#Demolition techniques

[ultimatecontractingllc]

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[hortoncolumbusdemolition]

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[coveofsecrets]

Hii!! Oh my god, to start up, I HOPE YOUR PILLOW IS WARM ON BOTH SIDES TONIGHT BCS UR BURNING SPICE AND CHILD READER FIC DESTROYED ME 💔💔💔 but on another wrote it was so well written and i enjoyed it SO MUCH.

Is it alr that instead of a fic where Burnung Spice had a kid before his corruption, could you perhaps write one abt him having a kid as the Great Destroyer? Im pretty sure that he would be a relatively distant father, but what if his kid was practically a velcro baby and wanted to stick by his side the moment they were brought onto earthbread? I think it would be rlly silly ehehehhedhehhe

"𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝"

─── ✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

-> Platonic! Burning Spice + reader

-> Warnings: Spoilers for Beast-Yeast chapter 6, child neglect, child abuse, mention of death. Please note I do not condone any of the aforemented stuff. If this is happening to you, please seek help if you can.

-> Word count: 1.8k

-> Uhm. I. I don't. I don't think. You got the silliness you wanted, anon, I. I am so sorry. But there is silly stuff in there!! Somehow????? I'm so sorry anon cires. but other than that THANK YOUUUUUUU WEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHE I LOVE DESTROTING PEOPLE WITH MY WRITINGGGG ATGGFHRF. BUT I DONT WANT MY PILLOW TO BE WARRRRRM <<<//333

─── ✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

Being completely honest, he was bored.

Well, is bored the right word?

The eternal routine of destruction caused by him is nothing but  making innocents beg for mercy,  causing buildings full of history to crumble- watching all of that happen from his effort leaves his stomach full of satisfaction.

This path he walks is one he chose, one he had carved out for himself, so of course he would be having fun with his trail. If he weren’t having fun, then he wouldn’t have caused this ceaseless demolition.

Sometimes, though, there is something lingering within that satisfaction. Something that is out of his reach, something that he craves. With every person he kills, every city he levels, there is something in his gut. Even after he has finished his wreckage, after that pleasure has flushed itself out, something remains in his stomach. It’s as if he tasted something bad, as if, hidden within that delectable meal, there was just one part that threw the whole thing off.

No, he’s not bored.

He is dissatisfied.

Centuries have come and gone by, the Beast taking away the lives of millions, but not a single one of those numbers has done the same for him. When will it be his turn for that to happen? 

Burning Spice can only fantasize of the grand time it would be: Two individuals, fighting to the death. Blood surrounds them in the arena, not one of them knowing who it belongs to. The only fuel that’s driving their barely-working bodies to move is the adrenaline pumping through their veins. Both parties are helpless to the puppeteer that is the hormones, and unable to cut the strings, they raise their weapons, going in for what they hope is the final strike- oh, what splendor, what magnificence! The very thought leaves him in a deep state of hunger, one that even his most favorite hobby cannot quench. It makes him frustrated, how he can never be truly full; he has lived for so long, and not a single individual he met has come close to giving him what he yearns for!

What will it take to destroy him?!

All of a sudden, out of butt-fuck nowhere, Burning Spice comes up with an idea.

Since there is nobody to rip his life out from his body, he shall cultivate the being who shall do so.

If someone with his own techniques, his style- a perfect mirror of him- were to be fight him, given enough time, they could give him the battle he demands. After all, if somebody were to take after the strongest, eventually, they will take the title for themself.

Yes… yes! That’s the perfect plan!

All three eyes snapped open, lips bared into an all-teeth smile, the Beast practically launches himself off of his throne, set to putting his project into action. 

Burning Spice would be a neglectful parent.

Sure, he’s aware of what a baby needs to develop into a functioning person, but he stands strong to the ideal that the weak are to be left behind. So, you’re fed so you don’t die from hunger, you’re talked to so that you can understand and take part in speech, and you’re given certain tools that develop your fine motor skills. However, when you start crying, your father abandons you. No matter how loud they are, or how long they’re carried out for, nobody will come to your aid. Your sobs will not be soothed, your tears will not be kissed away.

In fact, if they weren’t under strict orders from their Lord Destroyer, the Spice Army would’ve killed you long ago. Your whines are grating to their ears, and they want nothing more than to make it stop. Like your father, they, too, will not help you.

Silence is the only thing you will know, so get comfortable with crying out to it.

When you start to crawl, Burning Spice gets so angry he has to take multiple breaks from you.

Having such a thing clinging to him; pulling on his hair, babbling incessantly, and forcing him to be more careful of his surroundings so he doesn’t squish you- ugh! He has to constrain himself to not throw you out the blasted window.

Other than that, though, your life is mostly the same as when the only thing you knew was the cradle surrounding you.

It only takes a drastic change once your fine motor skills are fully developed, you’re able to understand complex sentences, and you can recognize patterns across people. As soon as that happens, you’re immediately thrust into training.

It’s not pretty.

Blow after blow is given, not a break offered, and you’re forced to at least try and defend against your father’s too-quick attacks, else you’ll have to wear another scar on your skin. Whereas other parents would make sure not to push their children too far in sparring sessions,  every single battle you have with your dad leaves you on the brink of death.

You may be lying on the rough textures of the sands, vision blurring in and out- a direct result of all the blood that’s escaping its cage; you can try to call out, “help- help me-” but your voice is drowned out by the savage storms of the Spice Lands. Nobody helps you, nobody checks up on you; even your father, who can see just how bad of a shape you are in, leaves you to fare the battle against your demise.

Eventually, you learn that you’re not, in a sense… wanted. To the Beast who created you, you are nothing but a means to an end- a tool, a weapon, to lead him to his demise.

Despite that, though… despite how much you can see how you are nothing but a convenience, you still want to be near your dad.

He’s the only one who interacts with you; the spice army doesn’t want much to do with you, and all of your interactions with them always end in ignored yells, venomous words, or exchanged blows. Burning Spice is the only person in your life who, even if it was back-handed, has given you any sort of positive comments.

Because of that,, you want to get closer to him, know your only company better.

So you do.

Any time your body can forge energy, you use all of it to follow him around, doing nothing except for bombarding him with all sorts of questions- “Why do you use that bowl to eat? Is it important to eat with your hands? What are those tiny pieces on the map? What’s your weapon called?”- essentially talking his ears off.

Oddly enough, Burning Spice doesn’t mind.

Your father lets you hang around him like the Kulfis who used to serve him long ago, but he won’t exactly carry you around if you get tired. Adding on, if you ask questions, he will answer them. At first, the beast may seem irritated, but he’s not exactly… shooing you away. Take that as motivation to continue.

As you do so, he gets more and more relaxed from your parasitic presence being near him, and at one point, he starts having fun. Hee finds himself… happy to explain his customs, to divulge in practices he has not talked about in centuries.

Over time, His answers become longer, he starts smiling as he explains, and the creature even lets you partake in what he’s doing. For example, if you’re asking about his war plans, he will sit you next to him, tell you to suggest your own decisions for the pieces on the map, and teach you about what the best actions are to take as you do so. 

As the two of you get closer, the army gets confused. What’s the small thing doing, cuddling up to The Great Destroyer like a babe?

It doesn’t help that you, quite literally, try to stick by his side in such a way that you look like you are attempting to fuse your own flesh with his.

“What are you doing?”

The first time you do it, Burning Spice is quick to shake you off- contact outside of battle is not something he is used to, and he does not wish to indulge in your… clingy behavior. If you persist, though, he will fling you away- making sure that the indent you leave in whatever wall stops your trajectory is nasty. He will not tolerate such softness in his army, as it will only make one weak.

If you continue to try and cling to him, you’re gonna gain durability quickly, or learn to maintain a strong grip on your target, because if you don’t, you’re going to get a fractured skull.

Other than that, he doesn’t mind that you’re with him in every place he goes to, participating in every activity he is doing.

However, if you wanna do something of your own (which is surprising, considering that all you do is train and follow him around), then you better pray to the Witches it’s something Burning Spice will enjoy, or he will destroy any equipment there is to it.

“Soldiers of mine have no need for hobbies like these.”

Even if you are his child, you are, at the end of the day, one of his warriors; a discardable game piece.

Like every other fighter of his, you are set out to conquest; any kingdom he wishes to lay to ruin, you will be there, slaughtering the civilians and bringing ruin to architecture. It does not matter if these people beg, or if these buildings are rich with precious artifacts; you are expected to lay waste to anything that comes across your path; just like the rest of his army, you live, fight, and die for your Lord Destroyer.

