#Cell Separation Market

[insightfulblogz]

Cell Separation Market Growth Statistics and Key Players Insights (2024-2032)

Cell Separation 2024

Cell separation is a vital process used in various biological and medical fields, involving the isolation of specific types of cells from a mixed population. This technique plays a critical role in research, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. By isolating target cells, scientists and healthcare professionals can gain insights into disease mechanisms, develop targeted therapies, and conduct advanced research in fields such as immunology, cancer, and stem cell therapy. The ability to separate cells based on specific markers or characteristics has revolutionized the study of cellular functions and has led to significant advancements in personalized medicine.

Cell Separation Market was estimated at USD 9.04 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 21.22 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 9.95% during the forecast period of 2024-2032.

Techniques of Cell Separation

There are several methods used for cell separation, each suited for different applications. One of the most common techniques is flow cytometry, which uses fluorescence-based technology to separate cells based on specific cell surface markers. This method is highly efficient and can sort large populations of cells rapidly, making it ideal for applications like immune profiling and cancer research. Another technique, magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), employs magnetic beads coated with antibodies to bind to specific cell types. When a magnetic field is applied, the targeted cells are separated from the rest of the population, allowing for high-purity isolation.

Other methods include density gradient centrifugation, where cells are separated based on their size and density, and laser capture microdissection, which is used for isolating individual cells from tissue sections under microscopic examination. Each of these techniques offers specific advantages depending on the needs of the research or clinical application.

Applications in Research and Medicine

Cell separation is widely used in both basic and applied biomedical research. In immunology, it is essential for isolating immune cells such as T-cells, B-cells, and dendritic cells, which are key to understanding immune responses and developing immunotherapies. In cancer research, the ability to separate cancer stem cells or circulating tumor cells from the blood can offer valuable insights into cancer progression and metastasis. This makes cell separation a critical tool for identifying biomarkers, developing new drugs, and studying cancer biology in a more targeted way.

Cell separation is also instrumental in stem cell research, where the isolation of specific cell populations is needed to study their differentiation potential. For example, hematopoietic stem cells, which give rise to blood cells, can be isolated for research on blood disorders and potential therapies like bone marrow transplants. Additionally, in regenerative medicine, separating and enriching certain cell types can lead to better outcomes in tissue repair and cell-based therapies.

In clinical settings, cell separation is used for diagnostic purposes, such as isolating specific cell types from patient samples for the detection of diseases like leukemia or HIV. Moreover, it plays a role in precision medicine by enabling personalized treatment approaches based on the patient's unique cellular profile.

Technological Advancements Driving Market Growth

The Cell Separation Market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by advancements in technology that enhance the efficiency, precision, and scalability of separation techniques. Automation is one of the key factors contributing to market expansion. Automated systems allow for high-throughput cell separation, reducing manual errors and increasing reproducibility. This is particularly beneficial in clinical settings where accuracy and speed are critical.

Additionally, innovations in microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies are enabling more efficient, cost-effective, and miniaturized cell separation systems. These devices offer precise control over fluid flow and cell manipulation, allowing for faster and more targeted cell isolation. As these technologies continue to evolve, they are expected to open new opportunities in single-cell analysis and personalized medicine.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its advantages, cell separation faces some challenges. One of the primary concerns is maintaining cell viability and functionality during the separation process. In some methods, cells may be exposed to mechanical stress or other conditions that can affect their ability to perform their biological functions. Researchers are continuously working on improving separation protocols to minimize damage to cells, ensuring that isolated populations are as healthy and representative as possible.

Another challenge is the need for more standardized, reproducible methods across different applications. As the demand for high-quality, reliable results increases, there is a growing need for consistent protocols that can be used across diverse research areas and clinical settings.

The future of cell separation is bright, with continued innovation in separation techniques, automation, and technology integration. As the understanding of cellular biology deepens, cell separation will continue to be a key tool for advancing medical research, diagnostics, and treatments, particularly in the realms of cancer, immunology, and regenerative medicine.

Conclusion

Cell separation is a cornerstone of modern biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, offering critical insights into cell function and disease mechanisms. With its broad range of applications in immunology, oncology, and stem cell research, it is an indispensable tool for scientists and healthcare professionals alike. As technology advances and new techniques emerge, the Cell Separation Market is poised for significant growth, supporting the ongoing demand for precision medicine and advanced diagnostic solutions.

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[communicationblogs]

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market — Forecast(2024–2030)

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market — Forecast(2024–2030)

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Overview

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Report Coverage

The report: “Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Forecast (2020–2025)”, by Industry ARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market.

By Product Type: Consumables and Instruments.

By Cell: Human Cell and Animal Cell.

By Technique: Filtration Based Cell Isolation, Centrifugation Based Cell Isolation and Surface Maker Based Cell Isolation.

By Application: Stem Cell Research, Cancer Research, Biomolecule Research, Vitro Diagnostics, Tissue Regeneration, Others.

By Geography: North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Rest of World (RoW).

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Key Takeaways

Geographically, North America Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market accounted for the highest revenue share in 2019 and it is poised to dominate during the forecast period 2020–2025 owing to the high demand.

The increase in the technology and awareness among customers is likely to aid in the market growth of Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market.

Detailed analysis on the Strength, Weakness and Opportunities of the prominent players operating in the market will be provided in the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market report.

The increase in the number of chronic diseases and increase in the demand for laboratory automation are creating higher opportunities for the growth of market for the forecast period 2020–2025.

By Service Type- Segment Analysis Based on the Service Type, the Repair and Maintenance segment held the largest share in 2019 owing to the factors such as rapid increase in the use of laboratory equipment for research activities and increase in the investment by the public and the private companies. Calibration segment is estimated to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period 2020–2025. The growth in this segment is owing to the factors such as growing need for accurate and precise information, growing consciousness among customers and the government regulations.

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By End User- Segment Analysis

Based on the End User, the Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratories segment held the largest share in 2019 owing to the factors such as rapid increase in the research in drug discovery by the major companies, rapid increase in the number of diseases and growing awareness regarding health. Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies segment is estimated to be the fastest growing segment owing to the factors such as increase in the demand for long-term treatment for chronic diseases, growing healthcare financial products and increase in the demand for generics market.

By Geography — Segment Analysis Based on the Geography, North America held the largest share in 2019. The growth in this segment is owing to the factors such as advancements in technology, rapid growth in the healthcare infrastructure and government policies supporting the developments in healthcare. Asia-Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing segment owing to the factors such, as rapid increase in the import of laboratory equipment, investment by the major companies in the developing nations and growing research in pharmaceutical companies.

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Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Drivers

Rapid increase in the research activities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.

