#My affordable roof former

[davidboggsroofer]

Budget-Friendly Metal Roofing Solutions with My Affordable Roof

Metal roofs are a durable and long-lasting option for residential and commercial buildings. John David Boggs is the owner of my affordable roof and also an expert roofing contractor who specializes in metal roofing services. Pastor David Boggs is known for his high-quality workmanship, attention to detail, and excellent customer service.

[gaza-giving-tree]

Imagine being forced to choose between feeding your starving children or putting a roof over their heads.

Images: Hossam Al-Qazzaz and his family live atop the ruins of their beloved home in Gaza, which was destroyed by the conflict.

@hanon-qazaz

@hanoon-gaza

Written by @visionsofaselfmademan (new blog @rumiandroses )

This is cruel reality for the Al-Qazzaz family in Gaza: Hossam, his wife Hanan, their four young children (Bashar, age 9; Hani, age 8; Diana, age 4; and Habiba, just 4 months old), and Hossam’s elderly parents (both in their seventies, one of whom was badly burned and requires constant care). Their lives were forever changed when their home was destroyed by war. Now, they live amidst the rubble of their former life, sheltered only by a flimsy tent that fails to protect them from roaming wild animals and the ever-present threat of violence. The winter rains soak their makeshift shelter, leaving them all cold and vulnerable.

Images: (Left) Baby Habiba cries from hunger, as the family cannot afford milk or even disposable diapers. (Right) Little Bashar has been bitten by rats that invaded the family's tent in the night.

The Al-Qazzaz family once dreamed of escaping Gaza to rebuild their lives in safety, but the costs of evacuation—estimated at €5,000 per person—are insurmountable. So far, their GoFundMe fundraiser hasn't raised even enough to get one of them to safety, let alone all eight.

Realizing that escape was out of reach for the moment, they shifted their focus to building a modest room amidst the ruins of their home. But even that small hope has proven unattainable. With donations coming in too slowly to make any substantial change to their living situation, and prices for food and basic necessities skyrocketing to astronomical heights, the donations to their GoFundMe campaign must now go toward survival, leaving no resources for rebuilding or dreaming of a safer future.

My name is Bethany Grace. (Though some of you might also know me as "Liam.") I am the founder of The Gaza Giving Tree. I have encountered so many amazing people since I began this project, but the Al-Qazzaz family's humility and selflessness, despite overwhelming hardship, have earned my deepest respect. They ask for nothing beyond the bare essentials—food, shelter, and safety for their children.

This second campaign was not their idea (though I DID get their blessing to create it!). This precious family was fully prepared to patiently struggle on their own, and use their GoFundMe donations to merely survive.

NO FAMILY should have to endure this. NO PARENT should have to decide between feeding their child or giving them a safe place to sleep. The Al-Qazzaz family deserves more than this relentless struggle for survival. They deserve a chance to rebuild their lives, to live with dignity, and to dream of a future free from fear.

That’s why I have created a separate Chuffed campaign for them, dedicated solely to raising enough money to either help them evacuate to safety, or rebuild a secure home. This gives the Al-Qazzaz family a designated fund to help save for their future, while allowing them to continue to survive on the GoFundMe campaign in the interim.

Every donation, no matter how small, moves the Al-Qazzaz family closer to the stability and peace they so desperately need. If you cannot donate, sharing their story can make an enormous difference, as it can help their story reach people who can assist financially.

Let’s show the Al-Qazzaz family that they are not alone in their struggle. Let’s give them the chance to dream, to rebuild, and to live with the dignity that EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES.

Thank you for reading, caring, and keeping their voices alive. Together, we can make a difference.

You can donate to the Al-Qazzaz family's Chuffed campaign [HERE].

You can also donate to the Al-Quzzaz family's original GoFundMe campaign [HERE].

This campaign has been vetted by @gazavetters and is (#287) on their list of verified campaigns.

[soleilapproves]

Lucid Submission - chapter 2

Synopsis: Sukuna Ryomen is reborn as a human being as punishment for ruining the balance of good and evil in the divine realm. To lift his curse and return to his original form, the former demon king must complete the condition bestowed upon him by the deities. Except it can only be done by having a child with the street thief who stole his coin pouch.

fanfic masterlist

Your skin chaffed against the rope wounded tightly around it, wrists aching as the rounded ends of your ulnas rubbed against one another. You had already almost been married against your will in the past, and your mind was set on never having that happen to you again.

As much as you despised the winter season, the sound of crunching snow always soothed you, reminding you of the days you’d run around with your grandmother chasing after you. But now, all it did was sound ominous, like you were walking—well, more like being dragged to your death by two brawny men (albeit much thinner compared to the mastodon of a man who claimed you as his bride.) The crackles of fresh ice thinned out as the four of you approached the town. Snow-covered gabled roofs coming into view.

A beam of hope glimmered in your chest. You could scream for help once you’d reach closer to the inner core of the town. Even if you knew no one would want to help a mere street thief, let alone one that looked as dirty and noxious as you–a girl could hope. Maybe the sight of the two brutes firmly gripping onto your elbows and walking fast enough for you to basically hover over the ground would soften the townsfolk's hearts. It was hard living life as a woman.

But to your surprise, the crazed man and his bodyguards took a detour—a deserted street save for two or three children sweeping away snow on the damp ground. “I am a mere thief, you crazed fool. You will not gain anything by marrying me,” you said out loud into the silence. 

The children didn’t look in your direction but simply ran back inside their respective homes. Take me with you, you wanted to say. The pink-haired man suddenly stopped. You could sense his turbulent mood even by the back of his head. You knew it was impossible, but it felt like his thick neck was sweating out of sheer annoyance. 

He turned around, and his bodyguards stopped walking, leaving you to finally rest your feet. He didn’t seem angry. His devil-like red eyes had a determined look in them. The kind you’d have when you knew you wouldn’t go to sleep hungry. 

“I don’t know what uncivilized world you came from, but you must address me respectfully.” His voice boomed in the empty street. Like a king, the man commanded attention with eye contact and intimidation alone. It was like his gaze had cemented you to the cobblestoned street. But you had to stay strong, keeping your spine stiff and guarded if you were going to survive this situation. 

Maybe he married random women and then feasted on their blood and organs to grow stronger. The outline of his swelling muscles underneath his hakama was not helping your judgment. He looked like the kind of man who relished blood's salty and iron-like taste.

“How can I address you if I do not even know your name?” you snapped, uncaring if the monster that nabbed you was capable of breaking your body into halves–like one of the twigs his heavy foot stepped on while walking. You could tell his patience was running thin when he frowned. “Besides, I cannot marry you without receiving a proper proposal. I may not have much, but I do have pride. It’s the one thing the poor can afford,” you continued. 

The tattooed man walks closer to where you’re standing, and for a split second, you curse yourself for your quick tongue. He leans down to be eye-level with you, and you notice how he looks at you with a deep sense of recognition–like he had been looking for you all his life. “My name is Sukuna Ryomen. You may address me as ‘my Lord’ or, preferably after we get married–husband,” he pressed.

“And I am not asking to marry you. It is an order.”

The dull ache of losing your autonomy settles into the pit of your stomach again. “You are neither the nation’s emperor nor do I believe in any gods to treat you like one. I am not obligated to listen to you,” you argue with a bitter hilt in your voice. You needed to repulse him. Fast. 

“If I tell you about myself, you’ll be sure to believe in them.” He then smirked and turned his back to you, walking into the empty street again. His men dragged you onwards on cue. 

He narrated his entire story to you. How he was once some sort of a demon king in the Divine Realm. He talked about his former glory as if he was still living through those days–a different kind of energy in his voice and dare you say, a demonic aura possessing him with every stalk. You could only see the back of his head from your position, but you knew he had an evil sparkle in his eyes.

It all sounded ridiculous, like some kind of fable narrated to children to prevent them from being troublesome. You couldn’t help but giggle at first. The idea of some random rich man being a demon in his past life didn’t sound all too implausible, but him taking it seriously enough to nab you was just absurd. 

Your supposedly magical eyes were nothing special to you. They’ve looked the same since the day you were born–boring. Except for the occasional eye bags you’d adorn them with after crying for hours about your deceased grandmother–the only person to love you more than herself. 

Your grandmother always said how you had a lot of misfortune in your eyes. You never knew what that meant until today–when you were being forcibly married to a random stranger. One that looked like a demon at that–even acted like one with his uncomfortably loud laughter and terrifying hunter-like gaze. 

Your giggles soon turned into a hysterical fit of laughter. You pretended to wipe a tear using your tied wrists. “So you’re telling me I have some marble you want.” 

Sukuna stops in his tracks, and so do his men. He doesn’t turn back this time. “Yes.”

“My Lord,” you sarcastically snickered. “I do not have anything to my name, and I was too poor to play with marbles as a child. You are bold to assume that I am carrying one around for the likes of a crazy man.”

