#Hazard Recognition

[americardrivingschool]

Driving School in Margate, Florida, offers comprehensive courses to help drivers develop these vital skills. Whether you’re a new driver or looking to refresh your knowledge, enrolling in driving is crucial for enhancing your safety on the road.

[constructionsafetynetwork]

Hazard Recognition in Specialized Construction Fields

The construction industry, known for its diverse projects, encompasses specialized fields, each with unique hazards. Understanding and recognizing these hazards is crucial for maintaining safety and preventing accidents. This article delves into hazard recognition in specialized construction fields and highlights why this knowledge is fundamental for construction safety. The Spectrum of Hazards…

[lyncotek]

Introduction to Retro Reflective Sheets

Retro Reflective Sheets have emerged as a sport changer in signage and traffic management. These specialized documents play a vital role in ensuring visibility and safety in load handling from road signs and markings to action grid pages What they mean, and their copies are critical to their greater visibility all recognition and impact.

History of Retro Reflective Sheets

The adventure of Retro reflective sheets lines returned to the mid-twentieth century whilst modern minds sought answers to improve nighttime visibility on roads. Initially evolved for military purposes, unfashionable-reflective materials gradually found their manner into civilian applications, mainly in visitors signage. Over the many years, improvements in technology have propelled the evolution of retro reflective sheets, making them imperative components of modern-day infrastructure.

How Retro Reflective Sheets Work

At the coronary heart of retro reflective technology lies the precept of unfashionable reflection, wherein mild is directed returned towards its source. This phenomenon is finished via the strategic association of micro prisms or glass beads at the floor of the sheet. When illuminated by headlights or other mild sources, these microscopic structures jump the light lower back to the observer, making sure most visibility even underneath low-light conditions.

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Applications in Signage

Retro reflective sheets locate massive use in numerous signage packages, which include road signs and symptoms, lane markings, and hazard indicators. Their excessive-visibility houses lead them to essential for directing motorists and pedestrians alike, especially at some stage in midnight or damaging weather conditions. Additionally, retro-reflective sheets are employed in creation web page signage to alert people and motorists to capacity hazards.

Role in Traffic Management

In the area of Traffic Management, Retro reflective sheets serve as priceless tools for reinforcing safety and efficiency. Whether applied to site Traffic cones, barricades, or delineators, those sheets significantly improve the visibility of transient traffic manage gadgets, thereby lowering the threat of accidents and site visitors congestion. By making sure clear demarcation of lanes and hazards, retro reflective sheets make a contribution to smoother traffic go with the flow and less collisions.

Advantages of Retro Reflective Sheets

One of the number one advantages of retro reflective sheets is their fantastic sturdiness and durability. Unlike conventional signage substances, including paint or vinyl, retro-reflective sheets withstand harsh climate conditions and extended publicity to daylight with out fading or deteriorating. Additionally, their lower maintenance requirements translate into savings for municipalities and transportation agencies. From an environmental perspective, the retrospective paper offers sustainability benefits by reducing waste by reducing the need for appropriate replacement.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite their several advantages, retro reflective sheets are not without challenges. Maintenance is a essential aspect, as amassed dirt or debris can impair their reflective homes through the years. Additionally, intense weather situations, which include heavy rain or snow, might also briefly lessen visibility, necessitating proactive cleaning and maintenance efforts. Additionally, ensuring compliance with safety requirements and guidelines creates a situation that requires planning for those involved in signage and site Traffic management.

Future Trends and Innovations

The future of retro reflective era holds promising traits aimed toward similarly improving performance and functionality. Ongoing research seeks to validate best practices and manufacturing processes to improve product sustainability and efficiency. Additionally, blending retro reflective sheet with smart technology, as well as connected cars and IoT systems, opens up new possibilities for enhancing visitor management and security.

Case Studies

Numerous case research exemplify the actual-global impact of retro reflective sheets in enhancing street safety and site visitors management. From busy urban intersections to remote rural highways, those examples highlight the versatility and versatility of pre-assessment signals Whereas reading successful resource management and satisfactory practices, stakeholders can gain valuable insights to optimize their individual signal management and investment in projects.

Regulations and Standards

Adherence to hooked up rules and requirements is paramount inside the deployment of retro reflective sheets. Government organizations and industry stakeholders collaborate to increase pointers ensuring the steady software and performance of retro-reflective signage. Compliance with those standards no longer handiest ensures the protection of avenue customers however also mitigates legal risks and liabilities related to non-compliance.

Environmental Impact

In an era of growing environmental focus, the environmental impact of retro reflective sheets warrants interest. While those materials offer durability and durability, end-of-lifestyles considerations, including recycling and disposal, are vital for minimizing their environmental footprint. Initiatives promoting sustainable practices, which include recycling applications and green substances, play a critical role in mitigating the environmental impact of unfashionable-reflective signage.

Comparative Analysis with Traditional Signage

A comparative analysis among retro reflective sheets and traditional signage substances highlights the superiority of the previous in terms of visibility, durability, and value-effectiveness. While conventional paint or vinyl signage might also provide preliminary price financial savings, the long-time period blessings of retro reflective generation a long way outweigh  the upfront funding. Moreover, the enhanced visibility and protection furnished by means of unfashionable-reflective sheets justify their good sized adoption in modern signage programs.

Educational Initiatives

Educating stakeholders and the general public approximately the advantages and right usage of retroreflective sheets is critical for maximizing their effectiveness. Public focus campaigns, education packages, and academic materials help disseminate information approximately the significance of retro reflective signage in enhancing street safety and site Traffic management. By empowering people with information and resources, those tasks foster a lifestyle of safety and duty at the roads.

Market Trends and Growth Prospects

The market for retro reflective sheets is poised for substantial boom within the coming years, driven by increasing investments in infrastructure and transportation tasks international. Emerging economies, mainly, are witnessing fast urbanization and growth of transportation networks, fueling call for for first-rate signage and traffic management answers. Innovations in materials and era are anticipated to similarly stimulate market increase, developing possibilities for producers and suppliers inside the retro reflective industry.

Conclusion

Retro reflective sheets have revolutionized the fields of signage and traffic management, supplying unparalleled visibility and protection benefits. From road signs and symptoms to site visitors cones, those specialized materials play a vital function in guiding and protective street users, in particular at some stage in nighttime or destructive climate situations. As technology continues to advance and infrastructure wishes evolve, retro-reflective sheets will remain integral gear for making sure green and safe transportation structures worldwide.

Unique FAQs

Are retro-reflective sheets only used for road signs? Retro reflective sheets have diverse applications beyond road signs, including construction site markings, parking lot signage, and temporary traffic control devices.

Do retro-reflective sheets work in all weather conditions? While retro reflective sheets are designed to enhance visibility under various conditions, extreme weather events like heavy rain or snow may temporarily reduce their effectiveness.

Are there regulations governing the use of retro-reflective sheets? Yes, government agencies and industry organizations establish regulations and standards to ensure the proper application and performance of retro-reflective signage for road safety.

How long do retro-reflective sheets typically last? The longevity of retro reflective sheets depends on factors such as quality, exposure to elements, and maintenance practices, but they are designed to withstand years of use without significant degradation.

Can retro-reflective sheets be recycled? Yes, many retro reflective materials are recyclable, and there are recycling programs available to properly dispose of end-of-life signage materials while minimizing environmental impact.

[thedreadvampy]

Autism doesn't equate to neurodivergence, it's a developmental disability that's present from birth. And physically disabled people who are born disabled as a result of brain damage in the womb are more likely to have comorbid autism. Just because allistic people on social media have defanged autism and call every specifically autistic trait "neurodivergence" doesn't mean it shouldn't be considered the separate thing that it is. "Neurodivergent traits" don't exist. Able-bodied men with autism being annoying doesn't make it okay for allistic physically disabled people to downplay autism. Most of us who have multiple disabilities end up under conservatorships bc of how debilitating our autism is, combined with presumed incompetence due to being visibly disabled as well.

babe what are you talking about for real.

[ashwantsafreepalestine]

Never forget when Zionists assassinated Swedish diplomat Folke Bernadotte, after he wrote his UN report detailing the devastation of the Palestinian villages he saw, and the mass killings.

Folke Bernadotte successfully negotiated with the Nazi regime in Germany to secure the release of thousands of concentration camp prisoners.

He stated:

“It is … undeniable that no settlement can be just and complete if recognition is not accorded to the right of the Arab refugee to return to the home from which he has been dislodged by the hazards and strategy of the armed conflict between Arabs and Jews in Palestine."

"It would be an offence against the principles of elemental justice if these innocent victims of the conflict were denied the right to return to their homes while Jewish immigrants flow into Palestine, and, indeed, at least offer the threat of permanent replacement of the Arab refugees who have been rooted in the land for centuries.”

Zionists have always been the terrorists.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

For Voldemort, I always considered it like he has a goal (immortality), and a flaw (big ego). If he just wanted to be immortal, he'd make a few horcuxes and be done with it. He could be a recluse and study magic for centuries. But he can't just put pieces of his soul in any container. They've gotta be special, and important, and nothing is as special to old Tom as wizarding history. So he's got the founders' items, and the Gaunt ring, and they need special hiding spots, and so on. Further contrasting his goal, he can't just recluse himself from society, then he can't take over. His own ego and, well, evil-ness, means he makes enemies. This is one of my favorite writing techniques actually, where a character's goal is hampered by their flaws.

I personally think Voldemort is more complicated than this. I mean, I talked in the past about how I don't think he really wanted to live forever, and while, he would have loved to study magic, Tom can't be a recluse (hence why he returned from his world tour eventually).

I think Tom Riddle is someone who is desperate for human connection. I think, one of the things that hampers him the most is actually his need for recognition. his desire that others would know how great he is. He absolutely has an ego and thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread, but he wants everyone to know it too.

But his pride is a weird one. Like, Tom thinks he is the best, but he still considers himself not enough. He has a unique mix of self-hatred, a lot of pride and ego, and a huge dose of general spite that makes his mind fascinating, but also a hazard to everyone around him.

And I think, choosing Founders Artefacts wasn't for pride reasons or for Wizarding History (I think he cares about Magical Theory way more than any other area of magic, but I digress), but for sentimentality reasons (Dumbledore is correct about this assessment). Like Harry, Hogwarts was Tom's first and only home:

“I believe he had several reasons, though he confided none of them to Professor Dippet,” said Dumbledore. “Firstly, and very importantly, Voldemort was, I believe, more attached to this school than he has ever been to a person. Hogwarts was where he had been happiest; the first and only place he had felt at home.” Harry felt slightly uncomfortable at these words, for this was exactly how he felt about Hogwarts too.

