#Target PAD 2024

[kantorberita]

BKD Mukomuko Gandeng Kejaksaan Negeri untuk Tuntaskan Tunggakan Pajak 2023

BKD Mukomuko Gandeng Kejaksaan Negeri untuk Tuntaskan Tunggakan Pajak 2023 KANTOR-BERITA.COM, MUKOMUKO|| Badan Keuangan Daerah (BKD) Kabupaten Mukomuko, Provinsi Bengkulu, telah mengambil langkah tegas dalam menangani tunggakan pajak tahun 2023. BKD memberikan kuasa khusus kepada Kejaksaan Negeri setempat untuk membantu menagih utang pajak yang masih terutang di wilayah tersebut. Kabid…

[moonchild9350]

Still Life and Nude Surprises

Summary: you need to prep for an art show and sign up for a class for extra practice. the model you’re assigned however turns out to be someone you know very well.

Pairing: best friend!Felix x fab!reader

Genre: friends to lovers au, fluff, smut-18+MDNI

Word Count: 4.8k

Warnings: nude modeling, mutual masturbation, dirty talk, mention of overstimulation, clit play, unprotected sex (don't), creampie, implied multiple rounds

Notes: another fic from when I was feral sorry not sorry lol this was fun to write though and it’s Felix so…. lol

If you enjoyed please consider a like, reblog, or comment as it keeps me motivated ♡

Divider by @cafekitsune

Please do not copy, translate, modify, use, or repost this work elsewhere without my permission. ©moonchild9350 (2024)

"Hold still!"

You chastised the blonde who was at the moment wiggling around in his seat, his eyes focused on his computer screen as he blasted god knows what on the latest game he acquired.

"Y/n! Lemme just finish this round, then I'll do anything you say," he responded as he showed off his biggest pouty face.

You sighed, not being able to say no to that face. Felix smiled and went back to his game, his fingers tap tapping on the keyboard.

Felix is your best friend, he has been since you were neighbors as a kid. You've done everything together, from attending dances as each others dates, sleepovers as kids, endure heartbreaks, and even live within the same building as adults.

You couldn't live without him, your relationship going beyond your wildest dreams.

Now, you were trying to sketch your best friend as you were trying to improve your still life skills, preparing for an art show that you had signed up for. Everything was going well until he received a text from a gamer buddy, wanting to go for a round on a new game he recently started.

You set your sketch pad down and watched your friend as he scrunched his face in concentration, his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth as he shot down enemy after enemy. It was pretty humorous to watch, as everytime he missed his target he'd scream "noooo!" before concentrating once more.

You knew it was a lost cause, understanding once he started gaming, it would be hours until he would stop. You gathered up your stuff, packing it into your bag.

You got up and walked over to Felix, ruffling up his hair, obscuring his view of the computer screen.

"Y/n!" he exclaimed as he blew his hair out of his face, the strands framing his face haphazardly as a result.

"I'm gonna go home, it's getting late. I"ll see you later ok?"

Felix took a chance and looked away from the screen to you, "I'm sorry, I'm a horrible model."

You chuckled and slapped his arm, the boy yelping at the sting. "No you're not, you just get distracted easily."

You continued to laugh as you walked to his door, listening to Felix mutter under his breath something along the lines of "that's not true."

Closing his door, you walked the few doors down to your apartment, dropping your bag on the hallway table. You really did want to practice your skills as the show was getting closer day by day and you were banking on using Felix to start.

You grabbed your laptop and plopped on the couch, propping your feet on the table in front of you. Opening up the search engine, you began to look for classes that you could attend to help you practice.

You came across a particularly promising site, the company offering a variety of classes from group sessions to private ones. You clicked on the private session info bar, as the prospect of it just being you and the model seemed appealing.

You noticed they offered private nude modeling sessions as well, your eyebrow raising in interest. This would be the perfect opportunity to study the human body and to improve your skills on drawing it.

The company had a few sessions open over the next few days which would be perfect as you were free. You clicked on the time slot for tomorrow's private session, your mind running over the pros and cons.

You've never sketched anyone nude, the prospect seeming a little embarrassing to you, but how would you get better if you didn't step out of your comfort zone? Plus, these models were trained for this, and it was with a reputable company.

The cost of the class wasn't much either, definitely within your budget. You filled in your information, whatever they asked for. Once done, your hand hovered over the book button, as you considered what to do.

"Fuck it," you said, bringing your finger down to press book.

A confirmation page popped up saying your session was successfully booked and they'd see you tomorrow. You let out a breath and closed your laptop.

This was really going to happen. You wondered if you'd have a male or female model, noticing there was no option to choose. Shaking your head, you decided not to think about the session until the time came, opting to go in with a fresh and unbiased mind.

You went about the rest of your night, prepping everything you would need for tomorrow. Settling into bed you pulled the covers up to your chin.

You were ready for tomorrow and whatever it were to bring.

--

It was a beautiful day, the sun shining, the weather warm but not too hot. The walk to the art studio wasn't too far away, the building being within walking distance.

You were giddy with excitement, your anxieties gone about the details of the session. You texted Felix to let him know you would be occupied today and would be over later on. He didn't mind as he apparently had something to do as well.

You approached a chic building, the outer walls appearing old yet charming to fit the town. You opened the door and walked in, met with the scent only an art studio can provide, from the scents of paints to fresh canvases. The scent of coffee drifted in the air as well, as there was a fresh pot that seemed to have been brewed in the corner of the reception area.

You approached the front desk, greeting the worker behind it.

"Hi, my name is y/n, I'm booked for a private session at 10:30?"

The lady looked in a book on the desk, her manicured fingers running down the page to the appointed time. She tapped her fingers on the page, finding your name as expected.

"We have you all set, would you like to pay now?"

You nodded and pulled out your card. She took care of the payment and then smiled.

"Have a seat, someone will be with you shortly to take you to the studio."

"Thank you," you said, walking towards a comfy looking chair in the corner.

You sat down, cradling your bag to your side. The atmosphere was quiet, the occasional sound of chatter meeting your ears. You watched as people walked to and from, their focus on getting to their destination.

Not long after sitting down, a young woman appeared calling your name. You hurriedly grabbed your bag and walked towards her.

"Ready?" she asked with a smile.

"Absolutely," you responded as you followed the lady down the hall.

She stopped at a door, the placard reading studio eight. It was more secluded than the other studios, the room being near the back of the hall. The lady opened the door and stepped in, you following right behind her.

As you crossed the threshold, you took in the surroundings of the room. It wasn't too small but not too big. The walls were covered with sketches and paintings, portraying various body types. Each painting was beautiful, the artist capturing the details of the human body in intricate detail.

There was a ceiling to floor mirror along one wall, the whole room visible in its reflection. In the center of the room, there was a chair next to a series of boxes, linen draped over it to make a makeshift bed. You eyed the stool next to an easel, which you assumed is where you would be sitting.

"So, this is where your session will take place. You have this space for four hours. If you need assistance of any sort, just press this button here and one of the staff members will assist you."

You followed her hand as she pointed to a blue button next to the door. You nodded and faced the lady again, waiting for her to continue.

"You have opted for a nude model for your session correct?"

"Yes, I have," you replied, feeling your cheeks flush at her question.

"They will enter after I leave. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can ask them to robe again, they will not mind. I think that's all. Any questions?"

You shook your head no, as everything was pretty straight forward.

"Great! Go ahead and get settled, your model will be in shortly!"

You thanked the lady and walked over to the easel. Setting your bag down, you began to pull out your sketch book and various pencils, setting them up accordingly. You sat on the stool, crossing your legs as you waited for your model to arrive.

It didn't take long until a different door than you came in opened, a person stepping in within the room. It was a flurry of movement as they walked into the room with their head down.

"Sorry, I'm a little late," the person said in a deep voice.

Wait...you knew that voice. Shocked, your head snapped up to look more closely at the person. You couldn't believe it, that person was...

"Y/n?!"

"Felix?!"

Your model was Felix? Your best friend? What the fuck?!

You were confused and shocked. Felix seemed to be as well as he stared at you with his mouth wide open.

You eyed your friend who was prepped in a white robe, the material seeming soft and cozy on his skin. His long hair was in a ponytail, framed away from his face, his numerous freckles on display.

"What are you doing here?" you asked in disbelief.

"I could ask you the same thing," Felix responded as he came closer to you.

"I uh...I signed up for a class to work on my skills since you know..." you said, your voice trailing off at the end.

The atmosphere was tense, neither one of you knowing what to do. You never expected to see your best friend here, especially since he never mentioned he modeled for an art studio...nude at that.

Felix nodded at your response, "I work here as a side gig...make some extra cash you know?"

You nodded, accepting his answer.

"Why did you never tell me you did this?" you inquired, curiosity getting the best of you.

Felix fiddled with the strap of his robe, his gaze anywhere but yours. After a moment he cleared his throat.

"Well, I thought you'd find it weird. I mean I'm naked in front of people and they draw me in the nude. How would I bring that up with you?"

He had a point. That would definitely make for an interesting conversation. Now the question becomes do you go on with the session? Sketch your best friend nude? You could make him keep the robe on.

"Do you...do you still want to proceed with this?" Felix asked, his hands gesturing toward the makeshift bed in the center of the room.

"I'm ok if you are," you said shrugging.

Felix cleared his throat, surprised at your answer. Recovering quickly, he said, "Of course."

