#Even though we can't see the increase in West

[hadleysmis]

Stat report update on my account because I'm bored aha

In terms of which country groups of Asia:

(excluding North, since North is just 75% of Russia)

East- 5 (+0)

China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

South East- 5 (+3)

Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

South- 2 (+0)

India, Sri Lanka

West- 3 (+0)

Iran, Lebanon, Türkiye

Central- 0 (+0)

Works talked about:

East- 36 (+3)

South East- 8 (+3)

South- 4 (+0)

West- 4 (+0)

Central- 0 (+0)

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 791: Replacing the lead!!

Pag 1

1: In the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, located at the border with Ooita Prefecture, there's Mt. Hiko, consisting of three peaks, that reaches the altitude of 1200m

2: It has a long history and it's long been worshipped as a training ground for monks

3: Currently, a slope car leading to Mt. Hiko's shrines has been constructed, and a lot of tourists go there to see the autumn leaves' color, the winter's silver frost, and for mountain climbing

4: The main shrine is built on top of Mt. Hiko's sacred mountain, Nakadake

5: Halfway up, passing through the west side, as the altitude increases, there's the winding highway number 500

Pag 2

1: The stage for the mountain stage of the Inter High's first day

Pag 3

1: Kumamoto Daichi is still at the top!! The local team from Kyushu!!

Goo!!

2: He passed the 3km left to the finish line point!!

I see figures following Kumadai's Fujiwara....

4: It's two people!!

Two people!?

Pag 4

1: It's Manami and Mountain King!!

Pag 5

1: I see his back!! One person

Is he the lead!?

2: So it seems!!

3: Two people!! Dammit, they really did catch up!!

So the voices in the audience I heard saying that Onoda and Manami were approaching were true!!

4: Kumadai!! Bad news coming from behind!! Raise your pace!!

5: But I won't lose!! I'm very calm!!

My condition has never been this good!!

Pag 6

1: Alright, once we pass that guy it'll become”the winner will get the mountain prize”!!

3: The one who wins will get the “mountain prize”!! In a race it's better to have some kind of prize

Suddenly...

Pag 7

1: I'm getting fired up!!

3: Okay!! Good!!

Pag 8

1: Woah!!

He's accelerating again!!

2: His concentration is rising again!!

4: His legs are turning more than before!!

5: I can see it from behind, so I get it well

6: You probably don't understand it yourself, but right now you're pedaling with an amazing efficiency of power transmission

Amazing

7: It's like he's 100% synchronized with his bike!!

Really... you

Pag 9

1: He has the power of turning his joy into concentration!!

2: They're already approaching!!

Pag 10

1: I'm sorry but I'll surpass you!!

2: No doubt!!

3: Really... this guy is so strange

4: Last year, on the second day's mountain, after we were passed by Kyofuhi, he chased after them

5: Since we're both running in the same Inter High, this year, before the start I called out to him

I wanted to greet you

I'm Kumadai's Fujiwara. This will be our last Inter High together

Pag 11

1: Wh-wh-wh- what is it!?

He's super nervous!!

2: Are you okay!? Take a deep breath

If you have any problems, you can call anyone from Kumadai, our numbers are in the 60s

Th- ye-

3: Th- thank you so much. Ah... you ran last year with Kumadai's Isa-san – Masa-san...?

That's right, you remember!! I'm Fujiwara Masayuki!!

4: I became captain, too

5: Ahh, is that so? Congratulations!!

No wait, you don't have to bow your head like that

We should do that to each other

6: Such an extremely small and humble guy...

7: That's always the first impression of Onoda...

Thank you for coming here

8: But every year, once he gets on his bike and climbs a mountain, this guy...

Pag 12

1: he feels overwhelmingly big when he approaches!!

Pag 13

1: I don't understand him

And also, he's always...

2: Thank you very much for this morning

Thanks to you, I calmed down a little!!

3: He's so polite...!!

4: I can't help but support him

Do your best Onoda

5: Yes!!

Pag 14

2: Any time now, huh?

3: I guess so

4: Onoda-kun will be reaching the race's climax

5: It's about time they passed the other climbers and started their race

Pag 15

1: I wonder if he's having fun

Hm, yeah, since he was looking forward to it

2: Even though I guess those two are probably thinking of the “mountain prize”as nothing more than a “juice” to buy the other as a treat if they lose

3: Kakaka

That sounds super fun!!

4: Those two

5: In the past two Inter Highs they were both times burdened with heavy races

8: If they can run with a smile, then that's enough

… yeah

Pag 16

1: We're excited too!!

2: Manami-kun moved ahead!!

3: Sakamichi-kun!!

Pag 17

1: 2km left until the mountain stage finish line!!

3: The wind... is blowing from the west

Just ahead of here

4: the trees become lower

5: and it turns back in a U-shape

Pag 18

1: That'll be the decisive moment!!

2: I'll fly!! Sakamichi-kun!!

Pag 19

3: It seems like we'll see them appear here at the mountain gate anytime now

There are currently two people in the lead, and they're passing the 2km point!!

So 2km left, huh

They'll come soon

I can't wait

Pag 20

1: I said it before already, but

2: “History” needs “someone who witnesses it”!!

[ranticore]

Hi has anyone ever told you Ice Storm Over Kosa has impeccable vibes and feels incredibly innovative and fresh!

In terms of the towns and communities, what types of infrastructure connects them? What kinds of technologies are common vs cutting edge in the setting’s different time periods?

hehe thank you.. i really like how the setting tag is just one of the character's names so it looks like you're saying He has impeccable vibes

<3

So there is a huge huge almost insurmountable limiting factor when it comes to the growth of towns and communities, which is that large aggregations of living creatures will attract the crawly beasts and they pollute the earth, make crops wither and die away, kill livestock, kill people, etc, and humans can't even touch them with protective gloves on since the crawlers' fluids eat through leather

humanity (and monsters) were forced to spread out over a larger surface area. villages and settlements are small and have to be actively defended almost nightly. there has been a slight stagnation of the march of progress, as just fighting off this threat takes up so much of everyone's resources, and forbids institutes of learning and the like from forming. so most of the technological advancements we see, they are in the field of long-range communication, weaponry (falconry too), and material technology that might repel crawling beasts

in prehistory, the land now called "the Ama plains" hosted a gigantic city with a hundred thousand people living in it, called Amphora. it was very advanced for its time period, with working plumbing, hot and cold water even, mass production of cloth and food, etc (not to mention the magic). Amphora no longer exists and most of its innovations were lost.

in the early time period after the arrival of the crawling beasts, humanity and monsterkind are scattered. the only established settlements are those guarded by wyrms, but it took many centuries to reach that point. human towns are ruled by small feudal lords who may form loose alliances with one another but typically rule their land as if it's a lone island in the middle of a vast sea. this is the time of Revelation's march. the most established settlement is the city of Onozar in the far west of Ama, which is ruled by a king who has a hold over many of the neighbouring towns and lords, by virtue of Onozar's size and relative safety. technology levels are low; no firearms, trebuchets and crossbows are cutting edge.

in the time of Twist and Flicker, there is an age of unprecedented cooperation with monsters (Revelation's march might have had something to do with this change). This means that towns and villages are now usually protected by something other than a wyrm - this ranges from willing cooperation to cruel self-styled 'monster tamers' who force monsters to do their bidding. This is the dawning age of harpy falconry as described in the lil story i wrote about Ice Storm of Kosa himself, though back then the old method was to make a contract with an adult harpy and cooperate that way. The infrastructure is still not very advanced; they're still struggling with plumbing and sewage systems, because crawlies come out of the ground and their poison can seep into aquifers. Anyway communication between towns is usually done by pigeon (or pigeon harpy). The ground is not a safe place to be, so houses are typically built on short stilts, or at the very least, residential rooms are upstairs. Water supply is often provided by elevated aqueducts; wells are a last resort, but often the only choice for impoverished villages. There is a culture of fear surrounding large gatherings and groups - sometimes it's unavoidable, and human/monster nature, but that anxiety is always there.

With this increased cooperation between humans and monsters, people are able to gather in larger groups. this enables more learning, more apprenticeships, more farmlands, and a more rapid development of technology. It also means a more centralised ruling system begins to form; it takes a lot of resources to supply a pack of wolfmen or a harpy flock to defend a town, so small towns must make petitions to their more prosperous neighbours, and this develops into a Government of the entire region. firearms develop in this time as a means to kill crawling beasts; they are not that successful, and it takes a while before people realise you can use firearms to kill other things, too.

A century later, developments are progressing well enough. Firearms are still rare but starting to spread. Harpy falconers have developed a new, effective technique for their art, it's called "kidnapping"; steal an egg, and raise the chick to imprint on its human parents. that way it won't want to leave. There is a sense of teetering on an edge; humanity leaning more into forcing monsters to help, instead of cooperating. But this is not the progression; the success of the Kosa flock helps convince many falconers that the kidnapping method isn't the best after all. technology is still uh bad, but this is an era where writing materials are finally becoming more mainstream, literacy rates are slowly rising. the printing press is the hot new thing. they have water towers now to provide the plumbing at a safe elevation. communication between villages is still very dove-based, since flight is the safest method of travel.

fire is the only thing that both kills and neutralises the poison of a crawling beast. by this time, progress has been made to develop "automatic fire machines". so all the R&D people put into guns in the real world was put into flamethrowers instead. it's easy enough to rig up a system that pumps out burning oil, but these devices are usually stationary, heavy, and fixed at the gates of the various more prosperous town walls.

