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frailsituation · 23 days ago

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Tips for writing a villain

1. Give them a twisted backstory

• A compelling villain has a past that explains why they became who they are. Make their history dark and personal, shaped by betrayal, loss, or abuse.

• What works? Their backstory should not justify their villainy but rather explain how it festered into a desire for control or revenge.

• Example: A villain who was once a loyal soldier but was betrayed by their closest ally, sparking a thirst for power and retribution.

2. Give them a ruthless goal

• Villains and antiheroes are driven by desires that justify any action, no matter how destructive. Their goal should be selfish, twisted, and all-consuming.

• What works? Let their desire for power, revenge, or domination overshadow everything. They believe they are justified, even when causing harm.

• Example: A villain who seeks to overthrow a kingdom, not out of idealism, but simply to make everyone bow before them in submission.

3. Make them calculating

• Villains are often detached, seeing people as pawns in their grand schemes. They plan meticulously, moving with purpose and efficiency.

• What works? Their actions should be deliberate and strategic, not driven by impulse. Show their intelligence, but also their complete lack of empathy.

• Example: A villain who uses people as tools, manipulating alliances and backstabbing to climb higher, all while remaining eerily calm.

4. Embrace their darker nature

• Villains are not plagued by guilt—they embrace their dark nature. Let them find power in their cruelty, and let it drive them forward.

• What works? Show them as unapologetic and even proud of their actions. They have no qualms about being feared and are often defined by their cruelty.

• Example: A villain who enjoys tormenting their enemies, finding satisfaction in their pain and suffering as a means to assert dominance.

5. Make their flaws have consequences

• Villains don’t have redeeming qualities. Their flaws—greed, pride, wrath—define their path and ensure they fall further into darkness.

• What works? Let their flaws be the driving force of their villainy, and don’t shy away from making them destructive.

• Example: A villain whose pride is so consuming that they refuse to ever admit fault, causing their empire to crumble because of their refusal to accept failure.

6. Show their manipulation

• Villains thrive on control, often using manipulation to bend others to their will. They know how to push buttons, exploit weaknesses, and get what they want without lifting a finger.

• What works? Let your villain be the master of deceit, convincing others to do their bidding without them ever truly getting their hands dirty.

• Example: A villain who manipulates a group of rebels, using their emotions to stir discord, only to turn them against each other in the end.

7. Make them evil

• A villain’s cruelty knows no bounds. They do what needs to be done, and that often means eliminating anyone who stands in their way—without hesitation or remorse.

• What works? They should be willing to destroy people, relationships, or even entire societies for their goal. Show no mercy.

• Example: A villain who doesn’t hesitate to wipe out entire villages to send a message, and enjoys the fear that it instills in others.

8. Let their obsession to consume them

• Villains are often driven by obsession. This obsessive need for power, revenge, or control blinds them to everything else—relationships, morality, or even their own humanity.

• What works? Let their obsession escalate over time, showing how it spirals out of control until it consumes them entirely.

• Example: A villain who is obsessed with immortality, willing to sacrifice everyone they care about, including themselves, to achieve it.

9. Allow for betrayal and treachery

• Villains thrive on betrayal. They have no loyalty but to themselves, and they often betray others before they are betrayed.

• What works? Let your villain double-cross anyone in their path—friends, allies, and even family. Their only loyalty is to their goal.

• Example: A villain who promises to spare their rival, only to turn on them when the rival is most vulnerable, solidifying their role as a traitor.

10. Let them unravel

• As villains grow in power and dominance, the pressure to maintain their control will cause them to crack. Their downfall can come from their inability to manage the very chaos they’ve created.

• What works? Show their confidence slipping, as the consequences of their choices catch up to them. This can bring about their ultimate defeat or destruction.

• Example: A villain who, after accumulating power, loses control over their empire, eventually crumbling under the weight of their own tyranny.

11. Allow for redemption (or not)

• The possibility of redemption adds complexity. However, it’s important that it feels earned. Alternatively, allow your villain to continue spiraling if redemption is out of reach.

• What works? Either let them evolve toward redemption—or show that their flaws are too deeply ingrained for them to ever return from darkness.

• Example: A villain who, after everything, is offered a chance to change but chooses power over love, reinforcing their villainous arc.

Follow for more!

#creative writing #writeblr #writer stuff #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing #novel writing #writing tips #tips #writers and poets #writing villains

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txttletale · 2 years ago

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posting this exchange because i disagree with the first replier but i also think the second replier is a really bad and incorrect reply to what they're saying. it is of course true that the current supply chain for electronics is founded upon tremendous and horrific exploitation at basically every level of production. but i think 'red' here is making an assumption--that this sort of exploitation is inextricable from the very concept of building electronic devices--that doesn't hold up at all.

for a start, there are lots of obvious and simple ways to vastly vastly reduce the production requirements of computers and cellphones in the absence of a profit motive. build phones and computers that last, that can be repaired by anybody, instead of junk with planned obsolescence and proprietary firmware. without apple or samsung trying to make a profit, there's no reason for anyone to be replacing their cellphone every two years.

and secondly, i think that unlike 24/7 year-round global Banana Access, there is a very obvious and very compelling case for the production of cellphones and computers to continue in the absence of a profit motive, which is that access to them immeasurably benefits society by providing new networks of communication, new tools for administration and organization, and other tremendous advantages for quality of life. socialists throughout history obviously understood this -- that's why OGAS and CyberSyn were attempted! there is nothing about the object of a portable computer and communications device that necessitates it being built in inhumane conditions by exploited workers. everything about it could be built, like anything else under socialism, by workers with democratic control over their workplace and production. the marxist critique of capitalist and imperialist production does not lead to 'and therefore nothing should ever be made' !

#tattletxt

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theambitiouswoman · 2 months ago

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hello:) if you dont mind me asking; in your celibate do you also waive out on masturbating? And if so, are you kor scared that you in one way loose the connection to your needs/desires with time?

Honestly this depends on the person and why you’re practicing celibacy. Some will say masturbation is an act of self love. Others who may be more inclined to cleanse spiritually will abstain from sexual desires all together.

At the same time, abstaining from masturbation and sex all together has other benefits.

1. It increases your energy and helps redirect energy to other activities and goals. Leads to better mental clarity and productivity.

2. It helps stabilize dopamine levels, emotions, hormones.

3. Improves sleep quality.

4. Increases testosterone levels in men. (Sex & love actually decreases it for them while increases test in women)

5. Better athletic and physical performance

6. Enhances discipline

7. Abstinence can be used as a way to deepen meditation, mindfulness, or prayer.

And the list goes on

As for your needs and desires, you don’t lose them. Practicing abstinence just puts you more in control of your lust essentially. Most people don’t realize, but sexual desires / lust are typically a way for our body to supplement other needs we aren’t giving ourselves. For example, physical desires often connect to emotional intimacy; without recognizing this, you might feel isolated or unfulfilled. That’s why I emphasized the importance of practicing celibacy with intention & as a tool to work on ourselves. So that we can adapt healthier feelings/mechanisms.

Abstinence can redirect focus to emotional, intellectual, or spiritual needs beyond the physical. When you’re not driven by physical urges, you l build stronger connections based on compatibility & shared values. While our lust actually kills our ability to connect deeply with others. Abstinence can help you understand which desires are fleeting and which are meaningful.

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windyboi101 · 3 months ago

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Cyn Headcanons

Cyn won the poll I hosted! I also got WAY more notes than I expected so I am only during 30. Sorry, but its the only way to keep me from writing duplicates, low quality HCs, etc. Please like and reblog if you enjoy, as it lets me know I am writing content people enjoy, and it helps to spread my posts around! The more viewers, the more feedback I get, which is the most valuable resource to me.

So, without further ado,

30 Cyn Headcanons (Some serious, some silly)

Serious Headcanons 1. Prior to her disposal, Cyn worked as a toy assembler/demonstrator. This is why she would overexplain her actions, since toys can't exactly speak. This would later go on to influence the Solver's outlook on humanity and how it should be treated.

2. Cyn's cause of fatal error was not a workplace accident, but execution (murder) from a higher up at the company she was employed at. Reason? Up to you, whichever makes it most tragic :)

3. The Cyn we see in the show was only partially controlled by the Solver for some sections. When she was first brought home, barely noticeable influence, like 10% controlled. By the start of episode 5, about 70% of her was controlled by the Solver, but the excitement about Movie Night was genuine!

4. Solver-Cyn left Tessa for last on the night of the Gala Massacre. She had warned Tessa to not come, which shows that she didn't want to have to kill her.

5. While J was the first to fall under control of Cyn's Solver abilities, J was the last to be 'modified'.

6. While the Solver is fully in control of Cyn by the time the events of the show start playing out, Cyn is still within the consciousness of the bodies the Solver takes over. This includes being witness to Uzi's first transformation and Doll's mind.