The increase in the research activities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries owing to rapid increase in the number of diseases, well developed infrastructures and advancements in technology is estimated to enhance the growth of Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market. The increase in the demand for laboratory automation is also estimated to enhance the growth of Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market.

Government’s policies to enhance biomedical research activities.

There is a rapid increase in the initiatives and policies by the governments towards biomedical research activities owing to growing awareness among customers increase in the number of aging population and growing prevalence of chronic diseases. This led to rapid increase in the growth of Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market. Investments in the biotechnology sector and improvement in the healthcare infrastructure is also estimated to enhance the growth of the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market.

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Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Challenges

The shift from lab-based diagnosis to home-based testing and high cost associated with the service contracts and raw material.

The shift from lab-based diagnosis to home-based testing owing to increase in the awareness among customers, decreasing the chances of complications and advancements in technology is estimated to reduce the growth of the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market. High costs associated with the service contracts and raw material is also said to reduce the growth of the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market.

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market Industry outlook: Product launches, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and geographical expansions are key strategies adopted by players in the Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market. Key companies of this market are Agilent Technologies, Danaher Corporation, Pace Analytical Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, PerkinElmer Inc, Waters Corporation, Eppendorf AG, Siemens Healthineers, Abbott Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc among others.

Acquisitions/Product Launches:

In 2020, Agilent Technologies has launched CrossLab Connect Services for Lab-wide Asset Monitoring, which is an advanced service for laboratories seeking increased visibility and control over operations.

In 2020, Waters Corporation has launched the Waters ARC HPLC System to help laboratories meet quality and production targets and for routine testing in the pharmaceutical, food, academic and materials market.

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[luckydige45]

According to Nova One Advisor, the global cell separation market size was exhibited at USD 9.11 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 23.59 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.98% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2033.

[researchinsights]

The global cell separation technologies market size was valued at USD 9,604.4 million in 2023 and is poised to grow at a significant CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period 2024-30. It also includes market size and projection estimations for each of the five major regions from 2024 to 2030. The research report includes historical data, trending features, and market growth estimates for the future. Furthermore, the study includes a global and regional estimation and is further split by nations and categories within each region. The research also includes factors and barriers to the cell separation technologies market growth, as well as their impact on the market's future growth. The report gives a comprehensive overview of both primary and secondary data.  

[marketreports-blog]

The global cell separation market size was exhibited at USD 9.11 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 23.59 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.98% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2033.

[soumyafwr]

https://chatterchat.com/read-blog/76202_global-cell-isolation-or-cell-separation-market-size-overview-key-players-and-fo.html

Cell Isolation or Cell Separation Market 

[vikasgupta11]

According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled “Cell Separation Technologies Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027,” offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry, which comprises insights on the global cell separation technologies share.

[uberstrainerusa]

What Are Effector T Cells And The Different Cell Types?

Pluribead, a leading cell enrichment technology, is specifically designed for fast and gentle sample preparation, resulting in a highly-enriched population of healthy, viable cells. Learn more about our T cell isolation products, which can help you overcome long-standing sample preparation challenges.

The term "effector T cell" refers to a type of T cell that actively responds to a stimulus, such as co-stimulation. Learn more about our unique Effector T cell separation technologies.

Effector cells are immune system cells that have gone through the process of differentiation and maturation. In the event of a stimulus, these are the cells that mount specific responses. As part of the immune response against a pathogen or a self cell, the body's immune system generates effector cells (in case of autoimmune disorders).

We'll look at how Pluribead cell enrichment aids in Effector T Cells isolation.

T Cell Activation

When a T cell encounters a recognized APC, it receives a signal to mature. If a cell gets all three signals, it will develop into an effector cell. If a cell only receives one of the signals (TCR or BCR), it becomes ineffective.

Effector Cells

Depending on the APC encountered, a naive cell can develop into an effector T cell. Effector T cells have relatively short lifespans and perform immune response functions. T cells can be a cytotoxic, helper, or regulatory.

Cytotoxic T Cells

The primary function of cytotoxic T cells, also known as CD8+ cells, is to kill toxic/target cells. When they are recognized, their purpose changes to the removal of virally infected cells, bacteria, and tumor fragments (such as cancer cells) via a process known as apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs when the internal organelles of a cell are destroyed, causing the cell to die from the inside out.

Helper T Cells

T helper cells, also known as CD4+ cells, are similar to cytotoxic cells but perform a broader range of functions. These cells are critical to cell immunity because they are required for the majority of adaptive immune responses. When exposed to antigens, T helper cells become activated and have the ability to differentiate into cell subtypes.

Regulatory T Cells

The regulatory T cell is the final type of effector cell. Once the threat has been eliminated, regulatory T cells are tasked with suppressing the autoimmune response. After helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells bind to a pathogen and work together to eliminate it from the body, they are no longer useful. Regulatory T cells prevent them from taking up space or attacking healthy cells until they die of apoptosis.

While these three types of effector cells handle the majority of the immune response, they are not the only T cell variations. Even after a pathogen has been removed, some types of T lymphocytes remain. These long-living lymphocytes are memory T cells that are highly capable of responding to antigens when reintroduced—which aids the immune system.

These cells are formed following infection and are extremely important because they have the ability to multiply into a large number of effector T cells when exposed to familiar antigens. Memory cells are distinct in that they remember pathogens and infectious cells faster than other cells, allowing them to fight bacteria and viruses more effectively.

Try Our Cell Separation Products Right Now!

[barbielore]

Barbie first explored her political aspirations in 1992, when she ran for President for the first time.

The original Barbie for President gift set came packaged with both a long star-spangled costume dress and a more professional red skirt suit to campaign in.

She was not a candidate in 1996, but since returning to the campaign in 2000, has run in every election since.

In 2000, Barbie again had two outfits: a blue blazer and skirt for the campaign trail, and a purple/pink formal gown, presumably for celebrating her victory. Note that unlike the 1992 Barbie, this Barbie is wearing her campaign outfit and her celebration dress is boxed separately.

2004's candidacy was the first time Barbie wore trousers on the campaign trail, and also had a more feminist-marketed slogan with the new tagline, "Go Vote, Go Run, Go Lead, Go Girl!". This was also the first candidate who came packaged with only one outfit.

Come 2008, Barbie needs a cell phone to help her with her campaigning. She is back to wearing a skirt on the campaign trail, back to having a second outfit for celebrations - this time a tasteful pink number. Barbie's suit is itself spangled now, to add a bit of pizzazz to the electoral race.

2012 Barbie is has elbow length sleeves on her pink blazer, and a little dog in a secret service suit hiding behind her so she's a real frontrunner. This particular doll is advertised as "stands on her own - literally", so you know that Mattel knew that was a little on the nose.

