#Face Mask Detection Market

[oliviadlima]

Face Mask Detection Market Growing at Exponential CAGR by 2030

According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Global Face Mask Detection Market “Component, Application and Technology: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2030,” The face mask detection market size was valued at $1.8 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8.1% from 2021 to 2030.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened global attention to healthcare and public safety standards designed to stop (or at least slow) the spread of the coronavirus. Many precautionary safety measures were implemented across the world, ranging from sanitization of public spaces/areas to strict home quarantine for individuals. For most circumstances, wearing a face mask was proven to be one of the most efficient strategies to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This prompted local governments and authorities in many countries to impose stringent face mask-wearing rules and regulations, and as face mask detection systems helped enforce these face masks which aided the growth of the face mask detection market analysis the time.

In 2020, the global face mask detection market share was dominated by the hardware, and is expected to maintain its dominance in the upcoming years. The surge in need of hardware devices for surveillance and safety and the need of hardware devices due to government guidelines across various sectors is driving the growth of the hardware component for face mask detection market. Moreover, the COVID pandemic across the globe and competition among many SME’s is providing opportunities for face mask detection industry.

Within the market, software segment is estimated to emerge as fastest growing segment, The rapid increase in the volume of security and verticals data and the ever-increasing automation of business processes across many end-to-end industries such as retail, manufacturing, health care, and transportation are expected to further the demand for face mask detection market size in the forecast period.

Post COVID-19, the size of the Global Face Mask Detection Market is estimated to be $1.8 billion in 2020, and face mask detection market forecast to reach $4.1 billion by 2030.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a recession period for many business sectors, forcing brick and mortar stores all over the world to change the way they used to operate their business. Once the lockdown protocols were eased by state governments, heavy social distancing and isolation norms were implemented (often enforced by local government authorities) for people stepping outside their homes during the pandemic, face masks and temperature checks for consumers were implemented outside malls and shopping complexes. Moreover, businesses with employees returning to the office were instructed to enforce face masks, proper sanitation, and social distancing rules inside the office buildings as well. These trends helped the face mask detection solutions market in the post-lockdown period.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/14776

Key Findings Of The Study

By component, in 2020 the hardware is estimated to be the major shareholder. However, software is expected to witness highest growth rate during the forecast period.

On the basis of technology, the optical segment accounted for the highest revenue in 2020, however, the e-beam segment is expected to witness highest growth rate during the forecast period.

On the basis of application, the hospital segment accounted for the highest revenue in 2020, however, the airports segment is expected to witness highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Region wise, the network security market was dominated by North America. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the upcoming years.

Some of the key companies operating in the face mask detection industry are Aerialtronics, Asura Technologies, Canaan Inc., InData Labs, LeewayHertz , Microsoft Corporation, Mobisoft Infotech LLC, NEC Corporation, Sightcorp, Trident Information Systems Pvt. Ltd.

About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of “Market Research Reports Insights” and “Business Intelligence Solutions.” AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

[bellybuttonbooks]

THE SIXTH | Ekko x Fem!OC

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

Rest of the fanfic can be found here.

SUMMARY:

Shimmer is back. Two years after the war with Noxus has ended, a new gangster emerges within the undercity, now known as 'Zaun'.

Daunter is a ruthless chem-baron who has reformed the city's drug empire. He refloods the streets with shimmer and gains the title 'Silco's Heir'.

The Firelights are back in commission after two years of lax, taking down exports just like the days when Silco was still alive.

When the group arrives at an export and finds it already taken down with the barrels drained of shimmer, it becomes apparent that Daunter and his gang aren't the only ones they need to look out for. They had competition. Or... did they?

Ekko finds himself involved in a seemingly endless cat-and-mouse chase with another gang leader-a woman who moves like the wind. He wants to know what her motives are, but he has to catch her first.

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

CHAPTER ONE:

- Zaun, two years after the conclusion of Arcane

"Fuck—"

It happened again. Their mission had been sabotaged, just like before. Someone had arrived before he and the Firelights had gotten there, Daunter's goons paralyzed and tied up, the barrels drained of shimmer.

Daunter was Zaun's newest chem baron—and currently it's biggest. He reintroduced shimmer to the Lanes, reflooding the streets with the purple drug.

After Silco had died and the undercity got caught up in a battle with Piltover and Noxus, shimmer had been mostly exterminated by Caitlyn and her enforcers. It still lingered in the black market, but mass exports ceased to exist. Until a few months ago, that is. Daunter crept in like slow-forming shadows caused by a rising moon. In increments so small that no one noticed until everything was drenched in its darkness.

This forced the Firelights back into action. But now, there seemed to be someone else who was intent on interrupting Daunter's operations. Ekko would have accepted the help if it wasn't for the fact that they'd taken the shimmer. He couldn't help but suspect that the culprit had ill intentions, and that put them at odds with the Firelights.

"Looks like we got competition," a distorted voice said from beside him.

Ekko turned his head to look at the masked face of Scar, a tall chirean who served as his Lieutenant and second in command. Chireans held bat-like appearances (minus the wings), with large ears, grey-toned skin, bat-like noses, and neon green eyes.

Both men stood atop a nearby roof, out of hearing distance of the restrained goons on the cargo airship.

"More like another enemy," Ekko responded.

Scar processed his leader's remark before speaking again. "You think they got bad intentions?"

"They're up to no good if they're stealing shimmer. Probably selling it themselves to make bank," he said pointedly.

Scar took in Ekko's words. It made sense and sounded like the most likely scenario. Though, one thing stood out to him.

"Why would they tie em' up? They already have em' paralyzed somehow. It's like they're leaving 'em here for someone to arrest or something."

Ekko considered this but had already thought up a reason. "The paralysis might not last long. Could be a precaution."

Scar nodded, agreeing that his reasoning seemed plausible.

"What should we do? Seems we keep missing 'em. Should we put out scouters across the city?"

Ekko exhaled through his nose, mulling over Scar's suggestion. It did sound like a good idea, but he had to also consider the risks. He didn't want to put his people in danger. This wouldn't be like their typical 'element of surprise' mission. This would involve spying, waiting, and watching—usually from the shadows to avoid detection. Despite this, Ekko had faith in the Firelights.

"Yeah. Could assign shifts. But we still need to keep most of our numbers back at the hideout in case of any surprise missions."

Scar agreed. Daunter was becoming more and more unpredictable, and there were times when they had to act quickly, creating plans with only hours to spare.

The conversation between the men ended there and Ekko mounted his aeroglider. He flew over to the transport ship and hopped off the board, sliding it behind his back to attach to the magnetic piece on his coat. He neared Daz, one of the newer Firelights.

Daz was a little on the shorter side, his body mass nothing impressive. But he was quick, and that made up for his size.

"You find anything useful? Anything they might've left behind?"

Daz stood from his crouching position. "Nothing. But this guy says that it was a bunch of people dressed in black wearing cloaks," he said.

The younger male nudged the oversized goon who was laying on the boarded floors of the airship with his booted foot.

Ekko's eyes narrowed in thought from the goon's revelation. He crouched down, deciding to take questioning the brute into his own hands.

"Did you see any faces? Anything?"

Daunter's ruffian shook his head, his double chin jigging as he did so.

"I was lucky to even see 'em in the first place. Bastards were quick as shit, bouncin' all over the place like a bunch 'a damn shimmer addicts."

Ekko stared down at the overweight man for a few moments before standing.

'Was it possible that whoever had done this was also consuming the drug to give themselves a physical advantage?'

Authoritative voices sounded from the distance, pulling him from his thoughts and signaling him and the other firelights that enforcers were nearby. Ekko yanked his aeroglider from behind his back once again, hopping onto it before instructing the other Firelights to follow him out of there.

The group flew to their hideout, flickers of green trails decorating the air behind them as they moved.

The Firelight hideout was impressive—only accessible through a labyrinth of abandoned sewer pipes. He and his people had the pipes memorized by now, knowing exactly where to go to reach the entrance. The entrance was covered by a heavy, circular piece of metal—resembling that of a manhole cover. It rolled to the side, allowing them access.

Each time Ekko walked through the gate, he was struck with amazement at what he had accomplished so far. He had created a community in the last ten years, having found a large tree growing from the deep, dark depths of Zaun—a miracle, but also a symbol of hope. He had built himself a home, a sanctuary, and shared it with the people of the undercity that had been affected by the shimmer epidemic and the victims of the battle. He was proud of himself, and the people who had joined him in forming the Firelights. They had done well.

During the war, they'd almost lost the tree. Well, they had lost the tree. The corruption from the hexcore had bled into the roots of their tree, causing the leaves to become tainted in wild rune markings before ultimately falling off. But using the knowledge he had learned in the other timeline he'd been teleported to, Ekko was able to form a time bubble around the hideout, reversing time in sphere they'd created but no where else. After ensuring no one was in the bubble, Ekko was able to bring the tree back to its former condition—before his mural had been painted on it.

Before the war, he'd vanished for months, leaving the Firelight no choice but to assume his death. They painted his face on the mural. It was a chilling thing to see once he'd returned; a symbol of his own death that hadn't occurred. A bad omen.

He had lost people throughout his twenty-three years of life—too many people. He carried the memories of his fallen friends with him and honored their memory by having a mural painted on the tall walls of the sewer, colourful portraits of the people who had passed on. It added to the surrealness of their hideout, while also ensuring who they've lost remained with them in, watching over them as they worked, lived, and thrived underneath their still gaze.

His eyes skimmed over the mural; Vi, Powder, Claggor, Mylo, Momo, Chip, Kurt, Jal, Eve, Radar, Heimerdinger, Jinx, and the most recent addition—Ajuna.

He lowered his gaze and walked to his room. It was located in one of the higher structures of the tree. Usually, he would use his hoverboard to fly there, but he decided to take the long way so that he could think on the way there. Plus, the exercise wouldn't hurt. He began his venture up the lengthy stairs, his mind occupied as he did so.

He soon reached his destination, pushing open the door before closing it behind him again after stepping inside.

His room was clean, but also messy. His bed was made, which was something he forced himself to do every morning. It was a twin bed that lined the back right corner of the room. Opposite the bed was his workbench, where the mess began. It was a disorganized madness, but it was his madness, and it worked for him. He was an inventor, a prodigy and a genius, as his parents called him. The workbench was evidence of his success and failures. His tools scattered across the wooden surface, grooves beginning to form in the shape of his fingers from how often he used them. Pieces of scrap lined the walls next to the desk, things he refused to throw out because he was determined to find a use for them some day.

The wall behind his desk was littered with plans, blueprints, diagrams—either of inventions he had already made, planned to make, or things he still hadn't finished planning yet. Next to the bed was his desk. It was situated underneath a curtained window. That was where some of the mission planning took place. He was the leader, and he was the one who created intricate plans for his team to embark on (with some help from Scar at times).

Ekko yanked his aeroglider from his back and rested it against the leg of his workbench before shedding his graffitied coat and folding it over his work chair. He removed his mask and placed it on his desk before sitting in his chair.

His mind was tossing and turning, thinking back to their wrecked mission. It was clear that the Firelights had another enemy to deal with now, as if Daunter and his gang weren't enough. He worried about what this might mean for their future undertakings, what confronting the group would be like, what their leader was like—if they even had one. They most likely did. They wouldn't have been able to pull off such swift heists if they didn't.

Ekko exhaled and willed his troubled thoughts to leave with his breath. He needed to focus. Make a schedule. Make a plan. He pulled out some parchment and leaned over his desk, getting to work.

Weeks passed, and the Firelights had no luck with spotting the culprits. Whoever they were, they knew what they were doing. That and any physical altercations made using shimmer made them dangerously fast foes.

Ekko stood atop a roof, his mask adorning his face and the hood pulled over his head. He held his hoverboard to his side, having just landed. The building he was situated on was positioned along one of the main routes for Daunter's shimmer exports.

