#Barricaded Subject(s)

[landofadonises]

Operation Adonis - National Guard; Discovery of Mid-Optimal Dosages of NG-AD0372, 1100-1475mg Series 11

After the successes of Series 4, the "biotechnicians" (as they came to be known) opted for controlled progression of Series 5 through 10 to produce a stable groundwork for adonis-threshold entities to begin populating. They swiftly realised, however, that restlessness was brooding in the grounds, as the previously superior men were now being towered over by the recipients of NG-AD0372. After much pleading the biotechnicians opted to refocus and begin testing the upper limits requested of them, resulting in some of the finest successes they've had in terms of the largest, most muscular soldier possible, but also in the largest batch of containment yet dealt with, leading to some issues in propagation and the resulting offspring of these instances (please refer to text C829, community submission 'Hired Help').

The biotechnicians were aware of the correlation between dosage and weight, so leading in with a heavy hand, they operated within a higher range for these men. Luckily, by airing on the side of caution, they were left unharmed as the time span of minutes they had with prior series was suddenly shortened to tens of seconds, with some men unable to get out of the examination room before the effects took over. Technicians in other buildings witnessed pheromone effects so powerful that, even within their concrete barricades, the scientists were clawing at the walls to reach the test subject. Everything that happened with subjects in Series 4 through 10 happened in about a third of the time, the growth of these subjects seemingly painful, but swiftly being replaced with elated, bliss-ridden pleasure as they were overcome with sensitive sensation, initially only assumed by their expressions, but later verbally inquired with the subjects once they returned to functioning brain capability.

Unfortunately, the dosages used returned the evidence back to the scope of Series 1 through 3, where still standard-bodied soldiers were actively at risk from their growing peers' actions, evidenced by photographic presentation below with some being pinned, faces squished against the floor, etc. Undeniably, however, the results were exponential. Already incredibly large, iron-pumping men blew up in size, testosterone, virility, and raw masculinity, resulting in some of the most brutish and powerful soldiers on the roster. While these men were extremely important and helpful, undoubtedly their most important role as some of the early instances of alpha adonises was to be a release for their peers, as their pheromones pulled the response out of anyone once they willed it--one extremely helpful strategy in battle. This, of course, was extremely useful in the bunks and barracks, as the control group became self-sufficient in terms of cyclical release and preservation.

Now that evidence has been presented for successful Series 4 and 11, submission will follow promptly for post-experiment evidence for Series 1 through 3 and 17 onward. Please refer below to the relative success of Series 11's batch of subjects.

[teecupangel]

So, ive recently gotten back into Protocreed and a what if..? idea i had was:

After Abstergo recovers Desmonds body, they experiment with his DNA and Blacklight. Resulting in him being revived after an outbreak and breaking free.

It could even be the assassins fault that the outbreak happened!

.

In the midst of the chaos, no one noticed the body dissapearing. It's only after the outbreak was contained and culled that Subject 17 was noted as missing. With all the footage being destroyed it is impossible to tell what happened to it, but the general consensis is that one of the infected ate it. It is a crushing blow to their research, but thankfully they have plenty of samples stored in a different facility, so all hope is not lost. No one thought of the possibilty that a repeat of Alex Mercer's revival could happen. Subject 17 has been dead for months, the body is simply too old. So no one thought too look in the shadows of the city, where something lay lurking. Tracking. Hunting.

Hungering

So I have a ProtoCreed idea similar to this that I posted here.

The comments/replies have more details on how it would go but, in a nutshell, Blacklight is a failed/abandoned Isu project headed by Tinia (so we can have a little hehe moment with Alex being called ‘Zeus’) and Dr Mercer is not a Templar but he’s still a piece of work.

And Desmond’s Isu to human genes ratio + his Bleeding Effect screwed up the virus that he still has the superhuman feats that Alex has but he can’t morph his body to have weapons or anything like that.

Instead…

It’s like he can spawn three specific humanoid figures made of the black and red writhing flesh which only has one specific goal: keep Desmond safe.

There’s more details in the link above but the main point is that Desmond’s virus makes him be able to ‘summon’ his ancestors who holds a piece of Alex’s OG abilities and it’s unclear if they are mindless or if their connection with Desmond keeps them docile because when Abstergo try to cut their connection (which are tendrils of red and black connecting the creatures to Desmond’s shadow), the creature goes berserk and attacks and devours everything around until Desmond reconnects with it.

So we have:

Altaïr = Blade

Ezio = Hammerfist

Ratonhnhaké:ton = Whipfist

Ezio gets Hammerfist because the sword of Altaïr is iconic so Altaïr gets the Blade and Ratonhnhaké:ton had the ropedart so he gets the Whipfist. XD

Although, in my original idea, Desmond keeps his memories (thanks to the Bleeding Effect) but if you want to go down the route of Desmond being ‘incubated’ by the virus during the story of Prototype and waking up afterwards, we can easily do that and the incubation period is actually what corrupted Desmond’s mind.

So in this situation, Desmond would be more like ‘Eve’ from Parasite Eve, the new origin of an outbreak (and everyone believes it’s Alex’s fault which will lead us to a modified setup for Prototype 2 and Alex and Desmond having an antagonistic start).

But the outbreak is strange because it seemed… targeted.

The ones to be hit first were Abstergo facilities or facilities under Abstergo’s shell companies.

And the spread only began when these facilities had fallen and the barricades have been breached, like… it wasn’t truly intentional but more of a ‘side effect’.

So now we have Alex trying to figure out what this new outbreak is because the ‘children’ for this one are faster and more cunning, using their surrounding to hide and wait. And these children seemed to be taking orders from three creatures made of darkness and blood.

(Or, if you want to preserve the Assassin white and red color scheme, it’s gonna be grosser with them being filled with pus and blood instead. The pus could be a sign that the virus is being combated by Desmond’s Isu genes though and that could be a clue for Alex)

And any time Alex tries to eat any of them, he only gains snippets of the memories of the same person: a man named Desmond Miles.

The three commander creatures also seemed to travel via shadows, being able to melt into the shadows before Alex could ever destroy them completely.

Later, he would realize that the whole city (whichever city we’re planning to set this on) are filled with what looked like lines all over (maybe one would say that maybe it’s the ley lines or something and Alex would say that it looks more like… veins…) and these veins are actually how the commanders travel all over the city.

At the center of the veins is a cocoon…

[dailyanarchistposts]

I.2.3 How is the framework of an anarchist society created?

Anarchists do not abstractly compare a free society with the current one. Rather, we see an organic connection between what is and what could be. In other words, anarchists see the initial framework of an anarchist society as being created under statism and capitalism when working class people organise themselves to resist hierarchy. As Kropotkin argued:

“To make a revolution it is not … enough that there should be … [popular] risings … It is necessary that after the risings there should be something new in the institutions [that make up society], which would permit new forms of life to be elaborated and established.” [The Great French Revolution, vol. 1, p. 200]

Anarchists have seen these new institutions as being linked with the need of working class people to resist the evils of hierarchy, capitalism and statism, as being the product of the class struggle and attempts by working class people to resist authority, oppression and exploitation. Thus the struggle of working class people to protect and enhance their liberty under hierarchical society will be the basis for a society without hierarchy. This basic insight allowed anarchists like Bakunin and Proudhon to predict future developments in the class struggle such as workers’ councils (such as those which developed during the 1905 and 1917 Russian Revolutions). As Oskar Anweiler notes in his definitive work on the Russian Soviets (Workers’ Councils):

“Proudhon’s views are often directly associated with the Russian councils … Bakunin …, much more than Proudhon, linked anarchist principles directly to revolutionary action, thus arriving at remarkable insights into the revolutionary process that contribute to an understanding of later events in Russia … “In 1863 Proudhon declared … ‘All my economic ideas as developed over twenty-five years can be summed up in the words: agricultural-industrial federation. All my political ideas boil down to a similar formula: political federation or decentralisation.’ … Proudhon’s conception of a self-governing state [sic!] founded on producers’ corporations [i.e. federations of co-operatives], is certainly related to the idea of ‘a democracy of producers’ which emerged in the factory soviets. To this extent Proudhon can be regarded as an ideological precursor of the councils … “Bakunin … suggested the formation of revolutionary committees with representatives from the barricades, the streets, and the city districts, who would be given binding mandates, held accountable to the masses, and subject to recall. These revolutionary deputies were to form the ‘federation of the barricades,’ organising a revolutionary commune to immediately unite with other centres of rebellion … “Bakunin proposed the formation of revolutionary committees to elect communal councils, and a pyramidal organisation of society ‘through free federation from the bottom upward, the association of workers in industry and agriculture — first in the communities, then through federation of communities into districts, districts into nations, and nations into international brotherhood.’ These proposals are indeed strikingly similar to the structure of the subsequent Russian system of councils … “Bakunin’s ideas about spontaneous development of the revolution and the masses’ capacity for elementary organisation undoubtedly were echoed in part by the subsequent soviet movement… Because Bakunin … was always very close to the reality of social struggle, he was able to foresee concrete aspects of the revolution. The council movement during the Russian Revolution, though not a result of Bakunin’s theories, often corresponded in form and progress to his revolutionary concepts and predictions.” [The Soviets, pp. 8–11]

“As early as the 1860’s and 1870’s,” Paul Avrich also noted, “the followers of Proudhon and Bakunin in the First International were proposing the formation of workers’ councils designed both as a weapon of class struggle against capitalists and as the structural basis of the future libertarian society.” [The Russian Anarchists, p. 73]

In this sense, anarchy is not some distant goal but rather an aspect of the current struggles against domination, oppression and exploitation (i.e. the class struggle, to use an all-embracing term, although we must stress that anarchists use this term to cover all struggles against domination). “Anarchism,” argued Kropotkin, “is not a mere insight into a remote future. Already now, whatever the sphere of action of the individual, he [or she] can act, either in accordance with anarchist principles or on an opposite line.” It was “born among the people — in the struggles of real life” and “owes its origin to the constructive, creative activity of the people.” [Anarchism, p. 75, p. 150 and p. 149] Thus, “Anarchism is not … a theory of the future to be realised by divine inspiration. It is a living force in the affairs of our life, constantly creating new conditions.” It “stands for the spirit of revolt” and so ”[d]irect action against the authority in the shop, direct action against the authority of the law, of direct action against the invasive, meddlesome authority of our moral code, is the logical, consistent method of Anarchism.” [Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays, p. 63 and p. 66]

Anarchism draws upon the autonomous self-activity and spontaneity of working class people in struggle to inform both its political theory and its vision of a free society. The struggle against hierarchy teaches us not only how to be anarchists but also gives us a glimpse of what an anarchist society would be like, what its initial framework could be and the experience of managing our own activities which is required for such a society to function successfully.