[yanderes-for-everyone]

Title: Falling into the Arms of a Mad Villain

Status: Ongoing

Summary:

Instead of being caught by Prince Charming, I've fallen into a complete nightmare! Not only did I transmigrate into a trashy romance fantasy novel, but I fell from the sky and ended up in the arms of the mad villain, Edwin Crawford. Before I knew it, he called me his wife from the heavens and was raving about some prophecy. I don't even know who I am, so how can I be his wife?! Until I figure out what is happening, will it be safe to stay in the embrace of the Mad Dragon of the West? (Tapas)

My Feelings about it: (SPOILER FREE)

This series was just released on Tapas on May 20th, so there are only about 21 episodes. This series is the definition of a no build up obsession. The ml has an interest in her from the moment he sees her (though to be fair she falls from the sky, lol + he has a reason he needs her) He already feels like he can't live without her, and the fl takes to the ml surprisingly quick; she (so far) has the occasional thought of running away, but for the most part she seems to be fine staying around him.

I also think that the fl has no real discernible personality. We don't really get anything about her past; she pretty much just exists to be doted on by the ml and doesn't express any real passion or emotion. That being said, I don't think she's objectionable or anything. Plus... she's pretty.

If you can get past those things, I think that the interactions between the fl and the ml are pretty cute; the ml is super affectionate and expressive (for example, he always carries around the house.) I like mls that are cute to the fl and aggressive to everyone else. The ml doesn't seem like a manipulative type, he pretty much just reiterates to fl that she can't escape him.

In terms of plot, the lore of the world is surprisingly intriguing. The fl has no idea who the character she possessed is and how she relates to other characters in the novel. I won't say much, but the person she transmigrated into isn't a normal person. So learning about that and the world is kinda fun.

Despite some of my comments, I personally found it entertaining. If it seems like your type of thing, you should check it out.

Manhwa Rating: 6

Yandere Rating: 6.5 (Definitely could increase)*

*this means the ml's yandere intensity

[uomminecraftsociety]

2024 UK Local Elections

So every set of elections we have in the UK, I kind of go crazy, pull an all nighter just following the election results by filling my own spreadsheet. But you know what... I'll shitpost election results here.

THESE ARE NOT RESULTS AS OF YET, THESE ARE AS OF YET UNANNOUNCED

Also, none of what I say really matters, I'm not an analyst or anything, just a guy who follows elections too excitedly.

Now granted, I don't know how late I will be able to follow the election results for, especially with how long it will take the election results will take to come in. I also can't follow all the elections so here are the ones I will be following:

Police and Crime Commissioners

Conservatives won 29 of the commissioner positions in 2021.

Labour won 7 of the commissioner positions in 2021, 3 of which were in Wales

Plaid Cymru won 1 of the commissioner positions in 2021

These elections generally cover rural areas, hence why it is so Conservative. These are areas which Labour would like too see gains in if they are to win the next general election, as many are predicting them to.

Council Elections

There are many council elections occurring, too many to properly follow but here are the ones I will be following:

Dudley - Currently Conservative but only just, a good indication of how much of a swing will occur.

Bristol - The results for the constituencies within Bristol for the upcoming general election could be quite an interesting one as many parties have shown promising results in recent council elections, this could be a good indicator for where the city could go.

Peterborough - Currently Conservative, with a mix of support for other parties, a good measure on how strong strong the swing to other parties are.

North Hertfordshire - No overall control, with very close results in 2021 between Labour, Conservative and Lib Dems, similar to Peterborough, would be a good indication of where new support lies.

Local elections which likely would likely lead to a conservative minority or even a mild conservative

Gloucester - Conservatives have 26 of a required 20 seats, with Lib Dems next largest 16 seats behind.

Havant - Conservatives have 28 of a required 19 seats, with 24 more seats than 2nd place Labour.

Greater Manchester Council elections will of course be followed as well:

Bolton - Labour minority, many parties in opposition with strong presence from Reform which could see an increase of support with the current swing.

Bury - Labour Majority, with Conservative minority and a similarly large local interest party.

City of Manchester - Strong Labour majority.

City of Salford - Strong Labour majority.

Oldham - Light Labour majority, Labour did poorly in recent neighbouring Rochdale by-election

Rochdale - Labour Majority, aforementioned by election results were poor.

Stockport - Liberal Democrats the largest party in minority with Labour close behind

Tameside - Strong Labour majority

Trafford - Labour Majority

Wigan - Strong Labour Majority

Mayoral Elections

All of the mayoral elections will be followed, though most noteworthy are:

Tees Valley - Strong support for the incumbent Tory candidate.

West Midlands - Less strong Conservative presence but often reported that their image in the area is independent of the party.

East Midlands - New mayoral position, probably would have gone conservative in 2021 if it were to run, but not strong support.

North East - New mayoral position, mostly Labour support and would probably stay that way.

York and North Yorkshire - Historically strong Conservative support, probably will stick that way. Region has Rishi Sunak's seat.

London Assembly and Mayoral Elections

What it says on the tin. All 3 polls will be followed.

Blackpool South By-Election

Probably will go Labour's way considering it recently flipped to the Conservatives, historically was Labour and the Conservative running there left on a scandal. Though as always, interesting to see the election swing.

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

I really wish people could see more than a foot in front of their own faces sometimes. The phrase, "The path to hell is paved with good intentions" is a reference to when you try to keep doing good things only for it to lead to something ultimately bad.

Sadly, right now, that's the bulk of what we are doing in the west. It's what we have been doing for the past 10-15 years. Though it also burns me up that more people can't think ahead. Like this:

So here's the thing, stuff like this is good as an idea. However, read that again. A GOOD IDEA. Idea is the key word there. In practice, however, not so much.

The thing is, I'll use the picture above to make the point.

If this were put into practice you would end up with several issues.

-The cleanup costs for fallen fruits would have to be added to city costs (Also risk of falling fruit to vehicles and passerby's)

-Any missed fruit will end up rotting (leading to)

-Doing this would increase pests in the area, including flies and maggots

-Doing this would also lead to more large animals around these areas which could be a danger to residents in the area. The danger would also be faced by the homeless. (both from the animals and the pests)

People always want results NOW while not realizing that having your results now can end VERY poorly. Like drug use. Sure it probably feels good but getting off the drugs physically messes up your body, which is when withdrawals happen. And it can kill you at any point. So to the people that are like, "Just let them have their drugs". How about no. Especially not with my Tax dollars.

That however is my point. And it's almost every single policy that the modern left screams about.

-Eat the rich (The people that actually pay most of the taxes in the US by a landslide contrary to popular belief.) A concept that is not only stupid but the only people that push it are often just people that are angry and jealous they don't have that kind of money.

-Minimum Wage should be living wage (The costs on everything would go up be a long shot. And this would not fix inflation. This would also take wage decisions out of the hands of employers. The result of this would be companies not promoting people, and only hiring people they can objectively see staying with them for extended periods of time. The true results is that this tends to end up in MASSIVE discrimination when it comes to hiring. This would also further enable to STUPID levels of entry into companies. Like "at least 5 years old with 20 years experience and a PhD in space aliens. I don't want more of that.

-Landlords are evil scum and housing is a human right (except it's not. And it never will be) My tax dollars are mine. And I should not be forced more than I already am, to give money to people that often don't want to work. And before I get the barrage of "THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS HOW DARE YOU~", or any other version of that, let me be clear. There ARE people that are homeless due to mental illness. And those people SHOULD be taken care of to some degree. However, at that point, bring back Asylums. If you want state funded asylums I would not mind if some of my tax dollars went that direction. However, there ARE a lot of homeless that opt to be homeless. I know because I've talked to them. Some of them just don't want to be on the grid at all, and they make a killing off panhandling. Some can make 100's if not 1000's a day. Frankly it bothers me.

More so the case when you realize being a victim is profitable. Because almost nothing sells better than sympathy.

But all of these are things I see people preach about, and it frustrates me to no end. How is it you want fruit trees in cities when they can't even keep people from pooping in the streets? Places like SF even have POOP MAPS and an entire new agency created because of the poop problem. And you want to pay MORE in taxes for the CHANCE to eat fruit or feed the homeless? That thing your state already claims it's supposed to be doing. And has spent 100's of Millions on? Clearly that's working as planned. And then you want to house the homeless for free in homes that belong to other people? And you expect those homes to not fall into squalor? Who's going to do the repairs? Who's going to pay the person that building and property belong to? Not the state. Who's going to make sure the building doesn't just end up as another worn down crack den with windows busted out and plywood over the windows with no heating or cooling or running water because it's all been stripped for drug money? Not the state.