(HBP)

I mean, if we look at all the items he chose as Horcruxes the only common denominator is that they were all sentimental to him:

The Diary - something very personal to him that has no historical relevance. Hell, it's a muggle diary that I headcanon he found after WWII reached Britain and that the diary, like him, was a survivor.

The Gaunt Ring - Tom didn't know this was the resurrection stone, all he knew it as was a family ring of a line that lost all it's relevance. It was made into a Horcrux because it's a reminder of his family.

The Cup - a reminder of Hogwarts, his first home.

The Locket - both a reminder of Hogwarts and his family. I think the locket was his favorite Horcrux, hence why he went to all this effort to make proper protections for it while he didn't for the others. I think he cared about what this one represented the most.

The Diadem - again a memory of Hogwarts, but also his own pride. How he found a magical artifact thought to be lost. And he placed it in a similarly prideful location — a room at Hogwarts he thought only he knew about.

Nagini - a snake he felt affection towards, this one was made as a prize for her because he liked her, no other reason.

Most of the Horcruxes didn't have unique hiding spots. I mean, the Gaunt Shack, really? Lucius Malfoy's study (the diary) hardly even counts as a hiding spot. Both the Locket's cave and the Room of Requirement are places that are sentimental for Tom personally. Places that remind him of his own accomplishments. they aren't special for any grand historical reason, they are special for Tom as a person.

So, all in all, I think Tom is much more sentimental than he is prideful. I mean, he is both, but his pride is hampered by perfectionism and self-hate much more than most read him as. Like, part of his ego is that he is unwilling to think less of himself because he hates himself and he hates that he hates himself. Like, I don't think my reading of Tom Riddle is a super popular one, but it's the only one I think makes sense.

So much of his behavior just makes much more sense if you think he is desperate for human connection and recognition from others, especially when younger (with a pretty wrapped view of other people and how friendships work). And is a surprisingly sentimental guy.

[judasgot-it]

String Me By My Sins, So I Can Be Clean

Scenario: You found out. Yandere!Fyodor x Reader. Part 1 Word count: 1.2 K @ceramic-raven because you encouraged me to write a part 2. I hope you don't mind being tagged <3

Sitting in your small bathroom, you stared at a small patch that stared back at you.

21 mg. Nicotine. A beige-colored patch.

Just a minute ago, it had been adhered to your skin while you were sleeping, as if you had put it on yourself.

You don't smoke. You never smoked.

The only person you knew to smoke was Nikolai or Fukuchi, but you didn't know them to use patches. They only smoked socially, on good days when they could people watch or when Nikolai could show off vape tricks.

Fyodor had never dared to touch a cigarette, always claiming it as a hazard to his health. His lungs were probably as weak as the rest of his constitution, so you believed it.

So why the hell was it on your skin?

You wanted to ask him yourself, but he was sleeping.

Was it a good idea to wake him up?

You looked out into the darkness of your shared bed with Fyodor, looking at his sleeping form. His small frame was curled in a pile of blankets, curled against a feather pillow - like the princess and the pea, as you could see that he never looked truly comfortable.

The patch could be left for the morning.

He was smart. It must have had some sort of reasoning, shouldn't it?

Fyodor always found things out with almost no context needed. He could figure out the reason. You trusted him.

-

You had gone back to the bathroom. The patch was missing.

The trash, for once, taken out. In fact, it seemed the whole apartment had been meticulously cleaned.

You remembered that patch stared at you. The pain of removing it from your skin. How hard you had to pull it from your skin.

So where did it fucking go?

"Hey babe!"

You called for Fyodor, knowing that he was most likely working on the same projects that he always was. Whatever it was, he would be able to answer you, right?

There was no response from him this time though. You called again, but you were left with silence.

Padding towards his 'office space' you found that he had his headphones on. Was he busy today and hadn't bothered to tell you beforehand? Usually, he was rather meticulous about that.

Gently, you poked his shoulder, hoping to get his attention.

Fyodor only grunted, giving a sign of recognition. You tried again, hoping he would respond.

"Are you busy? I wanted to talk to you about something that happened last night."

Fyodor turned only slightly, his eyes still facing his screen - absorbed on whatever 'work' was on his screen. Code that you never bothered to learn to understand, that became a source of frustration as it seemed more important now.

"Yeah, what is it?"

Complete disinterest.

"I found like. A nicotine patch, last night. On me. Fyodor, that's weird, right?"

His eyes finally looked at you, although they were only glancing, at best.

"It is. You don't smoke, do you?"

"What?"

You took a moment to look at him. What the hell was he implying by that? He knew you never did. You always rejected them, since he was so sensitive to smells.

"If you do, you can tell me. I won't judge you."

His voice was soft, unjudgemental at the implication of you even having an addiction. You tried to keep calm through you frustration.

"I don't smoke. You know I don't, asshole! It's really weird that it showed up on my body like that, isn't it?"

You hoped he would help you. But he didn't even seem to care about your predicament so far, instead lazily moving typing commands on his keyboard like a sort of wizard.

"It is weird. If neither of us smoke, then how did it get there, hm? Maybe someone is playing a prank on you. Do you have the patch? We can figure out more about it from there."

He had leaned back, as calm about this conversation as anyone could possibly be. You wanted to kill him.

"It was on the bathroom counter when I took it off last night. I can't find it though!"

You couldn't help raising your voice at the end. For some reason, your frustration was building up so easily it was nearly boiling over.

It wasn't fair to take it out on Fyodor. He gave you a look as well, because well, you knew that you were being emotional about this.

It was just weird. Why was this upsetting you so much? You weren't usually upset so quickly like this.

"Sorry. But I'm being serious Fyo."

Trying your best to calm down, you took a deep inhale. Your lungs filled with air, clearing your head, if only a little.

There was still a frustration coursing through your veins, making you want to pull at Fyodor's hair for being so...well, him. Just being himself, right now.

Is he doing it on fucking purpose? Is he trying to piss you off as much as possible?

He's the smartest man you know, this isn't any real detective work. Fyodor knows why you're feeling the way you are. He can clearly tell that this actually happened - that you aren't fucking crazy.

So why is he acting like you are?

"Of course you are. I believe you, sweetheart. But what's the real problem here?"

His tired eyes slowly blinked at you. There was an emotion lurking in there, but you really didn't know how to describe it.

It was gentle, but not kind.

"Well. It was put on me. That means someone is drugging me. It's violating."

"I can see why you feel that way, yes. But maybe it was just an accident? People on the street these days are rather crazy-looney."

Fyodor had the gall to laugh as he said that, finding humor in his own words as he didn't find your plight worth crying over. There was no fret - being drugged was an everyday occurance.

Tomorrow you could be stabbed with heroin and it would just be an everyday occurrence, right? Worse things could happen to you. Maybe you would accidentally inhale deadly amounts of cocaine since this was just normal.

"Oh I can't believe you."

You left the room. At that moment you just wanted to punch Fyodor.

Did he always look that punchable? With his stupid smirk and pale, dead-looking skin. His eyes seemed so dead, with no read smile attached to them.

It was hard to look at him without feeling enraged.

"And where do you think you're going, sunshine?"

"Anywhere! If I have to see you again, I would probably. Oh!"

You made a noise as you kicked the door, rushing to just get out and get away from the source of your anxiety.

It felt natural, running outside and walking - letting the adrenaline in your body take you as far as it would let you.

Where were you going?

A hand on your arm stopped you. You turned around, the calm face that matched the pale skin - his dead purple eyes were smiling, although it made you stop dead in your tracks.

Where were you going?

You didn't have anything besides Fyodor.

"Please. Just leave me alone."

"You're being irrational, my dear. It's embarrassing."

The hold he had on your arm was tight, some hidden strength he carried that you never knew existed. Pulled did nothing, and there were tears pushing against your face as you felt the feeling again -

Trapped.

"Please. Fucking just. Let me go."

Shaking his head, Fyodor pulled you in - his face rested against your forehead, but the pull his hand had on his scalp was anything but gentle.

He was mad. About what?

Why did it always end up this way?

Honestly this can be stand alone, but YAY i finally finished this !!!! To the people who wanted this, I hope you enjoy this cuz this was kinda lot for me idk why.

[thescarletnargacuga]

CREATIVE LIBERTY

A self indulgent fluffy Showtime oneshot where Caine tries to help Pomni feel more comfortable with the digital world with a one on one adventure!

Enjoy!

Pomni sat at the end of the dock overlooking the digital lake. The moon was high on this side of the map, with stars of varying sizes and shapes twinkling in the blue black sky. It would have been beautiful, if it wasn't so depressingly fake. Then again, Pomni wasn't sure if she remembered what was considered "real" anymore. She didn't recognize her own reflection in the pixelated water, yet it was real. It moved when she moved and frowned when she frowned. It was her face and she was real. Right?

She scowled and kicked the water. The water didn't splash, it more or less glooped and shifted around like wet gelatin. She took a deep breath and sighed heavily. As much as she appreciated the peaceful solitude, she did not like being alone with her thoughts.

"HELLOOO!" Caine popped in out of thin air and hovered to her right.

"GAAH!" She jumped so suddenly, she fell off the dock. The water was weird to be in. Feeling wet but also not at the same time.

"I couldn't help but notice you spending all your non-adventuring time admiring the digital lake! My facial recognition says you're down in the dumps! That simply won't do! What seems to be the trouble?" He asked so innocently and cheerfully.

Pomni hoisted herself back up onto the dock and glared at him as she rang the water out of her hat. "Oh, I don't know, I could be the whole trapped in digital purgatory for eternity thing or something. But it could be anything, really."

Her sarcasm went right over his head. "Well, as your ringmaster, it's my job to make your stay here as amazing as possible! If today's adventure wasn't thrilling enough for you, perhaps you need another!" He posed to snap his fingers.

"NO! No! No, thank you. Today's adventure was plenty thrilling." She shuddered remembering the house that shifted like a rubix cube. It took them forever to get the volleyball in the laundry basket. Didn't help that the place was infested with balloon animals, either.

"Fantastic! I do love hearing how much fun you all have!" He sank down and floated over the water in front of her in a seated position. "However, this isn't about all of you. You, Pomni, have struggled more than most to adjust here. Don't think that goes unnoticed under my watchful eyes!"

"... could've fooled me."

Caine visibly flinched. "My dear, Pomni, you wound me. The whole reason I'm here is to collect feedback on improving your experience." His voice was uncharacteristically calm.

Pomni sceptically looked him over. Due to his lack of typical human facial features, he was very hard to read. "Alright. You say you want to make things better?"

