#Head-Mounted Display Market

[rohitpalan]

Head-Mounted Display Market to Skyrocket with 25.9% CAGR, Reaching USD 151.29 Billion by 2033

The head-mounted display market is going to continue to advance at a CAGR of 25.9% between 2023 and 2033. The HMD market is projected to climb from US$ 15.12 billion in 2022 to US$ 151.29 billion by 2033.

The head-mounted display (HMD) is a pair of high-tech goggles. Many attachments, such as a controller, sensor, and camera, are integrated into the head-mounted device display. The head-mounted device is portable; HMD displays are widely used in defense services, the gaming industry for virtual reality, and medical professions. The market is likely to be driven by reduced microdisplay prices and rising demand for helmet-mounted displays.

The market is projected to be powered by influential manufacturers raising their investments. The HMD market is likely to expand as VR/AR head-mounted display technologies become more widely used. The market may soon have chances due to the rising demand for portable devices and lightweight head-mounted displays. The lack of consumer knowledge of head-mounted equipment is limiting demand growth.

Profound Setbacks for Players in the Head-mounted Display Market

The head-mounted display market particularly helmet-mounted display systems is severely curtailed by design difficulties. The head-mounted system business is also being hindered by problems including helmet considerations, symbol stabilization, and acceptable field-of-view in relation to the resolution offered.

Lack of knowledge regarding its application and the potential of HMDs is a global danger that is getting worse, especially in underdeveloped and developing nations.

Analysis at the Regional Level

North America to lead the market over the forecast period. The presence of significant players such as Collins Aerospace, a United Technologies subsidiary, Google Inc., Kopin Corporation, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation contributed to this rise.

During the projected period, Asia Pacific is to account for a sizable proportion of the head-mounted display market. Its market expansion can be attributed to the acceptance of VR/AR head-mounted display technologies in emerging markets such as India and China. The growing need for a head-mounted device in the medical field for treatment and surgery is assisting in the market’s expansion.

The increasing usage of HMD technology in the educational sector in Europe is to increase the market. Throughout the projection period, the Rest of the World HMD market expands significantly. The rapid growth of HMD technology across South America, the Middle East, and Africa is promoting head-mounted display market expansion.

Key Takeaways

From 2023 to 2033, the eyewear segment in the product type category is to expand at a CAGR of 30.2% and reach US$ 41.36 billion by 2033.

Between 2023 and 2033, the integrated HMDsegment in the HMD type category may develop at a CAGR of 31.4%, and reach US$ 39.28 billion by 2033.

The United States market is to develop at a CAGR of 20.4%, reaching US$ 31.3 billion by 2033.

The German marketis to develop at a CAGR of 22.6%, reaching US$ 8.72 billion by 2033.

The United Kingdom marketis to develop at a CAGR of 32.7%, reaching US$ 10.14 billion by 2033.

China’s head-mounted display market is to develop at a CAGR of 27.9%, reaching US$ 23.77 billion by 2033.

India’s marketis to develop at a CAGR of 35.9%, reaching US$ 17.62 billion by 2033.

North America head-mounted display market to acquire a market share of 29.5% from 2023 to 2033.

Competitive Analysis

Businesses in the head-mounted display market use a variety of expansion tactics to increase their position. Product launches, collaborations with major players, partnerships, acquisitions, and the strengthening of global and regional distribution networks are examples of these strategies.

Market Innovation for Head-Mounted Displays

Launch

Microsoft unveiled the Mesh cloud service in March 2021, allowing developers to create applications that let people share holograms, communicate with one another, draw doodles, and appear as virtual avatars. The company also worked on VR head-mounted displays and headsets, which immerse users in a computer-generated world while blocking out the physical world via AR headsets (HMD).

Google announced in February 2020 that the latest version of the Google Glass AR headset is now available for purchase. Google Glass Enterprise Edition-2 was released one year through select workplace partners. Google made it accessible for direct purchase due to high demand from developers and companies.

Agreement

Elbit Systems inked a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for a helmet-mounted display system in February 2021. Under the terms of this agreement, BEL may produce and integrate the Helmet Mounted Display system for the Indian Navy and other rotary wing platforms of the Armed Forces.

Key Segments

Product Type:

Head Mounted

Eyewear

HMD Type:

Discrete HMD

Integrated HMD

Slide-on HMD

Application:

Gaming, Media,& Entertainment

Aerospace, and Defense

Healthcare and Medical Devices

Engineering & Industry Applications

Education

Others

Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia& Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise.

Contact Us:      

Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube

[global-research-report]

Global HMD Market Analysis: Innovations Driving the Future of Wearable Tech

The global head mounted display market size is estimated to reach USD 45.41 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 27.7% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Reducing silicon wafer costs have directly impacted microdisplay prices, which form a sizable percentage of the resultant HMD cost. As a result, declining microdisplay prices coupled with the growing demand for wearable, lightweight devices are expected to be key driving forces for the HMD market. Defense services are a key contributor to global demand, wherein head-mounted displays aid in security, imaging, and tracking.

Head-mounted displays offer a high degree of mobility and computing power, which has led to increasing market penetration in the consumer sector. Growing demand from automotive prototyping is expected to be a key opportunity for industry participants. Lack of standardization resulting in design issues may restrain market growth over the next six years. This can be mitigated with the help of the establishment of necessary guidelines for HMD production.

Head Mounted Display Market Report Highlights

The global head mounted display market size was valued at USD 10.94 billion in 2024; The market growth can be attributed to the increasing investments of major players in developing head mounted display (HMD) technology.

Consumers dominated the market with a 41.3% share in 2024. The market dominance can be attributed to the rising demand for immersive entertainment experiences. Consumers have increasingly sought out VR and AR headsets for gaming and streaming interactive content.

Training and simulation is expected to continue accounting for the majority of the overall market through 2030. This is a result of the growing use of HMDs in medical as well as military training modules.

North America accounted for over 39.0% of the global HMD market in 2024; the Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit high growth over the forecast period. The establishment of manufacturing facilities along with technology advancement due to the presence of Japan, South Korea, and China is expected to fuel regional market growth.

Key companies operating in the market include Siemens, BAE Systems, HEAD acoustics GmbH, Brüel & Kjær, and Sony Corporation. Major manufacturers have started developing products targeted at entertainment purposes; additionally, geographical expansion is expected to be a key growth strategy.

Head Mounted Display Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global head mounted display market based on type, technology, product, connectivity, component, end use, and region:

Head Mounted Display Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Slide-on HMD

Integrated HMD

Discrete HMD

Head Mounted Display Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

AR

VR

MR

Head Mounted Display Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Processors and Memory

Displays

Lenses

Sensors

Controllers

Cameras

Cases and Connectors

Others

Head Mounted Display Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Head-Mounted

Eyewear

Head Mounted Display Connectivity Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Wired

Wireless

Head Mounted Display End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Consumer

Commercial

Enterprise & Industry

Engineering & Design

Healthcare

Aerospace & Defence

Education

Others

Head Mounted Display Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Germany

UK

France

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

Australia

South Korea

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Order a free sample PDF of the Head Mounted Display Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[delightfullyatomiccollector-blog]

The Head-mounted Display (HMD) market is projected to reach USD 26.4 billion by 2029 from USD 7.5 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 28.8% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™. Growing investments by significant key players in the development of HMD, availability of low-cost HMDs, growing demand for AR and VR, and Affordable microdisplay prices are some of the major factors contributing to the growth of Head-mounted Display (HMD) market. Moreover, Industry collaborations, involving HMD manufacturers, content developers, and key players, fuel market expansion, driving innovation and advancing the overall immersive technology ecosystem.

[lucysarah-c]

Mounting Spring Ch. 6

Summary: Paradis has opened its doors to the world, and the Rumbling has not yet occurred. The military board insists, "We need more Ackermans!" to avoid ruining Mikasa's life. Levi agrees. Arranged marriage, explicit consent, Omegaverse. Alpha! Levi x Omega! Y/N. Mentions of underage marriage but it doesn't happen, the reader is over 21. Age gap but they are both adults. (I would say enemys to lover but they don't even know eachother to be enemys lol.)

Author note: I've had this idea for so long… Omegaverse is my guilty pleasure, and I decided to treat myself with it.

From the creator of "Not in season?" I bring to you "Mounting Spring" lmao haha sorry it's just that my first omegaverse was rather a success… so I decided to do another.

Masterlist to the previous parts!

Ao3 link in case you prefer to read there! Chapter dedicated to @marianafairybread because she always wants to be first in the chapter's comment section... and she did it! haha

Reaching out, he grabbed the first items he found, dropping them into his basket with little thought. ‘I should’ve gone to Trost’, he mused.

The small rural town near the Scout facility didn’t offer much in terms of variety. Most locals lived self-sufficiently, farming or raising livestock. Trost, on the other hand, was farther away, and with his limited free time, it wasn’t an option this week. The act of grocery shopping felt like a distant memory, more of an abstract concept than a routine he’d ever mastered.

In the underground, homes were more like squatter's shelters—claimed rather than owned. Kitchens were either non-existent or barely functional, forcing most people to rely on taverns for meals. He’d done the same. If he wanted more than bread and cheese, he’d head out for something warm. He recalled the occasional market day when he’d taken Isabel to pick out “whatever she wanted,” keeping his hood up to avoid attention.

The image flashed briefly—Isabel, beaming, holding up a packet of cookies, seeking his approval. The memory flickered and faded as he reached for some pastries on display at the bakery. They weren’t much, but they were more than plain crackers.

He picked items at random, a mixture of reluctance and uncertainty guiding his choices. This should do, he thought, noticing the baker’s daughter lugging a heavy tray of milk buns to the counter. Her flour-streaked apron and flushed cheeks gave her the look of someone used to hard work.

Levi cleared his throat.

“Oh, are you done, Captain?” the girl asked, dusted her hands off before packing his selections into paper bags. She couldn’t have been older than his newly proclaimed wife.

“Can I get a dozen of those, too?” He pointed at the fresh white bread.

She blinked, surprised but obliging. “Of course.” As she moved to fulfil his request, she added, “I dare say, Captain, it’s surprising to see you here like this. You hardly ever shop in town.”

Levi hummed noncommittally, neither confirming nor denying. He glanced over his shoulder at his squad, who were busy loading supplies onto the cart, too preoccupied to notice him.

“Is someone sick at HQ? The weather’s been wild lately,” the girl continued, clearly eager for conversation. She might have assumed someone had caught the flu, forcing him into town for soft bread to tide them over until rations were delivered.

“No,” Levi replied curtly, “But yeah, it’s been raining a lot.”

“Do you sell dairy?” he asked, shifting topics as he mentally ticked off his list.

The girl shook her head. “No, that’s Gilbert. He’s around—want me to call him?”

Before Levi could answer, she turned to the back window and shouted, “Gilbert!” Her voice was startlingly loud and commanding, a sharp contrast to her polite demeanour moments earlier. She returned with a cheery smile. “He’ll be here in a minute.”

Levi barely had time to process before, a young man with a dishevelled look and a peaky cap leaned into the window, clearly irritated.

