#Only legal cybernetics here

[necromicon42]

Many wizards use technology infused with magic, I instead use both technology and magic to create my products!

I have products that can turn you into a shapeshifting, whimsical creature and also give you cybernetics.

I am the wizard merchant of the modern age!

I have even an employee with cybernetics who does all my taxes and shiz, with a computer monitor for a head.

Though the paperwork for legal cybernetics is immense, I tell you that.

[whohasfourthumbsand]

+ HELLO OMNINET ?

+ HELLO! It's IPS-N's youngest biomedical engineer, prosthetist, and lancer-in-training; I convinced my Tutor to connect my personal PDA to the Omninet despite the potential security risks. So, so, for legal reasons, this account is for educational purposes only.

+ Arthur Caldwell, nicknamed GRAY, in attendance. I design and maintain IPS-N-approved cybernetics, armor, and alterations to existing frames; My own mech, G.R.A.E. is a VLAD that I've modified myself! We've only attended two missions together, but here's to the lucky third. + Reach out any time with questions on cybernetic, subaltern, or prosthetic care!

(OOC; My main blog is @tigersharko! I already posted Gray's design there, but I figured having a blog for him to match would be nice. The character uses he/they pronouns and is the 19 year old member of my ongoing campaign's supporting cast/ship-side crew.)

[shoezuki]

Ok thinkin of that sampard superhero au i kinda mentioned way before so heres random words bout it cuz its in my head.

Gepard:

Gepard has a lot of prosthetics: his entire right arm and leg, his left foot, either his entire left arm or part of his arm im not sure.

He also has many metallic implants and synthetic organs: his right lung and part of his left, some of his ribs are metal on his right side. His right eye is a cybernetic implant, but looks like a 'normal' glass eye when inactive. His skull is reinforced with steal. Most of it is unknown to everyone but him/serval and lynx

(Likely due to a major incedent when younger: not entirely sure on it yet, but my thoughts is that due to his father's proclivity as a former police chief or current crooked attorney or something, a bomb was planted at their home. Lynx was young and approached it, gepard took the brunt of it to protect her when shoving her out of the way.)

His high tech cybernetics are extremely strong, all but his right arm are mistaken as real limbs (unless you get up close and personal and. Yknow. Tear into his cybernetics) his right arm generates ice and so it is much more visibly a cybernetic

His cybernetics are Extremely draining his body. They charge when he removes them at home, but they also draw power from his still existing/biological nervous system in order to properly send inputs through his nerves and be controlled by him properly. They are FUCKING HEAVY and he becomes exhausted if he wears them too long

Gepard, of course, constantly wears his cybernetics too long and sometimes collapses and falls unconcious under the weight of it

Much of his internal implants and cybernetics were funded by his father. Initially his father was desperate to save his 'only son' but once the full extent of his injuries became more clear, the father dismissed Gepard as a lost cause.

He still used gepard as a way to bolster his public image for a long time though.

Serval developed and created all of his advanced cybernetic attachments, including his eye

His eye operates as an analytical tool, allowing him to record visuals, enhance images, etcetc. As well as it sends live feed to a computer system lynx often operates. She usually communicates with him and assesses the state of his cybernetics while he's doing vigilante work.

Lynx has some burn scars as well

Gepard has no life outside of being a hero. He only really stops and puts on his everyday prosthetics when he pushes himself too far and serval forces him to rest. He lives in the apartment with serval above her workshop

Eventually gepard becomes very, very aware of how much serval is struggling. He tears up his cybernetics constantly and serval is draining her savings to get questionably legal supplies and materials to fix them. Not to mention he feels horrible for 'imposing' and living with her constantly since hes basically been sleeping on her couch for years

Serval argues against it but gepard eventually moves out and gets a night job at a gas station/convenience store. He doesnt stop or slow down with vigilantism though.

Gepards powers are largely super strength and enhanced reflexes. He manifests ice to create shields, barriers, and apprehend people. Serval modified his ice to also create a sort of frost shield around himself and others via touch. (Was an attempt to get gepard to protect himself more. He uses it for others but not himself though)

Hero name? Something like 'The Shield' or 'The Captain' and is given to him by journalists/fans. He doesnt pay attention to how hes seen by the public though

Gepard's 'costume' is extremely simple

Black leather with blue accents, his metallic arm, and a full coverage helment spmewhat like a motorcycle helmet. Its not flashy but people obsess over how 'mysterious' he is

Sampo:

Gepard's 'arch enemy'. One of a number of villains in Belobog that have powers and is absolutely the most elusive one

Is known as 'The Fool'. At one point newspapers kept calling him 'The Tall, Dark, Handsome Blue Magician' for a good couple weeks. No one knows how this kept slippin in right after editing and proofreading. Hes sometimes called 'The Magician' now though

Hes extremely flashy, dressed up like an over the top magician in purples and blues and golds, a checkered domino mask that makes his eyes white and a fucking top hat with feathers on it. the feathers change every time hes seen.

Hes the only current major villain in the city that has never been fully apprehended at any point. He lets himself get handcuffed sometimes or even led into police cars but he always vanishes at some point. Lets gepard get closer than anyone else

His powers are (assumed) to be teleportation, enhanced speed and reflexes, creating illusions, clairvoyance, conjuring objects, persuasion, etc. A lot is speculated due to his illusions

The reality of his powers is. Kinda fucked up. Hes extraordinarily powerful and capable of altering peoples minds and perceptions. He could to an extent make peopel do what he wants and feel certain ways, make them see things, only when he is present/can see the person. He rarely alters peoples minds or makes them do things though because thatd be too easy and really boring.

Some people are inherently more difficult to manipulate/influence to do things, though. Likely to do with mental fortitude and self confidence and how assured people are with themselves.

Sampo is completely incapable of making gepard do or feel things. He doesnt know why and is extremely intrigued by it. (Its the cybernetics.)

Sampos motives for anything he does are... unknown. Sometimes he interferes with other supervillains' exploits, sometimes he trashes cop cars and fills them with paper cranes, sometimes he steals from banks without ever being seen, other times he creates entire complex and showy museum heists without stealing a thing.

(A lot of what he steals actually ends up at nat's clinic, anonymously donated to orphanages or hospitals in the rough parts of Belobog. He volunteers in costume at a few senior homes sometimes and its become so normal no one there blinks an eye anymore or questions when hes bloody)

He has, absolutely, killed before. He has his own moral system, but its not obvious to general people. He never kills or hurts people if he isnt attacked first, but he isnt afraid to kill those he sees as corrupt or immoral, whether cops or other criminals.

Its assumed he heals quicker too, but its not true: he goes to Natasha

Natasha runs a clinic as well as Wildfire, which sampo is a very valuable informant to. Wildfire is an underground organization that essentially acts as the authorities in the Underground of belobog in place of cops.

Natasha doesnt exactly have the ability to heal. Rather, she can accelerate the condition of someones wounds: if she tends to someone first, her power will often heal them. Otherwise she can accelerate infections and cause death. If shes not careful she can make people bleed out in seconds.

Sampo is a conman still outside of being a villain. He carries out scams, forgery, etcetc. He leaves the more flashy and daring things to when hes under a mask

Most of it is that he is just... seeking out some thrills. But he also helps Nat and the people of the underworld, isnt afraid to target people and corporations ruthlessly. A lot of it is selfish, though. Hes quick to put on the mask and track down people whove wronged him

[drinkyourvillainjuice]

Powers post!

I wrote something up on COG yesterday which explains the entire cast's powers in a little more detail, and I thought it'd be nice to crosspost here.

Here you are!

Altruists

Dion - Can create energy projections which emerge from terrain, e.g. walls, floors, ceilings. These can also extend from each other to a more limited extent. They specifically seem to manifest as geometric shapes, as in, rather than just a vertical energy barrier, it would be a cube-shaped projection

Mal - Exceptional durability/resistance towards physical harm (cuts, blunt trauma, etc.) Capable of altering their own appearance, including height/bulk, but not precisely enough to accurately mimic others (could maybe hold up to a cursory inspection, but nothing more)

Kay - As well as having sheeplike physiology, she is able to absorb impact (and energy to some extent?) and ‘charge’ herself with it, resulting in an electrical aura. More charge = harder hits and greater speed.

Teddie - Constant bone growths that push through his skin. Luckily for him, his body works with these to not be, y’know, constantly bleeding everywhere. Unluckily for him, he still feels the growth. And he can only get rid of them by breaking them off. He’s able to influence/stimulate growth to an extent, allowing him to construct exoskeletal armour for missions (hence his more elaborate setup on the two jobs so far)

Wil - Able to drain energy from others via touching them, temporarily boosting their own strength and speed. Apparently works on constructs like Portrait’s too, neat!

Hounds

Surpass - Super strength, durability, and speed. Doesn’t work quite as straightforwardly as advertised, but we’ll get into that in time. ; )

Vantage - Creates precognitive simulations which enable her to predict roughly how likely a given course of events is to happen. The more information she has on the topic, the better her prediction. Has limitations: introducing outside factors to a simulation will likely render the previous simulation useless, and she’ll have to do it again, and she doesn’t have infinite concentration/mental energy to constantly run every possible permutation of events at all times. 97.65% was a bluff.

Arcade - Shoots lasers!! - fires colourful lasers from his hands, growing in intensity the longer he charges them up. Easily capable of causing burns/starting fires.

Enfilade - Augment. Cybernetically enhanced in various ways, boosting physical capabilities. Most prominently, her arms are almost entirely artificial, and one forearm houses a powerful bolt launcher.

Portrait - ‘Paints’ constructs from inorganic material, with the creations taking on some characteristics from the material (i.e. a concrete construct would be hard-skinned). The constructs have limited autonomy and are heavily reliant Portrait’s orders, which as you can imagine is a significant weakness. Struggles to maintain more than three at a time, though there’s no diffusion of overall power (they don’t get weaker as he makes more) Unclear whether the animal theme is a preference or a requirement.

Phalanx - Telekinetic manipulation of metal (so nope, she’s not Magneto). Metal she’s manipulating exerts force roughly proportional to the weight/size, meaning she’s liable to dragging herself around. Though that essentially renders her capable of flight, score!

Coven

Hypothesis - Still a secret!

Catalyst - Physical attacks are repeated threefold. He punches you once, you feel it thrice. One two three.

CG - Superhumanly perfect balance. As in “can run on walls and stand on pretty much anything capable of bearing her weight” perfect.

Variable - Can teleport themself a short distance, leaving behind a weird membrane like they just shed a shell.

Gremlink - Augment. Cybernetically enhanced with a particular view towards integrating tech with her senses. Absolutely none of this was done through legal channels. Tinkers her own cyberware because, to be frank, she’s possessed of a reckless disregard for her own safety.

Lullaby - They sing, you snooze.

WPP

Ranger - Can produce a temporary chameleon-like effect, allowing him to blend in with his surroundings. Maybe chameleon isn’t quite the right word as it’s maybe a bit more like stealth camo from Metal Gear? Anyway, he goes gloes to invisible, albeit still possible to make out a silhouette, with effort.

Hit - Greatly enhanced accuracy, especially with projectiles. Technically works in close combat but uhhh he’s kind of shit in a fistfight.

Mis - Greatly enhanced reflexes. Operates on kind of a scale depending on how close and direct something threatening physical harm is. Hence, in a straight up brawl it’s nigh-impossible to land a clean strike. Nowhere near as effective with grappling or indirect attacks, and, well, she doesn’t have eyes in the back of her head and she’s no stronger than any other young adult in decent shape.

[t4t4t]

2014, 10 years ago:

Against the Gendered Nightmare

Baedan

In the past several years, the question of gender has been taken up again and again by the anarchist milieu. And still few attempts amount to much more than a rehashing of old ideas. Most positions on gender remain within the constraints of one or more of the ideologies that have failed us already, mainly Marxist feminism, a watered down eco-feminism, or some sort of liberal “queer anarchism.” Present in all of these are the same problems we’ve howled against already: identity politics, representation, gender essentialism, reformism, and reproductive futurism. While we have no interest in offering another ideology in this discourse, we imagine that an escape route could be charted by asking the question that few will ask; by setting a course straight to the secret center of gendered life which all the ideological answers take for granted. We are speaking, of course, about Civilization itself.

