#unless you mean circe's

[wolfythewitch]

i am so unbelievably ungodly hyped to see you draw odysseus on circe's island just because i know youre going to make him look like the most tormented wet beast that ever existed and i will enjoy his pain while also sobbing at the same time

Do you mean Calypso's agajsgs because yes

[themyscirah]

Philippus? Wym philippus this is a wholeass other woman?????? She's white?????? Guys come on now

ALSO cursed white Euboea in this same sequence.... homeboy she's Asian please stop

Joe Phillips I'm sorry but this is some shitty ass guest pencilling how can you not know anything abt what these people look like thats literally your job... you also just needed to read the issue before this to know?

Editors should have caught this one these are major Amazon characters

[hellafluff]

Thinking up names for characters becomes so much easier when you stop giving a shit and just pick the first First Name Surname you can think of or find off a List of Names

[just-ornstein]

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE BEAKER CASTLE EVEN - A SimPE Deep Dive

Alright, so after stumbling upon some of the Beta pics on the Russian TheSims.cc site and this analysis post about the Beaker mansion, I became deeply curious if some of this would be reflected in the lot relationships. After all, some characters like Viola, Kelly, on top of several others could be found when digging through the raw and somewhat encrypted code of lots.

By now it's pretty clear that the Beaker home once belonged to this dude and his army of girlfriends (definitely check out the post I mentioned earlier). On top of that Loki (and possibly Circe) seems to have gone through at least two iterations before eventually settling on their final forms.

And on top of that whenever you scan the mansion in a completely new game, you will find fingerprints of primarily deceased Sims everywhere!

Now to get to the Sim relationships on the lot...

712 freaking Sim Relationships, all of which are unknown. Some of which still have stats set such as married, friends, relationship scores, etc. I tried comparing this to other lots in their neighborhood and NONE even come close. Both Olive and the Smiths have around 400. The other lots have below. And the only lots that are even a tad higher in this number are the Capps and the Summerdreams which makes sense when you realise that hood went through at least one other iteration before turning into Veronaville.

Now I wondered if the encrypted code (despite being very hard to read due to being partially encrypted) had any old Sim remnants left in there. And yep, several even. Many of which even have information such as their gender, hair, clothes and age in there. So lemme go over some of them:

1. First one, a guy who's name is partially encrypted so it will never fully be visible. It's not Johnny cause Johnny also has his character file on this lot.

A male teen with brown hair who used to wear the "tmbodyhoodedsweatshirtboardshorts" + the "tmhairhatcap" hairstyle.

2. Second is another teen, this time by the name of Zeeshan. He had black hair, the bucket hat hairstyle and wore the hooded sweatshirt, except with pants this time around (and grey apparently?).

3. The third was an adult male Sim by the name of Kenneth with black hair. Based on his info he was likely meant to be a Gardener Sim.

4. The fourth was one named Kana... Possibly a longer name cause once again the code becomes a bit shambled here. She too was meant to be a Gardener as seen by her outfit and hair data. Her hair would have been brown.

5. Elle, another female Gardener Sim, this one having red hair.

6. Vasyl, an adult male Sim who wore the busdriver outfit. Sadly his hair data seems to be blocked behind the code. For funsies I like to give the name to Bald Beta Loki, since he gives off that vibe. BUT, I think this was an NPC busdriver due to the outfit.

7. Joanne, an adult female Sim with an unknown hair colour in corn rows style and the classy afbodyjacketturtlesweaterdressboots. Sadly her ID is hidden behind the encrypted code, so it's hard to fully make out.

All of these Sims appear to be NPC/Townie Sims. None of them match ANYONE in the Beta pictures. And the current Townies/NPCs seem to have replaced them. Interestingly enough, those that were NPCs are still NPCs and those that were Townies are still Townies. Making me wonder if this is a thing that translates to other Sim IDs too. That Sims that were Townies in earlier iterations are still Townies in their new form. Same for NPCs and yep, Playables. This is merely an assumption I'm making on what I'm finding here, but if anyone can help research this further, that would be greatly appreciated, especially as this could mean the Viola ID may not belong to Viola Monty.

Viola is an odd case cause no outfit, hair or other data can be found in the lot file and she's only ever mentioned once in the context of lines filled with "sleep in pyjamas". But for now I cannot say anything with certainty unless more remnants of these old Sims could be found somewhere. OR, if these files could be read in its entirety which is quite difficult.

It's very hard to get a Sim ID attached to a lot (believe me I tried) and often times seems to rather happen accidentally than intentionally. Moving a Sim out or having a Sim die usually removes the data they once held to that lot. Good example is Loki in my current Strangetown who lived on this lot all of his life and when he died he had no remnants left on this lot.

REGARDLESS! The Beaker lot is ancient and seems to have been ground for a ton of testing, Sims and many more things. No wonder the Beakers got this home with its incredibly shady history. Half of the beta town was partying here!

[emperorbubblegum]

I just beat the secret boss in Samurai Remnant (is it a superboss if it's not a turn-based rpg?), and even though I spoiler tag all of my F/SR posts anyway, I'm gonna add a cut so I can talk about it without ruining the moment for those that want to play it. This has little to no impact on the story (to my knowledge at least, I still haven't beaten the game just yet) but it's one of those things that's too cool to not experience for yourself the first time and I really want to talk about it because fuck is it good.

(F/SR Spoilers below, only click if you've beaten the game or don't care about non-plot spoilers)

This motherfucker.

This motherfucker.

When I first saw Gil in the game I was like "Oh dope, Gil's here. And he's a shopkeep too. This is going to be so fun."

And then I did his side quests and of course he pulls out the whole "You two are pretty great at running errands, you should be my retainers." Naturally I said no and naturally as Gilgamesh he took exception to that. It didn't send us immediately into a boss fight, but I thought I was good enough at the game to fight him as soon as he gave me the option. I mean, what was the worst that could happen?

Worst that could happen is that he's fucking Gilgamesh. You know how in an earlier post I said that a Servant entering a fight changed the genre from Musou to Soulsborne? The Boss changes it from Musou to a bullet hell, and I loved every second of it.

For starters, he has I think the largest movepool in the game, and the majority of his attacks are AOE. And of course by AOE I mean they have the range of the entire arena. It doesn't matter where you're standing, his moves will hit you, and they will hurt. In all honesty they were pretty easy to dodge once you memorized them, but if you messed it up... oh boy. My health kept jumping between 50 and 1500 because if you're not at 90% or more when you get hit by most of his moves you're just fucked.

In addition to having the largest movepool, this bastard also has the most Shell Gauges. I'd break one only for him to pop another three hits in. It felt like I could hardly touch him unless I was hitting him with Saber or the Rogue I brought along (Sidenote: Circe has some crazy DPS if you spam her second Heavy). The whole fight took me about half an hour because Iori's swords just didn't do enough damage, and very likely couldn't even if I had waited for better gear/skills. For the first time in a Fate game it really felt like I was fighting the King of Heroes.

All in all I really liked this fight. Overcoming impossible odds is what I like about Souls games, and even though F/SR can hardly be called one outside of the Servant battles. This is probably one of my favorite moments in the whole game, and maybe my favorite fight too, even though all I got was some candy and a tablet I don't know how to use

P.S.

Intially I did actually accept Gil's offer cause I thought it would be funny and it gave me an extra ending

[littlesparklight]

Hi, I have a Question about Odysseus and Circe:

Does Odysseus really need the Moly herb? Why does Odysseus need to drink Circe's potion? Is Odysseus not allowed to simply walk up to Circe, refuse any drink and threaten her at sword point to turn his men back from being pigs? Or is there something I'm not getting...

Without the moly he's susceptible to magic!

Unless I'm wrong from how I'm reading the text, neither the men nor Odysseus need to drink/consume anything Kirke has drugged to be affected by her magic. The drugs and the magic are two different things; the drugged drink she serves the men makes them forget their homes/past, whatever the point is to that, but seems to have no further connection to her touching them with her wand to transform them.