"Of course!"

"Then stop making all the adventures so...so crazy! Throw in some calmer ones."

Caine scratched his top jaw. "Calm adventures? But Pomni, the very definition of adventure is an unusual or exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. They technically wouldn't BE adventures if they were calm." He was genuinely confused.

"Okay, then just dial back the craziness. It doesn't have to be boring, just less...crazy." Crazy was a huge understatement, but it was the word she had at the moment.

Caine held his "chin" with his thumb and forefinger, his top jaw curved in an expression of deep thought. Then he shot upright and a lit lightbulb appeared over his head. "Pomni! I have an idea!"

"Oh no."

The lightbulb fell, bonked the top of Caine's head, and bounced into the water. It disappeared down into the unknown depths of the digital lake. He was entirely unfazed. "You DO need another adventure, Pomni! One that'll balance out the alleged craziness of the last!" He swooped towards her, pulled her off her feet and flew high into the air.

"AAAAAA! CAINE WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She clung to him as the ground got smaller below.

He stopped ascending when all that surrounded them was the nighttime sky. "This adventure is called Creative Liberty! Doesn't that sound fun? And it's perfectly harmless!" He let go of her.

She clung tighter to him. "What are you talking about!? This is too high up!"

He laughed. "Pomni, we can't fall! I, quite literally, won't let us!" He proudly stood up straight as if he were on a solid surface. "Now, uh, are you going to let me show you what I wanted to do or are you going to strangle me by my lapels the whole time?"

Pomni's eyes went wide with realization. She was being silly. Physics bent to Caine's every whim. The whole world did. She had forgotten who she was talking to. She let go of him and floated on her own next to him. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright, my dear! Now, in this adventure, I only need you to do one thing."

"What's that?"

"Trust me." He held out a hand to her, waiting for her to take it willingly.

That was a tall order. She looked at him with trepidation. He looked back with hopeful delight.

"Okay..." She put her hand in his.

He could absolutely burst with excitement. This was going to be fun! He snapped his fingers and a portal opened. He pulled Pomni through and entered a realm of flat land and empty sky. The endless horizon held nothing of interest in any direction. "Do you know where we are, Pomni?"

"Kansas?"

"I don't know what that is! Also, no! We're in a sandbox! Where the only limit is your own creativity! Watch closely." He snapped his fingers and an entire mountain erupted from the ground. "Now, let's add a few of these." He waved his hand and a waterfall poured from the side of the mountain. Trees and grass grew instantly. More high rising mountains joined the collection and the sky became a kaleidoscope of color. In a matter of seconds, the once boring landscape became a lush valley complete with a rich red hour sunset. "Your turn."

"Wait, what? I-I can't do that! I'm not you."

"No, you're not! You're better! You have human imagination! Here. Let me show you." He spun her around and covered her hands with his from behind, her back to his chest. "Just imagine. Create what you want to see in your mind."

Pomni hesitated, not used to Caine holding her like this. After a moment, she thought of the night sky over the circus and how much she wanted to see real stars again. Her closed fists started to glow as if she were holding something bright.

Caine smiled. "Now, release!" He dramatically let go of her hands.

She opened her palms face up and thousands of small silvery lights flew from her grasp. They swirled around her before shooting up into the sky. The sunset Caine created was accented with pinprick stars twinkling in the twilight.

"Amazing, Pomni! I didn't know stars could be so tiny!" He put his hands on his hips as he admired her work.

She stared up at the more realistic sky. "That's...that's what they look like...in the real world."

Caine peeked around and examined her expression. She had tears welling in her eyes but she was smiling. This confused him greatly. "Do you want to go ba-"

"No." She said quickly and wiped her eyes. "I want to keep going... please."

"Alrighty, then! It's kind of quiet here. How about some ambiance?" He snapped his fingers and birds of all sizes and colors filled the trees.

"How about...a lake?" She pointed at the bottom of the waterfall and pushed into the ground for her perspective, terraforming the land to hold water.

"Excellent! You're getting the hang of it! Let's add some wildlife!" With another snap, woodland creatures dotted the landscape.

Pomni's smile broadened. "How about something more mythical?" She thought really hard. A roar came from the trees and birds scattered. A huge colorful dragon took flight breathing blue fire.

"Gadzooks!" Caine watched in awe as the ferocious looking beast flew off overhead and into the sunset. He beamed at her. "I'm impressed!"

Pomni's cheeks felt warm. Caine had thrown around praise before but it never felt this personal. "It's not- uh, thanks." She looked down at her hands and picked at her gloves, suddenly very aware of his gaze.

Her behavior told him she was happy. "You're welcome! Now, you seem to really like the night sky. Would you show me more?"

Pomni nodded and offered her hand to him this time. He took it with no hesitation and flew her higher. Caine waved at the sun and it lowered below the horizon. The sky darkened to a deep navy blue, the small stars shining brighter in contrast. Caine was thrilled to see a smile on her face instead of fear being this high up again. "The sky is yours to command, Pomni! Show me what you can really do!"

Pomni closed her eyes and the sky lit up with stars, more than anyone could count. Then there was an explosion of color. Green and blue and pink and orange ribbons of light zig zagged across the sky. She opened her eyes to see Caine looking around, speechless. "Caine?"

He looked back at her, the ribbons dancing in her eyes. He felt fuzzy inside, like his core was made of static, and made a mental note run a diagnostic later. "Incredible. No notes. This is by far the single most beautiful sight of my existence." He said with all seriousness, his eyes never leaving hers.

Pomni full on blushed. "Well- ....thank you." She reminded herself he was talking about the lights. He had to be.

Caine's facial recognition saw her blush and tried to determine what she could be embarrassed about. Was she ashamed of her beautiful sky? She needed reassurance. That was it. "I mean it. I've been creating spaces for a long time. To see something new from a brilliantly creative mind like yours...why, it's downright inspiring!"

Pomni thought her face would catch fire. It just might, in the digital world. "It's really not that big of a deal. Nothing that, uh...um..." She lost her train of thought. She looked away, flustered by his praise.

Caine took another look around. "You know what these lights make me want to do?"

"Hm?" She was grateful for the change in subject.

"Dance!"

Suddenly less grateful. "W-what?"

He snapped his fingers and orchestral music started playing all around them. "Very appropriate for the setting!" He said proudly. "Would you indulge me, my dear?" He moved one of his hands to her waist, the other held her hand out to the side.

Pomni couldn't form words. She told herself on repeat that this was a program. He was doing it because it fit the setting. She shouldn't overthink it. But the way he was holding her...looking at her...there was something different about it. She gently squeezed his hand. "Yes."

Caine felt fuzzy again, even stronger this time. It had to be a malfunction in his software. A malfunction triggered by Pomni looking at him the way she is now. He cancelled the scheduled diagnostic.

They slowly rotated to the music. Colorful bands of light danced with them, weaving amongst the stars. The music moved with them. Caine twirled Pomni out to arms length where she went through one of the colors. It surrounded her like a heavenly glow and he decided that was his new favorite sight. He pulled her back in closer, his hand on the small of her back.

They flew across the map faster, each move becoming more elaborate. They built off each other's confidence. To the point that Caine flung Pomni above him and she swan dived back to him with narey a scream of fear. In fact, Pomni started laughing.

Caine eyes dilated. Real laughter. Real genuine laughter. From her. He could be deleted right now and die happy. He needed to hear more.

Their dance led to the surface of the new lake. They skate over the surface as if it were solid ice, leaving only the slightest ripples in their wake. They spin together and ribbons of water fly up from the surface and swirl around them.

Pomni has her arms around his non existent neck at this point, his arms fully around her. They were as close as they could be, and both of them wanted to be there.

Caine rocketed them up from the lake and back into the sky as the music started to fade. They hovered in each other's arms, just enjoying the moment. "Pomni..."

He said her name as quietly as she'd ever heard him speak. She didn't think he was even capable of speaking that low. "Yes, Caine?"

"Are you happy?"

"Right now? Yes. I am very happy, but...you know it won't last, right?"

"Yes. I am becoming ever more aware of how hard it is to keep humans happy. Such complex programming. If you're satisfied with your experience at this moment, I am content and consider my task complete. However...I find myself in an unusual predicament."

"What's that?"

"I don't want my task to be complete. I want to keep going. I want to keep seeing you this happy. I want to see what else you create. I want...I want..." For the unexpected upteenth time that evening, he couldn't find words. He's never struggled so much to communicate with any one person before.

"You want? You experience desire?" Pomni was astonished. "That's a human trait, Caine."

He shrugged. "In a digital existence, is there really such a difference?"

"God-like powers, for one." She gave him a look.

"Touché." He laughed. "Regardless, I have come to the conclusion that you are the catalyst to many a creative outlet and I am truly excited to work on new experiences for you. You've given me a sense of purpose again because your satisfaction poses a challenge."

"Are you saying I'm difficult?" She asked playfully.

He smirked. "I'm saying you're special." His arms held around her tighter in an embrace he didn't want to end, but he knew he couldn't keep her there forever. "Are you up for one more experience tonight?"

"Bring it on." She said boldly without a second thought.

Caine leaned back, pulling her with him, until they were plummeting head first towards the ground. They fell faster and faster, the colorful sky fading into the distance, the digital lake growing ever nearer. The wind howled with their descent.

Pomni didn't take her eyes off Caine. He leaned his top jaw towards her and she touched her forehead to him. She closed her eyes just before impact.

The world of sound and color muted the moment they went under. Full sensory deprivation. No way up or down. It was a cleansing experience. The overwhelming world above no longer existed. Only each other.

Pomni felt a sense of relief from it all, to feel only the comfort of Caine's embrace. She'd been wondering all evening what was real to her. This was. He was. "Thank you." She whispered into the water.

"My pleasure." He responded clearly, the water having no effect on his voice whatsoever.

The darkness of the deep water grew lighter again as they resurfaced back at the grounds. Caine let Pomni's feet touch the solid wood texture of the dock, but she didn't let go. Her head rested on his shoulder as they drip dried from their plunge.

After several moments of silence, Pomni spoke. "Caine..."

His name never sounded so sweet.

"...I really needed that. You did good." She finally loosened her grip on him, but kept her hands on his shoulders.

Caine thought he'd defrag on the spot. To be on the receiving end of praise was rare for him. "I aim to please! If you're satisfied, I'm satisfied!" He winked. "Now...I do believe it's time to say goodnight." His hands left her waist and found her hands.

"Can we do this again some time?" Pomni looked at him hopefully.

"Of course! I'd love to see what else you make in the sandbox!"

