#CORE LIQUIDITY MARKETS

[theostrophywife]

heat wave.

pairing: azriel x reader x cassian.

request: Hi I don’t know if your requests are open but if so would u write something with reader x cassian x Azriel maybe smutty little bit ( I feel like cass would have a size kink and Az a corruption one anyway🤷🏻‍♀️😂)

author's note: size kink cassian 🤝 corruption kink azriel. i swear i haven't forgotten about the bat boys, i'm just deep in the slytherin boys brain rot rn.

Summer swept through the city of starlight with a sweltering heat wave. The blistering sun left you feeling hot, damp, and sticky as sweat dripped down your back. The only relief to be found was in the sugary sweet cone of strawberry ice cream that Azriel had brought back for you from his trip to the market square. The shadowsinger kissed your temple before sauntering into the training pit to come face-to-face with Cassian.

The Illyrian warlord raised an amused brow. "So that's why you were late." Cassian mused, sending you a conspiratorial wink from your place underneath the shade. "You spoil her, Az."

"You're just jealous he didn't buy you a cone too, Cassie."

Cassian grinned. "You're the only sweet treat worth indulging in, and I'll have my taste of you soon enough, pretty girl." The suggestive words made your body buzz with excitement. "Right after I kick Azriel's ass for making me wait."

The shadowsinger chuckled before disappearing in a dark blur. He reemerged seconds later with twin blades in his hands and a mischievous grin. "Show me what you've got, Cassie."

You leaned back in your lounge chair, enjoying the cool relief of the sweet treat. It would've been cooler inside the house, but nothing, not even the thick muggy air could stop you from watching the two males spar.

By nature, Azriel and Cassian were competitive males.

The Illyrian warriors were opposite sides of the same coin—Cassian with his boldness and passion and heat; Azriel with his mystery and brooding and seduction. You always thought of them as fire and ice. The best of both worlds.

While the competition between them was fierce — whether in fighting or drinking or fucking, you found that Azriel and Cassian worked best in tandem.

More specifically, when they worked you in tandem.

At first, you were skeptical about the dynamic, but the more the three of you explored, the more comfortable you became with one another. It didn’t hurt that you had Cassian and Azriel completely wrapped around your finger. They would do anything for their sweet, innocent little priestess. Though the thoughts running through your mind as you watched them train were far from virtuous. If anything, they were downright sinful.

Underneath the sweltering summer sun, Cassian and Azriel moved swiftly, shedding their leathers to reveal planes of smooth, hard muscles that flexed with each movement as they darted across the red sand. Mirroring the treat in your hand, you were reduced to a sticky pool of desire as you shamelessly ogled your two favorite males.

Azriel glanced at you, a knowing smile gracing his handsome face. “Better lick it up fast, angel. You wouldn’t want to make a mess.”

Strawberry ice cream dripped all over your fingers and while you did your best to lap up the melted liquid, the heat was working against you. Besides, you were too distracted by their glistening bodies, golden brown and sweat slicked and all too tempting. You licked your lips, indulging in the lingering sweetness of strawberries and cream and wishing it was the taste of a set of deliciously sinful abs instead.

“I think she’d rather lick something else up, Az.”

You flushed, suddenly feeling hot all over despite your refuge in the shade. Cassian was a shameless flirt, but it was all in good fun. Teasing was his favorite part of this little game of yours, but in the end he always gave in. At your core, the two of you were absolute hedonists. Both too impatient to deny each other gratification.

Azriel, on the other hand, wasn’t as self indulgent. The shadowsinger could hold out for hours. Make both you and Cassian really beg for it. This time, you decided to get ahead of the game.

You shot a sly glance at Cassian while the shadowsinger had his back turned, urging him to play along. The Illyrian warlord grinned like a devil and discretely nodded before pivoting so that Azriel was facing you.

With a saccharine smile, you licked long, deliberate stripes along the cone while holding the shadowsinger’s heated gaze. “I was wondering,” you pondered as you wrapped your lips around the scoop rather suggestively. “If it feels as good for males as it does for females.”

Azriel cocked his head, intrigued. shadows twisted through his dark wings. “If what feels as good, angel?”

“Pleasuring someone with your mouth.” The shadowsinger stilled. Behind him, Cassian’s mouth dropped open. “I’ve never done it before, but I’d like to try. Maybe you could teach me, Az.”

Azriel’s jaw clenched as he inhaled deeply. Hook, line, and sinker. “Then you and Cas could both confirm my theory.”

Moments later, you found yourself crammed into the shower between Cassian and Azriel. The Illyrian warlord spread out on the built in marble bench, water dripping down his shoulders as his unbound hair formed a dark curtain around his face. He looked like the god of war, all lean muscle and rugged beauty.

Warm, honey eyes tracked your movements as you discarded your dress and stepped underneath the steady stream of water. The shadowsinger's gaze hungrily raked over your naked body as he tucked his wings in close.

"Get on your knees for me, angel."

You followed azriel’s instructions and knelt in front of Cassian. When you looked up, you found nothing but dark pools of lust staring back at you. Cassian suppressed a shiver at the sight of you on your knees, watching and waiting. Hanging onto every word.

Azriel brushed his thumb over your bottom lip. “Open your mouth, baby. Go slow at first. Treat it like the ice cream. Lick from the shaft to the tip.”

You did as you were told and gave tentative little licks along the underside of his cock. Cassian was warm velvet in your mouth. “That’s it, angel. You’re doing so well.”

Cassian moaned in agreement while the shadowsinger gathered your hair into a ponytail. “Now, hold your breath and take him as far as you can.”

You obliged, slightly gagging as Cassian settled in the back of your throat. Azriel knelt behind you, pressing encouraging kisses behind your ear. Sharp teeth grazed the column of your throat and you moaned, which elicited a hum of pleasure from the male above you. Peering through your lashes, you waited for Azriel’s instructions. he smirked, knowing he was in full control.

“Bob your head up and down. Make it messy, my love.” Cassian groaned as you picked up the pace, his dark lashes kissing the tops of his cheekbones while the back of his head rested against the marble tile. He gripped the edges of the bench so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

Azriel chuckled darkly. He caressed your cheek, stroking over where Cassian was slotted in your mouth. “Our perfect little whore. So good at following instructions when you want to, yeah?”

You groaned as Azriel pushed your head down. Cassian hit the back of your throat, making you gag on his cock. His head fell back, mouth opening to release a filthy moan.

“That’s my good girl. Do you see what you’re doing to poor little Cassie? You’re unraveling him, angel. I bet he’s close to coming. Aren’t you, Cas?”

Cassian shuddered, his wings flexing behind him in confirmation. “Gods, don’t stop. Your mouth is perfect. Feels too fucking good.”

"Use both hands, love." Azriel instructed as he helped you get a firm grip on cassian. Water trickled through his perfectly sculpted abs, clenching as his release came closer and closer.

"Fuck, Y/N," Cassian growled. His hazel eyes burned as he watched you take all of him. Rough, calloused fingers caressed the hollow of your throat. He could feel you gag around him as he fucked your pretty mouth. You were so tiny and delicate, but absolutely fucking filthy too. Cassian was obsessed. "You're so pretty when you suck my cock."

You hummed in response, making the winged male buck against you. He gripped the back of your head and thrusted in and out as you moaned your approval. "Oh gods, Y/N. I'm so fucking close."

The shadowsinger grazed your earlobe with his teeth. "Swallow, baby. Every single drop. Do you understand?"

You nodded as Cassian shot hot ribbons into your mouth. The Illyrian warrior shuddered as you milked him dry, savoring the salt and musk of him hitting the back of your throat. He pulled you under the running water, droplets catching in your lashes as Cassian pressed you against the cold tile.

A mischevious grin curled against his lips as he caged you in. You startled at the way he completely enveloped you, the cover of his wings blocking out the light as his lips met yours. Cassian loved towering over you like this, his large hands roaming your body as he gripped your hips and lifted you up with ease.

You groaned as he wrapped your legs around his waist, his gruff movements making you feel as light as a rag doll as he kissed you fervently. He tasted like cinnamon and whiskey, an intoxicating combination that you chased with your tongue as you pulled at his hair. Cassian returned the favor by biting down on your bottom lip, chuckling darkly as your stiffened peaks pressed against the hard planes of his chest.

"Feisty little doll, aren't you?" He growled against your ear. Cassian hiked you up, letting you feel the effect of the kiss poking against your inner thigh. "I could take you right here and then without even breaking a sweat, sweetheart. You're such a tiny little thing, but you take cock so well, don't you?"

You responded with a whimper. Cassian bit into your neck, hard enough to leave a mark. "Cas, please."

The desperation in your voice was enough to make Cassian's cock twitch against your leg. You knew that with the right combination of pleading eyes and trembling lips, Cassian would be putty in your hands. You rolled your hips against him and he moaned against your neck. When his gaze met yours, his pupils were nothing but dark depths of desire.

"I need you, Cassian."

"Cauldron fucking boil me," he muttered. "Have me then, pretty girl."

You smirked, satisfied with your little victory until Azriel hovered behind Cassian's wings.

"Now who's spoiling her, Cas?" He nudged his brother aside and pulled you back down. Cassian smiled sheepishly, knowing full well that he would've fully given into you if the shadowsinger hadn't stepped in.

Azriel's smile was a cruel slant. "You're a devious little minx," he said. "You may be the perfect picture of innocence, but you're nothing but a filthy little slut, aren't you? It's too bad that I know all your tricks, angel. Seeing as how I’m the one who taught them to you."

You grinned. "It just means you're a great teacher, Az." The shadowsinger raised a brow as you snaked your arms around his neck. "You should be proud."

Azriel chuckled darkly before peeling you off of him. A dark curl clung to his cheek, covering the mischievous glint in his golden eyes. "I'll be proud after I make you squirt in my mouth two or three times." He nodded back to the marble bench. "Now be a good girl and lie down. You’re about to reap the consequences of your actions. I don't take kindly to being teased, my love."

The shadowsinger briefly glanced at Cassian. "You too, Cas. Hold her hips down. I don't want her squirming away before she's learned her lesson."

Cassian winked before settling onto the marble bench. Azriel instructed you to lie back against his brother's chest before kneeling between your legs. You swallowed thickly as the shadowsinger spread your thighs apart.

Azriel smirked as he secured your ankles around his neck. "You're dripping, angel." His seductive laugh skittered up your spine. "You like being a tease, don't you? Do you enjoy bringing Cassian and I to our knees?"

"Only because I love the view," you said with a smile. "But not as much as I love the both of you."

Cassian chuckled and wrapped you up in his arms. "We love you too, sweetheart, but Az is going to make you pay like he promised. Can't save you from him now, baby doll."

The shadowsinger kissed the inside of your knee and smiled. His warm breath fanned against your overheated core as he licked a teasing strip along your folds. You instantly arched into him, your body begging for more. Azriel signaled to Cassian, who shook his head and held your hips down.

