#weak hash map

[stillness-in-green]

I noticed you said you would have more opinions on Scarecrows colors when he’s unmasked so I thought I’d let you know that the anime website released a battlefield map for final war and he’s in there

So he is! I'm glad they could be arsed to include him - wonder if they'll get around to including Kunieda/Gashly/Hose Face at some point? Especially Kunieda, who I remember seeing screenshots around of, so I know he's gotten his debut scene at this point. (His flowers should have been red, not purple; come on, guys. This is not rocket science; they literally feed on blood.)

As to Scarecrow, his colors are....inoffensive. I'd been hoping for something a bit more vivid! He looks a little out of place compared to the highly saturated, bold, bright colors the other characters have, with the muted, neutral green and pinkish-beige color scheme he has going on; I hoped he'd have a good strong red, green or purple for his head stripes.

I guess if you make his colors too bright, you wind up implying he might be the poisonous kind of spider? Since there's no particular indication that he's got venomous capabilities, perhaps that's why his colors are more plain. (That's the Watsonian answer; the Doylist one is the usual, "The people who chose his colors didn't give a shit about making him striking or aesthetically appealing because they weren't going to merchandise him, so why bother?")

Indeed, there's no particular indication that he has spider abilities of any kind, because god forbid the PLF be allowed to put up a fight that's worth a damn in this endgame, but WHATEVER. At least he matches Spinner in terms of divergent appearance but minimal powers, even if that relative weakness in a top advisor character makes a complete hash of trying to portray the MLA as quirk supremacists. Who needs an awesome power set when you've got the power of being a damn great orator on your side?*

Thanks for the ask!

(*Alas, the awesome power set might have been helpful when the series's answer to the damn great oration was knocking the orator off the building. But, I repeat, WHATEVER.)

[29pageshomestuckeveryday]

Homestuck, page 4,533

Dirk: Captchalogue Geromy plush.

You snap up the GEROMY PLUSH in your TECH-HOP MODUS. This modus is often employed in rap battles, but is a bit more elegant and sophisticated than what most hashrap artists traditionally employ, like the more arbitrarily numeric HASH MAPS and HASH TABLES.

The cards are arranged in SHADE COLUMNS and GROOVE ROWS. Everything in the same column has to rhyme. Everything in the same row has to have some thematic similarity. Organizing everything gets complicated, and weaponizing your inventory through rap lyrics takes some serious skill.

For instance, the 3rd GROOVE ROW got kind of railroaded into becoming an orange soda row, so you've just been rolling with it recently. The 4th row is pegged for stuff associated with cool bros. The 2nd row is all about dolls, puppets, and stuff like that. The GEROMY PLUSH is clearly suitable for that row, and rhymes with CRUSH, so that works out.

Then you have some other perfectly dope rhymes, like SANTA and FANTA, FAYGO and GAME BRO, DEW and SHOE. There's also SMUPPET and ORANGETTE, which frankly you think is pretty weak, but hey the modus allows it so whatever. Then there are times where you have to be creative with naming stuff to get it to fit. Like calling a skateboard a FOUR WHEEL DEVICE to get it to rhyme with SLICE. It's just another facet to the craft.

[echowisdom]

Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Active Directory Pentesting Techniques

Active Directory (AD) is the backbone of almost every modern corporate IT environment. It stores all critical user and system information and governs access across an enterprise. With its central role in network infrastructure, it also becomes a prime target for attackers. That’s why mastering Active Directory pentesting techniques is crucial for cybersecurity professionals who want to stay ahead of threats.

This blog walks you through a positive, step-by-step guide to becoming proficient in Active Directory pentesting. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, these insights and tips will set you on the right path.

1. Understand the Basics of Active Directory

Before diving into pentesting, you need a solid understanding of what Active Directory is and how it functions. Active Directory is essentially a directory service that manages user data, authentication, and access permissions in a networked environment.

Start by learning about the core AD components:

Domain Controllers

Users and Groups

Organizational Units (OUs)

Group Policy Objects (GPOs)

Trusts and Forests

Having a strong grasp of these elements lays the groundwork for effective pentesting. Without understanding the architecture and how it operates, it’s nearly impossible to identify potential weaknesses or attack vectors.

2. Set Up a Lab Environment

The best way to learn AD pentesting is through hands-on practice. Set up a lab environment where you can safely explore and test your skills without risking real systems. Use virtual machines to simulate a Windows domain environment with various user roles and permissions.

In this lab, practice key AD functions like:

Creating users and groups

Applying Group Policies

Configuring Domain Controllers

Simulating common configurations

This setup helps you understand what’s considered “normal” behavior in AD, making it easier to spot and exploit vulnerabilities during a pentest.

3. Learn the Attack Surface of Active Directory

Once you're comfortable with the basics, it's time to explore how attackers view Active Directory. The AD attack surface is vast. From misconfigured permissions to outdated patches, there are numerous paths an attacker might take.

Common AD attack vectors include:

Password Spraying

Kerberoasting

Pass-the-Hash

NTLM Relay Attacks

DLL Injection

Credential Dumping

Each of these techniques targets a specific AD weakness, and knowing them is vital for both red teamers and defenders. Familiarize yourself with these vectors in your lab to see how they work and how they can be mitigated.

4. Master Enumeration Techniques

In AD pentesting, enumeration is one of the most critical initial phases. This is where you gather information about the target network without triggering alarms. The more intel you have, the more precise your attacks will be.

Key enumeration tasks include:

Listing domain users and groups

Identifying admin accounts

Mapping network shares

Discovering service accounts and permissions

Tools and scripts can help with enumeration, but the knowledge of what data to look for and how it can be used is what separates beginners from experts.

5. Understand Privilege Escalation Methods

Once you’ve successfully enumerated a domain and identified weak points, the next step in pentesting is privilege escalation. This phase focuses on moving from a regular user account to higher privileges, ideally reaching domain admin status.

Common privilege escalation techniques include:

Exploiting misconfigured service permissions

Abuse of Group Policy Preferences

Exploiting token impersonation

Over-permissioned Active Directory Delegation

Practicing these in a safe environment helps you develop intuition for privilege misconfigurations and how to use them to your advantage in a pentest.

6. Learn Lateral Movement Strategies

After escalating privileges, attackers often move laterally across systems to expand access and maintain persistence. As a pentester, understanding and practicing lateral movement techniques is key to assessing how far a compromise can go.

Typical lateral movement tactics involve:

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

PsExec

SMB and PowerShell remoting

Each method can be used to pivot from one machine to another, and each leaves specific traces. Being proficient in these strategies helps you mimic real-world attack paths and understand how to detect them.

7. Explore Credential Access and Dumping

One of the most sensitive areas in AD pentesting is credential dumping—extracting usernames and passwords from memory or files. This technique is powerful because it can provide direct access to high-value accounts.

Tools often target:

LSASS process memory

SAM database

Cached credentials

Registry hives

It's vital to practice this responsibly. In your lab, you’ll see how easy it is for a determined attacker to get credentials and why protecting this area is so crucial for security teams.

8. Study Persistence Mechanisms

Attackers who gain control of AD often seek to maintain long-term access. Learning persistence mechanisms helps you understand how an attacker could stay hidden in a network even after reboots or password changes.

Some common persistence techniques include:

Backdooring Group Policies

Modifying user attributes

Planting scheduled tasks

Creating rogue trust relationships

By studying these, you’ll become skilled at identifying traces left behind and designing better defensive strategies for detection and removal.

9. Simulate Realistic Attack Chains

It’s one thing to know individual techniques—it’s another to chain them together into a realistic attack scenario. Practicing full attack paths from initial access to domain admin gives you a comprehensive view of how real-world breaches unfold.

Example scenarios to try in your lab:

Compromising a low-privileged user → Kerberoasting → Privilege escalation → Lateral movement → Domain admin

Exploiting an exposed service → Dumping credentials → Creating persistence

Simulating these chains strengthens your situational awareness and helps you think like an attacker planning a complete campaign.

10. Practice Blue Team Countermeasures

Even though your focus is on pentesting, understanding how defenders operate makes you a better attacker. Try to detect your own attacks using security monitoring tools, logs, and behavior analytics.

Ask yourself:

What logs are generated during this attack?

How could a security team detect this movement?

What could block or alert on this technique?

This dual perspective is incredibly valuable in professional settings, where many pentesters also offer remediation advice post-assessment.

11. Document Your Findings Professionally

Pentesting isn’t just about breaking things—it’s about clearly communicating what you found and how to fix it. Learning to write detailed, organized, and actionable reports is essential.

A great report includes:

Executive summary for non-technical stakeholders

Technical breakdowns of each finding

Screenshots and proof-of-concept evidence

Remediation recommendations

Practice writing reports after each lab or simulation. It’s a skill that makes you stand out and shows you can deliver value beyond just identifying issues.

12. Stay Updated with New Techniques

Cybersecurity is always evolving, and so are the tactics used to breach Active Directory. Following security blogs, online communities, and research papers helps you stay on top of the latest developments.

Also, make sure to revisit your lab regularly and test out newly discovered vulnerabilities or techniques. The more proactive you are, the sharper your skills become.

For a structured and comprehensive approach to Active Directory pentesting, many learners have benefited from training like https://academy.cyberyozh.com/courses/active-directory/.

13. Test Yourself with Capture The Flag (CTF) Challenges

Once you're confident in your skills, put them to the test with CTF-style challenges. These simulations present realistic AD scenarios with hidden “flags” that you must uncover using your pentesting knowledge.

CTFs are fun, competitive, and immensely educational. They also help you benchmark your progress and identify areas to improve.

14. Network with the Community

No one masters pentesting alone. Engage with cybersecurity communities where you can exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from others’ experiences. Forums, discussion groups, and meetups are great places to stay inspired and informed.

Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals also opens doors to mentorship, collaboration, and even job opportunities in ethical hacking and red teaming.

15. Keep Practicing and Repeating

Mastery comes with repetition. Go back to earlier steps, rebuild your lab with new configurations, and keep exploring. Every iteration will sharpen your instincts and deepen your expertise.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to pass tests or run tools—it’s to think critically, adapt quickly, and understand the full picture of securing an Active Directory environment.

Conclusion

Active Directory pentesting is a skill set that demands a balance of technical knowledge, practical experience, and a security-first mindset. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll build a strong foundation in the core techniques that attackers use—and defenders must prepare for.

From setting up a lab and understanding enumeration, to mastering privilege escalation and lateral movement, each step brings you closer to becoming a proficient AD pentester. Keep practicing, stay curious, and always think a step ahead. The more you hone your skills, the more valuable you become in protecting today’s digital environments.

[learning-code-ficusoft]

How to Build a Secure Backend: Common Security Practices for Developers

How to Build a Secure Backend: 

Common Security Practices for Developers Building a secure backend is critical for protecting user data, ensuring application integrity, and maintaining trust.

 Cyberattacks and data breaches can have severe consequences, so implementing robust security practices is non-negotiable for developers. 

This blog will cover essential security measures every backend developer should follow. 

Secure Authentication and Authorization 

Authentication and authorization are foundational to backend security. Weak implementations can expose your application to unauthorized access. 

Best Practices: Use strong password policies (e.g., minimum length, complexity). 

Hash passwords with algorithms like bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. 

Use access control mechanisms like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). 

Pro Tip: Avoid storing passwords in plaintext and always use secure hash functions. 

2. Validate and Sanitize Inputs 

Unchecked user inputs can lead to injection attacks like SQL injection, command injection, or cross-site scripting (XSS). 

Best Practices: Validate all inputs for expected formats, lengths, and data types. Sanitize inputs to remove malicious characters. 

Use parameterized queries or Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) to prevent SQL injection. 

Example 

(SQL Injection Prevention):

 python 

 # Using parameterized queries

 cursor.execute

(“SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = %s”, (user_email,)) 

3. Secure APIs APIs are often targeted by attackers, making their security paramount. 

Best Practices: 

Require authentication for all API endpoints. 

Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit. 

Implement rate limiting and throttling to prevent abuse. 

Validate API inputs to ensure only valid data is processed. 

Use API gateways for centralized security and monitoring. 

Pro Tip: Avoid exposing sensitive information in API responses. 

4. Protect Against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) CSRF attacks trick authenticated users into performing unwanted actions. 

Best Practices: Use CSRF tokens for all state-changing operations. Set SameSite attributes on cookies to prevent cross-origin requests. Require user re-authentication for sensitive operations. 

5. Encrypt Data Encryption ensures that sensitive data remains secure, even if intercepted. 

Best Practices: 

Use TLS (HTTPS) for data in transit. 

Encrypt sensitive data at rest using AES-256 or similar algorithms. Rotate encryption keys periodically. 

6. Implement Logging and Monitoring Regular logging and monitoring can help detect and respond to security incidents promptly. 

Best Practices: Log user activities, authentication events, and errors. 

Use centralized logging systems like ELK Stack or Splunk. Monitor logs for suspicious activities with tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management). 

7. Keep Dependencies Updated Outdated libraries and frameworks are common attack vectors.

 Best Practices: Regularly update dependencies to their latest stable versions. 

Use tools like Dependabot or npm audit to detect vulnerabilities. 

Avoid unnecessary dependencies to reduce the attack surface. 

8. Secure Configuration Management Misconfigured servers or applications can lead to severe security issues. 

Best Practices: Disable unused services and ports. 

Restrict sensitive environment variables (e.g., API keys, database credentials). 

Store secrets securely using vaults like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager. 

9. Conduct Regular Security Testing Testing helps identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited. 

Best Practices: Perform static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST). 

Conduct regular penetration testing. Use automated tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite for vulnerability scanning. 

Conclusion 

A secure backend is the backbone of any robust application. 

By following these security practices, developers can minimize vulnerabilities and safeguard their applications against attacks. 

Remember, security is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and updates. 

Building a secure backend is both an art and a science — start implementing these practices today to ensure your application remains secure and trustworthy.

[user230507021118079]

A Life Without Meaning - Part 54

summary: 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯. 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵-𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘵. 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.

𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳?

𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦-𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯. 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥-𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵.

𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦?

𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴…𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦? 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵?

author's note: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘐 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘮𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪, 𝘫𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘶, 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘸𝘢, 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘢𝘩 𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳

blog masterlist || previous part || next part

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

The group met on board the Slave I to hash out their plan. They crowded around the halo-table in the main hull. The Imperial scientist, still shackled, sat with them quietly.

Bo brought up the schematics of Gideon’s ship from the information that they had collected from the Imperial database. 

“This is Moff Gideon’s Imperial flight cruiser.” she introduced to the small crowd standing around her. “In the old days, it would carry a crew of several hundred. Now it operates with a tiny fraction of that.”

“Your assessment is misleading.” a small voice suddenly piped up.

Everyone looked over their shoulders in surprise, finding that the Imperial Scientist, his back straight in fear, had been the one that interrupted. 

“Oh great an objective opinion.” Cara muttered sarcastically.

“This isn’t subterfuge, I assure you.” he replied. 

Ellia tilted her head to the side curiously.

“Let him speak.” Bo finally decreed.

His hands fiddled nervously in his lap as he took another breath,

“There is a garrison of Dark Troopers on board.” he finally explained. “They’re the ones who abducted the child.”

“How many troopers do they have armed in those suits?” Ellia asked quickly. 

“These are third-generation designs. They are no longer suits.” the scientist answered. “The human inside was the final weakness to be solved...they’re droids.”

Ellia’s lips parted in surprise, and for some reason, the healing wound on her side seemed to throb ominously at his words. She looked to her right, exchanging wide-eyed glances with Din and Cara.

“Where are they bivouacked?” Fennec demanded.

The scientist hesitantly rose from his seat. Bo followed him, watching him carefully as he approached the holo-table, hands still bound. 

“They’re held in cold storage in this cargo bay-” he explained, hitting a few buttons on the map to zoom in on a certain part at the center of the cruiser. The image depicted a line of stalls, all blinking a bright red color. “They draw too much power to be kept at ready.”

“How long to power up?” Fennec asked. 

“A few minutes, perhaps.” 

“Where is the child being held?” Din asked quickly. 

The scientist moved the map to another area of the ship, 

“This is the brig.” he said, focusing on one cell in particular. “He’s being held here under armed guard.”

Everyone took a moment to digest the information. 

“Very well.” Bo-Katan finally said, “We split into two parties.”

“I go alone.” Din said boldly. 

Ellia turned towards him in surprise, but any plea for him to change his mind was drowned out by Bo, who was obviously itching to continue on. 

“Fine.” she barked, “Phase one: Lambda shuttle issues a distress call. Two, we come in hot, emergency land at the mouth of the fighter launch tube, cutting off any potential interceptors.” the experienced soldier explained, dancing around the map for visual clarifications. “Koska, Fennec, Amnes, Dune, and myself disembark with maximum initiative. Once we’ve neutralized the launch bay, we make our way through these tandem decks in a penetration maneuver.” 

She brought up an image of said decks onto the screen.

“And me?” Din asked. 

“We’ll be misdirection.” Bo replied, “Once we draw a crowd, you slip through the shadows, get the kid.” 

“Those Dark Troopers?” Cara noted, “They’re gonna be a real skank in the scud pie.”

Bo turned back to the map for a moment, her eyes making a quick analysis of their options.

“Their bay is on the way to the brig.” she reported, “Can he make it there before they deploy?” she demanded of the Imperial scientist. 

“It’s possible.” he answered smally. 

Fennec grabbed something out of the scientist's coat pocket, immediately turning it over to Din. 

“Here. Take his code cylinder and seal off their holding bay.” Fennec said as Din took it from her, “Anyone else, we can handle.”

“We’ll meet at the bridge.” Din confirmed. 

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

After a little more preparation, the two groups manned their stations. Boba was flying in the Slave I, with only the prisoner on board. While the rest of them were crammed inside of the Imperial Shuttle, hurtling through hyperspace, the coordinates getting closer and closer with every passing second.

Ellia was in the far back of the hull, standing by herself as the rest of them crowded the controls, talking back and forth with Boba every so often to confirm their positions. Her gun was already strapped in her thigh holster, and she was taking the time to tighten the new bandages around her torso so that she wasn’t running the risk of them moving in the middle of the mission.

At that point, she had moved off bacta packs, the wound fairly healed. The bandages were just there to keep the skin from shifting too much, and to prevent infection.

“Here, let me.” a low voice suddenly sounded from her right.

She barely even had time to look over her shoulder and see the flash of Din’s helmet before he was crouching down, his gloved hands replacing hers on the bandages. She quietly relented, letting more experienced hands secure them into place. 

Ellia watched him carefully as he made quick work of the ragged cloth.

“You sure you’re up for this?” he asked her as he tied the last strand. 

“I’m up for anything if it means getting him back” she whispered, her tone serious.

Done with the bandages, Din stood back up. His full height loomed at least a head above her form, but she wasn’t scared. As terrifying as he could seem to strangers and enemies, she knew that there was never a safer place than by his side.

“Do you have to go alone?” she suddenly asked him. 

She saw Din’s shoulders relax slightly. He could both see the worry in her eyes and hear it in her voice. He placed a hand on her upper arm as gently as he could. 

“I can handle a few armed guards. You guys have the bigger challenge.” he said. It was an attempt at a joke, but Ellia’s expression didn’t change. Instead, she reached up with both hands, grabbing hold of the one on her arm, locking it in place.

“Din I-” her voice failed her, the words lodging in her throat as she was suddenly overcome with the urge to scream, cry, and run away all at once. She pressed her lips together tightly along with her eyes, only focusing on the feeling of his hand on her arm. 

“Ell…” Din’s voice whispered softly from above her, coaxing her eyes open again. 

She took a deep breath, 

“Just promise me you’ll come back.” she said suddenly. She could tell he was about to respond, but she quickly cut him off. “I know it’s stupid of me to ask. But just… look even if it’s a lie. Just promise me, Din. Promise me you’ll both come back.” she pleaded. 

Din was quiet for a moment longer, purpose washing over his body. The hand on her arm tightened slightly. 

“I promise.” he finally whispered. 

The corners of Ellia’s lips twitched upwards into an almost-smile. She whispered a thank you, finally allowing Din to guide her back into the cockpit.

“Moff Gideon is mine.” Bo-Katan was saying as the pair walked up. “Got it?”

“He’s ex-ISB” Cara piped up, “He’s got a lot of information. I need him alive.” the Marshal stated. 

“I don’t care what happens to him.” Bo clarified, “As long as he surrenders to me.”

“Prepare to exit jump space.” Boba’s voice crackled over the comms.

“Copy that” Bo-Katan responded. “Get the hell out of there as soon as they clear us to dock. And your shots have to look convincing.” 

“Power up those shields, princess.” he responded. “I’ll put on a good show.”

Ellia let out a small scoff.

“Watch out for those deck cannons.” Bo reminded. 

“Don’t worry about me.” Boba answered. “Just be careful in there.”

“Exiting hyperspace in three...two... one!”