If the day comes where you manage to crumble, you won’t get any sympathy. No proper funeral is carried out for you, no mourning is offered to your circumstance, and especially no memory of yours is preserved. 

Nobody cares for your death, except for Burning Spice.

Yet, the only emotion that is expressed to it is frustration. “All that time I put into my creation, and what did it amount to? Nothing!” But much like how the sands of time erode abandoned palaces, his frustration melts away into begrudging acceptance. “If they were truly meant to destroy me, they wouldn’t have been killed so soon.”

Such as all other beings who have died in his domain, your remains shall be left to forever drift in the Spice Land’s winds.

[gijoe-forever]

Commando

To fully understand where the term “commando” came from, it's essential to delve into its historical context. The Boer Wars, fought between 1880-1881 and 1899-1902, were significant conflicts involving Dutch settlers (Boers) and the British Empire. The Boers employed unconventional warfare tactics, utilizing small, mobile units that could strike quickly and then disappear into the landscape. This approach was a stark contrast to traditional battlefield formations.

The Boers’ ability to adapt and utilize their knowledge of the terrain led to significant victories early in the war. Their tactics were so effective that they caught British forces off guard repeatedly. The term “kommando” came to signify these highly mobile units, emphasizing their operational independence and tactical flexibility.

The Evolution of Guerrilla Warfare

Guerrilla warfare is characterized by small groups engaging in irregular combat against larger traditional forces. The concept isn’t exclusive to any single culture or time period; it has been utilized worldwide throughout history. However, the Boer War popularized certain aspects of guerrilla tactics that would later influence modern military operations.

As these tactics gained recognition, other nations began adopting similar approaches during conflicts. The effectiveness of commando units became evident in various wars throughout the 20th century, as military leaders sought ways to counteract conventional armies’ strengths.

The Adoption of “Commando” in Military Terminology

After its initial use in South Africa, the term began to spread globally. During World War II, British forces adopted the concept of commando units for special operations. These units were tasked with carrying out raids behind enemy lines, emphasizing speed, surprise, and specialized training.

The British Commandos formed in 1940 were a direct response to the need for agile forces capable of executing complex missions under challenging conditions. They drew inspiration from earlier guerrilla tactics but refined them into a structured approach with rigorous training programs.

Characteristics of Commando Units

Commando units are distinguished by several key characteristics:

1. Mobility: They operate swiftly and can adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

2. Specialization: Members receive extensive training in various skills such as hand-to-hand combat, demolition techniques, and intelligence gathering.

3. Stealth: Operations prioritize stealth over brute force; avoiding detection is crucial.

4. Independence: Commando teams often work autonomously or with minimal support.

5. Versatility: They can undertake diverse missions ranging from sabotage to reconnaissance.

As World War II progressed, other nations recognized the effectiveness of commando-style operations. The United States established its own elite units inspired by British Commandos, leading to the creation of Army Rangers and Navy SEALs.

[writingfromasgard]

In-game Bio: Johnny "Soap" MacTavish

Johnny "Soap" MacTavish Masterlist

The Scottish born, Johnny "Soap" MacTavish, is a fearless, self assured and instinctive hard-charger. He remains the youngest candidate to pass SAS selection in the Royal Army history. He earned the nickname "Soap" for cleaning house with remarkable speed and accuracy in room clearance techniques and urban warfare tactics. He is competitive, daring and always looking for a win.

Soap is a trained sniper and demolitions expert, often operating in isolation and under pressure, performing critically timed activities in support of clandestine missions. He is a risk taker, a fierce competitor and a fight in every sense of the word.

Soap has spent the last several years carrying out both covert and overt operations around the world. In 2019, he was chosen to be part of Captain Price's newly formed elite special operations unit known as Task Force 141.

In 2023, Soap was KIA responding to a terror attack in the London Chunnel led by Vladimir Makarov and his Konni group soldiers.

[easternmind]

The weird and wonderful history of Kowloon as a digital interactive space - Part II

This article is the continuation of a previous post.

Any comprehensive history of 20th century Hong Kong is not complete without a chapter entirely dedicated to the architectural and urban planning puzzle that was Kowloon Walled City. Quite unlike any other slum in Asia or elsewhere in the world, the extreme conditions under which its inhabitants lived captured the attention of various international journalists and photographers whose reports of this accidental labyrinth, in turn, inspired some of the most remarkable artistic explorations of our time. In this regard, video games did not remain impervious to the powerfully stimulative imagery, as much a reference today as it was when its hardened concrete walls still stood tall.

Kowloon's Gate Suzaku VR - Jetman - 2017

Kowloon's Gate made a most unexpected comeback twenty years after the original episode via the crowdfunded VR project Suzaku developed by Jetman, a studio founded by and composed almost exclusively of ex-SME/Zeque staff. While it is not the remaster many had hoped for, essentially consisting of a walking simulation through some redesigned locations from the original, it does a commendable job in faithfully replicating its instantly recognizable, light-starved alleyways in competent high-definition. It is also the only VR-compatible entry from this list, granting it a degree of uniqueness over its counterparts.

Stranglehold - Midway/Tiger Hill Productions - 2007

Stranglehold is the result of a collaboration with Hong Kong movie director John Woo, developed as a direct sequel to his heroic bloodshed classic Hard Boiled, featuring Chow Yun-fat in the role of detective 'Tequilla' Yuen in his unending confrontations with organized crime. One of the game's most unforgettable levels, Slums of Kowloon, takes place during a particularly rainy day, seemingly in those last days when the zone had been emptied of residents and demolition work was well underway. The visual representation of the quarter is suitably evocative, its buildings in complete state of disrepair, the remnants of local businesses or places of prayer still discernible from under the piles of steel and cement rubble.

Resident Evil 6 - Capcom - 2012

For all its shortcomings, Resident Evil 6 partly succeeds in taking the first two episodes' concept of parallel storylines and realizing it to a much fuller extent. Its choice of different characters translates into entirely different campaigns, locations and playing styles. The very first scene in Chris/Piers' campaign occurs in the fictional Chinese city of Lanshiang, modelled after real-life Hong Kong. The mayhem in the main streets forces the player to take a detour into a location named Poisawan, which bears a striking resemblance to the Kowloon district. Though an unofficial representation, it is among the most skilled replications of the scenery we find in the vast photographic repository of the area. The degree of minutiae with which the district's haphazard electric installation is replicated, alone, suffices to demonstrate a true commitment to authenticity.

Paranormal HK - Ghostpie Studio - 2020

Few would dispute that Kowloon is, itself, naturally conducive to sentiments of dread and anxiety. Paranormal HK is a 2020 made in China production reviving the defunct neighbourhood in a gripping, blood-curdling contemporary ghost story. The player is the cameraman of a paranormal-themed TV show exploring the zone during the evening of the Zhongyuan festival, a scheme suspiciously akin to that of Akira Ueda's 2004 game, Michigan: Report From Hell. As a result of the thorough research work performed by its creators, as well as the impeccable usage of contemporary 3D graphics techniques to achieve accurate lighting conditions, players may momentarily experience the feeling of walking into a photo of the actual city as it existed in the mid eighties.

Sifu - Sloclap - 2022

Notwithstanding of its renaissance during the 128-Bit era, the beat 'em up genre is commonly associated with the arcade games of the late 80s and 90s, the period of time when it flourished and, arguably, reached its zenith. The simplicity of controls and ease of access sufficed to attract players to the arcade cabinet, while the frequently extreme levels of difficulty of advanced levels ensured a steady flow of cash for arcade room owners and game development companies alike. Nevertheless, the genre has but perished and, in many aspects, recent years have indeed elevated it to unforeseeable degrees of complexity. Sifu, by Sloclap, synthesizes the elation of digital hand to hand combat simulation with the real-life complexity of mastering a martial art.

As is the case of previous entries in this list, Sifu makes no admitted reference to Kowloon or Hong Kong. However, the designers left little to the imagination in what pertains to their inspirations when taking on the task of constructing the game's environments. Another notable coincidence stems from the fact that this production was made possibly with the support from a celebrated independent game funding group going by the name Kowloon Nights.