"Don't let her up, Cassian." Azriel said. "Not until she begs."

Cassian only nodded and kept you firmly pressed against him as Azriel went to work. His tongue explored every inch of you, licking and sucking as though you were the strawberry cone from earlier. You nearly cried when he teased two fingers in, his mouth working in tandem to push you over the edge. The sensations were overwhelming and the combination of his mouth and fingers was enough to make you want to weep.

As always, Azriel set a punishing pace. It was like he was gauging how far he could push you until you completely lost your grip on reality. Your first orgasm felt like an explosion. Stars flooded your vision as though you were witnessing the demise of a dying star. A supernova.

The second time Azriel made you cum, you thought you were going to pass out from the intensity of the pleasure. When the third rolled around, you couldn't even remember your name.

"Az please," you cried. "I can't take any more."

Azriel glanced up at you, a damp curl clinging to his cheek as his mouth glistened with your arousal. He looked like a lion after devouring a fresh kill. Dark, lethal, and utterly dangerous. And you fucking loved him for it.

"You've got one more in you, darling. Doesn't she, Cas?"

Cassian smirked, his rough hands biting into your hips. "Maybe she needs a little motivation."

"Oh?" The smirk on Azriel's lips spelled nothing but trouble. He licked his lips, gathering the juices with his tongue. "Come and taste her on me, then. That should inspire her to ride another one out."

You swallowed thickly as Cassian kissed Azriel hungrily. The shadowsinger's scarred fingers snaked through Cassian's hair possessively, claiming him with his tongue and his touch. You groaned, whining until Azriel shot you a glare. He wasn't going to let you join in on the fun.

Cassian pulled away, looking dazed and disoriented. "You taste like heaven, doll." He kissed your cheek and chuckled as you tried to turn and catch his lips instead. "Be good and give Azriel one more, sweetheart. Then you can get all the kisses you want."

You pouted, but did as you were told. Azriel disappeared between your thighs again. Despite how overstimulated you felt, release found you in record time. Before you knew it, you were writhing against Azriel's mouth and coming for the fourth time.

It felt like both heaven and hell. Heaven because the pleasure was unlike any other. Hell because receiving that many orgasms back to back had you utterly spent even though you would've begged for more if you had the energy to speak.

"What did you learn today, angel?"

"Don't interrupt training." Azriel nodded in satisfaction. "And—"

The shadowsinger raised a brow. "There's an and?"

"And you eat pussy like a god," you stated matter-of-factly.

That earned you an amused smile. "Hear that, Cas? I think I might get a plaque made to put in my office."

Cassian only rolled his eyes. "She's only saying that because I haven't worked my magic yet." He brushed through your hair and kissed your temple. "I'll prove myself soon enough, but for now, you should get some rest pretty girl."

You nodded in agreement. "Cuddles?"

"Cuddles," Cassian confirmed.

After you cleaned up and dried off, you settled into bed. Sometimes the three of you slept in Cassian's room. Other times at Azriel's. But since your bed was the biggest, the three of you tended to prefer sleeping in your room most nights.

Your eyes felt heavy as Azriel snuggled behind you, smiling gently as Cassian tucked you underneath the blankets. You threw your leg over his, giggling as he complained about your cold feet.

"Shut up, you love it."

With the moonlight glistening against Cassian and Azriel's shirtless torsos as they snuggled up on either side, you couldn't help but feel like the luckiest female in the realm. The shadowsinger leaned over to kiss both of you good night.

“The next time you two conspire against me like that, I won’t be as nice. Do you understand?”

You and Cassian nodded, but the moment that Azriel looked away, you smirked at each other.

There would definitely be a next time.

You two never learned.

[alpaca-clouds]

You Cannot Create A Solarpunk Future Under Capitalism

I am feeling like a broken record, but I just need to make this clear once more: No, Solarpunk in any form is not possible under capitalism. If you think it is, you either fail to understand Solarpunk, or you don't get what capitalism even means.

Technically I wrote about this already almost exactly a year ago. Let me reiterate it again, though: Solarpunk at its core is build around a couple of ideas. Those are:

Living in relative harmony with our environment, rather than destroying it. (Which includes using renewable energies.)

Decolonialism.

Social justice and the same rights, chances and possibilities for all people.

Neither of those three points is archievable under capitalism, as the end goals of capitalism are opposed to each of them.

Let me go through each of them.

Environmental Sustainability is not archievable under capitalism.

This is the point people tend to argue about the most. Because they will go: "But if the renewable energy sources are cheaper than fossil fuels, the capitalist will see more possibilities to make money with it." Well, do I have news for you: A variety of renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, are already a lot cheaper than fossil fuels and yet somehow the capitalist argue against using them. Care to explain that? No? Well, I'll do it for you. (Technically already did in that blog last year.)

See, when someone's net worth is listed somewhere, most of them actually do not have billions of dollars on their bank accounts. And no, they also do not swim in gold coins. Instead their net worth comes from calculating how much money they would be able to make if they sold all thier assets. A lot of those assets are shares in companies they have, as well as stuff like their fancy houses, fancy cars, fancy private jets and fancy yachts. Most billionaires have not more than a couple tens million dollars in liquid money, meaning money they can just spend. If they wanna buy something that is more expensive, they will usually go to a bank, say: "Look at all the stuff I have. I wanna buy myself more stuff. Gimme money?" And the bank will go: "Of course, Sir Billionaire, here you go. Have a nice 10 billion dollars."

And this is where the issue arrises: Most of the billionaires who are investing in the energy market, have already invested billions in fossil fuels. Be it by owning shares of fossil fuel companies, or by owning mines, oil rigs, power plants and the like. And this puts them into a silly little position: Even if they wanted to make more money through renewables, they cannot without harming themselves. Because in the moment that renewables become even more viable than they already are, fossil fuels lose their viabilities - and hence all the assets they hold in fossil fuels lose their value in an instant. The billionairs know that. The banks know it, too. Which is why banks do not want to give the fossil fuel billionaires money for that, even if they ask.

And that is only on the energy-generating side of it. If you go into the other stuff that harms our environment... Simply put: Public transport will never make as much money, as selling everyone their own car. And plastics are just so much cheaper than any alternatives. And the companies need fast fashion, because they won't make as much money, if folks only go buying new clothes every ten years.

Capitalism is build on the exploitation of the environment.

You cannot archieve decolonialization under capitalism.

Let's talk about the call to decolonize next. This is even easier explained: Capitalism is build on colonialism. And contrary to what you might have been told in school, colonialism has never ended. Most indigenous folks never got their ancestral land back - or have to fight to remain on it to this day. The most notable examples you know off might be indigenous people on their land (at times the land they originally had been forced onto after their ancestral land had been stolen from them) fighting pipelines that the capitalists want to put onto that land. That is colonialism.

In fact a lot of the raw material we use to power capitalism is produced on stolen land or is moved across stolen land to be financially viable. Be it oil springs, that can be found there. Or be it mines. That is both mines that produce coal, but also mines that are used to produce lithium and other materials used in batteries of electric cars. These raw materials should technically belong to the indigenous people from whose land those materials are sourced. And we do know for a fact that some of them will prefer to leave those materials in the ground. Maybe because of the harm to the environment that mining for them creates. Maybe because the land is sacred to them. Maybe because some of them just do not care about cheap electric cars.

It is more than that, of course. Because colonialism also allows for slave labor. And yes, I mean slave labor. Like classical slave labor where people are pressganged into laboring in those mines, or in other factories, where they are not paid at all - or are paid in breadcrums. The reason that the global south is so abhorently poor, even though most of the raw materials powering our world are found there, is, that the people in the global south are exploited, while the land is often owned by people from the global north, who either got it through colonialism - or by buying it from someone who got it through colonialism.

And once again: The profit motive of capitalism is directly opposed to decolonizing - and because of that it won't happen. Capitalism is built on colonial exploitation.

You cannot archive social justice under capitalism.

Capitalism as a system was invented for one reason and one reason alone: To allow former nobility, who were close to lose their power and influence in a Europe of anti-royal revolutions, to hold onto the power and influence and veil it underneath the idea of meritocracy. Basically saying: "Everyone gets what they deserve based on the work they got in." Obviosly they got the most, because they owned the land that everyone was working and living on. And then they did their best to brainwash everyone into believing this - at which they actually succeeded.

Here is the thing: Capitalism needs an underclass to exploit. Sure, a good chunk of that exploitation will happen in other countries, where the poor white middleclass folks do not need to see them toil, but some of that exploitation simply cannot be done in those other countries. At times because the work physically needs to happen in the western nations - stuff like road contruction, general contruction work, cleaning and such are an example of this. And at times because some things might be time critical, cannot be transported that far and stuff like that - like farm work in some cases, or also all the Amazon warehouse stuff. Oh, and all those fastfood jobs belong into this area. Stuff that is paid minimum wage and exploited to no end.

And then there is of course prison labor in the US, which once again is just slavery.

And all of that does not even go into the care and nursing work that is either underpaid by a ton when it is happening on the open market (like in hospitals, schools, kindergardens and other care facilities) - or is happening completely for free. Mosten done by women, who will care for both children, as well as elders and disabled family members for free.

The true endgoal of capitalism is to turn the labor of the lower classes into money and value for the upper class to hoard like bloody dragons. As such capitalism will never be compatible with any sort of equal rights and equal chances.

Those three aspects are truths that just cannot be changed. Capitalism will never be able to create any sort of justice, equal rights, or sustainability. It is not in the interest of capitalism to do so, either.

[letterful]

Jean Madar, chairman and CEO of InterParfums Inc, recently told Bloomberg that fragrance is part of a person’s “core identity”. And while cosmetic companies can face criticism for conflating external products with existential outcomes [...] perfume conveniently sidesteps the problems of the flesh. It’s not trying to change how you look, but how you feel, and, for the span of a spritz at least, it does. In the age of wellness-as-beauty and neurocosmetics, the science of scent is marketing gold.

[...] I wonder if what we’re after here is not a sense of self but a (related) sense of life.

I say “we” because – despite my documented skepticism of beauty brands – I, too, am powerless against a good perfume ad.

Last month, casually depressed and subconsciously seeking comfort and some sort of release, I spent $240 on a scent called Tears by Régime de Fleurs. “What a luxury to weep,” the website read. It described the perfume as “emotion in liquid form, the romance and the sadness”. It promised “nostalgia” too, with notes of lilac to remind me of my grandmother’s front yard and frankincense to call up childhood Sundays spent in incense-blessed church pews. I suppose I wanted Tears to take me back to a time when someone who loved me baked me cookies every week, when I believed in God and goodness, and life stretched ahead of me in an endless expanse of hope and potential.

Of course, it didn’t do that. It smelled fine. I felt something, for a second. But I was still me, and I was still mostly numb.