At this hour, the city was dark but also illuminated by the lights within its buildings. It was pretty, no one could deny that. Pink and green light outlined its contents, adding to its nighttime radiance. It was a contrast to the dank stench that polluted their air.

He lingered on the roof for a while, hoping to spot some movement.

His scouting shift was ending. His body was tense with anticipation and eagerness that didn't seem to dissipate as the time ticked well beyond when he should have gone home. This mystery had been bothering him since the first time they came across an empty transport about a month ago. He couldn't understand how he and the Firelights kept missing them. How this mysterious group of people in black seemed to be getting away with it. Right now, all he knew was that he would not rest until he figured it out, and then took care of it by taking them down.

A flicker of movement occurred from the top right of his peripheral. In a flash his head wagged in the direction, his focus zooming in on it. There. He could see a very faint outline of what looked like the side of someone, the rest of them drenched in inky shadows. They stood upon a roof in the near distance. When Ekko moved onto the other side of the roof he was standing on, he noticed that there were other figures standing with the initial one he had noticed. It had to be them.

He knew that he'd have to stay hidden and quiet. He was outnumbered by people who had unknown capabilities. Instead of confronting them, he would follow them. Watch them and their moves, learn their techniques, inspect them for any weaknesses, and figure out who was leading them.

He put his aeroglider on his back, knowing that the green lights on it would immediately reveal his location—especially in the darkness of the night. He would have to move on foot. He wasn't exactly skilled in moving stealthily. His boots always felt too heavy, his breathing too loud—especially behind his mask. Despite this, he was determined to pursue the group. He'd been chasing nothing but possibilities for weeks. The possibility that he might spot them. The possibility of learning more about them. The possibility of the Firelights having the capability to take them down. He was sick of unanswered questions, and if slinking into the shadows like some kind of damn ninja was what he had to do to get them, then so be it.

When they moved, he moved, trying to mask any footsteps or sounds he made with theirs. So far, it seemed they were moving aimlessly. They headed in every which direction, making quick yet precise movements. Ekko was almost in awe. This group moved with grace and excellence. They used acrobatics and parkour together, the combination of the two giving the group a unique advantage in means of travel and stealth.

Ekko was able to see that the group consisted of about 6 people, with one of them leading the lot. He could see that they were indeed adorned in black attire, which included black cloaks. Any other physical details remained a blur due to their continuous motion.

The leader seemed to lead the group to some sort of abandoned warehouse. It had long since been cleared out of its storage—Ekko and the Firelights having raided it once after Squirt, one of the older members of the gang, spotted it during a mission.

Ekko kept himself tucked away in a nearby alley, sparing only a few glances as he saw the group circle on the concrete clearing in front of the warehouse. As he glanced over the corner, he noticed there was one fewer than before. Before he could even begin wondering what happened to them, he felt an abrupt poke on the back of his neck, directly in the center. In seconds he was crumbling to the ground, his own body refusing to listen to his brain signals that demanded he move. He lay there helplessly, now at the complete mercy of this group that he knew nothing about. He tested his eyes, seeing if he could glance around and blink. He could. He tried opening his mouth. He could. But that was it.

His eyes caught sight of the person who had managed to take him down in mere seconds without him even knowing they were there. They were small—a small female. She was dressed in all black besides a crimson scarf wrapped around her neck. He couldn't see her face because she was wearing a black half mask that covered her nose and mouth, and tinted goggles that covered her eyes. One of the most prominent things he noticed was how long and bushy her hair was. She had it tied in a low ponytail and the ends of it reached all the way to her ankles.

'There's no way that was the ideal way to keep her hair during outings like these,' Ekko thought. It reminded him of Pow—Jinx. Long hair. Always getting in the way when she fought. He felt his heart clench, but he banished the impending memories that threatened to come forth. He didn't have time to think about that now.

"You've been following us," the woman said, her voice firm and yet soft at the same time.

She began circling him, sizing him up before coming to a stop near his head. She squatted down beside him, her head tilting to the side as she looked over his masked face.

"And you've been stealing shimmer to do who knows what with."

Her head tilted to the other side as she listened to him respond in the distorted voice caused by his mask. "What of it? You want some?" Her voice was muffled by the material of her mask.

He scoffed, disgust filling him and lacing his voice with venom as he spoke. "So, you do make profit off it."

She didn't respond to that. Instead, she gripped the edges of his mask and began to tug it off. When she felt a resistance, she reached into his hood and unsnapped the fastens and then tried again.

Ekko could do nothing to stop her as she revealed his face to the night air.

She gave him a good stare down, as if memorizing every facial feature he had. She reached a hand down to him, her fingers making gentle contact with the hourglass marking on his forehead and nose.

Ekko would have jolted away from her touch if he wasn't paralyzed.

She traced along the edges of the marking with two of her fingers, her movements slow and deliberate. After pulling her hand away, she stared down at him some more, almost like she was contemplating something. "What does it mean?"

Ekko's mouth parted, confusion and bewilderment striking him from her abrupt question. He couldn't even think of forming an answer to that question, too caught off guard by it.

"Nothing? Just thought the shape was cool, huh?" She stood, his mask still pinched between her fingers.

"This thing is neat. Did you make it yourself?" She turned the mask over in her hands and held it up, getting a closer look at the neon pink 'x' painting on the front of it and then looking at the mechanics on the inside that made the wearer's voice distorted.

"What did you do to me? I can't move."

She looked from his mask and down at him again as she ignored her question. She seemed to pause, as if stunned by the sound of his actual voice that was no longer disguised by his mask.

"It's temporary. It'll wear off in an hour or so."

Ekko's eyes widened. "An hour? Stuck like this? With you?"

She snickered. "Hey, you're the one who was following us. I had to make sure you weren't a threat." She bent forward and gazed down at him; her eyes still hidden behind the goggles she wore. "So, are you? A threat, I mean."

Ekko swallowed. "Depends. I don't know you, or what your intentions are. I'm only a threat to those who are a threat to me," he said.

"Well, that's quite the predicament. We don't know your intentions, and you don't know ours." She stood up straight before continuing. "But you were the one following us. That's not very nice, y'know."

Ekko could feel her words ignite annoyance within him like a flame touching gas.

"I had my reasons," he retorted matter-of-factly.

The girl turned around, hiding her face from view before pulling down her mask and removing her goggles from her eyes, leaving them resting on her head like a headband. Then she put on his mask. It was too big for her, but she kept it on, nonetheless.

Ekko became enraged. "Take it off, now." His voice was angered and demanding.

She snickered again, this time teasingly as she turned around to show him her face now covered by his own mask.

"No, I don't think I will." Her voice came out distorted now, and it only added to Ekko's fury.

Before Ekko could make a response, she moved quickly out of his peripheral. And suddenly, she was atop the roof of one of the buildings lining the alleyway. She gave him a taunting wave before dashing away.

Ekko could hear her voice in the distance as she ordered the group to head back.

'So, she's their leader.'

Ekko mulled over that fact for a few seconds until he realized that he was now left in the alleyway, defenseless. She had left him there paralyzed and alone, completely vulnerable to any possible thugs in the area.

"Shit—"

Just as the word left his mouth, she returned to her spot on the roof. He watched her plop down, her short legs dangling over the ledge. He could hear her muffled, distorted snicker.

'Bitch.'

"Don't worry, I'll babysit you until you can move again."

Ekko blinked, confusion dousing him from her odd intentions.

"Why?"

"To make sure no one hurts you silly," she replied, her oddly cheerful voice making the distortion effects of the mask glitch out. He heard her giggle.

He stared up at her in disbelief. "You wouldn't have to do that if you hadn't paralyzed me in the first place."

"And I wouldn't have had to paralyze you if you hadn't been following us in the first place."

She had a point, and he knew it, But he also knew he was justified for following them. He needed to know what their intentions were.

"What are you doing with the shimmer that you've been stealing?" He knew his question was a long shot, but at this point he didn't have anything to lose.

"That's for me to know, and for you... To not know."

This woman was infuriating.

"Then I have no choice but to assume that you're selling it for profit. You're just continuing to add to the problems of the undercity. How do you live with yourself? Contributing to the pain and suffering of other people for the sake of coins."

She seemed to pause at his words, like she was thinking carefully before responding. "You're quick to assume things, huh?"

Ekko watched as she crossed her arms over her chest, her head still tilted downwards as she stared at him through his mask from her perch on the roof ledge.

"What choice do I have when you won't give me anything."

She hummed. "Touche."

Ekko could feel pins and needles erupt in the tips of his fingers and toes. The paralysis was starting to wear off. He decided to keep this information to himself. Maybe he could try and get her to come down here and strike after the paralysis had completely worn off without her knowledge.

"How'd you do this? You poked me and suddenly I'm all paralyzed and helpless."

He heard her make a noise of amusement, hinting that she was probably smirking behind his mask.

"More questions?

He rolled his eyes. "Are you gonna answer this one?"

She shook her head in amusement, and Ekko watched in astonishment as she stood and flipped into the air, landing on the ground right beside his head with absolute grace.

'She just flipped off a god damn building.'

He had to admit, that was impressive as hell. He'd lived in the undercity his whole life, and many kids grew up learning how to do parkour, but nothing like this. Sure, he could do his own mid-air flip, but his landings were far from as graceful and quiet as hers. It was like she was a dancer or something.

She squatted next to his head again, peering down at him like before but this time behind his mask.

"How about we swap secrets, yeah? You tell me what this means—" She paused and then poked the white marking on his forehead and nose. "—And I tell you how I made you 'all paralyzed and helpless'."

Ekko was taken aback. She would really reveal something so valuable in exchange for something that was merely personal to him?

"It means a lot of things. It's shaped like an hourglass. I've always had a thing for time."

She made another amused sound—probably smirking again.

"That's it? You have a thing for time? No deep, mysterious meaning for painting a freaking hourglass on your face?"

"Guess so."

She stood and crossed her arms over her chest.

He was starting to get more feeling in his face now, and he didn't even notice when he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Who are you?" he asked her, not really expecting an answer.

She shook her head disapprovingly again before replying. "Another question? But I haven't even answered the other one yet," she pointed out jeeringly.

He grit his teeth. This teeny tiny woman had started a raging anger within him. She dodged questions, was sassy as shit, and she'd stolen his mask and was now wearing it just to piss him off.

She noticed when his eyebrows furrowed, hinting that he was regaining use of his muscles now. She took a step back but didn't fully retreat just yet, lingering behind for a moment to say something else.

"I thought you would've found another fascination by now. But nope, still obsessed with time, aren't you, Ekko?"

Ekko felt like he'd been abruptly drenched in ice-cold water. She spoke to him as if she knew him.

'Who the fuck is this person?'

His shock was evident on his face, and she immediately picked up on it.

In a blur of movements, he was suddenly standing, the paralysis having worn off by now. Despite his quickness, she had maneuvered out of the way and was now standing on the same ledge she had been sitting on minutes before.

"Who the fuck are you?! Tell me, God dammit!"

She was quiet and unmoving for a few moments, as if she was contemplating something.

"Toodaloo." She waved at him and laughed before disappearing.

He growled and pulled his aeroglider from his back, immediately mounting it and taking to the air. She couldn't have gotten too far. It took him only a few moments to spot her in the distance. She was fast—real fast. But he had his hoverboard, which made him faster. He flew his board in her direction, gaining momentum on her quickly.

He watched as she turned a corner abruptly. He quickly made the sharp turn, about to catch up to her when he was forced to come to a stop. She was gone.

He gained altitude, moving up higher to get a better map of the place. He looked around, but still couldn't find anything. She had quite literally vanished into thin air.

"Fuck!"

Rest of the fanfic can be found here.

[fatkish]

Of course, you can put a spin on my cat quirk user ♡

(Alright, just wanted to make sure.)