Stray - BlueTwelve Studio - 2022

Stray is one of the most revered independent video games in recent memory, and justifiably so. The long development process yielded many benefits, judging from the consistency and attention to detail that engrossed many an avid player. That the main character is singularly charming feline may have played an equally crucial role. The creators have made no effort to conceal the fact that the notorious Hong Kong district was a pivotal influence to the design of its nameless city. The first indication can be spotted in the game's earliest footage, in which a black cat traverses a street where a particularly conspicuous sign boasted the initials HK. Stray is less concerned with presenting a precise replica of Kowloon than it is about summoning the very essence of its atmosphere. Moreover, in an exquisitely poignant way, its ending lends an entirely new meaning to the term walled city. In the future, robots may well take the place of humans. Invariably, the Walled City is no more. Slitterhead - Bokeh Game Studio - Work in Progress

An sequence of unconscionable mistakes from the part of Sony Computer Entertainment's management galvanized Keiichiro Toyama to part ways with Japan Studio, as it once was, and establish his own game production label. Their debut title, Slitterhead, is described as a grotesque survival horror experience, a genre within which the author moves with matchless ease. Among the few certainties regarding this project is the fact that it will take place prominently - if not exclusively - within the Kowloon City province. A wide variety of aspects included in the preview footage leave the viewer optimistic as to this being one of the most accomplished portrayals of the district ever seen in a video game. Subtle yet telling signs already demonstrate the creator's in-depth knowledge of the quarter's architecture and history. Take, for instance, the suggestive image of the airplane flying mere meters above the top of the buildings. Although the growth of Kowloon was for the most part ungoverned, buildings did not rise above a certain height, even as inhabitants claimed for increased availability of space. This is due to the fact that airplanes landing at the nearby airport would be required to make their descent at relatively low altitude, performing a tight curve as they soared just above the enclave, thus preventing construction from expanding upwards. Another scene shows a child playing on the rooftops of the buildings, which once again is consistent with the documented habits of residents who, starved for sunlight and open space elsewhere within the city limits, had little alternative than to take the stairs all the way to the top.

Warehouse Kawasaki Arcade

I would be remiss not to make some form of allusion to Warehouse Kawasaki, an arcade built to replicate the Walled City with unthinkable detail. Though its ultimate purpose was for visitors to engage in digital entertainment, the venue was scrupulously put together. Point in fact, many of the objects used in the construction of the five floor amusement centre were imported directly from Hong Kong. Like so many other Japanese arcades, it closed its doors in 2019.

In recent years, a rather similar initiative was taken by the Chinese in their attempts to build unique mall spaces. The 文和友 malls in mainland China, found in Changsha, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, attempt to reproduce the walled city aesthetic. Local residents inform me that these are increasingly lacking in foot traffic, for which reason the majority of their stores are closed. Other digital replicas of Kowloon

A number of other videogames set in or deriving inspiration from Kowloon could not be featured in this article. A frequently cited reference in this context is the action/adventure game Fear Effect, one which I emphatically dispute. No doubt remains as to it being located in a futuristic version of Hong Kong, yet I could discern no parallels with the walled city, save for those scattered second-hand visual motifs that were no doubt imported from sci-fi classics such as Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell.

The Utelek Complex stage of Deus Ex: Makind Divided presents a similar situation, where the overall atmosphere of the futuristic favela bears some resemblance to Kowloon, without meeting the specificity quota that would warrant a more comprehensive exploration.

The 2004 Shout! original Kowloon High-School Chronicle for the PS2 is a unique case, in that it borrows the city's name despite taking place in a massive, Tokyo underground dungeon that is later revealed to be a maze-like Egyptian pyramid. The odd choice of title remains unclear. Shadowrun: Hong Kong game (screenshot above) contains a very direct mention of Kowloon as the place in which an entire episode comes to pass. Another project still in development, Kowloon's Curse (screenshot below), is following the lead of many popular independent horror games in recent memory by using a visual design and structure that elicits memories of the late Playstation/early Dreamcast era. A short prequel episode was made available earlier this year, for free.

Additionally, I refrained from mentioning the Kowloon maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, as I perceive both games to be insufficiently relevant to merit study or contemplation.

A space that refuses to be forgotten

(China rooftop stage from The King of Fighters 2003)

It would be a gross overstatement to claim that Kowloon is a recurring location or level design motif in videogames. The relationship between digital games and the real life ghetto has been one of sporadic references. What makes the subject so engrossing pertains to the quality of the relationship, particularly that of a small cadre from among the titles featured in this article. Kowloon's Gate was one of the most relevant game creations of the 32-Bit era, a game deserving of reverence and cult following inside and outside Japan. Likewise, Shenmue II is the second instalment of a truly ground-breaking and highly advertised series whose production costs alone were unmatched until quite recently.

Moreover, this is an affair that is far from concluded. The unexpectedly high number of allusions to Kowloon in videogames released or revealed just last yet demonstrates that its aesthetic is still very much present in the minds and hearts of artists and designers working in the field. The walled city lives on as a digital demarcation that is certain to resurface time and again in years to come.

[blingblong55]

Taste- John 'Soap' MacTavish NSFW

Based on a request:

I really love your writing and all of the work you have done!! 🤩🤩 Is it okay, if I to make a hint of smut request of demolition expert reader x soap? Reader was brought in to join forces to help tf141, its a love of first sight for both. Once soap got to know reader is the same position as him, bratty and sassy, he was a goner. Thank you!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

F!reader, smut, 18+, MDNI, unprotected!sex, P-in-V, solider!reader

As a well established military group, 141 was looking for another soldier to join their team and that is where they found you. The piles of files that Laswell had given Price and Ghost were huge that and their own recommendations for potential teammates.

When you were brought to base to meet your other two teammates, thats when cupid threw the arrow. Soap MacTavish, a sergeant in your team. Alongside him is your now closest friend, Kyle Gaz Garrick, he was the one who essentially forced the magic to work between you and his best mate. It took weeks for him and you to properly introduced yourself to the other, but at the end it was worth the wait.

"So, lass, tell me, wha' did they bring yer 'ere for?" his accent became easier to understand the more time you spent with him. "Well, I'm a demolitions expert and I have training in sniping-"

He smiles and pats your back, "Lass, you are now my favourite." You smile and pat his shoulder. "Thanks, Soap."

Time went on and he slowly studied who you are not as a soldier but as a person outside of the profession. He loved how you'd have friendly banter with the lieutenant or Gaz, who at some point became like a brother to you. One night at base, you and him were left behind by the rest of the team. You were exhausted and he was working on some new techniques for sniping. He turns to you, your legs spread apart, head rested on the pillow of the sofa, hands in between your thighs. The images he started to create in his head, what a sight.

He soon sat next to you, you open your eyes and turn to him, "Yes, Soap?"

"Yer're so beau'ful lass I think I want to kiss you." his boldness making an impact on you. "Oh yeah, I'd like to see you try MacTavish."

"And if I succeed, I better see yer in less." he tugs at your clothes. You chuckle and nod, not believing him for one second. He was very serious of this, wanted you and nothing else. His bulge noticeable through his trouser, the arousal growing tighter by the second. He cups your face and in an instant kisses you, tongue lapping with yours, his hands trailing to your thick thighs.

You let out a small gasp at this, but he does more to get a better reaction. His hands now tugging at your shirt, the common room filled with noises from you both. He smiles and then out of nowhere carries you in his arms, "Soap, what are you doing?" You weren't asking out of panic but more out of curiosity. Gaz was right though, you did like Soap and maybe this was a good step into a future with him.

"I told yer, lass, I want to see yer in less." His voice low and seductive. Once in his room, he lays you on his bed, "I like ya' R/N, more than I should and if I'm honest, somethin' needs to be done about it."

"Soap, you can't do that, you were busy and-" a tender kiss cut you off. In his room, he lays you on the bed, doing so delicately, hands traveling your soft skin, his stare like a predator to his prey. "What a sight, R/N." His lips on your neck, how could you stop someone when you also want this? It was a need that had to be fed and he happened to have the same hunger.

His hands slowly unbuttoning your trouser, belt on the floor, shoes thrown to the side, all clothes on the floor and this is the sight he yearned for all along. His pretty girl in his bed, ready for him. His hands begin to tease your wet cunt, he licks his fingers and soon they thrust into your needy cunt. "Fuck, Soap" you moan, hand on his wrist, not to stop him but to guide him more.

His other hand sliding up your ass. His legs parting yours, your fingers on his hair. The need you have for him, you grind on his fingers, nipples hard against his chest, the way your movements are rubbing on his chest, what a perfect way to make you need him more. "Shit bonnie..." he grew desperate, needed himself inside you, touch you and fuck you like no one else will. He slowly uses his two hands to make your legs part more. His aching and needy cock at the entrance of your cunt, he looks at you, now he's asking for permission? You nod, your head thrown back as his thick and lengthy cock makes its way inside of you.

