#Drug testing market report
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
medicaldevicesindustrynews · 2 years ago
Text
Rising Consumption of Illicit Drugs Boost Demand for Drug Abuse Testing
Rising Consumption of Illicit Drugs Boost Demand for Drug Abuse Testing
Drug abuse is defined as the deliberate consumption of illegal drugs or prescribed psychoactive involvement, or non-therapeutic performance enhancer drug for non-medicinal effects. The strong addiction may cause an irresistible, uncontrollable, and compulsive desire for its intake.  The majorly consumed drugs of abuse are cannabinoids, opiates, cocaine, LSD, barbiturates, alcohol, amphetamines,

View On WordPress
0 notes
everwalldigan · 4 months ago
Text
Concept: Jason sending Tim a different drug dealer’s name every month so that rich kid Tim Drake tries to make the dealer sell to him as a test if they’re truly sticking to Jason’s no selling to kids rule.
Jason has essentially killed two birds with one stone, 1. He got to identify and take out the fuckers that were still selling to kids and 2. He essentially made sure Tim could never buy anything from Gotham’s dealers. Call it his way of caring.
To anybody else, Tim just looked like another stupid rich kid who doesn’t know what they’re getting themselves into but the ruse is up when the news starts spreading that anyone who sells to Tim Drake specifically will get their ass busted by the Red Hood. So the next time Jason sees Damian he pitches the idea up to him and the few dealers that sell to Damian get an especially slow and painful treatment cause how dare they sell to what is very clearly a 14 year old baby??
The operation is kept strictly away from Bruce, of course, until one day some reporter breaks the story about billionaire Bruce Wayne’s kids caught trying to buy drugs and all HELL breaks loose. The end result was all of them being grounded for a month after a 5 hour long rant about responsibility and damaging their civilian reputations and the entire Wayne family being blacklisted from the drug market no matter how much cash they wave around.
18K notes · View notes
roselinel690 · 9 months ago
Text
0 notes
trendingreportz · 1 year ago
Text
0 notes
preetiken · 1 year ago
Text
Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market is anticipated to grow by USD 6Th Mn by 2025- How will the market gain traction to be able to reach at its targeted number?
The government distribution of medicines will improve in future due to the initiatives such as Botika Ng Bayan, Distribution through Local Health Units and Rural Health Units, says a report by Ken Research
1.Corona Virus effect on pharmacy sales in Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market.
Tumblr media
Other Challenges in Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market Outlook to 2025
Demand for OTC products like Alcohol Based Cleaners, Vitamin C and D Tablets, Immunity Boosters and Health Supplements was boosted during quarantine. Maintenance Medicines were also in high demand. During the starting of the Quarantine, Pharmacies witnessed increase in sales due to bulk purchase, later the sales declined. Pharmacies faced supply chain issues especially in the ECQ zones. This has affected the sales of the pharmacies. Further, Philippines witnessed lockdown for a long duration.
2.Trends and Development that the Pharmacy retail market of Philippines will experience.
Tumblr media
Download Sample Report
In July 2018, DOH relaunched Botika Ng Bayan initiative to provide free essential medicines for common diseases focusing on rural and poor people. The chain stores have increased tremendously in the Philippines. Especially TGP and Generika as they have adopted franchise model for store expansion. This increase in chained pharmacies has led to the growth of house brands or private labels. In starting of 2019, President Rodrigo signed Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill into law (Republic Act No. 11223) which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health Insurance Program. This will increase the healthcare affordability in the region.
3. Assessing the Possibilities in the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
Tumblr media
Ask For Customization
Penetration of internet, growth of social media has opened more connectivity options for the companies.
Drive Through Stores, self-service stores are increasing customer convenience.
This has helped in increasing the footfall in pharmacies for purchasing non pharmaceutical products.
Chain stores can serve regional customers where they don’t have strong presence.
Key Segments Covered
By Market Structure (In USD Billion)
Organized Market
Unorganized Market
Type of Store Location (In USD Billion)
Standalone Pharmacy
Hospital Based Pharmacy
By Region (In USD Billion)
North
Central
South
By Type of Sales (In USD Billion)
Prescribed Medicines
OTC Products
Non Pharmaceutical Products
Medical Equipment
By Type of Drug (In USD Billion)
Generic
Patented
By Therapeutic Class (In USD Million)
Cardiovascular
Anti-Infectives
Pain/Analgesics
Anti Diabetic
Vitamins/Minerals /Nutrients
Dermatology
Respiratory
Gastro Intestinal
Neuro
Oncology
Contraceptive
Gynecological
Ophthalmological
Others
Companies Covered
Mercury Drug Corporation
Watsons Personal Care Stores
SouthStar Drug Inc.
The Generics Pharmacy
Rose Pharmacy
Generika Drugstores
Several Regional Players & Others
Key Target Audience
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Companies
Pharmaceutical Importing Companies
Pharmaceutical Distributing Companies
Major Retail Companies
E-Commerce Pharmaceutical Retailers
Consultancy Companies
Industry Associations
Regulation Bodies
Time Period Captured in the Report:
Historical Period: 2014-2019
Forecast Period: 2020-2025
Key Topics Covered in the Report
Healthcare System in the Philippines
Major Hospitals & Doctors in the Women Healthcare      
Usage of Contraception & Family Planning in the Philippines
Health Insurance in the Philippines
Supply Structure of the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
Trends & Development in the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
Issues & Challenges in the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
SWOT Analysis & BCG Matrix in the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market Size & Segmentation, 2014-2019
Online Pharmacy Regulations in the Philippines
Telemedicine & Growth of Online Medical Consultation in the Philippines
Major Telemedicine Providers in the Philippines
Operating Model of Hybrid Pharmacies
Competition Scenario, Market Share, Cross Comparison of Major Players (Online & Offline) and Company Profile
Assessing Regional Pharmacies in the Philippines
Corona Virus Impact on the Consumer Behavior & Pharmacy Sales
Future Market Size and Segmentations, 2019-2025F
Covid 19 Impact on the Philippines Pharmacy Retail Market
Analysts’ Recommendations
Contact us:
Ankur Gupta, Head of Marketing and Communications
+91-9015378249
Follow Us
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
0 notes
stickyleadybloger · 2 years ago
Text
https://www.xaphyr.com/blogs/236187/Drugs-of-Abuse-Testing-Market-Report-Applications-Trends-Demand-and
Drugs of Abuse Testing Market Report, Applications, Trends, Demand and Forecast to 2030
0 notes
my-my-my · 2 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
KINKTOBER DAY 4 - Aphrodisiacs: Mayuri Kurotsuchi x Gender Neutral Reader
Summary: Captain Kurotsuchi needs bodies for his new inventions, and a random old shopkeeper in District 53 has clients to serve. Distribution of illicit drugs seems to transcend the World of the Living, with shinigami and regular souls alike, flocking to the market, but how does Captain Kurotsuchi test his products in the first place?
TW: MDNI! Abuse of power, Mayuri having no sense of ethical obligations as a researcher, what I think drug dealing/trafficking would look like in Soul Society, fictional recreational drugs, dubious consent, fondling, non-consensual drug use.
Word count: 2516
Read on AO3 here.
 “Kurotsuchi-san, thank you for the products last month. It was quite the hit with my customers.” The elderly woman prattled on as she hobbled around her store. Dried plants, herbs and bottles containing questionable liquid filled every nook and cranny of the shop.
“Did any of them report side-effects?” He asked, inspecting her wares, taking fistfuls of items into his haori’s pockets. He continued to rummage through the store, as the old lady watched in amusement.
“Aside from what you told me before hand, no, none did. They remarked they all felt refreshed.” To which Mayuri looked at her, then immediately grabbed something off the shelf behind her. “If you could make that batch again, it will be hit. I can find the ingredients that you need.”
“You will sell what I make.” Mayuri sneered, looking down at the old woman, “I don’t take orders.” But he continued to take things off her shelves.
The woman laughed, “yes, yes. Of course.” She walked over to where she kept her money and pulled out a small, yet heavy pouch, “this was the share from last month.” Mayuri held the pouch in his hand, opening it up and nodding at the money inside. “And of course, everything is on the house for you.” She smiled as he walked out of her store without as much as a goodbye.
Tumblr media
Mayuri reviewed the notes he made about the different products he invented under the guise of “research” for the Gotei 13. A few members across the 13 squads knew of his backdoor research, but none dared to report him to the Head Captain.
For all intents and purposes, the Head Captain believed that Mayuri was conducting research for the betterment of Soul Society

And it just so happens that some of his products fit in line with that thinking.
Technologies, therapies, interventions, Mayuri has done it all, but only a few of them ever see the light of day. Which is how he aligned himself with the herbalist on the outskirts of Rukongai District 53. She would distribute his products to the masses that travelled through her shop, and he would have a willing patient population to test his inventions. They would both profit off the success.
Last month’s product was some type of pain-relief liquid. This month he wanted to try something different.
Taking out all the items he had taken from the woman’s shop, Mayuri inspected each item carefully. Nemu and Akon approached him but left immediately as he shrieked at them to leave.
He trusted Nemu and Akon more than any of the other seated members of his squad, but this process was for him alone. No one was to interrupt him. And so, Mayuri continued his inspection, scrapping off bits of each item, suspending liquids in other liquids. He analyzed and tested different formulas, noting down each one.
Hours had passed, then days, and later weeks. Mayuri would only leave his lab if “the idiots” needed him for something. To which Nemu and Akon translated it as “anyone” outside the two of them that needed his attention.
But at last, his product was complete. Now he needed test subjects.
Tumblr media
Mayuri walked along the corridors of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, disregarding all the fuss and commotion they brought when they noticed him around. He paid no attention to them; they weren’t the test subjects he was looking for.
Instead he made his way to the connected, yet distinct, Squad 12 barracks. Not all his members were involved in the SRDI’s mandate, nor did he want them too, “that would be too boring.” He coldly explained the other captains, not knowing he just wanted soldiers to experiment on that weren’t working in the SRDI as well. That would make things complicated if an invention of his backfired.
You on the other hand, didn’t notice your captain immediately, as you were preoccupied bringing in large manuals of some chemicals for the institute. You dropped the heavy load when you heard Captain Kurotsuchi shriek your name.
Turning around, you bowed your head immediately to the man, “good morning, Captain!” You yelled. You didn’t want to admit it to you friends in other squads, but your own captain terrified you.
“What are your duties today?” Mayuri asked, peering at you as you remained bowed to him.
“I’m delivering these manuals to Lieutenant Akon, then picking up chemicals for Hiyosu, sir!” You answered, anxiety crawling through your body as you felt Captain Kurotsuchi stare at you intensely.
“Deliver these to Akon, then meet me in my lab, immediately. Ignore Hiyosu’s request.” “Yes, sir!” You yelled, watching him walk away, while you struggled to carry the manuals to Akon.
Tumblr media
You fidgeted in front of the heavy, locked door to the captain’s personal lab. You weren’t sure if you should knock, announce yourself, or maybe the captain had a secret camera somewhere and didn’t see you there.
But without warning, the door immediately jolted open, scaring you. But you pushed through your fear and entered the lab.
There were numerous devices thrown around, with open bottles, of what you assumed were chemicals, covering several tables and lab benches. The lab smelt bizarre, but it wasn’t necessarily off-putting, yet it wasn’t sterile like you imagined it to be.
You saw Captain Kurotsuchi type something away, scoffing and typing faster. He glanced at you and then resumed typing. You stood there, waiting for him, as he continued to type. You tried to stifle a yawn as you looked around the lab again, “Sir, how long do I have to wait? Lieutenant Akon gave me some additional duties to attend to.” You politely asked.
“And when does Akon’s orders supersede mine?” Mayuri coldly said, the atmosphere of the room getting chilly as your anxiety was going into overtime.
“It doesn’t! I just wanted to be mindful, that’s all.” You nervously explained. You noticed you were sweating and tried to calm yourself.
“Are you nervous?” Captain Kurotsuchi asked, as he moved away from his computer. He stared at you intensely, his golden eyes scanning over your body, as if he was dissecting you.
“No! I’m not.” You lied, hoping your voice came across as confident.
The captain grabbed your hand and forced your wrist open, shoving an innocuous blue pill into your palm. “Take this, it’ll help with the sweat.”
You wanted to die. Your captain noticed you profusely sweating and commented on it. You stared at the pill, your hand slightly shaking, while anxiety filled you up again. Your gut began to turn as you brought the pill to your lips. A part of you doubted the pill would do anything but calm you down.
“Well on with it!” Captain Kurotsuchi yelled, “you said you didn’t have all day!”
“Y-Yes sir!” You stuttered, shoving the pill into your mouth. You struggled to swallow it, noticing your mouth was incredibly dry, but managed to get it down.
It was then Captain Kurotsuchi pushed you on to a chair, and wrist and ankle shackles were thrust on to you. “S-sir?” You asked, eyes bulging. Your anxiety was rampant. “What is this for?”
“It’s a test.” Captain Kurotsuchi said, watching you.
A test?! Your mind screamed. “Why am I being tested?” You pleaded, shaking in your seat.
Captain Kurotsuchi rolled his eyes, “not a test for you, fool. A test for the medication.”
“But you said it would help with my nerves!” You panicked, shaking even harder in your seat.
“In theory, yes, but it hasn’t been tested until now.” You began to hyperventilate at what you were hearing. Until
 your brain felt like everything was going by slowly.
Huh? What’s going on? It was as if your anxiety melted away and you were faced with something
 pleasant? You stared at your captain but were unable to say anything.
You heard him say something, you saw his lips move, but you weren’t processing what was said.
Captain Kurotsuchi approached you and inspected your body. He poked your face, prodded your chest and flicked your wrists. He took samples of your blood and saliva, while checking your dilated eyes.
Little did he realize; his touch was doing something to you.
You sighed, happily, “sir that feels so good” as you leaned into your seat. Your body felt sensitive, but not in pain. You didn’t notice the vials of blood he had taken from you already.
The captain looked at you in curiosity, and this time undid a portion of your uniform, leaving your chest bare. Another blissful sigh escaped your lips as Captain Kurotsuchi lightly touched your chest.
“Does this feel good?” The captain asked, grabbing your face. You grinned and nodded your head.
“It feels really good.” You mumbled, drool dribbling down your lips. You felt the familiar pangs of arousal flaring across your body, causing you to squirm.
Captain Kurotsuchi stepped back and watched you writhe, taking note of all the physical symptoms you were displaying. “What else do you feel right now?” He asked, staring at you.
But you didn’t respond, eyes glazed over as your hips moved within the confines of the seat. The motion you made felt good, too good you thought, and you needed more of that.
And so you proceeded to rock your hips back and forth, the friction from the seat rubbing against your growing arousal. You moaned loudly and threw your head back and continued on, your hips moving faster as you orgasm came closer. Captain Kurotsuchi sighed, approaching you once more. He slapped your face, to which you gave another loud moan. Your pace didn’t slack
You saw the captain’s lips move and felt something bind and secure your hips. You whined at the sudden loss; you were so close! Until you felt the cold hand of your captain down your pants. Your legs were already spread apart from the ankle shackles, leaving Captain Kurotsuchi with easy access. You groaned again as you felt him touch you.
Captain Kurotsuchi’s touch was merciless though, as he aggressively touched you, feeling your arousal spread against his fingers and in your pants. You then realized you didn’t feel the hip bindings anymore, and let your hips slam up and down the seat, his hand still touching you vigorously.
You bit your lip, and wondered if you tasted blood? You couldn’t tell, but everything felt amazing, yet surreal. It was then you felt the captain push his palm against you, rubbing more vigorously than before. The intensity was too much to bear, and you cried, your orgasm ripping through.
A scream erupted in the lab and Mayuri watched you slump into the seat, unconscious.
Captain Kurotsuchi removed his hand from your pants, inspecting the remnants of your arousal covering his fingers and palm. He pulled your hair, forcing your head up to his level, but you were out cold. He slapped your face again, but no response.
He scoffed at you, rubbing his hands on your uniform as if to clean them. Not satisfied, he washed his hands in the nearby sink. He watched you in the corner of his eye to track how long it would take you to wake up. Once he was clean, he undid the shackles and left you in your seat.
He proceeded to type away today’s event in his product diary. Roughly two hours had passed, and you awoke, which he noted. Your clothes were still on your body, albeit barely, but before you could register what just happened, the captain handed you another pill and you forgot what had even happened.
“I’m sorry about that Captain Kurotsuchi. Did you need me for something?” You asked, confused as to why you were sitting in a seat, and he was staring at you intensely.
“How’s your anxiety?” He asked, his eyes focusing on you.
My anxiety? You thought, “well, I don’t feel anxious right now.”
“Anything else?”
“Um
” you hesitated, trying to think, “my body feels relaxed, like I got a massage?” You tried to explain.
“Nothing else?”
“Not really. I feel fine.” You remarked, checking your body. You remembered taking a pill, then waking up.
“The pill you gave me
” you asked, as you fidgeted in your seat, “does it make you fall asleep after?”
“Yes.” Captain Kurotsuchi lied. “Now get out. You’re done here for the day.” He turned around and went back to his computer, typing away once again.
“Yes, sir!” You squealed, bolting out of his lab. “These soldiers today are a bunch of noisy imbeciles.” Mayuri muttered under his breath, as his lab doors shut close once again.
Tumblr media
It was a rare moment to have a day off from your squad duties. Months had passed since the incident with Captain Kurotsuchi, and the memories of it fading from your mind. But you remained grateful to not have done any further direct work for him. Your friends, from other squads, had decided to visit District 53, as they heard rumours of an herbalist with unique concoctions that would heal the body, mind and soul. One of your friends admitted they were struggling with some intimacy issues and Squad 4’s treatment options weren’t working. Your friend had heard that this herbalist would have something to cure that.
You and your friends browsed through the shop, taking stock of what was there, when your friend spoke to the shopkeeper. Although they were quiet, you could hear whispers of “trouble” and “hard to orgasm.” The old lady smiled at them, “I have just the remedy for that, my dear.” You went over and saw her pack in a small bottle of familiar blue pills.
“I’ve had these before!” You exclaimed, “they work wonders. I felt amazing afterwards.”
Your friend stared at you in shock, but the shopkeeper gave you a wide grin, “is that so? I’ve been selling them for a while now.” The old lady rambled, “they’re quite popular with you Shinigami folk.” She cackled, packing the bottle into a pouch. “I’ll pass that along to the creator” she kept laughing, “I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic.”
“When did you take these?” Your friend asked, “you never mentioned it.”
You thought about it, but you couldn’t remember when exactly, but the vivid colour of the pill was seared in your memory, as well as the pleasant association you had with it. “I’m not sure, but I think I took it when I had a really bad anxiety spell. I don’t even remember where I got it from.” You said, trying to recall when and where you took it.
But nothing came up, and strangely enough, you couldn’t recall an blanks or gaps in your memory.
“Or maybe I dreamt it.” You laughed, “I can’t even describe the feeling anymore, I just remember feeling good when I took it.”
“Well if it’s good enough for you, then I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Your friend joked, paying the shopkeeper. Soon night was approaching, and you escorted your friend back to their barracks. Once you made it to the Squad 12 barracks, you made a mental note to ask Captain Kurotsuchi if he knew about the little blue pill.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Thanks for reading!! Mayuri is definitely an interesting character to write for, so I'm not completely sure I nailed it. Either way, I hope you guys enjoy it!
71 notes · View notes
mariacallous · 21 days ago
Text
"I’m going to let him go wild on health,” former president Donald Trump said of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his Madison Square Garden rally in New York City this past weekend. “I’m going to let him go wild on the food. I’m going to let him go wild on the medicines.”
Kennedy, a former Democrat, suspended his presidential campaign in August and endorsed Trump. He has since launched the Make America Healthy Again campaign, an initiative focused on tackling chronic diseases that Trump has seemingly embraced in recent weeks. Given Kennedy’s anti-vaccination stance and conspiratorial leanings, some policy experts and former government officials are concerned about how his views could shape the nation’s health agenda.