Koska pushed the lever forward, and the shuttle dropped into open space. Seconds later, Boba followed suit, guns already blazing.

The Imperial cruiser loomed in front of them as Bo dipped and dove through the stars, “dodging” Boba’s attacks.

When they got within range of the cruiser, Bo flicked on the comms. 

“This is landing shuttle two-seven-four-three!” she shouted in faux-panic. “Requesting emergency docking! Repeat, requesting emergency docking! We are under attack!”

They circled the ship once. Inside the cabin, Ellia held tightly into the back of one of the occupied cockpit chairs to keep from falling over. 

“Copy Lambda shuttle.” a voice responded, “Request received. Stay clear of launch tube. Deploying fighter squadron.”

“Here we go.” Ellia whispered to herself as everyone else in the cockpit exchanged affirming looks. 

The first fighter shot out of the front of the cruiser, while Bo took them on another close dive towards the ship itself. She lined them up, so their approach was head on, the tie darting right over their heads to engage the Slave I. A second one quickly followed suit, just barely avoiding crashing into them as they pressed forward. 

“Request denied! Please clear launch tube until fighters deploy!” the voice shouted over the comms again. 

“Negative! Negative! We are under attack!” Bo argued back.

The fighters finally managed to get behind the Slave I, and when they were ordered to clear the launch tube once again- Bo didn’t respond. 

She drove the craft straight towards the launch tube itself, and began folding its wings into their upright, triangular formation. 

Behind them, Boba finally peeled off, taking the fighters with them. 

As the shuttle wings retracted, they scraped along the thin passageway into the cruiser. Everyone inside the cockpit was jostled as alarms around them blared.

“Hang on!” Fennec shouted. 

They finally breached the launch tube, the side of the fighter crashing into the wall as they did so. The belly of the ship screeched against the floor of the hangar bay. 

Eventually they screeched to an unceremonious halt, and outside, Boba cleared the fighters before jumping back into hyperspace. 

In the cabin, everyone jumped to immediate action, scrambling out of their seats and grabbing their assortment of weapons.

As Ellia grabbed her gun out of its holster, a hand caught her arm forcefully. 

Her head turned quickly, finding Din staring back down at her. 

“Be careful.” was all he said, well, more like demanded.

Ellia could only nod in response before having to sprint off of the ship with the rest of the crew. 

Din watched them until they disappeared behind the cloud of smoke billowing out of the all but destroyed Imperial shuttle. The sound of blaster fire followed them as they began their work clearing out the launch bay.  

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

blog masterlist || previous part || next part

[netzilatechnologies]

Top Security Issues in Website Development and How to Prevent Them

In today’s interconnected world, website security is a critical concern for businesses and developers. Security breaches can lead to data theft, financial losses, and reputational damage. Understanding the common security threats in website development and how to mitigate them is essential to safeguarding user data and maintaining trust. Below, we explore the most prevalent website security issues and provide actionable steps to address them.

1. SQL Injection Attacks

What It Is

SQL Injection occurs when attackers manipulate SQL queries to access or modify sensitive data in a database. This can result in unauthorized access to user credentials, financial information, or other sensitive data.

Prevention

Use prepared statements and parameterized queries.

Employ Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tools to abstract database queries.

Validate and sanitize all user inputs to prevent malicious SQL commands.

To minimize the risk of such attacks, businesses can partner with a Top-notch Web Development Agency that prioritizes security in their development practices.

2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

What It Is

XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, allowing attackers to steal session cookies, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites.

Prevention

Sanitize and encode user inputs to prevent execution of malicious scripts.

Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts.

Regularly test for XSS vulnerabilities using tools like OWASP ZAP.

Partnering with Custom Web Development Services can ensure your website is built to prevent common vulnerabilities like XSS.

3. Broken Authentication and Session Management

What It Is

Poorly implemented authentication mechanisms can lead to unauthorized access, while weak session management can expose user sessions to hijacking.

Prevention

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance login security.

Ensure that session IDs are complex, unique, and expire after inactivity.

Secure session cookies with the HttpOnly and Secure flags.

4. Insecure File Uploads

What It Is

Allowing users to upload files without proper validation can lead to the execution of malicious files on the server.

Prevention

Restrict file types and validate file extensions and MIME types.

Store uploaded files in a directory outside the webroot and assign random filenames.

Scan uploaded files for malware using antivirus software.

For eCommerce websites, collaborating with the Best Ecommerce Development Company ensures secure handling of customer data and transactions.

5. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

What It Is

CSRF attacks trick authenticated users into performing unwanted actions, such as changing account settings or initiating unauthorized transactions.

Prevention

Implement anti-CSRF tokens in forms and validate them on the server.

Require re-authentication for sensitive actions.

Use SameSite cookies to restrict cross-origin requests.

6. Security Misconfigurations

What It Is

Default settings, unpatched software, or unused features can expose your website to attacks.

Prevention

Regularly update and patch software, frameworks, and plugins.

Disable unnecessary features and services to minimize the attack surface.

Use security headers like Strict-Transport-Security and X-Content-Type-Options.

A Top Ecommerce Development Company can audit your configurations to prevent vulnerabilities arising from default settings.

7. Weak or Compromised Passwords

What It Is

Weak passwords are easy to guess, and reused passwords can be exploited through credential-stuffing attacks.

Prevention

Enforce strong password policies (e.g., minimum length, complexity, and no reuse).

Use password hashing algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2 to securely store passwords.

Encourage users to enable password managers for secure storage.

8. Insufficient SSL/TLS Encryption

What It Is

Lack of encryption for data transmission can expose sensitive information, such as login credentials, to interception by attackers.

Prevention

Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit with SSL/TLS certificates.

Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS using server-side configurations.

Regularly renew and update SSL/TLS certificates.

9. Inadequate Data Validation

What It Is

Failure to validate user inputs can lead to vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and injection attacks.

Prevention

Validate all input data on the server side, even if client-side validation is in place.

Use whitelists to accept only expected input values.

Limit the length and format of user inputs to prevent overflows.

Collaborating with the Best Digital Marketing Company ensures your website complies with security best practices while optimizing for search engine performance.

10. Insider Threats and Poor Access Control

What It Is

Employees or contractors with excessive privileges can misuse their access to compromise data or systems.

Prevention

Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to limit user privileges.

Monitor user activity and maintain logs to detect suspicious behavior.

Conduct regular training for employees on cybersecurity best practices.

Conclusion

Creating secure websites involves addressing these critical security challenges effectively. Collaborating with a Top-notch Web Development Agency ensures your website is developed with robust security measures. For tailored solutions, consider partnering with Custom Web Development Services.

Additionally, eCommerce businesses can safeguard their platforms by collaborating with the Best Ecommerce Development Company or a Top Ecommerce Development Company. Beyond development, enhancing security strategies with the Best Digital Marketing Company or opting to Hire Digital Marketing Expert can elevate your website’s overall performance and security.

By implementing these practices and leveraging expert services, you can create secure and trustworthy websites that stand out in today’s digital landscape.

[imarticusblog]

Essential Ethical Hacking Tools and Software for Beginners

In the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity, ethical hacking plays a crucial role in identifying vulnerabilities, securing systems, and protecting digital assets. Whether you're a cybersecurity enthusiast or aspiring ethical hacker, having the right tools and software is essential to effectively simulate attacks and assess security posture. In this blog post, we'll explore some fundamental ethical hacking tools and software that every beginner should know.

Understanding Ethical Hacking Tools and Software

Ethical hacking tools and software are designed to assist security professionals in testing and evaluating the security of systems and networks. These tools simulate real-world attacks to identify weaknesses and help organizations strengthen their defenses. For beginners entering the field of ethical hacking, mastering these tools is a critical step toward building foundational skills. Here are some essential ethical hacking tools and software every beginner should be familiar with:

Nmap: Nmap (Network Mapper) is a powerful network scanning tool used for discovering hosts and services on a computer network. It's essential for port scanning, detecting open ports, and identifying potential entry points for attackers.

Wireshark: Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that captures and displays network packets. It helps ethical hackers analyze traffic, identify vulnerabilities, and troubleshoot network issues.

Metasploit: Metasploit is a penetration testing framework that allows ethical hackers to exploit known vulnerabilities in systems. It provides a range of tools for developing and executing exploits, making it an indispensable tool for security assessments.

Burp Suite: Burp Suite is a web application security testing tool used for scanning and testing web applications. It helps identify security flaws such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).

John the Ripper: John the Ripper is a password-cracking tool used to perform brute-force attacks and dictionary attacks on password hashes. It's commonly used to assess password strength and test authentication mechanisms.

Aircrack-ng: Aircrack-ng is a suite of tools for assessing Wi-Fi network security. It includes tools for capturing packets, performing dictionary attacks on Wi-Fi passwords, and testing WEP/WPA encryption vulnerabilities.

Hydra: Hydra is a popular password-cracking tool that supports various protocols, including SSH, FTP, Telnet, and HTTP. It's used for performing brute-force attacks on login credentials.

Nikto: Nikto is a web server scanner that identifies potential security vulnerabilities in web servers. It checks for outdated software versions, misconfigurations, and common vulnerabilities.

Snort: Snort is an open-source intrusion detection system (IDS) that detects and logs suspicious network traffic. It's used for real-time monitoring and alerting of potential security threats.

Maltego: Maltego is a data visualization tool used for gathering and analyzing information about targets. It helps ethical hackers perform reconnaissance and map relationships between entities.

Best Hacker in the World:

While ethical hacking emphasizes responsible and legal practices, renowned best hacker in the world such as Kevin Mitnick, Kevin Poulsen, and Adrian Lamo have gained fame for their expertise in cybersecurity and ethical hacking.

It's important to note that ethical hacking is not about achieving notoriety but rather about using skills for constructive purposes, such as securing systems, protecting data, and promoting cybersecurity awareness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering ethical hacking tools and software is essential for beginners looking to pursue a career in cybersecurity. By familiarizing themselves with tools like Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, and Burp Suite, aspiring ethical hackers can gain practical experience in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and network security. Ethical hacking is ultimately about using skills and knowledge responsibly to defend against cyber threats and safeguard digital assets. Start exploring these tools and software today to embark on an exciting journey into the world of ethical hacking!

[121214]

10+ Ethical Hacking Tools 2024 – Beginner friendly explanation

What are ethical hacking tools?

Ethical hacking tools are digital utilities engineered to assist cybersecurity professionals in conducting authorized tests on computer systems and networks. These tools serve as essential instruments in identifying and rectifying potential security vulnerabilities, helping organizations fortify their digital defenses against malicious cyber threats. Ethical hackers, also known as white-hat hackers, leverage these specialized tools to simulate various attack scenarios, mimicking the tactics and techniques employed by real-world cyber adversaries. By utilizing ethical hacking tools, security experts can proactively identify weaknesses in a system's defenses and implement robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data and assets from potential breaches.

Types of ethical hacking tools?

1.        Vulnerability Scanners: Tools like Nessus automate scanning systems and applications for known vulnerabilities, employing techniques like web crawling and code analysis.

2.        Network Scanners: Nmap maps and probes networks, identifying active devices, open ports, and potential security weaknesses.

3.        Web Application Scanners: Burp Suite is a tool specifically designed for web applications, searching for vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and weak password hashing.

4.        Password Cracking Tools: John the Ripper attempts to crack password hashes using techniques like brute-force, dictionary attacks, and rainbow tables.

5.        Packet Sniffers: Wireshark captures network traffic for analysis of communication protocols, data exchange, and potential security issues.

6.        Social Engineering Tools: The Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) simulates phishing attacks and other social engineering tactics to test user awareness and susceptibility to manipulation.

7.        Exploitation Frameworks: Metasploit provides a platform for deploying pre-built exploits against identified vulnerabilities.

8.        Wireless Security Tools: Aircrack-ng audits the security of wireless networks, uncovering weaknesses in encryption, identifying rogue access points, and cracking weak Wi-Fi passwords.

9.        Fuzzers: AFL (American Fuzzy Lop) generates random or mutated data inputs to applications and systems to identify vulnerabilities and improve software robustness.

10.      Forensics Tools: Autopsy aids in digital forensics investigations, collecting and analyzing digital evidence from compromised systems.

1.INVICTI

Invicti is a powerful tool for keeping your websites and web applications safe from cyber threats. It's like having an automated security guard that checks your online platforms for any weaknesses that hackers could exploit. What's great is that it works with all kinds of web applications, no matter how they're built.

One unique feature of Invicti is that it doesn't just find security flaws; it also tests them out safely to make sure they're real. For instance, if it finds a vulnerability like SQL injection, it'll even show you proof by revealing the database name. This saves you time and effort since you don't have to double-check everything yourself.

Plus, Invicti makes it easy to understand what needs fixing. If it's not completely sure about a vulnerability, it'll label it as '[Possible]' and give it a certainty rating, so you know which issues are urgent. With Invicti on your side, securing your web applications is a breeze, letting you focus on staying one step ahead of cyber threats

2.THREATMAPPER

Imagine ThreatMapper as your personal superhero for keeping your online stuff safe. It's like a special tool that looks out for bad guys trying to sneak into your cloud-based apps and websites. With ThreatMapper, you can easily check for things like bugs, viruses, and settings that might make it easy for hackers to get in. It's really smart too—it figures out which problems are the most urgent so you can fix them first. Plus, it doesn't matter what kind of cloud system you're using or how your stuff is set up; ThreatMapper can handle it all! Whether you're using regular servers, fancy containers, or even the latest tech like Kubernetes, ThreatMapper has your back.

3.Nmap 7.90

Nmap just got a shiny new update called Nmap 7.90! Nmap, short for "Network Mapper," is like a super helpful tool that anyone can use for free. It's awesome because it helps you find all the devices connected to a network and keeps an eye on their security. People who manage computer networks love using Nmap because it's not only great for figuring out what's connected to their network, but also for planning updates and making sure everything stays up and running smoothly. Plus, it's perfect for keeping an eye on when services go down or if any new devices pop up unexpectedly.

4.Angry IP Scanner 3.9.4

Angry IP Scanner, also known as ipscan! It's like a super-fast detective tool for your computer that helps you explore networks and find out what's connected to them. Whether you're a tech whiz or just someone who's curious, Angry IP Scanner is perfect because it's free, easy to use, and works on any type of computer. It's not just for pros either; lots of people, from big companies to regular folks, use it to keep their networks safe and sound. So, if you've ever wondered what's hiding on your network, Angry IP Scanner is here to help you find out!

Web Application Hacking:

5. Fortify WebInspect:

WebInspect, a tool that's like a security guard for your web applications! It's designed to check your websites and apps while they're running to find any potential security holes. Plus, it works with Microfocus SSC to manage all the security stuff in one place, making things super easy.

Here's what makes Fortify WebInspect awesome:

•         It hunts down vulnerabilities in your web apps and APIs while they're live.

•         It keeps up with the latest web tech and has built-in rules to follow important security rules.

•         It watches for patterns and uses smart analysis to help you fix any problems.

6. Burp Suite Professional

Burp Suite Professional as your ultimate sidekick in the world of web security testing! With Burp Suite, you can automate boring tests and then dive deep into the nitty-gritty with its expert tools. It's not just about finding basic security flaws; Burp Suite helps you tackle advanced stuff too, like the latest hacker tricks and OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.

Here's why Burp Suite is your best buddy:

•         Save time with smart automation: It does the boring stuff for you so you can focus on what you do best.

•         Scan all kinds of modern web apps: Whether it's a fancy JavaScript-heavy site or complex APIs, Burp Suite can handle it.

•         Spot hidden issues: It's like having x-ray vision for web vulnerabilities, finding stuff others might miss.

•         Stay ahead of the curve: With regular updates and cutting-edge research, you'll always be one step ahead.

•         Be super productive: It's packed with features to make your testing life easier, from recording your actions to powerful search tools.

•         Share your findings easily: Make fancy reports that anyone can understand and appreciate.

•         Customize it your way: Whether you want to tweak settings or create your own tools, Burp Suite lets you do it all.

So, if you're serious about web security and want to level up your testing game, Burp Suite Professional is the way to go. But if you're just starting out and want to learn the basics, the Community Edition is perfect for you. Either way, Burp Suite has your back!

7.        Grendel-Scan v4

Grendel-Scan, a cool tool for keeping your web apps safe! It's like having a friendly robot that helps you check your websites for sneaky security problems. Grendel-Scan can find common issues all on its own, but it's also great for when you want to do some hands-on testing yourself. If you want to give it a try or learn more, just head over to the Grendel-Scan homepage! It's easy to use and totally free.

8.        Cain & Abel v7

Cain and Abel, a handy tool for helping you out if you ever forget your passwords on Windows! Think of it like a friendly wizard that can magically find your passwords using clever tricks. Whether it's through listening to network traffic or trying different combinations, Cain and Abel can work its magic to get your passwords back. So, if you're ever locked out of your account, Cain and Abel might just save the day!

9.        Wireshark 4.1.2

a super handy tool for peeking into your network traffic! Imagine it like a detective, quietly watching all the data that travels between your devices and the internet. It can sniff out information from all sorts of connections, like your Wi-Fi or even Bluetooth! Wireshark keeps track of all this data so you can look at it later and see what's going on. It's like having a secret window into your network's world. And guess what? Wireshark is the go-to choice for people all around the globe who need to peek into their network traffic. So, if you ever wonder what's going on behind the scenes of your internet connection, Wireshark is your friend!

10.      Maltego 4.4

a super cool tool that turns raw information into useful insights! Think of it as a powerful detective kit for the internet. With Maltego, you can track down people or businesses, figure out who's connected to who, and even find hidden connections between companies and individuals. It's like putting together puzzle pieces to see the bigger picture!

Maltego makes it easy to gather data from different sources, like social media profiles or comments, and organize it into a neat graph. This helps us quickly spot patterns and connections. For example, in just a few minutes, we can use Maltego to track down individuals associated with suspicious activity in our local area by looking at different names they might use.

So, whether you're investigating something or just curious about the web's secrets, Maltego is your trusty sidekick!

11.John the Ripper Jumbo v1.9.0

John the Ripper, the speedy password detective! Its main job? Finding those weak passwords hiding on Unix systems. But it doesn't stop there—it's also great at cracking Windows passwords and many other types of codes.

Here's how it works: John the Ripper is like a secret agent that automatically figures out how a password is encrypted. Then, it checks it against a huge list of common passwords. When it finds a match, it's like solving a puzzle!

Are you a beginner or do you already have experience in the IT sector? Not sure where to start? Join Blitz Academy and enroll in our Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) course from industry experts. At Blitz Academy, located in Kerala, we offer top-notch cyber security and ethical hacking courses in Kerala and throughout the region. Learn from the No.1 institute in Kerala and gain valuable skills in cyber security and ethical hacking. With our comprehensive courses, you'll be equipped to tackle the challenges of today's digital world with confidence. Sign up now and take the first step towards a successful career in cyber security!

[binshad123]

10+ Ethical Hacking Tools 2024 – Beginner friendly explanation

What are ethical hacking tools?

Ethical hacking tools are digital utilities engineered to assist cybersecurity professionals in conducting authorized tests on computer systems and networks. These tools serve as essential instruments in identifying and rectifying potential security vulnerabilities, helping organizations fortify their digital defenses against malicious cyber threats. Ethical hackers, also known as white-hat hackers, leverage these specialized tools to simulate various attack scenarios, mimicking the tactics and techniques employed by real-world cyber adversaries. By utilizing ethical hacking tools, security experts can proactively identify weaknesses in a system's defenses and implement robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data and assets from potential breaches.

Types of ethical hacking tools?

1.        Vulnerability Scanners: Tools like Nessus automate scanning systems and applications for known vulnerabilities, employing techniques like web crawling and code analysis.

2.        Network Scanners: Nmap maps and probes networks, identifying active devices, open ports, and potential security weaknesses.

3.        Web Application Scanners: Burp Suite is a tool specifically designed for web applications, searching for vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and weak password hashing.

4.        Password Cracking Tools: John the Ripper attempts to crack password hashes using techniques like brute-force, dictionary attacks, and rainbow tables.

5.        Packet Sniffers: Wireshark captures network traffic for analysis of communication protocols, data exchange, and potential security issues.

6.        Social Engineering Tools: The Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) simulates phishing attacks and other social engineering tactics to test user awareness and susceptibility to manipulation.

7.        Exploitation Frameworks: Metasploit provides a platform for deploying pre-built exploits against identified vulnerabilities.

8.        Wireless Security Tools: Aircrack-ng audits the security of wireless networks, uncovering weaknesses in encryption, identifying rogue access points, and cracking weak Wi-Fi passwords.

9.        Fuzzers: AFL (American Fuzzy Lop) generates random or mutated data inputs to applications and systems to identify vulnerabilities and improve software robustness.

10.      Forensics Tools: Autopsy aids in digital forensics investigations, collecting and analyzing digital evidence from compromised systems.

