#shrink connector

[upmheatshrink]

Heat shrink tubing and Braided Sleeve for your automotive wire harness insulation protection, water-proof sealing,connection and anti-abrasion anti-vibration.

[rhysintherain]

Tracked down a starter connector for my neighbor today, and it occurred to me this might be a useful thing to tell people about.

If an electrical connector on your car breaks, lots of shops won't have access to the parts to rebuild or replace just the connector. I've had parts stores have no listings for any wiring bits, and dealerships for some brands quote me a whole harness (usually over a grand just for the part) for a broken connector.

Wreckers, on the other hand, don't usually care about whole harnesses, because they're too hard to take out in one piece.

So if you need a connector replaced, see if you can find a wrecking yard who's willing to cut out the one you need with a few inches of wire attached for you. Usually they're only charging you for the time it takes to go get it, since they don't usually save them.

Bonus points if you know a thing or two about cars and know what you're looking for, because usually wreckers I've worked with just send me out with an apprentice to cut it out myself. That way I get exactly what I'm looking for and they don't have to look for it.

Anyway, this is maybe the one thing that has saved me the most money as a mechanic. Hopefully somebody here gets some mileage out of it.

[heatshrinktube]

Professional Connections, Reliable Protection – Heat Shrinkable Solder Sleeve Connectors Our heat shrinkable solder sleeve connectors integrate cable connection, crimping, and sealing into one solution, ensuring that every electrical connection point is secure and stable. Made from high-quality heat shrink materials, these connectors offer excellent resistance to high temperatures, aging, and moisture, providing long-term performance and reliability. Crimp Connectors and Terminators – Your Best Choice for Stronger Connections Versatile Applications for Any Industry Whether for automotive, communication devices, electrical systems, or industrial control systems, our crimp connectors and terminators offer efficient and reliable solutions tailored to meet your connection needs. #factory#upmheatshrink

[yamunason]

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[genshin-scenarios]

I feel your heart— beat beat beat

Summary: in which they FALL fall for you 💘 or just cute moments together!

Characters: Venti, Wanderer, Xiao, Diluc (mentions of alcohol/drinking)

Requests are open, and my Adopt a Wanderer fanbook is now available on my kofi for anyone that's missed it!

In a moment where the city of Mondstadt is abuzz with activity and Venti’s on the high of a performance well-done, he turns around to address the crowd in a big, sweeping motion — only for his eyes to widen when he sees you in the distance, taken aback by the feeling of his own heart skipping.

You’ve been so busy as of late, after all! It’s only reasonable for him to be surprised to see you, to the point where his easy smile slips off his face, and the concern and worry that comes with affection squeezes his chest — for as much as he adores you, Venti also worries that you might disappear as quickly as the wind.

But! He is nothing if not a seasoned performer by reflex, recovering in a millisecond. The hand clutched to his chest quickly relaxes to perch atop his lyre, and Venti calls you over with his usual charming lilt.

“You’re back! And here I was starting to worry you’re avoiding me on purpose!” 

As casually playful his words are, you stand, stunned, at how Venti manages to stand so close yet linger just out of reach at the same time. He flits around you, braids tickling your ear (“Your hair’s gotten longer!”) and fingers grazing yours in an almost-handshake and almost-pulling you into a hug.

While Venti might argue that you’re the one driving him crazy, you beg to differ with the way his actions make you dizzy and miss him all at the same time.

When you’ve both fallen into an odd domain that recreates past memories, Wanderer finds himself in his Kabukimono garb once again. But before he’s able to say anything to you, he freezes that the way you regard his ‘past’ form; loses the strength to put any words past his tongue when you kneel down to his height in a room fluttering with sakura blossoms—a prison disguised as a display case—with sceneries flowing against the walls in an illusion of the real world.

Consciously, he is still Wanderer - yet every brave and indignant part of himself shrinks into the shell of his body when your hand rests on his cheek, smiling so kindly that he thinks his connectors might simply decide to collapse. He plays the part of Kabukimono and asks who you are. 

You accept that statement as a confirmation you were speaking to his past self, and even months into the future Wanderer never finds out if you knew it was the usual him all along. 

But maybe ignorance is bliss for now, if it means the way you comforted and reassured a shard of his broken past that things will be okay was real. 

“You’ll end up finding a place to belong, and you’ll become strong like you always wanted. 

And… as long as you don’t tire of me, you’ll be loved as well. To the moon and back, no matter how many times the world turns upside-down.”

He’d blinked back at you glassily, mustering every emotion from spilling out until a tear curved down his cheek. You both wake up after his promise, hearts heavy.

“...I’ll find you every time, even if the world was reset and I lose my own name.” 

After the battle with Beisht (Avenger of the Vortex), the last thing you expected was for Xiao to appear immediately before you, engulfing you in a hug that’s tighter than usual: I was worried. How could you do that without calling for help? Are you hurt? Are you okay?

“...You’re not hurt.” Xiao finally says. Words have power. You confirm that you’re unharmed, and his grip on you loosens. Hug still engaged, he sighs with his forehead pressed into your shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you.” Annoyed glance. Unconvinced golden eyes. “I… promise not to get into any more trouble for at least three months.”

“You better hold true to that oath.” Xiao finally lets go, but you continue walking together with hands brushing on occasion. “Have you eaten? Or do you need to rest?”

“I can cook dinner if you want.”

“...Does it always seem like I ask you to cook for me?”

“I comply because it’s a compliment from the Conquerer of Demons.” You give him a teasing smile. “It’s a small offering in comparison to the protection of Liyue, and I have to make sure I feel at ease enough to get my beauty sleep! And—”

“Enough. I’ll cook this time.”

“You didn’t let me finish! Getting to see a handsome adeptus also brings me nice dreams. So you just have to stand there to keep me company.”

“You dare reduce me to a house decoration?” Xiao’s avoiding your gaze now, turning away so you can’t croon at the blush on his cheeks. “We’ll cook together. Fighting Beisht has made you spew nonsense.”

Diluc’s not very fond of cushy dinners, mostly because the purpose of them is to try and earn his favor as the head of the Ragnvindr Clan. He’s far outgrown the small talks and fake smiles, so of course he rejects those invitations in favor of another social event he claims to dislike but you suspect he secretly enjoys — drinking parties at Angel’s Share.

He doesn’t enjoy drinking by any means, but you’re sure after observing Diluc many times that he likes the lively atmosphere; seeing your friends make fools of themselves and speak loosely with relaxed smiles reminding him of simpler times.

And so, maybe Diluc has a glass of wine or two. You aren’t sure what his alcohol tolerance is, but in short you end up sitting at the bar with him, and you swear he’s leaning against the counter while you banter, gazing up at you with a fondness that makes you afraid you’ll break the spell of the moment. 

It’s a little delusional to think this of the Diluc Ragnvindr, but he looks pretty. And if you gulped down another drink, maybe you can convince yourself he’s leaning towards you with his hair slightly disheveled because he likes you too.