Kennedy has long made false statements about the safety of vaccines and has touted disproven treatments for Covid-19, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. On the campaign trail, he has railed against seed oils, blaming several chronic health conditions on their presence in processed foods.
How much influence Kennedy could have on national health policy will all depend on his role within a future Trump administration. Trump did not clarify his remarks at Sunday’s event, including what position he is considering Kennedy for. According to a CNN report that ran late Tuesday, Kennedy said Trump “promised him control of the public health agencies,” but in an email to WIRED on Wednesday, Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, said that formal discussions of who will serve in a second Trump administration are premature.
Trump could be considering Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which has 80,000 federal employees, or one of the agencies within it, such as the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It would be a departure from his previous top health picks, who had lengthy government or public health careers. For instance, Alex Azar, Trump’s HHS secretary, was deputy HHS secretary under George W. Bush and an executive at drugmaker Eli Lilly. Scott Gottlieb, a physician and investor appointed as FDA commissioner under Trump, had previously worked for the FDA and had served on the boards of pharma and biotech companies.
When asked to elaborate on Kennedy’s health priorities, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, the former candidate’s campaign director and daughter-in-law, told WIRED: “Bobby aims to end conflicts and corruption at the agencies, ensure all testing is undertaken by scientists who have no financial interest in the outcome, and all results of all trials are released to the public. The free market will take care of it from there.” (The National Institutes of Health already requires results of clinical trials funded by the agency to be published to a government database.)
Jerome Adams, US surgeon general under Trump and current executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University, says that even if Kennedy were tapped to lead HHS, the FDA, or the CDC, it’s unlikely that he would ascend to one of those roles due to his lack of medical training and controversial views on public health issues. “Congressional approval is required for these positions, and his stances could be a barrier,” Adams says.
If Republicans control the Senate after next week’s election, though, that calculus could change. “The GOP has generally fallen into line in terms of supporting candidates that President Trump does,” says Genevieve Kanter, associate professor of public policy at the University of Southern California.
If chosen to be FDA commissioner, Kennedy would control the agency’s budget and priorities and could have a sizable impact by installing lower-level appointees who are sympathetic to his worldview. While the FDA commissioner does not single-handedly approve or authorize new drugs, Kantner says outside political pressure can certainly influence that process. Kennedy could also appoint members to FDA advisory committees, panels of outside experts that make recommendations to the agency on drug approvals and other regulatory matters. The FDA often follows the recommendations of advisory committees when making decisions on new drug approvals, but not always.
The FDA can also choose to not enforce some rules in certain circumstances—what’s known as enforcement discretion. Given his support for dubious and unproven therapies, such as stem cells and hyperbaric oxygen, an FDA under Kennedy, for instance, could choose to not go after companies that market unapproved treatments.
“When we think of the kind of person we want to be head of HHS or be FDA commissioner, someone ‘going wild’ isn’t exactly the first trait that comes to mind,” Kanter says. “It wouldn’t ease the public’s concern that we would see more food safety incidents and adverse events from poorly regulated drugs and devices from a lax administration that is known for embracing unscientific theories.”
Kennedy wouldn’t have free rein though. Existing laws and regulations govern how the agency works, and a new FDA commissioner wouldn’t be able to get rid of those quickly. “If you’re dealing with regulatory issues that have been long-standing and have lots of precedent, it’s just not possible to turn some of those things around or dismiss them overnight,” says a past leader of the FDA, who requested anonymity so that they could speak freely.
Likewise, even in a leadership role at HHS or the CDC, Kennedy wouldn’t be able to easily affect vaccine policy. Vaccine recommendations are made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which comprises outside medical and public health experts. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says Kennedy could try to stack that advisory committee with people who are sympathetic to his views on vaccination, but those members are chosen through a rigorous nomination process.
“He could certainly change policy that way, but it takes a while and it won't be a secret. There are ways in which the public can push back, including taking a case to court,” he says.
Kennendy could have influence in other ways beyond direct control of a public health agency. Trump could potentially bring Kennedy on as a White House adviser, which wouldn’t require approval by the Senate.
“Without congressional vetting and oversight, there is potential for unchecked impact. RFK's views could shape health policies, raising concerns about misinformation and harm,” Adams says.
Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, told WIRED in an email that if reelected, Trump will establish a “special Presidential Commission of independent minds and will charge them with investigating what is causing the decades-long increase in chronic illnesses.” She did not say whether Kennedy would be chosen for that task force.
Kennedy has also been sizing himself up for another position in a potential Trump cabinet: agriculture secretary. A longtime environmental activist, Kennedy has promised to take on big farms and feedlots, reduce pesticides, and fix what he presents as a food system captured by corporate interests. “When Donald Trump gets me inside,” Kennedy said in a video shot outside the Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington, DC, “it won’t be that way any more.”
This platform is a continuation of Kennedy’s long history as an antagonist against the agriculture industry. In 2018, Kennedy and a team of attorneys won an initial $289 million settlement against Monsanto, representing a groundskeeper who developed cancer after being soaked with a herbicide made by the agrochemical firm. He also attempted to sue the pig farming company Smithfield because of its production of hog manure, although that case was thrown out by a federal judge.
Kennedy’s past makes him an unlikely candidate for agriculture secretary, according to Daniel Glickman, who served in the role during Bill Clinton’s presidency. “It’s hard for me to imagine, given Trump’s traditional base in the heartlands, that he would pick somebody who was an advocate for breaking up large farms and breaking consolidated agriculture,” says Glickman.
Like top posts at HHS, the USDA secretary position would need to be confirmed by a Senate vote. “I don’t think [Kennedy] is a slam dunk,” says Glickman.
Trump’s pick for USDA chief during his first term was Sonny Perdue, a former governor of Georgia and founder of an agricultural trading company. Most agriculture secretaries either have a background in the industry or politics—two crucial constituencies for the person who will be in charge of a department that employs nearly 100,000 and is made up of 29 agencies, including forestry, conservation, and nutrition programs. “The difference between Sonny Perdue and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is like night and day,” says Glickman.
If Kennedy were to be confirmed as agriculture secretary, he might struggle to enact the most radical parts of his program. He is an outspoken critic of pesticides, but the USDA is generally not in charge of regulating those, says Dan Blaustein-Rejto, director of agriculture policy and research at the Breakthrough Institute. Rather, the EPA regulates pesticides with public health uses.
Although he may not be able to directly influence pesticide regulations, Kennedy has said he would try to “weaponize” other agencies against “chemical agriculture” by commissioning scientific research into the effects of pesticides. The USDA Agricultural Research Service has a nearly $2 billion discretionary budget for research into crops, livestocks, nutrition, food safety, and natural resources conservation.
There are other levers that an agriculture secretary could pull, says Blaustein-Rejto. The USDA is investing $3 billion through the partnership for climate-smart commodities—a scheme that’s supposed to make US agriculture more climate-friendly. A USDA chief might be able to put their thumb on their scale by influencing the selection criteria for these kinds of programs. The USDA also oversees the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), which has a $5 billion fund that it uses to support farm incomes and conservation programs, and to assist farmers hit by natural disasters. It’s possible that a USDA chief could influence how these CCC funds are distributed by the agency.
Kennedy has also argued that corporate interests have captured the US’s dietary guidelines, and he pledged to remove conflicts of interest from USDA groups that come up with dietary guidelines. US dietary guidelines are developed jointly by the USDA and HHS and are updated every five years, giving the agriculture secretary limited opportunities to influence any recommendations.
“If RFK is in a high-level policy role, I expect to see a lot more talk about ultra-processed foods, but I’m not sure what that would actually entail when it comes to the dietary guidelines,” says Blaustein-Rejto.
The experts WIRED spoke with largely think Kennedy’s more extreme positions will likely be constrained by bureaucracy. But the message that elevating a vocal vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist would send remains a serious concern ahead of a potential second Trump administration.
28 notes · View notes
yoonmetogether · 2 months ago
Text
Not In the Cards Prologue
Tumblr media
pairing: dirty cop!hoseok x mob boss!seokjin (rest of the story will feature bodyguard!yoongi x CEO!fem reader)
genre: mafia
summary: a tragic love affair sets the stage and unfolds the story yet to come.
warnings: angst!!!!!, hurt/comfort, smut (not explicit), family drama, troubled childhoods, parental loss, trauma, su!c!dal thoughts, mentions of violence and murder (blood/guns), panic attacks, drug addiction/rehab, everyone is going through it, alcohol, weed smoking, age gap, borderline stockholm syndrome (whoops!)
this is a loaded chapter, so i apologize ahead of time if it comes out like an info dump lol
also reminder, Angel is reader's pseudonym
minors pls dni, nsfw
wc: 6.7k 😀
teaser l prologue l part i. I interlude: strangers l part ii. I
Tumblr media
“Hey, agent Jung, are you busy?”
Hoseok peers up from his laptop to the rookie poking his head into his office.
“What’s up?” Taking it as permission to enter, the rookie looks behind him at the hallway before stepping in and shutting the door, fidgeting nervously with a manila folder in his hand.
“Um, I have something,” he murmurs quietly, and Hoseok’s fingers freeze above the keyboard. Glancing back up, the rookie stares at the ground as he stays in place in front of the door. Hoseok sighs and sits back in his chair, stretching his hands cramped from hours of typing up reports. This can’t be good.
"Don’t just stand there, bring it over."
“Right,” the rookie squeaks, rapidly shuffling forward and holding out the folder with a slight bow. Hoseok winces at the intimidation the rookie clearly feels from him and he lowkey hates how he’s grown a reputation of being a hard ass.
Nevertheless, he accepts the folder and silently prays it isn’t what he thinks it is but once he opens it and sees the face of the man already tattooed in his mind, he has to hold back a series of curses. His jaw ticks as he leans forward to flip over the many sheets of paper holding information to the case of the alleged son of the Crow don, filled with leads and scrappy evidence gathered over years of investigations that he once was a part of as a rookie himself.
“What are you showing me?” He grumbles, thinking he would be looking at some new report of a half-assed lead but there's nothing in here that he hasn't already seen and spent sleepless nights practically memorizing.
The rookie clears his throat and points to the second half of the folder, quickly glancing over his shoulder as if someone had suddenly appeared behind him.
“I found a copy of the warrant the CID is drafting up.”
Hoseok is glad for the countless hours he's spent training himself to pass polygraph tests, otherwise his heart would be racing out of his chest and there would be nothing but panic written all over his face. Criminal Investigative Division, the office he climbed himself out of to serve in the CIA instead, getting away from domestic law enforcement to try and keep a low profile.
The rookie, a seriously intelligent and experienced cyber tech, uses his employment to hack into the intelligence agency databases in order to keep Hoseok informed about the CID's investigation into the Crown organization that holds the northern cities by the throats, poisoning the streets with internationally traded drugs, military-grade weapons, and counterfeit goods, all for lower-hierarchy syndicates to play with in the black market and make a buck for themselves. The CID has been going after the don, Kim Dongsoo, for years, trying to take him down for hundreds of pages of blue and white-collar crimes, but thanks to generational power and sickeningly innumerous wealth, the pockets of politicians, cops, judges, and lawmakers have been lined by the don and it's hard to pin him down with any kind of conviction, since most of the evidence would have to be illegally obtained and therefore inadmissible in court. And now that the mob boss suddenly passed away, the CID turned their attention to his successor, Kim Seokjin, the face staring up at him from the manila.
Hoseok suddenly stands up, gripping the folder in a way that crinkles the papers. He leans forward and doesn't miss the way the rookie gulps.
"Are you stupid? Bringing this here to my office when anyone could snatch this right out of your hand to have a look? Do you want to screw me over?" The rookie looks like he's shaking in his boots in response to Hoseok's menacing tone and piercing glare. Hoseok misses the time when he used to be the fun, goofy agent around the office.
(He blames it on the man who trained the sunny disposition out of him ever since he'd been forced to go down this dirty rotten path. D, the one who has a scar over his eye and shoots looks that could kill, who Hoseok had to learn to not be scared of. Now, they’re practically best buds; if there can even be such a friendship in this line of work. Sometimes the only fun Hoseok has is holding over D’s head the fact that he could arrest him at any point and lock him up for life. In return, D reminds him how he could snipe him between the eyes and in the balls from two blocks away. But Hoseok knows the man is capable of far worse things - like round-housing him until he folds up like a pretzel, neatly slitting his throat to bury him in scattered locations without a trace of DNA, and even running him off the road going 193 kph, leaving without a scratch on his car or a burn on his tires. Not that he could actually do anything since Hoseok has been fucking the man they both call boss who fills their bank accounts. But he'll never find out that Hoseok gets a few more zeroes tacked on every month thanks to that same man. Well, play one game of poker and D could drain him of every last penny in the blink of an eye. Hoseok is shit at poker.)
"Sir, everyone's gone for the day," the rookie stutters and Hoseok whips his attention out of his daze to the window, finding it is indeed very dark outside, and then takes notice of the time on his laptop, indicating how fast the day had gotten away from him. He sharply exhales and drops the folder on the desk, sitting down with a plop to rub his hands over his face as exhaustion settles heavily in his bones.
"Next time, find me outside the building, or I'll have your job. Understand?"
The rookie rapidly nods, significantly paler, and Hoseok dismisses him with a wave of his hand and not a single word. Not even bothering to tell him that his offshore bank account will receive an exuberant reimbursement for his work because the rookie already knows that, and it's the only reason that he comes back to deal with Hoseok’s moody ass. He waits until his mole shuffles out and the door clicks shut to collapse in his chair, mind starting to race as he thinks of his next move.
One thing is for certain. This is his excuse to see Kim Seokjin.
Shutting off his laptop and gathering all his files into his briefcase because he's not one to stop working when the day is done, he quickly mulls over the contents of the warrant, looking for any reason the judge would have not to sign it, and drops it in the shredder with a vengeance when he finds none. He shreds the rest of the file and carries out the scraps to burn in the fireplace back home.
Once he pulls into his garage, he routinely checks his surroundings as he presses the button to lower the door, and when he's safely locked alone inside, he finds the panel he installed under the steering wheel to fish around for the early-2010s android burner that has only one contact, listed under 'astronaut.'
cabin this weekend? sent 21:22
Hours later when he's in bed, attempting to sleep before 4am, he puts the battery back in the phone and checks that he received a message just thirty minutes ago. For the first time all day, maybe even all week, he feels lighter.
see u <3 received 3:36
He takes out the battery once more and puts the phone under his pillow. He lays his head down and tries to sleep but his anxious, racing mind has him slipping out of bed and packing for the overnight road trip, suitcase full of cozy sweaters and joggers. He won't be leaving until well into the evening, but he wants to be ready. He's looking forward to the 2-hour drive, but not the earful he'll be getting from his mother about canceling family plans at the last minute with vague lies about working overtime on a case. That's something he's had to get used to doing, lying to his family and friends. But he's worked through that, knowing there's no way they'll ever be able to understand all the risks he's been taking all these years. Back then, when he was a different, more honest person, he wouldn't have understood either. Now, with the access he has to multiple bank accounts which hold numbers that could support him and his family for at least nine generations to come, he tells himself it's not all for nothing. Even though he's not doing it entirely for the money. No, that's just a bonus. It's for the man he's going to drive up a mountain to see. A man who appears in the forefront of his mind any time he gets a second to close his eyes. A man he'd die for, who he hopes would do the same for him.
That's what this is all for.
Tumblr media
Around eight that night, at a stoplight, Hoseok whips out his burner and types up a quick message to 'astronaut' that he's almost there. He smiles when he receives a grainy, irrelevant cat meme in response and drops the phone in the console as soon as the light turns green.
Driving up the steep hills, he soaks in the sight of blankets of snow that line the sides of the road and the trees. He knows this could be the last time he'll take this route that makes him look forward to the cozy fireplace waiting for him at the cabin, started by the man who makes his heart just as warm. A string tightens there when he worries it won't be long until he'll be forced to douse it.
The road is long and dark so his mind starts to wander, thinking back to how he ended up here.
He had just turned 25 when he was assigned to infiltrate the mob, acting as a hijacker of trucks and ships coming in and out of the harbor. He was sure it was a hazing thing, getting the ambitious rookie into a semi-dangerous situation to see if he had what it takes. He found out a bit too late that he should've been smarter. He slipped up and his one mistake landed him in a windowless van with zip ties around his wrists and a sack over his head that only came off once he was thrown onto a cold, concrete floor. After he adjusted his vision to the harsh bright lights, his breath was completely stolen from him when he realized he was kneeling before a man whose face belonged in a museum. He barely registered he was in a dungeon of sorts, or the suited guards packed with illegal weapons surrounding him, too busy taking in the sight of the glory that was Kim Seokjin. Behind him was a younger, doe-eyed boy who was practically the spitting image of the taller, more muscular man, and Hoseok assumed this to be his brother, what with the way he stared at him as if learning every move he made so he could one day be like him. And that was confirmed when Seokjin let him throw the first few punishing punches and kicks to let Hoseok know just what he'd gotten himself into.
He held it together when he was interrogated and forced to beg for his life, seeing as he'd been made as the pig cop he was, and just as he thought he'd never see the light of day again, he and everyone around him were surprised that Jin did not decide to spill his blood right there on the stained floor, but gave him the option to die or become an informant, a mole, a dirty cop for his benefit instead. And of course he chose the option to live, even if it meant he would spend the rest of his breathing days in paranoia, anxiety, and fear. At least he'd be making more money than he could ever imagine.
Since he had been found out, he came up with a different story to tell his boss that didn't include being caught by the mob's successor, which ended with him being taken off of the case and sent into witness protection until further notice. And that landed him on another continent in a secluded location, where no one, not even his mother, knew he was there. So imagine his surprise when three authoritative knocks pounded on his door one day and there stood none other than Kim Seokjin. But he shouldn't have been surprised. Not when he knew that the don's son had the resources to find him. Hell, Hoseok probably had colleagues who were puppeteered by him and Jin was there to add him to more lines of strings.
And to do this, Jin set him up with Namjoon, an esteemed lawyer who doubled as a computer science engineer, producing the Crow’s digital landscape to increase their market using cryptocurrencies. Namjoon trained and tutored Jungkook, Jin's younger brother who once broke Hoseok's nose, since Jin complained he was too old for all that technology, but really it was a reason to keep Jungkook off the streets for the time being. He worked with Namjoon to keep out traces of evidence in the CIA system that could lead back to Jin and the don, using his police access to wipe cameras, intimidate witnesses, and bribe judges and criminal lawyers. After a year, Jin introduced him to the man who called himself D, and they worked together to scope out other moles in the syndicate, the ones who worked against them, whether they were soldiers or associates, allies or rivals, and paid close attention to the guards employed to Jin's security team, and eventually his little brother's. He became the bad guy and even though the guilt and regret has taken years off his life, he doesn't care. Because he's doing all of this to protect Jin.
Hoseok learned that Jin was eight years his senior, but that didn't stop him from pining after him. He likes to think that it wasn’t some kind of Stockholm syndrome because Jin technically gave him an option to work for him or not (fucked up as it was) and employed him with a salary he'd never be able to spend in one lifetime. He could've killed him, but didn't. Instead, he arranged private, secret meetings that not even his personal guard knew about, under the guise for Hoseok to provide updates but more often than not, they would end up drinking and smoking and sharing stories and parts of themselves with each other. Jin does have a charm and a sense of humor, to the point that sometimes Hoseok forgets the man is who he is, responsible for the majority of the crime and corruption in the city and surrounding districts. Maybe it was all an act, a ploy, to get Hoseok trapped. And if it was, it fucking worked. Overtime, he fell. And fell hard.
Hoseok knew how dangerous Jin was but it didn't stop him from kissing him one night when it was late and they were silly and delirious from being sleep-deprived, because the spark had been there all along. Hoseok believes that's what had saved him in the first place. Jin took him to bed and fucked him until he saw stars.