I thought of that perfume the other day while reading the preface to Henry James’s 1902 novel The Wings of the Dove. James summarized it as the story “of a young person conscious of a great capacity for life” – someone “passionately desiring” to “achieve, however briefly and brokenly, the sense of having lived”.

Something clicked: how to explain Tears if not a brief and broken sense of having cried?

[yaekiss]

on this sinful sunday, i’m having very holy thoughts of either branding or carving my name onto childe’s skin— maybe that tummy he’s so insistent on not covering up, maybe a nice little tramp stamp. i know he’s making sure it scars, picking at the scabs and whining for you to redo them if they dare to fade away— he belongs to you!

꩜ Room Content: Dom! GN! Top! Reader x Sub! Bottom! Yan! Tartaglia, reader's dick can also be read as strap, gore + eroguro, knifeplay + blood, masochist Tartaglia, spanking (just once, on Tartaglia), terrible wound care by Tartaglia please don't follow his actions, lmk if I missed out anything ! ꩜ A/N: Happy Whore Wednesday pulpie! Or uhhh, it was Wednesday when I started writing this. Got a lil carried away hehe :3 Happy Thotaglia Thursday! Slut on! (With you, Childe feels like every day is Thotaglia Thursday)

Anyways. Childe thinks of you as pure divinity, the holiest of beings, and he’s eager to worship all of you and bear everything that you’re willing to bless him with. Who is he to say no to the pain you inflict on him too?

This time, he’s cockwarming you, the heat and desire he feels is dizzying. You’re inside him and just the sensation of you filling him up perfectly has left him giddy with lust. His face is smushed into the mattress with his azure eyes already rolled into their sockets. Prior to this, he pressed a lavishly decorated dagger into your palm with a fervent sort of urgency, begging for you to mark him up however you like. You try to think back on what could’ve spurred this on. Was it that merchant trying to chat you up at the market the other day? Or perhaps it’s just a sick kind of longing that hangs around the ginger no matter how much time you spend together? One thing remains clear, at its core, Childe wants to be utterly and irrefutably yours.

Taking up the dagger, you admire the inlaid gemstones glinting in the lighting of the room, their colours matching the exact shade of your eyes and you’re sure that this must have cost an arm and a leg. Tracing the cold metal down the ridge of his spine, you feel him shudder, your ears picking up a soft keening whine. You start off slow, the tip of the blade breaking past skin and revealing glorious liquid crimson. Childe sucks in a breath at the delirious buzz of pain and pleasure that he’s subjected to at your hands. 

“Nghh… please I wanttt-! to be yours!” Greedy as always.

You take your time carving out your name into his flesh, revelling in just how many moans and whines you can wring out from the harbinger. Despite how muddled his senses are, he’s acutely aware of each and every searing twist and pull of the knife. Some of the warm blood trickles and drips down to where the two of you are connected and the sensation has him losing the ability to speak, brain reeling at how disgustingly intimate this whole act is. However, over time, Childe gets squirmy and twitchy with how pent-up he’s getting, the arousal in him pooling and heightening. That simply won’t do. Good boys need to stay in line while their lover is being so so so nice to them after all. With a pointed “tsk”, you land a hard smack on his ass as a warning. He yelps loudly at the impact but he gets the message, obediently staying still as you finish carving the tramp stamp. 

When you’re finally done, you pull out of him, the lack of your cock filling him up has Childe whining again but it snaps him out of his reverie. You reach over to grab a mirror and angle it so that he can see (read: marvel at) your handiwork. His eyes glint as he catches sight of the fresh cuts, the wound spelling out your name and the fact that you’ve claimed him as your devoted believer. However, he doesn’t let you go further than cleaning and disinfecting the wound site. (Secretly, he hopes that it leaves a permanent scar, an eternal pure white etched into his skin to show that he belongs to you without question.)

Throughout the whole healing process, he picks away at the scabs that try to cover the wound, opening it back up again so that your name is written in a carnal raw red. Whenever he stares at it in the bathroom mirror for too long and thinks that a certain part of it is fading away too fast without leaving a mark, he rushes to you, whining and begging for you to redo it with a frenzied tone in his voice. 

He wishes you’ll dig even deeper, maybe even push your fingers into his flesh until he’s screaming and clenching down on your cock, use his blood as lube as you fuck up into him relentlessly. The thoughts keep coming and you can’t go a full week without Childe pleading for you to lay your claim on him.

Maybe next time he’ll convince you to leave your mark on his abdomen so that everyone can see who he belongs to.

Thanks for reading! Consider supporting me on kofi if you enjoyed this or check out my other works hehe ♡

[sephifrog]

Genesis Rhapsodos alphabet headcanons

A -Affirmations (what he calls you)

 My Goddess, love 

B -Blush (does he blush when you're close by?/How do you make him blush)

Feel Gen only gets flustered when he’s drunk because if you try to make him blush he just turns it right back around on you-it’s worse if you were trying to embarrass him and he just chuckles deeply and sends you a smirk before turning the tables, your usually the one that's blushing and pouting

C -Comfort (how does he comfort you or what do you do that comforts him)

Playing with his hair or singing to him even if you’re bad at it he likes hearing your voice it grounds him, and if you play with his hair he’s putty in your hands

When he comforts you he gets you to cuddle up to him and reads you a book (more than likely loveless), hearing his heart as well as having his arms around you makes you feel safe and calm

D -Dates ( what do you do on your dates)

Wine and diner-he would parade you around - he also has moments when he wants you all to himself however so you’ll have the occasional at-home date and eat his cooking

On your first date, he took you to an expensive restaurant and ordered the most expensive wine he could get, he wanted to impress you (and he was nervous below his cocky attitude and needed some liquid courage) E -End (what would end your relationship?)

Being in Silver Elite -not believing in him, I feel he’s very touched and love-starved and if you start to doubt him it will hurt and he will lash out with his words

F -Fear (what he’s afraid of)

He fears you choosing someone else over him and leaving him - if it's during crisis core he’s afraid you’ll hate him or someone will hurt you

G -Genesis Rhapsodos

An arrogant, prideful man but if he loves you , you get to see a softer side, one that loves Dumbapple pie and reading poems at all hours of the day, he’s petty though so be careful if you upset him he’ll never let it go until he messes up (but he would argue he never messes up)

H -Hold (how he holds you)

Genesis would always hold you from behind loving the feel of your hips in his hands, even if your taller he would just rest his head on your shoulder -he also loves it when you hold him

I -Injured (what would he do if you were hurt?)

He’s a hot head if he saw it happen whatever hurt you is on fire withering on the floor while he checks on you, he would be the type to lash out at anyone except Angeal if they tried to take you from him

J -Jealous (is he Jealous?)

Not really, he knows he's hot shit and that you love him, however, if you show Sephiroth even a pinch of affection he's a sulky mess or about to challenge him to a sparing match he doesn’t play when it comes to Seph

K -Kiss (favourite place to kiss)

He loves kissing your neck and lips

He loves it when you kiss his chest or honestly anywhere 

L -Laugh (something that makes him laugh)

The way you try to read loveless and your brow furrows in annoyance when you don’t understand and have to trot over to him and ask

M -Memory (his favourite memory with you)

When you wore his uniform and pretended to be him

N -Needy

Not as needy as Zack but still quite Neddy especially behind closed doors

O -Over (what is something you had to get over as partners)

His fans, their very upset he’s off the market

P -PDA

He is very open, not caring who is there to see he knows he can protect you from his fan club and honestly wants people to know you tied to him

Q -Quip (can he joke around with you? Do you have inside jokes)You have a few but most of the time his jokes fall flat and he doesn’t get some of your humor

R -Romantic (is he romantic?)

Overly so, it can get too much sometimes so he’s learned when to tune it down

S -Sleep (how do you sleep next to one another)

He holds you to his chest most of the time he sleeps on his back with his arm around you

T -Treasure (what is something he had that reminds him of you and what did he give you to remind you of him?)

 a painting of you both one he had done on your first date without you knowing

You gave him a limited edition Loveless copy maybe someone in your family had it and only a few were made

U -Unlikely (what is something that he would probably never do)

To change himself for you he likes who he is

V -vulnerable

Only behind closed doors he has an image after all

W -Wedding (would he want to get married?)

Man would want the flashiest wedding

X -(e)X (would he be friends with an ex)

No, man is petty, and after he splits with someone he’s done with them

Y -Year (how would he act on New Year's?)

Would take you out to a flashy New years party and kiss you passionately when it strikes midnight

Z -Zoo (would you get any pets?)

Feel a cat just as temperamental as him-

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Friday

SpaceTime 20241011 Series 27 Episode 123

Discovery of a new region in the Earth’s core

Scientists have detected a new doughnut-shaped region in the Earth’s molten liquid outer core. The strange torus like zone was found at low latitudes parallel to the equator right on the core mantle boundary.

What is the moon's true origin story?

A new study has suggested a different origin hypothesis to explain the Earth’s Moon. The new binary-exchange capture theory suggests Earth’s gravity separated the binary, snagging one of the objects — the moon — and making it a satellite that orbits in its current plane.

Pluto’s binary partner reveals its secrets

A new study shows that Pluto's binary partner Charon has carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on its surface. The new findings are based on new observations by NASA’s Webb Space Telescope.

The Science Report

The link between type 2 diabetes, sleep, and microvascular disease.

Is river erosion to blame for Mount Everest’s height.

Study warns higher temperatures and rainfall could increase urban lightning strikes.

Skeptics guide to the Lake Champlain monster.

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.  The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

Below is an email interview with entrepreneur Zhou Liang about the Zimi mask project:

When did you start designing masks? Is Zimi your first mask project?

I started designing and producing masks in 2013. Zimi is my third entrepreneurial project. It is a continuation of my second entrepreneurial project (the first generation of frame masks). I call Zimi the second generation of frame masks. I have received financial investment for every entrepreneurial project, and Zimi is no exception. I own 20% of Zimi. I am the founder of Zimi.

What makes the Zimi mask different from other masks?

Zimi is a frame mask. In my mind, it is a mask that is close to perfect, although it is not perfect yet.

It allows better-performing materials to play the greatest role because its effective filtering space is large enough.

It has a frame support, so it is more suitable for repeated wear.

The special cloth seal ring will make many people mistakenly think that it is leaking. In fact, it is a new composite material that is very comfortable and the material itself does not allow air to penetrate.

It has multiple sizes, allowing more people to find the right size for them.

It has a variety of ways to modify it if the mask does not fit.

The inside of its cavity does not touch the mouth. Let the sound of your speech still be transmitted clearly.

Among earloop masks, it is an ideal structure that balances comfort, convenience, tightness, and protection.

Its core is structure and material, and our experience in researching filter materials is very rich, so we can achieve the lowest breathing resistance under the same level of masks.

Can you discuss your decision to make the Zimi mask available in multiple sizes? It seems like there are more size options for Zimi than most other masks. What sizes are available and are there additional sizes in the works?