You nodded and watched as he padded toward the bed, stopping in front of it for a moment. His hands went to the strap of his robe, his fingers fiddling with the knot before he stopped.

"You ok with sketching me nude?"

"Yes Lix, I've seen you naked before."

You really have and with years of being best friends, it was bound to happen.

Felix nodded before he grasped the strap again, this time untying the knot.

You watched as the knot fell away, the straps now dangling at his side. He brought his hands up, to grab the soft material and slide it off his shoulders. With a flurry of movement, he let the robe fall, the fabric pooling at his feet.

You gasped, your eyes glued to your best friend as he stood in the center of the room, his back to you. Taking the chance, your eyes roamed his back, taking in his muscular frame, down to his lithe waist, which you've always admired. You smirked at seeing his ass wanting to reach out and smack it.

Felix took a deep breath and slowly turned around to face you. You watched with bated breath as he now stood facing you, his eyes on yours.

Your eyes drifted down his torso, eyeing his nipples, the pinkish-brown buds perky in the cold room. You eyed him further down, down, down until you came to his pelvis, a happy trail of hair leading down to his cock.

You subconsciously licked your lips, your eyes glued to his soft cock lying amongst a smattering of hair, his balls hanging nice and delicate. You couldn't help but admire his cock, wondering how it would feel in your hands, how it would feel...

"Earth to y/n! My eyes are up here pervert!" Felix exclaimed while snapping his fingers to get your attention.

You snapped your eyes up to his face, feeling your cheeks flush in embarrassment. You definitely were just checking out your best friend, the feeling in your panties a little more wet than when you came in.

You cleared your throat and gestured toward the bed, "Umm, wanna get started?"

Felix nodded, "How do you want me?"

"You can just lounge on the bed for now."

Felix nodded again and sat on the bed, swinging his legs up to rest on the linens. You walked over to your best friend and stopped in front of him, your hands reached out. You hesitated for a moment, looking into his eyes asking silent permission to touch him.

"Go ahead, position me how you want," Felix chuckled.

You took his hand in yours and draped it across his face, his fingers dangling delicately on the side of his cheeks. You angled his head to look toward where you would be sitting. You looked at his legs, taking a breath before propping one of his legs up.

Once finished, you quickly took a step back, eyeing your work. Satisfied, you sat down on your stool and grabbed your sketch book.

You picked up a pencil and began to sketch, easily getting lost in your work. You looked up at Felix every now and then, to get some details solidified in your head before you translated it onto paper.

It was silent in the room, neither one of you speaking. It was not as awkward as you thought it would be, but rather comforting.

Time passed and you got more of your sketch done, the outline being nearly complete.

Felix was staring at you, watching your hands dance across the page, sketching his frame. He couldn't take his eyes off of you, admiring how you got lost in your work, that not even your best friend posing naked for you can distract you.

He loved how you let out a small smile when you got a detail just right or how you scrunched up your face and bit your lip when something did not seem right.

You were beautiful, that he couldn't deny and you were even more beautiful in this moment, sitting on a stool in an art studio underneath the dim lights.

Felix started to feel warm, despite laying right under the air conditioner, the feeling spreading down his belly and settling at his cock. He could feel the blood slowly fill out his cock, the appendage slightly harder than before, laying haphazardly against his pelvis.

He willed himself to breath, to cool down, not wanting you to see the effect you have on him. He could never live that down. He tried to look everywhere but your face, especially when your head was down. But to no avail, the feeling increased, his cock twitching slightly in response.

You looked up at your friend to get another look at his torso for shading the area on your sketch, but froze at what you saw. Felix seemed to be in turmoil, his breath shaky, his eyes darting everywhere around the room.

Your eyes traveled to his cock, noticing how it seemed to have hardened some since you last took a look at him. You thought you would feel embarrassed, however, you felt quite the opposite.

You lingered on his cock a little longer, a a pleasurable shock traveling down your body and straight to your core. You pressed your thighs together in response, feeling your slick slowly seep into your panties.

You cleared your throat and went back to your sketch, not wanting Felix to catch you staring, not let him know that you were aware he was hard while you sketched him.

Felix was turned on, that was the brunt of it. He tried to stop his reaction to you, but he just couldn't do it. He felt his cock hardened until it stood fully at attention, the tip pressing up against his pelvis.

It was torture laying there, only a few feet away from you, his cock so hard it was starting to hurt. He wanted to touch himself, relieve the ache, and maybe just maybe you could help him out too.

He watched as you lifted your head up once more, gasping at the state of him.

You were in shock, noticing now that Felix's cock was fully hard, the member seeming angry and red at the lack of attention it received. You could see something shiny glistening on the hairs littering his pelvis. You watched as a drop of pre-cum oozed from his tip, the liquid dripping down his shaft until it reached the hairs, getting caught in the thickness.

Looking at Felix's face, you could tell he was miserable, as he breathing was shallow and he was clenching and unclenching his hands. You knew he wanted to touch himself to relieve himself of the ache he was feeling.

"Felix?" you questioned, your eyes reaching his. "Do you wanna touch yourself?"

Felix's eyes widened at the question, disbelief written on his face.

"I'm..I'm sorry y/n, I just couldn't help it," he stuttered, lowering his eyes in embarrassment.

"It's ok," you responded with a smile. "You can touch yourself, make yourself feel good. I'll continue to sketch."

Felix stared at you for a moment more before he took his other hand that was at his side and placed it on his chest.

You watched as he gripped his aching cock and gave it a squeeze as he moaned lowly. He shifted his hand upwards, his thumb pressing on his slit before gathering up some of the leaking pre-cum.

He began to stroke his cock, steady but slowly, his fist reaching the base just to travel back up and circle around the head. Felix kept eye contact with you, your sketching forgotten, as you took to watching your best friend pleasure himself.

He increased the speed of his wrist movement, wet sounds from the aid of his precum filling the room. With each moan he let out, you felt your pussy clench over nothing. You were soaking wet, your panties stuck to your skin by now, your clit throbbing to be touched.

"Y/n," Felix said, his voice raspy as he continued to stroke his cock. "Can you touch yourself? Pleasure yourself for me?"

You looked into Felix's pleading eyes, watching as he licked his lips and swallowed. You didn't give a moments thought at your friend's request, instead ridding yourself of your leggings.

You stood before Felix, your fingers going to the band of your panties. You watched Felix's eyes drag to the piece of cloth, his eyes widening at the wet patch present on your panties, the material sticking to your skin, leaving nothing to the imagination as the outline of your lips could be seen.

You slowly slid your panties down your legs and set them aside. Felix let out a groan at the sight of your pussy, his cock twitching in his hand.

You sat back down on the stool and spread your legs, your wet folds separating to show him your entrance. He kept his eyes glued to your pussy as you brought a finger to your clit, flicking the bud and the rubbing it gently.

You sighed out as you dipped a finger lower into your hole, gathering your slick that was pooling there before bringing it back to your clit. You circled it gently, applying the slightest pressure, a jolt of pleasure causing your pussy to clench.

Time passed as you both sat there, eyes on each other as you pleasured yourself, the room filled with wet sounds and the mix of both of your moans.

You matched Felix's pace as he stroked his cock, harder and faster, his hips bucking up into his hands. You let out a whimper as you felt the tightening within your belly, the coil tightening, filling your core with warmth.

"Felix, m'close," you moaned as your fingers slipped and slid around your clit, your pussy getting wetter by the minute.

"Yeah? Cum for me? Will you cum for me like a good girl?" Felix cooed. "I'm close too, fuck."

Your breathing increased as the coil expanded in your belly, the feeling getting larger and larger until you tipped over the edge, your walls spasming, clenching down rhythmically as you rode out your high.

You didn't stop rubbing your clit, watching as Felix let out a groan as he bucked his hips, spurts of cum landing on his belly creating a painting with its pearly white sheen.

You pulled your hand away, the feeling of overstimulation settling in. You looked at your best friend, both of you breathing hard as you came down from your highs.

You chuckled as you noticed Felix was pretty much in the same position you put him in, his resolve at staying true to his role admirable.

"You um...you can keep sketching if you'd like," Felix said, his voice soft with uncertainty.

"We literally just got off together and you want me to continue sketching?" you asked incredulously as you cocked your eyebrow.

Felix cleared his throat, his body slighly shifting on the makeshift bed causing his softened cock to jiggle.

"Well...yeah, you paid and all..."

You stared at your best friend in disbelief. You hated that he had a point, you did pay a pretty sum to be here today. But here you were, nude from the waist down, your nether region a mess. You sighed and picked up your pencil, moving your hand to start sketching again.

There was silence once more as you got into the zone, focusing on shading in your sketch. You began to hum to yourself, adjusting yourself sligthly on the stool.

Felix returned to staring at you, watching you get lost in your work. He tried not to remember that you were naked waist down, your pussy seconds away from being on display if you decided to open your legs.

The thought caused arousal to seep through his body once more. He cursed silently as he felt his cock twitch. Why does he have to be turned on by you? He's never had this reaction before for any other client.

Maybe it was because they were strangers, people he didn't know, while you were his best friend, his life line.

He couldn't help it as his thoughts wandered, wondering how you would feel wrapped around him. He wondered how you would sound as he pounded into you, making you feel better than any of your little flings ever could.