Afterwards Jin dragged him onto the balcony where they smoked a joint together and for hours Jin pointed out constellations and planets littering the sky that they could see clearly from the cabin he's driving to now. Hoseok remembers every star Jin named, every fact about every planet and galaxy Jin gushed about, every dream Jin had of being an astronaut ever since he was a kid. He thought that because of how good he was at being lonely, he would do so well up in space. Hoseok wondered if Jin felt lonely when they were together, because he certainly didn't. Hoseok kissed him anytime he felt Jin needed a reminder - that he was there and wouldn't go anywhere unless Jin wanted him to. Down the road, Jin would tell him how his smile reminded him of the sun and make Hoseok's heart burst, because maybe there was still some good left in him after all, if someone like Jin could see it. And that was the beginning of the end.
He pulls into the snowy driveway of the cabin almost at the top of the mountain, edges of the roof lined in soft-yellow lights, smoke billowing out of the two chimneys, all signs of life hidden by thick forests of tall evergreen trees, and notices a silhouette in the window holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate, soon disappearing with a flutter of the sheer curtain once he puts the car in park. The door swings open and he chuckles when he hears his nickname "Sunny!" shouted through the windshield as he collects his things and a bag of takeout before stepping out of the car.
Strong, warm arms wait for him on the porch stairs and he wraps his free arm around the waist of the man who in another universe could be the love of his life. The embrace lasts for a little more than thirty seconds before he's tugged inside of the gloriously toasty cabin and isn't given the chance to release his lungs of cold air as his breath is stolen by a heated kiss. Jin shoves him against the door and his scarf is hastily tugged off, coat unzipped, and takeout carelessly dropped on the floor.
"Happy holidays, Sunny," Jin whispers in a warm breath of chocolate.
"You too, Jinnie," Hoseok whispers back, shrugging off his coat and tearing off his hat just as plush lips press again on his mouth.
He lets himself be manhandled towards creaky wooden stairs, mouths and hands never detaching from their touch-starved bodies. They pass the kitchen and Hoseok breathes in the festive smells wafting from the oven.
"You've been baking?"
"You know it," Jin mumbles, working the shirt out of Hoseok's jeans. "You don't mind waiting until later to eat, right?" Hoseok shakes his head and kisses him with a hum before Jin takes his hand and leads him upstairs, laughing when Jin clumsily trips over the steps and accidentally slams Hoseok into the railing.
It's snowing outside the floor-to-ceiling glass windows but neither of them pay attention as Hoseok, again, lets himself be tossed back onto the ridiculously soft bed and mounted by the most beautiful man he's ever seen. He lets Jin fuck him into submission, to the point that it hurts, giving him full control of his body like he belongs to him. Because he does. As the mattress rocks, headboard thumping against the wall, he stares up at Jin through his swinging bangs, noticing the background shadow of falling snow cast on the ceiling above his head, but he can only focus on the fire and fury that blacken Jin's eyes when they're together like this and Hoseok understands why he gets this way sometimes, especially when it's been so long.
But he quickly takes the reins before Jin can get carried away, flipping him onto his stomach to take him from behind, forcing Jin to let go of his resolve, of his need to be in control because Hoseok knows how exhausting it is to be in charge all of the time. Especially of a bunch of goddamn criminals. His hand that presses on the back of Jin's neck doesn't just do the job of keeping his face planted in the bedding, but covers the flying crow carrying a skull branded just below his hairline (with four rings circled around its neck, marking Jin as the fourth blood successor) because sometimes it makes him nauseous to see it, to be reminded of who they really are, outside of this safe haven. As soon as they step foot back home, they'll have to pretend like they don't even know each other, where Hoseok will go back to being a national security agent and Jin to the most powerful criminal in the city, maybe even the country. A criminal from the very empire Hoseok was tasked as a rookie to infiltrate and build a case against, but eventually turned out to become a dirty cop, working to keep the prettiest and darkest eyes he's ever looked into out of prison because he's stupid and fell in love.
Even though both of them have never admitted it to each other, after all this time, it's there.
It's there in the way that neither of them have touched anyone else ever since they first started this, despite the months that have passed between times spent in secret. In the way they think about each other every day, when Jin sends him corny dad jokes and outdated memes that brighten Hoseok's week whenever he gets the chance to check his second phone. And in the way Hoseok drives all the way up a fucking mountain on a weekend he should be with his family, hours away from home, where Jin bakes and has hot chocolate waiting for him on the counter that has since turned cold and forgotten. And they’ll be in bed for hours, so the cookies and takeout will have gone to waste too. Oh, well. Hoseok would take Jin being under him, on him, inside him over baked goods and Jin's favorite noodles any day.
After the room has become blissfully hot and steamy with passion, the two men slip into a deep sleep that they both desperately need, arms wrapped tightly around each other as if neither of them have any plans to let go. However many hours later, Hoseok stirs to his favorite pair of biceps pulling him into his favorite broad chest, lips pressing against his temple. And as they lay there in silence, Hoseok begins to feel the air change with something that settles anxiety in his gut and even somehow lowers the temperature in the room. He pushes himself further against Jin in hopes to preserve that warmth that only exists between the two of them.
Jin turns on his back and pulls Hoseok onto his chest, turning his head to stare out of the window at the cascading snow blinding the horizon and Hoseok listens to the heartbeat thundering beneath his head.
"Y'know," Jin's gentle voice disturbs the solitude and Hoseok tries to blink himself awake. "It’s just a theory, but in the right kind of spacecraft, an astronaut could get almost as close as four million miles to the sun." "Really?" Hoseok asks, eyes drooping with a brain too tired to wonder why Jin chose now to bring up one of his space-obsessed facts. They haven't looked at the sky yet, not that there would be anything to see except the snow falling. And the sun set hours ago.
"Mm. Any closer and the astronaut would get burned." His eye peeks open at that simplistic conclusion and he huffs a worn out laugh, nuzzling into Jin's chest.
"I think they'd get a little more than burned, hyung." It's quiet for a moment. "Exactly." And Jin sits up suddenly, making Hoseok realize that wasn't just a theory. It was one disguised as a metaphor.
He panics and sits up as the elder whisks himself out of bed and heads to the bathroom, dragging a hand down his face when the shower turns on not seconds after the door shuts with a bit more force than necessary. Usually Hoseok would be traipsing off to follow him, but when he hears a heavy thud reverberate through the walls, an echo of Jin's rugged fist slamming into the tile, Hoseok swallows down the anxiety-ridden nausea in his gut and goes downstairs to shower in the second bathroom instead.
Upon returning to the bedroom to change, duffle bag in hand, he finds Jin switching out the soiled sheets and comforter. He goes to help, but he's waved off, and with an ache growing under his ribs, he quietly dresses and does his best not to become overwhelmed from this ominous tension forming between them. When the bed is made, Jin disappears downstairs and a small hill of hope arises when the cabin is suddenly blasted with holiday tunes and the smells of a new savory recipe. This time, Jin does let him help, passes behind him with hands on his waist while Hoseok chops and seasons, hips bumping occasionally as Jin maneuvers around the kitchen to cook up the best meal Hoseok will have had in months. Hoseok knows he's turned up the music extra loud so neither of them will talk. And he pretends he's fine with that.
After dinner, when they clear the table and wash the dishes in quiet tandem, and Jin turns down the music so Hoseok can hear his thoughts again, the older man heads to the window seat across from the kitchen, just under the stairs. He cracks open the window and Hoseok starts to scold him for letting in the cold air from the fucking snow storm outside, but then Jin pulls out a familiar roll of paper and a lighter and Hoseok shuts his mouth. He finishes drying up a dish, puts it away, and goes over to him, mid-step when Jin finally speaks.
"Say what you came here to tell me, Seok," Jin says flatly and Hoseok sighs as he plants himself behind him, hand sitting on Jin's lap while he tries to ignore the frigid air. He presses his frown to Jin's shoulder covered in the softest cashmere.
"You say that like it's the only reason I came here."
"But it's the main reason, right?" Hoseok leans away, frown deepening, and crosses his arms as his back settles against the oak wood wall. He stares at the snow softly falling over the hills, making the night grey instead of pitch black, wishing they could just be enjoying the view and not having this dreaded conversation.
"We only ever meet here when you have news about my case." Hoseok shoots a glare to the back of Jin's head and nudges his foot into his hip. "That's not true." He waits impatiently as the older man finishes up his joint with shoulders that grow more tense as the seconds pass by in silence.
"It's cold, can you hurry up?" Hoseok urges in a terse voice, watching as Jin nods once before taking a final drag and dropping the unfinished joint out of the window, letting the snow put it out. He stopped offering Hoseok weed ever since the office started doing random drug tests. Jin pulls in the frame, sealing out the cold, and settles back against Hoseok's chest, saying nothing when the younger man hesitates to uncross his arms and wrap them around his shoulders.
"They're getting ready to ask a judge to sign the warrant," he inevitably admits, eyes shutting as a tight feeling squeezes his chest when he feels Jin's entire body tense up.
"They're really gonna arrest somebody around the holidays? Who does that?"
Hoseok lets out a small snort, heart rate relaxing as he's reminded that one of the reasons he loves Jin so much is because of his ability to make light of a situation, no matter how serious.
"Tell me I'll at least get until after New Years."
"Maybe towards the end of January."
Jin huffs dramatically, enticing Hoseok to kiss the side of his head.
"I guess that means I won't have to get you a gift for your birthday." Hoseok tries to smile, but it’s tugged down with sadness.
“You know you never have to get me anything." Jin places a hand on his knee, a kiss on his elbow.
“Yeah, I do, Sunny. It gives me an excuse to see you." Hoseok's heart sinks and he tangles their legs together.
"And after tonight, who knows if we'll..." Jin's voice tapers off and Hoseok fights the urge to give into tears. He can't be weak. Not for something he's known he can't have.
“What are my charges? Since apparently they’re sticking this time.”
“Drug and weapons trafficking. They can’t get you for racketeering yet because the evidence is mostly linked to your father. But they’re working on it.”
Jin stares at his cuticles for a few moments again, nothing but the sound of firewood crackling and snapping on the other side of the room, before he sits up abruptly again, knocking his head into Hoseok's chin.
"Fuck, what am I gonna do?!" Jin blurts, raking hands through his hair and tugging at the roots. Hoseok stays silent because he doesn't know what to tell him.
"Jungkook, he- he's not ready. He just got out of rehab for fucks' sake!"
A frown wrinkles Hoseok's chin.
"And Angel-" Jin continues, gulping down a breath. "She's barely spoken to me since she got engaged to that prick and I know that's the worst thing I've made her do but it wasn't my idea! It was his!"
Hoseok leans forward as he can sense the panic entering Jin's voice, paired with the shaking of his broad shoulders as he loses control of his breathing.
"This was his plan, he was never going to let them get away from all this. He knew the law was gonna come after him, he got too fucking loaded and it made him sloppy and now-" Jin sniffs and wipes his mouth with his sleeve. Hoseok hangs his head like he's not supposed to know Jin is crying.
"Now I'm taking the fucking fall. And I could give a shit about what happens to me, but Jungkook and Angel?!" Jin twists around and Hoseok is taken aback by the wild, frantic look on his face, eyes tinged pink with raw tears.
"They can't do this, they're not supposed to do this! I was never supposed to let Jungkook take my place, much less get Angel involved!" Tears are streaming down Jin's face as he reaches for Hoseok's sweater, curls his fists in the fabric to pull him forward like he's the only thing he can hang onto.
"And now they both are and it's-" Jin sobs. "It's all my fucking fault!"
There's a pain in Hoseok's chest as Jin collapses and smothers his face against it. And Hoseok lets him cry for however long he needs to, because here, in this space, is the only place safe for Jin to release the hardness that has been driven into his soul by his father since he was a little boy. In his tears, he grieves the childhood he lost when his mother died and left him with a father who forced the youth out of him, forbade him from being anything but stoic, taught him that showing emotions meant he was weak and lacked control.
Yet somehow, Jin had been able to keep a part of himself, however small, that lets him enjoy and appreciate the little things in life, to crack stupid jokes, to have a smile on his face in the right company even if it's a mask.
And Hoseok knows it's because of Jin's siblings. He thinks that without them, Jin wouldn't allow himself to be charming, or silly, or make stupid jokes. He thinks that despite how he was raised, he taught himself to be for his siblings the man he wanted in his father. Especially since he ended up raising them himself from ages four and two when their mother left and he vowed to never let their father do to them what he endured all the way up to a few months ago, to the day he buried an empty casket beneath a headstone engraved with his last name. He was glad that his siblings were made to take on their mother's maiden name, even though his brother had been born as a fallback plan to carry on the Kim legacy if something ever happened, and his sister never existed to their father, both kept in hiding only until they were needed for the family business.
Despite what he was taught, Jin loved them. From the moment he found out about them, he made sure to raise them as if their existence wasn't surrounded by death and greed and crime and sometimes pure evil. Even though all of them grew up without a mother, he wasn't going to let either of them feel abandoned or like no one loved them. Because he was determined to maintain their childhood that had been stolen from him. He was the one who took them away to a park whenever their father yelled at and threatened their mother, just before she left. As a fourteen-year old, he would pack them in the car and drive them far enough away from home, because with the way he was aging, he passed for at least seventeen. When he got back one day, their mother told him to take care of them and after that, he never saw her again. But he kept his promise.
He made them lunches, took Jungkook to school, stayed home with Angel until she was old enough to go to daycare, all while pretending to be the babysitter when he dropped them off so they wouldn’t be mistaken for family. Having different last names helped him feel like he wasn’t completely lying. As soon as he picked them up and brought them home, he always had dinner ready, helped them with crafty projects and homework while he did his own, got them ready for bed, read stories and sang lullabies, and stayed up way too late worrying about how much longer his father would let him do this.
He knew he couldn't always be the best brother, but he'd be damned not to try.
When he finished high school and his father took every spare moment of his free time away to instead spend grinding away the rest of his innocence in preparation to take over for him one day, he made sure his brother and sister were left with the best nannies. And as they grew older, he sent them away to the best boarding schools in order to keep them away from the family business for as long as possible.
In disguise, he went to Jungkook’s baseball games and math tournaments, and Angel’s piano recitals and debates whenever he could, and if he was unable, he sent one of his guards instead to film them undercover.
Sometimes when he hated everything, hated himself, wished he’d never been born, he spent one too many nights driving back and forth across the Han river bridge, wondering if his father would call him a coward for not having the balls to throw himself over. Because every time he stood on the railing and leaned over imagining what it’d be like to drown in water that pretty, he thought of the only two people he ever truly loved. The ones he hid a picture of in his wallet, because he couldn’t take any on his phone, or even leave some around his house that’s way too big and hollow for just one person, as it would put a risk of revealing both of them to his world too soon.
So each and every time, he got down from the railing, went back to his car, and pulled out his third phone to put them on a three way call, doing his best to keep the fact that he almost permanently abandoned them hidden from his voice. He didn’t care if they playfully complained that he interrupted something in their busy, accomplished lives overseas, because he needed to talk to them so they could save him. Time and time again.
But now they have to be saved, and Jin doesn't know if he can. Because he fears that once he’s arrested, they’ll both be put in the worst possible danger and he won’t be around to protect them. He’ll be breaking his promise to their mother. And out of all the sins he's committed, that would be the one thing he could never ask forgiveness for.
So in the midst of his tears and panic, he comes up with a plan to make sure nothing will happen to them in his absence. If anything does, he'd have no problem sending himself straight to the bottom of the river.
They move to the living room for more comfortable seating while Jin goes through his process of formulating plans. Hoseok listens intently, taking mental notes and sharing ideas of how to ensure the safety of Jin's siblings. It involves him, Namjoon, and D, a plethora of guards and weapons, that would all, without fail, protect Jungkook and Angel at all costs. Making plans helps Jin calm down and he eventually returns to his place against Hoseok's chest, hiccupping every now and then from crying so much.
"Promise me you'll look out for them, Sunny," Jin pleads in a quiet, nasally tone, needing reassurance for the tenth time.
"I will. We all will. Me, Joon, D..." he promises.
And then, in a deep breath and a whisper, "We love you."
There's a pause just before Jin slowly turns around with a look in his eye filled with so much emotion that Hoseok has never seen before (and will never see again). There's a glint and a sparkle there as he glances at Hoseok's mouth, something that tells him he wants to say those kind of words back but can't. Instead, he makes a joke, true to his character.
"I've had fantasies about you arresting me,” Jin says, kissing Hoseok on the corner of his mouth as he huffs a laugh. “I don’t think I’d mind going to jail if you were the one taking me there.”
Hoseok cackles as Jin wiggles his eyebrows. "You’re a sick freak, hyung."
With an agreeing grin, Jin kisses him and fucks him right there on the couch, then makes love to him on the floor in front of the fireplace on the faux fur rug, under the warmest, softest blanket. They mark their territory on each other's skin with bruises and bites that will last for weeks. When they're both sweaty and breathless, Jin falls asleep on top of him and Hoseok tries to memorize every inch of his body, like he hasn't already done so countless times before, because he just wants to make sure he never forgets what love feels like. He succumbs to exhaustion with tears pricking the corners of his eyes that he won't let fall.
Tumblr media
When he wakes, Jin is gone. Hoseok sits up in the eerily silent, practically empty cabin. The fire is now reduced to embers and it's significantly colder in the cabin. Hoseok hates the hollow feeling he gets as he moves around collecting his things, heavy blanket wrapped around him as he looks for any trace of Jin but finds nothing. The baking ware is gone as well. But there's a carefully wrapped meal left for him in the fridge that he won't be able to stomach until later that day.
There’s a big plate of decorated cookies on the counter and his heart stops and sags when next to it he finds an old phone turned off, covered in Jin's fingerprints, an astronaut sticker plastered and worn on the back.
Taped to it is a note that reads:
If you ever need to save yourself, it’s all right here.
And Hoseok melts on the floor in a puddle of tears at the notion that Jin is willing to sacrifice himself, his freedom, his life all for him if it's one day necessary. This is something he never would have imagined, especially not since years ago when Jin once threatened him and his family for his loyalty and devotion with a gun held to his head. Now, Hoseok thinks he would leave all that behind to stay with Jin. It's stupid and irresponsible, he knows, but Hoseok hasn't found anything in anyone like what he has in Jin. And he doesn't think he ever will. But none of that matters now. Because Jin will be gone and there is nothing Hoseok can do, except pick himself up and leave like none of that meant anything.
He's gotten really good at lying.
.
.
.
part 1. coming soon!!! (for real this time)
masterlist
thanks for reading! this is the last of 2seok we'll see in this series :( they'll be mentioned throughout, but there just won't be anymore interactions. maybe at the very end who knows. i also could be lying and suddenly change my mind lol. hope you enjoyed! let me know if i missed any warnings.
xxx- claret
notes: i hope this all makes sense, like with the legal shit lol, i'm kind of making stuff up as i go bc it's imperative to the plot that both Jin and his father are no longer in charge so bear with me. That and i love the idea of hoseok being a dirty cop and having some forbidden love with mob boss jin.
taglist: @polarnightmyg @rinkud
26 notes · View notes
jangillman · 3 months ago
Text
President Trump's Achievements
Hey!! What has Donald Trump done while he was in office (as at July, 2017)!!!
1.Supreme Court Judge Gorsuch
2.59 missiles dropped in Syria.
3.He took us out of TPP
4.Illegal immigration is now down 70%( the lowest in 17 years)
5.Consumer confidence highest since 2000 at index125.6
6.Mortgage applications for new homes rise to a 7 year high.
7.Arranged 20% Tariff on soft lumber from Canada.
8.Bids for border wall are well underway.
9.Pulled out of the lopsided Paris accord.
10.Keystone pipeline approved.
11.NATO allies boost spending by 4.3%
12.Allowing VA to terminate bad employees.
13.Allowing private healthcare choices for veterans.
14.More than 600,000. Jobs created
15. Median household income at a 7 year high.
16. The Stock Market is at the highest ever In its history.
17. China agreed to American import of beef.
18. $89 Billion saved in regulation rollbacks.
19. Rollback of A Regulation to boost coal mining.
20. MOAB for ISIS
21. Travel ban reinstated.
22. Executive order for religious freedom.
23. Jump started NASA
24. $600 million cut from UN peacekeeping budget.