None of you think anything through. Ever. And it shows. It's quite literally, "Oh this sounds good so we should do this" but you never consider the consequences of what you want. None of you do. You think because something sounds good that it IS good. Rather than realize that what you want could well lead to a devastating result. And all because you, "just wanted to help". Believe me. Wanting to help is a good thing. Just not when that help is not thought out. It's like the analogy. "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime". In other words, if you give a man a hand out you might help him in the short term. If you teach a man to make his own way in life, he won't need a handout. And he will learn to fend for himself.

Now a days however, we have a lazy class of sheltered morons who think that since food exists in stores and amazon has stuff on it's site that SOMEHOW we are beyond scarcity. We are not. And without capitalism you lose your AC. You lose power. You lose your special vegan foods that can only really exist in a thriving system. Meanwhile you whine about capitalism when the actual issue you have is with the government and it's over regulation of everything rather than the actual economic system. Most of you are entitled little shits who frankly should be shipped to china, stripped of your citizenship, and be prevented reentry. Go live your communist dreams in a country that will literally torture you or kill you for burning their flag.

I've gotten off topic a bit by my point remains. You all need to think for yourselves. And you need to think ahead. And when you do, remember we don't live in a perfect world. Get out of your BS utopia that doesn't exist, and use your brain. Actions, no matter what they are, have consequences. Like this guy, who did something I personally view as a net positive. Except the government decided, "Hey, you are stepping on our toes. How dare you try to solve an issue that makes us so much money. When will you realize the ruling class LIKES homeless people because homelessness is profitable. Solving it is not. So they never will. And no it's not a "Republicans don't care" thing because in states like Texas our homeless issue is MINIMAL. And is mostly taken care of by each individual city. And they tend to handle it rather well. Unlike NY, SF, and LA. Speaking of LA:

Now granted. Do I think this guys idea would have failed long term? Yes actually. Do I think he had good intentions? Also yes. Do I think he did more for these people than the city or state ever has? Also yes. Because he did this out of his own pocket. Even went so far as to rent a lot out for these tiny homes. But listen to the video. Listen to what the politician says. But I think this idea at least is better than giving homeless of all kinds carte blanch to someone else's property. And they are super small, so they'd be easy to repair on your own after a day of pan handling. Does it solve the issue? No. Is it more than LA has done for it's homeless in decades? Also yes.

[songmingisthighs]

Oh I have been seeing that! Anti-semitism is for sure increasing in some areas, and I can't say that Jewish people are not justified for that fear given their history of oppression and hatred against them, I'm pretty sure everyone has seen people inside the pro Palestinian movement, making antisemitic comments, disguised as support for the victims of isrl... (calling not the IOF soldiers, but the Jewish people as a whole, descendants of the devil and what not, is unnerving) but that is also not a common stance between the movement.

Those feelings and doubts from Jewish people are obviously valid, although, they are NOT more urgent or important that the suffering and urgency of the Palestinian people (and that goes especially to those who use their fear as an argument in every discussion, as a way of adverting the attention from the genocide in palestine, or to avoid recognizing the lies and crimes of the state or Israel and its allies)

It can and will sound bad, but they are not the victims in this conflict, empathy and understanding can be given for sure, but not as a way of ignoring or minimizing the ongoing tragedy in and out of gaza/the west bank, where people are suffering a genocide and are being stripped off of their identity and culture. An example of that is the 'from the river to the sea' chant, just as you mentioned (and keeping in mind the infinity of claims the media in your country can be saying about it) it has been tainted by politicians and general citizens as an antisemitic chant, an attack against jews, a call for violence, and so much more, but ever since the Palestinian liberation forces created it in the 1960's it hasn't, not even by Israeli people who were well aware of its existence and meaning, been interpreted as a genocidal chant, not until now that they are losing the media credibility and support.

For different parts of the movement and outside of it, the chant advocates for the libertarian of Palestine, not as an attack against jews, but the apartheid state they suffer in Israel, and it's creation in itself, which caused the massive displacement and murdering of a great part of their population, and for those who could remain in their land, the inability to vote, have basic human rights, the freedom to cross certain parts of the territory, the uncertainty of someone else just evicting them from their homes, and consistent violence against them, having as the primary example the current genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the west bank

I'm sure you already know most of this, but I'm just saying it to assure you that using and standing with the chant 'from the river to the see' does not make you or anyone else antisemitic, not as long as people have the ability to recognize jews and zionism apart

Also sorry if any part of this ask felt rude, or feels confusing, I would love to keep discussing about this if it's something you're up to

no no it's not rude. i'm actually glad we can have a discussion like this rather than misunderstanding and ended up accusing each other of smth

tw : controversial topic

i totally get it though like the original intention and from my side, i hate how the situation became due to extremist or uneducated "supporters" who in support of palestine and palestinian ended up being antisemitic like i saw blue haired libs outrightly telling jews in general that they don't deserve their freedom even jewish americans who had nothing to do with the situation in the middle east

and coming back to the issue of brand boycott, i think it's ridiculous that people can't differentiate between not being able to make a political standing and supporting genocide. "bEiNG SiLEnT = SupPORtiNg gEnOCiDe" is a ridiculous precedent because people who support this idea are not putting things into context. I don't see this backlash towards japanese or chinese idols, only korean idols. why ? because western fans (esp americans) put KOREAN idols in the same category as them. i think kpop should be separated from politics bc it's just gross. if you don't like what they're doing, you're welcome to have an opinion but you're not entitled to demand anything. you can even leave the fandom and stop supporting the artists, it's entirely your decision.(the you is not you, anon, it's just people in general ig) like who are you to control how people act or behave because you don't agree with it ?

the way people act, demanding kq to release a statement and demanding certain photos be taken down is kind of facistic cencorship adjacent. "I don't like the message i assume you're supporting and because of that and because the rest of us agree on an idea, you must adhere to it and do what we want" like it's so gross how entitled these people are

and again, it seem like they're erasing hongjoong's philantropical activities just because he posed with a starbucks cup (it's not even a sponsorship), calling him a sellout and acting as if he's leading charge in an anti palestinian campaign which is so not the case. literally people are using this situation to cancel and boycott idols, they don't really care about what the boycott stands for, they just want to hate and that's more disgusting than posing with a starbucks cup

[semi-imaginary-place]

been seeing a lot of australian panic over Apis cerana taking over and threatening their honey bees. And first Apis cerana's native range borders on australia it and those range maps aren't hard solid lines if you are at the edge of a range map as long as the population is healthy it is very normal to see wanderers or expansion. Invasive species has become such a dirty politicized word. In some way it has always been a loaded word as there is no objective division between non aggressive non native and invasive. But now science has been completely thrown out the window and invasive is just whatever species humans don't like. Point is Apis cerana might not even be invasive in australia just uncommon and at the edge of their natural range. You know what is definitely invasive though? Those precious domesticated honey bees the white australians are trying to protect. The european honeybee Alis mellifera has veen domesticated for increased honey production and is the defacto honeybee in the West. It is the furthest thing from native to australia and like on other continents it will displace native bees. But humans like it so i dont see humans throwing a fit. All Apis genus species produce honey. The differential treatment in australia is just disappointing the bee that might not be native but is plausibly naturally there is slapped with invasive and treated as a threat to the definitely invasive species. Btw if you didn't know if they're in the same genus the species are basically the same usually just different geographic location.

Anyways shoutouts to the honey producing stingless bees of the americas and my native blue mason bees that look like little jewels. When we say protect bees we mean the endangered native bees some of which in my area have not been seen in decades people don't care if they're extinct. The domesticated european honeybees are charming but they will be fine and they can't do buzz pollination like the native americas bees. Goodbye nighshade family crops potato tomato eggplant, blueberries and cranberries, beans, squash pumpkin gourd melon zucchini

[the-firebird69]

My son has some minor injuries our son and they're really bothering him his hip is killing him he says he can't seem to crack it and it says pain that won't go away and simply annoying as hell and we agree it's really really awful and painful they're doing it on purpose we are going to start attacking people for it and we have to we have been but now we're doubling up and we're sitting in the cutting crews for real and they're cutting people there's a few other things going on that he and she will be happy about and us and ours