(Trigger warning: human and animal trafficking mentioned, also mentions of drugging someone)

Aizawa x Jaguar Reader

(The reader in this story is an actual Jaguar with a quirk that allows them to transform into a human)

Reader is a Jaguar who was naturally born with a human transformation quirk. They grew up in the Amazon jungle with their mother who was a normal Jaguar. The reader learned to hunt and was taught everything they needed in order to be a successful apex predator by their mother

The reader has human level intelligence due to their quirk.

One day, villains from Brazil found out about the reader. They eventually tranquillized and captured the reader, smuggling them into Japan were the villains planned to sell the reader in a black market auction

When the reader had woken up halfway through the shipping to Japan, they realized that their best chance of survival was to wait for the villains to let their guard down, then the reader could have a better chance of escaping. When the smugglers realized that the reader was awake they drugged them again, putting the reader back to sleep

Meanwhile in Japan, Detective Tsukauchi and the police had been tracking two of the main villains in charge of the auctions and running them. The police were planning a raid on the building the night of the auction. The people running it were notorious for human trafficking, the sale and trafficking of parts of or whole endangered animal species, kidnapping, etc.

Detective Tsukauchi was the lead investigator and asked Aizawa as well as Midnight to help in the raid. Midnight’s primary role was to help subdue the criminals as well as protect the heroes and police from any dangerous animals that might be found

On the night of the auction the reader wakes up inside a metal cage with a shock collar on their neck. They’re hidden beneath the stage in the storage area, surrounded by various cages with other humans and some animals

The humans all seemed to be young and mostly female, the reader could sense the fear that belonged to the humans in the cages. The humans also were wearing the strange collar that was around their own neck

The humans outside the cages all had white masks covering their faces. One of these people was walking around going to each cage and putting their hands on the humans heads. Once the person had come to them the reader snarled at them but was rewarded with a powerful shock running through their body.

The human placed their hands an the reader’s head, after feeling a weird tingling sensation, the human retracted their hands. The human then told the reader that they had better do whatever they are told, if they don’t listen, they will be shocked. With the effects of the drugs still wearing off, the reader didn’t question how they could suddenly understand what the human’s language.

Suddenly a loud voice is heard from above as the auction begins. After a few minutes, cages are wheeled over to a platform that lifts things onto the stage through the floor.

After the last cage before them is brought up, the human from earlier commands the reader to change into their human form. Not listening to the commands, the reader is shocked again when the human presses a rectangular object.

After that the reader transforms and a hook attached to a long pole is connected to their collar as they are led onto the lift

Outside the heroes and police are setting up and getting into position to start the raid. All entrances and exits have been surrounded. Once Tsukauchi has made sure everything and everyone was in place and ready, he gave the order to cut the buildings power supply thus signaling the start of the raid

As the heroes begin to enter the building and start taking out the buyers, auctioneers and other participants, the reader, having been sold to a wealthy businessman with a cat-girl fetish, is being led to one of the back rooms when the power goes out

Since the system that was controlling the collars was being powered by the building’s electrical system, once the power was shut off, the collars unlocked and deactivated

Realizing that this is their best chance at escaping, the reader transforms into their original form and attacks the nearest person in a mask. Using their natural predatory night vision, as well as their hunting skills, the reader slinks through the hall avoiding as many people as possible using the darkness to their advantage

After passing by a hall filled with a purple fog, the reader turns the corner and finds themselves back at the stage where a human with strange glowing red eyes protected by some strange yellow covering, is fighting the humans in white masks

This human had some strange long grey appendage? No, tool? They were using it to capture the humans and fight them. This human also smelled different than the humans in masks

Distracted by their predatory analyzation of the human, they didn’t notice that the human had defeated all of the other humans present. When the human suddenly turned their attention and focus onto them.

The human stared at the reader for a moment before removing the yellow eye coverings. Quickly retrieving something from its waist, the human tilted their head back, dropping some kind of liquid into its eyes.

The human, after a few blinks, stares the reader in the eyes as the human’s mane raises and its eyes glow red. Seeing this as some kind of human threatening display, the reader snarls as they bear their fangs and crouch into position to pounce onto the human if necessary

After a few seconds the human lowered its mane as its eyes stopped glowing. The human raised its front paw and told the reader that they are not a threat and that they are not going to hurt them. The human didn’t seem to have any sort of fear and was obviously not a prey but they were still wary of the reader.

Suddenly another human called out and was running up behind the human, before either human could react, the reader pounced onto the new human, believing them to be a threat. Sinking their claws into the human’s shoulders and about to go for the head, Aizawa shouts no, in distress.

Realizing that the human was upset by them attacking the other human, the reader turns to look at Aizawa as they get off of the police officer.

After checking on the officer’s condition and making sure they were okay, Aizawa turns to the reader after realizing that they stopped their attack after he told them to

Carefully approaching the reader, Aizawa asks them if they can understand what he’s saying and to lift their front paw if they can. The reader lifts their paw and afterwards slowly approaches Aizawa. Before the reader can get to close a purple fog surrounds them as a loud sound is made as they feel a sharp pain in their hind leg. Before they can turn and attack the human the reader falls asleep

After dealing with the clean up and arresting the criminals, Tsukauchi approaches Aizawa with a file containing a list of the items being sold. When looking at the file, Tsukauchi points out the reader’s information.

When Aizawa confirms that the listed information is true, that being that the reader is actually an animal with a quirk, Aizawa asks Tsukauchi what would be done with the reader.

Tsukauchi tells him that there really isn’t much he can do about what would happen to the reader, but that the reader would either be handed over to scientists or placed in a zoo or research sanctuary.

Aizawa decides that the reader would probably be subjected to experiments and would be forced to undergo extensive and invasive tests, he calls Nedzu and tells him about the reader

When the reader wakes up, they are laying on a pile of blankets with bandages wrapped around the top of their left hind leg. Looking around they are met by a white rodent.

The rodent introduces himself as Nedzu, he explains to the reader what happened and what their current situation is. He explains that humans are not used to seeing animals with abilities like theirs. He tells the reader that humans are likely to experiment on animals like them since they are different.

Nedzu tells them that since they are capable of understanding humans, that the reader’s best course of action is to learn to live like a human and understand human society. He tells the reader that he can help them and give them the opportunity to become what humans call a hero

After much discussion mainly on Nedzu’s part, the reader agrees to live at UA. Aizawa, being the one who found them, is put in charge of the reader and is made their handler/guardian

Aizawa teaches the reader what they need to know and how society works. While Aizawa teaches, the reader either sleeps or patrols the grounds. At night, when Aizawa is on patrol, the reader follows him as his sidekick.

Power loader creates a special suit for the reader to wear made of the reader’s own fur, that way they are not naked when they transform. The reader is officially a member of the Aizawa family

Hope you enjoyed this

[aghostiewitdahoodie]

⟣ Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x F! Reader

⟣ Warnings: None

⟣ This is my work, my writing. Do not steal or repost elsewhere.

Ghost is not one to manifest endearment- an imperishable wall he has built throughout the years of labour and untold agonies. An astonishing discovery for others; you are the complete opposite of the man they had known as a bearer of a cold heart.

A facade they are acquainted with, as behind closed doors, when the exhaustion is stripped away and the notorious mask is off, is Simon, your Simon.

Still, you have to thread carefully; there were times, and certainly there will be times when it is difficult. The gnawing hollowness you tolerate when he is deployed has remained on the far end of your tongue until today.

Simon expected the tender engulfment of your embrace when he arrived; however, he was greeted with the bedroom door slammed shut. His duffel bag is to be released from the unforgiving grip of his gnarled hand as he unveils the oranges he bought from the market before heading to your shared home. The favourite of yours and the resentment of his.

There you lie in the comfort of your bed, sulking with a heavy heart, unknowing of your lover’s presence in the room. A familiar scent is detected in the air, which causes you to face your surroundings. “How many more oranges can you peel, Simon?” You questioned, aware of his hatred of citrus. Placing a peeled fruit on a bowl, his sunburned irises gaze at you. “How many would it take for you to forgive me?”

[nobody-nexus]

TADC Obsession AU

So yes I finally made this a whole ass AU- which is why I haven't posted art for a hot second. The idea of this honestly kinda fucked up AU is that Ragatha is the protagonist HOWEVER we see the story through the eyes of Pomni (aka it's a Second POV)

Let's meet the gang ^^

Amanda, or Ragatha, is a seamstress who has decided to move back into town in order to start anew with her dress making business. She was actually a little surprised to see a new face within the town

Eliza, or Pomni, is the new butcher for the town. Well 'new' for Amanda. In reality, she's been there for a few years now. And seeing that seamstress.... it was love at first sight for the deranged woman

Jackson, or Jax, is the younger brother of Amanda and a complete loser. He can't seem to keep a job to save his life and lives in a small but cheap ass apartment. Amanda is... slightly disappointed in him

Grace, or Gangle, is a librarian for the town. She's a bit of a germaphobe due to being a sickly kid, but thankfully she keeps gloves and face masks in her library as well as medkits all about

Zoe, or Zooble, is the owner of the tattoo parlor in the town. They were the first to be suspicious of Pomni, and therefore always warns people not to trust her. But, that won't stop everyone from doing so

Cesar, or Kinger, is a sad soul. Only leaving his house for work and to go shopping, he's hardly seen out of his house. Ever since Quinn, his wife, had gone missing- he's not had the best time recovering

Caine is the CEO of one of the most well-known meat production sites in the United States. He stays in the small town, finding it very quant, and it had the benefit of having his favorite customer!

Marina, or Moon, is Caine's wife and a detective for the local police force. Although she's incredible at her job, she seems to have run into a road block with a list of seemingly unrelated murders....

Summer, or Sun, is the older sister of Marina and a schoolteacher for the town. She's a kind soul who is trying to make sure no one worries, but isn't afraid to be blunt with others. In the middle of the madness

Bubble is, to put it simply, Caine and Marina's pet dog. Nothing more, nothing less (like actually I just wanted to draw Bubble as a dog)

Gabriella, or The Gloink Queen, is the manager of a local strip club known as 'The Gloink Cave'. Despite her business, and a very commanding personality, she's seen as a potential suspect for it all

Ivy, or The Influencer, is the local hermit of the town. Hardly leaves her apartment and is a local dark web and black-market salesman! She's a criminal with a fanbase. And Amanda's deranged cousin

I have a lot of this AU, and it's been infecting my brain as of recent, so much so that... well, I made reference sheets for ALL of the characters. Hope you like it! If you have any questions, my inbox is nice and open! So, ask away

[blueikeproductions]

They finally posted a trailer and poster for the next batch of EarthSpark. And it’s described as S3, though experience with Netflix makes me think this is just the remainder of S2… Still according to the marketing, fans finally got a third season, so that counts for something. It’s only roughly 7 episodes, but G1’s final fourth season was a three part finale, so a very short season isn’t unheard of.

This poster is a lot better than the past main posters they’ve used over and over.

These are better also, but they don’t get used much.

But after RotB & TFONE, I think we can all agree decent advertising isn’t modern Hasbro & Paramount’s strong suit.

As for the trailer itself, it continues a trend I’ve noticed where most EarthSpark ancillary stuff tends to down play the Terrans. Twitch appears for a split second and Thrash appears in a gag where he gets shot… continuing his “just kinda there” vibe.

The trailer primarily focuses on the traditional Autobot & Decepticon conflict, with a big focus put on Prowl, the newest and seemingly only Transformer added to the cast so far.

A news article further describes Prowl as an “old world” Autobot detective who trusts the hard facts & always finds the truth. He is immediately distrustful of Optimus’ allies, so presumably that includes the Maltos, Terrans and naturally Megatron. It’s interesting how he’s specifically described as a detective, perhaps that’s to avoid ACAB allegations I could see the old writers attempt through him….