Therefore, as is clear, anarchists have long had a clear vision of what an anarchist society would look like and, equally as important, where such a society would spring from (as we proved in section H.1.4 Lenin’s assertion that anarchists “have absolutely no clear idea of what the proletariat will put in its [the states] place” is simply false). It would, therefore, be useful to give a quick summary of anarchist views on this subject.

Proudhon, for example, looked to the self-activity of French workers, artisans and peasants and used that as the basis of his ideas on anarchism. While seeing such activity as essentially reformist in nature, like subsequent revolutionary anarchists he saw the germs of anarchy “generating from the bowels of the people, from the depths of labour, a greater authority, a more potent fact, which shall envelop capital and the State and subjugate them” as “it is of no use to change the holders of power or introduce some variation into its workings: an agricultural and industrial combination must be found by means of which power, today the ruler of society, shall become its slave.” [System of Economical Contradictions, p. 399 and p. 398] Workers should follow the example of those already creating co-operatives:

“Do not the workmen’s unions at this moment serve as the cradle for the social revolution … ? Are they not always the open school, both theoretical and practical, where the workman learns the science of the production and distribution of wealth, where he studies, without masters and without books, by his own experience solely, the laws of … industrial organisation … ?” [General Idea of the Revolution, p. 78]

Attempts to form workers associations, therefore, “should be judged, not by the more or less successful results which they obtain, but only according to their silent tendency to assert and establish the social republic.” The “importance of their work lies, not in their petty union interests, but in their denial of the rule of capitalists, money lenders and governments.” They “should take over the great departments of industry, which are their natural inheritance.” [Op. Cit., p. 98–9]

This linking of the present and the future through the self-activity and self-organisation of working class people is also found in Bakunin. Unlike Proudhon, Bakunin stressed revolutionary activity and so he saw the militant labour movement, and the revolution itself, as providing the basic structure of a free society. As he put it, “the organisation of the trade sections and their representation in the Chambers of Labour … bear in themselves the living seeds of the new society which is to replace the old one. They are creating not only the ideas, but also the facts of the future itself.” [Bakunin on Anarchism, p. 255]

The needs of the class struggle would create the framework of a new society, a federation of workers councils, as “strikes indicate a certain collective strength already, a certain understanding among the workers … each strike becomes the point of departure for the formation of new groups.” [The Basic Bakunin, pp. 149–50] This pre-revolutionary development would be accelerated by the revolution itself:

“the revolution must set out from the first to radically and totally destroy the State … The natural and necessary consequence of this destruction will be … [among others, the] dissolution of army, magistracy, bureaucracy, police and priesthood… confiscation of all productive capital and means of production on behalf of workers’ associations, who are to put them to use … the federative Alliance of all working men’s associations … [will] constitute the Commune . .. [the] Communal Council [will be] composed of … delegates … vested with plenary but accountable and removable mandates… all provinces, communes and associations … by first reorganising on revolutionary lines … [will] constitute the federation of insurgent associations, communes and provinces … [and] organise a revolutionary force capable defeating reaction … [and for] self-defence … [The] revolution everywhere must be created by the people, and supreme control must always belong to the people organised into a free federation of agricultural and industrial associations … organised from the bottom upwards by means of revolutionary delegation.” [Michael Bakunin: Selected Writings, pp. 170–2]

Like Bakunin, Kropotkin stressed that revolution transformed those taking part in it. As he noted in his classic account of the French Revolution, “by degrees, the revolutionary education of the people was being accomplished by the revolution itself.” Part of this process involved creating new organisations which allowed the mass of people to take part in the decision making of the revolution. He pointed to “the popular Commune,” arguing that “the Revolution began by creating the Commune … and through this institution it gained … immense power.” He stressed that it was “by means of the ‘districts’ [of the Communes] that … the masses, accustoming themselves to act without receiving orders from the national representatives, were practising what was to be described later as Direct Self-Government.” Such a system did not imply isolation, for while “the districts strove to maintain their own independence” they also “sought for unity of action, not in subjection to a Central Committee, but in a federative union.” The Commune “was thus made from below upward, by the federation of the district organisations; it spring up in a revolutionary way, from popular initiative.” Thus the process of class struggle, of the needs of the fighting against the existing system, generated the framework of an anarchist society for “the districts of Paris laid the foundations of a new, free, social organisation.” Little wonder he argued that “the principles of anarchism … already dated from 1789, and that they had their origin, not in theoretical speculations, but in the deeds of the Great French Revolution” and that “the libertarians would no doubt do the same to-day.” [The Great French Revolution, vol. 1, p. 261, p. 200, p. 203, p. 206, p. 204 and p. 206]

Similarly, as we noted in section H.2.6 we discover him arguing in Mutual Aid that strikes and labour unions were an expression of mutual aid in capitalist society. Elsewhere, Kropotkin argued that “labour combinations” like the “Sections” of French revolution were one of the “main popular anarchist currents” in history, expressing the “same popular resistance to the growing power of the few.” [Anarchism, p. 159] For Kropotkin, like Bakunin, libertarian labour unions were “natural organs for the direct struggle with capitalism and for the composition of the future social order.” [quoted by Paul Avrich, The Russian Anarchists, p. 81]

As can be seen, the major anarchist thinkers pointed to forms of organisation autonomously created and managed by the working class as the framework of an anarchist society. Both Bakunin and Kropotkin pointed to militant, direct action based labour unions while Proudhon pointed towards workers’ experiments in co-operative production and mutual credit. Later anarchists followed them. The anarcho-syndicalists, like Bakunin and Kropotkin, pointed to the developing labour movement as the framework of an anarchist society, as providing the basis for the free federation of workers’ associations which would constitute the commune. Others, such as the Russians Maximov, Arshinov, Voline and Makhno, saw the spontaneously created workers’ councils (soviets) of 1905 and 1917 as the basis of a free society, as another example of Bakunin’s federation of workers’ associations.

Thus, for all anarchists, the structural framework of an anarchist society was created by the class struggle, by the needs of working class people to resist oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. As Kropotkin stressed, ”[d]uring a revolution new forms of life will always germinate on the ruins of the old forms … It is impossible to legislate for the future. All we can do is vaguely guess its essential tendencies and clear the road for it.” [Evolution and Environment, pp. 101–2] These essential tendencies were discovered, in practice, by the needs of the class struggle. The necessity of practising mutual aid and solidarity to survive under capitalism (as in any other hostile environment) makes working people and other oppressed groups organise together to fight their oppressors and exploiters. Thus the co-operation necessary for a libertarian socialist society, like its organisational framework, would be generated by the need to resist oppression and exploitation under capitalism. The process of resistance produces organisation on a wider and wider scale which, in turn, can become the framework of a free society as the needs of the struggle promote libertarian forms of organisation such as decision making from the bottom up, autonomy, federalism, mandated delegates subject to instant recall and so on.

For example, a strikers’ assembly would be the basic decision-making forum in a struggle for improved wages and working conditions. It would create a strike committee to implement its decisions and send delegates to spread the strike. These delegates inspire other strikes, requiring a new organisation to co-ordinate the struggle. This results in delegates from all the strikes meeting and forming a federation (a workers’ council). The strikers decide to occupy the workplace and the strike assemblies take over the means of production. The strike committees become the basis for factory committees which could administer the workplaces, based on workers’ self-management via workplace assemblies (the former strikers’ assemblies). The federation of strikers’ delegates becomes the local communal council, replacing the existing state with a self-managed federation of workers’ associations. In this way, the class struggle creates the framework of a free society.

This, obviously, means that any suggestions of how an anarchist society would look like are based on the fact that the actual framework of a free society will be the product of actual struggles. This means that the form of the free society will be shaped by the process of social change and the organs it creates. This is an important point and worth repeating.

So, as well as changing themselves while they change the world, a people in struggle also create the means by which they can manage society. By having to organise and manage their struggles, they become accustomed to self-management and self-activity and create the possibility of a free society and the organisations which will exist within it. Anarchy is not a jump into the dark but rather a natural progression of the struggle for freedom in an unfree society. The contours of a free society will be shaped by the process of creating it and, therefore, will not be an artificial construction imposed on society. Rather, it will be created from below up by society itself as working class people start to break free of hierarchy. The class struggle thus transforms those involved as well as society and creates the organisational structure and people required for a libertarian society.