--we have the war we talked about the rings are on fire the everly answer on fire they're going after these bugs it's getting very big faster than normal it it jumped up a couple hundred million today is jumping up a few hundred million and his armies at the border a couple of things are happening they're looking at the spice as an alternative and finally got up to this much better than bug juice but you need both so there's a war developing over there and a big one in real and there's a fight over this area and areas like it they go hand in hand so those are the two parties fighting pseudo empire versus warlock and over locust and some other insects that are radiation proof like cockroaches gross. And another war is the rivers and diamonds they need those they're fighting very hard and it is a large fight and growing and the river is 45% emptied and it's typical globally and they're going to be emptying out 10 more percent this weekend and searching for diamonds and the interest is increasing and the plume right now has pushed right up to the border of the crab territory they have about 1300 miles in the middle it'll encroach and start pushing armies over the Yucatan mostly Guatemala at first they can smell oceanaire coming across because the elevation dropped down and it's not blocked from coming there and to see okay so there's like a trail there and they understand it and they're going to get to it. This is great to happen in the next few days the plume will go about 50 miles into their territory all around though so it's really a hundred miles taken off 1300 and I'll make a difference and they will push it out and then it will start the weather up and eat away at the rest the rest of it and it's very low and flat now and will fill salt water fast the caverns are dropping the ones in the park probably tonight will submerge a couple things will happen the others will start sizzling very fast by comparison and there'll be a little Bay there it's not going to be too small it'll be about inland 1300 ft and about 3,000 ft or half mile long so looks like an eighth of a mile it's from our son's place all the way to where the boat was on the beach and the sailboat they took out the other day and that's far enough that you can have a little Marina and I want to put one in but it's going to be bigger a lot bigger when it's all said and done and it's going to be other caverns opening up that are in the Northeast of that area it will be about 1.5 MI east to west and 10 miles north to south and they're going to be trying to put things in it will go almost up to the road true you can see it it'll be 200 yards for the road that's where it stops and there will be things developing on that fishing places and eateries maybe even beaches coming up soon er than people think those cameras will probably drop tonight caverns and the others will start heating and in a probably four or five days will drop below the water and it'll be a large amount of nuclear stuff but not that high here. There's more shortly

Thor Freya

Olympus

[weather-usa]

Three areas are being monitored in the Atlantic as hurricane season enters its final month on Friday.

November 30 marks the conclusion of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. In the meantime, there are three areas to monitor, including a low-pressure system in the Caribbean Sea that has an increasing likelihood of development.

The possibility of another named storm remains as the final month of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season begins on Friday, with the National Hurricane Center monitoring three areas for potential development.

Climate and Average Weather Year Round in 91030 Chester PA:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/203783857/Weather-Forecast-For-91030-Chester-PA

November 30 marks the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, which can't come soon enough. In the meantime, there are three areas to keep an eye on as we count down the days.

The area with the highest potential for development in the coming week is located in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. According to the NHC, some gradual development is possible over the next two days, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend or early next week as the low-pressure system moves in a northern-northwestern direction. In the latest advisory, the NHC has assigned this area a medium chance of development over the next week.

The NHC stated that even if the system does not develop into a cyclone, it will still bring locally heavy rains to parts of Central America.

Weather Forecast For 45223 - Cincinnati OH:

The NHC is also keeping an eye on an area of low pressure in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, though this system has a low likelihood of developing over the next week. It is expected to be absorbed by the first area of interest in the southwestern Caribbean Sea.

In the North Atlantic, the NHC is monitoring an area of showers and thunderstorms near the center of a low-pressure system located about 550 miles west of the Azores. Any tropical development is anticipated to be gradual as the system moves eastward over the next few days.

This area currently has a low chance of development over the coming week.

See more:

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-60064

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-60065

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-60067

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-60068

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-60069

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

as an east coaster i'm very curious about the water conflicts out west and wanted to ask your thoughts on prior appropriation, a method of water rights pretty much unfamiliar to our own... do you think changing this system would help? certainly many people would oppose that though. many issues here to solve. what are your thoughts on this issue?

it's honestly really complicated.

i live in a very agricultural-heavy area and my uncle is involved in the water industry so i get a pretty good picture of the complexity of the issues. there are lots of issues with the current system but we are slowly reforming it.

agriculture uses most of our water and agriculture is important. lots of people just want us to totally upend our system and say "fuck the farmers" and i get the sentiment but it's short-sighted. we need agriculture. lmao. i can't believe that needs to be said. and for what it's worth, california farmers are pretty efficient. they don't seem like it because california has long been hurting for water supply but agricultural water consumption has actually decreased over the last few decades, even though farms have become more productive and profitable.

obviously, there's always more that can be done to increase efficiency. i'm just saying it's more complicated than people think and the solution isn't to just destroy the livelihoods of farmers or reduce california's/america's agricultural productivity.

i would want to see more subsidies/grants for modernizing water measurement and more efficient forms of irrigation (i'd even like to see some kind of ai-driven "smart" irrigation in the future that takes in data from real-time weather monitoring/environmental conditions). i'd want to increase funding for water boards to actually enforce current water regulations. reform pricing (maybe make it a progressive/tiered pricing system where prices get higher the more water used?). get rid of the "use it or lose it" principle by making water rights a bit more flexible so owners aren't punished for conserving water or using less water-intensive crops. maybe even implement a "conservation credits" system that actually encourages that? implement water audits where water boards regularly inspect major water-users to see if they're using the water reasonably. expanding and streamlining the water market. encouraging water banking.

and this isn't even getting into water conservation or water infrastructure in general. this is just focusing on farmers and water rights. there is much work to be done! but we are doing it!

[hospitalterrorizer]

diary227

4/29/24

monday

only one more day... just one more.

i continue to think about all the horrible things happening in the world, and that i can do nothing. it's not...anything. it's not productive but beyond that it is nothing. have i tried? i can't know, if i knew, i think i would be horrifically upset at myself. so i say i don't know. but i do know, trying or not, things would only change in a small way, but that could be better. it would be something. i don't know. no use beating myself up. no use. this is the use of the apparatuses that make a spectacle of radicalism. they are interred into pageantry, expression, these are not the lines upon which movements truly exist but it is how they televise and talk of it. either evil or brave and you are on the other side of it. the people occupying know, they talk to no media. it is lovely to see.

and of all the dead, there being so many, i feel terrible, it only spirals but not out of control. it is in a terrible and perfect control, it is accurate, even if israel is horrific at performing operations 'right' they are so well armed it will only ever shake out to perfect. the effect is things run on time, even if they don't. such finality possesses their actions.

no use, to linger. my gf's family hates it so much, that people care, it makes them mad.

what to say to that. no one has any good answers, for any of this i guess, except that it must stop, but horrifically it will not.

i can sit here for a long time, broken up about this. it feels really terrible. i think it feels especially bad because i am so ran through by work and just the environment i am in, by feeling that there are so many things we all want out of, seeing the homeless abused by pigs, all of this, continuous unfolding. i am so worthless beside it, i wonder if that makes me some kind of collaborator with the horrible logics that interpret and put the world to work.

am i the west, in micro-scale. am i simply a bad conscience? i can't tell. all i can hope is i am not. and my whining, is that all it is, a way to interrupt convictions i have, to make it 'evident' to myself that my guilt makes it okay, or what. i don't know.

i think maybe not. it's easy to be so hard on oneself. it is too easy.

it is too easy, it is too useful, this assurance that i am worthless, that is what is desired by the spectacle, give up, yes, it begs, give up. i cannot give up, whatever path i am on or whatever, i don't want to give up. even if i am on no path. if i am nothing. i can be nothing. i will accept the nothing i am.

enough of whatever that is though.. my days off, i want to work on music, i want to write (not the weird assemblage thing, i want to write in the longer story, i have have have to), i want to draw. i know one day i will have to do errands... i think. but maybe i will get out of that. i do not knowwwwowow.

here is a song i love:

such a genius band, really interesting music still, in terms of being something 'else' i think.

i hate seeing lint get blown around and getting scared it's bugs. my mind is fried egg or something, i feel awful sometimes honestly. right now i feel okay but it's always like, a last little thread regenerating and snapping and coming back, lately. a final nerve i guess. it's not actually that bad. and soon , going to la, and i think i wanna try to take lotsa pictures and stuff. maybe before then i should make sure to get my psp camera too.

anyways i have to sleep, i was late to work today, not like it matters but i guess i don't want to get in trouble, i got a violation for not taking a break the other day becuz it's impossible becuz they are bad at scheduling but it's #myfault. they love to communicate that your existence is an issue and you must operate within standards of the law and they do not do anything but express the law, you are your own manager, you are a force guiding itself licensing itself for exploitation and an increase in wealth and blah blah blah you understand certainly. it's just so grim and stupid. it's a joke at its own expense and somehow it has not gone bankrupt, or perhaps it has and this is to its benefit. it inflates. the magic of capital.

anyway,

byebye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thegroundsofbrooklyn]

sigh i guess it's time for some newsies propaganda

newsies tells the story of the newsboys' strike of 1899 in new york city, a real historical strike led and organised by the working kids in the city after the newspaper owners increased the prices of their papers.

the musical started off as a film in 1992 starring christian bale and david moscow. the cast was made up predominantly of young people, and is very dance heavy - some of the cast had never danced before the show and were taught on set. it's also the most gay-without-being-gay piece of media i've ever seen.

it was adapted for the stage in 2011 and has since been off-broadway, on broadway (most notably starring jeremy jordan), on tour, and most recently "on the west end" (in quotation marks because technically it's in wembley. but it's the thought that counts).

there is a lot of incredible dancing, with both the broadway production and the uk production winning a tony and an olivier respectively for best choreography. the message of the story is so uplifting. it's dark in places but it's also fun and lighthearted and entertaining and, in the case of the uk production, an absolute spectacle. (not to mention the cast are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.)

some of the lyrics are amazing.