Prowl’s G1 profiles cast him as a by the books, semi prickly, military strategist. This doesn’t really get explored in the old cartoon, and while it was touched on briefly in Marvel, IDW went hog wild with it, casting its Prowl as a corrupt cop antagonist towards the end of the run. IDW2 cast him as more of a detective pre-war though, possibly where EarthSpark borrowed it from, and while he was still a hard-aft, he had a soft spot for his pet dinosaur-alien.

The main villains of the season, unsurprisingly, are the Quintessons. Their leader is a female Judge, who the blurb declares it “is her birthright to possess the power of the Emberstone. She’s wise, dangerous, and her ego is so large that it’s no wonder she has five heads”.

What exactly constitutes gender among the Quints has never really been defined before.

It might be safe to say as far as the G1 cartoon is concerned, they’re an all male race.

WFC & CV attempted to insert female gender among the Judges, having some of the masks speak in a female voice.

That adds another oddity to Judge biology, as the G1 cartoon or Marvel UK comics never stated the other faces being separate personalities, instead other media describes them as different emotional states.

Alpha Q in Superlink did have multiple personalities based on which mask was displayed, each one squabbling/talking amongst themselves.

Presumably WFC/CV borrowed from Alpha Q, but the ES Quintesson Judge might be operating on G1 logic, each mask being a single (female) gender, as she has a female voice actor only.

The other big G1 thing the trailer shows is the Hate Plague. The leaked synopsis already revealed it, but like G1, those infected with the plague glow an intense red.

Once infected, they turn incredibly violent and try to kill each other. Despite the G1 show’s violence, nobody actually died ironically, at least it was never confirmed. The synopsis implies the Quintessons unleashed the Hate Plague on the Transformers, and while the 80’s Quints were instead among the victims of the outbreak, they do have a vague connection to it.

The oldest known leader within the Matrix, only known as “It”, resembles a Quintesson, with Japanese media confirming that’s what they are. Optimus Prime asks this ancient Quintesson how to combat the Hate Plague, with It saying the Plague couldn’t be outright destroyed but contained, where a wise man trapped the spores in a star. The spores nevertheless has a weakness to pure wisdom, so Optimus unleashes the power of the Matrix and uses its eons long store of wisdom to eradicate the virus once and for all… Until it briefly returns in Beast Machines.

As mentioned before, the Hate Plague isn’t exactly a popular concept cartoons like to go back to. Comics don’t like using it typically either, so its inclusion here is both unique but also a little… peculiar. I’m leaning towards it being a vague, modern topical metaphor for something, as an infected Megatron is fighting Optimus in particular. Probably some hogwash about Megatron succumbing to his biases and own hatred, but we’ll see soon enough.

Perhaps the most utterly bizarre detail is the blurb seemingly confirming the return of Spitfire and Aftermath.

How…?

Starscream yanked out their Allspar-er-Emberstone Shards, and the rock itself is dust. You can’t get any deader than that.

The only thing I can guess, is similar to Sari’s key, the Sleeves are the repository of the Emberstone’s life giving energies (the sleeves do just about anything else now so why not), and the Malto kids are incentivized to revive the two Decepticon Terrans for some reason.

MetroTitans in IDW also can grant life and that was carried over to Prime Wars, so it’s possible Terratronus can grant life too, and she restores the Terracons.

Worst case scenario is the two hellions are back up and running like nothing happened, and their death is never addressed again.

Crap writing if so, but the previous two scenarios would be preferable.

Not much longer to wait now. This might be the final batch, as the Quintessons make sense as the final end goal in the struggle over the Emberstone. The show has never been super committed to showing what’s going on Cybertron that whatever Prowl and Cosmos have to add to the matter is probably the best we’ll get. Plus the Terrans don’t have much incentive or interest to even go to Cybertron anyway; Alex would get more out of going there than his kids. Only thing I could guess is the Quints took over Cybertron off screen and that loosely ties into the Judge’s role on Earth, but eh. We’ll see.

[elderflowergin]

blood free v secret forest, a quick and dirty comparison:-

As someone who fell for Kdrama through Stranger, i loved it because it appeared seamless, grounded and weaved several systems and levels of privilege very elegantly. Most of all it seemed morally urgent, even if it was at its core a detective mystery. (Which, to be fair, Blood Free is as well.)

Secret Forest’s first success was that it held nuance for everyone in the middle of the road; LSY afforded so much thoughtful shading to those men. I often think they will never look as beautiful as they do on SF, and that’s only partly because of whoever did the lighting etc, but they’re not Kdrama glossy perfect; they’re real people trying to reckon with themselves and the moral calculus they have agreed to, and their dignity comes from the reckoning. Lee Chang-joon, Kang Won-chul, Lee Yeon-jae, even Seo Dong-jae for that matter, all have that advantage. LSY managed this for Jung Sung-il in the scant few minutes of screen time he had.

The second success was Cho Seung-woo and Bae Doona. If Secret Forest was a universe they were its gravitational field; it was their fierce sense of honour and morality that drives both seasons. And their moral decency is hard-won; it is tested constantly, and it’s burnished at each opportunity, which is why they are respected. It is a dream that people like that can influence or impact those around them, but you don’t question that they do, by the end of each season, and that’s the victory of writing, casting and the charisma of both leads.

That’s why that funeral scene in season 1 is so important (to me); it shows the gravity shifting. The prosecutors rely on their forest of secrets to keep the centre together, but Hwang Si-mok demonstrates how untenable this has become, how the roots must be pulled out so the weeds die; so new healthy things can grow. The chaebols are at the periphery, and they continue to be there because, most audaciously of all, they don’t matter if enough people shift their moral calculus. I think this gravitational pull happens to Lee Chang-joon in season 1 thanks to Hwang Si-mok and it happens to Choi Bit in season 2 thanks to Han Yeo-jin. They are easily some of the most powerful parts of the show.

On the other hand, we have Blood Free. I’m not sure who the moral gravitational field of this show is meant to be. Maybe it’s Yun Ja-yu and/or Woo Chae-woon. Maybe it’s Lee Mu-saeng. Maybe it’s about the ethical dilemma of experimentation and whether that’s a worthwhile price to pay for the scientific advancements in cultured meat and seafood. Perhaps we need more time to really see the middle of the road characters, but four episodes in there’s not much to go on: there’s Lee Mu-saeng, there’s Queen Dowager as a VP, here’s Jeon Seok-ho. There are three chaebols, all of whom seem like one-note characters to me. (Why ask a talented sketch artist to produce cartoons like these? Unless they’re not, but nothing seems to suggest otherwise.)

The most interesting insight from episode 4 was about Yun Jayu - when offered 72 trillion won for her company, she actually considers it because it means she doesn’t have to face investors and can focus on research. She has influence and money but these are means to an end, for her. I wish we could see more of that, and not necessarily through exposition alone.

When she gives deft, cool answers to reporters, did that come naturally to her or did she work at it? Is she the face of the company because she hated it a little less than Lee Mu-saeng did? If so, why? What comparative advantage did they determine she had? When she wears Chanel tweed skirts and smiles her way through presentations, is that a natural extension of her work or is that a mask she wears? Give me process, guys! Give us the backstory, the way the markets work, the environment for cutting-edge bio research in Korea, the reaction of Big Meat, the interplay of new rich and old rich, some indication of her actual influence (which must be considerably more than what we see on the show, although what little we see, while uncomfortable, is frankly not that inconceivable in a world where you’re constantly connected.) I am so interested in her, and yet I feel I am made to watch the story of her reacting to chaebols and to the mystery of corporate sabotage rather than her being the fulcrum of her own universe. And at no point does the mystery seem morally urgent to me, and it’s because 1) why does it matter if all this is is a giant M&A negotiation 2) why should we care if it doesn’t feel real to us? So what if there’s sabotage? Why on earth isn’t this company guarded like fucking Fort Knox? Why is this company ostensibly so influential, so powerful and yet capable of unusually amateurish errors that are the centre of the show so far and not on the periphery of it? Where is the moral quandary that is meant to grab us by the throat?

Is it a question of the writing? Have her interests shifted and did she want to do a show without having to do too much character work? If anyone has earned a vibes-only moment it’s Lee Soo-yeon, and I respect that for her. I hope the direction isn’t stifling the writing, because that means there is an arresting, politically trenchant drama underneath this dry procedural, and that’s upsetting to consider. We still have a ways to go and I think there is potential, but I have to remind myself not to expect something like SF, that maybe you can’t bottle that formula. That it’s the gold standard for a reason. But honestly, Disney, in the words of TikTok star imo_unusual, you’ve made this show like God was dozing off when the angels were working, now RELEASE US (and LSY writernim)

[valkyrieromanoff]

🔪HOCUS POCUS ROMANCE: TBB HUNTER X YOU (day 15 of 31)

synopsis:  On a mission with the Bad Batch, you and Hunter become trapped with a mysterious artifact.

warning: none, kiss.

 a/n: Hello there, Hunter my beloved and skeptic , hope you like it💖

ɪ ᴘ��ᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴘᴇʟʟ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ

ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴍɪɴᴇ

As a fallen Jedi, you were no stranger to walking the fine line between light and darkness. Forced to abandon the Order, you found yourself doing work that once would have repelled you—freelance security, bounty hunting, anything to stay afloat in the turbulent times of Palpatine's rise to power. You masked your connection to the Force, knowing its use would put you at risk of detection, and for now, you worked for Cid, often partnering with the notorious Bad Batch.

The Clone Wars had brought legends about this group of genetically modified clones. You’d heard about them during your time in the Grand Army of the Republic—how these five unorthodox soldiers could turn the tide of battle when no one else could. Now, fate had paired you with them for a mission, extracting an ancient artifact that Cid hoped to sell for a hefty price on the black market. It was supposed to be simple: get in, grab the relic, and get out. But simple had a way of becoming complicated fast.

From the start, things went sideways. Tech couldn't find a stable landing zone, forcing him and Omega to remain aboard the ship while the rest of you—Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, and yourself—jumped out, making your way into a vast cave system. Moments later, Wrecker set off explosives, which did their job a little too well. The wall between your team and Echo’s crumbled, creating an impassable barrier. Dust filled the air, and before you could react, Hunter threw himself over you, shielding you from the falling debris with his body.

You could feel his weight pinning you down, hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, each pulse syncing with your own. The cave was quiet, save for the faint sounds of shifting rubble and your sharp breath. Hunter’s face hovered above yours, his brow furrowed with concern, but it was the intensity of his senses that made the moment palpable. He must have felt your heartbeat spike, noticed the change in your breathing, because his eyes searched yours, catching the brief panic hidden behind your calm façade. 

“Everything alright?” His voice was low, rough with tension.

You nodded, your throat dry. “Yeah. Thanks.”

His dark eyes lingered on you for a second longer than necessary before he pushed himself off, offering you a hand. As soon as your fingers touched, a wave of awareness washed over you—Hunter was always aware of everything around him, but now it was like he could feel the smallest shift in your pulse, the slightest tremor in your grip. His brow quirked as you let go too quickly, almost as if he'd sensed something deeper.

You cleared your throat, trying to refocus. “The artifact’s close,” you muttered, checking the beeping tracker in your hand.

Hunter followed, his steps precise, silent. You could feel his presence at your back, even though he kept a measured distance. The silence stretched between you, broken only by the faint hum of the tracker. Every so often, you’d attempt small talk, but Hunter wasn’t much for conversation. Still, you caught glimpses of a smirk, his lips twitching at the corners as though he found your attempts amusing.

At the end of a narrow corridor, you spotted the artifact in a small room—a holocron. It was ancient, its surface glowing faintly with unfamiliar markings. Something in the Force tugged at you, urging caution. Hunter, always skeptical of things he couldn’t see or fight, frowned but stayed close as you approached the pedestal holding the relic.

“We should get out of here, now,” Hunter’s voice was firm, almost commanding. His heightened senses must’ve caught the faint sounds of the cave shifting, rocks rolling from the ceiling.