As of December 2024, Zimi masks have 4 frames, and the frames for XS and XL sizes are completed within a month. That means we will have 6 sizes next year, but we will also eliminate some sizes or models that are not selling well. We are a small R&D company, and too many products will bring us a great burden, which is why Zimi masks cannot be mass-produced, have low production efficiency, and are expensive. Our advantage is that we constantly adjust our products based on market feedback and design masks that everyone needs.

Will the Zimi mask be effective if it gets wet? If a Zimi mask is wet inside from condensation, can it be reused?

The mask is wet, this needs to be classified. What is this liquid? Water vapor produced by human breathing, or sweat. The level of pure water content in this liquid, such as the water vapor exhaled by the human body, is very pure. Because it is a steam type, it has little effect on the static electricity of the mask. Pure water is not conductive, and the mask will not filter water vapor. After the mask is wet, the resistance will increase, and the mask can continue to be used after drying. If it is sweat, because sweat contains other substances, it has a greater impact on the static electricity of the mask. Zimi’s sealing ring material can absorb sweat. If too much sweat is on the filter material, it is recommended to replace it.

How many times can the plastic “skeleton” of a Zimi mask be used?

I have a frame that has been used for 2 years. The frame is a flexible plastic material. If you don’t deliberately damage it, it can be used for a long time. In China, many people started to say that they were short of frames. Now everyone who uses Zimi masks will say “I have too many frames and I need filters.”

I notice your masks are rated for KN95 but they have a headstrap option. Does a KN95 with a headstrap equate to an N95?

In the global mask market, everyone is concerned about the difference between KN95 and N95. In fact, many people have misunderstandings. KN95 is the filtration level in China’s GB2626 standard. GB2626 masks were customized by 3M in China 20 years ago. They brought NIOSH 42CFR PART84 to China, that is, starting from GB2626-2006, the performance of KN95 is completely consistent with N95. The leakage test of GB2626 adopts the EN149 method, so China’s GB2626 standard is a combination of NIOSH 42CFR PART84 and European standard EN149. After 13 years of optimization, the performance of various indicators in the latest standard GB2626-2019 is improving. In fact, it is higher than most of the performance indicators of the US NIOSH and EU EN149. Why do people think KN95 is not good? It is because many Chinese mask companies only produce barely qualified products for cost and production efficiency. China’s national market supervision department inspects GB2626 masks sold on the market every year, and it is not like what everyone says that KN95 masks are not regulated. However, China’s random inspection of KN95 does not involve leakage, so many KN95 masks do not pay attention to leakage performance. Back to this question, headloop KN95 = N95. In order to ensure the tightness of N95, N95 does not have ear hooks. Most earloop KN95s are not as tight as headloop KN95s, but it is not absolute, so I really hope that NIOSH will test Zimi’s earloop masks.

How many times do you recommend reusing a Zimi mask before replacement?

I recently posted an article on the Reddit forum about “How long should I wear a mask?” The use time of a mask is not fixed. For masks used in industrial environments, most manufacturers will tell you that if the resistance increases, it needs to be replaced. At this time, the increase in resistance may be caused by particle blockage, water vapor blockage, or both. In civilian environments, the increase in resistance is due to water vapor blockage, while particle blockage is relatively rare. The number of particles in the air is much less than in industrial dust environments. If it is blocked by water vapor, it can continue to be used after ventilation and drying. If the mask resistance increases, the mask is in poor hygiene conditions (dirty), the mask structure is deformed, the structure is damaged, the inside of the mask is black (white mask), the wearing time exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended wearing time (for masks used in industrial environments, the manufacturer will not recommend the wearing time), etc., the mask can be replaced. If I have to give you a time, I would say that the cumulative use time of the Zimi mask should not exceed 30 hours, because we have tested the FIT scores of many masks after wearing for a period of time. Based on this score, we believe that it is safe to use it within 30 hours in daily civilian environments and non-industrial pollution environments. If you encounter haze days, please shorten the use time of the mask.

Explain the structure of a Zimi mask with replaceable mask fabric

Zimi mask = frame + filter element. The frame is made of plastic, does not contain metal, and is available in a variety of sizes. The frame has elastic properties and can be reused until it breaks or cracks. This time is not fixed. For example, if you ask me, how long can your phone case last?

The filter element is mainly composed of filter material and sealing material. The filter material is a polypropylene-based fiber material with static charge. It has multiple layers, and static electricity is constantly consumed during use. The sealing material is a new composite material with a 2+1 structure. There is a layer of airtight material in the middle, so it is comfortable and does not allow air to penetrate. The filter element can be replaced after use.

What is the best way to purchase the Zimi mask in the US, Canada, and Europe?

Buy through zimiair.com, our own store.

Do you anticipate any changes to Zimi mask cost or availability with the possible increased US tariffs?

In fact, the shipping costs of masks are constantly changing. There are various promotional activities around the world at the end of each year. The shipping costs in December this year have increased by 50% compared to September. We will adjust the shipping costs in real time. Our tariffs are also included in the shipping costs. If tariffs increase, our shipping costs will also increase. For the time being, there will be no adjustment to the prices of masks on the zimiair.com website in 2025.

Where do Zimi masks ship from?

All Zimi masks are manufactured in our factory in Shanghai, China and shipped from here.

For those who do not wear respiratory masks, what would you tell those people about the efficacy of masks and the importance of breathing clean air?

I have been telling everyone the benefits of wearing masks. By testing masks and analyzing materials, I tell everyone that the harm of particulate matter in the air is everywhere. I have been a popular science blogger on mask knowledge in China for 7 years. You have to convince everyone that the harm of particulate matter to the body is long-term accumulation, which is a very difficult task.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

At a laboratory in Newark, New Jersey, a gray liquid swirls vigorously inside a reactor the size of a small watermelon. Here, scientists with the mining technology startup Still Bright are using a rare metal, vanadium, to extract a common one, copper, from ores that are too difficult or costly for the mining industry to process today. 

If the promising results Still Bright is seeing in beakers and bottles can be replicated at much larger scales, it could unlock vast copper resources for the energy transition.

till Bright isn’t the only company seeking to revolutionize copper production. A handful of startups with similar goals have announced partnerships with major mining firms and scooped up tens of millions of dollars of investment. These companies claim their technology can help meet humanity’s surging appetite for the metal, while driving down the industry’s environmental footprint.

“We’re facing unprecedented demand for copper, and that’s really tied to the electrification of everything,” Still Bright chief of staff Carter Schmitt told Grist.

The world cannot reach its climate goals without copper, which plays a central role in the technologies needed to decarbonize. Copper wiring is at the core of the world’s electricity networks, which will have to expand enormously to bring more renewable energy online. Wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, and lithium-ion batteries all rely on the mineral, too. As the market for these technologies grows, the clean energy sector’s demand for the 29th element is expected to nearly triple by 2040. 

At the same time, copper miners are exhausting their best-quality reserves. Copper that is economical to mine is found in rocks known as ores, and grades of the ores that miners are exploiting — the concentration of copper contained in them — have declined steadily over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, easy-to-process minerals near the surface are giving way to more challenging ones deeper down. And the current standard procedure for extracting the metal from the majority of ores results in a lot of pollution.

[exploring-littlespace]

No the pull-up thing is so frustrating 💀💀💀

I believe the rumor is that Pampers (or Huggies) owns some type of patent on running the absorbent core up the front and all the way down the back? But still

There are no real viable pull-ups on the market for adults that a) work b) are cute and c) are easy to get your hands on

I feel like there’s some kind of push to make wearing diapers (read pull-ups) in a functional setting somewhat normalized? Like, many people who have periods are starting to use period diapers instead of regular pads and tampons, so maybe with that push, something will come out, but the waiting sucks

i could see pampers/huggies owning that patent, but then how do you explain all these pullup variants from every other brand on the planet?

and even if they do own the patent, what's stopping abdl companies from designing something similar, but different enough to avoid any legal issues?

honestly even if a period product is in the works, odds are it's still gonna look like normal underwear. plus, regular adult incontinence underwear works fine for periods, so there's not really a demand for something new in that industry.

at this point the community should just. mass email customer support at ABU/Tykables/Rearz/LFB and all the other abdl companies. make it impossible to ignore that this is what the community wants, not another insanely thick diaper that can absorb a gallon of liquid.

[mechanical-magician]

BOMB RUSH CYBERFUNK HEADCANONS: CYBERHEADS EDITION

(Just general headcanons about how cyberheads work)

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Headcanon Directory >>

> Cyberheads are only just now becoming common place, as the procedure/materials have become more affordable.

> Getting a cyberhead is generally only done as a last resort (ie: The Old Head who had brain tumors)

> A cyberhead that is PROPERLY dismounted from its body can control it for about a minute before there's issues. No head means no way to breathe, so it essentially works as long as the person can hold their breath

> Therefore, removing your head should only be done if absolutely necessary

> Red does not use this ability responsibly. He thinks the "what, no head?" joke is funny every time

> Each new group of cyberhead models become more efficient and compact, as well as moving certain things into better places

> Red's head model isn't as old as the Old Head's head, but it's not new by any stretch, hence why no one on the street has it.

> Specifically in Red's case, the 4 slits on the front of his face are for olfactory purposes (smells). He breathes through a system of vents that are on the underside of his head, around where his chin is (he doesn't like scarves because they make it harder to breathe. Later models were updated to move the breathing apparatus further up to avoid this problem)

> Cyberheads don't have a mouth, so they can't eat. They live off of a liquid diet, and as a result, smoothie/milkshake/other liquid specialty joints have exploded in popularity. Your regular fast food places also had to expand their options (McDonald's in this world ended up having a classaction lawsuit over their ice cream machines never working, as that left cyberheads with nothing of substance for them to drink. The results still haven't been figured out yet.)

> Other robotic body parts are still being developed, but are much more difficult to perfect, mostly owing to weight and pricing.

> As we learn in the game, a person's memories are transferred to the new head. The adjustment period is accordingly pretty long and rough.

> New cyberheads are prone to blackouts because of the system still adjusting with their body.

> Red being a sentient cyberhead with no human memories is a special case. He's the only straight up "robot".

> Cyberheads are waterproof! Well-- to fresh water. Salt water is VERY BAD for them, and can straight up kill them if the water manages to get to their memory core.

> Cyberheads are susceptible to overheating. All models have fans somewhere to expell heat and cool down, just like computers. Red's cooling fans are the two booster looking things on the back of his head!

> Moral of the story? Take care of your electronics

> Can Cyberheads get drunk? Not traditionally. If they drink an alcoholic beverage, they won't feel the drunk effects (however, they do still get alcohol in their blood, so they still need to drink responsibly). What has humanity always managed to do throughout history? Figure out how to get drunk. There's an underground market of things similar to batteries that can be inserted into a cyberhead to feel the drunken effects. Effects fade after a certain amount of time (basically the "battery" running out)

[sleepingsun501]

Chapter 1: Eyes Do Not Lie

Characters: Commander Fox, OC Keeda Ionza, OC clone troopers

Summary: Commander Fox rescues a young woman, Keeda Ionza, from a disastrous date.