“What now, May?” he grumbled.

‘They’re close’, Levi noted. ‘Well, this town’s so damn small, everyone is.’

Gilbert’s attitude flipped the moment he spotted Levi. “Captain,” he greeted, pulling off his cap and nodding respectfully.

“He’s asking about dairy,” May informed him, returning to her chores.

“Oh, is someone sick?” Gilbert asked, shifting his attention to Levi.

“No, just need milk, cheese, maybe butter. I can’t keep coming down here every time I run out. Do you deliver to the countryside?”

“Of course.” Gilbert nodded. “Leave the empties near the stables. I’ll replace them when I see them.”

“That’ll do,” Levi agreed, pulling out his wallet. He suspected other Scouts’ Squad Leaders had lived a little less frugally than he did. ‘Like Eyebrows,’ he thought grimly. But at that time, most of them where gone.

“I’m just surprised you’re shopping here now,” May chimed in, a sly smile on her face. “Is everything alright at HQ?”

“Yes.”

“I thought the Scouts had a deal with the Reeves Company,” Gilbert added, leaning on the window frame.

Levi hesitated. Socializing wasn’t his strength, but ripping the bandage off now seemed the easiest option. “It’s for my wife,” he said plainly.

Silence fell, heavy and awkward. Levi pressed his lips together; it simply didn’t feel real to pronounce those words. Saying them out loud confused him, it just made no sense for him but it was real. Almost like a weird illusion.  The girl’s fake innocence vanished, replaced by a look of irritation and disappointment. Gilbert, on the other hand, stifled a laugh poorly by noticing her face.

“Congratulations,” the girl muttered begrudgingly.

“Congratulations, Captain,” Gilbert said, grinning. “Actually, my father mentioned something about it, but I didn’t believe him.”

“Thanks,” Levi replied curtly, eager to leave.

“Where’s she staying? Maybe she’d like to join us, the girls and I, for tea,” May asked, her tone a forced blend of sweetness and curiosity.

‘For fucks sake, just drop it,’ Levi decided to ignore it as the young man set four glass bottles of milk and some extras. Levi paid, though May tried to refuse. “It’s on the house, Captain,” she insisted.

“Come on, I grabbed a lot,” he countered.

“And my mother would be thrilled knowing Humanity’s Strongest Soldier’s wife is eating her recipes,” she insisted.

Reluctantly, Levi accepted, gathering the bags with practiced efficiency. She resumed her prying. “Let us know where she’s staying! We’ll invite her out!”

“She’s at HQ for now.”

May’s surprise was evident. “I didn’t know civilians could live at HQ.”

“Let them be,” Gilbert teased, nudging her arm. “Newlyweds can’t stand being apart, especially this time of year.” His comment made her giggle and blush.

—

“I paid for those groceries with my dignity,”

“I mean… they’re kind of right; don’t you think? What’s a civilian doing at military headquarters?” The brunette nudged the captain, attempting to keep the conversation alive. “You can’t just keep her locked up in your quarters forever, you know.”

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “I know. But where the hell am I supposed to put her? In the stables?”

Hange’s enthusiasm didn’t waver, despite Levi’s clear frustration. “Oh, we could go house-hunting! I’ve always wanted to do that!” They grinned, as if this were an adventure. “Owning a house is one of my wildest dreams! Right up there with seeing the outside world. I can’t believe I got to see the ocean before I could even afford a house—but hey, that’s the economy for you.” Hange chuckled, undeterred.

“I’ll have to have a word with that asshole Zackly. I can’t keep her living off charity,” Levi muttered. His long list of responsibilities felt like tackling a Hydra—cut off one head, and two more grew in its place.

“So?... Did she like them? Or is she still sticking to that hunger strike?” Hange leaned back; their cheeks already flushed from the alcohol. They’d shifted from standing close to the captain to sprawling in their own chair, drink in hand.

“There was never a hunger strike. She just hates our food,” Levi replied dryly. “Not that I blame her. But she’d better start getting used to it. I’m not hiring her a private chef, and she can’t live off cookies and cheese forever.”

The memory of earlier that day surfaced unbidden.

“You’re back!” she said, startled, stepping out of the room quickly to meet him.

“I brought you something to eat.” Levi set the bags down on the table. Unlike her usual cautious approach with the trays he brought, she dove right into inspecting the bags, curiosity lighting up her face.

She peeked into each bag, her expression softening with genuine delight.

Levi caught himself staring—maybe for the first time since they met, he noticed something resembling happiness on her face.

“Oh!” she squealed, pulling out the buns and bringing one to her nose. She inhaled deeply, savouring the sweet scent before tearing a piece off and taking a generous bite.

“Try not to fill up before dinner,” he warned gruffly. He remembered the previous night’s “dinner,” which had mostly involved her picking through the stew like it was poison.

But her eyes, bright and grateful, met his. She made an effort to swallow quickly, breaking the eye contact momentarily, then said softly, “Thank you.”

“Oww. Look at you, all doting. Your little alpha brain was probably glowing,” Hange teased with a wide grin.

Levi frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Come on, Levi. Alphas instinctively provide for their mates. Bringing her food is, like, prime courting behaviour—”

“Spare me the biology lesson,” Levi cut them off sharply. “I’ve had enough of your nonsense for one day.”

He reached for his glass, hoping it would hide the faint heat creeping up his neck. He’d dreamed of her the previous night. Not just of her, but of marking her—claiming her in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to think about while awake.

“At least her scent’s calming down,” he muttered, more to himself than to Hange. “Maybe now I can actually think straight.”

The last remaining veteran hummed faintly, their approval distant as they leaned back in their swinging chair, eyes closed. Sleep-deprivation from endless responsibilities and the alcohol in their system created a perfect cocktail for them to drift into dreamland almost instantly.

Levi, however, let his head hang over the back of his seat, eyes shut. He sighed heavily. “The one thing I’m grateful for... is that those two are Betas. If they weren’t, I’d never hear the end of it.”

He was referring to the fact that the small-town folk—most of whom were Betas—couldn’t recognize or differentiate between the scent of a bonded or unbonded Alpha.

—

“Dear Nana,

How is everyone? How is Clauws doing?”

She carefully penned the letter, seated at a desk that wasn’t hers. The pen’s tip dipped into ink once more before gliding across the paper. Though countless questions buzzed in her mind, very few could actually be written down. Her grandmother had always been strict, but when everything fell apart, she was the first to offer support—a comforting presence her own mother hadn’t provided. Her mother, too preoccupied tending to the returned “head of the house,” had barely noticed her struggles.

“I’m sorry I ruined your dress, Nana,”

She paused, remembering the day her grandmother had handed her the cherished wedding gown. It was simpler in design, a reflection of the fashion back then. “A piece of me will be with you that day,” her grandmother had said.

The letter rambled in places, yet felt hollow in others. “Things are improving slowly. My belongings arrived two days ago, which was a clear improvement,” she wrote.

She smiled at the memory. How ridiculously happy she’d been to finally take a proper shower using her own soaps, hair products, skincare, and body lotions. At last, she could wear a dress that was hers.

Levi’s reaction to the mountain of boxes had been understated—a brief glance, a slight narrowing of his eyes—but he’d said nothing. His indifference almost tempted her to write: “Nana, is it normal for a husband to not be interested in you?” But she stopped herself.

Her initial theory had been that her appearance was to blame. The limited wardrobe and lack of self-care products had left her feeling dull. But after her belongings arrived, she took her time in the shower that night, ensuring every inch of her smelled pleasant.

—

Levi returned to his chambers after a long day, utterly drained. He kicked off his boots, but still bent down to align them perfectly by the wall. Scratching the back of his head, his hand moved instinctively to push the bathroom door open—only to stop short when he noticed the light was on.

Her startled squeak from inside made him freeze. The door slammed shut in his face.

“Sorry,” he muttered, stepping back to avoid getting hit. He’d completely forgotten she was there. Despite the subtle changes around his chambers—the rearranged furniture, the extra storage for her belongings—it hadn’t sunk in.

Levi waited a few moments, exhaustion weighing on him. Each blink grew slower, heavier. Finally, he sighed. “Is this going to take long? I need the bathroom,” he asked, voice calm but firm.

“No.”

He frowned, rolling his eyes as if following an invisible clock. “Is that a ‘No, I’m done,’ or a ‘No, I need more time’?”

“What does that even mean?” she called back, her muffled voice sounding farther away than it actually was.

Levi shifted his weight impatiently, hands on his hips. “It means your ‘just a minute’ is turning into an eternity.”

He opened the door, the abrupt motion startled Hange, who was working at the desk nearby. Levi muttered irritably under his breath, brushing past them. “Feel free to make yourself at home,” Hange quipped sarcastically, as if they didn’t burst into Levi’s chambers uninvited all the time.

“I need to use your bathroom,” Levi snapped. But after a quick glance inside, he wrinkled his nose, muttered, “Never mind, the cadet’s public ones are cleaner,” and left.

—

When he returned to his chambers later, exhaustion pulling at every step, she was seated there. Her freshly washed hair glowed with a soft sheen, and the dress she wore seemed to accentuate her figure in all the right ways. The change in her mood was palpable—she looked lighter, almost happy.

“You’re back earlier,” she said softly, breaking the silence. Perhaps the isolation was getting to her. She had no one to talk to but herself, and even her inner monologues were starting to feel unhinged.

“Yeah.” Levi didn’t elaborate, setting down a stack of papers he needed to finish. He poured himself a cup of tea and sat at his desk, ready to get to work.

But her gaze was intense, her attention unwavering. He raised his eyes slowly from the papers, catching her shy smile. She looked... almost embarrassed.

“Yes?” he asked, his voice betraying no emotion.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes bright with unspoken thoughts. Levi frowned inwardly. ‘She wants something’. Too tired for subtle games, he asked bluntly, “What do you need?”

“Oh, um… how was your day?” she asked, the long pause making her question feel like an afterthought.

“Busy.” He blinked slowly, waiting for her to get to the point. “What do you need?”

For Levi, this was attentiveness—cutting to the chase and solving her problems directly. But to her, it felt cold. Distant.

Pressing her lips together, she tried to maintain her optimism. “Don’t you notice something different?” she asked, her voice carrying the same tentative excitement as a child presenting a crayon drawing, they’ve poured their heart into.

Levi barely looked up from his work. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him after nonstop duties. “Your stuff arrived.”

She chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Well, yes. You brought it.” She leaned forward slightly. “Something else.”

Levi, disinterested, returned to his papers. “My bathroom is crammed with packages of things that’ll be impossible to keep tidy. That it?”

Her smile faltered, the enthusiasm in her eyes dimming. “No,” she muttered.

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the scratch of his pen on paper. Her drop in mood didn’t register with him immediately; his focus remained fixed on his work.

“Then I don’t know. I give up,” Levi finally said, his tone casual as though indulging in a child’s guessing game. “Communication is key, isn’t it?” He kept the conversation going, albeit with his usual bluntness. “I’ll be direct. I leave this place around six in the morning and come back around nine at night. When I get here, I just want to use the bathroom without waiting an hour. The rest of the day, it’s all yours.”