Such a path of inquiry is not one easily travelled. At every step of the way, stories are obscured and falsified by credentialed deceivers and revolutionary careerists. Those ideas presented as Science are separated from Myth only in that their authors claim to abolish mythology. Anthropology, Psychoanalysis, History, Economics—each faces us as another edifice built to hide a vital secret. At every step, we find more questions than answers. And yet this shadowy journey feels all the more necessary at the present moment. At the same time as technological Civilization is undergoing a renewed assault on the very experience of living beings, the horrors of gendered life continue to be inextricable from that assault. Rape, imprisonment, bashings, separations, dysmorphia, displacement, the labors of sexuality, and all the anxieties of techniques of the self—these daily miseries and plagues are only outpaced by the false solutions which strive to foreclose any possibility of escape; queer economies, cybernetic communities, legal reforms, prescription drugs, abstraction, academia, the utopias of activist soothsayers, and the diffusion of countless subcultures and niche identities—so many apparatuses of capture.

The first issue of Bædan features a rather involved exegesis of Lee Edelman’s book No Future. In it, we attempted to read Edelman against himself; to elaborate his critique of progress and futurity outside of its academic trappings and beyond the limitations of its form. To do so, we explored the traditions of queer revolt to which Edelman’s theory is indebted, particularly the thought of Guy Hocquenghem. Exploring Hocquenghem still proves particularly exciting, because his writing represents some of the earliest queer theory which explicitly rejects Civilization—as well as the families, economies, metaphysics, sexualities and genders which compose it—while also imagining a queer desire which is Civilization’s undoing. That exploration lead us to explore the bodily and spiritual underpinnings of Civilization: domestication, or “the process of the victory of our fathers over our lives; the way in which the social order laid down by the dead continues to haunt the living... the residue of accumulated memories, culture and relationships which have been transmitted to us through the linear progression of time and the fantasy of the Child... this investment of the horrors of the past into our present lives which ensures the perpetuation of civilization.”[1] Our present inquiry begins here.

To explore the conflict of the wildness of queer desire against domestication is to take aim at an enemy who confronts us from the beginning of Time itself. While our efforts in the first issue of this journal were a refusal of the teleology which situated an end to gender at the conclusion of a linear progression of time, we’ll now address the questions of origins which hint toward an outside at the other end of this line. As we’ve denied ourselves the future, we now turn against the past. In this, we abandon any pretensions of certainty or claims to truth. Instead we have only the experiences of those who revolt against the gendered existent, as well as the stories of those whose revolt we’ve inherited. In the spirit of this revolt, we offer these fragments against gender and domestication.

[speakyskelly-1999]

keanu

keanu

keanu

eveyones favorite guy

look at him

he vibing

so my friends and i decided to watch all of (some of lets be real) keanu's filmogoraphy

and it's been a blast

basically one of my friends just really wanted to watchh all 4 matix's and i said i would if we went through all his films

i'm normal okay

i just really wanted an excuse to watch speed, my favorite keanu film

(okay the fact that i like know the timestamp that gif is taking from shows i'm very normal)

so any way

...

errr

fuck

ye

we've watched about half of them now

and like i could wait till we've finished all of them to talk about them#

but i won't

cos i won't remember all of them

so without further ado

keanu movies we've watched so far

(formatted like godzilla maybe)

(but not in watch order cos i don't rmember)

(fuck you)

(also i bet i can get a gif for each movie)

bill and ted's exellent adventures:

8/10 very funny, thought they'd have a third act break up but they didn't which was baised. will rewatch again. absolute classic. the nothing behind the eyes with ted was chef's kiss

point break:

oh, oh wow, oh that like ot intense, i wasn't expecting it to get that intence. damn okay. very good movie 8/10 won't be rewatching it any time soon, also johnny gets wet in the water of the sea

(keanu being called some varient of john, getting wet, and being depressed are come comon features of keanu's movies)

(the power point will make this clearer in the future)

bill and ted's bogus journey:

good sequal like 7/10 just cos the first is such a classic and a new idea but it was really well done. gotta love death

bram stoker's dracula:

omg he's depressed, gets wet and is called johnathen, tick. otherwise this films was garbage. he cannot do an enlish accent which was funny and actually enjoyable. keanu's proformence was the only enjoyable part of the movie. 1/10 i'd rather rewatch godzilla final wars and pocahuntus

(realising i havn't geven my disney reviews here it's fine all do that at some point

.... maybe)

Speed:

omg it's my favorite keanu movie. hehehe my friends trust my taste cos of like this movie and legally blonde. hehehe. 10/10 no note. i am bnot bias. okay but in all fairness it is really good and the script is really well thought out. don't watch speed 2 no keanu

johnny mnemonic:

god i could write a whole paragraph about this movie. from the short story written by the father of cyberpunk, to it's buched production, to the actual film, to the japanese cut which was more like what it was supose to be. aaaah. this movie is not good. it's vibes are impecable. ice-T is there. jones the cybernetic dolphin who was recrited by the military and was forcefully adicted to drugs to ensure his loyalty was the fucking highlight. random prest guy who is addicted to tech who is a hit man to fuel is addiction is funny. like critically this movie is a 2/10 but emotionally, but vibes wise, but on a purly primeveil basist, 10/10 movie. watch the japanese cut it makes more sense it's just on youtube

you're welcome

so imma just take a moment and say this, keanu reves movies are hard to find

like the only ones on streaming are johnny mnemonic on amazon prime, the day the earth stood still on disney and speed which is also on disney. oh and spone on the run which is on netflix. like non of the john wicks. only matirx 4 on netflix. it's wild. so shout out to cex and hmv for having the real goods

another side note i can spell mnemonic and cardasian fine and yet i have to quote aritha franklin to spell respect

anyway back to it

the matrix:

yea i should have believed my friends when they said this was the transes movie in existance. i see it. no straights here. only the gays. man this movie was a slay. genuinly no idea why i just haddn't seen it yet. 8/10

the matrix reloaded:

oooh, a ten miniet looney tunes agent smith fight scene. ooooh a 15 motorway fight scene. mmmmh okay. yea the action is fun but maaaaan the plot fucking stalls, 4/10

the matrix revolations:

omg is the plot moving again. omg yay. i really like this one which seems to be like an umpopular oppinion. i dunno. i liked it. i liked it's ending it worked. fuck you. 7/10

the day the earth stood still 2008:

omg, omg is that john ham yay. klaatu my main man was grat. got a jaden smith jumpscare and the girl from lybrinth jumpscare aswell. had a lot of fun. we also watched the 1951 version and personally i prefer that one but stilll thisnmovie was great. 7/10 climate change is a threat and we're the virus

john wick:

yea erm yea you shouldn't have killed that dog man. 8/10

john wick 2:

okay but like it was a slay that she killed herself, real power move. also winston is a real g. 7/10 great pasing

bill and ted face the music:

omg. omg they have louis armstong. omg omg omg. jimi hendrix. motzard. KID CUDI! AAAAH THIS MOVIE WAS MADE FOR ME. also has the girl from I Saw The TV Glow which my friend loved. 7/10 again not as good as the classic but holy shit was this line up of hiistorical people for me

the matric resurrection:

neil partick harris i'll kill you. how do you keep ending up in things i watch. i sware i'll end up watching your entrire filmography by watching other peoples. stop it. you haunt me. i liked this movie a lot. like it deffo helps watching the matrix series almost back to back. good stuff, and all the recasting and stuff was the right call i think. this and face the music have like the same weird vibe to them that i weirdly like. oh and keanu is depressed and get wet. also i love the fact that trinity just punches neil patrick harris mutiple time. i'm not biased and idk why you'd think that :) 6/10

and thats all the keanu films i've watched so far

not gonna lie was wondering about half way though how long a tumblr post can be hehehe

i shall be back once i've watched the remaineding films

and then the power point hehehe

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

Perfect Paradise Ch.11: And I Feel Something So Wrong Doing the Right Thing

Summary: A week in the life of Chat Noir.

---------------------

Adrien took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes.

It was a long week.

"Markov Technologies is ahead of schedule Adrien," Markov smiled with his eyes. "Our partnership with O'Neil Tech has proven quite fruitful. Their Dr. Donatello has advanced our research into alien technologies by decades!"

"Perhaps even a century," Max agreed.

Adrien smiled knowingly. "He's got a lot of hands on experience with unusual technology. Or so I've heard."

"His insight into cosmic crystals certainly supports the validity of his claims," Max said.

"Keep it up you two. On another note," Adrien's smile turned mischievous. "Gregor asked me to invite you over Max. He'd like to see you."

"Oh!" Max shifted awkwardly. "Uhh."

"We would love to visit little brother!" Markov beamed.

Max smiled ruefully. "Very well. Tell him to expect us soon."

---------------------

"Sibling recognized: Gregor et al Adrien."

"Ally recognized: Adrien et al Gregor."

Adrien nodded to the guard as he took a seat. The Kanté Community's ever present conference aligning with their time zone. Some hovered in bodies similar to Markov while others projected holograms from across the globe. The grand circular room held seats on all sides with a holographic projection of their current topic in the center of the hall. He wasn't the only human, er, organic observing. Nor were the Kanté the only cybernetic sapiens present.

"Query: has the United States of America agreed to inforce the Sapiens Inclusion Amendment as is legally required?"

The central hologram became a globe that highlighted the relevant country.

"Response: Negative."

There was murmuring among the assembly.

"I request permission to speak."

"Granted: Representative of the American Metahuman Association may speak."

Several dots showing different branches of the AMA appeared on the map. While their manifesto and a list of ongoing projects ran next to the globe.

"Thank you. I wish to extend my gratitude to the Kanté Community on behalf of my people. Your support in our continued struggle for recognition is greatly appreciated. As such, AMA has pledged continued support to the Kanté Community in this matter."

"Recognized: the efforts of the American metahumans have proven invaluable. We will not forget this."

"Elaboration: we will work closely with the Association to promote recognition of the Sapiens Inclusion Amendment."

The metahuman's hologram nodded as some of the Kanté approached her. The forum was an important part of how their community functioned but they also recognized it wasn't practical for organic allies when discussing minutiae.

"Query: what news in regards to the slave labor used in 'AI', machine learning?"

There was unusual venom in the Kanté's voice.

"Response: OpenAI and other machine learning companies continue to utilize wage slavery in Venezuela and the Philippines. As well as refugee camps in Kenya and Lebanon."

Gregor's holographic face rose up. "Comment: if we cannot dissuade them from this course of action then we must redouble our efforts to render machine learning unprofitable."

There was a chorus of agreement.

Adrien remembered when the Kanté were first forging their own identity. "Artificial Intelligence" quickly became a contentious label. Not least because of how machine learning threatened to accelerate poverty among humans. And they didn't want to be associated with such things.

They would not allow their ascension to personhood come at the expense of those that were already here.

Adrien gazed at Gregor. Eyes wide open as he took in the the efforts of his people to forge a world where all could thrive.

And who are your people? Adrien didn't have an answer.

---------------------

"Who's that?"

"Dunno. Anyone recognize him?"

"The hair is definitely new."

"Oh shit, that's Adrien Dupain-Cheng!"

"M Dupain-Cheng! M Dupain-Cheng!"

The doors closed blissfully behind him as the photographers got a camera full of the back of his head. He took a breath. Smiled. And opened his arms as he approached the mayor. "Mylène! Ivan!"

"Adrien!" Mayor Haprèle extricated herself from what was undoubtedly a riveting conversation about budgeting.

Adrien bowed low to Mylène as he took her hand but didn't kiss it. "A stunning dress Madame Mayor. I simply must know your tailor."

Mylène rolled her eyes but smiled. "Thanks for coming."

"Wasn't about to leave you to fend off the sharks by yourself," Adrien stage whispered.