Rating: Explicit 18+, no smut

Warnings: SA threat (just the threat, nothing further), graphic depictions of violence, one use of r-word.

Word Count: 3.2k

Ao3 link

A/N: CHAPTER 1 UPDATED: 03/30/2023. Hello and welcome to the updated version of Sweet True Lies. It has been reworked into 3rd person and will follow my OCs and canon characters POV's from here on out. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy it!! This chapter contains graphic depictions of violence and an SA threat (just the threat, nothing further), so if you're not ok with those, don't read. A huge thank you to @rexxdjarin and @wild-karrde for being my amazing beta readers!!

Next Chapter

Eyes Do Not Lie

Keeda sipped at her wine, slouching back into the luxuriously plush chair of the over-the-top restaurant overlooking Coruscant’s skyline. She already disliked coming to these kinds of establishments for her mother’s charity functions, so coming to one for a date was not exactly her idea of a fun evening. Sighing purely out of boredom, she crossed her legs and gazed out the glass wall beside her table.

Having grown up with an abundance of wealth from her late father, a bitter taste was left in her mouth when it came to the upper classes of the Core Worlds. The posh lifestyle and the overinflated sense of self-importance most of her socialite friends—if Keeda could really call them friends—possessed was off-putting, to say the least. She had never been one to buy the most expensive clothes and trinkets or follow the latest trends that made their way through the materialistic society, and she glumly wished that one of them were here to take her place.

Tonight, she would have rather been down in the night markets, eating steaming food straight from vendor stalls and watching various street performers—things she remembered doing with her father before he died. He taught her the true value of wealth from a young age, how to maintain it, and how to use her fortunate position in life to help others.

After her father was gone, she had spent the majority of her free time volunteering and working for the charity organization her brilliant surgeon mother had founded in his memory. She even earned her university degree in finance to prepare herself to take over the charity someday.

Keeda had met people of all different species from all different places across the galaxy through her work, and her workload had only doubled since the Clone Wars had started. So, on a rare night off, she had somewhat hoped to be swept off her tired feet for a change.

She gazed out the window at the darkening sky, the towering skyscrapers, and the speeder traffic as she mused in her memories, barely listening to her date anymore. It’s so beautiful here at night. she thought, swirling the pale, bubbling liquid in her glass. The glittering skyline itself never failed to dazzle her—something her date was currently failing at.

“And I also have—well, my father has—a summer home on… And one time I… Did I mention that I…” her date rambled.

Maker, he just doesn’t shut up about himself. she grumbled inwardly, taking another sip of the expensive, sparkling white wine. Keeda was certain the sweet, crisp flavor of the fruity alcohol and the promise of a buzz were the only things that would get her through the evening as the young man seated across from her babbled on and on.

It seemed that he never recounted a story or even spoke a sentence unless it was about himself, and it was always after he had taken a bite of his over-priced gundark steak. She had barely gotten a word in edgewise between his stories, he never once asked her anything about herself, and anything she said may as well have been fuel for his ramblings.

She continued sipping at her wine—her own steak barely touched thanks to his obnoxious, open-mouthed chewing—as she analyzed him, wondering what her mother’s friend could have possibly seen in this tall, lanky, self-involved governor’s son. He was not unattractive, with dark hair and sharp features, but his attitude had canceled that out straight away. If she were being honest with herself, she was so disinterested that she could not even remember his name.

Her mother’s friend had meant well when she had set up the date for her, but even her mother had done a double-take at her when she had agreed to go. Keeda was not normally one to go on a blind date, and this experience was only reinforcing that she never would again. Finally tired of his incessant chatter, she downed her wine and signaled a passing waiter droid so she could pay the tab and be done with him.

“Eager to get going?” he asked, smirking at her around a mouthful of food.

“Something like that,” Keeda muttered blandly, inserting her credit chip into the droid. Her skin crawled while she waited for the payment to process. He had looked at his dinner the same way he was eyeing her now, like a piece of meat.

The droid beeped a few times to signal that the payment had gone through, so she quickly grabbed her wool-lined coat and practically sped to the exit.

“Well, I’m not gonna say no to a lady who likes to treat,” her date laughed. He tossed his napkin over his leftover food as he rose, bumping the table less than gracefully, and quickly followed after her.

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Keeda stepped into the turbolift that took her swiftly to the practically deserted streets below. Although Coruscant did not technically have seasons, it had been uncharacteristically chilly for the past few days in her district, keeping the normal foot traffic away. She cringed a little from the feeling of her date’s eyes still on her, and it made her stomach churn.

“Listen, I’m really not feeling all that well, tonight,” she said over her shoulder, trying to gauge just how close he was. The air in the small lift was becoming rather thick, making her feel boxed in. “I think I just need to go home.”

He ignored the implied sentiment completely, his hands coming up to grip her upper arms as the turbolift came to a stop. “Bet I could make you feel better, babe,” he said, his voice low and slippery.

A potent anger began to swell in her chest and pulsed up her neck. Just get out of here. she thought. Utterly disgusted by his behavior, Keeda shrugged out of his grasp before he could come any closer. “Please, don’t touch me.”

“Hey, come on now!” he protested bluntly as she nearly launched herself out the opening doors.

The chilled air felt like a blessing after the short lift ride, and she hastily started toward a cab stand further down the lamplit street to call for a ride.

“What? You don’t want to have some fun?” the man called after her.

So, he’s going to be like this. Lovely. Keeda groaned internally, thoroughly pissed off now. She scowled darkly as she turned to face him. “Seriously? I just said I don’t feel very well and you’re coming on to me? What is the matter with you? For an official’s son, your manners are severely lacking.”

His eyes narrowed and he immediately lost all of the poorly practiced suavely mannerisms. She had struck a nerve, and he took a purposeful, dangerously slow step toward her. “All right then, babe, maybe I won’t show you a good time. Maybe I should just take you somewhere nice and quiet and show you how I’d use that smart little mouth of yours.”

Every bit of instinct she possessed was screaming at the threat he now posed, but she stood her ground. Her lifelong martial arts training kicked in, and she subtly widened her stance. Even with the alcohol in her system, she knew she was more than a match. Still, she wished the street had not been so deserted.

“Don’t even try it. I could knock you cold,” she said boldly, attempting to put him off trying anything. The adrenaline was spiking through her now as he came ever closer, sharpening her focus and her anger, but just as she was anticipating, he lunged at her.

“You little bitch!” he snarled, infuriated by her threat. He wildly grabbed at whatever part of her he could reach, and she deftly ducked away.

“Hey!” a deep, modulated voice shouted in the distance.

But she was too focused on planting the heel of her palm into her assailant’s nose and her opposite fist into his throat to hear the voice. He immediately coughed and sputtered, but managed to take hold of her arm and pull her off-balance as he doubled over. While she struggled against his grip with a loud snarl, she heard several sets of heavy boots racing toward them.

“Hey, enough! Leave her be!” the modulated voice shouted again. Keeda had heard that voice hundreds of times.

Clone troopers.

Suddenly, the assailant was knocked away from her and flat on his back by two massive blurs of red and white armor. The three of them landed together in a heap of limbs, leaving Keeda to stumble back into someone else’s arms. The adrenaline and fury racing through her system made her lash out, swinging herself around to shove whoever it was away. Her hands met more armor—redder than that of the other clones.

“Get off me!” she shouted, pushing the clone away. As the initial shock wore off, she realized these were not ordinary clones. They were Coruscant Guard officers. Well, at least the one who had caught her was. He wore kamas and a helmet vizor along with carrying two DC-17 pistols—items she knew only officers were allowed.

“Easy, miss. I—” he began, but she was already stalking away toward the cab stand again. “Miss, wait! Are you hurt?” he called after her.

Readjusting her form-fitting coat, Keeda turned sharply to face him. “I’m fine. Just leave me alone,” she spat. She had to admit her tone was not warranted, but she could not bring herself to care. All she wanted was to go home and forget this whole horrible night had happened.

The officer held his gloved hands out placatingly, “Please, I’m only—”

“I know!” she interrupted, huffing and trying to collect herself. “Look, you saw what he did to me, and if you need a statement I’ll send one to CSF tomorrow.”

“Boss?” one of the guardsmen called. The assailant was struggling in their steel-like grips even with his hands now in binders, adamantly demanding to be released.

“Hold him there, Rydar. Be there in a minute,” the commander called back, his modulated voice deep and rich. He raised his hands to his helmet after a moment, pulling it off to reveal his face.

Even though Keeda was so aggravated, she stopped to take in his features, a little surprised at how different he looked from the average trooper. She had seen this face dozens of times, and his beautiful bronze skin was complimented by his red and white armor, but his other features set him apart, and she thought he was rather ruggedly handsome.

His hair, a little longer than regulation on top and greying at his temples, looked like it would have normally been neatly styled if he had not just taken his helmet off. The long, lightly greying curls on top of his head fell haphazardly onto his forehead along with a few others breaking loose around the evenly-faded sides.

There was also a scar on the left side of his bottom lip, as though it had once been badly split and not healed properly, and a light layer of dark, grey-laced stubble dusted his cheeks and jaw. He was massive—tall, broad, and burly, and Keeda suddenly felt very small. That was when she noticed he had managed to take a couple of cautious steps toward her, and she immediately backed away.

“Please… I-I just want to leave,” she choked out, a lump rising in her throat. She could feel her eyes widen in fear and prickle with tears as she looked back at her assailant. He was being held on his knees by the two other clones and glaring hatefully at her now. The chill that ran down her spine had nothing to do with the cold air, and she promptly looked back to the commander, who was watching her carefully. Those sharp brown eyes did not seem to miss a thing.

Holding her frightened gaze, he nodded. “Okay, that’s fine. At least let me call a ride for you,” he said soothingly, searching her face and stopping his advance. He changed course over to the cab stand, pressing several buttons on the keypad and a few more on his vambrace. In less than a minute, a long, sleek blue speeder arrived.

That’s not a normal cab. Keeda thought to herself. That’s a senatorial transport vehicle.

A sharply dressed Mirialan driver hastily stepped out of the speeder, tipped his cap, and opened the door for her, ignoring the rest of the scene entirely.

“Take her anywhere she wants to go,” the commander said, the crisp authority in his tone telling the driver everything he needed to know.

“Yes, sir,” the Mirialan replied, nodding to the commander and waiting for her.

Her jaw dropped open unceremoniously, her head swiveling between the red-armor-clad commander and the posh speeder. She felt frozen in place, stunned by the gesture, and she was suddenly unsure of whether or not to take the ride as the knot in her stomach clenched.