He peeked down to look at his lower half as he silently groaned noticing his cock was fully hardened, resting against his belly once more.

You looked up to gather reference and noticed Felix's cock was hard, more of his precum leaking out and onto his belly. You squeezed your thighs together at the sight as your tongue darted out and licked your lips.

"Fuck this," you said, tossing your sketch book to the side.

You stood up and walked towards Felix, lifting your shirt up and over your head in the process. You unclasped your bra and let it fall to the floor, your tits spilling out and on view for your friend.

Felix scrambled up quickly and grabbed you by the arm, pulling you toward him until you stood right in front of his face. He grasped your waist and smashed his lips to yours, letting out a moan as your lips moved with his.

Your hand reached down to grasp his cock, giving it a squeeze. Felix moaned against your lips, his fingers digging into the flesh of your hips.

"Can I fuck you y/n?" Felix asked with hope in his eyes.

You've both come this far, why stop now you thought.

"Sure," you agreed as more arousal gushed out of your pussy and onto your thighs at the thought of his cock filling you up.

Felix helped maneuver you onto the makeshift bed as he hovered above you. He spread your legs and pushed them upwards, giving him a clear view of your wet pussy, your slick coating your folds and dripping down your ass.

He brought his thumb down to press against your swollen clit that was peeking through your folds. You let out a whine at the sensation, your pussy clenching around nothing.

"I've waited for this moment for a long time y/n," Felix said, his eyes lifting up to your face.

"Me too," you confessed, your heart swelling at the thought that you both have liked each other probably for years.

He really was your person, your everything, and you would love nothing more than to give yourself fully to him.

Felix smiled down at you before swiping his finger over your clit again, watching as you wiggled your hips at his touch.

"I'm gonna give you my cock now," he grunted, grasping the appendage at the base.

He rubbed his cock through your folds, collecting your slick before pressing against your entrance, his eyes glued to how his head disappeared within your hole.

You mewled as he withdrew his cock just to press into your entrance again as he fucked you with just the tip.

"Felix, please," you whimpered, holding your legs open even more.

"Want my cock hm?" Felix asked, his eyes on yours. He watched as your mouth hung open, soft moans falling out as he teased you, spreading your folds open with just his head.

He was faring no better as he felt a shutter run through him, every time he sunk his tip within your warmth.

"Fuck me," you commanded, your eyes snapping open and staring Felix down.

You reached for his cock, your hand wrapping around the shaft. You wiggled your hips attempting to take more of his cock, ignoring how Felix was laughing at you.

"Ok, ok, don't get your panties in a twist," Felix chuckled. "Oh wait, you lost those hours ago, so desperate for my cock y/n."

Without any other warning, he slammed his hips into yours with a groan, sinking his length within your walls until bottomed out.

"Fuck, so warm and tight," he grunted as he began to thrust his hips into yours, withdrawing his cock just until he was all the way out and pushing back in.

You pussy clenched around him, the feeling of his cock stretching you out causing waves of pleasure to settle in your pelvis.

Felix grasped your legs, pushing them further to your chest as he pummeled his hips to yours, his heavy balls slapping against your ass with each thrust. He couldn't believe how tight you were, how your walls molded around his cock perfectly, like you were made for him.

His moans mingled with yours, as you both chased your highs. Felix licked his fingers and brought them back down to your clit, the digits slipping and sliding along the nub, causing shocks of pleasure to wreck your frame.

"Shit, I'm close, gonna cum. Can I come inside?" Felix panted, his thrusts becoming more erratic.

"Please, need your cum!" you whimpered as your pussy contracted at the thought of his cum within you.

Felix slammed his hips into yours once more before stilling, ropes of his cum flooding your walls.

"That's it, take my cum," Felix cooed as he continued to finger your clit.

You let out a loud moan as you came, your arousal seeping out of your pussy, coating Felix's cock as he thrusted his hips into yours a few more times to help you ride out your high.

Felix peered down at you, his eyes searching yours as you panted, your hands running down your body. He slowly withdrew his softening cock, his eyes glued to how his cum leaked out of your pussy, a smile gracing his face.

He leaned down to press a kiss on your lips once more as he whispered "I love you."

You carded your fingers through his hair, eagerly returning the kiss.

"And I love you Felix," you cooed.

You both laid there a little longer, exchanging soft kisses, neither one of you in a rush to move.

After a while, Felix perked up, mischief in his eyes.

"Wanna keep sketching? You still have another hour."

You smirked at the suggestion, knowing exactly where it will lead, and that was definitely ok with you.

"Sure thing, let's go for another round," you teased with a grin.

Taglist: @jehhskz @jeonginsleftcheek @simpforleeknaur @armystay89 @palindrome969 @slut4hee @ivydoesit23 @amarecerasus @kaysungshine @fun-fanfics @baby-stay92 @velvetmoonlght

[alphynix]

Spectember 2024 #02: Swimming Swine

An anonymous submitter asked for a "buoyant ungulate that runs atop the sea":

Pontoporcus plotus is a 1.5m long (~5') amphibious pig descended from a feral population of domestic pigs left on a small tropical island. After inadvertently wreaking havoc on much of the local ecosystem, its ancestors eventually turned to a more marine-based lifestyle foraging along beaches and in coastal waters.

Naturally highly buoyant, Pontoporcus actually floats so well that it's mostly limited to the water's surface, unable to dive to any significant degree. But despite this it's a fairly good swimmer, using broad hooves with wide fleshy pads to paddle itself along in an aquatic trotting- or running-like gait.

It forages both on land and in the water, mainly eating soft vegetation and marine plants, but much like its ancestors it will also opportunistically feed on whatever smaller animals it can catch or scavenge. Its semi-prehensile trunk-like snout is used to grasp at food items, to probe and root around in soft sediment, and as a snorkel.

Its hairless skin is very susceptible to sunburn, but it secretes a thick oily red-brown substance (similar to modern hippo "blood sweat") that acts as a natural protective sunscreen.

These pigs are accomplished island-hoppers, regularly traversing the relatively shallow seas all along their island chain – but their natural flotation and long fat bodies also make them prime targets for large aquatic predators attacking from below, so these journeys tend to involve groups of Pontoporcus "running" along the sea surface aiming for their next destination as fast as they possibly can.

[ronearoundblindly]

No Promises (2)

Lloyd Hansen x rival assassin!Reader

Don't Be Blue, Bunny Boy (see previous or LH Masterlist)

Summary: Lloyd underestimates how dangerous you are when he finds you wrapped like a gift in his hotel room.

Warnings for smut, but it's Lloyd so there's a knife, a gun, name-calling, cursing, drugging, dubcon due to somno, two a**holes in competition, unprotected sex (honestly, just never do anything Lloyd would do, okay? great. excellent. good chat), and possibly the best banter I've ever written gdi. Darkfic...but, like, funny??? For the love of everything, MINORS DNI. I have plenty else for you on my Light Masterlist, but this is not for you! WC 2k 🫣

*This CT 2024 Challenge work can be read completely out-of-context from the rest of the mini-series (which isn't even written yet anyway, lalalahhhh).

It’s bad enough you took the keycard off that fat fuck of a target first, but failing to follow you smacks Lloyd’s ego in just the wrong way. By the time he gets back to his luxurious hotel room, he’s fuming and itching to shoot something. You don’t need to be a mind-reader to know this; the man is still a man, after all, no matter how trained and controlled he thinks he is.

That’s why you’re here, trussed up in a sapphire blue bodysuit, smirking at the irritation radiating off of your rival as his eyes rake the length of your mostly-bare figure.

“Darling,” you burst, posing like a ‘50s housewife by the armchair, playful and sickeningly sweet. “You’re home! I was so worried.”

Anger quivers his lip coat till he vaguely resembles a pouting porcupine. God, you hate mustaches. You’re willing to bet—if you really put your back into it—you could hump his face with such friction, it’d rub him smooth. There are less-worthwhile endeavors that you’ve completely only today. Why not experiment?

“You have some fucking nerve, bitch.”

Lloyd keeps his steps forward into the room slow and casual, though his ire is obvious. He stops halfway across the carpet, unzips his leather jacket, and tosses it onto the foot of the bed.

He seems surprised when you strut over without hesitation; he hasn’t handed over any weapons, but you haven’t asked for a reason. Lloyd’s reputation is cocky, commanding, and curious—in that order—so he won’t start speculating till it’s too late.

Indeed, what possible harm could you inflict wearing this lil’ ol’ thing, huh?

As you get closer, his hand reaches out instinctually.

“Ah, ah, ah,” you tsk in warning. “If you rip my lace, I will gut you like a fish. Understood?”

“Can’t make any promises, but…”

Lloyd, undeterred, clamps his hand between your legs and runs a finger through your folds, proving the crotchless lingerie isn’t in danger of typical snags.

The pad of his digit is rough and teasing.

“I think we can work with that,” he growls.

Oh yes, he’s definitely, perfectly, and predictably cocky. What fun you’ll have.

You make a show of gasping when he starts dipping two fingers into your heat, rolling your head as if truly undone by the minimal effort, and wait for him to watch his own ministrations, distracted.

Then you strike.

You grab his wrist, twisting harshly, yanking the arm behind him, straddling his shoulders so your legs pinch over his neck, and he turns slightly to nip at your thigh. You’re not surprised he still thinks he’ll win.

His steely eye winks as he looks up.

“Bet I can make you cum first.”