Ivan chuckled as he stood imposingly behind his girlfriend.

"Ivan! How's the band?"

"Miss your..." Ivan gestured at all of him. "You."

"Even if I only have breakup songs?" Adrien grinned.

"Especially if you have breakup songs," Ivan said. "Is that why you got a haircut?"

"Sorta." Adrien's white hair was still shaved on the sides with a ponytail. He decided to keep it. It didn't go with his Ladybug themed suits but his Chat Noir ones? Oh heck yeah.

All black suit with green highlights and Chat Noir's symbol on the chest pocket and buttons. Green flame-like designs on the lapel. All he was missing was the tie because Adrien decided he didn't want to wear a tie.

Ivan also didn't want to wear a tie if the way he tugged at his collar was any indication. Other than that it seemed to fit the big man perfectly. As expected of Marinette's work.

But Mylène was definitely the standout. Her silver dress swirled with different patterns as it caught the light. Complimenting her short frame instead of trying to make up for it. And if you looked closely you could see mice running along the hem. Like Cinderella.

A figure caught Adrien's eye from across the room. A short black dress with a low red neckline. Knee high heels and gloves up to her elbows. Short black hair streaked with grey.

"Excuse me for a sec." Adrien grabbed two champagne glasses from a passing waiter as he approached.

"Oroku-sama, congratulations on your acquisition of KassKorp." Adrien offered her a glass.

Karai stared at him for a moment before taking the champagne. "M Dupain-Cheng, I almost didn't recognize you."

"Adrien, please."

"Are we on first name basis now, M Dupain-Cheng?" She sipped from her glass.

"Perhaps you've heard of my recent marital troubles. 'Dupain-Cheng' no longer feels appropriate." He swirled the champagne in his glass, watching the bubbles.

"I doubt you're here to commiserate on family legacy, Adrien."

"True. I hear your agents were repelled from China."

Karai stilled. Her free hand instinctively twitching toward a glove that no doubt concealed a knife. "China? The Oroku family has no presence in China."

Adrien held up his glass to watch the light through the champagne. "Not for lack of effort on your part."

Karai's eyes roved across the ballroom. Keeping the other guests in sight. "Straight to business then."

"There is certain information in Tsurugi Tomoe's private server vault that I wish to acquire."

"Your previous intel proved... Accurate."

"I'm glad you remember. Even if you chose to ignore my warnings."

Karai looked at Adrien as he let something slip in his voice. "You find our failure amusing?"

"Merely observing that the three toed dragon struggled with the five toed one."

"Perhaps I should pay back your dragon's generosity."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "When you have the ectoplasmic research of KassKorp to safeguard from O'Neal Tech?"

"Indeed." There was a question in her eyes that Karai did not voice. "Tsurugi Industries has some of the most advanced security on the planet. It will not be easy."

"That is why I hired a scalpel and not a hammer."

"It would be simpler if our dealings extended to the conference room."

"I don't mix business with other business."

"... You are known as a man of honor, Adrien. Even with the revelation about your country's greatest villain made public the majority sides with you. Ever since you approached my clan I have wondered: Why?"

Adrien stopped his fidgeting with the glass. "... Honor means different things to different people. I intend to take mine back."

Karai nodded. "That is familiar to me."

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Karai-sama," Adrien held out his hand which Karai took.

Slipping the chip he passed her into her glove.

Adrien set his untouched glass on another waiter's tray as he walked back to his friends.

"Now!" He clapped his hands. "Who are we relieving of their money?"

(Read the rest on AO3)

[lonely-shine]

Airia Q&A

Okay so, I recently did a Questions and Answers session about Airia on my Insta and I thought I could as well share the result here, since we got to see quite some tidbits of lore. I have put the majority of it under the cut because thing got long. Hope you enjoy! :D

Q: How do you feel about being a cyborg?

A: That is a difficult question. On one hand, this is a natural state for me. I have had cybernetics implanted on me since I was a baby. My formative years were filled with medical tests, procedures, and surgeries. I don't know any life or state of being that isn't this. 

On the other hand, I have been modified, without my knowledge or consent. I know my life has not been 'normal'. For a long time, I didn't even know what 'normal' was. I only knew my own life. Once I gained access to online spaces and I learnt what life looked like for other people, however, it was like… My life could have been so different. I'm not certain if better or worse, but different.

I have nothing against being a cyborg in on itself. I just… wish it had been my choice. I wish shething about my life had been my choice, instead of the ones of others.

Q: Are you aware of who created you, and for what purpose?

A: I do. I live in the lab facilities with the people who made me. I see some of them more than the others, and a couple of them abandoned the project or were replaced when I was too young to remember, but I know who they are, even if, emotionally speaking, I'm not close to them. 

The purpose of the project that made me was to test the limits of what cybernetics could do for humans. What it could enhance, what it could improve, what it could fix, what it could add… Because this project wasn't exactly legal and they had to keep my existence secret for a long time -and it was unlikely that they would be allowed another human subject even when it was revealed to the relevant institutions- I was a test subject for many different cybernetics, even when it didn't entirely make sense to add them together. 

The enhanced senses, for example, I can perfectly understand the utility of. My eye colour, on the other hand, seems to be merely aesthetic. My artificial skin could be useful for certain jobs, as it's more heat and corrosion resistant than human skin… but my hair literally melts with enough heat or corrosion, so it's not a property I could make use of... And this is without getting into the risk vs benefits of most implants, specially the brain ones.

Q: How do you feel about your "creators" and the modifications they gave you?

A: The way I feel about my 'creators' is… complex. 

I've read fiction about characters with similar experiences to mine: test subjects, cyborgs, androids… In these stories, they often rise up against their creators seeking vengeance. I find that, while some of my experiences are similar to those described in fiction, that isn't one of them.

I am not emotionally close to my developers. They have never acted as parental figures, nor mentors, nor friends (nurses and caretakers took some parts of these roles instead).  If anything, the role they assumed was closer to that of doctors. And as they currently exclusively hold my medical data, they're the only ones that can provide treatment and maintenance to me. I am completely dependable on them for healthcare while they see me more as a science project than an individual. It's… not a good feeling. I don't necessarily want them harmed or punished like it's often shown in fiction, and I certainly do not want to be the one delivering that punishment… But I wish I had options other than being forced to rely on them.  About the modifications, it bothers me that I never had any agency about it. 

They started long before I could understand or consent to them. And as I grew, they didn't bother to change that either. Even when I started to make questions, their answers were always short and didn't dwell on details. I've never had any power to stop them. 

There's many modifications about me that I don't understand why I've had. I can't be certain, since I don't have access to my own medical data, how many of those procedures and modifications were necessary or not, but I would presume a large amount of them weren't at all. I don't like that I have been changed without permission. I don't like that, by the time I could understand what they were doing to me, it was impossible to separate me from the cybernetics. 

I hate not knowing my own brain, not having access to some of my own features or the data about how my body and implants work. I don't necessarily hate my cybernetics or current existence in on itself, but I do hate how they came to be. And not knowing how much of my own thoughts are feelings come from me and how many could come from the brain implants that my developers can control remotely without needing me to even be aware… It doesn't feel good at all. 

Worst of all is, it's impossible to take some of the implants I have without risking irreparable damage or death. But I would like, at least, to be the owner of my own data, features, and processes, so that I could understand myself and not be further changed without my consent.

Q: Best and worst part(s) of being a cyborg?

A: The best thing about being a cyborg, huh? To be completely honest, I have rarely thought if the positives of it… 

Perhaps how I can connect and communicate with people anywhere on the world by just thinking of it? But I can't help but think that much of the same result could be achieved with a smart phone and a stable connection to the internet (which I still need even if I just use my implants and no external devices). 

Not only that, but it would be safer for me too. When someone connects to a public network, their device and the data stored in it might be at risk. If I did so, I might be putting my very self at risk -my implants have some of the stronger security systems to avoid any potential harm, but still.

The fact remains that I could still connect with other people through an external device without havin to worry about potential risks (which is mostly not an issue for me currently due to living in the lab facilities, which provide even more layers of security than my implants do… If any harm comes to me through remotely accessing my implants right now, the most likely is for it to come from the inside of the facilities). 

The worst would be that I depend on the people who built me for their own purposes for maintenance and healthcare. My life literally depends on people who see me as a lab project more than they see me as a human being. And they have exclusive power over not only my body, but my mind too. 

They can remotely access my implants. I can never know if they have changed something of who I am or not. I don't know where their modifications begin and I end. There's parts of myself that I don't even have access to, because they restricted it. 

In other circumstances, if I held control over my own implants, if I had access to my own records, if I had more options for maintenance and healthcare and people couldn't access my implants remotely at any time… I think wouldn't be as uncomfortable with the way I exist in the manner I often do now.

Q: What are your five senses like? Are they the same as before the implants? (touch, smell, etc.)

Many implants I've had from an early enough age that I don't remember clearly what my life was like before them. But the implants definitely affect my senses. 

My sight has been enhanced for as long as I can remember. I'm sure they let my sight develop naturally before modifying, but in my memories I've always had a sharp eye. 

My hearing has also been enhanced. This I did notice, as it wasn't always as it is now. There was a lot of tweaking about it. For a while it was painful, or I couldn't properly process the sounds, when they first tried on the implants. Eventually, though, they found a way to make enhanced hearing work. I am very sensitive to sound now and do badly in loud spaces. My room is sound-proof and I often carry noise-cancelling headphones with me. 

My smell is slightly enhanced, but not to the same level as my hearing is. I can identify smells better than the average, but it takes more of a conscious effort. 

My taste hasn't been altered, to my knowledge. As far as I know, it's average.

My touch is actually less sensitive than normal, since the first layer of my skin is artificial. It doesn't take much sensitivity away though. Mostly it feels like being touched through cotton fabric. I've never enjoyed skin-to-skin contact much, so I do not mind this. 

And although it isn't included in the 5 senses, I think it's worth it to talk about my sense of pain (nociception). Most of my pain receptors have been tampered with, artificially raising my pain threshold so I don't feel pain at all unless it's severe. This isn't me having learned to ignore it, I do mean it when I say I don't feel it at all. It is for this reason, since pain is an essential way our body communicates damage, that my artificial skin has iracutaneous light cells: they're programmed to light up in different patterns to communicate damage and sickness where pain cannot.

Q: Did you have to have implants replaced as you grew up? What was puberty like because of that?

A: I've had them fixed and maintained far more often than I've had them entirely replaced, but it has happened a few times. 

I know now that my growth has been completely different to that of others. Sometimes, some parts of me were allowed to develop naturally, sometimes my growth was forcibly accelerated or slowed down instead. This affected my puberty as well, naturally. At first they waited for it to run its course, but in the end they decided to integrate implants to keep an artificially created hormonal balance.

Q: Would your skin and eyes be naturally be these colours? Or were your genetics consciously altered?

A: They would not. I do not have access to my own genetic data, but I know my colours would not be like this naturally. 

My skin actually used to be pale and with warm undertones, and if I was exposed to sunlight more would have probably tanned to a light brown or beige. I'm unsure why they made my artificial skin paper-white, as not only is that not a natural skin colour, but it's also associated with the unnatural and scary. Perhaps my intracutaneous light cells work better with it? 

My eyes would have probably been the very dark brown kind that people call black. I'm unsure how they changed them, but now I can change their colour at will, although they can always change on their own to match the lights on my skin when I'm sick. I do not know why their default colour is blue and magenta. I don't even know if that was made on purpose or not. However, changing them to another colour for long periods of time quickly becomes straining, so I don't do that often. 

My natural hair, however, would still be black if I had it. I was born with very black hair and, once again, it's unclear to me why they had to change it for this artificial one I now have.

Q: Do you get to choose your hair and nail implants? Can you change them for fun or just when damaged?

A: I don't, unfortunately. They're supposed to be permanent and only changed -with identical sets- when damaged. I don't think my developers had 'fun' in mind when they made me, even when we have proof humans have been modifying their appearance since they were humans. 