The commander gave Keeda a soft smile and a nod. His expression may have been calm, but his dark eyes were shining with urgency. “Go. This is on the Republic.”

Swallowing thickly and tearing her gaze away from his, she muttered a small, “Thank you,” and slid into the back seat of the speeder. She looked back at the clone commander one last time as the door slid shut. He was still gently smiling at her, and his posture had relaxed marginally now that she was in the vehicle.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asked, setting the speeder in motion.

She told the driver her mother’s address, not wanting to go back to her own apartment to be all alone. She was still looking out the back window as the speeder rose into the sky—the commander grew smaller by the second, his armor the only distinguishable part of him as the distance between them increased.

The sinking feeling in her stomach and the numbness in her limbs only became more prevalent as her adrenaline rush subsided, and she suddenly felt guilty about how she had snapped at him. She hugged herself and gnawed at her lip when she realized just how horribly she had treated him. After all, he and his men had come to her aid, and he had been very cognizant and understanding of her feelings. Although Keeda doubted she would ever see him again, she hoped he did not think badly of her.

Commander Fox watched the speeder fly off, keeping that poker face on until she was well out of sight. Behind him, he could hear his men holding her assailant down, just as he had ordered.

His blood boiled with rage at the dark-haired man trapped in Rydar and Jonor’s grips. He had rounded the corner just in time to see this shabuir lunge for the young woman, and every cell in his body had propelled him forward to help her.

He could not blame her for how she had reacted to him catching her after his boys had knocked the assailant to the ground. She had done an admirable job of defending herself in the situation, and he was impressed with how fierce she had been, but now that she was safe, he could get to work.

A dark scowl crept across Fox’s features as he turned and strode back to his men, slipping his bucket back on and cracking his knuckles. He was so very glad the street was deserted because this pompous asshole was going to learn a lesson.

Without a word, he motioned for Jonor and Rydar to follow him down a nearby alley. The assailant kicked and thrashed and growled, but his slight frame barely phased the two clones.

Stopping a few yards from the back wall of the alley, Fox pointed to the ground in front of him. His boys came around him, tossed the assailant to the filthy duracrete in a heap, and took their places flanking their commander.

“Don’t you know who I am?!” the man shouted indignantly, pushing himself to his knees.

Fox did not hesitate. He lunged forward, and in two swift strides, he locked his massive hand around the assailant’s neck, lifting him straight off the ground and slamming him into the wall. He did, in fact, recognize him as the son of a prominent Coruscanti governor.

The tall, dark-haired man instinctively clawed at Fox’s vambrace, trying desperately to loosen the hand cutting off his air supply, but the Marshal Commander of the Coruscant Guard was taller, stronger, and far angrier.

“You’re the son of Governor Baylo Gargeli,” Fox said evenly, despite the situation. “You must think you’re something special, don’t you? You think you can just take whatever you want. You threatened to rape her, I could see it in her eyes.”

The man tried to choke out some defensive response, but the terror in his eyes gave away the truth.

“I sincerely hope you reevaluate your morals after tonight,” Fox said, the rage slipping into his tone. He quickly released the man from his binders and dropped him to his feet, stepping back a pace.

As soon as the assailant had caught his breath, he snarled in a rage and threw an unskilled punch at the commander. He was promptly backhanded to the ground by Fox, who had been fully prepared for the possibility of retaliation. As the assailant scrambled to his feet again, Fox’s fist found the underside of his jaw, nearly lifting him off the ground once again only to land in the grime.

Fox knew he could have knocked the man out if he had wanted to, but he knew his own strength, and he wanted this hut’uun to feel it.

The marshal commander stepped back again and looked at the two vode beside him. Jonor and Rydar were little more than shinies, still a little skinny and trigger-happy, but he could see them on their toes. He tipped his bucket toward the assailant, who was now groaning in agony, giving the boys the green light.

“If he’s stupid enough to swing again, you get ten seconds. Leave him conscious and let him walk home,” Fox said over his shoulder, giving them veiled instructions not to break any bones. This guy is out of his mind. he thought to himself, hearing the moment the assailant decided to try his failing luck against Jonor and Rydar.

The sounds of grunts, groans, and punches grew quieter as he walked back to the entrance of the alley, counting down in his head. When he got to ten, he whistled, and the boys came jogging to his side to continue their patrol. “Not a word.”

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison, picking up their discarded blasters and falling in step.

As they continued their patrol, Fox could not help but think of the young woman. She had been so fierce, beautiful, and strong, and he did his best to push the fear of what could have happened to her out of his mind. Instead, he thought of how she had shoved him back when he had caught her, and he had been a bit surprised that she was capable of such force. Her eyes had shone with both fear and determination in the darkness, ready to fight him off, too. He quietly hoped she had made it to wherever she needed to go, and that she would recover quickly from her ordeal.

Next Chapter

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[addgg-taylor]

MTG: The Unstable Ground We Stand On

The year was 2013. Gatecrash had just come out to mixed reception, but I didn't even know what Magic was. I was in high school, and my best friend (at the time) was on a vacation to Disney World. So, I went to sit with my second best friend, but couldn't find them. That's when I found an old friend of mine playing a card game with them, and that game was Magic. I learned about it, looked into it, played Duels of the Planeswalkers (remember when that was a thing?), and decided it was for me! Now, I could have gotten a starter deck, but I was laser focused on one thing: A box that said Core Set. This was the M14 Deckbuilder's Toolkit, and I got it because that's what all my friends started Magic with. Granted, that probably wasn't the smartest idea, but I'm the type to jump off the deep end; if I'm getting into a hobby, I may as well make sure I'm prepared for the long haul. The Deckbuilder's Toolkit had everything I needed, the start of a collection, and most importantly? Lands. It had lands. You didn't need to buy them from a game store for up to (or even exceeding) a dollar a pop. You didn't have to rely on people liquidating their collection to stock up. You could just buy a box and have land cards to build decks with, and I remember buying toolkits just for lands and boosters. Now, you can't do that. If you're just getting started, you either have to borrow them, switch them between decks, open them in packs, or buy them on the secondary market. (That last one is pretty ironic, because Wizards of the Coast has a rule against acknowledging the secondary market.) And, yet there's no reasonable, mainstream way to get land cards. Some game stores will let you keep them after an event, but I've only been to one store that did that. (Read: did. They don't anymore because people weren't saving enough for others.)

Back on topic though, long time players probably made note of the time I started Magic; I started with Magic 14, which came between the Return to Ravnica block... and the Theros block, widely regarded as one of the most heavily unbalanced and mechanically awkward blocks of its time. So, after that, people reasonably wanted a palette cleanser, and they had it. The Tarkir block was amazing despite being chronologically confusing, but in the storm of chaos, there was warmth. The Core Sets would always be there to serve as the foundational building blocks, and get this; they gave players a moment to see where the main characters were on their journeys. These weren't just foundational gameplay wise, but story wise, and gave WotC a moment to show everyone what's going on in the background. They also ensured that, between the sets with heavy mechanical ties or complexity, there was always solid ground to stand on. New players could seek out these Core Sets as a good starting ground, and experienced players found themselves in familiar territory with highly desired reprints. However, despite no reasonable player protesting against Core Sets, the vocalization of players wanting more of their favorite planes was taken in a way that was bad for everyone (in my opinion).

After Magic Origins, the game switched to a two set block system, and suddenly lost the Core Set. From a game design standpoint, this is doomsday. This is how TCGs die if they don't have a dedicated, permanent selection of cards, and yet Magic somehow survived to realize their mistake. In the background, however, they were still making a more gross mistake, trying to capitalize on Elder Dragon Highlander. Around the time I got into Magic, they'd begun making Commander decks, and at first these weren't too problematic. They were once a year drops that let players get into this entirely different casual format. While Standard was limited on card selection, and Modern and Legacy a coin flip simulator, Commander allowed players to throw their collection into the ring without regard for the hottest cards. The general consensus was that you could play what you wanted, whether you had a few Standard sets worth of cards or flocked to Modern, Legacy, and Vintage.

Fast forward to War of the Spark. Now, the two block system was dying. The war on blocks had begun, with Mark Rosewater practically blowing off anyone that critiqued the change with the same "this is what you wanted, right?" Players really wanted to see previous planes, but instead of Wizards trying to revisit them in earnest, they shifted into rapid fire mode. With only one set per plane now, they began spitting out half-baked revisits that barely touched upon older planes, and tore through new planes and major events without putting much thought into them. Stories would begin to go undercooked, and with every "you wouldn't want to be stuck on a plane you don't like" from MaRo, an interesting plane or event is left unexplored past the surface level. Additionally, to add more ammo to this machine gun of mistakes, they threw the Core Set in the trash. They tried to kill it off once and realized their mistake, but after Adventures in the Forgotten Realms it was dead for good. Looking at things now, this has all caused Magic to fall apart.

Magic is the worst it's ever been for any player that isn't wholly invested in and unwaveringly loyal to the game. The beginner has the worst footing in many years, with the Local Game Store forced to leverage all the responsibility for getting new players into the game. Players who want to learn can do so for free, but the first step into the door beyond learning is a brick wall. Starter Kits have finally made a resurgence, which is a step in the right direction. However, you likely wouldn't know they existed if you didn't look online, which is antithetical to the fact that you'll usually have to go to a game store in order to play in events anyway. Additionally, with MSRPs being stripped off many products, it's the most expensive (even relatively speaking) it's ever been to start playing. As for experienced players? The story is the hardest it's ever been to keep up with, thanks especially to the fact that an entire plane's story has to start and end in one set. Players should be able to get the gist simply by looking at the set, but instead, hastily written stories with declining storytelling aspects do most of the talking (and it's assumed you've read them). This problem is becoming painfully obvious now; basically everyone that's died recently has been brought back to some extent, making it apparent that the folks in charge of story direction are leaning on old planeswalkers instead of innovating with new ones. Mu Yangling and Jiang Yanggu, Basri Ket, Niko Aris, Calix, Kasmina, Davriel, Dack Fayden, and Wrenn have either been ignored or cut from the story. Meanwhile, every member of the original five planeswalkers has completed their story arc and suffered some major fate that should have ended their tale, and yet they've all come back; Ajani and Jace were compleated, Garruk was corrupted by the Chain Veil, Liliana was hunted down, and Chandra was forced to face her corrupted fling Nissa. All of them are now totally fine, with Jace set to appear in Outlaws of Thunder Junction.

That's just scratching the surface of problems plaguing veterans. From a gameplay perspective, Standard is the most complex it's ever been, thanks to a three-year cycle being introduced and a constant torrent of increasingly complex mechanics. From a financial perspective, products aren't just the most expensive they've ever been, but there's basically a new product every single month now. Unless you stick to a single format (which can still be wallet-busting in its own right), you're bombarded with new content. Experimentation is great, but with the constant output, Wizards is forced to compete with itself; this has led to the worst level of power creep in many years. (You could probably reprint the Mirrodin block into Standard at this rate and only have to ban Skullclamp.) Every format has been turned on its back by the creep, from evoke elementals plaguing every deck in Modern to companions haunting Legacy and Vintage; worst of all, however, has been the fact that Standard is incredibly difficult to innovate in because of just how many blatantly busted cards are being printed. Oko was the thunder in the distance, and a storm has been pelting the format at increasing intensity since. We've reached a point where many blatantly powerful cards are considered fine in the format, because Wizards would rather keep bombs like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse legal than go on a banning spree for every seriously problematic card.

The worst part about this is that we likely wouldn't have reached this point if we still had a Core Set every year. The intentionally dumbed-down power of Core Sets is part of what helped keep power creep in check, as they couldn't go too far if they wanted to make the cards relevant. The ability to reprint many cards back into Standard gave players a comfortable baseline, let new players enter the game more easily, and made it easier to acquire classic cards. The break in the story allowed us to get a better look at where planeswalkers were and what they were doing, or it let us step back to see their history. It let Wizards introduce new characters more freely, not having to worry about their immediate implications. And, most importantly. if it was still around, there'd be far less arguments for one set per plane.

[alpaca-clouds]

Solarpunk is not archievable under Capitalism

Okay, let me make one thing very clear: We will never have a Solarpunk future as long as we live under capitalism. Again and again I will find people, who have fallen in love with the idea of Solarpunk, but are unwilling to consider any alternative to capitalism. So, please, let me quickly explain what that just is not gonna work out that way. There will be no Solarpunk under capitalism. Because the incentives of capitalism are opposing anything that Solarpunk stands for.

So let me please run over a few core points.

What is capitalism?

One issue that a lot of people do seem to have is understanding what capitalism even is. The defining attribute of capitalism is that "the means of production" (e.g. the things needed to create things) are privately owned and as such the private owners will decide both what gets created through it and who will get a share in any profits created through them. The ultimate goal in this is, to generate as large as a profit as possible, ideally more and more profit with every year. In real terms this means, that most of those means of productions in the way of companies and the like are owned mostly by shareholders, that is investors who have bought part of the company.

While capitalism gets generally thaught in schools with this entire idea of the free market, that... actually is not the central aspect of capitalism. I would even go so far to argue something else...

The market is actually not free and cannot be free

The idea of the free market is, that prices are controlled by the concept of supply and demand, with the buyer in the end deciding on whether they want to spend their money on something and being able to use that power to also enact control on the supplier.

However... that is actually not what is happening. Because it turns out that the end consumer has little influence, because they are actually not actively participating in the market. The market mainly is something that is happening between multimillionaires. It is their demand (or the lack thereoff) that is the influence. Investors, mainly. Which is logical. In a system, where the power to buy is deciding, the person who can spend multiple millions is gonna have a lot more power, than the person who has twenty bucks to their name.

Hence: 99% of all people are not participating in anything resembling a free market, and the remaining 1% are not interested in such a system.

Money under capitalism

One thing everyone needs to understand is, that for the most part money under capitalism is a very theoretical concept. It might be real for the average joe, who for the most part will not have more than maybe ten grand to their name, but it is not real to multi millionaires, let alone billionairs. Something that is going to be thrown around a lot is the concept of "net worth". But what you need to realize is that this net worth is not real money. It does not exist. It is the estimated worth of stuff these people own. Maybe houses and land, maybe private jets, maybe shares in companies and other things. These people's power and literal worth is tied to them being able theoretically able to sell these assets for money.

In fact a lot of these very rich people do not even have a lot of liquid money. So money they can spend. In fact there are quite a few billionairs who do not even own a million in liquidated money. The money they use in everyday life they borrow from banks, while putting their assets up as a security.

Why capitalism won't abolish fossil fuels

Understanding this makes it quite easy to understand why the capitalists cannot have fossil fuels ending. Because a lot of them own millions, at times billions in fossil fuel related assets. They might own a coal mine, or a fracking station, or maybe an offshore rig, or a power plant burning fossil fuels. At times they have 50% or more of their net worth bound in assets like this. If we stopped using fossil fuels, all those assets would become useless from one day to the next. Hence it is not in the interest of these very rich people to have that happen.

But it goes further than that, because politicians cannot have that happen either. Because the entire economy is build around these assets existing and being used as leverage and security for other investments.

Why capitalism won't build walkable cities and infrastructure

The same goes very much for the entire infrastructure. Another thing a lot of people have invested a lot of money into is cars. Not physical cars they own, but cars manufacturing. So, if we were building walkable cities with bikelanes and public transportation, a lot less people would buy cars, those manufactoring factories becoming worthless and hence once more money... just vanishing, that would otherwise be further invested.

Furthermore, even stuff like investing into EVs is a touch call to get to happen, because the investors (whose theoretical and not real money is tied to those manufacturers) want to see dividents at the end of the quartal. And if the manufactuerer invested into changing their factories to build EVs for a while profits would go down due to that investment. Hence, capitalism encourages them not doing that.

Why capitalism won't create sustainable goods

A lot of people will decry the fact that these days all goods you buy will break within two years, while that old washing machine your grandparents bought in 1962 is still running smoothly. To which I say: "Obviously. Because they want to make profits. Hence, selling you the same product every two years is more profitable."

If you wonder: "But wasn't that the same in 1962?" I will answer: "Yes. But in 1962 the market was still growing." See, with the post war economic boom more and more people got more divestable income they could spend. So a lot of companies could expect to win new costumers. But now the market is saturated. There is not a person who could use a washing machine, who does not have one. Hence, that thing needs to break, so they can sell another one.

The market incentive is against making sustainable, enduring products, that can be repaired. They would rather have you throw your clothing, your smartphone and your laptop away every two years.

Why workers will always be exploited under capitalism

One other central thing one has to realize about capitalism is that due to the privitization of the means of production the workers in a capitalist system will always be exploited. Because they own nothing, not even their own work. Any profit the company makes is value that has in the end been created by the workers within the company. (Please note, that everyone who does not own their work and cannot decide what happens to the value created by it is a worker. No matter whether they have a blue collar or a white collar job.)

That is also, why there is the saying: All profit is unpaid wages.

Under capitalism the profits will get divided up under the shareholders (aka the investors), while many of the workers do not even have enough money to just... live. Hence, good living standards for everyone are explicitly once more against the incentives of capitalism.

Why there won't be social justice under capitalism

Racism, sexism and also the current rise of queermisia are all a result of capitalism and have everything to do with capitalist incentives. Because the capitalists, so the people who own the means of production, profit from this discrimination. This is for two reasons.

For once having marginalized people creates groups that are easier exploitable. Due to discrimination these people will have a harder time finding a job and living quarters, making them more desperate and more likely to take badly paid jobs. Making it easier to exploit them for the profit of the capitalists.

A workforce divided through prejudice and discrimination will have a harder time to band together in unions and strikes. The crux of the entire system si, that it is build on the exploitation of workers - but if the workers stopped working, the system would instantly collapse. Hence the power of strikes. So, dividing the workforce between white and non-white, between queer and straight, between abled and disabled makes it easier to stop them from banding together, as they are too busy quaralling amoung themselves.

Why we won't decolonize under capitalism

Colonialism has never ended. Even now a lot of natural ressources and companies in the former colonies are owned by western interest. And this will stay that way, because this way the extraction of wealth is cheaper - making it more profitable. Colonialism has never ended, it has only gotten more subtle - and as long as more money can be made through this system, it will not end.

There won't be Solarpunk under capitalism

It is not your fault, if you think that capitalism cannot end. You have been literally taught this for as long as you can think. You never have been given the information about what capitalism is and how it works. You have never been taught the alternative mechanisms and where and when they were implemented.

You probably look at Solarpunk and think: "Yeah, that... that looks neat. I want that." And here is the thing: I want that, too.

But I have studied economics. Literally. And I can tell you... it does not work. It will not create better living situations for everyone. It will not save the world. Because in the end the longterm goals are not compatible with a capitalistic system.

I know it is fucking scary to be told: "Yeah, change the world you know in massive ways - or the world will end." But... it is just how the things are standing.

You can start small, though. Join a local party. Join a union. Join a mutual aid network. Help repair things. Help people just deal. Our power lies in working together. That is, in the end, what will get us a better future.

[trytapmoon]

Tapmoon In the ever-evolving landscape of decentralized finance

Tapmoon

In the ever-evolving landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi), Tapmoon emerges as a game-changer, offering a unique platform designed to empower its users with unparalleled liquidity and earning opportunities. At the heart of Tapmoon’s ecosystem is its native token, TAPS, which drives innovation and fosters growth for a sustainable financial future.

What is Tapmoon?

Tapmoon is a cutting-edge DeFi platform built to provide a seamless experience in liquidity provision, community engagement, and token utility. It leverages the robust Binance Smart Chain (BSC) infrastructure to ensure scalability, efficiency, and security for its users.

The TAPS Token

TAPS is the standard BEP20 token that fuels the Tapmoon ecosystem. With a total supply capped at 10,500,000, TAPS is designed to maintain value and promote long-term stability.

Key Features of TAPS:

Limited Supply: A total of 10,500,000 tokens ensures scarcity, contributing to the token’s potential value appreciation.

Ecosystem Utility: TAPS serves as the backbone of Tapmoon, enabling seamless payments and functioning as a DeFi currency.

Community Focus: The project emphasizes community involvement, encouraging holders to participate actively in the ecosystem.

Liquidity Provision: Tapmoon is committed to maintaining strong liquidity pools to ensure steady growth and financial stability.

Why Tapmoon Stands Out

Tapmoon’s unique proposition lies in its combination of fundamental strength and a community-centric approach. By prioritizing liquidity and rewards, the platform creates opportunities for users to earn while contributing to the ecosystem’s growth.

Core Principles:

Community-Driven Development: Tapmoon’s roadmap is shaped by its active community of supporters and contributors.

Sustainable Growth: Through strategic liquidity provision, Tapmoon ensures the platform remains robust in a competitive DeFi market.

Innovative Rewards System: Users can tap into unlimited earning potential through various reward mechanisms integrated into the ecosystem.

The Future of Tapmoon

With a vision to redefine liquidity provision and rewards, Tapmoon is paving the way for a more inclusive and rewarding DeFi experience. Its focus on community engagement, fundamental robustness, and a sustainable tokenomics model makes it a promising contender in the decentralized finance space.

As the DeFi world continues to expand, Tapmoon is committed to staying at the forefront, offering solutions that empower its users and foster a thriving financial ecosystem. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto enthusiast or a newcomer exploring the world of DeFi, Tapmoon provides a platform that’s easy to navigate, rewarding, and sustainable.

Join the Tapmoon Journey Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of the Tapmoon revolution. Dive into the world of TAPS and discover how unlimited liquidity and rewards can transform your financial journey. Together, let’s build a brighter future in decentralized finance.