This clearly suggests that the means anarchists support are important as they are have a direct impact on the ends they create. In other words, means influence ends and so our means must reflect the ends we seek and empower those who use them. As the present state of affairs is based on the oppression, exploitation and alienation of the working class, any tactics used in the pursuit of a free society must be based on resisting and destroying those evils. This is why anarchists stress tactics and organisations which increase the power, confidence, autonomy, initiative, participation and self-activity of oppressed people. As we indicate in section J (“What Do Anarchists Do?”) this means supporting direct action, solidarity and self-managed organisations built and run from the bottom-up. Only by fighting our own battles, relying on ourselves and our own abilities and power, in organisations we create and run ourselves, can we gain the power and confidence and experience needed to change society for the better and, hopefully, create a new society in place of the current one.

Needless to say, a revolutionary movement will never, at its start, be purely anarchist:

“All of the workers’ and peasants’ movements which have taken place .. . have been movements within the limits of the capitalist regime, and have been more of less tinged with anarchism. This is perfectly natural and understandable. The working class do not act within a world of wishes, but in the real world where they are daily subjected to the physical and psychological blows of hostile forces … the workers continually feel the influence of all the real conditions of the capitalist regime and of intermediate groups … Consequently it is natural that the struggle which they undertake inevitably carries the stamp of various conditions and characteristics of contemporary society. The struggle can never be born in the finished and perfected anarchist form which would correspond to all the requirements of the ideas … When the popular masses engage in a struggle of large dimensions, they inevitably start by committing errors, they allow contradictions and deviations, and only through the process of this struggle do they direct their efforts in the direction of the ideal for which they are struggling.” [Peter Arshinov, The History of the Makhnovist Movement, pp. 239–40]

The role of anarchists is “to help the masses to take the right road in the struggle and in the construction of the new society” and “support their first constructive efforts, assist them intellectually.” However, the working class “once it has mastered the struggle and begins its social construction, will no longer surrender to anyone the initiative in creative work. The working class will then direct itself by its own thought; it will create its society according to its own plans.” [Arshinov, Op. Cit., pp. 240–1] All anarchists can do is help this process by being part of it, arguing our case and winning people over to anarchist ideas (see section J.3 for more details). Thus the process of struggle and debate will, hopefully, turn a struggle against capitalism and statism into one for anarchism. In other words, anarchists seek to preserve and extend the anarchistic elements that exist in every struggle and to help them become consciously libertarian by discussion and debate as members of those struggles.

Lastly, we must stress that it is only the initial framework of a free society which is created in the class struggle. As an anarchist society develops, it will start to change and develop in ways we cannot predict. The forms in which people express their freedom and their control over their own lives will, by necessity, change as these requirements and needs change. As Bakunin argued:

“Even the most rational and profound science cannot divine the form social life will take in the future. It can only determine the negative conditions, which follow logically from a rigorous critique of existing society. Thus, by means of such a critique, social and economic science rejected hereditary individual property and, consequently, took the abstract and, so to speak, negative position of collective property as a necessary condition of the future social order. In the same way, it rejected the very idea of the state or statism, meaning government of society from above downward … Therefore, it took the opposite, or negative, position: anarchy, meaning the free and independent organisation of all the units and parts of the community and their voluntary federation from below upward, not by the orders of any authority, even an elected one, and not by the dictates of any scientific theory, but as the natural development of all the varied demands put forth by life itself. “Therefore no scholar can teach the people or even define for himself how they will and must live on the morrow of the social revolution. That will be determined first by the situation of each people, and secondly by the desires that manifest themselves and operate most strongly within them.” [Statism and Anarchy, pp. 198–9]

So while it will be reasonable to conclude that, for example, the federation of strike/factory assemblies and their councils/committees will be the framework by which production will initially be organised, this framework will mutate to take into account changing production and social needs. The actual structures created will, by necessity, be transformed as industry is transformed from below upwards to meet the real needs of society and producers as both the structure and nature of work and industry developed under capitalism bears the marks of its economic class, hierarchies and power (“a radical social ecology not only raises traditional issues such as the reunion of agriculture with industry, but also questions the very structure of industry itself.” [Murray Bookchin, The Ecology of Freedom, p. 408]). Therefore, under workers’ self-management industry, work and the whole structure and organisation of production will be transformed in ways we can only guess at today. We can point the general direction (i.e. self-managed, ecologically balanced, decentralised, federal, empowering, creative and so on) but that is all. Similarly, as cities and towns are transformed into ecologically integrated communes, the initial community assemblies and their federations will transform along with the transformation of our surroundings. What they will evolve into we cannot predict, but their fundamentals of instant recall, delegation over representation, decision making from the bottom up, and so on will remain.

So, while anarchists see “the future in the present” as the initial framework of a free society, we recognise that such a society will evolve and change. However, the fundamental principles of a free society will not change and so it is useful to present a summary of how such a society could work, based on these principles.

[azranox]

Old Friend/New Friend

We jump over the impromptu barricade the mercs had built at the entrance to Archangel’s bridge. I’m wearing regulation N7 armor, but no helmet, and this guy is a sniper. Hopefully I can get into the building and explain myself before I get domed. Miranda and Zaeed hit the ground behind me and I pull out the Widow that Cerberus had so kindly given me as we start a jog down the bridge. All the other guns that came in the armory were shit, but this beauty, it’s maiden voyage will be against mercs on Omega, what a beautiful tale, nope don’t get distracted Shep, get your mind out of the sniper perch my commander side voices in my mind. We slide into the building with only one shot having landed on any of us, and that shot was on my chest, right on the N7. A feeling in my gut stirs, similar to the one I felt before I opened that door on Freedom’s Progress and saw Tali. I opt to ignore it for now, and rush the stairs, we’re on a time crunch after all. The others haven’t shot at any mercs yet thankfully. I suppose they’re waiting on my signal. I slide into cover behind a shelf, and launch a singularity right into the hacker and their guard working the door. “Shit they’re with Archangel!” I hear faintly over one of the mercs comms as I follow it up with a warp, sending the two down hard and fast.

“Secret’s out, FIRE!” I yell down to Miranda and Zaeed, who are still on the ground floor. I take up my perch between two crates and start taking pot shots at the mercs below as they run into the building, the entryway serving as a perfect funnel. As I hit the last merc between the eyes the door behind me slides open. “Hmm Archangel must realize what’s up.” I mutter under my breath. I glance down and gesture for my squad to head up, and I wait for them before ducking into the room.

A turian sniper stands in front of me, full gear, and holds up a finger. ‘A human gesture?’ I puzzle, who is this guy? A shot rings out and the blue armored man walks away from his position, sits on a crate, and pull off his helmet, and in that moment I learned my gut feeling was right.

“Garrus!?” I exclaim, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Just pissing off all the mercs on Omega, the usual. After you,” Garrus pauses, seemingly unsure his words, “died,” he says the tiniest voice I’ve ever heard from a turian “I tried to go back to C-Sec but after seeing what could be done without the red tape, I came out here to clean up a bit.”

“Well there’ll be time to catch up later, time to shoot up some mercs huh? Just like old times?” I slide up to the window overlooking the bridge and start lining up my shots. I direct the other two to post up on the ground floor to catch whatever falls through the cracks. I throw a singularity down to the barricade at the end of the bridge to catch any unshielded enemies before they have a chance to get close. 

“Since when can you do that Shepard?” Garrus asks, confusion in his subvocals. 

“Cerberus decided to up my biotics, went from an L3 to an L5x, plus whatever they did to bring me back to life.” I reply with a no nonsense tone. I don’t like thinking about what the hell Cerberus did to me, and Jacobs words from the research station still ring in my ears “nothing but meat and tubes”.

Garrus must be able to tell I don’t wanna talk about it, and tactfully changes the subject to the heavy mech that just got dropped on the bridge. I smile as I glance over at him, “Oh that will take care of itself.” I start aiming around the mech, headshot, headshot, headshot.

“You reprogrammed the mech on the way in didn’t you, you sneaky son of a bitch.” I cackle at that.

“Garrus, I’m a Spectre, you know I play by my own rules.” No one is coming over the bridge anymore, so I start shooting the mech before they can hack the IFF back. Garrus picks up on my cue and together we bring it down in a blaze of glory. ‘Man I missed this’ I think to myself, maybe coming back to life won’t be so bad.

As if the galaxy heard my thoughts, alarms start blaring throughout the base. “Damn they’re breaching the basement, I’ll hold up here while you deal with them downstairs. Sound good Shep?”

“Of course big guy, Miranda you stay here to cover his six. Zaeed you’re with me. Move out.” Getting the shutter’s closed was more difficult than expected. Vorcha heal faster than krogan, and they like to carry flamethrowers apparently. The moment my fist hits the final button Garrus’s voice chimes over the comms, “Better get back here Shepard, Garm is trying to get into the building.” 

“Hope you can still run, old man.” I grin as I look at Zaeed and book it back the direction we came. In short order we are back in Garrus’s home base, just in time as Garm and another krogan start heading up the stairs towards Garrus. “Not today bucko’’ I utter under my breath, and bolt over the couch rounding around several vorcha, not letting them line up their sights on me. I take the stairs two at a time and sprint right into Garrus’s room. I take my assault rifle and unload clip after clip into the biotic krogan, jumping, rolling, dashing around. I almost get pinned in a corner, ducking just in time to escape the charging krogan. After what feels like eons, Garm falls down, motionless. I bend over and try and catch my breath. Before I can start any banter, the gunship I sabotaged earlier appears in front of us. It fires one shot before exploding, but that shot was a rocket, and it hits Garrus square in the jaw.