1.INVICTI

Invicti is a powerful tool for keeping your websites and web applications safe from cyber threats. It's like having an automated security guard that checks your online platforms for any weaknesses that hackers could exploit. What's great is that it works with all kinds of web applications, no matter how they're built.

One unique feature of Invicti is that it doesn't just find security flaws; it also tests them out safely to make sure they're real. For instance, if it finds a vulnerability like SQL injection, it'll even show you proof by revealing the database name. This saves you time and effort since you don't have to double-check everything yourself.

Plus, Invicti makes it easy to understand what needs fixing. If it's not completely sure about a vulnerability, it'll label it as '[Possible]' and give it a certainty rating, so you know which issues are urgent. With Invicti on your side, securing your web applications is a breeze, letting you focus on staying one step ahead of cyber threats

2.THREATMAPPER

Imagine ThreatMapper as your personal superhero for keeping your online stuff safe. It's like a special tool that looks out for bad guys trying to sneak into your cloud-based apps and websites. With ThreatMapper, you can easily check for things like bugs, viruses, and settings that might make it easy for hackers to get in. It's really smart too—it figures out which problems are the most urgent so you can fix them first. Plus, it doesn't matter what kind of cloud system you're using or how your stuff is set up; ThreatMapper can handle it all! Whether you're using regular servers, fancy containers, or even the latest tech like Kubernetes, ThreatMapper has your back.

3.Nmap 7.90

Nmap just got a shiny new update called Nmap 7.90! Nmap, short for "Network Mapper," is like a super helpful tool that anyone can use for free. It's awesome because it helps you find all the devices connected to a network and keeps an eye on their security. People who manage computer networks love using Nmap because it's not only great for figuring out what's connected to their network, but also for planning updates and making sure everything stays up and running smoothly. Plus, it's perfect for keeping an eye on when services go down or if any new devices pop up unexpectedly.

4.Angry IP Scanner 3.9.4

Angry IP Scanner, also known as ipscan! It's like a super-fast detective tool for your computer that helps you explore networks and find out what's connected to them. Whether you're a tech whiz or just someone who's curious, Angry IP Scanner is perfect because it's free, easy to use, and works on any type of computer. It's not just for pros either; lots of people, from big companies to regular folks, use it to keep their networks safe and sound. So, if you've ever wondered what's hiding on your network, Angry IP Scanner is here to help you find out!

Web Application Hacking:

5. Fortify WebInspect:

WebInspect, a tool that's like a security guard for your web applications! It's designed to check your websites and apps while they're running to find any potential security holes. Plus, it works with Microfocus SSC to manage all the security stuff in one place, making things super easy.

Here's what makes Fortify WebInspect awesome:

•         It hunts down vulnerabilities in your web apps and APIs while they're live.

•         It keeps up with the latest web tech and has built-in rules to follow important security rules.

•         It watches for patterns and uses smart analysis to help you fix any problems.

[ofworththerisk]

Natalie never wanted to be seen as weak. She was tough; she was dealt a dirty hand. She was hurt when her ex was suddenly gone. She had experienced pain in more ways than one. She never wanted to love again only to lose them. Owen her son was her pride; her joy. She’d sacrifice anything for Owen. But Will he was special. Someone she always had a bond with. Someone who made her smile the first day we met. Nat would hate to see anything happen to him; especially on her own behalf. She dropped the topic because it was going to result in a jovial fight. Over protective nature; she felt especially while Will was healing up in these walls it was pointless. We could hash it out at a later time. 

I didn’t want to ruin the mood; the fairly new confessions of love. To just feel safe and love in his eyes; to be scene as someone who was worthy of his love. I hated what happened today; definitely not in the plan I mapped out in my head. Will was a good guy; I didn’t want anything to happen to him. It formed an ache in my heart; seeing him wounded. His head wrapped up; even being told his broken ribs, the internal bleeding and bruising against his skin. Nat wanted to take the pain away from him. But she knew her hands were tied right now. The only thing she was capable of doing was aiding a supporting hand. She wasn’t a doctor tonight. She wasn’t the person to heal his wounds; she was in the role of a supportive loved one. Which felt out of her comfort zone; yet with the way he spoke to her; the way he looked at her made her feel loved and alive. 

“ As if, you know me. I like a good hint.” I aired out with a amusement in my tone. I knew Will and after the long wait for the idea of us; I knew he wanted to surprise me. I just wasn’t good at being unprepared. I needed to know options on what to wear; I wanted a hint on where he’d take me. Not that I was eager or in a rush for the first with Will. But I was. I felt the knots in my stomach instantly; at the idea of speaking of our pending first date. I dreamed of a date with Will; I even longed for it. And I was scared we wouldn’t live up to the dream. But I counted on how we felt about each other. His jokes were lame; that I said to myself I even faked a laugh at his own humor; for his own benefit; why? Because it was a leg joke; one I didn’t think was funny but I wanted him to smile and feel better about the situation. 

“ Too soon for jokes, don’t worry I think I can handle the humor for the both of us until you’re all healed up.” I added with a laugh; a grin following after, Leaning forward I inched my frame closer to his where I placed a kiss to his cheek; a sweet show of affection; because I cared.

Continued

@thebetterlookingbrother

A promise, a pleading in my voice. I felt weak, like I was alone here. Because the one person I always turned to for advice, to help keep me sane was hurt. Will was a guiding compass for me, he was someone who brought this magical light into my life. Even when I felt like my back was pressed against a wall I could always turn to him. We had kissed once before and I felt the sparks; I knew where my heart laid yet i ran. Because I was scared of losing the most important relationship in my life. 

And now it felt silly because the night I decided to take the plunge, The night I decided the timing was on my side Will got hurt; hit by a car because he was trying to be a hero to save me. I felt the overwhelming feeling, I felt the sadness at the thought of losing him. I felt like I was broken inside; and when I came to his hospital room, I felt that ache in my chest. I lowered myself down into the chair besides his bed; and I extended my hand to touch his. The hand to hold onto him. Fingers laid over his own; a pinky finger slowly tracing over his palm. “ Stay with me.” A plead and with disbelief I saw it; the flicker of his eye as he mumbled my name. Nat; it was music to my ears. I felt the burning in my eyes; the need to cry. 

“ I’m here okay.” A reassurance that I wasn’t going anywhere. That I was at his side when he had the strength to wake up. I saw it the flicker of an eye before his eyes had closed again. He needed his rest; the doctors I worked with hadn’t shown any concern so I wasn’t worried to an extent. I sat during this time cursing myself for all the moments I missed. For not telling Will how I felt before. When he had been so honest before Nina. He had always checked in on me, he had kissed me by the ambulance that one time. The butterflies I had felt that day; but i was scared and for a second I felt the timing would fall into my lap and now I just couldn’t imagine a life without him. 

 I had leaned my head against the chair closing my head briefly as I waited. I heard the nurses talking outside what an unfortunate event tonight; yeah tell me about it. I wanted to roll my eyes; to call them out for their insensitivity of this, but i held my breath. Instead I had stayed quit how long as passed? I don’t know before I had felt the movement in his hand; the fingers in my grasp moved; that’s what forced my eyes to lift open; I tried to pretend i hadn’t cried but I had the feeling Will could read right through me. 

Shifting in my seat; the female had urged herself forward, Dance lessons; is that his first thought? After the accident. I wanted to laugh but held my tongue. “ I think I’m more worried about you than the stupid dance lessons.” A laugh escaped my lips as I had leaned closer against the bed; until my head tilted down to place a small kiss to the top of his hand. 

He was fighting; this was a good sign; I had talk myself into believing.

[the-l-spacer]

Summary: In which Madeleine's latest attempt to hash things out with Espresso gets a little... out of hand.

This is my first cookie run fic i. genuinely can’t believe im writing for this game now. Anyways, hope ya like it!!

- 

He sees the knight striding towards him, spotless armour clinking smartly with each step he takes, cloak billowing ever-so-slightly behind him.

His lip curls, practically a reflex.

“Espresso. Do you have a moment?” Madeleine's voice, like his appearance, is meticulously crafted to capture the attention of anyone in his vicinity. A deep, resonant baritone that carries authority, brooks no room for disagreement, least of all disagreement from a particular surly practitioner of Coffee Magic.

Or at least, that’s what Madeleine likes to think. For all his chivalrous acts and airs seem to have no effect on Espresso in the slightest, who simply sighs and rolls his dark, bespectacled eyes.

“Do me a favour; skip the pretence that participation in this conversation is optional, and get to the point. I have research that needs attending to.”

Perhaps a few months ago, Espresso’s brusque reply would have stopped Madeleine in his tracks, wiped the genial smile off his face. But as it is, they’ve spent far too much time together (unwillingly, on Espresso’s part) for the other to be fazed by mere unfriendliness. So he simply barrels on as if Espresso had never spoken. “It appears as if that young band of cookies are keen on having us join their party.”

As one, they glance over to the campsite a little ways away, where Gingerbrave and Chilli Pepper are engaged in a mock-swordfight, wielding pieces of gathered firewood, with Wizard, Strawberry and Custard cheering on. Gingerbrave rushes forward, ‘sword’ held aloft, but Chilli Pepper sidesteps his attack, and before his momentum can carry him too far, grabs the scruff of his collar, and turns him to face her. “Sloppy work, kid. I could catch that coming from a mile away. Next time, try-” She pauses mid sentence, noticing Espresso and Madeleine’s gazes. She winks, and gives a two-fingered salute. “Hey! Wanna watch me spar with a buncha kids? There’s plenty of room on that log over there, but just a little warning, I charge adult spectators.”

Madeleine waves a hand. “No need to relieve our pockets just yet, friend Chilli Pepper. Espresso and I are perfectly content watching from afar.”

“And besides, we have better things to do,” Espresso adds, “Like being corralled by a paladin into having pointless conversations.” The last bit, he aims at Madeleine, who’s response is to grin wider.

If the irony in Espresso’s statement registers to Chilli Pepper, she doesn’t show it, and simply shrugs. “Don’t let me interrupt. You boys might wanna head a little further away to have that ‘pointless conversation’ though, it’s probably gonna get noisy up in this joint.”

“An excellent idea! My humblest thanks!” Madeleine sweeps into an exaggerated bow, and takes Espresso by the elbow. “My compatriot and I shall head a little further into the woods for our chat.”

Custard perks up at that, and shouts, “Be careful! There might still be cake monsters running around, and as king, I can’t let my subjects be hurt!”

“Not to worry, we’re more than capable of defending ourselves. If our previous encounters with those beasts suggested anything...”

As Madeleine talks, Espresso discretely tries to wriggle free from the hand on his elbow, but his attempts prove futile, Madeleine’s grip is loose but firm, forming a little cage around his arm.

He lets his arm go limp, and when the grasp loosens slightly in response, he flicks his free hand, around which (unbeknownst to the jabbering knight) shadows had been gathering for quite some time.

A tendril of magic whips around and strikes Madeleine’s wrist.

“-And as Knight of the Madeleine House, I was trained since I was but a little cookie, much like your merry band, to- ah!” When the tendril connects with a small thwack, he releases Espresso, jerking away as if burned (in actuality, the magic was really just a moderately heated slap. Espresso didn’t want to do any serious damage to Madeleine, after all.)

The seemingly permanent smile on the knight’s face falters, just for a second, and Espresso allows himself a moment of schadenfreude.

“Is... is everything okay, Madeleine?” Strawberry pipes up from her spot on the log.

“Quite alright, quite alright.” The ten-carat smile is back in full force, and once again, he waves his (non-injured) hand airily, though Espresso notes with some satisfaction the displeased side glance Madeleine shoots at him.

Espresso’s face pulls into a smile of his own, falsely sweet. “Well. Shall we be off, then?” He begins walking into the woods. True, he would much rather be tucked away in some quiet corner, poring over magical scrolls, but if he has to be subjected to this... chat, at least he can try to have some fun while doing so. Make Madeleine regret initiating contact, make him trail behind for once.

And sure enough, Madeleine follows after him, making long strides to catch up.

As they retreat into the forest, Gingerbrave shouts, “Come back in time for dinner! We’re having sweet jelly stew!”

“We’ll be there,” Madeleine replies, not needing to raise his voice for it to carry across the clearing where they had set up camp.

The other cookies give their final waves, and return to sparring, the sounds of cheering and wood striking wood fading the deeper in Espresso and Madeleine travel.

- 

Eventually, the noises from the campsite fade entirely, replaced by the chirping of birds, and the soft rustling of trees. The last of the day’s light dapples through the jelly forest’s leaves, and Espresso might have called the whole scene pleasant, if not for the cookie next to him.

They come to a stop in a forest clearing. “Is this far enough for your liking, oh Knight-Commander of House Madeleine?”

Madeleine leans against a tree, the light glinting off his armour. “You know, the attitude really isn’t necessary, and neither,” he cocks his head, glossy hair spilling over one shoulder, his reprimanding smile akin to a teacher lecturing a particularly irritating student, “was the use of dark magic back there.”

Espresso smirks. “Ah. Have I discovered your weakness? Is the pride of House Madeleine scared of a little magic? I just meant for it to tickle, really.”

A scowl begins to form on Madeleine’s face, before he schools it back into careful neutrality. “You must be intelligent enough to grasp my meaning. It’s not the act itself, it’s the…” He gestures loosely in the air, his right hand still slightly red, “... the spirit of it all. Cookies who fight together shouldn’t turn on one another. It simply isn’t right.”

“Mmm. Mm hmm. Of course it isn’t.” Espresso, in a bid to minimize the dirt from the forest floor getting on his robes, opts to hover just a little above the ground, and Madeleine has to crane his neck to meet his gaze. “And I’m sure wrestling the cookie you’re supposed to be fighting with into the woods is so much more excusable.”

Madeleine bristles. “You wouldn’t have agreed to this conversation otherwise, as you’ve made so abundantly clear in the past. All I did was ensure you wouldn’t be able to weasel your way out of the inevitable yet another time.”

“What about our current situation makes you think this conversation is inevitable?” Espresso snaps. “I’ve told you time and time again I don’t care for your company. Our paths crossed once, we travelled together briefly to achieve our own goals, and parted ways. We work together acceptably, and we tolerate each other, barely. What more is there to be said between us?”

“Well, for one,” Madeleine says, standing just a bit straighter, as if to deliver a set of prepared lines, “I was telling you, before we were interrupted, that Gingerbrave and his fellows seem eager to have us as travelers alongside them.”

“Yes. And?”

“And I’m sure you are as keen as I am on accepting their offer.”

Espresso stiffens. He hates cookies who presume things about him, and more than that, he hates when those presumptions are right. After a moment, he bites out, “Even if I was, what of it.”

“We’ll be traveling together once again. Serving as their protectors, and all that.”

“So what? As I said, we’ve travelled in each other’s companies before.”

“Yes, but I believe this will be our longest journey yet. They seek answers, a way to defeat the evil forces rising, and this is no easy feat.”

“I seek no such thing,” Espresso scoffs, folding his arms. “I only know that they’re searching for the Forgotten Academy, and that particular locality has a library I’ve been meaning to peruse for a while. I plan to travel with them until that point, where we will then part ways.”

“Even then, according to my maps the Forgotten Academy is weeks away. Maybe a month. Months, if we keep up our current pace. A considerable amount of time that allows for sour dough to spoil further. I simply think it… unwise, to allow things between us two to reach such a point.” Having finally said his piece, Madeleine pushes himself off the roll cake trunk, and starts towards Espresso, open palm outstretched.

No, not again. They had done this dance before, and Espresso isn’t planning to retrace those steps. He whizzes backward, out of Madeleine’s reach.

“I’m not interested in becoming friends, knight,” he spits. “And I tire of your constant overtures.”

Madeleine’s hand returns to his side in an impatient motion. “Must you insist on being this- this difficult?” He asks, voice fraught with frustration. “It is a simple offer. Put our differences aside and work together amicably, if only to to make our journey more tolerable for us and our companions.”

“Ahhh but there’s the rub, Madeleine,” Espresso retorts, “I’m afraid our differences are too great to reconcile. If that is all you have for me, I think I’ll be returning to camp. I would say it’s been a pleasure, but… you know better.”

He makes to leave, floating quickly away to leave the knight behind, but catches a blur of movement from the corner of his eye. Before he can react, Madeline moves forward, his armour and shield glowing. With a flash, the shield comes down on the edge of Espresso’s long, dark cloak, pinning it to the forest floor.

Both of them hear the telltale sound of ripping fabric.

“Don’t move.” Madeleine warns.

Espresso’s vision goes red. He gathers the shadows to him, wreathing his clenched fists in black swirls of magic.

He doesn’t move.

A pause, then the shield lifts.

Espresso doesn’t wait to rush backward, heading straight for Madeleine. This time, it’s the knight that finds himself unprepared, as Espresso grabs him, and with the help of his magic, lifts him in the air, slamming him against the trunk of the nearest tree.

“Don’t. Touch. Me,” he growls.

Their faces are close enough now that Espresso sees the tiniest twitch of fear in Madeleine’s expression. He doesn’t yield, keeping him pinned to the trunk.

Madeleine speaks, holding both hands up in a conciliatory gesture. “Now, now, I admit I was rather hasty, but there really is no need for-“

“- doesn’t feel nice, does it? Being trapped against your will?” Espresso cuts him off.

“Listen. I’m sorry things had to come to that point.”

Espresso sneers. Just as he predicted, Madeleine’s ‘apology’ is anything but. His mouth forms the syllables, but like a pedestrian one accidentally jostles on the street, his ‘sorry’ is merely a formality, said to hear the sound of his own voice.

Espresso doesn’t buy it, is what he’s saying.

“Save it. Save your pithy little apologies and insincere attempts at friendship for some other cookie.”

Madeleine’s face twists in indignation. “I’m not being insincere!”

Espresso drops him unceremoniously, the knight’s armour clattering when he lands on the soft earth. He tries not to betray his own fatigue, both in mind and body. Madeleine is heavy after all, weighed down further by his armour and weapons, making the act of holding him aloft (even aided by magic) one that had taken a not-insignificant toll on him. His feet touch down lightly on the ground, the glowing aura around him fades.

“Oh, spare me,” Espresso says coldly. “Every action, every toss of your hair or flick of your cloak, every word that comes out of your mouth betrays your insincerity.”

Having gathered himself, Madeleine finally snaps, drawing his sword from its scabbard with a metallic hiss. “How dare you.” His voice, a dangerous murmur, grows louder and louder, until it carries to the treetops. “I don’t know what I have done to offend you so. I attempted to be friendly, and reach out with offers of peace, as my family taught me to do for years, but you insist on rebuffing me, sullying my good name with your.. your insolence!”

The sword is pointed at Espresso’s throat, now, and the magician takes a careful step backward, keeping an eye on the gleaming blade. Madeleine doesn’t seem to notice, however, as he barks, “I’ve been lenient in the past, but as a cookie of honour, I can’t let such words continue to slide. The Divine, protect me!”

Celestial light bathes the forest clearing, surrounding Madeleine in its radiance. He lunges forward and swings his sword, a ray of light arcing from its blade. Espresso, caught unawares, finds himself knocked back, sent stumbling to catch his footing.

He regains his balance, clutching on to a tree branch, and counters the next light ray with an explosion of coffee beans that makes Madeleine's attack fizzle out.

“You know I’m right about you,” Espresso taunts, “in fact, we both know this is all a little charade you put on, because-” he plants his feet firmly in the ground, bracing himself against a third wave of light magic. “- beneath all your bravado, your shiny armour and fancy new weapons, you are empty.”

“That’s not true!” Madeleine roars, attempting to close the distance between them. But Espresso splays his hands, and a swirling vortex forms, pulling the paladin backward and into its dark center. Madeleine staggers in pain.

“You’re just a selfish glory-seeker, as slow and soulless as the monsters that- gah!”

Dexterity had never been his strong suit, so when Madeleine’s retaliating attack comes, he doesn’t dodge quickly enough. He sees the sword swing, feels an impact across his face, before his world goes blurry.

His glasses!

A lance of panic spikes through his chest.

He can’t see. He can’t see and he can’t look for his glasses either because if he steps on them that’s it. And Madeleine will win or worse he’ll just leave him here, in the middle of the woods.

The attacks stop coming.

The forest is silent once more, but for the two cookies’ heavy breathing.

Then, Espresso hears the crunching of leaves, sees the blurry shape of Madeleine stride towards him. He readies his magic. Madeleine passes him, and bends down over a spot Espresso can’t quite see.

A familiar metallic object is pressed into his hand.

“Your glasses.”

In a flash, Espresso has them on again, and exhales in relief when the forest comes back into focus.

“I never meant to knock them over. I’m sorry.”

Espresso is about to respond, but Madeleine says, “We should not have let our discussion escalate like this.”

