#Storm damage prevention

[elpasotreeremovals]

The Benefits of Tree Trimming in El Paso, TX

It is not enough to water your trees once in a while, if you want them to remain healthy and magnificent. Tree trimming is crucial to enhance the growth of trees and the safety of property around it. El Paso Tree Removals is a professional tree trimming company in El Paso, Texas that provides pruning services that improve the trees’ health and aesthetic value as well as reducing risks.

Why Tree Trimming is Important in El Paso, TX

The weather of El Paso is arid and it is a desert area which can be unfavorable for the trees. For them to grow it is advisable to prune them and also ensure that they are well maintained. Here are some reasons why regular tree trimming is essential:

Promotes Healthy Growth By removing all dead or excessively long branches, your trees are able to put their energy into fresh, healthy branches. It also enhances diffusion of air and admission of light, two factors that ultimately know the fate of a tree.

Prevents Property Damage It is common to have branches that grow out of control, which is especially dangerous during strong winds in El Paso. This will lead to destruction of property such as your home, your car or even electricity poles. These risks are minimized by regular trimming since your trees are safe and well maintained for structure.

Improves Curb Appeal A good number of trees in your compound should be well maintained for they improve the outlook of your property. In as much as it is mostly associated with the homeowner, tree trimming can be very effective in improving the aesthetic value of any property adding a touch of professionalism to it.

Reduces Risk of Disease If trees are not properly maintained they can easily be attacked by diseases and pests. Pruning entails the elimination of dead, diseased, or damaged branches to minimize chances of infestations, and keep your trees healthy.

Increases Sunlight and Air Circulation Trimming enhances the penetration of light to the interior of the tree and other plants as well as the lawn. This is beneficial in enhancing the general well being of your landscape.

Trust El Paso Tree Removals for Expert Tree Trimming

For all tree trimming needs in El Paso, TX, El Paso Tree Removal is the professional to go to. We are equipped for any type of tree trimming assignment you need whether it’s a simple residential tree or a complex commercial tree.

Our team of professionals is equipped to give your trees the right trim they need to stay healthy and also to avoid any damage to your property. We ensure that we operate within industry standard and safety measures to ensure the best results are achieved every time.

Our Tree Trimming Services Include:

Pruning Dead or Diseased Branches

Pruning dead or diseased branches is crucial for the health and longevity of your trees. Dead limbs can attract pests and diseases, potentially spreading throughout the tree or to other nearby plants. At El Paso Tree Removals, we expertly remove these compromised branches to prevent further decay and protect the overall health of your tree. By eliminating unhealthy growth, we allow your tree to focus its energy on producing new, vibrant branches. This process not only extends the life of your tree but also reduces the risk of falling limbs that could damage property or cause injury.

Trimming Overgrown Branches for Better Aesthetics

Overgrown branches can make your trees appear unkempt and block light from reaching other plants in your yard. Trimming these branches improves the overall look and structure of your trees, giving your property a cleaner, more polished appearance. At El Paso Tree Removals, we tailor our trimming services to create a balanced and visually appealing shape while promoting the tree’s natural growth pattern. Whether it’s to enhance curb appeal or maintain the harmony of your landscape, our professional tree trimming can help achieve a fresh, manicured look.

Shaping Trees to Promote Healthy Growth

Proper tree shaping encourages healthy, sustainable growth patterns that support the tree’s long-term vitality. By selectively trimming branches, we guide the tree’s growth, ensuring it develops a strong structure and reduces the risk of future damage. At El Paso Tree Removals, we focus on shaping trees in a way that improves air circulation, light penetration, and the overall strength of the tree. Our approach helps prevent overcrowded branches and allows the tree to flourish in a healthy and stable way, making it more resilient to environmental stress.

Storm Damage Prevention

Strong winds, storms, and other harsh weather conditions can cause branches to break or entire trees to fall, posing significant risks to your property and safety. Regular tree trimming plays a key role in preventing storm damage by removing weak, dead, or overgrown branches before they become hazardous. El Paso Tree Removals provides storm damage prevention services by identifying and addressing vulnerable areas of your trees, reducing the likelihood of tree-related incidents during severe weather. By proactively maintaining your trees, you can protect your home and ensure a safer outdoor environment.

Customized Trimming Plans for Your Specific Tree Types

Every tree species requires a different approach to trimming to ensure optimal health and growth. At El Paso Tree Removals, we develop customized trimming plans based on the specific needs of your trees. Whether you have large shade trees, ornamental varieties, or fast-growing species, our experts understand the unique characteristics and trimming requirements for each type. Our personalized approach ensures that we address the particular growth patterns, vulnerabilities, and aesthetics of your trees, keeping them healthy and attractive year-round.

Contact Us Today

Don’t wait for overgrown branches to become a problem. Let El Paso Tree Removals maintain your trees for you! For tree trimming in El Paso, TX, you can reach us on the phone at (915) 234-1705 for a free consultation and a quote.

By keeping your trees trimmed and healthy, you’ll enjoy a safer, more attractive landscape for years to come!

[treeremovalvaldostaga]

The Importance of Tree Pruning Near Valdosta: Enhancing the Health and Safety of Your Trees

What is Tree Pruning?

Tree pruning is the removal of selective branches or stems of the tree in an effort to have the tree healthier, well shaped or safe. This is not the same as trimming, which usually is done to cut some parts of the tree which have grown too large for neat looks. Tree pruning in Valdosta requires a lot of thought and proper method to guarantee the tree grows properly without causing harm to it.

Benefits of Tree Pruning

1. Enhances Tree Health

You will be surprised that one of the initial things that people do in trees is known as pruning and one of the main reasons for doing it is to enhance the health of the trees. In some circumstances dead, damaged or diseased branches can harm the tree through pest or decay entry. Trimming these hazardous zones is quite effective in minimizing further deterioration, the tree then directs energy on productive development.

In addition, pruning creates space by getting rid of unnecessary branches, clearing the canopy and improving air circulation, and this will help to prevent bacterial or fungal diseases. It also assists in the creation of new branches, trunk and roots and increases the tree's resistance to things such as disease.

2. Improves Aesthetics

Pruning is a key factor in improving the aesthetic value of your landscape since a well-pruned tree can greatly improve the appearance of your landscape. No matter if it’s about correcting the specific branch angle of a tree, or removing branches from a tree to let more light in your garden, pruning is necessary for having a clean and aesthetically pleasing garden.

3. Ensures Safety

Some branches become a threat to life and property since they can easily snap during storms or windstorms. These branches can shear off anytime causing damage to your home, vehicles, or even injuring people. This is done through frequent tree pruning exercises, which local residents have noted will remove these risks through cutting out poor or dangerous branches before they present itself as an issue.

When Tree Pruning Isn’t Enough: The Role of Tree Removal

Although tree pruning in Valdosta is part of the general tree maintenance, there are cases when pruning cannot correct the problem or prevent a tree from threatening your property. In cases of severe disease, extensive storm damage or trees that have grown too close to structures, tree removal is the only option.

Signs a Tree Needs to Be Removed

Indications that a tree needs to be removed:

Extensive Damage: If more than half the tree is diseased or dead, the best thing to do is to have it removed. Trimming is a limited solution when it comes to a tree that is in a bad state or has some structural issues.

Disease: Sometimes, trees infected by chronic diseases including fungal diseases, may have to be cut down to avoid spreading the disease to other trees or plants within your compound.

Proximity to Structures: In some cases, when a tree is close to your home, power lines, or other structures pruning is not able to reduce risk to a level that is acceptable. In such instances, removal of the trees may help prevent risks of this nature happening in future.

Comprehensive Valdosta Tree Service: Why Professional Care is Essential

Tree pruning and removal are not activities that can be done independently. They involve some amount of expertise, skills, equipment and safety measures to avoid damaging your trees or property. Here’s why you should always rely on professionals for your tree care needs:

1. Expertise

Our team of certified arborists at Valdosta Tree Removal will be able to evaluate your trees and give you the right advice. Trimming for health, for form, or for safety, we have the expertise to take care of your trees as needed.

2. Safety

Tree pruning and tree removal are still risky and it is worse if the trees are large or the branches are located near structures. In our company, the workers are always trained to observe safety measures while practicing tree care and they normally work with appropriate tools that would reduce any dangers that may be formulated when pruning trees or even the process of removal.

3. Efficiency

Hiring professional tree care services is time and energy conserving. We have all the resources and expertise to perform tree pruning and removal in the shortest time and with the best results for your property without the need for do-it-yourself efforts.

[aniseandspearmint]

temperature is DROPPING y’all, remember to set your taps dripping if you haven't already!!!!

[rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world]

Last week, FEMA announced a nearly $9 billion shortfall for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. On the same day, Israel announced it was receiving $8.7 billion in military funding from the United States. Since then, Hurricane Helene has devastated communities across six states as flooding stretches for over 600 miles.

The storm’s devastation and lack of government funding for local infrastructure and response has left over 100 people reported dead with hundreds more unaccounted for. Millions of Americans are stranded without water, food, electricity, or gas.

Every dollar the US government spends on genocide in Palestine cannot be used to protect our own communities. The US cannot continue to provide billions of dollars in weapons for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon while Americans suffer from lack of investment here.

We understand this catastrophe within the context of the Israeli government’s genocide and ongoing dispossession of people across the Middle East. We cannot mourn the loss of precious people and places in this country and turn away from the same devastation our tax dollars fund in Palestine and Lebanon.

We cannot separate the climate crisis we’re witnessing at home from the immense damage to the earth the US and Israeli militaries have caused for decades. Israeli colonialism is responsible for the destruction of Palestine’s natural ecological systems and a major contributor to climate change. The US military is the biggest contributor to global climate catastrophe.

Palestinian liberation includes ending the climate crisis and protecting all people — from the US to Palestine. We will not waver in our demand for our government to STOP ARMING ISRAEL and end the preventable deaths of so many across Palestine, Lebanon, and the United States.

[baelarys]

𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣

Aemond targaryen x Reader wife Velaryon

Word count: 1779

Warning: Fluff

Pt2 pt3 pt4

"Mommy! Vaera has my dress," little Vaerys complained, clinging to your skirt with the determination of someone seeking justice in her small, childish world.

"That's not true," Vaera retorted, her tone indignant, her voice reflecting the restlessness she also showed in her constant fidgeting as you tried to braid her hair.