Website: www.tapmoon.io Twitter: https://x.com/TryTapmoon Telegram: https://t.me/TryTapmoon Medium: https://medium.com/@trytapmoon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TryTapmoon Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tapmoon Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TryTapmoon

[kintsug1kitsune]

battle in the low market

The lower-city market was dark even given the world's eternal night.

Concrete pavement meshed with cobblestone and brick, messy walkways twisting through the depths of the city, which towered all overhead, bridges and highways and towers and skyscrapers, all netted together in a neon-lit, hologram-strewn tangle.

Down here, only simple streetlights lit-up the darkness, but still many crowded about, all walks of life come to this gray place to find uncommon and illicit wares. Neverborn beside dolls beside hollows, reapers and Daughters and wildborn, those with wolf heads and animal parts.

I came to this bazaar for a particular type of ether, distilled shatter, a liquid emanation useful in my Mistress's more destructive spells. I hardly dressed-up, a lacy combat thread crop-top and shorts, dangling with knives and sewn with intricate lunar designs. My six arms were free to fiddle with each other as I perused various stalls, searching for my quarry--

And finding a different objective altogether.

My tail whipped the air twice, long and porcelain-plated and sharp-edged, and my five eyes locked with another combat doll's set of two. My rubies to its sapphires. But that was negligible--what actually stood-out was the musical notes printed across its cheek, the symbol of the Witch of Winds. The two of us recognized each other, me from its mark and it from the etchings and paint of cherry blossoms and flowers across my right side and arm.

We chattered in combat-dollspeak, a sharp and cutting dialect that nonetheless rhymed and twisted and chittered beautifully in our language.

"Target found," I said, stalking towards the other.

"Received. Target found," it said, lumbering towards me. It was taller than me, 215 centimeters to my 190, and built thick, strong, tree-like arms and legs made of fine ceramith, ablative porcelain like me. Mine alabaster-white, its own a bluish color, covered by a long white combat dress.

I looked up to it, about a half-meter away, and we eyed each other, taking one another's measure. "Identify," I asked.

"This one is the Wallbreaker," it responded; a title, something storied combat dolls kept among themselves, earned from high deeds. "Identify."

"This one is the Ashveil," I answered. "Confirm threat."

"Confirmed."

We began circling one another, my tail caressing the air, its built-in organ pipes whistling as it flexed its heavy fingers. The market crowd began clearing out a circle for us, everyone looking in on the combat dolls squaring-up, muttering amongst each other, taking bets; it was a gritty enough part of town that no shops closed-up, but instead their keepers watched on.

"That one's Witch is enemy to this one's," I hissed to my opponent, raising my hands into a lax combat stance, top two arms on defense, lower sets open with their voidkrystal claws extended, glowing magenta softly. "This one will prove Her superiority."

"Received," Wallbreaker answered, and smirked, jaw splitting along its cheeks to show a gaping maw of ritesteel fangs. "That one will fail."

In a split second it dashed at me, throwing its arm at my face, a column of battle-ready ceramith--I batted it aside and followed-up, punching at its chest with all three of my right-side hands.

In a core-tick it rose its leg and clenched its other arm down, forming a wall that my fists bounced off of, porcelain clattering against porcelain--then Wallbreaker swung around its ramming arm to try to catch me from behind, reaching around my back.

My eyes caught it, and I felt all my gears click perfectly into place, pistons sliding within me as I ducked the blow--then my enemy's knee came to strike my face; I crossed all of my arms and blocked the hit, sliding back across the pavement but keeping firm.

But Wallbreaker pressed, charging at me again to ram me with its whole body--I leaped to the side, dancing around it, and we ended up a few meters apart, staring each other down again.

"Form 01," I commented, "Classic style." And without warning, I jumped--my legs hissed through the air and battered Wallbreaker with a flurry of flying kicks, all blocked; I fell to the ground, pivoted, and jumped straight up with my leg extended, slipping under its guard and smashing it in the chin, sending the other combat doll reeling back.

In the same motion, I spread my wings and took to the sky, sharp and silvery feathers around spell circles--without stopping, I drove an assault into the enemy with my legs, whirling through the air and kicking, slashing at it with my sharp high-heels.

As I rebounded off it, Wallbreaker stared up at me and hissed. "Killing Rapture? That one has trained with angels."

"Received. False," I hissed back, "It has killed enough angels to learn the style."

No more talk--the other doll crouched and flung itself up, boosters in its feet propelling it into the air to try and piledrive me out of it; I easily flitted back and dodged, but as Wallbreaker fell, it wheeled around and out of its wrist shot a bundle of taut metal cables--they wrapped my legs and yanked, hard.

The wind whistled in my horns as I crashed to the ground, leaving a web of cracks in the pavement and none in me. Across, Wallbreaker landed, hitting the stone with a thud--I was still tangled. Thinking fast, I channeled witchfire from my core and melted out of the cables, instantly springing to my feet.

Just in time--my opponent was howling, jaw split and gaping wide to devour me as it charged; it tried to hammer down on my head, I weaved aside, and it grabbed my top-right arm.

I grabbed its own right arm with my top-left and let loose the claws on my two lower-right sets--and drove them into Wallbreaker's side, tearing apart blued ceramith with voidkrystal sharper than diamond.

It shrieked briefly and rose its leg--stomped it down, trying to break my foot. I slid out of the way, still holding its right wrist, and went to dig my lower-left sets of claws into its other side.

But Wallbreaker had none of it and suddenly slammed its head into mine, getting a wild scream from the crowd watching--I was undeterred. My jaw split, three-way, and I bit at my enemy--it bit back, a gnashing of metal fangs as our heads wove around each other, bodies tangled together, grappling close.

Abruptly, I whipped my head and slammed my horns into Wallbreaker's head, sending it reeling--this was my chance! I threw myself forwards, gears shrieking, and shoved all six of my fists into its frame--chained the move into a roundhouse-kick, and spun, slashing across it with my tail, throwing it to the ground and leaving a massive gash across its porcelain.

I looked down at my defeated foe. "Breaking Demon Hand," I explained. "This one learned it from neverborn pirates."

Wallbreaker lay on stony ground, organ pipes hissing weakly. "…This one learned it from its siblings. This one yields to retreat. Disengaging."

"Disengaging," I answered, giving a chitter. "Good fight."

The crowd rattled amongst itself, bets cashed-in, as I walked off into it, folding my wings back into my body. Now, where could I find some shatter…?

[novagad]

Forex Trading Advisor @novagad

I’ve been a Forex Trader since 2007 and an instructor since 2017.

Forex Trading: Exploring the Global Financial Frenzy

In the vast and dazzling world of financial markets, there's one beast that roars louder than the rest: Forex trading. It's a domain where fortunes are made (and sometimes lost) faster than you can say "exchange rate."

But what exactly is it about Forex that has millions of people hooked, eyes glued to screens, fingers poised over keyboards, and hearts racing like they've had one too many espressos? Let's dive deeper into the world of currency trading and uncover the secrets behind its irresistible allure.

1. The 24/5 Convenience Store of Trading

First and foremost, Forex trading operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. Unlike the stock market, which opens and closes like a sleepy small-town shop, the Forex market is like a neon-lit convenience store that never sleeps.

Traders from New York to Tokyo can engage in their currency escapades whenever the mood strikes. This flexibility allows part-time traders to moonlight after their day jobs and early birds to catch the worm in real-time market action.

2. The Seductive Leverage

Leverage in Forex is like having a turbocharger in a sports car. It gives traders the ability to control larger positions with a relatively small amount of capital. It's the dream of making big bucks with a small investment.

Of course, leverage is a double-edged sword—one moment you're racing at full throttle, and the next, you're careening off a cliff. But for many, the potential for high returns is too tempting to resist.

impressive gains. For those who relish a challenge and have a knack for puzzles, Forex trading offers a never-ending mental workout.

3. The Global Playground

Forex is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily trading volume exceeding $6 trillion. Yes, you read that right—trillion with a T! This immense liquidity ensures that traders can enter and exit positions with ease, without worrying about slippage.

Plus, the sheer variety of currency pairs means there's always something to trade, whether you're bullish on the dollar, bearish on the euro, or just feeling adventurous about the Malaysian ringgit.

4. The Democratization of Trading

Gone are the days when Forex trading was exclusive to big banks and hedge funds. The rise of online trading platforms has leveled the playing field, allowing anyone with a computer and an internet connection to join the fun.

And with a plethora of educational resources, webinars, and demo accounts available, the Forex market is as inclusive as it is vast. It's like the world's biggest, most volatile party, and everyone's invited.

5. The Thrill of the Chase

Let's face it: Forex trading comes with an undeniable adrenaline rush. The fast-paced nature of the market, the constant flux of prices, and the never-ending stream of economic news and geopolitical events create an environment that's as exhilarating as it is unpredictable.

It's like being on a financial rollercoaster, with every twist and turn bringing new opportunities and risks. For many, it's this thrill that keeps them coming back for more, despite the occasional stomach-churning drops.

6. The Intellectual Challenge

Forex trading isn't just about clicking buy and sell; it's a cerebral game of strategy, analysis, and psychology. Traders spend hours poring over charts, deciphering technical indicators, and keeping up with economic data.

It's a constant test of wits and nerve, where making the right call can yield impressive gains. For those who relish a challenge and have a knack for puzzles, Forex trading offers a never-ending mental workout.

7. The Quest for Financial Independence

At its core, the popularity of Forex trading is driven by a simple, powerful desire: the quest for financial independence.

The dream of making a living from trading, of being your own boss, of earning money from anywhere in the world with just a laptop and an internet connection—it's a compelling vision.

While the reality can be tough and the road fraught with risks, for many, the potential rewards make it a journey worth embarking on.

8. The Bottom Line: Why Forex Trading is Gaining Popularity

Forex trading is no joke, my friend. It's a vibrant and global marketplace that offers incredible opportunities to make some serious dough, keep your brain buzzing, and achieve financial independence.

What makes it so darn attractive, you ask? Well, it's a 24/7 affair, meaning you can jump in whenever you please. Plus, there's this thing called leverage that gives you some extra oomph.

And let's not forget about the internet, which has made trading accessible to just about anyone. Oh, and did I mention the sheer adrenaline rush you get from the chase? It's like being on a rollercoaster ride you just can't resist.

9. But let's get real, shall we?

Now, let's not kid ourselves. Forex trading isn't some magical money-making machine that spits out cash on demand. It requires some serious learning, discipline, and a healthy dose of respect for the risks involved.

But here's the deal: If you're willing to put in the effort and approach it with a clear, strategic mindset, the rewards can be absolutely mind-blowing. We're talking big bucks, my friend.

So, whether you're a seasoned trader who knows the ropes or a curious newbie eager to dip your toes in the Forex waters, the world of trading is calling your name. Just remember to buckle up because it's going to be one heck of a wild ride.

Get ready to feel the rush!

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