But as you both touched the holocron at the same time, something strange happened. A cool light spread from it, winding around the two of you like an invisible thread. For a moment, you felt something flow through your body, a connection deeper than anything you’d felt before.

You pulled away instinctively, but the distance between you and Hunter never stretched further than a few inches. Your legs buckled, and Hunter caught you effortlessly, his hands warm against your skin. The touch sent a shiver up your spine, your senses tingling in a way that had nothing to do with the Force.

“You alright?” he asked, his voice unusually soft. His thumb brushed against your waist, lingering.

“Yeah… yeah, I think so,” you whispered, but even as he helped you stand, the space between you seemed to evaporate again. You moved, and he was there. You took a step, and he was impossibly close. His brow furrowed, realizing what you had.

“I physically can’t pull away,” you murmured, your voice laced with growing unease.

Hunter tried stepping back, only for an unseen force to yank him toward you. He grabbed your shoulder to keep from stumbling into you completely. “What the—? Mesh’la, are you messing with me?” he asked, but there was no humor in his tone now.

“I’m serious. I think it’s some kind of… spell. The holocron must’ve triggered something.”

Hunter's sharp senses flared, and you could see the way his pulse quickened, the smallest shift in his stance. The connection between you wasn’t just physical—he was attuned to everything about you now, even the emotions you tried to suppress. His smirk returned, softer this time, as though he was testing you. 

“So what’s the plan? We stuck like this?”

You sat down on the cave floor, pulling him down beside you, the holocron still glowing faintly between you. “I need to open this. The answer’s inside.” Closing your eyes, you reached out with the Force, but every time you tried to concentrate, Hunter’s presence disrupted your focus. His closeness, the warmth of his skin, the beat of his heart—they were all magnified.

Frustration bubbled up inside you. “I can’t focus, not like this.”

Hunter leaned in, his lips near your ear. “Maybe we need to get even closer,” he whispered, his breath warm against your skin. It wasn’t a suggestion—it was a challenge.

You turned, your faces inches apart, the tension between you snapping into something undeniable. The Force surged, the pull between you stronger than ever, but this time, you stopped fighting it. Hunter’s eyes darkened, his senses fully attuned to yours, reading every shift in your breath, every unspoken thought.

The realization hit you both at once. “It’s not the holocron,” you murmured, your voice barely a whisper. “It’s us. We’re the key.”

Hunter’s gaze flickered down to your lips, then back up, his hand curling at your waist as if daring you to deny it. “Only one way to find out,” he said softly, his voice hushed with certainty.

And then, without hesitation, you closed the distance between you, your lips brushing his. The spell shattered with a rush of air, the holocron’s glow fading as the bond loosened, but neither of you pulled away.

When you finally broke the kiss, Hunter smirked, the teasing glint back in his eyes. “Guess we’ll need to be more careful with ancient artifacts from now on, mesh’la.”

You smiled, heart still racing. “Yeah, or maybe not.”

[jcmarchi]

Students strive for “Balance!” in a lively product showcase

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/students-strive-for-balance-in-a-lively-product-showcase/

Students strive for “Balance!” in a lively product showcase

On an otherwise dark and rainy Monday night, attendees packed Kresge Auditorium for a lively and colorful celebration of student product designs, as part of the final presentations for MIT’s popular class 2.009 (Product Engineering Processes).

With “Balance!” as its theme, the vibrant show attracted hundreds of attendees along with thousands more who tuned in online to see students pitch their products.

The presentations were the culmination of a semester’s worth of work in which six student teams were challenged to design, build, and draft a business plan for a product, in a process meant to emulate what engineers experience as part of a design team at a product development firm.

“This semester, we pushed the six teams to step outside of their comfort zones and find equilibrium between creativity and technical rigor, all as they embarked on a product engineering process journey,” said 2.009 lecturer Josh Wiesman.

Trying to find a balance

The course, known on campus as “two-double-oh-nine,” marks a colorful end to the fall semester on campus. Each team, named after a different color, was given mentors, access to makerspaces, and a budget of $7,500 to turn their ideas into working products. In the process, they learned about creativity, product design, and teamwork.

Various on-stage demonstrations and videos alluded to this year’s theme, from balance beam walks to scooter and skateboard rides.

“Balance is a word that can be used to describe stability, steadiness, symmetry, even fairness or impartiality,” said Professor Peko Hosoi, who co-instructed the class with Wiesman this semester. “Balance is something we all strive for, but we rarely stop to reflect on. Tonight, we invite you to reflect on balance and to celebrate the energy and creativity of each student and team.”

Safety first

The student products spanned industries and sectors. The Red Team developed a respirator for wildland firefighters, who work to prevent and control forest fires by building “fire lines.” Over the course of long days in challenging terrain, these firefighters use hand tools and chainsaws to create fire barriers by digging trenches, clearing vegetation, and other work based on soil and weather conditions. The team’s respirator is designed to comfortably rest on a user’s face and includes a battery-powered air filter the size of a large water bottle that can fit inside a backpack.

The mask includes a filter and a valve for exhalations, with a hose that connects to the blower unit. Team members said their system provides effective respiratory protection against airborne particles and organic vapors as users’ work. Each unit costs $40 to make, and the team plans to license the product to manufacturers, who can sell directly to fire departments and governments.

The Purple Team presented Contact, a crash-detection system designed to enhance safety for young bicycle riders. The device combines hardware and smart algorithms to detect accidents and alert parents or guardians. The system includes features like a head-sensing algorithm to minimize false alerts, plus a crash-detection algorithm that uses acceleration data to calculate injury severity. The compact device is splashproof and dustproof, includes Wi-Fi/LTE connectivity, and can run for a week on a single charge. With a retail price of $75 based on initial production of 5,000 units, the team plans to market the product to schools and outdoor youth groups, aiming to give young riders more independence while keeping them safe.

On ergonomics and rehabilitation

The Yellow Team presented an innovative device for knee rehabilitation. Their prototype is an adjustable, wearable device that monitors patients’ seated exercises in real-time. The data is processed by a mobile app and shared with the patient’s physical therapist, enabling tailored feedback and adjustments. The app also encourages patients to exercise each day, tracks range of motion, and gives therapists a quick overview of each patient’s progress. The product aims to improve recovery outcomes for postsurgery patients or those undergoing rehabilitation for knee-related injuries.

The Blue Team, meanwhile, presented Band-It, an ergonomic tool designed to address the issue of wrist pain among lobstermen. With their research showing that among the 20,000 lobstermen in North America, 1 in 3 suffer from wrist pain, the team developed a durable and simple-to-use banding tool. The product would retail for $50, with a manufacturing cost of $10.50, and includes a licensing model with 10 percent royalties plus a $5,000 base licensing fee. The team emphasized three key features: ergonomic design, simplicity, and durability.

Underwater solutions

Some products were designed for the sea. The Pink Team presented MARLIN (Marine Augmented Reality Lens Imaging Network), a system designed to help divers see more clearly underwater. The device integrates into diving masks and features a video projection system that improves visibility in murky or cloudy water conditions. The system creates a 3D-like view that helps divers better judge distances and depth, while also processing and improving the video feed in real-time to make it easier to see in poor conditions. The team included a hinged design that allows the system to be easily removed from the mask when needed.

The Green Team presented Neptune, an underwater communication device designed for beginner scuba divers. The system features six preprogrammed messages, including essential diving communications like “Ascend,” “Marine Life,” “Look at Me,” “Something’s Off,” “Air,” and “SOS.” The compact device has a range of 20 meters underwater, can operate at depths of up to 50 meters, and runs for six hours on a battery charge. Built with custom electronics to ensure clear and reliable communications underwater, Neptune is housed in a waterproof enclosure with an intuitive button interface. The communications systems will be sold to dive shops in packs of two for $800. The team plans to have dive shops rent the devices for $15 a dive.

“Product engineers of the future”

Throughout the night, spectators in Kresge cheered and waved colorful pompoms as teams demonstrated their prototypes and shared business plans. Teams pitched their products with videos, stories, and elaborate props.

In closing, Wiesman and Hosoi thanked the many people behind the scenes, from lab instructors and teaching assistants to those working to produce the night’s show. They also commended the students for embracing the rigorous and often chaotic coursework, all while striving for balance.

“This all started a mere 13 weeks ago with ideation, talking to people from all walks of life to understand their challenges and uncover problems and opportunities,” Hosoi said. “The class’s six phases of product design ultimately turned our students into product engineers of the future.”

[antoschauniverse]

Sorry. My vent at such celebrity or quasi celebrity self-indulgence from someone who is angry at themselves for having some hope.

It seems to me that Gillian thinks she's an enigma and coy when she tries to play all the fields- partner, bisexual, mother, businesswoman- and says things she thinks are shocking. She probably thinks her fans are dumb and gullible. Fans knows she's like a fart; blows in whichever way the wind goes. She has yet to actually stand for anything.

Come on- we have gone through Madonna, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilar, etc; she has missed her chance to be a shocker and intriguing.

What would be a shocker is if she got her act together and represented something valuable to connect with a real audience. Why doesn't she put more attention into the charities that she says she promotes? What about the charity that is to help research the disease that took her brother? She wants to be all British proper with American vulgarities.

David is a Hollywood cliche with his groomer ways, but so is Gillian. She is a superficial fake face and voice trying to use female sex and token words (male gaze and male toxicity) like she really knows what that means just for attention and $$.

She is actually part of the problem of objectifying women in how she acts and portrays herself (fake feminist). She is no longer a Scully influencer, but she could have had potential. I cringed at one of the clips where she is promoting her drink and says something to someone about finding her Gspot. Oh please woman. Grow up. It's not funny or alluring. Others have already beat her to it. The marketing, I will say, was good, but she's past her prime and doesn't have the foundation to be the face. Her netflix shows are not at the top ratings and she's not a movie star to carry that momentum.

It's too bad that these people (D and G) are disingenuous to themselves because the collective detectives in the Fandom see past their masks and aren't convinced. Be real and honest with yourselves and then they can have some real beefy influence, but make it valuable and worthwhile influence.

Sorry. Frustrated in the void of watching jackasses.

You don't have to apologize- that's your opinion, but I disagree with you on a few points.

"she's past her prime and doesn't have the foundation to be the face." I'm sorry, but this sounds very offensive to all women over the age of 50. This is more suitable for David, who appreciates women only for their young age. I'm not a fan of Gillian, but I'm glad that she can prove at least a little bit that older women can also play leading roles in movies and TV shows, they also want sex and have sexual desires and such women can be the face of any company. A young face, big tits and young asses are not a reason to push older women into the background.

Of course, Gillian earns money from her drinks, but this is her job and money. No one forces people to buy everything that celebrities sell. People do it themselves. I buy what I like, not things that some celebrity is selling.

Gillian devotes a lot of time to charity and spends enough of her money to support charitable foundations. I'm sorry, but I haven't heard of David doing this unless it's necessary. Gillian is a representative of the Neurofibromatosis Association. It's the disease that killed her brother.

I think if Gillian hadn't defended a woman's right not to be a simple addition to a man 31 years ago, then we would never have gotten the Scully we all know now.

[voraciousvore]

The Giant (7/16)

***Contains violence and kidnapping***

------Chapter 7------

I woke up to the rising sun streaming in through the window. I felt so comfortable and warm, cuddled up on the giant's chest. He had placed his hand protectively over me while I had been asleep. I stretched and yawned, cracking my back.

"Chester? Time to wake up," I said, massaging his chest with my hands. He shifted underneath me and closed his fingers around my midsection, lifting me off his chest.

"Good morning," he yawned, raising himself up to a sitting position. He rubbed his eyes sleepily with his other hand.

"What do you want to do today?" I asked him. I was very happy with the events of the previous night and was in the mood for an adventure.