"Vaera, stay still," you ordered her softly but firmly, your skilled hands deftly moving through her golden locks. Despite her agitation, your skill did not waver, and soon an impeccable braid began to form.

"Sweetheart, what you're wearing is very pretty too," you tried to negotiate with the little platinum-haired girl who was still clutching your dress.

"But I want it to be pink," insisted Vaerys, her lower lip trembling in a pout you knew all too well.

You sighed, knowing there would be no peace until the little one's wishes were fulfilled. "Alright," you relented, gesturing to one of your ladies-in-waiting. She hurried to tend to the twins, swapping their dresses with the efficiency born of routine. Meanwhile, your hands briefly rested on your swollen belly, caressing it with deep, protective love.

The sound of the doors opening behind you interrupted the moment, and you turned just in time to see Aerion, your only son, standing in the doorway. "Mommy," he called softly, almost hesitantly.

A gasp escaped your lips at the sight of your son. Your hands flew to your mouth, trying to contain the shock. The beautiful platinum and golden hair that used to fall in soft waves to Aerion's shoulders had disappeared, crudely cut. His face was smeared with smoke and dirt, as if he had been in the midst of a battle.

“Aerion, for the love of the gods, what happened?” you exclaimed, crossing the distance between you in an instant. You took your son by the shoulders, examining his face with concern as you searched for answers in his eyes.

One of the knights who had escorted Aerion to the room remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor as if the shame was a weight he could not bear.

“What happened?” you insisted, your voice firm, seeking answers in the knight’s face.

The knight cleared his throat before responding, his voice full of a mixture of respect and concern. “Prince Aerion decided to escape from his training and ventured into the pit where Vhagar and Silverwing rest. We managed to pull him out of there before the dragon’s fire consumed him, but his hair caught fire in the process, and the maester decided to cut it to prevent further damage.”

He finished speaking with his gaze once again fixed on the ground, as if each word added more weight to his shoulders.

Before you could respond, Aerion quickly intervened, noticing the displeasure forming on your face. “But the maester said it will grow back!” he exclaimed with the desperation of a child seeking absolution, his large, anxious eyes searching yours.

You gestured for the guard to leave, and he obeyed with a bow before exiting the room. Then, you pressed your lips together, trying to stay calm as a storm of fear and anger swirled within you. The danger Aerion had exposed himself to was no small matter; the fact that he had emerged practically unscathed was a miracle. However, his recklessness could not be ignored or overlooked.

You took Aerion’s face in your hands, gently wiping the dirt from his cheeks, your gaze firm and worried. “Aerion,” you began, trying not to let your voice tremble with emotion, “we’ve talked about this before. Dragons are not pets. You cannot approach them as if they were dogs.”

“But I just wanted to see them,” your son responded in a whisper, his eyes fixed on the ground. Guilt weighed in his voice, and yet there was still a trace of his childish stubbornness. “I’m sorry, really,” he added, stepping forward and wrapping his small arms around your waist, seeking comfort and perhaps a way to avoid the punishment he feared.

You sighed, feeling the warmth of his embrace, but not letting it distract you from what needed to be said. “I know, my love, and I believe you. But you must understand that you cannot do this again. Dragons are powerful and dangerous creatures. I don’t want to lose you to a mistake.” With tenderness, you tilted your head and placed a gentle kiss on his head.

With the same softness, you pulled away slightly from him. “Now, go clean yourself up,” you ordered in a tone that left little room for objections.

One of your ladies-in-waiting approached and took Aerion’s hand with the usual deference, guiding him to the bath to prepare him for cleaning. As you watched them leave, you let out a slight groan of pain as you felt the baby in your womb give small kicks, reminding you of their presence with an energy that could not be ignored.

The door opened again, and as you looked up, you saw your husband, Aemond, who gave you a warm smile upon seeing you. There was a familiarity and affection in his gaze that always managed to calm your spirit. Carefully, he placed his sword on the table before approaching you, his presence filling the room with a tranquility only he could offer.

“Daddy!” Vaerys exclaimed with excitement, breaking the brief moment of silence. Without hesitation, the little girl jumped into her father’s arms, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck with the absolute confidence of a child who knows they will always be received with love.

Aemond lifted her effortlessly, holding her against his chest as his face softened even more. “And how is my little warrior today?” he asked playfully, as Vaerys laughed, delighted by her father’s attention.

Meanwhile, Vaera, who had remained silent, looked at her sister with bright eyes, waiting her turn to be hugged. With a gesture that showed Aemond’s natural skill in handling the dynamics between his children, he extended his other arm to draw Vaera to his side as well.

“Look at my dress,” Vaerys exclaimed, raising her arms to proudly show off her pink dress, waiting for her father's approval.

Aemond, always attentive to the details that mattered to his daughters, smiled and nodded appreciatively. “It’s a beautiful dress, Vaerys,” he commented with warmth that made the little girl’s eyes shine.

Not wanting to be left out, Vaera quickly interjected, spreading the folds of her own dress. “Look at mine too!” she proclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of enthusiasm and expectation.

Aemond placed a loving kiss on Vaerys’s cheek, then another on Vaera’s cheek, making sure both felt his affection equally. The twins, satisfied with their father’s attention, moved away with playful laughter, their pink dresses fluttering as they disappeared into their own world of games and giggles.

Your husband approached you with a tenderness he only showed during the most intimate moments. Gently, he placed his hand on your swollen belly, caressing it with the same devotion he showed each day, as if already attuned to the new family member who was about to arrive.

“You look worried,” he murmured, his voice filled with concern as he pressed his forehead against yours, a gesture you shared when seeking comfort in each other’s closeness. “What’s wrong?”

The warmth of his skin and the familiarity of his touch reassured you, but the emotions you had been holding back began to surface. You closed your eyes for a moment, letting his presence calm your thoughts before you responded.

“It’s Aerion,” you confessed in a whisper, feeling the worry still weighing on your heart. “Today, he ran off and got too close to Vhagar and Silverwing. He almost… I can’t bear to think about what could have happened.”

“He’s a brave boy,” Aemond said, his voice soft but with the firmness of someone who understands the complex nature of his son. “I’ll talk to him.”

You nodded, knowing that Aemond, with his patience and wisdom, was the best person to guide Aerion in these moments. As the weight of your worry began to lift, you allowed yourself a moment of vulnerability, resting your head against Aemond’s chest. The steady beat of his heart beneath your ear was a reassuring reminder of the strength and stability you always found in him.

Sensing your need for closeness, Aemond wrapped you in a warm embrace, his arms surrounding you with a tenderness that always surprised you, contrasting with his usual sternness. In that moment, the outside world, with all its worries and challenges, seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you, connected in a silence full of understanding.

“You need to relax,” Aemond murmured, his voice caressing the air as gently as his hand moved up and down your back. The gesture was comforting, almost hypnotic, as if he wanted to erase the accumulated tension from every muscle in your body, leading you to a state of deep calm.

The warmth of his touch and the firmness with which he held you sent a wave of tranquility through you. You rested your head against his chest, letting yourself be carried by the steady rhythm of his breathing, which slowly synchronized with yours. You could feel his strength and protection enveloping you, offering you a refuge where you could rest without reservations.

“I’m here,” Aemond continued, his voice low, almost a whisper, resonating in your ear like an unbreakable promise. “You don’t have to carry all this weight alone. Together, we can handle anything.”

His words, laden with a love that didn’t need to be expressed with grand gestures, comforted you in a way that few things could. It was a reminder that, despite everything you faced, you weren’t alone in this journey. Aemond was by your side, sharing not only the joys but also the burdens that life imposed on you.

You felt his fingers tracing gentle circles on your back, a simple gesture that spoke of his desire to see you relaxed and at peace. Each caress seemed to take away a bit of the tension you had accumulated, and in response, you held onto him a little tighter, letting his presence envelop you completely.

“Thank you,” you murmured, barely a whisper, but enough for him to hear. You lifted your gaze to meet his eyes, those eyes that always offered you the certainty that, no matter what came your way, you would face it together.

[homeimprovementrefferal]

Get Ready For Storm Season: Essential Steps To Protect Your Roof And Property

Get Ready For Storm Season: Essential Steps To Protect Your Roof And Property - #homeimprovementreferral #Cleaning, #HomeImprovement, #Roofing, #Tips - https://www.homeimprovementreferral.com/get-ready-for-storm-season-essential-steps-to-protect-your-roof-and-property-2023-05/

[lev1hei1chou]

Make Or Break

Gojo x reader Genre: Angst to Comfort Words: 925 Synopsis: You get into an argument with Gojo Masterlist

You and Satoru Gojo had always shared an unique dynamic. Banters were numerous, but actual arguments were a rare occurence. However, today's argument had escalated beyond your usual disagreements. The tension in the air was thick and overwhelming, creating an almost suffocating atmosphere in the room.

It started with a simple misunderstanding, a miscommunication that had eventually snowballed into a heated exchange of words. Gojo's piercing gaze bore into you as he argued his point vehemently, his words cutting through the air like a knife. Your own frustration bubbled to the surface, and soon, you were both caught in a whirlwind of accusations and harsh truths.

"Is it so hard for you to understand, Gojo? You never listen!" you snapped, your voice rising to match his intensity. "You act like you know everything, but you never take the time to truly understand how I feel!"

Gojo's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. "Maybe if you were clearer about your feelings, I wouldn't have to play guessing games all the damn time!"

The room seemed to shrink as the argument intensified, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between you. Hurtful phrases were exchanged like rapid-fire, each one leaving a deeper wound than the last.

"You're impossible to be with, Gojo. I can't keep up with your constant need to be right!"

"Oh, please. Maybe you just can't handle someone who challenges you for once."

The words hung in the air, a painful reminder of the growing rift between you. The initial spark that had drawn you together now felt like a distant memory. The raw emotion in Gojo's eyes mirrored your own internal turmoil.

In the midst of the chaos, neither of you noticed the tears that welled up in your eyes. The realization of the damage done sank in, but the anger still lingered, preventing either of you from taking a step back.

"I need space," you declared, your voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.

Gojo's expression hardened, but he nodded in reluctant agreement. "Fine. Take all the space you need."

With that, you stormed out of the room, leaving Gojo alone in the echoing silence. The weight of the argument settled on both of your shoulders, the once vibrant connection now strained and fragile.