You could feel his bodyguards tense up next to you. Their holds tightened, feeling more protective than guarded. “Yuuji, Megumi, you both may leave. I would like to chat alone with my fiancée,” he said as his eyes were still trained on your nervous figure. The guards give you a sympathetic look before taking (what you assume is) a detour. 

Strangely enough, you don’t have it in you to run away. Something deep in your gut told you that nothing good was going to happen if you tried to escape now. Your hands were trapped because of the rope, and Sukuna was built like a soldier and had long legs. You were sure that you were not going to make it far if you ran. The sword sheathed at his side did not help you hide your fear. 

He grabbed your arm and yanked you towards him. The movement was rapid and it jerked you into his chest, clouding you with his scent. He smelled exactly how one would expect a nobleman to smell like–clean and herby. And a delicious manly musk that you chose to ignore. Terrifyingly arousing. 

He bent down to pick you up and carried you with barely any effort. To any bystander, it would seem like a couple was having a romantic moment with hushed conversations and nervous stares. “Wha–I can walk! Let me down, demonic beast!” 

“You have embarrassed me enough around my subordinates. I believe I will need to discipline you.” 

“You are no one to discipline me!”

“Insolent woman, I am your fiancé,” he reprimanded you as his arms tightened around your knees.

“I am being married to you against my will!” His eyes flit to your rising and falling chest as you heave, noticing that he was tiring you out. “Keep yelling. No one wants to save a dirty thief.” He ignored your indignant complaints all the way to his estate. 

His abode was nothing you had imagined it to be. Although magnificent and large, it lacked a team of scurrying housekeepers. Most estates had so many servants that many had to sleep on top of each other in their little quarters. However, Sukuna Ryomen’s estate was quiet. Uncomfortably so. About four people entered the courtyard when the two of you arrived–including his bodyguards. 

Seeing their faces flooded the odd senses of comfort and familiarity in your chest. You let out a deep breath of relief, not realizing that you had been keeping your breathing constricted the entire time Sukuna was carrying you. It seemed like they were glad to see you, too. Yuuji had a relieved smile while Megumi sighed with his eyes closed. 

“Uraume, get everything ready for the ceremony. Yuuji and Megumi, please set up her things in my quarters. Nobara, you will bathe and dress her up for the ceremony.” 

Before Sukuna could place you on your feet, the white-haired servant and two guards moved as swiftly as the wind–getting to business. A girl, no older than eighteen, groaned as she took your hand and dragged you further into the corridors of the estate, barely giving you time to protest. 

You were about to push off the young girl until you both entered a room. It was a private onsen overlooking the river. Nobara’s bored face reminded you to keep your gawking at a minimum. But you couldn’t help yourself anyway, jaw going slack in shock. Knowing a person was rich differed from seeing them casually display their wealth, especially in the form of such amenities.

But you had to stay focused–you needed to escape. You turned around to see that Nobara was too distracted while getting the bath ready for you, so you took your chance and ran across the room toward the sliding door. This part of the estate was closer to the forest. Maybe you could still make a run for it if you could manage to climb the walls in time. 

But you knew your plan was a failure when you felt a small hand yank your arm backwards, and effortlessly grab the other one in the same grasp. Your breath hitched when you noticed Nobara had pulled out a dagger from who knows where and pointed it toward your neck. 

“I am sorry to do this, but I’ve been told not to let Lord Sukuna’s pearl go. No matter what it takes,” she says as she takes the knife closer to your skin. 

“Now, you must stay compliant if you want me to be your ally. And believe me, you’ll need someone to answer your questions about that man.” You could only meekly nod at her ferocity. Running away in a place like this meant having a plan—something you could only do if you had time to look around.

“I will attend to you from now on. Like Uraume, the white-haired one, does to Lord Sukuna” she said monotonously while harshly scrubbing down your arm, months of stubborn grease and dirt rolling off your sore skin. You couldn’t remember the last time you were able to clean your skin like this. 

After being reluctantly scrubbed by Nobara, you were enrobed with the finest clothes and had a light rouge applied to your cheeks after you kicked away the rest of the makeup. You couldn’t rule out the possibility of your plain face driving the wealthy madman away. He probably assumed you were prettier without all the dirt and muck on your face.

You planted your heels on the ground when you were pushed into the formal tea room by a very bored Nobara—one last protest. But still, this didn’t stop Sukuna from ordering Megumi to carry you over his shoulder and plop you right in front of your cup. 

You couldn’t bring yourself to look up at your unequivocally determined fiancé staring daggers at you. 

Fear coiled around you like a thorned vine, suffocating and prickling your skin with every curve. You knew that you were done for as soon as your lips touched the mouth of the teacup. You stared down at the steaming translucent green liquid and gulped. You had never drunk water this clean after living alone for so long. It was unnerving to know that even your sand-like tongue curled at the thought of drinking it under such circumstances. 

Unlike you, Sukuna readily downed his drink, not even taking a moment for the liquid to cool down. He chuffed as he slammed the small porcelain crockery on the table. “What are you waiting for? Drink!” he barked. You were stationary—a stone pillar among the swaying trees. You could sense his impatience as he got up and walked around the table to where you were sitting on your heels. 

He chuckled at the gooseflesh behind your neck and sat beside you. “Drink,” he ordered once again. You turned away, choosing to look at the closed sliding doors to your left. You memorized every wrinkle, crease, and fold on the paper sheets—anything to avoid the looming presence of the behemoth next to you. 

“That’s it–” 

Before you could protest, Sukuna’s thick arms wrapped around you and lifted you onto his lap. You squeaked as his single arm tightly wound around your body, pinning your arms to your sides. He then grabbed the cup and placed it in front of your mouth. “I could be more brutal, but I’ll be nice to you since you cleaned up for me.” 

You whip your neck to face him in horror. “I did not choose–”

You were interrupted by him pouring the drink down your mouth. 

The liquid trickled down your throat like acid. You were bound for good and against your wishes. You could imagine the tea sitting in your stomach, perforating its lining. Your eyes bore into Sukuna’s red ones, and your chest tightened at the sight of his pupils expanding. Every inch of this man’s skin made you want to burn yours. His hands travel up from where they were holding you at your waist to your neck, grasping it from both sides and angling your ear to his mouth. 

The searing heat of his bare skin against yours was making you work up a sweat in the middle of winter.

“Thank you for freeing me, my pearl.” Your spine straightened at the warm puffs of breath that hit your lobe with every word.

taglist: @lady-of-blossoms @sukubusss @gradmacoco @cheriiepies @brunnetteiwik @poopooindamouf @miakxn

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Killing Time: Prologue

Warnings: this fic will include elements, some dark, includes violence, noncon/dubcon, and other untagged triggers. Please take this into account before proceeding. It is up to curate your online consumption safely.

Summary: a job offer could be an escape from your old life, but the new one, may not hold freedom.

Characters: Kraven the Hunter, August Walker, Lloyd Hansen, James Conrad, God the Bounty Hunter, Court Gentry

Author’s Note: Please feel free to leave some feedback, reblog, and jump into my asks. I’m always happy to discuss with you and riff on idea. As always, you are cherished and adored! Stay safe, be kind, and treat yourself💜

“Yes, he’s here again,” your voice creaks as your hand shakes. “Please. I called yesterday…” And every other day for months. Almost a full year.

You peer out between the small space that divides curtain from window. The shadow looms, looking up at you. Your phone vibrates as the operator hems and haws on the other end.

“Are you sure it’s him?” She asks. They always doubt you. Report after report, phone call after phone call, and it’s always question, question, question. You sigh.

“Yes,” your voice peeks as you pull back and hide against the wall. “Yes, I know it’s him. He’s texting me.”

You don’t even need to check. It’s the same thing every time. Next, he’ll try to sneak in the front and be knocking at your apartment door.

“Well, ma’am, you say you’ve called before and we’ve sent a cruiser and we’ve filed reports. And this man keeps showing up, so what exactly do you want me to do now? I can’t issue you a safety order over the phone--”

“Excuse me?” You gasp. “Excuse me? Are you serious? I have an order already and much good it does me. I call you and I get accused of being dramatic and questioned. What I want is for someone to protect me.”

“Ma’am, don’t get abusive with me,” she warns. “Have you tried telling him to go away yourself?”

“Wow, wow,” you throw your hand out. “Really? Really? No, I never thought of it,” you say sarcastically, “is there someone else who can take me call? I really don’t feel safe.”

“If it makes you feel better, I can reroute an officer to you. Alright?” She speaks as if you’re a child. You’re too weak to argue anymore.

“Whatever,” you hang up.

You can’t do this anymore. You need to get out of here. Not that you didn’t think of it before but you can’t afford anything else. Your rent control is the only thing keeping you under a roof. You’ve already switched jobs, just to get away from him. There isn’t that much else up there.

You drag yourself through the shadows and sit on the bed. You exist in darkness. You don’t turn on the lights so he can’t see in. You keep the curtains shut. You only leave for work and always take a different exit, never the same route; not always the bus, not always the train.