"courage cannot erase our fear // courage is when we face our fear"

"santa fe // my old friend // i can't spend my whole life dreamin' // though i know that's all i seem inclined to do"

"their mistake is they got old // that is not a mistake we'll be making // no sir we'll stay young forever"

"don't take much to be a dreamer // all you do is close your eyes"

"once and for all // we won't carry no banners that don't spell freedom"

and the lines ...

"keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground. ... you can do this."

"there's no escapin' us, pal. we are inevitable."

"i don't need folks ... i got friends."

"ain’t no crime to bein’ poor. not one of us complains if the work we do is hard. all we ask is a square deal. fellas ... for the sake of all the kids in every sweatshop, factory, and slaughter house in this town, i beg you ... throw down your papers and join the strike."

and, of course ...

"the woild is yer erster. ... yer erster. ya know, yer fancy clam with the poil inside ???"

nothing was snubbed more than newsies. nothing deserves the title of best musical more than newsies. please, please, vote newsies.

(both the movie and a proshot of the usa stage version are even available to watch on disney plus, if you need to see it with your own eyes.)

[norel-ravenclaw]

To Catch A Thief

- Part 2 -

Fandom: Ikemen Prince (otome game)

Featured character: Sariel Noir

Genre: Erotic Romance, Thief x Officer AU

Rating: 18+

Word count: 3900+

Description: Officer!Sariel AU where mc is a master thief that finally, unexpectedly gets caught. He takes her back to the prison and... makes her an offer she can't refuse. It's all very kinky and self-gratifying and eventually turns into filthy smut ✨but with feelings✨ This is absolutely insane and so kinky and I’m awful with characterization but whatever

WARNINGS: | nsfw | bondage | prisoner / kidnapped sort of | dub con | it's kinky, just beware | power play | mild knife play | object insertion | pet names: good girl, pet, master, ect. | fingering | piv | unsafe sex | getting hot and heavy in a prison cell and sex in an office if you must know | mxw |

Available here on tumblr and wattpad. Should I get an ao3? 😅 Post, repost this, I only care whether people can find the other parts lol. I suck at writing so idk what I’m even doing but here we gooo

Between two fingers, he holds up my old tattered kerchief, embroidered with a phoenix - the only clue to my past. I gasp in surprise, and he chuckles. He was definitely a pickpocket in a past life. "Though if I am completely honest, I also want the chance to discipline and train you. I like your subtle fire, and your trembling. You suit my tastes well~"

A squeak of surprised indignation escapes me as he tucks the handkerchief into my blouse, his fingers brushing the skin of my breast as he does. I stare at him, feeling so very vulnerable.

His lips part, and he leans in close. "So? Will you surrender to me, kitten? Or will you resist?" A wicked laugh makes me shiver. "Although I don't mind if you want both~ I can be as obliging or as evil a master as you wish~"

A strange desire fills me, one that I've been trying to ignore this entire time. Now it screams at me, impossible to silence. Sariel seems to see this. Tracing the collar of my blouse, he pauses by the kerchief. The way his voice shifts even lower, almost a growl, makes me tremble anew. "There is curiosity in your eyes, my lady. Do you want me to make you mine?"

This beautiful devil has such an intensity in his eyes, I cannot look away. My heart pounds. Do I want this? Is it riskier than going to prison? Than going back on the streets and back to a life of stealing and barely getting by? Do I want to subject myself to his whims and desires...?

"W-what will you do with me?" I whisper, fearful as much as hopeful.

The devil smiles and leans in close, his lips nearly brushing mine. "Mm, punishment is still in order. Perhaps the way to strip the pride of the West River thief is... to strip you bare." His hands grip my hips, and I feel the whip press against my thigh. "I will make you scream~"

Oh god... My eyes flick up to his. The look in his eyes let me know - I'm in so much trouble. He chuckles, his lips teasing the corner of my mouth. "Be a good girl for me, and your punishment will be... gentler." I gasp as he nibbles my jaw.

"P-please..." I manage to say. The pressure of his teeth on my skin gives way to a soft kiss, and the hand on my hip loosens its grip.

"Mm. Don't be afraid, my dear." At last, his lips meet mine. His kiss is surprisingly sweet at first, and then increases in force. He nips my lip and groans. The godly sound sends a frisson of pleasure straight to my core.

"You've made the right choice, and I will reward you for it. After I break you~" A whimper escapes my throat as the tip of his whip makes its way to my chest, circling the peak of my sensitive breast. I can't help but freeze, my breath suddenly coming shorter.

His gorgeous eyes meet mine, a somber look within. "You have known unkind touch before, haven't you, kitten? Never fear, when I say my ministrations will be better than theirs, I mean to make it so good that you will forget all that have come before now - before me. This devil will banish every demon for you." Again, his kiss is tender, this one reassuring.

My lips, although untrained, return his kiss. The longer he lingers, the more eagerly I do so. His whip is traded for his hand on my breasts, and I moan as he squeezes. I reflexively arch into the touch and he hums in approval.

"Good girl," he croons, his lips traveling to nibble my ear.

My breath is shaky, and I fully surrender myself to his desires. "Ah...! Sir..."

He stops and pulls back to look me in the eye. "Sariel."

I look back at him, surprised. "Sariel..."

For the second time, he allows me to see that gentle smile, so warm and kind. "That's a good girl." He kisses me again, this time not holding back. I am consumed in the power and heat of his kiss as he thrusts his tongue inside. It's like being devoured by a starving beast. It would seem that I am a reward for him, and strangely, nothing in me resists the idea. Not when there is a whisper of hope for a future for me. Imagine, a future with him...? What kind of dark fairytale is this?

He pushes me back against the cold stone wall, and I whimper into his mouth as his hands grope and map my body's shape. Bringing one to my head, he threads his fingers into my hair to hold me in place, moving me according to his own whims as he ravages my mouth. There is something oddly cathartic to this surrender. His tongue dominates every part of my mouth, training my own. Every sinful sound he makes enslaves my body like bolts of lightning, arching and throbbing in answer to this primal dance. I never knew such wanton, insatiable desire existed within me.

A gasp leaves me as he rips my blouse open, a button falling to the floor. He kneads my breasts beneath his large hands while diving back in to kiss me. My still-shackled hands clench behind my back, and I moan at the sensation. He draws out reactions from my body, manipulating his new toy masterfully.

I open my eyes slightly, which he seems to sense. He opens his eyes, not breaking contact as he sucks on my tongue. The blazing desire and possessive, predatory gleam in his eyes makes me shiver. I'm held captive, literally and figuratively, trembling in my new master's arms as he has his way with me.

He finally pulls away to let me gasp for breath. "S-Sariel..."

Those gorgeous eyes widen, and his own panting for breath leaves his mouth hanging open as he stares at me. "Shit."

Suddenly I'm being pulled away from the wall, and my blouse hastily rearranged to cover my breasts. He shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders in an attempt to give me improved modesty. "With me," he orders, huddling me close to him and out of the room.

He marches me quickly back into the prison entryway, around the front desk and towards a staircase in the back leading to the offices upstairs. When the officers give us inquisitive looks, he snaps at them, "As you were. I am not to be disturbed unless the world itself is ending."

The pair instantly cast their eyes down and salute. "Y-yes sir!"

My heart hammers in my chest, my head still hazy with pleasure as I am guided up the carpeted stairs. Once in front of a door at the end of the hall, a metallic clinking automatically makes me step backward. Sariel's eyes flick up to mine. He chuckles knowingly at my reflex and hastily unlocks the door to his... extraordinary office.

Even in the dim moonlight, the opulence and quality of his furnishings and trophies is evident. But he does not give me long to admire the decor, shoving me against the wall the instant the door is locked. I gasp as his mouth crashes into mine once again. My eyes fly open as he grabs my thigh, hitching it around his waist. He sucks at my neck and does the same with the other leg, pushing me up, and allowing me to feel just how hard he is. A sound I've never heard before is jerked out of me as he aggressively grinds against my mound.

He breaks the kiss with a purr and sighs in my ear, hastily hanging up his hat on the stand next to the door. "Naughty thing," he pants. "I've never done something like this in my office. What have you made of me, minx?" All I can do is blink at him, and he laughs, his kiss-drunk smile reminding me of a beast smiling with a mouth of fangs.

I shriek as he easily hoists me up in one arm, carrying me over to the exquisite sofa. He drops me on the cushions and smirks down at me as he loosens his tie and rolls up his sleeves. I squirm against the rich fabric as he straddles me. There is no escaping as he runs a finger down to once again undo the buttons on my blouse. He draws a small dagger from somewhere in his sleeve, making me gasp as he cuts my bandeau bra. Instinctively, I hold my breath as he lets the tip lightly rest on my skin.

"Shall I take you with the cuffs on or off?" Sariel asks. "Will I take you home tonight in your own shirt, or mine?" When I give no answer, he smirks. "Mine it is~"

I watch his hands carefully cut off my blouse, leaving my torso completely naked to him. He pauses to take me in - a sharp breath evidencing what he thinks of me - before wasting no more time in removing the rest of my clothes, then his shirt. Holding his tie, he looks to me as though considering something, and I wonder why until he manhandles me onto my side. He unlocks the cuffs and replaces them with the silk tie. Leaning down, he nibbles the shell of my ear. "Let it not be said that this devil does not take good care of what belongs to him."