The aftermath of the heated exchange left a bitter taste in your mouth, and only time would tell whether your relationship could cross these hurdles or if it would crumble under the weight of unspoken words.

*******************************

Days passed since the explosive argument with Satoru Gojo. The silence between you two hung heavy and the tension was a constant presence in the air.

It became a silent game of avoidance, with both of you trying to find solace in the absence of each other. However, as time went on, the longing for resolution grew, and the desire to fix what was broken became too strong to ignore.

One evening, the realization hit you like a ton of bricks - you couldn't let the argument be the end of everything you'd built with Satoru. With a heavy sigh, you decided to take the first step towards reconciliation. As you approached your shared room, your heart raced with a mix of nervousness and determination.

You knocked on the door, and after a moment of tense silence, Gojo opened it. His eyes met yours, revealing a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Without saying a word, you stepped inside, and he closed the door behind you.

The room felt charged with unspoken emotions as you both stood there, unable to look directly at each other. Finally, you broke the silence, your voice quiet but resolute. "We can't keep avoiding this, Satoru."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know, okay? But what do you want from me?"

"I want us to talk. Really talk. Without the yelling and the accusations," you replied, your gaze meeting his. "I miss us, Satoru. I miss the connection we used to have."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, me too."

You took a deep breath, choosing your words carefully. "I know we both said things we didn't mean. I just… I want to understand you better, and I want you to understand me. Can we try to find a middle ground?"

Gojo sighed again, the weight of the situation evident in his eyes. "I don't want to lose you, you know? But sometimes I feel like you're pushing me away."

The vulnerability in his voice struck a chord within you. "I'm not trying to push you away. I just need you to listen, really listen, and not just assume you know what's best for me."

There was a moment of silence, and then Gojo nodded. "I can do that. I want to do that."

The air in the room shifted as you both acknowledged the need for change. It was a small step, but a significant one. You spent the next hours talking, opening up about your fears, frustrations, and desires. Slowly, the walls that had built up during the argument began to crumble.

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted from the heavy weight of the argument to the lighter, more tender aspects of your relationship. Laughter replaced the tension, and the genuine connection you'd feared lost began to resurface.

By the time you both decided to call it a night, there was a newfound understanding between you. A mere argument can't demolish the bond that was built from years of knowing each other.

[asvterias]

𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦

part 1 || clarisse masterlist

clarisse la rue ✘ black!fem!demigod!reader (daughter of nyx)

summary: overwhelmed with her girlfriend's having a near-death experience, clarisse breakdowns in front of y/n.

word count: 1.9k+

author's note: also tysm for 1,680 followers, i appreciate every single one of you! i kinda thought this song related to this fic, lmk what you guys think in the comments! the song lyrics are bold and italics!

song playing — my love mine all mine by mitski

requested by an anonymous! (pairing ONLY!!)

TAGS BELOW:

@lvrue @kyuupidwrites @xanasaurusrex @urdeadpoet @aurorailvsm @quinnsadilla @st4rzl7 @p0rkbun @star-girl69 @aphroditesmoon @voidashh @lcvved @tinytea-biscut @dearlydarlings @rocknr0ll @nvirskies @k4zuhas-visi0n @urbisexualfriend @marlswhore @anominous-writer @lovelyy-moonlight @thegiganticgirlkisser @vi0lentg0d @thewritingbarbie @apocalypticlibrary @solecitoszn @blackchubbyqueen @mira-belcul18 @sleighingstella @ampitrit3 @mthefae @drlover11037 @ratjoe @mag03 @kroumi @hoku-k @zhivaxo @lacytalks @kazerka @liv444me @korizzybee @mariposa555 @inejsknifes @cherriesnbutter @justintinderlake4 @natasha-took-fall-damage @lixtinystay @2k7-sparkles @importantpotato @laughingcheese037

moon, a hole of light

through the big top tent high up

here before and after me

“you know what happens if you extort your powers too much.” she hastily reminded you. from her tone, you knew that she hesitated to remind you of that incident, and it was shaky leaving from her mouth.

“that was one time.” you sighed heavily.

by now, your existing abilities become stronger as you grow older. you managed to control your current powers, and clarisse encouraged you to discover your hidden powers.

shining down on me

moon, tell me if i could

however it’s not encouraged to extort your powers to full extent, liable enough to render you unconscious for weeks, not even days. as a result of your persistent stubbornness, unfortunately, it happened to you and clarisse was an emotional wreck without your comforting presence beside her.

she became more easily irritated and annoyed by anyone who even dared to look her way, almost threatening to kick their ass, surprisingly she’d just rough them up a bit, and stormed off afterward. spending hours at the sparring center, clarisse released all of her anger onto the sparring dummies, using her trust-worthy spear and being completely ruthless with it, rage consuming both her stability and mentality. everyone stayed out of clarisse’s way for their own safety.

all those times you kept her grounded felt like a big waste to her right now. she felt loved, and truly loved by someone blessed to cherish her until your last breath gave out. all of a sudden, you were harshly ripped away from her, without any type of warning, permanently leaving an invisible scar on her heart.

despite being stuck in a temporarily induced coma, clarisse still had a guilty conscience of unawareness, possibly having a chance to rescue you and prevent this from occurring. in other words, she wished that you didn’t intentionally overwork your powers to the core, but you did, and now you’re currently suffering the consequences of it.

send up my heart to you?

so, when i die, which i must do

for the two weeks, you were unconscious, clarisse visited you, kept quiet most of the time, muttered small incoherent words, barely even sentences. she held your hands tightly, they were lukewarm, temporarily not providing the warmth they usually do. she missed everything about you, your presence, your touch, and your love.

and when she’s staring at your face, a small smile litters her face, reminiscing on your wholesome shared memories. sadly, all of the radiation that your face once held was drained and a firm line took its place.

despite the large pit of despair in her stomach, clarisse felt you slipping away from reality with every passing day. your girlfriend was persistent, knowing that you can handle yourself, and often proud of your capability in those sorts of skills.

she couldn’t fathom what it was even like for you to endure the 2-week coma, forced into a dream-like state, hearing and sensing everything going on around you but unable to respond. it must have been torture for you, stuck with your thoughts endlessly on repeat, with no interruption at all. just you and your thoughts there all alone. nothing but you and your thoughts.

she prayed that you would somehow non-verbally assure her, confirming your well-being, not like that would have made a difference regardless, but still, your reassuring words would’ve lessened her worries, even if it was for such a short amount of time.

but the ares girl remained strong, at least for the both of you. clarisse mentally promised for her own sake, desperately clutching onto the small yet meaningful words of encouragement.

could it shine down here with you?

‘cause my love is mine, all mine

i love mine, mine, mine

with a devastated sigh, she’d depart with a forehead kiss before heading to her cabin for some rest, sometimes she’d forget to eat and one of her siblings had to remind her. at this point, it was a common routine for clarisse; wake up, teleport to visit you, complete her daily tasks, and train. and when she’s finished her task of the day, best believe that she’s with you, nursing you back to consciousness.

“yeah, and we both know how that ended!”

“clarisse…”

“no, please let me finish.” she shushed you with a shake of her head, “and i hope it doesn’t happen again, it doesn’t need to happen again!” clarisse whisper-yelled at you, “i almost lost you, and i refused to experience that wretched feeling again. you were unconscious for almost two weeks and we weren’t even in the same place. your mom teleported me to you almost every day since you were in that coma. i refuse to experience that again because i love you and seeing you there made me feel useless for once in my life.” her tone became shaky yet she proceeded on, wanting you to understand, needing you to understand what it was like for her, witnessing you in that comatose state. “i couldn’t stand the thought of you dying, of you leaving me here all alone. you only truly understand me, you love me despite all of my flaws, rather accepting them than ignoring them…nobody else but you…i didn’t think i could love anyone as much as i love you. and that terrified me before but now it doesn’t anymore, knowing you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. sometimes i wonder if i’m ever worth loving…” a sob escapes her, continued by many heartbreaking sobs. that gut-wrenching feeling in your heart returned, growing larger when clarisse attempted to restrict any more sobs, terribly failing, allowing her emotions to run wild for once.

it’ll probably be the only time she can freely express her emotions without feeling judged within your presence. this was one of the many reasons why clarisse fell in love with you, your compassionate soul, a trait she strongly lacked but adored from you.

she loved that you made her feel comfortable, enough to express her emotions without having to look over her shoulder.

nothing in the world belongs to me

but my love mine, all mine, all mine

your girlfriend didn’t realize the tears freely falling down her face until you wiped the tears away from her eyes. clarisse seems betrayed by her own emotions once she realizes that she’s crying, expressing her vulnerability towards you. the curly-haired girl began to stammer out some words, attempting to defend herself but you kissed her temple and pulled her in for a hug. going off on instinct, she buried her head into your neck, harboring her labored breaths as she tightened her grip on you as if she was too scared to let go and lose you all over again.

“never again…never again…” clarisse mutters, repeating it like a mantra. “i don’t wanna lose you ever again…”

catching on to her rapid muttering, you cupped her face, steadying to your face level.

“i won’t leave you again, i promise babe,” you reassure her. your eyes connect easily, gazing into her glossy eyes.

clarisse looks up at you, a swirl of emotions flowing across her eyes. you pout at your girlfriend, reaching out a hand to gently touch her face, watching her melt by the simple touch.

her glistening eyes made you swoon at her gentleness and vulnerability, “you promise?” her voice was low, similar to a whimper of pain.

my baby, here on earth

showed me what my heart was worth

“i promise,” you clarify, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “do you wanna stay here for a while, with just me?”

hiding her face back into your shirt, she nodded against the fabric, tightening her grip on you whenever you slightly shuffled in her embrace. your touch was required for her peace, and clarisse made sure that you weren’t escaping from her grasp. too much time was wasted, and clarisse needed to make up for lost time.

at times, clarisse felt extremely weak, exhausted, and defenseless which according to her father, any sign of vulnerability is also perceived as useless in his eyes. ares engraved that motto within his daughter, and you hated that it stuck with her that much! wanting to please her dad, her personality changed over time, and the lingering thought of displaying an ounce of vulnerability vanished. no surprise that you rekindled that thought during your relationship when she started opening up to you.

every time clarisse received surprise visits from her dad, you were always there, listening about him degrading her great abilities because of her gender. all those nights of her crying on your shoulder, wondering why she couldn’t be good enough for her father. from that moment, your hatred for your girlfriend’s father fueled with each passing day.

you taught her that being vulnerable wasn’t weak and that it was actually strong. to be honest, clarisse was skeptical because her girlfriend said the opposite of what she learned from her father. eventually, she got used to the idea, accepting only being vulnerable around you. that was good enough for her so it was good enough for you.

so, when it comes to be my turn

could you shine it down here for her?

clarisse laid on top of you, her head snuggled softly against your breasts with her arms around your waist. one of your hands held onto her head, scratching on her head softly as the other drew imaginary stars on her lower back.