“Come on, they’re not that drunk.” You play back. The lighthearted argument makes Diluc seem a little younger. Or maybe that’s just how he looks when he’s not consciously frowning or lips pressed into a serious line.

“Kaeya’s missing all his targets on the dartboard. I’d call that drunk enough.”

“You can tell? I don’t think I’d be able to even if I was sitting with them now.”

“So you’d rather be talking to them?” Diluc raises his brow, surprising you. He doesn’t say anything for a beat, then another, before a gleeful laugh bubbles from your lips.

“Are you feeling jealous?” You lean closer to Diluc, faces an inch apart. The bravado that courses through your veins is quickly extinguished and flares into burning hot fluster when Diluc’s fingers curl around your chin:

“And if I said yes?” His words ghost over your lips. Your ears are on fire.

Oh no.

[eufiemoon]

How to Make: Electronic Wings for Cosplay

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I last uploaded a written tutorial on here and since I just finished and wore my Dame Aylin cosplay this last weekend it seemed appropriate to jump back in with a tutorial on one of the costume pieces!

Her wings were the star of the show this weekend and I know a lot of people were curious about how I made them! A huge source of knowledge and inspiration behind these wings was this video by Axceleration, I made a few changes to the frame shape and electrical circuitry for mine but her tutorial was a huge stepping stone to give me the confidence to tackle them myself!

Health and Safety:

When working with Sintraboard (as well as other thermoplastics) it is incredibly important you wear a respirator as well as goggles when heating, moulding and cutting it. The fumes this plastic will give off when heated up are no joke! Make sure you're in a well-ventilated space!

Basic tool safety knowledge is also really important! wearing gloves when using power tools can be more dangerous in most situations, so always be aware of where your hands are vs where the tools are. Always cut away from yourself and take things slowly, don't panic.

Electrical safety! You're working with live wires and circuitry! make sure your hands are dry, you aren't touching the bare wires at any point when they are connected to a power source, and if you choose to solder anything, make sure you're wearing heat-proof gloves and a mask in a ventilated space!

Tools

Wire stripper

Screwdriver and wrench

Dremel - I recommend the Dremel 3000 rotary tool personally! Some essential Dremel bits you'll need for this include, a sanding bit, drill bit (smaller or same size as your screws/bolts), and a small/narrow cutting bit. These will usually come with the Dremel!

Heat Gun (A hairdryer will not get hot enough to heat the Sintraboard!!)

Pipe cutter (alternatively you can use a hacksaw for this!)

Hacksaw

Ruler

Scissors (for cutting fabric straps)

Materials

Heat shrink Tubing

2 core electrical wire

switch (you want a three position, six pin switch, like this one, even better if it has the Screws on the pins! otherwise you'll need a soldering kits to solder the wires to the pins.

2x 8AA 12v Battery Holders

2x 12v Linear Actuators (Mine had a stroke length of 100mm)

21.5mm PVC Pipes (I got 2x 3m Lengths)

2x 21.5mm PVC Pipe straight couplers

6mm 8"x12" Sintraboard

Nuts/Bolts/Screws (I used M5 bolts for the base & Actuator connectors and M6 screws to attach the hinges to the pipes! You'll need Washers for every Nut & Bolt!)

Hinges (I used 2.5cm wide hinges that were skinny but long so they would just about fit along the PVC pipe! 3" gate hinges would work!)

50 metre Polythene Jiffy foam roll (in retrospect this was ALOT of foam, you could definitely get away with maybe a 20-30 metre roll! I now have a load leftover XD)

16 AA Batteries (I used 16 and had enough for the whole day with them on, I think They'd probably be enough for another half a day-full day too! but have spares just in case!)

Webbing strap ( I went for grey to match my base suit colour!)

Buckle - as wide as the webbing strap you use!

3 metres of white cotton fabric (or whatever colour wings youre going for!)

Optional

Zipties (for cleaning up the wires)

Lets Go!

Sintraboard is this wonderfully stable thermoplastic that is relatively easy to cut into (with the right tools) and when heated allows you to mould its shape! I started by using a mannequin and heating the Sintraboard with a heat gun for a few minutes to make it pliable, I recommend using gloves for this part as the materials gets VERY HOT! Press the board into the shape of the mannequin's back, taking note of the edges especially! you want this board to sit as comfortably to your body shape as possible as it makes a huge difference to how long you can wearing the wings for in this backplate is comfy!

Once shaped, I placed it against my back to make sure it was a good fit, heating again and making any alterations I needed (again don't place bright hot plastic to your bare skin! wear protective clothes and wait till its slightly cooler to do this, with the help of a friend!). I then took a hacksaw and rounded the corners, before sanding the edges with my Dremel! Try to avoid cutting off loads, just enough to make things less likely to snag.

3. I then cut in four holes, wide enough to feed my webbing strap through, two at the top and one on either side below where my arms would sit! I measured the webbing strap by firstly feeding them through the top holes and pinning them, and then bring the strap over my should to everything sits where it should and seeing where the strap hits the side hole and cutting the length there! you'll also want a strap that attaches across the chest, meeting in the centre with a buckle!

4. After sewing the straps closed I was able to move onto the PVC pipe structure! This may change slightly depending on the finished shape you want but I needed the PVC pipes to come out from inside a breastplate so had a particularly angle as well as character references to work with! I began by heating the pipe over my heat gun and flattening a portion of it under a heavy object so it would sit much more flush against the backboard and sit better underneath my breastplate before moving onto securing the first portion of the structure to the backplate. This mainly involved lots of try-ons and measuring to make sure the angles were correct and symmetrical and was quite fiddly but well-worth the effort! I'll include a diagram of the general shape I went with below:

5. I wanted my wings to be relatively modular for ease of travel so I needed to make sure certain portions of them could come away from other parts easily, so I popped a straight coupler on the top of the pipes that were attach to the breastplate, this also meant I could slot the breastplate over these shorter pipes and wear everything correctly! Then these second pipes slot on and at the other end they are attached via hinges to the longest portion of the pipe 'skeleton', Diagram below:

6. Now that the skeleton was put together, it's time for the electrical stuff! It's a good idea to figure out where your circuit is going to lay on the skeleton - consider if you want the battery packs mounted the the backplate or, like me, put them inside the actual wings in removeable pockets for easy access and removal for battery changes. all your wires will go through the switch so deciding where you want to place that is very important! Mine was placed just over my shoulder on the front side, mounted to the PVC pipe with a metal cover I drilled a hole into to slip the switch through and then drill through the pipe.

I've included another diagram below that explains all the electrical circuitry, including which wires go on which pins on the switch!

Important to note: The linear actuators need to be placed and bolted into the PVC pipes at *exactly* the same angle on each side, any slight deviation will lead to the wings going up wonkily! So take your time and make as many adjustments as necessary.

7. You can extend your wires by adding on the electrical wire, just match the colours, and put heat shrink tubing over the connections to hide the live wires! I ended up zip-tying the wires into organised bundles once the wings were done to help keep everything safe from snags.