A dramatic sigh escapes you. You release his arm to sensually smooth your palm down his body, bending to whisper, “that implies I give a shit if you come at all.”

You fling yourself backwards, using the momentum to catapult him over you and into the side of the bed.

The mustache emphasizes his sneer when Lloyd pushes up on an elbow.

“I, too, like using a firm hand when breaking bitches’ spirits,” he mutters, reaching for his switchblade which you present instead, wiggling it in your hand with a grin.

“Oh, bunny boy, were you too firm to notice my gentle caress?” You deftly unlatch and expose the knife’s edge. “Now, strip.”

You tick the blade quickly for effect.

“Show me some skin so I can mark my two points so far. I know how you love to keep score.”

Lloyd rights himself, peeling his black turtleneck over his head and smoothing his hair into place calmly. “I can kill you just as easily naked as I can clothed.”

“Of course, cutie pie, and I’m counting on many little deaths.” You look at the knife in your hand, concerned. “Please tell me this isn’t the biggest weapon you're packing, or I’ll be so disappointed.”

He’s smug while unbuckling his belt and shucking off his pants. Lloyd Hansen now proudly stands stark nude.

You let your eyes go comically wide, but then your brow furrows and you shrug.

“You’re welcome to keep talking while I sit on your face, but otherwise… I’m unimpressed.”

Lloyd huffs with indignation.

“Fuck you.”

Like the footballer he used to be, he rushes you.

“Promise?” you coo, dodging him and landing a sharp smack to his butt cheek. It’s spectacularly sculpted, plump, and rock hard all at once.

“Oh my! Darling, you did not lead with your best asset…” You notice the faint scar on his pale skin and giggle. “Little prick got pricked, I see.”

Your amusement gives him a split second to grab you, and Lloyd uses the opportunity to shove you back into the window so violently the thick glass rattles its frame.

“Shut your fucking mouth,” he spits viciously, not so cocky as before.

“Isn’t that what I’ve been begging you to do for me, sweetheart?”

Mouth hanging open in a taunt, one hand strokes him, the other warns. The tip of the knife you still wield barely grazes the notch between ribs where you could swiftly puncture his lung. Lloyd watches, fuming and mesmerized, until you transfer the pooling saliva to your palm and resume jerking his cock.

“A firm hand really does make you harder, doesn’t it?”

That snaps him out of it.

He scrambles to bend you over that same armchair you started at, and Lloyd’s version of prep is a single, perfunctory dig of two fingers into your cunt.

To his credit, you are dripping wet for him, so, though his need to check before chaffing himself wasn’t necessary, he rewards you with a beautifully debauched moan as he sinks to the hilt with one thrust.

Lloyd’s got something to prove.

Good.

He’s so focused on groping around to your breasts beneath the stretchy lace that you stick the switchblade deep into the chair’s cushion and hold on; whatever else you’re doing is irrelevant to him. There is only fucking. There is only feeling as if he owns you in this moment.

You let out a high whine and goad him. “Love it when you’re gentle with me, sweetie.”

That earns you an unhinged snarl and the pummeling slap of his hips against your thighs.

He’s so easy to motivate, a majestic maniac on a mission to turn you stupid, if only until the stench of sex dissipates. If the idiot would just reach down to your clit, you’d spare him, but Lloyd is a man.

A selfish, egotistical princeling who’s a good marksman and a shit human. Good, for the business you two are in. But not as good as you.

You sigh like you’re bored, sinking your chin to rest on your outstretched arms.

He stops moving, grunting as he pulls out of you and snapping one of your shoulder straps.

“Fine. You wanna put in the work, sunshine? You go for it.” Lloyd flops onto the bed, face up, his arms spread wide and high.

Of course, he’s going for the gun under the pillow. You know it, you’ve anticipated it, and you decided it would be a nice safety blanket to leave him, to keep him feeling comfortable.

So you crawl on top of him anyway, rocking yourself against his cock for a few seconds before shifting higher. You giggle for emphasis.

You’re just here to fuck him. You’re just here to fuck with him. That’s the truth, and he knows it. Lloyd simply doesn’t know the conditions of both your releases…yet.

“Such a desperate slut,” he rumbles as you settle above his face.

Before you cover your view of him, you pinch at his jaw and smirk.

“Only munches wear a fucking mustache.”

His cheek gets a condescending pat when he smiles back.

He’s cute when he’s having fun, apparently.

Lloyd licks his lips and slowly lifts his head to swipe at your entrance. “You owe me that fucking keycard.” He delicately kisses your folds before his tongue darts out to circle your clit. “And I’ll get it from you one way or another.”

You can hear the rustle of his hand over the sheet. Not even a solid suck on your cunt, and he’s already going for the gun…

“Oh, come on,” you plead, ignoring his threat. “Finish your meal, champ. I know you can do it.”

His eyes narrow, peeking past your mound as he growls, gripping your thighs hard enough for you to collapse forward.

Sloppy. The best word to describe Lloyd eating pussy is sloppy. He contributes as much as you do to the glide of his whole face over every intimate inch of skin. Because you’re sitting with weight mostly on him—some of it still rests on your knees—each movement pushes his nose, lips, tongue, and stache around with enough fervor to polish your raw nerves.

Honestly, it’s a shame he ruins the moment by slipping his hand under the pillow and pressing the silencer's muzzle to your side.

Petulance dialed to maximum, you whimper, “you said I could come first!”

Your hand falls below your navel, clutching the lace like he’s already wounded you, and Lloyd proceeds to laugh right into your cunt.

He doesn’t have time to form a comeback once you peel the sheer, protective layer away from the patch of fabric a mere inch above the opening of the bodysuit. If he’d have paid any proper attention to you, he’d’ve found it, but he didn’t.

The fumes of chloroform-drenched cobalt engulf Lloyd in the suffocating proximity of the bed and your body. He has nowhere to go but under.

The gun falls away once his limbs go lax.

You sit directly on his chest for the few seconds it takes to realign the inner and outer barriers of your dainty, chemical warfare, then you shimmy off of him.

He actually looks quite peaceful this way.

His features are carefree, his broad, smooth chest rises and falls steadily, and his…

Well.

Lloyd’s dick lays erect and proud on his stomach, unfazed by unconsciousness. It’d be an even greater shame to waste that.

“It’s ok, peanut,” you whisper out of habit now, forced to imagine the twitch of his lip, the pop of the vein in his neck. “This is your chance to make it up to me.”

It’s not difficult to take him into your still-sopping core, and once you angle yourself to grind on the cut of his abs, all Lloyd’s previous buildup rushes back. His ass may be the star of the show, but his dick is no fluffer act. He’s packing enough to nudge at that perfect spot relentlessly as you ride him, and you openly mewl as you approach the height of your orgasm.

You imagine he’d say you sound so pretty and pathetic.

He’d probably ask if this is the best you can do, but that makes you fuck him harder until you crash into a wall of pleasure, sweaty, exhausted, resting against that broad chest.

You catch your breath after a short while, skin humming with excitement. Absently, your hands paw at his sides for a tiny bit of comfort.

That thought gets buried in a tense heartbeat, and you climb off the bed, pleased to notice the sheer amount of cum and his softening dick means he finished, too.

You’ll leave that as a souvenir.

The plan was to carve a little message on him—nothing that would permanently scar—but you can’t bring yourself to mar such a glorious ass. That would be akin to treason. Seriously, if he had simply walked around you in a bathing suit with that thing, you would have slipped the keycard into his waistband and thanked him for his service to your wet dreams.

A bit of dried cum smeared all over his pelvis and dripping down his balls, his useless pistol still in-hand, will do fine as a statement.

You clean yourself up, snatching your real clothes from the closet where you hung them tidily beside his own, and give a gentle grip to his immobile knee where it hangs off the bed.

“Sweet dreams, bunny boy. Maybe I'll let you win next time.”

[Next Part: I Left You Something On The Body]

[Main Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

This work was written for the amazing and inspirational Cum Together Extravaganza hosted by @stargazingfangirl18 and @labella420, but a special thanks to @buckymorelikefuckme for the earworm that would not quit. Poppy, you dark enabler you... I fucking love you!

Prompts: "Bet I can make you cum first." || Somnophilia || enemies-to-lovers || Characters A + B cum together at the same time

dividers by @/saradika-graphics (blue art deco) and @/cafekitsune

[cherubfae]

Any type of Zack fair romance? Sweetest first kiss? Flower n fluff you might have to share?

𝔯𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫𝔰 {𝔷𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔣𝔞𝔦𝔯}

tags: sfw, fem!reader, fluff, something sweet for the puppyboy, slight modern au, pre-established to established, dating dynamics

Genuinely he wants to know everything about you when you first meet. He doesn't mean it as a love-bombing thing or a red flag thing. He likes you so he wants to get to know you! Simple as that. He might come off as overeager sometimes.

He has an actual fear of being perceived as a red flag (he isn't). Zack never wants anyone to be off-put by him. Sometimes he gets caught in a TikTok cycle of beige and red flags.

Absolutely OVER THE MOON when you agree to go out with him! He'll do some squats to celebrate!

Keeps a list on his phone of everything you have said you liked ever. Your favorites, your dislikes, your allergies. It's anything from food, to makeup and clothing, to blankets, to movies. He covers it all!