And friends? What are those? Most of them took his side, said you were throwing around false accusations, and the others accused you of being obsessed. The single coworker you confided in told you to leave town. Wow, well, if you could afford that, you wouldn’t stay in this building with the grinding radiator and rattling fridge.

You look at your phone.

‘I see you.’ The message was sent while you were on the call with emergency services. Several more followed. ‘I just want to talk’; ‘you look so pretty’; ‘please, I love you’.

As you read each text, you can hear the last conversation you had with Jake. He’s a relic of your former friend group, the very reason for your dejection. It’s almost funny how the rest just cut ties but he won’t let go.

It all started with a kiss. A kiss and rejection. New Years Eve and the clock counted down. You didn’t expect him to turn and plant one on you and when you shoved him away, that dreamy look in his eyes turned to fury as you fled. New Year, New you, right?

The new you is scared and paranoid and tired. So, so tired.

You get up and move the chair in front of the door. Just in case. You retreat, keeping your phone close, and grab the extendable baton from the table. You sleep with both, if you can sleep. That night, you won’t.

You settle in on the couch. You don’t use the bedroom. You need an easy escape. You sit back against the cushions and scroll on your phone. It might be hopeless, but you trawl the job board and the apartment boards. You might find a nugget of gold in all the pebbles.

You sign into the job site and see the red dot in the corner. It’s always a marketing promo. ‘Recommending’ a job you don’t qualify for or an invitation for an MLM scheme. It’s a joke. You don’t understand how anyone ever gets a job but everyone seems to have a better one than you.

You tap the inbox to make the red dot go away. You hate it floating in the corner of your vision. Your thumb twitches and hovers over the screen as you read the subject line. Hm.

‘Caretaker Position: Relocation Required’.

Well, you don’t really have the experience for caretaking but the second part sounds intriguing. You hesitate. It’s too good to be true. You’re sure there will be a list of qualifications longer than your resume.

Tap.

You open up the message.

‘Hello,

We’ve reviewed your profile and determined you might be a match for this position.

New Applicants Welcome.

We are seeking an individual to undertake caretaking duties for a property. This role would include the following:

Lawn care

General cleaning and maintenance

Manual labour requiring lifting of up to 60lbs

24/7 tenancy within property (no rent for chosen candidate)

Subsidized relocation

Training on-site

If you are seeking a fresh start and to learn new skills which can take you into future roles in a custodial or caretaking capacity, this is the job for you. To apply, please submit brief profile and resume for consideration.

Applicants are subject to a background check.’

You bite down on the inside of your lip. It sounds interesting but you’re not sure you’re a good fit. It’s so general, too. Would you need to know how to deal with electrical issues? Your apartment sure has taught you a lot about dealing with broken utilities, but your formal training is lacking.

And it’s a big thing. You want to get out of here but it’s still daunting in comparison to your current predicament.

You tense as you hear footsteps in the hall. You brace yourself and lower the phone, staring at the door. The thumping on the other side makes you flinch. Your heart races.

“Baby, I know you’re awake. Please. I just wanna talk.” He keeps tapping. “If you just talked to me, we could figure this out.”

You shudder and look at your phone again. You stare at the big blue button; ‘Apply Now’.

“I forgive you. For lying about me. Everyone knows you were just upset. I’ll tell them all it was just a misunderstanding…” he begs as the door shakes in the frame, the chair knocking against the handle. All that stands between you and him are those hinges and that flimsy piece of furniture.

You press down on the button. It can’t get worse than this.

[heterotopian]

The Tale of Two Cities according to Stephi and Heiko - Part 497

After Halloween and the beautiful sceneries of the season, I come to you with a more serious topic this week. Munich and Cologne are not the cheapest places to live in Germany. Especially Munich is very expensive, even though Cologne isn’t far behind.

How expensive both cities are can bets be seen how rare affordable living spaces are in our cities. Rental prices are climbing by the minute and just when I look at how the prices rise in my building when an apartment is again available, it’s breathtaking. Plus, landlords want to make the most of these situations and try to raise the rental prices even when you have a contract already with all kinds of tricks.

As rare as affordable renting places are apartments or even small houses to buy. These prices are through the roof just the same. Yet, you have different problems when you own a place.

For both, tenants and owners, there are different associations that can help you with alle kinds of problems. The first picture shows you a Munich Mieterverein, a tenant association. The second picture form Cologne shows you an associations of owners that has been established in 1988 already and has a pretty prominent location in the middle of the city. That already shows a clear distinction between owing a place and renting one as the former has been the goal for along time. Renting a place has long been regarded fr people who can’t afford a place of their own. These days it’s almost impossible to do either in one of the bigger cities at all. Also, renting a place makes it way easier t change locations that owning a place does.

What do you people prefer, renting or owning a place?

[qqueenofhades]

The Tennessee 3 are going to be at the DNC tomorrow! One of them is my state rep and I voted for that man four fucking times thanks to republican fuckery. Gloria Johnson won the primary and will be challenging Marsha Blackburn! We can dream! She’s a former teacher too

Listen, if we are afforded the opportunity to get only one shocking Senate win in a red state, I can't decide if I want it to be Johnson beating Marsha Blackburn in TN, Colin Allred beating Ted Cruz in TX, or Debbie Murcasel-Powell beating Rick Scott in FL. The incumbent GOPers are all so hideous and any one of them losing would be incredible, so... yeah. I realize, I REALIZE, that Texas is the white whale for Democrats, but even if Harris can't quite win the state, the idea of nuking Cruz at long last?? Chefs kiss. Incredible.

Anyway, Day 3 in the books, can't wait for Day 4 tomorrow. I think the roof might actually, physically blow off when Kamala walks out to accept the nomination, and believe me, I am Ready.

[vsvitrix]

Hi. We're V's and Sam (I'm Sam, writing this). If you know us, you know we've been working hard to try to find an affordable place to live. The building we currently live in was great at first, but the former management company drastically stepped back from their duties after the first year and allowed it to fall into disrepair, even while raising our rent 20%. The property is income-restricted, and they are demanding more of my wages than we can afford. It's been hard to keep any bills paid due to the increased costs, and there are constant issues with fire alarms being pulled and going off for hours at a time, a recent month where the main door to the building was broken and unable to be opened from the outside, and refusal of maintenance orders. (We have 2 broken light fixtures in our apartment, one of which has had a pending order for over a year.)

I work from home, and over the last few weeks have lost significant wages due to the apartment above us catching fire and the resulting counter measures flooding our apartment. The maintenance people assigned to us have been entering our home without notice and have demanded we run a dehumidifier (which pumps out heat) 10-12hr per day during a heat wave. My mental and physical health has been compromised, as has my ability to work from home without interruption. We are running out of money to support ourselves and we're unable to get public assistance due to shortage of resources.

We have found a place that is drastically cheaper than our current one that we're just waiting to hear back from the landlord about the other applicants before we can move in on the 1st of August. We need roughly $2000 to move in between first month's rent, deposit, and other fees. My income right now is being used just trying to keep a roof over our heads, let alone pay bills or eat proper meals.

Please, if you have anything to spare safely, we would sincerely appreciate it. Getting out of this apartment will allow us to build up our funds and sustain ourselves without the constant environmental challenges. Thank you for your consideration.

[reaper2187]

Caitlyn x female prisoner reader

Prisoner's help (part 3) pev next

Y/N and Caitlyn stood poised, their bodies tensed for action. The imposing figure before them was unlike any they had encountered so far. His presence exuded authority and danger, a combination that made it clear they were in over their heads.

“Who the hell are you?” Y/N asked, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The man smirked, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. “Names are unimportant. What matters is that you’re trespassing in my territory.”

Y/N and Caitlyn exchanged a quick glance. This had to be one of the Chem-Baron's key operatives, if not the Chem-Baron himself. Y/N’s mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. They couldn’t afford to get caught, not now.

Before she could say anything, Caitlyn moved, quick as lightning. She lunged at the man, aiming to disarm him. He was faster than he looked, dodging her strike and countering with a swift kick that sent her sprawling. Y/N didn’t hesitate. She followed up, launching herself at him with a series of rapid punches. He blocked most of them, but one caught him on the jaw, making him stagger.

Caitlyn was back on her feet in an instant, joining the fray. The two of them fought in perfect sync, their movements fluid and coordinated. But the man was strong, too strong. He fought back with a ferocity that left them both struggling to keep up.

As the fight raged on, Y/N spotted a group of the man’s henchmen entering the warehouse, drawn by the commotion. “Caitlyn, we need to get out of here!” she shouted.

Caitlyn nodded, ducking under a wild swing from their opponent. “Agreed. Follow me!”

They broke away from the fight, sprinting towards a stack of crates that led to an upper level. The henchmen gave chase, firing shots that ricocheted off the metal walls. Y/N and Caitlyn scrambled up the crates, reaching the upper level just as the henchmen closed in.

“Up here!” Y/N shouted, pointing to a narrow walkway that led to a skylight. They ran across the walkway, the sound of gunfire echoing around them. Reaching the skylight, Caitlyn smashed it open with the butt of her rifle, and they climbed through, emerging onto the roof of the warehouse.