Her 2016 candidacy had another step forward: now Barbie is packaged alongside her Vice President, and is advertised as being on the "first all female ticket". She was released in different variations, so different styled dolls of different appearances would appear as either President or Vice President.

The 2020 election contained a whole campaign team, ranging in formality from presidential candidate in a pink blazer to one of her campaigners in jeans and a t-shirt. You can see as well that Mattel has made use of different body types: one of the dolls is more petite than the others, and one uses the curvy body model.

[princessbrunette]

Deer!reader who’s always getting lost in crowded places and bf!pope who panics every time (tries to remain calm but fails😔)

"⭒˚｡⋆��⋆⭒˚｡"

“dude, we’ll find her it’s fine.” jj slaps his shoulder, undoubtably more chill than the heyward boy was feeling in that moment — standing up straight as he scans over what seems to be a million heads looking for yours.

“okay well do you see her, jj? because i don’t.” pope tries to keep his voice level to convince himself that he’s really calm. now of all times was the worst for you to just disappear.

your heart was racing, you hated being separated from pope as it was — and now you stood in the centre of a moroccan market, far from home with no cell service to be able to text him and ask him to come get you. you hug yourself, trying not to cry. be a big girl, that’s what pope would tell you to do.

you’re really about to give up and start freaking out, before a hand shoots out of seemingly nowhere and grabs your wrist, yanking you towards the familiar body.

“what did i tell you? no running off!” pope exasperates, and you could tell he was frustrated but you throw yourself at his chest anyway, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“pope!” you breathe.

“are you shaking?” his voice softens a little, pulling back to check you over. you shrug, shy all of a sudden because you knew it was silly to get so scared — but you truly couldn’t go anywhere without him. “you’re okay, yeah?”

“yeah, i’m sorry.”

“no you’re… fine. i need to take better care of you. come on, so not letting go of your hand this time.” he extends his palm, wiggling his fingers and you take it happily, bounding along at his side.

"⭒˚｡⋆🦌⋆⭒˚｡"

[pippytmi]

kacy + a break-up AU based on this prompt list: "you’re my emergency contact and i’ve been in an accident so you drop everything to come to the hospital"

———————————————————————

The thing no one says about breakups is that they're an utter inconvenience.

Kate tries to rationalize it; she was dating Lucy Tara for twelve months and thirteen days, it's only natural to have established a routine that will take some time to unlearn. So when she wakes up and reaches for a warm body that isn't there, it still takes a while to remember why. And when she makes her morning coffee, maybe sometimes she will pour the creamer that Lucy likes by accident. (By the end of the week, she will have to pour the whole container down the drain). That’s normal too. Mostly.

Lucy’s absence hits the most in the morning, but Kate goes through the motions anyway. Before Lucy she would always take her coffee outside and sit on the balcony to watch the sunrise, so she still does it. Of course now there’s no Lucy wrapped up in a blanket and insistently making her way onto Kate’s lap to sleep while she does it, but. Kate sips from her mug and watches the clouds roll in over the gloomy horizon and pretends nothing has changed.

The drive to work is quiet save for the gentle patter of rain against her windows. Her radio is still set to the station Lucy likes, and Kate hasn’t managed to change it. Baby steps—that’s all it takes. Maybe tomorrow Kate might have the courage to switch it back to her own.

And when everything at home is too loud and simultaneously too empty, there’s work. Kate gets to her desk and finds a mountain of files with new assignments, and she welcomes them with open arms; her work has always been separate from Lucy, and it's the one constant she doesn't need to readjust to.

For a blissful hour and a half, Kate is in her own world. She argues with a client about what confidentiality means (and what it doesn't). She reschedules the deposition of a plaintiff on a particularly high-profile case because opposing counsel has accidentally double-booked. She creates an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of her new cases but organizes the clients by market value. 

By all accounts, her morning is shaping up considerably. That is, until her cell phone starts buzzing.

She ignores the first call from the unknown number flashing on the screen. Instead, she gets coffee from the awful machine in the break room. The second call comes thirty minutes later, and Kate ignores it again, spends her time politely explaining how to use the fax machine to her confused new paralegal.

When her phone rings a third time—just as Kate has gotten out of a grueling meeting with the senior attorneys which should've been an email—she answers it solely for peace of mind: “This is Kate.”

There's a brief shuffle on the other end. “Hi, I'm calling from St. Joseph Hospital for a Katherine Whistler?”

“Speaking,” Kate says curtly, prepared to give a spiel about how she won't donate at this time when the caller continues,

“Oh—good morning.” More shuffling. “Is this a good time? I have a sensitive matter to discuss.”

Kate frowns even if the person on the other line can't see it. “Yes, it's fine,” she says, and watches as her work phone lights up with another call that she will just have to return later. 

“I'm calling on behalf of a patient: Lucy Tara. She has you listed as her emergency contact. She is unresponsive and we were wondering if you could come in to discuss the particulars of her care…”

The rest of the call is static. Kate almost drops her phone entirely, only grasping onto select words like they're a lifeline. Lucy is alive. Lucy is hurt. Lucy was found unconscious. Lucy has yet to wake up. Lucy is alive.

Kate doesn't even tell anyone she's leaving; she just goes. Later, senior attorney Michael Curtis will tell Kate that she looked extremely pale and sickly when rushing out of the office, but Kate will only remember a vague blur from that phone call to actually arriving at the hospital. It might be the most reckless thing she’s ever done, come to think of it.

Dr. Carla Chase is the physician assigned to Lucy’s care, and she takes one look at Kate and blinks as if surprised to see her. “Forget an umbrella?”

“I'm sorry?” Kate says, heart caught dangerously high in her throat. She's literally choking on worry—Dr. Chase’s words don't sink in until she takes a step forward and realizes she is currently dripping all over the linoleum floor.

Dr. Chase gives her a small, sympathetic smile. “Let me ease your mind,” she says. “Ms. Tara woke up. Our timeline is good, she was not unconscious for long. Has a concussion and a nasty bump, but she's going to be just fine.”

Kate breathes. “Oh,” she says shakily, and embarrassingly, hot tears spring to her eyes at the confirmation. “That's…great. Thank you.”

“You can come inside, see her. I'll go find you a towel.” Even though Kate is a sopping mess, Dr. Chase still pauses to place a hand on her shoulder and squeeze reassuringly.

Even with the worst over, the hardest part is still walking into the room—harder still is watching as Lucy looks up with those wide, curious eyes that become expressionless the instant she sees Kate.

“Kate? What are you doing here?” Lucy asks, voice not quite harsh but definitely not welcoming.

Kate opens her mouth, but is unable to form words. She's too stuck just staring at Lucy: at the bruise that colors the entirety of the swell of her cheek, at the large bandage over her jaw, at the purpling of her black eye. Any relief at knowing that Lucy is awake sinks into horror at the state of Lucy’s injuries.