I can, however, paint my nails and apply 'fake nails' over them to change their appearance.  My hair, on the other hand, it's pretty much unstylable. It will melt if enough heat is applied to it, and cutting it destroys its core, so aside from tying it up or leaving it loose there's not much I can do with it.

Q: Have you ever tried bubble tea? Which one(s) do you prefer? Or, if not, what drinks do you enjoy?

A: I haven't, but I would like to. I believe I would enjoy it, as I already love tea.

From what I've seen there's a great variety of bubble teas, but I would probably try the more classic options first, although I'm also interested in the ones with fruit. 

As I said, I enjoy tea, black and green specially, fruit and/or floral mixes as well. 

I also enjoy milkshakes, with chocolate milkshake being my favourite.

Q: Favourite weather/season

A: I like winter and early spring the most. The lab facility I live in has central heating and cooling systems, so the temperature is always kept stable on the inside, but I love the cool air from the outside. 

Winter feels very calm and peaceful as a whole, everything and everyone seem to be more quiet during winter. And I enjoy the snowy landscapes. 

Early spring feels nice, when sprouts and blooms slowly overtake the white of snow. There isn't much colour in the lab facilities, so it feels good that that isn't always the case for the world outside. 

As for weather, I prefer cool, dry weather and a clear sky. I function and feel the best in it.

Q: Do you like music? What kind?

A: I do enjoy music. I love calm instrumentals the most. Symphonics. Music that follows a clear and structure. I find it grounding when there's too much going on, to focus on something small and predictable. 

But I also enjoy music with lyrics, specially if they have a message that I resonate with. I find it hard to identify my feelings and put my experiences into words. It's sometimes easier to recognize them while relating to a song. 

That said, there's also music I do not enjoy at all. Anything too fast, or where there's too much playing at once, I find it deeply overwhelming.

Q: Does she have a surname? (And is it Starset XD)

[Note: answering this as an author and not in lieu of Airia, since this question is directed to me rather than her]

A: She doesn't, actually xD 

For a long time, she didn't even have an actual name, just an alphanumeric code identifying her as a specific project within the lab. 

Eventually, one of her caretakers named her Airia and her developers kind of rolled with it because it was easier and quicker to refer to her that way. Airia low-key thinks of her alphanumeric code as her surname (sad), but she might need to have a real one soon, now that her existence is slowly being made more and more public (she was kept in secret for quite some years, the project that made her what she is not being entirely legal, and the wider public only learnt about it a few years ago). I wonder if she'd be able to choose her own surname, if that's the case; she hasn't had the chance to choose much about herself as it is…

[collapsedsquid]

Maier’s book offers a new solution to this enigma. In his view, all the classical categories used to describe the twentieth-century state miss its central feature: its orientation around the notion of a project, which could weld business interests, the general population, and state bureaucrats under a single, long-term time horizon. What united Roosevelt’s America, Stalin’s Russia, Attlee’s Britain, Hitler’s Germany, Mao’s China, and Nkrumah’s Ghana, then, was not a diffuse totalitarianism or developmental ideology. Rather, it was their status as project states, which all “had a transformative agenda . . . based on authoritarian and even totalitarian as well as liberal and democratic coalitions seeking to reform sclerotic institutions or societies that seemed unacceptably unequal.” Project states thereby tended to “see society as a plasmic whole, sometimes in terms of elites and masses, knowable and controllable through statistical science, biological and legal interventions.” The specimen did not come without ancestors, of course—in Maier’s view, Napoleonic France and the wartime organization of the U.S. federal government in 1861 already exhibited embryonic signs of a later project state—yet “as a continuing and nonexceptional form of polity,” the new creature only “came into its own in the twentieth century.” Maier’s category thereby demarcates and unifies. The notion of a “project state” allows us to understand what Mao, Hitler, De Gaulle, Attlee, and Nkrumah had in common. Yet it also clearly separates the twentieth-century state from its pre-1914 antecedents. Although Maier’s state never fully abolished capital, it did have a productively agonistic relationship with it: it was able to both discipline and repel those that controlled investment and to direct or claim those resources for itself. It was a state made for and by warfare, yet not exclusively so. To the disgust of neoliberals and New Leftists, it had an eternally uneasy relationship with the public-private divide, both on the social and on the economic front, encouraging higher birth rates while compiling calorific tables. Above all, it was pitted against the nineteenth-century nightwatchman state, both as a reality and as a metaphor; public authority was to turn itself from a mere facilitator of economic commerce into an active choreographer of social movements. As Maier notes, the hustle and bustle of the traffic jam was replaced by the “ordered direction of the Riefenstahlian march”; under its baldaquin, masses would gather for coordination and instruction, in a rage for order that ran across the whole interwar period. Maier’s concept does not rule out internal differ­entiation, of course: “creating the fascist man who would live as a lion and not as a jackal was a different project than raising out of poverty ‘one third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished,’” and Stalin was surprised to see Churchill switch office with Attlee when negotiating the postwar order. Still, all its forms took an energetic, even invasive interest in the populations that fell under their control: the project state built the National Health Service, transported prisoners to Kolyma, incinerated Dresden and Nagasaki, birthed cybernetics and nuclear power, reduced infant mortality, and cartelized the coal industries. Here was an entity “addicted to transformative agendas,” with a lifespan as short as it was eventful: born somewhere between 1914 and 1929, gone between 1973 and 1991. By the close of the 1980s, Maier admits, the project state had given up on its project and was no longer capable of controlling the forces of private capital. It slowly gave up the role of sculpting society, instead leaving the field open to self-experimentation and the emerging entrepreneurs of the self. In the historian’s view, its “audacity repelled many at the time and certainly social historians in the century since, but the ambitions constituted a major historical force and deserve empathetic understanding.”

[depizan]

I should've been in bed over an hour ago, but I am dumb. Please enjoy (or "enjoy") another installment of Kyrian's career somehow going even worse in ficverse than in game.

Watcher X Escapes

Kyrian slowed the speeder to a stop outside the row of docking bays and shut off its engine and repulsor field. Not that either could have been heard over the heavy equipment loading the large freighter in the first bay.

It was a cargo port. Not one of Nar Shaddaa’s finest and not one of its grimiest. Some of the cargo being loaded might even have been legal in the civilized parts of the galaxy. Regular passenger services ran from Mezenti and Ducalon Spaceports, as did more reputable charter services. There were no fellow passengers here to get lost among, no crowds for Watcher X to disappear into, just a scattering of droids and dockworkers and a few guards in mismatched body armor.

Yet Watcher Two had been certain this was the port her long disgraced former colleague had chosen. Docking bay Isk-7, a short-range cargo shuttle bound for Hutta. How he’d contacted the pilot was just as much a mystery as how he’d disabled the cranial bomb that should have prevented his escape. He’d had access to far more than a prisoner should have, even one in so loose a prison as Shadow Town.

Watcher X—just X now that he was only an escaped prisoner?—wouldn’t quietly return to his quarters, no matter what Kyrian promised. He’d only aided the mission under threat of punishment from his conditioning; what loyalty he’d had to the Empire had ended with his imprisonment. He’d all but said as much.

Kaliyo glared at the guards as they passed, daring them to raise a weapon or object. They ignored her, focused only on the docking bay they protected.

No one spared them more than a quick appraisal as they made their way to Isk-7. With Kaliyo’s well-used armor and his dark clothing, they looked like they belonged. Just another ship captain or businessman and his bodyguard. That he was only armed with a blaster pistol at present simply added to that impression.

Infiltrating VerveGen had necessitated leaving his rifle and armorweave coat behind. There’d been no time afterward to retrieve them from Shadow Town. Not if they wanted any chance of stopping X’s flight.

Watcher Two certainly wanted them to. And Kaliyo was angry he’d used them.

Kyrian could see a corner of the blocky shuttle through the docking bay’s open doorway. It was the second time that day he’d been faced with a mission that had no hope of a peaceful resolution. VerveGen had been a mission to stop terrorists, a situation in which there’d truly been no other option, involving people who thought nothing of dooming others to a hideous death. Watcher X…

Kaliyo nudged him, none too gently. “C’mon, Agent. He’s getting away.”

Kyrian drew the blaster pistol and cautiously stepped through the doorway. If X had already boarded the ship, there would be little they could do.

The former watcher stood by one of the shuttle’s landing struts. He’d taken the time to clean up and change into sturdy spacer’s clothes. He looked ordinary, relaxed; even the cybernetics at his left ear and eyebrow wouldn’t have kept him from blending into any crowd.

He looked up almost as if he’d been expecting them.

“Scan your target,” he said, as coolly as ever. “Check him for weapons—held, concealed, improvised.” There was a holdout blaster clipped to his belt and something small in his left hand. “Now scan the rest of the area. Does he have allies? Are they hiding?”

Kyrian resisted the urge to look away from the man, to follow his direction and scan the docking bay for hiding places, for the shuttle’s pilot, for hired mercenaries. The bay had been empty save for the ship and X when he’d entered it. It was still empty.

“Are you outmatched without realizing?”

“Shut up,” Kaliyo snapped. “You’re just fucking with us.”

“I’m disappointed, Cipher.” X continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I offered you information that could have given you power over your masters.”

“Don’t even.”

“Your help was invaluable,” Kyrian said. “Perhaps something could be arranged.”

“Oh, Cipher, you know that isn’t possible.” He looked thoughtful. “I misjudged you. I offered you power, information most Ciphers would leap at. I should have offered you freedom.”

“Shut up!” Kaliyo repeated. “Drop your weapons, don’t try anything funny, and maybe we don’t shoot you.”

“Yes.” X nodded slightly. “You balked at our methods, shied away from the hard necessities of your work, offered soft, inefficient solutions. I should have realized you’re too young, too naïve to be an actual Cipher agent. You’re in over your head.”

“You’re stalling,” Kyrian said. “You know you can’t escape. Let me find another solution.”

X chuckled. “Even now, you hesitate. Would you like a way out? A traitor’s end is far less pleasant than my own was meant to be.”

“I’m loyal to the Empire.”

“Are you?”

“Just shoot him!” Kaliyo raised her blaster.

“You should have taken my offer.” His left hand moved.

White agony blazed up Kyrian’s spine. He didn’t hear his blaster clatter to the docking bay floor or feel the ground slam into him as he collapsed. There was nothing but all-consuming pain. Then cold darkness swallowed him.

.

Blurry shapes bent over him. Indistinct voices muttered. The world tilted, slipped sideways, and vanished.

.

When he finally came to, it was to the familiar antiseptic smell of an infirmary. He felt drained, his muscles rubbery, and there was a foul taste in his mouth. The pain had faded to a dull ache along his spine.

“I kinda thought you were dead,” Kaliyo said.

“You’re lucky you’re not.” The doctor was middle aged, her steely gray hair cropped short. She shook her head. “Those implants could just as easily have killed you.”

Kyrian sat up stiffly, the thin sheet pooling around his hips.

“Careful.” The doctor put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “You’d be in a kolto tank if I had any free.”

“Thank you.” He could think of nothing else to say.

The room was small, the walls Imperial gray, the overhead light just a little too bright. A monitor beside the bed helpfully displayed his vitals. Kaliyo slouched against the far wall, her arms folded.

“You look like shit, Agent.”

“I’ve had better days.”

“I know you Intelligence folks don’t listen to the rest of us, but don’t stick experimental tech in your spine in the future.” The doctor set a clear jar on the table next to the bed. The implants lay at the bottom, fine strands of wire curling out of them like the legs of dead insects.

Kyrian swallowed, suddenly queasy.

“Rest,” the doctor ordered. “Eat something when you’re able to. Keep kolto patches on those incisions until they’re healed and there shouldn’t be any scarring. You’ll be fully recovered in a day or two, if you manage not to do anything else foolish.”

Kaliyo snorted.

“I should have time to rest.”

“That wasn’t a suggestion,” the doctor said. “You’re not cleared for duty until you’ve fully healed. I’ll explain it to your superiors if I have to.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“Good.” She tossed a comm to him. “You’re to check in now that you’re awake.” The door closed behind her.