25. Targeting of MS13 gangs
26. Deporting violent illegal immigrants.
27. Signed 41 bills to date
28. Created a commission on child trafficking
29. Created a commission on voter fraud
30. Created a commission for opioids addiction.
31. Giving power to states to drug test unemployment recipients.
32. Unemployment lowest since may 2007.
33. Historic Black College University initiative
34. Women In Entrepreneurship Act
35. Created an office or illegal immigrant crime victims.
36. Reversed Dodd-Frank
37. Repealed DOT ruling which would have taken power away from local governments for infrastructure planning
38. Order to stop crime against law enforcement.
39. End of DAPA program.
40. Stopped companies from moving out of America.
41. Promoted businesses to create American Jobs.
42. Encouraged country to once again
43. 'Buy American and hire American
44. Cutting regulations 2 for every one created.
45. Review of all trade agreements to make sure they are America first.
46. Apprentice program
47. Highest manufacturing surge in 3 years.
48 $78 Billion promised reinvestment from major businesses like Exxon, Bayer, Apple, SoftBank, Toyota...
49. Denied FBI a new building.
50. $700 million saved with F-35 renegotiation.
51. Saves $22 million by reducing white house payroll.
52. Dept of treasury reports a $182 billion surplus for April 2017
(2nd largest in history.
53. Negotiated the release of 6 US humanitarian workers held captive in egypt.
54. Gas prices lowest in more than 12 years.
55. Signed An Executive Order To Promote Energy Independence And Economic Growth
56. Has already accomplished more to stop government interference into people's lives than any President in the history of America.
57. President Trump has worked with Congress to pass more legislation in his first 100 days than any President since Truman.
58. Has given head executive of each branches 6 month time Frame dated march 15 2017, to trim the fat. restructure and improve efficacy of their branch.
Observe the pushback the leaks the lies as entrenched POWER refuses to go silently into that good night!
I hope each and every one of you copy and paste this everywhere, every time you hear some dim wit say Trump hadn't done a thing!
THANK YOU!!!
Oh, yeah, and there's this..........
Tumblr media
28 notes · View notes
sallage · 9 months ago
Text
The Milkman - NSFW
The Wheel AU
Part 1 
Warning: This is an intense tickle fic!
Summary: It had been years since Bakugo had last stepped foot outside of the city. Graduating U.A. at the top of his class, interning and working for The Genious Office, and making a name for himself had been cake once Deku was suspended. The first few months, he'd hardly thought about the nerd. After that, not at all. What he didn't know, was that the life he'd grown acustomed to was about to derail in one of the most sadistic and twisted ways he'd never thought possible.
Pairing: Lee Pro Hero Bakugo, Ler Villain Deku
Words: 10,466
Reading Time: 41 Minutes
A/N: Holyyyyyyyyyy shit. This is the longest fic I have ever written. I had sooooooo much fun writing this and I'm actually kind of proud of it.... just a little(: Please let me know what you think! Enjoy!!
Read more ∘₊✧ Here ✧₊∘
Tumblr media
The room was mostly empty. 
Bakugo was blindfolded, but he could sense it. He could tell by the way the metallic clang of the chains clamoring around his neck reverberated off of the walls. The bastard had fucked with Bakugo enough for him to learn how sound worked in a small room, which is why his heart was already in his throat when he felt a tug against the icy narrow band, which he’d learned the hard way, meant stop.
So he did.
“Good boy.”
Bakugo growled, a low animalistic noise from deep within his throat. If someone gave him one million attempts to predict his future, he never would have guessed this.
That he would end up a piece of meat for the nerd to fuck with for his own sick, demented pleasure. 
When Deku was suspended from U.A., Bakugo's graduation at the top of his class became effortless, with the internship and job at The Genius Office falling into place just as smoothly.
Once Bakugo had turned twenty-five years old, he had developed a high level of renown and respect as a hero. The final arc of his success was right there, literally in the palm of his hands. 
Then everything went to shit.
It was supposed to be a simple mission.
Reports of a faceless crime lord monetizing black market drugs and illegal erasure darts on the dark web were far from unknown. However, an anonymous tip had led them to discover a money laundering outpost posing as a trading card store. After years of coming up empty, Bakugo was itching to discover something, anything useful.
All they had to do was monitor the establishment.
Bakugo couldn't see the use of the three men sent to scout with him, especially after the store had closed, so he’d sent them home with a note reviewing the new tracker that had been implanted in their gums. The technology was new and not widely tested yet, plagiarizing elements of skin and bone, so Bakugo was confident that the chip would be missed if he were somehow captured and searched.
He’d spend the next several hours watching.
Maybe he should have gone home after the fifth hour of quiet.
It wasn’t until four in the morning, when a small sliver of activity caught his eye.
A lone person in a black hood quietly exited the dark store.
Bakugo recognized the possibility of a diversion, that the person in the hood was simply meant to draw prying eyes away from the store while other things went on behind the scenes. Bakugo had seen the trick used before.
But he couldn't help but feel
 drawn.
So he followed them.
The thought to report an update was fleeting.
The hooded figure remained silent and unperturbed. Bakugo kept a safe distance in the shadows, his soft footfalls masked by the rising pitch of the winding river and bridge ahead. The figure's movements remained consistent and steady as they both crossed, the city now but a shimmering dot in the darkened distance.
They crossed into ghostly, suburban territory. 
After around ten minutes, a graffitied public school park looming under a broken flickering street light caught his attention.
A twinge of familiarity ran down his spine.
Distracted, Bakugo didn’t see the hooded figure round the sidewalk. Cursing, he rushed to catch up.
When he’d rounded the corner, they were standing in the center of the street, staring at some old, tragedy stricken apartments with their hands casually slung into their pockets.
Bakugo considered the situation, and his eyes narrowed as he contemplated initiating a confrontation. The very small and mature voice he’d annoyingly developed in his mind told him to think about his endgame. If he rushed the shady bastard now, he would tip off the villain operation and everything they’d learned up to that point would be as useful as dirt. He’d need to have reasonable proof and all he’d had was a stupid feeling.
Bakugo gritted his teeth and growled under his breath. He’d wanted to confront the fucker and kick his ass, but it was too early to have a full picture of what was really going on. The store could simply be that, a store, with nothing more to it.
He rolled his eyes and before he could talk himself out of it, took careful steps away in an attempt to slip back out, then paused. Maybe if he could catch a glimpse of their face

“My mother still lives here.”
Bakugo's body went completely still. His breath stopped in his throat, and his heartbeat pounded in his chest like a hammer against steel.
The figure lowered their hood, glowing green eyes trained on the apartments.
Bakugo blinked. Everything else fell away from him.
“Everyday I think she’d leave, especially after I destroyed the neighborhood. Do you think she’s still waiting for me?”
He should have left right then and there.
Instead, Bakugo rose from his crouch and slowly walked out onto the street. Each step he’d taken had an undeniable ferocity to it, his eyes like two burning embers that could turn into an inferno at a moment's notice.
It was the fucking high school drop out. And he knew Bakugo was following him. He’d probably known it the second he’d left the store, maybe even before. 
“Izuku.”
“Kacchan.”
The familiar nickname wasn't spoken with the same fondness that it had once been uttered with, instead carrying a tone that made it sound more like an insult.
Gone was the silly, quirky, and fun-loving person that was filled with goodness and joy. In his place stood a dangerous, predatory, and threatening presence. In his eyes no longer shined the bright light of his once golden heart, but instead the glimmering of a cold and dangerous predator.
“Don’t do this! Please don’t let them take it, Kacchan!”
Bakugo scowled at him, his palms grew hot. 
“Why the hell are you here?”
He should’ve reported the update. Hell, he should’ve called in the entire damn agency.
Deku’s voice was steady, eyes trained on the apartments. “You didn’t like our walk down memory lane?”
Bakugo’s eyes sparked.
The playground, the river, the fucking card store.
Bakugo bristled. He should have known. It was obvious. “Answer the fucking question.”
Black tendrils slowly slithered out of Deku’s back. Bakugo’s palms sizzled.
“No one’s talked to me like that in a long time.”
Without so much as a twitch as a warning, one of the tendrils struck. Bakugo quickly shifted and dodged, failing to realize that Deku had simply struck the ground just next to where the blonde once stood, intentionally pushing him right into a hulking frame standing silently off to the side, who wrapped massive arms around Bakugo’s chest from behind. 
His palms crackled and sparked with the orange and red of his quirk, building up and igniting in a devastating explosion that engulfed them both in a calamitous blaze of volatile force. 
Somehow, deep in the heat, he felt a sudden and painful sting on the side of his neck. 
In an instant, the heat and power from his attack subsided, dissolved by the abrupt numbing sensation that spread through his body and left his hands smoking and twitching. His body tingled, all of his senses numbed and weakened.
“Motherfffuuhh-”
Another sting, and his vision wavered and blurred. He shook his head, fighting against it.
It was a fucking trap. Set For him. 
He’d known he was going to pass out and these fuckers were going to take him. He’d wanted to fight it with as much defiance and disrespect as he could. Profanities spewed from his lips accompanied by worthless sparks that popped from his numb, useless hands. His eyes seared into Deku, but the villain’s eyes remained locked on the apartments, not even sparing him a sideways glance before whatever drug they injected him with finally overwhelmed his senses.
He’d woken up in the same damn room he’d been staying in for the past week.
Over the course of that week, Bakugo had fought harder than he ever had in his entire life. He’d bitten fingers, head butted anyone within range, and spat. His mouth proved to be as dangerous as his quirk, but three days in the muzzle and firmer restraints taught him to use his talents sparingly.
As expected, they’d missed the tracker during the strip search. He’d woken up with it warm against his tooth, confirmation that someone was indeed looking for him.
So he’d reserved his energy, save for every few minutes or so when he would religiously check if the quirk erasure dart was still active, hoping to catch it before they’d eventually inject him again.
On his first night, blindfolded, cursing and thrashing, they’d shoved him into a chair and bound his legs to it along with his arms to a hanging contraption above his head. It took seven of them to eventually subdue the aggressive pro hero, all of them walking away with some kind of injury.
Deku didn't make an appearance that night, but the orders to his grunts were clear.
Extract any information Bakugo had uncovered about their operations.
Bakugo was expecting to be tortured. He’d mentally prepared himself for it the moment he’d woken up in this shit hole. And he was, just not in the way he was expecting.
Deku didn't want to dignify Bakugo with a formidable excuse for when he eventually gave up. He wanted to humiliate him.
For the first three days, he was brutally and sadistically tickle tortured.
When the method of torture was revealed, to say that Bakugo was flabbergasted would be an understatement. He’d imagined needles under the nails or flaying. Hell, he was even expecting something ironic like being branded or burned alive. So when he was finally forced into the chair, the last of his flailing limbs secured, he braced himself for the kind of pain that would match the reputation Izuku created for himself, only to be startled by harmless and rough fingers and hands, ticklishly squeezing sensitive spots on his body.
The pro hero sneered and taunted the goons, under the impression he was safe for the time being. 
But of course, he would be proven wrong.
The grunts took their time and expertly learned his body. They triggered reactions and sounds Bakugo didn't know he could make and tormented spots he didn't even know were ticklish. After hours of meticulous work and charting, they’d put the information they gathered to blindingly effective use. Bakugo learned a few things about himself that night, things he would pay top dollar to forget.
And he’d weathered the torture by the skin of his teeth.
The second day, Deku made a personal appearance, and cracked him in less than an hour. Bakugo answered every single question asked of him, relevant or not.
Still, it wasn't enough for the damn masochist.
Deku didn't just want answers from Bakugo, he wanted him to pay.
So now, in the fourth day of hell, Bakugo has nothing to say or give that would spare him from whatever Deku planned. 
Today was purely about revenge.
A hard hand clamped on his shoulder and the blonde blindly stepped forward, letting the hand guide him.
He swallowed his resistance and it slid down his throat like sand.
The hand lifted. He paused.
Then there was light.
Bakugo blinked several times after the blindfold was lifted. The intensity of the dazzling lights in the room made his eyes squint and nose itch. His eyes landed on a tall, colorful object planted in the center of the room.
The Wheel.
Deku had seen fit to inject whimsy into his revenge plot with The Wheel: a colorful 20-slice abomination that would randomly determine how Bakugo would be tickled that day.
A fucking Wheel.
 Bakugo sizzled in place. He wanted to rip the bastard’s guts out and make him eat it. He wanted to kill him.
Deku blew Bakugo a kiss and strode towards it.
"Let's see what The Wheel wants us to do today." Deku winked and gave it a spin.
Bakugo's sense of how much time had passed was determined by how many times the wheel had been spun: 5, and this one made 6.
The Kennel
The Carwash
The Gang
The Hog
The Milkman
The wheel began to slow, its revolution enrapturing both Bakugo and Deku...
The dial stopped on The Milkman.
The door suddenly busted open and two grunts walked inside, carrying something that reminded Bakugo of a weird combination of a padded sawhorse and a spanking bench. There were cuffs towards the front where his arms would rest and vise versa where his calves would be placed. Towards the back of the middle cushion that would support his waist and hips, was a custom cut hole that looks like it could fit

Bakugo’s eyes widened.
The smile that slithered onto Deku’s face was maniacal. 
Bakugo clenched his jaw, continuing to stare at the contraption even after Deku smugly faced him and tugged at the leash. 
“No.”
Tug
“Fuck. off.”
Deku cocked his head to the side, an amused expression squaring his face, as if Bakugo was a stubborn kid not wanting to get into the bath.
Tug tug tug tug-
“You mother fucking piece of stupid shit. I said no.”
“I don’t care.” Deku slurred, playing with the leash. “You don’t have a choice.”
Bakugo remained still. He wanted to fight. He wanted to scream. But if the past few days had taught him anything, it was that without his quirk, resistance only lead to extreme suffering. The bitter pill? Deku knew his body better than he did. The largest explosion in the world wouldn’t be enough to tamper how he felt about that.
“I could force you,” Deku shrugged, reaching over to open the collar. “That would be easy. But I think it would be more entertaining for me to watch my men do it. And if they have to come in here again, they’re staying.” Deku smiled, encouraged by Bakugo’s visible frustration. “And participating.”
Bakugo’s eye twitched. He knew that no matter what he did, he would end up on that fucking bench. His violent objections in the past had made quick work of him. Just thinking back to that damned tree

When Deku gestured to the bench, Bakugo reluctantly obeyed.   
“Take everything off and get on.”
This was supposed to humiliate him. To make him compliant to his own torture. A sick kick back to those days in high school when he’d scream at anyone who dared to give him orders.
Cursing obscenities the entire time, he stripped off his clothes and laid face down onto the bench, carefully fitting his groin into the cushioned hole. 
Deku restrained him accordingly.
Thick, fur lined straps secured his wrists and ankles tightly. Another strap looped around his waist, and an added infinity loop tightly secured his lower thighs right above the bend of his knees, forcing his legs slightly apart and flush against the legs of the modded bench. 
Bakugo clenched his jaw and rested his forehead on the cool leather as Deku circled, lingering far too long right behind him.
“You really kept in shape.” Deku whistled.
“Fuck off and get this shit over with.”
“Excited to start?”
Bakugo jerked when he felt something ghosting lightly along both of his flanks, and he instantly knew it was Blackwhip. The touch felt feathery and ethereal, like cool fingers made of harmless, tickly sparklers. He closed his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek, grateful Deku couldn't see his face from this position.
“We have so much to catch up on.”
The ghosting along his sides curved inward, tracing and slithering over his stomach and hips. It slowly dragged back and forth, up and down over the smooth skin, making Bakugo want to claw it off.
The way he was positioned arched his back slightly, so he couldn't close that small gap that gave Deku easy access to those spots. The fucking bastard.
“We don’t have shit to do with nothin’.” Bakugo spat through his teeth, uselessly forcing himself to stay as still as possible. His stomach muscles twitched of their own accord though, instantly snitching on his stoic facade. 
“I think we do. I plan to make up for lots of lost time, Kacchan.” He goosed his ribs.
Bakugo flinched and clenched his jaw so tight, he felt the hurt in his neck. “Stop fucking calling me that.”
“Mmm. It never bothered you before. What’s different now?” 
Bakugo ground his teeth together. He jumped when he felt more tendrils start teasing the muscles on his back, tracing agonizing patterns and small circles right underneath his shoulder blades. A lone tendril slithered up his spine, slowing down just enough to trigger an involuntary lurching reaction Bakugo did every time he was touched right below the back of his neck. 
“You ffffucking-”
“Whats different now?” Deku repeated, sliding two tendrils up his spine this time.
Bakugo tensed his entire body and cringed, waiting for the tendrils to touch down on that stupid spot. Instead, he jumped when he felt them split up and caress over the top of his shoulders, tracing down to the little dip that made up the corners of his armpits. Bakugo’s arms strained, trying to push them back into himself and close the gap.
“I called you Kacchan our entire lives.” More tendrils pushed out from his back, wrapping around each of his ribs, softly vibrating in place, still tracing. Randomly, one would squeeze.
“I don’t think you’ve ever told me to stop.”
Bakugo inhaled sharply when he felt the tendrils at his shoulder blades slither down his back, the slow trek brought a curse to his lips. 
Deku didn't speak again until it teased around his lower back and touched down on his ass. 
Deku drew long and sensual circles along the soft, toned skin, causing Bakugo to twitch and huff puffs of air through his nose. Discovering his ass was ticklish was one of the things he would die to forget.
Deku’s voice was low. “The question wasn't rhetorical.” A firm squeeze to his ass made him him jump. “Or optional.”
Bakugo snarled. “Fuck off, you piece of shit.”
Deku chuckled and Bakugo seized when all of the tendrils started moving in different directions at once, all of them teasing the fuck out of him. Circles were drawn on either sides of his back, tendrils pressed inward towards his shoulder blades, along his spine, and behind his flanks. Two wafted up and down his stomach in different patterns with two more teasing the edges of his stomach. Two ghosted the rim of his armpits, occasionally dipping in smoothly, making him jump. Two teased his hipbones, occasionally dipping inward towards the inner thighs, tracing the crease right before his thighs became his crotch. The two on his ass stroked abstractly, making him twitch with each pass. He felt two additional tendrils ghost the back of his thighs and the hollows behind his knees.
He was moving around a lot now. Frustrated noises and loud puffs of air through his nose were quiet in comparison to how loud he made the bench squeak with his erratic movements. The occasional gasp left him when the tendrils tracing his ribs moved inward, playing with the sensitive spot right underneath his pecs, or that delicious spot right underneath his underarms. The occasional squeeze anywhere on his body forced him to jump. Regardless of sensitivity, all of his nerves were absolutely on fire.
 He bit the inside of his cheek when he felt two new tendrils slowly ghosting down his calves, stopping just over the heels of his feet. The only ones on his body not moving, and he was hyper aware of it.
Deku let Bakugo stew, watching the blonde lose more of his composure with every passing second. Bakugo pushed his head against the cool leather and balled his hands into shaking fists, his body starting to work up a sweat.
This was the kind of tickling he hadn’t experienced yet. It didn't make him hysterical, didn't make him scream until his throat hurt, and didn't make him thrash like his life depended on it, but it made him want to claw his fucking skin off. It tickled so fucking much, but it wasn't nearly intense enough for him to justify letting out any of the building tension through laughter. He couldn't fucking stand it.
For a hot five seconds, he went berserk on the bench. He yanked hard and bucked attempting to kick and thrash. Spittle flew from his clenched teeth and he growled when Deku watched him with a smirk, using the tendrils on the sides of his stomach to dip into a pocket of sensitive nerves right by his flanks. 
Bakugo dipped his shoulder inward and to the left, as if he could close off the gap that allowed Deku entrance. He groaned out loud and used his arms to buck once, twice, before being so fed up he couldn't handle it anymore.