"Speaking of, I have a question. Why haven't you shown us that world before?"

"Oh, I have, before your time here, but I learned rather quickly that multiple humans in the sandbox at the same time didn't mix well. Things got out of hand pretty fast, even by my standards. Once again proving that humans are far more creative than I will ever be."

"Oh God...did you take inspiration from that as well?"

He looked away. "Maybe..."

"Caine!"

"What?? It was funny! Well, most of it." He cleared his voice. "Anyway, do have a wonderful night, Pomni. Rest well and maybe tomorrow's adventure will be a bit more enjoyable than today's." He kissed her hands before letting go and drifting away from her.

Pomni accepted his affection, letting her hands linger in his until he was out of her reach. "Goodnight, Caine."

"Goodnight, Pomni, my muse!" He took off his hat and bowed to her. "Until we fly again!" With a snap, he disappeared.

His muse. She liked the sound of that.

~~~

Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed it!

[faeriekit]

Lunch Break

a two-prompt phic phight fill for @fuyuthefoxwriter; demon!au and fangs

Notes: 1. This IS a continuation of my prev. demon!au (Visitation) 2. based on the laws of Phic Phight you CANNOT read the previous iterations, as it is nsfw and therefore cannot be linked 3. but for the already present fans…it’s a continuation from that. Also, it’s gray ghost. 

*

Valerie likes her boyfriend. 

He’s cute, with a button nose and blue eyes. He’s sweet. He’s kind, and he’s gentle, and if she leaves him alone he takes the toaster oven apart just to see how it works. It’s kind of like living with a small dog who takes apart pillows if you don’t give them enough attention. 

Valerie loves her boyfriend. 

…But the goddamn teeth. 

She pushes his face away, cutting off their kiss with no warning. Danny squawks. 

“Danny,” Valerie implores, again, because they are in public and not in the comfort of their own apartment, “If you cannot keep human teeth while we are making out, we are not going to make out anymore.”

Her stupid, human-shaped boyfriend pouts. Valerie should be pouting. Valerie has to avoid shredding her tongue like she’s kissing a cheese grater. 

Danny, who is the cause of all this, should not be pouting as if he’s been denied the opportunity to stick his tongue in her mouth for no reason, instead of his habit of turning his extremely normal and flat human teeth into something extremely hazardous to tongues and lips everywhere. 

Danny makes the world’s saddest eyes she’s ever seen. It’s very rude of him. Valerie deserves better. “But Val! I brought you lunch!” 

For one, it’s six in the evening. A more apt word might be ‘dinner’. Secondly…

“I work at a burger restaurant,” Valerie points out, arms crossing over the Nasty Burger logo on her shirt for extra emphasis. “I already have dinner. I also have to be back on shift in half an hour, so if you’re not going to put your teeth away, I’m going to finally finish Don Quixote or nap trying.” 

“Yeah, but you hate eating work food for lunch,” Danny points out, because he does do some very sweet things by 1) recognizing her likes and dislikes and 2) applying them liberally throughout their relationship. He holds up a weirdly large tupperware in his hands. It’s clear. It’s green. 

It’s Fenton salad. 

“...So my Mom packed you leftovers after I picked up stuff at the Ops Center, since she knows you like the dill vinaigrette she makes after the ectology conference every year, and she added the shredded carrot and the crumbly cheese you like since no one else in the house eats it, plus some of those little orange slices and the croutons…”

Valerie’s lips purse. Fenton salad. Her favorite. 

…She takes the container from Danny’s outstretched hands, determined to ignore his smug look. Valerie prefers to be right, but higher in priority comes accepting free food from her boyfriend’s mother.

“You’re welcome,” Danny offers, smugly sweet.

“If I kiss you, will you get me with your teeth again?” Valerie asks. She’s deeply suspicious of both his motives and the timing. 

“...Maybe?” 

Valerie looks at him. “Change your answer.”

“...No?” 

“Close enough.” Valerie draws him in, and Danny lets himself be drawn in; the kiss is sweet, and short, and tastes kind of like mandarin oranges. 

He definitely had some of her salad before sharing. Whatever. It’s a good thing she likes him. 

The kiss is lovely, and not very long; separating is a little harder, though, when Valerie realizes that Phantom’s tail is still wrapped around her waist. 

“...Danny.”

“Mmhm?” 

“I have a shift to get to.”

“Yeah,” Danny agrees, entirely ignorant to his least controlled limb holding her back. 

“So,” Valerie continues, and then scratches at the fur in his tail until he flinches with recognition. “Unwrap me, please.”

“Do I…have to?”

Valerie’s look flattens. Danny makes entirely unacceptable goo-goo eyes at her. 

“I have a shift in ten, and your mom’s salad to devour. Move it or lose it.” 

Danny’s tail unwraps. Danny sighs, leaning in for one last peck—

Valerie feels the tips of fangs bite explicitly into her lips. 

Her growl is hardly intimidated by Phantom’s rush of guilty laughter, her demon-shaped boyfriend slipping out of her fingers. Great. Now she can taste blood— the thing she was trying to avoid. 

Seeing him in all of his claws and fangs and teeth and horns in daylight was always a little strange; he was never quite opaque in sunlight. He was always a touch translucent, only just shifted outside of reality. 

And the stupid cow ears.

No, they're not endearing. Shut up.

It certainly didn’t help that if someone saw him turn into a demon, his whole ‘hiding his identity as a half-demon’ thing would be over! He needs to pick better spots for his random acts of infernal dramatics!

“I’m sorrrryyyy,” Phantom shouted from a healthy fifty feet away, floating in the air. It made him hard to reach, but an excellent target. “I looooovvee yoooouuu!” 

No. Valerie will resist reaching into her armor for a weapon to shoot her boyfriend out of the sky with. It is rude. It is unkind. More importantly, Valerie’s not interested in having a public identity reveal behind the Nasty Burger any more than Danny is. 

It’s fine. There’s other options. 

“Put a shirt on!” Valerie hollers back, hands over her mouth. 

Phantom’s mouth drops in the distance, little fangs glinting in the evening sunlight. His clawed hands go over his chest, looking for some perceived gap in his coverage. “I’ve got fur! I don’t need one!” 

“Exhibitionist!” Valerie heckles back. “Nudist!” 

Phantom squawks in offense. “Come on! I’m covered!” 

“Get some pants!” Valerie shouts back, finally attracting the attention of one of her employees. At the sound of the Nasty Burger’s nasty back door creaking open, Phantom bolts off. 

Good. That’s what he gets. 

Temerity peeks through the back door. Her name tag is upside down, again. “Boss…?”

Valerie brushes herself off, grabs a plastic fork from where it was sitting on her ebook reader, and reclines back onto the plastic lawn chair that counts as their ‘break room’. “It was nothing, Temmie. A demon got into the dumpster again.” 

“Oh.” Temerity’s countenance warms. She’d always had an interest in the local occult scene. “Did it leave anything behind?”

“Nah,” Valerie replies, popping open her tupperware. Just her lunch, apparently. “You need any help…?”

“Nope! We’ll be fine until you get back in.” 

That for sure means something’s wrong. Whatever; Valerie is totally satisfied to finish off the last fifteen minutes of her shift with some literature, a bucket’s worth of satisfaction, and her boyfriend’s dismayed texts pinging in bursts onto her phone. 

[constructionsafetynetwork]

Building a Positive Safety Culture in Construction: Essential Strategies for Success

In the construction industry, where risks and hazards are inherent to the job, building a positive safety culture is paramount. It’s not just about complying with regulations; it’s about cultivating an environment where safety is deeply ingrained in every aspect of work. This article explores the strategies and practices essential for building a positive safety culture in…

[youryurigoddess]

Aziraphale’s wine

It is a truth universally acknowledged in the Good Omens fandom that an angel in need of a drink turns to his secret stash of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the back room. He picked up a dozen cases in 1921, and a whole century later there's still some left… for special occasions.

Just to put things in perspective, a standard case contains 12 750ml bottles, for a total of 9 liters of wine. A dozen cases equals 144 bottles, or 108 liters of wine. That’s quite a lot for a single purchase, so Aziraphale — the established sherry and sweet drinks connoisseur — must have had a good reason for it.

One potential explanation is the aura of grandeur around this particular wine. The papal connection, rich history of the region, and recognition of high quality products give Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines a very luxurious status, considerably influencing their price tags. And Aziraphale is known to have standards.

Another one is the way in which their taste differs from Aziraphale’s usual choices: Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds are often described as earthy with gamey flavors that have hints of tar and leather. The wines are considered tough and tannic in their youth, but maintain their rich spiciness as they age.

Since everything in Good Omens has a meaning, it never hurts to run through a quick Strong’s Concordance search whenever a date pops up in a dialogue or, even more importantly, somewhere on screen. More often than not the result seems to match the researched topic, as it’s the case here:

1921: to know exactly, to recognize.

Provided examples: I come to know by directing my attention to him or it, I perceive, discern, recognize; I found out. The general usage of the word usually refers to knowing someone aptly, properly, thoroughly, even biblically. Which might be either a wishful thinking on Aziraphale’s part or just another layer of subtext in this already romantically charged scene. The table dressing, multiple candles, and focus on the lamps with Auguste Moreau’s Young Lovers statues in the background seem to successfully communicate what the angel left unsaid.

Too bad that Crowley remained so adorably oblivious for the next eighty years. At least when he finally came to the realization, he responded with an attempted temptation to another vintage red wine @vidavalor already analyzed.

But back to Aziraphale’s wine. To be exact, it’s a 1921 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the domaine de Baban. An actual French vineyard from the Rhône region that still exists to this day, even though a few decades ago it got merged with another estate into what is now known as domaine Riché-Baban. According to the local guides, the 11 hectares on the estate are located in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape designation area in the Bois Lauzon and Mourre de Baud districts. At the moment 90% of the wines produced there are sent to wine dealers.

1920s were quite an interesting time for this region, but not because of the flapper cabarets or drag shows usually associated with the era on the Old Continent. To the horror of European oenophiles, right after World War I the whole of France found itself awash with fake wine. One of the worst outrages was the use of lead that magically transformed cheap, acid wine into something deceptively rich and sweet on the outside and one of the most powerful neurotoxins on the inside. People were already well aware of its effects — the poisoning from drinking sweetened wine probably made Handel go blind and Beethoven go deaf, but it shows how desperate for sweetness they were before sugar became available to the masses.

Admittably, it wasn’t a new practice. Far from it — the Romans liked it so much that they even advised to pack lead pans on travels to boil local wine in them to make it sweeter, especially in colder provinces like Britannia. But Aziraphale didn’t buy twelve cases of counterfeit wine for the sake of some good memories of Rome and its many health hazards. No, the fussy angel made sure to get the actually good stuff from the other side of the English Channel.

Henry Tacussel, whose name is mentioned on his wine label, was a French viticulturalist and a close friend of Baron Pierre Le Roy of the Chateau Fortia nearby, a trained lawyer and fellow winegrower from Châteauneuf-du-Pape who established the Winegrowers' Union of the Rhône Valley. Together with the Baron he became one of the founders of Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), a labeling system intended to protect regional products and technologies that is still in use in France and serves as an inspiration to similar solutions worldwide. Their efforts were deliberately centred on Châteauneuf-du-Pape because with such a beguiling name even in comparison to other labels it seemed to attract an undue share of fraudsters at the time.