“I’m sorry. We?!” Espresso’s recently restored vision colours. “When it was you who dealt the first blow? You, who initiated this discussion in the first place, who-” He trails off, righteous indignation fading slightly when he sees Madeleine, who stands at arm’s length away from him, both hands resting on the pommel of his sword, his expression unreadable.

“..Yes. Fine. As allies, we shouldn’t have turned on each other like this.”

Madeleine says nothing, so Espresso continues. “But as our previous attempts at civility have shown, you are incapable of holding a conversation without trying to domineer over me, push me into situations I do not want to be in. And I… I admit that I went too far in my personal assessments of you, but the fact remains that I simply cannot work with you beyond what we already are. Allies, and nothing more.”

For the second time, Espresso begins walking back to camp. Madeleine makes no attempt to stop him. “Thank you for retrieving my glasses. Good evening.”

Before he can fully retreat into the copse of trees, he hears Madeleine’s voice, saying, “Wait.”

Espresso pauses for a moment, and continues walking.

“Wait. Please.”

The word ‘please’ sounds so strange on Madeleine’s lips, and Espresso realises he can’t recall if the cookie had ever said the word in all the time they had worked together.

He turns his head.

Madeleine is leaned against a tree, arms folded and a foot kicked up against the trunk. His face is hidden by a curtain of hair.

“You are from The Republic, yes?”

Thrown by the sudden question, Espresso says, “Yes. The both of us are.”

“You’re aware that The Republic is a peaceful nation. No conflict within its gates, no monsters to be found without.”

Where is this going? Espresso responds, “Safe, sterile, and utterly boring. I’m aware.”

“Then what,” Madeleine turns his face away from Espresso, addressing the trees, “what use do you think such a nation has for soldiers? For knights?”

Oh.

Madeleine laughs, not his usual hearty guffaw, filled to the brim with bravado, but a short and bitter exhalation. “Do you know what it’s like to be, as you called me, the ‘slow’ one, in a family of scholars and politicians? For your only prowess to be your physical strength, in a place where that skill is entirely unnecessary?”

“But the knight order you lead-”

“- is purely for show. Just cookies dressed up in shiny armour to remind the other kingdoms we’re not to be trifled with. None of them have actually seen a day of real combat outside of sparring.”

Espresso is back in the clearing, picking a position next to Madeleine so he doesn’t see his sympathetic expression.

“Then… the reason you and all the knights were sent out?”

“As I said, my mission was to seek the legendary Soul Jam that is supposed to grant us cookies eternal life. Not that anyone in the Republic really expects us to find it.”

“They wanted to get rid of you, then.”

Madeleine visibly flinches at Espresso’s words. “I wouldn’t put it so bluntly, but… yes. I’m welcome back home, of course. If I were to return, I’d be met with trumpets and fanfare, but not much else, and certainly not anything approaching respect from those who truly matter.” The knight clenches his fist. “This quest is to be my saving grace. My only purpose, and the only way one like me can conceivably bring pride to House Madeleine. The only way I can be of use”

Espresso regards Madeleine, the revelation casting the cookie in a new light.

“So.. yes, Espresso. I am a selfish glory-seeker. Perhaps I have no other choice but to be.” Madeleine’s previously ramrod-straight posture is gone, and in its place his fists are clenched, shoulders hunched inwards, his hair tumbling forward, shielding his face from view.

And a small part of Espresso feels the strangest urge to push that hair back, to place a comforting hand on the paladin’s shoulder. Anything to stop what has to be the strongest — the most annoying, surely, but the strongest nevertheless — cookie he knows from curling into himself, from hurting like this.

But he holds himself back. All he lets out is a soft, “I think I know how you feel. Not entirely, but some of it.”

Madeleine turns to look at Espresso, a blank expression on his face. “You do.”

The mage lets a spark of magic fly from his hand - a single, glowing coffee bean surrounded by dark shadow. “You have called what I do ‘black magic’ in the past.”

Madeleine, suddenly stricken, says, “I wouldn’t go so far as to call it ‘black magic’, but-”

“- Listen. You have, countless times. And it annoys me to no end, but I understand why. It does look like it, no?” He conjures more coffee beans, letting them spin in circles around him. “I’ve had this ability since I was a child. It did not come from dark origins, I did not make a pact with evil forces to obtain it, as some have believed. It simply was. My magic, like your physical strength, is a part of me.”

Madeleine simply nods.

“But people don’t understand Coffee Magic. Whenever I demonstrated my abilities, I’d be shunned, the respectable citizens of our beloved Republic saying that I was a child of Dark Enchantress Cookie.”

“Espresso…” His magic fizzles out, and now, it is his turn to look away, incapable of facing the pity that is surely in Madeleine’s gaze.

“I was barred from every magic school. I had to learn, and practice, and make it on my own. If I didn’t have Latte Cookie, I don’t know how I would have-” Espresso shakes his head. “No matter. All I am saying is that I do know how it feels, not to belong. To have to carve a place for yourself among people who can’t respect you.”

A hand settles on his shoulder, and Espresso almost flinches. He looks up, and his gaze meets Madeleine’s, earnest and apologetic. “Espresso, first and foremost, I am sorry that I ripped your cloak in trying to keep you here.”

Espresso’s eyes travel to his torn (and expensive) wizard’s cloak. “It’s fine. I’ll just have to get it repaired once we return to camp.”

Madeleine continues. “And I’m sorry, truly sorry that I misjudged you based on your magic. That I pushed when I should have respected your wishes. Respected you.”

And this time, Espresso believes Madeleine’s words. He lets his own hand creep upwards to rest over the knight’s.

He sighs. “And I apologise, too. I made undue assumptions about you, and let these assumptions colour my actions. I treated you poorly, and for that, I’m sorry.”

When their eyes meet again, it is as if the forest goes silent, nature’s rustle and hum being forgotten as the two look at each other, and for the first time, understand.

Of course, no moment can truly last, and it is Espresso who breaks the spell, gently moving Madeleine’s hand off his shoulder. “Naturally, don’t think this means I’ll let you strongarm me into doing whatever you want me to. You still irritate me. Incessantly.”

Madeleine chuckles. “Naturally. Besides, I do not imagine such actions will be necessary in the future. I think we understand each other perfectly clearly, now.”

Espresso lets a grin creep across his face. Rolling his eyes, he says, “Don’t assume you know everything based on a tidbit of my past. I encompass multitudes, Knight-Commander.”

“In turn, I request that you not write me off just yet,” Madeleine responds teasingly. “I may not know everything about you, but I would be very interested to,”

Both their eyes widen, Madeleine realising the forwardness of his statement. “That is. I will give you the space you need, certainly, but if you ever feel like-”

“- Wait. Stop.” Espresso takes a breath, lets it out. “I- I do feel the same way. You’re a good fighter, and I did not let myself give you a fair chance.”

He crosses the short distance between them, and extends a hand. “I’m Espresso Cookie of The Republic. Founder of the Coffee Magic School. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Madeleine regards the outstretched hand in wonder.

"... Don't make a big deal of it, knight."

He puffs out his chest, taking Espresso’s hand. “And I’m Madeleine Cookie of The Republic. Servant of The Divine, Knight Comm-” He stops himself, clears his throat. Then, he smiles and simply says, “I’m Madeleine Cookie. It’s an honour to get to know you.”

[wherearemyglassesbro]

i saw that you play genshin impact, so i’m kind of curious... what’d be the axis and allies’ vision and weapons?

Uh oh...now you got me started. Be warned, it’s a long one cause I have no self control

Some key terms for those who don’t play genshin impact and want to be included!!

Cryo -> ice, Hydro -> water, Dendro -> nature, Geo -> rock, Pyro -> fire, Electro -> lightning

Hilichurls: a common enemy found in the wild. Despite looking like hairy trolls, they have a district language as well as texts, art and song that they share together making them an advanced species!

Ruin guards: another enemy. Giant, scary robot...they scare me...

Knights of Favonious: an organization of knights within Mondstat that keep order and peace :) very nice guys and gals over there!!

Mondstat: modeled after Germany

Liyue: modeled after China

Alfred: pyro, claymore, Springvale Mondstat

Alfred would be a super heavy hitter in battle but his drawbacks are that despite his energetic nature, he’s slower because of the weight of his weapon

He blows stuff up a lot and sets all of the grass around you on fire so if you fight with him...His teammates will take damage from him Jeez Louise!!!

Since we don’t have all of the nations of Teyvay unlocked, I don’t know where he’d be from! I’d have to explore to get a sense for it so for characters that don’t have a place on the map yet, I’ll mark them with an asterisk from now on! :)

Idk where he lives but I do know that he’d be a devoted member of the adventurers guild! He’s always willing to offer a helping hand to anyone in need! Wether it be helping Granny Ann make hash browns or taking comissions to go kill a huge ruin guard who’s terrorizing the town!! He’s always leaping into new jobs! He isn’t even in it for the money or rewards! He just loves helping out!

Arthur: Dendro, archer, Mondstat

Artie is a beast in battle! Shooting vine Aries at enemies to tie them up or temporarily blind them??? Sick as fuck. Keep in mind, Genshin doesn’t have any Dendro characters that are playable yet so idk how they’d fight but I think I can guess :)

Artie is technically part of the knights of favonious because he works in their library. He translates books written in ancient texts into the standard language so historians and others can read what the old civilizations had to say

Instead of having normal eyes, they’re slit like snake eyes. And he has leaves instead of hair :)

He has a little seelie that floats around at his side. He talks to it but it doesn’t really do anything but provide company to a lonely guy :’) he needs more friends

Matthew: Anemo, catalyst, *

It’s always good to have a catalyst on your team! Ningguang is a great example of an underestimated catalyst cause she can do INSANE damage man!! So I think Mattie would be the same way

Matt isn’t violent and doesn’t enjoy fighting so his in-game voice lines would say that lol

Mattie is an alchemist! Well...A student alchemist. He didn’t take up an interest in alchemy until like, 3 years ago so he’s got a lot to catch up on still! He’s doing his best!

He gets very annoyed with Alfred since Mattie is detail oriented and gentle...Alfred is not any of those things. But he still loves his brother and on rare occasions, he’ll assist him with his commissions

Ivan: Cryo, catalyst, Liyue(temporary)

Ivan would be a support character for sure but he’d do a damn good job of doing it

He’s buff but he doesn’t do hand to hand combat, he’s mastered magic for a reason

Ivan spends most of his time studying hilichurls. He writes books about them, translates their texts and acts as a peace keeper when he can. He gets information from them about the Abyss Order in return for free reign of small portions of protected land where they can live without fear of being killed

Because he’s from Schneznya(spelling?) he’s kinda expected to be a bad guy but he left a long time ago. But he still sounds like he’s from there and...He’s super pale too so there really is no mistaking where he’s from

Ivan can’t stand how ignorant humans are towards hilichurls so he does everything he can to advocate for them. He’s covered in scars from when he first started engaging with the beasts. A huge scar runs down his face but he doesn’t mind it

He’s got big, sharp teeth!! So he doesn’t often smile cause he thinks he looks weird

Francis: Hyrdo, long sword, *

Fran is underestimated when it comes to combat (like Kaeya...I see you slandering this man) but he has so much potential!

Since he’s a hydro, he is so useful for elemental reactions! If he’s paired with a cryo or pyro user, he’d totally boost them!!

Fran is a traveling entertainer, he goes between the 7 nations as a singer and actor for small stage plays. He has a crew of friends who travel with him, they’re one jolly bunch!

He always acts all nonchalant and stuff but once he’s in a battle, he’s wild. Especially if the abyss order holds up his crew on their way to their next tour destination “We need to be in Liyue Harbor in four hours you are NOT holding us back!” *tidal wave*

He’s a regular tavern hopper! A very recognizable face since he’s been banned from a handful for getting too rowdy

He can make not one, but 2 special dishes :0

Yao: Dendro, polearm, Liyue

I just imagine him as a shorter, richer and cooler version of Zhongli

He’d do that kick move that Zhongli does with his polearm oh man that looks SICK dude!!!

Yao would shoot vines out and they’d strangle enemies for a few seconds before disintegrating but if he’s leveled up enough, they’ll totally strangle those stupid hillichurls lol

Yao sells rare gems and other miscellaneous items for very high prices in Liyue where he grew up. His shop is upstairs by the Fatui bank. Rich people enjoy looking at what his shop has to fifer and will argue prices with him. They’re getting scammed for sure. He’ll list a set of cor lapis earrings as $50,000 and the rich will be like ‘I’ll pay $25,000, no more than that’ and he’ll take it!!....Cause thise earrings are worth $5000 at most >:)

Hes close with a lot of the higher ups in Liyue and is often invited to fancy lunches or dinners where they discuss policy, contracts and vendor permits. He doesn’t really get a say in any of that but he benefits from listening

Kiku: Electro, claymore, *

Kiku would be SUCH an awesome electo user are you KIDDING me??? I can see it now, him swinging that huge sword around, purple lightning bolts flying all around and he looks like a total badass? Amazing vibes

When paired with cryos???? He’d do an insane amount of damage fr

Kiku runs a small restaurant where he...runs the place...but doesn’t cook. His restaurant is extremely exclusive and people often throw fits when they can’t get in cause the wait list is over 5 years long. He’ll rest his hand on their shoulder and smile ‘is something wrong? I’d love to take a complaint if you have one’...No one has even dared to complain to his face lol

Behind the restaurant front he deals with the Fatui, buying and selling minerals or artifacts. That’s where his knowledge is at, not with food. He pays his staff to ignore what goes on behind the scenes and the locals are too busy enjoying the restaurant to question what goes on after dark

Gilbert: Pyro, long sword, Mondstat

Gil would be one of the free characters given to you at the beginning of the game but hey, I’m not complaining

He’s highly destructive and very chaotic in battle, he can do that spin move even though that’s meant for claymore users

He’s Mondstat’s biggest trouble maker. He runs an underground gambling room that sits underneath a tavern. He isn’t really into gambling but he makes a lot of money by running it

The only knight who knows is Ludwig which is not good cause...Gil pretty much bribes his brother into not telling the knights of favonious (peace keepers of Mondstat)

Gil never got his gliding certificate cause he kept flying into buildings. He broke his nose doing that lol

Lovino: Pyro, catalyst, *

I can’t add anymore images so imagine a floating, red and black orb. Lovi doesn’t get a book catalyst cause he doesn’t read :) That’s the catalyst thing I’m talking about 😅😅

My guy has the angriest in game voice lines, he’s inconvenienced by every battle, every enemy is ugly and a fuckin disaster. He’s just. Angry.

He’d be a super weak character if he needed to rely on hand to hand combat but he learned magic for a reason babey

He owns a flower stand in his country and makes all kinds of beautiful flower arrangements. He even picks his own flowers in the fields when he can (but usually pays the town’s children to do it for him to ‘teach them the value of hard work’).

Everyone knows he’s a total hothead and will piss him off on purpose just cause it’s funny lmao. But then somehow...Their hair or clothes will just...catch on fire. So is it really worth it to tease him? :/

Feliciano: Hydro, archer, Mondstat(temporary)

I feel like Feli would also be a free character, not cause he isn’t good or anything! But you always need an archer on your team!

Feli has healing properties for his team and doesn’t do an insane amount of damage but when given the right resources, he’d be a pretty sick healer

He moved to Mondstat to join the church there. He leads prayers in front of the church and sings in the choir inside.

He is the sweetest and has never committed a crime in his LIFE but he’s afraid of the knights lol he’s terrified that he’ll get in trouble and be kicked out of Mondstat forever! That would never happen but he’s a worry wart cause of his brother

Ludwig: Geo, long sword, Mondstat

Lud is the only one that I could really think of as a Geo but Geos are awesome :)

He’s a hard hitter but has like...No shield so he’ll take damage fast if you don’t give him those artifacts with shield in them or whatever lol uhhhh I wouldn’t know anything about that cause I suck at building my teams ;-;

He’d totally be in with the knights of favonious! (I think that’s spelled right lol) but he’d take his duty as a knight very seriously!! He’s a familiar face around Mondstat, the elderly absolutely adore him and the local teenage girls swoon over him which he finds super embarrassing lol

He has to work hard to keep Gilbert in check cause even though Gil isn’t a knight, his actions reflect negatively back on Lud very often... :(

Please ignore the spelling errors and terrible photo cropping on my part lol this was so fun!!

By the time you’re seeing this, ive already made full outfit red sheets for everyone mentioned above!!!! :D

[idv-ask-the-empath]

Kotaro lead them to the edge of the town, having reached a decorative iron gate that was painted red. There was a bridge that extended out into a lake of some sort, where lanterns floated and lead up to something akin to a pagoda of sorts. She watched as Kotaro made his way under the gate- though Delara found it curious that the gage refused to open when she pushed against it. There was no lock in sight- yet the metal had a seam that made it clear it was meant to be pushed open. Even when she leaned over to the other side to see the view of it, it hadn’t been welded shut or anything. Even more curious was the fact that as soon as even a part of her crossed over the iron gate, she felt a tugging sensation… like something was warning her to turn back. But who, or what was that…? And in what way was the warning meant…? Did it mean to threaten harm, or did it mean to protect her…? She doesn’t know if she wanted to know the answer… still… Kotaro was leading them. And she trusted Kotaro. So, she took off her cloak, and folded it carefully. Before she hung it on the gate, which was only a few feet tall. Her dress was already cumbersome, and she hadn’t wanted her cloak to tear… so she stepped up on some of the spaces in the decorative swirls of the metal, and then climbed over, finding that once she properly crossed, she didn’t feel anything but… cold on this side of the gate. It was icy on her end, and the fear, and the warning… it had disappeared the moment her feet landed, as though whatever was trying to warn her decided that she had gone too far… that it wasn’t worth the trouble if she was willing to cross into the unknown.

After curiously pressing her hands against the cold metal, she found that she could open the gate from her side which was… strange. But she couldn’t dwell on it any longer. Kotaro moved towards the pagoda, and despite how beautiful the scenery was, what with the soft warm glow of the lanterns on the water… it was unsettling in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. She grabbed her cloak, and carefully pulled it towards her before she donned it again, and began walking across the wooden bridge to the pagoda. Her mildly anxious expression widens when she realized why it was so… off. There was nothing beyond the pagoda. No other side of the lake, no land, no trees, not even the light of the lanterns. It didn’t even look like there was water beyond the last lantern. It was just… a black void. Endless and stretching. She watched as Kotaro looks at Delara, and then at Bane… before he leapt towards the water. On instinct, Delara gasps, reaching out to grab him, but she stumbles in her steps once she saw that Kotaro was standing on the water… and he seemed to be beckoning the two of them to follow suit. Delara, hesitantly tapped her shoe against the water, finding it to be… solid…? She stepped on to the water, noting that it did in fact, not fail her, and held her weight- if only rippling the waters and causing the nearby lanterns to bob slightly. She walked behind the cat, only sparing Bane a glance of mild unease before she followed Kotaro towards the abyss, where the lights of the lanterns couldn’t reach… which gave her pause. She picked up a lantern, and held it carefully in her hands… feeling childish in how it’s light comforted her. Even though she knew it wouldn’t have done any good at all, she carries it with her.

Time began to lose any sense of meaning the deeper Kotaro lead them. From behind, she could hear the crows and their ominous caws, as if trying to call them back- yet she notes that they wouldn’t, or rather… couldn’t pass beyond the pagoda. Delara anxiously bites her lip as she sighs, inhaling deep and slow while Kotaro leads them to… wherever it was he wanted to lead them to. Soon enough, the light of lanterns on the water disappear… and they had nothing but Delara’s lantern for light. It was strange though, that she could still see Kotaro, as though having a light source wouldn’t have actually mattered. It was strange how much it felt like they were just moving images on a black background. As they grew closer and closer to Koraro’s destination, Delara couldn’t help but become more curious and intrigued, as much as she was… anxious and afraid- which she also found rather strange… in a situation like this, she was more likely to be scared more than anything. There were always other people who were braver for her, so it evened her fear out. Not trusting herself to be even a bit courageous enough to bear curiosity, she finds herself unnerved by the possibility that something was lurking… close enough that she could feel it’s emotions. At some point, Kotaro stops and simply sits as he stared at the void. At first, she thinks they’ve stopped at a wall of sorts that somehow felt… deeper and darker than the abyss that surrounded them. But then the wall splits horizontally, and… an eye, opens. Large and almost fish-like. Almost as if on cue. Other eyes follow suit, and it’s only then does she understand the magnitude of… whatever it was. At first, she feels… on edge, but not so far into the belief that this creature would hurt her, or the gameskeeper, or even Kotaro. The pupils of the eyes look at Kotaro, almost dilating- like it was seeing an old friend that it missed and loved. For a moment, she lets her guard down… the moment soft and even… warm from what she could feel from… this creature. Kotaro even meows a greeting, purring with affection towards whatever this eldritch horror was. The undeniable bond they shared, and all the positive aspects of it made the whiplash of what happened next so… so much stronger. It begins to shriek as it finally registers the two of them… the horror setting inside Delara as voices fill the silence. Voices... so, many voices… but there were few voices that were more.. prominent. They weren’t familiar to her… but they’d definitely be more familiar to the hunter behind her… the voices of children, and a woman…

She felt like she was going to throw up.

The raw desperation… the pain she felt from the creature couldn’t be ignored. She could feel its rage, the feelings of betrayal… its… sorrow. And when it actually spoke…? It was so, quiet. Like a whisper in their heads. Yet it felt so sharp in their minds- it was giving Delara a headache. These feelings alone were too familiar- things she felt and seen in other people… people so young… it didn’t help that she could hear it… sobbing in spite of the lack of actual tears. All the while, Kotaro’s hair was standing on end- the poor cat likely didn’t even know this was going to happen at all… perhaps… it just wanted to help…?

“LET US GO.”

Is all the creature managed out before the world around them began shaking. Delara could feel her feet beginning to slowly sink, as if the water was no longer willing to hold their weight. They had to run. With not even a second to spare, she ran forward and picked up Kotaro before she began sprinting as hard as she could, feeling her feet beginning to sink ever further in the turbulent ground. She doesn’t know where she’s running, but she knows she’s turning back, and running in a straight line… hopefully the ground wouldn’t disorient them too much.

Duo matches always made her nervous. She typically never played in them for the sole fact that so much could happen at once. She hated feeling the distress of it all, not only from her powers but also herself. And as most duo matches tend to be, they were short a player, so she had went ahead and filled in. Who were the hunters for this round again…? It was… Bonbon and Bane, wasn’t it…?

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Now, Bane did not like to go friendly. It was something everybody was sure to have realised by now, with how mercilessly he went about his matches. Really, why would he go friendly in the first place? The Baron had assigned him this role and he refused to fail the man twice. He’d learned his lesson about kindness long ago… Of course, sometimes his friends would try to convince him to go easy on the survivors, or to just go friendly. If it was because they themselves weren’t feeling up to the match then of course he’d understand. He’d gladly just try to play well enough for the both of them to win while he let his friend rest. Convincing him to go friendly as well though…

It took a while, Bonbon relentlessly using every tactic they could in order to try and convince him. For a moment he was tempted to simply walk off to hunt the survivors himself! The robot was damn lucky he felt to be in a more agreeable mood… So it was with a sigh that he reluctantly gave in to the robot he knew wouldn’t have given up in their quest. Hey, he’d thought, at least he could spend some time with Bonbon, right?

Wrong, apparently. Rather than hide away within a corner of the map like Bane would prefer, Bonbon was insistent that it would be more fun interacting with survivors. He’d have to tell Burke to schedule another maintenance check because there must’ve been a few screws loose for Bonbon to think he was even remotely willing to interact with survivors in a more positive way… Still, the robot continued their attempts, beginning to push him forwards and forcing him to stumble along lest he fall over. Tch… who cared if the survivors were left unaware that they were going friendly this round? So what if they were to be tense and uneasy the whole time just waiting and expecting an attack? It wasn’t his damn fault and besides, if they didn’t know then they’d continue on to escape as quickly as possible and thus allowing him to leave as soon as possible!

Yet alas, the robot didn’t seem to care, simply making sure he walked through the surprisingly empty streets with him until eventually they found a survivor further down trying to decode one of the cypher machines. Instantly Bonbon ran after them as they bolted away, trying to show that they were friendly and calling for their attention as they did.

This just left Bane to wander on alone…. He’d just find some corner of the map to hide in, now that his pushy companion was gone. So onwards he went, wandering the streets in the search for somewhere nice to relax, gait more slowed than when hunting and hook still firmly attached to his belt. His head was tilted high, simply surveying his surroundings in a manner more suited for taking in the details rather than scrutinizing any and every shadow for a survivor. Silently he noted the details, forming a mental map within his mind as he went along.

Despite the current situation though, he hadn’t quite expected to see any more survivors, taking pause when he turned the corner and found none other than that ‘empath’ walking along. For a moment he froze, fingers twitching and barely resisting the instinctual urge to send out his hook. He was friendly, no hunting survivors… A quiet sigh escaped him as he tried to force the alarm bells in his head to silence and the tension to escape him. What was it friendly hunters were supposed to do? Spin…? … No way he was doing that. Huffing, he considered simply turning around and leaving while he could.

@idv-ask-the-empath

[shiyoneko]

[TL Summary] Kageyama Shien 100K Celebration Stream (4/10/2021)

ranslation Summary of Kageyama Shien’s 10 Hours Stream To Celebrate His 100K. Mostly covering his chit chat parts, scene that I myself find interesting, and marshmallow reading. Do remember since it’s a translation summary, there will be spoilers of game results and such! For those who haven’t watched the stream, I recommend watching it~

[100K Celebration!] The Unexpected 10 Plans! I’ll Be Playing For 10 Hours Straight! [Kageyama Shien/Holostars]

Congrats on reaching 100K subscribers, Shien!

The long 10 hours stream started with opening chit-chat

・He first greets the chat with his usual Mission Start! He said he’s been waking up at a healthy time for this stream so despite being a bit sleepy, he said he had a good sleep.

・Mentioned how it’s been a while (about 4 days) since he did a stream on his own channel, since he had to cancel Toraware no Palma for health reason.

・Mentioned why he planned on doing 10 hours stream in the first place. Thinking about wanting to do something different for his 100K celebration stream, he thought doing 10 hours challenge would be fitting and at first thought of doing 2 hours for each game until it reached 10 hours. But after reviewing all the games he had played, he conclude that he could do 10 games for 10 hours.

・Already predicting how it’ll surely be difficult to achieve each game’s goal and named some games that’ll took up time like Monster Hunter, APEX, and Fall Guys.

・He said there might changes for the games’ goal or how to achieve it depends on his circumstances during the stream –for he is the rule breaker.  Also mentioned the time schedule on the stream description:

10:00 ~ 11:00 JST :　OP Chit and Chat 11:00 ~ 12:00 JST :　Viewer Participation: Mario Kart (Will get punishment if ranked 10th or below) 12:00 ~ 13:00 JST :　Viewer Participation: Clubhouse Games 13:00 ~ 14:00 JST :　APEX Legends (10 Kill within 1 hour) 14:00 ~ 15:00 JST :　Fall Guys (Get a crown within 1 hour) 15:00 ~ 16:00 JST :　Minecraft (Get 10 diamonds in 1 hour) 16:00 ~ 17:00 JST :　Viewer Participation: Monster Hunter (Get a Purple Magna Orba within 1 hour) 17:00 ~ 18:00 JST :　Uma Musume (Win URA Finals within 1 hour) 18:00 ~ 19:30 JST :　Marshmallow reading 19:30 ~ 20:00 JST :　Sing

・Hanayura Kanon came and congratulated him for 100K, and also cheered him for the upcoming 10 hours battle

・Mentioned he’ll very likely skip the dialogues in order to finish in time for URA Finals (Uma Musume)

・Chat asked for live stream tag, wondering if it’ll be enough just to tweet about it in his usual stream tag #エンエアー (En・ea~) or if the fans preferred a special tag for the stream. A chat recommended #テンエアー (Ten・ea~) which made him really hesitate, but he decided to use #エンエアー(En・ea~) in the end.

・Remembered that he hasn’t brought the goods he’ll use for punishment so he goes and took it. (made Nekoayama watching over the chat) Turns out it was a toy that you need to put your finger into one of the 6 holes available and spin the roulette, and at 1:6 chances you’ll randomly get electrocuted. Looks like it cost a lot of batteries so he goes to get another one. (made Nekoyama watch over the chat again and Nekoyama got red SCs). Shien came back and tested the toy, it lets out a scary sound.

・Eating Time! And he brought an unexpected item: Canned coffee! (Shien is weak to caffeine in general and a small amount of it could make him awoke for a whole day) But he said it’s okay to drink it in the morning.

・Greeted a new viewer and apologized for talking and eating during stream. He 20% regrets doing it

・Another new comer said they like his voice, Shien was eating so he couldn’t give fan services so he turned on the echo and keeps eating.

・ Mentioned how set meals usually have the drinks of either coffee or tea, but he can’t drink both or else he wouldn’t be able to sleep so he thought it’s a such a waste that he couldn’t drink it. Tho he had received many non-caffeine tea from his fans during his birthday so he’s grateful for it.

・One hour had passed so he prepared his switch for Mario Kart

・After some technical difficulties with Switch, he finally able to open the game. He also mentioned about his PC’s condition lately which has been pretty good, but in case it happened he told us beforehand that it might died suddenly and pray it’ll never happened.

・ The first round starts and Shien praised those that came in while wearing purple suits. Also noticed a player that dressed their character similar to that of Silence Suzuka (Uma Musume). And the first game ends with him in 6th place, so electrocution avoided!

・Second round will start and he noticed a player dressing up their character as Haru Urara (Uma Musume), and… his Switch crashed. He’s able to get back. During the map selection, Haru Urara picked a theme park map and the game chose it in the end and Shien said it’s like a Go Out event with Urara. And he mentioned he had recently took her to URA Finals. …This his controller didn’t responded, and connection error happened. Looks like this is the first time he received such error. The match ended with him being the last. But since it’s an error out of his command, he didn’t count this one. A comment told him that Urara won first place in that race.

・Third round started with no particular error and he ranked 7th.

・Fourth round started with no particular error. He noticed a player dressed their character as Special Week (Uma Musume). Mid-game, he thought being 10th or lower for the punishment is too hard for him to get so he changed it to “If he’s unable to place 1st in 1 hour, he’ll do the punishment.” The round ended with him being 2nd and Switch died right after. He then determines to take it for repair and told us he won’t stream Switch games next week.

・He got into the room again and fifth round started. He noticed a player name theirself “50K Red SC” and said it’s interesting to race with a red SC. He won 1st place.

・Sixth round started and he noticed a player with character similar to Toukai Teio (Uma Musume). Mid-game, he said since he had took first place, he returned rule to it’s previous state; Get punishment if he can’t place 9th place or higher. He placed 8th.

・Seventh round started and he noticed a player with character similar to Biwa Hayahide (Uma Musume) and a player named “Holostars 4th Gens”. He placed 9th .

・Eight round started and he noticed a player with character similar to Gold Ship (Uma Musume). He placed 11th this time ＾＾

・Ninth round started and he noticed two players with each character similar to Twin Turbo and Mejiro Mcquuen (Both from Uma Musume) and Mejiro Mcqueen’s player name is “For The Honor of Mejiro Family”. He placed 8th.

・Mario Kart section is over and it’s punishment time! Enjoy his reaction

・The next game is Clubhouse Games and he decided to get punishment every time he loses. Tho there aren’t much to translate here, there are many interesting scenes so I highly encourage you to watch the archive!

・The next game is APEX and 1 hour 10 kill challenge.

・In the middle of the game, his party ended up with only 2 people. But even with such situation, his teammate didn’t quit the game and keep on fighting with him, which Shien said is very admirable since if he got two-people team, the other one will usually just leave the match and leave him alone.

・Unable to find any enemy, at one point Shien found a counter and start playing Receptionist, which his teammate catch up and both starts squatting together ww

・He scored a total of 4 kills and decided to take 6 times electrocution. He got electrocuted 2 times.

・The next game should be Fall Guys, but due to technical difficulties, he can’t open the game. And his PC died… Since he’s also getting hungry, he decided to change it to lunch time. While he go grab his food of bread and hashed beef rice, Nekoyama took over watching the chat and again received lots of SCs giving him food.

・While eating, he mentioned the Hololive collab with Sanrio characters. Some times back, he had talked about how he want Holostars to collab with Sanrio characters and started to thought of characters for each members. He said at that time, he wasn’t trying to hint of Hololive’s Sanrio collab or anything and also as oblivious of it as other fans, and it was a surprising coincidence.

・Chat mentioned that tomorrow (4/11) there will be Oukashou horse race and Shien said there are so many horse racing going on this month. Thanks to that too, the mission in Uma Musume has been added more.

・Continuing the talk about Uma Musume, he asked the chat who should he raise for the Uma Musume part. He said he hasn’t brought Teio to URA Finals yet. And he doesn’t have Rice Shower yet. Chat suggested Silence Suzuka, Gold Ship, and Oguri Cap. Shien commented that he just recently got Oguri Cap but is able to tell that she’s really strong.

・He goes to clean up his dishes. Nekoyama once again received many SCs.

・When he came back, he mentioned how there’s someone who posted a photo of their own creation of Mafiayaki –The dish he made with Oga in Himashokudou collab the other day. The poster said their kids also like it and hearing that makes Shien happy.

・His drowsiness came and he’s worried about the next part, which is Minecraft. A chat suggested him to scream some lines during the playthrough and Shien tried it with a loud “NOOO MY DIAMOND…!!”

・Hearing Diamond lately has instead reminded him of the new support card Kitachan Black and Satono Diamond. A chat mentioned how Satono Diamond’s name could be abbreviated to SatoImo and it reminds Shien of how the title of light novels could also be abbreviated the same way.

・Chat told him some light novel title like Oregairu (Yahari Ore no Seishun LoveCome wa Machigatteiru) and Yorimoi (Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho). He told a story of how in Niconico there are times where a series title was abbreviated by fans and when the management lets out the official abbreviation of the series, it tends to cause confusion especially if the fans did it first.

・A chat mentioned the kanji for Sora in Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho (宇宙よりも遠い場所) uses the kanji for Uchuu (宇宙) but it should be read as Sora, and the same goes for Kara no Kyoukai (空の境界) where even tho the spelling uses Kara, the kanji they used is Sora(空) and it’s complicated and Shien agreed.

・Shien saw Astel that tweeted about his 10 hour stream by saying “10 hours?!! That’s crazy!!” and mentioned how for Astel, 10 hours stream is the norm for him, and he commented that Astel is indeed an alien with incredible physical endurance.

・A chat asked who else in Holostars that does long streams and mentioned Astel for a usual long time of streams. Mentioned Rikka for endurance stream, and mentioned Roberu for 24 hours talking stream. And despite not doing much of it, Temma and Miyabi also occasionally did long streams. Chat mentioned how Temma and Miyabi did Planet Zoo for a long time, and Shien mentioned how Temma named one of the animals with his name.

・Chat mentioned they want to see Babudon endurance stream. Shien also wants it but lately Roberu has been busy. Chat mentioned they also want to see MaFia endurance stream and Shien wondered if Guilty Gear will releases more stuff in the future.

・A chat asked about the TRPG collab, and Shien mentioned it’ll be on May 15th and 16th.

・Mentioned how Yurustars had been digging for a lot of diamonds in Minecraft a while back to make the star for giant Christmas tree, and wondered if there’s still diamond left for him to dig. He’s thinking of whether making a new world to dig.

・It’s time for Minecraft and while opening the game, he told us something happened to the aforementioned giant Christmas tree. He showed us that something blew up at the tree’s terrace, destroying it and the leaves around it.

・He changed the BGM so he wouldn’t feel sleepy. He put a really funky BGM while saying “Alright, let us dig diamond with this calm BGM! This BGM will surely makes us sleepy! Now let’s grab our equipment! Let’s bring this pickaxe named “Pacifier” prepared by Astel for us! …This BGM is loud! Who turned this BGM on!” and he turned it off and changed it to one of his usual stream BGM.

・He instantly got 6 diamonds and will only need to search for the remaining 4.

・After some digging with no diamonds in sight, he said most of the game he was playing for that day requires a good amount of luck to complete. He mentioned how he always got weird luck.

・Miyabi came to congratulate him reaching 100K and said he’ll treat Shien parfait next time. Shien accepts the offer and said he would like parfaits from Ginza Parlour.

・Upon seeing two creeper separated by lava, he created a drama scenario of the two being separated twins and how the other one wanted to go to his place but the other one stopped them from going, dramatically.

・He found the remaining 4 diamonds, got swarmed by monsters on the way home, and with that Minecraft 10 diamonds challenge is finished!

・The next one is Viewer Participation Monster Hunter. The target is to get one Purple Magna Orb from a monster named Magnamalo. His Switch died a lot here..

・In the end, he got the drop item at the very last battle! He said that it was his first time obtaining it and he never once got it when he was playing solo. There are those that didn’t get to play with him because of his switch error and he apologized, and when he decided to do viewer participation again he’ll be happy if they can participate again and play with him.

・After a short toilet break, he set the Uma Musume game to stream and asking chat once again to choose who to raise. He showed all the Uma Musume he got.

・ A chat asked about his team formation and he showed it.

・Since Oukashou will be held the day after (4/11), he would like to raise a horse that has a history of running on the previous Oukashou horse race, and was wondering between choosing Daiwa Scarlet or Gold Ship. In the end, he choose Daiwa Scarlet.

・Borrowed Roberu’s Kitachan Black support card.

・And with that, the challenge to URA Finals had begun. He mentioned he’s been using a Support Card Dialog Checker, an app to see what effect will certain selection dialogue in each support card brought.

・During debut race, Shien mentioned about how every time a player train a horse, at first they will always only have 1 fans, and that’s the trainer. Shien liked the idea of having the trainer as the horses very first fans.

・In the end, despite late on leaving the gate, Daiwa Scarlet won marvelously in URA Finals.

・Time for Umapyoi! Umapyoi! ＾o＾)9 I strongly recommend watching his archive to see him hyping for Umapyoi Densetsu. Just do it, it’s gold.

・He realized it’s been 8 hours already. Chat asked about his throat condition. Shien answered his throat is getting tired, but he can still going.

・The next is Marshmallow Reading~

・The first mallow wrote their message of congratulations and happiness of able to see Shien’s growth from his very early day up till 100K and conveyed their wishes of Shien’s future activity. The mallow question is: Since Jojo will get a part 6: Stone Ocean anime soon,  they wondered what Stand does Shien like?

Shien answered with Sticky Fingers. Aside from it’s cool appearance, Sticky Fingers Stand user is Bruno Bucciarati who is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai.

・The next mallow asked whether Shien doesn’t mind to be called Shien-kun. Everyone called Shien as Boss, but the sender wanted to call him Shien-kun but is worried and ended up calling him Shiepi.

Shien answered it’s okay to call him either Boss, Shien-kun, or Shiepi. It’s fine to either use シエンくん or シエン君 either.

・The next mallow’s sender has a hobby of taking care of their nails. Upon doing so, the mallow sender wondered about what does Shien’s nail looks like. The sender asked if it’s okay for fans to imagine what does his nail looks like and put in fanarts and such.

Shien answered with how when his Mamu (his illustrator, Namakawa) draw his New Year costume, they draw it with his gloves off and it showed his bare hand with the nail only a bit longer. He claimed when Mamu was designing the costume, he cut the nail off ww

He said it’s okay for fans to draw his nails much more longer than that.

・The next mallow asked what kind of clothes he wear when he sleeps.

Shien answered with the Jerapique robe that Oga gave to him for his birthday, and not a pajama.

・The next mallow asked Shien to explain his feeling upon reaching 100K subs in just three letters (words, for English convenience)

Shien:感無量（Brimming・With・Emotion）

・The next mallow asked: Does he likes chocomint?

Shien answered that he’s neutral about it. He doesn’t hate it but he doesn’t eat it as much as those who likes it. He adds that whenever he goes to Baskin Robbins he’ll always order the Caramel Ribbon flavor.

・The next mallow asked whether he’s the type of streamer who remembers his fans or not.

Shien answered that there’s probably no fans he doesn’t remember, since he looks at live chat a lot. On the other hand, he would like if fans who realized they are recognized by him and start sending him annoying replies to stop that since its troubling him. He also remembers those that told their YT name when doing Oshafest, and also those that draw him fanarts, and those that always commented on his stream or throwed him SCs and the likes, he remembered them and tries to remembers them.

・The next mallow asked what does SSB stands for.

Shien answered with Shien Secret Base, and directs them to his Membership Opening stream archive.

・The next mallow asked him what is the memory that he can’t forget until now.

Shien answered with how when he was little, around middle school, he was going out to ski in one of the ski slope. For that, he needs to ride a lift and there he  had a chit-chat about Pokemon with a stranger that sit beside him. He still befriends that person and still in contact with them even until now. Other unforgettable memories are those that are accidental, like the time where he accidentally broke his chin (?!). There are other similar stories but he stopped with just that for now. Another unforgettable memories for him is the time where he and some of his friend was on a train, standing. Suddenly his friends started laughing at him for no particular reason. After they got off, Shien asked them why did they laugh back then and they told him that there was a man who starred and sniffed him from behind his back. Shien was surprised and yelled at them for not telling it to him sooner. In the end, the man didn’t do anything tho, otherwise he noticed by then too.

・The next mallow’s sender was having so much fun when Shien last time did a viewer participation Splatoon stream and asked him to do the same with Mario Kart

Shien answered that he just did it during this stream and will do it again in the future.

・The next mallow’s sender is a fans of voice actors and upon hearing Shien’s voice tweet that got RT-ed by his followers, they instantly thought it was a really great and praised Shien’s voice impression of Takahiro Sakurai by saying it really sounds like him and they ended up RT-ing the voice tweet as well. That’s all the sender has reported! They will continue to support Shien from now on too.

Shien: Thank you… Thank you… Im really hyappi. I wonder what voice impression they would like.

And he mentioned that he recently uploaded his voice impression of Yugi singing Umapyoi. While also feeling happy that he was being found, he also slightly embarrassed.

・The next mallow mentioned how in yesterday’s stream (Miyabi’s QnA marshmallow), Miyabi mentioned that Shien is fashionable and knows what clothes best fits him, so the sender is curious on what kind of plain clothes he usually wear, and whether he wear any accessories?

Shien answered that he likes Uniqlo brand and tends to wear simple clothes. For accessories, he sometimes wear necklace and wristwatch and tends to wear them on summer. Mentioned how Miyabi always glaring at his shoes when he goes out with him the other day and said that the shoe Miyabi  was looking at was the shoe gifted to him by subordinates on his birthday. It was white and purple and he likes it very much. He added that he usually wear PC glasses when streaming and gaming.

・His throat got tired so he read the next mallow in a low tone voice. The mallow asked, what will he do if he has infinite time and money.

Shien answered that he wants to do world travel and goes to lots of places  he doesn’t know, especially with him coming from a Beast world. If he can, he would like to go on a space trip too. After he finished that, he would like to continue his life doing nothing. He added that he would like to borrow a large dome and have Holostars-only event there.

・Realized that it’s easier to just talk normally so he read the next mallow with his usual voice. This mallow would like to see his no-archive Vocaloid only singing stream.

Shien said he always wanted to do one, and not only just Vocaloid songs, but also Disney songs too.

・The next mallow wrote their heartfelt congratulation for his accomplishment of reaching 100K. Shien had made their life happy and is grateful for him and asked whether he also felt happiness on doing his activity. They will always follow him from now on too. Btw they asked for the color of Shien’s pan peace (草)

Shien asked what the sender will do for him to make him say the color. For it,  they need a payment. If they couldn’t do that, he won’t answer it.

・The next mallow wondered about Nekoyama and the minions’ back, and specifically wondered whether Koyama has a tail or nor.

Shien answered that Koyama doesn’t have a tail and only a black fur on their back. Nakayama has one and Nekoyama has a tail too. He showed the three of them on screen and start describing Koyama as the one that wears a pacifier, Nakayama is the one who had the tail, and Nekoyama as the one who had a purple ribbon. Nekoyama’s tail is fairly small.

・The next mallow asked about books he likes.

He assumed it as novels and/or comics. He mentioned a book titled “Melancholy of Mickey Mouse”, a fiction novel that describes the “backstage” of a huge theme park. Also mentioned Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver.

・The next mallow’s sender conveyed how they liked the tweet where Shien points out his favorite part of his new year costume, like the waist part that showed his body line, and his glasses, and his bangs, and his forehead, and his ponytail, and others.

Shien responded by showing all the points above again. He showed his feet on a big scale and started stomping it while saying “That day, humanity received a grim reminder…” and congratulate Attack on Titan’s final chapter. Zoomed his face and starts eating the chat (mogumogu).

・The next mallow… is a congratulation message with e-mail format… www

・The next mallow conveyed how the sender at first looks at Shien as a cool person, but over time it changed more into cute and wondered if Shien doesn’t like it if people calls him cute. And asked for words that he doesn’t want fans to say, if there’s any.

Shien answered that he’s doesn’t mind being called cute, since he actively acts cute consciously himself. He mentioned people has rights to say what they wanted. Tho as a man, he also wants to look cool too. As for the things he doesn’t want fans to say, for now there aren’t any. Usually, if he doesn’t like something being sad, he always says it at that moment too. As to why he could honestly say what he doesn’t like on stream, it’s because his subordinates always listen to him. He explained it’s not “he likes the subordinates for obeying his words” but rather “he likes subordinates for properly hearing him out”

・The next mallow asked about the parts of him that he likes himself, or parts he wants to improve in the future.

Shien quickly answered with Face・Voice. He also likes the part where he freely expressed what he likes. As for parts he wants to improve, it’s his singing. He mentioned Izuru suggested him to hear the recitations about song, and he’s using that as reference. The reference is filled with knowledge about intervals and how to properly let out voices and such. He also mentioned how he were amazed by Izuru’s Aishite Aishite cover.

・The next mallow asked about his favorite manga.

Shien answered with Yotsubato!, Gash Bell, YAIBA (written by Conan’s author, Aoyama Gosho), Black Jack, Hinotori, Otome Youkai Zakuro, Houseki no Kuni, Teichi no Kuni, Bleach, Kono Oto Tomare!, and others. He also likes reading doujin and mentioned the high-quality doujinshi made Holostars Mama and Papa (Illustrators) as well as his own Mamu’s creation. Despite knowing a wide variety of mangas, he mentioned that he hasn’t picked up HunterxHunter, Ueki no Housoku, and Rekka no Honoo yet. He stopped here since the talk will be infinite at this rate ww

・The next mallow sender is someone who just got into Holostars and asked who is currently the hottest (in terms of popularity) in Holostars so they can made them their oshi.

Shien answered with “KAGEYAMA SHIEN.” He mentioned how all Holostars members are also on their peak with Izuru reaching 100K, Astel’s Envy Baby reaching 100 thousand replays, and other accomplishments. He also said that Holostars in a whole is raising up in popularity as of now, so it’s a good idea to support them all now!

・The next mallow asked Shien to share a bit of his story from childhood.

Shien answered with how there’s a time where he got taken by his friend into a sunflower field. Shien then saluted the field before they enter, and when his friend asked why he do that, Shien answered “I’m on a patrol.” (Cute) Chat mentioned the Pokemon underwear and he starts re-telling his experience of wearing pokemon shorts while biking around town, unaware that it’s actually an underwear. He re-tells another story when he watched a Pingu episode where Pingu chew spinach and spit it into a toilet with a straw and thought “If Pingu can do that then so can I!” So he chewed the spinach in front of him and spit it out, and then his Mama got so mad at him and sent him outside the house as punishment. From then on, even if he doesn’t like spinach, he’s forced to eat all of it and now has able to overcome it somehow. Shien described his mom as quite a Sparta, not letting him waste a single food on the plate and ate it all. He still watched Pingu from then on.

・The next mallow asked whether he could revive the fallen Tsueso APEX archive he did on April Fools.

Shien answered that he initially would like to leave the archive stay an entire day of April Fools, just like how games did with April Fools event. But there are things that he couldn’t left it on the screen  as it is, so this time, he apologized that he can’t revive the archive anymore. Next year if he does another April Fool stream, he’ll let it live for a day and then erase it when clock hits April 2nd . Tho he don’t know if he’ll bring Tsueso again or not. He told subordinates to keep Tsueso close to their heart, and suddenly Tsueso hijacked the stream and said “Everyone, don’t forget me~ Lets meet again~!!”

・The next mallow asked him if he preferred pants or skirt (for girls to wear)

Shien answered that he would like skirt more, but he also likes hot pants. When asked long or mini skirt, he answered with the long one and would also prefer long skirt maid outfit than a mini skirt one. Chat asked about tight skirt and said he likes it too. But for Shieko, he insisted that she should wear mini skirt since she’s a gal.

・The next mallow’s sender is having difficulties on uploading their fanarts on Twitter, and wondered if he could still see it if they uploaded the art on pixiv

Shien answered that if they post a tweet with the pixiv link on it. Tho with that, the sender wouldn’t know if Shien had properly saw it or not, but if they’re fine with that Shien let them post their art however they want. He wondered if the sender doesn’t like getting RT-ed instead. Connecting the talk, he told about how he personally won’t RT fanarts that depicts him as the opposite gender. For such posts, even if it were tagged in his illustration tag and he saw them and liked them, he won’t RT them. It’s a matter of culture differences, and it’s only for him and there might be different opinions depends on the streamer.

・The next mallow came from an overseas fans and he tried looking up words to replied it, and then remembered that he didn’t asked it before (in his previous English learning stream). He praised overseas fans that went out of their way to translate their mallows themselves using DeepL and such.

・He mentioned that there are still many more mallows he wants to read so he extend the mallow reading time.

・The next mallow asking whether he’ll do a cooking stream.

Shien answered that he’s trying to find a way to do it. He needs a super long cable that connects his kitchen with his streaming room or else we won’t be able to hear him.

・The next mallow: HUG&RELEASE with LOVE&KISS for Shiepippi

Shien: *reads it with echo* …Okay, can I go on to the next one now?

・The next mallow asked about the name of the little cats he has on his shoulder.

Shien named Nekoyama, Koyama, and Nakayama by the order we see on the screen.

・The next mallow’s sender recommended him to sing Yuuki 100% during Shien’s singing stream back in February, and it happened to be a day just before the national pharmacist exam that the sender will be having, and Shien picked up their comment and sang it. It gave them courage for the exam and now reported that they had successfully passed the exam, and thanked Shien for giving them the strength they needed.

Shien congratulate them and said it was a really great feat. He’s so happy that he could boast this to others that one of his fans passed the national exam

・The next mallow is from a new fans, asking if he can play any musical instrument, and asked is there any special rule that fans need to keep when he streams.

Shien answered by ringing his New Type. For the serious answer, he couldn’t play any particular musical instrument and said he would like to learn how to play drums. Also mentioned that during his birthday, he got 3 kalimbas and don’t know what he should do with it. He thought it’ll also be cool to be able to play guitar and piano, he looked up to Sing and chat streams. He also mentioned Anpanman’s tambourine and castanet, but his castanet was missing. Chat mentioned triangle but he couldn’t play it on streams or else his mic will get weird again (because of the high frequency sound)

・The next mallow asked: Which do you like more, Roberu or your subordinates.

Shien: …………..BOTH.

He thought of it as a cruel mallow because no way he can pick just one of the two. Tho, he mentioned that the lines of his love to Roberu and to his subordinates are two different lines. He leaned more towards subordinates for they know him much more.

・tskr

・The next mallow asked him about his favorite color.

Before Shien answered the mallow, a red SC came to bless him for his sneeze and Shien thought red SC sneeze is just an urban legend but he’s getting it right now. Continuing one, he answered with purple, black, white, blue, and green. He mentioned that he usually wear blue shirts for his usual wear.

・The next mallow’s sender had their previous mallow about not being able to draw manga good got answered by Shien, and thanks to his advices they can now draw something great. They conveyed their congratulations message and their hope for his future activities.

Shien congratulated them and said that everyone could get a slump sometimes, even him, and it’s okay to feel like that. Shien said he’s happy to receive report mallow like this that said they had cheered up or achieved something, and would like to see more of it.

・The next mallow asked what dog breed he likes.

Shien answered that he likes dogs with short feets like Corgi. And he really likes Shiba Inu. He mentioned that he saw a video that tells how hard it is to keep a clever dog. The cleverer the dogs are, the more they are more sensitive to changes. He also likes big dogs like Golden Retriever and Siberian Husky. When chat mentioned Chihuahua, he said he’s particularly neutral with small dogs, but he likes Pomeranian.

・The next mallow’s sender couldn’t get themselves to listen to Shien’s voice pack. Despite already buying them, they already imagined what kind of cool voice waiting for them there and will get embarrassed first. They asked how they could get some courage to listen to it.

Shien was surprised they haven’t heard it yet and asked them to listen to it. He worked so hard to write the scenario himself. Chat also agreed with the mallow, saying they all need to prepare their heart before they listen to it. Shien encouraged them that their heart won’t get throbbed all suddenly like what they had imagined, and it’s not he will kill them instantly. In the end, he said it’s okay to not force themselves to hear it but if they didn’t, it’ll be a waste.

・The next mallow asked from where did he starts liking Takahiro Sakurai.

Shien answered the he first know of Takahiro Sakurai from his role of Kururugi Suzaku in Code Geass, and then starts listening to his drama CD of “Teiden Shoujo to Hanemushi no Orchestra” and became a fans from there on. If he need to list his top three of Takahiro Sakurai’s role, it’ll be: Makishima Shougo (Psycho-Pass), Ray Lundgren (Gun x Sword), and Shimogamo Yasaburou (Uchouten Kazoku), but he added that he likes more roles other than what he mentioned and couldn’t just pick a few of it. He mentioned that he also likes Cloud and Merlin, but to him personally, judging from Sakurai’s voice and acting, he likes the top three more.

Connecting the talk about voice actors, he mentioned Yoshimaya Hosoya had a role in one of the new legend card in Shadowverse

・The next mallow came from an overseas fans and asked when will he have another English-only stream.

Shien answered that he’ll consider it. He previously played Fall Guys in EN only, but for next time he wants to try something different.

・The next mallow mentioned how this year, the price of cabbage has been pretty cheap so they wanted to buy it but doesn’t know what will they make with it, So they asked Shien who is good at cooking for dish ideas.

Shien answered with pot-au-feu, since he tends to put lots of cabbage in it. Cabbage roll is good too, but it only use a bit of cabbage. Another dish he recommended is shredded cabbage and salted kombu with sesame oil and salt, and make it as a side dish. Chat suggested coleslaw but Shien said he doesn’t like it that much. Chat also mentioned cabbage with eggs

・The next mallow said they became Shien’s fans because of his talk about Kamen Rider and would like to hear more about the form he likes, or his favorite character or lines)

Shien answered that it’s depends on the series. If it’s Kamen Rider W, he likes FangJoker. If it’s Kamen Rider OOO, it’s Shauta and Tajador. If it’s Kamen Rider Drive, its Mach and Chaser. If it’s Axe-Aid, it’s Parad. If it’s Kamen Rider Build, he likes the Hazard Forms and said all of it are cool. Added more that he likes Heart Roidmude too in Drive. Mentioned that the series he likes OOO the most for the character bonding and development.

・The clock indicated that he had passed the 10 hours mark!

・Hanayura Kanon came again to congratulate him for reaching 10 years (eh? ww) stream. Shien played along and said that the 10 years felt so fleeting and he will work his best to continue his activity for 100 more years.

・He received many SCs and decided to sing for the last part. He’ll try his best to sing songs that doesn’t restrain his throat too much.

・Setlist:

-Started with his usual Devilman no Uta (Keizo Toda) -Mamoritai ~White Wishes~ (BoA) -READYMADE (Ado) -Gira Gira (Ado) -Sayonara Elegy (Masaki Suda)

・Connecting from the lyrics of Sayonara Elegy, he said it depicted his feelings of being happy with just us being beside him.

・He is really happy to have became one of Holostars and able to meet with so many subordinates. He then thanked us for spending 10 hours today with him, and also keep following him for almost a year.

・He also thanked the senpai of Holostars and Hololive that had helped him able to stand where he is right now.

・Mentioned TriNero, and recollecting the past 100K countdown stream where he said he would like to bring along the feelings of the members that couldn’t continue their journey together as Holostars, but he also told us that he doesn’t see it as a responsibility that binds him. Despite all the things happened, he wanted to be here because it’s fun. It’s thanks to all the people behind the screen, the members, and the subordinates that keep on supporting him that he’s able to be here, and he would like to always remember that.

・He wants to continue being in Holostars so that they could be seen in many more places, so many people can find and reach out to them more. He knows it’ll be very difficult to do.

・Just like how when he got an event offer from Argonavis and became a guest star there, he received words of thanks for participating. He participated because he like the series, but from there, he received new connections and many people found him and start becoming fans, and it made him very happy.

・He would like to keep showing his figure of having fun to his subordinates, just like how he showed his other side when playing Uma Musume earlier. He would like to show us more of his various sides. Tho, he’s aware that maybe amongst all the people there, some might find it weird and decided to take some distance away, and it’s okay for them to do so, it’s their choice. But he will work his best to entertain the subordinates who decided to stay. He also would like to show his cool sides. He’ll do activities in a way that won’t leave him with regrets, and will keep existing here as one of Holostars.

・He thanked us again for always following him, even to this 10 hours stream. Who knows that 10 hours will be his normal streaming time in the future, he’ll trust us to keep following him by then.

・He also thanked subordinates from overseas, from Japan, both girls and boys, those who watch his streams live and those who watch his streams from archive, he loves them all. His love is strong and heavy and told us to prepare for it. He said he won’t let go of his subordinates ever.

・He thanked us all again and said it was a really fun 10 hours stream, both for watching and/or sending SCs. He decided to read the remaining SCs that he hasn’t read in another chat stream.

・Please take care of Kageyama Shien and also Holostars from now on too.

・Reminded us to buy the White Day voice pack, the sale will last until 4/12.

・Also mentioned the Holostars “In Silence” collab in 4/11.

・Lastly, he thanked everyone again- From Shinove to Yagoo to other Holostars members, and also to his beloved subordinates.

 �� ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆★ ★ ★

Thank you for reading and sticking with him for 10 hours! Good luck! 

[fizzingwizard]

Another Sunday, another episode of Digimon Adventure: (how tf do I do punctuate??). It is a good time to be a fan of Yagami Taichi.

I remember being 11 years old, the last episode of Digimon Adventure made be bawl my eyes out, and although I was excited for 02, really I just wanted more of Adventure. I guess I’m just slow to like new things (well, I am), but I would have super happy if the producers had been like, “02 will be a reboot for Adventure with the same characters and similar storyline.” And then do the same thing for every new Digimon season xD I’m sure I’m pretty damn alone in that opinion and don’t get me wrong, I love 02, and I think Tamers was good. And yet xD

^The screenshot that sums up the episode: Greymon gets his butt kicked while Taichi hangs on for dear life

I know the bond between children and Digimon is what powers them, and I’m kind of wondering if having a physical connection improves that in this show, because these kids are always riding around on their partners. (Not able exception - Togemon, because ouch. But I expect to see Mimi on her boxing glove at least lol) I have to rationalize it that way because otherwise it’s like why would having an elementary school kid on your head while you rush into the line of fire count as a battle strategy

This ep picks up pretty much where we left off, which means it’s probably only been hours since Yamato joined the group at the fortress. Already the atmosphere is completely changed.

I can see them, but they can’t see me... Ishida Yamato’s modus operandi

more below

Here is a very Digimon-esque tableau: everyone gathered around Koushirou and his computer. Yamato still being standoffish. I imagine he jumped at the chance to stand guard at the entrance so he doesn’t have to get too close to anyone.

Agumon’s fight with MetalTyrannomon went... not so great. Yamato coolly tries to explain to Taichi that evacuating was the only way, otherwise they’d risk all being destroyed, and that would be the end of everything.

Taichi’s fist tightens and begins to shake...

... he doesn’t look like he totally agrees with Yamato’s reasoning, but he doesn’t have a better idea. But, being Taichi, he can’t just let it rest.

Yamato talking to Taichi’s back while Taichi frantically starts to sort out his Feelings is just how they communicate. This is a common shonen anime trope for the hero and his foil. Yamato’s pushing, Taichi’s not exactly hiding, but he doesn’t want to face him until he can face him with resolve.

Yamato: Look at me. Look at me!

Taichi: *sweating* It feels like a hole’s burning in the back of my neck, so... I’ll pass

Taichi finally explains out what’s got him so knotted up: he regrets Ogremon’s death. Like we saw last episode, the battle that began as revenge turned into a battle of samurai pride. And Taichi is evidently a samurai. He wanted to see that battle to the finish, out of mutual respect for the opponent (who he’d never met before and who had been trying to kill him previously... but y’know when you’re kindred spirits that’s all water under the bridge)

Yamato doesn’t really get it. This is where these two are fundamentally different. Taichi attac, Yamato protec, then everybody gets a FIGHT!

I mean, not 100% of the time, but the bottom line is Yamato’s not so big on this pride thing, although he does have pride of his own. But he’s definitely not into taking unnecessary risks, especially if it puts his friends in danger. The trouble is, Taichi doesn’t think he takes unneccessary risks either... just necessary ones ;)

The other kids can already feel the tension increasing and Taichi and Yamato haven’t even raised their voices at each other yet. Lol buckle up kiddos

Jou wonders if he should make them stop, and Mimi instantly turns around and begs him to try. My Joumi heart LEAPT.

TBH I was surprised she did anything at all, I was expecting Jou’s “Should I break them up?” to just end there with nothing happening. Instead we got an adorable Joumi moment where Mimi shows that as much as she teases him, she already somewhat relies on Jou (to be fair, I do think Mimi’s the type to rely on anyone who offers when she’s not sure what to do herself). Jou, being Jou, is unprepared aaaaand wigs out.

Jou: Oh no oh no oh no she actually expects me to get between them?!?! But but I flunked Tough Guy school! That’s literally why I’m a nerd! This girl’s trying to throw me to the wolves!

Fortunately for Jou, he has a redheaded savior.

Sora: Stop it. He’ll wet his pants again and I don’t have any more extras.

Sora shows her insight into people’s hearts and understands that Taichi and Yamato need to hash things out. It’s not dangerous... yet. But the way she’s more or less frozen in place along with the others says she’s... maybe a bit on her guard, at least, lol.

Koushirou, being Kousihrou, is completely oblivious to all of this and focused on his computer.

Oh yeah... the real reason Taichi turned his back to Yamato earlier - whenever they look directly at each other, they suck each others souls out. I CALL BODY SWITCH

I mean jogress

I mean marriage

They spend like the entire first half of the episode arguing omg get a room.

Then... Agumon wakes up!

And even though it’s a cartoon, it’s clear to see the way Taichi’s body fills with relief. I wonder if Yamato didn’t realize or didn’t think Taichi was that worried about Agumon. 99 Yamato tended to feel that Taichi was insensitive to others. But while he can be, Taichi also doesn’t express his emotions in the same way as Yamato. They’re both wont to hide how they feel, but while Yamato goes quiet and aloof, Taichi just acts like everything’s normal. So maybe here, Yamato really thought Ogremon and MetalTyrannomon were the only things on Taichi’s mind. Just a guess.

Awwww montage of cute...

a boy and his dinosaur!!

Maybe to Yamato’s surprise, Agumon totally echoes Taichi’s feelings about Ogremon. “I wanted to settle the score with him.” Weird as it sounds, they made a manly bond with Ogremon and running away just doesn’t sit right. Agumon’s raring to go...

... but his stomach isn’t quite ready yet hahaha.

Yamato’s probably used to Gabumon’s appetie but I suspect Agumon’s tummy growl has errr exceptional resonance

Glad to see the return of the Digimon’s bottomless pit aka stomach. I think it was just last week I complained about that not really being a thing so far. This time it was the other Digimon who went gathering, but I hope to see the human kids rushing around in a frenzy to care for their partners’ appetites soon lol

While the others eat, Taichi and Yamato decide they haven’t finished vampiring each other’s souls and sneak out to the mouth of the cave. Sora follows them to see if she can watch any hot yaoi action.

Lol but I do really like the framing heart. All we can see of the boys is their shadows. Sora keeps her distance but she’s watching them intently from a distance. I assumed she was just gathering more data on how short a leash she needs to keep them on.

Turned out that was not quite correct... reluctant to interrupt though she’d been before, once they start talking about what to do next she adds her input. We’ve got Yamato on Taichi’s one side and Sora on his other side. It’s the beginnings of TAIORATOOOOO *more airhorns*

^I can’t see anything but Goku and Vegeta bahahaha. Also why is eleven-year-old Yamato SO broad-shouldered, between that, his deeper voice, and his perfeclty coifed hair Taichi must seem like a toddling infant to him bahahaha. Like come on Yamato is not a child you must be kidding

Already Yamato is getting into the habit of Looking At Taichi while Taichi Looks At Literally Anything Else.

These two don’t need words. They talk with their vampiric eyes.

Koushirou’s hyper focus on his computer finally pays off and they all gather back around. Everyone starts cheering when the hologram appears even though they don’t know what the heck it is. This is Koushirou, so it must be awesome!

It turns out to be a map of much usefulness.

And it turns out Ogremon was telling the truth about the path to the holy Digimon being straight ahead, while fires Taichi up even more.

^Obligatory ‘Gomamon is cutest Digimon’ cap

Koushirou also gives Taichi special data on MetalTyrannomon, including his weak point. Taichi is THRILLED. He’s happier about this than he is about finding the route to the holy Digimon. This is the difference between Taishiro and Taito guys. When Taichi gets a reckless idea, Yamato tries to talk him down, or at least be sensible about it. Koushirou? Koushirou is a FREAKING ENABLER.

They wait with baited breath for Yamato’s reaction. Though he seems underwhelmed, Yamato admits Koushirou’s information “does seem reliable.” That’s all the permission Taichi needs to go back to freaking out over how awesome Koushirou is.

They come up with a plan to lure MetalTyrannomon away so Taichi can fight him while the others take the chance to escape and head towards the path to the holy Digimon.

^Obligatory ‘Sora is best girl’ cap

Yamato waits for the others to get away before following after... he stalls for a minute as if unsure whether it’s really alright to leave Taichi on his own. In the end he joins the group... All things considered, I think he’s pretty thrown off by Taichi, tbh.

Yamato’s group doesn’t make it far before they encounter a very suspicious looking lake.

^More evidence that Yamato is not really an elementar school kids. He’s clearly at least 15. He’s been routinely failing every year in order to get held back until he can be in the same class as Takeru. That’s the extent of his overprotectiveness

It sure is fortunate that Koushirou’s genius extends to fluency in English or they’d have no idea this lake of dark mist is bad friggin news.

Or... maybe they would have:

Mimi sneaks behind Jou and pulls his middle school exam workbook out of his bag.

And immediately chucks it into the lake.

Where it disintegrates.

This is how Mimi’s mind works. She’s smart! They need to know what would happen if they went into the lake without actually going in it. So they need to put something else in first. So far so good. What should she throw? A stick? A rock? One of Sora’s endless towels?

No, Jou’s workbook. Duhhh.

She probably felt she was killing two birds with one stone here x’D Experiment complete, and Jou prevented from anymore whining about not having time to study. Mimi is chaotic good.

gosh I love Joumi

Jou is lawful neurotic

Greymon shielding Taichi is just soooo cute even if it still feels weird that he has to be up there in the first place

The battle rages between MetalTyrannomon and Greymon, who just won’t quit even though he’s losing... pretty bad... I mean...

He just grabbed a missile with his bare hand...

Taichi: Now I know what it’s like to be a firework

Loop-de-loop! Taichi’s suction cup shoes strike again.

Courage going UP!! Reaching a fever pitch! The evolution that’s been looming for two episodes finally happens!

MetalTyrannomon: Eat my dust!

Woooooooo, MetalGreymon is just as freaky as ever. Always my least favorite evolution in Agumon’s line, but the glowy purple wings are cool.

Also, nipple missiles.

MetalTyrannomon: I can’t believe I was beaten by some meddling kids!

So yeah, we are back to killing Digimon willy-nilly. None of this “but what about their hearts?” shitck. Always found it amazing in 02, a children’s cartoon, that said “Yeah the characters you loved last season were totes murderers but it was justified and sometimes you just have to kill.” And fourteen-year-old Taichi is just like, “Yeah, I’m a murderer, and you should be too.” XD And Miyako hits LadyDevimon with a skateboard. Priceless

This scene is adorable but Taichi’s butt looks so saggy.

I’m kind of wondering how evolution works in this show. They jumped right to jogress in like episode two or something, but we haven’t seen it since (I would sort of expected Taichi to think of it when it was clear MetalTyrannomon was too strong, though I would also expect Yamato to nix that idea both because he doesn’t want to and because to him it’s a pointless fight and not the priority). Since then, the Champion level evolutions went similar to 99 Adventure, with everyone getting their special episode, and I’m sure that’s how it’ll go down with the next level too, but there was no gap at all between going from one level to the next. I’m trying to say, they seem able to reach the next level awfully fast. They didn’t need to meet Gennai and collect the tags and Crests, the Crests appear already uploaded in their Digivices. I’m not complaining, as always I’m glad this show is not just a carbon copy of the old one, but I am curious if evolutions are easier to attain in this series, or if there are going to be more of them and that’s why they come so quick, or if the series just won’t run long enough for there to be significant gaps of time between evolutions.

Episode ends with the group deciding, like I predicted last week, to split up and try the Left and Right routes, since the Straight one is blocked. Gays go right and lesbians go left, of course. :P

This episode was pretty fantabulous, I loved it, Digimon is awesome.

Next week it’s no surprise what we’re gonna get.

WeeeeereGarurumon! Also my least favorite evolution of Gabumon’s line but still cooler than MetalGreymon hahahaha.

I’m also totally stoked for the grouping of Yamato, Jou, and Sora. There’s tons of potential for Yamato and Sora to bond, although my prediction is that while he’ll pretty much like her (even if he won’t admit it to himself), she’s going to find him a little difficult. But she’ll have an easier time talking to him than the others do. I also fully expect Jou to drive Yamato out of his mind lol.

This also means the other group is Taichi, Koushirou, and Mimi. I assume we won’t see too much of them next week, but I hope that means they’ll get their episode the week after, because I am dying for some Taishiro moments. Practically salivating. Also, Koumi fans can probably look forward to Mimi and Koushirou Not Getting each other too, lol

[writingsbychlo]

feels like loneliness (08)

word count; 7701

summary; thomas is frustrated and distnacing himself from everyone, and only one person can break through that. 

notes; took me a while to sort this out after tumblr fucked it up, I’m sorry it took so long to get uploaded!

warnings; smut, overstimulation, aggressive sex.

“I keep on the go but, I don't mean to tease you”

Thomas was stressed. He had been for months. Everyone was worked up about how they were going to get Minho back. Their group had been growing, considerably, over the last few months, as they had slowly travelled their way to the abandoned town by the shore three months ago, they had picked up stragglers along the way, but no matter how many new minds were put to the task, they were still at a dead end. 

In the first couple of months, they had made huge progress. It seemed like they were getting closer and closer to a solution every day, closer to a way to save Minho, bring him back safely. Around month three, as they’d found their new place to stay, they’d hit a bump. It was like they had all the information and all the ideas, but the puzzle pieces just didn’t seem to slot together quite right. Around month four, Vince had become distracted, the more kids that joined and needed help, the more determined he was to get them to the safe haven. The ship they had been working on was getting closer and closer to being ready to go with each passing day.

Everybody’s nerves were fried, what with WCKD beginning to do checks each week that seemed to be drawing nearer each time they were conducted. Thomas had been putting everything on his shoulders, from all that had gone wrong that night to the present day, any little error and mistake was added to the weight on his back, and no matter how much anyone tried to relieve him of the guilt, he would snap or storm away. Newt was missing his friends, Minho imparticular, and the weight of everybody else he had lost was dragging heavily on his heart. 

Vince was stressed about getting everybody to the safe haven, he had committed to it, and was working himself up into a frenzy. Brenda and Jorge were trying to make themselves useful, dig themselves into the community deeply enough that they’d be taken to the safe haven too, despite their lack of immunity, and the tickling timebomb on Brenda’s shoulder, seemingly waiting for her to suddenly crank out.

And you? You were surprised your hair wasn’t falling out with stress and anger.

You had been going over your notes, again and again, reading through every inch of every page as you tried to decipher your own notes, but with only a drip of your memories, you only had a drip of your knowledge. You just weren’t as clever without them, you couldn’t understand your own works, and you certainly couldn’t finish your final push for a cure, no matter how hard you tried. You were worried about all your friends, and for Thomas especially, who had been pulling in on himself more and more as he worked long nights and hard days to save his friend.

You had tried to talk to him, to help him. At first, you’d settled on waiting, until you got somewhere safe to be able to talk about what you would be, where things would go. When you had finally reached your temporary camp, he had instead seemed to close down completely. He sealed himself away from everyone, closing the door and staying behind it. He’d barely speak, and you were growing lonely without him. 

When you reached out, he often pulled away, shooting anyone who tried to distract him from his work a look or harsh words that sent them reeling. He barely even let his hand brush against yours anymore. Bags were hanging under his eyes, and the discussion of whatever you two were going to be hadn’t just been tabled for another day, he’d boxed it up, sealed it tight and put it into storage. Around about the middle of month four, you’d all stopped trying altogether.

He’s become unbearable to be around, throwing anger tantrums and shouting, storming and stropping around, throwing insults and accusations around like they were hello’s and you’d all given up entirely. He’d almost fought Newt hours prior, the blonde simply having told him maybe he should take a break for his health, get some sleep or just relax, and when he’d placed a hand on his shoulder, Thomas had almost snapped it in anger when he yanked the touch away.

Now, two were simmering at each other from across the table. A table with a map set out, little rocks and figures representing different obstacles and items they had in their way and at their disposal. A table, that they had been gathering around every single day since they had gotten here, at the ex-runner’s request, and not a single piece had moved its place in two weeks now. As Vince finished telling Thomas that he was pulling back for a while to finish fixing the ship, his anger bubbled over, and the boy slammed his fist down onto the table, the pieces on the map jumping at the disturbance and he screamed loudly. 

He yelled obscenities at everyone, storming from the room and kicking at barrels and scrap as he went, the sounds of his anger fading away as he made the trek to the little room he’d claimed as his own, secluded from everyone else so he could brood in isolation. You sighed loudly, eyes sliding shut and you bit at the nail on your thumb, the chatter around you taking up.

“This is ridiculous. Someone needs to go and talk with him, hash it out because this obsession is going too far.” Vince had concluded, and your head tilted to the side, hands coming to sit on your hips as you opened your eyes, only to find everybody looking at you. Your own eyes widened as your jaw dropped, and you shook your head quickly. “No, absolutely not.”

“You’re the only one who can do it, love.”

“That is not true! Any one of you could talk to him! Why does it have to be me?” You fought, your eyebrows shooting up but you could already tell you were losing the battle as they all continued to look at you.

“He’s snapped at all of us, and tried to take a physical blow at most of us.” Jorge chuckled, and Newt scowled at him, Frypan coming up to rub subconsciously at the place where they blackeye he’s been given had only just faded. 

“With you, he just bites his tongue and storms off to simmer quietly.” Brenda added, and you looked at her pleadingly, hoping she would’ve taken your side and she raised her arms in defence as her gaze left yours. “Hey, don’t give me that look! He loves you, so you have to be the one to go talk to him.”

“He does not! Shut it, before I beat the flare to it and take you out myself.” She whistled, laughing at your weak threat, and you fought the urge to laugh with her.

“He does, love, that is why you have to go get him to sort his bloody temper out.” Newt tried to ease the tension, still caring for the boy even through the countless fights they had been having and you groaned loudly. 

“If he did, he wouldn't be treating me like this. This isn’t how you treat someone you love.” You murmured, swallowing thickly and looking back up to them all. “But, I will go and talk to him, to get all you shanks off my back.”

Newt whooped, the group smiling happily and the blonde clapped his hands down on your shoulders, steering you towards the door. “Minho is going to be thrilled when he hears you using Glader-slang.” He joked, and you rolled your eyes with a laugh, setting off on the short trek to follow the direction Thomas had gone in only minutes prior. 

You could hear him throwing things about and shouting angrily before you had even stopped outside his door, the mess inside being evident as you opened it carefully, leaning your shoulder against the frame as he continued to strop, his eyes only catching sight of you a few seconds later. “You wanna’ talk about it?”

“I don’t want to talk about anything.” He spat, panting aggressively as he ran a hand through his hair, looking back at you when you didn’t move. “Especially not with you.”

Your brow furrowed, a scoff leaving you as his words cut deep, hurt seeping into the open wound. “Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?”

When he looked back to you, he could see the hurt look in your eyes, the sharp look on his features softening minutely as he heard the pain in your voice at his outburst and he let out a groan. “Fuck, I-I didn’t mean it like that. You just wouldn’t-”

“Understand? You’re treating me, all your friends, like shit, because you don’t think we wouldn’t understand?” You shook your head, dipping it as you pushed yourself from your leaned position, nails digging into the skin of your palms as you clenched your fists. “Do you-”

“Can you just leave me alone?” His words were sliced at you, digging deeper than any insult he’d given you so far had as he continued to push you away, and you squeezed your eyes shut, forcing your emotions down, desperate to say your piece.

“Sure, Thomas. I’ll go, I’ll leave you alone. You have made it very clear over the last few months that you don’t want me around you.” You were seething, his eyes widening at your words and his jaw dropped open to speak, though your glare shut him up. “But, don’t you dare think for a second that I don’t understand what you went through! What you are going through!” Your finger jabbed into his chest as you stormed forwards, and he was shocked as you finally snapped at him after all this time. “What? You lived in the maze for a week? I lived that hell for over a year, Thomas! I watched my friends die, I watched people I care about get taken and I suffered too! So, don’t you dare have the audacity to tell me that I don’t get it!”

You were screaming in his face, tears lining your eyes as the faces of all of those you had lost flashed behind your eyes, and he huffed, not understanding how to convey how he was feeling. “You don’t! You don’t get it though!” You looked up at him, your jaw clenched as you glared at him in fury. “You don’t have all this pressure on your shoulders, to save everyone, to be the leader and to find a way to save them all! I-I feel.. I need to save them! All of them! I didn’t want to talk about it with you because I knew I’d end up screaming and getting angry with, and goddammit, you are the only person here who’s opinion has ever mattered and I didn’t want you to see me as fucking weak!”

The silence echoed around the room as he tugged on his hair, growling to himself as he paced and you were shocked, the sound of your breathing audible in the deafening silence hanging over you both. You reached out cautiously, bringing him to a stop as tears filled his eyes and you reached up, taking his hands from where they were tugging at the roots of his locks carefully, letting them hang by his side.

Your hand cupped his cheek gently, shaking your head as you looked at him and he leaned into your hand, his own coming up to hold your touch to him as his eyes closed and a happy sigh slipped from him, showing just how much he had missed you in his blinding rage. 

“I have never seen you as weak, Tommy. You’re the strongest person I know.”

“I-It’s so hard. I feel trapped, I have all this anger and energy and I’m spending all day just waiting for news and there is none. I can’t go anywhere!” You raised your other hand, bringing it up to his face, thumbs smoothing over his skin and wiping the tears away as they finally leaked from his eyes. “I’m so hopped up on adrenaline all the time and I can’t run, because we’re trying to keep a low profile, and I have so much fucking stress that I can’t even sleep at night and my hands won’t stop shaking and I have no way to take it out and I ju-”

“Take it out on me.”

His eyes snapped open, fear taking over his body as he backed away from you, the tremble in his hands spreading across his whole body as he backed away. “What? What are you talking about?” He didn’t understand, and he feared for you, his hands clenched by his sides as you closed the door behind you, the soft click echoing from the walls.

When you reached for his hand, he snatched it away, backing up into the wall and you stepped closer, taking his shaking fist in your hand as you delicately unfurled his fingers, his hand laying open and flat in yours. “Your anger and your stress, Tommy.” Taking his hand, you placed it on your waist gently, his fingers curling around your body and twitching against you. “There are more ways to burn off all your extra energy than getting angry or running.”

He was nervous, his eyes scanning over every inch of your face as he assessed the situation, and he raised his other hand, fingers tucking under the edge of your top to rest against your flushed skin, goosebumps rising over your body at the fell of his sorely missed touch. “I’ve missed you so much.” He brought his hand up, tucking hair behind your ear delicately as he held himself back, struggling to hold back his urges and his entire body was oozing pent up rage and energy, his foot tapping against the carpet subconsciously, his fingers on your body flexing absentmindedly as he gnawed on his lower lip. “I can’t, I could hurt you.”

You let out a small laugh, raising your hands to cup his cheeks, trying to pull his face down as he resisted, and you rolled up onto the balls of your feet instead, your noses bumping and brushing. He sucked in a breath, your own fanning over his cheeks as your lips practically brushed, his grip on you tightening as he pressed down what he really wanted to let out. “I can take it, Tommy. Give me all you’ve got.”

His eyes lingered on yours for a split second, before he had spun you around, your back pressed to the wall as his body fell flat against yours, his lips working over yours and stealing every breath from your lungs. His touch was relentless, your shocked gasps swallowed by him as his tongue traced your closed lips, sucking your bottom one into his mouth to part them. 

Your fingers tugged at the bottom of his shirt, a chuckle on his lips as you whimpered and he lifted it up, his hands leaving your waist as he helped you to discard the material over his head, throwing it away across the room as you hands skimmed along his chest. His fingers wrapped around your wrists tightly, pausing your movements as he lifted them up, holding them above your head and pinning them to the wall. 

“Keep these here until I tell you otherwise.” His words were spoken deep and low, and you whined, nodding in acknowledgement. His fingers moved down to play with the waistband on your denim shorts, fingers easily popping the button on the stiff material and easing the zipper down. Sliding his hands lower, the digits of his fingers pressed through the cotton to press against your clothed clit, nail scratching lightly over the covered nub as your hips jumped up. 

“Shit, Tommy..” Your arms buckled at the elbow, falling down the wall as your hips twitched when he started rubbing slow circles with his fingers. 

“Hands up for me, I like the way your tits look when you stretch your arms up.” He mumbled the words against your flesh as he trailed his kisses down and along your jaw, licking and sucking at your skin as he went. You stretched them back up, ignoring the ache in your muscles, your mind blanking as his fingers pushed aside the material of your panties, swiping through your slick folds and swirling around your entrance.

Pushing a single digit into your core, a whine fell from you, your head tipping back to rest against the wall, a small ‘thud’ sounding at the impact and he growled when he couldn't push your top any further to the side, anger flooding him once again. “This is in my way.” He tugged at the hemline of your top with his teeth, before pulling away from you and you nodded. 