“Fucking stop already!” He boomed. “If you’re gonna do it, then fucking get it over with, you pathetic coward!” The slow and methodical sensations were making him so fucking frustrated. He couldn't help the way his back arched, the way his head snapped back when the tendrils behind it slithered too close to his neck, the way his shoulders and arms jerked violently in an attempt shake off the tendrils, or the way his toes flexed and splayed regardless of the threat that ominously loomed inches away.
Deku chuckled again. “You’re so ticklish.”
Bakugo cursed when he felt two tendrils slowly gliding up the insides of his thighs. They traced the sensitive skin right next to his balls, curving up and down, spreading out and caressing the skin under his ass and back again. Bakugo spluttered and yanked hard at the restraints, the ticklish muscles in his arms flexing under the mischievous and ethereal touch of Blackwhip.
“You fucking loser ass villain bah-” The tendrils on his feet twitched. Bakugo’s mouth clamped shut.
“Hm?” Deku hummed, leaning his ear toward the heaving blonde.
“Fucker.” Bakugo cursed. “What the hell is it you want from me?”
“I’ll give you three guesses.” Deku gleefully mocked. 
“You’re a goddamn fucking moh-morohon!” Bakugo cursed, busying himself with another bout of frustrated thrashing when more tendrils swirled under his arms. “I’m not playing your backward ass games!”
Deku smirked. Without letting up on Bakugo’s treatment, he grabbed a chair and sat right next to the blonde, who had to tilt and rest his head on his left cheek to look Deku in the eyes.
“You’ll do whatever I want you to do.” He slurred, kicking his foot up on the edge of the bench where Bakugo’s shaking arm rested. 
The tendrils around his ribs prodded firmly. Bakugo flinched hard, unable to hold back the gasp that choked him.
“The day I got suspended from U.A.,” Deku’s eyes roamed shamelessly over Bakugo’s trembling body. The blonde straightened his head and closed his eyes, still painfully aware the tendrils on his feet were still as stone. Anxiety bubbled up in his throat. He knew Deku did it just to fuck with him. He fucking knew it.
“I begged you to help me.”
“K-Kacchan? Wait, Kacchan! No! STOP! PLEASE!”
“Grrh! The school hahas rules, dumbass! Not my ff-fuckin’ fault you weh-went and broke ‘em!” Bakugo snapped. The damn tendrils never stopped moving, always switching places and finding new spots on his infinitely ticklish body. He was going to throw an aneurysm if it didn't stop.
Deku’s eyes darkened. “Not your fault, huh?”
Bakugo sneered. He couldn’t focus! “Damn it! If you got somethin’ to say, just fuckin- GAH!”
The tendrils on his heels traced slowly down his foot, spilling down his arch and wiggling slowly like a snake, tracing over his incepts, the sides of his feet, wrapping around to the tops and circling their tips around the balls. 
Bakugo released a large puff of air and slammed his forehead against the leather, breathing harshly through his teeth. He yanked hard on his arms, face turning red with titanium effort. He jolted and grimaced when two tendrils slithered under his toes, the others still circling along and around the balls of his feet. Just a ghost of a sensation, but it psyched the fuck out of him.
Two more tendrils, parallel of each other, traced down the sides of his feet, looped around down to the heal, then zipped up to the toes, following the outline of the undersides and back again to repeat. Two other tendrils appeared and started tracing the ticklish spot along where the arch melts into the heal and then two other tendrils outlined his calves and ankles.
Bakugo lifted his forehead just to slammed it again against the leather rest, frustrated agony sizzling at the corners of his mouth.
Deku smirked, reveling in Bakugo’s priceless reactions. “You’re acting like I’m shoving a burning knife through your gut. I bet you would prefer that.”
Bakugo huffed and growled, sweat dripping off his heated skin. “What
 do you gohddamn
 aaghh- want?!”
“Let’s play a game!” Deku quickly stood, knocking over the chair. All of the tendrils finally, finally stopped and Bakugo shamelessly let his entire body flop onto the bench. He barely took two much needed breaths before Deku whistled. Bakugo heard the door open behind him, but he was too exhausted to attempt to look. That was, until he felt someone crouch underneath the bench. His head jolted up and he was about to speak when he felt something wet squishy and warm envelop his entire manhood. Bakugo jerked up so hard he actually moved the bench slightly.
“What the fuck! What the fuck?!” Bakugo screeched, thrashing heavily again as the person underneath the bench fitted the squishy thing over Bakugo’s penis and balls. The person then stood and pulled two straps around Bakugo’s waist, tying them in a neat little bow above his ass. Bakugo saw a tan hand pass Deku a controller and without a word, whoever it was, left and closed the door behind them.
Deku palmed the controller, observing it as if he were a critic admiring a strokeless painting. Bakugo’s face turned red with anger, embarrassment, and everything in-between.
“What the fuck is that? What did your perverted ass minion put on me?! Answer me, damn it!” 
“These are the rules of the game,” Deku started, ignoring Bakugo’s whining. “First, if it’s not obvious, I’ll be tickling any spot of my choosing.”
Bakugo glared at him. “What the fuck is on my dick?!”
Deku smiled. He turned the controller and Bakugo strained to see it. It looked like a TV remote but it only had eight buttons on it. One circle button in the middle with four arrows around it. There were two buttons parallel to each other below it and one button at the top.
Deku rose his pointer finger, and made a show of pressing the top button.
The on button.
Bakugo flinched with a disgusted yelp when the thing around his cock and balls started vibrating. He anchored his back and tried to pull his penis out of the hole but he couldn't lift himself high enough.
“You’re fucking kidding me!” He screamed, a whole new wave of frustration coursing through him. “You have to be fucking kidding me!” Another bout of useless thrashing. He whipped his head towards Deku, sneering at him with all the hate he could muster. “You’re fucking dead! Do you hear me? When I get the fuck out of here, you’re- AHHH!”
Deku yawned and pressed the middle button. The squishy material Bakugo was encased in started moving. It squeezed and pressed and massaged in a sloping downward fashion, simulating a blowjob with winnowing pressure that caressed his entire length. The space that enveloped his balls started gently squeezing them, massaging them softly. Then, around his scrotum, he felt a circular object like thing close tightly, acting like some sort of cock ring.
It felt
 amazing.
After almost an entire week of torture, Bakugo almost succumbed to the sensations right there, despite the makeshift ring. 
Instead, he bit back his carnal reactions and pressed his forehead onto the head rest. “N- St-stop
 Fffuckin’-” He groaned and bit his tongue.
“Enduring the tickling will be something you’ll have to do. What you’ll not have to do will be so much harder. Get it?”
Bakugo growled, trying to think about anything other than what his body wanted to do right now. He felt his manhood instantly get harder, more susceptible and sensitive.
“Why
 why the damn-”
“I’m glad you asked.” Deku’s green eyes sparkled. “If you cum while I’m tickling you, you cant cum again on that spot for the rest of the game. If you cum twice on the same spot, you lose. If you win,” Deku shrugged again. “I’ll let you go.”
Bakugo hardly heard anything until those last four words. “What?”
“If you win,” Deku enunciated, punctuating the sentence with a careless gesture. “I’ll let you go.”
A chance. A fucking chance. He knew he couldn't rely on Deku’s word, but it was the only opportunity to present itself in this goddamn nightmare.
“Not like I
 have a fuckin’ choice.” Bakugo groaned, using every ounce of energy he had not to lose the game before it could even start. 
Deku grinned. “We’ll do two rounds.”
Bakugo assumed once the tickling started, it would be easy not to focus on the thing doubling his vision. It was the only silver lining he could think of, the only hope that he could cling on to. 
Funny how he suddenly needed the tickling to overwhelm his pleasure.
“Alright!” Deku clapped his hands together. “Let’s start.”
“Set a.. Grrhh- S-set a fuckin’ timer.”
Deku tapped his temple. “It’s up here.” 
Bakugo was about to protest, but closed his mouth when Deku, with a diabolical grin, slowly unsheathed Blackwhip. The blonde watched with disgust as inky tendrils slinked toward him with twitching excitement and intent.
They touched down on his left side first, caressing his flanks and ribs and slipping softly under his arms. He cringed, the pumping sensation on his dick still prevalent. He flinched when a tendril squeezed his hips and ribs at the same time. 
“You
 fuck
 you said ohone damn s-spohot!” 
Deku chuckled. “I’m just trying to decide.” 
More poking and prodding, more flinching and cursing, then all of the tendrils traveled up and started tracing his shoulders, inner biceps, the lower outline and rim of his armpits.
“Here.” Deku said, joyfully. “Ten minutes starts now.”
Bakugo clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, expecting a burst of insufferable tickles, but the light tracing continued. The makeshift cock ring in the pump gradually released and he felt a rush of dangerous pleasure. With a long groan, the teasing and the tickles were completely obliterated from his mind, hardly able to feel them anymore as the pump expanded and closed in, the massage of his balls deepened causing him to shift around in his restraints, unconsciously grinding his hips to further the sensation.
He was close and was hardly resisting anymore. He teetered on the brink of ecstasy, a welcomed feeling afloat in a sea of agony and shit else. He felt something inside him swell, could have sworn the toy around his shaft pumped faster with excitement. Maybe just one time, just in this spot, wouldn’t be so bad. He could avoid it in the next round.
Yes, he’d decided. Who fucking cares if Deku watched. The sick fuck probably got off on it. Bakugo shoved his previous reservations aside and allowed the bliss to fully envelope him. Fuck everything and everyone else, with one final groan he-
“AHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHA! WHAHAAAA! DEHEHA- AAHHHHAHAHAHA! FUHUHUHK! DAHAHAMN IT!! YOHOU FUHKING- DAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
Bakugo exploded into a generous mix of curses and laughter, brought on by the four tendrils circling the rims on either sides of his armpits to suddenly close in and undulate into the sensitive flesh. One was squeezing and floating around the ticklish muscle right where the armpit and chest connect. Another was pushing and rotating just above but not quite on that delectably torturous spot above his ribs, and the last two were shamelessly digging right into the center, One stationary, the other circling largely and being sure to not to leave any spot untouched. 
Bakugo thrashed. He pressed his chest into the bench and slammed his forehead onto the headrest. His hands clenched and unclenched from their trembling fists and his shoulders bounced up and down from pure mirth. The surprise caught him off guard, although he would kick himself for not expecting it if he had the ability to think at all. 
Being denied a peaceful release at the absolute last second made his body tingle with newfound sensitivity. His stomach filled with frustration and his throbbing cock twitched as it was continuously and mercilessly pumped.
Quickly tumbling down from his euphoric high, he cursed and fought. One of the tendrils found a delectable spot at the top left inner muscle, where the edge of his shoulder creased into his armpit. Being caught so grossly off guard by the spike in sensitivity, it easily knocked and bursted through to the most secluded corners of his mind.
“GAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHA! AHAH AAAHHHAH! AAHAHAHA! FFFAAAHAHAHAHA- GGRRRAAAAH! GAHAHAD DAHAHMN IT STAHAHAHAP!”
Deku wore a toothy grin and just hummed to himself.
Bakugo tried to use his momentum to rock himself on the bench, hoping to tip the whole damn thing over but it held steady. Unable to manage anything more then a few stress creaks, Bakugo pushed each of his shoulders in and squished them against the bench, but the tickling never relented. He jolted violently when two random tendrils goosed his ribs.
“ARRRGGHH! GAHAAD DAHAMN YOU DEHEKHU! STAHPFUC- AAHAHAHA! STOP FUCKINGARAHAHOUND!”
Deku chuckled and raised his hands. “Sorry, sorry. I couldn't resist.”
“BAHAHSTAHAHARD! SHIHIHIHT! GAH! NO! NOO!! STAHAHAP!”
Deku feigned innocence as one of his lower tendrils slowly slinked more so towards the bottom of his armpits, causing Bakugo to thrash harder, doing a piss poor job of covering up his panic.
Suddenly, he yelled out when he felt the toy around his manhood start to squeeze. The tendrils under his arms gradually slowed their manic torment, leaving Bakugo huffing and puffing with each sensitive pass. Bakugo rested his sweat riddled forehead against the leather, squeezing his eyes shut in aggravation. The transition from obnoxious tickling  pleasure was rough and Bakugo felt his arms shake.
The smile in Deku’s voice was infuriating. “How are we doing?”
He didn't realize it until a surge of pleasure slapped him in the face but Blackwhip was no longer pinching and prodding. Instead, swirling and ghosting. The toy around Bakugo’s length suddenly started pumping, undulating up and down in an unpredictable pattern. Strokes, like a tongue, traveled up his length, the winnowing pressure taking him in deep while it massaged his balls. Although still there, the tickling quickly became secondary.
Bakugo couldn't help the carnal groan that left his tight lips. Everything fell away from him as he openly welcomed the only good sensation he’s felt since being in this shit hole. He wanted this and he didn't care if Deku saw and mocked him. This was only the first round, He’d be able to avoid-
Bakugo yelled out as he released the first drops of ecstasy. The slicked out muscles on his back rippled as he arched into it, riding the whole thing out. The tendrils never stopped teasing his armpits, and he didn't give a shit. He couldn't feel it anymore. Sparks ignited and bloomed across his vision. After a moment of shameful, shattering pleasure, he slumped. Spent and breathless.
Deku whistled.
The toy didn’t slow. He felt something brush across his reddened tip. Bakugo twitched and gasped, pushing his hips back as far as he could.
”Fff-Fuck!”
”That’s one for the armpits.” Deku commented, casually. “If it’s going to be this easy then I think you might be screwed.” 
“S-sta- Sh- I’m- I’m gonna-“
“What?” Deku’s eyebrows rose, amused.
”I’m gonna fffuckin’ k-kill you.” Bakugo panted, his pitch rising and falling in rhythm with the thing around his cock overstaying its welcome.
Deku’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “There’s the Kacchan I knew.” 
Bakugo opened his mouth but slammed it shut when Blackwhip started moving.
”After All Might gave me One For All,” Deku started, moving Blackwhip slowly, ever so slowly downward. “He told me to keep it a secret.”
“I’m sorry, young Midoriya. Please hold still.”
Bakugo cringed as he felt the tendrils slowly swoop over his ribs. He felt them expand so they caressed right underneath his chest. Two tendrils on each side teased the ribs that wrapped around his back, while two other sneaky ones still swirled in his armpits. He hissed through his teeth as chills iced down his spine and goosebumps appeared all over his body. He shook his head, as if he could will it all away. To his dismay, the teasing is so much more frustratingly ticklish than before.
He grunted when two guileful tendrils flicked and circled his nipples on either side.
“But I told you about it anyway, and I did it out of respect. Respect you didn’t deserve or appreciate.” Deku continued. “Even after All Might, The hero we both grew up admiring, saw it fit to pass his quirk onto me, you still told me I was worthless. Unworthy of U.A. A psychopathic freak.” 
A tendril goosed his upper ribs, another slithered down his stomach, drawing wide circles around his belly button. Two closed in on his hips, pressing into the bone with light pressure. Two teased the skin underneath his ass, two played with the tendons next to his groin, right along the edge of the toy. Another two slinked down his legs and teased his ankles while circling around the heels of his feet. He jumped when an additional pair circled around the balls, occasionally dipping in and tracing the skin right underneath his toes, massaging the stems and teasing the bases.
His heart rate picked up and his breath came fast. His skin tingled as his nerves fired at him with obnoxious sensitivity. He could feel every delicate stroke, every harsh poke, every sensual touch and squeeze, and couldn't help the giggles when they spilled out of his snarling mouth.
The fucking orgasm. It made him even more sensitive.
He was so fucking screwed.
Deku paused, letting the epiphany the other was clearly having, sink in. “I started to believe you.”
All of the tendrils poked their respective spots at once, causing Bakugo to let out an undignified yelp and jolt. Every little movement now started him to the core. 
“Funny how a worthless, psychopathic freak now holds the leash to your collar.”
“Is that what this bullshit is about?” Bakugo’s voice boomed with irritation, edgy nervousness punctuating the end of his accusation. “What the hell do you want, damn Deku? A fuckin’ apology or somethin’?”
Deku shook his head. All the humor was void from his face, his voice dark and emotionless. “I’ve never wanted anything from you.”
Bakugo blinked when Deku raised his hand with the remote and pointed it at him. He couldn't see what button he pressed, but he gasped when suddenly the toy started vibrating. Teasing strokes evolved into sensuous pumping. He was hard again in seconds.
The tendrils eased off. All except the ones stationed at his ribs. Three teased the bottom, two on his left, one on his right. Two on each side teased the middle of his ribs, swirling and poking, following the curve of his back, and another  two danced across his upper ribs, rubbing back and forth, up and down, ghosting underneath and the sides of his chest.
“I’m sure you can guess which spot is next.” Deku clicked his tongue. “Looks like you might lose before I even start.” 
Bakugo’s head snapped up from where it was resting. “Fuck you!” His biceps strained with the titanic effort of trying to lower his arms. He arched his back, pushed himself forward, tried to dip his shoulders and chest hard against the leather, but nothing phased the tendrils determined to take me straight to hell. They encouraged the sort of panic that he felt like he could taste. The toy’s vibrations increased, the flesh of the toy slowly starting to suck, doubling his vision with pleasure.
“There was a spot around here
 where was it again?” Blackwhip poked and nudged at his entire rib cage. Bakugo spluttered and hissed through his teeth, body jolting and flinching with every jab.
“Fucker! You, mother fuc-!!” Bakugo spat. “Stop this- Mmgghhm- bulh-bullshit! III’ve fuckin’ had it with y-AH!”
“Mmmm.” Deku mused. Blackwhip paused, pinpointed tendrils vibrating softly right on that dreaded spot. Bakugo froze as well, looking at Deku with the most hateful glare he’d ever given anyone.
“I wonder if-” 
Squeeze
Bakugo inhaled so sharply, he choked. “AUGH! Damn it, stop!” He tried to haft and throw himself around on the bench. Deku only smiled, a sadistic glint in his eyes.
Blackwhip softly, softly undulated once more and Bakugo would have hit the ceiling if he wasn't so tightly restrained. “MMGGHH! STOP! Don’t you fucking do it, you fuck!”
The toy around his needy length pumped faster and his attention was quickly averted to the sudden burst of pleasure that wracked through his body and made him shutter. His mouth opened in a silent groan, which transformed into an unrestrained yell as Blackwhip again, teased one of his death spots.
He hafted himself up hard, creaking the bench. “NO!” He cursed, shoving all of the authority in his voice that he could muster. “Just fucking stop this! I swear to FuhuahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAK! SHIHIT!”
The three tendrils teasing the bottom of his ribs dove in, rubbing fast and harshly between and around the bone, the third tendril went rogue and snuck over his quivering stomach and down to his thighs. Bakugo shook his head in delirium and fruitlessly bucked his hips up and down. Even with the torturous tickling rerouting his mind, the pleasure he was feeling from the toy was still very much present. Slowly, he felt himself twitch and glisten with pressing need.
Deku hummed. “Oh, does that tickle?” 
“FAHAHAK YOU! GAAGHH! NAAAAHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAP!” 
The tendrils stationed at the middle of his ribs came alive, mimicking the same unpredictable technique as the ones on his lower ribs. Bakugo fought hard, knowing what was next, knowing he couldn't stop it. Two tendrils slowly wrapped around his thighs, goosing and tickling the whole way. Bakugo expected them to attack his thighs again, but unexpectedly, they slipped their teasing tips underneath the sleeve of the toy, now slowly stroking and wrapping around the bare skin of his penis. Aside from dissolving into harsh thrashing and seizing like he touched an exposed cable, something else instantly came over him. In a moment of panicked weakness he opened his mouth.
“AAHHH! GAHH! WAIT! FUKIN’ WAHAITWAIT! WAHT DOYOUWAHAHAHNT?!” 
Deku answered simply. “This.”
Two things happened at the same time. 
The tendrils resting and teasing his death spot pulled back and dove right in. Viciously rubbing into that incomprehensibly ticklish spot without a shred of mercy. Four more vibrating tendrils latched on, squeezing, rubbing and scratching torturously. 