In his mind, he was simply setting boundaries—clarity prevented misunderstandings. “Settled accounts keep old friends,” as the saying went. He didn’t want resentment to build and cause an issue later.

“Sure,” she replied, her voice lacking the earlier spark.

Minutes passed in silence. Only then did Levi notice the shift in her mood. He tapped his pen against the desk, trying to shake off the sense of something being off. Straightening in his chair, he forced himself into a form of socialization that didn’t come naturally.

“How... was your day?” he asked, his tone awkward but sincere.

She gave him a faint, understanding smile. “It was good.”

“Good to hear,” he said, returning to his papers.

She replayed the events of the previous night in her mind, conflicted.

‘He called off my wedding and chose me with such determination... didn’t back out of the new arrangement when I lost my heat.’

She pieced together the events as though unraveling a mystery, searching for a missing clue.

‘He not only didn’t want to claim me… he’s simply not interested in me.’

A deep sigh escaped her as she ran a hand over her face. The confinement of the past few days had left her dizzy and drained.

‘Am I doing something wrong? Failing as a wife somehow?’

The thought of asking, ‘Captain, have we met before?’ lingered on the edge of her mind. How could a man so adamant about marrying her—a man who used his newfound authority after the uprising to demand her as his wife—not even know her?

‘We must have met before,’ she rationalized. ‘Perhaps at a ball? Maybe he knows my father?’

Yet, even as her thoughts spun, she arrived at a reluctant conclusion:

‘I don’t desire him to claim me, but at least he could be interested in me.’

If she could wish for one wedding gift, it would be for him to talk to her—about anything. She wanted to know if this marriage was punishment for her family, a humiliation disguised as duty, or if he was simply as severe and unyielding as he appeared.

She stood a few steps behind him, clutching the letter she had written earlier. Her eyes lingered on the curve of his bent head as he worked. When should she ask? Would it annoy him? What if he refused?

‘What if he doesn’t want me to contact my family anymore? Should I lie and say it’s for a friend?’

“Ehm,” she began hesitantly, catching his attention.

Levi glanced at her, waiting.

“I was wondering if you could send a letter for me?”

She braced for his reaction, expecting irritation or even outright anger. But Levi merely extended his hand.

“Sure,” he said simply.

Her initial shock passed quickly, and she moved closer, handing him the envelope. “Is... this alright?” she asked cautiously, testing the waters.

“Did you write the address correctly?”

“I think so.”

“Then I don’t see why not.”

They shared the same language, but their meanings never aligned. She questioned the morality of staying in contact with her past, while his thoughts drifted to streets and doorways, turning her words into something as practical as addresses.

Levi flipped the envelope over, his sharp eyes catching the empty space where the sender’s details should have been. Picking up his pen, he filled in the information himself, then reached for one of the stamps he used for his own correspondence. After affixing it to the envelope, he placed it atop the pile of outgoing letters.

“Done. With that stamp, it’ll be sent as a high priority.”

She wondered if this was some sort of test. “Alright, thank you,” she replied hesitantly, retreating slowly back to the room. Her cautious movement caught his attention.

‘Try talking to her, be sociable,’ Hange had urged him during lunch. ‘At least try to befriend her. You’re the only person she knows.’

The memory of that conversation made Levi press his lips together and exhale softly, though not loud enough to draw attention. His eyes scanned his desk as if it might somehow offer the social skills he so clearly lacked.

“You don’t have to leave. We can share the room.”

Those words stopped her in her tracks. After countless nights of waiting for his return and his insistence that he had too much work to spare time for her, she had assumed he didn’t want her there. Slowly, she walked back to the desk, hesitating before taking one of the armchairs in front of him.

Her mind was a battlefield of questions, but the voices of those who once told her that the success of a marriage depended on a woman’s quietness forced her to remain silent.

Levi, on the other hand, wished she would ramble about anything—or everything. ‘I’m not in a position to get picky’, he thought. It wasn’t that he particularly enjoyed talkative people— ‘no one likes a damn yapper’, he mused with a wry press of his lips—but he wished she didn’t seem so…scared.

Respect and fear had followed him like shadows since his underground days, and he had never found silence uncomfortable. But something about the absence of connection in their shared space unsettled him. This was his sanctuary: the room where veterans had snuck in to celebrate his birthday against his will; the room where he, Mike, and Hange had gotten high because the mess in their rooms drove him mad; the place Erwin would stumble into drunk to rant about aging before forgetting the entire conversation the next morning.

Now, she slept in his bed—a bed he rarely used unless he got any unexpected visit for a night or two. She had gone through his drawers, where condoms, hardly touched lube, and those ridiculous chocolates Hange had once gifted him as a joke lay tucked away. She had invaded his space, his place, and he didn’t even know if she had some embarrassing middle name.

“You came back earlier today,” she muttered, breaking the silence.

He blinked. Had he? Maybe he had been trying to finish work earlier, hoping to get back before she fell asleep. “Did you forget your keys?” she asked.

Her question made him freeze, his sharp eyes narrowing. She instantly regretted asking.

‘Someone tried to break in’, Levi’s mind leaped to the worst conclusion.

“What happened?” he asked, his tone calm but commanding.

“Nothing. It was a quiet day,” she lied, her eyes darting away like a guilty dog avoiding its owner.

“Don’t lie to me,” Levi said firmly, though without aggression.

“Nothing. The front door’s knob was pushed down and tugged a couple of times, but that was it. The door was locked anyway,” she admitted, her voice hesitant, “I thought maybe you’d forgotten your keys.”

She tried to shrug it off, though her footing felt shaky. “It really was nothing,” she added quickly, her excuses flimsy and arriving too fast to be convincing. “It’s not that deep.”

‘I want to go out… I need to leave this place, or I’ll go nuts,’ she thought, the words she withheld tightening around her like chains. It felt as though she’d just added three more locks to the door with every word she spoke.

“I didn’t mean to hide it from you,” she murmured, her voice softening.

‘Well… maybe a little,’ she admitted silently, guilt prickling at the edges of her thoughts.

Levi sighed heavily, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. His patience was stretched, but his tone was steady.

“Stop it. I’m not angry at you.”

“Well…you look like it,” she muttered, barely audible.

Levi caught her words. “That’s just the face I was born with,” he deadpanned, standing to prepare tea. “If I were actually mad, you’d know.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, though she still seemed wary. When he asked, “How much milk?” she snapped out of her thoughts.

“Oh, half and half, please,” she replied.

He carried on, adding two sugar cubes and placing her cup next to her before returning to his seat. One leg over the other.

“Thanks,” she murmured into her tea, both hands clasped around the warm cup.

As the room fell silent again, Levi’s gaze landed on a stray sketch she’d left on his desk—a portrait of a cat. He held it up. “You’re an artist, huh?” “You’re an artist, huh?” he asked suddenly.

“Uh?” She blinked, then realized what he meant. “Oh. I won’t leave them around again. Sorry.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, a trace of exasperation in his tone. “You’re not bad at it.”

A soft smile touched her lips. “Thanks, but I’m just an amateur. A real artist is someone professional. My technique is weak.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re better than anyone I know,” He scanned the sketches scattered across the desk. “Who told you that? Some shitty teacher?”

She hesitated. “My father.”

Levi pressed his lips together. “Sounds like a real ray of sunshine.”

She chuckled at his dry tone. “He just didn’t want me to think I could make a living out of it.”

“Ah, a natural motivator,” Levi deadpanned. “Bet he works in suicide prevention.”

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. ‘First joke she’s found funny,’ Levi thought.

She leaned forward slightly, a grin on her face. “Do you know my father, sir?”

“Not a clue,” he replied, sipping his tea. “Don’t call me ‘sir,’ by the way. I told you that.”

Her expression turned sheepish. “Sorry… force of habit.” Her smile faltered. Then why…why did you choose me? The question hovered unspoken between them.

Before she could gather the courage to ask, Levi changed the subject, holding up the cat sketch again. “You like this cat?”

Her face brightened instantly. “Yes! That’s my baby, Clauws!”

Levi raised an eyebrow but kept his thoughts to himself. ‘What kind of shitty name is that?’

She explained, “I got him as a Christmas present. He had claws, and Santa Claus brought him to me, so…Clauws.”

“Ah. I see.”

She laughed, catching his expression. “Give me a break—I was ten!”

“Fair enough.”

“Are you a cat person or a dog person?” she asked, clearly trying to keep the light mood alive.

“Neither,” he replied bluntly.

Her smile faded.

“I never owned pets. They shed everywhere. Too messy.”

Her enthusiasm dimmed, but she tried to hide it. “I guess…”

—

“I’m telling you, he’s been taking trays to his chambers!” Sasha’s finger hit the mess hall’s table as she spoke. “He has someone there!”

“How do you know he’s taking an extra tray for someone else and not just for him and Commander Hange to have dinner together?” Connie asked, trying to find logic in her declarations.

“Because there’s been an extra tray for every meal!”

“You count trays?” Jean grimaced in shock. “You’ve got a serious problem with food.”

“Whatever! He has someone there!”

“Ugh, let’s put an end to this,” Armin said, appearing out of nowhere to place his tray on the table. He climbed onto the bench attached to the surface, the rest of the group looking at him in confusion. With a loud, fake sigh, Armin pulled out a small pile of letters and held them up for everyone to see. The group gasped.

“He has a girl named Y/N over. How do I know? Correspondence,” Armin declared.

“Armin, you’re a genius!” Sasha exclaimed, but Jean stared at him in pale horror.

“Have Eren’s suicidal tendencies rubbed off on you?! Captain Levi will beat you senseless if he finds out you’ve touched his letters!”

“Relax. I’m going to put them back before he finds out,” Armin said calmly. “I read in a detective novel that you can open letters with steam and reseal them. Maybe we’ll figure out what she’s doing here.”

Before anyone could respond, another voice broke in. “Who? The omega Captain Levi has in his office?”

As Floch appeared and sat down next to them—uninvited and unwelcome—their lighthearted curiosity turned uneasy.

“How do you know that?” Connie was the first to ask.

“Well, Mr. Wannabe Detective here would’ve known if he were an alpha,” Floch sneered, clearly enjoying his superiority on calling Armin’s beta nature out. Was there a connection between Floch clear unbiased wish that they would have chosen Commander Erwin, a well-known alpha, over Armin? Perhaps.

Armin stayed silent, his self-esteem taking a blow, but Jean, the only alpha in their group, though far from dominant, jumped to the challenge.

“Shut up! Even if she was one, how would you know?” Jean demanded.

“Oh, I know.” Floch smirked. “I was delivering reports to Commander Hange, and her scent hit me under the door.”

Floch had recently come out of a rut, a telltale sign of young alphas developing.

“I have to say, before I realized it, I was trying to open the door. But it was locked,” he added, sounding almost offended. “Such a pity.”

The friendly atmosphere disappeared completely, and everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

“That’s creepy as hell, dude,” Sasha said, disgusted.

Floch shrugged. “Everyone knows omegas drive alphas wild. Who the hell brings one here? That’s on them.”

