#Small Business Shipping Solutions

[betachon25]

Effective Parcel Shipping Strategies for Small Businesses

For small businesses, shipping is more than just moving parcels from one point to another; it's an integral part of their customer service and cost management. Developing an effective Parcel shipping strategy is essential to stay competitive. Betachon Freight Auditing understands the unique challenges faced by small businesses and offers comprehensive small business shipping solutions designed to optimize every aspect of the shipping process.

Optimize Shipping Costs

One of the primary concerns for Small Businesses is managing shipping costs. Betachon Freight Auditing provides expert auditing services that meticulously analyze your shipping invoices to identify billing errors, overcharges, and potential savings. By ensuring that every invoice is accurate, businesses can significantly reduce their shipping expenses without compromising on service quality.

Leverage Technology for Efficiency

Integrating technology into your shipping operations can streamline processes and improve efficiency. Betachon Freight Auditing offers advanced software solutions that automate various shipping tasks, from label printing to tracking shipments. This not only saves time but also minimizes the risk of human errors, ensuring that parcels are delivered promptly and accurately.

Negotiate Better Shipping Rates

Small businesses often struggle to secure favorable shipping rates due to their lower shipping volumes. Betachon Freight Auditing leverages its industry expertise and relationships with major carriers to negotiate better rates on behalf of small businesses. This ensures that even businesses with modest shipping needs can access competitive rates, helping them save money and stay competitive.

Enhance Customer Satisfaction

Reliable and efficient shipping is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction. Betachon Freight Auditing’s solutions include real-time tracking and proactive communication with customers, keeping them informed about the status of their shipments. By enhancing the overall shipping experience, small businesses can build stronger relationships with their customers and encourage repeat business.

[l5mailingsolutions]

How Can Small Businesses Optimize Their Mail Solutions?

L5 provides valuable services to help small businesses manage their mail efficiently. Using digital mail solutions for small businesses can streamline mail handling by scanning, sorting, and directing important documents to the right people. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of misplaced mail, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations.

Marketing with postcards is another effective strategy that businesses often overlook. A postcard delivery service can help companies connect with their audience in a more personal way, whether it’s for announcing new products or special offers. Adding a tangible element to marketing efforts can leave a lasting impression. Read the full blog for more information. https://l5.hashnode.dev/how-can-small-businesses-optimize-their-mail-solutions 

[berriesonmars]

weve! do you want a cute strap keychain for your onewe lightstick or a cute star attachment keychain? why not both?

WW SHIPPING AVAILABLE (excludes EU & Northern Ireland)

PREORDER PERIOD:

STRAP VER: FEB 23 - MAR 14

STAR VER: FEB 23 - MAR 23

[arihantcourierservices]

Boost Your E-commerce Sales with Arihant's Fast and Affordable Shipping

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[sticksandsharks]

Hey, hope I'm not bothering you with the question, but how does GPSR impact online stores? It's a new thing over here and not really talked about (which sucks) so it's the first time I'm hearing about it actually preventing sellers from shipping stuff to the EU.

I may be wrong as I am very much a layperson (which is why this stuff is extra frustrating because it's impacting solo/small traders disproportionally to large businesses), but every unique product that would be sent into the EU (even something I'd think is generally benign, like a print or a book) needs to acquiesce with a robust new set of safety regulations and therefore have certifications and a EU-resident representative that can vet for its safety. Accessing these certifations and persons is a service that I think I need to pay for each, by product. I have no knowledge of international trading laws and I just don't have the time, help or resources to access all the neccessary requirements to legally trade into the EU. Until there is a larger blanket-solution for small businesses, I'd rather cut off the EU for the time being than get in any trouble.

[stitchau]

————————《《FAQ》》————————

This post will be updated over time.

Main artist account: @centfornothing (both tumblr, twitter and soon bluesky)

Currently, i am very busy with university, and I'm not gonna be free any time soon...(except holidays, obviously) BUT I am really trying to put at least SOME time into what I've created here, so there's that. (Hopefully I'll survive all that)

— Usage of Stitch/Fanart

1. Q: Can I create fanart of Stitch?

A: Yes, I'd be more than happy if you do! ^^

Also, do not be shy to tag me! I will, from time to time, check if i was tagged somewhere.

2. Q: Can I use your character in my comic/animation/fanfiction?

A: Yep! I don't see why not.

3. Q: Can I ship *insert character name here* with Stitch?

A: Sure, have fun! But I sure do hope that the character in question is not a child. I am strongly against it.

4. Q: Can I create NSFW🔞 content of Stitch?

A: Yes, unless it involves children/incest. Do not draw stuff like that.

5. Q: Can I voice act your comics?

A: Any day!! Just don't forget to put credits, everything else is up to you! ^^

— NOT ALLOWED

I'm being repetitive here, but whatever. These are the only things I don't want people to do with my character, and I hope you understand why.

DO NOT create content depicting Stitch engaging with children in sexual manner.

DO NOT create content depicting Stitch endorsing incest/racism/f*scism/n*zism or anything similar to that.

As advice, I'd kindly ask you not to create stuff like this at all. Please be a better person and be responsible with what you create and put out there on the internet.

— About asks/questions

Questions that I have already answered won't get a reply.

Not all the questions will get their answers. Either because it's not the time for the answer yet or because it's irrelevant/not a question at all.

If there's too many questions, yours might be missed/might get a late reply(currently i have 70+ questions, no joke, and i just cant answer all of them, especially when there's more of them every day). But don't be shy asking questions anyway!

Other reasons for your questions not getting an answer:

I might be busy because I also have to live a life.

If your question is something like "I love your au sm," then thank you. I really appreciate your kind words, you are making my day💞

I might not want to answer your question for reasons. (Provocative questions, personal questions, etc)

If you are asking something related to YOUR OWN mental health. Please, PLEASE, if you have real problems, do not try to find a solution for them from internet strangers, go and talk to a real, qualified professional.

Please do not vent to me, I am not qualified to offer you help. I wish you the best, please stay safe.

And just a separate point about roleplays. Sorry, but I don't really do them. I can play along to something unserious and small, but whole roleplays are not for me.

— About Stitch

Stitch uses any pronouns, but they/them is a preferred one.

They are aroace.