He smiles as he drops the cuffs to the floor. I take a steadying breath, lying once again on my back as he makes a show of taking off his boots and trousers, then his glasses. I avert my eyes as he climbs back on top of me, but he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "Ah, is my kitten shy? No need to be, darling. This view belongs to you now~"

I swallow hard and allow myself a peek downwards. The sight of his hardness and shock of black hair makes me throb, and the whole effect leaves me flushing from head to toe. Slightly dizzy with arousal and anticipation, I decide that admiring the rest of his muscular form is much safer. I try not to think of his toned thighs as they force mine apart.

The cold air makes me shiver, and he chuckles, leaning down to kiss my chest. "Don't worry, I'll make you plenty warm before we leave, pet." I whimper as his teeth tease the tender skin around my nipples, erect from his ministrations. My thighs clench - around his - as he sucks on the hardened tips. While my hands strain at the silk tie, his run under my waist as I arch into him.

Sariel's lips touch and suck at every inch of skin across my chest and stomach, leaving a garden of blooming roses only to be seen in tomorrow morning's light. I whimper, overwhelmed with arousal and the thrill of helplessness as a hand goes down to massage and knead my thigh. He pauses after sucking on the curve of my breast to remove his glove with his teeth. Tossing it aside, those lithe fingers move to the more sensitive flesh of my inner thigh and upwards.

"Good girl, be still for me," he orders. I gasp and jolt as his chilled finger brushes my most sensitive spot. My wide eyes meet his as he moves in for another kiss. He plays with my damp folds, exploring and rubbing my sex, back to my taint and up again. Just as his lips touch mine, he slowly slips a fingertip inside me. I can't hold back my whimpers as he begins to stimulate my inner walls.

He growls against my mouth, his eyes heavy with lust. "You are so honest with your sounds and body, I love it. Such a good girl." Those beautiful lips quirk in a grin as I mewl, that fingertip finding the perfect spot inside me. His teeth tease my lip between them as he rubs at that spot.

I arch against him and whine. "Sariel...! Mmph!" He kisses and sucks at my neck and collarbone, soon adding a second finger. I moan wantonly, bucking against his hand as he pushes his fingers deeper. The louder I get, the more ragged his breathing becomes. That alone is driving me to distraction.

When he adds a third finger, the wet sound that profanes the beautiful office makes me freeze. He groans out loud and speeds up his hand, not allowing me to be still for long. I bite down on his shoulder to keep from crying out as he roughly coaxes a spiraling pleasure in me. But as soon as I do, he stops.

I whimper pitifully and buck against his hand again, chasing the quickly abating pleasure. Looking up at him, he truly does look like a devil on top of me. His jet black hair sticks to his forehead, his amethyst eyes nearly glowing in the moonlight. He kneels between my legs and removes his hand entirely. "Now now, kitten. Don't you know it's naughty to bite your master? However shall I punish you?"

The sadistic delight in his voice chills me more than the loss of warmth from his body on mine. I look up at him, panting and trembling, hardly able to think let alone answer. He chuckles and reaches over my leg down to the floor. I actively try to ignore the feeling of his hard erection pressing into my leg as he bends down. When I see what he's retrieved, I recoil slightly.

"...Sariel?"

He plays with the whip, bending it lightly between his hands. I've never seen a look like this in his eyes, and I can't help but shiver. His kiss-swollen lips part as he leans forward, running the tip of the handle along my stomach. I can't look away from his face as he rubs it between my breasts, and then downward. My eyes widen in shock as he... continues trailing it lower.

My hips buck as he rubs the round end of the whip against my clit, quickly increasing my pleasure once again. I whine and squirm as he brings it lower, rolling it around my dampened folds, then pressing it to my entrance.

"Ah ah, be a good girl and accept your punishment," he drawls, holding my hips still as he pushes the handle inside me.

I mewl at the intrusion, gasping as my body throbs, trying to repel it before pulling it in deeper. My sensitive nerves are alight with pleasure, but as he slowly starts to thrust it inside me, it suddenly becomes unbearably good. I desperately press my lips to my master's shoulder to muffle my cries.

He purrs and strokes my hip. I'm glad to have my face hidden as the sound of my own wetness fills the room. "That's it, pet, take your punishment~"

It's not long before he has me at the brink of ruin. I finally let my head fall back to the pillow and look up at him, my eyes full of tears. "P-please, it's too much. I can't... I-it's..."

The devil's eyes lose none of their amusement as he smiles down at me. "Don't worry, darling. Let it happen. It's alright." His hand speeds up, and I'm forced to surrender to the feeling. It crashes over me, my whole body convulsing and writhing in euphoric bliss as I come undone. Of course, he shows me no mercy whatsoever, pumping it even harder and faster than before to hold me captive to the waves of unbearable pleasure until they've retreated.

I pant desperately, my hips still bucking against his hand. The sound the whip makes as he slowly pulls it out of me makes me look away in scandalized shame, only to be outdone spectacularly by the sight of him licking my cream off it it. My jaw drops at the utterly unholy sight. His smirk is completely unapologetic as he runs his tongue along the handle, then tosses it aside. I'm suddenly held in his embrace, his strong arm around my waist, hugging my sweat-slicked skin to his.

"Good girl," he croons, kissing up my throat. "How did it feel to come for me, mm?" I gasp and try to look away, blushing more fiercely than I ever have. He chuckles and moves his head to capture my lips. "Rel... I can't wait a second longer..."

I feel his hand reach between our hips, whimpering as he aligns his leaking tip to my entrance. He kisses me deeply as he slowly pushes it inside me as far as he can go. My body arches against him, and I whine into his mouth. He is much larger than the whip... Panting against his lips, my oversensitive walls stretch to accomodate his steel hard length.

"Ahh... fu- mm, so tight," he growls. He is rigid with tension as he stops, as deep inside me as he can be.

We still, breathing hard as we feel each other throb. I mewl helplessly as he begins languidly grinding his hips against mine, my own bucking involuntarily in turn.

"Sariel...! Mmph! I...!"

He moves a hand up to stroke my hair reassuringly. "That's it, kitten, just like that. You're alright. So good for me."

I can't help but melt against him, finally relaxing at the sound of his voice. "Sariel..."

"Yes, ahh... You're mine now. I'm going to take care of you." He kisses my face slowly, almost worshipfully. The act is more intimate than anything I've ever experienced before. It steals my breath away, and another piece of my heart. "Rel... My dear."

Swallowing hard, he moves back to look down at me. Slowly, he pulls out partway, then sinks back into my hot wetness. A tremor runs through him, and he groans. The sight makes me throb around him, and he smirks. "Mm, such a good fucking girl, aren't you? So good for me..."

I moan loudly as he begins thrusting. My legs wrap around his waist, and I'm lost to him completely. I wish I could hold onto him as he rocks into me, but having my hands bound... the helplessness only increases my pleasure. We watch each other's faces for a moment, intoxicated.

He then shifts angles, and I nearly scream as the veins in his cock drag along the perfect spot inside of me. The beast growls and kisses me, tugging my hair and digging his fingers into my hip to hold me still as his thrusts increase in speed and force. I can hardly kiss him back as he ravages me, consumed in him, lost in bliss.

"M-master..." I manage to stutter.

Sariel forces his tongue into my mouth with a moan, pulsing it against my own in time with his thrusts. The effect is so hot that I reach the edge then and there. He feels my body tensing, and fucks his hard length into me faster. I arch against him, my clit rubbing deliciously against his abs with every thrust. When I tip over the edge, I suck on his tongue, hard.

He holds me against him as I come, this time so much more intense as his hot manhood fills me so deeply. And this time, it lasts so much longer. I scream as the euphoria consumes me, nearly making me black out. "Sariel! Sariel, please!"

"Good girl, that's it. Shit, I'm going to come too..." He pants against my neck as he furiously chases his own high, fucking me into overstimulation. My cries and pleas for mercy aren't heard as he pistons into me, never losing his rhythm. When he reaches the edge, his groans in my ear are enough to make me come again. I sob against his hair, gushing around his length as he pours his seed deep inside me. "Rel... Rel, oh my god.. Fuck...!"

My hips buck against his as the rest of my body goes limp from the pleasure. Sariel pumps every drop of his seed into me, drawing out our pleasure as long as he can before finally going still inside me. He pants hard, kissing my neck sloppily. A hand beside my head keeps some of his weight off of me, but he's trembling. "Sariel..."

"Rel. Rel..." My name falls from his lips like a prayer as he nuzzles my jaw, peppering it with kisses. Is this what is's like to be a devil's lover? A devil that was once surely an angel, to have such a sweet side. He surprises me by reaching underneath our bodies to tug on the end of the tie, releasing my hands at last.

I manage to get them out from under me, quickly grabbing his waist as he begins to pull out. "W-wait. I... need to feel you i-inside me still. Please."