“We need to lose them,” Caitlyn panted, scanning the rooftops for an escape route.

“There!” Y/N pointed to a series of interconnected rooftops that led deeper into the maze of Zaun’s buildings. “If we can get over there, we can lose them in the alleys.”

They sprinted across the rooftops, jumping from one to the next with practiced ease. The henchmen followed, but Y/N and Caitlyn had the advantage of knowing the terrain. They ducked into an alley, weaving through the narrow streets until they were sure they had lost their pursuers.

Finally, they stopped to catch their breath in a dark, secluded corner. Y/N leaned against a wall, trying to steady her racing heart. “That was too close.”

Caitlyn nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. “Agreed. We need to regroup and come up with a new plan.”

Y/N’s mind was already working. “We need more information. Orin mentioned the Chem-Baron had connections in Piltover. We need to find out who those connections are.”

Caitlyn frowned. “Easier said than done. We can’t just waltz back into Piltover and start asking questions. We’ll draw too much attention.”

Y/N considered this. “There’s someone I know in Zaun. An old contact. SHe might have information we can use.”

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “Can we trust her?”

Y/N shrugged. “As much as you can trust anyone in Zaun. But she owes me a favor. It’s worth a shot.”

The contact in question was a woman named Jinx, a former associate of Y/N’s from her more reckless days. She was known for her erratic behavior and love of explosives, but she also had a network of informants that rivaled any in Zaun.

They found her in her makeshift workshop, a cluttered space filled with half-finished gadgets and weapons. Jinx was tinkering with a grenade when they arrived, her wild eyes lighting up at the sight of Y/N.

“Well, if it isn’t Y/N!” Jinx exclaimed, her voice a manic mix of excitement and amusement. “Didn’t think I’d see you again. What brings you to my humble abode?”

Y/N smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Need your help, Jinx. We’re looking for information on a Chem-Baron operating in this area. We think he has connections in Piltover.”

Jinx’s expression turned serious, a rare occurrence. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Y/N. This Chem-Baron… he’s bad news. But I might have something for you.” She rummaged through a pile of papers, pulling out a crumpled note. “There’s a meeting happening tonight. Some bigwigs from Piltover are supposed to be there. Could be your guy.”

Caitlyn stepped forward. “Where?”

Jinx handed her the note. “An old factory on the outskirts of Zaun. You’ll have to be careful. Security will be tight.”

Y/N nodded. “Thanks, Jinx. We owe you one.”

Jinx grinned, her usual manic energy returning. “Just don’t blow yourselves up. That’s my job.”

As night fell, Y/N and Caitlyn approached the old factory. It was a massive, dilapidated structure, its windows broken and walls covered in graffiti. They could see lights inside, and the shadows of people moving around.

“We need to get closer,” Caitlyn whispered. “Find a way in without being seen.”

Y/N nodded, pointing to a side entrance. “There. Looks like it’s not as heavily guarded.”

They crept towards the entrance, slipping inside unnoticed. The interior of the factory was a maze of rusted machinery and debris. Voices echoed through the halls, and they followed the sound to a large room where a group of men were gathered around a table.

Y/N recognized some of them as prominent figures in Zaun’s underworld, but her attention was drawn to a well-dressed man at the head of the table. His polished appearance and air of authority marked him as an outsider—likely one of the Chem-Baron’s Piltover contacts.

“We need to hear what they’re saying,” Caitlyn whispered, moving to find a better vantage point.

They positioned themselves behind a stack of crates, close enough to overhear the conversation. The well-dressed man was speaking, his tone commanding respect.

“The shipments will continue as planned,” he said. “Our operation in Piltover remains secure. The Enforcers are none the wiser.”

Y/N’s heart sank. This was bigger than she had anticipated. The Chem-Baron’s influence extended deep into Piltover, and they were only scratching the surface.

Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed. “We need to get closer. Get some proof of what’s going on here.”

They edged closer, careful to stay hidden. As they did, one of the men at the table glanced in their direction, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Y/N froze, her heart pounding.

“Did you hear that?” the man asked, standing up.

The room fell silent, and Y/N knew they were seconds away from being discovered. She glanced at Caitlyn, who nodded. They had to act fast.

Caitlyn sprang into action, launching herself over the crates and tackling the suspicious man to the ground. The room erupted into chaos, with the other men scrambling for their weapons. Y/N followed, her fists flying as she took down another thug.

The well-dressed man tried to make a run for it, but Y/N was faster. She caught up to him, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall.

“Who are you working for?” she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

The man sneered, but there was fear in his eyes. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

“Try me,” Y/N hissed, tightening her grip.

Before he could answer, a deafening explosion rocked the factory, the shockwave sending Y/N and the man sprawling. Dust and debris filled the air, and Y/N struggled to her feet, coughing.

Caitlyn was beside her in an instant, helping her up. “We need to get out of here!”

Y/N nodded, grabbing the well-dressed man and dragging him along. They made their way through the chaos, dodging falling debris and disoriented thugs. Finally, they burst out of the factory, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat and smoke inside.

They didn’t stop running until they were far from the factory, the sounds of sirens in the distance. Y/N released the man, who collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Now,” Caitlyn said, her voice cold. “You’re going to tell us everything. Who you’re working for, what the Chem-Baron’s plans are, and how deep this goes.”

The man looked up at them, his defiance fading in the face of their determination. “Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll tell you everything. But you have to protect me. If they find out I talked…”

“They won’t,” Y/N said, her voice firm. “But you need to start talking. Now.”

As the man began to spill his secrets, Y/N and Caitlyn exchanged a glance. They

were uncovering a conspiracy that reached into the highest levels of Piltover, and there was no turning back now.

[espers-n-espurrs]

The Effects of the Darkest Day on Spikemuth

i said i was going to write this and write this i shall. apologies for any spelling mistakes or the like, im typing this on my phone.

here we go.

the darkest day was horrific for all in galar but i want to focus on spikemuth as that is where i am from.

for those of you unaware of spikemuth let me paint a picture.

spikemuth is the poorest city in galar, with low income and high poverty rates. the city itself exists within several large warehouses, each housing different portions of the city. the reasons behind the city having been built in warehouses was because the city was founded by the homeless who used those abandoned warehouses as their home. over time they managed to build homes and stores and the like within the warehouse walls and soon spikemuth was born.

it is also one of the many reasons spikemuth is known as the home of the punks as punk culture resonated with those that had been beat down by the hands of the big man.

but onto the darkest day. the second darkest day occured on november 15th, 2022 during the galar league championship. you see, spikemuth tends to go pretty hard when it comes to the championships (especially because marnie had gotten to participate that year) so many had taken the day off and were spending it with friends and family to watch the championship on the telly. everyone was having a blast, partying and drinking and just having a good ole.

but then former league chairman rose did what he did. i dont have to recount it. most of us know what he did.

so instead let me speak about the rampaging dynamax pokemon. you see, while spikemuth did not have an artificial powerspot as former gym leader piers adamantly refused to have one built (for good reason) that didnt mean eternatus wasnt making natural ones spawn.

so pkmn started to dynamax within the warehouses of spikemuth, breaking through the warehouse ceilings and sending building toppling down as the roofs that once kept us safe fell down.

i will not go into much more detail about that but as a result spikemuth suffered the highest amount of casualties of any city in galar from this event. many without their friends or family and now for many that survived they were without a home.

and the homeless crisis for spikemuth was only going to become worse as the city began to get repaired.

only two part of spikemuth and their warehouses could be repaired, allowing them to still exist within the warehouses that founded this city while the rest of the city that had to be rebuilt had to be built outside of the warehouses. entire parts of our history was removed or demolished as the city had to be rebuilt.

and with the rebuilding of the city came the gentrification. investors and the like trying to help rebuild the city by builder fancier apartment complexes than what we had and expensive housing. so expensive in fact that most spikemuthians could not afford it. so i stead of building affordable housing to combat the homelessness crisis they in turn mad it worse that what it had been before. more and more people with higher incomes from other cities moving to spikemuth and the price of living just kept going up.

and i dont care that more people are moving to spikemuth, i love spikemuth, but its making it harder for those of us that already lived here.

my family managed to get a new flat after everything but its not any bigger than the one we had before or really that much nicer and yet it is much more expensive. before the darkest day we were considering moving into a bigger flat that wouldve cost the same amount as the one we now have but we cant. do that anymore.

and the city is still rebuilding. its only been a year and a half since the darkest day. we will be rebuilding for a while. and im worried about what direction its going to go.

the darkest day has had a lasting effect on more than just being traumatic. and it will have a lasting effect for generations to come.

[eruherdiriel]

Duty

Jonsa ficlet Rating: T Universe: Canon, vaguely bookverse Other: Marriage of convenience, Queen Sansa, Sansa POV

Also on AO3.

