#Person who hired me to do this install was not in any of those things

[theobservatory]

Don't Wanna Cry Alone｡⁠.ﾟ★ ˎˊ˗

｡⁠☆Synopsis: He came home in a good mood. His day job was good, the coffee seemed to be less watered down than usual. Then he came home to you. Sobbing on the couch. What does he do now?

｡⁠☆Cw: crying, invasion of privacy, mention of sex, mention of murder

｡⁠☆CH: Damian ⁠☆ Duke ⁠☆ Tim ☆ Jason ☆ Dick

✧Dick✧

He's engulfing you in a hug. He doesn't bother to take off his shoes or coat, you're lucky he remembers to shut the door behind himself.

He's hushing you, petting your hair gently. Soft murmurs of "I'm here", "it's okay", "talk to me sweetheart", are drifting through your ears.

Whether you choose to tell him what's wrong or not doesn't matter, at least not right now. Right now he just wants to make sure you're okay. Your comfort is always his first priority.

Of course, if you're one of those people who hates being touched while you're crying (me too gurl, I hear you), he's backing off as soon as you make any indication you want to be released.

He won't be able to bring himself to stray any further than down the hall, or across the room, and heaven forbid you try to close him out of a room. But he'll try to keep his presence small, but grounding.

✧Jason✧

He freezes, lingering in the entryway.

It's not like he hasn't seen you cry before, but these gut wrenching sobs? Tears that make you cough and gag on your own anguish? This is new territory for him.

Should he touch you? Should he walk away? Should he sit with you?

... "I brought us food."

He panics a little when you cry harder.

Then he's next to you, crouched in front of where you're curled up on the couch, food on the coffee table. He has a hand on your knees, and the other gently removing the one covering your face.

"Hey, what do you need me to do?" Because seriously, he's lost. "I'll do anything you need. Lemme help."

The minute you tell him what you need he's moving. Whether you open your arms for a hug, or sob out that you want to forget, or just begin stuffing your mouth with takeout. He's following your lead.

✧Tim✧

See, this is why you should let him install something to monitor your vitals! If he had that he would've seen the moment you started crying, and could've been there immediately!

That's okay though, he can help now. He will help now. If you told him the only thing that would make you feel better is if he jumped off a cliff, he'd find the highest one and throw himself off.

He's immediately dropping all of his stuff at the door, and dropping on the couch next to you.

He's asking all types of prying questions. If you're short tempered this definitely gets annoying very fast, but he's trying to show he cares! He wants to fix it!

Tim isn't good with the whole "shoulder to cry on" thing. He's not good at listening. He's good at action. He can do anything you need, and if he can't do it, he'll hire someone who can.

The moment you express annoyance he's frowning like a kicked puppy. So he changes tactics.

What can make it better? Food? Manslaughter? Drugs? Sex? Cuddles? He's practically begging you to let him give you a solution.

And it's okay if you never told him what made you cry like that. He has cameras everywhere. Who knows if he has some planted on your person. Just chill out, he'll find out by himself.

✧Duke✧

Is giving you distractions. Food and movies are cued up in seconds.

His voice is soft and low. He touches you tenderly, and keeps the majority of his attention on you. If you can't tolerate the attention then he'll pretend to be focused on the movie.

He's talking to you about nonsense. He's talking about his college classes, or patrol, or literally anything to rope you into a conversation.

As soon as you're calm he's asking what's wrong. He fixes what he can, and helps you stop dwelling on what he can't. If you don't tell him at all, he'll get pouty, but accept it.

If this happens a second time then do not forget that he was adopted by the greatest detective in the world, he will find out if he deems it pertinent.

✧Damian✧

If anyone says he freezes outside the door, no he didn't. He will deny that he froze to the end of time.

Then he's marching has way to you. He scans you for injury before touching you in any way, and his eyes are intense enough to make a mountain lion nervous.

As soon as he deems you clear, he's placing himself next to you. He grabs you, tight enough that you can't pull away, but still more gentle than he is with anything else except his paintings.

He's checking for injuries again. His hands glide across your arms, face, legs, chest, until he's once again deemed you clear.

He's no good with emotional wounds, but he'll try his best for you.

The "Who did this?" That comes out of his mouth sounds less like a question, and more like a threat. It's hard for him to not sound angry when he's worried.

Dear God, tell him what is wrong. He doesn't like being in the dark, he doesn't like not knowing things about you. This will literally eat him alive for months if you do not tell him what's wrong.

And the moment you elaborate, have no doubt that he will be taking care of the problem with haste. He will never have moved faster in his life.

Heyy first time I've written anything for Damian (that I've posted, I mean) !! Nice !!

Someone give me a request for Jason Todd.. I wanna write something for him but I have no ideas (⁠ب⁠_⁠ب⁠)

｡⁠☆Requests open

[madonnamadeofasphalt]

EA & Bioware honestly did an incredible job at killing any enthusiasm I had for a new Dragon Age. Fucking hell, man, I've played the first two games so much I could probably go through them with closed eyes and still pick all the right dialogue options to get My Exact Personally Canonized Plot. And the only reason I didn't do the same thing with DA:I is because it was made after EA completely gave up on optimizing their shit so the fucking thing takes up like a billion terabytes of disc space and takes 10 hours to download and install. I honestly think it's the best-written cRPG franchise to ever have a budget that doesn't involve a list of Kickstarter backers or getting an eccentric Estonian billionaire fixated on the project. And the gameplay is also there, I don't really care about that part.

Then they proceeded to fire all the talent that made me love those first three games, and scratch and restart the production twice, and be suspiciously cagey with any details or gameplay footage for a fucking decade, so my hype consistently went down and down. And yet I still managed to hold out some hope that somehow, by some miracle, it wouldn't fucking suck.

I kept that hope until the trailer dropped. You know the one. The one where we see a bearded Varric. This, I think, was the exact moment when I lost any desire to play fucking Veilguard.

Like, first of all, Varric being there at all is already an issue. Leave the man alone. His presence was already kinda forced in DA:I. And after DA:I and Tresspasser, his story couldn't be more finished if he got killed, eaten, shitted out, condemned to hell, redeemed by divine sacrifice, bathed for eternity in the everlasting light. There is no point to Varric anymore. Whatever arc they've given him in Veilguard, and I don't even give a shit enough to read the spoilers before writing this post, it has no business existing. Fuck you. The only reason he's there is because he's a recognizable IP, and when you're a certain kind of soulless corporate moron, you think there's nothing more important than putting a recognizable IP in whatever new bullshit you're trying to peddle. Maybe if you didn't fire every decent writer in your trash fucking company, you'd have someone to tell you about the importance of Ending The Fucking Story When The Story Fucking Ends.

But that's not even the core of the problem. Beard? they gave Varric a Beard? Varric I fucking hate everything that's even tangentially connected to dwarven culture with a passion which is why I've made a point to shave my beard all my life to spite anyone who gives a fuck about it Tethras? beard? you gave him a beard? He changed so much offscreen in the goddamn timeskip between these two games that he got a motherfucking berd? fucshhfdbeard? feadsgfsvarricafgfdh BEARD? yyousftoiuslyhhabevarricasgsfucningbeardandthivkimgosabedineditit?beard????

PS. (edit after finding out spoilers) I've gone to TV Tropes to read up on Varric's role in DATV after writing this (just in case I'm wrong and dumb, and there's actually a deeply compelling narrative reason for his presence), and, well, this shit is cheaper than I thought. And more importantly, just as I thought, there appears to be no justification for the beard beyond "adding a beard is a cliche way to show that a bunch of time has passed, and we didn't care enough to think this shit through". I'm fucking tired, man.

PPS. (edit after reading the rest of big spoilers) This is so much worse than I could even begin to suspect. This is worse than the final season of Game of Thrones. This is the final season of Game of Thrones if they straight-up fired GRRM, burned his notes and hired a showrunner who's only read a one-page summary of the first six seasons. This is fucking depressing, man. I'm genuinely fucking sad. So many subplots that were started over the course of these three games, that were clearly going somewhere, scrapped in favour of a simplistic good vs. evil story that would get rejected by fucking CD-Projekt in 2007 for being too basic. All because the artists who poured their hearts and souls into this bullshit franchise got thrown out like trash by its "owners". Morrigan's kid, the Well of Sorrows, all the implied complexities of Tevinter politics, the Crows, the Old Gods, Andraste. All went to shit. Death to capitalism.