Suddenly, Armin stood, clutching the letters tightly. “Maybe I should put these back,” he muttered. The idea of digging into Levi’s private life no longer felt like innocent gossip—it felt deeply wrong.

—

Levi stared at the two envelopes in his hands, clearly not work-related and not addressed to him. He quickly noticed one bore the name of the letter he’d sent earlier. But something didn’t add up. The last names didn’t match. “Her father, maybe,” he thought as he read, “Dietrich.”

He shrugged it off. “Maybe they’re a tight-knit family,” he guessed. He made a mental note to drop the letters off at his chambers before heading to his meeting. “Maybe it’ll cheer her up.”

But when she saw the letters, she didn’t look cheerful at all. She tried to mask her unease with a forced laugh. “Oh, haha, I just have a headache,” she lied, waving it off.

“Do you want some painkillers?” Levi asked, already thinking about making a quick trip to the infirmary. ‘Maybe it’s an omega thing after a heat?’ He wasn’t well-versed in omega biology, but he wanted to be a considerate partner.

“No, no, thank you! Have a good time at the meeting,” she said quickly, ushering him out.

Alone at last, her hands trembled as she clutched the letters, sinking into the couch. Her heart raced.

‘He wrote to me,’ she thought, her cheeks flushing. But the realization quickly turned sour.

“He wrote to me,” she muttered, dread sinking in.

One part of her wanted to read it, to giggle and cherish the thought that she was still the deepest desire of a man who wouldn’t give up without a fight. But her rational side screamed, “Are you out of your mind? Imagine what he’d do if he found out.”

Duty or love. Desire or safety.

‘Screw it,’ she thought, her hands trembling as she struggled to open the seal without tearing the paper.

A gilded reflect caught her attention from the corner of her yes. Her grandmother’s letter, sitting on the coffee table next to the wedding ring she’d taken off earlier.

The ring was uncomfortable. It didn’t fit her well. But the sight of it next to her grandmother’s letter felt like a moral reminder. Her grandmother had written back so quickly to offer support, her words a lifeline in this overwhelming new life.

The excitement drained away, leaving only shame and pain. “You know what the right decision is,” her conscience scolded.

Before regret could take hold, she tore Dietrich’s letter to pieces and flushed it down the toilet. Tears streamed down her face. “It’s the right decision,” she repeated, thinking of her younger siblings—particularly her two little sisters.

It was late into the night. The field lay eerily still, save for the occasional shadow of soldiers patrolling under curfew. Their footsteps were sparse and distant, a quiet reminder of the night’s vigilance.

She sat on the wide threshold of the office’s main window, her head leaning heavily against the glass. The chill seeped through, a stark contrast to the warmth of her skin, and she welcomed it. Her lifeless gaze stretched out into the abyss beyond, where darkness swallowed everything in sight.

The tears hadn’t dried yet. She blinked slowly, afraid they might return if she lingered too long on her thoughts. The air felt thick, oppressive, as if it carried the weight of her despair. The walls seemed to close in with each passing second, shrinking her world into something suffocatingly small.

‘I hate it here,’ she thought bitterly, the words ringing like a quiet scream in her mind.

Levi returned to his quarters, the weight of another gruelling meeting pressing on his shoulders. The moment he stepped inside, he noticed her sitting by the window, her figure barely illuminated by the dim moonlight. Her head rested against the glass; her shoulders slumped. Something about the way she sat—so still, so lost—struck him.

He shut the door quietly, hanging his cloak by the hook before stepping further into the room. “You’ve been sitting there all night?” he asked, his tone neutral but laced with a hint of concern.

She didn’t turn to look at him, her voice soft and hollow only hummed. “What is that even supposed to mean?” Levi asked back.

She didn’t turn to look at him. “I’m fine.” The words were brittle, almost a whisper.

He crossed the room, setting something down on the desk before leaning against it. “You don’t look fine.”

She seemed unresponsive, as if life were something that passed her by, not something she was meant to live. Levi’s gaze lingered on her, his breathing slow and deliberate as he wrestled with the unfamiliar territory of trying to be understanding. ‘What is it now? The food? The place?’

“Y/N,” he said, his voice low but firm. The sound of her name seemed to pull her out of the fog she was in. “I told you—I’m not a mind reader. If something’s wrong, just tell me, so I can fix it.”

Something shifted in her expression, her dull gaze sparking with an edge of frustration. “What’s wrong?” she echoed, her voice breaking slightly. “I’m far away from home, from everyone I know. Stuck here, in this tiny little room.”

‘Oh… so that’s it,’ he thought, nodding softly with an air of exhaustion. “This is temporary,” he replied, his tone even. “I’ll find you a place—somewhere better. Somewhere you don’t have to be here… with me—”

Before he could finish, she raised her hands to her face, muffling a scream before collapsing into sobs. Levi froze, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. That reaction wasn’t what he’d expected.

“What the hell did I say now?” he muttered under his breath, bewildered, watching her unravel before him.

She turned to face him, her eyes red-rimmed but sharp.  “What do you want from me?!”

“I’ve the same damn question,”

“Why are you doing this?”

He frowned, taken aback. “Doing what?”

“This.” She gestured vaguely around the room, her tone sharp and weary all at once. “Why am I here? Is this some sort of punishment? Did you think my family would suffer more by taking me?”

Levi’s brows knit together. “Punish your family? What are you talking about?”

“I’m not going to excuse anything,” she continued, her voice rising as if she hadn’t heard him. “I’m not going to excuse what my father did, alright? He did business with the old Military Police. Sure. But we weren’t some noble family rubbing elbows with the royal court. We’re not that influential.” Her words came faster now, anger and frustration spilling out unchecked.

Levi opened his mouth to respond, but she didn’t stop.

“At first, I thought you knew my father somehow, or maybe you hated my kind, and this was some sort of twisted fantasy,” she began, her voice trembling but firm. “Then I wondered if you just wanted an Omega wife to fit neatly into your new position in the government. But now? I don’t know anymore! I don’t understand what you want from me!”

Her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap, her knuckles whitening with the pressure.

“I don’t understand!” she repeated, her tone rising with the weight of her frustration. “You don’t even want me here—you’re trying to send me away, somewhere I won’t be a burden to you. You had plenty of single Omegas lined up for marriage, but instead, you called off my wedding, dragged me all the way here… just to cast me aside. What do you want from me?!”

Her voice broke as the raw emotion spilled over. “Is it fun for you? To ruin my life? To make me miserable? Is that all this is to you—some cruel game?”

She looked away, her gaze dropping to the floor. “And now my grandmother writes to tell me that my cat won’t eat. He’s lying in my old room, waiting for me. He’s going to die because of all this.”

Levi straightened slightly. “Your cat?”

“Yes, my cat!” she snapped, her eyes blazing. She inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself, but her tears betrayed her. “I was supposed to marry someone else,” she said bitterly, her words slicing through the air. “I had a life planned out. I was going to live close to the capital with my friends, with my cat, with the man I’d been preparing my whole life to marry. And then you…” Her voice wavered as she fixed him with a glare. “You called off my wedding.”

Levi froze, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What?” he said, his voice low and rough. “I didn’t—”

“Don’t,” she interrupted, her hand raising as if to physically block his words. “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want your excuses or justifications. Just leave me alone, okay?”

He stood there, his hands at his sides, watching her crumble in front of him. Her words hit him harder than he cared to admit. He hadn’t known she was engaged—or that her life had been so carefully planned before all this. He hadn’t realized how much she’d lost in the process of being pushed into his world.

But she wasn’t letting him speak.

“I just want to go home,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please… just leave me alone.”

Levi clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists. He wanted to say something—anything—

—

“You GAVE me a girl who was engaged to someone else?!” Levi’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

“You didn’t claim the damn Omega?!” Zackly shot back, his tone equally sharp.

The two cadets stationed at the far wall exchanged nervous glances, their bodies stiff and pressed flat against the plaster as if trying to disappear. They dared not breathe too loudly, their eyes darting from one side of the office to the other as the shouting escalated.

“Who the hell cares about that?!” Levi snapped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “The girl’s a blink away from throwing herself off a balcony! And the only reason she hasn’t is because I live on the first floor. She’s smart enough to know she’d survive the fall and just end up crippled!”

“You come into my office to shout at me,” Zackly growled, slamming his fist on the desk, “demanding a house, calling me a liar—and you haven’t even claimed the girl?!” His voice rose with incredulity. “You wanted her. No second thoughts. We gave her to you! What the hell did you expect us to do?”

“I don’t know,” Levi retorted, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “Maybe you could’ve told me she was already promised to someone else!”

“You got what you asked for,” Zackly shot back with a scoff, leaning back in his chair. “You had one damn job, and you couldn’t even do that. So go back, claim the girl, and then we can talk about anything else.”

Levi stood frozen, disbelief washing over him. His steel-gray eyes locked on Zackly as if trying to process how a man could be so absurdly indifferent. “Maybe you’re the type to enjoy abusing girls half your age, but that’s not me. She doesn’t just hate me—she despises me.”

Zackly let out a derisive laugh. “Oh, your wife hates you? Boo-hoo, Captain. Welcome to marriage.” His sarcasm made one of the cadets stifle a chuckle, which they instantly regretted when Levi’s sharp gaze flicked toward them.

“We’ve got a coastal expansion to deal with, a train system to build, and a Marley invasion to prepare for,” Zackly continued, waving dismissively. “Neither of us has time to waste on this nonsense.”

Levi’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He’d never seen eye to eye with Zackly, and now, his patience was at its breaking point. “I need a damn house,” he ground out. “I can’t keep her at headquarters.”

The tension in the room was broken by one of the cadets, who sneered, “A house? Alone, for an unclaimed Omega? We’re not funding a brothel. Half the Alphas inside the Walls would be lining up outside her door.”

Levi’s world went red. His hand shot out, grabbing the cadet by the collar and dragging him close, his voice a low growl. “You say something like that again, and I’ll make sure you’re the one they’re lining up for.” He yanked the cadet lower, forcing him to meet his piercing glare.

The cadet’s bravado shattered instantly. “I’m sorry, sir—I didn’t mean—”

“I don’t care what you meant,” Levi hissed, his tone deadly calm. “You like to act cocky, but the moment you’re in my hands, you’re shaking like a little bitch.” He held him there a moment longer before shoving him back against the wall. “Don’t test me again.”

The cadet nodded furiously. “It won’t happen again, Captain. I’m sorry.”

“Tch.” Levi turned away, muttering under his breath. “This couldn’t get worse.”

—

“So… no house hunting today?” Hange quipped as they exited the main building, each fresh from their respective meetings. Their steps initially fell in sync, heading toward the waiting cart, but Levi abruptly veered off down the street.

“Were you going?” he shot back, his tone flat yet tinged with subtle sarcasm.

Hange stopped, blinking at his retreating figure before jogging slightly to catch up. their eyes dropped to the letter he held, his gaze fixed on the address written there.

“I’ve got something to pick up,” Levi said curtly, not breaking stride.