8. Now its time for the Wings themselves! I drafted my base pattern by just draping the white cotton fabric I had over the wing when it was fully extended. I then pinned the wings to the shape I wanted them to be along the bottom before cutting along the pins. I ran the fabric through my sewing machine to close the bottom edge, leaving a gap wide enough by the wing base so I could slip the wing on and off, closing it with velcro. I also added little fabric pockets inside of these to hold my battery packs, which also connected via velcro for easy removal!

9. Now that I had a wing base I was able to begin making feathers! I cut out a total of 800 feathers out of polythene jiffy roll for these wings, in 6 different styles and using real life bird wings to dictate the shapes I used and where I placed them. I ended up hot gluing every individual feather onto the white fabric base, going row by row until every side was covered, the wing covers themselves are super light because of the foam feathers and they shine light through them in a really magical way!

Optional: I also ended up going over these feathers with my airbrush and some super light beige paint to help darken the shadows, this is entirely optional and may change depending on the wings you're looking to make!

When in neutral position and in extended position the wings looks like this:

Mine had a wingspan of about 7ft total when fully extended but when in neutral position they were fairly close to my own proportions! mainly staying behind me and weren't much of a problem in a packed con hall!

Photo by: Helloimfran (on Instagram and Twitter)

I hope this tutorial helped and if there are any questions about anything in specific don't hesitate to reach out at eufiemoon@gmail.com or on my instagram or twitter (@eufiemoon)

Happy Crafting!

[homestuckreplay]

Shrinking Wormholes; Transferring Syllogism Twine

(page 134-137)

Homestuck is my worst enemy. These past couple days without updates left me time to transcribe the video on page 137, which took long enough that I never want to look at it again. Which is a shame, because it's a cool video, the shifting colors and the twisting spirograph are good to look at and I like the irregularity of the movement. And I do respect the attention to detail - the fact that Hussie took the time to write out 231 meaningless phrases about DIY and spread them unevenly throughout the video shows a real dedication to recreating the video game experience. It feels very real, I can sense the anticipation when the video gets stuck on a particular phrase for a full second, that feeling of just wanting to play the game but having to wait.

Below the cut at the end I've listed all the phrases in the video, but it's LONG, so be warned. I'm also not sure this was a good use of time, there's not loads here that seems relevant. We get a broad overall sense of the game, which seems to be a building/DIY simulator, maybe something like digital Lego, maybe something more like having to maintain a house day to day, perform repairs and give it 'upgrades' like new lighting or a new garage, as most of the nouns are tools you could buy in a Home Depot.

Here's a few exceptions that jumped out to me:

Observing Avenues, Analyzing Eyes - both of these relate to surveillance

Transferring Syllogism Twine, Auditing Nescience Passages - relate to knowledge/logic or the lack of it

Anticipating Gateways, Shrinking Wormholes, Referring Time Spools, Retrofitting Aesthetics Portals - these relate to time and space, perhaps to messing with the laws of physics

Transcribing Existence Rivets, Finalizing Atma Augers - relate to life and the soul

It's interesting to me how these phrases are hidden within a barrage of far more mundane ones. I think this game will seem on its surface to be very normal and simply a reflection of John's existing life, playing in a digital house not too different to his very real one, but that it has more and weirder stuff going on below the surface. The game will present opportunities to escape the trap of the suburbs in ways that John can't yet figure out in real life - but will be able to in the game, because he has experience with gaming and coding. It might take some mild hacking and exploiting loopholes in the mechanics, but these possibilities are clearly coded into the game, or they wouldn't be in the loading screen. It's a game that wants the players to push its limits and see what's possible, and rewards a player who tries to go beyond the mechanics as presented.

John's had a lot of practice messing with his sylladex for 130+ pages, and I think that's really going to pay off when he starts using a similar skillset in game. It's interesting, because most characters (or people) would have an arc of learning a skill in a game and then exporting it to real life, while I think John's going to have the opposite, with the supposed constraints of the game actually giving him freedom, and the supposed open world of real life just closing doors to him.

Anyway, no wonder TT is excited to play this game. I bet she's eating up all these long words.

Transcript of Flash animation, p.137. Spelling mistakes come from the original.

Transforming Soffits Reorganizing Keys Formalizing Immersion Joints Justifying Kick Extractors Advising Aggregates Managing Elbows Recasting Connectors Achieving Aluminum Trowels Officiating Disks Exhibiting Absolute Spigots Progressing Coil Hydrants Jerry-building Reflectors Informing Casters Inventing Rubber Hoists Performing Wrenches Judging Chalk Adapters Upgrading Ignition Paths Regrowing Flashing Recommending Ratchets Approving Barriers Sweeping Impact Fillers Sewing Mirrors Detailing Collectors Enforcing Measures Distributing Systems Presenting Plugs Interwinding Registers Piloting Ash Diffusers Gathering Cranks Supplying Eave Pockets Undertaking Scroll Stops Accelerating Straps Designing Fittings Protecting Diamond Boilers Logging Downspouts Correlating Shingles Uniting Mallets Qualifying Electrostatic Lifts Sharing Clamps Obtaining Circular Fluids Ranking Foundation Gauges Sensing Miter Brackets Originating Space Networks Translating Drills Regulating Guards Selecting Gable Padding Utilizing Pellet Dowels Reconciling Artifacts Altering Pulleys Shedding Space Filters Determining Vents Representing Mortar Remaking Flash Rakers Supporting Funnels Typecasting Rotary Chocks Expressing Junctures Resetting Auxiliary Vises Professing Strip Treads Inlaying Matter Trowels Questioning Drivers Forming Edge Fittings Sketching Blanks Overshooting Spark Breakers Rewriting Controls Playing Tunnels Inventorying Buttons Enduring Joist Handles Effecting Ratchet Bibbs Unwinding Couplings Forsaking Vapor Conduits Defining Sockets Calculating Heaters Raising Grids Administering Tiles Measuring Resources Installing Ignition Remotes Extracting Corners Manufacturing Ventilators Delegating Consoles Treating Mounting Stones Enacting Jig Deflectors Intensifying Alloys Improvising Cargo Pinpointing Bobs Prescribing Arc Masonry Structuring Metal Chocks Symbolizing Lathes Activating Plumb Kits Adapting Coatings Fixing Channels Expediting Cordage Planning Compressors Enlisting Hangers Restructuring Keyhole Augers Shearing Ridge Hardware Collecting Reciprocating Bolts Maintaining Corrugated Dimmers Whetting Hole Collars Conducting Mandrels Comparing Assets Compiling Sealants Completing Paths Composing Equivocation Wheels Computing Dampers Conceiving Electrostatic Treatment Ordering Cotter Grates Organizing Ties Orienting Ladders Exceeding Materials Targeting Thermocouples Demonstrating Emery Stock Expanding Latch Bases Training Wardrobe Adhesives Overcomming Fasteners Streamlining Storm Anchors Navigating Springs Perfecting Turnbuckles Verifying Gate Pegs Arbitrating Arithmetic Lifts Negotiating Outlets Normalizing Strips Building Surface Foggers Checking Key Torches Knitting Grinders Mowing Planers Offsetting Stencils Acquiring Bulbs Adopting Rivets Observing Avenues Ascertaining Coaxial Grommets Slinging Wing Winches Instituting Circuit Generators Instructing Wicks Integrating Pry Shutters Interpreting Immersion Lumber Clarifying Coils Classifying Wood Bits Closing Cogs Cataloging Matter Strips Charting Holders Conceptualizing Push Terminals Stimulating Supports Overthrowing Shaft Spacers Quick-freezing Connectors Unbinding Ground Hooks Analyzing Eyes Anticipating Gateways Controlling Proposition Rollers [blank bar momentarily]