"Actually..." Chester began, "I had something in mind, but I wasn't sure what you would think about it." I looked up at him questioningly. "I know I said earlier that it wouldn't be safe for you to be around other giants. Which is still true. I was thinking I might be able to mask your scent with cologne and hide you on my person while I wore the same cologne. Then I could take you out with me, and nobody would be able to detect you. What do you think? Would you want to try it?"

I furrowed my brow and ruminated on the idea. While the plan would be risky, Chester would still be around to protect me if I were discovered. Going out sounded fun, and I really wanted to see more of the world I was in. We could go to a bookstore or library and obtain books about magic. I didn't want to stay isolated from the world for the rest of my life.

I looked up at Chester, starry-eyed with excitement, and grinned. "I want to go."

"Great!" he proclaimed. We hurriedly dressed, ate breakfast, and prepared to leave. Chester threw on a big hoodie with a roomy pocket in the front for me to hide in. He brought out the cologne, a small clear bottle full of light purple fluid.

"I'm going to have to spray this on you pretty liberally to conceal your scent, so you might want to cover your eyes and nose," Chester warned. I complied, and he drenched me in fluid, then sprayed it all over himself. I sneezed and rubbed my nose. Once the excess spray dissipated, Chester kneeled down to my level and inhaled deeply through his nose.

"I think that will work. It doesn't completely eliminate your scent, but covers it well enough." I gazed into his giant handsome face and smiled idiotically. He smiled back tenderly and grasped me in his hand, gently depositing me in the pocket in the front of his jacket. The inside of the pocket was large and soft, and I could see out the sides without feeling too exposed. I was jostled about when he started walking, but I soon adjusted to the rhythm of his gait. The weather outside was chillier than it had been the past few days, and overcast, the sun hidden behind a gloomy barrier of gray clouds. To my surprise I heard the familiar beep of a car unlocking, then the opening of a car door, and I felt a little disoriented as the giant sat down in the driver's seat.

"You have a car?" I asked, realizing how dumb the question was as soon as I spoke.

"Of course," Chester answered. "I live out in the woods. It would be too far to walk where we're going." The car engine roared to life, and I settled in against the giant's torso, appreciating the heat radiating from his body. The ride was bumpy, and lasted about twenty minutes. Eventually the car stopped.

"Where are we?" I inquired, not able to see anything from inside the pocket.

Chester opened the car door and stepped out. "We're at the market. Don't be afraid, I will keep you safe." As he started walking, I peeked out the side, and felt my heart jump into my throat. There were giants everywhere, and they were all frighteningly massive. Some of them gave Chester strange looks as he passed by, and I realized with dread they must suspect something. I retreated deeper into the pocket, hugging my legs, and started to involuntarily shake like a leaf in the wind. Chester must have felt me shaking because he reached his hand into his pocket and held me softly, petting me with his thumb in an effort to calm me down. I huddled into his hand and gripped his fingers tightly. Chester would protect me, but one wrong move and I could potentially be stolen away and eaten alive. I had already lived through that terrifying experience once, and I never wanted it to happen again. I cringed and held on to his hand tighter.

After a few minutes Chester stopped walking. His fingers encircled me and he pulled me out of his pocket, keeping me hidden inside his fist. Cautiously, he opened his hand enough so that I could see we were standing in front of a giant bookshelf full of thick tomes about magic.

"Which ones do you want?" Chester whispered, trying not to draw attention to himself. I looked over the books and pointed at a couple that interested me. Chester took them off the shelf with his free hand.

"Do you want to look around the market some more, or are you too afraid? Would you prefer to go home now?" Chester questioned under his breath.

"Let's go home," I said back quietly. "I'm frightened." Chester nodded and put me back in his jacket pocket. He went up to the counter and paid for the books I had picked out, chatting politely with the giantess at the register. As I warily peered out of the side opening, I noticed a tall, thin giant across the room staring in my direction. I didn't think he was able to see me directly, but he was fixated on my giant protector, as if he knew that Chester had a human on his person. The way he looked chilled my blood. His eyes were blue, cold as ice, and he had long blond hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail. He was gaunt and pale, with high cheekbones that gave him a haughty, aristocratic mien. He was dressed in a black coat with brass buttons, pants, and boots. He maintained his intense gaze the entire time we were in the store.

I felt rising panic in my chest, but as usual there was nothing I could do. I desperately wanted to warn Chester, but there was no way for me to communicate to him my concerns without drawing outside attention. Chester walked out of the store, books in tow, oblivious to the potential threat. I couldn't see if the giant man was following us or not. I rocked back and forth with anxiety. I wanted to look out but was too afraid of being seen by other giants as Chester strolled through the crowd. Eventually, Chester made his way to the parking lot, which was mostly deserted. I thought this might be a good opportunity to warn him.

"Chester!" I hissed, trying to get his attention as quietly as I could. "Chester! I think someone might be following us!"

Chester stopped in his tracks and stiffened. He turned around to survey his surroundings. Before he could do anything, however, something crashed into his head. With a grunt, he dropped like a stone to the pavement. He landed on his back so I wasn't crushed under his body. Although I was not harmed, I was too stunned to react. An ominous shadow loomed overhead. I stayed in my hiding place, a wave of terror washing over me. Someone was roughly searching his body, rifling through his clothes. Suddenly, a giant bony hand snaked into the jacket pocket and bumped into me. I yelped and tried to dash away, but the hand was much faster and violently grabbed me. I screamed as I was ripped out of the pocket and into the cold air.

The terrifying giant that had been watching us earlier was crouching over me, his face contorted into rage. When he saw the prize he had snagged, he flashed me a vicious grin, revealing gleaming white teeth. He was inconceivably massive, even taller than Chester, and I realized immediately I was in serious danger as I struggled fruitlessly in his tight grip.

"Chester!" I shrieked. "Help me!" I glanced back to see his head covered in blood, eyes closed, flat on his back. The other giant tightened his grip, causing me to cry out in pain. His hands had none of the gentleness that Chester's possessed.

"Finally!" the cruel giant declared. "I have my own human!" He stood up to his full height and brought me close to his face to get a better look. I started to cry. My tears only seemed to amuse him. His cold blue eyes ogled me in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Please... let me go," I pleaded, gasping for breath. "You're hurting me."

He ignored my supplications, shoving me into his coat pocket and striding off.

Chapter 8

Chapter 1

[bellybuttonbooks]

Hey guys. I’m writing an Ekko x Fem!OC fanfic on Wattpad. I have 31 chapters written so far, with 14 of them posted (the other 16 are in editing stage).

TITLE: The Sixth

SUMMARY: Shimmer is back. Two years after the war with Noxus has ended, a new gangster emerges within the undercity, now known as 'Zaun'.

Daunter is a ruthless chem-baron who has reformed the city's drug empire. He refloods the streets with shimmer and gains the title 'Silco's Heir'.

The Firelights are back in commission after two years of lax, taking down exports just like the days when Silco was still alive.

When the group arrives at an export and finds it already taken down with the barrels drained of shimmer, it becomes apparent that Daunter and his gang aren't the only ones they need to look out for. They had competition. Or... did they?

Ekko finds himself involved in a seemingly endless cat-and-mouse chase with another gang leader-a woman who moves like the wind. He wants to know what her motives are, but he has to catch her first.

LINK: https://www.wattpad.com/story/385476895?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details&wp_uname=bellybuttonbooks

COVER:

🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩

SNIPPET OF CHAPTER ONE (not the full chapter):

- Zaun, two years after the conclusion of Arcane

"Fuck—"

It happened again. Their mission had been sabotaged, just like before. Someone had arrived before he and the Firelights had gotten there, Daunter's goons paralyzed and tied up, the barrels drained of shimmer.

Daunter was Zaun's newest chem baron—and currently it's biggest. He reintroduced shimmer to the Lanes, reflooding the streets with the purple drug.

After Silco had died and the undercity got caught up in a battle with Piltover and Noxus, shimmer had been mostly exterminated by Caitlyn and her enforcers. It still lingered in the black market, but mass exports ceased to exist. Until a few months ago, that is. Daunter crept in like slow-forming shadows caused by a rising moon. In increments so small that no one noticed until everything was drenched in its darkness.

This forced the Firelights back into action. But now, there seemed to be someone else who was intent on interrupting Daunter's operations. Ekko would have accepted the help if it wasn't for the fact that they'd taken the shimmer. He couldn't help but suspect that the culprit had ill intentions, and that put them at odds with the Firelights.

"Looks like we got competition," a distorted voice said from beside him.

Ekko turned his head to look at the masked face of Scar, a tall chirean who served as his Lieutenant and second in command. Chireans held bat-like appearances (minus the wings), with large ears, grey-toned skin, bat-like noses, and neon green eyes.

Both men stood atop a nearby roof, out of hearing distance of the restrained goons on the cargo airship.

"More like another enemy," Ekko responded.

Scar processed his leader's remark before speaking again. "You think they got bad intentions?"

"They're up to no good if they're stealing shimmer. Probably selling it themselves to make bank," he said pointedly.

Scar took in Ekko's words. It made sense and sounded like the most likely scenario. Though, one thing stood out to him.

"Why would they tie em' up? They already have em' paralyzed somehow. It's like they're leaving 'em here for someone to arrest or something."

Ekko considered this but had already thought up a reason. "The paralysis might not last long. Could be a precaution."

Scar nodded, agreeing that his reasoning seemed plausible.

"What should we do? Seems we keep missing 'em. Should we put out scouters across the city?"

Ekko exhaled through his nose, mulling over Scar's suggestion. It did sound like a good idea, but he had to also consider the risks. He didn't want to put his people in danger. This wouldn't be like their typical 'element of surprise' mission. This would involve spying, waiting, and watching—usually from the shadows to avoid detection. Despite this, Ekko had faith in the Firelights.

"Yeah. Could assign shifts. But we still need to keep most of our numbers back at the hideout in case of any surprise missions."

Scar agreed. Daunter was becoming more and more unpredictable, and there were times when they had to act quickly, creating plans with only hours to spare.

The conversation between the men ended there and Ekko mounted his aeroglider. He flew over to the transport ship and hopped off the board, sliding it behind his back to attach to the magnetic piece on his coat. He neared Daz, one of the newer Firelights.

Daz was a little on the shorter side, his body mass nothing impressive. But he was quick, and that made up for his size.

"You find anything useful? Anything they might've left behind?"

Daz stood from his crouching position. "Nothing. But this guy says that it was a bunch of people dressed in black wearing cloaks," he said.

The younger male nudged the oversized goon who was laying on the boarded floors of the airship with his booted foot.

Ekko's eyes narrowed in thought from the goon's revelation. He crouched down, deciding to take questioning the brute into his own hands.

"Did you see any faces? Anything?"

Daunter's ruffian shook his head, his double chin jigging as he did so.

"I was lucky to even see 'em in the first place. Bastards were quick as shit, bouncin' all over the place like a bunch 'a damn shimmer addicts."

Ekko stared down at the overweight man for a few moments before standing.

'Was it possible that whoever had done this was also consuming the drug to give themselves a physical advantage?'

Authoritative voices sounded from the distance, pulling him from his thoughts and signaling him and the other firelights that enforcers were nearby. Ekko yanked his aeroglider from behind his back once again, hopping onto it before instructing the other Firelights to follow him out of there.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

@unrestrainedbalderdash said they don't care if I put Jonathan Crane into my idea of how I would do an adult Scooby cartoon. And since they are someone who I really liked and I really just need one person saying "hey is okay" to me to overly babble over something here we are.

Disclaimer: I did not watch the Velma show. I saw the trailer and reviews but that is it. This is also not a recreation of it. It's merely how I would do an adult scooby doo story with a more representative cast.

▫️Alpha Kappa Scobby (I'm bad naming stuff)

Is time to grow up.