“Kate,” Lucy repeats, frowning. “Why do you look like someone died?” A beat. “And why are you wet?”

“The—the hospital called me,” Kate manages. “Are you okay? How are you…how are you feeling?”

“I'm fine. I just fell down a stupid mountain.” Lucy smooths down her blanket, twisting the corner between her fingertips the way she does when she's uncomfortable.

“A mountain?”

“It's not as dramatic as it sounds,” Lucy says. “Kai and I were searching for a missing kid and we got separated, and with the rain it was muddy and foggy and…well, you get it.”

“And he left you there? Unconscious?” Kate has met Kai Holman once or twice, and knows very little about him except that just like Lucy, he volunteers for search and rescue missions to escape his normal job. Beyond that, Kate’s opinion of him is quickly going downhill.

“He wasn't there when it happened,” Lucy argues. “I already texted him and explained, but, I told him he didn't have to come see me or anything.” She stops. “So why did you come?”

“Because the hospital called,” Kate says again, which is pretty self-explanatory.

Apparently, Lucy does not feel the same way. “But you didn't have to answer the phone,” she points out. “We’re not together. You could've just said ‘sorry, she’s my ex’ and called it a day.”

Kate stiffens. “You're the one who has me as your emergency contact. It was the…decent thing to do,” she says.

Lucy rolls her eyes. “Okay, congratulations,” she says, “you have done your civic duty of not being an asshole. But I’m alright, so you can go back to deep-sea diving in your pantsuit or whatever you were up to before this.”

“Hold on,” Kate says, a flare of panic overtaking any objection she might have to Lucy’s disdain (which is completely unwarranted, by the way). “How are you getting home?”

“They’ve invented a modern miracle called an Uber, not sure if you heard.” Lucy waves her phone exaggeratedly. “I’ll survive.”

It's an out, and Kate should take it. She should walk out that door and never look back, let all the unsaid issues between them continue to morph and mutate into something ugly and irreversible. But she can’t. 

“I’ll drive you home,” Kate says at last.

Lucy immediately shakes her head. “That’s not necessary,” she says. “Seriously. If you’re that against Ubers, I can call Kai and get him here in two seconds. He’d be more than happy to take me home.”

“That would be unnecessary. I’m already here.”

“And you don’t have to be,” Lucy reiterates, staring Kate down like she expects her to cave.

If it were any other situation, Kate would. She's soaked head to toe from the rain, she has no obligation to be here, and by all accounts either reason would be a rational excuse to extradite herself from this hospital. Especially the former—the chill of her wet clothes is finally beginning to catch up to her, and she blindly brushes back her damp hair while resisting the urge to shiver. It would be the rational decision to go home and change into warm clothes (and explain to her boss why she left without as much as a text explaining why).

But for once in her life, Kate isn't being rational. “I'm not leaving,” she says, crossing her arms in an attempt to look firm. 

Lucy sighs, sagging backwards against her pillow. “Come on, Kate,” she says. “This is awkward enough. I don't need a babysitter after one tiny little fall.”

“Down a mountain,” Kate says, unable to let that fact go. “What do your parents think about this?”

“I…might've not told them. Exactly.” Lucy bites her lip in an obvious effort not to wince. “I asked for the day off when I woke up, so.”

Kate blinks. “You woke up after a traumatic fall,” she says slowly, “and…asked your parents for PTO.”

“I wouldn't call it traumatic. That's such an ugly word. Limiting, even,” Lucy says. “It would've been a total badass move if it hadn't been, you know, raining.”

A knock against the wall announces Dr. Chase’s arrival, who has thankfully brought Kate that towel. “How are we doing?” she asks.

“Ready to get out of here,” Lucy says, sitting up eagerly. “Whenever you say so, doc.”

“Well, I really would recommend a CT scan to be on the safe side,” Dr. Chase says. “But given that you've passed all our cognitive tests and your vision is good, I can consider a discharge…as long as you have someone at home to monitor you today and make sure no further symptoms arise. And no sleeping until your normal bedtime.”

“I’ll be with her,” Kate interjects as she towels off her hair. Lucy looks like she might argue, but her desire to leave must win out, because she doesn't speak up.

“Fantastic. Let me get your discharge paperwork and a prescription for some painkillers—all over the counter. Then we're going to have a serious discussion about what you should and should not do, okay?”

“Got it. Thanks, Dr. Chase,” Lucy says cheerfully, but the instant the doctor leaves, so does her smile. “What was that? You obviously can't stay with me.”

“I know,” Kate says defensively, even if—for a second—she had been completely prepared to. “I'm sure Ernie or Jane can monitor your symptoms just fine.”

“...yeah,” Lucy agrees slowly, as if she had been expecting Kate to argue. Then, “Oh, shit. I actually forgot to tell Jane I'm here.” She frantically opens her phone and starts texting up a flurry, her brow crinkling as she concentrates on her screen, and Kate is brought back to movie nights spent scouring Wikipedia articles and faux-arguing over date night picks and it's…too much.

This is the opposite of unlearning; this is an all too painful reminder that Lucy Tara is no longer in her life. Kate wrings the damp towel between her hands and takes a deep breath to save face. At the very least, Lucy doesn't seem to have caught on to Kate’s internal turmoil, because when she looks up again all the cheerfulness from before is back.

Kate knows in that instant she never wants Lucy to lose that cheer again. “Everything okay?” she asks, aiming for just-polite-enough interest, and Lucy is gracious enough to allow it.

“They found the missing girl,” Lucy says, sagging backwards in obvious relief. “Thank God.” When she smiles, even if it’s down at her phone, Kate nearly tears up all over again.

“That’s great.” Kate clears her throat, places her hands in her (wet) pockets, and tries very hard to act casual. “So is Jane going to stay with you, then?”

“No—she’s the one who found the kid, she has to stay and give the police a statement,” Lucy mutters, biting her lip distractedly as she types out another message. “I’ll see what Ernie’s up to.”

By the time Dr. Chase comes back with discharge paperwork and a spiel about avoiding screens (during which Lucy noticeably peeks at Kate, like she might rat her out), Kate has already resolved herself to zero interference. Obviously it’s not what she wants, but she listens to Dr. Chase and nods along at all the right times while in her head she is already drafting a very long message to Ernie with all the relevant information. Then she drives Lucy home to that bleak apartment that Lucy lives in mostly as a general “fuck you” to her parents, which Kate swears is either haunted or infested by very spirited roaches.

The entire ride there, Lucy doesn’t say anything about the car’s radio being set to her favorite station (and which  Kate would always complain about), which is just as well. Kate isn’t sure how she would’ve explained it.

“This not sleeping thing sucks, I’m honestly dead tired with our without a concussion,” Lucy groans as she exits the vehicle, stretching her arms overhead.

Kate follows her outside, and when Lucy gives her a questioning look, she says, “Ernie’s not here yet, is he? I can at least wait with you until he does.”

“I’m sure I can survive thirty minutes alone, Kate,” Lucy says. “I won’t pass out the instant you walk away or anything.”

“I’d really rather wait,” Kate says, and Lucy sighs.

“Fine. God, I would’ve changed my emergency contact ASAP if I’d known you would be such a stickler for lame hospital rules.” Lucy wraps herself up in a  large black hoodie which Kate recognizes as her own, still muddy from the fall but otherwise intact.

“Why did you?” Kate finds herself asking, mouth three steps ahead of her head, and Lucy pauses outside her apartment door.

“You mean why didn’t I change it? Because I forgot, I wasn’t exactly expecting to land in the hospital.”

“No, why…why did you make me your emergency contact in the first place?” Kate clarifies, her voice strangely quiet even to her own ears.

Lucy methodically unlocks her door, but her hands falter. “Just because,” she says at last. “You know how it is. Anything was better than my parents. Sorry I didn’t…ask you first.”

“Well, I mean,” Kate shrugs, “I didn’t ask you either.”

At that, Lucy whirls around, mouth agape. “You made me your emergency contact?”

Kate hesitates. “Yes? After like six months. It was a practical decision, we spent pretty much all our time together and I assumed…”

Somehow, she’s said the wrong thing, because Lucy’s eyes darken. “Right.” She moves away, digging through her fridge in search of something to drink, and Kate awkwardly leans against the kitchen counter and tries to make sense of what’s going on.

“Did you eat anything today?” Kate attempts to change the subject. “I can make you something before Ernie gets here.”

Lucy takes a gulp of a water bottle and doesn’t respond, just eyes Kate from across the kitchen with a sharp, unyielding glare. Finally, the words seem to burst out: “I wish you weren’t so—fucking—” She shakes her head. “Do you even know how you sound, sometimes? No girl wants to hear that they’re the practical choice. Just once, I wish you’ve would picked me because you wanted me.”

Kate feels her entire body prickle, partly in shock and partly in indignation. “What are you talking about? I did pick you.”

“Did you?” Lucy tilts her head. “”Cause it kind of feels like you picked the idea of me. At least, that’s how Cara tells it.”

“Seriously? Cara? She—” Kate pauses to exhale, swallows back a frustrated sob. “She’s wrong. I’ve never trusted anyone like I trust you. Fuck, I’ve never loved anyone like I love you.” This time, her voice quivers like the sob might escape, and some of the steel in Lucy’s gaze softens.

“Then why did you leave?”

“I thought that was what you wanted,” Kate says. “You were pushing me away, Lucy. What was I supposed to think?”

“You should’ve fought harder for me,” Lucy says. “You could have talked to me. Jesus, Kate, I don’t—I can’t have this conversation right now. I’m basically a prisoner in my house, this is the last thing I need.”

Kate’s shoulders fall. “I know,” she says. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do that either,” Lucy snaps, and she chugs the remainder of her water before she stalks out of the room. “No apologies. Okay?”

“Okay.” Kate waits to see if Lucy will come back to the kitchen, but she doesn’t. Instead, she hears the tell-tale sound of Lucy banging around through her board game drawer, because the chess set Ernie gave her rattles and gives it away. Kate tentatively enters the living room, finds Lucy sorting through a Monopoly box, but doesn’t try to say anything else.

Lucy breaks the silence all on her own, eventually. “I have nothing to cook,” she says. “But I asked Ernie to bring food with him.”

“Alright.” Kate doesn’t sit down because her clothes are still damp, but she does wait by the couch. “Can I help with anything?”

“No.” Lucy is sitting cross-legged on the floor and carefully stacking Monopoly money into piles by color, her muddy hoodie occasionally smearing against the carpet. “I’m fine.” She obviously isn’t; her jaw is clenched, her back stiff, her entire demeanor still a perfect mirror of her anger.

Kate wisely doesn’t push. And when Ernie arrives carrying Thai food and a thick stack of books which Lucy is outwardly horrified at, Kate doesn’t try to stay.

“I’m going to send you the doctor’s discharge instructions,” she tells Ernie instead, as Lucy gingerly pokes through one of the books Ernie has handed off. “Make sure Lucy eats something before she takes her meds.”

“On it, Dr. Whistler,” Ernie says seriously, his voice going low so Lucy can’t hear afterward. “And thanks, for being there. Even if you two aren’t…”

Kate casts one final look at Lucy Tara, bundled up in her clothes and adorably pouting at the prospect of reading all night instead of playing board games, and feels her heart beat so hard it hurts. “Take care of her,” she says, but it’s not a request.

Ernie gives her a small, sad smile. “I will.” 

Lucy doesn’t say goodbye, but she does spare Kate one brief, sorrowful once-over like she wants to. Kate memorizes that look—lets it linger in the back of her mind—and doesn’t cry until the first cheery pop song from Lucy’s favorite station starts playing on the drive home.

She hits the button to turn off the radio altogether, but her finger slips and she accidentally switches stations instead. Kate eases the car to a stop at a red light, watches as rain begins to drizzle once more, and then she makes the executive decision to switch it back.

Baby steps.

[marketreports-blog]

The global cell separation market size was exhibited at USD 9.11 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 23.59 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.98% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2033.

[soumyafwr]

Cell Isolation or Cell Separation Market 

[sunflowerwizard]

We Don't Talk About Abdel: the ""Canon"" Gorion's Ward and Why I Hate Him

If you've only played Baldur's Gate 3 you may have heard of Abdel Adrian. The Hero of Baldur's Gate, late Grand Duke, and Bhaalspawn who died, badly.

There is, unfortunately a lot you might not know. Spoilers ahead for the original Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, and Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal. And their shitty novelizations you should not read.

Your choices matter. Allegedly.

There are many ways to handle continuity in a series of choice-heavy RPGs with custom main characters. There's the approach the original Fallout games did, by setting the second installment long enough after the first, that your player character can be vaguely alluded to without much friction. There's the Bioware approach, of uploading your save data from previous games to slightly effect the world in the next one. And then there's the Baldur's Gate series, which splits the difference and makes the worst of both worlds: a century has past and there's no cheeky vagueness to transplant your own player character as the Hero of Baldur's Gate. It is Abdel Adrian's world and we are merely living in it.

I'd argue there's one thing that very clearly separates a Commander Shepherd from an Abdel Adrian, and that's serving a role in a game that lines up with the story being told.

What's the deal with Bhaalspawn?