Converting Power Angles Coordinating Staples Correcting Benders Counseling Joist Gaskets Recording Gutter Pipes Recruiting Drains Rehabilitating Rafter Tubes Reinforcing Washers Reporting Guard Valves Naming Freize Sprues Nominating Rings Noting Straps Doubling Nailers Drafting Circuit Hoses Dramatizing Flanges Splitting Framing Compounds Refitting Stems Interweaving Patch Unions Placing Sillcocks Sorting Slot Threads Securing Mode Cutters Diverting Catharsis Plates Procuring Load Thresholds Transferring Syllogism Twine Directing Switch Nuts Referring Time Spools Diagnosing Knobs Discovering Locks Dispensing Hinges Displaying Hasps Resending Arc Binders Retreading Grooves Retrofitting Aesthetics Portals Seeking Stocks Shrinking Wormholes Assembling Blocks Assessing Divets Attaining Lug Boxes Auditing Nescience Passages Conserving Strikes Constructing Braces Contracting Saw Catches Serving Instantiation Irons Recognizing Fluxes Consolidating Fuse Calipers Mapping Shims Reviewing Chop Groovers Scheduling Lag Drives Simplifying Hoists Engineering Levels Enhancing Tack Hollows Establishing Finishing Blocks Estimating Adhesives Evaluating Mortar Examining Auto Turnbuckles Processing Foggers Servicing Avenues Transcribing Existence Rivets Revising Consoles Separating Absolute Stencils Budgeting Sheet Grommets Preparing Kits Realigning Cartesian Mandrels Painting Fasteners Filing Grout Hangers Finalizing Atma Augers Formulating Couplings Identifying Sillcocks Imagining Materials Inducing Shutters Influencing Wheels Licensing Chocks Lifting Extrinsic Mallets Overdrawing Ratchets Overlaying Ventilators Overriding Cardinal Soffits Specifying Element Aggregates Systemizing Divets Shaping Pockets Publicizing Aether Remotes Governing Archetype Dimmers Monitoring Assets Launching Manifestation Systems

[kaywavy]

transforming soffits reorganizing keys formalizing immersion joints justifying kick extractors advising aggregates managing elbows recasting connectors achieving aluminum trowels officiating disks exhibiting absolute spigots progressing coil hydrants jerry-building reflectors informing casters inventing rubber hoists performing wrenches judging chalk adapters upgrading ignition paths

regrowing flashing recommending ratchets approving barriers sweeping impact fillers sewing mirrors detailing collectors enforcing measures distributing systems presenting plugs interwinding registers piloting ash diffusers gathering cranks supplying eave pockets undertaking scroll stops accelerating straps designing fittings protecting diamond boilers logging downspouts correlating shingles uniting mallets qualifying electrostatic lifts sharing clamps obtaining circular fluids ranking foundation gauges sensing miter brackets originating space networks translating drills regulating guards selecting gable padding utilizing pellet dowels reconciling artifacts altering pulleys shedding space filters determining vents representing mortar remaking flash rakers supporting funnels typecasting rotary chocks expressing junctures resetting auxiliary vises professing strip treads inlaying matter trowels questioning drivers forming edge fittings sketching blanks overshooting spark breakers rewriting controls playing tunnels inventorying buttons enduring joint handles effecting ratchet bibbs unwinding couplings forsaking vapor conduits defining sockets calculating heaters raising grids administering tiles measuring resources installing ignition remotes extracting corners manufacturing ventilators delegating consoles treating mounting stones enacting jig deflectors intensifying alleys improvising cargo pinpointing bobs prescribing arc masonry structuring metal chucks symbolizing lathes activating plumb kits adapting coatings fixing channels expediting cordage planning compressors enlisting hangers restructuring keyhole augers shearing ridge hardware collecting reciprocating bolts maintaining corrugated dimmers whetting hole collars conducting mandrels comparing assets compiling sealants completing paths composing equivocation wheels computing dampers conceiving electrostatic treatment ordering cotter grates organizing ties orienting ladders exceeding materials targeting thermocouples demonstrating emery stock expanding latch bases training wardrobe adhesives overcomming[sic] fasteners streamlining storm anchors navigating springs perfecting turnbuckles verifying gate pegs arbitrating arithmetic lifts negotiating outlets normalizing strips building surface foggers checking key torches knitting grinders mowing planers offsetting stencils acquiring bulbs adopting rivets observing avenues ascertaining coaxial grommets slinging wing winches instituting circuit generators instructing wicks integrating pry shutters interpreting immersion lumber clarifying coils classifying wood bits closing cogs cataloging matter strips charting holders conceptualizing push terminals stimulating supports overthrowing shaft spacers quick-freezing connectors unbinding ground hooks analyzing eyes anticipating gateways controlling proposition rollers converting power angles coordinating staples correcting benders counseling joist gaskets recording gutter pipes recruiting drains rehabilitating rafter tubes reinforcing washers reporting guard valves naming freize sprues nominating rings noting straps doubling nailers drafting circuit hoses dramatizing flanges splitting framing compounds refitting stems interweaving patch unions placing sillcocks sorting slot threads securing mode cutters diverting catharsis plates procuring load thresholds transferring syllogism twine directing switch nuts referring time spools diagnosing knobs discovering locks dispensing hinges displaying hasps resending arc binders retreading grooves retrofitting aesthetics portals seeking stocks shrinking wormholes assembling blocks assessing divers attaining lug boxes auditing nescience passages conserving strikes constructing braces contracting saw catches serving installation irons recognizing fluxes consolidating fuse calipers mapping shims reviewing chop groovers scheduling lag drives simplifying hoists engineering levels enhancing tack hollows establishing finishing blocks

[tabbycatplushy]

Big Questions: Prologue

Featuring: Joule, Mocha, Paprika, Natalia, Lizzie

2.9k words. Full story: 18k words

Joule has just moved to the city, and now she finds herself living with two friendly, pretty, gay, attractive... roommates. When she suddenly shrinks down to five inches tall, will she be able to deal with the consequences while navigating her budding poly relationship?