“my beautiful beautiful, brave girl…” you cooed as you heard tiny sniffles from her, “you certainly are worth loving and you’re my entire world.

‘cause my love is mine, all mine

i love mine, mine, mine

“am i?” her lower lip trembles as she innocently stares up at you.

“you are my entire world,” you gently kiss her forehead as she places her head down onto your chest.

“you’re my whole world too,” she murmurs against your chest, either it was her sweet tone or that you were naturally ticklish which made you laugh wholeheartedly. clarisse’s face lights up, feeling the rumble from your chest as a smile erupts on her lips.

“nothing in the world belongs to me...” you sing softly into her ears, massaging her head, soothing her into a peaceful sleep alongside your peaceful embrace. “but my love mine, all mine...”

you lullabied her to sleep with your gentle singing, finally feeling at ease when you heard the light snores, smiling fondly at her. gods, clarisse was adorable. too adorable to disrupt her out of her sleep, resting comfortably on you, partially skin-to-skin.

“good night, my love.” you kissed her forehead, glimpsing at her small smile from the loving touch. turning off the lamp before refocusing onto clarisse, wrapping your arms around her waist and her head gently nuzzling into your neck, requiring very much close contact. soon enough, you drifted into sleep just as your beloved girlfriend did a few minutes ago, both content in each other’s arms, wishing to remain like that forever.

nothing in the world is mine for free

but my love mine, all mine, all mine…

likes, comments, and reblogs are highly appreciated!

© asvterias, 2024. please do not copy, repost or translate onto any other platforms without my permission.

[aroaceleovaldez]

chewing on big 3 kids being capable of absolutely devastating natural disasters and apocalypse-level outbursts of power.

Percy who creates hurricanes complete with lightning that pummel titans and flooding and whirlpools that can trap god-powered crocodile kaijus. Earthquakes that erupt volcanoes. Hazel who sunk an entire small island entirely on her own with her final breath, against giants and a primordial goddess of the earth.

If Nico dramatically wilts plants and cracks the ground when he's mildly stressed, and disintegrates enemies down to their skeletons with a single touch or rips their souls out of their still-living bodies, and can command armies of the undead, what happens if he tries to cause destruction? Even outside of total zombie apocalypse or insta-killing a crowd, he's shown enough geokinesis to absolutely be capable of the same destruction Percy and Hazel can manifest.

What about Jason? He can control the winds and storms. There's no way he can't create the most destructive tornadoes with casual effort that he can never justify using for the collateral damage they'd cause. With a single thought he can rip up a town and launch the remnants 50 miles out. (Jason in the center of a Dead Man Walking tornado, vortexes responding to his movements like an avatar...)

And what can anyone do to combat it? How can you fight the wind lifting everything you know and love into the sky, or floods sweeping you away, or the ground giving way beneath you? The Big 3 kids are scary because they are forces of nature, and their whims are the only thing preventing you from witnessing that at any given moment.

[fatkish]

Class 1A x Thunderbird Quirk Reader: Media Hordes

It was all over every news site. Pro Hero Student (Y/L/N) (Y/N) Stops Typhoon: the amazing feat of a UA student from Class 1A. You had been interning with a pro hero in a small town when the call came in that a serious Typhoon was heading straight for the town. The town was in a flood zone and the locals were trying desperately to sure up their homes and businesses to minimize the damage. The storm was a really bad one and was predicted to cause some fatalities. In order to protect the citizens, you took off into the sky and met the typhoon and managed to reroute the storm to a non populated area.

The damage that would have been caused by the storm was avoided. All that the town experienced was some rainfall but not enough to flood the town. When the citizens heard of what you did, they praised and thanked you. One of your dreams as a Pro Hero was to help bring rainstorms to areas with severe droughts and prevent flooding. This was the first time you actually did something you dreamed of doing.

So the next day after your work study, reporters were swarming the UA gates. It’s one thing when you’re swarmed by people and media that is local to an area you saved, it’s another thing to be swarmed by unaffiliated media groups. Which is exactly what you walked into after your exhaustion from the previous day. You didn’t even realize how many reporters were there due to your near sleep-walking. So you accidentally waltzed right into them.

That’s one hell of a rude awakening. The reporters kept shoving their microphones into your face and a torrent of voices were asking questions. All the sudden attention made you temporarily freeze as your brain tried to comprehend what was happening and create a response that wouldn’t ruin your image. Luckily the school had predicted this kind of thing and had things set in place to help you.

As you were crowded by media, Bakugou literally blasted his way through the horde. Creating an opening that allowed for Todoroki to create a small barrier of ice. Iida came running through and picked you up bridal style, running past the media and quickly depositing you next to Aizawa at the front gate. Sato had baked some muffins for you in case you hadn’t eaten breakfast. Momo gave you a cup of milk tea to help wake you up.

As the Bakusquad and Todoroki helped the teachers disperse the media as students arrived, Midoriya and the others made sure you got to class okay. After eating a few muffins and finishing your tea, you were finally awake enough to function. After the bell rang, Aizawa made sure that you were okay and able to do your schoolwork. After the morning classes finished and it was time for lunch, your classmates couldn’t hold themselves back anymore. They had so many questions about what happened and wanted to hear everything. Every detail, every word, they listened carefully as you recounted what happened.

After classes were over, Aizawa had you stay behind to work on what you missed. Midoriya and Momo had copied their notes from your missed classes and gave them to you. Aizawa sat with you and helped you go over what subjects you struggled with, making sure that you understood the assignment and material. After finishing up your homework and missed work, Aizawa sat and talked to you about what you experienced and made sure that nothing was bothering you. Needless to say, he was very proud of your work and congratulated you on finally doing what you dreamed of as a pro.

[senditcolton]

Storm Warning

a/n: my first fic entirely about fictional people? more likely than you think! but i'm still mad they didn't kiss / cut the kiss in the movie so here we are. the alternative title to this was "aka the Tyler Owens & Kate Carter smut we all deserved"

pairing: Tyler Owens x Kate Carter song inspo: Storm Warning by Hunter Hayes (shocked this wasn't on the soundtrack) word count: 3.6k warnings: self-doubt, brief mention of Kate's past and scar, and smut (oral - f receiving & unprotected penetration)

Usually after a chase, when the team came back to whatever roadside hotel they were calling home, the sounds that followed them were cheers and lively chatter. But instead of the common jovial noise that often defined their return, tonight it was a defeated silence.

The only sounds that accompanied them were their boots scraping against the concrete stairs, their hushed disappointment, their quietly voiced ‘goodnights’ as they slip into their respective rooms.

Kate let out another heavy sigh as she shoves the keycard into the reader, the light turning green, allowing her to push open the worn wood door. Her tired eyes meet the cookie-cutter room with its queen bed, badly patterned duvet and the generic farm landscape photo hanging over the bedframe. Tyler is close behind her, his own disappointment melding with hers as he steps over the threshold, shutting the door and sliding the chain lock into place.

Kate is in the middle of kicking off her shoes when he wanders back over to her. She feels his strong arms embrace her from behind, pulling her body upright, her back meeting his chest. They stand there for a moment, simply breathing together before Tyler presses a small kiss against her temple.

“I’m gonna wash up,” Tyler mutters.

Kate’s only response is a small hum as she feels his arms fall from her frame, followed shortly by the click of the bathroom door closing. She stands motionless, even after she hears the sink tap turn on, uncertain of what to do next. Normally, she would be opening her laptop, analyzing the data they collected, and preparing for the next chase. But after today… it all seemed so pointless.

As far as bad days and bad chases go, today wasn’t nearly as high on the catastrophe scale as it could have been. They had all seen and experienced worse. But for Kate, it was more frustrating than destructive. And that felt heavier than any other possibility.

She understood the damage that tornados could cause; physically, emotionally. She knew it better than most, having carried a physical reminder of it with her for years. But it was an aspect of her job that she had come to accept and could now approach headfirst. However, now, when she had a chance to make a difference – when she knew for a fact that she could make a difference – and yet every attempt to prove it to the scientific community was met with either failing tech, unusable data, the unpredictability of the weather they chased, or a combination of it all… it made it seem so pointless.

Especially when she turned on the news and was constantly reminded of the damage that she could have prevented but failed to do so.

She was failing. It was that simple. And that deep painful feeling of defeat had slowly been building in her chest until now, in the silence of this random hotel room, it finally bubbled over.

It takes every ounce of energy left in Kate’s body to push herself to sit on the edge of the firm mattress instead of simply collapsing onto the rough carpeted floor. Unfortunately, that meant that that energy was depleted when it came time to will back her tears. Instead, they pool on her lower lashes as her head falls into her upturned palms, the weight of everything she still couldn’t control crashing over her.

Even the sound of the bathroom door re-opening doesn’t snap her back into the closed-off demeanor that she perfected years ago. Her only consolation was that at least it was Tyler with her in the hotel room. A comfort that proves itself as soon as his green eyes land on her slumped frame.

“Kate.”

Her name falls from his lips in a rushed breath, his boots tapping across the floor as he makes his way to her. His frame stands in front of her momentarily before he is dropping to his knees in front of her, his hands landing on her legs and his face coming into view from behind the curtain of her tangled hair.

“What is it?” he asks, reaching up to cup her jaw, his thumb brushing over the skin of her cheek, still slightly damp from the rain.

“Nothing,” she replies, sniffling back her tears in an attempt to hold it together. However, it seems as if her body is determined to prove her wrong, a single teardrop falling from her eyes. Tyler doesn’t point it out, doesn’t even let his expression change, knowing she is all too aware of the contradiction between her words and her actions – something that Kate is thankful for.