—

“Hey. Come on, wake up.”

Levi’s voice was quiet but insistent as he gently rocked her shoulder. She was sprawled on the bed, deeply asleep, the pitch-black room silent except for his voice. He’d been gone the entire day, leaving at five in the morning, and now it was three a.m. the following day. Despite his best efforts, she hadn’t even stirred when he came back.

“Wake up,” he urged again, shaking her lightly. “I’ve got something for you.”

A muffled groan escaped her lips as she shifted uneasily, her face scrunching in sleepy confusion. “What?” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. “You’re back?”

“Yeah, now come on.” He tugged lightly at her arm, his grip firm but not rough. “Get up.”

Grumbling incoherently, she sat up, her movements sluggish as she tried to process being forced awake. Levi didn’t wait for her to fully come to her senses. He turned on the light in the adjoining office, casting a blinding glow that made her squint and groan louder.

“What’s this?” she muttered, shielding her face and rubbing her eyes.

Levi didn’t answer at first. Instead, he walked to the center of the room, a box resting on the floor. “You’ll have to be responsible,” he said plainly, crouching to open it. “I don’t have the time to take care of it or clean up after it. That’s my condition.”

Her grogginess evaporated the second she processed his words. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught as she saw him lift the box’s lid.

“Oh my god. Oh my god—oh my god!” she exclaimed, her voice breaking as tears spilled down her cheeks. Dropping to her knees, she reached out as her cat—frail, disheveled, and scared—darted toward her arms.

The small animal let out a hoarse, frantic meow, burying its head into her neck as she hugged it tightly, crying openly.

“It’s okay,” she sobbed, rocking the trembling creature as if to soothe both of them at once. “Mommy’s got you. It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

Levi stood in silence, watching the scene unfold. His lips pressed into a thin line as he observed the cat clinging to her like it was afraid to let go, its pitiful meows muffled against her shoulder. The animal looked half-dead—though perhaps it had been revived by her sheer will the moment it reunited with her.

Before he could say a word, she rose to her feet, still clutching the cat, and threw her free arm around him in a fierce hug. The startled animal was caught between them, meowing in protest, but she didn’t seem to care.

“Thank you,” she cried, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you so much!”

“You’ve got to be responsible—” Levi started, but his words cut off as she planted a quick, impulsive kiss on his cheek.

He froze, his usual stoic composure crumbling for a split second as his brain scrambled to process the gesture. He didn’t know whether to step back, reciprocate, or say something, so he settled on standing still, his arms awkwardly hovering at his sides.

‘Well,’ he thought dryly, watching her coo at the cat with unrestrained joy, ‘this’ll make it ten times easier to tell her she’s stuck here until further notice.’

Link to my masterlist and my other works if you feel like checking them out.

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[tacticalhimbo]

Throw it out the airlock, @onedismay ! But wait, not this, this is a gift courtesy of @masseffectholidaycheer 's holiday exchange event!

I want you to know I adored your prompts, but then I dug through your OC tag and immediately fell in love with Rish. She is stunning and beautiful and I wanted to incorporate her into some of your overarching idea of "just surviving and taking comfort in the small things".

So I hope I've done her (and Jill) some justice!

WORDS: 1.1K FANDOM(S): Mass Effect Trilogy WARNINGS: None!

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Let me know if you’d like a more permanent copy of this, too! I’m always happy to provide a PDF version of the writings I do!

[NEOCITIES MIRROR]

Trips to Omega went one of two ways: Typical enough, or outright chaotic. Such was the way of life on the station—you either faked it until you made it, or you found yourself drowning. Then again… such was the way of life everywhere in the system, it seemed. No matter what sector you found yourself in, things were just rough; downright deplorable in some areas. Everyone shouldered the weight of the Reaper threat and the broiling interspecies conflict, but some made peace with that fact. The world around them was ending, why spend time wallowing in it all when you can just “keep on keeping”?

Such was the mindset of Rish, who took a deep breath as she’d opened shop. It hadn’t felt like hours passed since the irritant buzzing of her alarm pierced the peacefully silent air, yet here she was, watching the hustle and bustle pass her by as the day kicked off in full swing. It was routine: Open shop, wipe over the stall’s surfaces, start the cooktops and take quick inventory. Spices? Check. Meats? Check—well, she needed more fish after today, but there should be enough to make it through rush hour. Fruits and veg? Check and check. It was good. Life was… liveable. Not bad, not good. It just was; it was good enough for Rish, just like the stock. Just like the customers that came and went as the day dragged on. Some were jovial, some were not. The latter were often the disgruntled Omega rejects; those that couldn’t get past security or found themselves too drunk (and hungry) to continue waiting in the wraparound lines that began to form.

And Rish was more than pleased to redirect them, especially when more and more began to show up as the hours grew later.

“Aw come on,” the man on the other side of the counter drawled, “Just a li’l bite then ‘m on my way.”

A tired sigh, which allowed cigarette smoke to plume in the air between them. “Already told you where you can go to find that bite. It’s not gonna be here.” 

Her calloused hand came to rest on her hip, crimson eyes focused on the wannabe patron. He seemed agitated–just shy of flipping the switch–but that really wasn’t her problem. She had a business to run and the last thing she needed was this sort of attention. Right as he’d went to speak again, another patron raised their head from the table. Rish sighed.

“Look, you’re bothering my customers. Now get out before I give you a reason to.” A not-so thinly veiled threat, accompanied by the subtle shift of her posture. Her head nodded back toward the shotgun mounted on the wall.

It’s not just for display. 

With a slumped posture and bunch of senseless mumbling, the man stumbled his way out and onto the bustling pathway of the market sector. Rish sighed, stepping forward and idly wiping the table beside the roused patron. He was a regular, often dropping by as the evening came and keeping to himself. They’d conversed a few times–it’s hard not to when someone’s in almost every day–but more often than not he ordered his chow and simply took a few moments to rest. Took advantage of how peaceful this little corner of the station was. And she didn’t mind it; he’d never caused any trouble and the company was… nice. She’d carry this to her grave, but he was really her favorite of the recurring bunch.

“You doing alright?” She asked, watching as the krogan tilted his head this way and that to stretch thick neck muscles.

He nodded, glancing around blearily before speaking. His voice was quieter than most like him, but it was not weak. He still spoke with a sense of pride, he just didn’t need everyone in the vicinity to pick up on that carried authority. “How long have I been out?”

“Not long.” A few hours, but she could sense the guilt in his question. At least, she thought so. “Sorry that bastard woke you. You’re… welcome to put your head back down if you need it. Still got a bit ‘til closing.”

A subtle nod. A soft ‘thank you’. The measured lowering of his head as his arms came up to support him; shield his face from the neon lights and bring him that familiar darkness. Muscles twitched upon hearing someone approach the counter, but the weight of exhaustion was too much to stir him again… at least, until whatever patron that’d approached raised holy hell. But they didn’t, instead, the armored woman simply sat and waited whilst Rish sized her up. Then a flash of recognition struck.

“Well, if it isn’t the Commander.” A face she’d seen pass by; one she’d certainly seen plastered across news broadcasts and bounty boards alike. “This a formal visit?”

“No,” Jill shook her head. “Just lookin’ to grab a bite before heading out.” A rolling pause before she prattled out her order, and another before her conscience began to spew. “Not looking forward to heading back to the docking bay so quickly.”

Rish was turned, her back toward the counter as she’d begun prepping. “Why’s that?”

“Need some time to process things.” It was vague, but it was enough; the weight in her tone was undeniable. She’d either seen a ghost, or realized she was one; Rish knew it well.

“Fair enough. Guessin’ you can’t tell me any more about it?” A small smile. “No, not really. You know how the Council likes to keep things.”

“Under wraps and buried beneath the event horizon?” She peered over her shoulder, cigarette hanging loosely on her smirking lips.

Jillian laughed a bit. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, sure it’s nothing a full stomach can’t fix. And if it is,” she turned and set the plate down. Simple sandwiches, but loaded with an in-house sauce mix and served with a delicious side of potato bites. “Then at least you’ll have a full stomach. Better than most folk can say.”

“Right… thanks.” Jill’s tone softened, subtle spark rising in her deep eyes as she slid forward the payment. Rish was, frankly, surprised she did; she hid it well enough, though. It was just that, usually, big shot military tended to skip the bill and claim heroism.

But not Shepard, it seemed.

Who was Rish to look a gift horse in the mouth, though? It was a gesture far more deserving of the simple nod she’d given whilst taking the credits, but that was all that was going to be said. For her sake, and for Jillian’s, as she seemed perfectly content with the blanket of silence that fell over them whilst the ambient nightlife crept around them.

And that would be enough to make their days of survival just that much more bearable.

[hischierswhore]

hostile

pairing: Mason Mount x Reader

TW: cursing // asshole!mason // another warning but i cant think of the word rn

A/N: i’ve been obsessed with angst lately, so here’s this 😀

click to read part 2

You sat in the living room of the home you shared with Mason, your boyfriend of 4 years. You were awaiting his arrival, since he’d been at training all day long. Both of you had been rather busy lately, leaving you both little to no time to enjoy each other’s company & presence, so you took it upon yourself to plan out a little movie night for the pair of you.

You had gone to the market earlier in the day to buy some snacks for your movie night, as well as some wine and some ingredients to make Mason’s favorite dinner.

You had prepared some pasta for the both of you, leaving it in the microwave until he arrived. In the meantime, you decided to watch some tv, putting on some F1 highlights reel. Moments later, the front door opened, and you heard the door slam shut, causing you to jump at the sound.

“Hi, my love” You said as you lifted yourself off the couch and made your way towards your boyfriend with your arms wide open to give him a hug after having not seen him since the night prior, though it was only for a few minutes. His body physically tensed as you pulled him into your embrace, with him also turning his head so you kissed his cheek instead of his lips. You could sense that something was wrong.

“Is everything alright, Mase?” You tried to hold his hand, but he quickly moved it and brushed past you and down the hall to your shared bedroom.

All you could think was if you had done something to upset him throughout the day? You hadn’t really spoken to Mason at all today, so you couldn’t think of a reason as to why he was being so standoff-ish towards you.

You decided to not follow him and began plating both your & his dinner. Once both meals were plated and displayed on your dining table, you gave your bedroom door a soft knock.

“Mase? Uhm, dinner’s ready if you want to eat” You sounded awkward as you stood outside the door to your own bedroom before turning to walk back to the dining room.

5 minutes later, Mason came out of your bedroom and sat down in front of you. You looked up at him for a moment, noticing how he had already changed into his pajamas.

“How was training?” You asked as he silently poked at his food before turning his gaze to you.

“It was fine” He mumbled quietly, yet loud enough that you could hear and slightly understand what he had said. He sounded like he wasn’t interested in having a conversation, so you respected it and stayed quiet for the rest of your meal.

After dinner, you brought your plate to the sink to wash it. Mason walked behind you and threw his plate in the sink, causing you to jump and turn to him.

“I’m sorry, but what the hell is wrong with you today?” You snapped at him, causing Mason to stop walking and turn to face you.