The place they live in is called "Treatment space"(the info on what it is will be elaborated on sometime later). It is accessible for anyone in Omega Timeline at any given point through a door. But it can also be accessed from anywhere if you have one of 2 special keys: small red key that will create a door for 1 person leading to the Treatment Space or the bigger dark red key that will create a much bigger door, also leading to the Treatment Space(backyard). Keys can be mostly found in Omega Timeline, but some are scattered throughout the Multiverse.

They mimic the voice according to the form they have at the moment. So Sans' voice for a form of Sans, etc.

For all the different parts of plush bodies and clothes, there is a separate big room in Treatment Space.

Stitch doesn't need to sleep, eat, or drink.

Their most preferred forms are Toriel(convenience) and Sans(frequency of use).

The forms they don't like to use the most are the ones that are small(like Temmie, annoying dog, Flowey, etc.)

— The Lore(WIP)

Prologue

Chapter 1: Lucky streak — part 1

— Stitch's forms

I have some forms drawn separately, and some that I drew with some other sketches. I MIGHT be a bit too lazy to draw every from individually for now, so here's what I have:

Papyrus

Muffet

Mettaton

Alphys

Gaster

Monster kid (MK)

Grillby

Frisk and Chara(want to change them)

Toriel(if you can't tell, I like this one a lot)

Asgore, Flowey, Sans, Undyne, some stuff

More info will be added later

[blackstarlineage]

Marcus Garvey’s Life and Legacy: A Garveyite Perspective on Black Self-Reliance, Economic Independence, and Global Pan-Africanism

Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887–1940) was one of the most influential Black leaders in history, pioneering a vision of Black nationalism, economic self-reliance, and Pan-African unity that continues to inspire generations. As the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Garvey built the largest mass movement in Black history, promoting the Back-to-Africa movement, Black economic empowerment, and the establishment of a global African nation free from European domination.

From a Garveyite perspective, Garvey was not just a civil rights leader—he was a revolutionary visionary who understood that Black people must control their own economies, land, and political systems to be truly free. This analysis will explore:

Garvey’s early life and the experiences that shaped his Pan-African vision.

The rise of the UNIA and the impact of the Back-to-Africa movement.

His speeches and writings that defined the Black liberation struggle.

The global influence of Garveyism and how his ideas remain relevant today.

1. Garvey’s Early Life: The Birth of a Revolutionary

Marcus Garvey was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, a British colony at the time. His early experiences with racism, colonial oppression, and the exploitation of Black labour shaped his belief in Pan-Africanism and self-reliance.

A. Growing Up Under British Colonial Rule

Garvey witnessed how Black Jamaicans were economically excluded while British settlers controlled land, business, and government.

His father owned a small library, which allowed young Garvey to study African and world history, inspiring his intellectual growth.

Example: Garvey saw that Black people in Jamaica were taught European history and told to admire the British Empire, while their own African history was erased—a theme he would later challenge.

B. Travels and First Encounters with Global Racism

In his early 20s, Garvey travelled to Central and South America, where he saw Black workers living in extreme poverty while white elites controlled the economy.

He worked in Panama, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, where Black workers built infrastructure for U.S. and European corporations but remained poor and landless.

Example: Garvey realized that Black oppression was not just a Jamaican or Caribbean issue—it was a global problem caused by European imperialism and white supremacy.

Key Takeaway: Garvey’s early experiences made him see that Black liberation required a global solution, not just local activism.

2. The Rise of the UNIA and the Back-to-Africa Movement

A. The Founding of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) (1914)

After returning to Jamaica, Garvey founded the UNIA in 1914 with the goal of uplifting Black people through education, economic self-sufficiency, and African unity.

The UNIA’s motto was “One God! One Aim! One Destiny!”

The organization quickly expanded beyond Jamaica, gaining followers across the Caribbean, the United States, Latin America, and Africa.

In 1916, Garvey moved to Harlem, New York, where the UNIA became a mass movement with millions of members worldwide.

Example: The UNIA built Black-owned businesses, schools, and economic programs, proving that Black people could be self-reliant without white assistance.

B. The Back-to-Africa Movement and the Black Star Line

Garvey’s Back-to-Africa movement was based on the idea that Black people would never be free under European rule and needed to return to Africa to build a strong, independent nation.

In 1919, Garvey launched the Black Star Line, a shipping company meant to facilitate trade between Black nations and eventually transport African descendants back to Africa.

The Black Star Line was funded by Black investors, showing that Black people could finance their own liberation.

Example: The Black Star Line inspired future Black business ventures and Pan-African economic cooperation, even though it was later sabotaged by the U.S. government interference.

Key Takeaway: Garvey’s movement was not just about cultural pride—it was about building a real Black economy, independent of white control.

3. Garvey’s Speeches and Writings: Defining the Black Liberation Struggle

Garvey was a powerful orator and writer, and his speeches and books shaped the ideology of Black nationalism, economic self-sufficiency, and Pan-Africanism.

A. The “Africa for the Africans” Speech

In multiple speeches, Garvey declared that Africa belonged to Black people, not European colonizers, calling for an independent African empire.

He rejected integration with white society, arguing that Black people should build their own institutions instead of seeking white approval.

Quote: “The Negro must build his own government, industry, and civilization or forever remain the hewer of wood and drawer of water.”

B. The “Look to Africa” Prophecy

Garvey predicted that one day, a Black king would rise in Africa to unite Black people globally.

His followers later connected this prophecy to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1930), leading to the birth of the Rastafari movement.

Quote: “Look to Africa, when a Black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand.”

Key Takeaway: Garvey’s speeches inspired both political movements and cultural revolutions, proving that Pan-Africanism was both a political and spiritual force.

4. The Global Impact of Garveyism and Its Legacy

Garvey’s ideas influenced liberation movements across Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S., shaping Black resistance for generations.

A. Influence on African Independence Leaders

Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) openly credited Garvey as a major influence on his vision for African liberation.

Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) and Julius Nyerere (Tanzania) embraced Garvey’s call for African self-rule and unity.

Example: Ghana, the first African nation to gain independence (1957), used Garvey’s Pan-African teachings as a foundation for its policies.

B. Impact on the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements

Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party all drew inspiration from Garvey’s focus on self-reliance.

The Rastafari movement emerged from Garvey’s teachings, blending Pan-Africanism with African spiritual revival.

Example: Malcolm X’s call for Black nationalism and economic independence was a direct continuation of Garvey’s ideas.