I see red.

—-------------

Garrus and Mordin chat over the comms behind me as I inch up the stairs, my new tactical cloak covering my movements. I found the omni-tool attachment in a box of spare parts after Mordin finally let me in the tech lab two days ago. He rearranged the place so much it felt like a whole new room, and now I know what I can dig around in and what I can’t. I think me and Mordin will get along nicely, despite my newfound biotic prowess, I still went through tech training during N7 school and having someone who will help me tinker on my omni-tool will be a relief without Tali here.

I hold my hand up to halt my squad as we get to the bridge. “Our assassin is on the other side at this point, and they’re gonna throw everything they got at us to keep us out. Garrus, you’re point, Mordin you’re behind him with tech support. I’ll hang back and be both sniper and biotic support. Garrus I know that look, I need you up front with your assault rifle to help Mordin, you can snipe next time.” I finish off after a distantly sad turian frown flicks across his mandibles. With that we hit the bridge. I crouch behind a crate cloaked while the other two move up slightly, and I throw out what’s becoming my signature move, a singularity warp combo. As my cloak fades I punch through the barrier of a Vanguard and launch a projectile to push her off the bridge. 

We move like a well oiled machine along the bridge until I catch sight of two drones above us. I point the others to cover and crawl up a crate and set up with my barrel perched upon another crate. I check my ammo and click on the shield disruptor module that I added to my Widow last night. I line up my shots and one, two, three, four, five. The drone explodes. I turn my focus to the other. One, two, three, four, five, six. Explosion. “Move out!” The rest of the bridge is as easy as the first half without the rockets coming at us. We reach the end, and head up the stairs. I cloak and sprint across the patio by the door and jump into cover, and line up my shot on the commando in front of me. I give the order to Garrus for a concussive shot and for both of them to fire freely silently via omni-tool and we strike as one, bringing the commando down before she realized the threat was already upon her.

Using every ounce of confidence I have rightfully earned, I open the door before me and walk into Nassana’s office. “Here to kill me Shepard? Aren’t you supposed to be dead?’

“I keep getting that, perhaps I was dead, who knows. Now there’s someone here to kill you and it’s not me believe it or not. Yes I just decimated your merc guards, that wasn’t to get to you, you’re below my pay grade at this point. Now let's wait for the guest of honor to make an appearance.” I monologue, waiting patiently for the assassin to appear. As if he was watching and waiting for his cue, a green figure clad in black drops silently from the ceiling and has the guards behind the asari down in the span of a few heartbeats. Nassana whips around and the drell grabs her shoulder gently as he shoots her in the stomach, laying her down across her desk, and folds her hands across the bullet wound. I watch intently as he steps back, and appears to start praying.

“You certainly know how to make an entrance.” Garrus quips, curiosity ringing in his subvocals. Mordin is silent for once, and it feels strange, I think this is the first time he’s been silent this long in my presence since boarding a few days ago. 

“I was hoping to talk with you.” I say with a slight tilt of the head, I’ve never seen a drell before, and the one in front of me is silhouetted against a sunrise. I struggle to make out the features on the man besides his outline and the large black eyes that open in a flash.

“Prayers for the wicked must not be forsaken.” The assassin replies, voice soft and subvocals ringing with an unknown emotion. I’ll have to add drell sub vocals to my translation software.

“She had me kill her sister a few years back, I don’t think she deserves it.” I mutter, remembering speaking with the asari in that bar a lifetime ago.

“Not for her, for me.” the assassin says with conviction. “The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone. Take you, for instance. All this destruction… chaos. I was curious to see how far you’d go to find me. Well, here I am.” Krios folds his hands behind his back and turns to me, expectant.

“Well I guess that makes sense, I’m not exactly the most subtle soldier anymore, and you had a head start.” My new body screwed up my old stealth training, and having only been “back” for a week, I hadn’t exactly adapted yet. “That is besides the point. You probably didn’t expect to be tracked down during a job.” The drell goes to speak, and I hold up a hand. “Apologies but this needs to be fast cuz we have to get out of here, I might be a Spectre, or at least was, I don’t know if dying changed that actually, I need to go to the Citadel and deal with that.” I trail off, with a shake of my head I return to my point. “I’m above the law but you aren’t. Dayshift workers will be here soon, and I bet you don’t wanna be here any longer than necessary. I’m Commander Shepard and I’m after the Collectors, they’re abducting human colonies and I’m going to stop it.”

“Attacking the Collectors means passing through the Omega-4 relay, no ship has survived doing so.” Thane says, snapping his head back, staring at me with his pitch black eyes.

“Yes, but they said it was impossible to get to Ilos and here we are. It’s a suicide mission sure, but I do the impossible on the regular.” I jest, maybe playing up the Savior of the Citadel card will help my case.

“Low survival odds don’t concern me, the fate of your colonists does. I’m dying.” Krios pauses to take a deep breath. “I’m trying to make the universe a brighter place before I die.” The man turns and advances towards me, reaching out a hand, “I’ll work for you Shepard, free of charge.” 

“We’ll speak more about the ‘dying’ thing on board the ship. If you’re accepting that must mean you’re alright for now. We have some of the best equipment money can buy, I’m sure Chakwas will be of aid for you. Welcome aboard Thane.” I say with a smile of someone who just made a new friend, even if the other party doesn’t know it. 

[regulationbluebunny]

FFXIV Write Day 28: Blunt

Subject: Niryl can't handle hero worship. Featuring @duskwightdancer 's wol

Gen. Cws: none.

"I see," Niryl said, though he was referring to the woman's manner of address more than her words.  

"Wonderful!" She said with a smile that might've been considered charming. "You see, my own field is closely related to ambient aether.  I thought perhaps we could go over your suggestions on further study. With such interconnected fields, there is sure to be some overlap."

He couldn't handle this.  The blushing, the hand wringing, the giggles that were more suited to a girl than a woman in her forties.  She was interested in his chosen science, she had said. She had read their paper on the effect of celestial bodies on changes of atmospheric aether.  Never mind that Urianger had done practically all of the writing and most of it went over his head, Niryl didn't think he could handle a conversation with anyone quite so simpering. 

Niryl breathed carefully through his nose as she spoke. He didn't want to be the subject of her girlish admiration.  He didn't want to be anyone's hero. He had never asked people to bow and scrape as if they were somehow lesser than him. Perhaps a better man would find it in himself to reassure them and nurture their interest. A more patient man who was not running on five hours of sleep and who had not had nearly same conversation a dozen times tonight might find it in himself to extend her an offer to visit the laboratory.  But that would mean yet another future engagement he would have to hold himself to, and he was stretched thin enough as it was.  Best to leave politics like that to Alphinaud. Niryl had been told that he could be a bit blunt. 

"It is fortunate to have such dedicated scientists interested in our work," he said carefully.  "You work in ambient aetherology, you say?"

She nodded.  Her curls bobbed with the motion. One of them came dangerously close to her champagne. 

"That's correct.  I specialize in seasonal currents."

"Very closely related indeed," he said honestly, but new connections be damned. His fancy robes itched at the collar and the room was far too hot.  "I have a friend who is uniquely studied in tracking aether currents. Do you know Yshtola Rhul?"

Niryl knew as soon as the words left his mouth that he was going to suffer for this later, but changing the play now would only make things more awkward.  

"I know of her, yes.  Who doesn't? "

"You ought to call on her," he said. He pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket that happened to be a half torn Ewer card and scrawled Y'shtola's name and laboratory number on it. Oh, she was going to kill him. "Here- I'm sorry, I think I see my son at the desserts table again. Tell her I meant to introduce you, she'd love to show you what we're working on.  Excuse me."

Niryl wove through the crowd before the woman got a chance to get another word in. A hand bearing a rim-full glass of La Noscean red placed its way directly in his path and Niryl had to make the decision to stop or wear it.  He came to a halt just in time to see G'raha, his forum robes bright in the light of the chandelier, grin up at him.  

"I had been on my way to aid you, but it appears you've managed to extricate yourself on your own," he said.  "If you're looking for Farim, Celestaux put the kids to bed a half a bell past."

Niryl groaned and stole a swig of the glass G'raha had used as a barricade.  The other man didn't seem to mind.  

"I know," Niryl admitted.  "He caught me before he left. There's no need to be so smug."

"My apologies," G'raha said, but his smile widened slightly. "I'm sure you're also aware that you were speaking to Renalia du Miere, recently sponsored by the forum." He punctuated the last bit as if it were of particular interest.  

Niryl groaned. "Sponsored by you, then?"

"She's very well written," G'raha agreed, "and her methods are sound."

"Hopefully she gets on with Y'shtola, then," Niryl muttered.  

G'raha snickered. "I'm beginning to understand why you didn't like me back then."

"What? I liked you fine."

"You absolutely did not," he laughed.  "If the two of us were left alone in a room together I would turn to find an open window and an overturned chair."

Niryl flushed.  "I wasn't that bad."

"You weren't," Graha admitted. "You did your best to be perfectly civil.  I know now what a struggle that must've been."

The well concealed jab assured Niryl that he wasn't in any hot water and he let his shoulders slump. 

"I have difficulty with," he waved his hand in the direction he'd left Renalia, "that. If a genuine conversation is what they want, then by all means.  I have no desire to talk to someone when they're treating me like I'm some kind of--"

"Hero?"