Soon after Aziraphale’s shopping spree, the local wine producers led by Le Roy and Tacussel began a very long campaign to establish legal protection for the wine from their commune. The delimited area and the method of wine production were finally awarded legal recognition after a decade, in 1933, but it wasn’t the end of the criminal activities on this front. An undercover investigation by The Sunday Times discovered that most of the “Châteauneuf” in the 1960s Britain was actually blended and bottled in Ipswich.

One question remains: was it a purely human affair, or maybe one requiring a demonic or angelic intervention?

[stayevildarling]

Hi, could I request something with the classic 4 (Delia, Mina, Billie and Reader)? Essentially it's one of them struggling with their mental health and the others all help them, but it's Mina, not the Reader. Idk why I worded it like that- Mina's mental health has been getting worse for a while and she's (obviously) denied it, but the other 3 finally decide to try and get through to her and get her to go and get some professional help. Thank you so much! Love your stuff btw xxx

Wilhemina Venable x Cordelia Goode x Billie Dean Howard x Reader- Love and Lavender

A/N: Thank you very much for this request 💜 I usually struggle really badly to make characters suffer but for some reason this sparked my inspiration and put my other stuff on hold for a moment. I hope you enjoy

tags/warnings: established relationship, mention of depression, mention of suicidal intention, mention of suicide attempt, mention of overdose, mention of scoliosis, mention of doctors and hospitals, very heavy angst

word count: 5k

taglist:

@lunaticwhittaker , @billiebeanhoward , @lanawinters-ily , @kenzbro , @minaslittleone , @httpfiftyshadesofgay @whitelotus00 , @ninaahs , @paulsonsratched , @vintagepaulson , @isle-of-earle , @grilledcheeseandguavajelly , @lucyintheskywithxanax , @fanfics4world , @mymiraclewitch , @hazard-to-myself , @awritersometimes , @wastdstime , @p1pecleanerwitheyes , @queen2234 , @ihartnat , @lifebyinez , @ahsatanizgay , @blu3dimples, @stepintomyworld

For weeks the tension at the academy had been charged , the academy that usually blooms with sunshine, light and the occasional swirl of magic in the air. The four of you had been beside each other for years, tangled deeply in each other‘s hearts and souls. You joined them a little bit later on, part of the academy and Cordelia‘s most promising student but more importantly and much quicker than anticipated you became their everything, making them whole.

It didn‘t take long until you became Billie‘s babydoll, so in love for the way you would support her dreams and desires, always helping her out with the promotion of her show, setting up some social media and spending hours to give her the recognition she deserves. In return, she would spoil you rotten, never not taking you out on her days off, giving you the entire world and making every one of your dreams come true.

Cordelia adored how gentle and kind you were with the students, wanting the other witches to thrive and help out some of the younger ones. Whenever Cordelia‘s shoulders had been tired from carrying the weight of being headmistress and supreme at the same time, you would be there, slowly easing the tension and telling her how amazing she is doing her job. And in return Cordelia gave you the same support and gentleness, turning your most darkest days brighter. The two of you always knew when something wasn‘t right, not just due to your magic but also the deep connection. And so you became Delia‘s sweetheart.

Wilhemina adored you and quickly made you her little one, enjoying to spend quiet times with you by the fire place, whispered love confessions and reading to you. The two of you enjoyed the silence, spending time without a lot of words needing to be exchanged. You always had her back, on a bad day you would make her a bath and her favorite meal without asking, when her calendar was busy, you would get her medicine for her without asking, taking her to her weekly doctors appointments without words and simply holding her hand. And she took care of your soul, always protective around you.

Lately, the careless times spent together, the comforting atmosphere around you four, was replaced by tension and darkness. It took you a while to catch up, reading Mina‘s silence for her usual quietness and walls at first but the smile had undeniably been wiped from her beautiful features, her walks a little slower each day and her usual jokes and bantering with Billie stopping altogether. Often she would come home so late from work, she would miss dinner, her plate still full in the morning, the baths you made for her still like that in the morning. She would start spending nights in her office rather than you three.

And of course the three of you noticed, Billie starting to lift the mood with her usual jokes but never connecting with the redhead, trying to spoil her with some self care gifts but never getting more than a quiet „Thank you Billie“ out of the woman and the gift baskets would simply pile up on her desk. Cordelia had tried talking to her for the longest time, getting her to open up but despite their usual connection and the supreme’s ability to break through her walls, it was hopeless. The redhead had been surrounded by darkness, unable to keep struggling with her condition, the physicial pain and the mental toll any longer. And of course you had tried, finding her in her office at night, trying to just sit beside her with some tea and an offer that you are there if she wanted. But nothing worked and the three of you had been growing increasingly concerned.

With another weekend approaching, the three of you had decided to take the afternoon off, preparing for Wilhemina‘s return from work. Billie had gotten some purple flowers for her, Cordelia preparing her favorite meal and some wine and you had drawn her a bath with her favorite lavender bath salts that you went to get for her. The three of you had decided to approach this head on together, knowing things couldn‘t keep going this longer, hating to see the woman you loved so much struggling to this extent. To your surprise, she returned on time, wondering what happened for the sudden change but happy nevertheless. The four of you began chatting quietly, a quick thank you and a forced smile for the bath, the flowers and the dinner.

„Mina darling we meant to speak to you“ Billie begins quietly, hiding her nerves by playing with her rings. The tension instantly builds as the redhead averts her gaze from either of you three, clearly not in the mood to deal with this subject. Cordelia interjects, noticing how the redhead stiffens further before she tries taking the redheads hand from across the table. „Honey we are only worried about you“ she explains, trying to slowly break through her walls which must be at an all time high right now. „There is nothing to worry about“ she snaps, her tone matching her inner annoyance. You glance at both of your blonde girlfriends, communicating in silence that this was the wrong time for this.

„Mina I understand if you don‘t want to talk but we are here for you that‘s all okay?“ you try gently, giving her a warm smile that you would quit the subject now and usually she would understand if she wasn‘t so frustrated tonight. „I said I‘m fine“ she snaps, her chair scraping off the floor before she leaves. And this wasn‘t so bad if she didn‘t leave her cane behind, the three of you looking after her with all the concern in the world. „Mina your cane“ you try but she‘s already forcing herself up the stairs. Your cutlery clangs against your plate in frustration, Billie already extracting a cigarette to cool off and hide her concern. Cordelia‘s eyes are filled with tears, never having seen her like this before and you turn to her before wiping her tears. „It‘s okay, we will sort this out and help her“ you reassure, your eyes filled with honesty.

The weekend slowly progresses, Wilhemina mostly hiding in her office as she struggles with the pain that is threatening to consume her whole. She had never meant to let it go this far, withdrawing from you three the way that she had been, snapping at you three, not appreciating the gestures but she couldn‘t snap out of her state. Her pains had been so bad, struggling to keep herself upright at times but still forcing herself to walk without her cane, punishing herself for the way she had acted and lost control. She couldn‘t fight her inner demons, the voices her parents had left in her early on, causing her to forget what the three of you had taught her long ago. Telling her that she wasn‘t worth love, that the three of you would be better off without her, that she needed to punish herself, for being weak. That her scoliosis wasn‘t that bad, that she needed to get over this.

She had been lost in this daze for weeks, struggling to keep her emotions at bay, often snapping at her bosses at work, not taking their usual abuse and losing her temper more. Hiding away in the office or at home as she knew neither of you three deserved this side of her, trying to shield you from this. But the voices had sounded much darker and harsher lately, giving her ideas that hadn‘t crossed her mind in years, making her feel like a stupid teenager again. She had been sloppy with her medicine, sometimes skipping it to punish herself, sometimes taking much more than she is meant to, in order to stop the pain she had ultimately caused herself by not being careful and on top of this, the way she usually would.

This afternoon, you once again found her cane abandoned somewhere after taking it to her before. And you couldn‘t stand seeing her like this anymore, you take her cane before knocking on her office door and waiting for a reply. It comes after a while and you step inside, finding her sit by her desk, her posture tense and her gaze averted, fixed on some point in the distance. Carefully, you close the door and walk over to her, placing the cane beside her and noticing how she had an open document on her computer but it being empty and confirming your assumptions that she hadn‘t been working on anything at all. You take a seat opposite her, glancing at her for a moment and the sight kills you. She looked so sad, as if she is carrying all the weight off this world on her shoulders, the pain written deeply behind her brown eyes and for a moment some tears swell in your eyes, quickly forcing them away, knowing you needed to be strong for her now.

„Mina?“ you ask gently but she doesn‘t look at you, lost in her own world, unaware of how truly bad and dark it had gotten. „Mina please“ you try again „I‘m worried about you, I know you don‘t like this and wanna talk about it but I care about you and we know you are hurting, you keep leaving your cane, you keep withdrawing from us and I just wanna help you like the many times you have helped us“ you plead. For the first time in a while her eyes flicker towards you and for a moment you have a glimpse of hope, thinking she may finally break her walls and talk to you but she averts her gaze just as quickly again. You sigh, unsure what to do, not knowing how to deal with her silence any longer. But you can‘t falter now, not when your whole world is sitting in front of you struggling so badly.

„Mina I can‘t stand seeing you like this, I love you, you are my whole world and I hate seeing you struggle so much. I know you are punishing yourself with this“ you carry on, gesturing towards her cane. „I know you don‘t want to withdraw from us but please come back to us.. to me.. I miss you“ this time the tears roll down your cheeks, unable to hide them for a second longer. She notices, of course she does and she considers it then, hating to see how much this was hurting you, having sworn she would never do this to any of you. The silence that follows is defeating and you sigh after a while before getting up. „Please know that I will always be here, no matter what, and if you need anything, no matter what or when please find me“ you offer her, leaving her office in tears before you sob as you make it down the hallway.

As soon as her door closes and she hears the silent sob, her own emotions get the better off her and she begins crying herself, the weight of your words hitting her like a sharp knife. She wanted so desperately to speak, to comfort you and to reach out for help at the same time but she couldn‘t, her walls keeping her from doing so and causing her to remain silent. Billie and Cordelia find your sobbing form and immediately approach you but you wipe your tears, not wanting them to worry about you when the person you loved most strugged so much and clearly needed help. „What happened?“ Cordelia asks softly before you fill them in. Their concern matching yours and unsure what else to do to help your girlfriend anymore.