The tendrils that snuck into the toy, wrapped around the entirety of Bakugo’s heat and lightly squeezed, following the rhythm of the toy. It pumped Bakugo excitedly, the two tips reaching his pre-cum soaked tip to swirl and rub, lick and tease. One of the tips pressed underneath the head, flicking under it like like an experienced tongue, while the other teased and stroked the slit.
Torn between two incredibly overwhelming sensations, Bakugo’s voice instantly gave out. For a moment, there was silence. Bakugo’s mouth was open in a silent, lustful, tortured scream, his sweat glistened muscles rippled with the intense single pull he was imposing onto all of his limbs. His toes clenched and his nails bit into his fists. After one sharp intake of breath, 
Bakugo fittingly exploded.
“AHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FAHAHHA! NONONOHOHOHONOOOOO! GAHHH! NAHA- I CAHHAHA- ST- GAHAHAHAHAD OHHOHOH FUCK! OHFUUUUUCK!! DEHEHE- PFFTAHAHAAHAHA!! AHAHAAAASHIHIT! SHITSHITSAHIT!! AHAHAAAAAAAAHAHAH! GGRRAAAAAHHH!!! -AHAHHAHAHAAA————OOOOOPP! STAHAHAHAP STOPSTOPSTOPFUCKINGHELLSTOHOHOHOHP!! AHAHAHA————”
 Deku watched Bakugo fall apart, a maniacal, sadistic smile creasing his face. “Found it.”
“AAAAHH! FUCKDEKUSTOOOOOOOOOOOP! FAHAHAK! I CAHAHA- GAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I CAAAAHAHAHAH-”
“What was that?” Deku stuck his tongue into his cheek. “You can’t what?”
Bakugo’s mind was blank. His entire world was encompassed by all of the sensations saturating every recess of his brain. He whipped his head around, slamming it repeatedly against the headrest, the cushioning not even allowing him the relief of pain. He quickly approached the lower level of laughter, where it became mostly screams.
“ICANTTAKEIT! OHFUCKINGSHIT I FUKIN CAHAHAHAHA! AHAHA AHA AHA AHAHAH! ICAHAHAHANT! STOOOOOOOOHOHAAAAAAAAP!”
The toy picked up its pace, encouraging the tendrils wrapped around his dick to follow along. A few new tendrils squeezed his balls, Two flicked and rubbed his nipples, one even licked up the side of his neck, right underneath his jaw. His eyes flew to the back of his head.
“Want me to stop tickling or stop pumping?”
Bakugo’s face was alight with fire, he wasted no time. “TICKLING! STAHAH THE TIHIHIH-TIHIH- FAHAHAHAK! STAHAHAHAP TIHIHAHAHA-!”
“If I stop the tickling, you’ll lose the round. Are you sure you-”
“YES! YEHEHEHS! YESYESYESJUST- SHIHIHIHT!! STAHAHAHAP! FUCKINGHEHEHELL!” 
Deku instantly stopped and focused his energy into on the blonde’s dick.
“MMMMPHHHHH FFFFFUUCK!” Bakugo moaned, arching his back and shaking his head, grinding his hips along the bench. “FFFFFFFFUHHHHHK!” Bakugo groaned, lost in a new kind of torment.
He closed his eyes, everything instantly fell away from him when he felt a tendril slip over his tip again. He felt the build up burn in his stomach, felt his penis throbbing, his tip glistening, ready for release. He felt the most powerful orgasm he’d ever had gather, aching in his swollen balls. Despite the need for air, he held his breath as the first drops of-
“GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!”
Bakugo’s voice cracked when everything simply stopped.
The tendrils and the toy fell limp. His body tingled as if all of his limbs fell asleep. Sweat dripped off his chin as he gasped. Opening his mouth to curse, a strangled sound came out instead when everything resumed. He flinched and jolted in his restraints, but the pumping and “licking” resumed, throwing him right back into that agonizing build up. Right when he could see stars, it stopped again.
He jerked his head up and seared his eyes into amused green ones with a guttural growl, only to force his head back down and clench his fists when it all started again.
“You
. You ffffuh- ffucking b-”
“I’m just helping you out.” Deku cocked his head to the side, chuckling. “Trust me, you don’t want to cum again.”
Bakugo closed his eyes, but he couldn't have a moment of rest before the pumping started again. He filled his cheeks with curses and air, releasing them in a flurry when rogue tendrils buried themselves into his ribs, his worst spot spared for now, as he was thrown head first into more ticklish chaos. He couldn't handle this much longer. He couldn't handle this now. He felt his sanity slipping through the cracks, but it didn't matter.
“I’ll make you a deal.” Deku trilled after a few more minutes. “If you beg me to cum, I’ll let you. Then we can move on.”
Beg him to lose the game. Beg him to take away the small change at freedom and hope that he had. Beg him to keep him here and torture him until help eventually came or he went batshit.
No, no he couldn't.
Bakugo snapped out of it. He returned Deku’s wicked glare and sneered. “Fuck. You.”
Deku narrowed his eyes and smirked, as if he was hoping for that exact answer. “Tickling it is then.”
First, there was a moment of silence.
Then pure, unadulterated madness.
Blackwhip attacked every inch of Bakugo’s ribcage. Bakugo screamed, a high pitched uncharacteristic shriek that shocked both of them. Then, he fell into manic, hysterical unrestrained laughter. Laughter that only maddened when his worst spot was finally targeted. Bakugo couldn't feel when the toy started again, couldn't feel the bubbling build up, or the burn of release that taunted him from mere inches away. He couldn't feel any of it, not until the tickling abruptly stopped and he stole greedy breath before countless tendrils converged on the entirety of his tip, sliding and slinking over the crimson peak it while the tendrils wrapped around his dick pumped up and down his length with mouth watering speed. His eyes stung with mirthful tears before he was thrown right back into ticklish oblivion. 
Once his death spot was awarded another short break, Bakugo used that opportunity to quickly give up.
“OKAYOKAYOKAHAHAHAHAYE! OKAHAHAHAHAY JUHUSTFUKINGDOHOHOHIT! I GIHIHIVE! IGIVE! JAHAHAAST MAAKEMECUM! DHAHAMNIT!”
“Mmmm,” Deku considered for a moment. “Say please.”
“AAGHHAHAHA!! GAHAHAHDDAHAHMN YOU!” Bakugo was slapping the edge of the leather wrist rest with his hand, trying to physically tap out. “PLEHEHESE! FUCKINPLEHEHESE! JUHUST STOP TIHIHIHCKLING!”
The tickling didn't stop completely, but it was enough. Bakugo was hardly afforded the gift of relief as tendrils immediately pumped and licked, massaged and caressed his entire length. The toy suddenly closed up around the tip and so similar to a warm mouth, he felt licking, swirling and even sucking. The rest of his twitching member was caressed and abused with soft and fast lustful strokes. Spit dribbled out of his mouth and beads of sweat glided down his sides and back as he arched.
 He had no idea how many tendrils were pleasuring him now, but every damn spot was zapped with unbelievable, world shattering, sinful pleasure. Tendrils slinked through his toes and circled around the balls of his feet. Others lightly ghosted up his long arches and more teased his heals. New, lustful feelings seared from his feet straight to his dick, which pulsed in tandem with the activity. He didn’t dare start to unpack that.
The tendrils reappeared at his nipples and neck, his eyes once again dug into the back of his head.
He lasted an impressive 50 seconds.
He groaned out loud with his long release, his damp rob and body twitching through each pump of glorious rapture. His orgasm, almost matching the duration of his endurance, forced his twitching toes to curl, the squirming tendrils undeterred by even that. His abs and back muscles flexed, the light reflecting off of each sweaty twitch and convulsion.
He slumped heavily after it was through. He bucked and hissed when the tendrils around his ribs hardly gave him a second before teasingly slinking down, tracing over his twitching sides and pressing into his hips and thighs.
“Two for two.” Deku counted, unapologetically. “I’m not sure I like your odds.” 
Bakugo couldn't muster a response. The tendrils around his hips and thighs forced a few half assed curses and poorly held back giggles from him. He arched his back, huffing when they pressed into the soft spaces inward next to his hips, ticklishly stroking down between his thighs. Oh shit.
“Agghh staha- Mmmhh. No mohore.” He murmured. His once silky ash blonde hair was now dark and matted, sticking to his eyes and head. “I-I— God, I fffucking can’t- I can’t d-do this shit anymore.” His body sizzled with heightened sensitivity. Even the breeze across his fucking feet tickled.
 Deku looked at him for a moment before shaking his head slowly. “The game isn’t over yet.”
The tendrils found a ticklish tendon underneath and inward along his ass and inner thigh, and pressed into it. Bakugo barked out a surprised laugh and squirmed weakly.
Deku was silent as he teased that spot, longer than the pro hero thought he could tolerate. 
“One more spot,” Deku announced, pushing his tendrils down over his thighs, creeping over the back of his ticklish knees, lingering there for a moment before tickling toward his calves. “Then round two starts.”
The tendrils slowly slithered down this calves, forcing him to half groan, half whine and bite his cheek. When they grazed over his Achilles heal and brushed down around the sides of his feet, Bakugo felt a surge of adrenaline course through him, energy he pointlessly wasted by yelling a stream of obscenities and fighting hard as he could. He’d never felt more helpless, he’d never been so tortured, he’d never felt as if he could be reduced to begging, but here he was, those sinful words dancing at the tip of his tongue, tempting him like food tempts a starved man. 
All from tickling.
Blackwhip paused and Bakugo knew it was over. His fatigue caught up moments before and he stared at Deku with wide pleading eyes. Deku drank that up like a craved cigarette. He’d gotten exactly what he wanted.
Well, almost.
“Wait! Deku, wai-”
The rest of his plea fizzled and died on his lips.
He felt it everywhere and nowhere. Tendrils raced over and under his flailing toes, some scratched right underneath and along the stems and pads, more circled and scratched the balls of his feet, playing with the plump, overly sensitive pads. Additional ones scratched just at the creases underneath the balls, which at this point hadn’t been touched and absolutely drove him up the metaphorical wall of madness and hysteria. Others stroked up and down and side to side, playing along his creamy arches, paying special attention to the spot where the heel melts into the arch, while more circled and teased his heels. Two tickled and scratched along the sides of each foot, a few, Bakugo couldn't count, even tickled the tops of his feet along with some slowly stroked up and down this claves and two stragglers unfairly burrowing into the back of his knees.
Bakugo couldn't comprehend anything except how much it fucking tickled.
His mouth was wide open in a silent scream, his eyes squeezed shut, saturated with mirthful tears. When additional tendrils started stroking and alternating between the arches and balls of his feet, a switch flipped in him. He started bouncing up and down, moving the bench slightly as he tried to lift and drop his weight, trying to use pure strength to break it or at least flip it over. Aside from a few cracks and creaks, it was silent as he wasted precious, limited energy.
More at the top and sides. Extra in between the toes. Something evil goosed his ribs.
That was all he couldn't handle.
“NOOOOOOHOHOHOHOHO! NONONONAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FUUUUUCK! AHA AHAHA! AHAHHAHAH! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOOOOOOOOOOOP!YOU STUPID FUCKING PIECE OF MOTHERFUCKINGSHIT ILL FUCKING KIHIHIHIHLL YOUDEAAAAD! MMMGGHGHHMHMHMHMMMAAAAAH!! GOD! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!”
Pure, tortured belly laughter bellowed out of him like a fog horn. His laughter only evolved, turning pained and high pitched when the thing on his cock started vibrating.
“NOOO!”
The tendrils along his feet started slowing, sensually rubbing and tickling his toes. Electricity flitted through his dick, standing to attention within seconds.
Curses temporarily overwhelmed his laughter when Blackwhip wrapped around and pulled his toes back. The sweat coating Bakugo’s body created enough slip for the tendrils to wreak absolute havoc just along the undersides and stems of his toes, where the sensitive skin had been pulled and crueley exposed. Bakugo thrashed and screamed and spat and heaved, but nothing stopped it. Nothing topped it.
This time, Deku didn't edge, didn't relent, and didn't change the pace. Either Bakugo was going to cum like this, or he wasn't.
“PLEHEHEHEHEHESE! AHAHAHA! OOHGADDAMNITPLEEHEHESE!!”
“What are you begging for?” Deku inquired. Bakugo couldn't care that he was being mocked, couldn’t even take the few seconds of brain power to register or understand it.
“AAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ST- AHAHAHA! MA-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FUCKFUCKFUCK I CAAAAA————”
Silence. Deku furrowed his brows and leaned forward, cupping a hand to his ear. “Hmm?”
“——————PAHA- PH- PLEHE- PLEHEHEHESE! WAHAHAH- WAIHIHIHT! NAHAHA I- I GOHOHAHAH! MMMMMMHHHHHFFFFFAAAGGHHHHH!!!”
The tickling hardly slowed as stars blurred his vision. A loud, animalistic moan burned his raw throat. He came hard, the tendrils slipping and sliding gleefully inside the wet toy.
Even after he was done, it continued for a few more seconds, prompting a loud continuous scream from him that only relented a few moments after everything truly stopped.
He collapsed, breathing so hard and deep that his chest ached.
He only knew one thing; He couldn't fucking handle this anymore.
Deku slow clapped and whistled. “Bet you never thought you could be tickled into an orgasm.”
Bakugo didn't respond, he hardly heard him. He flinched hard when the tendrils teasingly retracted from his reddened and raw feet, traveling up his trembling body once again.
Bakugo moaned. “N-no
 Please
Just 
 please just stop.” 
Deku shook his head and beamed. “The game isn’t over yet.”
Bakugo shook his head, entirely defeated. “No more.”
Deku eyes glittered, the emerald hue glowing as though the devil himself had possessed the soul behind them. “Remember,” Tendrils slithered up to his aching ribs. Bakugo gritted his teeth and pulled his arms. Deku’s eyes crinkled. “You cant cum in the same spot twice.”
Tendrils slipped under his arms, waving and stroking like wheat in the wind.
A noise, almost like a disgruntled whine slipped out of Bakugo. “Please. Deku, please just fucking stop this.”
More tendrils. Bakugo inhaled sharply. “I-I know what I di-did wahas fucked a-”
“Is that all it took?” Deku murmured, voice low. “Hours of tickle torture for you to realize that?”
“No!” Bakugo winced as tendrils spilled down his ribs. “Damn it! I’ve known, you fucktard! I- Fuck! I just- SHIHIT! Just- FUCK! Let me goddam taHAHAlk!”
“No.” Deku put a hand up, silencing the quivering blonde. “It might come as a shock to you, but I haven’t thought about what happened in a long time.”
Tracing along the heels of his feet. Bakugo cringed.
“I’ve wanted this for a while. To torture you, and make you beg.” Tendrils slipped into the hollows behind his knees. “To make you answer for each and every horrible thing you did to me, down to every dirty look.” Tendrils teased up his spine again, causing him to lurch forward as much as he could. “I wanted to break you and make you pay. I still do.” Tendrils ghosted down his arms, teasing the skin under his biceps. “Maybe one day, I’ll let you explain it to me. But right now,” Deku stood, straightening his back. All the tendrils lifted themselves from his body, pointing their tips over their respective spots.
“It turns out, I don’t give a shit.” 
Tendrils burrowed into his underarms. As if he were being repeatedly tased with a stun gun, he convulsed and seized, immediately dissolving into loud, unrestrained guffaws. His entire being was now just a big ball of overly sensitized, ticklish nerves to which Blackwhip took full advantage of. It dug, scratched, wiggled, pinched and squeezed all over his body, the main event  taking place in his armpits. He fell into silent laughter once, twice, three times within the span of a few minutes.
He couldn't fight when the toy started vibrating, when he felt more of Blackwhip dip into the sleeve of the toy, when the tendrils ghosting and tickling his thighs pinched and traced along his ass, and when tendrils teased the newfound egregious zones on his feet. He gave in to the torture, unable to protest when the freedom he had no chance of earning burned out of him for the fourth time.
Everything stopped. His head fell in misery. 
Then snapped back up.
He felt it in his armpits, ribs, thighs, groin, feet, knees, calves, arms- everywhere. 
Every spot Deku had learned was put to merciless use. 
Bakugo’s screams echoed throughout the room, down the hall, and drifted outside, haunting the grounds like loitering ghosts.
He didn't know how long it took for him to finally pass out.
—
His eyes groggily flitted open.
It took a few minutes for his vision to fully come back to him. It took even longer for him to remember where he was. Eyes locked on the water damaged ceiling, his head felt like it had been stuffed with cotton balls. When his brain started to catch up with his body, he felt it. 
Holy shit, he ached. 
His throat felt chipped and raw, his head pounded hard at the side of his temples, his fucking ribs and stomach

He groaned and pushed himself up, stomach muscles screaming as he held his head in his hand. One glance around the room and one more zap from his aching body confirmed that what happened to him wasn’t just a fucked up nightmare.
Catching a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye, he turned his attention to the flimsy nightstand next to his bed. Three bottles of water were placed onto it, along with some dark steaming, floral smelling liquid inside of a beige mug with a spoon sticking out of it. In front of that was a bottle of Advil, a sandwich on a small, circular paper plate, and an envelope. All neatly placed together.
Any reservations he’d possessed about eating and drinking had been thwarted long ago, so he downed the first bottle in seconds as well as half of the second before deciding to swallow three Advils along with the rest. He placed the third bottle underneath the mattress and observed the contents of the mug, deciding it was tea. He took a tentative sip, sighing when the hot liquid velveted down his sore throat, soothing it and warming his stomach. A hint of ginger left a subtle, spicy tang and he could have sworn he tasted a bit of honey. He ate his sandwich as he sipped.
He didn't want to think about who left all of this stuff here for him, much less why. As far as he knew, everyone in this fucking place had access to his room and everyone was a damn scumbag for it.
His gaze turned to the envelope. He finished the tea, pulled the lip open, and pulled out something small and rectangular, wrapped in white tissue paper. 
He tore the paper off and his stomach dropped.
“K-Kacchan? Wait, Kacchan! No! STOP! PLEASE!”
It was old and worn. It looked exactly like his.
“PLEASE!”
It was Deku’s All Might trading card.
57 notes · View notes
covid-safer-hotties · 2 months ago
Text
Also preserved on our archive
By Lisa Jarvis
We’re still asking people with COVID to jump through far too many hoops to get their hands on Pfizer Inc.’s Paxlovid.
I experienced the barriers first-hand this month after my mother texted to say that this summer’s COVID wave had finally caught up with her. My first thought was to make sure she quickly started taking the antiviral. You’d think she would be an ideal candidate, because she is in her 70s with an underlying health condition. But it took a daylong effort to get her the medicine, one that involved multiple emails, phone calls with three different doctor’s offices, a telehealth visit and a bit of pharmacy-hopping to find one that had the pills in stock.
“That’s not an uncommon story,” says Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there that have undermined the use [of antivirals] from the very beginning.”
The data bear this out. One small study published in early 2024 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 4 out of 5 high-risk patients were not offered an antiviral by their doctors. Worse, one large, community-based study found that Black and Latino patients were far less likely to receive the drug than White patients.
It shouldn’t be that way. And the delay matters: Pfizer’s antiviral only helps if taken within the first five days of symptoms. My mom, feverish and exhausted, told me that if I hadn’t stepped in as her advocate, she would have given up.
Doctors must do better, especially as we continue to live through a wave of infections.
Some health care providers may be worried about managing the interactions between Paxlovid and other medicines (my mom, for example, had to pause her Lipitor while on the antiviral). Others have been dissuaded by reports of rebound infections occurring in people who take Paxlovid — despite evidence that the drug’s benefits outweigh those risks in the most vulnerable patients. And some doctors might be operating under perverse incentives that make it more lucrative to have a sick patient make an appointment to confirm their infection instead of simply calling the prescription into a pharmacy after an at-home test.
There’s also lingering confusion about the right candidates for the drug. Paxlovid was authorized in 2021 based on compelling data showing it could keep high-risk unvaccinated people out of the hospital. Yet some doctors don’t seem aware that vaccinated patients can also benefit from it, particularly if they are higher risk. That’s everyone over age 65, or those who are immunocompromised, pregnant or with an underlying condition. Those groups still are at risk of hospitalization and even of dying, especially if their last exposure or booster is in the distant past.