Sansa finds him under the heart tree, Longclaw across his lap and a whetstone in his hand. He looks so very much like Father it hurts and makes what she is about to say all the more disconcerting.

“My queen,” he greets her, then returns to his work.

“My prince.” She spares Jon any further pleasantries. They will not change what she has to say. “The North needs heirs. I need an heir. We cannot ignore that forever.”

Jon’s hand stills, and though he does not look up, she can see his face become guarded.

“We’ve done our duty.”

Sansa holds in a sigh at his intentional obtuseness. “It takes more than once, Jon.”

“Aye, it can.” Finally, he looks up, but he keeps his eyes from locking with hers. “I thought to give you more … time, before we made a second attempt.”

Their wedding night had been a stilted affair at best; she had trembled, he had frowned, but they had seen it through. Sansa had tried not to think of the men who had touched her before, or how surely Jon was willing himself to think of the woman who came before her. 

“You’ve had me once. Surely another time will not be so different,” she snaps. It won’t be different. Your kiss will always taste of duty, and I will never give myself wholly to anyone. But some childish dream buds inside her at times, when he offers her a hand as they walk over icy ground or when he scowls at men who overlook her authority. 

Regaining her composure, she continues, her tone softer. “You leave soon. We cannot afford further delay.”

It’s not just about heirs. Sansa does not know how long Jon will be gone, only that she dreads the absence for the awkwardness it will engender in his return. It would be better to become accustomed to his touch now. And what if he does not return? Despite everything—the oddness of a match to a man she once thought her bastard brother, who is the opposite of everything she once wished for—Jon has been a better husband than any of her former suitors could have been. No one else could love the North and Winterfell as well as she does. And if he gets her with child, perhaps she could forestall another marriage if he falls in the war against his Targaryen aunt.

Jon eyes her. “Would you want children even if it was not your duty?”

The question startles her. No one has ever thought to ask me. Bearing children was always expected of her, a sure part of her life. But yes, she has dreamed of a family, and she wishes for one still.

“I want children.” Then, because she honestly does not know, Sansa asks, “Do you?”

She wonders how much Jon has allowed himself to even consider the idea of a family. Since they reunited, she has seen a glint of desire in his eyes for things he never should have wished for—for Winterfell, for a title—but Sansa also knows he has denied himself. “Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa,” Jon had said when the Northern seat was offered to him. Learning that had caused another bud of hope to emerge in her, though she tried to temper it.

His answer comes swiftly. “Yes.”

Sansa’s tongue sticks to the roof of her mouth. She swallows, trying to bring moisture back so she can form words again.

“Then we both get something we want. It shall not merely be duty.”

Jon purses his lips as if in disagreement but doesn’t refute her. His eyes drop before he speaks, resuming the work of sharpening Longclaw. “I’ll come to your chambers tonight then, your grace.”

She nods, then remembers he isn’t looking at her anymore. “Tonight,” she says before turning away and attempting not to run from the godswood—not to run from him. It would be unbecoming of a queen, and she is not afraid of him.

All day, her tummy flutters for nothing: when Jon’s fingers brush her back as she sits in the chair he has pulled out for her, when his eyes meet hers to communicate silent agitation as Lady Cerwyn complains about troop commitments, and when his fist taps on the door of her chambers in the evening.

“It is only us here, my queen,” Jon says before they begin. “No one else.”

Is it? she wonders. Along with their ghosts, surely the nobles and smallfolk have a presence with them in this act. It is for them, for the assurance of her people that she and Jon strive for an heir. And for ourselves, and the family we both desire, she reminds herself. Then her husband says something else, something that makes her heart stutter.

“Let me make it good for you,” he whispers between kisses. “Let me try.”

She should not allow his words to plant a seed in her heart, but the look in his eyes is needful and vulnerable in a way Jon so rarely allows himself to be seen. Sansa finds herself nodding, letting him kiss his way across her body, letting him rid her of her shift, letting him touch and kiss her in ways that start to feel nothing like duty.

[axicallian]

Starstruck [Ninjago x Male Reader]- Pirates vs Ninja

Zane awoke surprisingly warm. It took him a moment to realize why; M/n was cuddled into him, their bodies held together with tangled sheets. Although the Nindroid jolted in surprise they stayed still in order to not wake up the dragon. His stomach fluttered and his face grew warm at feeling the purring of his slumbering friend. Their hands began combing through M/n's beautiful H/C hair almost involuntarily.

When the dragon's eyes opened just enough to peek at the robot both their faces lit up with blush. Zane quickly retracted his hand, muttering a quiet 'sorry'. Instead of responding M/n just smiled sweetly, still purring, and gently grabbed their hand. "Good morning, Zane," He whispered, his shining eyes never leaving Zane's blue ones. The Nindroid's brain and heart went crazy trying to process his situation. Finally he managed to squeak out, "Morning."

Zane watch as his bed mate climbed out from the comfortable covers to start his day, tail and ears flicking as he stretched. All the Nindroid could do was watch and wish he could communicate his feelings to the dragon.

~

Kai observed Lloyd as he attacked their punching bag while the former steadied it, shouting childish things. "Good, keep it up," The red-clad ninja complimented.

Their apartment had been fixed up and redecorated, as the seemingly had more money than they had originally thought. They took priority to buy training utilities for Lloyd but were able to afford to replace the leaking fridge, repaint the dull walls, fix the leaky pipes, replace the sad lighting, and buy a standing shelf for storage. M/n was just happy his effort didn't go to waste.

"Ha! Fists of fury! You can't even see 'em move, I'm so fast! Ha!" The boy narrated as he struck the equipment.

"Save the gloating," Lloyd paused to listen to the hothead, "It can only be used against you by your enemy."

"Oh, please. I'm ready to face whatever you throw at me," The boys gives a strong kick to the punching bag which pushed Kai away from it.

"Whoa, grasshopper. You're not even ready to face my pinky toe," He said, repeating the words that Master Wu had said to him when they first met.

Sensei Wu smiled, recognizing that Kai had taken those words to heart, "I see the student has become the teacher. You will learn fast, Lloyd, with lessons from the four ninja and M/n." The old man was sat on the ground drinking tea while the other ninja stood in the corner adorning strange accessories. Zane was wearing a pink apron, Cole had a metal pot resting on his head, and Jay held a wooden spoon in his hands.

"Great, now that lesson is over, how about some target practice.. on Kai?" Cole suggested teasingly as he pushed the drooping pot back onto his head. Kai's smile dropped at the thought of being used for target practice.

"You'll each get your turn, but first, I don't want you to be late for your next lesson with Nya and M/n," Wu assured to the Fire Ninja's relief.

"But when will I learn Spinjitzu?" The blonde boy whined.

"Patience. It will only be unlocked when the key is ready to be found," Master Wu answered vaguely.

Lloyd groaned, unsatisfied with the answer but left to learn with Nya and M/n anyway.

"Ha, sounds familiar?" Cole teased, smirking at Kai.

"I wasn't that whiny," The spiky-haired brunette defended.

"No, you were worse," Zane joked which made the room fill with laughter.

~

Lloyd made his way onto the roof where Nya and M/n, in his dragon form, stood. "You need to learn how to communicate with M/n while you're riding him in his dragon form. All of the other ninja have vehicles, so he's your mode of transportation," Nya explained while rubbing the dragon's snout.

"But I don't know how to communicate with him," Lloyd pointed out.

"It's all in the body language, You just have to let him know what your body language means," Nya instructed while M/n raised his head from the girl's touch and transformed back into a humanoid.

"We can work on it later," assured the hybrid as he ruffled the child's hair. "For now Sensei wants us to search for a place with more equipment for you to use in training."

~

"It's time we search Ninjago City for a more suitable place to train Lloyd," Master Wu announced to his students who all stood on the sidewalk in front of him.

"But Sensei, Ninjago City is huge. It'll take us all day to find it on foot," Jay whined.

"And without our Golden Weapons, we have no Spinjitzu vehicles. How are we going to get around town?" Zane complained more elegantly than his blue counterpart.

"You'll learn to travel with these," the old man shows the group a golden coin with a square hole in the middle. His students, wearing confused expressions, crowded him to get a good look.

"What are those?" Cole inquired.

"They can transport you anywhere you want to go in the city," Wu explained dramatically, causing M/n to roll his eyes.

"Like a magic portal?" The ravenette asked with excitement.

"Ooh! Or a Spinjitzu vortex?" Jay suggested hyperactively.

"Guys, it's just a bus token," M/n stated blatantly. The group's faces dropped and Wu let out a small chuckle.

~

The ninja and Wu exited the bus in front of a small building with a sign that read "Grand Sensei Dareths Mojo Dojo". M/n, who used his wings to search the city more quickly, had found the building and informed his teammates about it.

"This is the place you found?" Cole asked to which the dragon gave a nod.

"It's better than our dumpy apartment," Jay commented, following Cole through the door.