And I mean... allowed and allowed. Sure he could, literally nothing is stopping him, but it'd be a bad idea.

Kirke isn't mortal. Isn't a mortal woman to whom a sword is that dangerous. Isn't your regular nymph. She's a goddess-nymph at the least, or a minor goddess - her magic isn't the only power she has.

Now, yes, Hermes says "she will be frightened" after Odysseus proves impervious to her magic, and the narrative repeats that when Odysseus confronts her.

However.

"She will then be frightened and will desire you to go to bed with her; on this you must not point blank refuse her, for you want her to set your companions free, and to take good care also of yourself, but you make her swear solemnly by all the blessed that she will plot no further mischief against you, or else when she has got you naked she will unman you and make you fit for nothing.’" (Samuel Butler's translation)

Whether we're taking Odysseus at his word - twice - that he's retelling this bit exactly as it happened/the emotions of Kirke sincerely represented or not, Hermes makes it very clear. Kirke is not harmless or really under Odysseus' power even if she's "frightened" by him holding her at swordpoint after he's proven impervious to her magic.

Note the oath as well. Even if Odysseus is honestly a credible threat to her while he's holding the sword at her and in possession of the moly herb, he cannot do so indefinitely. Kirke and her power(s) aren't so easily neutralized.

I can imagine her retaliation after being threatened this way, even if it's not a true threat to her, would be quite spectacular if she hadn't been maneuvered into the oath. Gods aren't very forgiving when they've been humiliated, after all. Kirke seems to have gotten fond of him, however, so it's probably that more than his ability to keep her under control (which he can't) that keeps him (and his men, after) safe.

(Now, I've seen posts here and there noting that Odysseus tells the most fantastic parts of the Odyssey himself and he's a noted liar. And sure, you can contemplate if he's being truthful, and how much he is so, exactly because of this. If I was going to take a stab at it myself, I'd say everything basically happened exactly as he said it did, but he might have done some authorial editing - Kirke being afraid could be one of those little touches of change.)

[oraclekleo]

[18+] Pick-A-Pile: If you could have your personal harem of lovers, how would it look like

Disclaimer:

Do not engage in this tarot reading if you are a minor or feel uncomfortable with sexual themed content

Tarot isn’t an exact science, I can never guarantee any of this

This tarot reading is for entertainment purposes only

It’s a timeless general PAC reading, take what resonates and dismiss the rest

Never base your life decisions on what cards say, you have your common sense to guide you and you have your destiny in your hands, you have freedom of choice

Hello and welcome to another Pick-A-Pile tarot reading from Kleo.

Personally, I have my imaginary harem in my mind and so I thought it would be fun to describe in detail how anyone’s harem could look if it was possible to create it in real life. Obviously, this reading is a pure fantasy and completely hypothetical. Please, do not try to create your own harem, unless all parties have clearly consented to such a thing. You can create an imaginary one in your mind but be careful to stay sane in the process. Lol. Okay!

If any of you feel uncomfortable with this idea, please, simply ignore this post, do not read any further and stay happily oblivious of the coming content.

For those of you, who find the idea fun and exciting, follow the usual routine. You see three cards representing three piles down below. Focus on the prompt for this reading, take a deep breath and choose the card you feel most drawn to. Then expand the post and scroll to your reading. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Ready? Let’s go!

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Pile 01

Cards: 5 Flights of Fancy (Oracle of Visions), King of Cups, 5 of Swords, Queen of Cups (Dark Wood Tarot), 7 of Wands, Ace of Swords, 7 of Cups (Erotic Fantasy Tarot), III The Empress, 3 of Pentacles, Knight of Cups (Tarot of Sexual Magic), Perthro (Rune), 1 Aries (Starcodes Astro Oracle), 23 Circe (Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle), Dragonfly, Scorpio, Frog (The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Oracle)

Many of the cards speak of individuality and rulership. You are the good and just monarch and ruler of your harem, Pile 1. You are likely to listen to your lovers but the final decision is always yours and yours only. You are quite nurturing towards those close to your heart and you have a hard time to pick your bias in your harem because you simply love them all for their specific qualities.

You are a rather mindful and intelligent type of ruler, you probably value the intellectual qualities of your lovers over their looks. Your harem isn’t only a playground for you, it’s your think tank as well and you like to have deep and meaningful conversations with its members.

That doesn’t mean you treat your harem in a platonic way, of course. While you like to spark the ideas up, you are likely pretty sensual and passionate about the harem members as well. Big brains and ideas are the best aphrodisiacs for you and heated discussions are likely to escalate into even hotter and more physical orgies with your lovers. You’re democratic when it comes to affection and you make sure all your lovers are satisfied and happy in the end. Your energy is nearly bottomless and you can make good use of it.

While you are mostly impossible to tire, you need to charge and rejuvenate, too. Your healing element is water and it’s very likely your harem includes a bath house or private spa where you and your lovers can play in water. Just imagine all those fine bodies getting all moist, glistering and slick. You probably truly enjoy being pampered and spoiled while bathing and on dry land you always make sure the lubricant is at hand. You’re nor a big fan of rough traction.

While you are usually the caring and kind hearted ruler of your harem, everyone hides from your sight when you have a bad day. Your ability to discuss and talk with your lovers about anything and everything gives you a powerful weapon against them when they cross you. You spot and remember weak spots easily and when your lover does something you disapprove of, they are likely to spend a lot of time licking their emotional wounds caused by you. You can truly turn a cold shoulder to someone you’re no longer interested in and you’re likely to heavily ignore them until they get the signal it’s time for them to leave. You’re not really the type to openly fire a member of your harem but you create such unpleasant conditions for them, they will leave just to save their soul.

The cards suggest no specific gender when it comes to your harem which means it can be a male, female, mixed, non-binary harem, you name it. You are likely to pick your lovers carefully, maybe you even have forms and charts and pros and cons lists about every candidate for your harem. Or you follow your intuition diligently and only accept lovers who give you a good gut feeling.

You’re not super strict with the rules in your harem, you take each of your lovers as an individuality and you manage to navigate through any quarrels easily and with diplomacy. You are the best at kissing it better and smoothing rough edges. Your touch is warm, soft and nearly healing and your lovers are likely to seek opportunities for as much skinship as possible with you. You enjoy sensual physical contact, an easily flowing and slowly building up heat is more your thing. You especially love long foreplays with your lovers and you might have a thing for drinking games with them. Wetting their clothes, making them see through and sticking to their skin is also a fun activity with your lovers. You love kissing and making out with them, hickies and bites are inevitable. You like to suck on their necks, especially on the spot with the vein where you can clearly sense their pulse getting faster. If your harem includes males, you are likely to enjoy giving blowjobs to them and teasing them with your tongue, lips and teeth, making them hiss and moan and call your name. If your harem includes females, you are likely to feast on your lovers, eating them out with delight.

I think I have channelled all that the cards wanted to say to you, Pile 1. I hope you enjoyed this little fantasy.

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Pile 02

Cards: 40 Time (Oracle of Visions), 4 of Swords, 5 of Pentacles, 3 of Pentacles (Dark Wood Tarot), King of Pentacles, Queen of Wands, XV The Devil (Erotic Fantasy Tarot), X The Wheel of Fortune, IV The Emperor, Page of Wands (Tarot of Sexual Magic), Berkano (Rune), 29 Ceres (Starcodes Astro Oracle), 19 Nyx (Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle), Panther, Sea Serpent, Cosmic Egg (The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Oracle)

Dear Pile 2, your hypothetical harem is not only created for some spicy fun but it’s a base for a whole community for you. You treat each and every member as a dear and loved family member. You might incline towards poly relationships in real life, too. Your harem of lovers isn’t just an adult playground for you, they are the people you trust and can rely on. You build strong and meaningful relationships with them and the bond is really strong. You are pretty nurturing towards all members of your harem, you’re nearly motherly and you should be careful not to smother some of your lovers with too much of your care. They are adults after all.