And that’s a lot of people. Only 1 out of every 3 retirement-age adults got last year’s booster. “From my experience as well as others, pretty much everybody I’ve taken care of hasn’t received a vaccine in the last year or so, even though they might have had them originally,” says Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. Since mid-August, COVID deaths in the U.S. have been hovering near 1,000 per week, according to CDC data. Shouldn’t we better deploy the tools that might prevent such losses?
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier. When antivirals transitioned to the commercial market last year, the U.S. government partnered with Pfizer to ensure people with public health insurance or without insurance could still get the drugs for free, and minimize the cost for people with private insurance. Yet infectious disease doctors tell me that months into the rollout, too few patients, prescribers and pharmacists seem aware of the program.
True, Paxlovid isn’t perfect. In people who aren’t high-risk, the data are mixed as to whether it helps much (though anecdotes abound for people who say they have felt better faster after taking it). And while there had been much hope that Paxlovid could prevent long COVID, so far the data supporting that hypothesis are inconclusive.
So there’s a clear need for better anti-COVID drugs. Even for young, healthy people who have been jabbed and infected multiple times, an infection can be extremely disruptive, sidelining us from work or school and ruining our best-laid plans. A drug more akin to Tamiflu — a very safe and tolerable treatment for the flu that allows people to bounce back faster, even if only by a day or two — would be a welcome invention.
Yet better antivirals have been slow to arrive. Pfizer is studying a treatment that works similarly to Paxlovid, but doesn’t interact with other medications. And hopes were dashed last spring when Shionogi’s Ensitrelvir, an antiviral approved in Japan, failed to prove it could alleviate symptoms faster than a placebo.
But even if a drug for the masses eventually made it to market, would it be used? When doctors can’t get it right for the most vulnerable, the prospects seem dim.
15 notes · View notes
rinixo · 2 years ago
Text
tailspin
Tech/Reader | 5.4k | Rated E | afab reader, smut, oral sex, face-sitting, vague student/teacher relationship, themes of sexual insecurity and regret, body worship, NPC makes a pass at reader
Concerned for your well-being, Tech proposes a theory he would like to test out - with you as the subject.
part 2 to pendulum
a/n: For your advisement - This has themes/discussions of sexual regret and sexual uncertainty, as well as what I would describe as an invocation of the student/teacher relationship trope. However, there is no intention for any age gap/power dynamic imbalances - Tech is not 'responsible' for Reader, and all sexual situations are done with clear consent from all parties.
read on ao3
You chewed absently on your food, sitting under the canopy of the greasy noodle stand you often frequented. All around you, people wandered through the crowded market, haggling or looking for the place with the cheapest liquor. No one paid any attention to you, or to each other for that matter. It was a perfect place to ignore and be ignored.
It had been a couple of weeks since you had been rescued from the abandoned science facility - weeks since you had been dosed with that weird substance and subsequently slept with Tech. You had brushed off the rest of the crew’s questions once back on the Marauder as you dosed yourself with a bacta concoction, hoping it would purge whatever remained of the drug out of your system. Likewise, Tech kept mum and insisted nothing ‘out of the ordinary’ had happened.
“Man, spending a whole day cooped up with just Tech for company must have been boring,” Wrecker had joked. You had nearly choked at the comment, choosing not to reply, and tried to sleep the rest of the way back to Ord Mantell. After reporting to Cid, you hadn’t seen any of the crew.
“Hey,” a smooth voice brought your focus back to your surroundings. Glancing to your side, you raised a brow at the Devaronian male leaning on the counter. He cast you what you guessed was supposed to be a smoldering look, and you resisted rolling your eyes before returning to your noodles.
“You come here often?” The Devaronian pressed, clearly not getting the hint you weren’t interested in conversing with him. “Name’s Qarl - what do I call you, beautiful?”
“Not interested,” you mumbled through a mouthful of noodles. Qarl smirked, scooting closer and you leaned away in response.
“Playing hard to get? Don’t be like that, baby,” he simpered. “Hey, I’ve got a table in the VIP section of that club over there. How about you join me, we order some drinks, and see where the night goes?”
You knew where this was going. People like this were all over the underbelly of the galaxy, and Ord Mantell was no different. They went around trying to find easy marks and plied them with alcohol, drugs, or the promise of pleasures. The victims would then wake hours later to find all their possessions stolen, or worse.
Finishing up your food, you pushed your bowl towards the droid manning the stall. “No thanks,” you said firmly, getting up to leave the uncomfortable situation. Unfortunately, the Devaronian was not keen to let you leave so easily.
“Come on,” he purred, standing and snaking an arm around your waist. “I’ll show you a good time, promi-hey!”
Just as soon as he had pulled you into his side Qarl was flung away. You froze, watching him stumble to the ground as a taller figure stepped between the two of you.
“I believe she said she was not interested,” Tech stated, staring intently at the grumbling Devaronian brushing dust off his clothes. “You should go.”
“Get out of here, specs,” Qarl spat. “Can’t you see we’re talking?”
You noticed Tech’s hands twitch towards his holster, and without thinking you reached forward and grabbed one of his wrists. He turned his head slightly to view you shaking your head and mouthing ‘no’. Sure, the guy was a jerk, but you didn’t want this to turn into a blast zone.
You felt some of the tension in Tech loosen as he flicked his eyes back to Qarl. “Perhaps your translator is malfunctioning,” Tech challenged. Instead of his gun, he pulled out a spanner and made it spark. You couldn’t help to smile at the way Qarl’s face blanched, backing away with a grimace. “Allow me to repair it for you.”
“Whatever,” Qarl mumbled over his shoulder and disappeared into the crowd. To their credit - and probably because they were used to seeing worse on a daily basis - no one around you seemed to realize or care about what happened.
“Are you all right?” Tech turned to you after making sure the Devaronian had indeed fled. You nodded.
“Yeah,” you replied. “Not the first time scumbags like that have hit me up, and knowing this city it won’t be the last.”
The corner of his lips dipped into a frown, and Tech put away his spanner. “That is
unfortunate.”
Shrugging, you crossed your arms. “It’s life.” There was a beat of silence between the two of you. You had told yourself every day for the past two weeks that you would go back to Cid’s and talk to Tech, go back to normal, but you had yet to motivate yourself to do it. And now, here he was, coming to your aid once again.
“What are you even doing here?” You had never seen any of the Batch more than a few yards from Cid’s parlor. This greasy market was not the kind of place you would have expected seeing any of them, especially Tech.
“Looking for you,” Tech answered. “It has been exactly sixteen days since we returned from the mission and you have not returned to Cid’s once during that time.”
“I’ve been busy,” you deflected. You had been busy
busy avoiding him.
He adjusted his goggles. “You are embarrassed about what transpired at the science facility.”
You frowned, crossing your arms tighter. “No,” you insisted weakly. Leave it to Tech to get straight to the point.
“I suspected you would,” Tech continued, ignoring your lame attempt at a rebuttal. “I did some research on amatory agents, and-“ you cut him off by dragging him down a nearby alley, heart pounding.
“Not so loud!” You hissed and simmered at the confused look Tech tossed you.
“I thought you said you were not embarrassed,” he teased lightly, and you huffed in response.
“I’m not - I just - not in public, ok?” You sputtered. “Come on, follow me.”
—
You had a small apartment on Ord Mantell. Nothing luxurious, mostly just a spot you could get some rest in. It was sparsely decorated, as you didn’t own much outside of the necessities, but it was a more private location than the market street.
You let Tech hover just inside your entryway as you kicked off your shoes and headed further inside. Passing through your small kitchenette you flicked on your kettle to boil water for tea, more of a reflex than out of a desire to actually consume anything.
Tech followed you into the rest of the apartment, and you sat on the edge of your bed. “Don’t have a lot of seating options,” you apologized, motioning to the single chair you had opposite your sleeping space.
“I am familiar with small spaces,” he commented and sat down. “Between the Marauder and barracks, this is actually quite spacious than what I am used to.”
“I see,” you breathed out. Another pause, and you twitched your hands nervously. Tech’s eyes roamed around your apartment, and you wondered what he thought about it - and why you were so nervous having him here.
“So
,” you ventured, after waiting another moment. “What did you want to talk about?”
Clearing his throat, Tech re-focused back on you and raised his finger in a familiar lecturing gesture. “Right. As I was saying, I did some research on amatory agents. Specifically on the psychological after-effects on those impacted.”
Leaning back, you crossed your arms. “Why?”
“I knew you would not want to say anything about it in front of the rest of the crew. When you did not show up to Cid’s in the days after, however, I began to wonder if you were experiencing latent side effects from the drug, or avoiding an uncomfortable confrontation with me.” He tapped his thigh absently. “Have you?”
You shrugged half-heartedly. “No, I don’t think I’ve had any side effects. But
yeah, I guess I was avoiding you a little bit. I’m sorry.” You hadn’t realized he would have even noticed and felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of him worrying.
He put a hand up. “No need for apologies. Much of the literature I looked at talked about feelings of regret, loss of agency and control, and other unpleasant psychological impacts. Additionally, I thought about how that incident coincided with your first sexual experience - an event that can also have elements of regret or unease, especially for women.”
“Putting those together, I surmised that despite the emotions of the moment, you could be experiencing significant distress post-incident, as a result of having your first experience with sexual intercourse under such circumstances.”
As Tech spoke, you wondered again if he was lying about not being a mind reader. Though you had barely begun to admit it to yourself, he was right. You had been struggling with coming to terms with what had happened back in that storeroom. You didn’t regret it, not in the exact way that he was alluding to, but it was still complicated.
“Am I correct?” Tech questioned, pulling you back to the present.
“Yeah,” you replied shortly, and he hummed.
“I rarely am not.” That got a snort out of you, and Tech smiled softly at your humored outburst.
“I’m fine, though,” you added. “I appreciate you coming by, but this
I think it’s something I need to work through myself.”
Tech raised a brow and stood. “I
understand,” he said, and you wondered if you had really detected a tone of disappointment in his voice.
You walked him to your door where both of you hesitated, waiting for the other to say something. Clearing your throat, you wished him goodnight but as you went to close the door he stuck out a hand to stop it from shutting all the way.
You eyed him hesitantly. Stars, he was tall. You sometimes forgot about it.
“Respectfully, I did not mean to imply that something was wrong with you,” Tech said lowly, leaning in so that he would not be overheard. “But in a way, I do feel somewhat responsible for what occurred - “
“Tech,” you protested, but he continued on.
“-And in the interest of your comfort, I was curious if you would like to revisit the experience,” he offered. “Without the effects of the drug in your system.”
You stared at him, blood rushing to roar in your ears. Was he saying what you thought he was saying?
“I believe it would help in creating positive associations around sexuality,” Tech added, fingers tapping against your doorframe when you did not answer.
You had convinced yourself that Tech had done what he did out of a sense of duty, and concern for your health, and that there were no lingering thoughts of affection or desire in him. He had said he was not opposed to sleeping with you again, but as you replayed the conversation in your head over and over you told yourself he had done it in order to ease some of the tension and awkwardness of the moment.
“I-“ you stammered, unsure of what to say or what you wanted.
“You don’t have to answer just now,” Tech said softly. “Or at all. It
will not change anything. But if you are interested in the experience of having an
instructor, I would like to offer my services.”
With that, he dropped his hand and wished you goodnight, disappearing into the back alleyways of your neighborhood. You retreated back into your apartment and turned off your lights before laying on your bed. Your stomach and mind both twisted with what had just happened.
To say you hadn’t been thinking about your time with Tech would be a bold-faced lie. Every night since you had returned you had fallen asleep with the memory of him over your body, the warmth of his mouth on you. The soreness you had experienced from the size of him had faded into an ache of emptiness, an echo of the desire you felt in that intense moment weeks ago.
Maybe you had been drugged by that Devaronian, and this was the vision your mind played for you as you lay under a dirty club table while some scumbag stole your things.
Closing your eyes, you brought yourself back to Tech’s gaze. Usually so sure, but there was a hint of some vulnerability in their yellow-tinged depths.
He has nice eyes, you thought absently, sighing into your pillow. You hadn’t had a chance to notice the last time.
—
Two days later, you paced nervously around your apartment, waiting for Tech to arrive. You had sent him a message asking him to stop by, finally having built enough courage to press ‘send’ after debating with yourself.
A soft knock at the door made you jump slightly. Patting down your clothes, you let out a breath and invited him in.
He was dressed down - as much as a former clone trooper could be. Still the same goggles, you noticed. You wondered if he had an indent where they met his skin.
“You’re here,” you greeted, immediately wincing at how stupid that sounded.
“I am,” Tech agreed. “Did you doubt I would come?”
“I - I don’t know,” you confessed, rubbing your arm where you had been injected with the drug absently. It was a habit you had taken to recently, and you did not miss the way Tech’s eyes narrowed at the movement.
“You said you wanted to talk,” Tech leaned against the archway that lead from your kitchen to your living/sleeping space. “Am I correct in assuming it’s regarding my proposition from a few days ago?”
Nodding, you let out a breath. “Yes. I’ve been thinking about it, and
” you trailed off, chewing over your words. You had gone over what you had been wanting to say for the past two days, but it was still getting caught on the tip of your tongue.
“I will not be offended if you decline,” Tech reassured. “If that is what you are nervous about.”
“No, it’s just-“ You crossed your arms again and sighed, stepping closer to him.
“What do you get out of this?” you interrogated. “I’m thankful you helped me, Tech, but you don’t have any obligation to continue to
assist me. I like you, and I don’t want to be some kind of
research project for you, or a way for you to alleviate some kind of misplaced guilt."
You chewed your lip, flustered at your own candor. Tech tilted his head, eyes darting to the side before they landed back on you.
“Back in the storeroom,” he said slowly. “You said something that I have been thinking about. At the moment I attributed it with your enhanced state of mind, and deflected in order to focus on bringing you relief.”
‘Teach me how to touch you’. “I
remember,” you affirmed quietly.
Tech cleared his throat again. “Yes. And
despite the circumstances that led to us having sex being from an artificial hormonal source, I must admit
I have been thinking about it quite often.” He reached out a hand, hesitant, and softly stroked the side of your jaw as you stared up at him.
“I want to assure you that I find you
incredibly enticing,” he breathed. “And what I have proposed, I do both in the interest of your comfort and - selfishly - for my own desires.”
Closing your eyes, you leaned into his cupped hand.
“I-,” you whispered softly, “Truthfully, the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized that I did enjoy sleeping with you. I think it’s because even considering the circumstances, I trusted you. And even if I had been given the option, I would have wanted it to be you that I experienced it with.”
“I - that is a privilege,” Tech enthused quietly. He stepped closer to you with a curious, intense look. You reached your hands towards him, and as you pressed together he leaned down so that your noses bumped.
“Tech,” you breathed. “Show me what to do.”
He pressed his mouth against yours, swallowing your surprised gasp. You relaxed into his firm hold, the two of you stumbling back so that you hit the edge of your bed. You laid back as Tech leaned over you, climbing up over your form.
“My clothing” he directed, pulling away from your mouth. You shifted, hands going to the top of his trousers, and you tried to hide the nervous tremble as you unbuckled them. You drew them down his thin hips, revealing a sliver of golden skin and his dark base under layers.
You paused, unsure of where to go next. Peering down at you, Tech raised a brow and shifted so that he was laying just to the side of you, your legs entangled.
“You can touch me,” he said gently. Your eyes darted from his back down to where the black underlay protruded slightly. You brushed your palm over him curiously, surprised at how his cock twitched in response. You rubbed him more firmly through the fabric, emboldened by the sharp inhale from the man before you. He dipped his head down again, pressing another open-mouthed kiss against you.
Biting your lip, you reached down the top of his blacks and danced your fingers around his length. Dark hair, kept neat, scratched at your skin. Tech let out a sigh as you grasped him, and you echoed it in kind. It was such an odd feeling, you decided, as you touched his cock. How could something be so soft and pliable while also being so kriffing hard?
You pulled his blacks down further so that his whole length was freed. You briefly wondered what it felt like to have a cock - Tech’s was long and heavy enough that it bowed under its own weight, growing in your hand.
“What does it feel like?” You questioned, and Tech hummed against you.
“What does what feel like?” He queried. You blinked up at him through your lashes.
“What does having your cock stroked feel like?”
That got a choke out of him, which turned into him clearing his throat. “Well it’s
not something easily described,” he began. Clear liquid was beginning to leak from the swollen head, and you used your palm to spread it along the rest of his cock. It made a slick noise as you stroked him up and down.
His eyes fluttered briefly, and you watched as he chewed over his response. If there was one thing Tech couldn’t resist it was a chance to explain something, but even he was not immune to a drop in concentration under the circumstances.
“It’s
satisfying," he decided after a moment. “When I am aroused, there is a kind of
ache for sensation. It’s almost like a pulse - persistent, insistent on being stimulated.”
“Mmm,” you acknowledged, still steadily handling him. "Does it make a difference if it’s you touching yourself versus someone else touching you?”
“Yes,” Tech answered. You could feel his abdomen flex under your arm. “When you know your own body, you know how to bring yourself to completion most efficiently. I know how I like to be touched. Though of course -“ he let out a rasped groan as you increased the pressure you were holding him with - “there is something unique about having someone else do it to you.”
“I think I understand,” you mused. His arms tightened around you as you twisted your wrist, enjoying the way his cock twitched in your grasp.
“Take me into your mouth,” he instructed. “Try-try your tongue first.”
You spared him a glance before you slid down to sit between his thighs. Gripping the base of him, you darted your tongue out to lick hesitantly over his swollen cockhead. That got another rasped groan from him.
“I- very good,” he stammered.
You licked over his head again, finding that the taste of him was not unpleasant. In fact, the feeling of how his pre-spend pooled out of him and onto your tongue made you feel pleasantly flushed. You were discovering that there was satisfaction in being the cause of someone else’s pleasure.
Emboldened again, you took him deeper into your mouth. He was far too large for you to fit the entirety of him, but you swirled your tongue around what you could and sucked gently.
One of Tech’s hands came up to push your hair out of your face, holding it out of the way for you. “You’re doing well,” he enthused, and you shivered a little at the praise. He noticed immediately and huffed out in slight amusement.
“I confess - your enthusiasm is incredibly arousing,” he remarked. “You are a quick learner, aren’t you?”
You moaned at his words, your own arousal increasing exponentially. Tech’s hands stroked your cheek as his cock pressed against the spongey roof of your mouth. With a groan, he eased your mouth off of him gently.
You leaned back, wiping spit from your lips with the back of your hand, panting a little to catch your breath. “What’s wrong?” You questioned, thinking had you done something he didn’t like.
“Nothing,” Tech assured, leaning forward to cup your face in his hands. “I just do not want to finish too quickly - I have much more to show you.” You flushed again, thighs squirming as your core pulsed.
“Take off your clothes,” he instructed. You pulled your leggings down, kicking them off with your underwear. You lifted your top off and threw it to the side, kneeling bare in front of a still mostly clothed Tech. He leaned against the headboard and motioned for you to come closer, grabbing your hands to pull you up into his lap.
“I want you to sit on my face,” he directed lowly, noticing your wide-eyed confusion, and you squeaked in surprise. Grasping your hips, he led you up his chest until your core was over his eager mouth.
“I-I’ll smother you,” you protested, tensing as he tried to pull you down. His brow furrowed in chastisement, and you felt his fingers tighten over your skin.
“That’s the goal,” he drawled and pulled you down so that he could lathe his tongue through your dripping folds. You gasped, one hand reaching out to grab the headboard and the other coming down to clutch his soft hair.
This angle wasn’t what you were expecting, and the way his tongue flicked over your sensitive clit made your legs shake. Your thighs ached from trying to avoid sitting too far down on his face, a task made impossible by how he wrapped an arm around your waist to seat you more firmly over his clever mouth. He ate you like someone licking a plate to get every last bit of their last meal, and you could feel an orgasm approaching rapidly.