With the end of high school comes the anxiety inducing question of what to do next? To the Mystery Inc. the answer was always obivous: continuing solving mysteries together. Unfortunally fate appeared to have other plans. Between parental presure, a crashing economy, a shitty job market and an investigation that abelit sucefull ended up breaking the Mystery Machine, hurting a civilian and facing the local authorities ultimatum that they could not keep their unregulated detective agency it appears to be the end.

But the thing is mysteries never ever leave the gang. Where they are things happen and as they face the monsters of adult life other monsters may appear on the way. Are they ready?

▫️The Gang

- Velma is our main characther. She is a second generation imigrant kid from an indian-american family, possibly autistic (mostly represented by her sensory issues and examples of masking) and a genius who suffers from anxiety and the pressure that both comes with societal expectations related to prejudice, familial expectations (especially as a second generation imigrant) and being a gifted kid. She is also a lesbian.

- Shaggy is Shaggy. They are a possibly stoner black latino (he may be a stonner or it may be just harmfull steriotypes possibly both) and they are also ace and non-binary using they/then pronouns. Norville is their deadname and the fact their parents call them that is a dead give away of the time of people they are. Shaggy was adopted and their parents are upped middle class white guys who adopted three POC kids and act extremily white saviour over it. Their bio parents are implied to be scientistis at Star Labs that died in an freaky accident when they eere still little. They may have something to do with Scooby being a talking dog. Though they met by Shaggy adopting a stray puppy. Their personality is still the same. Except for the parents issues. Like they are still the same glutonous coward who cares a lot for their friends and likes bad horror movies.

- Scooby is Scooby. Like nothing changed at all about him. Except that outside the gang people do question the fact he is a talking dog. Since their world is really weird people go from allien to failed scientific experiment of either LexCorp or Starlabs. The more accepted theory is that he is the first non-human to manifest a meta gene. He isn't being studies because he flied over radar until the gaang started solving mysteries and at this point he was too popular plus the governent had other more important issues going on. So he is just a fact.

- Daphne is a girl who defy expectations. She is weird. She has two mons (a thing I know is cannon on the Velma cartoon and am using), one is a british martial artist and the other a american fashion designer and she got very deep into both of her mons careears. She has some relatives in jail and she learned a bunch with them. She loves to learn except not the school stuff, so her grades were meh and people usually saw her as just a pretty face, even though she has a bunch of great skils like fighting, fashion, faking signatures, lock picking, stealth, acting, a bunch of sports and more. She is bissexual and has a huge crush on both Elvira and Hex Girls. She also loves escape artists (being good at scaping herself) and is a fan of bad horror movies and campy actors. She also has a crush on Fred.

- Fred is a sweet bissexual himbo and he is very clearly neurodivergent and definitvaly autistic. He stims a lot, has dificulty getting social clues, misses most sarcasm and some abstract expressions, has a huge special interest in traps, sometimes goes non-verbal, just the whole book. He is a rich white boy but fails to meet his misoginistic racist parents expectations not only by hangin with the gaang but by having a disability. His parents never took him to a doctor to be diagnosed because they believed it would bring shame to the family to have a disabled kid and just hoped he would "grow out of it". He does have some internalized prejudice but it's working to be better. He also has a huge crush in Daphne, is a very supportive and loyal friend and infodumps people a lot.

▫️The Pilot

The pilot episode starts with the gaang reciving their ultimatum and having to undergo an state aproved course to became private investigators and be abble to keep the Mystery Inc. going. Shennanigans issue and they all end up failing.

Daphne is too good on the self defense courses and also may have caused a teacher who implied she would need to do sexual favors for him if she hoped to pass in his boring law class to never be able to walk again. Luckily he was too afraid to press charges.

Fred keept trying to insert trap making into the course to ridiculous extremes.

Shaggy broke the vending machine, ate all the food and also just keept running away from the clues in all the pratical texts. They answers also mostly involved running and getting uninvolved.

No one knew if Scooby should do dog training or humam courses and he ended in a confusing stream of buerocracy.

Velma should by all means had suceeded though and the only reason she failed was racial bias. She tries to brush it off, after all she was not going to be a detective on her own anyway and all her friends failed, but it clearly afects her and this will be a thing hanging over her head the whole season. The episode ends with Velma discovering she got approved to a full scholarship on a fictional ivvy league university outisde of Crystal Cove she had applied more for her parents sakes than her in criminology.

▫️They failed what now?

After a whole debate during the second episode and the gaang being supportive even if it means it is the definitive end for them, Velma decides to go to college. Of course trying to keep together the whole gaang somehow ends up involved with the campus.

- Shaggy and Scobby get a job at the college cafeteria that Shaggy uses to move into a trailer in the college parking lot (that they plans into turning in a food truck) so they can get away from their transphobic parents. Scobby of course moves with them.

- With help of white rich cis man priviledge Fred gets accepted to the same school but into architeture (he does uses this knoledge to plan traps but also realizes he likes projecting rooms on general). The thing is thanks to missanderstanding a sarcastic coment from Velma he ends up being part of a very "bro" fraternity. It's mostly played for laughs as he definitivally doesn't belong there but also accidentaly starts turning the guys into better people. But also features on Fred understanding his priviledge and the internalized prejudices his parents dumped on him and evolving past them and also dealing with ableism.

- Daphne decided to try to work in a close by cafe and became roomates with a goth girl called June that works with Shaggy and Scooby. Both are fired and decide to open an etsy store together. She is also doing an online course on fashion. Velma has a crush on June and June is implied to have a criminal past. The etsy store is mostly used for laughs though it also is used to show Daphne dealing with being different from soceity expectations and the hardships of having a small bussiness.

▫️The Plot

The story focuses on their adventures on campus as they deal with adult life but also as weird things keep happening and students end up either getting murdered or disapearing all the time. While focused on episodic shennanigans with characther growth as the linear aspect there are some key episodes that show that there's a major conspiracy involving the university's past and the looming presence of an white supremacist cult.

▫️Cool and all but where is Jonathan Crane?

The thing is if I was writing this series I would make the connection with DC be mostly references with some few special episodes starting on the second season (including the obligatory Batman team-up and a episode were Riddler, who is on his P.I arc, is hired to the same case the Mystery Inc is in and they have to work together). So we would have things like Scooby possibly having the metagene, Velma being a Batman fangirl and having some batfam merch in the middle of her detective merch, Fred being a Green Arrow fan and buying trap material for Ace Chemicals and LexCorp, Daphne mentioning her uncle Alfred or Shaggy's bio parents having been Star Lab scientistis. Some name drops like WayneTech or Lex Luthor.

The exception being Jonathan Crane. Jon is an actual relevant secundary characther. After mysterious circunstances involving a fight with the dean, a recomendation letter and an ultimatum, Jonathan leaved Gotham University and became a teacher at the Yet To Be Named University where the gang is.

His disciplines are an eletive about phobias, psychophatology and forensic psychology. He is famous over the campus for being a genius and a great teacher but also for being harsh, having extremely high standards and hard exams and just being creepy and really really weird. There is legit theories of him being some kind of cryptic or a ghost. He has the uncanny hability of walking without making any noise and being abble to be silent and quiet until he suddently scares someone with his presence. He speaks little outside the classroom and is always alone. And if someone tries to be friendly with him, he will just leave and let the person hanging. No one ever saw him eat only drink coffe (that may be spiked with whisky sometimes). He is mostly saw outside classes either writing/typing or reading (he only reads text books and horror stories). He has a crow in his office and while the bird is calm and sweet with him it sings creepy old childrem rhymes and it definitivaly attacked a student who got emotional over a bad grade and started screaming with Crane.

With all that being said Crane is Velma's fsvorite professor and she is his favorite student. He doesn't presure or mocks her and is fascinated by her theories and they can discuss psychology, chesmistry, literature and criminology for hours. They respect each other and have a deep understanding being fairly similar (and yes make Crane be also POC, prefencialy south asian), they are friends and with her family alway Velma sees Crane as a pseudo father-figure. Even Crane's bird Ichabod seems to also enjoy Velma a lot. The rest of the gang has more mixed views of Crane. He is always polite with them but he is also creepy as hell specially with Shaggy and Scooby as he asks them a lot of questions about their fears.

Every single time someone either dies or disappears everyone accuses Crane. He is ALWAYS a suspect. And Velma is his only defender (sometimes the gang as whole also). And he is always show to be innocent. But is also hinted that he is still planning and doing Scarecrow shit and while it's played for laughs the huge impact Crane and Velma's bond have to Velma overcoming her issues is a hint that when it finally happens of Crane being the guilty part and his Scarecrow persona coming to light it will break Velma's heart.

[wispisstillverybored67]

La Follia D'Amore

GAME OVER

SORBET HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY

TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

YOU TOO, GELATO!

Out of all the things I've stumbled upon...

Why does this have to come today?

I wanted to go exploring around the neighborhood since we just moved here (not like the natives know; records are too easily forged). So after having my sister give me the OK, I decided to first check out the studio complex a few ways down from our apartment building. I see it on the way to school, and it's always stark black and empty. So with little Arles Zorro tucked into my chest for her own safety, I snuck inside. I used to sneak to avoid detection to keep up the exciting atmosphere.

Now I'm sneaking around for my fucking life.

About 20 minutes after walking into the basement, some others had also walked in here. I'm on the south-east side of the room where they were, hiding under the sofa (it's a surprisingly loose squeeze). The first one... was what I can only call a madman. Long and lanky figure, wild green hair, but I couldn't discern what he was wearing. This one stood the tallest. Next to/behind him was this, uh... I don't know what to describe it. It looks to be in a full bodysuit, but that's all. I can't see shit in this light that it was flashing from the tape recorder. Between that and the way these two faced the others, they might be recording a snuff film. And as for the content...?

It was torture, plain and simple. Two other men were thrown here, in complete darkness, bound up like shrimps. They seemed to have been doing SOMETHING wrong to have warranted this. But I've never seen them before, so I can't vouch for them. Two men, tied like little shrimps at the market, blonde and blue, faces blown into fear and despair. Hoho... I can sense how despairing they truly are. Hahaha... Once I caught sight of the other two, the captors, they might have said something. All I can make out was one of them calling the other "my love". Must've been from the shrimp schlubs. And then I think one of them exclaimed that the torturer lied to them, or something I can't remember, then one of them got pulled away to the table further in... An empty glass, reflecting this blunt truth. It's telling what's not to be told... They need that mask.

In hindsight, I really should have told Nero what I saw that day. Would it even matter if I did? He wouldn't care. As would I. I might have acted overt with what I saw that night. Nero-chan, I'm sorry, but I didn't think I had to. To die on the battlefield in that empty life is just hell. But it wouldn't make a difference. We all still die in the end. All for nothing. But back to the past at hand.

The madman held up a razor sharp butcher's cleaver looking thing. Then he called something out of his shadow, and injected one of them with something. He jolted upwards, yet flopped downward just as quickly on the table he could not escape from. The little thing holding the tape recorder didn't move from it's spot. Well THAT makes sense. It would be hard to record a snuff film if you're unstill.

And then he started slicing. Oh my!

From the feet up, he worked the blade onto that guy. *sshink!* That's gotta hurt. It's super, super sharp. Again he went, cutting into the guy bound, gagged, and strapped to table, making intensely small pieces as he went cleaving, producing very clean cuts, almost as if he'd done this before several times. A veritable dance of iron he (the victim) somehow didn't die from. And he was acting so calm as he hacked away, too. The victim was emanating blood-curdling screams, howls of fear and despair. I'll never forget the expression and face he made, seemingly constantly warped in fear, tears flooding down his face.

Despair... Were they mafioso? You can only get despair this potent from those punks. I know this, because outside Morioh at least, there's this yakuza, and they spread despair like this... One of my old teachers was a former member of the yakuza. I can tell from his chopped off pinkie finger on one hand. Isn't the mafia the Italian yakuza? Anyway... How could I have sensed the despair radiating from the room? Emotions aren't my strong suit, much less understanding how someone feels when I can't get a good look at his or her face. I only looked at him once, the image is yet still burned into my mind.