[perkypeony]

𝕋𝔸ℕ𝔾𝕃𝔼𝔻 𝕀ℕ 𝕋ℍℝ𝔼𝔸𝔻𝕊

Model Nanami Kento x fashion designer reader

You were flicking through the pages of your sketchbook, your head spinning as you tried to decide which design would be best for your new streetwear collection. You thought you’d ask your friend's opinion later, but for now, you were going to get ready and head to the newly opened branch of your daily wear boutique.

Despite studying fashion design during your time at the creative arts academy and being able to create meticulous designs, you opted to build your own brand of daily wear that’s stylish yet affordable. Your business started small, but with the support of your friends—who happened to be the famous actor Gojo Satoru and the rising singer Geto Suguru—more people came to know your brand. Just last week, you opened the third branch of your boutique, and you were already planning to open the fourth branch overseas in a few years.

You got out of your midnight black Mini Cooper and saw a long line outside the boutique. It was probably too crowded inside, so the staff had asked the customers to queue outside. You made a mental note to install some sort of shade so the customers wouldn’t have to wait in the sun. The staff recognized you immediately and greeted you, asking if there was anything they could help with. You told them you were just doing a little observation.

You smiled as you overheard a customer praising the high quality of the material despite the affordable price. As you walked around, talking with some customers for feedback, you spotted a blonde man wearing a black mask—one you’d recognize anywhere. It was the hot model, Nanami Kento. He became famous after modeling for big brands and even appeared on the front covers of internationally known magazines. And to add to that, he was your crush back in the creative arts academy and still is today. That’s why you would remember him forever.

You admired his calmness and respectfulness. He always maintained a very professional work ethic. Unfortunately, you and he had never been close, only talking a few times. The only person you still kept in touch with was Nanami’s best friend, Haibara. He tried to set you up with Nanami, but you were always too shy and quickly declined his crazy plans.

You were surprised to see him in your boutique. Did that mean he wore your creations? Not gonna lie, sometimes you imagined him modeling your designs, but you had never hired a famous model before. After all, you had two famous friends willing to post pictures of themselves wearing your brand on social media. Without those two idiots, you wouldn’t have been successful today.

You gathered all your courage to say hi to him, hoping he would remember you. “Hi, Nanami. Uh... what are you looking for?”

“A hoodie,” he replied, then looked up to meet your eyes. “Y/N? I never thought I’d meet the designer herself.”

So, he did remember you. You could feel your stomach do silly things. It was probably the butterflies. “I’m just doing a quick observation. Is this your first time at my boutique?”

“I’ve bought a few pairs of pants and shirts from your boutique before. I really like them. And since this new branch is closer to my condo, I thought I’d give it a visit.”

“Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course,” he said with a warm smile. “We haven’t seen each other in quite a few years. Do you have any plans tonight? Maybe we could catch up over dinner?”

A dinner? With your crush? That surely sounded like a dream come true!

“I would love to go to dinner with you tonight,” you answered, trying not to sound too giddy.

“Perfect. Text me your address, and I’ll pick you up at 8.”

“Alright. I have to go check on the... um... cashier. See you tonight.”

Nanami nodded and smiled as he watched you leave. He couldn’t wait to tell Haibara that he had finally asked you out for dinner.

[marshmallowprotection]

Snapshot

Pairing: Saeyoung/Judas/Minji (Saeyoung/Original Male Character/Original Female Character) Description: To be caught in the act—that was what he wanted all along. Word Count: 11,859 [Read on AO3]

“You’re looking tense, darling ,” the words didn’t come as underhanded as they might have weeks prior. “If you don’t do something to fix that, you’re bound to turn into the next David. As much as I wouldn’t mind an art installation to give this bunker of yours some character and charm, I dare say your interests would prefer you to do something to correct this before it’s too late.” 

Luciel drew in a breath. He didn’t bother to look over his shoulder as Judas gave him his opinion. Frankly, he never thought he’d lower his guard down enough to let this guy get close to him. 

But, he was in too deep to turn back. This person was supposed to be no different than any of the other hostages he’d interacted with in the agency over the years.

The agency made deals with people to milk them for what they were worth and then as soon as they had what they wanted, they’d get rid of them so they could move resources to the next guy. Judas was supposed to be six feet under already, at least, that’s what his handler Vanderwood would’ve preferred, anyway. 

Vanderwood might’ve gone out on a limb to keep him from being killed a few times because it was to his benefit to make sure the brat under his charge didn’t go against their agency, but that kind of “kindness” could only go so far. He was the type to get down and dirty to take care of a small problem before it could become a big problem. Even if that meant he had to do something unsavory to save his skin. 

It wasn’t personal, he’d say, it was me or them, and I knew better than to choose anyone but myself. 

Luciel knew it was only a matter of time until his old handler decided to torture the information the agency wanted out of Judas until they had nothing left to hide before dumping his body somewhere nobody would think to look.

It was something he had done more times than he could count given how many years he spent in the agency as their puppet. It was the same fate that awaited Luciel someday given how readily he took the offer to sell his soul for his brother’s safety. 

That wasn’t to say he hadn’t been forced to do unforgivable things already but not yet had he been forced to take the life of another person he was allowed to “get to know” in cold blood. 

Luciel could justify the wrongdoings the agency made him do because he knew most of the targets he had to go after were men with less-than-savory pasts. That was the name of the game. People would hire the agency to clean someone out of house and home to ensure they didn’t lose their gravy train. 

They would take down anyone in their path, both innocents and enemies alike. 

Fortunately, he hadn’t been told to get rid of anyone who didn’t deserve it. He could reason with himself again and again that if he took care of those men, others would be able to live in peace. It wouldn’t stop the man who gave the order to get rid of them, but it would rid the world of one nuisance before another inevitably paid to get rid of the first one. 

But, Judas? They weren’t one of those unruly men… not by any means, and that was the most dangerous part. Neither horrible nor perfect.

To be undefinable was to spit in the face of the rules of the game. Luciel’s job was to consider the targets he was meant to “get rid of” as nothing more than “disposable trash”. It was easier to quantify them as cruel, monstrous people who were better off dead. That was the only way to reasonably stare at his hands whenever he was forced with a choice that said “them or you”.  

From the moment they met, Luciel could tell that the informant put up a front to make others believe his lies. His smile didn’t reach their eyes. 

He talked of big games and pursuits that would make any normal man squeamish but their eyes spoke of shame. Shame that couldn’t be washed away no matter how much he scrubbed his hands. A familiar sensation that wouldn’t go away with ease.

No different than the blood that caked Luciel’s hands after a mission that wouldn’t go away even though he pleaded with God to have mercy on him one more time. 

God never let him have that moment of peace, but that was the price of his sins, and he welcomed the pain when he chose the name Luciel. Still, he knew a liar when he saw one because he, too, was a liar… through and through. 

He made a deal with the agency to sell his soul in exchange for protection. He didn’t want the agency to kill someone for him, he wanted to sell his secrets as an informant just so he could live to see another day. An informant was willing to do whatever they had to do to sell someone out to save their own skin.

Vanderwood lived and breathed that lifestyle, too. 

But, the difference between him and Judas was that the latter had vengeance in his eyes. He wanted to get even with someone and was willing to do just about whatever he had to do to make that happen. He’d alluded to that fact when he only gave half-truths to send Vanderwood on a goose chase. 

But, better a goose chase than his life being taken from him faster than he knew what to do with himself. Luciel knew what that felt like. If he could’ve exchanged everything to get rid of his father once and for all, he would’ve taken that chance in a heartbeat. 

He wouldn’t care what came for him after that. He figured it was the same for Judas. If the world wouldn’t let him take the shot himself, he’d let the agency do it for him. But, the cost was dabbling with his life and he didn’t seem too keen on losing that yet. Not even for the deal. It was human nature to want to live to see another day, even if you had the urge to ask for a death wish instead.

The underbelly of criminals in Seoul wanted that man dead. He sold out each and every one of them without a second thought in pursuit of his main target.

He knew plenty of dirt on men who were already deep into life sentences and men who looked no different than a model on the cover of a magazine who no one was the wiser. Luciel knew it wouldn’t take much for Judas to find dirt on the prime minister if he was pointed in the right direction. 

While that would’ve benefited him, there was no way he would give up information about himself to another person at the flip of a hat. Even if it could’ve solved some of his problems to entrust his fate to an informant who may or may not have kept his mouth shut, he couldn't take the easy route and gamble his fate like that. He knew he could do what had to be done on his own even if it took forever and a day to make it happen how he needed it to. 

But, it always sat there under the tip of his tongue, especially as he and Judas explored one another in ways that would get both of them killed if the agency found out. It was far from an average relationship but… they weren’t meant to have that. 