Posts about you or the two of you all over his feed. He is the type of person to love his partner loudly. He wants everyone to know he is taken (and would like it if you did the same ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ)

Zack was incredibly nervous for your first kiss. He thrusts a large bouquet of flowers into your hands and bends down too quickly, giving himself a head rush. He misses his mark by a few inches, mostly getting your chin. "Oh, ah... We can try again, right? Since I'm your boyfriend, I gotta do my job right."

The second kiss was better. Zack kept his eyes open until he knew he was going to make his target. His lips are soft, humming against yours. His hand splayed across your lower back, spreading warmth through your clothes. It's slow and gentle, everything he has ever hoped for. He hopes every kiss feels like that!

Keeps a few of your favorite things on hand. Ever the dutiful boyfriend, he has a little toiletry bag he'll keep on his person in his bag full of a few items you may need: chapstick, lipstick, perfume, painkillers, deodorant, pads and tampons, gum, mints, a few candy bars and gummies. Whatever you may need, he's got it! He also will gladly take recommendations if there's something missing. If you have asthma or severe allergies, he'll keep a spare inhaler or a few epipens in there too!

He loves naps with you when it's raining out. It's the perfect sleeping weather. There's something so peaceful and comforting about cuddling you into his big, strong arms tucked under the safety and warmth of soft blankets versus being outside on the chilly, drizzly day.

Will let you borrow any of his clothes! He'll make sure to keep some oversized stuff on hand and will gladly 'refresh' them with his scent when they no longer smell like him. It makes him so giddy that you wanna wear his clothing.

Matching bracelets and necklaces! Gets you matching promise rings too! A promise that one day you two will marry, a promise to love you always. He is such a sweet, lover boy.

Zack isn't the best cook but he wants to make breakfast for you. He loves being able to eat with you. Heck, just being with you makes his heart so happy. He is just so damn glad he has someone to come home to that loves him as much as he loves her!! (⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)

He can be forgetful sometimes so he often tries to write down important dates! He has never forgotten your anniversary and he doesn't plan to! ;)

|| ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏꜱᴛ, ʀᴇᴜꜱᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴇᴅɪᴛ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋꜱ ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴀʏ! ɪ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ. ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ꜱɪᴛᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴘᴏꜱᴛ. ᴀʟʟ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀɪɢʜᴛꜰᴜʟ ᴏᴡɴᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ © ᴄʜᴇʀᴜʙꜰᴀᴇ 2024 ||

[kaiser1ns]

𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝘆𝘂𝗷𝗶 𝘅 𝗳𝗲𝗺!𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

╹synopsis :: in which someone beats itadori's record in the arcade.

╹contents :: fem!reader, fluff, love at first sight, megumi the moral support guy

╹notes :: my first work <3 hope you enjoy it! sorry for any grammar mistakes.

strolling trough the bustling shopping center, itadori's eyes caught a glimpse of the punch boxing machine infront of the arcade. "hey, fushiguro! want to give it a try?"

the pinkette excitedly points at the metal box going straight to it, while megumi just followed his best friend without even having the chance to answer. excitement sparked in him as he remembered the last time he tried his luck on it. his previous score was still displayed on the screen.

with a grin, itadori inserted a coin and took a deep breath. just do it like nanami. the machine's target pads lit up, as he unleashed a powerful punch causing the machine to shake. a few people around them turned their attention to the display, curious to see if the boy could surpass the record - 976.

fushiguro watched with his usual nonchalant expression, crossing his arms as he observed his friend's determined efforts. the tension in the air was strong, as the score climbed higher and higher. 973 ... 974 ... 975

but alas, itadori fell just short of surpassing his previous record. he let out a groan, wiping the imaginary sweat from his forehead, murmuring something about this being a warm-up. "you are slacking off, again." the raven head said, taking out his phone and taking a picture of yuji's expression. "i knew that I should have trained with nanami yesterday."

disappointed but still in high spirits, yuji turned away from the machine, ready to explore other attractions in the arcade. but just then, a girl with striking h/c hair approached the punching boxing machine, her eyes gleaming with determination. she inserted a coin with a confident smile, her fingers flexing in anticipation.

as the machine activated, she unleashed a punch that left the crowd in awe. the score on the screen skyrocketed, surpassing itadori's record with ease. the red neon lights went on screening NEW RECORD 1000. his jaw dropped, and he couldn't help but be impressed by the mysterious girl.

the said girl turned to itadori, panicked from the result she herself didn't expect to achieve. "i'm sorry! ididn't meant to break your record." he could see the genuine concern in her eyes, and a small smile played on his lips.

itadori applauded the performance giving her a thumbs up. "are you serious? that was amazing! you really know how to throw a punch." the mysterious girl, relieved by his positive reaction, blushed at his comment. "thank you" she replied, a shy smile playing on her lips.

as they continued to stare and smile at eachother making small talk about different ways to score more, megumi's phone suddenly ringed signaling it's time to go home. he signed, as he didn't want to do this "i'm sorry to interrupt your lovely time, but we have to go" itadori looked at him with a pleading look as if telling him to have 5 more minutes.

"it's okay, itadori! here save your number on my phone." as instructed he did so, returning the phone to her, his heart beating fast because of the fact that the pretty girl wanted his number. yuji smiled, bidding his and megumi's goodbye. "i will see you soon, y/n!"

as they parted ways, yuji and y/n thought about their future dates, who knows maybe the next thing to break are going to be their friends boundaries, hopefully turning into something more.

BONUS:

"do you think if i ask gojo-sensei , he can enroll y/n in jujutsu high?"

"do you seriously think that he will allow someone with no knowledge of curses to enroll and have their life in danger?"

"but she is so strong and pretty! she will manage, we can ask if maki has another pair of glasses." the vessel was met with a smack on his head.

"idioit." but in secret, megumi was happy about his best friend.

©2024 kaiser1ns do not copy, repost or modify my work.

[kantorberita]

Program Pemutihan PBB di Bengkulu Berlangsung Hingga Desember 2024

Program Pemutihan PBB di Bengkulu Berlangsung Hingga Desember 2024 KANTOR-BERITA.COM, KOTA BENGKULU|| Badan Pendapatan Daerah (Bapenda) Kota Bengkulu mengumumkan program pemutihan Pajak Bumi dan Bangunan (PBB) yang berlangsung hingga Desember 2024. Warga Kota Bengkulu dapat memanfaatkan program ini untuk melakukan pembayaran PBB hingga batas waktu tersebut. Menurut Kepala Bapenda, Nurlia Dewi,…

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (9/17/2024) Episode: Fun in Flight

With a bag of parts and good news about First Order air defenses, the couple received a warm welcome back at the rebel section of the theme park.

Vi programmed their data pads so they could help get her X-wing “in working order” giving them cool hi-tech props to work with. Keenly aware it was the last day of their honeymoon, they set to work with a will, determined to experience this final mission before they left.

Noemi, whose background with robotics made her much more adept at this sort of thing, finished well before her husband.

She wandered over his way to observe and give him some friendly, teasing, advice. Catching him concentrating intensely on an imaginary weld, an “x-ray mask” shielding his face, she leaned in close and whispered: “I think you may have missed your calling sir”.

He jumped, grimacing as his “repair” errored out. “Oh, this is fine” he replied, starting over “although “Press X to repair fighter” is more my speed.”

At long last Vi cleared them to climb into the cockpit, which descended into a bumpy hidden tunnel as they “took off” into the sky projected on the impressive displays serving as the windows of their ride. Noemi, knowing how much Luigi had been looking forward to this, let him take the pilot’s seat.

Things started out well, with him baiting a First Order supply ship as Noemi shot down drones and Vi’s recorded voice gave updates about the traps being laid for their target. Unfortunately, Luigi found himself panicking again when the larger ship loomed large on their tail, firing intimidating blasts across their shields. “Hang on!” he cried, frantically punching buttons and levers.

Increasing speed and dodging through the narrow confines of the petrified forest, he got a bit too far ahead of their dangerous prey, and they lost the chance to capture and raid the other vessel when it crashed into some rocks. “We’ll get em’ next time” the recording of Vi assured them as they disembarked, disappointed but still exhilarated by their high-speed adventure.

There would be no “next time” for Luigi and Noemi this trip. They had just enough time to say goodbye to their friends at the Cantina and take one last walk through the park before grabbing their bags from check in and teleporting back home to Sulani and the real life that awaited them.

As he stopped to “Til the Spire” with Noemi in front of the statue at the heart of Blackspire Outpost Luigi reflected that spending time at his favorite theme park with his favorite girl by his side had made for a fantastic honeymoon.

He silently hoped that the upcoming Starlight Accolade ceremony would be just as wonderful for them both.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[xaykwolf]

Voters who returned Donald Trump to the Oval Office in the hope that living costs would return to the halcyon days before the pandemic may be in for a shock. 

Arkansas-based Walmart, the world’s largest retailer that traditionally has catered to working and middle-class Americans, warned the President-elect’s plans to hike import duties across the board will be felt by everyday consumers.

“Tariffs are going to be inflationary, there’s no disputing that,” Walmart finance chief John David Rainey toldFox News on Thursday.

That’s not the message the Trump campaign took to the nation during the 2024 election race, however. During the campaign, the former president asked whether voters were better off than they were a little under five years ago, when the seeds of inflation were sown with the outbreak of the COVID virus. 