“It’s just…” she tries to begin, attempting to get her feelings laid out clearly. But that task seems as impossible to control as the reasons why she was so upset. “It feels like I’m failing,” she says, the defeat in her voice clear.

Tyler doesn’t say anything immediately, just lets her words sink in. He knows that he could refute her, tell her that she isn’t, that she has succeeded before and she will again. But he also knows that she knows all those things and that those truths and hopes don’t change how shitty it feels right now.

“It just seems pointless,” Kate continues, Tyler’s silence giving her the space to try to talk through her emotions.

“It’s not,” Tyler replies, the conviction in his voice startling even Kate. “It’s gonna work out. We’re gonna prove it, eventually.”

His quiet assuredness makes Kate’s brown eyes lift to meet his green ones, her heart softening at the fire and determination she sees behind his irises.

“And it’s all gonna be because of you. It’s all gonna be for you.”

“It’s not supposed to be for me,” Kate says, the flip of her voice bright with a quip instead of sharp with disdain; although the words were still ladened with the remnants of her previous tears. “You know why we’re doing this.”

“Yeah, I do,” Tyler concedes. “But I also know that we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing right now if it wasn’t for you. I’d still be shooting fireworks up tornados for views instead of making a real difference.

“You still made a difference by doing that,” she says, reminding both herself and him of the good that came out of his socials – the donations, the food, the help.

“Not like this,” he states, the conviction in his voice clear. “You saved lives instead of just helping them after the fact. You saved my life, and Lily’s, and so many others. We’re still here because of you and that’s why we’re gonna help you prove it.”

“So maybe I can get my face on a t-shirt?” Kate teases, the easy familiar inside joke bringing a warmth to the moment that she desperately needed. Tyler returns her shaky grin with that strong bright smile that made all the girls – including her – swoon.

“Baby, we’re gonna have to make an entire merch line with you on it. I’m talking t-shirts, hats, mugs, bumper stickers. Kate Carter: the Twister Tamer,” he says, his hands even lifting as if he’s picturing it on a billboard. “You can’t make a better slogan than that.”

The laughter, while still twinged with some of the prior heaviness, falls easily from Kate’s lips. Her eyes stay locked on Tyler’s face, his bright smile the closest equivalent she’s ever found to feeling the sunshine after a storm. Her hand instinctively reaches up to rest on his cheek, mirroring his earlier actions and caressing his own skin. Tyler’s gaze just stays locked on her face, taking in her shaky smile, a feeling of happiness soaring through his chest to see it again.

It is only a moment before Kate leans forward, capturing Tyler’s lips in her own. It was a kiss filled with thanks, with understanding, with every emotion that Kate could ascribe to it and to the solace she felt having Tyler in her life. Their connection was unexpected and wild, like the storms that they chased but it ended up being exactly what she needed. And from the way Tyler kissed her back, if was clear that he felt the same.

Their kisses deepen, the desire surging between them rising quickly. Kate’s hands move into his still tousled hair, Tyler’s body reaching up to get closer to her, his own hands falling to rest on her hips, his calloused fingers sneaking under the hem of her white tank top. She hums in approval at the sensation of his fingertips dancing across her skin, her head falling back slightly to give Tyler access, his kisses now trailing down her throat.

She allows him to linger there as her hands dance across his shoulders, briefly dipping underneath the collar of his t-shirt. Eventually, she pulls her body back, the space between them widening once more. A smile appears on Kate’s face at Tyler’s questioning expression, the wicked grin her only explanation before she crosses her arms in front of her, gripping the fabric of her top and peeling it off her body.

The action obscures her vision momentarily but when her eyes land on Tyler’s face again, his face had morphed to copy her grin as he tugs his own shirt over his head, exposing his golden skin to her. Their lips connect again, hands now free to explore the newly revealed surface of their bodies.

Kate’s palms trace over the expanse of Tyler’s back, relishing in the way his muscles move beneath her fingertips. His own hands trace a similar path down her spine before dropping lower, following the curve of her waist, and moving to the front of her body. Tyler blindly undoes the button and zipper of her jeans, and with the newly provided space, his hand sneaks underneath the waistband of both her pants and her underwear, his fingers reaching down until they slip between her thighs.

A sharp gasp falls from Kate’s lips, her own hand shooting down to grip Tyler’s forearm as his fingers flex, tracing her folds, the heel of his hand adding delicious pressure against her clit.

The noises that escape their lips are quieted as they kiss again, content to silence their moans by swallow each other’s. It is only when their vocalized need was muffled, did they hear the patter of the rain against the shingles, the drops tapping against the glass of the window.

“Did you,” Kate begins to ask, her lips tearing away from Tyler’s, her words now stilted because of the weight of Tyler’s hands, not the weight of her own emotions. “Did you or Javi or someone track the evening storms? See if conditions were good?”

“Don’t get distracted, Kate,” Tyler mutters in reply as he peppers kisses across her decolletage.

“By our job?” she quips, her gaze departing from the rain splattered window to Tyler’s face, a mischievous smirk playing at her lips.

Tyler’s eyes pin her in place, sparkling with that cockiness that she had grown to find endearing. He straightens his spine, his torso lifting and his expression deepening into one of pure conviction.

“My only job right now, is this,” he says, his fingers curling within her as a perfect punctuation to his sentence.

Kate can’t stop her eyes from fluttering close, her mouth falling open in a silent moan, her grip tightening against Tyler’s skin. Through the haze, she spies Tyler’s confident grin widening as his movements continue before his lips reattach to her skin.

He continues moving his hand against and within her, pulling more choked sounds from her throat. Suddenly, in a move that seems torturous in the moment but Kate knows will be forgiven soon, Tyler’s hand disappears from between her thighs. She still whines at the loss but Tyler simply grips the waistband of the only clothes that were still on her body, tugging gently. Kate helps him pull the denim and cotton from her lower half, Tyler keeping a hold on her ankle to toss her legs up onto the top of the mattress. She sinks down onto the somewhat scratchy duvet cover, her eyes following Tyler as he kicks off his own boots before stalking to the foot of the bed.

A quirk of her finger and a shared grin is all it takes for Tyler to lower himself onto the bed, the cheap frame creaking underneath their combined weight. His body covers hers as he hovers over her, lowering slightly to kiss her, Kate’s own hands reaching up to tangle in his hair again.

As usual, his kisses slowly begin to descend; down her neck, tracing her collarbones, along her sternum, over the ridges of her ribs, gently tickling the sensitive skin of her stomach before his arms hook underneath her thighs as he throws her legs over his shoulders.

Lightning flashes, brightening the room briefly before an echoing boom follows shortly afterwards.

“Now, don’t you go running outside into the nearest field, naked,” Tyler teases, pressing a gentle kiss against her hipbone before finishing the sentence with a teasing “again.”

The retort was poised on Kate’s lips, ready to escape, but Tyler makes sure that whatever words may have been uttered disappear as soon as his mouth attaches to her. And that was exactly what happened. There was nothing that Kate could say, no string of coherent syllables that she could form as Tyler works his tongue and lips against her. The only utterance that fell from her were pleasured moans, her body rolling in encouragement – a silent message that Tyler receives and responds to eagerly.

The thunder and the rain make for an apt and gorgeous soundtrack to the moment, Tyler’s ministrations pushing her closer and closer to the edge. Occasionally, his eyes flick up to Kate, her shaking frame just encouraging him more, her hands twisted in his blond locks holding him in place, even though departing from between her open thighs as something he was not going to do anytime soon.

He continues, reading and recognizing the subtle signs that told him she was almost there. It only when her body stiffens underneath him, her back arching, does he throw his arm across her hips, pinning her in place as her orgasm shakes through her frame. Tyler doesn’t cease his movements until he feels her muscles going lax, her fingers loosening in his hair to gently push him away from her sensitive core.

No matter how many times he finds himself in this position, he still hesitates to depart completely from her, his lips drifting from her folds to her inner thighs. His arms retreat from her frame, hands caressing her legs, his fingers gently tracing the scar lining her thigh. The sensitivity from the mark makes her shiver, the tremor pulling Tyler’s eyes to hers.

Her deep brown eyes are pools of emotion, something that drew Tyler to her in the first place. He knows her past, knows the origins of that scar, and knows the trauma holds – the invisible trauma included. But he also recognizes that that scar is the reason for all of this: the reason for their current job, the reason they were together in any capacity, the reason she came back, the reason she gave chasing another chance – the reason she gave him a chance.

Kate watches as Tyler leans down and presses one of the softest kisses against the mark, the weight of the action not going unnoticed to her.

It’s a reminder of what she’s lost, of her trauma. But it’s also a reminder of her strength, of what she’s gained; including the man currently laying between her legs.

The tenderness he shows towards her, his attentive and deliberate actions make Kate’s desire surge again, her hands scrambling on his shoulders, beckoning him up to crash her lips into his once more.

Tyler’s arms cage her head, this time his hands combing through her hair. She presses her body against his, her hands dropping to make quick work of the obnoxious belt buckle he insists on wearing before undoing his jeans, desperately pushing the denim down his legs as far as she could reach. He breaks the kiss, leaning his body to balance on one forearm to kick off the offending fabric, the position displaying the strength stored in his wired muscles.

However, no matter what level of strength Tyler had, his current position was not sustainable in the long run. But more importantly, as soon as his jeans were kicked off his ankles, his position made it easier for Kate to lift her body up and push Tyler down so his back was now the one pressed into the firm mattress.

If the movement was unexpected, no shock appeared on Tyler’s face. It made sense though – this was the man who chased the most unpredictable and unexpected weather. Kate knew that it would take something completely out of left field to surprise this man in the bedroom.

She didn’t mind it, though. Especially not when Tyler’s expression was something she never got tired of. Similarly, she never got tired of how his hands attached to her body, like a magnet to metal, the instant she rolls her hips against his.

There is no pause, no teasing – not tonight. Kate lifts herself slightly, keeping her balance steady with one hand pressed against Tyler’s chest as the other snakes between their bodies and her thighs. Her fingers wrap around his shaft, stroking once before aligning it to her center and letting herself slowly sink down.

The simultaneous moan echoes around the hotel room, never tiring of the sensation of their bodies connecting. Kate sighs, her hands coming to meet as she uses the leverage that Tyler provides to grind against him. He encourages her movements, his hands pressing and pulling her hips, matching her speed and rhythm. Tyler is more than content to rest against the pillows and watch Kate take what she needed from him, content to watch the way her body responds: her back arching, her head falling backwards, her chest rising and falling.

“Tyler.”

His name escapes her lips in a desperate sigh, her body shuddering as his cock hits that one spot inside of her.

“Let me hear you, darling,” he coos, the lighting once more illuminating the room, a crack of thunder coming shortly after. “No need to worry about our neighbors. Seems like Mother Nature is covering for us.”

“If only she could be this cooperative all the time,” Kate breathlessly teases, her movements not ceasing.

“Now don’t poke at her,” Tyler laughs, the sound slightly choking in his throat as he feels Kate tighten around him. “Just say thank you.”

Kate’s eyelids flutter open, her brown eyes locking gaze with him.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

Tyler knows that her words are not directed at the storm. Instead, they were a quiet acknowledgement to him – for being there, for encouraging her, for everything. Not just from today but from the moment they met.

“Anything for you,” he replies, his hands tightening against her hips. He pulls her body deeper into his, encouraging her to increase her speed against him and allowing her clit brush against his skin, the dual sensations bringing her closer to completion. She lets him guide her, her moans falling freely now. Tyler’s eyes trace every inch of her skin, the awe and admiration that was usually directed at tornados now directed entirely towards her.

But that was exactly what Kate was to him. A storm that blew into his life, disrupted the way he used to be living, and turned everything he thought he knew upside down. She was perfect, she was gorgeous, she was everything. And he would willingly and gladly follow her into every tempest that gathered.

It’s impulsive, instinctual, the way Tyler’s torso shoots up off the bed, his arms wrapping around Kate’s frame. A small gasp escapes from her chest, her eyes staring into his before he leans in to kiss her. The two of them rock against each other for a few minutes more until Kate is stilling in his arms, the tremors running through her body as her hands cling onto him, her mouth open against his as her breathless moans fall. The sensation of her around him causes Tyler’s orgasm to follow closely behind, the thunder to her lightning, as he muffles his own groans against the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

The shallow breaths that pant from their lips are the only noise that fills the room, the tapping of the rain growing fainter and fainter. Tyler pulls himself away from her neck, their eyes reconnecting. A small smile tugs at the corner of Kate’s mouth, one that Tyler returns before kissing her again. She happily reciprocates, pressing her body against his again until it was hard to tell where she ended and he began.

They eventually disentangle from each other, wandering to the small ensuite together. A quick shared shower later, they’re climbing back into bed, their limbs intertwining as Kate rests her head on his chest. She and Tyler lay there in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the warmth of each other until Tyler’s voice breaks through the stillness.

“We’ll get it, eventually,” he says, referencing the goal the team was chasing. Kate just angles her head so she can look up at him, finding hope in the quiet confidence in his eyes.

“I know we will,” she replies. “For all of them,” she adds, addressing all the people they could help – all the people they would help. Tyler smiles, pressing a kiss on the crown of her head.  

“And it’s all for you.”

[elpasotreeremovals]

The Importance of Professional Tree Service in El Paso

Tree services is important in order to keep your trees healthy and aesthetically pleasing, it is necessary to do much more than just water and prune the trees from time to time. Trees are living organisms that add beauty, security, and property value to your property, hence the need for professional Tree Care. At El Paso Tree Removal, we pride ourselves in offering full tree services that meet the needs of the landscape.

Why You Need Tree Service in El Paso

The weather of El Paso, TX is hot during summer and gets occasional storms, which makes it even harder on trees. Tree service is critical in enhancing the structural integrity of your trees, to avoid diseases, decay or falling branches. Failure to maintain trees results in dangerous conditions such as destruction of property and in some cases, people’s lives.

Here are some reasons why professional tree service is a must:

Tree Health and Safety Trimming and pruning are recommended to ensure proper growth and facilitate for removal of undesired branches that may be unhealthy, and therefore became risky to human life. At El Paso Tree Removals, our primary concern is to keep your trees healthy so they do not fall victim to diseases or pests.

Storm Damage Prevention There are occasional strong winds and storms in El Paso. Trees that are well taken cared of have a lesser tendency to break or even fall during storms thus less damage to properties. Our professional staff prunes and fortifies your trees to withstand the storm.

Boost Property Value Trees are living plants that add beauty to the environment, property, and increase the curb appeal hence the value of the property. Our professional tree services can assist in maintaining the health of trees on your property thus making your compound appealing.

Stump Grinding and Removal When a tree is cut down, an ugly stump remains behind and can spoil the appearance of your yard. Our stump grinding services are cost effective to ensure that you get a clean level area to be used for other developmental activities.

Why Choose El Paso Tree Removals?

At El Paso Tree Removal, we offer professional tree services aimed at providing quality tree services that meet safety, professional and customer satisfaction standards. The members of our team have access to the best equipment and knowledge that can help in any tree issue. Our services range from tree trimming, tree removal in case of any emergency, and stump grinding among others.

Our services include:

Tree Removal Tree removal is a critical service for maintaining the safety and aesthetics of your property. At El Paso Tree Removals, we specialize in safely and efficiently removing trees of all sizes, whether they’re dead, diseased, or simply located in an inconvenient spot. Our experienced team uses advanced techniques and equipment to carefully take down trees without causing damage to your landscape or surrounding structures. Whether you're looking to clear space for new construction or need a hazardous tree removed, we ensure the job is done right. With our tree removal services, you can rest easy knowing your property is in expert hands.

Tree Trimming and Pruning Regular tree trimming and pruning are essential for maintaining the health and beauty of your trees. At El Paso Tree Removals, our tree trimming and pruning services are designed to enhance the structure of your trees, promote healthy growth, and remove any dead or diseased branches. Proper pruning improves the overall appearance of your trees while preventing potential hazards such as falling limbs. We customize our trimming techniques based on the specific needs of each tree species, ensuring they stay vibrant and structurally sound. Whether for aesthetic purposes or safety, our professional trimming services will help your trees thrive.

Stump Grinding Leftover tree stumps can be unsightly and hazardous, taking up valuable space in your yard. El Paso Tree Removals offers professional stump grinding services to remove these stubborn remnants and restore the beauty of your landscape. Our state-of-the-art equipment grinds stumps down below the surface, leaving your yard smooth and ready for new landscaping or construction. Stump grinding also eliminates the risk of pests and decay that could spread to other plants. Our efficient and effective stump removal process will leave your property looking clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing.

Emergency Tree Services Tree emergencies can happen at any time, especially during storms or high winds. When disaster strikes, you need a reliable team to respond quickly and handle the situation safely. El Paso Tree Removals offers 24/7 emergency tree services to address urgent tree issues, such as fallen trees or dangerous limbs threatening your property. Our experts are trained to handle hazardous situations, safely removing trees or branches that pose immediate risks. With our fast response and professional care, you can count on us to protect your property and ensure your peace of mind in any emergency.

Call Us Today!

Prevent tree issues from becoming a major danger that can harm people and property in your home. If you need professional tree service in El Paso, please call El Paso Tree Removal at (915) 234-1705 for free estimate. We can assist you in keeping your landscaping safe and aesthetically pleasing!

[tanoraqui]

Dungeon Meshi Liveblog: I thought I wasn't going to have strong opinions about the Laios-Shuro fight, but...

Laios was right about this! Yes, they had 2 physical fights first, but it's important to note that Laios was right about this!

.

^ -man who would literally kill to stay in this room and observe this private conversation.

.

Sir, your unfaltering little wide-eyed, amiable smile while seriously considering topics that are obviously un-smile-worth has charmed me utterly. I wish to study you like an climate-entomologist yearns for the butterfly that causes storms.

.

She seems fine.

.

If I start screencapping Laios's and Marcille's faces in this fight, I will never stop because literally every panel is devasting.

.

Kuro has done distinctly the most damage so far this fight, just stabbing and gnawing, and I think we should recognize and appreciate that fact.

.

I really miss the animation we got of Rin's lightning blast slicing narrowly past Laios.

I love how fast, if reluctantly, Laios accepts that if - not, that Falin is a true "monster", inhuman and hurting people relentlessly and unapologetically, and thus she needs to be killed before she kills them, like any other monster. I also love that Marcille doesn't accept this. Characters!

.

+1 to qualification to kingship! Kabru is one again surprised (you can tell by how he's not smiling) (though this might also be due to the significant injuries he just took).

I do have several emotions about how Falin immediately yanks away and kills Kabru, without touching Laios. That's her brother!!

.

I really like this little cluster because it says to me that Shuro still has very good "do what Marcille says when she abruptly shouts magic-related directions in combat" instincts. He's a mirror of the "You're already on the Christmas card, buddy" meme - more like, "You're still on the Christmas card." Just like Namari: no one really stops being fond of, and battle companions with, these weirdos.

.

I think the most painful part of this probably is that Marcille isn't certain. Maybe this IS her fault. At minimum, she knows she might have mixed the dragon's soul into Falin's, which enabled this even if it didn't create it. But she can't 100% rule out the possibility that it's more her fault than that - which is, of course, the absolute worst thing to say to all of these people looking at her violently askance for using dark magic.

.

yeahhhhhh "Lunatic Magician" REALLY lacks the oomph of "Mad Mage"

ANGRY LAIOS! It's such a rare expression on him, it's exciting to see.

.

Yesss look at my man Chilchuck use available tools in his environment and save this little goober who thinks it's cool to resent adults.

I really like how they show the social consequences of dark magic. Much beyond Shuro's anger: the other mages are now shutting Marcille down, especially where resurrection magic is concerned. She's made herself untrusted by her peers, whether or not the magic she used on Falin is truly "evil."

.

I really enjoy the, like, narratively obligatory, not actually real (well, maybe to Rin) "will they-won't they" between Kabru and Rin. In the story that this isn't, where Kabru is the protagonist with his quirky gang of found family who are helping him save the island and prevent another bloodbath like in his angsty backstory, she IS the One (Human) Female on the Team who is obviously his love interest - often the first to challenge him, battle mage rather than healer ie a Strong Female Character who nonetheless doesn't use unfeminine brute force, forced by happenstance to kiss...

Alas! Kabru is not the protagonist of this story, so Rin shall remain disappointed.