"Oh...oh my lass...yeah...you-..fuck..you feel so...so good..ahh" His lips on your chest, kissing your now needy hard nipples. Your nails digging into his skin, leaving the marks to prove to himself that you need him as much as he needs you. "Soap...i...I can't...you-- you're too big.." you whine and cry. "Be my good girl and ...ah..take me, okay?" he kisses your lips passionately and caresses your face, trying to convince you. Your eyes shut, a small nod from you. "Use your words, lass." You moans your words, "Okay..i..-fuck...i..I'll be a good...good girl" He smiles and kisses you once more.

His thrusts go deeper, skin contact making noises, echoing the walls of the room. "R/N, what a goddess you are." he leaves hickeys and bite marks on your chest and neck. Soap begins to go faster, his head thrown back as his hands guide your hips, your tits bouncing from the movements. Your hands gripping the sheets and when you least expect it, he switches positions. Now, you are riding him, he under you. Hands still guiding your needy hips. "Fuck baby...I need this...oh..oh my pretty girl.." he praises you as he fucks you harder. Your body weak, stomach in a knot, your body now leaning on his. He slaps your ass the kisses your cheek. "His thrusts go deeper, skin contact making noises, echoing the walls of the room. "R/N, what a goddess you are." he leaves hickeys and bite marks on your chest and neck. Soap begins to go faster, his head thrown back as his hands guide your hips, your tits bouncing from the movements. Your hands gripping the sheets and when you least expect it, he switches positions. Now, you are riding him, he under you. Hands still guiding your needy hips.

"Fuck baby...I need this...oh..oh my pretty girl.." he praises you as he fucks you harder. Your body weak, stomach in a knot, your body now leaning on his. He slaps your ass then kisses your cheek. "You're so pretty you know that? And you are a very good girl." he smiles and kisses the top of your nose. You giggle, your body now weaker. "Cum for me, my baby, can you do that?" He moves the strand of hair from your face to your ear, "Can you cum with me?" you couldn't respond verbally, your brain melted by the sensations. He thrusts into you faster until they become animalistic. "Fuck...oh...my lass." his cum filling your tight walls. Your nails into his shoulder, teeth biting his neck as the obscene moans leaves your mouth.

Your own juices leaking on his cock, "my beautiful girl, you took me so well." his voice soft as he leans in, kissing your cheeks then your forehead. "I really like you, R/N." he kisses your collar bones then shoulders. He looks up at you, "Do you like me?"

"Very much." you respond. "Thats my good girl." he kisses your once more, hands cupping your face, keeping your cheeks warm.

A/N: I have no idea how to end this...help

[phightingaus]

Hey hey hey hey y'all here's a lil something I thought up:

Phighting characters in Robloxia.

Experiences are little pocket dimensions created and edited to their desires by user-made robloxians. Your Roblox Avatar has a whole life while you're away, but one thing remains is that personalities of user-made robloxians(also nicknamed 'accounts' in-universe) mimic or mirror the personality of the user at least somewhat. Though, Robloxia is populated uttermost by non-user made robloxians(the regular ones) and completely made up of code. One day, a massive glitch caused NPCs(androids populating Roblox games) from tonnes of different experiences to get yeeted into Robloxia. The issue is currently getting investigated, but for now everyone has to stay in the bounds of Roblox HQ. The NPCs were provided with housing and some temporary jobs. So, let's not waste any more time!

Banhammer was given a job at Banlands(the Robloxia one). The prison in there is WILDLY different from the prison Ban's familiar with, as first it is under a giant mountain and also has little to no escapees, let alone repeat ones. Though the system used for locating rule breakers(autoban and chat filter) has been corrupted a little and gives out prison sentences to innocent robloxians. He's working alongside Doombringer and 1x1x1x1(they ain't a hacker but Shedletsky was a bit tired of dealing with them so he quietly shoved them to whichever of his co-workers was free. They're also tired of the rumors about em being a hacker and had to publicly address the allegations multiple times)

Rocket landed a job in demolition to destroy experiences of permanently banned people. He also helps around in the technical wing of Roblox HQ. Most of the time it's fixing John Doe(he's a sentient robot made by Builderman to help around in the HQ, his model is just REALLY old and needs fixing more than the rest due to his sister(Jane) testing her wildly unsafe inventions on him) He's also kinda mad he can't swear anymore

Sword managed to get a buck by teaching people sword techniques(most people who go to him just keep getting owned in Sword Fights on The Heights or Doomspire Brickbattle). Hangs around Shedletsky a lot, BEGGING the guy to spar with him. Was absolutely demolished the same day.

Several Biografts got thrown in. They mostly do civil tasks until the issue gets resolved, like carrying boxes around the HQ and moderating experiences.

I feel like Skateboard, Boombox and Coil would have a ton of fun playtesting people's experiences but they're really bad at it since (quote by TheRussianBadger) "Any game is fun if you're playing with the clowns I call friends"

Vinestaff keeps the potted plants in the HQ alive. There was a garden behind the building before but with recent issues it's been kinda neglected and she does everything in her power to restore it.

I'll think of more later. Might also throw in other Roblox games. And an existential crisis

- star wars anon't

PEAK

PEAK

PEAKER YET EVEN PEAKER

But to get into it:

1.

2...

3.

4...

I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO SAY THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME

though i feel like rocket would also frequent super bomb survival(the explosives hyperfixation just takes hold of him every now and again)

[bullet-prooflove]

Pushy - Cyrus Lupo x Reader

Tagging: @crazy4chickennuggets @kmc1989 @oureternalbond @darqchilddaydreamz @words-and-seeds @infinity-mars @malindacath @tkappi @greenies-green @trublu2u @thatcrimeshowchick

When Ed leaves it sends Cyrus into a tailspin because he feels entirely culpable. He’s the one that dug up the evidence that put Ed in Cutter’s path, he’s the one that found April, the woman he’d been trying to hide, he’s the one that tanked the other man’s career. You watch it happen over a series of weeks. You see how downtrodden he becomes; despite Ed’s parting words he still feels the burden of that responsibility.

When there’s a knock on the door, he doesn’t expect to see you standing there with a bag of takeaway food in your hand from that place down the street, the one he’s always raving about because it’s completely authentic. He’s clad in plaid pyjama bottoms and a navy blue t-shirt.

“I have food.” You inform him before taking a DVD out of your satchel. “And I have Demolition Man.”

He laughs because it’s a call back to the way he used to handle his shit back in the day. The woman he loved, snuggled against him on the couch, the two of you eating Chinese food and watching 90s action movies.

He opens the door to let you in and you’re instantly assailed by Otto wagging his tail and snuffling at you because he wants to show you the new duck toy that Jude got him. The damn thing has been driving Cyrus quietly mad because it honks whenever he bites down onto it. He takes the food from your hands before retreating to the kitchen. He glances over his shoulder to see you crouching down, placing kisses on the top of Otto’s head.

“Have you been looking after him, yes you have? Yes, you have.” You say and he finds the edges of his lips tipping up into a smile because this is how he envisioned his future with you once upon a time.

He’s in the midst of plating up the food when you come into the kitchen, leaning against the counter.

“Ed’s tried to call you a few times.”

“Yea, I know.” He says with a heavy sigh. “I’ve been busy.”

You don’t speak and neither does he, it’s a classic interrogation technique, letting the silence hang so that the perp feels the need to fill it.

“I don’t know what to say.” He tells you, placing his hands on the surface of the counter. “When my brother died, I wasn’t in a good space, he helped me to get my head on straight, took me under his wing and I repaid him by helping them indict him.”

“It wasn’t as simple as that.” You remind him.

“It kind of was.” He snaps at you.

“Do you think Ed would be calling you if he thought that was true?” You ask him. “He knows how tough this was on you, the position he put you in.”

The line of his jaw tenses. He knows you’re making sense, what happened between him, and Ed is a two-way street. If the other man had been upfront Cyrus wouldn’t have gone digging, if Cyrus hadn’t have gone digging Ed wouldn’t have been vindicated.

“I’ll call him.” He says finally.

 “You could text him.” You suggest, pushing his phone towards him across the counter. “Like right now?”

“I forgot how pushy you were.” He mutters, picking up his phone and typing out a message before setting it back down on the counter. “Happy?”

“Yea.” You say as you collect the takeaway containers and deposit them in the bin.  “Sometimes you just need a little shove in the right direction.”

“I appreciate this you know?” Cyrus says as you wash your hands in the sink. “You coming over here, cheering me up.”

“We’re friends.” You say softly, your shoulder nudging gently against his as you dry your hands. “Friends take care of each other.”

“Is that all we are?” He asks you, his eyes meeting yours. “Because it feels like it’s been heading towards more for a while now.”

“Cyrus…” You begin but the words die away because he leans in close, his lips brushing over yours.

It’s tender, the way he kisses you. His lips soft as they caress yours. It’s a rush, a heady mix of feelings and sensations that you’ve spent the best part of a year trying to deny. He kisses you until you’re breathless, until all you can think about is the press of his firm body against yours. Your hands rake through his unruly curls, and he moans into your mouth at the sensation. You want him, you want him more than you’ve ever wanted anyone. Your fingers trail underneath the hem of his t-shirt…

The sound of your phone cuts through the air, interrupting the moment. You break away unwillingly, your forehead coming to rest on his, your body tingling with anticipation as you withdraw your phone from your back pocket.

“I forgot I’m on call tonight.” You murmur as you survey the message. “It’s Lennie, I’ve got to go.”

“I get it.” He tells you, pulling away reluctantly.

“But I want to do this again.” You tell him, grasping the bottom of his t-shirt and tugging him back towards you.

“Yea?” He asks as he smiles down at you.  

“Definitely.” You tell him before raising up on your tiptoes and stealing another kiss.

Love Lupo? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Want more Cyrus? Read his masterlist here!

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[throne-mechanicum-couchpotato]

The Repentant Brotherhood 15.2: The Circles of Absolution - Cont.

First Circle of Cleddau 

It is the duty of The First Circle to maintain the Brotherhoods arsenal of artificer weapons and acquire more artificer weapons for The Brotherhood. They are led by The Lord of Blades and specialise in weapon maintenance and blessings.

Second Circle of Gwaed 

Tasked with the collection of up to date DNA samples of members of the Brotherhood to monitor for chaos taint or gene-seed degradation. They are led by The Lord of Blood and specialise in the secret elimination of degraded gene-seed.

Third Circle of Nosi

Tasked with maintaining, using, and acquiring forbidden technology from The Long Night. They are led by The Lord of Night.

Fourth Circle of Ufel 

Tasked with the creation and development of explosive materials and devices. They are led by The Lord of Fire and specialise in creating demolitions and pyrotechnic symphonies which cause mass structural damage.

Fifth Circle of Aelwyd

Tasked with testing and maintaining the strength of The Brotherhood’s defences and vehicles. They are led by The Lord of The Hearth and specialise in sabotage tactics.

Sixth Circle of Gwag Ffurfafen 

Tasked with ensuring the death and destruction of key tactical figures and targets during exterminatus events and planetary invasions. They are led by The Lord of Empty Skies and specialise in target identification and allocation of resources to ensure its elimination. 

Seventh Circle of Corun

Tasked with challenging and improving stratagem and to report on the tactical decisions of officers and their effect. They are led by The Lord of Crowns and specialise in tactical analysis and improvisation.

Eighth Circle of Sibrwd

Tasked with the creation and maintenance of a spy ring loyal to The Brotherhood that is spread throughout the galaxy. They are led by The Lord of Whispers and specialise in intel gathering and communication techniques.

Ninth Circle of Symbylau 

Tasked with recording, learning, and interpreting codes, ciphers, and languages for the benefit of The Brotherhood. They are led by The Lord of Symbols and specialise in code-breaking and multilingualism.

Tenth Circle of Gosteg 

Tasked with maintaining the secret of The Fallen outside of The Brotherhood. They are led by The Lord of Silence and specialise in the creation of unfortunate accidents.

Eleventh Circle of llygaid Cudd

Those who watch The Circles from within, hailing only from The Fourth Hall, members of the Eleventh Circle are initiated into other Circles as part of their express purpose to act as the internal police of The Circles. They are led by the elusive Hidden Lord.

[hortoncolumbusdemolition]

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[abyssmalice]

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[quirkwizard]

Could you design a quirk similar to Yuji’s Shrine technique from JJK? Though we don’t get much information but what we do see in chapter 257 the way it seems to work is whenever yuji grabs onto something up to two lines (which appears as a series of 3 line dashes and scissors) drawn across whatever he grabs before the lines vanish and the technique cuts through whatever he was touching to separate from the rest of the object, this process isn’t instantaneous and can be interrupted but it’s unclear how long so possibly the targets durability and size would affect the time it takes to cleanly cut through.

You already did a quirk based on Sukuna’s Dismantle & Cleave. But now that we have a fuller idea of how Shrine works, do you think you can do a quirk incorporating his Divine Flame? Not the Domain Version which is an Omni-Nuke, but the one that he used against Jogo that’s slow/single target?a

I've actually already done the Divine Flame before with "Fire Shot". As for Yuji's power, I actually think a lot of it could work, Maybe with some minor revisions in order to make it more interesting, but still.

I see it working as an Emitter type Quirk that activates whenever the user touches an object. When they do, they can make a series of dashed lines appear around it up to medium ranges from the point of contact. The user can cause the object to become cut apart, as if it were cut by scissors. This can work on any material, such as steel and concrete, without issue. The user can make dozens of these lights and may perfectly control where they go on the target. The user has a minor amount of control over how the item is cut apart, such as keeping it in place until someone touches it or making the ground they cut split apart to trip someone up. This gives the user a good mix of options, able to can and slash apart the area as they see fit. They can bypass enemy defenses, cut apart the walls and doors to get around, trap the area with sudden pit falls, make controlled demolitions, or simply become a champion at hedge clipping. Though this only works on objects and cannot be applied to people. The user will need to make contact to use the power. The power can take a couple of seconds to cut through everything, especially with larger cuts and tougher materials. A possible name for the Quirk could be "Cut Out".

[snapmite1998]

Clone Commando Profile: CT-1175 "Shade"

Overview

CT-1175, known by the callsign "Shade," is a stealth-oriented clone commando within the Crimson Dawn clone squadron known as the Dawnbringers. He excels in infiltration, reconnaissance, and covert operations, making him a critical asset for high-stakes missions that require discretion and precision.

Background

- Origin: Shade was created on Kamino as part of the late Republic’s clone program. Trained as a skilled commando, he was initially dedicated to serving the Galactic Republic. However, disillusionment with the Jedi and the Republic’s leadership led him to defect, seeking a new purpose under the command of Crimson Dawn.

- Experience: Shade has participated in numerous covert operations during the Clone Wars, honing his skills in stealth tactics, hand-to-hand combat, and sniping. His training as a commando makes him an expert in urban warfare and guerrilla tactics.

Personality

- Mysterious and Calculative: Shade is known for his quiet demeanor and thoughtful approach to combat. He prefers to observe and analyze situations before acting, often choosing the most efficient and least detectable method to achieve objectives.

- Loyal and Resolute: Despite his past, Shade has developed a strong sense of loyalty to his fellow Dawnbringers and will go to great lengths to protect them. His commitment to Crimson Dawn’s cause drives him to execute missions with unwavering resolve.

Specializations

- Stealth Operations: Shade is an expert in infiltration techniques and is adept at blending into the environment. He is often tasked with missions that require him to gather intelligence without being detected.

- Sniper Skills: Using a specialized long-range blaster rifle, Shade can eliminate high-value targets from a distance, providing cover for his team and ensuring successful mission outcomes.

- Sabotage: Shade has experience with demolitions and sabotage, enabling him to disrupt enemy operations and secure strategic advantages for Crimson Dawn.

Notable Operations

1. Operation Silent Blade: In a mission to infiltrate a heavily guarded Republic installation, Shade was instrumental in gathering critical data on troop movements. His ability to navigate undetected ensured the success of the operation without raising alarms.

2. The Boardroom Assassination: Shade provided cover during the assassination of a key Republic senator who opposed Crimson Dawn’s operations. His precision sniping secured the target with minimal collateral damage, allowing the Dawnbringers to escape unnoticed.

3. Saboteur's Echo: Shade led a sabotage mission against a Republic logistic convoy. His planning and execution caused substantial delays in Republic supplies, showcasing his talent for disrupting enemy plans effectively.

Conclusion

CT-1175 "Shade" stands as an embodiment of the stealth and precision that defines the Dawnbringers. His skills in covert operations, along with his loyalty and keen analytical mind, make him a vital member of Crimson Dawn’s commando forces. In the ever-evolving conflict within the galaxy, Shade's contributions are essential for securing victory and ensuring the rise of Crimson Dawn in the shadows of tumultuous power plays.