This prologue chapter is mostly a rewrite of my old story, First Meeting, with some extras leading up to this larger story. The actual shrinking doesn't happen until chapter one, sorry!

[disability, shrinking, lesbian romance, anxiety, polyamory, furries]

>> PROLOGUE (YOU ARE HERE) >> CHAPTER ONE >> CHAPTER TWO >> CHAPTER THREE

MARCH

Joule twisted the four screws that secured the side panel and lifted the dark glass pane, revealing the mismanaged guts of the customer’s computer.

“You said it just won’t turn on?”

“Yeah,” said the customer, a bearded human. “So what’s wrong with it?”

“Let’s find out.”

With deft paws she began excavating the actual components from the tangled mess of unused wires and connectors inside. She started pulling out these pieces, laying the useless things off to the side. As Joule worked she tried hard not to focus on her boss, who was observing the interaction from the sidelines.

Don’t fuck this up, please don’t fuck this up…

She tried to distract herself with small talk. “So… you built this yourself, huh?”

“Yep. Watched a few YouCube videos and followed those. I did everything right, so I think one of the components is busted.”

“Ah.”

She finished digging out the last of the superfluous stuff. “Well the first thing I’m seeing is… all this. Do you know what it is?”

“Those are just the extras, they don’t matter.”

“Extras?”

He made an exaggerated nodding motion. “The extra wires and stuff that came with everything else.”

“So… why are they in here?”

“Because I didn’t want to lose them?”

“Ah, of course.” Joule took a deep breath to regather her patience. Her tail snapped angrily behind her. “Well, now that I’ve cleaned it out a bit, let’s see what we can see.”

She began to pick through the wires and boards, feeling each with the tip of her claw before moving on to the next. She felt electricity thrumming within each one. And then…

“Here we go.”

She plucked up a group of small cables and moved them to another port on the motherboard. “The case’s power button wasn’t connected right. Should work now.”

“Really? I could’ve done that.”

“Well, you didn’t. Thank you for choosing TekRite. By the way,” she handed him the bundle of extra junk. “Keeping this stuff inside the case will cause problems over time.”

“Yeah, whatever. So like, how much are you going to charge me?”

“We don’t charge for quick fixes like this. Just remember us when it actually breaks.”

“Oh, nice.”

The bearded human collected his things and left without another word. Joule sighed as she pulled off the grounding wire attached to her arm, and turned to her boss. “How’d I do?”

Kurt, a balding human in his fifties, was the owner of TekRite: a local computer store tucked in the corner of a strip mall, and the place where Joule had worked for the past week.

“You were a bit snappy with him. But your advice was sound, and you diagnosed the problem quickly. That power of yours is real’ nifty.”

Kurt had already put her through several tests to make sure she could actually detect electrical current as she claimed. Then, for the past week, she had been shadowing him as he showed her the ropes of working at TekRite. This customer was the first real test of what she had learned.

“Sorry sir, I’ll try to be more patient with the customers.”

“See that you do. You’re doing great so far, though. Customer service is the one area you could stand to improve in.”

The rest of the shift was a mix of training and hands-on work with some other broken PCs. She spent most of it hunched over the counters, working on this or that. By the end, her feet and back ached from all the standing. She was glad to finally clock out at the end of her four hours. She enjoyed her job; if only she wasn't so tired at the end of it.

When she had landed this job, Joule had thought for a moment that things were finally going to get easier, at least for a little while. But while she had now secured a job, she hadn’t exactly figured out her housing situation yet.

For the last three weeks since she moved to San Orchidia, she had been sleeping on her cousin Alex’s couch. And while Alex kept saying she could stay as long as she needed, Joule could tell it was wearing on them more and more every day.

Despite all of that, Joule let herself relax just a bit; the next part of her day was bound to me far more pleasant. She checked her watch; eleven o’clock. Plenty of time to walk to the coffee shop.

Several months ago, Joule met Mocha and Paprika in an online gaming community. The three of them had hit it off instantly, and started messaging daily soon after. They had made plans to meet up in person as soon as Joule got into town; plans which had been continuously pushed back as Joule struggled to get her life started in the city.

Now they were finally, finally going to meet.

Joule’s tail flicked back and forth in anticipation; even the pain in her feet wasn’t enough to dampen her spirits. She crossed her fingers, hoping at least this one thing could go well. If it did, she would have at least two friends in the city. She didn’t want to think about the alternative.

Joule followed the directions on her phone as it led her further into downtown, skyscrapers rising higher and higher around her. She spotted the sign for the coffee shop they were to meet at. As she got closer, she checked her messages.

mocha: we are in a booth near the window. im wearing pink, and paprika has red hair <3

With that description in mind, Joule instantly spotted them through the glass, her eyes drawn by a flash of pink and orange: the brunette cowgirl with cream-colored fur was definitely Mocha, wearing a pink cropped blazer and a blouse which had clearly been modified to show a tasteful amount of cleavage. Leaning affectionately against her in the booth was a much shorter orange tabby catgirl who must have been Paprika, wearing a loose white tank emblazoned with the phrase 'THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS.' Her tied-back hair was fiery, long and red and fading to blonde at the tips.

Mocha immediately spotted Joule as she entered through the double doors, and raised her hand in a friendly wave accompanied by a warm greeting smile.

Wow, she’s gorgeous, was Joule’s first thought. She waved back and pointed to the front counter, indicating she was getting a drink before she sat down.

***

“Pap, she’s here,” said Mocha, nudging her girlfriend out of the purring reverie she had sunk into. She gestured with her snout towards the catgirl that had just walked inside, and was now ordering a drink at the counter. Mocha watched her as Paprika stirred awake. As usual, the fashion side of her brain took over as she began critiquing Joule’s appearance.

She’s lanky, the cowgirl thought. That uniform isn’t doing her any favors. And her hair could use some work. Still, I suppose she’s cute in an awkward sort of way…

“Oh fuck, she is hot!” Paprika whispered through her teeth as she smiled. Joule was now approaching, steaming drink in hand. “I told you she would be! Look at that coat!”

Mocha had to agree; if the girl had a defining characteristic, it was her lustrous coat. Light gray, with darker stripes running down the back and patterning the face, and a near-white front-coat. Between the stripes, an undercoat of dark orange shone through in places, most prominently on her pink nose and the tips of her dark, wavy hair.

Mocha began to think her initial assessment of the girl had been a tad unfair. Pap’s right, with a little work she could actually be quite—

Mocha’s train of thought was cut short when the cat stubbed her foot on the wet floor sign and, as she was righting herself, slipped with her other foot in a puddle of coffee. Her feet flew upwards, and her head took their place on the floor.

***

Half a dozen people rushed towards Joule as she fell. It was all she could do to yell “Don’t touch me!”

It came out far more harshly than she had intended, but it worked. Her friends, as well as the barista and several other patrons, stopped in their tracks. Paprika knelt down a few feet away, giving her plenty of space. Joule’s hackles were already standing up from the stress, and her short hair was beginning to tingle and stand straight out.

Okay, now just calm down. You can do that. No need to zap anyone. Joule closed her eyes and began the breathing exercises to ground herself, but it was a paltry effort. Oh god, they think I’m stupid. And an asshole. That’s their first image of me in real life, shouting at everyone when they’re just trying to help me… fuck. She could feel the static buzzing around her now, building in a bubble that would shock anyone who entered.

She heard a voice, saying, “Hey, Joule, are you okay? Can we help at all?”

She opened her eyes. It was Paprika who was speaking. “No!” she replied. “I mean, thank you… I just need to calm down. Then it’ll go away.”

“Alright. I’m Paprika, by the way. It’s so cool to finally meet you!” The tabby gestured upward towards the cow, who was now standing at full height nearby. And—the poor, gay little catgirl couldn’t help but notice—her height was full indeed. She must be over six feet tall, and it’s curves all the way down!

“Anyway,” Paprika continued, “we just wanted to mention that we think your coat is gorgeous! Do you groom it yourself?”

In between her rhythmic in- and exhalations, Joule answered, “Ahh… yeah, I guess. I just… do whatever…” She wasn’t sure how to answer that, even if she wasn’t in the midst of a panic attack—it was taboo to ask a cat how she groomed, even from another cat.

“Interesting,” Paprika said, as if Joule had given an actual answer. “I mostly self-groom, but every once in a while Mocha and I like to go to this salon down the street. They specialize in felines, so they really know how to treat a girl. Which reminds me, today’s feeling like a she/her-kind-of-day for me. Remind me what your pronouns are again?”

“Uhm… yeah, thanks for telling me. She/her.”

“Right, I thought so. Hey, you just got off work, right? Is that your uniform?” The tabby gestured at the unflattering gray shirt and slacks.

“Mm hmm. I wouldn’t be wearing this by choice.”

“Ugh, tell me about it. I used to work at that burger chain, Meat Monarch? Their uniforms were the worst against my fur, so uncomfortable. And the colors did not match at all. Know what I’m talking about?”

“Yeah, for sure… I think your coat is very pretty too, by the way.”

“Aww, thanks! I try.”

Mocha brought down one elegant hand to touch Paprika’s shoulder. “Crisis averted, love. Joule, would you like to join us at the booth?”

Joule opened her mouth to say no, I can’t, I might hurt someone, but she stopped. The bubble of static around her, she felt, was dissipating into harmless background noise. She steadied her breathing and began to stand up once more. Paprika offered a paw, which Joule gladly took, and yanked her up into a tight hug.

“It’s so good to see you, friend!” she said. “Welcome to San Orchidia!”

Joule, confused and then relieved, hugged her back. When Paprika finally let her go, Mocha immediately pulled her into another, somehow even tighter, hug. The cow was every bit as strong as she looked, and even lifted Joule off the ground for a moment.

Joule couldn’t keep a smile from her face. My friends! I’ve finally met my friends!

Leaning over, she examined the dark coffee stain on her work pants with a sigh.

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Mocha. “Coffee stains usually aren’t permanent. If you want, I could send you some tips on how to clean it.”

“Would you? I think I’m going to need it.”

“Sure thing. But first, take a seat.” She turned to the barista. “Can you please make her another drink? Of course, just add it to my tab.”

Soon after, they were all seated in the booth.

“Sorry about… all that,” Joule said. She tentatively sipped her new coffee, then grimaced at the heat.

Paprika clearly had no such problems; her own drink was steaming hot as she downed a swig like one might a stein of beer. “It’s all good. There isn’t a single demihuman out there who hasn’t let their aura get out of hand before.”

“I know… doesn’t make it any less embarrassing, especially in a room full of humans.”

Both Mocha and Paprika nodded their understanding to that.

“So your aura is electric?” Paprika asked.

Joule sighed. “Yeah. When I get anxious it builds up around me. Other emotions, too, but that’s the big one. Most of the time it’s not much more than a static shock, but it can be dangerous if I don’t keep a handle on it.”

“Mine is similar—things around me start to heat up. I’ve started a few fires in my day. Burn through a lot of clothes, too.” Paprika rubbed the back of her neck.

Joule offered a commiserate expression, eyes locked on Paprika. After staring for just a moment too long, she collected herself and turned to Mocha. “And you?”

Mocha’s calm, collected demeanor up to now cracked just a little, as she tensed at the question. “Mine is empathetic.”

When Mocha didn’t continue, Joule considered for a moment. “So that’s how you knew when it was safe to approach me?”

“Mm hmm. I can generally read emotions pretty well.” Mocha seemed almost sheepish. “Sometimes my own emotions project onto others. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Not at all. Should it?”

With a small smile Mocha said, “absolutely not. I try not to use it, to respect others’ privacy. I’ve had some bad experiences with it, though. Times when I lost control, and accidentally hurt people.”

“Oh… that sounds kind of scary. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Usually I don’t like to talk about it, but since we were all sharing our auras…”

“Want to change the subject?”

“Very much, yes.”

“Okay. Well, I’ve got to say I’m pretty excited to actually have some demi friends! I’ve only ever met two others before you, and they were just my parents.”

“You came from a pretty small town then?”

“Yeah, a little place about two hours east of here. Something like twelve thousand people. All humans.”

“I know what that’s like,” Paprika said. “I used to live a couple states over, waaay out in bum-fuck nowhere. Luckily I had Bruma, though.”

“Bruma's another demi?”

“Yeah! He’s a wolf, my best friend since forever. He lives here in the city too, you’ll probably meet him at some point if you hang out with me long enough.”

“I hope I do!”

Their conversation spun on from there, shifting towards interests, hobbies, and eventually work. Joule launched into a tirade about her own job, shitty customers, her search for housing, and her undying hatred of all landlords. Both Mocha and Paprika jumped in with their own experiences, complaining about their own past jobs and apartments.

At one point during the conversation, Paprika tried to drink her tea only to find that her cup was empty. “Joule, could you do me a huge favor?”

“Want me to get you another?”

“You read my mind! It’s just that I don’t want to make Mocha get up, and your side of the booth is open…”

“Say no more. What was your order?”

“Hot chai latte with extra spice. Thank you so much! Hate to see you leave, love to watch you go!”

Joule stopped at that last line, utter confusion on her face.

“Just ignore her, Joule, she’s a habitual flirt,” said Mocha.

The tabby raised her hands. “Guilty as charged.”

“Oh… uh, okay.” Joule hoped they couldn’t see her blush through her fur as she returned once again to the counter.

She smiled at the barista, and relayed Paprika’s order. As the barista ran her card she made a silent prayer, hoping it would accept the charge.

The card reader beeped its acceptance, and Joule sighed in relief. She left a sizable tip, and moved to the pick-up counter.

As she waited, she glanced across the room to her friends in the booth. They seem to be talking quite a bit, she thought. About me? I hope not…

She caught Paprika’s eye. The tabby made an exaggerated smile and waved at her. Oh no, they’re definitely talking about me!