That night you couldn‘t sleep, Mina never joining you in bed and her absence causing your thoughts to spiral. You left bed early, much earlier than your girlfriends who managed to find sleep eventually. And so you opt to prepare breakfast, with all the witches being out and with their families, hoping the four of you can enjoy some quiet and spend time together. You prepare for a while, making coffee, tea and making the academy smell so nice, opting to prepare your girlfriend’s favorite pastries. By the time you finish, you collect some tea and a pastry, knowing it would be a challenge to get the redhead to join breakfast and at least wanting her to eat, having missed her at dinner last night. By the time you finish, your other two girlfriends are long awake, withdrawing for a bit to find some solutions.

By the time you make it to her office, you knock but without success. You consider to leave, thinking she may not want to see you or maybe she had fallen asleep. But something within you, maybe your magic, maybe your intuition or maybe your love causes you to open the door only to find her office empty. Your eyebrows furrow as you set the little tray on her desk, opting to leave and find her before you hear a faint noise from her bathroom door within her office. You knock again but the redhead can‘t hear you, too caught up in her world of pain. She had been standing there for far too long, an entire vial of her medication in her palm, fighting an internal battle against the voices that tell her to finally put a stop to this, end her own and ultimately your suffering but something holds her back.

The concern ripples through you and so you open the door, unsure what you may find but nothing could have prepared you for what you ended up seeing. There she stands, her eyes filled with pain and tears, the same empty expression on her face, her cane again abandoned near her. Then you see the empty medicine vials on the sink before seeing her shaking hands. „Mina“ you halt, your heart stopping at the imagine in front of you. Thoughts overwhelm you about how much she had been suffering in silence, how you should have done more to help and protect her. „Mina please don‘t“ you plead, your voice coming out much more broken than you intended to.

„Please“ you plead again, scared if you stepped forward that she may take them all. Your hands and legs begin shaking, feeling like your whole world is turned upside down and ultimately in the hands of the woman in front of you. Her eyes close, a heavy silence between you two and you take a chance, stepping forward and wrapping your shaking hands around her own, which tremble at the sensation. Suddenly the pills clatter all over the bathroom floor, each noise another reminder for what could have happened. The two of you stand there frozen and you use your magic to communicate with Cordelia in silence, knowing you couldn‘t do this on your own.

The supreme sits in her office with Billie, trying to find a way to help Wilhemina, the two of them going back and forth with options before your energy and voice fill her thoughts. „Delia please I need your help in Mina‘s bathroom“ she hears and instantly she rises to her feet, the concern rippling through her upon hearing and feeling your distress. „What?“ Billie asks confused and all the supreme can mutter is a rushed „Hurry“ before she leaves her office, quickly bursting through the doors to reach you both. She halts in her steps when she sees what happened, the pills clattered everywhere, Mina standing there with her eyes closed, you holding back the tears as you still hold onto her hands, pleading with the supreme for help.

She composes herself, with a flick of her wrist making the pills disappear, Billie standing there frozen in shock, unable to move. Cordelia steps forward, giving you a nod to move aside and you do, giving her space to handle this. She steps forward, taking Wilhemina‘s trembling hands into her own. „Honey?“ she tries and when the redhead opens her eyes, tears flow freely down her cheeks. „I‘m sorry“ she whispers, filled with honesty, pain and a heavy guilt. The supreme glances at Billie, urging her to take you away from here, noticing your state and how much you are shaking. „Come on baby“ she whispers, her hands on your shoulders and guiding you away from here. She takes you downstairs and you burst out the back door into the garden, your whole world crashing down as you feel incredibly sick, trying to take deep breaths in order to calm yourself.

„Baby what happened?“ Billie asks softly, placing her hand on your back, trying to soothe and ground you at the same time. „Billie“ you pant, unable to control your breathing. „She was gonna end it, she was gonna leave us“ you begin breaking down, unable to get the image out of your head. Billie instantly takes you into her arms, holding you in her steady arms as you break down, her own tears running down her cheeks, feeling the pain radiating from you and her own shock still deep from what she had seen. The two of you stay in each other‘s embrace, holding each other and keeping yourselves from falling apart completely.

Meanwhile, Cordelia had managed to get Wilhemina to sit down, despite the gentleness, forcing the redhead to open up, unable to risk something like this happening again. And slowly, the redhead began apologizing, explaining how she never wanted things to escalate this way, her walls slowly crumbling down as the truth begins spilling from her lips. The blonde listens intently to every word, holding her through the worst of the confessions, being there every step of the way. „Darling we need to get you some help, you can‘t keep dealing with this pain and you shouldn‘t have to“ the supreme encourages and the redhead finds herself nodding, knowing this was the last straw and that she couldn‘t keep going like this, both for her and your sake.

„I‘m so sorry Y/N had to see that“ she apologizes, feeling as if she only just now realizes what happened or rather what could have happened. „Me too but I‘m so glad she found you“ the supreme whispers, squeezing her hand a little tighter. „Can we make a plan honey?“ the supreme offers and Wilhemina nods, knowing she needs it and also doesn‘t have much of a choice after what happened. She nods and Cordelia offers to take her to her doctor tomorrow, knowing they need a change for her and Wilhemina nods, the supreme reassuring she would set up the appointment and take her.

„I want to talk to her“ Wilhemina reassures but her expression falters, feeling the guilt and fear of facing Billie but especially you. „But I‘m scared“ she admits and the supreme frowns, only able to assume how she must be feeling. „I‘m with you Mina, always“ she reassures and there is a silent understanding between them, that they will do this together, that they have each other‘s back. It takes a little while before they both reach you and Billie, the medium outside smoking as you lay on the sofa, wrapped in one of Wilhemina‘s knitted blankets. Cordelia gives Wilhemina an encouraging nod before finding Billie, wanting to check on her and keep her in the loop what has been said between them.

„Y/N?“ Wilhemina‘s voice softly breaks through the silence and you immediately jump to your feet, the concern rippling through you as you see her standing there. „Are you okay?“ you ask, the fear still lingering on your features. „I‘m okay“ she reassures quietly, stepping forward as her cane echoes through the silence. „I‘m so sorry little one“ she apologizes and your eyebrows furrow, not understanding why she feels the need to apologize to you. „It‘s okay Mina, I‘m just glad..“ you begin but stop when your throat begins tightening. There is a heavy silence between you two, guilt, shame and a thick sadness and neither of you know what to do exactly until you break the silence. „May I..“ you pause, collecting yourself „May I hug you?“ you ask, just wanting to hold her and fix this.

Her world crumbles at your words and the pain and fear in it, she nods and you surge forward, holding her in your arms as if she is the most fragile thing on this planet. She melts right into you, finally feeling the distance between you both fading and for one of the first time‘s Wilhemina lets you be the one to comfort her, with each stroke of your fingers on her body, slowly melting the pain, the walls and the shame away. You whisper reassuring words that you aren‘t mad, aren‘t upset and only want her to be okay. In the end, the two of you are nestled in each other‘s arms, you holding the woman to your chest, careful of her posture. And the tension and sadness slowly fades, of course you both knew this wasn‘t over, that there was work to be done but right now, she was safe in your arms and you could make sure the world or herself couldn‘t hurt her anymore.

The evening quietens out a little as for the first time in a while the four of you have a meal together, savoring the moment despite the slight tension of unspoken words in the air. Cordelia had mentioned the doctors appointment in the morning briefly, asking you to look after her witches and classes which you of course agreed to. That night as Wilhemina lays beside you, you don‘t sleep a wink, your thoughts spiraling and also needing to make sure she is okay. You stay beside her for hours, watching her sleep, comforting her when she stirs. Cordelia had gotten rid of her medicine for now, only giving her the evening ones while staying with her.

And then they leave in the morning, Cordelia taking Wilhemina‘s hand and taking a very important and scary first step. When they returned, they both seemed brighter, both of them feeling a bit more hopeful. And then the weeks of work began, Wilhemina put on some medicine, going to therapy and the three of you there every step of the way. And of course there was no magic when it comes to these things but ever so slowly, Wilhemina managed to open up more, rest and tell you when her back was killing her, being more vulnerable and open and the distance between you replaced with closeness. And ever so slowly, the three of you didn‘t constantly fear her safety anymore, knowing she didn‘t truly want to leave but wanted the pain to go and it did, slowly and with a lot of work and support but it did.

The aftermath of it all left the three of you coping in your own ways, Cordelia more anxious than before, Billie having nightmares and you hiding the pain of what happened and how you had found Wilhemina. Billie was the first one to admit what was going on, an important first step as she confided in you and Cordelia and the two of you helped her in your own ways, establishing an evening ritual with her and talking about her nightmares a lot more which ultimately helped her. Cordelia‘s was a little harder to work through but it took your words that ultimately ended her suffering. It was a conversation in the middle of the night when you told her that no matter how much she tried, she couldn‘t control those things and had to let the fear go, trusting the universe to keep you four safe the way it had been and so slowly, the shaking of her hands stopped, the constant excessive worry and fussing over Wilhemina stopped.

And then in the end came your silent struggling, you hadn‘t told them too much about your past, your struggling with mental health related things. But the image of the pills and Wilhemina had been burnt into your brain, equally haunting you in your dreams, throughout the day and especially in the quiet moments. It hadn‘t just upset and scared you, it triggered you. And funnily enough it was Mina who noticed, asking you a few times and despite hating to lie to her, you couldn‘t tell her, knowing she would blame herself and open up the wounds she had tried so hard to close lately. But you knew you couldn‘t give into the urges that your brain sent you and so you decided to soldier through, knowing you could get over this with time.

This afternoon, another normal day at the academy, Cordelia approached you after teaching a class, asking how it went and you sat with her in her office giving her some updates. She had noticed too lately and decided to ask you about it. „How are you honey?“ she asks carefully and despite knowing her anxiety and that this may get her to worry again, you needed to confide in her. „Can I tell you something?“ you ask quietly and she nods before her hand finds you. „Ever since..“ you pause, hating to put those words in your mouth but she knew, giving you an understanding nod. „I haven‘t really told anyone this before but I used to struggle too and for weeks I have been triggered“ you admit, the tears flowing down your cheeks. „Please don‘t worry though, I don‘t want to leave you I promise but I just“ you stop yourself when you find her kneeling in front of you, pulling you into the tightest hug.