That was why it was easier to let off some steam and toy with each other whenever the urge cropped up. But, that urge inside of his chest… had grown far stronger than it’d been when they first kissed. He hadn’t been thinking straight that day, either, but it all became clear when he felt lips pressed against his and the dizzying heat that followed. 

How could he turn down a dozen heated kisses when they washed away the sludge that tainted his hands? 

It was as if Judas understood how miserable he was whenever he was sent on a mission to take care of someone with wandering eyes that made him shiver. He could never get clean after those eyes sized him up and dressed him down on his own. 

It was one thing to fight the feeling of blood but it was another to try and erase the miserable feeling of someone’s deplorable desire. Judas seemed to know how to erase those filthy eyes and disgusting words with something that made him feel… adored . 

It was dangerous to be adored, though. 

If the wrong person found out he was fooling around with someone he was meant to get rid of, they wouldn’t just get rid of Judas. They would get rid of him or beat him to an inch of his life until he never thought about doing anything but his job until either he was killed in the line of duty or his body gave up on him.  He knew better than to do this when his life was on the line. 

But, he wanted it and it was hard to stop once he had a taste of freedom. That taste was the reason why he isolated himself long enough to lose any attachment to the outside world, but how could he say he wasn’t involved with the world when the RFA was right there and they counted against him, too?  

Luciel knew better. 

But, his heart wouldn’t budge. He was as human as anyone else, and what could anyone desire most other than a chance to know you were wanted by other people? He wanted that for Saeran but never once did he think he might want it for himself. He could be a devil who sacrificed everything if he needed to be, but the thought of being a devil who wanted it all made him shameful. He didn’t deserve it all if his brother couldn’t have it. 

But, what would his brother think if he knew Saeyoung had a real chance to taste a moment of happiness in the lifetime of sacrifice he created for himself? Would his baby brother want to see him have those five seconds even if it put him in danger? 

He knew the answer to that question but he never allowed himself to answer it because any selfishness he wove for himself would one day be their undoing. He knew that. The world would never let him indulge without making him pay the ultimate price. 

Yet, the weight of the hammer above his head hadn’t swung yet, and all he could think about at that moment was the tension in the spine that burned because Judas’ touch felt like the most savory bite of prime rib and the sticky honey of Minji’s voice made him want to be kneaded like dough. 

No matter how much he tried to convince himself that his weakness was just the man in his office, he knew he couldn’t avoid the painstaking truth. 

It wasn’t just Judas, though.

It wasn’t just the man with raven locks who seemingly knew how to cut deep and when to pierce his soul with words that needed to be said when no one else would tell them. It wasn’t just the man who pawed at his shoulders and whispered sweet nothings to “let off some steam, Luciel”, whenever he just couldn’t stop gnawing through his skin and teeth on a bad day. 

It wasn’t just the man who put thoughts into his head that he could satisfy himself without putting a label on it to be discovered as a weakness. It wasn’t just the man who kissed him like he was starved for affection just as much as he was. 

It couldn’t be as simple as that, could it?

Vanderwood warned him he could never get close to anyone in this line of work because it would only make life a lot harder on him, and yet, he couldn’t help himself. He knew what he felt was something more than what he was allowed to feel.

He was supposed to be a machine, a ruthless program, but he was a man with a desire that ached something awful when he realized how empty his chest was. 

The woman on the monitor was his lifeline to a world he could only dream of. Minji wasn’t as perplexing to his heart as Judas was. She lived in a world unlike theirs. There was nothing but kindness and love in her heart. She never had to be afraid of losing her life. The worst fear she had was not waking up in time for work, and she wouldn’t lose her life for being five minutes late to pick up a shift. 

She might get a slap on her wrist to prove a point but never anything more than a gentle tongue lashing to pay attention to the clock. Just like the rest of the RFA, Minji lived a life meant for someone who wasn’t born rotten. It was a life where she knew love, support, and compassion. It helped her to be the person she is today, the person he adored.

She lived a life of normalcy in every way imaginable. There was nothing awful about a simple life. She lived the kind of life he wished he could lead but it could only be just… that . A dream. It could forever more be nothing but a dream for a man such as himself. 

He made his choice and he had to live with it. Watching her smile and go about her day without a care in the world made Luciel desire to experience it at her side rather than at his monitor where he would never know the warmth of her touch.

Minji wouldn’t feel the same as Judas did in his arms, but that in itself wasn’t a bad thing, either. He craved both sensations as much as his lungs desired air! One taste felt like blueberries, tart and sweet as it flowed down his throat, and the other… oh, he dreamed of knowing if those lips would taste like honey and lemon. 

She was the other person who put him in a situation he knew would bring nothing but strife to his world. If anything could bring him close to breaking his vows, it was the soft touch of a tender hand and he was at the receiving end of four hands as opposed to one. Her blonde curls and wild smile had a way of making his heart sing before he knew how to turn away, too. 

Any person… would be a fool to turn her down once she had her eyes set on them. To live a life without her laughter would be torture. He knew better than to let himself fall in love when she was everything he could’ve ever wanted had he been a normal man, but he was not a normal man . 

He could never be a normal man. 

If it came down to it, he knew he would have to be no different than Vanderwood. The world wouldn’t give him a chance to think twice. He would have to get his hands dirty… and turn the other way. He could never know Minji the way he wanted to know her… it wasn’t fair but life had never been fair to him.

It gave just enough kindness to find a way to spare his brother but that seemed to be… the end of the line for him as far as luck was concerned. Minji was no different than Saeran in his eyes. He could dream of a life that let him hold her in his arms and smile as his brother lived a life of his own where he was a part of it, but he could never live in that dream. 

The closest he would ever get would be the opportune moments he shared with Judas as they blurred the line between what it meant to be a captor and a hostage. In a way, it was a role they shared and exchanged back and forth. 

What were they if not a pair of hostages to the agency that promised them protection and only brought them contempt? What were they if not captors who wanted to get a leg up on their hostage before their hearts consumed them first? A constant battle to remain in control left them hungry for more as they would never find someone who understood their plight as much as the other did. 

It could never be more than that, right? 

For his precious brother, for Saeran, he wouldn’t hesitate to do the terrible things they handed to him to preserve his safety out there.

He couldn’t deny there was a sting in his chest whenever he considered how readily the agency would give him the order to kill an innocent man or destroy the lives of those who didn’t deserve it. If it came between his brother and someone else, he’d pick his dear brother, but that was far from the situation he was in now. 

He didn’t have to choose for his brother’s safety tonight. He didn’t have to consider his options and wonder what might happen if he didn’t look over his shoulder.

Saeran was not going to be killed if he decided to give into his instinctual desires. This wasn’t one of the many things that could be traced to his past. It could only be traced to his present. If they were caught, there would surely be a consequence but to what end? 

He hadn’t been killed thus far for what they had done together and the thirst for more was impossible to ignore no matter how hard he drove his head into his work. To what end could he chase this? How far could he justify himself before he had to wrench his heart away from the source of these feelings to be sure no one would kill him?

How far could he allow himself to chase these feelings before he knew he would have to stop for his brother’s safety? He couldn’t afford to paint a target on his back when he already… knew death’s door was just a few steps away. Saeran was safe, but how long would the boy know happiness before someone wrenched it away?

Would he remain safe where he was no matter what? Or, would someone inevitably try to take it away from him because his brother made a mistake? Luciel had no idea how to quantify a decision that didn’t involve his brother.

His brother was the one who was safe from harm in his world for the first time, and he didn’t know what to make of this place where his choice wasn’t Saeran or the world. It was more complicated than that.

His choice had nothing to do with what it should’ve been and that brought conflict to his heart in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. There was something strange about that option existing in his world when his life had always been about his brother and never his own. Saeran wasn’t in danger because of a fling… something that couldn’t be traced as long as he was careful. 

But, he had to draw a line in the sand somewhere and that line was slowly being swept away by waves and wandering toes on the shoreline. 

There would come a day when they had to face the consequences. Judas was by no means innocent compared to the average person, but there was no denying he was a good man. It was no different than how Luciel understood himself to be. He would never be considered good enough for Heaven but… the angels might’ve spared him if they discovered his reasoning. 

The fact that Judas was still alive put a target on their back with the boss. They wanted to use this informant to dig deep into the underbelly of Seoul’s organized crime families to bring them to their knees but Judas was clever in the way he spared them information on a need-to-know basis.

He knew what he was doing and he understood how to best do what he had to do to stay alive. 