You and your harem are likely to form one happy family. You support each other, you work together towards goals, you make sure everyone feels valued. While you are pretty democratic and you are able to listen to your lovers and hear their opinions out, you still make sure you are the top authority and that there’s a clear hierarchy in your harem so nobody is in doubt where they stand. You’re fair and you distribute your affection among all but you also have clear rules and a system of rewarding.

I have mentioned it before, that your harem is like one happy family. The cards suggest that if that is something you want from life, the children are also likely to be born in your life. Obviously your children are not going to be part of your hypothetical harem but they are likely to be the fruits of it. You are likely to make sure they are well treated and pampered by all members of your harem, no matter who the biological parents are. Maybe you even make sure the biological origin is half unknown just to secure fairness. You are likely to be a real mother type and including your harem as a part of a family-like community is more likely.

Your harem, Pile 2, is a place of calm and rest for you. You come to your lovers to recharge your batteries, to escape the rush and chaos of the world outside. You are likely to prefer some more vanilla and romantic types of interactions with your lovers. Sharing thoughts and talking about your feelings, soft and gentle touches, subtle flirting and sweet makeouts are more likely your things. You are likely a bright and naturally charming person, Pile 2, and you can chat and laugh with your lovers easily, you dissolve any kind of tension that could possibly build up.

The dark side of your strong relationship with your harem and your chosen family is your very strong attachment to them. You might become a bit too clingy and hold fast on your loved ones when they need a little more space. You might have tendencies to overprotect them and smother them with your love and affection. You need to learn that even your lovers need a certain freedom. Maybe they are going to make some mistakes you could prevent them from doing but those mistakes are going to help them to grow. And if it means they decide to leave your loving embrace, eventually, it’s better to let them go. You might also sometimes feel jealous or possessive and you need to learn to control these urges or they could poison the beautiful family you have built up. Your emotional waters are deep and you need to learn how to navigate when a storm hits you. Count to ten and take a deep breath before you say something you will regret later.

Last but not least, the sexy part of your reading, Pile 2. When it comes to your favourite activities with your lovers, you might be on the more traditional and sweet side of the spectrum. You’re not exactly a wild experimenter or a BDSM enthusiast, though you might have a soft spot for some aspects of the dynamics. You might like your lovers to treat you with chivalry and bring you flowers or court you in a way. I get the notion from cards that some of you, Pile 2 people, might enjoy calling your lover daddy or mommy when it comes to it. If that’s not really your thing, you might like non-sexual but still affectionate actions from your lovers like when they hold your hand or cover you with a blanket when they think you might be cold. You are likely to enjoy missionary position more but you might also have a mirror kink and you might find it really hot to get wild out in nature with your lovers. Picnic going sexy is one of the options.

I can’t really make much more from the cards so I hope you enjoyed this little fantasy.

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Pile 03

Cards: 45 Control (Oracle of Visions), XII The Hanged Man, VI The Lovers, Page of Pentacles (Dark Wood Tarot), 10 of Wands, VI The Lovers, XI Justice (Erotic Fantasy Tarot), 4 of Swords, 10 of Cups, 8 of Pentacles (Tarot of Sexual Magic), Tiwaz (Rune), 37 Descendant (Starcodes Astro Oracle), 29 Werewolf (Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle), Earthworm, Snake, Hyena (The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Oracle)

While Pile 1 and Pile 2 were pretty wholesome when it comes to their hypothetical harem, you, Pile 3, treat your harem as a playground and your lovers are your toys. You’re the master puppeteer, you pull the strings, control, manipulate, play games and tricks on your lovers and keep them running after you with their tongues rolled out and drooling all over the ground just to feel even the slightest shiver from your affection. And you’re not the one to give it easily for sure. Your lovers have to earn your love and attention, they have to bring sacrifices in order to be invited into your harem. Your rules and boundaries are clearly set and you take no shit or messing around from those who are here to follow your orders.

You’re a charmer and you can make anyone fall for you deep and hard and up to their necks, to the level they feel like they will suffocate without you and your permission to breathe. You can play multiple roles at once, you can be witty and bright, you are the dominatrix, the teacher, the ultimate monarch of your harem. You, my dear Pile 3, truly enjoy the benefits of harem dynamics to the fullest. Your lovers come and submit to you like crazy and you don’t need to lift a finger to push them. One glance of your eyes, one mysterious smile of your lips, a slight nod and they are on their knees in front of you.

Your harem is your private playground and you never allow it to interfere with other aspects of your life. The line between fun and everything else is clear for you and if any of the members of your harem wishes to cross that line, you have no mercy with them and kick them out into the cold and dark world where you ignore them as hard as nutrition labels on groceries.

You are likely to invite inexperienced lovers into your harem as you like to play the teacher and master role and shape them to your likings from scratch. You like to guide them and show them all the secrets of love and sex and you like to see them in awe and with their eyes wide with curiosity.

While you like to command and teach, you’re not likely to limit your harem to only those who learn from you and give nothing back. Your harem is likely to include some experts as well so you can experiment and expand your knowledge and experience with those who are not afraid to push the limits and take risks. 

Your harem is a place where you become a different person. In your regular life, you might be a completely ordinary person with an ordinary and dull job. Once you enter your private harem, you become a dazzling and charismatic seducer, a player and you go wild. You like the whole contrast of change, the Jakyll and Hyde sides of yours.

You are not likely to form extremely strong bonds with your lovers as you don’t really care that much about them apart from the physical aspect. You like your lovers to be fun and in some way intriguing. They don’t have to be overly handsome or pretty but they should have a spark and be willing to play games with you.

The negative side is that you have tendencies to use your lovers and consider them as expansion of yourself and disregard them as individualities. You need to work on this if you want them to stay longer in your harem, otherwise you’ll notice a significant rotation rate among your lovers. On the other hand you have a thing for novelty so maybe you don’t even mind them coming and going like the seasons change.

From all the above you probably know by now that you are pretty much up for any kink and any practice in the book. To mention just some of your most favourite things of yours, I would definitely state threesoms or even better group orgies. You like to be the centre of attention and pampered and spoiled by your lovers while giving them only as much release as needed for them to stay contented but still kinda horny 24/7. You like to play with their minds and you love toys. You might even tease your harem by keeping them at distance while you pleasure yourself on your own using your large collection of toys. You know… making them suffer and drool and horny. With your apprentice type of lovers you enjoy the corruption kink and with your expert lovers you are likely to discipline them and whip them until they give their best performance…the whip is a metaphor… in some cases.

I think we can call it a day here. I hope you enjoyed this little fantasy.

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Please, remember that this tarot reading is purely for fun. Thank you.

I have some more ideas for pile readings in my mind now so you might see more coming soon. Feel free to drop suggestions in my inbox, though I can't promise I will follow them. I go with my gut feeling. 😊

P.S. Before even knowing the cards, I have picked Pile 03 🤫🤭 Those who know me well, are not surprised. 🤣

[rgr-pop]

i think a lot about the difference between getting paid time off and taking days off--in my position, i feel like i take fewer days off than i would if my schedule and pto weren't so regimented. also, i just restrict my time off kind of pathologically because of the austerity of it all. puts you in a head space! my hours are really capped, so i can't make more subbing or something like i could at the public library. but at four days (esp. while in school) i don't really feel like i can get a second (regular) job (although i'm entering gig archives career period lol so that'll be happening next year). i mean i personally can't really work over 35 hours health and transportwise but i just mean even hypothetically. i couldn't really get second regular part time library job, office job, or retail job because of the hour demands of this one (although i do really look for local weekend-only library jobs, they never go up, and many of the sub jobs are overt scabbing [please watch out for this in libraries]). eta: i guess i should say, when i worked in public libraries, and i don't know if it's still like this, the part time clerk condition was thought of in 20-25 hour blocks and was a bit more.. modular. a lot of us may work 20 hours here, 20 hours at another library, 10 or 15 hours as a page. but because of the fake-professional nature of ts/circ at the academic library it doesn't feel designed to do that (but doesn't compensate enough to make itself livable on its own.) (also i should say, back in the day at least, as i started in clerkship really at peak post-recession library industry austerity, librarians lived like that too.) anyway we talk a lot in society about how many days we 'get' off but i want to know more about how many days we 'take' off regardless of if they're paid, and also this is fundamentally a different thing than how many hours someone works.