7. Cyn was certainly younger than the other drones, and due to this she was never switched out of 'Parental Guidance Mode' that censors swearing (Like Uzi being unable to see Nori's crude writings). This is why Cyn couldn't fully swear when she lost grip of N's core.

8. The Cyn part of Solver has abandonment issues. This is why she was willing to clone the main cast of Disassembly Drones rather than see them as just tools. It is also why Cyn was willing to leave them alone if they obeyed her orders, despite her plan that consisted of consuming all matter possible. If she could keep them as friends, she would.

9. While still herself, Cyn had OCD and was very meticulous about her tasks. For the short time she was 'employed' at the Elliot Manor, she was particularly good at stacking and arranging of objects. Unfortunately, this would become arrangements of triangular hexagons and other mysterious symbols shortly before she was deemed too damaged to work.

10. Cyn did not create a solution for the Murder Drones to not burn in the sun because she sees it as a way to keep them restrained. The less time they can be out doing whatever they want, the less likely they are to figure out any sort of deception or way to usurp her.

11. If Cyn did not have to take a more direct approach for her plan to succeed by the end of Episode 7, she would have a fear of Sentinels while not in her 'blackhole' form after the events that transpired in Episode 6.

12. Cyn's 'birthday' was April 14th, 3052.

13. Cyn seems to have an infinite supply of bows. Nobody knows where she gets them from or how she keeps making them.

14. Post-Finale, Cyn would constantly be trying to hijack pieces of technology to gain more power. Fortunately, none of these attempts would get far due to Uzi's capable technological skills.

15. What would keep Cyn docile would be allowing her to hijack weak and limited pieces of technology, like an old game cartridge or a singular floppy disk. However, this ruins any sort of data stored on the item in question but would definitely create the closest example to those early 2000 creepypastas like 'Sonic.exe' and other 'my video game was hAuNtEd' types of scenarios.

Silly Headcanons

16. Cyn genuinely enjoys tea. Unfortunately, she does not know how to drink it properly.

17. If Cyn got an animal plushie of herself like Uzi, N, and V did, it would be an Octopus.

18. Cyn wasn't one to be impatient or throw temper tantrums like in Episode 5, that was all the Absolute Solver.

19. Cyn could have been knocked out for a few hours if you threw a big enough weighted blanket over her.

20. Cyn would host 'oil tasting parties' as a crude way of replicating the activities of her former owners.

21. Cyn's 'startup message' is not "Hello World." It is instead "Violence is the question and the answer is yes."

22. If you gagged Cyn's mouth in any way, she would use sign language to be able to communicate her actions in excessive detail, just like she does when she speaks. ("Light sip" or "Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle.")

23. If you gave Cyn a YouTube channel, she would market it like those "Spiderman Elsagate" videos completely unironically, but then have the content be very in-depth analyses of complex equations and theories.

24. Cyn does NOT know what sex is. She thinks humans reproduced by being delivered a child via Stork.

25. Cyn's knowledge of emojis (her last reaction in Episode 8) comes solely from what she could hijack from V's mind when she still had control, since V was texting Lizzy at some point in time.

26. Cyn sees William Afton as a role model.

27. Cyn's choice of play in GTA would be using mods to make everything fly around at high speeds and explode at random.

28. If you slapped Cyn across the face, her head would spin around on her neck until the momentum fully stopped.

29. Cyn is the kind of drone to taste-test a footprint and be able to know where somebody went.

30. A McDonald's sprite would be enough to kill Cyn.

#murder drones #murderdrones #murder drones cyn #murderdrones cyn #md cyn #md #murder drones headcanons #md headcanons #murderdrones headcanons

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covid-safer-hotties · 6 months ago

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ARE YOU SERIOUS? COVID-19 HASN’T GONE AWAY?

John Snow Project - 3 August 2024

Talk to most people about COVID-19 risks and a common response is, “If it was that bad, governments would do something about it.”

We’ve written previously about the analogies to smoking and the historic role governments played in normalizing harm even after the risks were well proven1.

While COVID-19 has been causing disruption at the Olympics2-4 and regions around the world report sustained high rates of transmission5-7, just this week three studies have been published demonstrating COVID-19’s role in increasing the risk of deafness8 and harming the vascular system following acute infection9, and causing immune dysregulation and cardiovascular damage in people with Long Covid10. These join the many thousands of studies evidencing the short and long-term harm of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Some people will decry the sheer volume of such studies saying it is improbable a single pathogen can cause such diverse damage. SARS-CoV-2 doesn’t care about probability or people’s expectations. It is a virus that infects cells using one of the most common receptors, a receptor that is expressed almost everywhere in our bodies. It can infect many types of immune cells and has been demonstrated to persist for years in the gut and spinal fluid of some people11. SARS-CoV-2 has also been shown to cause chronic activation of the immune system and play a role in driving new onset allergies, allergic diseases and autoimmunity12,13.

People in the Covid cautious community often wonder when governments will finally take this pervasive virus seriously. For the uninformed, COVID-19 is akin to a cold, and some particularly ill-informed people believe the virus has gone away entirely. There are still some people who are shocked to experience reinfection.

With Long Covid remaining a significant risk14,15, and promises of protective immunity, hybrid immunity and super hybrid immunity receding into the rearview mirror of ignorant and unfounded optimism, it seems people must simply accept the roulette of repeat infection. But should they? For some COVID-19 will pass with symptoms similar to a cold, for others it will be fatal. For a significant proportion it will be debilitating. And we still haven’t seen the long-tail risk. It is entirely reasonable to expect that like Epstein Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus and HPV, SARS-CoV-2 will cause damage years or decades after infection16.

There is another way. Instead of blithe nihilism and the abandonment of principles of public health that have advanced human society for centuries, governments could instruct their public health and regulatory agencies to insist on cleaner air policies, mandating air quality that protects human health, in the same way we mandate water quality. Malaria prevention is not perfect, but that doesn’t stop us using every possible tool at our disposal to minimize the impact of the disease around the world.

Many engineers have decried the idea of needing a random trial to prove physics, but a Norwegian team did one anyway, examining whether surgical masks help prevent infection by respiratory viruses.They found surgical masks were 30% effective at reducing symptoms of respiratory infection17. This is no surprise. It’s long been established that surgical masks have a minor impact on airborne infection control, but they aren’t worn by anyone who is serious about avoiding SARS-CoV-2 or any other respiratory pathogen. A 2008 UK Health and Safety Executive evaluation demonstrated that surgical masks provide a 6-fold reduction against aerosolized virus, while respirator masks provide at least a 100-fold reduction18.

Perhaps one of the biggest calamities of the COVID-19 pandemic was robbing people of one of the most effective forms of protection: respirator masks. Many people believe masks don’t work, or if they do that they primarily protect others from infection and don’t protect the wearer. This belief is completely unfounded and wholly wrong. Respirators have long been used to protect people working with some of the most dangerous pathogens imaginable, and FFP3/N99 respirators have been shown to offer up to 100% protection against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings19. Imagine how many lives might have been saved and how many cases of Long Covid could have been avoided globally if people had been told that a well fitted mask of the correct grade (N95/FFP2 or higher) can offer complete protection against infection. We don’t need a magic bullet to solve the problem of COVID-19. We need to end the denialism that afflicts us and confront reality. We need to stop living in a comforting delusion and use the tools we already know work to minimize the impact of the disease. Masks, ventilation, filtration, vaccination, isolation, and therapeutics. As this study of hospital admission protocols clearly demonstrates20, we have the tools we need to protect human health. We need to start using them.

Reading Time 4 minutes Author John Snow Project References Merchants of Doubt johnsnowproject.org/insights/merchants-of-doubt/

German decathlete Eitel to miss Paris in latest Covid-19 case sports.yahoo.com/german-decathlete-eitel-miss-paris-163813910.html

Covid cluster worsens in Australian Olympic camp as Zac Stubblety-Cook reveals infection www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/01/covid-cluster-worsens-in-australian-olympic-camp-as-zac-stubblety-cook-reveals-infection

Is there a COVID outbreak at the Olympics? At least 9 athletes test positive in one week www.today.com/health/coronavirus/covid-olympics-2024-rcna164070

COVID Map Shows Surge in States With 'Very High' Levels in Wastewater www.newsweek.com/covid-19-map-wastewater-levels-1932576

COVID surging in California, nears two-year summer high. ‘Almost everybody has it’ www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-29/covid-surging-in-california-as-virus-levels-in-sewage-near-two-year-summer-high

Wastewater COVID-19, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland www.bioss.ac.uk/collaborate-us/wastewater-covid-19

Incidence of hearing loss following COVID-19 among young adults in South Korea: a nationwide cohort study www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00338-9/fulltext

Long-term effects of COVID-19 on endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and blood pressure in college students: a pre-post-controlled study bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-024-09646-w

COVID-19 related myocardial injury is associated with immune dysregulation in symptomatic patients with cardiac MRI abnormalities academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cvr/cvae159/7723296?searchresult=1

Long COVID and SARS-CoV-2 persistence: new answers, more questions www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00216-0/fulltext

Incident allergic diseases in post-COVID-19 condition: multinational cohort studies from South Korea, Japan and the UK www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47176-w

High risk of autoimmune diseases after COVID-19 www.nature.com/articles/s41584-023-00964-y

Long Covid risk has dropped over time but remains substantial, study shows edition.cnn.com/2024/07/17/health/long-covid-risk/index.html

Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron Eras www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2403211

Is SARS-CoV-2 an oncogenic virus? www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9361571/

Personal protective effect of wearing surgical face masks in public spaces on self-reported respiratory symptoms in adults: pragmatic randomised superiority trial www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj-2023-078918

RR619 Evaluating the protection afforded by surgical masks against influenza bioaerosols www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr619.htm

Efficacy of FFP3 respirators for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8635983/

Admission screening testing of patients and staff N95 masks are cost-effective in reducing COVID-19 hospital acquired infections www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(24)00236-6/fulltext

#covid #mask up #pandemic #covid 19 #wear a mask #coronavirus #sars cov 2 #still coviding #public health #wear a respirator

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astracora · 1 month ago

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A Mandated Holiday Break - Chapter 6

Characters: Sylus x gn!mc (poly lads)

Warnings: None

Word Count: 971

Written: 21st December 2024

Notes: Post-relationship Sylus/MC-centric but poly LADs, with my personal pov of the game and lil headcanons littered in.

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Masterlist AO3

Sylus' body is an inferno. He's well used to running hotter than most. It's just another part of who he is, that doesn't occur to him the majority of the time.

The first few times you'd shared a bed, you'd wriggled out of his grasp, sweating and uncomfortable. Had he had less control over himself, he'd have pouted. (You probably didn't miss the furrow in his brow though.)

So he'd slept wearing as little as possible.

Still too much, waking up in the middle of his sleep schedule to find you across the bed, covers thrown off to cool down. Shedding your discomfort.

Next he'd taken to pulling your clothes off. Always a delight, this time a driven aim. It had worked somewhat, you'd wrapped yourself into his embrace and tangled around him, seeking out the heat of his body like he was your personal pillow.

It lasted longer, but still he was awoken by you edging away, seeking the chill of a turned over pillow and the outside of the duvet.

He'd changed the type of bedding he used, bought you new bedding.

You'd told him to stop worrying, to stop paying expenses, sometimes it was just too warm.

Sylus was sure at that he'd grumbled like a child. He wanted to hold you, and he wanted to wake up with you in his arms.

Everytime you moved out of his reach, he itched and ached like scales growing through raw skin. It was one of the few times he envied the doctor, he never seemed to have trouble with keeping you clinging throughout your slumber.

Eventually he had two things fitted, a ceiling fan and air conditioning. The change to temperature meant so little to him, unbothered by heat or cold. When you'd seen them on your next visit, you'd been incredulous. Since when did he need either of these?

He didn't answer that he needed them for you, for him, he just made an offhand comment about the best, and preparation for the future. (The immediate future. His sleep quality.)

His relief that day when he'd woken up, your head under his chin, legs tangled with his, and arms around him. Seeking out his skin against yours.

The second you left the bed, however, you'd complained for the chill. He left the remote for the new tools of his victory, in your hands, but he had gleefully held you as long as he could, chin on shoulder and hands dancing across cool skin.

Your week off has allowed him to experience that for a few days now, he's using your sleep pattern for the week, though there is no real track of time in the sky of the N109 Zone. He doesn't want to make your return to work difficult.

As he wakes, this morning you have stayed asleep, catching up on long hours. Your back is pressed to his chest and you're holding onto his arm. He won't tease you about the drool out the corner of your mouth, but he files away the image for himself. Tickled and endeared.

He doesn't want to wake you, you're so peaceful... but he can't stop himself from pulling as close as he can. Burying his nose in the crook of your neck, and breathing you in.

You smell like his last meal in every life. Like he could bite down and die happy, your blood in his mouth and your soul in his chest.

If he were a weaker man, perhaps he'd drool as well, salivating and starving.

He certainly feels starved when he cannot keep you close, desperate and dogged.

You'd teased him that he reminds you of a wolf, and he thinks that's more accurate than he likes. He would bite your hand lovingly, but tear and snarl at your command, if that's what you wanted from him.

Sylus wants to get up, if he can get breakfast ready, he can see your eyes light up. Hand you a mug of coffee, that turns his nose, in bed. So you'll kiss his cheek and sigh happily.

He feels satisfaction when he sees you happy because of him. Yet...

Pressed against you, your chest moving with each breath. So alive, and warm and his. You trust him to guard you, to kiss your neck when the scent drives him to madness, to keep you warm against the cold. He once mused that you still took his hand despite how dangerous he was, and every day he marvels more at how you continue to do so.

Now when you take his hand, you place a kiss on his knuckles. That if he had no healing ability, would be scarred and torn and ruinous. He thinks, that even if that were the case... you would still kiss them tender and raw.

You had always seen something in him that no one else did. Flowers suiting his soul, a smile worthy of his face, love belonging in his hands.

He feels sick with the feeling, overflowing from where joined hearts beat in his chest, but it's a sickness he would never wish to heal himself of. Peace found despite how little he probably deserves it.

Sylus is selfish though. A fragment, a taste, a burst of you had not been enough. Millennia's will not be enough. Until the end of the world itself he will never think this is enough.

No matter his sullied hands, or the actions he has made, some of which he would not apologise for, he will never relinquish his treasure.

His Soul.

You who owns his heart for eternity.

As he bites down at your shoulder, stirring your sleep, and laves with his tongue to your sleepy pleasure, he settles for a taste of the cure to his hunger, that he plans to draw out forever.

#wonder writes #love and deepspace #sylus #lads sylus #lads x reader #lads x mc #sylus x reader #reader x sylus #lads #love and deepspace sylus #a mandated Christmas break #when I tell you I had an ex who ran like a furnace... but Sylus I imagine is almost unbearable #under covers? with a dragon? I need like. a cold blanket and a cool pillow #I truly need Zayne to slap his hand on my pillow at night to frost it over #for anyone wondering. Sylus for me runs like your personal heater #but it gets too much too quickly #Zayne is cool #he gets colder the more emotional or worked up he gets #but generally it'd be like hugging something left In the fridge #Xavier is pretty average you're sleep quality is pretty safe with him in the bed #raffy is average... but gets progressively warmer overtime #esp the more worked uphe gets and the more physical contact he has with you #except on ebb day. skins as cold as the damn deep sea and it's like touching ice #one of the reasons contact is so intense for him #anyway. as you were.#I finished this at midnight and put it in tbe queue to publish so I could finally get some sleep...#the brainrot is driving me bonkers.#I'm going to start putting sylus solo at level 1 in the senior contest as payback /jk

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daitranscripts · 7 months ago

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Vivienne: Deleted Dialogue

Regarding the Divine

Vivienne Masterpost

Vivienne: Have you given any thought to what I said earlier? About the next Divine?

Vivienne: Have you given any thought to the matter of the Divine’s empty throne? I know Cassandra approached you on the subject.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What qualities should I seek? [2]

Investigate: What platform do you support? [3]

Investigate: Where else can I look? [4]

I think it should be you. [5] +Vivienne approves

I’m going to choose Leliana. [6] -Vivienne disapproves

I’m backing Cassandra. [7] +Vivienne greatly approves

The Maker will guide me. [8]

I have no idea. [9] +Vivienne slightly approves

2 - Investigate: What qualities should I seek? PC: What kind of person am I looking for to take the Divine’s throne? Vivienne: To sit in the Sunburst Throne, a candidate should have grace. charm, and a will of solid steel. She must have the wit and skill to turn the minds and hearts of the Grand Clerics and the strength to see things through. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: What platform do you support? PC: What would your ideal Divine do with the throne? What would her politics be? Vivienne: The most important thing, of course, is the restoration of the Circles and the Templar Order. The institutions which have protected Thedas for ages must be rebuilt, and the malcontents utterly crushed. We cannot allow anarchists to threaten the lives of the innocent. After we have restored sanity to the world, there will we time to address the voices of dissent. [back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Where else can I look? Where can I find candidates outside the Chantry? there must be someone besides Leliana and Cassandra. Vivienne: The Chantry is already desperate. They would not look to unordained women if they had any choice. You may have better luck searching the halls of the Imperial Court, for instance. There are many women serving the Empire who have the necessary presence and acumen. [back to 1]

5 - I think it should be you. PC: I’ve given some thought to finding a better candidate to lead the Chantry. And I found one: you. Vivienne: Me? My dear Inquisitor, Thedas will never accept a mage as Divine.

Dialogue options:

You can win them over. PC: If you can charm the Imperial Court, you can win over the common folk. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

Think about the possibilities. PC: Picture it! Your political charm and charisma, with the support of Andraste’s Herald backing you. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

They will if I say so. PC: With Andraste’s Herald supporting you, what can they do?

Vivienne: You do have a point, and I suppose there is no better way to restore order than to do it myself… If you are gracious enough to support me, my dear, I can hardly refuse, now can I? Will you excuse me, Inquisitor? I need to make some arrangement. [22]

6 - I’m going to choose Leliana. PC: I’m going to support Leliana. Vivienne (positive approval): Allow me to be blunt, my dear. Vivienne (low approval): I suppose I have little choice but to state the obvious. Vivienne: Leliana is a well meaning fool. She will do irreparable harm to countless people in the name of “freedom.”

Dialogue options:

It’s for the greater good. [10]

Give the spy some credit. [11]

She’s easier to control. [12] -Vivienne slightly disapproves (PC romancing Cassandra)

10 - It’s for the greater good. PC: Freeing the mages will benefit everyone. Vivienne: Your naivety is so charming, Inquisitor. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 11 - Give the spy some credit. PC: She’s a spy. I trust her ability to be subtle and calculating. Vivienne: She’s a spy darling, not a diplomat. She solves all her problems with a knife. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 12 - She’s easier to control. PC: Cassandra is too headstrong. Leliana is easier to keep under control. Vivienne (PC romancing Cassandra): Cassandra would do anything for you, my dear. Leliana sees you as a means to an end. Vivienne: Cassandra believes you’re Andraste’s agent in the word. Leliana thinks you’re a useful tool. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 13 - Scene continues. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Vivienne: Leliana is determined to end the Circle. And you would help her? What do you think you’re offering us? Liberty? Happiness? An equal place in the world? But what is the price? What does that freedom truly mean? ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Dialogue options:

Freedom is worth any price. [14]

Change is a necessary evil. [15]

It doesn’t cost anything. [16]

14 - Freedom is worth any price. PC: It doesn’t matter. Freedom and equality are worth any sacrifice. Vivienne: Whose sacrifice? ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 15 - Change is a necessary evil. PC: Change is difficult, but we need it. Without it, we’ll wither and die. Vivienne: Some things are beyond our power to change, Inquisitor. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 16 - It doesn’t cost anything. PC: To grant mages freedom isn’t to take it away from anyone else. Vivienne: Oh, really? And where do you think these free mages will live? In some distant country of their own? ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 17 - Scene continues. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Vivienne: The free mages will live among ordinary men and women who will look upon us with dread. And they should, for the free mages will ash out. How dare the world hate them? How dare it fear them? If they are to be treated as monsters, they will become monsters. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Dialogue options:

We can’t punish everyone. [18]

They do that now. [19]

We’ll deal with that later. [20]

18 - We can’t punish everyone. PC: We can’t lock up all mages because a few will lash out. That’s not fair… or reasonable. Vivienne: When has life ever been fair or reasonable? ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 19 - They do that now. PC: Vivienne, that already happens. The Circle doesn’t stop it. Vivienne: The Circle contains it! When an angry mage lashes out inside a tower, villages aren’t destroyed! You propose to let them loose with nothing but a solemn promise not to murder children. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 20 - We’ll deal with that later. PC: If there are problems, we’ll deal with them. I’m not going to worry about that now. Vivienne: Of course not. You’ve thought nothing of the consequences of this madness. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ 21 - Scene continues. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Vivienne: You would buy the freedom of a few mages with generations of terror. Is that worth it? Do you think, when fear covers them like a shroud, people won’t fight back? Good, honest folk defending their homes and families… Mages will die, and ordinary men will die in a war that can never be won. Unless you can grant magic to all people, Inquisitor, we can never be free. You should go, my dear. There’s still a battle to be fought. [22]

7 - I’m backing Cassandra. PC: Cassandra is my choice. Vivienne: I’m relieved to hear it. Cassandra is our only hope of restoring order after all this chaos. Vivienne (positive approval): I knew you would see us on the right course. Vivienne (low approval):: Your wisdom on this matter is refreshing, my dear. Vivienne: But I’ve kept you long enough my dear. There’s a battle to prepare for. [22]

8 - The Maker will guide me. PC: I will know when the time comes, the Maker will guide me to the right choice. Vivienne: I will pray, then, that He guides you down the path that leads us to stability and order. I’m sure you will make the right decision when the time comes. But I’ve kept you long enough my dear. There’s a battle to prepare for. [22]

9 - I have no idea. PC: I don’t have the slightest idea who to support. Vivienne: Personally, I would suggest Cassandra, Inquisitor. Thedas will need a strong hand to restore order in the aftermath of all this chaos. But I’ve kept you long enough my dear. There’s a battle to prepare for. [22]

22 - Scene ends.

#dragon age inquisition #dai transcripts #dragon age #dragon age transcripts #dragon age dialogue #dai #long post #dai dialogue #vivienne de fer #vivienne #madame de fer #deleted dialogue

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my-wellness-way · 12 days ago

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Effective Strategies to Crush Your Weight Loss Goals in 2025

Are you ready to make 2025 the year you finally achieve your weight loss goals? With so much information out there, finding the right strategies can be overwhelming.

This guide will simplify the process and provide you with actionable, science-backed tips to crush your weight loss journey this year.

1. Set Realistic and Specific Goals

The first step to achieving your weight loss goals is defining them clearly. Instead of vague resolutions like "lose weight," aim for specific and measurable targets, such as "lose 15 pounds in 3 months by exercising 4 times a week and eating 1,800 calories per day."

Why it works:

Helps you stay focused and track progress.

Encourages long-term lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes.

2. Prioritize a Balanced Diet Over Extreme Dieting

Fad diets may offer quick results, but they are rarely sustainable. Focus on a balanced diet that includes lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Limit processed foods and added sugars.

Pro Tip: Incorporate more plant-based meals, as studies show they can help with weight management and overall health.

3. Make Meal Prep a Weekly Habit

Meal prepping helps you control portion sizes and resist unhealthy choices when hunger strikes. Dedicate a few hours each week to prepare nutritious meals and snacks in advance.

Benefits of meal prep:

Saves time and money.

Keeps you consistent with your calorie and nutrient intake.

4. Stay Active with a Mix of Workouts

Exercise is key to burning calories and building muscle. Combine cardio workouts (like running or cycling) with strength training to maximize fat loss and boost metabolism.

2025 Fitness Trends to Try:

- High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).

- Online fitness classes for convenience.

- Group sports to keep workouts fun and engaging.

5. Track Your Progress

Using a journal or app to monitor your food intake, workouts, and weight loss progress can help you stay accountable. Apps like MyFitnessPal or Fitbit offer tools to track calories and exercise effortlessly.

Pro Tip: Celebrate small milestones to stay motivated, whether it's fitting into an old pair of jeans or reaching a fitness goal.

6. Focus on Sleep and Stress Management

Poor sleep and high stress levels can hinder weight loss by increasing hunger hormones like ghrelin. Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep per night and practice stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.

7. Stay Hydrated

Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated but also helps with appetite control and metabolism. Replace sugary drinks with water, herbal teas, or infused water for variety.

Quick Tip: Drink a glass of water before meals to avoid overeating.

8. Build a Support System

Having friends, family, or online communities supporting your weight loss journey can make a huge difference. Share your goals and progress, and don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance from dietitians or personal trainers if needed.

9. Be Patient and Consistent

Weight loss is a journey, not a sprint. Plateaus are normal, and progress may vary. Focus on consistency and celebrate non-scale victories, like improved energy levels or better mood.

10. Leverage Technology and Tools

Use wearable fitness trackers, calorie counters, and AI-powered apps to personalize and optimize your weight loss journey. These tools can provide insights into your habits and suggest improvements.

Conclusion

Achieving your weight loss goals in 2025 doesn’t have to be daunting. By setting realistic goals, maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and using the right tools, you can stay on track and see lasting results. Remember, consistency and patience are key.

Start implementing these strategies today, and watch yourself crush your weight loss goals this year!

youtube

#trending #workout #fyp #health

#dick grayson #workout #fyp #healthcare #health #lando norris #viral #dc comics #bruce wayne #fitness #Youtube #trending #phan #medicine #dnp

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healthy444 · 10 months ago

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What is the right diet for losing fat?

The right diet for losing fat varies from person to person based on individual factors such as age, gender, weight, activity level, and any underlying health conditions. However, there are some general principles that can help:

Caloric Deficit: The most important factor in losing fat is to consume fewer calories than you expend. This creates a caloric deficit, prompting your body to burn stored fat for energy. You can achieve this by reducing your calorie intake, increasing your physical activity, or a combination of both.

Balanced Macronutrients: Your diet should include a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.

Protein Intake: Protein is crucial for preserving muscle mass while losing fat and can help you feel full and satisfied. Aim to include a source of protein in each meal, such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, tofu, or tempeh.