“Do you want me to-” He pulled his hand from your pants, two hands attaching to the neckline as he pulled roughly, tearing the fabric straight down the middle and you couldn't hold back the moan you let out at the action.  “Oh, or just do that.. shit..”

He grinned, hands pushing your sports bra up over your breasts to expose them to the cold air and you whimpered, his hand finding home between your thighs again as he pushed two fingers into you, pumping them quickly as you spasmed in his grasp. His lips sealed around one of your nipples, lapping leisurely at the bud and grunting as your fingers squeezed around him, the sounds he was drawing from you were echoing from the walls of the room. 

His free hand smoothed up from your waist, his mouth switching breasts and his fingertips moved up over your arms, lacing his hand together with one of yours, pinned to the wall above your head as he brought his lips back up along your neck. He was sucking gently at your jaw, your breathing getting quicker as your eyes squeezed shut, pleasure surging through you. His fingers pumped rapidly, the heel of his hand creating a delicious friction against your clit as he brought you closer and closer to the edge. 

You rolled up onto your tiptoes, squeaks and cries leaving you and your chest pressed up against his, hot air fanning over your neck as you moved towards your climax. “Tommy, I’m..”

“Not yet, you’re not. I don’t need you getting tired out before we really have some fun.” He smirked, pulling his hand back from your pants and sucking his fingers into his mouth to clean them, nodding his head to your shorts, still hanging open and his hand left yours. Sliding your hands down the wall, you shakily dropped your shorts to the ground, kicking off your boots and socks as you tried to strip yourself down before him, his dark gaze on you as you let the shredded material of your top drop away, your sports bra soon following it. 

He palmed himself through his jeans, and you lunged up into him, pressing your lips to his and you fumbled with his belt, tugging his jeans down until they fell to the floor, his boxers following and he kicked off the rest of his clothes, the air between the two of you hot and heavy as your fingers wrapped around his cock, stroking his hard member as precum dribbled over your fingers. “Can’t wait to bury myself inside you, been thinking about it for so long.” He whispered, your lips leaving his and he cupped your cheeks, pulling your face back to meet his as his tongue pushed past the seam of your lips, tangling with yours in a wet and sloppy kiss. 

He was dominating you in every way, and when you felt your back meet the wall once again, you had barely heard the word ‘jump’ fall from him before you were launching yourself into his arms, his large hands gripping your thighs as your legs wrapped around his waist, his cock sliding through your folds. 

Lining himself up, he eased himself into you, your eyes rolling back as he sank deeper and deeper into your tight hole, a low groan falling from him as his forehead fell to your shoulder. “You’re so tight, fuck..” 

“Well, you know, it’s been quite a while since I last slept with anyone.” You teased, the dark look on his face lightening just a tad as he let the corners of his lips pull up, shaking his head slightly. 

“Shut up and kiss me.” You grinned, your lips finding his as he set a slow rhythm, his hips pulling back from yours as he eased himself in and out of you, both of you settling into the feeling, his pace picking up. Your lips slanted across his, and he happily welcomed your touch, his lips parting as he deepened the kiss with you. 

Your arms looped around his neck, fingers weaving into his hair, tugging on fistfuls of it as he growled into your mouth, lips moving harsher against yours as his hips snapped up into yours. Pulling you away from the wall, he placed you down on the edge of the desk, his hand sliding up your stomach to sit between your breasts as he pushed you down, your back meeting the wood of the table. He was stretching you out in all new ways and tapping all new spots, and your jaw hung open, silent sounds never making it to his ears. 

With hands still on you, he leaned back, just far enough to watch as he fucked into you, his wet cock slipping in and out of you perfectly, your walls hugging around him and squeezing him just right. You were already wound up and close, and as his fingers slipped down to pinch at your clit cheekily your back arched up from the wood. Your fingers raked along it, sure you were tearing tracks into the desk surface as he muttered under his breath. 

“You’re taking me so well, sweetheart. Look at your pussy, taking my cock like a fucking pro, you’re so wet, dripping out onto the desk for me.” Your arousal was coated along the insides of your thighs, his face faltering as your walls tightened around him, curses leaving him. He pushed forward, your hips slapping together harshly as he pushed against that special spot inside of you and stars exploded behind your eyes, a long cry of his name leaving you as you shook. 

He rode it out, hands holding you to the desk as he slowed his thrusts, before he found your shoulders, pulling you to sit up for him as he slipped his members form you, your thighs trembling as you sat up, every muscle in your body feeling like jelly. His hands skimmed along under your legs, pulling you until your ass was just barely on the desk and his lips lid over yours, panting and needy kisses being drawn from you and when he stepped closer, the head of his cock pressed up against your clit, your body twitching with sensitivity as you jumped back, yelping at the stimulation. 

A dark chuckle left him as he pulled you to your feet, hands cupping your cheeks as his fingers ran over your skin slowly, his eyes hooded as he looked down at you. “We’re not done yet, sweetheart. I thought you said you could handle it?”

Before you even had a chance to reply, the front of your hips were pressed into the wood as he turned you around, a hand in the back of your hair pushing you face down into the desk and you barely had time to catch yourself, your hands fumbling to find the edge of the surface and hold on. His foot between yours kicked your legs apart, and your breasts were rubbing up against the cold surface, the sensation shooting straight to your core and you shook at the way he was handling you. 

He dragged the tip of his cock through your folds, sinking forwards with one rough and fast thrust, filling you up again instantly and you cried out, biting down on your lip in pure pleasure as he set a fast pace, the hand in your hair tightening and pulling as he bent over you. Your nails were digging into the wood as your fingers curled around the edges of the desk, holding you for support, and he let his hands find your hips, before one slid around to grope at your ass cheek. 

Moans were falling wantonly from your lips as he fucked into you, a sheen of sweat coating your body as you were pushed closer and closer to another climax, your brain going hazy and all you could focus on was the feeling of him ramming into you rapidly, tapping against your g-spot with every thrust as he worked out all his pent up energy. You knew you’d be sore in the morning, you’d be covered in hickies and bruises but it would be worth it because God, if it wasn’t the best you had ever felt.

His hands slipped up to your hair again, tugging at the strands and your scalp stung as he tugged you up until your back met his chest, his hands sliding around the front of your body to roll your nipples between his thumb and index finger. Your head lolled back onto his shoulder as your eyes rolled back in your head, and he bit at your ear lobe gently. “Get ready.”

You couldn’t even process the words, but a scream tore from your lips as he picked up his pace, the aggression showing through with the ferocity of his thrusts, and a scream left your lips, his name mixed with pleads and begs as your whole body shook and spasmed in his grasp, your own name grunted into your ear as you felt him throb within you, cock pulsing and twitching against your walls as he neared you both to a climax you’d never forget. 

His hand came up, squeezing around your neck lightly as the other trailed along your body, your screams silenced as he squeezed at your neck, and he slapped your abused bud once, your body hurtling over the edge into wave after wave of pleasure as he fucked you through it, loud shouts leaving him before he suddenly pulled out, your arousal gushing from you, strings of your essence connecting his cock to your glistening hole as he grunted, moaning lowly and shooting cum across your back and legs, the wet sounds of him working over himself sounding out as he came and your knees buckled as you braced yourself on the desk. 

Your mind was fuzzy, the aching between your legs and pounding in your heart was all that made sense, and despite it all, you still wanted him, you need him. You could barely clench your thighs for the over-stimulation but the burning in your stomach told you that you needed more, and you heard as he collapsed back against the bed, the fabric of your torn shirt being brushed against your back as he cleaned you up tiredly. 

His legs were parted, cock still hard and resting against his stomach as he panted wildly, sweaty with his hair matted to his forehead as he leaned back on his elbows, a shaky laugh leaving him. You could feel your own nectar dripping down your thighs, coating the insides of your legs as your need for him continued to eat away at you and you stood either side of his legs, one hand finding his chest as you leaned over him, the other wrapping around his cock gently, and he hissed. “Fuck, sweetheart, I’m still sen-”

“Still sensitive? Now you know how it feels.” His hips bucked up into your grip, and with you a wink you ran your thumb over the swollen head, swiping away the cum still dribbling there and lifting it to your lips to clean it. Straddling him, you shivered, the shake running along your whole body as the red tip nudged against your throbbing bud, before you sank yourself down onto his cock, the delicious overstimulation and stretching he gave you was already making you call out his name, and he snapped to sit up, hands finding your hips as he whimpered your name to you.

Your hands pushed his chest down, until he was lying in the sheets, your hands landing either side of his head and your knees on either side of his hips as you rocked back into him, and he growled lowly, shaking his head. With feet planted firmly on the floor, he rocked his hips up into yours, the sounds he loved so much leaving you and he repeated the action, your arms weakening at the way he fucked you.

Your vision was blacking out, eyes in the back of your head and your jaw ached as it hung slack, and your body was tingling, muscles aching as they tightened and you wanted to clamp your thighs together, the feeling all too much but at the same time you needed more, and when his hands found your hips, slamming you back down onto his cock in time with his thrusts, you found. 

You wouldn't be surprised if the whole camp could hear his name being screamed from your lips at this point, your voice getting higher and higher and you got closer to your edge and his voice was deep and raspy, shouting your name loudly as you clenched around him so tightly he could barely move.

His mouth pressed to yours, and it could barely be described as a kiss. It was a sloppy mess of tongues and lips dragging against each other, panting and crying into each other’s mouths as it all became too much as you fell over the edge, more like catapulted, the feeling different to other times and you jerked roughly in his arms, arousal splashing from you, the dirtiest sound you had ever heard Thomas make leaving him as he screamed. Pulling out of you suddenly, his load coated both of your stomachs between you, your arousal still leaving you as you clung to him, soaking his body and yours, dripping between the sheets.

He let you roll to the side, your eyes still rolled back in your head, a lazy smile on your lips as you twitched and whimpered, and he groaned at the sight, his cum painted across both of your bodies. He wiped a hand over his face, grinning exhaustively and his body ached, but he had never felt better. 

You had been right, he was calm and relaxed, his mind was clear and he was happy. He reached for the ragged piece of material that had been your shirt, wiping you both down before tugging his boxers back up his legs, a low groan leaving him as the fabric brushed against his stimulated and sensitive member. Grabbing your panties, he tugged them up your legs gently for you, a soft smile on your lips, eyes shut as he lifted your hips to secure them around your waist, pressing a kiss to your hip bone before collapsing beside you. 

You were grinning, eyes closed as you lay in his sheets, the sunlight from the window illuminating you perfectly in all your sweaty, messy, post-sex daze. He could see the disturbed dust dancing in the air, the sounds of your slowing breaths easing him into comfort and he reached out for you, brushing matted hair from your skin and you cracked an eye open to look at him, the other soon following as you turned on your side.

You raised an arm, bending it as your elbow dug into the sheets, your cheek resting on your palm as you looked at him. “How do you feel?”

“Fucking fantastic.” He was beaming, letting himself fall onto his back, letting out a soft sigh before holding his arms out to you. “C’mere. I wan’ hold you.” Without any argument, you snuggled into his embrace, the smell of sweat and sex sticking to his skin, undoubtedly on yours too, but you didn’t care. Instead, you rose your finger sup, weaving them through your knotty hair gently as you let your thoughts run slowly, peace taking over the room.

It was quiet around you, the sounds of everybody moving about further down in the camp just about reaching your ears, muffled by the walls and the distance, but you could still make out happy laughs and yells as the went about. Your mind drifted to the boy who was half-snoozing tiredly beside you, wishing he could let himself be that joyful and carefree, he deserved it.

When you had finished untangling your own hair, you moved to play with his, a content hum leaving him as you did and he nuzzled into you more, his lips pressing little kisses to the exposed skin he could reach when he turned his head towards you more, and you got lost in your mind once again, drifting away as you thought sadly about the map, the plan that kept falling through with errors, as you worked over it in your tired and muddled mind.

“Oh, my God.”

“I know.” He grinned, and you slapped his chest as he leaned over to kiss at you forehead but you shot up, your jaw slack and eyes wide, your mind spinning. 

“Oh, my God.” You shot up, slinging the sheets back from your form as you scrambled around in the discarded clothes on the floor. 

You pulled your panties and shorts on, grabbing the first top you saw tugging it over your head, not even bothering with your bra or socks as you reprocessed the idea on your mind, spinning around and around on a loop as you tried to find any flaws, but you couldn’t and a smile broke out on your face, the widest Thomas had seen in a long, long time. He propped himself up on his elbows as he watched you, making your way to the door when he cleared his throat, his eyebrows raised as your eyes came to meet his. 

You were mumbling, so quickly and quietly he couldn't make out what you were saying but you silenced as you looked at him. “I’ve got it!”

He was only more confused as you left, leaving the door wide open as you dashed quickly towards the main room, screaming out to all the others you saw as you went that ‘you had it’, before he finally realised where you were going and what you were talking about, and he fell from the bed in a bid to follow you hurriedly. By the time Thomas had got there, you were holding Newt’s hands in a bowl shape as you dropped all the little markers into his palms, smoothing out the map and Thomas had his jacket pulled over his bare shoulders, his shirt hanging on your body and he struggled to do up his belt as he stumbled into the room. 

Newt looked over him, a smirk on his lips and Thomas blushed as everyone suppressed their snickers and looks, but he was focused on you, and you were far too focused on your eyes moving so quickly over the map he was surprised you weren’t dizzying yourself. “Okay, okay, okay.. so, um, well, we decided we’d have to have someone break into the train, right?”

Everybody was looking at you, nodding carefully as if to ask you exactly where you were planning on going with this, currently only being reminded of their failure.

“Well, let’s just take the whole carriage.” The hopeful looks around the room fell, replaced by irritated glares and your shoulders sagged, but you refused to be deterred by it. Brenda rubbed a hand over her face, sighing, and Vince laughed condescendingly, hands falling to his hips, while Newt looked at you disapprovingly, as though you were joking. “Seriously, just- just hear me out, okay?”

“I’ll listen, pequeña.” Jorge motioned forwards, and you shot him a grateful smile as he took on all the glares simply for encouraging you.

“Right, well correct me if I’m confused, but the very front carriage is the drivers, right? And the one behind it is soldiers and guards? Yeah?” You looked around, watching as they all nodded, and you grinned, looking back to the table and smoothing your hands over the map. “The two behind that are always supplies, for wherever the fuck they’re going. The last three are kids they’ve taken. Minho. Now, the trains are always supported by an airborne guard too, yeah?”

Vince let out a groan at your words, his head dropping forward in frustration and you scowled at his reaction. “Exactly, there are eyes in the sky and on the ground, we can’t get past the berg. This is pointless!”

“No, no! Our eyes in the skies are part of it!” You held your hands up, finally reaching for the items Newt was still patiently holding as you positioned them out before you, placing them perfectly to you’re liking and they all waited, even more confused than before. “Okay, so let's call it Team A, Team B and Team C, right? Team A and B are in cars, on either side of the train, and Team A is going to draw away the berg, because Team B is going to drive along the tracks behind the train and jump on board, they won't shoot at you because they won’t risk losing the kids, they need them!” 

You placed down the two small stones you had signifying the cars on either side of your train figure, and Newt nodded, looking down at the map. “Okay, but Team A is now being shot at by the berg, with nowhere to go?”

“There isn’t anywhere to go, and that’s what we need! Lead them into thinking we’re trapped, but we aren’t because hiding out is Team C-” You dragged your finger, across the map, pointing at a random spot and tapping the digit against the paper. “When the berg lands to arrest Team A, guards will come piling out! Team C then comes out and we take it! There’s what, four guards and a pilot, against Team A and C?”

You held up your hands, looking around everyone as they all continued to look at you, confused faces all around as they tried to process your thoughts. “I’m still not seeing how this is helping, what about the train?” You looked up to the blond man, Vince with his eyebrows raised but he was judging and he was curious and you smacked your hand to your forehead, laughing at yourself.

“Oh, right, of course! While team A pulls away the sky threat, B are on the train! We get to the end of the carriages with the kids in and separate them from the rest of the train! The emergency clamps will slow them down almost instantly upon detachment, but the rest of the train will take a good minute to minute and a half to stop, and then the guards have to run all that distance back! That gives us, like, five minutes!” Newt groaned, dropping the pieces in his hand as his patience finally wore away.

“Five minutes? Five minutes to do what? Huh?” His accent was only thicker with his anger, and you swallowed, your confidence dwindling as you became discouraged, almost every person in the room looking at you like you were insane.

“To.. To get Minho, and Aris and Sonya..” Your voice trailed off, and you backed away from the table, your body curling in on itself nervously, but Jorge rubbed a hand over his head, stepping up and putting a hand down flat on the map as he looked over it.

“Hold on, I get it.” He nodded, thinking over as he lifted another one of the discarded parts to rest on the land alongside the train tracks shown on the map. “Find out which cart Minho’s in, weld the brakes on either side. Call it D-Team. Four of you, one on each clamp for the correct carriage, and another four with ropes! Get the box chained up, and by the time A-Team A and C-Team get back with the berg, we drop the hook and lift the box, B and D can just climb on for the ride home.”

“We can have cars waiting for everyone,” Brenda added, stepping forwards and a smile cracked it’s way through your upset look to take over as she spoke up, her eyes meeting yours as she winked at you, softly. “We drop the berg and box, get everyone out and cover our tracks, way before they can track us. Everyone gets back safe.”

Silence filled the room, seemingly for minutes as the three of you now looked around at the others, each one thinking over the incredible complex plan, again and again in their minds as they tried to find the problem, only coming up with obstacles that could be solved but no major fall-throughs.

“Kid, you’re fucking crazy. But you’re also crazy brave, and smart.” Vince eventually muttered, but he reached over, squeezing at your shoulder before crossing his arms, and you laughed, nodding your head slightly in confirmation. “I think it could work. Needs some tweaking, and it needs to be done fast, that train goes by in three days.”

Frypan’s eyes were wide, and he looped his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers as he looked down at the map, shocked. “We’re getting them back. We’re getting out friends back. We’re getting Minho back!”

Newt cheered loudly, holding his hands up in the air and letting out a disbelieving laugh. “We’re getting Minho back!” He moved towards you, his arms wrapping around your waist as he spun you around in a circle, your feet not touching the ground as he held you tightly. When you were placed down, the chatter about fixing any minor issues had already taken up, the group crowding around the small desk with such renewed fervour and enthusiasm that you were shocked at how quickly hope had filled their bodies once again.

Arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you back and turning you as Thomas looked down at you, a smile on his face for the first time in months as he held you tightly, lips parting and closing as he tried to work out what to say. “You are incredible!” He teased, and you laughed, ducking your head as a blush worked its way onto your cheeks. “God, I fucking lo-” As he spoke, your head looked up, eyes wide at the words he almost spoke and your heart was pumping wildly in your chest, but he cut himself off, closing his jaw and you felt sadness seep into every pore in your body, despite the joy surrounding you. 

Instead, he leaned forward, moving to place a kiss to your lips and you turned your head, his kiss meeting your cheek instead and he grunted, not being the intended place he was aiming for. Your stomach was twisting, nausea filling you at the idea of having been so intimate ad close with someone that couldn’t even tell you they loved you, that perhaps, no longer intended to be that person. 

It had been half a year ago that Thomas had told you he wanted to love you again, but in that time he’d barely held you or touched you, and a lot had changed, you had moved on, fought battles you had never imagined and overcome odds you had never seen coming. Perhaps, he no longer wanted what he had wanted then, he’d spent a lot of nights alone, sealed himself away from you to have had enough time to think about it.

As you unwrapped his arms from around your waist, his brows furrowed and you excused yourself from the group with the claims of needing some food before you gave yourself a headache, and you were soon slipping from the door. Before he could come after you, Thomas was called over to the table, and so instead he watched you walk away, not understanding where he had gone wrong. 

The sun was just beginning to set, casting oranges over the horizon and you crossed your arms over your chest, feeling exposed and dirty as you made your way back to his room. Picking up your bra, you tucked it into your pocket, stripping his top from your body and folding it, placing it neatly on the end of his bed before zipping your jacket up over your bare chest and snagging the torn fabric of your top from the floor.

You disposed of it along the way to where you had chosen to sleep, plucking a fresh top from a pile of supplies available to anyone, and when you finally closed the door behind you, you dropped your bra onto the small chair in the corner of the room. Toeing off your boots, you tugged the top over your head, dropping the denim around your waist to the floor before crawling under your sheets, a saddened sigh leaving you.

You couldn’t dwell and Thomas and his feelings for you, or lack thereof, because in a few days, you would have Aris and Sonya back in your arms, you would have Minho back, and you would finally be able to rest, because lord knows you’d been through enough in your lifetime. You were ready to hold your friends again, you were ready to find the safe haven, and live out the rest of your days peacefully and quietly.

With a clear mind and a light heart, you were able to drift off with thoughts of where you would be a week from now.