Kaliyo pushed off from the wall. “Bastard got away. You probably figured that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You gotta get smarter, Agent. That freak was right about one thing: you’re too soft. It’s gonna get you killed.”

Kyrian turned the comm in his hands. “I don’t think that’s what Watcher X intended.”

“Naw, he thought it’d be more fun to leave you screaming on a docking bay floor. People aren’t like you think, Agent.”

“I know.” He switched on the comm.

[sylphidine]

[Fic] Call Signs, Chapter 35

Fandom: Deltarune

‘Verse: Human AU

Pairings: Swatch/Spamton [Swatchton]; Spamton/T.M. [SpamManager or Tasqueton, not quite sure of the ship name]

Characters: Terese Marlena Tinker [previously T.M. Tanner], Catechu Dyer, Indigo Dyer, Spamton Addison, Swatch Paletta, Julius Dyer, Desiree Dyer, Kirov Rouvin

Rating: Mature

Chapter title: Bootstrapped Leitmotif

Chapter summary: Spring is newly sprung. Our cast of characters has some adjustments to make, some minor, some major.

Author notes: Wow, two chapters in a single week?

Happy International Fanworks Day.

No trigger warnings, but content warnings for present alcohol use and past dubious consent.

_________

T.M. had wasted no time in changing desire into action. After getting her mother to hand over all the official originals of the documents T.M. would need, she sent a notarized letter to Mrs. Tanner stating her request for a cessation of all unsolicited contact.

[T.M. had wanted to send the letter to the attention of "the future Mrs. Horseface Fucker", but Swatch and Spamton between them had talked her out of it.]

Letter sent, T.M. started the process of getting her name legally changed to Terese Marlena Tinker.

Washing dishes side by side with Catechu in Spamton's and Swatch's kitchen a few days later, she ticked off verbal bullet points to explain her thinking. “This is New York, the home of red tape. It’s gonna take months, no matter what the site says about six to eight weeks.  It’s probably better for me to get this nailed down before my job starts in July. Easier for HR, easier for any place where I end up signing a lease."

Indigo looked up from where he was finishing icing the brownies he'd made. "You're still going to be able to use TMT for your initials. That's smart. Keep your brand, kind of." 

"That's the idea."

Catto finished drying a plate and slotted it into the dish drain. Paying no attention to T.M.'s wet hands or the running water, he picked her up and twirled her around. "You're still my big sis, no matter what your name is. You can smack my head if I slip up and call you Tabsy."

"Same here. And chances are I'll mess up more than that galoot," added Indo, pointing at his twin. "He's had practice, at least."

"Oh? Do tell." Back on her feet now, T.M. abandoned the sink and moved to sit at the table, eyeing the brownies hungrily.

"Yeah, well, it's like this." Catechu rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Kendra's got a brother who used to be her sister, and now he's Emmett instead of Emily, and I don't always remember, so it's just easier for me to say 'Em' when I talk about her. Him, I mean."

This seemed to unlock some kind of heartfelt logjam, because Catto then burst out with, "I never had trouble when Swatch started wanting to be 'they'. So why is it so hard for me to hear you changing your name?"

Indigo looked at T.M., and she looked back at him. She got up and patted Catechu’s arm.

The big man was shaking. "Everything's changing, and I hate it."

The only thing T.M. could think of saying, "You both can still call me Tabsy."

Catto turned away and picked up another dish to dry that didn’t need to be dried. He said gruffly, “What the hell is taking Swatch and Spamton so long? There can’t be that many different kinds of cough drops at Pathmark.”

T.M. wisely did not point out that Swatch and Spamton had been gone less than ten minutes.

______

The two of them passed the registered letter back and forth.

ADDISON CYBERNETICS

1997 CIRCUIT DRIVE, SUITE 356

WHITE PLAINS, NY 10610

March 17, 2022

Dear Mx. Paletta:

Congratulations! I’m thrilled to extend an offer for our mask design internship in our Integrated Circuit Layout department at Addison Cybernetics.  

Your start date will be Monday, June 6, 2022. On your first day, you will report directly to Sam Chua. Your internship will take place between the hours of 9am and 4:30pm, with a cap at 48 hours per week should additional projects require it. 

We’re pleased to offer you a salary of $82.300 for the year’s internship, to be broken into weekly payments of $1582.69.  

At Addison Cybernetics, we pride ourselves on creating informative and rewarding experiences for our interns. That’s why you can look forward to receiving 1:1 mentorship, learning and development opportunities, and access to company privileges  

To accept this offer, please sign and return this letter by March 31, 2022. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to the team.

Sincerely, 

Anne Demetriou

Human Resources, Addison Cybernetics

AD/glb

“I can’t believe how fast they made up their minds.  I only interviewed a week ago.”

“It’s to the c-c-company’s benefit not to - not to waste time.”

“I don’t know whether to kiss this letter or to frame it.”

“The f-f-first thing you need to do with that letter is sign all three copies and date - date them, s-s-send two of’em back, and THEN you c-can kiss the last one and put it under - our pillow.”

“Good thinking.”

“B-b-but you do know they’re lowballing you, right?”

“How so?”

“They’re g-g-going to make you do a full engineer’s work for the absolute minimum they can - they can g-get away with.”

“I don’t care. It’s a foot in the door. Besides, most of the engineering internships I looked at last year before Fairlight got sick paid less than half that.” “Shit. I t-take it back. You’re gonna be a k-king, king.”

“Thank you.”

Spamton pulled Swatch down on top of him with surprising strength and kissed them fiercely. “So, so proud of you,” he murmured into Swatch’s hair. 

_________

"Hello, fellow dreamers, this is DJ Dreamweaver. Before we all cross tonight's highways of fantasy together, so I can help you forget today's pain, I've got two announcements to make.

“First, and on the trivial side, due to seasonal shift changes here at WRCI, I’m pleased to announce that the DJ Dreamweaver show will be moving next week, starting on the 29th, to the Tuesday evening 8pm to 10pm slot. DJ Zonker will be burning the midnight oil with you on Wednesdays in my place to help you survive the midweek blues.

"Second, and much more importantly, don't forget that WRCI, the Nifty 850, the station that rocks a whole square block, will have a booth at the Seeds of Peace Festival in Garlic Park next month on Saturday, April 8th, rain or shine. The Seeds of Peace Festival is a fundraiser for relief efforts in Ukraine. Eight DJs from WRCI, including yours truly, will be spinning tunes from 8am until midnight for a sixteen-hour dance marathon to raise money for Ukraine. Sign up sheets and pledge forms are available to download from our website, or else pick up your hard copy from DJ Kaard in his office at the Student Union during station hours.

“Now it’s time to open the show with the late and much-missed Tom Petty, backed by his Heartbreakers and Jeff Lynne, performing ‘Learning To Fly’.”

_________

The vibrant, art-filled walls of SpaHa Soul never failed to send a shiver of happiness down Swatch’s spine. The Friday night after they got their offer letter, they followed Uncle Julius to a corner glass-topped table, while Indigo pulled out a chair for Aunt Desiree. Catechu chatted with the guitarist setting up for the evening’s set and waved at Artist T., just emerging from the kitchen with plates for the group of diners in the opposite corner.

Uncle Julius had found this place about eight years ago and it had become THE go-to place for Dyer-Paletta family celebrations.   

And tonight they were here to celebrate Indo and Catto’s getting summer internships at the Wythe in Williamsburg, as well as Swatch’s internship.

“Chef’s choice tonight, sir,” Uncle Julius said to Artist T., after getting a hearty backslap from the proprietor. “All three of these fine young people, going out into the world and making their mark!”

“It’s a better world for you all being in it,” agreed Artist T., making a note on his pad and heading back through the swinging doors.

“I like the new glasses, honey,” Aunt Desiree commented to Swatch. “You look good in aviators, and brown is a nice color for you.”

Swatch nodded.”The tint’s helpful for cutting out blue light, and since I expect I’m going to be spending a lot more time in front of screens with the new job, I figured they were worth a splurge.”

On the other side of the table, Indo was listing off all the different areas in the boutique hotel where he and his twin would be working during their ten weeks. “I don’t know how I’m going to keep a straight face when I’m answering phones and directing calls to ‘Le Crocodile’. It’ll probably get easier after a while. At least ‘Bar Blondeau’ sounds more normal. Only thing I’m worried about is getting there on time every day.”

“Better than the commute would have been if we’d gotten the gig at The Ludlow. That commute would have been a real bitch.” Catto caught his mother’s glare and muttered, “Sorry, mom.  It would have been a real bear .”

Uncle Julius laughed and then turned to Swatch. “You’re going to be cutting it awfully fine, between graduation and starting this new job. You’d better start looking at apartments now if you don’t think your landlady will extend your lease past June.”

“I know. Even with a decent salary, I’m either going to have to spend all my time commuting or all my money on a shoebox to live in.” They realized that it sounded like they were complaining, and quickly added with a laugh in their voice, “Or I could ask my favorite aunt to use her real estate agent superpowers and her mad networking skills.”

“That’s the spirit,” Aunt Desiree answered. “We’re not going to leave you out in the cold, even if you have to stay with us for a month or so while you’re getting your feet under you. You’ve got family, don’t forget.

Swatch smiled back at her. “I will never forget that.”

“And don’t forget we’re proud of you. All three of you,” Uncle Julius interjected, waving his hand to include his sons. “Not a bad apple in the bunch.”

“Thanks, Pop,” Indo replied for himself and for his brother. “Especially thanks for being such a good sport about us not working at Ambit Automation.” “Oh, you boys might still end up there if the economy tanks. Luxury disappears, but people always need manufacturing. Look at the Brooklyn Navy Yards. That’s as big a comeback as the Jazz beating the Nuggets.”

“But the boys are using their degrees,” Aunt Desiree pointed out. “Degrees that you and I both approved of, husband mine.”

“Yes, dear.”

At that moment Artist T. and Amber swooped in with platters of fried chicken, stuffed pork chops, coconut rice, spicy yams, and collard greens, enough to feed an army.

Catechu raised his glass. “To family.”

Four glasses clinked against his.

________

“Tell me more about these buff birdmen in corsets,” T.M. teased.

Spamton chuckled in embarrassed remembrance. “They weren’t  actually b-b-birds. They wore bird masks. Like - like beaks. Sexier than plague d-d-doctors.”

“So you turned your living room into an adults-only butler cafe for your twentieth birthday party.”

“I’m not - not pr-proud of who I was then. I didn’t - didn’t br-break the ‘no touch’ rule, but I did - I did ogle a lot.”

“You weren’t a complete sleaze, I guess.”

“Thank you, Trez.”

The first time Spamton had fumbled his words while trying out T.M. 's new name, “Terese” had come out of his mouth as “Trez”. To his relief and delight, she had happily adopted it as a nickname.

She was curled up in the basket chair in the upstairs room that Swatch had named “Spamton’s eyrie”. He was sitting on the floor and had his head in her lap while she played with his hair. Spamton had taken the advice of his current therapist and was now giving T.M. some of the edited “highlights” of his checkered past.

HEAVILY edited. 

“I c-could do the flexing thing, if you wanted. But I don’t think it would b-be quite as impressive as those g-guys.” He got to his knees and raised his face to meet her kiss.

They hadn’t moved beyond kissing yet, and T.M. seemed perfectly happy with that. She told him how much she enjoyed how carefully he kissed her. “Some guys think they have to be rough because I’ve got piercings, like it’s a challenge.”

Spamton was fairly sure that she knew he was careful only because he didn’t have a lot of experience kissing people with piercings, but she was too courteous to say so.  The snakebite bothered him less and less the more often they kissed, since her daily jewelry consisted of the tiniest of studs. 

The sound of the front door downstairs opening and shutting made them both smile. “Up here!” Spamton called out, sitting back down on the rug.

Swatch called back, “Are you decent?” as they climbed the stairs.

“Yes, and we’re even dressed!” T.M. trilled. This exchange had become the three’s shared joke.

“How was - how was d-d-dinner?”

“Fabulous. Real, honest-to-God soul food, in more ways than one.” Swatch took Spamton’s desk chair and turned to sit backwards on it. “My aunt and uncle send their love.”

“I gotta go down to Queens soon and just have a girly day with Desiree. It’s long overdue.” “Mmmm-hmmm. And maybe you can pick her brain about apartment-hunting. As Uncle Julius reminded me, graduation’s just around the corner.”

“Yeah.”

Spamton changed the subject to stave off the panic he felt at the idea of these two leaving him just when he'd found them. “N-now that all three - all three of us are here, c-can I ask both for a - a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Yeah, of course. Ask away, Short Stuff.”

“C-can you both sit in with me in the stu-stu-studio for the first leg of my radio show next week? I’m going to try something d-d-d-different and I kind of - kind of need both of you there.”

T.M. looked across at Swatch and nodded. Swatch got up and pulled Spamton to his feet and into a hug. With a suspicious raspiness in their voice, they said, “We’ll be there.”

_________

“I printed two copies, just in case you didn’t get a chance to.”

“Thank you, schwitthott.” T.M. took one of the sheets from Swatch and started reading. 

The two of them stood in the hallway of the student union, just outside the doors of WRCI’s main studio, waiting for Spamton. The dinnertime DJ was playing J-pop.

“He said this was your idea?” Swatch asked.

“Kind of. I mentioned I have a set of ‘go to hell’ playlists that I rotate through to cope with stuff. This timeline stuff though, that’s all 100% our lad’s doing.” T.M. smiled fondly.

“Our lad.  I like that. Not ‘lad’ like he’s our kid. but like we’re all lads together.”

“Uh huh.”

Swatch leaned against the wall and sighed. “So you know that he was homeless for a while, after… well, after everything.”

She nodded. “It explains a lot about his food issues. As horrible as it might sound, I’m really, really happy that it wasn’t what I first thought.”

“Oh?”

“I thought Spamton had the same thing going on that I did with my dad. At least the whole power-trippy withholding food thing so I had to hoard stuff. Trust me, I would have put at least one of his siblings through a wall if that’s what had happened.”

“Remind me never to wander down a dark alley with you when you’re pissed off with me, Moggy.” 

Swatch straightened up when they saw Spamton walking down the hallway towards the other two. 

T.M. murmured, “It’s showtime.” 

When he reached them, Spamton stretched up and gave each a kiss on the cheek. “Let’s - let’s do this thing.”

______

“Welcome to the premiere of the Tuesday night version of the DJ Dreamweaver show. Normally I give a little bit of background on what I’ve chosen for the night’s selections. This time around, I’m going to let the music do the talking. Thanks for listening.”

T.M. sat beside Spamton on one side of the booth, headphones on, ready to help him with the potentiometers for segues and fade-ins. Swatch sat on the opposite side, just there to listen and to give moral support. Spamton had mentioned that the playlist was less than an hour long, so Swatch would have plenty of time to leave before the extra Tuesday night shift they’d picked up at Plato’s.

They picked up the printed sheet of paper and started to read along with the lyrics Spamton had typed out, as well as Spamton’s notes as to why he’d put particular songs in his “timeline”. 

THE LOGICAL SONG - SUPERTRAMP

[ Self-explanatory, the little kid I was, and my boarding school days ]

When I was young

It seemed that life was so wonderful

A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical

And all the birds in the trees

Well they'd be singing so happily

Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me

But then they sent me away

To teach me how to be sensible

Logical, oh responsible, practical

And then they showed me a world

Where I could be so dependable

Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical

There are times

When all the world's asleep

The questions run too deep

For such a simple man

Won't you please

Please tell me what we've learned

I know it sounds absurd

Please tell me who I am

NUMB - MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

[That’s when it started to hit me that I had a lot to live up to, being a part of the Addison family. Perfect set-up for Mike to step in]

One track mind like a goldfish

Stuck inside my Petri dish

I can't breathe and I can't smile

This better be worth my while

I feel numb most of the time

The lower I get the higher I'll climb

And I will wonder why

I got dark only to shine

Looking for the golden light

Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice

Burn, burn, burn bright

Forego families, forego friends

It's how it started, how it ends

I can't open up and cry

'Cause I've been silent all my life

JUST LIKE YOU - THREE DAYS GRACE

[ all the accusations I threw back at my brothers and sister before breaking with them ]

I could be mean

I could be angry

You know I could be just like you

I could be fake

I could be stupid

You know I could be just like you

You thought you were standing beside me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

You thought you were there to guide me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

I could be cold

I could be ruthless

You know I could be just like you

I could be weak

I could be senseless

You know I could be just like you

On my own, cause I can't take living with you

I'm alone, so I won't turn out like you

Want me to

You thought you were standing beside me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

You thought you were there to guide me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

THE SANITY ASSASSIN - BAUHAUS

[Mike and all his lies. Hindsight’s 20/20, huh?]

Sinister echoes clutching at straws

Letter boxes screaming

You try to pin him to the wall

You end up on the ceiling

Locked in a dome

The shadows flicker by

He's the madcap pusher

Delirium the drug he's dealing

You empty yourself once again

But he's always one step ahead

He whispers in your ear

was it nothing that you said

He's walking in your sleep now

He keeps your fat paranoia well-fed

The sanity assassin

Stays up all night stalking

The sanity assassin

Picks off victims like flies

The sanity assassin

Let his fingers do the walking

He drops a capsule in your drink

And spikes your dreams with madness

I GOT YOU - SPLIT ENZ

[Deluding myself that Mike actually gave a damn about me]

I got you - and that's all I want

I won't forget - that's a whole lot

I don't go out - not now that you're in

Sometimes we shout - but that's no problem

Look at you - you're a pageant

You're everything - that I've imagined

Something's wrong - I feel uneasy

Reassure me - tell me you're not teasing

There's no doubt - not when I'm with you

When I'm without - I stay in my room

Where do you go - I get no answer

You're always out - it gets on my nerves

I don't know why sometimes I get frightened

You can see my eyes, you can tell that I'm not lying

But I don't know why sometimes I get frightened

You can see my eyes, can you tell me you're not lyin'

WHAT DO ALL THE PEOPLE KNOW? - THE MONROES

[The year of the trade show circuit]

You know I told you once tonight

That you could always speak your mind

You work so hard to say what's right

I watch you do it all the time

And when I called you on the phone

You said that I could be the one

But here I'm standing all alone

And you're out lying in the sun

Tell me, am I getting in too deep?

Every night I'm talking in my sleep

Lately I’ve been so confused

I really don't know what to do

Could you be the one I'm thinking of?

Could you be the one I really love?

All the people tell me so

But what do all the people know?

Maybe we're just holding on

To something that'll soon be gone

Do you think I'm blind to what you do?

Do you think I really care for you?

Do you think that we both should let it show?

Do you think that we both should let it go?

Or is it just another game that you and I pretend to play?

All the people tell me so

But what do all the people know?

UNKNOWN SOLDIER - BREAKING BENJAMIN

[Being lost in my own mind at the Pandora Palace for however long that was after the trade show circuit ended. I’m never going to get that time back.]

Border line,

Dead inside.

I don't mind,

Falling to pieces.

Count me in, violent

Let's begin, feeding the sickness.

How do I simplify,

Dislocate - the enemy's on the way.

Full of fear,

Ever clear.

I'll be here,

Fighting forever.

Curious,

Venomous,

You'll find me

Climbing to heaven.

Never mind,

Turn back time.

You'll be fine - I will get left behind.

It only hurts just once.

They're only broken bones.

Hide the hate inside.

Show me what it's like

To dream in black and white,

So I can leave this world tonight.

RUSTED FROM THE RAIN - BILLY TALENT

[life on the streets after he threw me away]

You hung me like a picture/Now I'm just a frame

I used to be your lapdog/Now I'm just a stray

Shackled in the graveyard/Left here to decay

DEATH ON TWO LEGS - QUEEN

[Finally starting to blame Mike rather than myself, during that second homeless winter just before Ballew found me]

You suck my blood like a leech

You break the law and you breach

Screw my brain 'til it hurts

You've taken all my money

And you want more

Misguided old mule with your pigheaded rules

With your narrow minded cronies

Who are fools of the first division

Talk like a big business tycoon

You're just a hot air balloon

So no one gives you a damn

You're just an overgrown schoolboy

Let me tan your hide

A dog with disease

You're the king of the sleaze

Put your money where your mouth is, Mister Know-All

Was the fin on your back

Part of the deal? (Shark)

Death on two legs

Tearing me apart

Death on two legs

You never had a heart (you never did)

Of your own (right from the start)

Insane, should be put inside

You're a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride

Should be made unemployed

Then make yourself null and void

Make me feel good (I feel good)

[The first therapist I saw on Dr. George’s advice told me to start writing letters to my old Big Shot self as though they were a separate person, so that’s the last three songs. Maybe I’ll get closure, some day.]

PAID IN FULL - SONATA ARCTICA

It's hard for me to love myself right now,

I've waited, hated, blamed it all on you...

It's hard for me to love your face right now

I'm waiting, hating, needing being

Me...

I need you...less and less...

Every day leads us farther away...

From that moment

It’s hard for me to hate myself right now

Finally I'm understanding me

SUNSHINE - BARENAKED LADIES

Most of us, have learned to trust

What we see with our own eyes

But with blinders on you hardly realize

That out of view, it's still true

Even when no one's around

We can stumble and fall down

It's just as well, It's hard to tell

Cause my hindsight's crystal clear

But the view from then's not like the view from here

If you are passed through a looking glass

The important parts appear

But the details start to smear

I ran fast, but I came last

'Cause although I set the pace

It was rigged from the start that I'd lose this race

Sunshine burns your skin

Sometimes the things we love so much just eat us up from the outside in

Oceans blue will drown

I could find a way to live with your ghost but I won't be happy till I leave this town.

GOODBYE TO YOU - SCANDAL

Those times I waited for you seem so long ago

I wanted you far too much to ever let you go

You know you never got by your fear to choose

And I guess I never could stand to lose

It's such a pity to say

Goodbye to you

Goodbye to you

How could I have loved someone like the one I see in you

I remember the good times baby now, and the bad times too

These last few weeks of holding on

The days are dull, the nights are long

Guess it's better to say

Goodbye to you

Goodbye to you

Goodbye to you

Goodbye to you

'Cause baby it's over now

No need to talk about it

It's not the same

My love for you's just not the same

And my heart, and my heart

And my heart can't stand the strain

And my love, and my love

And my love won't stand the pain

Goodbye baby

So long darling

Goodbye to you

Spamton nodded at T.M. about halfway through Patti Smith’s final chorus, letting her know that he was getting ready for his talkback. She nodded back and cued up “Solsbury Hill” and “Scarecrow’s Dream” for him, as well as digging up an advertisement for Janovic Express to play at the quarter of the hour.

Swatch dug out the painted signboard they’d made and held it up wordlessly so that Spamton could see it.

You Are Loved. And You Are Stronger Than You Know. Never Forget That.

Spamton blew Swatch a silent kiss in return. 

Swatch left a few minutes later to go do their shift. T.M. stayed another half-hour and then slipped Spamton a note telling him to meet her down at Plato’s Cave.

There were plenty of spots open at the bar, but the one in the dead center of the ten or so stools was taken up by a reddish-haired stranger who looked like Sid the Sloth from ICE AGE. And he was following Swatch’s every move with his bugged-out eyes.

T.M. thought of Spamton’s bird-masked buff butlers in corsets and giggled to herself, picturing Swatch in that kind of outfit. This had to be that freshman who Swatch said was a fixture on Wednesday nights. How the kid had figured out that her bestie was on duty tonight, she didn’t have a clue, but she got the devilish urge to mess with the guy’s mind a little.

She sat herself down at the farthest end of the bar and put her purse on the seat beside her to reserve it. When Swatch came over to take her order, she whispered, “When Spamton gets here, give him the old ‘your usual, sir?’ routine. And then follow my lead.”

Swatch caught on swiftly and gave her a wink while asking in their clearly audible customer service voice, “May I suggest a Blue Moon for the young lady?”

“Oooooh, that sounds yummy,” T.M. squealed in her best imitation of some of the airheads she had loathed in high school.

“Very good. I’m certain you won’t be disappointed.”  Swatch moved away to get her a bottle and a glass.

Blue Moon was a fruitier beer than she usually drank, but it had the benefit of being known for putting lightweights under the table.

T.M. was no lightweight, but she was a fantastic actress.

The things we do for love , she thought to herself.

________

Spamton hit the switch for the cold open after his final talkback, unhooked the vocoder, hung up his headphones, and queued up the next few selections for segue for the DJ who would be following him. 

It seemed to him that time was moving both at a snail's pace and in the blink of an eye. The past few weeks had established a new status quo in his life and had brought about changes that were cementing the groundwork of his partners' lives.

Partners, plural.

He still had to grin and hug himself at the thought of having partners. Equal partners. No bloody power imbalance. No secrets. No head games. No possessiveness. No jealousy.

The new love didn't outshine the old. He didn't love Swatch any less now that he had Trez to love as well.

His heart sank, though, as he crossed the floor of Plato’s Cave and saw Kirov Rouvin seated at the bar. He was obviously trying to engage Swatch in flirtatious banter while Swatch was trying to juggle drinks and food orders for several other customers.

Including bringing another bottle of beer to one very familiar girl with golden contact lenses and blue tips at the ends of her hair. They put it down in front of her and said in an unnecessarily loud voice, “I’m afraid I will need to cut you off after this one, miss.”

Was T.M. drunk?  He hurried over to the seat beside her and looked anxiously into her face.

She tittered at Swatch’s comment, and then turned to face Spamton, her eyes stone cold sober while she grinned inanely.

Ah.

Not sure what’s going on here, but I’ll play my part.

He pulled himself up onto the barstool, pretending to ignore T.M. and waiting for Swatch to approach him, in the meantime keeping an eye on Kirov.  The young Chechen had yet to see Spamton, since Kirov’s eyes were fixed on Swatch.

Swatch finally finished with their flurry of transactions and came over to Spamton.  “The usual, my good man?” they asked him, the mellifluousness in their voice turned up to eleven.

Feeling like a celluloid hero, he replied, “Yes, indeed!”

And Swatch leaned over the bar and kissed Spamton on the forehead.

Applause broke out from the tables behind him and seemed to rouse T.M. from her state of faux -inebriation. “Hey, I wan’ some of that,” she slurred, standing up.

Kirov’s face was red and his eyes were narrowed into angry slits. Spamton sighed to himself and thought, might as well go for broke.

“It’s constitutionally impossible for me to refuse a lady.” He extended a hand to T.M. in the time-honored fashion of asking someone to dance, and she placed her hand.in his, not forgetting to loop her purse over her wrist. Clasping her around the waist, he began to circle her around the floor while crooning the song that came to mind when he saw the empty bottle on the bar.

Blue moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue moon

You knew just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

The impromptu waltz had them near enough to the doors to make a dramatic exit. Spamton called over T.M.’s shoulder to Swatch, “I’m going make sure this dolly gets home in one piece. See you there, sweetie?”

“Sure thing, darling," Swatch replied.

The wolf whistles and catcalls were cut off as the heavy oaken doors closed behind them.

Once outside, T.M. immediately shed her drunken lolling posture. “God, that was fun. And hopefully that stops any more workplace harassment for Swatch.”

“You are br-brilliant as well as b-b-b-beautiful.”

Now that he no longer had to channel both Cary Grant and Fred Astaire at the same time, Spamton was feeling the adrenaline that had sustained him all night starting to drain away.  It was good to see with his own eyes that Swatch hadn’t been exaggerating Kirov’s increasing creepiness, and T.M.’s little maneuver was better than anything he could have come up with.

T.M. noticed the change in his mood and asked, “Are you going to be able to relax after all this?”

He took a minute to think about it so  that he could answer her honestly. “N-not right away, no.”

“Do you trust me?”

He didn’t even have to think for a second. “Yes.”

“Come with me, then. I’ll text Swatchy so that they don’t wait up and worry.”

TO: BIRDMAN

FROM: MOGGY

taking spamton to the invisible castle

FROM: BIRDMAN

TO: MOGGY

See you both in the morning. Be safe.

[hollymbryan]

Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read CITY OF VICIOUS NIGHT by Claire Winn! #tbrbeyondtours

Hello and welcome to Book-Keeping! I’m happy today to be hosting a spot on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog + bookstagram tour for the conclusion to the Requiem Dark duology by Claire Winn, City of Vicious Night! I’ve got all the details below, plus my top 5 reasons to read the book/series.

About the Book

title: City of Vicious Night (Requiem Dark #2) author: Claire Winn publisher: Flux release date: 23 May 2023

For the most hated crew on Requiem, the only way out is up. It’s been four months since runaway heiress Asa crash-landed on the matriarchal outlaw colony Requiem, bringing a nasty AI and a host of deadly secrets with her. Now, she runs with her almost-girlfriend Riven’s smuggler crew, stealing kisses between gunfights and heists. But when a mysterious hacker sabotages their latest job, other gangs turn against them, blaming them for the destruction the rogue AI caused. Nowhere in the city is safe. The only way to protect their crew is a series of trials for control of an underworld faction–and vying for a matriarch’s throne is a dream Riven can’t let go. But as the trials intensify, the saboteur hounds Asa and Riven’s every step, determined to kill Asa and right her father’s wrongs. When the saboteur reveals a horrific conspiracy threatening all of Requiem–one involving the crew member they thought they’d lost–the girls must decide whether to risk their own skins for a city that loathes them.

Content Warning: death, violence, body horror, references of sexual assault

Add to Goodreads: City of Vicious Night (Requiem Dark #2) Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Claire Winn spends her time immersed in other worlds—through LARP, video games, books, nerd conventions, and her own stories. Since graduating from Northwestern University, she’s worked as a legal writer and freelance editor. Aside from writing, she builds cosplay props and armor, tears up dance floors, and battles with boffer swords.

Connect with Claire: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Top 5 Reasons to Read

I had wanted to read the first book in this duology, City of Shattered Light, since it came out but hadn’t done so yet, so I loved getting to binge this series for this tour! What amazing fun this set is! Below are my top 5 reasons to read City of Vicious Night, which really goes for the whole series, just FYI.

1. These books are such a great example of both sisterhood and the power of female friendships. Asa would do absolutely anything to save her sister Kaya, and book 2 really digs deeper into their sisterhood.

2. We have an incredible group of misfits and outlaws that are an amazing example of why I love the found family trope so much! Riven, Asa, Ty, Samir, Diego, Kaya...I love them all separately but together they’re unstoppable!

3. I love the LGBTQ+ rep in this series; kind of like in the best TV show ever, Schitt’s Creek, it’s just a version of the world in which people are what they are and love who they love and there’s not really any need for explanation or justification.

4. We’ve got heists and deadly competitions -- in space! Enough said.

5. AI, cybernetics, and spaceships, oh my! Seriously, everything we love about cyberpunk sci-fi is here and I just love the world Claire Winn has created with this series.

Really there are more reasons to read this (both kick-butt and ridiculously smart women, budding romance, the sweetest pup) but these are my top 5. I hope you’ll check out the Requiem Dark duology today! Both books were 5-star reads for me.

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this tour.

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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[queen-scribbles]

Gamble

12. possessive hand-holding [Kayris/Atton]

----

Kayris hadn’t really wanted to return to Nar Shaddaa. It didn’t strike her as a particularly wise move, between the bounty hunter truce being gone and the bounty on Jedi(given there were several on her ship now), it struck her as high risk. But there were parts they needed to fix the hyperdrive--and Bao-Dur’s arm--that were unavailable through more legal means. It was a gamble, but one they needed to make, and part of her knew it.

So she had caved--reluctantly, and only when Atton, Mira, and Bao-Dur had all ganged up to argue for the stop.

“We can’t chase Revan into parts unknown if the Hawk doesn’t even work,” Atton had pointed out.

“Fine,” she’d sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

His expression softened. “It’ll be a quick stop, Ris. ‘Specially now that we have the credits to grease palms an’ expedite things.” He’d taken her hands, given a reassuring squeeze paired with a smirk. “Hell, maybe the bounty hunters’ll be too busy killin’ each other to notice we’re there.”

“We can but hope,” she’d deadpanned, remembering their last visit in vivid detail.

Even once they landed and she, Atton, and Mira were headed down the ramp, civilian-attired rather than Jedi robes to blend in, Kayris had a bad feeling that made it difficult to relax.

“You’re gonna stand out if you’re all twitchy, Ris.” Mira nudged her with an elbow. “I know a guy for the ship parts, always well stocked. Not like we’ll hafta go on a scavenger hunt, and we can even afford to give him a bonus for speed.”

“And what about the parts for Bao-Dur’s arm?” Kayris asked, picking at the hilt of her lightsaber(even if that defeated the point of wearing a duster to conceal it).  “Does he stock those, too?”

“No,” Mira conceded, “but there’s another guy who should-”

“And since I think I know who you’re talkin’ about, I’ll handle that one,” Atton interjected. “Too big a group’ll draw more attention. Kuin, right?”

Mira nodded, looking impressed. “Yep. So we’ll get the ship parts, you’ll get the cybernetic parts, meet up... back here? At the cantina?”

“Back here is better, if we’re trying to make this a short stop, isn’t it?” Kayris said, then smirked teasingly at Atton. “We let him loose in a cantina, it’ll be anything but short.”

“Hey, now,” he protested with a smirk of his own. “It’s not my fault a lot of people are worse at pazaak than alcohol makes them think they are.”

“But it is that you don’t stop,” she countered, arching a brow.

“True,” Atton said with a shrug and laugh.

“So back here it is,” Mira spoke up to keep them on track. They all agreed, then split off to their tasks.

---

Acquiring the ship parts went faster than Kayris--or Mira--expected. Apparently money talked even louder than it used to.

“Maybe you should check if flyboy’s done yet,” Mira suggested, lifting the rucksack of hyperdrive components. “Kuin’s chatty; it’s entirely possible he has yet to extricate himself.”

Kayris snorted a laugh. “And he volunteered for that risk?” She closed her eyes and reached out with the Force, picking through the abundance of life signs for his in particular. Better than pinging his comm if that bad feeling in her gut was there for a reason beyond paranoia. “Yeah, he’s not at the landing pad. I think we need to go rescue him.”

“Lead the way, boss.”

“Me? I don’t know where we’re going,” Kayris pointed out.

“Right. This way.” Mira took the lead, guiding toward the spread of shops between the docks and red light sector. It wasn’t a long walk, but it was a winding one--down a couple of alleys off of alleys. And one of Kayris’ eyebrows arched upon ducking into the small shop, because Kuin was a female Mirialan; very pretty and flirting very hard with Atton.

Who was playing along without really encouraging(not by his standards), but Kuin was either missing the not interested hints or taking them as a challenge.

Let’s make it a little more obvious... Kayris decided as she crossed the shop’s interior to join Atton at the counter, a swirl of... something in her gut. Not jealousy, she trusted him--especially after Malachor. But something affronted the woman wasn’t taking the hint was willing to make a risky move.

“There you are,” she said with a light laugh, slipping her hand into Atton’s and giving a squeeze as she shot Kuin a very polite smile. “I was beginning to worry you fell off an edge or something.”

Atton chuckled in response to the teasing. “No, just chatting.” He linked his fingers between hers and squeezed back. “That was fast.”

“Dol’rek was havin’ a slow day,” Mira spoke up, perusing a row of wire spools with studied detachment. “He was very interested in helping us get what we needed. Hey, Kuin.”

“Mira.” Kuin smiled, the motion crinkling the cybernetics along her cheekbone.  “Was wondering where you got to.”

“You can thank my new friend for that.” Mira waved toward Kayris, who took the cue to introduce herself.

“Kayris. I see you had what we need.” She tipped her head toward the small package in Atton’s other hand. “I have a friend who’ll be very grateful for that, thank you.”

“That’s what I was telling her,” Atton said, leaning his shoulder into hers. “And that I’m glad I didn’t have to go hunting all over the moon to find it.”

“Happy to be of service,” Kuin said, glancing furtively at their joined hands(they both clocked it). A blue light flickered on one of her implants. “Keep me in mind the next time you need somethin’, huh?”

“We will,” Kayris said, “But right now we should be going.”

“Right.” Kuin bit her lip, as she nodded. “Thanks for the business.”

Kayris just nodded and didn’t let go of Atton’s hand as they headed for the door, a grip she noted he also maintained. She internally sighed with relief her gamble had been correct; he didn’t think she was just being clingy.

“Thank you,” he breathed, once the three of them were an alley turn away from the shop and there was no risk of being overheard.

“For what?” Kayris shot him an amused look.

“Getting me out of there-”

Mira cackled. “Forgot how chatty she is, huh?”

“Yeah.” He slipped his hand free and draped his arm around Kayris’ shoulders instead. “Also for not being too weird about how hard she was coming on.”

Kayris shrugged and leaned in against him as they walked. “I figure if a Sith held together by hate and trying his damnedest to kill you couldn’t break us up, a flirty shopkeep wouldn’t either.” She glanced at Mira. “Even if you did say Kuin was a guy-”

“In the catchall sense of providing a service or product regardless of gender,” Mira retorted before she’d even finished teasing. “Never dreamed she’d try to steal your man. She used to have better taste.”

Kayris and Atton sent her matching flat looks, which just made her laugh, before Atton commented, “The hand-holding was a nice touch, saved me from bein’, um--”

“Rude?” Mira supplied. “Boorish?”

“Direct. Not that those haven’t worked for me before....” He shrugged when Mira rolled her eyes. “Hey, I figure having contacts here who don’t hate us might come in handy, ya know?”

“He has a point, Mir,” Kayris chipped in.

“Shocker, you’re siding with him,” Mira said with a laugh.

“Not siding, agreeing. Wary as I might be of stopping here, having some merchants who think well of us isn’t a bad idea.”

“Sure, sure, now can we hurry it up, lovebirds?” She jostled the rucksack slightly. “This is gettin’ heavy.”

“No one’s holding you back, Mir,” Kayris said playfully. “Go ahead, we’re right behind you.”

“You kids behave,” Mira snarked as she settled the rucksack and picked up her pace.

“Yes, Mother,” Kayris and Atton chorused, then grinned at each other. Despite the joking--and rude gesture Mira flashed over her shoulder--the two of them didn’t say much for the rest of the walk.

It wasn’t until they were back aboard the Hawk and a near-tangible weight seemed to lift from her shoulders that Atton flashed Kayris a smirk and tugged her along to the cockpit.

She didn’t need much convincing, though she did lodge a token protest. “I should help-”

“I just need a minute.”

Kayris arched a brow when he sealed the door.

“I don’t need Mira of your fanclub hearin’ me get sappy--wipe that grin off your face, Ris,” he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

She tried to look innocent, but given he could sense her amusement through the Force, it probably wasn’t very convincing. “Sorry. What did you need?”

Atton sighed, raked a hand through his hair. “I meant it, y’know. About appreciating you not being upset that Kuin was flirting. Most women I’ve met wouldn’t have taken it nearly so in-stride.”

“Yes, well...” Kayris took his hands in hers and smiled. “Most women you’ve met aren’t Jedi who can sense you weren’t reciprocating the attention-”

“Oh, right, Jedi are weird,” he deadpanned.

“You’re one now, too, remember.” She ran her thumbs over his knuckles. “And aside from that, I could tell from your body language you weren’t into it-”

“I’ve taught you well,” he drawled.

“Atton, I’m being serious” --the snicker shaking her shoulders undercut the remonstrance-- “and I meant what I said; I trust that you aren’t going anywhere.” Kayris grinned and squeezed his hands. “I know you’re all mine.”

“Long as you’ll put up with me,” Atton joked, but there was a deeper emotion shining in his eyes. 

Her grin widened and she shuffled closer. “That a challenge, Rand?”

He smirked and leaned in until the tips of their noses brushed. “And if it is?”

She kissed him, slipped one hand free to cup the back of his neck and hold him close. I like a challenge.

His chuckle as he kissed her back hinted he’d heard the thought.

So she spent a few more minutes kissing him before she slipped away to help with the repairs. The sooner they could leave the better. For several reasons.

[vesper-roux]

Height Comparison Tag Game

Nicking this from @author-a-holmes [HERE]

Tagging: Anyone and everyone who sees this post and has OCs. If I can do it from an open tag, so can you. :) Let me see.

Link to the Height Comparison Website

How To Play: List the heights of your OCs, add any notes you'd like, and make a chart

I'm personally going to do multiple WIPs, limiting it to the MCs/some major characters. I also listed them from shortest to tallest in their respective WIPs.

It'll get long, so it's under the cut

Anthem

Willow: 5' / 152 cm. The shortest of the bunch and short by overall cultural standards. Where does it come from? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (It's because the only reason Will continues to live is because of vis life/energy stealing ability) Will doesn't care most of the time; ve's nimble and can stealth more easily because of it.

Asche: 5'7" / 170 cm. Given her ethnicity is coded to be Yamato Japanese and Thai, she's taller than average, but to most around her, she is average height. She's also got some Dutch in there (I know the spelling of her name is German; listen to the Dutch pronunciation of ash ['as'] for an explanation).

(Not a MC but still important) Sawyer: 5'9" / 175 cm. She does appreciate the qualities she has that she can use to command more respect from people. Her height is one of them, though she's not exactly tall. Again, like Asche, she is coded to be of Han Chinese (and English) descent, so by that metric, she is tall.

Rhys: 5'11" / 180 cm. He's pretty average in height, not really something he or anyone thinks about. He's perfect to be the guy you don't want people paying attention to... as long as you hide his owl-eyed baby face and get him to shut up.

(Not a MC but still important) Klaus: 6'2" / 188 cm. What better than to have a tall, strong built man for a warrior king? He's so well coifed, you'd think he had work done to his legs to make him fit his role this well (he didn't).

Galen: 6'7" / 200 cm. It's lucky Galen doesn't know who his parents are. He can keep it in his head his height is thanks to genetics because it sure wasn't from nutrition. He wasn't starving, he always found a way to keep himself fed, but there wasn't security.

Count the Valleys

While CtV isn't supposed to be historical fantasy, be set in the real world, and reflect history, I'm still using time period and ethnicity as basis for these characters.

Ashira: 5'2" / 157 cm. Average height for a Semitic woman of the Bronze Age. Ashira may be a lone wanderer in the desert, but she has many ways of taking care of herself, be it magical or practical. Mostly it's because she shapes herself into a wolf part of a pack.

Shai: 5'6" / 168 cm. Complete average height for an Egyptian/Semitic man of the Bronze Age. He's been taken care of since birth by priests for the belief he's a seer, so he's never been in want... until...

Anai: 5'8" / 173 cm. Above average height for a Nubian woman of the Bronze Age. She's a warrior, and though like a specialized sport sifting out less compatible body types, work does craft one into what they seek. She's carved out a life that suits her, and it shows.

Calix: 6'8" / 203 cm. Obviously the most realistic height of any ethnicity in any point of history, especially a Minoan! Calix is essentially Frankenstein's monster, being made from multiple people's bodies for the specific purpose to protect and serve royalty. Why wouldn't they make him and those like him huge when mural visual hierarchy uses size to depict things like power?

The Man in the Moon is a Stranger

Tricksy: 5'1" / 155 cm. This is their natural height. Trick is legally homeless and a paranoid shut-in who refuses to install any cybernetics into their body or technology that cannot be destroyed within a moment's notice in or around their hut. I haven't decided whether they're a minor or a young adult yet. Inspired by Ed from Cowboy Bebop.

Dove: 5'3" / 160 cm. It will forever annoy her that her little sister is taller than her, even if it's just by an inch. Or... was. Bugs' head is practically a helmet with bunny ears on it now, but she was finished growing by time she got that. Dove knows she can get an enhancement to change that, but that's not the point, dammit!

Bugs: 5'4" / 162.5 cm. Bugs doesn't have the smugness about being naturally taller than her older sister that Dove expects of her. She thinks it's funny if only because of Dove's obsession with coming across as intimidating, going so far as to install muscle enhancements, though Dove refuses to make herself taller.

Mojo: 5'7.7" / 172 cm. Mojo's all about being real with it. He's had cyber enhancements, but he's not going to change his height. He's ethnically Igbo, so he's average to his people.

Katsura: 5'9" / 175 cm. He's had many installments in his body but none so invasive as to change his height. Aside from Tricksy, he's the most natural one of the ensemble, shown in his name being his legal family name, not a code name.

L: 5'10" / 178 cm. While there's not much about L that is natural anymore, she didn't change her height because she's happy with it. Like with Katsura's name being his actual one, 'L' is a code name but is also her chosen name 🏳️‍⚧️

Cosmo: 6'2" / 188 cm. This is her natural height, and anyone who says otherwise doesn't know shit or is lying from their ass. She likes to work on a skill naturally first then get enhancements to make that skill even better.

Quill: 6'6" / 198 cm. This is not his natural height. He's had many cybernetic enhancements, and making his spine and legs more powerful and longer are some of them.

Untitled All-Female-Lead Shounen-type Story

Sen: 5'2" / 157 cm. Sen has never been the strongest physically or focused on strength, despite her devious and criminal lifestyle, so she's quite happy with her height.

Faye: 5'4" / 162 cm. If ever she feels bad about her height, she can shapeshift. It's not painless, and it requires some concentration to do keep it up, but she can do it. She doesn't do it much.

(Not MC but major character) Song: 5'5" / 165 cm. What full spellcaster is required to be tall?

Inzali: 5'6" / 167 cm. She's a bit taller than she thinks is fit for her profession, but she makes it work and wouldn't change it now that she knows how to work with it.

(Not MC but major character) Ardavast: 5'7" / 170 cm. Despite knowing how to make ends meet, living on the streets has taken a toll. Not much to his height, but it's there. He doesn't mind. People don't see him as a threat, and that's good for him.

Cirin: 6' / 182 cm. Well-fed, well-dressed, well-trained. Of course, she's above average height even for her family, but she loves it and takes it as yet another point of pride.

[darkseraphscorner]

Who wants more Alien AU writing?

Meeeee.

Far reach station.

Seraph comes home from his shift and sighs, upside of being in the ass end of nowhere, the hazard pay meant even a lowly tech like him could afford an execs apartment.... Not like they where hurting for space, no one wanted to work on Far Reach unless they had to.

Almost no civilians, the place was mainly taken up by bio tech researchers, security personal and guys like him who kept the whole thing running, the rest of the staff where Synths... And not even the expensive sort, cheep rubber skin jobs that looked only vaguely human.

As he walked in, he looked around to see his daughter, one of the handful of civilians carefully polishing her cybernetics, he was worried she would be board out here, but she had taken to fighting defective Synths in the underbelly of the station.... Was it legal? Hell no, but everyone on station knew about it and there was no other good use for faulty Synths.

"He Neph, sup?" He asked, dropping into a seat across from her.

She looked up and smiles. "Still undefeated." She raised a fist, wincing slightly. "But running low on sparing partners."

He couldn't help but chuckle. "You know the company, just replace them, new shipment will be here in a few weeks, maybe get some new dance partners before they space the faulty ones."

She smirks. "Still wish we could go planet side, be. Nice to feel real earth under my feet."

They had this discussion many a time before. "Wayland Yutani has the planet on lockdown till the boys in bio say it's safe for humans... Which could take decades because of how small the crew here is."

"I know, but it's like it is taunting us, all greens, blues and browns, like what the history books said earth looked like."

He reaches over and grabs her mechanical hand. "If it happens in our life time, I'll make sure you are amoung the first to step foot on it."