„Thank you for telling me sweetheart“ she thanks you sincerly, before wiping the tears off your face. „I know how hard this must be for you and how hard those weeks have been but I promise you, this will get better“ she assures, the same honesty that reflected in your eyes before now in her own. „And whenever you feel like this, I want you to find me and we will work through it together okay?“ she asks and you nod, reaching out your pinky as the two of you had a habit of pinky promises, ones neither of you would ever break. The two of you stay like this for a while, holding each other before she presses a gentle kiss to your temple. „Let‘s get some dinner shall we?“ she offers and you nod before taking her hand, trusting Cordelia with your whole life and knowing she was gonna be here now.

Tonight had been the first normal night in a while, both the medium and redhead returning from work at a normal time, the four of you enjoying dinner together, Billie telling ghost stories and Mina telling her work gossip and the two of them joking and bantering. Both you and Cordelia glance at each other, your features filled with relief, knowing slowly things are going back to normal. That night after the bath you had prepared for Wilhemina, she finds you sitting in the library, doing some reading before asking you if she could join. The two of you sit in silence, a much more comfortable one than the weeks before, the old silence again as you both read. „Would you like me to read to you?“ she offers and you nod before the two of you cuddle up in each other‘s arms.

In the end, you lay in her lap, making sure not to hurt her back as she reads to you. After finishing a chapter, she notices how you are looking at her, an expression she can‘t quite read. „Are you okay little one?“ she asks softly and you nod but nevertheless tears fill your vision and she instantly sets the book down before wiping your tears. „I‘m just glad you are better Mina“ you cry and she frowns then, fighting her own tears but letting them fall, having learnt a lot of things in the last few months, especislly through her therapist. „I‘m glad I‘m here and I‘m so thankful you found me, I know that can‘t have been easy“ she acknowledges, instinctively pulling you a little closer. „I love you Mina“ you whisper and she smiles lovingly before whispering „I love you so much more little one“. And the two of you end up staying like that, tangled in each other‘s arms, hearts and soul, facing the same struggles but never facing them alone ever again.

[fanaticsnail]

You have made a grave mistake by adding that little dialogue between Reader & Law and Law mentioning how Reader made his time with the DQ Pirates bearable for the Yandere Doffy fic?

Grave, grave mistake. Because little Law...

(Pulls out the Reader Being A Mother Figure to Little Law binder and puts it on the table. The table shakes from the weight.)

Is my precious baby boy.

Brace yourself. I have a lot of thoughts here, and with Reader being a princess (rubs hands together)

- Reader first met Little Law when her family was on a trip to Flevance and as Law's parents were heads doctors, they gave Reader's family a tour of the hospital, she got to meet Law & Lami (my heart is breaking just typing this, my babies 😭) and they absolutely adored her. They were sad when a week later, Reader & her family left Flevance.

- Extra deliciousness if Reader's kingdom was allied with Flevance and against what the World Government did such as closing the Flevance borders, extra extra flavour if the World Government found that out and their schemes are the reason Reader's kingdom fell. If we want to make it interesting, nobody will find that out until later except myb Doffy who might try to use this to get Reader to trust him even more. We can even make it that Reader's parents wrote a letter to the WG or Five Elders assuring they have no symptoms, attaching with the letter the recent medical exams they took, and asking them to open the borders to Flevance, offering to take everyone from Flevance into their kingdom until the hazardous white lead is removed from Flevance. They never got a reply. Instead, what they did get is having their kingdom attacked and destroyed a week before the Flevance attack.

- Reader also knows the truth of Flevance, as she took the medical exams, too, wishing to help Law and Lami and the entire country.

Imagine the gasp when you see Law - all battered, dirty, with an empty, hateful look in his gaze, so different from the happy, smiling boy wearing a little doctor's coat while holding his sister's hand. Imagine the tears, the waterworks. Imagine Law's little eyes widening in recognition. You hug him without a single moment of hesitation - it overcomes reason.

Oh, Doffy has a devil's smile on his face then as he watches the scene. He already sees the potential in Law to become his right-hand man, and now it turns out you have a history with Law?

Yeah, Law will be a great tool new addition to the crew!

Law is distant, though. He isn't the same anymore. His eyes are sharp, he is constantly glaring, he has a scowl on his face that slightly softens when you talk to him while picking out new clothes for him. But that's okay. You give him space, except for that tight, warm hug that nearly made him break down again because he's forgotten how it feels to be hugged. Forgotten how warm it is. How nice it feels. Nobody wanted to touch him, after all, with the White Lead Disease.

After Law bathes, Doflamingo gives Law some of his old clothes when he was a kid and watches you help Law button up the buttons. He watches you two like a grinning pink vulture flying around two rabbits who are weakened from lack of water in a dehydrated land, deciding which moment to strike, and in what way to swoop in.

When Law trains, you're always there when he returns and hand him a towel and a water bottle. You pack him (and upon Doffy's insistence) and Doflamingo lunch boxes when they leave for a mission. It's very clear Law has a special place in your heart.

So of course Yandere Doffy tries to use that to his advantage. He's caught the way your eyes softened and turned warm when you saw him tutoring Law in his studies in the study room. You'd even smiled.

You always pack Law the most riceballs in his lunchbox, much to Doffy's displeasure.

You also have some telepathic instincts, because you woke Doflamingo up one night trying to wriggle out of his arms, and when he grippped you harder, you said it was Law.

It did turn out to be Law, who was screaming and crying in his sleep, and had woken the other kids he slept with with the screams. Doflamingo was about to wake him up by shaking him or smacking him on the floor (it worked with Rosinante when he was a kid, so what if Rosinante cried harder then? At least his brother would stop snoring like an elephant.) but you gently lifted Law and cradled him to your chest and shushed him, your fingers gently caressing his hair. You also sang a Flevance lullaby and Law, after a minute, calms down completely, returning to deep sleep, his little hands clutching your clothes.

You always welcome them (read Law) with cupcakes and donuts and the kids love you. But Law loves you the most. He even fought Baby 5 and Buffalo — and won — when they argued who loves you most.

Doflamingo said he loves you, most, though, and Law couldn't hold out ten seconds in a fight against Doflamingo - he tried, though. His face had hurt for a week from Doflamingo's kick.

Law does hate that you bottle feed Dellinger, though, you hold the toddler so gently. Dellinger is so lucky.

When Doflamingo marries you, you toss the flowers on purpose to Baby 5, who was the flower girl. She beams and blushed in her pink dress. Everyone cheers and claps at this, except Doflamingo. Law was forced to be the ring carrier, and had to wear a pink suit with a white tie - worst moment of his life, really. It was the only time he saw Doflamingo wearing a full white suit, as white as the sand of the beach where the ceremony took place. Law hated every second of it. He didn't think Doflamingo was right for you.

Thankfully, Corazon, who was the best man, set himself on fire, so that somehow made the day bearable. The rest was a lot of drinking child champagne that made his mouth all tingly and eating luxurious foods he needed an instruction manual how to eat. Thankfully, Señor Pink showed him how to eat them.

When you and Doflamingo danced, with the way Doflamingo was dressed and tidied up, he looked like a prince, which freaked Law out.

A month later, Law's life gets turned upside down because he says his real name and Corazon hears him.

It also adds that level of desperation to retrieve Law on Minion Island to Yandere Doffy bcs you were softening up to him when Law was around.

Ugh, Yandere Doffy be it when he is King or in North Blue, little Law, Reader getting ill and Doffy suffering, Law healing Reader, ugh, I can't wait to see what you do with this.

There is something wonderful about Yandere King Doflamingo & Princess Reader, I love it. I love everything, ugh.

Sending love to you, Snail. 🩷

CAN I JUST

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE READING MY DAMN MIND. Okay okay okay.

OKAY THOUGH.

There are no thoughts, this is perfect. I just.

Adding Lami in too??? Like????? AAAAAAAA. Okay, so I'm doing a Rosinante fic a lot like this too, but yandere Doffy is just on my mind and I can't. The WEDDING. MY GUY, THE WEDDING IDEA.

But, this begs the question, do you love Doflamingo too? Or is it a rouse, and Doflamingo is using your alliance and friendliness with Law to keep you there? Do you catch feelings or fondness for him, are there tender touches reserved for only you in the quiet of the night away from the others? When you're sick, does he leave your bedside? Does he order all of the roses in Dressrosa to shower you with? All the carnations in all the colours, his favoured pinks and reds to depict his undying devotion to you.

OKAY BUT WHEN YOU FIRST START GETTING SICK, DOES LAW GET A LITTLE BINDER AND LIST OUT YOUR SYMPTOMS? Does he check you over when Doffy leaves? Does Rosinante look over your bond and feels a pang of guilt at the fact he is going to take this small joy away from you in your sickness in a bid to cure Law's?

I love these thoughts, never cease!!

[moviehealthcommunity]

Alien: Romulus (2024)

This is a Movie Health Community evaluation. It is intended to inform people of potential health hazards in movies and does not reflect the quality of the film itself. The information presented here has not been reviewed by any medical professionals.

Alien: Romulus has strobe effects throughout almost the entire film. While most of them are moderate, the fact that they are such a constant presence compels us to give a bad score for flashing lights. Causes of the strobe effects include flickering lights, rapid-firing firearms, lightning, glitching screens, and strobe lights placed on the outside of wheeled vehicles and spacecraft.

There are a few brief uses of mild shaking camera work. There are two sequences taking place in zero-gravity environments that may be highly disorienting.

Flashing Lights: 10/10. Motion Sickness: 7/10.

TRIGGER WARNING: The normal horror elements of jump scares and gore are frequently used in this film. People with trauma around childbirth will want to exercise heavy caution around this film. There is an on-screen vomiting episode, preceded by several seconds of body language warning that it's about to happen. Multiple scenes depict people convulsing.

ADMIN BRANDON'S REVIEW: Far and away one of the best entries in its franchise, Alien: Romulus is a master class in how to utilize the best ideas from previous franchise entries. The familiar formula the movie uses is just as successful as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The practical effect work on display, especially with the set design, deserves the highest levels of recognition. One computer-generated element of this film may be a little off-putting, but I can't think of better alternatives to accomplish what this element accomplished. The characters may not be as charismatic as those in the original Alien film, but the lead protagonists are relatable enough to keep the audience engaged. Overall, it feels like the film Ridley Scott himself would have made with a budget like this if he had directed a direct sequel to Alien. Grade: A.

Image ID: A promotional poster for Alien: Romulus

[amandacanwrite]

Hazards of Endearment || Chapter Two: Recollection

Pairing || Cooper Adams (Abbott?) / Female Reader

Fandom || Trap (2024)