"Golden statue," he finished.  

Graha smiled sadly at him. This wasn't a new struggle. Gods knew there was a reason Celestaux had abandoned the festivities to put the kids up when it was barely eight. 

"I'm just glad you got over it," Niryl said.  

"I tend to lose most respect for a man when shows up on my doorstep before dawn only to sneeze at me."

"Excuse me! I recall it being Farim that did the sneezing!"

"It was both of you," Graha said, grinning with the confidence of someone who had far too much ammunition and the full intent to use it, "and in excess."

Niryl put on a show of pouting. It was true that he'd let Graha and Celestaux see him at his most terrified, ill, and once or twice inebriated. It was G'raha that he'd turned to when Farim had gotten their entire house sick with hand foot and mouth, G'raha who he begged advice when Farim cried so much and so easily.  And there was Celestaux, who knew better than anyone the horrible things he kept inside him but still let him hold Gwenette. It was worth the teasing to have friends he could rely on.  

"Go on," Graha said. "You needn't stay on my account. I'm sure your young man is wondering where you are."

"Very well," Niryl said. He didn't pretend not to be relieved by his dismissal. "Give Celestaux my regards. I'll stop by for Farim in the morning."

[musicarenagh]

Music Review: Ell Freeman’s “Goodbye Stranger” I have recently discovered a new song by Ell Freeman titled “Goodbye Stranger” and, in my view, it is great. While Freeman is both a neuroscientist and a musician, or at least an enthusiast, he came up with one song that can be felt and heard on multiple levels. It is a new song that Freeman wrote while in quarantine, and it incorporates rock music from both the 70s and the 90s in an exciting manner. What really touched me was that the words were so intimate, Freeman penned the song as a father’s apology to his sons, due to an often neglectful parenting since he had always been busy serving his music. It is a theme, which I would assume, most of us can identify with as we try to balance our interests with our duties. In terms of the melody and harmony, ‘Goodbye Stranger’ is complex. It draws from Britpop but similarly has some glam rock elements that Bowie experimented with. The guitar harmonies being especially fitting, and the drums give a nice groove to the song. Freeman manages to deliver the song’s lyrics fully while the chorus increases the music’s intensity. This single is from Freeman’s “A Hard Place” EP and the quality of the song can only be improved with the rest of the EP. What I find most admirable is the way Freeman stands to depict his individual narratives in a manner that they become a subject of global concern. It is a message of how presence matters in the lives of those of us that are dear to us, all encapsulated in music mastery. To sum up, if you fancy reflecting, meaningful lyrics and outstanding rock with a touch of vintage, you should give it a try and listen to “Goodbye Stranger”. I always enjoy those moments when artists are able to combine the things they do in their personal lives with what they do professionally to come up with something that is clearly meaningful. Watch Goodbye Stranger https://youtu.be/xU9gjR2qWxw Follow Ell Freeman on Facebook Spotify Soundcloud Bandcamp Youtube Instagram   What inspired the creation of "Goodbye Stranger"? Could you share the story behind this release? During the Covid lock-down craziness, my son had a nasty argument with his mother and barricaded himself into the bathroom. I tried to talk to him through the closed door but he yelled at me to go away, furious with me for always being in my studio working on my music, rather than supporting him as a loving father should. I realised he was right, and wrote this song as an apology to him, and to reassure him that I was still there for him. In what ways does "Goodbye Stranger" represent your growth as an artist? In writing this song and others around that time, I was learning that I could talk about personal topics in a poetic way, to convey deep emotions that may be familiar and relatable to listeners even though the actual events inspiring them are not revealed. How did you come about with the total number of songs on the Album? The five tracks on the EP are the ones I have worked most on, and finished first, and they represent a particularly difficult period of my life that I am ready to draw a line under. I have several others in a similar genre that I will continue to release until the EP becomes a full album. Are there any particular musical influences that shaped the sound of "Goodbye Stranger"? As a kid, I would hear rock, soul, folk and pop music filtering through the walls from my brother’s or sister’s bedrooms. A lot of my songs still carry the DNA of this music from the late 70’s and early 80’s. [caption id="attachment_56995" align="alignnone" width="885"] A lot of my songs still carry the DNA of this music from the late 70’s and early 80’s.[/caption] What were the most significant challenges you faced while crafting this release? Sleep deprivation! During this intense period I was working full-time on a very demanding university management job by day, and after making dinner and putting the kids to bed I would work on songwriting and music production until 3am, starting again at 7am the next morning.

Did you collaborate with any other artists or producers on "Goodbye Stranger"? If so, how did these collaborations influence the final product? The lyrics of this song were shaped during a zoom collaboration with Roel van Veldt, when we were both enrolled on an online songwriting programme. At the time he was living in a tiny caravan, after a difficult family break-up. The themes of this song resonated deeply with him. What do you hope listeners will take away from "Goodbye Stranger"? Perhaps a reminder that we should always make time to be present for the ones we love before it’s too late, or maybe to try to forgive those whom we wish could have been more present in our lives. Are there any specific elements or tracks in this release that you feel particularly proud of? I am proud to have finally released this first batch of songs. Goodbye Stranger is the product of a late musical awakening of emotional self-awareness after a lifetime devoted to scientific objectivity. How has your approach to music-making evolved since your earlier works? Through practice, I have become more conscious of the process of songwriting and production, and how to convey nuanced emotions more precisely through sounds and words, as well as how to create a catchy hook and singable chorus. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7u2Y81ptQNetxokZ9vOdNm Are there plans for any visual content or live performances to support "Goodbye Stranger"? There is a video accompanying this song ([youtu.be/xU9gjR2qWxw](youtu.be/xU9gjR2...Wxw)), in which I recorded video game imagery of desolate landscapes from my son’s virtual reality device. I chose this to depict the alienation that took hold as we each sought refuge in other worlds, during the forced confinement of lockdown. The song itself is not so suitable performing solo, but if and when I put a rock band together again, I will look forward to playing it live and loud. Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Ell Freeman in the near future? I will continue to release songs dating from this previous era, to complete a full album. I will also release songs that reflect the more positive, hopeful side of my present life, in a wider variety of genres including bossa-nova and soul-funk. If you had to describe the essence of "Goodbye Stranger" in a brief statement, how would you characterize it? Goodbye stranger is a song of regret and redemption, about a long-neglected relationship that is hopefully not too late to be rescued with renewed love and attention.

[helmerichpayne]

Buffer Zones & Barricades Safety Video| Drilling Contractor H&P

Want to learn more about the H&P approach to HSE? https://www.helmerichpayne.com/our-ap...@HelmerichPayneInc is the leading on-shore drilling company for oil and natural gas companies. With offices all over the world-- we are uniquely positioned to serve our clients who need high efficient drilling solutions with a focus on sustainability and safety. 🤔 Curious how Helmerich & Payne could help you achieve better drilling outcomes? 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://www.helmerichpayne.com/our-ap...📖 Read more about our 100+ year history here: https://www.helmerichpayne.com/aboutCheck out other H&P Drilling technologies here:    • H&P Technologies   🏆 🏆 See why we have won the 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for the past 15 years straight: https://www.helmerichpayne.com/our-ap...@energypointresearch5171 award winners listed here: https://www.energypointresearch.com/s... By utilizing the materials provided herein, the user agrees H&P does not provide or purport to provide any goods, services, or direction regarding the user’s specific work environment. The information included herein is continually under development and is subject to change at any time, therefore users must exercise their own independent judgment to evaluate their use of and reliance on these materials.

The implementation of any practices described herein is at user’s own discretion and risk. H&P assumes no liability for any losses, (including, without limitation, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages), arising in any manner from user’s reliance on or implementation of the materials or practices included herein.

[deepthi-safety-nets]

A Comprehensive Guide to Football Stop Nets in Guindy, Chennai

A Comprehensive Guide to Football Stop Nets in Guindy, Chennai

Football, often hailed as the "beautiful game," has gained immense popularity not just as a sport but as a way of life. As enthusiasts gather in various locations to engage in spirited matches and practices, ensuring the smooth flow of the game becomes paramount. In this context, the significance of football stop nets cannot be overstated. These nets serve a dual purpose – primarily preventing footballs from straying beyond the field boundaries and secondarily contributing to the safety of players and spectators.

In the vibrant city of Chennai, where sports find a special place in the hearts of its residents, the use of football stop nets has become a common practice in both professional stadiums and local playing fields. This comprehensive guide will delve into the importance of football stop nets, their varied applications, and the specific relevance they hold in the dynamic context of Chennai.

Understanding the Need for Football Stop Nets

Football is a dynamic and fast-paced game that often involves powerful kicks and precise ball control. In the heat of the game, it's not uncommon for footballs to go astray, posing potential inconveniences and safety hazards. Football stop nets address this challenge effectively. By serving as a barricade along the field perimeter, these nets ensure that the ball remains within the defined playing area, facilitating continuous play and minimizing interruptions.

In Chennai, where football is not just a sport but a passion, the use of stop nets has become integral to the game. From local playgrounds to professional stadiums, the implementation of these nets has enhanced the overall football experience, providing a sense of order and safety.

The Primary Role: Preventing Footballs from Going Away

The fundamental purpose of football stop nets is to contain the ball within the field. This primary role is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game. Whether it's a friendly match among friends or a high-stakes competition, the seamless flow of play contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game.