Upon entering they were greeted with tan walls and brown support beams. There were shiny, bronze trophies on display and a doorway with beads dangling from the top. Through the doorway walked a man clad in a brown gi and exuberant hair. "Welcome to Grand Sensei Dareth's Mojo Dojo," He announced dramatically, "I am Grand Sensei Dareth, and I Dareth you to join my dojo." He then stood on one foot making claws with his hands as he let out a "Heeya!".

The group shared an awkward glance before the man jumped around and made more noises which reminded M/n of a certain Lightning Master. Dareth's antic stopped when he got himself tangled in the beaded walkway.

After squirming his way out of the beads he walked over to his shelf of awards, "Face the wall of karate trophies. If you look closely, my name is on all of them," He looked at his reflection in the coating of a bronze cup, "That is because I am a highly skilled karate machine."

"Look, Dareth, we're wondering if we could share your dojo," M/n asked stepping forward from the group.

"We've been put in charge of training this little guy to become the greatest ninja in all of Ninjago," Kai announced referring to Lloyd by putting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Not possible, for I am the greatest in the land," Dareth bragged, "How many trophies do you have?"

"Look, pal, we're the guys that just saved the city from that giant snake," Jay argued with his arms crossed frustratedly.

"Ha! Am I looking at Lord Garmadon? Because unless I'm stupid, and I'm not, Lord Garmadon and a dragon destroyed the Devourer," The dojo owner sassed while the group gave M/n a stare, upset with the fact that he got credit and they didn't. The dragon only responded with a shrug, not caring who got the credit.

"Hehe.. That's been a huge misunderstanding. Actually, we were the ones who dest—" The Lightning Ninja tried to reason with the middle-aged man.

"I'll let you train here but only on one condition," Dareth interrupted in a dramatic voice, "You can defeat me. If you succeed, we will share the dojo." He suddenly posed and sassily put his hand on his hip, "That's right. I, Grand Sensei Dareth, master of all animal fighting styles, challenge one of you to a battle." He got on all fours, "I know the tiger," and let out a strange roar, sounding more like a snort. "The python," he waved his arms around. "Penguin," he put his hands to his sides and squawked.

Kai, tired of the man's childish behavior, simply began spinning and used his swift Spinjitzu to throw Dareth, who was screaming like a monkey, to the ground.

"How did you—" He started.

"You might know animals, but we know Spinjitzu," Kai smirked.

Dareth, getting off the ground, said with newfound respect, "You can train in my dojo anytime."

~

M/n stood next to Zane, watching Jay teach Lloyd about agility and balance. Cole stacked wood planks, ready for his turn to train the Green Ninja after Jay.

"When you strike with your fists, concentrate. You may be small, but you're strong, "The Earth Ninja instructed.

The boy put his hands together, concentrating his strength. He jumped and brought his fist down on the wood, not only breaking the table but shaking the entire dojo. Sensei Wu sat calmly in the corner while the ninja were thrown back. Kai ended up with his back against the trophy table, Zane was thrown onto his back, Jay was leaned up against the agility training equipment, Cole was dangling from the punching bag, and M/n had been scared onto the rafters.

"That was the power of the Staff of Quakes. And you did it without the Golden Weapon!" Jay exclaimed, Lloyd looking at his hands in disbelief.

"That must be why you have the potential to be the greatest ninja. You can harness all of the Elemental Powers," The Nindroid observed.

"Really? Cool," They boy smiled with pride.

"With this power, you must be careful," Wu warned ominously, causing Lloyd's smile to drop, "You must control it before it controls you."

M/n put his hand on the boy's back and smiled to silently reassure him. Lloyd smiled back gratefully and gently grabbed the dragon's hand for comfort.

Dareth strutted through the beads dangling from the door frame with two kids carrying more wooden boards at his heels, "I have to admit, not bad for a kid. But instead of ten boards, how about fifty? Stack 'em, boys." The kids piled the board on two cinderblocks at his command.

Everyone else shared an awkward glace. "And perhaps if I, Grand Sensei Dareth, can break through them all, you will allow me to join your team and become.." He dramatically turned around now wearing a brown ninja hood to match his gi, "the Brown Ninja!"

Jay snickered, "The Brown Ninja? You gotta be joking!"

"This is embarrassing," M/n sighed.

"Sorry, pal. Club's already full," Cole tried to let him down softly.

"Okay, okay. Then maybe this demonstration of my superhuman strength may persuade you," He wobbled, posing with a leg in the air, "Jeffy, Phil, are we ready?"

The two kids, Jeffy and Phil, replied in sync while bowing "Yes, Grand Sensei Dareth."

"Observe. I call upon the greatest animal to give me strength.." The middle aged man narrated as he spun around, "the Dragon." M/n cringed from second hand embarrassment as he heard the man's sentence and everyone gave him a slight glance. Dareth hit the boards with his hand but not even one of them broke. There was silence for about 3 seconds until he yelped in pain and cradled his hand. The room exploded with laughter as Dareth continued to whine over his throbbing hand.

~

As the ninja and M/n exit they dojo they catch sight of a flying ship, suspiciously similar to the bounty, causing chaos in the city.

Jay points at the vehicle, "Hey, that's our ship!"

"But pirates?" Lloyd asked at seeing the occupants of the ship.

"Pirates haven't been around for centuries," M/n commented, confused.

"I sense Lord Garmadon is somehow behind this," Zane monotonously mentioned.

"How are we gonna follow them?" The blonde boy inquires.

Kai reveals a bus token gifted by Wu, "Perhaps this can be of some use." Conveniently a bus pulled up next to them and the group boarded. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but follow that ship!" He commands the driver as he deposits the coin.

The bus sped off and the ninja pulled on their hoods while M/n stretched his wings. "I don't like the kid coming along. It's too dangerous," Kai worried.

"Please, please, please. I'll be super good," Lloyd pleaded with his hands clasped together.

Zane shook his head, "The powers inside you are still too great, too uncontrollable."

"One of these days you'll be able to join us. Sorry kid," Cole promised causing Lloyd to sit in a bus seat with his arms crossed.

"I'll make sure he's safe, you guys pursue the ship," M/n suggests, sneakily winking at the boy. He knew it could be dangerous but if the kid never got any experience he wouldn't learn, plus he can ensure the Green Ninja's safety.

The ninja nod their heads in agreement and make their way to the roof of the speeding vehicle. Kai grabbed at the anchor swinging from the ship but was almost throw off when the bus came to a sudden stop to avoid an elderly woman in the road.

"Come on, people. We're trying to save the city here!" Jay complained instead of actually helping.

She slowly made her way across the crosswalk, M/n getting annoyed and simply helping her cross.

"Thanks M/n!" Cole shouted as the bus began moving again.

Eventually the dragon dismounted the bus with Lloyd in his arms, waving at the ninja as they continued after the pirates.

"M/n?" The boy's small, meek voice called from the boy's head, cuddled into the crook of M/n's neck, "Are you gonna make me stay?"

"Hm.." The dragon feigned thought, "I think you could use some training on actual targets." He grinned mischievously as Lloyd turned his head in surprise.

"But how are we gonna get up there?" The boy looked up at the ship hovering above the city.

M/n shifted Lloyd from his side to clinging to his back, "Hang on," he said as his body began the familiar process of shapeshifting.

The young Green Ninja whooped, feeling the wind on his face while he sat atop M/n's back. At seeing a tied-up Dareth be thrown off the ship's plank the dragon quickly swooped to save the him. When the brown-clad man realized he was no longer falling he screamed, "I called the Dragon. I-I called the Dragon!" while manically laughing. M/n, quite annoyed, gave a snort and grumble.

The ninja were engaging in battle with the pirates when M/n and Lloyd returned from bringing Dareth begrudgingly to safety. "Bring me in close!" the boy yelled loudly, now he knew what Nya meant by using body language to communicate. The hybrid flew in close to let Lloyd dismount from the ship before letting himself return to a humanoid form to join the fight.

"Ninja, go!" Lloyd yelled as he tackled the pirate Zane was attacking, also hitting the Nindroid on accident.

"Pirate, go!" His opponent mocked ready to slice the boy. M/n picked up the Green Ninja and used his wings to dodge the attack then, while holding Lloyd with one hand, slashed the pirate with the claws on his free hand.

" Lloyd! You're not supposed to be here!" Kai called angrily.

M/n landed on the deck and released the boy, retorting, "I brought him! He needs practice and I promised to protect him."

With his crew, Captain Soto was backed into a corner by the five ninja and the dragon hybrid. Lloyd summoned a large circle of energy, throwing it toward the pirates while Kai protested, "Lloyd! Don't! Your powers are too uncontrollable!" When the energy dispersed it managed to knock loose the mast, which fell on top of the ninja and M/n.

Captain Soto stood above the group, pointing his sword at them, "You lose, pajama people and.." he paused trying to determine what M/n was, "..demon man?"

Instead of replying or correcting the pirate the dragon mustered his strength to transform once again, his large dragon body lifting the mast to free his comrades. The crew watched in disbelief before attempting to flee. All of the pirates were taken out simply with a swipe of M/n's claw or tail.