“What are you on about now, Y/n?” He sighed dramatically as he leaned on the refrigerator. You stared at him in disbelief.

“You came home in a pissy mood, and now you’re taking it out on me, and for what reason? I didn’t do anything to you, at least I don’t think I did. On the off-chance that I did indeed do something, then I’m sorry Mason, but you have to tell me-”

“Oh my god, it’s not about you, Y/n. For fucks sake, not everything is” Mason’s hands covered his face as he groaned in annoyance.

“Then could you please tell me what’s going on?” You folded your arms across your chest as you leaned against the sink, waiting to hear whatever he had to say.

“I’m just stressed out because of my stupid fucking contract and now I have a fucking reoccurring injury that makes it very difficult to get back to playing on the pitch with the squad”

“Mase, I get that it’s stressful but-” He cut you off.

“No you don’t, Y/n! You don’t understand how stressful this is for me. You’re at home taking phone calls & doing Zoom meetings while I’m out making the money so we can have this” He shouted as he gestured to everything around him. Tears began to form in your eyes as he shouted at you.

You’d always been a sensitive person, crying whenever someone had raised their voice or gave you any sort of criticism. Mason was very aware of this, and always chose to peacefully talk through things rather than get into a screaming match, but today was different.

“You know what, I get it, Mason. I understand that I don’t make nearly as much money as you do. I understand that I have the luxury of working from home while your job requires you to do physical activity, but you signed up for that job. For you to even insinuate that I don’t do shit for us is entirely disrespectful of you. I work hard, Mason, I really do. You don’t ever see that because, as a result of your chosen line of work, you’re barely ever here to acknowledge it. You can be stressed out with work all you want, but that doesn’t mean you have any right to take your frustrations out on me. Hell, I’m stressed too, but you don’t see me shouting at you & dumping all of my anger onto you like a punching bag. I even went out of my way to plan a little date for us tonight, despite being completely stressed out, but honestly, I don’t even want to be near you right now. You’ve done nothing but be a royal asshole to me since you got home, and I think I deserve better than that” You had a few tears streaming down your face as you spoke. Mason stared at you in shock as you turned the running water off and pushed past him to your bedroom.

You locked the door and immediately grabbed your suitcase, packing items you would need for a few days. You heard the front door slam shut, meaning Mason had just left. You grabbed your belongings, locked the front door and left.

You decided to drive to your parent’s house, which was about 45 minutes away. The drive was filled with silent sobs and tears slowly trickling down your face.

Upon your arrival at your parent’s house, you explained what had happened between you & Mason to your mother and she let you cry on her shoulder.

“Sweet girl” She hugged you tightly as you let the tears fall freely onto her shirt, holding her as close as possible.

“Men can be complete idiots sometimes. I’m sure he’s just under a lot of pressure right now and he accidentally took it out on you. I know you mean well, honey, but maybe he just needs some space & time to himself. Do you know how many times arguments like this happened between your father & I? He’ll come crawling back to you once he realizes how stupid he was” She reassured you as she squeezed you briefly before helping you take your belongings to the guest bedroom.

She left the room shortly after, allowing you to properly settle in. You took your charger out of your bag & plugged it into the outlet before taking your phone out of your pocket and plugging it in.

When your phone had adjusted to the new lighting in the room as opposed to the darkness of your pocket, the screen lit up, revealing a plethora of notifications.

You had 8 missed calls and 37 unread text messages from Mason. You decided to turn your phone off for the remainder of your stay at your parent’s residence.