another thing that i'm kind of pilled on, and i don't mean this to sound haterish but. i was really shocked to discover that the chain food service workers i organize with, their companies are calling them "full time" when they are not full time. i guess i knew that this was happening but the legality escapes me. when i was a barista at not-really a chain, the practice of scheduling someone less than 40 hours to deny them benefits was hugely agitating to my coworkers. (an interesting dynamic was that we viewed it as what they did to the service workers--shop and cafe--in the museum, when the professionals got a better deal.) so it would make sense that starbucks in particular would have a rhetorical strategy to anticipate that, and (as i understand) extend their so-called benefits to less-than forties. in all the cases i'm referring to, workers say (and this makes perfect sense) is that they are called "full time" because they are allowed to work up to 40 hours, but never more, and their managers basically schedule them so that they can last-minute schedule them more hours. so they'll be on the schedule at 28-30 hours but may last minute work 38. and everywhere that's unionizing right now, especially starbucks, is using underscheduling as a tactic.

QUICK pitch for a union. if you go to a job every day in order to collect a wage from somebody, the "somebody" you collect wages from has every particular of their dumb ass little business or service provision enterprise planned out for decades. this is the economy. there is NO reason, unless you're saving lives, or choosing to be a freelance little art dork working on your own time, or whatever, and even then tbh but setting that aside, there is no reason why you should not have a guarantee about how many hours you will work on this pay period, and how many dollars will be on your next paycheck. perhaps even your next few! any deviation from that expectation should only really be determined by your personal decision (or perhaps negotiation with a coworker) to work more or less than than that. there is no reason you should be working at a god damn drive through coffee business in a shopping center and not know whether you're going to work 56 or 80 hours this month. absolutely none and this one thing is what a union is for, in my opinion. almost everybody in a union can say with some certainty exactly what they will be working (or exchanging pto for) and receiving for the next, say, 30-90 days. that itself is what it's worth.

anyway here's what's driving me crazy, and i can't decide how i feel about it. all of these people who work 28-35 hour weeks call themselves "full time" because that's what their boss says they are. i am curious if there is a potential strategy in doing this, but i'm haterish because i ROUTINELY get told i work less than the service workers when they work fewer or the same amount of hours. not naming names but a certain someone has often been working 25 hour weeks but saying they're full time and i'm part time :|.

i personally choose to organize around "part time work" because of a political strategy and identification i see within it, right, especially in my fields (libraries and higher ed.) my impulse is that these heaux have false consciousness... girl you are a part timer. part time work is queer you should lean into it

[jadezdominion]

TW: Smut 18+: Dreomione/Triad/Soulmate Bond

A Soulmate or Two

Hermione sat in the dark looking out over New York City’s skyline, appreciating the faint outlines of the high rise buildings. All of the city was awake, the dancing lights from across the Hudson were glittering on the water, entrancing her a bit and distracting her from her thoughts. The ones that, as of the last 3 years, have been filled with glimpses of Mercury gray eyes with platinum white hair, and dexterous, strong hands. If that wasn’t bad enough, another man infiltrated her thoughts too. With curly brown hair, sparkling blue eyes and a dimpled smile that could make anyone melt.

“Fuck!”

She shook her head furiously to chase away the images. If only it were that easy to stop the physical response her body had to them. Her dreams had been intensifying as the years passed. Tonight’s edition had left her panting and near an orgasm.

Draco had 2 of those beautiful and nimble fingers deep within her cunt, stroking her G-spot. He was relentless and precise. Theo was holding her tight against his chest with one hand pulling her hair just enough to cause pain while biting at her neck softly while toying with her nipples.

Even though it was a dream, she could still feel them against her skin that set her aflame just remembering it. Why in Merlin’s fucking name was this happening? This pull she felt towards them both seemed unnatural. I mean, it’s Draco bloody Malfoy and Theodore fucking Nott!! She had left the Wizarding World behind for the last five years. Purposely moving away so she couldn’t be further unless she moved south of the equator and, let’s face it, that was not an option thank you very much. Still, she couldn’t shake this need, this hollow feeling in her chest.

Casting her canaries for an additional distraction made her realize that each one had a mate. They were always in even numbers. She didn’t believe in old wives tales, especially the one she read about in the folklore books at Flourish and Blotts. It said that a lonely witch who never found her one true love, her soulmate, had invoked the old Gods and with blood magic made a pact to ensure no one else suffered her fate. The Gods said that every magical child would be born with a partial birthmark and that your soulmate would have the matching piece. It would fit together perfectly.

What a load of thestral shite.

She had a birthmark but that didn’t mean a damn thing because here she was at 27, single and eating cold lo mein from Mr. Lings. But these thoughts and dreams. The pull to be near them and the desire to pack up her life to track them down… it had to mean something.

It was at that moment, Hermione realized she was absolutely fucked. A few days later she was standing outside the steps of the British Ministry of Magic after arriving by port key. It felt surreal. And nauseating.

Hermione called up Harry and they caught up with each other over a few butter beers at The Leaky. After he wrapped his head around the whole situation he let her know that Draco and Theo were running a specialized division within the Ministry. They had endured a lot but managed to change the perspective of their household names and were now viewed in a different light by the Wizarding World. Harry brought her back to the ministry and sent her to their division with a visitors pass. After all, she was Hermione Granger the “Golden Girl”, war heroine and Brightest Witch of her age. If anyone deserved to be there it was her.

Hermione couldn’t help the butterflies in her stomach. Or was that the butter beer and nerve induced bile attempting to surface? What was she doing here?! She should have stayed back in NYC. Who packs up on a whim and travels to a different continent for a “feeling”?

“Circe’s tits” she whispers once the lift doors open. Stepping out she feels the the presence of heavy magic in the air. The space was full of books, artifacts, and potions bubbling in a corner.

Suddenly her heart started beating quickly and that pull felt stronger than ever. Then she heard a deep baritone voice along with a smooth tenor voice say in tandem “Hermione?”.

When she turned both Draco and Theo were standing a meter from her. Looking awestruck and she couldn't help herself. She walked a bit closer to them and stopped a foot away. Their fingers were twitching and it looked like they wanted to lunge towards her.

“Er, hi. I needed to come see you both. I can’t explain what’s been happening over the years I’ve been having these dreams, or feelings really. I just know that this is something I can no longer ignore. Recently, like I said, I’ve been having some really strange…”

“Dreams?” Draco and Theo murmured at the same time. Astounded, she couldn’t believe what she heard. So it isn't just her?

“How did you know?”

Draco came so close to her she could almost smell his cologne and it was intoxicating. He gazed deeply into her eyes, lifting up a hand to softly stroke her cheek, “Are you real Granger or am I dreaming again?”. The pleading tone from him broke her composure and she threw herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’m here Draco. I’m really here. Is it true? Are you both mine?”. He nodded into her neck, gripping her tight. She felt another pair of strong arms from behind her wrap around her waist, “Yeah gorgeous. He’s yours, I’m yours. Always will be if you’ll have us. Our souls have felt incomplete until now. Can’t you feel the magic? That hollow feeling is gone.” Tears started falling from Theo’s eyes and they all began to cry as the feeling of completion comes over them.

They stayed in an embraced for a while and then it happened. Draco placed his forehead against hers and whispered, “I’m going to kiss you now.” All Hermione could do was nod her consent. When their lips met it was something otherworldly. A tingling feeling embedded itself in her chest and she knew her soul was melding itself. She couldn’t help the tears that had kept falling and he wiped them away gently. Kissing each cheek he spoke softly to her, “Oh gods, Hermione. I never thought this day would come. I tried to find you for so long. I feel whole now.” Theo turned her towards him and silently asked if he could kiss her as well, to which she said of course. His kiss was tender and full of passion.