Key Takeaway: Even after his death, Garvey’s philosophy remained central to Black liberation movements worldwide.

5. The Garveyite Solution: Completing the Work of Marcus Garvey

Although Garvey’s movement was sabotaged by the U.S. government, his vision for Black self-reliance and Pan-African unity remains the blueprint for true Black liberation.

To fulfill Garvey’s dream of global Black power, we must:

Reclaim Africa’s economy – End European and U.S. control over African industries and resources.

Strengthen Black-owned businesses worldwide – Build an economic system that benefits Africans, not multinational corporations.

Create a strong African-led military – Defend Black sovereignty from foreign intervention.

Unify African and diaspora communities – Establish a single, powerful Pan-African government.

Develop an independent Black media – Control our own narratives and reject white-washed histories.

Final Takeaway: Garvey taught us that true freedom requires economic and political self-determination. The struggle is not over—we must finish what he started.

Conclusion: Garvey’s Legacy Lives On

Marcus Garvey’s vision of Black economic and political power is more relevant today than ever. As Africa and the diaspora continue to face neo-colonial exploitation, political instability, and economic dependence, Garveyism remains the key to true Black sovereignty.

As Garvey said: “Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad!”

The fight for self-reliance, unity, and freedom is not over—it is just beginning.

[marlynnofmany]

Secondhand Solutions

Mur gave me a smug look, curling and uncurling one tentacle like a yo-yo. “Told you it was a waste of credits,” he said.

I sighed. “If those human ships were here, it wouldn’t be. This stuff is prime Earth nostalgia.” The small pile of items on the hoversled had seemed so full of promise when I’d bought it at our last stop: cat posters, harmonicas, and a dozen packs of googly eyes.

“Pity we’re far from Earth,” Mur said.

“Yeah,” I agreed, eyeing the locals of this alien marketplace. Lots of scales and exoskeletons. Not many hands that would appreciate the softness of a cat’s fur, and very few mouthparts that would be able to do much with a harmonica. The merchant I’d gotten the stuff from had been a Heatseeker all too happy to unload her stock of cut-rate human nonsense. These folks would likely have similar opinions. I said, “At least it doesn’t expire.”

Mur straightened the individually-boxed harmonicas. “And it shouldn’t take up too much space in your quarters until we meet up with more humans eventually. The captain won’t want to hang around here waiting for them to show up.”

“True,” I admitted. It was gossip from our last stop that had told me they’d be here now. I should have known better than to trust it.

“Well, back to the ship,” Mur announced. “Maybe you can cheer yourself up by decorating your quarters with eyeballs.”

I had to smile at that. “Maybe.” He was already walking back to where we’d parked, on the far side of an over-cultivated garden area. I towed the hoversled after him.

Then I caught sight of some locals who’d run afoul of multiple birdlike beasties, and an idea started to form.

The locals, a half-dozen Heatseekers whose scales ranged from red to pale yellow, were trying to eat a nice lunch at the dining section of the garden. The squawking bird-things, which were half-lizardy with speckled brown feathers and wide beaks, had apparently claimed the bushes for their own. They were contesting this claim by spitting at the Heatseekers every time their backs were turned. These looked like pretty gross spitballs, impressive for birds.

It occurred to me that I’d seen those feathery characters all over the place here. A look behind confirmed it; they lurked in nearly every tree I could see. And judging by the way the locals were abandoning this picnic table, they were a known hazard.

They still only spat at fleeing enemies, hiding or freezing in place when pinned by eye contact.

And that was my idea. “Hey Mur,” I said. “I’ll bet you one shanty sung on a table that I can sell some of these googly eyes right now.”

He stopped and looked around, full of skepticism. “To who?”

“Do you take the bet?”

“Ah, sure. There’s no way anyone here is interested.”

“You say that now,” I said, grabbing a pack and waving down one of the hurrying locals. “But you don’t know how we deal with tigers and magpies.”

“With what?”

I didn’t answer, busy as I was explaining to the local that the false eyes were adhesive, and would give the impression of eye contact from both directions. They were just as interested as I’d thought they’d be.

After a demonstration, during which I strolled through the picnic area and didn’t get a single spitball on me, the birds were unsettled and the locals were more than happy to buy everything I had.

This was a new colony town, you see, and no one had come up with a good solution for the annoying fauna that came with the territory. But these folks were prepared to make everyone’s day.

They certainly made mine. That was five times as much as I’d paid for the stuff in the first place. And they didn’t even want the posters and harmonicas.

I waved goodbye, but they weren’t paying attention, so I turned my grin on Mur instead. He had draped a tentacle around his pointy squid head in exasperation.

“I knew I shouldn’t have taken the bet,” he declared. “But I was so sure it was pointless.”