As much as you loved Mason, he was the last person you wanted to see or talk to right now. His words hurt you, and you wouldn’t be quick to accept his apology.

~~~~~~~~~~

taglist

@ithinkimokeei @myheartgoesvroom @mounthings @tall-tanned-tattoo @itsnotgray @alwaysclassyeagle @charlewiss @pianoisland @fallingin20 @chelseagirl98 @lovelynikol16 @username-envy @pulisicsgirl @notsoattractivearenti @swimmingismywholelife @neverinadream @thoseboysinblue

[theseshipsshallsail]

Summary:

The brush of Oliver’s sun-bleached fringe tickles his midsection, and the livewire tremor that shoots up Elio’s thighs makes his own mouth fall slack; the lump in his tinder-dry throat so pronounced it’s a chore to overcome it. There are so many things he wants to say. Promises and declarations he’s wholly unqualified to voice; especially when all he has to offer is himself. If not later, when, yes, but Oliver’s intense focus sees him oscillating between god and tribute: worshipped and worshipper.

Mounted on the wall in Elio’s summer bedroom is a framed, antique postcard of Monet’s berm. A six by four, run-of-the-mill keepsake that Maynard - his father’s post-grad intern of two years prior - fished out of a Parisian flea market before mailing on a whim. The tranquil scene dates back to 1905 - near as they can tell from the perforated postage stamp - and while the sepia-toned inscription has faded with time, the image on the front remains an accurate depiction of his secret spot. 

The place he used to come to immerse himself in the daring, comic book adventures of Diabolik, or the universal themes of love, loss, and mortality selected from his parents’ library.

The place he’s all but convinced he magicked Oliver to life.

Like sentinels, tall, marine pines surround the hidden copse, their branches providing crucial shelter for the finches and sparrows that flit among the crimson poppies. The sky above is equally divine - azure and cloudless where it skirts the mountain pass - while to the east, a twin-hulled fishing boat trawls the secluded cove; its lone pescatore the sole exception to their blessed illusion of privacy.

In short, it’s exquisite, and as slightly-chapped lips form a decadent seal around the head of his leaking cock, Elio can’t help envisioning this raw, pornographic snapshot in all its Impressionist glory, also. Hung on proud display beside the great man’s Water Lilies, perhaps? A study of light and shadow to rival La Femme à la Robe Verte, herself.

The luckiest kid in the world, Oliver called him once, and indeed, the toe-curling decadence of being taken to the root does something to his crowded ribcage.

Finds him longing to remain in this halcyon afternoon forever. 

The brush of Oliver’s sun-bleached fringe tickles his midsection, and the livewire tremor that shoots up Elio’s thighs makes his own mouth fall slack; the lump in his tinder-dry throat so pronounced it’s a chore to overcome it. There are so many things he wants to say. Promises and declarations he’s wholly unqualified to voice; especially when all he has to offer is himself. If not later, when, yes, but Oliver’s intense focus sees him oscillating between god and tribute: worshipped and worshipper.

Schmaltzy, perhaps, but no less true. This isn’t just lust. Some animal desire for completion. It lingers between them: that unspoken understanding. Soothing the nerves that twist his butterfly stomach. Oliver’s devotion - his care - his everything, really, flows through him like the cresting waves below, so Elio can be forgiven for hoarding his confessions as a dragon would gold: utterly distracted by the coaxing pattern of flicks and half-circles that unravel him entirely. 

For melting into the dual sensations of too-much and not enough. 

For gasping and moaning and honest to God whimpering as the other man plays his body like a magnum opus on the Bösendorfer’s ivory keys.

Oliver’s eyes are closed, he realises. Dark lashes skimming the rosy hue of his cheeks; though be it from exertion or arousal he can’t quite determine. Damp with sweat, blond hair sticks to his temple as he bobs his head methodically, and when Elio cranks up on his elbows to get a better angle, the slow-burn in his abdomen has his knuckles blanching white; an unequivocal harbinger of his barrelling orgasm.

As if on cue, the familiar warmth of Oliver’s palm cradles his drawn-tight scrotum; the pad of a questing finger sliding further to his saliva-slick rim. Elio shivers - biting his star of David when it nudges inside - and with a muffled cry he digs his heels into the grassy bank; electrified limbs seeking purchase when Oliver doubles his expert machinations. Darting his tongue out to trace the prominent vein on the underside of his shaft. Gathering the pearls of excitement as he drives him exorbitantly to the edge.

Taking him apart like he was born for it.

Like they were born for each other.

“Sono vicino," Elio warns, spine arching as that cornflower gaze leaves him feeling seen - recognised - like never before.

His hips buck amidst the swirling strokes: a steady pressure applied perfectly.  Lungs heaving, he writhes beneath Oliver’s munificence. Or maybe Oliver writhes with him? Either way, it’s instinctive - a blatant challenge - and Elio comes like it’s being torn out of him. Staring blindly. Garbling out a collection of sounds barely ascribable to any specific language, then begging under his feverish breaths that you’ll kill me if you stop. 

Unsurprisingly - yet most deservedly - Oliver’s smirking when he floats back down to earth: Elio can feel it in the graze of teeth against his thigh.

Knows he’s smirking, too, even as he sucks in deep gulps of air; replaying the moment on repeat like a scratched vinyl record. 

“Your turn,” he chokes out hoarsely when his heart regains a healthy rhythm, and Oliver’s giddy laughter is lost to a groan when Elio kisses a thousand sonnets over the flushed bronze skin of his torso; green bathing suit tossed who-knows-where as he stokes the embers of need into a towering inferno: white-hot and consuming. 

[rhysdarbinizedarby]

Our Flag Means Death Season 2

The New Zealand Film Commission and Tourism New Zealand partner with Max for season two of Our Flag Means Death to showcase New Zealand to international audiences.

Fast Facts

96% New Zealand crew

78% New Zealand cast

Production based at Kumeu Film Studios

Post-production took place in Auckland

10 New Zealand HODs

67 shoot days

35 sets built

780 Crew

Our Flag Means Death is executive produced by creator-showrunner David Jenkins and Emmy®-nominated star and New Zealander Taika Waititi. In addition to his duties as showrunner, Jenkins directed the first two episodes of season two. Garrett Basch, Dan Halsted, Adam Stein, and Antoine Douaihy also serve as executive producers. Production for the show moved from Los Angeles to New Zealand for its second season.

Our Flag Means Death stars New Zealanders Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby and David Fane, as well as Madeleine Sami (most recently of the Australian mystery-comedy Deadloch) and Samoan-born Anapela Polataivao.

Many of the key creatives and department heads are New Zealanders, including writer Maddie Dai, production designer Ra Vincent, hair and makeup designer Nancy Vincent and art decorator Megan Vertelle. Together, this talented team elevated Our Flag Means Death, contributing their individual expertise to create a visually stunning and emotionally engaging viewing experience. Of the 780 crew contracted onto the show, 350 worked full time.  

Creative talent and picturesque landscapes were key motivators for the move Down Under. Showrunner David Jenkins said “We were looking at the season two budget and asking ‘How do you get the most money on screen?’ New Zealand was the answer. I’ve seen more of our budget end up on screen than it did in the U.S. in season one.”

New Zealand also added a breath-taking backdrop to the swashbuckling adventures of the crew. The lush greenery and stunning coastline provided the perfect setting for the 67-day shoot in Auckland at the end of 2022. There were around 50 sets involved, including the 30-acre forest behind the Kumeu Film Studio, Piha Beach, Howick Historical Village and the wild, black sand Bethells Beach.

And there’s one returning figure impossible to miss on the soundstage: The Revenge, the stately ship that Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard (a.k.a. Ed) commandeered at the end of season one. In real life, it was carefully transported across the Pacific Ocean from the show’s original Los Angeles soundstage. The Revenge is approximately 7m x 28m and there were 3x boat sets that were used to create 10 different boats. The production shot in the Dive Tank at Kumeu Film Studios, built a floating market in the Republic of Pirates, and provided storm water effects for The Revenge.

Virtual Production

Given that many scenes in Our Flag Means Death take place on the deck of a ship at sea, virtual production was the most practical and cost-effective way of filming.

Virtual production is the process of generating motion picture or computer-generated photorealistic imagery displayed on a dynamically active large scale LED wall to create a ‘virtual’ environment or location on a soundstage.

Surrounding the ship was a giant “volume” wall comprised of 1700 LED monitors displaying a photorealistic ocean background with rolling waves. As a crane-mounted camera weaved around, the images on the digital display moved with it, creating a seamlessly integrated backdrop.

The New Zealand vendors that worked on the screen were NEP Sweetwater, NEP Big Picture, Riggaz with Attitudes, Theatrical Solutions, Xytech and Disguise.

The creative benefit of shooting on the volume wall was that the production could shoot in multiple locations and times of day all within just a few hours. Additionally, the actors could interact with what they are seeing and the lighting shifted in real time.

Careful planning of scenes and shots resulted in the rapid and efficient deployment of a select number of pre-processed moving plates (backgrounds) on set. Paihia, Bay of Islands, Mercer Bay Loop and Waitakere were among the New Zealand locations featured in the plate shots.

The New Zealand Screen Production Rebate - (International) and 5% Uplift

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) partnered with Max on season two of the show as a part of the New Zealand Screen Production Grant 5% Uplift.

The partnership recognised the significant economic, cultural and industry benefits the Our Flag Means Death production brought to New Zealand. This included a marketing partnership with TNZ and NZFC to promote New Zealand as a tourism and filmmaking destination. It also included a knowledge-sharing programme related to the LED Volume Wall used during production, and collaborations with New Zealand-based virtual production companies and a wider industry workshop.

The 5% Uplift has now been redeveloped:It’s simple to navigate, and the criteria is clearer and more objective. Has increased opportunities to earn points in the test. Has increased weighting on New Zealand screen workforce development and production activity. Recognises repeat business to encourage studios and productions to return. Introduces sustainability criteria to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s shift to a low-emissions economy.

Applications open for the redeveloped 5% Uplift on 1 November 2023, documentation and guidance will be provided before this date.

The New Zealand Film Commission administers the NZSPR for International Productions on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The purpose of the NZSPR for International Productions is to incentivise the production of foreign and domestic large budget films, television and other format productions in New Zealand in order to provide economic and industry development benefits to New Zealand. More information here.

A domestic rebate is also available to New Zealand productions and Official Co-productions. Click here for more information.

About Our Flag Means Death

Our Flag Means Death is based (very) loosely on the true adventures of 18th century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). After trading the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede became captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes changed after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). To their surprise, the wildly different Stede and Blackbeard found more than friendship on the high seas…they found love. Now, they have to survive it.

In New Zealand, season two debuts on Neon on October 6 and is coming soon to Sky Open.

Source: New Zealand Film Commission

[hugovance]

who: @lencra when: flashback, westerlands where: arts market

"I have never seen such beautiful art beyond the reaches of the Reach." Hugo spoke as he walked over to stand before one of the tapestries. It was a grand display of Vermithor mounted by the last living Dragon King if one ignored those on their stone. And while Hugo did not have a hint of admiration for the man who ruled New Valyria, he appreciated a man of the arts. Or, perhaps, a realm that appreciated the arts. It was what he enjoyed of the Reach, flowery and pompous but brilliant. As brilliant as they were cunning.

As he turned his head he recognized the woman because he had a knack for faces and names and this face belong to the dragon king's queen and as such he bowed forward. "Your Highness, an honor to meet you." He stood up and looked back at the tapestry. "Are you glad to be back in the Westerlands? Beautiful lands." Half as nice as the Riverlands but twice as nice as the Crownlands. Who wouldn't miss being home?

[rohitpalan]

Head-Mounted Display Market Projected to Surge at 25.9% CAGR, Anticipated to Reach US$ 151.29 Billion by 2033

The Head Mounted Display (HMD) Market is poised to undergo a remarkable transformation between 2023 and 2033, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.9%. Starting at US$ 15.12 billion in 2023, the market is expected to surge to a staggering US$ 151.29 billion by 2033.Request Sample of This Report:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-73Key Figures:Anticipated CAGR: 25.9%2023 Market Value: US$ 15.12 billion2033 Market Value: US$ 151.29 billionDrivers and Opportunities: The burgeoning demand for head-mounted displays can be attributed to the gaming industry’s insatiable appetite for Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technologies. Moreover, the declining prices of micro-displays are poised to fuel market growth further. The rising necessity for mobile-based AR solutions is expected to be a key growth catalyst in the coming years.Furthermore, the surge in consumer demand for head-mounted equipment is primarily driven by advancements in display technology, enabling users to experience features such as immersive 3D viewing and high-resolution displays. The controlled demand from the defense sector and the increasing adoption in medical settings are expected to contribute significantly to the revenue growth of the head-mounted device market during the forecasted period. Notably, HMDs are finding increasing applications in medical contexts, facilitating various surgeries and dental procedures. Additionally, their utilization in virtual automobile design and cloud computing for automotive prototyping presents promising avenues for growth in the head-mounted display market.Competitive Landscape – Regional Trends: The Head Mounted Display market landscape is characterized by intense competition, with key players vying for dominance across regions. North America, with its robust technological infrastructure and early adoption of AR/VR technologies, remains a lucrative hub for market players. Europe is also witnessing substantial growth, driven by expanding applications in healthcare and automotive sectors. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and Japan, is emerging as a key market, riding on the back of its vast consumer base and rapid industrialization.Restraints: Despite the impressive growth prospects, the head-mounted display market faces some challenges. Technical limitations, such as weight and discomfort, continue to hinder mass adoption. Additionally, concerns related to data privacy and cybersecurity in AR/VR applications pose potential risks.Request Report Methodology:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/request-report-methodology/rep-gb-73Region-wise Insights – Category-wise Insights:North America: Dominates the market, driven by strong investments in AR/VR technologies, primarily in the gaming and entertainment sectors.Europe: Experiencing steady growth, with the healthcare and automotive industries adopting HMDs for training and design purposes.Asia-Pacific: Shows immense potential, with China and Japan at the forefront of AR/VR adoption, not only in entertainment but also in education and healthcare.Rest of the World: Witnessing gradual growth, with select countries exploring applications in defense and industrial training.Who is Winning?Market participants have been concentrating on developments. As businesses strive for a competitive advantage, spending on research and development will keep rising. Microsoft Corporation, Google, Samsung, BAE Systems, Elbit Systems, Huawei Technologies, HTC Corporation, Sony Corporation, LG Electronics, Thales Visionix, Inc., Xiaomi, and Avegant Corp. are a few of the top companies active in the market.Key Segments Covered of the Head Mounted Display MarketProduct TypeHead MountedEyewearHMD TypeDiscrete HMDIntegrated HMDSlide-on HMDApplicationGaming, Media,& EntertainmentAerospace, and DefenseHealthcare and Medical DevicesEngineering & Industry ApplicationsEducationOthersRegionNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeEast AsiaSouth Asia& PacificMiddle East & Africa (MEA)

[womanexile]