His eyes meet mine, slightly clearer from the post-high haze. He looks almost startled by my request. But then his arms are around me, his nose rubbing against my breasts. "You're going to be the death of me, woman," he mutters.

The effect is so bizarrely adorable that I can't help but breathe out a laugh, finally able to run my trembling hands into his silky hair. Feeling emboldened, I whisper into his ear, "I like being your captive, master."

Those devilish eyes rise, his expression dark and full of mischief as he pushes his cock back down the hilt inside of me. I gasp and moan, and he chuckles triumphantly. "Don't tease the devil, kitten. You don't know how insatiable we can be. I'll make you regret this."

"Mm, really?" I tease breathlessly.

He nips my lower lip. That saccharine voice is sin itself as he whispers, "I'll ravage you so many times that my cum will drip out of you until morning, pet~"

The furious blush returns to my... entire body. He wins this one... damn.

Sariel laughs at my silence, the sound morphing into a satisfied groan as I continue to throb around him. "Mm, don't stop," he mutters, and I remember to keep petting his hair. "...good girl."

We fall into a comfortable silence, finally letting our hearts and breath settle.

Outside, the earliest rays of morning light are beginning to end the night. Something is beginning. What, I cannot yet guess. I only hope that there might be more moments like this, with this devil - sweet, safe, almost feeling... loved. Wanted. Very nearly, though perhaps delusionally, hopeful.

Is there a place for a thief in the part of the world that lives in the light? Well, if anyone can find and make a place like that, it's Sariel Noir. If he - a thief and a street rat - could make a life for himself, then at his side, perhaps miracles really can happen.

For this quiet moment, I'll allow myself to dream.

~To be continued?~

Part 1 - https://www.tumblr.com/norel-ravenclaw/701455046880182272/to-catch-a-thief

Part 2 - https://www.tumblr.com/norel-ravenclaw/701468521534799872/to-catch-a-thief

Part 3 - https://www.tumblr.com/norel-ravenclaw/713648702965923840/to-catch-a-thief

Part 4 - https://www.tumblr.com/norel-ravenclaw/720068739031269376/to-catch-a-thief

Thanks for reading! Please let me know if you have suggestions on how to improve my writing. But pls be nice bc I am a soft sad bean <3

Top image: @_hakkencoser_ instagram

[deafeninggardenerpanda]

Waddle Dee went to Kirby's house every day after finishing work at Factory Dedede to help aid the search.

"It seems that our president has also started searching for the gears. He’s been walking around town with a map and a magnifying glass."

Kirby nodded. "Not only President Dedede, but everyone in town is searching for them. It's difficult, though. No one knows the shape or color of the gears." 

"Hmm ... Do we have any leads?" Kirby and Waddle Dee pondered face-to-face. At that moment, the doorbell, which rarely rings, made a noise.

"Who is it?" Waddle Dee said to Kirby. "You don’t get many guests."

Kirby jumped up. "Oh! Is it the pizza delivery person!?" he shouted.

"Pizza delivery person? Kirby, did you order pizza?"

"No! But ... maybe the pizza place made a special pizza to celebrate my 100th consecutive victory of the airplane races!" Kirby opened the door in a hurry. There stood someone wearing a large hood.

"That? That’s not the delivery person, is it ...? " 

"Good evening, Kirby! It's been a long time. It’s Magolor, yo~! " Magolor, the traveling merchant. He traveled often from town to town selling medicine. Kirby, himself, had also once taken Magolor's medicine after he had previously rolled around in the snow and caught a cold.

"Did you come to sell medicine again? But I'm not sick ... "

"No, no! It's different this time. There’s a big story."

"A big story?"

"It's about the search for some gears." Magolor came into the room, put the large trunk he had with him on the floor, and sat down on it.

Kirby was taken aback. "Are you also looking for the gears, Magolor?" he asked.

"Yep, it's my dream to get the prize, build a laboratory, and develop medicine." Magolor spread his hands. "Kirby, we both have our strengths. If we put those strengths together, I’m sure we could find the gears! What do you think about some cooperation?"

"Yeah, sure!" Kirby nodded. Waddle Dee, however, was a little worried. 

"Kirby, is it okay to trust this guy?"

"Eh? Why not? It's easier to find something with three people instead of two." 

"Hmm ... but ... " Waddle Dee didn't trust Magolor. He came out of nowhere—maybe he was trying to use Kirby by taking advantage of his kindness.

Looking at Kirby, Magolor said, "I know a secret method for finding the gears. If you have me, we’ll easily be able to find them."

"Really!? Great, then let’s do it!" Kirby was overjoyed, but again, Waddle Dee was more skeptical. He became more and more suspicious.

"If you know a method, why are you telling us? Why don't you search for them by yourself?"

"I would, but ... there’s a big issue." Magolor took a deep breath and spoke with all his might. "I can’t do it alone. Kirby has a certain something we need." Kirby and Waddle Dee looked at each other.

"Kirby has ... what? Huh?"

"Here’s the thing, listen carefully!" 

"Okay." Kirby and Waddle Dee sat down in front of Magolor.

"I'm nuts about ancient magic, so I’m the only person who understands ... the gears of the ancient machine cannot be found because they’ve been sealed."

"Sealed?"

"Uh-huh. Once upon a time, the gears were stolen by an evil wizard. It seems the gears had a magic seal put on them during that. The sealed object cannot be seen with the naked eye, however, a special tool can be used to find it. I know the location of that special tool."

"Special tool?" Waddle Dee said. "A special tool that reacts to magic ... Where is it?" 

"I told you, Kirby has it."

"Eh? I do?" Kirby’s eyes widened. "I don't have anything like that! I can't use magic!" 

"You ... you have the Star Compass, right?"

Kirby was surprised. "The Star Compass ...? Yeah, I have it, but, hold on." Kirby rummaged through some junk piled up in the corner of the room and pulled out a small, star-shaped compass.

"That’s a cute compass. What’s so special about it?" Waddle Dee asked.

"The old man of the Magic Guild gave me this as a present a long time ago, after I defeated a monster in the City of Magic."

"Not the ‘old man,’ the Elder of the Magic Guild. The great wizard Tottemo." Magolor looked enviously at Kirby. "Tottemo … Totteeemooo ... The Star Compass, such a precious artifact. If you study magic, you'd want it even if it were in bits and pieces. When I heard an airplane pilot from Diamond Town got it, I was so jealous!"

"Huh ... I didn’t realize it was so important." Kirby recalled when he received the gift.

("Really? You want me to take it?"  When Kirby asked, the old man of the Magic Guild—no, the Elder, smiled gently.

"It’s a thank-you item. Please, don't hesitate. The Star Compass—if it falls into the hands of someone with a bad heart, it will bring terrifying results. But if it's with you, Kirby, it will be safe."

"Huh?"

"Besides, this compass, don't you like it? Ho ho ho!" He waved goodbye as Kirby left.)

That guy that Kirby visited ... Even when he asked what he meant, Kirby didn't understand at all. 

"This compass, it doesn't move. I can’t tell what direction it points because of it. I'm sure it's broken ... "

"That’s just because you’re using it incorrectly." Magolor reached out and received it from him. "The Star Compass is a tool used to search for the power of magic. If it’s not used correctly, it won't move. Watch." Magolor opened his trunk and took out a small paper packet. Glittering, sand-like grains spilled out when he opened it. Using them, he began to draw a mysterious pattern on the floor.

"Like this, if you draw it with magical sand and put the Star Compass in the center ... "  The needle of the compass, which had not been moving until now, began to sway. It emitted a pale light like the glimmer of the stars.

"Ah, the compass ...! " Kirby shouted. 

"Get a map of the town!" Magolor said. Waddle Dee hurriedly brought a map of Diamond Town, which Magolor put the compass on. He chanted a spell. The compass needle spun around wildly, increasing in speed, until it stopped at a particular angle. After a moment, it began spinning again and stopped at another angle, and then another. Magolor nodded.

"Okay, there are three gears in all. Here, here, and ... here." Magolor put three marks on the map.

"Do we know the position of the gears, now?" Waddle Dee said with big eyes.

"Yep! The movement of the Star Compass can tell you exactly where our magical objects are."

Kirby looked at the map. "The first one is ... the field! That field is where the goal of our airplane races is," said Kirby.

"Second is ... around the clock tower in the west," said Waddle Dee.

"Third," said Magolor, "‘The Town of Light.’"

"You can't go into The Town of Light," said Waddle Dee. "’The residents of the Town of Wind must not go into the Town of Light without permission.’ That's the rule."  

"Aw man … The third gear is postponed, then. We’ll have to figure out some other way. Let’s find the other two, first."

Waddle Dee nodded. "There’s a guard at the clock tower that won’t let us in, so we should start with the gear in the field."

"Okay! Come on, let's go!" Magolor stopped Kirby from running out the door. 

"Now, it's too late. You should wait until tomorrow." 

"But ... "

"The night is dangerous. We’re the only ones that know the locations, so don't worry so much."

"That's right. Let's start tomorrow," Waddle Dee said. "The factory will be closed, too, so we can find it together. We’ll all meet in the field, first thing in the morning."