"Who wins between pirates and ninja? It's dragons!" Cole cheered.

M/n transformed back now that his friends were safe and the pirates were defeated. His head was foggy and vision blurry because this was the first his he had ever shifted twice in such a short time span.

"Are you alright M/n?" the Earth Ninja inquired, approaching the dragon. "Your nose is bleeding," He worriedly observed. The exhausted hybrid simply collapsed into his arms. "Zane!" Cole called in surprise.

The Nindroid rushed over and his heart fluttered at the sight, not only from worry but from the gentle way Cole's muscular arms cradled M/n's fragile body. After recomposing himself Zane managed, " He appears to have fainted from exhaustion," which made Cole breath a sigh of relief.

~

The ninja returned M/n to their apartment to rest while the police managed to deal with the pirates which mysteriously appeared. "Good work," one of the officers complimented.

"Don't forget to include this guy," Kai teased, rubbing Lloyd's head.

"That your ship?" the officer pointed toward the repainted bounty.

"It sure is," Jay confirmed with an excited smile.

Suddenly the engines started up, raising the ship into the air. Garmadon appeared over the railing with his army of Serpentine. "Sorry, you snooze, you lose," He jeered.

"Lord Garmadon!" Kai cursed.

"Dad!" Lloyd called

"You're becoming stronger, son, but you'll never be strong enough to defeat me. Give up, before it's too late," the oni demanded. Instead on answering Lloyd stood firm with the ninja which made his father scowl. "Have it your way. Another day, ninja. Another day."

"Ah, great. Lord Garmadon is back, and now he's got our ship," Jay complained with a sassy hand resting on his hip.

"Well, at least we've got this little guy," Cole smiled, watching as Garmadon flew away in their ship.

Dareth approached the group from behind, grabbing Jay with the intention of scaring him. The Lightning Ninja threw the man over his shoulder in retaliation. "Oh, come on, guys. I Dareth you to forgive me," he joked causing the group to laugh.

[davidboggsroofer]

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[roguekhajiit]

Conspiracy theory time.

Please note: Not now, nor have I ever been, a hard-core kool-aid drinking conspiracy theorist. I engage in these topics for fun only.

This is one that I have been formulating in my head for the past couple of months. Be warned, it's long.

Trump is staging his own assassination attempts to earn sympathy votes.

PART ONE

Thomas Matthew Crooks was allowed to walk around a Trump rally carrying a gun. He didn't make any attempts to be covert. He was allowed to access the roof of a building that was conveniently left unsecured with a direct line of sight of the former president.

Following the shots, Trump is allowed to stand up and raise his fist in the air, with the American flag conveniently waving behind him for a photo op.

Now, this could have been halfway believable. The photo op is suspicious by itself. But then we have the maga politicians who didn't waste any time taking to social media to lay the blame on democrats and liberals. Your candidate was just shot (supposedly), we didn't even know the shooter's identity yet, and they were already in full gear with the blame game.

Then, in the days following this attempt, every wanna-be private investigator on the internet was digging up his voting and spending history in order to shift the blame onto democrats and liberals. I mean, it couldn't have possibly been an ex Maga cultist who finally took the blindfolds off. He HAD to be a democrat.

Of course, they found some obscure donation on ActBlue that may or may not have been his. And that was all she wrote, folks. He was a bonafide, hard-core, liberal. There's no possibility that someone can switch parties. You just can't do that in American politics. It's not allowed. In fact, it might as well be illegal.

Then, there is Trump's ear situation. He says the bullet hit his ear. He even had that obnoxiously oversized bandage on his ear for a couple of days. But then it was gone. No scar to prove the bullet ever hit him.

Some say that he's a billionaire, and he can afford the best surgery money can buy. But hold up there for a second. If he's a billionaire, why does he need to raise money to pay his court fees? Why does Granny need to withdraw money from her life savings so Trump can pay his attorneys? Shouldn't he just be able to write a check?

Even if he wasn't actually in debt up to his toupee, he's 78. Cosmetic surgery on a 78 year old ear isn't going to be perfect, and it sure as hell would need extra time to heal. Sorry, folks, Trump just doesn't have super healing powers.

PART TWO

Ryan Wesley Routh is a 58 year old ex-con, ex-Trump voter living in Hawaii working as a handyman and bringing in a $3k a month salary.

On September 15th, just 5 days after Trump's disastrous debate against Kamala Harris, Routh is arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate the former president. He was spotted apparently pointing a rifle through some bushes at Trump's Florida golf course. It was originally estimated that he was 300 to 500 yards away from his target. After being fired upon, he fled in a black Nissan, which a witness was conveniently there to take a picture of, and drove 50 miles before he was pulled over and detained without incident.

At the scene, they found a gopro, two backpacks full of ceramic tiles (what for?) and his rifle.

After the incident, different details were revealed, and many were contradictory.

The incident was immediately classified as an attempted assassination. Reports stated shots were fired, but it wasn't immediately clear if he fired any shots. Later, they would say he didn't even have TFG in his line of sight. Yet, he was reportedly 300 to 500 yards away.

The Sheriff praised the secret service, saying they did everything they were supposed to do. Yet they didn't do a perimeter check of the golf course before TFG started golfing? Just weeks after the previous assassination attempt and subsequent increase in his security details? Shouldn't a perimeter check be included as part of the SOP for protecting a former president?

It is also reported that he made multiple flights between Hawaii and Florida in order to scope out places Trump was known to frequent. On a $3k a month salary.

Now, we get to the blame game. Of course, as with Crooks, maga was quick to label Routh as a democrat. Conveniently enough, they were also apparently able to find donations from him on ActBlue. But not so fast. He voted for Trump in 2016. Isn't it possible that someone can hold bipartisan views? Nope, according to MAGA, if you have a Harris/Walz bumper sticker, you're a terrorist.

PART THREE

Now, just five days after Trump said,

“I’m going to go there in the next two weeks. I’m going to Springfield. You may never see me again, but that’s OK. Got to do what I got to do. ‘Whatever happened to Trump?’ ‘Well, he never got out of Springfield.’"

The government and media are releasing the contents of a letter they claim was written by Routh to the World:

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”

There are a lot of questions that surround this. Firstly, why release this? This puts a bounty on TFG. Secondly, the person who had the box claimed to hold it for several months, never looking inside. Not once? Thirdly, this means he would have written this months in advance well before Crooks ever fired his first shot. It also means he never planned to succeed. That would make this less of an attempted assassination and more of a suicide mission.

But when we look at Trump's statement 5 days ago, which seemingly predicts his own death, it starts to look like this letter was released intentionally. There was another letter that was found in his possession, but they aren't including it as evidence, nor are they making its contents known. Just the one that puts a $150k bounty on his head. Whose gonna pay? Surely not the guy sitting in jail who was only earning $3k a month.

[murfpersonalblog]

IWTV S1 Ep1 Musings: Loustat & the Black Mastiff

I've mentioned before how in Rolin's OG pilot script, there is a scene where Louis is directly paralleled with a caged dog Lestat purchased. The scene was removed from Ep1, but I suspect the overall idea was retained, and moved to the infamous train scene in 1x6 with Lestat vs Claudia.

The pilot scene with Loustat:

It was another black mastiff, that had been cooped up in an unsanitary shop, abused by its owner. But this time, instead of the black dog representing Claudia at Lestat's mercy, it represents Louis:

Unsanitary courtayrd shop → Storyville, NOLA's derelict red light district where capitalism sold people (sex workers & menial laborers), instead of slavery

Menagerie of animals "caged up or tied down or roaming free" → Black diaspora of Jim Crow NOLA, where some were Creole moneyed elites descended from free colored folk (DPDLs roaming free); others were tied down by systemic racism post-Emancipation (tied down); and others were still caged up by bad circumstances (Claudia, etc).

Lestat wants to buy a pet → Lestat wants to lovebomb a companion

Black dog → Black man (Louis)

Black dog abused by its owners → Black man discriminated against by the white racist patriarchy

Dog attacks Lestat & is beaten back → (Louis) "I wanted to take the end of my cane and slit his throat with it!" (Daniel) "Why didn't you?" (Louis) "I couldn't move!"

An utterly hopeless purchase → "A botched vampire"

Lestat buys the dog, seemingly having rescued/saved it from its miserable life. But crazy enough, it's still in "the very same beyond-help" condition.

Lestat buys/rescues/saves the dog → Lestat Turns Louis "I can swap this life of shame, swap it out for a Dark Gift, and a power you can't begin to imagine." | Lestat rescues/saves Louis at the Trial "I gave you to Armand. You tell me if that was saving."

The Black dog is still beyond help → Louis is still just "a Black man in America" | "You miserable dog!"

The dog "obediently stares up at its God" (Lestat) → "There was present a kind of worship on my part. The earth beneath me always felt liquid."

Lestat trains the dog to do tricks (balancing bones on its nose) → "You chase after phantoms of your former self. I'll break you of it."

"Lestat was Master of whatever space he occupied." → "Poor massa and his pain! It's an honor just to sleep under massa's roof!"