Healthy Fats: Include sources of healthy fats in your diet, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon. These fats can help keep you full and support overall health.

Complex Carbohydrates: Choose complex carbohydrates over simple ones. Whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, oats, and whole wheat products provide fiber, which can aid in digestion and help you feel fuller for longer periods.

Portion Control: Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid overeating. Use smaller plates, measure your servings, and pay attention to hunger and fullness cues.

Limit Processed Foods and Added Sugars: Minimize your intake of processed foods, sugary snacks, and beverages as they tend to be high in calories and low in nutrients. Opt for whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sometimes, thirst can be mistaken for hunger, leading to unnecessary calorie consumption.

Meal Timing: Some people find success with intermittent fasting or eating within a specific window of time each day. Experiment with different meal timing strategies to see what works best for you.

Consistency and Patience: Losing fat takes time and consistency. Focus on making sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle rather than seeking quick fixes.

Mindful Eating: Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues. Eat slowly and mindfully, savoring each bite, and stop eating when you feel satisfied, rather than full.

Include Fiber-Rich Foods: Fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes can help regulate digestion, keep you feeling full, and support overall health.

Limit Liquid Calories: Be cautious of high-calorie beverages such as sugary sodas, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages, as they can contribute to weight gain without providing satiety. Opt for water, herbal tea, or other low-calorie options instead.

Be Flexible: Allow for flexibility in your diet to accommodate social occasions or cravings. It's okay to enjoy treats in moderation, as long as they fit within your overall calorie and macronutrient goals.

Track Your Progress: Keep track of your food intake and progress toward your goals using a food diary, mobile app, or other tracking tools. This can help you stay accountable and make adjustments as needed.

Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Inadequate sleep can disrupt hunger hormones and metabolism, making it harder to lose fat.

Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to overeating and weight gain. Practice stress-reducing techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or spending time outdoors to support your fat loss efforts.

Include Strength Training: Incorporate strength training exercises into your fitness routine to build and maintain muscle mass. Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue, so increasing your muscle mass can help boost your metabolism.

Stay Consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to fat loss. Stick to your healthy eating plan and exercise routine even on days when you don't feel motivated. Small, sustainable changes over time can lead to significant results.

Seek Support: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family members, or online communities who can encourage and motivate you on your fat loss journey

Having a support system can make it easier to stay on track and overcome challenges.

By incorporating these additional points into your fat-loss diet, you can optimize your efforts and increase your chances of success. Remember that what works best for one person may not work for another, so it's essential to find an approach that fits your individual preferences, lifestyle, and goals.

Before making any significant changes to your diet, it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or dietary restrictions. They can provide personalized guidance tailored to your individual needs and goals.

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4cconsulting · 2 years ago

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What are the 7 QC tools problem solving : Process Improvement Tools | 4C Consulting

7 Quality Control Tools For Process Improvement

“As much as 95 per cent of all quality-related problems in the factory can be solved with seven fundamental quantitative tools.”

-Kaoru Ishikawa, The inventor of Fishbone Diagram

In today’s customer-centric market, quality is an integral factor in the growth and sustainability of any business. Businesses go the extra mile to provide the best and excellent customer experience to ensure customer satisfaction. Hence, efficient quality management which has the highest impact on customer experience is one of the most essential features for any business.

Introduced by Kaoru Ishikawa, the seven basic tools of quality also known as 7 QC tools are very effective in quality management and quality assurance process. So, businesses who want to ensure competitive and excellent quality of their products and services can utilize the proven 7QC tools for structuring a strategic plan for quality improvement.

List Of 7 Quality Control Tools

Cause and Effect Diagram

Cause and Effect Diagram also known as Fishbone Diagram helps in identifying the potential causes of an effect or a problem. In addition to sorting ideas in respective categories, it also helps in understanding the areas of opportunity through effective brainstorming. Fishbone training empowers you to identify the potential cause in the problem.

Control Chart

Control charts are used to study how the processes have changed over a period of time. Further, by comparing current data to historical control limits, one could lead to the conclusion about whether the process variation is consistent as in under control or unpredictable as in out of the control due to being affected by special causes of variation.

Pareto Chart

Pareto Chart is based on the 80/20 rule where it shows the significant factors that have the highest impact on the identified problem.

Check Sheet

Check sheet is a structured process which helps to collect and analyzing data. It is an effective tool that can be for a variety of purposes.

Histogram

Histogram is commonly used a graph that shows the data and its frequency of distribution to help users identify each different value in a set of data occurs.

Scatter Diagram

Scatter diagram shows the relationship between two important factors i.e. pairs of numerical data, one variable on each axis to demonstrate the relationship.

Stratification

Stratification also known as a flow chart or run chart is a technique that separates the data gathered from a variety of sources so that patterns can be seen i.e., the path an entity has taken through a defined process.

Utilizing the 7 QC tools in six sigma or quality management process helps in taking a systematic approach to identify and understand the risk, assess the risk, control fluctuation of product quality and accordingly provide solutions to avoid future defects.

When Should You Use 7 Quality Control Tools?

7 QC tools can be carried out during the quality management, quality improvement process, six sigma implementation processes or even the regular PDCA cycle for the quality purpose for enhanced quality management.

In the first phase of measuring and identifying, Fishbone Diagram also known as cause and effect diagram, Pareto Chart and Control Chart can be utilized. In the next phases of assessment and analysis, Scatter Diagram, Histogram and Checklist can be carried out. The Control Chart can be utilized consistent quality improvement.

Benefits Of 7 Qc Tools

The 7 QC tools are structured and fundamental instruments that help businesses improve their management and production process for achieving enhanced product quality.

From assessing and examining the production process, identification of key challenges and problems to controlling the fluctuation present in the product quality and providing solutions for prevention of defects in future, the easy to understand and implement, 7 QC tools are very effective. Some of the major business benefits of 7 QC tools are listed below.

Provides a more structured path for problem-solving and quality improvement

Easy to understand as well as implement yet extremely effective

A scientific and logical approach for problem-solving

Follows the 80/20 rule i.e. gain 80% result with 20% efforts

Improve the quality of product and services

Helps in identifying and analyzing problems during the process

Fishbone training aides in root cause analysis and problem-solving

Encourages team spirit and fosters a healthy culture

Identifies roots cause and solve it permanently

Enhance customer experience and customer satisfaction

Based on the data-driven process and customer-centric approach, 7 QC tools implementation is one of the most effective processes that too in the shortest amount of time.

4C team of certified professionals has provided 80+ implementation of 7 QC Tools and 120+ 7 QC Tools Training. By solving 200+ quality problems, 4C has empowered clients to reduce the 80% cost of poor quality. To accelerate your quality management process and reduce your cost of poor quality, contact our experts now.

#What are the 7 QC tools #7 QC tools problem solving #7 QC Tools #7 QC Tools Training #Benefits Of 7 Qc Tools #7qc tools list #list of 7 qc tools #7 quality tools #7 quality control tools #benefits of 7 qc tools #new 7 qc tools #7 qc tools

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kinopioa · 5 months ago

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It's fascinating seeing people go "I miss the wild west era of the internet" and then learn they were born in 2003

Like fuck off. By the time you're 6 it was dead. The cutoff is around 06/7, and even that's debateable to have ended earlier

If we're being brutally honest-

1993-1998: True Wild West. Not much could happen due to limited tech, but it was completely unmonitored. I'm honestly surprised to find archives of old chats on Google

1998: The Coppa act is established, further taking effect in 2000. This made people aware that kids can access the internet. Teens barely gave a shit, though it made corporations more aware of them, and how to consider them for a market. It also unfortunately promoted age fraud to access barred login sites

1999-2005/6: User oriented era. This is when a lot of custom sites, blogs, and forums popped up, as well as many image hosting sites that are sadly defunct now. Google being a popular search engine further encouraged discovering these user made sites. Contrary to popular belief, user sites were mostly made and "moderated" by edgy kids and teens, so you WILL see the opinion of a 14yr old. Incidentally, due to domains being expensive, a lot of these teen made forums and personal sites died extremely fast, ignoring raids, doxxing, and flamewars

Video sharing while possible also was really crappy for quality...except for

User created flash games and anims enabled a massive spread of content. Newgrounds was a popular hosting spot. Shame Flash died

Outside that, we least we got bbphp as a solid forum template be popularized after many other ones died. For those less tech savvy, in 2003

We got social media. This was the main goto till smartphones and Twitter got popularized after 2006, and still was going strong until mid 2010s. Despite older netiquette of being encouraged to not post anything indentifiable about yourself, many users expressed themselves with music tastes and eventual personal blogs

2005/6: YouTube is released, as well as Dailymotion. Bootlegged Newgrounds anims popped up for uploads, but also shared tv show clips

Fun thing, before mid 2010s, users can only upload at max 15min of video

Similarly around 2005, Reddit similarly sparked up. More modern image hosting sites spurred around 2007/8

~~~

But regardless, the public internet already changed massively after 2000. Web 2.0 was already a term from 1999 that described the change, with it being redefined for it occuring around 2004. I think one thing not noticed, the development of this tech mostly happened in the UK, due to general smaller population and faster telocommunication services compared to the US at the time. This similar impacted the type of audience that used this

I see people longing for a freer internet, and I agree online corporate control is shitty. But the dretches of humanity has severely stunted user diversity and interest, same with over prioritizing skill over general good collaboration and behavior. The modern tech bro absolutely not giving a shit for the userbase or societal problems and being very selfish can unfortunately be traced here. Same for rsmpant political misinformation being unmoderated, and early 90s fandom woes still having a negative impact on some franchises

I see dumbass self censoring like "unalive" on sites, and it's not even enforced. It's just stupid assumption that advertisors care so much

Which brings the question, why are we trying to heavily get into monetizing expression? I genuinely feel Ytube enabling users to do so is exactly why user content got obnoxious after 2013 when it got popular. Unfortunately it's way too late to undo that. Many rely on the monetizing

Though I find it funny when people ignore just...making their own site to bypass the censorship. bbphp again is open source, and there are many other online web creation tools. I can't even say the rise of tech illiteracy is why, tech illiterate people aren't the ones complaining of sites crapping out

Anyway, if you miss pre algorithm search engines results leading to you finding random shit, try this;

Unfortunately the reducing of child safe sites is another convo

#internet

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somethingclevermahogony · 10 months ago

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Happy WBW! Does your world have any interesting systems of currency?

Currency in the Green Sea

Thank you for the question!

Currency is a complicated topic, primarily owing to the fact that money isn't actually all that common in the Green Sea and is a relatively new innovation. In fact it was a Labisian King, Mushadi the Third, who first implemented a palace controlled coinage. Mushadi happens to be the grandfather of both Ninma and Akard, just to give you an idea of how recent coinage actually is. Most of the Green Sea trades primarily via barter, and in practice the coins now used in parts of Kishetal, Shabala, and Makora, are based on the goods that were once bartered. The perceived worth, size, and shape of coins will vary from city to city. For most of the world, even in places like Labisa where coinage exists, most economic activity is still based on bartering, the direct trade of goods. In certain regions of both Kishetal and Korithia, cattle are seen as a show of wealth, and things may be priced in terms of heads of cattle or other livestock.

For those regions that do use coinage, it is perfectly normal to accept money from other regions as payment, in this instance these coins will be thought of purely from a material standpoint, as pieces of metal, rather than with palatial backing.

The Labisian Currency System

Most commoners in Labisa don't use coins or if they do they will only do so using bronze coins, most commoners are unlikely to ever even touch a gold coin, much less earn one.

The examples of Labisian coins above come from the reign of Hutbari. The holes on each coin are meant to specify their worth in terms of baskets of barley.

The smallest unit of Labisan money is the Zubakip, a bronze coin, typically made from the scraps leftover from armor, tool, and weapon production. The worth of the coin is regulated based on the palatial administration with price being tied to the price of two baskets of barley. The actual size of these baskets, and thus the buying power of the coin, will fluctuate. A Zubakip can be thought of as 3 days worth of work for a Kishite commoner. The front of these coins are typically emblazoned with symbols related to the city itself, in this instance the glyphic symbol of the mountain and lake.

The second unit is the Sysbakip, a silver coin. The sysbakip is worth approximately five times as much as a Zubakip, 8 baskets of grain, or roughly the same price as the average ewe or a good quality horned-rabbit. These coins are typically marked with an image of the ruler that commissioned the coin. The example above shows Hutbari flanked by two Kiriki.

The last and most valuable coin is the golden Fetabakip. Fetabakip are very rarely actually made and reserved almost exclusively to nobility and for purposes of trade. These are typically the least adorned coin, marked only with the name of the reigning king. One fetabakip is equivalent to 7 Zubakip, or half of the price of a mid-quality heifer.

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #worldbuilding #fantasy #fantasy writing #world building #writing #fantasy world #wbw #ask answered

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mariacallous · 3 months ago

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The “True Sensation” dildo is a fleshy, silicone tool that measures exactly 7 inches and has the ability to vibrate (three different frequencies), thrust (seven different speeds), and self-heat (up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s just like the real thing, James Guo, the founder of Our Erotic Journey, assures me from his office in Irvine, California. Best of all—everything is controlled through the app AMZ.

“It connects to someone that’s oceans away,” he says of its potential for creating all kinds of sexual fantasies. Teasingly, he adds: “There’s also music that can match the intensity of the vibration.”

True Sensation is just one offering featured among the wide inventory of Our Erotic Journey, the sex toy brand Guo launched in 2019. Its online store, which boasts more than 200 products, is a pleasure chest of sexual self-amusement. Take your pick: There’s the lipstick-shaped vibrator, a remote-controlled rotating butt plug, various cock rings, something called the “Gravity Rocket” (a clitoral suction vibrator with seven massage modes), and a smattering of glow-in-the-dark accessories. “Those are for the ravers,” Guo jokes.

The sex tech market is estimated to triple by 2030, exceeding $100 billion globally in sales. The demand for products, from AI-assisted companions and personal wand massagers to sexual wellness apps, sits at an all-time high. At a moment when industry trends favor artificial intelligence and remote sex exploration, Guo just wants to make eccentric, high-quality vibrators. He’s betting big on toys.

In the years since launch, Guo has built Our Erotic Journey into a quietly influential brand through intentionally whimsical designs and an insistence on quality products. “I know production,” Guo says. His family, he tells me, owns an auto-parts factory in China, and what he learned from the business—how the factory system runs, the science of machines, what style of packaging attracts customers—he leveraged for OEJ.

Guo admits that the initial product line—about 20 toys, of which the Sec Duo vibrator for couples remains a company best-seller—was devised to “fit the market.” “We self developed the first batch through modding, R&D, scaling, all that stuff,” he says. “Everything since that represents more of who we are.”

That’s how OEJ’s six themed collections came to be. The Cristal collection is for glass toys while the Space, Thrillz, and Lit collections are for truly uninhibited pleasure seekers (one features a dildo called “The Girthquake,” that exploits a specific, if sometimes worn out, racial fantasy).

But where Guo, who is 35, sometimes falls short in imagination, he more than makes up for in vigilance. “Users expect and deserve products that meet stringent safety standards, and any deviation can damage a brand’s reputation irrevocably,” he posted in an XBIZ editorial in September. “Partner with trusted white-label manufacturers rather than gamble on the unknowns.”

When I ask Guo about the editorial, he stresses that the success of sex tech is determined as much by the innovation involved in the products as the quality. “We want to be more of a bridge from human to human,” Guo says, “not just from toy to human.”

Even with promising market projections—another estimate goes so far as to predict sales could surpass $121 billion by 2030—industry analysts are not convinced that the future of sex tech is in toys.

It’s a “very oversaturated market that is now avoided by many,” says Olena Petrosyuk, a partner at the consulting firm Waveup. This year, she adds, investors “are looking away from ‘commoditized’ trends”—sex toys, but also sex content and social platforms. “Many failed to prove the economics and scale. The category is still fairly stigmatized,” she says. “OnlyFans being a massive exception.”

So what do consumers want? Petrosyuk says wellness, AI, and immersive realities are hot right now. “Practically every new sex tech startup is thinking in terms of AI use cases,” she says. “If it’s AI toys—companies are looking into how they can anticipate and respond to the user’s needs. If it’s robotics—we see companies looking into sex bots. If it’s content—it’s hyperpersonalized sex personas.”

Guo tells me he is not phased by talk of AI sex robots—“a low-volume business,” in his estimation—because many people cannot afford the high price tag. Continued success, he believes, is will come by expanding on the company’s themed collections. OEJ works directly with US and Canadian distributors; it is not a direct-to-consumer business, though he says customers do occasionally order via the online store.

Although ecommerce is the industry standard in retail and electronics, taking more of an old-school approach works for Guo. Next year, OEJ plans to launch a Zodiac collection, crafting 12 unique toys for each astrological sign. It’s an appeal to the Co–Star fanatics of Gen Z. “Every generation is different,” he says.

The company’s mostly nonexistent social media presence only seems to add to their Wonka-like mystery. “We’re just bad at it,” Jerry Chen, an operations assistant, says. “We’re really focused on production.”

For now, that business model seems to be a hit. Our Erotic Journey recently won the “Best Pleasure Product Manufacturer—Small” prize at the 2023–2024 AVN Awards in Las Vegas, a litmus test for newbie brands in the adult content world. OEJ also received the O Award for Outstanding New Product for “Sexy Pot,” Guo’s marijuana-leaf-shaped vibrator, a customer favorite.

Clearly wanting to capitalize on its unexpected success, Guo says, “It’s time we gave it a sister or brother.”

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green-tea-in-absinthe-bottle · 6 months ago

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THE NIGHT BELONGS TO YOU CHAPTER 3

Blade x fem reader fanfic

MASTERLIST

Summary of part 3 - Reader lives among stellaron hunters, makes genuine connections and slowly becomes one of them

Chapter 3 – Tangled up like branches in a flood

Between playing games with Silver Wolf at which Y/n sucked, ( but enjoyed them, so who cares) and conversations with Elio (she was told by Destiny’s Slave himself to refer to him as such after short time) weeks passed quickly and happily with Stellaron Hunters.

Y/n couldn’t say that she wasn’t treated well, her room was spacious and comfortable one with king sized bed and huge bookshelf full of grimoires, they even put up a little herb garden in her room. She had supplies for her numerous hobbies, yarn for crochet and knitting, painting tools, even her favourite instrument to practice with to Kafka’s delight as she always craved some company while honing her violin skills.

She was quickly introduced to her share of housework which wasn’t a terrible one, she got to do things she didn’t really mind doing especially those that others didn’t like, overall it wasn’t overwhelming. If anything she was too proud to admit but it seemed life together was much easier, at least no more triggering her sensory issues with washing dishes. With time her attachment to Stellaron Hunters grew.

They behaved towards each other like a found family and there was nothing Arkonian missed more than her own one. Maybe that’s why she loved how Blade and Silver Wolf’s friendship looked like? Each time she noticed them joke around together and spend quality time regardless if it was work-related, going out in disguise to enjoy festivals or parallel play when Wolf gamed and Blade slept with his eyes open next to her - y/n thought about her father and how they used to do that too, minus the whole incognito thing.

She wasn’t the part of their dynamic, yet it still brought her comfort. Even when she spent time with Silver Wolf Blade almost never spoke to her, despite his gaze always finding her and observing her every move.

- Y/n, would you like to play Tekken with me? Blade hurt his hand again, he can’t hold the controller properly. - Wolfie casually suggested, giving him a piece of bubble gum. He took it gently into his bandaged hand. Fresh blood was visible on white material.

- Sure, why not. Tekken 7 or 8? I main Kazumi or Jun.

- You like Mishimas’s girls? - teen teased her.

- What can I say, they have great taste in women, I mean... Have you seen Jun’s leg cutter move? So hot. - y/n didn’t even try to pretend she was normal about those characters. - By the way, what happened to our friend?

He winced at the word she chose to describe him with but didn’t oppose when y/n sat on the floor between his and Wolfie’s legs. She didn’t want to get the chips crumbs scrambled here and there on the couch stuck on her black pants.

- During the mission some glass shards from broken window cut his hand. Don’t worry, he heals much faster than average person, his curse does come with a few blessings. - Wolfie answered instead of the man, who looked like he wanted to say a few bitter words about such unwanted “blessings” that only delay his eternal rest. Unbothered by his grumpiness girl continued. - Here is your controller, we play the new Tekken. Blade just bought it for me today.

- That’s very kind of him. - y/n admitted. She only earned unamused glance from the man.

- He is way nicer than he seems to be at first, you will understand.

Out of 7 matches they played y/n won only two, but claimed to be good at Tekken. Just, you know, trying new techniques for fun and gawking at Jun’s design. Wolfie turned out to be Yoshimitsu main but tried Hwoarang once. Blade didn’t utter a word through the whole game but passed them snacks from nearby table. Perhaps those spicy shrimp chips were enough for y/n to forget how annoying he could be sometimes. Did she imagine this or did he really gave up last few chips from his bowl so she could have them?

***

Later, when Silver Wolf and Y/N were alone the former reassured her.

- Don’t worry about Blade, he isn’t in the best place mentally. He usually avoids outsiders like a plague. You are new here and we don’t know yet for how long will you be willing to stay with us or if we can trust you. It’s already a miracle he sits next to you out of his own will, I think he doesn’t dislike you. - girl grinned.

- I don’t know about that. - y/n laughed in response – Your gloomy friend constantly stares at me like he wants to see all my previous lifetimes.

Hacker cackled wildly at that.

- Oh come on, he’s not that bad. He is just... A bit intense. But trust me, he doesn’t hate you. You would know if he would. You haven’t seen him like that yet, he’s like some fallen angel of revenge.

- Sounds like I really don’t want to get on his bad side. - medium scrunched her nose.

Even more often she marveled at Blade’s friendship with Firefly, the girl that craved life but hers was meant to be cut short, while he craved nothing more than for his immortal suffering to come to end, he could find some hope for peace only in death, just like one of Y/N’s relatives back then on Arkona... Yet Firefly and Blade deeply respected each other, understood each other in a way nobody else ever did and took care of each other in subtle way. It was so sweet.

In general, y/n considered the way everybody here accommodated disabled people of the group without infantilising them or making them seem like a burden. For example – Blade let girls play on his phone, but when he needed them to type a message to somebody which was hard for him to do because of constant stiffness of his hands – he didn’t need to ask them twice even in the middle of unstoppable game. Perhaps the pain in his hands is the reason why he barely used his phone in general. He always spoke to the girls with respect, never let them feel inferior despite age difference, y/n chose to believe that the day he got his ass kicked by Sam was not the only reason why.

Firefly’s entropy loss syndrome wasn’t a tabu, nobody tried to pretend it wasn’t there, but it was not a secret that time spent together was precious to them due to her shortened lifespan. She was always the closest with Blade, yet y/n suspected the one who cherished her the most was Kafka herself. The problem is even if Kafka tried her best at being there for Firefly it only seemed to create more distance.

Y/n believed in Kafka’s good intentions towards her crewmates. She always checked on their wellbeing, listened to Silver Wolf’s ideas when nobody else took them seriously and she was the one covering for them in front of the boss when they ignored the script on missions. The way in which girls asked her if they can bend the rules a bit each time made y/n remember how she used to ask her auntie to calm her mother down later if she wanted to misbehave. Despite that, y/n believed that Kafka, so known for being completely fearless, tried to shield herself from others to avoid getting too close.

It came to her mind one day while she was cleaning and organizing Kafka’s collection of coats alongside it’s owner.

- This one might need to be repaired before it gets back into the closet. - y/n suggested.

- What is it dear? - woman furrowed her brow, taking a look at damaged sleeve Arkonian held in front of her. - Is that blood? I really liked this one...- she sighed. - Don’t worry cutie, the blood definitely isn’t mine.

While that woman was always charming, polite and elegant – she was also a mysterious one, doing her best to not pick up any personal topics. She clearly wanted company, valued people around her and in some way, y/n was sure she needed them. Yet, she never truly let go of her defences. She seemed to be honest with you, telling you things without sugarcoating, but at the end of the day you didn’t really knew who she was. She didn’t lie but she never opened up either.

At one point this enigmatic woman put down the last one of her coats and looked up at the painting hanging on the wall. Artificial light enhanced her facial features, emphasized her subtle expression. Kafka had that kind of sadness in her eyes y/n only saw in people who lost somebody who meant world to them, full of regret as if her soul could burst out of the seams under the weight of words unsaid, unconfessed feelings. Quickly, she concealed those emotions and closed the closet door. Y/n didn’t ask about it.

She didn’t want to pry, sometimes we need to let people keep their secrets, it’s a form of dignity too, like clothing that covers your body. Y/n knew better than anyone else – it's not a good thing to show your open wounds to people. After all Arkona left a hole in her heart that will never heal.

Still, she tried to fill it, went out to run whenever she could, hiked the mountains to feel the blood rush through her body. To feel alive. Usually Firefly joined her during those activities, when you know you don’t have much time left you try to make every day meaningful. More often than not she had to take on SAM form during those to not overwhelm her body. To Firefly having a chance to see the beauty of nature, of world around herself – that was everything, and she couldn’t bear the thought of losing it one day.

During one of those hikes Y/n sat down next to younger girl on a boulder and passed her a thermos full of hot chocolate. They looked up at the setting sun, while two out of three moons this particular planet they chose to roam had slowly showed on the sky as pale crescents. Memories flood y/n’s mind. She turned her head towards her friend, only to see Firefly observing her with understanding in her eyes.

- Can I tell you something I haven’t told anybody else?- Y/n whispered with trembling voice.

- Of course, did something happen? - girl seemed to be concerned.

- Back then, on my home planet I used to live next to the mountain, it used to be known in common language as Saintcross, our original name would sound too strange to you. You know what kind of reputation Arkonian language has. Whenever harsh winds and storms destroyed roofs of the houses in nearby villages my mother used to pray to Saintcross so it keeps us safe... She used to say it’s like a natural shield against those. I didn’t always believe that, cause in the area around them harsh winds were not uncommon but our home stood safe through it so I guess her prayers were listened to. Till the abominations came and split my mountains apart. - Arkonian’s face was wet with all the tears and she trembled so hard Firefly noticed it despite thick winter jacket covering y/n’s body .– Then there was nothing to protect us anymore. Nothing to pray to. Smoke covered sky so no stars shone above us at night and no sun was to be seen at day.