[solalunar-eclipse]

The Sounds of War

Happy birthday, Bush!!!! I hope you have plenty of good times with family and friends today, and that you get to have a great birthday cake :D

@voidshrub | @voidshrubsquared (for notification purposes)

Now then…here’s your present <3

…

Two pounds of ground beef. One bag of breadcrumbs. Several assorted vegetables. An unidentified type of oil heating in a pan.

To the untrained eye, this might not look like much of a mission. But to a seasoned soldier—the Soldier, as a matter of fact—the mission was clear. A troop was only as good as the meals it received, and since Lieutenant Bites wasn’t about to start cooking for his platoon anytime soon, it seemed that the task fell to Jane Doe himself.

Jane cracked his knuckles, before showing no mercy to the ground beef as its packaging was torn open and the contents dumped into a large mixing bowl. Forgoing any utensils, he broke up the meat with his hands, before reaching into the nearby bag for several handfuls of breadcrumbs (inadvertently horrifying all actual chefs and giving several of them heart palpitations). After adding the beef mixture to the pan, he was at least willing to cut up the vegetables using a knife, though his cutting technique looked less like something one would see in a kitchen and more like he was trying to gut the vegetables with extreme and prejudiced force.

He was in the middle of this task, happily disemboweling bell peppers and beheading carrots, when somebody appeared in his peripheral vision. Luckily for them, he had forgotten that the sharp implement he was holding was not in fact double-sided, and so all Tavish got was the blunt end of the knife across his cheek instead of a brand-new scar or a trip to respawn.

“Christ, laddie, what’s gotten into ye?” the demolitions expert exclaimed, taking a few steps back and holding up his hands in surrender. “First ye dinnae turn around when I walk in, then ye try tae slice me up?”

“Oh!” Jane’s face immediately brightened. “Hello, Tavish! Sorry about that, I didn’t realize you were there. Don’t you know never to sneak up on a trained soldier?”

Tavish frowned, but he didn’t seem angry. “Aye, that I do, but I wasn’t exactly sneaking—I’m wearin’ me heavy boots and everything!”

“Really? I didn’t hear a thing! I was probably just extremely focused on my cooking duties!”

“Is that so?” For some reason, Tavish seemed amused. “Well then, why don’t ye get back tae it afore your meat starts burning?”

Jane whipped around to stare at the pan so quickly that his helmet took a second to catch up—and yes, it was smoking rather ominously. “My God! Thank you for alerting me, Tav!” He rushed over immediately to turn down the heat and give the meat a stir.

“Anytime, lad. Say, would ye like a hand wi’ those veggies a’yours? From what I’ve heard, ye generally like all the pieces tae be about the same size…” The Scotsman looked slightly wary at the sight of Jane’s culinary battlefield.

“Why not? That way I can make sure this beef doesn’t turn traitor and burn on me!” Jane smiled happily at him, unaware of any potential concerns that his friend might have, food-related or otherwise.

In the end, the raccoon food turned out very nicely, and Jane was more than delighted to see his tiny troop eating as quickly as they could get their hands on the stuff. He was already certain that this would lead to many future victories in the battlefield!

As it turned out, however, that wasn’t the only thing that would come out of this particular cooking session…

Less than a week later, Ludwig pulled Jane aside, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. “Hallo, Soldat! Would now be a bad time for a quick checkup? I’m quite curious about something, you see, and it requires your participation.”

Jane frowned. “Will it improve our team’s performance on the battlefield?”

“I have a feeling that it might do just that! I need to know if what I suspect is true or not first, and then I’ll know for certain.”

“Well, if it means we’ll become an even better team, then I see no problems!” Jane declared. “Lead the way, Doc!”

It wasn’t a very long walk to the infirmary, but for some reason, the team’s medic was being much more tight-lipped than usual. Ordinarily, even if he was trying to keep his ideas a secret, he’d be unable to resist telling somebody about it after long. This time, however, asking what the experiment did only resulted in vague answers like “It’s still too early to tell if this will be significant” or “If I told you, then the results might not be scientifically sound!”.

Once they made it to the medical room, Jane felt even more strange upon seeing that for once, Ludwig’s surgical tools weren’t out and ready to be used. Was this not going to be one of his usual organ-based breakthroughs?

Instead, the other man produced a pair of headphones from somewhere, with a thick, curled cord that led to a machine. “Alright, Soldier, all I need you to do is sit down, and tell me when you hear something in one of your ears. If you hear it in the left ear, raise your left hand. If you hear it in the right, raise your right hand. Does that make sense?”

“…is this some kind of mind control experiment?” Jane asked suspiciously. “I signed up for unethical medical experiments on my body, not my brain!”

“Well, arguably, your brain is part of your body!” Ludwig replied. “But no, sadly, this is not a mind control experiment. It’s a test of your senses.”

“All of my senses are always at maximum!” Jane barked. “I am capable of sensing an attack from anywhere and anyone!”

Ludwig laughed, his usual “hoo hoo hoo” chuckle. “Certainly, Soldat! Let’s prove that beyond any doubt then, shall we?”

Jane sat down, putting the headphones on underneath his helmet (without removing it, somehow). “I’m in position!”

He sat there for long enough that it began to feel awkward, still not hearing any tones at all. Ludwig’s expression didn’t change, his curious grin staying the same.

Just as he was about to ask if this was all some elaborate prank, Jane heard a faint noise in his right ear. Instantly, he raised his right hand. Maybe it had just taken a little while to get the test set up?

Ludwig tilted his head, looking a lot like the birds he so loved to care for. After a moment, Jane heard the same tone, louder this time and in his left ear, and he raised his left hand. He looked towards the medic, a little confused. Was this going well? Ludwig smiled and gave him a thumbs-up, and Jane shrugged and sat back in the chair. There was a reason that Ludwig was the medical expert and he was the rocket launching expert, after all.

It continued on this way for a while, with the noises progressively getting fainter and fainter until Jane could no longer hear them, then suddenly reappearing a random amount of time later. After maybe three minutes of this, Ludwig motioned to him that he could take the headset off. Jane did just that, getting out of the chair at the same time. “So, what do you think, Doc?”

Ludwig looked fascinated by whatever he’d written down, that was for sure. “Your hearing skills are truly notable, Soldier! Thank you very much for your help—I will need some time to analyze this now.”

It wasn’t uncommon for Ludwig to seem fascinated by the specific parts of a person more than the person themself, but Jane didn’t take it as an insult. After all, Ludwig always took what he learned and made sure that the person he’d learned it from got something out of it, too, whether they actually wanted to or not. Seeing as Jane normally found the medic’s work to be anywhere from moderately useful to a downright patriotic service, he didn’t mind taking part in Ludwig’s various schemes.

Another thing that was true about the work their team doctor did was that it often went hand-in-hand with that of their engineer. After all, it hadn’t been the medical expert who made the machinery attached to all of their hearts, and the mechanics genius had needed a little help figuring out how to make his creations heal people in a way that wouldn’t destroy their bodies from the cellular level up.

So, when he was called into Dell’s workshop less than a week after Ludwig’s little experiment, Jane wasn’t surprised in the least. Seeing Tavish there, while a tiny bit more unexpected, wasn’t strange either—his chemical expertise had been helpful to Dell on a number of occasions. Jane wasn’t exactly sure how this might be relevant to the test he’d done, though…

“Hey there, Solly!” Dell greeted him, a smile on his face like usual. For some reason, though, he seemed a little apprehensive as well. “How’ve you been?”

“I am in top fighting form, as always!” Jane declared, snapping off a proper salute just in case. Even if Dell wasn’t his superior, it helped ease the slight air of wrongness that seemed to cloud the workshop.

“Glad t’hear it.” the engineer said. He reached for something on the table nearby, a small, strange device with a curved portion on top that seemed like a hook of some sort, albeit a very specifically shaped hook. “Now then, d’ya remember the Doc’s lil’ exam a few days back where he was testin’ out your hearin’?”

“Indeed I do! He said that my hearing was ‘notable’, that was the exact word he used!”

“It sure is, son.” Dell agreed. There was something he wasn’t saying, though, and that was why it almost came as a relief when Tavish spoke next.

“More like notably busted, lad. Dinnae mistake me, here, I’m nae insultin’ ye or anythin’. But if Mister Southern Manners willnae come out and give it to ye straight, I’ll say it myself—Janie, ye can hear loud things just fine, but quieter stuff’s nae got a chance with ye.”

“What?” he exclaimed. “But I’ve never noticed anything even remotely like that!”

“Well, ye wouldnae notice, that’s the thing.” Tavish said. “It’s nae like my eye, where I had it one second and bang! Gone the next. Your hearin’ might’ve gone little by little, so slow ye didnae even know it happened.”