“And I am sure that whichever song you choose to regale us with at dinnertime will be delightful,” I said, tugging the hovercart around the bushes. The birds watched me carefully, noting the eyes still stuck to my hair, and leaving us both alone. “If it’s a song I know, maybe I can play a backup melody with a harmonica.”

~~~

The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come! And I am currently drafting a sequel!

[owlets-outlet]

my mouthwashing good ending headcanons:

on the tulpar:

1. anya tells swansea and daisuke about the assault pretty much immediatelly after the crash. the crew seals jimmy in his room with insulation foam until they get rescued.

( i was thinking about letting the crew kill j*mmy, however. he doesnt deserve that mercy. so he lives and is jailed forever. )

2. the crew dont know what to do about the baby. anya doesnt want to use pills for diy abortion, mainly because thats what jimbo told her to do and she doesnt want to listen to him.

in a dangerous twist of fate, she miscarries, because of stress and low bodyweight. its not a dramatic miscarriage, the fetus just dies in the uterus. anya suspects she miscarried, but doesnt tell the crew so they dont worry about her.

3. the crew gets rescued just in time- anya was on the verge of dying from the infection that started festering inside her from the miscarriage.

immediately after rescue:

anya and curly are rushed to the hospital. they got treatment on the rescue ship already, but that was only the bare minimum. pony express pays only for the bare minimum treatments.

curly is hooked up to a sci-fi mind reading communication device. its not perfect, but they manage to find out what happened. jimmy is arrested.

swansea:

after losing his job and breaking his dry streak, hes surprisingly okay. using his severance pay and his savings, he opens a small business, becoming a freelance electrician.

he doesnt drink as much as he used to, but he drinks regularly. he still buys himself sneakers on his soberversary though.

daisuke didnt even have to beg him too hard to be accepted as his apprentice, really.

daisuke becomes his other child, basically, he visits daisuke and regularly treats the him and the crew to meals, just like he does with his bio kids.

he also takes daisuke thrifting sometimes, judging his outfits on a scale of 1-10.

daisuke:

hes back to living with his parents.

daisuke really wanted to continue being swanseas apprentice, not just because he liked swansea, but because he really wanted to feel useful somehow.

he doesnt really vibe with most swanseas kids, but hes polite everytime they visit the shop where he helps swansea.

him and anya do gaming nights, often hopping on discord call in the late evening.

he still struggles with impostor syndrome, feeling like he didnt do enough for the crew of the tulpar.

curly:

he struggles with his mental health extensively. hes traumatized by being forced into being a bystander and his new disability keeps reminding him of that fact. his old crew encourages him to keep going though, and daisukes family pays for his therapy sessions.

he underwent many surgeries, mainly skin transplants (he still looks. uncanny though), rhinoplasty (more like. he just got a whole new nose altogether) and added eyelids (made his eye look smaller than before) and lips.

while this IS the Future, many of the cool 'solutions' to his disability are too expensive. pony express only paid for curlys wheelchair with a communicator and a cheap pair of prosthetic arms. the motor abilites of these arms are limited, as he cannot even write with them. theyre purely there just so he can operate his wheelchair by himself.

he wants to save money to buy new legs and arms, mostly just because he'd love to get back into weightlifting again.

after being fired, he mostly relies on disability pay and benefits.

he dropped many of his old friends, because they sympathised with jimmy, but he still has a close knit group of friends, with whom he lives.

he wanted to quit being a pilot long before the crash, and his old crew convinced him that he should pursue something new, to help him move on.

with the financial support of daisukes parents (daisuke begged them), curly enrolls in med school. he chose a proffession where he would help people.

thanks to this he grew even closer to anya.

anya:

tried to distance herself from the crew, because she felt like dead weight, but they didnt let her. daisuke talked her and curly into therapy.

she couldnt afford to try to get into med school again, and even then, she wasnt sure if she even wanted to do that anymore.

but, due to his disability, curly needed a notetaker and, well. the stars just aligned.

being his notetaker, anya gets to attend all the lectures with curly, helping him with his studies while she absorbs all the knowledge. this gave her the confidence she needed to decide to try again, sometine in the future.

asides from this, anya took up running again. she runs regularly, planning to run a marathon one day. she also gained a lot of weight after coming back, resulting in a mean bulk, gaining quite a lot of muscle.

sometimes she runs together with curly and daisuke, and curly also coaches anya in the gym on occassion.

the whole crew regularly meet up for brunches and birthdays. :)

[roseserpentpress]

Zosan cat fic anthology (plus the tiger Zoro figure I had just finished making a little while ago!)

Fic links, comments and a photo of my cat below:

Having read a few zosan cat-related fics, I thought it would be really fun to make a small, cat themed zosan anthology, and here it is! To my delight, I found a paw print font (pawprints on defont) but to my annoyance it had no option to have no pawprints on the letters which made it look too busy, nor was there already a version of the font without pawprints, so for the first time I broke out fontforge to make my own version of the font in which I dropped the pawprints. I also drew little cat Zoros and Sanji's for each of the main stories title pages; bookbinding really is a good mash of different hobbies and skills I swear. Also on the mention of other hobbies, I was well pleased that I finished the book and my tiger Zoro figure relatively closely so I could take a photo of them together; here's the post for more photos of the figure and the post for the progress pics!

Also amusingly, when I originally was putting together the anthology, I had not added the second part of stay, and had assumed it would be a somewhat thinner small volume then it is... Which is rather incorrect. I do have to say it's a truly delightful proportion, being this thick and small! I'm also quite pleased at how the cover turned out, with the little gold pawprints. Originally for the title I was going to find a different name and then just went for the one I had originally named the file after, since it's well themed. Wait actually I think I was going to use ships cat and just now realized that... Ooops. Oh well. Also, as a bonus: here's my old cat hanging out on my lap while I was working on the gold foiling!

Fics include:

Stay by @itsmylifekay (NW, 21.5 k)

Sanji doesn't know what he's done in a past life to deserve this, but somehow when Zoro gets turned into a cat he's the one stuck on babysitting duty. How someone that small can cause so much trouble, he'll never understand.

But even after all the hell he's put through, he still manages to fall in love.

Without Words (NW, 3.8 k)

(stay part ii)

Sanji likes to dote on the people he cares about, likes to express himself fully and without reservation. But sometimes that’s hard to do living on a pirate ship, especially when the person he wants to be affectionate with is a prickly, stubborn asshole of a man.

Or, Zoro gets a bath.

Cat's Cradle by Hazel_Athena (T, 21.5k)

In which a run in with a new Devil Fruit user leaves Sanji with an unexpectedly furry problem.

Ship's Cat by @helloharubo (T, 3k)

The Going Merry has a mouse infestation. Despite Usopp's attempts, Sanji has yet to find a solution to the problem. Enter Zoro, the world's deadliest mouser.