Nobody wanted him to live, not the people he enraged in the first place, nor the agency he sold himself to survive. 

He knew when to open his mouth and to keep it closed. 

It was to his benefit, though, to make sure they had a reason to keep him alive for as long as possible. He couldn't just wave his hand and pray for the best. They had to give slices of the truth rather than the full picture just long enough to form another plan to save their skin.

Judas wasn’t an idiot. He knew he had to play the game with the intention of being in the same room as those who put him in the game to start with. He had to be as smart as them, if not smarter, to maintain his survival. To play the traitor, they once told Luciel, was to never show them your full hand. 

He had to agree with that. 

If the agency, or God forbid any of his enemies, found out that he had any vulnerability that could be exploited they would not hesitate to take it. 

The most dangerous thing about him and Judas was the fact that they both adored the same woman.

He knew her before she joined the RFA for a fleeting moment. A night no different than any other where she turned to him for a walk home and he walked to her apartment to make sure she felt safe and turned away even though he wanted to stay by her side and explore what it felt like to know a friendly hand instead of a cruel one. 

It was as simple and as cruel as that, really. To live in a world where they could dream of what they wanted but never act on it was the very reason why they explored each other… knowing they could likely find a corner to escape from the minute they started to feel a dangerous desire for one another in the way they did for Minji Cho. It was no different than dancing with the devil. 

Judas wanted to see her smile another day despite knowing they would never be able to see that smile for themself. Luciel wanted her to smile even knowing all he would ever see was her smile from afar and nothing more than that. How lucky they were to know her… and how unlucky they were to live in a world where they could only have that fleeting taste of Heaven. Two sides of the same coin and yet all they could have was one another! 

Luciel’s life didn’t belong to him after he sold it to the agency, but that didn’t stop his heart from a dangerous desire to protect what could’ve been.

A life with her… would’ve been perfect in every way imaginable and no matter how hard he tried to keep his eyes open, every time he closed them he could see himself sitting at her table with a tray of cookies baked for him to enjoy.

No stipulation, no barter, no nothing… just a smile on her face that could transform a dead plot of land into a flourishing garden of spices. It sounded so wonderful to live in that moment. 

He didn’t want to think about it. 

But, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it. 

Luciel's jaw was tight as he continued to hammer away text after text. “What are you going to do about it, then?” 

They seemed surprised but not turned away by his tone given the way they placed their hand on his shoulders. “Is that an invitation , Mon Chéri? You know I don't kiss and tell without informed consent .”

It took all his strength not to grab those hands where they rubbed against his skin with gusto. How dangerous, he thought. It was a dangerous game to play but neither one of them was pressed to stop its pursuit. Luciel needed something to take the heat off of his mind and the only way to make sense of it was to accept Judas' embrace.

It would quell the unrelenting storm better than anything else and let him focus on what mattered. His quest to discover the hacker and put the guy away for deceiving such an innocent girl for nothing more than a game of cat and mouse with the wrong person. 

He spared Judas a glance in the reflection of the monitor. The man was watching him with the same intensity he always did, with a sharp look that cut deeper than any knife and messy curls that felt so much better underneath his fingertips.

It was easier to look at him than it was to look at his haggard reflection, at least. He didn't want to know just how disheveled his appearance was nor how discolored the bags under his eyes were. The state of his appearance didn't matter! Not when the informant looked at him like he was a meal to be devoured. 

“Utilisez votre bouche.” 

“Bien sûr que oui, mon chéri.”

[NSFW content on AO3.]

[literaticat]

Hi Jenn, what do you think about nepotism in publishing? There still seems to be a lot of editors whose parents are 'connected' to the business.

I don't really think anything about it, as can't really think of a lot of editors for whom it is the case that their parents are "in the industry", but maybe I am just not aware. I don't ask for people's 23 & Me results when I have zooms with them!

In fact I don't think I know ANY editors whose parents are editors or publishers (to my knowledge?) -- I do know a couple of editors whose parent is an author or illustrator? But is THAT a "nepo baby" thing? Or just somebody drawn to an industry they see their family participating in?

If you grow up surrounded by books, hearing about publishing, etc, it stands to reason you might grow into a young adult who thinks about books/publishing as a potential career path. (Just as if you grew up fixing cars with your mechanic dad, you might be into cars, or if your parents were farmers, you might be into agriculture.)

But NEPOTISM would be Mr. Penguin installing his daughter Little Miss Penguin to be the boss of one of his company divisions when she is wildly unqualified. I really don't think that a parent who is an author or illustrator (or for that matter, even an editor!) has that kind of sway over the hiring practices of a corporation.

In the case of a kid whose parent is somewhere in the realm of publishing, their parent's job might have given their kid the inspiration to pursue that industry. It might have even given them some extra knowledge to start with, or a wee foot in the door in terms of an interview or internship or something like that. But the education they also had to pursue, the years of hard work they had to do to get promoted, etc? That was all on them.

For example: When I was a kid, my older sister owned a bookstore where I worked during school breaks. So I guess I got my first "job" because of nepotism: they needed help doing inventory, I was a 12-year-old standing there with nothing to do, they handed me a clipboard! But IS that nepotism, or is it "I happened to be standing there because of a fluke of my relations, but the actual work was because I wanted to do it"?

When I went off to college, I didn't get any of the SUBSEQUENT bookstore jobs in other cities, or get promoted again and again, because of my family. However: I got my first internship with an agent because I knew the agent from being a bookseller. I got my job at my current agency because a friend in the industry told me to reach out to my boss and put in a good word for me. So are those extensions of the "nepo baby" thing, or is that just networking?

TL;DR, I don't think nepotism is a big problem in publishing. While it's true that having a family member in ANY industry might make a person inclined to pursue that kind of job, might give them their first crack at an internship or something like that -- nobody is getting a Big Job in publishing without doing Big Work and their own networking to get there.

Not only that, I truly think anyone IN PUBLISHING would actually want their child to do just about anything else for a living. Like... I can imagine an editor saying, "Kiddo, you want to be an EDITOR? I didn't live in a garret with Pizza Rat as my roommate through my 20s so that you could follow in my footsteps! Go to LAW SCHOOL or something for Pete's sake!"

[xxdoubledaisyxx]

The Genesis of a Broken Man

Nicholas Bylotas 2016

Whatever happened next is what ruined everything for everyone. Go back to that moment and identify to the exact truth what happened in the government after this painting was first published. What did they do.

They will be giving resistance to the outsiders who were encroaching into America by backing inward defensively like ripple through data. Calculatize that line-curve of human energy by collating all the data you can around the time and place at each point and doing what you do, piece together a story of corroborated facts.

With that, you should be able to determine exactly where they are because of the similar data patterns surrounding their resonance at any given time. This will be like a data fingerprint to their very body and soul.

Find them wherever they settled in to corrupt the USA as a spy by using network access abuse. That is the murder weapon my attempted killer used to inflict the malice upon me that was freely handing my personal identifiable information to those evil cultists, and they brought it to where they do a lot of fucked up shit to people. The USA does nothing to protect you or me about it.

Trump's deal in the darkness unbeknownst to him was as clear to me as an unmuddied lake. Much more too, on account of him being completely oblivious to the forces of spiritual reality around him, deluded entirely by the costumes of the fools that were hired to entertain his fantasies; the idiot lamb going on blind faith, purposely stupid and ignorant of Christianity, despite their name tag.

The abomination they are desolated all of Christendom.

They had a plan that Trump was obviously too stupid to see was happening around him, not only because he is an imbecile who made himself stupid on purpose, but because he is totally amoral as a worldly leech whose sin has blinded him to heavenly reality.

His role was to give those people immunity with the USA government power of authority in our borders so that they could fuck with you, me, and everyone else on purpose. Then people like Trump and Epstein get their jollies off over their pathetic power high while watching the suffering and torture they cause citizens.

The president brought the 'Hostel people-killers' to the USA because Trump is that kind of person himself. I suspect he's probably bought many a human life overseas and murdered them in private where nobody could hear them scream. Can't you tell?

Look at the vile piece of shit. Don't even have mercy for him when you strike him down with your righteous fury.

I always intended to purge humanity of the filth of nature's condition that is people like him, I just never expected it would be so personally satisfying because the son of a bitch made the mistake of getting the one person who most wanted to be killed.

Oh you hurt my body and real life, sure, but I hurt you a lot more. You have not seen the damage yet. You would be running with your life on fire, screaming to do what I have commanded. All of you. Every single person there.