Jane felt something cold settle into his stomach. “Who do I have to fight to get it back?! Maybe Merasmus has something in that old house of his…”

“Well, that’s where I come in, ‘cause as it turns out, ya don’t need to fight nobody t’get your hearing back.” Dell explained. “There’s devices out there that’ll help ya hear all those lil’ quiet sounds again, and it just so happens that they’re not too hard to make, either.”

Tavish rolled his single eye good-naturedly. “Not hard for the one with multiple college degrees, maybe. Most of us here have either one or none, don’t ye forget!”

“Well now, I hardly see how that’s my fault.” Dell shot back. “But enough yappin’. Solly, you up for tryin’ this baby out and seein’ if she does ya any good? If not, don’t worry, I can fix her up ‘til she works for ya.”

Dell offered him the device, plus a second one that looked almost like a mirror image of the first. Hesitantly, Jane put them in his ears, adjusted them a little and then…

That machinery made noise?!

He whirled around to stare at the teleporter in the corner, whirring away softly as it spun. He’d never heard it before, not once in all his years working with this team. And that wasn’t the end of it, either, he could hear Dell and Tavish moving, the rustling of their clothes as they changed positions. A light exhale as Dell shifted his weight backwards, letting Jane take it all in.

What else was there for him to hear? What noises did his other friends make?

…what had he missed?

How many spies uncloaking, how many sentries turning or footsteps behind him or guns being drawn or, or, or—

Jane tore the devices from his ears and threw them as far away as he could manage, rushing out of the workshop as quickly as possible. The thunder of his boots in the halls would probably make him easier to track (if it was loud to him, what did it seem like to everyone else?), but he didn’t care. Let them come for him, ask him their questions and be met with a shovel to the face! Shovels didn’t make sounds before impact (did they?), shovels were felt in the hands and the muscles of the arm as he swung!

Before long, Jane found himself with his back to the corner of a room. He gripped his weapon tightly with both hands, eyes fixed on the door, ready to launch himself at anyone who dared to enter.

He had no idea how long he stood there in that position—it could have been anywhere from five minutes to an hour. After a decent amount of time had passed, however, the door to the training room creaked a little ways open.

Jane readied his shovel.

Thankfully, though, it wasn’t Tavish, Ludwig, or Dell. Instead, it was Pyro who stood there, waving shyly over at him.

Jane lowered his weapon, but didn’t let go of it just yet. “What—state your purpose, Private!” he demanded, forcefully ignoring the croak in his voice.

Pyro hesitated for a moment, before jogging across the room to stand in front of him. They reached out as if to take his hand, and more out of curiosity than anything, Jane let them do just that.

They began to press their thumb against his palm on and off in short bursts, and it only took the soldier a moment to realize that they were communicating in Morse code. Once he’d worked that out, he replayed their message in his head.

HI. CAME TO SEE YOU.

“Did you have something that requires my assistance?” Jane asked, confused.

NO. WORRIED. YOU OK?

“I’m fine!” Jane barked, loudly enough that Pyro flinched. “I mean—it’s Tavish and Engineer that have a problem, if anyone does!” he corrected himself, at a slightly lower volume. “Suggesting that I need hearing assistance!”

DO YOU?

Jane glowered, but at least was considerate enough to direct it somewhere over his teammate’s right shoulder. “No! I’ve been fighting for years without it, why would I need it now?”

I SET FIRE FOR YEARS. NO SUIT. BURNED. NOW SUIT NO BURNS. BAD?

“Well, no! You work with extremely dangerous materials, Private, so of course you require specialized gear!” Jane insisted. “But this—this thing doesn’t augment my fighting abilities, it’s made to correct a defect that doesn’t even exist!”

MEDIC WEAR GLASSES. CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT. FIGHTS BETTER WITH. DEFECT?

He did his best to give his companion a sharp look despite his helmet. Any good soldier could tell when he was being maneuvered into a corner, whether that be physically or psychologically. “That’s different, because I don’t have hearing trouble.” he insisted.

IF DID. NOBODY CARE. IF SOMEBODY CARE. I BURN THEM. Pyro tapped the words out emphatically, tilting their mask up to look beneath the helmet and into his eyes.

“Well, clearly Tav and Engie care! Otherwise they wouldn’t be trying to ‘fix’ this.” Jane loaded the word ‘fix’ with as much disdain as he could muster.

Pyro leaned a little closer to him, almost looking sad with how their shoulders slumped. THEY ONLY HELP. THIS NOT HELP…THEY STOP.

“Private, are you suggesting that those two would actually give this up just because I told them to?” Jane asked, half disbelieving and half curious.

Pyro’s firm nod took him by surprise. He hesitated. “…really?”

They nodded again, just as sure.

After a moment, he sighed, and pushed off the wall to stand upright with his usual impeccable posture. “There’s no time like the present to see if your theory is correct, then!” He might have been gripping his shovel so tightly that his knuckles turned a bloodless white, but his stride as he retraced his earlier path was in perfect military form.

When he arrived back at the workshop, Pyro left his side, but not before giving his arm a quick hug. Inside, Dell and Tavish were talking together quietly. Tav noticed him first, looking up with a surprisingly guilty expression. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jane beat him to it.

“As Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘Honesty is the best policy’, and I expect that of you two! So—” Jane forced his voice not to falter— “exactly what are you trying to do here?”

Tavish winced. “Well, the first thing I’d like tae do is apologize. I should nae have gone behind your back for any a’ this, an’ that’s all on me. I wasn’t sure if ye’d be upset at the prospect of perhaps needin’ a little extra help, but I shoulda’ known it’d be worse if I didnae come clean right from the start. Sorry about that, lad.”

“I’m right there with him.” Dell admitted. “I shoulda’ known better too, instead of goin’ along with him and the Doc. I’m sorry, too.”

Jane shifted his weight from one foot to the other slightly, a lot of his simmering frustration quelled by those words alone. “So…you won’t try to make me take those machines if I don’t want them?”

“Lord, no!” Dell looked genuinely affronted at the mere thought. “I was just hopin’ y’might enjoy gettin’ to hear some of them smaller sounds, but I sure as heck ain’t gonna force anything onto ya that’cha don’t want!”

“Even if it means I can’t hear spies in battle?” Jane pushed.

“Janie, ye catch spies just fine without any extra gadgets!” Tavish insisted. “Bleedin’ hell, we sure as shite were nae tryin’ tae make ye feel bad about your fighting! Ye do a great job already, wi’out any help at all!”

He felt a smile start to spread across his face, a surprisingly small one compared to his more bloodthirsty grins. “Let’s try those tiny machines one more time then! If I have nothing to lose and something to gain, then why not?”

“Are y’sure?” Dell asked. “Don’t try ‘em just for my sake, alright? I won’t be offended if y’don’t want them.”

Jane held out a hand insistently. “Do I seem like a liar to you?”

Soon enough, he had the devices in his ears again, and was carefully exploring the workshop. Dell had shown him how to turn them off and on again, and he would take a break whenever the sudden influx of new sensory input grew to be a little too much.

Eventually, Jane felt ready to leave the workshop, bolstered by his friends’ support. Not-so-surprisingly, hovering almost hesitantly outside the doors was Jeremy, who immediately lit up upon seeing his fellow offense teammate. “Hey, hey, what’s goin’ on in here? Ya havin’ a party without me?”

Jane didn’t even think twice before declaring, “I’m testing out one of Engie’s new inventions! It’s supposed to improve my hearing! Pyro says it’s like glasses but for my ears.”

“Huh—wait, so does this mean you’re hearin’ all sorts a’ new stuff?” Jeremy asked, seeming genuinely curious.

“Exactly! Quiet sounds that previously escaped my notice will not evade me any longer!”

“Oh, hey, there’s all kinds a’ things ya gotta hear, then!” Jeremy grabbed onto Jane’s sleeve, practically dragging him in the direction of the main living space. Despite his staunch independence, Jane followed along willingly, appreciating Jeremy’s surprising thoughtfulness.

In that area, Mikhail was busy building two of his famous sandviches, while Mick was inside for once, sitting on the couch with the television playing. More than anything else, though, Jane noticed the faint humming of the refrigerator. He walked over to it, letting Jeremy explain the situation to his teammates.

He’d never even taken the time to notice that it vibrated slightly before, and Jane pressed his fingertips to the door, tilting his head like a confused dog.

Mikhail spoke up. “The sound is easy to forget. I do not hear it until it stops, and only then I…know that it is there. Not just you that cannot hear it.”