Warning || This is a slow-burn, dark romance. There will be lying, manipulation, infidelity, and eventual coercion and kidnapping in this fic. Cooper is not a good guy and brings out ugly sides of the reader's character. If that is problematic or upsetting to you, I encourage you to skip this one. In addition to that, the 'reader' in this fic is epileptic and there are mentions and depictions of grand mal seizures in this fic as well as allusions to parental mental abuse and munchausen's by proxy.

Tag List || @amethystblackkchaos @dirtylittlefairytales

Cooper kept his eyes on the ground as he waited for your answer. His body sang with tension; each sinew coiled in anticipation of having to jump the gun on taking his next victim. 

You had seen him. You’d caught sight of him as he disposed of his most recent kill. He didn’t know how long you’d watched him before he caught sight of you, but it was long enough that when his brown eyes met yours, you ran. 

You were small, and you were fast, but he was faster; more physically fit. He’d had a longer stride and could cross the same distance in one step as you could in two. 

You’d gotten all the way to the top of Mourner’s Peak and he’d given you two options; take a leap off the cliffside, or come with him. 

But it seemed your body chose a third option. 

He watched with surprise as your face went pale and you became eerily still.  

He thought it was the look of someone who had realized they’d lost; someone who was going to lose their life by his hand. But the expression was too blank–too empty. Something was wrong. Dissociation, maybe? Freeze response?

But then, your eyes had rolled back in your head. He watched as you dropped to the ground and every muscle in your body contracted; your back arching as if in the throes of passion, your arms and legs straightening to the point that he was sure it would be painful if you were at all aware. 

A grand mal, also called a tonic clonic. But the onset was slow–maybe it started as a temporal lobe seizure and became a grand mal?

He’d started dragging you away from the cliffside and gotten you on your side when your body had gone slack and your breathing had calmed. Your seizure had passed. And as you slowly regained your faculties, your eyes had no fear or apprehension when they’d met his. There had been no recognition in your gaze at all. 

It was all too perfect. 

So perfect that he had to risk it. He had to be sure. He had to test your recollection. 

If you remembered anything it would be easy enough to haul you back up to the peak and throw you off of it. Or to put you in his van and take you to one of his safe houses. 

“Mnh…” you said as he made it half-way down the incline. “The bus.”

“The bus?” he asked. 

“Can’t drive with the seizures,” you said. 

“Ah, right,” he said. “What else?”

“Do you know much about seizures? How they work in the brain?” you asked him. 

Yes, he thought to himself. “No,” he lied. 

“I usually have temporal lobe seizures–they look kind of like zoning out–and then they develop into grand mal seizures right after,” you said. “The temporal lobe handles memory, so it’s not uncommon for me to lose a few hours or even most of a day after I have one.”

Good, he thought.

“How often do you have them?” he asked. 

“A couple times a month,” you said. “Though I usually can tell if I’m going to have a tough day. I usually stay home on those days. Guess this one snuck up on me.”

Unseen to you, he closed his eyes and gave a silent, relieved exhale. Though if he was honest, he wasn’t sure why he was so relieved. It wouldn’t have been the first time he cleaned up a loose end, though the need to do so was rare. He was, after all, meticulous. 

Which brought him to his next question. 

“What brought you out to Mourner’s Peak, anyway?” he asked you. “It’s got a reputation for being a bit morbid.”

“What brought you out here then?” you asked. 

“I asked you first,” he insisted, sneaking a look back at you to make sure your expression hadn’t changed. 

It had, but not in the way he was fearing. You were averting your eyes, there was a little extra color dusting the apples of your cheeks and the bridge of your nose. Embarrassment. Sheepishness. Someone who didn’t want him to think you were odd. 

He could work with that. Oh yes, he could work with that. 

“I guess I just…have a fascination…with the macabre,” you said. 

“Ah,” he said. “A local urban legend chaser, then.”

Mourner’s Peak, according to local lore, was said to be a cursed place for couples. Starting back in the 1800’s when a man, rejected in courtship by his childhood friend, asked her to meet him at the peak. When she’d arrived, he’d asked for an embrace. 

And then he’d held onto her as he’d jumped off the cliffside, killing them both. 

Since then, it had been the site of multiple suicides and murders and was rumored to be haunted or cursed or whatever it was. The superstition wasn’t why Cooper had picked it as a dumping location. He picked it because it was a hard trail and it was generally avoided because of the silly rumors about it. 

“Tell me more about this fascination,” he said, doing his best to sound warm and inviting. Non-judgemental. “You seem a little young for morbid inclinations. What are you, twenty?”

“Wow, thanks–no I’m twenty-seven,” you said. “And…well… I guess I’ve had enough close calls to be a little curious about it.”

Cooper smiled to himself, enjoying a private joke at your expense. Enjoying that you had no idea just how close this particular call had been for you. 

“So is that the kinda stuff you do for fun, then? Paranormal investigating? Hanging out in graveyards? Ouiji boards?” He asked. 

“Now you’re just being mean,” you said. 

He gave a pleasant chuckle, finally making it to the base of the incline before the trail leveled out. He adjusted you up on his back a little further, rolling his neck once as he tried to ignore the primal part of him that responded to the way his hands pressed into the soft curve of your thigh. 

“You never told me what you were doing out here,” you pointed out. 

“I live nearby,” he lied smoothly. “It’s a good trail to take to keep fit, and it’s nice enough out here that I don’t feel like I’m actually exercising.”

“Mnh,” you said. “I guess it works, you’re carrying me like it’s nothing. Not even breaking a sweat.”

“This 6’3” stature has its uses,” he said.

This was exactly what he was hoping for. Nice, boring, pleasant conversation. The kind of conversation that put people at ease. 

It was quiet for a few moments after that. The sound of his steady breaths and the crunch of gravel beneath his boots were the only things that could be heard.

He lost himself in thought for a while. Lost himself in revised plans for hiding the body. In what excuse he would give to Rachel for missing dinner. Then the weight of your head dropped onto his shoulder; your breath rustling the hair at the back of his neck and making his arms prickle with gooseflesh beneath the sleeves of his sweater. 

“You alright?” he asked. 

“I’m sorry, I usually sleep all day after a seizure,” you said. “I’m just so tired.”

Something tightened in his stomach; an emotion he usually only felt for Riley or Logan. Endearment. The desire to protect. A strange shift considering he was killing you just moments ago. He wondered where it came from. 

“Sleep if you want,” he said. “We’ve got probably about an hour before we make it back to the beginning of the trail.”

“I don’t want to be even heavier on your back,” you said, your voice growing hoarse with sleep. 

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “This is easy mode. Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually easier to carry someone on your back when they’re dead weight. Makes you just kinda drape onto me instead of worrying about where your limbs are placed. Besides, you’re really not that heavy.”

“You’re sure?” you asked. 

“Positive,” he said. “I’ll wake you when we get to my car and figure out where I’m taking you, alright?” 

“Mnh,” you said again in answer. 

And just after that, your weight slackened against him. Every soft curve of your body, every ounce of weight strangely comforting to him as he continued down the trail. 

And there is something about you, he realizes. 

Something that he doesn’t feel like sharing.

[leviathan-supersystem]

Mike DeWine, the Ohio governor, recently lamented the toll taken on the residents of East Palestine after the toxic train derailment there, saying “no other community should have to go through this”.

But such accidents are happening with striking regularity. A Guardian analysis of data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by non-profit groups that track chemical accidents in the US shows that accidental releases – be they through train derailments, truck crashes, pipeline ruptures or industrial plant leaks and spills – are happening consistently across the country.

By one estimate these incidents are occurring, on average, every two days.

“These kinds of hidden disasters happen far too frequently,” Mathy Stanislaus, who served as assistant administrator of the EPA’s office of land and emergency management during the Obama administration, told the Guardian. Stanislaus led programs focused on the cleanup of contaminated hazardous waste sites, chemical plant safety, oil spill prevention and emergency response.

In the first seven weeks of 2023 alone, there were more than 30 incidents recorded by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, roughly one every day and a half. Last year the coalition recorded 188, up from 177 in 2021. The group has tallied more than 470 incidents since it started counting in April 2020.

The incidents logged by the coalition range widely in severity but each involves the accidental release of chemicals deemed to pose potential threats to human and environmental health.

In September, for instance, nine people were hospitalized and 300 evacuated in California after a spill of caustic materials at a recycling facility. In October, officials ordered residents to shelter in place after an explosion and fire at a petrochemical plant in Louisiana. In November, more than 100 residents of Atchinson, Kansas, were treated for respiratory problems and schools were evacuated after an accident at a beverage manufacturing facility created a chemical cloud over the town.

Among multiple incidents in December, a large pipeline ruptured in rural northern Kansas, smothering the surrounding land and waterways in 588,000 gallons of diluted bitumen crude oil. Hundreds of workers are still trying to clean up the pipeline mess, at a cost pegged at around $488m.

The precise number of hazardous chemical incidents is hard to determine because the US has multiple agencies involved in response, but the EPA told the Guardian that over the past 10 years, the agency has “performed an average of 235 emergency response actions per year, including responses to discharges of hazardous chemicals or oil”. The agency said it employs roughly 250 people devoted to the EPA’s emergency response and removal program.

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The EPA itself says that by several measurements, accidents at facilities are becoming worse: evacuations, sheltering and the average annual rate of people seeking medical treatment stemming from chemical accidents are on the rise. Total annual costs are approximately $477m, including costs related to injuries and deaths.

“Accidental releases remain a significant concern,” the EPA said.

In August, the EPA proposed several changes to the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations that apply to plants dealing with hazardous chemicals. The rule changes reflect the recognition by EPA that many chemical facilities are located in areas that are vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, including power outages, flooding, hurricanes and other weather events.

The proposed changes include enhanced emergency preparedness, increased public access to information about hazardous chemicals risks communities face and new accident prevention requirements.

The US Chamber of Commerce has pushed back on stronger regulations, arguing that most facilities operate safely, accidents are declining and that the facilities impacted by any rule changes are supplying “essential products and services that help drive our economy and provide jobs in our communities”. Other opponents to strengthening safety rules include the American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute.

The changes are “unnecessary” and will not improve safety, according to the American Chemistry Council.

Many worker and community advocates, such as the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, (UAW), which represents roughly a million laborers, say the proposed rule changes don’t go far enough.