In Chennai, where football is played in diverse settings – from school grounds to corporate tournaments – the use of stop nets has become synonymous with responsible sportsmanship. It ensures that players can focus on their skills and strategies without the constant concern of retrieving stray balls. The presence of these nets also encourages a faster pace of play, making football in Chennai even more exhilarating.

The Secondary Role: Enhancing Safety

While the primary function of football stop nets is to contain the ball, their secondary role is equally important – enhancing safety. In the bustling city of Chennai, where community matches and school tournaments are common, safety considerations take precedence.

The impact of a football can be substantial, and in densely populated areas like Chennai, stray balls can pose risks to both players and spectators. By acting as a barrier, football stop nets help mitigate these risks, preventing balls from reaching unintended areas. This is particularly relevant in Chennai's local playgrounds and school fields, where the integration of safety measures ensures that football remains an enjoyable and secure activity for all.

Tailoring Football Stop Nets to Chennai's Dynamic Environment

Chennai, with its unique blend of tradition and modernity, demands adaptable solutions. Football stop nets are no exception. The nets used in Chennai need to withstand the city's tropical climate, characterized by high temperatures and occasional heavy rainfall.

Durability in Chennai's Climate Chennai's tropical climate can subject outdoor equipment, including football stop nets, to harsh conditions. High temperatures, humidity, and occasional rains can take a toll on the longevity of materials. Therefore, it becomes imperative to choose football stop nets made from durable and weather-resistant materials that can withstand Chennai's climatic challenges.

Customization for Varied Settings Chennai boasts a diverse range of football playing environments – from school fields to community grounds. Football stop nets need to be customizable to fit the specific dimensions of each location. Whether it's a small school field or a larger community ground, the flexibility to tailor the nets ensures optimal functionality and a seamless integration with the surroundings.

Elevating Football Experiences in Guindy, Chennai with Deepthi Football Stop Nets

As football enthusiasts in Chennai continue to revel in the joy of the game, the importance of reliable football stop nets cannot be overstated. Deepthi Safety Nets, with its unwavering commitment to quality and safety, stands as a beacon in the city's sports infrastructure. For those seeking top-notch football stop nets tailored to Chennai's dynamic environment, Deepthi Safety Nets is the trusted partner. Offering durable materials, customizable solutions, and expert installation services, Deepthi Safety Nets ensures that every football match in Chennai is not just a game but an experience marked by safety, precision, and unbridled passion. Elevate your football experiences with Deepthi Safety Nets – where excellence meets the love for the game.

[news247worldpressposts]

#BREAKING: Active #shooter standoff barricaded inside home #firing multiple shots.

🚨#BREAKING: Active shooter standoff barricaded inside home firing multiple shots 📌#Bakersfield | #CA SWAT is currently on the scene of an Active shooter standoff situation in which the subject barricaded himself in a home and firing multiple shots at officers with an AR-15 pic.twitter.com/2Y3eIPr93a — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 18, 2023 Source: Twitter

[thecringefailintherye]

(sorry for replying to your post but you’re the only rb and the only person that actually seems interested) so i’ve discovered a little more info on les mis in welsh??

so, there’s a documentary named Les Mis Y Daeth which is completely lost media now.

it was translated by Tudur Dylan.

JOJ seems to have been involved, as does Bryn Terfel. it seems to have been done very closely with the urdd (shameless self promo to the funniest rp ever @mistarurdd) and Only Boys Aloud. also it is confirmed: Cammack and Colm have seen welsh les mis live. so its ‘bigger’ than i thought ALSO one actor from the 2012 movie (unknown atm, all we know is he played a barricade boy) did a workshop with OBA and had some involvement.

also they practiced the whole show in llangrannog? jesus the urdd LITERALLY HAS A BUILDING IN CARDIFF?!?!? also Film Guy (we dont know who he is) went to llangrannog to do his workshop with OBA? all i know on this subject is two tweets from 2015 so idk how trustworthy this source is.

also whilst digging i found this, which apparently has les mis songs in it. i do not know which one(s) but i’m so tempted to buy it

this fucking rabbithole has me in a chokehold

just discovered welsh les mis, and they pronounce ‘barricade’ in wenglish ?!?!? they used gog welsh for literally everything else to the point my hwntw ass cannot transcribe any sentence save for ‘tu hwnt i’r barricêd y mae yna byd i ti a fi’ which is the worst lyric i’ve heard ever. someone shoot welshjolras right this second

[boopliette]

...i just really like les mis okay

[aroundfortwayne]

FWPD: Barricaded subject, Point West Drive

New Post has been published on https://aroundfortwayne.com/news/2021/09/29/fwpd-barricaded-subject-point-west-drive/

FWPD: Barricaded subject, Point West Drive

On September 28, 2021, at 7:21 PM, the Fort Wayne Police Department responded to a residence in the 2130 Point West Dr. in reference to a suicidal subject.

[devilsroost]

George's backstory. I only went ahead and made it unnecessarily dark and heavy didn't I! Its not my fault, okay? I like dark awful things sometimes, especially for a horrible background for someone that has a nice, happy future. So here it is. Warnings for those not wanting to read about very dark subjects. Unnecessarily so maybe, c'mon Jess. Why!?? I listen to a lot of true crime, the dark depths of human desperation fascinate me.

In the 70s a man named Paul was a fucking shit head. He was an alcoholic, an abuser and beat his wife and children. They lived in near poverty in a small block of flats on the top floor, with the other people in the building turning a blind eye to his obvious cruelty. She escaped in the night, taking the kids and running away. Paul was enraged but couldn't locate them, luckily for them to rebuild their lives away from that monster. With no one to around to temper Paul his alcoholism got worse and he started to prowl nightclubs looking for men to take home. He was a closeted gay man, because 1970's, but now his wife had gone he was free to get with men. A young man was kicked out of his home for being gay (again, the 70's) and Paul saw an opportunity. He took this young man home with him and entered into a relationship. A coercive, hideous, contolling relationship. In which he beat and abused the young man. The young man felt trapped, kicked out of his home, controlled with alcohol as Paul would force him to drink with him. Paul’s mental health continued its swift decline exacerbated by his substance abuse. He would sing wildly from lavishing love and affection onto the young man to accusing him of cheating and hideous abuse, sometimes handcuffing him to the radiator when he accused the young man of seeing other men. This poor lad was almost tortured, but, as many abused people sometimes find themselves in a situation that they can see no escape from….

(YOU ENJOYING MY FUN STORY ABOUT GENGARS!????HMMMM???)

Anyway…

Paul saw an opportunity while watching TV. The cash pay outs for top winning pokemon trainers could be silly money! Paul couldn't keep a job down because of his alcoholism so thought perhaps he should give it a go, having never really been able to afford to keep any pokemon before and with no interest in being a trainer. The young man protested, saying it was incredibly hard to win battle contests. Enraged by him daring to speak against his ideas Paul shoved the young man into the airing cupboard with the boiler and barricaded it shut.

The young man was left in there for 3 days, begging to be let free as he was stuck next to the boiler, dying slowly and painfully from dehydration, the heat from the boiler speeding up his slow demise. On the 3rd day when Paul couldn't hear painful moans anymore he opened the cupboard to see the young man's body, and a gastly.....

No ordinary gastly. A grudge. A curse. When someone is violently murdered and suffers so much emotional agony that their spirit becomes part of the home in which they died. Their suffering becomes a stain that cannot be erased. Any person entering the threshold of that place is infected by the spirit's undying rage. However, as a gastly, they were not yet in connection with their terrible grudge power. They were weak. They needed to evolve.

Paul was thrilled. Through his alcoholic haze he felt he had the perfect solution. Train a gastly. He didn't have to waste money feeding it. Because it was already dead. Right?

Paul hid the body and began training the gastly. His methods were harsh, abusive and cruel. Gastly evolved to Haunter and the horrific treatment continued. Starving. Battling all the time being forced to be stronger and stronger. People in the flats knew about Paul. They'd hear his alcohol fueled tirades late at night and hear him crash around. Haunter caught the eye of a little boy that lived opposite them on the top floor. He pleaded with his eyes for help, but the boy, scared of Paul and ghost types hugged his polywag and turned away...

Paul had entered into a televised competition. A sort of entry level battle for a gym leader and had entered Haunter in. Right before the battle was about to begin Haunter evolved. Paul was thrilled. A powerful gengar at last! The Gengar opened its eyes, slowly turned to face Paul and grinned....

Paul commanded gengar to use its shadow sneak on the opponent but the Gengar did not obay. The Grudge was here... He blasted over to Paul so quickly he had no time to even scream as Grudge the ripped Paul in two. The arena was filled with screams as Grudge melted into the shadows and dissappeared. Grudge was going to enact his curse. Kill everyone in the flat. Everyone that knew and didn't help him.

It started as small haunting. People feeling unsettled. Having bad nightmares. Things being moved. The haunting then escalated to horrific haunting, psychological torture like an early 2000s Japanese horror movie. People began to dissappear, pieces of them turning up like a severed hand, or their dessicated husks of their body found left behind once Grudge had stolen their souls.

The remaining people in the flat moved out and the building was condemned as haunted by a powerful curse. People tried to enter and catch the incredibly powerful gengar that lived there, but, when anyone stepped over the threshold the curse would take effect. There would be no escaping it. Grudge would haunt you until your horrific and painful death. No matter where you went. People could never make it to the top floor. The angry spirits of those Grudge killed would protect anyone from reaching the place of Grudge's death.