“Really?” Jane asked.

“Yep.” Dell said, having appeared in the doorway at some point. “‘S pretty normal. Our brains block out anything that’s a constant so we can notice faster when somethin’ changes. That’s probably why Mick over there didn’t care ‘bout how his nests started smellin’ before the rest of us brought it up.”

The man in question looked over for the first time in this whole conversation, tilting his glasses down to glare at Dell over them. “Oh, you can go and shut right up. You know damn well I seal my jars good n’ tight, Mr. Rancho Relaxo.”

Mikhail allowed himself an amused huff at that, in contrast to Jeremy’s smug “HA!”. Jane, however, had gotten distracted again, but this time for an entirely different reason.

Somebody else had laughed.

It was a quiet thing, almost hidden under Jeremy’s proud shout, and on any other day, Jane wouldn’t have heard it at all. But of course, today was not any other day, and when he heard the slightest whisper of clothing moving, he lunged.

Unfortunately, his hand closed on nothing but empty air, but there was a very sharp inhale from the cloaked man that Jane now knew for certain was there. “What, Spy, you don’t have anything to say about jarate?” he taunted, trying to get him to reveal himself that way instead.

Whether Jane’s plot had worked or Spy had simply decided that it wasn’t worth it to keep pretending, he did indeed drop his cloak, giving the Soldier a distinctly displeased look. “I am certain that our Engineer can defend himself perfectly well without my intervention.” he insisted.

As soon as Spy had finished speaking, Jeremy walked up to him and started some nothing-fight about how long he’d been cloaked, why he didn’t want to join in the fun, and various other subjects. Jane stepped back, and heard some rustling over by the kitchen counter. Mikhail seemed to be wrapping one of his sandviches in a napkin.

“Leaving so soon, Private?” Jane asked.

Mikhail smiled. “Doktor has not come out for lunch yet. He needs to eat.”

“A healthy team is always important!” he cried back, then hesitated at the sheer volume that hit his own ears. “If he refuses to eat, then I will help you change his mind,” Jane added, in a slightly less intense tone of voice.

“Thank you for this offer.” Mikhail gave him a polite nod, then left with his food.

Jane turned back to the room, which now contained a four-way, less than civil conversation about what did and didn’t smell good, involving insults about Dell forgetting to eat the food he stored in his workshop (“that was ONE TIME, dangit!”), Spy’s cologne, and Jeremy’s running shoes.

Well, it seemed that the work of a Sergeant never ended.

…later that evening, Jane sat on the roof of the Teufort compound, taking in the sounds of the night. He’d always thought that was a thing of the past in the war biographies he’d read, but apparently not. Sure, he’d heard the occasional hooting owl before, but not the squeaks of bats or the small noises of the various creatures that only came out when the blistering sun vanished beyond the horizon.

He could also hear it when the door to the roof opened up behind him, and turned to see who it was—though it didn’t surprise him in the least to find Tavish there.

“What’re you here for?” Jane spoke almost quietly for once, not wanting to shatter whatever this strange stillness was beneath the stars.

Tav shrugged, walking over and sitting down next to him. “Maybe a little bit o’ still feelin’ bad about earlier. Maybe I just want tae spend time with a friend. Who’s tae say?”

Jane smirked, just a little. “Those both sound like good reasons to me.”

“Oh, shut up, ye great lug!” Tavish hissed, grinning even as he shoved Jane with his shoulder. “Ye could at least try not tae look so smug about it!”

“Just like how you didn’t look smug that time I tried to use your sticky-launcher and accidentally hit the big guy with it, right?” Jane shot back, elbowing his friend in the side.

Tav burst out in a fit of laughter, scaring away at least one bird with his noise. That was alright, though. The birds could always come back another night.

While he was winding down, Jane took a deep breath, and then removed his helmet, settling it upside down in his lap. It always felt strange, feeling the air on his close-cropped hair after so long keeping it covered. More importantly than that, though, the devices—the hearing aids—in his ears were now visible. (He didn’t think he’d wear them all the time, since they could get uncomfortable after a while…but right now, it was pretty nice, getting to hear the world with new ears.)

Tavish noticed them, and gave his friend a genuine smile. “They look good on ye, Jane.”

“Alright, you can stop, I already said I’m not mad,” Jane insisted.

“Nae, I’m being serious! They really do!”

Dell had offered to make them the same tone as his skin, saying that their current color was just a prototype, but Jane refused. He liked them as they were—while they might’ve normally been hidden under his helmet, their current vibrant tone stood out in a way he really enjoyed.

“…I’m glad.”

RED was the color of his team, after all, and being part of that wasn’t something he ever wanted to keep quiet.

[battytucute]

Rabies facts

• neurons can try getting rid of infections, but they can’t interact with nervous system.

• Neurons are needed for feel, sensing, thinking, and movement, alongside other basic things in life

• they can’t replenish themselves after cell death

• immune cells like neutrophils often do jobs with some level of collateral damage

• neurons are a protected class of cells and evolved to tone down their immune response so we can not accidentally hurt them.

• so how nervous tissues protected if the immune system can’t get in to fight germs that make it there? by intercepting threats before they make it to neurons, they can continue to do their jobs safely.

• however, with rabies, the strategy fails

• rabies happens via animal bite, something that can penetrate many layers of tissue and circulation that are supposed to stop viruses from getting to neurons.

• in the earlier stages, treatment is somewhat more likely to be successful as it isn’t in the brain yet. if stopped before it gets there, you may survive.

• neurons are the longest cell type in the body. the distance for the rabies virus to travel to ur brain would be from florida to sweden. even so, time is scarce.

• rabies evolved a dastardly technique that hijacks the cellular transport system by binding into the protein dyenin

• dyenin usually transports useful cell cargo from the periphery of the cell towards its body; rabies evolved to stick to dyenin and hitch a ride up the neurons towards the brain.

• dyenin isn’t a slouch; it is small but can move at 800 nanometers per second. thus it can take rabies 14 days to move up a meter long neuron.

• if humansized, it would be 212 miles per hour or 342 kilometers per hour, as fast as a bullet train or arrow or eight usain bolts. and the closer a rabid animal bites you, the less distance it has to travel before your dead.

• this can explain the variation in the incubation period of rabies (20-90 days) where those infected have no symptoms.

• rabies races among neuronal tracks, setting up areas of concentrated viral centers called negri bodies

• negri bodies act as viral factories and pump out more copies of the rabies virus within neurons.

• the viral setup happens without our knowledge or interference

• neurons minimize distress signaling for the good of the body even if in bad shape. not only are they quiet signalers but the rabies virus inhibits interferon (an immune signal that normally alerts us to the site of infection) action

• the double whammy of immune interference means the infected neurons are nearly silent

• Apoptosis or programmed cell death is one more tool neurons have for infection. via apoptosis a cell undergoes a demolition of itself, disintegrating into smaller bubbles, denying the virus further access to its virus making machinery

• the smaller bubbles can then be safely scooped up by immune system cells

• however, rabies possibly evolved in a way to take even this cellular nuclear option away from the neuron. rabies strains causing less apoptosis have been found to be more infectious in mice, implying that rabies could have evolved to stop apoptosis in its tracks

• if rabies blew up neurons too early or frequently it might never make it to the brain without being cleared up by the immune system .

• rabies also evolved in a way to protect neurons during incubation.

• T-cells are small but extremely strong ; infected cells display pieces of the viral protein on their surface. when killer t cells recognize and bind that protein it releases a potent cocktail of enzymes that trigger cell death.

• rabies would inhibit neurons ability to fight it but the t cell would send it over the edge… however rabies has a cheat code.

• it stops apoptosis in neurons, but encourages it in t cells. its still unknown how it happens. the t cell would attempt to stop the virus only to be forced to self destruct

• Also, the rabies virus only has five genes.

• There is still hope: rabies is minmaxed for stealth, and if detected by the immune system before it goes to the brain, the risk of death from rabies is none. the vaccine also trains the immune system to better recognize the virus. however, if one waits too long, it’s over, and the vaccine is also expensive

Source: https://youtu.be/uDF83PEUQRs?si=s_5iFH0AnMSWkLxV

Thumbnail ID: A cartoon-style illustration features a virus with a purple, oval shape, surrounded by small spikes. The virus is highlighted by a red arrow pointing to it. Bold, dramatic text below the virus reads '99.9% Lethal Virus,' suggesting the virus's high lethality rate. The background is a textured off-white color, lending a scientific and educational tone. A blue, fluffy shape below the text may represent another biological entity or cells.