The resounding answer was no, as two-thirds of the population were dissatisfied with the state of the economy. Coast to coast, Americans felt a deep-seated resentment at spiraling prices on everything from gasoline to groceries and restaurant visits. 

Trump labels tariffs a ‘tax on foreign countries’ with no downside

In came the Trump campaign, which repeatedly portrayed tariffs as a panacea. They would fill the nation’s coffers, reduce the deficit, bring back manufacturing jobs—and might even eliminate the need for income taxes. And the costs? Well, those would be borne by others—chiefly U.S. strategic rival China, which could face duties as high as 60% on goods it exported. 

“A tariff is a tax on a foreign country, that’s the way it is whether you like it or not,” Trump promised supporters at an August rally in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. “It’s a tax on a country that’s ripping us off and stealing our jobs.”

The National Retail Federation, however, begged to disagree. Unless exporters are both willing and able to drop their factory gate prices in order to maintain volumes, the costs will entirely be borne by Americans—either directly in the form of import duties, indirectly through higher prices passed on to the customer, or some mix thereof.

“A tariff is a tax paid by the U.S. importer, not a foreign country or the exporter,” NRF vice president Jonathan Gold said in a statement published one day prior to the November elections. 

Advantages and disadvantages of tariffs

Limited tariffs targeted at strategic economic sectors—those vital to national security for example—can be sensible and every country imposes duties in one form or other. Some can be through the back door by requiring certain regulations be met in order to protect domestic sectors such as farming and agriculture. 

And while economic incentives like tax breaks can encourage migratory manufacturers to move their factories back onshore, tariffs can be effective as well. 

Yet they can also cause businesses downstream of these producers to shrink as they must shoulder higher costs. As a result, they can inadvertently lead to a loss in American jobs when all effects are netted out. 

Even for those U.S. goods that might not require any foreign inputs, tariffs can also be inflationary since they are an invitation for domestic suppliers to hike prices simply to pad profits for shareholders. Finally they can trigger a retaliatory trade war if left unchecked.

Walmart warns ‘We’re not immune’—and costs will be passed on

That’s why most industrialized countries traditionally have followed economic orthodoxy by seeking to dismantle tariffs, instead specializing in goods and services where they enjoy a competitive advantage. 

The resulting era of highly efficient, globalized supply chains caused prices for many goods to decline, with flatscreen television sets being an often cited example.

This now could come to an abrupt end if Trump imposes a blanket tariff on all imported goods that could range anywhere from 10% to 20%. 

Walmart finance boss Rainey said the massive retailer would do its utmost to cushion the blow—but pain was inevitable.

“We’re going to work with our suppliers as well as our own private brand assortment to continue to try to bring down prices for customers,” he told Fox News. “But we’re not immune, and tariffs will be inflationary for customers.”

[justagalwhowrites]

Celestial - Part of For You - A Collection of Requests Benefitting Palestine

Din takes his beloved to see something special.

Event Terms: Commissioners could choose to donate between $15 and $50 via Ko-Fi for one fic of 1-2k words to be written by April 1, 2024. Payment due after completion of the fic. Donation with a match by the author was paid to PCRF on April 2, 2024 in honor of Pedro Pascal's birthday ❤️ Commissioners had the option to choose to keep a fic private and all fics may not be shared here.

Pairing: Din Djarin x OFC!Maddy

Warnings: None! Straight fluff :)

Length: 1.6k

A/N: Just a sweet, fluffy little trip to a (completely made up) outer rim world in celebration of the eclipse this week. Written by request for @mboogie3 :)

Din was in unfamiliar territory. 

Not physically, of course. He was well traveled, there was little in the galaxy that surprised him anymore. Years of chasing bounty skippers from one end of the galaxy to the other showed a man a lot of the universe. 

But one thing it hadn’t done was put him in a position where he wanted to impress a woman. 

At least until he met her. 

It had started simply enough. Din was looking for jobs that he could take and fly under the radar of the guild, not on great terms with everyone there after taking off with the child. The job was a good one. Take a large shipment of medication from Coruscant to an outer rim world that was facing an outbreak of disease. Traveling with the medication was Maddy, a woman who was meant to ensure it got where it needed to go. 

But the second Din saw her, he knew that’s not all she would be. That was impossible. Her kind smile, the depth of her dark eyes, the way her hair framed her lovely face. These were things he was not going to be able to move past, even once the shipment was safely delivered and the medication - along with its beautiful escort - was left on a far away world that Din had little reason to stay on. 

But the situation on the planet had been far more dire than either Din or Maddy knew. An Imperial remnant had gotten there just before the two of them had. The Imps tried to intercept the medication and they almost succeeded, Din and Maddy barely escaping with their lives. They managed to hand off the medication to a local leader before taking off, not able to risk staying after putting a target on their backs. 

That’s what Din liked to pretend made things permanent. He couldn’t, in good conscious, leave her there. Not when the Imps knew who she was and had a reason to go after her. It wasn’t safe, it made sense to bring her along. For protection. 

Protection he was all too happy to provide, especially as her presence on his ship made it feel more like a home than it ever had before. Just being around her was a comfort, something constant and kind that he felt like he could fall into. So easily, he could fall into her. 

He’d given into that urge months ago and now, he couldn’t remember why he’d ever fought it. Yes, she made him vulnerable in ways even the kid didn’t and opening himself up to feeling something for someone who he could lose was painful. But she was so worth it, the months they had spent together and all the ways she made his life better made that risk the most worthwhile one he’d ever taken. It made him want to do something special for her after she had done so much for him. 

She had told him once that she’d always wanted to see an eclipse. A real one, not one caused by the positioning of ships or a recording of one on a data pad. 

“Why?” Din had asked when she’d mentioned it while reading the child a story. “You see the stars all the time.” 

“I know,” she smiled a little, his son sitting happily on her lap. “But that’s something else, this is a coincidental thing that makes a world look so different for a time, something that we can’t control no matter how hard we try. Wouldn’t that be incredible to see?” 

Din decided then and there that he was bringing her to an eclipse. He just needed to find one. 

It had been trickier than he expected. He’d heard of eclipses but never seen one himself. He’d never been that worried about seeing one. But, when he started looking for one, he learned that they were rare, remarkable. Much like Maddy. 

The sun and the moon needed to be just the right size. They needed to be just the right distance from each other and from the planet. Their orbits needed to work in tandem in just the right way. And even then, you had to time it exactly right, the phenomenon changing the entirety of the sky for only a short while. 

But, eventually, Din found a planet that met all the requirements, the intersection of orbits happening not in dozens of years but just a few weeks. 

Din did all the research he could with her there aboard the Razor Crest, something that was surprisingly difficult when trying to surprise someone living in such close quarters. He waited for her to be preoccupied, usually playing with Grogu or reviewing star charts with a small frown on her beautiful face. He was almost caught in the act a week before the big day, reading something about the solar festival when she came into the cockpit. 

“What’s that?” She asked from the doorway, Grogu propped on her hip. Din scrambled to close the hologram before she could actually see it. 

“Information,” he said quickly. “About where the next bounty is.” 

“Oh,” she deflated a little. 

He frowned below his helmet. 

“What?” 

“Nothing,” she went back to smiling. “It just looked like fun is all. We could use a little fun.” 

“Patu,” Grogu said. 

She laughed. 

“Yes, especially you.” 

Din smiled to himself. She had no idea. 

“If this hunt goes well, cyar’ika, maybe we can take a break after, go somewhere you want. As long as we can lay low.” 

Her face brightened, a sparkle in her beautiful brown eyes.

“I’d really like that,” she said. “We’ve never had a chance to just take a break.” 

After that, Din was determined to give her exactly what she wanted. After all her kindness to him and Grogu, all the three of them had been through together, she deserved everything she wanted. 

He wasn’t able to keep his plan a secret for long once they were on planet, though. Even the spaceport was covered in decorations, dark banners with glowing white coronas in the middle of them, a smattering of stars around the edges, small lights that were dark in the middle and bright around the rim hanging everywhere. 

She looked around almost cautiously, Grogu held close to her chest as the three of them left the ship. 

“Din…” She frowned, her brows knitting together as they emerged from the spaceport and onto the streets of the city, where decorations and stands celebrating the eclipse covered everything. “Din, are we…” 

“You said you wanted to take a break,” he said. “And you said you’ve always wanted to see an eclipse. So, cyar’ika, I thought we could do both.” 

He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her look quite so happy, the arm not cradling his son going around his neck as she stretched on her tiptoes to press herself against his armored frame. 

“I can’t believe it!” She almost squealed. “I never… this is amazing! I can’t believe we get to do this!” 

Din just smiled and watched as she made her way through the town, stopping at all the stands, running her fingers over the delicate keepsakes and traditional ornamentation before stopping for one of the fluffy, light pastries coated in thick, dark frosting. 

“Where are we?” She asked, mouth full, as they stopped to watch musicians playing in the street. 

“Deasu,” Din said. “An outer rim planet. There is a full solar eclipse here every five years and it’s been celebrated by the people here for centuries.” 

“That’s incredible,” she said, taking another bite of the pastry. “I didn’t even know there was anything like this in the whole galaxy.” 

“Well,” he said. “I’m glad we were able to find it.” 

The three of them spent the day exploring the festivities, Maddy even dragging Din out to dance as the sun was setting and the spotchka set in. 