The building was barricaded and guarded so no one would enter the place of the murderous gengar. Decades passed and people's interest waned. Little memorials were placed outside for those that died there but the bitter memories faded and the condemned haunted building just became a dilapidated place to be forgotten . Warnings placed all over to not enter or you'll be killed, and people stopped wanting to sneak into one of the worst haunted buildings there were.

Until Lydia entered the scene. Now in 2021, after the pandemic her anxiety got worse and worse. Lydia could barely do anything her anxiety was so crippling. She lived alone and lock down during pandemics meant she couldn't see her emotional support network. Living alone she only had a tentative acquaintance with an old man that lived in her building. She always had an obsession with gengars you could say. She heard of a gengar that haunted a building nearby. Without knowing the full story she asked about it. Did it belong to anyone, did it have a name? Could she go and see it? The old man only had some kind of rumour and that he thought its name was Grudge.

She misheard him, and thought he said George. So, she decides to bake a cake and take it to this gengar, that must be very lonely.

After many decades another victim dares cross the threshold of the Grudge's cursed lair. Lydia steps through the door meekly. She calls out to the darkness, saying how she's always really loved Gengars, she thinks they're beautiful and cool and she she baked him a cake. She placed it down and said he didn't have to show himself, she just wanted to know that he'd enjoy the cake and she'd be back tomorrow.

She leaves. Grudge floats over to the cake. Having never eaten food before in his entire afterlife he picks it up, eats a bit and is stricken. LOVE AT FIRST BITE!!! Oh no..

He can't kill this woman because then she wouldn’t come back and give him more of this cake! So, he decides to wait to see what will happen.

She does return. Day after day. Some days she comes in to weep, have a panic attack in the dark, speaking into the darkness about her fears, before apologising and leaving to say she'll come again tomorrow.

As weeks go by Grudge grows fond of her. He wants the cake. And she seems so damaged and burdened by the world. He's only ever known humans as selfish and cruel, but here this girl is, delicate, soft, and kind to want to feed a creature she's never even seen.

Grudge reveals himself to her. Which delights her so much! The rest is the story of her slowly building his trust with her kindness. Them recognising they could be a perfect companion for one another. Grudge brings her a pokeball one day. She weeps with joy and catches him. George. Her companion for life. She takes him home to spoil, dote on, and utterly love. And he soothes her, keeps her grounded, helps her be bold. And... She never finds out about his horrific past. All the people he's killed. He puts that behind him to be the best pet he can be for her.

They start a cooking youtube channel together which gets pretty popular. It actually really helps her anxiety and gives her more purpose. People make fun of George because they can track him gettiing fatter and fatter each season, until Lydia is surreptitiously starts making a lot of salads and healthy recipes for the channel... which he’s annoyed by. But that’s them. She has a big, plump, cuddly spooky friend, and he has a kind, gentle loving companion.

[nemeseos-noctua]

hello!¡ idk if you guys have wrote for angst but i’ll req one since the reqs are open,, can i req for xiao, zhongli and venti where their [mortal] s/o slowly dies on their arms. yk since they’re basically immortal and how they’d react to losing another loved one. ty!

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: xiao, zhongli, venti (separate) x gn!reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: venti and zhongli story spoilers, not proofread

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: the way i teared UP while writing venti’s (also i love this request. i spent like 40 minutes writing it during a class but AGHH I LOVE THE FREEDOM I HAD WHILE WRITING IT)

a part of him hates himself for loving you

he knew. he knew you were but a mortal, a fleeting love and a fleeting life. and yet, he lowered his guard. he let himself love, he let himself feel joy and bask in your warmth that the lingering thought of ‘temporary’ left his veins

but holding you like this—in his arms, in his cold cold arms that already missed your missing warmth, his bloodied gloves and sunny irises:

he hates you. he hates you for loving him. he hates himself for loving you. he should’ve never subjected himself to this pain—

but he’ll never stop loving the memories of you

“Sorry, Xiao,” You smiled weakly, chest heaving with restrained coughs as the Yaksha winced, cradling you in his arms as the moon began to rise.

“Don’t speak. Conserve your energy,” The Adeptus disregarded your words, his heart pounding against his chest with a pain so unfamiliar, a pain of heartache he wish he never experienced.

Maybe, if he had rejected you that fateful night—he’d feel this pain still. He’d feel it, just, earlier.

Would it be worth it? To sacrifice your memories, your love— for an easier farewell. Maybe, if he had never fallen in love with you, maybe, if you had just stayed in your mortal life and never seeked him out—maybe it would be you who was crying on his behalf.

Gazing down at you, Xiao’s grip on the fabrics of your shirt tightened. You had changed since he first met you—wrinkles adorned your face, [e/c] eyes drooping and your bones were stiffer and more fragile than his ever was.

And yet, he loved you like the first time he met you—though he’d never admit it, appearance never really mattered to him anyways. Though he held a youthful visual, he knew that if his true age was put into a look... it’d be nothing more than skin and bones.

“I love you, Xiao.”

“Don’t.”

Don’t. Don’t make him love you even more, don’t make him miss you before you had even left.

Don’t. Don’t leave him—don’t leave him stranded again, destined to fight against demons and protect Liyue even after its archon’s passing. 

Don’t, don’t make him cry uncharacteristic tears. Don’t make him long for a love that was gone.

xiao would put you to rest once the beat of your heart comes to a stop

he is painfully familiar with the traditions of a passing. he is familiar with the way he’d set someone down into the earth. he is familiar with the soil and the rain and the moon and the stars

he—adeptus xiao—was familiar with death. in fact, he dealed in it

this is most likely xiao’s first time watching someone die from old age

or—someone he loves

he is used to the realm of immortals, he is used to watching them be murdered or sabotaged. but never has he seen old age take someone

and he wished to never see it again.

xiao would close his heart from the world—if it wasn’t closed already, it’d be barricaded by twice the amount. thorns used to block the outside world would stab his own heart, and xiao would only know grief for a period of time

he’d find himself coming back to your final resting place, he’d find himself planting glaze lilies and flowers at your grave as he mourns a lost love

he—still hates you. he hates the love you gave him and the love you shared... but now it doesn’t hurt so much anymore

your death would only prompt him to become stronger. to become colder, to hate the world even more than he already does

zhongli would sometimes visit xiao, and even he is pained by your death. the world—it twisted and turned, it moved and wove tales with the strings of fate...

but never before has xiao wished he was mortal. if he were mortal, he could pass peacefully. if he were mortal, he could meet you again

mortals.

xiao hates mortals.

he hates them because being mortal was what took you away from him

the touch of death has numbed to zhongli

he has experienced it far too much, but watching you fade in his arms was probably the worst yet most bittersweet way to go

on one hand, zhongli is relieved. he is relieved that you passed peacefully, he is relieved that you left without any pain

yet on the other hand, he is heartbroken. he is broken to watch yet another loved one go, he is broken to have to arrange the casket that you will sleep eternally in

zhongli is grateful. he is grateful to ever meet you, he is grateful to have the honor of putting a ring on your finger and being able to lock your lips with his. he is grateful for so many things and yet he still wants more

he wishes to hold you until time itself fades, he wishes to experience the present with you instead of dwelling on the past that you so regrettably will become apart of

he, zhongli, consultant of wangsheng’s funeral parlor—wished for time. a time he so selfishly held as an immortal.

“The glaze lilies are beautiful today, are they not?” Zhongli hummed, sipping on some tea as he gazed fondly out of the window. His warm coat did nothing to prevent the cold of his side, the lack of your voice or the missing light from your eyes.

Everyday was the same. Everyday was him sitting—alone—in the funeral parlor, the pungent smell of death and cremations flooding his senses as all he could do was watch. Watch the world go by, watch his friends and loved ones die one by one as he was subjected to an eternal dance of loss.

Though, Zhongli knows that you will never truly die as long as you are in his heart. He remembers your smile, your laughs, your growing pains and complaints, your eventual wisdom and hearty laugh that you shared with him moments before your time.

He remembers so much, he loves so much, he loves you and who you were, he loves you and all of you.

“I must admit, I miss you terribly,” The consultant’s voice softened, his fingers setting the tea in his hands down as a lump formed in his throat.

“Yet I would never regret loving you.”

zhongli would stay painfully normal

he does not want your death to hinder him—he knows you would not want that. so he lives life, he carries on—but your memory never leaves

your stories and triumphs will be the topic for one of his best stories. and that otherworldly traveler... he hopes they carry on your legacy with each and every world they visit

and he hopes you... you and your beautiful smiles, you and your love and your kindness and your ambitions—

he hopes you are resting peacefully in the flowers he prepared for you

venti would strum you your favorite tunes as you pass

a bittersweet smile paints his face as your back rests against his chest, frail and weak coughs leaving your system as you heave for a single breath

do you remember? do you remember the way the two of you used to climb the tree at windrise? do you remember how you’d drag him from the late diluc’s tavern? do you remember how you’d stay up late at night listening to his songs and mindless chatter?

he remembers. he remembers watching you grow, he remembers standing beside you as you ran for your dreams. he remembered gliding with you aboard the strange island of time you insisted on exploring

“I love you, so so so so so much, [Y/N]...” Venti would muster, wiping his tears as you couldn’t even turn around to gaze at him. To gaze at his youthful form and unchanging appearance, to gaze into those azure eyes you had fallen for and his scheming tactics. 

Burying his nose into the crook of your neck, Venti took one deep breath. He loved the way you smelled, how it seemed like you rolled in a field of sweet flowers (though he knew your stiff bones would never allow such a thing), how you used to play along with his schemes when you were younger.