Cuz at the end of the day, vampirism didn't give Lestat's 2 Black fledglings the same privileges afforded to him as a white man; like I've said over & over again (x x x).

Lestat's Black mastiff reappears in the threesome with Lily:

But otherwise, it's not mentioned again in the rest of the pilot.

It's a shame we didn't get to see Les playing with his pet at 1132, but it's probably a good thing that the scenes were removed (it likely would've been too much of a hassle to keep including Les' dog all season--unless it would've dropped dead soon--OR unless vamp!Louis ATE it in Ep2, LOL 😂🤣).

Regardless, it's still interesting to see how Rolin was still constantly leaving so many breadcrumbs ALL season; about cages, being locked up & never being free, dehumanization, and abuse--particularly at Les's hand. Louis-as-dog was unnecessary at the end of the day (esp. in Ep5); and IMO it was much better utilized in Claudia's scene in 1x6.

Rolin, you are SICK beyond belief; and I love you for it~!

[checkoutmybookshelf]

You Have My Attention: Throne of Glass First Lines

As THE tentpole faerie smut author, Sarah J. Maas needs no introduction. Her debut series, Throne of Glass, however, had to catch its readers and build an audience long before A Court of Thorns and Roses exploded onto the scene. So how does SJM introduce her readers to Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assassin, and the rest of her cast of characters?

After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousand slaves in Endovier received similar treatment--although an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines. That was expected by Adarlan's most notorious assassin.

-- Throne of Glass

The shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only sign of her entry. No one had noticed her scaling the garden wall of the darkened manor house, and with the thunder and the gusting wind off the nearby sea, no one heard her as she shimmied up the drainpipe, swung onto the windowsill, and slithered into the second-floor hallway.

-- Crown of Midnight

Gods, it was boiling in this useless excuse for a kingdom. Or maybe it felt that way because Celaena Sardothien had been lounging on the lip of the terra-cotta roof since midmorning, and arm flung over her eyes, slowly baking in the sun like the loaves of flatbread the city's poorest citizens left on their windowsills because they couldn't afford brick ovens.

-- Heir of Fire

There was a thing waiting in the darkness. It was ancient, and cruel, and paced in the shadows leashing his mind. It was not of this world, and had been brought here to fill him with this primordial cold. Some invisible barrier still separated them, but the wall crumbled a little more every time the thing stalked along its length, testing its strength.

-- Queen of Shadows

The bone drums had been pounding across the jagged slopes of the Black Mountains since sundown. From the rocky outcropping on which her warn tent groaned against the dry wind, Princess Elena Galathynius had monitored the dreadlord's army all afternoon as it washed across those mountains in ebony waves. And now that the sun had long since vanished, the enemy campfires flickered across the mountains and valley below like a blanket of stars.

-- Empire of Storms

Chaol Westfall, former Captain of the Royal Guard and now Hand to the newly crowned King of Adarlan, had discovered that he hated one sound above all others. Wheels. Specifically their clattering along the planks of the ship on which he'd spent the past three weeks sailing through storm-tossed waters. And now their rattle and thunk over the shining green marble floors and intricate mosaics throughout the Khagan of the Southern Continent's shining palace in Antica.

-- Tower of Dawn

He had been hunting for her since the moment she was taken from him. His mate. He barely remembered his own name. And only recalled it because his three companions spoke it while they searched for her across violent and dark seas, through ancient and slumbering forests, over storm-swept mountains already buried in snow.

-- Kingdom of Ash

[hannahhook7744]

Sticks And Stones (And Great Falls) Can Break My Bones, But Words Will Never Hurt Me!:

Summary: Turns out, shit happens when tons of villains are released at once.  Hannah Hook honestly expected more shit to happen but she's not complaining (much).  Trigger warnings: Broken bones, child abuse?, minor violence, swearing, etc.

—————————————————————————

If there was one thing anyone—isle resident or Auradon citizen—knew, it was that Hannah Hook was…not the most well-balanced person. 

It was just a simple fact. One that was common knowledge: the sun goes up and down, grass is green, the sky is blue, and Hannah Hook is the clumsiest person alive when on land. 

There was no question about it. No denying it. 

Even strangers knew it by now.

….So why her friends thought letting her be the main one to pursue the Evil Queen after she went on the run (after she turned little Glauco White into a pine tree) was a good idea, none of them could quite explain…

Well, except for Athena Grimhilde-Westergaard, who firmly insisted that it was Kyle White’s idea and thus his fault—to which he would quickly point out that none of them had stopped him from asking Hannah to do it, so it was actually their fault.

How or why it happened, no one knew. 

All anyone really knew was that asking  the clumsiest person alive to pursue any wanted criminal—let alone the evil queen—was a horrible idea and that it was bound to go wrong: and it did. 

—————————————————————————

“Hannah stop—”

“Slow down—”

“You gotta give up! We’ll get her next time—”

Hannah kept up the chase—pushing herself to go faster and faster, unwilling to let the Evil Queen get away this time. 

They had already lost sight of her once: Glauco had been a pine tree for weeks now. They couldn’t afford to lose her again. They had to catch her now. Who knew what would happen if Kyle’s little brother stayed a tree for any longer.

The brunette had never seen Kyle and Sophie look so miserable before and she never wanted to see it again—so, she wasn’t gonna stop running until she caught that blasted witch. No matter what her friends said. 

The Evil Queen had gone unchecked for far too long and it was about time that changed. 

—————————————————————————

Howiee knew what was gonna happen before it even did: he knew Hannah. Knew how impulsive she could be when it came to her friends and their happiness. He knew the moment the Evil Queen jumped off the roof of the castle that Hannah was gonna follow, consequences be damned. 

Which is exactly how he found himself lunging forward in vain—cursing under his breath because he knew that even with his speed and quick reflexes that he wouldn’t be able to catch her in time. 

The whole world seemed to slow down around him as Hannah fell, hand outstretched towards the queen. Brown eyes narrowed in determination as all the friends they had with them screamed. 

Snap. 

—————————————————————————

Hannah barely registered the sharp pain in her left arm as she pushed herself into a sitting position, a satisfied grin on her face as she watched the evil queen swear and thrash around in the net the pirate had set up to catch her.

“You insolent little commoner welp! Just you wait until I get my hands on yo—”

“—You’re gonna turn Snow White’s son back into his human form.” Hannah stated matter of factly, cutting the former queen off. Vaguely aware of the sound of her friends’ approaching footsteps.  

The Queen laughed. “And why would I do that?”

“Because—”the fourteen year old leaned forward, an almost unnaturally big smile on her face that didn’t quite meet her eye, “–if you don’t, I’ll just hand you over to King Ben and watch as he locks you away and spend the rest of your life annoying you day and night until you do it. Or until I snap, whichever comes first. And we all know just how annoying I can be when I have a cause to be. Oh and we’ll give all your assists to the dwarves, including your castle—”

That earned a scowl from the queen, who was still desperately trying to escape from the magic blocking net. “—ALRIGHT,  ALRIGHT! YOU WIN! I’LL TURN THE BRAT BACK!”

Hannah just smiled even bigger. “Pleasure doing business with ya.”

—————————————————————————

Hannah sat happily making faces at the still tied up Evil Queen, alongside (11 year old Glauco) in Ursula’s Fish & Chips. Completely unaware of her friends’ peril at the bar.

Howiee had his face buried in his hands. “I can’t believe she broke her fucking arm.”

Athena was pale, clutching a seaweed soda in one hand and one of her hatchets in the other. “Chasing my mom.”

“Trying to get my brother back.” Klye groaned, head on the counter. “Darcy, Herlando, and Gunner are going to kill us when we get back to the ship.”

“Kill Howiee and I, you mean. I doubt your parents are gonna let you anywhere out of their sight once they found out just how close to the Evil Queen you were.” Athena shot back, already imagining her funeral. Knowing just how pissed the medics were going to be when they found out that Hannah had broken her arm on their watch and that they still hadn’t treated it yet. “And that’s if Luke, Skia, and River don’t beat them to it.”

“Or Zoe, or–” Howiee shuttered “—Treycor,Alex, and John.”

Kaliani set down another tray in front of them, looking unimpressed. “Shouldn’t you guys be more worried about how the Hooks are gonna react?”

Athena shook her head, eyes wide in disbelief. “Man fuck the Hooks. The Hooks I can handle. But my brother? My brother is gonna fucking kill me for this.”

“I can’t believe you’re seriously scared of Luke of all people.”

The brunette threw her hands up. “Kailani, have you EVER seen my brother get mad? He’s a MENACE!”

“He folds his socks and bakes Creme Brule!”

“He dyed all of my clothes puke green and shit orange the last time I fucked up, Kailani! And that was over his cat, what do you think he’s gonna do when he finds out something happened to Hannah!”

Kailani paused. “You guys should dye your hair, change your names, and move to Agrabah.”

Howiee banged his head on the counter–denting it—“we’re all gonna die.”