Din made sure they had a prime spot to watch the eclipse the next day, settling in at the edge of a lake as the celebration spilled over from the town and into the open space just outside it. Musicians played, children ran, people danced. Maddy sat close to Din, the two of them watching Grogu play with the bugs in the grass near the water’s edge as the eclipse drew closer and closer. 

As the moon began to blot out the sun, she put on the special glasses and watched as the light changed and the air grew colder. The light on the ground shifted, becoming speckled crescents that scattered over the grass and the water. Maddy leaned forward, elbows on her knees, chin propped against her palms, an utterly enraptured look on her face as the moon blotted out the sun. Things went almost eerily quiet as the phenomenon neared totality, the sky looking closer to night than midday. There was a moment of silence as the perfect, slender ring of light formed around the moon. Light and darkness, in perfect harmony. Then, there was a cheer, the celebration going from nothing to everything in just a moment. 

Maddy laughed and took the glasses off, looking in awe at everything around her. Din was sure that whatever she was seeing was beautiful but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her smile was wide, her eyes were bright and she looked happier than he had ever seen her. His view was better. 

“Isn’t this the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen?” She asked, looking up at the darkened sky. 

“Yes,” he said, still watching her. “It is.” 

[good-old-gossip]

Israeli soldiers RAPE & SEXUALLY ASSAULT Palestinian Children & Women

Where are CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Fox News & other news outlets of the "Free World"?

Palestinian women and girls have reportedly been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members, including their children, according to information received. “We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces,” the experts said.

The experts expressed serious concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers, in Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October. Many have reportedly been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, denied menstruation pads, food and medicine, and severely beaten. On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food.

“We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence,” the experts said. They also noted that photos of female detainees in degrading circumstances were also reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online.

The experts expressed concern that an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, have reportedly gone missing after contact with the Israeli army in Gaza.

“There are disturbing reports of at least one female infant forcibly transferred by the Israeli army into Israel, and of children being separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown,” they said.

[violottie]

(cw: sexual violence against women) read, then reblog.

🇵🇸 Today marks International Women’s Day, where we commemorate the efforts by countless women across the global south resisting an imposition of power. Below are harrowing accounts from defiant, powerful Palestinian women resistance fighters interrogated in Israeli prisons."

from essad_48, 08/Mar/2024: caption cont under images

📚 Extracts from Captive Revolution Palestinian Women’s Anti-Colonial Struggle within the Israeli Prison System:

“Targeting women’s body and sexuality was a policy used in Israeli prison interrogations of Palestinian female detainees. Women complained about the refusal of the interrogator or the prison guard to provide them with sanitary pads during menstruation. Detainees who were sentenced and placed in prison rooms would rip some of the rags used as bed sheets or covers and use these; others in solitary confinement, in isolation cells or during interrogation would be left bleeding all over their only pants.“

“Having female detainees watch the torture of male detainees in order to frighten them and force them to collaborate was not unusual in the experience of many. Israeli prisons’ techniques of torturing Palestinian political prisoners included ‘Shabeh’ and ‘kees’ among others. The term mashbooh, or mashbooheen for the plural refers to detainees who are bound to either a chair or the wall, with their hands tied behind their backs or on top of their heads. The actual act is known as shabeh. The term kees, used by various interviewees refers to a black hood placed over the head and shoulders and often reeks of urine smell.”

“The women had and continued to have agency, will-power and the determination to effect changes in their own and their people’s lives. The women in the conversations were well-versed in Palestinian resistance culture and exposed themselves to a large body of the world’s cultures of resistance.”

[isthattetofrommesmerizer]

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[scarskelly]

Open The Introduction To Dragongate by Scar The Skelly [Z-BRATS]

Next up, Z-Brats! I've had to put the notes under a read more because I have too much to say about Shun. Whoops.

Presentation Notes

Shun Skywalker

Has said that if he ever lost his mask, not just Shun Skywalker but Shun Watanabe would cease to exist (that he would stop wrestling all together – but let me stress this, Shun Skywalker is not a man you should trust at all, he lies a lot).

When I say ‘odd’ I mean he used to wear a very bright green bodysuit and mask (known to fans as the frog suit) and would startle his opponents by doing this weird arms out pose and yelling “SKYWALK!” He also used to walk and stand in a weird way, which you might think was just how he is, and that it’s rude of me to mention this, but it was an intentional decision as it has returned alongside the bodysuit in his latest run as top nutcase of the promotion.

He may have seemed like he was a normal dude during his time as the leader of Masquerade until the Mascara Contra Mascara match of 2021, but it’s hard to ignore how Masquerade’s wore Venetian masks (to disguise their true selves) and performed an unnaturally perfect group entrance. This all being Shun’s creative decisions.

If you want to know more about Shun, please check out this video by gutsdozer, it was the video that got me into Dragongate.

A beginners guide to Shun Skywalker

An analysis of Shun Skywalker vs Jason Lee from 2022

Shun Skywalker interview

By him acting like a cult leader I mean he’s manipulative, possessive, toxic, hypocritical, eccentric and loud.

Shun Skywalker is not the straightest man on the roster, and I swear I’m not mentioning this because of my own preferences when it comes to what I like in my wrestling. This is a legitimately significant element to his character that you need to know about. The most obvious example of this is his relationship with Jason, which can be read as an abusive romantic relationship. This is merely a reading and not explicitly canon, but it certainly feels canon given the amount of support this reading has been given. This includes: Kzy on commentary comparing Shun’s behaviour to an ex-boyfriend showing up at their ex-girlfriend’s place of work just to “check up on them”, Strong Machine J straight up saying on commentary “ladies, don’t date a man like Shun Skywalker”, Jae on English commentary consistently making similar comparisons and even an article on Yahoo! News reading “Jason Lee breaks free from his deranged ex-boyfriend to join Natural Vibes”. Shun himself regularly uses romantic language and songs when talking or posting about Jason. Back before Jason returned to him, he would talk about how even though Jason had “broke his heart” he only loves him more and knows Jason will come back to him eventually, which he did. Jason is not the only man he’s made these sorts of advances towards, his most notable other target being Jacky Kamei. At a contract signing once, Shun said that he wanted to run away with Jason and Kamei and get married to them. He has a ‘type’ of man he likes to go after: cute face, deep thinker when it comes to their wrestling, pleasant but also capable of being malicious. This could be seen with his targeting of Yuki Ueno at All Together.

For the longest time he was billed at much smaller than he weighs, assumedly because every time they tried to weigh him, he just teleported away. So, he was 90 kg up until Dead or Alive 2024 where he was billed at 100 kg.

Has been compared to a variety of different animals throughout his career, from a falcon to a jellyfish to a goat and even a mosquito.

Yes, he pads his ass big time. I assume it’s because he lands on his butt for a lot of his moves. When you take off all the padding, he still has an impressive ass though…not that I would know or anything hahahaha-

KAI

Yes, Seiya Sanada as in the Sanada currently in Just 5 Guys in New Japan.

Fun fact: He trained at Animal Hamaguchi’s gym and was close with Shingo Takagi.

The same Kai who caused the Dangerous Tekkers kiss, thank him later.

Jason Lee

Everyone in Natural Vibes really seemed to love Jason, all having a soft spot for him. He formed the dynamic trio J.J.J with Jacky Kamei and Strong Machine J.

As previously mentioned, he was a part of Kung Fu Masters, but has since said he never wanted to be in the "dumb comedy unit" and hated every moment of it.

Jason Lee Match Recommendations

Why you should be a Jason Lee fan

Jason Lee interview

Once again, I recommend watching gutsdozer’s video if you want to know more about the ‘Jason Lee Saga’ of 2022.

Used to occasional make appearances on English commentary alongside Jae when Ho Ho Lun was wrestling. Unfortunately, with his turn, it seems we won’t hear from him again. I personally hope he does just barge in when Ho Ho is gone and spend the time on commentary just shitting on everyone.

Borrows a lot of his heel traits from Shun.

ISHIN

He once had washboard abs but accepted the sumo genes and bulked up. He has said that he will never have the abs again and if anyone misses them, just to look at the pictures and video that exists of it and remember it that way.

Deceptively short, I thought he was much taller than he is (168cm or 5’6”).

ISHIN interview

Yoshiki Kato

The tap out didn’t count as a win because that’s not how exhibition matches work (you can’t win or lose; it’s just a time limit 'show off your talents' match).

Kaito Nagano has since retired from pro-wrestling due to a culmination of injuries.

The proud owner of an emo fringe and a nice ass (not like I’ve been looking or anything).

I refer to Kato and ISHIN as Z-Brats’ delinquents, just feels right.

Gianni Valletta

Additionally, he participated in The Real World Tag League 2019 with another DG roster member in Takashi Yoshida.

How do I know he’s on topic? Luis Mante and Dream Gate Champion sound the same in Maltese that they do in English.