"Oh, actually, I’m sorry. I have something to do tomorrow. I can’t go with you ... Instead, let me give you a thing." Magolor took out a small bottle from the trunk and gave it to Kirby. "These are magical eye drops I made."

"Eye ... Drops ...? " 

"As I said, things with a magical seal on them cannot be seen with the naked eye, however, you’ll be able to see them if you use these special eye drops."

"Wow, that's convenient!" Magolor, again, stopped Kirby from immediately trying to use the eye drops.

"No no no, it doesn't last for long! Only about an hour. It'd be better to use them tomorrow!"

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Magolor."  

"You’re very welcome! Oh, and one more thing: once touched, the magical seal will melt. It will be so that the gears can be seen even without the eye drops."

"We just have to touch it," Waddle Dee said. "If we find the gears, let's deliver them to Mr. Fugo, together, and get the prize. We’ll divide it evenly!"

"Wow, sounds fun! Good luck Kirby, Waddle Dee."

"Yeah, we’ll do our best. Thank you, Magolor!"

Magolor headed home, dragging his heavy trunk behind him.

"Magolor is really knowledgeable and smart," Kirby said. "I’m surprised!" 

"I'm glad he’s on our side," Waddle Dee nodded. "Thanks to Magolor, we can get the gears. Let's do our best, tomorrow."

"Yeah! Good night, Waddle Dee." 

"Good night, Kirby." Waddle Dee waved and left the room. 

Meta Knight was sitting on the couch and thinking, of course, about the gears and the ancient machine that was discovered.

(Evil using an ancient machine ... What kind of machine could it be?)

A knocking sound was heard, and Butler Vul's voice soon after. 

"Excuse me, my lord."

"What is it?"  

"It seems ... a strange guest has come."

"A guest? At this time?"

"Well ... I told him to come back tomorrow, but he said that he wanted to speak to you as soon as possible. He spoke of gears—I didn't understand much of it ... What do you want me to do?"

" ... Gears." Meta Knight had also begun looking for the gears, but no one should know except Daroach. Not even Butler Vul should know. Meta Knight stood up.

"Okay, let me through the living room."

"Are you sure?  Somehow, he has a strange atmosphere about him ... "

"It doesn't matter."

"Understood ... " Butler Vul moved to return to the front door, however, he nearly bumped into someone on the way there. "Wahhh!?"

"Nice to meet you, Lord Meta Knight!" Standing behind Butler Vul was a person wearing a large hood. Butler Vul yelled at the intruder.

"Why—! Hey, you! You selfish—! How dare you just, come in on your own! I told you to wait at the door until my lord gave me permission!" But the guest just pushed Butler Vul aside and spoke to Meta Knight.

"I'm a medicine peddler named Magolor—"

"We don’t need medicine. Get out."

"—I want to talk to you, Lord Meta Knight. I have a story I want to tell you—"

"It's time for my lord to get his rest. Get out!"

"—A story about ... the gears of death!"

"Hey, why don’t you listen to a story about my wrinkles instead!" Butler Vul was furious, but Meta Knight just stared at the strange merchant.

"Okay, let's hear the story. Vul, you’re dismissed." 

"Eh!? But my lord ...! "

"I’ll call if anything happens. Don't worry." Butler Vul was so upset he left the living room with shaking fists. Meta Knight led Magolor to the sofa and sat down. Magolor spoke with a smile.

"Thank you so much, Lord Meta Knight. I’m sorry I’m here so late at night, forgive me ... " 

"Let's not waste time. About the matter at hand—what do you know about the gears?" 

" …………… " 

Magolor’s hood shifted and showed his expression. "Right to the point. As I expected from you, Lord Meta Knight!" Suddenly changing his tone, Magolor leaned back on the couch. 

"I know a tip for finding the gears. I want to tell you about it."

"What do you mean?" 

"What I mean is, Lord Meta Knight, I want you to find the gears ... " Magolor rephrased, seeing sharp eyes staring at him from behind the mask. "I’m telling the truth. I'll give you a tip because I want you to find the gears and win us the prize. I want to build a laboratory and develop new medicine."

"Why me? If you know a clue to finding the gears, you should look for it alone." 

"I can’t, it has to be you. You see, one of the gears is in the Town of Light."

" ... What was that?"

"As an aristocrat, you have the freedom to act in the Town of Light. If they see a merchant like me sneaking about, they’ll kick me out. To find all the gears, our cooperation is a must! Your help is needed at any cost!"

Meta Knight stopped to think. This medicine peddler, who called himself Magolor, was more than he seemed. He seemed to know important information about the gears, but Meta Knight was not yet convinced.

"If you need an aristocrat, I'm sure there are others. Why did you choose me?" 

"The aristocrats are a burden. Everyone, they’re sloths, annoying things. Out of all of them, the only one I can rely on is you, Lord Meta Knight."

Meta Knight didn’t believe it was that simple, but Magolor had a point. The aristocrats who lived in luxury had no adventurous spirit or curiosity. Meta Knight was the only one who was interested in finding the gears.

"Let me hear from you. What kind of hints do you know?" 

"Look at this." Magolor opened his trunk and took out a map. "The gear is here." A certain place was marked in the Town of Light.

" ... This is ...! " Meta Knight was shocked.

"Do you know where this is?" Magolor asked.

" ... Ah, yeah."

"Great! Then, do your best to find the gear. I'm going home ... Oh, one last thing." Magolor pulled out a small bottle. "These are magical eye drops I made." Magolor explained the eye drops and handed a vial to Meta Knight. "Good luck, Lord Meta Knight. Have a good night." He dragged the trunk out of the living room. After Magolor left, Meta Knight was still. He was staring at the map of the Town of Light. The gear—it was in Mr. Fugo's mansion.

"What does this mean?" Meta Knight murmured. "Regardless, I have to let Daroach know ... "

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[game-boy-pocket]

Okay, I beat Faxanadu... I thought the graphics were bugged, but no, this is how it's intended to look.

This was apparently a very well received game, and Nintendo even presented it as a first party game back in the 80's. It got a feature in Captain N, though there's no chance in hell the team who wrote that episode played the game... I do think their take on "The Evil One" looked a lot cooler, albeit more generic, than the skull on stilts in the actual game.

Faxanadu is a spinoff of the much larger RPG series, Dragon Slayer, specifically Dragon Slayer 2: Xanadu. The first two games are a bit dated even for me. I'm not sure about the third one, Romancia: Dragon Slayer Jr, which is a simplified take on the original... but the fourth one is interesting to me, in the west it's called Legacy of the Wizard... but anyway, back to Faxanadu...

This game is okay but boy howdy does it have problems... the three worst ones are:

1. You need to buy keys to open doors, there's different kinds of keys that will only open specific doors, they don't stack, and you have limited inventory space, and the doors don't stay unlocked once you go through them... so you better know what keys you need when you set out, and if you have to backtrack or you die for any reason, you're going to need to buy more keys.

2. You can't sell any item a store doesn't carry. And they stop carrying early game items as you progress. Which means you have to backtrack if you bought extra of anything thinking you may need it later ( spoiler alert, rarely do you need to take multiples of anything other than red potion with you, except when you need multiple K keys later... )

3. In order to progress, you have to return to certain out of the way NPCs you may have already talked to, but there's no indication that these characters are in any way significant. They waste a lot of dialogue in the game with stuff like "don't try too hard" and "i'm lost and my magic doesn't work", but couldn't drop a line that says "The guru in the last town has the essential item you need to press ahead", the first instance of this is even a character who you need to bring an item to, once you bring him that item you kind of figure "welp my business with this character is concluded" so you wander around not knowing where to go when in fact you are supposed to return to him after talking to some other characters.

There are other problems here. Really dodgy enemy placement, a item that is meant to increase your strength but instead it cuts it nerfs you, no reliable ways to fill your magic, ect.

Like I think this game is decent and I can see why it had pretty good reception when it came out. I don't know that I'd revisit this one but perhaos it's better on repeat plays when you are more familiar with the game's tricks, which is the case for a lot of my favorites. So I don't want to be too harsh on this game. I think it would be improved with the issues above being addressed, and maybe the ability to crouch. Maybe just use items from a menu instead of equipping them and pressing Down+B so we can crouch? That'd be nice.

On more positive note this game has some great music, I love the enemy designs. Those are some videogame-ass enemy designs. And it's got a pretty cool atmosphere, especially in comparison to the more bright and chipper worlds like Hyrule with it's blue skies. The world of Faxanadu is pretty bleak and a lot of it takes place inside a Giant dying tree.

Would I recommend this? Not to your casual gamer that only plays retro games that "aged well", to an NES enthusiast that likes the type of rough edged games from the era, sure. It's got a bit of Zelda 2 and Castlevania 2 DNA in it, though it's a fair bit more linear than those, despite the occasional backtracking.

And now i've knocked out all three featured games of Nintendo Power issue 7. Issue 8 is Ducktales ( which I beat last night ), Fester's Quest , and Air Fortress, I already got a start on Air Fortress. It's pretty neat.