That was it, finally the hollow feeling in her chest was gone and she felt a level of happiness she never experienced before. Theo and Draco held up her left hand nestled in between their own and kissed it slowly. That is when they noticed a half moon birthmark on the top of her index finger. Draco startled and put his right hand next to hers where another half moon was on his index finger. They looked at Theo and he had the missing piece on his right index finger as well. They held their hands in place for what felt like an hour. Hermione chuckled to herself.

I guess that old wives tale was right after all.

The three of them had a lot to discuss, but for now she relished in the fact that she found what some people search their whole lives for.

She left the Ministry holding hands with both of her soulmates and hopeful for what the future could bring. - JEM 10/03/2022

This is the longest Drabble I have written and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing @tiny-reader who volunteered to Beta and improved this and Courtney who was grammar police too. ILY both!! What’s in store for our triad?? Does anyone want a fic from this? 👀🐍🖤

[i-bring-crack]

Song of Aquilles and Circe crossover because Tethis decided to bring Aquilles to Ea so he wouldn't go to war and now Circe just has to deal with a wildraging depressed gay separated from his lover until Circe snaps and is just like: "Fuck it Helios! I'm going to find this child's partner!" And they meet the Greek heroes along the way, who where trying to grab Aquilles and bring him to the war, so Circe has to turn a few men to pigs every five seconds unless they want to be discovered that they got out of land and kidnap Aquilles for themselves. Unknown to them Patroclus is in the care of Diomedes and Odysseus (more like under new management) trying to find Aquilles.

And then the Troyan war doesn't happen because of this cat and mouse game. Or eventually they have to due to the gods wanting Troy to end, but too late Aquilles already got a new mom and she pretty fucking powerful.

Ohhhh what if through all the traveling Odysseus and Patroclus find Cassandra through some means (probably Cassandra trying to stop them from attacking Troy but failing miserably) and start to notice that all of her false prophecies are becoming true or that her panic might be a little more than just hysteria so Odysseus finds a loophole (cue the Odysseus "my name is nobody" cyclops trick, therefore I believe her, edit: or better yet Diomedes, Patroclus, Cassandra and Odysseus with some of his crew members are forced into the Oddesy adventure waaaayyy too early where Odysseus does the cyclops trick to escape from said cyclops and during this Cassandra prophesied something like how Odysseus will say his name to the cyclops and therefore will anger poseidon for attacking his sons, and Odysseus is like "o my gods, I believe you").

Meanwhile Circe and Aquilles somehow get to Egypt and find Helen hidding in the temple of Harthor and proceeded to kidnap her back to Sparta— but oh Hey no Meneleaus is in Troy and oh no.

Edit: Adding on another crossover I want to see over the Goddess Hathor being the best Goddess of Love and Beauty and when Aphrodite comes to find Helen who has by that time escaped to Sparta, Hathor puts up with none of her shenanigans and and send her away. And aphrodite can't simply just go against this goddess who is the consort to the most powerful god of the Egyptian pantheon right about now....

[wench-and-jezebel]

NCIS Reaction: Marine Down

Wench (@scripted-downfall) reacts [with (maybe) occasional asides by Jezebel (@typicalopposite)]: a transcript from a voice call

[Is always a dead person.  Like, it’s never an inside job, never stealing, nothing.  Just death]

Well, this is new… we don’t usually start out with a wake

[It’s Jim!]  Well, that was weird  [He’s not dead]  Also, we also don’t usually start out with the person being not-dead… Also, so much for “always a dead person,” I guess

Tonyyy

Always confuses me why they have lab techs have gun training

[Is McGee here!?! 💕]

I mean, the cutout losing an ear isn't the end of the world… At least she's alive and not killed by the hostage-taker!  [Noooo M3GAN ptsd!]  We have to react to thattttt

[Damn not the phone going on the target]  Love that Kate cared about her PDA but Tony cared more about the hat alskjdf  [He’d have took my phone and I would have quit]  We would both pass away if your phone died

I do appreciate the threat to the boat, though it’d be kinda sad to lose it :(

He gave Abby the hat!  [Abbbyyyyy]

"Computers can sense fear"  [I love Abby]

Gunpowder perfume seems awesome

Tony has Post-It notes everywhere… Even on his lamp

Wait, surely McGee's gotta come in: Abby's got a new perfume (huh… that was half-joke but I wonder if they're still a "thing")

It's Jim's ghost and you're watching Supernatural  [Sam and Dean are gonna show up]  Bringing back the long-forgotten the priest outfits

That was a very unsympathetic "You have our sympathies,” Kate

Sealed caskets?  That's suspicious… Suspicious circs

Poor Tony, results redacted

[Poor Tony still looking sadly at the hat]  Noooooo

Tony's (listed in the system as) DEAD?!?!?!  I told you it was an SPN episode!  [☠️☠️☠️]

Wait, was the PDA shot?

[“Not everything is a conspiracy”  But it is Kate]

Why is Gibbs always making them move with absolutely no warning

THE PDA WAS SHOT  [Poor phone ☠️☠️☠️]

And at least Tony got a new hat :)

"We can’t release how they died because of the way they died"  WELL HOW'D THEY DIE THEN?!?!

Body language isn't thattttt accurate

[Quantico!  Criminal Minds crossover!] alksdjf

What is it with higher-ups always interrupting their employees?  Grissom in CSI does it too

What were those significant looks about???  (Serious question; that was not a very awe-inspiring reveal)

The layers of deception here though

I do appreciate that Gibbs and Tony tend to play off each other in terms of banter.  I mean, they clearly know each other's interrogative strategies

[Why are they talking “secretive” stuff just… in the middle of the office]

Also, I thought Gibbs had clearance for the documents???  That was a whole conversation topic?

Abby's love language seems to be caffeine-drink reception  [CafPow]  Ducky gave her one during the MMORPG one

Kate and Tony are leaving together; gonna go burn Gibbs’ boat now

That was abrupt, Kate

Imagine being good at art  [Shut up you are!]  Uh-uh  [Uh huh]

*artist jealousy intensifying*

[Tony is such a childdd!  Like, in a Dean way]

The drawings though alksjfd [Uh oh, she’s got Gibbs drawn like one of her French girls]

I hate the whole "I need x time" "nah, take y (less than x) time” trope

Snow is pretty  [Something we never get]  Noooo

Creepy photography  [He looks.. right at the camera… But doesn’t see the camera]

I like her turtleneck

Does Abby have a clown on her shirt?  [Probably]

Such a coherent message  [Yep total confirmation of him being alive]

"Hizzouse" was kinda obvious though, especially given context

Dude, the distortion though

Why do they even bother with the "I thought x, but was wrong" section of the debriefing?  [☠️☠️☠️]  They do it in every lab show

“We’ve got a dead man calling”  I'm surprised that wasn't the title…  What the hell does Marine Down even mean?

Why would you screw shut a coffin?  Unless you're in Supernatural.  Or the X Files.  [Very true]

"Calls from grave" was a Supernatural episode summary, I remember it

Poor Ducky has not been in this episode  [Well they never had a body]  I miss him :(

I love the mini drill

[BUM BUM BUM]  This.  This is an SPN/X Files episode

– – –

Wench: I'm.  Highly confused.  It feels like they keep saying something  and then backtracking.  And then going forward again.  And then backtracking.  It’s like the circles thing, but a plot point not just a line/speech

Jezebel: Yeah!  And, honestly, I can’t even remember this episode past the beginning when he calls her. So this all feels new to me too!

Wench: But for real, we haven’t actually had a plot because they just... "he dead" "he not dead" "he calling" "he not calling" "gibbs has access" "gibbs does not have access" "he dead" "oh wait he not dead" "he not calling" "oh wait he calling" "oh wait he dead"

Jezebel: Yeah it’s just dead guy called wife.  And it’s mysterious.