[housedeaubemarle]

FFXIV Write 2024 #29: [Extra Credit] - Souvenirs

For @escherstrange-ffxiv and her wonderful boys whom I am very fond of <3

~~

Dearest Joshua and Izzy, I couldn’t wait to give you these, so I included them with all the other things I sent home. The Hingans call these padded coats ‘hanten’, and they are wonderfully warm, being lined with good cotton. These particular ones were handsewn by a talented tailor whom I chanced to find in Hingashi. When I said I was from Ishgard, she immediately picked up a hanten to recommend to me, which made me laugh – our reputation for ice, snow and dragons precedes us.  The patterned one is meant for Izzy. The Hingans call it ‘yabane’, meant to represent the fletchings on an arrow. It is considered a symbol of good luck and determination – once an arrow is loosed, it aims straight for its target without diversion. The black jacket is for Joshua; I imagined you would look very well in it, with its silver threads sewn into the cotton. There are five different patterns sewn with the silver, all meant to bring good luck and strength. I hope they will serve in the coming moons as the winds grow colder.  I send to you too a box of beautiful sweet delights I’d never seen in my life till now. Its name is ‘kohakutou’ – my hosts say it translates to ‘amber sugar’. I was served some with my tea a few suns ago, and I was enchanted. They look wonderfully like crystals of all colours, and the artisans here do a lovely job of infusing such sweetness that doesn’t overpower the tongue. Please share them amongst those who visit the community centre; I will be sure to bring home more if they are popular.   I’m learning much here in Doma, and I am humbled each day by all that I do not know; it’s a good feeling, unexpectedly. Eddy continues to be a favourite at our inn, and I’m just beginning to be concerned that I may have to hire a new lady’s maid in Ishgard, despite all of Eddy’s blushing protests. As for myself, I have a newfound love for the horses of the Steppe (though I’ve not forgotten the Apkallu of La Noscea, Izzy; one day I'll get to see them in person and be charmed all over again). I fear my hosts may be getting tired of my requests to return to the Steppe to visit the Noykin for more opportunities to ride. I find the horses are only slightly slower than Chocobos when they gallop, and their gaits require getting used to, but they are magnificent creatures all the same. My first sight of their herd roaming the plains under the vast blue sky is something I will never forget. I daren’t imagine trying to bring them to Aldenard, as they are very much a part of their tribe as the Xaela themselves, and it would take far more negotiation and discussion than I could afford at present – but I hold out some flame of hope in my heart.  Regardless of all my excitement, I confess to missing you all (I know I haven't even been away a moon - I am a spoiled creature). I am due to return in about two sennights, if all goes well. I hope you are keeping well, and that your days go smoothly. I’ve given Rem an earful for keeping news from me, so I hope to hear of you and from you if time should allow. Please also let me know if I may do anything or bring anything back for you from the East. Till I next see you, Halone bless and keep you all. Your cousin, Oudine. P.S. I think of how Wil might behave around the falcons here and it makes me smile. Please give him my love; I hope he enjoys the kohakutou too.

[himebushou]

For @chippuyon! Because this ask you answered made me go a bit emo, lol (warnings for violence and character death).

Survivor

Two months after the world ends, the new year opens with more explosions, flares crackling and hissing as they soar through the sky, unravelling darkness, peeling it apart with claws that are red, pink and blue.  Rei watches the spectacle impassively.  One hand is curled around a celebratory drink – the other forced its way through clusters of dead flowers to grip the balcony railing.

Was Miri allowed to stay up late?  Is she sitting safely on her mama’s lap or being cradled by her grandmother?  Is Miri’s grandfather kissing the top of her head?  Have the family made plans to go somewhere special to give thanks?  What will Miri wear?  What sweets will she eat to usher in 2024?

And what wishes would Kazuki have made, were he still alive? 

“Here’s the latest,” says Kugi Kyuutarou, passing a set of materials across the counter.  “He had the sense to leave Japan for a while, but he’s back now, wrapping up business in Nagaoka.  I estimate that you have a three-day window.”

“That’s more than enough,” Rei returns.  “Thanks as always, Kyuutarou-san.”

Kyuutarou tips his head back – studies Rei silently.  Finally, Kyuutarou asks, “How long will you continue?  You’ve already sent a message.  Sooner or later, someone will decide that it’s time to retaliate –”

“Then it’s kill or be killed,” finishes Rei.  He sips his sugary tea, gaze fixed on the seat to his left.  Mercifully, Kyuutarou falters.

It’s funny, Rei thinks as he makes the journey home.  He never realised before that he always sat on Kazuki’s right whenever they were at the Mistletoe Café – Rei closest to the door, poised to drag Kazuki to safety in case there was an attack.  And, he notes, he did the same at home, too – always sat in the same spot at the dining table, eyes trained on the door, prepared to dispatch any intruders who broke in.

A black cat pads into view and rubs its squashed face against his ankles.

“I have nothing to offer you.”

The cat purrs, refusing to believe.

Nagaoka takes half a day.  Less than that, maybe.  It turns out that the tried-and-tested tactic of shooting from the front still carries its weight; there’s no need to devote energy to memorising building schematics – not when people are stupid, predictable.  The hitman has the wherewithal to plead with Rei, ask the new boss to spare his life,  Before he can finish swearing his loyalty, Rei plants a bullet between those desperate eyes, bile coating his tongue, fire filling his throat, grief curdling his stomach.

Idiot Kazuki.  He’d always behaved as though he was more competent than his skills allowed, rejecting the idea that he specialised in plotting and planning and scheming, even on the occasions when Rei had pointedly said, “That’s your role.”  And so, the fool had turned his back on a target that wasn’t quite dead, leaving the choking Suwa Shigeki with ample opportunity to finish what he’d started.

Kill or be killed.  Rei had wanted to rip the mansion apart, brick by brick; Kyuutarou’d intervened at that point, saying that if Rei really wanted to expunge what was left of the Organisation, he’d need funds, he’d need assets – would have to rely on all of those things that it was supposed to be Kazuki’s job to take care of.

How selfish!

Without Kazuki, the house is a cesspit.

Takeaway boxes litter the living room, biodegradable containers interspersed with empty cans and cigarette butts.  Rei doesn’t know how the room gets in such a state (he only eats at the dining table, after all), but it’s beyond salvation now, and he’s consigned himself to the understanding that he’ll most likely die here someday, when someone finally loses patience and smashes through a glass pane to find Rei sleeping in what was once Kazuki’s room, the cold bathtub forgotten.  Oddly, the faintest hint of Miri and Kazuki’s fragrances still linger in that space and it’s comforting; it’s almost enough to make Rei tell himself that they’ll return from daycare at any moment, Miri armed with a new plasticine friend, a little safari creature she’ll insist likes eating mushrooms…

Kazuki will vacuum.  He will sweep the floor.  He will scold Rei for eating trash and living in trash; he’ll swap out the fries and pizzas for homemade soups and grilled fish.  Rei’s mouth waters.  Strange.  It’s bizarre to comprehend, at a time like this, just how much he loved the decadence of Kazuki’s cooking.

Rei puts on an apron.  Gloves.  Attacks the dining room first – sorts through cupboards, discards anything that’s expired.  His hair is tied back (these days, his hair is always tied back).  He’s making progress.  He’s making amends.  He’s –

Hopeless.

Under an array of cereal packets, Rei discovers a letter from their electricity supplier.  The payment’s overdue.  The correspondence is a threat and a reminder that Kazuki, unkind Kazuki, flaked out yet another thing that was his to take care of.

Is there a point anymore?

And if there is, why can’t he find it?

Killing and killing and killing, the targets lined up like clay pigeons… Kugi Kyuutarou expresses concern far too often for Rei’s liking.  Work is too easy but life is too hard and there is nothing in between.  Rei’s heart rises and falls, an arrow that shatters mid-flight.  Over and over again, men beg for his benevolence; they lean against the heart they know was stamped out of him, pray that they will be spared by the part of Rei’s psyche that makes him human.

Wednesday.  10 February, 2024.

Three swollen months.

Rei sits on the earth, cross-legged, and stares at Kazuki’s headstone for a while.  Kyuutarou had managed all the details – engravings, placing Kazuki next to his wife – all that sentimental stuff that Rei had never learnt to think about.

The cemetery is peaceful.  Birds twitter.  The wind breathes.  No one questions why Rei remains motionless for several hours…

Miri’s held in a deathly grip; her eyes are stretched and her mouth is hanging open.  “Rei Papa, save –”

Suwa Rei’s efficiency is unmatched.  He holds intricate knowledge of the human body, knows how to yield a fatality and how to allow a man to walk away.  He can strike a target from a distance of almost half a mile; he can zero in, splinter any bone of his choosing with a single bullet.  He does not waste ammunition.  And yet, years of training – years of discipline – desert Rei when he spies a sick, victorious grimace cross Ogino’s face.  Rei twists his arm, points his gun and shoots.

And shoots.

And shoots.

Keeps firing until Ogino’s features are unrecognisable – reload – keeps firing until he’s torn through each gap between Ogino’s ribs – reload – keeps firing until the tide thins, the bloody waves roaring in his ears drowning, turning into Miri’s screams.  Her pink sweater is soaked.  Her pale face and soft hair are flecked with crimson.

Rei sinks to his knees.  When Miri sobs into his neck, he can scarcely console her.

It’s over.

It’s dark.  Rei’s neck and shoulders hurt.   As he sits up, he scrapes his forehead and the tip of his nose against Kazuki’s headstone.  Ah.  Rei wonders if he’s scraped his skin.

He looks up at the stars.  They’re far away and they’re dead but they keep burning, fuelled by determination that they don’t deserve to possess.  They outnumber and outshine the moon.  And they have offered solace to billions, over the years, symbolising infinity, promising purpose.

Kazuki did his job, this time.  He made the world safe enough for Rei to sleep – to give Rei a chance to dream.