Also this montage of people healing and reuniting while in the background Laios and Shuro whale on each other remains SO funny. Flawless comedic timing.

.

Alright, hot take time: I feel like all the debate I've seen about the Shuro/Laios fight depict it as revealing the friendship basically shattered, and never real in the first place. Whereas I'm mostly warmed by how real it clearly was despite everything that just happened?

Shuro is operating on no food and less sleep, desperate to save the woman he idolizes without truly understanding her loves, who is now apparently a monster who nearly slaughtered his most loyal followers. In the past like 2 weeks, Laios has: watched his sister die to save his life (his little sister, whom he is supposed to protect), walked headfirst into a nigh-unwinnable fight to get her back, held her skull in his hands, got her back and held her in his arms, lost her again about 6 hours later in an even more unwinnable fight, which was proven even more unwinnable when the Mage twisted the dungeon itself against them, saw her again but as a murderous monster now (which might be due to the magic he agreed to use to resurrect her), swiftly and sternly resigned himself to fighting and potentially killing her (his little sister! whom he is supposed to protect!), had her recognize him (and no one else!) despite her monstrosity, watched her be killed (again!) in part thanks to him distracting her, except it didn't work and then she fled.

This is an immature, ignoring-immediate-needs (ie, food, healing) knock-down drag-out fight between two men at the absolute ends of their ropes, who, sure, have built-up resentments against each other and the world, and an inciting incident pushing them over the edge - but mostly neither of them can punch in the face the fact that they can't save Falin. So they punch each other instead.

I won't even address the prologue to the fight, where Laios tells him about the black magic and Shuro promptly tries to strangle him then levels a sword at him. Kabru already nailed that: Shuro was worried about Falin - that the magic had hurt her, that the social consequences would be worse. Laios knew this enough that he didn't fight back, then. But now?

The first shove is Shuro demanding, Don't you fucking DARE give me false hope.

I cannot emphasize enough how hard I would also slap someone for suggesting that I wasn't taking the death and monsterization of my younger sibling seriously.

Shuro knows it, too. He doesn't respond to this, he just punches, and Laios punches back. Shuro doesn't speak again until Laios knocks him all the way down, and

Shuro is at his absolute depth. The lowest point he (feels that he) can go. He cannot save Falin. He's shamed himself as a leader and heir by getting his people killed (they got better, but that's beside the point.) He's been beaten in hand-to-hand combat by this idiot northern peasant. He lets down his guard and pride enough to mutter this self-deprecation aloud...and the idiot northern peasant hears, compounding every shame - and it's infuriating especially because he doesn't even hear properly, just like he never hears properly - he's so frustrating in his friendly but oblivious constant irritation and THIS, Shuro can still be furious about, to avoid his grief/hopelessness/self-loathing/shame. This, he can still fight about!

So he does.

They're both wrong in this fight. They're both right. Laios was consistently inconsiderate; knowing this about himself - because it's not like by his early 20s he didn't know that he didn't Get people the way most people Get people - he should've made more of an effort, and picked up any of the hints Shuro was laying down. Shuro was too caught up in his own pride and out-of-place manners: when it was clear that Laios wasn't going to pick up on even the strongest "hint", he should've said something plainly instead of just letting his resentment build until he was effectively lying to Laios about, if not their entire friendship, certainly the shape of it.

But they were friends. They are friends. This isn't the posture or conversation of two guys who don't like each other.

It's two guys who are still, in fact, fucking exhausted, physically and emotionally - but they just got rid of a lot of extra, furious, helpless energy, so they're finally satisfied to just sit. Their posture is relaxed and casual; their conversation straightforward and companionable, if serious.

This is two guys who've sat like this many time at a campfire, in just these poses. Who've kept watch together late at night and stayed awake by talking.

Laios cares about Falin more than anyone in the world, and even after the words and blows they just exchanged, he's still willing to put Shuro's suit to her. Shuro didn't tell Falin he was interested in her until he proposed to her, but he's telling it all to Laios. Admittedly, this is because Laios is, Shuro assumes, the closest he'll ever get to being able to tell it all to Falin...but still. And he admits vulnerability, which he clearly wouldn't have done before, even to his most loyal and loved companions as they urged him to eat and sleep.

Yeah, they're buddies. If I had to describe it, I'd say: their relationship was built on unsteady, false foundations, but they built something sturdy on it anyway, and the sturdy thing survives even when the foundations shake and re-settle.

Lol at Shuro. "I'm going to report you to the local authorities for your crimes because it's the right thing to do. But if you survive, I'll totally use my power and influence to help you flee the country, and live peacefully on my estate beyond where an extradition treaty can reach you."

[mcflymemes]

DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD PROMPTS PT 1 *  assorted dialogue from the first hour of the video game

somebody's gotta stop him... and that's where you come in.

so... where were we?

our story begins where all great stories begin: with the seediest bar in town and a missing contact.

let's try this again.

you think you can come into my bar and make demands?

i'm not leaving until i know where she is.

be ready to talk by the time i get to you.

darling... you're adorable.

for the record, there was probably an easier way to do that than fighting an entire bar.

what'd i have to worry about? you were there watching my back.

break's over.

something must have gotten them riled up.

should we be in more of a hurry to get out of here?

i have to talk him down.

are they after us?

we don't have time to get arrested.

you're safe now. get inside and bar the doors.

there are a lot of scared people out here.

what about you two? are you okay?

have you got my gear?

can you get us there, [name]?

this is nowhere near my neighborhood.

eyes up! we've got company!

used to fight these assholes every day.

i'm back on the job.

isn't that a coincidence?

you said you had a lead?

that's where your man is hiding.

you told me he was working alone.

i'll take it from here.

take care of the team for me.

hope i'm not interrupting.

let's buy him some time.

i have taken precautions to minimize the damage.

people are dying right now.

you need to listen. please.

people are always dying. it is what they do.

shit. we need a better plan.

what if we disrupt the ritual?

the storm could tear you apart.

you came a long way and made a valiant effort.

this story does not end in my downfall.

you have no idea what you have done.

i know what i did.

i was not destroying the world.

why am i here?

had i the power to control you, i would have already used it.

get out of my head!

i do not want to be here any more than you do.

what are you talking about?

thanks to you, though, i am now trapped.

you were innocently doing nothing when we came along.

[name] always said you'd have a big explanation for why none of this was your fault.

i am certain you will be fine.

you don't get to sit back and look smug!

what else could i possibly do?

you will soon see what i was trying to prevent.

this is your responsibility now.

look who's still with us!

trust me. i've had worse. gonna take more than a flesh wound to stop me.

turns out, you were right.

the plan did go a little wrong.

i should have come up with a better plan.

you worked with what you had. and you succeeded, by the way.

[name]. you've got this. i've seen your work.

there's a reason i dragged you into this whole mess.

you're clever. adaptable. and you don't know when to quit.

sorry, i didn't mean to barge in.

i really need to look around.

we should talk about things.

i'll work with it. you know me.

maybe our paths haven't crossed, but i know our work has.

we've just got to start somewhere.

this is a dangerous job. everyone knew that signing on.

you don't slow down for much, do you?

let's stop worrying about me and go do that.

come get me when you're ready to go.

you're sure that wasn't just a dream?

i'm not certain of anything.

we're not out of danger.

we need to get out there and stop them.

we can't just sit here and do nothing.

we need to investigate. figure out what we're dealing with before we rush in and make things worse.

this time, if we see a shot, we take it.

you sure you're up for this?

it's not working! i can't contain it!

you all were supposed to stop him.

it didn't go as cleanly as we hoped.

things just got a whole lot worse.

let's just say they weren't known for their kindness.

you're in no condition to fight.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Scavenger Kings

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)

Standing Order #16735-92.1

All Grade 2 technology or higher, regardless of intended function, is to be destroyed if recovery is deemed impossible. In the event of a withdrawal is issued no forces may commence with said order until the previous instructions are carried out and all Grade 2 technology is damaged beyond repair.

The use of any and all means required to carry out this order are hereby allowed by High Command.

Failure to follow this order will result in immediate incarceration followed by a military inquiry to review the matter in question.  ----------------------------------

“Has the commander heard the definition of order 16735-92.1?”

The prosecutor turned to see First Mavark Gelen Freen looking at him with focused intent from the stand.

“I have heard the definition.” Freen replied dryly as his eyes slowly gazed across the courtroom. He took in the measure of each of the commanders gathered to act as his jurors, many sharing a look of mundane interest in the proceedings, and the gathered on lookers behind the separation fence which sat with baited breath. Only the military Magistrate, whom he noticed from the corner of his eye, was focused on the prosecutors questioning.

“Do you know why this order was put in place Freen?” the prosecutor continued only for Freen’s defender to cut him off.

“My client is First Mavark Gelen Freen,” they began, “and as his rank has not been rescinded he will be addressed as such.”

The Magistrate nodded in acknowledgement of the defender’s argument and so the prosecutor held up his hand. “My apologies Magistrate, no harm was intended.”

“I repeat my question then, First Mavark,” the prosecutor continued as the last bit was overly emphasized, “do you know why this order was put in place?”

“Of course,” Freen answered without hesitation, “to prevent technology from falling into the hands of our enemies in the event we are forced to retreat from the battlefield.”  

“Exactly.” The prosecutor smiled as he turned to the jurors. “One would wonder why the most powerful species in the universe would care about such trivial matters, but it is because we are the most powerful that this order must exist. The order is to prevent enemy combatants from gaining our technology and adapting it to use against us.”

He turned back and paced towards the stand, the prosecutors smile fading as swiftly as it had appeared. “So will you care to explain to the court why you failed to follow order 16735-92.1 while withdrawing from the battle on Teratis Prime and allowing the humans to obtain our technology?!”

Bringing his hands down on the stand railing with a loud thud, several of the onlookers jumped slightly in their seats from surprise. Freen and the jurors, who had all served in combat, rolled their eyes at the weak attempt of intimidation.

“As I have stated,” Freen began, “both in my official report after action and since I have been detained I followed the order to the letter and left no military grade technology for the humans to obtain.”

Freen’s mind drifted back to the closing hours of the battle several light years away. The humans had dropped in a reinforcement fleet that derailed a protracted war of attrition against their Nevari allies. Primitive in nature, their military was numerous enough to launch a series of devastating counter attacks that force Freen’s people to withdraw. It had been a chaotic mess at the end with soldiers scrambling for any ship orbit capable to reach the last remaining transports.