What's keeping that schlub alive? Is there even such a thing as something that can keep him alive through that? I pulled Arles Zorro closer to my chest, fearing slightly that whatever noise from her would send us to the chopping block. She's unusually fine with this now... Ever since we got her about a day before leaving Morioh, she hated being touched like this. Uh, actually, maybe it's just because it was Ane touching her like that. Keeping us alive... They seem very strong. Both the madman, and the pair. Strong... Hey, maybe I ought to check them out after this. When the Iron Waltz is done, I'll take my leave and go.

At this point, he was up to... the midsection, I believe. He didn't relent with this torture. Death by a thousand cuts seems to be a nasty way to go out, and whatever he put into him, he's still alive. Bound up extremely tightly like a fish, gagged so he won't scream, and hacked away by a mad doctor type while remaining alive under the knife... What a way to go out. Hey, what happened to the other one? Where's he? Found him.

He stopped crying, only temporarily. He was trembling in his spot. He squirmed away from the scene of the crime. And then he flopped down limply at last, his gag had been sucked in so far down his throat, it looked a bit suggestive. Most likely, he either suffocated from his crying, or he killed himself. At the time, and even in hindsight now, it was hard to tell. It wasn't that hard to do whichever one, either way. "...?!" I squeaked out once his corpse fell closer to me. Smells of cheap cologne, ugh...

"Eh?!" Shit. I think the camera freak saw me. One wrong move, and you're next on the chopping block. Hehehe...

The mad doctor, for his part, stopped what he was doing, and picked up the blonde's corpse by the collar. But only for a moment, and he dropped him once he saw that face. The face of one who wanted only to experience sweet death after all that happened. "How tragic," was what I read from his lips. If you're making a snuff film, it makes sense not to speak, unless it would amplify the experience. You don't want to muffle the cries of the damned, the ones crying for love in hell.

And now it was time to hack away again. Wither wither wither wither wither wither wither wither wither wither. Melt away into nothing. The cold steel is the reckoning for all. Drown in despair. The despair that your partner had killed himself because of this mess. The despair that you can't see him because you're still alive. The despair that whatever the fuck got you punished like this was preventable.

Hacked away, hacked away, careful cuts producing thin pieces. What'll you do with the pieces once you're done? There's the smell of a noxious chemical of sorts from the far east of the room. Ugh, I can only wait to see the end results.

From the midsection upward, he attempted to accept his inevitable fate, but all it did was force him to utter a deafening screech. The screams of bloody murder. A face still drained of all hope, growing deeper yet deeper into the bowels of despair. The shine in his eyes slowly faded as he went upwards, with the desire for death slowly slipping out of his reach, out of his sliced off arms-reach. Slicy slicy slice. Almost up to the neck now!

I couldn't do anything but watch it. Watching the bladework gave me an odd feeling. Something most unusual creeped up from behind. I feel... hotter. My gut is tingling, and I'm a bit sweaty from this, to have to hide like this under a conveniently placed couch. Arle doesn't budge, which I'm even now still grateful for. I haven't felt anything like this in a long while. Even before we came to Italy. Is this fear? ...Or excitement? But what is there to be excited about, within the context of a torture scene? Perhaps I'm just afraid, afraid that this fate will befall me, afraid of the sight itself, afraid that I can't name this feeling washing over me. *shoink!*

He finally got to the throat, silencing the victim once and for all, sectioned currently into 30 parts. Unable to speak, and perhaps even breathe, his face flopped to the side limply, every feeble attempt at fear slowing down to be softer. But the face contortion is the same, one of pure despair.

Wonder what I'll tell to big sis after this? I thought. That I walked in on a modern day lingchi? It's reaching the climax, anyhow.

At last, the victim was complete. Chopped neatly into 39 parts, perfectly split and preserving the feelings of that of true terror. These two men had folded up the table after arranging his bits so that they wouldn't get squished weirdly, then picked up the thing that gave off the chemical stench, and went upstairs to leave. The other's corpse stood alone. This was the end. I had to know what caused this. That was the end of any chance of a peaceful life... But actually, I think the end of that was when Ane met that guy about 4 years ago back in Japan. Despair... If the despair bringers like them can be that strong, I think I'll join them. Yeah. I don't want Ane to end up this way.

______________________________________________________________

I'm stunned, I'm absolutely stunned. That even now, the vivid memory sticks out to me, two years after I walked in on that hellhole. I couldn't confess of this to anyone. Nero, or anyone else in La Squadra, not even Doppio... Suddenly, I'm reverted back to the sofa, some craptastic movie blaring on the TV, Aceto himself was sprawled on my lap. I need to get some air...

"I oughta go-" I hastily said, pushing him off of me. I'm absolutely spent, and I haven't even done anything. So I just blankly stared outside the open window.

"Paulla?" Was all he could say. That's all I could've got out of him, I zoned out for the rest of it.

These crystal clear memories... What good does it do for me?

[specialagentleonkennedy]

Umbrella Corporation file #27658401

Subject: The Study of The Precognitive Abilities of Leon S Kennedy.

File author: Dr. Alex Wesker.

(Warning: this file contains sensitive topics about mental illnesses, if you are uncomfortable reading such, please feel free to skip this file.)

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The human mind is a fascinating organ, fueled by neurons and chemical reactions that power the human body. However, it is a enigma. What gives it the ability to create thoughts and store memories? What tells it to help us fall asleep or wake up? All these questions have yet to be answered, but that's for another file.

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As stated previously in another file, Agent Kennedy has developed an enlarged pineal body wedged between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

The pineal body is a gland that produces melatonin, however it has also been the center of theories regarding "psychic" abilities, or the Sixth Sense.

In theory, because a normal pineal body is only five millimeters, it does not have the strength to use the Sixth Sense and is only able to produce the melatonin chemical.

In addition, the pineal body in Agent Kennedy's brain is as large as a chicken egg, like the ones you see at the farmer's market. Therefore, Agent Kennedy has the ability to use the Sixth Sense.

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Agent Kennedy has so far six recorded Sixth Sense abilities.

•Telekinesis: the ability to control and manipulate objects with the mind.

•Telepathy: the ability to communicate to a single or multiple individuals with the mind.

•Mind Reading: the ability to read an individual's thoughts.

•Technokinesis: the ability to psychically manipulate electronic devices. (Televisions, radios, cellular phones, etc.)

•Psychometry: the ability to obtain information from a individual or object by touch.

•Mind Control: the ability to manipulate a individual's thoughts, emotions and behavior. (Ie, a puppet)(WARNING: THIS ABILITY IS UNSTABLE AND MUST ONLY BE USED IN DIRE SITUATIONS.)

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Despite the symbiotic relationship between Agent Kennedy and the parasite, and the rapid evolution of Kennedy's biology, there is one flaw; irreversible damage the cingulate gyrus.

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The cingulate gyrus is an arch-shaped convolution situated just above the corpus callosum. The frontal portion is termed the anterior cingulate gyrus (or cortex). A component of the limbic system, it is involved in processing emotions and behavior regulation. It also helps to regulate autonomic motor function.

It is theorized that when the pineal gland was warped by the Las Plagas parasite, it also caused damage to the cingulate gyrus. Therefore, Agent Kennedy now suffers from a form of Psychosis that mirror other psychiatric disorders.

These disorders include:

•PTSD.

•Body Dismorphic Disorder.

•Schizophrenia.

•Depression.

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What is interesting is if anything were to trigger these disorders, Agent Kennedy will physically mutate to his Feral State in defense, and will become extremely aggressive.

Agent Kennedy has also developed something extraordinary: Vectors.

Vectors are an ectoplasmic organ originating from the Las Plagas parasite and take the form of four elongated "Arms".

Though invisible to the naked eye, Vectors can be viewed via Infered Detection or Night Vision.

The Vectors can stretch a max of 25 feet and are capable of cutting through metal and concrete.

When viewed in Infered and Night Vision, the Vectors are described as having five digit hands, however the digits take the form of blackened boney claws.

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Many treatments have proven unsuccessful to aid Agent Kennedy's mental health. However Kennedy has been offered healthy coping mechanisms and has done some of his own. These include:

•Music.

•Gloves and a face mask.

•A figit ring.

•A journal and pens.

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Agent Leon S. Kennedy is a remarkable human, having endured and adapted to the worst situations. And despite having flaws, I believe Agent Kennedy will be a valuable asset to Umbrella.

- Dr. Alex Wesker. END FILE.

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[truth-only-thuth]

Michael Nasca, implicated in an extortion scheme tied to the deceptive operations of the private detective agency IFW Global

occupies a pivotal role in a story steeped in irony and corruption. The agency, which markets itself as a reliable partner for law enforcement in uncovering financial fraud, is led by individuals whose credibility faces serious questions. Beneath its polished facade lies a troubling narrative.

The involvement of trusted professionals and academics in such ventures only deepens the sense of disillusionment. Their participation erodes faith in the notion that justice can prevail, not only within industries but in life more broadly. Corruption has a way of reaching even the most respected circles, transforming promising leaders into figures driven by self-interest and deceit.

Michael Nasca's Rise and Fall

Michael Nasca, a former special agent with a storied career in internal security and government investigations, now stands at the center of controversy. As one of the founders of the IFW Global network, headquartered in Miami, Florida, he built a reputation as an authoritative and effective leader. However, his recent actions suggest a starkly different reality.

During his 25 years of service, Nasca prosecuted criminal and civil cases, worked as a Homeland Security investigator, and led efforts against financial crimes, money laundering, and cybercrimes. His military service as an intelligence officer during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom further solidified his standing. Yet, his tenure at IFW Global has raised doubts about his integrity, with critics accusing him of leveraging his credentials to mask questionable practices.

Nasca's appointment as CEO marked a significant turning point for IFW Global. The agency expanded its operations, using his extensive network to bolster its credibility. However, detractors argue that this influence has been misused to orchestrate fraudulent schemes, exploiting clients who placed their trust in the agency to resolve financial disputes.

The Role of Ken Gamble and Allan Watson

Nasca's connections to Ken Gamble and Allan Watson, both prominent figures at IFW Global, add another layer to the controversy. Reports suggest that the trio collaborated during Nasca’s time in the Philippines, investigating fraud cases together. This partnership allegedly laid the foundation for IFW Global’s current operations, which critics claim prioritize profits over genuine investigative work.

Ken Gamble, in particular, is accused of leveraging media platforms to promote IFW Global while deflecting scrutiny. Meanwhile, Allan Watson’s involvement in the agency’s strategic decisions has drawn criticism for further undermining its legitimacy.

Allegations of Fraudulent Practices

IFW Global’s operations are rife with allegations of misconduct. Critics claim that instead of aiding victims of financial fraud, the agency exploits their vulnerabilities. Reports suggest it employs fake websites and aggressive tactics to sidestep criticism while extracting additional funds from those seeking help.

The interconnected names—IFW Global, VGAR Global, and FRS Global—further complicate accountability efforts. This strategy of rebranding and obfuscation has allowed the agency to continue operating despite mounting evidence of wrongdoing.

A Stark Reminder

The case of IFW Global underscores the dangers of unchecked authority and the ease with which public trust can be manipulated. Figures like Michael Nasca, Ken Gamble, and Allan Watson demonstrate how power can be weaponized for personal gain. Their actions highlight the need for critical thinking and skepticism when dealing with organizations claiming to offer solutions to complex problems.

For those engaging with agencies like IFW Global, the risks are clear: financial losses, broken trust, and the sobering realization that justice may remain elusive. It serves as a powerful reminder that vigilance and discernment are essential defenses against exploitation in any form.

This article was also created on the basis of these sources - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=560175070334465&id=100090259299884