Wench: Because to the extent that there is a plot, it just kinda.. ouroboros's in on itself?  I don't know if I'm just missing stuff or if they're being unclear but what???  Like, they just said he looked alive?

Jezebel: I think they are confused

Wench: I will say... have you seen The Mummy?  Because this makes me think of a scene where they open a sarcophagus and the contents are still decomposing and the line is literally: “Why does he look so… juicy?” in this really memorable exchange… (We better react to that or else)  That is what's going through my head… EXCEPT THEY HAVEN'T SAID WHETHER HE'S DEAD

Jezebel: MYSTERIOUS

Wench: I will say that I haven't been especially annoyed by the characters.  Gibbs hasn't been his usual bitchy self

Jezebel: This is the Gibbs the writers intended him to be

Wench: Kate's been decent too, and I appreciated her interactions with Tony.  It kinda feels like they've that sibling energy they were talking about in the other episode, where they're bickering, but not nastily?

Jezebel: Yeah

Wench: Anyway, it kinda feels like the Dark Angels we've been watching where... nothing... happened.  

Jezebel: Right.  And they just kinda waffle back and forth, especially since they’re acting like something bad happened, but he looks all peaceful?  So it’s like… It looks like he's dead and has been dead, in the position of being dead, and not like he was just up and around and calling his wife.  So unless he decided to just go ahead and die, hands clasped over stomach, all we know is that something bad happened, except what if it didn’t

Wench: Right.  And we still don’t know, is it bad in the context of his work or not?

Jezebel: Yeah

Wench: All I’m saying is, this be a Max POV episode

– – –

“We screwed that up”  Screwed what up?  What exactly could have gone differently?????

[Why does the guy whose picture is on the wall under bin Laden’s look like Michael Myers?]

"Unless your calling plan include an afterlife" SPN-coded

"Married four times"  Has Gibbs really?  Dang, boi!

[Look at Tony fangirling over gibbs]

Why do they keep talking in jargonnnnn

DUCKYYYYYY  [Well… now he’s got a body]

Has he been embalmed or just consumed formaldehyde?

I told you Tony was a closet nerd!!!  WHAT DID I SAY?!!?!?

Tony, stop ogling the dead dude [☠️☠️☠️☠️]  Ya necrophiliac

I appreciate the recognition of the limits of autopsies and time-of-death estimations

The chuckle though

[This still doesn’t explain… HOW HE called the wifeeee]

THEY SAID THE DUDES WERE POISONED WITH FORMALDEHYDE; WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS????  [Because they have forgotten they said that]  alksdjflaksdfj

Gibbs and his time pressures  [Right?!]

Once again, the only appropriate explanation seems to be supernatural… (lower-case this time)  [Isssa ghost]

What's with the random map in the background?  [I think it’s just always running]  What a waste of energy!

AGAIN WITH THE TIME PRESSURES  [Gibbs: Chop chop]

OH NO THE PAPERWORK MIX-UP HAS A PURPOSE [Bum bum bummmmm is not Tony!]

Chickadee, you were not subtle about that turn though

[Blech]

Poor Ducky  [Just wait til you meet Jimmy]  Is that a good “wait” or a bad one?  [He’s basically bby ducky]  OH LOVELY  [Glasses and all]

Ducky, ya good?  That was a very abrupt motion  [The cringe tho]  BUDDY WHAT'S THE MATTER?!?!?  [Oh shit he was shaking]

"I think he knew something was up" NO SHIT YOU WEREN'T SUBTLE  [🤣🤣🤣]

Poor Tony, identity theft once again

Speaking of not subtle, this dude-

[I swear Tony always gets the short end of the stick]

WHERE DID THE GUN COME FROM?!? WHY IS THERE JUST RANDOM GUNFIRE?!?… Is this gonna be terrorists again!?!?

[Gibbs talking to himself now]

Woman, slow down with the numbers alskdfj

Um.  Tony.  Calmeth downeth the flirtingeth  [“But I look good”]

Tony being very concerned about Gibbs right there… very sweet  [He be like: boss you ok? 🥺🥺💕]

“How many agencies do you know that drive economy-class armoured cars?”  I'd wager most of them actually

Tony and Gibbs have Connections  [The way he looks at Kate like how can you NOT tell?]

"I have to get better at reading men"  Bitch, you can't read people because you're not empathetic.. it's not a sex/gender thing; it’s a you thing

DUCKY STANDING UP FOR HIMSELF; THANK YOU

Gibbs did not help

Oh come on not the dumb!Tony trope again [Ooooof]

ONCE AGAIN IF THIS IS NOT ABOUT HIM DRINKING THE FORMALDEHYDE I’MA LOSE IT

Can you read the newspaper you just pulled from the dude’s body?  [The newspaper in his neck made my eye twitch!]

TONY DOING THE TRANSLATION YESSSSS SMART TONY TRUTHERS ARE WINNING THIS EPISODEEEEE

aksdjflkasjf 

Can we get some straight answers one of these days?  Please?  [So much is happening but so little is happening, and it’s confusing]

Tony recognizing Gibbs is pissed and thus dialling up his own anger… Love it  [I got you bab- I mean boss]

I love her glovesssss

THEY ARE DIGGING UP A GRAVE IN A CEMETERY AT NIGHT.  ONCE AGAIN: THIS IS A SUPERNATURAL EPISODE!!!

Where's the salt?

"It's not like we couldn't do this during daylight"  *haunted Supernatural expression cast vaguely in Tony’s direction*  Bitch, you don't know the struggle

"You afraid of ghosts?"  How many times do I have to say it?  SUPERNATURAL

[He keeps looking at Kate like, “see he’s so upset”]

Oop-, Tony knowing how to use the technology is awesome

That was a very abrupt scene change

Kate, this is why they invented coffee!  [Kate needs a Caf-Pow]  Weaklings.  Imagine needing sleep!

ONCE AGAIN.  I’M BEGGING Y’ALL TO REMEMBER THE POISONINGS

[Long pause…. “Poison”]  lksadfjlsakdfjaldskfj WHAT IS WITH THE LONG PAUSES IN GENERAL THOUGH?  [Old people]  alksdjfaksldjf  [Gotta be dramatic]

Dude made off with the ransom money?  Rude

This conversation is so dramtically-paused for why

Dude, they're not backing off just because you say to.  That never works.  Ever.

SEE?!!?!?

[Ack]  Unsafe flying conditions right there

Poor Kate

TONY STILL HARPING ON THE JETSSSS; I’m loving it

"Sure"  That’s very convincing, Tony, bud

[Gibbs is asleep]  Have you seen Aliens?  If not... *whistles and adds it to the list*  [A long time ago]

Tony knowing Gibbs well again

[Ok that was adorable]  He has so much energy and for why  [‘Cause he’s petty af]

See, HE understands coffee

Weakling.  Just use the bag.  Privacy be overrated!  [Behind the boxes]  IN the boxes

[Awww she Boujie… Now Kate’s gonna be upset]

It is kinda dumb for him to just stick around

She just better not be bitchy about it

Whenever a character says "humour us,” you're in trouble

Y'ALL ONCE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE POISONING?!!?  They stick in random details for no reason and then never touch them again.  Chekhov's gun just got unloaded and shipped off for scrap

[He a mordorerrrr]

It's so weird not seeing Weatherly in a wheelchair.  Honestly, I kinda forget they're the same actor.  Like, I can see it?  But they're really different in character/personality/acting.  [Which is crazy cause it’s only a few years difference]

This storyline is so confusing.  What exactly is even happening?  [I have no idea]

I might go read through the script before/during endpoint just to try and figure it out.  And I'm not sure it'll help; they just kinda... jump from idea to idea  [Good luck ☠️]

Tony taking off his cap to protect it from the gunfire alsdkfj

[btw I think they were oh this will be interesting for a plot]  Right… And I mean… it was interesting.  But only in the fever-dream kinda way.  It doesn’t really make sense.

This poor marine  

What is this dude's issue with Gibbs????

Oof  [Well damn]  Gibbs gonna feel real safe walking out after you just killed the last dude

"Just wanna talk" Y'all are talking now?!?

HOW ARE THERE ONLY THREE MINUTES LEFT IN THIS EPISODE!?  [☠️☠️🤣🤣☠️☠️]  HOW IS THIS POSSIBLY GONNA BE RESOLVED

Oop- return of the shooting range storyline!  I saw those significant looks between Tony and Gibbs. Only problem: Tony gonna shoot the marine's ear off  [Aghhh M3gan ptsd… again]

"I can't believe you trusted me"  He didn't

[Well damn]  That situation.  Did not need that level of force.  [Brutal]  Bruh, why did they both shoot?!?!?!  [In memory of the hat and phone]  WHY DID THEY BOTH SHOOT MULTIPLE TIMES? EACH!?!?!?  (Also, RIP hat and phone)

[Damn!  That’s wholesome!]

Good for these people, but I feel bad for the wife who didn't get her husband back and now has to watch the other reunion [☠️☠️☠️]

And now has to watch the other reunion

The kids are precioussssss

NO BUT THE GUY’S EAR *&(#*&!(&R*(!&$)!(*&#@$!()  I SAID IT!  I CALLED IT!  WHAT DID I SAYYYYY… I mean.  At least Tony's a consistent shot?

This chick again!  One of these days, we better figure out who she is!

Also, there's a random yellow ribbon around the tree and it's making me think of the song  [You don’t know what that means tho?  The yellow ribbon?]  I know the song...?  [No a yellow ribbon is for a lost loved one]  Oh, damn.  [🤣🤣]

– – – 

Wench: Dude, we never found out what was going on with the person taking the photographs???

Jezebel: Could it have been the guy at the end?  Who specifically wanted to speak to Gibbs?

Wench: I don't think so; wasn't he supposed to be in Colombia?  ALSO WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CALLS?!?!

Jezebel: I don’t know 🤣🤣

Wench: Honestly, my first reaction is a quite solid wtf.  I have 0 clue what just happened. But at least it wasn't terrorists again?

Jezebel: Very much same 🤣🤣🤣

Wench: I wasn't cognizant of the fact that 45 minutes just passed.  In terms of what happened, I feel like that was an episode worth of inconsistency and plot holes.  Feels kinda harsh to say, but it's true

Jezebel: And they will never be filled ☠️🤣

Wench: I even looked at the wiki and just… wot?  Very thorough wiki, with no answers to be had.  (I honestly think the the thoroughness didn't help because it basically just recited the show, whereas I need some kind of broad summary to get what the hell was going on.)

Jezebel: Right

Wench: I did appreciate the characterization this time.  And am very glad that Ducky got a chance to be annoyed about the "boring" allegations.  

Jezebel: Yess

Wench: And calling out his assistant on the headphone thing

Jezebel: YESSSS

Wench: Especially because when I worked in a lab, they didn't let us put on headphones or play music or anything because we had to be able to hear if something went wrong.  And admittedly that was a chem lab, not a morgue where (hopefully) things aren't moving — you know, in an ideal situation 🙂 — but it thus strikes me as weird that he had headphones on

Jezebel: I didn’t really remember him, tbh.  I think most of the episodes I’m remembering are from s2, so I’m used to that version of Kate, and Tony, and Gibbs.  And that’s the season with Jimmy, I think.

Wench: And McGee isn't here as much as you seem to remember either

Jezebel: Right.  And I thought he was introduced as a side thing-

Wench: A one-shot character?

Jezebel: Yeah, and then he wasn’t in the episode after, but was in the one after that… And then he joined for good.  So this is… weird.

Wench: Yeah, I definitely hear that

Jezebel: I will say, Ziva joins for a long time, and I do like her and Tony… I mean, they’re the actual canon thing developing.  But she’s sometimes a bit… meh.  And not as interesting as the thing with Tony and McGee.

Wench: So what I'm hearing is... pros of multishipping?  I mean, ya know... Tony has two hands.  That just seems to be the solution to all of our problems

Jezebel: Right 🙂  There’s also a ship that comes out of Mcgee and Abby dating…

Wench: Well, that already started, right?  Or at their first date did

Jezebel: Yeah.  I start getting into ick with ships like Gibbs and Abby.  Because I don’t like that.

Wench: Oh, absolutely, that’s familial, not romantic.  Same with Gibbs and Tony, tbh.  Like, I can see joking about it, but it’s far more Tony hero-worshipping Gibbs than anything, and not more.  I don’t think I like it.

Jezebel: Right.  You can see how other people see it, right-

Wench: Yeah

Jezebel: But it’s like… It’s like shipping Dean and Jody.  It’s just weird

Wench: I don't like thatttttttttt

Jezebel: Anyway... if I can come up with anything to say for endpoint... Uh.  GOT IT.  Abby's gloves were great!  Honestly, highlight of the episode.  ‘Til next time!

[teaandinanity]

It’s very surreal seeing people talking about Overdrive checkouts like they’re analogous to normal library checkouts because like.

Overdrive is Amazon. They are fucking your library every bit as hard as they fuck literally everyone else. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t use your library’s digital services! We have them so people can use them!

But also, unlike dead tree format, which we can keep in circulation until they fall apart (or someone gives them a bath), Amazon goes ‘you can buy x number of checkouts. They will be consecutive rather than concurrent unless you buy additional licenses.’ After those checkouts? It removes access again until and unless we pay for another x checkouts. This is why sometimes something that shows in your library’s catalog is unavailable; they bought it, people checked it out, and then Amazon took it away. If it’s unavailable and people have asked for it, then probably they have it on a list of hostages to pay ransom for the next time they have funding available. The structure is deeply predatory and Amazon gets away with it because they have a monopoly.

We pay a LOT more for a digital checkout than we do for one in hard copy, and depending on how your library is funded, circulation numbers may not even count for much in funding - my library, for example, is funded based on local sales tax. We track circulation, of course. We want circs because they tell us we are doing a good job giving people what they want! We want to get a good grade in being a library, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve. Circs don’t necessarily mean more money, though, and in the case of Overdrive there’s uhhh. Absolutely no way that even a very generous per-circ funding system would so much as break even.

TLDR: Please use Overdrive if your library has it! Enjoy it! Just enjoy it responsibly, because unfortunately Amazon is run by soul-sucking vampires.

[dhr-ao3]

Before the Old Gods

Before the Old Gods https://ift.tt/cC3M6qK by Franciskh Five Years After the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione loses everything in one fell swoop. Reeling from her losses, she realizes that the war will continue on indefinitely unless something changes. Asking for help from Lucius Malfoy, Hermione seeks out new answers and solutions to find a way to stop the war, no matter the cost. Even if it means falling into dark magic to get Draco back. She'll stop at nothing, and let no one stop her until she's reunited with Draco, even if it means burning everything down. Words: 1133, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Categories: F/M Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Portrait Circe (Harry Potter), Circe, Original Characters, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Ron Weasley Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger/Lucius Malfoy (Platonic), Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom/Luna Lovegood Additional Tags: Dark Hermione Granger, Post-Battle of Hogwarts, BAMF Hermione Granger, Soft Draco Malfoy, Protective Hermione Granger, Protective Draco Malfoy, Would burn the world for you vibes, VERY SAD AT TIMES OK, I don't know I was in my feels, Lucius Malfoy is like kind of nice at times?, But still Lucius Malfoy, Death Eaters, Everyone is kind of Morally Grey, Morally Grey Hermione Granger, But with reason its war, everything kind of hurts for a while, but HEA, promise :), Daughters of Circe via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/EL04orU July 06, 2023 at 09:27PM

[whumpfessional]

A Lost Battle

Pt 6 of Circe’s Story, other parts in Masterpost.

Oh dear.. it's not great for Circe here... It's not like she has any say in an intraplanetary war.

CW: Slavery, minor whump, branding, hand whump ish

She hadn’t spoken much since that day. Not that it mattered. No one really cares whether or not the slaves can speak, just so long as they can do their duties. And that’s what the girl did.