You grasped his hair and curled into yourself as you came, thighs shaking as you finally failed to keep them tensed. Tech did not stop and suckled your clit until you were writhing in almost-painful pleasure. He finally released you after what seemed like an eternity of coming, sliding you down to sit on his abdomen.
“I thought you were teaching me how to make you feel good,” you panted, and Tech smirked. He pressed a wet kiss to your mouth, arms coming around your waist to press your body closer to his.
“I am,” he rasped against you. “Part of sexual satisfaction is pleasing your partner. Their reactions, the sounds they make, the way they taste-“ he shuddered slightly against your mouth. “And you, my dear, taste delectable.”
Trailing his mouth down your chest, he nipped at your breasts. You gasped and arched into it, letting him take more of your sensitive flesh between his teeth. Tugging at his top, you helped him pull it off over his head, immediately running your hands down his chest. While not as built as Wrecker or Hunter, he was still deliciously toned and firm.
Groaning against your skin, Tech laid back and let you drag your hands down his body. Glancing up, you smiled at the glazed look in his eyes, his ruffled hair, and his lopsided goggles.
“A scar,” you noted, pressing a finger against the mark just above his hip. His body jerked at the motion, and his hands went to adjust his goggles as he watched you explore him.
“Y-yes,” he muttered. “A piece of shrapnel clipped through my armor.” Shifting his hips, he let out a strained noise as you scratched it lightly with a fingernail. “That, ah - I am sensitive there,” he confessed.
“Did I hurt you?” You asked, lifting your hands. He shook his head almost a little too fast.
“Keep going,” he replied, pulling his goggles off and letting his head fall back on your pillows.
Settling between his thighs once more, you placed the pads of your fingers just above his navel. You stroked down Tech’s body, applying different levels of pressure as you grazed his inner thighs. He was making some delightful noises, you mused to yourself. You wanted to hear more.
His cock was still leaking pre-spend, a clear strand connecting from the head to where he bobbed against his abdomen. Leaning forward, you continued your soft tracing of his skin, the lines of his muscles, the patterns his soft body hair made, and took the head of his cock into your mouth.
A muffled curse from above, and you felt Tech’s body twitch again. “You clever girl,” he ground out, clearly impressed with your interpretation of his pleasure. His praise continued to ignite your own need, and you slipped a hand from his body to slide through your slick folds.
Opening one eye, Tech watched you teasing yourself. “I can hear how wet you are,” he breathed, and you moaned, too aroused to be embarrassed at his candor. “Another, ah - benefit of being genetically engineered
”
With more of that belied strength Tech grasped your forearms and pulled you back up his body.  He licked into your open mouth, and you whimpered at the sensation. You were on the edge of something, tensed like a prey animal. He had a way of pushing you from one extreme to another, from control to submission. He played with your body like he had been memorizing it for years - a nod to his experience, his intellect, both?
He shifted under you, and you felt his cock press against your inner thigh. Grasping himself in hand, Tech broke away from your mouth to watch your reaction as he guided himself to your entrance, eyes locked on to the way your own fluttered shut and your mouth opened into a small gasp.
You were still tight - not from lack of arousal, but from the mere size difference between your bodies. Tech grasped your hips, easing you down his length, paying close attention to every minute change on your face.
The stretch was delicious, right on the precipice of being too much. The further he pushed in, the more full you felt, and you swore that you could feel him all the way up into your throat.
“Magnificent,” Tech praised lowly, solid inside of you. “Look-“ he grabbed your hand, pressing it to where he entered you. You glanced down and swore that he twitched purposefully so that you’d feel it.
“That’s me inside of you,” he intoned.
“Tech,” you whimpered. Your hands came down to his abdomen, trying to find leverage. Even with his entire length filling you it felt like he just kept going, the head of him bumping almost painfully against the seal of your womb.
“Move, darling,” he crooned, rolling his hips to urge you on. “It will help.”
With a deep inhale, you shifted and met the roll of his hips tentatively. The stretch and slide of him up and then down, and then up and then down - the smug know-it-all was right, it did help.
“Good girl,” Tech breathed again. “Keep going.”
You rocked against him. Your brow, once furrowed in concentration, relaxed as you found a rhythm. Shifting, Tech moved his hands from your waist to knead at the plush flesh of your ass, adding to the pace of your movement. Your chests met again as you leaned toward him, and closed your eyes as his nose nuzzled against your cheek.
“How does it feel?” Tech husked, moving your hips to slide up and down his length.
“Good,” you breathed, and let out a hiss as Tech snaked a hand down to tweak at your swollen clit.
“Good,” Tech repeated with a hum. “My dear, you can do better than that.” You felt his abdomen clench as he propped up his legs and met your rocking with a firm thrust up into you.
“Again,” he instructed, leaning his head back to look at you expectantly.
You clawed at his shoulders, mouth opening with a choke. How could he expect you to form coherent sentences with the way his cock was ramming up into you? Every thrust drew you further from focus - and based on the gleam in his eyes that was precisely the point.
“Your cock,” you choked. “It
it’s so big, Tech. I like how you’re filling me up. The way you s-stretch me feels so good
”
Pleased with your candidness, Tech’s lips lifted into a short smile. “You’re drenched. Your little cunt is taking my cock beautifully.” You burned at the way he voiced his approval, your pussy fluttering around him.
“Do you want to hear a confession?” Tech groaned as he pulled you closer, and you nodded feverishly.
“I like that I’m the first man to fuck you,” he rasped. “I like knowing that my cock was the first one to split your tight little cunt. That it’s my seed that you took -“ He panted, pace increasing, and you felt the beginning of your own finish.
“Do you want it again?” Tech pressed, and you rambled ‘yes yes yesyes-‘
“Good girl, come on,” he urged, hand returning to press on your clit, drawing you over the edge. You cried out his name as your orgasm washed over you, pussy fluttering around as he continued to piston up into you. Grasping your ass in his hands once again, Tech pushed himself into you as far as he could go, eyes roaming your face as he relished the feeling of your cunt pulsing around him. He held you there, breath held until his own climax hit.
If you felt full before, it was nothing to how you felt as Tech throbbed inside of you, cum painting your insides. You shivered as he pulled you tightly against his chest, your name escaping from between his gritted teeth.
Your heart pounded from exertion as you lay there together. You felt Tech’s hand coming up to stroke your shoulder softly, and you lifted your head from where you had pressed it against the side of his neck to blink at the surprisingly tender look in his eyes.
“Apologies,” he murmured. “But I am going to adjust slightly -“ You winced as he shifted so that the two of you were laying side by side again, and as your thighs rubbed together you felt where his spend leaked out of you. You weren’t sure if you liked the feeling, but in a way it was satisfying.
You felt Tech sit up, looking for his goggles. “Are you all right?” He asked, pushing his goggles up his nose.
“Yes,” you said, pressing your face into your pillow. “I think so?”
Instead of getting up and leaving, Tech settled back down on your bed. You tilted your head up to eye him curiously.
“Are you?” You inquired, and saw him glance down at you.
“Yes.” Tech cleared his throat, and you raised a brow. Was he blushing?
“So Tech,” you lifted your head, propping an arm so you could rest your chin on your elbow. “How did I do?”
“P-pardon?” Tech sputtered, and you sent him a lazy grin.
“Did I
meet your standards?” You teased.
“That was not the purpose of this
entanglement,” Tech chided, flustered. Adjusting his goggles, he shot you a stern look. “In fact, ranking my sexual encounters would be counterintuitive to your well-being.”
You frowned, a small pout gracing your lips. “Not getting a good grade, then, am I?”
Tech sighed out your name, and rolled over so that he was hovering over your still-bare form. “You are impossible,” he chastised, not unkindly, and dipped down to kiss the smirk off your face.
347 notes · View notes
sophieinwonderland · 5 days ago
Text
I saw someone complaining about my post suggesting we start marketing tulpamancy to youths in religious conservative households, accusing me of wanting to use the same tactics as the fundamentalists. To which I'll say...
Duh.
In case anyone hasn't noticed, liberal Christianity is dying.
This isn't true of evangelicalism. And you know why that is?
Marketing!
Even if someone from their flock does leave, fundamentalists can convert more people. They are willing to convert more people. It's their sacred duty as Christians to save lost souls from Hell.
Liberal churches are too passive. They choose to be respectful of other faiths to such a fault that they don't like converting people to their religion or political ideologies. While fundamentalists were preaching that Donald Trump was a hero for God battling the demonic forces of the Left, the liberal Christian churches twiddled their thumbs doing nothing because meshing politics and religion is "wrong".
They don't convert people. They don't market their religion. They don't use their religious platforms to try to push for positive change for marginalized communities.
They don't do these things because they view these tactics as things the "bad" churches do. And they aren't wrong. These are the exact tactics that fundamentalists employ. But these tactics themselves aren't necessarily immoral. And importantly, these tactics are why the fundamentalists are winning.
This isn't just a problem with liberal churches but the Left as a whole, IMO.
I saw this image going around and I feel it actually sums up the problem nicely:
Tumblr media
This is true in a lot of ways. It's obviously a huge problem with our purity tests. The fact that many people were fine abstaining to vote because our candidate wasn't perfect by their standards when the alternative was a fascist who literally promised to be a dictator on day 1 of his Presidency is a great example of this.
But so too is our fear of using the same tactics that our enemies do because of some misguided motion that doing so is immoral or makes us just as bad as them. The notion that "pushing your political views on people makes you just as bad as fascists" has turned modern liberals into an ineffective joke.
And this finally brings us to tulpamancy.
We have a practice that...
Practitioners overwhelmingly report positive mental health benefits from.
While there are a couple edge cases of people having negative reactions, these negative reactions are far less common than you'll find for, say, prescription drugs. We're talking about maybe 1-2% of tulpa systems. And many of those will be because of avoidable mistakes. (People making tulpas that are designed to be critical of them, for example.)
The fact that many tulpamancers will create opposite-gender tulpas means their tulpas are likely to experience some level of gender dysphoria while fronting. In theory, going from a cis singlet to what is essentially a genderfluid system should make tulpamancers more sympathetic to trans rights issues. Those who care enough about their tulpas will want their tulpas to be able to front with whatever gender they identify by. Therefore, a child of a fundamentalist Christian who becomes a tulpamancer is just a bit more likely to vote in support of trans rights.
This is largely a net positive all around.
And what is the price of doing nothing?
The vulnerable people who are looking for something to fill whatever gaps they believe they have inside them will find something to fill those gaps with. Every person we don't reach is someone that the right-wing fundamentalists and fascists can.
Let's be totally clear here. Vulnerable people exist. And if we're not the ones to exploit those vulnerabilities, the fascists will be. Abstaining from reaching out to people in need and offering something that could make their lives better doesn't protect the people in need. It just means someone else will target them instead and lead them down a worse path.
It's been said that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. And sadly, a lot of liberals have made an ideology of doing nothing, so crippled in the terror that they might do the wrong thing that they avoid actions that both could help people in need and progress their political agendas at once.
11 notes · View notes
ajmakoko · 12 days ago
Text
Summary of evidence and concerns:
Trump is a Russian asset working for Putin (see book American Kompromat by journalist Craig Unger or Active Measures documentary with Hillary Clinton(1), sources below). Elon and Trump are working together (2). They both have substantial ties to Epstein (3) (4) (5) (6). Trump stole election software in 2020 (7). Similarly, Elon Musk has been in contact with Russia for the last 2 years (8). This includes during the Ukraine War when Russia began using Starlink (9) while it was claimed they got them third party and not from Musk himself; however now appears imo to show Elon is a doublecrosser.
Starlink, Elon's satellite company, was installed in some voting machines across the country (10) and may have interfered with vote tabulation. Voting machines were found to be connected to the internet (11). An independent report on voting machines concluded that tabulation tampering was possible with current voting machines, so hand counts are vital (12). In September, Politico had an investigation finding Russian malware on a state voter registration database (13). Also, there were malicious fake texts from fake DNC organizations, connected to Elon who donated to them, that were fishing voter info (14).
Elon had results of election on an app 4 hours before official counts had it (15), per Joe Rogan podcast in a discussion to Theo Von. Earlier this year, Tana Monogeau, released info that she'd been offered millions of dollars to endorse the Trump campaign and that she knew others had taken the deal (16).
They will release more info admitting their fraud because they are a Russian asset trying to start a civil war here (speculation). They want us to be confused about sources and who to trust and what's real, they want to release the truth to anger us and lies to anger us. Trump has refused to write an ethics statement for transition of power saying he will transition peacefully (17). JD Vance has also told the EU that unless they allow X unfettered access to the EU (to spread propaganda), they will withdraw the US from NATO (18) - which will prompt wars or takeover either way and weakens Germany, who is entering an election since their government couldn't agree on Ukraine budget. A Russian space chief said Elon Musk’s plan to bomb Mars is a cover to put nuclear weapons in space (19).
Also speculation, are reports of widespread ballot rejection, especially for signatures. There are articles claiming already that it is because GenZ does not know cursive (20) - except the signature simply must match your driver's license. It's not a cursive writing test. Avocado toast but with gen z voting fraud. We do not yet have the ballot rejection rates but typically they are around 1% to 1.5% (21).
Crypto is how right wing conservatism got funded here. It's why it took off- it was basically UBI for those men, funded by foreign intelligence for this purpose along with other uses for crypto like dark money, drugs, trafficking, etc (22)(23). The least informed people we knew were investing in crypto when it was starting, mining bitcoins. They couldn't tell you what a stock or tariff is, yet they were making bank in crypto trading. Crypto trading, especially memecoins, appears to be an obvious scam to most because it's the stock market without ownership. So why were these 4chan pedophiles and nazis doing so well? Because it was just meant to give them money the whole time. And crypto is great for transferring money internationally from shady organizations to shady people (24). Far right catchphrases and meme campaigns dispersed online including X, give out the key words/catchphrases for the new coin that isn't a scam and will disperse money. People who are deep in these groups interner algorithms get these keywords first and normal outsiders will either not notice or will stay away. No normal person wants a coin that references Hitler if they are just scrolling memecoins.
Once the government has been taken over, they can force their memecoin as the national currency and then rug pull, which is also what Musk is likely going to do to Tesla at the same time. The entire point is to bankrupt America for Putin and his cartoon villain cohorts. Musk is already saying he wants to withdraw from US currency due to national debt (Trump added most of the national debt) (25).
If you're in Germany, take note. They are coming for you next, your election is soon.
News Links
(1) https://youtu.be/5umiMThrlsA?si=mwgr4U2c2jleJEBj
(2) https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elon-musk-weighing-trump-staffing-decisions-sources/story?id=115730434
(3) https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/03/trump-infiltrate-voting-machines-georgia-2020.html
(4) https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-interview.html
(5) https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epsteins-ex-girlfriend-dated-kimbal-musk-brother-of-tesla-founder-elon-musk-2020-1
(6) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fire-and-fury-the-podcast/id1750757108
(7) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/01/trump-jeffrey-epstein-tapes
(8) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-to-know-about-elon-musks-reported-phone-calls-with-putin-and-why-it-matters
(9) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-using-thousands-spacex-starlink-terminals-ukraine-wsj-says-2024-02-15/
(10) https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnewsvideo/comments/1gnxqmw/elon_musks_company_starlink_praised_by_tulare/
(11) www.nbcnews.com/news/ncna1112436
(12) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/inside-georgias-effort-to-secure-voting-machines-as-experts-raise-concerns
(13) https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/01/us-election-software-national-security-threats-00176615
(14) https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2024/10/pro-trump-dark-money-network-tied-to-elon-musk-behind-fake-pro-harris-campaign-scheme/
(15) https://grabien.com/story.php?id=499986
(16) https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/tana-mongeau-paid-political-endorsement
(17) https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-planning-ca3a6be50d147b04b6498184e5599b1e
(18) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jd-vance-elon-musk-x-twitter-donald-trump-b2614525.html
(19) https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/499968-russian-space-chief-elon-musks-plan-to-bomb-mars-is-a-cover-to-put/
(20) https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-voters-struggle-signatures-cast-mail-ballot-problems-2024-11
(21) https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_2024:_Analysis_of_rejected_ballots
(22) https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/far-right-extremists-raise-millions-cryptocurrency-bitcoin/
(23) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/10/opinion/crypto-cryptocurrency-money-conspiracy.html
(24) https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-europe-f7f754fc2c68b0eb0d712239323f26c3
(25) https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/10/its-unsustainable-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-issues-us-serious-bankruptcy-warning-amid-huge-bitcoin-and-dogecoin-price-surge/
Personal Testimony from the dickbags themselves:
youtube.com/live/HBPNfAUPz08?si=PZQa_D_wbN9VoA6y
In the first minute:
"Your votes are rigged. We can win New Mexico."
"If you can watch your vote counter, if we can bring God down from heaven (he's referencing Starlink), we can win this, win California, win a lot of states."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/if-trump-loses-im-fcked-elon-musk-in-interview-with-tucker-carlson/articleshow/114024254.cms
“If [Trump] loses, I’m f*cked
 How long do you think my prison sentence is going to be?”
Why does Elon think he would go to prison though? For what crime?
youtu.be/Zmc0EN8XAY8?si=5u_mJNte37r4JmUb
Trump:"Our little secret is having a big impact"
If Trump was so sure the election was rigged and they were going to turnover every state including California, then why hasn't he asked for a recount in all the states with representatives that didn't get elected that he thought would be? Shouldn't he be suing for recounts? He did it last time. Why doesn't he want an investigation this time?
#AssetForfeitureTrumpMusk
If they get locked into years of asset forfeiture from layers and layers of state and municipal claims and lawsuits (which will require discovery lol), we may be able to stop them. Which is likely part of why they are moving to bitcoin as well.
9 notes · View notes
merelyroleplayers · 12 days ago
Text
Now playing in the Main House
Act Four of Five: Test your smoke alarms and check your boiler regularly. Otherwise your home can really hurt you.
Coming next on 26 November – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 5
Programme notes
This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence.
Meet actual play podcasters and see some live recordings at the Dragonmeet PodcastZone in London on 30 November.
Back the Slayers Survival Kit and Hunter’s Journal, two new Monster of the Week books.
Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to OMEN Investigations, a comedy horror podcast starring three secret agents as they travel the world fighting monsters, ghosts, aliens and other paranormal perils.
Dramatis personae and other definitions
Peggy Tailor: The prodigal daughter of a local family that dabbles in fey frolicking and organised crime, back in town to lay low after a grift gone horribly wrong.
Calistarius Softbinding: A local horror writer with a cult following, who sponsored the construction of a whole new wing of Sherrydown’s library. Calistarius Softbinding is a nom de plume.
Ed Kincaid: A once promising, now disgraced MI5 agent assigned to investigate the more 
 esoteric threats reported to the national security hotline.
Jinny Greenteeth: Proprietor of the Grove of Oddities, a tacky Sherrydown tourist attraction. In a past life, Jinny was branded a witch after a series of drownings in her Lancashire village.
Department of Omissions (DO, DoOm): The UK government department tasked with preventing harm to citizens from supernatural phenomena. Severely defunded under Tory austerity policies and currently prioritising major urban population centres.
Sherrydown, Brackshire: A historic English market town. One of the first towns to lose its DoOm office.
Omission effect: The rejection of certain beings and phenomena by long-term memory. Recently lifted.
Credits
COMPERE: Matt Boothman
STARRING:
Ellie Pitkin as Peggy Tailor, the Crooked
Chris Buxey as Calistarius Softbinding, the Expert
Chris MacLennan as Ed Kincaid, the Professional
Josh Yard as Jinny Greenteeth, the Spellslinger
with Chris Starkey as Cameron Jarvis
ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Monster of the Week, designed by Michael Sands
MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst
SOUND DESIGN BY: Matt Boothman
SFX AND INCIDENTAL MUSIC INCLUDES: Mirage by Kevin MacLeod; and may include others made available to use without attribution.
EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman
Find us
On Instagram @MerelyRoleplayers
On Tumblr @merelyroleplayers
www.MerelyRoleplayers.com
5 notes · View notes