As the last surviving Mavark still planetside, command had ordered him to hold the outskirts of the last remaining spaceport still in their control. The humans unleashed a storm of cannon fire that reduced the outlying suburbs into rubble before waves of their soldiers navigated through the freshly made rubble. The shells had not even ceased falling when the first human soldier emerged from the billowing dust cloud and opened fired on Freen’s men.

“Did you say “Military grade Technology”?” the prosecutor zeroed in on.

Freen nodded. “Yes, all military technology grade 2 or higher was destroyed beyond recover as we pulled back to the dropships.”

“Forgive me First Mavark, but I thought you said you understood what Order #16735-92.1 was.” The prosecutor turned towards the jury. “The order states ALL grade 2 technology must be destroyed; not just military grade technology.”

Freen shrugged. “At the time my forces were being hammered from all sides. I made the decision that military technology would take priority and was informed all military grade technology was incapacitated before giving the final order to withdraw.”

“So by your own admission you only half fulfilled the order before retreating and leaving the job uncompleted.”

The First Mavark opened his mouth to rebuttal but the prosecutor pulled out a remote and pressed a button on it. One by one the lights went off and a view screen descended from the ceiling. A picture appeared on the screen that at first confused Freen. It was a picture of a machine easily thirty feet long with a large flatbed being carried by a considerable amount of mechanical legs underneath giving it an insect like appearance.

“Do you know what this is, First Mavark?” the prosecutor asked with a smug grin. Freen nodded.

“It is a farming machine used on Teratis Prime.” He pointed to the series of legs on the undercarriage. “The prime crop only grows on the high peaks of mountain ranges, so the vehicle needs the extra legs to scale them.”

“Very good.” The prosecutor condescended, “Which would make this a grade 3 level of technology.”

“I was in the middle of a battle destroying abandoned photon cannons while keeping my warriors alive.” Freen countered. “I did not have time to pause and look for farming equipment.”

The prosecutor pressed another button to show a warehouse of farming machines. “This shipment was store on the starport’s western storage fields ready for transport offworld to Vergi VI; and you left it intact as the final dropship carried you away.”

He pressed it one more time and a video began playing. The footage was shaky and unbalanced as the camera man appeared to be crawling along the ground. “This footage was taken from Vergi VI three days ago by an operative conducting sabotage efforts behind human lines.”

Freen watched as the footage continued shaking as the operative crawled through tall grass. A sudden mechanical grinding sound in the distance made the operative stop moving and lay still. The grinding sound continued to grow louder as a series of loud thumping noises began mingling in with the noise.

Slowly, the operative moved forward again and parted the tall grass. There, just across a rocky plain, were several dozen humans riding across the farming machines.

Freen looked closer at the machines and saw that they had each been modified from their original design. They were walking at speeds that should have far exceeded safety limits and to his surprise several of the ones in the center of the group had been outfitted with artillery cannons. As the group of machines moved over the rocky terrain the machines at the center kept a constant stream of fire far off into the distance.

“The humans found the farming machines you failed to destroy,” the prosecutor said over the video as it continued to play, “and sent them back to their research facilities. Three months later these new versions were being sent to the frontlines acting as mobile artillery platforms and troop transports that can bypass once thought impassable terrain.”

He pointed to the center machines with the cannons. “The gyroscopic stability matrixes, that had been used to stabilize them while ascending up mountains, were also very convenient at ensuring a stable firing platform for their long range weapons. With the additional movement the platforms provide have become increasingly difficult to retaliate against as by the time we triangulate their firing locations they have already moved on.”

The screen froze on one of the platforms as it fired; the large plume of smoke and fire emitting from it searing its way into the eyes of everyone present.

“Because you made the call, and ignored grade 3 technology, you gave our enemies the means to once again level the playing field against our brave forces.”

Freen wanted to mention that he was part of those “brave forces” but the prosecutor clicked the remote and the screen changed again.

This time it showed a bike like construct as it sped past the camera at lightning speeds. “Grand Mavark thought the same as you when he ignored anti-gravity shopping karts, and thus the humans created the “Screamers” as our soldiers call them. Hypersonic assault craft that bypass anti-air sensors through sheer speed before unleashing a devastating barrage of missiles on their target.”

The screen switched again to show a human soldier put on a cloak and seemingly disappear from sight as a squad of soldiers rushed by. “Scion Indel was likewise in your thinking when she ignored the Phabeon Projector modules used by children’s toys which were then used to create the so called “Chameleon Cloak”, which allow humans to project their surroundings upon the cloak and appear seemingly invisible to all but the most advanced scanning technology.”

As the soldiers passed by on the screen no sooner did the human drop the cloak and open fire on the soldiers as their backs were turned. “This technology was ironically used by human operatives to assassinate Scion Indel and withdraw without retaliation.” The prosecutor added.

With that the screen went dark and the lights of the courtroom came back on.

“This rule is in place because in ours wars with humans,” the prosecutor said while facing the jury, “that while they may appear inferior technologically to us they have a seemingly deadly ability to warp alien technology to serve their own ends; in many cases with deadly efficiency.”

He turned to face Freen. “That is why ALL technology grade 2 or higher is meant to be destroyed, not just military technology. By your own ignorance you have given our enemies yet another arrow in their quiver to unleash upon us.”

He leaned in and glared down at Freen. “Do you have any idea how many of your brothers and sisters you have killed because you “did not have time..”?”

[igotanidea]

One step closer: Jason Todd x reader

Summary: Jason being terrified of the storm and reader helping him.

***

At first the sky was crystal clear blue and without a single cloud.

The weather, however has a unique ability to change in a blink of an eye – maybe that’s why people believe nature is a woman, with its specific humors and whims.

The droplets of rain started hitting the pavement when Y/N was walking home from work. Deprived of the umbrella, as usual. And even thought she liked a little bit of precipitation it was one thing to enjoy the musky scent of ozone and ground, and the other to be drenched. Therefore, taking cue of the other people, rushing to find even a makeshift shelter, upon realizing that the rest of the evening was going to be filled with October like weather, she took off running. In her best hope to get home before all hell break loose.

As the raindrops started to intensify, she swiftly swiveled on the puddles, miraculously avoiding slipping and stepping into the treacherously shallow waters, only to discover it was ankle depth.

Getting home in time to save her porous hair from frizzling into a mess on her hair, but not soon enough to miss the lighting and thunder echoing through the space.

“Oh no…” she muttered to herself, opening the door to the tenement, where she was sharing a an apartment with Jason.

Jason. Precisely.

She climbed the stair jumping two steps at a time, all to reach their place faster, knowing well enough what she was going to find there.

“Jace?” she called his name, kicking off her shoes and hanging the wetted coat on the hanger. “Jace, are you here?”

“In here…” weak, shaky voice came from the living room.

“Oh, baby…”

Jason was crouched on the couch, away from the window, almost paralyzed by the flashes of light and sounds outside. It was nothing new to her. After all, her poor boy was scared of the storm, not that she could blame him.

When they started dating, hanging around in the city and having fun, the first time the storm came in during their time out, he just stopped in the middle of the street with wide eyes, unable to move a single muscle. Scaring the shit out of her making the girl believe he was going through a stroke or something. Using whatever strength she could gather, Y/N grabbed the arm of the mountain of stiffened muscles Jason turned into and dragged him into the nearest roofed place.

In between ragged breaths and trembles, Jason tried to explain himself and prevent the damage of her thinking he was crazy or something. And even though all she was doing was holding his hand, soothing him with her voice, trying to ground him and not demand any words, he managed to stutter that the storm was reminding him of the time Joker was hitting him with a crowbar.

Lighting was like a flashes in his eyes, recollection of blood and pain.

Thunder was like a sound of a vicious laugh, echoing in his ears, a remnant of incoming ending.

And that broke her heart.

Since then, there was not a time she allowed Jason to be alone during the storm. Reaching him in any way possible. When at work – text or call. When at home – cuddles and kisses. When out – immediate retreat and doing anything possible to help him focus on her rather than surrounding.

So now, her course of action was almost innate.

Closing the windows, which he was unable of, due to immediate panic attack. Drawing the curtains. Sitting on the couch next to him. Opening her welcoming arms and surrounding him with her warmth.

“It’s okay Jason…” she whispered pulling his head to her chest. “It’s okay. Just listen to my heartbeat, baby.”

“I’m so scared, Y/N.” he almost sobbed, like a 15 year old he was when Joker was mutilating him. “I don’t want to –“

“Shhh. Shhh, my love.” Her fingers danced in his hair, touch as soft as possible to not startle, but help him. A single wrong move, too intense or in the wrong place could be catastrophic, considering he was one foot in the past “I’m not letting anything happen to you.” A gentle soft kiss placed on his forehead was supposed to serve as an assurance of her love, presence and protective shield “I got you, Jason. I got you…”

“He’s coming after me!” as another thunder tore the sound of humming rain he snuggled closer to her chest “He’s coming!”

This was worse than anything she has experienced before and she was forced to think and act quickly and with new methods, to avoid him spiraling out of control and rooting in the tragic memories.

Pulling him closer, Y/N started to hum some melody. Quietly as first, but then letting it grow a little louder and more intense, leaning towards him to make sure it was the only sound reaching his ears.

“I have died every day waiting for you, darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more…..”

His hands tightened on her waist, almost bruising but she didn’t care.

“One step closer, one step closer….”

Slowly, her voice started to replace the bad memories.

One step closer – to her.

One step closer – to the present and not the past.

One step closer – to breaking from the nightmare.

“Y/N….” he whispered, allowing himself to relax under her caresses.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Thank you.” He nuzzled into her chest, loosing the grip but not letting go. Never letting go.

“I’m here…” she only responded, with a tiny smile, as if that was the entire explanation needed. And it was.

“Stay.” He whispered, not opening his eyes, not changing the position, not moving even in the slightest to avoid breaking the fragile peace.

“I’m here.” She said for the third time.

She was there. And the weight of her dedication, devotion and touch the made the door to the past close. Like a book that still describe your life, but stays on the shelf, being nothing but a memory. Painful, gory and traumatizing, but still – just a memory, making place for the new story.

And maybe it was time to commence it.

She was there.