No one else had mentioned it either. Someone had found her curled up on the floor of the servants' passage and had helped her down to their sleeping quarters. Someone had cleaned her up and wrapped her injuries.

But that was it. She caught some of them looking at her funny. Any conversation would stutter when she would come into a room.

Ka’hairal was often at training camps so the girl had joined the rest of the staff unless the children were around. Not that they were children anymore but that’s what everyone else called them. She worked and served and waited. 

She still slept in the children’s quarters, in her cot in the corner. Just in case. So when she was shaken awake in the middle of the night, she sprung up, ready for action. 

It was Ka’haidal. She looked at him with confusion, cocking her head. He put a finger to his lips and gestured for her to follow. She slipped on her shoes and followed him out quietly. They made their way down the quiet hallways to the Master’s office. The girl had never been in there and she watched in shock as Ka’haidal pushed open the door. He slipped through and she followed behind him. 

The office was empty. There was a large desk in the center and weapons of war decorated the walls. A large fireplace sparked in the corner, an archaic symbol of wealth. The girl pushed the heavy door shut behind her then turned to face Ka’haidal. 

He leaned his hands against the desk. “My father is dead. He was murdered by the Alliance on Torfan. Everyone there was murdered. Do you know what that means?” 

The girl paused for a second before lowering herself to her knees and bowing before him. 

He glanced down at her. “You may rise. We have things to discuss.” The girl pushed herself to her feet, keeping her eyes lowered. “I will be getting my own vessel. I would like you to come with me. I know you are well versed in mechanics.” The girl nodded and felt Ka’hairal take her hand. “Come with me. We need to get things ready.”

The girl followed, not realizing where he was leading until he knelt beside the fireplace. Before she could pull away, the grasp around her wrist tightened and he dragged her down beside him.  

“We have to do this. It’s the way.” He looked at her with what might have been pity, as one would have for an injured animal. She was still soundless, though tears streamed down her face. He grabbed a flat, round piece of iron with a covered grip at the end of a handle. It had been placed here before they came into the room. With intention, he placed the metal into the fire.

The girl started to try to pull away. Her mind had sheltered herself from the memories of being tattooed as a child but the terror overwhelmed her and she lost control. Her throat rasped and she tried to plead. “Pl-please. Ple-ease please Master please don’t-” 

Ka’haidal backhanded her across the face, his ring cutting on her scarred upper check. “Shut up. Don’t be hysterical.” He tilted his head to the right in disgust and she wilted. They waited in silence for the crackling fire to turn the brand white hot. 

The girl shut her eyes. And waited. A horrible scream ripped through the room. The girl wondered where it was coming from. It was so loud. And then she realized that her mouth was open and that she was screaming and there was the smell of burning. And oh god it was her.

The pressure stopped but the pain was still there and it was burning and she was screaming and Ka’hairal was so disgusted and she was worthless like this and she had to be worthwhile so she has to breathe and pull it together stand up keep breathing its okay don’t worry about the tears and the snot he’s saying something pull it together listen

“-medical attention. I’ll call the tattooer once it has healed. Worst case, we can tag you until we get back to planet if it hasn’t healed by then.” He waved her towards the door. “You may leave.”

The girl slipped out of the office and into the hallway, falling against the wall and whimpering slightly as her hand brushed against it. Oh god, her hand. She had to get to the kitchen. They’ll help her. She needs help. 

Somehow, she made it to the servants area and pressed through the door to the kitchen. One of the night staff ran to her, catching her before she stumbled over. They helped her into a seat and went to wake up the cook. 

“Ka’hairal is the master now. His father died. It was humans and the Alliance. He wants revenge,” she whispered this to the slave who helped her to her seat, before closing her eyes and leaning back, her head smacking the wall. 

The cook entered and started barking out orders. Someone placed something cool onto her hand and she flinched violently, before allowing them to continue the application. Someone brought a cold cup to her lips and she drank thirstily. She opened her eyes to ask for more when she saw the cook. And that broke her.

[myhiraeth]

@seudxnimx con’t from [here] 

Seth is aware that Circe doesn’t allow most, if anyone to touch her, especially the way he does with his arms easily wrapped around her waist and a chin over her shoulder. All in all he’s certain she find most people a paid to be around and deal with or maybe she would just rather be alone - something like his sister. Or maybe even like Jacob. Whichever was the case he was glad she eventually let him in, he didn’t think he was all that persistent even - just was simply there and now they were here.

“Not unless the difference of an impossible burger and a regular burger is something I wanted to discuss in depth.” A soft laugh into her hair as he stood up more straight but didn’t let go of her, “How’s your day?” Feet spread apart so he could start walking with her wrapped up over to the vending machine, despite him not being interested in fake meat, he was hungry now.

She tips her face toward him, touching her head lightly to his as he rested his chin on her shoulder. If she wasn't more in control of herself, she'd nuzzle at him like a kitten, but luckily she was practiced at control and simply smiled and let him warm her. “Well I myself have never tried an impossible burger, but I would be willing if you were on the pro side.” The irony of offering Seth of all people fake meat over real meat was lost on her.  

He starts walking with her still wrapped in his arms and her smile turned to a laugh as she tried not to trip them both. “Ah- Seth! I am not coordinated enough for this!” They made it to the vending machine without incident and she finally answered his question. “Better now.” She leaves it up to him to discern the meaning behind her comment, see if he can guess that it’s better now because he’s here, wrapped around her and warming her inside and out. “Yours?” If he lets go of her to find food she’ll step away, but contrary to her response to most people, she’s content to stay pressed against him until he needs her out of his way.

[kinetic-elaboration]

September 9: Royal Tea

The amount of angst I experienced over this period of a little more than 24 hours without Internet, I can’t even describe. In my defense, it wasn’t so much not having internet as not being sure when it might come back or what to do or what was wrong with it. I still don’t know. I fought with it for almost 2 hours today after work then unplugged everything, then took a long nap, then woke up and plugged everything back in, turned it all back on, and it worked. Did my actions solve the problem or did it resolve on its own? Who knows.

Anyway, here’s my story about the Queen dying. My supervisor at work was recently in Scotland (a well-timed trip because if she’d gone this week, everything would have been quite closed I’m sure) and she is big into English history and rather fond of the monarchy or at least some parts of it, so she bought this tin of Jubilee tea while she was over there, primarily for the tin. She’s a tea drinker but considers plain black tea, which this was, “boring” and the tin had 50 tea bags and she didn’t think she’d ever drink that much straight black tea. So she gave me one to try, because I love black tea, and I was drinking it yesterday as that day’s Work Tea. It was interesting... I don’t know how I feel about it yet. It felt like some parts were too strong/bitter and other parts too weak. I think it might go well with lemon though.

So I was drinking this Queen Tea yesterday, is the point. When at my desk, I can’t really see the news, unless I search for it or for something specific, but in the front of the library by the Circ desk we have a TV that is usually playing CNN with the subtitles on and the sound off, and I often walk around the library doing things like shelving or filing or routing or sometimes just stretching my legs, and sometimes I walk by the Circ desk specifically to glimpse the news. And at one point yesterday, I walked by and saw the headline QUEEN DIES or whatever way they put it and I was straight slack jawed about it. I’d seen a bit of a headline of her in the hospital earlier but honestly she was 96 so I feel like being in the hospital is kinda non-news, and then she was just gone. And then they started talking about King Charles and I was like ‘pass on that please.’ Also, I feel like this is an unpopular take on this platform, and I don’t say it in any sort of respectful way really because I actually have no strong feelings about this at all--but he is really King immediately? Like you’re not gonna take any breather at all? You can’t go one day without a monarch? Again, I don’t mean this to sound like I care about disrespect to the Queen but it seems like people who do care should slow their roll. That’s all. Like it was literally all one headline “Queen’s off, King Charles running to throne.”

In equally exciting news, had a staff lunch today, where we talked a little about this world news, and mostly discussed one of my co-worker’s early working life in a factory. Which is more interesting to me actually!