or

Zoro is the ship's cat and expects rewards.

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.

Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.   So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

Ascendance by Jennifer Nielsen

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

An ocean voyage of unimaginable consequences... Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. 

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

When orphaned, eleven-year-old Pollyanna comes to live with austere and wealthy Aunt Polly, her philosophy of gladness brings happiness to her aunt and other unhappy members of the community.

Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington, a most endearing bear from Darkest Peru on a railway platform in London. A sign hanging around his neck said, "Please look after this bear. Thank you" So that is just what they did.

From the very first night when he attempted his first bath and ended up nearly flooding the house, Paddington was seldom far from imminent disaster. Jonathan and Judy were delighted with this havoc and even Mr. and Mrs. Brown had to admit that life seemed to be more filled with adventure when there was a bear in the house.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

A dragon. A boy. A journey. Firedrake, a brave young dragon, his loyal brownie friend Sorrel and a lonely boy called Ben are united as if by destiny. Together, they embark on a magical journey to find the legendary place where silver dragons can live in peace for ever. With only a curious map and the whispered memories of an old dragon to guide them, they fly across moonlit lands and seas to reach the highest mountains in the world. Along the way, they discover extraordinary new friends in unlikely places and a courage they never knew they had. Just as well, for the greatest enemy of all is never far behind them - a heartless monster from the past who's been waiting a very long time to destroy the last dragons on earth.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

[thehaberdasheress]

Sooo after four weeks on strike, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has been ordered back to work by the government. They're apparently so essential to the economy and Canadian people that we can't do without them, but we also can't offer them better benefits or promise not to make working conditions more dangerous for people who deliver mail on foot in the Arctic either. Bargaining has been kicked down the road until May.

And aS A SmAlL BuSiNeSs oWnEr, I completely hate that shit. This is a rant.

When discussing the strike with an acquaintance, they said, "The workers just have to realize that Canada Post needs to be more efficient, more like UPS or FedEx."

I've spent the last month tracking down and trying out different shipping solutions, because I've relied on Canada Post to be accessible, affordable, and timely. No it's not perfect, but it's not like the welter of alternatives that all have different rules, delivery areas, and on-the-ground services, none of which are as good for me as Canada Post.

After some comedically failed attempts at arranging mail pickup, I decided it would be quicker to take extra painkillers and go drop off the parcels myself. Earlier this week I had to hand over some of my parcels in a convenience store full of bongs and Louis Vuitton ripoffs, to a clerk who had never even heard of the courier company that used her store as a drop point. She had to call her boss, who said he'd process them when he came in the next day. And I did leave them, because the only other drop point within my travel distance was a pharmacy/medical clinic that was closed in all defiance of the hours listed online. Now I'm following their tracking online, hoping that they actually get sent and I won't have to send new orders out of my own pocket.

So what they actually mean by "more efficient" isn't better service or value to the customer. They just mean "more profitable." Because something something we can't tax rich people, we just need to make the services ordinary Canadians rely on even shittier, for both them and the government employees that work there.

[ameliaunquacksford]

The Tailor's Apprentice | Chapter 4

Summary: The day after the thievery is awkward, with both Tav and Astarion reluctant to discuss the night before. But that's the least of Astarion problems, with the fabric shipping still missing, a wedding dress nearly ruined, and a drop of sweet blood spilt.

-Astarion x (female) Tav, post canon

-Also posted on Ao3

-Click here for Chapter 3

-Click here to read from the beginning

1.5k words

They did not speak of last night.

It was only a few hours ago she entered the boutique, early for once, her heart rate picking up upon seeing him. Perhaps she feared for her livelihood after the events of last night, wondering if she was going to have a way to make money come morning.

He was going to say something at first, reprimand her, scare her just a little, but when he saw her that morning, he just sighed to himself and stuck into work. 

He just didn’t know where to go from here. 

With his arms crossed, a thumb to his lips, he stood staring at the wedding dress, completely lost in thought. He made a slight miscalculation with the pattern, and he was only now realising the embroidery on panels weren’t matching up right. After spending days on it.

But he stopped thinking about that a while ago. All that was on his mind was last night.

Not only was the shipment nowhere to be found, not only was he nearly caught, but his apprentice was a thief (not that there was anything wrong with that). The shock of it hadn’t worn off. 

Such a sweet little thing. A bit annoying, but sweet. Big eyes, nice blood, that kind of girl.

She was a thief!?

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. She spoke about not having much money in her interview, and so far she has shown up to work in the same three outfits. And they weren’t that nice either (but not that they were bad, just, well, eh). For a moment he thought she had been stealing since she was a child, but quickly reminded himself of the fact that she nearly got them caught. She would be in prison by now, if that were the case.

He did realise he could also just ask about her past. And at the realisation, he started planning on how he’d fix the wedding dress. This was a very important client after all. A tenday ago, he would’ve been shitting himself, not in any position to lose any clients at all. Although, now that he had more than he could count for miles, he didn’t care that much if he ruined one wedding. But it wouldn’t be good for business, so…

He just had to fill in a gap at the front hem with the embroidery pattern he designed, but it wasn’t going to fit. Why couldn’t he have started the embroidery at the side? He spent 10 minutes staring at the dress, 15 touching it and moving around the fabric, envisioning solutions. Extra panel? New design? Make the design smaller? He spent another 10 minutes just staring, crouched on the floor, his back starting to ache. It was at that point he realised he needed to take a break, refreshen his eyes. 

Upon opening the door, he found Tav at the front desk, flipping through one of his pattern making books, something she usually did on their lunch breaks. He did not realise how much time had passed since this morning.

She looked up at him and gave a small smile, going back to her book. She was fiddling with a pin with the hand not flicking the pages.

For an apprentice, the only time she was really learning was from his books on her break. How sad. Maybe he should actually do his job.

“Tav, darling?”

“Yes?” she perked up, blood immediately rushing to her face and the scent to his nose.

She has always smelt good. But since last night, it was becoming almost too much to bear. Walking her home was a nightmare. Every time she flushed, which was often, her blood enveloped his senses, and at this point it was dizzying. What started as a sweet aroma was now a distraction. It's gotten to the point where he just wanted to grab her by the hair and sink his teeth into her neck. Not ideal.