Anxiety crept over her. She began replaying every second of their conversation in her mind, searching for anything she might have done to make them dislike her. By the time she was carrying Paprika’s drink back to the table, she was certain they hated her guts over half-a-hundred imagined slights.

They stopped talking as she approached. Joule was unable to make eye contact with either of them as she sat down and slid Paprika her chai.

“H-here you go.”

“Thanks! You’re a real one.” She took a sip. No one spoke for several excruciating seconds.

“So, Joule…” said Mocha. “We had an idea while you were up.”

“An idea?”

Mocha and Paprika each grabbed one of her hands. What the…

“How would you like to move in with us?”

>> NEXT CHAPTER

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[ryttu3k]

Good Omens season 2, episode 3!

Previous liveblogs: episode 1, episode 2

"Someone's got a sense of humour! …Or an interesting kink."

Muriel is trying their best! Which isn't good. But they're trying, nonetheless!

I like looking at cupperties too :)

Crowley, don't fuck with the baby angel. Were they literally born yesterday or is most of Upstairs like this? XD

"Listen, you wouldn't be interested in humans falling in love, would you? I know for some members of the police force, it's a bit of a hobby!" Spoken like someone who radiates queer energy and was around for the 60s tbh

I've never worked out why the Bentley's license plate says 'curtain' backwards. (There was a car in the first season that had SIDRAT, though, that was fun!)

Tennant must be having so much fun using his actual accent XD

Elspeth and Morag are sweet :(

"What do we do? We play classical music that stays classical music." Listen I would have paid a lot of goddamn money to hear Freddie Mercury perform Danse Macabre.

Yellow! Aziraphale de-corrupted the Bentley! …That may count as corruption, given that it's. Well. Crowley's car. Either way that feels like illegal, or at least a sin. Miracle. You know.

a) Was that Nessie? b) Were those hills tartan.

Hmm. Beelzebub may be having some interesting thoughts!

Crowley we do not throw books >:(

"I'm a surgeon, not a doctor." Bones in an alternate universe where he's a walking malpractice suit.

Aziraphale having an attack of the guiiilts. But honestly, a surprising amount of medical progress was off the back of… well, some deeply shady shit.

Yeah, yeah I think you could call Gabriel a 'big high-up' XD

Ooof, Morag :(

…did I just catch the name CMOT Dibbler?

Oooof, Elspeth :(

So, uh, laudanum shrinks demons. Good to know! …overdid it somewhat XD But hell, it works!

Crowley stop throwing books >:(

The awning of a new age………

lmao did Aziraphale just change the Grindr phone dude's background from the Union Jack to the Scottish flag??

Oh bless Maggie is so awkward and lovestruck. Pensive emoji.

Crowley is trying his best! …and doing about as well as Muriel, poor dear.

I wonder if Gabriel is being used as a… conduit or something? Wiped out his brain to use him as a lightning rod or a connector or something?

'Very Closed'. Kind of wondering if that's a Crowley thing or if Aziraphale just already had the sign XD;;

"If any harm comes to Aziraphale because of this, I will…" Protective!Crowley off the shits.

God I really love the different remixes of the theme over each credits. Bagpipes!

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[fluffydragonmakes]

1997 Compaq RT235BT Pinout and Blind Cable Replacement

I recently picked up this Compaq PS/2 keyboard from my E-waste job in excellent condition. We rarely save keyboards and separate the cords and send them downstream for processing and that was the case with this one. Luckily I found a cut keyboard-less cord from a Wyse KB-9933 to splice on.

The first thing I did was strip the wires and found that the two keyboards used entirely different color codes. Because I had the Wyse PS/2 connector, I could get the pinout, but I found myself in a unique situation with the Compaq without its connector.

I first identified the positive wire by seeing which wire was absolutely needed to power the LEDs and called it a night, worried I fried the chip and would have to go through 25+ combinations.

EIGHTY ONE COMBINATIONS LETS GO

The next day I identified the ground wire by looking at where the negative side of the capacitors on the PCB terminated. I found an article with photos of the PCB on the Kazakh tech blog WASP.kz so I didn’t have to do further disassembly.

Source: WASP.kz

I had a 50-50 shot on the clock and data wires which I just decided to match by color brightness, and paired yellow and white and brown and green. I also found out that PS/2 peripherals were not intended to be hot swappable so I had to restart my computer to boot it.

It worked! Now I was on my way to a 90’s beige setup I may eventually get around to completing. I then soldered the wires with my very rusty soldering skills, and plugged it in again and it somehow still worked!

The final pinout.

I may revisit this project in the future now that I have another cut PS2 cable of similar vintage and heat shrink solder connectors.

[scout-company]

Atlas—Chapter 12: Fragments

Bronzemarch leads them across town, past the two built-up hills, right as the sun finally starts to hide behind the horizon and the red-tinged clouds drift overhead. Scout spots Riku coming out of the new hilltop hut and waves to him as they pass by; Riku waves back before turning and talking to one of the new move-ins. Human, they look like, but Scout only catches a brief glance of them before they descend over the far side of the hill and out of her sight. 

Once inside Bronzemarch’s hut, Bronzemarch walks over to his workstation, carefully pulling the hard drive out of his pocket and setting it on the table before unhooking his Manipulator from his belt. Alice, after pausing briefly in the threshold of the shack to glance around, tentatively walks over to try and peek around Bronzemarch’s shoulders at what he’s doing. Scout has a similar idea, but she takes position on Bronzemarch’s other side to study the buttons he’s messing with. So that’s what that switch is supposed to do.

Semyon just stands behind the both of them, a foot or two away. He stays mostly quiet, only chuckling a bit when Scout gives a curious whistle when Bronzemarch turns the hard drive around and scans the connectors with his Manipulator.

When Semyon chuckles, though, Alice blinks twice up at him like she’s finally registering his presence. She backs up a partial step and seems to try and shrink.

“…Something wrong?” Semyon frowns when he notices her movement. 

Alice says nothing for a long moment; just stares up at the red goggles atop Semyon’s head. But eventually she mutters, “You’re tall.”

Semyon blinks, then glances down at himself while itching the back of his neck. Not that it helps suppress the awkward red flush that blooms across his face. “Yeah, uh…” he gives an awkward laugh, an off-kilter rumble. “S-sorry about that. Should I maybe…”

“Ya could always squat,” Scout jokes, “That’ll make ya shorter.”

Semyon just shoots her a look. “Really, Scout?”

“What? It would!”

“Not by much,” he counters, half his face squishing with a mildly incredulous pout, “And did you really have to say it like—”

“Surprised. That’s not what I expected.”

Scout and Semyon pause at Bronzemarch’s hum. Alice glances at the two of them briefly with a slight furrow of her brows—and with what Scout could swear is a hint of a smirk—before peering around Bronzemarch’s shoulders at the drive.