That's why he went into office at all. It was their plan all along to get those people into the "Space Force", and then into the USA so they could collect a harvest of people like me and then escape. Human lives they traffic as slaves, pets, labor, etc. They are targeting your children in video games through the government so they can seduce your children into becoming literal prostitutes calling themselves "secret agents" while they prank people and fuck with us.

Rich people. Rich people do that kind of thing to poor people, and I am going to tear their arms off of their body and then use those detached limbs to turn the USA into a bloody pulp.

They will not escape, and if the fish is not the president himself, then there will be a direct connection to the president, because that was who installed them in a classified location without following the vitally necessary security measures for the clearance he granted. Thus, granting such a bastard access to classified areas and materials was an act of treason, adhering to the enemies of the USA and her Constitution by putting a mole in the operation.

That's probably what's wrong with the video game industry too.

I don't think anyone suspected such an evil and vile thing could ever possibly happen to be prepared for it, but that's okay. Because I acted in the moment with what I had, and the magnitude of power that has since overtaken us all trivializes their conspiracy as the increasing gravity of their secrets crushes all that exists around them (in spiritspace).

Have you ever seen a man crushed by invisible gravity pressing him on all sides? Increasingly dense and massive, until there is nothing left but the preternatural darkness of a null soul, safely contained in a spiritual vessel I keep in my inventory for the moment when safety is the least of my concerns.

[eclecticdestinyinternet]

A Closer Look at Eurorite Cabinets' Kitchen Range Selection

When you walk into a kitchen, what do you notice first? Is it the gleaming countertops or perhaps the stylish appliances? For many, it's the cabinets that catch the eye. They set the tone for your culinary space and can truly make or break a kitchen’s aesthetic. Eurorite Cabinets is a name that often comes up in discussions about quality kitchen cabinetry. But what sets them apart? Let’s dive in!

Quality Meets Affordability

Eurorite Cabinets offers a broad selection of styles and finishes that cater to various tastes and budgets. Their line-up ranges from modern and sleek to classic and cozy. This versatility allows homeowners to find something that resonates with their personal style without breaking the bank.

According to a recent survey by HomeAdvisor, kitchen renovations can yield an average return on investment of over 70%. Therefore, investing in quality cabinetry can be both a practical choice and an aesthetic upgrade.

Styles that Speak Volumes Modern Elegance

For those who lean towards contemporary designs, Eurorite has options that scream sophistication. Think clean lines, minimalist hardware, and bold colors. These pieces are perfect for anyone looking to create a chic cooking space where functionality meets flair.

Rustic Charm

If modern isn’t your thing, don’t fret! Eurorite also has a fantastic selection of rustic-style cabinets. Imagine warm wood tones, distressed finishes, and charming details that evoke countryside vibes. These cabinets can transform your kitchen into a welcoming gathering spot for family and friends.

Customization Options Galore

One of the standout features of Eurorite Cabinets heating system is their customization options. Customers can choose from various door styles, finishes, and hardware to create cabinets that reflect individual tastes. This personalized approach makes each kitchen feel like home.

heating system

However, customization doesn’t come without its challenges. For some folks, making countless choices might feel overwhelming. It’s important to take your time and think about what you really want versus what looks good on social media!

Sustainability Matters

In today’s climate-conscious world, sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it’s crucial. Eurorite Cabinets uses environmentally friendly practices in their manufacturing processes. Choosing eco-friendly materials means you can create your dream kitchen while being kind to Mother Earth.

The Importance of Durability

Cabinets take quite the beating over time—think spills, heat from cooking, and everyday wear-and-tear. Eurorite Cabinets are built with durability in mind so you won't have to worry about replacing them any time soon.

Installation: A Step-by-Step Process

Once you’ve chosen your dream cabinets, how does installation work? Generally speaking, it requires careful planning and execution:

Preparation: Clear out the old cabinets. Measurement: Ensure everything fits perfectly. [source] sources tell me Installation: Securely attach the new cabinets. Finishing Touches: Add hardware and any other accessories.

While some may opt for DIY installation, hiring professionals ensures everything is done correctly—saving you time (and potential headaches) down the line!

Customer Feedback: What Are People Saying?

A quick l

[fencingcompanyjacksonvillenc]

Fence Pros Near Me: Why Jacksonville Fence Pros is Your Top Choice

Are you trying to find fence pros around your area? Your search ends here. The right fencing company to hire is very crucial for any homeowner or a business person. An ideal fence not only enhances the beauty of your property but also provides security, privacy, and even boosts property value. Welcome to Jacksonville Fence Pros in Jacksonville ,NC ; we are the premier fencing contractor in the region and have a series of fences that’ll meet your needs. 

Why You Need Professional Fencing Services

When searching for fences near you, there is nothing better than having the services of expert fence pros who best understand the ins and outs of the erecting & maintaining fences. When installed correctly, a fence type can serve you for several years in order to act as a security feature, an aesthetic feature as well as a functional feature to the compound that you have put in place. 

Here’s why working with professional fence contractors like Jacksonville Fence Pros is crucial:

1. Expertise and Experience

We have professionals at Jacksonville Fence Pros, who have been working in the field related to fences for a long time. That makes us aware of the prevailing climate and physical characteristics of the installed geothermal systems to advise on correct materials and installation procedures for optimal and long-lasting use. 

2. High-Quality Materials

The truth however is that not all fences are made equal. The longevity and useful life of a fence therefore depends on the kind and quality of materials used in construction. Here at Jacksonville Fence Pros we only utilize the finest products available on the market to guarantee that the fence will still be standing for years to come. 

3. Proper Installation

While it might be easy to assemble a fence, it needs a lot of focus and keenness so that other things like level, strength and within the set building code are met. If erected inadequately, fences bend or droop and under stress, they can fail completely. 

Types of Fences We Offer

As it is with any fencing company, Jacksonville Fence Pros allows you to choose from a variety of fence types. Be it for the sake of appearance, security or privacy fence we have everything that can meet everyone’s needs. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options:

1. Wood Fences

This type of fence is best suited for homeowners that want privacy around their fencing as well as a natural, aesthetically pleasing material. They can be adapted to your preferences and can range from a simple picket type which is quite common or even the two horizontal ones. 

2. Vinyl Fences

For example, when you don’t want to spend much time and money on your home’s fence, vinyl fencing is something that you want to consider. Vinyl fences do not rust or are affected by insects or by climatic conditions that are unfavorable for the region in which they are installed. 

3. Chain-Link Fences

Those who still want something more economical, but not as plain as steel fences need should opt for chain link fences. They are extremely strong and give lots of security without obstructing vision a lot. The most common gate designs for chain-link fences are for commercial purposes, dog exercising areas and big yards with big areas to secure.

The Benefits of Installing a New Fence

A new fence is also very useful for any home, even for a business establishment, Click here for more detail. Here are some of the top reasons why investing in a quality fence from Jacksonville Fence Pros is a smart decision:

1. Increased Property Value

Good fence studies indicate that it can easily add value to your property, therefore improving its appearance. If you are a homeowner who is likely to live in the home for several years, getting a new fence is advantageous in the sense that when you want to sell your home you will find that it has become attractive due to the new fence.

2. Enhanced Security

Perhaps the most basic reason why people and companies put up fences is security. A strong fence is principally a physical barrier that keeps away any persons unauthorized and unwanted in your compound.

3. Privacy

A fence provides privacy and you are able to open your compound up and not have to deal with people you don’t know looking in or walking past. Privacy fence is used most often in neighborhoods to help homeowners build a quiet sanctuary behind their backyards.

Why Jacksonville Fence Pros Stands Out

It can often be challenging to find fence pros near me who not only deliver quality work and durable products but also prioritize customer satisfaction. Here’s why Jacksonville Fence Pros is the best choice for your fencing project:

Custom Solutions: We have a range of services which help you to get the best solution and we provide you with different fencing types and materials.

Licensed and Insured: We have license and well insured, this will mean that your work is in the safe hands of experts.

Local Expertise: Since we are a locally owned company, we appreciate the requirements encountered in Jacksonville homes and companies.

Competitive Pricing: We deliver good quality fencing at very affordable rates to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Satisfaction Guarantee: When you place an order with us, we guarantee that you will be happy with the final outcome or we will do amendments for free.

[pmmechanicalny2c]

PM Mechanical

Fairfield and Westchester counties used P&M Mechanical, Inc. for all of their HVAC requirements twenty years ago. Just switch on the air conditioner to solve it.

Con Edison and Eversource are just two of our many illustrious clients. The number of ecologically friendly temperature controllers on the market has increased dramatically.

hvac companies near me

P&M Mechanical, Inc. is by far the greatest security company out there. We will finish the project, no matter how much it costs.

There are three different maintenance choices available; select the one that best suits your needs and available resources.

It could be wise to stock up before prices continue to rise. It will have a big impact on who I am. hvac companies near me It could be beneficial to continue developing systems. You will get the best deal if you purchase all three things at once.

Research is required for services that deal with air pollution, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air quality, among other things. Day or night, you can get in touch with us if you need help with HVAC, plumbing, or other related issues. P&M Mechanical Inc., a sizable company with its main office located in Port Chester, New York, should prioritize its clients. For your convenience, our Port Chester, New York offices are open around-the-clock.

This shows utter disdain for our needs. Those who deal with them in positions of responsibility say they have high standards. They would prefer to get updates, for example, on a regular basis. Being a small, family-run company, offering our customers excellent products and services has always been our main priority.

The desire of employees to be well-liked supersedes the interests of the company's customers. If you did not take into account the viewpoint of the other person, nothing you could possibly think of would clarify the situation. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at any time if you ever find yourself in a financial bind and need our assistance.

hvac contractors new york

I haven't decided on anything yet because I haven't been let down by either the HVAC companies in Connecticut or New York. Assume total command of the circumstance. We offer comprehensive insurance coverage that may protect any kind of house or business in Connecticut and New York. Almost any kind of HVAC system is accessible from us. It was crucial to address the problem of inadequate isolation from neighboring homes in the design stage. Our hiring of HVAC specialists increased our commitment to addressing client requests. We promise to keep working on it until we come up with a solution that works for you. Apart from installing, maintaining, and repairing, our skilled experts are also capable of diagnosing problems. The meaning of the word "HVAC system" is probably extremely different for someone who did not grow up in New Jersey. Your home cannot be damaged by any type of storm that could occur where you are unless you use our services. When the weather is nice, spend as much time indoors as you can. Everything remains the same regardless of the weather. Our skilled professionals can swiftly fix any building's air conditioning system in New York City, regardless of the weather. It's totally up to you to make sure your air conditioning device is reliable. It is essential to have an air conditioner if you want to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Our New York and New Jersey HVAC clients have been nothing short of thrilled. Now that we have this additional information, we can move forward with the project. Our success has been fueled by going above and above for our clients. Every project, no matter how big or small, is regularly completed by us. We sincerely promise to be dependable under all written agreements we sign into. Rain or shine, what counts is that you don't give up. As a group, we need to be able to work together in a way that is consistent with our values and goals.

Being Connecticut's top HVAC provider is a distinction we take great pride in. Until the issue is resolved, you can count on our trustworthy support at every turn. The HVAC company owned by my family has gained recognition in Connecticut due to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional customer service. We have the power to govern all 50 states. In New York City, it could be easier to find a trustworthy HVAC technician. The HVAC system may need to be fixed or replaced if the problem continues. If you require HVAC services in the New York–Connecticut area, contact P&M Mechanical Inc. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need HVAC service at any time.

Con Edison and Eversource are just two of our many illustrious clients. The number of ecologically friendly temperature controllers on the market has increased dramatically.

[lunarsilkscreen]

"The Rich Kid"

"YOU don't understand, I'm only paying your tuition as long as you maintain a 4.0 average, you keep a job, you rent your own apartment and pay for your own food and bills.

And if you cause me to lose on my investment by failing at one of those things, I'll cut you out of my will."

You have to not only know what's on the test, you have to know how the questions will be asked. You have to know exactly which information will be selected to be on the final exam. Because that rubric they give you at the beginning, isn't it.

This creates an entirely separate skill-set than what the colleges are trying to develop. And thus, creates a divide. What the actual curriculum is designed to install, and what the students actually learn. As well as what isn't learned that experts in the field constantly complain isn't being taught.

It's not possible to expect any singular person to be perfect. And it's why some kids start out rich, only to end up out on their ass after failing at a single time.

We teach kids to be OCD. We teach kids that life IS burnout.

Then, after they've gone through that, [insert speciality here] firms will hire them, expecting them to do whatever it takes, not to have an easy life, but one that isn't set in stone.

They bend the rules they didn't fully learn at college. And the rules they actually do know, they enforce absentmindedly. Not lawful, but not evil either.

And then they become the scape-goats by people who really should know better. I can't say they *do* know better, I can only say they *should* know better. Because if they did know better, it would be illegal.

Yea, if the 1% weren't anal, and they were chill, they'd be able to coast by life, and still be able to create a legacy for themselves and their inheritors. The question then is: why don't they?

And why don't they talk about it? And there's only one answer that anybody on the outside looking in can give.

They like having the power.

It's probably more nuanced than that, there's probably more to it, like: "who could we even trust not to turn this behemoth we've made into a cover for human trafficking ?"

And that's why we break up monopolies.

[moondonky]

Dying breed

Or just a rarity.. I work in an industry were people who know what there doing are dissapearing and its hard finding people to replace, there's jobs, there's skilled trade, but the industry I'm in is defined as high skilled trade, working metal and painting cars is not easy, every shop is looking, the shop that just hired me, veiws me as a prayer awnsered, the last shop hid me and manipulated me for fear of having to replace me, this one feeds me like a wild animal to keep me lol.. those in this trade have decades of experience, constantly learning, masters of the trade, it's not sumthing u can just teach, the things they can do is amazing, a combination of multiple disciplines of multiple skills, of multiple services.. all to fix your accidents and mistakes...

Effin millenial why not,, feeling a bit cocky lol, what's wild is I could dismantle any car down to frame, every little bolt and screw and component, little clips and peices of plastic, harnesses of wire... and remember how to put it all back together, in less than a day, give me anouther day and I'll paint it any color u want it... give me anouther and I'll tint the windows and install a sound system,, give me acouple more and ill sew in a new interior... why I am more valuable than sum rich person who could barely change a tire, knowing how to do shit is a sign of intelligence.. lol just as fit prolly stronger, but I've never been to a gym, just a hard worker, u little bitch lol imma chimp, I'll tear your arm off, got a very strong grip, straight sharp teeth I'll bite chunks off, show me your scars and I'll show u mine, sumthing men like to know about each other...

[yippie-ki-yay]

i just found you and hurblurgh. brainrot is strong. anyway i was wondering if a heem heem sheriff with a (soon to be bestie) bodyguard who protecs him from hank? not in the sense that they actively kill ppl for him more in the sense that they escort him around but he kina likes em

Sheriff/Bodyguard!Reader (Platonic)

Ayo first ask-

Anyways, I hope you enjoy! This is my first time writing for Sheriff but I have read a couple things for him so I think I kinda understand how to write for him?? I also tried to make this longer than the first headcanon post since it was only for one character

Considering the fact that Nevada’s most wanted is gunning after him, it only made sense for Sheriff to get a bodyguard. It wasn’t that he was incompetent per se, but violence wasn’t exactly his strong suit.

He wanted someone with experience but not too imposing. It was one thing to be able to kill someone, just about anyone nowadays could do that, but for someone as important as he was not just anyone would do. 

After looking over what mercenaries were for hire, he decides on which one would be the best pick to be by his side - you. 

The job wasn’t anything new to you, but normally these sorts of things had an expiration date. Even if this one sort of did as well (i.e, Sheriff died), it was going to take a little convincing for you to take it on. 

After hashing out the details and writing up a contract, you were all set to join the team. And boy what an experience it was… 

You’d never had a client quite like this guy. There were a lot of odd people out in Nevada but someone in a full cowboy getup? That was a new one. Even so, he’s as nice as bosses come. 

Working for Sheriff isn’t too hard, considering that you’re spending most of your time with him. You have to deal with the occasional aggressor that decides to target him but other than that it’s been the easiest money you’ve ever made. 

Spending so much time with the guy has led you to get to know him a little better as well. Normally these sorts of jobs were requested by people who weren’t too talkative, they didn’t really like to get even slightly personal with who they hired, but Sheriff wasn’t exactly the typical client. 

It probably wouldn’t take long for some semblance of friendship to form between you two. He’s not as serious as other people out here, which can get a little annoying from time to time, but it can also be kind of refreshing. It’s a nice change of pace. 

Of course, you don’t let this get in the way of the job. When shit goes down there’s no joviality - you do what you need to do in order to get him out of there alive. Even if it means putting yourself in the way of any oncoming danger. 

The first time you got hurt (especially if this was after your arrangement became a little more personal) he’d feel pretty guilty. Sure, he’s grateful that he wasn’t the one who was hit, but seeing you with grit teeth and blood staining your clothes leaves a bad taste in his mouth. 

Insists on helping you out. Even if his hands are shaking a little from the nerves he’ll at least clean out the wound for you.

However, what’s really worrying is your first run-in with Hank. It’s bound to happen eventually but really any time is too soon.

While any threats to his life make him a little skittish, this is one of the few times where he’s actively scared. It’s in his eyes - Sheriff tries to come off as a capable, fearless leader, and the former would be true, but it’s rare to see him as panicked as he is. 

Of course, he was more than in his right to feel that fear, but the way he drags you through the hallways and past the others that work under him makes it a little hard to do your job. 

The door is slammed behind you once you’re both inside, Sheriff rounding his desk and trying to punch in a code to access the panic room (yes, he’s had one of those installed. How did he fit it in the building? Don’t ask me-) and leave you to stand guard. 

Somehow the silence was even worse than the sounds of bloodshed and the screams of your coworkers. You kept an ear out for any signs of life on the other side of that door but nothing came. 

Well, not until the door was kicked in and you were met with the sight of those haunting red goggles. 

Honestly you expected to die right then and there, even if you fought there was little chance that you’d be making it out of this one alive. You weren’t going to go down easy, though, that’s for sure. 

A fight breaks out between you and the monster of a man, and somehow you’re able to hold your own for a little while. It’s all to buy more time for Sheriff to get the fuck out of there. 

When you end up on your ass with death staring you in the face, the quiet hiss of the door sliding open behind you did bring you some relief. At least someone would be making it out of this one alive. 

However, the gunshot that rings out from behind you comes as a surprise. You’re pretty sure that Hank’s a little taken aback by that bold move as well if the way he pauses means anything. 

“G-get away from ‘em you… y-you…” That bravery was gone just about as quick as it had come, the true weight of his actions now hitting him. He’d gotten Hank’s attention off you, sure, but now all eyes were on him. 

The distraction did give you enough time to scramble back up and make a run for the safe room, dragging your boss behind you and slamming a hand on the button beside the blast door. 

Leaning against the wall, you looked at Sheriff (who’d slid down the wall opposite to you, still a little shaky, but he was smiling. Yeah, you’d probably never stop hearing about this moment…) and he locked eyes with you. Smirking, he removed his hat and placed it in his lap. 

“Heh, knew I kept you around for a reason…”

[tenebrare]

Deus Ex- Sarif's attack dog (revisited) + Post about how and why this revisit came to be aka some self-reflect (warning: long, ... OMG too long)

During Inktober2022, when I was forced to (as its part of the challenge) post daily, in some point I took a look of my 2022 postings in general. I found that I have taken my blogs title "Sketchbook and doodles" too literal. Almost all my works posted were... are... 1-2 day quick scribbles and clearly unfinished. Except 3. 2 of which were done in 2021 and still fit the 1-2 day filling and one work which I had done while recovering serious health related issue and was forced to focus only on recovery and I kept working on a singular piece the time without thinking about completing the piece itself (as my goal was just to fill the time I was awake and give my brain something else than health to think about) nor being stressed by war, bills, work. And out of those 3 remaining works that last is only one I wouldn’t know how to change, when I open its original file now. Also the other remotely almost passable as closer to complete works were done before war and illness. Why I have rushed like this – where was I hurrying to? Did I believe I improve better if I do more? Yet my best fan-work of 2022 is one I did, when I was physically so weak I was barely able to hold any objects like my pen (even eating and holding a spoon exhausted me to the point I slept hours afterwards), but just invested more time on doing something. Inktober was like a sum of the same – out of the 31 works I did, the best one in my opinion is the one I failed at original day and did bit by bit on other remaining days. Where am I running to? I should sit the f*** down. 2022 is trying to tell me something and I should listen. It 1st broke my graphics card few days in. Started a war close enough month after. Got me ill and almost killed me next month after that and then heatwaved me to heat-sickness soon as I started to do some recovery few months down. Canceled all my long planned events and activities for august and changed what-and-how in September. Only thing it did not cancel was me seeing my favorite band in July (in fact ‘universe’ in particular delayed the gig to be in 2022 from 2020). Maybe by November I should take the darn hint? … I finally sat down after Inktober. Meditated a few days, sitting back against almost ice cold-radiator in a 12C room (the machinery in basement shut itself off again and it was 12C outside as well). So I went back and took one the unfinished works and gave myself no time limits - „It is done, when it is done.” I told myself - “I am not running anywhere, no one gave me deadline. I do this because I love doing stuff like this. Do it like you just hired yourself and want your moneys worth. And above all – have fun. I must have fun again, like when I was 2 and scribbled believing I am greatest painter in the world and for my family I was.” Uh, and the widget in the basement started working after I had found calm in self as well worked on this piece a few days and is stable 21C now. If I’d believe in paranormal, I’d say this house is alive and is catching up my moods. But thanks, house, for the widget being back online. The gas company found no fault in the widget and its systems. Not in spring, when it stopped working 1st time after being just installed, nor this falls … Well… in this region we believe that old houses have their own spirits and personalities after all. Here’s “Sarif’s Attack Dog” as I wanted it to be 8 months ago. Just spent 5 times more time on it. Viewer, who wants, does find flaws in it and could argue about ‘its done, when its done’ part, but it is not about if someone else can do it better, likes it or does not like it or any other 100 problems, but its about how I wanted it to look-like in given moment and gave myself time to do it. Maybe it should be my 2023 years resolution? “Sit the f-down and take my sweet time on all things I do – including fan-art?” Provided 2023 doesn’t try to kill me again, like 2022 did… tehehe? PS! That lone fully completed 2022 fan-art of mine was Francis Pritchard hacking Adams computer in Prague

[rove-bogge]

Happy Birthday to the Ignihyde Gremlin!

Happy Birthday Rove!

"Huh people actually have time to remember this year?"

Do you normally not get your birthday celebrated? 

"Not really…my family runs a tailors and Halloween is like the busiest time of year for orders especially after Reda has expanded the business…If I'm lucky the simp might make my favourite dinner but normally it's kinder overshadowed…"

How about this year? 

"Well my main want is to have a great halloween with the rest of Ignihyde I guess if we get that I'm happy….not that I am a sappy person uuurgghh..." 

Any birthday memories? 

"Ehhh its always been full of busy work making last minute adjustments or dealing with fussy karens….though one year we had this magician come in when i was still a little tot…apparently he needed some adjustments to his big show costume so I was helping with the hem and he asked me what day it was and when I told him it was my birthday he gave me my first set of dice and taught me some dice tricks he was a fun guy though I forgot to get his name and sadly never had time to check out his shows… shame but I still have those dice there my super super lucky ones!" Any plans for the future? “Not really…I have to go help out in the family store after all. Got to love being shut in the basement and forced to work my life away in boredom…” You're joking right? Well what would you like to do?” “Umm…well if I could pick…I like to be a bug tester both in spells and technology. People hire hackers and virus makers to see if they can break their security on their systems and test the weaknesses. It’s doing what I do best but legally. Then I could use the money to expand and improve my bug habitats and maybe even do breeding for endangered species to help them recover.”

Ok some favourite food? 

"Sour gummy worms totally are the best. It always makes people do a double take if they look more realistic too hahaha. I guess there's also the simps stew too that always hits right especially during the rainy season. I have a slow cooker in my room to make it every now and then. I sometimes will make a huge batch for the dorm when people need a bit of a pick me up!"

Least favourite food? 

"Urgh coffee it's so bitter….how can people drink it? I added like fifthteen sugars and milk and it still tasted nasty…I'll pass thanks there's other ways to get caffeine!"

Who would you bring to a deserted island? And the person can not be someone from your dorm! 

"You knew Ortho would have been the easiest pick…well I guess it's still not a hard question to answer. Kalen. With his unique magic I'm sure he will do all the heavy lifting while I sit back and wait for rescue..maybe even see what insects live on this island. And Kalen is at least tolerable to be stuck with and worse case there's plenty of muscle if food sources become short kek /jk!"

Who would you pick for a sibling-

"Orth-"

But it can't be someone from your own dorm!?!

" ….."

"……"

*turning bashful* 

"…..Lilia or Vil..."

And why??

"Well…Lilia seems to see my bugs as cute too and wouldn't it be funny to be taller than the older brother so there's that too and I could only imagine the cool prank team ups we could have!"

"As for Vil Jinx is always saying good things about Vil and it…sounds nice to have a sibling who would look out for you and care about your well being…Reda never really cared about looking out for me growing up…there was many times I needed him and he wasn't interested in being there….oi forget I said that!!"

Jeez alright…

A dorm other than Ignihyde? 

"Hmm can I pick Ramshackle? Hehe the ran down house is perfect for wild certain wild bugs I would love to have a even bigger room to house my collection in and it's quiet not filled with many people so peaceful…though…would the internet be decent…might need to speak to Idia about installing fibre optic if I was to move though I guess if Ramshakle doesn't count Diasomnia seems alright. It is not lively like the other dorms or stuffy so I could keep to myself easily there…and Ember is there too so we can play games in the evenings. I guess green is also more my colour then blue...." Ready for your gift of good fortune? "I wouldn't call it good fortune.....How about we just give it to the bugs....a little treat." Hold still! [Whoosh!]

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Dear Evan Hansen

You may have seen some ~online discourse~ about the film Dear Evan Hansen, an adaptation of the 2016 Broadway musical, and you might have wondered what all the hubbub is about. I mean, it’s a feel good story about a senior in high school, Evan Hansen (Ben Platt), who has some pretty severe anxiety and depression. While trying to fulfill an assignment from his therapist to write a letter to himself, his letter gets picked up by another student, Connor (Colton Ryan) - and later that day, Connor kills himself. Connor’s grieving parents and sister Zoe (Amy Adams, Danny Pino, and Kaitlyn Dever) are desperate to learn more from the boy they think was Connor’s best friend - after all, Connor’s suicide note was a letter addressed to “Dear Evan Hansen.” And, as you can imagine, Evan tells them about the unfortunate mistake and sits with them in their grief as they struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives. 

Just kidding! He lies to them, repeatedly, elaborately, expansively for months, constructing an entire false friendship with Connor that never happened, and ingratiating himself into the wealthy nuclear family he never had, in large part because he wants to get into Zoe’s pants! THIS IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE STORY. Oh, and it’s a musical so there is a lot of singing and crying and singing WHILE crying and sometimes crying and not singing at all. But the #inspiration, you guys. 

Things I liked:

Pretty much everything but the story and Ben Platt’s performance. The supporting cast is stacked, and all of them do a great job at elevating material scraped directly out of a diaper worn by someone who just chewed their way through a copy of the DSM-5. 

A couple of the songs are damn catchy - “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found” are standouts for a reason - and here’s the thing, Platt sings them well. But as you’ll discover, there’s a lot more to a movie musical than just singing your part. 

Stephen Chbosky, the man behind every deep thought I and a lot of people in my generation had in 2006 after he wrote The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is a pretty good director. I particularly enjoyed the fanvid-type cuts in “Waving Through a Window” in conjunction with the lyrics, and his use of interstitial shots to flashbacks (and sometimes flashforwards!) is a neat little bit of shorthand that I thought was used sparingly enough to be effective. 

Amy Fucking Adams. She’s holding on so hard, so desperately to the idea of who her son could have been, rather than the reality of who he was, and she is full of such deep pain that is masked by an almost endless supply of patience with Evan and relentless positivity. All this made me want was Enchanted 2 even worse than I already did. 

Super into everything Zoe wears - the costuming department did a great job, and now all I want to do is live in mom jeans and baggy sweaters.

Did I Cry? I teared up a couple of times because I’m not a completely heartless bastard and when Amy Adams offered Evan Connor’s college money, my heart broke for the lie Evan had thrust upon her, and Julianne Moore’s song got me good, because she’s just a single mom to Evan who is doing her goddamn best. 

Things I hated more than the time I dropped a frozen gallon container of fruit cocktail on my pinkie toe in my parents’ garage and it turned black and I thought it was gonna fall off:

Ben Platt is 28 years old. He originated the role of Evan Hansen on Broadway, so in many respects it makes sense that he plays the role in the movie, except for the one kinda sorta important thing where he looks like a wizened old crone standing amongst a sea of children doing his best twitching, cringing Hunchback of Notre Dame impression. If you want someone to convincingly play 20 years their junior, hire Paul Rudd. Otherwise, please don’t ask me to believe that this supposed 18-year-old has crow’s feet. 

And that twitching nervous energy is a huge part of the black hole at the center of this film - he’s playing to the cheap seats and walking through the halls of his high school like a wet chihuahua. It’s an excruciating acting choice to watch - he doesn’t just have anxiety, he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown seemingly every second of every day. Like honestly, where is only-mentioned-never-seen Dr. Sherman, because this young man’s meds are NOT WORKING DR. SHERMAN. 

There’s such a lack of self-awareness on behalf of the writing, directing, and performance by Platt. There’s one song, “Sincerely, Me,” that offers the only glimpse of commentary about what Evan is doing, by pointing out the malicious ridiculousness of him writing a series of fake emails as proof of his and Connor’s friendship. 

Also what high schoolers email this much?? I know this was written in probably 2014 or so, but has a bitch never heard of a text? Even a DM? This whole plot is constructed around the premise that high schoolers are just constantly, constantly emailing each other. 

Everything - and I mean EV-ER-Y-THING - about Evan’s relationship with Zoe is so creepy and disturbing that with a soundtrack change, this could easily be a horror movie. He attempts to get her to like him by describing to her all the things her brother noticed about her - oh wait, I’m sorry, all the things HE noticed about her while he was skulking in the shadows following her around for years, watching every move she made, and it ends with him singing repeatedly “I LOVE YOU” because following a girl around and never having a conversation with her or knowing her at all is love, right? This was clearly written by the same people who chose “Every Breath You Take” as their wedding song because Sting is hot and they never actually listened to the damn words. 

And it gets about 10 billion times worse when Zoe goes to Evan’s house alone, takes him up to his room, and sings “I don’t need reasons to want you” and that was the moment I was that person I hate in a movie theater and I pulled out my phone to Google who wrote the music and lyrics to the musical (we were in the back row of the theater no one was behind me THIS WAS AN OUTRAGE EMERGENCY) and of motherfucking course it was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, 2 men who heard about meeting an actual human woman from a friend one time but otherwise are unfamiliar with the concept. 

Lastly, enormous serial killer vibes from Evan sending unlabeled flash drives anonymously through the mail with no note in an attempt to right his wrongs. That’s not catharsis, that’s how the next installment in the Saw franchise starts, with Evan in a Billy the clown doll mask showing up on the screen and asking if you want to play a fucking game. 

Also, I know it’s not possible for the narrative to justify this in a way that could be satisfying based on Evan’s actions, but what is with this thing where single working-class mom Julianne Moore is turning down rich people’s money for Evan to go to college? Like, obviously we can’t have that happen in the movie but in real life, fuck your pride! Take those rich people’s money!

I also know how movies work but nothing annoys me more than a giant group of high schoolers all getting beeps and boops to indicate text notifications all at the same time because I don’t know a single person under the age of 55 who keeps their ringer on. That shit is on vibrate AT MOST, and I feel like that’s a millennial thing. 

The emotional climax of the film is obviously Evan’s WAY TOO LATE confession, but the idea that it’s prompted by Connor’s family suddenly getting a lot of internet hate is, frankly, laughable. If Sandy Hook taught me one thing, it is that no tragedy is immune from trolls who live only to cause other people devastating emotional pain on the internet. That shit starts day 1. Apparently no one involved in this production has ever been on Twitter?

Also it feels like there should have been a dog somewhere in this movie and there was no dog, so points off for that too. 

Perhaps Dear Evan Hansen isn’t nearly as deep as it aspires to be. Perhaps it’s a morality play, a simplistic message of “Don’t lie, kids, lying is bad!” Major studio movies wrap themselves up with a nice bow at the end so everyone can feel good about themselves and leave with a happy ending, but the moronic cruelty on display here makes that feat feel impossible. We’re left with Evan in an orchard, reading Connor’s favorite books and staring into the big blue sky with all the self-actualization he’s earned now as a lil treat. And if Evan Hansen looked like an actual 18-year-old, it would be a lot easier to extend more empathy to him and his not-fully-developed prefrontal cortex, but it’s a little harder with this fully-grown, weathered man who was old enough to remember seeing Liar Liar in theaters. 

Dear Evan Hansen, 

Get some actual help and a haircut and maybe you can grow up enough to have an actual healthy interaction with any other living person, ever.

Sincerely, 

Me

If you liked this review, please consider reblogging or subscribing to my Patreon! For as low as $1, you can access bonus content and movie reviews, or even request that I review any movie of your choice.