https://twitter.com/iamnearlyhome/status/1736801787561357359?t=d0MyaNVKPhn2bju5bisweg&s=19

The end of the affair is always death.

She’s my workshop. Slippery eye,

out of the tribe of myself my breath

finds you gone. I horrify

those who stand by. I am fed.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

Finger to finger, now she’s mine.

She’s not too far. She’s my encounter.

I beat her like a bell. I recline

in the bower where you used to mount her.

You borrowed me on the flowered spread.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

Take for instance this night, my love,

that every single couple puts together

with a joint overturning, beneath, above,

the abundant two on sponge and feather,

kneeling and pushing, head to head.

At night alone, I marry the bed.

I break out of my body this way,

an annoying miracle. Could I

put the dream market on display?

I am spread out. I crucify.

My little plum is what you said.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

Then my black-eyed rival came.

The lady of water, rising on the beach,

a piano at her fingertips, shame

on her lips and a flute’s speech.

And I was the knock-kneed broom instead.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

She took you the way a woman takes

a bargain dress off the rack

and I broke the way a stone breaks.

I give back your books and fishing tack.

Today’s paper says that you are wed.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

The boys and girls are one tonight.

They unbutton blouses. They unzip flies.

They take off shoes. They turn off the light.

The glimmering creatures are full of lies.

They are eating each other. They are overfed.

At night, alone, I marry the bed.

[why-rock-look-tasty-if-no-eat]

Silly Game Time: You are getting an all-expenses-paid vacation for one month to anywhere in the world. Where would you choose to go?

Japan, I really miss Kyoto and I have some unfinished beef with the museums I went to. Namely not being able to buy everything that I wanted. There's this gem museum next to Mount Fuji that doubles as a jeweler and I would love to some of the more pricier items than what I was able to get last time. Another museum would be the Kyoto National Museum because omgs do they have stunning artwork and they live rent free in my head. The statues they have are especially breathtaking, it's insane to think that they were carved by hand from wood. Some of those statues are like 7 ft tall and are insanely detailed!

Back to the gem museum, there's a trend over there that I love, it's where the jewelers cut a pattern into the gem to make it look like a star then hang it horizontally to make it look like it's 'dancing' and I'd love to have a diamond version of it because I only have a zircon one. They also have a history in gemology and I could easily spend another three hours in that museum just looking at their displays. Not to mention that they offer to sell some high quality stuff, and the exchange rate practically halves the price for USD.

Tokyo is definitely third on the list, I want to get more creators build figures from Monster Hunter World (MHW) and to just window shop and get some more art. A cat and owl cafe is also on the agenda, the cost adds up the longer you stay. Honestly I'd love to just be able to revisit places I've been and see shrines I didn't see yet, go to more of the monthly flea markets and such. I never thought I'd be able to an ivory carving (terrible and I hope the guy was just getting rid of some heirlooms that was gotten humanely. I doubt it though) right next to a guy selling strawberries and veggies.

The strawberries tasted delicious. Speaking of food, I'd probably try and visit some night markets since I didn't last time (social anxiety let's gooo) and try out some real street food. Maybe go to more corner restaurants and such. Buy more clothes since they're made with humid heat in mind and where I live it's both. That and I like their style.

Uh, if it's a good time of year I'd probably head down to Okinawa and swim in one of their beaches since the province acts similar to Hawai'i being a vacation destination from mainlanders.

For my last three days or so I'd try and see if I could do what I couldn't do last time and go from the lowest point to the highest point in Japan. That's been a goal of mine for some years now and I couldn't fit it into my schedule last time.

It's been almost a year since I was there for work and I still think about Japan. Their work ethic is insane but it's at a pace I'm used to and not every country is perfect. They can be pretty racist but honestly I experienced less racism over there than back in the states. Everyone I met was lovely and didnt judge me to much for tripping up on speaking Japanese. I can understand them verbally and written well enough to get by but their syntax makes it hard for me to write or speak. And, well, since it's all expenses paid I'd take along my family and friends and I'd get to show them the country that holds a piece of my heart 💙

[umichenginabroad]

Taking on Tasmania (Week 8)

For those of you who, like myself, have questioned whether Tasmania is a real place or not, I can officially confirm that it is! The island-state south of mainland Australia was once the destination for 80,000 convicts and was referred to as Van Diemen’s Land before its name was changed to Tasmania and the island became its own Australian state in 1901. Now, Tasmania is the smallest state of Australia by both size and population, with just about 570,000 residents out of Australia’s 26 Million. For just about 4 days, five of my hostel-mates and I rented a car and made it our mission to see as much of the island as possible. After landing in Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city, we picked up our car rental and went into the small downtown area where we grabbed breakfast and then headed straight for the library. The library? Yep, the realities of traveling during the second week of school are that online exams are already being assigned… for me. While I spent that Thursday studying and taking my 2.5hr exam for fluid mechanics in a Tasmanian library, my friends were out exploring Ben Lomond National Park. As soon as 5pm struck and my exam was submitted, I was picked up and we headed to our Airbnb near Cradle Mountain, about 2 hours away. This was the view I woke up to the next morning:

Friday was spent hiking near Cradle mountain at the renowned Dove Lake trail and Enchanted Walk. Despite the rain and noticeably colder temperatures compared to Sydney, we were blown away by the beauty of the diverse landscapes at the surrounding national park. We were also saddened to learn that Tasmanian Devils and Wombats are nocturnal and would not be joining us for our hikes like their poops did every few steps.

^^Dove Lake pictured above with unfortunately low visibility.

^^ The Enchanted walk with a truly magical Flora.

The drive to Hobart, Tasmania’s largest and capital city, was just as memorable. From rolling hills with a seemingly infinite number of cows and sheep, to mountains peaking at the horizon, Tasmania was everything I had expected Australia to be. 

Hobart was just as wonderful having access to the coast and mountains all together. We spent our Saturday wandering around the Salamanca Markets which displayed incredible Tasmanian woodwork, refreshing our knowledge of contemporary art at the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), driving up Mount Wellington to see the city from above, and cooking our own Tasmanian steak dinner at our AirBnB. 

^^ Me at the top of Mount Wellington in a jacket I had just purchased from the Markets!

^^ The group after devouring two steaks, salads, and a mound of sweet potatoes while enjoying the sunset over the water and mountains.

On our last day, we booked it back to Launceston where we had to return the car by noon and three of my friends had to fly back home, leaving the rest of us in the city for the day which gave us the chance to see Cataract Gorge, a forested river reserve surrounding a remarkable gorge. 

^^ Cataract Gorge!

^^ A particularly photogenic peahen at Cataract Gorge.

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia

[fleurcareil]

BC: West Kootenay

Once back down Mount Revelstoke, I picked up a delicious poke bowl from a food truck to eat while waiting for the ferry across Upper Arrow lake... which instead of 30-50 minutes turned out into a 1h20 wait due to delays, mechanical problems etc. A bit of a shame, especially as due to the smoke there was not much to see! 😒

I had been recommended that this would be a good place to paddle which I can imagine on a clear day but I wouldn't venture on the water in these conditions... I might not find my way back! 😅 On the ferry we were laughing that the scenery was so extremely pretty, at least in our imagination 😝

After the ferry landed on the east side of the lake, I had one of the best experiences so far in my entire time in Canada; soaking in the hot springs of Halfway River! 😍❤ It's a bit of a trek to get there, first on a rough stoney road & then 100s of stairs down to the valley floor but it's absolutely worth it! There's 3 man-made pools of different temperatures (the hottest was way too warm), a few natural pools a little bit further and then the river to cool you down. I understand why people I spoke to have been returning for years on end, I could stay here forever ☺... there's no better feeling than to get really hot and then plunge head down into the cold water! Most people tend to only sit in the cold water not submerging their head, so I taught a girl & a few ladies the real magic of going all-in with the hot & cold cycle 🤩 (which they loved after the first shock)

Unfortunately I did need to say goodbye to the hot springs as I had another hour to drive to New Denver (next time, I'll stay at the on-site campground!), where I stayed at a hotel run by a friendly Chinese family, so had yummy Chinese food but the room was stuffy and hot 🔥, probably better off camping despite the smoke.

Over dinner, I had a great conversation with an older couple who has travelled the world including Scotland and Colombia so it was fun to exchange notes. It did also make me realize that although I very much enjoy traveling to explore new places, I get my real energy from living in a different country, building a new life there and getting a deeper understanding of the culture (like I did in Canada 😍)... I see my road trip as a farewell to this amazing country that I call home, and although it seems distant at this moment, I'm looking forward to starting a new life in Chile, so together with the worsening fires in BC it felt I was coming to an end to my travels soon. I still had 6 more nights in the Okanagan booked that I was excited about but perhaps after that it would be good to start my return. Fast forward 2 days (as per one of my previous posts); after having had terrible smoke in Nelson and more areas being evacuated I did cancel the bookings and returned east, not even making it to the Okanagan 😔

For now however, the next morning was slightly better and it made me happy to see some snow-covered mountains and semi-blue sky from my window! 😀 I was told that New Denver is a hidden gem so I walked around the old downtown and bought delicious orangy cake from the farmers market. Thereafter, I visited the Nikkei memorial centre at the location of a Japanese Canadian WW2 internment camp which had ofcourse shocking displays and a pretty Japanese garden (I've had my fill now of internment info though; I better hope Canada will never have a war with the Dutch or the French 😅). There was another Japanese meditation garden on the lake but by then the wind had kicked up a frenzy, signalling it was time to leave!

Driving across the mountains to Kootenay Lake, I stopped by in Sandon, which is billed as a ghost town but I didn't get a good idea of its history (I'm guessing mining ?)... currently, it's more of a repository of old trucks, train wagons and a whole collection of electric trolley busses (incl. one from Hamilton!) that are waiting to be restored and put back into use (questionable given their current state). The iced coffee was delicious! 😁

In Kaslo, I visited the SS Moyie Sternwheeler which had functioned as the only local transportation for the villages along the 105km long Kootenay lake until the road was built. The ship is beautifully restored and I can imagine this was pure luxury at the time!

After a well-deserved icecream and a chat with dear Priyanka 😍, I had quick stops at a strangely rounded covered bridge and some falls (of which I've also reached my limit now) and then on to Nelson. My tent site was a bit different on a deck high above the rest of the campground... put in extra stones to make sure I wouldn't roll off in the middle of the night. 😅 Delicious Italian food & local wine on a patio with live music capped off a good day ☺

Next morning though, the smoke was double heavy although it had cooled down 10 degrees overnight, and the bad news of fire evacuations kept rolling in so pulled the plug and canceled my existing reservations (they would have been nulled by the end of the day anyway because of the travel restrictions put in place for tourists), and booked new ones in East Kootenay on the way back to the Rockies. Feeling drab, I spent some time inside at the visitor centre and a restaurant but the smoke was everywhere...it did not only physically feel bad but also mentally it wore me down like a heavy blanket trying to suffocate.😔

I had driven by the Ainsworth hotsprings the previous day so went back and had some good time there... they also have a "cave" in which you can swim which was different... didn't beat the forest hot springs but the warm water was soothing anyway!

In the evening, I went to an Oppenheimer party at the cinema with live music & drinks before the movie, something completely different! 😀 I briefly met an interesting couple who live happily in Nelson & had met many years ago, after she had decided to grow roots in Nelson "because it felt home" after a summer job... gave me hope I'll have the same home feeling when I'll set foot in Chile!

Despite not having been able to truly experience West Kootenay as I had wanted to, I feel that this is an amazing region so will hopefully come back here another time, just not in August.

Wildlife: 2 turkeys, 1 bald eagle, 2 deer, 1 salamander

SUPs: none

Hikes: none

Hot springs: two 🤗

[mythologeekwriter]

[Video ID: A series of clips of Jonathan Frakes in Fact or Fiction.

In the first, he is seated and asks "Have you ever walked out of a mall into a huge parking area and realised you'd forgotten where you parked your car?"

In the second, he wears a yellow bicycle helmet and briefly cycles towards the camera, then stops and asks "Ever gone mountain biking?"

In the third he is stood behind a desk with books, a magnifying glass and other assorted objects on it, holding books, and asks "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

In the fourth, he is sat a table with a red and white checked table-cloth on it, and gestures with a menu as he asks "What's the right tip?"

In the fifth, he is leant against a sink, and asks "Have you called a plumber to your home lately?"

In the sixth, he stands beside a ladder and asks "How superstitious are you?"

In the seventh, he holds bundles of paper money, stood in front of a desk with a tombstone on it, and asks "How much money would it take for you to spend the night in a cemetery?"

In the eighth, he stands by a pair of antlers mounted on a wall, and asks "Would you display this as a trophy?"

In the ninth, he stands by a desk covered in toys, and asks "Do you have a pet?"

In the tenth, he stands by a glass cupboard containing cakes and asks "Do you have a sweet tooth?"

In the eleventh, he holds a rock, and asks "Do you believe in the power of a curse?"

In the twelfth, he sits by a screen which is probably displaying the graphs resulting from a hearing test and asks "Have you had your hearing tested lately?"

In the thirteenth, he walks across the room as he asks "Planning a trip soon?"

In the fourteenth, the camera shows only his head and shoulders, as he asks "Can you remember the tallest men you've ever seen?"

In the fifteenth, he walks across the room as he asks "Do you love to go a'wandering beneath a clear blue sky?".

In the sixteenth, he opens a newspaper as he asks "Have you ever noticed what big stars real estate agents have become?"

In the seventeenth, he holds papers and asks "Are you careful with your personal records?"

In the eighteenth, he sits by a laptop and printer and asks "Does your computer ever seem to have a mind of its own?"

In the nineteenth, he walks across the room in the direction of a desk with candles on it, asking "Have you ever visited a Chinatown section in a major city?"

In the twentieth, he carries a box and walks across the room, asking "Have you ever visited a flea market?"

In the twenty-first, he sits at a counter and asks "Have you ever visited a truck-stop?"

In the twenty-second, he carries a tray wand asks "Have you ever had a job as a waiter?"

In the twenty-third, he stands by a poster for "The Walking Plank", which has the name of the restaurant in all caps, and the words "Fun & food for the whole family" also in all caps, with an image of a pirate carrying a burger. He walks sideways, asking "Have you ever noticed just how many successful restaurants are theme-based these days?". As he does so, a poster reading "Coconut Cave" with an image of a a palm tree becomes visible.

In the twenty-fourth, and final, he walks towards a tray of wet cement with a stick, and asks "Have you ever had the desire to write your initials in wet cement?"

End ID.]

me messaging a casual acquaintance: hello, how are you?

me messaging a best friend w/zero lead-in: