you’re still processing what he’s just told you.

One million dead, four million alive.

It’s the alive part that scares you, you can tell it scares Stuart too. It’s in the way his hands grip the wheel, his knuckles turning white. He glances at the packed bag in the back seat that he collected from your apartment earlier today, the one that’s now a crime scene because an hour ago he’d killed one of the men who’d been waiting to kill you.

“How did this happen?” You ask, tilting your head towards him.

“A hacker got into one of the databases.” He says, his gaze fixed firmly on the road. “He got his hands on files from a bunch of undercover operations, yours was one of them. He sold it to Austin Wallace a couple of hours ago.”

You see his jaw tense as the car rolls to a stop at the traffic light.

“There were two men waiting in your apartment for you to come home tonight. OA got one and I got the other.”

You feel sick, the nausea climbs up inside of you as your heart begins to pound because this nightmare it’s getting too real, too quickly.

“Fuck.” You mutter. “He’s really coming for me, isn’t he?”

“Yea he is.” He says quietly, reaching across the seat. He takes your hand in his, his thumb chasing over the engagement ring on your finger. “But we’re not going to let that happen alright?”

“Yea.” You say softly. “I…”

The windscreen shatters, showering the both of you in glass. You feel the bite of the shards across your face as you undo the seat belt. Stuart’s already reaching across you, shielding you from the oncoming threat.

The thing is he’s not wearing a vest and the guys that are shooting they don’t have any incentive to keep him alive. To them he’s just collateral damage, to you, he’s everything.

You tilt your head to meet his gaze and he sees the moment you make the decision, he tries to grab you, to stop you from kicking open the car door, but you’ve always been that little bit faster. You’re out of the car before he can stop you, your hands raised in surrender as you step onto the pavement.

“I’ll go with you.” You tell them masked men in front of you. “Just please don’t hurt him.”

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[thefreelanceangel]

YoRHa No. 7, Model E -- 7E, the Abandoned Android

Listed as "Deceased" in the Command databases, 7E was retrieved by 2P with the intent of utilizing 7E as a weapon against other YoRHa androids. When 2P was defeated by 2B and the collected group of adventurers in Eorzea--and the portal opened promptly sealed--7E was abandoned in the remains of the dwarven dig site.

With the dwarves distracted by the presence of the dwarven automata, 7E went unnoticed when they escaped the dig site and left Kholusia. In wandering Norvrandt and learning more of the world's history, 7E discovered a tiny shard of orange crystal that seemed to hold tangible energy.

Imagine 7E's surprise when possession of this shard led to them being dragged to the very edge of the universe to confront the Endsinger when the Warrior of Light used Azem's summoning magic to pull allies to their side for the last battle.

With no connection to the Scions and no recognition when the battle ended, 7E was left to wander Ultima Thule. They connected with the remaining Omicrons, understanding their perspective perfectly, and were equally baffled by the efforts of the Warrior of Light and Jammingway to manipulate the present dynamis into something "hopeful."

However, the time spent with N-7000 at the Café at the End of the Universe helped 7E to develop a better perspective of the world they found themselves in. The only problem with this is a lack of direction which 7E consistently struggles with. Without a target to protect or a group to police, the programmed directives left by 2P cannot be fulfilled and 7E has begun to show dangerous bouts of psychopathic aggression.