The screen in the end of Bronzemarch’s Matter Manipulator’s handle is filled with a scrolling block of text Scout can’t read, in small enough print it looks simply like rows and rows of pixels of assorted heights. But Bronzemarch’s eyes are narrowed at whatever it says, flicking over at the hard drive on the table a few times, flickering with thought. 

Eventually Scout prompts with a curious whistle, “What ain’t?”

After a few moments, Bronzemarch muses, “Careful. It looks like this drive was used to save the…that one broadcast from six years ago.”

Alice pales and clutches the strap of her bag. Her voice is barely audible as she stutters, “That one where…where we…”

Bronzemarch looks over at her, eyes softening as he lets the statement hang. Then he looks back at his Manipulator’s screen, partially turning to face everyone a bit more as he continues, “Observant. But then they used the free space on the drive for other data. Bemused. It’s quite disorganized—some of the data seems to be a log of sorts. Most of it seems irrelevant; just gripings about individuals in the Penal Colony or rival bandits. Cautious. There are mentions of—ah—certain disreputable people trying to win members of the Colony over—”

Again Alice’s grip on the strap of her bag tightens as she all but spits under her breath, “Not the Occasus.”

The mention of that weird name makes Bronzemarch nod subtly in confirmation but makes Semyon blink with a frown. “Wait, I thought those guys have been dismantled for years.”

“The who-what-now?” Scout pops, tilting her head.

All she gets is a dismissive wave of a hand from Bronzemarch as he answers Semyon, “Dismissive. They have. The last mention of them in the log was some time ago.” Then it’s his turn to tilt his head as he glances back at the drive on the table and notes, “Confused. Then there’s also a mention of something about a ‘Horizon,’ but I have no idea what that’s about. Disappointed. Most of the rest of the drive’s data is fragmented, though, so I can’t get any more results from scanning it at this time.”

Alice nods slowly, biting her lip as she stares at the drive. Her grip on her bag strap isn’t as tight as it was earlier, but it’s still all but frozen in place. Scout just glances between her and Semyon, struggling to parse her barely-wavering expression and hoping Semyon’s provides more clues about what the heck is going on. Unfortunately for her, though, the only clue Semyon’s face has is an uncertain twist to his lip that disappears into an apologetic half-smile and a shrug when he notices her glancing at him. 

Eventually Bronzemarch breaks the heavy silence in the air by setting his Manipulator down on the table and offering, “Apologetic. I can spend some time on this later to see if I can defragment the data if you wish, but for now that’s all I can find. Practical. In the meantime, Alice, you will probably be needing some place to stay here, correct?”

Alice blinks, then nods, the movement a lot freer than before. “Y-yeah, probably,” she says, finally unfreezing enough to tug at her shirt a bit instead of her bag. “Unless Scout is planning on flying somewhere else.”

Scout pops at her name, then fizzles, “Huh? No, I ain’t got no plans for that yet.”

“Intent. The Icarus isn’t even her ship yet, anyways,” Bronzemarch adds—pointedly eyeing Scout at “yet”—before lightly beckoning for Alice to follow him with a pat to her shoulder. “Amicable. Come. Let’s go talk to Riku and see if we can get something arranged.”

While Alice lets Bronzemarch lead her back out of the hut, Scout and Semyon turn to watch them leave. Semyon moves to start to follow them, but before he does, Scout dims, lightly slaps his arm, and buzzes quietly, “Oi, Sem. What was all that fuss over that ‘Occy-sis’ about?”

Semyon blinks and pauses mid-first-step. “You mean the Occasus?” he corrects, voice low as if saying the name too loud would jinx something. 

“Yeah.”

Semyon’s lips twist a bit as he glances out the door Bronzemarch left open before carefully replying, “They were, like, this Human cult or something years ago. The Peacekeepers took them down and imprisoned their leader a while back, last I heard, so they’re basically gone now.” His frown deepens as he adds haltingly, “People still…blame them for the Ruin, though.”

Again about this Ruin thingy. Semyon’s almost as twitchy about it as Alice was. Almost. Scout tilts her head with a quiet bubble, then before Semyon can try taking a step again she asks, “What’s a ‘Ruin’?”

Again Semyon blinks at her, mouth opening and closing a few times without any words. He bites his lip as he glances around absolutely everywhere—almost tempting Scout to glance around too to see if any clues are hidden behind her—but at length Semyon manages, “It was…uh…how do I…” He rubs a hand down his mouth and chin, then clears his throat. “I-I never saw it myself, but everyone says it was this…planetary parasite. Something. Lots of tentacles.”

While Semyon shudders at whatever mental image is in his head, Scout fizzes, “And it blew up Earth somehow?”

Semyon nods, tugging at the longer curls in his beard while glancing outside again with another shudder through his shoulders. “Y-yeah. It was like something straight out of a horror movie, everyone says. Destroyed the planet from the inside out. I don’t…I don’t think anyone even goes near that star system anymore. And the Protectorate eventually…kinda…”

“Poof?” Scout offers, recalling Semyon’s reaction about the topic from the other day, miming it with her hands.

“Yeah,” he huffs quietly after a breath.

Scout studies him for a long moment, corona floating idly as her plasma churns. Then she looks out the open door. Bronzemarch and Alice have long since disappeared inside Riku’s place by now and the sun has set, the only lights on the desert sand now being diffuse light from windows and the last breath of twilight. She can hear echoes of Riku’s warm, practiced chuckle, but can’t quite hear Alice’s voice. She’s probably staying quiet like she usually does.

Scout almost starts walking forward to see what they’re up to. But before she can walk past Semyon, he puts a hand in front of her and advises tentatively, “And Scout? Maybe…don’t bring up the Ruin around Humans. They don’t tend to like it.”

“Why? Were they part of the Protectorate too?”

“W-well yeah, technically, but…” Semyon concedes with a slight sideways nod, withdrawing his hand a bit. But then his voice quiets further almost to a rumble that’s felt more than heard. “Earth was their home planet. They’re natives. At least they were.”

Oh…

Explains Alice’s jumpiness.

Scout glances back outside with a pensive buzz, straining to see any hint of Alice’s silhouette across the fabric draped over Riku’s windows and front door. Nothing yet. 

So she starts forward again to go join the others, and this time Semyon does too. But as he ducks under the doorframe and fabric drape he adds, “…And maybe don’t bring it up too much to Bronzemarch, either.”

“Because he was…”

“Protectorate. Yeah.”

Scout buzzes quietly to herself as they walk across the sand, her hand dropping to the dagger still in her pocket. As ever, it quietly sings of stars. So she glances up at the ones overhead as they twinkle into view, winking through the desert atmosphere.

Which one held Earth?

~~~~~

<< Previous

~~~~~

And that’s Episode 2! Thank y’all for reading!

Expect a short break before I start posting Episode 3—between figuring out how to set up a webcomic and starting full-time university next week, Episode 3 has been giving me trouble and I’ll need a little time to catch up on my chapter backlog.