He pushed feeling down before responding “I made a… teensy mistake with an order today, and I need a fresh set of eyes. I'd like you to take a look after lunch,”

“Okay,” she said, a smile spreading across her face, and it was as if her eyes lit up the room. 

Then it got awkward. Astarion didn’t know what else to say.

They both ignored the elephant in the room. It was a professional relationship, it was what you’re supposed to do. You don’t bring up your shared expeditions of thievery to your underling. That would be silly.

But just standing there was so uncomfortable, and she was obviously feeling it too by the way she quickly snapped back to her book, her heart rate picking up. Again. Gods, it was like she had a crush on him or something.

They usually had lunch together (she ate her sandwiches and he drank ‘wine’). Why should today be any different?

“So, what are you reading?” Astarion asked, internally face-palming. 

“Your book on pattern making, if you don’t mind…”

“Of course not, darling, of course not,” he laughed, then cringed at himself.

She awkwardly laughed along too, then there was silence again. For a few moments, she stared at him expectantly, but after no more comments from him, she went back to the book.

No matter, this was how most of their conversations went anyways. It was just a normal day. 

He pulls out a bottle of ‘wine’ from under the front desk, moving far enough away from her that she couldn’t smell the obvious metallic-ness. She definitely thought he was an alcoholic at this point, but that was far better than a blood-thirsty monster.

——————————————————————————————————

With her arms crossed, a thumb to her lips, she stood staring at the wedding dress, completely lost in thought. She was still fiddling with the pin from earlier.

“Any ideas?” he asked, his foot tapping the ground impatiently. 

“Well, I think it would depend on when the dress is due. You said about changing the embroidery design at the front or making it smaller, but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, turning to face him, “I would just redo it, she’s paying premium prices, and it’s the most important day of her life,”

Raising an eyebrow, he looked at her inquisitively, surprised she was capable of speaking this much. Regardless, he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, “The wedding’s in two months, so I’m already cutting it close without this fuck-up,”

She hummed, crouching down in front of the dress,“This… You wouldn’t have to undo all of the embroidery, just the front panel. Everything else is fine. You would just have to, like, shimmy the design a bit, start from the middle and work your way out. It still wouldn’t match up right, but it’d be less noticeable on the seams, and the whole thing is white anyway,”

“There’s one issue darling,” he groaned, “I don’t think I’d have the time for that,” 

She paused, her brows pinching together. “How long did this take anyways?”

“The embroidery?”

“Yeah,”

“About a tenday,” He cringed, remembering the day he started the embroidery, thinking to himself that he should make marks to ensure it was even, before deciding that would be too much work. 

“So that’s, what, 50, 60 hours?” 

“I stayed behind most days, so closer to 70,” he sighed again. “And I’ve still got to find that shipment,”

She perked up at that, flushing again.

Right, he was supposed to pretend that didn’t happen.

“I mean,  I could always handle that…” she said softly.

“No you couldn’t,”

“...You’d have time to redo the embroidery,” she was trying to convince him. Shame it wasn’t going to work.

“Absolutely not. Where would you even start with that?”

“Carmen. Figaro thinks she stole his shipments, if he’s right, perhaps she stole yours too. Or maybe some of hers also went missing,” The more she spoke of her plans, the more her face lit up, speaking so passionately that she was out of breath at the end. “I would also talk to Figaro, pretend to be a customer. He doesn’t trust you, but he doesn’t know I work for you,”

It was obviously something she thought through, and for a moment, Astarion considered it. 

Suddenly, a hit of something purely intoxicating completely enwrapped his senses, and he knew immediately it was her blood. But it wasn’t just her flushing or blushing, or getting too close, no, she was actively bleeding.

And never in his life has he ever felt smelt something so heavy and sweet. It was almost sickening.

The blood was gushing down her finger, the realisation that she pricked herself with the pin she was playing with in her excitement.

“It’s okay, it’s just… Astarion?” concern washed over her features, her eyes widening and eyebrows stitched together, and it was then he realised how much closer he was to her now, crouched on the floor beside her. How was he acting for her to look at him like that?

He looked closer at the wound, and it wasn’t just a prick, she essentially sliced through her thumb. Shaking his head, he tried to compose himself, to suppress the urge to suck on her finger.

Silently, he grabbed a scrap of white satin and wrapped it tightly (and quickly) around her finger, before getting up and leaving without a word.

Tag list: @roguishcat

[satureja13]

Jeb picked Sai up after his shift and they headed upstairs to the game room of Moogie's Bar. Sai was excited. Will Jeb watch the stars with him like Jack and Vlad did? How romantic!

But they walked past the loveseat with a view. Sai: "Hm? What is it then?" Jeb: "Look around the corner."

Sai: "My gaming corner?! How did you get all my stuff here?" Jeb: "I asked Noxee to sent it."

Jeb knows how much Sai needs his alone time. Jeb: "Since you don't have a room for yourself here on board, I thought you'd like to have a space of your own. Where you could do your computer stuff in peace. No one will disturb you here." Sai: "Omg Jeb! This just feels like home far away from home!"

Sai: "Thank you."

Jeb: "I'll leave you alone now. Have fun!" Sai: "Oh, I will!" All the things he can do now! The only computers on board are in the community areas or at the bridge - and there's always commotion. This corner migh be small, but it's quiet and no one will come up here once they'd started the engines and there's nothing to see out there except for the dark-greyish subspace. This is heaven for Saiwa. And Jeb made it happen.

Except - Sai didn't have fun. Did Jeb just shove him away? Stored him in the furthest corner of the ship? Sai knows how much Jeb wanted him to move into his apartment at their home in Tomarang. Did he change his mind? Sai knows Jeb too well, he probably thinks he's not good enough to be with him - again... Because Sai wants nothing more than to loose his virginity to Jeb - but Jeb can't give him what he craves.

After Jeb left Sai to have some fun in his new computer corner, he went over to his best friend, Kiyoshi. To pour his heart out.

But he's busy with Jack... again... Jeb: "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll leave." Kiyoshi: "Don't worry. Stay."

And of course Sai was right. Even after being together for so long and after talking about this so often - Jeb still thinks Sai is too precious for him... But luckily Sai's oldest friend, Jack, is here. Jack knows how much Sai loves Jeb and that he can't live without him. Sai will never give up. Neither Jeb - nor his plans to finally lose his virginity - to Jeb. And: Jack also knows that the solution for their problem is already in the works. But also - as hard as it is for 'Big Snout Jack' - he can't spill the beans ö.ö So even though it's killing him inside, Jack said: "Don't worry, Jeb. Some things you just can't force. And there's nothing you can do than to just sit it out, hm? Have faith." (TMI: This is actually one of the hardest things for me. Learn more about this (imo) important topic -> here) Jeb: "Uhm, ok..." Kiyoshi seems a bit stunned by Jack saying words of wisdom. But even this happens from time to time :3

Meanwhile Sai left his new gaming corner. He can't just sit around here and do his computer stuff in peace - he's a man on a mission. He went to their quarters - to find them empty. So he took the chance to take a bath to play with the toys again. Soon he'll be ready for Jeb's 'wand'. And it didn't hurt a bit to this point - given you take your time and go slow and prepare thoroughly, just like Jack and Ji Ho - and later also Kioyshi - told him. Plus Sai and Jeb still practise their Tantra each day. They are able to dive in the deepest state of bliss when they make out. Jeb won't even notice it's not Sai's hands on his 'wand' when the time comes. And then finally, finally Sai will give his virginity to his beloved - but oh so hesistant - Jeb.

Uh - oh. The door. Jeb is back ö.ö' Sai wanted to have finished before he returned. Now Jeb will think he kept all the fun for himself - again...

(I usually never post pics with the walls down - but Sai really tensed when Jeb entered ^^')

Sai took the face mask off. Time to face Jeb...

Sai: "I'll just get dressed and than I'll give you my very special thank you present for my gaming corner!" Jeb: "Uhm - ok..." Jeb's mood was damped since he overheard Sai in the bathroom last time. He feels like he isn't man enough for Sai when he has to pleasure himself... without him.

But when Sai stepped out of the bathroom, he took Jeb's breath away. Jeb whispered: "You look so hot." Sai: "But I shouldn't have put those damn plastic pants on over my still damp skin in a hurry!"

Jeb: "Gods are you hurt? Wait, I'll heal you." Sai: "No need to. Let's go to our bedroom. I'll just take them off again - slowly ;) " Jeb: "Are you sure you - you are ready to - to ...do it again?"

Sai: "I didn't go all the way in there. I'll just go there together with you." Jeb: "Vanië..."

Sai: "Let's take these clothes off."

And a few minutes later, Sai took Jeb to the realms of pleasure and bliss.

'… Loving you Isn't the right thing to do How can I ever change things That I feel?

… If I could Baby, I'd give you my world How can I When you won't take it from me?

… You can go your own way Go your own way You can call it Another lonely day You can go your own way Go your own way

Tell me why Everything turned around Packing up Shacking up is all you want to do'

Fleetwood Mac - Go your own Way

Outtakes

When they entered the game room and Vlad stood behind them - grinning creepily - and Sai was about to start hissing ö.Ö' Poor Jeb ^^'

Sai telling Jeb he is going to go nowhere until he's finished with him hahaha

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter 'Goats in Space': starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Piglets in Space' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[anony-man]

This could be a potential ao3 post, so stay tuned… we’ll see how it goes.

Chubformers drabble #123!

Characters: Megatron & Minimus (IDW)

Word count: 1.7k

It was a surprise to them both how full a small bot like Minimus could become, but the shock value of the results only aided in encouraging Megatron’s efforts. Why stop now when he was already making such good progress? Besides, seeing Minimus squirm against constrictive plating, the stony and still expression morphing into a near-constant and strained panting as he opened his mouth for the next bite was worth all the effort.

Some mechs were doomed to never find their place in the world, Megatron had come to believe. No amount of talks with Rung or attempts at fitting in had changed this for him. It was just never meant to be, he supposed, especially not after being thrown into a future where he was forced to reckon with the consequences of his many, many mistakes.

The world was a cruel place, and Megatron had found it out firsthand. Thus, stumbling out of from the billowing smoke and into a universe where he was safe—or safer, at least—from past harms and free to acknowledge the troubles of his past felt like a waking dream. It was no surprise to him, then, that there were bots who felt the same way.

There would always be two sides to everything, and Megatron found this to be true even on the Lost Light. Aboard the ship, he left his past behind (though it seemed to follow him at every turn), and he searched for something new. The long process of making up for grand war crimes wasn’t easy, but he found a bit of solace in baking—lots and lots of baking.

Burying himself in an art he could perfect was Megatron’s side of the coin, and it wasn’t long before he found the other half to complete his personal plights. It wasn’t much of a surprise that a mech like Minimus would struggle without the Magnus armor to hide behind, but even then, the small mech remained the strong, silent type he had seen dozens of times before.

This was even ground, Megatron had told himself the first time Minimus lingered as he baked. The two had often connected in one-on-one conversations, and he enjoyed Minimus’ presence, but he feared ruining whatever budding relationship grew between them. However, the mech had come here of his own accord, and Megatron was too busy perfecting his baked goods to risk ruining the comfortable atmosphere.

The back and forth between them had been brief at first, but as Megatron delved further into his newfound hobby, all while bringing Minimus along for each evening’s taste test, the two found themselves growing closer. They bonded over imperfectly shaped cakes and runny treats, and more often than not, all of Megatron’s baked sweets were gone by the end of the night.

Past mistakes weren’t fixed overnight, but there was something soothing about connecting with another bot in such intimate settings. The more Megatron learned about Minimus, the more inclined he became towards lending a helping servo. It wasn’t a solution to his guilt and grief, but it certainly helped.

The Magnus armor presented a mech with few flaws, which made the perfect solution for hiding from his own shortcomings. Minimus was no Megatron, and his list of failures and mistakes paled drastically in comparison, but the vulnerability was still present in his slim stature and underfed frame. The Magnus armor was his shell, and his shield. Without it, he was exposed—and Megatron just so happened to be the first mech to catch on.

Like clockwork, the two bots had settled in the kitchen for the evening. Minimus carried out the occasional recollection of his day’s activities between short comments as Megatron pulled trays from the oven and carefully slid the warm onto a waiting plate. It was the calm before they began the nightly routine, and the time spent baking as he listened to Minimus speak was one of his favorites. Forcing the previously starved bot to fatten up on his sweet cakes and pastries was definitely a runner-up, but nothing beat listening to a bot who appreciated his company.

“Another successful day in the clinic, then?” Megatron asked as he set the plate of balled crystal clusters down on the table before taking a seat. “You’re making good progress, Minimus.”

“My levels are still improving, yes,” the smaller mech said. “It’s thanks to your support, of course.”

Megatron hated to take the credit for Minimus’ gradual success, but it was true. Their first night spent together in the kitchen with a tray of homemade oil cakes between them had been the kickstart to helping the ailing bot grow, and things had only improved from there. Neither mech seemed inclined to admit to the medical team that Minimus was gaining weight from being stuffed full of sweets each night, but it worked. What else was there to do?

Maybe one day, if he were to cross that bridge, Megatron would be allowed to assist Minimus further in proper fueling, too. He had moved onto sharing a cube with the smaller mech each afternoon, and he encouraged Minimus’ fuel intake just as much as he did his own, but as it stood, the only opportunity to fill the mech’s belly was during the late hours of the night, when most of the ship had turned in for some much-needed recharge.

Baby steps, he gently chided himself. They would get there eventually. Even so, he couldn’t help but bring it up.

“I always enjoy your company in the evenings,” he said, poking at the plate of clusters before plucking one up. “But sugary sweets alone—“

“So I’ve been told,” Minimus cut in. He was silent for a moment as Megatron popped the crystal treat past his lips, having paused to chew and swallow, but eventually continued. “I value your support in aiding my health, Megatron. I’ve made good progress since first shedding the armor, and I’m sure I’ll continue to achieve more. Still…”

“Starting small, I know,” Megatron nodded. “We’ll work up to something bigger soon enough, then.”

It was baby steps for sure. This still counts, though, and Megatron was happy to make it count. He was there to assist Minimus in remembering to refuel each day, and by night, he would stuff the small mech silly with his own baked goods. It wasn’t perfect, as they were stuck dealing with a set of horribly imperfect mechs, but… well, they made it work.

He was helping Minimus meet his goals and then some, that was for sure. The swell of a belly that hung from his middle even after sleeping off the ache from overstuffed tanks was permanent now, and his frame bore the signs of a healthy, if not chubby, mech, all thanks to Megatron. They were making progress, albeit slowly.

Megatron was helping Minimus recover, and gain, of course, but in a way, he was also helping himself. It was the strangest sense of turning a new leaf he’d ever heard of, and it didn’t feel right, let alone deserved. Regardless, life was strange in that sense. He was just rolling with it at this point.

One by one, the crystal clusters disappeared from the plate and into Minimus’ awaiting mouth. He remained strong at first, taking each bite with eagerness and enjoying the sweet taste of Megatron’s confections. About halfway in was when it grew harder, however, and Megatron could tell by the strained intakes and discreet servo rubbing at a swollen middle that Minimus was reaching his limits.

“Getting full?” he asked, the last of a few crystal treats held up between his fingers for Minimus to eat. “I don’t recall seeing you take your second cube this afternoon. There should be plenty of room left in those tanks.”

Minimus was panting by then, his mouth agape as he swallowed and winced. His expression remained fixed, but the quiver of his lips twisted into that constant frown he wore was telling.

“Observant,” Minimus gasped, holding up a servo to stop Megatron from popping the treat into his mouth. “Wait. I… I need to catch my breath.”

Megatron did as he was asked, but only for a moment. As soon as that servo had gone back to rubbing the swollen mesh of a stuffed belly, he was shoveling the next bite into Minimus’ mouth without leaving room for complaint.

“Maybe next time you won’t miss your daily fuel intake,” he teased, wiping away the crumbs gathered at the corner of Minimus’ mouth as the small mech struggled to chew. “I can’t force you to eat, but I can strongly encourage it.”

Right, he thought wryly. As if this didn’t count as force-feeding. Minimus enjoyed it, though, and so did he.

Megatron watched Minimus swallow, his throat bulging around the massive mouthful. A gasp of relief followed the struggle, as did the slouch of tense shoulders. Both mechs were caught off guard when the quiet panting was jolted by a hiccuping belch, and before Minimus could dare to excuse the sound, Megatron was cutting in.

“You’re excused,” he said, already reaching for the last bite. “Ready for more?”

Fattened up an underfed shipmate wasn’t ever his idea of redemption, but alas… here he sat. He knew it would take more than a few evenings baking sweet treats for Minimus to eat before he even scratched the surface of making amends for his past, but it was still something. It was a step in the right direction, if anything, and that had to have counted for something.

His plate of crystal clusters was picked clean before long, and as a reward for his efforts, he watched Minimus struggle to soothe the ache of his gurgling, stuffed tanks. The small bot really did look a lot better than he had before. The changes were slight, but Megatron could still see the soft curves of a frame just starting to round out.

He was growing, and so was Minimus, that much was for certain. The only difference Megatron knew was that one side of it was physical, while the other was much more metaphorical. It was growth nonetheless, and growth he was proud to see.

[ana-cantskywalker]

I hesitate to bring this up because there are so many people going through so so much worse right now ( I have been so burdened for people in damage from Helene, even more than I normally am for people in disasters), but I could really use some prayers from my friends.

Going to keep it short so I dont just trauma dump all over your feed, but I feel like some explanation is necessary.

Me and my sister started helping a friend with her small business in the Spring. We got more and more involved, and really saw an opportunity, but we didn't pray or seek wisdom before we jumped in head first, and its coming back around to bite us.

We had a big event last month, and it was horrible, our friend started getting ridiculously upset with us for not dedicating enough time to the business (when we had not only finished all of our projects but also some of hers) and was just generally constantly stressing us out over things. She's just generally really difficult to work with, and then refuses to ever be in the wrong even when she is. Since then we've prayed about what to do, and the Lord gave us some guidance. We knew we couldn't keep being her friend and working so close quarters with her, so we came up with a solution. We were going to start are own business that was similar but would not tap into her market at all and therefore not create competition, and still help her with hers when she needed it, but less than before so we could continue to be friends but not constantly bite each others head off.

We sat down last Wednesday and talked with her about it, and she was fine with it, said it was a good idea even. Well, over the weekend she has gone crazy (I hate to say it but idk how else to describe it) She pitched a fit over my sister not wanting her to be on the patent for a design my sister made from start to finish (she has no reason to be on it, and if we ever give someone permission to use the design for royalties it would mean she gets 50% because technically she would own half) and then today she called us and needed us to meet her with one of the things we had at the house that was sold so she could ship it, but she called 45 minutes before we would have had to leave. We were both busy and couldn't do it and she want ballistic, called us several times, ended up calling my mom multiple times and my mom ended up meeting her somewhere closer so she would leave us alone. She has taken this tiny issue that she caused by not communicating and made us to be the bad guys, told us it was 'unacceptable' and is threatening to end the friendship because my sister wouldn't call her on the drive down to the meeting she had to go to because she was riding with someone else (and its kind of rude to argue with you 'friend' on the phone while someone is driving you somewhere). She is acting like we are being horrible people for not being able to work it out the way she wanted tonight.

Looking back we can see that its always been like this, we've always had to bend over backwards for her while she won't inconvenience herself for us, but its hard to deal with now.

I feel like I am rambling a lot and probably venting too much too people online but I needed to tell someone because the whole ordeal has me really stressed out, and I know that there are people on here who will pray for me. My sister hasn't been sleeping well and I am getting ulcers and I think its because of how much she has stressed us out over the past month and a half an I am sick of it

All this to say, please keep us in your prayers, I'm not trying to gain sympathy or anything, I just really need the Lord to have his hand in this and I would appreciate prayers.