I'd like to get one thing out of the way first. Bhaalspawn =/= The Dark Urge. I only mention this because I've seen some people assume all Bhaalspawn operate on the "sleeper cell turbo murderer" framework that the DU does. The majority of the first Baldur's Gate game, the player character themself doesn't know they're in any way unusual. You get ominous dream sequences as the story progresses, up until the Big Reveal.

At which point, one of the themes reveals itself: nature versus nurture. Your PC is a 20-something year old young adult who lived inside a walled town, and had their entire support system torn away the second they left. Unless you've chosen to roleplay that way, they may not have ever felt a particular inclination towards violence. This is in stark contrast with Big Bad, your half-brother Sarevok whose upbringing was filled with struggle and violence.

It's even more apparent in Throne of Bhaal, when you're confronted with it outright: what if your places had been switched? Maybe you would've committed even more atrocities than your half-brother.

We now have to talk about the books. Unfortunately. Canonically the novelization of Baldur's Gate is the origin of Abdel Adrian. He is Philip Athans' brainchild and there's fuck all we can do about it. Unless I get a word of god response from Wizards of the Coast or story beats are directly contradicted in other BG-related media that has come out since, I am treating the events of the books as canon.

A narrative treadmill of a character arc

The game starts out in relatively bog-standard hero's journey fashion. It's morning in Candlekeep, you're leaving home for the very first time with your adoptive dad, and he's been very cagey about the details other than "we need to leave, I'll explain later."

Abdel Adrian, has already left Candlekeep at the start of the novel. He's already in his mid-twenties, and has been traveling the Sword Coast as a sword-for-hire for nearly a decade (presumably cornering the child soldier market). He also really likes killing people, hence his line of work. The big inciting incident with Gorion happens because he sent Abdel a letter about needing to talk, at which point Sarevok shows up, kills Gorion, who tells Abdel to seek out Jahiera and Khalid with his dying breath.

I'll break down my issues with this point by point. -Abdel is very clearly not a level 1 character. Perhaps this is a petty point, but isn't half the fun of this style of fantasy story watching the protagonist grow in skill, until they can eventually face off against the seemingly indomitable Big Bad? Spoiler: Abdel is already at the peak of his Swordsmanship Power™ and we will not see any growth on that front.

-What are the stakes, actually? We went from "everything I know and love has been torn away from me. I'm a level 1 adventurer in a big, dangerous world and cannot go home." to "I'm a big tough fighterman with a penchant for murder who's going to avenge the father figure the book tell-not-shows you I cared about" Like my previous point, we have no baseline, no sense of what the main character has truly lost. I'm much less interested in watching someone start from the middle and fight their way to the top, than seeing someone from rock bottom getting there.

-His Bhaalspawn heritage manifests itself as murdergremlin tendencies. If you've not encountered a player with murdergremlin tendencies while playing a ttrpg, you've almost certainly heard horror stories about them. The guy who loves to escalate encounters into combat, who threatens and maims because "it's what my character would do" and often times view themselves as the main character.

If that sounds exhausting, this is the character whose head we're trapped inside. A guy whose two big motivators are murder and sex, whose external moral compass is his love interest (Jahiera deserved better). AND EVEN THEN by the end of the second book, the only growth he has experienced as a character is "maybe sometimes I won't murder everyone who makes me angry" when he just point-blank refuses to kill the antagonist of BG2. Oh, but not before he had sex with and violently murdered the other main antagonist who was also a woman.

"Okay the books are awful, but why be angry at Abdel?"

Because by virtue of WOTC continuing to use "Abdel Adrian" as THE Hero of Baldur's Gate and a canon character, those books are still canon. SOME elements had to be retconned for being incongruent with the games (did I mention in the first novel Abdel leaves Khalid to die during a fight in the first novel?) but otherwise? I've seen no revisions to his base character. And now every piece of Baldur's Gate media is built on this shitty, rotten foundation.

Are these points somewhat petty? Yes! Either Wizards should've come up with an entirely new stand-in Bhaalspawn to wash the shit taste of those novelizations out of everyone's mouths, or they should've written future material to only vaguely allude to BG 1&2's protagonist. The Bhaalspawn saga was wrapped up perfectly fine in Throne of Bhaal. Either he should've stayed dead with Cyric taking on his domain, or find another way to bring him back. Abdel Adrian having .0001% Bhaal Juice still in his blood and thus turning into The Slayer is a "Somehow, Palpatine returned" way of doing it.

On the off chance anyone is morbidly curious about the terrible novels, me and some pals did a live-reading not too long ago. If this post gets 100 notes I will make a Greatest Hits compilation of terrible moments. Spoiler: one of them includes the "spider in her cleavage" scene.

[syrupfog]

Law knew from the very beginning that Penguin was a vampire. 

There aren’t many other explanations for coming upon two kids in the woods, one of whom is covered in blood next to a passed out polar bear. 

Penguin hadn’t meant to let it get that far! He’d just been so hungry. An entire clan of vampires— generations of them— wiped out in a single tsunami, and suddenly Penguin had found himself the only one left. He only managed to survive after that because Shachi had insisted that Penguin feed from him. And Penguin had been so careful.

But escaping Shachi’s aunt and uncle and coming to live in the woods was hard, and food was scarce, so Shachi was taking longer to recover. Penguin’s hunger had taken over when they ran into Bepo. 

He’ll always be grateful that Law found them when he did.

So Law knew from the start that he was taking a vampire onboard. Penguin had promised that he ONLY fed from Shachi, that he was safe to be around, and Law had called bullshit. He said no vampires are safe, but he said more importantly that Penguin needed a rotating blood supply.

So as Law’s crew grew, Law made SURE that Penguin fed off of everyone equally, for his own health and for the crew’s health, so no one was out of commission. 

(Penguin refused to ever feed from Bepo again, though. He couldn’t bring himself to).

It was a good system! Penguin’s photosensitivity was covered pretty well between the hat and the boiler suit, and on any missions everyone made sure that he stuck with at least one to two other members at all times. Penguin marvelled time and again how he got so lucky.

But most good systems fail eventually. 

Penguin gets separated. They’re looking for leads on the pirate with the burn scar, and Penguin’s snatched up by a group of ex-marines with a grudge against pirates who think they can make more money on the black market.

He puts up a fight, would’ve won easily in the water, but they’re on land, and one of them manages to tear his hat off. 

In the direct sunlight Penguin’s all but blind, and his skin burns. He can’t see to escape them. 

He’s thrown into a blessedly dark jail cell.

It’s damp and dirty but at least he can see. Hopefully his crew finds his hat, Clione is going to be pissed if he has to sew another. 

But the longer Penguin sits here alone, the more he starts to worry. He fed two days ago, had been planning on feeding today, already pushing it.It’s been a long time since he had to suffer hunger, he’s not sure how his body will react. 

It feels like he’s there a good 24 hours before anyone appears. They slide a bowl of oatmeal to him. He can’t eat it.

It’s another day still until they return, and this time not with oatmeal, but with a man in chains. 

They’d not bothered to chain Penguin. He feels put out by this. 

The man is shoved into the cell with Penguin and suddenly the dots are connecting— it’s the Massacre Soldier.

He’s sans helmet though, blond hair covering most of his face instead. Arms chained behind his back to keep him from brushing it aside.

 The Massacre Soldier. Killer. They met briefly, years ago on Sabaody and again at Wano. Not that Penguin expects to be remembered.

Penguin actually hopes that Killer doesn’t try to interact at all. He can practically HEAR the man’s blood pumping. He has to concentrate on not doing something he’ll regret. Even chained, Penguin’s pretty sure the man would kill him in an instant.

So they sit in silence for quite a long time. 

Eventually, Killer shifts. He speaks. “Is the food poisoned?” 

“What?” Penguin jumps. He glances down at the very old oatmeal. “Oh. Don’t think so.” 

“Pretty fucking foolish to waste food just because you’re a snob.”

“It’s all yours,” Penguin says, leaning down and pushing the bowl in his direction. He doesn’t rise to the bait. Safer to let the man think he’s a snob. 

Killer sits there and doesn’t take the bowl, and Penguin’s about to snark about the snob comment when he says, “you a Heart?”

“What gave it away?” Penguin asks, looking down at his boiler suit, logo proudly emblazoned. 

“Just never saw one with eyes like that before.” 

Shit. Right. Penguin ducks his head. He’d almost forgotten about his hat, but no. Those stereotypical red vampire eyes on full display.

“You going to eat that or not?” He blurts out instead. 

Killer chuckles. “Thought I might be able to get you to help me, considering only one of us has free hands right now.” 

Penguin shrinks back a little. “Sorry man,” he says. “You’re on your own for that one.”

Killer’s smile goes flat. “Fine,” he says. “You’re on your own getting out of here, then.” 

Fucking shit. Penguin feels his blood run cold. He wants to take to back and offer to team up, but honestly the longer he sits here the more he has to keep himself seated.

It’s like he can smell Killer’s blood in the air, and he’s dizzy for it. Better to be a little rude to the man than rush outright attacking him. 

Of course, that thought flies out the window as soon as Killer leans forward, likely intending to stick his face directly into the day old oatmeal bowl. That’s when Penguin sees and smells the fresh wound, barely closed, across the back of his neck. 

Penguin doesn’t remember the way he launches himself at Killer, and he barely remembers the way Killer bodily throws him off and rolls on top of him, pinning Penguin’s arms to the ground with his knees. All he’s really conscious of is the few seconds of hot, rich blood he’s able to draw from that wound. 

“I’m sorry,” he chants, shutting his eyes as Killer looms over him, entirely in control even with his hands chained behind him. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry—“ 

“You’re that bird,” Killer says. He sits down heavily on Penguin’s chest. “I recognize your voice.” 

He sounds almost… intrigued. 

“Penguin,” Penguin supplies. “They took my hat.” 

A drop of blood from the reopened wound falls on Penguin’s suit, and Penguin starts to struggle a bit, desperate for it. But Killer’s control is unrelenting. 

“Kid said there was a freak on your crew, but I didn’t know which one.” 

“Probably meant Law,” Penguin mutters before he can stop himself. 

But Killer just laughs. “Him too,” he says. 

He sits back and Penguin finds it difficult to draw in air. “You going to attack me again if I get up?” 

“Yes,” Penguin says without hesitation. “I mean. Sorry. I can’t help it at this point. It’s been too long since I ate.” 

“You could’ve had oatmeal.”

“I can’t eat oatmeal,” Penguin snaps. “That’s the whole thing about being a vampire.” 

“Oh,” says Killer. And then, “Ohhhh.” 

Penguin collapses a little. “You hadn’t actually connected those dots, had you.” 

“Nope.” 

Penguin and his big mouth.

“That makes sense, though.” Killer says, sounding like he’s reasoning through everything. “How many days has it been?” 

“Three… or four.” 

Killer whistles. “Hungry boy.” 

Penguin’s starting to see spots from how hard it is to get air in with Killer on his chest.

“Listen,” he wheezes. “If you’re— gonna kill me— just make sure— someone tells Shachi— what happened.” 

“Oh, I’m not gonna kill you.” Killer shifts back onto his knees and Penguin sucks in air. “You’re gonna drink from me and then you’re gonna play nice and feed me that oatmeal.”

Penguin gapes at him. “No im not,” he says. Then starts to panic as Killer lifts one knee off of him. “No, stop! I don’t have control at this point, I’m not going to be able to stop drinking once I start.” 

Killer gives him a pitying look, visible even under his fringe.

“Little Bird,” he says. “You couldn’t hurt me if you tried. I’m three times your size. Take as much as you want, I’ll be fine.” 

Penguin as a pre-teen brought down a polar bear. He shakes his head but Killer swings his other leg off of Penguin and then in one swift motion leans down and bares his neck— his neck— to Penguin. And Penguin latches on immediately, both with his teeth and with his arms and legs. Blood pours into his mouth and it’s so right. So good. He loses track of everything else but the sensation.

When he comes to, Penguin finds himself half- propped up against Killer, limp like a discarded doll. 

“Whuh,” says Penguin. 

“Have a nice nap?” asks Killer. 

Penguin’s wide eyes meet his and Killer looks like he’s. Fine. He’s joking, even. 

“You’re not dead,” Penguin slurs.

He feels rather drunk. He’s never drank so much in one sitting. 

“I am not, in fact, dead,” Killer says. 

“Holy shit,” Penguin says. “Fuck. Fucking shit. Hell. Piss.” 

“Listening to you is like listening to a baby curse.” 

“Shut up.” Penguin holds up a hand. “I’m processing.”

Killer waits patiently. 

“Are you sure you’re not, like, about to pass out at least?” Penguin asks. 

“Only in that I am owed oatmeal,” Killer says. 

“Right. Shit.” 

Penguin scrambles over to the disgusting and cold oatmeal. “You sure about this?”

“I’m not wasting food,” Killer says. 

Penguin nods and, fulfilling his end of the bargain, holds a spoonful of oatmeal up to his mouth. 

It’s surreal. 

He feeds Killer the whole bowl, although he’s so full of blood that he’s a bit sleepy at this point.

“Am I still on my own for getting out of here?” He asks after the bowl is empty. 

Killer snorts. “I suppose I’ll bring you along,” he says. “It’d be a waste not to, after pouring so much blood into you to keep you alive.” 

“Appreciated,” Penguin says. “I mean— yeah. Thanks.”

Killer’s snort turns into a badly suppressed laugh. “Go to sleep, little bird,” he says. “I can tell you fed enough to make you sleepy. I’ll wake you once I’ve come up with a plan.” 

Penguin nods, settling against the wall. He’s full— more full than he’s ever been— and sated.

The last thing he notices is Killer coming over to sit next to him, a large, warm, comforting presence. 

Penguin doesn’t know how long he sleeps. It’s not long enough, though. 

He wakes to a flash of light and a lot of yelling, and suddenly their cell has twice as many people.

Law is there, paying absolutely no attention to him, instead he’s yelling something at the man who appeared right next to him— Captain Kid, red hair sticking in all directions and a scowl on his face. 

Penguin cannot make out what they’re fighting about.

The next thing he knows, though, Kid flicks his wrist and Killer’s arms are free, and he’s suddenly standing and stretching and leaving Penguin alone on the floor. 

And Penguin misses that warmth for all of three seconds before Killer fucking sweeps him up into his arms.

And Kid and Law are both pausing to stare at them. 

Killer points to Law and says, “you’ve gotta let your little bird friend come visit us sometimes. You’re all too scrawny. He was too hungry. 

Penguin, in Killer’s arms, covers his face in embarrassment.

Law gapes at him. 

There’s a moment of silence. 

And then Kid is yelling something about fraternising with the enemy and Law is yelling something about how he cares for his crew perfectly well, and Killer looks down at Penguin and smiles.

“You’re welcome to feed from me any time you want,” he says, voice low. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.” 

And Penguin shivers. He knows Killer feels it happen. He can’t help it. 

For the first time, Penguin thinks there’s an upside to being a vampire.

It becomes a thing. When they run into each other two islands later and Killer walks onto the Tang like he belongs there and demands Penguin come “get his fill,” Penguin is both mortified and terribly turned on. 

And that’s before they even add kissing and fucking to the docket.

(Law and Kid are scandalised but Shachi’s into it) 

(Fin)

[9haharharley1]

Making THIS a separate post because I want to continue it and make it a proper oneshot

---

What if Sephiroth saw?

What if their minds do the thing and senses where Cloud is what he's doing, and goes to the Honey Bee, and he finds Cloud dancing on stage? Watches him get a makeover? The jealousy and possession he would feel as Andrea dances with him, touches him, compliments him, calls him beautiful; Sephiroth would have to fight back a murderous rage because he can't act, he can't reveal himself, it's too soon!

But he knows Cloud senses him, he sees how he tenses on stage, looks around the room, his guard up, not just because he's suddenly in a dress and way out of his comfort zone, but he knows something is wrong, someone is there, and while Aerith goes out the front to wait for Cloud, Cloud sneaks out back, on guard but without his gear, without his sword, only to be snatched up by strong arms, shockingly gentle because of what he's wearing

The man behind him doesn't want to ruin his new outfit, doesn't even want to press the smaller man into the wall for fear of staining the dress with the grime of Wall Market, its bad enough he had another man's hands on him while in he club, but Sephiroth can remedy that now. His touch is soft, far gentler than he has ever recalled handling anything in his life, but Cloud isn'tjust anything. And the other man clearly hates it, struggles in his arms as much as the dress will allow, which isn't much, and Sephiroth laughs, low and deep, and the body thrashing against him stills.

Cloud's voice is small and fearful as he mutters, "Sephiroth?"

"What have we here?" Sephiroth murmurs, and his breath is hot on Cloud's ear, tickling his skin. Cloud shivers, and Sephiroth chuckles. His hands smooth over the bodice, a groan building in his throat, but he doesn't release it. Cloud is tense in his arms.

"You're not here." Cloud says quietly, and it sounds like ne's trying to convince himself. "You're not here. You're not seeing this."

There's a smirk on his lips as he keeps running his hands over smooth silk. "Are you embarrassed, Cloud?"

"You're not really here. You're not here... Cloud keeps muttering, over and over, a blush on his painted cheeks. Sephiroth purses his lips. His puppet has his eyes squeezed shut, hands clasped tight in front of him, like if he doesn't touch Sephiroth, then he's not really there.

But Sephiroth won't be ignored. Not by his little puppet.

"You look lovely,' he says into Cloud's reddened ear. He has half a thought to take his gloves off, to feel if the bodice is made of satin or silk, but he is hard-pressed to even remove his hands from where they're rubbing all over. Cloud is rigid in his arms, eyes squeezed shut. He gasps when Sephiroth moves his hands further down, his own flying up in an effort to avoid touching him back, leaving them to hang awkwardly in the air. The long skirt bunches under his palm, Cloud taking in a shaky breath, and Sephiroth can't help but turn his head when Cloud turns his face away, pressing his nose to that pale neck, inhaling. Cloud is wearing some sort of perfume, sweet and rosy, and Sephiroth licks up the long line of his neck.

Cloud gasps. "You're not real'

"Oh, I don't have to be real, Cloud," Sephiroth murmurs, breath hot on Cloud's ear, the man gasping and shaking beneath his hands. "All I have to do is touch you-" he licks along the lobe of that flushed ear as his hand gropes the blond through the long skirt, Cloud barely managing to stifle a startled moan as a lacy, gloved hand grabs his wrist, "and your every cell cries out for my attention."

Cloud's hand on his wrist is firm, grip tight, and had Sephiroth been a normal human, unenhanced and inferior like the rest of the insects skittering around outside the alley, then maybe Cloud would have succeeded in pulling him away. Had he not been fearful if dirtying the dress he worked so hard to procure to save his little friend, he may have fought back, and Sephiroth could partake in the pleasure of his anger and distress.

But unfortunately for Cloud, Sephiroth is, and has always been, superior, and Cloud's shame and fear tastes just as sweet.

"Oh?" There is a hint of mania in his voice as he feels his puppet stiffen under his hand. He presses his smirk to Cloud's neck, nuzzling aside a braid to lick flushed skin. "Are you enjoying this Cloud?"

A strangled sound escapes Cloud, both his hands now trying to shove Sephiroth away. Sephiroth wraps his other arm tight around Cloud's waist, pulling him flush to his body. A harsh breath rushes out of Cloud, one hand letting go of Sephiroth's wrist. Sephiroth's fondling is gentle, or as gentle as he knows how to be - a distant memory, at best - his strokes light and almost teasing as Cloud plumps up under his fingers.

"Stop..." Cloud murmurs, not quite a plea yet, so Sephiroth bites the back of his neck and earns a gasp in response.

---

Needs to be cleaned up because it started as a random stream of thought, but if I have one kink, then it's boys in skirts against their will!