Venti loves you, and all of you. He loved you when you were a young adult, he loved you when you were middle-aged, he loved you when you were an elder.

He love love love love loves you, so much so that it seemed to overpower the pain.

He knew your time was up, he knew his time with you was gone, but he persists on with your memory.

mondstadt has surely changed ever since your passing

venti finds himself waddling into angel’s share twice a day, even if he can’t afford it. he finds himself on the receiving end of pitied gazes and free drinks (for no reason, though everyone knows the reason). he finds the way klee is no longer a child and the way the honorary knight never visits mondstadt anymore quite jarring

he finds himself—lost. he has lost so many, watched so many go, held so many fallen friends in his hands that he can no longer count

though, he misses you. a lot, actually. when klee is busy being an adult and bombing abyss mages instead of fish, venti finds himself weaving tunes of your valor and honor at the statue of—himself

he finds himself longing for you, loving you as if you were still by his side. he sings and sings, strumming his lyre so much that he hopes you can hear them from the heavens

and after—after he has made his and your mark on the newer generation, venti, the windborne bard, falls into a slumber

he sleeps. he sleeps in celestia in hopes of dreaming a dream with you. he sleeps in hope of finding you in a neverland so beautiful

he hopes that one day when he descends once more amongst his people—he hopes you will be there. just like the first time he met you.

— constellations!

[city-of-ladies]

Fighting women of the Germanic tribes

During the expansion of their empire, the Romans sometimes encountered female commanders and female fighters. Some of them belonged to the Germanic tribes. Most accounts depict these women fighting in desperate situations, but they are shown as deadly and uncompromising. 

Among these were the Cimbrian women. The Cimbri’s ethnicity is still subject to debate today. Some say that they were Germans, others that they were Celts. They had migrated from Frisia and Jutland and descended toward Italy and several clashes with the Romans followed. In 101 BCE, the Cimbri faced the troops of consul Gaius Marius at Vercellae. 

The Cimbrian warriors were defeated, which led the women to take arms, even though the extent of these activities remain unclear. Indeed, according to the account of Florus:

“There was quite as severe a struggle with the women-folk of the barbarians as with the men; for they had formed a barricade of their waggons and carts and, mounting on the top of it, fought with axes and pikes.”

The women sent a delegation to Marius, but failed to secure their freedom. They therefore killed their children and committed suicide. Plutarch gives a slightly different account of the battle, saying that the women fell upon the men who tried to flee and killed them, including their husbands and relatives, and then committed suicide.

Women of the Ambrones , an allied tribe of the Cimbri, displayed the same behavior at Aquae Sextiae.  Plutarch gives the following description of the Ambrones’ defeat:

“(...)The Romans kept slaying them until they came in their flight to their camp and waggons. Here the women met them, swords and axes in their hands, and with hideous shrieks of rage tried to drive back fugitives and pursuers alike, the fugitives as traitors, and the pursuers as foes; they mixed themselves up with the combatants, with bare hands tore away the shields of the Romans or grasped their swords, and endured wounds and mutilations, their fierce spirits unvanquished to the end.”

Cassius Dio also writes that during the war with the Marcomanni (166 until 180) the bodies of women wearing armor were found on the battlefield.

The Historia Augusta also mentions that during the triumph of Aurelian: 

“There were led along also ten women, who, fighting in male attire, had been captured among the Goths after many others had fallen; these a placard declared to be of the race of the Amazons — for placards were borne before all, displaying the names of their nations”.

This last source isn’t, however, a reliable one, so this story must be regarded with some skepticism.

Bibliography:

Cassius Dio, Roman history

Chrystal Paul, Women at war in the classical world

Florus, Epitome 

Historia Augusta

Plutarch, Parallel Lives 

[owo-shenanigans]

Hajime, Korekiyo and Ibuki with a fem reader who’s the ultimate love interest? Basically is really good at being the perfect soulmate both platonically and romantically? I feel like these three would be interesting!!!!

This is so interesting????? Wtf man. Gender ambiguous reader, though I did write this from the perspective of the perfect female love interest at times. It might come across as me dissing your idea and I promise I don't mean it in that way- I just took it in the most interesting way that I could. I loved writing these so, so much- I wouldn’t be opposed to writing more, honestly. If anyone needs a CW or TW on this, let me know please.

Hajime, Korekiyo, and Ibuki with an Ultimate Love Interest S/O

HAJIME HINATA

You were scouted because one of the board members saw you and thought you were the cutest little thing he’d ever seen, and after the board investigated, they saw how everyone you meet can’t help but at least like you as a friend.

When you were told this, you were terrified. These creeps stalked you? For some stupid talent that no one can even quantify?! You were only 15, for god’s sake!

You… Don’t like practicing your ultimate. You try to stay away from the other ultimates, too. You don’t want to brainwash people! Or force them to be your friend!

Hajime came across you hiding in the library from the teacher attempting to make you go to your Talent Development class. He helped you keep a lookout, and, well, your relationship evolved from there.

Contrary to belief, Hajime doesn’t hate ultimates- he hates how the school feels like it only cares about the ultimates and not the reserve course students.

Your relationship develops slowly, and you only tell him your talent after a few months of friendship. How do they even tell you’re the Ultimate Love Interest? So many people have such different standards for their crush… 

You probably confess your feelings to him when they try to take him away for the Kamakura project. You just saw red- first they force you into a little box and pick at any part that isn’t pretty and lovable, and now they want to take one of your only friends away?! Absolutely not. Thankfully (or not), your talent was able to save him from the project- this had the potential to gather more data about your talent, after all, if you have a partner.

Hajime probably helps you study at online school, after you confided that the main course barely taught anything actually useful. What could the Ultimate Love Interest do after high school with no new knowledge and a worthless scrap of paper? The Ultimate Mechanic could open a shop, the Ultimate Nurse work in a hospital- what could you do, write blog posts advocating for deeper characters in dating sims?

You make him reevaluate his perspective on Hope’s Peak, for sure.

KOREKIYO SHINGUJI

You were a lab grown specimen- the brain baby senior project by a whole group of ultimates, directed by the school directors. Could they create a person who holds the ultimate talent of something so subjective as Love? The students were directed to make an artificial intelligence that could make anyone love it. They were directed to make a body that would make no one unhappy. They were directed to make a creature that no one could hate.

You were born.

From the moment you opened your softly colored eyes, you were consuming data from dozens of the top dating sims, romance novels, online websites- carefully vetted by your parents so as not to corrupt you. You downloaded the latest fashion trends and taught how to make everyone happy without being wishy washy. You were perfect.

Your parents graduated, and weren’t allowed to take you with them. You were dressed in a cute school uniform and directed to act as human as possible- if you were revealed as an AI, the directors would pull you from your classes.

You joined the 79th class, and made fast friends with every one of them. Kokichi liked you because you liked his jokes, Miu liked you because you never made fun of her, Himiko liked you because you defended her lazy personality… Everyone liked you.

A month into the school year, your classmate Korekiyo tapped you on the shoulder and asked to interview you.

He asked you dozens of questions about your talent, how it worked, why you were chosen and why others weren’t. It was stressful. But it was the first time anyone had cared about you, yourself, as a person, and not what you did for them. You were hooked.

You spoke to him every day, unable to help yourself. Korekiyo, for his part, was happy to talk to you. Your classmates grew jealous as you spent less time with them and more with Korekiyo. The directors were confused- had they programmed in the ability to love? Or the emotion of curiosity?

They held off taking you in to examine you- if worst came to worst and you weren’t gathering enough data, they could always pull you out and wipe your memories of him.

IBUKI MIODA

You were human, yes, but sometimes you didn’t feel as if you were.

You were blessed with a beautiful, flawless face, and your body was one in a million. You were scouted to be an actor at the tender age of 12, and your life evolved into one of constant watch, constant judgement, constant etiquette classes and diets and everything to make you the darling of the media. You were quickly dubbed the cutest kid in film, which evolved into the Ultimate Love Interest before you hit the age of 14. Your life wasn’t your own. You weren’t allowed to consume anything that hadn’t been vetted for bad influences, you were severely punished for any words that weren’t kind and sweet.

You were a sweet dream living a nightmare. When the invitation to Hope’s Peak came in, you almost weren’t allowed to go- Hope’s Peak was notorious for not allowing outside influences in unless under strict supervision. What if you were corrupted?! You only managed to go because the paparazzi had seen the Hope’s Peak crest on your mail and raised a media storm about it, crying how the Ultimate Love Interest was attending the esteemed Hope’s Peak Academy.

Your manager was forced to let you go. But not without piling up the lessons even more, to make sure you wouldn’t be ruined.

Your first day at Hope’s Peak, you had a breakdown in your bedroom. Your schedule only had 4 things on the agenda- what were you supposed to do? Your purity would be ruined if you did anything wrong.

That was when Ibuki knocked softly on your door. You had never heard of her- you weren’t allowed to know of uncultured things such as rock music. She had heard you crying and offered to help if she could.

Ibuki became your emotional rock, and she helped you organize a schedule for yourself. Her peppy cheeriness was a stark contrast to your deep neuroticism. The rest of your class didn’t know your issues, but Ibuki helped you slowly look out from the walls that your media assigned talent had built around you.

When the photo of you laughing and smiling with Ibuki broke to the media, she helped you weather the storm that your fans sent, and barricaded your room from your manager when they stormed Hope’s Peak to get you out.

After a year at Hope’s Peak, you lost your talent of Ultimate Love Interest. And with it, you lost the cage that had trapped you within your own mind ever since you were 12.