Firefly didn’t knew what to do when people cried so she just held y/n till she calmed down. Then she spoke as well.

- My kind was meant to live fast and die in the flames of battle. In my lifetime I saw my comrades die again and again, I’m was used to losing those around me, that at some point I truly, foolishly believed that I can’t feel grief. We were made to fight Swarm but we lived like a hivemind ourselves. Only our purpose mattered, not who we were. To some extend we were made to believe we were all the same, like army of clones. - she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Arkonian’s arms around her tightened. - One thing I really need to do before enthropy takes me away from this world is to learn who I am. Only I myself can give sense to my life. I was made to burn, so in this fire I will forge myself in any shape I desire. - ambition shone in her eyes with intensity of the sun itself.

- I am sure you will reach your goal, maybe even to some extent it’s already done. - y/n gently smiled.

- Why would you say that? - girl livened up a bit.

- I never saw anybody burn as bright as you do. Take in everything like you do. Embrace life in all it’s colors. All stars shine in the sky but my people always looked up to the brightest ones. You remind me so much of myself from my younger days in that aspect, I used to beg my family to take me up the mountain as often as possible, just so I could feel closer to divinity of sun, clouds and constellations. It made me feel so alive I wanted to scream from mountaintop. - y/n sighed. - Not to mention, growing up I had both a sweet tooth and tendency to try unconventional meals, I bet we would eat Oak Cake Rolls together if we knew each other back then. You need to try my favourite Anyżki cookies as well.

- Oh, do you know how to make them? I can use SAM's heating ability to help you bake them. - Firefly flexed a bit with a tiny smirk.

- Ummm...I need to refresh my memory, but as soon as I put my hands on that recipe we get to work bestie.

Firefly took of her helmet and put her head on y/n's shoulder with pleased expression on her face. They watched as the third moon became visible, distant howling of wolves filled the atmosphere. Arkonian felt like in trance, tranquil after the storm of her emotions drained her energy. She sobered up once the first moon begun to set.

- Maybe we should go. It’s getting late and I overheard Elio talk to Blade about something to do early in the morning tomorrow if everything goes well. - y/n’s voice interrupted peaceful moment they shared.

Firefly got up and they walked back in complete silence, no words were needed.

Y/n didn’t know if her friend told anybody about what happened, but after she came down to the kitchen that night to get some pills for her insomnia, she met Kafka who silently gave her a cup of hot milk with honey with reassuring smile on her face.

When she returned to her bedroom she found burning lavender incense placed on her bedside table, next to the small bouquet of red flowers identical to those Blade always had with himself. She didn’t recall putting any of those there, but was to tired to worry about that. Lavender managed to put her at ease, out of nowhere quiet violin music as hypnotizing as Kafka’s voice reached her ears and put her to sleep. For the first time since the fall of Arkona – she had no nightmares.

***

Humming to herself y/n cheerfully went to Elio’s office. She felt so much better after that night, her first one of good sleep in years. Right before she reached for door handle her mind was engulfed with vision of way too bright light that caused her pain and out of it stepped Terminus holding a star in his hand, complicated sigil drawn on it’s surface. Y/n felt her legs give up, she expected her body to hit the floor but then she felt the embrace of two strong arms, smell of fresh blood and Red Spider Lily flowers. Red, observant eyes of darkhaired male attentively checked for the shadow of discomfort in her eyes as he picked her up. She felt her cheeks blush under his gaze.

- Are you alright? - he asked.

She wondered why a man with such an attractive, manly voice speaks so rarely. Yet when he did usually it was a witty response or a sharp remark. Out of all Stellaron Hunters he was the hardest to connect to, even Kafka allowed her closer than he ever did. Always so fixated on his pain and deathwish, he avoided anything that could get him attached back to his life, with exception of other Stellaron Hunters. Y/n hoped one day this privilege will also be hers to enjoy. She snapped out of her thoughts as Blade got concerned with her silence.

- I just had a vision. I need to go to Elio’s office, he should hear about this.

- No way I will let you go there on your own, you barely stand. - Blade sighed. - Let me carry you there if that really can’t wait.

***

Elio raised his tail up in excitement while he looked at the sigil’s sketch in front of him.

- So that’s what Terminus meant by those words last week. If I understand correctly this thing over here might be a special charm, when it’s put on a proper mechanism it allows to extract energy from stellarons, this might be a true revolution. Can you imagine? If we could use all those stellarons we sealed through the years to our advantage, one of the biggest threats against humanity working in it’s favour. Do you remember prototype we build in hopes of achieving such thing?

- Yes, I made sure craftsman working on it were the absolute best I could find. - claimed confidently Blade. - I took part of planning it’s design by myself, nothing had a chance to go wrong under my watch even if I couldn’t work on it with my hands. Yet, we failed. Do you suggest infusion could help the machine work in a more stable way?

- That’s what I believe Terminus tried to tell me. There is no time to waste, we need to act without hesitation. Y/n, are you ready for your first mission for Stellaron Hunters? - Elio asked tho he already knew the answer.

- Of course. - Y/n hurriedly assured him. - I am ready.

- Good – he purred in response – There is a stellaron in hands of IPC nearby that we can try your sigil and Blade’s machine on. Grab it from the workshop and you are ready to go. According to my visions everything should go smoothly. I will give you coordinates of the object, you must attempt to seal it within machine and bring it here. Blade already knows this particular base, he and Kafka had a mission there last week. It should be easy for you guys to not get caught redhanded. I don’t expect many guards in your way. Two of you will set off without delay.

***

Blade threw microwave-sized machine at the backseat of the red, old-fashioned car and closed the door. He sat at the drivers place. Y/n noticed how he checked in a discreet way if her seatbelt is fixed. She didn’t want to disturb him while he was driving so she concentrated on the highway in front of her. Not even ten minutes have passed when he initiated a conversation to her surprise.

- Aren’t you shocked that I know how to drive? People usually ask me about it. Not very unexpected concern if you take my narcolepsy, suicidal tendencies and constant mara attacks into consideration. - his eyes didn’t leave the road the whole time but she noticed a slight crooked grin on his face.

- Not very much, Silver Wolf told me you used to be a blacksmith on Xianzhou Zhuming, Furnace Master even. I worked there, infusing their weapons with charms, so I know just how much effort and talent it takes to achieve something like this in such place, full of geniuses. I am aware you created many complicated machines during your previous lifetime, so naturally I thought you would be into all things related to such things. - she tried so hard to not say anything stupid but butterflies she felt in her stomach betrayed her time and time again.

- So you two gossip about me in your free time? I could convince Kafka to give you both some more responsibilities around the house. Separately. - he threatened but badly hidden smile on his face showed he wasn’t really upset. - How are things on Xianzhou? I bet those self-centered, arrogant idiots haven’t changed a bit since I last saw them. Always so proud, on their Xianzhou ships, yet completely delusional in their pursuits. They condemned me but their sins are way heavier than mine. - Blade laughed in a bitter way. Since when was he so talkative? He never spoke much, but when she was around the most you could get out of him was maybe a short sentence despite the way he looked at her constantly.

- To be fair the only reason it still stands is general Jing Yuan. - y/n dared to criticize Xianzhou as she still felt betrayed by them after people she trusted almost handed her to IPC – He seems to be the only person there that uses their brain for something, so he is used by them day and night, he barely sleeps.

- It must be hard on him, I don’t remember much from my previous life including some habits of my former friends, but from what I’ve heard his sleepiness is legendary.

- He is even called the slumbering general. - y/n admitted with a giggle. She hoped it wasn’t too enthusiastic. The thought of Blade somehow discovering her crush on Jing Yuan when she had a bit of a crush on him as well just didn’t sit with her right. Could you blame her? Almost every girl on Xianzhou Xianzhou was enchanted by talented general.

- Did they treat you well? - Blade looked at her this time, she knew she couldn’t lie under his penetrating gaze. He would figure her out in seconds.

- Yes, they did. I found many good colleagues in the forgery, but I never really became friends with anybody. I mostly kept to myself. The closest to a friend I had was Master Zhang.

- I don’t recall such name. - Blade slightly frowned.

- He was the one that warned me about IPC trying to get me, without him they would catch me without problem.- she mentioned Zhang with gratitude in her heart. - Everybody else had no issue with turning me in, at least from what I’ve heard. I guess current Furnace Master didn’t plan to stay silent when he saw what my enchanted weapon could do if he could get on the good side of IPC at the tiny cost of one of his employees.

Blade chuckled darkly.

- They turned their back on me as well. - his gaze went numb, he seemed to recall past grudges. Through gritted teeth he murmured – Out of five....three must pay the price.

His grip on the driving wheel tightened. Y/n wondered if he was about to get mara struck and how should she behave if that happens, when a bullet broke the car glass in front of them and flew right by her left ear.

#hsr blade #honkai blade #blade x reader #honkai star rail

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